Driven out of my home in the apocalypse, I built a fortress in return.

Chapter 319 The Crisis of the City of Ruins!

Sand and stones flew, and a fierce wind raged.

here...

There was only endless yellow sand.

The golden sand dunes roll like endless waves, displaying a magnificent yet desolate beauty.

Deep in the sand dunes, buildings constructed from piled-up yellow sand stand tall, seemingly existing since time immemorial.

This is... the legendary city of ruins.

The so-called city of ruins is composed of four cities in the east, west, south, and north.

Each one is much larger than large bases like Yan City or Black Soil City.

In the center of the four cities stands a towering city, hundreds of meters high, and even more majestic and magnificent.

Under the sunlight, the central city gleamed with golden light, as if it were built of gold.

This is the main city of the city of ruins.

The four surrounding cities acted as guards, protecting the main city.

At this moment, in the main hall of the city of ruins, high-rise buildings stood side by side, and the atmosphere was tense.

With his long, flowing silver hair, Xueye, the city lord of the ruins city, though over fifty years old, still exuded undiminished charm. He sat on a golden throne, his aura ethereal, like a god descended to earth.

"Speak! Lord Sotun of the East City, what brings you to me in such a hurry?" Lord Xueye coldly stared at a burly middle-aged man on his lower left, exuding an imposing aura.

"Lord of the City!" Facing Xueye's cold questioning, Sotun did not back down, "I would like to hold the large-scale auction in the East City a month from now. Please grant me permission, Lord Xueye!"

As he spoke, Sotun raised his head and straightened his chest, looking directly at the Lord of Snow Night City.

"What did you say?" Xue Ye's eyes turned cold as she spoke sharply.

This auction is similar to the trade fair held by the three major powers in Yan City.

However, the City of Ruins is a vast city.

A large-scale auction was held only once every six months.

At that time, the forces gathered here will each have at least one eighth-rank leader in charge.

Even some peerless experts at the ninth rank will arrive.

It has always been held in the main city, which is a grand event that demonstrates the authority of the main city.

But now, Sotun actually wants to seize this power, which is a blatant provocation.

"Sotun, how dare you! You actually dare to provoke this city lord!"

Sotun had hoped to see the true nature of Xueye's terminal illness through her eyes.

However, he was disappointed.

The terrifying power of the ninth level of the Snow Night Realm erupted, almost forcing him to his knees.

"Lord of the city, please calm your anger! It was my rudeness!"

Rumors have long circulated that the Lord of Snow Night City is on his deathbed.

If it were before...

Sotun is confident, relying on his own strength, which is only half a step away from being fully developed.

It is sufficient to deal with the Snow Night City Lord, whose life is almost exhausted.

But now, Xueye seems to have taken some kind of miraculous medicine, and her injuries have recovered considerably.

Without the slightest hesitation, Sotun immediately bowed and apologized, "I had no other intention than to share your burdens, Lord of the City."

The City of Ruins is composed of five cities.

The lord of the main city is Xue Donglai's father, Lord Xueye!

The other four major cities are each guarded by an eighth-level expert.

The Lord of the East City is Sotun, the Lord of the West City is Liefeng, the Lord of the South City is Cangjue, and the Lord of the North City is Daxiao.

Among them, the East City Lord, Sotun, has reached the half-step ninth level in terms of personal strength, overwhelming the other three city lords of the west, south, and north.

His personal territory and power are also far ahead of others, second only to the main city lord Xueye.

As his own strength increased, Xueye, on the other hand, was plagued by old injuries and was old and frail.

Sotun launched his attack on Xueye in order to go further and obtain more resources.

But now... Sotun realizes that he underestimated Xueye!

"Hmph! Why should I, the city lord, need others to share my worries? Just do your own job well!" Xue Ye snorted coldly and waved his hand to dismiss the guest, saying, "Since there's nothing else, you may leave."

"Lord Xueye, I have one more thing to say, concerning Miss Qingcheng's marriage..." Sotun spoke again, as if he wanted to say something.

However, before he could finish speaking, Xue Ye spoke again, his eyes filled with cold light and his aura violent: "I said! As long as I, the city lord, am alive, I will never marry my daughter to that bastard!"

"Yes, yes! Lord Xueye, please calm your anger. I will take my leave now!"

Sotun gritted his teeth, reluctantly turned and left.

Previously, in order to win over another powerful force called Sunset City, he promised them that he would facilitate the marriage between Xue Qingcheng, the daughter of Xue Ye, and the young city lord of Sunset City.

But now...

Xue Ye still possessed the strength of the ninth rank, and Xue Qingcheng's marriage was called off.

His plans have all fallen through!

A moment later, Sotun returned to his city, sat on the city lord's throne, his eyes filled with extreme gloom, and roared, "Damn it, did he help Xueye after all? How dare he ruin my good deed! Go, call my brother Batu over!"

"Yes!" The subordinate quickly left.

A moment later, a middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to Sotun appeared.

Unlike Sotun, Batu is very short and stout.

He had a pair of protruding ears, with earrings several times larger than normal, hanging down to his chin.

Moreover, he always had a silly grin on his face.

At first glance, it looks like a Maitreya Buddha.

"Batu, my brother, I need you to do something for me: find out how Xueye recovered!" Sotuen looked at the honest-looking middle-aged man in front of him, his tone softening.

He is always very domineering and ruthless to outsiders, but he is extremely good to his brothers.

"Don't worry, big brother, leave this little thing to me!" Batu grinned sheepishly and patted his chest as he assured him.

With that, he turned and strode away.

Soon, Batu appeared in the main city of the Ruins City.

They arrived at the city lord's mansion, not far from the main city.

"Hearing talent activated!"

With a thought, Batu unleashed an invisible wave that instantly spread outwards.

A pair of earlobes that drooped down to her chin trembled rapidly.

Instantly, an invisible wave spread out.

It seems to be designed to vibrate the eardrums to enhance hearing.

Batu is also an eighth-tier powerhouse.

Many people thought he was just an ordinary enhanced user.

Actually, he has a hidden talent.

No one knew about this talent except his older brother, Sotun.

That is, the ability to hear everything within a range of several miles!

Although this ability is far inferior to Xiao Yu's energy perception, which allows him to hear and see further.

However, the subtle fluctuations in Batu's abilities were almost never detected by anyone.

As soon as he activated his talent, he instantly heard all the commotion in the main city's lord's mansion.

"A moving city? Luminous dew? Bodhi fruit? Can there really be such a magical place in the world?"

At this moment, in the main city, in a side hall of the city lord's mansion.

"Big brother! Didn't you say Longcheng would come? We've been waiting for so long, why hasn't he arrived yet!"

With blonde hair, blue eyes, and a pair of golden wings, Xue Qingcheng possessed a stunningly beautiful oval face. She puffed out her cheeks, put her hands on her hips, and glared angrily at the short-haired white-haired youth in front of her.

The young man with short white hair was none other than Xue Donglai, who had not been seen for a long time.

The young lord of the city of ruins!

"Well... it should be soon!" Xue Donglai said with an embarrassed smile.

Since returning to the city of ruins.

Xue Donglai then shared with his younger sister Xue Qingcheng what he had seen and heard in Longcheng.

Xue Qingcheng longed for Dragon City and was very curious about the city lord.

What kind of person could create such a paradise-like world?

Until... Xue Donglai talked about all sorts of delicious food and drinks, which instantly made Xue Qingcheng drool.

She said her brother eats and drinks well outside every day, but never brings her anything good to eat.

Xue Donglai was immediately enraged and speechless.

He also wanted to bring his sister something delicious.

The problem is that Dragon City is too far from the City of Ruins.

And the weather is extremely hot!

The corn and tomatoes had only been gone from Longcheng for a few days when they became shriveled and wilted.

Even if brought back to the city of ruins, it would no longer be a delicacy.

"I won't listen! I won't listen!" Xue Qingcheng's golden wings fluttered incessantly, her eyes filled with resentment. "It must be because you didn't explain the location of the City of Ruins clearly, otherwise they would have arrived long ago!"

"Um, this..."

Xue Donglai was immediately covered in sweat.

How did your sister guess that you didn't provide a detailed map?

It's not that he doesn't want to give it to me.

The problem is, the city of ruins is deep in the desert!

Damn it, where can you find a detailed map of the desert?!

Could it be that Xiao Yu hasn't come all this time because he can't find the City of Ruins?

"What's going on now?"

At that moment, a voice, both authoritative and indulgent, rang out.

Immediately afterwards, Lord Xueye walked in slowly.

"Father! Look at my brother, he ate so much good food outside and didn't bring any back for me! Don't you think he's being unreasonable?" Xue Qingcheng immediately ran to Xue Ye's side, grabbed his arm, and said coquettishly.

"Heh! That's really going too far!"

Xueye affectionately patted her daughter's head and said with a fond smile, "Since you want to go to Dragon City, how about your brother takes you?"

"Really?" Xue Qingcheng's beautiful eyes widened instantly, overjoyed.

My father always said that it was too dangerous outside, and it was even more dangerous for a girl to go out alone.

Therefore, she was never allowed to leave the city of ruins.

But now, her father has actually agreed to let her leave the city of ruins.

"Father, did you just get into a fight?" Upon hearing the words of the City Lord of Xueye, Xue Donglai frowned and asked with a worried expression.

My younger sister is only at level five, so she can't detect it yet.

However, being a seventh-tier expert, he instantly sensed the residual aura fluctuations on his father's body.

"Did you see through me? You've really improved a lot after going out to gain some experience!"

Xueye looked at his son, nodded with satisfaction, and waved his hand with a smile, saying, "It's alright, Father! Since Qingcheng wants to go out and see the world, take her to see it for herself. Dragon City is quite nice; bring her plenty of energy stones. Cough cough..."

Just as she finished speaking, Xueye suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Originally, his injuries had deteriorated drastically, and his body was on the verge of complete collapse.

Fortunately, Xue Donglai returned in time, bringing back Bodhi Fruit and Night-Shining Dew from Longcheng.

Although five days had passed when he returned to the City of Ruins, the effects of the medicine were still quite strong.

After consuming the Bodhi Fruit and Night-Shining Dew, Xueye's injuries were temporarily suppressed, and her condition recovered considerably.

However, Xueye was, after all, a ninth-level expert, whose body had strong healing abilities. It was only because his injuries were too severe that he completely lost his self-healing ability. Taking the Bodhi Fruit was only a temporary solution.

Moreover, engaging in physical altercations could trigger internal injuries again.

"Father!"

Upon seeing this, Xue Qingcheng, who had just been overjoyed, was instantly stunned. She looked at her father in disbelief and asked, "Father, didn't you say that your injuries had healed? Why is this happening?"

After the brother's father took the healing medicine that his brother had brought back.

Tell them that you have fully recovered and that they don't need to worry anymore.

But now, the situation has worsened again...

"Father, why did you lie to me? Waaah..." Seeing her father's face turn pale, Xue Qingcheng's eyes instantly reddened, and her delicate body trembled slightly.

The first time she saw her beloved father collapse, she was heartbroken.

Now, this is the second time, and she so desperately wishes she could bear everything for her father.

"I'm fine, child. I just need to rest." Xueye gently wiped away the tears from her daughter's eyes, straightened her tall body again, as if she wanted to protect her daughter.

However, this only made his face even paler.

"Heh! Sotun has tested me again today!" Seeing that he could no longer hide it, the Lord of Snow Night shook his head and smiled bitterly, saying directly, "He will soon find out that my body is nearing its limit."

"You'll be leaving soon! I've already spoken with Master Ashu, and he'll see you off."

Ash is the array master of the City of Ruins.

However, that master was not good at fighting and was already old, so he had no intention of getting involved in the political struggles of the city of ruins.

The only thing Master Ashura could do to help was to send Xue Donglai and Xue Qingcheng away.

Only when all the children have left the city of ruins can Xueye be free from worries.

“Father, it’s not time to give up!” Xue Donglai shook his head and said earnestly, “That Lord of Dragon City is incredibly powerful, I believe in him! Once Dragon City reaches the City of Ruins, he will definitely be able to save you!”

"Yes, Father! Don't give up, hold on a little longer," Xue Qingcheng said, crying.

She thought her father was alright, which is why she wanted to go out and have fun.

But now, with her father on the verge of death, how could she possibly go out?

"It's no use, my life is coming to an end! Besides... you said it yourself, that Dragon City Lord is only an eighth-level being, he had no chance against the East City Lord, Sotun..."

……

Unbeknownst to the family of three on that snowy night, their conversation had been overheard.

Having obtained the information he wanted, and learning that Xueye intended to send her children away, Batu did not linger any longer.

Return to the East City immediately and report to the East City Lord, Sotun.

"A moving city? Luminous dew? Bodhi fruit? Can there really be such a magical place in the world?"

After hearing everything Batu said, Sotun frowned and stared intently at his younger brother Batu, asking in a serious tone, "Is everything you said true? Are you sure you didn't hear wrong?"

If this wasn't his own brother, he would even suspect that the other person was an imposter.

“It should be true. Xue Donglai said it himself. He also said that the City Lord of Dragon City is preparing to come to the City of Ruins.” Batu recalled the words of Xue Ye’s family and added, “However, that City Lord of Dragon City should only be at the eighth level. If he encounters you, Big Brother, he probably won’t be able to withstand a single move.”

“A mere eighth-order cultivator, I can suppress him with a flick of my hand.”

After confirming that the other party was only at the eighth rank, Sotun breathed a slight sigh of relief.

But then his eyes narrowed slightly. "If what Xue Dong said is true, that moving city contains many Pokémon. If we could get them..."

“Brother is right! Treasures belong to the capable! A mere eighth-rank is not worthy!” Batu said earnestly, having absolute confidence in his elder brother’s strength.

The Lord of Dragon City is too weak and doesn't deserve to possess so many treasures.

Only an unparalleled powerhouse like the eldest brother can possess it!

Moreover, by seizing the treasures of Dragon City, they could completely eliminate any possibility of Snow Night's recovery.

After all, Xueye has recovered quite a bit and now has the strength of the ninth rank.

If they recklessly fight to the death and self-destruct, they could very well take Sotun with them.

This is why Sotun has been probing but hasn't made a move.

However, if Xueye doesn't receive further healing medicine from Longcheng, her body will eventually collapse.

"In that case, Batu, I'll give you another task!"

"Brother, Xue Donglai has already said that Longcheng should have gone to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range. After leaving the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, he will come to the City of Ruins. As long as we follow the direction of the City of Ruins and keep going towards the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, we will definitely find Longcheng!"

"In that case, I'll leave it to you!"

……