Chapter 310: The City
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
In a realm like this, the existence of a city with a human-like appearance was highly unusual. No matter how you looked at it, this was far from normal.
This realm had served as a training ground for the true disciples of the four sects in the past, and they were well aware of what lay within. Half-Bottle Mountain had been visited by many disciples in the past, and there was nothing particularly remarkable about it.
However, things had taken a strange turn since the incident three years ago when the true disciples had experienced an anomaly in the realm. During that trial, some disciples who considered themselves exceptionally strong had ventured into Half-Bottle Mountain.
Unfortunately, none of them had returned safely from the mountain. Even Xiao Liling from the Sunken Water Pavilion, who possessed the spiritual treasure ” Exquisite Pearl,” had not dared to explore Half-Bottle Mountain.
After the trial ended, the four sects sent more disciples into the realm to investigate the cause of the anomaly, but they found nothing amiss. The most unsettling aspect was Half-Bottle Mountain itself, which had deterred disciples from entering. None of those who had ventured up the mountain had returned.
No one dared to ascend Half-Bottle Mountain.
Now, with the realm having undergone a complete upgrade and the arrival of these Aperture Tempering realm disciples, they had ascended Half-Bottle Mountain and witnessed the sight before them—a human-like city standing tall atop the mountain.
“An illusion?” someone whispered.
“It should be, but it seems incredibly real!”
Illusions can deceive one’s vision, and if one’s core soul energy is not strong enough, it can still be easily deceived. However, everyone present here is at the Aperture Tempering realm, and their core soul energy is exceptionally strong. Someone like Liao Hanqin, for instance, has core soul energy that is almost equivalent to mid-level Aperture Tempering realm.
To think that a single illusion could simultaneously deceive the vision and core soul energy of dozens of Aperture Tempering realm cultivators present here- it’s enough to send shivers down one’s spine when you consider the power required for that.
“Could it be that a mysterious realm and a mystic realm merged together?” Ren Zhongyang whispered.
Many mysterious realms have human cities within them, not because they created the cities themselves, but because they devoured all the people within those cities, turning them into part of their own mysterious realm.
Just like the Strange Wind Realm that Chen Fei had visited before and the now-devoured Pingyin County, they were both cases of this nature.
Upon hearing Ren Zhongyang’s words, many people breathed a slight sigh of relief.
If it was an illusion capable of deceiving everyone, to be honest, even with many people present, they wouldn’t dare to enter this city. The power required for such an illusion would be too overwhelming.
But if it was a mysterious realm, the situation would be quite different. Ideally, during the merging process with the mystic realm, the mysterious realm might not be able to withstand the crushing power between them and could shatter.
Even if the mysterious realm didn’t perish and continued to cultivate in this place with dense spiritual energy, the final outcome against dozens of Aperture Tempering realm cultivators was still unknown.
However, what the current situation truly was remained unclear, and what lay inside this city was a massive unknown.
Many people looked towards Liao Hanqin, expecting him to make a decision.
The fluctuations they had sensed from below came from inside the city. Now, being so close, their perception of it was even clearer.
Indeed, the treasure is inside, but whether we can retrieve it requires a decision.
Chen Fei’s gaze was fixed on the city. The city gates were wide open, but inside was a pitch-black abyss that blocked any attempt to peer inside.
The rat demon in Chen Fei’s sleeve had curled itself into a ball, a sign of extreme fear.
In some ways, the perception of demonic beasts was stronger than that of human cultivators, but it had its limitations. After all, if the rat demon’s ability to sense good and bad fortune were that strong, it wouldn’t have been lured by Chen Fei using the sap of the Strange Locust Tree.
The rat demon was more afraid of the faint aura coming from inside, and this aura was also sensed by all the cultivators present. Obviously, there was something inside the city.
“We’ve come this far, and there’s no reason to be scared off now. Of course, if you want to leave, 1 won’t force anyone to stay. It’s up to your own will,” Liao Hanqin said after thinking for a moment, looking at everyone.
The cause of this mysterious realm’s change was likely inside. If there really was a treasure inside, it might allow him to break into the mid-stage of Aperture Tempering realm directly.
The sooner he reached that stage, the more critical it would be for his future cultivation. Even if the treasure was powerful enough, it might assist him in advancing to the later stages of Aperture Tempering realm, or even the peak, who knows.
On the cultivation path, one had to strive, and in the face of risks and opportunities like this, there was no reason to be scared off and run away at once.
Everyone exchanged glances, their expressions serious, finding it difficult to make a decision.
Coming to this mystic realm and daring to ascend Half-Bottle Mountain has already proven the character of these people—they are willing to take risks. There is indeed danger ahead, but the opportunity also seems substantial, making it difficult for anyone to decide.
Of course, there’s another critical factor: there are enough people here at the moment. If they really encounter any danger, there will be others to share the burden.
Although the treasure inside hasn’t been seen yet, it has already ignited people’s desires. Liao Hanqin is powerful, but sometimes strength alone doesn’t guarantee obtaining the final prize.
Entering this mystic realm, everyone relies on their own abilities to obtain treasures. There’s never been a rule that all the good things have to be handed over to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.
Chen Fei stood among the crowd, feeling a bit torn. His main purpose for coming to the mystic realm this time was to enhance his core soul energy. Thanks to his previous gains, his core soul energy had indeed improved significantly.
However, core soul energy cultivation always aimed for greater strength. Now, although Chen Fei didn’t seem to have any core soul energy barriers, considering the speed at which he was opening his acupoints, this issue might resurface soon.
As Chen Fei furrowed his brow in thought, he suddenly felt something unusual. Involuntarily, he looked up and realized that the city gate, which was a considerable distance away just moments ago, was now less than ten meters from them.
The city was actually moving towards them, actively charging in their direction. Chen Fei instinctively activated his body techniques, transforming into a blur as he retreated to the rear.
Others also noticed the situation and were all startled, instinctively spreading out.
“Buzz!”
A strange ripple emanated from the city gate, quickly sweeping towards them. In the blink of an eye, it caught up with everyone, leaving no time to evade.
This ripple didn’t stop here; it swept through the entire Half-Bottle Mountain from top to bottom.
When the ripple ceased, the city had returned to its original place on the mountaintop, and all the dozens of cultivators who were previously around had vanished without a trace.
Ren Zhongyang sat in a chair, looking somewhat dazed.
Observing his surroundings, it appeared to be a clinic. Menial workers were bustling in and out of the main hall, and the scent of herbs continuously lingered in the air.
“Doctor, my stomach hurts a bit. Could you please take a look and see if there’s a problem?” A woman dressed like a villager sat across from Ren Zhongyang, placing her hand on the table, awaiting his pulse diagnosis.
Ren Zhongyang glanced at the woman, his face turning ashen, and there was even a hint of blackness at the corners of his eyes. Not only that, his cheekbones were sunken, as if there was only skin left on his body, with no trace of flesh underneath.
“Doctor, please, take a look quickly!” The villager looked at Ren Zhongyang, her eyes widened, blood vessels seemingly dancing in her eyeballs. As she spoke, an inexplicable smile crept onto the corners of her mouth.
Ren Zhongyang felt somewhat helpless. He was a physician, meant to heal and save lives, but now he realized he knew nothing about medicine. How could he possibly diagnose and treat someone?
“Doctor, please, take a look quickly!”
The village woman’s voice grew increasingly deep and chilling. Inside the hall, the menial workers who had been bustling around had all stopped their activities, turning their heads to gaze at Ren Zhongyang.
A mysterious and eerie atmosphere pervaded, and strange smiles appeared on everyone’s faces. The bloodshot eyes of the villager in front of Ren Zhongyang became more and more prominent, and the whites of her eyes were gradually disappearing.
In a private school, Liao Hanqin stood on the podium, slowly regaining his senses as he looked at the students below him. Liao Hanqin lowered his head to glance at his clothing, which was neat and simple. In his left hand, he held a scroll of books.
“Teacher, impart knowledge and clear our doubts. Please, teach us!”
“Teacher, impart knowledge and clear our doubts. Please, teach us!”
“Teacher, impart knowledge and clear our doubts. Please, teach us!
ii
What had begun as a single student speaking soon escalated, with the entire classroom of students standing up one by one, impatiently shouting. Their gazes were fixed firmly on Liao Hanqin.
Innocent faces that should have been pure and bright were now becoming dark and twisted with each shout.
An eerie, spine-chilling aura filled the classroom.
Liao Hanqin’s brow furrowed slightly, sensing that something was amiss instinctively. However, he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was wrong. When had he become a private school teacher? Was he really a private school teacher now? In that case, what should he be teaching at this moment?
The students seemed to be getting impatient; he needed to act quickly.
In a courtyard, Chi Shuqing was dressed in the attire of a maid, standing next to her young lady. Although she felt a hundred kinds of strangeness in her heart, she couldn’t quite explain it.
She had a feeling that she shouldn’t be in the role of a maid, yet the current situation told her that she was just a lowly servant.
“Have you given the orders to the kitchen for the dishes?” the young lady turned and looked at Chi Shuqing, a hint of a smile on her face.
However, in Chi Shuqing’s eyes, that smile held no warmth.
“I’ll go and check!” Chi Shuqing quickly replied, bending slightly, and was about to head out. But halfway there, she suddenly didn’t know where she was going. Where was the kitchen in this mansion? Why did she have no memory of it?
“Why are you still standing there? Why aren’t you moving?” Suddenly, the voice of her young lady floated into Chi Shuqing’s ears. Her body stiffened, and she turned around, only to find her young lady standing behind her, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
“You need to hurry! Why aren’t you moving?” Chi Shuqing looked at her young lady, a sudden chill running down her spine. Where was the kitchen? How was she supposed to get there?
Chen Fei, at this moment, carried a shoulder pole and stood by the roadside, watching people come and go.
Where was this?