The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 402 - 281 Perilous Journey (Added by Alliance Leader: I am Zifeng)

Chapter 402: Chapter 281 Perilous Journey (Added by Alliance Leader: I am Zifeng)

Li Yi and Lin Yue were both decisive and efficient in their actions, disliking any dilly-dallying, so the two of them set off in their car immediately after making preparations.

From Tianchang City to Tian Han City was not far, just over 300 kilometers, which would take only two or three hours by car.

"What’s that smell?"

As soon as they got on the highway, Li Yi smelled a strange and stinky odor, which was nauseating.

"It’s a mixture of some powerful creatures’ feces and urine. Each city uses water trucks to spray it around highways to repel nearby Fierce Beasts, and even some Extraordinary Creatures." Lin Yue spoke, "Li Yi, once you leave the city and get on the highway, don’t open the windows, otherwise the scent of humans can easily attract the attention of Extraordinary Creatures."

"I see."

Li Yi immediately closed the car window upon hearing that. "Since this stuff is so useful, why not use it near the city defenses? That way, wouldn’t no creature dare to enter the city?"

Lin Yue smiled, "If we did that, the highways would fall into disrepair. Once those Fierce Beasts and Extraordinary Creatures realize they’ve been deceived, do you think this stuff would still be useful? It’s only used on highways to ensure normal inter-city travel, but even so, the probability of passing vehicles being attacked is still not small."

"Don’t worry, though, the nation dispatches Evolvers with great strength to patrol the highways constantly. Any Fierce Beasts or Extraordinary Creatures that appear nearby will be killed. It’s a message to those creatures that the highways are dangerous and not to get close. However, under the current circumstances, many routes between cities are still paralyzed. Ensuring safety on the main roads is already a decent achievement."

Having said that, Lin Yue pointed ahead, "Look, that’s a patrol vehicle up there."

At this moment, Li Yi saw an armored vehicle moving at a steady pace on the road in the distance. The vehicle was equipped with Transcendent series heavy weapons, capable of easily killing Fierce Beasts and repelling Extraordinary Creatures.

"The safety inside the city is managed by the Investigation Bureau. Of course, in the event of a catastrophe they can’t handle, the bureau will also request assistance, and the Golden Academy will also dispatch top experts to help deal with it... It’s already good that they can maintain order now, but this is only if the situation doesn’t worsen. If it does, and Sky Tipping events occur on a large scale again, the cities will definitely fall one after another," Lin Yue sighed before continuing.

"In the face of such a trend, crossing into other realms seems to be the best choice. After all, even if we survive the second Sky Tipping event, there will be a third, fourth... Some people have estimated that the cosmic energy in our world is still rising, meaning the disasters are not yet at their peak, and this situation will continue for at least a hundred years."

"To cut losses in time or to struggle to the end, clearly, most people choose to cut their losses."

"Events like Sky Tipping to continue for a hundred years?" Li Yi felt a chill listening to this, "That’s really despairing. But Sister Lin, where did you get this information? It should all be confidential, right?"

"To us, it’s confidential, but it’s not for the top Evolvers. My teacher is a Cultivator above the Soul Realm; he is privy to many major events and many senior officials consult with my teacher to discuss countermeasures and offer constructive suggestions. So sometimes, when I have time, I visit Tian Han City to attend my teacher’s lectures," said Lin Yue.

"Having such a teacher is really great, being able to understand the big picture," Li Yi said.

The two chatted while the vehicle continued along the highway.

After leaving Tianchang City, the surroundings turned into mountains, woods, and wastelands. There were no buildings nearby, and even the distant villages were now mostly ruins, destroyed, becoming havens for animals and plants. In these six years, almost all traces of human beings had been erased.

This wilderness seemed peaceful, but in reality, everywhere you looked was a danger zone.

It wasn’t just near cities that were considered danger zones; the lands lost outside of cities were even more terrifying. In these areas, anything could happen, and one might encounter anything bizarre or strange. After the Sky Tipping events, people had become completely unfamiliar with nature, understanding less than one-tenth of it.

"What is that?"

Suddenly.

Li Yi caught a glimpse of something fiery red moving rapidly in the distant mountains, scorching the ground into barren earth and igniting the lush forest in an instant.

That fireball moved swiftly, traversing mountains as if on flat ground.

"An Extraordinary Creature? No, that’s not right; that’s a mythical creature... The fire on its body isn’t real fire but an energy field formed by excessively powerful cosmic energy." Lin Yue also suddenly widened her eyes, "Quick, drive away from this road segment. Don’t let it focus on us, or else we’re done for."

At this moment, Li Yi floored the gas pedal, and the vehicle accelerated fiercely to its limit.

However, as an Evolver, his reflexes were extraordinary, able to control the speeding car without fear of losing control.

Yet he was curious, his pupils narrowing, turning into vertical slits, trying to discern the true nature of that distant firelight.

But as his vision reached near the firelight, everything around was distorted by the energy field, making it impossible to see clearly the creature within the firelight, only vaguely making out a layer of crimson Scale Armor.

Li Yi had no choice but to retract his gaze and suppress the curiosity in his heart.

Fortunately, that mythical creature just passed by and did not pay attention to their inconspicuous vehicle on the highway. As the creature swiftly ran through the mountains and forests, disappearing completely from sight after crossing over a large mountain, it also startled many dangerous beings.

Li Yi saw a giant blue bird cry out and take flight, then like a flash of lightning, rapidly leave the area. He heard strange cries coming from the dense forest, with Extraordinary Creatures being frightened into running chaotically, and even saw a giant python run out of a ravine. As it passed, trees fell in its wake, crushing a path through the mountains.

Just a rough estimate, the python was at least two hundred meters long.

"Stirred up by that mythical creature, all the lurking dangers are now emerging."

Lin Yue said: "Fortunately, they are only fleeing for their lives and haven’t entered the highway area. Li Yi, did you see that giant python? That’s not a python, it’s a Qiu Dragon. The garment you are wearing is made from its skin, but that Qiu Dragon is quite powerful. Without several Soul Realm warriors teaming up and carrying Transcendent series heavy weapons, don’t even think about hunting it."

"As for that bird, I don’t recognize it, but judging by its size just now, it should not be an eagle, but most likely a Peng, also a kind of creature that only exists in legends."

"The wilderness outside of this city is really too dangerous." At this moment, Li Yi, having just taken a trip on the highway, truly realized how dangerous his world really was.

It’s already a stroke of luck that cities are still holding out against being overrun.

Thinking about returning to the peaceful times of the past... he feels it’s almost impossible.

Lin Yue sighed and said: "It’s precisely because dangers abound that crossing to other worlds has become the preferred option. Who would want to leave their homeland and venture to other worlds if their homes could be defended? Unfortunately, your otherworldly journey this time did not go smoothly. In fact, if World No. 36 had no ghosts, it would indeed be the top choice for crossing worlds."

"But that world is also doomed. Unkillable ghosts, short-lived Ghost Tamers, ordinary people without cultivation... just thinking about it feels hopeless."

Li Yi nodded solemnly in agreement.

That’s why he began planning in the Four Seas and Eight Continents. Although the Four Seas and Eight Continents are not suitable for evolutionary cultivation, one can still practice martial arts. As long as the ghost issue is resolved, it would be a suitable fallback.

As the two chatted, they managed to get through this dangerous stretch of road with more scares than harm.

They didn’t see any more shadows of Extraordinary Creatures or mythical creatures nearby, which relaxed their tensed nerves significantly.

Another hour passed.

The outline of a city appeared in the distance.

"We’re about to reach Tian Han City," Lin Yue said.

Li Yi replied, "By the way, I’ve also specially prepared a gift for my visit to your teacher this time. He should like it."

"You’re being too polite. My teacher is a very easygoing person; there’s no need for deliberate gifts. Just talking to him about the situation in World No. 36 when you visit will do. My teacher is very interested in the cultures and cultivation of other worlds," Lin Yue said.

"Cultivation isn’t all about fighting and killing, but also about interpersonal relationships," Li Yi said with a smile.

However, at this moment, his expression suddenly changed. He caught sight of a person standing by the side of the highway. It was a slim, fair-skinned, beautiful long-legged woman who was now reaching out her hand, waving towards him. Next to her was a wrecked vehicle, as if she wanted to hitch a ride back to Tian Han City.

"People wanting a ride in this kind of place? Sister Lin, I think something seems off," Li Yi asked. Meanwhile, he also became more alert.

Because he felt that the woman was a little too beautiful.

Beautiful in a way that was almost non-human.

Lin Yue’s complexion dramatically changed: "Don’t stop, just drive past. If she dares to block the road, run her over. We’re still in a dangerous zone. What do you think the odds are of encountering such a beautiful woman hitchhiking in a place like this?"

Li Yi’s expression grew stern upon hearing this. It seemed his earlier alertness was justified.

But the roadside beauty did not seem to give up. She came to the middle of the road, jumped up, waved her hands, trying to stop Li Yi’s car.

However, Li Yi’s expression remained calm, without any intention of stopping, he floored the accelerator and drove straight through.

Yet, eerily, the woman was not harmed by the collision. Instead, she suddenly turned into a puff of smoke and dissipated, vanishing in the rearview mirror.

"Sister Lin, did you see that? That beauty turned into a wisp of smoke and disappeared," Li Yi said with shock and confusion.

Then he realized that the wrecked vehicle on the roadside had also disappeared, and the nearby guardrail was intact.

Everything seemed like an illusion.

"I saw it, that wasn’t an illusion. Something nearby must have cast some kind of spell to try to bewitch us. Fortunately, we were not fooled," Lin Yue frowned and said: "I didn’t encounter this situation the last time I came here. I didn’t expect to run into it this time, and we’re not far from Tian Han City. One could easily fall for this trap if not careful."

Li Yi didn’t say anything; he continued to watch the rearview mirror and saw a shadow flash by quickly at the scene of the accident. It wasn’t very large, had fur, and a tail.

It looked like a... fox?