The Fourth Disaster: People become gods through high martial arts and gaming

Chapter 261 Ceasefire? The Gray-Clad Man?

"Tens of thousands of martial artists died? And there was a large-scale heavy ion reaction?"

"What exactly is Star Tower City fighting against?"

Diloa was momentarily confused by Ino's report, wondering if Ino had gone to the wrong place.

As a key forward stronghold of both Star Tower City and Light Chaser City, the combined forces gathered in Ragewind Town during the full-scale war are undoubtedly no less than those of Maple Forest Town.

Tens of thousands of martial artists died in this town of Furywind, and even the city's most powerful weapon, the heavy ion bomb, was used, yet Furywind was still destroyed. Who would believe that?

Even if the City of Light were to launch a full-scale attack on Ragewind Town, they might not be able to take it down. They simply couldn't believe what kind of force could possibly destroy Ragewind Town.

“We haven’t found any people or creatures outside of Star Tower City,” Ino explained hesitantly. “Based on our initial investigation in Ragewind Town, the people of Star Tower City must have voluntarily withdrawn from Ragewind Town. Not only was everything in Ragewind Town emptied out, but we also didn’t find any bodies of apprentices or quasi-martial artists in the entire town.”

"You mean there's a force that can cripple Star Tower City without firing a single shot, forcing Star Tower City to back down?" Diroya looked at the hesitant Ino, his expression growing more serious.

The sudden emergence of a force that even Star Tower City had to yield to is not a good thing for City of Light.

Since the opponent could severely damage Star Tower City, they could naturally also severely damage Light Chaser City.

If you accidentally provoke this force, it will be an absolute catastrophe.

"Have you gathered any intelligence from Star Tower City?" The tall, one-eyed, one-armed young man sitting next to Diloya suddenly asked.

As soon as the tall, one-eyed, one-armed young man spoke, Ino didn't dare to be negligent and quickly replied, "We haven't received any useful information from Star Tower City yet. We only know that Star Tower City has ordered all personnel fighting on the front lines to retreat. Our intelligence personnel have already gone to Star Tower City, and we believe we will know the relevant information soon."

The one-eyed youth in front of them was a distinguished guest invited by the city lord Di Luoya from the domain city. Although he was a short man of only two meters tall and had only one arm left, he was a super genius who could rival the Blood Condensation Realm. Even in the domain city, no one dared to neglect him.

"Brother Vansen, do you have any information on this?" Diloya asked the one-eyed, one-armed youth with some curiosity.

As one of the top 20 contestants in the Four Domains Youth Competition, Fan Sen, although only at the Bone Forging Realm, was no less powerful than him. He also held a very high position in the Domain City and had access to far more secret information than the city lord.

The one-eyed, one-armed Vansen shook his head: "I don't have any information on this either, which is why I wanted to ask who this person is who could so severely damage Star Tower City."

"Even you, Brother Vansen, don't know who did it?" Upon hearing this, Di Luoya's expression became even more serious.

These days, the most terrifying thing in the Mist Mountain region is never the three untouchable entities, but those terrifying forces whose names you've never even heard of.

The three untouchable beings are indeed recognized as powerful, but they all have their own clear rules. As long as you don't violate those rules, you'll be fine.

But those unknown forces have no idea what their rules are. If you accidentally violate them, you will create a powerful enemy for no reason, which would be extremely unfair.

Especially for a martial artist at the initial stage of the Blood Condensation Realm like him, in everyone's eyes he is a city lord, a very important figure in the entire Misty Mountain region.

But only he himself knew that while the Blood Condensation Realm was indeed a powerful force in the Misty Mountain region, the Misty Mountain region was a deep place, and there were many experts in the Blood Condensation Realm, but many of them were unknown to the public.

As for the forces organized by experts at the Blood Condensation Realm, there are far more of them than in the cities of the Misty Mountain region. It is only because these forces have different goals that he became the lord of a city. If it were based on seniority, he would not have been able to become the lord of a city at all.

This is why major cities are going to great lengths to cultivate talent, especially the geniuses sent to regional cities.

Those geniuses who arrive in the domain city have connections and resources.

Putting aside whether they can reach the Blood Condensation Realm, simply returning to the city to develop their careers is a guarantee for the city. After all, these people will always be able to meet some geniuses who have advanced to the Blood Condensation Realm at the same time, and they will be able to get to know these geniuses.

If the genius sent there can advance to the Blood Condensation Realm, it's like winning the lottery.

Firstly, geniuses who advance to the Blood Condensation Realm in a domain city will absolutely not return to become city lords. Those people have higher aspirations. These Blood Condensation Realm geniuses, having been nurtured in the city since childhood, have a certain affinity for it. If the city encounters any trouble, they will definitely not sit idly by. It's equivalent to having two Blood Condensation Realm experts in charge of a city. This is the greatest foundation of a city, more useful than any weapons or resources.

Unfortunately, despite ruling the City of Light for so many years and spending considerable resources to cultivate geniuses, not a single genius sent to the City of Light has yet advanced to the Blood Condensation Realm.

On the contrary, the geniuses he invested in, such as Fan Sen, have achieved great success in the Domain City and their status in the Domain City is much higher than that of ordinary Blood Condensation Realm cultivators.

“There are many hidden forces in the Misty Mountain region. Even the Domain City only knows about 70% or 80% of them,” Fan Sen explained. “The remaining 10% or 20% that are unknown to others are often the most troublesome. For example, the expansion of Star Tower City this time was caused by a hidden force in the Milky Way region in the Misty Mountain region. Star Tower City made contact with that force, which suddenly gave the Mountain Clan an additional Blood Condensation Realm expert. You can imagine how strong this hidden force is.”

Diroya nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly.

A master of the Blood Coagulation Realm!

Even if the Domain City wanted to cultivate one, it wouldn't be easy. But the hidden force in the Heavenly River region could create one just like that. If they could easily cultivate experts at the Blood Condensation Realm, the Domain City probably wouldn't be a match for them.

It's no wonder that this time, Domain City only went to the Tianhe area to demonstrate, without punishing Star Tower City, which it had cooperated with. It's very likely that they were wary of that hidden force.

If the hidden forces they are dealing with in Star Tower City are also of equal strength, then they will have to be careful about their next move in City of Light.

This is also why, after the people from Star Tower City withdrew, he didn't send anyone to pursue them, but instead had Ino investigate.

Whether they live in the city or are nomads in the wilderness, everyone thinks that the monsters outside are the most dangerous. In fact, they have no idea that a deadly force is hidden in the Fog Mountain area, and even the Domain City turns a blind eye to it.

Just as Diloya and Vansen were chatting, a person suddenly walked in from outside the hall. Although the person was a master of the Bone Forging Realm, the expression on his face was one of indescribable panic.

"What is it?" Di Luoya looked at Wu Zhuoqun, the garrison commander, who had walked in, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Since the emergence of Lin Qi as the deputy city lord, the human race has largely avoided involvement in the recent two-city war, focusing instead on defending Maple Forest Town. After all, a Bone Forging Realm expert like Lin Qi is extremely rare; he even managed to defeat Tu An of the Holy Blood Mercenary Group. Such strength would likely place him among the top experts in the Domain City. If it weren't for this incident, Lin Qi might have directly entered the Domain City and become a Blood Condensation Realm expert. That's why he's been so eager to win him over; otherwise, the human race would never have earned his attention.

"Lord City Lord, two envoys have arrived from Star Tower City, saying they wish to negotiate peace," Wu Zhuoqun replied loudly after calming himself down.

"Peace talks?" Diroya was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and quickly asked, "Do you know who those two people are?"

This urban war can be said to have been unilaterally provoked by Star Tower City. If it weren't for the restrictions imposed by the domain city, he would have already led his people away.

It's practically a joke that Star Tower City is now willing to negotiate.

He even suspected that Wu Zhuoqun was teasing him, or that someone was impersonating someone from Star Tower City.

“The two of them, one claims to be Alec, the deputy city lord of Star Tower City, and the other claims to be Wild Wolf, the deputy leader of the Holy Blood Mercenary Group.” Wu Zhuoqun quickly clicked on his smartwatch, “This contains their information and images.”

The holographic images displayed on the smartwatch showed a middle-aged man from the Mountain Clan and a middle-aged man from the Flame Horn Clan. Although they were holographic images, their unusual nature was still evident. The experience and confidence in their eyes indicated that they were not ordinary Bone Forging Realm experts.

“It really is Alec.” Diroya looked at the middle-aged mountain tribe man in the image and nodded. “Alright, let them come over.”

He didn't know any of the members of the Holy Blood Mercenary Group; he had only heard of their great name.

However, although Alec was the deputy city lord of Star Tower City, he had met him a few times before and had some impression of him, even though he hadn't come to the Martial Artists Association last time.

"Is Star Tower City going to negotiate at this time because something serious has happened there?" Vansen looked at Wu Zhuoqun as he left and couldn't help but feel curious.

Although the town of Ragewind caused considerable losses to Star Tower City, with tens of thousands of warriors dying, its main force was still intact. Under normal circumstances, let alone peace talks, it would be good enough if they didn't force Light Chaser City to surrender unconditionally.

Regardless of the circumstances, Star Tower City is home to the renowned Holy Blood Mercenary Group. Although he is confident that he has no rivals among the younger generation in the Mist Mountain region, it is not an easy task to confront the Holy Blood Mercenary Group. It is hard to imagine that Star Tower City would come to negotiate.

After all, this is the resources of an entire city, and both sides are engaged in a full-scale war. If we stop now, all the resources and manpower we have invested will be wasted.

"I don't know, but it's always a good thing to be able to negotiate." Diloya didn't think much of it, feeling that if they could negotiate, then they should; it was like a windfall for him.

Although inviting Vansen cost a lot of money this time, as long as Vansen didn't have to do anything, he would still owe Vansen a favor. Moreover, the City of Light could be saved, so it was definitely a huge profit.

A short while later, Wu Zhuoqun brought Alec and Huanglang in.

Alec's appearance was alright; although his qi and blood were strong, he gave off a feeling similar to the other deputy city lords. However, the pale-faced Wild Wolf was completely different.

The moment the Wild Wolf appeared, both Diroya, who was sitting high in the main seat, and Fansen, who was standing to the side, felt a sense of pressure. It was clear that it was no ordinary expert in the Bone Forging Realm.

"Is this the strength of the Holy Blood Mercenary Group?" Diroya looked at the Wild Wolf and felt that the Wild Wolf was much stronger than Tuan of the Martial Arts Association, and this was without even transforming.

During this time, he had thoroughly studied the situation of the Flame Horn Clan and learned that all the vice-captains of the Holy Blood Mercenary Group, including the captain, as well as many captains, were Flame Horn Clan geniuses who could transform.

Of course, a genius like Tuan, who can achieve a three-stage transformation, is probably a rare sight in the entire Flame Horn Clan, perhaps only once every few decades. However, within the Holy Blood Mercenary Group, there are several who can accomplish this.

"No wonder the Red Moon Merchant Guild gave up on revenge; the Holy Blood Mercenary Group truly lives up to its reputation." Vansen's fighting spirit also rose as he looked at the Wild Wolf.

In the Bone Forging Realm of Domain City, he rarely encountered anyone he could fight. He never expected that the Holy Blood Mercenary Group outside Domain City would have a master who could fight him. This was an unexpected surprise.

After a brief assessment by Diroya and Vansen, Diroya looked at Alec with some curiosity.

“Vice City Lord Alec, I wonder what kind of peace talks you are planning?” Diroya said with a smile. “If you are planning to make me give up my position as city lord, or give up most of the interests of the City of Light, then I’m afraid you two will have no choice but to go back. Our City of Light will fight to the death.”

Diroya felt it was necessary to express his determination and attitude towards the powerful Star Tower City, especially since Star Tower City had taken the initiative to come to negotiate.

In his view, the only possible reason why Star Tower City was willing to come to peace talks was because of the hidden force that attacked Ragewind Town.

Neither side knows the rules of that hidden force. If they were to rashly start a war, it would not benefit either of them. That is why Star Tower City came to negotiate.

He was personally willing to sacrifice some interests to achieve a ceasefire, since the Holy Blood Mercenary Group was stronger than he had imagined. If a war broke out, it would be overwhelmingly disadvantageous to the City of Light. He would also have to use Vansen's connections. If he could resolve the situation, that would be fine, but if he couldn't, he would lose both his people and his wealth.

"Lord Diroya is too kind," Alec said respectfully, looking at the smiling Diroya. "I have come here on behalf of Star Tower City, and naturally I have good intentions."

"Sincerity?" Diroya asked, somewhat puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"After discussions between our two city lords, we are willing to offer 100,000 energy crystals in exchange for the return of Ragewind Town. From then on, we can establish a permanent ceasefire and non-aggression pact witnessed by the Domain City," Alec said very sincerely.

"What did you say? Ten thousand energy crystals for Ragewind Town, plus a permanent ceasefire and a non-aggression pact?" Diroya almost stood up from his chair, his voice so loud it echoed throughout the hall, seriously doubting that Alec was joking with him.

Instead of making him pay any price, he was given 100,000 energy crystals. He must be dreaming or hallucinating.

"Of course, a permanent ceasefire is not necessary, but a twenty-year ceasefire and non-aggression is our bottom line!" Alec said firmly. "If Lord Diroya does not agree, then we will have no choice but to fight. Even if those gray-robed men help you, our Star Tower City is capable of mutual destruction!"

"A twenty-year ceasefire, non-aggression pact? Gray-clad man?" Diroya looked at Alec with surprise and confusion, completely baffled by what he was talking about.

"Lord Diroya, don't you know the man in gray?" Alec looked at the somewhat surprised Diroya, and was momentarily stunned.

(End of this chapter)