Volume 1, Chapter 32: Destination, E City!

The sub-lieutenant scrutinized Li Hexuan for a moment before continuing, "Aside from some insignificant small gangs, a leader of a civilian faction named Chen Hao has recently entered the sphere of influence of City E with his people. This man is quite powerful and acts with great arrogance; he has already clashed with several other groups."

Chen Hao!

Li Hexuan’s composure shattered for a brief second. This viper had indeed caught the scent and followed.

Upon hearing the name Chen Hao, Zhang Nan and Su Mengyi felt their hearts tighten.

"Thank you for the warning," Li Hexuan nodded, revealing little. "We will be careful."

Seeing that Li Hexuan possessed remarkable strength and appeared to have no malicious intent, the sub-lieutenant stopped questioning them. "In that case, decide your destination as you see fit. But remember, within the boundaries of City E, it is best to abide by the rules set by our military, or you will bear the consequences yourself."

"Understood."

Following their brief exchange, the military patrol did not linger. They quickly turned their boat around and resumed their patrol duties. However, before departing, the young sub-lieutenant glanced at Li Hexuan once more, his expression enigmatic.

Watching the departing patrol boat, Zhang Nan spat on the ground. "Pah! What’s so high and mighty about them! If you hadn't shown them a thing or two, Brother Xuan, who knows how they would have acted!"

Su Mengyi looked worried. "Mr. Li, the military has established a shelter in City E. This is for us..."

"Both an opportunity and a challenge," Li Hexuan interrupted, gazing toward the center of City E. There, the silhouette of a colossal tower rising into the sky was vaguely visible, emanating a chilling sense of oppression even through the thick fog.

"Chen Hao has arrived before us. It seems the waters of City E are even murkier than we anticipated." A cold arc curled the corners of Li Hexuan’s mouth. "But isn't that much more interesting?"

"Order the fleet to advance at full speed! Destination: City E!"

The military patrol boat vanished into the depths of the fog.

The three modified assault boats accelerated once again, cutting through the filthy, stagnant water as they headed straight for the heart of City E.

Most of the former industrial zone was submerged in water; broken chimneys, rusted factory buildings, and twisted steel skeletons formed a labyrinth on the water.

"Brother Xuan, there is movement from living people ahead."

One of the scouts spoke in a low voice.

Li Hexuan looked in the direction the team member was pointing.

Beside a relatively open stretch of water stood a crooked, abandoned pier, with several dilapidated small boats moored scattered about.

On the pier, figures were moving.

"Slow down and go take a look," Li Hexuan commanded.

As the assault boats drew near, the situation on the pier became clearer.

This was a small gathering point for survivors, resembling a crude black market.

Some people were trading scavenged supplies for food, fresh water, or ammunition.

The atmosphere was tense; everyone scanned their surroundings with vigilance, and the mix of people from various backgrounds was rife with mutual distrust.

"We need to replenish our fresh water," Su Mengyi whispered. Having traveled for so long, their drinking water supply had dwindled significantly.

Li Hexuan nodded, signaling two team members to join him and Zhang Nan on shore.

The four had barely stepped onto the swaying wooden pier when several men wearing their hats at a cocky angle, looking like thugs, surrounded them.

The leader was a man with a scarred face. He squinted at Li Hexuan and his group, his gaze lingering on their high-quality gear and the obviously modified assault boats behind them.

"Gentlemen, you look like new faces," the scarred man said, his smile not reaching his eyes. "This Xiangshui Bay Pier is the territory of the Blood Shark Gang. If you want to stop here or resupply, you have to show some respect. Pay a little 'toll,' and we can all get along."

Zhang Nan’s brow furrowed, and his fan-sized hand gripped the giant shield on his back.

"A toll? No one has ever dared to collect a toll from me anywhere I’ve gone!"

"Oh? Quite the temper!" a skinny man beside the scarred leader let out a strange laugh. "Kid, do you know who you’re talking to? Who doesn't tremble at the name of the Blood Shark Gang on the outskirts of City E?"

"I don't care if you're a Blood Shark or a Blood Pee-Shark!"

Zhang Nan despised bullies. He took a step forward, and the ground shook.

His hulking frame and fierce aura caused the small fry to instinctively retreat half a step.

"Damn it, if you won't take a hint, then don't!" The scarred man’s expression darkened, revealing a murderous look. "Brothers, show them what we're made of!"

Before the words were out, the thugs lunged forward, wildly swinging rusted steel pipes and machetes.

"A bunch of trash!"

Zhang Nan roared, not dodging or blocking, but meeting them head-on.

He didn't even use his giant shield, simply striking out with his fists.

*Thud! Thud! Snap!*

The dull sound of fists hitting flesh and the crisp sound of breaking bones followed one after another.

In the blink of an eye, the Blood Shark Gang members who had rushed forward were sprawling on the ground, clutching their broken limbs and wailing, unable to climb back up.

"Stop!"

An angry shout came from a makeshift shed behind the pier.

The crowd parted automatically, and a burly man with a thick neck and an exceptionally massive build stepped out.

He was shirtless, revealing knotted muscles and a hideous shark tattoo. He carried a machete over half a meter long, stained with dark red blood, and radiated a fierce, violent aura.

"Damn it, who dares to run wild on my turf!"

The burly man glared fiercely at Li Hexuan’s group, his eyes finally settling on Zhang Nan. Sensing the powerful energy fluctuations coming from him, his expression tightened slightly.

"So, you’re a practitioner. But you’ve beaten my dogs, so you’ll have to give me an explanation, won't you?"

This burly man was also an ability user. Though only at the initial stage, his strength-based ability combined with his naturally powerful physique made him a king in this chaotic border area.

Li Hexuan looked at him coldly.

"An explanation? Do you even deserve one?"

"Kid, you’re very arrogant!"

The Blood Shark Gang leader laughed in rage, pointing his machete at Li Hexuan.

"I am 'Blood Shark' Xu Gang, and what I say goes here in Xiangshui Bay! If you don't give me an account today, you can all stay here and feed the fish!"

As soon as Xu Gang finished speaking, he prepared to strike.

Li Hexuan, however, couldn't be bothered to look at him anymore and simply lifted his right index finger.

*Hiss—!*

A faint, almost imperceptible sound rang out.

Xu Gang felt a flash of blue light, and a violent shock hit the web of his hand holding the machete. An irresistible force surged through him; the blade was instantly torn from his grip, sent flying by an invisible force, and pinned into a wooden post over ten meters away with a *clang*, the handle still vibrating!

Immediately following this, an intense electric current surged through Xu Gang’s entire body!

"Urgh-ah—!"

Xu Gang let out a shrill scream, his body convulsing violently, his hair standing on end. Foaming at the mouth, he fell stiffly to the ground, his body continuing to twitch as he completely lost the ability to fight.

The entire pier fell into deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

The other members of the Blood Shark Gang were so terrified their souls left their bodies; their faces turned pale, and their weapons clattered to the ground as they scrambled backward, fearing they would be next.

The other survivors at the trading point looked at Li Hexuan with eyes that had shifted from their initial caution and scrutiny to deep awe and terror.

One move!

With just a single move, he had taken down Xu Gang, the notorious leader of the Blood Shark Gang!

Just how terrifying was this young man’s strength?