From the map, you could see that the entire coastal area of China and several major cities in the central region were included in the red area, the red and green interlocking, while near the northern capital, there was a conspicuous green defensive ring, isolating the red areas.
"Although the authorities call these places 'Extraordinary Access Zones,' we call them 'Extraordinary Arenas.'"
Extraordinary Access Zones, or places that have become Extraordinary Arenas, generally have some very distinct characteristics. When extraordinary individuals from outside enter a city, they rarely fight alone. Because extraordinary individuals are still human, although they possess great strength, they need a group of ordinary people as loyal followers; otherwise, they might be assassinated through methods like poisoning.
Therefore, extraordinary individuals often bring a group with them. They seize bars, nightclubs, and other nightlife venues. If they don't have enough people, they will even establish their own establishments. This led to a rapid increase in entertainment venues in Shen City within a few years.
These individuals also clash over territories, drugs, smuggling, and other conflicts of interest, eventually uniting and fighting against each other, catalyzing the resurgence of long-extinct gangs, further deteriorating public security.
This is Shanghai today. It appears vibrant and dazzling with neon lights, but in reality, it's unsafe everywhere, rife with the root causes of countless rapes and crimes.
Just like the chaotic period over a hundred years ago, it's practically a "demon city" trapped in an arena of supernatural combat.
"Hasn't the government done anything?" I rubbed my throbbing forehead. In my remaining common sense, the Chinese government wouldn't allow this to happen.
The broker chuckled. "Even a martial god can't do it, so how could the government?"
Since the emergence of superhumans, their maximum infiltration and individual combat prowess capable of confronting the police and even the military have redefined the boundaries of the world—you can't exactly impose martial law in an economically developed city, can you?
Therefore, superhumans can only fight with superhumans; this has become common knowledge. As the broker said, if even a martial god at the pinnacle of superhumans can't do it, the government is essentially powerless.
In this respect, China has done remarkably well. Most countries in the world don't even have such things as superhuman borders, because the entire country is essentially a place where superhumans can come and go freely.
China, at least through numerous bases, has created a protective umbrella, almost completely isolating foreign superhumans in many major inland cities.
The United States, hailed as the world's beacon, can't even guarantee the safety of superhumans in its capital city.
But everything is relative. The broker couldn't help but sigh. A few years ago, virtually no foreign superhuman dared to swagger into Shen City, because it was the place protected by the God of War.
"The God of War?"
I lowered my head, silently reciting the name. Something seemed to be stirring in my mind, but before I could recall anything, the broker led me to a small tavern on a dark street. These were often places for business negotiations and transactions, so most of the rooms were private.
The broker greeted the bartender skillfully and led me to a private room upstairs.
"My name is Huang Ren. What's your surname, young man?"
I didn't know my name yet, but most of my memories were related to the night. So, after a moment's thought, I said, "Night. Just call me Li Ye."
Then, I explained my main purpose for coming to the Black Street…
"You said you need a new identity?" The broker, Huang Ren, put down his glass, asking with some surprise.
"I need an identity that allows me to get close to another person." Although I didn't know what would happen if I got close to her, it seemed like a voice inside me was telling me that I had to go to her side.
"Who is it?" Huang Ren asked curiously.
"Luo... Xue Tang."
Memories surged, and the name slipped out involuntarily. Just uttering the complete name filled me with a joyful excitement, reaffirming my belief that she was the most important person to me, and finding her was of paramount importance.
But unexpectedly, Huang Ren, upon hearing the name, revealed a strange smile and said, "So you've also set your sights on this mission."
"Mission?" I asked, puzzled. "What mission?"
Huang Ren said, "Oh, you don't know? A few days ago, a foreigner came here and posted a mission using the hottest supernatural seed on the market."
A lewd, envious smile appeared on his face as he lowered his voice, "It's about tying up the eldest daughter of the Luo family, Luo Xue Tang, to his bed..."
"Slap!" Before the broker could finish speaking, I felt an unspeakable rage well up inside me. I clenched my fist, and a wisp of air, unable to escape, exploded with a crisp crack.
"What's this person's name?"
Huang Ren leaned back, his elbow sweeping down onto the cup, his expression a mixture of fear and a strange excitement. "I...I don't know," he said. "People who come here to post missions are usually anonymous and hide their faces. The organization behind the Black Market values client privacy highly. At most, we can only tell they're foreigners by their accent."
Huang Ren's speech went from slightly stuttering to increasingly faster. For brokers in the Black Market, the most important resource is actually connections...
After realizing what had just happened, Huang Ren's attitude naturally changed drastically.
Only a martial artist at the Transformation Realm, equivalent to a dangerous-level superhuman, could possibly crush air.
"I'll arrange an identity for you... then you can go find Luo Shaoliang, the president of the Luo Shen Group."
"He's currently looking for a bodyguard for his daughter. Only martial artists can apply. I'll arrange an identity for him as a martial artist who just graduated from his apprenticeship in the mountains. That way, you can apply."
"This way I can get close to Luo Xuetang?" After the initial anger, I felt a strong desire to protect Luo Xuetang.
Huang Ren nodded hurriedly: "You're probably the only one in the entire Black Street who can... because, young man, you look like you're only in your early twenties, and you've never been to the Black Street before, so no one will suspect anything."
My mind raced. This seemed to be my easiest chance to get close to Luo Xuetang; otherwise, how could an unregistered person possibly approach her?
"What kind of reward do you need?"
Huang Ren calculated for a moment, then held up five fingers: "Five hundred thousand. I need to pay a considerable sum to that martial arts sect before they'll hand over that identity to me."
I nodded. After the emergence of supernatural powers, martial arts, previously ignored, began to flourish, and the status of those skilled in martial arts rose accordingly. However, many martial artists came from small sects, and for greater fame…
It was equivalent to a martial arts diploma, thus giving rise to identity trading.
The targets were many martial arts sects that held only a name but had long since lost their lineage, such as Wudang Mountain. They made a fortune selling identities, and countless disciples from various sects sprang up like mushrooms after rain, almost a win-win situation.
And this kind of identity, five hundred thousand, was not only not expensive, but even considered extremely favorable, below the market price.
However, where would the money come from?
Shen Weiwei's bounty flashed through my mind.