"Hehe, Brother Yi was granted special permission to seclude himself for years, so it's normal he doesn't recognize that person. His name is Li Feiyu. He's a Xuan Fighter who was recently sent here. Although he only opened forty-odd Xuan Apertures, his strength is not bad. He once defeated Fellow Daoist Poison Dragon. Plus, being human, he has some fame. However, he also seemed to have received special permission five years ago and has been in seclusion ever since," Tu Gang glanced at Poison Dragon next to him and laughed.

"Hmph, the situation was special back then. I was careless for a moment. Why bring up the past!" Poison Dragon snorted and glared at Tu Gang.

"Human? That's a novelty. Could he also be planning to go to Xuan City to participate in the Martial Arts Assembly?" The blond youth's eyes flashed with contempt upon hearing this.

"Perhaps, otherwise, why would he seclude himself for so many years?" Tu Gang said with a chuckle.

As soon as Han Li sat down, a maid immediately brought him a cup of tea.

He picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"Fellow Daoist Li, long time no see." A voice rang out. It was Gu Qianxun walking over, greeting him with a smile.

Yao Li followed beside her, as cold to Han Li as before, looking up at the sky with an indifferent expression.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, long time no see." Han Li ignored Yao Li and nodded to Gu Qianxun.

"I guessed that with Fellow Daoist Li's strength, Fellow Daoist Chenyang would definitely invite you. I heard that Fellow Daoist Li has been in seclusion for the past few years, and your strength seems to have greatly improved." Gu Qianxun sized Han Li up and down, a glint flashing in her beautiful eyes, and smiled.

"Fellow Daoist Gu is too kind. When it comes to strength improvement, you are probably well-deserved, truly congratulations." Han Li glanced at Gu Qianxun and raised the corner of his mouth.

Gu Qianxun's smile slightly froze.

She had broken through a bottleneck in her cultivation and greatly improved her strength, thanks to two treasures she obtained from the Treasure Vault years ago.

She had kept this a secret and had not told anyone. Moreover, as long as she didn't show it, it was extremely difficult to tell her physical cultivation level from the outside. Han Li could see through her strength at a glance!

Gu Qianxun didn't know that Han Li's physical cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds in the past few years, and his perception was naturally more sensitive. Moreover, his divine sense was incomparably strong, allowing him to see through Gu Qianxun's true strength at a glance.

"I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Li to not only be strong, but also so perceptive. I admire you." Gu Qianxun's expression immediately returned to calmness, and she sat down next to Han Li.

The blond youth in the distance frowned upon seeing this.

"Alright, Fellow Daoist Gu, let's not praise each other. Fellow Daoist Gu has been in Qingyang City longer than I have, so you must know more about the Five City Martial Arts Assembly. I wonder if you can explain it to me." Han Li said with a smile.

Gu Qianxun smiled and was about to speak.

"Haha, I've kept everyone waiting, I'm truly sorry." A hearty laugh came, and Chenyang, dressed in the city lord's attire, walked in from a side door deep in the hall and sat down on the main seat.

Crab Daoist followed silently behind him as before.

Han Li glanced at Crab Daoist, but Crab Daoist stood with his eyes lowered, ignoring him.

Seeing this, Han Li frowned slightly, then relaxed.

"Greetings, City Lord!" Everyone in the hall stood up and bowed.

Han Li and Gu Qianxun also stopped talking and stood up to salute.

"Everyone is a pillar of my Qingyang City, no need to be so polite, please sit down." Chenyang said with a smile, gesturing with both hands.

Everyone sat down upon hearing this, but no one spoke, and the hall was silent.

"The purpose of gathering everyone here today, I believe everyone already knows, is for the Five City Martial Arts Assembly. The date of the assembly is approaching, and it will take a lot of time to travel, so we will set off later, but there are some things that need to be explained to you before we leave," Chenyang said loudly.

"May I ask, City Lord, is there any change in the Martial Arts Assembly?" The blond youth asked.

"Who is that Fellow Daoist?" Han Li glanced at the blond youth and asked softly.

"That's Yi Liya. He has been in seclusion for cultivation all these years, so Fellow Daoist Li, you don't recognize him." Gu Qianxun replied softly.

Han Li's eyes flickered upon hearing this. He had heard of Yi Liya's name for a long time. This person was the chief Xuan Fighter of the Second District, and his strength was recognized by everyone. He could be regarded as the second-highest master in the Xuan Fighter arena, second only to Gu Qianxun.

"There are no changes, but I received news that City Lord E Kui attaches great importance to this Martial Arts Assembly and has set unprecedented rewards. The other three cities also attach great importance to it and have sent their strongest lineups to participate," Chenyang said with a smile.

Hearing this, everyone present was moved.

Han Li's heart also stirred. City Lord E Kui had set such high rewards, could there be any inside story to this Martial Arts Assembly?

"Our Qingyang City is one of the four attached cities, and we must not fall behind in this Martial Arts Assembly. Everyone must strive to live up to expectations and not lose face for our city!" Chenyang said in a solemn tone.

"City Lord, rest assured, we will never lose face for Qingyang City!"

"That's right, this time we must show the people of the other three cities and the main Xuan City our power!" Everyone in the hall clamored and shouted.

"Good, with these words from everyone, I can rest assured. Time is of the essence, let's prepare to set off now." Chenyang smiled and then walked out of the hall first.

Everyone in the hall followed, and the group quickly arrived outside Qingyang City.

The weather was quite clear today, and the ground was still sandy. Looking far into the distance, it was a vast expanse of dim yellow, with sandstorms raging and sweeping into the sky.

A dozen scaled alien beasts were parked here. Their bodies were extremely large and quite handsome. Saddles and other items were tied to the scaled beasts for people to ride.

Chenyang took the lead and climbed onto the back of the foremost black-scaled elephant, and Crab Daoist also climbed up.

The others found their own scaled beasts to ride. There were many scaled beasts, and some acquaintances shared a beast, so it was not crowded.

Han Li looked at an unmanned horse-shaped scaled beast and was about to climb on it.

"Fellow Daoist Li, if you don't mind, why not ride with Chen?" Chenyang suddenly looked over and said with a smile.

Han Li's eyes flickered, he glanced at Crab Daoist next to him, and smiled: "It is my honor to ride with the City Lord."

As soon as the words fell, he tapped the ground with his feet and floated up.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, why not join us as well? The journey is lonely, and it would be good to have more people to talk and relieve boredom." Chenyang looked at Gu Qianxun again and invited.

"I'd be glad to." Gu Qianxun smiled sweetly and also climbed onto the elephant's back.

Chenyang waved his hand, and the black-scaled giant elephant strode forward.

On the ground not far away, Yi Liya's expression was a little ugly upon seeing this.

He snorted coldly and turned to climb onto a giant deer-scaled beast.

The group set off quickly, and the scaled beasts were all extremely fast, quickly disappearing into the vast horizon in the distance.

……

In the blink of an eye, more than two years had passed.

At the end of a dusty plain, a continuous mountain range with towering peaks appeared, like a擎天巨人, lying across the earth.

More than a hundred miles away from the mountain range, a team composed of a dozen scaled alien beasts was moving slowly.

On the back of the leading black-scaled elephant, three people were sitting cross-legged, namely Chenyang, Han Li, and Gu Qianxun.

At this time, Han Li was squinting his eyes, looking through the dusty plain towards the mountain range in front. He saw a vague outline in the shaded area of the mountain, which seemed to be a city with a considerable area.

"City Lord Chen, the city under the mountains ahead should be Xuan City, right?" Han Li withdrew his gaze and asked.

"That's right. That mountain range is called Chongxuan Mountain Range, and Xuan City is built on the shaded side of the mountain, relying on the mountain's momentum. This way, it can be protected from wind disasters and combine the mountain and the city to enhance defense. The construction idea of our Qingyang City is the same, but unfortunately, the scale is too different." Chenyang nodded and smiled.

"With City Lord Chenyang leading, Qingyang City will change a lot in the future. It is impossible to surpass Xuan City, but becoming the head of the four affiliated cities is something to look forward to," Gu Qianxun said with a smile.

"Haha... then I'll take your good words." Chenyang laughed loudly.

The three chatted all the way, and soon arrived at the foot of the city.

Compared to the vague outline they had seen from afar, the hundred-zhang majestic city in front of them seemed even more magnificent and majestic.

On the city walls built entirely of black rocks, huge white-scaled beast star bones were scattered and inlaid, shining with a shimmering luster, which looked very strange.

Han Li knew that this thing was not used for decoration. The power of stars contained in it was similar to the city's protective magic circle, which could enhance the city's defense. This alone was something that Qingyang City could not do.

There were three city gates, the middle one was dozens of zhang high, and the ones on both sides were slightly shorter. Armored soldiers wearing armor and holding weapons were stationed inside and outside the gate.

Although all three gates were open, no one passed through the main gate in the middle. Only people came in and out of the gates on both sides.

Chenyang led Han Li and others directly to the main gate. After showing the city lord's token of Qingyang City to the city guard soldiers, a thick-browed youth in black robes immediately greeted them.

"So it's City Lord Chen and the distinguished guests of Qingyang City, I apologize for not welcoming you from afar. I am Tong Song, and I am responsible for leading you to the City Lord's Mansion," the thick-browed youth introduced himself and said.

"Fellow Daoist Tong, you are too polite. I wonder if the people from the other three cities have arrived?" Chenyang returned the salute and asked.

"The distinguished guests from Tongyu City, Xuanzhi City, and Baiyan City have all arrived. After welcoming you to the City Lord's Mansion, the City Lord will probably meet with you," Tong Song replied.

"It's us who have delayed the time, I'm really sorry." Chenyang said.

"City Lord Chen doesn't need to be like this. You arrived within the scheduled time and didn't delay the time," Tong Song hurriedly waved his hand and said.

"Time is of the essence, then I will trouble Fellow Daoist Tong to lead us to the City Lord's Mansion." Chenyang nodded and said.

Tong Song responded and immediately ordered his subordinates to take the first step and return to the City Lord's Mansion to send a message, while he led the Qingyang City group through the main gate and into Xuan City.