Nanhuangzhou is very large.
If viewed from a high altitude, the shape of its plate can be seen, which is an irregular oval, surrounded by the sea on all sides.
Although it is separated from the Wanggu Continent by an endless sea and seems more like an island, its vastness is something that many people cannot explore in their entire lives.
However, most of the areas within it are difficult for the human race to enter, as they are blocked by the Truth Mountain Range that slant through the entire South Phoenix Continent.
In the southwest of the Truth Mountains lies an extremely vast restricted area.
It occupies nearly 70% of the Southern Phoenix Continent. Only the northeastern area of the Truth Mountain Range is the settlement of the human race.
Even so, the number of the human race is not small.
In this northeastern region, there are numerous cities of all sizes, countless like stars, some solid and some simple.
However, the construction sites of these cities all avoided the small restricted areas within the northeastern region.
When there is a choice, no one wants to live around the forbidden zone, in a crisis where danger is about to strike at any moment. Only the desperate ones, out of necessity and forced by life, would gather together, with red eyes, licking their blades and struggling to survive.
So scavenger camps were formed, and around almost every restricted area, there were such camps. Looking at the entire human region, the number of scavenger camps was quite diverse.
Standing on the mountain top at this moment, what caught Xu Qing's eyes was precisely this campsite.
From a distance, the camp doesn't look very large. It seems that there are only a few hundred people living inside.
Perhaps it was because of the early morning, with wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys. Although it was not as bustling as the city, it was still very lively.
There were faint shouts of scolding, cursing, hawking and unrestrained laughter, interwoven and spreading far away.
It was just the house of value mentioned by Captain Lei. From the inside out, its structure became increasingly simple. The outermost part was basically just a tent.
Not far behind the camp, there was a pitch-dark jungle.
There was a mist swirling around, as if a terrifying existence was hidden.
Even if the sky is bathed in intense sunlight, it cannot all be reflected in, as if there were gods and demons within, coldly intimidating all directions.
It is also like a black, distorted spot on a person's body, which is both shocking and clearly distinguishable from other areas.
How did you feel after seeing it? On the top of the mountain, Captain Lei spoke.
It's similar to a slum. Xu Qing thought for a moment and answered truthfully.
Captain Lei smiled, said nothing and walked forward.
Xu Qing withdrew his gaze and followed behind Captain Lei. The two of them made their way down the mountain, getting closer and closer to the camp.
On the way, I also met a few people returning from outside. They were all dressed similarly, mainly in dark grey fur coats.
Xu Qing noticed that after seeing Captain Lei, each of these people's expressions showed a sense of awe, and their eyes were mostly filled with curiosity as they swept towards him.
This made Xu Qing have more speculations about Captain Lei's identity.
In this way, when the sun was high in the sky, Xu Qing followed Captain Lei and entered the plain at the foot of the mountain, into this camp of scavengers.
The camp has no city walls and the ground is very messy, with dust flying everywhere. Dead leaves and garbage can be seen everywhere, giving a somewhat smoky and chaotic feeling.
And as he walked closer, the sounds he had heard on the mountain earlier became even clearer in Xu Qing's ears.
Apart from the simple buildings one after another, what catches the eye are also the numerous scavengers.
Some are as tall, burly and domineering as withered oxen, some are as emaciated as firewood with sinister eyes, and some are so old that they seem unable to open their eyes, yet no one dares to provoke them.
There were also some young people like him, huddled in the corner, staring blankly at the sky.
Some of them are disabled.
There were still quite a few people inside. When Xu Qing saw them, his eyes slightly narrowed. The aura on those people made him feel the fluctuation of spiritual energy.
All kinds of people, some are buying and selling, some are fighting with each other, some are lying on the big rock 嗮 the sun.
Some others came out of the tents with bright feathers hanging in their trousers, with a sinister look on their faces.
Xu Qing followed Captain Lei into the camp. To outsiders, it seemed as if he had entered hell.
But apart from his inner vigilance, there was nothing unusual about him. In fact, there was a faint sense of familiarity.
It is indeed very similar to a slum. Xu Qing muttered to himself in his heart. His gaze swept over the tents with feathers hanging on them, and he saw what seemed to be a white figure inside.
Even inside a tent, a young woman in fine clothes came out, with a lazy look, smiling and waving at Xu Qing.
Don't look around. Captain Lei gave Xu Qing a glance.
I know what place it is. Xu Qing withdrew his gaze and replied.
The wrinkles on Captain Lei's face led to a silent smile. Without saying a word, he led Xu Qing through the camp until they reached their destination.
It is a huge wooden building located in the center of the camp, in a ring shape, like a Colosseum.
All the way, Xu Qing was observing and had already structured most of the map of this camp in his mind.
This is his habit. Many times, familiarity with the environment can often change the situation of a crisis.
At this moment, he looked up at the Colosseum building in front of him and noticed that apart from the huge area, there were also many simple benches inside.
In addition, there were also the roars of fierce beasts coming from inside the building.
There were also some terraced houses around that looked like wooden sheds. A few scavengers, dressed obviously cleanly, were chatting and laughing outside the terraced houses.
With the arrival of Team Lei, a thin middle-aged man soon wobbled out of the Colosseum.
This man was dressed in a long gown that was different from that of a scavenger. He had three whiskers on his face and also had spiritual energy fluctuations on his body. As he walked over, his skin gave him a perfunctory pull, glanced at Xu Qing, and then turned to look at Captain Lei.
"Newcomer?"
The rules are already known. Captain Lei spoke slowly.
What's the name? Sanpiei Hu asked casually.
"A little brat. What name does it have? Just call it a kid." Captain Lei said indifferently.
"Then come with me, kid. You're lucky, kid. There are already a few ahead of you. We can start around tomorrow." "
Sanpiaohu snorted and turned to walk towards the terraced house.
Xu Qing glanced at Captain Lei.
"Go. I'll pick you up tomorrow." Captain Lei looked at Xu Qing, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Xu Qing gave Captain Lei a deep look, nodded, said nothing, and followed behind Sanpiei Hu.
It was not until they reached the terraced house that the three bearded men exchanged a few words with the scavenger beside them and then turned to leave.
Xu Qing was also placed in a row house and was told that she was not allowed to go out without permission.
The moment Xu Qing stepped into this row of houses, he saw four pairs of eyes converging at different positions inside the room, right here.
Those were three teenagers of his age and a young man, three men and one woman.
The two teenagers seemed to be a few years older than him. At this moment, they swept over Xu Qing, sized him up for a while and didn't pay much attention.
As for that girl, she was a little younger than Xu Qing, huddled in a corner with a huge scar on her face.
She watched everything around her nervously and warily, including the original three people and the newly arrived Xu Qing.
As for the oldest young man here, it seems that he was originally a scavenger, and now he's just changing camps.
So when he saw Xu Qing, he curled the corner of his mouth, somewhat disapproving. He turned his gaze away, with an aggressive look, and stared at the girl in the corner, licking his lips.
But clearly, he, who had not officially obtained the right to live in the camp, dared not act so recklessly now.
Xu Qing paid no attention to them. He found a place by the door, sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, and meditated in silence.
Time passed slowly. Perhaps because Xu Qing's arrival was too quiet, the three people in the room except the little girl gradually ignored him and started chatting with each other.
Among the words of those two teenagers, there was a clear intention to please the young man.
Most of the content discussed is also related to this trial.
Through their conversation, Xu Qing learned that this camp would hold a trial at regular intervals when it had accumulated enough people who wanted to obtain the residence qualification.
The rules of the trial are very simple.
As the camp leader of this camp keeps many mutated ferocious beasts in captivity, the trial to obtain the residence qualification is to draw lots in public and fight the beast that is drawn.
Either live or die, prey to each other.
The living can take away the spoils and obtain the qualification to reside.
The deceased will have everything of their own become food for the ferocious beasts.
And every trial will be held within this Colosseum.
At that time, most of the scavengers in the camp will buy tickets to come and watch this bloody scene. While getting pleasure from it, the camp owner will also hold gambling games to make profits.
In this cruel world, human lives are of little value.
But if one is not qualified to enter the city and cannot enter the camp, living alone in the wild, the risk of death will be even greater.
Of course, the slum is also an option. But obviously, those who can decide to enter the scavenger camp all have their own stories of having to come here in their hearts.
Xu Qing was meditating while listening.
It was not until they were talking about the event when the gods opened their eyes many days ago that a young man suddenly spoke.
When I came here, I heard that you were a survivor of that catastrophe?
As soon as these words were spoken, Xu Qing slowly opened her eyes.
Looking over, I noticed that the young man's words were not directed at me but at the little girl in that corner.
The little girl's body trembled and she nodded silently.
Xu Qing's gaze fell upon the little girl.
Everyone else had heard about it, but he had gone through all of this, so he deeply knew that those who could survive the catastrophe and come here might not be as fragile and simple as their eyes seemed.
It seemed that she also noticed Xu Qing's gaze. The little girl looked up at Xu Qing.
Xu Qing closed his eyes again and continued to meditate. He was determined to seize every moment to cultivate himself, which was the fundamental reason for him to live a better life.
Just like this, the night passed.
The next morning, amid the chaos and clamor from outside, the door of the terraced house was suddenly pushed open from the outside.
Sunlight streamed in, covering the scavenger standing at the door. When his shadow fell into the house and enveloped the figure of the little girl in the corner, a cold voice came.
"Pack up and come with me. It's time for your good show to begin."
"Finally, it's here."
The young man inside the house, who seemed to be a scavenger, was the first to get up, walked over with a smile and greeted the person at the door.
The two teenagers also quickly followed behind. Xu Qing was the fourth one to come out, while the little girl was the last.
The scavenger at the door seemed to know the young man. After a few words of laughter and scolding, he ignored the others and led the young man towards the Colosseum.
As they drew closer, the sounds of noise, clamor and Shouting rose and fell, growing louder and louder.
It was not until they stepped into the Colosseum that the noises around burst out all of a sudden.
It can be seen that there are already over a hundred people on the benches around the Colosseum at this moment, both men and women, as if surrounded by a group of demons, all watching a good show together.
Their voices were loud. The little girl's body trembled obviously, and the two boys also had pale faces.
Only the young man, with a hint of excitement in his eyes, looked towards the viewing table.
Then there was Xu Qing. His expression didn't change much. He began to observe the environment of the fighting area inside the Colosseum.
The area is not very large and is not suitable for pulling. There is no cover and it is not suitable for dodging.
The surrounding wooden boards are very high and not suitable for guiding the danger to the viewing mat. However, there are several door marks, which seem to indicate that there is another passage.
So... either delay and rely on the cries of those scavengers to scare the ferocious beasts and look for the right moment to act, but it might also cause the beasts to fly into a rage. In that case, it would be most beneficial to win the battle quickly.