Please vote for me in October!!! …… The intense pain did not cause the black-clothed youth to panic. He gritted his teeth, forcing his facial muscles not to twitch from the agony, thinking inwardly, Calm down, you must stay calm!
Soon, his body was sliding downward, as if an aperture ahead possessed a powerful suction, drawing him in. When snakes feed, their throat and body contract and expand oddly, creating a strange vibration that generates suction internally.
Not far away, Ye Chen and the others watched the black-clothed youth being swallowed. They collectively let out a sigh of relief, knowing he had passed the most perilous phase. Many felt cold sweat prickling their palms; this method of hunting was utterly insane!
After the python had consumed the youth, a section of its thick, round body swelled slightly. It raised its head, glanced around, saw no other monsters nearby, and lay down quietly, making no coil. A snake coiling signifies encountering a powerful enemy, demanding full alertness.
Suddenly, the python’s body convulsed. It let out a roar, thrashed, and rose from the ground, writhing violently.
Slish!
A sharp dagger pierced through the python’s belly. The creature shuddered, wailed once, and crashed heavily onto the ground, twisting its body in a struggle of resentment. Before long, the dagger tore open a large gash, and a silhouette wriggled out, covered entirely in snake saliva and viscous mucus.
Seeing the black-clothed youth unharmed, Ye Chen and the others were overjoyed, then immediately raised their weapons and rushed forward, smashing the dying python’s head. Ye Chen glanced at the bleeding wound near the youth’s ankle scratched by the serpent’s fangs and said to the heavily bearded man, “Find some clean water to wash that, then soak it with spirits.”
The bearded man quickly nodded and ordered someone beside him, “Hurry up and find water and liquor.”
The assigned man walked toward the ruined high-rise nearby with a look of helplessness. In these undeveloped areas, useful items were often still scattered around—batteries, bottled spring water, strong liquor…
The bearded man looked at the finger-length gash near the youth’s ankle, expressing worry, “Will he be alright?”
Ye Chen’s expression was placid. “Relax, this isn’t a venomous python.”
The others began to divide the labor, skinning the snake’s scales and burying the blood in the soil, leaving a marker for the larger teams dealing with zombie insects later to collect.
The black-clothed youth washed himself quickly with clean water, then poured a bottle of slightly warmed strong liquor directly onto the wound. The fire-like, intense pain pulled at every nerve, and the veins on his forehead bulged horribly.
Once the liquor sterilized the wound, the swelling subsided, and he bandaged it with clean cloth.
“Let’s go!” Ye Chen led the group onward.
……
While Ye Chen and his team were opening up new territory, China’s Base City was in an uproar. People bustled through the streets; it seemed this was the only place left where a trace of the former atmosphere could be found.
After receiving Ye Chen’s communication, Xu Tianguo ordered his subordinates to aggressively gather materials, setting up collection stations throughout the city to gather steel, construction workers, architectural designers, researchers, and more.
Many hunting squads returning from the wilderness would grab any steel or wires they saw along the way.
This large-scale procurement alarmed the major Guilds and the Commander-in-Chief’s Headquarters in the Base City!
Inside the Splendid Guild.
After Wu Hao’s death, fierce competition resulted in a new Guild Leader, a middle-aged man with an arrogant demeanor named Chu Tian. He waved dismissively when a subordinate delivered a report, sending the man away.
Chu Tian leaned back in his metal chair, gazing lazily into the distance, a cold smirk playing on his lips. “Judging by this momentum, they actually intend to strike out on their own and establish another base city. Hmph, they’re just a second-rate guild; they’ll probably collapse from lack of funds before they even finish construction.”
In the Dragon Ascent Guild.
Zhou Qing had become the new leader. He surveyed the numerous elders below with a look of stern authority, stating plainly, “The Light Guild has been rising rapidly and aggressively lately. Everyone had better not attempt any underhanded moves. Don’t forget who killed those thirty-six people before.”
The faces of those present flickered slightly. One of them nodded. “Indeed, that ‘Grim Reaper’ is too terrifying, killing people invisibly, impossible to guard against.”
Zhou Qing nodded slightly. “Since this Light Guild intends to establish a base city, they must have some confidence. Keep a close watch on their movements, and try to foster relations when the time is right. If they succeed in building a city, we’ll have another ally!” He always liked to keep a contingency plan open.
A stout man shook his head and sighed. “I fear forging ties will be impossible. The Light Guild suffered terribly because of us before—we seized their shops and killed their people in the wilds. The grudge is too deep!”
Zhou Qing’s brows furrowed, and a cold light flashed in his eyes. “It’s all that bastard Long Zhixiang’s fault for stirring up so much trouble! Good thing he was killed by that God of Slaughter, otherwise, he would have dragged the entire guild down!” The others smiled wryly seeing him openly curse the former leader, yet no one refuted him. Even those who had connections with Long Zhixiang understood that offending the current leader over a dead man was deeply unwise.
“Just try to establish ties; maintain a sincere attitude. If it truly doesn't work out, it doesn't matter. They might not even manage to build a base city; perhaps they’ll be crushed by a monster siege during construction!” Zhou Qing said calmly.
The smaller guilds were also buzzing with discussion.
“That Light Guild has been making huge moves recently, recruiting all sorts of talent and collecting materials. Judging by their actions, they’re about to make a major play!”
“Hurry up and prepare gifts to seek alliance. If the guild fails to defend the city, the gifts are a loss; if they succeed, we gain a major backer.”
“Hmph, the Light Guild? They’re just nouveau riche. Thinking they can act so recklessly after a rapid rise, attempting to build a base city—they clearly don’t know how to spell doom. A monster siege alone is enough to wipe them out!”
“That guild is building a base city? Haha, can they even withstand a monster siege?”
“Even a major guild like Dragon Ascent doesn’t dare build a base city, yet a second-rate guild thinks it can? It’s laughable.”
“Building a base city? Ha!”
At the Commander-in-Chief’s Headquarters.
Murong De finished reading the report in his hand with a calm expression, set it down gently, and stared into the distance for a long time without speaking. The young man beside him asked, “Should we expel this guild from the Base City?”
Murong De shook his head. “Although the Light Guild establishing a base city will impact our status, it benefits humanity as a whole! If we secretly interfere, we might invite the ‘Grim Reaper’ to visit.”
Hearing the words ‘Grim Reaper,’ the young man’s expression shifted slightly, and he said no more.
Murong De instructed, “Go see which city they plan to build in.”
“En,” the young man nodded.
……
The entire city was in an uproar. The collection points and recruitment stations set up by the Light Guild were swamped with people lining up in long queues. Many women whose physique wasn't strong and who relied on selling goods for a living also rushed out of the Base City after work, searching everywhere for useful items like steel and wires.
There were no monsters left near the Base City; the surrounding ten-mile radius had been completely cleared.
“Boss Xu, this is bad! We’re running low on funds!” the head of the Finance Department urgently reported to Xu Tianguo.
Xu Tianguo nodded calmly. “Don’t worry, I have a way.”
The department head paused, momentarily stunned by Xu Tianguo’s composed demeanor, and his own anxiety eased slightly.
Xu Tianguo instructed another young man, “I need to sell some items. Spread the word: three sets of Level 600 Scale Armor!” The young man’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “Six, Level 600?” Facing Xu Tianguo’s authoritative expression, he dared not ask further and rushed off.
Half a day later, the news that Level 600 Scale Armor was going up for auction swept through the city like a hurricane.
Experts from all factions were astonished, followed immediately by wild elation, as they flocked to the auction site.
Many powerful individuals who considered themselves capable rushed to the auction hosted by the Light Guild.
“Hey? You came too? Long time no see.”
“Haha, yes. We talked about hunting monsters together last time, but the timing never worked out. A real shame.”
“You’re here for this Scale Armor too, right? With Level 600 gear, you won’t even fear being scratched by a monster.”
Many old acquaintances greeted each other with forced smiles.
Before long, every seat was filled.
On the auction stage, Xu Tianguo, clad in Ruan Snake scale armor, walked to the center. He surveyed the crowd with a calm expression. Having followed Ye Chen for so long, he had gradually absorbed Ye Chen's composure. Furthermore, given the current standing of the Light Guild, he felt no fear even though the hall was filled with the Base City’s renowned masters.
“I wonder where the Light Guild got this scale armor; they’re actually willing to auction it.”
“What do you know? I heard they’re planning to establish a base city; they must be short on capital.”
Low murmurs filled the floor.
Xu Tianguo raised his hand slightly, and silence fell over the crowd. He then stated plainly, “I won't waste time with pleasantries. We have three sets of Level 600 Scale Armor. The starting bid for each set is ten thousand bottles of Level 300 Gene Serum!” With that, he pulled aside the red curtain, revealing three sets of black-gold scale armor. He picked up a laser knife, pressed the handle, and condensed a white light into a battle blade, slicing the armor. There wasn't even a scratch.
The eyes of the people below instantly turned fanatical.
Given the number of people present, no one feared Xu Tianguo was cheating; the consequences of inciting the collective wrath would be far too severe.
“I bid twenty thousand!” a burly man shouted loudly.
“Twenty thousand and one!” someone else immediately raised the price.
“Damn you, I’ll bid twenty-two thousand! Anyone else raises the price, I’ll kill them.”
“Idiot, get lost! I bid twenty-three thousand, how about that? You got a problem?”
The floor was in an uproar. Though these individuals held high positions now, their status in peacetime might have been that of a beggar or a robber; naturally, they lacked any sense of propriety.
However, rules still needed to be observed… A