Chapter 264: Underground Thousand Sieve City (1/2)
After flying around the Endless Mountain Range, they quickly discovered a place that was clearly different from the rest.
In the empty area where a large number of trees were cut down, a mortal city appeared.
As for how to differentiate between mortal cities and cultivator cities, it was too obvious.
The height of the city wall, the existence of runes covering the walls, any obvious spiritual qi fluctuations in the city, and also the size and material of the buildings.
In any case, Jiang Li had never seen a cultivation city that only had two stories of simple wooden houses, or a ten feet tall city wall that could not block anything.
In this kind of paradise, there was actually a mortal city. If it was not a branch of the variant human race that was isolated from the world, it could only have been moved here by cultivators and developed to this day through the passage of time.
As for the goal, it was naturally the mortals' cheap labor.
In fact, larger sects could use low-level disciples to be self-sufficient.
A sect like Ink Sect did not rely on numbers to begin with.
They did not have much manpower and the puppets that they needed to create required a large amount of spiritual wood.
However, they could not use the low-level disciples, who were few to begin with, to work in logging. That would be too wasteful.
Therefore, they needed one or even a few mortal cities nearby to work for them.
Even if the speed of a hundred mortals was only comparable to a Qi Refinement realm disciple, that was enough.
After locking onto the Endless Mountain Range through a certain method, the Iron Wolf Sect cultivators were not stupid.
Apart from sending the wolf cavalry cultivators to search the entire place thoroughly, they also found this place immediately.
As long as they could find some clues in this mortal city, they could follow the clues and find the location of Thousand Sieve City.
Jiang Li and the higher-ups of the Great Mountain Alliance lowered their flying altitude and landed in front of the city gate.
At this moment, three huge wolves emitting a metallic luster darted out of the city.
”Who is it?! The Iron Wolf Sect is handling matters here. All unrelated people, quickly leave!”
Jiang Li did not hide his tracks and was quickly discovered by the people from the Iron Wolf Sect.
On the back of the iron wolves, there were three Core Formation cultivators riding on them. They held a bone spear artifact in their hands. Coupled with the huge wolf beneath them, their strength could be considered quite decent.
After all, such a sect war often meant that there were benefits to be gained.
As for taking advantage of others, rogue cultivators were the most experienced.
Many rogue cultivators of the Eastern Region gathered here upon hearing the news.
No one liked such an uncontrollable factor. In order to prevent any accidents from happening in the future, the Iron Wolf Sect naturally wanted to drive them away.
Unfortunately, their Iron Wolf Sect had yet to join the Divine Judgment Hall and was not a famous large sect.
If they acted too arrogantly in the outside world, it was very likely that they would provoke some important figure before they could achieve their goal.
It would be a joke if they were wiped out in advance.
Swoosh!
A circle of invisible aura spread out. The originally noisy wind also quieted down at this moment.
The three iron wolves let out low whimpers. Their bodies fell to the ground and consciously shrunk to the sides of the road.
The three cultivators on the wolves' back also trembled.
That was definitely a top-notch cultivator who had surpassed them!
They were on the brink of tears. They were just guarding the gate normally, so why did they end up in such a situation?
After the higher-ups of the Great Mountain Alliance released their auras, the three Iron Wolf Sect disciples decisively chose to play dead.
Their mission was not to provoke such a great enemy for the sect. It was their duty to report the situation to the sect later.
After entering this city formed by loggers, they saw that every family in the city was confined in their homes and under constant supervision.
However, under such circumstances, there was still no lack of pedestrians on the streets.
The rogue cultivators and small forces that came from all over formed an alliance that even the Iron Wolf Sect could not ignore. They could only provide an area for them to act independently.
The most dangerous place was the safest. It was indeed unexpected for the few people from the Ink Sect to suggest meeting here.
Jiang Li gestured, and the nine elders dispersed.
When the few of them walked together, they were indeed too conspicuous. In order to prevent any accidents, they kept a distance from each other and secretly guarded each other.
”Little brother, it's you?”
After walking alone in this ordinary mortal city that did not even have a name, a voice suddenly stopped Jiang Li.
It was a tall, dark-skinned, and honest-looking middle-aged cultivator.
”Brother, what a coincidence.”
This cultivator had met Jiang Li before.
It was the cultivator who had reminded him to be careful of Wu Loulan of the Myriad Slaughter Sect in Phoenix Sun City.
Jiang Li took a closer look and discovered that this person was actually a Golden Core cultivator as well.
In the cultivation world of the Great Mountain Region, Golden Core cultivators were high-level elders of the various large sects even if they did not establish their own sects.
However, in the Eastern Region, he actually met one on the streets.
”Brother, my name is Jiang Li, how do I address you?”
Jiang Li did not hide his name. With his status, this kind of thing could not be hidden.
”Haha, I'm Zhao Tiangang. Little brother, you're a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Why did you come here? Did you get separated from your elders?”
”Follow me. It won't be good if the Iron Wolf Sect discovers us.”
They walked into a tavern by the street. The mortal shop attendants inside were nervously greeting guests.
It seemed that the shop was forced to open. They could not refute the orders of a cultivator.
For some reason, there were so many important figures here today at the tavern.
”Someone asked me to come here. Brother Zhao, what about you?”
Jiang Li habitually looked at the structure of this tavern. There was no spiritual qi, no traps, and the building materials were only ordinary wood. It should not be dangerous.
They found a corner table and sat down. Jiang Li did not touch any of the food in the store, but Zhao Tiangang asked for a pot of mortal wine to drink.
”There's actually someone who would meet you in such a troublesome place. Little brother, don't tell me you're meeting someone from Ink Sect?”
Zhao Tiangang deliberately lowered his voice and transmitted it soundlessly, as if they were talking about secrets.
”Hehe, little brother, don't be afraid. I actually came to find Ink Sect.”
”In the past, I've received Ink Sect's favor. I came to the Endless Mountain Range to see if I can help.”
The other party smiled. It did not seem to be fake.
”Brother Zhao is so righteous. I'm in admiration. In this day and age, there are really not many people who know how to repay kindness.”
Jiang Li did not go out and walk around. He sat in the tavern and chatted with Zhao Tiangang.
The other party had been here all year round and had a huge advantage in information.
What Jiang Li was concerned about was the current situation of Ink Sect. How many top-notch cultivators were left, how many enemies came from the Iron Wolf Sect, and which famous rogue cultivators had appeared?
The other party seemed unwilling to reveal information about Ink Sect.
However, towards rogue cultivators, he could be said to be very familiar with them. For example, Eight Star Hand Liu Yong, Rock Construction Mountain Ku Gou, Purple-Robed Pan Gu, and others.
This time, the situation was not optimistic for Ink Sect.
After all, it was a sect that was at the end of its rope. How could it endure the bite of the Iron Wolf Sect, which was once a faction of the same level?
However, Ink Sect was skilled in mechanisms and weapon refinement, and they had a long history. It was said that there were a large number of treasures hidden within Thousand Sieve City. If they could make a profit from it, this trip would not be in vain.
At this moment, Jiang Li suddenly sensed something.
”It seems that the person looking for me has arrived.”