Entering the City

but with a gentle grip, he caught the blade of the golden longsword.

"Clang--!!!"

The explosive sound of metal striking metal!

The sinister youth's face changed drastically. He felt as if his sword had struck a mountain of ten-thousand-year-old profound iron. Not only could it not advance an inch, but it also shook his hand so hard that his tiger's mouth split open and blood flowed freely!

"Who is it?!" he retreated in terror.

The other two also stopped their attacks simultaneously, looking at the newcomer warily.

Qin Yuan released the sword's edge. The tip of the golden longsword was actually slightly bent!

He stood in front of Zi Ling, his gray robe fluttering in the dry wind.

"Qin... Fellow Daoist Qin?" Zi Ling was stunned, then overjoyed. "How did you..."

"Just passing by," Qin Yuan said calmly.

The three cultivators in golden robes exchanged glances, a flicker of apprehension in their eyes.

To be able to catch the full-power sword strike of a True Disciple from the Golden Sword Sect with bare hands and even bend the sword tip—this strength was at least at the Nascent Soul middle stage!

"Esteemed fellow Daoist," the sinister youth suppressed his shock and cupped his hands. "This matter is a grievance between my Golden Sword Sect and the Zi Xiao Sect. I ask for your convenience. We will surely repay you handsomely in the future."

"Repay handsomely?" Qin Yuan glanced at him. "Like killing someone for their treasure?"

The sinister youth's face stiffened.

"Does fellow Daoist insist on interfering?" the short, stout man rumbled. "The three of us together are not necessarily afraid of even a Nascent Soul middle stage cultivator!"

"Then let's try."

Qin Yuan moved.

He didn't use any sorcery, just a simple step forward.

But the moment he took that step, the three felt the surrounding air solidify! A terrifying pressure descended like a mountain, making it difficult for them to breathe!

"Not good! Retreat quickly!" the sinister youth cried out in utter horror.

But it was too late.

Qin Yuan's figure appeared before the short, stout man like a phantom. He spread his right hand, fingers open, and pressed it against his chest.

"Bang!"

The short, stout man was sent flying backward like a cannonball, crashing through an earth mound ten feet away. His chest caved in, and his life was unknown.

Immediately after, Qin Yuan turned and reached out with his left hand, grabbing the woman by the throat.

"Crack."

A crisp sound of bone breaking.

The woman's eyes widened, filled with disbelief, and then she slumped to the ground limply.

Finally, it was the sinister youth.

He watched as Qin Yuan dealt with his two companions as if slaughtering chickens and dogs. His face turned as pale as paper, and he turned to flee.

But after only three steps, Qin Yuan appeared before him.

"Don't... Don't kill me!" the sinister youth fell to his knees, tears and snot streaming down his face. "I'll give you all my treasures! I'll be your slave! Just spare my life!"

Qin Yuan looked at him, his eyes devoid of emotion.

"On the battlefield, only life and death matter."

He brought his palm down.

The sinister youth's head exploded like a watermelon.

From the start of the engagement to the end, it took less than ten breaths.

Three peak Nascent Soul early stage cultivators, all annihilated.

Qin Yuan withdrew his hand and turned to look at Zi Ling. "Can you still walk?"

Zi Ling stared at him blankly, then at the three corpses on the ground, her throat dry.

She knew Qin Yuan was strong, but she never expected him to be this strong—killing Nascent Soul early stage cultivators like slaughtering dogs!

"I... I can walk," she struggled to get up but pulled at her wound, groaning.

Qin Yuan took out a bottle of healing pills and threw it to her. "Take them."

Zi Ling took the bottle, poured out two pills, and swallowed them. Her complexion eased slightly. She looked at Qin Yuan and suddenly bowed solemnly. "For saving my life, Zi Ling will always remember."

"Just a coincidence," Qin Yuan said, looking into the distance. "It's time to go."

The two continued to move forward.

Along the way, Zi Ling recounted how she was ambushed.

"The Golden Sword Sect and our Zi Xiao Sect have had old grudges. This time, when we entered the battlefield, they set their sights on our sect's 'Zi Xiao Token.' That token can be exchanged for special resources in the safe zone, which is very beneficial for cultivation."

Qin Yuan nodded, not asking further.

Zi Ling hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Fellow Daoist Qin, about a hundred miles ahead, there's a 'Yellow Earth City.' It's the only safe zone in this area. But... it's territory controlled by the 'Crimson Flame Sect.'"

"Crimson Flame Sect?" Qin Yuan looked at her.

"Ranked twenty-seventh among the Hundred Sects, extremely powerful," Zi Ling said with a grave expression. "Their sect cultivates fire-element techniques, they have violent temperaments, and are extremely possessive. Yellow Earth City is under their control, and those who wish to enter must pay thirty percent of their harvest, or they won't be allowed in."

She paused. "Moreover... they have fifteen people who entered this time. Their leader, 'Yan Lie,' is in the late Nascent Soul stage and is said to have touched the threshold of God Transformation."

Late Nascent Soul stage, touching the threshold of God Transformation.

Such strength would already make him an elder in the Xuan Yuan Sect.

"But we have to go," Zi Ling looked at the darkening sky. "The 'Abyssal Demon Tide' is coming tonight. Without the protection of a safe zone, Golden Core stage cultivators will surely die, and even Nascent Soul stage cultivators won't survive a single night."

Qin Yuan looked up.

The edge of the dark red sky was already tinged with deep black. The blackness was spreading at a visible speed, like ink dropped into clear water.

The ominous aura in the air was also growing stronger.

"Let's go," he quickened his pace.

The two of them rushed at full speed and finally saw the city before the sky turned completely dark.

Yellow Earth City.

The city walls were about thirty feet high, constructed entirely from rammed yellow earth, with intricate formation patterns carved on the surface, emitting a faint spiritual light. There were patrolling cultivators on the walls, all in crimson robes, precisely disciples of the Crimson Flame Sect.

A long queue had formed at the city gate.

They were disciples from various sects who had come to seek refuge, numbering over a hundred. They all looked exhausted and injured, clearly having endured fierce battles throughout the day.

At the front of the line, several Crimson Flame Sect disciples were conducting checks.

"Entrance fee, thirty percent of your harvest!" a burly man with a full beard shouted gruffly. "Those who don't pay, get lost!"

Someone tried to argue but was slapped away.

"Crimson Flame Sect rules! You disagree?" the man sneered. "If you disagree, don't enter the city, go feed the Abyssal Demons outside!"

The crowd dared not speak out despite their anger.

Qin Yuan and Zi Ling joined the end of the queue.

Zi Ling whispered, "Fellow Daoist Qin, how much harvest do you have? If it's not enough, I have..."

"No need," Qin Yuan shook his head.

Along the way, apart from the three demonic beasts and three corpses, he hadn't collected much "harvest." However, he had indeed collected the storage bags from those three corpses.

The line moved slowly.

Finally, it was their turn.

The burly man sized them up, his gaze lingering on Zi Ling with a lecherous look. "A little girl from the Zi Xiao Sect? You're quite pretty. Entrance fee, fifty percent."

Zi Ling's expression changed. "Why fifty percent?"

"If I say fifty percent, it's fifty percent!" the man scoffed. "Disagree?"

Zi Ling gritted her teeth, about to argue, but Qin Yuan stepped forward.

"Thirty percent," he said calmly.

The man's eyes widened. "You damn..."

Before he could finish, he saw Qin Yuan's eyes.

Those eyes were very calm, as calm as a deep pool, but at the bottom of the pool, there was something that made him tremble.

The man swallowed, forcibly holding back the rest of his words.

"...Fine, thirty percent it is," he mumbled, taking a storage bag from Qin Yuan – it was the one from the gloomy youth of the Golden Sword Sect, which Qin Yuan had already emptied, leaving only some miscellaneous items.

After checking, the man waved his hand. "You can go in."

The two entered the city.

Behind them, the man wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cursed under his breath, "Damn it, what a monster..."

The city was more bustling than expected.

Temporary shops were set up along the streets, selling various healing pills, weapons, and talismans. There were also inns and restaurants for people to rest. The air was filled with the smell of blood and sweat, but at least the ominous aura from outside the city was gone.

Zi Ling breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally, we're safe."

Qin Yuan, however, looked towards the city walls.

Outside, darkness had completely enveloped the land.

Immediately after, countless shrill roars echoed from the darkness.

The Abyssal Demon Tide had begun.