211: Establish authority

In the afternoon in East Lin City, the river breeze from the Canglan River carried dry, hot water vapor over the city walls; the air was thick with the restlessness of a gathering storm.

A group of people, about twenty in total, rode tall, exotic Sand Camels, sweeping through the East City Gate like a gale.

The leader was burly with a face full of coarse flesh. A hideous scar slashed diagonally from his temple to his jaw, looking like half a centipede crawling on his face.

A thick Evil Qi emanated from him, mixed with the earthy stench of the Gobi. He was a Protector of the Poison Scorpion Cult, nicknamed "Poison Fang," with a Mid Golden Core Stage Cultivation.

The cult members behind him all had fierce Auras and eyes as cruel as hungry wolves, unreservedly releasing their Cultivator pressure. Wherever they passed, people scrambled to get out of the way, knocking over carrying poles; celadon fragments mixed with fresh goods rolled all over the ground.

"Get out of the way! Death to those who block the path!"

Poison Fang's voice was like a great bell, arrogantly driving away the merchants and travelers queuing at the city gate. His iron hooves pointed directly at the gate, intending to force his way through.

The captain of the city guards' expression darkened. He stepped forward, hand on his blade, and shouted:

"East Lin City has an order: those entering the city must queue for inspection! Who are you to dare act so wildly here?"

"Inspection?"

Poison Fang let out a strange laugh, a murderous light flashing in his eyes:

"I am a dignified Golden Core Stage Old Ancestor. Are your dog eyes blind? You think you're worthy of inspecting your grandfather!"

Before his voice had even faded, he suddenly waved his hand. An oily, yellowish palm-shadow, carrying a poisonous and foul wind, lunged like a scorpion's stinger directly at the guard captain's heart!

The speed was incredible, and the strike was utterly ruthless!

If this hit landed, the guard captain, who was only at the Early Foundation Establishment stage, would likely have his heart meridians shattered on the spot!

The soldiers on and below the city wall instantly drew their weapons and shouted in anger, but it looked as if they wouldn't be able to save him in time!

At that critical moment!

A cold voice, like a clap of thunder, exploded over the city gate without warning:

"Presumptuous!"

The moment the voice fell, a dazzling Ice Dragon appeared out of thin air. Faster than the sound, it struck the poisonous palm-shadow with pinpoint accuracy!

"Chila—!"

An ear-piercing sound of shattering echoed through the city gate!

Under the impact of the Ice Dragon, the palm-shadow, which was filled with poison and spiritual energy, shattered like ice shards on the ground. Not even a wisp of poisonous smoke managed to escape!

The Ice Dragon’s momentum remained unchecked. Carrying an Aura that could freeze all things, it headed straight for Poison Fang himself!

The cruel grin on Poison Fang's face instantly froze, turning into extreme terror!

He let out a strange cry, his spiritual energy erupting frantically as he condensed a thick tortoise shell covered in barbs and shimmering with a yellowish glow in front of him!

"Boom!!!"

The Ice Dragon slammed violently into the Sand Shield!

Amidst the deafening roar, the seemingly sturdy tortoise shell held for only an instant before it exploded!

The violent power of the frost was like a burst dam, surging fiercely into Poison Fang's body!

"Pfft—!"

Poison Fang was hit as if by a heavy hammer. His burly body was sent flying backwards off the ground, blood spraying from his mouth, mixed with fragments of internal organs frozen into icy shards by the dragon!

He slammed heavily onto the ground over a dozen yards away, his impact creating a shallow pit in the rammed earth. His limbs twitched as they were rapidly frozen by spreading frost. The last thing remaining in his eyes was a shock that hadn't dissipated even in death.

This sudden and dramatic turn of events plunged the entire city gate area into a deathly silence!

Everyone was so intimidated by the terrifying power of the Ice Dragon's strike that they couldn't breathe!

The Poison Scorpion Cult members, who had been so arrogant before, were now like ducks with their necks squeezed. Their faces were pale, they were as quiet as cicadas in winter, and their eyes were filled with boundless fear as they looked toward the city tower!

On the high city tower of the East City Gate, a figure had quietly appeared at some unknown point.

His greyish-white casual clothes fluttered slightly in the wind, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

It was Situ Jun, whose Divine Sense was constantly covering the city gate, who had struck boldly at the moment of crisis.

At this moment, his face was cold and his gaze was like ten-thousand-year-old ice. He swept his eyes over the terrified Poison Scorpion Cult members below, finally landing on Poison Fang's frost-covered corpse.

His voice was not loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present clearly, carrying an unquestionable authority and a bone-chilling killing intent:

"I am the City Lord of the Northern Frontier, and together with the City Lord of Donglin, I guard East Lin City! The rules of East Lin City are: enter in an orderly fashion, and no violence is permitted within the city. Those who violate this shall die."

"This scoundrel shall serve as the example."

"You members of the Poison Scorpion Cult, if you wish to enter the city, pull in your claws and queue for inspection. If you dare to cause trouble again—"

He paused, his cold gaze like a physical blade scraping across the faces of the remaining cult members:

"Then you shall be buried with him!"

As his voice fell, the entire area became so quiet that a needle could be heard dropping.

There was only the wail of the wind blowing past the tower and the chattering of the Poison Scorpion Cult members' teeth.

That domineering strike and that cold, heartless sentence instantly branded the weight of the words "City Lord of the Northern Frontier" into the hearts of all the outsiders.

A dignified Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator! A powerful Old Ancestor of a region! He was actually killed in a single strike!

The rules of East Lin City were not to be challenged! In East Lin City, even a dragon must coil up!

The figure on the city tower remained upright. Situ Jun's gaze slowly swept over the shivering Poison Scorpion Cult members, the coldness in his eyes undiminished.

The leading cult members looked at each other, seeing bone-deep fear in each other's eyes.

They were only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Even their Protector, "Poison Fang," had been killed instantly. If they resisted, they probably wouldn't even have ashes left.

One of the slightly bolder cult members knelt on the ground trembling, his voice shaking uncontrollably:

"Se... Senior, please spare our lives! We were blind and did not know Senior was here. We are will... willing to obey the city rules and queue for inspection..."

Seeing this, the other cult members also knelt down one after another, echoing his words. There wasn't a trace of their previous arrogance left.

Situ Jun gave a cold snort and didn't look at them again. He simply called out to the city guard captain:

"Proceed according to the rules."

Only then did the guard captain snap out of his shock. Looking at Situ Jun's back with eyes full of awe, he quickly cupped his hands and replied:

"Yes! I shall obey your command, My Lord!"

He turned to look at the Poison Scorpion Cult members, his previously suppressed Aura returning in full. He said in a deep voice:

"All of you get up and line up for inspection! If there's the slightest suspicious movement, don't blame my blade for being merciless!"

The Poison Scorpion Cult members didn't dare to resist in the slightest. They dejectedly scrambled up and joined the end of the queue, not even daring to lift their heads.

The deadlock at the city gate was thus broken. The merchants and commoners who had been badly frightened earlier finally regained their senses, their gazes toward the city tower filled with gratitude and awe.

"Good heavens... he really killed him... that was a Golden Core Old Ancestor!"

"Who is that Lord? He's too powerful! He killed that fiend in one move!"

"Didn't you hear? He said he's the City Lord of the Northern Frontier, guarding this place together with the City Lord of Donglin!"

"City Lord of the Northern Frontier... but why is he in East Lin City? Isn't he afraid that the Northern Frontier City will be attacked and razed to the ground?"

"This... you're asking me, but who am I supposed to ask!"

"Who cares! With this god of slaughter here, we can feel at ease entering the city!"

"Shh... keep it down! Don't you see those Poison Scorpion Cult people still have their ears pricked up?"

...Low whispers of discussion rose from the crowd. Though they had some doubts in their hearts, it didn't stop their tones from being full of excitement and relief.

With such a powerhouse stationed here, the security of East Lin City undoubtedly had an extra layer of great protection.

Situ Jun ignored the discussions below. He stood on the city tower, gazing toward the distant horizon. The breeze from the Canglan River was still hot, but his eyes were like eternal, unmelting ice.

The Poison Scorpion Cult's dare to be so insolent at the gates of East Lin City was definitely no accident. It seemed these Sects and cults had grown accustomed to lording it over secular regimes.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, the river wind catching his sleeves and making them snap loudly.