After much contemplation, Wang Gangjian devised a compromise. "I will approach the area alone to see exactly what's happening. If the situation becomes perilous, we'll evacuate immediately."

His implication was clear—if the situation wasn't dire, there might be no need to flee. After all, the several hundred members of Black Blade Security Company were most familiar with East Lake City. Starting anew in an unfamiliar place would pose significant challenges. If they could avoid leaving, they would.

Seeing them about to protest, Wang Gangjian cut them off, "I'm a level two Superhuman, physically stronger than any of you. No more discussions are needed."

Wang Yong and the others fell silent. Wang Gangjian took a walkie-talkie and drove a car back into the city. As they watched him leave, Wang Yong, Song Dayi, and Tang Jinchuan felt a deep unease.

Over two hours later, Wang Gangjian arrived just outside the area enshrouded by the mysterious fog. The silence within the fog was eerie; it seemed as if all noise had been swallowed whole.

Logically, if something was drawing these zombies and supernatural creatures into a conflict, there should have been a cacophony of chaos. Why was it so quiet?

The fog churned ominously, resembling a malevolent, man-eating demon. Wang Gangjian, aware of the dangers, did not recklessly enter. Instead, he looked around and stopped at a discarded fire hydrant. He settled down beside it, wrapped his arms around the hydrant, and twisted sharply. A crisp snap echoed as he forcibly unscrewed the hydrant.

Becoming a Superhuman and integrating a Psionic core had not granted Wang Gangjian any particularly strange abilities. Instead, his arms had grown incredibly strong. Since nobody had given a name to his talent, he called it "Strong Arm." After advancing to a second-level Superhuman, his arms had grown even stronger.

Using brute strength to twist off a fire hydrant was not too difficult for him. Wang Gangjian let out a low roar as he unleashed his power, hurling the hydrant forcefully into the fog. The hydrant tore through the mist and crashed to the ground twenty meters away, briefly dispersing the fog.

With the fog momentarily cleared by the impact, Wang Gangjian could finally see the scene within. The area covered by the fog was dim and ghostly, more reminiscent of hell than of the human world.

He was startled to discover that the zombies and supernatural creatures stood motionless, rooted to the spot. Numerous dark swords, formed from condensed black mist, darted back and forth through the air.

With each pass, they pierced the hearts of the undead and extraordinary beings. Those struck down were immediately drained of their vital essence, their corpses withering into desiccated husks.

Wang Gangjian's eyes widened in disbelief. Even in the first year of the zombie apocalypse, when East Lake City had transformed into a veritable purgatory, he had endured.

Yet, the spectacle before him was still profoundly shocking. What had transpired here? And what were these phantom black swords?

Suddenly, his walkie-talkie crackled to life.

"Boss, look up! Quickly, above you!"

Urged by the voice, Wang Gangjian hastily looked overhead. To his astonishment, he saw a figure standing upon a flying sword, looming high above him. The piercing gaze and the daunting aura felt as if an invisible hand were clenched around his throat!

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A memory flashed through Wang Gangjian's mind. That day at the East Lake City bus depot, Tang Jinchuan had been ambushed by a swarm of spiders, including a tremendously powerful mutated spider mother. It was then that a young man wielding a flying sword appeared, slaying the mutated spider mother and indirectly saving them all. The figure before him now, also maneuvering a flying sword and similarly youthful, must be the same person.

Chu Xuan looked down upon Wang Gangjian and spoke indifferently, "Hadn't you left? Why return?"

He had been aware since the dawn of Black Blade Security Company's intended departure from East Lake City. Presumably, they had decided to evacuate only after noticing the encroaching tide of corpses. He had no ties to these people and thus had not interfered.

Over the past few days, Chu Xuan had been atop a nearby skyscraper, monitoring the situation within the array he had set—the Yin Evil Soul Snatching Array.

Now that someone had approached the perimeter of his array, it was necessary for him to make an appearance, to prevent any disturbances.

"I... We feared that formidable supernatural beings might emerge here, so I came to assess the situation," Wang Gangjian explained, his forehead beading with sweat. This man had effortlessly slain the mutated spider mother. To him, crushing Wang Gangjian would be no different than crushing an ant. He spoke cautiously, wary of offending the mysterious and potent figure before him.

Chu Xuan surveyed him briefly and stated calmly, "Any living being that enters will not come out alive. Let that be the end of it. Within a kilometer of this place, do not approach any closer."

With those final words, he stamped on his Heavenly Star flying sword and vanished into the sky like a streak of sword light, leaving no trace behind.

Chu Xuan did not intend to kill this person, as long as he did not disrupt his plans. If this mortal had possessed great merit, killing him would have damaged his virtue.

The oppressive weight that had felt like Mount Tai on Wang Gangjian's shoulders lifted at that moment. He collapsed to the ground, his body limp. Glancing down, he noticed his garment was soaked with sweat.

"So powerful, he didn't even need to lift a finger; a few glances and a few words had me drenched in sweat." Wang Gangjian chuckled wryly to himself. Once again, the walkie-talkie crackled.

"Brother, how did it go? Did that person give you any trouble?" Wang Yong eagerly asked.

Wang Gangjian took a deep breath before replying, "No, he just warned me not to approach the foggy area. He also said that any living thing that enters the fog will not come out alive. I saw it for myself; many of the zombies that entered the fog have already died, and the rest will likely die within a few days. We can rest easy now."

Tang Jinchuan and Song Dayi were astonished, but considering the stranger's formidable abilities, it seemed unlikely that he would lie to them. This reassurance allowed them to relax.

Wang Gangjian continued, "Let's call the convoy back; we no longer need to evacuate East Lake City. This wave of zombies, numbering in the tens of thousands, has perished in the fog. East Lake City will actually be the safest place for the next few years."

Wang Yong and the others were visibly brightened by this news. The city and its surroundings were now cleared of zombies and supernatural creatures—a tremendous stroke of fortune. It was almost like a paradise.

"Wang Yong, soothe the brothers and have them return in batches. There's no rush," Wang Gangjian instructed.

"Don't worry, brother. And about my box of game consoles, don't lose it!" Wang Gangjian added urgently.

Wang Yong replied with a laugh, "...You're even more anxious than I am."

Two days later, within the Yin Evil Soul Snatching Array, Chu Xuan rode his Heavenly Star flying sword into the heart of the formation. With the array disk in hand, the black swords formed from condensed Evil Qi did not attack him.

Chu Xuan looked around; no figures stood in place anymore—just swathes of fallen zombies and supernatural creatures, like harvested rice.

Chu Xuan made his way to the core of the formation, where a deep pit was located. The Evil Qi condensed from the dead zombies and supernatural beings flowed toward this pit. At the center of the pit, a faint cold light flickered.

Chu Xuan's face lit up with delight. Perhaps due to the rich concentration of Evil Qi, the formation of Yin Evil Steel was occurring faster than he had anticipated. At this rate, in less than two months, he would have a batch of high-quality Yin Evil Steel!