Eastern Sea.
Pole Star Sea.
Situated along the coastal boundary, this vast stretch of sea was riddled with submerged reefs and whirlpools, and merchant ships seldom passed through.
Its location left it shrouded in extreme storms all day long. Even sea beasts were scarce; aside from a few powerful specimens, ordinary sea beasts rarely ventured into its waters.
Boom!
Deafening thunder rolled incessantly across the sky. Bolts of lightning as thick as dragons tore through the dark canopy of gathered storm clouds, briefly illuminating the sea.
Two figures hovered in the air amid the raging thunderstorm.
The man in front had black hair and one eye, a powerful build, and a chin covered in unkempt stubble. His expression was cold and hard, and danger radiated from his entire body, instinctively making others want to keep their distance.
He was none other than Xia Houqi, the Hanhai City Lord whose fearsome reputation spread far and wide.
Beside him stood someone even more brawny, nearly three meters tall, with broad hands and feet and long yellow hair covering his entire body. Apart from a strip of unidentified beast hide tied around his waist, he wore nothing at all. His thick hair looked almost like an extra robe, though he more closely resembled an uncivilized savage.
His features were hideously ugly. Were it not for his many human traits, he would have looked more like a muscular humanoid demon beast.
At that moment, this humanoid demon beast had his eyes shut, his upturned nose-as large as an ordinary man's fist-sniffing for something.
His ears stood erect as well, swiveling slowly as he carefully searched.
After a long while, he opened his eyes, revealing ocher vertical pupils, and a cruel smile appeared on his face.
"Well, Shi Bao? Have you found them?"
Xia Houqi