Chapter 1032: The Enigma Gate
Chapter 1032: The Enigma Gate
September 25th, 2017
Youzhou, Liaoxi Prefecture!
With the official start of the era of the Marquis' struggle for dominance, the Southern Wanderers' peaceful lives suddenly became difficult.
The relationship between the Foreign Lords and the Wanderers was never particularly harmonious, and as the struggle for power intensified, the Northern region remained relatively stable. For the Wanderers, there were hardly any changes, but the Southern region was a different story. Many Foreign Lords began to expel the Wanderers from their territories.
In the North, the major powers had already established their dominance, and while there were some minor forces, they were mostly absorbed by the larger powers. There wasn't much conflict among the Foreign Lords.
However, the South was a different story. The power structure there was not as stable as in the North, and the various forces were more chaotic and numerous.
Countless small powers rose and fell, and territorial conflicts were a daily occurrence. To prevent spies among the Wanderers, many Foreign Lords imposed strict restrictions, banning them from entering their territories. Some even went as far as massacring Wanderers.
Under these circumstances, the Wanderers in the South faced a sudden hardship, forcing them to migrate en masse to the Northern regions.
Interestingly, while the Wanderers migrated North, few chose to go to Bingzhou, or at least, there were fewer Wanderers in that region.
On one hand, Lu HaiKong tightly controlled the distribution of rare resources in Bingzhou. On the other hand, he had strict regulations regarding the Wanderers, requiring them to register when entering important cities, which was a hassle for outsiders.
Additionally, it seemed that Bingzhou lacked attractive dungeons, so Wanderers rarely ventured there unless they were trading or seeking temporary respite.
However, the Wanderers were drawn to Youzhou. Firstly, the area east of Guangyang Prefecture was largely under the control of Gongsun Zan and Liu Yu, who paid little attention to the Wanderers and imposed minimal restrictions, providing a sense of freedom.
Secondly, many treasure maps led to Youzhou, and the region boasted several intriguing dungeons, making it a popular destination for Wanderers. As a result, Youzhou became a gathering place for numerous Wanderers.
Recently, a rumor had been circulating among the Wanderers in Youzhou about a gate leading to a new map near Shanhaiguan.
Shanhaiguan, the legendary First Pass Under Heaven, was said to have been built during the Ming Dynasty, and it didn't exist in this world. However, the system still named that area Shanhaiguan.
Since the system called it Shanhaiguan, that's what it was called, and no one would argue with the system over such a trivial matter, especially the Wanderers. Their focus was never on place names but on the substance of the news.
After this news spread, a large number of Wanderers flocked to Shanhaiguan, eager to find the gate to the new map.
Lu HaiKong and other Foreign Lords rarely heard about this new map and didn't pay much attention to such rumors. After all, they hadn't even conquered the territories right before their eyes, so why would they care about a new map?
However, for the Wanderers, the new map was a hot topic, often mentioned alongside the legendary System City.
According to the legends, there were two types of new maps: one was the new map itself, and the other was a neutral city protected by the system. In these cities, no individual or force could cause trouble, ensuring absolute safety.
Of course, these were just legends, and no one had verified their existence, leading the Foreign Lords to believe they were mere fantasies of the Wanderers seeking a safe haven.
These legends had mysterious origins, often stemming from vague clues found in artifacts or deliberate lies, or sometimes exaggerated boasts.
Nevertheless, the Wanderers were captivated by such tales. Exploration and mystery held a fatal allure for most of them, and it was this innate nature that kept the legends alive among their community.
However, the fact that these rumors had spread so widely and persisted for so long might not only be due to their inherent appeal but also because they might be based on reality. In this world, it seemed that nothing was truly impossible.
Take, for example, the legendary gate leading to the new map. Initially, it was just a legend among the Wanderers.
But as more Wanderers arrived at Shanhaiguan and thoroughly searched the area, just when they were about to dismiss it as another rumor, the legendary gate was unexpectedly discovered.
The massive gate was located deep in the mountains near Shanhaiguan. If Lu Hai Kong were here, he would notice that this gate resembled the one in his dungeon, not in appearance but in the subtle aura they both emitted.
This mysterious gate was made of stone, its entire body a dull gray, giving off an uncomfortable vibe. It stood about five meters tall and three meters wide, with a string of numbers on it that were constantly counting down.
The numbers were identical to those on the mysterious gate in Lu Hai Kong's dungeon. They ticked down without any discernible pattern; sometimes, they'd jump after a dozen minutes, and other times, they'd remain static for an entire day. Occasionally, they'd tick a hundred times in a single second.
When this gate was discovered, the numbers had already dwindled to just three hundred.
The gathered wanderers were all seasoned experts, and they immediately understood the significance of the numbers on the stone gate. Seeing that only three hundred remained, they were elated. They set up simple traps around the gate and cautiously waited nearby.
Everyone knew that once the numbers reached zero, the stone gate would undergo some transformation.
Luck was on their side, as the numbers didn't tick down at the slowest pace. They didn't have to wait long; in about ten minutes, the numbers hit zero.
The wanderers' eyes were fixed on the gate, especially as the numbers counted down to zero. They widened their eyes and gripped their weapons.
These wanderers were all veterans, aware that unknown entities could emerge at any moment. When the numbers hit zero, a beast might leap out, a shower of treasure chests might appear, or the gate might silently open.
Regardless of what might happen, it was always better to be cautious.
As the wanderers braced themselves, the moment the numbers hit zero, a creaking sound echoed, and the massive stone gate slowly opened.
The gate inched open, taking about five minutes to reach its full extent.
Mysterious Gate
Artifact Type: Enigmatic/???
Artifact Description: An incredibly mysterious portal that, once it appears, cannot be moved and will permanently remain in its location.
Additionally, it automatically opens at regular intervals, either releasing mysterious beings (creatures) from within or pulling someone into the gate. Legend has it that behind this mysterious portal lies another world.
P.S.: If you're not sufficiently powerful, don't get too close to this gate, as you'll never know where it might take you or what it might bring.
This was all the information the wanderers could see, and these attributes were identical to those of the gate in Lu Hai Kong's territory.
Lu Hai Kong was wary of this mysterious gate, as the entities that emerged from it made him feel uneasy. Despite the gate opening several times during this period, and almost always pulling someone in, Lu Hai Kong had ignored it.
However, while Lu Hai Kong could ignore it, the wanderers before him couldn't.
The allure of the unknown and the mysterious was irresistible to them, especially the legend that 'behind this mysterious portal lies another world.' To these wanderers, it was like a tantalizing beauty they couldn't refuse.
As soon as the gate opened, some wanderers boldly walked towards it, though not all were so reckless. Some entered directly, while others pondered whether they should prepare before venturing in.
The mysterious stone gate didn't give them much time, as ten minutes later, it began to slowly close.
Seeing this, the wanderers panicked, unsure when the gate might open again. Several of them immediately rushed into the gate.
Five minutes later, when the mysterious gate closed once more, over a hundred wanderers had entered, but even more remained outside, unable to make it in time...
(End of Chapter)
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