"I didn’t expect you to discover it so quickly."

Lin Hongyi looked at the barren hills below and said:

"These hills are called the Sinking Iron Hills. The underground is rich in Black Sink Iron and Profound Weight Stone ore... so the gravity here is far greater than the outside world. Black Iron City developed because of these mineral resources."

Luo Feng nodded, as Black Sink Iron and Profound Weight Stone both increase the surrounding gravity, no wonder the gravity here is so peculiar.

As they continued deeper, the gravitational pull became increasingly intense. An hour later, Lin Hongyi wiped the sweat from her forehead, exhaled a warm breath, and said:

"Black Iron City is not far ahead, Luo Feng, let’s go down."

In such an environment, even as a Martial Artist in the Spiritual Rotation Realm, aerial flight was a considerable burden.

"Okay."

Luo Feng nodded, and the two descended onto the road and began walking.

After walking some distance, Luo Feng encountered quite a few Martial Artists, as well as transport teams composed of Barbarian Beasts.

The five-meter-tall Barbarian Beasts carried racks loaded with various ores, and their heavy footsteps left deep impressions on the ground each time they landed.

Luo Feng secretly observed the scene. Aside from the Barbarian Beasts and some Demon Beast mounts, he didn’t see any horses, which was understandable as the gravity here was at least two to three times that of the outside world, making it impossible for ordinary horses to adapt.

"The land of Black Iron City is not suitable for crop cultivation, there are scarcely any wild beasts, and the people living here rely on the underground minerals to survive," Lin Hongyi explained to Luo Feng.

Luo Feng nodded in understanding, no wonder he hadn’t sensed any Demon Beasts along the way.

While hastening along the road, Luo Feng also observed the people around him, noting that there weren’t many experts; none were even Martial Artists of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, with the strongest individual being an elder in the Barbarian Beast transport team ahead, at the peak of the Meridian Wheel Realm’s eighth stage of cultivation.

"Oh, it’s Miss Hongyi!"

The Barbarian Beast team in front suddenly slowed down and approached. The silver-haired elder, who was at the peak of the eighth phase of the Meridian Wheel Realm, smiled and said to Lin Hongyi:

"Miss Hongyi, it’s just a month until the New Dragon List tournaments; why have you returned to Black Iron City?"

"Indeed, Miss Hongyi, we’re all hoping you’ll demonstrate great prowess on the New Dragon List this time and bring prestige to our Black Iron City!"

"That’s right, this time we must break into the New Dragon List’s top ten, so our Black Iron City can be proud of producing a top ten New Dragon."

Others chimed in, and their gazes toward Lin Hongyi were full of respect.

Lin Hongyi obviously knew the elders and asked:

"I have some matters to handle, so I came back. Elder Li, is Uncle Qiu at home?"

The silver-haired elder shook his head: "Seems like he’s not home. I went yesterday looking to enjoy some drinks with him, but he didn’t respond. Miss Hongyi, you should really persuade him at home. He’s quite old now but still runs around tirelessly."

Lin Hongyi seemed relieved and chuckled: "Elder Li, you’re the same, aren’t you? Rather than staying in the city, you’ve traveled a long way to accompany the mining convoy."

"I couldn’t be at ease with these kids! If they had half your abilities, I wouldn’t care about them."

The silver-haired elder laughed and chided the others in the transport team, then looked at Luo Feng with his murky eyes flaring up with brilliance, teasing:

"Miss Hongyi, who is this young man? I’ve never seen you bring anyone back to Black Iron City; could he be your beloved? If Old Qiu knew this, he’d be overjoyed."

Lin Hongyi showed a trace of embarrassment and said, "He is my friend, Luo Feng."

Luo Feng cupped his hands and greeted: "Elder Li, hello."

The silver-haired elder smiled and nodded, his eyes full of amusement, still sizing up Luo Feng and Lin Hongyi, as if trying to deduce something from them.

Lin Hongyi said: "Elder Li, we’ll head back to the city now."

"Okay."

The silver-haired elder nodded.

Lin Hongyi and Luo Feng turned and left.

"It’s truly extraordinary that Miss Hongyi would bring someone back to Black Iron City."

"Indeed, we never saw Miss Hongyi get so close to anyone before."

"Elder Li, who is that young man? Could he really be Miss Hongyi’s sweetheart?"

"Hehe, if that’s true, this young fellow is truly lucky."

As Lin Hongyi and Luo Feng left, the people in the Barbarian Beast convoy began discussing animatedly.

Walking along the road, Luo Feng clearly heard the conversations from behind them, turning to Lin Hongyi and saying:

"The people here seem to respect you very much."

"It’s really nothing much. In the past, there were often Demon Beasts appearing in the mining caves near Black Iron City. I dealt with these beasts while cultivating." Lin Hongyi replied.

Luo Feng nodded; for the people living in Black Iron City, Lin Hongyi’s actions were like a godsend as they depended on the mines for survival. However, he didn’t believe Lin Hongyi was simply killing Demon Beasts to cultivate.

Following the road, the two soon saw a city appear in their view, their destination: Black Iron City.

Though Luo Feng was mentally prepared, seeing Black Iron City still surprised him; the city was smaller than Panlong City, and its walls were quite dilapidated, showing patches under the sunset’s glow, evidently having long lacked maintenance.

Luo Feng hadn’t anticipated that Lin Hongyi grew up in such a barren city.

"Let’s go inside."

No entry fee was required, and the two smoothly entered the city.

In the city, there weren’t any tall buildings. The streets were uneven stone paths, and the shops on either side lacked vibrancy; only when the Barbarian Beast convoys passed did the streets gain a bit of vitality.

"This is the outer city, where only commoners live. The inner city is much better, where families with some strength and Martial Artists reside, but it requires a high entry fee." Lin Hongyi explained.

Luo Feng nodded and asked: "Where is your family home?"

"Outer city."

"Outer city?" Luo Feng was somewhat surprised.

"Let’s go; we’ll be there soon."

Lin Hongyi didn’t explain further.

"Hey! Look, it’s Sister Hongyi!"

"Sister Hongyi, you’re back!"

"Sister Hongyi!"

While the two were talking, a dozen children appeared at the street corner not far away.

These children, both boys and girls, ranged in age from about eight to nine years old, to as young as five or six, all wearing simple clothes. Seeing Lin Hongyi, they ran excitedly toward her.

Lin Hongyi’s gaze fell on the thin boy leading them and said: "Little Stone, have you all been practicing well while I was away?"

"Of course we have!"

The boy called Little Stone, proudly raised his fist and said: "Sister Hongyi, thanks to the martial arts you taught me, I reached the peak of the first phase of the Meridian Wheel Realm. It shouldn’t be long before I can break into the second phase! In the future, I’m going to join the Golden Palace, just like Sister Hongyi, and become a disciple of the Golden Palace!"

"Yes, I saw Stone Brother break a stone with a punch yesterday; it’s amazing..."

"Sister Hongyi, I saw it too! Stone Brother was so happy his mouth was crooked..."

A group of children raised their small hands, eagerly talking to Lin Hongyi.