In another place, inside an abandoned warehouse in a snow-covered region, a robed man walked through the interior with silent steps. Each step carried no sound, as if his very presence did not exist.

He moved toward one side of the warehouse, where a line of abandoned giant factory machines stood. He approached one of the machines and pressed a hidden button located on its side.

The moment he pressed it, the machine split into two and slid apart, revealing a hidden entrance that led to an underground passage. The path was wide enough for two adults to walk side by side.

The man stepped inside, and the entrance closed behind him, leaving no trace at all.

Inside the underground passage, lamps lined both sides of the path, illuminating the way as it stretched downward for about five hundred meters before the figure reached a pair of doors. He entered a sequence of numbers into the mechanical lock, and when the doors opened, he was greeted by a laboratory.

A secret lab.

The lab was filled with large tubes containing red liquid and human bodies. The man passed through the area as several figures in scientific robes worked toward another room at the far end.

He entered that room, which required another password, and walked carefully to the center. There, someone sat in meditation.

It was a middle-aged man with red hair. Several scars marked his face, giving him a fierce appearance.

He wore no shirt, his muscles fully exposed. Around him, several red crystals were placed in a symmetrical formation. The crystals emitted a terrifying aura and energy, yet the man calmly absorbed that energy into his body.

The middle-aged man’s aura was not only terrifying but also overwhelmingly strong, enough to make anyone near him feel suffocated. The robed man’s body shuddered as he approached, feeling as if he were nearing a wild beast.

’What a terrifying man,’ he thought as he dropped to one knee.

He gulped and steadied himself before speaking to the man in meditation.

"Master, I have something important to report, and it is quite urgent."

The man slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of crimson pupils. The aura around him gradually receded, yet a lingering pressure still hung in the air. He took a deep breath, then exhaled before turning his gaze toward the robed man.

His expression was calm, but it placed immense pressure on the robed man. It felt like being stared at by a giant predator.

The robed man did not say anything further. He removed the bracelet from his wrist, transformed it into a tablet, and handed it over. The man took the tablet and looked at its contents for a moment.

A trace of surprise appeared on his face, something he rarely showed. The robed man had already expected this reaction after reading the information himself. He had also been astonished the first time he saw it, and he was certain the man before him would be no different.

After reading the contents, the man smirked.

"Interesting. Beings from the inner realm, and with strength beyond SSSS-rank. Is this information already confirmed? Have you verified its authenticity?"

The robed man nodded.

"Yes, Master. The information came from our spies within the military and the Hunter Association. At present, these details have already spread across China’s guilds and military fortresses."

"As for the four otherworlders themselves, they have made no effort to hide. They have been seen in Shanghai and witnessed by many people. They have already become a hot topic on the internet, although their detailed information is still unknown."

The man nodded and looked at the tablet again with a faint smile.

"This could be our chance to make our stage even bigger. We have been quite passive recently with the unknown changes happening across the world. We can make use of these otherworlders to spread chaos." He paused for a moment, as if considering something.

The robed man waited in silence before the man finally spoke again.

"Send five of our strongest Hell’s Warriors to China. Order all branches within China to stand by. Have the Hell’s Warriors test the strength of these otherworlders, even if they must use their full power. If they can kill them, then so be it. If they cannot, they are to retreat."

The robed man was astonished. The Hell’s Warriors were their most elite unit, each one powerful enough to confront an entire country, yet his master intended to send the five strongest among them to China.

This would be the first time such a mobilization had been directed at a single country. It only showed how seriously the man before him viewed this matter.

"Yes, Master. But... this will likely draw a response from China’s SSSS-rank hunters, and even the mysterious leader of the Hunter Association. Is that acceptable?"

"Let them come. Those weaklings cannot do anything to the Hell’s Warriors. The only one they need to be wary of is the leader of the Hunter Association."

The robed man nodded.

"Then I will relay your orders, Master." He stepped back before turning and leaving the room.

After he left, the black-haired man smiled. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Finally, something interesting has appeared. The inner realm, hm... I wonder if this is a sign that another change will occur in this world."

He glanced at the red crystals.

"No matter. The more chaos we create, the more we benefit."

He slowly closed his eyes.

"For our god."

----------------------------

In China, the sun had already set, and Shanghai’s nightlife began. Lamps illuminated every part of the city, creating a bustling atmosphere and showing that the city was still alive despite the dark sky.

People who worked during the day had already returned or were on their way home, while those who worked at night began to leave their houses. With these overlapping routines, the city never truly slept.

However, tonight, the atmosphere felt different from the usual. Something extraordinary had happened to cause such a change. The city had already been in an uproar since before sunset.

The source of it was not only the appearance of the four otherworlders, but also the news that one of the well-known hunters from the Red Moon Guild had died.

No one knew how it happened, but many people saw a group of Red Moon Guild hunters carrying Ye Zhentao’s corpse out of the largest shopping mall.

Many had seen him alive earlier, and he had even exuded an aura of S-rank. Yet not long after, he was seen dead as the other hunters hurried out of the mall. The condition of his body was horrifying, with a severed hand and greenish skin.

This left many wondering what exactly had happened to him. How could he have ended up like that?

But for most people in the city, especially those who had lived under the Red Moon Guild’s influence for a long time, it felt like Ye Zhentao had finally received what he deserved. His arrogance and misconduct were well known across the city, and no one had been able to stop him, not even the municipal police.

Because of his background as a hunter from the Shanghai branch of the Red Moon Guild, and as one of its important members, he had been effectively untouchable. No matter what he did, he never faced any consequences.

But now, it seemed that he had finally faced his punishment through his own death, and it was a particularly brutal one. From the condition of his body, it was clear that he had most likely offended someone he should never have provoked.

This made many people feel satisfied, even rejoicing inwardly at his death.

However, there was one thing that many also realized.

This matter would not end here.

Whoever had killed Ye Zhentao would have to face the Red Moon Guild.

The Red Moon Guild would never let something like this slide. One of their S-rank hunters had died just like that.

There might even be a war!

That thought caused unease to spread among the people. They could already imagine that before the night was over, another wave of chaos might erupt.

-----------------------------

Inside one of the tallest buildings in the city that served as the headquarters of the Red Moon Guild, the atmosphere was extremely tense. In a room on the highest floor, Ye Zhentao’s corpse lay before several people.

Some of them were those who had accompanied Ye Zhentao at the restaurant, including Li Zhanfeng, while the rest were high-ranking members of the Red Moon Guild’s Shanghai branch. All of them were hunters above S-rank, and one among them possessed the aura of an SSS-rank hunter, which was truly intimidating.

The strongest among them, was a blond-haired man with piercings on his ears. He wore black glasses and a neatly tailored business suit. Even though his eyes were hidden behind the lenses, the fury in his expression was unmistakable.

He was the master of the Red Moon Guild’s Shanghai branch.

Han Kuang.

His gaze remained fixed on Ye Zhentao’s corpse before slowly shifting to Li Zhanfeng and the others beside him.

"Are you telling me that you provoked those four otherworlders?"

By this point, everyone in the room had already received the notice from headquarters regarding the four otherworlders. Only then did Li Zhanfeng fully realize what kind of beings they had offended.

All of them were screwed!