Chapter 201 – 「King of Phantom Demons」

Wang Xiao did not die during the battle when 『Sin』 attacked the Wang Family.

In that battle, most members of the Wang Family were actually captured alive by 『Sin』’s forces. Only those who resisted fiercely and the family’s external retainers were slaughtered.

The majority of the Wang Family members were taken alive to these ruins by 『Sin』, where they were used in cruel rituals—their blood drained and their Bloodline extracted, leaving behind only empty shells like the Living Dead. These hollow bodies were discarded like trash by 『Sin』 and eventually ended up wandering across various parts of Longyao City.

As the only two direct descendants of the Wang Family, Wang Xiao and Wang Yihan were inevitably captured alive by these Underground Professionals who coveted the Wang Family’s Bloodline and intended to use it for rituals. They were brought to these ruins as well.

However, just as Wang Xiao and Wang Yihan were about to be used as live sacrifices by 『Sin』 for the ritual, the interference of Mist Waves disrupted the ceremony.

Seizing this opportunity, the surviving members of the Wang Family rose up in resistance. Wang Xiao sacrificed his life to save Wang Yihan, snatching the ritual artifact and urging her to flee as far as possible with it.

Thus, Wang Yihan managed to escape and has been on the run ever since.

As for Wang Xiao, already severely injured, the repeated heavy blows and his final desperate resistance left him completely drained of life.

The last scene Wang Yihan witnessed before leaving the Ritual Market was Wang Xiao perishing together with 『Sin』’s Underground Professionals, buried beneath the collapsing ceiling.

“……”

Learning about the tragic fate of Longyao City’s youngest Six-Star Hunter, everyone fell into silence.

Whether it was the previously chattering members of the Bai Family, Bai Ruxiang, Xu Yanyan, or even Su Ming—all of them were left speechless at that moment.

It couldn’t be helped.

Though they had never met Wang Xiao, his deeds were truly admirable.

To say the least, during the Huaming Campaign, this Family Head of the Wang Family and incumbent mayor of Longyao City had always led from the front, fighting fiercely on the frontlines until he was severely wounded and forced to retire. He truly deserved the title of “hero.”

Anyone could imagine the immense contributions this mayor had made during the Huaming Campaign.

While other forces in Longyao City were busy with internal strife and mutual checks, perhaps only this Family Head of the Wang Family had wholeheartedly dedicated himself to Longyao City, willing to make such great sacrifices.

After all, Longyao City was the Base City founded by the Wang Family’s ancestors—their greatest pride and asset.

In this city, if anyone could be said to have poured their heart and soul into safeguarding this Base City, sparing no effort or sacrifice, it would be the members of the Wang Family.

As the current Family Head of the Wang Family and incumbent mayor of Longyao City, Wang Xiao was unquestionably the one who had to stand at the forefront when disaster threatened the entire Base City.

Thus, despite the complex web of major forces in Longyao City, they all had no choice but to acknowledge the Wang Family’s status in the city.

The fact that most of Longyao City’s mayors have been from the Wang Family is not without reason.Now, this hero who had made great sacrifices for Longyao City and was preparing to retire had truly given his life to protect his daughter and thwart the enemy’s conspiracy under the machinations of Sin.

Learning of this, even Su Ming couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow in his heart.

Wang Xiao was dead.

The Wang Family was gone.

Wang Yihan might be the only survivor of the current Wang Family.

This reality was undoubtedly cruel and brutal.

Bai Ruxiang couldn’t help but embrace Wang Yihan, causing Wang Yihan’s tear ducts to collapse as she wept uncontrollably.

At this moment, it was Xu Yanyan who couldn’t resist speaking up.

“What exactly are those people planning to do?” Xu Yanyan gritted her teeth and said, “Treating Longyao City as nothing, acting recklessly here—what exactly do they intend to do in this place?”

This question made everyone turn their gaze to Wang Yihan.

Su Ming was no exception.

Now, perhaps only Wang Yihan knew what Sin truly intended to do.

What secrets were hidden within these ruins?

Why did the Wang Family seem to hold this secret, keeping the existence of these ruins hidden all along?

Everyone was desperate to know the answers.

“This…”

Though Wang Yihan was crying pitifully, she seemed to choke on the question, unable to speak.

Yet this attitude only confirmed that Wang Yihan knew something.

Unable to contain her urgency, Xu Yanyan stepped in front of Wang Yihan.

“At this point, what is your Wang Family still trying to hide?” Xu Yanyan demanded in an accusatory tone, “We’re at a critical moment of life and death, yet we still don’t know what Sin plans to do in Longyao City, what purpose their ritual serves, or what harm it will bring to Longyao City. If this continues, the Base City you worked so hard to build and protect until now will be destroyed!”

Xu Yanyan’s words struck Wang Yihan with obvious impact.

Wang Yihan wavered, visibly shaken.

Seeing this, Bai Ruxiang also spoke up.

“When we’re collectively called the Six Great Families alongside the Wang Family, it’s not just an empty title,” Bai Ruxiang said with utmost sincerity, “We also want to protect this Base City, to safeguard the families, friends, and companions living here.”

These words resonated not only with Wang Yihan but also with Su Ming.

As someone who aimed to be an extra, avoiding and evading everything possible—a true recluse—why had Su Ming taken the initiative to involve himself in such an obviously troublesome matter this time?

Wasn’t it precisely because he thought of his family, friends, and companions living here, considering this place their sanctuary?

This world was different from the one Su Ming had known before.

Here, there were no nations, no racial distinctions—only Base Cities where people relied on for survival.

Within the Base Cities were the last remaining human habitats on the surface, the only areas that could be considered safe.

Outside the Base Cities, entrances to the Spirit Demon Abyss like the one that appeared in Huaming District emerged one after another, some even larger in scale than the one in Huaming District back then.In other words, the areas outside the Base City had long become dangerous wilderness zones where Phantom Demons roamed freely. Many places had even been occupied by Phantom Demons, turning into their nests.

The ground was ravaged by creatures known as Phantom Demons, and even the oceans were not spared. Humanity could no longer maintain nations, regions, or ethnic distinctions. They could only carve out territories city by city, using Base Cities as defensive perimeters to resist the invasion of Phantom Demons and preserve the last embers of humankind.

Now, humanity could only rely on this method to protect itself and struggle against the Spirit Demon Abyss.

If the Base City where one resided was destroyed, everyone within it would be unable to survive in the wilderness danger zones that had become Phantom Demon nests.

For this reason, in this world, the most severe punishment for those who committed grave crimes was exile.

Even a Seven-Star Hunter could face danger upon entering the wilderness danger zones.

The Mo Family, in the past, suffered significant casualties and sacrifices while crossing the wilderness danger zones to reach Longyao City.

The same applied to those Underground Professionals—only by enduring the life-and-death crises of the wilderness danger zones at every moment could they possibly preserve their lives and enter the underground world to become unseen Underground Professionals.

Thus, it was universally acknowledged by all of humanity that Base Cities were the only safe zones for human survival.

Even Su Ming had to admit that if something were to happen to Longyao City, he might be able to save his life with the many Extraordinary Items he had obtained from his packages, but it would be absolutely impossible to continue living so leisurely, so comfortably, so ordinarily and contentedly.

Not to mention, he still had family, friends, and familiar companions.

If something were to happen to Longyao City, these important people would most likely fall into Hell alongside him, succumb to disaster, and vanish forever.

This was something Su Ming did not want to see.

At the very least, Su Ming had no confidence that, after Longyao City was destroyed, he could lead all his connections safely through the wilderness danger zones and seek refuge in other Base Cities.

Even if he could manage it, whether the other Base Cities would be willing to accept him and his people remained unknown.

It was precisely because of these terrifying consequences that the various complex forces within Longyao City would set aside their private grievances and scheming to unite against external threats whenever major events endangered the Base City.

After all, they could not afford the losses, and the pressure to survive was far greater for them than for those who stood alone.

Su Ming similarly did not want to see such a dreadful future.

For this reason, he was willing to wade into these troubled waters.

The same held true for the other top families counted among the Six Great Families, alongside the Wang Family.

Under these circumstances, even Wang Yihan could not help but be moved.

After a long while, Wang Yihan relented.

“…This is a secret my father once told me,” Wang Yihan’s voice slowly rang out.

“According to my father, Longyao City was not initially established to gather humans and create a safe zone for humanity. Instead, it was built for a specific purpose.”

These words left everyone present stunned.

“What… does that mean…?” The others looked at each other in confusion.

“A Base City built for a purpose?” Su Ming also furrowed his brow.Wang Yihan continued her explanation.

“I’ve heard that long ago, a terrifying King of Phantom Demons emerged from the Spirit Demon Abyss into our world.”

“It turned the land into a living hell, claiming countless lives.”

“Humans paid a devastating price trying to defeat it, yet ultimately failed to vanquish it completely.”

“So several great beings at the pinnacle of humanity at that time sacrificed their lives to cut off the Phantom Demon King’s arms, rip out its heart, and Seal it at the edge of the world.”

Wang Yihan pursed her lips and suddenly spoke.

“That border lies right beneath our feet.”

(End of Chapter)