Swallowed Star: Lord of the Wolf

The city guard commander outside the city immediately turned extremely ugly.

It really is Yanlong Mansion! This is troublesome!

He dared not order a forceful attack to intercept without authorization.

The Yanlong Manor's influence in Dragon Ridge City is deeply entrenched, and its lord, Yanlong Divine Lord, is notoriously protective and ruthless. To rashly harm anyone from the Yanlong Manor would have unimaginable consequences.

"We must immediately report to the City Lord's Mansion and inform the City Lord that Yan Bo of Yanlong Prefecture has used the Dragon Eye Shuttle to fight an unidentified Eternal True God in the Zuixianju area." The commander decisively gave the order, while simultaneously directing the city guards to continue maintaining the barrier and closely monitor the situation inside to prevent the battle from getting out of control and spreading.

Within Dragonspine City, countless powerful thoughts intertwined and probed towards the sealed-off area, filled with shock, curiosity, schadenfreude, and deep apprehension.

Daring to make a move in Dragon Ridge City and Yanlong Mansion, and even forcing Yanbo to personally dispatch the Dragon Eye Shuttle, who exactly is that mysterious outsider, Eternal...?

So how exactly did they offend the Yanlong Mansion?

Xu Yang, Gu Ji, and Jiu Wuye were also standing on the roof of a tall building in the distance, quietly watching this unexpected spectacle.

"Wow, Yanlong Mansion? What a show of power! Fighting right here in the city, and the city guards don't even dare to interfere?" Guji exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Beasts are inherently interested in such scenes.

Jiu Wuye's expression was solemn: "Master, it seems that the Yanlong Mansion wields immense power in Dragon Ridge City and acts extremely domineeringly. If we visit them later, I'm afraid..." He was unaware of the relationship between Xu Yang and Yan Bo, but judging from the situation, this trip was not going to be peaceful.

Xu Yang stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"It is a bit domineering..." Xu Yang's lips curled into a strange smile, his gaze finally settling on Yan Bo, "However, this is fine too. It saves us from asking around."

Within the sealed-off area, the battle has reached a fever pitch!
Like a raging fire beast, the Dragon Eye Shuttle pierced through the distorted space with the blazing light of the dragon eye-like gem on its bow. A torrent of crimson energy, containing the laws of fire and enough to terrify even a peak-level Eternal True God, ripped through layers of void like a spear that split the heavens, and slammed into the sword light that was still stubbornly holding on.

This is one of the Dragon Eye Shuttle's true killing moves!

The owner of that solitary sword light—the Eternal True God in green robes—was now as pale as paper, and his aura was no longer as strong as it had been initially. Clearly, he had been greatly exhausted under the combined suppression of the Dragon Eye Shuttle and the two Eternal Guest Elders.

Faced with this deadly blow, an unprecedentedly resolute light erupted in his eyes.

"Too deceiving!"

"Annihilation—No Return!"

He let out a deep, furious roar, and the longsword in his hand emitted a mournful clang, as if he were pouring all his strength, will, and even life into it.

A hazy, condensed sword light, seemingly capable of severing the cycle of cause and effect, surged upstream, carrying a tragic aura of mutual destruction, to meet the torrent of flames!
boom! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
An unprecedented and terrifying explosion erupted within the cordoned-off area; the power of this collision far surpassed any previous one!
However, the hazy sword light was like ice thrown into a raging fire, and it was torn apart and swallowed up by the destructive crimson torrent in less than a breath.

The terrifying shockwave spread out in a visible ring, causing the top floor of Zuixianju to explode violently. The ring-shaped shockwave slammed into the sealed space barrier, causing the entire barrier to twist and deform violently, groaning under the strain, and countless spiderweb-like cracks to appear on its surface.

puff--!
The Eternal True God in green robes was struck as if by lightning. He spat out blood, and the long sword in his hand broke. His protective divine light vanished instantly, and his divine body was thrown backward like a broken sack. He crashed heavily into the spatial barrier and bounced back. His aura suddenly plummeted to the bottom, and he fell into a near-death coma!
His divine power collapsed, his divine body was covered with cracks, and even the core origin of the Eternal True God was severely damaged. If it weren't for his decent realm and strength, he would probably have been reduced to ashes by this attack.

"it's over!"

Beside the Dragon Eye Shuttle, the guest elder carrying two swords had icy eyes. With a flick of his sword, a sharp sword light was about to strike down and finish off this madman who dared to challenge the majesty of the Flame Dragon Mansion.

"stop!"

At this critical moment, outside the sealed-off area, the city guard commander who had been closely monitoring the battle finally found an opportunity to intervene.

After receiving the order, he waited for the moment when the opponent was completely unable to resist and the Yanlong Mansion assassin was about to fall!

"The city lord has ordered! Seize the thugs! Maintain order!" The commander raised his command token high, his voice booming like thunder!

Behind him, several city guard captains at the level of Eternal True Gods exerted their power simultaneously, activating the core authority of the city protection formation.

Om-!
The spatial barrier enveloping the street shook violently and finally shattered under the combined attack from both inside and outside!

Swish, swish, swish...!
Dozens of powerful figures, led by their commander, rushed into the heart of the already devastated battlefield with lightning speed.

Several powerful binding restrictions instantly enveloped the unconscious, falling Eternal True God in blue robes, firmly imprisoning him. At the same time, several other Eternal True God captains warily stood in front of Dragon Eye Shuttle and the two guest elders. Although their aura was clearly weaker, they represented the official will of the City Lord's Mansion.

"Steward Yan!" The commander looked at the hunched figure of Long Jingsuo, his voice tinged with helplessness, and transmitted his voice, "Private fights are strictly prohibited within the city, and killing is even more strictly prohibited! This person has been captured and will be dealt with by the City Lord's Mansion according to the law! I urge the Yanlong Mansion to stop here for the sake of the City Lord!"

The Dragon Eye Shuttle hovered in mid-air, its crimson light slightly subdued.

Yan Bo stood at the head of the shuttle, his gray robe still perfectly in place. His turbid gaze swept over the green-robed Eternal True God, who was imprisoned by the city guards and on the verge of death, and then looked at the city guard captains blocking his way. His face was expressionless.

The swordsman behind him snorted coldly and slowly withdrew his swordplay. The burly gauntlet-wielding retainer also dissipated the murderous aura from his fists.

For them, their goal has been achieved.

Severely injuring this ignorant outsider, capturing him like a dead dog, and having him imprisoned by the City Lord's Mansion in full view of everyone would better demonstrate the majesty and inviolability of the Yanlong Mansion than simply killing him!
As for whether this person lives or dies?
With some follow-up maneuvering, there are plenty of ways to make him die in prison or "die from his injuries."

"Commander, your arrival is just in time." Yan Bo's voice was calm and even, yet carried an invisible pressure. "This madman, within the Drunken Immortal Abode, humiliated my Yanlong Mansion's direct descendants without cause, destroyed property, and even brazenly injured Young Master Qi, showing absolutely no regard for the laws of my Yanlong Mansion and Dragon Ridge City! Such viciousness, harming my family members, and disrupting the peace of my Dragon Ridge City, is an unforgivable crime! The City Lord's Mansion's handling of this matter according to the law is truly a cause for celebration. My Yanlong Mansion... will naturally cooperate."

He placed all the blame on the man in the blue robe.

Yan Qi then poked his head out of the shuttle, pointed at the unconscious man in blue, and cried out while covering his still swollen and painful cheek, "It's him, Commander! He's the one who hit me! He destroyed so many things at Zuixianju! He must be severely punished!"

His tone was full of the smug satisfaction of a petty person who had succeeded.

The commander's lips twitched slightly, inwardly cursing Yan Qi for being such a good-for-nothing. Even Steward Yan said he was seriously injured, yet he still came running out alive and kicking, not even bothering to pretend. But there was nothing he could do but accept the situation.

He knew, of course, that things couldn't be as Yanbo said, but it was obvious which was more important, Yanlong Prefecture or the wandering cultivators from other places.

"Steward Yan, rest assured, Young Master Qi has been frightened. The City Lord's Mansion will definitely investigate the truth, enforce the law impartially, and give Yanlong Mansion a satisfactory explanation," the commander solemnly promised.

“Very well.” Yan Bo nodded slightly, a smile finally appearing on his face. “My Yanlong Mansion has always abided by the law and maintained the stability of Dragonspine City. If this scoundrel hadn’t been so arrogant, I wouldn’t have used the Dragon Eye Shuttle to disturb the entire city. As for the subsequent appeasement of the people and the repair of the damage, Yanlong Mansion will send people to assist the City Lord’s Mansion.” The commander’s lips twitched slightly as he looked at the imprisoned man in blue: “Steward Yan is very understanding and righteous; very good. And this person…”

"Such a villain should naturally be handed over to the city lord's prison for strict guard." Yan Bo said indifferently, not even glancing at the man in blue again, as if he were just a piece of trash. "Young Master Qi, let's go back to the manor."

"Yes, Grandpa Yan!" Yan Qi replied smugly, glancing defiantly at the man in blue being carried away by the city guards.

Om-!
The Dragon Eye Shuttle changed direction, its crimson light receded, and it no longer emitted an oppressive aura, flying steadily towards the Yanlong Mansion.

The two guest advisors also disappeared into the air.

A conflict that shook the entire city was temporarily brought to a close by the overwhelming power of the Yanlong Mansion.

The countless cultivators watching the departing Dragon Eye Shuttle and the seriously injured being carried away all felt the suffocatingly vast shadow and domineering methods of the Yanlong Mansion.

Nobody cared about the truth; all they knew was that the outsider Yongheng who had slapped Yan Qi in the face was finished!
The majesty of Yanlong Mansion was once again etched into the hearts of every living being in Dragonspine City through bloody facts.

Meanwhile, atop a distant high-rise building, Xu Yang, who had taken in all of this, wore an increasingly amused expression.

"Overbearing and protective of his own, shrewd and worldly... This Butler Yan is quite an interesting character," Xu Yang thought to himself. "Wu Ye, prepare the visiting card."

"We'll go directly to his residence and pay him a visit... to the head steward of the Yanlong Manor!"

……

The Dragon Eye Shuttle landed smoothly in the backyard of the Yanlong Mansion.

Yan Bo led Yan Qi off the flying shuttle, and the two guest elders clasped their hands in greeting before leaving silently.

The servants and guards passing by the mansion all bowed respectfully upon seeing Yan Bo, their eyes filled with awe and pride, clearly having witnessed what had just happened.

Yan Qi couldn't wait to run off to show off his "glory" to his cronies.

When Yanbo returned to his elegant courtyard where he planted the Dragon's Breath Crystal Vine, the cold indifference on his face had long since faded, and he had regained his usual calm and composure.

He picked up the jade shears, as if the conflict that had shaken the entire city had never happened, and continued pruning the unfinished crystal vine. This was his way of cultivating composure; even if the sky were to fall, he would still do what needed to be done meticulously.

However, this tranquility did not last long.

About half an hour later, a true god servant dressed in servant's clothes, with a respectful yet slightly fearful expression, quickly walked into the courtyard and bowed from a distance: "Reporting to the head steward, there are guests outside the mansion gate with visiting cards requesting an audience."

"Guests?" Yan Bo paused slightly in his movements, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Yanlong Mansion holds a prestigious position, and every day many powerful individuals come to curry favor, seek help, or trade with it. Most of them are received and handled by designated personnel, and ordinary visiting cards simply cannot reach it.

"Reporting to the head steward, it is an eternal true god." The servant lowered his head even further, his voice tinged with nervousness. "That lord has an extraordinary presence. He said he is an old friend and has important business to discuss with you, head steward. The visiting card... specifically requests to be presented to you personally. I dare not neglect this request, so I have come to inquire."

They specifically requested to see me?

A hint of doubt flashed in Yanbo's eyes. He had a special status, serving as both steward and manager of the core treasury, but he rarely personally greeted outsiders who were visiting for the first time.

"Bring me the visiting card." Yan Bo put down the jade scissors and stretched out his hand.

The servant quickly presented a jade token with both hands, its style simple yet its material exceptionally fine.

Yan Bo took the jade token; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, clearly not an ordinary item. He waved his hand: "I understand. You may leave. This matter must not be made public."

"Yes!" The servant felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly and respectfully withdrew.

Only Yanbo remained in the courtyard.

He did not open the invitation card immediately, but first carefully scanned the restrictions around the courtyard with his mind. After confirming that everything was in order, he then focused his gaze on the jade invitation card.

The cover of the jade tablet is blank, without any signature or emblem.

Yan Bo remained calm, but with a hint of scrutiny, he slowly opened the jade scroll.

What came into view were several lines of powerful, divine characters imbued with the rhythm of laws: "Gu You pays respects to Steward Yanbo of Yanlong Mansion."

There was no indication of any sect or faction at the end of the document.

Upon seeing the name "Gu You," Yan Bo was puzzled; it was an unfamiliar name.

There was no such person before!
His gaze habitually continued downwards, looking at the blank space below the signature—where the visitor's mark or the introducer's sign usually appeared.

However, the moment his gaze fell upon that blank space!
Om-!
Yanbo's mind felt as if it had been struck by an invisible bolt of chaotic lightning!

His pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints, and the unchanging composure and calmness on his face, etched with the lines of time, instantly collapsed and crumbled!
Instead, there was an extreme shock and disbelief!
His breath hitched, and his fingers holding the jade token trembled uncontrollably. The warm jade token seemed to turn into a scorching hot iron in an instant, almost slipping out of his hand!

Below the blank signature, in an inconspicuous corner of the jade tablet, was an extremely small yet exceptionally complex rune mark.

This mark...this mark!!

Deep within Yanbo's soul, like a dormant volcano that had been dormant for millions of years, suddenly erupted. A fragment of memory that he had sealed with the most powerful soul restriction, regarded as an absolute taboo, and even dared not recall in his dreams, burst forth like a flood, violently breaking through all shackles.

“Jin…?!” A roar originating from the deepest part of his soul, filled with endless loyalty and grief, almost burst out of Yanbo’s throat.

He abruptly covered his mouth with his other hand, forcefully suppressing the earth-shattering scream.

Even so, his body continued to tremble violently, his hunched back taut, and his cloudy old eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins, a mixture of horror, excitement, and an indescribable thrill! (End of Chapter)