Bandera City, a majestic metropolis where grandeur and history dance together, is embraced by frozen lands and snow-capped mountains.

Whether morning or afternoon, only the sparse light of the snowy region cloaks the cold, hard, dark gray stone with a faint silvery-white hue. The ruggedness and scratches are traces of time, as if the stories of the Holy War, stretching to this day, are awakened and begin to whisper in the wind.

"..."

Lan Qi and Xi De heard the increasingly clear drum and orchestral war songs in their ears, passing through layers of Bandera City's barriers.

The city gate was heavily guarded. After verifying Lan Qi and Xi De's identities, the silent imperial officer still allowed them to enter Bandera City.

When the two walked out of the city gate's hanging corridor,

and stepped into the upper layer of the city-state,

the guards and officers behind them seemed to still be staring at them intently.

"Do these Imperial soldiers seem unusual?"

Lan Qi looked towards the distant towering towers of Bandera City and asked Xi De softly.

The city-state's appearance was strongly influenced by ancient Helrom architecture. Soaring spires, exquisite stained glass windows, and intricate stone carvings were everywhere. The city walls were solid and thick, with a tower or battlement every certain distance.

The streets were wide and winding, with buildings on both sides built very high, as if vying for the limited sunlight.

"No."

Xi De's voice was calm.

Nevertheless, she did feel that something was amiss with the atmosphere of this city-state.

The two walked along the road for a long time, but had not yet seen any residents.

However, they were currently in the staggered upper layer of the city-state. If they looked carefully to the side of the road they were walking on, they would find that the road was actually a wide suspension bridge, from which they could see the lower layer of the city-state.

Snowflakes fell from the sky, passing by the suspension bridge, and it took a long time for them to fall into the lower layer of Bandera City.

Standing on the upper layer and looking down at the lower layer with a height difference of sixty or seventy meters, it was like overlooking the earth from the clouds. Finally, they could see small markets and shops, and residents occasionally passed by. From food to magic devices, everything could be found there.

Lan Qi put on a pendant, the structure of which was not a gemstone, but a small magic device that could record the images he saw.

Its principle was similar to the shadow world recording program of the Southern Continent, except that this magic device had higher encryption. It not only saved images, but also recorded surrounding environmental details and magic power fluctuations.

"We may have to go down to the lower level to take a look."

On the deep gray stone-paved streets, Lan Qi could only see Imperial soldiers patrolling in heavy armor, and clergy of the Silent Sect dressed in robes. They seemed to have no problems, or rather, no problems could be seen on them.

If something had happened to this city-state, the best evidence was likely to be found on those residents.

The path to the lower level might require walking a distance into the city to see the stairs, and jumping directly down would require extremely strong physical fitness or flight magic.

However.

Before Lan Qi's consciousness could detect the subtle changes around him, a slender but powerful hand tightly locked his upper arm. That great strength, capable of easily crushing his bones, was still being controlled very skillfully by Xi Gelide, without hurting him.

Lan Qi tried to open his mouth, but his words were instantly swallowed by the powerful cold air. The pressure from the air made him sure that he had once again been taken into the sky by Xi Gelide.

Only this time, the destination was not the depths of the city-state as Lan Qi had said.

Instead, Xi De was heading out of the city-state on her own initiative.

Although Lan Qi was surprised, he did not question Xi De's judgment.

"There are no living people in this city-state, except for the Silent Sect clergy."

Xi De's cold and alert voice floated in his ears.

Even the Imperial soldiers at the city gate earlier were probably disguised by elites of the Silent Sect.

"……!"

High in the sky, Lan Qi's emerald green eyes finally gradually saw the full view of Bandera City in the clouds.

Only the area where they were at the entrance was still displaying peace and harmony. The depths of the city-state had already been enveloped by an ominous darkness.

The center of the city-state, sealed by an illusion, was all murky and unclear. Even without seeing it with his eyes, he could feel that it was like an eclipse magic realm gathered from corpses and undead everywhere.

Dry limbs and broken arms were scattered among the collapsing buildings beneath the black mist. Whether they were old people, women, or children, their corpses were piled up. The entire border city had become a death feast place after a sacrifice. Under the pale sunlight, a suffocating sense of absurdity and illusion enveloped the entire Bandera City.

Time seemed to be stretched, and the sound of the wind became more piercing. Lan Qi's vision was blurred by the cold wind, but Xi De's hand still firmly grasped him, taking him towards the border of the city-state at high speed.

Lan Qi did not say much. Without communication, he knew that they had to leave quickly.

Even though they had not yet gone deep into the center of the city-state's mutation to obtain conclusive evidence.

But this was a northern border mutation personally confirmed by the Batian Catholic Church. Once she informed the upper echelons of the empire, coupled with the high probability of Major General Fan Leiku's disappearance, the imperial capital would inevitably cause violent turmoil.

And this sin that had already been cast in the north could not be buried and would inevitably be dug up.

Just as Lan Qi thought this, a layer of twisted transparent barrier immediately enveloped his eyes!

Xi Gelide's speed suddenly slowed down and stopped in mid-air.

She warily glanced sideways, catching sight of a figure who had suddenly appeared behind them at some point.

"Well, then, what do you two think of this beautiful scenery?"

A smiling voice echoed in the sky above the city-state.

Lan Qi also followed this discordant tone and looked towards the rear.

The lead-gray dark clouds churned in the sky. Bandera City was immersed in a deathly silence. From time to time, lightning surged between the winter clouds, illuminating the huge buildings in the clouds in a stark white light.

A tall man in a dark gray coat was standing on the viewing platform at the top of Bandera City's towering spire building, watching them.

His skin was as pale as snow, without a trace of blood.

Apart from the suffocating magic power that he casually exuded, when he sealed the space around the two of them, the surrounding atmosphere seemed to stagnate at this moment. The surroundings emitted a deep light, becoming thousands upon thousands of dark stars dancing within it, like a magical living body that did not exist in space but could directly strike the eyes and invade the mind.

Ordinary people with insufficient mental power might feel an unspeakable connection with this world when they faced this soul-striking halo for the first time, experiencing a long journey beyond the body and time in an instant.

In the end, they would be completely sluggish, kneeling on the ground, or even bursting into tears.

The swirling characters did not belong to any known era. Only those who had seen the ruins of the Age of Gods would know their meaning.

This was precisely the might emitted when the [Primordial Stone Tablet] produced its blessing.

And this stone tablet, which could provide a blessing for sealing magic, had already explained the identity of its owner.

As if sensing Lan Qi's gaze, the man turned to look at Lan Qi.

Those deep gray eyes were like an abyss, capable of making people indulge in them, and gradually lose their souls.

Askesan smiled and watched the two of them.

When he stood there, the invisible terror emanating from his body only made living beings feel humble and helpless, and when he moved, all sense of stability would inevitably collapse because of him.

Four chapters today, three more chapters later.

(End of this chapter)