Chapter 430: Arriving at Qingsi County (1/10, Autumn Subscription)

Of course, before doing anything else, I must first find Bai Xiaoya.

After all, in reality, Bai Xiaoya is still struggling for life and death.

Previously, Fang Yue had asked Jing Yan to investigate, and found that Bai Xiaoya had been taken away.

Subsequent inquiries about those who took her have yielded no results yet.

Now that I've arrived in Qingsi County, I'll investigate further myself.

Moreover, if I can mobilize the power of the Qing Si, the investigation should yield results quickly.

Looking ahead, Qingsi County was so vast it stretched beyond sight.

On both sides stretched endless city walls, surrounded by moats.

"Xiao Ye has never been to Qingsi County before, has she? That moat is also called the Moat of Fire. Normally, it's just ordinary water, used to irrigate crops within Qingsi County in a cycle."

Unlike our Gu Yue Cun and other villages, all farming in Qingsi County is conducted within the city, with a dedicated zone established as the entire county's food supply, plus they purchase food brought in by travelers.

During necessary special periods, they even forcibly requisition food as an entry tax.

Food, as the most fundamental resource for calming the populace, is stockpiled in massive quantities by Qingsi County.

Thus, despite low local output, they compensate for the shortfall through other means.

Besides these matters, Lord Han told Fang Yue one other thing: "Also, if Qingsi County faces a powerful anomaly, it will retract the bridges and seal the gates, using special means to ignite the moat with Human Souls. The fire will encircle the city, repelling anomalies—its spectacle is extraordinary."

There's such a function?

Hearing Lord Han's words, Fang Yue paused in surprise.

"If that fire seals the city, what if people inside want to escape?"

"Escape?" Lord Han said, puzzled. "When the moat is ignited, it's already a matter of life or death. Everyone in Qingsi County shares the same fate—no one can escape."

Right, I overthought it.

Fang Yue scratched his head and asked curiously, "Lord Han, you know this so clearly—have you ever seen Qingsi County ignite its moat before?"

"Of course I have, though it was long ago."

Recalling the past, Lord Han's eyes revealed a trace of nostalgia, as if dusty memories had reopened—but he quickly suppressed his emotions.

"But you needn't worry. Qingsi County sits atop the core vein of the Heiqing Shanmai, with extremely strong defenses—it hasn't faced a crisis requiring moat ignition in a long time. Today's Qingsi County is far stronger than when I first saw it."

Hearing this, Fang Yue fell into thought, then lowered his voice and whispered, "Lord Han, how does the Moat of Fire's efficacy against anomalies compare to Mo Cun's ancient array?"

"Mo Cun's ancient array?" Lord Han shook his head slightly. "That's Mo Qing's technique. Even major cities outside don't possess such power—it's not even in the same league. The strength of ancient arrays might only rival the 【Stone Lion】 in Qing Guo's Capital."

"Stone Lion?"

"If you ever get the chance to visit Qing Guo's Capital, you'll understand. In any case, don't overestimate the Moat of Fire—it's just an ordinary method of repelling anomalies. To me, its symbolic meaning as a last stand outweighs its actual defensive value."

Huh? So it's just for show, to inspire others to fight?

Fang Yue had assumed ancient arrays were weak after seeing Mo Cun wiped out by the Wu Yu Clan.

But from Lord Han's words… ancient arrays were practically divine, directly comparable to the defense capability of Qing Guo's Capital.

So it's like another Qing Guo Capital… minus the size?

Then the Wu Yu Clan must be terrifyingly strong!

Thinking of Chen Lao's terrifying Rain-level power and the endless black sky of human-bone kites, Fang Yue realized he'd underestimated them.

Before reaching Gu Yue Cun, the Wu Yu Clan had already endured several rounds of weakening.

They clashed with Mo Cun's ancient array, fought through other villages, faced Lan Daren—and by the time they reached Gu Yue Cun, they were already broken troops.

Even so, they defeated Lord Han and destroyed Gu Yue Cun—demonstrating their terrifying strength.

Moreover, from the Wu Yu Clan's own words, Ma Ling'er was merely the Di Liu Wang Nu, and Chen Lao was just one of many Elders.

Then the Wu Yu Clan's upper limit must be even more terrifying—could they even destroy Qing Guo's Capital?

Fang Yue found this question hard to answer.

Another detail occurred to Fang Yue: Mo Cun's ancient array was already near collapse before the Wu Yu Clan arrived. Perhaps they were merely the final straw.

No matter how strong the ancient array, it had been neglected for years.

The gap with Qing Guo's Capital's 【Stone Lion】 must lie precisely here.

Even so, Fang Yue still felt strange—as if, after leaving the Novice Village, he discovered the strongest forces outside were merely the ceiling of the Novice Village.

So it's true: until Immortal-level power emerges, all are but ants.

As Fang Yue thought this, the procession had already crossed the bridge, and the entrance ahead grew ever closer.

The towering steel gate's surface was pitted and uneven, bearing scars from countless battles.

Beneath the gate stretched a long line of people.

And this was only daytime—evidencing Qingsi County's enormous foot traffic.

"Lord Han, if they keep the entrance open and allow free population flow, aren't they afraid anomalies will infiltrate?"

"The Qing Si that governs Qingsi County has its own management system. Their detection methods can instantly identify powerful anomalies and remotely alert Qing Si for support."

"Anomalies that pass this screening are mostly highly concealed, typically lacking in lethality or other strengths, posing little threat. If an anomaly emerges inside the city, it becomes Qing Si's responsibility—they investigate and resolve it within the city."

After a pause, Lord Han added, "With your achievements, joining Qing Si shouldn't be difficult. Lin Captain and I will fully recommend you, and your clean record makes this almost certain. Once you join Qing Si, you'll learn the full process—most of Qing Si's work involves handling anomalies within Qingsi County."

"Clean record?"

"... You're a refugee with no background—that's a clean record."

Fang Yue blinked. So Qing Si had internal factional struggles?

When Fang Yue pressed further, Lord Han said no more, only that he didn't fully understand Qing Si's current atmosphere.

While Fang Yue and the others—these "country bumpkins"—stared curiously at everything, asking Lord Han endless questions like curious children,

A commotion erupted behind the procession, accompanied by rapid hoofbeats.

"Liehuo Sect has urgent business entering the city! All civilians, clear the way!"

Tried to adjust my sleep schedule, but couldn't sleep—got up to write.

(End of this chapter)