Reversing the Milky Way

Nineteen years ago, in the main hall of the city lord's mansion, Shiraki Gen sat upright, looking down at Shirakawa Kai with a serious expression.

"You have disappointed me greatly! I originally intended for you to succeed me as the city lord, but I never expected you to delay for so long. What are you thinking?"

After speaking, Bai Muxuan's serious expression slowly turned into anger. Then he sighed and looked at Bai Chuanhai below, continuing, "Fine, now that your second brother is the city lord, you should cooperate with him properly from now on. Oh, right, there's one more thing. The fourth princess of the royal family came to see you, saying she had something important to discuss."

After speaking, he tossed out a communication jade pendant, which slowly floated to Bai Chuanhai's front. Bai Chuanhai used his spiritual power to examine it, and a line of text appeared on the pendant: "If you return, come quickly to the Purple Bamboo Grove in Sunset Lake for a chat." After reading this, Bai Chuanhai quickly put away the pendant, bowed to his father, and left the City Lord's Mansion, flying towards Sunset Lake.

In the heart of Sunset Lake, an island, like a jewel, lies serenely embraced by the water. The lake's waters are crystal clear around the island. A gentle breeze ripples across the surface, like tiny silver scales shimmering in the sunlight. On the island, towering, lush trees stand tall, their branches occasionally punctuated by the melodious chirping of birds, adding a touch of life to this tranquil scene.

A faint floral fragrance permeated the air, refreshing and intoxicating. Most striking was a spirit stone mountain at the island's center, brimming with spiritual energy and guarded by numerous patrol teams. Almost all of White Maple City's elite guards were stationed here. Furthermore, the entire island was protected by a high-level Yellow-rank formation; without a token, even a late-stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator couldn't break through it.

This is because a dragon vein converges directly beneath this island in the lake. Therefore, the spiritual energy on the island is dozens of times greater than that outside. Furthermore, the entire White Maple City is rich in spiritual energy due to the dragon vein; even within the city, the spiritual energy is at least five times denser than outside.

Therefore, many people from all directions want to settle in White Maple City, and not just White Maple City. Beneath every major city in the entire Fire Cloud Kingdom lies a spiritual vein, which was specifically surveyed by the previous emperors of the Fire Cloud Kingdom when they built the cities.

The area above the spiritual vein was designated as the boundary of the city, not only to facilitate cultivation for cultivators, but also primarily to counter certain sects and to better attract cultivators.

Most of these sects and forces would submit to the royal family of Huoyun Kingdom, but some, although located within Huoyun Kingdom, claimed not to belong to the territory of Huoyun Kingdom and would not obey the orders of the Huoyun Kingdom emperor. For this reason, the Huoyun Kingdom emperor was helpless.

In the past, there were very few cultivators in the entire Fire Cloud Kingdom. Apart from the sects, there were almost no other cultivators in the Fire Cloud Kingdom. This was all thanks to Huang Tianmu, the founder of the Overlord Sect. He couldn't bear to see ordinary people being bullied by demons and beasts, so he sent his disciples to spread the sect's secret technique of conjoined bodies to the world, which led to the cultivation world we have today.

Bai Chuanhai slowly descended to the edge of the island in the center of Sunset Lake. A patrol of cultivators quickly surrounded him. They were all at least at the Qi Condensation Realm, and the captain leading them was also at the late stage of the Qi Condensation Realm.

"Who goes there? Do you have the city lord's token?"

The captain at the head of the group quickly stepped forward and inquired. Bai Chuanhai glanced at the captain, then swiftly pulled out a token from the City Lord's Mansion from his waist. This token was different from the ordinary City Lord's Mansion tokens.

The usual City Lord's Mansion tokens are rewards issued by the City Lord's Mansion to cultivators, allowing them to enter the island for cultivation. However, the token Bai Chuanhai took out was a token exclusively for the City Lord's Mansion. Such tokens are extremely rare and are usually held by the patriarchs of various families in the city.

This token allows access to the most concentrated area of ​​dragon veins in the center of the island, protected by a low-level Xuan-rank formation that would be extremely difficult for even a Tonghai Realm expert to break through.

The patrol captain was startled when he saw the token, then carefully examined Shirakawa Kai before him and recognized him.

"You are... Young Master Bai?"

Upon hearing this, the team members behind him were also startled. A year ago, Bai Chuanhai went deep into the Yunluo Mountains to hunt down the escaped demon general and had not returned since. Rumors circulated that he had unfortunately perished, and the old city lord had even sent a team of cultivators to search for him, but to no avail.

Later, the old city lord passed the position of city lord to Bai Zhenhai.

At this moment, Shirakawa Kai nodded and asked, "Has the Fourth Princess come before?"

Upon hearing this, the captain of the guard nodded and said, "The Fourth Princess has been here for quite some time now, more than eight months in total."

Upon hearing this, Bai Chuanhai placed the token in his hand at the edge of the magic circle, and then a gap appeared in the magic circle, which Bai Chuanhai quickly flew into.

At this moment, a cultivator in the group watched Bai Chuanhai's departing figure.

"Wei Ran!"

The patrol captain called out to the cultivator; indeed, it was Wei Ran. The captain then approached Wei Ran and said, "You haven't met Young Master Bai Chuanhai yet, have you?"

Wei Ran nodded after listening. Then the captain of the guard said, "You've only just entered the Qi Condensation Realm and joined the patrol team. You'll have plenty of time to see Young Master Bai Chuanhai in the future."

After saying that, the captain patted Wei Ran on the shoulder, and then the group summoned their longswords and continued their patrol.

Within the purple bamboo forest, a woman stood suspended in mid-air, surrounded by spiritual energy. This was Xia Qinglian, the fourth princess of the Fire Cloud Kingdom. Not far from her, two guards stood protecting her.

Once a cultivator enters the Meridian Opening Realm, they can cultivate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to abstain from grains. Xia Qinglian has been cultivating in this Purple Bamboo Forest for eight months.

As soon as Bai Chuanhai entered the Purple Bamboo Forest, Xia Qinglian's two guards immediately sensed his arrival. They then swiftly approached Bai Chuanhai.

One of the guards stepped forward and stopped Bai Chuanhai, saying, "This place has been reserved by the Fourth Princess. Fellow Daoist, you should find another place."

Upon hearing this, Bai Chuanhai immediately took out the communication jade pendant and said, "It was the Fourth Princess who invited me to the Purple Bamboo Grove for a chat. I hope the two protectors will inform her."

After saying this, the two protectors looked at each other and then said, "The Fourth Princess has been waiting here for many days. Please come with me quickly."

After speaking, the two guardians led Bai Chuanhai to Xia Qinglian's cultivation spot. Upon sensing their arrival, Xia Qinglian stopped her cultivation and came before Bai Chuanhai.

She then waved her hand, and the two guards immediately withdrew and stood guard around the area.

At this moment, Shirakawa Kai looked at the Fourth Princess in front of him and asked, "Fourth Princess, is there something you need to invite me here for?"

Xia Qinglian looked at Bai Chuanhai in front of her and said, "I heard that Young Master Bai went to chase after a fleeing demon general and only returned after a year. What happened on the way?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Chuanhai remained silent for a long time. He had not told his family about his love for Yue Qingwu when he returned this time.

His father was angry right now, and he had planned to tell him about his relationship with Yue Qingwu after his father calmed down.

Thinking of this, Shirakawa Kai replied, "It's just that the monster was cunning, and I chased it for a long time in the mountains."

After hearing this, Xia Qinglian raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "Oh? Young Master Bai, you are exceptionally talented. At such a young age, you have already reached the mid-stage of the Meridian Opening Realm. Even if you were to chase a demon general, it wouldn't take you almost a year, right? Besides, that demon general is already at its last gasp."

Upon hearing this, Shirakawa Kai remained silent. Shirakawa Kai was thirty years old, which, in the eyes of ordinary people, was already the middle of life.

However, in the eyes of cultivators, Bai Chuanhai, who was only thirty years old, was exceptionally talented. It should be noted that after breaking through to the Qi Opening Realm, each advancement requires a large amount of resources and a long period of cultivation. Even if one consumes many rare and precious materials, it is all in vain if one does not have the aptitude to comprehend them.

The fourth princess of the royal family before him was only one year younger than Bai Chuanhai, and had only just reached the early stage of the Meridian Opening Realm. Before Bai Chuanhai went on his final pursuit of the demonic beasts, he was the only member of the Bai family to have reached the mid-stage of the Meridian Opening Realm. In addition, he was usually approachable and humble in Baifeng City, so many people believed that Bai Chuanhai was the next city lord of Baifeng City.

In fact, this was indeed the case. Bai Muxuan had intended for Bai Chuanhai to succeed him as the next city lord. However, at the crucial moment of the city lord election, Bai Chuanhai disappeared without a trace in the Yunluo Mountains. Due to pressure from various parties, the old city lord Bai Muxuan was forced to let his second son, Bai Zhenhai, succeed him as city lord.

After seeing Bai Chuanhai remain silent for a long time, Xia Qinglian did not press him further. She then said, "Young Master Bai, do you remember the condition you promised me in the Illusionary Sea Secret Realm?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Chuanhai couldn't help but recall this incident. It was when he first met Xia Qinglian in the secret realm. Bai Chuanhai was severely injured and on the verge of death. At that time, Xia Qinglian took out a fourth-grade pill and saved Bai Chuanhai's life.

A fourth-grade pill wouldn't be of much help to Bai Chuanhai now, but back in the Illusionary Sea Secret Realm, when Bai Chuanhai only had the cultivation of the late Qi Condensation Realm, that fourth-grade pill was extremely important to him at that time.

Therefore, Bai Chuanhai owed Xia Qinglian a great favor. Thinking of this, Bai Chuanhai replied, "Fourth Princess, of course I remember. If it weren't for the Fourth Princess's kindness that day, I wouldn't be who I am today. No matter the conditions, as long as I can do it, I, Bai Chuanhai, will do my best."

Upon hearing this, Xia Qinglian nodded and said, "Father has initiated the battle for the throne."

Just those few words were enough to shock Bai Chuanhai. The battle for the throne was initiated by the royal family to select the next successor to the throne. The current emperor of Huoyun Kingdom was Xia Tianwu, a powerful expert who had reached the mid-stage of the Tonghai Realm and had been on the throne for three hundred years. Now, the three hundred years had come to an end.

According to the tradition of the Huoyun Kingdom's royal family, each emperor can only reign for a maximum of three hundred years. After three hundred years, the next successor must be selected. During this period, there are twenty years for the royal descendants to win over various forces to their side. The person who wins in the secret realm of the imperial city will become the next emperor.

Thinking of this, Bai Chuanhai frowned, because the struggle for imperial power has always been bloody and violent. Take Xia Tianwu, the current emperor of Huoyun Kingdom, for example. He killed his two younger brothers before he seized the throne.

Although Xia Qinglian is a woman, in this world where strength reigns supreme, even a woman can become an empress. Whoever has the biggest fist has the final say.

Seeing Bai Chuanhai remain silent, Xia Qinglian frowned slightly and said, "What? Young Master Bai is unwilling to stand on my side?" Bai Chuanhai replied slowly, "No, it's just that I am not the next city lord of Baifeng City, so I'm afraid I can't make a decision on behalf of the Bai family."

Bai Chuanhai knew that Xia Qinglian had come to him simply to have him represent Baifeng City and submit to Xia Qinglian's command, but now the city lord was his second brother, Bai Zhentian.

Xia Qinglian was also surprised after hearing this: "That's not right. Shouldn't Bai Muxuan have passed the position of city lord to you? Compared to your second brother, you are much better in terms of cultivation and popular support. Why would that old man pass the position of city lord to your second brother?"

Previously, when Xia Qinglian found Bai Muxuan, he personally told her that he intended to pass the city lordship to Bai Chuanhai. However, she had been cultivating in the Purple Bamboo Forest for more than eight months, and news from the outside world could not get in. This led to her not knowing that Bai Zhentian was already the current city lord of Baifeng City.

At this moment, Xia Qinglian narrowed her eyes slightly and then said, "In that case, let's go see the current city lord." After saying that, she took her guards and left the island with Bai Chuanhai, flying towards the city lord's mansion.

At this time, Bai Zhentian had already heard that his elder brother had returned from the city lord's mansion, so he rushed over immediately.

He looked at his father, Bai Muxuan, and quickly stepped forward to ask, "Father, I heard that my elder brother has returned?!" Bai Muxuan did not speak, but simply nodded.

"good".

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhentian quickly asked, "Where is my elder brother now?"

Just as Bai Muxuan was about to answer, a voice came from the entrance of the main hall of the city lord's mansion, "Second brother, it's only been a year since we last met, why do you miss your elder brother so much?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Bai Chuanhai and Xia Qinglian walked in from outside. Seeing this, Bai Zhentian quickly came to Bai Chuanhai's side and said, "Brother, there are rumors that you've encountered some misfortune. I thought something had happened to you?"

After hearing this, Bai Chuanhai replied with a smile, "Haha, second brother, it's just a level one demon general. It can't do anything to me. It's just that some things happened on the way, which caused a slight delay."

After the two brothers exchanged pleasantries for a while, Bai Zhentian also saw the Fourth Princess Xia Qinglian behind him.

He then stepped forward and inquired, "Your Highness, Fourth Princess, what brings you to my White Maple City today? You didn't even inform me so I could have sent someone to make preparations."

After speaking, Xia Qinglian slowly stepped forward and said, "Presumably, you are the current city lord of Baifeng City?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Muxuan immediately came to Bai Zhentian's side and introduced him: "That's right, Fourth Princess, he is the current city lord of Baifeng City, and also my second son, Bai Zhentian."

Hearing this, Xia Qinglian looked him up and down, and then slowly said, "That's perfect. Since you're all here today, I have something I'd like to discuss with the city lord."

After speaking, she waved her hand, and the two guards behind her immediately closed the main gate and all the windows and doors of the city lord's mansion. Bai Muxuan was somewhat surprised upon seeing this, and then asked, "Fourth Princess, what is the meaning of this?"