Martial Peak

Chapter 6108, Lower Realm Denizens

Author: Silavin

As he walked past building after building, he naturally took note of the living conditions of these ‘unwanted people’. It was… tragic. Even when in board daylight, Yang Ji could see people stealing  from others. In fact, it was easy to spot pools of blood on the ground from time to time, with clusters of people begging, if not lying there seemingly close to death.

There were even children, seemingly even younger than him, but hardly had flesh on their bones, only skin. They were so malnourished that it even shocked Yang Ji.

These children seemed to lack the strength to even play. They sat on the streets, begging if not trying to steal. However, one thing that he took notice of was, on the street lane they were walking on, no one, not even the adults, dared to get close to Yang Ji and Xing Ting. Even those begging, knowing that this might be a chance for a meal, dared not approach the pair.

Yang Ji naturally found this to be quite odd. When looking up ahead, the same treatment was held towards those who dressed well. All these people would avoid coming into contact with those that walked on this straight lane.

Still, Yang Ji was quite curious, so he asked Wu Lun, “Why are they just loitering around here? Some of them seem to be starving. Even if they are beggars, back home, they would still approach us and ask if we could spare them something. There is also a whole entire forest down below. I’m sure they could get food from there.”

Wu Lun, had his voice a little lowered, maybe a bit emotional from this scene, explained, “They have no choice but to remain here. Every single one of them is tied to this island. They can’t leave.”

“Huh? Why? I didn’t feel any barriers when I entered. They shouldn’t be trapped here.” Yang Ji questioned. Looking up and behind, there certainly were no barriers that prevented him from entering or exiting.

“You are thinking too simply. There are much better methods to keep people in place, rather than walls and Arrays.” Wu Lun said.

“Better?”

There was a sigh as Wu Lun coldly said, “A Seal for Bloodlines, to be eternally tied to a piece of land. With this floating island, it is easy to declare its borders. What’s more, if these people ever procreate, all their offspring would be tied to this land as well. A seal that will live on, without needing maintenance, as it feeds on their Life Force to sustain itself and propagate through the generations. How terribly efficient. Truly.”

“Wait, there are even such things? Then, if I touch any blood on the ground, would I be bound to this land as well?” Yang Ji frowned as he looked at those puddles of blood on the floor, some of which had already turned brownish because no one bothered to wipe away the blood and had just left it there to rot.

“You don’t need to worry about that. These Seals are bound to that person till death. They die out the moment the blood no longer remains within their bodies. Even if you drink blood directly from their wrist, it will not affect you. Still, if you want to try, you’re more than welcome to.” Wu Lun smirked. 

Yang Ji shook his head and looked forward as they approached a large wall. This wall was tall, akin to a mountain, separating the floating island’s outer dilapidated region.

Past a gigantic gate, Yang Ji could see the buildings inside. They were pristine and grand, a stark contrast to the area outside the wall. Just from a glimpse from the outside, Yang Ji could already feel a strong sense of grandeur.

Xing Ting led Yang Ji to a queue. It was a line that was filled with people who were dressed well and proper. The robes they wore were definitely made of rare materials. Yet, they still paled in comparison to the dress Yang Ji was currently wearing. From this, Yang Ji could easily tell that the Young Mistress that he was acting as, must have been some truly important figure. At least, despite her young age, she already held status higher than the people here.

Meanwhile, on another side of the gigantic gate, there was another line packed with people. However, this queue was not for people of status, but for those who seemed to be from the outer region of the floating island.

“Oh? They are actually allowed inside?” Yang Ji remarked, slightly surprised since the inner region was so different from the outer region. Furthermore, there seems to be a deep-seated hatred for the people of the outer region. 

“Of course. Why else would the city want to keep these people? They are useful slaves.” Wu Lun added. “For generations, they have lived like this. Maybe it was they themselves who had escaped from the confines of their Lower Realm World, but if they were too weak or unlucky, and got caught, all those people from the Lower Realm would end up like this.”

“You’re saying that Yang Ling and Yang Xu might end up like this!?” Yang Ji reeled back. He did not think that the situation for Lower Realm denizens were this horrendous in the Upper Realm.

Wu Lun rolled his eyes. “Relax. Your Sisters are safe. You gave up your cultivation, and took on all that Lower Realm Aura from your Twin to keep them safe. This, I can guarantee you. Right now, Yang Xu will seem no different from a native of the Upper Realm, and Yang Ling and be treated as her maidservant. It’s the best disguise they can have. Besides, no one would expect someone of the Lower Realm to ever enter the place they are in.”

“Right now, you have only one thing you need to focus on, which is to build up your foundation so that you can start cultivating again. Your Sisters can wait.” Wu Lun reminded. 

Hearing this, Yang Ji gave a nod. He was truly too weak to do anything right now. Even if he were to look for them, he would only be a burden to them.

While conversing with Wu Lun, the line moved and Yang Ji unconsciously moved along with it. Eventually, it was their turn to enter the gate.

“Next” The guardsman announced and Xing Ting walked up to present a Token to the guard.

However, the moment the guard saw that Token, his eyes widened. There was a flash of fear, which was quickly hidden to the best of his ability and he had to excuse himself, asking another guard to head in to report, while he himself greeted Xing Ting with a far more respectful tone, “Greetings, how may I assist you?” 

Xing Ting, cold and icy, did not speak. Instead, she took out a piece of paper with a written note on it and a seal.

Once the guard saw it, his eyes turned sharp and he gave a nod. “Understood. I’ll prepare the transportation for our two honoured guests.”

With that, he led them in, and to the side, while having another guard replace him to continue supervising the entrance of visitors.

As they moved, the guard leading them picked up a black Token with some Rune on it. The Token glowed with a mysterious light before the guard kept it once more. Obviously, this black Token must have functioned as both the guard’s identity and a communication device.

And, as the guard was focused on some other matter, Xing Ting’s eyes turned sharp. She communicated using her Divine Sense, her voice directly entering Yang Ji’s head. “Boy, we need to be careful from here. We cannot trust anyone from this place. The guards here were more fearful than welcoming. They might actually have a hand in attacking our Young Mistress. So, you cannot trust them, understood?”

“U–”

Just as when Yang Ji was about to respond, Wu Lun quickly jumped in. “Stop! Are you trying to expose yourself?Just continue pretending you can’t use your Divine Sense. You are now acting as someone who can’t cultivate. Don’t make them suspicious.”

Yang Ji was once more reminded of the current persona he had picked up–a Mortal boy, abandoned by his Lower Realm Parents because he could not cultivate. If he had exposed the fact that he could use Divine Sense, that might suggest he had been keeping his cultivation hidden. Yang Ji did not know what would happen if the truth came to light, but he would rather not find out.

Xing Ting’s grip tightened as she walked with Yang Ji, along the path the guard was leading them down. Up ahead, there was a carriage already prepared for them.

When Yang Ji first saw the carriage, his eyes widened. It was not because the carriage was luxurious looking, with crystal and gold-like metal adorning it. What Yang Ji was taken aback by were the things pulling the carriage. They were not Monster Beasts or Divine Spirits. Rather, they were Humans!

Six men, dressed shabbily, obviously no different from those outside the wall. In fact, these might be people directly taken from outside the wall. Aligned in two rows with their hands bound to the handle used to push the carriage, these men waited for their passengers to board.

These slaves were now being treated no different from horses or cattle. Logically, since they had cultivation, and were strong themselves, it was certainly a waste not to use them, no?

Nevertheless, this difference between expectation and reality left Yang Ji stunned. He momentarily froze up, which caused Xing Ting to lightly pull his hand to move him forward.

“So, this is the Upper Realm…” Yang Ji silently muttered to himself. It certainly was… an interesting sight to see.