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Chapter 452 An apocalyptic world, entering Night City
At midnight, the room was pitch black.

Fang Cheng sat cross-legged on the bed, his face calm and his eyelids slightly closed.

Outside the window, the night in Wanghu Town is quiet.

There were no rows of flashing neon lights, nor the constant noise of passing cars.

Occasionally, you can hear a dog barking once or twice in the distance, then it goes silent again.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in the darkness.

The period of rest and recuperation has ended.

"it's time."

Fang Cheng silently recited a sentence in his mind, his lips moving slightly.

Then, he recited the incantation he had heard from the lark, word by word, in perfect fluency.

Ancient, heavy incantations echoed and swirled in the bedroom where only one person was present, as if trying to penetrate the dimensions of the real world.

In the blink of an eye, the surrounding scenery began to distort and fade rapidly.

The walls and furniture in the bedroom, like ink stains dropped into water, suddenly spread and disappeared.

Immediately afterwards, an even deeper darkness surged in from all directions, instantly engulfing everything.

As darkness completely enveloped the space like a tidal wave, wisps of cold smoke clung to the ground, quietly spreading to the feet.

Fang Cheng looked closely and found himself in the ruins of a dilapidated city.

Looking around, there were dilapidated buildings on the verge of collapse, shrouded in a chilling fog.

On those mottled exterior walls, cement dust was peeling off in a flurry, drifting through the air.

It was as if a never-ending gray snow was falling.

Behind him, the path he had come from had long been completely blocked by the surging thick fog.

The fog was as thick as a wall, and even his gaze could not penetrate it.

"That place should belong to the boundary of this world..."

Fang Cheng muttered to himself, looking up.

The sky was overcast and gloomy, making the already dim ruins even more oppressive.

Everything in sight seemed to be covered by a cold filter, losing all its vibrant colors.

If it weren't for his extraordinary perception, which was attributed to a mental attribute of 70 points, he wouldn't have possessed such abilities.

The surrounding area was probably pitch black, and it was difficult to even see the road.

This place is very strange.

Fang Cheng focused his mind and took a step forward slowly.

The streets were deserted, with no pedestrians or vehicles, and all was quiet.

Walking alone in this desolate city, a strange sense of disorientation arises spontaneously.

This place is like a post-apocalyptic world reflected in a mirror, both mysterious and real.

A chilling wind swept past, carrying mist that brushed against our faces, scattering gray "snowflakes" across the sky and earth.

A feeling of loneliness and desolation arises spontaneously.

Fang Cheng gazed into the distance and suddenly noticed something unusual.

Deep within this vast, thick fog, the outlines of tall buildings seemed to appear and disappear, emitting a faint glow.

Although it was as illusory as a mirage, it seemed to be the only guide in this dark apocalypse.

"Where there is light, there are people."

Unable to find his way, he spotted the faint light, took long strides, and headed straight for it.

However, the further Fang Cheng went in that direction, the stronger his sense of unease became.

More and more buildings collapsed along the road, and towering ruins filled the view.

Suddenly, a few eerie cries, like those of a night owl, came from deep within the ruins.

A few eerie green flames suddenly ignited and drifted around the area.

Gradually, the few remaining ghostly flames multiplied into hundreds and thousands, like many pairs of shimmering green eyes lurking in the shadows, watching him.

Fang Cheng scanned the area intently.

Deep within the mist, countless bizarre and twisted ghostly figures writhe, emitting eerie cackling sounds like they are gnawing on bones.

Like the hungry ghosts that wander in the underworld in legends.

The next moment, a thin layer of golden flames emerged from Fang Cheng's body.

The light burst forth like a blazing sun, instantly dispelling the darkness and fog within several meters around it.

He continued walking.

The ghostly figures that had been lurking around seemed to have encountered their natural enemy. They let out a terrified scream and retreated, fleeing into the deeper parts of the ruins in a panic.

In this dark and desolate ruin, he stood out like a walking torch.

After walking a few dozen meters further, the sound of people talking suddenly came from the fog, mixed with the sound of messy footsteps.

Fang Cheng paused and looked in the direction from which the sound came.

It wasn't a hungry ghost; he could clearly sense that it was a living person just like himself.

Soon, four figures emerged from the fog, each with different heights, builds, and builds.

Their faces were shrouded in a thin mist, obscuring their features, but they all emitted faint white or red light, clearly signs of spiritual energy being released.

However, their faint light paled in comparison to Fang Cheng's blazing golden flames, like fireflies meeting the sun.

When the four men saw Fang Cheng, they clearly stopped in their tracks, their eyes filled with vigilance, yet also with an undisguised sense of awe.

They didn't leave, but silently kept a safe distance and followed behind Fang Cheng.

Everyone knows that this godforsaken place is fraught with danger, and following a clearly formidable expert is far safer than figuring it out on your own.

Not long after they walked, two more people emerged from the ruins on the other side.

When he spotted Fang Cheng and the people following him, he hesitated for a moment before quickly catching up.

Along the way, people emerged from the mist one after another. Seeing the golden flames on Fang Cheng's body, they all made the same choice and quietly joined the team.

As the group grew larger, the gray "snowflakes" in the sky fell heavier and heavier, and the surrounding temperature dropped as well.

Several people couldn't help but wrap their clothes tighter, shivering slightly from the cold.

Someone moved forward first, and then the others followed suit.

They vaguely felt that if they got closer to the man in front of them who was radiating golden light, they could feel a distinct warmth.

As a result, the crowd behind them unconsciously pushed forward.

But remembering Fang Cheng's intimidating aura, she didn't dare get too close and could only maintain a distance from him.

A dozen or so people gathered together, and with so many people talking, whispers began to circulate.

"Damn, this place is freezing! I should have worn more clothes..."

"With a physique like yours, you dare to hang around Night City? Are you trying to kill yourself?"

"Which gang is that big shot up from? That aura... is intimidating."

"Who knows? Night City is full of hidden talents; it's best not to pry into other people's business..."

Among the crowd, the conversation between a middle-aged, obese man and his companions was the loudest.

"Hey, Yuan, where exactly is Night City? It's pitch black everywhere, like a ghost town?"

A young man couldn't help but ask.

"Almost there, just ahead."

The middle-aged fat man hissed impatiently:

"We'll be there once we cross that River Styx. Now, all of you better stay close and don't get lost. If those hungry ghosts drag you away, I won't save you!"

He gave a few warnings, and then added his instructions:
"Remember, once we get to Night City, listen more and talk less, and do as I say. None of the people there are good people!"

“Hey, Yuan, we’re not pushovers either.”

A rebellious young man next to him laughed and retorted.

The other one also said nonchalantly:
"What's there to be afraid of? No one's going to die here anyway."

"You won't die?" The middle-aged fat man suddenly stopped and turned around, his small eyes glaring at them.

"You can try! If you don't listen, you can get your money back and get out right now!"

He spoke quite loudly, and everyone around him looked over.

The two youths' momentum immediately weakened after he roared at them.

A companion quickly pulled them back, smiling obsequiously at the fat man:
"Boss Yuan, don't be angry. It's their first time here, they don't know the rules, they don't know the rules..."

Clearly, most of these people were newbies who were visiting this place for the first time.

Just then, Fang Cheng, who was walking at the front, suddenly stopped.

As soon as he stopped, the dozen or so people behind him also instinctively stopped in their tracks.

The previously noisy discussion instantly disappeared, and everyone's eyes were focused on his back.

Fang Cheng turned around and glanced at everyone.

"I need a guide to take me to Night City."

His voice was calm, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

Who knows the way?

The group of people behind him looked at each other and fell silent.

After a while, the middle-aged fat man who had just been scolding the newcomers immediately put on a fawning smile.

He jogged forward, bowing and scraping as he said:

"Boss, let me handle this! I, Yuan Datou, know this place very well. Where do you want to go? I'll show you the way."

His rapid change of attitude, from arrogance to obsequiousness, left the newcomers he brought with him completely dumbfounded.

The middle-aged fat man didn't seem to care at all, as if serving the strong was a matter of course and an extremely glorious thing.

As for Yuan Datou, it was clearly not his real name, but just a code name used to travel around here.

With this experienced guide leading the way, the group's pace quickened considerably.

"Boss, is this your first time in Night City? What business are you planning to take care of?"

As Yuan Datou led the way, he tentatively struck up a conversation:

"I have some connections in this Night City. Whether you want to get information, acquire some special equipment, or find someone to smooth things over and solve problems, you can come to me."

"Don't let my size fool you, I'm incredibly efficient at running errands, and my prices are fair."

Fang Cheng ignored him.

Yuan Datou immediately shut his mouth, not daring to ask any more questions, and instead led the way even more diligently.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the city ruins beside the road gradually disappeared, and the lingering hungry ghosts also vanished without a trace.

The surrounding landscape began to open up, resembling a desolate wilderness.

Even the faint sound of water could be heard.

Fang Cheng looked out and saw a black river stretching into the distance, blocking his way.

The sound of water was coming from the river; it was the sound of waves crashing against the rocks.

"Boss, the ferry crossing is just ahead."

Yuan Datou pointed to a vast reed field by the river and said, "We have to take a boat across."

The group walked through the reeds and arrived at the riverbank.

The so-called ferry crossing is actually very simple, consisting of only an old pier made of black wood that extends into the river.

There were already seven or eight people standing on the pier, silently gazing at the river, as if waiting for something.

Not long after, a huge sailboat silently emerged from the fog.

A lantern emitting a pale white light hung from the bow of the boat, appearing particularly eerie in the thick fog.

The group boarded the ship one after another, stepping onto the creaking gangplank.

The deck was damp, smelling of river water and rotting wood.

The cabin was pitch black, and no one dared to go in; everyone preferred to stay on the deck.

Without the need for sailors to operate it, the sailboat changed direction on its own, slowly sailed away from the ferry, and plunged into the thicker fog.

Fang Cheng walked to the side of the ship, gazing at the thick fog and falling snowflakes.

Those gray snowflakes melted instantly upon falling into the river, as if they had never existed.

He stared intently and saw that in the dark, murky river water, there seemed to be distorted, painful faces floating up and down, emitting faint wails.

A young man following Yuan Shikai curiously peered out, his eyes instantly becoming dazed. His body swayed, as if bewitched, and he flipped over the ship's side, about to jump off.

Don't look at those ghostly things!

Yuan Datou reacted quickly, pulling him back and shouting sternly.

Fang Cheng looked at all of this and asked:
"Is it really that troublesome to take a boat every time I come to Night City?"

"Boss, only newcomers who are here for the first time need to walk this road to the underworld."

Yuan Shikai quickly explained:
"Once you're in the city, all you need to do is get a temporary residence permit from the household registration office, rent an apartment in the city, and before you come back next time, just recite your apartment's unique password, and you can appear directly in the apartment. It's very convenient."

Just then, a beam of light pierced through the thick fog ahead, like a light trail cleaving through the chaos, guiding the sailboat's direction.

A giant lighthouse, hundreds of meters high, stands in the distant harbor, its beam of light emanating from the top.

It turns out that the tall building we saw in the ruins was this lighthouse.

As the sailboat moved toward the lighthouse, the view of a vast city shrouded in fog began to emerge.

At first, all that could be seen were the silhouettes of countless towering buildings, appearing and disappearing in the thick fog, like a mirage suspended in mid-air.

As they drew closer, the fog began to thin.

The city's true face was finally revealed to everyone, eliciting gasps and exclamations of amazement.

Even Fang Cheng couldn't help but show a hint of surprise in his eyes.

The scene before them was simply too bizarre and surreal.

Pavilions and towers dozens of stories high rise from the ground, and beneath the antique eaves and brackets, neon signs flash incessantly.

Further away, Gothic spires pierce the sky, their tops adorned with sculptures of various monstrous creatures with distinct scales and claws.

Countless skyscrapers are connected by glowing suspension bridges, bustling with people, like a marketplace in the sky.

Ancient and modern, East and West, various distinct styles of civilization are blended together to create a bizarre yet stunning visual impact.

The sailboat successfully docked, and everyone disembarked and soon dispersed, disappearing into the city streets.

Yuan Datou, along with the three newcomers who were still in shock and looking around like country bumpkins, followed behind Fang Cheng.

"Boss, we've arrived."

Yuan Datou rubbed his hands together and asked cautiously, "So, would you like to wander around by yourself, or...?"

"I want to go to the Bridge of Helplessness."

Fang Cheng succinctly stated his requirements.

"oops!"

Yuan Shikai slapped his thigh, his face beaming with delight:

"Boss, what a coincidence! These clients of mine are also headed to the Bridge of Helplessness. Since it's on the same route, shall I continue to guide you?"

He said this so naturally, as if it were some incredible destiny.

Led by Yuan Datou, Fang Cheng entered the streets of Night City.

Even though it was already past midnight in reality, the place was still brightly lit and bustling with people, just like a true city that never sleeps.

Some were dressed in modern clothes, suits and ties, and seemed to be in a hurry.

Some were dressed in armor in the style of the previous dynasty, with long swords at their waists, and swaggered in the middle of the road.

Even more extreme, some have a semi-transparent body and drift through the crowd like ghosts.

The shops along the street are even more bizarre and varied.

Neon signs flashed with colorful lights:
"Meng Po Tea House", "Life Pawnshop", "Soul Massage Shop"...

I don't know what they do, but I saw a few couples haggling in the shop, as if they were doing business.

(End of this chapter)