Urban God of War: The Live-in Son-in-law-Chapter 688 - 681: Breakthrough, Half-Step Void!

In the Outer Battlefield Xuanyuan Hall, several hall masters cloaked in long robes were seated according to their ranks within the grand hall, which was the highest level within Xuanyuan Hall and typically only accessible to hall masters. However, the Taishi Chair that belonged to the Lord of the Three Halls remained empty at the moment.

The ranking of the various hall masters in Xuanyuan Hall was not strictly based on strength. For instance, the original Lord of the Three Halls was placed third because of his seniority and his role as a founder, even though his power was the lowest among all the hall masters.

Of course, even when the Lord of the Three Halls died, the other hall masters didn't bother to inquire much or investigate overly, since there had been too many events happening lately, such as various secret realms and the Martial Dao conferences, and finally, the battle to defend the Great Wall of Heaven, which left the position of the Lord of the Three Halls vacant for this period of time.

Today, apart from the minor vacancy of the Lord of the Three Halls, the central leading position – the seat of the First Hall Master – also remained unoccupied.

"This is outrageous, the battle at the Great Wall of Heaven has been over for a day now, and the First Hall Master still hasn't shown up. This is utterly unacceptable. This guy has forgotten the original purpose of establishing the Xuanyuan Hall and truly does not deserve to be the First Hall Master!" the Patriarch of the Bu Family, who was the Second Hall Master, suddenly declared in a stern cold voice.

In fact, the Patriarch of the Bu Family had always been disgruntled with the Chief Hall Master and even harbored ideas of replacing him. If it weren't for the First Hall Master's formidable cultivation realm and his excessively mysterious identity, the Patriarch probably would have taken action against him already.

After all, the Bu Family was one of the Four Great Ancient Clans of Xuanyuan Nation, with a foundation that was undoubtedly among the top three within the nation, and even when considered globally, they were not to be underestimated.

The Fourth Hall Master, Ancestor of the Hong Family, Hong Wuji, also voiced his agreement, "The First Hall Master really behaved inappropriately. Today, let us discuss the matter and consider dismissing him from the position of First Hall Master. I agree with this proposal. What do the rest of you think?"

The Fifth and the Sixth Hall Masters were elders from the Confucian and Buddhist Sects, who also had been quite dissatisfied with the autocratic and self-willed behavior of the First Hall Master over the years; they nodded and said in unison, "We agree too and support the dismissal of the First Hall Master from his position!"

However, the father of the Seventh Hall Master, Zhao Gongming, commented, "Dismissing the First Hall Master? I don't think that's feasible. After all, our Xuanyuan Hall has always held the Chief Hall Master in the highest esteem, and only the Chief Hall Master has the authority to keep the other three great forces in check. I would like to ask if there's anyone among us present who possesses such capability?"

"What do you mean by that, Zhao Xuanzhen? Could it be that you think our Xuanyuan Hall cannot do without him as the First Hall Master, that there's nobody else who can carry the flag of Xuanyuan Hall?" the Second Hall Master, Patriarch of the Bu Family, was quite angry.

Zhao Xuanzhen sneered and replied, "Of course, that's not what I mean. However, if the Second Hall Master believes he has the ability, perhaps he should make a trip to the Yin-Yang Temple and the Vampire Divine Court. If he can return alive, then it wouldn't be too late to make such a statement!"

"You..." The Second Hall Master, Patriarch of the Bu Family, was seething with anger, yet unable to retort, knowing full well that with his current cultivation strength, he truly dared not challenge the Yin-Yang Temple and the Vampire Divine Court.

Of course, this was also a source of frustration for the Patriarch of the Bu Family; otherwise, he would have already eliminated the First Hall Master and taken his place. And if he could become the Chief Hall Master himself, he could rightfully seize the resources of the Outer Battlefield for the Bu Family disciples to cultivate. In less than fifty years, the Bu Family would become the foremost family in Xuanyuan Nation, or even the leading family power in the world.

Dreams are beautiful, yet reality is often brutal. Not to mention toppling the First Hall Master, the Patriarch of the Bu Family currently couldn't even handle the Seventh Hall Master.

Succeeding the commotion, everyone was engaging in a disruptive argument, creating chaos on the scene for a time.

The Eighth Hall Master, also the graceful Madame from the Flora Sect, had never wanted to join such a quarrel; yet, witnessing the scene, she couldn't help but feel helpless, shaking her head as she admonished sternly, "I say, you've all lived for nearly a hundred years, is there really a need to bicker endlessly over such a trivial matter?"

The Second Hall Master, the Patriarch of the Bu Family, retorted vehemently, "How can there be no need? Perhaps you, Hua Baimei, can afford to stay uninvolved and desireless, but don't speak so lightly. After all, this concerns the century-long planning of our Xuanyuan Hall, even the safety of critical issues facing Xuanyuan Nation and the Human Realm in the days to come. How can we take this lightly?"

With that, the Bu Family Patriarch continued, "The First Hall Master is so selfish and self-centered that he's no longer fit to be the Chief Hall Master. He must relinquish that position!"

The Eighth Hall Master, Hua Baimei, scoffed, "All said and done, aren't you just coveting the position of Chief Hall Master? If you're dissatisfied, go challenge the First Hall Master to a duel. Whoever wins can take the seat, granted that you have the courage to fight him! If you dare not, then stop jabbering here."

Upon these words, the Second Hall Master from the Bu Family immediately fell silent, and even the Fourth Hall Master shut his mouth. The lords from the Confucian and Buddhist Sects likewise knew better than to speak further.

In truth, everyone present was well aware that in a one-on-one fight, nobody could match the First Hall Master. Of course, if several Hall Masters were to join forces, that would be a different story. Hence, the Bu Family Patriarch had always sought to incite the other Hall Masters to act against the First Hall Master.

Hua Baimei sneered, "We have less than two years before the Great Wall of Heaven will completely collapse. Once that happens, the army of the Demon Horn Tribe will surely descend to invade our Human Realm. At such a time, instead of contemplating how to face the enemy, you are still scheming for power and profit. You accuse the First Hall Master of being selfish and self-serving; I think you're no better."

"Well said!" Just then, a harsh voice resonated, followed by the sudden appearance of the First Hall Master on the principal seat above.

The person who suddenly appeared was indeed the First Hall Master, still cloaked in his black robe with his face ever shrouded in dark fog, obscuring his true features, revealing only a pair of pitch-black eyes. They looked as profound as the abyss, seemingly drawing in anyone who dared look a second longer.

"First Hall Master, you've finally shown up. Where on earth have you been all this time? Don't you know a great battle just erupted at the Great Wall of Heaven? The Demon Horn surged forward in an all-out attack, and you didn't lift a finger at such a critical moment. What face do you have to sit in that position?" demanded the Bu Family Patriarch sternly.

The Fourth Hall Master also hummed in agreement, "During the recent battle at the Great Wall of Heaven, although the Human Race eventually held strong, our losses were severe, and we were all wounded fighting valiantly. Yet you, the Chief Hall Master, chose to hide away without showing your face. You might as well leave on your own!"

"First Hall Master, immediately hand over the keys to various secret realms and the City Order Tokens!" The Bu Family and the Hong Family Hall Masters shouted angrily in unison.

In fact, what these two Patriarchs of Bu and Hong really cared about was not so much the ranking of Hall Masters — a mere ordinal status. What truly concerned them were the keys to various secret realms and City Order Tokens that the Chief Hall Master held. These were the most crucial elements.

After all, to control these keys and tokens meant to control resources!

The First Hall Master burst into laughter, "What I've been doing recently is hardly something I need to explain to you, and of course, you don't have the standing to question it. Bu Family Patriarch and Ancestor of the Hong Family, do you not both aspire to take the position I currently occupy? Oh, and let's not forget the Confucian and Buddhist Sects, the two of you as well. Very well, today I shall give you an opportunity."

"All four of you come at me together. Should you manage to defeat me, then I shall step down from Xuanyuan Hall and hand over the keys to the various secret realms, never to return!"

"Are your words true?" Hong Wuji immediately asked.

"The First Hall Master, this is what you said!" Bu Family Patriarch was also stirring with eagerness.

However, the two Hall Masters from the Confucian and Buddhist Sects were still hesitating.

Bu Family Patriarch couldn't help but urge, "Tell me, what exactly are you two hesitating about? With such a good opportunity before you, let's not even discuss how the First Hall Master has abandoned the Human Race at such a critical juncture. There's also his identity. We have always been ignorant of his true origins. It's entirely possible that he belongs to another Great Power or might even be from another race infiltrating ours. Are you really prepared to entrust the position of Chief Hall Master to him?"

The First Hall Master laughed aloud once more, shaking his head, "All right, Confucian and Buddhist Sects' two Hall Masters, there's no need for hesitation. Come at me together. Let's see the strength of your cultivation!"

"Fine, since that's the case, then let me be the first to face you!" Having said that, Hong Wuji was the first to rush forward, slapping a palm towards the First Hall Master.

"Child's play!" The First Hall Master sneered calmly, but still remained seated on the Taishi Chair, unflinchingly still.

Seeing this, Hong Wuji vigorously stimulated the vast Spirit Essence within his body. A dazzling glow erupted from his palm, as radiant as the Great Fiery Sun, the signature technique of the Hong Family, the Great Fiery Sun Technique.

Nevertheless, the First Hall Master continued to sit undisturbed, not even deigning to glance at Hong Wuji, much less mounting a defense.

The neighboring several Hall Masters were left with expressions of dismay, failing to comprehend why the First Hall Master was so arrogant as to not fight back, or even defend himself.

Even though the First Hall Master's cultivation realm was exceedingly profound, Hong Wuji was nonetheless a Great Power of the Yin-Yang Realm at the Second Seal Level. Hong Wuji had almost exerted eighty percent of his strength, and if the First Hall Master did not defend soon, even someone at the Peak Realm would be gravely injured.

After all, the flesh body and Spirit Essence Barrier of the Peak Realm couldn't withstand an assault from a Great Power of the Yin-Yang Realm with the Second Seal!

However, just as everyone was utterly perplexed, and just as Hong Wuji's Palm of the Fiery Sun was about to strike the First Hall Master's face, the First Hall Master vanished, simply disappearing from his spot without any sign.

Boom...

The Palm of the Fiery Sun whiffed, breaking the Taishi Chair into rubble. Yet the First Hall Master had already disappeared without a trace and, of course, was unharmed.

"How... how is this possible? How could he vanish into thin air?" asked an Elder of the Confucian Sect.

"I have no idea, what on earth is going on?" expressed the Hall Master from the Buddhist Sect, just as confused.

At this moment, however, both the face of Bu Family Patriarch and Ancestor of the Hong Family, Hong Wuji, turned incredibly grim, with shock and fear coloring their expressions.

"Damnation, to think that you actually... actually had a breakthrough, breaking into the Half-Step Void Realm!" Bu Family Patriarch spat out through clenched teeth, word by word.

"What? The First Hall Master had a breakthrough, stepping into the Void Realm?" Those present were taken aback.

"Void Teleportation, only an extraordinary Great Power of the Void Realm could accomplish such a feat. What he just performed was the Void Teleportation Technique!" Hong Wuji grimaced, his face likewise showing a look of alarm.

Right at that moment, the First Hall Master's figure reappeared out of nowhere in the same position, and behind him now stood another chair.

Just as he had previously vanished so did he now appear, with all the onlookers, powerful individuals of the Yin-Yang Realm, unable to discern how the First Hall Master had abruptly disappeared and then reappeared. They had felt no fluctuation of Spirit Essence, and his speed was terrifying.

In other words, he had performed Void Teleportation!

And only an extraordinary Great Power at the Half-Step Void Realm could perform Void Teleportation!

Zhao Xuanzhen remarked in amazement, "So it turns out, during this period the First Hall Master truly was in secluded cultivation. Congratulations to the First Hall Master on successfully breaking through to the Void Realm. Though it's just Half-Step Void, our Human Race has now gained another unparalleled powerhouse of the Void!"

"Congratulations to the First Hall Master!" Hua Baimei also saluted with folded hands, showing respect to the extraordinary powerhouse!