Chapter 42 Strong and Iron-fisted Jing City Base

Chapter 42: Ironblooded Capital City Base

Except for high-level psychic superpowered individuals, other superpowered beings cannot voluntarily detonate the Superpowered Crystal Core within their brains due to insufficient psychic strength.

However, a new drug was developed a year ago that rapidly enhances psychic strength within one minute, forcibly detonating the Superpowered Crystal Core inside the brain of any superpowered individual who ingests it.

This drug, capable of triggering self-destruction of the Crystal Core, is irreversible—once taken, there is absolutely no turning back. It is a weapon of mutual destruction.

Furthermore, after taking this drug, psychic strength surges uncontrollably. During this time, the user’s mind must not be further stimulated—no psychic suggestions or use of energy nullifiers should be attempted. Otherwise, such interference would accelerate the expansion of psychic energy, reducing the survival chances of those nearby.

The destructive power of a Superpowered Crystal Core explosion varies by level; the higher the level, the greater the devastation. A superpowered being like Cruise could unleash destruction across a radius of five hundred miles.

Ji An and Gu Jinsheng stood atop the building. Although their heightened senses allowed them to observe the scene below, they couldn’t make out facial expressions clearly—they only saw Cruise’s final, gasping thrash in defiance.

Meanwhile, chaotic noises from the ground and the shouts of onlookers were transmitted directly through the internal comms.

“You all retreat! I’ll stay!” Gou Chong’s eyes burned with determination, along with a flicker of relief. Knowing Gu Jinsheng was monitoring the situation, he bypassed protocol and directly appealed to him: “Commander-in-Chief Gu, Execution Squad Leader Gou Chong requests permission to remain alone. Order the others to withdraw immediately. I vow on my life—even in death, not a single one of them will escape!”

His resolute voice echoed through the comms to everyone present. Gu Jinsheng wasn’t unfeeling or dismissive of lives, but as Commander-in-Chief of the Capital City Base, he had to weigh the overall stakes.

With Cruise’s self-destruction now unavoidable, massive casualties were certain. If the perpetrators escaped under these circumstances, the consequences for the Capital City Base would go far beyond a mere loss of authority.

Every life was precious, yet sometimes sacrifice was inevitable.

Gu Jinsheng’s firm voice issued the command without hesitation through the comms: “Request granted. All personnel withdraw immediately. Execution Squad Leader Gou Chong will remain to restrain all members of T-Base.”

“Understood! Execution Squad Leader Gou Chong receives the order and vows on his life to complete the mission flawlessly—to the death!” His voice rang loud and unwavering, devoid of fear, filled only with fearless resolve.

Ji An adjusted his arrow, aiming at Cruise. From their position, the straight-line distance to Cruise was about 1,000 meters. Hitting Cruise’s brain was simple, but Ji An’s task required more precision.

He needed to strike the Superpowered Crystal Core directly inside Cruise’s brain. A hit elsewhere wouldn’t render Cruise unconscious—it would instead trigger premature detonation.

The pressure weighed heavily on Ji An. His expression was cold, one eye closed, the other locked onto his target. His posture remained unbending, like a towering pine supporting heaven and earth.

Everyone held their breath, silently watching him, praying in silence.

“Squad Leader!”

“Go!” Gou Chong roared. He charged forward, his wood-based ability manifesting as vines like striking snakes, lashing out and ensnaring the fleeing convicts like strung-up targets.

Zhou Qin’s face turned pale and grim. From the rooftop, he shouted, “Gou Chong!”

Without waiting for Gu Jinsheng’s approval, he shot forward like an arrow loosed from the bowstring.

At this point, rushing in would serve no purpose—the priority was evacuation. The blast from a superpowered self-destruction was catastrophic. Those caught within range risked damage to their own Crystal Cores, reduced abilities, or physical injury. At worst, they could be blown apart or left in a vegetative state.

Despite knowing the danger, Zhou Qin dove headfirst into the fray.

Wan Xueying and others reacted swiftly, conjuring a water barrier to block Zhou Qin’s path.

Zhou Qin’s power ranked one small level below Wan Xueying’s. Though the gap seemed minor, among elites even the smallest difference could mean victory or defeat. Zhou Qin had never dared challenge her before.

Now, however, he summoned thick vines and hurled them recklessly at the water barrier.

Driven by desperation, the usually impervious wall shuddered under his frantic blows, rippling visibly.

A few more strikes might actually break through—taking Wan Xueying down with it.

Wan Xueying was struggling to hold her own when Gu Jinsheng stepped in. His wind-based ability twisted into a wind-woven rope that bound the frenzied Zhou Qin.

"Let me go, boss! Let me go!" Zhou Qin shouted, his eyes now bloodshot, as if his eyes were bleeding.

Gu Jinsheng remained expressionless. "You need to calm down now. Even if you rush over, it won’t change anything. You can't stop Cruise from self-destructing—you’ll only get caught in the blast."

This was likely the most Gu Jinsheng had ever spoken to Zhou Qin since they met, even offering an explanation—something rare for him—and reassurance.

Zhou Qin’s eyes burned crimson. "Boss, answer me this—if it were the other way around, and Ji An were in this situation, would you still charge forward knowing full well it's a death trap?"

A flicker of emotion passed through Gu Jinsheng’s eyes. Zhou Qin pressed on. "Boss, Gou Chong saved my life. We may not be in *that* kind of relationship, but he’s my brother in arms. What I feel for him is every bit as strong as what you feel for Ji An! He was willing to die for me, and today, I’m ready to die with him!"

Zhou Qin’s gaze turned pleading. "Boss, I'm begging you just this once—don’t make me live the rest of my life hating you!"

The wind-formed ropes around Zhou Qin loosened, and he bolted away without a backward glance.

He didn’t see Gu Jinsheng standing behind him, facing the direction of Gou Chong below, before briefly closing his eyes—a moment no longer than one or two seconds—but enough to betray the storm inside him.

"Run! Run now! The M-country operative is going to self-destruct!"

Someone else shouted, and chaos erupted instantly.

Speedsters activated their powers, leaping over the crowd and scaling walls to escape. Others with specialized abilities jumped straight onto nearby high-rise balconies.

Strength-based individuals smashed obstacles blocking their path with a single punch, reducing them to dust.

Earth-manipulators burrowed tunnels underground to flee...

The scene was total chaos, with everyone scrambling to survive, superpowers flying wildly in all directions.

Amid the confusion, several condemned superpowered prisoners seized the opportunity to resist and attempt escape.

Gou Chong, as the lead executioner, had initially panicked but quickly regained composure despite the imminent explosion.

He could clearly sense an overwhelming energy building around Cruise—terrifying in its intensity. In mere seconds, Cruise’s hair stood on end like steel wires, his face purpling as if his head were about to explode.

Instead of retreating, Gou Chong dragged the captives toward Cruise, grinning defiantly. "Come on, M-country agent! I'm not afraid of you!"

At the critical moment, three psychic arrows shot down from the sky, each one striking Cruise’s skull with unstoppable force.

Everyone held their breath—it was do or die in that moment. If Ji An’s arrows hit the Superpowered Crystal Core inside Cruise’s brain, they would all be saved. If not, Cruise would detonate instantly, annihilating everything within a 500-meter radius.

But hitting a crystal core barely a few centimeters wide from such a distance was no easy feat.

Then, miraculously, like a raging fire doused by a sudden downpour, the terrifying energy surrounding Cruise vanished into thin air.

Cruise’s purpled face paled to ghostly white, his lips drained of color. His eyes went blank, drool trickling from his mouth as his body slumped limply to the ground.

The three arrows had reduced him to an empty shell!

"All hail Ji An!!!" On the rooftop, the command center personnel erupted into cheers upon seeing Cruise collapse instead of exploding.

Kong Zhongcheng even tried to run over and lift Ji An into the air in celebration—only to turn and find Ji An already cradled in Gu Jinsheng’s arms, soaked with sweat, ghostly pale, eyes shut, and wincing slightly.

Gu Jinsheng’s gaze was filled with concern. "Should I have Wan Xueying take you back?"

Ji An winced faintly, voice weak. "No. I want to see the execution to the end."

"Understood."

"Quell the crowd. Continue with the execution," Gu Jinsheng ordered through the radio.

Zhou Qin had already rushed down from upstairs by then. He sprinted over just in time to witness the scene, and his anxious heart finally settled as he let out a long sigh of relief.

Turning his head, he saw his good brother Gou Chong staring blankly at the paralyzed Cruise on the ground, eyes vacant, completely frozen in fear.

Zhou Qin nudged Gou Chong with his elbow, grinning so wide it nearly reached his ears. "Gouzi, what's wrong? Frozen in fear? You were such a hero just now—don’t tell me you're chickening out now!"

Gou Chong seemed to snap back to reality at Zhou Qin’s nudge. But instead of relief or joy, his first reaction was overwhelming fury.

"Zhou Qin, what were you thinking?! Do you have any idea how dangerous this place is?! Instead of evacuating, you charge right in—what were you trying to prove?!" Gou Chong roared, his emotions running so high it looked like he might lash out at any second.

Zhou Qin was momentarily stunned by the outburst, but then he realized it was just Gou Chong’s excessive worry for him. Unfazed, he grinned cheekily. "We’re brothers-in-arms. The day you pulled me out of that zombie horde, I swore—from then on, my life was yours! If you ever need me, I’d walk through fire for you."

Zhou Qin spoke the most sincere words in the lightest tone, and anyone could hear the unwavering resolve beneath his playful laughter.

Gou Chong’s voice cracked slightly. His eyes reddened, a tear gathering in the corner. He turned his head away, not wanting Zhou Qin to see his tears, his voice muffled. "I didn’t save you just so you’d repay me someday."

"I know, brother. And that’s exactly why I couldn’t just abandon you and run away on my own."

Gou Chong said, "I saved your life, but not so you could throw it away like this. Next time there’s danger, I don’t want you saving me. Otherwise, we’re no longer brothers."

"Got it." Zhou Qin agreed readily, but Gou Chong knew he wasn’t truly promising anything. He was just placating him—next time, he’d still charge headfirst into death alongside him without hesitation.

Gou Chong’s chest tightened painfully, as if he couldn’t breathe.

The other mental-energy-wielders from Jing City Base who were responsible for the execution had already received the order, knowing the crisis was resolved, and began restoring order.

Fortunately, the entire incident had been brief. Though it felt like minutes or even ten minutes had passed, from the moment Cruise took the drug to being turned into brain-dead pulp, it had only been a matter of seconds.

Though the crowd had been in chaos, they quickly calmed down once the danger was neutralized. While some were injured, none of the wounds were too severe.

Cong Xun from the Northern Base wiped the sweat from his forehead, sighing in relief. "Scared the hell out of me. For a second there, I thought I was a goner."

Jiang Fuzhong from Luo City Base, having narrowly escaped death, looked around and asked, "I was too focused on running earlier—what the hell happened? How did that American bastard turn into an idiot in the blink of an eye?"

"He was hit by three mental-energy arrows," Owen said, his eyes gleaming. "Doesn’t that technique feel familiar?"

Jiang Fuzhong suddenly understood. "That mental super? But wasn’t he a low-tier one?"

Owen’s expression darkened. "That’s what’s terrifying. Even if Cruise’s power was unstable, possibly boosted by absorbing Superpowered Crystal Cores, a high-tier super is still a high-tier. For a low-tier mental super to land three consecutive arrows and reduce a high-tier opponent to idiocy—even if it took three shots—such a person can’t be underestimated. He’s no small fry."

Du Ruanlan’s gaze pierced through the layered crowds and jagged skyline toward the group standing atop the building, her eyes shifting with intrigue. "I’m starting to hope for a chance to meet him."

Han Zhiwei from the Southern Base exhaled in relief, but inwardly, his wariness toward Jing City Base deepened.

On the surface, Jing City Base seemed inept, stirring up this much trouble just from hosting an auction. But in truth, no matter which base in China hosted it, these disturbances would have happened—just under different names.

What truly unsettled him was Jing City Base’s swift, decisive response to sudden crises.

"I wonder which mental super stepped in this time?"

Han Zhiwei’s gaze drifted toward the rooftop of the building behind him. If it was the same person from the airport that day, then that individual was truly terrifying—capable of fighting beyond his rank.

If not, it was equally alarming. Jing City Base’s strength was even more unfathomable. What kind of special methods did they have to train support-class mental supers—who were usually paper-thin in combat—into such formidable fighters?

Jing City Base’s power was flat-out terrifying! Everything revealed during this auction was unnerving. How much more were they hiding? If this was just the tip of the iceberg, that would be truly chilling!

The failed self-detonation of Cruise quickly calmed the crowd, restoring order once again.

The interrupted execution did not halt permanently. After restoring order, the punishment resumed.

Cruise, now reduced to an idiot, was thrown beside the depowered H-nation superpowered. Since the chaos began, the disabled superpowered had been curled up on the ground, unmoving even during the turmoil. Even when Cruise landed beside him, he remained unresponsive.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to move—superpowered individuals who had their abilities nullified would briefly experience unconsciousness or disorientation. This showed just how severe the mental damage of depowerment could be.

After the R-country individuals and Cruise were dealt with, it was finally the turn of the T-base superpowered.

These individuals had attempted to escape during the chaos. After failing and witnessing Cruise’s fate—a fate worse than depowerment—they began wailing and begging for mercy.

The male superpowered from T-country cried so hard that snot dripped into his mouth. "Don’t do this to me! You can’t treat me like this! I’m also a Chinese citizen! We’re all from China, 'brothers from the same womb'! Fighting among ourselves will only make other countries mock us!"

Several female superpowered screamed, "We’re innocent! We’re just low-level superpowered, we knew nothing! We had no control over our fate!

They forced us to serve those M-nation and R-nation men. We found it disgusting too, but we couldn’t resist! We’re victims too! You can’t punish us like this—it’s not fair!"

These low-level female superpowered from China were indeed as clueless as they claimed, pressed into servicing R-nation and M-nation men.

But whether they were willing was another matter. During their interrogation, these women had been quite smug, gushing over R-nation and M-nation.

This wasn’t surprising—T-province had always been pro-R and pro-M, idolizing Western powers.

Ignoring the wails of the T-base superpowered, the enforcers hauled them forward one by one for punishment.

Within minutes, the superpowered could no longer scream, reduced to empty shells.

A transport vehicle loaded them up and drove them out of the Jing City base.

At this point, the jumbotron at the execution site switched from live execution footage to a live feed.

Outside the Jing City base, the superpowered drove the vehicle into a zombie-infested area. They dragged the prisoners out, set up a high-altitude surveillance live feed to ensure clear visibility, then drove away.

Less than five minutes after the vehicle left, mindless undead began emerging one after another.

Spotting humans, they lunged like wolves on fresh kill, tearing into them savagely.

The crowd still at the Jing City execution ground watched the bloody scene unfold on the large screen. In the apocalypse, there was no such thing as censorship—the screen was filled with carnage, mangled limbs, and blood-curdling shrieks echoing horrifically through the execution site.

"Let’s go," Gu Jinsheng asked again as the dust settled.

"Mm," Ji An murmured, his face pale.

With everything here concluded and only crowd dispersal remaining, Gu Jinsheng had no reason to stay. Supporting Ji An, he personally escorted him away.

Meanwhile, several M-nation superpowered who had witnessed everything firsthand looked utterly ashen-faced, their expressions darker than storm clouds.

"What’s the meaning of this? A show of force? Depowering them wasn’t enough—they had to throw them to the undead and broadcast it live?" The M-nation representative's face darkened.

Dewitt, the Jing City envoy leader, felt his pride in tatters. His eyes burned with cold fury. "Jing City’s arrogance won’t last. Sooner or later, we’ll make them pay—every last one of them—for what they did today!"

Gritting his teeth, Dewitt added, "Have our agents contact Han Yaokun immediately. Whatever price he names, as long as he demands it, we’ll meet it. But if he refuses to cooperate..."

He drew a finger across his throat. "No matter the cost, he cannot be left alive."

The H-nation superpowered watching the execution had initially thought they could use "distress" as pretext to extort massive compensation from Jing City.

When Cruise had threatened to self-destruct, they’d been terrified. But once he was turned into an idiot, their greed resurfaced. They hungered to seize a hefty pound of flesh from China.

Just a big chunk of meat would be enough to feed the small populace of that puny little nation called H.

But after witnessing the entire execution, the H nation's superpowered agents were utterly intimidated, terrified to the core, and even began to feel a vague sense of regret for stirring up trouble earlier.

Later, when they saw how cruelly and mercilessly Cruise was treated, while the M nation representative didn’t dare squeak—ducking for cover like a scared turtle—the H nation’s superpowered agents grew even more fearful and uneasy.

If even M had to back down, how could they, on this very land, poke the bear like a bunch of idiots without thinking of their own safety? Would they even make it out alive? Or would they be assassinated along the way?

The H agents were filled with regret, wishing they could turn back time and slap their past selves twice.

The people of H had no backbone—subservience and sycophancy were in their nature. Now that they had witnessed the might of the Capital City Base, they didn’t dare act tough. All they wanted was to be dismissed like yesterday’s trash by the Capital City Base!

The H delegates exchanged glances, and after a moment of nervous side-eyes, one agent cautiously suggested, "Maybe we should make a midnight run for it?"

The others quickly nodded. The Capital City Base was too terrifying—its methods too brutal.

Indeed, the H delegation attempted to flee in the dead of night, hoping to slip away unnoticed while the Capital City Base was unaware. Unfortunately, the airport was guarded around the clock by the base’s superpowered agents.

The moment the H group showed up, they were spotted by the night patrol. As the guards strode straight toward them, the H agents trembled in fear. If not for the fact that they needed a plane to return to Q Province, they might have turned and bolted on the spot.

Gone was the arrogance and disdain they had displayed upon arrival. Now, they wished they could shrink down to ant-size, vanishing into the cracks of the earth to escape the notice of these brutal China operatives.

"W-what’s the matter?" The H delegation leader forced himself to bluster, "We haven’t caused any trouble in the Capital City Base. Now we’re returning to our country—you can’t detain us without reason! Otherwise, our H nation won’t let this slide!"