Chapter 142: The City Gates Open

Rumble!

When the thunderous sound first erupted, everyone thought they had misheard, their gazes snapping toward the gates of Thunder City.

"What? The city gates are opening?" The first to cry out in alarm were the city guards. Having lived in Thunder City for so many years, they had never once seen these gates budge, nor did they have any idea what lay behind them.

Unexpectedly, the dream they had long cherished was finally coming true.

"It is Su Ye! He is the one opening the gates! Hahaha, he doesn't need any Thunder-Inducing Orbs or any Thunder Veins! He opened the gates all by himself!" Wu Bozhong shouted, his voice thick with uncontrollable excitement.

Elder Beifei bellowed aloud, "Listen well! You are all people of status and standing. Su Ye is the one opening the gates, and we are entitled to fifty percent of everything inside!"

Although he had only recently formed an alliance with Su Ye, he knew that he had to stand on the same side now. Otherwise, once the gates opened and this massive crowd surged in, there would be nothing left for them.

These words immediately jolted the crowd. Many watched as the massive doors began to shift, a sliver of an opening appearing. A breath of ancient, thousand-year-old air seemed to pour out from within.

There had to be treasures inside!

Miaoquan the Gu Witch, unwilling to accept this, shouted, "On what grounds? We were all just discussing it! You want to claim fifty percent just for opening a door?"

His words voiced the thoughts of many, and a significant portion of the crowd supported him silently, offering no refutation. Besides, a gap had already been opened; even if Su Ye stopped now, they were confident they would find a way to finish the job.

Elder Beifei, the Gu Witches of Guye, and Wu Yan’s group, who had shared in Su Ye’s fortunes and misfortunes, were furious upon hearing this.

Wu Yan said in a deep, stern voice, "Hahaha, they say that those with different paths cannot make plans together. It is a disgrace to be associated with such despicable, duplicitous people. I shall have Su Ye stop opening the doors. We can wait until we find people of integrity before working together to open them. After all, the treasures inside aren't going anywhere."

These words struck at the heart of the matter, leaving the martial artists feeling ashamed. At the same time, they were secretly filled with regret and dread—what if Su Ye really did stop? They themselves had no way to open the gates.

If Su Ye were to return in secret, open the gates alone, and enter by himself, wouldn't they all end up with nothing?

Just as the martial artists stood silent, unable to argue, Ye Lingyun suddenly moved.

Standing on the balcony of the ancient fortress and looking down at the crowd, he called out, "Senior Wu Yan, there is no need to put us on a pedestal! Which one of us here is not a person of integrity? We said just a moment ago that whoever opens these Thunder City gates is entitled to fifty percent of what lies inside. That agreement still stands, but..."

Ye Lingyun paused deliberately to draw everyone's attention before continuing:

"Are you prepared to bear the consequences of what lies within? What if we encounter poisonous gas, traps, or even those ferocious beasts like the ones in the sea, causing heavy casualties among our brothers and sisters? Will you also take responsibility for fifty percent of those losses?"

The martial artists from various factions were jolted into realization and began to applaud and shout. Why hadn't they thought of that?

"Yes, yes! Brother Lingyun is right. You can't just take the benefits without bearing the risks! If we suffer losses, will you compensate us for fifty percent of the damages?"

"Exactly! If you don't have the ability, don't try to take the lion's share. Is a leadership position something you are even fit to hold? Su Ye is recklessly opening the gates—what if he lets out a ferocious beast? He doesn't care about the safety of others at all. Does he think he’s done something heroic?"

Luo Gui watched the crowd, her face twisted with excitement. She let out a hoarse laugh and said, "Everyone, Su Ye is recklessly opening the gates, but it is clear the boy lacks the skill to manage what comes next. Why not let us lead you all in to explore? With Spirit-Listener Lingyun here, all the treasures will belong to us!"

Hearing this, Ye Lingyun laughed heartily and said with arrogant pride, "I am a Spirit-Listener. Even if I am not the leader, I am bound to find every single treasure. No one else can do what I can. However, we must wait two more days. These two days are the time of the 'Gu King’s Blade-Grinding.' If we were to have a dispute over treasures now, I would be to blame."

The crowd was jolted once more, remembering that Su Ye did not fear the Gu King’s Blade-Grinding—it even provided him with a great advantage. They absolutely could not let Su Ye lead them!

In just a few moments, groups of people began to chant:

"We support Spirit-Listener Lingyun! He is the right person for the job."

"That's right! When we enter Thunder City, we should unite under the guidance of the Spirit-Listener!"

As for Su Ye, he was merely someone who had selfishly opened the gates without regard for their safety—what merit did he have? It was already generous and righteous of them not to hold him accountable.

"Have you finished your discussion?"

Suddenly, an icy voice cut through the air. In such a boisterous scene, the sound was like a sharp blade slicing directly into their eardrums.

Everyone trembled and turned in unison, realizing the voice belonged to Su Ye.

*Hum!*

The radiance around Su Ye erupted once more; he had fully awakened from that profound state. He had heard every word of their shameless blathering.

"Since you are so heartless and ungrateful, don't even think about following me into the gates I have opened!"

Su Ye finished, his hands grabbing at the air toward the two characters for "Thunder City." With a thunderous boom, streaks of polar light formed into iron chains. With a forceful pull, the Thunder City gates swung open.

The gates opened in an inverted "eight" shape, leaving a gap only a meter wide.

From within, beams of light shone out, suffused with a layer of incredibly refreshing, azure-blue mist.

"Ah, it's spiritual energy! This is the spiritual energy of heaven and earth—" Shock washed over Luo Gui’s aged face. She had absorbed spiritual energy before, and the aura before her was undoubtedly the real thing.

Every martial artist knew that no heavenly treasure they had encountered could compare to the effect of spiritual energy.

With such dense energy, it might even be enough to force their cultivation to break through!

"Quickly! Charge in!" On the city wall, Miaoquan the Gu Witch pointed a finger, leading the martial artists as they rushed forward.

They were fast, and their proximity was close; they reached the gates of Thunder City in an instant. Seeing this, the other martial artists cursed and rushed forward as well.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

But as they slammed into the entrance, they were all struck by an invisible force and sent flying backward. In an instant, screams of agony filled the air.

"Ah... what is happening? We can't get in!"

"Is there an ancient formation here? Why can't we enter? Aren't the gates open?"

To modern people, the term "formation" was quite foreign. Many martial artists didn't even believe such things existed, but since they were in a strange, illusory realm like Thunder City, it was no surprise that ancient formations might exist.

Luo Gui leaped to the entrance, only to be blocked by the same powerful force. Even with her level of cultivation, she was unable to enter.

"I told you, don't even think about following me in!"

Su Ye spoke, and alone, he stepped forward. Surrounded by dozens of meters of flowing polar light, he walked toward the slightly opened gates without the slightest obstruction.

He glanced back at the crowd once, snorted coldly, and stepped inside.

Following that, his figure vanished from their sight.

*Boom!*

Chaos erupted outside. Every martial artist, driven by madness, tried to follow him in. This was Thunder City! Wasn't this the very reason they had all come? What kind of opportunities were waiting inside?

"How is this possible? Why can he enter, but we can't? Su Ye, don't you dare hoard all the treasures inside!"

"Su Ye, wait for me! Take me with you! I have nothing to do with the Yu family! I have always supported you as our leader, please don't abandon us!"

"It’s all your fault, you animals! Damn it, if it weren't for the 'Gu King's Blade-Grinding,' I would have cut you down today! You angered Su Ye—otherwise, we would all be inside by now. Damn it! To hell with the Yu family and your bullshit Spirit-Listener, get out of my way!"

Ye Lingyun’s face turned from green to red. He could not fathom how, with his natural talent and his status as an envied Spirit-Listener, such a great opportunity did not belong to him.

How could it possibly belong to Su Ye?

"Hmph, I never imagined he would actually get inside! I have a way to make him crawl out obediently."