Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil in the Cultivation World Chapter 952 - 476: Hunyuan Valley One Year Later, a Population of 100,000

One year later.

Hunyuan Valley.

Right now, a band of travelers was making their way toward Hunyuan Valley.

Clad in ragged outfits, looking exhausted with faces roughened by the elements, yet their gazes sparkled with anticipation.

The leader of this band, a man called Yuan Gang, guided them as they escaped from distant lands.

"We're here—we've made it at last."

"Could this be the fabled Hunyuan Valley? After a full month on the road, we've finally reached it."

"They say this spot welcomes outsiders fleeing hardship, turning it into a true haven."

"Whether the tales of bliss hold true or not, anything's better than huddling in caves any longer."

"Right you are—lately, folks have been dying in the night from the freeze; it's been brutal out there."

The group chattered eagerly, hope shining brightly in their eyes.

All of them hailed from far-off regions as displaced wanderers.

Without the safeguard of a major settlement, their only choice was to seek shelter in caverns, barely clinging to life.

Yet such desperate souls rarely lasted long against the unforgiving conditions of the Ice Prison.

For any chance at endurance, they had to secure refuge in a sizable outpost.

The issue lay in how typical settlements struggled to feed even their own, leaving no room to harbor extra arrivals.

Thus, across this endless frozen expanse, locating a haven open to newcomers proved nearly impossible.

That's why, upon learning of a nearby base ready to offer sanctuary, they packed everything and rushed over, desperate for a spot in Hunyuan Valley.

Soon enough, the band reached the entrance to Hunyuan Valley.

"Unbelievable—is this for real?"

"Does this look like a mere outpost? More like a full-fledged city!"

Yuan Gang and his companions stood at Hunyuan Valley's gateway, staring in wide-eyed astonishment.

Before them loomed an imposing barrier encircling the whole valley, constructed from huge brownish rocks, each one big enough for a handful of folks to encircle. Though time had worn the surfaces to a matte finish, clear signs of masterful craftsmanship remained, with stones interlocking perfectly like they grew that way.

These barriers undulated along the terrain's curves, soaring to cloud-piercing heights at peaks and dipping low over the narrow paths like a colossal creature's backbone.

Most striking of all were the enigmatic symbols etched across the rock faces. Rather than chiseled, they appeared as if organic plates from a mythical being, nestled into the cracks and glowing softly gold whenever fog shifted.

The symbols' patterns twisted in age-old designs, at times like writhing serpents, at others like outstretched pinions, weaving into puzzles beyond understanding, whispering silent wards of defense.

The southern entrance, vital artery of the stronghold, featured twin colossal bronze portals soaring ten meters tall, adorned with interlocking dragon motifs on the handles, ruby-like gems set in the dragons' stares that shone under the sun.

For wanderers who'd scraped by in simple hamlets, nothing like this vast stronghold had ever crossed their paths.

Probably not even the famed settlements boasted anything more impressive.

In their minds, these colossal defenses could withstand a savage onslaught from swarms of Exotic Beasts without crumbling.

"Who goes there?"

"What business do you have at our Hunyuan Valley?!"

Suddenly, sentries perched on the battlements caught sight of Yuan Gang and his followers, bellowing out with a fearsome surge of Evil Qi and lethal menace.

In that instant, the crowd of arrivals nearly crumpled to the earth in terror.

Since every sentry radiated a presence matching those of ferocious Exotic Beasts.

Terror gripped them, certain that even a brief clash would end in their total annihilation, utterly defenseless.

"Sirs, we're wanderers from distant parts."

"We've heard you're open to taking in folks like us, so we've traveled here for shelter."

Yuan Gang quickly stated their purpose.

He dreaded that any mix-up could spell doom for the entire lot.

"Refugees, eh? Then step right inside."

"The chill out there's biting—hurry in and get some heat."

Upon hearing this, the sentries' faces eased into warmer looks.

A resounding thud echoed as the massive gates creaked wide open.

Blissful heat rushed out, wrapping around the group like a blanket.

The arrivals savored a comfort beyond anything before, their frozen limbs thawing and energy returning bit by bit. Trap or no trap, it hardly mattered to them now.

After all, if death awaited, better it come in comfort than the endless cold.

Whizz, whizz, whizz!!!

Not long after, Yuan Gang and his band stepped into Hunyuan Valley, struck by the cozy aura filling every corner. Some unseen power clearly blocked out the outer frost.

Through all their years, they'd never known such soothing heat, evoking the tender hold of childhood cradles. The sensation felt nothing short of wondrous.

"A warm welcome to you all in Hunyuan Valley."

"I'm the guard captain, Lord Xiong Qinglin."

Just then, a man in his middle years stepped forward to greet them.

"Lord Xiong, are we truly allowed to join Hunyuan Valley?"

"No strict conditions or anything?"

Yuan Gang had to voice the question.

He understood perfectly the tough barriers facing their kind in gaining entry to a big settlement.

Plenty of outposts set steep standards for newcomers.

Since every major base had limits on numbers; not just anyone could squeeze in.

The Hunyuan Valley they faced screamed town-scale outpost, making entry a steep challenge for plain refugees.

"Count yourselves lucky."

"Hunyuan Valley's just been founded a year ago."