Among gorges bordered by ghostly mountains, there was a city perilously standing on a steep cliff, and sword-wielding demonic cultivators patrolled back and forth across the sky.
Outside the city gate tower, a temporary building was now full of demonic cultivators who had gathered here from all around, waiting for the city guard in the inner room to call their names and give them the token to enter the city.
Most of these people were rogue demonic cultivators in the Foundation Building stage, wandering around the Eastern Region, and their dwellings were also built in some remote places.
However, now that the immortals had broken through the Seven Star Pass, many of their inner disciples were sent further into the Eastern Region.
In this situation, if these small rogue cultivators wanted to protect themselves, they could only seek the protection of the powerful demonic cultivators, and coming to a city like Heavenly Sorrow City where there were also cultivators in the Deification stage was the best choice.
Among this mob, there was a man and two women who stood out and attracted a lot of gossip.
"Is that a Nascent Soul cultivator? Are there any Nascent Soul cultivators within a thousand miles of us? Why haven't I heard of them?"
"Sigh! This Nascent Soul guy has nothing to do with you. He might want to lay low. Don't say anything, be careful not to offend him..."
… …
Ye Anping was wearing the human skin mask of Kong Huayuan on his face. He sat at a square table in the corner with a calm expression, shaking a teacup in his hand, as he listened to the discussions of people around him to see if he could get any information about Gong Yimo.
He was very familiar with Heavenly Sorrow City. It was a large city in the Eastern Region, the same size as Brilliance City. There were nearly forty demonic cultivator sects in the city. The city lord had close contact with demonic cultivator clans such as the Heavenly Demon Sect and Hedonistic Sect, and his strength was not low.
However, he knew nothing about this "Gong Yimo".
This character had never appeared in the game, and there was no record of him in the Heavenly Dao Scroll and Heavenly Demonic Scroll.
His purpose of coming to Heavenly Sorrow City now was to meet this Gong Yimo and see if he was the Amnesiac Exiled Immortal played by the player in the original game.
The role played by the player in the game was actually a tool of Feng Yu Die.
Although he always followed Feng Yu Die and Xiao Yunluo in the main plot line, the interaction between him and Feng Yu Die was basically:
—Feng Yu Die: "I have a new task! Help me kill ten wild boars."
—Exiled Immortal: "Okay!"
—Feng Yu Die: "Help me deliver a letter to the Central Region!"
—Exiled Immortal: "Okay!"
… …
The Exiled Immortal participated in the main line of the game but could not change its direction.
Only in the side quests could he more or less decide some things.
For example, in the matter of the Moon Shadow Sword Sect, the choice of the Exiled Immortal could determine whether Yun Yiyi, Yun Jiujiu, or Yun Xi would survive to the end.
The Snow Jade Spirit Sword inherited from Immortal Yun Jian was also obtained by the Exiled Immortal.
It could be said that although the Exiled Immortal was more or less known by the characters in the game, he was actually a fictional character, more like a "camera" added by the screenwriter for the sake of gameplay.
Moreover, the Exiled Immortal was a player. Unlike Feng Yu Die and the other characters, players could revive in the main city no matter how many times they were killed. If they couldn't defeat the BOSS, they could go back to select equipment and fight again. No matter what spell they were hit by, they could revive after drinking a bottle of medicine...
This had become a paradox.
These things were very reasonable in a virtual game world.
But was this world a game now?
Ye Anping shook the teacup and looked up at Feng Yu Die, who was propping her cheek looking at him, and thought about his sister, Xiao Yunluo, his parents... and Xu Xiyue.
He could conclude that this world was definitely not a string of "1" and "0".
Then, it could also be inferred from this that the person called "Gong Yimo" was simply a demonic cultivator with better luck.
However, without meeting him in person, these were all just his speculations.
While Ye Anping was lost in thought, a white-jade finger suddenly touched his forehead and rubbed it.
Seeing that he was frowning tightly, Feng Yu Die couldn't help asking, "Young Master Ye, who is that Gong Yimo? You are so concerned about him that we even came all the way here."
Ye Anping shrugged. "It's not that I am concerned about him. It just so happens that the Southern Region immortals are thinking about how to break through Heavenly Sorrow City at this moment, so we will help them along the way. As for Gong Yimo, I'm just taking the opportunity to see him."
At this time, a demonic cultivator in the Foundation Building stage walked out of the back room, cleared his throat, and shouted, "Liang... What a ridiculous name... Liang Daliu (Big Six)!! Come in and get your token!!"
As soon as his voice came out, all the rogue cultivators in the hall turned to look around, as if they all wanted to see which cultivator had such a stupid name, waiting to see the joke.
However, after Ye Anping stood up, everyone immediately shut up.
Ye Anping led Gu Mingxin and Feng Yu Die to the person who called him. The man was pale with fright, and he asked with his neck tucked between his shoulders, "Senior, what are you doing..."
"...Liang Daliu."
"Ah… Oh, Senior, please come this way."
The demonic cultivator in the Foundation Building stage was embarrassed and did not dare to speak anymore. He lowered his head and led Ye Anping and his companions into one of the rooms and closed the door.
Inside the room, a middle-aged man in the Core Formation stage was sitting crookedly at the desk, but when he saw a Nascent Soul cultivator coming in with two female companions, he immediately stood up and bowed. "Senior, please wait a moment. Your cultivation is too high. I am just reviewing the entry permits for those small fish outside. Please, don't be offended..."
Ye Anping did not say much and nodded.
"Hmm..."
Seeking refuge in Heavenly Sorrow City was not free. Once they entered the city, people were sent to various places to work as laborers. For example, those demonic cultivators in the Foundation Building stage were generally assigned to grow flowers and other plants. If there were some beautiful women, they could even be sent to the dignitaries in the city as maids...
But the treatment of Nascent Soul demonic cultivators like him was naturally different.
If he was lucky, he could be assigned a hundred or so people to serve him, or let him be affiliated with the Heavenly Sorrow City cultivator families and become a guest of honor.
This person was probably going to call over the Nascent Soul cultivators in the city...
Watching the man run out of the house, Ye Anping gave a reminder. "Sister Gu, Sister Feng, still the same, pretend to be my furnaces."
Gu Mingxin pouted, then joked, "Pretending is so boring... Why not..."
"Stop it."
Ye Anping simply ignored her, and at this time, the door of the room was opened.
A man with a black sword at his waist walked into the room with his hands behind his back. His eyes lingered on Ye Anping and the others for a moment, then he cupped his hands. "Fellow cultivator Liang, I am the Young Master of the Heavenly Sorrow City, Gong Yimo."
Ye Anping stood up and turned to face him, cupping his hands in return. "Liang Daliu. I have long heard of the name of Young Master Gong."
While greeting, Ye Anping's eyes swept across Gong Yimo's clothes and the accessories on his waist. When he found that he actually had several magical tools that should have been scattered in the Eastern Region, a trace of vigilance appeared in his eyes.
Gong Yimo smiled. "Most of the people who come to Heavenly Sorrow City now are small independent cultivators who have nowhere else to go and seek shelter here. I wonder if Master Liang's Nascent Soul cultivation level is…"
"I am also an independent cultivator. Now that the immortals have broken through the Seven Star Pass, I can't move freely like before. I have to find a big family to take me in. I heard of the Gong family in Heavenly Sorrow City, so I wanted to try it here. I wonder if Master Gong is willing to give me a place to stay."
"Master Liang, since you are already a Nascent Soul, how can you not find a place to stay? If you are willing to come to Heavenly Sorrow City, the Gong family will welcome you, but... there are many spies in the immortals now. If you let in a traitor from the immortals..."
Gong Yimo narrowed his eyes slightly and moved his hand toward the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Ye Anping knew it was a test, so he stood with his hands behind his back, and hooked his finger, motioning Gu Mingxin to extend her hand.
Helplessly, Gu Mingxin took a step forward, put her hand into Ye Anping's palm, and made a small cut with the knife hidden in his sleeve.
Sensing the bloody aura, Gong Yimo took half a step back and cupped his hands apologetically. "Okay, take it easy. I hope you understand, Master Liang, I need to be careful in this situation."
"You should be."
Ye Anping waved his sleeves to suppress Gu Mingxin's aura.
Then, Gong Yimo reached out to lead the way. "Master Liang, please follow me into the city. Let's talk in another place. As for these two..."
Ye Anping looked back at the two girls behind him and said, "I use them to relieve the boredom on the road..."
"Ah, so..."
Gong Yimo nodded, turned around, and led them out of the house.
Ye Anping followed behind him while looking at the Erosion Demon on his waist with vigilance, and he felt relieved.
For the early stage of the Nascent Soul, although several of his accessories were mysterious treasures from the Eastern Region, it didn't look like a big deal. It seemed that he was just as he thought, a demonic cultivator with slightly better luck.
Gong Yimo walked in front and told Ye Anping about the situation in Heavenly Sorrow City. "Now that the immortals have conquered the Seven Star Pass, the next step is probably to come to our city. There is a shortage of manpower everywhere. Your arrival comes in handy, Master Liang. May I ask what you are..."
"Sword cultivator."
"Sword cultivator... I am also a Sword cultivator. Why don't we find an opportunity to spar with each other later?"
"I'm worried about hurting you. If I hurt the Young Master of the Gong family right after I got here, I'm afraid this..."
"Hehe... Master Liang, you're conceited." Gong Yimo patted the sword on his waist and continued, "I am not an ordinary Nascent Soul Sword cultivator. In the Eastern Region, the only one at my level who can win against me in a sword contest is probably the Young Miss Gu from the Heavenly Demon Sect."
Hearing this, Ye Anping glanced at Gu Mingxin. "I heard that Young Miss Gu seems to have betrayed the Heavenly Demon Sect? Then, aren't you the number one Sword cultivator in the Eastern Region now?"
"Hehe... Master Liang is really good at talking."
Gong Yimo smiled, then let out a sigh. "I dare not say I am the number one, but if I am not, no one in the Eastern Region dares to claim to be the second. But it's a pity about Miss Gu. I don't know what she was thinking. She was the Young Miss, but she betrayed the Heavenly Demon Sect. Could there be a charming young man in the Immortal Family who seduced her?"
Ye Anping was silent. "..."
On the side, Gu Mingxin smiled. "Maybe."
Gong Yimo looked at her and shrugged. "If so, she is really an ungrateful person… I heard that Lord Yu Yan treated her very well; how could she run away with a pretty boy from the Immortal Family?"
Ye Anping was speechless. He simply shut his mouth and stopped talking.
But at this moment, there was a sudden "bang!"
The noisy building suddenly became silent, and the many demonic cultivators in the building turned to look at the person who kicked the door open.
The person who kicked the wooden door of the tower was a short blonde, and there were three other people behind her.
The moment they saw the short blonde, both Ye Anping and Feng Yu Die inhaled sharply.
Hiss—
Yun Jiujiu?!!
Yun Jiujiu had found a Hedonistic Sect uniform somewhere and put it on, but she seemed to think that the uniform was too revealing, so she put on a few more pieces inside, which made her look weird.
But it was obvious that she was like a sheep wearing a wolf's skin and trying to sneak into a wolf's den.
Ye Anping understood instantly that Yun Jiujiu wanted to disguise herself as a demonic cultivator and sneak into the city to get information.
But...
"Tsk..."
Slightly shocked, Ye Anping quickly hinted to Feng Yu Die with his eyes to be ready.
He did not expect Yun Jiujiu to come here, and he did not know what she was thinking.
But anyway, he had to protect her life.
Feng Yu Die nodded slightly, prepared to draw her sword, and shifted her eyes to the back of Gong Yimo's neck in front of her, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
The rogue cultivators present were at most in the late stage of Foundation Building and were not worth mentioning. If there was anyone who could threaten Yun Jiujiu now, it was Gong Yimo.
Gong Yimo noticed the alertness of Ye Anping and the other two, but seemed to have misunderstood the cause and explained, "Master Liang, don't worry, just let that immortal cultivator enter the city. I was already expecting her."
?
Ye Anping was a little confused. Seeing that Gong Yimo continued to walk forward without turning his head, he quickly followed him. After pondering for a while, he asked, "That blonde girl is obviously an immortal cultivator... What do you want to do?"
"Wait until she enters the city and capture her alive." Gong Yimo smiled sinisterly. "Master Liang, you don't know that the girl is the Second Lady of the Moon Shadow Sword Sect. Soon, we are going to fight the immortal cultivators. It will work better with a hostage..."
Ye Anping was silent for a while before asking, "From what you said, it seems that you knew she would come a long time ago?"
"Of course, the girl brought three spies of the demonic cultivators to inquire about the news of the demonic cultivators. I received a notice when she left the Seven Star Pass. I asked the three demonic cultivators accompanying her to give her advice and lead her into Heavenly Sorrow City."
"So, she just came here?"
"Yes, didn't you see her just now? She tried to sneak in wearing a uniform of the Hedonistic Sect. The uniform was sent to her by someone from the palace."
"..."
Ye Anping was silent, feeling mixed emotions. He turned his head to look at Yun Jiujiu, feeling a little relieved.
He had just come for Gong Yimo.
And now it seemed that it was a good thing that he came, otherwise Yun Jiujiu would have been in a bad situation.
But then again…
Ye Anping looked at the three people who came in with Yun Jiujiu. Three…spies of the demonic cultivators?
What's with this 'Yun Xi's luck'?