"Sin City? Are you sure?"
Addis raised an eyebrow, surprised, before his expression turned cold. "Is all this fuss just for a giant dragon?"
"Of course not," Bai Yi replied with a smile. "I also need some Flowers of Life. I have a potion that can help restore physical strength. City Lord Eric's condition is deteriorating. This potion could rejuvenate him, extending his peak by three years."
"What potion?" Addis asked, intrigued. "Can it help the Sword Master?"
"No," Bai Yi admitted. "The Sword Saint's level is too high. Ordinary legendary potions won't work on him, and I'm not skilled enough to brew epic ones."
In his previous life, players were capped at level 30, and that was only in version 3.0. The knowledge they had at such low levels was astonishing.
"How many do you need?" Addis inquired, his tone still icy.
"Maybe ten flowers? My alchemy level isn't high enough, so the failure rate will be significant."
"Qinxia, go to the warehouse and fetch him ten Flowers of Life," Addis commanded, turning to his disciple.
"Okay," the red-haired elf replied, glancing at Bai Yi with curiosity before disappearing behind the Tree of Life.
"Thank you very much," Bai Yi said, a smile on his face.
Addis settled onto a rattan chair, a piece of furniture crafted from living trees using magic. The elves preferred such furniture, as it would grow in that shape indefinitely without feeling pain.
"Be careful this time. Your magic power has recovered significantly. Evil often grows faster than justice," he warned.
"I know. I won't take unnecessary risks," Bai Yi assured him.
The atmosphere became slightly awkward as silence fell between them.
Not long after, Qinxia returned, carrying a stack of wooden boxes brimming with life energy.
She presented them to Bai Yi, seemingly wanting to ask something but holding back.
Bai Yi accepted the boxes, placing them into his space ring. He bowed slightly to Addis before turning to leave.
"Wait."
Bai Yi turned, catching a round ice plate that Addis tossed him.
"This is a Rescue Ice Crystal. It can emit my aura, which should deter anyone in Sin City. I'll join you when I sense it," Addis explained.
Bai Yi nodded, smiling. "Thank you."
After securing the crystal, he bowed again and exited the City Lord's Mansion.
As he walked through the streets, his good mood was somewhat dampened by the throngs of players surrounding him.
"Mr. White Plague, how can I assist you?"
"Mr. Bai Yi, can I take a photo with you?"
"What brings you to Nanling City? Let me join you!"
Bai Yi rubbed his temples, then took to the skies, soaring out of Nanling City.
Looking at the other border towns, he realized Sabo's contributions were finally being recognized. Dongwu City's revenues had surged—taxes had increased tenfold, especially with the recent land sales boosting cash flow. By January next year, the inner city would be transformed, rivaling even the capital in prosperity.
Outside the city, Bai Yi calculated the coordinates for Sin City and began setting up a teleportation array.
Sin City
This was a rare settlement created by the dark races, a city of sin discovered near the Federation. Built in a deep valley, it was surrounded by mountains on three sides, sunken into the earth. It lay at least three thousand meters below ground level, receiving only a trickle of sunlight at noon, filtered through layers of black fog. Without extraordinary power, survival here would be impossible.
As Bai Yi appeared above the valley, curiosity piqued. Despite his gold-level status, he couldn't see below. In his previous life, players who attempted to enter were often killed. Attempts to throw bombs or jump down had failed, revealing that the fog was a protective barrier—objects would be deflected, but living beings could pass through.
To avoid trouble, Bai Yi's demeanor shifted from bright and handsome to one of palpable malice. In Sin City, only the ruthless would survive.
With a light leap, he fell into the abyss.
[You have entered a special area: Death Valley.]
As he pierced the black fog, the temperature rose, warmer than above but filled with the noxious fumes from evil alchemy workshops. This gas could slowly kill ordinary people but had no effect on the extraordinarily powerful.
Bai Yi had two goals: find Scavenger Sid and explore the workshops of these evil alchemists. Despite their twisted ethics, their creativity surpassed that of orthodox alchemists, especially in transformation—daring to make changes that others would not.
He landed softly on the roof of a three-story wooden house. The architecture here was quaint, with magical patterns woven into the wood, enhancing durability. Few dared to roam the streets; only the desperate lingered. In Sin City, survival relied on strength.
A gunshot echoed, and Bai Yi turned to see an irate voice from the rooftop. "Step on my house again, and I'll kill you!"
Ignoring the threats, he approached a human beggar huddled by the street. The aura emanating from him sent others scurrying away, but the beggar remained, knowing that drawing attention could be fatal.
"Do you know Scavenger Sid?" Bai Yi asked calmly.
The beggar trembled, shaking his head. "No, but the law enforcement team will know. They know everyone here."
Nodding, Bai Yi moved toward the city's core. Sin City spanned about fifty kilometers in diameter, irregular in shape. As he ventured deeper, the buildings improved, and the magical energy intensified. More pedestrians filled the streets—mostly pig-headed and dog-headed creatures, many at the bronze or silver levels, who instinctively cleared a path for Bai Yi, sensing his ominous presence.
As he passed stalls selling gruesome wares—eyeballs, kidneys, and bones—the smell of blood thickened in the air.
"Hey, strong man! Are you new here? Try our shop!" a middle-aged woman called out, attempting to lure him in.
Bai Yi merely shook his head, continuing toward the law enforcement team.
"Hey!"
Bai Yi kicked open a massive door adorned with magical inscriptions, shattering it with a loud crash. The noise drew immediate attention, causing nearby vendors to flee.
The law enforcement officers—a group of minotaurs—approached, their expressions grim. Bai Yi raised a hand, and their eyes glowed red.
[Malicious Intimidation: Your Charisma temporarily drops to -16 points.]
A powerful aura radiated from him, silencing the minotaurs. The leader hesitated, lowering his hand. "What do you want, strong man?"
Bai Yi cut to the chase. "Do you know Scavenger Sid?"
The minotaur blinked, confusion evident. "Who? Sorry, but our senator might know. You can wait here."
Bai Yi nodded, crossing his arms as he waited. The street grew desolate, with only the trembling minotaurs remaining.
Moments later, an eerie scarlet mist swirled toward him, accompanied by a sultry voice. "Who dares to cause trouble in Sin City?"
The mist coalesced into a woman with scarlet pupils, exuding an alluring yet dangerous aura. Bai Yi, a soul gourmet, could sense the deliciousness of her spirit.
"Do you know Scavenger Sid?" he asked, captivated yet cautious.
The woman smirked, inching closer. "Sid? What do you want with that old woman? But I must say, you're quite handsome. Care to play with me?"
"If you let me taste you, I might consider it," Bai Yi replied seriously, his scarlet pupils dilating.
[You have been affected by the Soul Decay Spell. Your soul is too strong, rendering you immune to 90% of the damage, but you lose 1% health per second.]
A scalpel materialized in Bai Yi's hand, infused with the Bloody Backstab power.
Buzzing with energy, he prepared to strike. The woman's eyes widened in alarm—it was clear that this was no idle flirtation.