Chapter 1056: Chapter 1060: Millennial Root

The scorpion army swept through for about a minute before passing through this area.

There was no stopping them, these scorpions, like ants, carried the bodies of at least two Martial Artists with them.

When they returned the same way, four more were added.

Xia Liu had seen these four people before–they were the ones he had encountered.

One of them was even slain by his spell.

When the light on the walls returned to its usual brightness, Xia Liu came out from the house.

According to the Gulu Hermit’s notes, such a situation occurs roughly every five hours.

Every five hours, Exotic Beasts would sweep the streets.

Whenever they encountered humans, they would kill them, then carry the bodies back.

Their origins were obvious: the Inner City!

Deep within Loulan!

During the rest periods, Xia Liu took out Supreme Grade Spirit Stones to absorb, recovering Spiritual Energy to three-quarters of its peak level.

In facing such situations, he understood that within Loulan, one must never be careless.

Otherwise, the consequences would be dire.

As for Yao Kun and the others, Xia Liu could no longer concern himself with them.

If they were smart enough, they shouldn’t be devoured by Exotic Beasts.

Those Martial Artists also knew him.

Presumably, they wouldn’t attack either.

But if a Path-Entering Martial Artist were tainted by an Evil Object, that would be a different story.

Xia Liu approached the path the scorpions had taken.

His Divine Sense expanded, and his speed increased, reaching the moat where the outskirts and the depths of Loulan met within three hours.

Standing at the periphery.

He could glimpse the eerie forested side of the Inner City.

Fundamentally different from the streets outside.

The Inner City was actually covered in plants.

The difference was that the vines clinging to the city walls were multicolored.

Among them were some brightly colored flowers.

The brilliant flowers indicated they had indescribable toxicity.

Xia Liu deeply remembered Ye Wuya’s teaching.

In the depths of Loulan, one must never touch anything lightly.

Because those things were specifically against Cultivators.

Once touched, it could lead to irreversible consequences.

Xia Liu leapt to the top of a higher building.

He could vaguely see the scenery of the Inner City.

Almost entirely covered by plants, revealing no bricks or tiles.

Judging by the appearance of those plants.

Before destruction, the Inner City was a very prosperous place.

“Hmm? Fog!”

When Xia Liu stood at the top, he saw a thick white fog drifting from the direction of the Inner City.

No doubt, this fog was definitely toxic.

Strangely, the fog stopped advancing as soon as it reached above the moat.

As if blocked inside.

A wooden bridge lay quietly on the moat.

An oppressive atmosphere kept spreading.

Xia Liu sat in meditation atop the roof.

He didn’t move forward immediately.

In such a place, caution was necessary; the entrance to Loulan was guarded by a giant serpent.

The gate to enter the Inner City must not be simple.

Sizzle, sizzle…

A faint sound reappeared, and the light stones on the walls began to flicker.

The brightness plunged into dimness once more.

This time, Xia Liu did not enter the house, maintaining his stance atop the roof.

He wanted to see just how many things emerged from the Inner City.

Awooo…

Suddenly, as Xia Liu examined intently.

A strange howl echoed out from the Inner City.

It sounded like a wolf’s call.

But when Xia Liu saw the source of the sound, he was astonished.

They seemed not like wolves, but a group of rats!

Their appearance was similar to those he had seen earlier in the Lingyun Secret Realm.

Probably a similar species of Exotic Beast.

They could actually release wolf-like howls, how peculiar.

These Exotic Rats moved at a speed surprisingly fast; in just a blink, they surged into the outskirts of the town.

Thereafter, they began their sweep toward all directions.

An hour later, Xia Liu saw the Exotic Rats return.

This time they collected fewer targets.

Bringing back only one body.

Yes, that person’s face was covered with bite marks and claw marks, making it impossible for Xia Liu to recognize who it was.

But he was sure it was neither Yao Kun nor Ma Xing.

Soon, an unexpected event occurred.

When those Exotic Rats crossed the wooden bridge and entered the Inner City.

A whirlpool emerged in the moat instantly.

Splash!

A silver-colored Exotic Beast leapt out of the water.

The next moment, it opened its large mouth and devoured the body along with all the Exotic Rats.

This Exotic Beast had a horn on its head, its body shimmered with phosphorescence, resembling a Flood Dragon species.

Xia Liu didn’t quite understand it specifically.

The Exotic Rats realized their prey was snatched yet were not flustered but counterattacked.

Unfortunately, once the Exotic Beast entered the water, the Exotic Rats could only stand by helplessly, then quickly proceeded into the Inner City.

The dense fog gathered again, and everything returned to calm.

Leaving only a path filled with a ghostly-sinister aura.

When the light stones returned to normal, Xia Liu leapt down, standing silently at the front of the moat.

A Flood Dragon in the water, toxic fog above the river.

Two major barriers, Xia Liu wasn’t in a hurry to enter.

The Flood Dragon’s strength was unknown.

The toxic fog must not be touched under any circumstances.

After pondering for a long time, Xia Liu raised a palm, allowing vast Spiritual Energy to surge out from his Dantian.

“Heaven and Earth Moving Wind!”

A grand palm strike sent out, immense Gang Wind swept forward.

Instantly, the toxic fog was dispersed.

Simultaneously, a silver Flood Dragon leapt from the moat.

But it did not find anything unusual.

After a long observation, it returned to the moat.

“Is that Chief Xia… such a quick speed!”

“One palm to disperse the toxic fog, combined with terrifying movement technique, he managed to evade the Exotic Beast and enter the Inner City!”

“Ah, we should look around; if we encounter precious Spiritual Medicine, it’s all worth it. The Inner City is out of our league.”

“Indeed, perhaps only strong ones like Chief Xia can survive inside the Inner City…”

…

In a certain corner, a team sighed, speculating, and then continued on their way, searching for their fortune.

After entering the Inner City, Xia Liu hid in a remote corner.

In this danger-filled Inner City.

He concluded he could not expose himself.

Walking brazenly on plant-covered paths, death would come unknowingly.

After entering the Inner City, his Divine Sense was further suppressed, only able to cover a radius of fifty meters.

Luckily, his Cultivation wasn’t restrained, otherwise it would be truly bad.

This time, Xia Liu once again sat cross-legged, continuously operating the Five Elements Mantra.

After entering the Inner City, he must maintain his state at its best.

A few hours later, Xia Liu stood up from the ground.

At his feet, several dark-colored stones lay scattered.

“Spiritual Energy is abundant, state is full, Inner City, let me witness your horrors!”

Muttering to himself, Xia Liu cautiously ventured deeper into the Inner City.

Over an hour later, he arrived at an indescribable place.

Surrounded still by vines, brilliant flowers were everywhere.

At the bright end ahead, an extraordinary sight could be seen.

A spherical-shaped Exotic Tree, its trunk appeared web-like, the tree hollow.

Due to the distance, Xia Liu could only see this much.

He remembered Ye Wuya saying that in the Inner City, there was a millennial Exotic Tree, its roots and stems being the Millennial Root needed for practicing the Taiqing Art…