"Do you still not retreat? Do you wish to offend the Holy City?"
Gu Jian cast his gaze towards the other experts, his words laced with killing intent. The Holy City held absolute authority and would not tolerate any presumptuous behavior.
The many experts were displeased, but they did not leave immediately. Instead, they stood their ground, seemingly prepared to confront the people of the Holy City.
Even Lu Fan frowned. He had finally encountered a tomb of a deity. If he didn't explore it, how could he ever feel at ease?
"Little fellow, don't be reckless. These are people from the Holy City!"
Ancestor Tianhuen whispered, "I've heard that in the entire Desolate Ancient World, anyone who offends the Holy City meets a terrible end!"
"Do people from the Holy City have the right to act so outrageously?"
Lu Fan spoke, his voice carrying a hint of displeasure. After all, this was a tomb of a deity, belonging to no particular faction. The arrogance of the Holy City's people was quite irksome.
"In the face of absolute power, no one dares to act wildly!" Ancestor Tianhuen stated frankly. "Don't be foolish. If you truly make a move against the Holy City's people, no one will be able to save you then!"
Lu Fan felt somewhat helpless and didn't say more, leaving directly. He had not yet reached the Heavenly Lord realm, only the peak of Immortal Emperor. If he were to truly oppose the Holy City, it would likely be a path to certain death.
Even City Lord Bai Di and City Lord Wushuang had departed early, which was enough to illustrate the immense power of the Holy City.
"I heard that within the Holy City, there are experts at the eighth level of the Heavenly Lord realm. I wonder what their true strength is!"
Zhao Xiaotian spoke with a serious expression. If one could reach the ninth level of the Heavenly Lord realm, they could touch upon the threshold of demigods. These were truly terrifying existences.
As for them, they were merely at the second level of the Heavenly Lord realm, a vast distance away.
As everyone departed, Gu Jianyi, accompanied by many experts from the Holy City, proceeded to surround the entire tomb of the deity, preventing anyone from approaching.
Once the divine aura completely vanished, they would sweep through the tomb of the deity. At that time, anything the higher echelons did not desire would be discarded for others. This was the consistent practice of the Holy City.
The crowd left the tomb of the deity but did not truly give up. Instead, they headed to the nearby Snowfall City. Snowfall City, like Wushuang City, was one of the five great cities, but its scenery was vastly different.
Snowfall City was perpetually covered in snow, resembling an icy wonderland. As they walked on the snow, the people could clearly feel a chill.
Within Snowfall City, however, the lights were bright, with vendors and common folk bustling about.
These were merely ordinary cultivators from other realms, captured and brought to the Desolate Ancient World as slaves. Through years of evolution, they had also become citizens of the Desolate Ancient World.
"City Lord Wushuang and City Lord Bai Di have entered Snowfall Mansion!"
Zhao Xiaotian remarked, "Should we go and join the excitement?"
"With our status, I fear we are not qualified!" Lu Fan shook his head. "They are all Heavenly Lords, and moreover, they are City Lords!"
"Although our strength is slightly weaker, compared to others, we are still outstanding. You shouldn't underestimate yourself!" Zhao Xiaotian said earnestly.
Lu Fan gave an awkward smile, unsure how to respond. Just as Zhao Xiaotian had said, their combat power in the Desolate Ancient World could indeed be considered above average.
However, compared to those truly powerful individuals, the gap was still too great.
"If my guess is correct, the several City Lords are gathered here to plot against the Holy City!" Ancestor Tianhuen chuckled. "It's a pity that even if all four cities were combined, they might not be a match for the Holy City, especially since the Holy City has experts at the eighth level of the Heavenly Lord realm presiding over it!"
"You are quite perceptive!"
Lu Fan gave him a side-eye. "I just don't know how many Heavenly Lords at the eighth level there are within this Holy City!"
"You kid have quite the ambition, even thinking about how many there are!"
Ancestor Tianhuen shot him a look. "A single one can already deter the entire Desolate Ancient World. Do you really think that the Heavenly Lord realm can be crossed so easily? A small progression in any minor realm is harder to achieve than a major realm in the past!"
"Is it that exaggerated?"
Lu Fan was slightly surprised. He hadn't understood before, but now he suddenly felt that the higher one climbed, the more difficult it became.
Beside the tomb of the deity, Gu Jianyi stood, his gaze fixed upon it, his eyes gleaming.
"I wonder if there is anything I need within the tomb of the deity!"
"Young Master, rest assured. Since it is a tomb of a deity, there will certainly be many good things!"
The black snake elder beside him chuckled. "The immediate priority is to seal off the entire region, to prevent other experts from the Desolate Ancient World from coming and disturbing the tomb of the deity!"
"Who dares to act rashly when the Holy City makes a move!"
Gu Jianyi's expression was cold, exuding an imposing aura.
"Young Master may not know, but those who come to the Desolate Ancient World are all seeking an opportunity to become gods. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, so how could they easily miss it!" the black snake elder stated frankly. "Therefore, preparations must be made early to avoid unforeseen complications. After all, in the Desolate Ancient World, besides the Holy City, there are also the other four great cities!"
"The other four great cities?"
Gu Jianyi burst into laughter, utterly dismissive. "Mere gluttons and useless individuals, worthy of being compared to the Holy City?"
The black snake elder was slightly taken aback, his face instantly showing embarrassment. Gu Jianyi's words were too arrogant.
After all, a long, long time ago, it wasn't the Holy City that dominated. The five great cities all had peerless experts, and they were on par with each other.
The current situation was merely because the numerous experts from the five great cities had long since retired. Some had already become gods, while others had seen through worldly affairs and left the Desolate Ancient World.
This was why the Holy City was teeming with experts, while the other four great cities lacked any peerless figures.
Within the Snowfall City Lord's Mansion, four figures sat cross-legged, their gazes meeting, smiles gracing their lips.
"It has been many years since we last met. Your cultivation has advanced considerably!"
City Lord Wushuang chuckled. "Among the four of us, my strength is the weakest. It seems my Wushuang City is the weakest among the five cities!"
"You cannot say that. Wushuang City possesses the Wushuang Divine Sword, left behind by a forefather of Wushuang City upon achieving godhood. Perhaps even compared to the Holy City, it would not be inferior in any aspect!" City Lord Snowfall chuckled.
"It is still Snowfall who speaks so kindly!" City Lord Wushuang smiled. "However, how do you plan to handle the upcoming matters?"
"The Holy City has always been overbearing. Now that the tomb of the deity has appeared, they wish to claim it for themselves!" Bai Di stated. "Many experts in the Desolate Ancient World have already expressed their discontent. If the four great cities were to rally them, it would surely garner popular support."
"But doing so would offend the Holy City!"
City Lord Snowfall frowned. "Within the Desolate Ancient World, you should be well aware of the price of offending the Holy City! There is no need for me to elaborate!"