The City Lord's face showed a dangerous expression: "Are you trying to bargain with me?"
Li Shuang tensed up.
She was ready to leave at any moment.
However.
Neither Lihua nor the Furnace showed any abnormal reactions.
Li Shuang gritted her teeth: "I could easily agree. But would you truly believe me, City Lord? Although my cultivation is low, I know what should and should not be done."
The City Lord looked at her expressionlessly.
A powerful oppressive force gradually pressed down on Li Shuang.
Li Shuang felt a stinging pain in her soul, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
Yet, she still couldn't detect even a trace of malice from the City Lord.
Li Shuang struggled to hold on.
After a long while.
A strange smile appeared at the corner of the City Lord's lips, and all pressure instantly vanished.
She said calmly: "Don't worry, what I ask you to do does not go against the righteous path. You must have realized that I spread the Rebirth Art intentionally. If someone can cultivate the Rebirth Art to mastery, they will be able to control the power of rebirth and walk upon the River of Rebirth. The River of Rebirth is where spirits gather. I merely hope you can find a lost soul for me, awaken her, and bring her back to me."
The City Lord looked at Li Shuang and said: "That person is my sister. My sister devoted herself to cultivation and never stained her hands with a single drop of blood; she is by no means a wicked person. Awakening her would not go against the righteous ways of heaven and earth, would it?"
Li Shuang was slightly stunned, a hint of emotion in her eyes.
The City Lord's sister...
So.
Everything the City Lord did was just for her sister.
Li Shuang felt a pang in her heart, and she simultaneously thought of someone.
Her mother.
If cultivating the Rebirth Art to its peak allowed one to walk on the River of Rebirth, could she then see her mother?
Li Shuang's body trembled slightly, and she couldn't help but ask: "City Lord, all lost souls gather on the River of Rebirth. Is it... is it possible for me to see my mother?"
The City Lord glanced at her and asked: "Is your mother a cultivator?"
Li Shuang quickly replied: "Just a mortal."
The City Lord showed a hint of regret: "The River of Rebirth is the place where the deceased are reborn. After crossing the River of Rebirth, one is reincarnated and begins a new life. The cycle of reincarnation for mortals is much faster than for cultivators. For mortals, it only takes a few years to cross the River of Rebirth and reach the other shore. By the time you cultivate to mastery, your mother would most likely have already been reincarnated."
Li Shuang couldn't help but show a trace of regret.
The City Lord offered a word of comfort: "This is just the general situation. Your mother might be an exception."
Li Shuang naturally knew this was just comfort. She composed herself and said: "Since that is the case, this junior will certainly not refuse."
Li Shuang accepted the three pieces of Thunder Marrow and said with a solemn expression: "If I can cultivate the Rebirth Art to mastery, I will definitely make a trip to the River of Rebirth and fulfill your long-cherished wish."
The City Lord smiled: "Just do your best. You don't need to feel too much pressure. You are not the only one I favor. Among those who cultivate the Rebirth Art, some are even on the verge of breaking through the third realm. Anyone with the potential to cultivate to mastery, I have invested in them in advance. You are merely one of them."
As the City Lord spoke, a hint of loneliness appeared in her expression.
Her sister had been gone for far too long.
She didn't necessarily want to force her to stay in the mortal world.
She just wanted to see her again, to talk to her again.
For this small wish, she was willing to give anything she could.
This Li in front of her.
She hadn't received much attention from her initially.
But.
She was the only one who had chosen the Taiyin Star, and that made it different.
What if she became a latecomer who surpassed the rest?
To ensure Li would willingly help in the future, it was necessary to make some investments now.
The City Lord's mood suddenly became low.
Li Shuang dared not speak, only waiting quietly.
After a long while.
The City Lord's calm voice rang out: "Let's go. It's time to fulfill the promise I just made. I will go out with you."
"Thank you, City Lord," Li Shuang quickly said.
The City Lord nodded.
She slowly descended the steps.
Her originally indistinct body gradually solidified, but her face remained as if veiled, difficult to discern.
The City Lord's cold hand gently rested on Li Shuang's shoulder.
Then.
The two instantly left the City Lord's Mansion.
By the time Li Shuang reacted, she was already in the Hall of Ten Thousand Laws.
The Hall of Ten Thousand Laws.
Everyone was discussing why the City Lord had suddenly summoned Li.
Suddenly.
It was as if time and space had frozen.
Everyone's expressions stiffened on their faces.
Words that were about to be blurted out suddenly could not be spoken.
Their lips remained in their current curve, unable to move a jot.
They stared blankly at the perpetually mysterious woman in front of them, a hint of horror flashing in their eyes.
This was actually... the City Lord herself!
The terrifying oppressive feeling instantly dissipated.
Everyone knelt down in a panic: "Greetings, City Lord."
Even Gu Yuan and Qing Yan dared not show the slightest disrespect.
That was the strongest being in the mortal world.
The combined strength of the experts from the five super sects had all met with failure in Ten Thousand Laws City.
How could they dare to be presumptuous in front of the City Lord?
The City Lord scanned the kneeling crowd below and suddenly called out a name: "Gu Yuan."
Gu Yuan's body trembled slightly: "Here!"
"Qing Yan." The City Lord called out Qing Yan's name again.
Daoist Qing Yan hurriedly responded.
"Only the Falling Cloud Sect and the Demonic Heaven Sect from the five super sects have come?" The City Lord said calmly: "Never mind, the other super sects, you two can relay the message to them."
The City Lord had clearly said nothing yet.
But Gu Yuan and Qing Yan felt as if a towering mountain was pressing down on their spines, making them dare not even raise their heads.
Then.
They heard the woman's clear voice.
"Li is the daughter of an old friend of mine, taught by me personally. I heard you were forcing Li to take you as her masters? Do you think my teaching ability is inferior to your five super sects?"
As the woman's voice fell.
A hint of horror immediately flashed in Gu Yuan and Qing Yan's eyes.
Gu Yuan was even somewhat terrified.
Li and the City Lord actually had this kind of relationship?
No wonder!
A peerless genius had suddenly emerged in Ten Thousand Laws City, yet they couldn't find any trace of her growth.
The words "Sword Sect" that had slipped out were probably not true.
If it were an ordinary person, they naturally wouldn't be able to resist his soul secret art, but since Li was connected to the City Lord, it was not surprising that she could resist his secret art.
No wonder the City Lord personally met Li just for a casual piece of ice.
Gu Yuan now understood, he understood everything.
Li going to challenge the sixth Great Dao Mountain, and then making a name for herself, causing the sects to fight over her.
This was all part of the City Lord's plan.
The City Lord had secretly cultivated such a peerless genius, but she couldn't hide her forever. The current situation was the City Lord's carefully arranged debut ceremony for Li.
And these people.
They were just stepping stones chosen by the City Lord!
A mighty Tribulation Transcendence stage expert, actually being used as a stepping stone!
But Gu Yuan and the others dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction.