The Land of the Earth

In that gloomy and dark hall, there was an oppressive atmosphere.

The Dark King sat high on a massive throne, shadows covering his face, making it impossible to see his expression.

His hands tightly grasped the armrests of the throne, as if he was controlling the fate of the entire dark world.

The Dark King's men, Hong Lan, half-knelt respectfully in front of the palace and reported in a low and hoarse voice, "Dark King, Tucheng has been reduced to ruins."

The Dark King raised his head slightly and uttered a low "hmm", with a hint of satisfaction in his voice: "Not bad." A cold smile flashed in his eyes, as if the destruction of Tucheng was part of his plan.

The Dark Hall was filled with dark power, and strange runes flickered on the walls, emitting a faint dark light.

Huge stone pillars towered into the top, as if supporting the endless darkness.

From time to time, faint groans of pain could be heard from the corners of the hall, which made people shudder.

On the other side, Song Chaoming and his companions were in ruins, surrounded by broken walls and billowing smoke and dust.

The bodies of the dead people lying all over the ground were heartbreaking.

Their faces were filled with sadness and anger as they silently held a burial ceremony for the dead.

Tian Yuan clenched his fists, his eyes burning with anger, and he gritted his teeth and said, "It's all the fault of the Dark Clan. They are cruel and ruthless, causing so many innocent lives to disappear."

His voice trembled with anger and his body was shaking slightly.

Feng Qi looked at the desolate earthen city before him and said solemnly, "The earthen city has become a ruin and is not suitable for living. Where should we go?"

His eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness, his brows were furrowed, and his worry was evident.

Just as everyone was in despair, a voice suddenly rang out: "Everyone, follow me to Song City. Our city lord wants to come to support us, but the news is coming too slowly. By the time he gets the news, it's already too late."

Everyone looked up and saw a tall man standing not far away.

He was wearing a gray robe with a black belt around his waist, and his face was resolute and determined.

Song Chaoming's eyes flashed with hope, and he quickly said, "Thank you very much."

With trepidation, everyone followed the visitor towards Songcheng. Along the way, everyone was silent and heavy-hearted, hoping to find a new place to stay in Songcheng.

Soon, a magnificent city appeared before them. Its walls were tall and sturdy, built of massive bluestone bricks. Flags fluttered from the walls. The city gates stood open, welcoming them.

Song Chaoming looked at the tall and sturdy city wall and couldn't help but exclaimed: "This Song City looks so spectacular!" A long-lost look of surprise appeared on his face, and he quickened his pace and walked forward.

Tian Yuan's eyes widened, his mouth slightly opened, and he muttered to himself: "This is simply our savior!"

Jingyun's face was also full of anticipation, and she said, "I hope this can become our new home."

Chaoyun jumped up excitedly, pointing at Songcheng and shouting, "Look! This city is full of vitality. We have hope!"

Feng Qize breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Maybe we can really start over here."

Entering Songcheng, the city is bustling with activity. The streets are spacious and clean, lined with shops overflowing with goods, and the sounds of hawkers emanating from the streets echo endlessly. Smiles fill the faces of the people, forming a stark contrast to the ruins of the earthen city.

Songcheng has a unique architectural style, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted buildings. The houses are arranged in an orderly manner, some are wooden structures, some are brick and stone, each with its own unique characteristics.

There is also a clear river running through the city, with a stone bridge across the river and boats passing under the bridge.

The leader led them to a resettlement area with neatly arranged rows of houses. He said, "Everyone, please rest here for a while. If you need anything, please let us know."

Everyone walked into the house. The room was simply but warmly decorated, with beds, tables, chairs and other basic necessities.

Song Chaoming sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the scenery outside the window, feeling a mixture of emotion. Jingyun walked over to him and said softly, "At least we now have a temporary place to stay."

Song Chaoming nodded: "But we cannot forget the hatred of Tucheng. We must make the Dark Tribe pay the price."

Here is the expanded content for you:

After a full day of rest in Songcheng's room, Song Chaoming and his friends walked out of the room in high spirits. The sunlight shone on them, bringing a touch of warmth.

They were walking slowly along the street when they suddenly heard the sound of other people discussing something.

"I heard that Tianlong College will start recruiting students soon!" said a middle-aged man with a backpack.

"Really? That's a rare opportunity." The lady selling vegetables nearby came over and asked curiously.

"It's true, but the requirements are too high. The realm must reach above the seventh level of the Far Realm." The middle-aged man shook his head, a trace of helplessness on his face.

Hearing this, Song Chaoming and the others stopped.

Jingyun frowned, looked at everyone and said, "Should we go? I think this is a great opportunity, but the requirements are so high. I don't know if we can do it."

Tian Yuan crossed his arms over his chest and said with determination, "We must go! This is a good way to improve our strength and fight against the Dark Tribe. Even if the requirements are high, we can't back down."

Feng Qi touched his chin, thought for a moment and then said, "Tian Yuan is right. Although it is difficult, how can we know if we can't do it if we don't try?"

Chaoyun also nodded, his eyes full of anticipation: "Yeah, maybe we can pass."

Song Chaoming looked at everyone, took a deep breath and said, "Well, since everyone is determined, let's get ready and give it a try!"

Everyone nodded and walked forward, their expressions still reflecting on the news of Tianlong College's enrollment. At this time, they heard someone talking at a tea stall on the street.

"I heard that there are precious treasures and mysterious flames in the Tianlong Forest. The treasures are said to have magical powers, and the mysterious flames are even more legendary."

An old man in coarse linen clothes spoke vividly, with a strange light flashing in his eyes.

"Is it really that magical? Don't make it up." The young man next to him asked half-doubtfully.

"How could it be true? Many powerful people want to explore it."

The old man took a sip of tea and continued, "But it's too dangerous. That forest is full of unknown dangers, poisonous creatures and ferocious beasts are countless. If you go in, you will most likely never return."

When Chaoyun heard this, his eyes lit up and he said excitedly, "We just happen to have nothing to do, why don't we go? We might be able to get a treasure that will greatly increase our strength."

Song Chaoming frowned slightly and said with some concern: "It sounds too dangerous. Should we think carefully about it?"

Jingyun thought for a moment and said, "Although it's dangerous, it's also a rare opportunity."

Feng Qi nodded and agreed, "Yes, if we can gain something, it will be helpful for us to go to Tianlong Academy in the future."

Tian Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Okay, but everyone must be careful."

Everyone looked at each other and finally made up their minds to go to Tianlong Forest to explore.

And in that distant Dark Palace, the Dark King is brewing a new conspiracy...