One person above Qing Huang Ting

Chapter 938 The Current Situation of Fengdu: Numerous Changes

Such enormous profits naturally attracted many people with an adventurous and gambling nature to leave Fengdu City, hoping to gain fame and fortune in the underworld.

However, outside Fengdu City, there was a lot of evil wind and evil spirits. The wind was bone-chilling from the sky, and the ground was filled with bewitching miasma.

The area outside Fengdu City was originally a buffer zone planned by Hu Xiuwu. This was in case any external demons broke through the Frozen Hell, there would be a place to stop them, preventing them from directly invading Fengdu City or the mortal realm.

Outside Fengdu City, every step is fraught with danger, a matter of life and death. Many people who have ventured out of Fengdu City have managed to leave, but of those who have returned, less than one in ten have survived.

The underworld walker who died outside the city turned into a zombie and wandered aimlessly in the underworld. His soul was separated from his body and poisoned by the mixed beliefs of the mortal world, turning him into a mad ghost who believed himself to be the Great Emperor of the Northern Underworld.

Gold prospectors were seen as a dangerous part of the so-called "gold rush" in the underworld.

Fengdu City is merely a transit point; the Netherworld outside Fengdu City is the true underworld, the Gate of the Mysterious Female of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, and the Lotus Tree transformed from the Nine Springs' Cold Marrow—these are even more...

Hu Xiuwu watched as the group of spirit mediums bypassed the city gate and quietly disappeared into the mist, their whereabouts and destination unknown.

Seeing this situation, Hu Xiuwu was speechless: "When I made this design, I never thought that someone would be so stubborn as to insist on breaking out of the city."

"Human creativity is still too strong, far exceeding my imagination."

He really designed it with death in mind back then, but I never expected that they could even squeeze oil out of a deadly place!

With a larger population, some extraordinary adventurers will inevitably emerge.

That's what they said, but Hu Xiuwu didn't mean to stop the ghost walkers from taking risks.

He was a disciple of the Shangqing School and spoke of Taoist thought.

Since they insist on seeking wealth and fortune through risk, let them be.

Life and death are in one's own hands; seek your own good fortune.

Hu Xiuwu shook his head and headed towards the Zhou Jue Yin Tian Palace along Zhuque Street.

The further you go into the center, the cleaner the environment becomes, and the more vibrant the atmosphere feels.

Hu Xiuwu also encountered a patrol of people from the gods under the golden tree.

Elijah Nathan, formerly King Nathan, was on patrol with five children who looked to be middle school students.

Nathan's education is completely different from that in China. The entire nation here believes in the sacred tree, and now they believe in the golden tree and the Emperor of Fengdu in the Northern Underworld.

They can be described as the retinue of the Northern Yin Emperor Fengdu, and the entire population is engaged in warfare. Nasen Island can be said to have some similarities with the educational methods of Konoha Village in the manga.

After completing six years of education, they began practical training based on their studies, patrolling Fengdu City with the official Nasen Guards to capture lawless and unruly individuals who violated the city's order. Among them, the elite would also accompany the Nasen Guards to the Frozen Hell to fight against the Outer Demons.

At such a young age, they are already battle-hardened guards and should not be underestimated.

However, children who are too young lack experience and are less capable than adults, so they still need Nathan's leadership.

This resulted in an unusual patrol team consisting of one adult leading four or five children.

There is another reason for having this type of patrol team: Nathan Island is currently overburdened with work, so it has to employ fourteen or fifteen-year-old Divine Citizens to join the Yin Official system in Fengdu City to supplement its workload.

However, the number of divine beings on Nasen Island alone is far from enough to manage the entire Fengdu City. They are already doing their best to maintain order in the East and West Markets.

As for those ghost gangs that have carved out their own territories and govern themselves outside Fengdu City, all we can do is let them govern themselves, obey the king's orders, arrange patrol teams, and cooperate with Ox-Head and Horse-Face, as well as the Rakshasa ghosts, to prevent them from expanding outwards.

Then, we must believe in the Emperor of Fengdu in the Northern Underworld, and believe that when the Emperor returns, he will definitely resolve this matter! Hu Xiuwu nodded: "The Golden Tree is indeed unique. No wonder that before I came, relying solely on the Nasen Divine Tree, even after being sealed on Nasen Island for nearly a thousand years, the people of the gods were still able to maintain their high level of loyalty and faith in the fight to the death."

The Golden Tree contains the will of all the Nathan kings and guards throughout history. It can select kings and guards from the Nathan people who are absolutely loyal to the Golden Tree and pass on the faith of the Golden Tree from generation to generation.

The Nathan Kings chosen by the Golden Tree are either clever or foolish, strong or weak; the previous Nathan King didn't even have any fighting ability.

However, the loyalty of any Nathan King selected by the Golden Tree to the Golden Tree is beyond question.

The people of the Golden Tree have now transferred their faith in the tree to the Emperor of Fengdu in the Northern Underworld.

In the five years since Hu Xiuwu left, they have continued to diligently fulfill the missions and tasks given to them by the Emperor.

Such devotion, such work ethic, such high level of self-discipline—only a group like the Nathans, where everyone is a fanatical believer, could achieve this.

Besides that, Hu Xiuwu had only heard of the Soviet miners who rushed to the leak site back then, and that they had this kind of organizational and self-governance ability.

"They deserve to be commended."

Loyal and devoted citizens should also be rewarded, given more power, and entrusted with greater responsibilities.

Further in, after passing through several markets, Hu Xiuwu turned around, left Zhuque Avenue, and headed towards the West Market of Fengdu City.

The West Market was even more bustling than before Hu Xiuwu left. Not only had the number of shops increased, but the number of people from various sects of the supernatural world coming to Fengdu City had also risen.

Strange people come and go, all carrying the scent of gunpowder, harboring murderous intent in their hearts, and exuding a chilling aura even when their bodies are crippled.

The West Market houses shops belonging to all the supernatural sects in the mortal realm, where supernatural beings trade weapons and spoils of war.

This place has more alchemy and weapon crafting products than Baili City in the mortal realm, the most complete range of elixirs, and the most powerful talismans. There are no taboos in trading goods here; there is nothing that cannot be bought or sold.

However, there is one rule: in the western market of Fengdu City, only merit jade coins are accepted for trading goods; no one recognizes banknotes from the mortal world here.

Fengdu West Market is a perk granted by Hu Xiuwu to those who venture into the Frozen Hell to vanquish the outer demons.

No matter how much convenience Hu Xiuwu provides, or how he cloaks war in the guise of a game, he cannot hide the smell of blood and fire that awaits in hell.

To venture into hell, sacrifice is inevitable.

The power of external demons is chaotic, inconceivable, without any fixed quantity or rules.

They represent another evolutionary direction of the primordial chaos in the void.

Their abilities and characteristics cannot be predicted or divined.

Every battle against the outer demons is a gamble, a risk of one's life to open Pandora's box.

Whether it releases hope or disaster is unpredictable.

Therefore, the path to vanquishing the external demons is stained with blood, and many disciples in the domestic supernatural community remain forever in the icy hell.

The convenience of the West Market was a benefit that Hu Xiuwu provided to these warriors.

How can those who wield the sword for the three realms be limited by hunger, thirst, and cold?

Hu Xiuwu, dressed in imperial robes, strolled through the West Market, following the flow of people, yet he was like a gentle breeze, attracting no attention or commotion.