Fellow Sufferers in This World

Seven days had passed in the blink of an eye.

Deep within the endless desert, there was nothing but boundless yellow sand, not a trace of green in sight. From time to time, gusts of wind would sweep across, exposing half-buried bones that reeked of decay.

A sprawling sand dune stretched for thousands of miles, looming like a curtain that blocked out everything.

At the foot of the mountain, a group of people toiled with tools, mining ore. Some pushed heavy carts, while others swung long shovels. These were once-renowned supreme cultivators from various realms, now reduced to dust-covered laborers, their cultivation sealed away, forced to work like ordinary mortals.

Even the enforcement captain, shackled at the ankles, pushed a cart toward the mountain’s base.

Looking at Lin Ruowei—her face drained of color, her lips cracked from dryness—the captain couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity. Just seven days of hard labor with sealed cultivation had already stripped this peerless beauty of her former radiance.

Unable to bear it any longer, he whispered to her in a low voice.

"Miss Lin."

"There are no sentries around right now. You should rest for a while."

Lin Ruowei lifted her gaze at his words, a flicker of gratitude flashing in her eyes before vanishing.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Cheng."

"But those sentries possess extraordinary cultivation. Even if they aren’t nearby, they might still detect us. If I rest alone and cause everyone to be punished, how could I bear that?"

"Given our circumstances, we must endure together and persevere…"

Hearing this, her maidservant gritted her teeth and continued hauling ore.

Though her mistress’s voice was soft, it carried an extraordinary sense of resolve and foresight. The servant’s loyalty ran deep—this master-servant pair was truly remarkable.

Captain Cheng Yuxun nodded in admiration, sighing inwardly.

For such a prodigy to fall to such a state—what a cruel twist of fate.

Who could have imagined that the legendary Land of Fallen Gods would be so dark, so hellish?

As he loaded ore onto the cart, a sudden commotion erupted nearby.

A once-dashing young hero suddenly burst into hysterical laughter and tears!

"Damn it! Hahaha…!"

"The Land of Fallen Gods!"

"What a load of crap about the pinnacle of the Great Dao! I’ve been utterly fooled!!!"

Before long, the nearby sentries were alerted, dragging the man away into the void.

Watching this scene from afar, many couldn’t help but sigh.

They were no different—filled with bitterness and helplessness, feeling deceived by the world’s rumors, now trapped in this wretched fate!

If they’d known the truth, even a fool wouldn’t have come!

"Tch…!"

"Damn it…"

Amid the sighs and curses, the sounds of labor resumed.

As the man was dragged off and the sentries vanished again, most people’s attention was drawn away. Yet Lin Ruowei never looked up, her composure eerily unshaken.

Even among women, she was the one who could be relied upon.

Noticing her extraordinary demeanor, Captain Cheng’s eyes flickered with realization.

Seizing the chance while moving ore, he sidled closer and whispered again.

"Miss Lin…"

"To be honest, though I’ve never been to the Land of Fallen Gods before, one of my ancestors once lived here. So I know a little—the truth is nothing like the absurd ‘opportunity’ we were promised."

At this, Lin Ruowei’s delicate frame stiffened slightly.

Then she replied softly,

"I know."

"One of my ancestors also lived here for a long time."

The moment these words fell, Cheng Yuxun froze in place. Though he held a heavy chunk of ore, it suddenly felt weightless.

An indescribable shock spread through his heart.

No wonder.

No wonder this young lady had remained so composed, her demeanor surpassing her years—she had her own backing, already privy to some of the truth!

Cheng Yuxun’s spirits soared. Finding a kindred spirit in this dire situation was more reassuring than anything. Hope surged within him.

Lifting the ore, he suddenly felt lighter.

Leaning in, he whispered with renewed vigor,

"Since you know the truth, that’s excellent!"

"Being trapped here isn’t hopeless, nor is it our fate! If we can send word to our ancestors and explain everything, we’ll surely escape!"

"After that, reaching the pinnacle of the Great Dao won’t just be empty talk!"

The more he spoke, the more excited he became, as if strength had returned to his body.

Yet Lin Ruowei remained silent, focusing only on moving the ore.

By the time the cart was half-full, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Miss Lin, say something!"

In such dire straits, maintaining hope was already a feat. The captain, after all, was only human—his patience wore thin, his usual authority and calm long gone.

But Lin Ruowei only grew calmer.

As she placed another piece of ore, she glanced up discreetly.

"Fellow Daoist Cheng, what you say makes sense. But have you considered—how do we send word out?"

The question struck Cheng Yuxun like a thunderbolt!

With their cultivation sealed, they were no different from mortals. Sending messages or escaping was pure fantasy.

Sentries lurked everywhere—not even a bird could slip past. Straying beyond the permitted range meant certain death or mutilation.

How the hell were they supposed to send anything?!

Damn it…

There really was no way out!

Just as Cheng Yuxun stood there, dumbstruck, a distant figure seemed to glide across the horizon.