Yes, Terrifying!

Nanli City was a city established by the Xuanqian Kingdom near the border of the Demon Realm Forest, originally built specifically to defend against attacks from tides of border monsters.

Though it was a border city, Nanli City's prosperity and size were not the slightest bit inferior to the Xuanqian Kingdom's capital.

It could even be said to surpass the capital entirely.

Countless monsters dwelled within the Demon Realm Forest, with nearly a hundred Monster Kings alone.

The large and small monsters within were even more innumerable, while Immortal Herbs and Spiritual Medicine covered the mountains and plains, making cultivation resources exceptionally abundant.

It was a trial ground for countless cultivators, as well as the finest place for them to obtain Monster Materials and gather Immortal Herbs and Spiritual Medicine.

Naturally, it drew countless cultivators who flocked here willingly, gathering in great numbers.

The sale of these abundant Monster Materials and Immortal Herbs and Spiritual Medicine also attracted many merchants to settle down and make their living here.

With trade and commerce circulating, Nanli City gradually grew ever more prosperous.

Whether mortals or cultivators, quite a few had settled here.

The Qi Family, where Qi Yuan belonged, was one of the two great merchant Aristocratic Clans that had arrived earliest in Nanli City.

Inside the carriage, after learning that neither Ning Yechen nor Luo Ruying was from the Xuanqian Kingdom, Qi Yuan began enthusiastically explaining Nanli City and her Qi Family to them both.

Her expression was proud and delighted as she spoke, but when she mentioned the Qi Family, her face turned dim and despondent.

Just then, the carriage stopped, and Zhang He's voice came from outside the curtain.

"Miss, we have arrived."

"Sister Luo, we're here."

"This is Nanli City~"

Qi Yuan smiled faintly, concealing her previous dejection as she rose and lifted the carriage curtain.

The carriage had stopped in the queue outside Nanli City's gates. Beyond the curtain, they could already see the bustling, crowded masses.

Dense crowds lined up to enter Nanli City, enough to prove that Qi Yuan had not been exaggerating.

Nanli City was indeed exceptionally prosperous.

Quite a few cultivators sped past the carriages, flying directly over the city gates and into the city.

The carriage carrying Ning Yechen's group soon passed through the gates as well and entered the city.

The moment they entered the city streets, cries of hawking and selling sounded from all around. Noisy crowds streamed back and forth along the roads, presenting an immensely prosperous and lively sight.

Attracted by the clamor outside, Luo Hongye lay in Luo Ruying's arms, her large eyes peering curiously through the carriage window in every direction.

Having either been hidden away or shut away all her life, she had never seen so many people or such a lively scene before. Staring blankly around her, she said timidly in a soft voice,

"Mother, Father, so many people."

"Yes, shall Mother take Yeye out for a stroll?"

Luo Ruying smiled gently and lovingly stroked Luo Hongye's head.

Come to think of it, she had never taken Luo Hongye out to see the world beyond...

"Mhm!"

Luo Hongye nodded happily and vigorously.

"Thank you, Miss Qi, for bringing us here."

"Now that we have arrived in the city, we shall take our leave first."

Luo Ruying picked up Luo Hongye and rose, preparing to bid Qi Yuan farewell.

"Sister Luo, won't you come sit at my home?"

"I would like to properly host you and repay you for saving my life."

Hope filled Qi Yuan's eyes as she hurriedly asked.

Luo Ruying shook her head and politely declined.

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Qi."

"We plan to stay in the city for a while, and we still need to find a place to live with the child, so we will not trouble you."

"Then that works out perfectly!"

"I am very familiar with the residences in Nanli City. Let me lead the way for you, Sister Luo."

"And I can introduce you to Nanli City's local specialties while we're at it."

Qi Yuan clapped her hands and said with a beaming smile.

Ning Yechen narrowed his eyes slightly and secretly glanced at Qi Yuan.

This little girl was quite enthusiastic...

Luo Ruying considered it carefully for a moment before ultimately nodding and agreeing to let Qi Yuan accompany them.

Having a guide familiar with the roads could often save them a great deal of effort.

Seeing that she had received permission, Qi Yuan looked delighted and leaned close to whisper instructions to Zhang He, telling him to leave first.

Zhang He first looked troubled, but he still nodded in agreement.

After Ning Yechen's group got out of the carriage, Zhang He drove it back to the Qi Family alone.

"Come on, Sister Luo. I'll take you around and have a look first."

"In Nanli Capital City, there isn't a single place I don't know."

Qi Yuan patted her flat chest and promised with complete confidence.

Luo Ruying carried Luo Hongye while she and Ning Yechen followed behind Qi Yuan.

Along the way, countless eyes fixed tightly upon Luo Ruying.

With her peerless grace and breathtaking beauty, Luo Ruying, carrying Luo Hongye as she walked down the street, was simply a dazzling and eye-catching scenic view...

"What a stunning woman!"

"With such flower-like beauty and moon-like features, I fear there are few women in the world who could compare to her!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. That otherworldly bearing—could she be a fairy maiden descended from the heavens?"

"The little girl in her arms is so exquisite and adorable too. Could she be her daughter?"

"No way! Then could that man beside her be her husband?"

"I can't accept this!"

"What gives that brat the right to win such a beauty?"

"Isn't he just more handsome than me?!"

The crowd grumbled indignantly, all expressing deep regret.

A few people also boldly ogled Luo Ruying with lecherous eyes.

Luo Ruying did not hold back either. A fierce aura burst forth between her furrowed brows, intimidating those people until they coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.

In an instant, everyone realized that this woman of peerless beauty was a cultivator with profound cultivation!

No one dared utter another frivolous remark.

Qi Yuan looked at Luo Ruying with admiration and continued leading them through the streets.

Something strange happening all around the streets drew everyone's attention.

Whether cultivators or mortals sitting idly within inns, nearly everyone without exception was discussing one matter.

Their expressions were especially solemn as they whispered among themselves.

"Did you know? The Tianxia Confucian Palace, Martial God Hall, Human Puppet Ghost Den, and Azure Peak Sword Sect—the four great sects that stood proudly above the world—were all razed to the ground overnight!"

"Who doesn't know that?"

"The news has already spread across all eighteen provinces!"

"Just who could possess the ability to wipe out all four great sects in a single night?! That is truly terrifying beyond measure!"

"I heard the four sect masters happened to be away from their sects as well, and there has been no news of them to this day!"

The people around them continued discussing the matter, their debate especially fervent.

This incident had shocked the entire world at once.

Yet there was not the slightest trace of whoever had acted behind the scenes, leaving the entire matter a complete and unknown mystery.

Everyone in the world turned pale at the mere mention of it!

Qi Yuan had been in the Demon Realm Forest these past few days, and hearing the news for the first time left her instantly dumbfounded with shock.

She could not help exclaiming in alarm,

"The four great sects were destroyed overnight..."

"That is simply too terrifying!"

"Sister Luo, Brother Ning, do you think it's true?"

"If someone truly could destroy the four great sects overnight, that person's cultivation must be utterly terrifying."

Luo Ruying nodded in agreement, unable to stop herself from sighing inwardly.

The human realm truly was a place where crouching tigers and hidden dragons lay...

Ning Yechen also nodded in complete agreement.

"Yes, terrifying indeed...!"