64 Death City, Anathema Staff
WHEN THEY ENTERED the city, Yang Lujia’s group was awestruck. It was a bit similar to Guile City’s style but was far more lively and cheerful in terms of its holistic ambiance.
Death City was an ironic name, nonetheless. Yang Lujia thought so because it didn’t have the aura of death within it. Even the natives of Da Sishen seemed to be freed from the aura of death. To humans, this city could certainly be considered paradise.
Trapped in such sight, Yang Lujia stared at the parading guards clothed in black robes. He noticed that something black and shiny was hung on the left side of their chests. It seemed to be some kind of badge that would prove their identity. As for their character, they seemed to be also friendly to every ordinary citizen in Death City, especially the kids.
Like NPCs in some games from Earth. Totally indifferent other than doing their supposed-to-do businesses.
This was entirely different from what he had imagined Death City was going to be. In novels on Earth, often were those kinds of places named after what kind of places they were. If the place was called the Underworld, it meant it was a gloomy place as it was where souls were brought to. However, it was completely different in Death City.
Perhaps it was named Death to gain the respect of the Will of Da Sishen. However, for this matter, Yang Lujia wasn’t entirely certain. Unless that Will enjoyed flattery very much that it would become submissive the moment its name was used for naming. Thinking about it, Yang Lujia thought it was such a petty reason. He wondered if there was any other hidden meaning.
Could it be that Death City had some significant history that which its name was derived?
The way houses, establishments, and buildings were built were somehow similar to Chinese people. Their roofs were curved, with some peculiar lines protruding from them. He was pretty sure as well that there were courtyards inside. In those courtyards, there were ponds, trees, and a variety of plants. Well, trees were pretty obvious as some of them were taller than those walls.
On the streets, there were also various stalls or small stores where children and some ordinary people could buy from, like food and simple accessories. Unlike Guile City, Yang Lujia even liked it more here. Perhaps it was because he could sense the amiable atmosphere of Death City..
But he did not dare let his guard down. The moment he did so, the unexpected would probably lead him to his death. Maintaining his vigilance and keeping a low profile was always the beginning of his journey in the five realms. He had to keep it, if possible, till the end.
Thinking of this, he smiled wryly as he mentally scolded himself. It seemed like it really became his nature to become cautious. Sure, he was cautious in the previous world, but it wasn’t up to this point where he would prevent himself from showing off to people. On Earth, he always liked to flaunt his achievements. Speaking of achievements, he also had left grievances and aches to the people he had hurt whether intentional or unintentional.
In this world, even before long he came here, he gained wisdom that sacrificing the lives of others or their happiness may contribute to your happiness or gratification but it will never erase the fact that you killed others or their happiness to attain these feelings.
Yang Lujia couldn’t help but think about being advantageous in his previous life and drew a bitter smile on his face.
Fame. Fortune. The kind of luxurious life. He was done with it.
In the end, every person’s life was never like a line. It wouldn’t extend endlessly. An endpoint would always eventually appear. Just like how his life ended on Earth.
“Wang Zhu’aaaa!” City Lord Ice dragged Wang Zhu toward the streets of the city. She was still hugging him tightly. Wang Zhu helplessly let himself be hauled away from the group.
Wang Lao sighed at his brother’s predicament.
Yang Lujia saw this sight and suddenly grew interested in the two’s backstory. Everyone had their own backstories and he always loved to hear these. Not like he also wanted to hear his own.
When the escort arrived and saw this scene, he could only sigh. He was still the same escort who also welcomed them in the previous years. In one of the past years, that fellow Wang Zhu would always suffer from City Lord Ice.
Approaching the group of people, the escort was all smiles. He was also wearing a robe but it was white this time. Yang Lujia had heard before from Wang Lao that the hierarchy of Death City was based on the color of their robe.
Ordinary guards would wear black while it would be green for their Captains. On the other hand, their Commanders would always wear blue. It was white for maids and servants (to which the escort belonged). For distinguished families, it was red. Then, for the highest in the hierarchy pyramid, it was gold.
Yang Lujia was quite piqued. In Da Shenghou’s empires or sects, there was no such thing as this. In the end, he still ignored this. Forcing himself to stand up, he dispersed the bed. In Death City, he didn’t want to remain nonchalant. He didn’t want to stand out, but he was just so sleepy. While sleeping, he knew there was some upgrade of himself going on.
Didn’t he finish practicing the Supreme Heavenly Scripture? Why did it seem like he was still upgrading?
Nevertheless, he ignored this. Besides, he could forcefully wake up anytime whenever he would sense bordering danger. He didn’t have to worry. Instead, he should be celebrating the noticeable increase in his strength. If it was before, the slight increases were really negligible. This time, it was evident because the effects were especially strong that he could not resist it when he wouldn’t will to.
He did not know if it was because of the Supreme Heavenly Scripture, but he knew that it was not far from the truth.
“Welcome, participants,” the escort said, smiling from ear to ear. “Since the competition will only commence tomorrow, let me first bring you to your accommodation rooms for a rest. Later at night, there will be a welcoming banquet organized by the City Palace Lord for all of you.”
By the mention of the City Palace Lord, Runic Demon’s eyes flickered. Sensing that there were no changes in the expressions of the escort, it seemed to be like the City Palace Lord was doing fine. However, he still could not remain complacent.
With this, they all marched their way following the escort. However, as they walked through the streets, the Eastern Territory was always despised by the other territories for being weak-looking individuals. Except for the Western Territory’s monks, all the others hated them for being so feeble.
“Shouldn’t I sign in here in Death City?” Yang Lujia asked with Long Guang already sitting on his shoulders and Feng Huang on one of his arms. “Fortuniel, sign in to Death City!”
[Congratulations! Host obtains the Anathema Staff!]
[Anathema Staff: This is an Earth-Ranked Imperial Relic, utilized for cursing any living being through reciting their names, whether done individually or in group. It cannot be used other than the owner himself. To become the owner of the staff, dripping one’s drop of blood will be enough. Note: The Anathema Staff is an upgradable weapon/treasure. Its original rank is unknown. It is a staff transformed from the bones of the Mother of Curses.]
When Yang Lujia read through its description, he became piqued by its peculiarity. Later, he would try to see if this was effective. Looking around, he became helpless. He didn’t find anyone to try this staff on. Forgetting it in the meantime, he sighed and decided to do it later.
Midway, however, he stopped. “Wait!” His eyes widened in realization.
“Can’t I use this to curse that kid Zhao Dilao of the Echinemon Race instead? At least I could increase the chance of Long Guang winning against that despicable little guy!”
Yang Lujia felt elated. He then calmed himself down and slowly walked with the others. He could do it later when no one was watching. This staff was perfectly designed for him. As long as he knew someone’s name, he could curse them without knowing who cursed them!
[Anathema Staff Additional Information: The owner must not recklessly use the Anathema Staff as it could result to negative consequences such as but not limited to decrease in lifespan or decrease in luck. It also does not work against living beings whose strength is higher than the owner. Moreover, if the owner uses it on any living being whose strength was much lower than the owner’s, the other party might be cursed to death.]
After reading, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed. If he were to use it on someone like Zhao Dilao, wouldn’t he kill that fellow instantly? After all, although in Da Sishen, a God Emperor is pretty much invincible, he was still way above this realm.
For the time being, he shall only keep this staff unless someone dared to provoke him in the limelight. He would then curse that someone to death later on.
The Eastern Territory was the weakest amongst all the five territories in ton surface. Surely enough, they were the last ones to be fetched to the building where their rooms were located. In this, Yang Lujia could tell that even the escort was trying to curry favor among the other stronger territories. He could surmise that the escort even despised them.
But he didn’t care.
As soon as the escort walked away, a group of people whose robes were reddish in color approached them. One of the group of three laughed and pointed at them. “Hahaha! You’re all so funny! You still actually had the cheek to participate when the result will always be the same! Cannon fodders! Hahaha!” Then, he turned his forefinger at Yang Lujia. “This fellow was even sleeping! Hahaha!”
‘Northern Territory?’
On some other side, some of the students of Guile Magus Academy were accompanied by their instructors on a journey. It was to find natural treasures. However, for some reason, they could find nothing at all.
Previously, this lush-filled forest was quite abundant in terms of cultivation resources. But at the moment, they could actually find nothing. It was like they were searching for a lost needle in the middle of the ocean.
“Let’s just go back. There’s really no treasure here. What a pity, though. I thought we’re gonna find something valuable. Instead, what we found were ravaged parts of some natural treasures,” an instructor said which left the students accompanying their group dejected. “Besides, I still have to take care of my wife. I think today is her scheduled labor day.”
“Oh, my son is about to be born, too!”
“Me, too!”
“What the fuck? Do you all have wives? Why didn’t you say anything to me, then?”
“Because you didn’t ask us?”
The instructor, “…”