C172 No Life Patriarch(1)

"Waiting around isn't going to help. Let's go in and take a look," Woo Zhengyang suggested.

"That's all we can do," Loong Zhiwu nodded in agreement.

The two of them walked toward the dark city, entering through the gate that resembled the mouth of an ancient beast. The city had no name, but as Woo Zhengyang crossed the threshold, four imposing words echoed in his mind—No Life City.

"No Life City," Loong Zhiwu repeated, while Woo Zhengyang glanced back. The gate, once open, was now closed, as if it had never been open at all.

As they observed, many others had already entered, suggesting Woo Zhengyang and Loong Zhiwu were neither the first nor the last. It seemed the gate appeared open from the outside but was closed from within.

No Life City, where none who enter leave alive.

Inside, the city was a world obscured from outside view. Both were mentally prepared, so they weren't too shocked and didn't attempt to turn back. They continued forward.

The buildings were black, the streets were black, and even the sky above the city was dull and lifeless. As they walked along the main street, surprisingly, they encountered no danger and saw no one else, as if the others who entered had vanished, leaving only the two of them.

They pressed on and eventually reached a plaza.

The plaza was vast, with only a massive statue standing at its center. It depicted a middle-aged man in traditional robes, his face handsome and slightly smiling, as if welcoming the two visitors.

On the stone pedestal beneath the statue, the name of the sculpted figure was engraved: No Life Patriarch.

"Where is everyone? This place is so eerie, like one of those ghost towns you hear about!" Loong Zhiwu exclaimed, startling herself and moving closer to Woo Zhengyang. She was so close that Woo Zhengyang could catch the captivating scent she carried.

Even though she was an expert at the Shape Gathering Stage, she still harbored some fear of the legendary ghosts and spirits, being a woman after all.

Seeing her unprecedented tension, Woo Zhengyang chuckled softly to reassure her, "Since we're here, we might as well make ourselves comfortable. Do you really think there are ghosts? Even if there were, they'd just be remnants from ancient times, barely hanging on. No need to worry!"

Despite his words, Woo Zhengyang felt uncertain. So many people had entered, yet the entire city was devoid of a single soul. It was truly abnormal.

"Bing'er?" Woo Zhengyang communicated with the four members of the Ice Crystal Fire Hall.

"What's up, young master?" It was the more lively Huo'er who responded to Woo Zhengyang.

"Do you know about the No Life Patriarch?"

"No Life Patriarch... how do you know about him, young master?" This time, it was the more composed Bing'er who spoke.

Woo Zhengyang briefly recounted his experiences. After he finished, the group of four fell silent for a moment until Bing'er spoke up to explain further.

"No Life Patriarch was a notorious villain from ancient times. Though he was human, he was more ruthless than any demon. Thousands of renowned cultivators perished at his hands, and countless others remain unknown. No Life City was a small world he created, initially to imprison beautiful young women. Over time, it became his playground, where he watched the captives fight for his amusement, like a twisted creator."

"This time, we're in real trouble," Woo Zhengyang said to Loong Zhiwu after hearing Bing'er’s explanation.

"Why is it trouble?"

"This No Life Patriarch was clearly not a good person. Even though he's dead, he still managed to trap us. He won't let us leave easily. We might end up turning on each other..."

"Turning on each other... But what about the others? Could they all be dead? There aren't any bodies here! And even if we did turn on each other, there should be a winner, right?" Loong Zhiwu looked around as he spoke.

"I don't know. What worries me now is..."

Suddenly, Loong Zhiwu looked at Woo Zhengyang in disbelief, his face filled with fear.

At that moment, Woo Zhengyang's finger was poised right at her throat.

"What are you doing..." Loong Zhiwu demanded.

"Do you think they're trying to make us turn on each other?"

"If we... if we have to fight each other, would you really have the heart to kill me? You..."

Before Loong Zhiwu could finish her sentence, tears welled up in her eyes, making her look incredibly vulnerable.

Suddenly, a sword appeared in Loong Zhiwu's hand, thrusting towards Woo Zhengyang's chest. However, just as the sword materialized, Woo Zhengyang's finger shattered her throat.

In the instant her throat was crushed, Loong Zhiwu dissolved into a cloud of black mist, vanishing into thin air.

"If you were really Loong Zhiwu, I wouldn't have been able to do it. But you're not!" Woo Zhengyang said, continuing to move forward...