"You want the Qiu family to become the number one family in Flame Fire Main City?"

Yan Xi frowned, "Why do you want to do that?"

"I promised Old Man Qiu."

Wang Xu said.

"I'm afraid I can't make the decision on this matter."

Yan Xi shook his head and sighed, "To be honest with you, although I am the City Lord of Flame Fire Main City and a Second Class Earth Level Martial Artist, my strength is not much stronger than Ao San's. I was forcibly elevated using elixirs."

Realm can be elevated with elixirs, but it's ultimately an auxiliary method.

A person's aptitude is fundamental.

When a martial artist forcibly increases their cultivation with elixirs, even if the realm is elevated, the strength won't improve significantly.

Not only that, forcibly increasing cultivation will damage the meridians, rendering the martial artist unable to advance any further, forever stuck in place.

"Surely, you should sense my killing intent towards Ao San."

Yan Xi said, "His ambition is too great. He's secretly recruiting and gathering Mortal Level Ninth Layer martial artists, even placing cronies in key positions within Flame Fire Main City. This is a naked provocation to me, yet I can do nothing to him."

"Now the four great families of Flame Fire Main City, the Feng family, Lin family, Zhuo family, and Xu family, their hidden strength is almost equal to mine. All those primordial power weapons at the auction were bought by them."

"I've managed to hold my position as City Lord not because my strength is stronger than theirs, but because they restrain each other and are wary of each other. No one dares to make a move, which has allowed me to be City Lord for many years peacefully. This shows how embarrassing my situation as City Lord is!"

After Yan Xi finished speaking, he suddenly downed a large cup of wine in one gulp.

"You come from Qingfeng Village, so you must know the taxes have increased year after year in recent years, and this is all Ao San's doing!"

Yan Xi said angrily, "If I were alone, I wouldn't be afraid of him, but I have a wife, children, and the Yan family to care for. For their sake, I have to turn a blind eye and let Ao San bully us."

Wang Xu listened silently, without speaking.

Yan Xi didn't need Wang Xu to say much. He just poured out his years of frustration.

He would never dare to say such words to those he knew well, but with Wang Xu, a stranger he had just met, he had no reservations.

"... Before long, when the Earth Level Martial Artists in the four great families breakthrough to the second class, the balance will be broken, and Flame Fire Main City will undergo earth-shattering changes. I... will also completely bid farewell to the position of City Lord."

Yan Xi gave a bitter smile, "Young Master Wang, I really want to help with your promise to Old Man Qiu, but alas, I am powerless."

Wang Xu remained silent.

......

The next day, each of the four great families in Flame Fire Main City received a letter.

Feng Family.

"Three days later, gather at Furnace Tower?"

Feng Zhulin, in a rich and noble robe, frowned as he opened the envelope.

"It's an invitation from the City Lord. Should we go?" Madam Feng asked.

"Hmph! Furnace Tower is Lin family's property, and we're mortal enemies with the Lin family. Do you think I would go?"

"But it's the City Lord's invitation..."

"City Lord? If not for the Lin family restricting me, would he still hold the position of City Lord? Ridiculous!"

Zhuo Family

"Father, the City Lord's invitation. Should we make a trip?"

"We're not going."

"But..."

"No need to say more."

Xu Family.

"The City Lord's invitation must have been sent to the other three families as well. Given their personalities, surely none of them will go."

"Master, so... should we not go either?"

"Naturally, if they don't go, how would it look if I went?"

Lin Family

"Clan Leader, the City Lord's invitation is at Furnace Tower, saying there is an important matter to discuss. Should we go or not?"

"Not going. Such an invitation is meaningless."

The day after the City Lord sent out the invitations, all four families replied.

They refused the invitation.

"Young Master Wang, you see, it's not that I don't want to help you."

Yan Xi said with a bitter smile.

Wang Xu showed no expression, but a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.

Having Yan Xi send out invitations to gather the four families at Furnace Tower was Wang Xu's idea.

He wanted all four families to gather together and confront them directly.

This was the most effective and direct approach.

Yet, unexpected as it was, the four families unanimously chose to decline.

"If they refuse to come, I'll personally go to invite them."

Wang Xu got up and left.

Feng Family. Feng Zhulin, in a luxurious robe, was discussing matters with the family elders.

Suddenly, everyone held their breath as a figure emerged from inside.

"Ancestor Feng, why have you come out!"

Feng Zhulin exclaimed.

The elderly man in the gray robe before them was the trump card that kept the Feng family standing and always securing their place among the four great families.

Normally, Ancestor Feng never leaves the ancestral shrine, but today, unexpectedly, he left the shrine and came to the conference hall.

"Since the guest has already arrived, there's no need to hide. Come out."

Ancestor Feng called out loudly.

Immediately, all the senior members of the Feng family, including Feng Zhulin, held their breath.

Who could be important enough for Ancestor Feng to pay such attention?

Soon, a figure in a black robe appeared before everyone.

But he didn't enter from the main door; he walked in from the sky.

Earth Level Martial Artist!

"Such a terrifying aura, even more powerful than Ancestor Feng!"

A high-ranking member of the Feng Family spoke tremblingly.

"This honored brother, may I ask your purpose in coming to the Feng Family?"

The patriarch of the Feng Family was very polite.

But inside his heart, there were huge waves raging.

The person before him, just from the aura alone, completely overshadowed him, absolutely a second-class Earth Level martial artist!

"I am here on behalf of the City Lord to invite the Feng Family to gather at the Furnace Tower."

A letter flew over, landing steadily in the hands of the Feng Family patriarch.

Afterward, the black-robed figure said no more and turned to leave.

"Furnace Tower? City Lord's invitation? Could it be that the City Lord's invitation was actually for... Heavens, almost caused a great disaster!"

Feng Zhulin broke out in a cold sweat from shock.

Zhuo Family.

"Zhuo Yijue, you unfilial grandson!"

The patriarch of the Zhuo Family was inspecting the martial arts field when a towering figure suddenly appeared like a phantom and slapped the Zhuo Family patriarch away!

"Gra... Grandfather!"

The Zhuo Family patriarch was stunned. When he saw his grandfather full of anger, he trembled as he spoke.

"I ask you, did you receive the City Lord's invitation yesterday?"

Zhuo Yijue was taken aback, then nodded.

"You... you disgraceful child, three days from now, be there on time! Dare to be late, and I'll skin you alive!"

Not only the Feng Family and Zhuo Family but even the Xu Family and Lin Family were also visited by the black-robed figure.

In an instant, everyone knew there was an incredibly powerful presence, startling all the hidden Earth Level martial artists of the four great families of Flame Fire Main City to mobilize!

The appointed day arrived, and the Furnace Tower was cleared, with only members of the four great families allowed to enter.

Not just the patriarchs of the four families came, even the Earth Level martial artists backing them also all arrived.

"Greetings to City Lord Yan!"

"How has City Lord Yan been lately?"

"City Lord Yan, long time no see!"

Entering the Furnace Tower, everyone's attitude was extremely warm, making Yan Xi sneer continuously.

At this time, Wang Xu descended from the sky with Elder Qiu.

As soon as everyone saw Wang Xu, a look of awe appeared in their eyes.

"Today I have summoned you all here for one matter only."

Wang Xu's gaze coldly swept over everyone, "From today onwards, the Qiu clan will become the fifth great family of Flame Fire Main City."

Wow!

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was in an uproar.

The four Earth Level martial artists of the four great families glanced at each other, as if reaching some agreement.

The patriarch of the Feng Family stepped forward and said, "Honored brother, this matter is too hasty. Flame Fire Main City has always had four great families, balancing and not interfering with one another. Forcibly adding a fifth great family might destroy the balance, causing extremely detrimental effects. This matter must be considered carefully."

"Old Feng is right, the four great families have been in Flame Fire Main City for over a hundred years. Now, adding a fifth great family out of nowhere will surely change the structure, leading to uncontrollable turmoil, which is inadvisable."

"Sir, please think thrice."

"I agree with Old Feng."

The four patriarchs clearly had no say, only the four Earth Level martial artists could speak.

"Are you trying to test my patience?"

Wang Xu's gaze was icy, the aura of a second-class Earth Level martial artist emanated, making the four's expressions change.

"Sir, pardon my boldness, the Qiu clan is just an ordinary small family, without power, without status. Elevating the Qiu clan is probably not helping them, but harming them!"

Wang Xu glanced at the speaker, who was the Earth Level martial artist of the Zhuo Family.

"Without power, without status? Are you questioning my power and my status?"

Wang Xu asked.

The four glanced at each other but said nothing.

"Very well, since you question my power, then I will allow you to verify it."

Wang Xu swept his gaze over the four, "The four of you may strike me with one palm at the same time. If I retreat, consider I have lost, and this matter will be dropped."

"Do you all agree?"

The four's eyes flickered.

Withstand a simultaneous strike from all four? While a second-class martial artist is strong, their physique is not much stronger than a third-class one. What's more, four attacking at once would easily force a second-class martial artist to retreat a step!

"Old Lin, what do you think?"

"Feasible, I cultivate the Mountain-Shaking Palm, which focuses on overwhelming power. Together with the strength of the four of us, making him take one step back should be enough!"

"Alright! In that case, everyone give it your all!"

The four nodded, simultaneously fixing their gaze on Wang Xu.

"Tell me the result."

"Is it true that as long as we make sir take one step back, it counts as our win?" Old Feng said.

"Naturally."

"Good, we agree!"

As soon as the words fell, a fierce wind swept up, making the robes of the four Earth Level martial artists move without wind.

Their palms glammed with primordial power.

Each of these four were top-notch among third-class Earth Level martial artists, not far behind Ao San. With the combined strike of four, not to mention shaking a second-class Earth Level martial artist, even causing them injury would be no problem!

"Watch the palm!"

Suddenly, the four moved, their palms striking fiercely!

Wang Xu stood unmoving, allowing their large palms to fall, but the Fire of Silence within him trembled slightly.

Bang!

As the palms touched Wang Xu's physique, a surge of primordial power erupted, almost sending Wang Xu flying.

However, in an instant, all the primordial power that came at him was devoured by the Fire of Silence, then refined again, becoming Wang Xu's own primordial power!

Without primordial power, their palms against Wang Xu, who defended with primordial power, the four—even as second-class Earth Level martial artists—couldn't move Wang Xu an inch! (To be continued. If you like this work, you're welcome to vote for it on qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)

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