This was a vast transit station.
From here, one could use the teleportation formation to reach almost any city across the Eastern Continent.
After disembarking from the ship, the passengers all scattered, each keeping their distance from Xu Zimo.
Xu Zimo intended to teleport to a city under the jurisdiction of the True Martial Sacred Ground.
He first headed to a nearby tavern to get something to eat.
By the window, the tavern owner brought out a pot of wine and several plates of meat.
As Xu Zimo ate, a group of people suddenly burst into the tavern.
“Hand it over,” said one man, slamming his long knife onto Xu Zimo’s table.
“Hand over what?” Xu Zimo looked up at the group.
There were about a dozen of them, all wearing black robes, their faces fierce and menacing.
“They’re from the Slaughter Gang. Everyone better clear out,”
Someone in the tavern warned.
“What’s the Slaughter Gang?” others asked, confused.
“They’re the biggest gang in this transit hub. I heard their backing is strong, and they’re extremely overbearing. Many people have suffered under them,” someone explained.
“Stop pretending,” the leader of the gang snorted coldly.
Looking at Xu Zimo, he said, “Do I need to spell out the Immortal Island’s treasure?”
“You people really aren’t afraid to die,” Xu Zimo shook his head slightly. “There was no treasure. I was just lucky to escape with my life.”
He didn’t need to guess, it was obvious that someone on the ship had spread the story.
After all, he was the only one who came out of Driftwave Immortal Island alive.
“I don’t believe you unless I search your storage ring,” the leader said.
“You’ve ruined my appetite,” Xu Zimo muttered, shaking his head. He shouted toward the hiding tavern owner, “Hey boss, come collect the corpses.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the others hadn’t even reacted yet.
The gang members only felt a chill on their necks, before they could speak, their heads were already falling to the floor.
Everyone stood frozen, then collapsed with their severed heads.
“What a mood killer,” Xu Zimo glanced at the food and wine on the table, then stood and walked out of the tavern.
Only after he left did the hiding patrons cautiously emerge.
Looking at the bodies of the Slaughter Gang all over the floor, they were left with a headache.
Xu Zimo went straight to the teleportation point.
After scanning his options, he ultimately chose to teleport to Dragon-Tiger City.
This city was located within the territory of the True Martial Sacred Ground, one of many cities it governed.
Not many people were headed there, so after waiting in line for about half an hour, Xu Zimo stepped into the teleportation formation.
During the long spatial passage, Xu Zimo focused on cultivation.
Now that Heaven’s Will was beginning to form, the pressure on everyone was growing heavier.
His internal force vortices had already condensed to a thousand, near their limit. To go further, he’d need a full breakthrough of his physique.
Now, he was attempting to enter the second stage by condensing force vortices within his soul.
This required great caution, as the soul was fragile and recovered much slower than the body.
As the saying goes, time flies during cultivation. After a long while, Xu Zimo slowly opened his eyes from meditation.
The space in front of him tore open, and he stepped onto the land of Dragon-Tiger City.
Dragon-Tiger City wasn’t particularly large.
Located in the eastern region of the True Martial Sacred Ground’s domain, it was a mid-sized city.
Not bustling, but not deserted either.
The dragon and tiger were symbols of this place.
When Xu Zimo arrived, it was just morning.
The sky was dimly lit. Vendors pushed carts through the streets, and the city seemed to be awakening from a long night’s sleep.
At the city’s center stood a massive Dragon-Tiger statue.
The statue had the head of a dragon and the body of a tiger, standing proudly in the middle of the large city.
It was surrounded by guardrails, and no one was allowed near.
As the cool morning deepened, the citizens of Dragon-Tiger City began gathering around the statue.
“Hurry up! It’s the day of worship, if we’re late, we won’t get a good spot,” someone urged.
“What’s the rush? It’s all the same prayer. You think the Dragon-Tiger God plays favorites?” someone else grumbled.
“We’ve been praying for years and never seen any divine signs. You people are just superstitious,” a young man in the crowd scoffed.
“There’s no such thing as the Dragon-Tiger God. That time would be better spent cultivating.”
“Watch your mouth! You think you can speak about the gods however you like?” an old man shouted angrily.
The young man shrank back, no longer daring to speak.
Xu Zimo watched from the side, amused.
He stepped forward and smiled as he asked, “Elder, I just arrived in Dragon-Tiger City today. What are you all doing?”
“Young man, you’re in luck,” the old man sized up Xu Zimo and smiled.
“Today’s the day we worship the Dragon-Tiger God. Join the ceremony and you’ll be blessed with good health and a smooth future.”
“What is the Dragon-Tiger God?” Xu Zimo asked as he walked alongside the old man’s group.
“That’s a very old legend,” the elder recalled.
“Long ago, monsters ravaged the land outside the city. Dragon-Tiger City was remote, and residents of the northern district faced death every time they went out.
“Then the Dragon-Tiger God arrived, drove the monsters away, and protected the city, granting us peace ever since.
“It’s said that whenever the city faces mortal danger, the Dragon-Tiger God will appear to protect us.”
Xu Zimo smiled at the story.
He noticed more and more people gathering at the statue.
The crowd had filled nearly the entire plaza, even street vendors holding incense and offerings had joined in.
Not particularly interested in the Dragon-Tiger God, Xu Zimo left the square and headed out of the city.
Dragon-Tiger City had a unique layout.
A long river cut across half the city, splitting it into two parts.
Lotus flowers bloomed on the Clear River, which was usually filled with fishing boats and busy fishermen.
But today, with everyone worshipping the Dragon-Tiger God, the lively riverbanks were empty.
Looking around, Xu Zimo saw only one fishing stall on the left side, where a middle-aged man in a yellow conical hat was quietly cleaning fish.
Behind him, a fishing boat drifted, recently docked.
“Boatman, can you take me across?” Xu Zimo approached and asked.
“Want to buy fish?” the middle-aged man looked up, his face lined and weathered, clearly in his forties.
“No fish, just the boat ride,” Xu Zimo shook his head.
The man nodded, silently set down the fish, and unbuckled the black leather apron from his waist.
Then he boarded the boat and gestured for Xu Zimo to follow.