226: Chapter 226: Reading Eyes

The next morning, before dawn.

Xiao Ran was sitting in meditation in the courtyard of the Patrol Guard station, the Guixu Vortex within his body slowly rotating, and spiritual energy surging through his Meridians like a tidal wave.

He had been stuck at the Middle Stage of the Soul Transformation Stage for some time, and that invisible Bottleneck lay across his Dantian like an iron wall.

No matter how he tried to break through, it remained unmoved.

"Does this really require me to sell my body?" Xiao Ran muttered to himself.

Just then, a guard hurried into the courtyard, cupped his hands, and said, "Captain Xiao, the City Lord requests your presence."

Xiao Ran opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance passing through his pupils. He knew the City Lord was likely summoning him this time to discuss the ruins.

Therefore, Xiao Ran immediately stood up, straightened his robes, and followed the guard toward the City Lord's Mansion.

The streets were sparsely populated, with only a few early-rising vendors setting up their stalls, and the morning breeze blew, carrying the unique sandy scent of the Wilderness Lands.

City Lord's Mansion, study. City Lord Li Qingge was already waiting there. "Sit."

Xiao Ran took a seat. City Lord Li Qingge personally poured tea and pushed it in front of Xiao Ran. The tea soup was emerald green with a fragrant aroma; it was the Jianhao tea, a specialty of the Sword Qi Great Wall, which had a very low yield and was only available in the City Lord's Mansion.

"The security in the east of the city has improved a lot over the past few days, and the Zhou Family has also become obedient. You have done well." City Lord Li Qingge picked up his teacup, took a sip, and offered appropriate praise.

Xiao Ran cupped his hands: "I am just following the Law, sir."

City Lord Li Qingge waved his hand and went straight to the point. "Xiao Ran, I called you here because there is something I need to tell you."

Xiao Ran's heart tightened, knowing the main topic had arrived. "Are you aware that an ancient ruin will soon emerge at the border between the Sword Qi Great Wall and the Wilderness Lands?"

Xiao Ran nodded: "I have heard of it."

It was easier to talk if he already knew. City Lord Li Qingge immediately said: "This ruin appears once every hundred years. It was a battlefield during the ancient war between the Human Race and the Yao Race, and it is the largest ruin with the most abundant rewards among all of them."

"Any single Legacy, Magic Treasure, or Heaven And Earth Treasure inside is enough to drive a Cultivator at the Soul Transformation Stage crazy, or even allow a Sect to rise."

He paused, his gaze landing on Xiao Ran's face. "However, the ruins have restrictions; only those below the Void Refinement Stage can enter. Both the Human Race and the Yao Race have one hundred spots each, and I am responsible for distributing the spots for the Human Race."

Xiao Ran felt no waves in his heart, as he had known this news for a long time. "I have twenty spots in my hand. Eighteen have been given to the juniors cultivated by the City Lord's Mansion, and as for the remaining two..." The City Lord paused deliberately when he said this.

If Xiao Ran didn't know what to do at this point, his emotional intelligence would be too low. "Lord City Lord, I request to participate." Xiao Ran volunteered.

The City Lord nodded, full of smiles. This Xiao Ran was sensible! Thus, the City Lord half-reluctantly gave the spot to Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran quickly stood up and cupped his hands: "Thank you, City Lord!"

City Lord Li Qingge raised his hand to signal him to sit down: "Don't be in such a hurry to thank me; I have conditions." Xiao Ran sat back down.

City Lord Li Qingge picked up a Jade Slip from the desk and pushed it in front of Xiao Ran. The Jade Slip was emerald green, with faint spiritual light flowing on its surface; it was clearly not an ordinary item.

"This is a map of the ruins. I need you to go to this location and retrieve a bead." Xiao Ran picked up the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense.

In an instant, a grand map unfolded in his mind. Towering mountain ranges, rushing rivers, deep canyons, ancient ruins... In the center of the map, a red light spot was particularly eye-catching, marked with the words 'Zhenyue Bead'.

"Zhenyue Bead?" Xiao Ran looked up. City Lord Li Qingge nodded: "That was the relic of a powerful Human Race figure from the ancient era. It contains powerful Earth-element Law and is crucial to the City Lord's Mansion."

Xiao Ran put away the Jade Slip and said solemnly: "I will do my best, sir." City Lord Li Qingge nodded with satisfaction.

"Xiao Ran, you are an outsider and have no Foundation in the Sword Qi Great Wall, but you are capable in your work, and I will not treat you unfairly. If you can survive this trip to the ruins, your future will be limitless."

The City Lord subconsciously drew a big cake. "Remember, there are not only Treasure Troves in the ruins, but also the Yao Race. The Yao Monarchs of the Yao Race will also enter, and their strength is not below that of a Human Race Soul Transformation Cultivator. You must not only fight against enemies, but also against the Yao. Coming back alive is more important than anything else."

Xiao Ran stood up and cupped his hands: "I understand, sir." City Lord Li Qingge waved his hand: "Go! Prepare well; we depart in half a month."

Xiao Ran turned and walked out of the study with long strides. The sunlight shone on him, warm and cozy.

In the Soul Link, Li Changsheng's voice came through: "Xiao Ran, did the City Lord find you?"

Xiao Ran said: "I just came out. He gave me a spot and asked me to help him find a bead."

Li Changsheng said: "I also received a summons; I'm going this afternoon." Xiao Ran nodded: "The City Lord is a crafty old fox. He gave us the spots to use us as his pawns in the ruins. However, everyone gets what they need, so it's not a loss."

Li Changsheng laughed: "That's true. It would be foolish not to enter the ruins." The two cut off the Soul Link.

In the afternoon, the sun was scorching. Li Changsheng was presiding over a dispute in the main hall of the Judges Office; two Loose Cultivators were arguing endlessly over a Spirit Stone.

He slapped the gavel and sentenced each to ten strokes of the rod, after which the two left sheepishly.

A guard walked in and cupped his hands: "Judge Li, the City Lord requests your presence."

Li Changsheng put down the gavel and stood up. He had changed into a clean green robe, wore his Judge token at his waist, and followed the guard toward the City Lord's Mansion.

City Lord's Mansion, study. City Lord Li Qingge was still sitting behind the desk, and the rice paper in front of him was already full of writing. Seeing Li Changsheng enter, he put down his brush. "Sit."

Li Changsheng sat down. City Lord Li Qingge personally poured tea again and pushed it in front of him.

"You have handled the case of the Luoxia Sect Disciple well these past few days." Li Changsheng cupped his hands: "You overpraise me, City Lord. I am just following the Law."

City Lord Li Qingge nodded and said seriously: "Li Changsheng, I called you here regarding the ruins."

He briefly explained the situation of the ruins and then said: "I have twenty spots in my hand. Eighteen have been given to the juniors cultivated by the City Lord's Mansion, and the remaining two..." Li Changsheng immediately volunteered.

The City Lord again took the opportunity to get off the hook. Li Changsheng stood up and cupped his hands: "Thank you, City Lord!"

City Lord Li Qingge waved his hand to signal him to sit down, picked up a Jade Slip from the desk, and pushed it in front of Li Changsheng. The Jade Slip was silvery-white, with faint Sword Intent flowing on its surface, and it felt cold to the touch.

"This is a map of the ruins. I need you to go to this location and retrieve a sword." Li Changsheng picked up the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense.

On the map, a blue light spot was particularly eye-catching, marked with the words 'Zhan Yao Sword'. "Zhan Yao Sword?"

City Lord Li Qingge nodded: "That was the relic of a Sword Cultivator from the ancient era. The sword contains powerful Sword Intent Law and is crucial to the City Lord's Mansion."

Li Changsheng put away the Jade Slip and said solemnly: "I will do my best, sir."

City Lord Li Qingge stood up and walked to the window, turning his back to him. "Li Changsheng, you are the Saint of the Supreme Dao Palace and have no Foundation in the Sword Qi Great Wall, but you are capable in your work, and I will not treat you unfairly."

After speaking, he turned around, his gaze like a sword. "There are not only Treasure Troves in the ruins, but also the Yao Race. You must not only fight against people, but also against the Yao. Coming back alive is the most important thing."

Li Changsheng stood up and cupped his hands: "I understand, sir." City Lord Li Qingge waved his hand: "Go, we depart in half a month."

Li Changsheng turned and walked out of the study. In the Soul Link, Xiao Ran's voice came through: "Changsheng, what did the City Lord say to you?"

Li Changsheng said: "He gave me a spot and asked me to help him find a sword." Xiao Ran laughed: "Everyone gets what they need. We might even be able to look out for each other in the ruins."

Li Changsheng nodded: "That's true." The two cut off the Soul Link.