155: First meeting with Lingtian City Lord

He had just entered the city and went straight to Cold Crow Pavilion. He had just come out of the pavilion, so wasn't he new here?

"So that's how it is."

The big man suddenly understood, then said with a slightly respectful tone:

"Sir, I am the guard leader of the City Lord's Mansion. Would you do me the honor of allowing me to take you to meet the City Lord?"

"City Lord?"

"Yes. My name is Zhang Bao. The City Lord is a Core Formation mighty figure. Sir, you helped eliminate a major scourge in the city, so you should go to the City Lord's Mansion to receive your reward."

City Lord, Core Formation.

Jiang Lan keenly caught two pieces of information.

There were many differences in Lingtian City compared to other cities; it even had a City Lord.

In the counties he had passed through before, the highest official was the county magistrate.

Anyway, it was still early, and he was quite curious about this so-called City Lord, so he decided to go and see.

However, Jiang Lan did not immediately agree. Instead, a virtual light screen appeared before his eyes...

【Name: Jiang Lan】

【Cultivation: Mortal Shedding Ninth Level (Peak)】

【Cultivation Technique: Golden Essence Spirit Cultivation Art, Solar True Yang Art】

【Martial Skill: Blazing Sun Demon Suppression Blade (Return to Simplicity), Flood Dragon Swim (Return to Simplicity), Hidden God Art (Return to Simplicity), Shadow Blade Art (Return to Simplicity)】

【Divine Ability: 72 Transformations of Di Sha (Perfection)】

【Remaining Lifespan: Six thousand and thirty-two years.】

【Can inject Lifespan into Cultivation Techniques and skills to improve strength.】

【Can increase Lifespan by suppressing or slaying demons.】

...He silently gave an instruction in his mind:

"Fill up my Realm."

Although Lingtian City was not overrun with demons, there were many outside the city.

So Jiang Lan was not worried that the consumed Lifespan would not be replenished and directly filled it up.

Jiang Lan had two main considerations for improving his strength at this juncture.

One was that he wasn't sure what level of Core Formation the City Lord Ling Tian was.

However, the stronger one's strength, the greater one's say.

Jiang Lan did not want to be at a disadvantage when he met the City Lord later, which was why he chose to Breakthrough at this time.

And he wasn't worried.

He was no longer the same as before.

At this moment, he could already control his Aura at will.

So even if he chose to Breakthrough here, others would not be able to detect any abnormality.

The other reason, of course, was that he had accumulated so much Lifespan.

If he didn't convert these more than six thousand years of Lifespan into strength, Lifespan would just be a string of numbers.

Before Jiang Lan, the light screen began to flash.

【Year one, you began cultivating.】

【Year one thousand and twenty-one, through continuous accumulation, you successfully broke through, and your Martial Dao Realm increased to Core Formation Fifth Level.】

【Year two thousand four hundred and sixty-seven, you cultivated day and night, and your Martial Dao Realm broke through to Core Formation Sixth Level.】

【Year three thousand nine hundred and eighty, your Realm successfully increased to Core Formation Seventh Level.】

【Year five thousand seven hundred and sixty-three, time flew by, and with your efforts, your Martial Dao Realm successfully broke through to Core Formation Eighth Level!】

【Year six thousand and thirty-one, you continued to cultivate, but the time was too short to Breakthrough again.】

Jiang Lan felt the power within him surge wildly as the light screen scrolled.

Core Formation Eighth Level!

Although there was a surging undercurrent within him, outwardly, he showed no signs of it.

And this entire process only took a dozen breaths.

His Lifespan column, which originally showed over six thousand years, once again became a lonely one year.

However, Jiang Lan was not flustered at all.

Wasn't gaining Lifespan simple?

Zhang Bao, standing opposite him, saw that Jiang Lan hadn't spoken for a long time and thought something was wrong, so he quickly continued:

"Sir, do you not wish to go? If you are truly unable to make time, we can reschedule..."

He had only spoken halfway when Jiang Lan raised his hand and interrupted him, saying:

"Let's go."

Zhang Bao was momentarily slow to react. After recalling what Jiang Lan had said last, he quickly said:

"Sir, please follow me!"

After speaking to Jiang Lan, he then instructed the people behind him:

"Dispose of the bodies and return home."

"Yes!"

The crowd behind him responded in unison, sounding quite well-trained.

Jiang Lan glanced at the crowd.

Immediately after, a portion of the crowd separated to clean up the bodies and the aftermath, while the other portion followed Zhang Bao and Jiang Lan back to the City Lord's Mansion.

Under Zhang Bao's lead, Jiang Lan arrived at the central location of Lingtian City.

Here, a huge mansion stood, with carved beams and painted pillars, extraordinarily imposing, as if it were a world unto itself.

However, the entire Lingtian City, including the architecture of the City Lord's Mansion, exuded a Killing Intent.

Even though the City Lord's Mansion was incredibly beautiful, the Killing Intent not only did not diminish but was even more concentrated than in other buildings.

Entering the City Lord's Mansion, Zhang Bao said:

"Sir, please wait a moment while I go inform him."

Jiang Lan nodded, having no objection.

He stood still, while Zhang Bao jogged away, soon disappearing from his sight.

As for the others who returned with them, including two Early Stage Mortal Shedding cultivators, they dispersed after entering the City Lord's Mansion, their whereabouts unknown.

The City Lord's Mansion was very large, with rockeries and flowing water all present in the courtyard.

Jiang Lan was not in a hurry and simply walked around, appreciating the scenery.

A moment later, a rapid sound of footsteps came from afar.

Jiang Lan could tell that these footsteps were not Zhang Bao's; they were steadier and heavier than Zhang Bao's.

Before long, a figure appeared before Jiang Lan.

The newcomer was dressed in casual clothes and looked like a middle-aged man.

He wasn't particularly handsome, but his entire being exuded an Aura of authority.

This Aura could only be cultivated after a long time in a high position.

Jiang Lan recognized at a glance that this should be City Lord Ling Tian.

The City Lord naturally saw Jiang Lan, and his steps unconsciously quickened a bit. He came before Jiang Lan and warmly extended his hand, saying:

"Brother Jiang."

Jiang Lan was stunned.

He had not revealed his name just now.

So how did this City Lord know?

Seemingly noticing Jiang Lan's confusion, the City Lord smiled and said:

"When Mr. Jiang first entered the city, I received the news. However, there was news of the remnants of Qingdeng in the city, so I didn't have time to visit. It's quite a coincidence; I didn't expect that it would be Mr. Jiang who killed those remnants of Qingdeng."

Jiang Lan also smiled.

He could, of course, tell that this was just a pretext from the City Lord.

When he first entered the city, he didn't even know where he was going, so how could the City Lord talk about visiting?

But it didn't matter.

Such pleasantries were just for listening; anyone who took them seriously had a problem with their head.

Jiang Lan scrutinized the City Lord.

The City Lord's strength fluctuations were roughly around Core Formation Fifth Level.

This level of strength was already considerable.

In fact, if he hadn't just improved his strength, he would have been weaker than the City Lord.