This nameless town, shackled by witchcraft in a rift between spaces, was far larger than expected. After climbing a wooden tower in the town, Hao Ren saw buildings rolling into the distance. Layer upon layer of old rooftops stretched along the uneven terrain, like nauseating folds on some filthy giant beast. Everything in sight was a lifeless gray-black, and there wasn't a single bright color in the entire town to lift anyone's spirits even slightly. At the far end of the town, away from the riverbank, stood a huge building that might have been a noble's residence.
There was a very good chance that the wizard had lived there.
Hao Ren climbed down from the watchtower and told everyone what he had seen. "There's a big house at the other end of town. Let's head there first."
"Mm. And don't just focus on hurrying along. Keep an eye on your surroundings," Vivian said with a nod. "A wizard's lair is always full of traps, especially one on this scale... Someone capable of creating a secret realm like this probably wasn't ordinary even in the Mythical Era."
The group cautiously began exploring the silent, eerie lost town. Lily spent the entire journey curiously examining the ancient, weathered houses and crude street fixtures around them. She asked the most knowledgeable person present, "Bat, what era do you think this town is from?"
"Somewhere between the year 1000 and four hundred years ago. The architectural style and level of civilization in this region barely changed during that period. Besides, time here clearly doesn't flow in sync with the outside world, so it's even harder to determine when this place is from." Vivian frowned. "But one thing is certain: the secret realm wasn't formed naturally. This place was probably just an ordinary riverside town