Yi Tianxing and Nannan silently watched as a brutal slaughter unfolded right before their eyes. None of the nearby beings had any intention of intervening; they merely stood back and coldly observed, as if already used to such scenes.
Soon, the battle ended, leaving behind a pile of corpses on the street. Not long after, a group of cultivators wearing black clothes and black gloves rushed over. They swiftly dragged away the bodies, cleaned the streets, and scrubbed away the blood.
In the blink of an eye, the once chaotic street returned to its former state. Were it not for the lingering stench of blood in the air, no one would have believed that such a fierce and bloody battle had just taken place.
Soon after, the city resumed its usual liveliness.
It was clear—slaughter was not forbidden in Dark City. No matter who you were, if there was hatred or a grudge, you could attack on the spot—assassinate, rob, fight. Every corner of the city, every area, could erupt in violence at any moment. Bloodshed, crime, and savagery were omnipresent. If you weren't careful or strong enough, you might not live to see your next step.
Here, trust didn't exist.
Here, safety didn't exist.
This was still a breeding ground of evil.
Even though many appeared to be simply running market stalls, inwardly they were on extreme alert. At the slightest sign of danger, they would strike with lethal precision—this was no joke.
"Let's go. We're heading to Wantong Trading Company. Let's find Shen Wansan first," Yi Tianxing said calmly.
In his eyes, this Dark City was never a normal place. There was an invisible force permeating the city, subtly influencing the inhabitants. People who lived here likely all had blood on their hands.
The atmosphere here was completely warped.
Moreover, the Dark Domain was said to be undergoing some form of dark uprising. What exactly that meant, he still needed to ask Shen Wansan in detail to understand. That was the true reason for coming here.
"If all cities and living beings in this domain are like those in Dark City, then perhaps being wiped out by this so-called Dark Uprising wouldn't be such a bad thing. These people, if left alive, are a great danger to the future. If thrown into the Heaven Prison, not one of them would be innocent."
Yi Tianxing sighed inwardly.
It wasn't the first time he'd seen this kind of depravity, but it still stirred emotion.
Regardless, finding Shen Wansan came first.
At the same time Yi Tianxing stepped into Dark City...
The City Lord's Manor stirred subtly, as if a strange rhythm spread out from it. The manor was massive, occupying an enormous area. Around it, no ordinary beings could be seen. It was as if the place were a forbidden zone feared by all.
The manor exuded deep mystery. A thick, pitch-black mist enveloped the entire estate. Regardless of day or night, the fog never lifted. Anyone who approached without permission would become lost in the haze, never to emerge again. Over the years, countless spies had attempted to infiltrate, but none ever returned.
Even mentioning the City Lord's Manor was near-taboo within Dark City.
Back then, even Yi Tianxing's Innate Yin-Yang Eyes couldn't pierce the dark mist—proof of its power and strangeness.
If one could enter now, they would see large numbers of Dark Wraiths in black armor moving through the mist—shifting between corporeal and incorporeal forms, swift as phantoms and impossible to defend against. Within this fog, they were deadly assassins.
Brutal beyond compare.
Deep inside the City Lord's Manor was a vast and hidden secret chamber. At its center lay an ancient pool, at least a hundred feet wide, filled with an eerie black liquid. This substance emitted a foul aura—the very essence of evil. Just looking at it invoked disgust, as though it were the vilest thing in existence.
Black smoke coiled out from it, flooding the entire chamber in a thick, oppressive darkness.
At the center of the pool floated a massive black egg, its surface veined with dark, arcane patterns. It pulsed rhythmically like a heart, each beat drawing in the surrounding black mist—feeding it.
One would see that all the evil, chaos, and dark energies of Dark City were instinctively being drawn here—feeding this egg.
Beside it sat a cloaked figure in black robes, exuding a powerful dark aura, silently meditating and drawing in power along with the egg.
Suddenly, within the egg, a black eye appeared, peering out with a strange light.
There was confusion.
Disgust.
"A certain powerful presence has entered Dark City—someone this deity instinctively detests. Why? They feel... familiar somehow. Could it be… one of the Lords of the Forbidden Zones?"
A cold light flashed through the eye.
There was no clear reason, only a visceral hatred.
"Hmph. Those so-called Lords of the Forbidden Zones want to stir up Dark Uprising and purge the Dark Domain? Delusional. This realm belongs to us. A bunch of so-called lords thinking they can stop us? Laughable."
The eye narrowed mockingly.
Suddenly, black pills—dark magic cores—rose from the pool and flew into waiting jade bottles. Each of them exuded a sinister aura that made the skin crawl.
Elsewhere in Dark City stood a towering pavilion—Wantong Trading Company. Its vast footprint and imposing architecture marked its status. Guards stood at every entrance, scanning all who approached. Any suspicious individuals were immediately targeted. Most cultivators in Dark City looked upon it with a mix of envy and fear.
Long lines formed outside the entrance.Those entering wore nervous or hopeful expressions.Those exiting were either overjoyed or disappointed—but all were on high alert, watching for robbers.
"Wantong Trading Company is truly powerful. It's real—you can actually exchange Eternal Coins here. No matter how much, they always have more in stock. Unlimited!"
"In the beginning, many cultivators tried to rob it, thinking they could take the coins inside. Not one succeeded. On the first day alone, there was a mountain of corpses stacked outside the door—thousands died. It gave people nightmares for days."
"Some say Wantong is backed by the City Lord's Manor and even pays them dividends. No way to know if it's true, though."
The whispers from those leaving Wantong confirmed its deep roots and iron grip on its position in Dark City—a reputation forged in blood.
In Dark City, might is right.
At the top floor of the trading company, Yi Tianxing and Nannan sat while Shen Wansan stood nearby, respectful as ever.
"Shen Wansan, you sent word of a so-called Dark Uprising in the Dark Domain. What exactly is it? Judging by Dark City's current state, most people don't seem aware of it," Yi Tianxing asked calmly.
"Holy King," Shen Wansan replied, "this information is still top secret. Only a few know of it. I learned about it from inside the City Lord's Manor—and I suspect they let it leak intentionally. Since then, I've gathered intelligence on various Forbidden Zones, but the true source of the Dark Uprising remains unclear."
"The Dark City Lord? Have you seen him personally?" Yi Tianxing asked with a flicker of interest.
"I have. But he always wears a mask that blocks all divine senses. Even his cultivation is hidden—it's impossible to gauge his strength. Still, every time I meet him, it feels like facing a bottomless abyss. He's no ordinary figure—his power is terrifying."
"Tell me about the Forbidden Zones of the Dark Domain," Yi Tianxing nodded.
"According to my investigations, there are over a hundred Forbidden Zones across the Dark Domain. Each is a terrifying no-go area for most cultivators. Every zone has a Forbidden Zone Lord, considered taboo beings—mighty entities. Each one is said to be at least at the Dao-Proving Realm, and their territories warp the very laws of nature around them."
Shen Wansan spoke fluently, clearly having researched thoroughly.
The status of these lords was indisputable—none of them weaker than a Dao-Proving powerhouse.
"Near Dark City alone, there are four major Forbidden Zones: the White Lotus Zone, the Poison Swamp Zone, the Shattered Void Zone, and the Storm Zone."
"In the White Lotus Zone, it's said that the lord is the White Lotus Celestial Maiden—though this hasn't been confirmed. The Poison Swamp Zone is ruled by the Poison Monarch, whose venomous arts are legendary. It's said that once poisoned by him, not even divine medicine can save you."