Dumbfounded. That was the reaction of all the people before him until the thugs realized that they were threatened by a superhuman. At first, they exchanged glances at one another before one at the far right with bushy beard and the goofiest tattoo of an octopus on his arm stepped forward and explained themselves. 

"Are you a Guardian? We belong to the Golden Coalition. We already have permits and this man signed our terms willingly."

Yunzheng stared at the middle aged man who was only cowering and hung his head low, avoiding Yunzheng's gaze. Seeing that, some of the thugs sneered and the first bearded man smiled and tried to say something.

But in the blink of an eye, Yunzheng already arrived at his side and grabbed the man's neck. Caught off-guard, the man let out a strange yelp as he was lifted, choked at the iron grip while his muscles shrunk and his strength leaving him in breakneck speed. 

His friends who watched that, quickly rushed to Yunzheng, drawing out knives simultaneously. Yet in a single swing, Yunzheng threw the husk of a once muscular man to one of the thugs and faced the rest. The first attack came from his right side, aiming at his throat but with a slight twist of his body, Yunzheng struck the man's chest until it caved and the man flew backwards. 

This time, two slash at both sides and the last moved to Yunzheng's blind spot, lunging to his back. 

Energy covered his skin and he took all of them directly, resulting in shallow gash. As they marveled at the sight, Yunzheng's hands blurred. Making the neck of two thugs twisted while they only felt heavy impact on their chins. 

When Yunzheng turned on his back, he saw the fading figure of the past thug, running to the intersection of the alleyway and left. Initially, Yunzheng was about to give chase but then felt a tinge of drowsiness within. Causing him to halt his step and wandered his gaze towards the victim of this ordeal. 

'Too little… More…' 

His eyes bloodshot and breath shorten, Yunzheng felt the urge and ecstasy from draining the previous thug. Before he knew it, his legs brought him in front of the middle aged man, who bowed to him and thanked him repeatedly. 

Voice at the back of his head whispered, telling him to grab the unsuspecting prey and suck him dry. But just as Yunzheng lifted his hands, he snapped out of his reverie state. His rationality came to him and he held his breath.

"It's alright… Now, go."

The middle aged man nodded and ran right away. Watching the man's back, Yunzheng noticed another peculiarity from the people's reaction. It was obvious that he had killed almost all of the thugs and yet, the middle aged man didn't bat an eye. It was as if he was the one who was weird concerning that matter. 

'Either that or the guy is an Oscar worthy actor.'

He glanced at the littered corpses and shook his head. Guiding his energy, he propelled himself back to the top of the skyscraper, thinking that he would need to seek for more targets or find a place that held a much higher energy. 

'Or maybe…' 

An idea crossed his mind and he gazed at the billboard which was displayed through a hologram in the distance. There, a man in striking posture, earning from the fancy clothes he wore as cool-looking gadgets of weaponry strapped around him, waved his hand. A name was shown below him, along with a title which Yunzheng had heard from the thugs. 

"Guardian…"

The official name for the job he fancied to take before, now had made him remember that there were more than just your usual street bullies he could target. However, to hunt these so-called super villains, he would need a way, a channel, to locate them precisely. 

'For now, let's go and strengthen myself first.'

With a sigh, he hastened his pace, crossing miles while actively hiding his figure through any obstacles. Coursing through dozens of blocks with heightened senses and seeking for any conflicts or possible crimes. 

Occasionally, he would stop and sit down, choosing a spot to replenish his energy before he went on his merry way. After going with his vigilante act for five hours, the sun finally set and night descended upon the monstrous, unceasing city. 

His little operation only netted him not more than two handfuls of people. Fortunately, the gathered energy, added with what he had scrapped from meditation, was a little bit enough to break through one small stage. Overall, making his cultivation raised, yet not too earthshaking. 

[Name : Tan Yunzheng

Age : 221 years old 

Race : Human 

Class : Cultivator

Status : Healthy 

Energy : 286/320

System : Rank 1

Cultivation : Physical Strengthening cycle, intermediate stage

Skills : 

-Cycle of Nine Stars 

-Serpent Cloud Steps 

-Mountain Huahu Palm

-Myriad of World's Formation 

-Three ways of Sword Sutra 

-Indestructible Golden Skin…]

As expected, the system updated his information in real time. The contract feature was still unavailable, unfortunately. However, good news came at a good time. 

When he passed whatever block that he definitely knew nothing of, just like the rest of the blocks he randomly hopped to, sounds of fighting ensued not too far away, carried by the winds and his ears were sharp enough to pick it up. 

The more he approached the place, the more there were unrecognizable noises mixed between. He felt like he heard the process of chopping blocks along with gurgling, drowning sounds, which didn't make sense until he saw it with his own eyes. 

Amidst the screaming and screeching, a figure darted around with tentacle, liquid-like limbs coming out of his back and moved towards his surrounding assailants. Some tentacle would warp the people in black suit, drowning them in giant ball of water and some of the tentacle would whirl in the air, slicing through flesh and bones in one swipe. 

As excitement glinted past his gaze, Yunzheng stared at the super that massacring others without a blink. Smile creeping up, he mumbled, guiding his energy within. 

"Time for a hunt."