The flying palanquin carried Xu Zimo once again back to Eternal City.
Eternal City was still as bustling as before. Before leaving, Xu Zimo wanted to visit the so-called Immortal Dao Ruins.
Maybe he could gain something unexpected.
“You wait for me at the inn. I have some matters to attend to,” Xu Zimo said to Jiu You.
“You can’t take me with you?” Jiu You asked.
“You can’t go to the core of the Immortal Dao Ruins,” Xu Zimo shook his head slightly.
Jiu You could only nod and return to the inn reluctantly. She knew that there were some things Xu Zimo didn’t want her involved in.
After parting from Jiu You, Xu Zimo headed toward the Immortal Dao Ruins alone.
The Immortal Dao Ruins were located in the southern district and were one of the famous landmarks of Eternal City.
The battle that once took place there had been part of legend among Eternal City’s residents for many years.
It was said that from beyond the Immortal Dao Bridge, another world’s overlord had led an invasion of the Eternal Lands.
The Eternal Godly Monarch sealed that rift at the cost of his life and fought his final battle in Eternal City with the last of his forces.
All the Godly Monarchs of the Eternal Lands had gathered, and that battle shook the heavens and earth, eclipsing sun and moon.
Eventually, the overlord “Qiong Qi” was slain here, and most of his followers were wiped out.
Later, people rebuilt Eternal City and designated the most fiercely contested battleground, the core of the war, as part of the southern district.
Because the malevolent aura left behind by Qiong Qi was too strong, it was impossible to rebuild the area.
People could only hope that with time, that malevolence would gradually fade away.
Just as Xu Zimo entered the southern district, someone suddenly bumped into him.
As the person approached, a murderous gleam flashed in his eyes. He drew a sharp dagger and attacked Xu Zimo.
Xu Zimo frowned slightly and slapped the man away.
The attacker slammed into a nearby wall, his body bloodied and motionless.
“Remnants from the past?” Xu Zimo frowned slightly.
“That was fast. I didn’t even reach the Immortal Dao Ruins before they were already targeting me.”
After killing the assassin, Xu Zimo had only walked a few steps.
Suddenly, with a loud bang, the heavy southern district gate behind him slowly closed.
Looking ahead, the bustling main street of the southern district suddenly fell silent.
“Puff, puff, puff”, the sound of blades piercing flesh echoed through the street.
A group of people took off their outer garments, revealing red robes underneath.
With a glance, there were at least several thousand of these red-robed individuals, packed tightly along the street.
The unsuspecting pedestrians were stabbed through by long knives without warning, killed instantly.
In a moment, the once-lively street descended into chaos. The remaining civilians fled into nearby shops, trying to hide.
The red-robed attackers ignored them, as their target from the beginning was Xu Zimo.
Once all the civilians had escaped, the street was filled only with dense ranks of red-robed cultists.
A large group surrounded Xu Zimo from all directions, layer upon layer.
Their leader was an old man in a bright red robe with a vortex symbol on his chest.
Although old, he was full of energy and ruddy-faced.
He had hawk-like eyes, a hooked nose, and an oppressive gaze.
A faint but powerful empyrean aura radiated from him.
“Boy, hand over the key,” the old man said in a low voice.
“You won’t let me go even if I give it to you, so why should I?” Xu Zimo replied with a smile.
“If you offer the key, I’ll let you join our Seven Fears Cult,” the old man said after some thought. “I’ll give you ten breaths to decide. If not, you die.”
“Looks like the Eternal Godly Monarch underestimated you all. He thought you were hiding in Eternal City, but he didn’t realize you’ve already taken over an entire district,” Xu Zimo said. “Give you more time, and you might turn the whole Eternal City upside down.”
“Kid, people from the Eternal Lands are nothing but frogs in a well. You’ve never seen how vast the world really is,” the old man said coldly. “There are only a few Godly Monarchs, and few ever reach that level in a lifetime. But if you join our Seven Fears Cult, once we return to our main sect, even someone like you can have a bright future. Why not join us and help plan greater things?”
“No thanks. Your leader died here, and now a little Grand Empyrean like you dares call others frogs in a well?” Xu Zimo shook his head and sneered.
The old man frowned and waved his right hand slightly. “Kill him,” he said calmly.
With the order, the red-robed cultists swarmed toward Xu Zimo.
Xu Zimo looked into the distance. At the end of the street, in an open plaza, was the heart of the Immortal Dao Ruins.
He walked toward the end of the street, completely ignoring the thousands surrounding him.
Shouts and battle cries erupted all around.
As Xu Zimo moved forward, a vast aura began to gather around him.
With each step, his presence grew stronger, the pressure becoming increasingly intense.
Winds swirled as a vortex of spiritforce formed beneath his feet.
The closer people got to Xu Zimo, the heavier the pressure they felt. Their movements became sluggish.
Xu Zimo slowly raised his right hand. Dozens of people were sent flying without resistance.
He continued walking, eyes calm, body unwavering.
With each step, people were flung away by the dozen.
Yet not a single one managed to touch even the corner of his robe.
Explosions and screams rang out constantly along the street. The rare autumn sunlight shone down from the sky.
Golden rays bathed the earth, illuminating the fallen corpses.
By the time Xu Zimo reached the end of the street and stood in the plaza, the road behind him was filled with bodies.
Ruins and rubble, corpses piled like hills.
Ahead of him, the only person still standing was the red-robed old man.
Watching Xu Zimo approach step by step, under the noon sun, sweat had unknowingly started to bead on the old man’s forehead.
As Xu Zimo came closer, the old man seemed unable to withstand the pressure.
Reddish spiritforce swirled around his right hand. He clenched his fist and threw a punch at Xu Zimo.
The punch carried spiritforce that cut through the air and tore space apart. A surge of red aura seemed to be gathering into something powerful.
Xu Zimo smiled slightly, reached out, and caught the old man's punch.