MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 190
Chapter 190: A City of Ashes
The Flame Clan ruins unfolded before them, a sprawling expanse beginning with the grand square and the imposing ruin entrance. Ahead lay Flame City, and beyond that, a vast, unexplored forest.
The ruins were immense, Flame City alone promising a wealth of exploration opportunities for eager adventurers.
As Lu Ming and Velo approached the city gates, they found them already forced open. Crowds of people streamed in and out, their voices a cacophony of shouts and excited cheers echoing through the ancient streets.
Lu Ming didn't need to enter the city to imagine the chaotic scenes unfolding within.
He frowned, coming to a sudden halt.
"I'm not going in."
Velo looked at him, surprised. "Oh?"
"We're not going in," Lu Ming reiterated. "If you want to explore, you can go on your own, but I'm staying out."
Velo was speechless.
If you're not here for the opportunities, why did you come? he thought, bewildered.
But Lu Ming had his reasons.
The city was teeming with danger and chaos. It was no place for him.
After a moment of contemplation, Lu Ming turned, ready to leave the ruins and return to the relative safety of Nanshan.
Day 152 of the Black Mist Calendar
Morning dawned, and Lu Ming found himself back at the ruin entrance.
This time, he wasn't alone. Zhang Chengcheng, Wei Lan, Fala, and Li Zitong accompanied him.
They stepped through the gateway and emerged onto the vast square.
The square was still bustling with activity, a microcosm of the frenzy gripping Archean City.
Lu Ming had already formulated a plan the day before.
Leaving the square behind, they headed towards Flame City. Soon, the five of them arrived at its entrance.
Lu Ming pointed to an empty space near the city gate.
"Let's start here."
Li Zitong nodded, stepping forward with purpose. He channeled the full power of his Level Nine Mortal Realm cultivation, his earth-element superpower surging forth.
Chapter 190: A City of Ashes (Part 2)
Under Li Zitong's skilled manipulation, the earth surged upwards, rapidly shaping itself into two rows of dozens of single-story courtyards just outside the gates of Flame City.
Fala stepped forward, her voice ringing out clearly amidst the bustling crowd.
"Exploring the ruins will take time," she announced, "and there may be days without any rewards."
"To save everyone the trouble of searching for shelter amidst the chaos within Flame City, we've constructed these houses for your use."
Her words were met with a mix of surprise and gratitude. Lu Ming, observing from behind, noticed a few individuals in the crowd exchange excited glances before quietly slipping away.
A subtle smile played on his lips.
His plan was working.
Li Zitong's construction was just the beginning. Within minutes, more Earth-element superhumans joined the effort, and a small village rapidly took shape outside Flame City.
Enterprising individuals with powerful backers quickly claimed the prime locations, transforming them into makeshift shops.
While the ruins boasted plant life, there were no exotic beasts to hunt. Food, tools, and medicinal herbs – essentials for survival and exploration – had to be brought in from the outside.
This presented a lucrative business opportunity.
As the saying went, while some toiled in the gold mines, struggling to make ends meet, those who sold water to the miners grew rich.
The same principle applied here.
To maintain a low profile, Lu Ming took charge of the construction but delegated the rest. He, along with Zhang Chengcheng, Wei Lan, and Fala, settled into a secluded house away from the main thoroughfare.
After Velo revealed his Level Three Physique Realm strength, no one dared to challenge their claim on the dwelling.
Thus, Lu Ming established a temporary base in the Flame Clan ruins.
Despite their distance from the chaotic heart of Flame City, Lu Ming knew that trouble could still find them. The Flame Clan ruins were a volatile place, and even the outskirts weren't immune to conflict.
But he understood that seeking benefits without encountering risks was an impossibility.
That very same day, a fierce battle erupted within Flame City!
The Divine Dao Gang and Apelo's group clashed over a high-level Body Forging technique.
In the end, Apelo emerged victorious.
Clutching the precious scroll in his hands, his eyes gleamed with triumph.
Chapter 190: A City of Ashes (Part 3)
Apelo, basking in the glow of victory, raised the newly acquired Body Forging technique towards the sky and let out a triumphant laugh. "Wonderful, wonderful! The Flame Clan ruins are indeed filled with opportunity!"
With his Level 1 Spirit Realm strength, Apelo was more than capable of taking the lead in exploring the ruins. The thrill of his recent success momentarily overshadowed his quest for revenge against the Nanxiang people. His gaze swept across the unexplored areas of Flame City, his eyes gleaming with insatiable greed.
Meanwhile, Jing Yi, accompanied by Jing Cong and a dozen loyal subordinates, had bypassed Flame City and ventured into the forest beyond. Jing Yi had a clear objective in mind, and though Jing Cong and the others remained unaware of his true intentions, they dutifully followed their leader.
The journey was long and arduous.
Only Jing Yi knew their final destination.
Day 143 of the Black Mist Calendar
Time: Morning
With the help of Zhang Chengcheng and Wei Lan, Lu Ming went through his daily exercise routine.
His movements were precise and fluid, second nature to him.
As he trained, he kept a close eye on his attribute panel.
His attributes steadily increased, and another anomaly on the panel confirmed Lu Ming's suspicions.
Void Domain (Entry)... (Advancing)...
He could sense a mysterious energy, unlike any he had encountered before, flowing into his body from the outside world. It was this energy that was fueling the changes in his Void Domain.
Lu Ming also sensed that further upgrades to the Void Domain would likely take a considerable amount of time. But that didn't matter. As long as he could cultivate his attributes, the location was irrelevant.
Time was on his side.
His mornings were dedicated to exercise.
The rest of the day was spent cultivating the Body Forging Technique.
And at night, he would enter the Void Space to practice his Origin Power Skills.
This was Lu Ming's new training regimen.
Water was readily available from the nearby stream, though fetching it was a bit of a chore. Fala took it upon herself to handle this task, understanding that Lu Ming and the others needed to maintain a low profile.
Velo, with his Level Three Physique Realm strength, ventured out to procure food, his excursions posing no risk.
As the makeshift village outside Flame City grew and prospered, vendors began selling water and food nearby. The business district was thriving.
Within Flame City itself, the sounds of battle raged on.
Some rejoiced in their newfound treasures, while others met their demise.
But all of this was irrelevant to Lu Ming.
This ruin itself was his greatest opportunity.
Others sought treasures within the ruins.
Lu Ming was cultivating within the ruins.
End of Chapter 190