My mom is waiting for treatment, and you're summoning me to be a hero?

The outline of a third city appeared ahead on the afternoon of the second day.

Compared to the previous two, this town, called Fallen Leaf City, appeared particularly dilapidated and low-lying.

The city wall is built of unpolished gray-brown stones, and many parts have been weathered and peeled off.

Even in such a small town, there is a church.

Naturally, a fragment of Yin Xue's soul is also sealed within the church.

Lin Mo, wanting a quick victory, stepped directly into the city.

……

There was no proper market outside the city gate, only some simple shacks.

The air was filled with dust and a faint, bitter smell.

Lin Mo led the horse toward the city gate.

There were only two listless guards with worn-out leather armor standing at the gate.

They glanced at Lin Mo, then at the conspicuous black sword behind him, and were immediately startled.

They clearly recognized Lin Mo.

"You...you..."

One of the guards pointed at Lin Mo and stammered, unable to speak.

The other person quickly pulled him aside, signaling him to shut up.

Lin Mo thus successfully entered the City of Withered Leaves.

The city of Fallen Leaves is too poor.

They were so poor that even fear and vigilance seemed powerless.

The interior of the city matches its exterior appearance.

The streets were narrow and potholed, with low mud houses or wooden huts on both sides, and the few shops that existed were deserted.

The pedestrians looked pale and had blank stares.

He led his horse slowly along the main street, his gaze sweeping over the roadside.

Several vendors squatting in the corner or leaning against the door noticed his unfamiliar face.

Especially when they saw that although he was travel-worn, his clothes were intact and he was leading a horse, a faint glimmer of hope appeared in their eyes.

They hesitated for a moment, then shoved each other.

Then they all gathered around, holding some wilted vegetables and a few shriveled fruits in their hands.

"Sir, please have mercy and buy some vegetables, fresh ones..."

"Sir, try this fruit. It fell from our own tree; it's sweet..."

"You could get some different salt, adults, please get some different salt for the children..."

……

Their voices were low, carrying the timidity and humility ingrained by a long history of poverty.

The outstretched hand was rough and cracked.

These people have almost no energy fluctuations.

They are truly ordinary people from the bottom of society.

Lin Mo frowned slightly.

He wasn't good at handling these kinds of situations and didn't want to linger here.

He slightly raised his hand, and a gentle yet irresistible force pushed away the people who were too close.

"No need, move aside."

The vendors who had been pushed away did not give up; instead, they surged forward again.

A thin, old man carrying a small basket containing a few dusty potatoes seemed somewhat unwilling to give up.

He moved closer, muttering, "Sir, take another look. These potatoes will fill you up if you boil them..."

Just as the old man approached Lin Mo's side, and the basket seemed about to touch Lin Mo's arm—

A sudden change has occurred!

In the gaunt old man's lowered eyes, numbness and humility were instantly replaced by extreme coldness and murderous intent!

His previously hunched figure suddenly straightened up like a compressed spring.

It was so fast that it left a blurry afterimage in the air!

A cold glint flashed from the bottom of the tattered basket filled with potatoes in his hand.

A jet-black dagger, at an unbelievable angle, pierced straight at Lin Mo's carotid artery!

This sudden attack, without warning, concealed the assassination under the most humble plea; the timing, angle, and speed were all perfect.

Even Lin Mo only fully realized it the moment the other party's killing intent erupted.

The chilling killing intent emanating from the tip of the dagger was almost touching the skin!

Lin Mo's pupils suddenly contracted.

The body reacts according to its fighting instincts at the critical moment.

The head suddenly turned to the other side, and the neck muscles tensed up.

laugh--!

The dagger grazed his skin, leaving a thin trail of blood. But the danger was far from over!

Having missed his first attack, the gaunt old man did not flee or continue the pursuit as expected.

He drifted back several steps.

He stood firmly, all the humility and cowardice on his face receding like the tide, leaving only a cold indifference.

At the same time, the vendors around them, who had been timidly holding wilted vegetables, also straightened their backs.

The numb light in their eyes was replaced by a gaze as sharp as a hawk's.

The frail aura of a commoner instantly vanished, replaced by a condensed sense of oppression.

Behind the old crenellations on the city wall, rows of heavy crossbows gleaming with a cold light suddenly appeared.

The crossbow bolt was as thick as a child's arm, its tip locked onto Lin Mo in the middle of the street.

The wall that was originally empty.

Suddenly, the area was filled with figures dressed in uniform dark red outfits, each exuding a deep and imposing aura, and none of them were below level 50!

Lin Mo was startled.

Just seconds before, he sensed that these people disguised as vendors were at levels 1 to 5, with a faint aura almost indistinguishable from that of ordinary civilians.

How could it possibly surge to this level in an instant?

"He is the guide of God."

Yin Xue's voice echoed in his mind, carrying a rare solemnity.

"Their divine guidance ability must be related to aura disguise or level concealment. What a grand scheme, using a divine guide to impersonate a beggar..."

At this moment, the old man reached out and wiped his face.

A very thin layer of human skin mask was peeled off.

He revealed a face that appeared to be around forty years old, with an ordinary appearance but sharp, piercing eyes.

His tattered clothes had somehow come off.

Inside was a dark red outfit identical to the ones worn by the people on the city wall, except that the cuffs had an extra silver trim.

He gazed at Lin Mo, his voice flat and even, yet carrying a confident sense of control:

"Lin Mo, stop struggling. Our Dark Guard has mobilized ten Divine Guides this time, all for you alone. This Withered Leaf City is a prison prepared just for you."

Lin Mo's gaze swept around.

On street corners, rooftops, and alleyways, dark red figures silently appeared, their auras intertwined.

An invisible net was formed, locking him firmly in the center of the street.

Including those on the city walls, the number has exceeded fifty.

They moved silently, their eyes cold and focused, clearly well-trained elites specializing in hunting.

Lin Mo's mind stirred slightly.

He attempted to communicate with the undead space within the black sword, preparing to unleash the Soul Erosion Realm to smash the entire city to pieces.

However, the space seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier.

His mental energy was like a stone thrown into the sea, receiving no response whatsoever.

"Don't waste your energy."

Yin Xue's voice rang out again, tinged with coldness.

Her little finger pointed to several high points around the city wall.

There, each stood a mage wearing a gray robe and holding a staff.

Faint magical lines extended from beneath their feet, connecting to form a magic circle that enveloped the entire city of Fallen Leaves.

"See those gray-robed figures? They're maintaining a large silence array. This array greatly suppresses the skill casting of all non-caster units within its range."

Upon hearing Yin Xue's words, the leader of the Dark Guards' captain curled his lips into a cold smile.

"That's right, you little brat, at least you have some sense. Without those skills, you're just a level 50 wanted criminal. I don't believe you can still fly away!"

Upon hearing this, the seriousness on Lin Mo's face gradually dissipated.

He lowered his eyelids and looked at the seemingly ordinary black sword in his hand.

Then, a faint, yet chillingly cold, smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Who told you that...?"

He raised his eyes, his gaze like a cold blade, piercing straight at the Dark Guard Captain.

"I rely on my skills?"