37: Chapter 37 I've never cultivated a system!

"My name is Xu Xianzhi. I used to be a Trial-taker too. The universe I inhabited was also undergoing dimensional ascension, just like yours, but an accident occurred. I relinquished the status of Trial-taker, took root in this star region, and built this city."

He turned around, his gaze falling upon Lin Wan and Ye Fan, a faint, elusive smile playing on his lips.

"The Chaotic Beasts in Ruins City are all my subjects."

"I have bestowed upon them wisdom, form, and order."

"Here, they do not need to kill each other or struggle for survival."

"You must have seen it on your way here; they live much better than their counterparts outside."

Ye Fan couldn't help but mutter:

"Indeed… they are much better than those outside who only know how to eat people."

Xu Xianzhi seemed to hear his words, and his smile deepened slightly.

"So, I was wondering, are you two interested in becoming my subjects as well?"

He changed the subject, his tone remaining gentle, but the pressure radiating from his body grew a fraction heavier.

"I can give you heavenly treasures. Whatever you want, as long as it exists in Ruins City, I can provide it to you—elixirs, secret treasures, cultivation resources, beast-person beauties… everything you could ask for."

"Even if you have any unfulfilled wishes, I can try to help you complete them."

He paused, looking into Lin Wan's eyes.

"You only need to… relinquish your status as Trial-takers."

Lin Wan's expression hardened slightly.

Has he finally revealed his true intentions?

He sneered inwardly.

Relinquish the status of Trial-taker?

Easy to say. Setting aside the fact that he didn't know how to do it, even if he did, he would never give it up.

This Xu Xianzhi brought up such a request directly; he clearly had them cornered.

However… he was quite curious as to why this person was so confident.

Beside him, Ye Fan was the first to take offense.

He stepped forward. Although his voice was still a bit weak, as Lin Wan's mouthpiece, his attitude was firm:

"Hey, just because you tell us to become your subjects, we have to?"

"On what grounds? We don't even know you. You say you'll give us resources, so we'll just take them?"

"Trying to strip us of our status as Trial-takers in a few sentences? Even a three-year-old wouldn't be that easy to fool, right?"

"Has your mother ever taught you…"

Xu Xianzhi glanced at him.

Ye Fan's voice came to an abrupt halt.

It wasn't because he was afraid; his Innate Divinity talent allowed him to have a certain resistance against any pressure.

But he could clearly feel that something contained within that glance from the other party… far exceeded his limits of endurance.

It was the feeling of being controlled.

It was as if, within this city, Xu Xianzhi was the rules themselves.

Ye Fan shrank his neck and silently retreated behind Lin Wan, adding in a whisper:

"…Anyway, it's up to my Brother-in-law."

Xu Xianzhi didn't mind Ye Fan's retreat; instead, he turned his gaze back to Lin Wan.

He smiled and added in a composed tone:

"I forgot to tell you, my talent is SSS-rank, and it is of the Lord class."

He extended his right hand, spreading his fingers slightly, and a translucent holographic map appeared in the void.

It was an aerial view of the entire Ruins City.

Every corner, every street, and every building of the city was clearly visible on the map.

Along the outline of the city, a layer of golden light film enveloped it, like a massive dome.

"As long as I am in this city, I am invincible."

Xu Xianzhi's voice was firm.

"The effect of the [Lord] talent is very simple: within my territory, I can use the abilities of all my subjects."

"And all outsiders who enter my territory can only use their basic attributes; they cannot use any cultivation systems."

He looked at Lin Wan and Ye Fan, his gaze carrying a hint of playfulness.

"In other words, while you are here, you can only rely on the power of your own physical bodies."

"All techniques, arts, talents… are irrelevant to me, and they are irrelevant to you as well."

"Of course," he added,

"If you are unwilling to become my subjects, I will not force you. However…"

He paused slightly.

"In this city, what I say goes."

The grand hall fell into silence.

Ye Fan's expression changed.

Can only use basic attributes?

Cannot use cultivation systems?

He subconsciously sensed the power within his body, that [Innate Divinity] talent…

It was completely unaffected.

As for cultivation systems, sorry, he didn't have any.

However, he wasn't the main combat force, so he looked at Lin Wan and whispered:

"…Brother-in-law, are you confident?"

Lin Wan glanced at him.

Then he turned his head and looked quietly at Xu Xianzhi, looking completely indifferent.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Xu Xianzhi assumed he was weighing the pros and cons, so he added:

"I know this is hard for you to accept. But that is the reality; in this city, you have no choice."

"I can give you a day to consider, or even until the end of the trial."

"As long as you are willing…"

"No need."

Lin Wan interrupted him.

Xu Xianzhi was slightly stunned.

Lin Wan raised his head, looking at this eerie man, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

"The restrictions you mentioned… don't seem like much."

Xu Xianzhi's smile froze.

"…What did you say?"

"You just said that people who enter your territory can only use basic attributes and cannot use any cultivation systems."

Lin Wan flexed his wrists, his bones making a crisp cracking sound.

"Did I ever tell you…"

He took a step forward.

"I don't have a cultivation system at all."

Xu Xianzhi's pupils constricted slightly.

Lin Wan took another step, leaving a deep footprint in the marble floor.

"This combat power of mine is all completely natural and unpolluted."

He stopped, with less than five steps of distance remaining between him and Xu Xianzhi.

"You want to stop me from using cultivation systems?"

Lin Wan rested one hand against his forehead, his mouth cracking into a wide grin,

"Hehehehahahahaha—!"

"I never had one to begin with."

"With the ability restrictions you mentioned, what can you restrict of mine?"

"I am invincible!"

Boom!!

The True Dragon Bloodline, Primordial Chaos Martial Body, Emperor Bone, and Unlimited Blade Works were all activated.

A massive mental force pressed down upon Xu Xianzhi.

For the first time, ripples appeared in Xu Xianzhi's eerie eyes.

Seeing this scene, Ye Fan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening and played along with Lin Wan's act:

"Jiejiejie!!"

"Ridiculous, ridiculous! We've never cultivated a system at all!"

"And just based on your trash talent, can you restrict SSS-rank? Can you restrict EX-rank?"

He instantly got excited and poked his head out from behind Lin Wan:

"Hey, demon man, what did you just say?"

"What a coincidence, what my Brother-in-law is best at is exactly basic attributes!"

Xu Xianzhi was silent for a moment, his gaze scanning back and forth over Lin Wan.

He was confirming.

Confirming whether what this human said was true or false.

What he perceived was indeed only a pure flesh-and-blood body.

There were no traces of technique circulation, no imprints of system cultivation.

Within that body, there was only one thing.

Power that was pure to the extreme.

For the first time, panic appeared on Xu Xianzhi's face.

However, at this moment, while the other party was distracted, Lin Wan grabbed Ye Fan and ran out of the City Lord's Mansion at the fastest speed of his life.

With the support of his mental force, they turned into two streaks of light that pierced the sky, causing the stunned Xu Xianzhi to instantly snap back to reality.

His expression turned gloomy, and a thought condensed at his brow as he shouted angrily:

"Lady White, block them for me!!"

...

"Brother-in-law, can we really not clash with him?"

"We can't clash at all. Talents and abilities below SSS-rank are all banned. We can't beat him!"

Ye Fan asked tremblingly: "Then can we run?"

"Probably!"