As Lin Chen and Lee Zhen stepped into the first grand city at the border of the Nanfen Ancient Country—Chiyan City—they were struck by the rugged and primal exotic culture that lay before them.
The entire city seed to be carved from a single colossal red rock, with architecture that was bold and unrestrained, filled with a sense of power.
On either side of the streets, whether it was shop signs or door fras of residences, various ox totems were intricately carved, appearing lifelike.
The air was dry and scorching, and the Beastmasters walking along the streets were mostly burly, with dark skin and eyes exuding a fierce and resolute spirit like Chiyan itself.
"The bull culture here truly runs deep in their veins."
Lee Zhen smacked his lips; on their way here, he had seen more ox-type Spirit Beasts than in the past ten years combined.
"It's not just bull culture,"
Lin Chen's gaze swept across the city center to a towering spire with the head of a roaring Divine Bull at its peak, his expression grave as he said:
"There's also religion. Look, almost every hundred ters, there's an altar or a Divine Bull statue, and everyone passing by instinctively bows in respect."
"The 'Ah Tuo Sect's' control over the people's minds, I'm afraid, has reached an unimaginable extent."
The two found an inn sowhat clean to lodge in, and they briefly discussed their upcoming plans.
Their goal was the highest sacred place of the Ah Tuo Sect—the "Grand Sacred Mountain," the rumored resting place of the ancestral Divine Bull, the descendant bones of which Xiaobai needed should be located there.
"Such a place must be a lion's den, extrely well-guarded," Lee Zhen analyzed, "We can only sneak in, or fight our way in."
Lin Chen shook his head, saying, "Unless absolutely necessary, let's not choose to fight our way in."
Lee Zhen nodded in agreent, just ntioning it without the real intention to confront an entire country.
After their al, they decided to head out to the crowded parts of the city to gather information about the Grand Sacred Mountain.
However, just as they stepped out of the inn, Lin Chen suddenly furrowed his brows:
"Sothing's not right."
"What is it?" Lee Zhen looked around and quickly noticed sothing amiss.
The streets that were once filled with leisurely pedestrians were now occupied by squads of soldiers clad in fiery gold armor.
The chest of each soldier's armor bore the branding of a bull's head engulfed in golden flas, their eyes cold, radiating murderous intent.
Patrolling in groups of three, and in teams of five, they road the streets, occasionally storming into hos or shops to conduct searches, inciting waves of suppressed gasps and cries.
The city's residents, at this mont, looked like frightened rabbits, faces filled with fear, rushing hurriedly along the walls with heads bowed, afraid to make eye contact with the patrolling soldiers.
The entire Chiyan City seed to have transford in just an hour from a normal border city into a cage under military control!
"What major event could have happened?"
Lee Zhen, too, was shocked by the oppressive scene before him.
He was still speaking when a set of heavy footsteps echoed from the alley entrance.
A team of Holy Sect Guards had already patrolled to their location, and the leading squad leader, with a gaze sharp as a hawk, instantly locked onto the two of them.
"Who are you?!"
The squad leader barked sharply, pointing at them from a distance, his voice full of nace.
Lin Chen and Lee Zhen's hearts tightened, yet they maintained calm appearances.
"We are travelers from the Cangling Ancient Country, passing through here, intending to rest,"
Lin Chen said with neither humility nor arrogance, cupping his fists together.
The squad leader scrutinized them, especially lingering a few seconds on Lee Zhen's bandaged right arm, before saying, "Do you have a pass?"
Upon his command, the Holy Sect Guards behind scattered, forming a surround, gradually closing in.
Believing it's better to avoid trouble, Lin Chen and Lee Zhen took out their passes, which weren't too hard to acquire, costing just a thousand bucks...
The managent of Nanfen Ancient Country was utterly corrupt from top to bottom.
The squad leader seed surprised by their cooperation, but his vigilance didn't lower.
A thorough inspection yielded nothing.
He heavily patted Lee Zhen's arm, eventually waving his hand, "The city is under martial law, don't wander the streets aimlessly! Back to your lodgings, quickly!"
Lin Chen and Lee Zhen said nothing.
If they wanted trouble, this squad wouldn't last a blow.
Luckily, the squad leader soon departed, and Lin Chen and Lee Zhen returned to the inn, where they heard the news.
"Just half an hour ago, the Pope suddenly issued a holy decree, saying... saying that the Vice Sect Hierarch is a heretic desecrating the divine, having betrayed the sect!"
"Now, the Pope's most elite 'Holy Spirit Guards' have been deployed throughout the city, capturing all those followers of the Vice Sect Hierarch!"
"It's said… if caught, it's death!"
Lin Chen and Lee Zhen exchanged a glance, wondering if this event was too coincidental.
Right as they arrived here, such an incident occurred in Nanfen Ancient Country?
....
Lin Chen and Lee Zhen didn't linger, heading south.
The largest city in Nanfen Ancient Country was nad Amaan.
In Nanfen Ancient Country, Amaan ans the god of Brahma, a legend says the god of Brahma, riding a bull, created Nanfen Ancient Country and its people here.
Thus, Nanfen Ancient Country also refers to Amaan City as the Holy City.
Walking this path, what should have taken only 10 days was forced into taking twice as long, due to the martial law within Nanfen Ancient Country.
Entering each city required stringent scrutiny.
During this period, Lin Chen gradually learned what the Vice Sect Hierarch had done to beco a fugitive.
The Vice Sect Hierarch, Brad, had stolen an artifact from the sect, leading to the Pope's relentless hunt for him.
"Seems like this item is surely valuable..." Lin Chen remarked.
"Obviously," Lee Zhen rolled his eyes, saying, "If it weren't very valuable, why risk abandoning the position of Vice Sect Hierarch to beco a hunted person?"
Lin Chen thought that might indeed be the case.
Being a Vice Sect Hierarch here ant controlling the winds and rains, what could possibly be worth stealing?
As they conversed, they arrived at the Holy City of Amaan.
Desiring entry, there was naturally a need for necessary inspections; Lin Chen and Lee Zhen assud that after being inspected, they would be allowed in, but the Holy Sect Guard squad leader called out: "Wait a mont."
The two turned, thinking to themselves if more money would be needed.
They had encountered several Holy Sect Guards demanding money under the guise of inspections along the way, and Lin Chen and Lee Zhen didn't mind these two to three hundred bucks, so they gave it.
However, through this, Lin Chen and Lee Zhen understood why the Cangling Ancient Country never considered Nanfen Ancient Country significant, and why Nanfen Ancient Country remained at the lowest tier among major countries.
"Have you seen him?" The squad leader didn't take money but showed them a portrait.
Lee Zhen took a glance and imdiately shook his head.
But when Lin Chen saw the portrait, he was slightly stunned, then quickly shook his head.
"Go on." The squad leader waved them off.
Once they were widely distanced, Lee Zhen looked around and asked softly, "Have you seen him?"
"Seen... him." Lin Chen admitted with a sweat, saying, "And quite familiar too."
"Huh?"
Lee Zhen was taken aback, wondering if Lin Chen had such connections?
Lin Chen exhaled, because that person...
was the very "tomb thief" who once took back the Ancient Book from Lin Chen's hands and disappeared without a trace:
Xu Feng.
Reviews
All reviews (0)