Chapter 155: Section 156: Zhenjin, you’ve finally arrived.


    Piece by piece, the rubble was cleared as Zhenjin personally directed everyone to dig out the supplies buried deep beneath.


    The value of ultrasound exploration shone through once more, as Zhenjin could always accurately pinpoint the location of the materials.


    With knocking and pounding, the broken holes in the ship’s hull were patched up with overlapping planks, resembling a myriad of patches large and small. The dragon bone was the most critical part of the repair, with a considerable amount of wood used in the broken areas, which was then fixed in place with sheet iron and iron nails.


    The sails were not severely damaged, as they had been retracted and hung on the mast.


    A few days later, the slipway was also repaired.


    “One, two, three!” everyone shouted in unison, pulling together, and the Big guy was among them.


    ...


    The ship’s speed increased, sliding down the slipway and into the river water, causing a huge splash.


    The ship rocked a few times and then stabilized on the frothy river surface.


    At this moment, the ship had become ugly, with the hull and the deck covered with wooden patches everywhere. Above the lower deck, where the hull extended higher, two rows of holes were arranged on both sides of the ship.


    Long oars extended out from these holes, totaling ten pairs. The oars nearest to the ship’s rudder were especially large, designed specifically for the Big guy.


    The loss of his leg and the death of the shipwright had caused the Big guy to become disheartened, silent, and nearly weeping in secret every night.


    Following the shipwright’s last words, the Big guy truly saw Zhenjin as his own father, obeying only Zhenjin’s commands. He would eat only the food and water provided by Zhenjin.


    Zhenjin first led the Big guy into the cabin. The Big guy couldn’t walk on his legs and had to crawl in using his hands.


    Afterward, the others followed one by one.


    Eighteen people were drawn to the lower deck, each responsible for a long wooden oar.


    The Big guy sat at the very back, managing two oars by himself.


    The remaining people moved around the deck, responsible for setting the sails, organizing ropes, anchoring, and other tasks, with Xi Suo steering the rudder.


    Before building the ship, Cang Xu had organized several training sessions for the crew, and almost everyone had been trained on how to operate the vessel.


    As the sails rose with the beat of the drum, the twenty oars dipped into the river and gently pulled back, emerging from the water before plunging in again.


    The ship set sail smoothly.


    The river was murky, and Zhenjin often stood resolute at the bow’s prow.


    He surreptitiously used ultrasound continually to scout the conditions under the water.


    He was worried about encountering fierce man-made magical beasts in the water, and even more concerned about the appearance of Golden Level Magic Plants, such as the Python Vine.


    The following voyage was trouble-free.


    There were no man-made Aquatic Demon Beasts, nor were there Python Vines. Underneath, the riverbed was muddy, with whirlpools often accompanying the river’s surface, and the riverbanks were unstable, frequently collapsing.


    This river was a new channel formed by cracks in the surface of the island, and it was also the best shortcut to the island’s center.


    Yet shortcuts are not without risks.


    Groups of bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels often attacked.


    With Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and others on duty, these animal tides either ended in defeat or became reserves for the survivors’ food supplies.


    Almost every survivor had a crossbow in hand, and after several rounds of brutal selection, those who were still alive were either elite or extremely lucky.


    Operating the new ship was extremely difficult, and everyone, from Zhenjin down, was initially frantic. The new ship even collided with the riverbank due to its inability to turn swiftly enough.


    Fortunately, nothing was seriously damaged, but Zhenjin still ordered a halt at the riverbank for one day, arranging an emergency intensive training for everyone.


    The surviving crew members brought tremendous help, sharing their ship-handling skills without holding back any secrets.


    The sea vessel left the jungle and cruised through the forest.


    Then it exited the forest and entered the desert.


    The air became extremely hot, with towering columns of Molten Lava from volcanic eruptions growing ever more visible.


    Black “snow” floated in the air, volcanic ash.


    Due to the hot weather, the glue and tar sealing the boards between them began to melt.


    Water continuously seeped in from the very bottom of the cabin.


    As the ship left the desert and entered the volcanic area, the leaks multiplied to the extent that Zhenjin and the others could scarcely cope.


    And as the river channel gradually narrowed to the point where the banks almost brushed the new ship’s sides, Zhenjin led everyone off the vessel.


    They timely moved all the materials off the ship, and an hour later, with no one to bail out the water, the new ship sank completely under the watchful eyes of everyone present.


    All watched in silence.


    Zhenjin took a deep breath and declared loudly, “Now that we have no way back, we must move forward!”


    The journey was extremely arduous.


    The scorching earth made it difficult to take a step.


    With each breath, the hot air felt like it would scorch everyone’s nostrils, windpipes, and lungs.


    A yellow fog permeated the air.


    The extreme, pungent smell of sulfur was unbearable.


    Because the sky was overshadowed by volcanic clouds, the light was dim, only becoming clearer when lava erupted.


    Earthquakes accompanied the survivors continuously.


    The closer they got to the island’s center, the larger the scale of the earthquakes became.


    While sailing, the earthquakes created towering waves. Now, as they traveled by foot, the threat of earthquakes grew even greater. They could fracture the ground, causing the magma below to surge out.


    Just on the first day after disembarking, three people perished because of this.


    On the second day, the group encountered a Molten Giant Turtle.


    The Giant Turtle was acting strange, with bloodshot eyes and maddened demeanor, no longer passive and harmless as before.


    It launched an attack on the group on its own.


    Given that it was a Golden Level Demon Beast, Zhenjin certainly wouldn’t be foolish enough to confront it head-on and quickly led everyone to escape.


    Fortunately, the Giant Turtle’s Intelligence was not high, and it could not match the speed of the desperate escape, so after a distance had been created, it ceased to chase after Zhenjin and the others.


    The team’s situation was more than tenfold dire than yesterday.


    Because they had encountered the Demon Beast Army.


    Under Zhenjin’s and Zong Ge’s fierce battles, the blocking Demon Beast Army was defeated.


    But everyone’s mood was very heavy.


    Because of the three Blue Dog Fox Wolves, they only managed to slay two of them, and one had fled with its defeated and remaining forces.


    The Blue Dog Fox Wolf was exceptionally intelligent, and this one would definitely bring even more members of the Demon Beast Army.


    At Zong Ge’s suggestion, Zhenjin had no choice but to take a risk and increase the team’s speed.


    This made the survivors miserable.


    Several days later.


    Everyone looked up at the volcano in front of them, many of their gazes numb.


    They had searched all the way and had not found any signs of a Mage Tower or a Magic Core.


    “Could it be that the Mage Tower is hidden inside the volcano?”


    “Actually, it’s very possible! The instability of this island stems from the volcanic eruptions.”


    “But how do we get in?”


    “Lord Zhenjin, we can’t go on!”


    People looked despondent.


    These past few days, they had been continuously pursued by the Demon Beast Army.


    In this volcanic terrain, there were many Blue Dog Fox Wolves, nearly each leading a small-scale Demon Beast Army.


    If it wasn’t for Zhenjin and Zong Ge fighting at the forefront each time, the team would never have made it this far.


    Zhenjin was disheveled and no longer handsome-looking, but his eyes remained resolutely determined.


    “Rest on the spot and figure out a way to enter this volcano,” Zhenjin said.


    Cang Xu, Zi Di, and the others all looked troubled.


    The air temperature was extremely high, ordinary people had reached the limit of their endurance, and to continue would endanger their lives.


    Only the Transcendents, with their superior physiques, could get a bit closer.


    As Zhenjin and the others were discussing, their expressions suddenly changed.


    “The Demon Beast Army is attacking! Prepare for battle,” Zhenjin commanded sharply.


    No one doubted Zhenjin’s predictions, for all this way, they had relied on Zhenjin’s forecasts to keep measuring against the Demon Beast Army, killing their way here.


    With limited time, they chose a slightly higher gentle slope, formed an array right there, with Zhenjin and Zong Ge at the forefront.


    Soon after, they saw a huge wave of wild beasts and Demon Beasts, crazily surging towards them.


    “There are too many, this isn’t just one Demon Beast Army!”


    “There must be at least five Blue Dog Fox Wolves to gather such a terrifying scale.”


    “Let’s escape!”


    Zhenjin gritted his teeth and shook his head, “Where can we escape to?”


    At that moment, his heart was also enveloped in despair.


    Even if he cast aside all concerns and fully mutated, he would have trouble resisting so many fierce beasts.


    To preserve the lives of Zi Di and the others in the face of the Beast Tide was simply a pipe dream!


    “If we had known, we would’ve stayed in the rainforest and waited for rescue!” Hei Juan shouted, filled with regret.


    The Demon Beast Army didn’t care whether people regretted or not, directly assaulting the fortifications.


    “Don’t hold back iron arrowheads, use as many as we can!” Zong Ge yelled.


    Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and the others fought bravely, and remarkably, the formation held in the raging tide of beasts.


    “Strange, this Demon Beast Army seems to be only a facade!”


    “We haven’t seen a single Blue Dog Fox Wolf until now, where have they gone?”


    “Why do I feel like these Demon Beasts aren’t coming to attack us but… fleeing?”


    “Yes, look closely, many of them are wounded.”


    People were perplexed, but Zhenjin suddenly changed expression, his gaze directed towards the distance.


    There were people!


    He had been using ultrasound to scout the surroundings, but these people had appeared in his field of vision very abruptly, undetected by his scouting. Sёar?h the N?velFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There were a total of six strangers, who were effortlessly and willfully hunting the Demon Beasts scattered across the hills.


    It was they who were driving the Demon Beast Army!


    No wonder no Blue Dog Fox Wolves had appeared; they were probably eliminated by these people.


    They were only six, yet they had routed such a massive Demon Beast Army.


    What particularly caught Zhenjin’s and Zong Ge’s attention was, the strangers were radiating pristine Holy Light, their clothes spotlessly clean, completely out of place with the surroundings.


    They were using Transcendent powers!


    “Holy Temple Knight Zhenjin, you’re finally here,” the leading middle-aged man spoke softly; though the distance between them was still considerable, his raspy voice echoed clearly in everyone’s ears.


    The survivors were shocked and overjoyed.


    “Could it be that rescue has come?!”


    “But how did they reach deeper into the central region than us?”


    “He is the priest of the Holy Emperor, and behind him are the Guardian Knights.”


    “Who are you?” Zhenjin greeted with a slight bow.


    The white-clad priest smiled gently, introducing himself, “My name is Jia Sha.”