Chapter 443 - 307: Encounter (2)
"What? The Red Heart Sect isn’t allowed to have people like me?"
Zhao Xuanqi asked with a smile.
"In all my years, I’ve never heard of anyone from the Red Heart Sect condensing Golden Fire during the Blood Strengthening realm. With your skill, you should already be famous throughout Heqing Dao."
Zhuang Li said.
"Is that so?"
Zhao Xuanqi remained noncommittal, but a realization dawned on him.
’It seems this Golden Fire Heavenly Ding Skill isn’t easy for Red Heart Sect disciples to learn. No wonder even I need to enter the state of the Dragon Gate Secret Technique to manifest the Golden Fire.’
’It’s not a big deal here in this Realm. No one knows anyone’s true identity, and the corresponding memories are sealed upon leaving. Even if those memories return after the Realm is destroyed, I’ve already altered my face by controlling my muscles. No one will suspect a new disciple like Zhao Xing.’
’But in the real world, I’ll have to be careful if I want to keep my cover.’
"It seems now that the two of us alone won’t be able to destroy the source of this Realm."
Seeing that Zhao Xuanqi didn’t seem to want to say more, Zhuang Li didn’t press him. ’After all, everyone has secrets they don’t want known. I’m no different.’
"Yes. For now, we need to focus on survival. We should be thinking about how to gather more people."
Zhao Xuanqi said.
Zhuang Li heard him and nodded in agreement.
Just then, the two of them seemed to sense something and whipped their heads toward the restaurant window. Neither made a sound, but their gazes sharpened instantly.
"Don’t be alarmed. I mean no harm."
Suddenly, a soft voice came from outside the restaurant window. A moment later, a shadow vaulted through the opening and landed in front of them.
The man was of medium build, with prominent cheekbones and deep-set eyes. He was dressed like a ranger in black, with a piece of light leather armor over his chest. Upon the armor was a rock-shaped insignia.
His slightly tanned forehead bore distinct red lines—a Technique drawn in blood. His entire body was shrouded in a faint, spectral glow.
Strangely, when an ordinary person used a Technique, their Blood Qi would inevitably leak out. This unconcealable aura would attract the attacks of Evil Spirits within the city.
But this man, despite clearly maintaining a continuous Technique, had almost no aura leakage. The spectral glow seemed to fuse his presence with the surroundings, even serving to conceal his aura.
"An Escape Technique? Are you from the Black Earth Hall of the Five Elements Gang?"
Zhuang Li said, her eyes narrowing as she studied the man.
’Escape Technique?’
Hearing Zhuang Li’s words, Zhao Xuanqi regarded the man with a flicker of interest.
He felt he was beginning to understand the man’s ability.
’Using a Technique to stimulate Qi and Blood, allowing for a degree of fusion with the environment... so this ’Escape Technique’ is likely a method of borrowing environmental power to enhance one’s own.’
This reminded him of certain Martial Arts Secret Transmissions from the Divine General world. For example, the Giant Spirit Sect’s Fist Technique combined one’s aura and Intent with the earth to unlock various potentials. It shared a remarkable similarity with the Escape Technique of this world.
"You saw through my origins at a glance. You two are truly worthy of being the ones who fought their way out of that street. I am Qi Ziliang, a member of the Five Elements Gang’s Black Earth Hall."
The man cupped his hands slightly toward Zhao Xuanqi and Zhuang Li as he spoke.
"You were following us?"
Zhao Xuanqi asked, frowning at the man.
"Not following, please don’t misunderstand. The commotion you two made could be heard several streets away. I simply followed the sound, and when it died down, I searched the area and found you. After all, to be inexplicably dragged into a hellish place like this... seeing other living people is something to be grateful for."
A look of resignation crossed Qi Ziliang’s face.
Hearing this, Zhao Xuanqi and Zhuang Li glanced at each other and nodded slightly.
The commotion from their battle to escape Anyuan Street had indeed been massive, drawing Evil Spirits from several surrounding blocks. It wasn’t surprising that any survivors in the area would have noticed the disturbance and come to investigate.
"You said you went into Anyuan Street?"
Zhao Xuanqi asked Qi Ziliang.
"Yes, right before you two caused that disturbance, I had entered that street. I was resting at my gang’s hall, and when I woke up, I was inexplicably inside this Ghost City. Thanks to my Escape Technique, ordinary Evil Spirits have a hard time detecting me. I noticed something different about that street and suspected it might hold key clues about this Ghost City, so I tried to use my technique to investigate. I wasn’t inside for long before I was nearly forced out of my concealed state by that Three-Headed Child. I knew I couldn’t succeed, so I pulled back."
"Might I ask, what exactly is this place?"
Qi Ziliang asked, cupping his fists.
Zhuang Li looked toward Zhao Xuanqi, as he was the one who had provided all the information so far.
Zhao Xuanqi thought for a moment, then decided not to hide anything. He shared most of the information he knew with Qi Ziliang, and also briefly introduced himself and Zhuang Li.
"The aftermath of the Guming County Evil Cultivation incident? I’ve heard about that. The effects spread beyond Guming County? And even if you escape the Realm, your memories are sealed, and after a while, you get pulled back in?"
Qi Ziliang’s expression turned grim; he clearly hadn’t expected to be caught up in something so terrible.
"That’s right. The Huang Mansion, deep within that street, most likely hides the source of this Realm. However, the strength of the Sword Soldier Ghosts and the other special Evil Spirits in there is too much for us. We need to gather more people."
Zhao Xuanqi said with a nod.
"That’s right. And an incident this widespread will soon attract the attention of the various sects, and perhaps even the Celestial Net Department. The situation isn’t completely hopeless. Even if we can’t destroy the source, as long as we can hold out for a period of time, our chances of surviving this are not low."
Zhuang Li added.
"I would like to travel with you both. Would that be acceptable?"
Qi Ziliang asked.
"Of course. No problem."
Zhao Xuanqi and Zhuang Li readily agreed. A man skilled in the Escape Technique would be incredibly useful, even if his direct combat prowess wasn’t high.
"By the way, as I was rushing over, I saw a streak of Golden Fire in the sky. Could it be..."
Qi Ziliang asked cautiously.
"That was him, using the Spirit Official Dao’s Gold and Fire Technique."
Zhuang Li said, glancing at Zhao Xuanqi.
’Just as I thought!’
Hearing this, Qi Ziliang’s spirits lifted. He had risked seeking them out precisely because he had been stunned by the power of that Golden Fire. He wasn’t a powerful fighter himself, so if he wanted to survive in this Ghost City, he needed to find a strong expert to rely on.
"May I ask what realm you’ve reached, brother?"
Qi Ziliang asked, his tone inquisitive.
"Blood Strengthening."
Zhao Xuanqi answered casually, not hiding anything. But upon hearing this, Qi Ziliang’s mind was thrown into absolute turmoil.
’The Five Sects of Heqing have coexisted in Heqing Dao for decades; they all know each other inside and out. Someone from the Red Heart Sect can actually condense Golden Fire at the Blood Strengthening realm?!’
In that instant, he felt like he had just found an incredibly powerful backer.
"By the way, did you encounter any other survivors on your way here?"
Zhao Xuanqi asked.
"I think I sensed a few presences, but I was in a hurry and had to avoid Evil Spirits, so I didn’t go to investigate."
Qi Ziliang said after a moment’s thought.
"I was just wondering how we could search for other survivors and gather our strength in this city. Now I have an idea."
Zhao Xuanqi said with a smile.
"By making a big enough commotion? The method is feasible, but it’s too dangerous. Plus, the drain on our Physical Ability would be immense, affecting our chances of surviving the final Night Parade of Hundred Demons."
Zhuang Li mused.
"Regardless, we have to try. The commotion we just made was big enough. Survivors from the surrounding streets are likely already heading toward our location. If we make a bit more noise to pinpoint our exact position, and with Qi secretly using his Escape Technique to search and guide them, the results should be good. Anyone who has survived this long and can make it here is unlikely to be weak."
Zhao Xuanqi said with a laugh.