Chen Luo carefully checked the surrounding terrain once more. Behind him lay a barren area with almost nothing worth noting. To his left was the Basalt mountain region, its dark rocky ridges stretching as far as the eye could see. Far off to the right was the Soul Swamp, shrouded in the gloomy atmosphere characteristic of the Hell Cauldron.
He truly felt lucky that his arrival point was rather favorable. With a closer look, he could already make out a corner of the structure he had come to find.
The Bloodstained City.
This was the objective of his trip. However, Chen Luo did not rush straight toward it. He understood that he was stepping into an unfamiliar place, and worse, into the territory of Hell creatures. A single slip could ruin all the preparations he had made.
So he decided to spend a little more time getting ready. During that time, Chen Luo busied himself crafting something, occasionally stopping to inspect his work, as though making sure the item would serve its purpose at a critical moment.
By the time Chen Luo reached the foot of the city walls, he was already holding a strange golden ornament. It was not particularly eye-catching, but to him, it was something he had carefully prepared for this trip.
A token he was confident would help him enter safely.
-"Stop! Who are you?" A fierce-looking guard with pale red skin stepped forward as soon as he saw Chen Luo approaching the city gate. His voice was full of suspicion, and his gaze immediately fixed on the newcomer, as though trying to verify his identity.
However, that vigilance did not last long. The moment he noticed the ornament on Chen Luo, his expression changed abruptly. The hostility on his face vanished, replaced by undisguised fear.
-"Please forgive me, sir! I was rude. I failed to recognize your status. I beg your pardon, and wish you a safe journey."
The guard hurriedly bowed. His attitude was almost the complete opposite of his earlier aggression. He did not even dare look Chen Luo directly in the eye, afraid that he might accidentally commit another offense.
-"What's your name?" Chen Luo stepped through the city gate, but instead of leaving immediately, he turned back to ask the guard stationed outside. He found the man rather interesting, especially the speed with which his attitude had changed after seeing the token.
-"M-my name is Udgyr. Is there anything you need, sir?"
-"Good. I'll remember you. Inform your superior that you'll be accompanying me and showing me around the city. Tell them my name is Hergwin."
Chen Luo spoke calmly, as though asking a guard to guide him were the most ordinary thing in the world. He did not need to act overly friendly or deliberately put on an air of authority. As long as he maintained the bearing of someone with a high status, the other party would naturally know what to do.
-"Th-thank you for remembering me, Lord Hergwin! I'll go at once!"
Udgyr bowed deeply, barely able to hide his delight. To him, being remembered by an important figure with a special status was a rare opportunity. At first, he had been worried because he had stopped the man without realizing who he was, and had even prepared himself for the worst. Yet not only had he avoided punishment, he had also personally been assigned the task of showing the visitor around.
If his superior heard about this, he might even earn a promotion. With that thought, Udgyr grew even more excited and immediately turned to leave without daring to delay.
Only after the guard had gone some distance did Chen Luo quietly let out a breath.
It seemed he had made the right bet.
He had used a gold ingot to craft the ornament just now. It was none other than a Hell Necklace, an item used to prove a special status in Hell. Of course, the one he held was fake. For those without a discerning eye, Chen Luo's crafting technique was convincing enough to make them mistake it for the real thing. Combined with the effect that changed his skin to an extremely deep shade of red, it allowed him to conceal his human identity to a certain extent.
However, Chen Luo understood the limitations of this item very well.
It was only a replica made with his current smithing skills. If he wanted to craft a genuine Hell Necklace, he would still need to improve his smithing proficiency as quickly as possible. Otherwise, this trick could fool only low-ranking individuals who lacked knowledge, not those who truly possessed status and experience.
The more carelessly he acted, the greater the risk of being exposed. If he encountered someone capable of recognizing the difference between a genuine necklace and a fake, his situation would become extremely dangerous.
Even so, Chen Luo still had to take the risk. He could not stand outside the city and observe forever. To learn about this place, he needed to see what was inside with his own eyes and gather information useful to his next plans.
-"Sir, I'm back."
Udgyr's voice pulled Chen Luo out of his thoughts. Seeing that the guard had returned, he relaxed. He merely nodded and followed his reluctant tour guide into the city.
-"All right. Lead the way."
-"Yes, sir! Which area would you like to visit first? There are quite a few places worth seeing in the Bloodstained City. If you wish, I can show you some of the most notable areas."
-"Let's take a look around first. I want to see the place for myself."
-"Understood, Lord Hergwin. Please follow me."
Udgyr immediately walked ahead, occasionally turning around to make sure Chen Luo was still following. He did not dare leave such an important visitor unattended, nor did he want to appear careless.
Chen Luo said little. As he walked, he observed the city's roads, the stalls arranged along both sides of the streets, and the barbecue stands giving off distinctive aromas. He also saw Hell creatures moving about: some were busy with their own work, while others gathered in front of the stalls.
It was a lively scene, one he had never expected to find here.
Passing one stall and barbecue stand after another, Chen Luo increasingly realized that the Bloodstained City was not as terrible as he remembered from his previous life. At least for now, it still looked like an ordinary city. Though the living environment was unusual, its residents continued their daily activities—buying, selling, traveling, and going about their lives as though war had never existed.
-"Sir, the area ahead has one of the largest concentrations of stalls in the city. If you're interested, I can show you a few other places as well. The goods sold here aren't particularly valuable, but there are some rather unusual items."
-"Oh? Is that so?" Chen Luo replied casually, his eyes still surveying the surrounding stalls. "This place certainly seems lively."
-"Yes, sir. It's usually like this. If you're looking for something, there's a chance you'll find someone selling it in this area."
-"No need. Just keep going."
Chen Luo had no intention of shopping. His purpose was to learn about the city, not waste time on unnecessary purchases. He only asked a question from time to time, allowing Udgyr to continue playing the role of his guide without suspecting anything.
What caught his attention most was still the scene before him.
Although the city remained immersed in Hell's characteristic red glow, this was the Bloodstained City before the bloody event took place, after the second closed-beta test had ended. Chen Luo knew very well that it would not retain its current appearance for much longer.
After that event, everything would change completely.
Streets that once carried passersby would become battlefields, and places where people once traded goods would be swallowed by endless slaughter. This city would truly become a hell where nothing remained but war. Ancient history would repeat itself once again, but this time, no records would remain to document what had happened.
Chen Luo could not help feeling a little regretful. He was witnessing a city that had yet to lose its original appearance, while knowing that this scene would not last much longer.
-"All right, return to your post." Chen Luo knew he had stayed for quite a while. Lingering any longer might attract unwanted attention, and he needed to leave before anyone began to question his identity. "By the way, whenever I come here from now on, I'll call for you. Make sure you're ready."
-"Thank you for your consideration, sir. Please take care."
Udgyr bowed respectfully once more. He did not show any dissatisfaction at having his guiding duty end early. On the contrary, he was delighted to have had a chance to make a good impression on this important figure. As long as Lord Hergwin remembered him the next time he came, today's trip would already have been worthwhile.
Chen Luo said nothing more and simply turned away.
Yet the moment he stepped outside the city, the calm expression on his face vanished. The heart he had kept tense throughout the entire visit finally had a chance to pound wildly. Although he had maintained a composed attitude inside the city and had even chatted casually with Udgyr, in truth, he had been scared out of his wits.
He hurried toward the portal. Only after reaching what he considered a safe distance did he stop and release a heavy breath.
When Chen Luo removed the necklace from around his neck, the light on its surface began to fade as well. The patterns that had been created to imitate a Hell Necklace gradually lost their special glow, eventually going dark and returning to the appearance of an ordinary golden ornament.
-"Good thing I got out in time."
Chen Luo put the necklace away and strode back toward the portal. However, as soon as he approached it, he ran into a barrier as solid as a wall, preventing him from going any farther.
-"I almost forgot about you."
Only then did he remember the conditions for opening the return gate. Chen Luo took out a gold ingot and tossed it toward the golden structure above the portal. The structure immediately reacted, swallowing the gold without hesitation, as though it had always belonged to it.
Chen Luo did not hesitate any longer. He began reciting the prayer he had prepared.
-"O wandering souls lingering around this gate, I am the one who descended through it. Now the time has come for me to return to the mortal world. Gate of Hell, invite me back with due ceremony. Send me to that barren land where life is gradually awakening once more. Let the warm flames shine upon the wronged souls and grant them release. OPEN THE GATE TO THE MORTAL WORLD AND SEND ME HOME!"
When the prayer ended, Chen Luo immediately took out a knife. He lightly cut his skin with the blade, allowing a drop of blood infused with mana to fall onto the gate.
Click!
The moment the drop of blood touched the surface, blue light spread across the portal. The familiar changes began to appear, signaling that the conditions for opening the gate had been met. Chen Luo did not hesitate any further. He stepped through the portal, preparing to return to the base.
He did not look back.
-"I never expected you to sneak into a place like that. Tell me, what were you planning to do to them?"
A voice suddenly sounded beside his ear. The Guardian had just awakened from a long sleep. The moment he opened his eyes, he discovered Chen Luo traveling through the portal back to the mortal world, and the sight had surprised him.
-"Do what to them? Nothing. I just went over to say hello. But you've certainly been asleep for a long time, haven't you?"
Chen Luo replied casually. He had no intention of explaining too much about the trip. After all, he had only gone there to observe and learn about the situation.
-"Hahaha!"
A burst of laughter rang out without the slightest restraint. The Guardian seemed completely unconcerned by Chen Luo's answer and was instead in a rather good mood after waking up.
-"By the way, I noticed you have quite a lot of snacks in your inventory. Leaving them there would be a waste. Could you give me some?"
Chen Luo immediately understood what was going on. He knew perfectly well that this freeloading fellow had sneaked into his inventory again while he was not paying attention. Apparently, even during his long sleep, the Guardian had not forgotten to look for things that might interest him.
However, Chen Luo really did have plenty of snacks stored away. Giving the other party some would not make much difference, so he casually took out a few bottles of soda and a whole box of snacks, treating it as a small offering.
-"Here. Take these and enjoy."
-"Oh! You're quite generous."
-"Don't eat too much, or you'll get a stomachache. Ah, wait. You're not exactly a living creature, are you? I forgot."
Chen Luo had originally meant to remind the Guardian out of habit, just as he used to remind the Immovable King in his previous life. But as soon as he said it, he realized how foolish it sounded. The Guardian was not an ordinary living creature, so how could he possibly get a stomachache?
Besides, Chen Luo had no idea what the other party even needed these things for. The Guardian had no intention of explaining. He simply sank back into Chen Luo's body, as though the whole exchange had been nothing more than a simple snack trade.
Chen Luo could not be bothered to question him further. The other party had gotten his snacks, and Chen Luo had lost nothing significant.
By the time Chen Luo returned, there was no longer any movement around him. In the quiet space, only the crackling of the fire could be heard. Everyone was sleeping soundly, unaware that he had just made a trip to the Hell Cauldron.
It did not matter how cold it was outside, because the base remained warm and comfortable. The heating system he had modified was already working, so everyone no longer had to endure the bitter winter cold as before.
Chen Luo was not hungry either. After all, he had already eaten a full meal in the Hell Cauldron, so there was no need to eat anything else. He had intended to return and rest, but just then, a figure emerged from the darkness and appeared in front of him.
-"Where have you been, coming back at this hour?"
It was Alice.
She was still awake, keeping watch over everyone for the night. The moment she saw Chen Luo return, her expression darkened. She had thought he would be back fairly early, but after waiting again and again, she had not seen him until three in the morning.
She did not know where Chen Luo had gone or what he had encountered. The only thing she knew was that the person who should have returned long ago had left her waiting for the entire night.
Alice's face had already looked tired from lack of sleep, but now it darkened even further. Seeing that expression, Chen Luo immediately felt a chill run down his spine. He would rather face a pack of ferocious Hell creatures than explain himself to Alice in this situation.
-"Don't scare me with that look. And stop staying up all night. Go to bed. You don't have to do this. Look how dark the circles under your eyes have gotten."
Chen Luo forced a smile and tried to change the subject. As he spoke, he looked at the dark circles under Alice's eyes and felt a little guilty. After all, she had stayed awake waiting for him until this hour. He could hardly pretend that nothing had happened.
-"But..."
Alice still seemed to want to say something. Perhaps she wanted to ask where he had gone, or scold him for returning so late. But when she saw Chen Luo's eyes—part pleading, part exhausted—she ultimately could not bring herself to continue reprimanding him.
She let out a soft sigh and allowed him to lead her upstairs.
When they returned to the room, Alice finally turned around. The sleepiness she had been suppressing all night could no longer be hidden. She yawned and said:
-"Well... YAAAWN... good night~~~"
After saying that, Alice did not even wait for Chen Luo to respond. She went straight into the room and lay down on the mattress. The moment her back touched it, she quickly fell asleep. It was obvious just how exhausted she was after staying up all night on watch and waiting for him to return.
Chen Luo looked at her and could not bear to disturb her any further. He gently pulled up the blanket and carefully covered her so she would not get cold. Only then did he stand up, taking care not to make a sound.
During the base renovation, Chen Luo had also designed a smokeless heating system. Thanks to it, everyone no longer had to endure the bitter cold of winter as before. This was one of the important improvements he had prepared for the group's daily life.
Chen Luo did not hurry to sleep either. He sat down beside the fire and held both hands close to it to warm them. The flickering flames reflected across his face, making the otherwise quiet space feel even warmer.
After a long journey, he had finally returned safely to the base. But this trip to the Hell Cauldron had not been merely for sightseeing. He had gathered the information he needed and confirmed several things he had wanted to know.
Now, it was time to begin the next task.
Chen Luo took the necessary materials out of his inventory and placed them beside the fire. He was ready to begin working on something that could prove revolutionary for their group.