In a high-level martial arts game, a wife is given to you at the start.

Luo Sheng nodded, signaling Shuang'er and Man Ji to keep an eye on the children and maids.

Lin Qiye's figure flickered, and he swept across dozens of feet like a ghost, silently appearing in the middle of the dirt road, blocking the caravan's path.

He wore the same tattered, dark gray robes he'd brought from the arena, and carried no visible weapons except for a long black iron spear with strips of cloth wrapped around its shaft, casually held in his hand. Standing in the middle of the empty dirt road, he appeared exceptionally frail compared to the massive caravan of roaring beasts.

"Whoa—!"

The scarred giant leading the way abruptly reined in his mount, the earth dragon pawing the ground restlessly and snorting hot breath. The procession behind him also stopped abruptly, the guards gripping their weapons tightly, looking at the suddenly appearing figure with suspicion and uncertainty.

The scarred man sized Lin Qiye up and down, his brows furrowed. He couldn't fathom Lin Qiye's true strength, but the man's calm, almost indifferent gaze, and his audacity in blocking the caravan alone, instinctively made him feel uneasy. Years of experience living on the edge told him that in the wilderness, the most dangerous creatures were often not the ferocious beasts, but the unfathomable people.

But his dignity as the head of the caravan guards, and the potential gazes of the customers behind him, prevented him from showing any weakness.

"Where did this savage come from? Daring to block the path of the 'Black Rock Merchant Guild'? Are you tired of living?" The scarred giant's voice boomed like thunder, attempting to intimidate with his imposing presence, while his right hand had already subtly rested on the hilt of his sword. The guards behind him also spread out in a fan shape, subtly forming an encirclement.

Lin Qiye seemed oblivious to the hostile gestures and stares, speaking calmly in a voice that, though not loud, clearly reached everyone's ears: "Excuse me for asking for directions. What's the name of that city ahead? What are the rules for entering it?"

The scarred man was taken aback, then, as if he'd heard the funniest joke, his fleshy face twitched, and he grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth: "Hahaha! Asking for directions? You? Don't you even know your place! Do you think some savage like you can inquire about the Holy City? You'd better get lost, or else..."

Before he finished speaking, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he jerked the reins with his left hand. The earth dragon beneath him let out a low growl, and with a burst of power from its hind legs, its massive body reared up. Its two front claws, covered in bone armor, swirled with a vicious wind as they stomped down towards Lin Qiye's head! If this stomp landed, it would be enough to flatten even steel!

The scarred giant had a well-thought-out plan. Regardless of whether the man before him was truly troublesome, he would first test him with his mount. If the man was scared off or trampled to death, that would be easy; if the man was capable of dodging or retaliating, his subsequent killing moves were already prepared. In this desolate wilderness, the death of one or two people was perfectly normal.

However, the next moment, the sneer on his face froze.

Lin Qiye didn't even look up at the giant claw that had stepped down.

He simply flicked his right wrist, which held the black iron spear, upwards with utter casualness, as if swatting away a fly.

The cloth strip at the butt of the gun hadn't even been untied.

"Bang!"

A dull, muffled impact.

The earth-dwelling dragon, weighing over ten thousand pounds and charging with ferocious momentum, seemed to have crashed into an invisible yet indestructible iron wall. Its upright forequarters slammed back even faster, dragging the scarred giant on its back with it, as if struck by an invisible giant hand. It tumbled backward and crashed heavily onto the cargo pile of a trailer behind it, producing a teeth-grinding sound of bones cracking and wood shattering.

The Earth Dragon collapsed on the spot, blood gushing from its mouth and nose. It twitched twice and then went still. The scarred man was buried under the scattered goods, with only his two legs sticking out, kicking weakly a few times before falling silent as well.

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

All the guards were dumbfounded. Their hands, holding weapons, froze in mid-air, and their fierce expressions were replaced by incredulous terror. They hadn't even seen what happened; they only saw their leader and his mount inexplicably fly back, their fate unknown.

The curtain of the carriage was suddenly flung open, and an old man with white hair and a thin face, wearing a brocade robe, peeked out. Upon seeing the scene before him, his face turned deathly pale.

"Stop! Stop!" The old man's voice was shrill and trembling. He scrambled down from the carriage, abandoning all decorum, and rushed to the front of the procession. He bowed repeatedly to Lin Qiye, his posture extremely humble. "This...this sir! It's a misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding! My men were rude and disrespectful, offending you, sir. They deserve to die! They deserve to die! Please, sir, have mercy on us!"

As he spoke, he glared fiercely at the guards who were still holding their weapons. The guards snapped out of their daze, hurriedly sheathed their weapons, lowered their heads, and didn't dare to breathe.

Lin Qiye's gaze finally fell on the old man, remaining calm: "I ask, what's the name of that city ahead? What are the rules for entering it?"

The old man's heart skipped a beat, and he dared not be negligent in the slightest. He quickly bowed and replied, "Your Excellency, ahead lies the 'Holy City of Returning Ruins,' the only giant city in the eastern region of this 'Lost Land,' and a symbol of order and security within a radius of 100,000 li. This city is governed by the 'Holy Temple,' and its rules are strict."

He glanced furtively at Lin Qiye's expression, and seeing no impatience, continued cautiously, "Entering the city requires passing through one of the four outer gates. You will need to undergo identity verification and source energy testing to prevent outsiders or contaminated individuals from infiltrating. Without an official identity badge issued by the Holy City, you will need to pay a hefty entry fee and undergo three days of quarantine. Furthermore, private duels, flying, and spying on the Holy Temple and related areas are strictly prohibited within the city; violators… will be killed without exception."

"Identity badge? How do I obtain it?" Lin Qiye asked.

"Usually, one needs to be a guarantor from a formal resident of the city, or be introduced by a reputable organization like my Black Rock Merchant Guild, to apply to the 'Household Registration Office,' and obtain it only after review. Or..." The old man paused, his voice lowering, "Or if your cultivation is profound, and you pass the test, the Temple will take the initiative to recruit you and grant you a high-ranking status."

Lin Qiye remained noncommittal, his gaze sweeping over the caravan: "Are you going to the Holy City?"

"Indeed, indeed! I am a manager of the Black Rock Merchant Guild, and I am here to escort a batch of medicinal herbs and ores to the Holy City for delivery." The old man hurriedly replied, cold sweat already beading on his forehead. He was unsure of the origins and intentions of the menacing figure before him, and feared that a wrong answer would mean the end of the entire caravan.

"Take me into the city." Lin Qiye's words were concise, yet carried an undeniable meaning.

The old man trembled, a troubled look on his face: "This... sir, it's not that I'm trying to shirk responsibility. Bringing outsiders into the city, especially those who haven't been checked, could implicate my entire merchant guild if the city gate guards find out. At best, we'll be fined and expelled; at worst... we could be wiped out!"

"That's your problem," Lin Qiye said flatly. "Or, I can 'annihilate' you right now."