My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 266: Chapter 145: Post House

As Qin Fang watched in astonishment, the frantic middle-aged man was completely surrounded by Black Armored Soldiers. The soldiers’ gazes were grim, their killing intent palpable.

The officer snorted, his gaze ice-cold as he stared at the panicked middle-aged man. ”Under the light of the Ascending Array, your Origin is utterly foul... I’m afraid you’ve eaten more than just one person, haven’t you? And you still dare claim you’re not some demonic heretic?”

The words ”eating people” sent a shockwave through the already unsettled crowd of travelers and locals, who immediately erupted into a cacophony of murmurs.

As for the middle-aged man, his face changed drastically. His mouth fell open, and he subconsciously tried to say something, but facing a line of Black Armored Soldiers staring him down with cold, deadly eyes, he couldn’t utter a single word...

...Apparently, the words had struck home.

He had eaten people!

”Take him away.”

The officer said coldly.

Watching the Black Armored Soldiers approach with an oppressive aura, the middle-aged man slumped to the ground in defeat.

”I... I just wanted to live...”

He murmured.

The officer’s gaze was ice-cold as he said indifferently, ”There is great terror in matters of life and death. In desperate straits, everyone wants to live. But that is no reason for you to devour your own kind.”

After saying this, he stopped looking at the man on the ground and turned to the crowd of onlookers outside the city, all of whom were stunned. His expression was cold as he declared, ”Cannibals will be killed without mercy! Let this fiend be an example. All of you should take this as a grave warning. Do not walk down this same path to your own ruin!”

The travelers entering and leaving the city trembled, then hurriedly bowed. ”Yes, we will remember your teachings, sir! We... we wouldn’t dare...”

The officer said no more. With a wave of his hand, a few Black Armored Soldiers dragged the limp form of the middle-aged man away, leaving the travelers to their buzzing discussions.

This scene secretly alarmed Qin Fang.

’It can actually show if someone has eaten another person?’

”Must be from the countryside. He didn’t know about the Ascending Array, yet he dared to sneak into the Prefecture City. That’s just asking to die... Let’s go.”

Zhang Cheng’s voice, tinged with disdain, sounded in his ear as he beckoned to Qin Fang.

Qin Fang snapped out of his daze. A thought struck him, and he asked in confusion, ”The Ascending Array?”

Seeing the confusion on Qin Fang’s face, Zhang Cheng realized he didn’t understand either. He pointed at the ground. ”See those markings?”

Qin Fang nodded. A moment ago, those very markings had flared with red light and enveloped the middle-aged man; it would have been difficult not to notice.

”This is the Ascending Array. It was personally laid down by a Great Power from the Celestial Array Pavilion of the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect. It possesses the miraculous ability to reflect one’s Origin and can reveal all manner of evil... including cannibals.”

Zhang Cheng explained.

But this only made Qin Fang more confused. ”Origin... What is that?”

”Don’t ask me, I don’t understand it either. That’s what my superiors say, so I just repeat it... Basically, it means that any demonic heretic who enters Lanyang City has nowhere to hide... If you want to understand it thoroughly, you’d best put in some effort during the Martial Arts Examination. If you manage to get noticed by the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect and become one of their disciples... you’ll find out for yourself then.”

Zhang Cheng just smiled and waved his hand dismissively.

This statement made Qin Fang pause. It seemed to have revealed another incredible piece of information...

”Become one of their disciples?”

Seeing his confused expression, Zhang Cheng asked in surprise, ”You mean you don’t know? The Martial Arts Examination is essentially the test the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect uses to recruit disciples. Once you’re chosen, you’ve entered the Outer Sect. And the Outer Sect Token... that’s your Martial Arts Records.”

It was only then that everything clicked for Qin Fang, and he thought of Chen Shanhe’s Martial Arts Records.

...No wonder the heading on those Martial Arts Records wasn’t ’Great Yu Dynasty,’ but ’Celestial Spirit Profound Yellow Decree.’

The Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect...

’From the looks of it... it seems the most prestigious power in all of Lanyang City isn’t the Government Office... but this Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect?’

Qin Fang once again thought of that Tributor Yun... The Black Armor Army had been extremely respectful toward him.

The so-called ’Ascending Array’ within the city was also the handiwork of the ’Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect’...

...This was clearly a huge departure from what he had expected.

Just as he was thinking, Zhang Cheng said, ”Alright, let’s get going. I have to report back in a bit. As for the Martial Arts Examination... once we get to the Post House, you can just ask around. Pretty much everyone knows about it.”

Hearing this, Qin Fang nodded and followed Zhang Cheng into the city.

This time, with no more interruptions, he began to properly observe the Prefecture City of Canglan Prefecture.

As he took a closer look, Qin Fang’s gaze sharpened...

The first thing that shook him to his core was the deep, central causeway.

The ground was paved with bluish-black basalt slabs, each as large as a door panel. Ages of time had worn them to a hard, smooth finish, and they were laid together seamlessly, forming a majestic thoroughfare over a hundred yards wide and as straight as a blade.

The road surface rose in a perfect, gentle arch, allowing rainwater to drain instantly into deep stone channels on either side. Under the direct glare of the midday sun, the rock face reflected a somber luster, like that of burnished iron.

Upon the thoroughfare, horses and carriages ambled along. The carriages themselves were varied—some were ornate and luxurious, others simple and plain.

The sidewalks on either side teemed with people, a shoulder-to-shoulder throng. The city’s prosperity was beyond anything Qin Fang had ever imagined...

’How could a city this bustling exist in what feels like ancient times?’

The shops were a dazzling array of goods, many of which Qin Fang had never seen before.

Even the pedestrian streets of the big cities from his past life couldn’t necessarily compare to the splendor and bustle here!

’...So, this is a Prefecture City in this World?’

Qin Fang was inwardly shaken.

Zhang Cheng led the way with Qin Fang following behind. It felt like a classic case of a country bumpkin visiting the big city... To go from a rural market to such a luxurious and majestic metropolis was frankly overwhelming.

And as they walked, Qin Fang began to realize one thing... Lanyang City was likely even larger than he had imagined!

Lifting his gaze, he saw a continuous stretch of wide avenues, with no end in sight.