Meng Zhong Tu Cheng, known in the Saha Chronicles as the City of Hope, was legendarily established by the pioneers of the Bi Qi Empire. They were scouting parties sent to find the path back to their homeland, the Divine Dragon Empire. After traversing the perilous Viper Valley, they reached a vast, desolate Gobi expanse—an area then marked on maps simply as Meng Zhong. Faced with the seemingly endless desert, the scouts hesitated to push further and instead erected a vital transport and supply outpost here. Unexpectedly, during the construction, they unearthed a colossal, ancient underground tomb teeming with terrifying, mutated beasts. These creatures resembled pigs but came in three distinct colors: red, white, and black, earning them the vivid labels of the Red Wild Boar, White Wild Boar, and Black Wild Boar among the pioneers. However, no one foresaw the incredible power these boars possessed. To prevent them from escaping the tomb and endangering human society, the Bi Qi military dispatched a massive garrison to guard the entrance to the Pig Cave. The sheer concentration of troops strained the Bi Qi Empire’s supply lines. To alleviate this pressure, the Empire converted the area into a commercial city, using the trade revenue to sustain the large military force. This is the genesis of Meng Zhong Tu Cheng, a history affirmed in both the modern game version and the real-world textual accounts of the Saha Chronicles.

Walking through the wide, bustling avenues, immersed in the ancient, mysterious cultural atmosphere blending exotic and distinctly Eastern flair, I felt an overwhelming, almost uncontrollable surge of emotion. Meng Zhong Tu Cheng was breathtakingly beautiful. Its architecture fused the Gothic steeple styles of medieval Europe with the profound, solemn, and robust cultural foundation inherent to the ancient East. It was difficult to categorize; it simply pleased the eye. The streets and alleys were a vibrant flow of people and traffic, lined with shops displaying dazzling, dizzying arrays of merchandise. Traversing the avenues felt like being Wang Laolao entering the Grand View Garden—I couldn't help but stop, peer, and fondle every strange and curious trinket I encountered, much to the visible distress of Long Xin and the other three behind me, and Jin Hong.

"This fellow!" Long Xin sighed with embarrassment. "What a disgrace!"

"Never seen the world," Long Qi commented with an expression of forced understanding.

"Stay away from him!" Long Zhan instinctively created distance. "That way, people won't know we're together!" One had to admit, Long Zhan was quite shrewd at times.

"..." Jin Hong could only shake her head faintly. I spent the entire morning wandering through the streets and shops, lingering at every counter, yet I bought nothing. The reason, naturally, was a complete lack of funds.

Still, I was determined to see what the legendary Pig Cave looked like. I finally found the iconic landmark of Meng Zhong: a palace-like bell tower, nearly four stories high, built right over the entrance to the Pig Cave. In truth, one didn't need to search; within the boundaries of Meng Zhong Tu Cheng, one could see this tallest structure by looking up. Proceeding toward the highest bell tower naturally led one to the Pig Cave entrance beneath it. The steps, made of thick, golden marble, numbered nearly a hundred, making it impossible to clearly see the cave’s interior from below.

Two Great Sword Guards and four Archers manned the entrance. As I approached to step inside, two great swords were immediately placed across my chest.

"Entry is forbidden without proof of Ranger status level 25 or higher!" The two Great Sword Guards, expressionless as carved wood, continued in icy tones, "Please leave immediately!"

"Ah! How could this be!" I turned back, disappointed, only to find Long Xin and the others observing me with undisguised amusement.

"Excuse me, Brother Blade!" I tried to flatter them. "Must it be level 25! Could I just step in for a quick look?"

"I regret that is impossible," the Great Sword Guard remained impassive. "No entry without achieving level 25. Furthermore, my name is Huan Kong, not Brother Blade. Please depart immediately, or we will be forced to use physical removal!"

"Ah!" I turned away in frustration. So, the Pig Cave wasn't open to just anyone.

"I really can't stand you," Long Xin looked at me helplessly. "Didn't you even read the Ranger's Manual I gave you?"

"The Ranger's Manual!" I blinked slightly. "Well! I was too busy running for my life recently; I never found the time to read it!"

"Hmph!" Long Xin snapped. "Then please take some time to study it properly. Try to avoid causing more embarrassment in the future, alright!"

"Oh!" I scratched my scalp sheepishly, looking back toward the Pig Cave entrance.

"Stop staring," Long Qi explained. "The guards won't let you in without proof of Ranger level 25 or above. After all, the mutated beasts inside the Pig Cave are too powerful. The military implemented this management system for everyone's safety."

"Fine," I gave up with a sigh. "It’s my fault for not having the level 25 Ranger certification."

"If you want to enter, then train hard," Long Zhan advised. "We’ve been waiting for you; we haven't trained properly for half a month either."

"Mm," Long Xin nodded. "So, we’ll play around with you for today. Starting tomorrow, we focus completely!"

"Heh heh," I forced a laugh, involuntarily thinking of modern vacations. I wondered if what I was doing now counted as a break.

"Jin Hong, you stay and wander around with this guy," Long Xin instructed. "We're going to the Ranger notice board to see if there are any quests we can complete in the Centipede Cave!"

"Got it," Jin Hong nodded.

................................ Long Xin and the others disappeared around the street corner, but my interest remained undiminished.

The street was still clamorous, filled with people dressed in bizarre attire—some garishly vibrant, others subtly elegant. The carriages on the street were equally varied in style and shape, constantly reminding me of modern cars and RVs. Compared to the simple farming town of Maple Leaf Town, this place was immensely larger and far more vibrant.

When we got tired of walking, we found a food stall, ordered a few snacks, and sat down. It was clear Jin Hong was quite familiar with the area. While eating, she patiently explained the customs, history, and local culture of Meng Zhong Tu Cheng.

This significantly broadened my horizons. Although I knew Meng Zhong Tu Cheng was large and populous, when Jin Hong gave me the specific figures, I, a modern person from a metropolitan city, was genuinely startled. The entire city covered an area of 500 square li, with a population approaching five million—almost the scale of a modern medium-sized city. And this was in the heart of the desert! To construct such a massive city required an unimaginable investment of manpower and resources. I didn't know the construction process in this world, but it certainly lacked large machinery. Achieving this scale through manual labor alone—carrying burdens on shoulders and backs—certainly exceeded anything I could conceive.

Furthermore, I finally learned that the surrounding regions of Meng Zhong possessed abundant mineral resources for mining. Also, located east of the city was another place both familiar and strange to me: the Zuma Temple, a major factor drawing a large population. And Sabac City was situated exactly midway between Meng Zhong Tu Cheng and the Zuma Temple. As anticipated, Sabac City was controlled entirely by a Ranger organization—the continent's most powerful top-tier guild, the Blue Sand Gang. The leader was a mysterious figure named Mo Zhen Ting, whose true appearance no one had ever seen; rumor held she was a woman of unparalleled, devastating beauty. Besides Sabac City, I finally learned the distribution of other major figures and guilds in the Ranger world.

It was surprising how fluently Jin Hong, who seemed about my age, recited details of the Ranger world’s history and lore, greatly expanding my knowledge. Among the territories of the Bi Qi Empire, Meng Zhong possessed the most fiercely spirited populace. Due to historical reasons, most inhabitants were descendants of the soldiers once stationed here, naturally inheriting their ancestors’ ardent, warlike spirit. The area surrounding the city was dotted with treacherous domains infested with magical beasts, such as the Centipede Cave to the northwest, the Zuma Temple to the east, and the Pig Cave, whose entrance lay beneath the central bell tower, all hosting numerous, powerful monsters. In their protracted struggle against these beasts, the people of Meng Zhong had inevitably grown stronger, unconsciously reminding me of the nomadic tribes of the ancient northern grasslands of China—forged and tempered in a harsh environment.

The presence of these perilous areas also drew many powerful, skilled Rangers from outside to settle and train here, elevating the development of both martial arts and magic in the region to astonishing heights. Later, numerous schools and sects formed. Jin Hong summarized the distribution of these main factions with a simple verse:

One City: Sabac City Two Families: The Zi Family and the Lan Family Three Gangs: The Divine Dragon Gang, the Vermillion Bird Gang, and the Qilin Gang Four Gates: The Howling Tiger Gate, the Dragon Abyss Gate, the Eagle Truth Gate, and the Bear Overlord Gate (also known as Dragon-Tiger-Eagle-Bear)

Of course, the powers in Meng Zhong were not limited to just these named entities. However, these were the most influential. While there were countless other guilds of varying ranks, I didn't concentrate much on memorizing them.

After filling our stomachs, we browsed a bit longer. Around four in the afternoon, Jin Hong and I finally returned to the Tu Cheng Inn.

The three from Long Xin’s party were already back and busy organizing something.

"You're back," Long Xin said without looking up, continuously stuffing items into a spatial pack.

"Heh heh," I nodded.

"Then hurry up and pack," Long Xin continued. "We might be staying in the Centipede Cave for quite some time, so preparation must be thorough. It won't be like the Skeleton Cave where we returned to the inn to sleep every night."

"Ah, you mean we'll be living and eating inside the Centipede Cave?" I asked, slightly startled.

"Exactly," Long Zhan confirmed. "So check quickly if you're missing anything. We don't want to waste time coming back for resupply then!"

"I think I’m fine," I spread my hands. "As long as I have enough food, there’s no problem!"

"Knew you'd say that," Long Qi muttered impatiently. "We weren't counting on you preparing anything." Long Qi then turned to Jin Hong. "How about you? See if you need anything and hurry to get it before we leave tomorrow morning!"

"I'm all set," Jin Hong replied proudly, patting her spatial pack. "Everything needed was prepared long ago!"

"That's good then," Long Xin finally finished her tasks and sat down. "Now, I'll explain this mission!" Long Xin instinctively glanced at me. "I took over a dozen quests this time! Mostly gathering things like core essences from mutated beasts!"

"So, just like we did in the Skeleton Cave before?" I brightened up.

"Precisely," Long Xin confirmed. "It would be a waste not to use your amazing treasure."

"..." Jin Hong looked confused. "What are you two talking about?"

"You'll know when the time comes," Long Zhan replied mysteriously, which only made Jin Hong more curious.

"As for Dong Bao's commission, we'll decide based on the situation then," Long Qi added. "The Centipede Cave isn't the Skeleton Cave. We won't know if Xing Chen can maintain the same high efficiency in combat until we get there."

"Heh heh, as long as we grasp their weaknesses, it shouldn't be difficult, right?" I murmured to myself.

"Knew you'd say that," Long Qi responded. "Now, I'll detail the main characteristics and weaknesses of the various monsters within the Centipede Cave."

Long Qi pulled out a thick notebook from his robes and opened it. "This was summarized by many seniors who trained in the Centipede Cave! First, the entrance level, the Eastern Section of the Centipede Cave, is the training ground for most mid-level Rangers. This area is mainly populated by mutated creatures such as Centipedes, Black Maggots, Worms, and Jumping Bees. Other than the Maggots, whose defense and speed are quite high, the others don't have anything particularly special about them—though, of course, that’s based on the opinions of those seniors." Long Qi cautioned, "For novices like us, just promoted to mid-level Ranger, any single species here could easily kill us."

"I won't waste time on pleasantries," Long Qi continued. "In short: be cautious. Secondly, their weaknesses. The Centipedes, Jumping Bees, and Worms all have relatively weak defenses. With our attack power, killing them won't be hard, and they all die if their heads are severed—not much different from the Skeleton Warriors!" Long Qi subconsciously looked at me. "However, given their size, aiming accurately for the head is difficult, and I don't think it's necessary."

"Mm," Long Zhan added. "Their defense is actually slightly lower than that of the Skeleton Warrior. Given the nature of your blade techniques, even without intentionally aiming for the head, you can slice them in half."

"That's right," Long Qi nodded slightly. "The Centipedes, Jumping Bees, and Worms are manageable. The one to watch out for is the Black Maggot. This creature has both high speed and high defense, and its weakness is not its head! I say this not because severing its head is useless, but because the Black Maggot’s head is very small, only about the size of a human fist, and it moves too fast to easily decapitate. Of course, slicing off its head while moving at high speed would certainly prove your skill!"

"Heh heh! That sounds like a challenge!" I felt impatient.

"This fellow," Long Zhan grumbled.

"Normally, experienced seniors choose to attack their bellies," Long Qi explained. "Of course, if you have enough power, you can simply cleave through its outer shell to kill it. Compared to its armor, its stomach is relatively soft. However, its attack method is peculiar: it coils into a ball, using its body as an axis, and attacks by rolling like a wheel. Because of this, its belly is often well hidden! This means you must strike its stomach before it initiates the roll. Once it starts rolling, your only option is to clash head-on!"

"Does it pause after initiating an attack?" I asked. "I mean, does its belly stay coiled up the entire time?"

"Usually, each rolling impact covers about ten meters. This means after moving ten meters, it must stop to build up momentum for the next strike, requiring it to stretch out. That moment is when its belly is exposed!"

"Understood," I nodded.

"As for the Pincer Worm, its defense is even stronger than the Black Maggot's, though its speed isn't as exaggerated as the Maggot's. Simply put, there’s no way to kill a Pincer Worm without forcefully cleaving through its armor!" Long Qi’s expression grew solemn. "Therefore, before mastering the Assassination Sword Qi, killing one with only Attack Sword Qi is extremely difficult. Our plan is to train in the Eastern Section of the Dungeon until we master the Assassination Sword Qi, and only then will we proceed to the West Section."

"Let's do that," I agreed.