Chapter 303: Ninglan New City
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 303: Ninglan New City
Ninglan New City was an ancient fortress that had stood amidst these ruins for over a thousand years. Although our guides weren't exactly scholars of history, after some questioning from specific angles, Sister Bai and I managed to gather a fair amount of information.
For instance, we learned why this city had been able to persist here for so long.
The establishment of Ninglan New City was inseparable from the "Ninglan Protection Stele" located at its very center. This stele was the very foundation upon which the city stood.
As for why such a critical secret was revealed so easily, it was because the massive stone monument sat in the most prominent, central location of the city. It was impossible to hide, so they chose to be open about it instead.
The Ninglan Protection Stele had been discovered by the first generation Ninglan City Lord, who built the city around it. Since then, generations had guarded and passed down the legacy of this protective monument.
It was also worth understanding why a city had to be built under such a stele and what, exactly, it was protecting them from.
According to the locals, a world-spanning energy tide surged through this land at regular intervals. Without an equal and opposite force to counteract it, humans could not survive the onslaught. Furthermore, the damage caused by these energy tides to the human body was permanent; to this day, no cure had been found.
Thus, our current timing was actually quite fortunate. We weren't in a period of active energy flushing; in fact, we were in a "trough" phase—the safest time to be active outdoors.
The energy tides had destroyed almost everything, including but not limited to the flora and fauna of the outside world.
The plants currently visible outside were energy-adaptive species, spurred into growth by residual energy after the tides had wiped out the original vegetation. This was the plants' way of adapting to the disaster. The animals were the same; under the influence of the energy tides, they either died or mutated. There was no other way to survive.
The Variant Beasts—the monsters we had encountered earlier—mostly fed on those energy plants.
I wasn't sure if these energy tides would affect consciousnesses like ours, existing within a dream, but I suspected they likely wouldn't.
According to the young man from the City Defense Force, his duty while patrolling outside the city was to verify the identity of any Outsiders and confirm whether we harbored good intentions. This judgment was largely subjective on their part. If we agreed, they would take us to meet the highest-ranking officer of the City Defense Force, a man named Mo Le, who would receive us.
There was even a possibility of meeting the current Ninglan City Lord.
Not every Outsider received such treatment, but as long as they didn't violate the regulations of Ninglan New City, the authorities would provide them with temporary lodging.
I was somewhat curious about this as well. The current City Lord seemed quite interested in us Outsiders; otherwise, they wouldn't bother with a personal audience.
If a person managed and coordinated a city of this scale, they were undoubtedly incredibly busy.
Perhaps it was because our form of existence represented a massive potential headache for them. By using a softer approach, they hoped to keep us from causing trouble. If they took a hardline stance and encountered a group of rogues, they would be the ones suffering for it.
As we drew closer to Ninglan New City, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer scale and grandeur of the massive fortress. Numerous outer fortifications were positioned to deal with various threats.
The outer defensive walls were constructed from massive stones—primitive yet effective—with a heavy guard presence below. That was likely the main force of the City Defense Force stationed outside the city.
The design completely ignored the convenience of the citizens' movement. Given the descriptions of the natural disasters and the impact of the energy tides, it was entirely possible that some people lived their entire lives within those walls without ever stepping outside.
Unsurprisingly, we were stopped as soon as we arrived.
"Please wait a moment while I report the situation. Do not make any sudden movements."
"Understood."
Sister Bai and I nodded, remaining still. One look at the men blocking our path told us that not everyone was as easy to talk to as our guides.
Those who spent their years in constant slaughter—especially those fighting Variant Beasts out here—carried a heavy, aggressive aura. They also didn't look like the talkative type.
However, I was more interested in the nature of the Ninglan Protection Stele's ability to withstand the energy tides.
Clearly, that power didn't cover the entirety of Ninglan New City. Or perhaps the walls I was seeing now were just one layer of multiple defensive perimeters pushed outward. Up close, these stacked stone walls were severely weathered; I could even sense the elemental energy permeating the blocks.
Transcendent energy and physical matter had formed a stable protective layer against the energy tides... it was truly a miracle.
After a short wait, another group emerged. Among them was the little captain who had brought us here, but the person leading them... just from his temperament and the suit of armor he wore, it was clear he was someone of importance.
Perhaps this was Mo Le, the highest officer of the City Defense Force?
"Greetings, Outsiders. I am Mo Le of the Ninglan New City Defense Force." He didn't waste words, identifying himself immediately. "Ninglan New City welcomes your visit, ladies."
"Hello, my name is Yang Yuehan."
"Bai Yu."
After our brief introductions, the somewhat stern Mo Le began to inquire about our purpose.
"We're newcomers. We were exploring the area, saw a city, and came over out of curiosity."
"Is that so? Then your luck is quite good." Mo Le seemed a bit surprised by the composure we displayed. As the City Defense Force, they were the first to encounter Outsiders. Through various trials, they had naturally learned about their circumstances. Usually, in initial contacts, Outsiders were panicked, terrified, or bewildered, often not even knowing how they had arrived.
But the two before him were so calm. Either they were powerful, or they knew something. However, their strength didn't particularly matter to him. While the locals couldn't physically touch these Outsiders, the Outsiders' attacks were equally ineffective against them.
Thus, Mo Le didn't fear a powerful Outsider; he only feared one who would act like a nuisance just to spite them.
"Indeed, I think so too." I nodded. My luck really was something else. "By the way, are you going to keep us chatting out here?"
"My apologies. Please, follow me." Mo Le acted as if he had only just realized the oversight and led us toward the massive city gates.
After he used his command token to authorize the opening, the ancient-looking gates slowly groaned open with the harsh screech of mechanical gears.
However, the scene behind the gates wasn't a bustling city, but a transitional zone that could only be described as a hazardous area.
"This is the forward combat zone and buffer strip of Ninglan New City. The actual city is still a short distance away. I hope you don't mind."
"It's fine, I don't mind. But... are such extensive fortifications really necessary?" Perhaps I just hadn't seen enough of the world, but if they were only defending against those Variant Beasts, this seemed like overkill.
"They are absolutely necessary. As the outermost defenses of Ninglan New City, they deter the majority of Variant Beast harassment even during normal times, reducing unnecessary trouble. When a beast tide occurs, this serves as the first threshold to filter them out. Its strategic significance is immense..."
Mo Le explained the value of the defenses while simultaneously probing for information about us.
The walk took quite a while, and we exchanged many subtle probes. Most of them were deflected by Sister Bai; she was far more skilled at this kind of conversation than I was.
"We are here. Allow me to say it officially once more: Welcome to Ninglan New City."
As Mo Le finished his sentence, the true Ninglan New City revealed itself to us. My first sensation was a unique sense of awe—a prosperity that stood in stark contrast to the desolate ruins outside, hitting my senses with a distinct cultural flavor.
As we crossed that threshold, the vast and stunning scene felt like a different world entirely. A colossal stone monument stood in the center of the widest plaza.
It was so conspicuous, pulsing as if it were the very heartbeat of the city. I "saw" the source of the Ninglan Protection Stele's power, a force that separated the interior of the city from the world outside.
The stele seemed to be covered in tiny inscriptions—likely recording the great achievements of past generations.
The plaza was surrounded by a bustling market. People bustled about, and shops lined the streets, yet beneath the prosperity, there was a lingering sense of... gloom.
The architecture combined retro styles and elemental components to form this thriving city. I couldn't shake the feeling that the architectural style looked familiar.
But compared to such trifles, I was more concerned with the Ninglan Stele. The power it radiated every second was something I knew all too well!
Ley Line energy.
"Ladies, please follow me." Mo Le spoke up again, interrupting my contemplation.
"Hmm? Where to? Are you arranging our lodging?" I asked instinctively.
Mo Le's voice had broken my train of thought. Just as I realized the power was Ley Line energy, I had been on the verge of a connection, but the thread was snapped.
I decided to set it aside for now.
"We will arrange your accommodations as quickly as possible. However, before that, I would like to invite you to the Ninglan Township Castle to meet the Lord City Lord."
"Oh?"
I raised an eyebrow. I hadn't expected them to play their trump card so early. They wanted us to meet the City Lord?
Though the position seemed to be hereditary, and the current incumbent might not compare to the first generation Ninglan City Lord who founded the city, anyone who could maintain the city to this day was certainly no pushover.
"I assume your City Lord doesn't have the energy to meet every Outsider?"
"Correct. The Lord City Lord is occupied with a myriad of affairs and cannot personally interview every Outsider. I will need to request an audience first."
"So, you're the gatekeeper? Determining if we're qualified to meet the City Lord?" I asked, a slight smirk playing on my lips.
"Yes. Even among Outsiders, not everyone is welcome in Ninglan New City. Having conversed with you both this far, I believe you are indeed qualified for an audience. I imagine you also have many things you wish to discuss with the City Lord," Mo Le admitted candidly.
Mo Le knew perfectly well that these two were curious about the current state of the city and everything happening here. He was aware of the questions they had asked the patrol squad about history on the way in, and he had made his judgment accordingly.
"Of course, if you have no such intention, I will simply arrange your lodging so you may stay here. If you wish to leave, just let me know; I am usually at the front lines of Ninglan New City."
"Alright, then."
I nodded and looked at Sister Bai, waiting to see what she thought about meeting the City Lord.
Personally, I wasn't overly invested in the idea. Meeting him would, at most, help me understand the state of this world and... find out what happened to the other students who were caught in this Nightmare.
"We should indeed meet him," Bai Yu said, nodding as she caught my gaze, agreeing to Mo Le's initiative.
Even if we refused, our arrival would likely be reported to the City Lord anyway. We were an unstable element, and they were undoubtedly interested in us as well.
During the walk, Mo Le had been subtly trying to figure out what kind of world we came from, attempting to scout our background.
We were used to that by now. Eventually, Mo Le led us to the most prominent building in the city—the Ninglan Township Castle. In a way, I suppose this was the City Lord's Manor.
Then again, "Ninglan"... that was a surname, wasn't it? Just like Mo Le's "Mo."
At that moment, I felt like I had grasped something crucial!
Surnames, architecture, language...
Every single one of these things was a reminder that this place was inextricably linked to my own world!
And then there was the Ley Line energy. I thought of the Ley Lines, which led me to the Ley Line Shackles. I remembered the Dean telling me that the Ley Line Shackles bound us; to leave our original world, we had to sever them. But I hadn't severed mine. So... I hadn't traveled to another world. Perhaps this was also a part of the Main World?
The hypothesis was staggering. If this world was part of the Main World, then these ruins... a thousand years ago... I remembered I was a freshman of the 1145th class of the Witch Academy...
Every clue seemed to point toward a single fact.
"Halt! This is the Ninglan Township Castle. Unauthorized personnel, stay back!"
The guards suddenly blocked our path.
"It is Lord Mo Le. My apologies, sir. Are you bringing more... I shall go and report this immediately."
"Yes, thank you," Mo Le said with a nod.