News of what had happened in Lingwu City did not seem to have reached Changnan City yet.
Against the snow-white earth, the ruined ancient city loomed indistinctly, still running on its old momentum.
Yet even in such harsh conditions, the slaves had to brave the bone-piercing cold and go out to work.
Crack!
"Ugh!"
The sound of long whips lashing flesh rang out from time to time across the silent snow, accompanied by the slaves' screams, some loud, others faint.
Even when their strength was exhausted, even in the bitter cold, they had to finish the work at hand.
Otherwise, the gaping, blood-red mouths around them might descend and swallow them at any moment.
Who knew how many slaves would fail to survive this snowfall, dying silently in the depths of winter, their deaths utterly meaningless?
That vivid splash of green might forever remain only in their memories.
As his divine sense spread silently outward, this was the scene that greeted Liu Yu.
Watching the slaves caught in deep waters and scorching flames, his expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Good. Fortunately, the news has not reached this place yet.
Otherwise, once the city went under lockdown, a transformed demon cultivator might be stationed here. Sneaking inside would not be nearly so easy then.
As he silently watched the scene, the tension in Liu Yu's heart eased.
The first time was unfamiliar; the second came naturally.
Repeating his earlier method, he once again evaded the overseers' and demon beasts' scrutiny, silently assumed the identity of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and slipped into Changnan City.
"Squish."
"Struggling" to pull a cart laden with ore, Liu Yu trudged through the snow, leaving a footprint with every step, and easily blended into the city.
Amid the