"Alright, Big Bro, I'm on it!" Porcupine replied excitedly. The moment he heard food was being prepared, his excitement burst forth like a lit firecracker.

Early the next morning, sunlight spilled over the group, draping them in a golden glow. After a simple night's rest, everyone's spirits were revitalized. The team was ready to set off again, with the only drawback being their tattered clothes. After all, they were in the middle of nowhere, with no convenient place to find new outfits.

Naturally, Chen Pingchuan was an exception. The nanite swarm he had swiped from the bank vault had morphed into a sleek and stylish outfit, making him look particularly striking. The nanites flowed over his body like liquid, forming mysterious patterns that flickered like runes. A closer look revealed they were the very same patterns from the strange tree roots they had seen the day before.

The group traveled along the village road for half a day before finally reaching a modern asphalt road. However, the condition of the highway here was far worse than in Kailing Province. The surface was riddled with potholes, as if it had been crushed by some immense force. Massive chunks of pavement were shattered, torn apart by some mysterious power. The cracks resembled bared fangs, telling tales of a grim past.

The group continued along the highway as time passed unknowingly. As the sun began to dip westward, they finally saw the city's silhouette in the evening glow. Outlined against the sunset, the city appeared both mysterious and solemn.

They had not yet reached the foot of the mountain. As the saying goes, a mountain that appears close can still run a horse to death, and the Divine Mountain the village elder spoke of was a great distance from the village. Despite their swift pace, half a day of travel was far from enough, especially since they needed to conserve their strength for combat. Between the mountain and the highway, a city constructed entirely of steel stood before them.

"Big Bro, this city is so weird. Why are the walls made of metal?" Porcupine couldn't help but ask as he gazed at the massive metropolis before him.

Under the sunset's afterglow, Steel City resembled a colossal fortress spanning the heavens and the earth. Its appearance was cold and hard, with steel walls that towered into the clouds like the spine of a giant beast. They shimmered with a silvery-gray metallic luster, blindingly bright where they reflected the sunlight.

The surface of the city walls was densely covered with rivets and grooves. They looked like scars left by time or perhaps some sort of mystic runes, adding to the city's mysterious air.

The tops of the walls were jagged, resembling sharp fangs that looked particularly ferocious against the sky. At regular intervals, massive metal towers stood sentinel, their lights flashing a faint blue, like the eyes of the city vigilantly watching the surroundings.

The city gate itself was forged from heavy steel and engraved with complex patterns and lines that seemed to tell ancient stories. Its two enormous doors were shut tight, giving an impression of being utterly impregnable.

Chen Pingchuan didn't know how to answer Porcupine's question. Besides, he was a man of few words, so not responding was his norm. "Porcupine, Bear, go push the gate open."

Hearing Chen Pingchuan's command, the two men strode toward the sealed steel gate. Porcupine rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with excitement, while Bear pursed his lips, his expression serious.

Reaching the gate, Porcupine took a deep breath, pressed his hands against the cold steel panels, and pushed. Bear did the same, bracing his hands against the gate, planting his feet firmly, and squatting slightly to exert force.

However, the gate didn't move an inch. The cold metal seemed to mock them in silence.

Porcupine frowned and looked back at Chen Pingchuan. "Big Bro, it seems to be locked."

Chen Pingchuan glanced at the immovable steel gate and frowned. "Lilia, feel around and see if there's any mechanism behind the door."

"Okay, Boss!" Lilia replied.

She didn't step forward, but her telekinesis slipped through the gate's crevices to the other side. Indeed, she could feel a massive bar locking the gate from within.

"Let me help," Wei Hao said. He had been standing to one side. Although he couldn't see what was inside, he could tell from Lilia's furrowed brow that she had found something. In the next second, Wei Hao's ability nullified the gravity in the space directly behind the gate. With the obstruction lessened, it was much easier for Lilia to use her telekinesis.

CLANG!

A loud metallic crash from behind the gate was heard clearly by everyone outside.

Chen Pingchuan heard it too. He turned back to the two men. "Try again. Use more force."

Bear nodded, adjusted his stance, and pushed with all his might. The veins on his arms bulged and his muscles strained. Not to be outdone, Porcupine also threw his full weight against the gate.

With a low, grinding CREAK, the gate began to move.

The two men redoubled their efforts. Slowly, the gate opened a crack, and a gust of stale air rushed out.

"It's opening! It's opening!" Porcupine shouted excitedly.

They kept pushing, forcing the gate wider and wider. As it swung open, a broad street was revealed, flanked by towering buildings whose walls glinted with a metallic sheen.

"Let's go inside and take a look," Chen Pingchuan said.

The group walked through the gate and proceeded slowly down the street. Inside the city, the streets were wide and empty, paved with hard steel that reflected a cold light. On either side stood towering buildings also forged from steel, their lines clean and modern. The building exteriors lacked excessive decoration, featuring only large metal plates pieced together in unique geometric patterns. Their windows were made of transparent, reinforced glass that shimmered faintly in the sun.

"This city is so strange."

"I've never seen architecture like this."

Lu Jiaojiao took the lead, her steps light as she began to scout the surrounding street. The streets were littered with abandoned vehicles and all sorts of debris. Most of the cars were dilapidated, their bodies twisted and deformed as if they had been through a fierce battle. Some were even crushed under collapsed buildings, leaving only mangled wreckage. The doors to old shops and warehouses stood ajar, their interiors filled with goods, some covered in dust, others scattered across the floor.

The reason Lu Jiaojiao was in such a rush wasn't diligence, however. She urgently needed to find a clothing store. She had to change out of her torn outfit and had no desire for her figure to be faintly visible to everyone else.

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