Journey to the West: Building a Celestial Empire Starting from Lion Camel Ridge

boom!

Golden light exploded beneath Chen Ping'an's feet.

The blinding gold tore a gash in the darkness of the ruins, carrying an extremely domineering aura, instantly igniting the air within a radius of three zhang.

The wolf demon didn't even have time to roar.

The golden light swept across, cutting directly through its thick waist and abdomen.

"puff--"

A muffled thud.

The bone chain and bone knife slammed heavily onto the ground.

The black demon blood was immediately vaporized into dark gray smoke by the high temperature of the light barrier, leaving not even a trace of stench.

The dark shadow that was rubbing towards them from the corner—the Blood Essence—was grazed by the edge of the golden light and instantly turned into wisps of smoke without even making a sound.

The golden light stopped three zhang away, condensing into a pale golden, semi-transparent light curtain that completely enveloped the dilapidated house.

The entire process took less than a breath.

---

Across the boundary river, just a few hundred steps away.

In the thick fog, the patrol flags on the walls of Lion Camel City paused for a moment.

The demon soldier commander leading the group frowned and glanced in the direction of the ruins of White Bone Town, but the rain was too thick and he couldn't see anything.

"Keep going."

The commander withdrew his gaze.

The banner continued forward, disappearing deep into the city walls.

---

Chen Ping'an collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

Only after the burning pain in my chest subsided did I regain some feeling in my legs.

survived.

In view, a pale blue, semi-transparent panel silently unfolded:

[Shelter: Level 1 - Ruins Outpost]

【Characteristic: Golden Light Barrier (Protection Range: Three zhang (Non-humans cannot enter))】

Number of buildings: 0

[Demon Crystal Reserves: 0]

[Number of people seeking refuge: 2]

[More features to be unlocked]

A line of small print floated by.

[Slay 1 demon soldier, obtain: 3 demon crystals]

[Demon Crystals can be used to upgrade shelter levels and construct buildings...]

Chen Pingan glanced at the panel.

There's no newbie gift pack, just this three-zhang safe zone.

Level 1... Does that mean it can continue to be upgraded?

As long as there are enough demon crystals.

Although the system doesn't explain how to obtain it, you can always figure it out yourself.

Sniffing the less oppressive air inside the shelter, Chen Ping'an felt a renewed sense of confidence to survive in this world.

He bent down and picked up the three scattered crystals from beside the wolf demon's corpse.

It is about the size of a walnut, light purple in color, and has a subtle warmth emanating from it when held in the hand.

"you……"

A hoarse voice came from behind.

Chen Pingan turned around.

Ali pressed herself tightly against the wall, the broken shards of glass in her hand clenched until they turned white.

She stared at the wolf demon cut in two on the ground, then looked at the pale golden light screen around her, her expression somewhat strange.

Outside the light screen, a rustling sound of bones grinding together could be heard.

Several wandering bone demons, attracted by the previous blood aura, sidled up to the edge of the light barrier.

They brought the broken skull close to their noses and then tentatively bumped into it.

boom.

It was bounced away directly.

The bone demons lingered outside the light barrier for a moment, but unable to get in, they quickly lost interest, shook their skeletons, and disappeared back into the shadows of the ruins.

Ali stared in the direction the bone demon had left for a full half minute.

His tense shoulders slowly slumped down, and his back finally parted half an inch from the wall.

But that was the limit; he still clutched the shards of glass tightly in his hand.

---

Chen Ping'an looked thoughtfully at the bone demon that had disappeared back into the darkness.

These yin entities naturally dislike sunlight, so they haven't launched an attack on the shelter yet.

But once night falls, the yin energy rises and ghosts become restless; hopefully, this shelter can withstand it.

His gaze turned into the darkness, where flames ignited.

live.

Live well!

Chen Pingan stood up, leaning against the wall, and slowly walked to the window.

The sky outside the window was dark, and a damp, cold wind carried a drizzle into the dilapidated house.

To the west, thick fog blanketed the border river, and the city walls of Lion Camel City on the opposite bank lay darkly shrouded in the mist.

It was a knife hanging over his neck.

Heading north, past ruins and sandbars, lie overlapping mountains deep within the rain.

In the original owner's memory, it was the remaining part of Lion Camel Ridge, a forbidden zone filled with deathly aura.

Chen Ping'an's gaze lingered on the mountain shadows for two seconds.

Staying trapped in this three-zhang barrier is not a solution. Going deep into the mountains and establishing a real base is the long-term plan.

But the time is not right yet.

Chen Ping'an clenched the demon crystal in his hand and straightened his back.

"Let's just get through tonight first."

Chen Pingan muttered to himself.

---

On the other side of the dilapidated house.

Ah Li sat in the shadows, hugging her knees.

Occasionally, ghostly figures would pass by outside the light screen, sniffing around before leaving.

Can't get in.

That's enough for her.

She didn't ask about Chen Ping'an's background or inquire about the details of the golden light; her gaze simply fell unconsciously on the figure by the window.

The man was covered in demon blood, and his legs were trembling slightly, like someone on the verge of death.

But his back was straight.

In the ruins of Bone Town, she hadn't seen anyone stand up like that in far too long.

Ali didn't speak, burying her head even deeper into her arms.

......

Chen Ping'an pondered the buildings on the panel while also examining the demon crystal in his hand.

Then my stomach started growling.

He looked around; there was nothing in the shelter. The golden barrier could keep out monsters, but it couldn't stop people from starving.

The most urgent task is to solve the food problem.

When was the last time she ate? The original owner's memories were a blur, leaving only two words: a long time ago.

This body was already on the verge of starvation.

Chen Ping'an walked towards the mess left behind by the wolf demon, pinched his nose, and turned the corpse upside down.

There was nothing to eat.

This lone wolf soldier was so poor that he didn't even bring any spare rations. He only had a string of bone ornaments hanging from his waist and a bone knife.

It was made from the ribs of some kind of giant beast; the blade was rough, with dark red blood grooves, and it was extremely heavy.

Chen Pingan gripped the hilt of the knife and swung it twice forcefully in the air.

Just make do with it.

For this body, weapons that are too heavy would be a burden.

Chen Pingan grabbed the wolf demon's corpse by the ankle, like dragging a tattered sack, and had to throw the two pieces of the body away.

Leaving this stuff inside will only cause trouble with its smell and blood.

"Where are you going?" Ah Li asked.

She remained curled up in the corner like a clay sculpture, her voice dry and hoarse, her eyes filled with confusion and a hint of panic that she herself might not even be aware of.

"Looking for food."

Chen Ping'an didn't turn around. "If we don't eat soon, we'll starve to death without the spirits having to do anything."

In truth, he himself was not confident, but he couldn't just sit and wait for his doom.

"You're crazy."

These three words were squeezed out of Ali's throat, quick and hard: "It's getting dark soon, and the real thing is about to appear. If you go out now—you're asking for death."

Chen Pingan then turned around and glanced at her.

"Staying here is tantamount to waiting to die."

"I'll be right back, before it gets completely dark."

Just as Chen Pingan turned around, preparing to step out of the barrier.

"Don't go west."

Ali's voice was very soft, so soft that it was almost drowned out by the sound of the rain.

Chen Ping'an stopped in his tracks.

Ali lowered her head, biting her lip tightly, as if she were struggling with something. Her voice trembled, but she spoke very quickly.

"To the west is a mass grave, where bone demons and vengeful spirits appear even during the day. Once you go there, you won't be able to come back."

"Go east. It's the ruins of the old market. The cellars have long been emptied, but occasionally you can find some leftover old rice and rotten meat. During the day, there are only blood essence and wild dogs infected by demonic energy there. As long as you don't bleed, the wild dogs won't go berserk."

After saying all that in one breath, she buried her head even deeper into her knees and stopped talking.

Chen Pingan looked at her quietly for a second, then turned around, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the barrier.