The road, several zhang wide, was paved with blue bricks, with calm seas on both sides. Yet Lin Fan always felt as if something lay hidden beneath the water.
Of course, it was just a fleeting sensation. Whether anything was actually there remained uncertain.
“Move… move aside!”
Suddenly, a shout of anger came from behind. Lin Fan turned his head in alarm and quickly stepped aside.
A swiftly galloping carriage passed by, followed by a chorus of curses from the crowd.
“Keep your voice down! That’s the Yao family’s carriage from Zangyao City! Do you want to get yourself killed or something?”
“What? No way!”
“Of course, didn’t you see the five-claw mark on the back of the carriage? That’s the Yao family’s emblem.”
“Oh right, didn’t notice. Close call.” A middle-aged man with a large sword strapped to his back patted his chest in relief.
Listening to their conversation, Lin Fan felt a surge of curiosity. It seemed Zangyao City wasn’t as simple as it appeared. That made sense—families that could establish themselves in such a forbidden area were never ordinary.
He wondered how many treasures the family might possess. Judging by that arrogant carriage, they certainly weren’t decent people.
As Lin Fan approached the city gate, he was stopped by two guards.
Looking at their uniforms, Lin Fan noticed the same five-claw emblem on their chests as on the carriage.
“What do you want?” Lin Fan asked.
“Pay the entry fee to enter the city,” the two guards, wearing the five-claw insignia, said arrogantly.
Passersby obediently handed over small green crystals, about the size of a thumb, before entering the city.
“What kind of thing is this?” Lin Fan muttered in frustration. He had never seen such items before—where was he supposed to get them?
“Outta the way! No money, no entry! Go work as a laborer at the bitter place to earn your entry fee,” the two guards shoved Lin Fan’s shoulders.
“Let me cover it.” At that moment, a white-robed woman appeared before Lin Fan, holding the green crystal in her hand.
Lin Fan was startled. He wondered how he had encountered this woman again. Had she been following him all along?
Nonetheless, since entry was free if someone else paid, and without caring about her intentions, Lin Fan nodded and quickly entered the city.
“Fate sure brings us together. Why are you here?” Yahan followed beside him with a smile.
Lin Fan felt helpless. Had he been targeted by this woman? He couldn’t figure out her intentions, but he was certain it wouldn’t be anything good—he had to stay alert.
“Make way…” Once again, Lin Fan heard a shout from behind.
Turning around, he saw a group of martial artists from a sect arguing with the guards collecting the entry fee.
“No money, no entry!” the two guards shouted. Although these people might be disciples of a sect, what difference did that make? They couldn’t possibly break the rules.
“What money? What’s this green thing? We don’t have any. Move aside!” One of the sect’s disciples snapped.
The middle-aged leader of the sect raised his hand slightly, “Esteemed sirs, we are disciples of the Wanlong Sect. Please grant us a small courtesy.”
“Who cares about Wanlong or anything else? Everyone pays the entry fee. No exceptions. Otherwise, go work at the bitter place to earn it.” The two guards showed no respect for the Wanlong Sect.
The middle-aged leader’s face darkened with anger.
Lin Fan paused to watch. This middle-aged man’s cultivation was decent—Mid Heaven Realm. He wondered how this would play out.
“Absolutely no entry?” the leader asked coldly.
“That’s right.”
“Daring indeed…” In an instant, the leader swung his hand. No one had ever dared to be so disrespectful to them. They had traveled tens of thousands of miles to get here—how could they be stopped at the gate?
“Bang!”
The two guards at the city entrance were flung away by the leader’s strike, unable to resist even slightly.
“Hmph, how dare you! My Wanlong Sect must pay to enter?” Wan Xiangtian said coldly.
“Enter.”
The disciples of the Wanlong Sect laughed heartily. They looked down on the two clueless guards. Their sect was a dominant force—when had they ever been blocked outside any gate? Their elder had restrained himself and spoken politely, yet they refused to accept it. They had only brought trouble upon themselves.
Standing there, Lin Fan observed the scene. The city gate’s fee collection must have a powerful backing; otherwise, no one would obediently pay.
At that moment, an overwhelming pressure descended from the void.
Lin Fan looked up in alarm. The aura was extremely powerful—at least Grand Heaven Realm.
“Anyone who comes to Zangyao City must follow the rules.”
A voice echoed from the void, vibrating painfully in everyone’s ears.
Then, a giant hand emerged from the void. It was pale and jade-like, wrapped in chains that shimmered with brilliance.
“That’s the Chain of Rules,” Lin Fan thought in shock. This was the first time he had seen the manifestation of a rule. The vast, mighty aura left no room for doubt.
Before Lin Fan could recover from his astonishment, the entire Wanlong Sect group was seized like chickens by the giant hand and hurled toward the distant suffering land.
Then the giant hand vanished instantly, as if it had never existed.
However, everyone who witnessed this would never forget it.
Those who had come to Zangyao City intending to sneak in without paying quickly turned back in fear, obediently heading to the arduous place to earn their entry fee.
Lin Fan sighed inwardly. He was lucky he hadn’t resorted to force earlier—otherwise, his fate might have been just as grim.
But until he figured out the woman’s background, he would never get too close to her.
“Let’s go,” Yahan said with a smile.
Lin Fan glanced at Yahan, slightly surprised. How could she remain so calm? It was as if she had seen this kind of thing countless times.
No wonder Zangyao City, built at the edge of a forbidden zone, was so prosperous.
Looking around, Lin Fan couldn’t spot a single non-cultivator. Everyone here had cultivation, even the weakest being at the Late Foundation Realm. He hadn’t seen anyone below that level.
Clearly, this was a city renowned for martial prowess.
“What was that green crystal just now?” Lin Fan asked.
Yahan looked at him and smiled, “That’s the currency of Zangyao City. It doesn’t circulate outside. Anyone visiting Zangyao City for the first time must go to the苦 place to earn their entry fee.”
“You’re very familiar with this place?” Lin Fan increasingly felt that this woman was mysterious.
“Not really. My sect just knows this place well. I brought some with me before coming. But don’t provoke the demon family here—they’re not someone everyone can afford to offend. Let’s part ways here. Hope to meet again.” Yahan waved goodbye.
Lin Fan watched Yahan leave, his mind filled with confusion. What was she really thinking?
Unable to figure it out, Lin Fan gave up and continued wandering through Zangyao City.
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