On the bluestone-paved roads, carriages rolled back and forth. The streets were crowded, filled with vendors' cries and hawkers' shouts without end. Ruyang City was bustling with life. The emergence of the space-time node had turned this place into a trial ground for many martial artists and cultivators, while the city itself served as a place of rest between trials. The appearance of yaos and demons had not thrown the residents into panic.

Though ordinary residents were worried about the future, under Great Wei's propaganda, almost none chose to flee. Instead, they turned that fear into fervent prayer. The common folk believed that as long as they were devout enough, the all-powerful Supreme Celestial Sovereign of the Myriad Dao and the Golden Palace would protect the city. Meanwhile, the constant influx of people made this once lower-ranked city even more prosperous.

"Over here!"

Suddenly, a squad of soldiers pushed through the crowd and entered a tavern on the left. Lin Zheyu cast them a curious glance. The leader was clearly strong, and the aura on him felt rather strange.

Lin Zheyu had already been in Ruyang City for a full day.

He was no reckless fool who would rush into the space-time node without knowing anything. He had deliberately entered the city and mingled in the chaotic taverns to gather information.

In this tavern alone, he sensed three Martial Innate realm martial artists. Cultivators who had transitioned from martial cultivation to the Immortal Dao were easy to identify. Their physiques were stronger than ordinary cultivators, their vitality more vigorous, and they carried a distinct presence. That presence came from the Grandmaster's will forged at the Grandmaster realm of martial cultivation.

A burst of intense commotion rang out. The surrounding crowd quickly stood and backed away. Lin Zheyu did the same.

"Where do you think you're going?" the leading man shouted. With a flick of his right hand, a rope glowing with green light shot out, flying straight toward Lin Zheyu's direction.

Lin Zheyu was slightly startled, but he quickly reacted.

"Ah!"

"Ahh!"

Several screams rang out.

A middle-aged man not far in front of Lin Zheyu wore a cold expression. He reached into the nearby crowd, grabbed someone, and flung them aside. When Lin Zheyu saw the man reaching toward his direction, his brows knit slightly. He stepped back without drawing attention, causing the grab to miss. A flicker of surprise crossed the man's face. He had not expected to fail. But in that critical moment, he had no time to dwell on it. His figure moved, and he shot off, trying to escape.

Lin Zheyu's right hand shot out, brushing past the man's arm. A surge of true origin flowed into the man's body along that contact. The sudden change caused the man to falter. The dharma artifact rope behind him caught up in an instant and bound him tightly.

"Take him away!" the leader snorted coldly. He kicked the middle-aged cultivator on the ground, then left without looking back, dragging him along.

After the brief disturbance, the others returned to their seats as if nothing had happened. It seemed they were already used to such scenes.

Lin Zheyu watched them leave and thought to himself, A spy who slipped into the city?

He had captured no fewer than a hundred such spies back in Wuling City, though none as strong as the one just now. Most were only around the Force Transformation realm. Every city in the Central Plains was equipped with a massive Heaven-Monitoring Formation with many mysterious capabilities. It was said that these spies and infiltrators were all discovered by the Directorate of Celestial Observation using that formation.

As for how it worked, Lin Zheyu did not know. He had only heard about it while carrying out capture missions from those with better information. Compared to Wuling City, Ruyang City lay at the border between the Central Plains and the Southern Barbarian Region.

With a space-time node appearing nearby, the level of chaos here far exceeded that of Wuling City. The appearance of someone of that strength was nothing unusual. What truly interested Lin Zheyu was the leader among those soldiers.

Lin Zheyu murmured softly, "Demon-Suppressing Army... Do they cultivate some special technique?"

The aura on that man was powerful. His strength was likely above the Martial Innate realm, though not yet at the Foundation Establishment realm. Lin Zheyu secretly probed him with his Perception Domain and spiritual sense, and found the energy within his body extremely strange.

It carried a sinister quality, somewhat similar to Baleful Yin force. Aside from the City Guard of each city, the Demon-Suppressing Army was one of the strongest forces. Lin Zheyu guessed that the man was likely an elite among them.

Interesting. Senior Sister Wenzi and Senior Brother Chen Ding have been in the Demon-Suppressing Army for some time. I wonder when they'll return. I can ask them then.

He was now interested in all kinds of cultivation systems. Perhaps one of them might give him some inspiration.

Just as Lin Zheyu was thinking, a man asked with a smile, "Friend, do you mind if I sit here?"

Lin Zheyu gestured for him to sit and replied, "Please."

He glanced at the man. He had a gentle and handsome appearance, wore a moon-white robe patterned with copper coins, and kept his long beard neatly groomed.

"That was quite a move just now. If I hadn't happened to be nearby, I wouldn't have noticed it at all," the man said with a smile.

"You must be mistaken. I'm just an ordinary person," Lin Zheyu said calmly, shaking his head.

"Haha, no need to worry. I mean no harm." The man cupped his hands and said, "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Ji Sheng of the Seven Star Sect. Fellow Daoist, are you here to explore and undergo trials as well?"

"I'm just here to take a look around," Lin Zheyu replied, no longer hiding it.

"Are you alone? Why not join us? We can look out for each other," Ji Sheng said warmly, not minding that Lin Zheyu had not given his name.

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm only here to broaden my horizons. I have no intention of entering and risking my life," Lin Zheyu said slowly. The man appeared friendly, but Lin Zheyu knew nothing about him and had no intention of teaming up rashly.

"That's a pity. This space-time node has lasted for over two years. Under the erosion of demonic qi, the entire demon god barrier has long turned into demon-tainted soil. If you go exploring alone, be careful," Ji Sheng said with a smile.

Lin Zheyu gave a brief reply, "Thanks."

This man was a little too enthusiastic, which only heightened Lin Zheyu's caution. He did not believe in goodwill without reason. Still, the man's words stirred his thoughts.

Demonic qi? Was that what the cultivation world called Baleful Yin force? Lin Zheyu pondered. Paired with spiritual qi, the term seemed fitting.

"I heard that not long ago, a seven-pattern yao appeared inside. That thing is comparable to a powerhouse in the Nascent Soul realm. Ever since it showed up, the demon god barrier has grown increasingly dangerous. Even Golden Core realm cultivators have to proceed with caution. The seven-pattern yao isn't even the main issue. If not for the interference of the Nine Nether Sect, that space-time node would have been shut down long ago," Ji Sheng said familiarly, sighing.

The man was talkative and kept going on his own. Lin Zheyu responded casually, though he was genuinely interested in what Ji Sheng was saying.

Could it be that this guy is actually just a simple, good person? Lin Zheyu muttered inwardly as he looked at the man's seemingly innocent demeanor.

But it was only a passing thought. Ji Sheng was so enthusiastic that it reminded Lin Zheyu of his once trying to strike up a conversation with Lei Yunshu of the Lei Family.

Before long, a pretty and charming young woman approached with a smile and said, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Brother Ji."

"Let me introduce you. This is Xu Xueyun of the Hidden Moon Sect. And this is someone I just met. Uh, Fellow Daoist, how should I address you?" Ji Sheng asked, suddenly looking a little embarrassed as he turned to Lin Zheyu.

He had been chatting happily for quite a while, yet still did not know the other party's name.

"My name is Xiao Yu. Just a wandering cultivator with no sect or affiliation. I hope you won't laugh at me," Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

"So it's Brother Xiao!" Ji Sheng said with a smile.

He turned to Xu Xueyun and introduced, "This Brother Xiao Shi is quite capable. Just now, with a casual move, he helped a general of the Demon-Suppressing Army capture a rather strong spy."

"You flatter me, Brother Ji. It was nothing more than a small effort," Lin Zheyu said, shaking his head.

Though their interaction had been brief, Lin Zheyu did not sense any hostility from Ji Sheng. The man truly seemed to be kind by nature.

"Brother Xiao, would you like to team up with us?" Xu Xueyun asked, blinking at Lin Zheyu, her eyes carrying a hint of innocence.

Looking at her, Lin Zheyu faintly saw a resemblance to Li Wensi. He could not help but wonder if these two had just left their sect and were inexperienced newcomers out on their first journey.

"No, I'm used to going alone," Lin Zheyu replied.

A young man walked over and said to them, "Ji Sheng, Xueyun, Brother Wei, and the others have been waiting in the private room for quite a while. Aren't you coming?"

He looked at Lin Zheyu and sized him up, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.

"And this friend is?" the man asked.

"My name is Xiao Yu," Lin Zheyu said. He noticed the scrutiny in the man's gaze. This person seemed far more mature than Ji Sheng and Xu Xueyun.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Xiao. We still have matters to attend to, so we will take our leave. Until we meet again," the man said briskly.

"You're too polite." Lin Zheyu gave a slight nod, signaling for him to go ahead. The man's distant attitude and lack of introduction made it clear he had no intention of befriending him.

"Then we'll be off first, Brother Xiao. Until we meet again!"

"Until we meet again!"

Ji Sheng and Xu Xueyun bid Lin Zheyu farewell and followed the man away.

"When you're out here, don't casually interact with strangers. You may not intend harm, but you must guard against others. This isn't the sect. Be careful, or you'll be sold off and still be counting money for them," the man said sternly through voice transmission.

Ji Sheng and Xu Xueyun looked slightly embarrassed and did not dare to argue. They followed the man silently to the second floor. Lin Zheyu watched them leave and shook his head slightly. Those two truly seemed harmless, more like pure-hearted youths fresh out of their sect.

"These young cultivators from the sects are far too sheltered," Lin Zheyu said with a faint smile, shaking his head. If he had been a bit more friendly just now, he might actually have made friends with them.