The villains are redeemed, and the heroines cry and beg for forgiveness.

"I'll say it again: your own safety is the most important thing. If you feel there's danger, don't hesitate, run away immediately," Xue Yingsong said earnestly.

Gu Ran nodded: "Don't worry, I'm not that old-fashioned. Even if you didn't say it, I would still do it."

"So when are you going to Far East City?"

"The sooner the better, I don't think I have anything else to wait for."

Xue Yingsong got up and went back into the same "treasure room" as before, taking out another spatial item that was also a ring.

"Here you go." Xue Yingsong handed the ring to Gu Ran. "Because it has been used several times in history, Far East City has already placed the teleportation location under surveillance. Although the teleportation location was slightly adjusted later, it should still be within Far East City's surveillance range, so you should be prepared to be discovered once you teleport there."

"Okay." Gu Ran took the ring and immediately activated it.

Gu Ran didn't say anything more and walked directly into the portal, teleporting away.

......

As soon as Gu Ran stepped out of the portal, he felt a weightless, falling sensation.

puff.

Gu Ran fell into the sea.

The long-lost scent of the sea made Gu Ran quite nostalgic.

Because the ocean is not like the land, the materialization of mental energy has no foundation, so Gu Ran is unable to run in the air.

However, Gu Ran was not discouraged. He didn't have any mental support, so what? It's not like he hadn't swum in the ocean before.

After observing his surroundings, Gu Ran quickly determined the direction of Far East City.

Because on that side there is a huge complex of buildings with a very clear outline, whose magnificent scale can be vaguely seen.

Far East City was built on an archipelago in the sea, and the complex itself is somewhat fragmented, just like the archipelago.

It's obvious that this should be Far East City.

Without hesitation, Gu Ran immediately moved and swam towards the Far East City.

Along the way, Gu Ran simultaneously used his mental power to explore the surrounding environment.

"Strange, are the fishermen of Far East City not fishing today?"

There are several fishing grounds near Far East City with abundant fish populations, while the ferocious beasts and sea monsters have long been cleared out, making them available for fishermen to catch.

Under normal circumstances, the fishermen of Far East City would go out to fish every day, a tradition that has lasted for nearly a thousand years.

This is the recorded information.

Gu Ran felt there was probably no mistake, so something must have happened that prevented the fishermen from going out to fish.

Continue swimming towards the Far East City.

Although Gu Ran is still some distance away from Far East City, his mental power has already reached Far East City and he can sense what Far East City looks like.

On this side of Far East City, the residents lived their lives normally, walking the streets, buying things, chatting, and enjoying a harmonious scene.

But the next moment, Gu Ran discovered something that made him feel very strange.

— Surprisingly, none of the residents of Far East City had any conflicts.

This conflict encompassed all aspects, without any arguments or unpleasantness between them.

Are the people of Far East City just naturally more optimistic?

Gu Ran recalled the relevant records.

Far East City, being isolated overseas, is not plagued by natural disasters, but is constantly attacked by sea monsters and ferocious beasts.

The people here struggle for survival every day, so the people of Far East City are usually quite repressed, irritable, and emotional.

This is based on relevant records, which is completely contrary to the actual situation of the residents of the Far East City that Gu Ran currently perceives.

To Gu Ran's surprise, he soon encountered an area that blocked his mental power.

This was the first time he had encountered this.

In the New Testament City, although a few buildings can block the prying eyes of psychic powers, they are only a few buildings.

New Testament City is much stronger overall than Far East City, but Far East City has many things that New Testament City lacks...

"No, that's not right. What's blocking my telekinesis isn't some special building material, but an ability I've never encountered before."

Gu Ran's heart sank slightly.

If it were like New Testament City, there would be obvious buildings, but Far East City is different. Although there are quite a few buildings in the area that blocks his telekinesis, most of it is just plain open space.

There is no substance that can be "felt".

However, his mental power could not extend any further.

Before long, Gu Ran swam to the archipelago where Far East City was located.

Without the slightest hesitation, Gu Ran immediately arrived outside the Far East City, surveyed its appearance, and then entered the city.

Due to its unique geographical features, the slums and inner city of Far East City are quite special.

Unlike other major cities, the slums do not encircle the inner city in a circle; instead, they are like a long strip that divides the city in two.

The side closer to the mainland is the inner city, while the side closer to the vast sea is the slums.

Because sea monsters and ferocious beasts usually invade from the vast ocean, Gu Ran was teleported to this location from the same direction.

After stepping into the slums of the Far East City, Gu Ran felt the eeriness of the place more and more.

Yes, it's eerie.

Although the scene before him was peaceful, with everyone wearing happy smiles, some chatting, some setting up stalls, and some hurrying on their way.

It seems like this is just an ordinary, quiet town.

But the more it's like this, the more eerie it feels.

If Gu Ran had to describe this eerie feeling, it would be that everyone's behavior here seemed to have a kind of... programmed nature?

They are like programs, having formed their own fixed patterns.

Gu Ran wasn't sure if his word was accurate, but it was certainly the most accurate word he could think of.

He walked silently through the streets of the slums.

Suddenly, Gu Ran stopped and looked at a mask vendor, asking, "Do you know Canglong City?"

The vendor said with a smile, "Azure Dragon City, it's famous, who doesn't know it?"

Gu Ran carefully examined the vendor.

He then asked, "What is 997 plus 4?"

"What is 997 plus 4? What is 997 plus 4...?" The vendor was still smiling, but he couldn't answer Gu Ran's question and kept mechanically repeating it.

Gu Ran walked up to a man who was hurrying along and tripped him.

The man who fell became furious.

"Who the hell...?"

"What is 997 plus 4?" Gu Ran interrupted him and asked directly.

The angry man was stunned for a moment, muttering to himself, "What is 997 plus 4?", completely losing his previous anger.

Seeing the man stuck in the same repetitive pattern, Gu Ran moved on to the next place.

It was a girl, her clothes were a bit worn, but she was reading a book. Gu Ran recognized the book; it was a book about basic arithmetic.

"What is 997 plus 4?"

Gu Ran walked up to the girl, interrupted her reading, and asked her a question under her surprised gaze.

"1001!" the girl who was reading a book answered quickly.

It seems... to be normal?

Gu Ran then asked, "What is the ninth prime number?"

"What is the ninth prime number?" The girl immediately fell into the same endless repetition as the previous ones.

Gu Ran fell silent.

He stopped testing these people one by one, because he was already certain that they had fallen into some kind of strange situation.

"Could the source of everything be that forbidden zone that cannot be reached by mental power?" Gu Ran thought of the area that blocked his mental power.

Gu Ran walked towards that area.

"Who are you?" A voice suddenly came, and a figure appeared in front of Gu Ran.

The figure was a man, but he wore a hairstyle unique to Far East City and martial arts attire unique to Far East City.

He looked at Gu Ran with a puzzled expression, seemingly very surprised by Gu Ran.

Gu Ran could sense that this man was different from the other residents of the slums.

The man's expression was more natural, more like a real person.

As for whether it's a "real person"...

"What is 997 plus 4?" Gu Ran suddenly asked.