Chapter 0430 – Dark Altar

"Are you full? If not, big brother still has more for you."

Yi Tianxing spoke gently, reaching out instinctively to pat the girl's head.

As he looked at the little girl before him, he felt a strange sense of closeness. For some reason, she reminded him of Zhao Ziyan from her childhood—whom he hadn't seen since she entered the Immortal Sect. This little one evoked a similar tenderness.

And truthfully, this little girl was even more endearing.

"Nannan is full now. Big brother, do you want Nannan to be sacrificed?"

The girl blinked her clear eyes at Yi Tianxing. Her words struck him straight in the heart.

"No, of course not. How could I ever sacrifice you? You're so adorable, I couldn't bear to."

Yi Tianxing lovingly patted her head and smiled.

"Big brother is a good man."

After carefully studying him, the little girl said with conviction.

"Do you have any family left?" Yi Tianxing asked gently.

"I used to have Grandpa... but one day he left and never came back. Now it's just Nannan," she replied with a hint of sorrow, her eyes welling with unshed tears.

"In that case... from now on, you're my little sister."

Yi Tianxing didn't press further. In this chaotic world, someone leaving and never coming back usually had only one meaning—it was a final farewell.

This little girl... had clearly narrowly avoided being taken to the Dark Altar for sacrifice. If he hadn't arrived in time, she would have already been gone. Even if she escaped this time, her chances of surviving future dangers were pitifully slim.

In times of chaos, the ones who suffer most... are always women and children.

"What a pity this isn't Xuanhuang City. I can't protect too many... but fate has brought us together."

Yi Tianxing sighed inwardly.

In Xuanhuang City, orphanages had been established to shelter children who lost their families. Caretakers were hired to look after them, and teachers were brought in to teach them how to read. They were also trained in body-forging techniques from a young age. The city supported them in every way—food, clothing, shelter—until they could survive on their own.

This initiative had earned widespread praise from the people.

"Come on, Nannan. Let me clean you up. From now on, I'll take care of you. No one will bully you again."

Yi Tianxing smiled warmly.

The girl was filthy, likely not having bathed in days.

Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing summoned a wooden tub, filled it with water, and used his true essence to heat it into a warm, steaming bath. The temperature was just right.

Nannan's eyes lit up with longing.

She stripped off her ragged clothes. Her body was shockingly thin, no flesh at all—just skin clinging to bones. The sight of her made Yi Tianxing's heart ache.

"Come, let big brother help you wash!"

He didn't hesitate. Taking out a bottle of fragrant cleansing lotion, he gently bathed her, switching water several times until every inch of her was scrubbed clean.

Then he dressed her in a fresh set of clothes. Though not perfectly fitted—it had been modified from his own—it suited her. At her age, gender-specific clothing hardly mattered. The outfit was white, clean, and comfortable.

Now that her face was clean, her delicate features emerged. Though malnourished and hollow-cheeked, she was clearly a beauty in the making. Her clear, limpid eyes especially made her utterly lovable.

"Do you like it?"

Seeing her dressed like a little princess in snowy white, Yi Tianxing smiled in satisfaction.

"I love it. Thank you, big brother."

Nannan gently stroked the fabric. It was soft, smoother than silk—more luxurious than even what nobles wore. She had never worn anything so beautiful.

Her little hand caressed it again and again, her eyes filled with joy.

"Nannan, are you still hungry? Here, this is for you."

Yi Tianxing took her small hand and handed her a candied hawthorn stick—a deep red, glossy treat he had bought earlier when shopping with Cai Yan and the others.

"Big brother is so good to Nannan."

She carefully licked the candy. It was sweet. Her eyes squinted in delight.

At the same time, her tiny hand gripped his tightly, as if afraid this was all a dream—and she might lose it if she let go.

"Come, let's take a walk outside."

Yi Tianxing smiled.

"But big brother... there are bad people outside. Grandpa never let Nannan go out," she said timidly.

"It's okay. With me here, no one will hurt you."

Yi Tianxing stroked her head.

"Okay!!"

She clung to his hand, trusting him completely.

One big hand, one small hand—they walked out into the city.

"Desire runs rampant, evil reigns, and all manner of negative emotions have formed a dark cloud over this city. These people... are no longer human. They're devils. Who is this so-called Lord of Darkness that could plunge the entire city into such madness?"

Yi Tianxing could see what others couldn't—dark mist shrouded the entire Dark City. If not for his Innate Yin-Yang Eyes, even he might have missed it.

This aura was intentionally cultivated—twisted chaos deliberately created.

In times of desperation, cannibalism becomes common. But here, it wasn't just despair. It was madness—a frenzied, evil miasma as if the city had become a domain of demons.

If the Lord of Darkness was truly behind this, he must have a sinister purpose. But what exactly? That remained unclear.

"So pretty… such fine clothes… That fabric must be valuable."

Suddenly, a dagger lunged from the shadows—aimed straight at Yi Tianxing's back with lethal precision.

Clang!

Before it could strike, Yi Tianxing reacted instantly. One swift kick—

Crack!!

A chain of bone-snapping sounds rang out. The attacker's body exploded into chunks of flesh, scattering in all directions.

A single kick—he had been blown apart.

The sight was horrifying.

"Big brother!!"

Nannan clung tightly to Yi Tianxing's hand.

"Don't worry. With me here, no one can hurt you."

Yi Tianxing's expression was calm, but his heart had already drawn its conclusions about the city's chaos.

Walking down the street in clean, expensive clothing, they stood out like a beacon in the darkness. Unsurprisingly, they had been targeted the moment they stepped outside.

Even just their clothing was enough to incite murderous intent.

Yi Tianxing sensed no fewer than dozens of hostile gazes watching them. But after he annihilated one assassin in a single kick, half of those gazes vanished immediately. The rest were laced with fear.

The assassin he killed had been no ordinary thug. He had the strength of a Sea of Divine Origin Realm, 4th Level, and attacked with lethal intent—yet Yi Tianxing ended him in an instant. That level of strength sent a clear message.

Even if others realized he was different from the city's residents, none dared approach.

Step by step, they continued on.

All the while, Yi Tianxing observed his surroundings.

The streets were full, yet people moved warily, eyes full of distrust. There was no trust left between anyone. Most probably slept with their eyes open, afraid of being sacrificed while they slept.

Nearly everyone had a dark glint in their eyes.

"They're starting a sacrifice! Wu Hai, the Tiger King and leader of the Fierce Tiger Gang, has captured a Black Armored Beetle and is preparing for a ritual!"

Suddenly, a shout came from the city center.

The moment it rang out, crowds surged toward the center plaza.

"A sacrifice? Good—just what I wanted to see."

With a flash of intent, Yi Tianxing quickened his pace.

At the heart of the city lay a vast open space—a great plaza. In its center stood a colossal altar.

"What a massive altar… This isn't an ordinary construct. Its aura rivals even the Demonic God Altars I've seen before. Could it also connect to some mysterious, powerful entity?"

The moment he laid eyes on it, Yi Tianxing's heart trembled.