There are two forces in the desolate city, one called bandits and the other called outlaws.
The two forces are irreconcilable like fire and water, and they frequently provoke war.
Multiple bloody battles took place in the deadly county, with the fighting raging fiercely.
The formation of these two forces is related to the development history of the desolate city. When convicts meet, they often form a more vicious force and become more purely criminals.
At first, they might have been motivated by money, beauty, or dignity.
Then things changed. According to them, it's now for art.
Or, to put it another way, there is no justification for crime.
And so, gradually, without anyone noticing, a few ironclad rules began to circulate among the villains in the desolate city.
I. Legend has it that those who join the Desolate City are abandoned by the rules of the world and the gods in heaven. Therefore, they believe neither in heaven and earth, nor in ghosts and spirits, nor in their own families. The moment they join the Desolate City, they must forsake heaven, earth, and their parents, and only stay with the members of the organization.
Second, joining the desolate city will completely sever all cooperation with the imperial court. No matter how simple, it won't work.
Third, murder, murder for art, committing crimes for art, requires no reason.
These three ironclad rules became the rules followed by many evil people who were even more wicked than "evil" in the beginning. They took pride in them and used them to prove their artistry.
When someone sets the rules, someone will not follow them. Some people will betray heaven and earth and their parents, refuse to cooperate, and even kill for art.
There is another group of people who wouldn't. They claim to be righteous, filial to their parents, and respectful to heaven, earth, and spirits. If the laws of the court suit their tastes, they will even help promote and publicize them; there's no reason why they wouldn't kill someone.
This group was considered traitors and was called bandits.
Later, outsiders gradually poured in, and the bandit gang grew stronger. They gradually became equal to the outlaws.
Now, the two opposing factions, the bandits and the outlaws, coexist in the desolate city, constantly at war. Only when someone violates the city's rules against killing or trespassing at night will the bandits and outlaws unite to eliminate those who break the rules.
"So, do you intend to join the rebels or the bandits?" the commander of the city's garrison asked with a hint of teasing.
For a moment, the entire sect fell silent.
The city walls, over ten meters high, were incredibly thick and wide, and even had barbicans and ramparts. Archers were stationed atop a dozen or so corner towers not far away.
That's not the key point.
The main reason is that there are several soul-stirring auras within the city, clearly indicating that they are at least at the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal.
Even if they manage to break through the city walls with overwhelming force, they will certainly be stopped by the experts inside the city.
The entire sect fell silent, none of them rushing to answer.
The bandits sound like they have very righteous values, but joining this organization means getting caught up in the vortex of their battles.
The leader's expression was amused; he enjoyed teasing these newbies.
"If the outcome I give doesn't meet your expectations, you'll kill us, won't you?" Ye Tian looked up, his eyes calm and deep.
This surprised the leader for a moment, then he laughed. Now that this novice had guessed it, it was even more interesting.
"Then guess which organization you should join to avoid dying," he laughed.
Ye Tian looked puzzled and said, "Isn't it said that killing is forbidden within the city?"
Upon hearing this, the chieftain laughed and said readily, "How can a desolate city be considered part of the city if the city gates are not even open?"
"Oh." Ye Tian understood. The longsword pierced the leader's chest, causing his eyes to widen and his pupils to contract.
"Master, let's enter the city." Ye Tian drew his sword, which was free of any bloodstains, and stepped into the vicinity of the city gate.
"Wow, amazing!" Huan Qingsha's eyes sparkled as she looked at him excitedly, like a fangirl.
Ye Tian sighed helplessly; his junior sister's neurotic tendencies were still not completely cured.
The Daoist Wuchen asked with a more cautious tone, "Won't it cause any problems if we just kill the city's leader like this?"
"No." Gu Nishang shook her head directly.
"There are only two ironclad rules here: no trespassing and no killing in the city. No matter what else happens, no one will seek revenge."
Master Wuchen breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good. Let's go into the city. This kid is too muddleheaded, asking us to join some kind of bandits and thieves for no reason. We are a righteous force and a good sect. How could we get involved in their mess?"
Li Xiaoyao frowned, unable to resist reminding him, "Master, we're being hunted down by the Martial King of the Martial Dynasty, and we've all been killed by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It's hard to say who's more ruthless, us or the people in here."
"Ahem." Daoist Wuchen coughed twice guiltily and said, "So what? This place is so chaotic. If we join any faction, we might get caught up in some inexplicable factional disputes, which would be very unfriendly to us."
"We must now stockpile grain, build high walls, and delay declaring ourselves kings. We shouldn't be in such a hurry to join forces or make a name for ourselves. Acting discreetly and being kind to others are the most important things."
While listening to his master lecture Li Xiaoyao, Ye Tian followed the sect towards the desolate city. They didn't know how long they would have to stay in this chaotic city, nor when they would be able to return to the Martial Dynasty and slay their enemies!
"Don't rush into conflicts with others here. Even if there are conflicts, communicate amicably. Don't resort to fighting in the arena all the time. What if you lose and get a tattoo on your face? How embarrassing would that be? When we return to the Hundred Sects, won't our Ruthless Sect be pointed at and gossiped about?" Daoist Wuchen explained his life experience to everyone in the sect.
Ye Tian wasn't really listening; he was thinking about something. Liu Luolan, the founder of the Ruthless Sect, hadn't she joined a bandit gang? Did she have some connection to this place? Maybe she could even find a sense of belonging here.
Ye Tian wasn't in a hurry to ask questions; he wanted to find the house Huan Qingsha had bought first. The entire sect could rest there, and he was instructed to equip the sect with all the necessary resources from the Ruthless Sect, including the Qi Stone, the Spirit Gathering Array, and other cultivation-accelerating items.
The basic infrastructure for migrant workers must be fully equipped; sharpening the axe won't delay the work of chopping wood.
"This place used to be called the Immortal's Residence, because it's said that immortals once lived here. It doesn't have a name yet, so why don't we give it one?" The group arrived at the residence that Huan Qingsha had bought.
Ye Tian glanced at it and was taken aback.
It's not that the house is bad, but rather that it's too good. The design is extremely ingenious, with a unique folk style. The entire courtyard is shaped like a double "happiness" character, with three sides facing the street and surrounded by a tall, fully enclosed blue brick wall over 10 meters high. The main gate is a city gate-style archway.
This place is exquisite.
It looks damn expensive.
"So, what's your name?" Huan Qingsha asked excitedly.
Ye Tian observed for a long time, and seeing that no one from the Ruthless Sect spoke, he suggested, "Since this place was once inhabited by immortals, and is so exquisite, with a touch of the refined elegance of a hermit, why don't we call it..." "The Hermit's Abode?" Huan Qingsha guessed.
"Let's establish the Ruthless Sect's basic training base!" Ye Tian said.
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