In this city where time stood still, Ye Ling and Bai Lan, two figures of different ages, strolled through the streets as if they were tourists.
The talk of finding the black market was merely an excuse Ye Ling had concocted, long forgotten. Though the city appeared peculiar and strange, once one accepted its artistic style, many interesting things could be found. The toys in this virtual realm were mostly things Ye Ling had never seen before.
Soon, both Ye Ling and Bai Lan were so engrossed in their activities that they lost track of time. As the city was located in the Evernight Zone, it never saw daylight. The entire city was brightly lit, and everyone seemed to be tireless. Ye Ling, taking Bai Lan around, unknowingly spent over ten hours shopping.
"Brother Ye... my legs are a bit sore, can we rest for a moment?" Bai Lan, tired from the shopping, asked Ye Ling with sleepy eyes.
"Mm, there's a park over there. We can rest there for a bit," Ye Ling, though not feeling fatigue, indulged Bai Lan in everything. He collected the various items bought from the street into his small world and led Bai Lan into the park, sitting on a bench.
"It seems there are no inns in this city. You can just rest here..." Ye Ling had barely sat down and spoken when Bai Lan leaned against his shoulder and fell into a deep sleep.
In the tranquil park, Ye Ling looked at Bai Lan's tired profile illuminated by the moonlight. He realized then that Bai Lan, with her fair skin and delicate features, would undoubtedly grow into a beauty capable of toppling nations.
"This girl, she must have completely let her guard down around me by now?" Ye Ling murmured softly, not waking Bai Lan, letting her sleep leaning against his shoulder. Although Bai Lan hadn't said it aloud, Ye Ling could tell that during their time shopping, she had come to regard him as the closest person in this unfamiliar world.
"It's been so long since I've gone shopping like this... I wonder how Xiao You and Ruo Xue are doing now..." Ye Ling looked up at the vast Milky Way stretching across the sky, his thoughts drifting to his family. After leaving Earth, he had been on the move constantly, often in danger, never stopping. He hadn't had the time to miss his family. While he had been healing Bai Lan during this short period, hadn't Bai Lan also been healing Ye Ling? As strong as Ye Ling was now, he was merely a wanderer far from home. At least ordinary wanderers knew where their homeland was. As for Ye Ling now... he didn't even know where to begin looking for Earth. All he knew was that Earth had been hidden by Good and Evil, and Xiao You and the others were safe.
"Perhaps, only after completely destroying the Overseers... will we have a chance to meet again?" Ye Ling gazed at the bright moon in the sky. Despite having a beautiful companion by his side, for some reason, his figure always appeared solitary.
There was no one else in the park. Bai Lan shifted her position, resting her head on Ye Ling's legs, and continued to sleep soundly. Another two to three hours passed before Bai Lan slowly opened her eyes. She found her drool had stained Ye Ling's robe, and she instantly woke up, springing up and exclaiming, "I'm sorry, I..."
"It's alright... I saw you sleeping so soundly, I didn't have the heart to disturb you," Ye Ling chuckled, using his spiritual energy to wipe away the drool from his robe. He then stood up and asked, "Are you rested?"
"Mm..." Bai Lan lowered her head, quite embarrassed, and softly replied.
"While you were sleeping, I scanned the entire city with my divine soul. This city doesn't have a black market specifically for selling information. If we want to obtain useful intelligence, we'll still need to find the Mayor."
"Mm..." Bai Lan nodded again, not daring to meet Ye Ling's eyes. "I'll follow you."
Seeing Bai Lan's desire to find a hole to crawl into, Ye Ling couldn't help but smile, "Let's go. I've already located the City Lord's position. We'll get some useful information soon."
"Oh." Bai Lan nodded obediently and stepped forward to follow Ye Ling.
This city was named Bùzhòu City, and it was the primary producer of Light Stones. Not only this city, but all cities within a million-mile radius, used Light Stones produced here. Light Stones were also crucial items used by the Primal Time King to suppress Bai Lan. If there was any city within a million-mile radius most closely connected to the Primal Time King, it would undoubtedly be this one.
The guards at the City Lord's mansion were like decorations to Ye Ling. The two easily reached the outside of the City Lord's office. Ye Ling stopped before the office door. Using his divine soul, he sensed that the City Lord and his secretary were engaged in unspeakable acts within the office. He paused, halting his steps.
Bai Lan, following behind Ye Ling, saw him suddenly stop and asked via telepathic transmission, "What's wrong? Why aren't we going in?"
"Cough, cough..." Ye Ling cleared his throat. "It's nothing. Let's wait a moment."
"Why?" Bai Lan blinked her large eyes, full of curiosity.
"Children shouldn't know too much." Ye Ling didn't explain much to Bai Lan. He simply kept Bai Lan hidden outside the office, waiting quietly. A few minutes later, the office door opened, and the radiant female secretary left in her high heels, appearing quite pleased.
"Let's go!" Seeing the female secretary depart, Ye Ling pulled Bai Lan into the City Lord's office and closed the door. The City Lord was still lying in his chair, eyes closed, taking a nap, completely unaware of Ye Ling and Bai Lan's arrival.
"Xiao Lan, you rest for a bit. I'll be done soon." Upon entering, Ye Ling wasted no time. He directly invaded the City Lord's mind with his divine soul, searching his memories. Soon, Ye Ling withdrew his divine soul. The City Lord, who had just experienced ecstasy, was now foaming at the mouth and slumped on the ground.
Seeing the City Lord's depleted state, Bai Lan asked Ye Ling, "What did you do to him? Why does it feel like he suffered a lot?"
"Nothing much? I just waited for him for a few minutes, got a bit impatient, and gave him a little lesson." Ye Ling replied casually, then skillfully walked to the City Lord's desk, opened a hidden compartment, and took out a stack of documents.
"What's that?" Bai Lan asked, seeing the thick pile of documents in Ye Ling's hand.
"These are decrees signed by the City Lord. I saw from his memories that this Bùzhòu City transports a large number of Light Stones to a certain place at regular intervals, without charging any fees. They bear the entire cost through the city's taxes." Ye Ling explained to Bai Lan as he flipped through the documents, finally picking one out. "It's this... Shíkēng, the place where the Light Stones are transported!"