The road to Blackstone City was soaked in blood.
Not fresh.
Old.
Layered.
Dried stains darkened the cracked stone path, as if the land itself remembered every scream that had ever echoed here.
I walked alone.
No guards.
No companions.
No banner.
Just strength.
The system panel hovered faintly at the edge of my vision.
[DING!]
Entering High-Risk Zone.
Location: Blackstone City Outskirts.
Threat Density: Extreme.
Law Enforcement: None.
Rule of Survival: Strength.
Recommended stance:
Aggressive deterrence.
I smiled faintly.
"That's my default."
Blackstone City rose from the dust like a scar.
High black walls carved from dark stone surrounded it, etched with old blade marks and impact craters. Towers leaned slightly, as if built in haste rather than care.
At the massive iron gate, two guards stood watch.
Both were tall.
Both were scarred.
Both radiated killing intent.
Their gazes locked onto me the moment I approached.
"Name," one of them growled.
"Zhang Wei," I replied calmly.
The guard snorted.
"Never heard of you."
The system chimed.
[DING!]
Reputation insufficient in this region.
Recommended action:
Create recognition event.
I didn't answer.
I stepped forward.
The guards stiffened.
"Stop," the second guard barked.
"This city isn't for—"
I released my aura.
Not fully.
Just enough.
The air distorted.
The ground beneath my feet cracked slightly.
Fear Incarnate activated.
Both guards froze.
Their pupils shrank.
"Elite…" one whispered.
I walked past them.
They didn't move.
Behind me, I heard one mutter shakily, "Another monster…"
The gates closed.
Blackstone City swallowed me whole.
Inside, chaos ruled openly.
Stalls lined the streets selling weapons, pills, slaves, information—anything that could be bought or stolen. Cultivators walked openly with blood on their clothes.
Arguments turned into fights.
Fights turned into corpses.
No one cared.
This was Blackstone.
The system chimed again.
[DING!]
City Status Confirmed.
Power Structure:
– Three Major Factions
– Numerous minor gangs
– Independent elites
Top Rule:
If you want respect—take it.
My gaze sharpened.
Good.
I hadn't walked far when someone stepped into my path.
A group of five.
All Enhanced Rank.
Weapons drawn.
Their leader smirked.
"New face," he said.
"You don't look like you belong to anyone."
"I don't," I replied.
His grin widened.
"Perfect."
They attacked.
Fast.
Sloppy.
I didn't bother with Shadow Step.
I stepped forward and punched.
The leader's head snapped back.
He flew through a stall, wood exploding around him.
The others froze.
Too late.
I moved.
Elbow.
Knee.
Palm.
Each strike ended a fight.
Five bodies hit the ground.
The street fell silent.
Dozens of eyes locked onto me.
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
City Recognition Event triggered.
Fear absorbed.
Power +6.
Local notoriety increased.
Whispers spread instantly.
"Who is he?"
"That aura…"
"He didn't even draw a weapon."
I continued walking.
That was enough for now.
By nightfall, my name was already circulating.
Not widely.
But enough.
I sat alone in a tavern with cracked walls and sticky floors, listening.
"—heard he crushed five in one breath—"
"—elite from outside—"
"—might be academy trash gone wild—"
I drank quietly.
Then—
The door creaked open.
The room fell silent.
A man entered.
Tall.
Lean.
Eyes sharp.
Elite Rank.
But unlike others, his aura was controlled. Polished.
He scanned the room once.
Then his gaze landed on me.
He smiled.
"Zhang Wei," he said calmly.
"You made quite an entrance."
The system chimed.
[DING!]
High-tier entity detected.
Name: Kang Yu
Affiliation: Black Fang Syndicate
Rank: Elite (Late)
Threat Level: High.
Opportunity Level: Very High.
I met his gaze.
"You know my name," I said.
Kang Yu nodded and took the seat opposite me.
"In this city," he replied, "information is faster than blades."
He leaned forward slightly.
"The Black Fang Syndicate would like to talk."
I took a sip of my drink.
"About?"
"Employment," he said simply.
"Or partnership."
I chuckled softly.
"I don't work under people."
Kang Yu's smile didn't fade.
"Then perhaps," he said, "you'd prefer to work with us."
The tavern held its breath.
The system pulsed again.
[DING!]
Faction Interaction Initiated.
Choice Detected.
Option 1:
Join Black Fang Syndicate.
Option 2:
Reject publicly and assert independence.
Option 3:
Crush representative to establish dominance.
Risk varies.
Rewards scale accordingly.
I set my cup down slowly.
"I came to Blackstone City," I said calmly, "to build my own name."
Kang Yu studied me carefully.
Then he laughed.
"Good," he said.
"That means you'll survive."
He stood.
"Then consider this a warning," he added.
"Independent elites don't last long here."
I rose as well.
"They do," I said.
"They just don't ask for permission."
For the first time, Kang Yu's smile turned sharp.
"We'll see."
He turned and left.
The tavern erupted into whispers.
The system chimed one last time.
[DING!]
Major Faction Attention Locked.
Black Fang Syndicate:
Interest — Active
Hostility — Pending
New Objective Generated.
Objective:
Establish an independent foothold in Blackstone City.
Recommended actions:
– Seize territory
– Defeat a faction lieutenant
– Survive first purge attempt
I stepped out into the night.
Blackstone City glowed with cruel lights and darker intentions.
Somewhere in its depths, hunters were already moving.
I smiled.
"Good," I murmured.
"Let them come."
Because in this city—
Only one rule mattered.
And I intended to rewrite it.