Please Help

Miles away from Long Xiuying, a once blossoming a town that was famous for its bazaar. It was once filled with merchants selling their goods and the noises of people chatting. However, over the couple of days, people mysteriously disappeared as a dense fog covered the town. It was so dense that it blocked 75% of the sunlight.

Officials have tried investigating it by sending their soldiers into the fog. Many soldiers entered, but few returned. And for those who had returned, they were nothing but mad lunatic that was scared by even their own shadow.

The officials decided to abandon the city and told their citizens that that place was now a forbidden area. Even more so, that even soldiers at the foundation stage were not spared by the madness.

Long Xiuying, who had finally recovered, decided that it was time to leave the shack.

Five days had already passed and if not for finding the Singularity System, he would have been lucky to make it to the second day in this hell.

Since he reached the tin physical base, he was more tolerant against the desert heat. But before he left, he needed to decide on what to do next.

"I need stop using the Prime Sovereign's Shadow for a while until I figure out how to suppress my cultivation from breaking through into a higher stage." Long Xiuying did not have a choice in the matter. If Long Xiuying were to keep what he was doing, his brother will become the number one person under the heavens and perhaps even beyond that.

Long Xiuying casually thought about crippling his cultivation based but he will be the ultimate loser so that was instantly rejected.

"Hmmm… Perhaps I should go find an apothecary and ask to make a pill to limit my cultivation base temporarily." Soon, with that decided, Long Xiuying left the shack and stepped onto the desert sand. It reminded him of that desert dimension.

The desert wind was calmed and the sun was rising on the horizon. Long Xiuying will began his first step outside and also his first step closer to getting his revenge.

Two hours had passed with nothing but sands again and again.

"Water… I need water." Long Xiuying was going delirious. He had not drunk or ate anything for almost a week. His body was slowly deteriorating as his skin was slowly becoming a dry rag. Along with his shabby clothes, he looked like a beggar.

Suddenly Long Xiuying spotted something in the distance. It was an oasis. Long Xiuying wobbled his way there as fast as he could. He did not have the energy to run, but he did have the will to take steps after steps. Eventually his will broke as the distance between them never seemed closer.

"It… it is a mirage." He collapsed under exhaustion. "Wait...maybe this sand is a mirage… yes, this place is a sea...haha." He was so desperate that he cupped the sand and tried drinking it only to cough it out vigorously.

"Dammit…I..." He said softly. He was too tired to complete his sentence. He eventually caved in and took out another core and absorbed it. His mind cleared once again as a soothing energy entered his body

"I… need to get out of here fast or else I will… die before seeing my parents' and brother's faces..." Long Xiuying was reluctant to use his cores but this was the third time over the past two hours. Even more so, his spiritual energy will be drained in twenty-five minutes.

He picked up the pace in hoping he can find a place to get out of the heat. From afar, Long Xiuying saw a dark spot that looked out of place. He was dragged his feet there in it hoping that it was not another mirage.

When he found himself in front of the town, his fatigue disappeared from the thrill of reaching a town. Even more so, the area was cooler here compared to the outside.

"What is with this fog? Is it a spell formation to keep this place cool? Yes, that got to be it." Long Xiuying did not notice how spooky it looked since he was too focused on finding anything to quench his thirst. He walked until he came upon the town fountain. With a scoop of his hand, he drank as much as he could with delight.

"I should probably store some water just in case. I do not see anybody here... Guess I just take a few water sacs then." Long Xiuying grabbed two water sacs from the abandon vendor with no sham. Long Xiuying told himself that the vendor should be watching for thieves and should not abandon his post. This made Long Xiuying felt less guilty when stealing stuff from commoners. He might be evil at times, but usually his action was within reason.

After storing his water sacs into his small link storage, he explored the town.

"Now that I think about it, where is everybody?" He did not realized how suspicious this town was before. It was now making him feel uneasy.

He walked around randomly, entering random places, and unknowingly stumbled upon a brothel. There were bunch of undergarments on the floor that yet to be picked up. After an awkward look, Long Xiuying quickly left that place.

After a while, Long Xiuying heard footsteps not far from him. He carefully approached it. There he could see a dark silhouette that belonged to man that entered a house.

Long Xiuying cautiously went up the house's window.

Suddenly he heard the shriek along with the sounds of furniture breaking. Long Xiuying instantly dashed towards the noise. He was not afraid of the unknown danger because everyday, as a cultivator, there was at least some danger lurking somewhere.

At times, it was best to put it out before it gets bigger.

Inside the house, he saw the same man, but he was pitched black holding a red knife. It was similar to his Prime Sovereign's Shadow, but it was just the outer appearance. This shadow seem somewhat mindless.

In front of that shadow, there was a teenage girl cowering in fear in the corner.

"Please, help" She yelled as she called out to Long Xiuying.