With Cultivation Simulator in a Chaotic World-Chapter 66: The Truth
The one speaking was the brother of the sibling pair, Chii Wei. He had already learned Jiang Ming’s true name from the Xun Family.
"The Chii Family? Alright."
Jiang Ming calmly accepted the token.
Chii Wei’s evaluation of Jiang Ming instantly rose substantially. In the powerful circles under the Phoenix Tail Main City, who didn’t know the reputation of the Chii Family, wealthy beyond measure?
This Jiang Ming indeed had a significant background.
Jiang Ming simply thought more friends meant more paths, especially starting this life as an orphan.
With more friends, there would also be more places to stay later.
"We have other matters to attend to, so we won’t disturb you any longer, Young Master Jiang."
Chii Wei said his farewells, taking his sister with him.
The Chii Family’s sister, however, glanced longingly at Jiang Ming a few more times.
Li Mo and the others gathered around as well.
After a round of thanks and pleasantries, Jiang Ming looked at Li Mo and asked, "Elder Mo, has there ever been such an evil presence in the city before?"
Li Mo’s expression immediately became serious.
He shook his head and said, "I must return to Mingwu City at once to report this to the Patriarch and the City Lord’s Mansion. As for Evergreen City... I leave it to you, Young Master Jiang."
Li Mo naturally also saw Jiang Ming’s token, knowing he had successfully joined the Chaofeng Pavilion.
Jiang Ming nodded.
Li Mo and the others hurriedly left the city.
The appearance of an evil presence in the Great Lii City was a matter of significant impact.
Once the City Lord’s Mansion in Evergreen City became aware, they would certainly report it to the Imperial Court.
What follows might cause a massive upheaval across the Great Lii.
Li Mo and the others couldn’t even bother with their original purpose for coming out; they needed to return to Mingwu City immediately to report this to the City Lord’s Mansion as insurance, and inform the Xun Family, giving them more time to react.
Li Mo and the others felt like a storm was approaching.
While deep down, Jiang Ming felt a growing shadow.
.....................
After Chii Wei and the others left Evergreen City, numerous servants approached, and the two of them boarded a luxurious, high palanquin.
The bearers were all surprisingly experts of the Martial Arts Hall Master level.
Chii Wei and Chii Yan no longer appeared as indecisive as they did in Evergreen City.
They looked at Evergreen City behind them, frowning deeply.
"Is this the great change that the Patriarch predicted?"
"Why didn’t I notice any other anomalies today?"
The Chii Family was reputedly wealthy beyond measure, with industries spread throughout the twelve main cities of the South.
The root of this was the secret technique rumored within the Chii Family, which allowed them to maximize their interests amid countless changes.
Chii Yan licked her lips and said, following her brother, "I think that Jiang Ming has a lot of potential. According to our family’s rules, I have the right to bring him in as a potential groom, right..."
Chii Wei’s face darkened, and he said, "To achieve the early stage of the Heart Lamp at such a young age, and possessing such a precious artifact capable of performing immortal skills, he is not someone easy to deal with! What the Xun Family people said might be correct; he has a significant background."
"Without a clear investigation, don’t act rashly."
Chii Wei looked back at Evergreen City, and a bronze coin magically appeared in his hand.
He tossed the bronze coin into the air, catching it before it fell.
An inkling of doubt appeared deep in Chii Wei’s eyes.
His divination skill, derived from his physique, rarely made errors.
Clearly, Evergreen City was just a small city.
Why would it indicate great misfortune?
If not for the divination, Chii Wei wouldn’t have chosen to leave at this time.
...............
Li Mo and his companions had already been out of Evergreen City for quite some time, arriving at the first relay station.
Uncle Xun suddenly pulled Li Mo aside and took out a small note from his sleeve, handing it to him.
"Uncle Mo, this was given to me by Brother Jiang. He said to open it once we reached the first relay station."
Li Mo curiously took the note.
He opened it and read it word by word.
Li Mo’s entire body suddenly stiffened, his pupils contracted.
Uncle Xun had never seen the usually composed Li Mo display such an expression, so he leaned over to take a look.
Uncle Xun’s body also froze.
He looked at the now-distant Evergreen City, which had become a tiny black dot, barely visible. In his eyes, Evergreen City seemed to transform into a man-eating beast.
"Go! Quickly, go!"
"Mingwu City! Go! Return to Mingwu City! Inform the court!"
Li Mo paid no heed to the fading daylight, pulling the group away from the station.
"No, you all stay here, I’ll go first!"
"Uncle Xun, be careful."
Uncle Xun nodded grimly.
Qi-Blood surged within Li Mo, transforming him into a black shadow speeding away into the distance.
"Brother, what happened..."
Uncle Xun led the three back to the relay station.
He let out a slow breath of stale air, his expression exceedingly solemn.
"Though it’s just speculation, if it’s true..."
"Great Lii... is about to change dramatically..."
..................
The note contained some of Jiang Ming’s conjectures.
Among them was Bai Liu’s resurrection after death and the sudden appearance of the evil presence.
All pointed to one conclusion.
Evergreen City... no longer existed.
Or rather, the people within Evergreen City... were already dead!
Jiang Ming didn’t go to the City Lord’s Mansion to report the matter about the evil presence of Zhu Li. Instead, he quickly headed toward the city exit.
He already harbored a terrifying suspicion in his heart.
Why was there an evil presence in Evergreen City?
Why did Zhu Li attract people from outside the city?
Why did Zhu Li want to lure him? It needed the power of an Immortal Master, at least the strength of an early-stage Heart Lamp, to help it leave.
Jiang Ming’s breakthrough caught Zhu Li’s attention, leading to Jiang Ming being trapped by Zhu Li’s evil presence in the Hong Mansion once he left.
Could it be... in Evergreen City, was he the only surviving ’Immortal Master’? What about the guardians in the City Lord’s Mansion?
And why was Zhu Li so desperate to leave, even knowing the risk of exposure...
Moreover, Jiang Ming never had the chance to probe the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall, nor the drifting Bai Liu.
The timings correspond to ten years ago.
Something must have happened ten years ago!
To avoid drawing the attention of certain entities, Jiang Ming didn’t speak plainly, only handing Uncle Xun a note to explain the reason.
Beyond that, Jiang Ming actually knew of another matter that could prove his hypothesis.
That was killing enemies of the Human Race also yielded Simulation Points, not just any killings that granted Simulation Points, but those he killed... were not human!!!
Jiang Ming no longer wanted to speculate further, regardless of whether he was right or wrong; he only had one thing to do.
Flee immediately!
Jiang Ming hurried to the city gate and presented his token to easily exit the city.
His body suddenly paused.
On his limbs and body, illusory black chains tightly bound him.
These chains... were identical to the Shadow Lock Chains that bound evil spirits.
He had just seen these chains.
They were the chains on Zhu Li.
Jiang Ming exerted his strength, pulling at the chains. His hand tried to extend out of Evergreen City, yet countless chains fiercely dragged him back.
Just like the Shadow Lock Chains kept Zhu Li confined within the Hong Mansion’s evil presence before...
Could it be... he was also an evil spirit... when...
The power of the Shadow Lock Chain grew, Jiang Ming unable to move forward another step. He stood precisely at the central point of the city gate, just one step away from being outside the city...
Overhead, the Bronze Vermilion Bird hovered, though there was no wind, Jiang Ming now realized, the Vermilion Bird was watching the city’s inhabitants...
