Starting With 100 Million Lives

"There's nothing mysterious about this; it's just a trap."

Ye Yang Immortal King concluded, expressionless.

"That Jiang fellow is finished."

Ding Rui was a bit surprised.

Indeed, Yu Xun might be lying to deliberately make Jiang Cheng lower his guard, but it's only a possibility.

Before he reveals his true intentions, no one can make a direct conclusion.

Because he just behaved so naturally, showing no traces of acting.

Moreover, he killed so many people.

Honestly, Ding Rui's inner suspicions inclined towards him being genuine.

"Immortal artifacts simply allure people."

Miao Yu seemed indifferent about the Seventh-grade Immortal Artifact, her words carried a hint of sarcasm.

"For Divine Weapons and Immortal Artifacts, some people will do anything, even kill their own."

Ding Rui was still puzzled: "But even if he's really acting, trying to seize the artifact, it would be quite difficult, wouldn't it?"

Yu Xun has two Immortal Venerables under his command, over a hundred Golden Immortals, and two thousand from the Immortal Guard Army.

Such a force is undeniably strong.

But it's not that Ding Rui was underestimating him; it's rather that this force, before that Immortal Artifact, doesn't seem sufficient.

With Jiang Cheng's speed of slaughter earlier, even if these people set an ambush and deployed a Great Array, they might still just be cannon fodder.

The power of that Immortal Artifact was too great.

Not to mention Jiang Cheng had three Immortal Venerables by his side.

No matter how one sees it, it seems impossible to succeed.

Ye Yang Immortal King said calmly, "That's because you don't know Yu Xun's background."

"His background?"

As the Branch President here, Ding Rui knew about Yu Xun, the City Lord.

"I know that before he became the City Lord, he was an Inner Sect Elder of the Mixed Yang Sect."

The Mixed Yang Sect is one of the top three Great Sects within the Qianlan Celestial Realm, with over a hundred Immortal Venerables within, an undeniably powerful force.

Most outsiders only know Yu Xun gradually rose tens of thousands of years ago, eventually becoming the City Lord of Danhua City.

Few really know he originally had deeply rooted ties with the Mixed Yang Sect.

Ding Rui, as the Branch President of the Celestial Pavilion, was indeed very well-informed.

"Could it be he's planning to notify the Mixed Yang Sect, to mobilize experts and collectively kill that Jiang fellow, to seize his Immortal Artifact?"

Ye Yang Immortal Venerable shook his head.

"Being an Elder of the Mixed Yang Sect is merely a surface identity of his."

"That's just a superficial identity?"

Ding Rui was taken aback, sensing he might have touched upon some deep secrets.

"Then his true identity..."

"He's a member of the Ghost Alliance."

"What!"

Ding Rui almost jumped up.

The words 'Ghost Alliance' were like a venomous snake, making his spine prick with fear.

It's a colossal organization spanning over thirty surrounding Celestial Domains, with the Qianlan Celestial Realm as just one of their activity areas.

Almost everyone in the surrounding domains has heard of this organization, yet no one can specifically say who the members are.

They don't have a fixed sect residence, resembling more of a loose alliance.

But no one dares to underestimate them, because there are more than one Immortal King level experts behind this organization.

Furthermore, their conduct is secretive and ruthless, having overturned countless forces in recent years.

The Qianlan Celestial Realm's unsolved cases often have them as the first suspect.

Facing the Ghost Alliance, even some Ancient Immortal Sects dare not provoke them easily.

"Yu Xun was able to become the City Lord of Danhua City precisely because the Ghost Alliance aided behind the scenes."

Miao Yu evidently knew this information too.

She gazed pensively in the direction of the City Lord's Mansion: "So that Jiang fellow is actually being targeted by the Ghost Alliance now."

Ding Rui took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind.

He eventually sighed: "Then he's really doomed."

In recent years, none of the targets marked by the Ghost Alliance have survived; they've even killed Immortal Kings.

Elsewhere, Leng Huahan and Yuan Wu alongside others followed Brother Cheng into the City Lord's Mansion.

By this time, a grand feast had already been prepared inside.

Colorful performances, and immortal music echoed.

Dan Hua City's other two Immortal Venerables and a group of Golden Immortals had been waiting for quite a while.

Seeing them arrive, everyone rose to welcome them.

Leng Huahan and Yuan Zhe among others grew increasingly tense as the opponent also had three Immortal Venerables.

Hopefully, it's genuine gratitude.

If it's an ambush, it would be a dragon's lair and a tiger's den!

"Hahaha, please come, my honoured guest!"

City Lord Yu Xun was exceedingly hospitable, taking Jiang Cheng by the hand and personally leading him to the head seat.

Subsequently, the banquet proceeded normally.

The dazzling performances of fairies were of no interest to Leng Huahan.

He kept glancing at Elder Jiang, hoping he would be cautious.

As it turned out, the elder seemed completely unguarded, accepting drinks from all comers, fully immersed.

This made him increasingly anxious.

Yu Xun was in high spirits, even started sporting an arm over Jiang Zhang's shoulders.

"Hahaha, I find myself kindred to Brother Jiang, and so I have a rather presumptuous request!"

"Speak!"

"Why don't we seize this moment to become sworn brothers, wouldn't it be splendid..."

"Not splendid."

The entire room abruptly fell silent, with even the performances halted.

Everyone stared blankly at Brother Cheng, wondering if they had heard wrong.

These kinds of proposals for brotherhood are usually never refused.

After all, there's no binding obligation; it's not like they'll actually share life and death.

If one truly unwilling, they could forget the next day.

Furthermore, City Lord Yu is a Sixth-grade Immortal Venerable, and you're merely a First Grade Golden Immortal.

If it weren't for having a Tier Seven Immortal Artifact, you wouldn't even be qualified to converse with him, right?

Yu Xun's expression became somewhat unnatural; he didn't expect to be refused, especially so outright.

"Brother, this, this..."

Brother Cheng waved his hand: "It's better not to call me brother; I'm much higher in rank than you."

"If you want, you may call me Elder Jiang."

Want to become sworn brothers with him?

Why, do you wish to be Ji Linghan and Luo Yuan's elder, perchance?

The lively banquet descended into an eerie silence.

Leng Huahan was overwhelmed, thinking Elder Jiang might have gone mad?

Others want to be your brother, and you somehow wish to be their ancestor?

This blatant public humiliation, oh no, it's actually a slap in someone's face.

Not afraid of tearing face in the next moment?

Even if unwilling, the words could be gentler to stabilize the counterpart!

Such remarks even without existing animosity can create new hatred.

Yu Xun's cultivation of grace was indeed exceptional; after brief awkwardness, he managed a smile once more.

"Haha, my honored guest does love to jest..."

He wouldn't possibly call Jiang Cheng 'Elder'.

Just then, his ears subtly perked up, followed by seven differently aged immortals entering the hall.

Yuan Zhe, Yuan Wu, and Yuan He subtly perceived, their faces drastically changed; the seven were all Immortal Venerables!

Moreover, all seven possessed cultivation above theirs.

The leading white-beard elder smirked and spoke two words.

"It's settled."

Yu Xun rose gracefully, once again smilingly looking at Jiang Cheng.

"Honored guest, how would you like to die?"