Being forced to grow like a pig? But I'm immune to the consequences!

These words gave everyone a preliminary, realistic understanding of the inner city.

There was still nearly half an hour before they reached the inner city. The trainees gradually began to move around and chat on the deck. Without Mohan by his side, Wu Sheng had no interest in talking to anyone. He simply stood quietly by the ship's side, gazing at the murky river and the gradually blurring, receding outline of the chaotic outer city.

With a slight thought, an invisible sense quietly spread—the proto-core's probing ability silently activated, sweeping over every person of his age on the deck.

Based on his own experience, with each advancement in Body Tempering Realm, the maximum life force increases by one point. He is currently at Body Tempering Level 6, with a maximum life force of 19 points. However, at this moment, the vast majority of the students on the deck who are nominally at Body Tempering Level 4 have life force values ​​hovering around 14 points, a significant gap from the normal maximum of 17 points for Body Tempering Level 4.

Undoubtedly, this is a hidden injury left by overusing potential-enhancing drugs and overdrawing potential.

On the other side, Yan Liang was in his element, already chatting animatedly with another student who also seemed quite talkative.

"Hey buddy, which outer district are you from?"

"North District. What about you?"

"South District".

"How many of your group are going to the inner city?"

"Four. And you?"

"Sigh, it's just me."

"One?" Yan Liang asked, slightly surprised. "Why so few?"

The other person sighed, a look of lingering fear and helplessness on their face: "Don't even mention it... a huge incident happened at the Hyena Gang's base in our area a while ago! One of our members... killed several of his roommates in the middle of the night!"

"Oh?!" Yan Liang's eyes lit up, and he lowered his voice, "Is he the one from the rumors who killed someone, attempted to ambush the instructor but failed, and then ran away to join a cult? Is he from your area?"

"Yes, that's our area." The other person nodded, their expression complex.

"What exactly happened? How did it escalate to murder? Tell me the inside story, brother?" Yan Liang's curiosity was completely piqued.

Time on the ship was dull, and gossip is human nature. Soon, many students nearby quietly gathered around, pricking up their ears.

The narrator sighed again, lowering his voice: "Well... to put it bluntly, it's just a group of talented but morally corrupt thugs ganging up to bully an honest student."

The reason was initially just some trivial matter: the honest man's bunk was near the door, and those hooligans, who didn't care about manners, would walk over his bunk in their dirty shoes when they returned to the dormitory.

That honest man was also foolish; he didn't want any conflict and thought the instructor could uphold justice, so he reported it. But our instructor... he seemed all smiles on the surface, but he was actually a master of playing favorites. Seeing that those few hooligans had some talent, he actually said something like, "The unruly are the unpolished gems, they need more polishing," and gave them some minor authority over others.

He paused, a sneer playing on his lips: "Now look what's happened. Those thugs think the honest guy is afraid of them because he didn't confront him directly, and the instructor doesn't care."

This only made them more brazen.

But that honest man was also a stubborn fellow, refusing to back down no matter what.

However, towards the end of the training, they probably got bored and stopped focusing on it as much.

"They just took it as a joke, but the honest man kept it in mind."

Later on, the honest man's talent began to emerge. But he kept it hidden, deliberately avoiding placing himself in the top five in terms of punching power, and continued to take a potential-enhancing drug every two days.

Even so, he still broke through to the fourth level of Body Tempering.

The narrator's voice unconsciously lowered, carrying a hint of chill: "Then... on one night during the last three days, he made his move. While those people were asleep, he killed them one by one... and... the scene was horrific."

He seemed to recall some horrifying scene, and involuntarily shivered.

"After killing his roommates, he went straight to the instructor's dormitory and launched a sneak attack. Our instructor was at the fifth level of Body Tempering, and he was caught off guard and almost lost! Fortunately, the student had not learned systematic combat skills, so the instructor was able to escape with his life... After that, the student escaped from the camp and disappeared without a trace."

He shook his head: "Of the people he killed, two had also reached the fourth level of Body Tempering and were able to come here... but they're all gone. So, in our area, I'm the only one left."

Someone couldn't help but ask, "Since it caused such a big uproar, how was it resolved in the end?"

"Deal with?" The narrator gave a bitter smile. "Our instructor, as the person directly responsible, was executed by the adults from the inner city..."

"Execute? Kill him outright?" The questioner gasped.

"Yes, he was killed." The narrator's tone was certain. "Like I said before, in the eyes of truly powerful figures, the Hyena Gang's instructors are no different from us students. Below the level of martial arts, life is as worthless as grass. His crime was clear: that student had exceptional talent, breaking through four levels every two days with a potential-enhancing drug, truly a rare talent. And that instructor misjudged him and treated him unfairly, causing this gem to be tarnished, and indirectly leading to the deaths of several promising students. His crime deserved to be punished."

After listening, someone murmured, "It seems the nobles of the inner city still value talent and are willing to uphold justice for us..."

Some, however, were quick-witted and revealed a meaningful smile upon hearing this: "That's true in a good way. But in a bad way... if we offend someone with better talent and a stronger background in the inner city, hehe, our fate might be even worse than that instructor's."

After a conversation, the young people on the ship became less strangers and more familiar with each other, sharing a common plight, and also more solemn about the uncertain future ahead.

The river flowed swiftly, and boats cut through the waves. The majestic outline of the inner city grew clearer and clearer in the field of vision, appearing increasingly imposing and unfathomable.

Just then, Zhang Yong appeared silently beside Wu Sheng.

"Come with me for a moment." His tone was calm, revealing no emotion.

The two walked to a quiet corner of the cabin. Wu Sheng didn't speak, but waited for what was to come.

Zhang Yong took out a small bag from his pocket and handed it to Wu Sheng: "There are four potential-enhancing potions inside. Keep them safe."

Wu Sheng did not go to answer it immediately.

Zhang Yong's gaze fell on the shimmering water outside the ship's side, his voice deepening: "Guo Hui and I both have children in the inner city. Back then, we spent most of our savings and contribution points to send them in. Unfortunately... neither of the boys is cut out for martial arts; their talent is mediocre. Although Guo Hui and I managed to get instructor positions in the Hyena Gang, that's not enough in the inner city to pave a decent path for them. So, to this day, they're just ordinary people in the inner city, with no real progress."