Why is my anime art style so weird?

Click!

The illusion before Xu Ming's eyes was instantly shattered by the purple-gold light, and the conjoined vengeful spirits didn't even have time to scream before turning to ashes and disappearing.

After eliminating the vengeful spirit, Xu Ming led the group to continue towards the top of the corridor.

After being purified by the exorcising light, the chilly atmosphere in the corridor was instantly cleared away, and even the air became much fresher.

Perhaps it had served as a warning to others, because no one dared to block his way again.

Reaching the top of the corridor and turning the corner, a narrow staircase, just wide enough for three people to walk side by side, appeared before Xu Ming and the others.

Xu Ming was about to climb the steps when he suddenly felt a gaze coming from above.

Looking up, he saw a disheveled head cowering between two iron bars on the upper floor, secretly watching him.

Seemingly noticing Xu Ming's gaze, the head immediately disappeared.

I don't know if it was fear or what.

Xu Ming led everyone to the rooftop of the teaching building without encountering any obstacles.

Like most Japanese anime, the rooftop was empty except for a water tank. However, a layer of barbed wire surrounded the rooftop to prevent students from committing suicide.

Before that incident, Fuyuki was a peaceful and tranquil city. The barbed wire fence was mostly just to appease outsiders and parents. How could a student possibly commit suicide there...?

Swish!

Xu Ming had just stepped onto the rooftop when he saw a white figure standing outside the barbed wire fence leap down.

Bah!

Immediately afterwards, a loud crash came from downstairs, as if something heavy had fallen.

Xu Ming instinctively rushed to the edge of the barbed wire fence and looked down.

But there was nothing on the playground below; everything he had just seen seemed like a hallucination.

Xu Ming frowned immediately.

He turned around and found a strange figure suddenly appearing behind him.

It was a strange girl with disheveled hair, through which a single, dark eye peeked out. Her head was bent at a ninety-degree angle, hanging loosely from her neck, and her white dress was mostly stained red with blood.

It's a vengeful spirit that fell to its death!

Xu Ming was startled and subconsciously raised his phone. Before he could point the camera at her, the girl suddenly disappeared, just as she had appeared.

Xu Ming shook his head; it seemed that the problems at Suiqunyuan Academy were quite significant.

Unfortunately, he doesn't have much time and doesn't have time to meddle in other people's business right now.

The rooftop was very spacious. After scanning the area, Xu Ming quickly spotted the crucial class-specific chess piece.

A chess piece floated in the center of the rooftop, constantly emitting a crystalline blue glow.

The piece is depicted as a warrior riding a chariot, symbolizing the 'Rider' class.

A look of understanding flashed in Xu Ming's eyes.

It really is 'Rider'.

If his prediction is correct, then the 'Rider Class Trial' should be related to the infamous Medusa.

Chapter 532 Athens

—Go to the Parthenon in Athens and find Athena's priestess.

After Xu Ming recovered from the discomfort of being teleported, he casually opened the system panel.

The system then sent out this strange message.

Xu Ming looked around, and a damp breeze brought the salty smell of the sea.

He was currently on a hillside, surrounded by low shrubs, with a bustling ancient Greek-style city in the distance.

Towering grey-white city walls, patrolled by squads of soldiers clad in bronze armor. At the city gates, people came and went, caravans leading camels and horses waiting to enter the city.

Without any introduction, Xu Ming recognized the magnificent city of Athens, a city standing on the Aegean Sea and named after a goddess, at first glance.

Following the flow of people, Xu Ming arrived at the city gate, where a dozen soldiers dressed in bronze armor and carrying bronze shields and spears were guarding the place, closely monitoring every visitor.

To Xu Ming's surprise, these ancient city guards did not charge an entrance fee.

He felt as if he had been misled by various movies and TV shows.

But then I thought about it again, and realized that these bad habits of demanding bribes and kickbacks know no borders or races.

The city guards did not charge an entrance fee, presumably because the city lord had explicitly forbidden it.

At first glance, it seems like a significant loss of revenue, considering that toll fees were a major source of income for cities in ancient times.

But what is the actual situation?

Xu Ming glanced back; the caravans that had arrived late still stretched endlessly behind him. The city was bustling with activity, merchants of all kinds hawking goods from different countries, and the entire city was filled with a vibrant and prosperous atmosphere.

By not charging city fees, more merchants can be attracted to trade here, making the city more prosperous and powerful, and tax revenue will also increase significantly.

These gains are hundreds or thousands of times greater than the paltry benefit of the city entry fee!

The city's owner has a remarkably long-term vision!

Perhaps it was Xu Ming's looking around, or perhaps it was his distinctive appearance with black hair and black eyes, but the guards immediately stopped him as a suspicious person.

"Out-of-towner, please wait a moment!"

A helmet with different markings, which looked like that of a squad leader, stopped Xu Ming.

Xu Ming stopped in his tracks. He noticed that although the other soldiers did not move, they were staring at him warily, their hands tightly gripping their weapons, as if they would be attacked immediately if he made any unusual move.

All these details show that these soldiers are spirited and alert, not the kind of lazy, complacent soldiers of the past.

"Stranger, where do you come from? What brings you to Athens?"

The person suspected to be the squad leader has begun questioning him.

"I come from a distant land in the East. I've heard that Athens is a city protected by the goddess, so I'd like to visit the Parthenon..."

After a brief conversation, the squad leader's expression immediately softened.

"Outsider, I must say you have excellent taste. Under the guidance of the great goddess, Athens is the most prosperous and powerful city in the entire Aegean Sea!"

Then the squad leader smiled.

"I thought you were one of those heroes and warriors who came to fight the monster Gorgon after hearing the rumors."

really!

Xu Ming's eyes flashed, and he smiled slightly.

"In fact, that was one of my goals."

The squad leader chuckled self-deprecatingly.

“That’s right. The rumors about Gorgon have been circulating for years. Even now, heroes still come here every now and then. I remember the busiest time was when more than thirty heroes came in just one week.”

But the squad leader's expression quickly turned serious.

"However, I must remind you, young outsider."

The monsters of Gorgon still live well on the Isle of No Return, while those so-called heroes, those renowned and powerful warriors, none of them have returned alive, not one…”

He looked Xu Ming up and down, then shook his head.

“Young man, forgive my bluntness, but with your strength… I’m afraid you are no match for Gorgon.”

Fame may be alluring, but life is more precious; don't act impulsively.

The city guard captain was clearly acting out of good intentions, not wanting Xu Ming to go and die.

After all, those so-called heroes and warriors were burly, with arms thicker than Xu Ming's calves, and looked like they could fight well, yet they were still wiped out.

On the contrary, Xu Ming was so thin and weak, and his physique looked even worse than that of these soldiers. Wasn't this just sending himself to his death?

Xu Ming knew that the city guard captain meant well.

After his repeated requests, the city guard captain finally told him the location of the Parthenon, and repeatedly urged him to think it over carefully before setting off, saying that he was still young.

After leaving the city gate, Xu Ming thought to himself.

This person has a kind heart.

Through his conversation with the city guards, Xu Ming confirmed that the city's prosperity was not a false facade.

City guards belong to a relatively low-ranking branch of the military, but they are still full of enthusiasm.

Especially when they talked about the city-state of Athens and the goddess Athena, their genuine and proud expressions were not fake.

These city guards are truly proud to protect this great city.

These may seem like insignificant details, but they can reflect the most fundamental aspects of a city.

Just like some excellent companies that are in a period of rapid growth, all employees from top to bottom are full of passion for their work and are genuinely proud to be a member of the company.

The owner of this city is truly remarkable.

Xu Ming felt genuine admiration, after all, this was unlike later generations where there was a wealth of management experience to draw upon and professional talent to assist.

This city-state with nearly a million inhabitants is not only well-governed, but also thriving and full of vitality.

According to the city guards, this was all guided by the goddess.

Xu Ming had initially thought this was a standard statement from a believer, but now it seemed that perhaps the goddess herself was manipulating everything behind the scenes.

After all, Athens was the home base of the goddess Athena, just as Atlantis was to Poseidon, the sea god. It makes perfect sense that the goddess personally controlled the whole situation from behind the scenes.

Is it possible that he will have the chance to interact with the legendary goddess Athena this time?

Of course, this wouldn't happen in a world without God, but it's hard to say about this world.

As Xu Ming pondered, he walked around the city of Athens and onto a side path.

The Parthenon is not located in the city of Athens, but rather on the Acropolis, which is located next to the city.

The Acropolis stands atop a granite mountain, serving both as a shrine to the goddess and as a fortress protecting Athens.

From the mountain, one can look down upon the entire city of Athens, which is quite in line with the goddess's habit of sitting on the clouds and looking down on the believers.

Not long after, Xu Ming arrived at the foot of the mountain in Weicheng.