If City Lord Ma’s hostility was still undetectable by Ye Lingyue, she would truly be a fool.

"City Lord Ma, thank you for the reminder. I happen to know a bit of medical skills. Seeing your lackluster complexion, dark earlobes, and shallow philtrum indicate signs of yin deficiency. It’s best to be cautious, lest your treasured sword ages prematurely, and you remain unaware of the green clouds overhead."

Ye Lingyue said with a smile, casting a meaningful glance at Hong Yulang.

"Ye Lingyue, how dare you insult the Old City Lord!"

Hong Yulang was furious, smoke practically coming from his seven orifices. He had painstakingly coaxed City Lord Ma, even getting the old man to agree to grant him an opportunity to enter the Divine Power Pool.

Back in Mercenary City, Hong Yulang had witnessed Ye Lingyue’s transformation, and now seeing her again, he couldn’t help but recall how he was cruelly cast aside because of her by Bo Qing.

With family grudges and love rivalry, Hong Yulang’s hatred for Ye Lingyue reached an unprecedented height.

"Whether it’s insulting or not, Young Master Yu knows best. Do you recall the disdainful Bo Qing of Mercenary City?"

Ye Lingyue mischievously brought up Bo Qing.

Hong Yulang’s face visibly froze, and he grew frantic.

Bo Qing, the name he loved and hated.

After being schemed against by Ye Lingyue and the others that day, Hong Yulang barely managed to remain favored.

He had to make a poisonous vow to City Lord Ma, pleading like a dog just to stay in the City Lord’s Mansion.

He also recalled that night, he indeed saw Bo Qing.

Hong Yulang investigated later, discovering that Bo Qing had arrived in Ancient Nine Provinces, participating in the Jiu Provinces Hunting, part of the Huangquan Team.

"Who is Bo Qing?"

Upon hearing this, City Lord Ma’s face immediately clouded with suspicion.

As if one Third Young Master Jin wasn’t enough, could Hong Yulang have another romantic interest?

"City Lord, don’t listen to her demon-talk. That brazen woman is just sharp-tongued. I don’t know any Bo Qing. City Lord, the City Lord’s Mansion is busy. We should hurry back."

Mentioning Bo Qing made Hong Yulang panic and flee in disarray.

Only after Ye Lingyue entered the Jiu Provinces Pavilion did Hong Yulang let out a sigh of relief, glaring in the direction of her departure with hatred.

"Ye Lingyue, I want to see how long you’ll remain smug after you hear the news!"

Once inside the Jiu Provinces Pavilion, Ye Lingyue quickly left Hong Yulang’s clownish antics behind.

The Jiu Provinces Pavilion was the only entity in Xuanwu City on par with the City’s Lord Mansion in terms of status.

Despite being a mere pavilion, its scale was immense.

Ye Lingyue presented the City Seal and smoothly entered the pavilion.

At the pavilion’s entrance, two massive lists hung prominently.

These were the updated versions of the Jiu Provinces Heavenly List and the Jiu Provinces Earth List, differing from those displayed at Xuanwu City’s gates, which only showed the top 200 names from the Jiu Provinces Heaven and Earth List. Here, the lists were much more comprehensive.

With enough patience, Ye Lingyue could even find Huangquan City’s ranking, though the position was embarrassingly low.

Besides the Heaven and Earth List, the pavilion’s entrance had two pathways leading to the east and west sides.

The west side was labeled "Divine Power Pool," only open on the tenth day of each month.

The east side was the ordinary pathway, where the mid and high-level officials of the Jiu Provinces Alliance met City Lords from various cities.

This was Ye Lingyue’s first visit to the Jiu Provinces Pavilion, and upon entering, she saw many City Lords waiting in the reception hall.

These people ignored Ye Lingyue, engaging in small talk among themselves.

Ye Lingyue found a seat and sat down, unserved with tea or water.

She overheard some nearby whispering about her.

"This is the City Lord of Huangquan City. It seems the rumors are true."

"I heard she offended Master Chen and City Lord Ma, and even injured several Patrol Envoys last time."

"We’d better keep our distance from her to avoid trouble for ourselves."

All the City Lords consciously maintained a distance from Ye Lingyue, as if she carried a contagious disease.

However, having suffered far more humiliation when she played dumb, these words were just mild discomforts for Ye Lingyue.

"City Lord of Huangquan City, Master Chen invites you."

Amidst the whispers, a Patrol Envoy approached, inviting Ye Lingyue inside.

Ye Lingyue looked closely and her heart skipped a beat; it was indeed a narrow escape, for the hosting Patrol Envoy was none other than the once-offended Lord Mu.

"City Lord Ye, it’s been quite a while."

Lord Mu looked at Ye Lingyue with a mocking expression.

She followed him into the Council Hall and saw a robust middle-aged man inside, possessing an imposing aura, his Primordial Power wildly exhibited, indicating that he was at least a Great Divine Ability level expert. Judging by Lord Mu’s attitude, he was surely one of the Jiu Provinces Pavilion’s overseers, Master Chen.

"You’re City Lord Ye, correct? I’m Chen Cang, one of the chiefs of the Jiu Provinces Pavilion Council Hall. My men received your care earlier; I am extremely grateful for that."

Upon seeing Ye Lingyue, Master Chen spoke in a yin-yang tone.

"Master Chen, you’re too kind. As part of the Jiu Provinces Alliance, mutual assistance is expected. To what do I owe the pleasure of your invitation today?"

Ye Lingyue felt a chill down her spine. This sly fox was clearly intending to reprimand her on behalf of his underlings. However, this was the Jiu Provinces Pavilion, and Master Chen was merely one of the overseers. He wouldn’t dare to plot against her here.

"City Lord Ye has been leading Huangquan City for quite a while now. The topic of Huangquan City has always been controversial within the Jiu Provinces Alliance. After much discussion among several chiefs, we unanimously agree that although Huangquan City consistently ranks as the poorest and most chaotic in Ancient Nine Provinces, that alone is tolerable."

Master Chen spoke leisurely.

"Recently, I’ve heard the population in the Jiu Provinces Alliance has been rapidly declining. After much deliberation, we’ve determined that if a city has barely any citizens, it holds no value for existence. Unless City Lord Ye can devise a new strategy to attract new inhabitants, the Jiu Provinces Alliance will abolish Huangquan City, including your status as City Lord and the Huangquan Team; none will need to exist anymore."

To abolish Huangquan City and revoke the Huangquan Team’s qualification!

On hearing this, Ye Lingyue sharply looked up, meeting Master Chen’s smiling eyes head-on.

"Master Chen, Huangquan City is continually improving. I believe shortly, new immigrants will arrive. I’m requesting some extension from the Jiu Provinces Alliance."

Ye Lingyue had mentally prepared for this, but she hadn’t expected the Jiu Provinces Alliance to consider abolishing Huangquan City.

"An extension might be possible, but it depends on your sincerity, City Lord Ye."

Master Chen finished, with a smile glancing at Ye Lingyue.