Zhenge City is impregnable, easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is located on the bank of the black water outside the ancient land. It is the first stronghold for humans to resist the invasion of monsters.
The city was built on the mountain, with only two gate towers in the east and west.
Outside the east city is the famous Zhuyu Mountain with snow-capped peaks, thousands of valleys and thousands of rocks. An unparalleled killing array is set up on the top of the mountain to guard Cuiyu Temple, the core force of Panyuan League! The towering mountains tower into the clouds, and the dark and narrow canyons between them are the only way to reach the Star Reaching Plains.
A solitary cliff hangs outside the West City, with a black oil spill below it. The black waves roll and roll away. The crisscrossed black ice lingers on the river bank for a long time. A branch of the long black water serves as a perfect shield. The city is long and the river is long.
There are occasional scratches from monsters on the ancient city wall that is more than dozens of feet high, but other than that, the color is always new. God Lu Wu has lived in the deserted wilderness for hundreds of years, and it seems that he has never allowed monsters to harass the people. It's a pity that the monks in the city don't appreciate it and are still complacent about slaying demons and collecting materials on a daily basis.
At noon, the sun was blazing, and the cicadas were hiding in the shade of the trees, shouting at the top of their lungs for the hot sun, while the trees were drooping their heads and slowly waving flags in support.
Yan Ci appeared in the far northwest, walking through the wild grassland outside the forest, and stepping onto a shabby pontoon bridge.
All the people here are monks coming and going. The floating bridge is useless and has long been abandoned. The messy wooden boards have become rotten due to being left for a long time.
Yan Ci stepped across the empty space, occasionally tapping the bridge rope with her toes and flying straight to the city gate.
The guards guarding the city were all monks in the fusion stage. When they saw someone crossing the bridge, they stretched their necks to watch. When they saw that the person coming was just a ragged boy, they couldn't help but spit on the ground.
Yan Ci turned a blind eye and moved to enter the city. A rather handsome young man with a long bow on his back couldn't stand his careless appearance and shouted: "Where did that kid come from?"
Yan Ci scratched his head and stupidly said: "Come from outside the city and go to the city."
This sentence made the guards laugh, and the young man with freckles said: "You kid is so ignorant. If you want to enter the city, you must leave some gifts."
"A gift?" Yan Ci said in confusion, "There is nothing growing in the lower body, but it is full of dirt. You want to fight the autumn wind, but you are looking for the wrong person."
Just as a breeze blew by, the thick sweat-stained odor suddenly overflowed.
The freckled young man covered his nose and said: "The monks in the fusion period are so bad, I will obey you if you don't support the wall." Then he drove away: "Go away, don't show your eyes here."
Yan Ci was getting what he wanted, so he went into the city with a smile on his face.
The guards were listless. They had finally been assigned to the task of guarding the city, so they could take the opportunity to find some benefits. Unexpectedly, several groups of monks had entered the mountain in recent months and not even a hair was found. The monsters seemed to have disappeared out of thin air. It was really How strange!
As soon as you enter the city, a majestic and domineering glazed archway stands majestically, with the four words "High Mountains Stand Up" written on it. The beauty of its patterns and the exquisite craftsmanship are breathtaking.
Green trees and flowers can be seen everywhere in the eight streets and nine streets of the city. Houses with red walls and blue tiles are lined up in rows, and pavilions with cornices and cornices are stacked one after another.
Wandering on the wide streets, you will see shops lined up as far as you can see, wooden plaques and flags are densely packed, teahouses, wine shops, medicine shops, grocery stores, and refinery rooms are all available. Each shop is crowded and crowded, and it is really lively.
Among the people walking on the street, there are some who are busy and diligent, some who are bargaining, and some who stop and watch.
The items for sale at the stalls were all spread out regardless of mortal or spiritual objects. The life bones, sharp horns, and furs of monsters and beasts were mixed with spiritual herbs, magic weapons, talismans, and Taoist books. There are a dazzling array of accessories, rouges, calligraphy and paintings, toys, and consumables. There is even a vendor shouting: "Selling roasted chicken, golden and fragrant roasted chicken."
The currency used in transactions is not real gold or silver, but square crystals with a dull green color. After Yan Ci squeezed in the crowd and listened for a long time, he learned that the crystal was called Qingling Stone.
Qingling insects are lazy by nature and do not take care of their eggs, so there are many dead eggs. The dead eggs can be transformed into Qingling stones after a few years.
Most of the egg worms live an ignoble existence, but those who have no chance of transforming into adults will become Qingling jade after being enriched with spiritual energy decades after their death. The adult insect, which is less than one in a hundred, exhausts its life. After a hundred years, will it be able to survive and transform into the best pure jade, which is priceless?
The exchange ratio between the three is one to one hundred. However, the top Qingling Jade is rare in the world, and few people are willing to sell it.
In today's world, cultivation has become popular, and almost all Qingling jade has been acquired by various sects. Although the spiritual energy contained in the Qingling Stone is thin, it is regarded as a gem by casual cultivators all over the world. After all, the practice of purely absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth cannot be compared to it.
Since ancient times, everyone in the world of cultivation has abided by an iron rule: Cultivators only act as outsiders in all things in the world. Even if dynasties change and wars are full of wars, they must let it go.
After all, rulers may benefit the people with compassion, or they may be cruel and unkind, and they will always follow the supreme way of heaven, which progresses from decline to prosperity or from prosperity to decline.
On the surface, this law is to prevent cultivators from disturbing the people, but it also reflects the selfishness of the cultivators and is intended to prevent ordinary people from following the trend of cultivation and wasting resources.
Nowadays, when the practice of cultivation is exposed to the public, it is just that the secrets of cultivation have been passed down from word of mouth, which has changed beyond recognition. Many dignitaries and dignitaries had a lot of money, but they couldn't find a way to do it, so they found a deserted place and sintered minerals into elixirs, which they called "elixirs".
Naturally, the world of cultivation is not ashamed to do this, but there is absolutely no principle in the world that only allows oneself to set fires and does not allow others to light lamps. Therefore, the most they can do is occupy famous mountains and spread the word that alchemy is nonsense in the world to impose some restrictions.
Looking at the world, Zhenge City is an exception. The streets are bustling with people, and the Xuanzhao and even fusion period monks and ordinary people live in good neighborliness and live in peace with each other.
I guess it's because this place is far away from the world of mortals, and ordinary people have been hanging around in the city all their lives, so even if they say some nonsense, they can't spread.
People are bustling around, all seeking profit and gain. Every time they trade, tens of thousands of Qingling Stones are consumed, and passers-by A, B, B, and D are all speechless.
The city patrolling guard carrying an emerald green feather on his waist stepped forward and collected high taxes on the street. Both parties to the transaction were heartbroken, but they dared not speak out in anger.
Yan Ci wandered leisurely on the street, looking here and there, joining in the fun here and listening to gossip there. Walking around, I turned into an antique inn.
There are many diners in the front yard, and the waiters are also very busy.
Noticing a figure moving at the door, the waiter glanced over his shoulder while he was busy, and then trotted over and said, "Are you staying in a hotel?"
This guy's eyes are not bad at all. Even though Yan Ci's clothes are ragged, his unusual aura clearly shows that he is a cultivator.
Yan Ci grinned and said, "Exactly, please prepare a guest room."
The waiter said happily: "There are vacancies on the third floor. Guests can stay somewhere unoccupied. Would you like some meals?"
Yan Ci hesitated for a moment, nodded and said, "There is a roast chicken seller on the street corner. I'm going to run an errand and bring one over." After that, he took out a piece of Qingling Jade and quietly stuffed it into the waiter's hand.
The waiter was overjoyed with surprise. He could swear that this was definitely the biggest customer he had ever met in his life. Ever since he started living in the waiter, he had never been so valued!
His heart was racing, and he was so excited that he almost wanted to step forward, hug the young man's thigh, and cry heartily.
Yan Ci looked at the man's sad and happy expression, scratched his head and said, "Um, isn't it enough?"
The waiter woke up suddenly and hurriedly said: "Enough...enough...that's enough."
He pinched his own face and said in a panic: "Just wait and see, the little one will come as soon as he goes." He turned around and ran towards the corner of the street, not even bothering to look back to pick up his lost shoes.
Someone among the diners noticed the words and deeds of the two people and said in shock: "I'm not blind, am I? This little beggar actually gave the waiter a Qingling Jade!" The listener was shocked and hurriedly turned around to see that the little beggar was already dead. No trace.
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The interior decoration is exquisite, quiet and comfortable. The waiter nodded and bowed, closed the door and left.
Yan Ci huddled cross-legged in the Taishi's chair, taking a mouthful of roasted chicken and a sip of wine, taking a sip of wine and tasting the roasted chicken, and occasionally tutting his tongue in praise. He was so excited.
Xiao Mengjiu flapped her wings and flew around the room. She looked around and saw that the quilts and mattresses were all sewn from the furs of spiritual animals. The materials used for everything else were extremely rare. She couldn't help but sneered: "People say it's better to be poor than to be filthy." Rich, but deep down, he only wants to harm the common people and only wants to enjoy himself."
Yan Ci wiped the grease stains from the corner of his mouth and said fluently: "Compared to all living beings, human desires far exceed instincts. Dignity, justice, vanity, greed and self-interest are all driving the killing. Things are competing against each other. Everything is like this. Poverty must be recognized. Not wanting to be rich is just a fig leaf, why should we take it seriously?"
Xiao Mengjiu said bitterly: "I heard that if the skin is gone, the hair will be attached. One day, the cultivation resources will be exhausted. How can the human race be able to steal high positions?"
Yan Ci said: "Be born in nature, die in nature, they are all destinations anyway."
While he was talking, there was a noise downstairs. Yan Ci stood up and pushed open the window lattice to take a look. He was surprised and said, "Hey, the people from Dahuang Ruins were tied up and paraded through the streets for some reason."
The people downstairs were furious, and Yan Ci followed the crowd to find out what happened.
Xiao Mengjiu grew into a taller person, and the cat on Yan Ci's sleeves became furious. If Yan Ci hadn't been covering it with all his strength, the little elf would have jumped out and killed people.
The criminal's name is Zhang Yongmin, and he is the evil young man who followed Ji Chong on the banks of the Blackwater River in the past. At this time, he has been imprisoned with magic power and tied to the pillars of the "High Mountain Yangzhi" archway with a soul-binding rope.
According to people, this thief has lived in Zhenge City for more than a year. Not long after this thief entered the city, a mysterious disappearance occurred in the city.
Over the past year or so, more than 20 young mortals and cultivators have mysteriously disappeared. It is a shame that the local officials are incompetent and have been conducting long-term inspections, but there is no trace of them.
After hearing the news, the master of Cuiyu Temple was extremely angry and ordered Duan Bua, the elder of Huaying in the temple, to solve the case within a time limit.
Unfortunately, it is only now that the truth has been revealed and the wronged souls have been exonerated.
It really saddens those who hear it, and sheds tears when they hear it. Criminals randomly hunt and kill people, cut the flesh of the dead and remove their bones. The legs and thighs are divided and eaten by thieves and spiritual pets. The eyes are taken to brew spiritual wine, and the bones and internal organs are burned or buried. The minced meat of the cultivator's body was once sold on the street, euphemistically called "spiritual ostrich meat".
Such trampling on human life is done to the utmost, and everyone in the world is horrified by it, and their souls are all shaken to death. They all hate to be able to eat their flesh and drink their blood alive, and they all hate the local government for being corrupted and left to eat and die.
The spectators pointed their halberds and glared with anger, wanting to cut the person into pieces with a thousand knives.
Elder Duan Bua of Cuiyu Guan has been promoted to the lord of Zhenge City because of his merits in solving the case. He told the world about the serious crimes committed by the people and said: "The lawless criminals cannot be punished. I will punish them immediately for betraying them."
Zhang Yong knew that he was innocent of his death, but he still insisted: "Kill me! Dahuangxu will not let it go."
Duan Bu'a stepped forward, slapped his ears, slapped his ears hard, and cursed: "Even if it's Fu Liuyun, I'll still cut him into pieces." He leaned over, grabbed a handful of rotten vegetable leaves on the street, stuffed his mouth, and called for execution. .
The executioner was waiting with a strange bird on his shoulder. The bird was extremely black and ugly, but its pair of pale eyes were very frightening.
Onijiu loves to suck human souls, toying with and torturing them with the real fire in his eyes for seventy-seven and forty-nine days.
The terrible thing is that the person's ghost lingers, the pain lingers, and the poisonous fire burns day and night, which is enough to make Daluo Jinxian regret his life in this world.
There was deep fear in Zhang Yong's eyes. The executioner took out a yellow pill and stuffed it into his belly along with the rotten vegetable leaves. He explained: "A soul-solidifying pill can double the pain while keeping the soul awake. Later, you can take a closer look at your body's hair and skin."
Seeing that Zhang Yong was trembling with fear, the executioner smiled brightly and said: "If you can't help it anymore and scream loudly, I won't stop anyway." After saying this, he violently tore his clothes to pieces, grabbed his feet and held the gleaming hand. The horned knife started to move.
