Chapter 28: Empty City

"Maybe she's just low on energy"

Although he didn't have any medical knowledge, he was positive her life wasn't in any danger. If he had the chance, just by reading a few books on medicine, wouldn't he be able to become the best doctor in the world with just his epiphany?

Looking at the city from afar, the obvious thing that stood out from his angle or any angle was the giant 20-meter wall lining the entire city. 

Scanning the area more, he hasn't seen a single person come in or out.

"Is there a holiday or something?" Jun thought.

Taking a closer look, he finally realized the key detail that he had been missing.

There were no guards...

Getting a bit braver, he tossed Yinling over his shoulders and flew to the entrance of the giant gate, and landed.

"Anyone there?" Jun called out trying to get anyone's attention.

Calling out a second time, no one responded.

Looking left and right, he walked in "Since no one is there... I'm going to enter so don't kill me"

He walked right past the giant gate, taking it a step at a time. Once in, Jun noticed various high-rise shacks that were close to falling apart and spaced from each other so close. This created narrow alleyways to accommodate the most possible people in the area, 

"Are... these the slums?"

He was fascinated by the place that so many stories spoke about in the novels he had read, yet seeing it up close really told the story of those who live here. But such a crowded area, isn't it strange he hasn't encountered one living person?

"Hello! Anyone there!"

Hearing only the wind hit against the buildings, he walked into the nearest home. Coming to a metal sheet door, he knocked on it.

Knock

Finding it a bit strange, he decided to walk right into the home, trying to push in the "door" he felt some resistance, but with a little push, it easily fell to the ground.

Entering, he almost felt his jaw subconsciously want to open "How is that possible?" He saw a full set of a little girl's clothing near two more adults' clothing made him come to the realization.

"Its almost as if they were erased without knowing?"

Rushing out of the home pushing some chairs out of the way, he flew high above the city and using his excellent vision, observed for any sort of movement indicating there was any life, yet his expectations were failed to be met.

"The whole city is abandoned!" Jun said in disbelief.

Jun at first found it strange as to why there weren't any people entering or exiting the city perhaps there was a holiday. Entering, he didn't see a single person, only clothing lining the streets, as if the people who were walking suddenly disappeared leaving only their clothing as proof that they once existed.

Turning on his epiphany phase, he quickly analyzed everything that happened recently, but the only strange thing that could have caused this was the enormous explosion that almost killed him and Yinling.

"But... how are we alive?"

If such an explosion could instantly erase all life in a city without anyone noticing it, how could he and Yinling survive?

Thinking about it, he felt his mind moving like a rocket and he soon filtered out the key differences between him and normal cultivators.

"Our attributes..."

Realizing this, Jun felt naked standing high above the city like a God, who wouldn't? Such a weapon almost felt like they were being targeted, as if telling him "You thought your attributes were special huh!"

Not trusting his emotions, he decided to analyze this logically, although their previous action on Li Chen may have caused them to be hunted down, they shouldn't know which direction they went to, so he could cross that out.

Also, if their target was truly them, why not finish him and Yinling off to get rid of the problem itself, it made no sense to kill every single person in the area just to send a message, although it made no sense, he wouldn't doubt if they took such an action.

So he concluded, that someone in the area, especially where the explosion took place had discovered something they weren't supposed to do and needed to be dealt with. 

"Does it have something to do with attributes?" Jun wondered.

Not wanting to stay in the open, he flew back down and came to the center of the city where a luxurious house stood tall and proud, in contrast to the poor district where even the road looked to be falling apart.

Coming inside, he saw a couch and laid Yinling slowly, making sure she didn't hit her head.

Although they may not be in danger, if the entire population of the city has been erased which is estimated to be in the billions on just the size alone. Doesn't that mean all the treasures and techniques of the entire city are now ownerless?

"It may be messed up... but this is an opportunity to grow our strength"

Previously, he could only upgrade the Azure Soul technique to top Black Rank with the knowledge he had of cultivation techniques. Now if he could digest and read many techniques, wouldn't he be able to create his own immortal technique?

"It's at times like this I wish I had divine sense" sighed Jun just thinking of having to search the entire city.

Hearing a noise from the couch, he turned to the source and saw Yinling slowly stirring awake which relieved his worry for her.

"Perfect" laughed Jun mysteriously.

Approaching her, he gently placed his hand on her shoulder "Yinling" whispered Jun softly. 

Her eyes, slightly blurry, focused on him, recognizing his voice. She felt a comforting sense of safety.

"Jun... what do you want?"

Jun's face brightened at the sound of her voice, he wouldn't admit it, but after arriving at such a place, he felt so alone watching this city, once so filled with life, now a hollow shell.

"Well I'm glad that your fine Yinling, but I need your help"

Feeling her eyebrows scrunch up a bit, she looked at Jun who now was in perfect focus.

"Help....?"

Wait! Weren't they running away from that huge explosion? 

Sitting upright frantically, she was about to stand up when she felt a big pair of hands grab onto her shoulders, pinning her down on the couch.

"Woah woah take it easy there, you're just barely waking up, I don't need you to pass out on me again"

Yinling looked at Jun in realization, then lowered her head in shame not daring to look at him.

"Sorry..."

"You don't need to apologize to me, even I almost died back there, if I hadn't basically combined my light attribute with my energy from scratch, who knows what could have happened"

"But..."

Jun stopped her, not wanting to hear her self-deprecating talk.

"if you truly want to help me, focus on your attributes, something tells me they are being hidden purposefully"

Hearing this, she slowly lifted her head and saw a gentle smile on his face directed at her. 

Feeling a warmth spread through her, Yinling tried to hide her flushed cheeks.

Jun smiled silily at her blood-red face, was his charm really that good?

Taking his hands off her shoulders, Jun put on a serious expression.

"As for where we are... it's better if you just follow me"

Jun stood up and walked towards to big double doors, motioning for her to follow him.

Raising her eyebrow a bit, she followed him, eager to see what Jun was talking about that made him put such a serious expression.