174: Chapter 174 As Usual

City Lord Li Mu's expression darkened instantly.

"What could they possibly be delayed by?" His voice rose by several decibels, carrying a hint of displeasure. "Do they not know that Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng's time is very precious?"

The tent fell silent for a moment.

The Sect Heads of several small Sects lowered their heads, observing their noses and hearts, not daring to make a sound.

The three brothers of the Xiao Family exchanged glances but did not speak.

Sect Leader Xuanqingzi picked up the teacup on the table and took a slow sip. His gaze swept over City Lord Li Mu from over the rim of the cup, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, though it was unclear if it was a smile or something else.

Great Elder Jian Sanyuan sat in his chair, his expression unchanged, and he did not respond.

City Lord Li Mu seemed to realize that his words had been a bit too much, so he cleared his throat and softened his tone.

"Since that is the case, let us first discuss the trial matters."

"As for the rest, once they arrive, your people from the Heavenly Sword Sect can explain it to them."

Great Elder Jian Sanyuan nodded slightly without saying anything more.

Jian Hanshuang took a step back and returned to his position behind him.

"The rules of the trial are, of course, as usual."

"As before, in the first stage, each Sect will send Disciples at the Qi Refinement Stage up the mountain."

"For a period of seven days, they will hunt Tier 1 Demonic Beasts and collect Spirit Medicine and spirit fruits. According to the rules, Tier 2 Demonic Beasts in the mountain are not allowed to attack during this period."

"After seven days, Foundation Establishment Cultivators will enter the mountain."

"At that time, the Tier 2 Demonic Beasts in the mountain may attack. The Foundation Establishment Disciples of each Sect will maneuver against the Tier 2 Demonic Beasts in the mountain, and their life or death will be up to fate. This stage will last for half a month."

"As before, during the period when Foundation Establishment Cultivators are in the mountain, Tier 3 Demonic Beasts must not interfere."

"Finally, Golden Core Cultivators will enter the field to sweep for heaven and earth spirit fruits and harvest high-grade Spirit Medicine."

"At this time, Tier 3 Demonic Beasts in the mountain must not take the initiative to attack; they can only retaliate after being attacked. And even when retaliating, their strength will be weakened by thirty percent due to the Restriction in the mountain."

After these words were spoken, the people from the other Sects did not respond immediately.

Because everyone knew.

The Yao Race in Taiyue Mountain this time seemed to be... somewhat different from before.

City Lord Li Mu swept his gaze over everyone's expressions; he knew exactly what they were thinking.

He was all too clear about what these people were thinking.

"I know that many things have happened during this period."

"The Yao Race of Taiyue Mountain has not been behaving, but the past is the past, and now is now. The moment the trial begins, the Yao Race of Taiyue Mountain will not violate the previous rules; this is an ironclad law!"

The tent fell silent for a moment.

A middle-aged man sitting below Great Elder Jian Sanyuan could not help but speak up.

The man wore a cyan Daoist robe, and hanging from his waist was a jade tablet engraved with the emblem of the Xuanyi Sect.

He leaned forward, his brows knitted together.

"City Lord, can this be confirmed?"

His voice carried a hint of skepticism, but his tone was still polite. "You must know that three years ago, that Tier 3 great Yao of Taiyue Mountain wreaked havoc on the Longcheng Immortal Market, causing countless deaths and injuries."

Once these words were spoken.

The expressions of several people in the tent changed.

Who among those present did not know about the events of three years ago? The Xuanyi Sect's properties in the Longcheng Immortal Market were overturned, and even a Golden Core Elder fell.

City Lord Li Mu did not respond directly.

He turned his head, his gaze landing on a position to the right inside the tent.

Sitting there was a middle-aged man with a burly build, a square face, and a wide mouth, wearing a deep purple brocade robe. Hanging from his waist was a fist-sized token with the character "Long" engraved on it. This person was none other than Fang Zhen, Master of Longcheng Fairy Market.

Fang Zhen had been drinking tea, not saying a word since entering the tent.

Seeing City Lord Li Mu look over, he put down his teacup, wiped the corners of his mouth with the back of his hand, and swept his gaze across everyone in the tent.

"Everyone can rest assured."

"I have already sought instructions from my superiors; the Restriction of Taiyue Mountain remains in place, and everything... can proceed as usual."

Once these words were spoken.

The tent fell silent again.

The two words "superiors" caused everyone present to shut their mouths; even Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng, who was seated in the position of honor, straightened his body slightly upon hearing the word "superiors."

Regarding this...

City Lord Li Mu spoke up at the right moment, bringing the topic back.

"Since Master Fang Zhen has already confirmed it, then the trial matters are settled as such."

"Everyone, go back and prepare. Tomorrow, after the people from the Luoxia Sect and the Qingyun Sect arrive, we will provide them with a supplementary set of procedures."

Everyone in the tent stood up one after another.

This time, no one said anything else.

Everyone walked out of the tent one after another, the sound of their footsteps fading into the distance.

City Lord Li Mu was the last to leave, and just as he was about to lift the tent flap to go out, a voice came from behind.

"City Lord Li Mu, please stay."

City Lord Li Mu's hand stopped on the tent flap, he paused, and turned around.

Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng was still sitting on that grand armchair, not moving an inch.

The three brothers of the Xiao Family stood behind him, showing no intention of leaving either.

The candlelight in the tent flickered, casting light and shadow over Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng's thin face.

City Lord Li Mu let go of the tent flap, walked back, and cupped his fists: "Does Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng have any instructions?"

Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng did not look at him, his gaze falling on the tea that had already gone cold on the table.

"What you said just now was not problematic."

"But I want to hear the truth."

City Lord Li Mu's body stiffened slightly.

The air in the tent felt as if it were being pressed down by something; the candlelight flickered more slowly, and even the sound of breathing became clearly audible.

The three brothers of the Xiao Family stood behind Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng, expressionless, but their three pairs of eyes fell on City Lord Li Mu simultaneously.

City Lord Li Mu was silent for a few breaths, then sighed.

"Nothing can escape the eyes of Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng."

He took two steps forward.

"The Yao Race of Taiyue Mountain has indeed not been behaving during this period."

"Three years ago, that Tier 3 great Yao wreaked havoc on the Longcheng Immortal Market, killing quite a few people, and the Xuanyi Sect even lost a Golden Core Elder. Lady Hua in the outer reaches of Taiyue Mountain has also been secretly contacting various parties during this time, making significant moves. And the Yao King in the inner mountain, although it hasn't been seen moving, the small Yao Beasts underneath are very restless."

"But as Master Fang Zhen said, the Restriction remains."

"The Restriction of Taiyue Mountain has been passed down from ancient times and reinforced generation after generation until now. The Yao Race above Tier 3 are suppressed tightly. As long as the Restriction is not broken, even if those great Yao have rebellious intentions, they cannot turn the sky over."

"Since that is the case, we cannot give up such benefits."

This sentence was spoken with a bit more weight than before.

Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng finally took a look at him. His small eyes were calm, but when City Lord Li Mu was looked at by this gaze, the hair on his back stood up.

He forced himself not to lower his head, keeping his waist straight as he sat in the chair.

"As expected, you are the City Lord of Long City."

"You are not a person of the Immortal Sects."

Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng's voice was unhurried.

"Yes." City Lord Li Mu nodded. "This Junior is an official of the Dachuan Dynasty; I eat the monarch's salary and perform the monarch's duties."

He did not continue, but the meaning was already very clear.

The trial that happens once every thirty years; the Yao Beast Materials hunted and the Spirit Medicine and spirit fruits collected each time are traded in Long City first.

Spirit Medicine shops, Magical Artifact stores, Medicinal Pill pavilions, slave markets, and beast pens.

Every street in the Longcheng Immortal Market relies on this trial to make a living.

The fur, bones, and Yao Cores of Yao Beasts, the roots, leaves, and fruits of Spirit Medicine—everything that flows out of Taiyue Mountain must pass through the hands of Long City before it can flow to all corners of the Dachuan Dynasty.