Chapter 52: Opening, City of the Undead
It was like a blood-red purgatory here. Resentment lingered in the air as blood and breath ravaged, making one’s hair stand on end and feel terrified.
The surroundings of this blood pool were filled with hundreds of figures draped in blood robes. Every one of them emitted a ruthless, bloodthirsty aura.
They stared at the blood pool with looks of respect, their pupils showing insanity and reverence as if they’d been completely brainwashed and were reduced to slaves of fresh blood!
Right at the front was a burly man, whose aura was terrifying. He was shrouded in a b.l.o.o.d.y aura and appeared extremely hideous, like a scarlet ogre.
The brawny man currently spoke, his voice hoa.r.s.e and jarring, similar to ferocious ghosts’ howling and snarling! “Blood Fiend actually died? The people who dare to kill my Blood Fiend Gang must pay the price of blood!”
With a nasty grin, the brawny man drank a mouthful of blood that had seeped out from the blood pool. He then stood up, and his vigor exploded and spread in all directions!
He emanated an utterly frightening aura. It had already reached the peak of Stage Three, only one step away from entering Stage Four! “Hiak hiak! Young ones, follow me out to hunt! The living creatures in this world will ultimately become the blood food of me, the Bloodseeker!”
At the command, several hundreds of people in blood robes moved simultaneously, following behind the Bloodseeker. They then turned into a streak of b.l.o.o.d.y light and disappeared!
The glaring radiance lit up the dark night as if light had suddenly appeared!
In the entire Mingshi Cemetery, the divine might was imposing, the momentum magnificent!
The ground shook with loud rumbles. The crack was like the vast opening of an abyss, about to devour this whole world!
In that bottomless crack, a ma.s.sive article emerged! It was shrouded in mist, illusory and unreal like a mirage. It was shocking and majestic.
“What... is that?” exclaimed Yang Xuerou. Her eyes stared into the distance ahead, and she saw an unbelievably spectacular sight.
Not too far ahead, an ancient building rose up toweringly, suspended above the crack. The mist was ceaseless, causing the area to be full of mystery. The building was lofty like a mountain. A huge sphere, brilliantly glowing, floated at its peak as if the stars in the sky stood there.
At the building’s front was a thick and heavy ancient door. Obsolete and mottled, the aura of time pa.s.sed through it. It was covered in antique runes as if it had existed since before eternity and was handed down through time.
The building was grand, and its aura startling, bringing an ineffable presence to one.
If studied carefully, the ancient building seemed more like a tomb. The old door was the tombstone, and the building resembled the vault, burying the various powerhouses of the ancient epochs.
“This... is the City of the Undead!” Link said softly, his tone solemn! He finally saw the ultimate promised land from his previous life that countless people went insane for and yearned to enter—City of the Undead!
“City of the Undead? Is there such a place in Dragon City?” Yang Xuerou was confused; she had never heard about Dragon City having such an ancient building.
“This is a trial ground. It is also a place where calamity and opportunity coexists!” explained Link smilingly. The City of the Undead wasn’t a place anyone could enter; one had to meet the specially set conditions.
Chi!
Just then, shimmering light rays swirled around, and a phantom appeared before the ancient door.
It was the phantom of a lady dressed in a dark-green pleated dress. She had delicate features, beautiful long hair like a waterfall, and big, bright eyes filled with liveliness. “Welcome to the City of the Undead. h.e.l.lo, the people here call me Saiya!” said the phantom, her voice clear.
Link went forward and said coolly, “h.e.l.lo, Saiya. I want to open the City of the Undead!” He had already guessed that this Saiya was probably an existence similar to a machine soul.
This was because every trial ground was handed down from ancient times. They had been preserved by the powerful forces that existed before eternity. Naturally, beings that controlled the trial grounds existed! However, such beings did not interfere in the trial grounds’ matters. They only fulfilled their duties—opening the trial grounds!
“An exclusive key is required to open the City of the Undead!” Saiya laughed softly, seemingly happy as if she had not seen the outside world for a long time.
Upon hearing that, Link immediately brought out the [Token of Sin] with his hand.
A glow promptly lit up the instant Link took out the black and gold token. The token then turned into a ray of light and flew into Saiya’s hands.
Saiya held the token, and the smile on her face became even brighter. “Congratulations, n.o.ble warrior! You are the first adventurer to open the City of the Undead; thus, we will present you with 5,000 trial points!”
“Trial points? What are they?” Upon hearing her words, Link faltered for a moment. He had never entered the City of the Undead before. Hence, he naturally did not know about the rules here.
“Trial points are a necessity when pa.s.sing through the City of the Undead.” Saiya wore a small smile. She activated the token in her hand and allowed its radiance to spread throughout the world.
An aura resembling the barren ancient times shot out, lingering in the horizon as if primeval existences that had slept for millions of years were awaking. It brought a terrifying feeling, stunning souls!
The brilliant divine glow soared into the sky, intertwining and filling up the skies above the City of the Undead. The chain of order linked up with the universe as if this virtual sky was about to undergo an upheaval.
At this moment, the old, huge doors slowly opened. Like ancient G.o.ds were singing, the doors let out a long hum.
Chi!
As a ray of light flashed, everyone abruptly vanished.
...
Link only felt his body shake, and the scene before his eyes had suddenly changed.
Before him, a secluded town appeared.
“Welcome, adventurers, this is Undead Town!” At this time, Saiya’s form quietly emerged. Though still dressed in a dark-green pleated dress, she appeared exceptionally ethereal, like an elf.
Saiya giggled and began introducing this place to the party.
It turned out that this was a s.p.a.ce inside the City of the Undead.
The City of the Undead was a trial ground. There were many monsters, dangers, and difficulties inside, but regions of absolute safety—also known as safe zones—also existed within.
This Undead Town was a safe zone. People heading towards the City of the Undead could rest and reorganize here. There were priests for restoring one’s state, and also blacksmiths to repair equipment.
It had to be said that the town had everything under the sun!
While listening to Saiya’s introduction, Yang Xuerou exclaimed, “This is virtually an industrial chain!” She did not expect such a s.p.a.ce to have such a perfect industrial chain.
When one prepared to journey towards the City of the Undead to gain levels, one first had to rest, reorganize, return to optimal state, and repair equipment before entering the dungeon. However, the only way to do all of this in Undead Town was through the NPC shops.
This was because there was absolutely no way of releasing skills here. Magic was completely prohibited!
Even if one came with their own priest, it was useless. They could do no healing at all.
This was totally a monopoly! If one wanted to do some spending in Undead Town, one had to pay a certain amount of trial points.
How were trial points obtained?
Very simple. They could be obtained by exchanging equipment, treasures, or herbs. A certain amount of trial points would be given in exchange according to the items’ value.
Then, by using a fixed amount of trial points, one could receive the corresponding blessings or purchase equipment. Even entering the dungeon required one to pay a fixed amount of trial points!
This was literally... too deceiving!
The corners of Link’s mouth twitched as he inwardly thought, Could it be that the person who created the City of the Undead is a money lover and wants to take the chance to rake it in?