A King's Entrance (New)

Thousands of miles from the Beast Mountain Range stood a city spanning over ten thousand square miles into the horizon. There were mountains and valleys in the background of the city. From the absence of fancy buildings and posh architecture, one can deduce it is located in the rural, backwater parts of this planet, similar to a village tens of thousands of miles away from the city.

Strolling into the city, one can see tens of thousands of human cultivators and mundane citizens passively roaming the city and living in harmony. Merchants and vendors commenced their businesses and daily activities, but another noticeable thing was the lack of goods and products at the merchants' tables and stalls.

There were also refugees and asylum seekers found all within the city. It doesn't require a genius to discover that the city was both in an economic crisis and wartime. Many lay sick and homeless on the roads, their numbers forming a large crowd on the main street throughout the city.

Continuing from the crowded parts of the outer city, deep within the core areas of the city, where the aristocrats and higher echelons reside, a massive structure stood three stories tall. The structure seemingly serves as the administrative building hall for leaders and government of the city.

Within the spacious hall of the administrative building, two groups of men sat in rows on both sides of the hall, with a leading chair centered on a slightly high platform facing the entrance. Sitting on the leader chair was a mature man, seeming to be in his early forties with black hair and strands of grey within. The man had a slim physique and black hair; he had darkened eyes but a calm expression as he seemed to be listening to the group of men.

On the left row of the leading chair, a group in blue-colored but different-style attires, with arrogant and prideful faces. Their demeanors were condescending, and disregarding everyone in the room as if they held the position of authority. Leading the group was an elderly man with black hair and a fully grown beard of six inches; his attire was the most luxurious in the room. The man held a superior aura as if stating he was the strongest in the room; around him were four other men standing behind him with respectful attitudes.

On the right row were four elderly men, their ages resembling late fifties and early sixties. The elders wore luxurious attires, ones surpassing the leader person even. One would mistake the elders below to be the leaders rather than subjects, seeing the drastic difference in their attires and demeanors. Each elder portrayed an arrogant attitude when facing the leader person, but upon meeting eyes with the opposite group, they would bow their heads in respect and servitude, ignorant of their city lord and his status.

Looking at the calm and confident expressions of both parties, the leader, being the city lord, maintained silence as they spoke. He held an impassive and calculating attitude as he side-glanced at the group currently speaking, the elders.

"City Lord Shi, I, Chen Liang, think this matter has become quite absurd; why do we keep accepting asylum seekers and refugees in the city when our food supplies and resources can barely serve us, the citizens? It leaves me baffled. Do our lives perhaps mean less to you compared to them?"

"I, Guo Fong, second that, City Lord. The streets are plagued with the sick and disabled, a quarter of our army was wiped out a few weeks ago, and now we entrust a mere Spirit Accumulation realm cultivator to lead half of our forces? What if, despite the intelligence and information we provided her, she still fails? Are you ready to face the consequences of the total economic breakdown?"

"As someone who has been in this city since birth and hates to see its downfall due to incompetent leadership, I, Shu Meng, must also add that you, the City Lord, are sick and therefore incapable of fulfilling your duties. And if we continue blindly following you on this path, you will not only hasten your Shi family's demise but also bring the entire Dan Shi City along with you."

"…, Shi Long, I, Wang Feng, won't pretend anymore; I will say what my fellow elders here are considerate of saying. The city is in serious debt; we have exhausted all our Qi Core Mines, and even worse, we are denying assistance from the Ju Empire. We, the elders, are tired of your incompetent and sympathetic leadership.

And don't get me started with your daughter. Not only did you appoint her commander, but you also tolerated her stupidity. If only you were wise and had given Shi Ling to marry Bei Chong, or even better, Bei Feng Jian, all this mess wouldn't have happened. But you allow your blind affection to cloud your judgment from making reasonable decisions.

We are also here today to vote for your abdication as city lord; your stubbornness and foolish regard for your daughter's words have left our once great city in chaos and embarrassment. You must also surrender the Qi Core Mines to compensate for your foolish spending to support peasants.

Done speaking, the elders stood silent as they stared at the Chi patriarch; the other group also expectantly waited for the patriarch's reply to his elder's disrespectful comments and complaints.

But staring at the group disappointedly, the Shi patriarch scoffed at first as he began speaking,

"Four traitors scratching each other's backs like girls in a bathhouse, how laughable."

Hearing this, the four elders expressed discontented faces as they tried to voice their thoughts, but interrupting them with his hand raised, the Shi patriarch continued,

"Spare me your rants. You all claim to care about the city, and yet all the forces that deployed were members of my Shi family. Where is your devotion to the city in sending forces? You whine about expending resources and supplies for peasants, but yet these very peasants are our loyal subjects who, instead of betraying our family and siding with the Bei family, were instead attacked, and their villages pillaged.

Should we send them away when they need us the most? Mind you, their sacrifices and hard work are the reason you all can sit here arrogantly and utterly disgracefully words of abandoning them.

And you, Shu Meng, you question my strength and capability; how about you step from your group of snakes and challenge me? Let's see if I'm incompetent and incapable of my duties as City Lord."

"…"

But turning to the elder sitting in the forefront of the group, the Shi patriarch's face suddenly became serious and threatening as he slowly clenched his fist, his energy erupting and descending on the elder as he spoke,

"And you, Wang Feng, who gave you the audacity to voice your unrequested opinions about my family and who my daughter should marry. Do you think becoming a dog for the Bei family and Ju Empire would exempt you from me killing you? You think you are qualified to overthrow a position inherited in my family for centuries?"

Raising his left hand, the Shi patriarch and city lord began choking the elder from afar using his energy as the elder's face paled and darkened with horror and dread.

The elder held his throat as he knelt on the ground suffocating, he raised his head and looked at the City Lord, only to see his resolute face, thus sending a wave of chilling dread down his spine knowing that if things continue like this, his death would be a possibility. But desperately turning to the group opposite them, the elder widened his eyes as if pleading for the other party to intervene.

Looking at the elder's pathetic state, none of the blue-attire group members expressed sympathy or intervened, not even the elders beside the choking elder. Everyone knows in the cultivation world, your words are but yours alone to stand on and defend; your voice should be as loud as the size of your fist, or else death would be your guest. As one can see, despite being in a group, the elder was still responsible for his words and comments; in his case, his mouth was bigger than his fist.

But then, "How dare you disregard an envoy of the Ju Empire? You must be courting death!" The leader from the other party spoke; his energy also erupted and overshadowed the city lord's energy, basically canceling it. But unlike the city lord, whose energy was meant to suffocate, the man's energy carried hints of killing intent within as it descended on the city lord.

Met with the pressuring Qi, the city lord maintained his demeanor as he stared at the man, his eyes also becoming serious as he galvanized his killing intent, but knowing the repercussions of even releasing a tinge of killing intent towards the man, the city lord retracted his killing intent as he said,

"And who does the Ju Empire think they are to meddle in my city's business? Centuries ago, my forefathers helped build the very empire you so arrogantly boast of; then, you were mere beggars to our Shi family. After centuries of serving as dogs to sects, you now sit in my home and declare hostility to us?" His darkened eyes became more exhausted as blood leaked from his eyes and nose.

But listening to the city lord, the man retracted his Qi energy as he scoffed and said,

"Hmph! The Ju Empire was indeed built with the blood and sweat of the Shi family, but that's all you were, pawns for the Ju ancestors to use. But you should be grateful because serving as pawns for the Ju Empire will be the only and biggest accomplishment your family can boast of.

And as for who we are, we are the peacekeepers of this continent, but I doubt someone who's only been to the Ju Capital knows of what I speak; after all, your little city isn't even worth our attention. And as for who we are, we are the peacekeepers of this continent, but I doubt someone who's only been to the Ju Capital knows of what I speak; after all, your little city isn't even worth our attention.

"—But yet here you are, using the Bei family as pawns and recruiting my council of elders to rid me of my title as city lord, ultimately granting you access to our thousand-year fortune of Qi Core Mines buried underneath the city. You think you are the first; believe me, you are not, and I guarantee you, like the rest before you, as long as our Shi family is alive, Dan Shi City shall forever remain standing."

The city lord said, blood drooling down his nose and other apertures as he brazenly stared at the Ju Empire envoy. His expression was fearless and resolute.

Staring at the city lord, the man scoffed condescendingly as he said, "Humph! A cat trying to be a tiger, pathetic!"

Suddenly, the massive hall gates pushed open as a male soldier rushed in. He stored his weapon within a spatial ring on his finger as he walked respectfully towards the city lord.

Seeing the guard, the two groups suddenly exchanged gazes, the elders even assuming pleasant expressions as they watched the shocked look on the guard's face.

'Our mission was a success; they failed and must have lost all of their forces. Maybe Bei Feng Jian even captured Shi Ling, which will make it a lot easier for us to kill this bastard. You wait; you dare humiliate me?! I shall take pleasure in watching the last flame of hope vanish from your eyes once you learn that they failed, and your daughter was captured.'

'Shu Meng, I heard from our spies within the army that General Chun was caught heading for the city and got assassinated?'

'Yes, the envoy is quite the intelligent fellow. He had provided the information and even calculated and predicted what that smart little witch would do once they entered the beast mountain range and encountered the eight-level beast.'

'If that's the case, then it's solved; that little witch is finally out of our way, and once this little brat Shi Long learns of their defeat, the envoy will take action immediately, ending the Shi family once and for all.'

The elders exchanged internal thoughts using their energies as they watched the guard walk up to the city lord, his face still covered in shock and disbelief.

Observing the soldier, the Ju Empire's envoy couldn't help but discern the warrior's expression. Hmm? This guard, his expression is not of worry or horror, but rather shock and disbelief, as if seeing the impossible.'

The city lord wiped the blood from his face and lips as he watched the guard salute him with cupped hands. But seeing the guard's expression, the city lord expressed concern as he asked,

"Forget salutations, speak! What is it?"

"Ye-yes city lord. There is an army approaching the city, and after scouting the party, it seems to be the Mistress."

"Ling'er is back?! Are you certain it's them, how many of them are there?"

"Yes, city lord, I wouldn't mistake anyone else for the Mistress. From our investigation, it appears their number remains the same as weeks ago." The guard said.

Hearing this, a wave of shock erupted within the hall. The elders desperately exchanged gazes as they stared at the soldier. Even the envoy and his party lost their aloof countenances, with the envoy slightly erupting with killing intent as if he had failed an important task.

Not able to stand it anymore, Wang Meng bellowed at the soldier.

"Nonsense, are you even aware of what you are saying?! How could they have a complete roster of twenty thousand troops when they reported losing four thousand two weeks ago? Have you been malingering around, boy?!"

"No elder, I am reporting it as I saw it; there is indeed an army of twenty thousand and two approaching the city now, and…" The guard paused as he stared at the city lord, his face hesitant to say the words.

"And what?! Speak, boy!!" The elders bellowed at the soldier simultaneously, even unleashing their energy at him to pressure the information out of him.

But casually waving his hand, the city lord dispelled the energies as he said, "Enough!"

He then rose from his seat and approached the guard, "Rise, soldier, what is your name?"

"Bu Men, city lord."

"Good. Now, Bu Men, tell me, what else did you see? Are they being chased by another army into the city?" The city lord asked, his hands placed over the warrior's shoulders and calming him with his energy.

"No, city lord, it's not that. The thing is, behind the army, a massive python beast is being dragged along. After investigating it, we discovered that it resembled the eight-level Screeching Scaled Python beast.

Hearing this, even the city lord lost interest in the soldier; he even suspected that this soldier must have been whoring about and is still drunk from last night.

But before the city lord could say anything,

'ALARM BELL! ALARM BELL! ALARM BELL!'

Not sparing a second more on the soldier, the city lord's face turned serious and menacing as he flashed from the hall and darted towards the city gates. But before the city lord could even move an inch, the envoy and his entourage were already blurs that flashed past him as they headed for the city entrance. The elders, although the slowest in the room, didn't spare any effort as they also darted out of the hall, their speeds faster than the previous Shi Ling if compared.

All of them left the guard still in shock and disbelief with a sweaty face.

…

Five miles away from the city, the group of over twenty thousand army troops marched synchronously towards the city, their faces energetic and revitalized, as if they weren't the same army that was massacred and beaten two days ago. The army of twenty thousand, which previously reported mass casualties of at least five thousand weeks ago, was now returning with the exact number they left with, and with no casualties at that. If one were to add reasoning, they would claim they just went for a stroll and returned the same day.

Of course, this is not true, but as for why every member who was reported dead was now alive and marching with the army, only three in the army knew. The three are Athena, Anastasia, and the silver-haired Patrick Alexander King, who seems to be dragging the carcass of the eight-level screeching Scaled Python beast by its large fangs.

Patrick rode on a stout black horse wearing his previous attire, his robe acting as a cape as he dragged the beast in between the army. The army was divided into two halves, ten thousand on each side, leaving a wide two-hundred-meter gap in the middle in which Patrick effortlessly dragged the ten-ton beast with his right hand.

A few meters away from Patrick, Anastasia, and Athena led the army; they both rode white horses and wore their infinity dresses, which assumed the forms of beautifully detailed and tight-fitting female warrior garments. They both wore black and gold designs, matching their husband in style and aura.

On the left and right sides of Anastasia were General Chun and General Wu. General Wu, who was killed by Bei Feng Jian, is now alive and revitalized as he proudly marches beside and behind his mistress, leading the left part of the army as if he came from a conquest. General Chun, also proclaimed dead, now alive and well next to her mistress, leading the right side as they marched to the city.

As the army approached the city, they suddenly saw another group of cultivators lining outside the city gates, armed and ready for the oncoming party. Standing before the group was the city lord, the four family elders, and the envoy's entourage. Within mere minutes of the city's alarm sounding, over fifty thousand troops were already stationed outside the city, ready for battle, and their numbers seemed to be increasing.

Standing in the forefront, the city lord, Shi Long, held an enthusiastic face as he stared into the distance. At his cultivation level, seeing tens of miles away was expected, let alone a few miles away, his daughter was from him. But the city lord's face suddenly turned baffled and doubtful as he noticed the size of the army; he frowned as he investigated again.

Like the city lord, the elders and even the emperor's envoy also stared at the army drawing ever closer with disbelief, their expressions more discombobulated than the city lord himself. This was because the army they had reported casualties and deaths about was now returning with the same amount they left with. And there didn't seem to be any casualties or injuries, let alone deaths.

But what completely shattered the elders' realities was when they saw General Chun, alive, well, and even energetic. The same General Chun whose ambush and death they had orchestrated a day ago while she was returning to the city to request assistance was now marching with the group.

But while the elders were busy challenging their realities and beliefs, the city lord and the envoy had their sights somewhere else. And that was the massive, long beast carcass being dragged behind the army, leaving a storm of dust in its wake. But their attention shifted from the beast to the individual holding and casually dragging it as if pulling a horse.

Seeing the individual behind Anastasia and another woman, the envoy, and the city lord exchanged gazes as they each saw the disbelief in each other's eyes. The envoy couldn't help but swallow his spit in trepidation as he watched how effortlessly the unknown silver-haired individual was dragging the famous eight-level beast king of the beast mountain range.

'This should be impossible; it's even said that the screeching scaled python is the king of beasts in the Beast Mountain Rage, and its attacks are so deadly that killing a Spirit King realm fifth stage like me would be as effortless as manhandling a child. This is bad!

As the envoy, I must hurriedly relay this news to his imperial majesty. To think someone can kill and drag an eight-level beast on the Spirit Emperor level, and he is in a backwater location like Dan Shi City. The emperor should be made aware immediately.'

The envoy thought to himself as the army approached from less than a mile away; now he turned and side-glanced a member in his group as he signaled. The male member cupped his hands and nodded to the envoy after he stepped back and vanished from the scene, his figure merging and disappearing with the shadows with ease.

Unlike the envoy's group, who only reacted with doubt and suspicion, the four elders rained sweat on their faces as they finalized their doubts. General Chun was indeed alive, and from the presence of all twenty thousand troops, their plan was discovered and failed miserably. Their hearts pounded with dread as they stared at the city lord, especially Wang Feng, who was almost choked to death earlier. His face became the most distorted as he thought of the city lord killing him today once his daughter exposes their secrets.

'Heaven's curse! That little witch played us all; she must have discovered our plan and sent a false report to give us a false sense of advantage; maybe they didn't even go to the location we provided for the ambush.'

'Nonsense, then how do you explain the mountain beast being dragged behind her? Something must have happened, and from my calculations, it has something to do with that man dragging the beast. Could he be an unknown powerhouse traveling about and must have stumbled on the army being attacked?'

'That could be true. But a powerhouse strong enough to kill a Spirit Emperor-level beast should be an elder within a sect and wouldn't bother with a backwater location like ours. So why is this one accompanying Shi Ling and even bringing the beast with him? It couldn't be that he is also aware of the hidden fortune beneath the city and is interested, right?'

'I could care less now. At least we know Shi Long is only suspicious now, but once that little witch speaks, he will have the evidence to execute us. Best now to admit our ties with the Ju Empire and be protected by the envoy than await our deaths.'

…

Minutes later, the army finally reached the city gates, and as massive as the city was, so was the entrance, which was a mile wide.

"Stand down! The Mistress approaches; all warriors stand down!"

An elderly man standing beside the city lord and seeming to be one of his trusted advisors signaled to the warriors as they calmed their energies and sheathed their weapons.

The city lord watched as Shi Ling, Anastasia, finally reached her.

"Ling'er, you are finally back. Welcome, daughter!"

Shi Long said as he approached Anastasia with open arms.

Reaching the city gates, Anastasia's army halted as they coherently knelt towards the city lord in salutations. Anastasia approached on her horse as she stopped a few feet away from her father. Dismounting her horse, she had a graceful smile as she entered her father's hug.

"Hello, Father!" She said as she let the man caress her body and hair.

The father and daughter duo embraced for half a minute. Then separating, Shi Long stared at his daughter longingly as he said, "I hope the outside world wasn't as bad as you predicted."

"No, Father, on the contrary, it was more than I had hoped for."

"Also, I would like to introduce you to our benefactor and his company. They are travelers we encountered in the Beast Mountain Range. If it weren't for him, who slaughtered thousands of beasts, killed the eight-level screeching scaled python, and even wiped out the Beast Mountain Range from the face of the map, our soldiers would have been massacred." Anastasia said, her words true but also seeming to be boasting as if a woman were praising her man's feats.

Hearing this, the crowd went silent with disbelief as they all stared at the silver-haired man with caution and reverence. The envoy couldn't help but sweat beads as a chill went down his spine upon hearing "killed thousands of beasts." He immediately lost his previous superior demeanor as he slightly lowered his posture, as if trying not to draw attention.

The city lord expressed with raised eyebrows as he looked at his daughter, but seeing the massive beasts held in the man's hands, no one dared challenge the thought of not believing. At this point, they even thought their mistress' words were an understatement.

But regaining his demeanor and assuming a serious face, Shi Long looked at the two beings, who were the only ones not kneeling from the crowd of twenty thousand warriors. They held tranquil and carefree faces as they remained seated on their horses. The woman had an elegant and graceful figure, with a face veil covering half of her face. The man behind her, carrying an impassive yet daring look while still holding the gigantic beast's fang, lazily stared at the city lord.

Despite their superior demeanors, the city lord took no offense, not like he would even dare. He instead walked forward as he cupped his hands over his head and spoke.

"Welcome, fellow travelers, pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Shi Long, patriarch of the Shi family and current city lord of Dan Shi City. If you don't mind, I would like to humbly request hosting the benefactors if they so allow."

Listening to the city lord, the female slightly turned her head to the man, as if seeking his decision.

But instead of answering, the man first drops the beast's body, causing a loud booming sound to reverberate throughout the scene, showcasing the heaviness of the beast. He then dismounted his horse as he casually walked towards the city lord. His robe majestically fluttered behind him, his appearance representing his luxurious yet mysterious persona.

The crowd held panicked faces as they watched the man approach the city lord; some even closed their eyes in trepidation as they began praying to their ancestors. For someone who massacred thousands of beasts, killed a Spirit Emperor Realm-level monster, and then proceeded to wipe out the entire Beast Mountain Range, if he wanted to wipe out their small city, all they could do was pray for their ancestors to make space for them in the afterlife. Since the thought of surviving wouldn't even be a conjured fantasy.

But arriving and standing before him, the city lord raised his head with a cautious expression as he stared at the tall man, whose figure was among the few towering over everyone at the scene. Then, holding the city lord's hands and raising them, the man looked at the city lord and smiled as he said, his voice heavy and deep-toned.

"There's no need for such ceremonies, father-in-law."