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"May I ask if you are guests invited to attend the event at the Great Heavenly Master’s observation ceremony?"

The questioning soldier left Chen Qing and his party somewhat bewildered.

The territory of Yun Du City began with the famous Triple Checkpoint, corresponding to the East, West, and South directions, each featuring a natural checkpoint heavily guarded by soldiers. From a distance one could see long queues of merchant caravans, waiting to be inspected.

The scrutiny here was unlike in Jiangnan.

Goods marked with a Gate Deity didn’t need meticulous inspection and any demon would be automatically detected.

Here, however, it depended on those armored soldiers, taking great care, examining each person closely, unpacking merchandise bundle by bundle to inspect, resulting in exceptionally difficult queues at the gate.

Chen Qing had heard that many merchants arriving here had to bring tents, prepared to camp out, because if they arrived in the afternoon, they almost certainly had to wait until the next day. This was a universally acknowledged fact among Yun Du merchants.

Yet, they hadn’t waited long. They had just arrived for a short while, still considering how to cut in line and speak to the guards at the checkpoint when, unexpectedly, a soldier took the initiative to approach and ask.

This caused Chen Qing to look once again at the invitation letter.

They had the academy research the letter on the first day they received it. It had no technique markings or runes, no energy whatsoever, and the material was very ordinary— just regular Nanyang paper made from their own Jiangnan produced paper.

But if there was nothing on this invitation, how were they located? Chen Qing certainly didn’t remember notifying any Yun Du powers about their arrival...

"How did you know we’ve arrived here, General?" Shen Qi was not shy and asked with a beaming smile.

"You flatter me, sir. How could I claim to be any sort of general?

" chuckled the soldier, "The Great Heavenly Master has calculated everything.

Early this morning, someone above ordered me to stand guard here, saying if the paper crane automatically flew up, it would mean that the distinguished guests had arrived.

This gentleman must be the renowned Lord Wang, right? "

Chen Qing looked at the paper crane hanging from the soldier’s waist. It seemed very ordinary, like a folded paper crane with no energy fluctuations, but he could see the paper crane moving gently on its own.

"That’s quite peculiar..." laughed Shen Qi in response, "Your Great Heavenly Master indeed has divine skills."

"Naturally..." the soldier puffed out his chest, clearly very proud of the Heavenly Master, who seemed to hold an extraordinary high status in the heart of this common soldier.

Chen Qing and Shen Qi exchanged a glance, both filled with solemnity.

Calculated everything?

Ha...even Tianji wouldn’t dare to say such a thing. The Heavenly Master’s claims were bold.

The intrigue must be with those papers.

The first thing Chen Qing thought of was the Paper-Folding Master.

Not all fantastical powers in this world were techniques. The innate gifts of demons often couldn’t be explained by techniques—like the Paper-Folding Master, who could turn ordinary paper into the miraculous, achieving many unbelievable feats.

A plain sheet of paper in his hands could even become someone spying on you.

This kind of heaven-defying talent was the real reason for the prevalence of demons in this world.

But the Paper-Folding Master had died only a decade ago. Even if reborn immediately, he wouldn’t have grown up so fast, would he?

Chen Qing rubbed the invitation he held, growing ever more cautious.

This character from Tiandu had some eerie abilities.

The group followed the soldier, who waved them through the checkpoints smoothly, and they soon entered.

Beyond the checkpoint lay a vast plain; from the checkpoint to Yun Du, one could see fertile fields as far as the eye could see, boundless fields under white snow, the dark soil emitting an enchanting fragrance.

Looking at this natural environment, Chen Qing, as the designer, couldn’t help but marvel at its unrealisticness.

How could such a place not be fought over fiercely in ancient times?

The land of Yun Du could sustain billions, a statement not made lightly. No wonder in times of chaos, Yun Du could stay engrossed in its own affairs. With such an exceptional advantage, could it not be superior?

Riding along, everywhere one could see farmers already starting their spring plowing and soil loosening.

The number was huge; each person wore thick cotton clothes, their faces adorned with joyful smiles.

Chen Qing had only seen such smiles that seemed to come from the heart in Jiangnan, and that too in Jiangnan that he had nurtured with Shen Dao Liu for five years. But here, without any artificial support, relying only on the natural environment, it seemed like a prosperous era of bliss.

This seemed somewhat abnormal to Chen Qing.

Under the revival of Earth Spirits, even earthworms in the soil could potentially become man-eating monsters. The better the natural environment, the heavier the disaster should strike, but there was no sign of panic here.

Chen Qing could clearly feel the spiritual energy emanating from the surrounding fields, which met the standard of Earth Spirit revival, yet it seemed that nothing had gone wrong.

He was even more surprised now. The people from Yundu were not simple. Without relying on ancient powers, they had managed to protect the common people in such an era... what background did they have?

"Your Majesty..." Inside the carriage, Shen Qi was also consumed by curiosity, "Not a hint of resentment in sight, it seems that there are not many demons in Yundu."

Chen Qing nodded slightly. They had also visited other places before. The world had long been transformed, and even roadside weeds possessed the ability to kill. Billions of people in Guanzhong had lost contact, and most had died at the hands of monsters that had revived on the way.

Even in Jiangnan, it was only with the careful protection of the Mountain Gods and the Immortal Farmer.

Whenever any malicious aura spawned demons, there would be a specialized Mountain God Guard handling it.

Even so, disasters had still occurred. It goes without saying for the Southeast region and the newly developed West Sea islands, where mountain spirits were everywhere, and sea monsters were rampant, requiring a large military force for security maintenance.

But Yundu, traveling all the way here, not a single troop meant for maintaining stability was seen. How was this peaceful scene maintained?

Could it be that no demons were born here?

How could that be possible...

"It’s quite curious, isn’t it?" Zi Yue suddenly said.

Chen Qing and Shen Qi quickly turned their attention to her.

Zi Yue spoke softly, "In fact, when the Sorcerer Dynasty began, it was also the time with the fewest demons in history, as I later found out. During those years, many common people didn’t even know what demons were, just like in Great Jin in recent years."

"Is that so?" Chen Qing heard Zi Yue mention this for the first time, and he was extremely surprised.

A world of demons without any demons, was it true or false?

The change brought by King of Qin didn’t even make that situation last for twenty years. Demons started to cause trouble everywhere. If he remembered the history correctly, the Sorcerer Dynasty lasted for almost ten thousand years, right?

Ten thousand years of suppressing demons?

What kind of divine dynasty was that?

"So I am very doubtful about the identity of the person who created that dynasty," Zi Yue’s voice was low as she communicated telepathically.

"I’ve suspected for a long time that the founders of the Sorcerer Dynasty might not be from this world.

They were able to avoid the forces of ancient players and even track down Samsara Players.

This kind of skill does not seem like something a native could accomplish. "

"Players?" Chen Qing frowned. But then again... players, who could achieve all this?

With doubts in his mind, the carriage traveled leisurely for a day and a night before reaching the outskirts of Yun Du City. Before even entering the city, Chen Qing saw an acquaintance, an unexpected one.

He saw a woman at the gate, not transcendentally beautiful, but with an unparalleled demeanor. What was key was that Chen Qing had seen that face before and knew her identity.

That made it even more unbelievable...

That person... how could she be here in person?

"You know her?" Zi Yue asked curiously.

She too felt an unprecedented, indescribable pressure from the woman in red.

"Kagura..."

Zi Yue was shocked. She had heard this name from Tianji, one of the four major guilds, the president of the Shenwu Guild... that was the name!