"Backed by an oasis and fronted by a lake, it fears no wind or sand. What a good place."
With powerful, confident strides, Wu Dao faced the setting sun. He felt the cool moisture in the air as he sized up Pan Shui Town in the twilight.
Crescent Island was vast.
Overlapping peaks pierced the clouds, and the deep forest stretched on for untold miles. Nestled at the foot of the mountains, Pan Shui Town was embraced by the clear, wide Crescent Lake.
It was like a green jewel in a vast, yellow sea of sand, possessing the atmosphere of a secluded paradise. In times of peace, it would be a place one could linger in, never wanting to leave.
But these were not peaceful times.
And he wasn't here to admire the scenery.
GRUMBLE...
The hunger in his belly burned like a fire.
After sprinting at his limit for over twenty miles, the Energy in Wu Dao's body had long been depleted.
He was exhausted, starving, and covered in dust.
Right now, all he wanted was to find a place to feast, wash up, and recover before inquiring about the Exotic Treasure.
Urged on by his hunger, Wu Dao strode forward like a shooting star. One moment, he was at the far end of the road; in the next blink of an eye, his overwhelmingly oppressive figure had arrived before the city gate.
When he saw two scrawny weaklings trembling as they guarded the gate with wooden spears, he instinctively frowned, assuming they were about to question his identity.
Who would have thought that this simple frown would frighten Li San so badly his legs went weak? He felt like he'd been targeted by a great bear from the deep woods and nearly fell to his knees.
"Sir! You've had a long journey. Your grand arrival is, uh, a once-in-a-lifetime honor! Our humble place shines brighter... Please, head on in."
Li San trembled, rattling off every welcoming platitude he knew. Bowing and scraping, he looked like a traitor ushering the enemy into his own home.
"Sir, you must be tired and hungry! The Piaoxiang Building in town has first-class food and lodging. It's guaranteed to make you feel right at home. All the great masters who've arrived recently are staying there—it's getting rave reviews!"
Not to be outdone, Zhao Si also chimed in with a fawning smile. He carefully gave Wu Dao directions, even explaining the route to the Piaoxiang Building in detail, as if terrified he might get lost.
'Am I that scary?'
Wu Dao was a little taken aback by their toadying, but Zhao Si's last words made his expression change.
All the great masters who've arrived recently...
Are all staying there...
'Does everyone know about the Exotic Treasure?'
'Has someone already beaten me to it?'
"Shut up! Tell me everything important that's happened in Pan Shui Town recently."
Slightly annoyed, Wu Dao's voice boomed like thunder as he rudely cut off the two men, who were still babbling and trying to curry favor.
"Yes, yes, yes! This lowly one will tell you everything I know."
The two men flinched. Like chastised schoolboys, they immediately recounted everything that had recently happened in Pan Shui Town, leaving no detail out.
The bone-melting incident on Canyun Mountain... treasure hunters from every corner of the land... uncanny creatures causing trouble within the town...
One by one, they laid out every last detail.
Most importantly for Wu Dao, no one had yet laid eyes on the so-called "Exotic Treasure" on Canyun Mountain. It wasn't even clear if it was a living creature or an inanimate object.
Over the past few days, all sorts of Jianghu People had practically turned Canyun Mountain upside down, all to no avail. With nothing to show for their efforts, many had concluded it was just a groundless rumor and left, cursing as they went.
'Canyun Mountain, huh?'
Wu Dao glanced at the great mountain deep within the oasis and made a mental note. He had few doubts and planned to go investigate Canyun Mountain himself tonight, after he had rested and recovered.
As for the uncanny creatures that might be in town...
To be honest, he wasn't particularly interested and didn't ask any further questions.
He had dealt with those things back at the Red Fire Mine. They were formless and intangible, impervious to brute force. They could only be destroyed by a mental assault. If one didn't actively try to possess him, he couldn't devour it at all.
Having gotten the information he wanted, Wu Dao didn't linger at the gate. He shouldered his pack and, under the relieved gazes of Li San and Zhao Si, entered Pan Shui Town with powerful strides.
Dusk had fallen. Pan Shui Town was filled with indistinct shadows, its deeper parts veiled in darkness. The sound of gurgling water trickled by his ears, flowing from channels diverted from Crescent Lake.
As Wu Dao strode along, he saw that the long streets were lined with closed doors and shuttered windows. The few residents he spotted looked listless and hurried on their way, their faces etched with misery and fear. The entire town was shrouded in an oppressive, deathly silence.
It was to be expected. Setting aside the terrifying anomalies on Canyun Mountain that made people's faces pale, Pan Shui Town itself was now a gathering place for all sorts of characters. To make matters worse, uncanny creatures were secretly at work, claiming human lives.
Under these circumstances, few ordinary people could remain calm. The fact that they hadn't already packed up their families and fled was a testament to their deep attachment to their homes.
Such was the humble plight of ordinary people.
Whether faced with the oppression of the powerful, the threat of violence, or the fear of the unknown, they had no choice but to remain silent and resign themselves to fate.
'The saying, "My fate is my own, not for the heavens to decide," may be a cliché, but the path of unceasing self-improvement it describes is timeless. No matter the era, only by grasping your own Power can you grasp your own life.'
Wu Dao indifferently withdrew his gaze, no longer paying attention to the bleak and miserable scenes around him. The hunger in his belly urged him to quicken his pace toward the Piaoxiang Building.
The joys and sorrows, good and evil, love and hate of the Human World—he had seen far too much of it all in his sixty-year-long past life. He had been both a spectator and a participant, yet he had never once been moved enough to stop.
This was because he had understood a truth long ago—
Without permanence, all is void.
Things destined for nothingness, whether they bring regret or joy, whether they are soul-stirring epics or humble, unknown tales, are ultimately nothing more than illusions—a flower in a mirror, the moon on the water.
If one were to stop and linger, moved by pity and empathy, one would surely be shattered in an instant when faced with the cruel laws of nature and the vast, rushing torrent of time.
The only true meaning of survival is to swim against the current, to constantly surpass oneself, until one becomes immovable and indestructible!
Smelling the aroma of meat and wine in the air, he rounded a few corners and finally heard the clamor of voices and saw a scene of lively commotion.
Wu Dao looked up. Both sides of the street ahead were lined with inns and taverns, their banners fluttering in the wind. A sparse crowd of imposing Jianghu People, carrying blades and swords, moved in and out of the establishments.
A few vendors had also set up stalls along the street, hawking their wares in the twilight. Most of what they sold was related to Cultivation, though whether any of it was genuine was another question.
Listening closely, he could hear the clang of woks from tavern kitchens, the ingratiating calls of waiters, and the boisterous shouts from drinking games. The sounds all intermingled, creating a world completely separate from the oppressive silence outside.
The sense of dissonance was jarring.
For a moment, Wu Dao felt a dazed sense of temporal displacement.
He gazed at the vibrant figures on the street, each one brimming with the air of the Jianghu, and felt the lively, mortal bustle of this Otherworld's Human Dao.
His soul finally broke free from the mundane, cold jungle of steel and began to merge with this magnificent, turbulent, brand-new World.
Novelty, curiosity, anticipation...
After three months of suppression, these feelings erupted in his heart like a geyser. He had the urge to throw his head back and let out a cathartic roar.
But Wu Dao's will was incredibly tough. He quickly reined in his turbulent emotions, fixed his gaze forward, and walked straight toward the liveliest place in sight: the Piaoxiang Building.
"Whoa, what an impressive warrior. He's not one of the Southern Border People, is he?"
"Look at his arms... good grief, they're thicker than my waist. How many kids do you think he eats for dinner?"
"Keep it down! Be careful he doesn't slap your head right into your stomach."
"Probably another big shot who got suckered by the rumors. There's no damn Exotic Treasure here."
Exclamations of shock, fearful whispers, muttered discussions...
Whispers followed him wherever he went.
Wu Dao heard it all, but his expression remained stern and unsmiling, as if he noticed nothing.
He knew his current barbaric appearance was far too intimidating; he was destined to be the center of attention wherever he went.
If he let idle gossip get to him and started fights over every little thing, he'd be pestered to death within a day unless he went to live as a hermit in the deep mountains.
Therefore, it was best to simply ignore it all.
At the entrance of the three-story Piaoxiang Building, the attendant felt a shadow fall over him. He looked up and saw Wu Dao, who looked like a monstrous bear, and his face instantly drained of all color.
"S-sir... are you... here for a meal... or to stay the night?"
But professional duty compelled him to greet the man, forcing a smile even as his legs trembled.
"Eat, drink, room, sleep."
Wu Dao coolly uttered four words. Following the bowing and scraping attendant's lead, he entered the spacious, brightly-lit main hall of the Piaoxiang Building.
"Honored guest, arriving!"
The attendant called out toward the inner hall, his voice trembling, then quickly backed away.
As the setting sun cast his tall shadow into the hall, a powerful, masculine aura washed over the room like a tidal wave. It was as if the Beast King himself had just barged into a pack of wild dogs.
The once-boisterous hall fell silent in an instant. Everyone, man and woman alike, flinched and turned to stare at Wu Dao, sizing him up.
Upon seeing his physique, which was like that of a beast from the Primordial Chaos, their eyes twitched and their legs went weak. The more jumpy ones had already tightened their grips on the hilts of their weapons.
Wu Dao met their flickering, terrified gazes and brazenly scanned the room. Seeing no empty seats, his brow furrowed.
But then, he spotted a group of 'acquaintances,' and the corner of his mouth curled into a slight smirk.
In a corner sat four rough-looking men. They had a wild appearance, with bare chests and arms, scimitars hanging from their waists, and their heads wrapped in scarves, giving them a somewhat exotic look.
Ever since Wu Dao had entered the Piaoxiang Building, the four of them had kept their heads down, trembling, looking terrified that he would spot them.
These four were the very survivors who had escaped from the group of 'sand bandits' he'd encountered earlier.
"Um... heh, waiter! The bill."
Perhaps Wu Dao's gaze was simply too terrifying. The four 'sand bandits' finally couldn't take it anymore. Swallowing hard and letting out an awkward laugh, they hastily got up and vacated their table.
They hurriedly settled their bill and practically fled from the Piaoxiang Building.
The psychological trauma Wu Dao had inflicted on them was immense. The memory of him tearing people apart, of severed limbs flying through the air, sent a bone-deep chill through them whenever they thought of it.
They thought they had escaped the nightmare.
But unexpectedly, this Evil God had actually 'followed' them here. The moment they saw him, they nearly pissed themselves in terror. Their only thought was to get as far away as possible; revenge was the last thing on their minds.
Wu Dao glanced at the backs of the four 'sand bandits' as they fled in terror. He didn't stop them, nor did he have any intention of giving chase.
In the end, the four of them were simply too weak.
They weren't even worth his notice. They weren't on the same level of the food chain.
A powerful predator in the wild never needs to prove its strength by killing weaker creatures that aren't even on its menu.
There was no benefit in it for him. Unless the four actively sought death, they couldn't affect his mood in the slightest. Killing them would be a waste of effort and offer zero sense of accomplishment.
The waiter was quick to clear the table.
The leftovers were whisked away, the tabletop was wiped clean, and a fresh cup of tea was poured.
The waiter carefully presented a two-page menu. "Sir, what can I get for you? Here at the Piaoxiang Building, I can't make promises about everything, but I can guarantee we have more than enough fish."
Wu Dao casually glanced at the two-page menu. As expected, most of the dishes featured fish, which made sense given their proximity to Crescent Lake.
With his stomach burning with hunger, he had no patience for picking and choosing. He tossed the menu aside and said in a booming voice, "Bring me one of every meat dish you have on here. No wine."
"Er..."
The waiter was taken aback. There were at least twenty different meat dishes on the menu. 'Could he possibly eat all that?'
But on second thought, he relaxed. Martial artists were known for their prodigious appetites, to say nothing of a man with Wu Dao's build.
"Right away, Sir. Please wait a moment."
After refilling the tea, the waiter quickly collected the menu and hurried off to give the order to the kitchen.
While waiting for the food to arrive, Wu Dao took the opportunity to properly size up the other patrons in the hall.
Thanks to his Beast King Extreme Physique, his perception was greatly enhanced. He could easily gauge a person's strength from their Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
He scanned the room and was slightly disappointed.
Most of the patrons, despite looking strong and full of vigor, were at best in the Nourishing Power stage, the first stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
The handful who had a more distinct aura were no higher than the Inner Strength Realm.
But on second thought, it made sense. Guangqing Prefecture was, after all, a minor place. Cultivation had always been a luxury, something for the rich, not the poor. And that was without even considering the limitations of one's Innate talent.
Most people could spend their entire lives and exhaust their family's fortunes only to flounder within the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Under such circumstances, someone in the Realm of Divine Power would already be considered a regional leader. Such an expert would naturally possess a degree of pride and would never be caught laughing and joking around with the 'rabble' in the main hall.