Chapter 886: Myriad Saints Immortal Sect (2)

Alarms blared in a blinding red hue. Countless hidden firepower matrices emerged, unleashing a frenzy of energy bombardments. Mech-powered battle suits and elite Reaper warriors sprang into action, blocking the path with everything they had. They were even resorting to suicide explosions just to slow the two of them down.

But in the end, these two ‘bandits’ still broke through all the layers of defenses. They were like two rat droppings falling into a pot of congee, utterly disrupting the system.

They shattered all thirty-eight layers of the outer energy shield surrounding the green landmass and managed to pierce through, charging straight in. At the moment they were just a thousand kilometers from the surface.

Then, all the warships, mechs, and Reaper elites pursuing them suddenly stopped. They did not continue the pursuit. It was as if there was an invisible chasm, one they dared not cross. Eventually, the Reaper army withdrew. The battlefield debris in outer space was swiftly and thoroughly cleared away.

Far away, in an invisible star fortress tens of thousands of kilometers from the green continent, a figure sat solemnly on the Throne of Power. It was Delta, the Death God's Eye, supreme ruler of his faction.

He waved a hand, dismissing all his confidants from the grand hall. A strange smile appeared on Delta’s face as he sat alone in the vast, majestic, yet chillingly desolate temple.

“Heh... heh heh heh...”

A low chuckle, dark and devilish like a whisper from the Night Fiends, echoed through the gloom of the hall.

“You’ve finally come. All my efforts weren’t in vain. It seems I didn’t forcibly pave the path for nothing. I hope this time... you’ll bring me even more surprises,” Delta muttered softly to himself.

As the reigning master of the Death God’s Eye clan, one of the most powerful forces in the vast galaxy, he was clearly intrigued. The report of two foreign beings forcefully breaching the Testing Grounds had stirred more than just curiosity. He was eager to know.

***

“Have we... come back to Earth?” Li Xiaofei asked, half in disbelief.

“Of course not,” Liu Shaji replied immediately.

“Feels really familiar, though. Don’t tell me we accidentally traveled through space-time?”

“Idiot, look up. There are three suns.”

“But the environment... the gravity, the oxygen levels... it all feels the same as Earth. Like it was made just for humans.”

“Well, exactly. You said it yourself, this is tailor-made. This place must be a Reaper-constructed simulation of Earth. In other words, their so-called ‘Testing Grounds.’”

The two of them were battered and bruised as they supported each other to clamber out of the crater of a volcano. Once they reached the summit and looked out into the distance, they were stunned.

A vast, primeval forest stretched out before them. It was thick and lush as far as the eye could see. A cool breeze rustled through the trees. Even with three suns overhead, the temperature was surprisingly pleasant.

A flock of birds soared over the canopy below. From afar, a tiger’s roar echoed through the forest. The environment was incredibly familiar; even the pull of gravity matched Earth’s perfectly.

For a moment, Li Xiaofei felt a strange sense of disorientation... as if he really had returned home. But this wasn’t just similar to Earth’s ecosystem. It was identical.

Li Xiaofei took a deep breath and focused. There was spiritual energy in the air, rich and surging like tidal currents. In such an environment, with the right techniques and resources, human cultivators could absolutely advance to the level of Saints without difficulty. However, reaching the level of a cosmic-tier lifeform... would be rare.

“The Reapers must’ve designed this continent to mimic Earth,” Liu Shaji said thoughtfully. “They’re definitely raising humans here. Let’s go see if we can find them.”

He was clearly intrigued. Li Xiaofei nodded in agreement. After a brief moment to recover their strength, the two of them took to the air, flying swiftly toward the outer edges of the primeval forest.

About an hour later, they reached the edge of the forest. Sure enough, they discovered a human settlement. The two of them suppressed their auras, concealed their presence, and carefully approached.

It was a classic village town modeled after ancient Great Xia. The villagers’ attire and mannerisms were straight out of a feudal era. Men wore long robes with their hair tied into topknots. The buildings were mostly made of aged wood and earth, simple yet sturdy, with architectural styles that gave both Li Xiaofei and Liu Shaji a strong sense of nostalgia.

What surprised Li Xiaofei even more was that the villagers spoke in the Great Xia tongue. This village, nestled on the edge of the forest, had a wide river flowing peacefully behind it. The scenery was serene and beautiful.

Children ran around chasing chickens and dogs, laughing and playing joyfully. Several elderly men sat comfortably on stone slabs in front of a courtyard along the main street, puffing leisurely on tobacco pipes as they chatted.

A peddler walked through the street with a shoulder pole and a clattering rattle-drum, loudly hawking his wares. Women and children quickly gathered around him, haggling with cheerful enthusiasm. In the distance, wisps of smoke curled lazily from chimney tops.

“This place feels like a hidden paradise,” Liu Shaji murmured in admiration. “Look at the expressions on these people’s faces. They don’t seem oppressed or enslaved by the Reapers. In fact, they seem pretty content with their lives.”

Li Xiaofei nodded as well. Everything here was different from what he had imagined. After observing the village for a while, the two quietly left and continued on. Not long after, they arrived at a medium-sized city. Fengyin City. Three large words were inscribed above the city gate. They were bold and flowing, clearly the work of a master calligrapher.

This time, the two did not hide their presence. They changed into ancient-style garments and entered through the city gate like ordinary travelers. Armed guards in polished armor were stationed at the gate. Occasionally, a passerby would be stopped for questioning, but it was standard procedure. There was no extortion, and no abuse. The soldiers remained courteous, their expressions calm and professional.

The city within the gates was surprisingly prosperous. The stone-paved streets were broad, with the main thoroughfare wide enough to accommodate six horse-drawn carriages side by side. The roads were smooth and well-maintained, and drainage channels lined both sides, carrying clear, trickling water.

Buildings made of sturdy timber and stone lined the streets, ranging from two to four stories tall. Shops of every kind lined the roads; from rice stores, taverns, restaurants, fabric shops, rouge and powder boutiques, to tailoring houses, blacksmith forges, medical halls, pawnshops, and more.

Spontaneous street markets had formed in some open plaza spaces. Armored patrol soldiers walked the streets, accompanied by constables in uniform.

Inside a tavern, Li Xiaofei casually asked around and was met with answers.

“This is Great Song territory.”

“Our Prefect, Lord Kou, is a good and just official.”

“You didn’t know? You must be from out of town. Great Song was founded thirty years ago. The army is strong and well-equipped now. The Liao people wouldn’t dare come south...”

In the middle of the main hall, an elderly storyteller with graying beard and animated expressions was enthusiastically recounting the military exploits of a General named Pan Ye from Great Song, drawing cheers and applause from the diners around him. The atmosphere was lively and bustling.

“I’m telling you, this stuff’s seriously delicious.” Liu Shaji had ordered every signature dish from the restaurant, Fragrance Pavilion, and was feasting with oil dripping from his mouth.

The way he devoured the food, like someone who had starved for centuries, made it almost impossible to believe he was a peak expert of the Seven Transformation Realm.

But while Liu Shaji was busy stuffing his face, Li Xiaofei’s doubts only grew deeper. The people of Fengyin City lived in peace and abundance. There were hardly any beggars on the streets.

Even the tenant farmers and villagers who had come into the city for the market had food, clothing, and leisure. During their midday break, they opened baskets full of hearty meals. They were eating noodles, drinking wine, and chatting in contentment.

There was not the slightest trace of Reaper oppression or slavery to be seen. It was completely unlike what they had imagined. Something felt off. If it weren’t for the fact that they had been intercepted and nearly killed by elite Reaper forces just before entering this continent, Li Xiaofei might have genuinely believed this was some undiscovered Taoyuan, a paradise untouched by chaos.

After eating his fill, Liu Shaji couldn’t hold back his urges and enthusiastically declared he wanted to visit the pleasure quarters to hear some tunes.

“Life’s short, you gotta stay happy.” Chicken Bro picked at his teeth in satisfaction, offering this philosophical comfort to Li Xiaofei.

Li Xiaofei responded with a raised middle finger. Instead of joining him for entertainment, he wandered the city on his own, quietly observing and gathering information. Fengyin City wasn’t particularly large, occupying around eighty to ninety thousand square kilometers. It had twelve main avenues, with countless alleys and smaller streets snaking through its interior.

The population hovered around two hundred thousand. A garrison of about two thousand troops was stationed within the city, along with four hundred warhorses. The soldiers were also fairly well-equipped by the standards of this apparent era. There were even a few martial artists of considerable strength within the ranks.

Li Xiaofei observed from the shadows. The general commanding the troops had the strongest cultivation among the soldiers. He had cultivated inner qi and had likely reached the Meridian Expanding Realm, a respectable level of strength among mortal martial artists. However, he was far from being the strongest person in Fengyin City.

Step by step, Li Xiaofei slowly approached the Prefectural Governor’s residence. He could already sense it from a distance. There were three powerful auras emanating from within the estate, each one far surpassing the Five Spirits Realm.

One of them stood out in particular. It was nearly at the peak of the Five Spirits Realm, and gave off a balanced, righteous, and luminous presence. The qi was pure and enduring, unlike anything a typical Five Spirits cultivator could possess.

Cultivators of such profound depth and foundation were exceptionally rare even back on Earth. The Prefectural Governor’s residence lay at the heart of Fengyin City. It was a large and integrated compound that served as both the administrative center and the governor’s personal estate. As the highest authority in the city, Prefect Kou Zhengyang lived and worked here.

The estate was guarded by soldiers on all sides. In addition to regular city troops, the governor had his own private guards and elite retainers.

When Li Xiaofei arrived at the main entrance, he lifted his gaze. The gate was grand and imposing, solemn in its majesty. Unnamed soldiers clad in heavy armor stood on either side of the doorway, each exuding formidable strength. Both had reached the Limit Breaking Realm, and each held the reins of a fierce tiger by their side. The beasts radiated an oppressive aura, their presence alone enough to instill fear.

As Li Xiaofei stepped toward the gate, the tigers let out synchronized roars. Their deep, thunderous growls rolled through the air, locking onto him.

“Halt right there!” A guard captain stepped forward, his expression stern. “Who are you, sir? Do you have an invitation?”

Li Xiaofei gave a faint smile. He released a sliver of his aura before withdrawing it again.

***

Prefectural Governor’s Residence, Front Hall.

Inside the main hall, Prefect Kou Zhengyang was discussing important matters with two of his trusted friends. At thirty-six years of age, Kou Zhengyang was in the prime of his life.

He came from a humble background, and had been unrecognized for his talents before the age of twenty-five. Later, he cast aside the brush for the sword, and enlisted in the military. He had then caught the attention of the current Grand Chancellor of Great Song, Yang Yiye, through merit on the battlefield and climbed the ranks to his present position.

Since assuming office in Fengyin City five years ago, he had poured his heart and soul into governance. What was once a dilapidated, backwater town had been transformed into one of Yunzhou’s most prosperous and peaceful counties. He earned the heartfelt admiration of its people.

Yet recently, one particular matter had troubled Kou Zhengyang deeply. Thus, he had invited two close allies to the governor's estate to discuss a countermeasure. The head of the Golden Saber Sect, the famed Invincible Golden Saber Yang Zhao, and the Yunzhou hero Li Yiyun.

“The tribute demands from the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect this year,” Kou Zhengyang said with a weary sigh, “have fallen to Fengyin City.”

He continued, “I had long prepared for the five hundred kilograms of jade leaves. But one hundred virgin boys and girls, another hundred young maidens, and twenty pregnant women in their sixth month... to offer these living people as tribute—such cruelty, such evil—I simply cannot bring myself to carry it out as this city's governor. I ask you both, what should I do?”

He was not a man without ideas. But this matter truly left him at a loss.

The Invincible Golden Saber, Yang Zhao, frowned and asked, “Brother Kou, surely you’re not thinking of resisting the tribute?”

Kou Zhengyang shook his head and replied, “The Myriad Saints Immortal Sect is immensely powerful and terrifying in their methods. Even the imperial family of Great Song yields to them. If we resist the tribute, forget me, even Fengyin City would suffer. I’m only looking for a way out. Even if we must offer more jade leaves, it would be a great mercy if we can avoid sacrificing living humans.”