269: Yaoyang City's Dilemma

Chapter 269 The Predicament of Yaoyang City

Seeing Chen Shilong admit it personally, Wu Xian's already heavy heart became even more complicated.

"Why? Could it be that he was caught by an Evil God Scroll Master?"

"I, Chen, have lived a dignified life. Even if I were caught, I would never betray the city guarded by generations of Mayors," Chen Shilong said solemnly, "including cooperation with Heretical Scroll Masters."

"Cooperation?" Wu Xian was puzzled, "Cooperating with them? For what?"

Chen Shilong pondered with a hint of hesitation, "I hope Master Wu can keep our upcoming conversation confidential."

Wu Xian nodded, signaling Chen Shilong to continue.

"You must have noticed that Yaoyang City's dimensional leaks have become more frequent recently, haven't you?" Chen Shilong asked.

"Isn't that the Heretical Scroll Masters causing trouble?" Wu Xian was stunned.

"What if I told you it actually has nothing to do with them?" Chen Shilong said quietly.

"?!" Wu Xian was shocked, "Then what is it because of? Could it be that there's a problem with the Seal of the Dimensional Gate?"

Chen Shilong took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Strictly speaking, it means Yaoyang City is about to collapse."

Wu Xian listened, dumbfounded, "What do you mean?"

"As a primary refuge, it's already quite remarkable that Yaoyang City has lasted until now," Chen Shilong explained with a wry smile, "especially after the disaster eighteen years ago. Yaoyang City is essentially riddled with holes and could collapse at any time."

"Collapse?" Wu Xian didn't understand, "Such a large city, could it really collapse instantly?"

Chen Shilong paused slightly, then added, "Strictly speaking, Yaoyang City is not just a city; it is also a special scroll."

"Ah?"

Wu Xian even suspected he had misheard.

"A special existence called the Heaven and Earth scroll, created by several former primary Scroll Masters using Heaven-Defying means," Chen Shilong continued, "including the new cities today, which are also this type of scroll.

The difference is that those other new cities are masterpieces from the Upper Realm, while our Yaoyang City and several neighboring brother cities can only be considered stepchildren."

"Heaven and Earth scroll?" Wu Xian's worldview was somewhat shattered.

"That's right," Chen Shilong said, "The specific method of creation has long been lost, or perhaps it has been blocked and monopolized by the Upper Realm. In any case, with the collapse of the Heaven and Earth scroll, the entire Yaoyang City will be exposed to the erosion of various dimensions, becoming a dimensional control zone."

"Where is Yaoyang City's scroll?" Wu Xian asked, surprised and curious.

"The Heaven and Earth scroll has no physical scroll body, or rather, the scroll body has already been integrated into the Laws of Heaven and Earth, transforming into the land that Yaoyang City currently lives on."

"Similar to an Outpost in another world?"

Wu Xian couldn't help but think of the scene where the Netherworld took root in the Mysterious Abyss before.

"Not quite the same," Chen Shilong shook his head, "but there are indeed many similarities. I'm not too clear on the specifics. The Earth God Temple is somewhat similar, but it also seems a little different."

Chen Shilong was not a Scroll Master after all, so he naturally couldn't clarify the differences.

Wu Xian took a deep breath and asked seriously, "Then why would this Heaven and Earth scroll collapse? Could it be that the Upper Realm is behind it?"

"The Upper Realm is merely adopting an attitude of inaction," Chen Shilong said, "The real problem lies in the distortion, pollution, and dimensional erosion. The two complement each other, making it impossible for anything to last forever."

"I see," Wu Xian took a deep breath, "So you cooperated with the Heretical Scroll Masters to curb the distortion and pollution."

"On one hand, they can absorb twisted pollution to Cultivate, and on the other hand, they understand twisted pollution better," Chen Shilong pondered, "They can help Yaoyang City relieve a lot of pressure."

"Just provide them with stable human spiritual matter?" Wu Xian frowned.

Chen Shilong nodded and said, "However, those guys also have their own agenda. They're all waiting for Yaoyang City to collapse so they can have a good feast."

"Wouldn't they eat more if they acted in advance?" Wu Xian didn't understand.

"Don't worry, they're very afraid of death," Chen Shilong joked, "Our Yaoyang City still has some hidden strength. Chairman Cui alone is enough to deter them."

"Alright," Wu Xian pondered and asked, "What are your plans now?"

"We'll take it one step at a time," Chen Shilong sighed wistfully, "If it really comes down to it, we can only transfer to the surrounding brother cities in advance. But the problem is, the surrounding brother cities aren't doing any better; they can only last another one or two hundred years at most."

Wu Xian said, "How much longer can our Yaoyang City last?"

"It's hard to say; it could be any time."

"But then again, are you sure those Evil God Scroll Masters aren't actually doing more harm than good?" Wu Xian asked a probing question.

"This... I can't really guarantee it," Chen Shilong said helplessly, "But since they came, Yaoyang City's situation has indeed been somewhat contained."

"What if they're just putting on a show, but secretly working against us?" Wu Xian asked again.

"..." Chen Shilong's mouth twitched, speechless.

"I can understand your choice, but dealing with a tiger is always unstable," Wu Xian analyzed, "It's better to drive them away as soon as possible."

"But what about Yaoyang City?" Chen Shilong worried, "Although you Underworld Club are here now, it should reduce a lot of casualties when the time comes, but..."

Chen Shilong clearly had deep feelings for Yaoyang City and was unwilling to see the day it collapsed.

"It has to be faced eventually, doesn't it?" Wu Xian said, "And even without Yaoyang City's protection, we can still survive. It's just that ordinary people might not be suitable for living in such an environment.

By the way, can't Domain Scrolls take root here and establish Outposts?"

"Yes, but the prerequisite is to be eroded and transformed by dimensional power first," Chen Shilong said, "But a Domain Outpost is ultimately not a Heaven and Earth scroll and cannot isolate dimensional erosion."

Wu Xian understood.

The Outposts created by Domain Scrolls are essentially a Fusion and shaping with another world, not suitable for human survival, especially for ordinary people.

"Do you have any information about the Heaven and Earth scroll?" Wu Xian tentatively asked.

Chen Shilong shook his head bitterly, "If I did, I would have given it to you during my first visit."

"Alright," Wu Xian sighed helplessly, "Is there no one who understands the Heaven and Earth scroll today?"

"It's tough," Chen Shilong analyzed, "The higher-ups of the Association and the Dojo might have some material."

"Is it true that as long as it can integrate into the Laws of Heaven and Earth of our human world, it can achieve an effect similar to the Heaven and Earth scroll?" Wu Xian pondered.

"A Domain Scroll inspired by our human world?" Chen Shilong's expression was strange, "As far as I know, our human world is different from other dimensions; it seems unable to bear the Heaven and Earth shaping of a Domain Scroll."

Wu Xian shook his head and said, "I don't think so. Couldn't the Earth God Temple integrate perfectly?"

"No, no, no, strictly speaking, the Earth God Temple should have integrated into Yaoyang City's Heaven and Earth scroll, not the human world itself." Chen Shilong subconsciously corrected, but then suddenly realized something, "Eh?"

Immediately, he and Wu Xian exchanged excited glances, both clearly having thought of the same thing.

"By the way, have there been any dimensional leaks around the Earth God Temple?"

Wu Xian pondered. Although Earth God Temple Farm had only been established for a short time, it couldn't be used as a definitive conclusion yet.

But at least so far, there have indeed been no dimensional leak incidents around the Earth God Temple.