111: Chapter 111 Arriving at Zhenbei City to Investigate Rumors, Learning of the Undercurrents of the Demonic Tide

Ye Qing flew in the direction of Zhenbei City for about half a day.

Along the way, he maintained a steady, unhurried pace. While flying, he spread out his Divine Sense like a fine fishing net, capturing every shred of useful information from the mountains and forests below.

The radiance of the three multi-colored moons spilled down, illuminating the undulating primeval forest below in distinct layers.

He saw several Yao Beast hunting squads of varying sizes; some were returning fully loaded, discussing their harvest with high spirits, while others were in a sorry state, having suffered severe casualties, and were heading back with dejected expressions.

He also saw several large battle ruins, where traces of powerful Spells and Yao energy lingered, clearly indicating that intense conflicts had erupted there not long ago.

"The pressure for survival in this place is much greater than in the original world. The conflict between the Human Race and the Yao Race is reflected in almost every inch of land."

Ye Qing sighed inwardly, gaining a more intuitive understanding of this world.

When the horizon turned a pale, fish-belly white, the three strange moons gradually faded, and a huge, golden sun emitting warm light rose from the horizon, he finally saw the Zhenbei City that Li Mu had spoken of.

It was a majestic city built against a mountain, with walls tens of zhang high, constructed entirely of huge, dark green stone blocks.

The city walls were covered in mottled sword marks, arrow holes, and dried, blackened bloodstains, clearly having been baptized by countless wars. Every certain distance along the city walls, there was a tall arrow tower or beacon tower, with Cultivators clad in iron armor patrolling back and forth, standing guard strictly.

The city gate was tall and wide, currently standing open, with Cultivators lining up to enter and exit after undergoing inspections. A huge plaque hung at the city gate, inscribed with three powerful, murderous characters—Zhenbei City.

"What a majestic fortress! With this city here, the Human Race can finally have a foothold in this place."

Ye Qing exclaimed in admiration, lowered his flying light, landed on the official road not far from the city gate, and blended into the queue of people entering the city, slowly moving forward.

The Cultivators queuing to enter the city were mostly dressed as Loose Cultivators, with cultivation levels ranging from the Late Stage of Qi Refining to the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage. There were also a few Golden Core Cultivators with steady auras, but they all looked hurried and were unwilling to speak much.

When it was Ye Qing's turn, the captain of the city guards, a burly man with a thick beard at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, swept his gaze over him and asked routinely: "Name? Where are you from? What is your purpose for entering the city?"

"Ye Qing, returning from training in the depths of the Canglang Mountain Range, intending to enter the city for rest and resupply." Ye Qing replied calmly, casually, while controlling his own aura to around the Golden Core Early Stage—not too high, not too low, so as not to attract attention, nor to be looked down upon.

The burly man sensed Ye Qing's Golden Core Stage cultivation and his attitude immediately became a bit more polite. He nodded: "So it is a Senior of the Golden Core Stage. Senior, please enter. Entering the city requires a fee of ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones, which allows you to stay in the city for seven days. If you need to stay for a long term, you can go to the City Lord's Mansion to handle temporary residence procedures."

Ye Qing paid the Spirit Stones, received a temporary identity jade tablet engraved with a serial number, and passed through the city gate smoothly.

The moment he stepped into Zhenbei City, an atmosphere of clamor, liveliness, and vitality rushed towards him.

On both sides of the wide streets stood rows of shops. The cries of hawkers, the sounds of bargaining, the clanging from blacksmith shops, and the din of customers in restaurants intertwined to form a unique urban symphony.

The streets were crowded with pedestrians: there were Cultivators wearing various Magical Artifact robes, Yao Beast hunters carrying Magical Artifacts and looking hurried, and Loose Cultivators setting up stalls to peddle various Yao Beast Materials, Spirit Medicine, and Magical Artifacts.

The air was filled with a mixture of scents—the faint fragrance of Spirit Medicine, the fishy stench of Yao Beast Materials, the pungency of low-quality Spirit Wine, and the salty smell of sweat.

"This is what a Cultivation city should look like. It's so much better than a dump like Jinsha Market."

Ye Qing evaluated inwardly, his gaze sweeping over the shops on both sides of the street.

He was not in a hurry to buy a map or inquire about news. Instead, he first found an inn that looked relatively clean, booked a quiet detached courtyard, and paid for seven days' rent.

Entering the detached courtyard, he set up a sound-insulation Restriction, and only then did he heave a sigh of relief.

"Let me rest and organize my thoughts first. Then, I'll go to the city's market to take a look and see if there is anything I need."

He sat cross-legged, not Cultivating, but instead sank his consciousness into the Cave Heaven to check on Xing Hao's state.

The little guy was still fast asleep, its aura steady, and it seemed to be just one opportunity away from a Breakthrough to the Third Rank Late Stage.

"This little thing, it sleeps soundly. I don't know when it will wake up to give me a hand."

He muttered a sentence and exited the Cave Heaven.

After resting for a while, he got up and left the inn, heading towards the most prosperous East Market in the city.

According to his observations and overheard conversations along the way, the East Market was the largest free trade zone in Zhenbei City, where various shops, auction houses, Materials stores, and Magical Artifact pavilions were concentrated.

Arriving at the East Market, it was indeed even more crowded and bustling.

He walked and stopped occasionally, pausing in front of some stalls, seemingly casually examining the items on them, but in reality, his Divine Sense had already quietly extended, capturing the conversations of the surrounding Cultivators.

"...Have you heard? The depths of the Canglang Mountain Range don't seem to be peaceful recently. Several teams that went deep to hunt Yao Beasts have all perished inside, and even the Golden Core Stage team leaders couldn't escape!"

"It's more than just not peaceful! I heard that over at the 'Heavenly Demon Imperial Court', some big shot has spoken, saying they are going to make a move on the 'Sunset Plains' occupied by our Human Race! They are currently gathering troops!"

"Hiss! Is that true? Are we going to war again? It's only been a few years of peace!"

"Indeed! I heard that over at 'Black Wind City', there are already Yao Race armies mobilizing. Our Zhenbei City probably won't be peaceful for much longer either. The City Lord's Mansion is already recruiting Loose Cultivators to strengthen the city's defenses."

"Sigh, these days are really impossible to live through. It's hard enough to save up some family assets, and once a war starts, it all has to be thrown in."

"Who can say it isn't? However, there are benefits to war as well. When the time comes, the prices of Yao Beast Materials and Spirit Medicine will definitely skyrocket! The greater the risk, the greater the reward!"

"That may be true, but you have to be alive to spend it!"

Ye Qing listened to these fragmented discussions, his brow furrowing slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"The Heavenly Demon Imperial Court wants to make a move on the Sunset Plains? It seems that the conflict between the Human Race and the Yao Race is even more serious than Li Mu said. A great war is about to start; I'm afraid this Zhenbei City will find it hard to stay out of it."

"I have just arrived and my Foundation is not yet stable; I don't want to be dragged into this kind of large-scale war. I must improve my strength as quickly as possible, and then... find a safe place to continue my great undertaking of farming."

He made up his mind, quickened his pace, and soon arrived in front of a Materials store with a considerable scale and an impressive storefront.

Hanging above the shop door was a golden signboard—'Wanbao Pavilion'.

"Wanbao Pavilion... the name is quite imposing. I hope the things inside can live up to the name."

He straightened his robes and stepped inside.