Chapter 4789: The Primordial City

"It can't be an illusion, can it?" Wang Changsheng said, frowning.

Everything here was a mix of real and fake; Wang Changsheng suspected anything he saw might be an illusion, as they had encountered too many on their journey.

Wang Ruyan activated her Lihuo Divine Eye to investigate. Her brows furrowed as she said, "The city's restrictions are too strong; I can't see clearly inside." Given her current cultivation, for her Lihuo Divine Eye to be blocked by the restrictions, it had to be a fifth-tier immortal formation.

Wang Changsheng flipped his right hand, revealing a round, glowing green pearl—the Green Network Pearl, a low-grade Dao artifact. He activated the Green Network Pearl to survey the city's interior, but an invisible force blocked it. All he could see was a hazy grayness, making it impossible to discern anything inside.

"I hope it's real. There must be valuable items inside the city, given such powerful restrictions. I just don't know if the control hub is located here," Wang Changsheng remarked.

"We'll know once we go. Perhaps Qingshan and Qingbai will also arrive here," he added. Wang Changsheng put away the Green Network Pearl, and he and Wang Ruyan walked towards the massive city. Their divine senses were fully extended, and with wary expressions, they proceeded slowly.

Upon nearing the giant city, within five hundred zhang, Wang Changsheng released a colossal ape puppet beast with the strength of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. He chanted an incantation, and the colossal ape puppet beast strode slowly towards the massive city. Wang Ruyan activated her Lihuo Divine Eye to investigate, detecting no anomalies.

The colossal ape puppet beast reached the city gate without triggering any restrictions. The city gate was tightly shut, its surface intricately carved with a fearsome mythical beast: a creature with three heads, four wings, and five tails. Wang Changsheng chanted an incantation, and the colossal ape puppet beast swung its right fist, striking the city gate. A dull thud resonated, but nothing else happened.

Wang Ruyan released a flying eagle puppet, intending to scout the city's interior. After ascending three zhang from the ground, the flying eagle puppet fell uncontrollably. Evidently, there was an aerial restriction, preventing any high-altitude scouting. The colossal ape puppet beast opened its mouth and spewed a thick golden beam of light, striking the city gate. Another dull thud echoed, yet again without effect. Wang Changsheng changed his incantation, and the colossal ape puppet beast placed its hands on the city gate, pushing with all its might, but the gate remained unyielding.

"Wife, stay here and provide support. I'll go and try to open the city gate," Wang Changsheng instructed, then walked towards the massive city. He reached the city gate and delivered a punch. A dull thud resonated, and it felt as though he had struck a copper and iron wall; the city gate remained entirely intact. Wang Changsheng was somewhat surprised; even without using his full strength, that single punch could have destroyed a top-grade immortal artifact. Blue light erupted from his body as he unleashed a barrage of punches onto the city gate, leaving two distinct imprints. However, these imprints quickly healed, as if they had never existed.

Just as Wang Changsheng was utterly baffled, the city gate automatically swung open. A powerful suction force emerged, drawing his body uncontrollably into the city. Witnessing this, Wang Ruyan promptly intervened, but it was futile; Wang Changsheng was rapidly pulled inside. She conjured a Grand Unity Golden Immortal-tier talisman soldier, imbued it with a wisp of her soul, and then sent it flying towards the massive city. Both husband and wife were simultaneously drawn into the giant city by the immense suction, and the city gate slammed shut.

After a moment of disorienting sensation, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan found themselves in a secret chamber. Runes pulsed on the stone walls, radiating powerful restriction fluctuations.

"Where is this? A prison?" Wang Changsheng asked, frowning.

His right fist blazed with green light. He unleashed a punch, and a colossal green fist shot out, striking the left stone wall. A dull thud echoed, and the chamber shook violently. Wang Ruyan summoned the Immortal-Slaying Mirror. Its surface flared with dazzling golden light, discharging a thick bolt of chaotic immortal lightning that struck the stone wall. A similar dull thud reverberated, and the chamber again shook violently. Wang Changsheng retrieved his Heaven-Shaking Rod and slammed it against the stone wall. The chamber convulsed violently.

"Even with a mid-grade Dao artifact, we can't break free! What kind of restriction is this?" Wang Ruyan exclaimed, her brows furrowed.

"Could Wuyue Bin and Mushuang Shuang also be trapped here?" Wang Changsheng speculated.

"Highly likely! But what exactly is this place? Who created it? Is its sole purpose to trap us?" Wang Ruyan wondered.

"I don't know. Let's try to break the restriction!" Wang Changsheng declared, refusing to believe they couldn't escape. He swung his Heaven-Shaking Rod at the stone wall, while Wang Ruyan activated the Immortal-Slaying Mirror, unleashing chaotic immortal lightning to strike it. A series of rumbling explosions erupted, causing the stone wall to shake violently, but that was the only effect. Wang Ruyan activated her Lihuo Divine Eye to investigate, but it was also blocked by the restrictions, proving useless. Left with no choice, she intensified her attacks.

"I left a talisman soldier outside. I hope it can find Qingshan and the others," Wang Ruyan said.

"Let's hope so!" Wang Changsheng nodded, also increasing his attack intensity.

***

In a sea area amidst a raging storm, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and fierce winds howled. A streak of light flew from the distant horizon, flashing down to an open clearing. The light receded, revealing Wei's figure.

"What is this place?" Wei said, frowning.

Following his gaze, one could see a majestic, colossal city. Its walls rose tens of thousands of zhang high, stretching seemingly endlessly. Wei leaped into the air, intending to survey the city's interior from above. At three zhang above the ground, his body uncontrollably descended. Clearly, an aerial restriction was in place.

"A fifth-tier immortal formation! I hope this isn't another illusion," Wei muttered, frowning. He strode towards the massive city, maintaining a slow pace. He hadn't triggered any restrictions on his approach and safely reached the city gate. Above the entrance was a square plaque bearing three large characters: "Tai Chu City."

"Tai Chu City! I've never heard of this place. It can't be an illusion, can it?" Wei murmured to himself, then delivered a punch to the city gate. A dull thud echoed, but the gate remained unyielding.

"A bit interesting!" Dazzling ten-colored spiritual light erupted from Wei's body as he punched the city gate once more. A deafening rumble! A colossal fist imprint appeared on the city gate, but in mere moments, it automatically healed.

"Self-healing?" Wei was taken aback.

Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, the city gate automatically opened. A powerful suction force emerged, drawing him into the city, and then the gate automatically closed.

After a moment of dizziness, Wei found himself in a secret chamber. The door was tightly shut, and the stone walls were covered in arcane runes, radiating powerful restriction fluctuations.

"What is this place?" Wei wondered, punching a stone wall. The chamber shook, but nothing else seemed amiss.

"The restrictions are this powerful?" Wei frowned, then intensified his attack. A massive roar erupted, and the chamber he was in shook violently, but there was no sign of the restrictions loosening.

If anyone could fly above Tai Chu City, they would see a bluestone arena in its center. An oval-shaped ore floated above this arena, enveloped by a thick, condensed blue light barrier. The city contained only the bluestone arena; there were no other structures. However, numerous stone chambers, thirty-six in total, could be seen, all with their doors tightly shut.