Chapter 29: The Han River

The presence of the Blood Skeleton dealt a tremendous shock to Chen Jian’s four-man squad, making them realize that on this wasteland, giant monsters were not the only threats.

However, for the Holy Blood Warriors, the Mechanical Cult, and even the ordinary people who had long adapted to this desolation, the sudden appearance and subsequent defeat of the Water Ghosts under the Blood Skeleton’s command was as commonplace as a ship weathering a few storms.

After confirming that the steam engine’s soul had not malfunctioned, Captain Big Anchor reasonably refrained from charging the squad any extra fees. Instead, after giving Lei Jie a harsh kick, he let him off the ship.

This action left the four Holy Blood Warriors on edge, fearing that the offended Chosen Ones might abruptly pull back the canvas covering the cowhide on the ship’s back and slaughter all the Mechanical Cult crew aboard.

There was no doubt that these four Chosen Ones were capable of such an act—they certainly had the power.

Yet, fortunately, the Chosen Ones maintained an admirable calmness, merely smiling as if it were all a joke.

Perhaps, they truly did not care.

They looked down upon everything here as if watching a colony of ants...

Before disembarking, Xu Lie patted Big Anchor on the shoulder and said, “Glad you survived.”

Big Anchor sneered mockingly, dismissing it, “They’re just some Water Ghosts. I’ve fought them countless times before...”

I wasn’t talking about those useless Water Ghosts.

Xu Lie kept his true thoughts to himself and hurried to catch up with the team ahead, heading toward the nearby Hanshui city district.

Meanwhile, at the front, Chen Jian was intently listening to Xie Liu’s explanation.

“Hanshui ranks among the top ten in scale in the entire southern region, with about 5,000 residents.”

“The vast majority live on the outskirts of the ruins, in the area between two lakes.”

“There is a large stretch of land that was cultivated before the Great Cataclysm, growing rice, sweet potatoes, and other crops. The locals call it the ‘Rice Fields.’”

“To the east of the Rice Fields is a large ruin called the Ecological Cocoon House, where a considerable amount of crops also grow.”

“Strangely, the crops there are all enclosed within walls over ten meters high, as if someone is keeping them contained.”

“No one knows why—do plants even need to be penned in?”

“But that’s the way it is... These two food sources sustain the 5,000 people here, and the resources within the ruins provide a foothold for the Mechanical Cult.”

“However, most of the time, the locals avoid entering the ruins.”

“It’s very dangerous inside.”

After Xie Liu finished, Chen Jian nodded thoughtfully.

According to the old map they carried, the Hanshui settlement actually lies on a small plain between Pinglang Lake and Lu Lake. It had always been an agricultural area, so the abundant rice fields made sense.

As for the so-called “Ecological Cocoon House,” it was actually the remains of an eco-agriculture company that specialized in vertical farming, so “keeping plants enclosed” was natural.

What puzzled him was what dangers lurked within the city itself.

Monsters?

Before Xie Liu could answer, Xu Lie caught up and spoke first:

“It’s a giant monster of at least level three.”

“Its activity range is in the core area of the ruins, roughly 40 kilometers from Hanshui.”

“That monster is extremely powerful. The Mechanical Cult has launched several hunting missions but all ended in complete annihilation.”

“Since three years ago, hunting operations have ceased. The people here coexist peacefully with the monster.”

“But both the Holy Blood Cathedral and the Mechanical Cult believe this is only a temporary dormancy.”

“If it awakens again, it will surely flatten Hanshui.”

“So, we’re trying to find a way to eliminate the monster once and for all.”

“Clearly, though, we are currently powerless.”

“After all, Hanshui faces threats beyond just that monster. Occasionally, level four or five monsters emerge in the surrounding areas, and each appearance is a fierce battle for us...”

“So that’s why you take the initiative to strike first?”

Chen Jian interjected.

“Exactly.”

Xu Lie nodded in response.

“Whenever we detect a monster’s trace, even if it hasn’t shown hostility yet, we try to take it out as soon as possible.”

“Because by the time it becomes hostile, it’s usually too late for us to react...”

“I understand.”

With preparation, exploiting weaknesses, four people might succeed in hunting a level four monster.

Without preparation, even hundreds of people could suffer heavy losses against a level five monster’s sudden attack.

It’s perfectly reasonable.

Chen Jian did not press further but resolved to enter the ruins—the old city of Hanshui.

Not only because it was occupied by monsters and potentially rich in resources,

But more importantly, he had to check out the Armory Officer Academy marked on the coordinates to see what was there...

The group proceeded into Hanshui city, which was far more prosperous than the Lower Horse Town Chen Jian had seen before.

Most houses and buildings were newly constructed, featuring a strange blend of traditional and modern styles.

There were even paved roads, though made of stone and broken concrete, still indicating a certain level of civilization.

At a glance, Chen Jian judged the city’s development to be highly abnormal.

It combined traits of the agricultural era and the steam age, mixed with some elements of the post-industrial era.

In one word: chaotic.

Can you imagine neon lights shimmering with rainbow colors standing alongside ragged woodcutters selling firewood on the street?

Can you imagine guards wielding rusty M1941 assault rifles while wearing armor woven from vines?

That’s Hanshui.

No power grid, no large-scale fossil fuel mining, so they burn wood.

Most suitable metal goods have rusted away, so for protection, they wear vine armor.

This city doesn’t just show a technological gap—it’s a technological whirlpool.

A chaotic vortex...

Chen Jian followed the Holy Blood Warriors to the city center, where they saw a towering metal “statue” standing in the square.

Xu Lie pointed at it and explained:

“This is the Mechanical Cult’s Sacred Elephant. Legend says it was the combat fortress under the Triune Saints before the Great Cataclysm.”

“No one knows what battles it endured here, but obviously, it’s completely damaged—just a pile of rusty steel now...”

“Nonsense!”

Before Xu Lie finished, a passerby loudly interrupted:

“This is the ‘Ninety-nine Sacred Elephant,’ one of the Saints’ most powerful fortresses!”

“Even rusted, its mechanical soul will live forever!”

The man was passionate. Xu Lie wanted to retort as a Holy Blood Warrior, but Chen Jian pulled him back.

After the man walked away muttering curses, Chen Jian spoke:

“He’s not wrong.”

“This really is the Ninety-nine Sacred Elephant.”

“But it’s the 99A.”

“99A? What’s that?”

Xu Lie was puzzled; Chen Jian gave no explanation.

He simply stared at the weathered 99A standing quietly atop the ruin-formed platform, sinking into deep silence.

The Mechanical Cult was right.

The steel has decayed.

But the soul born from the steel is destined to be reborn on this land!