Purple Crystal Mountain Range

If one compared the Magic Array on a Teleportation Scroll to the one on the city wall, the difference would be like elementary school math versus advanced mathematics. They were worlds apart.

But that didn't mean it was entirely worthless.

Hermes didn't have much knowledge of Magic Arrays yet, and he hadn't managed to make anything of his research.

For now, cultivation remained his priority.

Research?

That was for the future.

"How magnificent!"

Looking at the enormous Magic Array on the city wall, Hermes was deeply impressed.

These Magic Arrays were not merely protective barriers for the city; they were also symbols of the Sovereign God's authority.

They were complex and intricate!

Every symbol and pattern contained immense power, protecting the city's residents from outside threats.

Not just bandits, but also the harsh natural environment of the Hell Plane.

Every city in Hell had stood for millions upon millions of years, and would continue to stand for ages to come.

As long as the Magic Universe endured and the Sovereign Spark remained, the cities of Hell would persist.

That was one of the laws of the world.

Everywhere Hermes looked, the streets were lined with buildings of all kinds.

Some soared into the clouds, adorned with exquisite carvings and patterns; others were simple and elegant, bearing the marks of time.

The shops and markets were filled with all sorts of goods.

From precious magical materials to everyday necessities, they had everything.

The vendors' cries rang out one after another, adding a lively atmosphere to the city.

Hermes wandered into an old-looking bookstore. Its shelves were packed with all kinds of ancient books and scrolls.

He picked up a thick tome at random. Golden runes were carved into its cover, giving it an air of mystery.

The book was already an artifact.

Otherwise, it couldn't have lasted for so long.

It had to be hundreds of thousands of years old!

He flipped through a few pages. It contained records of ancient magic and legends, sparking his interest in the city's history.

But it was only an interest.

He wasn't a Sovereign God or a renowned powerhouse, so he wasn't qualified to study this for now.

After leaving the old bookstore, Hermes made his way to a small tavern.

The tavern was tiny,

probably renovated after the fact.

The house simply faced the street in this direction, so its owner had applied to the City Lord's Mansion to turn it into a tavern.

Whether business was good or not, the property's value had certainly doubled.

"Quite the business mind!"

Hermes offered his sincere appraisal.

As far as the City Lord's Mansion was concerned, converting a residence was no problem as long as it brought in tax revenue.

The little tavern was cozy and lively. The patrons sat together, chatting about their experiences and adventures.

The people who came here were usually long-time residents of this neighborhood.

The stories they told were old news from billions of years ago.

No matter how passionately or fervently the storytellers spoke, they had long since lost their spirit of adventure.

Life in the city had worn down the edge they'd once had.

Adventure? They wouldn't dare anymore.

Fighting and killing existed only in their memories of the past.

Hermes didn't disturb their lively conversation!

He found a seat in the corner, ordered a glass of Oulei Wine, then quietly listened to the stories around him, taking in the everyday life of Yilan City.

Walking through Yilan City's streets,

he sensed a calm and order unlike anywhere else in Hell.

Life here was safe, but it was also steeped in the twilight of age.

Hermes understood that the city's residents lived peaceful, secure lives under the Sovereign God's protection.

But life had grown too quiet.

"Stay in the city too long, and you gradually lose the courage to venture outside."

Bamer's voice drifted over.

It sounded like an observation about other people, but it was also a rebuke and reminder to himself.

"Oh, all done?"

Hermes wasn't surprised. Even as he listened to the stories, his Spiritual Sense had been keeping watch on the street.

In such a vast city, it would be difficult to find someone again if they missed each other.

"Yes, sir!"

Bamer nodded. "Actually, now that I think about it, buying a house in the city back then was a mistake."

"A safe environment is indeed good for cultivation, but it can also make me lose the courage to keep striving."

Hermes nodded.

"It's good that you've realized that. Don't forget why you came to Hell."

"Let's go~!"

They hurried toward the gates of Yilan City.

"Rumble~!"

At Hermes's request, the Starlight also transformed into a spindle-shaped aircraft. Like a meteor running in reverse, it vanished into the distance in an instant.

Purple Crystal Mountain Range.

A mysterious place.

Its vastness and grandeur stood out even among Hell's countless wonders.

Stretching hundreds of thousands of miles, it made any creature standing before it feel insignificant.

In Hell, a mountain range like the Purple Crystal Mountain Range wasn't all that extraordinary in scale.

There were countless mountain ranges in Hell, even on the Purple Thorn Continent, that were larger.

Take the Bis Volcano Group, for example.

Its central area covered only a few thousand miles.

But if the Bis Volcano Group were considered part of an endless chain of volcanoes, its range would immediately expand countless times over.

By that comparison, the Purple Crystal Mountain Range was no small place.

After all, the hundreds of thousands of miles referred only to the area that produced Purple Crystal and was shrouded in endless mist.

Standing at the edge of the range,

all the eye could see was a vast expanse of white mist.

It was as if the mountain range existed only in legend, not in plain sight.

Endless mist drifted slowly above the range, like countless white rivers.

At times it gathered together; at others it scattered.

Sunlight pierced the sky and fell across the sea of mist.

The mist turned a faint red, like the blush on a young woman's cheek, adding an intangible touch of softness and mystery.

The Purple Crystal Mountain Range itself remained hidden in the sea of mist, never revealing its true appearance.

Countless adventurers and treasure seekers gathered at the edge of the mist.

They weren't here to admire the Purple Crystal Mountain Range, but for the Purple Crystal.

The vast sea of mist not only blocked the Spiritual Sense of God-level Experts, but also concealed endless dangers.

Few of those who entered the sea of mist had ever come back out.

"Rumble~!"

A spindle-shaped Metal Life streaked through the sky in a blaze of fire, landing directly in front of the castle on the outskirts of the Purple Crystal Mountain Range.

"My lord~!"

Bamer was the first to step out through the hatch as it opened in the Metal Life. Then he stood respectfully to one side.

The sight left the two Middle Gods in black uniforms staring in astonishment.

"An Upper God Demon?"

Vincent Baldivi was utterly bewildered.

"Standing respectfully beside a Middle God? That brawny fellow must be the young master of some super-family, right?"

Of course, he could see the Demon Medal on Hermes's chest, but he couldn't tell that it was a Five-star Demon Medal.

To the naked eye, there was no difference between Demon Medals.

A one-star and a seven-star medal looked the same.

Perhaps a seven-star medal was somewhat different, but there was no distinction between the medals of a one-star Demon and a five-star Demon.

Only the people at the Demon Castle could tell them apart, and that was because they had Deputy Demon Medals.

"You two?"

Vincent spoke first, but he didn't know how to continue.