296: Chapter 296: I am the new city lord

At the exit of the ruins, on the desolate plain.

Gray-black sand and wind, carrying fine gravel, lashed against everyone's face.

The Cultivators who had survived the ruins lined up in columns according to Xiao Ran's orders.

The Human Race was on the left, and the Yao Race was on the right.

No one dared to speak, and no one dared to look up.

Between their brows, purple-gold runes were still faintly glowing.

That was the Divine Soul curse; their lives and deaths were in the palm of Xiao Ran's hand.

Xiao Ran stood in front of the crowd, hands behind his back, his black robes fluttering in the wind.

The carcass of the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor stood behind him, its five heads lowered, its vertical pupils hollow.

But the aura of the Peak Body Integration Stage radiating from its body still made everyone present feel suffocated.

His gaze swept across the crowd, lingering on each person's face for a moment, then he spoke.

"Everyone, the trip to the ruins is over."

"Your Body Integration Stage Old Ancestors are all dead. From now on, the Far North Land is under my jurisdiction."

His voice was not loud, but it clearly entered everyone's ears.

"Now, you may return."

"The Human Race will return with me to the Sword Qi Great Wall, and the Yao Race will return to the wilderness. Go back and tell your clansmen: those who submit will prosper, and those who resist will perish."

No one dared to speak.

A deacon of the Sword Sect was the first to step out, head bowed, his voice hoarse.

"The Sword Sect, obeys your command."

He took the Sword Sect Disciples and stood behind Xiao Ran.

The Guest Elder of the City Lord's Mansion also stepped out, bringing the people from the City Lord's Mansion, and likewise stood behind Xiao Ran.

The Cultivators of the Loose Cultivators Alliance followed one after another.

On the Human Race side, the formation was quickly completed.

On the Yao Race side, the Void Refinement Stage Elder of the Golden Lion Clan stood up, head bowed, his voice trembling.

"The Golden Lion Clan, obeys your command."

He took his clansmen and flew toward the wilderness.

The Void Refinement Stage Elder of the Nine-Headed Snake Clan also stood up, following closely behind with his clansmen.

The Five-Colored Phoenix Clan, the Thunder Qilin Clan, the Mystic Ice Chilong Clan, the Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow Clan—one after another, they departed.

They dared not disobey; the curse of Xiao Ran was in their Divine Souls.

Xiao Ran watched the backs of the departing Yao Race without the slightest worry.

If the Yao Race did not submit, then he would simply wipe them out.

Then he turned around and looked at the Human Race Cultivators behind him.

"Let's go, back to the Sword Qi Great Wall."

Sword Qi Great Wall, at the city gate.

When Xiao Ran descended from the sky with dozens of Human Race Void Refinement Stage Cultivators, the defending soldiers thought there was an enemy attack and hurriedly sounded the alarm in a panic.

The shrill bell echoed on the city walls, and teams of patrolling soldiers poured in from all directions, drawing bows and setting arrows, aiming at the sky.

"What is happening? Stop!"

A defending captain shouted sternly.

Xiao Ran did not stop.

His figure swept across the top of the city wall and flew directly into the city.

The Human Race Cultivators behind him followed one after another; the defending soldiers could not stop them at all, nor did they dare to.

Because the aura on these people was too strong; the lowest were at the Early Stage of the Void Refinement Stage, and a few were at the Late Stage of the Void Refinement Stage.

The defending captain's face turned pale, and his legs were shaking.

Xiao Ran flew all the way to the space above the City Lord's Mansion and hovered in mid-air.

His Divine Sense spread out, shrouding the entire Sword Qi Great Wall.

Millions of Cultivators in the city simultaneously sensed that terrifying aura—the Body Integration Stage.

That was the pressure of a Body Integration Stage expert, like a mountain or an ocean, pressing down so hard that everyone could not catch their breath.

"Everyone."

Xiao Ran spoke, his voice not loud, but it clearly entered everyone's ears.

"I am Xiao Ran, the Seventh Demon Son of the Eternal Night Demon Sect, and the Captain of the Patrol Guard of the Sword Qi Great Wall."

"Now, I am telling everyone some unfortunate news: City Lord Li Qingge unfortunately fell in the ruins. Before he died, he entrusted the position of City Lord to me."

"From today on, the new City Lord of the Sword Qi Great Wall is me."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole city was in an uproar.

"What? The City Lord is dead?"

"City Lord Li Qingge was a Body Integration Stage expert; how could he have fallen?"

"Xiao Ran? That Captain of the Patrol Guard? What right does he have to be the City Lord?"

"He... his aura is the Body Integration Stage? Wasn't he at the Soul Transformation Stage? When did he have a Breakthrough?"

"The Body Integration Stage! He is already at the Body Integration Stage! No wonder he dared to say that!"

Millions of Cultivators in the city—some were shocked, some suspicious, some angry, and some fearful.

But no one dared to stand out and question him.

Because Xiao Ran's strength was right there; the pressure of the Body Integration Stage was not fake.

And behind him stood dozens of Void Refinement Stage experts, each with a deep aura, clearly the strong ones who had survived the ruins.

In the crowd.

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing was standing at the door of the Guixu Pavilion, holding a rag in her hand.

Hearing Xiao Ran's voice, she froze completely, and the rag slipped from her hand and fell to the ground.

Finance Manager Shen Qing next to her was also stunned, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.

"Young Master... Young Master Xiao said he wants to be the City Lord?"

Finance Manager Shen Qing's voice was trembling.

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing swallowed hard: "It seems so, and Young Master's aura... the Body Integration Stage? Wasn't he only at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage when he left?"

The two looked at each other, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes.

Their Demon Son, went out for a trip, and came back wanting to be the City Lord?

What kind of script is this?

At the entrance of the City Lord's Mansion, several guards looked at each other, not knowing whether they should stop him.

Xiao Ran slowly descended from the air and stood in front of the gate of the City Lord's Mansion.

The Human Race Cultivators behind him also landed and stood behind him like a group of loyal guards.

Just then, an old man with white hair walked out of the City Lord's Mansion.

He had a refined face, with three long whiskers hanging down his chest, wearing a gray robe, and leaning on a walking stick.

It was Elder Gu, the advisor who had been by City Lord Li Qingge's side for many years.

Early Stage of the Void Refinement Stage.

Elder Gu walked up to Xiao Ran and looked up at him.

His gaze lingered on Xiao Ran for a long time, from his young face to his black robes stained with blood, and then to the group of Void Refinement Stage Cultivators behind him.

Finally, his gaze fell on Xiao Ran's eyes.

In those eyes, there was no panic, no guilty conscience, only a bottomless calm, like a stagnant pool.

Elder Gu had lived for so many years and had seen countless storms.

He understood instantly.

City Lord Li Qingge was dead, and all the Body Integration Stage big shots who had entered the ruins were dead.

And this young man in front of him was the only winner.

His body was stained with the blood of countless Body Integration Stage experts.

Elder Gu lowered his head and knelt on one knee.

"This old man welcomes the new City Lord."

The whole place was in an uproar again.

Even the old advisor of the City Lord's Mansion had acknowledged him, which meant what Xiao Ran said was true.

Xiao Ran looked down at Elder Gu, and the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

This old man was sensible.

He reached out and helped Elder Gu up.

"Elder Gu, please rise. Before the City Lord died, he told me that you were a trustworthy person and asked me to listen to your advice more."

Elder Gu's body trembled slightly.

He raised his head and looked into Xiao Ran's eyes.

In those eyes, there was no murderous intent, only a tacit understanding that "you understand me, and I understand you."

Elder Gu nodded without saying much.

"City Lord, please enter. This old man will take you to familiarize yourself with the City Lord's Mansion."

Xiao Ran stepped forward and entered the City Lord's Mansion.

The Human Race Cultivators behind him followed as well.

The gate of the City Lord's Mansion closed slowly behind him.