Martial Peak Chapter 6108, Lower Realm Denizens

As he traversed past numerous structures, Yang Ji keenly observed the living conditions of these 'discarded souls.' The sight was nothing short of tragic. Even under the bright glare of day, theft was rampant. Pools of blood stained the ground periodically, and clusters of people were either begging or lay near death's door.

Children, who appeared even younger than Yang Ji, were mere skin and bones, their emaciated forms shocking him with their severity.

These young ones seemed too weak to even engage in play. They huddled on the streets, their days spent begging or attempting petty theft. Yet, an odd phenomenon Yang Ji noticed was that no one, not even the adults, dared to approach him and Xing Ting on their chosen path. Even those desperate enough to beg refrained from approaching the pair.

This peculiar avoidance struck Yang Ji as highly unusual. Glancing ahead, he saw that individuals adorned in fine clothing received the same treatment. All the inhabitants of this area steered clear of anyone walking along this particular lane.

Still harboring his curiosity, Yang Ji questioned Wu Lun, "Why do they merely loiter here? Some appear to be starving. Back home, even beggars would approach us, hoping for a handout. There's also an entire forest nearby; surely they could find sustenance there."

Wu Lun, his voice subdued, perhaps moved by the grim tableau, explained, "They have no alternative but to remain confined to this place. Every single one of them is bound to this island; they cannot depart."

"Huh? How? I didn't sense any barriers upon entry. They shouldn't be trapped here," Yang Ji inquired, glancing back. Indeed, no visible impediments prevented his passage in or out.

"Your perspective is too simplistic. More effective methods exist for detaining people than mere walls or Arrays," Wu Lun stated.

"More effective?"

A sigh escaped Wu Lun as he remarked coldly, "A Seal for Bloodlines, eternally tethering them to this land. With this floating island, delineating its boundaries is straightforward. Furthermore, any offspring these individuals might have will also be intrinsically bound to this domain. It's a seal that endures without upkeep, sustained by their Life Force, propagating through generations. How dreadfully efficient. Truly."

"Wait, such things exist? Then, if I were to touch any blood on the ground, would I also be bound to this land?" Yang Ji frowned, his gaze falling upon the puddles of blood, some already darkened with age, left to decay on the street.

"You needn't fret about that. These Seals are intrinsically linked to the individual until death. They dissipate the moment the blood ceases to reside within their bodies. Even if you were to drink blood directly from their wrist, it would not affect you. Still, if you wish to test this, you are most welcome," Wu Lun smirked.

Yang Ji shook his head and looked forward as they neared a colossal wall, rising like a mountain, separating the dilapidated outskirts of the floating island from its core.

Beyond a massive gate, Yang Ji glimpsed the structures within. They were immaculate and majestic, presenting a stark contrast to the squalor outside the wall. Even from this initial view, Yang Ji could sense an overwhelming aura of grandeur.

Xing Ting guided Yang Ji to a queue. This line comprised individuals clad in well-tailored garments, their robes fashioned from evidently rare materials. Yet, they paled in comparison to the attire Yang Ji currently wore. This observation led Yang Ji to easily deduce that the Young Mistress he was impersonating must be a figure of significant importance, holding a status far exceeding that of these people, despite her tender age.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the immense gate, another queue teemed with people. However, this line was not for the privileged but for those who appeared to hail from the outer regions of the floating island.

"Oh? They are actually permitted entry?" Yang Ji remarked, with a hint of surprise, given the stark disparity between the inner and outer regions and the palpable animosity directed towards the outer inhabitants.

"Naturally. Why else would the city retain these individuals? They serve as valuable slaves," Wu Lun added. "They have endured this existence for generations. Perhaps they themselves escaped the confines of their Lower Realm World, but if they were too weak or unfortunate, they would end up precisely like this upon capture."

“You mean to say Yang Ling and Yang Xu could potentially meet such a fate!?” Yang Ji recoiled, utterly shocked by the dire circumstances faced by Lower Realm inhabitants in the Upper Realm.

Wu Lun rolled his eyes, attempting to ease Yang Ji's fears. “Relax. Your Sisters are safe. You sacrificed your cultivation and absorbed all the Lower Realm Aura from your Twin to protect them. That much, I can vouch for. Right now, Yang Xu will appear as if he's native to the Upper Realm, and Yang Ling will be treated as his maidservant. It's the best disguise they could possibly have. Furthermore, who would ever suspect someone from the Lower Realm of infiltrating their sanctuary?”

“Your sole focus must be on rebuilding your foundation so you can resume cultivation. Your Sisters can wait,” Wu Lun advised.

Yang Ji nodded upon hearing this. He was far too weak to be of any assistance presently. Even if he tried to find them, he would only become a liability.

As they conversed, the queue advanced, and Yang Ji moved along with it instinctively. Eventually, it was their turn to pass through the gate.

“Next,” the guard announced, and Xing Ting stepped forward to present a Token to the guard.

The moment the guard saw the Token, his eyes widened. A flicker of fear crossed his face, which he quickly suppressed. He excused himself, requesting another guard to report inside, while he addressed Xing Ting with significantly more respect, “Greetings, how may I assist you?”

Xing Ting, with her usual cold demeanor, remained silent. Instead, she produced a paper with a written message and a seal.

Upon seeing the paper, the guard's gaze sharpened, and he nodded. “Understood. I shall arrange transportation for our two esteemed guests.”

With that, he led them inside, gesturing for them to wait to the side while another guard took his place to manage the flow of arriving visitors.

As they proceeded, the leading guard retrieved a black Token bearing intricate Runes. The Token emitted a faint, mystical glow before the guard carefully put it away. It was clear that this black Token served not only as the guard's identification but also as a communication device.

While the guard was momentarily distracted, Xing Ting's eyes narrowed. She communicated via her Divine Sense, her voice resonating directly in Yang Ji's mind. “Boy, we need to be extremely cautious from this point onward. We cannot afford to trust anyone here. The guards' reactions were more indicative of fear than welcome. They might even be complicit in the attack on our Young Mistress. So, you must not trust them, understand?”

“Uh–”

Just as Yang Ji was about to reply, Wu Lun quickly interjected. “Wait! Are you trying to expose yourself? Continue to act as if you cannot use Divine Sense. You are pretending to be someone who cannot cultivate. Do not arouse their suspicion.”

Yang Ji was reminded once more of the persona he now embodied – a Mortal boy, abandoned by his Lower Realm parents for his inability to cultivate. Revealing his ability to use Divine Sense could imply he was concealing his cultivation. What consequences might arise if the truth surfaced, Yang Ji dared not discover.

Xing Ting's grip tightened as she walked beside Yang Ji, following the path the guard was leading them down. Ahead, a carriage had already been prepared for them.

When Yang Ji first laid eyes on the carriage, his jaw dropped. It wasn't the carriage's luxurious adornments of crystal and gold-like metal that surprised him. What truly startled Yang Ji were the creatures pulling it. They weren't Monster Beasts or Divine Spirits. Astonishingly, they were Humans!

Six men, clad in tattered clothing, no different from those seen outside the perimeter wall. In fact, these individuals might have been directly taken from beyond the wall. They stood in two rows, their hands bound to the poles used for pushing the carriage, awaiting their passengers.

These slaves were being treated as nothing more than beasts of burden. Logically, considering their cultivation and strength, wouldn't it be a waste not to utilize them?

Nevertheless, this stark contrast between expectation and reality left Yang Ji momentarily stunned. He froze, prompting Xing Ting to gently tug his hand, urging him forward.

“So, this is the Upper Realm…” Yang Ji murmured to himself, the words barely audible. It truly was… a remarkable sight to behold.