Chapter 1 The Road to the Lost City

Before dawn, will the road to the Lost City appear?

Zhao Chenghuang suppressed the other information and gazed at the round moon in the sky, sensing the changes in the power of Taiyin (yin energy).

After the sun sets, night descends. At this time, the power of Taiyin is at its weakest. At midnight (zi shi), the power of Taiyin reaches its peak and then begins to decline.

As spirits of the night, Night Watchers can deduce the time based on the strength and weakness of Taiyin's power.

Of course, this requires experienced Night Watchers who have undergone training in this area, memorizing the intensity of Taiyin's power at different times.

Some inexperienced Night Watchers do not have this ability.

It is now one o'clock in the morning... Zhao Chenghuang made an accurate judgment after sensing for a few seconds.

At this moment, he heard Yuan Shi Tian Zun (Lord of the Primordial Beginning) not far away saying:

"What time is it now? I feel like it's two in the morning."

As expected, he's just a newbie Night Watcher. No matter how strong his combat power is, the details expose the fact that his foundation is shallow! Zhao Chenghuang thought.

Sun Sensen frowned her delicate and pretty eyebrows and said:

"No, no, it's eleven o'clock at night. The judgment of the strength of Taiyin's power is correct - eleven o'clock and one o'clock in the morning have the same Yin energy, but it's reversed. Elder Sun's training of Sensen is not yet in place." Zhao Chenghuang shook his head slightly.

"I think it's two in the morning," Yuan Ting said.

Outrageous! This guy didn't stay in training camp long enough. Zhao Chenghuang glanced at him and said in a calm tone and aloof expression:

"It's one o'clock in the morning."

After speaking, Zhao Chenghuang saw Yuan Shi Tian Zun, Sun Sensen, and Yuan Ting silently walk away.

"This guy's not accurate."

"That's right, it's clearly two in the morning now."

"Let's not play with him."

Zhao Chenghuang's mouth twitched. He took a deep breath and looked at the crowd in the clearing, saying:

"It's one o'clock in the morning now, and it's still early before dawn. We need to replenish our energy before entering the Lost City. Except for the Night Watchers and Earth Goblins, the rest of you rest in the clearing."

"Night Watchers and Earth Goblins who have consumed too much stamina can report to me."

He methodically arranged the patrol and guard duties, appearing every bit the leader.

The Lingjing Xingzhe (Aptitude Cultivator) of the Mountain God's camp glanced at Yuan Shi Tian Zun, who was sitting on a stone doing nothing, and followed Zhao Chenghuang's instructions. Those who should rest rested, and those who should patrol patrolled.

Asano Ryo of the island nation approached, carrying a long katana, and whispered:

"Yuan Shi Tian Zun, have you been usurped?"

Zhang Yuanqing glanced at her: "You should call me 'Yuan Shi Tian Cao-sama'."

Asano Ryo whispered:

"Yuan Shi Tian Cao-sama, you have been usurped. That Zhao Chenghuang wants to take away your leader position. Why do you let him plot against you? Everyone clearly supports you!"

Zhang Yuanqing nodded with a serious expression:

"What you said makes sense. So, Ryo-chan, please assassinate this scoundrel for me."

"Ah?" Asano Ryo's pure and beautiful face froze, and she stammered:

"I, I can't beat him..."

Guan Ya on the side was speechless. This island girl wasn't stupid, she even had a little wisdom, but she was just too simple.

Guan Ya educated:

"Haven't you noticed? No matter what Zhao Chenghuang says, everyone will subconsciously seek Yuan Shi's opinion. If he doesn't object, Zhao Chenghuang's words will only be effective."

"Since this is the case, why clash with Zhao Chenghuang over such trivial matters? Moreover, Yuan Shi doesn't like to manage these trivial matters. With Zhao Chenghuang around, he's happy to save trouble."

Asano Ryo thought about it seriously and suddenly understood:

"Oh, this is what my father often taught me, political balance."

"What political balance?"

A red-haired girl walked over, enthusiastically joining the conversation, "Isn't the difficulty of political balance killing all political enemies?"

While the two girls were chattering, Zhang Yuanqing opened the score list:

【1: Yuan Shi Tian Zun, Night Watcher, Level 3, 508 points】

【2: A-Yi, Witch Doctor, Level 3, 230 points】

【3: Wei Wo Du Zun (I Alone Am Supreme), Water Ghost, Level 3, 225 points】

【4: Zhao Chenghuang, Night Watcher, Level 3, 220 points】

【5: Sun Sensen, Night Watcher, Level 3, 213 points】

【6: Jiang Jingwei, Fire Master, Level 3, 200 points】

【7: Bai Wu Jin Ji (Nothing is Taboo), Bewildering Demon, Level 3, 215 points】

【8: Jiu Lou Yu (Nine Leaks Fish), Scout, Level 3, 190 points】

【9: Ta Sui Ling Xiao (Shatter the High Heavens), Witch Doctor, Scout, 180 points】

【10: Wo Ming You Wo Bu You Tian (My Fate is Up to Me, Not Heaven), Illusionist, Level 3, 138 points】

Except for the second and third places, the top ten rankings on the list have changed greatly. Zhao Chenghuang, Sun Sensen, and Jiang Jingwei rushed into the top six.

The rankings of the top twenty-four have undergone even more earth-shattering changes. The Mountain God camp occupies ten places in the 11-24 list, and the Mountain Ghost camp occupies four.

Guan Ya also rushed to 20th place.

As long as she can maintain this ranking, her promotion to Saint is not a problem.

"Those who follow me should try to get into the top twenty-four. Otherwise, they will either give up on becoming a Saint or participate in the slaughter dungeon at the end of the year..."

"Kou Beiyue's ranking is a bit low, forty-second place. It should be easy for him to become a Saint. Saving this guy's life is more important..."

"If I just kill A-Yi and Wei Wo Du Zun again, I can be on par with the Demon Lord and the Female Marshal..."

However, these two are both top experts. Zhang Yuanqing is still a little confident in a one-on-one fight, but in a team fight, the uncertain factors increase exponentially, making it too difficult to kill them.

Killing the top five players on the list yields the highest score, but those who can squeeze into the top five are not rookies.

The Demon Lord annihilated almost all the official personnel back then, definitely by acting as a double agent and cooperating with the evil professions.

Otherwise, the Demon Lord's score would not be over nine hundred, but over a thousand, or even two thousand.

In fact, based on the scores, the specific combat power of the Demon Lord and the Female Marshal in the extraordinary realm can be assessed.

Zhang Yuanqing believes that they will not be much stronger than him.

It is worth mentioning that the total number of people on the score list is sixty.

The ratio of the number of people in the Mountain Ghost and Mountain God camps is about 1:2.

Zhang Yuanqing closed the score list and poked Guan Ya's waist with his elbow: "Guan Ya-jie, let me rest my head on your lap."

Guan Ya: "Go, go, go!"

Zhang Yuanqing: "If you don't let me, I'll go find Peony Fairy."

Guan Ya glared at him.

Zhang Yuanqing took the opportunity to rest his head on her round and soft thighs, and sure enough, he was not refused.

From the ambush battle in the maze to blocking the Mountain Ghost camp alone, his spiritual body was attacked one after another, and his spirit was already exhausted. He soon fell into a deep sleep.

He didn't know how long had passed when he was awakened by Guan Ya. The mixed-race beauty handed over a string of wild fruits and said:

"It's almost dawn, eat something first."

"Peony Fairy and the others picked them in the forest, they are edible."

Zhang Yuanqing sat up with a dizzy head, took a deep breath, and after inhaling enough oxygen, his brain cleared up a bit.

He took the wild fruits handed over by Guan Ya and ate them silently, while looking at his companions in the clearing.

They were either sitting on the ground yawning or getting up to move around and stretch their muscles. Because they had all rested, they were energetic and not tired.

"Clap clap!"

Zhang Yuanqing clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention.

People unconsciously put down what they were doing and looked at the young man who jumped onto the stone.

Zhang Yuanqing stood on the stone and said loudly:

"Everyone, it will be dawn soon."

"We will go to the Lost City and start the final battle with the Mountain Ghost camp. There is no doubt that this will be an extremely dangerous deathmatch."

"Everyone may die, including me. Everyone is an experienced Lingjing Xingzhe, and has already experienced the test of life and death. Those who dare to enter the slaughter dungeon are prepared."

"I hope that after entering the Lost City, everyone can unite and obey orders, and advance to Saint together, facing a bright future."

Everyone was either silent or nodded slightly, not very receptive.

Having reached today's status and level, most people, except for a few fools, are old hands who are used to the leaders' empty promises and inspirational speeches.

They will not be aroused with enthusiasm and fighting spirit by Zhang Yuanqing's simple words.

Zhang Yuanqing changed the subject and said:

"Perhaps for you, blocking the attack of the Mountain Ghost camp with your own strength is a heroic feat, a remarkable thing, but for me, this is not the limit."

"I still have many trump cards that I haven't used."

Not to mention delaying for a while, even killing through the Mountain Ghost camp is not a problem. Killing one more person means one more spot, and with each additional spot, someone among you can advance to Saint."

"However, relying on my personal strength alone is not enough. In the end, we still have to rely on everyone. I'll say it again, obey orders."

"Unite as one, understand?"

Hearing this, the eyes of the group of Xingzhe (Aptitude Cultivators) lit up.

Yuan Shi Tian Zun still has trump cards? The battle in the Mountain God Temple was not his limit...

"Understood!"

Everyone responded loudly, with excited expressions.

So, drawing cakes is still useful, it just depends on how the leader draws them.

………

At the same time, Bai Wu Jin Ji stood on a stone, overlooking his companions, and said loudly:

"If there are no surprises, the rules of the Lost City will be very simple. There is no need to decipher or explore. Strong confrontation is the only principle, and combat is exactly what we are good at."

"Yuan Shi Tian Zun has exhausted all his trump cards. We know his methods like the back of our hands, and after a night of discussion, we have already figured out a way to crack them."

"But what they don't know is that our trump cards have not yet been revealed."

"How can the orderly professions compete with our free professions? They are all trash."

"Without trump cards, how can Yuan Shi Da Zun compete with us? He is also trash. Everyone, the Lost City is our opportunity to slaughter the orderly Xingzhe. I have already smelled the sweetness and fragrance of blood, what about you?"

"Kill them all!"

The evil professions below were enthusiastic.

At this moment, a ray of morning light shone from the eastern sky, the darkness receded like a tide, and the sky was hazy.

Dawn has arrived.

【Ding! The road to the Lost City has been opened, please arrive as soon as possible.】

At this moment, all the Lingjing Xingzhe in the dungeon tacitly opened the map.

A red line appeared in the vast primitive forest, leading to the basin in the center of the forest.

That is the Lost City.

Walking along the red road on the map for half an hour, the people of the Mountain God camp finally crossed the lush primitive forest, saw the blue sky, and saw the ruined city in front.

It was as if they had come to another world.

Although this world was also covered by a large amount of vegetation.

In front of everyone was an elevated road with a broken bridge deck, and lone pillars stood tall, covered with moss, highlighting the traces of time and desolation.

Zhang Yuanqing and others looked into the distance. Beyond the elevated road were mountains, exposing

The dilapidated, steel-boned buildings. Some of them had collapsed, some were riddled with holes from the erosion of time, and some were wrapped in clusters of green vines. The hard concrete had become the nourishment for the roots to grow and extend.

The straight highway was full of cracks and covered with moss, and the moss provided the basis for the survival of weeds.

Vehicles were parked haphazardly on the side of the street, covered with gray-black rust. Weeds grew beside the dry and cracked wheels. Nature had taken over everything.

"It's really shocking. So this is what a city looks like after humans disappear," Sun Sensen exclaimed.

【Ding! Congratulations on completing side quest two, reward 20 points.】

Side quest two was to cross the vast forbidden forest and find the Lost City.

【Ding! Side quest four: The Unfinished Sacrifice.】

【Task description: A long, long time ago, a powerful evil cultivator sneaked into a human city. He controlled the creatures in the city and used the blood and souls of innocent creatures as sacrifices to an unknown, terrible being, attempting

to gain even more powerful power.】

【The terrifying being in the sacrifices responded to him and descended into reality. However, the meddlesome Mountain God stopped all of this.】

【The Mountain God used flesh and blood to condense into mountains, hair to transform into forests, and will to transform into brave mountain monkeys, sealing that terrible being in the blood pool.】

【As time passed, the long years caused the seal to loosen, and the evil cultivator's corpse transformed into a bloodthirsty monster. Driven by obsession, it stole four Forest Heart gems.】

Task requirements: The blood pool is in the center of the city, surrounded by four formations.

Defeat the evil cultivator, retrieve the "Forest Heart" gems, and strengthen the seal.

As I expected, this level doesn't need to decrypt the task. The objectives are clearly stated... The goal of the Mountain God camp is to retrieve the Heart of the Forest. Then the goal of the Mountain Ghost is to stop us?

The two camps will fight around the four "Forest Hearts"?

Zhang Yuanqing silently analyzed in his heart.

Everyone also remained silent, chewing and analyzing the task content.

Guo He Zu (Crossing-the-River Pawn), wearing camouflage military pants, said: "The situation is unfavorable for the Mountain Ghost camp. With the help of the evil cultivator, it is not optimistic."

Tian Xia Gui Huo (All Under Heaven Returns to Fire) then said:

"That's not an evil cultivator, it's a monster evolved from his obsession and corpse after death. It shouldn't be at its peak, at most level 4 initial stage. So, the Mountain Ghost camp, at best, is tying with our combat power."

The group walked along the broken highway, deep into the city ruins.

As they walked and talked, they encountered elk, wild dogs, monkeys, and other animals, scurrying around in the city ruins. When they saw strangers approaching, they all fled, watching from afar.

Just then, Peony Fairy twitched her nose and said:

"There's a smell of blood..."

As soon as she finished speaking, the group, who were walking slowly, saw the scene in front. In the tall grass, a group of wild dogs were eating a corpse.

The corpse had not been dead for long, and the blood had not yet dried.

Zhang Yuanqing's pupils shrank.

He recognized the deceased, Lingjing ID "Gong Li Zai Dao Zhong (Justice in the Blade)", ranked fourth on the loose cultivator list, even above "Guan Zhong Kui Bao (Peeking Through a Tube)".

How could he die here?

Did the Mountain Ghost camp have internal strife?

Jiang Jingwei ejected a few fireballs, driving away the wild dogs that were eating the corpse.

The crowd stepped forward, Guo He Zu squatted down, inspected it, and said:

"His neck was broken, and his heart was taken out at the same time. Apart from that, there are no other wounds. He died very decisively."

"He didn't even have time to transform into a gu (poisonous insect). The person who did it is very powerful and terrifying."

Zhang Yuanqing's expression was solemn: "We all misunderstood. Side quest four is different from what we thought."