As the group pressed forward, the vast plains and grasslands spanning a hundred miles gradually gave way to low, sloping woodlands. After crossing a few mountain ranges, they emerged onto another flat expanse.
This plain wasn’t as boundless as the last, dotted with patches of trees. The number of figures moving through the area steadily increased.
Though these people exuded an air of slaughter and haughty arrogance, they didn’t attack on sight like bandits. Instead, they eyed each other warily, all heading toward Blackwind City.
As the group advanced, the ancient city slowly came into Lin Xiao and the others’ view.
At the sight of the city, Qing Yun’s gaze flared with an icy chill, then shifted to Lin Xiao, growing complex.
“Quite a crowd entering the city!” Lin Xiao remarked, his eyes widening slightly at the throngs of people filing in. Many travelled in groups, some numbering thirty or forty—nearly matching their own size.
“Why are there so many people? It doesn’t seem quite right…” Hu Yue tilted her head, casting a suspicious glance at Qing Yun and Qing Feng beside her.
Qing Yun raised an eyebrow and answered干脆ly, “Because Blackwind City is preparing to auction a key and map to a Martial Lord’s tomb recently.”
“A Martial Lord’s tomb,” Lin Xiao gasped, his face lighting up with intrigue.
Though a Martial Lord paled in comparison to someone like the Heaven-Devouring Spirit Emperor, in this world, Martial Lords were exceedingly rare.
Take Feng Yuntian, for example. With a sixth-tier spirit stone, he’d broken through to the first level of Martial Lord—the first in the Lanlan Empire’s history.
That alone showed how scarce Martial Lords were.
And their power, even at just the first level, was formidable. Without Mei Tianmo’s intervention, no matter how many trump cards Lin Xiao held, he’d have perished at the Feng family’s hands.
Feng Yuntian, as the Feng family’s grand elder, could have amassed a fortune rivaling a national treasury in a few years—or decades.
If he’d ever reached mid or high-tier Martial Lord, the Lanlan Empire and its neighbours might have bowed at his feet, his wealth growing beyond imagination.
Even the low-key vice-dean of Shengyuan Academy surely possessed treasures he wouldn’t part with lightly.
Thus, a Martial Lord’s tomb held immeasurable value. News of one would inevitably draw massive attention.
Lin Xiao himself had only inherited the Heaven-Devouring Spirit Emperor’s techniques and memories—no physical treasures.
Securing a Martial Lord’s tomb and claiming some of its riches would greatly aid their future in the Inner Court—or even their return to the Lanlan Empire.
At this, the other Heaven Gate members’ eyes sparkled with excitement. They lacked Lin Xiao’s luck in encountering a figure like the Heaven-Devouring Spirit Emperor.
“If it’s a Martial Lord’s tomb, why auction the key and map? Wouldn’t it be better to go themselves?” Ling Hu asked, puzzled.
“I’m not sure. Maybe the seller thinks they lack the strength to claim the tomb’s contents,” Qing Yun speculated uncertainly.
“That’s possible!” Lin Xiao nodded slightly. A Martial Lord’s tomb would be perilous. Without sufficient strength, finding it was useless—you’d just lose your life. Auctioning it off for a hefty profit made sense.
Of course, most, faced with such temptation, would risk it despite lacking the power. Only a rare few stayed rational.
Or perhaps they had other motives.
Regardless, Lin Xiao was deeply intrigued by this tomb key.
“Let’s head into the city,” he said, lifting his gaze forward and stepping toward the gate.
The group nodded eagerly, curious to see what Blackwind City, a hub in the Chaos Lands, was like.
Blackwind City radiated an ancient aura. Its walls bore countless claw and blade marks, weathered and scarred by time.
At the massive gate, guards stood watch, halting the incoming crowd. Only after each paid an entry fee were they allowed through.
As Lin Xiao’s youthful group approached, numerous and imposing, a greedy glint flashed in a black-clad guard’s eyes. He froze briefly, then stepped forward to block them, “To enter, each of you pays one third-tier low-level spirit core.”
“One third-tier low-level spirit core per person?” Lin Xiao blinked. Just for entry? That price was daylight robbery!
Qing Yun’s face flared with anger beside him, “Aren’t you going too far? I’m from Blackwind City—entry’s usually one second-tier low-level core at most. A third-tier low-level core? You’re not afraid of choking on it!”
Caught out, the guard bristled, “Hmph, that was before. Now, during the Lord’s Tomb auction, it’s one third-tier low-level core. Plenty are waiting to get in. Pay up or get lost—our Blackwind City guards aren’t to be trifled with.”
His tone was unyielding. In the lawless Chaos Lands, bluster and bravado were survival tactics.
Now, Lin Xiao understood the situation, but instead of anger, a smile crept onto his face.
“We’re not going in. Let’s go,” he said calmly.
The guard blinked, stunned. They were leaving just like that? Too easy! He’d hoped to squeeze some third-tier cores from them—even half would’ve done—but they walked off too fast.
“Go… He’s outright extorting us!” Qing Yun fumed at Lin Xiao’s words.
Ling Hu and the others were equally baffled. A mere Blackwind City—with their strength, they could storm it. Were they really backing off over a gatekeeper’s scam?
That didn’t fit Lin Xiao’s character—swallowing such humiliation?
“Kill him first, then leave. When they switch guards, we’ll come back. During this Lord’s Tomb auction, Blackwind City can’t spare much force to deal with us, right?”
Lin Xiao smiled faintly. As he looked at the guard, a chilling killing intent flared, his eighth-level Heavenly Martial aura crashing down on the youth.
“Eighth-level Heavenly Martial!” The guard sucked in a breath, a cold dread flooding him. This teen outranked him by five levels, his aura exuding extreme danger, pressing down until he could barely breathe.
The boy’s eyes radiated thick killing intent—he had no doubt that refusal meant death.
And the teen’s words hit home. He was just a gate guard, insignificant to the city lord’s mansion. Guard deaths were routine, and since he’d started this trouble, the mansion wouldn’t avenge him.
The boy had clearly seen through him.
Ling Hu grinned, catching on, and unleashed his ninth-level Heavenly Martial aura, bearing down on the guard.
“Ninth-level Heavenly Martial,” the youth’s legs shook, nearly buckling.
The other guards nearby tensed, but seeing the fifty-plus group, they didn’t dare intervene.
If a fight broke out, forget the fifty behind—just these two could crush them all.
