I Can Extract Divine Power

A sinister, chilling aura swept through the area, making the temperature at least ten degrees colder than it was outside.

Moreover, this chilling presence continuously bored into Shen Bai’s body, as if trying to take it over.

Shen Bai circulated the Qi within him, and he immediately felt the chilling presence weaken significantly.

’So this is the Mysterious City. What a reception just for stepping inside.’

Shen Bai narrowed his eyes and looked ahead.

If an ordinary person were to step inside, they would instantly lose their mind to this chilling presence. They would collapse, be devoured by the sinister aura, and turn into a corpse.

As for a weaker Cultivator, they would have to focus all their energy on resisting the chilling aura, leaving no time to search for any opportunities.

So, Shen Bai concluded there was likely a certain threshold for entry into the Mysterious City.

At the very least, one’s power couldn’t be too low.

Up ahead, the silhouette of a city was gradually taking shape.

Because of the distance and the enigmatic mist shrouding it, Shen Bai couldn’t get a clear view.

The ground was scorched earth, its black, granular soil appearing incredibly dry.

Deep cracks riddled the landscape in places, creating a scene of desolate silence.

An environment like this would be utterly terrifying anywhere else.

Even Shen Bai felt a chill run down his spine, as if countless pairs of eyes were fixed on him.

At that moment, Shen Bai felt a movement in his chest.

A moment later, Amber popped out from his chest, her sweet face turning up to look at him.

The sight was utterly grotesque—a head emerging from Shen Bai’s chest for no apparent reason, tilted up toward the sky.

Even though the face was beautiful, the sight still sent a shiver of dread down one’s spine.

Shen Bai, however, was used to it.

He even reached out, took hold of Amber’s two ears, and gave them a playful tug.

The fluffy texture was enough to lift his spirits, even in this sinister, chilling environment.

Amber shot Shen Bai a playful glare before speaking. "Master, that’s the Mysterious City up ahead. I can sense something terrifying inside. Once you enter, you have to follow the rules first. As for what those rules are... I don’t know."

"Because every Mysterious City has different rules."

The Mysterious City. Each city was a new set of rules. Some Mysterious Cities even had several different sets of rules within them.

The first task was to figure them out.

Shen Bai nodded and gently pushed on Amber’s head. "Go back inside for now. I’m going to check it out."

Amber immediately ducked her head back inside.

Shen Bai didn’t linger. He turned and began walking slowly toward the city in the distance.

...

From afar, the outline had been blurry, yet the city still looked immense. Just that indistinct silhouette was enough to suggest a true behemoth.

As Shen Bai drew nearer, its imposing presence grew even larger.

After walking into the mist and emerging on the other side, Shen Bai finally got a clear look at the city.

The city’s architectural style was completely different from that of the Great Zhou Country, exuding an ancient and desolate air.

The dilapidated city walls bore gashes and cuts, as if carved by blades and axes, evidence that it had endured some cataclysmic turmoil.

It was decaying, cold, and utterly hopeless.

Every detail served as a constant reminder that this city was filled with the unimaginable.

Shen Bai looked up and saw two rows of soldiers standing at the city gate, weapons in hand.

The soldiers’ eyes were vacant, and their bodies exuded an aura of decay, like rotting wood.

Shen Bai’s arrival seemed to draw their attention. Their withered faces twisted with mechanical stiffness as they turned in unison to look at him.

Their decaying faces were lifeless. Their eyes no longer had pupils, leaving only ghastly white orbs.

Through their withered skin, one could see slivers of crimson, as if the flesh and blood beneath were about to burst forth.

Even the weapons they held were battered and broken.

Shen Bai frowned. ’This isn’t an Aberration.’

This close, Shen Bai could naturally sense their aura.

It was decaying and sinister, but it wasn’t the aura of an Aberration.

As he was thinking this, Amber’s head popped out again.

"Master, these aren’t Aberrations. The Mysterious City may be called a city, but that doesn’t mean everything in it is an Aberration. It’s also possible for things to be born from the rules themselves—rule-bound constructs."

"They aren’t Aberrations; they live according to the rules. In fact, if not for their decaying aura, you’d almost think they were alive."

After saying this, Amber stuck out her tongue and ducked back inside Shen Bai.

Shen Bai pondered this for a moment, then started walking toward the city gate.

As Shen Bai drew close, the two soldiers in the front suddenly stepped forward and crossed their weapons, blocking his path.

The soldier on the left slowly opened his mouth and spoke.

"Who goes there? State your name. If you have no travel pass, leave at once."

A travel pass, in ancient times, was required to enter a city’s gates.

Shen Bai rubbed his chin. ’Perhaps this is the first rule of the Mysterious City. Without a travel pass, you can’t even get through the gate.’

He was beginning to understand. These beings, born from the rules, seemed to operate according to them.

Though they looked like people, they weren’t. They were more like a pre-written program, simply executing their code.