Three days passed after Fang Lin left the Green Bamboo Sect.
During those three days, he did not use his real appearance even once.
His face remained ordinary.
His aura remained weak.
His robes were plain grey, the kind worn by countless wandering cultivators across the land.
No one who saw him would connect him to Fang Lin, Rank 3 of the Green Bamboo Sect's outer disciples.
That was exactly what he wanted.
The world outside the sect was far larger than the bamboo mountains he had known.
Ancient forests stretched endlessly beneath the sky. Mountain ranges rose like sleeping beasts. Rivers cut through valleys, carrying cold mist and spiritual energy. Occasionally, Fang Lin passed small villages, merchant roads, and ruined temples covered in vines.
But the farther he traveled, the more he realized something.
The sect had been a cage.
A protected cage.
Outside, there were no elders watching every fight.
No referee stopping killing intent.
No competition rules.
Only strength.
On the fourth morning, Fang Lin arrived at the edge of a high cliff.
Beyond it stretched a vast land hidden beneath drifting clouds.
A weathered stone tablet stood beside the road.
Several ancient characters were carved into its surface.
Demon Immortal Continent.
Fang Lin quietly read the words.
He had seen the name before in sect maps.
The Demon Immortal Continent was one of the larger regions of the Second World. Countless sects, clans, merchant cities, forbidden lands, and danger zones existed here.
It was said that long ago, immortals and demons had both left inheritances across this continent.
Whether true or false, no one knew.
But one thing was certain.
This land was dangerous.
Fang Lin walked down the cliff path.
As he descended, several danger zones marked on the nearby map stone entered his view.
The Black Wind Ravine.
A valley where black storms blew day and night. Cultivators below Spirit Foundation could be torn apart if they entered too deeply.
The Blood Mist Marsh.
A poisonous wetland filled with red fog, corpse insects, and strange spirit beasts that hunted by smell.
The Fallen Sword Grave.
An ancient battlefield where broken swords covered the earth. Sword Qi still lingered there, cutting apart careless travelers.
The Thousand Bone Forest.
A forest where white trees grew from the remains of ancient beasts. At night, the bones were said to move.
And farther north—
The Demon Sealing Ruins.
A forbidden ruin connected to old legends of demons falling from the sky.
Fang Lin's gaze paused there for a moment.
For some reason, when he read the words Demon Sealing Ruins, the grey stone inside his spiritual sea pulsed faintly.
Only once.
Very lightly.
Fang Lin's eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
He did not head there immediately.
He was not reckless.
A forbidden ruin was not something he could enter without preparation.
For now, he needed information.
Maps.
Resources.
A better understanding of the continent.
And perhaps a place where he could move without attracting attention.
By evening, Fang Lin finally saw a city in the distance.
It stood between two rivers, surrounded by tall stone walls and watchtowers. Spiritual lanterns glowed along the battlements, while formations shimmered faintly above the gates.
Many cultivators entered and left.
Merchants.
Disciples.
Wandering swordsmen.
Beast hunters.
Rogue cultivators.
Above the main gate, three large words were carved into dark stone.
Rivercloud City.
Fang Lin slowed his steps.
The city was much larger than anything near Mylan Village.
Even compared to the outer district of the Green Bamboo Sect, Rivercloud City felt more chaotic.
At the gate, guards inspected travelers.
Most wore black armor with river-shaped patterns on their chests.
Fang Lin joined the line quietly.
Soon, it was his turn.
A guard glanced at him.
"Name?"
Fang Lin's expression remained dull and ordinary.
"Lin Mo."
It was the false name he had chosen before leaving the sect.
The guard looked him over.
"Cultivation?"
"Early Qi Conjunction."
The guard barely cared.
"Entry fee. Five silver."
Fang Lin paid.
The guard waved him through.
"Do not cause trouble. Rivercloud City is governed by the three sects. Killing inside the city is forbidden unless approved by the arena halls."
Fang Lin's eyes moved slightly.
"Three sects?"
The guard impatiently pointed toward the city.
"You will learn if you stay long enough. Next!"
Fang Lin entered the city.
The moment he passed through the gate, noise surrounded him.
Streets stretched in every direction.
Stalls lined the roads, selling pills, herbs, talismans, beast cores, weapons, and maps. The smell of roasted meat mixed with medicinal smoke and river mist.
Cultivators bargained loudly.
Carriages moved through the main road.
Disciples wearing different robes passed by in groups.
Fang Lin observed quietly.
Three sect insignias appeared repeatedly throughout the city.
A silver wave.
A red flame.
A black mountain.
After asking a street vendor casually, Fang Lin learned their names.
The River Sword Sect.
The strongest of the three, known for sword cultivators and river-style movement techniques.
The Crimson Flame Hall.
A sect specializing in fire techniques, pill refinement, and aggressive disciples.
The Black Mountain Gate.
A defensive and body-cultivation sect that controlled mines and beast-hunting routes.
Together, these three sects governed Rivercloud City.
Not unlike how Green Bamboo Sect dominated its surrounding region.
But Rivercloud City was different.
Here, power was shared.
And because it was shared, conflict never truly disappeared.
The three sects cooperated on the surface.
Competed underneath.
Their disciples fought in arenas.
Their elders argued over resources.
Their merchants controlled different markets.
Their spies watched one another constantly.
Fang Lin listened to the vendor explain, then tossed him a few copper coins.
The vendor grinned.
"Young brother, if you are new here, remember one thing."
Fang Lin looked at him.
The vendor lowered his voice.
"Do not offend sect disciples. Especially Crimson Flame Hall disciples. They burn first and ask questions later."
Fang Lin nodded.
"I understand."
He turned and walked deeper into the city.
As he moved, his spiritual perception quietly spread.
Rivercloud City was filled with hidden pressure.
Several Spirit Foundation auras existed in the city.
Some were concealed in towers.
Some inside large mansions.
Some moving through the streets openly.
There were even a few deeper auras Fang Lin could not clearly judge.
He immediately became more cautious.
Here, he was no longer a top-ranked disciple watched by elders.
He was only a disguised wandering cultivator.
That was safer.
And more dangerous.
After walking for some time, Fang Lin stopped before a large notice board near the central square.
Many cultivators had gathered there.
The board was covered with missions.
Escort merchant caravan to Black Wind Ravine edge.
Collect Red Reed Grass from Blood Mist Marsh.
Hunt Iron-Horned Spirit Boar near Thousand Bone Forest.
Search for missing disciples near Fallen Sword Grave.
Recruit temporary cultivators for ruin exploration.
Fang Lin's gaze stopped on the last notice.
Ruin exploration.
The paper was old yellow, but the ink was fresh.
Recruiting Qi Conjunction cultivators.
Destination: outer region of Demon Sealing Ruins.
Reward: spirit stones, beast cores, and first claim on minor discoveries.
Organized by: River Sword Sect, Crimson Flame Hall, Black Mountain Gate.
Fang Lin stared at the words.
Inside his spiritual sea, the grey stone pulsed again.
This time, stronger.
His expression did not change.
But his heart moved.
Demon Sealing Ruins.
The place connected to the continent's old legends.
And now, the three governing sects were recruiting cultivators to explore its outer region.
Coincidence?
Fang Lin did not believe in coincidences easily anymore.
He memorized the notice but did not sign up immediately.
Instead, he turned and left the square.
First, he needed an inn.
Then maps.
Then information.
Only after understanding the situation would he decide whether to enter the ruins.
Night gradually fell over Rivercloud City.
Spiritual lanterns lit up along the streets, reflecting on the river that cut through the city's center.
Fang Lin found a modest inn near the eastern district.
He paid for a small room under the name Lin Mo.
Once inside, he activated Phantom Transformation again, slightly changing his face and aura.
Then he sat by the window and looked out at the city.
River Sword Sect.
Crimson Flame Hall.
Black Mountain Gate.
Danger zones.
Demon Sealing Ruins.
The outside world was already opening before him.
Inside his spiritual sea, the grey stone pulsed softly.
As though something in this continent was calling to it.
Fang Lin's eyes became calm.
"Then let us see what this place is hiding."
Outside, Rivercloud City glowed beneath the night.
And somewhere far beyond its walls, in the direction of the Demon Sealing Ruins, black mist drifted silently through ancient broken stones.