Black Stone County City

Chen Feng nodded and said, "Yes!"

"I hope it will develop well!"

His eyes also held some worry.

Although Yun Xi had given him a recommendation letter this time, he didn't know if there would be any unexpected issues.

He didn't want to inform anyone else until it was completed.

He pondered these thoughts.

Afterward, Chen Feng chatted more with Liu Yuan.

Then, he found Uncle Liu and returned the silver that Lin Xue had borrowed.

He even added an extra half tael.

Looking at the silver, Uncle Liu quickly said, "Chen Feng, you're going to the county city now, which is precisely when you need money."

Liu Yuan also tried to persuade him from the side.

Chen Feng smiled, "It's alright, Uncle Liu. I've been hunting in the mountains recently and earned some income. I can afford this amount."

He was carrying over a thousand taels of silver on him, so he naturally felt confident.

Uncle Liu, being an honest farmer, didn't refuse after hearing Chen Feng's explanation. "Alright, then I'll accept it."

Liu Yuan, on the other hand, was a bit surprised.

He began to observe Chen Feng more closely at this point, and a sense of shock washed over him. Chen Feng's strength didn't seem weak.

This made him marvel inwardly.

As for going to the county city, there wasn't much to pack.

Besides bringing his bow and arrows, Chen Feng chose to leave everything else behind.

He planned to return later once he could establish himself in the county city.

If it were just Chen Feng and Liu Yuan, they would have walked to the county city.

After all, it was only a few dozen miles away.

However, with Lin Xue joining them, they took a ox cart used for transporting goods, the kind of flatbed cart pulled by an ox, carrying some cargo.

This was a joint effort by several surrounding villages heading to the city together.

After paying just a hundred coins, Lin Xue sat on the flatbed cart.

Chen Feng followed behind the cart.

Along the way, as Chen Feng hurried along, his proficiency in Forest Running also increased.

[You are running on the road, your Forest Running proficiency +1.]

Two hours later.

His proficiency in Forest Running had greatly improved.

[Skill: Forest Running (Proficiency 51%)]

The proficiency of this skill had increased significantly.

This made Chen Feng's speed more stable and faster.

Liu Yuan naturally saw this along the way and was somewhat amazed.

This Chen Feng was truly remarkable; his stamina was even greater than his own.

Along the journey, Chen Feng also chatted with others. Since they had been to the city before, he was able to learn a lot of information about Black Stone City.

They traveled on the official road the entire way.

Chen Feng had initially worried about encountering bandits or similar threats.

However, the journey was peaceful.

At a mountain pass, the leader of the convoy paid a small protection fee, and the rest of the journey was uneventful.

Moreover, they gradually saw more travelers.

As the number of people gradually increased.

At this point, Chen Feng also saw the location of the Black Stone County City ahead.

Upon seeing the city walls, tens of meters high, outside Black Stone County City, he felt a sense of surprise.

"This is a county city?" Chen Feng exclaimed in shock.

The black city walls, tens of meters high, were as dark as ink, as if forged from melted black iron, shimmering with a cold light.

From a distance, it looked like a black ferocious beast crouching on the ground.

Their direction of travel was towards the east gate of Black Stone City. Beneath the towering city gate, a long queue of people waited to enter.

And these humans, in front of the city, seemed to be advancing slowly like ants.

Even Chen Feng, who had seen big cities, felt a tremor in his heart upon seeing this city.

He hadn't expected that such a massive city could be built in an ancient dynasty like this!

Liu Yuan, seeing Chen Feng's expression, chuckled, "Impressed, aren't you!"

"I was the same the first time I came here."

"Black Stone City, just the area enclosed by its walls, spans over a thousand square kilometers and is home to over a million people."

"And outside the city walls, there are a large number of people living. If you count all of them, Black Stone City alone has a population of three million."

"This is the second largest city in our Nanshan Prefecture, which speaks to its grandeur."

Chen Feng was also somewhat amazed, "It's really that formidable?"

This was quite beyond his expectations.

As the convoy approached the county city, they could indeed see many low-rise houses outside the city walls.

At the city gate, a large number of commoners and people entering the city were queuing.

Soldiers in black armor stood on both sides of the city gate.

Just standing there, they exuded an aura of ferocity.

Seeing this, Chen Feng was a little puzzled.

Liu Yuan explained, "This is the entrance fee. It's one hundred wen per person to enter the city."

"Unless you're a local resident or have a formal occupation in the city, and your affiliated power pays taxes to Black Stone City, you won't be able to survive here."

"No one is allowed to sleep on the streets in the city; there are patrols every night. To find a place to stay, besides inns, you'll need to seek protection from the major powers."

"Without a place to stay and a residency permit, you'll be directly expelled. If you try to re-enter, it'll cost another hundred wen, effectively making it a daily residency fee of one hundred wen."

"These people outside the city are choosing to live outside because they can't afford the daily entrance fee."

Chen Feng's eyes showed some surprise, "There's such a system."

Liu Yuan replied, "Yes, regardless, it's still safer than some remote places."

"If you don't have any other options, I suggest you come and check out the blacksmith shop where I work."

"I'll speak to my master, and you can start as an apprentice or something, at least to survive."

Chen Feng responded, "I plan to look around first."

Liu Yuan said, "Okay."

After a while, the convoy captain, a plump and wealthy gentleman in his fifties, cupped his hands and smiled, "Everyone, we've reached our destination. From here on, we'll go our separate ways."

Chen Feng, Lin Xue, and Liu Yuan went together, the three of them.

Chen Feng paid the two hundred wen entrance fee.

As he entered the city, he also used his killing intent to subtly sense the guards on both sides.

They all seemed to possess a fierce aura.

It was the aura of those who had killed before.

This made Chen Feng marvel inwardly. Being a First-grade Martial Artist was enough to dominate Black Mountain Village.

Yet, here in the county city, they were merely guarding the gate.

After paying the entrance fee and entering the county city, they were immediately met with a cacophony of noise.

Looking at the scene before him, Chen Feng's eyes felt a little dazed.