Nine Nether Heavenly Emperor
Chapter 503 City Lord Shenn Aoxin

Chapter 503: Chapter 503 City Lord Shenn Aoxin

Shennhui City, as one of the top cities in the Tianlan Empire, spans a vast territory that stretches out endlessly. Its dense urban landscape is filled with towering buildings.

At the heart of Shennhui City stands the tallest and largest of golden structures, the most conspicuous of all. This building is the City Lord Mansion of Shennhui City, and just like the city itself, it is among the most significant in the Tianlan Empire. The City Lord, Shenn Aoxin, holds a prestigious status, and the mansion he had constructed rivals the splendor of the Imperial Palace.

The resplendent and exquisitely luxurious hall of the City Lord Mansion is where City Lord Shenn Aoxin, dressed in a golden robe, sits in the seat of honor. Involuntarily, every gesture and movement he makes exudes the authority of those above, his gaze sharp and cutting like the edge of a blade.

Shenn Aoxin, beginning with his grandfather, had served the court of the Tianlan Empire, establishing military accomplishments and creating a formidable reputation, earning the title of the Tianlan Empire’s Great General for Attracting Faraway Talents.

Shenn Aoxin’s father, Shenn Wu, was even more valiant than his own father, engaging in battles both at home and abroad for the Tianlan Empire, expanding its territory and proving unstoppable. He had personally led the army to obliterate three surrounding empires that refused to submit, instilling fear in the other great empires at the mere mention of the Shenn name.

Shenn Wu was even honored by the Tianlan Empire with the title of Duke Wu.

Though Shenn Aoxin may not have matched his father, Shenn Wu, he was no less spirited. As a youth, he joined the military, willing to start anew as a common soldier and ascend step by step through his own battle achievements, rising to the position of City Lord of Shennhui City.

While his ascendancy to the City Lord of Shennhui, one of the significant cities, was somewhat influenced by the Emperor of the Tianlan Empire—with consideration for his father’s contributions—his own accomplishments and abilities were also inseparable from this honor.

In his tenure as the City Lord of Shennhui City for over a decade, Shenn Aoxin had managed the city impeccably, exceeding previous stewards in aspects such as population, economy, agriculture, commerce, and military.

People said that the Shenn Family had produced competent individuals for three generations. The reason they only mentioned three generations was that with the advent of the fourth generation of the Shenn Family, there indeed arose a disappointing Young Lord, Shenn Yuan.

In private, people would often say that after three generations of capable Shenns, the lineage suffered a case of "hero father, worthless son"—indeed, the hero father being Shenn Aoxin and the worthless son, Shenn Yuan.

The useless Shenn Yuan, idle and lacking in initiative, couldn’t compare to his father in terms of Martial Arts Talent and was a complete disappointment.

Moreover, he exploited his father’s status as the City Lord to commit innumerable heinous acts, becoming known as the biggest scourge of Shennhui City!

Although Shenn Aoxin had no shortage of wives and concubines, he had only this one son, whom he indulged excessively. As for his son’s misdeeds, he would turn a blind eye, sometimes even personally intervening with a heavy hand to suppress opposition on behalf of his son.

This raised Shenn Yuan to be as unchecked and boundless as could be.

Shenn Aoxin sat in the place of honor in the hall of the City Lord Mansion. At that moment, sitting in a guest seat in the hall was a middle-aged man with a head of silver hair and a somewhat cunning face, leisurely sipping tea from a cup presented by one of the serving girls of the City Lord Mansion.

After taking an obviously enjoyable sip of his tea, the cunning man set the cup on the table beside him, his face suffused with pleasure as he remarked, "There’s no beating the life you lead here, Brother Shenn. As the lord of the city, you command the obedience of all within it, quite like an emperor in your own right."

Hearing the words of the silver-haired man, Shenn Aoxin, with his solemn visage, also let a rare smile appear on his face and laughingly replied, "Brother Leng, you jest. How could my position as the City Lord of Shennhui compare to yours as the Hall Master of the Tiankun Sect’s Xuanwu Hall?"

"Hehe," the silver-haired man chuckled after hearing Shenn Aoxin’s words, shaking his head slightly and smiling without saying anything.

This person was none other than Leng Yang, the Hall Master of the Xuanwu Hall, which belonged to one of the Three Sacred Lands, the Tiankun Sect.

The Tiankun Sect established four halls: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Xuanwu. The statuses of the four hall masters were second only to the three Great Elders and the Sect Master of Tiankun Sect, naturally holding high authority and prestige within the sect.

In terms of the forces in the Eastern Domain, the Three Sacred Lands indeed surpassed the three empires in strength, and thus Leng Yang’s position as the Xuanwu Hall Master certainly exceeded that of Shenn Aoxin.

At this time, Shenn Aoxin asked with a smile, "I wonder what brings Brother Leng to the Tianlan Empire this time? Could it be that Brother Leng has also come for the martial tournament held to choose a suitor for our Princess Linglong ten days from now? Are you also hoping to win the beauty and take her home?"

"Hehe," Leng Yang chuckled again as he heard Shenn Aoxin’s words, shook his head, and said, "If I really could win the beauty and take her home, naturally I would wish for that. But that’s all it can be—a wish. When the time comes, there will surely be a gathering of geniuses, perhaps even Martial Saint experts might appear. How could there possibly be a chance for me, Leng Yang?"

Then, with a solemn face, Leng Yang asked Shenn Aoxin, "You must have already received the news about the assassination of our Great Alchemist, Huoo Xun, in Bright Pearl City yesterday, haven’t you, Brother Shenn?"

"Indeed, I have heard," Shenn Aoxin nodded after hearing Leng Yang’s words, as he had already understood the purpose of Leng Yang’s visit to the Tianlan Empire.

Leng Yang nodded slightly and continued, "Brother, I have entered the Tianlan Empire precisely because of the assassination of our Great Alchemist, Huoo Xun. It is said that he was killed by a teenager about fifteen or sixteen years old, of unknown origin."

As Leng Yang recounted these events, Shenn Aoxin’s smile faded as he responded, "Now that our Tianlan Empire has set up a fighting stage, strong warriors and talents will continuously pour into the Tianlan Empire. That teenager is very likely from another domain, or from some other great force. There are rumors that this person may also hail from the Moonlight Sect or the Sun and Moon Divine Sect."

"Humph, humph!" Hearing Shenn Aoxin’s words, Leng Yang snorted coldly and said threateningly, "Our Sect Master has already decreed that no matter which power that youth comes from, since he killed our Tiankun Sect’s Great Alchemist Huoo Xun, any disciple of our Tiankun Sect who encounters him will be granted permission to kill without mercy!"

As Leng Yang uttered the last three words, a cold murderous aura radiated from him. Almost immediately after, perhaps realizing he was within the City Lord Mansion of Shennhui City, the intense killing intent quickly retracted.

Following that, Leng Yang turned to Shenn Aoxin with an apologetic smile, "I’m sorry, Brother. I became a bit too agitated thinking about that heinous criminal just now."

"It’s no trouble," Shenn Aoxin replied with a slight smile. But a trace of coldness flickered inadvertently in his sharp eyes.

Then Leng Yang spoke again to Shenn Aoxin, "Brother, coming to the Tianlan Empire reminded me that I have such a brother who has gone through life and death with me, so I made a special trip to Shennhui City to see you. Also, you have extensive connections and numerous informants within the Tianlan Empire. Brother, I would like to ask for your help in keeping an eye out for any news on that traitor’s movements."

Upon hearing Leng Yang’s words, Shenn Aoxin smiled lightly and said, "Brother Leng, there’s no need for formalities between you and me. As soon as I get any news about the whereabouts of that traitor, I will immediately send someone to inform you."

"I shall trouble you to keep a watchful eye on this matter. Should the traitor be captured, our Tiankun Sect will surely reward you handsomely," Leng Yang said.

Shenn Aoxin laughed softly and shook his head without saying a word, but just then, a rapid succession of footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the hall, followed by an urgent cry, "No! Oh no, City Lord! Something terrible has happened! The Young Lord, there’s been an accident!"