Chapter 8: Entering the City, Facing Humiliation

The night sky was illuminated by a bright full moon, with stars glittering like scattered jewels, creating a scene both beautiful and serene, distant and tranquil. Yet, on the ground, the atmosphere was tense and charged, as two parties pursued each other relentlessly, neither willing to yield.

Ahead were Fu Chen and Qin Yumo, sprinting at full speed toward Sword Immortal City. Behind them, Tian Mu and his eight teammates chased closely, refusing to lose sight of the pair.

Not long ago, Fu Chen had indeed considered relocating with Qin Yumo to continue battling monsters and leveling up elsewhere. But Tian Mu, deeply provoked and scorned, could not swallow his resentment and was unwilling to let them go easily. Somehow, he convinced his teammates to abandon their current mission and give chase.

Whenever Fu Chen and Qin Yumo paused to fight monsters, Tian Mu would charge in with his team to snatch the kills and cause disruption. After three such incidents, Fu Chen could no longer tolerate the harassment and decided to abandon hunting monsters altogether.

He spat out fiercely, “You like stealing kills? Fine, then follow us all day if you dare.” Turning, he called to Qin Yumo, “Huang, let’s head straight to Sword Immortal City and see if there are other tasks.”

Tian Mu sneered coldly in response, “We’ll see about that. Whatever you plan to do, today we’re sticking to you.” He quickly rallied his teammates to keep up, fearful of losing track.

Thus, under the moonlight, the two groups entered a tense game of cat and mouse.

About half an hour later, at the end of the road, a massive, dignified, and ancient stone city tower came into view. Flanking the main gate stood armored guards wielding long blades—it was Sword Immortal City.

Everyone present, save for Fu Chen, was struck by awe at the sight of this ancient city, steeped in a vast and rustic atmosphere.

“Huang, let’s enter the city!” Fu Chen urged without hesitation, stepping through the gate.

Qin Yumo snapped back to reality and followed close behind, asking, “What’s our next move?”

“Remember what the Guide said? The elders are in Sword Immortal City, so it’s definitely right to find them first,” Fu Chen replied, donning the guise of a newcomer and curiously observing the ancient city that was once so familiar in his previous life.

Within the city, aside from pavilions, towers, and various shops, only a handful of natives remained. Fu Chen led Qin Yumo along the empty, silent streets through the southern district until they reached the court hall where the elders resided.

At the foot of the tall steps stood a guard named Lü Qing, marked by a yellow flag indicating completed missions.

“Isn’t he the person the Guide told us to find?” Qin Yumo exclaimed with delight, pointing at the guard.

Fu Chen cast a meaningful glance at Tian Mu and his group, who clung to them like persistent leeches.

Laughing, he said, “What are we waiting for? Let’s hand in our mission.”

Approaching Lü Qing, Fu Chen respectfully said, “Senior, we have a military report from outside the city.”

Immediately, they received multiple auxiliary notifications.

[Military Report Outside the City] completed. Gained 20 cultivation points, 10 spirit points, 1 reputation point.

Lü Qing’s expression hardened. “The infestation of celestial beetles outside the city is severe. Are you willing to eliminate 20 Five-Star Celestial Beetle Kings?”

After they nodded their agreement, they promptly received a personal prompt: “Accept Mission [Celestial Beetle Infestation].”

Muttering “Mission” to themselves, they checked the “Ordinary Missions” list showing detailed information:

[Celestial Beetle Infestation
Mission Issuer: Guard Lü Qing
Targets: Five-Star Celestial Beetle King (0/20)
Rewards: 50 cultivation, 20 spirit, 100 gold coins]

At that moment, Tian Mu, who had been silently observing from behind, led his teammates over. His face darkened as he glanced at Fu Chen and spoke to Lü Qing, “Senior, my teammates and I would also like to help.”

The guard shook his head with a sigh. “Alas, your current strength is insufficient. Come back when you are stronger.”

Fu Chen closed the mission list and looked up toward the court hall on the steps. “Huang, let’s go upstairs to see the elder.”

Turning deliberately, he passed close by Tian Mu and his group, sneering and provoking them with a mocking smile.

“This isn’t a mission for people like you. You don’t even check your own level—a bunch of fools!”

Ignoring their angry protests, he strode up the stone steps.

Beside him, Qin Yumo, her frustrations from earlier completely swept away, followed happily.

Inside the court hall’s entrance stood a large dais, at its center a copper mirror one zhang tall. Fu Chen led Qin Yumo to the dais and respectfully bowed before the elder reclining on a bench.

“We pay our respects, Elder. We have been sent here by the Guide to meet you.”

The elder seemed asleep and motionless, yet his hoarse voice echoed clearly in their ears.

“You newcomers would do well to visit the city’s senior cultivators. They will provide guidance to their juniors. Also, since you have just begun your cultivation path, you may learn two basic skills from the copper mirror.”

Upon finishing, both received a personal prompt simultaneously: “Accept Mission [Newcomers’ Arrival].”

“Thank you for your guidance, Elder,” Fu Chen said respectfully, then turned toward the copper mirror with practiced ease.

At that moment, Tian Mu charged anxiously up the dais, eyes blazing as he rushed toward Fu Chen.

“Hongchen, watch your back!” Qin Yumo shouted, drawing her wooden sword without hesitation to block.

But Tian Mu stopped about five meters away, staring at Fu Chen in disbelief.

“You’ve already reached level 4? Impossible, absolutely impossible! How could you level up so fast?”

Fu Chen turned, first smiling reassuringly at Qin Yumo.

“Don’t worry. There’s a newbie protection period, so you’re absolutely safe in front of anyone.”

Then he looked at Tian Mu. “Finally, you thought to check levels. We’ve been waiting for this moment a long time.”

Tian Mu felt a vague unease but remained defiant, sneering mockingly.

“Hmph, so what if your levels are higher? You still ran from us the entire way, didn’t you?”

“Do you really think that?” Fu Chen asked with a meaningful smile.

Qin Yumo leaned in and whispered, “Well, we were indeed chased the whole way.”

Tian Mu didn’t grasp Fu Chen’s implication and snorted coldly. “No need for tricks; facts speak louder than words.”

Fu Chen patiently explained, “Facts? At our level, there’s no need to compete for monsters with you. Why didn’t you just leave if that’s the case?”

Both sides involuntarily began to ponder and imagine the scenario.

If Fu Chen and Qin Yumo had left right away, how would the outcome differ?

For them, except for a slight delay in entering the city to accept missions, the result would have been the same.

For Tian Mu and his team, there would have been no reason to chase two silent figures away.

They would have continued their orderly monster hunting and mission completion before entering the city.

Yet, the reality was that Tian Mu’s entire team had been led around by Fu Chen, wasting their time.

Though outwardly calm, Tian Mu inwardly rued the situation bitterly.

Fu Chen then bluntly stated, “The truth is, you’ve been led around by the nose and wasted your time.”

“By the way, don’t forget your earlier tough words: whatever I do, today you’re sticking to me.”

“A great humiliation!” Tian Mu clenched his fists, eyes dark with fury as he stared at Fu Chen.

Having struggled through years in the social world, he had never been mocked and taunted so brazenly face-to-face.

Every word was like a slap, mercilessly striking his pride.

“Take the blow standing tall; lose but don’t lose heart—no backing down!”

Tian Mu comforted himself inwardly, grinding his teeth. “Don’t worry. Today, I’ll be watching you like a hawk. Level 4 or not, I don’t believe nine of us can’t handle you two!”