MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 195
Though vast and sprawling, the Flame Clan ruins could be broadly divided into three distinct areas:
First, there was the Square and the entrance to the ruins. Despite its immense size, the square was but a speck compared to the rest of the ruins.
Second, there was Flame City itself. As the former dwelling place of the Flame Clan remnants, its size and grandeur were awe-inspiring.
Third, the sprawling forest stretched beyond Flame City, its depths teeming with natural resources and treasures long extinct in the outside world. However, compared to the bustling city, the forest seemed relatively desolate.
Lu Ming hadn't entered the ruins in search of riches. Considering the vast forest, it might have seemed a more suitable choice for him.
Yet, he had opted for Flame City.
His reasoning was simple: the city offered greater safety than the wilderness.
Flame City was a labyrinth of buildings, and more buildings meant limited visibility. Lu Ming's low level and the restrained aura of his Self-Limitation State made him inconspicuous. The only way to find him would be through direct visual contact.
Thus, the complex urban terrain of Flame City provided the perfect camouflage for Lu Ming.
"There's also the matter of food and water," Lu Ming mused.
He hadn't brought any supplies, but others had. The city, with its greater opportunities, attracted more people. And more people meant easier access to supplies.
"That's right," he thought with a wry smile. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."
Survival was paramount, and Lu Ming was willing to bend his moral compass slightly if it meant staying alive.
"Besides," he rationalized, "I'm not doing anything truly evil. This is called... payback!"
He couldn't forget the Divine Dao Alliance's intention to search him and seize his belongings. They had struck first, so his retaliation was justified, wasn't it?
As he scaled the towering city wall, the vast cityscape of Flame City spread out before him.
It seemed to stretch endlessly.
If he had to make a comparison, Flame City was perhaps hundreds of times larger than Nanxiang!
The city was a labyrinth of well-defined structures, a testament to the Flame Clan's meticulous planning. Houses of various sizes, from humble dwellings to towering skyscrapers, lined the streets in an orderly fashion. Skybridges and corridors connected the high-rises, creating a multi-layered, three-dimensional urban landscape.
The sheer size and complexity of Flame City made it a treasure trove for exploration, but also a haven for those seeking to remain hidden. It was no wonder that, even after a month, countless superhumans had explored less than a tenth of the city.
And this was just the Outer City.
The Inner City was smaller but contained more elaborate structures. The buildings were sturdier, and countless deadly traps guarded its secrets, slowing down exploration considerably. Deeper still lay the Imperial City District, its gates yet to be breached, its secrets and treasures a tantalizing mystery.
"The saying 'strewn with gold' isn't an exaggeration," Lu Ming mused, even his normally stoic demeanor cracking a smile at the sheer potential for discovery.
But then he thought of the Divine Dao Alliance, their greedy desire to monopolize these riches...
With over a dozen Spirit Realm experts at their disposal, they certainly posed a formidable threat. However, Lu Ming doubted they could truly control such a vast and complex ruin. Their arrogance would likely lead to their downfall.
Lu Ming anticipated the ensuing chaos in Flame City would reach unimaginable levels.
He needed to stay out of it.
"First, I'll find a safe and hidden location... No, first, I need to find supplies!"
Survival was paramount. He would secure food and water, then find a secluded spot to cultivate in peace, far from the brewing storm.
Of course, trouble had a way of finding Lu Ming, even when he wasn't looking for it.
"But for now," he thought, "this is the best course of action."
Standing atop the city wall, concealed within the battlements, Lu Ming carefully surveyed the sprawling cityscape.
"It should be in that area," he murmured, his eyes locking onto a specific district.
Unlike the disorganized explorers who often roamed in small groups, the Divine Dao Alliance, formerly the Divine Dao Gang, was the second-largest faction in Archean City.
They maintained a semblance of order and structure. Meijixi's followers were no fools, and their approach to exploring the ruins differed from the lone wolves.
Like a well-oiled machine, Meijixi had divided his subordinates into various teams: the main exploration team, support squads, special forces, and even a suicide squad. And, of course, there was the indispensable logistics team.
Having established dominance in Flame City after the previous day's battle, the Divine Dao Alliance was seizing the opportunity.
They had deployed numerous exploration teams and brought in vast quantities of supplies, clearly prepared for a long campaign within the city.
At this moment, Lu Ming was on the hunt for the Divine Dao Alliance's supply depot.
It wasn't a difficult task.
He simply followed the telltale signs of cart tracks. Even without those, the commotion caused by a large gang like the Divine Dao Gang was bound to attract attention. Back in the business district, the Rao Clan had been selling maps and other helpful items, even thoughtfully marking the locations of their rival's strongholds.
Silently scaling the city wall, Lu Ming entered Flame City.
His black robe masked his face, and with a subtle adjustment of his Self-Limitation superpower, he altered his size and facial features. Combined with the inherent concealment of the Self-Limitation state, Lu Ming had successfully disguised himself before embarking on his mission.
Navigating the labyrinthine city, Lu Ming quickly approached the Divine Dao Alliance's supply depot.
He observed carefully, his keen eyes missing no detail.
Soon, a plan took shape in his mind.
"I don't know how many guards are inside, but there's definitely no Spirit Realm expert."
"And it's highly unlikely there are any high-level Physique Realm cultivators here either."
Such experts were better suited for frontline exploration, not guarding a warehouse.
"In short," Lu Ming concluded, "the depot's defenses are adequate against ordinary thieves... but not against me!"
In his Desperate State, Lu Ming could unleash power comparable to a Level 7 Physique Realm cultivator. That was a force to be reckoned with in the Black Mist Zone.
Besides, the Divine Dao Alliance couldn't afford to station high-level guards at every single warehouse.
Therefore, a forceful takeover was certainly an option.
But Lu Ming wouldn't resort to that.
There was no need for bloodshed over mere food and water.
He slipped into a nearby building and began digging in its basement.
Lu Ming's fingers were like steel, effortlessly cutting through the earth.
In just two hours, a tunnel had been excavated.
One end connected to an inconspicuous, often-looted house. The other end, thanks to Lu Ming's precise calculations, opened directly beneath the supply depot.
Combined with the stealth afforded by his Self-Limitation state...
This was the perfect heist.
No one would suspect that an expert like Lu Ming would go to such lengths for basic necessities.
Why bother digging a tunnel when he could be out searching for valuable opportunities?
Two hours later, gazing at the mountain of food and water before him, Lu Ming wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled in satisfaction.
"Perfect!"
End of Chapter 195