Chapter 203 - 152: Arrival at the Small Town

Chapter 203: Chapter 152: Arrival at the Small Town

Shen Yunjiao finished her routine absorption of the energy within the Blood Egg.

"How many more days will the Blood Egg last?" Zhao Zuo asked casually, chewing on a meat pie to replenish his nutrients.

"About five days."

Once the Blood Egg was depleted, she would have to resume hunting Demon Beasts or other Cultivators to gather the energy required by her Taotie Secret Technique. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

Otherwise, she would have to use Spirit Stones as an energy source. If she ran out of Spirit Stones as well, Shen Yunjiao would lose her own flesh and blood, or even her life.

This meant that for the next five days, Shen Yunjiao wouldn’t need to expend any extra effort on her Taotie Secret Technique.

"Let’s pick up the pace tomorrow and try to get there early."

The small city they were heading to might not have even been marked on any map. On the vast continent of the Cultivation Realm, it was a tiny, insignificant place.

But with the impending battle between the Righteous and Demonic Path, that small city was destined to become the eye of the storm for the Cultivation Realms of both the Great Yue and Great Wu Countries in the near future.

"Alright."

Zhao Zuo leaned against a tree trunk, gazing at the solitary moon in the sky as a sense of urgency quietly grew within him.

’What I’m trying to do is incredibly difficult. It’s like I’m standing against all the Cultivators of the Great Wu Country. I’m just an ant that could be crushed at any moment.’

The next day, they walked out of the Yunlan Mountain Range before sunset. In fact, they had already encountered some Medicine Gatherers from the small city before noon, while still within the mountain range.

From them, Zhao Zuo learned the name of the small city: Red Rock City.

From their vantage point in a tree, the two of them gazed at the city several kilometers away. The city walls, about ten meters high, were built from enormous red stones. Guards clad in silver armor stood before the gates. These men were all Martial Artists; in the mortal kingdoms, Martial Artists were the dominant type of practitioner.

A road, about three meters wide, extended from the city gate. It was perfectly flat, clearly a path formed using Earth Magic to manipulate the ground itself. This road led directly to the Yunlan Mountain Range. On it, people traveled back and forth; some carried stacks of firewood on their backs, some shouldered medicine baskets, and others clutched cloth sacks.

In fact, according to the pact between the Moyun Sect and the Demon King of the Yunlan Mountain Range, the hundred-li radius around any city in Great Yue was a forbidden zone for Demon Beasts.

Of course, winter was the exception. For the other three seasons, Demon Beasts were forbidden from entering the city. In return, they were allowed to come into the city during the harsh winter months to hunt and fill their stomachs.

Every year during the winter, people in Red Rock City were killed by Demon Beasts. This was considered an unspoken rule. Naturally, the Demon Beasts also paid a price. During this time, Martial Artists would organize hunts, using the beasts’ flesh and blood to temper their own Qi Blood in pursuit of a breakthrough.

In the eyes of many, this was simply the law of nature.

The weak were prey for the strong; it was a world of constant struggle.

"You can still turn back now," Shen Yunjiao said.

As long as they didn’t step into this city, they wouldn’t be drawn into the vortex that could doom them forever. This was Zhao Zuo’s last chance to have second thoughts.

In truth, Shen Yunjiao hoped Zhao Zuo would have regrets. The thought had come to her suddenly, but it had only grown stronger with time.

She wasn’t even sure why she felt this way.

"We’ve come this far. How could I turn back now?" Zhao Zuo said with a faint smile, then strode toward the small city.

Red Rock City had been founded about seven hundred years ago. It was once a barrier against Demon Beast invasions, and the "Red" in its name symbolized the blood that had been spilled there. Years ago, the Moyun Sect had descended upon the Yunlan Mountain Range, and after a series of battles, they renegotiated the pact with the Demon King. From that day forward, Red Rock City ceased to be a military fortress.

Besides Demon Beasts, the Yunlan Mountain Range was also home to many unique resources. Some could extend one’s lifespan, while others could help Martial Artists cultivate their Qi Blood. As a result, people gradually moved to the area, and it eventually grew into a small border city.

The current city walls were an expansion built several hundred years ago. Within them, an inner wall still stood, some twenty meters high and over three meters thick. That was the original Red Rock City.

"Do you have a pass?" a Silver Armored Warrior asked Zhao Zuo.

"No."

"One Silver Yuan per person for a permanent pass. You need a pass to stay at an inn." The Silver Armored Warrior’s expression remained neutral—no discrimination, but no excessive courtesy either. Every year, people came to Red Rock City seeking legendary fortuitous encounters with Immortals, so new faces were a common sight.

"Alright." Shen Yunjiao took out a coin purse and produced two Silver Yuan. These so-called yuan were more like uniform silver nuggets, and Zhao Zuo estimated each one weighed about a hundred grams.

The currency of the Great Yue Country was divided into gold, silver, and copper. The exchange rate was roughly one gold for ten silver, or a thousand copper.

The Silver Armored Warrior casually tossed the Silver Yuan into a nearby wooden box, handed the two of them a pair of metal tags, and added in an official tone.

"Patrol teams and Immortals keep watch over the city. Anyone found causing trouble will be executed without mercy."

After Zhao Zuo gave his assurances, the two were finally allowed into Red Rock City.

The city’s interior looked much like any other ancient city. It was laid out in three main districts, crisscrossed by several streets. The roads were lined with single-story houses and adobe walls, giving it a rather run-down appearance.

Every so often, they could see bloodstains that hadn’t been properly cleaned. Clearly, public order in the city wasn’t as stable as the Silver Armored Warrior claimed. His warning about "not causing trouble" was likely a joke.

’Then again, that’s only normal.’

The gate they had entered was the one closest to the Yunlan Mountain Range, which meant the area was far from safe. In the winter, Demon Beasts were likely to attack and claim lives here. This was Red Rock City’s slum district, a place teeming with people from all walks of life, including the most disreputable.

There were almost no market stalls on the streets, but several figures lurked in the dark alleys. They were observing the newcomers, looking for a suitable target to strike. Their business was murder.

The rules of Red Rock City didn’t apply in this district. As it was the area that faced the most pressure from Demon Beasts each year, the City Lord had delegated some of his authority to the local gangs, using their power to maintain a semblance of stability.

Zhao Zuo didn’t even need his eyes to feel the malicious stares all around them. They were like hungry wolves eyeing their prey, ready to pounce at any moment.

"What do you think, boss? Are those two a good score?"

In the shadows of an alley, two or three men in short-sleeved shirts squatted. They held rusty, notched choppers, the grips tightly wrapped with red cloth strips.

This was a precaution to keep the blades from slipping out of their hands during a swing.

"Not yet. Let me get a better look."

The burly man in the lead continued to observe the pair. He and his men were members of the Green Bamboo Gang. They were originally just street thugs who engaged in petty theft and bullied honest folk, having only recently joined the gang.

Their job was to act as lookouts and size up potential "marks." This meant analyzing newcomers based on visible clues and providing recommendations for the mission ahead. The marks were graded on a five-tier scale: Good, Average, Poor, Inferior, and Dangerous.

"They’re both armed, have healthy complexions, and walk with a steady gait. These two are probably trouble."

The leader gave his assessment based on experience. But as he was about to continue his observation, he saw the male target leaving footprints half a foot deep with every step.

"Abort! That man’s a Martial Artist!" The leader gasped and immediately gave the order.

Once Zhao Zuo felt the malicious stares disappear, he resumed his normal gait. In his eyes, these men posed no threat, but even minor nuisances could be troublesome. To prevent them from getting any funny ideas, a little intimidation was highly effective.

Besides, he didn’t want to expose his identity over a group of men who weren’t even proper Martial Artists and invite unnecessary trouble. Who knew how many Demon Path Cultivators were hiding in the seemingly ordinary Red Rock City.

After leaving the area near the gate, the number of pedestrians on the streets noticeably increased. The roadsides were now lined with vendors selling snacks like candied haws, sugar figurines, glutinous rice cakes, and noodles from their stalls. The air filled with a variety of fragrant scents, creating a much more lively, worldly atmosphere.

Before entering the city, the two had already decided on their plan.

To hunt Demon Path Cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Stage within the city.

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