Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 583 You think you're worthy to explore secrets?

Liang Jin's figure emerged from the shadow of the collapsed vault.

Before our eyes, the fierce battle above the county government office is still raging, with the roar of explosions, the hiss of sword energy, and the cracking sound of bones breaking intertwining into a chaotic symphony.

Now that the money is in hand, it's time to leave.

He is preparing to take measures to quell the fighting.

But then I suddenly noticed that there were already quite a few new messages on the system panel.

Liang Jin immediately opened the panel and took a look.

It turned out that several bright spots had appeared on the radar interface of [Nine Boundless Space].

"It seems that there are new level nine martial artists in Jinxi City."

"That's right... I was so focused on discussing the solution to converting rice paddies to mulberry fields during the day that I forgot to activate the Nine Void Boundless Realm."

"Then let's complete it now."

Liang Jin immediately pulled all the Nine Realms warriors around him into the [Nine Realms Without Boundaries], and also pulled all the warriors connected to the [Nine Realms Without Boundaries] back in.

next moment.

Liang Jin and many other martial artists around him suddenly experienced a change in their vision, as their minds entered a strange space-time.

……

The nine voids have no boundaries.

The eerie, unchanging sky, like a giant, congealed scab, allows no light to penetrate; only a depressing dark red shrouds the land.

The vast, boundless land presented a sickly, gray, lifeless, and gloomy appearance.

On this desolate and lifeless land, the only thing standing tall is that enormous, ferocious black city that seems to be built from countless tormented souls—the City of the Unjustly Dead!

It stood silently, its city gates like the throat of a giant beast, radiating a chilling aura.

now.

Before this colossal city gate, a symbol of death and reincarnation, the space rippled like water, and figures, some clear and some blurry, materialized out of thin air.

Om-!
An invisible wave swept by, and the figures of thousands of martial artists stood on the open ground in front of the City of the Unjustly Dead!
They varied in build, height, and weight, wore clothing from different regions, and carried a wide variety of weapons.

However, everyone's faces were blurred by a thin, mist-like energy, making it impossible to see each other's true appearances. They could only sense each other's presence and varying degrees of energy fluctuations.

After a brief silence, a clamor surged forth like a tide.

"What the hell? Why are they so late opening today? I've been squatting in the outhouse all day waiting, my legs are numb! I thought this awful place was closed down!"

"Exactly! Bringing someone in in the middle of the night, don't they let people get any sleep? After this beating, I still have to go back and appease my wife!"

"Alright, alright, that's enough! Let's finish this quickly and call it a day! Staying in this lousy place for too long is making me uneasy!"

"Yes, let's charge in! Same rules as always, stick together! Don't get separated!"

……

For these martial artists who were already accustomed to the bizarre rules of the Nine Void Boundless Realm and regarded this place as a special "training ground," the scene before them was not unfamiliar.

They quickly adjusted their mindset, spontaneously forming familiar teams, exchanging tactics in hushed tones, their eyes warily fixed on the dark city gate, waiting for it to open.

A tense yet numb restlessness permeated the air.

However, not everyone was so calm.

"What kind of demon are you?! How dare you use evil magic to bewitch my mind!"

A fierce shout, filled with boundless rage and astonishment, suddenly exploded like a thunderclap from a clear sky!

It instantly drowned out all the noise!

Suddenly, a figure leaped up from the ground and hovered in mid-air!

He exuded a powerful aura, stirring up the viscous air around him; he was none other than Yan Zi'an, the fourth head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau!

His face, smooth as porcelain and without eyebrows, was now filled with shock, rage, and a barely perceptible hint of...fear!
One moment he was still fighting fiercely with Mushan Qing, the next he found himself in this bizarre and incomparably blood-red world!
This was completely beyond his knowledge!

He stared intently at the dense, indistinct figures below, and demanded sharply:
"Where is this place?! And who are you?!"

"Dispel the sorcery immediately, or I will surely annihilate you both, body and soul!"

His voice was like the clang of metal, carrying official authority and internal force, echoing endlessly in the vast and silent Nine Void Boundless Realm, sounding particularly jarring.

This sudden turn of events instantly drew the attention of all the martial artists.

"Wow! A newcomer! Judging from his tone, he's an official?"

"Tsk tsk, that aura... at least a fifth-rank official, right? Daring to be so arrogant as soon as they come in?"

"Fifth rank? Are you blind?! Even I, at the peak of fourth rank, felt suffocated by his aura! This is definitely a tough opponent! At least third rank!"

"A third-rank official?! My goodness! This is going to be interesting today! How come such an important person is here?"

"This is going to be interesting! I wonder which prefecture's official it is..."

……

The martial artists whispered amongst themselves, their excitement mingled with a hint of apprehension towards the powerful.

"Lord Yan?!"

Another gasp rang out!
Another burly figure soared into the sky and landed not far from Yan Zi'an's side; it was none other than "Thunderbolt Hand" Cen Ruifeng!

He looked around, his face showing no less shock than Yan Zi'an's, but with an added touch of the wariness and ruthlessness of a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person from the martial arts world).

"We've fallen for those bandits' trick!"

"This place is eerie and definitely not a benevolent place! It seems to be some kind of extremely sophisticated mental illusion!"

"Concentrate quickly and find a way to break through this illusion and get out!"

Cen Ruifeng clearly thought this was an illusion. He closed his eyes and focused his mind, trying to escape from this place.

high places.

At this moment, Liang Jin is looking down on everything in front of the City of the Wrongfully Dead with a "God's-eye view" that transcends dimensions.

He clearly saw that the "newcomers" who had been brought here were far more than just Yan Zi'an and Cen Ruifeng!
At the edge of the dense crowd below, Han Tong, the "Thousand Machine Child" with blurred features but distinct physical characteristics, was warily surveying his surroundings, his small hands tightly gripping his throwing knife pouch; Fei Biao, the "Gluttonous Chef," was scratching his greasy hair, looking bewildered; Zhong Li, the "Bell-Bell Guest," had his big eyes wide open, seemingly still unable to react to the dramatic change in his surroundings.

Next!

"Hmph! Yan Zi'an!"

A clear, cold shout pierced the noise!

A pale blue figure soared into the air like a startled swan, facing Yan Zi'an from afar—it was Mu Shanqing!

Although her face was blurred, her sharp, sword-like gaze seemed to pierce through the mist, locking onto Yan Zi'an.

"You corrupt official! Our fight isn't over yet!"

"You think you can escape by hiding in this godforsaken place?"

Her voice carried a chilling killing intent and a hint of anger at being forcibly interrupted in battle.

Liang Jin's gaze lingered on Mu Shanqing for a moment, and the information from the system surprised him slightly: a person of utmost righteousness.

A slight thought stirred in Liang Jin's heart:

"I underestimated her before."

"I thought she was a shrewd opportunist, but I didn't expect her to be this kind of person. She's worth befriending."

People who are truly righteous are those who value loyalty and keep their promises.

These are the kinds of people you can befriend.

Almost all the truly righteous people Liang Jin encountered were of impeccable character.

"Mu Shanqing?!"

When Yan Zi'an saw her there, his pupils contracted sharply, and then an even stronger killing intent erupted from him:
"It really was you, you vixen, who did this!"

"Fine! Fine! You have a path to heaven but choose not to take it, and you barge into hell when there's no way out!"

"Killing you here will eliminate any future trouble! Maybe it will even break this sorcery!"

He was convinced that Mushan Qing was the instigator, and old and new grudges surged into his heart, so he no longer cared whether the place was strange or not!
Before he finished speaking, Yan Zian's figure swayed, his pale body like a ghost, his hands gripping the two swords tightly, and with a sinister and ruthless force, he rushed straight at Mu Shanqing!
"I'm afraid you won't succeed!"

With a sharp shout, Kiyama Seiji's soft sword, as smooth as autumn water, instantly burst forth with a dazzling cold light as he fearlessly met the attack.

The two figures clashed fiercely in mid-air once again, sword energy crisscrossing and palm winds howling!
The battle breaks out instantly!

"Lord Yan! I'm here to help you!"

Upon seeing this, Cen Ruifeng roared and tried to rush forward to attack Mu Shanqing from both sides.

at the same time.

"Roar!"

Several inhuman roars rang out!
Several dark figures exuding a dense aura of death instantly appeared around Cen Ruifeng; these were the Yin Bone Puppet released by Liang Jin.

Ignoring Cen Ruifeng's astonished gaze, they brandished their withered, skeletal claws, exuding a chilling aura, and fearlessly pounced forward!
This time, the scope of the battle is terrifying!

Yan Zi'an and Mu Shanqing's sword energy and palm winds, Cen Ruifeng's explosive "Thunderbolt Palm" energy, the Yin Bone Puppet's Yin Sha death energy...

Several terrifying energies at the level of third-grade martial artists collided and exploded wildly in the low sky!
"Boom! Bang! Sizzle!"

The violent energy turbulence was like a runaway meat grinder, pouring down indiscriminately onto the dense crowd of martial artists below!

"Ah—! My arm!"

"Run!"

"What the hell?! What's going on?!"

Screams kept coming!
Those martial artists who were close by and slightly weaker had no time to react. They were swept by the dissipated energy, and their bodies twisted and disintegrated instantly, like snowmen thrown into lava, turning into wisps of smoke and disappearing!

He couldn't even let out a complete scream!

The martial artists who managed to escape were terrified and scattered like a flock of frightened sheep, causing chaos in an instant!

"Crazy! These lunatics!"

"Are they in league with the monsters in the City of the Wrongfully Dead?! How come they started killing each other and indiscriminately slaughtering innocents as soon as they entered?!"

"Stop fighting! Please stop! Go fight the monsters in the city!"

"Damn it! The city gate! Quickly get into the City of the Wrongfully Dead! It's spacious inside, we can hide from them!"

……

A cacophony of wails and angry curses filled the air.

In the face of such an absolute powerhouse, ordinary martial artists are as fragile as ants.

Although one wouldn't truly die here, this place offers the chance to obtain priceless treasures, and each entry is a precious opportunity. They were unwilling to waste such a gamble-like chance.

Liang Jin frowned slightly upon seeing this.

With a mere thought, he hastily activated the City of the Unjustly Dead.

If the battle between Mushan Qing and Yan Zi'an causes too many martial artists to be affected, then Liang Jin will gain far less martial arts spirit.

“Boom, boom, boom!!!”

A deep, resounding roar, seemingly emanating from the deepest hell, shook the entire Nine Realms!

The massive, heavy black city gate slowly opened inward amidst a teeth-grinding scraping sound!
It revealed a deep, dark passageway behind it, seemingly capable of swallowing all light!

"The city gates are open! Get in quickly!"

"It'll be safe once we're inside! Hurry!"

The terrified warriors surged toward the open city gate like a flood bursting its banks!
They jostled and trampled each other, all in an effort to escape the deathly airspace above and find refuge in the relatively familiar battlefield of the City of the Dead.

The moment the crowd surged in!
"Boom boom boom!"

A low, somber, and seemingly filled-with-ends-grief-and-fervor war drumbeat rolled in from the depths of the City of the Wrongfully Dead like muffled thunder!

Suddenly, countless eyes flashing with fanaticism and murderous intent lit up in the shadows of the city gate passageway!

Immediately afterwards, like a black torrent bursting forth, countless Taiping Dao believers, draped in yellow turbans, wielding knives and spears, their expressions numb yet fanatical, surged out like a tide!
They remained silent, with only heavy breathing and the sound of weapons clashing together, forming a suffocating wave of death that crashed violently against the surging warriors!

The leader was a tall man with an indistinct face but a fierce aura. He wielded the Cold Moon Blade in his hand like a wheel. He was none other than Miao Yuanzheng, the leader of the Taiping Dao!
Wherever his blade pointed, the Yellow Turban rebels seemed to be injected with a berserk potion, letting out beast-like roars and launching an even more frenzied attack!
Liang Jin did not summon the battle puppet Huang Xingzi; that thing was too conspicuous and was no longer suitable for easy exposure.

However, in order to balance the fighting power, he made a slight thought, and seven arrayed battle puppets, which shone with a cold metallic luster, moved swiftly, and cooperated perfectly, appeared silently on the flank of the Yellow Turbans!
Like precise killing machines, they instantly cut into the battlefield, forming a deadly pincer attack with the Yellow Turban rebels!
The martial arts community of the Nine Realms is now vastly different from what it used to be.

With the influx of many elite troops from Yanshan Village, the overall strength has increased significantly.

especially……

Liang Jin's gaze, like an invisible probe, instantly locked onto two figures in the shadow of the huge gate of the City of the Unjustly Dead.

The man was eight feet tall, with broad shoulders and a thick back, standing there like a sturdy iron tower.

He was dressed in a black outfit, his face blurred but his imposing and domineering aura was undeniable.

Even as the aftershocks of Yan Zi'an and Mu Shanqing's fierce battle swept past overhead, he merely swayed slightly, his figure as steady as a rock, as if the turbulent currents that could tear apart ordinary martial artists were nothing more than a gentle breeze.

His deep gaze pierced through the crowd, locking onto Yan Zi'an, who was engaged in fierce combat in the air, his brows furrowed as if assessing a huge threat.

This man was none other than Yin Leiling, the leader of the Changzhou Green Forest and the chief of Yanshan Village, known as "Proud Blade Hero"!

Beside him stood a figure less than five feet tall, yet as muscular as a granite block.

His arms reached past his knees, his muscles were bulging, and he possessed explosive power. He was none other than Meng Guang, the second-in-command of Yanshan Village, known as "Dwarf Yama"!
"The water in Changzhou is getting muddier and muddier."

Yin Leiling's voice was deep and solemn, like muffled thunder ringing in Meng Guang's ears:

"This new expert has a cold and eerie aura, and exudes an official air. He is definitely not a martial arts expert."

"Most likely... they're after our Yanshan Village."

His gaze never left Yan Zi'an.

Upon hearing this, Meng Guang's ugly face twitched slightly, and he lowered his voice, a hint of anxiety in it:
"Chief, the situation is dire!"

"As soon as I arrived, the brothers from the village contacted me, saying that Song Jiang... is too powerful!"

"His seductive ideas, such as 'acting on behalf of Heaven' and 'robbing the rich to help the poor,' have spread like wildfire among the brothers!"

"Now in the stronghold, many brothers only listen to Song Jiang's orders, and Bai Yi's words... are almost no longer effective!"

His voice was urgent:

"Chief, shouldn't we... hurry back?"

"If we stay any later, that guy surnamed Song might take over our house!"

Yin Leiling abruptly turned his head, his eyes, hidden beneath his blurred face, flashing with a terrifying light, like two sharp swords piercing towards Meng Guang:
"idiot!"

"You know nothing! You're short-sighted!"

His voice carried suppressed anger and an almost fanatical excitement:

"The place we went with the Thief King this time... that's a true paradise!"

"It is a place where dragons rise, capable of changing you and me, and even the entire world order!"

He grabbed Meng Guang's thick arm with such force that Meng Guang felt a sharp pain. His voice was even lower, yet it carried a bewitching magic:
"Think about it! Yanshan Stronghold? Thousands of brothers? Number one in Changzhou?"

"What are you anyway!"

"He's nothing but a nobody!"

"In that paradise, any brick or tile you dig up might contain ancient secrets, divine weapons, or even... the secret to immortality!"

"That is the real priceless treasure!"

"Compared to this, Yanshan Village is nothing more than a pile of broken stones by the roadside! Understand?!"

Meng Guang was completely stunned by the fervor in Yin Leiling's eyes and the "paradise on earth" he described in his words.

He opened his mouth, his throat feeling dry.

Yanshan Village was the culmination of his life's work and the foundation upon which he established himself in the martial arts world.

The chieftain actually belittled it to the point of being worthless.
Is that place really that eerie?
"Chief...Chief,"

Meng Guang swallowed hard, his eyes filled with incredulous curiosity:
"What exactly is inside that place...?"

Yin Leiling abruptly interrupted him:

"Silence!"

He warily scanned the blurry figures around him, his voice as cold and hard as iron:

"Once it gets light and we reach the location, we'll start digging... and then you'll understand!"

He stopped explaining and turned his gaze back to the chaotic battlefield, as if searching for something.

Just then, his gaze settled.

"Miss Yan has arrived."

Not far away, several figures parted the chaotic fighting crowd and quickly approached the city gate.

The leader was slender and agile, her steps light and nimble like a cat gliding through the snow without leaving a trace. Even in such a chaotic and bloody battlefield, she exuded a unique composure and alertness.

Her face was also shrouded in mist, but her neat night-fighting outfit and her capable and dashing temperament made her instantly recognizable—it was none other than the granddaughter of the Thief Saint, Yan San Niang!
The people following behind her were also composed and skilled, clearly core members of the Banquet Mountain stronghold who participated in the Thief Saint operation.

The group quickly gathered in the shadows of the doorway.

This place is relatively open, with a huge lintel overhead to shield it from the core battlefield and the chaos of the battle between powerful figures in the sky.

Yan San Niang surveyed the crowd, her clear and calm voice ringing out, reaching everyone's ears distinctly:

"Heroes, my grandfather asked me to pass on a message to you all."

"He deduced that this strange place was no simple illusion or battlefield, but must be hiding a shocking secret!"

She paused, her tone becoming somewhat serious:
"Grandpa is working hard to research the method to enter this place, and I believe he will be able to come down in person soon!"

"Before that, I urge you all to lend a helping hand and explore this City of the Dead as thoroughly as possible!"

"Don't just stay on the outskirts fighting; go deeper, to those areas that no one has ever set foot in! Watch out for any unusual energy fluctuations, strange buildings, or artifacts inscribed with ancient characters!"

"Any clue, however small, could be the key to unlocking the mystery of this place!"

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances and clasped their hands in a fist salute.

"Don't worry, Miss Yan! What the Thief Saint does is what we do!"

"This place is strange. If we can find out the truth, it will be of great benefit to us!"

"That's exactly what I was thinking! The fighting on the outskirts doesn't really hone our skills anymore, so let's go deeper into the lion's den!"

……

They were all renowned figures in the martial arts world, and their vision and pursuits had long surpassed the simple desire of ordinary martial artists for treasures.

Their participation in the Thief Saint's operation, with their target being the elusive "Immortal Land," itself proves their ambition.

Now that the mysterious Nine Void Boundless Realm is right in front of them, and the Thief Saint has personally given the order, they are naturally happy to explore it.

Having reached a consensus, the group no longer hesitated.

With top experts like Yin Leiling and Meng Guang leading the way, they were like several sharp knives, skillfully avoiding the chaotic torrent of the core battlefield and the aftershocks of the battle between the strong in the sky. They bypassed the army of martial artists who were fighting with the Yellow Turbans and war puppets, and quickly sneaked into the depths of the City of the Unjustly Dead!

Liang Jin's cold consciousness, like the lofty Dao of Heaven, coldly watched all of this.

"Hmph, unwilling to be a pawn, you want to jump off the chessboard?"

A chilling sneer rose in his heart:

"You think you can get away with not following my rules on my turf?"

"Explore secrets? You...you dare to be worthy?!"

As a large amount of martial arts spirit was absorbed and transformed by the [Nine Void Boundless], Liang Jin could clearly feel that the second layer of the [Nine Void Boundless] had begun to loosen!

Now is the perfect time to strike while the iron is hot!

How could he tolerate Yin Leiling and his group leaving the battlefield and disrupting his rhythm of harvesting martial arts spirit?

With a thought, Liang Jin's body instantly solidified within the Nine Void Boundless Realm!

At the top of the towering black spire of the City of the Wrongfully Dead, which seemed to be solidified from countless painful cries, space was slightly distorted.

A figure appeared silently.

He was dressed in a simple, dark-colored outfit, his face shrouded in a deeper darkness that seemed to absorb light.

Only one pair of eyes, cold and indifferent, like a god looking down upon all living beings, pierced through the distance of space and precisely locked onto Yin Leiling, Yan San Niang and their group below, who were like ants trying to sneak into the city.

He slowly raised his right hand.

Om-!
Ripples spread through the space, and a large bow, as tall as a person, appeared out of thin air in Liang Jin's hand.

The bow appears to be cast in metal, yet it reveals a warm, jade-like texture. When sunlight shines through it, it seems as if thousands of stars are slowly rotating inside, shimmering with light and color, and faintly tinged with a deep blue like the ocean.

It is indeed the Jade Shadow Bow!
Its body trembled slightly, emitting a low, dragon-like hum.

Liang Jin took out a spear and arrow, drew his bow and nocked the arrow. The arrowhead pointed to the path that Yin Leiling and the others below would inevitably take!

A cold wind howled atop the tower, fluttering his dark robes.

He was like a god who held the reins of death, and he began the hunt.

The bow is drawn to its fullest extent; wherever the arrow points, all things perish!

(End of this chapter)