Chapter 466: Lingzhou and the Desolate Sea Realm (Fourth Update)

The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3 and The Matrix, these newly released titles of game and cinema, had ignited a wildfire of discourse across the realm.

Driven by a yearning to grasp the nature of 'AI'—this concept of artificial intelligence—a throng of cultivators and warriors from Yuanqiang City reclaimed their seats. Yet, upon the conclusion of The Matrix, a lingering dissatisfaction hung over the majority, their appetites merely whetted.

Instinctively, they began to forage for something of a similar vein.

Lei Ge inquired, "Does anyone know if there are other films akin to this one in the establishment?"

Li Lanruo, acting as a part-time attendant, possessed a fair understanding of the shop's cinematic and gaming repertoire. "From what I gather, Resident Evil shares a certain resemblance."

"Brother Wang, care to indulge in this Resident Evil?" Tang Yu spoke up.

Some, insatiable, intended to experience the feature a second time, while others sought to discover different works within the same genre.

Had the new branch not lacked alternative single-player games, they would have gladly ventured into The Legend of Sword and Fairy 1; as it stood, however, they could only bide their time for three months hence.

Through the whispered exchanges of patrons from the Jiuhua and Half-City branches, a foundational taxonomy for these bizarre films and games had gradually formed in their minds. Works like The Matrix, which relied on mechanical artifacts where individual martial prowess was secondary, were termed 'Sci-Fi'; those like The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3 and Zhu Xian, centering on cultivators, were dubbed 'Xianxia'. There existed yet another classification known as 'Fantasy', which they could only glimpse through films like Harry Potter; as for the demons of Devil May Cry 3 and the hellish fiends of Diablo II, they were currently denied any encounter.

"Is anyone joining for Resident Evil?" Tang Yu asked, mimicking the proprietor's tone. "Come, come, the train for Resident Evil 1 is departing!"

"Young Master Tang, count me in!"

"And me!"

"I shall join as well!"

Wang Xie asked in puzzlement, "Junior Brother Tang, are you abandoning The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3?"

"Not at all," Tang Yu replied. "I am merely waiting for a guide. What is the rush? There is a user named Chu Xue on the Xianxia forum. I followed her guide yesterday, and the progression was remarkably smooth! Alas, it breaks off just as it reaches the Heavenly Realm. I am waiting for an update!"

"A cultivator from the Desolate Sea Realm?" Xu Chengfeng inquired.

"Precisely," Tang Yu said. "I hear the proprietor’s main shop is situated over there."

"Young Master Tang," Xu Chengfeng lowered his voice, casting a glance at their surroundings. "I wonder, have you ever heard of the legends concerning the Desolate Sea Realm?"

"What legends?" Tang Yu shook his head. "Had I not frequented this shop, I would never have even heard of the Desolate Sea Realm. Word has it the place is exceedingly remote, utterly destitute of spiritual energy, and separated from us by some manner of... Heavenly Barrier. At any rate, journeying there is a tremendous ordeal."

"The Desolate Sea Realm?" Lei Ge, standing nearby, asked curiously. "Is that not simply the collective name for the spiritually barren lands beyond the Tianyuan Sea?"

Tang Yu remarked, "I have long heard that Young Master Xu’s clan preserves many ancient texts. Could it be you possess some profound insight?"

Xu Chengfeng replied, "I merely chanced upon a record within a remnant scroll of my clan, and I cannot vouch for its veracity. Could it be the Tang family possesses no such records?"

"Who knows?" In days past, who would have spared a thought for a godforsaken, barren wasteland?

Now, however, Tang Yu and his companions found their curiosity piqued. After all, they conversed about Xianxia in the chat groups and debated boss strategies on the forums; their paths had become intertwined.

"It states... 'The Yellow Springs shroud the skies, and anomalies manifest in abundance,'" Xu Chengfeng murmured. "It is said that the region resembles a colossal cage. As the adage goes, 'A place of captivity is a place of ill omen.'"

"A place of captivity is a place of ill omen?" Listening to the group's continuous debate over the Desolate Sea Realm, Wang Xie, who stood nearby, could not help but frown in bewilderment.

"The ancient texts record that thousands of years ago, owing to the weakening of the Heavenly Barrier's power, Perfected Master Zixiao once journeyed there and brought back a cohort of cultivators from the Desolate Sea Realm..."

"Is that so...?" Tang Yu spoke. "Then why is it that we have never heard of them in this age?"

"That remains a mystery. Following the passing of Perfected Master Zixiao, those people seemed to vanish without a trace."

Meanwhile, far to the north of the Haotian Academy, lay the shores of the Tianyuan Sea.

The night grew deep, the ocean breeze sweeping across the sandy beach, carrying the faint, distant rhythm of crashing waves.

The inhabitants of the small coastal town had long since fallen into deep slumber.

Further north across the Tianyuan Sea, spanning the vast and distant ocean, lay the Desolate Sea Realm.

The reason it was called a sea realm was that the vast majority of its expanse was comprised of water.

Gazing out into the distance from the shoreline, the black sea offered no reflection; there was no moonlight, and even the starlight was devoured by the obsidian dark.

In the deep recesses of the distant ocean, it appeared as though a hideous, monstrous fiend, massive enough to shroud both heaven and earth, lay in wait.

Upon the watchtower, a few soldiers nodded off, their eyes periodically fixing upon the remote horizon.

None knew what threat they were guarding against; it was said that since time immemorial, things had always been thus.

...

"Ah...!" As the night deepened, Fang Qi let out a heavy yawn. Outside, the late-returning patrons were trickling out of the small shop in small groups.

"Junior Brother Tang?" Wang Xie looked with surprise at Tang Yu, who had only just emerged from the establishment. "What keeps you so late today?"

"Is Brother Wang not equally late?" Tang Yu chuckled.

Wang Xie, still cradling a volume of text in his hands, rubbed his eyes. "I spent the entire day in the shop reading the official novel for Diablo II. In fact, I even borrowed a volume from Junior Sister Xiaoyue to take back... The Demon Gods described within are simply inconceivable! I suggest you give it a read, Junior Brother Tang."

"Ah... I fear I shall have no time for reading of late." Tang Yu stretched his limbs. "Today on the trading network, I purchased a schematic for basic firearm design. If I do not forge this contraption upon my return, I doubt I shall be able to sleep at all."

"Hahaha!" Wang Xie laughed. "It is well known that the Tang family possesses supreme mastery over mechanical arts. Is this a case of... talent recognizing talent?"

"After watching The Matrix, my interest in these devices was thoroughly ignited," Tang Yu said with a smile. "And now, having witnessed Resident Evil, I find such weaponry to be truly exquisite."

"How does the saying go...?" Tang Yu mused. "This is called art. Yes, art!"

...

"City Master Zong... whatever has caused your mood to be so displeased today?" Elder Yu, clad in greyish-white robes, chuckled from the side.

The towering City Master of Yuanqiang City replied, "I had thought the orthodox lineages of martial arts under heaven were limited to a select few places. Yet today, upon the forum, I encountered an essay regarding the martial path that proved entirely enlightening!"

Elder Yu asked in surprise, "Is that not a auspicious turn of events?"

"Alas, what a pity!" Zong Wu shook his head. "This master joined that person’s QQ group, but our conversation was cut short because time ran out..."

He stamped his foot in frustration. "Why must there be so many restrictions even when this master wishes to converse?!"

"It is said that the young Princess Jiang possesses a communication jade capable of accessing QQ..." Elder Yu remarked, stroking his beard with a sigh.

"Tomorrow, I shall borrow it to log into my account," Zong Wu muttered, before grumbling, "Why are our realms saddled with these wretched communication jades? They cannot even compare to the Desolate Sea Realm!"

...

"Little Qin'er, it is time to close the doors!"

"Understood, Boss!"

Whether it was a trick of the senses or something real, beyond the threshold of the shop, a pair of eyes seemed to manifest faintly. They appeared to hide within the deep recesses of the dark, staring intently into the shop's interior.

Fang Qi raised his head, peering out into the night.

Yet, he discovered nothing at all.

...