the city of dead.

Sam passed through the gate of the city of dead as he officially entered the city. He was hit by a faint amount of death energy.Although, it was not enough to harm him, it still gave him an uncomfortable sensation.

The city of dead was an ancient city surrounded by large walls from all side. There were different kinds of building built on this city which were surrounding a large palace at the center. This is what it looked like when watching it from above with a bird's view.

The city of dead was like a normal city on the surface except it was always covered by dead energy and undead roam the city. It was devoid of any kind of life like its name the city of dead.

As for the origin of the city of dead, noone knew about it. It was discovered by cultivators from the previous generation who entered the swordridge valley earlier. Nobody knew where the city came from and who those undead were and their origin.

Some people believed that this whole city was an ancient fortress which took part in an ancient war. Those undead were the soldiers of this city who died while fighting. But even death could not diminish their fighting spirit and their wish to protect the city. Thus, they were revived as undead going against the natural cycle and defying the rules of heaven as they kept fighting to protect the city. They still have this instinct due to which they would attack anybody who enters the city marking them as intruders.

Sam looked at the city. The city had an archaic air to like it had been standing straight for millions of years. The walls and road of the city gave him a unique sense like he could be enlightened about the meaning of life of he comprehend this feeling he got from them. The building all had an ancient design but it was made by some unknown material which made them strong and sturdy. Several ancient formation were carved on the buildings making them more stronger.

The outer areas of the city, especially around the city wall had no presence of undead and was usually safe. Sometimes, some guard undead would patrol the area but it was safe mostly. Sam walked to a corner of the wall where the shadow of the wall was casted.

He released his shadow clone and merged his clone within the shadow of the wall using his shadow merging technique. That was his preventive measure against possible dangers. Although, it was not full proof. It still gave him a sense of security.

His plan was to move through the shadows and reach the palace to check out the treasure inside.

After merging his clone within the shadow, Sam took a step forward and vanished from the sight. He appeared at a corner of the city road where he merged within the shadows.

The city of dead had a large city road which was connected to the every part of the city. Smaller road were connected to the city road which run through several smaller alley. The road was like a root of tree where the city road was like a main room while the smaller road acts as the smaller secondary roots or like stem and branch of a tree.

Sam walked along the main road through the shadows. He saw many undead people walking on the city road like zombies without any goal. He continued as he could feel that no undead creatures had sensed his location.

He saw many kinds of shops and stalls along the road. Although there was nothing on display and no shopkeeper or buyers, he could guess how bustling this city used to be by the sheer numbers of the undead roaming and size of the various shops. He saw various shops like alcohol shop, restaurants, tea shop, jewelry shops etc. But he found that all the shop were empty. Probably, someone already took everything.

Sam continued along the way as he heard the sound of fighting from ahead. He followed the sound and saw a youth about his age fitting with undead using a spear.

He was strong as his spear was like a tide of a flood with dominating momentum which killed all the undead with a single spear. He was like a invincible general as every swing of his spear would harvest the live of undead.

Sam was mesmerized by his spear technique. "What a good spear". Sam said as he watched the battle for a while before continuing. The undead fighting him were innumerable. So, if he did not flee, he would be buried here.

Sam continued forward as he heard the sound of the battle further ahead. He walked forwards as he saw a youth dressed in a luxurious golden robe fighting against a large number of undead.

He had a golden coloured sword in his hand. It was hard to differentiate between his swords and his hand as they looked like one. His sword was like gentle breeze, a drop of falling rain mild and gentle. But it was merciless. With every swing or chop of his sword a head would flew. It was like he wasn't fighting but perfecting his sword techniques.

Sam was mesmerized by his sword techniques. His eyes became profound as he came out from the shadow and took out his sword. He followed his movement as he swung his sword forward softly. His sword landed on the head of a undead but it's head exploded unlike when it was severed when used by that youth with golden sword.

Sam's eyes became profound as he followed his every movement. He fought as he swung his sword left,right, back and front, he chopped, he jumped, he dodged. He copied his every move like a puppet as his movement became fluent and mild like his. After at least two hours of fighting, he could fight like him. His sword was mild and gentle.

He saw a undead coming for him, he gently did a circle as he easily dodged the zombie while his sword moved forward like lighting but gentle like caressing the undead but once his sword landed on it head, it was severed instantly. Sam fought with undead like crazy while watching and learning from the golden robed youth. After fighting continuously for a day he was getting tired as he felt the pain in his eyes but that golden robed youth was unaffected.

Sam was competitive youth as he killed undead like crazy. His sword was like a part of his body as slashed gently forward severing the heads of several undead. That was the new move he learned. He combined the gentle sword with the first slash of the six sacred slashes. He could just gently flick his sword and now kill enemies. After he fought for another day, he finally got tired and merged into the shadow and disappeared.

That golden robed youth finally looked at the place where was fighting earlier as he smiled.

"How interesting. How frightening. He could comprehend the technique I learned by practicing all my life in a day. He could combine his own technique with mine after another day. What a frightening talent".

He murmured while fighting against the undead like before as he was gently writing something in a scroll using his sword as a brush.

Meanwhile, Sam was panting hard inside the shadow. He took out a medicinal pill as he pooped his head out and ate it before his head disappeared again into the shadow. After resting for a few hours and taking recovery pills, he was back again in his peak state.

After that battle he discovered that he could use his eye to copy others technique although just the fundamentals while rest needed to be comprehended by himself but it would put a lot of stress in his eyes resulting in severe head splitting headache.

Sam looked at the direction where the sound of fighting was still coming as he said to himself in a low voice:

"Marvyn Ruguoberg and Dacre Raymond, huh. They are strong, strong to a level where I can't even fathom it. They are fighting like crazy but are still holding back".

"Oh well, I need to get stronger fast. First, let's get inside that palace to check things out".

As he said that he travelled through the shadows as he moved forward. He passed through several large gates where undeads were still patrolling like gate soldiers. After passing through several large gates and undead gate soldiers patrolling, he arrived in front of a large palace. The place looked majestic and grand making Sam feel like a grain of dust before it.

The palace had a sense of majesty to it making weak minded people knew before it. Sam felt a sense of reverence rise inside of him while looking at the palace.

"What a strange and mysterious power. I am feeling reverence without even noticing. If not for me tempering my will, I would have already kneeled before and become the follower of this palace".

Sam muttered as he channeled his essence energy and strengthened his will. He slowly moved towards the place ready to explore and plunder treasure. But just as he arrived in front of the door and peeked inside. He was shocked.

"What? How the fuck...!!!!!! ".