Chapter Thirty-eight: Venturing into the Grand City

Jiangnan Base City’s “Hall of Heroes” Funeral Parlor.

Today, more than ten thousand people had gathered here, all figures from the upper echelons of Jiangnan Base City. Among them were high-ranking members of family conglomerates, senior government and military officials, and, most importantly, a great number of warriors. Among these warriors, there were even War God-level powerhouses!

“The national television station is here, too,” Luo Yuan noted as he glanced at the interview van, musing that War God-level warriors were indeed held in high regard.

Luo Yuan and his companions stood by the roadside, waiting in line behind the other warriors. Only a handful of distinguished individuals were granted priority for the memorial.

He could feel the powerful aura emanating from the War God-level experts passing by—some with piercing gazes, others with serene eyes.

Suddenly, a sleek, jet-black, disc-shaped warcraft soared in from the distance. The military units stationed around the Hall of Heroes made no attempt to stop it. All those who had already gone in to pay their respects—War God-level warriors, the mayor of Jiangnan Base City, high-ranking political and military officials—emerged to greet the new arrival.

“It seems a true heavyweight is here.” Luo Yuan watched intently, as did every other warrior and even the television crew—no one dared make a sound.

A hush fell over the crowd.

The warcraft descended slowly. Its hatch opened.

A lean, hawk-nosed man in black strode down the steps. His expression was grim, tears shimmering in his eyes. The very air for dozens of meters around him seemed to plunge into darkness—within that radius, he was nothing short of a deity.

“Senator Zhu,” a War God-level expert greeted him.

The hawk-nosed man let out a low sigh, saying nothing. He nodded to the War God-level experts, the mayor, high officials from the capital, and military leaders, then headed straight into the funeral parlor.

Luo Yuan felt a chill—this was “Zhu Xi,” one of the Five Inspectors, a Planetary-level powerhouse. He looked utterly ordinary; no one would ever guess he was such a terrifying existence. This was true humility.

Funeral music echoed throughout the Hall of Heroes. One after another, government officials, military commanders, War God-level warriors came to pay their respects. The national television crew captured every moment, with the reporter narrating solemnly before the camera. Soon, it was Luo Yuan’s group’s turn.

After offering their tribute, Luo Yuan and his companions left the venue.

Outside, the atmosphere was noticeably more relaxed, no longer as oppressive as within.

The seven members of the Firehammer Squad left together and soon found a charming, classically styled restaurant nearby.

They ate and chatted idly.

“Captain, what mission are we taking on next?” Chen Gu asked.

“Old Chen, Wei Tie, you two are both well-adjusted now. I say we head into the wilderness in the next couple of days,” Gao Feng replied, glancing around. The others nodded.

“Haha,” Chen Gu laughed. “This time, let’s not bother with those small county towns. Our squad is much stronger than before!”

“Let’s go to a big city.”

“Or why not throw caution to the wind and try our luck in City 003?” Gao Feng took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.

“City 003?”

Everyone at the table jumped in shock—even Luo Yuan frowned, feeling that his brothers were getting a bit too reckless.

City 003 was considered one of the most terrifying regions in all of Eurasia. With its proximity to the sea, many oceanic beasts lurked in the waterways. It boasted the densest cluster of buildings in all of Asia, drawing in a staggering number of monsters—lord-level beasts were numerous, and even those surpassing lord-level entrenched themselves here!

Countless top warriors from all over, even some from other base cities, came specifically for this place.

It was practically the ultimate battlefield for humanity’s warriors and the monsters.

This was the former economic heart of Huaxia before the Great Nirvana—the old Magic City.

“That’s insane. Take too big a step and you’ll pull a muscle,” Wei Tie muttered.

Gao Feng looked at the group and chuckled, “What, are you scared?”

“Scared? Not at all! If we go to City 003, it’ll be a badge of honor,” Chen Gu’s eyes sparkled. “Of course we’re going! The city is enormous, ten times bigger than the others. We’ll start from the outskirts and work our way in. What’s there to fear?”

“Luo Yuan, Luo Feng, what do you think?” Gao Feng and the others turned to the two brothers. Their boldness stemmed from the confidence brought by their presence.

“We can go and try our hand, but we can’t venture too deep,” Luo Yuan said calmly, sipping his tea.

“Agreed. We’ll start from the suburbs,” Luo Feng nodded.

The Firehammer Squad broke into smiles at the brothers’ reply.

To survive in City 003 was a mark of true strength.

“All right, let’s rest up and prepare. We set out for City 003 the morning after tomorrow,” Gao Feng announced with a grin.

“Yes—to City 003!”

The group, Luo Feng included, felt a surge of excitement.

After parting ways with the squad, Luo Yuan went alone to County 0231, next to the military district.

The Nine-tailed White Fox, together with its nine elite beast general subordinates and several vassal illusion fox clans, had nested in the ruins of a twenty-story hotel. After tidying up, they began their slumber—their method of cultivation, enhancing their mental powers through dreams.

Luo Yuan lay on the soft belly of the Nine-tailed White Fox, enveloped in its snowy fur—warm and comfortable. Meanwhile, he used his mental power to collect the spiritual attribute bubbles shed by the illusion foxes. Thus passed his days at the base, and he quickly drifted off to sleep.

On the third day, Luo Yuan checked his stats and found his spiritual power had broken through to the initial War God level. Pleased, he packed his things and joined his six squadmates, heading to the supply base of the Southeast Military District.

“This supply base is much bigger than the one in the Northern District,” Luo Yuan and his companions remarked as they walked through the compound, keys in hand. There were far more residences here, and everywhere they looked, there were warriors.

City 003’s proximity to the sea meant that countless monsters from the ocean had already breached the mainland, threatening the interior along the Huangpu River. Compared to land monsters, oceanic beasts were a far greater threat to humanity. The ocean’s vastness dwarfed the continents, and it was entirely monster territory—who could imagine how many beasts lay beneath those waves?

As the seven members of Firehammer Squad walked through the Southeast Military District, they even glimpsed several War God-level warriors preparing to venture into City 003. In the Northern District, it was rare to see even one such powerhouse—here, there were several at a glance.

Soon after, Firehammer Squad, fully armed, left the supply base.

Along the way, people were still discussing Luo Feng’s “madman” exploits, prompting jokes from Gao Feng and the others. Luo Yuan remained low-key, his spiritual power quietly scanning the War God-level warriors, piercing their combat suits and skin, glimpsing their muscles, organs, and bones—all found to be exceptionally strong.

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