Dawn of a New Era-Chapter 502 - 476: Monsters in the Shadows

AM.

The alarm suddenly sounded piercingly.

Chen Shouyi opened his eyes, quickly turned off the alarm, got up, and dressed.

After washing up in the bathroom, he grabbed Shell Lady, picked up his sword, and headed out of the building.

Zhu Xueqing hadn’t come out yet, but Wang Lie was already up.

At the moment, he was in the living room, warming up with the Body Refining Thirty-Six Forms, it’s the second optimized version from the Book of Knowledge he published.

Chen Shouyi was a bit surprised, he hadn’t expected someone to finally master it.

After finishing the set, Wang Lie exhaled deeply and noticed Chen Shouyi standing nearby. His expression turned a bit unnatural, but he quickly adjusted mentally and humbly asked for guidance: "General Manager Chen, pardon my awkwardness, could you please offer some pointers?"

Actually, it’s nothing embarrassing. All Martial Artists should be grateful to Chen Shouyi. Ever since he started practicing the Chen Clan Body Refining Technique, he felt a breakthrough looming. In ancient times, bowing with tea and honoring him as a master would be only fitting.

"You did well. The movements are still not fluid in transitions. Don’t practice them one by one; connecting them will yield better results."

Upon hearing this, Wang Lie tried again, but hadn’t gotten halfway before being interrupted. Embarrassed, he said: "The modified Chen Clan Body Refining Technique is really tough. I’ve only just mastered it recently!"

Chen Clan Body Refining Technique?

Chen Shouyi’s eyes brightened, thinking the name was well-chosen.

"Practice more, and it’ll become easy!"

As the two chatted while waiting, Zhu Xueqing finished up and joined them.

The group had some snacks brought by soldiers, and then left under the cover of night.

...

Outside, the wind was biting, with occasional drifting snowflakes.

The road was hardened, seemingly solidified like stone.

Shankui Province is located in the northwest, colder in winter compared to Jiangnan Province.

Especially now, at deep night, it’s almost minus thirty to forty degrees, freezing everything.

Fortunately, the weakest here were Martial Artists, with strong vitality, not fearing this cold in the short term.

They rushed along, occasionally passing through deserted villages.

To prevent the spread of terrifying forces, as a precaution, the population on the perimeter was relocated en masse, even nearby mountains had been burned, appearing cold and desolate, devoid of any sign of life.

They didn’t take the main road, swiftly advancing along rural paths.

"We encountered Shadow Creatures up ahead last time!" Zhu Xueqing reminded.

Upon hearing this, Chen Shouyi looked ahead, but all he could see was darkness, nothing discernible?

However, within half a minute, Chen Shouyi keenly sensed a trace of malice. He swung around quickly and saw, not far away in the shadows at the corner of a wall, a blurred silhouette hidden within.

It lay beast-like on the ground, its body seemingly blurred, merged with the shadow.

If not observed closely, it easily gets overlooked.

"What kind of monster is this?"

He took a step, covering more than ten meters instantly. The shadow creature tried to escape but it was too late.

A big hand easily grabbed its neck, lifting it up.

Its body was covered in scales with a black aura, strangely sinister, with sharp black claws on its hands and feet, and gray-yellow eyes filled with savagery and malice, exuding an evil and horrific aura.

It was like a nightmare monster.

There was no resemblance to humans at all.

If he didn’t know it had transformed from a human, Chen Shouyi might have thought it was another species.

At this moment, Zhu Xueqing and Wang Lie came rushing over.

"We saw the same kind!" Wang Lie said.

"Hopefully, they are all like this." Chen Shouyi said solemnly.

It shrieked shrilly, struggling fiercely. Chen Shouyi let go, and as the monster fell, a large foot stepped on its head. With a slight pressure, a crisp bone-cracking sound followed.

The head was instantly crushed.

...

Not long after, they arrived at Guangcheng County.

Guangcheng County, a small city with a population of four to five hundred thousand, looked no different from a typical county.

At that moment, dawn hadn’t broken yet, steam trucks loaded with goods were flowing ceaselessly along the roadside, along with passing patrol soldiers, giving Chen Shouyi a vague illusion that this was not a place of danger but just an ordinary county.

They hid in a corner, quietly waiting for a troop of soldiers to pass.

Wang Lie asked: "Should we go straight to Tuoan City or check the situation here first?"

Tuoan City is the source of everything and the final destination.

"Let’s stay for a day or two, see how things are!" Chen Shouyi said cautiously after pondering.

For some reason, Chen Shouyi felt the whole city enveloped in a gloomy and manic aura.

It’s better to be careful.

"Alright!" Wang Lie had no objections.

In martial arts, the strong rule. It’s an established rule: if you seek power, prepare for danger, and that others might not help you; they could even kick you when you’re down.

This isn’t being negative but survival wisdom.

An old Martial Artist like him, understands this well.

Day began to break.

They unexpectedly found a hotel open for business by the roadside.

"Three single rooms!"

A plump young lady wrapped up like a rice dumpling glanced at the three, yawned covering her mouth, and said: "Bring your residency permits, single rooms fifty, deposit one hundred per person."

"Can we use ID cards instead of residency permits? We can pay extra?" Chen Shouyi asked.

To prevent the spread of cults, now people cannot move freely, they need a letter of introduction from their unit to travel to different places.

The plump young lady was fully awake now, turning hostile immediately: "Go, go, go, don’t involve me. We don’t accept anyone without residency permits!"

"Is there strict monitoring here?" Wang Lie stepped forward and asked quietly.

"You’re from outside?" The plump young lady showed a hint of wariness.

"We’re from the government investigating here, hope you’ll cooperate." Wang Lie showed a Martial Arts Instructor Certificate solemnly.

Wang Lie’s formidable physique paired with the golden emblem on the martial arts certificate promptly intimidated the young lady.

"I... I can’t say, find someone else, please leave now!" The young lady stammered, pale.

"Why can’t you talk, is someone threatening you?" Chen Shouyi asked from the side.

"No... no, I know nothing... I’m just an ordinary person, don’t ask me..." She backed away in fear, glancing suspiciously everywhere, then abruptly turned to flee.

The group exchanged looks, ruefully exited the hotel.

"They acted just like that villager last time!" Zhu Xueqing said seriously.

"It seems they’re afraid of something?" Wang Lie said: "Do you think it might be those shadow monsters?"

"Could also be fear of that source!" Chen Shouyi said, feeling inexplicably oppressed; he exhaled: "Since there’s still order here, let’s directly go to the county government!"

"Good idea!" Wang Lie said.

As they walked down the street, Chen Shouyi glanced up, seeing the sky glowing red, the vibrant morning glow resembling a fiery blaze.