Saving the World in an Apocalypse-Style Text Game-Chapter 1166 - 526: Hero’s Gate, Mirage Dragon Relic

[Hero’s Gate had existed even before the establishment of the Vermilion Dynasty, serving as an essential passageway from the Western Territory toward the Central Region. The walls on both sides of the fortress cut across the desert and the Gobi, not only withstanding the clash of arms and war but also acting as the connecting link between the ancient divine capital Luoyi and the Western Territory.]

[After the founding of the Vermilion Empire, Emperor Wu moved the capital to what is now Capital City Yanjing, and the name of the divine capital Luoyi ceased to exist.]

[Now that the world has long been at peace, Hero’s Gate naturally wouldn’t be heavily guarded...]

[From afar, you see a sparse number of soldiers stationed at the gate and on the walls. A few Fire Worship Soldiers, clad in Black Armor, weapons in hand, are leisurely patrolling the ramparts.]

[This differs from what you have heard. The rumors suggested that as a junction connecting the Central Plains with the Western Territory, the passage should be bustling with ceaseless caravans, and the queues entering the gate visible even beyond a mountain range.]

[But now, Hero’s Gate is eerily silent; apart from a few isolated soldiers at the gate, there are no merchants in sight, leaving the place desolate and dead.]

[The soldiers guarding the gate appear indifferent, their pupils black and deep. As you approach with your fellow disciples, they show little reaction, until you produce the Passing Permit. Then, without a word, they take the token, glance at it, and let you pass.]

[The White Elephant Demon at your side feels quite uneasy, saying to you, "Little junior brother, why does it seem the closer we get to the Central Plains, the more something feels off?"]

[Could it be, little junior brother, that you anticipated this, which is why you didn’t fly directly to Luoyi and instead advanced step by step?]

[You shake your head, scrutinizing the soldiers closely. On the small part of their cheeks not covered by their Black Armor helmets, a dark presence is faintly visible, lingering and twisting.]

[Looking up at the soldiers on the city walls, from a distance they appear to be carrying out their patrol duties normally. But upon getting closer, you realize that they are staggering about mechanically, almost like walking corpses.]

[Aside from a deep, malicious bloodlust, there is nothing else in the soldiers’ eyes...]

Lin Xun, after having collected the offerings in Qingtang City, saw the level of the Shell of the Son of Evil rise as if it were on a rocket.

Now, the level of the Son of Evil has surpassed that of the Executor, having just broken through the significant level of two hundred and successfully advanced from ’Follower’ to ’Leader’.

The next stop in Longyuan is Luoyi within the Central Region. Along his journey, passing through several villages and stations, he has noticed that the closer he gets to the Central Plains, the greater the degree of corruption among the people.

By the time he reached Hero’s Gate, these soldier monsters retained only extremely limited consciousness and were filled instead with endless malice.

If he were not hosting the Shell of the Son of Evil, and if the White Elephant Demon did not also bear the prefix of Extreme Evil, these soldier monsters would have already turned into bloodthirsty evil spirits and attacked them.

Of course, Lin Xun had other reasons for staying at Hero’s Gate.

According to Vermilion Geography Records, before the establishment of the Vermilion Empire, this checkpoint was not known as Hero’s Gate, but as ’Dragon’s Gate’.

Legends say that in ancient times an Evil Dragon fell at this narrow pass, its colossal remains were incorporated into bricks and stones, thus constructing ’Dragon’s Gate.’ Later, after the establishment of the Vermilion Empire, Emperor Wu considered the ’Dragon’ a sign of Evil and therefore renamed the gateway to Hero’s Gate.

Lin Xun suspected that there were hidden storylines and rewards here...]

[You press your palms together to address the leading soldier at the gate, "Esteemed military official, this humble monk is the Great Protector of Uss City, traveling here and wishing to pay a visit to the general in charge of the gate. May I ask for your facilitation?"]

[The soldier gives you a cold look, the malice that had been suppressed in his eyes gradually seeping forth; his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist slightly rises, exposing the gleam of the blade’s sharp edge.]

[His intention is clear: he wants you to scram quickly.]

[The surrounding soldiers also reveal sinister smiles filled with ill intent, their gaze fixed firmly on you...]

[The White Elephant Demon can’t stand this insult. Seeing you nod, it bares a ferocious grin and with a flick of its wrist, two Lotus Hammers appear in its hands.]

[With a thunderous roar, flames burst forth!]

[The charred corpse of the lead soldier flies out, smashing against the wall’s bricks and stones, exploding into a cloud of Blood Mist!]

[The White Elephant Demon bellows, "Defying your lord Buddha? This is what you get!"]

["Quickly have the general here show his face, or I shall wash Hero’s Gate in blood today!"]

[The White Elephant Demon thought that this action would subdue the soldiers; after all, the lead soldier couldn’t withstand even one strike beneath its Great Magical Power. It could easily slaughter thousands of such mortal warriors.]

[To its surprise, the surrounding soldiers draw their Weapons, mindlessly rushing to attack.]

[Anger flares in the heart of the White Elephant Demon, the Samadhi True Fire on its two Lotus Iron Hammers becoming fiercer as it swings. The soldiers turn into charred corpses one after another.]

[In just a few breaths, the White Elephant Demon has dispatched all the soldiers at the gate.]

[You select a few relatively intact bodies to possess, but you don’t obtain any useful information; their memories are filled with endless malice.]

[Your eyes narrow, and you immediately leap to the top of the city tower, striking the large drum that signals war...]

[The sound of ’Thump, Thump’ reverberates, and soon, squad after squad of fully armed Fire Worship Soldiers pour out from within the fortress.]

[The leader rides a warhorse, tall and sturdy, wielding a large halberd...]

[You’ve discovered the ’Extremely Evil General of Hero’s Gate raiders’!]

[The general rallies more than a thousand soldiers, leading the mighty host toward the gate...]

[From a distance, he sees the soldiers stationed on the wall lying dead in disarray. The general spurs his horse forward, his halberd pointing at you and the White Elephant Demon standing atop the walls, and he cries out, "Kill!"]