章節 56: Chapter 56: Into the Ancient Capital
Daylight still lingered, though the sky was a muted gray. Light rode through the barren, snow-covered landscape atop his Hell Hound. The hound, a massive, dark creature with glowing red eyes, trotted smoothly along the side of the highway, its fiery breath leaving trails of mist in the chilly air. The undead slept in their tombs for now, undisturbed by the presence of the living, as they awaited the fall of night to rise from their graves.
Light could see the imposing figure of the Ancient Capital looming ahead of him. Even from a distance, the city seemed on high alert. Patrols lined the outer city walls, walking steadily along the battlements as reinforcements worked tirelessly, repairing damage and fortifying the defenses. It was evident that the city was preparing for something, though the exact nature of the threat remained unknown to him.
The Ancient Capital of Xi'an was famous for its old city walls, towering structures that had stood for centuries, protecting the heart of the city from invaders and, now, from the ever-present threat of the undead. Inside these ancient walls lay the city center, the bustling heart of Xi'an, while districts like Yanta and Beilin sprawled just beyond. Though primarily a tourist attraction, the Ancient Capital was now a stronghold, fortified against the horrors that lurked beyond its borders.
"This is my first time seeing such a giant-sized safe zone," Light muttered as he gazed up at the enormous, mountain-like wall. The sheer size of it awed him.
He knew the perimeter of the inner wall spanned only fourteen kilometers, yet the towering structure felt far more imposing. The gates were heavily guarded, with the members of the Magic Association stationed at the entrances, while the Battlemages oversaw the checkpoints. During the day, the inspections were relatively lenient, but at night, when the undead roamed freely, the military would not permit anyone to leave the safety of the walls. Any commoner found outside at night was as good as dead—food for the undead hordes.
Light passed through the gates without incident, riding his Hell Hound into the city. Inside, the streets appeared lively and crowded, though there was an underlying tension in the air. People from the outskirts had fled to the inner city, seeking refuge behind the great walls, and it was clear that they were on edge. Fear of the undead lurked in every glance, every hurried movement through the busy streets.
The miracle villages still stood outside the city walls, seemingly untouched by the horrors that plagued the rest of the land. These villages were isolated and primitive, with no modern technology, which made communication with the Ancient Capital slow and unreliable. Nevertheless, they remained unharmed, a curious anomaly amidst the chaos.
Light wasted no time in exploring the districts. His destination was the Clock Tower Magic Association, located in the heart of the city. He moved swiftly through the crowded streets, ignoring the bustling activity around him, his mind focused on the task at hand.
The Clock Tower Magic Association stood tall, right next to the Bell Tower Hunter Union. These two institutions were symbols of strength and order in a world teetering on the edge of collapse. Even in the midst of a storm, the towers stood firm, their presence reassuring to those who sought safety within the city.
Light knew that if he was going to venture outside the walls to the miracle villages, he would need help. The undead were far more dangerous than the demon beasts he had encountered before. If he wanted to uncover the truth or rescue someone, he needed a team he could rely on.
His first stop was the Magic Association, but after speaking with a few of the members, it quickly became clear that none of them had any interest in leaving the safety of the walls. The mere mention of venturing into undead territory sent shivers down their spines, and Light found himself growing frustrated. His only option now was to seek help from the Bell Tower Hunter Union.
The lobby of the Hunter Union was bustling with activity. Hunters filled the room, their faces grim and serious as they studied the rolling screen displaying the latest quests. Light noticed that most of the tasks were listed as 'rescue' missions. It was a grim reminder of the reality outside the walls—people were constantly in danger, trapped or lost in the wilderness beyond the city.
"It's basically all rescues. Looks like a lot of people are in danger…" Light mused aloud.
"I wouldn't call them rescues," a gruff voice interrupted. "It's more like corpse retrieval."
Light turned to see a grizzled hunter leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. The man's face was hardened, the lines of experience etched deep into his features.
"Well, where do I start? I need to make an important journey to some of the miracle villages out there," Light asked, cutting straight to the point.
The hunter raised an eyebrow. "I can tell it's your first time here at the Ancient Capital. Do you know the rules among the Hunters?"
"Not at all," Light admitted, his tone respectful. "I'm looking for advice."
The hunter smirked, though there was no humor in it. "The Hunters who are alive here have all abandoned their teammates before. The most common saying around here is: Don't look back, retrieve their corpses during the day!"
Light frowned. It was a harsh reality, but not one that surprised him. The undead were relentless, and in a fight for survival, sacrifices had to be made.
"If you came and talked to me, does that mean you have an idea?" Light asked.
The hunter's smirk widened. "Let's talk about the price then."
"Two million," Light offered.
"Do I look like a beggar to you? Five million!" the hunter shot back, sitting down with a thud.
Light blinked, momentarily taken aback by the steep price. "I can go on my own, then," he replied, his voice firm.
The hunter laughed, though it was a cold, empty sound. "Suit yourself. You'll be dead by sunrise."
Light ignored the man's taunt. He had already secured a digital map on his mobile, along with a paper map that provided detailed knowledge of the terrain. Besides, he was an Advanced Mage with the Undead Element—did he really need someone else to guide him?
He mentally checked his current cultivation:
- **Space Element**: 3rd level Advance Stage
- **Undead Element**: 3rd level Advance Stage
- **Chaos Element**: 2nd level Advance Stage
- **Lightning Element**: 1st level Advance Stage
- **Fire Element**: 1st level Advance Stage
- **Earth Element**: 1st level Advance Stage
- **Shadow Element**: 3rd level Intermediate Stage
- **Curse Element**: 3rd level Intermediate Stage
- **Summoning Element**: 3rd level Intermediate Stage
No, he didn't need anyone. Light made his decision and left the Union behind.
By morning, Light was at the south gate, preparing to venture beyond the city walls. The morning breeze carried a strange scent, something unnatural. But as the sun rose higher in the sky, the smell faded, as if the daylight itself had the power to ward off the presence of the dead.
The gate stood open, though only during the day. Those leaving the city had to sign in, their details recorded meticulously. As Light signed his name and passed through the gate, he cast a glance toward the Qinling Mountains to the south. He knew that flying or driving would be considered disrespectful to the demon beasts that called the mountains home, so he would have to walk the rest of the way.
The path was long and arduous, and as night fell, an eerie silence descended upon the land. The only sound was the faint grumbling of something beneath the ground.
Light turned, his eyes narrowing as he spotted an undead creature emerging from the earth. Its head was full of worms, its eyes hanging loosely from its skull, and its jaw barely clung to its face. Yet, despite its gruesome appearance, the undead creature made no move toward him.
It simply ignored him.
Light frowned, watching the creature struggle to pull its body free from the ground, but it paid him no mind. He had expected an immediate attack, as was typical of the undead, but this one… it acted differently.
Snow began to fall heavily, covering the ground in a thick, white blanket. The undead would freeze soon, trapped beneath the snow until the thaw. It was one of the reasons Light had refused to pay the Hunters their exorbitant fee—winter was on his side.
The area surrounding Xianchi was covered in fine, white sand, said to be infused with the energy of the moon and death. Rumor had it that the undead absorbed the sand like nutrients, growing stronger with each passing day. Light had seen it for himself—undead creatures scooping up the sand as though they were harvesting gold.
"The Sunny Goat Village is not far ahead," Light thought to himself, glancing at the map. He knew he would need to rest soon, and the village seemed like the perfect place to stop for the night.
"Every village has its rules. You should obey them if you're planning to enter one," a hunter's warning echoed in his mind.
The gray sky and the gray land stretched out before him as he approached the lonely village. The snow had covered everything in a thick layer of white, giving the village an almost ghostly appearance.
Sunny Goat Village stood ahead, its shape barely visible through the falling snow.
Light's journey had only just begun, but he could already feel the weight of the task ahead pressing down on him. The undead were stirring, and something far more sinister awaited him beyond the safety of the walls.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票