Messer City is not well-known within the Federation, but it's quite something in Secret Phoenix State.
Besides its long history, it is also because its several districts each have their unique characteristics.
Naturally, there's no need to mention the prosperous Central District where the most famous banks and companies in the southern part of Secret Phoenix State are located, and Midtown Avenue is even known as the must-visit shopping paradise in the southern Secret Phoenix State.
Then there is the Blank District, even though it is messy, filled with refugees, rampant with gangsters, and everywhere there are illegal constructions, the environment is layered like an ant nest, with a clearly defined law of the jungle, all giving it an oddly beautiful aesthetic.
Thus, it became a favorite shooting location for many movie companies when making films with a dark style.
But for the lower-class residents living in the Blank District, those so-called odd beauties are actually the most real and most cruel portrayal, barely hanging on by a thread, and one step further might even drop into the abyss.
Fortunately, the current political and economic situations are quite stable, as long as no major chaos occurs, families like Sally's can still manage to get by.
Following that is the Newton District that Tang Qi is currently looking at.
Favored by various artists, not prominent in fame, but substantial in the art domain out of the public eye.
Tang Qi slowly walked along the street, the old buildings on both sides were covered in various graffiti, some of which indeed approached the standard of art, and the decoration level of each shop along the street was also very good.
However, with nightfall, it's impossible for this place to be as brightly lit as Midtown Avenue; shops started closing, and darkness began rapidly devouring the area.
Tang Qi did not show any signs of panic, still wandering around curiously like a high school student.
During this, Tang Qi quickly built up his understanding of Newton District, and his mind also silently noted the directions of various streets, gradually forming a map.
Different from the kind on paper, Tang Qi personally measured these paths, making it more convenient for him to escape in the event of an emergency.
This is not a game!
In the real world, a hunter might instantly become the prey.
This lesson Tang Qi learned from an encounter with the "Witch of Misfortune."
For a rookie who had just stepped into the Transcendent realm, being careful is never too much.
Soon, before Newton District plunged into the deep of night, Tang Qi passed through a small square where people were dispersing.
Skateboarding teenagers were leaving, chatteringly with bags on their backs, couples walked away whispering arm in arm, and chess-playing old men also packed up their tea sets and chessboards, heading home.
Those remaining included a scruffy street painter finishing a portrait for the last customer, an old lady packing up her stall of art trinkets, a young girl playing the violin, and a down-and-out Magician trying to earn a few extra Wei Lei from a couple...
The atmosphere was very harmonious.
Tang Qi quickened his pace and purchased an "Insanely Spicy Black Forest Hot Dog" from a red food truck called "Mexican Fire Dragon" that was about to leave.
He hurried towards the alley across the small square, quickly biting into the hot dog while still steaming.
Ha~!
The terrifying spiciness, mixing with the salty taste of Black Forest Ham, the softness of the poached egg, plus caramel, onion, and sage blended together.
Like surging magma, it directly bombarded Tang Qi's taste buds, the chill of the early night hadn't even settled on Tang Qi yet as it was driven away by this burst of intense heat.
"So refreshing, I've heard that the hot dogs in Newton District are delicious, and it truly lives up to its reputation; this ninety-nine Wei Lei was totally worth it."
Holding a hot dog and feasting on it, Tang Qi muttered as he quickly stepped into a somewhat dim alley, resembling a high school student remembering to head home after a leisurely stroll, except the path he chose seemed a bit poor.
But here, it seemed no one cared.
Until the moment he stepped into the alley, Tang Qi swallowed the last bite of the hot dog, burped or let out a faint sigh, and finally touched there with his mind.
On the back of Tang Qi's hand, a sensation as if the skin was being scorched flashed quickly and then disappeared.
But at that time, looking at it, an eerie mark was slowly emerging on the skin which should have been pale; grayish-black lines were being outlined under the skin, resembling a bloody background, with a pair of curved deer antlers… An ominous aura hit him in the face.
Whew!
A chill wind blew from all directions, the sudden change in weather made the small plaza even more desolate.
The food truck zipped away, making use of the couple's eagerness to finally earn fifty Wei Les from the magician, quickly packed up and left, the young girl with the violin remained graceful, only her pace quickened a bit, even lending a hand to the old lady at the stall.
And the painter quickly tore down the sketch portrait from the easel, handed it over to the brunette beauty in front of him, and after taking the money, hurriedly left as well.
That sketch portrait was very attractive, showing the painter's good craftsmanship, but the brunette beauty was very disappointed, looking at the painter's departing figure, her heart somewhat reluctant, she thought: "Did he not catch my hint? I even gave him my phone number, my God, he's really charming, a perfect one-night stand."
The regret behind him, the painter clearly felt it.
But he did not have much sentimentality, on the contrary, he was even more eager for the figure that had disappeared, almost roaring in his heart: "That aura, so alluring, I must get it, I can become stronger."
The painter's appearance was good, handsome face, dressed with an artist's flair, no wonder he had such a great allure for women.
But at this moment, his steps were disordered, due to too much eagerness, even his good-looking facial features began to twist.
Clang!
As he chased quickly into the alley, a small knife flashing with silver light also appeared in the painter's hand, judging by the dried bloodstains on the handle, it was clearly not the first time it had drawn blood.
Holding the small knife, the painter raced into the alley at almost a jogging speed, his eyes flashing with excitement.
He seemed to have already seen himself plunging the knife into that high schooler's back, in the spray of blood, he obtained that object emitting an alluring aura, and embarked on a stronger path.
"Normally you wouldn't be my target, but killing you, after I become stronger, I'll get to enjoy more beautiful bodies, no need to painstakingly dodge those pursuing uniformed rats. Come on, hand over the treasure."
"Ah~"
"Bang!"
The painter saw the high schooler's face, but it was not as he had imagined, at least not like this moment, his hands were instantly twisted by another pair of hands, a hard knee brutally slammed into his abdomen.
The immense impact made his abdomen spasm, the "crack" sound indicated his hands were broken.
What made his eyes widen, revealing a mix of horror and disbelief, was those powerful hands directly grasping his own, smeared the small knife across his neck.
With a "snap", his body was thrown on the ground, the cut on his throat and the movement of breathing caused blood to burble out, quickly creating a large pool of blood on the ground, amid the mess, the painter clutched his throat, like a fish struggling on the shore.
"So weak?"
Tang Qi frowned, looking at the painter on the ground nearing death, puzzled.
If it weren't for the special interface that popped up in his eyes the next moment, Tang Qi would even doubt he had killed a person, rather than the inferior abnormality he wanted.