Neisse, the third level of hell, was known as "Burning Metropolis" by the sorcerers of the main material world.
In this seemingly boundless hell, there were no plains, mountains, rivers, hills, or wastelands. There was only a magnificent city made of iron. However, the fire below the ground burned incessantly, and even the iron would be burnt. More iron buildings were red and hot, making the pale ghosts that approached them sizzle and smoke, as if they would be "vaporized" at any moment.
The suffocating smoke covered the sky, and all kinds of devils walked in the iron city. They were orderly, but they treated every soul that entered hell and the captive demons cruelly.
It was said that below the Burning Metropolis, in the infinite fire, was an enormous prison where different intelligent creatures were locked. The most direct proof was that when one walked on the scorching ground, one would often hear moans and screams of unknown origins.
A team of imps pushed a bunch of pale and fuzzy souls to the tower at the center of the Burning Metropolis. Now and then, they waved their special whips, whipping the souls that had entered hell until they screamed in pain. The more painful they were, the more excited the imps were.
"No wonder the customs after death prevail, and no wonder the Saint Truth spreads so quickly …" In an enormous business team, Lucien, who did not change his appearance and clothes, sighed with interest and pity. This was the first time that he had entered hell.
According to the studies of the Congress of Magic in the past, after a person died, their soul would perish on the spot without special methods. However, in the Nether River that connected hell and abyss, souls would float, but they would lose their memories and faces, and it would be impossible to tell who was who. Those souls, in hell and abyss, would either degenerate into devils and demons, or be made into "soul gems" that could perform special magic or supernatural abilities. They were the hard currency of hell, or they would gradually collapse and completely vanish.
As for the nature of the soul, how it was created, and where it came from, it was still a puzzle in arcana studies so far.
However, after discovering the World of Souls, the arcanists had reason to believe that the World of Souls was one of the "destinations" of the souls. If the customs after death could form corresponding spaces in the Realm of Gates, some of the souls with strong wishes and willpower would be able to enter.
Perhaps because he felt sorry for his own kind, Lucien had an idea. After the Congress crushed the Saint Truth in the main material world, it would be necessary for them to control hell while they explored the vast space and other dimensions. Of course, with the Congress' current strength and enemies, it was impossible for them to realize the goal for a long time.
"Including hell under the Congress' reign is something that the ancient Magic Empire never dared to dream about …" Lucien walked on the street unsteadily. The stones on the road were all red and hot. If an egg was cracked, it would be burnt immediately. Except for the devils born in fire, even the Knight could not bear such high temperature and burning for a long time. That was why the souls and captives were so painful.
The business team that Lucien was in was an "Otherworldly Trading Group" organized by the Congress of Magic. They were here for "business" openly. After all, devils were not "saints" who did not need food, resources, and all kinds of enjoyment. They also needed the resources that hell did not have to forge weapons, improve their strength, and maintain their luxurious life. Therefore, they would entrust a few followers of devils to help them collect resources in the main material world and make fair deals with them.
Obviously, sorcerers who were adept at collecting and alchemy were involved in such a business. Also, the Congress of Magic needed the special materials that could only be produced in hell. Also, controlling such deals could help to limit the expansion of the devils' strength, in case some greedy guys provided strategic resources for wealth, strength, and the comfort of souls after death.
Of course, it was also because of such deals that the sorcerers in the past were even more evil.
Two devils with dark red skin greeted them from another street and kicked away a human soul. Then, they said to the leaders of the "Trading Group" respectfully, "Honorable sorcerers, His Excellency the Duke is waiting for your goods."
For the guests of the Iron Duke, the demons dared not offend the Iron Duke at all, or they might be given to the sorcerers as trade items by the Duke. Demons were all "materials", and they could be summoned and servants. Therefore, when they faced the common souls of human beings and this human trading group, they were completely different.
Hit, the leader of the "Trading Group", nodded his head proudly. Then, he turned around and smiled at Lucien. "Your Excellency, are you going to the Iron Tower?"
As a senior-rank sorcerer, how could he not know the famous' Atom Controller ',' Destroyer of Worldviews', and the grand arcanist Lucien Evans?
Raising his head and looking at the red tower at the center of the Burning Metropolis, Lucien smiled and said, "I'm not going. The Iron Duke probably doesn't want to see me."
At the top of the "Iron Tower", the Iron Duke, who was entirely black, looked down solemnly. A top legend who had caused the death of many legends was certainly not a good "guest". It was especially so for him, who was only level-two of legendary and could only resist level-three legendary with the Burning Metropolis.
"If there's anything, Your Excellency, you can reach out to Colin of 'Soul Scales'." Hit did not say anything. It was not a wise thing to ask the whereabouts of a grand arcanist recklessly.
"Soul Scales" was an "alchemy cabin" that the Congress of Magic established in the Burning Metropolis.
Lucien nodded his head and soon melted into the devils and the few "merchants" who were coming and going in the Iron Giant City.
"The Lord of Hell should've known that I've come to hell. Will he stop me?" Lucien was very clear that hell was sort of the incarnation of the Lord of Hell. However he snuck into hell, it would be barely possible for him to hide his traces from Maltimus. So, he might as well come in openly. "Next, I'll go to the Silent Hell on the eighth floor and see if I can find the special Stellar Core. I'll indirectly test Maltimus' attitude. Then, I'll enter the primeval hell below the ninth floor."
Hardly had the idea occurred to him when Lucien suddenly sensed something. He turned around and looked at the other side of the street, only to see a young man with a satisfied smile walking to the edge of the Burning Metropolis with a bag of materials.
The only living people here were the sorcerers who came to trade and a few devil believers. Therefore, the young man was undoubtedly a soul, which could be seen from his floating and translucent body.
However, the souls in hell were either muddle-headed or full of hatred and malice. None of them could maintain a normal state of intelligence. This young man's soul, however, was as bright as the sun, giving Lucien the feeling that he was still 'alive'.
"I also 'smell' the scent of the Silent Hell. Did he come to the Burning Metropolis for trade from there?" Lucien speculated.
The Burning Metropolis was the "window" for the trade of hell. For various reasons, the other floors of hell only carried out certain secret trades.
Realizing that the weird young man's soul came from the Silent Hell, Lucien, whose arcana curiosity was triggered, followed him, intending to see where exactly he was going.
"Grandpa, grandpa, here are the 'Stone of Evil Souls', 'Elvish Leaves', and 'Scorching Volcano Steel' that you asked for." The young man turned into a very remote place in the Burning Metropolis. Even the devils barely visited this place.
Outside of an iron building that was enshrouded in fire, a haggard old man was standing there with a cane. In front of him were bottles of "Fire Liquor" that the devils loved best. He seemed to be a tavern owner who had come to Burning Metropolis to "purchase" goods.
A human being? Lucien was slightly stunned. Were there any human beings living in hell who were not torn apart and eaten by the devils?
Right when Lucien was about to unfold his spiritual power and see if the old man was covered by any magic, he suddenly raised his head. "Maman, why didn't you tell me that you brought a guest?"
"Young man" Maman turned around in shock and happened to see Lucien who was not hiding his traces. "I … I don't know him …"
"Excuse me, but I happened to want to know your grandpa, so I followed you here," said Lucien casually.
Maman scratched his head in confusion and shyness. "My grandpa is just a common tavern owner. There's nothing special about him. You may have mistaken him for someone else."
"A common tavern owner?" Lucien was amused. It was indeed common in the main material world, but this was hell.
The slender old man bent and sorted the Fire Liquor. He looked at the 'young man' with his dirty eyes and said, "Maman, buy another hundred bottles of 'Water Soul Liquor' and send them to the old place."
Maman nodded and ran away delightedly.
"A very special soul …" Lucien said softly.
The old man's eyes suddenly glittered. "What do you want?"
"Nothing. I'm just curious." Lucien smiled. "I mean no harm. If you are from the Silent Hell, allow me to ask something."
The old man eyed Lucien up and down. "Are you a sorcerer? Judging from your clothes, you should be from the Congress of Magic. Didn't Douglas teach you not to take risks in hell? "
"Do you know Mr. President?" Lucien raised his left eyebrow. Judging from his tone, he did not seem to know that Mr. President had already become a demigod.
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