Chen Ling realized he had likely been fooled by the "audience" again.
In his vision, the fifth-tier giant centipede still appeared as a centipede, but the smaller ones scurrying around had looked like plump chickens... At first, Chen Ling had found it strange—how could centipedes give birth to chickens? But when Xi Renjie pointed it out earlier, it finally clicked.
The audience hadn’t altered his perception of the giant centipede, only the smaller ones.
Why?
Because they knew he couldn’t defeat the giant centipede, so they only changed the appearance of the smaller ones to trick him into eating them? Now that he thought about it, while devouring those "chickens," he had indeed felt an indescribable, dazed sensation...
The mere thought that he had eaten something resembling the giant centipede made his stomach churn. He clung to the trash bin, retching for several minutes before finally calming down.
He glanced at the ground beside him, where two lines of text materialized:
[Audience Expectation +3]
[Current Expectation: 39%]
---
Han Meng’s figure cut through the dense fog like a black arrow streaking across the sky.
The streets of District Three grew smaller behind him, gradually vanishing into the mist. In this gray, desolate world, it felt as if he were the only one left...
Aurora City lay at the center of the Aurora Domain, with the seven districts arranged around it like satellites, forming a massive ring. This ensured that the distance from Aurora City to any district wasn’t too far, though travel between the districts themselves remained cumbersome.
But even if the distance wasn’t great, traversing it on foot was no simple feat.
In the past, some had attempted to walk from the districts to Aurora City, but two major obstacles stood in their way: the extreme cold and the treacherous terrain. Vast stretches of frozen earth and glaciers dominated the journey. Without sufficient supplies, exhaustion and freezing to death were almost inevitable.
And even if one reached Aurora City’s gates, without the proper identity or credentials, entry would be denied. Attempting to return would then become another hellish ordeal.
The only reliable connection between Aurora City and the districts was the steam train, which ran just once a day. A round trip would take at least two days.
Han Meng didn’t have that kind of time—or rather, District Three didn’t. Fortunately, his ability to fly allowed him to traverse the distance over ten times faster than the steam train.
Of course, this was assuming he didn’t account for mental energy depletion.
After advancing to the fifth tier, Han Meng’s mental energy reserves had expanded significantly, enabling him to complete the journey in one go.
After an indeterminate amount of time, a dark line appeared on the horizon through the hazy fog—a sprawling wall stretching endlessly across the frozen earth.
As Han Meng drew closer, the wall grew increasingly imposing. By the time he reached the city gates, it resembled a colossal barrier holding up the sky itself.
An ordinary person couldn’t even glimpse the top of the wall through the mist, no matter how far they craned their neck... And this towering structure spanned thousands of miles.
"Who goes there?"
The moment Han Meng approached the gates, a low voice rang out.
A man clad in the same black coat leaned against the wall beside the entrance, as if standing guard. Four shimmering silver stripes adorned his lapel.
"Han Meng, Chief Enforcer of District Three." Han Meng produced his credentials, speaking sternly. "I need to see Tan Xin."
"Han Meng?" The enforcer’s eyes narrowed coldly at the name. "Do you have entry authorization?"
"Our communications with Aurora City have been cut. Of course I don’t."
"No authorization, no entry. As a Chief Enforcer, you should know this."
"District Three has experienced a large-scale Gray Realm convergence. The situation is critical. I’m invoking emergency protocols."
"Emergency protocols aren’t something a District Three enforcer can just invoke on a whim." The enforcer replied leisurely. "Turn back. You’re not entering Aurora City today."
Han Meng’s gaze turned icy. He had no patience for further debate. In an instant, his [Judgment Court] unfurled.
The surge of fifth-tier mental energy pinned the enforcer in place. His pupils contracted sharply as he exclaimed:
"Han Meng! What do you think you’re doing?!"
"I told you." Han Meng raised his gun, aiming squarely at the man. "I’m invoking emergency protocols."
Though Han Meng still wore a four-striped enforcer’s coat, the aura he radiated was undeniably fifth-tier. For a place like the seven districts to produce a fifth-tier enforcer was unheard of.
Sweat beaded on the enforcer’s forehead as the barrel locked onto him.
Simultaneously, several patrolling enforcers rushed over, their faces paling at the scene before surrounding Han Meng at the gates. A full-blown confrontation seemed imminent.
Yet Han Meng stood calmly at the center of the encirclement, his gun unwavering, his eyes as cold and still as a frozen lake.
The enforcer genuinely wondered—if the others attacked, would Han Meng blow his brains out without hesitation?
After a tense silence, the enforcer gritted his teeth and finally spoke:
"...I’ll relay your request to Tan Xin."
---
Aurora City.
Winter sunlight spilled across the courtyard as Tan Xin, draped in his black coat, leisurely skimmed tea foam with a lid.
Just then, a figure approached soundlessly, kneeling respectfully beside him.
"Teacher, it’s been eight hours since the fog descended..."
Tan Xin set down his teacup and closed his eyes, speaking calmly.
"How many of the seven districts remain?"
"Three hours ago, Districts One, Two, Three, Six, and Seven were still signaling us... But as of half an hour ago, Two, Six, and Seven have gone silent."
"So only One and Three remain... Chu Shiduo is Chief Enforcer of District One, and Han Meng leads Three. Those two are somewhat capable."
"Teacher, are we still not responding?" The figure hesitated before adding, "If we don’t act soon, even these last two districts will likely fall."
Tan Xin opened his eyes, gazing past the eaves at the bright sun hanging in the sky. His reply was indifferent.
"No response."