Sights in the Ancient City

Fine wine was merely an idle wish for now. Hong Yitang's words had left only a fleeting impression after all, scattering with the wind. Perhaps they would be rekindled one day, but for now, they merely gave Li Hao and Southern Fist some food for thought without changing anything fundamental. In truth, Hong Yitang had not intended to change anyone anyway. He had spoken only out of spontaneous feeling, contemplating his own path. As for guiding or transforming others, that had never been his aim. He simply could not help reflecting on whether he had been right or wrong during his decades of roaming the martial world. The Earth-Overturning Sword had won fame throughout the realm and then retreated into seclusion, gradually falling behind the times—all part of his long process of contemplation. No one could understand him, nor did he need to be understood. Doing what he wished and letting slip that tiny, insignificant spark of pity from the strong was enough for him. Yet none of that was half as shocking as that storage ring. A fortune! Beaming from ear to ear, Hong Yitang no longer looked so melancholy; only pure excitement and joy remained. He had likely never seen so much wealth in his entire life. Absolute bliss! Southern Fist was green with envy, while Li Hao smiled with a foxy, meaningful expression. Would the Earth-Overturning Sword seek his help or not? If he did, someone this wealthy... shouldn't Li Hao withhold two-thirds of the proceeds? Ahem... make it one-third. Two-thirds was too greedy. One-third would serve as a service fee for the little sword. Could a grand artifact like the Starry Sky Sword step onto the stage without charging a little fee for its trouble? Amid their idle chatter, they reached South Street. South City Fifth Street, Hibiscus Courtyard, Cloud Fragrance Pavilion. South City was the commercial district. There were several multi-story buildings here, though they were not very tall compared to the outside world. The streets were wide, lined with shops on every side. "Tea," "Wine," "Meals," "Clothing"... Flags fluttered in the breeze, and massive signs made it easy for visitors to distinguish their destinations. Almost all of them were shut tight. Li Hao looked around as he followed the street signs. A moment later, he led the other two in a certain direction. Southern Fist was completely in the dark here, unable to read any of the characters. Hong Yitang, on the other hand, recognized some ancient script and could barely discern their bearings. Outside the city, the sounds of slaughter raged on. Inside, the three walked along the quiet streets, enveloped in an extraordinary tranquility. After walking for a while, a grand courtyard filled with antique elegance appeared before them. Hong Yitang hastily produced his key; the characters inscribed upon it matched those on the courtyard's plaque. "Hibiscus Courtyard?" Hong Yitang glanced at Li Hao. Li Hao nodded and surveyed their surroundings. All was dead quiet. Only this sprawling courtyard occupied a massive tract of land, its rooftops visible over the compound walls. At the moment, the heavy courtyard gates were closed. Could they be opened? Cloud Fragrance Pavilion was likely just one building within this grand compound rather than the entire estate. "Martial Uncle Hong, let's go take a look inside," Li Hao said. Hong Yitang, however, handed the key to Southern Fist. "Old He, go take a look." He Yong's face darkened! This key was probably meant only for the interior Cloud Fragrance Pavilion. If he pushed open the main gate of this courtyard and got killed, what then? Li Hao deduced, "It should be fine. Hibiscus Courtyard is probably a restaurant or inn. We are entering a public area right now, not private property. According to the rules of Battle Heaven City, nothing should happen to us. Martial Uncle He, push the gate open and see." He Yong looked at Li Hao, then at Hong Yitang... Why don't you two push it open? If you said it was fine, why make me do it? Hong Yitang stared at him in silence, and so did Li Hao. Of course you should go! Li Hao was too weak, and Hong Yitang needed to stay back as a safeguard. You're right in the middle—if not you, then who? Besides, since we brought you safely into the inner city, you have to take some risks. Otherwise, you won't get a share of any benefits later. Southern Fist had no reply. Though neither said a word, he understood their meaning perfectly. Taking a deep breath and silently cursing a storm, he plucked up his courage and pushed against the grand gate. The heavy courtyard doors let out a soft creak. It seemed they had already been ajar rather than completely sealed. As He Yong pushed, the gate slowly swung open. ... A moment later, the three saw the courtyard's interior. A bluestone path stretched ahead, flanked by pavilions, winding dry riverbeds, artificial hills, and rockeries... Evidently, this was indeed a scenic, elegant inn. Unfortunately, the vegetation had withered and the spring had dried up. Today, only remnants of its former beauty remained. It was pristine, but the dead grass left the surroundings looking somewhat bare. "Phew!" Southern Fist exhaled. Thank goodness, nothing happened. He had been scared out of his wits! Li Hao had already stepped inside, crossing the threshold. Once the others entered, he said, "Shut the gate, lest someone comes by later and sees it open." Any sane person who knew the danger would never dare push the gate open. Without a word, He Yong quickly closed the gate. Li Hao walked over to a signpost marked with various locations and directional arrows. "Cloud Water Pavilion" "Drifting Fragrance Pavilion" "Water Charm Pavilion" "..." They were all names of lodgings. Near the bottom, Li Hao finally spotted "Cloud Fragrance Pavilion," with an arrow pointing toward the deeper part of the grounds. "Forward!" Li Hao led the way. He Yong felt an uncomfortable unease in this courtyard and asked via voice transmission as they walked, "What's the point of finding this place? It's probably just a place to sleep. Could there actually be treasures here? Who leaves treasures in a hotel?" He felt it would be better to search for unsealed private residences. Hong Yitang disagreed, transmitting back, "Foolish. A place this luxurious must have good things inside, just like luxury hotels today. How could ordinary homes have items more valuable than a grand hotel?" "..." Fair enough. Southern Fist conceded that grand luxury hotels did possess valuable furnishings. Li Hao explained, "It isn't just about treasures. We need to understand the local situation and rules. This room was assigned by Battle Heaven City, so there might be explanations of local regulations. For instance, when checking into a hotel, one often finds guides on local customs and specialties. "Battle Heaven City welcomed visitors from all four corners. They couldn't explain what was permitted and forbidden to every single traveler in person. If so, there might be rule guides placed in their lodgings." Hong Yitang and Southern Fist nodded. That made sense. With that in mind, both felt a surge of anticipation. Figuring out the rules might make it easier to survive in the inner city and seize the upper hand. Those who had not obtained keys might not be so fortunate. Along the way, they saw other lodgings, but none paused to investigate. Those buildings stood as detached residences. This place was indeed a luxury inn—a villa hotel by modern standards. After walking and searching for a time, Li Hao finally spotted a standalone, two-story building fronted by a small private yard, above which hung a plaque. Cloud Fragrance Pavilion! Found it. The three hurried forward. The yard gate had no padlock, but there was a keyhole roughly matching the size of the key. Li Hao and Hong Yitang looked at Southern Fist again, prompting him to curse inwardly once more! Even in the imperial family, he had never been treated so miserably. As the martial instructor to princes and princesses, he wielded significant authority. Unfortunately, that was worthless here. Hong Yitang was stronger, and Li Hao was more useful. He had no choice but to serve as the scout. Taking a deep breath, he inserted the key into the lock, his hand trembling slightly. He knew very well that once rooms here were sealed, barging in meant certain death. Almost no one had ever come out alive—in fact, none had! *Click!* The soft sound was extraordinarily conspicuous in the dead silence. All three grew tense. Fortunately, as the click sounded, a gap opened in the yard gate, revealing a faint glow. Joy flickered in their eyes—it was open! Southern Fist took a deep breath and pushed the yard gate open. Before them stood a two-story antique building. Lights glowed from beneath the yard paving—ground lamps. After countless millennia, these lamps actually lit up the moment the gate was opened. Evidently, they were powered by divine energy stones or directly connected to the city's subterranean energy grid. "Let's go in!" Li Hao turned to Hong Yitang. As the master of this room, you go first! Saying nothing, Hong Yitang walked in. Li Hao and Southern Fist followed cautiously. After all, they were not the registered owners, but surely there was no issue if the master brought two guests? The small yard was not large, perhaps under a hundred square meters. The flowers had long perished, leaving only ancient planters bearing witness to their past beauty. After a few steps forward, the front door of the building slid open automatically, requiring no key this time. Hong Yitang led the way inside, and Li Hao and Southern Fist followed. The moment they entered, the dark room suddenly illuminated as lights flickered to life. This was the first time they had seen such bright illumination here. The entire ancient city had been cloaked in darkness save for faint luminescence, but now the house was brightly lit. The first floor came into full view. A spacious living room held antique sofas and a conference table, with a rug made of unknown animal fur spread across the floor. Ahead was a large transparent pane of glass offering a view outside. To the sides were several rooms. Li Hao's gaze swept across the area and spotted a book—or rather, an exquisite brochure—resting on the coffee table. His eyes brightened. This had been his goal all along. He hurried forward and read the characters on the ancient cover. *Battle Heaven City Travel Guide!* Li Hao's eyes shone. Just as he had guessed, such things truly existed in this inn. Beside him, Southern Fist suddenly cried out in excitement, "Look, what's that?" Li Hao followed his gaze to where Southern Fist was pointing outside the transparent window. The bearded man seemed on the verge of madness with delight. Li Hao peered outside and saw what appeared to be a hot spring pool. He judged it as such because even today, warm water still seemed to bubble from the large basin, sending up wisps of steam. It was as if the guest's arrival had reactivated the pool, bringing it back to life. Li Hao thought little of it at first, but looking closer, his gaze shifted. Forgetting the brochure, he rushed forward to press against the glass alongside Southern Fist, his eyes flickering. Hong Yitang's gaze wavered as well. "Is... is that a hot spring pool for guests to bathe in? But doesn't that water look unusual?" All of them stared. The water shimmered with faint ribbons of iridescent color, radiating a glow that screamed valuable treasure. Could the water itself be a treasure? Southern Fist grew frantic. "Li Hao, check quickly! Can we go out there? It looks like it's in our backyard. Can we go?" Li Hao said nothing, hurriedly flipping through the *Battle Heaven City Travel Guide*. After flipping for a bit, he reached the page concerning Hibiscus Courtyard. He read carefully, his expression shifting. "This pool is called the spring pool of life. According to the guide, an ancient tree of life once grew here, infusing the pool with spring water of life. It possesses effects of nourishing the body, healing injuries, and aiding cultivation. Each detached villa has an auxiliary pool for guest use. "However, it comes at a cost. It isn't free." Southern Fist blurted out, "What cost? A spring pool of life... I think I've heard rumors of that before." Hong Yitang let out a soft breath. "How extravagant! I know about this. During the ancient civilization, certain formidable great demons—plant-type demons—could extract the legendary water of life once they cultivated to a certain level and rooted themselves in massive divine energy stone veins! The effects were astonishing! Li Hao, the energy you let us use before... I suspected then that it was similar to this legendary life energy—healing, repairing, strengthening... "To think this was just a hotel, yet it offered such amenities. It's unimaginable how lavishly the people of Battle Heaven City lived back then." Li Hao shook his head. "Not necessarily! This was meant to host guests, and important ones at that. It shows that the key Martial Uncle Hong received is likely better than mine, distributed according to strength. Ordinary residents of Battle Heaven City might not have enjoyed such privileges." He added, "However, using the pool requires paying a fee." Southern Fist asked impatiently, "What fee? Spit it out! This is incredible stuff. Even if it contains only a fraction of spring water of life, it would be vital to us!" "Energy stones... which means divine energy stones." Li Hao looked at the guide and said quietly, "One must place divine energy stones into the pool to activate it, which also maintains its operation. Furthermore... they must be of high purity!" He read the instructions carefully and continued, "What the ancients called energy stones might differ slightly from our definition. They also graded purity levels." Hong Yitang pondered for a moment and looked toward Southern Fist. Southern Fist stared back with an innocent expression. Why look at me? I don't have money! "How much does it need?" Hong Yitang glanced at Li Hao. Li Hao replied, "I don't know, it doesn't say. It just says to deposit 'a piece.' I have no idea how big 'a piece' was in the ancient civilization—whether it's the size we use today, or the massive chunks Martial Uncle Hong just picked up!" Hong Yitang was speechless. Stop joking. Those pieces were astonishingly valuable. There was no way he would use those! High purity... did that mean ordinary ones wouldn't work? Southern Fist urged, "Let's try it, Old Hong! This stuff can't be bought for gold. We finally got in here, so why not give it a shot?" "Will you pay for it?" "..." Southern Fist fell silent, feeling helpless. He had none. "Don't you have any divine energy stones? I don't buy it!" Hong Yitang said skeptically. "You spent all those years in the imperial family without pocketing a single benefit? Who are you kidding?" Southern Fist was at a loss for words. After a while, he grumbled, "I have some, but the purity might not measure up." "Try it anyway!" Hong Yitang said bluntly. "This is my room, and Li Hao brought us into the city. You haven't contributed a single hair so far... It's your turn now. Come on, let's head to the backyard and check it out!" The three stopped browsing the rest of the villa, eager to test this first. What a treasure, what a place! Soon, they crossed the villa and stepped through the back door into the yard. The surrounding grass had withered, but the spring continued to flow, separated by what seemed to be a barrier of glass. When they tried to step into the pool's area, they were blocked. Off to the side of the pool sat a smaller basin inscribed with a few lines of script. Li Hao crouched to examine it for a moment, then said, "Right here. According to this, as long as sufficient energy is infused, it will activate." He volunteered, "I have some divine energy stones left. Let me drop one in and see." With that, he pulled out a divine energy stone and tossed it in. Nothing happened. The stone fell into the small basin without generating any reaction or sound, sinking to the bottom like an ordinary pebble without changing in the slightest. Seeing this, Southern Fist gritted his teeth and pulled a larger divine energy stone from his storage ring. Its luster was brighter than Li Hao's. He dropped it in, and this time there was a faint reaction. The water surged slightly over the stone, washing past it. The stone crumbled into powder, but... the energy vanished, the stone shattered, and the protective barrier over the pool remained firmly intact. Southern Fist's heart ached terribly. "That stone had at least twenty times the energy of an ordinary divine energy stone... one was worth twenty! Even that wasn't enough?" "There was a reaction!" Li Hao said quickly. "It was stronger than mine. It's probably just not enough yet. Martial Uncle He, drop another one in." Go to hell! He Yong cried out inwardly in anguish. This was absurdly expensive! If it took so much just to open, how much more would it need? More importantly, what if it failed to open? And even if it did open, what if the effects were mediocre? Sure, the spring was flowing, but countless years had passed. What if the source that infused the water with life energy was already dead? Wouldn't that be a total waste? Yet his desire burned just as hot. Gritting his teeth, he tossed in another. Just like before, it shattered instantly upon entry, its energy absorbed, with no further reaction. Southern Fist broke out in a cold sweat from the pain of his losses! Having tossed two, he couldn't back out now... Three, four, five... By the fifth piece, he could bear it no longer. He groaned in agony, "No more! I saved up some wealth in the imperial court, but I needed to cultivate all these years. That was my entire fortune, and I've tossed it all in! "That's equivalent to a hundred ordinary divine energy stones!" Southern Fist lamented, "A hundred stones! At outside rates of a thousand cubic meters of mysterious energy per stone, that's a full hundred thousand cubic meters of mysterious energy! And it still won't open... I can't take this!" This was simply too exorbitant! Li Hao felt the sting as well. The cost was indeed terrifying. He said uncertainly, "Could it be that after so many years, some internal mechanism broke down, so..." Southern Fist panicked instantly. "Are you saying it won't open at all?" Who knew? Li Hao muttered inwardly. Countless millennia had passed; who could say for sure? Seeing Southern Fist half-dead from anxiety, Hong Yitang frowned. "Shut up! What are you putting on an act for? A hundred divine energy stones is a lot, but I don't believe for a second that was your entire stash. If it were, would you have thrown it all in? Last time at Mount Cang, we burned eight hundred divine energy stones, and you didn't even bat an eye." "Wait, that was..." Wasn't that captured plunder? Spending money you hadn't pocketed yet didn't hurt! Hong Yitang couldn't be bothered to argue. After weighing his options with a twinge of reluctance, he took out one of the massive divine energy stones he had just found. With utmost care, he scraped off a tiny sliver. It was minuscule! He dropped it into the basin. The water roiled, but it was still not enough. Inhaling sharply, Hong Yitang scraped off another sliver, and then another. The water in the basin began to boil. The hot spring beside it began to churn as well, the light barrier showing signs of dissolving, though it hadn't yet disappeared. Hong Yitang shaved off tiny fragments, making each one smaller than the last. He couldn't afford to waste any. After shaving off slivers more than a dozen times, a pop sounded like a bursting bubble. The barrier vanished, and a warm, moist breeze brushed against their faces. At that moment, the spring pool was fully accessible! Overjoyed, Southern Fist moved to charge in, but Hong Yitang caught him by the shoulder. Without even looking at him, Hong Yitang turned to Li Hao. "Scoop up a little water and check its benefits." Li Hao smiled and stepped forward. There was not much water in the large basin, but fresh water continued to flow from the outlet, gleaming with colorful luster and looking exceptionally alluring. Li Hao reached out and scooped up a handful. The moment his hand plunged in, he felt a unique energy surge, seeping into his arm. That energy was indeed similar to sword energy, yet not entirely the same. Sensing it carefully, it seemed less concentrated than sword energy, somewhat diluted. Yet as it flowed into his body, Li Hao felt his flesh undergoing a transformation. Patches of dead skin suddenly sloughed off his arm. Li Hao's eyes flickered. This energy was extraordinarily peculiar, carrying a sensation akin to rejuvenation. It reminded him of what his teacher had once described: finding a dead tree stump where, upon splitting open, a drop of water had vanished into mist. Merely absorbing a trace of it had made his teacher feel rejuvenated. Of course, that sensation felt somewhat different from this. Li Hao observed carefully and absorbed more energy from the water. Perhaps this was a diluted version of that very energy? Southern Fist urged impatiently, "Li Hao, don't hog it! How does it feel?" "Not bad!" Li Hao drew back his hand and smiled. "It gently modifies the physical constitution and should work well for both of you. Your divine energy stones weren't wasted. It nourishes the entire body and can clear hidden injuries." Its effects were comparable to sword energy, though whether it could isolate the five elemental forces remained unknown. The energy was thoroughly dissolved in the water, making it impossible to extract separately. The next instant, Hong Yitang released Southern Fist. Instead of leaping in, Southern Fist dropped flat on his stomach and took a massive gulp, swallowing a surge of water in one go! "..." Li Hao and Hong Yitang stared in silence, thoroughly speechless. This was meant for bathing! Then again, it made little difference. Li Hao had done similar things before—he had even considered drinking water licked by a dog, so what was bathwater? Having gulped down a mouthful, Southern Fist savored it silently, his eyes lighting up. "Incredible! But... it doesn't seem quite as potent as ancient texts describe. The records say a single drop of the water of life could regenerate severed limbs, so why don't I feel that?" "It's diluted!" Li Hao explained. "Obviously. Did you really expect a whole pool of the pure treasure? Having even a trace of it inside is already impressive—it might just be ancient residue." "Fine!" Southern Fist replied, slightly disappointed. Hong Yitang wasted no more breath. Stripping down to his shorts, he plunged directly into the pool. The water bubbled instantly, prompting Southern Fist to curse under his breath! Damn you! Just drink it—did you really have to hop in and take a bath? Li Hao chuckled and jumped in as well! The pool was spacious enough for all three. If Southern Fist wanted to drink, he was welcome to it. Southern Fist grumbled, "What are you two doing? What a waste! We should just drink it all..." "Since it was meant for soaking, let us follow the rules!" Hong Yitang said calmly. "Who knows if they added something unsuitable for drinking? If you want to drink it, drink your fill." With that, he began circulating his breathing technique. Li Hao did not hold back either, circulating the Five Animals Breathing Art. Sword energy was potent, but this energy differed slightly. Sword energy could heal and strengthen the body, but it lacked certain other qualities. As this energy poured in, Li Hao noticed the scars on his skin gradually fading away. Indeed, this energy was unique. After absorbing it for a time, Li Hao felt his complexion growing fairer. Previously, he had been somewhat tanned. Martial arts training inevitably came with injuries; while sword energy could heal wounds and accelerate recovery, it could not erase scars. He carried quite a few on his body. Yet now, those marks were visibly fading. Of course, that was secondary. More importantly, as this energy poured inside, his five viscera felt holistically tempered—not through the isolated refinement of individual elements. To maintain balance among his organs, Li Hao had always needed to regulate the proportion of the five elements he absorbed. Now, however, all five viscera seemed enveloped in this energy, achieving a unique, organic equilibrium. Its potency was slightly below pure elemental energy. It resembled blood energy, though blood energy was nowhere near as gentle. Southern Fist quickly jumped in as well. At this moment, all three furiously circulated their breathing techniques, absorbing the energy within the spring. Meanwhile, Li Hao reopened the booklet and resumed reading. "Battle Heaven City—Black Tortoise Pagoda!" He spotted an introduction to a major landmark. According to the text, the Black Tortoise Pagoda was a signature monument of Battle Heaven City, but it was also a divine weapon. Li Hao paused. The Black Tortoise Pagoda was a divine weapon? Then... what about the Black Tortoise Seal? He flipped through quickly, but found no mention of the Black Tortoise Seal. Frowning, he felt puzzled. Hou Xiaochen and the others were bent on seizing the Black Tortoise Seal, yet the guide only mentioned the Black Tortoise Pagoda. Of course, it was merely a travel guide, unlikely to reveal every secret. "South City is the commercial district... East City is the residential district..." "Guests must carry their lodging passes if venturing out past midnight. Otherwise, the city will expel unauthorized outsiders. Anyone who refuses expulsion and defies the order will activate the defense system and be eliminated as an intruder..." Li Hao read the precautions, his thoughts stirring. This meant one had to return to one's residence before midnight. Staying out was permitted, but only if one carried a lodging key to prove guest status. Quite considerate! If one lacked a key... the system would first expel them rather than kill them on sight. Only if they resisted expulsion would they be eliminated! "They offer this many chances?" Li Hao thought to himself. The administrators of Battle Heaven City seemed far from mindless butchers; they were humane, even lenient, granting multiple opportunities. Even an intruder would merely be escorted out initially without further harassment. However, Li Hao did not know what form that expulsion took... Anyone ignorant of the rules might resist, and that would spell their doom. "So carrying a key is the only guarantee of safety?" Pondering this, Li Hao continued reading. The guide also noted that breaking into private residences and shops was strictly forbidden, as private property was sacred and inviolable. There were exceptions: the Battle Heaven Army could enter to conduct official inspections. Appended to this page was a section on how to enlist in the Battle Heaven Army. Li Hao's interest was piqued. The text stated that North City was the military district and recruitment station. One could choose to enlist in the Battle Heaven Army there. Becoming a soldier came with tremendous benefits: lucrative compensation aside, one would receive the amplification of Battle Heaven City itself. The entire city of Battle Heaven was a colossal weapon capable of providing immense energy support to its army. Battle Heaven City welcomed visitors from all directions to join its ranks. Anyone recognized and tested could become a proud member of the Battle Heaven Army. Their solemn duty was to protect humanity and safeguard Battle Heaven City... The rules were few, but one principle was emphasized: retreating before battle was punishable by death! Thus, the soldiers had to be fierce and unyielding. Li Hao felt a spark of interest, followed quickly by a wave of helplessness. In this era, the Battle Heaven Army was gone, leaving only suits of armor driven by lingering obsession. They surely weren't recruiting anymore, were they? Yet... it was hard to say! Perhaps it was worth a shot. Furthermore, military cultivation facilities were likely far superior to those found here. The army's benefits had been the pinnacle of Battle Heaven City. Continuing through the booklet, he found more rules: entering restricted military zones was prohibited, as was trespassing into vital bases. Certain public facilities were free for use. For example, the grand library was open to all city guests and residents possessing identification or lodging passes, but unauthorized entry was strictly forbidden. Willful damage to public property required compensation, with dire consequences for non-compliance! There were countless such regulations. Additionally, the locust tree corridor outside the city was listed as an attraction—a unique passage formed by ten-thousand-year locust trees. Defacing the trees was forbidden, as was siphoning their accumulated life energy without authorization. However, one could deposit energy stones at designated spots; if the tree was amenable, it might exchange life energy in return. Li Hao's heart stirred. So that long corridor outside really was a single tree? A tree that had attained sentience? He read on and came upon another point: trespassing into the City Lord's Estate was strictly forbidden. As the seat of supreme authority, it did not accept tourists. However, those with official business or members of the Eight Great Families could enter to discuss state affairs with the City Lord... Li Hao froze. This was the first time he had seen a clear mention of the Eight Great Families in ancient records. Of course, the text did not call them the Eight Great Families, but the Eight Great Guardian Families. Guardian families... Director Zhao had once used that term as well. He continued reading, paying little heed to the spring water as its energy was thoroughly drained. By now, Southern Fist and Hong Yitang looked significantly younger, their hair lustrous and black, and even Southern Fist's thick beard had darkened considerably. Both seemed rejuvenated, their gains far exceeding the cost of the divine energy stones they had spent. This left Southern Fist ecstatic, eager to take several more dips! Li Hao finished the booklet. After all, it was merely a travel guide, not a comprehensive survival manual for Battle Heaven City; many details were only briefly mentioned. Yet it was enough! Delight showed in Li Hao's eyes, though he soon turned to Southern Fist. "Martial Uncle He... you should probably head out now and run the second pathway again. It's best if you can get a key. If not... keep running it until you do. Otherwise... surviving here will be very difficult for you!" "..." He Yong froze, staring at Li Hao. After a long pause, he asked, "Uh... is that really necessary? Aren't I doing fine right now?" "Then stay inside this room and don't step foot outside. Day might be fine, but night certainly isn't." Did this place even distinguish between day and night? Southern Fist asked, dismayed, "Why?" "Come midnight, this place will expel all outsiders without credentials. Disobeying the initial expulsion leads to immediate termination! Martial Uncle, do you think you can withstand the city's attacks?" "..." Certainly not. Southern Fist asked glumly, "Can I really get one?" That was the crux. Li Hao added, "The outer city has no such restrictions. We stayed there for three days previously without being expelled or attacked. You could stay in the outer city as well." Southern Fist looked crestfallen. After a moment's thought, Li Hao said, "There is another option we could try: enlist!" "What?" "Enlist in the Battle Heaven Army!" Li Hao glanced outside and smiled. "The Battle Heaven Army recruits. If we can join, we'll gain legal status." Southern Fist was dumbfounded. "They've all been wiped out..." "Then what are those forces fighting outside?" True enough! The three exchanged glances. After a moment, Hong Yitang said, "Let's give it a try. Perhaps joining the Battle Heaven Army will bring greater benefits, and we can see for ourselves just how formidable they truly were." Li Hao cautioned, "Also, enlisting now might mean being deployed straight to the front lines—the eastern gate—to participate in the defense!" Both Southern Fist and Hong Yitang paused, looking at Li Hao. Li Hao remained calm. "Repelling foreign invaders is the duty of the Battle Heaven Army! So whether we try or not is up to you two. If we do, we might have to fight the superpowered cultivators outside." Southern Fist licked his lips, then let out a cold laugh. "Let's try it! What's there to fear? Besides, a fight is a fight. Beating those bastards outside sounds a lot easier than fighting those armored warriors!" Li Hao said no more. The three climbed out of the drained pool, quickly dried their clothes with energy, and began heading toward North City. First, they would see if joining the Battle Heaven Army was even possible.