Chapter 134: The Secret Is Revealed

"Is this Thunder City?"

Su Ye’s eyes were filled with doubt. Had he not endured so many hardships to reach this point, he would have surely believed he had arrived at the wrong place.

Shouldn't the legendary Thunder City be filled with celestial lightning or be a grand, imposing fortress? Yet, all he saw now was a vast expanse of mist, so thick that he could barely see a few hundred meters ahead.

Within that mist, however, everyone could sense a grim and terrifying aura. As they stood atop the towering city walls, looking out, it felt as though they were gazing over a sea of clouds.

"Did we come to the wrong place? Is this really what Thunder City looks like? Aren't there supposed to be treasures everywhere? Where are they?" Several people nearby began to whisper, many of them wearing expressions of disappointment.

Wu Yan interrupted coldly, "What a delusional fantasy. Thunder City is a dead city; where would treasures come from? So many people have lived here for so many years—if there were truly any opportunities, they would have been found long ago!"

"No treasures? Are you lying to us? Oh heavens, how could there be no treasures? Did you not search thoroughly enough?"

"I knew it, I knew this whole thing was a lie! There’s no treasure at all. But I don't care anymore; I just don't want to stay here forever. My family is waiting for me back in Yang City! I must go back! There's nothing good about this hellhole. I shouldn't have come." Every warrior felt their hopes dashed, and they let out cries of profound grief.

Hearing these complaints, Wu Bozhong called out with some annoyance, "What are you all bickering about? Even if there are no treasures in the outer layer, have you truly not noticed the oddity of this city? Who built this Thunder City? We can only climb the walls to enter the outer city; do you have any idea how many layers lie within, what secrets remain, or whether there is anything hidden in the inner chambers? Hmph."

Hearing Wu Bozhong’s words, many of the disappointed warriors perked up. This man had lived in Thunder City for years; he must surely know many of its secrets.

One had to cozy up to a local snake like Wu Bozhong. Immediately, a group of warriors crowded around him, eager to ask for guidance.

But Wu Bozhong only said with an air of gravity, "Knowing anything now is useless for you. The only thing you must remember is that for these three days, the Insect King is sharpening his blade; you absolutely must not resort to violence or kill anyone."

This left the warriors confused. How could Wu Yan claim there were no treasures and call it a dead city, while Wu Bozhong hinted at unexplored mysteries? There was an underlying sense of allure that was hard to resist.

Who was telling the truth?

Regardless, the newly arrived warriors were impatient to explore what lay within Thunder City.

The group climbed down from the ramparts and slowly walked into the ancient city.

As Su Ye stepped into the city, his feet landing on the massive stone blocks, he felt an inexplicable pressure descending from the sky, as if countless eyes were staring at him, prying into every secret he carried.

Every stone and every wall here exuded an aura of ancient history. If such a city were located in China, it would surely shock the entire nation, if not the whole world.

"You—the one surnamed Jiang! Stop right there!" Suddenly, a roar erupted from a distance, and several warriors strode toward them.

The man in the lead was a tall warrior soaked from head to toe, clearly having just arrived in the city. Judging by his furious expression, he was seething with rage.

At first glance, Su Ye did not recognize him, but seeing the pretty figure following behind him, he realized it was Jiu Yayue.

In an instant, Su Ye understood. They were clearly from the Jiu family. Previously, on the beach, Jiang Liuying had slapped Jiu Yayue. As a young lady of stature, how could she let that slide?

Jiang Liuying, unafraid, stood her ground and called out, "What are you?"

Su Ye knew they had just arrived at Thunder City and nothing was settled yet; it would be unwise to start a fight. He immediately stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Jiu Yayue, what is the meaning of this?"

Many warriors nearby noticed the friction and cleared the area. Even Wu Bozhong and Wu Yan stopped to watch quietly.

Jiu Yayue looked arrogant and indignant. "Su Ye, this has nothing to do with you. Jiang Liuying struck me, and I’m here to demand an explanation!"

"You brought it on yourself; what kind of explanation do you want?" Jiang Liuying refused to give anyone face.

Jiu Yayue, shamed and furious, shouted, "Jiang Liuying, don't think I'm afraid of you. Your Jiang family might be powerful, but where are your people now? Do you think you're still a young lady now that you've reached Thunder City? Today, I will return the favor twofold."

Su Ye frowned. He truly hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

Although they had found a few Jiang family warriors and the members of the Martial Alliance were present, their strength was far weaker compared to their previous numbers.

No wonder Jiu Yayue dared to come seeking trouble with only a few people.

"Jiu Yayue, you should know the reason for this better than anyone! You’d best stop looking for trouble!" Su Ye’s voice turned cold. He hadn't expected that after saving her, he would end up with this result.

Jiu Yayue, now incensed and ignoring the consequences, shrieked, "Su Ye, don't think that because you saved me, you can strike me! Back in Yang City, it was I who covered for you! You took the conch from the Illusory Sea Sect; if I hadn't helped you, would you have had it so easy? Now you’re ungrateful!"

Boom—

Su Ye’s body trembled, and his head began to buzz. He hadn't expected Jiu Yayue to burn all bridges and disregard everything.

He had defeated Wen Bibo of the Illusory Sea Sect and taken that conch, which he had since converted into a storage vessel. He had assumed Jiu Yayue would keep the secret, but he never imagined she would blurt it out at a time like this.

With the Illusory Sea Sect involved, the news of the conch had clearly spread among the families of Yang City. The crowd around them erupted in an uproar upon hearing this.

"What? Su Ye has a conch?"

"I heard the Illusory Sea Sect’s conch can hold quite a lot! Who knows what might be inside!" Many warriors exclaimed in shock.

In ordinary times, even knowing that Su Ye possessed a storage conch would only elicit envy or curiosity, as such artifacts were rare.

But things were different now. After barely escaping with their lives from the sea, they had lost almost everything they owned.

They had very little left on them.

If Su Ye had a storage conch, it meant he possessed the supplies they desperately needed!

In an instant, almost everyone’s gaze shifted to Su Ye, their greed and jealousy no longer concealed.

"Heh, you really do have something good on you—"

The tall man standing in front of Jiu Yayue sneered and pointed at Su Ye. "Hand over the conch, and the Thunder-Inducing Bead as well! Otherwise, you will all be buried here in Thunder City!"

"You intend to kill me?" Su Ye clenched his fists. Retreat was not an option now.

Behind him, Gangjin, without a word, stepped to Su Ye’s side. It seemed he intended to stand with him.

"Brothers of the Martial Alliance, this has nothing to do with you—my target is only these people from the Jiang family," the middle-aged man said, his voice dropping as he showed a hint of hesitation.

Gangjin remained silent, his voice firm and resonant: "If you hit him, I hit you!"

"Hmph—getting a bit bold, are we? Your Young Alliance Leader died at sea, so why should I fear the Martial Alliance? Today, I will kill anyone who stands in my way!" The middle-aged man, full of rage, drew a dagger from behind his back.

Cling!

A cold glint shone from the blade.

Su Ye’s eyes darkened as he suddenly recalled the incident on the Insect River. Before he had sunk, a dagger had been fired at his wrist, and that blade had possessed the same icy aura as the one before him now.

"It was you..."