Demonization (I)

After using two flight cards, Li Wei finally saw the entrance located in the center of the Level 1 Illusion Realm, which was actually a colossal tower reaching the heavens.

After landing, Li Wei looked up and saw that the tower was neither stone nor wood, and he couldn't tell what material it was made of. Moreover, it had an irregular shape, as if it were made of countless plates of different sizes Stacking haphazardly. Strangely, it was able to stand up.

"This is it. Every hour, the teleportation array here will open, and anyone standing inside will be automatically teleported to a Level 2 Illusion Realm!" Meng Ting pointed to a cyan stone platform not far away.

Li Wei looked over and indeed found a stone platform standing under the Tower of Heaven, about half the size of a basketball court. The stone platform was a bluish-green color, like jade, but it was extremely hard to the touch.

Upon ascending, one can see countless strange patterns carved on the stone platform. Li Wei, who has some knowledge of magic and talismans, immediately recognized them as a very ancient magical rune, presumably for teleportation.

Moreover, on this stone platform, Li Wei could clearly feel the residual magical energy fluctuations in the air, indicating that not long had passed since the last teleportation.

During this time, Li Wei carefully examined all the things he had collected along the way, many of which were things that could not be found in the real world at all.

Take out a bone that is glowing green.

Take this thing for example, 'Piranha Jawbone', a material for making level 4 cards. It is extremely rare. In the real world, Li Wei has never heard of such a thing.

However, in the Illusion Realm, this thing was easily found in a pool of water.

Besides this, there are also 'Seven-Colored Grass', 'Nightmare Flower', 'Orc Leg Bone', 'Copper Essence Stone', and so on. You can find any of them in this Illusion Realm.

That's why Li Wei compared this place to a treasure trove.

These materials are more than enough to make some high-end cards. Of course, Li Wei also heard from Meng Ting about other uses for these materials.

That means upgrading the town and building some special buildings.

Upon further inquiry, it was discovered that the number of Sand City in the real world had reached several thousand. Basically, each Sand City was controlled by former reincarnators, and some powerful reincarnators even occupied multiple Sand City.

However, because Sand City can be upgraded, these city lords try every means to collect the resources needed to upgrade the town. They do this for only one purpose: survival.

That's right, everyone needs food and water, these are the most basic necessities of life. But with the huge changes that happened a year ago, it has become very difficult to find edible water and food in this world.

In the months following the cataclysm, people survived on food stored from the Old World. As food dwindled, they began to experience something even more terrifying than the end of the world.

Hunger!

The hunger lasted for a month, a time that was a nightmare for all the survivors.

They ate grass roots, tree bark, and even expired, rotten food. Of course, some people also started using the corpses of dead monsters, although the taste was far from delicious, but at least it filled their stomachs.

Many humans underwent mutations and gained abilities after consuming the corpses of dead demons, but let's leave those aside for now and just talk about the famine reaching its peak.

Finally, driven to desperation by hunger, the people began to fix their bloodshot eyes on their fellow humans.

And so, cannibalism began to erupt.

Cannibalism, eating one's own father, mother, or brothers—such human tragedies permeated every corner of the world. At that time, many people would rather face the devil than stay with these horrific cannibals.

Fortunately, this period, which was even more terrifying than the apocalypse, only lasted for a little over a week, after which New World began.

The food crisis was solved in a miraculous way because of the appearance of Sand City.

In Sand City, you can use certain resources to produce 'granaries'. These magical buildings can provide a certain amount of food each week. Of course, the amount of food produced in the building is closely related to the level of Sand City.

In a level 0 Sand City, the grain produced in a week is only enough to feed a hundred people.

The level 1 Sand City has undergone a dramatic transformation; a week's worth of grain production is enough to feed 500 people.

A level 2 Sand City can support 2,500 fat people a week... It's no exaggeration to say that it's true!

A level 3 Sand City... My god, there aren't many Sand City of this level, but it can support 10,000 people, feeding them three meals a day, plus a midnight snack. If they are careful with their food, it's enough to feed 50,000 people.

A level 4 Sand City is basically the highest level town currently. There are fewer than 10 Sand City out of thousands in the entire world. It can easily support 200,000 people. If these people raise some meat and grow some grain, it can be said that the regular population of a level 4 Sand City can exceed 500,000.

It looks good, doesn't it?

However, there are far more people in this world. Even with thousands of Sand City, only less than one-tenth of the world's population can enjoy all of this. The rest must rely on themselves.

Therefore, upgrading the Sand City became a necessary task for the city lord and all people who belonged to a certain town. This world belongs to humans, it always has been, and it always will be. Having a high-level Sand City means that you have everything.

These were all things Meng Ting told Li Wei.

The Meng Family, to which she belongs, controls a level 1 Sand City, which was reportedly upgraded not long ago. The city already has several thousand people, so they are extremely eager to upgrade the Sand City so that they can gain more population.

In addition to granaries, other buildings can be constructed in Sand City, such as medicine factories, blacksmith shops, and even the production of 'creatures' with immense combat power.

All of this reminded Li Wei of a game he had played before, whose settings were quite similar.

At that moment, Meng Ting, who was washing her face by the pond not far away, jogged over.

"Someone's coming!"

Without her saying a word, Li Wei had already sensed a considerable number of auras approaching.

Soon, a group of people appeared in front of Li Wei.

Clearly, this was a team of adventurers, demon hunters, and mercenaries, all burly men. There were only a handful of women, but they were all incredibly fierce.

Upon seeing Li Wei and Meng Ting, the group was visibly taken aback, but quickly regained their composure and approached. Several of them even greeted Meng Ting with smiles.

"Tingting, what a coincidence to run into you here. Where's your brother?" The speaker was a young man with fair skin and a handsome appearance, but there was a hint of desire in his eyes when he looked at Meng Ting.

He was dressed in a mix of leather and metal armor, with a longsword on his back and two daggers hanging at his waist, clearly fully armed. Li Wei glanced at him and realized that his combat strength was not bad, reaching C1 level.

Compared to the young man's enthusiasm, Meng Ting's expression was somewhat awkward.

"He went to the Level 2 Illusion Realm, and I'll be there soon!" As she spoke, Meng Ting unconsciously leaned towards Li Wei.

"Really? Great! Looks like we can go together!" He then glanced at Li Wei, a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Who is this little guy?"

"He..." Meng Ting was about to explain when Li Wei waved his hand.

"Since you've run into some acquaintances, go with them to the Level 2 Illusion Realm. I hope you find your brother soon!" With that, Li Wei got up to leave.

It will take another hour before the teleportation array reopens. During this time, he can search the surrounding area again and perhaps find a lot of materials and resources.

Li Wei also had his own plans regarding the town.

If possible, it would be best to own a Sand City. After all, I still have a scroll that can instantly upgrade the Sand City.

Watching Li Wei's departing figure, Meng Ting couldn't describe her feelings.

The two were complete strangers, having met by chance. To put it bluntly, they were complete strangers with no connection whatsoever. Perhaps a slight ripple of emotion stirred within her, but Meng Ting managed to suppress it all.

As for the mercenary who kept chattering beside her, she felt inexplicably annoyed.

"Bulo, can you be quiet for a while? I want to be alone for a bit," Meng Ting said impatiently, which made a shadow flash in the eyes of the man named Bulo behind her.

Looking again at the tenderness in the beautiful woman's eyes as she gazed at the young girl, Bulo instantly understood something.

"Damn it, what is this thing! Daring to steal my woman, Xiao Wang, don't even think about leaving this Illusion Realm alive!" Bulo sneered and then ignored Meng Ting.

In his eyes, Meng Ting would be his woman sooner or later.

In this era, women are always appendages of the strong. As long as you possess her, you can gain the support of the Meng Family. You should know that the Meng Family is a powerful force that controls a level 1 town.

Even if the woman doesn't agree, Bulo isn't afraid.

A few days earlier, he discovered a very hidden tree hole in his Illusion Realm, where a giant python was shedding its skin. At first, Bulo was terrified, but when he realized that the python could not move for a short time, he killed it.

Later, they found an ancient sheepskin scroll in the tree hollow, which contained a secret technique that could grant a person the ability to command 'Death'.

Keep in mind that the 'Grim Reaper' is a creature found in a level 5 Illusion Realm; here, it is practically invincible.

After learning this secret technique, he was very satisfied with the result of his first attempt to command 'Death'. More than a dozen Orc died under Death's attack.

With this formidable ability, not to mention the small Meng Family, even a higher-level town power would not be a threat to Bulo.

Thinking of this, Bulo sneered, having already made up his mind. His eyes, as he looked at Meng Ting, revealed naked desire.