Chapter 937: Mei Gongzi Has Arrived

Walking amidst the crowd, Tang San suddenly sensed something. His gaze turned sharply in a particular direction. A carriage procession was heading toward the White Tiger Grand Hotel.

When he saw the emblem of the Peacock Demon clan on the carriage, his eyes immediately lit up. Without hesitation, he extended his divine consciousness in that direction.

"How dare you!" A stern voice rang out from the procession. A flash of silver light burst forth, startling the bystanders and sending them scattering to the sides of the street.

The noble demons and nymphs present were all powerhouses in their own right, and they were even more sensitive to the aura of the figure that emerged from the carriage. Moreover, the city lord insignia on the vehicle made it clear: This was the lord of a main city. Regardless of where they were from, that status alone demanded respect. It explained why the procession had been allowed to enter the Ancestral Court so smoothly.

When Tang San saw the figure rise into the air, a smile crept onto his face. He immediately withdrew his divine consciousness. He was back in the guise of Jin Miaolin, so he kept his appearance thoroughly concealed.

Suspended mid-air was Luo Qingzhu, her beautiful eyes gleaming with sharpness. As a peak eleventh-order powerhouse, she had immediately sensed the divine consciousness sweep just now. It had been strong—very strong—which triggered her caution. Even if the one behind it was an Emperor, such bold probing was a clear act of intrusion, an offense toward a city lord's procession. It went beyond normal rudeness and well into the territory of a diplomacy failure.

But now, to her surprise, the probing divine consciousness had vanished completely, without a trace. She couldn't even lock onto its source. The precision of that control made her even more vigilant. Whoever it was, they were at least as strong as her, and indeed, there was a distinct possibility of them being an Emperor.

Meanwhile, Tang San continued walking calmly through the crowd, smiling faintly. With so many eyes around, he didn't try to approach. He simply tightened his hood and slipped a communication device into his ear, attempting a connection.

—Was that you just now? a familiar voice snapped as soon as it connected.

"Yup. What a coincidence, I just came from your grandfather's place," Tang San replied with a smile.

—Hmph! It's been days and you still didn't come see me. You're really something, Mei Gongzi grumbled.

Tang San smiled wryly. "I went back, but you had already left for the Ancestral Court. I've been waiting here since, but after several days with no word, I got anxious. So I tapped the Asura Sword to nudge you. Didn't expect it to be right as you were arriving. Did you stop somewhere along the way?"

—Yes, actually. My second mother took me to retrieve something, an inheritance left behind by the Peacock Demon Emperor.

"I see. Speaking of that, there's a major auction happening soon, and word is there will be incredible items. Let's check it out and try to get you properly armed. Since you're the prize in this matchmaking tournament, you probably won't have to fight until the end, which is great. More time to prepare. Has the Ancestral Court discussed the rules with you yet?"

—They had me come a month early to finalize the details. We figured it was better to arrive early and get ready. We're heading to stay at the White Tiger Grand Hotel now. Are you coming?

"Of course I'm coming. Now that you're here, how could I not?" Tang San chuckled. "Want me to stay the night with you?"

—

Pft

. Dream on!

Tang San laughed, "Alright, I'll wait a bit then. Let me know once you're settled in, I'll teleport straight there."

—Alright!

With Mei Gongzi finally here, Tang San felt at ease. The last time they came to the Ancestral Court for the elite competition felt like yesterday. But now, they were no longer just ninth-order talents. They were both city lords—the first two human city lords in the entire history of the continent, although Tang San was not acknowledged as such. One ruled in demons' Empyrean Dominion, and the other in nymphs' Solstice Empire. What could be more incredible? It downright sounded like a fairytale!

They now held influence over more than one-eighth of the entire continent. It was the most powerful position humans had ever achieved on Falan Planet.

The only step left was to ascend to Emperorhood. If he and Mei Gongzi both reached that level, there would be no more threats to them in this world.

But the road to the throne required more than strength. It required passing through a heavenly tribulation

and

gaining the approval of all existing Emperors. Without permission from the Ancestral Court, no one could ascend, even if they had the power. Anyone who tried would be suppressed and killed by the other Emperors. This was the Ancestral Court's most sacred rule.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Then came the question of how to survive the tribulation. Though Tang San had somewhat gained the favor of the world's will, once he crossed the threshold, many of his past-life abilities would awaken. He would become far, far stronger—but that very strength would inevitably make the plane reject him once more. He couldn't afford to rely on luck. He had to prepare for the worst and trust only in his power.

As for Mei Gongzi, she originally wouldn't have suffered world rejection. But after being with Tang San, her fate had changed. Her connection to him, along with remnants of her past life's divine-level memories and the Asura Sword's awakening influence, could trigger backlash. Whether the world would reject her too, no one knew, but Tang San had to prepare for that possibility as well.

So even though they were both at the eleventh order, that final step to Emperor was still far off. They needed time and resources.

This journey of his had been to seek such opportunities. So far, the results were excellent. For Tang San personally, receiving the Ancestral Tree's acknowledgement and becoming the Blue Gold Tree clan's leader were absolutely massive boons. That endorsement would greatly aid their eventual ascension. It was why Tang San was so focused on helping the Blue Gold Tree clan gain a firm foothold on the continent. The Ancestral Tree's full support could tip the will of the planar ruler in his favor.

Still, true power was what mattered most. Tang San was also awaiting the arrival of two transcendent divine weapons, his and Mei Gongzi's. Only with those present could they truly stand against the world.

After wandering the streets a bit longer, Tang San soon received a message from Mei Gongzi. She was settled into the White Tiger Grand Hotel. The Peacock clan's rooms had clearly been reserved in advance, and Mei Gongzi was staying in none other than the White Tiger Great Demon Emperor's personal suite on the top floor.

Finding a secluded corner, Tang San teleported over, this time wearing his real face.

The moment he arrived, he saw Mei Gongzi. She was still clad in the silver cloak she usually wore for traveling, with a shimmering silver-white gown beneath. The ensemble perfectly highlighted her stunning beauty, now adorned with an air of authority befitting a city lord.