Marrying Wives and Attaining Immortality in a Chaotic World

Chapter 143: Something’s Wrong

Having used the altar before, Xu Lian and Xiao Xixi were much calmer this time. They kept their eyes open in the spatial tunnel, watching the humanoid but not human monster clawing outside. They weren’t panicked, knowing that while the monster seemed close, it was actually separated by a vast space and couldn’t break into the tunnel.

Jiang Yunyan, seemingly trying to scare them, deliberately said in a trembling voice, “Actually, it’s not entirely impossible for that monster to break into the spatial tunnel.”

Unfortunately, her acting was too exaggerated and it didn’t frighten Xu Lian and Xiao Xixi. Instead, it was almost comical.

Xu Lian decided to play along and be her straight man. “Sister, what makes you say that?”

Jiang Yunyan explained, “Just think about it. In ancient times, this monster was extremely ferocious. Even some great powers could only banish it to the spatial chaos, unable to kill it. This means that it has reached a level of immortality. It’s constantly digging its way back. Even if it only makes a tiny bit of progress each day, given enough time, it will eventually return”.

Xu Lian thought about it and nodded his head. “Countless people all over the world use the altar every day. Even if the monster breaks through and enters the spatial tunnel, the chances of us encountering it are slim. We’re not that unlucky.”

A bright light flashed.

The three of them had to close their eyes.

When the light faded, they opened their eyes and found themselves standing on the altar outside Pingyang County.

The area was desolate.

There were no horses or exotic animals.

The three of them had no choice but to walk toward Pingyang County.

“Sister, weren’t you going to Ghost Child Ridge? Why are you coming back to Pingyang County with us?” Xu Lian looked at Jiang Yunyan.

Jiang Yunyan glared at him. “You stayed with the Jiang family for half a month. Is it wrong for me to pay a return visit to your home? Is that not allowed?”

“Of course, of course,” Xu Lian replied with a smile.

But he felt a bit uneasy. Jiang Yunyan had traveled back with them and had now arrived in Pingyang County, yet she wasn’t heading to Ghost Child Ridge. Instead, she insisted on going with him to Pingyang County. Could it really be that she had feelings for him, as Xianyu had hinted?

But Xianyu clearly knew this, yet she still encouraged Jiang Yunyan to come back with him. What did that mean?

Was she encouraging Jiang Yunyan to pursue him? If so, then he couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. Jiang Yunyan was beautiful, tall, and had a straightforward personality-she was truly a remarkable woman.

Of course, this was just his speculation. Until he was sure whether Jiang Yunyan had feelings for him, he shouldn’t make any rash moves… lest he ruin their relationship and make things awkward.

As the three of them walked, they began to notice something strange.

They could see Pingyang County ahead of them.

But no matter how far they walked, they couldn’t reach it.

“A ghost wall?” Xiao Xixi’s face turned pale.

Xu Lian’s heart sank. “Something is wrong. When we left Pingyang County with the caravan, everything was fine. How could a ghost wall suddenly appear outside the city gates?”

He couldn’t help but worry. Something must have happened in Pingyang County, and he was anxious about the safety of Pei Zhaoxi and Lin Wan.

Without wasting any time, he activated the white cat doppelganger at First Street, House A in Pingyang County. After leaving Pingyang County with the caravan, to avoid distractions and multi-tasking, he had put the white cat doppelganger into hibernation in the house. As a result, he had no idea what was happening now in Pingyang County.

Pingyang County, First Street, House A

The white cat doppelganger, which had been hibernating in the main room, opened its eyes and stepped out of the house.

It entered the courtyard, used a key to unlock the barrier surrounding the property, and walked out the front gate.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”…

The sound of explosions filled the air, and the scene that greeted the cat was shocking. All of First Street was in chaos. Flames were roaring in the sky, and demons and monsters were rampaging, looting, and killing. People from different families and cultivators fled in fear.

Near the Spirit Tree, an old woman with a stick, an old man with a compass, and another old man were fighting over the fruits on the tree. They were engaged in a fierce battle with the Town Guard Commander, whose squirrel skin was matted with blood. She was obviously badly injured.

The white cat doppelganger understood – the spirit tree had borne fruit, and this had caused a frenzy among various powers and demons, who now took advantage of the chaos to loot.

Although it had been rumored that the Spirit Tree was about to enter its fruiting stage, no one expected it to happen so quickly.

“Whoosh!” The white cat doppelganger retreated back to House A and reactivated the barrier to prevent the rampaging humans and demons from breaking in.

Outside Pingyang County.

Through the eyes of the white cat doppelganger, Xu Lian had already learned about the situation on First Street. He was even more worried about the safety of Pei Zhaoxi and Lin Wan.

“Something has happened in Pingyang County. Various powers and demons are fighting over the spirit fruits and plundering the cultivation resources. I have to go back quickly!”

With a flick of his hand, the Sword of Destruction appeared in his grasp. He was about to use it to break through the ghost wall.

Jiang Yunyan stopped him. “You don’t need the Sword of Destruction to break through a ghost wall. Don’t use it so recklessly. I can handle it.”

Xu Lian put the sword away and urged her, “Sister, what are you waiting for? Some of my friends are still in Pingyang County. Saving lives is like putting out a fire – we can’t afford to delay.”

Aware of the urgency, Jiang Yunyan took out a Corpse Wind Lantern and held it in front of her. “Follow me.”

The great clans really do have a lot of treasures… Xu Lian and Xiao Xixi followed her.

Under the light of the lantern, a trail of eerie footprints appeared on the ground. Jiang Yunyan stepped on the footprints and moved forward, with Xu Lian and Xiao Xixi mimicking her steps.

Xiao Xixi asked curiously, “Miss Jiang, what kind of lantern is this?”

“It’s a lantern made from the oil of a thousand-year-old corpse,” Jiang Yunyan casually replied.

Xiao Xixi didn’t ask any more questions…

However, Xu Lian had no patience for this. He simply urged Jiang Yunyan to move faster.

Following the eerie footprints, the three of them soon approached the city gates.

The gates were tightly closed and there was no one in sight.

There were also no guards patrolling the city walls.

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”…

Xu Lian took the lead and jumped onto the city wall, with Jiang Yunyan and Xiao Xixi following closely behind.

The scene in Pingyang County was one of utter chaos. Fires were raging everywhere, and the streets were stained with blood. However, there were no bodies in sight. People wandered the streets like zombies, while ghosts floated from house to house in search of cultivation resources.

Xiao Xixi felt a tingle in her scalp. “Has everyone in the city died?”

Jiang Yunyan understood the situation. “Some are dead, and some are alive but poisoned, temporarily losing their minds and turning into zombies.”

Xu Lian didn’t have time to dwell on it. He jumped down from the city wall and rushed to the house that Pei Heng and Pei Zhaoxi had bought.

When he arrived, he found the maid they had hired wandering around the house like a zombie.

Xu Lian didn’t see Pei Heng or Pei Zhaoxi. They weren’t here, which meant they were probably at the martial arts school.

He rushed to the Mountain Shaking Martial Arts Academy.

Jiang Yunyan and Xiao Xixi followed silently, knowing that he was too anxious to answer any questions.

When they reached the academy, they found the gates locked.

Xu Lian kicked them open and barged in.

He found the instructors and students huddled in a corner, weapons in hand, but pale with fear. In the face of such a city-wide disaster, these students and even the instructors were too weak to protect themselves.

When Pei Zhaoxi saw Xu Lian, she rushed out of the crowd and threw herself into his arms, crying and hitting him. “Xu Lian, you heartless idiot! You’ve been gone for so long. I thought you’d abandoned me!”

Xu Lian hugged her tightly, stroking her long hair to comfort her. “Zhaoxi, you’re my treasure. How could I ever leave you? I’m back now.”

Pei Zhaoxi sobbed and threatened, “If you ever leave me for so long again, I’ll secretly meet another man and make you jealous!”

“…”Xu Lian was speechless. He immediately showered her with sweet words to calm her down.

He knew that she was just venting. With her high favorability toward him, she was already deeply attached to him and wouldn’t betray him.

Of course, if any woman were to betray him, her favorability would plummet and Xu Lian would notice immediately.

Xiao Xixi and Jiang Yunyan were stunned. They hadn’t expected Xu Lian to have such a fiery woman in his life.

Pei Heng said with a pale face, “The city is too dangerous. I want to go back to the countryside, back to Green Bamboo Town.”

Xu Lian knew that Green Bamboo Town wasn’t entirely safe either. If the demon in the well broke free, it would be catastrophic – far worse than the chaos in Pingyang County.

Xu Lian turned to Jiang Yunyan and Xiao Xixi. “Sister, Xixi, stay here and keep an eye on things. I have to go save my other friends.”

Jiang Yunyan and Xiao Xixi agreed.

Xu Lian then hurried off to return to First Street.