157: Chapter 157: Upon entering the inland, news of the battle resurfaces; undercurrents surge in Black Wind City.

As Ye Qing flew out of the range of the Endless Sea and stepped onto solid ground once again, he felt as if he had lived through a lifetime in another world.

During his days on the sea, although the harvest had been bountiful, that feeling of drifting without boundaries on all sides was ultimately not as reassuring as having his feet firmly on the ground.

He identified the direction, and according to the detailed map he had purchased from Tianya City, he flew towards the nearest inland city of the Human Race—Black Wind City.

Black Wind City was not the Zhenbei City he had previously stayed in, but a medium-sized city located deeper within the Great Wilderness Region, approximately tens of thousands of miles away from the Endless Sea.

According to the markings on the map, Black Wind City was located at a vital transportation hub and was one of the important centers for the Human Race to resist the eastward advance of the Heavenly Demon Imperial Court.

It was garrisoned with heavy troops year-round, and the city was also gathered with a large number of Loose Cultivators and merchants who had come from all over; its level of prosperity was far beyond what Tianya City could compare to.

After flying for about half a day, a massive black city built against the mountains appeared in his field of vision.

The scale of Black Wind City was several times larger than Zhenbei City, and the city walls were even taller and thicker, constructed entirely of a dark black, metal-like giant stone that shimmered with a cold luster in the sunlight.

The city walls were covered with dense patterns of defensive Formations, as well as a large amount of heavy siege-defense equipment, emitting an aura of grim slaughter.

At the city gate, there was a long queue, and the flow of people entering and leaving was endless.

The cultivation of the garrison guards was clearly a level higher than those in Zhenbei City, and the leader was a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator who was meticulously checking the identity jade plaques of those entering and leaving.

Ye Qing mingled in the crowd, paid the city entry fee, received a temporary identity jade plaque, and passed through the city gate smoothly.

The moment he stepped into Black Wind City, a more intense, bustling atmosphere mixed with various scents rushed towards him.

On the wide streets, the flow of people was like a loom, and there was a constant stream of horse-drawn carriages and traffic.

On both sides of the street, shops stood in great numbers, with all kinds of signs and banners, ranging from Magical Artifact pavilions, Medicinal Pill shops, and Material stores, to restaurants, inns, gambling dens, and even brothels—everything one could expect was there.

Various cries of peddlers, sounds of bargaining, the clanging of blacksmith shops, and the noisy chatter of diners in restaurants intertwined, forming a unique symphony of the city.

"This Black Wind City is indeed much more prosperous than Zhenbei City. Just this commercial atmosphere alone is more than a level richer."

Ye Qing sighed in his heart, walking slowly along the street.

His gaze swept over the shops on both sides, while his Divine Sense quietly spread out, capturing the conversations of the surrounding Cultivators.

He hadn't walked far before he heard some news that interested him at the entrance of a seemingly quite lively restaurant.

"...Have you heard? Zhenbei City was breached by the Yao Race three days ago!"

"What?! Zhenbei City was breached? What about Ancestor Jiang? Wasn't he stationed in Zhenbei City?"

"Ancestor Jiang... it is said that in his battle with that 'Iron-Winged Eagle King', he was seriously injured, and in the end, he self-detonated his Nascent Soul, perishing together with that Iron-Winged Eagle King!"

"Zhenbei City was left without a leader, which is why it was taken advantage of and breached by the Yao Race army!"

"Hiss! Ancestor Jiang... has actually fallen! That is one of the pillars of our Human Race!"

"Sigh! Who is to say otherwise! Once Zhenbei City is breached, our Black Wind City is completely exposed to the vanguard of the Yao Race army!"

"In my opinion, this Black Wind City won't be peaceful for much longer either!"

"What is there to fear! Our Black Wind City has 'Daoist Master Xuantie' stationed here!"

"Daoist Master Xuantie is a powerhouse at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, stronger than that Ancestor Jiang, not weaker!"

"Moreover, there are tens of thousands of elite troops in the city; how can it be compared to a small city like Zhenbei City?"

"That may be true, but it is said that the newly appointed 'Patrol Envoy' Patrol Inspector Lietian of the Heavenly Demon Imperial Court has already personally led his army and is heading towards our Black Wind City!"

"That Patrol Inspector Lietian is an existence who could even force Ancestor Jiang to self-detonate! Can Daoist Master Xuantie... withstand him?"

"This..."

Ye Qing stood at the entrance of the restaurant, listening silently to these discussions, his eyebrows raising imperceptibly.

"Zhenbei City was breached? Ancestor Jiang has fallen? That 'Iron-Winged Eagle King' has actually died too? And he perished together with Ancestor Jiang?"

He was somewhat surprised, but more than that, he felt a sense of vigilance towards that "Patrol Envoy" Patrol Inspector Lietian.

"It seems that this Patrol Envoy is indeed not a simple character. Even an old-school Nascent Soul powerhouse like Ancestor Jiang was forced by him to self-detonate."

"Although I am not afraid of him, I must be on guard."

Pondering in his heart, he turned and left the restaurant, found a seemingly quiet inn in the city, asked for a private courtyard, and settled down.

He planned to stay in Black Wind City for a while; on one hand, to inquire about more detailed intelligence and understand the current situation, and on the other hand, to make some preparations for his next actions.

He had a premonition that this Black Wind City would soon become a focal point for the struggle between the Human Race and the Yao Race.

And he would very likely be drawn into it.