Habitually ruffling Xi Guang's head, Jiang Xiao watched the arrogant Viper Clan member named Gulab on the terminal screen, the corners of his mouth slowly lifting.
"Let your death serve as the opening act of this grand show."
The next day, noon.
The Wicked Soul Market welcomed an unprecedentedly lively scene, even bringing several times more traffic to the Yuanjin Black Market below!
Hundreds of Viper Gang members maintained order under the leadership of the Seventh Hall Master. Besides them, major gangs with close ties to the Viper Gang, such as the Blade Armor Gang and the Dragon Fang Gang, had sent more than a dozen Tier 2 Regular Martial Artists and two Tier 2 Elites to assist the Seventh Hall Master.
This was not merely the Viper Gang's affair. It was a major event for every gang in the Sin City Council faction!
The Black Mech Gang had fought the Sin City Council for decades. This was the first time they had extended their reach into Black Mech Gang territory, so it could not be taken lightly.
The shops inside the Wicked Soul Market had been roughly renovated and repainted in the brown, barbaric style characteristic of the Viper Gang. The shops once attacked by the Old Capital Killing God looked brand-new again.
Since the market had not yet officially opened, most alien races were waiting outside.
At this moment, only the Viper Gang's Seventh Hall Master and the hall masters of two other major gangs were inside the Wicked Soul Market, conducting a final inspection to prevent the Black Mech Gang from setting traps.
Landmine traps and concealed bombs were the Black Mech Gang's favorite methods. They had suffered from them plenty of times over the years!
There were three Tier 2 Elites. The hall master from the Blade Armor Gang was a veteran elite martial artist, and his strength surpassed that of the Viper Gang's Seventh Hall Master by a clear margin.
The three hall masters soon finished their inspection and arrived at the center of the market, waiting respectfully.
Not long afterward, the sound of chains rang out. The three of them looked up toward the noise.
Gulab's tower-like figure slowly approached. Behind him, more than a dozen gang members each dragged an iron cage containing a raggedly dressed, slightly plump human.
Some of the humans trembled uncontrollably, their faces filled with terror. Others had numb expressions, their eyes devoid of the slightest glimmer.
Most of the numb-looking humans were missing an arm or a leg...
"How many major gangs have come?" Gulab asked the Seventh Hall Master indifferently.
The Seventh Hall Master immediately replied, "Thirteen, Second Master. Three of them are neutral, and one used to lean toward the Black Mech Gang."
"Ah... It seems things will be quite lively this time. So many familiar scents."
"Second Master, the surrounding gangs heard you were coming and all wanted to witness your strength. At least twenty thousand creatures of various races have come to watch," the Seventh Hall Master said with an ingratiating smile.
The Blade Armor Gang's hall master sneered inwardly. Everyone said the Viper Clan were all brawny brutes, but it seemed that was not entirely true.
The Blade Armor Hall Master then congratulated him. "Congratulations on taking over the Wicked Soul Market, Second Master. Today, I must bask in your good fortune."
The Dragon Fang Hall Master, whose four arms and four legs supported an upper body resembling a walrus, held it in for a long while before finally speaking.
"Same here!"
Gulab remained indifferent. Ignoring the three men's flattery, he narrowed his eyes. "Today, the Old Capital Killing God may have mixed into this crowd of various races. Pay close attention.
"Inspect anyone dressed too heavily or concealing their figure. Don't let a single one through!"
"U-understood!"
The three had heard about this long ago and showed no surprise.
It was only the Old Capital Killing God. With the Viper Gang's second-in-command here, he could not stir up much trouble.
Gulab walked outside.
"In that case, don't keep our friends waiting. Make the preparations and begin the opening ceremony."
"Yes, sir!"
Outside the Wicked Soul Market, a dense mass of creatures crowded a vast open area. All kinds of races milled about and craned their necks to look around, while curses and howls rang out in every direction.
Under the Viper Gang's supervision, they maintained the bare minimum of order, and no armed conflict broke out.
Suddenly, the crowd erupted. The Viper Clan from the wilderness and various parts of Sin Capital cheered the loudest.
"Second Master Viper!"
"I can't believe we're actually going to see a Tier 2 Peak powerhouse!"
"I wonder whether the Black Mech Gang has some scheme planned. But even if they do, they shouldn't strike here, right? So many major and mid-sized gangs have gathered, and quite a few are neutral."
"Who knows? We'd better stand farther away."
"Hmph, relax. Martial artists from the Sin City Council are stationed at every high point within ten kilometers. Nothing can happen."
On Prison Star, whenever a weapon with a range exceeding ten kilometers appeared, the Defense Ship within the star would immediately descend and erase both the weapon's creator and their entire faction.
Gulab arrived on the raised platform in front of the Wicked Soul Market and swept his gaze over the noisy criminals.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Boom!!
The next moment, a Source Energy Aura that was almost tangible erupted. The concrete beneath his feet, covering an area several meters wide, cracked apart layer by layer and crumbled into dust. The terrifying might of the two-zhang-high aura spread in every direction!
The entire scene fell silent.
Powerful Source Energy Intensity represented a higher degree of Life Strength. The resulting pressure from a superior level made the bones of many alien criminals turn weak.
Facing the criminals sunk in dead silence, Gulab said calmly:
"The Wicked Soul Market now belongs entirely to the Viper Gang and the Sin City Council. Any gang within ten kilometers that comes here to spend will receive a twenty-percent discount.
"The Viper Gang guarantees that what happened under the Mech Martial Gang will never happen again!"
Gulab did not understand rhetoric, nor did he need to. He finished speaking simply and decisively.
He raised a hand and beckoned.
Then, under the curious gazes of all the criminals, more than a dozen iron cages were hung from the fourth floor of the Wicked Soul Market, swaying like wind chimes.
Seeing the plump, delicious-looking humans inside, many Viper Clan and Blade Armor Race members revealed greedy expressions and swallowed hard.
Gulab sneered. "Old Capital Killing God, I know you're watching. A lowly rat and piece of trash like you only dares hide in the shadows in front of me, afraid to show your face."
Gulab raised a long saber and pointed it at one of the humans.
His tone was vicious. "Watch closely. These human livestock are the sacrifices of my Viper Gang today. I'll dismember them piece by piece and distribute them among the distinguished guests here!
"Humans are fit only to be food for my Viper Clan!"
As he spoke, he was about to bring the saber down.
Suddenly, Gulab's ear twitched, and he abruptly looked to the left.
The creatures of various races there seemed to have seen something terrifying and suddenly fell into a commotion. Amid their cries of alarm, the dense crowd of criminals panicked and opened a passage.
Then Gulab saw it: in the passage formed by the dispersing criminals,
a human wearing pitch-black goggles and carrying a Chainsaw Sword was walking toward him from the distance, neither hurried nor slow.
The hall masters of the three major gangs froze for a moment.
The crowd of criminals fell even quieter.
They had never expected the Old Capital Killing God to actually appear today!
They began to panic, afraid that the Old Capital Killing God would suddenly attack indiscriminately.
They were even more afraid that Gulab's fury would spill over onto them.
They watched as the Old Capital Killing God walked to within several dozen meters of Gulab, raised his Chainsaw Sword without the slightest fear, and pointed it at him with disdain.
"Tsk, tsk. Like father, like son. You're just as ugly as your two good-for-nothing sons. Only after you die will my eyes be clean for a while."
"Good, good, good! Good! I can't believe you actually dared to face me head-on. What nerve!"
Gulab flew into a rage, the aura around his entire body swelling explosively.
"Die!!"
"Run!"
Someone shouted, and the countless criminals at the scene instantly descended into chaos!
They had heard of the power of Tier 2 Peak experts. In a death match between two such powerhouses, the shockwaves alone were enough to kill them!
Now Is the Time to Hunt (4.5k)
Gulab's roar shook the Wicked Soul Market. His Tier 2 Peak Source Energy Aura erupted like a volcano, and the enormous platform completely collapsed beneath the berserk Source Energy impact.
Broken stones flew everywhere. His figure became a brown blur as his long saber shattered the air, wrapped in a shrill whistle as it cleaved straight toward Jiang Xiao's skull!
"Die—!"
Spirit Energy and Source Energy surged through Jiang Xiao's body simultaneously. The powerful judgment and bodily control granted by Datafication allowed him to evade the attack by the narrowest of margins!
The saber's momentum did not lessen. Its powerful Source Energy edge carved a trench more than ten meters long into the ground, crushing more than a dozen criminals who had failed to react in time into bloody pulp.
Even more terrified cries swept across the open ground. The criminals who had been cheering moments ago now frantically tried to flee, and countless of them were trampled to death.
Jiang Xiao narrowly dodged and stared at the enraged Gulab.
Gulab (35% Golden Snake Man Gene) Level: Tier 2 Peak Talent Value (Source Energy): 1.89 Source Energy Intensity: 97 Spirit Energy Intensity: 3
As expected of a Tier 2 Peak expert. Even within Tier 2, the gap between an Ordinary Tier 2 and a Tier 2 Peak was still a chasm!
Jiang Xiao knew very well that if he fought his opponent head-on, he probably could not withstand even three moves!
The difference in physical strength alone was several times over, let alone their Source Energy Intensity. Such a gap was far beyond what this slight advantage in Talent Value could make up for.
"Tsk, tsk. You really look like a stray dog running wild by the roadside. You're exactly the same as your two sons."
Jiang Xiao was completely unafraid and continued taunting him. Gulab grew even angrier, and his terrifying Source Energy Aura surged once more!
Gulab had thought that the Old Capital Killing God's brazen appearance meant he had some kind of trump card. But after that probing strike, he had not expected Jiang Xiao to truly have no hidden ace prepared!
The only weapon visible on his entire body was that Chainsaw Sword, along with those infuriating goggles.
"I'll crush your bones one by one and record your dying screams, then spread them throughout all of Sin Capital!" Gulab swung his saber repeatedly, his furious voice squeezed out between his teeth.
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