The City of Sin is located in the middle of the American continent, bordering the wealthy North American Alliance to the north and a region rich in resources and narcotics to the south. Its long coastline makes it ideal for smuggling, once earning it the moniker "Paradise of Crime," a truly chaotic place.
Later, Dawson, hailed as the third strongest force on Earth, arrived and altered the city's order, uttering the globally renowned martial arts axiom: "My rules are the rules!"
Today, the City of Sin still attracts criminals from all over the world, including martial artists and common offenders. However, upon arrival, they cease their criminal activities.
Dawson ensures their safety, and they abide by Dawson's rules. This is an unspoken contract.
...
In the afternoon, the airport of the City of Sin is remarkably quiet, with only a dozen or so planes scattered across the tarmac, mostly private jets. In fact, the airport is rarely utilized. Criminals arriving in the City of Sin typically do not travel by air but by sea or road, as they cannot board planes at their departure points.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, local time in the City of Sin, a private jet landed at the airport. Two business vehicles were parked on the tarmac. Ged, known as the young master of the City of Sin, stood by the cars. Upon seeing the plane land, he flashed forward and streaked towards it.
Immediately, Ged reached the front of the aircraft as Jiang Wuming, accompanied by Qin Xiaozhi, Dongfang Xiaoyao, Xing Tian, and Huangfu Weixia, disembarked.
"My dear Wuming, my friend, welcome to the City of Sin with your comrades!" Ged stepped forward, a warm smile on his face, his eyes brimming with excitement. After the Global Martial Arts Tournament concluded, he had been eager to find an opportunity to discuss martial arts with Jiang Wuming. This desire intensified after their battle at the East Sea Martial Arts Academy, leading him to invite Jiang Wuming to the City of Sin. Now, with Jiang Wuming bringing the entire Zhanlong team and members of the Zhanlong Hall to settle and establish themselves in the City of Sin, how could he not be thrilled?
"Thank you." Jiang Wuming responded with a smile and stepped forward to embrace Ged.
"Wuming, my teacher has prepared a banquet for you all. Shall I take you to your accommodations first to drop off your luggage, and then to my teacher's castle?" Ged sought Jiang Wuming's opinion.
"Alright." Jiang Wuming nodded, satisfied with Ged's arrangements.
Subsequently, Jiang Wuming and his four companions boarded two business vehicles. Jiang Wuming and Dongfang Xiaoyao shared a car with Ged. This was Dongfang Xiaoyao's habit. As Jiang Wuming's shadow, she had almost always been by his side when they were out during their time in the Zhanlong Hall. Though Jiang Wuming's strength now far surpassed hers, she retained her old habits.
Along the way, Jiang Wuming learned from Ged that Dawson had designated a section in the eastern district of the City of Sin as their residence. This area was a sprawling estate built by the sea, once owned by a magnate, and later voluntarily transferred to Dawson – a form of buying peace. Dawson himself resided in an ancient castle in the suburbs, leaving the estate vacant, though it was cleaned and its gardens tended daily by dedicated staff.
Half an hour later, Jiang Wuming and his companions arrived at the estate with Ged. The estate covered an area as large as twenty to thirty football fields, with dozens of villas in diverse architectural styles scattered across its grounds. The estate featured a golf course, a riding arena, and a small plaza.
"Brother Wuming, are you satisfied with the environment here?" Ged asked.
"Very satisfied, thank you very much." Jiang Wuming nodded and expressed his gratitude.
"Haha... Brother Wuming, no need to be so polite. It is an honor for this estate to become your residence. In fact, the City of Sin itself feels honored by your arrival and joining us!" Ged laughed heartily, bestowing the highest praise.
Jiang Wuming smiled and said no more. He and Qin Xiaozhi and the others dropped off their luggage, then followed Ged to the ancient castle in the suburbs.
"By the way, Brother Wuming, to make things more grand, my teacher is not only hosting a banquet for you tonight but has also invited the top ten experts from the City of Sin's Dark Rankings to accompany you." As the car passed through the grand gate of the ancient castle, Ged suddenly recalled something.
"Master Dawson is truly too kind." Jiang Wuming gave a wry smile. In his past life, leading the Zhanlong Hall in battles across the dark world, Jiang Wuming was naturally aware of the Dark Rankings. The Dark Rankings were a list specifically established by the City of Sin, similar to the War God Rankings of the War God Hall, yet intentionally distinct. Only individuals from the City of Sin could appear on the Dark Rankings. Dawson, hailed as the third strongest force on Earth, was ranked first on the Dark Rankings.
It had to be said that Dawson placed immense importance on the arrival of Jiang Wuming and his group. Not only had he prepared a banquet and arranged for the company of Dark Rankings experts, but upon learning that their car had arrived at the ancient castle, he specifically waited for them in the small plaza within the castle grounds. Even before the car came to a complete stop, Jiang Wuming spotted Dawson. Dawson was dressed in a black robe, his long hair tied back, exuding an extraordinary aura. Behind Dawson stood six men and two women. Two of them, like Dawson, were Five-Star War Gods, though at the third and sixth stages respectively, while the remaining four were Four-Star War Gods.
"Hmm?"
As Jiang Wuming's gaze fell upon Dawson and his group, Ged subtly frowned. He noticed that only eight of the top ten on the Dark Rankings were present.
"Wuming, welcome to the City of Sin with your friends." Soon, the car stopped, and Dawson stepped forward to welcome them.
"Master Dawson, esteemed masters, thank you." Jiang Wuming, along with Qin Xiaozhi and the others, bowed in thanks.
"Tsk tsk, finally meeting the legendary young genius. Truly handsome." After Jiang Wuming finished his thanks, a young woman in a fiery red dress behind Dawson appraised Jiang Wuming with a seductive smile, as if she wanted to strip him bare.
"Black Widow, don't get any wicked ideas. You're no match for Master Jiang Wuming," said a burly Black man.
"We fought on the arena, but perhaps not in bed, little brother. Want to give it a try?" Black Widow flicked her long skirt, revealing her slender, fair legs, and bit her lip enticingly.
"Sister Black Widow, don't indulge in fantasies. Brother Wuming has a fiancée who is younger and more beautiful than you, known as the Little Medical Immortal." Ged, seeing Jiang Wuming remain silent, stepped in to defuse the situation.
"So what? Youth doesn't know the value of a mature woman, mistaking girls for treasures. How can sister's skills compare to a young girl's?" Black Widow pouted, about to tease Jiang Wuming further, but seeing Dawson raise an eyebrow, she swallowed her words.
"Black Widow, you'll scare our new friends in the City of Sin. Hello, Master Jiang Wuming, my name is Regall. It's a pleasure to meet you." At this moment, a White man stepped forward. Subsequently, the other top ten experts on the Dark Rankings also greeted Jiang Wuming and his group. Jiang Wuming responded politely to everyone, appearing very approachable and at ease. This earned him silent praise from the top ten experts on the Dark Rankings. They had met many geniuses, some with less than a ten-thousandth of Jiang Wuming's strength, yet possessed ten times more arrogance.
"Teacher, why haven't Masters Buck and Carlott arrived?" Afterward, as Dawson led Jiang Wuming and his companions to the dining hall, Ged seized the opportunity to ask.
"Carlott said that with Wuming's arrival, his position on the Dark Rankings is no longer secure. As for Buck, he is reportedly in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Five-Star War God realm," Dawson replied.
"Master Dawson, don't believe Buck's nonsense. That scoundrel tried to climb into my bed last night, and I uglily rejected him. The reason he isn't here is because he feels resentful that Brother Wuming has replaced him as fourth on the Dark Rankings." Black Widow exposed Buck's lie.
"Oh?" Dawson raised an eyebrow. Before Jiang Wuming's arrival in the City of Sin, Buck was ranked fourth on the Dark Rankings, possessing the strength of a peak Four-Star War God. Moreover, Buck had remained at the peak of Four-Star War God for a long time, considered an invincible overlord in that realm.
"Brother Wuming swept aside dozens of extraterrestrial enemies alone on the Mount Everest battlefield, including eight Four-Star War Gods, three of whom were at the peak of Four-Star War God. Can Master Buck achieve that?" Ged scoffed, deeming Buck overly ambitious.
"Perhaps Master Buck is indeed in seclusion cultivating." Jiang Wuming smiled, attempting to smooth things over. He noticed Dawson's displeasure but did not wish for internal conflicts to arise within the City of Sin due to his presence.
The banquet prepared by Dawson for Jiang Wuming and his group was exceptionally lavish. In addition to local specialties, fearing that they might not be accustomed to the food, he had specifically asked Dragon Country chefs from the city to prepare several Dragon Country dishes, showing considerable thought.
After the banquet, Dawson invited Jiang Wuming to his private chamber to drink the popular South American beverage, mate tea.
"Master Dawson, I'll use tea as a toast to once again thank you for your warm hospitality." Jiang Wuming accepted the mate tea and raised his cup.
"Wuming, you don't need to be so polite with me. Feel free to be yourself." Dawson waved his hand.
"Alright." Jiang Wuming, seeing that Dawson did not appear to be feigning or acting, no longer held back. After a moment of hesitation, he continued, "Master Dawson, you should know that my father incurred the wrath of many factions in the past. Those factions wished to eliminate me, but due to their fear of the Dragon Country Martial Department and my master, they dared not act. Now, with my master incapacitated and me expelled from the Martial Department, they are highly likely to retaliate against me. Your invitation for me to join the City of Sin is tantamount to indirectly making an enemy of them."
"Wuming, I am certainly aware of these matters. But as I mentioned on the phone earlier, as long as a Half-Step Heavenly God realm expert does not attack you, you will be safe in the City of Sin. In the current world, there are only a handful of Half-Step Heavenly God realm experts. Even if the Roman family wishes to eliminate you, Saint Lun@Roman would not personally intervene, as it would bring too much negative influence upon the Roman family and the War God Hall!" Dawson stated gravely, "As for offending them... Hmph... In the City of Sin, my rules are the rules!"
"Master Dawson, thank you. Please forgive my presumptuousness, but I wish to know why you are doing this?" Jiang Wuming voiced his greatest doubt.
"Since the arrival of extraterrestrial enemies, this world has fallen into darkness. Martial artists worldwide are like fireflies glowing, but unable to dispel the darkness. Until your teacher appeared. He was like a blazing sun, dispelling the darkness that enveloped the world with his scorching radiance. However, it is a pity that after the battle at the peak of Mount Everest, all his martial cultivation was lost. Like a fallen sun, the world once again plunged into darkness." Dawson paused at this point, looking expectantly at Jiang Wuming, "And you are like a ray of light. Though currently unable to illuminate this dark world, you can bring hope to it—I do not wish to see this beacon of hope extinguished!"
...