Chapter 1052: A City

A city!

This was a vast plain, dotted with ancient trees, though sparse, the earth dry and hard. With no mountains to obstruct the view, the city stood here, appearing even more majestic and imposing.

Shi Hao was stunned. Had he really found it just like that?

Was this the place where the ancient covenant was signed? It was so solemn, grand, and exuded an unparalleled grandeur.

Did arriving here also mean they were nearing the borderlands, or was this already the outermost edge?

Shi Hao’s heart surged with emotions, his expression complex. From the previous era to now, this region must have been a fiercely contested battleground, a place of absolute terror.

In the long river of history, countless peerless heroes must have walked these lands, many buried here. Those tragic and heroic tales were worth remembering.

Though these events might seem distant, they were inextricably linked to the present—because those enemies still existed, or at least their descendants did.

Even the most ancient of those enemies might still be alive!

And they had crossed over from the borderlands.

Shi Hao burned with curiosity. What kind of beings were they? He wasn’t even sure they were human, though many might have taken human form.

Though he had dreamt of returning to the Immortal Ancient Era, he had seen too little. Those beings were shrouded in gray mist, with only glimpses of claws, scales, or fleeting humanoid figures.

“I need to get closer to this city, to see for myself.”

The plain was sparsely forested, but the ancient trees that stood were enormous, each hundreds of feet tall, like small green mountains.

As he approached, the city seemed lively, filled with noise and clamor.

“Hmm?!”

Soon, Shi Hao spotted a group of riders charging out of the city, heading in his direction.

Had he been discovered? His gaze darkened.

Fortunately, they veered off toward another direction. It was another group of armored cavalry, led by a Heavenly God—a shocking sight, proof of how many experts gathered here.

To his relief, looking into the city, he saw many whose cultivation wasn’t particularly high, even some at the Venerable One (Zunzhe) level.

In such a strange city, it was rare to see such weak individuals.

In Shi Hao’s imagination, whether this city had fallen or was still under the control of the Upper Realm, it should have been teeming with powerful figures. Any weakling would struggle to survive here.

Then, he saw someone—the Devilish Woman!

She was inside the city, looking as mischievous and breathtakingly beautiful as ever, strolling around leisurely without a care in the world.

Shi Hao was dumbfounded. How had she gotten in? And why did she seem so relaxed, utterly unconcerned?

More importantly, how had she gotten ahead of him?

The city gates weren’t far now, and Shi Hao could clearly see the bustling crowd inside—people of many races, some incredibly powerful, others weak.

Suddenly, the Devilish Woman turned, glancing in his direction. Then, swaying her slender waist, she began walking toward him.

Shi Hao considered retreating along his original path.

But the Devilish Woman’s voice already echoed in his mind: “Hey, kid, no use hiding. I spotted you ages ago.”

Shocked, Shi Hao stopped and watched as she left the city and approached him, his mind filled with questions.

“Hey, hey, hey! Never seen me before? Why the blank stare, standing there like a wooden post?” The Devilish Woman was stunning, but her tongue was as sharp as ever.

“Did you defect?” Shi Hao blurted, though he didn’t really believe it. Then, in an instant, he realized his mistake—this city wasn’t what he’d imagined.

“What nonsense are you spouting? You’re as confusing as ever,” she mocked.

Shi Hao understood now—this city hadn’t been conquered.

“How did you get ahead of me? How’d you arrive first?” he pressed.

“What’s that supposed to mean, kid?” She smirked, her tone teasing. “Feeling inferior because you’ve cultivated three strands of immortal energy but still lag behind? Can’t accept reality, huh? You’ve got a long way to go.”

Shi Hao had no retort. He *had* been thinking exactly that—he’d pushed himself hard, yet still fell short.

“Oh? Not so cocky now? Finally realizing the gap between us? Keep trying, little one.” She feigned an elder’s tone, then burst into laughter at her own act.

“How *did* you get ahead of me?” Shi Hao demanded, unwilling to let it go.

“Remember the three Supreme Elders? With a wave of their sleeves, they sent us all to different places. I was sent farther ahead, so of course I arrived first,” she admitted.

Shi Hao didn’t buy it. The Supreme Elders could’ve only sent them a million miles at most. The distance he’d traveled these past months was immeasurable.

He’d thought he could overtake anyone, so her explanation made no sense.

“Coincidentally, I landed near an ancient teleportation array that brought me straight here,” she added.

Shi Hao was speechless. How unfair—he’d faced countless dangers, nearly dying multiple times, while she’d arrived in a single step.

“How did you even find me?” he asked, confident in his stealth.

“Because you’re weak. Finding you was as easy as flipping my hand.”

Her words made his teeth itch. She was clearly gloating, and it annoyed him.

“Explain. Now,” he growled, ready to fight.

“You once had a broken pagoda, and I have a stone bead. Remember? Those two knew each other,” she said.

Shi Hao’s heart ached at the memory. The little pagoda had been gone for so long, entering the Primordial Gate with the Willow Deity. Where were they now? Had they reached the frontlines?

Or had they transcended, entering the most sacred realm?

He longed to see them again but knew it was impossible—at least for now.

Clearly, the extraordinary stone bead on the Devilish Woman had sensed Shi Hao, alerting her to his presence.

“Why were you sneaking around outside? Too scared to enter?” she teased.

“Can’t you use nicer words? Sneaking? I’m the picture of valor, and you dare insult me?” he shot back.

“A glutton and a thief,” she muttered.

Then, she revealed the truth—this city was special, but it wasn’t the colossal city they were searching for.

Shi Hao was stunned. Such a grand city, and it *still* wasn’t their destination?

“Are there many ancient cities like this in the Forbidden Zone?” he asked, baffled. How could such a desolate place hold so many settlements?

“Not many. Very few,” she replied.

She explained that the true ancient city was a hundred times larger, majestic as an Emperor’s citadel, standing guard at the border.

“You should know by now—since ancient times, peerless experts have entered that city to fulfill the ancient covenant. Their disciples and descendants settled in this region.”

“So this city is where those descendants live?”

“Exactly. Over time, it grew into a city.”

Shi Hao understood. This city held its own significance, and finding it meant the true colossal city wasn’t far.

“Why haven’t you left yet?” he asked. If she’d come this far, why not proceed to the true city?

Her answer shocked him—this region held an opportunity. Legend spoke of a Qilin egg.

“A pure-blooded Qilin?” Shi Hao gasped.

“Right. Recently, visions have appeared—sometimes in the mountains, sometimes underground. Many have seen a white Qilin calf manifesting in the void.”

Hearing this, Shi Hao’s mind raced. He remembered the girl from his dream of the Immortal Ancient Era, holding a white Qilin calf.

As they entered the city, Shi Hao told the Devilish Woman about the ambush he’d faced.

“So there really are such people!” she exclaimed, alarmed.

She’d learned much here. In recent years, the terrifying aura seeping from the borderlands had driven some to madness—or rather, corrupted their minds.

Such individuals hid well, rarely revealing themselves.

That Shi Hao had encountered a group of them, all experts from the city, was deeply troubling.

“The borderlands are about to descend into chaos. They’re preparing to break through!” Shi Hao muttered.

The Devilish Woman’s expression darkened, sensing the impending disaster.

Shi Hao stayed in the city, joining the search for the Qilin egg. Many were already scouring the area, drawn by the recent visions.

“We can’t let the Six Crowned King get it!” Shi Hao declared. Ning Chuan, born with Qilin markings, would be a wildcard if he found the egg.

Two days later, Shi Hao witnessed the vision himself—a white Qilin calf appearing amidst distant mountains, radiant and lifelike.

A frenzy erupted as cultivators rushed toward it, Shi Hao among them.

Then, his mind reeled. The Qilin calf in the vision was unmistakably the one from his dream.

Even more shocking, a voice echoed in his mind, childish and sweet: “You look familiar…”

“We met not long ago! You’re alive?!” Shi Hao’s voice trembled.

“Nonsense! I’ve slept for countless ages. How could we have met?” the Qilin retorted.

“In my dream of the Immortal Ancient Era, in the South Sea’s Purple Bamboo Forest! A girl was holding you!”

“What?! It’s you?! You’re… in this era?!” The Qilin cried out, then burst into tears. “I’ve waited… waited so long for her to return. But she’s gone… she never came back for me.”