An Abnormal City

Next comes the disguise.

The printing equipment was restarted, and based on the video footage remotely captured by Elizabeth's reconnaissance team, combined with the analysis of clothing materials by energy scanning, several sets of clothing in line with local style were quickly printed.

These garments appear to be made primarily of some rough but tough dark fabric and treated leather, with a simple and practical design that facilitates movement and conceals weapons.

"Having clothes alone is not enough."

The veteran investigator noted, "Based on the imagery analysis, the city's inhabitants, especially the warriors and those of certain status, seem to have a habit of wearing those monster remains as ornaments or trophies."

Zhou Yuxuan agreed.

They immediately headed to the makeshift "monster sample analysis area," where relatively intact or distinctive monster remains collected during previous battles were piled up.

After a brief selection, they chose several sharp teeth with hard texture and unique shape, a few pieces of armor with a dark metallic luster, and a small tentacle tip containing faint dark energy.

These "ornaments" were carefully inlaid or bound to their leather armor shoulders, belts, or wrist guards.

Although the technique was somewhat clumsy and not as natural as the way the local residents wore it in the video, it at least showed more signs of struggling to survive in this world.

Soon, everything was ready.

Zhou Yuxuan glanced at the tactical terminal on his wrist, which was disguised and looked like an ordinary metal wristband, and then checked the emergency supplies and weapons he carried in his backpack.

"Let's go," he said in a deep voice.

Considering that the recently discovered human settlements are also thousands of miles away, although the shuttle they crashed in itself has short-range flight capabilities, relying too much on technological creations in such an unknown environment is not a wise move and could easily expose their identities.

The three exchanged a glance, their source energy fluctuating slightly, and then they took to the air.

They deliberately lowered their flight altitude, remaining only a dozen meters above the ground, while also concealing most of their energy radiance, leaving only the necessary protective energy. They then transformed into three inconspicuous streaks of light, skimming along the desolate and lifeless land, speeding towards their target.

The strange rocks, the dried-up riverbed, and the twisted vegetation beneath our feet rushed past.

The pale, luminous object still hung high, casting its cold light upon them.

Zhou Yuxuan silently reviewed the key points of the mission in his mind, while vigilantly sensing his surroundings.

Ten thousand miles is not a long distance for Star Core level spacecraft traveling at full speed. Before long, Zhou Yuxuan and his two companions arrived at the edge of that majestic city.

The three did not approach the giant city directly, but instead hid behind a weathered rock pillar about twenty miles away from the city, observing from a distance.

The dark red metal walls soared into the clouds, their surfaces inlaid with countless grotesque monster skulls, gleaming with a cold, deathly luster under the pale light.

The massive main city gate was tightly shut, like the mouth of a silent behemoth, with only a smaller side gate open, like a tiny blood vessel, maintaining a weak connection between the city and the outside world.

They patiently observed for about a standard time and saw several teams going in and out.

Zhou Yuxuan discovered that the process of entering and leaving the city was simpler than he had expected.

The group arrived at the side gate, had a brief exchange with the guards, handed over some items, and was then allowed to pass.

There was no stringent identity verification process in sight; the soldiers' main duties seemed to be maintaining order and collecting fees, their eyes scanning the wasteland outside the city warily, on guard against any potential threats.

"The key to entry seems to lie in some kind of currency for entering and exiting the city and basic conversations; identity verification is not strict."

Zhou Yuxuan calmly analyzed, "But we're penniless and can barely communicate in the local language, so going straight ahead probably won't work. We need to find a way to get some local currency first."

As he spoke, his gaze swept across the blood-red wasteland outside the city like that of a hawk, quickly locking onto a small squad that had just emerged from the side gate and was heading out of the city.

The team consisted of only four people, and their equipment looked quite ordinary and outdated. Zhou Yuxuan examined them with a portable Detector and found that, judging from their energy levels, the strongest among them was around the late-stage Stardust level, while the other three were hovering around the mid-stage Stardust level.

"The opportunity has arrived." Zhou Yuxuan's eyes narrowed. "We'll take the initiative to contact them. Remember, we'll portray ourselves as powerful individuals from a distant region who have encountered misfortune. We need to be assertive, but our goal is only to obtain information and basic supplies, avoiding any unforeseen complications."

As he spoke, he straightened his clothes, held a dark scale in his hand, and said to the two team members behind him, "Follow me, unleash some of your aura, keep it around the early stage of the Star Core level, just enough to intimidate."

The three left the rock pillar and followed the group for some distance before finding an opportunity to intercept them.

The group's expression changed drastically when they saw the three people who suddenly appeared.

They reacted swiftly, forming a tight defensive formation back to back, their weapons instantly drawn, while they looked at the three uninvited guests who had appeared like ghosts with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

Zhou Yuxuan stopped about five steps away from them, calmly scanning the four of them with his gaze, and slowly said, "We come from a very far place."

He was concise and to the point, avoiding saying too much and making mistakes.

Among the four, a middle-aged man with weathered features felt the tangible pressure emanating from Zhou Yuxuan and his companions, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He quickly sheathed his weapon and bowed respectfully. "I don't know. I don't know what orders the three lords have?" His tone was humble, with obvious reverence.

Zhou Yuxuan casually displayed the dark scales in his hand, which gleamed with a cold luster under the pale light.

He spoke calmly, as if stating a trivial matter. "We encountered a battle along the way, and most of our belongings have been lost."

As he spoke, Zhou Yuxuan pointed to the scales, "With these, you can exchange them for local currency and basic local information."

Having said that, he tossed the scale over, his casual movement carrying an air of self-righteous dominance.

The middle-aged man hurriedly caught the scale, and the moment he touched it, he felt a heavy, icy texture, followed by the pure energy fluctuations contained within it.

He had dealt with all sorts of strange materials for many years, and although his knowledge wasn't top-notch, he immediately recognized that these scales were no ordinary items.

Its original owner's strength during his lifetime was absolutely that of a terrifying monster at the King level, and possibly not even an ordinary King level!

A storm raged within the middle-aged man. His hand, holding the scale, trembled slightly, and his attitude became even more respectful, even tinged with fear. "My lord... this... this is far too precious. I... I don't have many Blood Crystal Coin on me, I'm afraid..."

As he spoke, he quickly gestured to the equally stunned team members beside him. The three of them hurriedly took out all the Blood Crystal Coin they had and gathered about fifty rhomboid crystals that shimmered with a dark red glow.

The captain then respectfully presented Zhou Yuxuan with both hands a leather water bag, a large piece of dried meat, and a map of the surrounding area of Red Iron City drawn on rough leather.

"My lord, this is all the Blood Crystal and some supplies I have, along with a map of the surrounding area. Please accept it with gratitude." He spoke quickly, not daring to conceal anything.

"Behind us is Red Iron City, ruled by City Lord Helian Tu. Blood Crystal Coin are the common currency within the city. To enter, you only need to pay an entrance tax of ten Blood Crystal Coin per person at the side gate. The guards generally won't question outsiders too much, as long as they don't look like they're about to go mad."

Zhou Yuxuan listened expressionlessly, memorizing these key pieces of information—especially the one that "clearly he is about to descend into madness."

He then took the supplies and Blood Crystal Coin, put them away without even looking at them, nodded slightly, said nothing more, turned around and led his team toward the side gate of Red Iron City without the slightest hesitation.

Only after Zhou Yuxuan and his two companions disappeared into the shadows of the distant city wall did the youngest member of the team finally breathe a sigh of relief, realizing with a start that his back was soaked with cold sweat.

He couldn't help but lower his voice, asking with lingering fear, "Captain, those three people seemed strange. I've never heard their accents before. Can we trust what they said? How can a King-level expert rise to such a level so suddenly?"

The middle-aged man looked at the scale in his hand, his face showing a complex expression of lingering fear mixed with wild joy. He suddenly turned his head and hissed, "Idiot, shut up! What do you care about their origins? Are they experts secretly dispatched by some great city? Or old monsters crawling out of some forbidden land? Does it matter? Didn't you sense it? Those three lords are definitely genuine King-level powerhouses!"

"For beings like them, crushing us is no different than crushing a few rotten dogs. The fact that they didn't directly rob us and are even willing to trade with us using the materials of this Monster King is already an immense act of kindness and mercy. Do you really want to pry into their background?"

"Whether what they say is true or false is none of our business! All we need to know is that with this insignificant thing, we've obtained a piece of material that's enough to feed our team for years. We're fucking rich! Let's get out of here before those big shots change their minds."

On the other side, Zhou Yuxuan and his two companions, carrying the fifty-odd Blood Crystal Coin they had just acquired, arrived at the side gate of Red Iron City.

Queue up and pay with Blood Crystal Coin.

As expected, the guards merely glanced at them as a matter of routine, sensing the faint but powerful aura emanating from them, and without asking any further questions, simply waved them inside.

As they passed through the heavy doorway, the sight before them startled all three of them slightly.

Unlike the slight hustle and bustle outside the city caused by the hunting party's departure, the world inside the city seemed unusually quiet.

Although the streets were wide and paved with huge stone slabs, they were deserted at the moment.

The buildings on both sides are mostly closed with their doors and windows closed. They are mainly made of dark-colored stone and metal, with a rugged and solid style and little decoration.

Only a handful of pedestrians hurried past, their clothes tightly wrapped around them, their faces pale as if they had been deprived of sunlight for a long time, and deeply tired and numb.

The few shops that were open only sold the most basic food and water, and were almost deserted.

The entire city seemed to fall into a state of silence, with only the heavy footsteps of the patrolling soldiers and the scraping of metal on the city walls reminding people that this was not a dead city.

"Why are there so few people? That's strange," one of the team members said in a low voice.

Zhou Yuxuan nodded. "There are indeed few people, but that might be due to local customs. Let's find a discreet place to settle down and observe the situation first."

They deliberately avoided the possible inner city or bustling areas, and along the base of the city wall, in a rather messy alley, they found a guesthouse with only a simple sign hanging at the door.

Pushing open the door, the lobby was small and dimly lit, with only a few oil lamps emitting black smoke providing a faint light.

A thin, bony man was dozing against the corner of the wall.

Zhou Yuxuan knocked on the greasy counter, which startled the shop assistant, who looked at the three of them sleepily.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, the three deliberately followed the crowd and displayed an aura roughly equivalent to the mid-stage of the Stardust level, but even so, it instantly sharpened the waiter's eyes.

"Hotel room. Three people, cheapest room," Zhou Yuxuan said directly, his tone flat.

The waiter swallowed hard and answered cautiously, "A shared room is five Blood Crystal per night. A single room is fifteen Blood Crystal."

He secretly observed Zhou Yuxuan's expression.

Zhou Yuxuan paid fifteen Blood Crystal and received a key with a wooden tag attached.

"The one on the third floor, the one around the corner."

The waiter pointed in a direction, then shrank back into the corner, not daring to look any longer.

The room was even more rudimentary than I had imagined, containing only a hard bed and a wooden table with a crooked leg. The windows were covered with thick animal hides, which blocked the pale light from outside but made the room even darker.

However, for them, an undisturbed temporary base was enough.

"Take turns on guard duty. Observe from the window first, and then we'll gather information during dinner time," Zhou Yuxuan gave a brief order.

Time passed slowly in silence.

About two hours later, the oppressive, pale light outside the window began to visibly diminish and dim, as if the sky's energy was rapidly dissipating.

Finally, after a dim transition that lasted for about fifteen minutes, the light went out completely, and the sky fell into a deep darkness.

Almost at the same instant that darkness completely swallowed the world, the deathly silent Red Iron City seemed to be awakened.

Outside the window, scattered lights first appeared in various corners, then quickly merged into one.

Lanterns, torches, and various strange luminescent minerals or plants emitting a ghostly blue, pale green, or dim yellow glow were lit, dispelling the darkness.

The deserted streets seemed to conjure up countless crowds out of thin air.

The sounds of hawking, haggling, the sudden bursts of hammering from the blacksmith's shop, the clamor from the tavern, and the cries and running of children.

The various sounds mingled into a massive wave of sound, shattering the silence of the day.

Countless shops have removed their heavy doors and begun operating, with light and people creating a vibrant scene that contrasts sharply with the daytime atmosphere.

Zhou Yuxuan stood by the window, looking through the gap in the animal skin curtain at the abrupt and drastic change downstairs, feeling quite surprised.

"There are hardly any people around during the day, but it suddenly becomes bustling at night?" He pondered to himself, noting down this clue.

"Captain, shall we go out and take a look?" Li Wei, the senior investigator among the team members, suggested in a low voice.

Zhou Yuxuan nodded. "Okay. Let's go out for a walk and sort out the currency issue while we're at it. I'll ask around among the shops where we can safely sell materials. You guys familiarize yourselves with the area, gather basic intelligence, and be discreet so as not to attract attention."

He went downstairs again and found the shop assistant hiding behind the counter.

The waiter seemed much more alert now, and was wiping the cups by the light of an oil lamp.

Zhou Yuxuan asked directly, "We need to sell some materials in exchange for Blood Crystal. Are there any suitable places nearby?"

The shopkeeper glanced at him, then pointed to a shop on the other side of the street with a string of unidentified animal teeth hanging outside, saying, "Hard Bone Shop, run by Old Sack. The prices are reasonable, and he's tight-lipped."

He offered a subtle hint.

Zhou Yuxuan understood, thanked him, and then went alone to the so-called "Hard Bone Shop".

The shop was filled with the bones, hides, and claws of various monsters.

A burly, bald old man with a missing front tooth was arguing about the price with a customer.

Upon seeing Zhou Yuxuan enter, the old man dismissed the previous customer with a few words and turned his attention to Zhou Yuxuan.

"What are you selling?" the old man asked in a hoarse voice, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Yuxuan.

Zhou Yuxuan didn't say anything, but simply placed a dark-colored scale on the counter.

Old Sack didn't pay much attention at first and casually picked up the scales.

But when his rough fingers touched the surface of the scales and sensed the restrained energy, his movements suddenly stopped.

Then, Old Sack immediately moved closer to a mushroom-shaped lamp that emitted a yellow glow, carefully examining the texture and thickness of the scales, his expression gradually changing.

Then, he suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhou Yuxuan, "These patterns, this energy... are these the scales of the Crying Snake? Your Excellency..."

Old Sack wanted to ask about the source, but seeing Zhou Yuxuan's calm and unwavering gaze, he swallowed the rest of his words.

Having spent many years in this outer city, he knew all too well that some people's origins were best left unasked.

Zhou Yuxuan stared coldly at him, "You just need to tell me, whether you'll accept it or not, and how much you'll pay."

Old Sack took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and weighed the scale again. After a moment's hesitation, he quoted a price. "Although this scale is rare, my shop has little profit margin. If you don't mind, I'm willing to offer 30,000 Blood Crystal Coin."

Thirty thousand Blood Crystal Coin, I didn't expect it to be worth so much. It seems I've been a bit too high-profile.

However, there's nothing that can be done about it, because they habitually choose Star Core level materials.

Zhou Yuxuan's heart stirred slightly, but he remained outwardly calm and nodded. "Okay."

Old Sack visibly relaxed upon seeing Zhou Yuxuan agree. He carefully stored the scales in a metal box with simple runes under the counter, then took out a large bag of heavy Blood Crystal Coin and counted out several leather receipts with intricate patterns and shimmering energy. He respectfully handed them to Zhou Yuxuan: "Here are 30,000 Blood Crystal. Please count them."

Zhou Yuxuan naturally didn't order anything. He simply put away the coins and receipts, then turned and left the shop without saying a single unnecessary word.