I Ascend to the Divine Throne through Arcane Means
Chapter 919 - 557: Gur Festival?

Ihelos City,

Lis and Taya stood outside the gates of this small oasis town, surveying its surroundings.

Upon learning that the town was shrouded in a legendary illusion, Lis was eager to complete a specific task in this area to receive the final reward, but he carefully gathered information about the city.

Lis sent his Mirror Body Avatar into the city for exploration but didn't sense anything amiss.

From what the avatar observed in this small city, Lis felt it seemed no different from other oasis towns encountered during the journey.

It even lacked anything special, as if it were truly just an ordinary, plain town.

Where exactly was the problem?

Lis was somewhat baffled but still decided to enter the city for a look.

After all, the secret realm couldn't prevent Lis from leaving. If anything seemed off after entering, Lis could leave with Taya at any time.

Approaching the gate, the guards at the entrance appraised Lis and Taya, then spoke to Lis:

"Two Gold Coins entry tax."

"So expensive?"

Lis frowned and said to the guard:

"We're minstrels from Ambundo City and don't have much savings."

"And it's just entering the city, why would it cost two Gold Coins? Other oases charge at most around ten Copper Coins?"

"It's the rule; you can't enter Ihelos City without paying the entry tax."

"That's too expensive. Could it be cheaper?"

"How about I play a tune for you?"

Lis looked pained, as if reluctant to pay the two Gold Coin entry tax, haggling with the city guards.

At that moment, another caravan seemed to want to enter the city for supplies but was equally shocked by the steep entry tax.

"Our caravan has so many people; if each person pays one Gold Coin, wouldn't that be over a hundred Gold Coins for just this fee?"

"Where else is it priced like this?"

"We only want to enter the city for supplies and purchases. Is it really this price?"

The caravan manager looked in disbelief at the stern-faced city guards in front of him, his words full of undisguised surprise.

"Pay if you want; leave if you don't."

"Am I begging you to enter the city?"

Another city guard stood before the caravan manager, unwilling to offer further explanations, speaking coldly.

"Really... obsessed with money!"

"Is the City Lord here not managing this?"

The caravan manager felt frustrated, his face extremely grim.

He believed these city guards were deliberately causing trouble, trying to exploit money without cost, but felt helpless.

After all, they were the local tyrants here; why would anyone truly want to confront them?

Even the City Lord of this city might initially side with his subordinates.

Now the manager wanted to leave with his people, but considering the caravan's supplies were indeed lacking, initially surprised by this oasis not marked on maps, now it seemed little different from robbers.

If it were only about water, they could obtain it directly from the small lake outside the city, but food wasn't as straightforward.

After some thought, the caravan manager reluctantly had a few others rest outside the city, and with a few people paid the entry tax and went in for supplies.

"Hmph!"

The tall guard before Lis seemed impatient, no longer speaking much, flicking his steel Long Spear with a cold snort.

Lis's words stalled, and he reluctantly took out two Gold Coins from his pocket, hesitantly handing them to the guard before him.

The guard looked at Lis in some surprise, not expecting the person haggling moments ago to actually pay such an expensive entry tax.

However, since they were from Ambundo City, these two people's appearance and attire seemed quite extraordinary, perhaps it was just their stingy nature.

The guard waved them inside, allowing Lis and Taya to enter the city.

Lis led Taya into the small city, the pained expression on his face instantly fading.

Earlier, he had used Stealth when sending his Mirror Body Avatar into the city, so he was truly unaware of the entry tax situation.

Lis naturally wasn't distressed over the two Gold Coins but rather curious about the abnormal entry tax.

If it were just an oasis encountered during the journey, Lis wouldn't mind, considering his wealth wouldn't be an issue even for multiple payments.

But regarding this collaborative small city, Lis was now certain there was a significant issue within.

Otherwise, this secret realm wouldn't be called [The Town Frozen in Time].

This little town named Ihelos, where time was stagnant, or due to other anomalies?

Such an expensive entry tax was truly difficult for normal desert travelers to accept.

Even for caravans specifically navigating the desert oases, this price was hard to swallow.

However, the few guards earlier were only Silver Rank Professionals, and the whole city didn't have any special defensive arrangements.

Otherwise, Lis's Mirror Body Avatar wouldn't have slipped inside so easily, not detecting any defensive or warning measures.

Therefore, was the "expensive" entry tax intended to actively deter unrelated persons?

Lis had a little conjecture in his mind but wasn't overly worried, feeling rather excited.

Not afraid of anomalies, just afraid of not finding the issue.

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