Chapter 33 — Central Continent
Li Tianyu spent several days traveling through the Regional Wall.
The deeper he went...
The stronger the invisible resistance became.
However, his cultivation was only Rank Two.
Compared to the resistance faced by high-rank Gu Masters, what he experienced was relatively mild.
Even so, crossing the Regional Wall wasn't something that could be completed instantly.
He advanced patiently.
Step by step.
Eventually...
The resistance surrounding him suddenly disappeared.
Li Tianyu's body became light.
The oppressive sensation vanished completely.
He had crossed the Regional Wall.
Central Continent.
Li Tianyu looked ahead.
A completely different region stretched before him.
The moment he entered Central Continent, he immediately sensed something unusual.
His cultivation hadn't been suppressed.
His primeval essence remained unchanged.
Rank Two Peak Stage — Crystal Red Steel Primeval Essence.
The Primordial Flame Physique had once again displayed its extraordinary nature.
Because of the non-conflicting nature of his dao marks...
The environmental suppression caused by crossing regions had no effect on him.
Li Tianyu glanced downward.
Several low-rank Gu Masters were currently observing their surroundings near the Regional Wall.
Some of them noticed him.
Their expressions changed slightly as they watched him rise into the air.
But none of them approached.
Li Tianyu paid them no attention.
He activated a flight-type killer move.
Crimson flames gathered beneath his feet as his figure shot forward, transforming into a streak of red light that quickly disappeared into the distance.
After flying for some time...
Li Tianyu noticed several groups of Gu Masters fighting in the distance.
Human Gu Masters.
Variant human Gu Masters.
The two sides were engaged in fierce combat.
Gu worms flashed through the air.
Killer moves collided.
Explosions shook the surrounding landscape.
Li Tianyu slowed slightly.
Several Gu Masters noticed him.
Their gazes briefly fell upon the unfamiliar figure flying overhead.
But no one attacked.
They were already too occupied with their own enemies.
Li Tianyu had no intention of interfering either.
He simply flew past.
As he continued onward, he encountered more battles.
Some involved humans.
Others involved variant humans.
The conflict was clearly widespread.
Yet Li Tianyu soon noticed something unusual.
The battles were relatively orderly.
Mortal Gu Masters fought other mortal Gu Masters.
When stronger Gu Masters appeared, they were usually opposed by Gu Masters of similar cultivation.
As for Gu Immortals...
Li Tianyu hadn't seen any signs of them so far.
They weren't casually descending into the mortal battlefields and slaughtering everything below.
'It's quite different from the current Southern Border.'
He didn't know the reason.
Nor did he bother investigating immediately.
He simply continued traveling.
Several hours later...
A large city appeared in the distance.
Li Tianyu descended outside the city before entering through the gates.
He concealed his cultivation and began walking through the streets.
The city was bustling.
Gu Masters moved through the streets while merchants loudly advertised their goods.
Yet conversations about the conflict between humans and variant humans could be heard almost everywhere.
Li Tianyu casually walked among the crowd.
"...those variant humans are becoming increasingly bold."
"I heard they attacked another village near the eastern border."
"Hmph! Those beasts really think they can challenge us?"
"They should be exterminated before they become a greater threat."
Several Gu Masters nearby nodded.
Their expressions were filled with hatred.
Li Tianyu continued walking.
Another group was discussing the same subject.
"The variant humans have been pushing too far lately."
"We can't let them gain any more territory."
"They've already killed so many of our people. We should make them pay."
The words were filled with genuine hostility.
Li Tianyu's eyes narrowed slightly.
This wasn't the carefully maintained hostility he had encountered in Southern Border.
There...
He had gradually realized that much of the conflict between humans and variant humans had been deliberately manipulated.
But here...
The hatred seemed genuine.
The two sides truly hated each other.
They hated each other to the bone.
Li Tianyu continued listening to the conversations around him.
Eventually, he heard something that caught his attention.
"At least the Immortals have learned their lesson."
"Indeed. If they started interfering in the mortal battles again, Central Continent would descend into chaos."
"Don't remind me of what happened back then."
Li Tianyu's footsteps slowed slightly.
'Back then?'
He continued listening.
"That war nearly destroyed Central Continent."
"Nearly? Ninety-five percent of the mortals died."
"True..."
"Humans and variant humans slaughtered each other indiscriminately. Even the Gu Immortals couldn't control themselves."
"That's why the current rule was established."
"Immortals fight Immortals."
"Mortal Gu Masters fight mortal Gu Masters."
"No Gu Immortal is allowed to interfere in mortal conflicts."
"If someone violates it..."
"They will be hunted down."
Li Tianyu's expression changed slightly.
So that was the reason.
He hadn't known about any of this.
He continued walking while quietly listening to the conversations around him.
From the fragments of gossip, he gradually pieced together what had happened.
Years ago...
Central Continent had experienced a massive conflict between humans and variant humans.
The hatred between the two races had erupted into a devastating war.
Gu Immortals from both sides had participated.
At first, they had fought each other.
But the conflict gradually escalated.
The hatred became too deep.
Neither side was willing to retreat.
Neither side was willing to forgive.
And eventually...
They began slaughtering indiscriminately.
Mortal Gu Masters were caught in the conflict.
Villages were destroyed.
Cities were annihilated.
Entire populations disappeared.
The Gu Immortals knew that the consequences would be terrible.
Some had even tried to stop the conflict.
But knowing the consequences wasn't enough.
They couldn't let go of their hatred.
They couldn't accept the opposing race gaining an advantage.
The war continued.
And when it finally ended...
Approximately ninety-five percent of the mortal population had died.
Only then did the Gu Immortals truly realize the disaster they had caused.
But by then...
There was nothing left to save.
The dead were dead.
The destroyed settlements could not simply be restored.
There was no way to undo the bloodshed.
There was no room for regret.
So both sides eventually reached an agreement.
An iron rule was established.
Immortals would fight Immortals.
Mortals would fight mortals.
Gu Immortals were forbidden from casually interfering in conflicts between mortal Gu Masters.
Anyone who violated this rule...
Would be hunted down by all races.
At first, some Gu Immortals naturally refused to take the agreement seriously.
They believed their strength was enough to ignore the consequences.
They were quickly proven wrong.
Central Continent possessed powerful Wisdom Path Gu Immortals.
Once an offender violated the rule, their whereabouts could be investigated through various Wisdom Path methods.
They were located.
Tracked down.
And killed.
One after another.
Their deaths served as examples.
Eventually...
No Gu Immortal dared to casually violate the agreement.
Li Tianyu silently listened to another conversation before finally entering an inn.
He ordered a lavish meal and sat down.
Around him, Gu Masters continued discussing the conflict.
"The eastern region is becoming dangerous."
"Those variant humans won't stop."
"Then neither will we."
Li Tianyu ate silently.
His expression remained calm.
'So I escaped one battlefield...'
'...only to end up in another.'
He couldn't help but feel somewhat speechless.
Still...
There was one thing he could be grateful for.
At least Fang Yuan wasn't here.
And Central Continent was considerably safer than Southern Border in one important regard.
Here...
There were rules.
The Gu Immortals would not casually descend upon mortal battlefields and slaughter everyone below.
At least, that was the rule both sides had agreed upon.
Li Tianyu leaned back slightly.
He had only arrived in Central Continent a short while ago.
Yet from the gossip he had overheard...
He had already learned that this place had its own bloody history.
The hatred between humans and variant humans was genuine.
Unlike Southern Border...
This wasn't merely a conflict deliberately maintained by the Gu Immortals.
The two races truly hated each other.
And that hatred had already once nearly destroyed the entire mortal population of Central Continent.
Li Tianyu glanced toward the window.
The streets outside remained crowded.
People continued going about their daily lives.
Yet beneath that ordinary appearance...
A war was still being fought.
Li Tianyu quietly ate his meal.
'Central Continent...'
'It seems this place isn't peaceful either.'
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