I Can Extract Divine Power

If they could just join Lord Shen on another mission, they would have something to brag about when they got back.

Shen Bai shook his head. "No need. Even if you went in, you wouldn't necessarily solve the problem. Just do as I told you."

A look of disappointment crossed their faces.

But the thought that they were still carrying out one of Lord Shen's tasks quickly lifted their spirits.

After Zhang He and the others had left, Shen Bai turned his gaze to the calm surface of the water.

Red Makeup's voice sounded, "Master, this place truly has the aura of the Era of Ten Thousand Cities. I can feel it. It's very faint, but it's definitely there. Perhaps this really is one of the fallen Ten Thousand Cities, but one that didn't transform into a Mysterious City."

As someone from the Era of Ten Thousand Cities, Red Makeup was certainly the most qualified to speak on the matter.

Shen Bai tossed out the Compass, which landed with perfect precision in the very center of the whirlpool. "Let me see what this Era of Ten Thousand Cities was all about."

The moment he finished speaking, water splashed everywhere.

The surface of the water began to rise like a wall erupting from the ground, forming a giant water curtain.

Through the water curtain, Shen Bai could see various images weaving together within.

Bustling streets, towering city walls, all sorts of strange and wonderful sights, pedestrians crossing the roads…

A scene of bustling prosperity appeared before Shen Bai's eyes, viewed through the water curtain.

At the same time, Red Makeup's voice came again. "Master, if you enter the water curtain, you can access the ancient city's ruins. I can feel that familiar aura coming from within it."

"Understood."

The glow of the Flawless Ten Layers Body flared up around Shen Bai, gentle and warm like white jade.

SHING!

After drawing Cold Moon, Shen Bai strode into the water curtain without hesitation.

...

Everything before his eyes began to blur in a strange way.

The blur lasted only an instant. When his vision cleared, Shen Bai found himself standing beside another river.

The river was extremely wide. A single glance revealed the powerful and immense momentum of its rushing water.

'So the river is the entrance and exit?' Shen Bai wondered, stroking his chin.

It was a subtle, intuitive feeling—all he had to do was step into the water to return.

"What a familiar feeling... Master, this seems to be Ruo Shui City," said Red Makeup.

Although she had become Cold Moon, Red Makeup, just like Amber, was telepathically linked with Shen Bai and could communicate with him in a special way.

As for why Amber insisted on popping its head out to speak, perhaps it was just a unique quirk.

Shen Bai surveyed his surroundings.

Before him lay a stretch of ruins.

Flickering over the fallen forest were flames that would never be extinguished.

The scorched earth gave off a pungent, burnt smell.

Skeletons lay half-buried in the dirt, their bones partially exposed.

Not far ahead, the faint outline of an ancient city was barely visible, its true form hard to discern.

Shen Bai's pupils turned a shade of cyan.

Under the gaze of the Eye of Void Breaking, nothing in the vicinity could remain hidden; he could see everything with ease.

"Nothing strange, nothing out of the ordinary." Shen Bai asked, "Amber, can you sense the presence of any Deceitful Objects?"

Amber popped its head out from Shen Bai's chest and shook it. "Master, I can't sense anything either."

Shen Bai stroked his chin. "Red Makeup, do you have any information about Ruo Shui City?"

Red Makeup answered immediately. "According to legend, Ruo Shui City was founded by a supreme expert."

"That expert was named Xu Ruoshui. Before the Divine Dynasty crumbled, she was a female General in the Daqi Divine Dynasty, skilled in an Illusion Technique that involved Water Control."

Water Control?

Illusion Technique?

Shen Bai frowned. "If it's Water Control, why is it also an Illusion Technique?"

Red Makeup replied, "Tangible illusions are ultimately limited by a framework. It is the formless illusions that are the most deadly."

"Master, the Ruo Shui City Lord was considered one of the most benevolent leaders during the Era of Ten Thousand Cities."

"She advocated for peace throughout the world, building her foundation on the common people and protecting all living beings in her domain."

"But even she was inevitably drawn into the endless, unceasing battles of that era."

As she spoke of this, Red Makeup's tone was tinged with a hint of sorrow.

In that era, the kindest people were often the ones who found themselves most easily mired in conflict.

"I don't know what happened to Ruo Shui City in the end. I had already lost consciousness by then," Red Makeup added.

Carrying Cold Moon, Shen Bai said, "After so many years, the Ruo Shui City Lord should be long dead. I'll investigate first and see what I find."

With his Divination Skill at his disposal, Shen Bai didn't think it would be too much trouble.

Without another word, Shen Bai began walking toward the enormous city.

...

In the distance, the city's silhouette slowly grew clearer as Shen Bai approached.

When Shen Bai stopped walking, everything around him had changed.

The scorched earth had become a vibrant green, the overcast sky had been replaced by sunshine, and the cold, gloomy air had given way to a warm, gentle breeze.

Lush greenery spread out before him, leaves dancing in the wind.

The sounds of flowing water and chirping birds were incessant.

'Interesting. It's like stepping between two different Illusion Realms.' Shen Bai raised an eyebrow slightly, a glint in his cyan pupils.

With his Void-breaking Cyan Eye, he could see everything clearly.

He didn't know why his surroundings had changed, but even with this transformation, he couldn't let his guard down. On the contrary, he had to be even more careful.

'Keep moving forward,' Shen Bai thought to himself.

He was getting closer and closer to Ruo Shui City. He just needed to get inside, and perhaps he would discover the truth of it all.

Just as Shen Bai took a few more steps forward, he suddenly stopped.

"Someone's here."

Gazing ahead with his Void-breaking Cyan Eye, Shen Bai saw several people not far away, attacking a massive black bear.

Each of them held a sharp weapon.

Several of the people were already wounded, and the black bear was injured as well.