# Chapter 37 — The Meeting With the City Lord
# Sun City — City Lord Manor
Morning sunlight finally returned to Sun City.
For the first time since the crimson eye appeared, the heavens looked mostly normal again. Only faint cracks still lingered high above the eastern mountains like scars across the sky.
The city remained damaged.
But alive.
And for now—
that was enough.
---
The City Lord Manor stood near the center district surrounded by defensive formations and heavily armored guards.
Even after the recent battle, the manor still carried immense pressure naturally.
Not because of formations.
Because Zhao Tianhe lived there.
---
Xu Yuan arrived together with Xia Yu and Lin Hao shortly before noon.
Several guards immediately saluted respectfully when they saw them.
Especially Xu Yuan.
The recent battle changed many things.
---
One guard led them through long stone corridors toward the inner meeting hall.
The atmosphere inside the manor felt serious.
Cultivators moved quickly between rooms while formation masters discussed maps and damaged barriers continuously.
Sun City clearly prepared for another attack already.
---
Lin Hao quietly whispered while walking:
“If this meeting turns dangerous, I’d like everyone to know I supported you emotionally.”
Xu Yuan glanced sideways.
“That feels strategically useless.”
“I specialize in moral support.”
“You screamed during battle.”
“That WAS emotional support.”
---
Even the guard leading them almost smiled slightly.
---
Soon—
the three entered a massive hall built from dark spiritual stone.
Ancient formation symbols covered the pillars while maps of surrounding regions floated midair through spiritual projection techniques.
Several elders from major families already sat inside.
And at the center—
Zhao Tianhe.
---
The city lord wore dark crimson robes today instead of battle armor.
But his presence remained overwhelming.
The moment Xu Yuan entered—
every gaze inside the hall shifted toward him instantly.
---
Some curious.
Some cautious.
Some fearful.
---
Xu Yuan remained calm outwardly and saluted politely.
“City Lord.”
Zhao Tianhe nodded once.
“Sit.”
---
Xu Yuan, Xia Yu, and Lin Hao sat across from the elders quietly.
The atmosphere remained heavy.
---
Finally—
one elder from the Zhao Family spoke first.
“Young Master Xu.”
“The entity from the eastern gate reacted strongly to you.”
Straight to the point.
---
Xu Yuan answered calmly.
“I noticed.”
Several elders twitched slightly hearing that response.
---
Another elder narrowed his eyes.
“Can you explain why?”
Xu Yuan honestly answered:
“No.”
Which technically remained true.
---
The hall became quiet briefly afterward.
---
Then Zhao Tianhe finally spoke.
“Your physique.”
“What exactly is it?”
---
There it was.
The explanation everyone wanted.
---
Xu Yuan paused briefly before answering carefully.
“When I was younger, elders said my physique was incomplete.”
“It absorbs spiritual energy strangely and resonates with certain ancient energies.”
That part wasn’t entirely false either.
---
Several elders exchanged glances.
One formation elder slowly nodded.
“That would explain the resonance with the gate.”
Another added quietly:
“Ancient physiques sometimes react unpredictably near ruins and forbidden zones.”
Good.
They were building explanations themselves now.
---
Zhao Tianhe continued watching Xu Yuan silently.
Unlike the others—
the city lord clearly remained unconvinced.
But he also did not press further.
---
Then suddenly—
a guard hurried into the hall urgently.
“Report!”
Everyone immediately focused.
---
“The eastern scouts discovered movement beneath the mountains.”
The atmosphere instantly turned cold again.
---
The guard continued quickly.
“Underground tunnels extend far deeper than expected.”
“And corruption crystals continue spreading underground.”
Several elders cursed softly.
---
Then the guard hesitated briefly before adding:
“We also found ancient ruins beneath the tunnels.”
“With symbols matching the gate.”
---
Xu Yuan’s expression remained calm.
But inwardly—
he remembered the underground pulse he sensed last night.
So it wasn’t imagination.
---
Zhao Tianhe slowly stood afterward.
“Then we no longer have time.”
The city lord looked across the hall seriously.
“Sun City cannot survive another full-scale assault.”
Nobody argued.
Because everyone knew he was correct.
---
Then Zhao Tianhe revealed the decision.
“We will send an expedition beneath the eastern mountains.”
Instant tension spread across the room.
---
One elder frowned deeply.
“That’s too dangerous.”
“If we do nothing, the city dies slowly instead.”
Silence followed immediately.
---
The city lord continued calmly.
“We need answers.”
“We need the source of the corruption.”
“And we need to know what remains beneath the gate.”
---
Then—
his gaze shifted directly toward Xu Yuan.
---
“You will join the expedition.”
Not a question.
---
Lin Hao nearly choked beside him.
Xu Yuan himself expected this already.
Still—
he disliked how quickly danger found him lately.
---
Xia Yu spoke immediately afterward.
“Then I will join as well.”
Several elders frowned slightly.
The eastern underground tunnels were extremely dangerous now.
---
But Zhao Tianhe simply nodded.
“Accepted.”
---
Lin Hao looked emotionally devastated.
“I suddenly regret entering this hall.”
Xu Yuan calmly answered:
“You were coming even without permission.”
Lin Hao sighed heavily.
“…Unfortunately accurate.”
---
The meeting continued afterward:
* tunnel maps,
* corruption spread,
* defensive formations,
* casualty reports.
But Xu Yuan noticed something important.
---
Every elder in the room looked tired.
Not politically tired.
Genuinely exhausted.
Because everyone understood now—
this disaster might only be the beginning.