The evening breeze swayed the iron hook on the crane, producing a clear, tinkling sound. Port B, where Jing Lingxiao was located, was a long way from where Lu Kong was. No wonder Lu Kong had insisted they split up and take separate actions. After all, this approach could greatly enhance efficiency. However, Jing Lingxiao hadn't yet realized that danger was creeping up beside him.

　　Strolling leisurely along the edge of the port, Jing Lingxiao admired the rhythmic red flashes of light emitted by the cluster of ships not far away. Port B seemed rather deserted at this moment. By the light of the moon, he was reading the book he hadn't finished that morning.

　　"Come on out. It's boring." He suddenly slammed the book shut. Unlike Lu Kong's sluggishness, Jing Lingxiao had long been aware that someone had been tailing him all along.

　　Only then did the shadow that had been hiding behind the containers step out with heavy footsteps. Under the moonlight, his bald head was extremely glaring. His thick physique lost some of its inherent beauty due to his slight hunch. His ferocious eyes flickered with fiery murderous intent.

　　"Qiao Chengyong, my father trusted you so much. I never expected you to be in cahoots with Wu Yu and his gang." Jing Lingxiao spoke with a tone of disappointment.

　　"It's nice that the young master still recognizes me. I didn't really want to lay a hand on you, but this is all according to the orders of that great man. I have no choice but to obey." Qiao Chengyong lightly licked his fist with his tongue and then slammed it hard onto the ground, creating a deep pit.

　　Jing Lingxiao knew what that meant. He quickly jumped up from the ground and grabbed a nearby mast, then somersaulted into the air.

　　Now everything was clearly visible. Under Qiao Chengyong's fist, there was electricity coursing through the snowy water, spreading out and turning the iron containers into a cage that harbored lightning.

　　"Thunderstorm (an ability that attaches a lightning effect to all attacks made by the possessor of supernatural powers - ability user) lives up to its reputation." Jing Lingxiao hung from the mast with one hand, quietly admiring the chattering electric sparks on the ground. Then, without warning, he took a shot at Qiao Chengyong.

　　Faster than the speed of the bullet, a bolt of lightning collided with it in mid-air, triggering a small explosion. By the time Qiao Chengyong came to his senses, Jing Lingxiao was already standing safely on top of a container.

　　"Impossible." Qiao Chengyong narrowed his eyes and only then realized that the container, which had been made of iron just now, had turned into a wooden box. "So this is reverse transformation? Not bad at all." He silently praised it to himself and then put all his strength into a punch aimed at Jing Lingxiao.

　　"Five... four... three..." Jing Lingxiao slowly counted down. Just as Qiao Chengyong's fist was about to touch him, Jing Lingxiao spread out his five fingers and pressed down. The container, which had just been reverse-transformed into wood, suddenly burst into flames and burned toward Qiao Chengyong, forcing him to retreat repeatedly.

　　"Not bad, young man. You're worth having some real fun with." Qiao Chengyong laughed loudly at the sky. Then, with a sweeping leg kick in mid-air, he knocked the handgun out of Jing Lingxiao's hand. The handgun in mid-air became a perfect conductor, with the current wreaking havoc inside it. Soon, it caused a sizable explosion right in front of Jing Lingxiao.

　　"That was really dangerous." Jing Lingxiao murmured. Then he placed his hand on the remaining part of the container that hadn't been burned yet. The place that had just been a blazing inferno suddenly turned into a pile of fertile soil.

　　Before Jing Lingxiao could think much more, Qiao Chengyong was already swinging his fists and closing in on him. Jing Lingxiao had no choice but to forcefully drive his fist into the mound of earth and then yank it out abruptly. This time, he didn't try to escape; instead, he clenched his fist and charged forward. The two fists collided head-on.

　　"Think you can use dirt as a feint to insulate against my attacks? You're still too green." Qiao Chengyong exerted a burst of force, and the layer of earth wrapped around Jing Lingxiao's fist instantly crumbled into pieces.

　　As Jing Lingxiao's fist was about to meet Qiao Chengyong's, he didn't stop. Just as the electricity was about to surge into his body, at the critical moment, Qiao Chengyong let out a painful howl and quickly released Jing Lingxiao, stepping back and rolling on the ground several times.

　　At that critical juncture, Jing Lingxiao had preemptively activated his "Reverse Transformation" ability, turning Qiao Chengyong's lightning into other substances to restrain him. However, waiting for such an opportunity was extremely difficult due to the lightning's propagation speed. Jing Lingxiao had to use the earth as a buffer to buy some time against Qiao Chengyong's attacks. Looking at Qiao Chengyong, who was curled up on the ground, Jing Lingxiao had so many questions he wanted to ask him. In the cold and desolate port, one shadow was slowly approaching another shadow lying on the ground. The man who could once be called the Thunder God was now half-covered in mud, unable to move easily.

　　"Tell me, who's behind you, and what are your goals?" Jing Lingxiao glared furiously, grabbing Qiao Chengyong's collar, intending to force the truth out of him.

　　"No comment. You don't need to know this right now. Even if I die, I'll take this secret to the grave." Qiao Chengyong's face contorted with rage, his wrinkles and veins bulging out. Under the moonlight, they resembled overlapping ravines crisscrossing his face.

　　Seeing that his interrogation was yielding no results, Jing Lingxiao was about to raise his hand to increase the pressure of his questioning.

　　But a faint crackling sound of electricity suddenly reached his ears. Jing Lingxiao's vision went black, and he naturally collapsed onto the cold ground. Without any warning, Qiao Chengyong had gently pressed his other hand against Jing Lingxiao's back.

　　Jing Lingxiao felt completely weak all over. He watched as Qiao Chengyong slowly patted his shoulders, and the tightly wrapped mud fell off and shattered on the ground.

　　Just as Jing Lingxiao thought he was about to die, Qiao Chengyong surprisingly took off his jacket and gently draped it over Jing Lingxiao. Then he turned and started to walk away.

　　"Why..." Jing Lingxiao whispered, struggling even to breathe at this point.

　　"The next time we meet, I won't show such mercy." Qiao Chengyong glanced back at Jing Lingxiao, who was lying on the ground unable to move, and then merged into the night.

　　Due to the previous electric shock, Jing Lingxiao's phone had malfunctioned, preventing him from contacting anyone. Plus, his consciousness was slowly fading away. Although he had managed to crawl a short distance toward the port's exit with all his might, he eventually collapsed from exhaustion. The moonlight illuminated his youthful face, and he looked like a drunken man lying on the street, having unpleasant dreams in the cold wind.

　　At Port A, Lu Kong heard footsteps getting closer and closer, and his heart couldn't help but tighten. Moreover, as the footsteps drew nearer, his heart pounded even harder.

　　"Oh, so you're hiding here. You really made me search high and low." That pale face in the night looked like a venomous snake, flicking its tongue and preparing to open its gaping maw.