Chapter 733: Returning to the city (1/2)
After the stand-off with Brovst, Han Shuo learned to be even more careful in tracking the godhunters. Fortunately for Han Shuo, the plain wasn’t particularly vast and it only took them one day to cross it. The terrain that followed was filled with rivers, hills, and bottomless cliffs - places most suitable for demon generals to hide. Therefore, Han Shuo was able to keep a close eye on the godhunters again.
Han Shuo continued to follow them. Then, on the thirteenth day, the group of godhunters arrived at a huge valley where the air was filled with mist and the ground covered with swamps and odd-looking stone pillars.
Before entering the valley, Han Shuo discovered that there were concealment boundaries deployed everywhere as well as several energy towers that were embedded inside towering trees. An abnormally intense energy fluctuation was filling every corner. Multiple dark silhouettes concealed in the dark were secretly observing the godhunters as they entered.
After observing from a great distance away using his demon generals, Han Shuo suddenly discovered that even Brovst, Gallas and Taylin humbled in postures after arriving at the valley. When passing through the checkpoints, even though they did not bow or bend their knees, they were cautious and solemn in attitude.
Han Shuo was shocked by the scene he witnessed as, to his understanding, Brovst, Gallas and Taylin were the leaders among them. They should have behaved like kings after returning to their base. Han Shuo did not expect to see them perform otherwise.
After giving it a thought, Han Shuo was jolted by the conclusion he arrived at. There was only one scenario that could explain the phenomenon - Brovst, Gallas and Taylin were not the top bosses in the Godhunter Alliance!
The trio were all roughly in mid-stage highgod realm. If they weren’t even the actual leaders of the Godhunter Alliance, then the strength of this Alliance was just shocking.
There were sentries located all over the valley. The energy fluctuation produced by the energy towers had covered the entire valley, enveloping it under layers upon layers of boundaries. Under such rigid security and defenses, there was no way that Han Shuo could infiltrate the base, not even his demon general could get a glimpse - it would trigger the outermost barrier right away and invite godhunters to swarm the valley. If that happened, Han Shuo would have a hard time escaping.
Besides, if Han Shuo’s hypothesis was correct, there could very well be a late-stage highgod in the valley. Han Shuo would be in real deep trouble if he angered a being of that class.
Han Shuo took time to carefully observe the perimeters of the valley. After realizing that there was no way he could infiltrate the valley silently, out of consideration for his own safety, Han Shuo decided to temporarily give up on scouting the inside of the valley.
This valley was no longer within the influence of the City of Shadows, but somewhere between the City of Shadows and Mirage City. As Han Shuo had memorized the precise location of this base, he figured that perhaps someday in the future, he would return here with an army and flatten this base, making a significant contribution, solidifying his position in the City of Shadows.
After having come to the decision, Han Shuo stopped hesitating and silently returned on the path he came from.
He traveled to a safe distance from the valley, spent a day memorizing the environment, and finally left, flying in the direction of the City of Shadows.
It had been nearly two months since Han Shuo parted with the Andrina and the others. The godhunters had given up on searching the mountain range. If everything had gone well, they were to be on their way to the City of Shadows in an airship.
Han Shuo did not return to that mountain range but headed for the City of Shadows. As Han Shuo wasn’t in a hurry, he decided to collect medicinal ingredients on the way home. He had spent nearly three months on a journey that required merely ten days.
Nearly all the House of Sainte divine guards recognized Han Shuo. They greeted him respectfully when he appeared at the city gate of the City of Shadows.
“Goth, have you seen people from my Celestial Pearl enter the city recently? Most of them are just demigods and are very weak,” Han Shuo smilingly nodded at a divine guard he was acquainted with before immediately asking him about Andrina and the others.
“No, there aren’t any demigods who entered the city recently. You should know that demigods aren’t allowed to enter the city unless they are under the custody of certain special characters, for example, Mister Bryan, that they would be allowed to enter and live in the City of Shadows,” Goth took the opportunity to flatter Han Shuo indirectly.
There was indeed such a policy in the City of Shadows. Any regular outsider who had not even reached basegod strength wouldn’t be qualified to enter the City of Shadows. Only the towns around it would take in this type of people. Before they reached basegod strength, they could not get their own divine tablet and would, therefore, be a hassle after entering the city. If they were killed, nobody would even know who the body belonged to.
But, as always, there were exceptions to the rules. If the outsiders were important relatives to large family clans in the city, or under the guardianship of respected characters, they would be granted entry.
Han Shuo’s heart sank after hearing the reply. He handed Goth a bottle of Rejuvenation Pills and smilingly asked, “Can I bother you to check with the other city gates if any demigods have tried to enter?”
Goth’s eyes shone. He received the bottle excitedly and immediately replied, “One moment please, I will ask around for you!”
Goth left hastily upon finishing those words. A few minutes later, Goth walked down from an energy tower, shook his head, and said to Han Shuo, “I’m sorry, I’ve checked but nothing like that has happened in the last six months.”
“Thanks...” Han Shuo felt rather worried but still, he decided to enter the City of Shadows.
If everything went as planned, Andrina and her party should have arrived at the City of Shadows around two months ago. Although Andrina’s power was extraordinary and they should be safe without godhunters obstructing their way, Han Shuo’s heart could not be at ease.
Han Shuo returned to the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy with a rattled mind.
Akley and Gu Li updated Han Shuo with the recent happenings in the City of Shadows. The Celestial Pearl Pharmacy continued its upward momentum, raking in crystal coins day after day. They managed to recruit more pharmacists and various talents, allowing three more branches to open for business.
The top position of the Fifth Corps remained vacant. Although every family clan in the city drooled for this post, no one could locate Avery. It appeared that the post would remain unoccupied until someone chopped off Avery’s head and presented it to the City Lord.
The House of Lavers grew even more low-profile. They had avoided participating in most activities in the City of Shadows. Besides Felder, the patriarch, most members of the Lavers Family had left the City of Shadows. The House of Lavers continued its rapid decline.
Carmelita had been to the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy twice while Han Shuo was away. She asked Akley to have Han Shuo look for her at the Sainte Residence as soon as he returned.
The House of Sainte had been busy cracking down on godhunters within their territories. The godhunters had been rampant and causing havoc in the City of Shadows, greatly enraging Wallace. He felt that the presence of the godhunters had severely threatened the business activities of his city and dispatched divine guards from the First and Second Corps to hunt down the godhunters.
Members of the other three large family clans had frequently visited the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy, asking when Han Shuo would produce new medicines. Rugersey, who had once had a misunderstanding with Han Shuo, would purchase a ton of medicines every time he visited. Rugersey never haggled; in fact, he was in the habit of giving large tips every time. His intention was obvious to everyone.
“Has Andrina returned? Any news from her?” Han Shuo bunched his brows and asked after listening to Akley narrate the recent occurrences.
“Nope, no news at all!” Akley then looked at Han Shuo puzzlingly and asked, “Didn’t you leave with her? Why have you returned alone?”
“We came across some trouble on our way back and had to return to the city separately,” Han Shuo began to feel uneasy and therefore skipped the explanation to Akley.
Akley did not ask about the details, instead consoling Han Shuo with a smile, “Don’t you worry. With her strength, what could possibly happen to her?”