In the city of Yuzhou, the scene appeared as lively as usual. Throngs of people ambled along the streets, while others bustled about their tasks. Despite their arduous efforts, these individuals managed to survive. In comparison, other places fared far worse than this.
However, recently, the city had become unusually animated. This area had been quite deserted as everyone tried to conserve energy by staying indoors, venturing out as little as possible.
Now, a large number of people had emerged from their homes, inquiring everywhere about how their children could be selected.
It turned out that the City Lord's manor had issued a notice: the City Lord intended to recruit a significant number of disciples. This time, the scope of recruitment was not limited to children from orphanages; even children from ordinary families were eligible for selection. Those chosen would receive intensive training and would undoubtedly become ability users.
In this era of the apocalypse, whoever wielded power controlled their destiny. Yet, for ordinary people, such opportunities were practically non-existent. They couldn't afford ability-enhancing potions, nor did they have access to vast quantities of extraterrestrial elements. Even becoming an evolution user was considered sufficient. Powerful evolution users could rely on their formidable physical prowess to reach the pinnacle in the wilderness.
Still, many harbored a dream: to one day strike it rich with luck and become an ability user, thereby taking control of their own lives.
Upon seeing the notice, many people instantly realized their chance had arrived. As long as they were selected as disciples by the City Lord, they would undoubtedly have a brighter future.
Consequently, numerous youths signed up, preparing to undergo various selections to become the City Lord's disciples and, in turn, ability users. Many families also supported their children's aspirations, as these were the only opportunities within their reach.
However, nothing in the world is perfect. There will always be those who disagree, even if everyone else approves. In such situations, some voices of dissent emerged.
"You fools are all being deceived! Do you really think such good fortune will fall upon you? The City Lord is clearly selecting cannon fodder!" someone declared loudly in a teahouse while sipping tea.
"What nonsense are you spouting? This is clearly an opportunity for us ordinary folk, yet you twist it into something bad! Besides, where is the fighting now? What kind of cannon fodder are you talking about? Can't you tell the time?" Many of the tea drinkers immediately retorted. Their children were currently preparing for this selection, hoping to pass successfully, and now someone was spewing baseless rumors. They couldn't tolerate it.
"Just because there's no war now doesn't mean there won't be in the future. Your vision is too short-sighted. If you were truly intelligent, you'd understand that once war breaks out, the intensity will be incredibly fierce, and a large number of elites will be needed! Otherwise, the City Lord has always used ability-enhancing potions to win people over. Even if he needed disciples, he wouldn't select them from the common populace!" The speaker had indeed presented a compelling analysis.
Others found this analysis reasonable, but many still clung to their hopes. In their hearts, becoming an ability user meant becoming one in ten thousand, with a bright future ahead, free from any hardships.
"Even if war breaks out in the future, it will likely be a war of unification! Look at other places; they are all desolate. Various regions are fighting for food. The central cities cannot control the smaller ones. From this perspective, it's evident that other places are fragmented. Even if unification is achieved in the end, it will undoubtedly be by Yuzhou!" Someone, after careful analysis, speculated on the most probable form of future warfare.
"But that's not necessarily true. If large-scale wars were to occur, they might not be wars of unification. If everyone discovers meteorites, and conflicts erupt, it will be a brutal fight, terrifyingly so!" someone else speculated at that moment.
The teahouses were always bustling with voices, so no matter how significant an event, there would always be discussions, and the outcomes of these discussions were varied, with no definitive answers.
While the people in these teahouses were engaged in lively conversation, a group of individuals had set out. They were preparing to travel north. Yue Cangshan, in his quest to become stronger, needed to find a master to teach him how to use his ability, which was control. Since there were few people who could guide him in this particular skill, he had heard that a young man in Yanjing had mastered the control of infrared rays. Thus, he decided to travel north to seek apprenticeship.
As Yue Cangshan departed, only a few family members came to see him off: his grandparents and a maternal uncle. Qu Zhaoqian said, "Be careful of everything when you go north, because the north is not like here. Here, at least, you can fill your stomach with food. But in the north, you might not be able to get enough food. If you go hungry, you must learn to find your own solutions!"
Beside Yue Cangshan were several of Shen Feng's disciples. They had previously traveled to Yanjing to help pacify it, and after so many years, they hadn't expected to return to this place.
"Don't worry, with us by his side, we'll definitely be able to protect him. He'll reach Yanjing in the north safely. You should go back quickly! Since he's your nephew, he's naturally our nephew too!" The young ability users accompanying him said with smiles, clearly treating this journey as a mere trip, not taking it too seriously.
Yue Hengyi's parents, now with graying hair, looked at their young grandson about to embark on a journey to a foreign land. Their hearts ached, but they could only force smiles and offer their blessings.
"When you get to the north, you must adapt to life there. But it's useless to say these things. After all, it's uncertain if you'll even get enough to eat in the north. You must work hard yourself. But you must protect yourself, and we will wait for your return!" Yue Hengyi's father managed to force a smile.
Yue Cangshan, having experienced the death of his sister, had become much more mature. He knew what he should say at this moment and earnestly stated, "Grandpa, Grandma, please go back quickly. When I go out this time, I will definitely become very powerful. When I return, I will also bring honor to my father and prove with my actions that I am not a coward!"
After saying these words, he set off. Along the way, he carried plenty of dry rations to ensure he wouldn't starve due to lack of food. Of course, during his journey, he would also have to face the constant threat of bandits. In those times, petty thieves and bandits were as numerous as cattle. If one carried food or treasures, they were likely to encounter attacks from these robbers and had to be extremely cautious.
"If we happen to encounter bandits on the road, I'll let you practice your skills on them. Only through combat can you truly grow!" Yang Ming said with a smile.
As this group set off, they affixed a small flag to the top of their vehicle. Though the flag was small, it bore the two large characters "Yuzhou." Most bandits, upon seeing this flag, would not dare to rob them.
These two characters represented immense power, and ordinary bandits lacked the courage to attempt such a feat. Only the most desperate and vicious would dare to defy all odds and attack a vehicle bearing the Yuzhou flag.
As for such individuals, the young ability users of Yuzhou would show no mercy. If their identity was revealed and they still dared to attack, it meant they were ruthless individuals who lived by the blade. Killing them was a simple matter; let them go to hell.
After half a month of travel, the Yuzhou convoy finally arrived in Yanjing. Upon their arrival, they witnessed a scene of desolation and decay. The people here wore no smiles, and many toiled day and night simply to get enough to eat, yet even with their desperate efforts, the dream of a full stomach remained unfulfilled.
"When we came here before, there was still much vitality to be seen. But now, it seems the people here have also become broken!" Yang Ming said to Yue Cangshan beside him upon witnessing the situation.
Yue Cangshan inquired, "Brother Yang, I heard that this was once a capital city. But now it looks like just a slightly larger city, not much to speak of. Is this legend true?"
"Of course, it's true. However, Yanjing was breached when you were not yet born, so you never saw the prosperity of Yanjing. Although I haven't seen it myself, I once heard my master say that Yanjing in those days was definitely a first-class city in China, known as the 'North-South-East-West' along with three other cities, which have now also become desolate," Yang Ming replied without hesitation upon hearing the question.
Before the convoy, they could only see a tall city wall. However, after passing through this imposing wall and entering the city, they could only see numerous small buildings all around. There were no skyscrapers, nor any entertaining facilities. It looked like a city that was merely larger, completely failing to live up to the name of prosperity.
"The reason it's become like this is all because your master had too many wicked intentions and schemed against almost all of us! In that case, you still dare to come here? Aren't you afraid of death!" Suddenly, a voice came from the side of the street.
The people in the convoy quickly turned their heads to look, only to find a middle-aged man slowly walking towards them. His face was etched with the ravages of time. However, upon careful observation, Yang Ming recognized the person before him as Gong Changfa.
"Mr. Gong, aren't you known as the 'Liao Saint'? How have you become like this? Ability users' aging is supposed to be very slow, but your aging seems to have accelerated!" Yang Ming was astonished, not expecting the other person to have deteriorated so much. This man was a contemporary of his master, a powerful figure, yet in just a few years, he had aged so drastically.
Gong Changfa said, "There's no need to talk about this. It's my own private matter, and it's useless to explain it to you juniors. Did you call me? You mentioned you were coming, and now I want to see what the child of Yue Hengyi looks like!"
Yue Cangshan stepped forward and said, "My name is Yue Cangshan, and I am Yue Hengyi's son!"
Gong Changfa smiled and said, "Indeed, you are very handsome. You will surely inherit your father's genes and be a handsome young man! Come with me, and I will find suitable teachers for you!"
However, at this moment, Yang Ming noticed something amiss and quickly said, "Mr. Gong, it seems someone is monitoring us nearby. Do you need us to deal with them?"