Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now!-Chapter 954 - 282: [Cloud Omen] (6800)_2

At times like this, even if a Venerable steps in, words alone aren’t enough.

For both public and private matters, one must defend their tribe, so a fight is inevitable.

After a battle, regardless of winning or losing, the subordinates will be left speechless.

But this Ghost Race Elder is formidable; emerging after years of seclusion, remarkably ferocious.

It’s said they’ve engaged the Ghost Race Elder in five consecutive gambling battles.

Winning consecutively, they defeated the Demon Race Elder five times in a row, forcing surrender.

The Demon Race subsequently relinquished a large patch of land in the Southern Border, retreating four thousand miles.

Currently, the City of No Return is the last major city occupied by the Demon Race in the Southern Border—shared with the Ghost Race.

Things have come to this stage, the Demon Race refuses to retreat further, as doing so would mean leaving the bustling world and retreating into the mountains.

Thus, now the City of No Return is even more tumultuous than before. Publicly, neither side will escalate, but secretly, not a day passes without casualties!"

Chen Yan listened, raising an eyebrow.

The steward then relaxed his tone, smiling, "However, no need for concern, young friend. The Ghost Race and Demon Race have their disputes.

We belong to the Celestial Demon Yin Yang Joyful Sect, a proud member of the Saint Sect!

No matter how fiercely they fight, they understand priority, and won’t easily provoke other forces, so as long as you reveal your identity as a Joyful Sect disciple, neither side will cause trouble."

Chen Yan smiled and thanked him, but quietly noted all the steward’s words in his mind.

As the flying boat entered the City of No Return, Chen Yan stood on the deck and glanced down, instantly noticing the vast difference between this ’City of No Return’ and West Zombie’s West Platform City.

West Platform City is surrounded by flat desert terrain, transformed by major forces using massive arrays to alter the landscape and soil, gathering Primordial Qi, thus creating numerous farms and herb gardens.

Whereas the City of No Return is located in the Southern Border, with more mountains and less flat land; even flat areas are narrow.

As a major city in the Southern Border, the City of No Return covers a larger area than West Platform City—but in truth, the city encompasses mountains and is encircled with walls.

Several mountain peaks were included within the city bounds, creating the scope of the City of No Return.

The northern area within the city had a mountain slope leveled, creating space for numerous commercial warehouses and a flying boat dock constructed by prominent businesses.

Officially belonging to the City of No Return’s jurisdiction, but due to tangled affiliations with both Ghost and Demon Races, the dock was independently governed by a coalition of businesses, which annually paid a managerial fee to the jurisdiction.

As the flying boat landed slowly at the dock, Chen Yan waited for it to settle, then observed around, with banners waving, and flags fluttering like clouds.

Flags from dozens of businesses planted in front of the dock.

Upon landing, a sea of people bustled beneath, busy with fervor.

The steward also sent someone to escort Chen Yan off the boat, leading him to the dock’s gate—a road leading down the mountain slope.

Looking at the wide mountain road, equivalent to a two-lane road in the real world, surprisingly even more beautifully built than West Platform City.

Following the steward’s advice, Chen Yan descended along the mountain road, arriving at a checkpoint for entering the city.

Originally, this checkpoint was established by the city jurisdiction and was guarded by the City of No Return’s soldiers.

Yet now, with city squabbles escalating, the jurisdiction split into two: one Ghost Race and one Demon Race, neither recognizing each other.

This checkpoint, however, was seized by the business alliance, who stationed cultivators from various families as soldiers here.

Chen Yan displayed his Token of the Celestial Demon Yin Yang Joyful Sect disciple; the soldiers didn’t trouble him, letting him pass without fuss.

A soldier wearing armor, seemingly a leader, eyed Chen Yan with some warmth: "A Joyful Sect disciple?"

"Indeed, a wandering disciple from the Saint Sect’s Artifact Refining Hall, Zhao Shanhe." Chen Yan deliberately smiled, "May I ask if the general has any advice?"

"Not at all, I’m no general, just a mere captain." The man laughed heartily, "What a coincidence, my younger brother visited the Joyful Sect a few years ago for external academy selection as a preparatory disciple. Sadly, he lacked fortune and wasn’t selected.

However, he befriended several fellow participants; one joined the Saint Sect and was later invited to my family as an instructor for teaching youngsters in introductory cultivation.

In a sense, we consider ourselves relatives."

Clearly seeking affinity, Chen Yan naturally went along, asking for the name of this "Saint Sect disciple."

Yet the name given by the captain was unfamiliar to Chen Yan, only heard to be working in the Alchemy Hall.

Finally, the captain revealed his true intention with a smile: "I have a son, aged fourteen, already initiated into cultivation. I intend to send him for external academy selection in the Saint Sect two years hence..."

Instantly understanding, Chen Yan replied with a smile, "In that case, I preemptively wish your son success; if he becomes my fellow disciple, we truly are kin."

Promptly, Chen Yan inquired about the captain’s son’s name and sincerely noted it down, exchanging a few polite words and assuring he would assist if encountered.

The captain sought precisely this affirmation, and his demeanor turned more enthusiastic.

He even produced an item from his Storage Equipment to give Chen Yan, earnestly advising, "Currently in the City of No Return, the southern territory is occupied by the Ghost Race, the eastern by the Demon Race.