Jingkong City lay nestled in the remaining veins of the Python Mountain range, approximately 80,000 miles southwest of Yunzhong City.
Legend had it that many years ago, a ninth-order Cloud Python once dwelled in the vast expanse of Big Python Mountain.
This Cloud Python was exceedingly arrogant, its divine powers immense. It frequently emerged to attack nearby human settlements.
Eventually, several Mahayana ancestors from the Dao Saint Sect took action and eradicated it.
It was said that the name "Mirror Sky City" was derived from the supernatural power once possessed by the Cloud Python.
Its technique, called Mirroring, could transform a vast expanse of sky into a reflective surface, sucking in all nearby living creatures. Once the mirror shattered, everything trapped inside perished with it.
Zhang Yuhe pushed the Heavenly Desolate Flying Immortal Technique to its limit, soaring swiftly through the skies.
For an average cultivator, the 80,000-mile journey might take several days—or even longer.
But for a top-level Nascent Soul cultivator like Zhang Yuhe, such a distance was not significant.
Enhanced by the speed of his flying technique, he saw the distant mountain peaks after less than an hour in the air.
He had arrived at the Cloud Python Mountains.
"Hmm?"
When he was still several thousand miles away from Jingkong City, Zhang Yuhe suddenly stopped mid-air.
"Why is there a warning formation here?"
Extending his divine sense forward, he discovered a faint light curtain shimmering in the air. It was indeed a warning formation.
If he proceeded, he would inevitably trigger the alarm and alert the formation's creator.
Luckily, Zhang Yuhe wasn't just skilled in cultivation—he had also dabbled in the various auxiliary arts of immortal cultivation. With his innate comprehension, his achievements in these fields were impressive.
Currently, he had already mastered sixth-order runes, talismans, and formation techniques. As his cultivation advanced, his companion Baiyi progressed in parallel.
It was as if he had activated some cheat—his growth was downright unreasonable.
With his status as a sixth-order formation master, these rudimentary warning formations were easy to see through.
Still, it struck him as odd. Why would someone install a warning formation in such a remote area?
"Let's check another direction."
Zhang Yuhe didn't force his way through. Regardless of who placed the formation, it was clearly done with a purpose.
He had come to investigate Jingkong City—not to be discovered prematurely.
With that thought, he concealed his aura and began circling around the outer edges of the formation.
A quarter of an hour later, he found himself back at his starting point.
"There are warning formations everywhere... What exactly is going on in Jingkong City?"
He had originally intended to bypass them entirely, sneaking into the city unnoticed.
But no matter how far he circled, he couldn't find an opening.
From what he could tell, the warning formations extended in all directions for thousands of miles, all centered around Mirror Sky City.
Avoiding them was impossible.
To reach the city, he would have to pass through the heart of the formation array.
Zhang Yuhe ducked behind a rock outcropping, falling deep into thought.
There was clearly something wrong with Mirror Sky City.
If they weren't engaged in some kind of secretive activity, why would they install so many warning formations so far from the city itself?
Although the formations weren't particularly advanced, maintaining so many at once consumed vast quantities of spirit stones—something an ordinary third-rate sect couldn't afford.
It couldn't be just the He family behind this. They didn't have the strength for such an operation alone.
"I need to find a way to get closer and see for myself," Zhang Yuhe thought.
But the distance was too great, and with the interference of the formations, he couldn't safely extend his divine sense into the city.
If he wanted answers, he'd have to sneak in physically.
Yet with the warning formations in place, infiltration was extremely difficult.
"What should I do now?"
He was torn.
The formations were low-grade—he could dismantle them instantly if he wanted.
But doing so would immediately alert their creators, defeating the purpose.
Whether he rushed through or broke the formation first, the enemy would know.
After all, that was the function of a warning formation.
"This is tricky… How can I get into Mirror Sky City without being detected?"
Just as he was pondering the question, he suddenly sensed something.
"Someone's coming."
In the distance, a group of cultivators dressed in green robes flew toward him from the direction of Jingkong City.
Zhang Yuhe immediately concealed his aura and vanished into the shadows.
Peering out from his hiding spot, he observed the approaching cultivators. A golden python was embroidered on their sleeves.
Zhang Yuhe's eyes narrowed.
"They're He family cultivators."
The emblem of the He family was indeed a golden python.
He watched them closely as they flew past. When they were not far from his position, they came to a halt.
One of them pulled out a formation disk, scanned the surroundings, and then said something to the others.
Zhang Yuhe sharpened his focus, listening intently.
"No issues here. The formation hasn't been triggered," the cultivator said.
"Third Brother, make sure you double-check. We can't afford to let anyone sneak into Mirror Sky City."
"Don't worry. With all these warning formations, even a fly couldn't slip through."
"That's right. After nearly a hundred years of cleansing by the family, there are barely any cultivators left within a thousand miles."
"No human cultivators, maybe. But those demonic beasts from Python Mountain… that's another story."
"Haha, remember the last time the formation went off? We all panicked, and it turned out to be just an iron-backed pig!"
"Still, we'd better stay cautious. If we anger the Demon God, none of us will get off lightly."
At the mention of the Demon God, everyone's expression grew reverent.
"Third Brother, do you really think the Demon God can make us immortal?"
"Of course. The ancestor was on the brink of death, but after receiving the Demon God's demonic qi infusion, not only did he break through to the Nascent Soul stage—his lifespan doubled!"
Third Brother's face glowed with fanatical admiration as he described the He family ancestor's transformation.
"You're right. The path of the Demon God is the true road to immortality. As long as the Demon God descends, we all have a chance."
The cultivators continued chatting as they flew toward the next checkpoint.
Zhang Yuhe's expression turned serious. He kept low and followed them silently.
Their conversation had revealed a great deal.
Demonic qi infusion? The path of the Demon God? Summoning its descent?
It seemed the He family—or perhaps the Demon God Sect—was planning to open a portal and bring the demon clan into Yu Fantian.
Mirror Sky City was definitely harboring secrets.
He just didn't yet know the full scope.
"These green-robed cultivators are too weak and ignorant. Their words may not reflect the whole truth."
Zhang Yuhe decided to observe a little longer before informing his sect.
He pulled out a talisman paper and gave it a light wave.
The paper shimmered, transforming into a faint, humanoid silhouette that merged with the shadow of one of the green-robed cultivators.
A talisman soldier was now in play.
This was a tracking talisman Zhang Yuhe had crafted himself. While weak in combat, it was incredibly effective for surveillance.
Once embedded in someone's shadow, the Fu Soldier became nearly impossible to detect—unless one used a rare counter-supernatural technique.
Since he couldn't break through the warning formation without revealing himself, Zhang Yuhe chose this indirect method.
This team would inevitably return to Mirror Sky City after completing their patrol.
Once inside, the talisman soldier could relay information back to him.
That way, he could monitor the city's internal situation without alerting anyone—especially the Demon God Sect.
Who knew what was lurking within those walls?
If a horde of high-level demons had already arrived, charging in blindly would be suicide.
Sure, players could resurrect after death, but Zhang Yuhe had no intention of dying.
He didn't want to end up like Wang Guofeng's friend—camped and hunted for a hundred years straight.
In cultivation, caution was key.
That was Zhang Yuhe's creed on the path to immortality.