Chapter 142: Trespassing the Inner City Means Death, Entering from the Side Instead

The atmosphere turned heavy once again.

Zhu Lin was sweating profusely, his expression flustered as he looked toward Ling Yuan and growled, “Dao brother, don’t listen to his nonsense! He’s trying to drive a wedge between us!”

Yu Xian cast a cold glance at Zhu Lin and sneered. “Brother Ling, have you thought this through? This was a group decision. If he doesn’t go, who should? Hmm?”

Wang Teng burst out laughing. “Why not you then? I fully support it!”

Ling Yuan’s eyes narrowed, and his expression gradually turned darker.

He turned to Zhu Lin, let out a long breath, and said with a relaxed expression, “Fellow Daoist, why not go yourself? It’s just a probe—it won’t be dangerous. Don’t worry, if anything happens, I’ll act immediately to assist you.”

Zhu Lin’s face instantly stiffened, then turned red and purple with rage.

He stared at Ling Yuan, his lips trembling as he gritted his teeth. “I’m not going! You go if you want to!”

Ling Yuan’s smile disappeared. He said calmly, “Zhu Lin, this was a group decision. Don’t you understand?”

“You!”

Zhu Lin’s face twitched violently, his entire body shaking with rage. He raised his hand to point at Ling Yuan, but couldn’t say a word.

Ling Yuan’s expression had already turned icy.

As for the other Foundation Establishment cultivators—whether Jiang Shanyu, Zhou Zong, or the other two unfamiliar cultivators who had banded together—they clearly weren’t going to stand up for him.

Let alone Yu Xian and Wang Teng!

At this point, it didn’t matter whether he wanted to go or not—he had to!

Going gave him at least a 50/50 chance of survival. Refusing would mean certain injury, perhaps even death!

Zhu Lin’s bloodshot eyes glared at Ling Yuan with deep resentment, then turned toward Yu Xian, his gaze filled with venom. He suddenly let out a crazed laugh. “Fine! I’ll go! I’ll probe it!”

Ling Yuan’s expression softened and he nodded with a smile. “That’s the spirit. We will all remember your courage in paving the way.”

Yu Xian’s face remained calm. He didn’t care about Zhu Lin’s hateful glare and instead stared at the black-armored general.

Was it alive or dead? Illusion or real? He couldn’t tell.

But there was an unmistakable sense of danger lingering in his heart.

In truth, that danger had been present ever since they entered the ruins of this city.

This place was too quiet, too desolate—like the realm of the dead. It wasn’t a place for the living.

Zhu Lin took several deep breaths and gradually calmed his expression. He suppressed all his hatred for Yu Xian, Ling Yuan, and the others deep inside and slowly walked toward the black-armored general.

If he survived this… he would make them pay one day.

Everyone else held their breath as Zhu Lin inched closer to the black-armored figure step by step.

The nearer he got, the more sweat beaded his forehead. His steps grew slower.

The flames of his anger were extinguished, leaving behind only one thing—fear!

He didn’t dare get close.

“Daoist Zhu!”

Ling Yuan frowned and shouted, “This matter must be done quickly! Time waits for no one. Hurry and investigate whether that black-armored general is an illusion or not!”

Zhu Lin cursed internally, resisting the urge to yell back, “If you’re so eager, why don’t you go, you bastard?”

But he had no choice. Gritting his teeth, he stepped closer.

Ten zhang… five zhang… two zhang…

A murderous aura howled toward him. Zhu Lin felt like he could be turned to ash at any moment.

Yet, inch by inch, crawling like a tortoise, he finally reached the front of the black-armored general.

Standing face-to-face, the killing intent was so real it felt like it could shatter his body.

His teeth chattered uncontrollably, making a sharp clack clack sound.

But he still didn’t dare test whether the general was real or illusion.

“Daoist Zhu! What are you waiting for!?”

Ling Yuan shouted again. “Hurry and investigate! If you hesitate longer, the killing aura might drive you mad!”

“I know! Aaahhh!!”

Zhu Lin’s face twisted in agony. He let out a wild roar and struck out with his palm!

Smack!

A crisp sound echoed—it felt like slapping a stone wall. Pain radiated through Zhu Lin’s palm.

The black-armored general remained motionless.

Yu Xian’s eyes flickered.

The others looked sharply too.

It’s real!

The black-armored general was no illusion—it was real!

Zhu Lin quickly came to his senses, retreated a few steps, and waved his hand.

Boom!

A flaming sickle flew forward and struck the general’s armor, scattering sparks.

Still, the black-armored general didn’t move.

A dead object!

Everyone thought the same thing at once.

“Hahaha! It’s dead! Daoist Zhu, well done!”

Ling Yuan’s eyes lit up with joy and immediately rushed forward.

If it was dead, there was no danger—it had just wasted their time.

Yu Xian frowned slightly but quickly resumed his calm and followed. He didn’t compete to be first, letting others rush ahead.

“It’s dead! Hahaha!”

Zhu Lin was ecstatic. With the fear gone, joy took its place.

Laughing madly, he was the first to surge past the black-armored general, flying toward the inner city.

But just then—the killing aura in the air exploded tenfold!

This was no illusion—it was real and suffocating!

“Trespassers into the royal palace… shall die…”

A voice echoed across the skies. The black-armored general moved—raising his sword and slashing it horizontally!

BOOM!!

No spells. No divine arts. Just a devastating, pure force strike.

The explosion in the air formed a visible sword arc that slashed straight at Zhu Lin.

So fast!

So ruthless!

The moment the words were spoken, the attack had already arrived.

The sword arc cleaved straight through Zhu Lin.

His upper body dropped where he stood—his lower half continued flying for several more meters before finally falling.

“Wha…”

Zhu Lin’s half-body landed with a dull thud, blood soaking the dusty ground.

He didn’t even feel pain—just confusion.

What happened?

Then the pain hit him, like a mountain crushing down.

Aaaaaahhh!!

His agonizing screams echoed across the ruins. Everyone else froze in horror.

Ling Yuan broke out in a cold sweat.

He had almost crossed the general himself!

Zhu Lin’s screaming faded. His wide eyes filled with pain and regret. Then… silence.

The black-armored general sheathed his sword, standing motionless again—like he had never moved.

Everyone instinctively backed away to their original positions, barely feeling safe again.

The world was deathly silent. The only sound was the pounding of their own hearts.

Yu Xian narrowed his eyes, staring at the general with caution.

The others were all filled with dread—ready to turn back.

That thing… it’s alive!

Who knew when it would swing its sword next!?

Ling Yuan shivered. “It’s alive! What now?!”

If this black-armored general was a living guardian and wouldn’t let them in, how could they possibly enter the inner city?

Then what was the point of coming here? Sightseeing?

But Yu Xian turned and walked sideways.

That general likely wasn’t alive—more like a mechanism or puppet, only triggered when one tried to enter through the gate.

If it were truly alive, it would’ve killed them all long ago.

Mechanisms could be bypassed—or cracked.

But why bother wasting time?

The inner city walls were mostly in ruins. If the gate didn’t work, just enter through the gap!

Soon, the others noticed Yu Xian’s move.

Ling Yuan’s eyes gleamed. “Right! Just go around!”

There couldn’t be guards everywhere, could there?

He called out, “Fellow Daoists! Let’s not waste time fighting that thing. Let’s go around it!”

“Exactly! Dao brother, you’re brilliant!” someone chimed in.

Ling Yuan laughed, “Brilliant? Not really. Just finding a path for everyone.”

“Shameless,” Wang Teng scoffed, following Yu Xian. “He clearly copied your idea and is now claiming credit. Truly shameless.”

Yu Xian simply smiled, unconcerned.

Ling Yuan and four others followed Yu Xian closely, choosing the same path.

Ling Yuan’s gaze remained on Yu Xian’s back, filled with wariness.

This Xu Haoming… can’t be underestimated.

He was probably even harder to deal with than Wang Teng.

Despite his early Foundation Establishment cultivation, his intelligence was monstrous.

Ling Yuan had seen many people in his 70 years of cultivation, but people like Yu Xian were rare—dangerously smart, cautious, and decisive.

He couldn’t afford to scheme against someone like him recklessly.

Better to follow than fight.

As long as Yu Xian was leading the way, Ling Yuan would follow.

Yu Xian, meanwhile, didn’t overthink it.

Smart? He never thought of himself that way. Life forced him to be alert. That’s all.

As for Ling Yuan tagging along? Let him.

There was no need to clash now—not yet.

The group walked along the city wall for over fifty li until they reached a collapsed section.

Yu Xian took a deep breath, turned around, and walked into the city.

The others stood in place, eyes glued to him.

They needed to see if it was truly safe.

Yu Xian leaped onto the rubble, gazed at the broken city within, and then toward the crumbling royal palace in the distance.

He steeled himself.

Now or never.

A blurry white cloud rose beneath his feet. His purple luan flying pad glowed, phoenixes circling beneath him.

Using his Soaring Cloud Technique and his tier-4 high-grade movement treasure, he shot into the city like a streak of light.

Within two breaths, he vanished behind the ruins.

No attack came.

It’s safe.

The guardian only protected the gate—it couldn’t cover the broken wall!

Wang Teng, Ling Yuan, and the others’ eyes lit up.

They took off together, rushing to follow.

Inside the inner city, violent wind howled.

Murderous aura, death qi, resentment—all swirled like a storm, enveloping every intruder.

Yu Xian landed among shattered ruins and looked around.

The illusions were gone, replaced with actual bodies and bones!

Despite the passage of time, they hadn’t turned to dust.

What kind of terrifying cultivators had these corpses once been?

He narrowed his eyes. Some still emanated faint pressure.

These corpses… were treasures.

A single intact corpse could fetch a huge price—even if he didn’t use it himself.

In the cultivation world, the flesh and bones of high-level cultivators were rare refining materials.

Though taboo, such materials weren’t outlawed—results mattered more than morality.

Thus, tombs of powerful cultivators were often hidden or protected—they didn’t want to be desecrated.

Here, he saw dozens of corpses—some complete, some half-decayed, some just bones.

Yu Xian didn’t touch anything yet. He cautiously studied the area.

Soon, Wang Teng, Ling Yuan, and the others caught up.

They landed—then gasped.

“So many corpses!”

“Are they real or illusion!?”

“Were these the dead from an ancient war? After so many years, how are they still here!?”

“They must be the true bodies of Nascent Soul cultivators or stronger…”

Indeed, what lay before them was a field of corpses—and a mountain of fortune.