I have a city in another world

Chapter 7054 Stay or Leave
Three days after the announcement, the makeshift survivor team led by Tang Zhen experienced its first clear split.

After several sleepless nights, about one-third of the survivors finally embarked on their journey back to the mountain city settlement.

Their silhouettes stretched long across the desolate wilderness, their steps heavy yet carrying an undeniable resolve.

In this abandoned city, there are many other survivors who made similar choices.

We came from there, and we're going back there.

Leaving in a flustered rush, returning with trepidation, or perhaps full of anticipation.

The myriad aspects of human nature are laid bare at this moment.

Some of the survivors couldn't let go of their families and homes in the outer city; those were roots they couldn't sever, and no matter what happened, they had to return home.

That was the meager foundation they had built brick by brick with half a lifetime of hard work, the means to survive in a chaotic world.

Although reason told them that everything was most likely reduced to ashes in the continuous gunfire, they still harbored a sense of "what if" hope.

They thought that even if they could only salvage one or two tenths of the ruins, it would be far better than starting all over again in this difficult world where resources are as precious as gold and there is no market for them.

The ruins of the outer city, in the eyes of those with a thirst for knowledge, were not merely a land of death, but rather a place where opportunity lay hidden. Various kinds of unclaimed wealth awaited the powerful and fortunate to claim them.

Another group of people are troubled by "emotion" and bound by "righteousness".

They carry the weight of their lost relatives and dear friends in their hearts; that longing is like a poison that gnaws at their bones, keeping them constantly worried and concerned.

They thought that if their relatives and friends were still alive, they might be in dire straits, anxiously awaiting rescue.

Therefore, my return might be the only light that the other person can see in the darkness.

Once this thought arises, there is no reason to back down.

For most people, it's based on the most basic safety considerations.

Outside the city after the war, order had collapsed, turning it into a primitive jungle where the strong prey on the weak.

This abandoned city is a melting pot of all sorts: terrified refugees, routed soldiers, lurking enemies, wandering monsters, infected of all shapes and sizes, and ferocious mutated raiders...

Gunshots broke the silence intermittently, reminding every survivor that danger lurked everywhere, perhaps not far away.

In contrast, the mountain town, which had just been ravaged by war but had a well-organized army stationed there and a high inner city wall as its last line of defense, had become the only island of order in the midst of chaos.

The survivors acknowledged that Tang Zhen's strength was unfathomable, capable of instantly killing extraordinary cultivators.

However, individual bravery always seems weak in the face of a systematic military force and a relatively solid defense.

Seeking protection from the community is an instinct for survival in chaotic times.

So, after much deliberation, people made their choice.

Some of those who left would come to Tang Zhen and bid him a solemn farewell, their words filled with gratitude and apology; others would choose to quietly disappear into the shadows at dawn or dusk, leaving without saying goodbye.

Behind the abrupt departure lies a complex human nature.

Perhaps they felt indebted to the person who saved their life and were ashamed to face them; or perhaps they felt that the debt of gratitude was too heavy to bear, so they simply ran away to avoid it.

Or perhaps it stems from a deep-seated, hidden worry that this kindness might become a bargaining chip in the future, forcing one into things they don't want to be involved in.

The survivors who remained split into two groups.

One group were observers who were carefully assessing the situation. They believed that the new policies in the mountain town were still unclear, and that it was better to stay there and wait and see rather than act rashly.

The other group consists of staunch followers.

They witnessed firsthand Tang Zhen's formidable strength in the city defense battle, as well as the benevolence and mysterious methods he displayed later when preparing medicine and treating the wounded, which transcended mere martial prowess.

This convinced them that following such a powerful and wise leader was the best way to seek a glimmer of hope in this apocalyptic world, and perhaps even to live a better life.

When someone mustered the courage to ask Tang Zhen directly about his next plan, he gave a clear yet open answer: "Let's wait and see for now. There's no need to rush back to the city. The crisis is not over yet."

He did not specify what the crisis was.

It's best not to speak too deeply with someone you don't know well, as too much of a good thing can be bad. Revealing some truths prematurely can lead to unnecessary panic or suspicion. Tang Zhen, with his keen insight, judged that the previous fierce siege was merely the prelude, a probing feint aimed at ascertaining the strength and weaknesses of the mountain city's defenses.

The real storm is brewing.

When the enemy returns, it will be with overwhelming force, and they will not give up until they achieve their goal.

Its root lies in the foundation upon which the mountain town settlement depends for its existence—the spiritual vein hidden deep within the mountain.

This object is not a mineral deposit in the ordinary sense, but rather it is located in the gap between reality and illusion, nurtured in a unique interlayered space, and can spontaneously gather and generate the energy of heaven and earth.

As time flows and energy accumulates to its limit, the enclosed space will tear open, allowing pure spiritual energy to dissipate and nourish the land.

Places with spiritual veins are often blessed with natural beauty and can nurture spiritual plants and exotic beasts. Moreover, deep within the earth's veins, spiritual stones that are of great importance to cultivators can be formed.

In this world where the overall energy of heaven and earth is barren, such a spiritual vein is like a spring in the desert, enough to arouse the mad covetousness of any cultivation force.

The attacking demonic cultivators are stubborn and obstinate; once they have made their move, there is no reason for them to return empty-handed.

The extraordinary individuals in the mountain city settlement, having cultivated this lineage to this day, have long regarded it as their own possession and would never relinquish it.

One side is determined to win, while the other is determined to defend it to the death; the conflict is irreconcilable.

The next conflict will be far more intense than any previous one.

At that time, the outer city, which serves as a buffer zone, is destined to become the first and most brutal battleground where the forces of both sides clash.

Returning now would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

The generous terms promised in the announcement are actually bargaining chips that require risking one's life to obtain.

Tang Zhen understood this principle. Even if the survivors who chose to return did not know the details of the spiritual vein, they could still sense the enormous risks involved based on their intuition honed in the apocalypse.

But they still chose this path.

Because in dire straits, taking risks is sometimes the only option in order to survive better.

Tang Zhen felt no emotion towards those who left.

Everyone has their own ambitions, and you can't force them.

He himself is also a passerby in this world. When the conditions for meeting arise, we gather; when the conditions for meeting end, we disperse. Perhaps on a moonlit night with few stars, he will quietly depart.

He did not make any promises to the followers who remained, but rather let things take their natural course.

Go with the flow and let things take their course.

If the timing is right, he doesn't mind giving some guidance or benefits, but there are differences depending on how close or distant the relationship is.

For safety reasons, he would not easily use extraordinary magic, but this did not prevent him from preaching and teaching in this world.

They teach methods to strengthen the body, help qualified people awaken to spiritual practice, and refine some elixirs to cure diseases and save lives.

If one can use their own strength to help those struggling to survive to have a little more self-protection, that would be a good deed.

The concept of merit is profound and mysterious, and is revered by many cultivation schools throughout the myriad realms.

It is elusive in itself, yet it undeniably influences the spiritual path of practitioners.

Especially when he advanced to the ninth rank and began to refine his soul in pursuit of the perfect state in the dark, he could feel the subtle influence of merit more and more.

In the past, Tang Zhen had a history of killing and ruthlessness.

Although he did good deeds intermittently, if we consider the balance of merits and demerits, there is probably very little left.

Now that we have this feeling, let us accumulate more merit and benefit all living beings. This may be a good thing for both ourselves and others.

Tang Zhen's tasks don't require going far afield; they must begin with those close to him.

Standing on high ground and gazing into the distance, Tang Zhen's gaze swept over the faces of those who remained, faces filled with anticipation, confusion, or trust, before turning back to those who had departed.

The paths of fate diverge here, and each person's choice will lead them to drastically different futures.