The Path to Death

Shurima Sand Thieves are a group of thieves who sprang up at an astonishing rate after the Empire lost its golden bloodline.

These bandits revered strength and relied entirely on violence for survival, not trade.

These groups of raiders often disguise themselves and blend into the environment, luring unsuspecting travelers into their traps before killing and robbing them.

Because of Shurima's extremely harsh natural conditions, coupled with the depletion of the Dawn Oasis after the Shurima Collapse, when food is scarce, Sand Bandit will resort to cannibalism without any restraint in order to survive.

Among them, the Shakaar were the most famous nomadic people who lived by raiding.

These Sand Bandit are known for their agility and are equipped with reinforced bone plates and long-handled weapons resembling oars or harpoons. Born in the desert, they possess a natural affinity for this type of environment.

Just like now, the wind of the desert propelled their bodies, and their feet clad in crescent-shaped bone skates. The dozen or so people were like piranhas in the yellow sand, rushing toward Yuan Chen, their prey, at a terrifying speed.

Upon seeing the arrival of the Sand Bandit, Yuan Chen raised an eyebrow in surprise. How should I put it? Things had gone smoothly for him in the past, leading Yuan Chen to believe that Runeterra was a peaceful and harmonious place where everyone was a civilized and harmonious family.

But now, upon closer reflection, Runeterra seems to have always been a world where the winner takes all, and whoever has the biggest Riot Games is right.

Thinking it over, Yuan Chen also took a deep breath, his eyes showing little hesitation.

If the former Yuan Chen believed in uniting all forces that could be united, then for the current Yuan Chen, making the murderers pay the price is the ultimate principle.

Or, if even the most basic moral principles like "a life for a life" and "debts must be repaid" are abandoned, then Runeterra might as well be destroyed outright.

Now, sensing the killing intent of the Sand Bandit, Yuan Chen did not attempt to attack by manipulating the rocks and soil. Instead, he calmed down and began to think about what the warrior monks of Hirana Monastery would do.

The task of killing the other party should fall to the enemy. As for now, although these Sand Bandit are enemies, in Yuan Chen's view, they are far from being someone who needs to be dealt with seriously.

In fact, without even using Scout Skill, Yuan Chen could determine that these Sand Bandit were at most between level two and three, meaning that their leader possessed level four strength.

If that's the case, then it is cultivation.

The Dragon's Eye, the Dragon's Scale, the Dragon's Horn, the Dragon's Tail, the Dragon's Claw...

Just as Yuan Chen was meditating with his eyes closed, the Sand Bandit on the other side saw Yuan Chen take a fighting stance. At first, they were startled and prepared for battle. But as they got closer and saw that Yuan Chen had actually closed his eyes, one after another they couldn't help but burst into laughter.

With helmets and masks providing cover, they weren't worried about sand getting into their mouths.

Looking in the direction of Yuan Chen, a young Sand Bandit lowered his center of gravity and spread his arms to maximize the wind's propulsion, his feet constantly crossing like a short track speed skater.

"Haha! This poor lone guy is mine! His clothes look good! I should be able to get a good amount of money from them!"

Upon hearing the boy's words, the Sand Bandit chuckled softly, showing no intention of robbing him, and continued gliding at a steady pace across the sand. Only their leader seemed to sense something and frowned.

But when he looked up and confirmed that there was no one around, it wasn't a trap, there was no support, and besides, the Singing Valley was the territory of the Shakaar tribe...

Thinking it over, the leader said, "Then let's see what you've got! Oshan, let him know what price he'll pay to enter the Singing Valley!"

As the bandit leader spoke, the desert wind began to pick up. Although there was some distance between them, Yuan Chen could still clearly hear the sound of the wind passing through the cracks in the rocks, which sounded like a song.

The Singing Valley is a unique landform located in the border mountains of Icathia. Over thousands of years, the desert winds have eroded the rock face, creating numerous cavities that produce a mournful whistling sound when strong winds blow through it, hence the name.

The environment in Shurima changes drastically between day and night. It's fine during the day, but the wind picks up dramatically at night. Under these conditions, the loud whistling of the wind can drown out almost all other sounds, and can even cause tinnitus and hearing loss.

Careless travelers will fall into the hands of deaf raiders who roam the night, becoming lambs to the slaughter.

Although it wasn't nighttime, Yuan Chen's attire didn't look like that of Shurima Sandman at all—at least, Sandmen wouldn't wear such heavy, stuffy, non-breathable iron boots that couldn't glide on the yellow sand and were extremely easy to get stuck in!

"Haha! I'm here!"

The young bandit laughed. Although he was young, the moment Yuan Chen saw into his eyes, he sensed the cruelty and violence that showed he disregarded any responsibility.

There's no need to teach these kinds of people; the world doesn't have that much time to wait for them to truly repent!

While he was thinking, the boy had already arrived in front of Yuan Chen with astonishing speed. He gripped the spear in his hand and leaped up, like a swift swordfish leaping out of the water. The long and tough bone spear, which resembled a fish spear, extended along with the boy as he soared into the air, leaving a dark afterimage in the air.

Almost everyone had seen Yuan Chen's figure pierced by the spear, and hung on it like a rag doll, then thrown to the side onto the sand, where it rolled and exploded in a large patch of blood!

But before the excitement in people's eyes could subside, Yuan Chen exhaled a heavy breath of turbid air, and dark red, dragon-scale-like armor of qi and blood surged from his body.

His once slender body bulged with muscles, one bulge after another connecting into one, and almost without pause, he unleashed a powerful punch—BOOM!!!

An explosion erupted in the air! The surging energy flashed past like a blur, so fast that almost no one could see the trajectory of the attack. Immediately afterward, the upper body of the young Sand Bandit, who was still two meters away from Yuan Chen, exploded as if he had been hit head-on by a cannonball!

"Ha!"

With a low growl, the boy's still-erect body was smashed to pieces by the impact of the sound wave.

Panting heavily, Yuan Chen took a step forward, the soft yellow sand beneath his feet feeling like rubber. After only a brief pause, he transformed into a cannonball, a blur of motion, and charged head-on towards the group of Sand Bandit!