Body command feeding world

As the night drew to a close, a pale, fish-belly white dawn appeared in the east. The ominous fog outside the dilapidated temple completely dissipated, leaving only a layer of damp, black marks on the ground, trembling slightly in the morning breeze.

The fire had long since burned down to embers. The middle-aged man in the brocade robe, accompanied by his attendants and the wounded rider, left first. Before departing, he repeatedly bowed to Wu Wei in gratitude, leaving behind several bags of dry rations and medicine, his words brimming with obsequiousness. Wu Wei remained silent, only nodding slightly. Once the group had gone, he gently picked up the still-sleeping Ya Ya, wrapped her petite body in his outer robe, and rested her against his shoulder.

The burly man with the thick beard packed his belongings, sheathed his long sword, and dusted himself off. The lingering pain from the injuries sustained in his bone armor still throbbed in his shoulders and back, but it didn't hinder his movement. His gaze towards Wu Wei still held undisguised admiration. The ferocity of Wu Wei's spear strike that shattered the Fiend Demon last night, and the domineering power of his Yang Flame Blood Essence Burning Fiend, were already etched into his heart.

The two emerged from the dilapidated temple one after the other, their clothes damp with morning dew. A faint, lingering stench of blood still lingered in the woods, but the biting chill of the night was gone. Wu Wei walked with his spear in hand, the long, black iron spear slung across his shoulder, its blade gleaming coldly. His steps were steady as a rock, each step light yet powerful, showing no signs of someone who had just survived a deadly battle. Ya Ya nestled in his arms, her little head nuzzling his neck, sleeping soundly, completely unaware that she had brushed with death the previous night.

Reaching a fork in the forest path, the burly man quickened his pace to walk alongside Wu Wei. Seeing the faint smoke and dust of the official road ahead, he broke the silence first: "Brother, if we follow this official road for another half an hour, we will reach the territory of Panshi City."

Wu Wei tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping across the winding dirt road ahead. Deep ruts, mixed with scattered bloodstains and animal bones, clearly marked by the footsteps of merchants and cultivators who had traversed the area for years. His voice was low and cold, devoid of any extra emotion: "I haven't asked your name yet."

The burly man was taken aback, then grinned, revealing a set of rough, white teeth. His voice was loud and clear: "My name is Shi Meng, a native of Panshi City. I cultivate Bone Yuan Hard Technique and have just barely reached the threshold of the Martial Master realm. I rely on my brute strength to make a living protecting merchants outside the city."

"Wu Wei".

With just two words, Wu Wei finished his self-introduction. He was a man of few words, and his nature was naturally aloof. If Shi Meng hadn't risked his life to restrain Blood Claw Fang last night, giving him the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow, he might not have even revealed his name.

Shi Meng didn't mind Wu Wei's taciturnity. On the contrary, he felt that such composure and sternness were befitting of a disciple of a sect. As they walked, he told Wu Wei about the details of Pan Shi City: "Pan Shi City is the largest mortal city within a hundred miles. It is also the location of the Zhen Sha Division's branch on the western front. The city walls are made of bluestone mixed with black iron filings, three feet thick, and cannot be breached by evil spirits. There are more than 30,000 mortals living in the city, as well as hundreds of warriors and martial masters who have awakened their blood essence. It is the only safe place to settle down in this desolate land of evil spirits."

"The city is divided into inner and outer cities. The outer city is a marketplace for ordinary people, inns, and carriage shops, a melting pot of all sorts of people; the inner city is where the Suppression of Evil Division, various independent cultivators' strongholds, and merchant guilds are located. Without some strength, you can't even get close to the inner city gates." Shi Meng paused, then added, "The strictest rules in the city are, first, to obey the orders of the Suppression of Evil Division, and second, not to kill without cause. As for the rest, as long as you have evil treasures, you can exchange them for anything—cultivation techniques, weapons, medicine for injuries, lodging, even hiring bodyguards, it's all possible."

Wu Wei listened quietly, memorizing the key information. Ya Ya in his arms seemed to be awakened by the voice, rubbing her sleepy eyes, she whispered "Uncle Wu", and then obediently leaned on his shoulder, her little hands clutching his clothes.

As they spoke, the outline of a majestic city slowly emerged on the horizon ahead.

That is Rock City.

The city wall, entirely dark blue-black, was constructed from massive blocks of rock, standing a full five zhang high. Atop the wall flew rusted black flags, embroidered with the insignia of the Suppressing Evil Division, which fluttered in the morning breeze. Every ten zhang along the wall stood an arrow tower, where soldiers stood guard, spears at their ready, their sharp eyes scanning the passersby outside. The air was thick with a faint scent of blood and smoke, mixed with a subtle, almost imperceptible, malevolent aura—the marks of years of slaying evil.

The city gates were wide open, wide enough for four carriages to pass side by side. A long queue stretched before them, mostly consisting of merchants carrying loads of goods, ordinary people with their families, and ragged refugees. Everyone looked exhausted, yet there was a sense of relief at having arrived in the city. Two armored guards stood at the gate, long swords at their waists, their demeanor calm and collected, both possessing the cultivation level of warriors. They held registers and checked each person entering the city.

"Ordinary people entering the city pay twenty copper coins each, regardless of age. Not a single coin less will get you in," Shi Meng said to Wu Wei in a low voice, pointing to the queue. "This is a hard and fast rule set by the city lord. The money collected is used to repair the city walls, support the guards, and buy medicine to suppress evil spirits. No one can change it. But we are different—warriors and martial artists who have awakened their blood essence are the main force in slaying evil spirits. The city depends on us for survival. We don't have to pay a single coin to enter the city, and we can use the fast track without having to queue."

Wu Wei nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the mortals queuing in line. Some clutched crumpled copper coins, counting them over and over, their faces filled with embarrassment; others, penniless, were stopped at the gate by the guards, pleading softly but only receiving cold rebukes in return. The hardships of the world were laid bare before these city gates, no different from the chaotic era of his previous life; only power was the foundation for survival.

Without pausing, he carried Ya Ya and walked straight to the fast passage on the side of the city gate with his gun.

The guards, who had been cold and hard, suddenly became serious when they saw Wu Wei approaching. The scorching heat of his blood essence emanating from his body and the lingering murderous aura on his black iron spear made them even more nervous. They quickly bowed and saluted, not daring to ask any questions, and stepped aside to make way for him.

Shi Meng followed closely behind, his bone essence aura slightly emanating outwards. The guards also recognized this martial arts master who often protected merchants outside the city, and nodded with a smile, allowing him to pass without hindrance.

The two people and the child stepped straight into the city gate, leaving behind all the dust and suffering outside the city, the noise and pleas of the queues.

The moment you step into Rock City, you are greeted by a cacophony of noise.

The streets, paved with bluestone slabs, were wide and straight, lined with shops on both sides, their wine flags fluttering in the breeze. The sounds of hammering from the blacksmith's shop, the shouts of vendors, and the rumble of carts and horses mingled together, creating a thick, bustling atmosphere. Pedestrians came and went in a constant stream: ordinary people dressed in coarse cloth, warriors carrying weapons, wandering cultivators in Taoist robes, and merchants leading strange beasts. All sorts of people mingled shoulder to shoulder, yet everything was orderly—no one dared to cause trouble at the city gate. The patrolmen of the Suppression Bureau, carrying demon-slaying swords, patrolled every few steps, their eyes scanning the surroundings like hawks. If there was any unusual activity, they would immediately step forward to suppress it.

The walls on both sides of the street were covered with dense notices, mostly missions issued by the Suppression Division to eliminate evil spirits: hunt down low-level evil spirit children for fragments of evil spirit treasures, wipe out wild evil spirit beast groups for complete evil spirit treasures, find lost caravans for Blood Essence cultivation techniques... The words were bright red, shocking to the eye, and also bluntly proclaimed the survival rule of this city - exchange evil spirits for life, and establish oneself by strength.

Ya Ya perched on Wu Wei's shoulder, her round eyes wide with curiosity as she surveyed everything around her. This was the first time she had ever seen such a bustling city, and her eyes were filled with wonder, yet she remained obedient and dared not utter a sound to disturb them.

Holding a child in his arms, Wu Wei stood with a gun in hand, inside the bustling city gate, his cold gaze sweeping across the entire city. The dark blue city walls, the noisy marketplace, the cultivators and mortals coming and going, the high-hanging notices of the Demon Slayer, and the pervasive, faint aura of demonic energy and blood essence in the air—this was Rock City, a prison of mere survival in the Realm of Feeding, and also his first stop in seeking the origin, accumulating demonic treasures, and defying fate.

Shi Meng stood beside him, pointing in the direction of the city, and said, "Brother Wu, let's find an inn to settle little Ya Ya down first? The Ping An Inn in the outer city is clean, reasonably priced, and safe; I go there often. Once she's settled, we can go to the Zhen Sha Division to take on a mission, exchange for evil treasures, and search for resources."

Wu Wei withdrew his gaze, his fingertips gently caressing the shaft of the Xuan Tie spear. The Yang Yan Blood Essence flowed quietly within his body. Deep within his marrow, Shu's will stirred slightly, as if he sensed a faint trace of primordial energy deep within the city.

He looked up, gazing towards the dust-filled depths of the street, his thin lips parted slightly, his voice cold and resolute:

"lead the way."