《Infinite Bloodcore》 Chapter 1 - 1: Section 1: When I Wake Up Chapter 1: Section 1: When I Wake Up Editor: Henyee Translations This was a dense rainforest. Spears of scorching sunlight pierced through the thick layers of leaves, illuminating the ground. The air was stiflingly humid, and the dense foliage flourished exuberantly due to the copious rainfall. Vines twisted around each other and tangled roots formed serious obstacles. Zi Di ran through the rainforest with all her might. She had curly black hair and a wheat-colored complexion. Her delicate features outlined an extraordinary beauty. The most captivating part of her appearance was her large purple eyes, clear and bright like amethysts. But at this moment, those purple eyes were filled with fear and panic. ... Whoosh! Whoosh! Her mouth was wide open, gasping for air, and her chest was already aching faintly. She was drenched in sweat, and there were several bandaged wounds on her body. The vigorous running had caused the white bandages to be stained with patches of fresh red blood. ¡°Faster, go faster!¡± ¡°I must get away from here immediately!!¡± Zi Di encouraged herself, but her speed was always limited. It was because a thick hemp rope was draped over her shoulder, dragging something heavy behind her, which significantly slowed her down. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± Suddenly, a piercing scream resonated from afar. Immediately after, the howling of wolves echoed. Zi Di shuddered violently, as if struck by an electric shock. Then, a sense of crisis and urgency seized her heart with a monstrous grip. In that instant, only one thought remained in her mind: ¡°Run! Escape! Leave everything behind, or you will be killed by that Evil Wolf, just like those guards, torn apart, chewed up, and eventually swallowed!¡± Zi Di¡¯s face turned pale, her eyes frantic, but when she looked behind her, she steadied herself again. She was dragging a hemp rope, firmly connected to a stretcher on which an unconscious boy lay. The boy, for some reason, had his eyes tightly shut and was unresponsive. He had strikingly golden hair and exceptionally handsome features, exuding an innate nobility. The boy was undoubtedly her burden. In such a critical life-and-death chase, dragging a burden heavier than herself was like throwing away her chance of survival. Looking at the boy on the stretcher, Zi Di gritted her teeth. She then forced herself to suppress the panic and tension inside, continuing to drag the stretcher, resisting the terrifying pressure of impending death, and moving forward once more. She pushed aside the vines in front of her and used her slender body to break through the dense shrubs that were as thick as walls. Suddenly, the dense forest opened up slightly, revealing a bright blue sky. The sound of running water grew clearer, and soon a small river appeared in Zi Di¡¯s sight. With a quick estimation, she knew that the river would likely only reach her waist. However, she didn¡¯t dare to set foot in the river easily! ¡°This isolated island is full of dangers, and it cannot be judged by common sense. I¡¯m almost certain that this river is hiding ferocious crocodiles or swarms of piranhas!¡± Originally, she had sixteen guards by her side, but now only she and the boy remained. Along the way, her team members had sacrificed themselves one by one, demonstrating the terrifying nature of this island jungle with their lives. ¡°Damn, if only I could use Magic¡­¡± After observing for a while, Zi Di bit her lip and decided to cross the river. The giant wolf behind her was like a death god in pursuit, likely tracking her scent. Even though Zi Di was panicked, she never lost her reason entirely. She remained consciously aware and judicious about her situation. She dragged the heavy stretcher and followed the river. Moments later, a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes. She saw a small tree growing sideways. Its trunk extended from this shore, arching over the river, and reaching the other side. Zi Di cautiously checked the surroundings. She found nothing hiding in the bushes, neither poisonous snakes nor thorns, but the trunk was covered in moss, making it extremely slippery. Climbing the trunk alone would be risky, let alone with the added burden. The boy on the stretcher remained deeply unconscious. Perhaps she should abandon him. Crossing the river with an unconscious boy was extremely difficult and dangerous. But Zi Di gritted her teeth, quickly untied the hemp rope from the stretcher, and carried the boy on her back. She then securely bound herself to him with the rope. After preparing everything, Zi Di removed her boots, stuffing them between the rope and her body. Finally, she took a deep breath, and began the risky climb up the trunk, carrying the unconscious boy on her back. The moss on the trunk peeled off as she climbed, making it even more slippery. ¡°I can do this, I can!¡± ¡°Zi Di, you must not fall here.¡± ¡°You are the Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. Your father¡¯s revenge is yet to be avenged!¡± The brave girl continued to motivate herself. She exerted all her strength, clinging to the trunk, inching forward. Her purple eyes brimming with determination as she gazed ahead. In the end, she successfully climbed over. The combined weight of the two pressed the small tree trunk down. When she reached the other bank, the trunk bent down to the ground. This made it easier for Zi Di to land. Without the weight of both, the trunk sprang back up, its branches and leaves swaying in a flurry. Zi Di, carrying the boy, was at the limit of her physical strength. She was nearly exhausted, unable to stand, and could only kneel, supporting herself with her hands. Her face was pale, and she felt slightly dizzy. Sweat dripped quickly from her nose and chin, falling on the lush grass beneath her. Catching her breath for a moment, the dizziness faded gradually. A strong sense of joy spread through her heart. ¡°Incredible! I did it!¡± ¡°I really climbed over.¡± But immediately, she noticed her limbs beginning to feel numb. This was the aftermath of exerting all her strength. Howl! The wolf¡¯s howl suddenly sounded, and a shadow darted out from the dense grass. Zi Di¡¯s body trembled intensely. She instinctively turned around and saw a massive deep blue wolf. At that moment, her eyes widened, falling into despair! The wolf, as big as a small cow, exuded a menacing aura. Its teeth were bared, with remnants of fresh meat between them. Its eyes were blood-red, glaring at Zi Di with murderous intent. Zi Di was terrified, collapsing into the grass by the riverside. In her haste, she forgot that the unconscious boy was still on her back. The boy¡¯s weight brought strong inertia, dragging Zi Di to the ground. This display of weakness and helplessness only fueled the wolf¡¯s aggression. Yet, the giant wolf remained on the opposite bank. It paced and growled, eyeing the flowing river with clear apprehension. Seeing the wolf¡¯s hesitation, Zi Di realized that her earlier judgment was correct. However, the next moment, the wolf discovered the trunk and, imitating Zi Di, started to make its way across! There was no doubt that this ferocious and cunning wolf possessed alarming intelligence. Though large, it balanced perfectly, moving faster than Zi Di did. Shocked, Zi Di felt as if she were electrocuted. She hurriedly drew a dagger from her bosom, cut the rope binding her, and leapt up, forcefully ramming the trunk suspended in mid-air. The trunk swayed upon impact. Though the sway wasn¡¯t severe, it was enough to cause the wolf trouble. The wolf¡¯s balance was disrupted, almost falling into the river, forcing it to leap back to the bank in a sorry state. Howl! It roared at Zi Di, baring sharp teeth, growing even more irritable. Zi Di, having temporarily stopped the wolf, was initially overjoyed but soon filled with regret. ¡°I should have waited until it was in the middle and then struck, making it fall into the river!¡± She and the wolf faced off across the river. The wolf kept howling, refusing to retreat. Zi Di¡¯s eyes were fixed on the wolf. She did not dare to relax for a second. Every time the wolf showed an attempt to climb the trunk, she would shake it, causing a disturbance. A while later, Zi Di realized her earlier panicked action was the correct one. She could not accurately gauge how far the wolf could jump. The wolf might climb a short distance and then leap to the opposite bank directly. Even if Zi Di had managed to shake the wolf into the river, there was no guarantee the hidden dangers in the water would emerge or stop it. So, the most cautious approach was to give the wolf no opportunity. As soon as it started to climb, she disrupted it. As time passed, the wolf¡¯s attempts continued to fail. Finally, at a certain moment, it quickly turned and darted into the bushes, disappearing from sight. Zi Di stood in a daze, only coming to her senses several breaths later and plopping onto the ground. Her face, tense with fear, began to relax like melting ice, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She had finally escaped death! Zi Di began to sob quietly. Her legs were bent, feet still bare, and she hadn¡¯t had time to put on her boots. Because of climbing earlier, the inner sides of her feet were covered in abrasions, and her fingernails were damaged, oozing blood. She buried her head in her knees, her shoulders trembling with her sobs, like a delicate kitten. After crying for a while, she suddenly lifted her head as if struck by lightning. Her eyes were red, clear traces of tears on her face, exuding a complex mix of emotions¡ªshock, doubt, and fear. ¡°Did the wolf really give up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible. But¡­¡± Recalling the terrifying experiences of the past days, Zi Di increasingly felt the wolf was unlikely to give up. ¡°It might have retreated into the bushes to deceive me.¡± ¡°Perhaps, it¡¯s following the river, searching for another way to cross!¡± ¡°Or maybe it¡¯s already on this side, racing towards here!!¡± These thoughts hit Zi Di like a jolt, filling her with bone-chilling dread. What should she do? Climb back the way she came, with the boy? Even ignoring the difficulty of climbing up the arched trunk with the boy¡¯s dead weight, what if the wolf was still waiting? Should she stop midway? That was impossible. She had expended too much energy. Zi Di deeply understood her current physical state. She couldn¡¯t gather the confidence to climb the trunk again. Reflecting on her earlier climb, she felt a mix of relief and fear. Should she continue with the boy? If the wolf pursued them, it was certain death. Even unburdened, she couldn¡¯t outrun the wolf. ¡°There¡¯s only one final option!¡± A determined look flashed in Zi Di¡¯s eyes. She hurried to the boy¡¯s side, half-kneeling on the ground, and took out a milky white crystalline rod from her bosom. Concentrating intensely, she poured all her remaining strength into the White Crystal. Clamping the crystal tightly, she held it near the boy¡¯s forehead, just a hair¡¯s breadth away, but nothing happened. ¡°Is it not working after all?¡± ¡°No, this is the last hope. Even if there¡¯s a faint chance¡­¡± Growing desperate, Zi Di muttered, ¡°Quickly, please, please work.¡± As if responding to her plea, the milky white crystal started to emit a faint light, barely visible. But just that faint glimmer of light made Zi Di overjoyed. ¡°Though the majority of magic is prohibited on this island, it¡¯s relative. As long as the grade is high enough, it can still be used. Reduced in power and effect, but usable¡­¡± Magic worked that way, and so did Magic Tools. The light from the White Crystal Rod grew brighter, eventually resembling flowing droplets of luminous milk. A small stream of this liquid dripped onto the boy¡¯s forehead and then merged into his skin miraculously. In a short while, Zi Di, struggling to activate the crystal, became paler and drenched in sweat, her body faltering. The crystal began to lose its luster, turning to gray stone from the top down. ¡°Hold on, must hold on, don¡¯t give up!¡± Zi Di urged herself, pushing her limits, nearly hypnotizing herself to keep going. When the crystal was nearly half gray, Zi Di was almost unconscious, driven by sheer determination. ¡°Must wake him¡­¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Howl! The sudden wolf howl announced the return of the blue giant wolf, charging from the dense grass with astonishing speed. In that moment, death descended! Zi Di was startled, trembling violently, instinctively looking up. Her delicate face was now in the shadow of the wolf. She saw the wolf mid-leap, diving towards her. Time seemed to slow. The wolf¡¯s mouth was open wide, revealing fierce fangs, saliva trailing. ¡°Am I going to die?!¡± Zi Di¡¯s will fought to struggle, but her body had no energy left, exhausted completely. ¡°So unwilling¡­¡± Facing the powerful sense of impending death, Zi Di¡¯s eyes held a final hope, looking at the crystal in her hand. Two-thirds of the Crystal Ball had turned to gray stone, yet a third remained. ¡°No hope left.¡± In an instant, Zi Di¡¯s face turned ashen, losing all will, her head drooping, eyes closing. But just as she resigned to her fate, her hand trembled. Thump. With a light sound, the crystal shattered into countless fragments. What¡¯s happening? Zi Di opened her eyes in surprise. She saw the unconscious boy waking up at last! The golden-haired, blue-eyed boy suddenly flipped over and delivered a backward kick. The move was elegant and swift, yet powerful. His seemingly frail body displayed formidable strength in that kick! A powerful kick with the force of a storm! The wolf, unable to dodge, was struck squarely. Its howl was cut short, as it was sent flying. The boy pressed his hands to the ground, swiftly standing, eyes blazing. Zi Di¡¯s breath hitched, her pupils contracting. Staring at the boy¡¯s slender back, it seemed like a mountain was rising. Chapter 2 - 2: Section 2: Holy Temple Knight and Fiancée Chapter 2: Section 2: Holy Temple Knight and Fianc¨¦e Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Darkness.¡± ¡°A deep and profound darkness.¡± ¡°In this darkness, the boy¡¯s consciousness gradually returned.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°What is this place?¡± ... ¡°Where am I?¡± As the boy¡¯s consciousness became clearer, he began to ask. Endless darkness enveloped him, silent, without any response. The boy¡¯s hopes grew increasingly faint as he examined himself but could see nothing. The confusion in his heart grew stronger. ¡°So, who am I?¡± ¡°Who am I?¡± ¡°Why am I trapped here?¡± Awakened, the boy grew impatient. Though darkness was safe, it was unchanging, like a prison that held him captive. Naturally, he began to wish to break free, to leave this place. ¡°I want to leave!¡± ¡°But where should I go?¡± ¡°Is there a way for me to follow?¡± ¡°Is there a way out?¡± As if responding to his confusion, a faint light appeared in the darkness. The light was orange. Very faint. It seemed to appear and disappear. Yet in this total darkness, even the faintest orange light was glaringly obvious. It captured all of the boy¡¯s attention. The boy struggled to move closer to the faint light. He didn¡¯t know how long it took, but he seemed to get closer to the orange light, which also appeared slightly larger. ¡°What is that place?¡± ¡°Can it lead me out?¡± Longing to escape the darkness, the boy moved urgently toward the orange light. At that moment, ¡°Roar!!!¡± A deafening beastly roar suddenly shook the entire dark space. The orange light, like a frightened creature, instantly extinguished, startling the boy awake. As he opened his eyes, he saw a giant wolf descending from the sky, jaws open to devour him! The boy was still lying on the ground. His mind was blank, filled with terror, but his body reacted instinctively. Turned over and kicked! At that moment, his whole body was like a ballista, his leg like a launched arrow. Bang! The boy¡¯s foot struck the giant wolf¡¯s belly, sending it flying. The boy propped himself up with his hands, pushing hard to stand up. ¡°Someone?¡± As he rose, he caught a glimpse of a girl, Zi Di. Though he only caught a glimpse, there was no time to think. The giant wolf posed a strong threat, shaking him to the core. Panic spread rapidly in his heart. ¡°This is a Silver Level magic beast!¡± The crisis was still present! The boy¡¯s eyes gleamed, locking onto the giant wolf. Splash. Waves sprayed. The giant wolf, kicked by the boy, flailed in the air, drawing an arc before falling into the river. This wasn¡¯t surprising, as Zi Di was close to the river. The ferocious giant wolf, upon falling into the river, let out a horrified roar. It struggled desperately, trying to reach the shore quickly. Suddenly, several huge green shadows emerged from the river. These shadows were thick as pythons, suddenly causing turbulence and huge splashes. The aura of the green shadows exposed them, clearly at the Golden Level! The green shadows instantly wrapped around the Silver Level evil wolf, dragging it into the water. Swoosh! The river surface became turbulent, muddy waves continuously surging. Soon, patches of crimson appeared like blooming flowers ¨C it was Wolf Blood! The wolf blood spread rapidly with the churning river. In just a few breaths, the wolf¡¯s cries disappeared entirely, and the river surface started to calm down. The blood mixed with the river water quickly lost its color with the flow. Quiet quickly returned. It was as if nothing had happened. The evil wolf disappeared, and the terrifying green shadows vanished; the life-and-death struggle seemed non-existent. The boy was even more shaken witnessing all this. ¡°Silver Level evil wolf, Golden Level River Vine, what is this hellish place?!¡± Filled with horror, he began to observe his surroundings, finally turning to face the girl, Zi Di. ¡°Where is this place?¡± Zi Di was shocked, standing still like a statue. Hearing the boy¡¯s question, the girl finally reacted. ¡°Sir!¡± She was overwhelmed with excitement, like a frightened kitten, throwing herself into the boy¡¯s arms. The boy looked at the girl in his arms, momentarily confused and lost. ¡°Thank God, Sir, you are finally awake!¡± The girl hugged him tightly with excitement, ¡°Sir, you are awake!¡± The boy patted her shoulder, gently pushing her away. Zi Di looked up at him, her face filled with joy and excitement. The boy examined the girl in his arms, his heart skipped a beat. Her delicate face looked fragile, her eyes red, tear-filled, her violet eyes like beautiful gemstones, shining with a hint of allure. ¡°That evil wolf must have frightened her greatly,¡± the boy felt a tenderness in his heart, then asked, ¡°May I ask¡­ who are you?¡± The girl was stunned, her eyes widening, gazing at him, unblinking. Their gaze locked for a few seconds. Seeing the boy¡¯s sincere and puzzled look, her face revealed surprise and worry. She quickly introduced herself, ¡°I am Zi Di, Sir, I am your fianc¨¦e!¡± ¡°Fianc¨¦e?¡± The boy frowned deeply. He understood the concept of a fianc¨¦e but didn¡¯t expect such a close relationship with the girl before him. ¡°Zi Di¡­¡± The boy repeated the name. But to the boy, it was a completely unfamiliar name. Delving deeper into thought, his frown grew worse, ¡°Wait a moment, I¡­ who am I?¡± He realized he had forgotten his own identity! When he tried to recall relevant memories, his mind was blank, as if it had always been so. ¡°You are Zhenjin, you¡¯re Baron Zhenjin. Oh my God, have you forgotten your own identity too?¡± Zi Di¡¯s face showed urgency, her unease growing rapidly. ¡°Zhenjin, I am Zhenjin? Why can¡¯t I remember anything?¡± The boy frowned, deeply puzzled and troubled. ¡°Oh God, why is it like this!?¡± Zi Di was equally bewildered. However, soon, her violet eyes showed a pondering light. Shaking her head, she said, ¡°Perhaps¡­ Sir, you¡¯ve suffered a severe head injury, causing temporary amnesia. There have been similar cases.¡± ¡°Sir, a few days ago, we encountered a shipwreck. The storm raged, the ship broke, and survivors washed up on this island¡­ Many are still missing, including you. Following clues, I found you deep in the rainforest; you were unconscious, and many attempts to wake you had failed.¡± ¡°Wait, perhaps my rescue attempt was disrupted. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m really sorry, Sir. At that time, I had no other choice.¡± Zi Di pointed to his chest, where several crystal shards were attached. Zhenjin lowered his head, seeing the crystal fragments on his chest, ¡°So, you saved me?¡± The girl described the recent events and explained the risky use of the white crystal, detailing everything. Listening, the boy looked at the girl differently, praising, ¡°So, it was that dangerous before. It¡¯s all thanks to you. Hmm¡­ Zi Di.¡± The boy softly called the girl¡¯s name. ¡°But Sir, this might be the reason for your memory loss.¡± Zi Di whispered, worrying and feeling guilty. ¡°What is this?¡± Zhenjin curiously asked, holding a crystal fragment. ¡°Angel¡¯s Tear,¡± Zi Di explained, describing it as a high-level magic tool. ¡°This island is strange; magic and fighting energy can¡¯t be used. I used it to awaken you, gambling on its effect.¡± ¡°A Magic Ban domain?¡± Zhenjin realized he still had common knowledge, shaking his head, ¡°There¡¯s no absolute Magic Ban. It¡¯s about the power¡¯s comparison.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Zi Di looked at the fragments, ¡°High-level tools like Angel¡¯s Tear can still barely be used here. But my magic is only Black Iron Rank, suppressed by this environment, and unusable.¡± ¡°Could the light I saw in darkness be from this crystal?¡± The boy recalled his unconscious state, guessing inwardly. ¡°Sir, may I check your physical condition?¡± Zi Di introduced, ¡°I¡¯m a low-level mage. Though I can¡¯t use magic now, my knowledge remains.¡± Zhenjin nodded. Mages were typically scholars, even young ones. The girl carefully examined Zhenjin¡¯s chest, back, and ears. Feeling the young girl¡¯s hands on his body stirred his heart. Finally, she closely examined his pupils. So close were they, they could feel each other¡¯s breath. Her breath seemed sweet, and Zhenjin, feeling ticklish, turned slightly away. As Zi Di examined him, he observed himself too. Zi Di had tanned skin, whereas he was fair-skinned. Zhenjin sensed his slender frame hid a resilient strength. Trying to stretch his fingers and clench his fists, he recalled kicking the giant wolf, feeling the latent power. The strength was undoubtedly extraordinary. ¡°Alright.¡± The girl finished, stepping back, seemingly relieved, ¡°Sir, your body shows only remnants of previous bruises. Outwardly, there¡¯s nothing wrong. Given the rudimentary conditions here, a detailed check must wait for the future.¡± Zhenjin nodded, continuing to ask, ¡°Am I also a mage? What level?¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°You practice fighting energy and are a Holy Temple Knight!¡± ¡°Holy Temple Knight?¡± The boy became lost in thought, a sudden memory coming to mind. In a grand, bright white hall, sunlight streamed through tall, stained glass windows. A group of boys gathered; Zhenjin found himself among them. The atmosphere was solemn, with a fervent undertone. Zhenjin, with other boys, took an oath¡ª I swear to revere the living gods, the great ruler of the Empire, the Holy Emperor! I swear to follow my commanding officers, advancing bravely! I swear to protect my loved ones, unafraid of hardships! I swear to treat my friends sincerely, rejecting falsehoods! I swear to love faithfully, never abandoning my beloved! I swear to fight tyranny bravely and treat the weak kindly! I swear to uphold justice, fighting against all wrongs! From this day forth, I am a Holy Temple Knight! The memory fleetingly appeared. ¡°Sir, did you remember something?¡± Zi Di asked, seeing his reaction, filled with hope. Zhenjin nodded, ¡°Yes, I recall the solemn vow when I became a Holy Temple Knight.¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Sir, you might try using fighting energy?¡± Zhenjin clenched his fist, then shook his head, frowning with a grimace, ¡°No, I have no memory of practicing it, can¡¯t sense it in me, or know how to use it.¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes dimmed briefly before she comforted, ¡°Perhaps the time hasn¡¯t come yet. But it¡¯s alright, Sir, it proves your memory can return! It just¡­ needs some time.¡± Zhenjin nodded, thinking the seemingly fragile girl was indeed optimistic and resilient. Since waking, she had continually comforted him. However, her face still had tear streaks. Her fingernails were damaged, slightly bleeding, and she stood barefoot on the grass, lacking boots. Though Zi Di¡¯s descriptions were brief, Zhenjin knew the peril of their previous circumstances, teetering between life and death. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The most precious part was that no matter how dire the situation, the girl never abandoned his comatose self, maintaining loyalty and risking her life! The Holy Knight¡¯s oath echoed in his ears. ¡°So, I am a knight, a noble Holy Temple Knight!¡± Pride filled him as he lifted his head, feeling honored. Looking at Zi Di, a warmth spread in his heart. ¡°Then, let me protect you. Strong violet-eyed girl, my¡­ fianc¨¦e.¡± Chapter 3 - 3: Section 3: Treacherous Island Chapter 3: Section 3: Treacherous Island Editor: Henyee Translations After calming down, Zhenjin and Zi Di began to discuss what to do next. Their situation was dire. They had almost no food or water left, and the survival tools in the wilderness were very scarce. Worse still, they were almost unarmed, with Zhenjin practically bare-handed. Zi Di proposed that they return to the other side of the river to search for the bodies of the recently deceased guards. They had supplies, survival tools, and equipment on them. Zhenjin immediately agreed with this good suggestion. ... The two did not choose to climb back; it was too dangerous. They walked along the river. The river water gurgled, the banks were lush and densely vegetated. On the grass by the riverbank, there were clear trampling marks, left by the recently sprinting Silver Level Evil Wolf. After walking for a while, the river gradually narrowed, and the terrain rose gently, forming two mounds facing each other across the small river. The two mounds weren¡¯t far apart, rooted on either side of the river but extending slightly over it. Vegetation on the mounds was sparse. On the mounds, they found more wolf paw prints. ¡°It seems the magical wolf jumped over the river from here.¡± The two climbed onto the mound. The mounds were very close, and one could easily jump across. However, any misstep and falling into the water would result in being hunted by the Golden Python Vine, leading to a gruesome death. ¡°Look, what is that?¡± Zi Di pointed downwards. Zhenjin squinted his eyes. He saw many broken and mangled remains of River Vines scattered by the riverbank. This riverbank had evidently witnessed a fierce battle, leaving it in shambles, filled with black soil as if dried lava had solidified, looking very suspicious. Zhenjin felt heavy-hearted, ¡°The River Vine is a Golden Level Magic Plant, but it is not the lord here. A battle took place here, and it lost. Whatever fought it was at least of Golden Level.¡± ¡°This island is indeed full of danger!¡± In such a short time, Zhenjin had already encountered a Silver Level Evil Wolf, a Golden Level River Vine, and another mysterious, at least Golden Level extraordinary life form. ¡°Without being able to use fighting energy, relying solely on my current strength would make it extremely difficult to contend with Silver Level magic beasts. The chances of victory are very slim.¡± ¡°The previous confrontation with that evil wolf was sheer luck.¡± ¡°At that time, the wolf was airborne, unable to leverage its position. My sudden awakening and attack caught it off guard. It couldn¡¯t dodge, and eventually fell into the river.¡± ¡°The terrifying River Vine in the water quickly claimed the wolf¡¯s life.¡± ¡°If it had been a straightforward fight, I would probably have been in grave danger.¡± ¡°What should I do if I encounter such fierce beasts again?¡± They jumped across the river smoothly and ventured deeper into the rainforest. The blue sky gradually got obscured again, and the air became extremely hot and humid. Stepping on the ground felt soft, due to the accumulation of many decayed leaves. Zhenjin had to frequently look down to watch his step because of the entangling vines and exposed tree roots. A moment of carelessness could easily lead to tripping. Zi Di paused slightly, scanning the surroundings, ¡°It should be around here.¡± According to Zi Di, when the evil wolf chased them, the last three guards stayed behind to hold it off with all their might to buy some time for Zi Di and the unconscious Zhenjin. After walking several more steps, circling a large tree, they saw the corpses. Among the underbrush, two bodies lay several steps apart, exuding a strong stench of blood. Their eyes were wide open, faces still etched with fear and anger. Zi Di subconsciously held her breath and stood still while Zhenjin swiftly stepped forward to examine them. Whoosh! Suddenly, a thick black-red string shot out like an arrow from under a corpse, aiming straight at Zhenjin¡¯s face. Zhenjin¡¯s hair stood on end, his pupils contracted to needlepoints, and he reached out his hand. He grabbed hold of the ¡°black-red string¡±! ¡°Hiss, hiss, hiss!¡± The black-red string was clutched by Zhenjin¡¯s fingers, revealing itself as a very peculiar venomous snake! The snake¡¯s scales were black, while its head was bright red. A distinct crimson line extended from its head down its back, all the way to its tail. The snake also had hundreds of centipede-like black legs along its sides. ¡°It¡¯s a Bronze Level Magic Beast!¡± Zhenjin sensed the life breath of the centipede snake, his face showing a strained expression. ¡°Ah, be careful!¡± Everything happened too fast. Zi Di finally reacted, exclaiming in alarm. ¡°This is a Bloodline Centipede Snake, extremely venomous. The poison acts swiftly, killing within a few breaths,¡± Zi Di hurriedly explained, ¡°Moreover, its centipede legs can pierce through leather armor.¡± As she spoke, the Bloodline Centipede Snake retaliated. Its body twisted, coiling around Zhenjin¡¯s arm, with hundreds of centipede legs embedding deeply into the boy¡¯s arm. Blood gushed out, and searing pain surged through Zhenjin¡¯s mind. At the same time, Zhenjin felt his arm being squeezed by an immense constricting force, as if his flesh would be ground into pulp, and his arm bone groaned from the pressure. He tried to strangle the centipede snake, but its bones were extremely tough, and its scales exceptionally tenacious and slippery. Zhenjin let out a low growl, pinning the snake¡¯s head to the ground with one hand while drawing a dagger and viciously stabbing down with the other. The dagger pierced through the snakehead like it was cutting through hard stone, nailing it into the ground. In its death throes, the centipede legs sank an inch deeper into Zhenjin¡¯s arm, causing more blood to gush out. However, after a few breaths, the snake¡¯s body finally went limp. Although the squeezing force ceased, the centipede legs still embedded deeply in the boy¡¯s flesh. Gritting his teeth, Zhenjin retrieved his dagger and stepped back quickly. Only after moving several steps away from the corpses did he start pulling out the centipede legs one by one. Zi Di quickly took out medicine powder from her pouch, sprinkling a layer on Zhenjin¡¯s wounded arm. Then she swiftly wrapped it up with a white bandage. The wound was deep, but Zhenjin¡¯s robust constitution and the effective wound medicine soon stopped the bleeding. Along with a cool, slightly tingling sensation mixed with a bit of pain, the feeling continuously transmitted from Zhenjin¡¯s wound. ¡°What kind of potion is this? It¡¯s so effective! Didn¡¯t they say magic and fighting energy are prohibited on this island?¡± Zhenjin was curious about the instant effectiveness of the potion. ¡°This is a herbal medicine, sourced from the Barbarian tribes of the Frost Continent. It is not a Magic Potion but simply utilizes the natural properties of the herbs,¡± Zi Di explained. Magic Potions are concocted by pharmacists using magic materials, successfully blending them with magic power and forming a balanced and stable state. Because such potions inherently contain magic, they often act quickly and are highly effective. Zi Di looked at Zhenjin¡¯s wound, her eyes reddening slightly with guilt and remorse, ¡°Thank goodness the centipede legs aren¡¯t venomous! I¡¯m sorry, my Lord, for getting you hurt. I should have informed you earlier.¡± Zhenjin felt tenderness for the girl, shaking his head and quickly comforting her, ¡°This is not your fault.¡± After crossing the river, they had been hastening through the jungle with great vigilance. Even their communication was limited to avoid distractions. The speed of the Bloodline Centipede Snake¡¯s emergence from the corpse had taken Zhenjin completely by surprise. ¡°Just one snake on this island is so bizarre and treacherous.¡± Zhenjin returned to the previous spot, using the tip of his dagger to pry open the snake¡¯s head, then slicing open its body. ¡°If I could activate my fighting energy, I wouldn¡¯t be wounded by it,¡± Zhenjin sighed. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regardless of whether his fighting energy was Silver Level or Black Iron Level, if he could activate his fighting energy for defense at that time, the centipede legs wouldn¡¯t have easily pierced his arm. Observing the snake¡¯s insides, Zhenjin found its belly contained a large amount of undigested food. A flash of insight crossed the young knight¡¯s eyes, ¡°It seems this centipede snake likes to devour the innards of its prey, thriving on blood. No wonder it emerged from the corpse.¡± ¡°Strange.¡± After searching twice, Zhenjin felt puzzled, ¡°Where is this magic beast¡¯s Crystal Core?¡± Magic beasts can absorb natural elements, brewing their own magic power over time, forming magic power crystals¡ªCrystal Cores. A newly born magic beast does not have a Crystal Core. For young magic beasts, the Crystal Core is very small, but adult magic beasts usually have one. This Bloodline Centipede Snake was not a juvenile but a mature specimen, yet it had no Crystal Core. This left Zhenjin confused. Zi Di timely explained, ¡°Many strange and peculiar magic beasts on this island possess abundant life breath but lack Demon Crystals in their bodies. The search teams previously killed some magic beasts, finding no Demon Crystals inside them. However, maybe because of this, these beasts also did not exhibit any magic-like abilities.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zhenjin finally understood. Although magic beast Crystal Cores are valuable, the fact that lacking Demon Crystals prevents these beasts from using magic-like abilities significantly benefited Zhenjin and Zi Di. After dealing with the Bloodline Centipede Snake, Zhenjin continued to check the corpses. The two guards were already dead. One had a fatal throat wound, with the neck almost entirely bitten off except for a small piece of skin at the back. The other had an even grimmer fate, with his head severely deformed and brains mixed with blood all over the ground. These were indeed fatal wounds. Their abdomens were also badly mangled, evidently wounded by the venomous snake. Zhenjin¡¯s expression grew more solemn as he stood up and looked around. He carefully observed that the underbrush around them was extensively trampled. To an ordinary person, this scene would seem chaotic. However, Zhenjin could easily distinguish between tracks made by humans and by the evil wolf. Moreover, from these marks, he could reconstruct an imaginary route in his mind. With eyes slightly narrowed, he followed this envisioned path, his gaze extending far ahead. Soon, though, the dense forest obstructed his view. Zhenjin moved forward, taking several steps, emerging from the underbrush and rounding a large tree. Then, an unusual clearing in the forest appeared before him. Zi Di followed Zhenjin into the clearing. Looking down, Zhenjin noticed footprints on the ground. The forest floor accumulated many decayed leaves soaked in rainwater, making the ground soft. Thus, the heavier the person, the deeper the footprints, sometimes even oozing water. The footprints in the clearing were widely spaced, indicating that the guards who made them were running. Zhenjin focused his thoughts deducing silently, ¡°These two guards saw this open space, which offered a clear view making it an ideal battleground against the evil wolf.¡± He visualized the events. ¡°When they held their ground here, they likely saw the evil wolf running through the underbrush, seemingly bypassing them to chase after Zi Di.¡± ¡°In a panic, the two guards abandoned their advantageous position and recklessly rushed into the underbrush to intercept the wolf.¡± ¡°In the underbrush, the two guards were in single file. The wolf, moving extremely fast, suddenly turned and attacked, leaping up and crushing one guard¡¯s skull.¡± ¡°Then, it charged at the other guard, snapping his throat!¡± Based on the corpses and various tracks, Zhenjin made a series of conjectures. A shiver ran through him, sensing the evil wolf¡¯s brutality and cunning. It seemed almost intelligent, executing a complex strategy involving lures and counterattacks, efficiently killing both guards. Throughout, it utilized terrain and the guards¡¯ protective instincts against them. Even during its lethal attacks, it acted strategically¡ª Those without helmets had their skulls crushed by its fangs. Those with helmets had their throats snapped. Although the guards were not strong enough to be considered Black Iron Level, they were at least of Bronze Level. They should have inflicted some injuries on the wolf. However, when they perished, the wolf suffered virtually no damage. Zhenjin sighed to Zi Di, ¡°This blue-furred evil wolf surely has Silver Level strength!¡± The battle marks were undeniable proof, clearly displaying the wolf¡¯s biting force and jumping ability of Silver Level standard. Zhenjin remarked, ¡°What¡¯s most terrifying is its astonishing intelligence, surpassing typical magic beasts, especially in its tactical prowess comparable to humans.¡± ¡°Typically, wolves hunt in packs using group tactics. Lone wolves are usually outcasts or weakened individuals.¡± ¡°Tigers hide and stalk, striking decisively to ensure a kill.¡± ¡°This evil wolf chasing us used tactics more insidious than a tiger.¡± ¡°We were fortunate to overcome it earlier!¡± Zi Di nodded, her face paling, ¡°I even suspected that the wolf had a human soul! Our first encounter with it was when a rear team member was ambushed.¡± ¡°Though capable of killing, it merely dragged the guard, forcing us to rush for a rescue.¡± ¡°Our formation fell into disarray, giving it an opportunity.¡± ¡°In the initial confrontation, despite injuring it severely, it killed three guards.¡± ¡°Losing so many, we were enraged, but the Silver Level beast vanished. We agreed to continue searching for you, my Lord, temporarily abandoning revenge.¡± ¡°Many believed the injured wolf would fall prey to the forest¡¯s predators. Even if alive, it would avoid us.¡± ¡°However, reality proved us wrong.¡± ¡°Gravely wrong!¡± ¡°Six days later, the wolf reappeared, its injuries mostly healed, assaulting our camp in the evening.¡± ¡°It carried a beehive, tossing it into the camp before retreating.¡± ¡°Following that, a swarm of Fire Poison Bees attacked the camp. The bees feared neither smoke nor fire, armed with potent fire poison. We managed to fend them off, but four guards were stung, falling unconscious in critical condition.¡± ¡°Despite all efforts, we couldn¡¯t reduce their fevers. They all died that very night.¡± ¡°Following this, the wolf repeatedly harassed our team, becoming our relentless Death God, a haunting nightmare¡­¡± Zi Di hugged her arms, trembling as she recounted, her heart filled with lingering fear. Zhenjin watched his fianc¨¦e, her vulnerability evident. The young knight stepped forward, gently embracing Zi Di. She quivered like a terrified rabbit finding warmth. Quickly, her emotions stabilized in Zhenjin¡¯s arms. Zhenjin lightly patted her back. Looking down, he saw a blush appearing on her face. ¡°I understand your feelings,¡± Zhenjin said gently, ¡°Now, I¡¯m with you. Unless I fall, I¡¯ll protect you and prevent any beasts from harming you.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin!¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes filled with tenderness. Chapter 4 - 4: Section 4: I have a scheming mind Chapter 4: Section 4: I have a scheming mind Editor: Henyee Translations The two continued to clean up the battlefield. The two deceased guards, one dressed in leather armor which was now tattered beyond recognition. The other wore a helmet and chainmail. Zhenjin first took the iron armguard and replaced it on himself¡ªhis original leather armguard had just been pierced by the centipede legs of the venomous snake. Then, he removed the iron chainmail and helmet, and put them on. A sense of security instantly surged within him. ... The equipment could compensate for the difference in the level of life to a certain extent. For example, even a Blue-Furred Evil Wolf would not want to pit its teeth against a helmet in a head-on collision. As for the iron boots, they did not fit the boy¡¯s feet, so Zhenjin discarded them. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Apart from protective gear, there were also weapons. One guard used a longsword, and the other wielded a scimitar. One side of the longsword was already broken, but the scimitar was in good condition. Zhenjin grasped the scimitar in his hand and swung it around, frowning slightly. He put down the scimitar and picked up the longsword. Just as he was about to swing it, a memory was triggered, surfacing in the boy¡¯s mind. The gloomy sky, with drizzle falling. An open training ground. A group of boys formed a circle, and Zhenjin lay on the ground, surrounded by the others. The boys looked down at Zhenjin, laughing and mocking him with faces full of disdain. The leading boy, tall and burly with blue hair standing like steel needles on his scalp. The blue-haired boy crossed his arms, stepping on Zhenjin¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Zhenjin, remember this well, your Hundred Needle Family is nothing but a defeated Viscount Domain! How dare a guy like you want to be on equal footing with us?¡± The blue-haired boy suddenly lifted his foot and stomped on Zhenjin¡¯s head, laughing viciously: ¡°Today I¡¯ll teach you a lesson! From now on, whenever you see us, no matter where in the castle, bow your head and make way!¡± ¡°Lower nobles should act like lower nobles. If I catch you looking at me, Qing Kui, I¡¯ll cripple you.¡± ¡°Understood?¡± Qing Kui growled, pressing Zhenjin¡¯s head into the mud. ¡°Un¡­understood. *Cough cough cough!*¡± Zhenjin struggled to speak. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Qing Kui laughed triumphantly, releasing his foot and leaving. Before leaving, he left a parting sentence: ¡°Of course, Zhenjin, if you¡¯re unconvinced, you can challenge me anytime. I¡¯ll be waiting!¡± ¡°*Cough cough cough.*¡± Zhenjin struggled to sit up. As he spoke, muddy water flowed into his throat, triggering another bout of coughing. Seeing his pathetic appearance, the boys lost interest. ¡°Ugh, what a loser!¡± ¡°He wants to challenge Qing Kui? With what?¡± ¡°With his embroidery needle, hahaha.¡± As the rain grew heavier, the boys clustered around Qing Kui, laughing and entering the castle. Zhenjin sat in the mud, letting the rain pour down on him. He was covered in wounds, his face pale. After a moment of daze, his gaze shifted slightly, spotting a sword in the mud. It was his sword. A very slender stabbing sword. The stabbing sword, soaked in the muddy water, seemed to lack its former sharpness. The memory ended there. Back to reality, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help frowning slightly: ¡°So I¡¯m from the Hundred Needle Family? The territory seems to be in the south. It joined the Empire in the past century, probably an Earl Domain once?¡± Despite his amnesia, he found that he had retained much of his knowledge and common sense. ¡°My lord, what happened?¡± came the concerned voice of Zi Di from beside him. Zhenjin shook his head: ¡°I regained another memory.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± Zi Di said joyfully. Zhenjin smiled bitterly but didn¡¯t explain further. He glanced at the sky, it was nearly dusk. The boy and girl carefully chose a spot and hastily set up a place to spend the night. Collecting dry branches and leaves wasn¡¯t difficult. By the firewood pile, Zi Di knelt, holding a Starfire Stone in each hand. Crack, crack. She struck the Starfire Stones together, soon creating azure sparks. The sparks fell into the dry grass, turning into tiny orange embers that quickly spread and ignited. A thin trail of smoke rose. Zi Di quickly put away the Starfire Stones and blew gently. With a help of the wind, the fire expanded rapidly, the light smoke turning into thick smoke, then flames leapt up, forming a campfire. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Zi Di said happily, standing up and stepping back. In no time, the flames spread and blazed, creating a fire. Zi Di carefully stowed the Starfire Stones away. In the past, she could start a fire with a snap of her fingers. It was one of the Mage¡¯s tricks. But on this island, Black Iron level magic was completely suppressed, making the Starfire Stones much more useful. Without these Starfire Stones, starting a fire from scratch would be quite troublesome. The blazing campfire brought warmth and light, dispelling the darkness of night. Although there was nothing roasting over the fire, the boy and girl sat around it, munching on dry rations and sipping water from their water bags. All of it¡ªStarfire Stones, dry rations, and water¡ªwas scavenged from the bodies of the two guards. The dry rations were hard to swallow, but in these circumstances, they couldn¡¯t afford to be picky. The day¡¯s journey was fraught with danger; surviving the Golden and Silver level Magic Beasts and gaining some equipment, as well as sufficient food and water, was a stroke of luck for the two of them. They couldn¡¯t ask for more. After eating and drinking, the boy and girl carefully organized the remaining food and water. The boy began to maintain his equipment. He took out the longsword and wiped the blade with an oiled cloth. Weapons needed maintenance. Although the longsword was quite ordinary, it gave Zhenjin a tangible sense of security. ¡°Too bad there¡¯s no crossbow.¡± After wiping the sword, Zi Di approached: ¡°My lord, let me check your wound.¡± Zhenjin nodded. Removing the bandage, he found that the wound on his arm had mostly healed. ¡°The medicine is quite effective,¡± Zhenjin praised. Sitting on a rock, Zhenjin watched as Zi Di knelt by his side. She took out medicine powder from her waist pouch and evenly sprinkled it on the wound. Then she pulled out a new bandage and carefully wrapped it around Zhenjin. Finally, she fitted the protective arm back on Zhenjin. Zi Di looked at the protective armguard and sighed: ¡°If only we had this iron armguard earlier, you wouldn¡¯t have been hurt by the Bloodline Centipede Snake.¡± The firelight reflected off the armguard, casting a dull orange glow, and it also fell on the tips of Zi Di¡¯s hair. Zi Di¡¯s black hair shimmered in the firelight, with a halo around it. Her wheat-colored skin carried the delicate softness unique to girls her age. At this moment, a pure fragrance seemed to emanate through the firelight, filling Zhenjin¡¯s heart. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but feel moved, and unconsciously reached out to stroke Zi Di¡¯s hair. Zi Di trembled slightly. ¡°M-m-my lord,¡± Zi Di lowered her head, seemingly startled by Zhenjin¡¯s action, holding her breath like a nervous kitten. However, Zhenjin¡¯s thoughts were not on romantic feelings. He quickly withdrew his hand and asked indifferently: ¡°Zi Di, tell me about myself.¡± Along the way, the boy had been forcing himself to suppress his curiosity. Only now, when they were finally settled, did he have the chance to inquire. The girl sat across from the boy, contemplating her answer: ¡°My lord, you are a Holy Temple Knight, the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, and publicly recognized to have Black Iron Level strength.¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyebrows. Zi Di¡¯s answer was intriguing. ¡°Publicly recognized?¡± Zhenjin asked again. ¡°Yes,¡± Zi Di nodded, ¡°the strength you usually display is at Black Iron Level. But based on my estimation, it¡¯s definitely more. Because this time, you crossed the sea to compete for the White Sand City Lord position. And a city lord must have at least Silver Cultivation to command respect.¡± In the Main World, the Human Race was undoubtedly dominant. The Holy Emperor of the Human Race not only unified the human continent but also formed an Expeditionary Army to cross the seas and invade the Wilderness Continent. White Sand City was one of the fortresses built by the Human Race on the Wilderness Continent, a nail driven into the land by the Holy Emperor. Like White Sand City, there were over a dozen of such bridgeheads, and the number kept growing. ¡°So I¡¯m competing to become the White Sand City Lord?¡± ¡°Although there are some Black Iron level city lords, it¡¯s unlikely for White Sand City in the Wilderness Continent to have an underqualified Black Iron city lord.¡± Both fighting energy and magic cultivation led to an enhancement of Life Essence. Bronze Level, Black Iron Level, Silver Level, Golden Level. Bronze Level were the elites, usually serving as captains in the army. Black Iron Level was higher than Bronze, with Life Essence a step above. They were typically the mainstay of organizations and forces, just like Zi Di. Silver Level had the qualifications to serve as a city lord, able to control a region. Golden Level were even rarer, often the pillar of noble forces or small kingdoms. Seeing the boy¡¯s contemplative expression, Zi Di continued: ¡°Based on my estimation, you must have Silver Level Cultivation.¡± The boy nodded slightly, agreeing with her deduction. ¡°So, I should have Silver level fighting energy. There¡¯s no way the Empire would allow a Black Iron Knight to compete for the city lord position.¡± ¡°How old am I?¡± the boy suddenly asked. Zi Di replied: ¡°My lord, you¡¯re sixteen, and I¡¯m fifteen.¡± ¡°Sixteen¡­ Silver Level¡­¡± A word crossed the boy¡¯s mind¡ªgenius! To have such cultivation at that age was undoubtedly a sign of genius. ¡°But publicly, I¡¯m only recognized to have Black Iron cultivation. Am I deliberately hiding it? If so, I must be quite cunning.¡± Zhenjin deepened his understanding of himself. Thinking about the second memory, he recalled being bullied in the Holy Temple Knights: ¡°Am I showing weakness?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the state of the Hundred Needle Family?¡± the boy asked. Zi Di hesitated, looking troubled: ¡°Not very good.¡± The boy nodded again. He understood the reason. Over a hundred years ago, to quickly end the final unification war of the Human Race Continent, the Holy Emperor offered amnesty to the last remnants of stubborn forces. These forces became new nobles of the Holy Bright Empire. The Hundred Needle Family was one of them. However, the brutal war had caused a deep-seated hatred between these new nobles and the Holy Emperor¡¯s old nobles. Many friends and family members had died on both sides, and both sides were covered in each other¡¯s blood. Thus, Zhenjin, a representative of the new nobles joining the Holy Temple Knights, naturally faced oppression, suppression, and exclusion from the old nobles. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s a humiliating memory. But as I recall it, I feel quite calm, like a bystander.¡± If it were true humiliation, there should be a lingering feeling of anger or hatred, right? Zi Di continued: ¡°Zhenjin, my lord, I don¡¯t actually know much about you.¡± ¡°But according to rumors, you usually keep away from women, prefer solitude, and even in big events, you rarely show any emotions.¡± ¡°You spend most of your time in harsh Holy Temple training, always serious, silent. Your manner and behavior are always elegant and noble.¡± ¡°Although you have few friends, you help others willingly, especially protecting the weak and aiding the poor. So, your reputation among the lower class is very good.¡± ¡°Moreover, joining the competition for White Sand City Lord¡¯s position this time shocked many Holy Temple Knights.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhenjin raised his eyebrows. Zi Di¡¯s words painted a picture of a cunning boy, affirming that his memory self was deliberately showing weakness. However, what surprised him was Zi Di¡¯s limited understanding of him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she my fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°If she isn¡¯t deeply in love, why would she stick by me?¡± ¡°What is the relationship between us?¡± Just as Zhenjin was about to ask more, a buzzing noise suddenly came. They turned quickly and saw numerous ¡°firelights¡± appearing in the jungle under the night sky. These ¡°firelights¡± swarmed towards Zhenjin and Zi Di, aggressive and fierce. ¡°What is that?¡± Zhenjin quickly stood up, shielding Zi Di, looking extremely grave. A small part of those ¡°firelights¡± gave off Bronze-level Life Breath. ¡°This is?!¡± Seeing the ¡°firelights¡± clearly, Zi Di¡¯s face turned ashen. ¡°It¡¯s Fire Poison Bees, my lord, run. I¡¯ll cover you!¡± Zi Di¡¯s face was resolute, stepping forward to protect Zhenjin. ¡°Run, my lord!!¡± Zi Di shouted urgently, showing a resolve to die. Chapter 5 - 5: Section 5: Regaining Combat Skill Chapter 5: Section 5: Regaining Combat Skill Editor: Henyee Translations In an instant, a strong breath of death came rushing in! Zhenjin¡¯s face turned heavy, like iron. He quickly recalled that Zi Di had mentioned the Fire Poison Bees during the day! That Evil Wolf, which Zhenjin had indirectly dealt with, once threw a beehive into the camp, sparking a battle between the Fire Poison Bee Swarm and the search and rescue team. Although the Fire Poison Bees were driven off in the end, four team members were stung and fell into a coma. Even though Zi Di used all her strength, she couldn¡¯t save them, and they died that night. From the Life Breath perspective, although most Fire Poison Bees were just common insects, a small portion were Bronze Level Magic Beasts, but their sheer number and fire poison made them deadly. ... The fire poison could be fatal! ¡°My lord, you must go. I have potions to detoxify!¡± Zi Di urged again. Zhenjin looked at the girl standing in front of him, warmth and emotion surging in his heart. Zi Di, facing the blue-furred Evil Wolf¡¯s pursuit, had never given up on him, stayed by his side when he was unconscious, and now was willing to sacrifice herself to buy him a chance to escape. Whether Zi Di¡¯s claim was a lie or if she indeed had such potions, which were rare and couldn¡¯t be used carelessly on the previous team members, Zhenjin had no reason to convince himself to escape alone, leaving a frail girl behind to fend off disaster for him. ¡°You go! I¡¯ll handle these Fire Poison Bees.¡± Zhenjin stepped forward, moving past Zi Di, then quickly bent down and pulled out a thick piece of wood from the campfire. The wood burned at the front, serving as a natural torch. Zhenjin intended to wave the torch to fend off the aggressive Fire Poison Bees. But Zi Di, seeing Zhenjin¡¯s action, hastily cried out, ¡°Don¡¯t use the fire!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, these Fire Poison Bees aren¡¯t afraid of fire at all; in fact, they were attracted by our campfire!¡± Zi Di¡¯s words stunned Zhenjin. Trusting Zi Di, Zhenjin immediately swung his arm and threw the torch high into the air ahead. The torch landed in the southeast direction, about fifty to sixty steps away, without being extinguished. The Fire Poison Bee Swarm buzzed in confusion, quickly sending a small group towards the torch. This small group of Fire Poison Bees, about a dozen or so, flew toward the fire as if moths to a flame, throwing themselves into it without hesitation. To Zhenjin¡¯s amazement, the flame burning at the torch¡¯s front swiftly weakened, and within a few breaths, it was barely alive before finally extinguishing. Those Fire Poison Bees that flew into the flame rose again, wobbling in the air as if satiated! ¡°What kind of bees are these, feeding on fire?!¡± Zhenjin had no time to ponder more as the group that swarmed the torch was but a small fraction. The main force of the Fire Poison Bees closed in on the young man and woman. Zhenjin bit his teeth, pulling the girl back rapidly. ¡°There¡¯s no escape! Lord Zhenjin, someone must lure them away,¡± Zi Di¡¯s face filled with despair. She urgently said, ¡°These Fire Poison Bees hunt everything warmer than themselves. The higher the body temperature, the more they target it.¡± ¡°We encountered a Fire Poison Bee Swarm before; the blue-furred Evil Wolf deliberately carried a beehive to attract them, aiming to hunt us.¡± ¡°We resisted the Fire Poison Bees, losing four guards, injuring nearly ten before resolving the issue.¡± ¡°Who knew there¡¯d be more Fire Poison Bees here!¡± ¡°My lord, you must go. As long as I attract these Fire Poison Bees, I can buy you time!¡± With that, Zi Di shook her arm to break free from Zhenjin¡¯s grip. But Zhenjin held her firmly, his strength making it impossible for her to succeed. They steadily retreated, distancing themselves from the campfire, with the Fire Poison Bee Swarm hot in pursuit. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Buzz, buzz, buzz! The Fire Poison Bee Swarm suddenly split, with a large portion heading towards the blazing campfire. Yet, a small group remained, harboring lethal intent as they drew closer to the young man and woman. Zhenjin and Zi Di had no choice but to retreat to the edge of the campfire¡¯s light. Before them lay a pitch-black night forest. Zhenjin abruptly halted. They couldn¡¯t run any further! The forest at night was far more terrifying than during the day, with countless fierce predators on the prowl. Humans, in such an environment, had severely restricted vision. Under these circumstances, if Zhenjin and Zi Di rushed into the forest, it would be self-destructive. Comparatively, battling the aggressive Fire Poison Bee Swarm offered a slim chance of survival. For Zhenjin, who had cultivated his fighting energy and was a Holy Temple Knight, it was likely that he possessed Silver Level vitality. Fire poison was extremely dangerous to common guards, but for a silver life, it was a different matter. Though the situation was critical, Zhenjin maintained his composure and clarity. ¡°Don¡¯t panic; we still have a chance!¡± he shouted, abruptly turning to face the swarm. At the same time, he forcefully pulled Zi Di behind him. Clang! A light ringing sound, Zhenjin drew his sword from its scabbard. Most of the Fire Poison Bees were still attracted to the campfire; Zhenjin faced only a few dozen at that moment. The firelight rapidly weakened but still provided visibility. The Fire Poison Bees were almost at his face! Zhenjin took a deep breath, stepped forward, and swung his one-handed sword, slicing streaks of cold light. Many Fire Poison Bees were hit by the sword; some were cut in half, some fell to the ground twitching, and others, after being struck, wobbled and flew again. Equipped with a weapon, Zhenjin significantly improved his attack! Each time Zhenjin¡¯s sword struck a Fire Poison Bee, it felt like slicing through fist-sized metal chunks. The Fire Poison Bees¡¯ surface was extremely tough, rarely being directly cut through. Zhenjin¡¯s heart sank; the Fire Poison Bees were much harder to deal with than expected. This small group of Fire Poison Bees, disturbed by Zhenjin, buzzed and dispersed, then quickly flew down again from all sides and above. Zhenjin, with only one sword and no shield, found it challenging to defend against the onslaught of numerous Fire Poison Bees. In reality, even with a shield, it would be hard to fend off such attacks; full-body armor was the most targeted defense. Zhenjin struggled, left and right, in a dire situation. The only consolation was that almost all the Fire Poison Bees were attracted to him, temporarily not attacking the girl behind. Suddenly, Zhenjin felt numb at his waist, followed by intense pain. ¡°My lord!¡± Amidst Zi Di¡¯s cry, Zhenjin reached his left hand to his waist, pulling out a frantically buzzing Fire Poison Bee. The Fire Poison Bee was fist-sized, tough in his grasp, and as heavy as an egg. Without thinking, Zhenjin exerted full strength to crush it but failed. However, as he yanked the bee out, its stinger remained deeply embedded in his waist. Once the bee and stinger separated, the bee in Zhenjin¡¯s hand quickly stopped moving, becoming a corpse. Zhenjin tossed it aside, ignoring the pain, continuing his battle. The chainmail provided resistance to axes and blades, but against the venomous stinger¡¯s attack, its effect was limited. Zhenjin used his Protective Arm as a shield, covering his face, blocking many incoming Fire Poison Bees. Over time, Zhenjin got stung multiple times. Many Fire Poison Bees managed to sting him. ¡°Am I going to die here?¡± The dire situation sank Zhenjin¡¯s heart to the depths. ¡°Fighting energy, I need fighting energy!¡± Zhenjin cried out in his mind. If the fighting energy could be released outward, it would protect him. Silver Level fighting energy could form a tight protective layer on his body surface, enough to resist the bees¡¯ stings. This was the best defense against stingers, far more reliable than chainmail. However, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t remember how to activate Silver Fighting Spirit. His memory was damaged, incomplete, unable to mobilize it! ¡°Silver Fighting Spirit! Damn it, come out!!¡± In the danger, Zhenjin almost shouted aloud. The campfire had diminished significantly, barely covering the ferocity on Zhenjin¡¯s face. At the brink of life and death, a brand new memory suddenly surged in Zhenjin¡¯s mind! An autumn evening. Zhenjin found himself in a study. The study was dim, with a narrow window on one side of the stone wall, the only light source. The reddish-brown desk was made of top-grade wood. On the desk were a pen holder with three white feather pens and an ink bottle beside it. On the study¡¯s wall hung three oil paintings: one depicting golden farmlands, another a deep-blue castle in the forest, and the third a lake with a half-naked noblewoman. Another wall stood bare, with only hooks and no paintings. ¡°Zhenjin, my son, don¡¯t keep your head down,¡± a slightly hoarse voice came. Zhenjin slowly raised his head. He saw a thin, pale middle-aged man sitting behind the desk, sporting two straight, fine moustaches. The man furrowed his brows, showing a stern disposition. Zhenjin immediately noticed that ¡°he¡± shifted his gaze, seemingly unable to meet the middle-aged man¡¯s eyes, looking toward the single window. Outside, the sky was filled with dazzling evening clouds. ¡°Why? Half a month has passed, and my son, your Concealing Breath Technique shows no progress, remaining at the same level,¡± continued the middle-aged man. Zhenjin involuntarily averted his eyes, staring at the lower part of the desk, feeling unable to face the man. The middle-aged man knowingly said, ¡°I understand your feelings. You¡¯ve never had interest in Concealing Breath Technique, thinking our family¡¯s combat skills are weak, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You believe our Hundred Needle Family bloodline brings no exceptional physical abilities, strength, or speed, and now we are mere Lower Nobles of the Empire, correct?¡± Zhenjin remained silent. The middle-aged noble sighed deeply, stood up, walked around the desk, and stood beside Zhenjin: ¡°Come, follow me.¡± They left the study, walked through a dim corridor, passed mottled stone walls, and entered the castle garden. The sunset light bathed the garden. The garden, neglected, appeared desolate and decayed. The only striking feature was a large tree at the garden¡¯s center. The tree branches reached skyward without leaves, and some roots lay exposed on the dry ground, twisted and bare. The trunk was covered in what looked like sycamore leaves. The breeze stirred the leaves clinging to the trunk, making a rustling noise, vibrant and lively. Zhenjin¡¯s father, the middle-aged noble, led him to the tree. ¡°Watch closely!¡± The middle-aged man gave a soft shout, suddenly releasing a rush of Golden Fighting Spirit. The golden fighting spirit was far more powerful than Silver Fighting Spirit, overwhelming any Black Iron Level fighting energy. Its eruption whipped up a fierce wind. Young Zhenjin was forced a step back by the wind, squinting his eyes. Under the strong wind, the sycamore leaves on the trunk flew up one by one, revealing their true form: a large group of Tree Winged Butterflies. ¡°Combat Skill: Hundred Needle Wind!¡± The middle-aged man swiftly drew his sword. The sword was not a bladed cutting sword but a long, slender Stabbing Sword. In the man¡¯s hands, the Stabbing Sword struck continuously, forming a flurry of sword shadows. The sword¡¯s point, covered in fighting energy, sparkled brilliantly! The butterflies, caught in the wind and struck by the golden sparks, fell to the ground. Within a few breaths, the ground was blanketed with ¡°sycamore leaves,¡± hundreds of butterflies dead, none escaped. ¡°Amazing! So powerful!¡± Zhenjin exclaimed, wide-eyed. Upon closer inspection, he saw each butterfly¡¯s head was pierced. The nobleman¡¯s sword skill was incredibly precise! ¡°Cough, cough.¡± The middle-aged man sheathed his sword, coughed repeatedly, his face turning pale. ¡°Do you still think our Hundred Needle Family is weak?¡± Zhenjin vigorously shook his head. ¡°Every noble family has its foundation. Our Hundred Needle Family was once great in the South! Hundred Needle Wind is our signature combat skill, one of our cornerstones, a well-kept secret.¡± ¡°Managing a family requires strategy. Sometimes, we need to be high-profile, showing our strength. Other times, we need to lie low, like now, where our Hundred Needle Family needs to appear weak and lessen our presence.¡± Pausing, the middle-aged noble continued: ¡°Do you know the foundation for activating Hundred Needle Wind?¡± Before Zhenjin could reply, the man said, ¡°It¡¯s Concealing Breath Technique.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhenjin was surprised. ¡°Only by concealing, gathering strength, can we achieve a powerful outburst. Concealing Breath Technique allows us to hide our aura, misleading others about our fighting energy level. It also accumulates strength. Mastering Concealing Breath Technique enables advanced combat skills like Hundred Needle Wind. It¡¯s the foundation of our family¡¯s techniques. Zhenjin, you¡¯re the heir of the Hundred Needle Family. Practice diligently.¡± ¡°I understand, Father! I will try my best!¡± Zhenjin replied, eyes shining with determination. The memory flashed and vanished; Zhenjin returned to reality almost instantly. He stared at the approaching Fire Poison Bees, his eyes suddenly bright. Combat Skill: Hundred Needle Wind! This time, it was a completely different sword technique. The previous slashing and sweeping movements disappeared, leaving only¡ªstabs. Continuous stabs! Shh, shh, shh, shh¡­ The sword¡¯s tip pierced the air, like countless arrows, precisely striking the airborne Fire Poison Bees. Zhenjin applied a unique force technique, the sword tip forming a blurry shadow in the air resembling a faint light curtain! ¡°This is?!¡± Zi Di looked up, shocked and thrilled. Zhenjin¡¯s counterattack rekindled her hope. ¡°Well done, my lord!¡± Zi Di exclaimed, cheering Zhenjin on. Fire Poison Bees dropped to the ground; the Hundred Needle Wind combat skill effectively countered these venomous insects. ¡°My lord¡­¡± Zi Di, well-protected, gazed at Zhenjin¡¯s back, her eyes reflecting the flickering, weakening firelight, shining brightly. Chapter 6 - 6: Section 7: Life and Death on the Line Chapter 6: Section 7: Life and Death on the Line Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Zhenjin¡¯s counterattack was remarkably effective, exterminating many Fire Poison Bees, yet it also attracted even more bees. The Fire Poison Bees swarmed incessantly. After hundreds of sword thrusts, Zhenjin felt his muscles ache. After thousands of thrusts, the ache turned into throbbing pain, especially in his sword-wielding arm. It felt as though it had swollen a size, and the sword in his hand grew heavy. ... Buzz, buzz, buzz¡­ The Fire Poison Bee Swarm seemed endless, their casualties enraging them, causing a large group to fly from the campfire. The swarm surged like a tsunami, threatening to engulf the young man and woman. ¡°Damn it!¡± Zhenjin cursed inwardly, mustering all his strength to swing his longsword. The sword felt several times heavier, a sign he knew signaled his physical strength had reached its limit. He was drenched in sweat, his head muddled. His arm almost wasn¡¯t his anymore, muscles numb, each thrust sending stabbing pains from his bones like aged, rusted gears forced to work. Fire Poison Bee after bee stung Zhenjin. Under such assault, his chainmail¡¯s defense meant little. Zhenjin clenched his teeth, ever mindful of the girl Zi Di behind him. To protect his fianc¨¦e, he had not taken a single step back in this battle! He held his sword in one hand, the other trying to pull out the struggling Fire Poison Bees stinging him. The bees died as he threw them to the ground. ¡°My lord, my lord¡­¡± Zi Di¡¯s sobs came from behind him. No bees attacked her, probably because Zhenjin had utterly enraged the swarm. The bees, abandoning even the blazing campfire, focused on Zhenjin. Perhaps his intense movement heat drew them more than Zi Di¡¯s. Time stretched unbearably for Zhenjin. Finally, his vision cleared abruptly; no Fire Poison Bees remained in sight. The ground was littered with bee corpses. He had won! Zhenjin¡¯s heart relaxed, causing his grip on the longsword to fail, the tip nearly piercing his foot. Numbness was his primary sensation. But soon, wounds from bee stings sent burning pain across his body. His right arm felt nonexistent, almost devoid of sensation. ¡°My lord, look out!¡± Zi Di exclaimed. Her cry jolted Zhenjin¡¯s numb mind to sudden clarity. Despite the campfire nearly extinguished, a dozen more Fire Poison Bees emerged, coming for him again. A final batch of bees remained! But¡­ ¡°I can fight no more,¡± Zhenjin said with a bitter smile, fully aware of his state. He knew that if all those bees had attacked at once, he might¡¯ve handled them. But now, having relaxed even a bit, he couldn¡¯t lift his sword. Though feeling nothing, Zhenjin knew the Fire Poison had spread within him. An inner voice warned that continuing to fight meant likely death. This was a warrior¡¯s strong intuition. Zhenjin heeded it, knowing he could fight no longer. ¡°Run!¡± Zhenjin sighed, pulling Zi Di¡¯s hand as they swiftly fled. The young couple plunged into the dark forest. They had no choice but to escape. Staying meant death under the swarm¡¯s stingers, but fleeing, though perilous, held a glimmer of hope. ¡°I will not give up until the end!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes shone with resolve, unyielding in spirit. Zi Di stumbled behind him, her pace unable to keep up despite Zhenjin¡¯s waning physical ability. ¡°My lord, let me stay. I can distract them¡­¡± Zi Di panted out. ¡°Silence!¡± Zhenjin suddenly turned, facing her. She cried out, crashing into his arms from inertia. The next moment, her world spun, her view changed. She realized Zhenjin had picked her up, running madly. Their reckless dash through the forest stirred restless sounds from all around. Zhenjin tried evading the bee swarm, but the persistent buzzing drew closer. Even in mortal peril, the boy held onto reason. The simplest way to evade bees was to jump into water, causing them to withdraw. But rivers known to them harbored Python Vine¡ªjumping was suicide. Zhenjin could only run as they had by day, hoping to distance themselves. It was their best option in desperation. However, darkness severely limited his vision, forcing reliance on vague memory. On the third near-collision with a tree, Zi Di managed to pull a potion from her waist pouch. Encased in glass, the potion emitted a firefly-like glow. They could now roughly discern their path. Dense branches and tangled roots made forest travel hard, let alone a frantic run! Often, bushes and ferns formed near-walls. Zhenjin crashed through these barriers clutching Zi Di! sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The forest seemed to exude malevolence, reaching with countless tendrils to thwart his escape. He tore through every vine, ignoring thorns that ripped clothes and skin in the dark. Luckily, their path showed signs of prior travel, having been cleared by day. Otherwise, navigating the forest at such a pace would be impossible. Zi Di hurled potions at the bees; sometimes they were distracted, slowing, but mostly to no effect. ¡°Damn,¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart sank. The surroundings grew unfamiliar; they had entered unknown territory. No choice remained. Stopping meant certain death, so he ran headlong. At last, an agony-filled howl signaled a beast¡¯s ambush from the foliage. ¡°What is it?!¡± Zhenjin glimpsed what seemed a Black Panther. A gust of predator-scented wind buffeted him! At the last instant, he dodged, not looking back, continuing his desperate run. Bees and the Black Panther engaged behind him. Soon, the panther retreated, outmatched, giving Zhenjin a brief respite. The relentless bees began closing the gap again, nearing the beleaguered duo. Zhenjin¡¯s legs felt like lead, his stamina pushed to the brink. His speed ebbed. The terrain shifted upward; a cliff emerged under the potion¡¯s faint light, an abyss below. They had strayed into unfamiliar land while fleeing. Bees closed in from the left rear. ¡°There¡¯s a cave with a light!¡± Zi Di suddenly exclaimed. From the cave emanated a faint orange light, indicating habitation. With renewed hope, Zhenjin dashed into the cave with Zi Di. Inside, a blast of hot air hit them. No signs of human presence, only glowing ores that emitted dim orange light and heat. Sparse and small at the entrance, the glowing ore grew denser and larger deeper in. After hundreds of steps, Zhenjin felt like they were in an oven. Zi Di was drenched in sweat. Progress was impossible; the air was scorching, with a tangible risk of being cooked alive. Yet the pursuing Fire Poison Bees also entered, bringing Death ever closer. Zhenjin set Zi Di down, forcing them to venture deeper. The pursuit was in its final stage. Hope sparked within Zhenjin: though unable to fight the bees, the cave¡¯s unique terrain might confuse them. He knew bees tracked heat. The higher the heat, the more they were attracted! Though dark, a flicker of light struggled on. Grunting, they trudged onward, straining their remaining strength. The cave narrowed, heated ore nearly covering the walls, glowing red. Contact was impossible¡ªit was too hot! ¡°Look, animal marks.¡± Zi Di whispered. Zhenjin saw claw marks on the walls. Any beast surviving such extremes had to be formidable! His heart sank but he smiled bitterly, knowing they had no choice. Despite being drawn to the ores, bees kept at their trail, flying and resting. Uncertain of their fate, the duo kept moving. Suddenly, Zhenjin staggered. A violent dizziness struck, nearly causing a blackout. ¡°Damn,¡± Zhenjin stumbled, vision quaking like an earthquake, barely standing. The Fire Poison acted! Zhenjin had to brace himself on the cave wall. Sizz¡­ The wall scorched his glove, smoke rising. An awful stench emanated from him. The odor enraged the bees; they abandoned the ores, their murderous intent honing in on Zhenjin. Zi Di¡¯s face turned ashen white, realizing: bees attracted by heat also used the Fire Poison¡¯s scent to track. The stink of Fire Poison activated their fury. Zhenjin¡¯s body held much Fire Poison, evidence of many bees he¡¯d slain. The formidable foe incited frenzied attacks. Zi Di, frantic, poured a potion to mask the stench, easing the bees¡¯ anger, drawing them back to the ores. ¡°Hurry, the potion won¡¯t last long.¡± Supporting Zhenjin with her small frame, they trudged on. A few steps in, Zhenjin felt the world tumble, his sense of direction gone, each step an ordeal! The poison heated his body, a ceaseless tolling filling his mind. Clinging to sanity, he weakly urged Zi Di: ¡°Run, just run.¡± Unpoisoned, the bees wouldn¡¯t target Zi Di in the cave. She could escape! But Zi Di vehemently shook her head, teary and determined: ¡°No, my lord! I will not leave you. We¡¯ve come so far, we can¡¯t give up!¡± Zhenjin sighed, pushing her away: ¡°Run!¡± ¡°No, my lord!¡± They fell in a heap. Bees buzzed overhead. Death loomed! Zi Di shut her eyes; Zhenjin, glaring, lay prone, unable to rise. He watched bees approach, until but an inch from his face when¡­ Roar! An animal¡¯s roar echoed in the cave. Bees scattered, shocked. They flew erratically, some colliding. Thud, thud, thud¡­ Thunderous drumming followed, like a giant pounding a war drum. A monster charged. It sped so fast only a massive shadow remained in their vision. The mysterious creature attacked the bees. The brutal bees fled in panic under the onslaught. The beast chased them away. Cold quiet filled the cave. The pair lay gasping, staring at the cave ceiling, bewildered. ¡°` Chapter 7 - 7: Section 8: Frenzy Potion Chapter 7: Section 8: Frenzy Potion Editor: Henyee Translations In the mine, the faces of the young boy and girl showed expressions of disbelief. They were actually still alive! Zi Di stood up first, seeing the footprints on the ground. Each step of the ferocious beast in the cave left a shallow pit on the ground. The size and ferocity of this beast could be seen clearly at a glance. It was extremely fortunate that it didn¡¯t step on the boy and girl. ... ¡°Sir,¡± Zi Di tried to help Zhenjin up. However, with Zhenjin¡¯s weight, combined with his armor, it was not something a fragile Mage like Zi Di could easily move. In the end, Zi Di could only drag Zhenjin a short distance, leaning the boy against the cave wall. Zhenjin¡¯s condition was very dire at this time. When Zi Di touched him, she found his body extremely hot, just like the peculiar ores within the cave. The effect of the potion had worn off; the stench emanating from Zhenjin now seemed even more intense than before, nearly suffocating Zi Di. Weakly, Zhenjin spoke: ¡°Go, Zi Di, leave here.¡± He couldn¡¯t even nod now; even a slight shake of his head might cause him to completely faint. Zhenjin raised his hand and looked at his arm, seeing several phantom arms in his vision. His entire skin had turned red and swollen, his whole body seemed to be inflated, and his body temperature was extremely high. His eyelids were starting to swell, severely affecting his vision. Noticing his condition, Zi Di felt as if she had fallen into a sea of despair, nearly drowning. She knew how dreadful the Fire Poison was. Members of the exploration team had once died because of it. Those unfortunate people endured tremendous torment before death, and when they died, their eyes were so swollen that even a slit wouldn¡¯t open. Their throats and nasal cavities were also extremely swollen, making breathing extremely difficult. The cause of death was suffocation! Despite being Silver Level, Zhenjin still couldn¡¯t resist the Fire Poison. He had accumulated too much Fire Poison within his body. The ferocity of the Fire Poison Bees was truly terrifying. Facing Zhenjin¡¯s renewed urging, Zi Di shook her head: ¡°I won¡¯t go, I won¡¯t give up. Sir, I can prepare potions, I¡¯m sure I can make the right potion! We still have hope, please, don¡¯t give up either!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s vision began to blur, like sticky glue starting to adhere to his eyelids and eyeballs. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t open his eyes wide. In his blurred vision, he saw Zi Di weeping and sitting directly on the ground, taking out one potion bottle after another from her exquisite pouch at her waist. She poured the potions on the ground, quickly corroding a small round pit on the ground. Then, she began to mix potions, combining several of them together, taking out many types of dried herbs and roots from her bosom, grinding them into powder, and then pouring them into the round pit. Gurgle, gurgle¡­ The mixed potion in the pit began to bubble. Zi Di watched the potion closely, constantly mixing it, occasionally wiping her eyes, as if the potion was very irritating to the eyes. Zhenjin wanted to persuade her again, but within a few breaths, he found he had lost the ability to speak. His throat felt like it was on fire, swollen to the extent that swallowing saliva was extremely difficult. His tongue was so numb that he couldn¡¯t feel it at all, as if he didn¡¯t have this organ in his body. Soon, his consciousness began to scatter. Subsequently, Zhenjin entered a half-awake, half-asleep state, losing awareness of everything happening around him. In a daze, he felt a cool liquid trickling down his throat. His throat, like a blocked stone pile, quickly dissolved under the cool liquid¡¯s moisturization, opening up a clear path. The cool liquid spread to the depths of Zhenjin¡¯s body, gradually permeating. Sensation began to swiftly return to Zhenjin¡¯s body. Zhenjin opened his eyes, seeing Zi Di¡¯s blurred figure almost attached to him. The girl¡¯s hands were covered in potion and were smearing it all over Zhenjin¡¯s body. Zhenjin wore chainmail, but the Fire Poison had caused his skin to swell, making the chainmail fit very tightly. With the help of the potion, the red swollen skin seemed to deflate, quickly shrinking. Following this was a piercing coldness, causing Zhenjin to shiver on the spot. The temperature in the cave was very high; after busying herself, Zi Di was soon drenched in sweat, making her originally loose Magic Robe cling tightly to her body. After applying the potion, the girl¡¯s purple eyes shone brightly, staring at Zhenjin without blinking, full of hope. Zhenjin, like a drowning person saved and pounded on the chest to expel water, opened his mouth, taking deep breaths. The hot air entered his body, bringing a sense of happiness like rain after a long drought! Gradually coming to his senses, Zhenjin noticed he had his mouth open, drooling continuously. Saliva had already formed a puddle on the ground. From Zi Di¡¯s perspective, she could clearly see: Zhenjin¡¯s entire body was rapidly deswelling, with a significantly improved condition. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re awake!¡± Seeing Zhenjin¡¯s eyes completely clear up, Zi Di was filled with joy. Truth be told, she wasn¡¯t very confident in her potion-making abilities. ¡°How long was I unconscious?¡± Zhenjin asked. ¡°Only a few minutes,¡± Zi Di immediately answered. Zhenjin¡¯s heart immediately relaxed: ¡°We must leave this cave quickly.¡± Undoubtedly, this was a dangerous place. The previous chaotic escape of the Fire Poison Bee Swarm likely indicated the beast within the cave had won. Once the victor returned to the lair, the boy and girl would be the monster¡¯s next meal. Continuing deeper into the cave was very risky. Who knew if there were any other paths? If not, it would be a dead end. Zi Di dragged Zhenjin to his feet. Zhenjin leaned against the cave wall to stand up. The cave wall was scorching, and the smell of burnt gloves reached Zhenjin¡¯s nose, but he was delighted. Because whether it was the sensation of heat or the smell of burning, these were normal human feelings. Previously, he couldn¡¯t feel any of it. What made Zhenjin even more delighted, and a little uncertain, was that he felt a surge of power within him, a power that grew stronger by the moment. Seeing Zhenjin¡¯s puzzled expression, Zi Di explained with a worried and guilty look: ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry, I added a lot of Frenzy Potion into the potion.¡± Frenzy Potion, after consumption, could temporarily stimulate a large amount of potential within the body, significantly boosting combat power. But it also had severe side effects, causing substantial damage to the body. ¡°You did the right thing! No need to feel guilty,¡± Zhenjin patted the girl¡¯s shoulder, alleviating her anxiety. ¡°We must go quickly,¡± Zhenjin urged, trying to move on his own. The dizziness in his head was still present but had lessened considerably. Zhenjin soon realized: he could walk independently, even run. The power within continued to grow, and Zhenjin even felt the chainmail becoming somewhat light. ¡°It seems the Frenzy Potion has fully stimulated my life potential. But once the time limit is reached, what will happen when the effect wears off?¡± The prospect of such a massive risk filled Zhenjin¡¯s heart with gloom. Under normal circumstances, after the Frenzy effect wore off, a person would fall into a state of extreme weakness. Zhenjin was already afflicted with Fire Poison; Zi Di¡¯s hastily prepared potion didn¡¯t genuinely resolve the Fire Poison. Mostly, it was relying on the combined effects of the Frenzy Potion and other potions to make Zhenjin¡¯s life force erupt, temporarily resisting the Fire Poison. ¡°No matter what, I must use this chance to escape from peril. Even if I can¡¯t make it, I must do my best to save Zi Di!¡± Zhenjin had already resolved to face death. His time being awake was very short, and his memory was quite fragmented, but he knew: ¡°Zi Di is my fianc¨¦e, and our relationship seems complicated, possibly with some hidden details.¡± ¡°But she has always stayed by my side, never abandoning me, even willing to sacrifice her life for me at times. No matter the risk.¡± ¡°Such a girl, what can I offer in return?¡± ¡°As a Knight, can I not even protect my own fianc¨¦e?¡± Zhenjin vowed silently to protect the girl with everything he had. The two of them ran hand in hand through the cave. Quickly, they reached the cave entrance. The sounds of beasts fighting reached them from outside. The fight outside was intensely fierce. Zhenjin and Zi Di, unsure of what to do, glanced at each other, then stealthily approached the cave entrance to peek outside. The Fire Poison Bee Swarm had long disappeared, now fighting were two other parties. One party was the beast that had driven the Fire Poison Bee Swarm out of the cave. This beast was as big as a Brown Bear but had a monkey¡¯s pink tail. It stood upright on two bear feet, but its upper limbs weren¡¯t bear paws but ape-like hands. Each hand had four fingers, with sharp, jet-black nails resembling Black Iron. The other party was a group of panther-like beasts. But they had no fur, instead, their bodies were covered in scales. Moreover, a single horn grew on their foreheads, shaped like a rhinoceros horn, but much sharper. There was only one Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, but there were a dozen Scale-Horned Black Panthers. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Judging from the auras, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was a Silver Level magic beast, while most of the Scale-Horned Black Panthers were Bronze-level beasts. Only the leader and a few others had the aura of Black Iron. The panther pack surrounded the Brown Bear, and both sides engaged in a fierce battle. The Brown Bear was strong, and a single panther couldn¡¯t match it. When the panthers pounced, they were almost always slapped back by the Brown Bear, but they quickly got up, indicating their tough, resilient bodies against such heavy blows. Watching the stalemate, Zhenjin and Zi Di exchanged a worried glance. If they rushed out recklessly, they might be surrounded by the panther pack, torn to pieces directly! ¡°Sir, if you have the chance, run out. Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Zi Di whispered. Zhenjin shook his head, having no time to argue with his fianc¨¦e. Even he had little confidence in breaking through the beast pack¡¯s blockade. What¡¯s worse, he had to escape with Zi Di. The difficulty was too high! Moreover¡­ Zhenjin¡¯s condition was also full of hidden dangers. Once the potion¡¯s effect wore off and the suppressed Fire Poison flared up again, it would pose a great threat to Zhenjin¡¯s life. What should they do? ¡°If only I had fighting energy, if I could use fighting energy¡­¡± Zhenjin felt stifled and troubled. He had a weapon hidden within, but he couldn¡¯t utilize it. Chapter 8 - 8: Section 9: But we are Holy Temple Knights! Chapter 8: Section 9: But we are Holy Temple Knights! Editor: Henyee Translations No chance! Zhenjin and Zi Di hid near the cave entrance, watching the beasts fighting outside. Throughout the battle, the Scale-Horned Black Panther Swarm remained orderly, keeping the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear trapped in the center. If the boy and girl made a move outside, they would expose themselves to these wild animals. The possibility of survival was low if they made such a risky attempt. Unless absolutely necessary, neither of them would take such an action. ... The more Zhenjin watched, the more alarmed he became. Though both sides battled fiercely, the Scale-Horned Black Panthers had the upper hand due to their greater numbers. ¡°Black Panthers usually live in family groups, not alone. To see so many panthers hunting together in a pack is unprecedented. On this island, not only have the life forms undergone terrifying mutations, but their habits have also drastically changed.¡± Zhenjin had some guesses about the origins of these Scale-Horned Black Panthers. He remembered being chased by the Fire Poison Bee Swarm and encountering a mysterious beast resembling a panther during the escape. The beast finally fled in panic under the pressure of the Fire Poison Bee Swarm. This beast was likely a Scale-Horned Black Panther. After fleeing, it probably returned to its group and, following the scent of Zhenjin and Zi Di¡¯s escape, led the panthers here. ¡°Rather than avenging themselves on the Fire Poison Bee Swarm, these panthers are more likely here to hunt me and Zi Di.¡± ¡°In this sense, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear took the disaster meant for us.¡± Despite this, Zhenjin felt no gratitude. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear first drove away the Fire Poison Bee Swarm and now fought against the panthers, creating an opportunity for survival for Zhenjin and Zi Di. But if it emerged victorious and returned home, it would still turn on the boy and girl. This was merely a coincidence. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Roar! Suddenly, the panther leader jumped onto the bear¡¯s back, opening its jaws to bite the bear¡¯s neck. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear roared in fury, shaking its body wildly. But the panther leader bit down hard, almost being thrown off, clinging to the bear¡¯s neck with its teeth. The bear¡¯s thick skin and flesh only caused blood to flow. It reached out with its gorilla-like claws, sharp nails piercing deeply into the panther leader¡¯s body. The panther leader held on tight, while the other panthers quickly jumped as well. One by one, the panthers pounced on the bear, forcing it down to the ground. ¡°Here¡¯s the chance!¡± Seeing this, Zhenjin decisively grabbed Zi Di and ran out of the cave. But then, the remaining panther spotted them, letting out a roar and pouncing towards them. The other panthers began to stir restlessly. Forced by the Scale-Horned Black Panther, Zhenjin and Zi Di retreated back into the cave. The panther didn¡¯t pursue them into the cave because the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear went berserk. Its claws emitted scorching heat; the sharp, hard nails turned red, as if they were heated in a furnace. The bear rolled frantically on the ground, throwing off most of the panthers. Then it plunged its red-hot claws deep into the panther leader¡¯s body, causing blood to spurt from its mouth and nose during its frantic struggle. Shizz! Next moment, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear violently ripped the panther leader in half! Its claws glowed red-hot, exuding a scorching heat like steel freshly taken from a furnace. Like red-hot iron, the claws could effortlessly pierce the panther¡¯s scales. With the bear¡¯s immense strength, they became deadly weapons! In no time, nearly ten panthers were slaughtered, their corpses strewn on the ground! The panic-stricken panther pack scattered, suffering significant losses. Though the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear emerged victorious, it was in a dire state. Its right eye had been clawed out, and its entire body was wounded and bleeding. Some injuries on its limbs were so deep they revealed bone. The most severe wound was on its neck, where the panther leader had bit, appearing to have nicked an artery. Now, blood gushed continuously from the wound. Severely injured, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear didn¡¯t chase after the panthers but instead returned to the cave. Zhenjin and Zi Di had no choice but to retreat further. A wounded beast is often more dangerous! Fortunately, due to its severe injuries, the bear didn¡¯t run; it walked back into the cave at a slow pace. The boy and girl were forced further into the cave. If the cave only had one path, they would ultimately face the bear in a final showdown. But Zhenjin lacked confidence. He previously had a Longsword, lost at the campfire. Now, the only weapons he and Zi Di had were two daggers¡ªone with him, the other with Zi Di. They retreated further. The best-case scenario for them would be finding a side path in the cave. However, an unexpected situation arose. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear stopped halfway, no longer advancing. It paused, digging out ores from the cave wall with its claws and continuously swallowing them. It was eating these burning hot ores! Observing from the shadows, Zhenjin¡¯s eyes narrowed as he realized the bear¡¯s wounds stopped bleeding after it ate several ores. Its initially weak and unstable breathing gradually became steady. Zhenjin understood completely. ¡°So these ores are the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s food!¡± Before, he had noticed many claw marks on the cave walls, thinking the bear was sharpening its claws. Now, it seemed the marks were from digging for food. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s condition was rapidly improving. Zhenjin and Zi Di exchanged glances, seeing the grave expressions on each other¡¯s faces. They had two options. One was to continue retreating, hoping to find a side path to avoid the bear. The second option was to fight the bear. Seize the opportunity while the enemy is weak! Both choices carried significant risks. The first option forfeited the current advantage, allowing the bear to recuperate. If no side path existed, they would still face the bear in battle. The second option of fighting the bear offered no guarantee of victory for Zhenjin. Seizing this opportunity was logical, but if a side passage existed and he still died fighting the bear, it would be a senseless fate. Suddenly, Zi Di grabbed Zhenjin¡¯s hand. She said nothing, but her beautiful purple eyes conveyed her decision¡ªshe entrusted everything to him! For a moment, Zhenjin was caught in the dilemma. This was a life-or-death decision! The crucial factor was it involved not only his life but also his fianc¨¦e Zi Di¡¯s life. The heavy responsibility weighed on Zhenjin¡¯s shoulders. His eyes flickered momentarily, then grew resolute with determination. He squeezed Zi Di¡¯s hand, then released it. Drawing his dagger, he moved slowly, quietly approaching the feeding Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Faced with uncertainty in both choices, without any reliable information to guide him, he chose to follow his instincts¡ªfavoring combat and attempting to seize control of his fate! Even without a Longsword, holding just a short dagger. Closer, closer still. The distance between Zhenjin and the bear kept shrinking. The bear continued feeding, perhaps feeling at home or too weary from the fierce battle to notice Zhenjin¡¯s approach. But at that moment, Zhenjin¡¯s expression suddenly changed. A memory surged to the forefront of his mind. ¡°Damn it, why now of all times!¡± Zhenjin cursed helplessly in his heart, temporarily lost in the flashback. An old tavern, dimly lit, filled with noisy chatter. ¡°We won!¡± ¡°Drink up!¡± Zhenjin found himself in a corner surrounded by knights in shiny armor. Naturally, he was one of them too. These knights¡¯ armor, cloaks, or bodies bore fresh scars, but everyone was ecstatic. It seemed like a post-battle celebration. ¡°Hoorah!¡± someone cheered, ¡°Nothing can stop us Holy Temple Knights!¡± ¡°Thinking back, that fight was quite dangerous,¡± someone else sighed. Another knight, stroking his cup with a fearful voice, said, ¡°I almost lost control of my mount.¡± The Holy Temple Knights¡¯ remarks drew a chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s so challenging about that? You kids are still too green.¡± The voice attracted Zhenjin¡¯s and the other knights¡¯ attention. The speaker was an elder. He had graying whiskers, a sturdy build, and wore Holy Temple Knight armor, but with more ornate and majestic gold and silver embellishments than his peers. The Holy Temple Knights had no rebuttals, only reverent looks at the elder. The once boisterous tavern noise swiftly died down. ¡°Squad leader, tell us about it. I know you¡¯ve been in countless great battles, like the Iron Flag Fortress siege and the Blood Knight extermination. Which one was the hardest?¡± The old squad leader chuckled without speaking, downing his beer in one go. As he set his cup down, a knight placed a full one before him. This time, he took a small sip, almost drinking the beer foam. His remaining solitary eye reflected nostalgia in the firelight. ¡°The toughest fight was six years ago at Jackal Valley.¡± ¡°The Cold Pine Knights¡¯ annihilation battle!¡± someone exclaimed excitedly. Several others gazed sharply at Zhenjin. The old squad leader nodded, continuing, ¡°Yes, at Jackal Valley. Those southern nobles are treacherous scoundrels, despicable, and capricious!¡± ¡°Our Holy Temple Knights marched for five days. Betrayed by our allies upon entering Jackal Valley, thousands of Cold Pine Knights besieged us.¡± ¡°We had just withdrawn from the front lines. The first attack caught us off guard, costing us a third of our men, leaving just over a thousand, almost all wounded.¡± ¡°We defended our ruined camp against wave after wave of Cold Pine Knight assaults.¡± ¡°The second attack left us three hundred fewer.¡± ¡°Two hundred and more fell in the third attack.¡± ¡°After the fourth, only eighty remained.¡± ¡°Exhausting all our Frenzy Potions with no supplies, things worsened when an enemy known as the Corrosioner used vile spells, corroding our weapons and armor horribly.¡± ¡°Trapped with no way out, facing despair, the Cold Pine Knight leader demanded our surrender.¡± ¡°Those southern nobles wanted us as bargaining chips with the Great Emperor.¡± ¡°But they underestimated the Holy Temple Knights!¡± ¡°We debated briefly before launching an attack!¡± ¡°No swords, but we were Holy Temple Knights.¡± ¡°No armor, but we were Holy Temple Knights.¡± ¡°No horses, but we were Holy Temple Knights.¡± ¡°No supplies, but we were Holy Temple Knights.¡± ¡°No matter the enemy¡¯s numbers or strength, we never surrender.¡± ¡°Because we are Holy Temple Knights!¡± Chapter 9 - 9: Section 10: I Am Indeed Brave and Fearless Chapter 9: Section 10: I Am Indeed Brave and Fearless Editor: Henyee Translations The tavern was quiet, all the Holy Temple Knights stopped their actions and quietly watched the old squad leader, listening to his words. On their young faces, strong excitement surged. ¡°We charged!¡± ¡°We lost!¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Heh heh.¡± The old squad leader laughed, stroked his thick white beard, wiped off the wine stains on it, and his face was full of pride. ¡°My strength was limited; I was struck by many swords and fell among the corpses like a dead dog. Haha, when I woke up, I found myself back at the Holy Temple. Then I learned that the entire fifth squad was dead, only I survived.¡± ... ¡°The Cold Pine Knights didn¡¯t let us go, they gave every corpse a finishing blow. But luckily, the knight used a stabbing sword. That stabbing sword blinded my eye, pierced my brain, and my brain matter flowed out all over the place.¡± ¡°It was the Great Emperor who personally saved my life. He asked what reward I wanted.¡± ¡°I told the Great Emperor to give me the number of the fifth squad of the knights, I wanted to rebuild a fifth squad of Holy Temple Knights!¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s why all you little brats exist, understand?¡± ¡°Otherwise, how could the esteemed Holy Temple Knights recruit new members so easily?¡± ¡°You little guys are just lucky. But you¡¯re still too young. That last battle, what was it worth?¡± The old squad leader shook his head repeatedly and said nothing more, just continued drinking. He spoke very briefly, very crudely, but the young Holy Temple Knights in the tavern were all excited. They chatted excitedly. ¡°I know that battle in Jackal Valley, our fifth squad with just a few hundred people, annihilated more than five thousand Cold Pine Knights, destroying their three brigades!¡± ¡°Just after the Cold Pine Knights cleared the battlefield, they were ambushed by the third squad of the Holy Temple Knights and were completely wiped out in Jackal Valley.¡± ¡°The Cold Pine Knights were the top ace of the Southern Nobles Alliance. This battle broke the backbone of the Southern Nobles Alliance!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, this is us, the Holy Temple Knights!¡± ¡°We are unbeatable, invincible!¡± ¡°Even in desperate situations, we hold our heads high and face death!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, charge, charge, charge to death!¡± The atmosphere in the tavern heated up again; the young Holy Temple Knights didn¡¯t know if it was the wine or the excitement, but their faces were all flushed. The memory faded, but their voices still seemed to echo in Zhenjin¡¯s ears. Charge! Charge! Charge to death! Zhenjin charged forward without hesitation! The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s ears twitched immediately; it heard the commotion. But the heavy injuries made it much slower than usual. Just as it turned around, it saw the boy in mid-air! Zhenjin sprinted and then leaped, the dagger in his hand glinting with a cold light. The Brown Bear, caught off guard, had the dagger directly plunged into its remaining left eye. In an instant, it became blind. Roar! The Brown Bear raged, the intense pain and the darkness before its eyes causing it to unleash its beastly fury. With a violent swing of its bear arm, Zhenjin had no way to dodge. In a hurry, Zhenjin could only curl his body as much as possible, raising his two arms to protect his face and chest. Bang. With a dull thud, the boy was sent flying twice as fast as before by the Brown Bear¡¯s strike. He was slammed into the cave wall, his arms, which served as a shield, completely broken. From the intense collision with the cave wall, his shoulder blades and rear ribs were fractured in multiple places. His internal organs suffered too; the severe blow seemed to have caused internal bleeding. Zhenjin let out a wail, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. The intense pain spread throughout his body, his face turned pale. However, despite this, a new strength surged from the depths of his body. This was the effect of the Frenzy Potion! Spitting out another mouthful of blood, Zhenjin forced himself off the cave wall with a strong push of his legs. ¡°Kill!¡± He gave a low shout and charged at the Brown Bear once more. In a split second, the wind whistled past his ears. It felt like he broke through his limits, the pain from his intense movement only fueling his excitement. His two arms were completely numb, swinging like two stout noodles behind him as he sprinted. The Brown Bear¡¯s earlier strike was no small thing; it shattered the boy¡¯s arm bones and turned the muscles into mush, barely held together. The Brown Bear went berserk, attacking chaotically in the cave, sending ore fragments flying. The scattered ore struck Zhenjin, his face as stern as iron. He suddenly lowered his head, dodging a sweeping claw from the Brown Bear, and accelerated his charge to the limit! He ran along the cave wall, taking a few steps before leaping high into the air again. The Brown Bear, blind and maddened, was completely unaware. Seizing the moment, Zhenjin landed and stomped hard on the dagger lodged in the eye socket of the Brown Bear. Squelch. Blood and brain matter splattered out, the dagger drove deeper into the Brown Bear¡¯s brain, with the hilt disappearing completely into the socket. Roar¡ª! The Brown Bear let out the most agonizing and sorrowful roar of its life. Following animal instinct and driven by survival, it grabbed Zhenjin. Its claw-like nails, sharp as knives, heated up intensely, turning crimson. The nails plunged deeply into Zhenjin¡¯s abdomen, piercing straight through him, then slammed him down onto the ground. The sharp nails, driven with such force, embedded into the hard ground. The searing claws pierced Zhenjin, as if a hot knife cut through butter with ease. Zhenjin let out a pained scream, his intestines and flesh charred. At this moment, he fully understood the agony those Scale-Horned Black Panthers endured. ¡°My lord¡ª!¡± The sight of the brutal battle before her made Zi Di cry out in anguish. The shout reached Zhenjin¡¯s ear, bringing a sliver of clarity amidst the intense pain! His abdomen was pinned to the ground by the claws, trapping him. At that moment, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear lowered its head, its bloody maw inches from Zhenjin¡¯s face! In a life-or-death moment, the boy mustered all his strength, twisting his upper body to its limit. The Brown Bear, with no vision, had its attack effortlessly evaded by Zhenjin. With a thud, the bear¡¯s head slammed into the ground, its sharp teeth gnashing through the ground, sending fragments flying. With his arms long crippled, Zhenjin, in his desperation, imitated the Brown Bear, aiming for its neck with his mouth wide open! On this side of the Brown Bear¡¯s neck was a terrifying wound. This was a heavy price it paid not long ago in a fierce battle with the Scale-Horned Black Panther leader. The wound was deep, bone visible, with fur long gone. Zhenjin nearly buried his head in, biting fiercely into the wound, his mouth filled with the bear¡¯s flesh and blood, The wound initially bled heavily, but after the Brown Bear consumed some ore, the blood had stopped. Now, Zhenjin¡¯s vicious biting ruptured the artery within, causing a massive spray of blood, flowing even faster than before! In an instant, bear blood covered Zhenjin¡¯s face. Like sticking his head into a small waterfall, he had to close his eyes tightly, with the acrid metallic smell filling his mouth and nose, carrying a slight sweetness. Zhenjin, still in a life-and-death struggle, continuously tore at the bear¡¯s flesh. As a result, copious amounts of bear blood flooded his throat, making it nearly impossible to breathe. But who cares about breathing at this moment?! The fight had reached the most critical point. Who will win or lose, who will live or die? Zhenjin began choking on blood, his lungs filling with bear blood, an excruciating feeling. The Brown Bear let out a mournful roar, panicked! It couldn¡¯t see the boy, but could feel Zhenjin¡¯s frail body. Yet, Zhenjin was fiercer than any beast it had ever encountered! Zi Di was stunned too, staring blankly at the scene of man and bear tearing at each other, her eyes lifeless, as if turned to stone, immobilized by the sight. The Brown Bear tried to withdraw its claws to tear Zhenjin to pieces, but after several attempts, it failed. It turned out that after the intense battle, it was at the end of its strength. After Zhenjin¡¯s desperate attack, its strength rapidly waned, like an avalanche, unable to even pull out its claws. Thump. Finally, the Brown Bear collapsed to the ground, motionless. Its enormous body was several times the size of Zhenjin, but ultimately it became the loser. Zhenjin also fell to the ground, coughing violently, vomiting chunks of flesh and mouthfuls of blood. After exorcising the blood and flesh, the boy could finally breathe smoothly. Like a drowning person saving dry land, his chest heaved, gasping like a bellows. After a few breaths, he started coughing again, spitting up more blood. Who knows if it was the Brown Bear¡¯s blood or his own internal bleeding. A strong feeling of dizziness filled the boy¡¯s head. He tried to get up, but failed completely. His abdomen was still pinned by the Brown Bear¡¯s claws, bleeding profusely. The violent struggle had torn open the original wound, splitting it wide apart. The charred intestines from the claws protruded from the gaping wound. The boy fell back to the ground with a thud. ¡°Heh heh heh¡­¡± He looked at the huge bear carcass and let out a weak laugh. This laugh sounded just like the old squad leader of the fifth squad of Holy Temple Knights. Then, Zhenjin¡¯s eyes glazed over; the laugh grew weaker and weaker. A few breaths later, his pupils lost all light. The effect of the Frenzy Potion wore off. The boy lost consciousness completely. For the moment, neither man nor bear moved. Chapter 10 - 10: Section 11: Obsessed with Life and Death Chapter 10: Section 11: Obsessed with Life and Death Editor: Henyee Translations Darkness. In the depths of darkness, the boy¡¯s consciousness gradually revived. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°What is this place?¡± ¡°Where am I?¡± ... No one answered him. Silence filled the darkness. ¡°Who am I?¡± ¡°Why¡­ am I trapped here?¡± ¡°What am I supposed to do?¡± The boy grew anxious. He felt as if he had forgotten something extremely important. He tried hard to recall, but to no avail. He began to struggle, wanting to break free from this cage of darkness. Then, a sliver of ethereal light appeared before his eyes. The tiny light was especially noticeable in the dark. As the light flickered, the boy¡¯s memory suddenly partially returned. It seemed like he was back in a tavern, where, as a member of the Holy Temple Knights, he celebrated after a victory. Listening to the teachings of the old squad leader. The light in the darkness was like the dim candlelight of the tavern. The boy felt warmth and was about to fall into a deep sleep. Just then, he suddenly heard a beast¡¯s roar. In the roar, the light became vivid. The boy was disappointed to discover that he was not in a tavern but in a scorching mining cave. Continuous waves of pain, like the tide, assaulted him. Zhenjin felt like a small boat at sea, ready to be smashed by the furious waves and wind any moment. Besides the pain, the unbearable heat and strong dizziness tormented him. These sensations were not unfamiliar to Zhenjin. ¡°The Fire Poison flared up again!¡± he thought. Claws of a Brown Bear were still embedded in his waist and abdomen, making it hard to rise. The boy exerted all his strength to barely lift his head. Then, he saw the bear¡¯s corpse and a familiar figure busy beside it. It was Zi Di, collecting bear blood from the corpse. She occasionally wiped the corners of her eyes, showing a face of anxiety. Zhenjin¡¯s heart relaxed. When he heard the beast¡¯s roar in the darkness, he thought a new wild beast was attacking. Seeing Zi Di unharmed, his strength dissipated, and his head fell back, hitting the ground with a thump. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di was startled by the sound. Seeing Zhenjin awaken, she exclaimed in delight, ¡°My Lord?! Lord Zhenjin, you are awake!¡± She immediately rushed to Zhenjin¡¯s side. Up close, Zhenjin noticed the girl¡¯s swollen eyes and the obvious tear stains on her cheeks. Zhenjin wanted to speak but couldn¡¯t. His throat and tongue were also swollen, making it difficult to make a sound, so he could only force a bitter smile. At that moment, the boy realized that if another beast attacked, he had no strength to protect his fianc¨¦e. Zi Di said, ¡°My Lord, the Fire Poison has flared up again, and the previous potions are no longer effective. I am preparing new potions. I will definitely succeed! Trust me, my Lord, you mustn¡¯t give up!¡± ¡°I will surely save you!¡± Zi Di comforted Zhenjin, more as a way to deceive herself, to boost her own confidence. Zhenjin nodded, but even this tiny movement plunged him back into unconsciousness. In the darkness, an unknown amount of time passed before he heard another beast¡¯s roar and regained consciousness. Finding no signs of beast attack, Zhenjin realized, ¡°Was it just an auditory hallucination? How long was I unconscious this time?¡± He looked around, seeing Zi Di by his side. But this time, the girl wasn¡¯t collecting bear blood but had cut open Zhenjin¡¯s arm, drawing his blood. The glass bottle was already more than half full of blood. At this moment, the boy¡¯s blood appeared dark red and extremely hot. Seeing the boy awake again, Zi Di immediately said, ¡°My Lord, I am treating you! I am drawing out your poison blood to dilute the Fire Poison in your body.¡± The boy remained silent. Strangely, this time, he felt no pain. This was definitely not a good sign. Feeling pain was a normal human perception, an essential warning system to help the body protect itself promptly. Zhenjin knew his current condition was extremely dire. Not only had the Fire Poison flared up, but the battle with the Brown Bear had severely injured him. The lack of pain meant his nerves were completely destroyed! Only a strong feeling of dizziness remained in his head. The boy didn¡¯t dare to move. From past experience, he knew that even a slight movement would overwhelm him with dizziness, plunging him back into unconsciousness. Zhenjin had no choice but to stare at the cave¡¯s ceiling. He felt nothing from the wounds or the blood being drawn, and his hearing was gone too. At that moment, the boy felt a strange sense of peace and tranquility. But soon, this tranquility faded, replaced by a fog-like fear spreading within him. Yes, fear. He was terrified! He knew death was approaching, and the fear he felt was the fear of death. Facing the Brown Bear, he was also confronting death. But at that moment, he had no time to savor the feeling. The slow approach of death felt utterly unbearable! The boy sensed his life slipping away, quietly and without a sound. From the depths of his heart, he desperately wanted to hold onto his life. But life was like water held in cupped hands, no matter how hard he tried, it would seep through his fingers until not a drop remained. He realized he was utterly helpless, merely waiting for Death God¡¯s scythe to claim his life. Zhenjin had believed himself to be brave, but at this moment, he felt his fear, his weakness. This fear was so real, so intense, making Zhenjin fully understand¡ªeven with all his hardships and training, he couldn¡¯t calmly face it. Because he realized this fear was the fundamental fear of any life form, the core of any creature¡¯s survival instinct. Fear, like a fog, had enveloped his entire heart. Simultaneously, other emotions like helplessness, despair, panic, and anger also stemmed from this fear. Zhenjin began to pray. ¡°Great God, Supreme Great Emperor¡­¡± He was a Holy Temple Knight, and the god he worshipped was the Human Race¡¯s contemporary Holy Emperor. The Human Race had a unity of church and state. The Holy Emperor was the leader of the Human Race with a cultivation surpassing the Legendary level, a god walking amongst mortals! Zhenjin continued to confess to the Holy Emperor. He attempted to confess his past mistakes but embarrassingly found he couldn¡¯t remember any due to his amnesia. So, he could only plead to the Holy Emperor, begging for mercy, asking him to protect Zi Di to escape this deadly island safely after his death. However, the boy¡¯s prayers to his lifelong god received no slightest response. Not even the tiniest response. ¡°Every Holy Temple Knight is under the Holy Emperor¡¯s gaze. Could it be that this island isolates the connection between the believer and the god?¡± With such doubts, Zhenjin fell back into darkness. As before, with a beast¡¯s roar echoing through the heavens and earth, Zhenjin awoke again. As soon as he awoke this time, Zhenjin frowned. He felt a strong sense of pain again! Unlike before this time it felt like his entire body was being pierced by needles. Every inch of skin, every inch of muscle, every inch of bone, inside and out, felt as though they had undergone countless tortures, leaving him utterly scarred. Moreover, the burning sensation from the Fire Poison was even stronger than before. The boy felt like he was placed in a bonfire, burning fiercely! ¡°It worked! It worked!¡± came Zi Di¡¯s excited shout, the girl was extremely thrilled at the moment. Zhenjin shifted his gaze to her actions, and his heart trembled. The girl was not collecting bear blood, nor was she drawing his blood. Instead, she poured blood onto Zhenjin¡¯s wound. It must be bear blood! Zhenjin was covered in injuries, especially the terrifying wounds on his waist and abdomen. But now, the Brown Bear¡¯s claws that had pierced through Zhenjin¡¯s abdomen had disappeared, vanished. Zi Di seemed to have poured many potions onto the wound, mixing into a mush that looked like a poor painter¡¯s colorful palette. The continuous inflow of bear blood was quickly absorbed by this mixture. At this moment, Zhenjin¡¯s body was like parched soil, no matter how much bear blood Zi Di poured, it was all absorbed rapidly. ¡°What kind of treatment method is this? Can it really work?¡± Seeing himself like this, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill in his heart. The more bear blood he absorbed, the more intense the pain became. Meanwhile, his heartbeat grew stronger. Thumping rapidly, his heart beat faster and faster. The boy even had an illusion: if it beat any faster, his heart might jump out from his broken body! This worry didn¡¯t last long, and Zhenjin fell unconscious again. Because the pain intensified several times, becoming unbearable, well beyond the normal human limits. Chapter 11 - 11: Section 12: Am I a genius among geniuses? Chapter 11: Section 12: Am I a genius among geniuses? Editor: Henyee Translations Zhenjin slowly regained consciousness after an indeterminate amount of time. Clear bird songs came to his ears, followed by a gentle breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees. Zhenjin was dazed for a moment before coming to his senses. He first noticed that the excruciating pain that once tormented him had vanished, leaving only a dull ache. He tried to lift his head, and the unbearable, terrifying dizziness dissipated completely. ... Then he found his body wrapped in many bandages, particularly thick around his waist and abdomen, with faint traces of blood visible. Zhenjin used his strength to prop up his upper body with difficulty. He felt completely exhausted, as if he hadn¡¯t eaten in ten days, his mouth parched and extremely thirsty. When he finally managed to sit on the ground, he was stunned. He looked at his arms and hands. Originally, his arm bones had suffered comminuted fractures, and the flesh had been smashed into mush by the Brown Bear. But now, they had almost completely healed! Only the surface of both arms remained an abnormal red, as if they had been cooked. ¡°Zi Di really did it, miraculous!¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but marvel internally. If it was magic or Divine Arts, it wouldn¡¯t have been too difficult. But here, Zi Di couldn¡¯t use her spell; achieving this with potions alone was incredibly powerful. ¡°Could it be that my fianc¨¦e is also a Potion Master?¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but speculate. He looked around, but Zi Di was not there. The young Knight quickly noticed that he was no longer deep within the cave. This was not the place where he had fought the life-and-death battle with the Brown Bear but closer to the cave¡¯s entrance. Because of this, the ores were sparse here, the air was not scorching, and he could hear the bird songs outside the cave. With the wind gently blowing intermittently from outside and listening to the crisp bird calls, Zhenjin¡¯s emotions surged. His gaze fell on the cave entrance, where a blue and red wildflower tenaciously bloomed on the cave wall. Zhenjin quietly watched it, his eyes gradually turning red, almost to the point of tears! After being immersed in a struggle between life and death, such an ordinary scene made him cherish it all the more. He looked at the most inconspicuous wildflower, watching its delicate petals gently tremble in the breeze, feeling a surge of emotion throughout his body. This was the thrill of life! ¡°I am still alive, still alive!¡± The joy of survival washed over Zhenjin like the ocean covering the beach, endlessly overwhelming him. After a while, Zhenjin¡¯s tumultuous emotions slowly calmed down. He had new worries. The place was still relatively dangerous. Zhenjin did not forget the many Scale-Horned Black Panther corpses lying outside the cave. These fresh corpses would attract predators. After these few days, Zhenjin felt the dangers of this island thoroughly. No matter how much he overestimated the danger, it would never be excessive. The young knight wanted to stand up, but his attempts failed. Sitting up was his utmost limit. His whole body felt weak, particularly around his waist and abdomen, as if missing a large chunk, and his legs lacked any strength. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± a familiar voice called. Zi Di appeared at the cave entrance, stunned in place, her face full of disbelief. Zhenjin nodded to her and gave a faint smile. Zi Di finally confirmed it was real, her emotions surged, and she rushed several steps, nearly falling into Zhenjin¡¯s arms. When her delicate body fell into his arms, Zhenjin almost fell backward. He patted his fianc¨¦e¡¯s petite shoulder, his voice much hoarser than before, ¡°I listened to you; I didn¡¯t give up.¡± ¡°Mm!¡± Zi Di nodded, releasing Zhenjin from her tight embrace, her purple eyes staring at him without blinking. Their gazes met. Zi Di affectionately said, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you are a true Holy Temple Knight!¡± At that moment, the young Knight felt the girl¡¯s complete admiration and love, with no attempt at concealment. Zhenjin gave a bitter smile and shook his head, ¡°I can¡¯t be considered one yet; right now I can¡¯t even use fighting energy.¡± Zi Di affirmed, ¡°My Lord, you will definitely remember!¡± The girl¡¯s confidence in Zhenjin was more abundant than his own. ¡°My Lord, while you were unconscious, I cleaned up the battlefield and disposed of the Brown Bear and Black Panther corpses.¡± ¡°I used the Brown Bear¡¯s blood to prepare a temporary potion. I spread the potion around the cave entrance; the area is now filled with the Bear¡¯s scent, which should deter other predators. We are temporarily safe here.¡± ¡°Additionally, I ventured deeper into the cave and explored it thoroughly. There¡¯s only one path in this cave, proving your initial decision was extremely wise!¡± Zhenjin nodded repeatedly, his worries finally eased. ¡°My Lord, how do you feel now?¡± Zi Di began to examine Zhenjin¡¯s wounds again. ¡°I feel good, just very weak,¡± Zhenjin answered honestly. He watched Zi Di busily working, feeling more and more appreciative of the girl. Despite being at the Black Iron Level and unable to use magic here, she still had strong potion-making abilities. It seemed that Zhenjin¡¯s fierce protection of the girl brought ample returns. Without her help, Zhenjin might have been dead long ago! Apart from appreciation and gratitude, another emotion swelled in Zhenjin¡¯s heart. Zi Di and Zhenjin shared a close relationship, being betrothed. Zhenjin tentatively judged that their relationship was likely complex and had hidden implications. Nonetheless, their shared life-and-death experience forged a bond that wasn¡¯t false. ¡°My Lord, your current condition is stable. You feel weak because of a lack of rest. As long as you consume enough food and water, you should be able to walk normally in a few days,¡± Zi Di assessed seriously after examining him. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your potions,¡± Zhenjin praised. Zi Di shook her head, ¡°At that time, conditions were urgent, and the potion-making setup was too rudimentary. Honestly, I had no confidence; I just gave it my all, never expecting such miraculous results! Perhaps¡­¡± Zi Di hesitated, her beautiful purple eyes staring at the young Knight, shining with undisguised curiosity and scrutiny. Zhenjin smiled, ¡°What do you want to ask? Don¡¯t hold back.¡± Zi Di immediately asked, ¡°My Lord, are you truly at Silver Cultivation, not gold?¡± Zhenjin pondered, ¡°Why do you suspect that?¡± Zi Di explained, ¡°My Lord, it¡¯s possible my potion had an effect, but I think that is highly unlikely. I believe it¡¯s more likely you inherently possess a strong life force!¡± ¡°Such a Life Foundation isn¡¯t something at the Silver Level, but a gold life. Surviving this ordeal relied more on your self-healing ability.¡± ¡°You think my cultivation isn¡¯t at the Silver Level but gold?¡± Zhenjin frowned slightly. He couldn¡¯t help but look at his arms again. Now, his arms appeared almost as good as new. The young Knight vividly remembered the severe injuries his arms had suffered. His abdominal wounds had also been serious, but according to Zi Di, the wounds had vanished, with new pink skin grown. Honestly, this level of healing was just a step short of limb regeneration. ¡°Did the potions really have such potency?¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but doubt. His heart skipped a beat, ¡°Could it be that my talent is extraordinarily remarkable, beyond the Silver Level, possessing gold cultivation?! Am I a genius among geniuses?¡± ¡°If so, why would I hide such a talent?¡± ¡°Could it be to avoid being prematurely killed in the bud, so I endured until now?¡± Faced with these recurring doubts, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t find an answer, only shaking his head with a bitter smile. He told Zi Di, ¡°Your speculation is plausible, but I can¡¯t answer you. Because my memories have only partially returned.¡± Unfortunately, the young Knight, as the primary party, didn¡¯t know the truth either. Zi Di fetched a water bag, and Zhenjin took it, sipping slowly. ¡°My Lord, how does drinking the water feel?¡± The girl looked with concern and nervousness. Zhenjin carefully savored the water, pondering, ¡°No painful sensations; it seems normal.¡± Hearing this, Zi Di exhaled a sigh of relief, ¡°That¡¯s good, but we still need to observe.¡± Zhenjin only drank water without eating, and even drank cautiously, only a small portion. Despite barely quenching his thirst, Zhenjin understood the necessity. Externally, his injuries seemed well-healed, but the internal condition couldn¡¯t be observed with the naked eye. Without magical aid or being a professional healer, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t force out his fighting energy. After drinking a bit of water, Zhenjin lay back down to rest, gradually relaxing. Upon deeper exploration of the cave, Zi Di concluded that the cave had been excavated by the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, which constantly consumed the ore within the mountain to gradually form the cave. The cave¡¯s length indicated that the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear had lived there for a long time. Being a Silver-level beast, its presence established enough authority to intimidate nearby predators, forming a fixed territory. Especially after beating the Scale-Horned Black Panthers, no predators dared to invade for a while. After all, these wild beasts didn¡¯t know the Brown Bear had been killed by Zhenjin. For now, the surroundings seemed temporarily safe. The cave could serve as a stable camp. Zhenjin woke up late morning and, by noon, had replenished more water, drinking slightly more this time. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By afternoon, he felt the urge to urinate. However, his body was still weak, unable to stand. ¡°My Lord, let me help you,¡± Zi Di, closely watching Zhenjin, noticed his little embarrassment and understood immediately. Zhenjin could only lie down, urinating with Zi Di¡¯s help. ¡°My Lord, I am your fianc¨¦e; you don¡¯t need to feel awkward.¡± Despite her words, Zi Di¡¯s cheeks blushed a lovely red, her forehead hair slightly standing as though her whole head was steaming. Zi Di not only helped Zhenjin dress but also examined his urine. ¡°My Lord, it seems your recovery is good. You can safely drink, though eating still needs caution,¡± Zi Di reported happily. Zhenjin nodded, feeling a bit of joy himself. The body¡¯s digestive and urinary systems were crucial. Zhenjin would rather lose both his arms than have digestive or urinary problems. Losing arms was inconvenient, but digestive and urinary issues could be life-threatening. By nightfall, Zhenjin began eating. The coarse dry rations were far from ¡°delicious,¡± but Zhenjin ate with satisfaction, feeling a spontaneous happiness. In truth, the young man was famished and could have eaten several cows. But he restrained himself and only consumed a small portion initially, following the water-drinking process. On the second day, after waking, he regained some strength, able to stand but unable to walk far. No dizziness was felt, just a lack of strength. He even felt his arms were heavy, almost burdensome. The young Knight did not force himself. Wisdom and patience were virtues Holy Temple Knights esteemed. He ate a bit in the morning and more at noon. By evening, he successfully defecated. Though Zi Di wished to help, Zhenjin insisted on doing it himself this time. After observing, Zi Di rejoiced, ¡°My Lord, your recovery is remarkable, reflecting capabilities beyond the Silver Level.¡± Zi Di¡¯s purple eyes stared intensely at the Knight, glowing with fervor. Chapter 12 - 12: Section 13: My fiancée has a guild Chapter 12: Section 13: My fianc¨¦e has a guild Editor: Henyee Translations On the third morning, Zhenjin slowly awakened. Peace reigns. He had rested well the previous night, no longer lying on a hard stone floor but on a layer of soft, dry branches and leaves. These were specially collected for Zhenjin by Zi Di. Thinking about his fianc¨¦e, a wave of warmth surged in Zhenjin¡¯s heart. ... But Zi Di was not nearby. He remembered that last night before sleeping, Zi Di had suggested to Zhenjin: She would draw some of Zhenjin¡¯s blood to check if there were any remnants of the Fire Poison left, and if possible, determine Zhenjin¡¯s true cultivation level. Zhenjin agreed. ¡°This girl¡­ Did she not rest the whole night?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s face slightly darkened, and he started worrying. Although he had fallen asleep, he was confident¡ªif there were any disturbances nearby, he would immediately sense it. Looking at the other side of the straw bed, Zhenjin saw it was very puffy, with no signs of being pressed down. Zhenjin was sure that Zi Di had not slept there last night. She had entered the depths of the cave and never came out. Zhenjin got up and ventured into the cave. Zi Di had set up a temporary potion preparation area deep within the cave. During the two days Zhenjin was recovering, she seldom went out. Even when she did, she stayed close to the cave. Most of the time, besides attending to Zhenjin, she was busy concocting her potions in the cave. As expected, Zhenjin found Zi Di kneeling among several pits. These pits varied in size, with large ones holding treated blood, bones, and fur of wild beasts, and small ones filled with various potions, resembling a miniature dye workshop in vivid colors. ¡°My lord, you are awake?¡± Hearing him, Zi Di looked back at Zhenjin but didn¡¯t stand up, her hands still busy mixing potions. ¡°Forgive my rudeness, my lord, I am in the middle of preparing a potion.¡± Zi Di shook the glass bottle in her hand while sprinkling sand-like ingredients with her other fingers. The glass bottle was only the size of an adult¡¯s finger, and the potion inside looked like bear blood, dark red in color. The fine sand-like ingredients dissolved into the potion, adhering to the inner wall of the glass bottle. Zi Di stared intently at the glass bottle, sometimes adding more sand, sometimes scooping some bear blood from the pits to add. Finally, achieving a certain balance, the sand inside the glass bottle completely dissolved with nothing left. Slightly nodding in satisfaction, Zi Di corked the glass bottle and placed it on a wooden rack nearby. The rack was crudely constructed from dead branches, almost filled with glass bottles. Seeing the wild game potions in these bottles, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°So, you spent the whole night making these potions? Isn¡¯t it exhausting?¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, my lord.¡± Zi Di smiled, explaining immediately, ¡°If I don¡¯t make them soon, the bear blood will become ineffective. These are valuable materials. It¡¯s a pity I lack proper tools now. Using such high-grade bear blood for wild game potions is too extravagant!¡± Most magic materials have a limited effective period. Once expired, their value significantly decreases. Zhenjin nodded, acknowledging Zi Di¡¯s efforts, ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± As he spoke, he kept looking at the glass bottles, his gaze almost fixed. How strange. He felt a craving for the sweet aroma coming from the bottles, a deep-seated urge to drink the bear blood. ¡°Am I too hungry?¡± Zhenjin quickly suppressed this odd feeling. Honestly, he had not had a satisfying meal in two days of rest. Although he was recovering well, he carefully controlled his food intake. ¡°Now that the bear and leopard blood are used up, we must deal with this meat.¡± Zi Di licked her dry lips. Long hours of work had left sweat all over her forehead. From the pit, she took a piece of beast meat, covered it with green and yellow herbs, then took a small potion bottle from her bag and poured its contents slowly. The potion was not in a glass bottle but seemed to be made of dark ironwood. The poured liquid quickly spread and released a pungent smell. Ssssss¡­ A slight corrosive sound followed, leaving the once plump meat severely shriveled. Stretching out her hand, Zi Di tore the dried meat into strips, then kneaded it constantly. The strips of dried meat turned into meat floss after pressing. The past two days, besides dry rations, meat floss was Zhenjin¡¯s main food. They didn¡¯t make a fire. Having learned a tough lesson from the Fire Poison Bees, they were overly cautious about making a fire. Additionally, it was inconvenient to make a fire in the cave, as it could cause oxygen deficiency, smoke pollution, or even poisoning. Though the processed meat floss tasted horrible, it retained its nutrients and killed any bacteria or toxins in the flesh. ¡°These are fine magic materials, and they would fetch a good amount of gold coins outside. Such a waste! Even a basic crucible would be better now!¡± Zi Di shook her head regretfully as she processed the ingredients. Zhenjin smiled, not urging the exhausted Zi Di to rest but sitting cross-legged beside her, ¡°How can I help?¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di grinned, ¡°Since you offered, my lord, I won¡¯t be polite.¡± Zi Di focused on delicate potion work while Zhenjin tore the dried meat into floss. Their efficiency significantly increased through cooperation. In the process, Zhenjin awkwardly noticed that several pits in the corner stored his urine and feces from the past few days. ¡°Researching these helps me analyze your physical condition,¡± Zi Di said casually. ¡°Unfortunately, I can¡¯t determine your true cultivation level.¡± ¡°Also, I wanted to recreate the healing potion used on you. If it really healed your wounds, its formula would be invaluable!¡± ¡°Such a research approach¡ªisn¡¯t that worthy of a mage?¡± Zhenjin wondered, nodding. ¡°You did the right thing. Any findings?¡± Zi Di sighed, her expression dimming, ¡°The situation was urgent then. I acted on instinct for crucial steps. I can¡¯t estimate the ratios of the ingredients used. Recreating the potion is impossible. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°However, I did discover something else. Combining bear blood and ores, I made two potions, one for ignition and one for flame resistance.¡± Zhenjin nodded. After helping Zi Di process all the meat, he patted her shoulder and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s eat something.¡± They shared some dry rations, freshly made meat floss, and water. The water was warm. Though they didn¡¯t make a fire, they heated the water using ores. In such conditions, a sip of warm water offered the greatest comfort. As the warmth traveled down their throats and settled in their stomachs, it felt like a gentle embrace from within. There was plenty of food, but water was scarce. They both drank sparingly. After a few sips, Zhenjin asked, ¡°Tell me about yourself, Zi Di.¡± Zi Di nodded, ¡°My lord, I am indeed your fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°Then, which family do you belong to? Where is your family estate?¡± Zi Di bitterly smiled, ¡°My lord, you overestimate me. I am not a noble, just a merchant from a family of traders.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhenjin raised an eyebrow, surprised by her answer. Nobles typically married within their own class. Some nobles married even among close relatives to maintain pure bloodlines. ¡°So, have you awakened an upper-class bloodline?¡± Zhenjin asked. It¡¯s possible. Nobles often had mistresses and many illegitimate children. Genealogy alone could not confirm true bloodlines. History records lower nobles with strong upper-class bloodlines, or commoners suddenly exhibiting great potential, tracing back to some upper noble ancestor. Such individuals with strong bloodlines were often recruited into noble families. But Zi Di shook her head again, showing slight bitterness, ¡°Sorry for disappointing you, my lord. My bloodline is ordinary. Reaching Black Iron level used up nearly all my potential.¡± ¡°I am not a noble, nor do I have noble ancestors. My father was the previous chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. Now, I lead the guild.¡± ¡°Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce? That sounds familiar¡­ Wait, could it be that?¡± Chapter 13 - 13: Section 14: Alliance of Interests Chapter 13: Section 14: Alliance of Interests Editor: Henyee Translations Information about the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce was retained in Zhenjin¡¯s common knowledge. On the Holy Bright Continent of the Human Race, there were six major guilds. These six guilds had a long history, each was a colossus, backed by powerful nobility, with businesses spanning mountains, forests, lakes, seas, and deserts. Below these six guilds, there was another guild that had rapidly risen in the past century, quickly becoming second only to the six major guilds and leaving other guilds far behind, creating a commercial miracle. This guild was the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce absorbed a massive number of small to medium-sized guilds, individual shops, and solitary merchants, gaining immense scale and influence in the mid to lower-level markets. ... However, lacking protection from the upper echelons, the great nobles of the Holy Bright Empire coveted the guild¡¯s profits and chose to strike. The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce suffered suppression, the chairman fell off his horse and ¡°accidentally¡± died, and now the guild had been torn apart and divided among the great nobles. ¡°After my father had an accident, I was the only daughter. I didn¡¯t want to give up! If I let the hard work of my father, grandfather, and ancestors be destroyed, I would be incredibly unfilial. Many elders of the merchant guild also refused to surrender and rallied around me.¡± ¡°However, no matter how much wealth we had, it couldn¡¯t stand against power. My father¡¯s death made me realize that we had to get involved in the Empire¡¯s power structure. The more wealth and larger scale we accumulated through our previous development model, the more we would face a dead end.¡± ¡°I meticulously selected cooperation partners for the merchant guild, and eventually, we hit it off with you, my lord.¡± A flash of lightning seemed to cross Zhenjin¡¯s mind, and he instantly understood the causes and effects. Although he had only a few memory fragments, Zhenjin knew that the Hundred Needle Family was a southern noble family. The Holy Emperor was a man of great talent and strategy, he unified the entire human continent and named it the Holy Bright Continent. The final stage of conquering the entire continent was annexing the extreme south of the continent. The decisive battle was the annihilation battle of the Cold Pine Knights. The conquering army of the Holy Bright Empire was stuck in the terrain of high mountains and ridges, and their conquest of the southern part of the continent reached a stalemate. The southern nobles, who had initially surrendered, saw hope in the stalemate and secretly contacted the rebelling southern nobles, forming an alliance. The Fifth Legion of the Holy Temple Knights withdrew from the front line to rest, and the southern nobles who had surrendered sent the Cold Pine Knights to ambush them. The Cold Pine Knights were the top legion of the southern noble alliance, they annihilated the Fifth Legion of the Holy Temple Knights but were defeated by the following Holy Temple Knights reinforcements. The Cold Pine Knights were routed, and the southern nobles quickly dispatched reinforcements, which created a huge rift in their supposedly impregnable defensive line. The Empire¡¯s forces responded extremely quickly, the frontline legions mobilized together, launched a total assault, and utterly broke the southern nobles¡¯ defensive line. The southern nobles suffered a disastrous defeat, losing the ability to resist the Holy Bright Empire¡¯s army, leading to either death or surrender. Those southern nobles who initially surrendered but later rebelled also faced severe purges. The Hundred Needle Family was one of these nobles. At that time, a significant portion of the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s members were part of the Cold Pine Knights. Although the Hundred Needle Family survived the purge, their lands, wealth, and military forces were greatly reduced. In the following period, they suffered suppression and exclusion from various quarters of the Empire¡¯s nobility. Naturally unwilling to fall into decline, the Hundred Needle Family rallied other families in similar situations to form an alliance and actively studied the Empire¡¯s upper echelons. Sending Zhenjin into the Holy Temple Knights was one of these efforts. The Holy Temple Knights were the ace legion of the Holy Bright Empire, directly under the Holy Emperor, the most trusted military force of the Emperor. Every Holy Temple Knight pledged faith to the Holy Emperor, devoting even their faith naturally ensured absolute loyalty, which made the Holy Temple Knights the most trusted by the Holy Emperor. Generally speaking, the great nobles in power within the Empire rarely, if ever, sent their children into the Holy Temple Knights. Consigning faith was like raising a backstabbing wolf within the family. Nobles prioritized benefits above all, and most of the time, family interests surpassed everything. Medium and small nobles, court nobles, and a few great nobles who were dependent on the Emperor¡¯s faction would selectively send their children into the Holy Temple Knights. Zhenjin, as the only heir of the Hundred Needle Family, joining the Holy Temple Knights was the family¡¯s most sincere display of loyalty to the Holy Emperor. This diplomatic gesture successfully alleviated the external pressures on the Hundred Needle Family. However, suppression and exclusion within the Holy Temple Knights was inevitable, natural, and rightful. After all, the Cold Pine Knights nearly wiped out the Fifth Legion of the Holy Temple Knights, and who among the nobles didn¡¯t have familial connections? As a Holy Temple Knight, Zhenjin harbored deep grudges against his peers. ¡°Sending the heir into the Holy Temple Knights is indeed a wise move. Fully leaning toward the Holy Emperor¡¯s political faction aligns with the family¡¯s greatest interests,¡± Zhenjin recalled his father, the middle-aged noble with the slender mustache, who clearly had the wisdom and decisiveness of a clan leader. ¡°As the only heir of the Hundred Needle Family, joining the Holy Temple and facing exclusion and suppression was within my expectations, which I chose to endure at the time.¡± Zhenjin recalled the second memory fragment. In the memory, Qing Kui was clearly picking a fight and deliberately making things difficult. His motives were understandable; it¡¯s very likely one of his relatives perished in the Fifth Legion. As for Zhenjin¡¯s actions, they too could be judged. Although Zhenjin had exceptional talent, he avoided drawing attention to himself, choosing to hide his abilities and focus on cultivation. Keeping a low profile was to avoid suppression by political opponents and even preemptive elimination. By becoming a Holy Temple Knight, he sought to find allies within the Emperor¡¯s faction rather than make enemies everywhere. As the future leader of the family, his purpose here was diplomatic. There was never a shortage of opportunities to forge friendships in the army. Facing immense external pressure, Holy Temple Knights were forced to believe in and rely on one another. Such life-and-death experiences greatly mitigated past animosities. In this way, the Hundred Needle Family escaped their political predicament, becoming part of the Emperor¡¯s camp. However, the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s achievements only allowed them to barely gain a foothold, leaving the noble family still quite destitute. How could they expand their territory, increase their wealth, and enhance the family¡¯s strength? The human continent was already unified by the Holy Emperor, and peace prevailed with few opportunities left. Therefore, the large-scale attack on the Beast Race Continent by the humans became the best opportunity for many nobles to expand their family¡¯s territory and establish military achievements. White Sand City was the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s opportunity, hence Zhenjin came to compete for the position of City Lord this time. From Zi Di¡¯s perspective. The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce was carved up by the great nobles, with the chairman dying as a result. Elders who could have bent the knee had long surrendered to these great nobles. The guild elders united around Zi Di were naturally opposed to these great nobles. In this situation, Zi Di could only rely on members of the Emperor¡¯s political faction. Among these members, the powerful ones looked down on the remnants of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps a complete Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce might have intrigued them, but now the guild was already in pieces. The moderately powerful ones also had concerns. Zi Di¡¯s faction represented the essence of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. Hastily accepting them would mean opposing the powerful great nobles of the Empire. The gains and risks needed careful consideration. The weak members, like some court nobles, had no territories at all and couldn¡¯t even place the guild members. Meanwhile, as the new leader of the guild, Zi Di also had her considerations. She would avoid choosing a strong noble to submit to; after all, she was only a Black Iron mage, and too strong a noble might annex the remnants of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce in future collaborations. After careful selection, Zi Di set her sights on the Hundred Needle Family. The current clan leader of the Hundred Needle Family was a Golden Level expert but had suffered severe injuries, missing his right arm. The Hundred Needle Family was once a great southern noble with a long history. After being forced to submit to the Empire, they faced exclusion and suppression, barely gaining a foothold now and eagerly seeking expansion and development. Their territory had been stripped, the current land lacked resources, and was encircled by hostile territories. Thus, the Hundred Needle Family needed the channels of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce far more than other families. Most importantly, the Hundred Needle Family was willing to pay the price, even promising the future family heir¡¯s marriage. After signing the agreement, they held an engagement ceremony, spreading the news widely. All these circumstances wondrously forged the engagement between Zhenjin and Zi Di, this young couple. They each had their predicaments and needed each other intensely; it was not only their wish but also the will of the forces behind them. Otherwise, how could a noble like Zhenjin become engaged to a girl with lowly bloodline? ¡°The Hundred Needle Family could send its only heir first to the Holy Temple and now to the front line in White Sand City, bearing the great risk of the heir dying in battle. This is a gamble!¡± ¡°The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce is the same. Neither side has any retreat.¡± ¡°No wonder Zi Di has always stayed committed to me!¡± Zhenjin had thousands of thoughts, finally understanding the complex hidden truths. Seeing the girl in front of him again, Zhenjin felt even closer to her. Zhenjin did not despise alliances of interest; rather, he acknowledged them. Alliances of interest were usually more reliable than those of affection. Moreover, affection could be cultivated. With the bond of marriage added, Zhenjin understood that Zi Di would surely become his most reliable ally in the future. Zi Di continued, ¡°We traveled by sea to enter the Beast Race Continent, aiming to compete for the position of City Lord in White Sand City. However, during the voyage, we inexplicably encountered a shipwreck and ended up on this island.¡± Zhenjin pondered, ¡°So, our current task is not only to survive and leave here but also to gather more followers. Zi Di, how many troops did I bring, and are there any reliable house servants?¡± Facing this question, Zi Di hesitated, which was rare. She deliberated before saying, ¡°My lord, you have the qualifications to compete for the City Lord of White Sand City and possess exceptional talent and strength. This time, we mainly brought the armed core of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce and hired two renowned mercenary groups.¡± Zhenjin was slightly stunned. He understood. He didn¡¯t have any house servants or troops, he was just a commander without soldiers. Reluctantly, he had to rely on the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce and even hired two mercenary groups. This situation was too embarrassing! As the only heir of a noble family, to risk his life on the front lines for a future position without a single loyal army! Compared to the hired mercenary group, the armed forces of the Purple Vine merchant team became Zhenjin¡¯s most loyal force. ¡°Has the Hundred Needle Family fallen to such a state? But having none at all is unreasonable,¡± the abnormal situation made Zhenjin frown. Zi Di explained, ¡°Indeed, there was a group of people dispatched by your family. But they were ambushed by bandits en route, and the entire force was annihilated. At the same time, there have been frequent signs of goblins and ogres around your family¡¯s territory.¡± ¡°We feared other competitors might arrive early in White Sand City and establish a preliminary advantage. So, we pretended to stay put but secretly disguised ourselves, secretly set off, and took the Pig Kiss out to sea.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s pupils slightly contracted, and he gave a cold snort, ¡°It seems the competition for the City Lord of White Sand City is intense.¡± The elite forces of a noble being annihilated mid-journey by so-called bandits. And the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s current border, which had long been an interior land, how could there be room for goblins and ogres to survive? Realizing something, Zhenjin asked, ¡°Who are my competitors for the City Lord position? Are they traveling on the same ship as us?¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°There are two others in total, both are your colleagues. They didn¡¯t travel on the same ship as us.¡± Zhenjin didn¡¯t speak. He was contemplating. This answer meant they didn¡¯t have to face hostile formidable competitors on this island. But simultaneously, the shipwreck could be the work of these competitors. Zi Di immediately said, ¡°However, my lord. Traveling with us is a Holy Temple priest named Jia Sha. He is the evaluator for this City Lord competition. If we can find him and help him, it would be the best outcome.¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Jia Sha?¡± Zhenjin slightly raised his eyebrows, thoughtful. Chapter 14 - 14: Section 15: Geomorphological Mutation Chapter 14: Section 15: Geomorphological Mutation Editor: Henyee Translations A few days later, at dawn, birds were chirping. The weather was clear, and sunlight seeped through the gaps in the leaves, piercing the faint mist that spread through the forest, scattering on the ground. The young man and woman stood shoulder to shoulder, looking at the cave, with complex emotions on their faces. The boy had blond hair, fair skin, a sturdy build, and wore chainmail. He looked alert and spirited. The girl, on the other hand, was shrouded in a purple-hooded robe. Some black curls spilled out from under the hood. She had wheat-colored skin, a delicate face, and a pair of particularly captivating purple eyes that shimmered like gemstones. ... They were, indeed, Zhenjin and Zi Di. A few days ago, they had escaped here while being chased by the Fire Poison Bee Swarm. After a life-or-death struggle, they miraculously survived. They then healed and rested in the cave, which became a temporary safe campsite allowing them to catch their breath. However, although the cave was warm, it was ultimately not a home. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Zhenjin said, taking one last look at the cave before turning and heading into the woods. Zi Di followed closely behind. Unlike their previous escape to this place, both of them now carried large packs on their backs. These packs contained large amounts of beast bones, meat floss, and ore. In addition, there were several long spears and short spears. Zhenjin¡¯s original longsword had been lost by the campfire. His only dagger was broken against the sharp skull of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear during their fight. So, in the past few days, Zi Di and Zhenjin worked together to create some long spears and short spears. The long spears were about 1.8 meters, while the short spears were around 1.5 meters. The long spears were for hand-to-hand combat, while the short spears were for throwing. The spear shafts were made from nearby wood that was similar to ironwood, as hard as iron. It was difficult for Zhenjin to carve these war spears alone; Zi Di¡¯s Corrosive Potion played a significant role. Compared to real iron-made swords and spears, these war spears lacked value. They were neither as strong nor as sharp as real swords. But they had no choice. Zhenjin was in serious need of weapons, with only one intact dagger, which he gave to Zi Di. Before setting off, Zi Di wanted to give the small dagger to Zhenjin, but he refused. Zi Di¡¯s small dagger was special and used for handling materials she needed for making potions. Additionally, in a deep crisis, Zi Di could draw it for self-defense. In the wilderness, despite Zhenjin¡¯s intentions, he couldn¡¯t fully protect her, so Zi Di needed some self-defense ability. Moreover, the small dagger was of little help to Zhenjin. Speaking of which, the claws of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear could actually be used as weapons. But strangely, after the bear died, its claws quickly crumbled into a carbon-like ash. Not only were they short on weapons, but also on armor. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di wore an apprentice robe, which had only weak Magic Defense abilities, making her quite vulnerable to the bites and collisions of wild beasts. Zhenjin had discarded his pair of armguards after the fight with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. They provided their last bit of defense. Without them, his forearms might have been crushed. In short, the armguards were severely deformed, one almost completely split apart, and could only be reforged. Zhenjin also lacked a helmet, and his chainmail was his only solace. Zhenjin took the lead, scouting the way ahead. Zi Di brought up the rear. They gradually entered the forest. Their first goal was to return to the campfire site where the Fire Poison Bee Swarm had attacked them. This had been carefully thought out. Zhenjin¡¯s longsword was lost there. Though it was awkward to use, it still had irreplaceable value. More importantly, only by returning to the campfire could Zi Di regain the path she had used to lead her guards during exploration and rescue missions. That path had several temporary camps, each with some supplies. Thanks to Zhenjin and Zi Di¡¯s efforts to store up supplies, they had plenty of food but little water. During their journey since Zhenjin woke up, they only found a few water bags. They had no chance to obtain more drinkable water. Though they crossed rivers, the rivers hid terrifying Python Vine, making it too risky to fetch water. Nearby the cave, water sources were even scarcer. The dwindling water in their bags was one of the main reasons pushing the young man and woman to leave the cave. Tall trees stood straight and tall. Zi Di found that the deeper they went into the forest, the taller and thicker the trees became. Some even reached 50 or 60 meters, towering into the sky. Here, the sunlight didn¡¯t beam down in pillars; it diffused through the thick white fog in the forest. The mist was filled with the fresh scent of vegetation, and birds flew among the treetops. Occasionally, woodpeckers could be seen, perched on tree trunks at least three meters above the ground. The sound of their pecking made the forest seem even more serene. Before long, they were deep in the forest, surrounded by nothing but trees. Zhenjin and Zi Di stopped and began marking their path. Zi Di carved marks into the tree trunks near the ground with her dagger. Zhenjin took out a piece of hide and used charcoal to draw a map. This was to prevent getting lost. It was very easy to get lost in the forest, as all the trees looked similar. Elves had extraordinary talent in this regard, and it was said that no young elf ever got lost in the forest. To elves, the forest was like home. The consequences of getting lost were severe; the wild was unfriendly to humans, and often getting lost in the forest was the beginning of death. Zhenjin carefully put away the hide and charcoal. This was his fourteenth time drawing a map. A small black spot marked the center of the hide, roughly sketched. As Zhenjin resumed his journey, a look of hesitation appeared on his face. After all this time, he should have found traces of his fleeing path with Zi Di. But there were none. The surrounding environment was full of natural energy, without any trace of their passage. Zhenjin kept recalling the night when he held Zi Di and ran frantically through the forest. Although the situation was urgent and he didn¡¯t pay much attention, it hadn¡¯t taken long for him to find the cave. Based on the time and speed, he hadn¡¯t run far; the campfire site should have been nearby. ¡°Let¡¯s go this way,¡± Zhenjin said, leading the way. He chose to go left. His strategy was cautious and conservative, searching in a circle around the cave to avoid missing any clues. By noon, the sunlight grew hotter, and the mist in the forest began to dissipate. The visibility improved significantly, but the boy¡¯s face turned increasingly grim. He checked his map, marking their progress as they moved through the forest. The map now showed a large circle around the cave. Despite the thorough search, they still found no trace! ¡°This place is very strange!¡± Zi Di said, puzzled. ¡°This forest is too vast.¡± Previously, they had moved through a rainforest, where the air was humid and stuffy, with low shrubs covering the forest floor, and countless vines entangled densely. Now, this was a forest. Although both had trees, these trees were straight, with few vines, and fewer shrubs and ferns than the rainforest. Zhenjin also noticed this. He initially thought the forest was small, created by the nearby peculiar hot mineral veins different from the surrounding terrain. But now, this forest was vast, far beyond their estimation. According to their course, the island¡¯s terrain should be mainly rainforest. Also, Zhenjin remembered clearly that during the earlier part of their escape that night, they had been surrounded by dense rainforest. The beast, presumably a Black Panther, had attacked them from a tree that was distinctly rainforest-like. Soon after, Zi Di discovered the cave and alerted him. ¡°When I spotted the cave, I immediately changed direction. By then, we were likely transitioning from rainforest to forest,¡± Zhenjin affirmed his memory. He had cross-checked his recollection with Zi Di¡¯s. According to memory, the forest was just a small section, surrounded by a huge rainforest. But after a morning of exploration, the enigmatic reality lay before them, leaving them baffled. ¡°It seems this island is full of mysteries! Not only are there all sorts of exotic beasts, but also the plants are dangerous, and the terrain might even change strangely,¡± Zi Di said just as a black shadow swooped from the high treetops. The shadow was slender, incredibly fast, slicing through the air with a whoosh. But Zhenjin was faster. In an instant, he thrust his long spear! The shadow¡¯s momentum halted abruptly as its short, thick neck was pierced by the spear tip, hanging upon it. It was a peculiar bird. About the size of an adult¡¯s fist, it was covered in black feathers as hard as iron. These heavy feathers made it unable to fly but endowed it with powerful muscles. The bird usually hid in the foliage, leaping down upon spotting animals below, using its legs and wings to accelerate and cleverly utilizing gravity to pierce the animal¡¯s skull with its beak. After the animal died, it consumed the brain, blood, and eyes before moving on to the flesh. After several encounters, Zi Di named it the Ironfeather Bird. The Ironfeather Bird was almost impenetrable, except for a weakness at its neck below the head, where the feathers were most fine, and the defensive power weakest. At this moment, Zhenjin¡¯s spear tip had accurately pierced the Ironfeather Bird¡¯s neck. It was a fatal blow. Soon, the struggling bird became motionless. Zhenjin thrust the spear into the ground, pinning the bird¡¯s body in place. Zi Di stepped forward, taking out her dagger to dissect it. The iron feathers were very hard, making excellent materials. Additionally, she collected some of the bird¡¯s blood. The meat was of little value and could be discarded. While Zi Di harvested materials, Zhenjin stood guard with a short spear, ready for any other beast attacks. At their first encounter with the Ironfeather Bird, Zhenjin had been flustered. He initially swept the bird to the ground with his long spear. Though flightless, it could run fast. Zhenjin threw three short spears to slow it down before finally killing it with a thrust into its belly, which ruined the spear tip. Now, Zhenjin had grown more adept. He found the airborne bird most dangerous but also most vulnerable, exposing its neck. Armed with this knowledge, the Ironfeather Bird was no longer a threat and always added to their reserve. Besides the birds, there were many other dangers in the forest. Poisonous vipers often hid in fallen trees and decayed leaves. Even motionless plants could not be ignored. For instance, a seemingly innocuous moss had poisoned Zhenjin just by skin contact! Green spots appeared on his face, round and small, without any sensation. Zi Di noticed quickly and gave him a Detoxification Potion that only relieved but did not cure the poison. They had to quickly find the culprit moss, which Zi Di used to make a blend for the potion, finally cleansing the toxin from Zhenjin¡¯s body. These hidden dangers significantly slowed their exploration. As the sky dimmed, Zhenjin had to make a reluctant decision: ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the cave to rest.¡± Chapter 15 - 15: Section 16: I Want My Fighting Energy Chapter 15: Section 16: I Want My Fighting Energy Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°¡±¡± Sleeping overnight in the forest was evidently riskier than in the cave. Although returning to the cave required additional walking, the benefits far outweighed the effort, and Zi Di also approved of this suggestion. Thus, at dusk on the day of departure, the boy and girl returned to the cave once more. The cave was quite warm, and they still didn¡¯t make a fire. ... They drank a little water and ate a large amount of meat floss. The water supply was running increasingly low, and since water is essential for survival, both the boy and the girl tried to conserve it as much as possible. However, there was plenty of meat floss, so they didn¡¯t need to worry too much about it. Both of them tried to avoid being in a state of hunger. Hunger carried risks; if one stayed hungry for a long time, it would lead to a lack of physical strength. Lack of physical strength would put one in a deadly predicament on this perilous island. The two remained silent in the cave, quietly eating. Gazing at the familiar cave walls, Zhenjin smiled bitterly to himself. After his recent conversation with Zi Di, he had come to understand his situation more clearly, realizing that he had even more tasks to accomplish. Initially, he thought it would suffice just to escape this strange island alive. Later, he realized that merely escaping, or even escaping with Zi Di, would still mean failure. He needed to compete for the position of White Sand City Lord, revitalize his family, and cooperate with Zi Di to maintain the remnants of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. Therefore, he needed to gather as many remaining people as possible on this island and save them for his own use. Among them, there was a crucial person ¨C Jia Sha. If Jia Sha still survived, he should lend a helping hand to deepen goodwill. In short, he needed subordinates. Without subordinates to help, relying on just himself and Zi Di would make them isolated loners, and they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance of controlling a city like White Sand City. So, in the morning, the boy harbored many grand plans and long-term schemes in his heart. He hadn¡¯t expected the day¡¯s exploration to end like this. There was no noteworthy progress, and they returned to the starting point in defeat. Reality was always harsh. After finishing their supper, they began to organize their equipment. The war spear had been used multiple times and required considerable repairs. This crude equipment needed timely maintenance; otherwise, its power would be greatly reduced. In fact, even swords and knives needed frequent sharpening and maintenance. Of course, wooden war spears required even more frequent repair than blades, and their usage period was also shorter. Zhenjin first used the potions handed over by Zi Di to soften the war spear to a certain extent, then used the only dagger to sharpen the spearhead. He multitasked, repairing the war spear while reflecting on his experiences during the day. ¡°My strength has improved,¡± Zhenjin thought about the times he had killed Iron Feather Birds. At that time, he felt very adept, and looking back now, he realized he was even more skillful. These performances would have been unthinkable in the past, yet now he had actually achieved them. ¡°Is it because I¡¯ve recovered my memory and mastered the Hundred Needle Wind combat skill?¡± After recovering his memory, Zhenjin found he had a penchant for stabbing techniques, and they were very convenient and handy to use. This was different from the time he fought the Fire Poison Bee Swarm when his memory had just resurfaced, and he purely acted on instinct. Over the past few days, he had practiced the Hundred Needle Wind combat skill many times in the cave and had become very proficient in its use. Not only had his speed increased, but more importantly, every stab was stable. Of course, equipment was also crucial. The first time he used a longsword, although the blade was sharp, it was awkward and even painful to wield. In contrast, the war spear allowed him to better utilize the Hundred Needle Wind combat skill. The war spear was lighter than the longsword, and its sharp tip closely resembled a stabbing sword. ¡°But to fully unleash the power of the Hundred Needle Wind combat skill, I still need to use fighting energy,¡± Zhenjin faced an old problem upon reaching this thought. ¡°When will I be able to use fighting energy?¡± Zhenjin was unsure about the answer to this question. Fighting energy. Fighting energy! This was critical. Without fighting energy, relying solely on flesh and blood, Zhenjin didn¡¯t have a shell, claws, or sharp teeth, making it hard to contend with a Black Iron Level Magic Beast. And if there were many Bronze Level Magic Beasts, he could only run. The use of fighting energy would greatly enhance Zhenjin¡¯s combat abilities, allowing him to easily surpass Black Iron Level Magic Beasts. The improvements to defense, jumping, and other abilities brought by fighting energy would significantly aid in facing survival challenges, substantially increasing their chances of survival on this island. However, Zhenjin¡¯s current situation was a bit awkward. He had memory issues, and it seemed that only by waiting for the memories related to fighting energy to resurface could he utilize the fighting energy stored within himself. Previously, he hoped he could instinctively trigger fighting energy in life-or-death situations. But the battle with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear made him realize this was a vain hope. Zhenjin didn¡¯t even know whether his true cultivation level was silver or gold. Furthermore, even if related memories surfaced, the unique environment he was in was a significant factor. This island banned low-level extraordinary powers. Zi Di¡¯s Black Iron level magic couldn¡¯t be used, and low-level Magic Tools were also ineffective. Even the effects of high-level Magic Tools were significantly reduced. From the guards, Zi Di also learned that Bronze Level and Black Iron Level fighting energy were similarly restricted by the environment. Even if Zhenjin could recall his fighting energy, would silver (or perhaps gold) level fighting energy work in such an environment? That was definitely a problem. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but shake his head slightly, as if trying to shake off his worries about this matter. ¡°Thinking too much is pointless and will only add to my frustrations.¡± ¡°At least now, even without fighting energy, I can still barely win against the Fire Poison Bee Swarm.¡± After carefully evaluating both sides¡¯ strengths, Zhenjin came to this conclusion, feeling somewhat comforted. In fact, back then, he was very close to successfully fending off the Fire Poison Bee Swarm by the bonfire, only to be chased by the last remaining small group of Fire Poison Bees. Now, Zhenjin¡¯s strength had indeed increased, and the chances of defeating the original Fire Poison Bee Swarm were much higher. However, the current situation was far more complex than dealing with the Fire Poison Bee Swarm back then. This island was too bizarre, with the prohibition of fighting energy and magic leaving the boy and girl constrained. The constantly changing landscape added to the mystery. If possible, Zhenjin would rather face the Fire Poison Bee Swarm than the vast, natural environment he faced now. It left him with no starting point. Thud, thud, thud. Zi Di continued to pound the bottom of a hemispherical pit with a rod-shaped stone. In the pit she had dug, there were materials she had collected during the day. Most of them were leaves, with a few roots. They had been shredded as finely as possible, then mashed by the stone into a mushy paste. Next, the girl took out a bottle of medicine powder from a small pouch at her waist. She carefully poured out just a little bit of the medicine powder. Just a small amount of the powder, when it touched the mush at the bottom of the pit, caused the latter to quickly dissolve into a sticky, dark red liquid. The girl immediately used a branch to stir it continuously. After stirring for a while, she stopped and quietly observed. When the upper layer of the liquid began to solidify, she peeled off the hard crust with the branch, revealing the liquid underneath, and continued to stir. Each time she peeled off the crust, the revealed lower layer of liquid would be brighter in color and clearer. She would switch to a clean branch each time she stirred. After peeling off layer after layer of the hardened crust, the final liquid was no longer dark red but had turned into a translucent pink. Reaching this stage, Zi Di seemed relieved and no longer peeled off the gradually hardening surface, letting the entire liquid solidify instead. By the next day, the bright pink liquid in the pit had completely dried up. Zi Di thoroughly crushed this pink solid into fine pink powder. She used large leaves to separate the powder, then wrapped it into delicate little medicine pouches. She handed some of these little pouches to Zhenjin and explained, ¡°This powder can leave marks; the bright pink will be very noticeable in the forest. Whether sprinkled on tree trunks or stones, it will stay for a long time. Even heavy rain won¡¯t wash it away for several days.¡± Undoubtedly, this was a good thing. Although magic was prohibited here, these potions utilized purely physical properties. Zi Di¡¯s potion-making skills had not yet reached a master level, but the ingenuity of these potions garnered Zhenjin¡¯s admiration. After breakfast, they set off again. They had gotten plenty of rest overnight, and their physical strength and spirits were fully restored. They now had dry powder to make marking easier. The war spear had also been replenished. While the total number hadn¡¯t increased, the balance had been adjusted. There were more long spears, and fewer short spears. Initially, the boy and girl thought that walking in the rainforest would make long spears cumbersome. But after the terrain had changed, the forest was relatively open, with tall, straight trees and branches that didn¡¯t interfere as much as expected. During their exploration, long spears proved more useful. For instance, Zhenjin used a long spear to scare away snakes; its length allowed him more reaction time, even if a startled venomous snake retaliated. Additionally, they had discussed the marks on the beast skin map in the middle of the night. On their second departure, they changed their previous strategy, no longer searching around the cave but heading in one specific direction. They chose the direction that seemed like the way they came. This was their best guess based on the stars at night. They weren¡¯t sure, but to them, this direction seemed the most likely. ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 16 - 16: Section 17: Someone is asking for help Chapter 16: Section 17: Someone is asking for help Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°¡±¡± In choosing the direction, the boy and girl both did their best. Identifying direction by the stars was not their forte. Zi Di¡¯s true expertise was business, with potions and magic secondary. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin had basic knowledge but fragmented memories; he discovered his talent lay in fighting. ... They were both aiming for the position of White Sand City Lord. Who could have foreseen a shipwreck? Who could have imagined ending up on such a perilous, monstrous island? They moved in a straight line most of the time, occasionally searching nearby to confirm their direction. Unlike yesterday, with a different exploration strategy, they quickly surpassed yesterday¡¯s range, reaching new territory. ¡°Be careful,¡± Zhenjin warned. Beside them was a steep cliff, with a large tree growing at its edge, still towering straight up. Only its roots were exposed, sprawling over the cliffside. At the bottom of the cliff, many trees grew, their canopies rising several meters above the cliff edge. Zi Di nodded, following Zhenjin, carefully avoiding the cliff. The cliff was very high, and falling would have severe consequences. Head injuries and fractures would be normal. In this forest, human fragility was truly beyond imagination. A simple twisted ankle could cost one¡¯s life. A twisted ankle would hinder movement, lead to an attack by a beast, and prevent escape¡ªa series of tragic consequences. Even for someone with Zhenjin¡¯s abilities, a slip could still cause great trouble. After all, he could not activate fighting energy. After moving away from the cliff, Zi Di glanced back with lingering fear. This kind of cliff terrain was easy to avoid during the day but not at night. It was too difficult. Human vision was greatly limited at night. Without the aid of fighting energy or magic, relying solely on eyes was almost like being blind. When you thought you were walking on flat, safe ground, you might part some obstructing branches and suddenly step into thin air, falling off a cliff! ¡°Fortunately, we didn¡¯t encounter this terrain while escaping,¡± Zi Di said with relief. ¡°Yeah,¡± Zhenjin agreed, feeling the same fear. If they had fallen off a cliff while being chased by the Fire Poison Bees that night, they would now be skeletons at the cliff¡¯s bottom. After moving away from the cave, the cliffs became more frequent. The terrain¡¯s undulations became more pronounced. This change wasn¡¯t entirely bad. Sometimes, the boy and girl would stand at the edge of a cliff¡ªwhere the view was more open¡ªand observe from a distance. Of course, this was occasional. Most of the time, even at the cliff edge, large trees with dense canopies and branches blocked the view. Trees everywhere. In such an environment, it was too easy to lose direction. Zhenjin kept marking the map, recording the route¡ªhe drew a straight line. But had they really walked a straight line? They couldn¡¯t be sure; in fact, they felt guilty. Without reference points, it was hard to ensure a straight path. So, they cherished every moment they could look out from an open cliff. Most people couldn¡¯t imagine this. In forest exploration, a simple distant view could bring joy and confidence to those deep within. This was also because Zhenjin wasn¡¯t good at climbing trees. Knights¡¯ training never included tree climbing. It wasn¡¯t surprising. Knights, mastering fighting energy, could easily jump onto protruding branches, not needing special tree climbing training. Knights never fought alone. They had mounts, squires, and battalions with auxiliary soldiers scouting ahead. Zhenjin tried climbing trees. After three meters, he gave up. He would have to reach at least ten meters high to see over the canopy. This height was risky. A fall would result in injury. He was a knight, one of the Holy Emperor¡¯s elite Holy Temple Knights, but he couldn¡¯t activate fighting energy. Without it, his body couldn¡¯t withstand such a fall. During tree climbing, any attack would find him and Zi Di vulnerable. Also, climbing tall straight trees was much harder than climbing rainforest trees with slanted branches and vines. Finally, he had to consider his physical strength. Climbing consumed too much energy. Overexertion led to sweating, hunger, and the need for lots of food and water. Their supplies were limited. Zhenjin took a high vantage point. ¡°Look there, that low depression,¡± Zhenjin said. They aimed for low areas. Such terrain likely had water. Water would help them replenish and might lead to a river, which could guide them out of the forest. Being an island, all water flowed to the sea. An ideal river would end in a beach or reef. After sprinkling some bright powder potion at the cliff edge, the boy and girl slightly changed direction. Soon, they reached the depression. They were disappointed; there was no river, not even water. The terrain was like a giant bowl, filled with trees. But as they were about to change direction, they stopped. A black panther unexpectedly appeared in their sight. Its body was covered with black scales, with a horn on its forehead. It was a Scale-Horned Black Panther! As they spotted the panther, it noticed them too. Instantly, both sides froze. The encounter was surprising to both. Zhenjin silently gripped his long spear, feeling tense. He wasn¡¯t afraid of one Scale-Horned Black Panther; he could easily injure it. But what about a group? Worse, what if it wasn¡¯t the group that had attacked the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, but a complete panther group? Although most Scale-Horned Black Panthers were only bronze-level, collectively they could hunt together, even daring to attack a Silver Magical Beast like the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. If Zhenjin faced the panther group¡¯s attack, protecting Zi Di would be difficult. At present, there was no good solution; everything depended on the situation. Both sides remained motionless, the air seeming to have solidified. Zi Di held her breath, feeling increasingly pressured, her face paling. After a brief standoff, the Scale-Horned Black Panther abruptly turned and fled. A surprising development! ¡°Follow it; it might lead the entire panther group here,¡± whispered Zi Di urgently. Zhenjin nodded, recalling the Fire Poison Bees driving away a panther, which then returned with reinforcements, leading to a battle with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. ¡°Follow me. If we¡ª¡± Zhenjin began, but Zi Di interrupted. ¡°Trust me, we have potions to mark and regroup!¡± Zi Di responded quickly. They had agreed on this method to avoid getting lost. Zhenjin sprinted off. Trees seemed to rush at him, but he deftly dodged them. Wind whooshed past his ears. Focusing entirely, Zhenjin tracked the panther while staying alert for sudden attacks. It was daytime, and Zhenjin had a clear view. He breathed heavily, his heart pumping blood, his muscles contracting forcefully, generating strong momentum. Zhenjin¡¯s speed increased, closing the gap with the panther. The Scale-Horned Black Panther wasn¡¯t fast. As they neared, Zhenjin noticed the panther was injured. ¡°Injured? Did it join the attack on the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear?¡± Zhenjin felt somewhat relieved. The panther group had suffered greatly; their leader was dead, and the survivors scattered. ¡°Still, be cautious!¡± ¡°What if this is to lure me in?¡± Remembering Zi Di¡¯s account of the cunning Blue Wolf repeatedly ambushing the exploration team, Zhenjin knew island beasts defied common reasoning. A lure tactic wouldn¡¯t surprise him. Unexpectedly, the fleeing Scale-Horned Black Panther stopped ahead. It whimpered, circled nervously, agitated. Zhenjin approached cautiously, the panther still anxious as if fearing something in the forest far more than Zhenjin. For a moment, the boy wore a grave expression. He delayed attacking the panther, instead, observing the surroundings. Soon, he noticed the forest was gloomier here. Trees remained tall but appeared decayed, with sickly green leaves. Fallen leaves thickened the ground, air filled with a chilling aura. Seeing no other beasts, Zhenjin refocused on the Scale-Horned Black Panther. He advanced slowly; as they closed in, the panther finally fled again. Zhenjin followed closely. Awhoo¡ª! Shortly after, the panther shrieked. White spider silk shot up, enveloping the panther. The web recoiled, suspending the panther mid-air. The more it struggled, the tighter the sticky silk bound it. Soon, the panther was almost entirely enmeshed. A pale blue spider descended from the canopy onto the web. The spider¡¯s body was as large as a millstone, its long, thin legs, at least two meters each. It moved on the web like gliding on ice, skillfully and smoothly. It started working, its legs weaving swiftly and elegantly. The damaged web swiftly mended under the spider¡¯s deft weaving. The panther¡¯s struggles slowed, its body tightly bound between trees about six or seven meters high. Watching the successful hunt, Zhenjin felt a chill. He retreated slowly, nerves on edge. He watched the weaving spider, mindful of his footing. Perhaps a web was nearby. Fortunately, the spider didn¡¯t attack him, returning to the canopy, disappearing. Zhenjin remained vigilant, strings strung tighter. He noticed more prey in the canopy. Carolled in white silk, shapes varied. Most were panther-like. Zhenjin guessed: Was this the resting place of the monkeys and Scale-Horned Black Panther, driven by the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear? He understood the fleeing panther feared the spider. Only one had escaped the ambush but was caught by Zhenjin. In addition to the panther shapes, he saw deer, foxes, rabbits, even tigers and rhinoceroses in the webs. Why rhinoceroses lived here baffled him. Witnessing this, Zhenjin¡¯s heart raced faster. Though seeing only one spider, many more were likely hidden in the canopy. A lone spider couldn¡¯t decimate the panther group, nor catch large prey like tigers and rhinoceroses. These spiders probably lived in groups. Zhenjin wasn¡¯t surprised by this behavioral change. As he prepared to leave, a faint voice called, ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Please, help me, save me.¡± Someone was pleading for Zhenjin¡¯s help! ¡°¡±¡± Chapter 17 - 17: Section 18: My Knights Creed Chapter 17: Section 18: My Knight¡¯s Creed Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Suddenly hearing a cry for help, Zhenjin¡¯s pupils contracted. ¡°Someone is trapped in a spider web.¡± ¡°He¡¯s still alive!¡± Zhenjin frowned. ¡°I am a knight, saving lives and helping the weak is one of my knightly creeds.¡± ... ¡°Stay calm,¡± the young knight warned himself immediately. He stopped his retreat, carefully observed, then changed direction, cautiously re-entering the spiders¡¯ hunting ground. He didn¡¯t step into any spider web traps. After adjusting his position, he looked up and discovered the spider web where the voice had called for help. The web was gently trembling, tightly wrapping the prey, which was clearly outlined as a human figure. On the person¡¯s face, the spider web was loosely wound, leaving gaps, making it barely possible to see. This unlucky fellow hung high in the air, with a broad view from above, and immediately saw Zhenjin, crying out for help. ¡°Please, help me!¡± ¡°If you leave, I¡¯ll be dead for sure!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you from the Pig Kiss too? We¡¯re from the same ship. Please, have a heart, don¡¯t go, don¡¯t abandon me¡­¡± Hearing this, Zhenjin¡¯s heart stirred slightly. He had learned a lot from Zi Di, and it was true their ship was the Pig Kiss. It seemed this trapped person must be a member of the Pig Kiss. Zhenjin did not act. Rushing to rescue might put him in danger, and it might even further endanger Zi Di. He stood still, gazing at the suspended man, while also keeping an eye on the spiders hidden in the treetops. He had to make sure this wasn¡¯t a trap! Zhenjin¡¯s muscles tensed, ready to react at the slightest movement. But the spiders made no move. After begging for a while without seeing any action from Zhenjin, the trapped person started to realize and continued to cry softly, ¡°Don¡¯t doubt me.¡± ¡°When those beasts fall into the spider web, they struggle desperately. The more they struggle, the more webs stick to their bodies, the tighter the spiders weave, and they eventually suffocate to death.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I fainted and then got wrapped up by the spider web, that¡¯s why I¡¯m still alive now.¡± ¡°Please, save me. I don¡¯t want to die¡­¡± At this point, the person pleaded in low sobs. Trapped in a spider web, unable to move, witnessing death closing in step by step, the fear was almost unbearable, nearly driving him mad. This genuine display of human fear made Zhenjin believe him a bit more. The fear of death was a part of every living being. Even though he was a knight, brave enough to face and fight a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear head-on, Zhenjin still had feelings of fear. Fear did not imply weakness. Facing fear constantly, was true bravery. ¡°Still no reaction? It seems these spiders don¡¯t hunt by sound,¡± Zhenjin speculated, deciding to take a slight risk. He called out softly, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your name?¡± The trapped person immediately became excited: ¡°My name is Huang Zao, sir, I am Huang Zao, a sailor from the Pig Kiss. Kind sir, benevolent sir, if you save me, I will repay your kindness with my life!¡± Most of Zhenjin¡¯s attention was still on the treetops. After speaking, the spiders remained still, easing some of his worries and confirming his previous guess. ¡°So, Huang Zao, how can I save you?¡± Zhenjin asked again. This question was critical; he needed to confirm Huang Zao¡¯s intentions and gather more information. So far, he still had doubts. Could these spiders be deliberately keeping their prey alive to lure in others from their group? Or were they just waiting for Zhenjin to bring more humans to rescue, setting a trap? Faced with Zhenjin¡¯s question, Huang Zao replied quickly, ¡°Sir, you mustn¡¯t act rashly! These spiders drop to the ground at night to lay webs. The webs are buried underground, and if stepped on, the trap will spring. The web will lift high, the spiders will weave, and the prey will be suspended in midair.¡± ¡°No matter how loudly I shout, no spider will move. But if I struggle and shake the webs above me, it will attract spiders to reweave the web. So, once I am freed, the spiders will definitely come.¡± ¡°Each of these spiders is a Bronze-level creature, incredibly powerful. There are at least a dozen spiders nearby!¡± ¡°Their pounce is as powerful as a horse¡¯s charge. I wasn¡¯t careful and got knocked into the air by a spider, hitting a tree trunk and blacking out immediately.¡± ¡°When I groggily opened my eyes, I was already suspended in midair, and the exploration team was utterly defeated. The survivors were fleeing, but these spiders also cooperate. They don¡¯t just lay webs on the ground; two or three can weave a larger web in the air together. They drop from above with the web and capture prey directly.¡± ¡°These webs are incredibly sticky. You need very sharp swords and skilled techniques to cut through them. My brother Lan Zao, the exploration team captain, is an expert swordsman. I saw with my own eyes that when his sword got entangled with the web, it significantly slowed down, and he couldn¡¯t cut through the web.¡± ¡°Use fire!¡± ¡°In the end, they used fire to burn the webs and escape. These spiders are quite afraid of fire. I wanted to call for help, but I was too groggy to shout or even keep my eyes open. I heard their shouts and then passed out again.¡± ¡°When I woke up, there was no firelight left, only me alone.¡± Zhenjin listened intently, analyzing the information. After a while, he asked again, ¡°Your name is Huang Zao, right? How many of you are there, why did you come here? Aside from your group, are there other survivors? When were you attacked?¡± Huang Zao did not hesitate and quickly replied, ¡°The Pig Kiss wrecked. That night, the waves were huge. We tried our best to control it, but the ship still broke in half. The front part of the ship crashed onto the rocks, and the survivors landed on the beach. Including our group, there were about a hundred people.¡± ¡°The captain went missing, the first officer took command.¡± ¡°This island is strange, low-level magic and fighting energy don¡¯t work.¡± ¡°We set up a temporary camp on the beach. The first officer assigned my brother and I, along with others, to explore the island for materials to build a new ship, food, and fresh water.¡± ¡°The jungle is full of dangers; we encountered many bizarre beasts. We lost many people in the exploration team with little to show for it. We couldn¡¯t hold on any longer and decided to head back.¡± ¡°On our way back, the terrain changed!¡± ¡°It was a rainforest, but somehow we ended up in a desert.¡± ¡°Many thought it was an illusion, but we couldn¡¯t escape it, and panic set in. Some even committed suicide. The team fell into chaos.¡± ¡°Food and water ran out quickly. I thought the entire team was doomed. Thankfully, an elderly scholar named Cang Xu, who once served a desert noble, joined our team. He found a way through the desert, found an oasis, and resupplied us with fresh water. We rested for several days there before moving on. Our luck turned, we reached the edge of the desert and finally entered this forest.¡± ¡°When we got here, we were ambushed by the spider horde. Most escaped, but five or six died. I heard my brother¡¯s call to retreat but he didn¡¯t realize I was missing, so he didn¡¯t come back for me. In fact, I was captured by the spiders, used as stored food, but I¡¯m still alive!¡± Huang Zao spoke with agitation. Zhenjin remained silent. Huang Zao calmed down and continued, ¡°I don¡¯t know how many days have passed. I have no idea how long I¡¯ve been unconscious. When I regained consciousness, three days and two nights had already passed.¡± ¡°For the sake of the Holy Emperor, save me, sir. We are from the same ship! You are my only hope. Please, I will repay your kindness with all my might!¡± Huang Zao pleaded again. ¡°There¡¯s actually a desert here?¡± Zhenjin was puzzled. ¡°Sir, I did not lie to you, absolutely not!¡± Huang Zao¡¯s voice rose, ¡°I know, I know, it sounds unbelievable, but it¡¯s true. We really entered the desert, then mysteriously came here.¡± Zhenjin nodded slightly, calming him, ¡°I will do my best to save you. But I can¡¯t do it alone. I need to go back and bring more people. Do you have any way to contact the others?¡± ¡°I have a whistle, its sound carries far, but it¡¯s in my pocket. Besides that, I know semaphore, standing in a high place, I can signal with flags,¡± Huang Zao quickly replied. Seeing Zhenjin¡¯s silence, he added, ¡°Code, right, I also have code! We discussed leaving codes along the way. Following the codes, you can find my brother¡¯s team!¡± Zhenjin looked at the sky. It was quickly darkening; dusk was approaching. ¡°Wait a moment, I will return,¡± Zhenjin turned and left. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ll wait for you. Please, don¡¯t forget me, don¡¯t abandon me! You are my only hope. I¡¯ll repay you!¡± Huang Zao¡¯s cries continued in the background. Zhenjin walked far away, and behind him, Huang Zao¡¯s calls didn¡¯t cease. His voice was hoarse, filled with fear and anxiety, yet heavy with hope. After all, Zhenjin was his only chance for survival. What to say? The young knight empathized. Life was so precious, so Zhenjin cherished it. Not long ago, he faced death before Fire Poison and the Brown Bear. In his cycles of unconsciousness and awakening, he too felt helpless, scared, worried, but also hopeful, sincerely repentant. Huang Zao¡¯s hope weighed heavily on Zhenjin¡¯s shoulders. How to save him? How to face so many spiders, at least a dozen Bronze-level beasts? Many questions stood before Zhenjin. He slightly shook his head, eyes determined, ¡°No matter what, I must reunite with Zi Di first.¡± Soon, the young knight successfully reunited with the girl. In fact, after separating, the girl had been chasing after Zhenjin. The Scale-Horned Black Panther wasn¡¯t fast, so the gap between them wasn¡¯t wide. ¡°No danger?¡± Zhenjin asked. ¡°No. Don¡¯t worry, I am not completely defenseless.¡± Zi Di nodded, then patted the small leather pouch at her waist with a proud expression. ¡°I found some new information,¡± Zhenjin briefly recounted what happened and asked for her opinion. Zi Di thought for a moment before responding, ¡°Sir, I suggest you save him.¡± Zhenjin was inclined to agree, but he wanted to hear Zi Di¡¯s true thoughts. So, he asked, ¡°Can you explain your reasoning?¡± Zi Di answered earnestly, ¡°Sir, according to what you said, he has a Bronze-level aura. At the Bronze level, one is already a lower-tier elite, usually serving as a sailor on a ship. Some can even become assault leaders. This person alone is worth recruiting. If you save him, he is very likely to serve you.¡± ¡°In addition, he has a brother. His brother Lan Zao is the exploration team captain, a higher position, proving greater strength. Winning over Huang Zao could also bring his brother Lan Zao, that¡¯s two Bronze-level elites. They would bring a group of followers, if those two join us, sir, you could gain many subordinates.¡± ¡°We need manpower. Even without considering future control over White Sand City, these people can increase our survival chances on this island. Sometimes, escaping a danger only requires running faster than your companion.¡± Saying this, Zi Di¡¯s eyes gleamed. Zhenjin nodded, ¡°Anything else?¡± Zi Di continued, ¡°We also need information. So, even if they don¡¯t join you, just communicating with them can expand our map and deepen our understanding of this island.¡± ¡°According to Huang Zao, the main group is building a rescue ship. This is our most reliable way off this island and to White Sand City. But even if we have a ship, we need a crew to sail it.¡± ¡°Navigating the open sea for months requires a captain, deputy officer, navigator, sailors, helmsman, ship carpenter, gunner, ship doctor, and lookout.¡± ¡°Rescuing these people can ensure our subsequent journey is safer and faster.¡± Zhenjin and Zi Di couldn¡¯t control a sea ship themselves. ¡°But saving him requires facing at least a dozen Bronze spiders¡­¡± Zhenjin pondered. ¡°Sir, I already have a plan,¡± Zi Di smiled, ¡°Trust me, if the cost outweighed the gain, I wouldn¡¯t propose this.¡± Zhenjin smiled, ¡°Haha, worthy of being the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce¡¯s current chairman!¡± The young knight looked at Zi Di admiringly, his expression turning serious. ¡°You¡¯re right. But you forgot the most important thing.¡± Zi Di stifled her smile, respectfully bowing her head, ¡°Please instruct me, sir.¡± ¡°I am a Holy Temple Knight, a knight of knights. Helping the weak, saving lives is my creed! Even in dire times, I will not abandon a companion,¡± his firm words echoed in the quiet woods. For a moment, Zi Di looked at the young knight, then smiled, ¡°I understand, sir.¡± ¡°` S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 18 - 18: Section 19: Do Not Overestimate Chapter 18: Section 19: Do Not Overestimate Editor: Henyee Translations With Zi Di in tow, Zhenjin returned to the spider¡¯s hunting ground. ¡°My lord, you¡¯re here! You really haven¡¯t given up on me, thank heavens!¡± Huang Zao¡¯s tone was full of surprise and gratitude. But soon, his mood dropped again, unable to hide his disappointment, he asked, ¡°My lord, just the two of you? Where are the others?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just the two of us,¡± Zhenjin spoke. ¡°M-my lord, are you confident?¡± Huang Zao stammered, his life at stake, he was very nervous. ¡°Maybe we should call for more people.¡± ... Zi Di snorted coldly, ¡°If there were more people, would they come to save you or to die? You must trust us now.¡± Huang Zao choked, finally squeezing out a sentence, ¡°My lord, you must be very careful!¡± Zi Di took out bottles of potions from her small leather pouch and handed them to Zhenjin. Zhenjin continuously tossed them, each potion arcing through the air, hitting tree trunks or rocks, shattering and spreading their contents rapidly. A strange, unpleasant smell filled the air, like a mixture of chicken feathers, dog feces, and dried squid being burnt. If magic could be used, with Light Body Skill or Flying Technique, rescuing Huang Zao who was suspended high in the air would be easy. In this current situation, Zhenjin and Zi Di were adopting a potion-based tactic. These were all flammable potions, accurately thrown by Zhenjin to key spots. After his injuries healed, Zhenjin discovered his strength had noticeably increased. Discussing with Zi Di, the latter thought, ¡°This might be the effect of the temporary mixed potion created with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s blood at that time.¡± This type of potion was not rare. The most well-known was the Strength Potion. After consuming it, the user¡¯s strength could be permanently enhanced. Of course, repeated consumption would greatly reduce the potion¡¯s effectiveness. Another possibility was that the life-and-death battle had partially awakened Zhenjin¡¯s bloodline. Nobles were one of the groups with the most excellent bloodlines in the world. This was why they had superior talents and abundant gifts. The Hundred Needle Family used to be a prominent noble family in the south, naturally their bloodline was excellent. It was rumored that their bloodline could be traced back to the Legendary Magic Beast, the Golden Needle Queen Bee. People with this bloodline were swift and steady, with excellent precision. This bloodline was not known for strength, but Zhenjin might have other hidden bloodlines. The most common bloodlines included the Dragon Bloodline, Giant Bloodline, Ogre Bloodline, and even Demon Bloodline. Due to the frequent intermarriage and extravagant, licentious lifestyle among nobles, bloodlines often mixed. Sometimes, a bloodline could remain hidden for a lifetime; hence, it was hard to determine how many bloodlines a person carried. Examples like Zhenjin, who awakened hidden bloodlines under life¡¯s extreme hardships, resurfacing their life potential, were not rare in the histories of various races. Another possibility was Zi Di¡¯s previous speculation. Zhenjin¡¯s true cultivation might not be Silver, but Golden Level. Silver Level reached the limit of human capability, while Golden cultivation exceeded this limit, resulting in extraordinary changes in speed, strength, and recovery. If Zhenjin was at Golden Level cultivation, he was likely not a veteran Golden Level expert considering his age. He must be in a growth phase. Thus, his increase in strength could be the result of Golden Level fighting energy constantly nourishing his body. Regardless of the reason, Zhenjin¡¯s increase in strength was a good thing. After almost depleting Zi Di¡¯s stock of flammable potions, Zhenjin brought out a Starfire Stone, producing a dazzling blue spark. The spark landed on the potions, and with a whoosh, a fierce flame sprang up. The flames quickly spread, igniting the flammable potions along the way, forming a blazing fire wall in the blink of an eye! The fire wall burned fiercely, starting to climb the surrounding trees, growing taller. From the high treetops came a series of squeaking sounds, and the eight-legged spiders began to stir. Huang Zao felt the air below becoming rapidly hot, his heart pounding, not expecting the young man and woman to create such a big spectacle. ¡°So this girl is a pharmacist. But how will they rescue me?¡± While Huang Zao was guessing, Zhenjin moved again. He took out a short spear from his back, with the tip coated in flammable potion. Holding the short spear, he slightly swayed the tip over the flame at his feet, igniting it effortlessly. The next moment, Zhenjin lightly swung back his arm and then threw it fiercely. The short spear arced beautifully through the air, accurately piercing into a prey. This was a leopard-like prey, already suffocated to death in the web. As soon as the short spear pierced it, the flames spread quickly, burning away the web. The leopard prey almost instantly fell to the ground. As Zhenjin expected, it was a Scale-Horned Black Panther. Due to the fish-scale-like armor on its body, the slight flames on the panther¡¯s body quickly extinguished. Short spear after short spear was thrown by Zhenjin, and prey after prey fell to the ground. Some continued burning, while the flames on some went out. ¡°Here they come,¡± Zi Di¡¯s heart trembled slightly when she saw a number of eight-legged spiders descending swiftly to the ground with silk, starting to re-web the fallen prey. Some prey engulfed in flames were doused by the spiders¡¯ oral spray of thick green liquid before re-webbing. Clearly, they were not entirely defenseless against fire. Soon, no new eight-legged spiders landed. A total of twenty-six Bronze level beasts appeared before the boy and girl. Most of the spiders were busy reclaiming their food reserves, only three leaped at Zhenjin and Zi Di. Zi Di secretly breathed a sigh of relief. These spiders were beasts after all, without the cunning and sinister nature of that Blue Fur Evil Wolf. This regained the girl¡¯s sense of superiority and confidence as a member of the Human Race. As the three spiders closed in, Zhenjin remained motionless. Waiting until they were at the ideal distance, Zhenjin calmly ignited the flammable potion at his left foot. A second fire wall surged up, trapping the three approaching spiders within. The spiders screamed in horror, attempting to shoot silk towards the treetops to escape. However, the silk burned when it reached the flames. As the fire wall spread, Zhenjin easily forced the three spiders into a desperate situation. With no other choice, the spiders attempted a breakthrough. They managed to burst through the fire wall, with some flames on their bodies. Squeaking frantically, they appeared terrified and panicked. The spiders trying to reclaim their prey were thrown into turmoil upon seeing their burning companions rush towards them. ¡°Now!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes gleamed brightly for a moment. He threw three burning short spears in quick succession, accurately hitting the silk above Huang Zao. The silk suspending him consisted of four strands, like four thick white ropes. The silk burned and snapped almost instantly. Suspended by only one strand now, Huang Zao lost stability, swinging in an arc before crashing into a tree trunk with a thud. Afterward, Zhenjin¡¯s fourth short spear flew out, burning the last strand of silk. Huang Zao let out a low cry, falling to the ground. Although it was painful, he was not injured. Because the extremely sticky silk had excellent elasticity, when he hit the tree trunk, the silk stretched, leaving him only two meters from the ground. Unfortunately, a spider, which had just successfully hoisted its prey, noticed the disturbance and rushed towards Huang Zao. Seeing this, Huang Zao, his eyes widening in shock, suddenly let out a low roar, and rolled into the fire wall. The flames quickly burned off the silk covering him, then began scorching his skin and hair. But at that moment, Huang Zao demonstrated the seafaring man¡¯s tenacity and ruthlessness, running silently through the fire wall until he emerged from another side. He successfully escaped the spider, but now faced the risk of being burned alive. ¡°Good!¡± Zi Di exclaimed, ¡°Come here!¡± Without needing her call, Huang Zao instinctively ran towards Zhenjin and Zi Di. They quickly closed the distance, and Zi Di raised her arm, scattering a bottle of potion. Blue powder sparkled as it fell on Huang Zao. Huang Zao let out a blood-curdling scream. The flames on him strangely subsided, and were suppressed by the blue powder. Huang Zao trembled all over. In such a short time, he was unrecognizable, his hair mostly burnt off, emitting thick smoke. His face and exposed hands and arms were charred black. He gasped, rushing past Zhenjin and Zi Di, ¡°Run, run! There¡¯s a big one!¡± As soon as he finished, a surge of intimidating beastly aura descended from the sky. Zhenjin and Zi Di turned pale. This was a Silver Level eight-legged spider leader. It was larger, with denser blue hair, and longer legs. It cut through the air with a sharp screech, attacking Zhenjin, Zi Di, and Huang Zao with astonishing speed. ¡°You go first!¡± At the critical moment, Zhenjin reacted first, glaring at Huang Zao, then stepping forward with a stern look. Swish, swish, swish. He rapidly threw one short spear after another. However, the spider leader was as swift as the wind, easily dodging all the spears. Soon, Zhenjin ran out of spears. He gritted his teeth, raised his long spear high, and charged at the spider leader. ¡°My lord!¡± Zi Di cried in alarm. ¡°Run, don¡¯t let us be a burden,¡± Huang Zao also shouted. But in their hesitation, they missed the golden opportunity. The spider leader suddenly shot three strands of silk, accurately hitting the three of them. Zhenjin¡¯s long spear and hands were bound by the silk, leaving him wrestling with the spider leader. Zi Di¡¯s cloak got caught in the silk. The girl, displaying the agility and flexibility of her young body, swiftly shrugged off the cloak and bent down to draw the dagger strapped to her leg. ¡°My lord, catch!¡± Zi Di was about to throw the dagger to Zhenjin when a mass of silk attacked. The silk rapidly expanded in the air, forming a fine web. The spider web hit Zi Di, covering her chest and waist, knocking her down and sticking her firmly to the ground. Conflicted by the impact, the dagger fell from her hand. Though she managed to throw the dagger, it landed close to Huang Zao instead of Zhenjin. Huang Zao¡¯s right foot was entangled in silk. Lying on the ground, he struggled desperately but couldn¡¯t match the spider leader¡¯s strength, being dragged closer. Huang Zao instinctively grabbed the dagger. He drew the dagger, wildly slashing it. After two missed swings, he finally cut through the silk. Huang Zao barely escaped the predicament and quickly retreated. ¡°Throw the dagger to my lord!¡± Zi Di screamed. ¡°No, no, I don¡¯t want to die! I don¡¯t want to die!!¡± Huang Zao seemingly didn¡¯t hear her, shouting manically, fleeing frantically. Unexpectedly, the spider leader did not pursue him, letting him disappear into the forest. ¡°Damn it!¡± Zi Di was both shocked and furious; at this critical moment, Huang Zao took the only cutting tool and ran away! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin and Zi Di had thought of every possible way to rescue him, only for him to betray them and choose to escape alone. Chapter 19 - 19: Section 20: Do Not Underestimate Chapter 19: Section 20: Do Not Underestimate Editor: Henyee Translations The flames blazed fiercely. In the scorching air, a giant tree slowly toppled over, crashing to the ground with a loud thud, igniting more chaos with the scattering sparks. The giant spider leader let out a sharp shriek, nearly tearing through human eardrums. This was its territory, its home, now burned to ashes. Everything in front of it made it extremely angry. Unlike ordinary spiders, it didn¡¯t fear fire, and its webs had evolved to the point where they were entirely fire-resistant. ... The culprits were right in front of it, and it intended to pour all its rage onto these two individuals! Zi Di was already trapped in the web, and she only had a Black Iron Aura, not worth worrying about. The only concern was Zhenjin. The aura of this youth¡ªthe giant spider leader was unsure about it. The giant spider leader focused all its killing intent on Zhenjin. It shot more and more webs towards Zhenjin. At first, only the long spear and the youth¡¯s hands were bound by the webs. Soon, layers of webs enveloped Zhenjin¡¯s entire body, even starting to cover his ears and nose. If at this moment someone could cut through the webs with a dagger, Zhenjin could escape this dilemma. But no one did! Huang Zao had the chance to throw the dagger over, but he didn¡¯t! Thus, Zhenjin found himself in a desperate situation. A sharp weapon was critical to break free at this moment. If only he had that longsword in his hand, facing such a situation would be easy. Even without a longsword, a scimitar would do. Definitely not a war spear. Zhenjin suddenly exerted force within the web. He hadn¡¯t given up yet! Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though his strength increased, it was far from reaching the limit the web could bear, unable to break free. The attempt left Zhenjin feeling somewhat hopeless. If he couldn¡¯t break free with full strength, there was almost no hope. Struggling aimlessly would only tighten the web, just like sinking into quicksand; a futile attempt would hasten death. Zhenjin remained still, his thoughts racing, trying to find a way out. Layers of webs wrapped around him, and to the giant spider leader, the seemingly resigned youth looked deceptively close. At the top of its hideous mouthparts, there were over a dozen eyes clustered together. All of the spider¡¯s eyes fixed on Zhenjin, its mouthparts moving slightly, making a chirping sound, as if mocking Zhenjin! It wanted to torment this youth thoroughly, impale him, drain his blood. Simultaneously, it would inject spider venom into Zhenjin¡¯s body, watching the poison corrode him from inside out until the youth decayed. Finally, it would consume every rotten piece, leaving nothing behind, filling its belly. This was the consequence of offending it! Zhenjin did not struggle, clenching his teeth, forced to stare into the giant spider leader¡¯s eyes. Face to face, only a few steps apart. The giant spider leader raised its two front limbs, sharp as spears or swords, effortlessly piercing through the web. Instantly, Zhenjin groaned, feeling the two limbs like daggers trying to stab into his back. His chainmail held up, resisting the two limbs. This obstruction further enraged the giant spider leader. It yanked the web violently, shortening the distance between it and Zhenjin, with only a hand¡¯s breadth between their eyes. ¡°Zzz!¡± The giant spider leader¡¯s mouthparts opened wide, emitting a strong, rancid stench onto Zhenjin¡¯s face. Simultaneously, a large amount of green viscous liquid, like saliva, flowed from its mouthparts. Zhenjin¡¯s eyes widened, almost thinking the giant spider leader was going to swallow his head in one bite! But the next moment, the giant spider leader slightly relaxed its strength, retracting its mouthparts, nodding and shaking its head at Zhenjin. Zhenjin saw mockery and cruelty in the spider¡¯s expression. His heart turned cold. He immediately understood: the spider in front of him simply wanted to terrify him, torment him, slowly cooking him, making him fully enjoy the pain. Listening to his screams and cries, watching him struggle, little by little, step into death! The pressure on his chainmail increased, finally reaching its limit. The chainmail gave way, and the spider¡¯s sharp limb pierced through. One of the limbs smoothly entered Zhenjin¡¯s flesh. The youth felt a coldness first, followed by a wave of pain. Besides the intense pain, there was a profound fear. Zhenjin could clearly feel the path of the two limbs. After piercing the outermost layer of flesh, one limb continued to deepen slowly, starting to threaten his vital organs, while the other hit an obstacle, meeting a rib. The giant spider leader exerted continuous force. Zhenjin¡¯s rib barely delayed it, then snapped. ¡°Ah!¡± Pain surged, and Zhenjin let out a low growl, his handsome face contorting in an instant. The fire continued to burn, its light reflecting on Zhenjin¡¯s face, making him look devilish at this moment. The giant spider leader quietly enjoyed the scene, its eyes perfectly reflecting the youth¡¯s expression. But what disappointed the spider leader was it found no trace of fear or pleading in Zhenjin¡ªonly anger and hatred! The flames in Zhenjin¡¯s heart burned fiercer than the forest fire around him. ¡°Ah! Ah! Ah!¡± Under the spider leader¡¯s torment, he let out continuous low growls. His mind felt like it would explode, and a brand new memory suddenly emerged. The martial ring was surrounded by people. The duel in the arena was nearing its end. ¡°As expected of the once great southern noble!¡± A youth was cornered. He was wounded, with some injuries deep enough to show bone, looking extremely battered. He was the Holy Temple Knight Qing Kui. And his opponent was a middle-aged man with two long, slender mustaches, completely unharmed. He raised his head slightly, strolling leisurely towards Qing Kui. Zhenjin found himself among the onlookers, anxiously watching the two in the arena. His gaze mainly focused on the middle-aged man. For that man was his father, the clan leader of the Hundred Needle Family! Beside Zhenjin, there were many fellow Holy Temple Knights, faces he recognized. ¡°Qing Kui, if you can¡¯t go on, surrender!¡± ¡°Your opponent is too strong. You¡¯re still young. Losing is no disgrace.¡± ¡°Think about your sister, Qing Kui. Don¡¯t be stubborn.¡± The young Holy Temple Knights shouted. Qing Kui¡¯s sister was also outside the arena, pale-faced, trembling like a delicate flower in a storm. Qing Kui took a deep breath, wobbling as he stood straight, summoning all his strength to lift his longsword and face the Hundred Needle Clan Leader once more. ¡°Sigh!¡± A heavy sigh rose from the crowd. ¡°Qing Kui initiated this duel. Getting him to surrender is harder than turning a dragon around.¡± ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Even if Qing Kui surrenders, it depends on whether the Hundred Needle Leader will spare him.¡± ¡°Yes, Qing Kui¡¯s father and grandfather died in the battle, all perished at the hands of the Hundred Needle Family. The hatred between the two families is too deep.¡± Qing Kui screamed, charging uselessly again. The Hundred Needle Clan Leader easily dodged, his stabbing sword gently twisting, disarming Qing Kui. Clang. The longsword flew up, landing on the ground, its tip slicing into the marble behind Qing Kui. The disparity in strength was evident. Qing Kui¡¯s sister couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. She pleaded with the knight elder presiding over the duel: ¡°Uncle Squad Leader, I beg you, for the sake of our two families¡¯ many years of friendship, intervene and save my brother.¡± The knight elder was the squad leader of the Fifth Group of the Holy Temple Knights. He snorted coldly, his expression unhappy: ¡°This is a sacred duel between knights, fair and impartial, with no favoritism!¡± He looked at Qing Kui¡¯s sister, his gaze sharp: ¡°I tried to save your brother, but as a member of my Fifth Group, he didn¡¯t listen to me, insisting on challenging the Hundred Needle Clan Leader.¡± ¡°Hmph, how capable is he? How much power does he have? How much real combat experience? He hasn¡¯t even fully mastered the Qing Kui Family¡¯s signature combat skill, the Bronze Armor, yet dared to challenge the Hundred Needle Clan Leader.¡± ¡°Is this knightly courage and fortitude? It¡¯s a revenge-fueled folly, pure stupidity!¡± ¡°So, you saw. The Hundred Needle Clan Leader used a single combat skill, the Thousand Needle Fierce, to break your brother¡¯s Bronze Armor completely.¡± ¡°Thousand Needle Fierce is an advanced form of the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s signature combat skill, the Hundred Needle Wind, usable only by those with Gold cultivation. Hundreds of Imperial Knights have died under this move. Even I fell to this move once, stabbed through the heart by the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s stabbing sword!¡± ¡°Your brother Qing Kui forsook the Holy Temple Knights¡¯ creed, abandoned courage, defied endurance. This is his own doing!¡± ¡°As the current leader of the Qing Kui Family, he must bear the consequences of his recklessness. This is the price he must pay¡ªeven if it costs his life.¡± The squad leader¡¯s merciless words made Qing Kui¡¯s sister collapse, weeping in despair. The surrounding angry young knights fell silent under the squad leader¡¯s rebuke. But they clenched their teeth tighter, their fists even tighter. The Hundred Needle Clan Leader took a deep look at the squad leader and approached Qing Kui again. In an arrogant tone, he said, ¡°Qing Kui Leader, what ability do you have to resist? Do you still have any fighting energy left?¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll take your life with the next strike.¡± The Hundred Needle Clan Leader slowly raised the stabbing sword in his hand, the tip pointing straight up, almost touching his nose. ¡°This will be the last scene of your life. So, watch closely.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, using the Thousand Needle Fierce to kill you would be overpraising you. You¡¯re far worse than your father and grandfather. The Hundred Needle Wind is enough to bury you.¡± ¡°If you somehow survive this strike, what harm in sparing your life?¡± With that, the Hundred Needle Clan Leader¡¯s stabbing sword turned into a dazzling flurry of sword shadows. Qing Kui roared, waiting for this moment. The last of his fighting energy surged out, a flash of green light faintly forming a knight¡¯s charging long spear. Boom! The two clashed and passed each other. An arm flew through the air, blood splattering, falling outside the ring. The arm still held a stabbing sword. It was the Hundred Needle Clan Leader¡¯s sword-wielding arm! The crowd was stunned. Dead silence. Thump! Qing Kui collapsed, unconscious. The Hundred Needle Clan Leader clutched his nearly severed wound with his left hand, his face extremely grim. ¡°Fath, Father!¡± Zhenjin exclaimed, his voice trembling violently. The squad leader walked into the arena, standing between the Hundred Needle Clan Leader and Qing Kui, separating them. His brows furrowed deeply, glaring seriously at the dismembered noble: ¡°Hundred Needle Clan Leader, the words spoken in a duel are sacred vows. Your duel is over.¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s pupils contracted, staring intently at the unconscious Qing Kui, teeth clenched, letting the blood flow from his wound, his face full of shock and hatred. After a while, he nodded slowly, filled with a deep sense of gloom and reluctance, stumbling off the dueling platform. ¡°Father!¡± Zhenjin ran over, supporting the Hundred Needle Clan Leader. Cheers erupted around them, Qing Kui¡¯s sister wept with joy, young Holy Temple Knights raised their arms in celebration, many bystanders shouting in disbelief. The middle-aged man looked around, taking in the scene, his face returning to calm: ¡°My son, look at me. Tell me, what is our family¡¯s motto?¡± ¡°Do not overestimate others, nor underestimate them.¡± Zhenjin struggled to lift his head, his voice choked with emotion. ¡°Good, remember it, memorize it thoroughly!¡± The Hundred Needle Clan Leader gritted his teeth, speaking harshly. Chapter 20 - 20: Section 21: Mutation of Both Hands Chapter 20: Section 21: Mutation of Both Hands Editor: Henyee Translations Memories dissipated, but the anger still filled Zhenjin¡¯s chest. Zhenjin felt like he was about to burst from this emotion! ¡°Aaaaah!¡± He let out a terrifying roar. ¡°I can¡¯t die.¡± ¡°How can I fall here?!¡± ... ¡°I still have to protect my fianc¨¦e, I must leave here alive, then take control of White Sand City, and ultimately revive the Hundred Needle Family!¡± ¡°My knightly path¡­ my knightly path, how can it end here?¡± The young man roared in his heart. At this moment, it seemed as though the blood in his entire body was boiling. His blood rushed rapidly, like a surging river turning into a waterfall, all crashing into his hands. Mutation occurred at this moment! The young man¡¯s hands swelled rapidly, becoming thick and large. His ten fingers extended continuously, the fingernails turning pitch black, transforming into iron-hard claws. The claws were extremely sharp, like ten daggers! Zhenjin tried to swing the claws, and with just a bit of effort, the web was easily torn apart! The sharp claws turned bright red and scorching hot, like branding iron that had burned for a long time. Without thinking, driven entirely by instinct, Zhenjin plunged his claws into the spider leader. The eight-legged spider leader was already very close to Zhenjin, their faces only a palm¡¯s distance apart. When Zhenjin¡¯s claws mutated, they were still covered by webs. When Zhenjin¡¯s claws struck, the eight-legged spider leader was caught completely off guard and couldn¡¯t dodge. Pfft! The blazing red claws, twelve inches long, deeply pierced into the spider leader¡¯s body. Zhenjin shouted and pushed harder, almost burying his entire hand into the wound. The spider leader, attacked as if struck by lightning, became stiff as stone. A breath later, a large amount of spider blood and milky white brain matter flowed from the wound. This Silver Level spider leader died on the spot! With the leader dead, the remaining eight-legged spiders quickly fled. The young man and the young woman immediately turned the tide to safety. Zhenjin, in a daze, slowly withdrew his hands from the roasted spider leader¡¯s body. More accurately, his claws. Unbelievable! His hands had completely transformed into those of a giant ape, with hands swelling several times in size and covered in thick black hair, making his forearms look extremely slender. The ends of his ten fingers extended into long, sharp claws, radiating heat like iron bars just taken from a furnace. ¡°What¡­ what is happening?!¡± As Zhenjin was shocked, the mutation occurred again. First, the blazing iron claws rapidly cooled and crumbled into charcoal-like ash, quickly dispersing and floating away. Then, his hands quickly shrank back to their original human form. The black fur completely fell off, revealing human flesh. Suddenly, Zhenjin¡¯s body swayed violently. Weakness, a difficult-to-describe weakness, filled his heart. This wasn¡¯t just a lack of physical strength, nor just mental exhaustion; it felt as if a part of his body¡¯s foundation had been abruptly emptied. The surrounding flames still burned, the bushes crackled. The eight-legged spider, without support from claws, could only lie dead on the ground. Everything felt like a dream. ¡°Lord, Zhenjin!¡± Zi Di¡¯s call seemed to come from afar, getting clearer and louder. Under the urging of this voice, Zhenjin finally reacted. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The youth took a sharp breath as he realized there were still two spider legs lodged into his back. Clenching his teeth, he pulled out the legs, immediately bringing forth blood. After haphazardly splashing potions on the wound, Zhenjin rushed to Zi Di¡¯s side. Without a dagger, but the spider legs were even sharper. Using the spider legs, Zhenjin cut through the webs and freed Zi Di. ¡°Lord, have you awakened your fighting energy?!¡± Zi Di asked with extreme joy. Zhenjin¡¯s heart moved: ¡°Just now Zi Di was lying on the ground, and I had my back to her, she didn¡¯t see the mutation of my hands.¡± ¡°No. I used the tip of a spear to pierce through the web.¡± Zhenjin didn¡¯t think much and subconsciously hid the secret. The recent mutation was highly abnormal, and even in the youth¡¯s subconscious, he didn¡¯t want to mention it and worry his fianc¨¦e. ¡°That hateful Huang Zao escaped! We must find him and punish him severely!¡± Zi Di said fiercely. If Huang Zao hadn¡¯t fled, the young man and woman wouldn¡¯t have fallen into such a dangerous situation. Zhenjin nodded and was about to speak when a loud crash sounded; a large tree bathed in flames fell to the ground. Sparks flew, the fire expanded once more. ¡°Let¡¯s leave here quickly.¡± Zi Di wanted to bandage Zhenjin, but he stopped her. The wound was deep, but it had stopped bleeding. With his current life force, escaping the fire was more urgent. ¡°Wait, this is valuable, we can¡¯t leave it behind.¡± Zi Di pointed at the eight-legged spider leader¡¯s body, the light in her eyes hotter than the fire itself. Thus, the young man and woman dragged the eight-legged spider out of the fire. As soon as they evacuated to a safe distance, they heard a humming sound. Shortly after, an uncountable number of Fire Poison Bees flew into the blaze, their sheer number darkening the sky. The Fire Poison Bee Swarm was so vast that it quickly suppressed the fire, gradually extinguishing it. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin and Zi Di, heavily affected by the Fire Poison, dared not linger nearby and trekked several miles through the mountains before stopping to rest. Luckily, they found an ideal hiding spot at the base of a cliff. For the next three days, Zhenjin and Zi Di rested here. Using what little fluid remained from the eight-legged spider, Zi Di concocted Breath Potions to simulate the scent of a Silver Level Magic Beast, greatly enhancing the safety of their hideout. Zhenjin¡¯s miraculous life foundation showed again; the wounds on his back healed remarkably fast. With Zi Di¡¯s potions, the wounds were covered in new, tender skin. Zhenjin once worried the spider legs carried corrosive poison, but they didn¡¯t. During this time, Zi Di disassembled the eight-legged spider. Though resources were limited, she did her best to gather usable parts. Using these materials, she created several bottles of Corrosive Potion and Strong Adhesive Potion. These were basic potions, but since high-quality materials were used, their effects were promising. To this, Zi Di lamented frequently over three days, ¡°If conditions were slightly better, I could¡¯ve concocted agility potions. It¡¯s such a shame these materials were used for small things.¡± Zhenjin smiled and comforted her, acknowledging the value of her so-called small things. Previously, Zi Di utilized materials from Monkey-tailed Brown Bears and ore from the cave to make Flammable Potions and Fire Resistance Potions, which had played a crucial role. Chapter 21 - 21: Section 22: Transformation Potion? Chapter 21: Section 22: Transformation Potion? Editor: Henyee Translations The sky was azure, with branches interlacing above their heads. As they continued forward, Zhenjin and Zi Di both felt the temperature in the air rapidly decreasing. In one open area, Zhenjin gazed into the distance and unexpectedly discovered a trace of snow. ¡°That¡¯s a snow mountain. Dammit, there¡¯s actually a snow mountain on this island!¡± According to the Pig Kiss¡¯s route, this island was clearly located in the tropics; a rainforest was the most normal landscape. But here were not only forests but also snow mountains. According to Huang Zao¡¯s previous description, there was even a desert. ... ¡°My Lord, look, there are Huang Zao¡¯s footprints here!¡± Zi Di made a new discovery. After inspecting, Zhenjin nodded and confirmed, ¡°We are close to finding him. Besides him, we might also find other members of that exploration team.¡± They had adjusted their walking direction. On this journey, they had found not only Huang Zao¡¯s footprints but also markers left by the exploration team. In front of them, Song Luo blocked the way, Zhenjin raised the long-handled scythe in his hand, severing the long, almost ground-reaching threads hanging from the branches, and continued forward. This long-handled scythe was made from a curved spider leg. Additionally, with Zi Di¡¯s assistance, Zhenjin had crafted several spider war spears and a spider longsword. These newly made weapons were extremely sharp and had brought enormous convenience to Zhenjin and Zi Di along the way. The battle with the spiders had significantly enhanced Zhenjin¡¯s weaponry and equipment. The texture of the steel longsword couldn¡¯t compare to the spider longsword. In the past, Zhenjin would have been very happy, but now he didn¡¯t care much. These days, he had been pondering the mutation that had occurred not long ago. His hands had suddenly mutated into the claws of a monkey-tailed brown bear. Piercing the eight-legged spider with these claws had caused the Silver-Level fierce beast to burn from the inside out, killing it instantly! Afterward, he hadn¡¯t told Zi Di the truth, offering a rather clumsy excuse. But Zi Di hadn¡¯t pressed for details. This understanding from his fianc¨¦e made Zhenjin feel deeply appreciative inside. But what exactly was going on? Zhenjin first thought of the transformation spell. Druids could transform into wolves, bears, or even dragons, and mages had the Sheep Transformation, while thieves had the Disguise Skill. ¡°Could it be that I¡¯m not just a Holy Temple Knight but have another role?¡± This speculation was immediately dismissed by Zhenjin. Because no spell could be cast without a casting process. But his sudden hand mutation was very natural, there was no unconscious casting. Not to mention, the entire island prohibited the use of Low-level magic and fighting energy. ¡°So, is it a bloodline awakening?¡± Nobles possessed bloodlines that surpassed the ordinary, and these bloodlines often came with distinct traits. For example, the Holy Emperor¡¯s bloodline was the Holy Temple Bloodline. Those of his direct family, including the Holy Emperor, had silver-white pupils and grew snowy wings. Half-Elves, with their elf and human race lineages, had pointed ears. Human nobles with demon or devil bloodlines usually had horns on their heads. ¡°But why did my hands transform to resemble a monkey-tailed brown bear?¡± Did Zhenjin awaken the brown bear bloodline? Putting aside the question of whether such a bloodline existed, everything seemed too coincidental. ¡°So, is it the potion Zi Di made to save me in an emergency situation?¡± Zhenjin speculated that the potion produced during that unrepeatable rescue might be a kind of transformation potion! At that time, Zi Di had infused a large amount of monkey-tailed brown bear blood into Zhenjin¡¯s body. Blood was a primary material for a different type of transformation potion. While Zhenjin was saved, the potion¡¯s effect also lay dormant in his body. It wasn¡¯t until he faced the eight-legged spider, at the brink of death, that the potion¡¯s effect exploded. Zhenjin thought this was the most plausible explanation, and subsequent guesses became more numerous. ¡°Does the effect of this transformation potion still exist?¡± ¡°Can it erupt a second time?¡± ¡°If it erupts again, how long will it last?¡± Zhenjin hoped it could erupt again, that this transformation could happen once more. Because this was a trump card. This trump card¡¯s value was enormous; Zhenjin had directly killed a Silver-Level fierce beast with it! Various favorable factors were involved, but the claws¡¯ terrifying attack power couldn¡¯t be denied. As for the potential strength erosion or bloodline pollution caused by consuming this transformation potion, Zhenjin could only put those concerns aside for now. For now, he couldn¡¯t care about these things! Everything had to ensure survival. These hidden threats could be purified by finding Holy Temple priests later on when things were stable. The wind picked up. Trees rustled as the forest produced a mixed green symphony of deep, dark, and light greens. The wind seemed to blow from the direction of the snow mountain, causing the air temperature to plummet rapidly. This didn¡¯t bother Zhenjin and Zi Di much. Although their clothes were thin, they carried many pieces of heating ore. Following the trail, they continued forward. A gurgling mountain spring appeared before their eyes. ¡°This should be groundwater,¡± Zhenjin observed and guessed, ¡°The spring water here is very clear and very cold.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though their water reserves had already dropped to a critical level, he didn¡¯t rush to drink. Drinking water in the wild wasn¡¯t always safe. Drinking rashly could cost one¡¯s life. ¡°There are many animal tracks here. It should be safe.¡± Zi Di pointed to the soil around the spring, then her expression suddenly changed, ¡°Wait, Lord Zhenjin, look here.¡± On the other side of the spring, they saw numerous human footprints. These footprints surrounded the spring. Apparently, many people had squatted here to collect groundwater. ¡°Excellent, some footprints are still fresh. It seems we are very close to that exploration team. For now, let¡¯s fill our empty water bags,¡± Zhenjin said. They began collecting the water source. Luckily, they had found water bags. Without containers to store water, exploring in the wild would have been very inconvenient. Zi Di squatted, extending her arms, opening the water bag¡¯s small mouth as wide as possible, and lowered her head to pour water. Zhenjin¡¯s water-fetching manner, however, was very meticulous. He didn¡¯t bury his head in the water but kept lifting his head, his eyes flickering around, scouting his surroundings while collecting water. In the wild, many beasts specially used water sources to ambush prey. If prey lowered its guard while drinking, those beasts would pounce lightning-fast, killing their target. Human military also trained similarly. When drinking or fetching water, one must always raise their head to avoid being ambushed by enemy troops. Thus, when the enemies appeared, Zhenjin first noticed and loudly alerted Zi Di. Both quickly stood up. One, two, three¡­ Some emerged from the forest, some stood up from higher rocks, some were hidden in the grass. Soon, the young man and woman found themselves surrounded. Most of these people wore sailor¡¯s attire, with sun-darkened skin, each armed, mainly with scimitars but also sharp swords, long spears, and even bows and crossbows. A Bronze-Level elite stepped forward from the crowd, approaching Zhenjin and Zi Di. Seeing this person, Zhenjin¡¯s eyes flashed sharply. Zi Di¡¯s face changed slightly, displeased, she said, ¡°It¡¯s you! Hmph, we finally caught you, Huang Zao.¡± Chapter 22 - 22: Section 23: Selling oneself for support Chapter 22: Section 23: Selling oneself for support Editor: Henyee Translations Several days ago. ¡°Who goes there?!¡± The sailor on watch suddenly shouted, gripping his long spear nervously. A suspicious human figure emerged from the bushes. After glancing at the sailor, he collapsed to the ground unconscious. The sailor froze, then cautiously approached the unconscious figure. Using his long spear, he turned the person¡¯s face upward. Although the face was blackened with horrific burns, the sailor recognized the mysterious figure after a moment. ... ¡°It¡¯s Huang Zao!!!¡± ¡°Huang Zao is alive.¡± ¡°Lan Zao, your brother is alive. He¡¯s back.¡± The sailor¡¯s shout alarmed the entire exploration team in the camp. A crowd rushed over. Leading them was Lan Zao, whose immense frame was as big as two grown men combined, exuding a deep and dense Bronze aura. Seeing his unconscious brother, Lan Zao first felt disbelief, then joy. He quickly knelt down, lifting Huang Zao¡¯s head so he could half-sit up. ¡°Brother, brother, wake up!¡± Lan Zao shouted. Though unconscious, Huang Zao mumbled, ¡°Water¡­ water¡­¡± Lan Zao reached out, and the other sailors immediately handed over a water bag. After drinking the water, Huang Zao slowly regained consciousness. His blurred vision gradually cleared, and seeing Lan Zao¡¯s rugged face, tears almost fell from Huang Zao¡¯s eyes. ¡°Brother, I am Huang Zao. I¡¯m back. I narrowly escaped with my life!¡± Huang Zao¡¯s voice was extremely hoarse and weak to the extreme. He had pursued the main group alone, surviving in the perilous forest was not easy. ¡°Huang Zao, what happened? We all thought you were dead. Captain Lan Zao tried several times to go back for you but was stopped by everyone who doubted your survival. Lan Zao shed tears for you many times,¡± an old man squeezed into the circle. His face was full of wrinkles, his body thin, wearing broken glasses. Shaggy white whiskers covered his face, unkempt and grayed with grime from exposure to the elements. This old man was Cang Xu. He was an old scholar who had served the nobles for many years. The exploration team respected him greatly; their escape from the desert was thanks to his guidance. ¡°Thank the gods, thank fate, you are still here. You are alive. My god, this is truly a miracle!¡± Lan Zao exclaimed loudly. ¡°Quick, tell your brother what happened?¡± Lan Zao was also very curious. Huang Zao snorted coldly, ¡°I wasn¡¯t dead. I was temporarily unconscious¡­¡± He briefly explained the events that transpired. Lan Zao was moved, ¡°Huang Zao, you really did escape death. It was so dangerous.¡± Those around them echoed, expressing exclamations and congratulations. The old scholar Cang Xu, however, looked concerned. ¡°Trouble, we may be in trouble.¡± ¡°What trouble?¡± someone asked. ¡°No matter what trouble, I won¡¯t abandon my brother! We will fight the spider colony!¡± Lan Zao¡¯s eyes flashed with killing intent; his resolve was firm. ¡°No spiders followed me. Rest assured, everyone. Once we escape their hunting area, the spiders will climb back to the treetops. I was with them for several days,¡± Huang Zao said. ¡°And the last big fire probably burned the spiders to death.¡± Huang Zao spoke proudly. The danger had passed, and his escape was now a story to brag about. The old scholar shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the spiders, I meant those two people.¡± ¡°They must be dead by now, though it¡¯s a pity,¡± Huang Zao said. He didn¡¯t confess his cowardice, but claimed that the eight-legged spiders attacked Zhenjin and the others, while he, fortunate, had escaped. ¡°They might not be dead,¡± sighed the old scholar. Lan Zao muttered, ¡°Magic and fighting energy are restricted on this island, how could those young people escape the rage of the lead eight-legged spider?¡± The old scholar frowned, ¡°Black Iron Level¡¯s powers are restricted here. But what about Silver Level? Golden Level? Since none of us possess such strength, we cannot be sure if those ranks are also restricted.¡± Huang Zao¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Mr. Cang Xu, you think those two are Silver-level experts, or even Golden-level powerhouses? Impossible, they¡¯re too young. Besides, I never sensed any Silver or Golden aura from them. That girl seemed to be a Black Iron level Mage.¡± The old scholar chuckled and shook his head slightly, ¡°Are young powerhouses rare? The White Wolf General of Cold Iron City is only seventeen. Shui Si, the great Mage of the Goldenrose family, is only sixteen. Recently, the rising assassin Luo Shi from the alliance, is said to be only eighteen.¡± ¡°No way, those people are future big shots, far from us. How could I randomly encounter such individuals?¡± The old scholar¡¯s voice lowered, ¡°Very likely. Based on your description, that girl being a Black Iron level Mage shouldn¡¯t be dismissed. Which power nurtured her?¡± ¡°That girl called the young man ¡®Master,¡¯ so what about his status and strength? You can ponder on that.¡± The crowd fell into deep thought. The Lan Zao and Huang Zao brothers¡¯ faces became noticeably grim. After a moment, the old scholar continued, ¡°The young man not only has a high status but likely has strong strength. Being a Golden Level may be unlikely, but being a Silver-level expert is possible.¡± ¡°Mr. Cang Xu, do you have any evidence?¡± Lan Zao asked. ¡°Why do you think so?¡± Cang Xu smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s consider another angle. Suppose you encounter someone needing rescue. If you had to face over a dozen Bronze-level eight-legged spiders, with only two companions, could you dare to provoke these spiders and risk saving someone without being a Silver or Gold-level expert?¡± Lan Zao opened his mouth, speechless for a moment. ¡°So those two are likely still alive. I offended a Silver-level expert, or maybe even a Golden-level powerhouse?¡± Huang Zao muttered, his mouth twitching. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have fled, I should have returned their dagger! I made a grave mistake!¡± Huang Zao gripped Lan Zao¡¯s arm tightly, shouting repeatedly. Under immense psychological pressure, he finally chose to confess. Everyone¡¯s faces changed upon hearing Huang Zao¡¯s desertion and taking the crucial dagger. ¡°Mr. Cang Xu, what should we do?¡± Lan Zao, at a loss, turned to the old scholar for advice. ¡°Everyone stay calm,¡± Cang Xu raised his hand to soothe the group, ¡°It is not beyond repair yet.¡± ¡°All this is speculation. Those two could have become spider food or perished in the fire, right?¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t you just say they likely survived and are chasing us? We left markers along the way,¡± Lan Zao said, his face conflicted. Cang Xu nodded, fixing his deep gaze on Lan Zao, ¡°So, we need to turn back. Confirm whether those two are dead or alive.¡± ¡°If they are dead, we might pick up some excellent equipment.¡± ¡°If they are alive and in trouble, we must help them, repay their life-saving grace, and atone for Huang Zao¡¯s cowardice.¡± ¡°If they are hunting us, I strongly recommend not resisting unless absolutely necessary. Think about it¡ªcan we match those strong enough to kill a horde of eight-legged spiders?¡± ¡°Surrender! Surrender is a good option.¡± ¡°Remember, we were all on the same ship, and are stranded here together. They need us; everyone needs subordinates, at least hands to help sail.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s words led to nods all around. ¡°What about me?¡± Huang Zao asked anxiously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, brother.¡± Lan Zao¡¯s tone, though reassuring, lacked confidence. Cang Xu looked earnestly at Huang Zao. ¡°Resisting is a death wish. Running, where can you escape? Be eaten by beasts in the forest? My method offers your best chance. If those two live, show your survival value. Don¡¯t be stingy with your belongings¡ªnobles overlook them but offer them humbly, demonstrating sincere remorse.¡± Huang Zao nodded repeatedly, committing Cang Xu¡¯s words to memory. With that, they turned back along the original path. At the mountain spring, they encountered Zhenjin and Zi Di. Zhenjin and Zi Di showed themselves first, with Huang Zao stepping forward. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s you! At last, we¡¯ve caught you, Huang Zao.¡± Zi Di scowled, Zhenjin stayed silent, his glance hostile. Huang Zao¡¯s heart trembled. He wished Zhenjin and Zi Di had died. Yet, they stood perfectly fine in front of him. Even though Huang Zao was rough by nature, the meaning of this situation had been explained thoroughly by the wise scholar. Furthermore, Huang Zao saw Zhenjin¡¯s ¡°new weapons.¡± These war spears, scythes, long swords were obviously made with spider limbs combined with wood! ¡°They killed the Silver-level spider leader!¡± ¡°Why am I so unfortunate, encountering two great figures?!¡± Clang. Huang Zao dropped his scimitar on the stone. Then, with a thud, he knelt, slamming his forehead on the ground, pleading, ¡°Masters! I, Huang Zao, deserted! I erred, committing an unforgivable crime! I won¡¯t resist ¨C my fate lies in your hands!¡± The young man and woman exchanged astonished glances. What is happening? Surrounded, they feared hostility, but Huang Zao immediately confessed and surrendered. ¡°Honored masters, my name is Cang Xu, a scholar who served the Shata family for thirty-eight years.¡± The old scholar approached. Behind him stood Lan Zao. Zhenjin remained silent, while Zi Di stepped forward, speaking first. ¡°I¡¯m Zi Di, leader of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. I¡¯m honored to introduce¡ªbefore you stands an esteemed member of an elite bloodline tracing back to the legendary magical beast Gold Needle Bumblebee Queen. He is the sole heir of the Hundred Needle family, a Holy Temple Knight, and a candidate for White Sand City Lord.¡± ¡°Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce?¡± someone in the crowd whispered. This renowned guild had left an impression on them. ¡°Holy Temple Knight?¡± Zi Di¡¯s words caused further exclamations. Lan Zao¡¯s body swayed, while Huang Zao knelt, not daring to lift his head, his ears buzzing. ¡°Hundred Needle family¡­¡± the old scholar¡¯s pupils contracted. His knowledge far surpassed that of Lan Zao and Huang Zao. Cang Xu knew the Hundred Needle family¡¯s complexity¡ªonce a southern noble family, deeply rooted despite their hardships for opposing the Empire. The current Clan Leader, a Golden Level expert, though wounded, remained formidable. Was the youth before them the sole heir? Cang Xu¡¯s expression grew reverent, bowing deeply. ¡°Cang Xu is honored to meet you both.¡± Lan Zao knelt. ¡°Lan Zao pays respects to the masters. Masters, Huang Zao is my younger brother. I¡¯m willing to sacrifice my life, pleading for his forgiveness!¡± ¡°Brother!¡± Huang Zao, forehead bloodied, looked at Lan Zao in shock. Zhenjin remained expressionless, silent, increasing the pressure on those present. ¡°Masters,¡± the old scholar spoke again. ¡°Allow this outsider to present my truthful observations.¡± ¡°Speak,¡± Zhenjin said his first word. Cang Xu exhaled, continuing, ¡°Huang Zao committed a grave sin, fleeing yet returning to his brother¡¯s side. He was fearful, weak, and fell unconscious.¡± ¡°This rash coward escaped death. Yet, settled, he was tormented by his guilt and regret.¡± ¡°He confessed truthfully, begging our help to return to Spider Forest, to rescue you both.¡± ¡°Hence, our fortunate meeting here.¡± ¡°Masters, I beseech you to consider Huang Zao¡¯s repentance and show leniency.¡± Huang Zao and Lan Zao looked gratefully at Cang Xu. Zi Di, glancing at the kneeling brothers, scoffed, ¡°This base coward deceived Lord Zhenjin, hiding the Silver Magical Beast for selfish reasons. Fleeing, he left an elite bloodline in peril. Scholar, you advise leniency for such acts?¡± Cang Xu nodded, smiling, ¡°Addressing masters this way may be inappropriate. But in truth, they¡¯re sailors of the Pig Kiss, not soldiers of the Empire, thus not deserters, right?¡± ¡°These brothers are pitiful. Fishermen by birth, orphaned young, they relied on each other. If the masters execute the younger brother, the elder won¡¯t survive alone.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, as a Holy Temple Knight and noble, your future shines like the sun, unlike these ants from mud. As future White Sand City Lord, your grace will bless the city, your benevolence every citizen. Why be merciless to these ants?¡± ¡°If you forgive these pitiful souls, they¡¯ll eternally repay your mercy.¡± Zi Di raised an eyebrow, glancing at Cang Xu, without speaking. Cang Xu slightly nudged Lan Zao with his foot. Lan Zao jolted, hastily speaking, ¡°Masters, please mercifully grant us a chance to atone. Accept us as humble servants, guiding us henceforth!¡± Huang Zao remained silent, continuously kowtowing. The brothers¡¯ earnest pleas moved onlookers. ¡°Masters,¡± Zi Di addressed Zhenjin, ready for his decision. All eyes turned to Zhenjin. Cang Xu, head lowered, stared at the ground. Seeing the brothers¡¯ blood-stained faces, Zhenjin finally spoke, expressionless, ¡°Healing and aiding the weak is my Holy Temple Knight creed. Thus, I saved you in Spider Forest.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate or underestimate people. That¡¯s our family motto. So, Huang Zao, Lan Zao, I offer you a chance to prove your loyalty and actions can change my perception.¡± ¡°Thank you, masters!¡± Huang Zao and Lan Zao were overjoyed. The crowd relaxed, some even envied the brothers. Despite their servitude, they might thrive under Zhenjin. Cang Xu bowed again. ¡°Your magnanimity, Lord Zhenjin, matches the earth; your compassion, the sun. Praise to you, our guiding beacon. Under your leadership, we lowly ones shall thrive.¡± Zhenjin, standing tall like a spear, his calm voice reached everyone clearly. ¡°The Holy Temple¡¯s light covers every land. The Empire¡¯s banner shields each citizen. Follow me, and I¡¯ll lead you to safety.¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± the crowd responded, half-kneeling. Chapter 23 - 23: Section 24: Taking Charge of the Exploration Team Chapter 23: Section 24: Taking Charge of the Exploration Team Editor: Henyee Translations Trying to gather more subordinates was originally a plan set by Lord Zhenjin and Zi Di. Therefore, Zi Di had strongly urged Zhenjin to save Huang Zao back then. However, Huang Zao concealed the existence of the Silver Magical Beast and deserted at the critical moment, repeatedly causing unexpected trouble. But looking at the present outcome, the result was even more delightful. Huang Zao and Lan Zao both became Zhenjin¡¯s servants. ... Initially, they merely recruited them, and they still retained their freedom. But now, as servants, they lost their freedom. These brothers were both at the Bronze Level; slaves of such strength were quite valuable. Of course, Zhenjin currently had no reliable means to restrain them, such as a servant contract. In the current environment, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t ask for too much. By pledging their allegiance as servants, Huang Zao and Lan Zao brought their own influence, leading others to naturally choose to rely on Zhenjin. Thus, Zhenjin smoothly gained actual control of this exploration team. The brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao were both elite at the Bronze Level. Huang Zao excelled in using the long spear, and Lan Zao was a skillful scimitar user. These two had the greatest strength. Among the others, there were two archers and one crossbowman. The rest comprised thirteen axe men, gunmen, and shield bearers. Including the old scholar Cang Xu, who was unarmed, there were a total of nineteen people (excluding Zhenjin and Zi Di). According to Cang Xu, when the exploration team first set out, there were nearly forty people, making it a large team. But by now, the team had already been halved. Their armor was quite poor. The brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao wore leather armor; the others wore linen clothes. The survival resources were not tight; the team carried ample food and fresh water. Zhenjin obtained all this information from Cang Xu. ¡°Since this mountain spring is drinkable, please assign some men to collect more fresh water for us. We can discard half of the kerosene.¡± Zhenjin issued his first command. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Cang Xu accepted the order respectfully and exited the tent. The tent was brought by the exploration team and personally set up by the brothers, Huang Zao and Lan Zao, so Zhenjin could take a good nap here. As soon as Cang Xu left the tent, Zi Di lifted the curtain and walked in. ¡°My lord, our old scholar is not a simple man,¡± Zi Di remarked. When Zhenjin met with Cang Xu alone, Zi Di had a preliminary conversation with each member. From their words, Zi Di pieced together the whole truth. ¡°So, it was Cang Xu¡¯s analysis that made Huang Zao and Lan Zao realize the severity of the situation?¡± Zhenjin smiled slightly after hearing Zi Di¡¯s report. ¡°It seems the spoils we collected from the eight-legged spider also thoroughly intimidated them.¡± ¡°Do not overestimate people, but do not underestimate them either,¡± Zhenjin sighed sincerely. The outcome of this matter was good, but the whole process prompted Zhenjin to deeply reflect on himself. He had overestimated Huang Zao¡¯s character, failing to recognize the possibility of him concealing information, naively believing that Huang Zao would serve under a debt of gratitude. Yet, the result was Huang Zao fled in the face of danger, abandoning Zhenjin and Zi Di, his saviors. Later, the brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao submitted to him under immense pressure and sold themselves into servitude. Was it because they genuinely repented? Perhaps to some extent. But more likely, it was due to Zhenjin and Zi Di¡¯s formidable strength and profound background. What about the others? They gladly accepted Zhenjin¡¯s leadership. Why? Zhenjin was a strong figure. In such a perilous environment, it was one of the best survival strategies for the weak to rely on the strong, wasn¡¯t it? Furthermore, Zhenjin¡¯s identity as a Holy Temple Knight and his act of saving Huang Zao made people believe that while he was young, his character was worthy of their trust. Among them, the most striking was the old scholar Cang Xu. He had served a noble family for over thirty years and must have learned the wisdom of noble survival and strategy. Though unarmed and lacking combat power, he earned the respect of the entire exploration team. The brothers Huang Zao and Lan Zao followed his words almost unconditionally. When Cang Xu received the information from Huang Zao, he immediately recognized Zhenjin and Zi Di¡¯s identity. Under his command, the exploration team immediately turned back and took the initiative to seek allegiance with Zhenjin. Huang Zao and Lan Zao became his greeting gift to Zhenjin, and even though they sold themselves into servitude, these brothers were still deeply grateful to Cang Xu. His words to Zhenjin, though appearing as praises for the brothers, were actually a transaction. Cang Xu¡¯s voluntary allegiance allowed Zhenjin to easily accept these subordinates and gain two Bronze Level servants. Meanwhile, Zhenjin also provided ample reward. In the new team, Cang Xu became the third-ranking person, only after Zhenjin and Zi Di. Zhenjin¡¯s first command was to make him the leader, gathering a group to collect fresh water. This was the young man¡¯s response to Cang Xu¡¯s voluntary allegiance. He remained vigilant toward Cang Xu, but he also greatly admired him. He knew he needed such talent around him. Despite Cang Xu being merely a scholar, a common farmer could knock him down. But Cang Xu possessed extraordinary knowledge and wisdom, which were also a form of invisible strength. ¡°For now, my memory gaps and inability to use fighting energy need to be kept secret,¡± Zhenjin instructed Zi Di. Zi Di nodded repeatedly, her expression slightly solemn. ¡°I understand, my lord.¡± Zhenjin had just taken control of this exploration team, and there were still hidden dangers. If these subordinates discovered that Zhenjin couldn¡¯t use fighting energy, would it stir some negative thoughts? Without the use of fighting energy, just relying on physical fitness, the gaps between different levels weren¡¯t as significant. As the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s motto said: one must not overestimate nor underestimate people. Zhenjin now deeply understood this saying! Although he had become the leader of the exploration team, his control over the entire group was still weak. It was impossible to achieve a level of command where orders were unquestionably followed. ¡°You organize it so that the members of the exploration team come to see me one by one in the tent for a private conversation,¡± Zhenjin finally instructed Zi Di. Therefore, when Cang Xu led several people to collect fresh water and returned to the tent to report, he was stopped by Huang Zao and Lan Zao guarding outside. ¡°Lord Zhenjin is talking to Bai Ya.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cang Xu was slightly taken aback; he knew Bai Ya, the cheerful young man, son of a hunter, not particularly noticeable in the exploration team. ¡°Did Bai Ya make a mistake?¡± Cang Xu asked. ¡°No, everyone in the exploration team has to enter the tent once for a private conversation with Lord Zhenjin,¡± Lan Zao replied. Cang Xu became very interested, ¡°What is the lord asking them about?¡± Huang Zao shrugged, ¡°Nothing more than personal background, family situation, individual skills, and information about the shipwreck and the island.¡± At that moment, the curtain lifted, and Bai Ya, a member of the exploration team, came out, looking invigorated. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s the scholar,¡± Bai Ya greeted first. ¡°You look like Lord Zhenjin has taken a special interest in you?¡± Cang Xu smiled and nodded. Bai Ya grinned and said, ¡°Of course not. Actually, Lord Zhenjin has promised everyone that as long as we perform well, we might be able to follow him and join White Sand City in the future! At the very least, we could become guards in White Sand City.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just what you¡¯ve wished for, isn¡¯t it? You better work hard then,¡± Cang Xu patted Bai Ya¡¯s shoulder. Bai Ya nodded repeatedly, full of vigor. ¡°I will work hard!¡± After receiving Lan Zao¡¯s notification, Cang Xu re-entered the tent to see Zhenjin. ¡°My lord, as per your instructions, we discarded half of the kerosene and used the original oil bags to store fresh water,¡± Cang Xu reported respectfully. ¡°Hmm, well done. You may go rest now. After lunch, there will be a meeting to discuss the upcoming journey. Be prepared.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Cang Xu bowed and exited the tent. He did not go far and stood beside the tent watching for a while. The members who had followed him to collect fresh water were also summoned by Zhenjin one by one. No one stayed in the tent for long, but when they came out, their expressions were noticeably different from before. Even the usually stern ones had a certain gleam in their eyes. Cang Xu glanced deeply at the tent, smiled, and murmured, ¡°This is good.¡± Not all strong individuals have leadership skills. In Cang Xu¡¯s view, Zhenjin was very young. Such a young person possessing at least Silver Level cultivation was rare. Most likely, most of his time was spent in his own cultivation, which affected his ability to learn and master other areas. But now it seemed Zhenjin was at least competent as a leader. Though not yet the White Sand City Lord, this young man could make promises, painting a bright future for these exploration team members. People¡¯s hearts gradually gathered around Zhenjin, morale in the team was rising, and Zhenjin¡¯s control over the entire exploration team was quickly deepening. Chapter 24 - 24: Section 25: The Magic Beasts on the Island Are Man-made Chapter 24: Section 25: The Magic Beasts on the Island Are Man-made Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` The afternoon meeting was held inside the tent. Four people attended. Zhenjin, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and Lan Zao. Several animal hide maps were spread out on the ground. ... The largest one was placed in the center. Zhenjin pointed at this largest map and said, ¡°This is what Zi Di combined from all the maps we had.¡± Everyone focused their attention on this map. North was up, south was down, west was left, and east was right. On the northeast end of the animal hide map, an anchor was depicted. Zhenjin pointed at this anchor mark, ¡°This is where your exploration team set off, and it¡¯s also the beach where the bow of the Pig Kiss ran aground previously. If nothing has changed, there are still fifty to sixty people here, under the command of the first officer of the Pig Kiss.¡± On the southeast end of the animal hide map, there was a cross. Zhenjin¡¯s finger moved to the cross, ¡°This is where Zi Di and I, along with the chairman, landed. There are also three landing boats on this beach.¡± From both the cross and the anchor, a winding route extended out. Along these routes, at each interval, there were words or pictures marked. These two routes represented the paths taken by Zi Di¡¯s and Cang Xu¡¯s exploration teams. However, these two routes did not converge but ended abruptly midway. The center of this large map was a vast blank space. Zhenjin then took out two smaller maps and placed them in the blank space of the large map. One map depicted a desert landscape, and the other showed a mountainous and forested terrain. The focus was on the latter. The mountain and forest map illustrated prominent locations such as the mine where the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear resided, the Spider Forest, and the mountain spring. The two routes representing the exploration teams converged at the mountain spring. Zhenjin¡¯s finger moved to the mountain spring mark, ¡°We are here now, and our goal is to get back here.¡± He moved his finger to the northeast part of the large map, to the anchor drawing. Everyone had no objections. This island prohibited low-level magic and fighting energy and housed numerous fierce beasts unimaginable, making it essential to unite all available forces for survival. External rescue was remote and unpredictable; rebuilding a ship and setting sail again was more reliable. Constructing and operating a sea vessel could not succeed with just a few people. ¡°The difficulties before us are evident, there are two,¡± Zhenjin continued, ¡°The first is the fierce beasts along the way. The second is the mutation of this terrain. What do you think?¡± Lan Zao replied solemnly, ¡°Master, if magic and fighting energy weren¡¯t prohibited here, our strength would greatly increase. But now, to deal with these strange and fierce beasts, we can only fight them with our flesh and blood. Nevertheless, Huang Zao and I are your swords and shields, wherever your gaze falls, there will be the clash of swords.¡± Lan Zao expressed his loyalty, Zhenjin nodded, very satisfied with this attitude, ¡°Then I look forward to your performance.¡± Zi Di seemed to keenly sense something in these words, she looked at Lan Zao, puzzled, ¡°Your statement is a bit strange. If low-level magic and fighting energy weren¡¯t prohibited here, those fierce beasts might use various magic-like abilities too. We would be stronger, but they would also be more threatening.¡± ¡°According to my speculation, it wouldn¡¯t be like this, Lady Zi Di,¡± Cang Xu began, ¡°I think the magical beasts on this island cannot use any magic-like abilities.¡± ¡°Oh? Why do you have such a judgment?¡± Zi Di continued to ask. Cang Xu did not directly answer but looked at Zhenjin, ¡°May I ask, my lord, in the magical beasts¡¯ corpses you vanquished, did you find any demon crystals?¡± Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°So far, not a single demon crystal has been found.¡± This was clearly abnormal. Cang Xu nodded, ¡°Although we have not defeated any Silver Level fierce beasts, we have obtained many Bronze and Black Iron Level magical beasts¡¯ corpses.¡± ¡°But we have never seen a single demon crystal.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°The formation of a demon crystal occurs when a magical beast lives long-term in an environment filled with elements, with continual growth and consumption, accumulating magic power until a qualitative change occurs and crystallizes into a demon crystal. A demon crystal not only stores most of the magical power within the magical beast but also helps stabilize and utilize that power.¡± ¡°Generally, the stronger the magical beast, the higher the quality of the demon crystal inside it.¡± Neither Zhenjin nor Zi Di had any objection to Cang Xu¡¯s explanation. This was common knowledge. Cang Xu then shared his opinion, ¡°I believe the magical beasts on this island have chaotic magic power within them. They cannot coordinate it, making it impossible for this power to become stable and orderly. Because of this, they cannot control their magic power, leaving it in disarray, and thus, demon crystals cannot form.¡± Zi Di slightly nodded but also slightly shook her head, ¡°Chaotic magic power indeed cannot form demon crystals, but this is just one possibility. The key is, Mr. Cang Xu, how do you judge that the magic power inside these beasts is chaotic?¡± This caused Zi Di to doubt. Zi Di herself was a Black Iron Level Mage, but unable to wield magic here, thus she could not investigate the magical state within the beasts. Cang Xu was just an ordinary person, not even a Magic Apprentice. What method did he have to measure it? Facing Zi Di¡¯s skepticism and questioning, Cang Xu remained calm and composed, ¡°I¡¯ve deduced it.¡± Then, the old scholar put forth a new viewpoint, ¡°First, I believe the magical beasts on this island are not naturally born. They are artificial.¡± ¡°Man-made magical beasts?!¡± Zhenjin and Zi Di exchanged glances, both showing expressions of astonishment. As for Lan Zao on the side, he probably had heard Cang Xu¡¯s argument long ago, showing no surprise at all. ¡°So how do you determine that these beasts are not naturally generated but artificially created?¡± Zhenjin asked. Cang Xu slowly explained, ¡°Since arriving on the island, I¡¯ve dissected many magical beasts and found that although they have stable cycles and tightly cooperating organs, as if naturally so, delving deeper reveals they are not natural.¡± Zi Di frowned slightly, pondering Cang Xu¡¯s words, ¡°Not natural?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The old scholar nodded, his gaze profound, ¡°They lack a natural rhythm. Don¡¯t you feel that these beasts seem pieced together?¡± Zi Di mused, ¡°I once handled the corpse of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, a fierce beast at the Silver Level, killed by Lord Zhenjin. It had a monkey¡¯s tail, a bear¡¯s body, an ape¡¯s hands, but on the tips of its fingers grew hard, long iron claws.¡± ¡°At first glance, it seemed this Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was pieced together from an ape, a monkey, and a bear. But internally, its skeletal structure was very reasonable. It had two hearts, and the other organs perfectly supported its large frame.¡± ¡°I am a low-level Mage, and in my studies, I devoted the most energy to alchemy. I¡¯ve collected many materials and understood the structures of most living creatures. Although it was my first time seeing such a beast, I believed its physique was very perfect, not a crippled, mutated, or useless body structure. What¡¯s unnatural about it?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart slightly skipped a beat. Zi Di mentioned the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, which reminded him of the mutation in his own hands. Under dire circumstances, his hands suddenly transformed into claws like those of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, delivering a fatal blow to the eight-legged spider. Afterward, his hands reverted to their original form. For some reason he couldn¡¯t explain, Zhenjin chose to conceal this incident, not telling Zi Di. ¡°Zi Di brought up this matter now, to openly display my strength,¡± thought Zhenjin, realizing Zi Di¡¯s intention. Indeed, the next moment he saw Lan Zao¡¯s eyes widen, looking at him in admiration. Lan Zao sincerely praised, ¡°Master, your power is truly remarkable!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, your natural talent is astonishing. Your bravery and achievements will be widely celebrated,¡± Cang Xu agreed, then turned his gaze back to Zi Di. ¡°Lady Zi Di, you are absolutely right. I fully trust your judgment; their life forms are indeed very reasonable and stable.¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I lack the qualifications of a Mage and have never engaged in alchemy, but fortunately, I read many books. Some of these books detailed the histories of various noble families. These histories describe how certain noble families rose to power, managed their territories, and their early pioneering history, essentially combating the environment and organizing nature through human effort.¡± ¡°The accounts often mention clearing out gnoll thieves, fending off beast tides, hunting wolf packs near villages, and driving wild boars out of farmlands. To guide the family¡¯s descendants, the sagacious authors left numerous detailed illustrations, meticulously recording the forms and habits of wild and magical beasts, as well as the most effective ways to defend against and kill them.¡± ¡°Because of these descriptions, I benefited greatly, and by contemplating with my dim intellect, I arrived at several shallow but interesting conclusions. This helped me sense the unnaturalness of the fierce beasts on this island.¡± ¡°I found that generally, beasts with horns are herbivores. Their horns serve as their principal defensive weapons against predators.¡± ¡°On the other hand, predators have longer, sharper teeth, stronger muscles, and excel in running, especially short-distance bursts. Some even have pads under their claws to silently approach their prey.¡± At this point, Cang Xu slightly changed his tone. ¡°Not long ago, before Huang Zao found us, we were in a hilly area with sparse forests, cold temperatures, and occasional snowflakes carried by the wind. At the end of our exploration, we caught a glimpse of a Golden Level magical beast.¡± ¡°It was a stag, with enormous antlers made of white bone, branching like a tree. The stag ate meat, not grass, and a pair of massive white wings adorned its back. I privately named it the White Bone Feathered Deer.¡± ¡°Though it was a fleeting sight, I believe its bone and flesh structure would undoubtedly be very reasonable, able to perfectly and stably support its daily activities.¡± ¡°But it was not natural. Look, its physique doesn¡¯t suit flight; its huge wings at best enable gliding. It¡¯s a carnivore, residing at the top of the food chain, preying on other animals, yet it has antlers. The antlers, meant for defense, hinder attack, pursuit, and stealth.¡± ¡°Take, for instance, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear that Lord Zhenjin killed. When monkeys swing between trees, their tails maintain their balance and stabilize their direction mid-jump. But does a bear need this? It¡¯s very heavy; what tree can support it? Does it frequently leap? Does its monkey tail seem redundant?¡± ¡°Finally, the ape¡¯s hands, resembling human hands, differ significantly from the claws of many predators because of their thumbs, advantageous for grasping branches during tree-to-tree movement. Yet, in the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s hands, these hands grew sharp claws. Isn¡¯t this redundant?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I mean by unnatural.¡± Seeing the others deep in thought, Cang Xu continued. ¡°The primary need of life is survival. Nature is harsh and unforgiving; beasts that survive and propagate often possess extraordinary survival abilities, usually provided by their organs.¡± ¡°Consider the mole. Its sturdy claws and teeth enable it to burrow efficiently, though its vision is nearly nonexistent. It doesn¡¯t need vision in pitch-black soil. Instead, its nose is highly sensitive.¡± ¡°This is natural life. It has its strengths and weaknesses, the advantages and disadvantages unified, finding a suitable niche in nature¡¯s survival competition.¡± ¡°But let¡¯s examine the beasts on this island. They are excessively powerful. Their structures are stable, but internally conflicted. They don¡¯t have clear roles in nature.¡± ¡°Like the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, does it need a monkey¡¯s tail? No.¡± ¡°Similarly, does the White Bone Feathered Deer need wide antlers? No. Its heavy antlers hinder its hunt.¡± ¡°` Chapter 25 - 25: Section 26: A Terrible Hypothesis Chapter 25: Section 26: A Terrible Hypothesis Editor: Henyee Translations Tentatively, Cang Xu continued his eloquent speech. ¡°I have served the Shata family and lived in the desert oasis for decades. The desert lacks water, and during certain parts of the year, there are particularly dry seasons. Most of the oases dry up, and some even disappear.¡± ¡°In our homeland, there is a type of red frog. It buries itself deep underground, drinks as much as possible, and its body expands several times its normal size to store as much water as it can.¡± ¡°Then, during the drought, it remains motionless, much like a bear in hibernation.¡± ¡°At this time, it is extremely vulnerable. It has no mobility, and its body, swollen from storing too much water, has very fragile and thin skin.¡± ... ¡°However, it is precisely this change that allows the water-bag red frog to survive the drought. Conversely, much stronger beasts perish in the sand.¡± ¡°This is the taste of nature; the water-bag red frog has found its niche in the natural world. It has strong survival skills, yet it is also very fragile.¡± ¡°To survive in nature, it has already exerted its utmost effort. It has no way to grow claws, wings, and so on. The more powerful the organs, the more nutrients are needed to grow. The more delicate the structure, the longer it takes to evolve.¡± ¡°Competition in nature is exceedingly cruel with enormous pressure, preventing the evolution of species like the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear or the skull-winged deer.¡± ¡°If the environment were very lenient, with no pressure to survive, creatures would become lazy, obese, and leisurely; neither the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear nor the skull-winged deer would exhibit such powerful life forms.¡± ¡°Such species can only be artificial.¡± Zi Di sighed deeply: ¡°I am enlightened. Mr. Cang Xu, your knowledge deserves my utmost admiration.¡± Zhenjin nodded, also expressing his agreement. Lan Zao, who had heard Cang Xu¡¯s analysis before, echoed, ¡°Without Mr. Cang Xu, we would have died in that desert long ago.¡± Cang Xu continued, ¡°Of course, all this is merely my conjecture. I have no evidence to prove it yet, but I am almost certain that these strange magic beasts are not natural creations. Aside from artificial creations being the most likely, there might also be mutations caused by certain minerals or the residual effects of spells.¡± Lan Zao couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Then who could create so many magic beasts? Which great figure in the Empire did it? Could it be a god? Only a god has the power of creation, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Zi Di shook her head slightly: ¡°It could also be a mage. From what I know, a Legendary Mage can modify and manage a Half-plane, isn¡¯t that akin to the creation of worlds by gods?¡± Cang Xu sighed deeply: ¡°Perhaps it was a Legendary Mage, or maybe a god among the Empire¡¯s high officials who set up His creation experiment site here. This island covers a considerable area but has never been discovered. Its location is actually very close to the Pig Kiss¡¯s sailing route. Our landing on this island was purely an accident, a result of the shipwreck.¡± Lan Zao¡¯s face turned slightly pale: ¡°This island is too terrifying. How strong must the existence that can hide this island and create so many monsters be!? It would be easier for Him to crush us than an ant. But why hasn¡¯t He wiped us out? We discovered His secret!¡± Cang Xu spoke softly, ¡°Perhaps He isn¡¯t currently on this island. Maybe He left? Or He simply doesn¡¯t care, and all our actions are under His surveillance. He watches us struggle here for amusement. Only when we are on the verge of successfully escaping will He make a move.¡± Lan Zao, on the verge of losing control, exclaimed, ¡°Then aren¡¯t we doomed?!¡± The atmosphere in the tent became incredibly heavy. Facing such a great existence, any escape plan, even the young knight¡¯s grand ambitions, seemed like a joke. After a long while, Zhenjin exhaled a murky breath: ¡°Mr. Cang Xu¡¯s conjecture is shocking yet reasonable. According to this hypothesis, we might as well speculate further. The landscape mutation here should also be artificial. Mr. Cang Xu, do you think it is due to a divine spell of land shifting or a teleportation magic array?¡± Cang Xu sighed, ¡°First of all, I personally believe the landscape mutation is not targeted at us. To target us and eliminate us is too easy for a great existence. There is no need for such effort.¡± ¡°Secondly, compared to divine spells, I lean more towards teleportation magic arrays.¡± ¡°We have personally experienced the landscape mutation. The whole process was very rapid. In a trance, we found ourselves transported from the desert into the forest. This is very consistent with the description of magical teleportation in books.¡± ¡°I believe that the landscape mutation here is due to us being teleported. The terrain itself has not moved. Otherwise, the energy required to shift large landmasses periodically would be too great.¡± ¡°Of course, all this is just my surmise. It is like ants speculating about the scenery in the clouds¡ªridiculous and overestimating our capabilities.¡± ¡°Lastly, I think the teleportation mechanism, which appears to be landscape mutation, is likely one of the island owner¡¯s measures to maintain the island¡¯s ecology.¡± Zi Di blinked: ¡°How did you come to this conclusion, sir?¡± Cang Xu responded, ¡°I have already discovered that not only were we teleported, but many wild beasts and fierce beasts also arrived at new places with the teleportation.¡± A flash of lightning crossed Zhenjin¡¯s mind as he thought of the Scale-Horned Black Panther group. The group should have originally lived in the jungle, but they found themselves in the forest, alongside the young boy and girl. There, they needed to establish new territories, first contending with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, then suffering losses among the Blade Spider Group. Zi Di looked at Cang Xu: ¡°If these beasts were also teleported, then perhaps the island¡¯s owner wants them to fight each other to select the strongest monster. It¡¯s like the Alchemy Guild¡¯s Alchemy Puppet Tournament to cultivate the strongest Biological Weapon?¡± Cang Xu smiled: ¡°Zi Di, your analysis is quite reasonable, and that possibility indeed exists. But I still insist that maintaining ecology is more likely.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you feel that the natural balance of this island is quite fragile?¡± ¡°Though nature seems vast and boundless, it has a delicate side.¡± ¡°The Shata family annually hires a bishop from the Holy Temple to help increase crop yield. I once communicated with them and was fortunate to consult with wandering druids.¡± ¡°There are various life cycles in nature. To give the simplest example, plants grow from the soil and are grazed upon by herbivores. The blood and flesh of herbivores become food for carnivores. The excrement of these animals nourishes plants. Their bones decompose in the soil, turning into nutrients.¡± ¡°Nature is filled with such life cycles. Even the most powerful predators will face death from mutual battles or succumb to age and harsh environmental changes.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The Shata family once suffered several consecutive years of locust plagues. With the help of a Druid Master, they discovered that the locusts¡¯ proliferation was due to a decline in the population of bread scorpions that consumed their eggs.¡± ¡°Why did the bread scorpions decrease? It was because, in those years, the Shata family began to build their own cavalry. They purchased many land birds, which, when free-ranging, loved to peck at the bread scorpions under the sand.¡± ¡°The life cycle is like a chain, with each link connected to the next. They influence each other. If any link has a problem, it could amplify into a catastrophic result.¡± Cang Xu concluded, ¡°There are too many monsters on this island, which are not naturally occurring, and it burdens the island¡¯s ecology greatly. The cycle of life will break easily, causing irreparable disasters.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Zhenjin nodded. He thought of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. This Silver Fierce Beast feeds on ores, and it apparently has no natural enemies. If left to survive, it would eventually consume all the ores. The heat-emitting ore veins have been a significant factor in that region. Once they are consumed, it would cause dramatic consequences, like a sudden drop in temperature. In the end, due to the teleportation mechanism, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear fought the Scale-Horned Black Panther group and finally died at Zhenjin¡¯s hands. The future natural crisis of the island was thus prematurely averted. Zi Di¡¯s thoughts expanded: ¡°So, the owner of this island deliberately created jungles, forests, deserts, and snow peaks to control these fierce beasts, stabilizing the island¡¯s ecology and maintaining natural balance? But I still feel like He aims to select a monster that can adapt to all environments and be the strongest!¡± The girl did not abandon her guess about Biological Weapons. Cang Xu added: ¡°I believe that teleportation is just one of the measures the Island Master uses to stabilize the ecology. He must have taken other steps.¡± ¡°For instance, the Fire Poison Bee.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think that this bee species was specially made to prevent forest fires?¡± ¡°And the Magic Ban environment. Here, low-level magic and fighting energy are strictly prohibited, even more rigorously than the Magic Prohibition Rings in Sky City. This doesn¡¯t seem like a defense mechanism, as there is no need to defend against low-level enemies; instead, it¡¯s like shackles, preventing those beasts from utilizing their full abilities.¡± ¡°So, I speculate that this Magic Ban environment is a measure to protect these monsters.¡± ¡°Please enlighten us.¡± Zi Di requested humbly. Cang Xu continued, ¡°The magic beasts on the island are not naturally derived. Although their bodies are stable, they are not in harmony with the natural environment, and their magic energies conflict, making it difficult for them to absorb elements and form Demon Crystals.¡± ¡°This might be the aspect the Island Master wishes to improve. He achieved bodily stability, an incredible feat. But the patchwork bodies led to issues in elemental absorption, which He currently cannot solve perfectly.¡± ¡°Chaotic magic energy is inherently unstable and can sometimes cause explosions; even with suppression, it causes magic corrosion to the host. Should chaotic magic¡¯s harm be ignored, it would be difficult for a magic beast to survive more than a week.¡± ¡°Thus, He created a special environment banning low-level magic and fighting energy, protecting these monsters by ensuring their stability and longevity.¡± ¡°Regarding magical energy matters, Lord Zhenjin and Zi Di, you should know more than I do.¡± Zi Di nodded slightly, lost in thought. Zhenjin¡¯s expression turned solemn. He quietly analyzed the current situation: ¡°On this island, we have encountered Bronze Level, Black Iron Level, Silver Level, and even Golden Level magic beasts.¡± ¡°According to the current analysis, the chaotic magic energy of the Golden Level is also successfully suppressed by this environment.¡± ¡°In this case, at least Holy Domain Level warriors can freely use fighting energy here?¡± No matter how genius he is, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t reach Holy Domain Level at his age. P.S.: I recommend a good book¡ª¡±The Calamity of Origin,¡± also a fantasy novel with excellent writing. Even the most mundane system should have a burning heart for adventures! There are already 270,000 words, and if you¡¯re interested, please check it out. Chapter 26 - 26: Section 27: Strategy Hub Chapter 26: Section 27: Strategy Hub Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°So, Lord Zhenjin, can you still use fighting energy?¡± Cang Xu inquired. Zhenjin shook his head, indicating he could not. He had originally discussed with Zi Di about hiding his inability to use fighting energy. But now that the topic had come this far, there was no point in concealing it. However, Zhenjin still hid the fact that he had amnesia. Cang Xu sighed, ¡°If anyone could use fighting energy of gold level or below, it would overturn my hypothesis. In truth, I very much hope my hypothesis is wrong!¡± ... Zhenjin retorted, ¡°Then, Mr. Cang Xu, have you thought of any good strategies for us to overcome the bizarre magic beasts and environment here and safely reach our destination?¡± Cang Xu smiled wryly, ¡°My lord, you overestimate me. I am just an old man nearing the end of my life. I have served the Shata family for most of my life, and the reason I resigned this time was to personally study the Beastmen and explore the unique ecosystem of the Beast Race Continent during the final stage of my life, completing my scholarly work.¡± ¡°I have named this work ¡®Evolution Theory.¡¯ I believe that although nature maintains a good cycle and balance, the forms of life within it are not unchanging. Whether it is humans, dragons, or wild beasts and magic beasts, they are all slowly evolving.¡± ¡°This evolution is closely related to changes in the natural environment and the ways of life.¡± Zhenjin nodded, ¡°This will surely be a classic work.¡± Cang Xu bowed and said sincerely, ¡°The shipwreck was my misfortune, yet encountering so many bizarre monsters here brings me great joy. This will strongly prove my ¡®Evolution Theory¡¯ from another angle. Because of this, I proactively joined the exploration team to be the first to contact these monsters.¡± ¡°Meeting you here is my honor. During this time, I will serve you with all my effort and wisdom!¡± ¡°I am truly unworthy of your expectations, my lord, but please forgive my incompetence. After all¡­ I am merely a scholar.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Zhenjin nodded. He could see that. Huang Zao and Lan Zao sold themselves into slavery, but Cang Xu did not genuinely intend to fully commit to him. Cang Xu meant that during their distress period on the island, he would fully support Zhenjin. But once they reached the Beast Race Continent, he would part ways with Zhenjin and freely complete his work, ¡®Evolution Theory.¡¯ ¡°If I become the White Sand City Lord, I will certainly help you gather intelligence on the Beastmen,¡± Zhenjin continued. ¡°I would be most grateful!¡± Cang Xu bowed deeply again. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Zi Di suddenly spoke, ¡°If Mr. Cang Xu¡¯s hypothesis is true, then both this island and the various magic beasts are modified entities. In that case, there must be a central hub on this island. What do you all think will happen if we find this hub?¡± This idea was very bold! Lan Zao quickly said, ¡°That¡¯s too dangerous, isn¡¯t it? We can¡¯t possibly contend against the entity that can modify an entire island and create so many magic beasts. This is practically seeking death!¡± Zi Di smiled and slightly shook her head, ¡°Not necessarily.¡± ¡°Think carefully, everyone. Based on our prior analysis, there are two main possibilities.¡± ¡°The first possibility, the island¡¯s owner is away and not on the island. Attacking the hub now would be the best time.¡± ¡°The second possibility, the island¡¯s owner has always been here but hasn¡¯t acted, either monitoring us, toying with us, or ignoring us. However, once we succeed in escaping this island, the owner would surely act to maintain secrecy.¡± ¡°So, instead, it would be better to strike directly at the hub.¡± ¡°Once the hub is destroyed, we can stop the teleportations, and the island¡¯s environment would return to normal. We would be able to use magic and fighting energy, while those ferocious beasts would collapse. This would greatly advantage our escape.¡± Lan Zao was dumbstruck. Thinking about it this way, it also made sense! Zi Di looked at Zhenjin again, her eyes sparkling: ¡°Lord Zhenjin, we aim to reach the Beast Race Continent and seize control of White Sand City. If we acquire such magical technology, producing silver and golden-level magic beasts in large quantities, even if these creatures only last a short duration before self-detonating, how much benefit would that bring us?¡± In an instant, Zhenjin¡¯s heart pounded. Having subordinates of golden level would be such a luxurious thing! And the term ¡°mass production¡± sounded wonderful. What was even more remarkable was that these created magic beasts would be utterly fearless of death, truly fighting to the death. This would greatly trouble the enemy, even making them petrified with fear. Zhenjin gazed into Zi Di¡¯s eyes. At this moment, those amethyst-like eyes seemed to shine with the gleam of gold coins. Zhenjin¡¯s understanding of Zi Di deepened instantly. The young knight couldn¡¯t help but think: This young girl in front of him, worthy of being the guild¡¯s chairman, was willing to momentarily cast aside her life in pursuit of enormous potential benefits! However, Zhenjin did not express his opinion and instead looked towards Cang Xu. ¡°Mr. Cang Xu, what do you think?¡± Zhenjin showed his regard for Cang Xu. The previous conversation had significantly elevated Zhenjin¡¯s opinion of Cang Xu. From the latter¡¯s insights, Zhenjin truly felt the power of knowledge. Cang Xu¡¯s broad vision, extensive knowledge and experience, and profound understanding seemed to unveil a layer of mystery on this enigmatic island for Zhenjin and Zi Di. ¡°My lord,¡± Cang Xu slowly said, ¡°I do not agree with Lady Zi Di¡¯s suggestion.¡± ¡°Firstly, we do not know the exact location of the hub. Searching for it would require venturing all over the island, facing various bizarre beasts and harsh natural conditions.¡± ¡°Secondly, even if we find the hub, logic dictates that the island master would have placed formidable defenses there. Can we, by ourselves, breach these defenses? If we rashly attack the hub, might we alarm the possibly absent island master?¡± ¡°Thirdly, regarding the existence of the island master, terrain mutations, and these fierce beasts, everything is my hypothesis without the most direct evidence. Perhaps my conjectures are wrong, and this is merely a peculiar island, fashioned by the forces and will of nature which we can never fathom.¡± ¡°Fourthly, despite the teleportation, this mechanism has intervals. Theoretically, as long as we maintain the correct direction and a swift pace, we can traverse forests and other terrains and return to the beach. Even if we are re-teleported en route, the teleportation would most likely be random. Thus, repeatedly following this course of action might eventually lead us to our destination.¡± Zhenjin thought for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Very well analyzed. The hub is too elusive, and the risks too high. Our strength is insufficient; therefore, our primary goal is to reunite with the main team and quickly construct a ship to escape this island.¡± ¡°As you command, master,¡± Lan Zao immediately responded. Cang Xu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Zi Di opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but ultimately remained silent. ¡°Give the order, rest for another quarter-hour, then we proceed,¡± Zhenjin commanded. ¡°My lord,¡± Cang Xu spoke up again, ¡°I have a small suggestion.¡± ¡°Please go ahead, Mr. Cang Xu.¡± ¡°My lord, allow me to report a delightful discovery.¡± Cang Xu pointed to a small map of the forested area, ¡°Here, at the furthest point of our current exploration, lives a large sheep herd, numbering at least a thousand.¡± ¡°I strongly suggest we hunt down this herd. That way, we will have ample food supplies.¡± Zhenjin frowned slightly, ¡°A large herd of about a thousand sheep?¡± The young knight looked at Cang Xu, then glanced at Lan Zao. Lan Zao immediately said, ¡°Master, it¡¯s indeed a large herd of sheep. We¡¯ve already tried and successfully hunted two. They are timid and gentle, only thinking of escape, not dangerous. Many exploration team members believe this is a gift from heaven!¡± ¡°However, our current food supplies are quite sufficient,¡± Zi Di interjected. ¡°For now, yes,¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°but we must guard against potential incidents. For instance, if we are teleported to a desert region.¡± Cang Xu looked at Zhenjin again, knowing that Zhenjin was the true decision-maker: ¡°Based on our investigation, the leader of this sheep herd only emits a Bronze level aura.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, there is no need for excessive concern. This herd is at the bottom of the natural cycle, surely preyed upon by many beast groups, including golden-level beasts. That white-boned feathered deer might be one of them. Hence, our greatest risk in hunting this herd is not from the sheep themselves, but from other predators.¡± ¡°This risk is easy to guard against, as we do not directly confront these predators.¡± Zhenjin pondered silently. Cang Xu continued, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, the primary purpose of our exploration team¡¯s departure was to gather enough food for everyone building the ship. Although we have been lost on the island for many days, bringing back substantial food will likely greatly boost morale and help them considerably. This, in turn, aids you, my lord.¡± Zhenjin nodded, ¡°This is a good suggestion, so we will amend our plan slightly. First, we hunt the sheep herd, then set off.¡± Given past experiences, Zhenjin knew that such easy hunting opportunities were scarce on this perilous island. It was even possible that passing up this chance now would deny such opportunities in the future. According to his future plans, he didn¡¯t intend to venture so deeply into the island¡¯s interior again. Therefore, he adhered to the flow willingly. Chapter 27 - 27: Section 28: I am very strong Chapter 27: Section 28: I am very strong Editor: Henyee Translations The sheep bleated loudly and rushed downhill, extremely panicked. This flock had hundreds of goats, their wool mostly a bluish-gray, with bone-white horns that resembled two slightly curved sharp swords. Originally, the goats were leisurely grazing on the grass, but suddenly two members of the exploration team appeared and started driving them away. The two men held scimitars but didn¡¯t use them. They simply shouted loudly and easily drove the panicked goats away. Zhenjin, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others stood on a nearby hill, looking down at the scene. ... The goats tried to change direction halfway, but people were already lying in wait. At the crucial moment, they suddenly appeared and blocked the goats¡¯ path. The goats were repeatedly redirected until they all crowded into a depression. The exploration team began to close in, with more members emerging from all directions. No matter where they went, the goats found no escape route, and they spun around in place anxiously. The team members raised their swords and knives, repeatedly slashing down, beginning the slaughter. As Cang Xu had said, the goats were extremely timid, not resisting at all in the face of the butcher¡¯s knife. They let out extremely terrified cries and crowded desperately towards the center. But there were always unfortunate goats left on the periphery, easily slaughtered one by one by the Human Race. Cang Xu watched this scene and spoke calmly, ¡°In the central part of the Empire, many nobles have started to enclose large areas of land to raise sheep. They breed sheep.¡± ¡°I was fortunate enough to visit several famous sheep farms in the Empire, and their scale was truly astonishing.¡± ¡°In my view, sheep as a species do not have the ability to fend for themselves. They survive entirely on others¡¯ care and rescue.¡± ¡°Sheep have no self-protection ability. Rams are even more shy and timid than ewes. The slightest strange noise can frighten them, and their flocking is only to alleviate their fear.¡± ¡°They are not only timid but also stupid. They do not know what danger is and cannot sense its approach. No matter what happens, they stubbornly stay in place. Even in wind and rain, to make them move, they need a leading sheep. In fact, the leading sheep also remains still unless driven by a shepherd or shepherd dog.¡± ¡°Sheep are very fragile. They cannot walk for long periods, easily exhausting them. When they run, their hearts beat too fast, making it hard for them to breathe. High temperatures or severe cold can kill batches of sheep. They are very prone to disease. Sometimes, mere obesity can be fatal.¡± ¡°Compared to sheep, goats are more active, stronger, and braver. But overall, they are not much different.¡± ¡°These two types of sheep have similar habits.¡± ¡°Goats are attached to humans, enjoy being caressed, and are easy to live with. They are also easily raised. Various kinds of forage can become gourmet food for them.¡± ¡°However, sheep are still more popular because their dense wool can be used to make yarn and other textiles. Especially in recent years, the Empire¡¯s textile machinery seems to have undergone significant technical innovation.¡± ¡°The Shata family is also very interested in the sheep business, sending me to the Empire¡¯s central region for investigation. Unfortunately, the major nobles in the Empire intend to monopolize the latest textile machinery. Meanwhile, in the desert, the land is scarce, the environment harsh, with great temperature differences between day and night, making large-scale sheep farming impossible.¡± While speaking, most of the goats had already been slaughtered. Among the attacking members, Huang Zao was the most eye-catching. He held a long spear, and each thrust penetrated three or four goats. He had Bronze Level strength, and although he could not activate Fighting Energy, his superior physical condition was evident at this moment. Zhenjin had assigned the task of the first roundup of the goats to him. With the intent to atone for his sins, knowing that his every move was watched by his master, Huang Zao performed with extraordinary effort. But in the next moment, his invincible spear was blocked for the first time. It turned out that the leader of the goats, driven to desperation, finally began to resist. The leader goat was twice as large as the surrounding goats, almost the size of a pony, exuding a Bronze Level aura. The leader goat lowered its head, displaying its sharp bone-white horns, and charged at Huang Zao. Thud, thud, thud! The goat¡¯s hooves hammered the rocks, making a series of sharp, rapid noises. From stillness to sudden movement, the usually sluggish leader goat burst out with astonishing speed in that instant! Huang Zao gritted his teeth, held the spear horizontally in front of his chest, and stood motionless. Lan Zao, serving behind Zhenjin, saw his brother¡¯s intentions and shouted angrily, ¡°Idiot, dodge quickly, you can¡¯t use Fighting Energy!¡± Huang Zao¡¯s ears twitched, and he heard his brother¡¯s warning immediately, but he bit his teeth and remained still. ¡°If I retreat again, what impression would I leave on my master? Brother, you¡¯re the idiot!¡± ¡°This time, I must wash away my shame¡ª!¡± Shouting in his heart, Huang Zao¡¯s eyes widened, and he fiercely thrust his spear forward. The spear tip collided with the bone-white horns. Then, to Huang Zao¡¯s horror, the spear tip shattered, and the spear shaft was deflected aside. The leader goat reached Huang Zao, and at the moment of collision, Huang Zao barely managed to hold the spear shaft across his chest. Bang. With a dull sound, Huang Zao was knocked into the air on the spot. He traversed an arc through the air and then landed heavily on the grassy rocky ground, his vision darkening, almost fainting on the spot. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This guy¡­¡± Seeing his brother not listening to his advice and almost getting disemboweled by the goat¡¯s horn, Lan Zao clenched his fists tightly, raising his head and asking for orders, ¡°Master, please allow me to take action and deal with this goat!¡± Zhenjin, however, only focused on the scene, his expression indifferent, ¡°Order Huang Zao to be a little restrained. I want this leader goat captured alive.¡± Lan Zao¡¯s expression changed immediately. He wanted to say something but was halted by Cang Xu¡¯s hand gesture. Cang Xu smiled and said, ¡°For Lord Zhenjin to have such trust in Huang Zao, he finally has a chance to redeem his honor. Although he knows he can¡¯t use Fighting Energy and his strength is inferior to the leader goat¡¯s, he still chose to fight dangerously. Now that he has been knocked down, he should know how to adjust his mindset.¡± Lan Zao shuddered upon hearing this and knelt on one knee, ¡°Master is merciful and generous, seeing through Huang Zao¡¯s unbalanced mindset and giving him repeated chances to adjust and atone for his sins! I was confused. Please, Master, punish me.¡± Only then did Zhenjin smile and glance at Lan Zao, ¡°You brothers are deeply bonded. What crime is there? Just stand aside and watch. After all, Huang Zao¡¯s body is still weak. If he fails to capture it alive, then you may step in.¡± Lan Zao was immediately moved to tears, knelt on both knees, and his forehead knocked on the ground with a dull sound. He then hurriedly ran down the hill. In the depression, Huang Zao had already picked up a new spear, ready to strike again. Seeing Lan Zao coming, he became anxious, ¡°Brother, why are you here? Did the master send you to replace me?¡± Lan Zao coldly snorted and said, ¡°The master told you to restrain a bit and capture the goat alive. He gives you another chance to perform. Only if you fail will I step in.¡± Huang Zao rejoiced, ¡°That¡¯s good!¡± Lan Zao was so angry at this remark that he nearly slapped Huang Zao on the head. But with no other choice, he could only stand aside and support. The ordinary goats were quickly slaughtered, leaving only the duel between Huang Zao and the leader goat. Under the continuous charge of the leader goat, Huang Zao was in a pitiful state. To handle this leader goat, Huang Zao could have managed with his spear. But the order to capture it alive from Zhenjin forced Huang Zao to be cautious and restrained. Huang Zao and the leader goat were both of Bronze Level life, but without the ability to activate Fighting Energy, Huang Zao¡¯s long spear moves were careful and timid, allowing the leader goat to gain the upper hand. However, intent on proving himself, Huang Zao showed no sign of retreat. After a moment of stalemate, both man and goat were drenched in blood. The leader goat bore wounds from the spear¡¯s edge, while Huang Zao, already burned and bandaged, bled mostly due to vigorous movement. Lan Zao grew increasingly anxious, wanting to intervene repeatedly, but without seeing his brother¡¯s total failure, he could only grudgingly hold back. The leader goat charged again. Huang Zao¡¯s physical strength had diminished considerably. He barely dodged but had no energy left to counterattack. This time, however, the leader goat did not turn back to continue the fight with Huang Zao but broke through the encirclement instead. The surrounding team members were ordinary fighters, exclaiming in shock, retreating one after another, not daring to face the charging leader goat with their flesh and blood. Lan Zao was about to intervene when he suddenly heard Zhenjin¡¯s voice, ¡°Enough, everyone back off. Let me handle this.¡± ¡°Master, I¡­ can still fight,¡± Huang Zao called with unwillingness. ¡°You fool, get out of the way now! Don¡¯t spoil the master¡¯s fun,¡± Lan Zao cursed. All eyes focused on Zhenjin. Since Zhenjin became the leader of this exploration team, most people had privately speculated about the level of his strength. Was it silver, or gold? The island strictly forbade low-level magic and Fighting Energy. Could Lord Zhenjin activate his own Fighting Energy? (Cang Xu¡¯s guess was too terrifying and remained confined to the high ranks of the exploration team, not known to everyone.) The leader goat charged at Zhenjin, who remained calm and composed. Just as the goat horns were about to pierce Zhenjin, the young man suddenly extended his hand, precisely grabbing the two horns at the critical moment. Then, Zhenjin pressed down firmly. The leader goat¡¯s momentum halted abruptly, and its head was forced to the ground. Its strong legs thrashed furiously, throwing up turf and soil, but all the while, Zhenjin¡¯s hands stayed steady as mountains, his entire body as if cast in iron, unmoved. It gave the impression that, in front of Zhenjin, the mighty leader goat suddenly seemed as weak as a chick! Gasps filled the air, quickly turning into cheers and shouts. Huang Zao couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes. Zhenjin had not used Fighting Energy but had suppressed the leader goat purely with his physical strength. Such power earned Huang Zao¡¯s absolute respect. Cang Xu was also quietly moved by the scene. He knew well enough: humans and animals did not have the same physique. Without using Fighting Energy, humans could hardly compete with same-level beings relying solely on physical attributes. Humans were not naturally as fast as horses, as agile in trees as monkeys, could not fly like birds, nor swim and breathe underwater like fish. Compared to many wild animals, humans¡¯ greatest advantage lay in their intelligence. Human strength, speed, physique, and so on were not on par with wild beasts. Thus, a strong individual with Silver Fighting Spirit might lose to a Bronze level magic beast without using Fighting Energy. ¡°Such physical strength¡­¡± At this moment, a speculation arose in Cang Xu¡¯s heart: ¡°Could it be that Lord Zhenjin truly possesses a gold-level cultivation?¡± Chapter 28 - 28: Section 29: Toxic Attack Chapter 28: Section 29: Toxic Attack Editor: Henyee Translations As a scholar who served the Sha Ta family for thirty-eight years, Cang Xu was well aware of the division of strength among the transcendent. For a Silver Level Fighting Energy cultivator, if not using fighting energy, they could lift approximately 350 kilograms and deliver an 800-kilogram heavy punch. Confronting twenty or thirty ordinary adults head-on wasn¡¯t a problem at all. Their endurance to the environment and pain surpassed that of ordinary people, but facing strong crossbows still posed a significant danger. In other words, the physical qualities of a Silver Fighting Energy cultivator were still within the realm of the human race, constrained by the structural limits of the human body, representing the limit of mortal physical development. However, becoming a Golden Level Fighting Energy cultivator greatly enhanced the quality of fighting energy, which nourished and transformed the body, completely surpassing the limits of mortals. Without using fighting energy, a Golden Level expert could achieve a running speed of up to 120 kilometers per hour and lift weights of around ten tons. They could also charge through thousands of soldiers wielding swords, capturing flags, and strategizing effortlessly. ... Ordinary arrows and crossbow arrows posed no threat at all, but facing magical crossbows still carried risks. When the head sheep fought against Huang Zao, Cang Xu personally witnessed several times when the head sheep rammed into tree trunks, knocking down towering trees. This proved that even though the head sheep were only Bronze Level, its ramming force when charging was exceptionally powerful, far greater than an ordinary heavy cavalry charge! A Silver Level Human Race Fighting Energy cultivator, purely relying on physical strength, could not resist such a charge from the head sheep. Zhenjin, however, naturally and effortlessly intercepted the head sheep that had run a long distance and was in mid-charge. The displayed strength in this interception already exceeded the limits of Silver Level. Therefore, Cang Xu couldn¡¯t help but speculate about the possibility of Zhenjin possessing Golden Fighting Spirit. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°As far as I know, the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s bloodline is not known for strength but excels at precision.¡± ¡°If a knight had a constant spell of bear strength or other forms of support magic, it could achieve similar results. However, in areas with a magic ban, such constant low-level support spells should fail.¡± ¡°Or could it be due to consuming some strength potion?¡± Ultimately, Cang Xu once again considered the possibility of Zhenjin having a Golden cultivation. ¡°If Zhenjin truly is a Golden Level expert with such strength and talent, the Hundred Needle Family will undoubtedly rise again!¡± Under Cang Xu¡¯s watchful eye, Zhenjin suddenly flexed his arms, gripping the goat horn, violently lifting the head sheep high. Then, he mercilessly threw it away. The head sheep fell to the ground, struggling a few times before getting up, looking dazed as if stunned by the throw. Immediately, its eyes turned blood-red as it violently charged at Zhenjin again. Zhenjin again pinned it down, allowing it to thrash for a while before throwing it far away. After a few more rounds, the head sheep¡¯s unwillingness, anger, and hatred all dissipated, replaced by fear and timidity toward Zhenjin. Eventually, the head sheep stopped charging, standing up after lying on the ground and remaining motionless. When Zhenjin voluntarily walked up to it, it made bleating sounds, lowered its head, and averted its gaze, its bleeding body trembling continuously. Zhenjin patted its head and then touched its horns. The head sheep shivered and voluntarily laid down on the ground. Amid many adoring gazes, Zhenjin nodded in satisfaction and ordered, ¡°Take it away for me, treat it a little, and feed it carefully but don¡¯t let it eat too much.¡± ¡°My lord, do you want to tame this head sheep as a mount?¡± Seeing the battle end, Cang Xu walked over. Zhenjin nodded, smiling as he asked, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s possible.¡± Cang Xu affirmed with a smile, ¡°As far as I know, the most common mounts on the Dwarf Continent are goats. Goats can traverse steep mountains and their skills are very high. A one-year-old wild goat can use its adept climbing skills to ascend snow-covered rocks, crossing many obstacles that we humans cannot overcome. But I don¡¯t know the exact method for taming them.¡± Zhenjin nodded and then asked, ¡°Are there any Beast Tamers among those who survived from the Pig Kiss?¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°It seems not.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. If there are none on the Pig Kiss, can¡¯t we find one in White Sand City?¡± Zhenjin patted the old scholar on the shoulder. In this battle, he acquired what he wanted. Subduing the head sheep to eventually tame it into a mount was only a secondary part of this harvest. The key point was that Zhenjin demonstrated his power in front of everyone, showing his strength to the entire exploration team. His influence over this group of people significantly increased. The lesson from Huang Zao¡¯s betrayal was enough for him in just one instance. Zhenjin had engraved the family teachings of the Hundred Needle Family into his heart, keeping an eye on Huang Zao, using him to constantly remind himself of how to be a qualified leader. Looking around, Zhenjin sincerely sighed, ¡°This is a treasure land!¡± To be honest, it was his first time discovering such a fertile land on this island. When they actually started, the exploration team was pleasantly surprised to find the scale of the sheep herds far exceeding previous scouting results. For unknown reasons, the sheep herds here were simply overabundant. There were several large herds with over a thousand sheep. Even more herds numbered in the hundreds. This time, Zhenjin surrounded a herd of such size. The exploration team began processing the dead goats. First, they bled them, skinned them, and removed the entrails. Then, some started cutting the goat meat while others cleaned the goat skins and stomachs. After cutting the goat meat, they smoked it over the bonfire to remove moisture, allowing it to last longer. After cleaning the goat skins, they also smoked and sun-dried them. Goat skins could be made into leather clothing, and goat stomachs could be used as water bags. For three consecutive days, the exploration team was busy here. Under Zhenjin¡¯s command, they hunted three more herds. Under Zhenjin¡¯s personal action, Bronze Level head sheep were all subdued. Most of the adult goats were slaughtered, but some lambs were spared on Zhenjin¡¯s special instructions. These goats were easy to raise, so feeding dozens of lambs and the four Bronze head sheep was not a significant burden. This was the advantage of having more people. If it were just Zhenjin and Zi Di, they wouldn¡¯t have had the free time and energy. On the fourth day, the exploration team began their return journey. The entire look of the team had dramatically changed. Almost everyone wore a layer of leather clothing. The leather clothes were very simple, just a piece with a hole cut out for the head. The sides under the armpits were stitched with vine-made threads, binding the front and back pieces of goat skin together. The dark green sheep¡¯s wool was turned inward, touching the body, while the yellow goat skin was turned outward. Everyone had large animal skin bags strapped to their backs, mainly filled with preserved smoked goat jerky. In addition, water bags made from sheep¡¯s stomachs were tied to their waists. The team¡¯s food and freshwater supply was very ample, almost at the limit of their carrying capacity. After all, everyone had their load limit. Huang Zao scouted at the front of the team. Zhenjin, Zi Di, and Cang Xu walked in the middle of the team. Behind them were the sheep, mainly led by Lan Zao. In addition to dozens of lambs, the focus was on the four Bronze head sheep. These head sheep were now donned with simple reins made of vine strips, carrying a lot of supplies, mainly smoked meat, freshwater, tents, and spare weapons. They trudged through hills and forests all morning. They only took short breaks, each time for less than fifteen minutes. By noon they had a half-hour rest. The team split into two parts, one part standing guard, checking supplies, etc., and the other sitting on the ground, eating lunch. Cang Xu meticulously inspected both the front and back of the team, finding no one missing and all supplies counted. Under his cracked lenses, his sharp eyes carefully observed. He noticed: Those eating looked very relaxed¡ªsome joked with each other, some ate while massaging their calves, trying to relax. Those on watch were alert with eyes wide and chests puffed. The morale of the whole team was quite high. Cang Xu had been part of the exploration team since its inception. He had never seen these people exhibit such spirits. He understood the key reason for all this. It was not the delicious goat jerky, nor the relatively stable journey but the young knight, Zhenjin. Everything changed because of him. His immense power provided strong security, significantly boosting everyone¡¯s confidence. Huang Zao and Lan Zao became his slaves, working hard these past days. Although Zhenjin hadn¡¯t shown his Fighting Energy, his profound heritage and suspected Golden Level cultivation made their future seem bright. Throughout the journey, Zi Di followed Zhenjin closely, almost inseparable. As the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce¡¯s chairman, her proficient potion-making skills also impressed Cang Xu. Cang Xu¡¯s gaze ultimately settled on Zhenjin. In his long life, he had met countless nobles. He was sure that among all young nobles, Zhenjin belonged to the top tier. He had exceptional talent, immense power, and, most remarkably, was a qualified leader. Under his influence, the team had become cohesive and highly spirited. Cang Xu foresaw that the fallen Hundred Needle Family would rise again because of Zhenjin! ¡°If possible, staying by such a noble¡¯s side, witnessing his accomplishments step by step, and being part of the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s resurgence, perhaps, centuries later, as a scholar, my name might be recognized as a symbol of wisdom alongside his. How wonderful that would be.¡± ¡°What a pity. If only I had met someone like him in my youth¡­¡± The regrets in his heart did not show on the old scholar¡¯s face. He approached Zhenjin and respectfully reported the findings of their inspection. ¡°Excellent, Mr. Cang Xu. Thanks to your suggestion, we acquired enough meat, with very ample reserves. Now sit and let us have lunch together,¡± Zhenjin invited. Cang Xu replied, ¡°My advice was secondary. Without your leadership, how could we have such a situation?¡± Zhenjin smiled. Over these days, he had grown more appreciative of Cang Xu. Though the old scholar was an ordinary person, his mind was far from ordinary. The direction of travel of the team was decided by him. Using only a wooden stick planted in the ground and the sunlight¡¯s position. Cang Xu¡¯s attitude and actions always maintained Zhenjin¡¯s noble honor, making him comfortable. His abilities were reliable and steady, with Zhenjin finding him more and more useful. If Cang Xu had any strength, even at the Black Iron Level, he would be the best choice for a noble housekeeper. Unfortunately, he lacked extraordinary potential, which was deeply regrettable. Even so, Zhenjin intended to keep Cang Xu by his side. He truly was a talent! His knowledge even surpassed Zi Di¡¯s. And Zi Di was a Mage. Of course, this was partly because Zi Di was young and devoted most of her time to alchemy. Zhenjin could easily guess why Zi Di did this¡ªgood potions frequently had great market prospects and could bring huge profits. The further they moved from Snow Peak, the higher the temperature. The midday sun was hottest, and the new leather clothing started insulating them. Perhaps due to being well-fed and sated, everyone seemed a bit sluggish. The team¡¯s periphery always had scouts maintaining vigilance. Nobody raised an alarm, yet a deadly crisis quietly struck under this peaceful setting. It began with a young man in the team shouting. ¡°My lord, it¡¯s terrible! All the lambs have collapsed on the ground, motionless, and they¡¯re already dead!¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but change expression. This was indeed bad news. The lambs were quite useful. In an emergency, the exploration team could butcher them for food. If they reached White Sand City with the lambs still alive, they could be used for breeding and taming cavalry. Zhenjin¡¯s plans were shattered; he quickly stood up to inspect personally. ¡°Do you know the reason?¡± he asked the young man who reported. He had already recognized the young man as Bai Ya, a hunter who boarded the Pig Kiss for White Sand City to join the army. With a panicked expression, Bai Ya shook his head rapidly. ¡°I, I don¡¯t know, my lord. It all happened suddenly.¡± Zhenjin acknowledged with a hum, about to take a step when a wave of dizziness hit him hard, almost making him collapse on the spot. Barely steadying himself, he saw that the previously high-spirited team members were now collapsing around him. In an instant, most members had fainted. Zi Di, Huang Zao, and Lan Zao were still barely enduring. ¡°What happened?!¡± ¡°Everyone seems to be poisoned!¡± ¡°What kind of poison is this?!¡± Suddenly, Huang Zao pulled out a dagger, shouting at Bai Ya, ¡°Everyone is poisoned, how come you are fine? Did you poison us?!¡± Chapter 29 - 29: Section 30: My Leadership Style Chapter 29: Section 30: My Leadership Style Editor: Henyee Translations Almost the entire exploration team was poisoned, except for Bai Ya. Faced with Huang Zao¡¯s furious accusations, Bai Ya looked utterly panicked. He kept shaking his head, taking steps backward until he stumbled and fell to the ground. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, it really wasn¡¯t me,¡± Bai Ya cried out, vehemently denying it. Huang Zao approached him step by step, but suddenly collapsed midway. His complexion was ashen, and his expression twisted with pain, like a person who had fallen into an ice cellar, soaking in bone-chilling water for a long time, only to be pulled out at the brink of death. ... ¡°Why weren¡¯t you poisoned?¡± Huang Zao lay on the ground, still stubbornly glaring at Bai Ya, squeezing words through his teeth. Lan Zao, on the other side, suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Ah! Could it be the Island Master who acted, not just poisoning us all but leaving one person alive to go out and report back? Just like a pirate, who after plundering a ship intentionally lets some go to spread their infamy.¡± Huang Zao, still retaining some consciousness, was perplexed by this remark: ¡°Who? Is there really an owner on this island?¡± Previously, Zhenjin and others had discussed their findings in the tent but kept them from everyone else, even Huang Zao. Because these discussions were mostly speculations without direct evidence. Revealing them would greatly damage the morale of the entire team, causing worry, and anxiety, and possibly leading to emotional breakdowns. Both Huang Zao and Lan Zao lay on the ground, with only Zhenjin barely able to stand, supporting himself upright. Even so, the young man felt his body growing increasingly cold, as if he were falling into an ice cave. Lan Zao, struggling to stand, failed several attempts. His gaze suddenly froze on Bai Ya, and he exclaimed, ¡°I remember now; he didn¡¯t eat any mutton, not a single bite. The mutton is poisoned!¡± ¡°The mutton¡¯s poison?¡± Zi Di was momentarily stunned by this. Before consuming the mutton, she had clearly verified it was non-toxic. ¡°Does it have to do with the amount? Could it be that eating too much caused the poisoning?¡± Zhenjin inquired with a frown. Zi Di shook her head with a bitter smile: ¡°Such a simple possibility, I had already tested. But there could exist some toxin I didn¡¯t detect¡­ Bai Ya, did you really not eat a single bite of mutton?¡± Bai Ya nodded, stammering, ¡°Y-yes, my lord. I don¡¯t like mutton; I¡¯ve been eating dry rations these days.¡± Bai Ya¡¯s behavior continually reduced the suspicion on him, and Zhenjin turned his gaze to Zi Di. If Bai Ya had malicious intentions, now would be the perfect time to act. Zhenjin at this moment also had little strength to resist. Looking from another perspective, even if Bai Ya had malicious intentions, choosing to poison at this time seemed foolish. In this wilderness, having companions increased one¡¯s chances of survival. The risk of escaping alone was too high. Zi Di had already fallen to the ground, her eyes flickering with thought: ¡°Lord Zhenjin, please come over and use my Dagger to cut a wound on my arm, okay?¡± Zhenjin nodded, barely moved, and came to Zi Di¡¯s side, drawing the Dagger from her calf. The Dagger¡¯s sharp blade made a light cut on Zi Di¡¯s tender arm, creating a fine, long wound. From the wound, Zi Di¡¯s flesh appeared ashen gray. Blood, which should have flowed out freely, now trickled only slightly, and the blood was abnormally cold, with a strange grayish tint mixed with the red. Zhenjin immediately thought of zombies, feeling a chill emanating from the wound, whispering, ¡°Is it really the Cold Poison?¡± Zi Di frowned deeply. The scene before her resembled Cold Poison but also didn¡¯t entirely fit. Vaguely, Zi Di thought of something but couldn¡¯t fully grasp the fleeting insight in her mind. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left!¡± Zi Di clearly felt her body growing stiffer, colder. Soon, her heart would freeze and completely stop beating. Zi Di knew she had to make a decision quickly! ¡°My lord, red¡­ white mushroom cap¡­¡± Zi Di pointed her stiff fingers to the small leather pouch at her waist. Zhenjin immediately opened the pouch, revealing neat rows of small potion bottles inside. Three bottles matched Zi Di¡¯s description. After quickly identifying them, Zhenjin found all three to be the same. He knew Zi Di had a good habit¡ªshe always used differently sized bottles, stoppers, and labels to distinguish each type of potion. Prying open the white mushroom-like cap, Zhenjin brought the small glass bottle to Zi Di¡¯s lips. Zi Di barely parted her lips, and Zhenjin began pouring the thick red potion from the bottle. Moments after drinking a small sip, Zi Di¡¯s eyes rolled back, and she completely lost consciousness. ¡°¡­¡± This sudden change left the conscious ones at the scene dumbfounded. Zhenjin¡¯s heart instantly sank. The only Pharmacist had fainted; what were they to do now? ¡°Take off¡­ sheepskin¡­ go back, go back¡­¡± At this moment, came the hoarse, weak voice of Cang Xu. After uttering this sentence with all his might, he fell unconscious again. Huang Zao and Lan Zao had great faith in Cang Xu¡¯s words. Huang Zao could no longer move, but Lan Zao, still retaining some mobility, immediately began to strip off his sheepskin coat. Moments after shedding the coat, Lan Zao felt a noticeable difference. ¡°It works! I feel warm again,¡± Lan Zao exclaimed lowly. Oddly enough, the sheepskin coats, which were essential for warmth near the Snow Peak, once removed, brought warmth back to their frozen bodies. What was happening? Zhenjin had no time to ponder. Although he didn¡¯t understand, he immediately ordered Bai Ya and started to remove the sheepskin coats from the fallen members of the exploration team. After the coats were removed, most of those who had not yet fainted regained the strength to stand! S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di and Cang Xu, however, remained unconscious, their eyes shut tight. ¡°Carry them. We are returning immediately!¡± Zhenjin decided firmly, without hesitation. The conscious ones understood the urgency, dragging the unconscious members back along the original route with all their might. Cang Xu, Zi Di, Huang Zao, and others were carried on the backs of White Bone Goats. The captured goat herd, mainly used for these purposes, had suffered heavy casualties, leaving only the four strongest Bronze Level lead goats, while all the young lambs had perished. As they neared their return, everyone felt increasingly better, their strength gradually returning. Although the air temperature dropped lower, their bodies and limbs no longer felt stiff but instead regained warmth. When they finally reached the place where they had previously hunted the goats, many had recovered completely. Zi Di and Cang Xu also woke up. Zi Di unwrapped the bandage on her arm and examined the recently cut wound. She found the once ashen wound had returned to a healthy flesh color, with blood flowing naturally, no longer zombie-like and terrifying. It seemed as if everything that had happened was just a nightmare. Yet, the two corpses remained, a cruel reminder of what had transpired. Yes. The exploration team had lost two members. These two fell into unconsciousness and never woke up during the return, finally losing all signs of life when they reached the original location. ¡°I understand now, I understand why there are so many goats here. Because they are deadly poisonous; whoever eats them pays with their life!¡± Huang Zao¡¯s face showed a terrified expression. ¡°It¡¯s a Curse, the Devil¡¯s Curse!¡± ¡°We can only stay here; if we move too far away, we will be poisoned again and die!¡± The team members all talked at once, their faces full of fear as they looked at the sheep grazing in the distance. The exploration team¡¯s morale had plummeted drastically. ¡°Silence! Calm down.¡± It was then that Zhenjin stepped forward, looking around, and commanded in a low voice. Over the past days, he had built enough authority in the team that his order made everyone obediently quiet, with no more conversations. Zhenjin knew that just forcefully suppressing would not work; he needed to alleviate their fear. So, he continued, ¡°While I am here, why panic?¡± ¡°The situation isn¡¯t beyond repair; remember, we still have Miss Zi Di. She is not only a Mage but also an extraordinary Pharmacist.¡± Zi Di collapsing instantly after drinking the potion seemingly slipped Zhenjin¡¯s mind. However, many who had seen the scene spread the news during the return. Could she really manage it? Zhenjin understood the doubt in everyone¡¯s heart, smiling confidently: ¡°We didn¡¯t know the cause of the poisoning before, so mistakes were understandable. Using potions always requires the right antidote for the specific poison. Now that we know the source, it¡¯s a completely different story! Do you think mere goats can bind our hands and feet? Everyone, I am leading you off this island. Giving up now is too early.¡± The team¡¯s confused and fearful expressions began to change. Zhenjin, with his golden hair, fair skin, high nose bridge, and star-like eyes, was strikingly handsome. He was the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, a Holy Temple Knight, and a contender for the Lord of White Sand City. Despite wearing broken chainmail, bearing a makeshift long spear, and a crude long sword, these adversities only highlighted his resilience and unyielding spirit. He was like the Sunrise at dawn, not blinding but giving hope. He resembled the flag waving atop a white castle under the blue sky; just seeing such a flag was irresistibly inspiring. Zi Di and Cang Xu stared at Zhenjin, entranced and speechless. ¡°My lord, with you here, there¡¯s nothing to fear! You are a Knight, a Holy Temple Knight! You saved us this time,¡± Bai Ya exclaimed, breaking the silence. ¡°Master, my brother and I will follow you to death, no matter when or where, regardless of any disaster,¡± Lan Zao proclaimed his loyalty. The crowd gradually became animated. ¡°Lord Zhenjin is absolutely right.¡± ¡°Following Lord Zhenjin, we¡¯ll definitely escape here.¡± ¡°Yes. I entrust my life to you, my lord!¡± Chapter 30 - 30: Section 31: The Truth of Poisoning Chapter 30: Section 31: The Truth of Poisoning Editor: Henyee Translations Zhenjin looked around and saw that everyone¡¯s emotions had stabilized, and there was a hint of hope in their eyes. He felt a little relieved. Then, he ordered Huang Zao to lead the people in rebuilding the camp, while also setting up a perimeter and laying defensive traps. Inside the tent, Zhenjin, Cang Xu, Zi Di, and Lan Zao gathered once again. Cang Xu was the first to speak, admitting his guilt with embarrassment: ¡°This is all my fault! I didn¡¯t anticipate that the goat¡¯s flesh and blood would be poisoned. I let immediate interests cloud my rational judgment. When I noticed the large scale of the flock, I should have realized there was something strange and been more cautious of potential risks!¡± Zhenjin slightly shook his head and consoled him, ¡°This island is dangerous and mysterious, and we all wanted to get more food. This isn¡¯t just your fault, Mr. Cang Xu. As the leader, I bear even more responsibility. However, dwelling on these mistakes now has no value. Let¡¯s think carefully, how do we solve this problem?¡± ... Cang Xu sighed and shared his view, ¡°Right now everyone is afflicted with cold poison, and this cold poison is quite peculiar. On the surface, it seems that it will only act up once we leave here for a certain distance. But in fact, I believe it¡¯s due to the temperature.¡± ¡°Here, near the Snow Peak, the temperature is low, and the cold poison does not act up. As we distance ourselves from Snow Peak, the further we go, the higher the temperature. Once it reaches a certain point, the cold poison in our bodies is triggered.¡± ¡°The most direct evidence of this view is the woolen clothes! When we took them off, our body temperature quickly dropped, and the symptoms of the cold poison were greatly reduced.¡± ¡°This is everything I know about the cold poison.¡± After speaking, Cang Xu looked at Zi Di. Not only him, Zhenjin and Lan Zao also looked at Zi Di. In fact, everyone knew: the problem involved toxins, and as the pharmacist, Zi Di had the most authority on this matter. Since regaining her mobility, Zi Di had been experimenting with the mutton and her own blood among other things, trying to create potions. At this moment, she held a glass test tube in her hand, carefully pouring some granules into it. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The test tube originally contained a liquid similar to fresh blood, and once the granules were added, it suddenly started bubbling as if boiling. Finally, with a light bang, the whole test tube broke apart. The bright red liquid inside spilled onto the carpet in the tent. But Zi Di ignored the liquid and bent down, her bright purple eyes wide as she carefully pinched the small granules on the carpet with her fingers. Within just a dozen breaths, she had collected many granules and gathered them into her palm. She examined the granules closely. Immediately, she keenly noticed: the granules displayed various cracks, not just simple transparent fractures, but with a greyish tinge. Seeing this, Zi Di¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Everyone, I think I¡¯ve found the real reason.¡± ¡°Oh? What is the cold poison?¡± Zhenjin asked. Zi Di shook her head slightly, ¡°In fact, the mutton has no cold poison at all. Before consuming it, I tested it by various means for safety. The results showed no error; the mutton is indeed not toxic.¡± Everyone was puzzled, ¡°Then what¡¯s going on with us? Could it be something else that poisoned us?¡± Zi Di shook her head again, ¡°The problem lies with the mutton.¡± Zhenjin and Lan Zao¡¯s confusion deepened. However, Cang Xu¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up and he blurted out, ¡°Could it be a magic imbalance?¡± ¡°Yes, that is the reason,¡± Zi Di sighed and then explained in detail. ¡°Being near the Snow Peak, the concentration of frost elements in the surroundings is very high.¡± ¡°The goats living here have frost elements from the air infiltrate their bodies. If these goats were natural creatures, their bodies would coordinate the magic, accumulating orderly magic. When such stable magic accumulates enough, it would transform and condense into demon crystals.¡± ¡°But as we suspected before, these goats are man-made creations. Although their flesh and blood structure is stable, they don¡¯t have the function of magic coordination. They have been under the protection of a magic prohibition environment.¡± ¡°The frost elements within the goats¡¯ bodies cannot be perfectly and naturally digested and absorbed. While they can transform into magic, the magic is chaotic and contradictory. Not only can it not form demon crystals, but it also possesses a characteristic that it remains relatively stable and dormant within the body when the temperature is low. When the temperature rises sufficiently, it suddenly erupts, causing symptoms similar to cold poison.¡± ¡°I previously thought I was afflicted with cold poison, so I took a detoxification potion made of fire element materials. As a result, the magic of the fire element in the potion further stimulated the ice element¡¯s magic. The conflict between the two caused me to faint on the spot.¡± Zi Di paused, then continued, ¡°Because of this, when we removed the woolen clothes, our body temperatures dropped rapidly, causing the ice element magic to stabilize and become dormant, so our conditions improved quickly.¡± ¡°I see now,¡± everyone realized the truth after this analysis. This kind of situation is actually quite common in the practice of transcendents. For example, when a mage makes a mistake during meditation, and the ice elements fail to transform into mana, invading the whole body, it results in cold poison, even freezing the entire body. Fighters, such as martial artists, knights, and swordsmen, who consume magic beast meat or take potions, but cannot digest the immense magic within, will also suffer a backlash. This phenomenon is even more common in nature than in cultivators. Fishmen who live in the sea for a long time, if they enter the desert during the day, will experience dry and cracked skin, and sluggish spirits in decline. This is because the desert during the day is filled with fire and light elements. Fishmen, immersed in such an environment, inevitably absorb light and fire elements. Even if not consciously absorbed, these elements will form magic on the skin¡¯s surface. These magic energies conflicting with the fishmen¡¯s inherent water element magic will cause symptoms of dry and cracked skin, and sluggish spirits. In the North, when a flourishing phoenix tree suddenly encounters a blizzard, its leaves all fall off, leaving only bare branches, with many areas frostbitten. This is due to the sudden surge of ice elements causing magic erosion. Correspondingly, there are many ways in nature to resist magic erosion. For instance, the evergreen pine trees in the snowlands can maintain their wood element magic in environments rich in ice elements. Also, on the grasslands, rhinoceroses often roll in mud to build a mud armor to resist the scorching sun. This layers them in a mud magic shield, replacing their skin for a consuming battle to fend off external magical erosion. ¡°Wait, according to Master Zi Di¡¯s explanation, isn¡¯t this mutton actually valuable? The seemingly ordinary beast meat actually contains magic, making it essentially magic beast meat. Magic beast meat is an expensive resource for cultivation!¡± Lan Zao, being a bronze-level elite and sensitive to cultivation resources, exclaimed loudly. Indeed, during the practice of fighting energy, the demand for the blood and flesh of magic beasts is very high. For example, those training in fire fighting energy usually consume fire attribute magic beast meat. Firstly, magic beast meat is highly nutritious, and long-term consumption enhances the cultivator¡¯s life foundation. Secondly, the magic in magic beast meat seeps into the cultivator¡¯s body after consumption. If left unchecked, this foreign magic could be harmful. But when the cultivator activates their fire fighting energy technique, they quickly absorb and transform the magic, eliminating the hazard, more importantly, augmenting their fighting energy. Hearing Lan Zao¡¯s words, Cang Xu nodded slightly, acknowledging, ¡°As you say, this likelihood indeed exists.¡± ¡°The difference between magic beast meat and ordinary meat lies in whether it contains magic or not.¡± ¡°Compared to normal magic beast meat, the magic contained in this mutton is quite unusual. When the temperature is low, the magic is inwardly dormant, buried deep within, and fairly stable. When the temperature rises, the magic reveals its chaotic nature, erupting and posing a life threat to the consumer.¡± ¡°If an ice element fighting energy technique is excellent enough to withstand and transform this ice element magic, then this mutton would be valuable magic beast meat to those individuals.¡± ¡°However¡­ such people are likely very few,¡± Zhenjin pondered deeply. Fighting energy techniques are methods involving fighting energy, establishing internal coordination, balance, and magic circulation. There are many fighting energy techniques, varying in quality. High-quality fighting energy techniques are not only created by exceptionally talented pioneers but also refined over numerous generations. The best recognized techniques occupying the highest levels are extremely limited, countable on ten fingers, such as the Holy Emperor¡¯s Holy Fighting Energy, Duke Icehowl¡¯s Extreme Blizzard Fighting Spirit, and Scimitar Saint¡¯s Blazing Flame Fighting Energy. The more excellent the fighting energy technique, the more efficiently it can absorb and transform the magic in magic beast meat. Under normal circumstances, the magic in magic beast meat is relatively balanced and stable. After processing, its dissipation rate is not rapid. This magic is easily sensed and absorbed or transformed. But the mutton clearly was an unusual case. The goats were not natural creations. The magic within them far exceeded their life levels. The structure of the goat herd was chaotic, with most being ordinary beasts, only a few being of bronze level. Furthermore, when the magic in the mutton erupted, it rendered even bronze-level individuals like Lan Zao and Huang Zao immobile. But when dormant and stable, it couldn¡¯t be sensed by anyone, not Zhenjin, Lan Zao, or Zi Di. These two traits of the magic structure, both elevated the requirements for handling ice element fighting energy to a much higher degree. Chapter 31 - 31: Section 32: A Familiar Feeling Chapter 31: Section 32: A Familiar Feeling Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°This goat meat, if developed, indeed holds high commercial value.¡± Cang Xu came up with more ideas. He raised a forefinger, ¡°First, the magical power contained in ordinary goat meat far surpasses that of a Bronze-level magic beast under normal circumstances. The cost of raising ordinary goats versus the same number of Bronze-level magical beasts is vastly different.¡± Then, he raised his middle finger, ¡°Second, although the magical energy structure of goat meat is bizarre and dangerous, when in a low-temperature state, the magic is very introverted and stable, which is a natural storage advantage.¡± ¡°Under normal circumstances, once a magic beast is slaughtered, the magical power contained in its body will continuously dissipate. At this time, mages and alchemists are often needed to handle the beast¡¯s body parts, lock in the magic, and extend the stability period of the magical structure.¡± ¡°Take the largest magic beast hunting group on the Holy Bright Continent¡ªthe Giant Mouth Hunting Group for example. After killing a magic beast, they will have specialized personnel on-site to cut down the beast¡¯s various parts, seal them one by one, and then transport them to the camp for a deeper seal using a magic array.¡± ... ¡°Even with multiple seals, the magical materials from these beasts will still continuously lose magical power, causing their value to decrease over time. Therefore, for extremely precious magical materials, the Giant Mouth Hunting Group will spare no expense to use a teleportation array for transportation.¡± ¡°The processing and transportation costs are substantial. The stronger the magic beast, the greater the cost.¡± ¡°Therefore, under suitable conditions, the Giant Mouth Hunting Group will try to capture magic beasts alive rather than kill them on the spot. They will first transport the live beasts to big cities and then kill them locally to sell fresh magical materials directly.¡± ¡°But this also contains a problem, the cost of feeding magic beasts is very high. Monitoring and suppressing them requires powerful transcendent beings, which involves significant manpower maintenance and consumption.¡± At this point, Cang Xu turned the conversation back to the goat meat before them, ¡°But our goat meat is different. As long as we create a low-temperature environment, the ice magic within the goat meat will be quite stable and dissipate very little. This advantage is really big and will save us huge storage and transportation costs.¡± Cang Xu was knowledgeable and very familiar with the magic beast hunting and selling industry. The more Zhenjin listened, the more heartened he became. Resources were crucial. Zhenjin had already set his sights on these goats. His initial idea was to use these goats as mounts to develop a cavalry force. If he became the White Sand City Lord and could possess an elite cavalry force, it would greatly assist him in controlling the overall situation. Therefore, Zhenjin had not feared the trouble earlier and personally subdued four Bronze-level bone-headed goats and captured many lambs, attempting to raise them. But the result was that all the lambs died from poison, while the four Bronze-headed goats survived. Everyone also got poisoned from eating the goat meat. It could be said that Zhenjin¡¯s goat cavalry plan had completely failed. But now he discovered another possibility, which was to directly sell the goat meat! Such is life. Plans can never keep up with changes. Cold reality brings disaster, shattering ideals and plans, yet often brings gifts at the same time, keeping hope alive. Hope is ever-present, the key is whether people can see it. Many people fall into despair because seeing hope requires not just a pair of bright eyes but also a good attitude or profound wisdom. Zi Di¡¯s purple eyes shone with light, and she echoed Cang Xu¡¯s words, ¡°If we can find transcendent beings who can smoothly digest this goat meat, then this is indeed a huge business. Ordinary goats are too easy to catch, we could even participate in large-scale artificial breeding. The breeding and transportation costs among this are far lower than those of Bronze- and Black Iron-level magic beasts. The profit from this business is quite substantial, and there¡¯s another wonderful aspect¡ªas long as we sell in large quantities at low prices, it could also help us connect with the top nobles of the empire!¡± Lan Zao¡¯s expression could hardly hide his excitement, ¡°From this perspective, these goats are like piles of walking, bleating gold coins.¡± The girl with the purple eyes looked firmly at Zhenjin, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, if we develop and control this business, it will undoubtedly benefit you greatly. Whether in competing for the position of White Sand City Lord or after becoming the City Lord, you will need a large amount of funds. This business is like giving you wings on your back! It could even bring us support from the top nobles of the empire!¡± Zhenjin nodded, knowing the prospects and benefits, but he still remained calm, ¡°This matter requires careful planning. The key now is to solve the chaotic magic within our bodies!¡± The atmosphere in the tent finally calmed down somewhat. Allowing these ice magic energies to lurk within one¡¯s body was absolutely unacceptable. Even though these magical energies had low activity, they would continuously erode the body¡¯s vitality. In the short term, it may seem fine, but the magic was always damaging everyone¡¯s life force. Once body temperature rose, these magical energies would become deadly killers within the body! Zhenjin did not want this. He needed to solve his own problem and preserve the lives of others. He still had to lead this small team far to the Beast Race Continent to compete for his position as White Sand City Lord. So how could this problem be solved? Everyone¡¯s eyes in the tent fell on Zi Di. It still depended on the performance of this pharmacist, especially when low-level magic and fighting energy could not be activated at present. Zi Di¡¯s face was solemn, feeling the heavy burden on her shoulders, and she pondered, ¡°I need to conduct an experiment first and can¡¯t give an answer yet.¡± Zhenjin nodded, ¡°What do you need? We will fully cooperate with you!¡± Zhenjin directly gave his tent to Zi Di. Lan Zao led his team to hunt a large number of goats again. Cang Xu personally directed the dissection, and Zhenjin even killed a Bronze-headed goat. The goat¡¯s blood meat, bones, and skins containing magical power were transported to the tent in batches. The tent¡¯s lights burned from dusk to late at night, and then before dawn, Zi Di opened the tent flap with heavy dark circles under her eyes. ¡°I need grass.¡± ¡°Grass?¡± Zhenjin had been waiting outside the tent. ¡°The food of the goat herd, the more grass the better. Remember, make sure to bring the roots.¡± Zi Di instructed. Zhenjin nodded and immediately gave the relevant order. Fortunately, he had these subordinates. If he were alone, he would not be able to satisfy Zi Di¡¯s urgent needs. Standing outside the tent, Zhenjin saw the eastern sky begin to brighten, knowing the night was over. He did not know Zi Di¡¯s specific progress and felt worried, but his face showed no sign. He stood outside the tent, his hand resting on the rough wooden knife handle, his body straight as a gun. When the exploration team members passed by and saw Zhenjin¡¯s figure, their restless hearts calmed down, and their hope increased. The group excavated the grass, removed the soil, and piled the grass into the tent. The tent was like a bear that had just ended hibernation, constantly swallowing, showing a surprising capacity. Zhenjin could smell various strange odors emanating from the tent. When the sunlight lit up the east, and the sky was filled with morning haze, Zi Di¡¯s voice came from within the tent, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, are you still there?¡± ¡°Here.¡± Zhenjin immediately replied. ¡°Then please come in.¡± Zhenjin felt a surge of energy, turned, lifted the tent flap, and entered the tent. The smell inside the tent was even more pungent, with a faint mist lingering. Zi Di looked exhausted, but her crystal-clear eyes showed a hint of excitement. ¡°Mission accomplished.¡± Zi Di held up a glass bottle containing a deep blue liquid resembling seawater. ¡°It turns out these goats, like us, are victims.¡± ¡°The actual carrier of the ice magic is this grass.¡± ¡°The life breath of this grass is very ordinary, but in reality, it contains extremely rich ice magic power. When the goats eat the grass, the magic moves into their bodies. Then, when we consume the goat meat, we are affected by this special magic!¡± The truth revealed by Zi Di astonished Zhenjin. ¡°In that case, does this grass have the same value as a magic plant?¡± Zhenjin asked. Zi Di nodded, ¡°The juice of this grass is very rich, especially in the roots, comparable to berries. But I still recommend we sell the goat meat. This grass can be easily imitated, whether by a Druid Master or the Empire¡¯s Holy Temple of Life. As long as they obtain a certain amount of grass, they have the ability to cultivate it in large numbers. Not to mention beings like the Empire¡¯s Duke Sen Xu.¡± The potion was made, but its actual effect had to be tested through practice. Of course, Zhenjin would not be the first to consume it; he gathered a small group of participants. Upon hearing the news, Huang Zao immediately shouted to be the first to try. This led to a scolding from Lan Zao, forcing Huang Zao to give up, as he dared not resist his older brother. So, with everyone¡¯s attention, Lan Zao swallowed the first potion in one gulp. ¡°Urgh, urgh¡­¡± After swallowing, Lan Zao¡¯s face turned blue, and he grabbed his neck with both hands, opened his mouth wide, and retched. But frustratingly, nothing came out. ¡°Brother!¡± Huang Zao cried out in shock. Others were also somewhat suspicious. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is normal,¡± Zi Di reassured them. Just as she finished, Lan Zao suddenly bent over and spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground. The blood was red mixed with blue, with a few thumb-sized ice chunks emitting a dense cold mist of a weird blue-purple color. After spitting these out, Lan Zao instantly felt relaxed, and the strange blue on his face quickly faded, returning to its original flesh color. Zi Di examined him and smiled, ¡°Great, all the ice magic should be out of your system. The potion I crafted can absorb and gather the ice magic in your body and then induce vomiting to eject it. As long as you don¡¯t continue eating goat meat, there won¡¯t be any more poisoning.¡± To verify this, everyone accompanied Lan Zao away from the camp. They not only reached the spot where they had previously been poisoned but also moved further along. Lan Zao felt energetic, with no abnormalities. Everyone was overjoyed, and the second and third potions were made in quick succession. When it was Zhenjin¡¯s turn to drink, it was the sixth potion. Zi Di had arranged this deliberately. With previous tests proving the potion¡¯s effectiveness, Zi Di felt reassured letting Zhenjin consume it. After drinking the potion, Zhenjin had the same reactions as Lan Zao. He spit out a mouthful of blood and ice chunks, removing the ice magic from his body. ¡°What is this?!¡± But at that moment, Zhenjin¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Zi Di quickly approached with concern. ¡°Nothing.¡± Zhenjin shook his head, though the previous tremor lingered. When he spat out the blood, he felt an indescribable emptiness. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This sensation of emptiness was so vivid because he had recalled it many times before. He knew it too well! Not long ago, when he killed the Blade Spider, his hands had turned into claws and then vanished, causing this same emptiness. ¡°What¡¯s this all about?¡± Zhenjin wondered. Chapter 32 - 32: Section 33: Re-Mastering Secret Skill Chapter 32: Section 33: Re-Mastering Secret Skill Editor: Henyee Translations In the stillness of the night, the tent enveloped them in darkness, shielding them from the chill outside. Zhenjin lay on a mat of dried leaves and straw, covered by a thin blanket. Earlier, he and Zi Di had both been roughing it in the wild, and now conditions were much more comfortable and warm. A wave of weakness still lingered in his body. This was the aftereffect of the potion. ... Though the environment was cozy and his body exhausted, Zhenjin could not sleep. His eyes were wide open, brows furrowed, as he recalled the void feeling when he drank the potion and vomited out ice chunks and blood. ¡°No mistake, this is almost exactly the same feeling!¡± Zhenjin was now very certain. Before, when he fought the Blade Spider, lacking the only dagger to cut the web, he was in great peril. But at the critical moment, his hands suddenly transformed into claws and pierced directly into the spider. Zhenjin thus turned the tables and killed the Blade Spider, turning danger into safety. After that, his hands reverted, and a deep, indescribable void feeling emerged from within him. These two feelings were identical. ¡°The principle of the Healing Potion is to condense the frost magic within my body into a mass and expel it.¡± ¡°So, this void feeling should be the result of a sudden massive consumption of my magic power.¡± Zhenjin took this discovery very seriously. Because this mutation ability held immense value. In the current situation, if Zhenjin couldn¡¯t continuously exert his Fighting energy, he would find it hard to unleash his true might. If faced with a deadly scenario again, being able to transform his hands back into claws would undoubtedly become a strong ace up his sleeve. After all, this ace was lethal to Silver Level Blade Spiders. ¡°According to my thinking, Zi Di accidentally created a Transformation Potion while treating me?¡± ¡°And I have therefore mastered the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear transformation?¡± A Transformation Potion is a type of Magic Potion, crafted by a powerful Potion Master, allowing temporary transformation into a giant dragon. For nearly a century, Transformation Potions have been popular among the upper echelons of the Human Race. The key figure was Duchess Emily. Not only was she personally powerful and influential, but she also had a great love for beauty. The Transformation Potions she developed have thousands of variations. Unlike the earlier Potion Master¡¯s approach, most of Duchess Emily¡¯s potions were very basic. The effects were mild. Upon consumption, one¡¯s skin tone, hair color, or nasal bridge might change marginally. Now, Emily¡¯s Transformation Potions were well-known in the Holy Bright Empire and sold consistently well, becoming the major source of income for Emily¡¯s estate. Zhenjin recalled in detail. Charging to probable death, he killed the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Gravely wounded, on the brink of death, he faced repeated unconsciousness and moments of vague vision. He distinctly remembered one scene¡ªZi Di directly infusing bear blood into his body. According to Zi Di¡¯s later explanation, she had no choice but to take a risky gamble in her panic. Fortunately, she succeeded! ¡°Bear blood contains vast magic power, similar to eating goat meat. This magic power lay dormant within me, and when transformed, it consumed this magic power, leading to an intense void sensation.¡± ¡°Of course, besides that, there¡¯s another possibility¡ªFighting energy.¡± ¡°Such a scenario is complex.¡± ¡°In that life-or-death moment, perhaps my potential was triggered, and I instinctively exerted Fighting energy.¡± ¡°This island prohibits the use of low-level Magic Fighting Spirits, but the exact upper limit hasn¡¯t been accurately measured. Maybe I was at the Golden Level. In that crucial moment, I temporarily broke the barrier, displaying Golden Fighting Spirit.¡± ¡°Golden Fighting Spirit isn¡¯t the key.¡± ¡°The key is at that perilous moment, my bloodline awakened!¡± Once the bloodline awakens, physical changes occur. For instance, knights with Dragon Bloodlines would grow Dragon Scales on their bodies. Or, for sorcerers with Hydra Bloodlines, once their bloodline awakens, their round human pupils turn into vertical snake pupils. In the Holy Bright Empire, Marquis Goldmank, a Holy Domain Level expert, has been very active on the battlefield in recent years. Whenever he fights bloodily, Fighting energy fills his entire body, stimulating his bloodline to awaken, causing golden fragmented lightning to surround him, and his black hair to turn golden, swelling up as if blood-filled muscles. Bloodline awakenings are uncommon; even among the strong, only a few possess them. This requires a highly concentrated bloodline to potentially awaken. ¡°If I am at the Golden Level, at my current age, I must be extraordinarily gifted. This talent suggests I possess a considerably rich bloodline! Bloodline awakening wouldn¡¯t be surprising.¡± ¡°But my bloodline traces back to the Golden Bee Queen. How would the awakening give me claws, not the Bee Queen¡¯s characteristics?¡± ¡°Maybe there¡¯s another bloodline within me?¡± This was uncertain. Human nobles often had dissolute lives, and bloodlines were often mixed. Furthermore, some bloodlines remain dormant unless stimulated. ¡°In the shock of near-death, I exerted Golden Fighting energy and awoke a mysterious bloodline, transforming my hands into claws. But why were they exactly like the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s claws? Was it truly a coincidence?¡± Thus, Zhenjin comprehensively considered and believed the Transformation Potion theory most probable. Bloodline awakening seemed less likely. This raised a new question. ¡°Do I still have Monkey-tailed Brown Bear magic within me?¡± ¡°Does this magic continue to erode me?¡± Magic erosion had severe consequences. Different bloodlines generally couldn¡¯t coexist peacefully. If a noble had two bloodlines, usually one was dominant. During cultivation, the superior bloodline grows stronger, eventually expelling the weaker one. When both bloodlines are high-grade and refuse to yield, complications arise. Specific Fighting energy techniques are needed to maintain balance between the two. The balance might prioritize one or equally strengthen both. If broken, the bloodlines violently clash, endangering the Transcendent, causing injury or death. Bloodline determines aptitude, the key to future power. The pursuit of bloodlines in the Human Race remained relentless and mad. Nobles would marry into high-grade bloodlines, intermarry among themselves, and engage in debauchery to produce exceptionally gifted offspring. Among the races, the Human Race excelled in reproduction, surpassing elves and dwarfs. But among noble offspring, the gifted remained a minority. Moreover, the stronger an individual¡¯s life form, the harder reproduction becomes, and the cost is high. Besides birth, humans adopted other underhanded methods. Using magic, crafting potions, creating environments, and even trading with demons to forcibly implant high-grade bloodlines. Though forcibly mixing high-grade bloodlines could succeed temporarily, the results were often tragic. First, human mutations occurred, producing monstrous deformities, affecting both body and spirit, often resulting in madness, babbling, confusion, or dementia. Secondly, the life¡¯s inherent stability was destroyed, drastically shortening lifespan and survival time. Finally, soul disappearance ensued. Zhenjin had never heard of a successful permanent bloodline implantation by external force. Bloodlines were precious and critical. High-grade bloodlines provided exceptional aptitude. Over time, this aptitude yielded formidable power. Power meant authority. Human nobles remained above the masses due to such a solid foundation. Bloodlines were the cornerstone and pride of nobles! ¡°Zi Di unintentionally created a Transformation Potion in her treatment. This potion transformed my hands into beast claws, implying an external infusion of Monkey-tailed Brown Bear bloodline.¡± ¡°This low-grade bloodline would contaminate my noble bloodline.¡± ¡°High contamination levels would reduce my cultivation aptitude.¡± Transformation Potions shouldn¡¯t be misused. Misuse had severe, costly consequences. ¡°Whether I¡¯m Silver Level or Golden Level, I¡¯m still very young. The road ahead is long. These are just the beginnings, not the end.¡± ¡°If this Transformation Potion dims my future, it would be a great loss.¡± Bronze, Black Iron, Silver, Gold. Above these were Legend and Holy Domain. Above the Holy Domain, stronger levels existed! Who wouldn¡¯t want to become a Legend, a Holy Domain expert, and beyond? Zhenjin didn¡¯t want his growth obstructed or potential and hope diminished due to the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear blood contamination, darkening his bright future. ¡°The void feeling indicates my magic power was massively consumed. Has the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear magic exhausted?¡± ¡°My hands transformed once, consuming all the magic power? Is any remaining now?¡± ¡°After that, no matter how I tried, my hands couldn¡¯t transform. Does this prove the magic power has depleted from my body?¡± ¡°Considering this incident, I drank the potion, which gathered the alien magic power into a mass and expelled it.¡± ¡°Does Zi Di¡¯s potion, targeting frost magic, also work on Monkey-tailed Brown Bear magic?¡± ¡°Perhaps I should reveal everything to Zi Di, ask for her help to design a targeted emetic potion?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s thoughts were complex. Eventually, his weakness overtook him, and he fell into a drowsy sleep in the tent. ¡°Where is this? Am I dreaming?¡± After an unknown time, he found himself in a vast place. Before him was a wooden long table, with bows and arrows on it. A hundred meters away, three archery targets stood. The rough wooden table and rustic arrows had straw-stuffed human-like targets, with a circular white cloth on the head, painted with multiple concentric circles, the center filled with red dye. This was an archery range. Zhenjin and a middle-aged man were the only ones here. The man, tall with slender mustaches, had a slight lift of face, and a constant hint of noble pride. Zhenjin recognized this middle-aged man. He was his father, the current Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family. Due to memory loss, Zhenjin lacked feelings towards this man, but recalled their close relationship from earlier memories. ¡°Father, I have come at your call.¡± Zhenjin found himself speaking. The Clan Leader nodded slightly: ¡°You¡¯ve been back from the imperial capital for a few days. I¡¯m here to test if your training lapsed. Let¡¯s compete in archery. If you win, you¡¯ll be granted the Swift Bee.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes instantly brightened. The Swift Bee was a flying mount, valuable and rare in the market. In the Empire, few nobles possessed the skill to breed Swift Bees. The Hundred Needle Family was among them. But next, Zhenjin heard himself speak in a hesitant, sorrowful tone: ¡°But Father, your arm¡­¡± Zhenjin realized this scene happened shortly after his father¡¯s fight with Qing Kui. With more relevant memories, Zhenjin knew: his father, the Clan Leader, was powerful but lost an arm in the battle with Qing Kui, becoming handicapped. Indeed, how could a one-armed leader shoot an arrow? The Clan Leader was nonchalant: ¡°No matter, you shoot first.¡± Zhenjin picked up a longbow, expertly nocked an arrow, and shot, hitting the target¡¯s head. His low spirits likely caused him to miss the bulls-eye. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin placed the bow on the table. It was the Clan Leader¡¯s turn. With a slight smile, he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing an inner pocket. Skillfully sewn, the pocket held ten long needles. Each needle, as long as an adult¡¯s index finger, seemed crystal-like with a faintly clouded white hue, not fully transparent. ¡°Watch closely, my son.¡± The Clan Leader plucked a White Crystal Long Needle with his index and middle fingers. The next moment, he initiated Golden Fighting Spirit, pouring it into the needle. The needle gleamed with brilliant golden light instantly. Facing the target, the Clan Leader flicked his fingers lightly. Whoosh! A sharp, piercing sound echoed as the golden needle flew, leaving a bright trail. The trail extended straight, hitting the target precisely, then exploded, obliterating the target! ¡°What is this?!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes widened in shock. The Clan Leader smiled and explained: ¡°There are numerous combat skills, some secrets never shown lightly, called Secret Skills. What you see now is the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s Secret Skill¡ªResonating Needle. Would you like to learn?¡± ¡°Yes! Please teach me, Father!¡± Zhenjin shouted, his spirit visibly lifted, sweeping away earlier gloom and despair. The Clan Leader immediately began teaching and handed Zhenjin a White Crystal Long Needle. Zhenjin closely examined it, thinking: ¡°This White Crystal Flying Needle is extraordinary, at least Golden Level gear!¡± Later, Zhenjin found himself failing multiple times. ¡°You¡¯ve grasped the essentials, your execution isn¡¯t wrong. Your failure is understandable.¡± The middle-aged noble explained, ¡°Your failure stems from inadequate Fighting energy reserves. Using Resonating Needle consumes substantial Fighting energy. Even at Golden Level, it can only be triggered ten times consecutively.¡± ¡°According to your Fighting energy capacity, you can barely fire one needle fully infused.¡± The Clan Leader estimated. Zhenjin forced a smile: ¡°Father, doesn¡¯t using this Secret Skill endanger me?¡± Emptying all his Fighting energy for one needle. If missed during battle, lacking subsequent support, Zhenjin would be in grave danger. The Clan Leader¡¯s smile faded, turning serious. He stared deeply at Zhenjin: ¡°Son, reality is harsh. Whether in battle or elsewhere, you¡¯ll often face significant risks.¡± ¡°Many times, you¡¯ll find giving your all for one shot is the wisest choice.¡± ¡°Exhausting all Fighting energy, the ensuing void and pain is hard to bear. Yet sometimes, we must do so.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fear risk, nor sacrifice!¡± Chapter 33 - 33: Section 34: I Want to Have You Chapter 33: Section 34: I Want to Have You Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Hah.¡± Accompanied by a light sound, a dagger flew through the air, embedding its sharp tip into a wooden stake. Lord Zhenjin slowly retracted his arm, looking thoughtfully at the many wooden stakes before him. This morning, he had issued orders to gather various ranged weapons. Bows and crossbows were the most common. Besides those, there were specialized throwing weapons like flying axes and flying pitchforks, as well as throwable items like short spears and daggers. ... Now, all these weapons had been thrown by him, accurately striking wooden stakes at varying distances. As he flexed his fingers, Zhenjin looked at the results before him, silently evaluating himself: ¡°Strictly speaking, daggers are not designed for throwing. But I threw dozens of them without a single miss. I can hit wherever I aim.¡± ¡°Aside from daggers, the same applies to short spears, flying axes, and flying pitchforks.¡± Not to mention bows and crossbows. ¡°If I had darts, I should be able to achieve the same result.¡± Darts were not common. On the eastern part of the Holy Bright Continent, there were unique Fighting energy techniques that enabled one to move lightly like a swallow and use darts and throwing knives with great power. Thus, darts were more prevalent in the eastern regions of the Holy Bright Continent but very rare elsewhere. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The current results have proven: last night was not a dream, but rather a restored fragment of my memory.¡± This level of throwing prowess was beyond the previous Lord Zhenjin¡¯s ability. But after one night, he could do this so effortlessly, as if it were instinct. ¡°No, this should be the result of my past diligent practice. It was just that I couldn¡¯t utilize it, and last night¡¯s memory was the key to unlocking it.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, although I recalled the Secret Skill of the Humming Needles, I cannot use it.¡± ¡°If I could perform such a Secret Skill, the power would be considerable, posing a significant threat to the ferocious monsters on this island.¡± Zhenjin sighed inwardly. He still couldn¡¯t activate his Fighting energy, and the prerequisite for the Humming Needles Secret Skill was to channel his Fighting energy into specially-made flying needles. Thus, since he couldn¡¯t activate his Fighting energy, he couldn¡¯t truly unleash the power of the Humming Needles. Nonetheless, with the emergence of this memory, Zhenjin¡¯s strength had increased a little. In the past, he had been formidable in close combat with a longsword. Now, with the addition of his throwing abilities, his attack range had expanded to several hundred steps around him. ¡°Truly worthy of the Hundred Needle bloodline! In terms of precision, the Hundred Needle bloodline ranks among the top five on the entire Holy Bright Continent. Lord Zhenjin, you are the hope of the Hundred Needle Family; you will surely bring glory back to the entire family.¡± Deep in thought, Zhenjin heard a familiar voice. He turned around and, as expected, saw Cang Xu. Cang Xu walked slowly, his face showing respect as he looked at the various throwing weapons embedded in the wooden stakes. Zhenjin shook his head slightly. He had come here early in the morning to practice, not just to confirm the memory but also hoping to trigger related memories and comprehend how to activate his Fighting energy. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t succeed. In fact, before this, he had asked his subordinates about their Fighting energy techniques and secretly tried to practice them. But no matter how hard he tried, this island prohibited all low-level Magic and Fighting energy, preventing him from sensing anything and inhibiting the original Fighting energy hidden within him. He wasn¡¯t going to share these frustrations with Cang Xu. ¡°How are things going at the moment?¡± Zhenjin asked as he stood still, regulating his breathing as Cang Xu approached him. It was evident that Cang Xu had come to report. ¡°Reporting, my lord, no one has died.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s first words allowed Zhenjin to breathe a sigh of relief. Cang Xu continued, ¡°We are indeed lucky to have Lady Zi Di as our pharmacist! These potions have benefited almost everyone. So far, more than half of them have taken the potions. These people are very weak; some have fallen into a coma, some have fevers, and they are all in for heavy sickness.¡± The potions had been made and were plentiful. But for safety and prudence, Cang Xu had arranged for the expedition team members to take them in batches. There were still some who hadn¡¯t taken the potions yet. Zhenjin nodded slightly, asking the key question: ¡°So, to what extent has the physical condition of the first group of potion takers deteriorated?¡± Cang Xu shook his head slightly. ¡°The situation is still developing, but based on the current results, these people are very weak, and the degree of decline varies individually. Some are mild, while others are severe. Overall, it¡¯s manageable. At least there haven¡¯t been any crippling or fatal cases.¡± Then, with a slightly somber expression, he continued, ¡°My lord, I believe the risk of magic power erosion has been mostly mitigated; it no longer poses a significant threat to our entire team. However, there¡¯s another pressing issue.¡± ¡°Is it food?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes flashed with understanding. ¡°My lord, you are wise.¡± Cang Xu bowed slightly, his face heavy with worry. ¡°We are indeed short on food.¡± Zhenjin nodded slightly; this aspect of supply had long been on his radar, so he wasn¡¯t surprised. Originally, Cang Xu had suggested hunting goats extensively to obtain goat meat. Whether it was the exploration team or the large group of people back at the beach, the demand for food was substantial. Although the exploration team had started with ample food, they had been away from the beach and in the jungle for a long time, consuming a lot of their provisions. The food carried by Zhenjin and Zi Di was sufficient initially, but adequate only for two people. With the increased population, the food supply per person became scarce. Unless Zhenjin decided to abandon these people and prioritize the food supply. ¡°How much longer can we hold out?¡± Zhenjin asked further. The scholar responded immediately, ¡°Roughly calculated, we can last fifteen days.¡± Half a month. Zhenjin nodded, feeling satisfied with Cang Xu¡¯s report. ¡°This is the role of a staff member.¡± ¡°Cang Xu is a competent staff member.¡± ¡°He can foresee problems and address them in advance. Many matters appear trivial and insignificant, making it difficult for a leader to manage everything. At such times, someone is needed to fill the gaps.¡± ¡°Fifteen days seem like a long time, but it¡¯s already on the edge of the warning line.¡± A sense of urgency rose in Zhenjin¡¯s heart. Having ventured on this island for many days, he understood how difficult it was to obtain food here. Cang Xu must have had a deep understanding as well. Joining the exploration team, he had undergone many hardships and dangers, never once managing to secure a large food haul. One opportunity had been hunting the goat herd, but the goat meat proved problematic, nearly causing the team¡¯s demise. ¡°Do you have any good suggestions?¡± Zhenjin pondered and asked Cang Xu again. Cang Xu deliberated, ¡°I am ashamed, my lord, but I am powerless in this matter. However, perhaps Lady Zi Di might have some solutions.¡± At these words, Zhenjin¡¯s heart stirred, and he shot a deep glance at Cang Xu. Thoughts rose in the young lord¡¯s mind. ¡°Is Cang Xu implying something? Did he see through something?¡± ¡°After all¡­ The secret of the roots is hard to conceal forever. Maybe it can fool others, but Cang Xu was watching closely the entire time. His broad knowledge makes it normal for him to perceive this secret.¡± Zi Di had discovered the grass seemed to be the true cause affecting the goats, instructing Zhenjin to keep it a secret. Zhenjin¡¯s thoughts raced: ¡°Given the facts, a simple solution to the food problem would be having Zi Di brew more potions and administer them to the goats. Once they expel the chaotic magic power, the goat meat would be edible.¡± ¡°Cang Xu¡¯s suggestion seems to point to this method, though he didn¡¯t state it directly.¡± ¡°After all, these unique roots contain rich Ice Magic power, a valuable resource any faction would prudently safeguard.¡± ¡°Cang Xu perhaps understands the implications but chooses to feign ignorance. As expected from someone who served the nobility for much of their life.¡± Considering this, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but feel more appreciative of Cang Xu. What he admired most about Cang Xu was the elder¡¯s understanding of curbing his cleverness, ensuring his wisdom didn¡¯t offend others. He knew how to propose his ideas seamlessly, without easily arousing resentment. Yet, he also adhered to his principles. Cang Xu knew that for the exploration team, food was of paramount importance. Although the team had ample water with a nearby replenishment point, food was crucial. Without enough, the energy intake would drop, leading to a decline in physical strength, combat power, and the team¡¯s ability to handle external threats. If the situation didn¡¯t improve, this vicious cycle could drag the entire team into a deadly abyss. Indeed, everyone was aware of the food reserves. Once they hit a warning line, the psychological pressure on the team would escalate. This pressure might eventually cause internal conflicts over the scarce food, leading to disputes and the collapse of the team. In the past, Zhenjin and Zi Di, as a pair, managed to fulfill their food needs. With more people now, although many things became easier, it also introduced more pressure and trouble. Cang Xu worried Zhenjin might overlook this critical issue and pointed it out because food was vital. From his perspective, preserving the team¡¯s existence meant ensuring his own survival. As a scholar without Fighting energy, Cang Xu¡¯s odds of surviving increased through dependence on others. The larger the team, the greater his intellectual and managerial value. Cang Xu understood the way to ensure his survival. ¡°What a talent, truly, one I wish to keep for my use,¡± Zhenjin sighed inwardly. A mere mortal, Cang Xu possessed vast knowledge, understanding tact, and wise discernment. ¡°Unsuitable as a housekeeper for a noble; he isn¡¯t a Transcendent and lacks the presence.¡± ¡°But as an advisor, he¡¯s more than qualified, even exceptional.¡± ¡°Cang Xu left his long-term service to author a work. This is a scholar¡¯s ambition, understandable. For ordinary people, staying by the noble¡¯s side is the best choice. Why risk one¡¯s life for an academic pursuit?¡± At this thought, an idea dawned on Zhenjin. ¡°I had planned to leverage Cang Xu¡¯s ambition slowly.¡± ¡°Yet now I think, our current predicament might be the perfect chance to recruit him.¡± Seeing it this way, Zhenjin¡¯s eyes brightened with realization. He had intended to scheme slowly, but once they reached White Sand City, he wouldn¡¯t be the only Holy Temple Knight. At least two others would compete for the position of City Lord. Thus, the best opportunity wasn¡¯t in the future but now. On this perilous island, Cang Xu needed someone else for survival. ¡°So, this island is, in fact, my chance,¡± Zhenjin realized for the first time, appreciating the island¡¯s charm. Chapter 34 - 34: Section 35: Explosive Cavalry Chapter 34: Section 35: Explosive Cavalry Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Zhenjin did not rush to find Zi Di. He was followed by Cang Xu as they both arrived at the camp. There were quite a few people lying inside. They were all recently administered potions, their bodies weak and powerless. These people needed comforting. ... ¡°Lord.¡± ¡°Greetings, my Lord.¡± Upon seeing the arrival of the Holy Temple Knight Zhenjin, the wounded struggled to stand and salute. ¡°Everyone, lie down.¡± Zhenjin extended his palm, gesturing downward. ¡°Do not worry, everyone. The Empire¡¯s banner is still flying, and the deities of the Holy Temple are watching over us.¡± ¡°This setback is nothing. As long as we are alive, anything is possible.¡± ¡°Follow me, and I will lead you out of this island and to glory!¡± After encouraging them, Zhenjin and Cang Xu walked out of the tent. ¡°As long as you are here, the morale won¡¯t collapse. You are our pillar!¡± Cang Xu sighed. Zhenjin smiled. Cang Xu¡¯s feelings were genuine, not mere flattery. Zhenjin indeed had such an effect. This was the influence of a leader, the impact of a strong individual. ¡°Of course, the most important factor is my identity as a Holy Temple Knight,¡± Zhenjin understood deeply. In the hearts of the Empire¡¯s citizens, the status of a Holy Temple Knight had always been significant. Walking out of the camp, Zhenjin and Cang Xu came to a nearby slope. Here, a simple straw hut was temporarily built. Surrounding the hut was a fenced area. Inside the fence, several horned mountain goats were penned. These goats used to be the leaders of their herds, possessing Bronze-Level Life Breath. During the team members¡¯ weak period after taking the potions, these goats were kept isolated here. The one responsible for taking care of the goats was none other than Bai Ya. This young man avoided the disaster of corrupted magic because he didn¡¯t eat goat meat, earning him the nickname ¡°Lucky Kid.¡± Lucky Kid Bai Ya had been quite busy these days. He not only cared for these goats but also ran errands for the wounded. Many people benefited from his care, earning his popularity. Among them, Huang Zao initially misunderstood Bai Ya, but after being cared for by Bai Ya, Huang Zao even offered to teach Bai Ya the Fighting Energy Art. Noticing Zhenjin and Cang Xu¡¯s arrival, Bai Ya quickly opened the gate, respectfully welcoming the two inside. ¡°Lord, I¡¯m sorry. I failed to meet your expectations. I didn¡¯t accomplish¡­¡± Bai Ya looked ashamed. Zhenjin patted the young man¡¯s shoulder, comforting him, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I know you tried your best.¡± Although Zhenjin was younger than Bai Ya in terms of age, Bai Ya¡¯s nervousness and worry dissipated upon hearing these words, turning his shame into gratitude towards Zhenjin. ¡°Thank you, Lord. You are so magnanimous!¡± Bai Ya said. Zhenjin waved his hand, signaling Bai Ya to step back. He had previously ordered Bai Ya to train these lead goats, intending to tame them as mounts. If this plan succeeded, it would greatly benefit Zhenjin now and in the future. Zhenjin had been devoted to the idea of the Sheep Cavalry. The reason for assigning this task to Bai Ya was because, firstly, he was healthy and unaffected by corrupted magic, and secondly, he was a hunter¡¯s son, experienced in dealing with wild animals. However, judging by the current results, Bai Ya could not tame these goats. Zhenjin wasn¡¯t disappointed; his hopes had been small to begin with. Typically, this was a job for a Beast Tamer or a Druid. Expecting a hunter¡¯s son, an ordinary young man, Zhenjin knew his idea was somewhat unrealistic. ¡°Lord, I shall take my leave,¡± Bai Ya stepped back. Soon, only Zhenjin and Cang Xu were left inside the fence. Zhenjin then spoke, ¡°Regarding the food shortage issue, I have a solution. We can produce large quantities of potions to make the goats vomit up the magic within them, thereby purifying all the goat meat.¡± Hearing this, Cang Xu hesitated for a moment, then carefully chose his words, ¡°Lord, I¡¯m afraid this won¡¯t work. We can purify our bodies of magic because we were merely corrupted. However, these goats are the source of the magic itself; this magic is a part of their lives, like limbs or internal organs.¡± ¡°If we give the goats potions, it may expel a lot of magic, but some will remain, impossible to remove entirely. These goats would be severely damaged, far worse than us, and most likely die on the spot.¡± Zhenjin laughed heartily, looking deeply into Cang Xu¡¯s eyes, ¡°These goats are victims just like us. The real source of the magic is not them but the seemingly ordinary grass growing nearby.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s honesty left Cang Xu stunned. The old Scholar looked at Zhenjin, their gazes meeting in mid-air. The old Scholar¡¯s eyes blinked, suddenly understanding the intention behind Zhenjin¡¯s words. Zhenjin continued, ¡°Didn¡¯t Mr. Cang Xu notice this secret?¡± Cang Xu¡¯s heart trembled slightly. The unrelenting pressure from Zhenjin made him feel like he was facing an aggressive swordsman. A hint of hesitation flashed across the old Scholar¡¯s face, his eyes flickering as he replied, ¡°It is my dullness; I did not discern this secret.¡± Zhenjin stared at Cang Xu for a while, seeing no further reaction from him. Disappointment rose in his heart. Zhenjin gave a faint hum, slowly turned, and walked towards the gate. Cang Xu followed closely behind. Just as Zhenjin was about to open the gate, Cang Xu suddenly spoke, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, your honesty and foresight command respect. You possess the vision of an exceptional superior. Despite the current difficulties, you are still attempting to form cavalry. Indeed, cavalry is very useful, capable of both offense and defense. With an elite cavalry, one often gains the initiative. However, in my opinion, these goats are not your best choice; you have a better option.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhenjin placed one hand on the gate, slowly turned around, and looked back at Cang Xu, ¡°Then let me hear Mr. Cang Xu¡¯s insight.¡± ¡°Lord, these goats have strong Life Breath, but they are not natural creatures, hiding significant hazards.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t self-regulate their magic, even if a cavalry is formed, it has low potential.¡± ¡°Furthermore, when you command White Sand City in the future, the flat terrain around it and the vast forests in the depths of the Wilderness Continent are not suitable for the performance of the Sheep Cavalry.¡± Cang Xu spoke eloquently. Zhenjin¡¯s face remained expressionless, but he agreed with Cang Xu¡¯s words inwardly. He was well aware of these issues. The key question was, what else could Zhenjin form besides the Sheep Cavalry? Zhenjin currently had nothing despite being a dignified Holy Temple Knight; even the subordinates were recently recruited to his command. And once they left this island, it was uncertain whether these people would continue to follow Zhenjin. Cang Xu suddenly asked, ¡°Lord, how much do you know about the Explosive Hoof Colts?¡± ¡°Sounds familiar.¡± Zhenjin furrowed his brows slightly, thinking for a moment, then said, ¡°Duke Hengle?¡± Duke Hengle was infamous in his youth for being a dissolute playboy. His parents died when he was young, and he was doted on by his ancestors, indulging in pleasure and lacking strength. However, during the Eastern Nobles¡¯ rebellion, his ancestors were ambushed and killed on the battlefield. Hengle ascended to leadership, becoming the Clan Leader before he could react, facing an invasion from the Allied Nobles¡¯ army. Hengle barely had time to mourn, taking command under the protection of family knights, leading the defense against the Allied Army. In the fierce clash of armies, Hengle¡¯s family knights fought bravely to defend their home but were overpowered and fell into a crisis. As defeat loomed, the cowardly Hengle decided to flee in a panic. In his haste, he mistakenly mounted an Explosive Hoof Colt. Explosive Hoof Colts were volatile and aggressive, retaliating fiercely when provoked, even to death. During Hengle¡¯s escape, an arrow struck the colt¡¯s rear. The Explosive Hoof Colt became enraged, ignoring Hengle¡¯s calls and reins, charging back into the bloody battlefield. Seeing their leader Hengle¡¯s ¡°solo charge,¡± the demoralized family troops were inspired, rallying with furious shouts for a desperate counterattack. Caught off guard, the Allied Army¡¯s lines broke, leading to their defeat. By sheer chance, Hengle won a critical victory, preserving his family¡¯s territory. His story, revealed during a drunken confession six years later, became widely known. Cang Xu nodded, ¡°Indeed, the same kind of horse Duke Hengle rode. I know the method to train Explosive Cavalry.¡± Zhenjin showed a hint of shock, ¡°Are you certain?¡± Explosive Hoof Colts were wildly fierce, easily enraged, charging recklessly into enemies when provoked. However, they were also robust, standing a meter taller than most warhorses, with hooves as hard as steel. They had great burst power, reaching top speed in mere breaths. They also had impressive endurance for long-distance charges. As a Holy Temple Knight, despite his memory gaps, Zhenjin knew the importance of a good mount for a knight, significantly boosting combat capability. The height advantage alone would give knights a crucial edge. The hoof of an Explosive Hoof Colt could pierce through regular iron shields with a single kick! Not to mention their muscled bodies bringing devastating collision power. Their exceptional traits led many nobles and leaders to attempt forming Explosive Cavalry. However, they performed poorly in battles. Knights couldn¡¯t control these temperamental horses. The slightest provocation made them charge furiously, ignoring commands. Such units were easily manipulated, lured into the range of Mages. Under magical attacks, these horses, with their knights, charged toward death fearlessly. Facing cunning enemy leaders, these units could be redirected to crash into friendly lines, becoming enemy pawns. Despite their advantages, their uncontrollable nature turned Explosive Cavalry into a joke. Yet now, Cang Xu proposed forming such a cavalry. Zhenjin¡¯s sharp gaze fixed on Cang Xu. Although they had not known each other long, he did not believe Cang Xu was foolish. Sure enough, Cang Xu added, ¡°I have a way to help knights control the Explosive Hoof Colts.¡± ¡°Their fierce nature hinders forming cavalry, but this method can compensate for it.¡± ¡°Though the Fighting Energy Art is still in its infancy, imperfect and undeveloped.¡± ¡°If you do not mind, I am willing to offer it.¡± Zhenjin softened his gaze, nodding, ¡°Mr. Cang Xu, I will remember your contribution.¡± The relationship between knights and mounts was not mere riding. Knights would live and train with their mounts, developing rapport and injecting Fighting Energy into them. This Fighting Energy circulated within the mount, enhancing speed, defense, recovery, and strength. During a charge, the energy formed a seamless bond between knight and mount, creating a unified entity. Cang Xu implied that he knew an emerging Fighting Energy Art to control the Explosive Hoof Colts. This art¡¯s value was significant. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cang Xu continued, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, these goats, despite their strong Life Breath, are still beasts. They can¡¯t balance their magic, preventing knights from channeling Fighting Energy into them. Thus, forming cavalry with them has low potential and high risks.¡± ¡°Using potions to purge their chaotic magic and slaughtering them for food may be a better solution to our current issue.¡± Though treated goat meat might still contain residual magic and risks, the exploration team had little choice. PS: I recommend a good book¡ª¡±Super God Mechanic.¡± Its mechanical settings are novel, with a light and joyous atmosphere. Han Xiao, a veteran from the eastern powers, is thrust into the timeless crossing, carrying a player panel as an NPC before the game¡¯s public release, choosing the highest difficulty, mechanics. With fleets spanning the Star Sea and dragon-like mechs, energy cannons that destroy everything, and an endless mechanical army waiting in the portable warehouse, one person, is a legion! ¡°` Chapter 35 - 35: Section 36: The Strange Flying Squirrel Chapter 35: Section 36: The Strange Flying Squirrel Editor: Henyee Translations Food was extremely important! A food shortage would push the entire exploration team into a desperate situation. Even the mere pressure of a shortage could trigger panic and chaos within the group. After discussing with Cang Xu, Zhenjin went alone to Zi Di¡¯s tent. This tent was second only to Zhenjin¡¯s in terms of size. There were no guards outside the tent. ... Zhenjin had initially planned to assign some personnel to Zi Di, but she had clearly stated it was unnecessary. She had her own means of defense. Zi Di had already retired for the night. Configuring potions for the entire team was greatly exhausting and required intricate workmanship, which had left her worn out. Zhenjin paced outside the tent. Though the issue was serious, he did not want to disturb Zi Di lightly. ¡°Let her have a good rest.¡± As Zhenjin was thinking this, Zi Di, asleep in the dim tent, lightly twitched her nostrils and then slowly opened her eyes. ¡°Is that you, my lord?¡± Zi Di¡¯s voice came from within the tent. Zhenjin had just turned to leave, but hearing her voice, he immediately turned back: ¡°It¡¯s me, there are some matters I need to discuss with you.¡± Soon, there were rustling sounds from inside the tent, and it wasn¡¯t long before Zhenjin saw Zi Di, fully dressed, lift the curtain and personally welcome him in. ¡°My lord, please come in.¡± Zi Di invited Zhenjin into the tent. Zhenjin went straight to the point. Zi Di shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this time I have to disappoint you.¡± ¡°Although your method is feasible, I need a key material to produce the corresponding potions.¡± ¡°And I have nearly used up this material, keeping only a small reserve for emergencies.¡± ¡°What material is it, and can it be found here?¡± Zhenjin was not willing to give up. Zi Di shook her head, looking troubled: ¡°Perhaps somewhere on this island, this material grows. But I have no leads on it.¡± ¡°Even if we obtain such material and produce enough potions to use on the sheep, it would be a bit of a loss. Doing so would expose the secret of the green grass.¡± The use of potions on the sheep would clear the chaotic magical power in them, revealing them as victims. The true source of magical power¡ªthe green grass¡ªwould then be exposed. The green grass here was a Magic Plant, far easier to carry and transport after being plucked than sheep meat. Zhenjin: ¡°I have already disclosed this secret to Cang Xu.¡± Zi Di was slightly taken aback before understanding: ¡°My lord, you did the right thing. Cang Xu is indeed a rare talent.¡± ¡°He might have already deduced this secret but did not reveal it, proving his wisdom.¡± ¡°Or perhaps he hadn¡¯t deduced it, but now that you have shared such an important secret openly, he will surely realize your intention to regard him as one of your own.¡± ¡°Congratulations, my lord, on recruiting such an excellent advisor.¡± Zhenjin shook his head and recounted the subsequent events to Zi Di. Zi Di was quite surprised: ¡°There is such a Fighting energy technique?¡± She immediately frowned, her tone somewhat worried: ¡°My lord, such a Fighting energy technique offered easily may not hold much value.¡± ¡°Cang Xu is a scholar, not a Beast Tamer, and crucially, he does not possess Transcendent power.¡± ¡°If this Fighting energy technique were highly valuable, he could have exchanged it with other nobles for greater benefits.¡± Zhenjin held a different view: ¡°Cang Xu is not someone who doesn¡¯t know measure. He acts with consideration. He understands the value of this green grass, so what he offers should be of equivalent value.¡± ¡°This is his bargaining chip to retain independence and decline my recruitment. As such, it makes me value him even more.¡± At this point, Zhenjin smiled slightly. Regarding the food shortage problem, Zhenjin inquired again of Zi Di. Zi Di had no good solutions, and simply said: ¡°This island is vast and filled with dangers but also rich in resources. We can only advance and explore. Perhaps we will find a better food source than the sheep. Moreover, before finding you, my lord, we set up a few camps along the way where some supplies were stored. If we can find our way back, obtaining those supplies could alleviate the food shortage issue.¡± With a nod and a touch of disappointment, Zhenjin prepared to leave. Just as he lifted the curtain, a hint of hesitation flashed across Zhenjin¡¯s face, but he ultimately turned and asked: ¡°Zi Di, do you still have the blood from that monkey-tailed Brown Bear?¡± Despite asking, Zhenjin didn¡¯t hold much hope. The blood of the monkey-tailed Brown Bear contained magical power, making it a Magic Material. However, the magical power in the blood dissipated rapidly over time, making it difficult to preserve and costly to store. But Zi Di¡¯s response pleasantly surprised Zhenjin. She still had some of the bear¡¯s blood. ¡°Give it to me.¡± Zhenjin said. Without questioning, Zi Di opened a small leather pouch at her waist and handed a few glass bottles to Zhenjin. Holding the vials of bear blood, Zhenjin left Zi Di¡¯s tent. He was the strongest in the entire group. Now, with the food shortage, most would weaken from taking potions, reducing their strength. Zhenjin was unable to activate his Fighting energy; in this situation, his ability to mutate his hands into claws became his strongest means. ¡°According to my previous speculation, drinking this bear blood should replenish the corresponding magical power in my body and possibly trigger the initial mutation again!¡± Holding the glass vial, Zhenjin thought to himself. His eyes resolute, he reaffirmed: ¡°Of course, unless absolutely necessary, I will not drink this blood.¡± The chaotic external magical power would erode his body, reducing his potential. But as the words of the Bai Needle Clan Leader echoed in his memory, sometimes you couldn¡¯t fear risk, nor shrink from sacrifice! Morning. White mist lingered among the towering trees. Green moss and various colorful mushrooms adorned the forest floor. An orange fawn was foraging in the woods. It spotted a low shrub and was about to approach when a series of rapid sounds came from the other side of the bushes. ¡°Squeak, squeak, squeak¡­¡± Alarmed, the fawn turned and darted away. Moments later, as the squeaks grew closer, they were mingled with human shouts. ¡°Chase!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let those Flying Squirrels get away.¡± ¡°Use the crossbow, use the crossbow now.¡± The voices grew louder, and then three Flying Squirrels, squeaking wildly, leapt over the bushes in a frantic escape. The pursuers were hindered by the bushes, their speed dropping as they watched the Flying Squirrels vanish into the forest. ¡°What a pity!¡± ¡°Sigh, still couldn¡¯t catch up.¡± The leaders of the pursuing group were the brothers Lan Zao and Huang Zao. Huang Zao, unwilling to give up, wanted to keep chasing, but Lan Zao stopped him: ¡°Have you forgotten Lord Zhenjin¡¯s orders? Do not stray from the main group. We are already far from Lord Zhenjin now.¡± ¡°I just wanted to gather more food. These Flying Squirrels are large, their meat is safe, and they are quite fatty,¡± Huang Zao sighed. The food in the exploration team was running low, and this unseen pressure weighed heavily on everyone. But recalling Zhenjin¡¯s orders, Huang Zao clenched his teeth and gave up. Returning to the group, they saw Bai Ya and others already handling the Flying Squirrel carcasses, skinning, cutting, cleaning, and then roasting them. More than ten days had passed. Zi Di had concocted enough potions to resolve the magical power erosion in the team members¡¯ bodies. After a few days of rest, Zhenjin led the team out. The group had gone through the crisis of poisoning. Nearly everyone¡¯s physical condition and combat skills had deteriorated, but having faced hardships together, they were now more cohesive and harmonious. Their journey henceforth brought several more crises which they overcame through Zhenjin¡¯s bravery and united effort in repelling attacking Magic Beasts. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lord Zhenjin, we only managed to kill two Flying Squirrels,¡± Huang Zao reported, ashamed, to Zhenjin. Zhenjin nodded and instructed: ¡°Give these to Bai Ya and the others for processing.¡± Not everyone was skilled in handling animal carcasses. As the son of a hunter, Bai Ya had received such training since childhood and was very skilled in it. The incident of sheep meat poisoning had made this young man stand out. He had earned the nickname ¡°Lucky Boy,¡± and nearly everyone in the exploration team had been helped by him. His diligent, enthusiastic, and straightforward nature had earned him good rapport. Huang Zao carried the two Flying Squirrels to Bai Ya. Bai Ya was already skinning a Flying Squirrel, having removed its innards and was now trying to sever its neck. After several chops, the neck bone was still intact. ¡°Hey, Lucky Boy, use this.¡± Huang Zao smiled, handing Bai Ya a knife. One glance and it was clear that the knife was crudely made¡ªthe hilt was roughly polished wood, and the blade was fixed in place, bound with rope and other materials. Yet its blade shone with a sharp, cold glint, neither all-steel nor iron; it was one of the Blade Spider¡¯s limbs. This weapon naturally belonged to Zhenjin, but after the poisoning incident, the exploration team¡¯s combat strength had declined. To best augment their fighting power, Zhenjin had selectively lent some blade weapons to his subordinates. Bai Ya accepted the knife, encountering it for the first time. His initial impression was how light it felt, not nearly as heavy as he¡¯d imagined. Bai Ya aimed at the Flying Squirrel¡¯s neck and struck down with the blade, and a flash of coldness crossed his eyes. The previously stubborn neck bone snapped in two immediately. Bai Ya was visibly astonished; where cutting the bone before had felt like chopping metal, numbing his hand after several attempts without success, this blade cut through like slicing bread. It was almost effortlessly simple. ¡°This knife is incredible!¡± Bai Ya admired the blade sincerely. ¡°Of course, after all, it¡¯s from a Silver Level Magic Beast,¡± Huang Zao chuckled. Bai Ya shook his head: ¡°No, I mean Lord Zhenjin. That Silver Level Blade Spider must have been terrifying, but the lord defeated it. He truly deserves to be called a Holy Temple Knight!¡± Exuding admiration and reverence, Bai Ya couldn¡¯t hide his feelings. Huang Zao, nodding in agreement, responded: ¡°Yes, indeed. Encountering Lord Zhenjin is our luck. Forget everything else, just earlier with those Flying Squirrels, Lord Zhenjin threw his daggers hitting every target! Most of the Flying Squirrels were killed by him!¡± ¡°Wait, with this blade, I can process the head Flying Squirrel¡¯s body.¡± Bai Ya remembered something and, filled with excitement, ran to another spot. The head Flying Squirrel¡¯s body radiated a Bronze-tier life breath, though the aura was fading quickly and would vanish completely in less than half a day. A dagger was lodged in the head Flying Squirrel¡¯s eye socket¡ªa fatal wound dealt by Zhenjin himself. Bai Ya gripped the Spider Blade tightly, carefully positioned it, and began cutting, quickly peeling open the Flying Squirrel¡¯s hide. The head Flying Squirrel¡¯s skin was very tough; regular iron-made blades couldn¡¯t easily cut through it. But under the Spider Blade, everything yielded easily. ¡°Hmm?¡± Bai Ya paused his hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Huang Zao asked. ¡°The head Flying Squirrel¡¯s flesh seems different from the other Flying Squirrels,¡± Bai Ya tentatively replied. Huang Zao looked puzzled: ¡°I see no difference.¡± ¡°No,¡± Bai Ya¡¯s expression grew serious. He first returned the knife to Huang Zao, then pressed down and searched around the Flying Squirrel¡¯s innards and bones. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a while, Bai Ya spoke with more certainty: ¡°There are indeed many subtle differences. I had better take this to Lord Cang Xu for inspection.¡± ¡°Hmm, good idea,¡± Huang Zao agreed. Chapter 36 - 36: Section 37: I am facing a difficult choice Chapter 36: Section 37: I am facing a difficult choice Editor: Henyee Translations Cang Xu, the old scholar, was knowledgeable and broad-minded. Often, he could discern many things from the corpse of a magic beast. Before Zhenjin took on the leadership responsibilities of the exploration team, Cang Xu had already brought significant help to the team by this virtue. Cang Xu had previously examined the ordinary flying squirrel¡¯s corpse but had specifically instructed that if the head flying squirrel was dissected and any anomalies were found, they should be reported to him immediately. ¡°Lord,¡± Bai Ya quickly brought the head flying squirrel¡¯s corpse to Cang Xu. ¡°It¡¯s Bai Ya,¡± Cang Xu nodded and immediately turned his gaze to the head flying squirrel¡¯s corpse in Bai Ya¡¯s hand. ¡°Lord, please take a look. I might be too nervous, but there is indeed something different,¡± Bai Ya presented the head flying squirrel¡¯s corpse for Cang Xu to inspect carefully. ... Cang Xu observed for a moment, and his expression gradually became serious. ¡°Bai Ya, you did well,¡± Cang Xu praised and reached out, wanting to pick up the head flying squirrel¡¯s corpse. Although he managed to lift it, the old scholar quickly sighed and put it back in place. The old scholar was naturally weak and powerless. Additionally, he had previously suffered from magical contamination; although the poison had been cleared, his body was still significantly damaged. ¡°You carry it and come with me to report to Lord Zhenjin,¡± Cang Xu said to Bai Ya. ¡°Yes, Lord,¡± Bai Ya immediately took the order. Inside the tent, Zhenjin was discussing crossbows with Zi Di. ¡°Because of the magical contamination, the actual combat power of the entire exploration team has decreased significantly,¡± Zhenjin looked worried, as no outsiders were present, ¡°Exploring this island was already quite difficult. Now, the risks we have to bear are even greater.¡± Zi Di pondered and said, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, we have already done our best. For now, the state of the exploration team can only be this way unless we use mid-to-high-level magic potions or corresponding magic and divine arts for treatment.¡± ¡°However, given our current situation, we cannot produce mid-to-high-level magic potions. Besides, I don¡¯t agree with doing this.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s too uneconomical.¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s mid-to-high-level magic potions or corresponding magic and divine arts, the cost is very high. Just to heal these ordinary people, even though two of them are elite Bronze Level, it¡¯s not worth it.¡± After a pause, Zi Di added, ¡°In fact, magical contamination has many after-effects. For example, various strange and even incurable chronic diseases, as well as shortened life spans.¡± Zhenjin sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s not consider these for now. I just want to supplement our actual combat power. Do you think we can make crossbows?¡± In recent days, Zhenjin had fully realized the benefits of ranged attacks. For example, not long ago, the head flying squirrel, a Bronze Level magic beast, had been killed instantly by a dagger thrown by Zhenjin. With the death of the head flying squirrel, the attacking flying squirrel group fell into chaos, allowing the exploration team to seize the opportunity and achieve a great victory without any casualties. Zi Di, after careful deliberation, said, ¡°Lord, your idea is correct. Enhancing our ranged forces could greatly supplement our combat strength, save physical strength, and reduce possible casualties.¡± ¡°However, we are currently unable to manufacture them.¡± ¡°First, we don¡¯t have a crossbow maker. Although crossbows have simple structures, making them requires skilled craftsmanship. We are all laymen.¡± ¡°Second, we don¡¯t have a blacksmith. The best crossbows use steel plates for the bow arms, which gives them very high poundage. The crossbow mechanism is also very intricate, requiring metal springs, all of which need to be forged by a blacksmith. High-quality crossbows also have mechanical aids for drawing the string, which even the Empire cannot mass-produce and must procure annually from goblins on the Molten Lava Continent.¡± A scholar wasn¡¯t necessarily a mage, but every mage was a scholar. Zi Di, being the current Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, knew a lot about crossbows due to the lucrative arms trade. Yet, Zhenjin was not willing to give up so easily. He still insisted, ¡°I don¡¯t intend to use steel plates for the bow arms, just wooden planks. We can dry and tear tree bark to make ropes, giving us a bowstring. In fact, we also have many magic beast tendons.¡± ¡°The crossbows we make this way will have much lower poundage but will be easier to string, purely by human power.¡± ¡°The only obstacle will be the crossbow mechanism. It needs precision and specifically shaped metal parts, especially springs.¡± ¡°Zi Di, you are right, we don¡¯t have a blacksmith, but we don¡¯t need large-scale manufacturing. I just need you to use potions to corrode specific metal parts and springs.¡± Zhenjin was also familiar with crossbows. Though he had not recovered his memory of relevant skills, he had a wealth of common knowledge. In fact, Holy Temple Knights were equipped with horse crossbows, which were small crossbows designed for knights to use while mounted. Zi Di sighed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lord, but I currently don¡¯t have a potion that can corrode specific metal parts. I don¡¯t carry such special potions with me, but if we gather the right materials, I can concoct them on the spot. However, dealing with magic beasts that have corrosive acid liquid is not easy and could cause significant casualties to the entire team.¡± ¡°Moreover, there is another point I want to remind you of.¡± Here, Zi Di instinctively lowered her voice slightly. ¡°If your plan succeeds and almost everyone in the team has a crossbow, this team will become difficult to control and very dangerous.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s pupils slightly contracted. Zi Di¡¯s reminder was very accurate. Zhenjin immediately recalled the moment when Huang Zao fled. ¡°Do not overestimate or underestimate people.¡± Zhenjin murmured in his heart. Human hearts were treacherous. When faced with a lifesaver, Huang Zao fled with a dagger, regardless of whether he did it intentionally or unintentionally. And on this island, full of dangers, what kind of extreme situations might arise in the future? Currently, it seemed that these people all supported Zhenjin as their leader. But what if extreme situations occurred? For instance, if everyone fled together under the pursuit of a magic beast, would someone use their crossbow to kill a companion, making them bait to slow the beast¡¯s pursuit? Especially in the current environment, where mid-to-low-level magic and fighting energy could not be activated. Both Zhenjin and Zi Di were very weak. A sharp sword or a flying arrow could be lethal to them. Humans had fatal weaknesses. The exploration team members were not soldiers of the Hundred Needle Family. Loyalty often required time to cultivate. Zhenjin was not someone who couldn¡¯t listen to advice. ¡°If crossbows won¡¯t work, then we¡¯ll have to try using bows.¡± ¡°Longbows are definitely not suitable; they¡¯re very inconvenient in the dense forest and require skilled archers.¡± ¡°Short bows are feasible, easier to make than crossbows but still require some training.¡± Ranged attacks first required precision. However, Zhenjin¡¯s sudden acquisition of ranged attack abilities due to his emerging memories was difficult to replicate. The exploration team¡¯s members were not proficient with bows and arrows, except for Bai Ya. As a hunter¡¯s son, Bai Ya¡¯s bow skills were one of his means of survival. If they had enough people, Zhenjin could select skilled archers to form a dedicated archer team. But now, he was severely short of manpower. Forming an archer unit was mainly to protect its members, minimizing casualties. ¡°The wood here is abundant, making short bows is not difficult. An individual¡¯s aim might not be good, but the team can perform volleys to create an arrow screen, compensating for the lack.¡± ¡°They still need intensive training, or even an arrow rain can¡¯t be formed.¡± ¡°However, training requires ample food.¡± Zhenjin began to feel a slight headache. Drawing a bowstring consumed a lot of physical strength. The higher the bow¡¯s poundage, the more so. Many crossbows required mechanical aids; otherwise, humans couldn¡¯t draw the bowstring. Shooting arrows required aiming and maintaining the strong bend of the bow arms for a period, which also consumed physical strength. The greater the physical exertion, the more food was needed. Without food replenishment, random training was asking for trouble. Therefore, the issue boiled down to food. Unfortunately, food scarcity was already the most severe problem they faced! While Zhenjin was troubled, Cang Xu and Bai Ya sought an audience. The two brought the corpse of the head flying squirrel. ¡°We have made some unexpected discoveries, Lord,¡± Cang Xu said seriously. Zhenjin¡¯s gaze instinctively fell on the head flying squirrel¡¯s corpse, ¡°Did you find a Demon Crystal?¡± ¡°No,¡± Cang Xu gestured to Bai Ya. After Zhenjin nodded, Bai Ya placed the head flying squirrel¡¯s corpse on the table. Cang Xu then instructed Bai Ya to forcefully open the head flying squirrel¡¯s incision, revealing the distinct muscle fibers. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, Lady Zi Di, please look here,¡± Cang Xu pointed to the muscle fibers. Zi Di squinted, her brow slightly furrowed, ¡°It indeed differs from the usual magic beasts.¡± Zhenjin also noticed that normally, magic beast muscles were bundles forming a whole. But the head flying squirrel muscles were divided into many thin muscle slices, closely arranged like fish scales. ¡°Look here,¡± Cang Xu continued, revealing the head flying squirrel¡¯s internal organs. Zhenjin and Zi Di noticed that the organs¡¯ surfaces were covered with a white, membrane-like substance. Zi Di was puzzled, ¡°This is indeed different from the usual magic beasts. What does this unusual structure indicate?¡± Zi Di, though a mage, wasn¡¯t as knowledgeable as Cang Xu in this regard. Zhenjin¡¯s general knowledge also couldn¡¯t grasp the old scholar¡¯s intention. Seeing their puzzled expressions, Cang Xu explained, ¡°I strongly suspect that this head flying squirrel can release strong electric currents!¡± ¡°Oh? How so?¡± Zhenjin was puzzled. ¡°A mouse that can discharge electricity?¡± Bai Ya¡¯s mouth dropped open. Cang Xu continued to explain, ¡°There is a special fish that reproduces in the ocean or large rivers, known as the Electric Eel. Its body structure closely resembles this head flying squirrel. When they want to discharge electricity, their entire muscles will rhythmically move, generating a terrifying electric shock that can instantly kill an elephant. However, they also have insulating membranes within their bodies to protect themselves during electric shocks.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t this head flying squirrel discharge electricity previously?¡± Bai Ya asked. Cang Xu shook his head slightly, ¡°This electric shock isn¡¯t magic; it comes from the unique structure of life. Magic is when mages use their spirits to manipulate elements, creating something from nothing based on rules. On the other hand, the Electric Eel¡¯s shocking ability stems from its unique organs and tissues. Just as a throat enables sound and wings enable flight.¡± ¡°An Electric Eel can generate electricity but cannot control the flow of electricity. However, it lives in water. When it generates strong electricity, all nearby aquatic creatures will suffer from the electric shock.¡± ¡°As for the head flying squirrel, its ability to generate electricity depends on its surroundings. Trees, the ground, and air are all significant obstacles to the flow of electricity.¡± ¡°Therefore, only when the head flying squirrel is in contact with its enemy will its electric shock ability become evident. But earlier, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s thrown dagger killed it mid-air, temporarily concealing this ability.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Bai Ya suddenly understood. Zi Di squinted slightly, ¡°So, if we encounter this head flying squirrel again, iron armor would be a disadvantage. Thick leather armor would be better.¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°Leather armor doesn¡¯t offer enough protection. Faces are usually exposed, and the flying squirrel¡¯s claws and teeth are sharp enough to tear through leather and discharge.¡± Zhenjin nodded, ¡°So, the best way to deal with the head flying squirrel is still ranged attacks! But we have too few archers.¡± Though Zhenjin could accurately throw, he couldn¡¯t always kill with one strike. He wasn¡¯t meant to be his subordinates¡¯ caretaker, and his followers weren¡¯t for protection. ¡°Lord, Lan Zao seeks your audience,¡± a voice came from outside the tent. As a Bronze Level elite, Zhenjin had previously sent Lan Zao to scout the surrounding area. He summoned Lan Zao into the tent and found him full of joy. ¡°Lord, good news! I discovered a gathering of flying squirrels not far ahead. They dug holes and nested in the tree trunks, and I roughly counted that there were many holes! This flying squirrel group is large, nearly a thousand. If we hunt them, it would greatly supplement our food supply.¡± Cang Xu pondered aloud, ¡°It seems that this flying squirrel¡¯s social habits haven¡¯t changed.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhenjin raised an eyebrow and instinctively looked at Zi Di. Zi Di understood his meaning and promptly said, ¡°I¡¯ve already checked. The meat of ordinary flying squirrels is safe. However, we cannot eat the magic beast meat of the head flying squirrel.¡± Bai Ya exclaimed, ¡°Hunting such a large group of flying squirrels is very dangerous.¡± Lan Zao glared at Bai Ya and then looked at Zhenjin, volunteering to lead the charge against the flying squirrel colony. Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°Lan Zao, you underestimate these flying squirrels. The Bronze Level head flying squirrel can discharge electricity. Such a large colony might have a Black Iron Level head flying squirrel.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lan Zao was stunned. Zhenjin fell into thought. He realized he was facing a challenging decision. But for a moment, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t make up his mind, ¡°I need to think about this carefully. You all go back to your tasks.¡± ¡°Yes, Lord.¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯ll support you no matter what decision you make,¡± Zi Di said as she left the tent last. Chapter 37 - 38: I Pray to the Gods Chapter 37: Chapter 38: I Pray to the Gods Editor: Henyee Translations The night was deep, and the campfire brought light to the camp. From time to time, the crackling sound of burning branches was heard, accompanied by sparks flying into the sky. This camp was not sturdy; although a fence had been hastily set up, it was done too quickly, and the fence was too short to provide much defensive power against a beast¡¯s charge. At most, it offered some psychological comfort to the members of the exploration team. The real defense measures were the numerous traps set around the camp. If beasts attacked, these traps would pose obstacles and create loud noises to alert the people in the camp. ... Of course, night watchmen were also arranged around the camp to provide another layer of security. Usually, most members of the exploration team would have gone to sleep at this time, but tonight no one felt like sleeping. Many people gathered around the campfire, talking to each other. The abilities of the Flying Squirrel leader and the food shortage faced by the exploration team were well known. ¡°In this situation, what should we do?¡± ¡°Food is the most important thing! Without food, we don¡¯t need any Magic Beasts; we¡¯ll all starve to death. No one is an exception because no one can go without eating or drinking.¡± ¡°I think we should kill these flying squirrels. Even if the Flying Squirrel leader is strong, the majority of the flying squirrels are just ordinary beasts.¡± ¡°Hmph, if you think that way, you¡¯ll be waiting to die. As long as the Flying Squirrel leader bites your flesh and releases an electric shock, you¡¯ll be dead. Even if the Flying Squirrel leader is rare, our people are not many, and we can¡¯t afford for it to kill us all.¡± ¡°Looking back now, it¡¯s really scary. During the day, that Flying Squirrel leader was no more than five steps away from me; luckily, it died at Lord Zhenjin¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°Can the Flying Squirrel leader really release electric shocks?¡± someone expressed doubt. But when he heard that it was Cang Xu¡¯s deduction, no one doubted it anymore. ¡°In this way, it still owes to Lord Zhenjin! If it weren¡¯t for him killing the Flying Squirrel leader with one strike, we would have certainly suffered casualties.¡± ¡°In my opinion, this beast group should not be touched. Perhaps next, we¡¯ll come across a better source of food. So, let¡¯s take a detour. Also, finding the main force might be good.¡± ¡°Hah, your thinking is too naive. Does the main force necessarily have food? Don¡¯t forget, we were sent out by the main force to explore the surroundings and search for food!¡± ¡°To return to the beach where we started and meet up with the main force, we don¡¯t know how long the journey will take. Along the way, we are likely to encounter even more powerful Magic Beasts.¡± ¡°In the end, how long can our food last?¡± Cang Xu lay inside the tent, listening to the voices outside. Looking at the tent¡¯s top, he knew very clearly: the remaining food could support them for at most seven days! But at this moment, Cang Xu was more worried about the team¡¯s condition. Everyone had their own ideas, and the team¡¯s morale was scattered, each with their own opinions. At this time, a leader was needed to make a final decision. However, although Zhenjin was in charge, his authority as a leader had not yet deeply rooted in people¡¯s hearts. The issue with the lamb seemed like an event that could boost Zhenjin¡¯s leadership prestige, but it resulted in the entire team being poisoned, causing disturbances without securing enough food. Therefore, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t consolidate his authority. ¡°So, we¡¯ll see this time,¡± Cang Xu thought. To be fair, this was not a good opportunity. However, reality was always like this: it was cold and ruthless, always presenting accidents and problems straightforwardly, never as hoped. People were often caught off guard and couldn¡¯t force things to happen. Whether it was Zhenjin, Zi Di, Cang Xu himself, or the entire exploration team, they had been cornered by reality. ¡°Only by overcoming this harsh reality can you truly take charge of this team. So, Zhenjin, young leader, what will your decision be?¡± With this question in mind, Cang Xu slowly fell asleep. ¡°What should I decide?¡± Zhenjin fell into deep thought. As a leader, he didn¡¯t have the luxury to escape, only to bear the responsibility! ¡°The team is currently short on food. Dealing with the flying squirrels is a way to obtain food. But the risk is high; the exploration team¡¯s combat power is inadequate. Suffering electric shocks from the Flying Squirrel leader will undoubtedly result in heavy casualties.¡± ¡°But I need a great victory. An overwhelming victory is the ideal outcome. If it¡¯s merely a narrow victory with significant casualties, it will surely disappoint the remaining people, undermining their expectations of my leadership.¡± ¡°Moreover, the exploration team¡¯s size isn¡¯t large. If there are too many casualties, how can the remaining people help me compete for the position of White Sand City Lord?¡± Apart from this choice, Zhenjin understood he had another option. ¡°That is to abandon this colony of flying squirrels, continue exploring, and hope to find a better food source in the future.¡± ¡°This choice could keep the team temporarily stable, but the current food supply can only last for up to seven days. What happens next is hard to say.¡± ¡°It could be a weaker beast group, or we might encounter a terrifying Magic Beast, leading to the exploration team¡¯s destruction.¡± ¡°If the food is strictly controlled and reduced as much as possible, it could last more than ten days.¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°But doing so carries significant risks.¡± ¡°Once food starts to run out, people will panic, and they might even start guarding against and hunting each other, resorting to cannibalism for survival!¡± ¡°My prestige cannot yet suppress such sentiments. If this happens, the team will collapse into chaos rather than disintegration.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just me, Zi Di would also be implicated!¡± As Zhenjin pondered, a thought suddenly popped up. This thought was so bold and terrifying that it startled Zhenjin himself¡ª¡±If we were driven to a desperate situation, to survive, would I kill others and eat human flesh?¡± ¡°No, how could that be! If I did that, how would I be different from those beasts and livestock!? I am a Holy Temple Knight.¡± Zhenjin felt deeply ashamed. The Holy Temple Knight represented light and courage, always charging at the front on the battlefield, upholding justice, safeguarding kindness, and protecting the weak in life. ¡°It turns out, being a leader is so difficult. I must be going crazy; otherwise, how could such a terrible thought come to me?¡± At this moment, Zhenjin truly felt that being a leader was not easy. A leader had to shoulder responsibility, not betray subordinates¡¯ trust, find the correct path in times of confusion, and lead everyone out of trouble. Moreover, Zhenjin carried more burdens. He thought of Zi Di. In his view, his fianc¨¦e had always trusted him, protected him with all her might, and stayed by his side. He thought of his family, his one-armed father. He couldn¡¯t die; becoming the White Sand City Lord was a crucial step in revitalizing the Hundred Needle Family. There was also his noble pride and the honor of being a Holy Temple Knight¡­ As he pondered, Zhenjin¡¯s frown deepened, his chest felt stuffy, and he even felt suffocated. His tent was the largest, but at that moment, it seemed like a giant beast¡¯s claw, constantly constricting, as if strangling Zhenjin. Zhenjin resisted the immense pressure, the voices outside the tent gradually faded as most of the exploration team members entered their tents to sleep. Zhenjin, however, felt the pressure growing heavier. It was unknown how long it lasted. Zhenjin lightly gasped, suddenly bending over, and helplessly sat on the military rug, leaning against the tent¡¯s sole wooden pillar. ¡°Huff, huff, huff¡­¡± Zhenjin panted heavily, his forehead covered in sweat. He felt an intense fatigue, not physical but an immense mental exhaustion. ¡°What should I do?¡± Zhenjin was still confused and troubled. Subconsciously, he knelt on one knee and began praying again. ¡°Holy Emperor, my God, Your gaze soars above the clouds, and no mist can stop Your strides. You hold the reins of a vast empire, leading billions to victory. You are so wise, so decisive, and can see through the threads of destiny.¡± ¡°Now, Your loyal and humble believer prays to You. Please show me the way, clear the mists of fate for me, protect me, so I can uphold the pride of Nobles and the honor of Knights.¡± However, the deity did not respond. Zhenjin waited. He fervently wished for the deity¡¯s response. Time silently and continuously passed. It was a long wait. Zhenjin knelt, head lowered, facing the direction of the Holy Bright Empire. It was a stubborn wait. In this prayer, Zhenjin exhibited unprecedented patience. But in the end, as the cold breath of the late night seeped through the tent¡¯s cracks, entering Zhenjin¡¯s nostrils, permeating his skin, and penetrating his heart, Zhenjin¡¯s heart seemed to cool, his hopeful heart plummeted. Zhenjin realized the cruel reality¡ª the deity still had not responded, and he would not receive any instruction from the Holy Emperor. The tent in the dead of night was filled with darkness, not a sliver of light. The young Zhenjin knelt on the ground, like a statue. After a long time, the statue sighed, stopped kneeling, and struggled to stand. His legs and feet were numb, and Zhenjin stomped his feet, loosening his muscles. His eyes were vacant, his heart heavy. He knew, he could only rely on himself. Without divine guidance, the road ahead was shrouded in darkness. But he had to move forward! Staying still only meant waiting for death, and would disappoint everyone. Life was like this. People often had to make decisions under unknown circumstances, pushed by life, knowing how reckless these choices were! And yet, people had to endure the results of their choices, whether bitter or sweet. Zhenjin could only continue to ponder. Strangely, this time, he did not feel the previous embarrassment. As if he broke through a limit, perhaps because the deity did not respond, he fully understood that no one could be relied upon. As dawn approached, the forest¡¯s bird songs increased, making Zhenjin suddenly realize an entire night had passed. He lifted the tent flap and saw the sunrise. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining in the half-dark forest. Morning fog lingered in the forest; the air felt wet and cold, but Zhenjin breathed in and felt refreshed. At the moment he opened the tent flap, he was the wise and valiant leader who saw everything clearly, making the best decisions. Even if he knew he was not, he had to play the part convincingly! His face showed no hesitation; he had made his decision. The team was quickly assembled to hear Zhenjin issue a series of orders. ¡°Lan Zao, in the next few days, continue your stealth, find out more information about the flying squirrel colony.¡± ¡°Huang Zao, Bai Ya, Cang Xu, you are in charge of selecting wood. We need to make a batch of short bows.¡± ¡°Zi Di, I need you to prepare potions, ones that hopefully will work on the Flying Squirrel leader too.¡± Yes, Zhenjin had decided to hunt this colony of flying squirrels. Chapter 38 - 38: Section 39: Logging Chapter 38: Section 39: Logging Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Zhenjin issued consecutive orders, whether it was Huang Zao, Lan Zao, or Bai Ya, Cang Xu, etc., all received the orders solemnly. But Zhenjin glanced around and still saw the uncertain gazes of the exploration team members. Zhenjin shouted in a low voice, ¡°Now, if anyone has different ideas, then speak up immediately! The Holy Temple Knight never punishes anyone who dares to speak his mind.¡± No one spoke, a few people opened their mouths but stopped. ... Zhenjin¡¯s face slightly darkened. He knew he still had not established enough leadership prestige. Cang Xu spoke at the right time, ¡°My lord, your decision is undoubtedly wise. Although the Flying Squirrel leaders can produce electric shocks that can be deadly, their numbers are very scarce. Your archery and flying daggers have always been extremely accurate!¡± ¡°During this period, we have encountered many beast packs, setting aside the sheep packs, this Flying Squirrel pack is the weakest. If we give up, it is unlikely we would have such good luck and encounter a more suitable target than the Flying Squirrel pack.¡± ¡°My suggestion is, we can strive to devise tactics. The right tactics can make it easier for us to defeat these foolish Flying Squirrels. After all, human brains are much smarter than beasts.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Zhenjin nodded with a look of approval, ¡°Scholar Cang Xu, your opinion is very pertinent. In fact, we just need to obtain enough food. We can attract the Flying Squirrels batch by batch, control the scale of the battle, and as long as we hunt enough food, we do not need to fight the Flying Squirrel leaders head-on.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s words were somewhat wishful thinking. The nature of beasts is difficult to fathom, especially since everyone was very unfamiliar with these Flying Squirrels and had very little contact with them. Moreover, on this island, creatures like Flying Squirrels had strong signs of human interference and were not naturally created. Therefore, it was really hard to say about their habits. Both Zhenjin and Cang Xu understood these principles. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But after this deliberate conversation, the group was no longer as shaken as before, and some people¡¯s gazes became firm again, morale increased to some extent. Although Zhenjin¡¯s prestige had not been established, Cang Xu¡¯s combat strength was weak, combining their influence could still mobilize the enthusiasm of the whole exploration team. Zhenjin was increasingly satisfied with Cang Xu. He silently evaluated in his heart, ¡°Cang Xu understands how to cooperate with me, perhaps, in this aspect, he is better than Zi Di.¡± ¡°Zi Di, although she is the Chairman of the Guild, is still too young, and her main effort and time have been devoted to the magic cultivation.¡± ¡°Despite Cang Xu¡¯s lack of strength, he has served the nobles for half his life, with rich experience. All along, he has been assisting me in controlling this exploration team.¡± After breakfast, everyone moved quickly. This place was a forest landscape, a sea of trees as far as the eye could see. To make short bows, suitable wood was needed. ¡°We now need two types of wood, one for making the bow arms of short bows, and another for making the bowstring. I have no idea how to select them, we need to rely on Lord Bai Ya and Cang Xu¡¯s expertise.¡± Huang Zao looked at Cang Xu and Bai Ya. The old scholar smiled, ¡°Although this island is filled with bizarre, mutated beasts, tree and grass mutations are relatively rare. I believe these kinds of trees are our targets.¡± Bai Ya said, ¡°Lord Huang Zao, my father and I have chopped down trees and made hunting bows ourselves. Roughly looking, this kind of tree matches my memory best.¡± Combining Bai Ya¡¯s experience, Cang Xu¡¯s knowledge, and Huang Zao¡¯s hands-on examination of tree-cutting, the three successfully identified two types of trees. Then Huang Zao started chopping down the trees. After all, he was a Bronze Level warrior, his strength far exceeded that of an ordinary person. The blade from the Blade Spider was extremely sharp. With one slash, the tree slowly leaned over before crashing to the ground. Bai Ya stepped forward, cut into the trunk with the blade, and skillfully pried open a piece of bark. The bark was black-green and very hard, but when Bai Ya flipped the bark over, the inner layer was revealed. The inner layer of the bark was yellow-green, and Bai Ya¡¯s fingers felt a slippery sensation. He nodded slightly and commented, ¡°The inner layer of this bark should be able to make top-quality hemp rope.¡± The three chose another large tree. This tree was much thicker than the previous one. Huang Zao drew the sharp blade Zhenjin lent him and was about to start. Cang Xu stopped him, ¡°Don¡¯t use such a sharp weapon, use an axe. Such weapons can only be wielded to their full potential by a Transcendent. Ordinary people are still better off using axes for felling trees.¡± Huang Zao followed the advice and used an axe to chop the trunk. Iron-made swords and knives are prone to edge rolling when used for tree-felling. People don¡¯t do this unless absolutely necessary. The exploration team had brought a few axes, mainly for conveniently gathering food like bananas and coconuts. The second was to cut out a road. If a stable food source was found, a convenient road would be very helpful. Huang Zao swung his stout arm and chopped more than a dozen times before cutting a notch in the trunk. ¡°If I could use Fighting energy, I could split this damned tree with one axe!¡± Huang Zao grumbled, dissatisfied with his performance. Bronze Level¡¯s Fighting energy, although it could not attach to the weapon or cover the body, could temporarily boost a person¡¯s physical attributes significantly after activation. Depending on the Fighting energy tactics, cultivators would see improvements in strength, speed, endurance, recovery power, and other aspects. After a few more chops, the notch in the trunk finally expanded to a critical mass. Huang Zao changed direction and pushed the trunk forcefully, felling the large tree. Then he used the axe to cut out a trunk section, take the core, and cut it into wooden boards. After examining the long, narrow boards, both Bai Ya and Cang Xu were very satisfied. Cang Xu had Huang Zao deliberately bend the board, which exhibited excellent toughness. The three were pleased and things were progressing smoothly. ¡°We shall return to report to Lord Zhenjin, it¡¯s time to bring people to start felling these trees,¡± decided Cang Xu. Their location was near the camp, which had long been cleared and was relatively safe. Soon, the three returned to the camp. Zhenjin oversaw the camp, commanding the entire situation. After learning about the trio¡¯s findings, Zhenjin thought for a moment and then asked Cang Xu, ¡°How many people do you think we need, and how long will it take to gather enough wood?¡± It was clear Cang Xu had considered this on the way back, and he answered immediately, ¡°The more people, the better, but my lord, there are some points we need to pay attention to.¡± ¡°Firstly is the safety of the logging team. In dangerous wildlands, logging teams typically have patrol and guard teams. Although the exploration team members are warriors, their physical strength is limited. Logging is labor-intensive and can exhaust people, reducing combat power. If danger arises, the logging team would have trouble resisting.¡± ¡°Secondly, food. I suggest allocating some people to gather food nearby. The harvest won¡¯t be much, but our food supplies are at a critical level. Any additional food would be beneficial.¡± ¡°Thirdly, these wood materials can be used for more purposes beyond making short bows. We can build more defensive structures. On the way back, Bai Ya and I discussed that he knows many hunter traps. We can set and enlarge these traps to deal with beasts like the Flying Squirrels. We have a huge intelligent advantage over them.¡± ¡°Fourthly, and most critically, is time. We are pressed for time, but both the hemp rope for bowstrings and the bow arms require drying. Making bowstrings and short bows will take at least a day, with drying needing at least two days, leaving us very little time for training.¡± As before, Cang Xu provided Zhenjin with many pertinent suggestions. Zhenjin nodded, Cang Xu remained as reliable as ever. Zhenjin always believed, ¡°Cang Xu is the best candidate for management and allocating personnel is not simple. In this respect, Zi Di lacks enough experience. Huang Zao and Lan Zao excel at combat. According to my knowledge, the two brothers have no achievements in commanding apart from leading charges.¡± For Cang Xu¡¯s concerns, Zhenjin smiled and produced a potion. The next moment, Zhenjin saw Cang Xu¡¯s eyes light up. Zhenjin said, ¡°I have prepared for this.¡± ¡°Here are two types of potions, one to apply to bow arms, and one to quickly dry the freshly cut bark. It only needs one night.¡± ¡°But note, their shelf life is only one day.¡± These potions were prepared by Zi Di on short notice. Zhenjin had previously discussed the matter of crossbows with Zi Di, and these potions were the main results. Cang Xu was overjoyed, ¡°With these, it couldn¡¯t be better.¡± The lack of food made time critical. The potions, seemingly insignificant, solved the exploration team¡¯s biggest problem. Zhenjin then appointed Cang Xu to lead the team members in logging. He also tasked Bai Ya with food gathering, with Huang Zao accompanying him for safety and clearing the area around the camp. Huang Zao had Bronze Level strength, even without Fighting energy, his combat ability far exceeded ordinary warriors. ¡°But this means everyone is assigned to the logging and foraging teams, leaving no one to guard the loggers,¡± Cang Xu worried. The exploration team was originally large, but by the time Zhenjin took over, there were only a dozen or so people left. After the poisoning incident, overall fighting power and physical strength dropped. Tasks that one person previously handled might now require one and a half or even two people, making human resources very tight. ¡°Rest assured, I will personally guard the logging team,¡± Zhenjin said. Cang Xu was immediately relieved, the area around Zhenjin would certainly be the safest! He had thought Zhenjin would guard Zi Di. Although her strategic importance on the island had decreased, Zi Di was still a mage. Cang Xu mused, ¡°So, my lord appoints Lan Zao to guard the camp?¡± Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°No, reconnaissance is vital. Lan Zao will still scout the details of the Flying Squirrel colonies. He can handle it alone. Others lack the strength and would only be a burden.¡± Cang Xu frowned, reminding, ¡°But what about Zi Di¡¯s safety?¡± Zhenjin smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve communicated with her. She will stay alone in the camp. She is also a Pharmacist, with ways to protect herself. If any unsolvable danger arises, our logging team is near the camp, and I can reinforce her immediately.¡± Cang Xu had no more objections, knowing the exploration team lacked manpower, Zhenjin¡¯s arrangement was optimal. ¡°` Chapter 39 - 39: Section 40: Bow Making Chapter 39: Section 40: Bow Making Editor: Henyee Translations Bang, bang, bang. The sound of axes chopping into the tree trunks echoed incessantly. Axes were wielded forcefully, embedding deeply into the tree trunks and sending chips of wood flying before being pulled out by the shaking of the handles by the exploration team members. The trunk of the tree had a large enough notch hacked into it that the entire tree began to teeter and sway. The logging team members shouted loudly, giving a warning, and then several people together pushed forcefully against the trunk. ... The tree made a creaking sound before crashing to the ground. Countless branches cracked and leaves scattered everywhere. Although the exploration team only had a few axes, their efficiency greatly increased, saving the team members¡¯ physical strength. Next, they needed to saw the trunk into sections for easier transportation. These tree trunks were to be rolled to the camp for further fine processing. The exploration team hadn¡¯t brought saws. However, Zhenjin lent them some. Zhenjin¡¯s ¡°saw¡± came from the Blade Spider, whose hind legs were long and straight with a row of sharp spikes, making them natural saws. The Blade Spider was a Silver Level Magic Beast, and the exploration team members quickly appreciated the strength of a Silver Level Magic Beast from another perspective. They worked in pairs, using the Blade Spider¡¯s legs to saw through large tree trunks as easily as slicing white bread with a sharp knife. The old scholar Cang Xu had rich leadership and command experience. Because Zhenjin was overseeing things, he divided the team into two groups. One group cut the wood, while the other peeled off the bark and shredded the inner sides into fine strips. Every so often the two groups would switch tasks, allowing the team members to conserve their physical strength, rest, and maintain their work progress. By the end of the morning, the logging team had overfulfilled their task. A large amount of wood was rolled in sections to the camp and temporarily piled in a corner. The fine strips of bark were also coated with potions. Lunch was substantially increased, as nearly everyone was famished. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai Ya and Huang Zao also returned for the meal. They didn¡¯t have much of a harvest, with only a few birds and one wild chicken. This small gain was not comparable to the manpower and time spent, but they at least cleared the nearby forests once again. To everyone¡¯s delight, Zhenjin announced that there would be a short nap after lunch, something unprecedented. This was actually Cang Xu¡¯s suggestion, as the nap would ensure the team members¡¯ work efficiency in the afternoon. Although the logging work was done, the upcoming tasks were still massive. A large amount of wood needed to be chopped into planks, preliminary forms for the short bow arms. Thus, the length and thickness of the planks had to meet specific requirements. Ideally, the planks should come from the core of the tree trunk. This was fine woodworking. It would have been better if there was a woodcrafter, but all the exploration team members were amateurs, which quickly became apparent¡ªmany trunks were ruined, and although many planks were chopped out, Bai Ya found them all unqualified. The unqualified planks could be used for Hunter Traps. Even the most broken wood could at least be used for fire. After burning, the resulting charcoal and ash were good resources with high practical value. The exploration team, at this point, needed every resource. They would not easily miss any resource they could obtain. The woodworking progressed slowly, increasing Zhenjin¡¯s worry and impatience. Although he knew that his anxiety wouldn¡¯t solve anything. To be honest, Zi Di¡¯s potions had indeed helped him a lot, saving him the most critical time. Furthermore, Cang Xu¡¯s arrangement was reasonable and thorough. The old scholar had long predicted the unqualified planks. As the exploration team members gradually got familiar with the work, the wood waste started to decrease significantly. Qualified planks began to emerge, and their numbers increased. Once the planks reached a certain quantity, Cang Xu directed everyone to start using the planks to craft the short bow arms. This process was quite simple. The planks were shaved into thinner long strips, forming a slightly thicker middle and thinner ends, with grooves at the ends for the bowstring. The finished short bow arms, after being checked and confirmed by Bai Ya, were coated with potions and placed in a dark corner to dry. After this task was complete, many people started clamoring that they felt they could become bowmakers. More people kept moving their fingers or kneading their arm and thigh muscles. The pain and soreness made them grimace. Their bodies were near their limits, but there was still other work awaiting them. They needed to make a large number of arrows. The selection of arrow shafts usually had a standard; the qualified wood was processed into slender cylindrical shapes, and then the surface was smoothed. The exploration team, of course, had no mature processing stages. Their primary material for arrow-making was branches, which needed to be as straight as possible and similar in length and thickness to standard arrows. Bai Ya guided everyone in making the arrows, first peeling off the bark to create the shafts, then carefully cutting the feathers with blades, attaching them with potions, and finally baking the arrowheads to harden them by carbonization and sharpening them. The arrows made this way were far from the quality of regular military supplies. Firstly, the material for the arrow shafts was subpar, the arrow feathers were not top-tier, entirely crude, but there was no room for complaints. The exploration team had very few feathers, mostly from today¡¯s hunted chickens and birds, so every feather needed to be cherished. The only comforting aspect was the potion that Zi Di had quickly prepared¡ªit stuck extremely well! As for the arrowheads, they were very crude. There weren¡¯t even iron arrowheads. They would wear out quickly after a few uses. The lethality was naturally low, but they were still threatening to ordinary beasts. Beyond making arrows, there were other tasks. For example, wooden shields were as tall as a person and quite wide, made by assembling tree trunks and vines and standing up to form a rudimentary low barrier. These were also called arrow shields. Long ago, when the Human Race attacked castles, such defensive works existed. Nowadays, these had long been obsolete. Even if used, they would at least be covered with a layer of iron. Besides arrow shields, there were wooden long spears. The exploration team members could hold these with both hands to stab Flying Squirrels from a safe distance. However, this tactic was hardly effective because everyone knew the squirrels were fast, gliding in the air with their tails adjusting direction, making them incredibly agile. The real hope lay in the short bows. By evening, the stripped bark had thoroughly dried, and while marveling at Zi Di¡¯s techniques, people began twisting flax ropes. The technique of twisting ropes was also learned from Bai Ya. There were small skills involved. Mainly, the fine strips were first divided into two bundles, each twisted counterclockwise, and when the two merged, they were twisted clockwise. This way, the woven rope would be tight and not easily untangled. The flax ropes served as bowstrings, with each short bow equipped with at least two bowstrings, one for regular use and one spare. By the time dinner came, the bowstrings were essentially ready in sufficient quantity. Like lunch, dinner was also hearty. There was even game, a rare treat for everyone. The next morning. Zhenjin and others woke up early because they had an important task¡ª Testing the bows. After one night, coupled with Zi Di¡¯s potion, the bows had dried. Bai Ya tried using both hands to bend the bow arms, and when he saw a considerable curve, he smiled and said, ¡°Great. Better than I expected.¡± Cang Xu then pondered, ¡°Huang Zao, I have a task for you. Break this bow arm, but do it slowly.¡± Huang Zao understood Cang Xu¡¯s meaning and immediately set to work. When the bow arm bent to its limit, it snapped into two with a crack. The team witnessed this, instantly understanding the resilience limit of these simple bow arms. Cang Xu estimated, ¡°It seems we can only use a single flax rope as the bowstring.¡± No one dissented. Sometimes, multiple flax ropes were combined to form a bowstring. But after testing, for the resilience and limit of these short bow arms, a single flax rope was more appropriate. Bai Ya attached the bowstring with a secure and clever knot. Then, the hunter¡¯s son notched an arrow, aimed at a distant target, and released the arrow with a whoosh. Everyone watched intently. Clearly, the arrow that was meant to fly straight ahead veered to the upper left and then tilted down to the ground. It had a range of over fifty paces. It was far from the target¡ªwho knew where it had veered. But no one showed disappointment, and Zhenjin even nodded slightly¡ªhe knew this was just the beginning. Bows needed adjustment. The crafted bow arms were rough, requiring continued refinement with a dagger and other tools, and bowstrings and arrows needed adjustments too. Through this process, the accuracy and range of the short bows would stabilize and improve significantly. Finally, when Bai Ya finished his adjustments, the arrows successfully hit a target a hundred paces away, with the arrowhead penetrating two fingers¡¯ depth. Zhenjin was quite satisfied with this outcome. On one hand, it wasn¡¯t a compound bow, just a single-body bow, with bow arms and bowstrings made of locally sourced, unvetted materials. On the other hand, the arrows lacked iron arrowheads, only carbonized and sharpened, crudely handled. Such performance was already quite good. Because Zhenjin didn¡¯t have high demands. They were now in a forest, not the wide-open grasslands where longbows were suitable. The team members were not excellent archers; most were forced into this, so expecting them to have any accuracy beyond a hundred paces was unrealistic. ¡°Given the environmental and personnel constraints, having an effective short bow range of a hundred paces is sufficient.¡± ¡°The key is how many arrows we can shoot within this hundred paces. If we can shoot more than three arrows with some accuracy, this short bow plan can be considered a success.¡± Chapter 40 - 40: Section 41: Resolute Persistence Chapter 40: Section 41: Resolute Persistence Editor: Henyee Translations Don¡¯t underestimate the three arrows, they greatly impacted the battle¡¯s outcome. One side remained unscathed, all engaged in ranged attacks, while the other side suffered casualties. In warfare, one-on-one and two-on-one are entirely different conditions. Military strategy hinges on using various tactics to create situations where the few are overwhelmed by the many, thereby gaining a manpower advantage. Moreover, Flying Squirrels are not Undead; as long as they are natural life forms, morale plays a role. For example, when Zhenjin directly took out the Flying Squirrel leader, it caused the remaining Flying Squirrels to collapse and scatter. ... In fact, they couldn¡¯t shoot too many arrows. Excessive archery greatly depleted their physical strength. They were all temporary archers and should allocate more energy to close combat, or else the losses would outweigh the gains. Next, Zhenjin still assigned Bai Ya to handle the task of adjusting the bows. Huang Zao and Lan Zao had only limited leadership abilities, efficient enough to lead small groups charging on the ship¡¯s deck. As for Zhenjin, he couldn¡¯t adjust the bows himself. Cang Xu and Zi Di were even less capable in this regard. Bai Ya, the son of a hunter, had ordinary skills. If not for being stranded on this island, he would have faded into obscurity. But in these circumstances, he could rely on his abilities to shine. For him, this island posed great danger but also significant opportunity. ¡°In the end, the talent under me is too scarce. Even someone with a bit of talent, like Bai Ya, can stand out,¡± Zhenjin thought in secret. Bai Ya led a few people to adjust the bows, and the remaining people didn¡¯t idle. Huang Zao continued to hunt, but the main goal wasn¡¯t to obtain food; it was to target wild birds and collect feathers. Lan Zao continued scouting around the Flying Squirrel colony. People were continuously creating wooden arrow shields and Hunter Traps. There were also hemp ropes weaved from tree bark fibers, short ones for bowstrings, and long ones for binding, such as making arrow shields. The stock of hemp ropes steadily increased; these things seemed trivial but were very practical. No one could estimate how long they would stay on this island, so they had to stockpile hemp ropes as much as possible. According to Cang Xu, the uses of hemp ropes were actually quite extensive. Besides their primary function, combined hemp ropes could be woven into nets. Nets could carry items, be sewn into clothes, or be made into straw sandals. Cang Xu also participated, providing a very rudimentary loom. This loom consisted of a dozen small wooden stakes inserted into the ground, arranged in two rows. A horizontal rod connected every other stake in one row. With strings wound around the stakes, dozens of vertical lines formed. Lifting the rod would raise half of the stakes, and subsequently, half of the vertical lines. At that moment, a horizontal thread was eased into the raised vertical lines. Letting down the vertical lines, a horizontal thread and dozens of vertical lines tightened up, completing a basic weaving motion. Repeating this motion dozens or hundreds of times would produce a piece of fabric. This primitive loom was highly inefficient compared to those in the Empire, worlds apart in functionality. A half-day¡¯s labor might yield a piece only the size of a palm, but it indeed saved significant labor and materials, being much more efficient than hand weaving. Team members working with such looms were all impressed with Cang Xu¡¯s extensive knowledge. But Cang Xu explained that this loom design actually came from his studies of the Beastmen. Compared to the Human Race Empire, the Beastmen occupied the Wilderness Continent but generally lived in tribal forms, with low living and production levels. Such looms were common among the Beastmen. As for Zi Di, she was primarily responsible for making poisons. Zhenjin had clearly instructed her to create a type of poison that could naturally dissipate or be neutralized through boiling or roasting. Or preferably, a poison that would only be effective against Flying Squirrels but harmless to humans. After all, Zhenjin needed to hunt Flying Squirrels for food. If the poison was too potent, the meat would be inedible even if the Flying Squirrels were killed, resulting in a loss far greater than the gains for the entire exploration team. In their current primitive environment, Zi Di could only make tentative attempts and requested live Flying Squirrels for experiments. Zhenjin set off covertly, along with Lan Zao, to scout the Flying Squirrel colony. Cang Xu stayed at camp to oversee matters. After adjusting the bows, Bai Ya led the group to begin test shooting. By evening, the leaders reconvened to exchange their findings. Zhenjin and Lan Zao captured three live Flying Squirrels and handed them to Zi Di. Huang Zao, however, had no prey to show for his efforts; hunting didn¡¯t rely on combat prowess. In fact, he lost a few Iron-made arrowheads¡ªprecious items that were irreplaceable. Though not without gains, Huang Zao¡¯s group, driven by their failed hunt, ventured farther afield and stumbled upon a small bamboo grove. Bamboo was an excellent resource, as bamboo segments were natural water containers. Bamboo could be used to make rafts, and sharpened bamboo could be fashioned into traps. The third day ¡°Shoot!¡± Huang Zao commanded, and multiple arrows soared through the air with a whoosh. Several makeshift targets stood at a distance of 120 steps. Concentric circles had been drawn on the targets with charcoal, but hardly any arrows hit the mark. The circles on the targets were quite small, comparable to the size of a Flying Squirrel. In actual combat, they would have to shoot these moving targets. Therefore, such archery results were unacceptable. ¡°Your stance is wrong.¡± ¡°Straighten your back, extend your arm.¡± ¡°Steady, steady. Why are you trembling?!¡± Huang Zao served as the instructor. He frowned deeply, feeling immense pressure. Comparatively, the best marksman in the entire team was undoubtedly Zhenjin. Second was Bai Ya, whose shooting skills surpassed those of Huang Zao and others due to his reliance on this skill for survival. Hunters didn¡¯t fight head-on; it was just a means to make a living. Besides hunting dogs, hunters often used traps and bows extensively. Skilled hunters would retreat or cease their attempt when encountering prey they couldn¡¯t handle. Huang Zao and Lan Zao excelled in close combat and used crossbows more frequently than bows for ranged attacks. They had specifically trained in archery for survival on the ship. Huang Zao¡¯s disastrous hunting results the previous day led Zhenjin to appoint him as the temporary instructor for training. Determined to redeem himself, Huang Zao put in extra effort. When training others, Huang Zao proved to be more dependable despite being slightly less skilled in archery than Bai Ya. Bai Ya relied more on intuition and was a self-taught archer. Huang Zao, having undergone formal training, knew the key techniques of archery. ¡°First, engage in individual intensive practice, then form Arrow Screens. With the current skills, even basic Arrow Screens can¡¯t be formed,¡± Zhenjin observed the training, feeling a mixture of anxiety and patience, though he didn¡¯t show it outwardly. Today, Bai Ya took Huang Zao¡¯s place in hunting. The main goal remained to hunt wild birds, as the team needed more feathers to make arrow fletchings. No one expected him to hunt enough food. Solo hunting carried great risk and low efficiency, often dependent on luck. Throughout the Empire, hunters led tough lives. Hence the saying: ¡°Hunters don¡¯t fare as well as shepherds, and shepherds don¡¯t compare to farmers.¡± Normally, hunters struggled to fill their bellies. Farmers had the most stable and secure lives compared to hunters and shepherds. Despite seemingly having a source of meat, most forest lands were owned by Nobles. Hunters caught poaching faced severe punishment. In such a predicament, the exploration team could only rely on large-scale hunting to meet their food needs. Training continued from morning to nightfall, and after dinner, the team members were too exhausted to talk and promptly fell asleep in their tents. In Zhenjin¡¯s tent, Cang Xu reported the grim situation with a solemn expression. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, our food supplies are critically low. If this continues, we won¡¯t last a few days.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s face remained calm and composed. He even found it strange how, over the past two days, his initial anxiety had gradually settled down. He had adjusted to the pressure and reassured Cang Xu, ¡°We must train in archery. This cannot be rushed. We have to tough it out! Without a fundamental proficiency in archery, rashly engaging in battle would be pointless. Intensive training does consume physical strength and increase food consumption. But by depleting our food now to improve archery, we will reduce casualties in future battles. It¡¯s a worthwhile trade.¡± ¡°Understood, my lord,¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°However, this severe food shortage is well known, causing anxiety among the team.¡± Zhenjin smiled, ¡°Then clearly inform everyone of our remaining rations. If necessary, let them see our food stocks themselves.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s expression shifted slightly, and he responded gravely, ¡°I understand, my lord.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The fourth day The shooting range. Despite sore and even swollen arms, the exploration team members were determined and rigorously continued their training. They had a clear understanding of their food reserves and their dire situation. It was all or nothing¡ªfailure in hunting meant their end! Under such pressure, everyone was driven to work diligently, sparing no effort to master archery. Though the initial training results were dismal, once adapted, they markedly improved their target accuracy. Although arrows rarely hit the bullseye, most now hit the targets. Seeing the stabilized archery results, Huang Zao immediately replaced the stationary targets with moving ones. These moving targets were short wooden stakes tied with hemp ropes, with the other ends tied to high branches. Releasing the hoisted stakes caused them to swing. Huang Zao tasked the team to hit these stakes with arrows. Their performance plummeted, worse than before! No one complained, aware that in actual combat, Flying Squirrels would be quicker and more unpredictable than swinging stakes. Practice, relentless practice. Every moment was precious. During lunch, the team ate in silence, the atmosphere heavy. Many furrowed their brows, constantly reflecting and pondering how to improve their archery. During tent breaks, they mimicked drawing a bow, even without one in hand. Post-training, team members massaged each other¡¯s arms. Many couldn¡¯t lift their arms, all suffering from swelling. Thankfully, Zi Di provided potions. These potions, though initially for Transcendents, were diluted for the team, still offering strong recovery. Used both externally and internally, these potions, combined with a night¡¯s rest, restored their arms significantly. Dinner consisted of thin soup. Sparse wild vegetables resembled mere garnish. The team¡¯s faces changed, but no one spoke up. Everyone understood the severe situation. ¡°Cang Xu, come out,¡± Zhenjin¡¯s distant voice called. ¡°Why is dinner so meager?¡± Zhenjin seemed to question Cang Xu. ¡°My lord, food is scarce. We had no choice,¡± Cang Xu replied. Zhenjin retorted, ¡°But I recall we have some reserves. It¡¯s not that dire!¡± ¡°My lord, those are the last of the dry rations, reserved for you and Lady Zi Di.¡± ¡°Bring them out.¡± ¡°My lord?¡± ¡°Bring them out! How can they train or fight without proper meals?¡± This conversation stirred emotions among the listeners, many showing signs of being moved. ¡°My lord, please let us engage,¡± that night, some team members approached Zhenjin, requesting to act. But Zhenjin denied their request, ¡°Training. More training is needed!¡± The fifth day Training, training, and more training! By the evening, Zhenjin inspected the progress and was pleased to find that half of the shots out of ten hit the targets. The moving targets were larger than actual Flying Squirrels, but these results met Zhenjin¡¯s standards. He never expected to turn each member into a Divine Archer in a short time; everyone¡¯s innate ability set limits to their archery skills. But Arrow Screens could compensate for lack of accuracy. With such skills, they could form effective Arrow Screens. By the afternoon, Cang Xu also approached Zhenjin, ¡°We can act now, my lord.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit longer,¡± Zhenjin replied firmly. His steadfastness surprised even himself. Chapter 41 - 41: Section 42: Small Victory Chapter 41: Section 42: Small Victory The sixth day. After breakfast, Lord Zhenjin faced everyone and said, ¡°We have just finished the last of our provisions.¡± Everyone stood silently, standing straight, fully prepared in their hearts for this outcome. Lord Zhenjin, in front of everyone, swept his gaze over the crowd with a sharp look. ¡°Now, if there is anyone who doesn¡¯t understand our situation, step forward!¡± No one moved, standing their ground. ... Every face bore a grave expression, as if harboring boiling magma inside their upright chests¡ªa long-accumulated fighting spirit, a strong desire to survive! ¡°Very well. You are all clever people, aware of what we will face if we lose.¡± ¡°In these days, Lan Zao has conducted a thorough reconnaissance, and apart from the Flying Squirrel group, there are no more suitable targets nearby.¡± ¡°Today, if we defeat them, they will be our food. If we fail, we will become their food.¡± ¡°I, Lord Zhenjin, as a Holy Temple Knight and the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, will be with you. I will lead you through hardships and overcome obstacles to harvest victory. Follow me, let us obtain glory!¡± Morale soared, united in spirit. The team set out. Soon, they arrived at the designated battlefield. This battlefield was carefully arranged, with the most noticeable feature being low barriers made of vines and bamboo branches. These barriers, one after another, formed a long line of defense. In order to cross the barriers, the Flying Squirrels would have to take flight. This provided a good opportunity for the team members to shoot. There were three such defensive lines. Under normal circumstances, rivers serve as natural barriers and don¡¯t require laborious setup, which is ideal. However, firstly, there were no rivers nearby. Secondly, the rivers on this island were quite dangerous, often harboring ferocious Magic Plants like the Green Vine Anaconda. Not only had Lord Zhenjin encountered these Golden Level Magic Plants, but Cang Xu¡¯s exploration team had also come into contact with them several times, paying the price in blood. Under Lord Zhenjin¡¯s command, Lan Zao advanced alone, his figure quickly disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight. Most of the people formed a battle array. The formation of the battle array was very simple¡ªjust a horizontal line. This formation facilitated the unleashing of ranged firepower. Cang Xu and Zi Di stood behind the horizontal line, beside Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin began to pray silently. ¡°Holy Emperor, my God, You who are wise and mighty, forever grasping the opportunity for victory on the battlefield, You are the God of Knights, the God of War, the God of Victory. Please bless me with victory, I will add a glimmer to Your throne with faith and glory, with the blood of my enemies. Oh God, please hear my call¡­¡± There was no response from above. Lord Zhenjin sighed internally. Usually, when facing battle, Holy Temple Knights would pray. The Holy Emperor would typically respond, bestowing Divine Arts to protect the Holy Temple Knights. But since his awakening, after praying many times, the Holy Emperor had not responded. This was also why Lord Zhenjin did not pray aloud. Because if no Divine Arts descended, it would definitely create a bad impression on others, making them feel that Lord Zhenjin, as a Holy Temple Knight, was not favored and protected by the divine. Hence, even before fighting, morale would be damaged and shaken. The outcome now was as Lord Zhenjin had expected. He also felt relieved by his wise choice. The morning sun, emerging from the morning glow, began to probe through. The forest gradually bathed in the sunlight, the deep dark green slowly becoming bright. The air was still cold, everyone¡¯s breath visible as white mist when they exhaled. As time passed, the chirping of birds became more and more frequent. Suddenly, a flock of birds flapped their wings in the front, leaving the canopy and taking to the sky. Lan Zao¡¯s figure reappeared in front of everyone. He was in full sprint, with a large group of Flying Squirrels squealing behind him, several of which emitted a Bronze Level Magic Beast aura. The line wavered slightly, then quickly returned to silence. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyes quickly flashed with sharpness, his spirit slightly uplifted¡ªLan Zao¡¯s provocation this time was very successful. The next moment, Lord Zhenjin cried out, ¡°Get ready!¡± The exploration team members had already prepared, withdrawing arrows at the signal, and placing them on their bowstrings in unison. They all drew their bows, ready but not releasing. ¡°Fire,¡± Lord Zhenjin shouted again. The members immediately let go, and in an instant, the bowstrings vibrated as all arrows flew out. Lan Zao¡¯s footsteps did not halt; seeing the arrows coming, he immediately hit the ground and rolled with the momentum. A Flying Squirrel leader lunged and missed him, crashing to the ground, turf and small clods scattering about, immediately creating a small crater of mud. Lan Zao quickly got up, continuing with the inertia from the roll. This time, he had a Shield raised in his hands. This Shield had already been prepared with multiple copies and were placed on the ground. None of the arrows struck Lan Zao¡¯s Shield. The arrow screen filtered through, taking down several of the Flying Squirrels. One Flying Squirrel leader lunged for Lan Zao¡¯s back. Hearing the noise, Lan Zao swiftly turned and swept his Shield in a broad arc, ¡®thud¡¯, directly knocking away the Flying Squirrel. ¡°Get ready¡ªFire!¡± Spotting the moment when the Flying Squirrels crossed the vine barriers, Lord Zhenjin once again commanded. A dozen arrows, once more, formed a sparser Arrow Screen, among them a few Iron Short Arrows shot from Crossbows. The Arrow Screen traced a gentle arc in midair, falling accurately among the group of Flying Squirrels. A few wooden arrows struck Lan Zao¡¯s shield and leather armor without causing any damage to the latter. The crossbows were in the hands of those with good shooting skills, so they wouldn¡¯t hit Lan Zao. The rest of the arrowheads were made of wood, with no iron arrowheads yet; just the very tips of the wooden shafts were charred black and sharpened after carbonization. Of course, these arrowheads couldn¡¯t do much damage to Lan Zao, and they wouldn¡¯t pose much of a threat to the Flying Squirrel leaders. But they could still kill ordinary Flying Squirrels. Under this layer of Arrow Screen, several more Flying Squirrels fell to the ground, some dying on the spot, others wounded and shrieking in chaos. After two volleys, over a dozen Flying Squirrels had lost their combat ability, falling in the midst of the charge. The group of Flying Squirrels began to scatter. Most were still pursuing Lan Zao; a few directly attacked the formation. ¡°Ready,¡± Zhenjin spoke again, ¡°Shoot!¡± The third volley was fired, and the movements of the group became uneven. Although the Arrow Screen formed in midair, it was clearly not as neat and dense as before. However, due to the close distance between the two sides, the arrows still inflicted significant damage on the swarm of rats. Bai Ya and Huang Zao both aimed their crossbows at the Flying Squirrel leaders. Although the lead rat was hit by arrows, it was merely slowed down without injury. Instead, its ferocity was provoked, and it sped up. There were two lead squirrels in total. One locked onto Lan Zao, while the other pounced toward the line. ¡°Combat freely,¡± ordered Zhenjin, and immediately he pulled out a Dagger, his arms forcefully thrusting, throwing with both hands at the same time! The two Flying Squirrel leaders were almost simultaneously struck by the Daggers, tumbling to the ground. Then, due to inertia, they rolled a few times before lying still. Fresh red blood quickly flowed from the fatal wounds in their eye sockets, spreading onto the surrounding grass. This distance had already reached the range of Zhenjin¡¯s Flying Dagger attack. Zhenjin¡¯s physical capabilities were astonishing; the strength in his throwing arm was much stronger than that of a Crossbow. Without the lead squirrels, the swarm immediately fell into panic. The team members fired at will, and only a few Flying Squirrels made it to the front of the team, only then to be skewered by several wooden spears at once. After a brief struggle, the remaining few Flying Squirrels broke away and scattered in all directions with a loud noise. ¡°Whew¡­ we won.¡± ¡°The two Flying Squirrel leaders both died at the hands of Lord Zhenjin.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin¡¯s divine might!¡± Lan Zao returned with his Shield. Both his shield and his shoulder armor were pierced by wooden arrows. Zhenjin merely glanced at Lan Zao and knew that Lan Zao had not been wounded at all. Patting him on the shoulder, he said, ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your leadership, Lord,¡± Lan Zao bowed deeply with respect. Everyone was clear that the key to this battle¡¯s victory was still Zhenjin. His Flying Dagger skills dazzled everyone, taking out the two most threatening Flying Squirrel leaders and completely breaking the morale of the rat swarm. ¡°Rest for a moment, and then we¡¯ll continue hunting,¡± Zhenjin ordered. ¡°Yes, my Lord!¡± The team members responded enthusiastically, their morale even higher than before the battle began. The way everyone looked at Zhenjin had now changed. Before, everyone still harbored doubts and worries in their hearts. After all, everyone knew that Zhenjin was taking a desperate gamble by hunting the rat swarm. No one knew how it would turn out. Even with the status of a Noble and Holy Temple Knight, there was no guarantee of success in hunting. Should they fail, the entire exploration team would collapse. And as the leader, Zhenjin would bear the primary inescapable responsibility. But now, having won a decisive victory in the first official hunt, all the worries in everyone¡¯s hearts had vanished. Any previous doubts about Zhenjin¡¯s decisions now seemed wise and resolute. ¡°Lord Zhenjin truly is a Holy Temple Knight!¡± Bai Ya¡¯s eyes shone with admiration. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s my good fortune to serve under Lord Zhenjin,¡± Huang Zao sighed with relief. ¡°With Lord Zhenjin, we¡¯re sure to set sail anew.¡± Members whispered among themselves, looking at Zhenjin with reverence. A minor victory made them truly recognize Zhenjin¡¯s leadership. Because Zhenjin had partially fulfilled his promise, he could indeed lead them to victory, earning glory, and it wasn¡¯t just all talk. ¡°My Lord, I knew none of this would be a problem for you,¡± said Zi Di with a smile, her amethyst eyes revealing strands of adoration. Cang Xu exhaled a breath of murky air, thinking to himself, ¡°With this, the entire exploration team has shifted from peril to safety.¡± The situation before was like standing on the edge of a cliff, with one foot already dangling. Now, a complete victory, although it did not significantly replenish their food supply, swept away everyone¡¯s worries. The entire team came together closely, all revolving around Zhenjin as their sole core. But just as the morale was boosted and the celebration uplifted, suddenly a strange noise came from the distant forest. The incessant squeaking was relentless to the ears. The escaping Flying Squirrels had attracted a large force! ¡°Ah, there are so many Flying Squirrels, they¡¯re charging at us!¡± ¡°How did we alarm so many Flying Squirrels?¡± ¡°We were only on the outskirts!¡± Suddenly, the exploration team was thrown into disarray. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Suddenly, Zhenjin burst out laughing. Chapter 42 - 42: Section 43: Great Victory Chapter 42: Section 43: Great Victory The members of the exploration team, in their panic, were all drawn to Zhenjin¡¯s laughter. Zhenjin immediately shouted, ¡°With me here, what are you panicking for? No matter how many flying squirrels there are, they will only be our food. Follow my command, reorganize the formation, and kill all these flying squirrels.¡± ¡°Yes, Lord!¡± Everyone responded thunderously. The line was quickly restored. Zhenjin concentrated and looked into the distance, his pupils involuntarily contracting. His physical fitness surpassed others, enabling him to see more clearly. At a glance, he saw seven flying squirrel leaders, and hundreds of common flying squirrels swarming out. ¡°Could it be that all the flying squirrels have mobilized?¡± ... ¡°Indeed, the nature of beasts is unpredictable.¡± Zhenjin had no intention of retreating; this situation had been expected. Before the hunt began, Zhenjin and the others had anticipated many scenarios. The worst-case scenario was: the first time Lan Zao attracted the flying squirrels, it alerted the entire colony. Now, Zhenjin had achieved a minor victory, enhanced his prestige, solidified his position, and improved the morale of the entire team. After a previous minor victory, the team was completely revitalized compared to before. This was already good enough. ¡°Ready, fire,¡± Zhenjin called out. Upon hearing the command, everyone¡¯s face became stern as they took arrows and drew bows. A thin screen of arrows enveloped the area, and immediately several flying squirrels fell to the ground. The attacking flying squirrels were numerous and densely packed, so this round of simultaneous shooting had the highest kill count in history. However, the group of flying squirrels was quite large; not a single leader among the flying squirrels died, which seemingly sparked even more ferocity in them. They issued sharp, chaotic shrieks, and their charging speed seemed to increase. Many people turned pale. After this round of simultaneous shooting, they clearly saw the situation. There were many flying squirrels; even if they shot seven or eight times, it might not be enough to kill them all. Moreover, given the distance and the attack speed of the flying squirrels, it was impossible to manage even five or six rounds of simultaneous shooting. Soon, the second round of simultaneous shooting. Then the third. ¡°Fight freely!¡± Zhenjin then ordered. The arrow screen compensated somewhat for the lack of precision, but with the distance greatly reduced, the archers¡¯ accuracy greatly improved, and simultaneous shooting only limited their performance, especially for notably skilled individual shooters. Swish, swish, swish. Arrows streaked across the sky, shooting into the swarm of squirrels. The swarm chirped wildly and was fiercely aggressive, seemingly not having lost much in number. The swarm was now close at hand, bringing immense pressure. Many people couldn¡¯t help but have their hearts race and their actions deform, losing their usual standard. Some fumbled several times just to nock their arrows, others dropped their arrows, shooting only empty strings. Huang Zao, frustrated, inadvertently used too much force and broke the bow arms of his short bow, angrily throwing the broken bow away. ¡°This damn bow!¡± he cursed, immediately pulling out another short bow. Considering that the short bows were poorly made, each person was equipped with a spare. As for the crossbow, its shooting speed couldn¡¯t compare with the short bow. When the battle started, there was no time to restring, so it was set aside. Zhenjin kept shooting arrows, hitting his targets without fail! But the short bow lacked power, the draw weight was too low. After several shots, Zhenjin clearly felt his short bow loosen, so he immediately discarded it and switched to another spare. In a short time, Zhenjin had switched three short bows. He alone had killed more than twenty flying squirrels. But the remaining number of flying squirrels was still very large, at least fifty. The ordinary flying squirrels were one thing, but the crucial issue was the seven flying squirrel leaders, none of which had died, which was troubling. The powerful iron bolts fired from the crossbows couldn¡¯t harm these flying squirrel leaders, let alone the short bows. Zhenjin felt as though there was a massive stone pressing on his heart; he was very clear: once this swarm of squirrels broke through, the exploration team would suffer heavy losses. The leading flying squirrel leader entered Zhenjin¡¯s flying dagger range. In an instant, fierceness flashed in the young man¡¯s eyes, and his arm vibrated sharply. The dagger pierced through the air with such speed that everyone saw only a flash of light. The beam hit the Flying Squirrel leader accurately. Initially flying, the leader was speared by a dagger and hurled away even faster, crashing to the ground far away and lying motionless. Everyone was shocked by the scene but had no time to cheer. That¡¯s because the swarm of squirrels didn¡¯t pause for even a moment; the other Flying Squirrel leaders fiercely charged into the frontline. They were all Bronze Level Magic Beasts and, after crashing into the bodies of the ¡°exploration team members,¡± clawed and bit with their large front teeth. The members of the ¡°exploration team,¡± who were being brutally massacred, fell to the ground, covered in leaves and branches but no blood or Gore. It turned out, the ones at the front were all puppets. These puppets were stuffed with straw and shaped like humans, then camouflaged with potions hastily made by Zi Di to fool the squirrels¡¯ senses of smell. Cang Xu had discovered through dissection that Flying Squirrels¡¯ vision was not exceptional; they primarily relied on their sense of smell. The intelligence of the Flying Squirrels was also low, so these puppets successfully attracted their attack. A large number of ordinary Flying Squirrels also pounced on these wooden puppets. Some puppets attracted as many as a dozen Flying Squirrels, others at least five or six. Seeing the swarm gather together, Zhenjin quickly ordered, ¡°Set fire!¡± Zi Di had prepared for this moment well before the battle. She immediately acted, throwing pharmaceutical bottles. The bottles shattered on rocks, their contents spilling onto the grass and mixing with previous potions. In moments, faint flames appeared, and suddenly expanded into fire serpents, swiftly spreading, instantly igniting the frontline into a wall of fire. The puppets caught within the firewall burned intensely and emitted thick smoke. Some Flying Squirrels screamed in agony; more were choked by the thick smoke, causing their tears to flow and their acute sense of smell only added to their suffering. Almost all the Flying Squirrels panicked and scattered in all directions. The pressure on the exploration team drastically dropped. Even though some squirrels still charged at them, there weren¡¯t many left, and those were mainly fleeing from the flames. They were met with arrows. Almost half of the Flying Squirrels were struck mid-flight and fell. Bai Ya, Huang Zao, and Lan Zao all performed steadily. However, Zhenjin did not strike; he was as still as a statue. Suddenly, a Flying Squirrel leader burst through the firewall coming into his sight. Without any hesitation, almost at the same moment, Zhenjin¡¯s Flying Dagger was shot, striking the leader right in the eye sockets. The Flying Squirrel leader hit the ground, rolling several times before dying instantly. But just as this leader fell, the remaining leaders surged through the firewall. They were unscathed by the fire; ordinary flames could not harm them, and even the thick smoke only caused discomfort. The Flying Squirrel leaders charged wildly. Seeing this, both Cang Xu and Zi Di¡¯s faces turned pale. There were still four leaders left! These were all Bronze Level Magic Beasts. Although Lan Zao and Huang Zao were also Bronze Level warriors, facing a Flying Squirrel leader one-on-one was perilous. Humans and wild beasts are different. The combat power of Human Race Transcendents mostly came from using Fighting Energy and magic. But in this environment, they couldn¡¯t activate their Fighting Energy. Although Fighting Energy could subtly enhance a Transcendent¡¯s physical condition, it was poor compared to that of Magic Beasts. Humans¡¯ inherently delicate skin and fragile bones were no match for wild beasts. Lan Zao and Huang Zao, relying only on their natural ability, certainly couldn¡¯t surpass these Flying Squirrel leaders. Notably, even ordinary swords couldn¡¯t slash through these leaders¡¯ skin and bones after death. If Lan Zao and Huang Zao were in such a plight, the ordinary members were no match for the leaders at all. ¡°If Flying Squirrel leaders broke into the crowd, massive casualties would result. Our only hope lies in Zhenjin, to see if this Holy Temple Knight can quickly eliminate these leaders!¡± Cang Xu¡¯s eyes flashed with worry as he grasped the situation thoroughly. ¡°Now isn¡¯t the time to keep hiding your strength, my lord,¡± Cang Xu internally urged Zhenjin. He was a wise man, understanding that in such circumstances on the island, survival depended on aligning with the powerful. That¡¯s precisely why he had actively planned and pushed for the entire exploration team to side with Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin took a deep breath. He knew everyone was waiting for him to perform. But he couldn¡¯t summon his fighting energy! The battle situation was urgent, and Lord Zhenjin¡¯s time was running out¡ªhe had only one chance for a flying dagger. ¡°I will finish you all at once.¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s gaze was sharp and resolute. He reached into his bosom with both hands, each hand holding two daggers. The next moment, his arms vibrated simultaneously, and four daggers burst out! The force of the flying daggers far exceeded that of a crossbow. Meanwhile, each flying dagger was extraordinarily precise, hitting their targets almost in the blink of an eye. ¡°Ah!¡± Cang Xu had just opened his mouth to scream when he saw the Flying Squirrel leaders fall to the ground in unison, and Lord Zhenjin had secured the victory! ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± Lord Zhenjin was thrilled, his expression still as steely and unflinching. His arms muscles were faintly trembling non-stop. This strike had exhausted all of Lord Zhenjin¡¯s strength, fully utilizing the exquisite skills that came with the recovery of his memory. A strong sense of numbness and soreness soaked through his arms. Since the start of the battle, Lord Zhenjin had first shot numerous arrows, then thrown the flying daggers. To kill the Flying Squirrel leaders, Lord Zhenjin had exerted all his strength in each throw. By now, he had essentially reached his body¡¯s physical limits. These flying daggers were ordinary weapons. The reason they could kill the Flying Squirrel leaders was due to Lord Zhenjin¡¯s incredible precision in hiting vital weak points, as well as the terrifying speed and power brought by his furious throwing. ¡°Is it over?¡± ¡°One strike, four hits!¡± ¡°These Flying Squirrel leaders couldn¡¯t even force Lord Zhenjin¡¯s real strength. He is truly too strong¡­¡± The morale of the people was greatly boosted. Just as they began to cheer, one of the dead Flying Squirrel leaders on the ground suddenly ¡°came back to life¡±! It sprinted on the ground, so fast that faint afterimages trailed behind it. At the same time, its life breath burst forth, no longer Bronze Level but Black Iron Level! ¡°Careful!¡± Zi Di screamed. This was a very cunning Flying Squirrel, its real strength was Black Iron Level, but it had disguised itself with a Bronze breath. It had a unique method to conceal its own breath, deceiving Lan Zao¡¯s surveillance! It was the leader of this Flying Squirrel colony! At this moment, Lord Zhenjin felt the breath of death once again. Indeed, he had dealt with many magic beasts. Silver Level Blue-haired Evil Wolf, Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, and Blade Spider. But he had defeated the Blue-haired Evil Wolf because the timing was just right, taking advantage of the mad green vines in the river. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was taken advantage of when it was severely injured, and even then, Lord Zhenjin almost died, barely escaping with his life. Killing the Blade Spider was also because the spider let its guard down, and Lord Zhenjin happened to undergo a mutation that struck the spider¡¯s vital spot. If it really came down to strength, Lord Zhenjin was no match for the Silver Spider. The human body is quite fragile. Compared to fierce beasts, humans lack sharp claw-like teeth, thick fur, extremely strong physiques, and bones as hard as iron. Usually, humans can¡¯t even outrun a dog, they can¡¯t breathe underwater like fish, nor can they fly in the air like birds. In terms of strength, Lord Zhenjin being able to suppress the Bronze Level leader was enough to greatly surprise Cang Xu, who speculated that Lord Zhenjin might possess Golden Level cultivation. Man¡¯s greatest advantage is his own intelligence. Humans can use their intelligence to create and utilize tools. Although humans forge swords to rival the claws and teeth of fierce beasts, humans also develop magic and fighting energy to enhance their own strength. However, on this island, low-level magic and fighting energy are prohibited. Magic beasts can¡¯t use their talent abilities but still retain their robust and fierce physique. Without fighting energy and magic, the inherent frailty of humans is clearly revealed. So, a Black Iron Level Flying Squirrel leader could indeed pose a lethal threat to Zhenjin. ¡°Its speed is much faster than mine and extremely agile!¡± ¡°Ordinary blades, even if they strike it, cannot cause effective damage. However, I have weapons made from Spider Blade.¡± ¡°Yet what¡¯s truly terrifying is not its agility, nor its flesh and claws, but the horrendous electricity it can release.¡± Zhenjin furrowed his brows deeply. With the crisis on hand, he discovered that he possessed a certain excellent quality of a seasoned warrior¡ªthe more critical the situation, the faster he thought and the clearer his mind became. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Flying dagger had already been tried and could not harm the Black Iron Level Flying Squirrel leader. The Spider Blade in Zhenjin¡¯s hands was the best weapon to kill it, but at the same time, the electricity released by the Flying Squirrel could instantly claim Zhenjin¡¯s life. ¡°Unless I can muster Fighting energy in an instant! Only with Fighting energy shielding my body can I withstand the electricity.¡± A fierce gleam flashed in Zhenjin¡¯s eyes. Fighting energy, he desperately needed Fighting energy. ¡°Holy Emperor, my God! Listen to Your believer¡¯s prayers, let me awaken my past memories, let me regain control of Fighting energy!¡± Zhenjin shouted in his heart. But the deity still did not respond. ¡°Damn it,¡± Zhenjin clenched his teeth harshly. Without Fighting energy, he could not defend against the electric shock. Both fighting parties were strong in offense but weak in defense; it was all about who could first successfully launch a fatal attack on the opponent. Closer. Even closer. ¡°Roar.¡± Just as Zhenjin was preparing to charge, he suddenly heard a mysterious beast roar. ¡°Are there other Magic Beasts?!¡± ¡°Wait, this roar sounds somewhat familiar.¡± The next moment, Zhenjin suddenly froze. Zhenjin sensed¡ªin the depths of his heart, a small, round sphere was hidden. This small sphere was only the size of a thumb, but it was bright red and not smooth, resembling an exquisitely crafted little walnut with extremely intricate crisscrossing lines. Yet, in terms of material, it carried a vague transparency, like crystal, seemingly radiating light from within. The bright red sphere trembled slightly, bursting forth with waves of invisible power. These strong powers permeated into his blood, rapidly spreading throughout Zhenjin¡¯s body, continuously shaking his heart and chest. The blood light of the sphere was quickly fading. Zhenjin¡¯s arms had been extremely sore, but with the influx of this power, his arms rapidly recovered, and his muscles swelled, expanding swiftly. Zhenjin¡¯s clothes and arm guards creaked under the strain. Although clothed, Zhenjin clearly felt dark, dense hair. Bones, muscles transformed from human arms into bear arms! In just an instant, not only had Zhenjin¡¯s arms recovered as before, but they had also become several times stronger! ¡°This feeling?!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart trembled violently. This feeling was exactly like when he had originally ambushed the Silver Spider, and his hands mutated. But this time, it wasn¡¯t his hands that mutated, but his arms. Without pausing to experience it further, Zhenjin pulled out his dagger and threw it with all his might. Bang. A slight explosive sound as the movement of the swinging youth¡¯s arm was too fierce, directly bursting the air! The Flying dagger pierced through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound. Everyone saw a beautiful silver line flash briefly through the air, accurately piercing the Black Iron head squirrel and then slowing down significantly, deeply embedding into the ground. The onrushing Black Iron head squirrel fell backward, landed on the ground, and remained motionless. Its entire head had been penetrated, and blood quickly soaked the surrounding grass. The battlefield fell silent. Chapter 43 - 43: Section 44: I have a Demon Crystal inside my body? Chapter 43: Section 44: I have a Demon Crystal inside my body? The battlefield was no longer teeming with a single head of the rat horde; in panic, the swarm collapsed and scattered in all directions. ¡°Victory!¡± ¡°This is a great triumph.¡± ¡°Zhenjin, Zhenjin!¡± Huang Zao and Lan Zao led the cheer, as everyone raised their arms and hollered in joy. ¡°This is the might of the Holy Temple Knight¡­¡± Cang Xu exclaimed, with a hint of curiosity, ¡°But what exactly happened just now? His entire arm swelled in size, was that some kind of secret skill? Could he actually harness fighting energy? Did he use some method to temporarily break through the island environment¡¯s suppression? What¡¯s the cost? And what level of fighting energy does he possess? Golden Fighting Spirit?¡± Although Zhenjin had previously made it clear to Cang Xu that he couldn¡¯t use fighting energy, that was when Zhenjin had just taken charge of the exploration team. Cang Xu thought it was very likely Zhenjin concealed his true power from others at the time, as he didn¡¯t trust them yet. ... Zi Di remained silent, merely casting adoring and admiring glances at Zhenjin. Everyone knew that letting the Black Iron-level head rats charge into the crowd would have resulted in heavy casualties. But Zhenjin saved everyone by sheer force of his own will. Without a doubt, he was a hero! From start to finish, he had control over the battle. He was a competent leader! The members of the exploration team were happy to be led by Zhenjin, and they were proud of it. Zhenjin slightly furrowed his brow. The strange sense was gone, just like the last time. That mysterious invisible force had also dissipated, and the young man¡¯s arms returned to normal. At the same time, he was enveloped by an intense feeling of emptiness. Fatigue swept over him like an endless tide. Zhenjin maintained his composure, concealing his feelings of emptiness and weariness, while feeling somewhat relieved: This time the mutation in his arms had been hidden beneath his armor and clothing, and had not been revealed. Otherwise, he would have had to explain it to others. The feeling of relief quickly dissipated, replaced by an ever-growing sense of puzzlement. ¡°It seems that the source of my mutation lies in the blood-red sphere within my heart.¡± ¡°What on earth is it?¡± ¡°How does it feel like the crystal core of a magic beast?¡± At this thought, the young man let out a self-mocking laugh¡ªhow could a person have a demon crystal? Only Magic Beasts have crystal cores. The cheers of the people around were getting louder, Zhenjin looked around, suppressing the various doubts in his mind, and issued the order to clean up the battlefield. The flames blazed fiercely, but under the potions supplied by Zi Di, the fire was quickly extinguished. Huang Zao and others were searching through the charred battlefield, stopping now and then to pick up the carcasses of the Flying Squirrels. Due to the burning, the bodies of the Flying Squirrels were all charred black, their surfaces carbonized. Huang Zao slapped the carcass with his hand, and the black char fell off in chunks to reveal the cooked red meat underneath. Huang Zao inhaled deeply through his nostrils, and a rich aroma of meat surged into his nose. ¡°Another great piece of meat!¡± Huang Zao smiled broadly, surveyed the battlefield, and let out a heartfelt exclamation, ¡°This is the hunting method I like best.¡± In recent days, he had also been responsible for hunting alone outside. With almost no results to show for it, the survival skills of a hunter were not so easily mastered. Huang Zao had always made a living at sea, and the experience of hunting in the forest reminded him of his own clumsy and hard early days on board the ship. On the other side, Lan Zao was processing the only Black Iron-level Flying Squirrel leader. Only half of the blood of the Flying Squirrel had been collected. After Lan Zao gave it a preliminary treatment, he picked up the Flying Dagger that had killed the Black Iron head rat, a thought crossing his mind. Examining the flying dagger, Lan Zao¡¯s pupils couldn¡¯t help but narrow slightly. The entire front end of the flying dagger was completely deformed, not a bit of its sharpness visible. ¡°All it took was the force of the throw to give this ordinary dagger the power to kill a Black Iron Magic Beast!¡± Lan Zao¡¯s gaze towards Zhenjin was filled with even more awe. The cleanup of the battlefield yielded a great deal, one could say a bountiful harvest, bringing smiles to everyone¡¯s faces. The bloodstains on the battlefield, as well as the completely charred and inedible Flying Squirrel meat, were all disposed of properly, making sure no other fierce beasts would be attracted by the smell of blood and meat. The exploration team returned victorious to camp and continued to process these trophies. Nighttime. A campfire was lit, people gathered around it, discussing the day¡¯s harvest. Seeing so much food with their own eyes, the team members felt completely at ease. The completely deformed Flying Dagger was being passed around among them. ¡°It¡¯s indeed an ordinary dagger, and just like that, it killed a Black Iron Magic Beast.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin is really strong.¡± ¡°I think, at that moment, he must have invoked his fighting energy; otherwise, how could he have unleashed such terrifying power?¡± ¡°I really want to know Lord Zhenjin¡¯s true strength.¡± ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s not Bronze or Black Iron level, at least he¡¯s a Silver Knight and wields Silver Fighting Spirit.¡± ¡°Silver Fighting Spirit¡­ At such an age, Zhenjin is truly a genius.¡± ¡°It could possibly be Golden too; after all, none of us has actually seen the Lord¡¯s fighting energy.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s Golden, that¡¯s even more terrifying. Following such a figure, the prospects are definitely bright!¡± ¡°We can only be under the Lord¡¯s command now because of the shipwreck. Otherwise, how could we?¡± ¡°If we can keep following the Lord, maybe one day, when Lord Zhenjin becomes the White Sand City Lord, I might become an official in White Sand City.¡± ¡°` ¡°Damn it, I don¡¯t care about anything else; I just want to become a gate guard. I used to get hassled every time I entered the city, and now I want to be the one guarding the gate, hassling others for a change!¡± ¡°` Someone¡¯s thought provoked a burst of collective laughter among the crowd. The success of the hunt had earned Zhenjin the recognition of everyone. The exploration team had always believed that Zhenjin had a very bright future. People tend to gravitate toward benefit and shy away from harm. Many began to openly express their desire to follow Zhenjin indefinitely, something that would never have happened before. ¡°This is another layer of harvest,¡± Cang Xu mused from a corner, observing the lively exchange among the crowd with clear understanding. His gaze also focused on the dagger currently held by another person. Recalling the scene on the battlefield, Cang Xu speculated to himself, ¡°That moment, Zhenjin¡¯s arms clearly swelled, and then he unleashed a terrifying power.¡± ¡°The bloodline of the Hundred Needle Family originates from the Legendary-level Magic Beast Gold Needle Queen Bee. This bloodline is not renowned for its strength.¡± ¡°Did he use some kind of Fighting energy secret skill?¡± The dagger eventually made its way into Bai Ya¡¯s hands. Bai Ya, looking at the dagger, lit up with hope in his eyes, ¡°This is what it means to be a Knight. I want to be someone like that too.¡± ¡°Hey, Bai Ya, are you done looking? Hand it back when you¡¯re done. This dagger is of great significance; it will be my family¡¯s heirloom from now on!¡± Huang Zao said playfully. Reluctantly, Bai Ya handed the dagger back to Huang Zao. No matter the continent or the race, all admire the strong. And this admiration can easily be transformed into loyalty. ¡°It seems the brothers, Huang Zao and Lan Zao, have decided to devote themselves entirely to Lord Zhenjin, hoping to become his house servants,¡± Cang Xu said meaningfully to Zi Di. Zi Di sat next to Cang Xu. She glanced at the people clustered around the campfire and then started to shake the potion she held, ¡°Those two brothers aren¡¯t particularly talented. If they don¡¯t stumble upon some opportunity, Bronze Level may well be their limit. But based on what I know about Lord Zhenjin, he will not shortchange any of his followers.¡± At this point, Zi Di turned her gaze to Cang Xu, adding emphasis, ¡°Regardless of whether the follower is Transcendent or not.¡± Cang Xu immediately grasped the implication of Zi Di¡¯s words. He chuckled bitterly and shook his head, ¡°An old tree, no matter how much sunlight it bathes in, will not burst into spring anew.¡± The potion in Zi Di¡¯s hand gradually changed color. She stood up, ¡°I have things to take care of.¡± Zi Di returned to her tent, while Zhenjin sat inside his, deep in thought. His face was etched with frustration. ¡°I still can¡¯t sense it.¡± Zhenjin had tried his best to commit to memory the peculiar feeling that came with the Mutation, but that didn¡¯t allow him to sense the Crystal Core within his heart actively. It was as though it never existed. Subconsciously pressing his palm against his left chest, feeling his heartbeat, Zhenjin furrowed his brow, ¡°No, I definitely found it at the time. There was something¡­ hmm, similar to a Demon Crystal growing in my heart, coexisting very naturally and harmoniously with it.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I sense it?¡± ¡°I could sense it so clearly before!¡± ¡°What am I missing?¡± Zhenjin was caught up in his thoughts. He was eager to discover a way to utilize the Crystal Core. Currently unable to call upon his Fighting energy, this Mutation could enhance his combat power in an instant, significantly aiding him! S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The first Mutation allowed him to slay the Silver Magical Beast, the Blade Spider. At that time, it was the feeling of a strange surge of blood that he noticed. The second time, when the Flying dagger killed the Black Iron Flying Squirrel. He not only felt the surge of blood but also became further aware of the mysterious Crystal Core in his heart. It was the intangible force bursting from the Crystal Core that infused his bloodstream, spreading throughout his body, and finally surging into his arms. ¡°So, my previous guess was wrong. The real cause is not the blood, but this Demon Crystal.¡± ¡°This power is neither Fighting energy nor Magic.¡± ¡°It really is amazing,¡± Zhenjin marveled. He continued to analyze these two experiences. ¡°As it stands, I can¡¯t trigger the Mutation at will. So, what exactly triggered this ability during these two incidents?¡± ¡°What do these two Mutations have in common?¡± ¡°The first time, I was on the brink of death, with lost memories resurfacing. My emotions were incredibly complex and intense.¡± ¡°The second time, I faced the Black Iron Flying Squirrel, wary of its electric shock abilities, which made me anxious and facing the threat of death.¡± The biggest commonality between the two experiences was the threat of death that Zhenjin faced. This led to a mix of emotions such as tension, anxiety, fear, determination, and killing intent. ¡°If emotional stimuli lead to the trigger of Mutations, then going further, could it allow me to master the ability to initiate these Mutations?¡± mused Zhenjin. There was a marked improvement between the first and the second Mutation. The first only involved sensing the blood flow. The second went deeper into the heart, discovering the mysterious Crystal Core. ¡°Moreover, the last time it Mutated into claws, while this time, it was an arm Mutation.¡± Zhenjin speculated that the location of the Mutation seemed to follow his subconscious, shaping itself most suitably to the situation at hand. ¡°Could I possibly control this Mutation ability and transform any part of my body whenever I wish?¡± ¡°And if I undergo a complete transformation, would it be in the form of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear?¡± ¡°Moreover, I noticed that after the Mutation, the blood light from the Crystal Core significantly weakened. How many more times can it support my Mutations?¡± Zhenjin delved deeper into his contemplation. As he did so, some of the mysteries in his heart were dispelled, yet more questions arose. Chapter 44 - 44: Section 45: Unexpected Gains Chapter 44: Section 45: Unexpected Gains Following Lord Zhenjin¡¯s plan, the exploration team rested for two more days. The construction of this camp had required considerable effort; not to utilize it properly would be a waste. With the surrounding area cleansed, and the Flying Squirrel group hunted down, the only threat was gone, thus it was very safe. The bodies of the Flying Squirrels still needed further processing. The members of the exploration team also continued to rigorously practice their archery. In addition, the previous hunting expeditions had used up many arrows and a few short bows, all of which needed replenishment. The successful hunt had greatly improved the situation of the entire exploration team. ... Now, Lord Zhenjin had enough time to craft better ranged weapons. However, after thorough consideration, Zhenjin sensibly abandoned this idea. The next day. Cang Xu sought an audience with Zhenjin: ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I have good news. I¡¯ve made a new discovery.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhenjin knew that Cang Xu had been examining the corpses of Black Iron head rats. ¡°Did you find a Demon Crystal in the head rat¡¯s body?¡± Cang Xu smiled and shook his head: ¡°The Black Iron head rat didn¡¯t have a Demon Crystal either, and the Magic Power within its body was in a chaotic state. Shortly after death, all the Magic Power dissipated.¡± Zhenjin muttered to himself, ¡°The Black Iron head rat may not have a Demon Crystal, but I seem to have something quite similar in my body.¡± Cang Xu didn¡¯t keep him in suspense and confessed candidly, ¡°That¡¯s the thing, my lord. I dissected the Black Iron head rat¡¯s stomach and discovered that it had just feasted before its death. As a result, there¡¯s still a lot of undigested food in its stomach, including meat, bones, bird feathers, tree fruits, grass, and more. Within these, I also found a type of tuber.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes subtly lit up: ¡°It seems that these Flying Squirrels are omnivorous. We could try digging up this kind of tuber.¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°Lord, it¡¯s not just the tubers. I surmise that inside the Flying Squirrels¡¯ nest, there may still be a large amount of food stored.¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± Zhenjin asked. ¡°From previous dissections and recent studies of these head rat bodies, I¡¯ve found that they have an extremely strong digestive capability; their stomach acid can even mildly corrode blades. Typically, creatures with such strong digestive powers struggle with intense discomfort when they are hungry, as the secretion of stomach acid becomes unbearable. To counteract this hunger, they ingest some indigestible items temporarily, like stones, for instance. But, these Flying Squirrels¡¯ stomachs don¡¯t contain such materials. This means they have an ample food supply.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve basically explored the surroundings. I think that not only are these Flying Squirrels omnivorous, but they also have the food storage characteristics of squirrels. Normally, they roam around exploring and gathering food. When they can no longer bear the hunger, they can feed rapidly, preventing the entire group from being driven mad by hunger.¡± ¡°Very good.¡± Zhenjin patted Cang Xu¡¯s shoulder, showing his appreciation. ¡°I¡¯ll assign Lan Zao to handle this matter.¡± ¡°Lord, please allow me to accompany him. I¡¯m very interested in the specific structure of the Flying Squirrels¡¯ nest,¡± Cang Xu requested at an opportune moment. ¡°Of course,¡± Zhenjin agreed without any hesitation. Even though protecting this elderly scholar would require more manpower, ever since making contact with Cang Xu, Zhenjin had repeatedly received the old scholar¡¯s assistance. If the situation allowed, Zhenjin didn¡¯t mind indulging the scholar¡¯s thirst for knowledge. When Cang Xu returned to the camp, his face was filled with satisfaction. Their findings also gave Zhenjin a pleasant surprise. As Cang Xu had speculated, the nest of the Flying Squirrels indeed contained stored food. Furthermore, the food stock was so extensive that many members of the exploration team lamented while raiding it: the Flying Squirrels lived better than humans! Although most of the food was inedible to humans, the quantity of tubers and tree fruits equaled a third of the Flying Squirrel meat, which was a significant addition to the exploration team¡¯s food supply. Zi Di also achieved new results. Using the Flying Squirrels¡¯ stomach fluid, Zi Di created several Corrosive Acid Agents. Blades coated with this agent would become unrecognizable within a few breaths. With enough of this agent, a hole could be corroded in the soil in just a few breaths. Combined with a vaporizing potion, a highly corrosive acid fog could be created. A normal person caught within would suffer lung necrosis after only a moment¡¯s breath. Although the hunt for the Flying Squirrels was a great success, it used up the last of Zi Di¡¯s Flammable Potions. This Corrosive Potion became a supplementary measure, providing the exploration team with a new way to confront enemies. Of course, both the previous Flame Burning Potion and the current Corrosive Acid Agent were not Magic Potions; they simply made use of, purified, and enhanced the original properties of the materials. The effects of a Magic Potion would be more pronounced. However, on this mountainous island, low-level Magic Potions were ineffective. Lord Zhenjin, on the other hand, made no progress. He had to temporarily abandon his original approach and switch to another direction. He began to contemplate: how exactly had the mysterious Crystal Core within his heart come into being? ¡°Was it due to a potion?¡± This was the answer Zhenjin deemed most likely. Otherwise, why would both mutations be related to the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear? As night fell, Zhenjin summoned Zi Di once again, making a roundabout inquiry about the incident at that time. Zi Di¡¯s response offered no new insights for Zhenjin. Zhenjin fell into a thoughtful silence: ¡°If an accident occurred when Zi Di was treating me, leading to the formation of this Crystal Core, then taking a potion could possibly activate the Crystal Core again, causing a Mutation.¡± ¡°Did something happen, or do you believe there¡¯s some potential danger, my lord?¡± Zi Di inquired. ¡°There¡¯s nothing, I just want to understand a bit more,¡± Zhenjin smiled, comforting Zi Di. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, we embark on our journey tomorrow. Go back and rest well.¡± Zi Di nodded, her eyes sparkling with brilliance, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, with you here, I believe we can surely leave this island.¡± Zhenjin nodded. ¡°We must not only leave this island but also gather people¡¯s hearts as much as possible, assemble a team, and form a preliminary basis. Otherwise, once we arrive at White Sand City, with only the two of us, it will be difficult to compete for the position of City Lord. Do not blame yourself, Zi Di, you¡¯ve actually done very well this time.¡± Zi Di was slightly startled, then let out a bitter laugh, ¡°Lord, your insight is indeed keen. To tell you the truth, I detest the environment here. It¡¯s too unfriendly to Mages. The only help I can offer you is with potions. But the current conditions are really too rudimentary. If I had some alchemy tools, I believe I could promptly concoct poison against those Flying Squirrels.¡± Zhenjin sighed, ¡°That¡¯s just how it is. We¡¯ve fallen onto this strange island, surrounded by dangers. We¡¯re fighting for survival, anything can happen. We just need to do our best, and can only do our best. Good night.¡± ¡°Good night,¡± Zi Di departed. Zhenjin, however, had not told Zi Di the truth. On one hand, Zhenjin didn¡¯t want Zi Di to bear more worries, as she was already feeling too guilty. Although they had only been together for a short while, Zhenjin had discovered that this purple-eyed girl had a sense of pride within her. For such a person, Zhenjin only needed to offer reassurance, not scolding or whipping. Because without any other external pressure, such a person was capable of striving hard on their own. On the other hand, Zhenjin was also aware of Zi Di¡¯s capability with potions. Even if he unfolded the truth, Zi Di was powerless to solve the problem. Since he had hidden the truth from Zi Di the first time, Zhenjin didn¡¯t mind concealing it a second time. The mutant ability brought by the mysterious Crystal Core, in Zhenjin¡¯s view, was a trump card, allowing him to cope with dangerous situations and formidable enemies. But at the same time, it also had significant hidden dangers. ¡°What harm does this Mutation carry anyway? How can a human heart have a Crystal Core? Could this foreign organ possibly be rejected by the rest of the body¡¯s tissues?¡± ¡°What kind of damage will a rash Mutation cause to oneself? Will it be physical disability or a muddling of the Bloodline?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sense the Crystal Core, and the Mutation is not under control; could it be because the Crystal Core has just grown and hasn¡¯t fully merged with my body yet?¡± ¡°If Mutations occur frequently, will I become a wild beast, losing all humanity?¡± His worries were not only about his body and bloodline but also about the entire exploration team. Zhenjin knew that he could lead these people because, firstly, he was strong enough, and secondly, because of his identity. He was a Noble, and more importantly, he was a Holy Temple Knight. The latter identity was more inspiring than the former. If Zhenjin¡¯s Mutation was discovered and seen as a monster, the advantages that identity brought would be greatly diminished. Although they had successfully hunted the mouse swarm, Zhenjin knew that this success was merely a last-minute save, pulling the exploration team back from the brink of annihilation. The upcoming journey would surely face many hardships and obstacles. Whether the exploration team could deal with these trials and tribulations was still uncertain. Zhenjin did not want the small team to become unsettled. Therefore, he chose to keep this secret to himself, nipping the potential spread at the bud. The deep night in the forest was not peaceful. The howling of wild animals could be heard frequently, with bizarre and odd sounds; some indeed howling, some whimpering, some resembling dry coughs. Zhenjin knew he needed to rest well, for they would set off early in the morning. But lying on his mattress, he found it difficult to fall asleep. He decided to summarize his thoughts from the past few days. ¡°It seems that there are three potential triggers for the body¡¯s Mutation. The first is the pressure of a near-death experience, which triggers the Crystal Core¡¯s instinctive reaction in the heart. The second is the intense emotions generated under immense pressure. The third is blood-based potions. The heart Crystal Core is likely a result of the potions, though I haven¡¯t absorbed any foreign potions during these two Mutations, there might still be residuals in my body.¡± Zhenjin sighed deeply. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite his many thoughts, the current situation made him hesitant to try any possibilities recklessly. On one side, he lacked security for himself. On the other, he bore a responsibility and could not take risks lightly. He had to lead the entire exploration team, protect his fianc¨¦e, and he had to revive the Hundred Needle Family. He had many things to do. ¡°Furthermore, after the Mutation occurs, the heart Crystal Core consumes a substantial amount of Magic Power. Afterwards, it causes me to feel a very strong sense of emptiness and fatigue.¡± With a heavy heart, Zhenjin eventually drifted off into a groggy sleep. The young man, even in sleep, still furrowed his brow slightly, as if he were still struggling with thoughts in his dreams. Who knows how much time had passed when suddenly, with a loud bang, the entire tent collapsed. Zhenjin woke up instantly. Even though he had fallen asleep inside the camp, he had maintained a vigilant heart, thus reacting swiftly. ¡°How could the tent collapse all of a sudden, what on earth happened?!¡± Grabbing the spider blade that was placed by his side, Zhenjin swung it fiercely. The sharp blade easily cut through the collapsed tent, allowing Zhenjin to observe everything outside. In the next moment, he felt a jolt in his heart and a look of horror crossed his face. Chapter 45 - 45: Section 46: Me, Buried Alive Chapter 45: Section 46: Me, Buried Alive The raging wind roared in his ears like a pack of beasts bellowing in unison. The sand, swept up by the fierce wind, pelted Zhenjin¡¯s face as if it were knives. The enormous force of the wind tugged from all directions, unpredictably left, right, up, and down, making it very difficult for ordinary people to maintain their footing. Below Zhenjin¡¯s feet was no longer solid grassland but sand. Sand was everywhere. The air was full of sand too. ... The lush forest had completely disappeared. This was a desert! A desert in the middle of the night. In the desert, the raging wind howled, and sand filled the sky as the members of the exploration team in the camp emitted cries of panic. Zhenjin was stunned for a moment, but then he realized what was happening, and his heart shook violently as two words emerged in his mind¡ª¡±Teleportation!¡± ¡°Teleportation has been activated again, this time, we¡¯ve all been teleported to the desert.¡± The first time Zhenjin experienced teleportation, he was being chased by a swarm of Fire Poison Bees. After the teleportation was activated, it moved him from the rainforest to a forest, indirectly saving his life. Now, it was his second teleportation experience, and just like the first, it was silent, giving no signs before the teleportation. But this time, Zhenjin¡¯s luck was terribly bad. Not only was he teleported to a desert, but he also coincidentally encountered a sandstorm! ¡°We must gather everyone together!¡± Zhenjin barely managed to open his mouth to call out when his mouth was immediately filled with sand. Zhenjin had to cover his mouth, trying to shout, but his voice was drowned out by the wind. The wind grew stronger. The sand hitting Zhenjin¡¯s body brought bursts of a tingling but painful sensation. The weather turned frightful. ¡°Sandstorm?¡± Realizing this, Zhenjin¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Zi Di, wait for me!¡± He had no choice but to stop shouting and ran forward based on memory. With a swoosh, a tent followed the wind and covered Zhenjin, like a giant gray ghost beast pouncing from above in the darkness of the night. Zhenjin waved his hand reflexively, and with a swish, an extremely sharp blade cut the tent in half, flying by both sides of Zhenjin¡¯s body, before being swept away by the fierce wind in an instant. The tents in these camps were all pinned to the ground with wooden stakes, but after being teleported, the wooden stakes, originally deeply embedded in the mud, were all scattered on the surface of the desert. Without anything to anchor them, the tents collapsed and were then carried away by the fierce wind. ¡°Bad,¡± Zhenjin muttered to himself, realizing he couldn¡¯t make out the correct direction after walking for a moment. Firstly, upon teleportation, in the night amidst the wind and sand, there were no landmarks to distinguish north, south, east, and west. Secondly, the tents were flying everywhere, and the original layout of the camp was completely disarrayed. Lastly, it was impossible to contact other team members by shouting in the sandstorm. For a moment, Zhenjin also felt at a loss. And in just a few breaths, the wind strength had doubled! ¡°Help me¡­¡± Suddenly, Zhenjin heard a faint cry for help coming from above his head. He looked up sharply and saw a dark figure flash past overhead. Zhenjin immediately realized that one of the exploration team members had been blown away by the hurricane. The wind had become terrifyingly strong, capable of easily sweeping away adults. Zhenjin instinctively reached out his arm, but in the blink of an eye, the team member calling for help disappeared in the swirling wind and sand. It was too late. ¡°Zi Di is the lightest. Her situation is too dangerous!¡± Thinking of this, Zhenjin felt increasingly desperate. ¡°Zi Di, where are you exactly?¡± As if responding to Zhenjin¡¯s intense plea, a white light suddenly lit up in the sandstorm to his front left. The white light burned like fire, fiercely blazing in his dim vision. On this island, lower-level magic and fighting energy were prohibited, and based on what Zhenjin knew about the exploration team, this kind of white light flame could only be produced by potions. And where the white light flame was, that must be Zi Di¡¯s real location. ¡°Clever!¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but praise silently, immediately running towards the position of the white light flame. He ran very strenuously, the terrifying wind able to carry away adults, but Zhenjin, after all, was a fighter who cultivated fighting energy. Although he couldn¡¯t use fighting energy now, his physique, enhanced by his cultivation, surpassed that of ordinary people. In this situation, Zhenjin still managed to barely resist the wind. But just as he was approaching, the white light flame suddenly dissipated. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Did the potion wear off? Zi Di, wait for me!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart trembled slightly, growing even more anxious. He continued forward a few steps, and with a whoosh, a huge object seemed to attack him in his dim vision. The young man quickly ducked his head to avoid it. It turned out to be a rather large tree trunk. Indeed, some trunks were stored in the camp, leftovers from making short bows and other items. The trunk, much heavier than an adult, was now easily whisked away by the fierce wind. Zhenjin could no longer run. He had to step forcefully with every step, digging his feet into the sand up to his ankles, in order to resist the wind. What troubled him even more wasn¡¯t the hurricane, but the sand flying in the wind; The sand hitting Zhenjin¡¯s body and face, causing noticeable pain. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t fully open his eyes to prevent being blinded, squinting through a narrow slit to observe. The surroundings had become even darker. Not a single ray of light, almost as if one couldn¡¯t see their own hand in front of their face. Zhenjin could only move forward relying on memory, unsure if he was even going in the right direction. The awe of nature was so vast and powerful, at this moment, the young man deeply felt how insignificant he was. As time passed, Zhenjin¡¯s heart grew colder. ¡°I must have moved forward at least a hundred steps, but I still haven¡¯t found Zi Di.¡± ¡°Was she swept away by the violent wind, or have I unwittingly gone in the wrong direction?¡± ¡°God, Holy Emperor¡­ what should I do?¡± Confusion and bewilderment, like a cloud of black smoke, choked the young man¡¯s nostrils and eyes. And in his chest, it seemed as if there was a burning flame. It was the fire of anger, unwillingness, and hatred! ¡°I had finally taken control of the exploration team.¡± ¡°We had just successfully hunted and temporarily had ample food.¡± ¡°In the blink of an eye, it has come to this!¡± ¡°Am I to die on this island?¡± ¡°Am I to just watch as those close to me die one by one?¡± ¡°Is the fall of the Zhen family imminent?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°How can I, how can I allow such a thing to happen?!¡± The young man was filled with righteous indignation, giving his all to struggle. However, that invisible fate was like a Divine King high above in the heavens, who occasionally glanced at Zhenjin. Like discovering a defiant ant, fate extended a mountainous finger to press down. Zhenjin wanted to lift his head, but it became lower and lower. Zhenjin wanted to straighten his body, but he had to bend his back, hunch his body, to slowly keep moving forward. Zhenjin wanted to glare with his eyes wide, to scream or roar, but he could only grope forward in silence in this roaring darkness. The wind continued to grow stronger! Soon, it became so intense that Zhenjin had to resist with all his strength. In despair, the young man realized: At this moment, he could no longer save anyone. His own life was hanging by a thread! He tried to activate his fighting energy, but he still failed. He tried to mutate again, but no matter how frantically he tried, he couldn¡¯t sense the crystal core in his heart and was unsuccessful. Having no other choice, he prayed to the divine. ¡°Oh my great Holy Emperor, you are a deity walking on earth, and now, Your Believer is facing a dire situation, the Knight¡¯s radiance is about to be overwhelmed by sand and wind. Please hear me, please have mercy, help me escape this predicament, so that in the future I may continue the path You have decreed and continue to manifest Your majesty.¡± But the deity did not respond. The young man was furious. The young man resisted. The young man was sorrowful. The young man struggled. The young man exhausted, eventually fell unconscious. An endless expanse of darkness. A mysterious beast¡¯s roar brought a sliver of consciousness back to the young man. ¡°Where am I?¡± ¡°What is this place?¡± ¡°Who¡­who am I again?¡± Darkness. No one answered him. Only endless darkness. ¡°Wait, did I just hear the roar of a wild beast?¡± Gradually, the young man remembered his identity as a Holy Temple Knight and Noble, his name was Zhenjin, his fianc¨¦e Zi Di, the dangerous island, the exploration team, and the night-time teleportation, the violent and terrifying sandstorm¡­ Along with this process, the young man¡¯s consciousness fully revived, and he finally completely woke up. Then, he felt an immense pressure squeezing him from all directions, making it difficult for him to breathe, ¡°So, I am probably buried in the sand?¡± A chilling horror naturally surged through him. Nobody would want to be buried alive like this! Zhenjin became extremely tense. But he didn¡¯t immediately open his eyes or hurry to get up, instead, he calmly sensed his surroundings. His training in fighting energy didn¡¯t just greatly enhance his strength beyond others, but his perception as well. He could see further and clearer than ordinary people, hear more and in greater detail. Even though he couldn¡¯t see now, and the loudest sound he heard was his heartbeat, he could feel from which direction the pressure was greater. Then, he rallied all his strength, struggling with his limbs. He struggled fiercely! He struggled desperately! Because the young man knew, this was his last chance to survive. Chapter 46 - 46: Section 47: No Compassion Chapter 46: Section 47: No Compassion Yellow sea of sand. Silent and still. The sun hung high in the sky, wantonly scattering boundless heat and light. Dunes rose and fell in succession, resembling a series of distinctive tombs. And on the shady side of one dune, there was a sudden rustle of sand tumbling downwards. The disturbance grew, and then from the unsettled yellow sand, a hand burst forth! ... This hand was covered in blood, lacerated all over, and it clutched at nothing, seeming stunned for a moment. Then, reacting, the hand became excited and frantically began clawing and pushing. First the palm appeared, followed by an arm emerging from the sandy gravel, swiftly enlarging the hole until a young boy¡¯s head was revealed. When the dust-covered head emerged halfway from the dune, the mouth opened wide in desperation, expelling all the stifled air from his chest before greedily sucking in the searing air. With vigorous breaths, small amounts of sand spurted from the boy¡¯s mouth and nostrils. ¡°Cough cough cough!¡± Then, the intense breathing led to violent coughing. After a moment of coughing, the boy finally caught his breath and opened his eyes. Although he was on the dim side of the dune, the burning sunlight still made his pupils contract, and he instinctively squinted again. Surveying his surroundings, although the boy had anticipated it, his heart sank, ¡°Desert, I¡¯ve indeed ended up in a desert. But I wonder if this is the same one that Cang Xu and the others visited earlier?¡± The boy was Zhenjin. He had nearly died from asphyxiation. When he breathed in his first breath of air, the most dangerous moment had finally passed. Zhenjin caught his breath for a moment, regaining some strength, and with difficulty pulled himself out of the yellow sand. After successfully escaping the predicament of being buried alive, Zhenjin had no energy to stand up. He knelt directly on the ground, gasping for air, interspersed with loud coughs. He spat. The sand in his mouth colored the saliva a pale yellow. He dug at his ears, blew his nose, then shook his head with his hands, scattering fine sand all around. These actions continued for only a short while before Zhenjin felt his physical strength reach its limit. Frightened, he immediately stopped and shifted from a full kneel to a half-kneel. For he knew the danger of the island, that it would be utterly foolish to exhaust all his strength, and the half-kneeling posture would help him rise quickly. It was completely silent around him, without a whisper of wind. The daylight sun was brilliant and scorching, baking the yellowish-brown desert. And the desert looked mundane at a glance, filled with nothing but yellow, devoid of a hint of green. He was the only color out of place. This blonde young man no longer looked as handsome as usual, nor clean; he was utterly disheveled and in a sorry state. Zhenjin just gazed at all this before him, highly alert, but there was no movement. He scanned his surroundings, and his gaze finally settled on the dune behind him. He looked at this dune as if it were a silent tombstone. Zhenjin felt both a chilling fear and a sense of relief. He had been deeply buried in the sand, but fortunately not directly beneath the dune. He wasn¡¯t buried too deep, which was what had given him a chance to escape. He had seized this slim opportunity and hadn¡¯t ended up beneath this tombstone of a dune. Thus, the boy laughed involuntarily, ¡°Hehehe¡­ cough cough, hehehe.¡± Some time had passed since he had escaped danger. Once he confirmed he was safe, joy began to swell in his heart. This joy grew stronger, becoming so intense in the span of a few breaths that it filled the boy¡¯s chest. So much so that Zhenjin¡¯s laughter grew louder and he even began to cry. He once again felt the beauty of life! He realized the value of each breath; just moments ago in the sand, he couldn¡¯t breathe at all. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He felt his body tingling and aching¡ªat least one rib was broken, which made each rise and fall of Zhenjin¡¯s chest during breathing painful. But it was this pain that brought him joy! This was the joy of having survived a catastrophe, the joy of life, seemingly boundless and endless, like a tidal wave about to engulf him. In fact, Zhenjin had experienced this post-disaster survival several times already. The first time, strictly speaking, was the moment he woke up. The battle consciousness within Zhenjin helped him indirectly kill a Silver Magical Beast, the Evil Wolf. Everything happened so fast. Of course, reflection afterwards brought various emotions for Zhenjin, but mostly relief and fear, with less joy. The second time was in a cave, when Zhenjin was already afflicted with Fire Poison but nevertheless risked his life to kill a Silver Level Magic Beast, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Zhenjin was on the brink of death, and Zi Di tried her best to save him. Struggling between life and death, Zhenjin fell in and out of consciousness until he pulled through. At that time, even an ordinary wildflower seemed infinitely lovely and beautiful, capable of holding his appreciation for a long, long time. The third time was facing the Blade Spider. Death loomed near, and Zhenjin¡¯s attention was also captured by suddenly emerging memories. He thought he was going to die, only to experience an unexpected mutation in his body. This time, after surviving the threat, he felt more doubt and curiosity. The fourth time was when lamb meat caused a disruption of the magic power eroding his body, nearly killing him. Afterwards, the boy felt mostly gratitude and appreciation towards his fianc¨¦e, Zi Di. The fifth disaster, which is the current one, brought Zhenjin to the brink of death before he returned to the living. The joy he experienced afterward was the greatest he had ever felt. ¡°What is the reason for this?¡± Zhenjin savored his emotions thoroughly. Soon, he found the reason. ¡°It¡¯s because this ordeal is the force of heaven and earth. If I were poisoned or facing a Magic Beast, I would have the ability to act. But faced with this violent sandstorm, what can I do but take the beating? To survive is truly my good fortune!¡± Given the choice, Zhenjin would prefer to face Magic Beasts over the all-encompassing violent sandstorm. It was this sense of powerlessness and helplessness that intensified his joy after surviving. ¡°My life hung by a thread, and it¡¯s a stroke of luck that I¡¯m alive. But what about Zi Di and Cang Xu?¡± A question surfaced in his mind, causing the smile on Zhenjin¡¯s face to gradually fade. Emotion comforting him: They must still be alive. But at the same time, reason coldly told Zhenjin: Their chances are slim, and if they have survived, it would be nothing short of a miracle. Inevitably, Zhenjin began to worry, once again feeling empty and hopeful. The joyous mood seemed to recede all of a sudden; what had been so intense just moments ago now vanished in an instant. What followed was frustration. Under Zhenjin¡¯s leadership, the exploration team had not easily hunted down a group of rats and just started to see some progress before they were dealt a lethal blow. It was fear. If he faced the same violent sandstorm again, could he be lucky enough to escape a second time? It was helplessness and confusion. Where should he go from here? Where could he turn? It was a heavy burden. He had once vowed to himself to protect his fianc¨¦e. Now, was Zi Di alive or dead? If she was dead, where was her body? And as the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, he needed to compete and win the position of White Sand City Lord, but now he was trapped on an island, having faced death multiple times. Could he still survive to escape this island? Could he have the opportunity to shoulder the responsibility of revitalizing his family? All these emotions intertwined, making Zhenjin once again struggle to breathe. At this moment, he felt extremely helpless and weak. He wanted to hold back; he remembered his identity as a Holy Temple Knight. But still, his tears silently fell. Zhenjin did not wipe away his tears but watched them fall onto the dry sand, where they seeped in, creating tiny craters, trying to expand, but the dampness was limited to a very small area. Compared to the vast desert, no, the entire dune, these tear-stained pits were so minuscule and pitiful. ¡°How much they resemble me,¡± Zhenjin lamented. Once again, he prayed sincerely, ¡°Oh God, my great Holy Emperor, You are a living deity, victorious in all. At this moment, Your knight, Your believer, Your child pleads for Your response, begs for Your mercy, prays for You to show me the right direction, to point out the path of courage¡­¡± This time, Zhenjin¡¯s prayer was rambling, more plentiful in content than ever before. A venomous desert viper had discovered Zhenjin, and this pitiful young man was quickly seen as prey. The viper approached quietly; its scales, very similar to the color of the sand, moved in an S-shaped curve, not only swiftly but also completely silent. As it drew near, the desert viper suddenly sprang up behind Zhenjin! But in the next moment, Zhenjin, without turning his head, casually stretched out his hand and caught the viper in mid-air. The viper¡¯s mouth was wide open, its tongue flicking in and out as it struggled frantically, but its throat was tightly clenched in Zhenjin¡¯s grip. The over half-meter long viper was tightly coiled around Zhenjin¡¯s arm. But Zhenjin did not move, neither his kneeling body nor his arm moved, as if they were cast from iron. Zhenjin stopped praying and silently listened to the final death hisses of the viper¡¯s life¡¯s journey. He remained silent, his head bowed, and when the viper was forcefully strangled to death, it never saw the face of its killer. The sun rose higher and higher. The surface of the desert became scorching hot, and the air in the distance distorted with the heat. A blond young man slowly emerged from the back of the sand dune, merging into the vast expanse of the desert like a drop of water. This young man had handsome features, but at the moment he was covered in dust, his clothes tattered. On his shoulder, he carried a dead desert viper, draped like a chain. This viper was different from the usual ones, with a tail that spiraled, reminiscent of a goblin-made metal spring. On this cursed island, even a common snake was bizarre. Zhenjin was no longer crying; his face was expressionless. He had come to understand one thing¡ª Gods might be merciful, knights probably are merciful, people might be merciful¡­ But, in nature, there is none. Chapter 47 - 47: Section 48: Surviving Alone Chapter 47: Section 48: Surviving Alone The scorching sunlight felt like thousands of sharp arrows descending from the sky, engulfing the entire desert in its fiery embrace. Zhenjin walked under the sun, feeling like a fish on a heated iron plate. To avoid getting roasted, he could only try to walk on the shaded side of the dunes, and even so, after moving for a while, he felt a severe depletion of physical strength. At the same time, a sensation of hunger faintly communicated itself to him. Zhenjin licked his lips, which were extremely dry, finding it difficult to even swallow his saliva. His mouth was parched, and his tongue torched. Zhenjin, as silent as iron, deliberately slowed his pace, strolling forward and calculating the time. ... Due to becoming unconscious, he did not know exactly how much time had passed. ¡°But at least one night and half a day had gone by without me eating or drinking anything. It¡¯s normal to feel hungry and thirsty.¡± Normally, going such a long stretch without food would certainly lead to thirst and hunger. Moreover, Zhenjin had endured a terrifying sandstorm that had expended a great deal of physical and mental energy. The struggle between life and death had even more severely impacted his spirit. ¡°My food now is just this snake,¡± Zhenjin glanced at the snake corpse resting on his shoulder, quietly pondering his predicament. The island was perilous, and survival in the wilderness was dire. Previously, in the rainforest and forests, Zhenjin had encountered several dangers. Now in the desert, where resources were scarce, the lush rainforests and forests seemed like paradise in comparison. ¡°Fortunately, during this period, whenever I had time, I sought advice from Cang Xu, knowing many ways to survive in the desert.¡± Due to not understanding the mechanism of transportation, Zhenjin had long considered the possibility that he might also be sent to the desert. For this reason, he had made some preparations. ¡°It would be best to find an oasis where I could immediately replenish a lot of water and food.¡± ¡°Encountering a cactus would also be good.¡± ¡°But only specific cacti.¡± According to Cang Xu, many cacti are inedible and contain toxins. Moreover, digging out cacti consumes a lot of physical strength and water in the body. Blindly doing so could instead be counterproductive.¡± The exploration team had also been transported before, falling to the desert. Their main reliance was still the food and water they carried themselves. In this regard, Zhenjin was not unprepared. Every day, he carried a certain amount of food and water, even at night in the tent, he would keep food, water, and crucial survival resources like weapons by his side. For the exploration team led by Zhenjin, transportation was silent and inevitable. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Live beings and related items around the transported life form would also be teleported. Thus, the entire team was sent into the desert before, and their clothes, equipment, etc., were not left behind. This time during the teleportation, Zhenjin had ordered the entire camp to be transported over. But nobody anticipated that after being transported to the desert, they would be enveloped and ravaged by violent sands. At that time, after being awakened, Zhenjin thought only of rescuing others, grabbing a blade in his hand and running out of the tent. Thus, the food, water, etc., in the tent were swept up and buried by the sandstorm. Zhenjin had not even had time to put on his leather armor, and the only weapon left made from the Blade Spider Legs was the one in his hand. ¡°Fortunately, even though I was unconscious, I held onto the weapon tightly and never let go. This at least kept me from being utterly defenseless.¡± ¡°But my food and water are essentially gone. I must replenish these reserves. Without them, I simply cannot survive.¡± An invisible pressure silently accumulated in the young man¡¯s heart. And soon, this pressure grew larger and heavier, feeling like a huge rock was being carried on his chest, becoming heavier and heavier. Zhenjin¡¯s breathing grew more and more labored. This was not merely because of the desert¡¯s scorching air or his ongoing physical decline. ¡°Surviving alone is completely different from before,¡± the young man deeply felt. He reflexively slowed down his steps and paused in the shadow of a dune, supporting his knees with both hands, giving himself a chance to breathe. How long had it been? Surviving alone had already made him feel like he was gradually, involuntarily tensing up. A profound sense of loneliness firmly enveloped him. No one to rely on, no one to expect help from, only reliant on himself. It felt as if only he was left between heaven and earth, as if the entire Human Race had perished. He had to face all difficulties and dangers alone. ¡°Perhaps I will die here, my flesh gnawed by predators, leaving only white bones to suffer the harsh sun by day and the cold by night in the desolate desert, eventually worn away into fragments by the wind and sand, completely disappearing in this vast, indifferent world.¡± Such thoughts continually emerged in Zhenjin¡¯s mind. No matter how he tried to suppress them, they were unstoppable. A trace of panic spread in his heart and quickly expanded. Zhenjin clenched his teeth, showing a bitter smile. Cang Xu had once warned him: according to his research, humans are inherently social animals, needing the company of others from the deepest parts of their beings. Once a person starts surviving alone, especially when facing the enormous pressure of wilderness survival, it¡¯s very easy to get nervous and panicked. If not controlled, negative emotions can become a fatal killer. Even with an adequate supply of food and water, and a safe environment, one would find it hard to control emotions, leading to mental breakdowns, hallucinations, and ultimately, madness. Now the young man experienced it firsthand; recalling Cang Xu¡¯s theory at this moment, he gained a very profound insight. ¡°Stay calm, stay calm, don¡¯t panic.¡± Zhenjin forced himself to calm down, but he did not succeed. ¡°Oh God, my Great Emperor, you bear the holy name. Your Believer here prays to you, please grant this humble one the strength of spirit to no longer be weak or panic. Allow me to bravely walk the path you have guided, to glorify your name.¡± He prayed to his deity again, but the outcome didn¡¯t surprise him at all¡ªthere was no response. He simply sat down on the sand. He gazed at the boundless desert, watching the monotonous yellow stretch out and eventually blend with the blue of the sky. The scorching sunlight made the air twist madly. The young man suddenly felt that the entire desert was like a madman who appeared calm on the surface but was beyond cure. Here, he would eventually melt and be driven mad! ¡°Zhenjin, oh Zhenjin, how did you end up in such a state?¡± ¡°How could you have fallen to this extent?¡± ¡°You are the sole heir of the Hundred Needles family, the fianc¨¦ of Miss Zi Di, yet here you are?¡± The young man angrily questioned himself. The situation was extremely bad; even his own safety was difficult to ensure. But what could he do? Faced with these self-reproaches, he could only remain silent. For a long time. The silent young man finally exhaled a clouded breath, muttering to himself, ¡°Indeed, nothing could be worse than now, could it?¡± Then, he gave a bitter smile. He found it strange that, in such situations, he could still manage to smile. With that laugh, the anger and panic in his heart dissipated a bit, and a new wave of melancholy, helplessness, and self-mockery added in. Then, miraculously, the young man full of complex emotions gradually calmed down. The calmed Zhenjin surveyed his surroundings and immediately realized a significant mistake he had made. He had been too focused on food and water, choosing a direction at random and walking, which, in the desert, was simply a death wish! Perhaps, at that time, he was too anxious, so these emotions overwhelmed his mind, forcing his body to act without further thought. ¡°I should find the right direction and maintain it.¡± ¡°Without direction, my journey could likely turn into a huge circle in the desert, which would be even worse than spinning in place.¡± Now was the midday of a sunny day without the night¡¯s stars and moon to guide him. But Zhenjin had learned another method to find direction, which he had asked Cang Xu for. First, he stuck a stick in the ground and made a mark at the tip of the shadow cast by the stick. About ten minutes later, he made another mark on the shifted shadow. Connecting the two marks formed a line, and the line¡¯s perpendicular bisector indicated north-south. Whether the end point of the line was south or north depended on the position of the sun. The position of the sun showed that the end point of the perpendicular bisector was south, and the other end was north. Zhenjin did not know the map of this island, but he clearly remembered that the direction chosen by Cang Xu when the exploration team was transported to the desert was due south. Thus, lacking other criteria for judgment, he could only gamble again and chose the due south direction. Once again embarking, Zhenjin tried to avoid the sunlight, walking on the backside of the sand dunes. His speed dropped again and again, trying his best to conserve physical strength. Many times, he voluntarily stopped to rest. ¡°I must conserve physical strength.¡± ¡°Traveling in the desert during the day consumes a lot of physical energy. More crucially, sweating leads to significant water loss.¡± ¡°The more I sweat, the closer I am to death.¡± This was valuable knowledge that Zhenjin had gained from his interactions with Cang Xu. While remaining calm, loneliness, and the pressure to survive also stimulated him, making his mind sharper and clearer. He remembered what Huang Zao had said during their conversation. ¡°At that time, I had just boarded the ship and was a novice. The beginning period was very tough. I worked on the deck all day long, the workload was huge, and I was soon sunburned. Initially, it was just itchiness that made me scratch uncontrollably with my fingernails. Later, the skin became painfully stinging, forming closely packed blisters. I started to have a low fever, felt drowsy all day, and could only lie weakly in the hammock. Then the low fever turned into a high fever, and I began to stink, and other sailors dared not come near me. Someone even suggested to the Captain that I should be thrown overboard, believing I had contracted a contagious disease.¡± ¡°Fortunately, my brother, during a stopover by our ship, obtained herbal medicine from the natives of the island. This herbal medicine, reportedly made from sea mud and local leaves, had a refreshing cooling sensation when applied, truly miraculous.¡± ¡°Eventually, I survived. From then on, I never underestimated the common sunlight again and maintained the purest respect for these ancient potions!¡± Thinking this, Zhenjin took off his outermost layer of clothes and tried to wrap it around his head. He was grateful that his underwear was long-sleeved and long-legged, which reduced his skin¡¯s exposure to the sunlight. ¡°Although my strength and physical fitness far exceed those of Huang Zao, and this place is not the Phoenix Desert, the chances of getting sunburned are very low. But doing this also helps to retain as much water in my body as possible.¡± PS: recommending a good book¡ª¡±I am A Killer Without Feelings.¡± Divine-level excellent writing! I, like a pigeon killer; I, without feelings; Also, without money. I am Yi Haizhou, who disappeared under the Yi surname; The man who mastered half of the four great inventions; I don¡¯t want to talk to you and threw a BENG at you¡­ Chapter 48 - 48: Section 49: Unbearable Hunger and Thirst Chapter 48: Section 49: Unbearable Hunger and Thirst By the afternoon, the sunlight was no longer as scorching as at noon, but it was still unbearable. A young boy slowly climbed toward the top of a low dune. He started his climb from the back of the dune, clearly intending to cross it. He had a sword in his hand with a wooden handle and a peculiar blade, full of crudely made sense. The boy was using this longsword as a crutch to assist his movement. The boy was slim and not very muscular. He wore hemp undergarments, long pants, and long sleeves, yet his feet were bare. ... A layer of clothing also covered his head, his nose and mouth were well concealed, but his eyes were largely exposed, along with the golden hair on his forehead. It was Zhenjin. The top of the dune was only a few steps away. The sunlight caused Zhenjin to squint his eyes. He deliberately exposed his eyes, knowing that he must maintain good visibility. All the while, he also mobilized his hearing, smell, and touch, vigilant of predators that might attack at any time. The sunlight was dazzling, and the sunbeams still created spots in Zhenjin¡¯s squinted eyes. Zhenjin didn¡¯t directly cross over; instead, he paused near the top of the dune until his eyes had fully adjusted, then he continued to cross. Perceiving no danger, Zhenjin stood at the top of the dune and looked far into the distance. The desert before him was flat, unlike the undulating dunes behind him. The boy couldn¡¯t help but sigh. This meant he had to endure a tough trek under the torment of the sunlight. The boy¡¯s eyes were also quite captivating, a shade of azure, like the sky after rain. A fleeting confusion in his eyes was quickly replaced by determination. ¡°Keep moving.¡± Zhenjin said to himself. Suddenly, his blue eyes brightened. ¡°There¡¯s food!¡± Having cultivated Fighting Energy, his physical condition far surpassed ordinary people. He spotted a spider not far away, rolling down the dune with the wind. Zhenjin quickly hurried down and without much effort, successfully caught the spider. The spider was about the size of two adult thumbs put together, its body yellow-brown, closely resembling the color of the sand, but still discovered by Zhenjin¡¯s keen vision. The spider had eight legs, all curled up, making its body into a ball. Then, with the wind, the spider could easily roll down the dunes. It would have been much harder for it to move by unfolding its legs and walking. In this resource-poor desert, every life form has its unique survival tactics. Conserving physical strength is undoubtedly a significant aspect of this. Zhenjin pinched off the spider¡¯s head, then shook his hand to clean the sand grains off the spider¡¯s body. Afterwards, he directly put the spider into his mouth and continuously chewed it with his teeth, grinding it into fine pieces. Then, with a swallow, he completely sent it down into his stomach. Removing the small spider¡¯s head was to eliminate the poison. Of course, such a weak Life Breath is incomparably different from the Bronze Level, and even if it were poisonous, it wouldn¡¯t kill at least a Silver Level Zhenjin. However, the young man did not want to add any other burden to his body. The taste of the spider wasn¡¯t very pleasant. Without roasting and devoid of any seasoning, Zhenjin¡¯s mouth, throat, and nasal cavities were filled with a strange flavor. The spider¡¯s joints were rather crunchy, resembling dry, skinny branches. Zhenjin savored the crunchiness, which was somewhat similar to that of other small insects. This little spider wasn¡¯t the first one to serve as food for him. Along the way, he had also sporadically encountered a few others. There were spiders, scorpions, and others whose names he couldn¡¯t identify¡ªall decapitated spiders and tailless scorpions ended up in Zhenjin¡¯s stomach. With each meal, he felt a nauseating urge to vomit. But he would never underestimate these small lives. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was very clear that these small creatures were crucial supplies of water and food. Having walked through the desert for half a day, Zhenjin had realized: he hadn¡¯t encountered any edible plants, but it was easier to find small creatures. The meat from these creatures was scant, but most valuable was the water they provided to Zhenjin. Zhenjin cherished this food deeply. Although these morsels were very small, their cumulative effect might become his reliance for successfully leaving the desert later. ¡°If I don¡¯t cherish this food, maybe I¡¯ll barely miss out on succeeding in getting out of here and eventually fall in the desert.¡± ¡°I really hope to encounter a cactus,¡± Zhenjin sighed inwardly. He had encountered a few sparse plants along his journey. Unfortunately, none were cacti. These plants were also small and low, and Zhenjin didn¡¯t know what varieties they were or whether they were edible. He had tried. Carefully avoiding the sharp, needle-like branches and leaves, he found that the plants¡¯ roots were deeply embedded in the desert¡¯s depths. Such roots allowed the plants to absorb scant moisture from beneath the desert¡¯s surface, but they also posed challenges for Zhenjin in terms of excavation. After trying, Zhenjin wisely and decisively chose to give up. Even if he could dig them up, these plant roots might not be food. Zhenjin didn¡¯t know the species of these plants. Often, he had to calculate the expenditure and potential gain, patiently comparing the results, and then calmly think and make decisions on what to abandon and what to keep. Obviously, the risk of recklessly digging up an unknown plant was too great! Eventually, Zhenjin chose to give up. This choice was actually very difficult. Every time he left a desert plant behind, Zhenjin fell into a kind of doubt¡ªhad he made a mistake? Perhaps it was an arrangement by the gods to help him escape his predicament, but he chose to give up. Zhenjin felt like a student in an academy, taking a test that concerned his life and death, endlessly answering questions, with no one to provide the correct answers for each. As time went on, the sun slowly set in the west. By evening, the sunlight resembled a rough man who had vented all his anger through violent beatings; now, his curses and blows were feeble, creating an illusion of tenderness. The temperature in the air also became suitable, but it was still exceptionally dry, so Zhenjin consciously quickened his step. He needed to cover as much ground as possible during this time to compensate for earlier losses. As the sun gradually sank below the horizon, the afterglow and the sunset at the edge of the sky looked breathtaking. But such scenery, Zhenjin had no heart to appreciate. He only felt it was like a notice or a warning from the sun¡ªkid, I¡¯m letting you off for now. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll continue to torment you! Then, the temperature rapidly dropped, decreasing very quickly. Zhenjin began to feel his clothes were too thin, a strong chill came over him, causing him to shiver uncontrollably. The young man couldn¡¯t help but feel a slight sinking in his heart. The temperature difference in the desert was greater than he had previously estimated. For him, this was also a test. ¡°Although I can still endure it now, as my physical condition deteriorates later on, this shift in temperature might become a deadly noose around my neck.¡± This was a potential future threat; what the young man now desperately needed to address was his thirst and hunger. His hunger and thirst were even more severe than when he had first awakened. The small creatures he found along the way could hardly satisfy his hunger. In fact, instead of food, they seemed more like a psychological comfort. Fortunately, Zhenjin had not encountered any attacks from formidable predators during his daytime journey. Unfortunately, this also meant he had missed opportunities to gather substantial food. At that moment, he still wore a special ¡°scarf¡± around his neck¡ªthe body of the desert viper he had killed earlier. The young man affectionately stroked the snake scales with his fingers. The touch felt cold at his fingertips, but this coldness transformed into warmth inside him. This was the only food Zhenjin had left, and he chose to preserve it. On one hand, as long as he had it, there was hope in Zhenjin¡¯s heart. On the other hand, Zhenjin was also wary of the risk. Eating a large amount of food recklessly would also consume the water in his body. That the viper was venomous was a secondary concern. The viper¡¯s anatomy ensured its venom glands were confined to the head. Once the head was removed, it was essentially venom-free. Given Zhenjin¡¯s physique, even if he was poisoned, he wouldn¡¯t fear the venom of such a common wild creature. ¡°But it¡¯s best to cook it over a fire. After all, this island is weird and dangerous, and shouldn¡¯t be viewed as normal. Perhaps the snake¡¯s whole body is venomous? If so, my current situation is akin to voluntarily placing the Death God¡¯s scythe on my neck.¡± When the sunlight completely vanished from the skyline, night fell. ¡°The day has passed,¡± Zhenjin gazed at the vast and deep sky, feeling bewildered and panic rising in his heart again. His current situation was dangerous and difficult. During the day, the sunlight he despised and hated actually provided him with good visibility. But in the darkness now, more predators would emerge. Zhenjin took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. Then he joyfully discovered that he had indeed succeeded! With the first trial, he seemed to have made a qualitative leap in stabilizing his emotions. He didn¡¯t even need to pray. Now, he could maintain his calm on his own. Of course, he was also well aware of what praying would yield. As for the Holy Emperor responding to him, he hardly had any hope left. In the deep night, the temperature was very low, exhaling clouds of white breath from Zhenjin¡¯s mouth and nose. The cold was bone-chilling. His hunger intensified, tormenting the young man. His stomach had long been protesting, making rumbling sounds. But more than hunger, the feeling of thirst prevailed. Zhenjin felt as though his throat was smoking; if there was a lake, he would have wished to immerse himself entirely in it and drink satisfyingly. His water replenishment was too little. Zhenjin had originally pinned his hopes on certain desert plants, but that hope had been dashed. He hadn¡¯t even seen the shadow of a cactus. Tonight was moonless, and the sky was filled with stars. Zhenjin looked up at the starry sky, feeling the starlight transmitting heartlessness and indifference, as if observing him slowly walking toward his doom. He tried hard to identify and prove his direction based on the stars, but he failed. In this regard, he had no experience and was completely ignorant. Because of the correct strategy during the day, he still had plenty of energy left. The young man continued to trek alone in the desert under the starry night. Unconsciously, sand dunes began to appear again beside Zhenjin. ¡°What is that?¡± In his blurred vision, Zhenjin spotted a beastly silhouette perched halfway up a sand dune. Chapter 49 - 49: Section 50: The Struggle Between Beasts Chapter 49: Section 50: The Struggle Between Beasts The youth immediately stopped in his tracks and couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath. After the shock, joy began to spread in his heart. In the deep of the night, his eyes shone as if they were lit up. ¡°Kill it! And then take its blood to drink.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really about to die of thirst.¡± Zhenjin shouted in his heart. ... But instantly, the joy in his heart receded a bit, and hesitation gave rise to greater uncertainty. ¡°From a distance, the beast is quite large. It seems to be lying on the sand, and even so, it¡¯s already over two meters tall.¡± ¡°From so far away, I can¡¯t sense its presence. Has it concealed itself?¡± ¡°To maintain survival in the desert with such a large body is no easy feat. This also means it¡¯s powerful.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a Silver Level, no, even if it¡¯s just a Black Iron Level Magic Beast, then I¡¯m in danger!¡± On this perilous and desolate island, encountering Golden Level Magic Beasts was not uncommon. Zhenjin hesitated for a few breaths¡¯ time, then made a decision. He still chose to strike! Without food and water, his condition would only get worse. The desert was barren and vast, unlike the terrain of rainforests and forests. If Zhenjin gave up this opportunity, how likely would it be for him to encounter prey suitable for hunting later on? That chance was slim. So, taking advantage of his current physical strength, striking at this moment was the wiser choice. ¡°If I encounter danger, I can only hope for a sudden surge in my abilities.¡± Zhenjin gritted his teeth inwardly, bent at the waist, slowed his steps, and approached the giant beast quietly. In the darkness, the massive body of the beast seemed to curl into a ball, motionless. When he got close enough, Zhenjin¡¯s expression suddenly changed, and his tense and cautious look dissipated considerably. ¡°It¡¯s just a huge rock.¡± Zhenjin let out a sigh of relief and walked casually toward what he had originally thought was the ¡°giant beast.¡± Although he had an exceptional physical constitution, he was essentially still human, and his vision at night was greatly affected. If he had been a Dark Elf, he would have seen clearly and not made such a mistake. Zhenjin examined the giant rock in front of him. The rock was oval-shaped and stood silently in the darkness. The surface of the rock faintly shimmered with a metallic luster, yet it was pocked and pitted, completely devoid of any ¡®smoothness,¡¯ covered with numerous tiny holes. What was strange was that from these sesame-sized holes, a warm breath continuously seeped out. Zhenjin was stunned for a moment, and Cang Xu¡¯s previous words came to mind. ¡°Could this be the gold mica stone?¡± Gold mica stone was a mixture of iron, gold, soil, and other minerals. Depending on the location of its occurrence, the components of gold mica stone and the ratios among them varied significantly. The exploration team had also encountered vast groups of gold mica stones, which, based on Cang Xu¡¯s preliminary estimates, contained a rich abundance of gold. Unfortunately, to extract gold from these massive and heavy stones required specific methods. The exploration team lacked such extraction capabilities, for their most important task was self-rescue and then to find water and food for the camp. ¡°Gold mica stones usually occur in clusters, yet here is just one.¡± Zhenjin ran his hand over the surface of the rock, feeling both disappointed and fortunate. He was disappointed about not finding food or water but felt lucky to have discovered a piece of gold mica stone. During the day, these rocks bask under the sun, absorbing and storing heat within, and even in the bitter cold of the desert night, the gold mica stones remained quite warm. This solved a big problem for Zhenjin. His clothes felt incredibly thin during the night. Just moments ago, he had been worried about lacking the materials to start a fire. Now, he could do without. By relying on this giant rock, he could retain heat well and fend off the harsh cold. The night passed this way, and when Zhenjin opened his eyes again, he saw the first light of the sun on the horizon. This was the break of dawn. Zhenjin moved his hands and feet a bit and was pleased to find that his physical strength had recovered quite a bit; he had rested well the previous night. His body had gotten adequate rest, and his spirit had calmed down with plenty of time. What comforted him was that he wasn¡¯t deep in an oblivious sleep; instead, he always remained alert, his nerves taut. He had woken up two or three times in the night, all due to the desert¡¯s chilling winds howling loudly, exceeding the warning threshold in his mind. Each time he woke, he quickly fell back to sleep. This pleased him immensely. ¡°It seems I must have received such training or had such experiences before, to be able to maintain both sleep and vigilance.¡± Accomplishing this was not easy. Zhenjin had a new understanding of himself. This time that Zhenjin woke up, it was because he heard strange noises. The commotion was coming from the northeast. ¡°The sound is very strange; could it be snakes?¡± The gold mica stone where Zhenjin stayed was situated halfway up a sand dune. With an idea in his head, Zhenjin slowed his pace and carefully approached the top of the dune. At the top, he slowly raised his head and carefully observed. It was the crack of dawn, and the light was still insufficient. First, his eyes landed on several pieces of gold mica stone. These stones, numbering in the hundreds, varied in spacing and size, seemingly placed like chess pieces on a board shaped by the sand dunes. This undoubtedly verified Cang Xu¡¯s words¡ªgold mica stones typically appeared in large clusters. The piece of gold mica stone Zhenjin had been staying at was just one on the very edge. Then, Zhenjin¡¯s pupils narrowed slightly. He saw two groups of animals facing off among the cluster of gold mica stones. One group was green-skinned lizards, and the other group was golden scorpions. The lizards were as big as warhorses, and the scorpions were a bit smaller. The lizards emitted hisses like snakes, while the scorpions made rustling sounds, each intimidating the other. The mixed noise of these two was what had woken Zhenjin up. Zhenjin¡¯s heart tightened. He sensed that both the lizards and the scorpions had at least Black Iron Level Life Breath, and the leaders of the animal groups were of the Silver Level. ¡°Not counting mutations, just a single Silver Level Magic Beast could pose a fatal threat to me.¡± ¡°Black Iron Magic Beasts, in sufficient numbers, could also take my life.¡± Zhenjin had not yet fully understood the principle of mutation. He was now unable to use Fighting Energy, his prayers went unanswered, and he had no armor on him, his only comfort being the weapon in his hand. But even this Silver Level weapon was continuously degrading over time. The Blade Spider¡¯s limbs indeed made for superb weapon material. But such material needed to be processed to stabilize the contained Magic Power, preserving its sharpness. Zhenjin, however, had merely utilized it crudely without any refining. As time passed, the spider leg sword would become weaker and weaker. Therefore, Zhenjin made no rash moves and crouched motionless, quietly observing. He still did not understand why the two beast groups were confronting each other. He had no desire to provoke either side. The young man stole glances while praying in secret, ¡°If these two beast groups were to start fighting each other, perhaps it would create an opportunity for me to get some food.¡± It seemed as if Zhenjin¡¯s prayers had been heard, for the two restless beast groups finally grew impatient and began to clash. But it wasn¡¯t a large-scale battle; instead, the leaders of the beast groups plunged into the center of the battlefield, engaging in one-on-one combat. ¡°Swish!¡± The green-skinned Lizard made an extremely unpleasant scream, then opened its mouth to spit out a thick green Acid Liquid. The Acid Liquid hit the golden Scorpion directly. The golden Scorpion immediately used its huge pincers, like a Shield, to block its face, successfully protecting its eyes. Ssss¡­ White smoke immediately rose from the surface of the golden Scorpion¡¯s pincers. Zhenjin narrowed his eyes, sharply observing that some of the Acid Liquid splashed onto gold mica stones, and within a few breaths, had corroded fist-sized holes into the stones! ¡°If that had hit me, without Fighting Energy to protect me, I fear I would be down to my bones after two or three breaths.¡± Zhenjin felt slightly relieved to see that after spewing out a large amount of Acid Liquid, the Lizard leader immediately became listless and began to retreat. Clearly, this Acid Liquid was not a typical battle tactic for it. However, as the Lizard retreated, the golden Scorpion advanced even faster. The two quickly closed the gap. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The green-skinned Lizard immediately opened its mouth again, letting out another scream, as if it was about to spray green liquid once more. But the golden Scorpion was craftier, having already lifted its pincers to shield itself. At the same time, it arched its at least two-meter-long scorpion tail and viciously struck! The scorpion tail was sharp, like the head of a Knight¡¯s long spear. The scorpion tail pierced straight through the green-skinned Lizard¡¯s head, making a round hole deep enough to reach the skull. This was a fatal wound! Having struck, the golden Scorpion promptly retreated. Its retreat was very swift. From the round hole in the green-skinned Lizard¡¯s head, white brain matter mixed with pale green blood gushed out like a fountain. The green-skinned Lizard leader let out an extremely agonizing scream and, in its final moments, unleashed a ferocious attack. Its mouth spewed corrosive green liquid once again, wildly and without aim, sweeping around like a green light column. The giant gold mica stones, when hit, immediately emitted thick white smoke and a hissing sound, then melted away like snow under the sunlight. Other green-skinned Lizards from its own group were also affected; the group descended into chaos, with the unfortunate ones screaming in pain, their limbs corroded to reveal white bones. Some had their eyes attacked, frantically burrowing into the sand, trying to save themselves. A few golden Scorpions also suffered attacks from the green liquid, their armor rapidly softening, and within a few breaths, all that was left was a segment of the scorpion tail. Silver Level golden Scorpions could resist the green liquid, but the majority of Black Iron golden Scorpions could not. Fortunately, the green-skinned Lizard¡¯s outburst lasted only a few breaths. Soon, no more green liquid came out of its mouth. Having lost their leader, the green-skinned Lizards withdrew en masse. The golden Scorpion group claimed victory but did not pursue the fleeing foes as Zhenjin had predicted. After driving off the green-skinned Lizards, the golden Scorpions disregarded their carcasses and gathered around the gold mica stones in small groups. To Zhenjin¡¯s astonishment, these golden Scorpions first used their scorpion tails to pierce and break apart the giant gold mica stones. Then, they used their huge pincers to snap up the scattered shards of gold mica stone on the sandy ground into even smaller fragments. Finally, they put these pieces into their mouthparts and chewed them continuously. ¡°Could it be that these gold mica stones are food for these golden Scorpions?¡± Zhenjin mused as he watched the scene before him. Zhenjin swallowed hard involuntarily. He watched the Scorpions feasting heartily, and his own hunger and thirst were stimulated even more intensely. He patiently waited. The Scorpions fed for half an hour before they quietly dispersed, leaving behind a trail of debris. Only after ensuring his safety did Zhenjin excitedly head over to the former battlefield. The Magic Beasts that were hit by the Acid Liquid and killed were no longer edible. But the Lizard leader had exhausted its Acid Liquid, drained of its blood and brain matter, yet still retained intact flesh. With the weapon in his hand, Zhenjin sliced open the Lizard leader and claimed the meat from its body. Zhenjin had just slept for one night and witnessed a fight, and suddenly he had an abundance of food! ¡°But I¡¯m still lacking water.¡± ¡°Can I encounter such luck again?¡± The young man¡¯s excitement and joy gradually settled down. There was still some residual Acid Liquid, which Zhenjin carefully touched with his weapon. Zhenjin patiently waited for a moment and found that the Silver Level Spider Blade remained as rigid and sharp as ever, feeling slightly relieved. By this time, sunlight began to peek over the horizon, and Zhenjin¡¯s visibility was getting better. The temperature was also on the rise. Zhenjin knew this was a rare opportunity to travel, and he was about to set off when his pupils suddenly constricted fiercely. ¡°What¡¯s this?!¡± A hint of pink had appeared in his field of vision, leaving him utterly shocked. Chapter 50 - 50: Section 51: No Rescue Chapter 50: Section 51: No Rescue The group in the desert was on the run. ¡°Quick, even faster!¡± ¡°Keep up, don¡¯t fall behind!¡± ¡°They¡¯re chasing us!!¡± someone screamed in terror. Ah! Then came a scream of agony. ... Those at the back of the team couldn¡¯t resist looking back, only to see a companion already pinned down by a green-skinned lizard. The lizard opened its mouth wide and bit directly into the companion¡¯s head. Behind this feeding green-skinned lizard, another one quickly emerged. Exploding into action, the lizard¡¯s speed was startlingly fast, about to pounce on the two at the back of the group in the blink of an eye. ¡°No!¡± one of them yelled out, filled with terror, but a fierce look flashed across his face. At this critical moment of life and death, he actually reached out and took down a teammate by his side. As his companion fell to the ground, struggling to get up, he opened his mouth to curse but could only let out a wretched scream as the lizard pounced and killed him. The cries of agony tightened the hearts of the survivors. One of the girls, upon seeing the scene behind her, clenched her teeth and pulled a potion from the pouch at her waist, scattering it into the sky behind her. The potion was like powder, but as it scattered in the air, it immediately turned into a thick green smoke. ¡°Hold your breath!¡± the girl loudly warned, she was Zi Di. The surviving teammates, seemingly familiar with this kind of green smoke, promptly held their breaths and dove out of the smoke. However, the green-skinned lizards chasing them, breathing normally, inhaled the smoke into their nostrils and lungs. Soon, the lizards let out screams of agony, some struggling in the thick green smoke, others running around chaotically, and the entire pursuing group of lizards fell into a panic. Seizing this opportunity, the surviving members of the exploration team successfully put some distance between themselves and the lizards. ¡°Run, run!¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to make it.¡± ¡°Lord Zi Di is amazing, thanks to your potion!¡± ¡°Do you have more? Scatter some more.¡± Everyone shouted, their hearts brimming with the joy of a newfound lease on life. ¡°How could you do that?! I just saw it, you actually caused the death of a teammate.¡± Bai Ya¡¯s questioning was particularly harsh amid the cheers. The person he accused initially showed a look of shame, but quickly became angry and retorted, ¡°Get lost, mind your own business!¡± ¡°You!¡± Bai Ya was tongue-tied, shocked. The accused¡¯s demeanor was turbulent, his usually good temper gone, as if he had become a different person. ¡°Alright, we¡¯re not out of danger yet. Everything that has happened here will be judged by Lord Zhenjin!¡± An old man spoke up in good time, stabilizing the team. It was Cang Xu. Meanwhile, to the northeast of this surviving group, there was a sand dune. Two heads popped out from the dune, faces alike, it was the brothers Lan Zao and Huang Zao. ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve found them!¡± Huang Zao was very excited, then quickly restrained his excitement, ¡°They¡¯re being chased by green-skinned lizards.¡± ¡°They¡¯re really here.¡± Lan Zao nodded, ¡°Eh? Why don¡¯t I see Lord Zhenjin?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably a separation; they haven¡¯t regrouped yet. We also found these green-skinned lizards because of the pink marks on them and followed the trail of the beasts to get here,¡± Huang Zao speculated. Originally, after the exploration team was teleported, they immediately encountered a storm. Zi Di, relying on her potions, quickly melted a cave in the sandstorm, helping many members of the exploration team. The cave was not sturdy and collapsed during the raging sandstorm, accidentally connecting with another cave. For the sake of survival, the team could only come to this cave. They found that this desert cave was not formed naturally. The architects were a group of green-skinned lizards. The exploration team was familiar with these lizards, having encountered them after being teleported to the desert. The place where Zi Di and others arrived was the most important area in the lizard¡¯s underground nest¡ªthe nursery. The nursery stored a large number of lizard eggs, guarded by dedicated mother lizards. After the two parties encountered each other, they immediately began to fight. There were only two mother lizards, which the exploration team quickly killed under the effect of Zi Di¡¯s potions. But the commotion attracted the attention of the other green-skinned lizards, who immediately launched a frenzied revenge offensive against the exploration team. Fortunately, the entrance to the nursery was very narrow, so the people held their ground there. The lizards came in an unending stream, and the exploration team began to suffer casualties. Cang Xu learned through dissection that the green-skinned lizards did not mate frequently, and a mother lizard only laid one egg at a time. Yet, there were so many eggs in the cave, so it was natural to deduce that the scale of the lizard community outside was very large. There was no question that holding their ground here meant no way out. Realizing this, everyone began to plan their breakthrough. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During this time, Zi Di scattered pink potions on the lizards, hoping to send out a signal. As for now, they had broken through and temporarily shaken off the pursuit of the lizards. ¡°We should hurry and join up with them,¡± Lan Zao said, ready to move. But the next moment, his arm was grabbed by his younger brother Huang Zao: ¡°No, brother, look!¡± Following the direction pointed by Huang Zao, Lan Zao saw a large number of green-skinned lizards blocking the way ahead of Zi Di and Cang Xu. But Zi Di and Cang Xu didn¡¯t realize it; their view was obstructed by a sand dune. Those who stand by see more than those involved, and the true situation was discovered by Lan Zao and Huang Zao. ¡°This is bad, they¡¯re about to be surrounded by lizards. If this continues, they will surely meet their deaths. We need to warn them quickly!¡± Lan Zao¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Huang Zao stopped him again. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lan Zao glared angrily, ¡°Saving them is urgent!¡± Huang Zao said, ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish, brother. These people are doomed. Look again!¡± Lan Zao looked closely and his face turned ashen. He saw that not only were there a large group of lizards in front of the exploration team, but lizards were also closing in from both sides. ¡°Even so¡­¡± Lan Zao¡¯s body swayed, clenching his teeth, but Huang Zao interrupted him. ¡°Lord Zhenjin is not here, and they are only relying on Miss Zi Di¡¯s potions to struggle. It¡¯s impossible for them to survive. Don¡¯t be foolish, brother. Even with the two of us, we would only be going to our deaths,¡± Huang Zao said coldly. Then he continued to question, ¡°Who are these people to you? Are they worth your life?¡± ¡°But, we are slaves right now, and we had discussed before to follow Lord Zhenjin, hadn¡¯t we?¡± Lan Zao hesitated. Huang Zao¡¯s face darkened: ¡°Slaves¡­ I don¡¯t want to be any slave. The past situations were out of desperation.¡± ¡°Moreover, we have no idea where Lord Zhenjin is right now. Since he¡¯s not here, he won¡¯t ever know what happened here. We want to follow Lord Zhenjin for a better future, right? Dying like this is not what we planned.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Lan Zao¡¯s expression wavered, ¡°I at least need to warn them.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do it,¡± Huang Zao shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s too late! They are already surrounded. The moment you speak up and they discover us, they will definitely ask for our help. What then, will we go or not?¡± ¡°If we go, it¡¯s suicide. If we don¡¯t, they¡¯ll surely hold a grudge against us. Maybe they¡¯ll find a way to record this incident. In the future, if Lord Zhenjin finds their remains, he might learn about our secret of not helping them. That would be terrible for us.¡± Lan Zao did not reply, just watched the members of the exploration team in the distance, their faces filled with joy, completely unaware that they were trapped. Lan Zao¡¯s brows furrowed deeper, and his hands subconsciously grabbed handfuls of sand, clenching his fists tightly. Seeing Lan Zao like this, Huang Zao felt a pang in his heart. He knew his brother very well. Thus, Huang Zao shouted, ¡°Do you want me to die, brother!¡± ¡°What?¡± Lan Zao was taken aback. ¡°I know these people have helped you before, and even Lord Zhenjin and Miss Zi Di saved my life. You don¡¯t want to be indebted to them, you want to repay their kindness. You must be thinking about whether to let me go and support them on your own!¡± Huang Zao¡¯s words struck right at Lan Zao¡¯s heart. That was indeed what Lan Zao was thinking. But then, Huang Zao said, ¡°If you go, you will certainly die! Left alone in this desert, how can I manage to survive? And could I just watch you go to your death? You¡¯re my own brother! If you go, I will surely follow you. If you die, I would throw my life away too.¡± ¡°Brother¡­¡± Lan Zao gritted his teeth, glaring at Huang Zao. ¡°Brother!¡± Huang Zao glared back, just as stubborn, ¡°Did you forget our mother¡¯s last words? You made a vow to look after me for life. You swore that if you were to die, it would be before me. Now, by supporting them, you would be leading me to death!¡± ¡°Yes, I made a vow. Since we were kids, I¡¯ve always taken care of you, haven¡¯t I? But you¡¯ve grown up; you are a seasoned sailor now, and you have Bronze Level strength¡­¡± ¡°But what does that matter? In the Spider Forest, didn¡¯t you still abandon me!¡± Huang Zao interrupted Lan Zao without mercy. ¡°I thought you were dead!!¡± Lan Zao roared, his face flushing with anger. Huang Zao sneered: ¡°If I had died, perhaps it would¡¯ve been good for you, wouldn¡¯t it? After all, it was you who killed our father. If I were dead, who would know your secret? You would be free of it!¡± ¡°No! How can you think that?!¡± Lan Zao let out a pained howl, his expression twisted, veins on his forehead bulging. Huang Zao¡¯s voice suddenly rose sharply, ¡°Then let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s leave this place together, escape from this damned island. You need to prove yourself with actions.¡± Huang Zao¡¯s words were like an ice-cold long spear that pierced straight into Lan Zao¡¯s deepest heart. The burly man knelt on the ground, staring deathly at his younger brother for a long while, immobile as if he were a statue. The brothers locked eyes for several breaths, then their standoff was disturbed by the commotion caused by the green-skinned lizards. Huang Zao saw several green-skinned lizards rapidly approaching the sand dune they were on, and urged anxiously, ¡°Run now, or we won¡¯t be able to escape.¡± He immediately got to his feet, forcefully pulling Lan Zao. Initially unmovable, Huang Zao tried twice more and finally got Lan Zao to his feet. They ran down the sand dune, fleeing from the place. In the last moment of retreat, Lan Zao looked back and saw the members of the exploration team realizing their situation, stamping their feet in panic and confusion. He let out a deep sigh in his heart, bowed his head, and escaped shoulder to shoulder with Huang Zao. Chapter 51 - 51: Section 52: Its Lord Zhenjin! Chapter 51: Section 52: It¡¯s Lord Zhenjin! ¡°We¡¯re finished!¡± ¡°Those green-skinned beasts are everywhere, what do we do?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t get away.¡± Cang Xu panted heavily, the old man¡¯s face also lacking its usual composure. Surrounded by more and more green-skinned lizards, the members of the exploration team fell into despair, many of them letting out desperate roars. ¡°This can¡¯t be happening!¡± ¡°Lord Cang Xu, didn¡¯t you say these green-skinned lizards would go out to forage at dawn?!¡± ... ¡°That¡¯s exactly why we chose this opportunity to break through.¡± ¡°The lizards in front of us are the main hunting party. But they¡¯ve come back too early.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no use talking about this now, we can retreat, go back to the cave we passed earlier!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t go back, rather than that, we might as well take a risk and head forward.¡± ¡°Have you gone mad? The lizards in front are the strongest in the herd, otherwise why would they go out to hunt?¡± Cang Xu remained silent. Zi Di gritted her teeth: ¡°Let¡¯s get to the top of this sand dune first.¡± Saying this, she took the lead. Despite being in a desperate situation, the instinct to survive drove everyone to follow Zi Di. The exploration team climbed the sand dune with the green-skinned lizards closely pursuing them. Whenever the lizards got close, Zi Di would throw a packet of powder, creating a thick green smoke to block the lizards. Though the green smoke would disperse quickly, thinning out and no longer hindering the lizards, the exploration team still managed to reach the top of the dune. And then, their despair deepened. From their vantage point, they could see clearly. The sand dune was surrounded by a dense throng of green-skinned lizards, two to three thousand strong. Most were ordinary wild beasts, and the lizards remaining near the nests were mostly old, weak, or ill. The elites were those that had gone out to hunt but returned early, nearly all radiating a Black Iron Life Breath. ¡°Why struggle? We might as well wait here to die.¡± Someone simply sat down on the sand with a thump. ¡°Rather than being eaten by these green-skinned lizards, I¡¯d prefer to die in a sandstorm.¡± Someone else said with a bitter smile. The lizards gathered at the base of the dune, increasingly densely packed. Soon, more lizards surged up the slope. Zi Di took out some medicine powder and, from her high position, scattered it, creating a thick green mist once again. The swirling mist formed a temporary wall, repelling the attacking lizards. Witnessing this, Bai Ya sincerely admired, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Lord Zi Di, we would¡¯ve been dead by now!¡± Someone saw the full stack of medicine packets in Zi Di¡¯s belt pouch, their eyes lighting up with hope, and suggested, ¡°We have so many potions. We can wait for a strong wind and scatter these packets in it to completely kill these lizards! Even if it doesn¡¯t kill them all, it can carve us a path out.¡± Zi Di, however, shook her head: ¡°With wind, this smoke won¡¯t gather together but will quickly disperse. Moreover, the lizards aren¡¯t stupid; they¡¯ll flee when they encounter the green smoke. The most crucial point is that we¡¯re more fragile than these lizards; this green smoke is even more harmful to us.¡± The people were all at a loss: ¡°Then what do we do?¡± Zi Di sighed longly, looking at the endless green-skinned lizards around the dune: ¡°We can only hope that these lizards can¡¯t break through for a long time and disperse on their own.¡± The situation the young girl had hoped for did not happen. The lizards maintained their encirclement and continually attempted to ascend the sand dune, though each attempt was repulsed by the green fog. Wherever the green mist thinned, Zi Di promptly replenished it. This special medicine powder was rapidly depleting. Although Zi Di had produced a lot of it, at this rate, it would be completely exhausted in a day or two. Watching the green-skinned lizard monsters screeching and clamoring, failing to climb up the dunes, many members of the exploration team relaxed. But Cang Xu and Zi Di both looked worried. They were acutely aware of just how perilous their current situation actually was. The lizard monsters had merely been frightened off by the green mist for now. The range covered by the mist was limited; if they charged recklessly without regard for their own lives, they could still storm through. In fact, if the lizards held their breath, they could also rush through the green mist. But after all, they were wild beasts and lacked human intelligence, not understanding how to adapt extensively. Time passed, and the sun climbed higher, reaching its zenith at noon. Seeing that the lizards had all lain down beneath the dunes, each one listlessly languishing, with the stronger ones monopolizing the shade, the old Scholar furrowed his brows deeply and shared his speculation, ¡°I estimate that these lizards won¡¯t give up on killing us. I have observed that there are no lizards of the Silver Level among them. This is almost impossible. To maintain such a large pack, there must be at least one Silver Level Lizard Head.¡± ¡°Look at those lizards; they are the strongest in the group, almost all exuding a Black Iron Aura. But these Magic Beasts are almost all injured, many severely so. I suspect that this hunting pack of lizards encountered a formidable enemy this morning, not only failing to find food but also suffering heavy losses in a hunt, resulting in the death of their leader.¡± Zi Di had a sudden realization, ¡°So, we are the only food in the eyes of these lizards?¡± Cang Xu nodded, then shook his head slightly, ¡°It¡¯s not just that. We also destroyed their eggs. The scent of those lizard eggs still lingers on us, and the lizards utterly hate us for it. I¡¯m afraid even if we fled to the ends of the desert, they would chase us down there, intent on tearing us apart, the murderers of their offspring!¡± Everyone fell silent. Bai Ya couldn¡¯t help but feel indignant on behalf of Zi Di, ¡°But if we hadn¡¯t destroyed those lizard eggs, without the egg liquid as a material, Lord Zi Di wouldn¡¯t have been able to create this medicine powder mist. Without it, we would have died long ago; how could we possibly still be alive now?¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not criticizing Lord Zi Di at all. In fact, I¡¯m filled with gratitude toward the Lord. I¡¯m merely sharing everything I know with you all.¡± The group lapsed into silence once again. There wasn¡¯t even a hint of a breeze. The sunlight was like thousands of piercing arrows shooting down. The temperature in the air grew very high, and those exposed at the top of the dunes found it increasingly unbearable. They resembled fish that had fallen onto a scalding hot iron plate. They were truly being roasted alive! Many stripped off their outer garments to make small tents, propping them over their heads. They dared not sit, as the sand beneath their feet was scorching hot. At this moment, if a lizard egg were cracked, its contents spilling out, it would instantly steam and scramble. ¡°If only we had enough bows and arrows. Standing on the dunes, from such a commanding position, we could completely shoot down these lizards. Let these lizards become our food,¡± someone murmured. Regrettably, the exploration team had lost almost all of the short bows and arrows in the sandstorm. And only half of the team members remained. Not everyone still had weapons, and even fewer had short bows on them. This was the desert, where there was no wood to make new ones. ¡°Making short bows was Lord Zhenjin¡¯s idea. Where exactly is the Knight Lord now? If he were here, he might think of a solution,¡± another voice spoke up. Zhenjin had previously led everyone to victory, guiding the exploration team out of a survival crisis. His prestige had reached deep into the hearts of the people. So, at this moment, everyone looked forward even more to his wise and powerful leadership. Bai Ya gazed towards the horizon, ¡°I feel that Lord Zhenjin wouldn¡¯t die so easily; he¡¯s just temporarily separated from us. He will definitely appear, he¡¯ll come here to save us!¡± Bai Ya¡¯s tone was filled with certainty, which struck the others as quite strange. Therefore, someone asked, ¡°Why do you say that? Can you get in touch with Lord Zhenjin?¡± Bai Ya shook his head and widened his eyes, his face marked with a hint of confusion, and said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, ¡°Because Zhenjin is a Knight, and moreover a Holy Temple Knight. He must come back, he will lead us out. Because that¡¯s what Knights do!¡± The others gave a wry smile, and Cang Xu shook his head slightly. Having spent time with Bai Ya, the group realized this young man seemed to have an inexplicable faith and reverence for Knights. The extent of his trust and admiration far exceeded common norms, to the point it appeared somewhat naive and foolish. But at this moment, no one wanted to refute such naivety and foolishness with common sense. Because they, trapped in a desperate situation, were also longing for such a knight to step forward when they were most helpless and in danger, to use superior abilities and wisdom to help these weak ones escape the crisis. After this brief exchange, there followed a long silence. The blazing sun was exceedingly harsh, domineering to the point where one could hardly lift their eyelids, and could only look down at the sand beneath their feet. People were both hungry and thirsty, with many having chapped lips. Although there was food and water, the supply was not abundant, and under Cang Xu¡¯s suggestion, they had already started rationing. ¡°Eh?!¡± An exploration team member suddenly showed a look of surprise, then quickly rubbed his eyes. After confirming again, he shouted, ¡°Everybody, come look, is that a person?¡± This cry immediately drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°There is someone.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t make it out clearly yet.¡± ¡°He¡¯s running towards us!¡± Cang Xu narrowed his eyes. ¡°The foot of the sand dune is full of green-skinned attractions, this person still charges over, clearly has great skill and boldness.¡± ¡°It must be Lord Zhenjin,¡± Bai Ya shouted excitedly. As the distance closed, the throng could finally make out the newcomer¡¯s face. Cheers erupted instantly. ¡°It¡¯s him, it definitely is Lord Zhenjin!¡± ¡°I told you I was right,¡± Bai Ya laughed heartily. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, we¡¯re here!!¡± ¡°Have you finally come to save us?¡± Many people couldn¡¯t help but cry tears of joy at this moment. Zi Di¡¯s breathing also became rapid, her crystal-like eyes now showing surprise and anticipation, but soon the young girl slightly furrowed her brows, her heart tightened. ¡°Ah, he¡¯s injured!¡± The cheering crowd¡¯s expression changed with this realization. They too noticed the approaching Zhenjin¡¯s left arm was in a sling, likely broken. He was also wrapped in ¡°bandages.¡± These ¡°bandages¡± were clearly long strips of cloth Zhenjin had torn from his clothing. ¡°The Lord is injured.¡± ¡°That sandstorm was indeed terrifying.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just not clear how serious Lord Zhenjin¡¯s injuries are?¡± The explorers grew anxious, for Zhenjin¡¯s condition was now directly linked to their survival. Of course, the lizards also noticed the charging Zhenjin, and soon, several lizards on the outer edge charged at him. Zhenjin, holding a Spider Blade in his right hand, neither dodged nor hid, charging into these lizards, slashing left and right. After the blade passed through, it always splattered green blood. These ordinary lizards were all beheaded, dying on the sand. Zhenjin¡¯s slaughter immediately sparked an uproar among the lizards. More lizards charged at him, this time not just the ordinary ones, but also Bronze Level Magic Beasts. Zhenjin¡¯s momentum slowed down considerably. Bronze Level lizards were not only larger and stronger, but more crucially, their acid spit was much more ferocious. Ordinary lizards, when they wanted to spit acid, would stay put, their necks bulging¡ªafter roughly two breaths, they would open their mouths and shoot out green liquid. This timing was ample for Zhenjin to complete a counterkill. As far as Zhenjin was concerned, an ordinary lizard readying to spray acid presented a prime opportunity for an ambush. Bronze lizards required only the duration of one breath to prepare their acid spit. In a one-on-one fight, Zhenjin would have enough time to evade and counterattack. But the current situation was that Zhenjin was alone while he was besieged by over a dozen lizards. It was impossible for him to find a perfect evasion path that allowed him to dodge and get close for a counterkill simultaneously. ¡°He absolutely must not come into contact with this acid,¡± Zhenjin thought to himself with icy calmness. The acid spit of a Bronze Level lizard could also corrode gold mica stone swiftly. At this moment, without his Fighting Energy Armor and no armor on his body, a hit from the acid would result in immediate grievous injury. ¡°Lord Zhenjin¡­¡± ¡°It seems the wounds on his body greatly affect him!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin continues to dodge¡ªis it possible he cannot use Fighting Energy Armor?¡± At the top of the sand dune, the group watched from afar, their hearts gradually tightening at the sight of the battle before them. Suddenly, someone let out a startled cry and instinctively shouted, ¡°Look out!¡± It appeared that one particularly sly lizard amidst those attacking had sprayed out acid. This acid was aimed straight at Zhenjin¡¯s back. But in the next moment, as if he had heard the exploration team¡¯s shout, Zhenjin rolled on the spot without looking back, evading the stream of acid perfectly. The other lizards hurriedly dodged as well. The acid struck empty space, hitting the sands and immediately sizzling upon impact, corroding a shallow trench into the sand and sending up pungent white fumes. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve been through a lot of similar training previously, which has endowed me with plenty of battle experience, allowing me to handle such an onslaught alone, remaining calm and collected,¡± Zhenjin reflected at that moment, deepening his self-awareness. Even though he could only see what was in front of him, when besieged and cut off, he would always find several paths for evasion. His vision was not limited to the front; as he nimbly dodged, his gaze constantly scanned swiftly, and his ears also discerned the wind. So even if acid came from behind, he was able to dodge in time. Of course, the speed at which the acid flew was not as fast as that of regular arrows. The exploration team members, unaware of Zhenjin¡¯s confidence, watched the young knight enclosed tightly, danger lurking all around, their hearts filled with dread, feeling as if Zhenjin was walking a tightrope at the edge of a cliff. ¡°Just one hit from this acid, and Lord Zhenjin will be in danger!¡± ¡°He¡¯s been injured, yet risked his life to come save us¡ªthis is what it means to be a Holy Temple Knight.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin¡­ just like he said, he¡¯s never given up on us.¡± The members of the exploration team felt concern mixed with admiration. ¡°We need to provide support to Lord!¡± ¡°But we only have short bows, the distance is too far. We simply can¡¯t shoot the lizards around Lord to provide assistance,¡± The exploration team members gritted their teeth. The range of ranged weapons is divided into maximum range and effective range. Within the effective range, a ranged weapon possesses lethality; the maximum range is just the farthest distance it can reach. The short bows were crudely made, and neither their effective nor maximum range could reach Zhenjin¡¯s position. Trapped at the peak of the sand dune, for the moment, they could only watch, helpless. ¡°This is bad,¡± their expressions darkened once more as they saw a third wave of lizards charging at Zhenjin. This group of green-skinned lizards included three Black Iron Level ones! Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 52 - 52: Section 53: Im Back Again Chapter 52: Section 53: I¡¯m Back Again The lizard opened its mouth, and a green Acid Liquid sprayed out. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Be careful!¡± Lan Zao shouted. But it was already too late! The lizard had chosen the perfect moment, Huang Zao had a ferocious look on his face but could not avoid it, and could only close his eyes and clench his teeth. Puchi. In Huang Zao¡¯s field of vision, everything went dark as he was tackled to the ground. ... The next moment, when he opened his eyes, he saw his blood brother Lan Zao¡¯s face twisted in pain. ¡°Brother!¡± Huang Zao shouted and quickly rolled on the ground to create some space; then with all his might, he threw the spear in his hand. ¡°Die,¡± Huang Zao yelled. After the green-skinned lizard shot out its liquid, it immediately appeared sluggish. The gaping mouth had not yet closed when the thrown spear pierced into it, the tip drilled through a small section of the skull before getting stuck between the bones. At this critical moment of life and death, Huang Zao seized the opening exposed by the lizard and finally killed it. ¡°Brother!¡± As the lizard fell to the ground, Huang Zao gasped heavily in relief and rushed to Lan Zao¡¯s side. Lan Zao lay on the ground, in agonizing pain that even a tough man like him couldn¡¯t bear, and he began to wail, his voice filled with despair. Upon seeing the wound on Lan Zao¡¯s back, Huang Zao couldn¡¯t help but gasp. The wound was terrifying. The green Acid Liquid corroded the flesh, hissing as it turned flesh into pus, wafting out a nauseating stench. The injury worsened rapidly; Huang Zao was sure that in a few more breaths, he would see Lan Zao¡¯s bones. And this was just a Bronze Level lizard. Huang Zao didn¡¯t dare to touch it with his hands; he quickly pulled out the water pouch from his waist and poured all the water out. The Acid Liquid was diluted by the abundant water, quickly easing Lan Zao¡¯s injuries. Huang Zao grabbed Lan Zao¡¯s upper arm, lifting his body while pouring water from the pouch, quickly flushing the Acid Liquid off Lan Zao onto the sand. ¡°Conserve water.¡± Lan Zao¡¯s pain was greatly alleviated, and with what little reason he had left, he reminded Huang Zao. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to!¡± Huang Zao ground his teeth; Lan Zao¡¯s condition was severe, and he had no choice but to use up all the clear water in the pouch. At the same time. A streak of green liquid nearly grazed Zhenjin¡¯s ear as it shot across the sky. Zhenjin¡¯s expression was solemn. He was surrounded by a dozen lizards, including Black Iron and Bronze Level Magic Beasts. Relying on agile movements and extensive experience, Zhenjin not only dodged continuously but also killed several lizards; however, he clearly felt that it was becoming increasingly difficult to move forward. He couldn¡¯t help but look back at the path he had charged through, thinking in his heart, ¡°Why haven¡¯t they come yet?¡± Swoosh. A slight sound. An arrow flew over the heads of countless lizards and landed in the sand. ¡°I¡¯ve done my best.¡± At the top of the sand dune, Bai Ya was panting heavily. He looked at the short bow in his hands, shaking his head. Relying on his shooting skills, he had maximized the range of the short bow, but the arrow landed still a dozen steps away from Zhenjin. And this short bow, ravaged by sandstorms and after a series of battles, was also quickly nearing its breaking point. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, use the potions! Inhale through your nose!¡± the others shouted together. Zhenjin hesitated; he had his own plan and Bai Ya¡¯s unexpected arrow was not part of it. What to do? Zhenjin gritted his teeth and leaped. At this crucial moment, he chose to trust his companion! The lizard directly in front hadn¡¯t expected this, and as a result, Zhenjin¡¯s foot stomped its head hard, and he rose into the air, leaping a distance. This move was very risky; while in mid-air, if Zhenjin were hit by the Acid Liquid, it would be hard to dodge. Thump, Zhenjin landed. Three lizards, some opening their mouths, others swinging their claws, intended to kill Zhenjin. In a flash, Zhenjin glanced hurriedly, spotting the only path to escape. He rolled over and over, narrowly avoiding the two lizards by tumbling between them. He grabbed the arrow¡¯s shaft and thrust his right foot hard against the ground, leveraging his body up and standing once more. Without pausing at his spot, he raced forward at breakneck speed. As he ran, he pulled the arrowhead out and saw a pale yellow smoke emerging from inside. Zhenjin inhaled sharply with his nose, drawing the smoke into his nostrils. ¡°Cough, cough, cough!¡± He immediately started coughing, spitting out clouds of grey smoke. At the same time, his ears and nose emitted curling smokes of grey, and even pale grey tears streamed down. A few breaths later, Zhenjin realized he had lost his sense of taste and smell; he couldn¡¯t feel his tongue or nose, and even his sight and hearing had diminished to some extent. This was quite disadvantageous for him. To break through the lizard swarm, he needed to use his sharp senses, which were now reduced by half. Instantly, the pressure from the lizard swarm more than doubled. At the top of the sand dune. ¡°Use these arrows.¡± Zi Di took out five or six arrows from her small leather pouch at her waist. Bai Ya immediately took them and fitted them to the arrow shafts. These were arrows Zi Di had previously fashioned in the lizard¡¯s hatching cave, and many had seen her do this, so it wasn¡¯t strange. Swoosh. Bai Ya took a few breaths to gather strength, then drew his bow and released an arrow. The arrow flew through the air, its head continuously emitting green smoke, then landed in the sand and billowed out a large amount of green smoke. This green smoke slowly settled, eventually forming a temporary wall of smoke on the surface of the sand. The exploration team members shouted together again, alerting Zhenjin. Zhenjin immediately dashed into the green smoke, running along with it. The surrounding green-skinned lizards tried to rush into the smoke, but soon they were wailing retreat in disarray. ¡°` The green smoke and the powder Zi Di had sprinkled earlier were the same; green-skinned lizards breathing in the green smoke would suffer severe corrosion to their respiratory tracts. But after Zhenjin had inhaled the previous medicinal smoke, he was able to breathe freely in the green smoke, showing no reaction. ¡°What a miraculous potion!¡± the exploration team members exclaimed in surprise, their eyes wide with wonder. Zi Di, however, shook her head. ¡°To be precise, it is a failed product. This potion is inherently toxic, and only Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body can handle it. With it, he can breathe freely in the corrosive green smoke for a certain period. If it were us, we would have suffocated long ago.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s cultivation was at least Silver Level, possibly Gold Level. His physical condition might not compare to most Magic Beasts, but it far surpassed that of ordinary humans. Thus, Bai Ya repeatedly shot arrows, creating green smoke. With such assistance, Zhenjin advanced unimpeded, smoothly reaching the top of the sand dune and successfully regrouping with everyone. ¡°My lord!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin!¡± The exploration team members crowded around Zhenjin, each of them immensely excited, Bai Ya looked at Zhenjin, her face full of admiration. ¡°What should we do next, my lord?¡± someone asked. ¡°Get ready, everyone follow me and charge out. I¡¯ll lead the charge,¡± Zhenjin replied. Cang Xu shook his head and gave a wry smile. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I¡¯m afraid that plan might not work.¡± Zi Di elaborated on the details of the potion. Zhenjin smiled but did not respond immediately. Instead, he turned back to look in the direction they had come from. His eyes narrowed slightly, gazing into the distance for a moment before suddenly smiling. This time, the scene he observed did not disappoint him, as he had finally awaited what he wanted. Thus, he said, ¡°Relying solely on myself is indeed insufficient. However, I came here before and at that time, I hadn¡¯t discovered you yet. But the pink potion indicated that there were traces of you deep within the lizard den. Alone, I couldn¡¯t break into the underground den, so I turned back and provoked the Scorpion swarm.¡± ¡°My wounds are from provoking the Scorpion swarm.¡± ¡°Look, they¡¯re here.¡± Everyone hastily looked and saw a large group of Scorpions rushing towards them. These Scorpions had large physiques, practically equivalent to the lizards. The Scorpion King leading them exuded a strong Silver Level Magic Beast aura. ¡°Brilliant, my lord!¡± ¡°Great, we¡¯re saved!¡± Everyone was overjoyed, finally seeing a hope of escape. However, the anticipated clash between the two beast groups did not occur. The Scorpion swarm halted at the edge of the lizard territory, and after a chaos among the lizards, almost all the Black Iron Level lizards arrived in front of the Scorpions. The two groups didn¡¯t directly fight but faced off instead. ¡°Is this¡­?¡± ¡°Could the Scorpions have seen through our plan?¡± ¡°Damn it, start fighting!¡± Restlessness grew among the people. Yet Zhenjin smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This morning, I witnessed a fight between the lizard group and the Scorpion group. They first provoke and taunt each other. If neither side backs down, the strongest among them will step forward and fight alone. It¡¯s the same situation now.¡± ¡°Get me some water and food; I need to replenish myself,¡± Zhenjin requested. Water and dry rations were immediately handed to him. Zhenjin had already run out of food. After his first reconnaissance of the lizard den, he had eaten snake meat, then returned and found the Scorpion group, leading them here. Zhenjin chewed vigorously. As his Adam¡¯s apple moved up and down, the food and water entered his stomach. The effect of the medicinal fog he had inhaled through his nose was still active, so right now, the young man could hardly taste anything. However, just the act of eating alone brought him an inherent sense of satisfaction and happiness. Zhenjin was indeed both hungry and thirsty now. Since discovering the pink potion, he had traveled long distances to the edge of the lizard den. After that, he withdrew and found the Scorpion group, not hesitating to get injured while provoking the Scorpions, racing back and forth between the two places. Afterward, under the intense sunlight, he alone burst into the middle of the lizard group; whether physical strength or spirit, everything was a huge test, consuming a great deal. ¡°Eat a bit more, my lord!¡± The exploration team members clustered around Zhenjin, watching him eat heartily, many swallowing their saliva unconsciously. Though they had eaten, it was clear they were not full. ¡°Yes, Lord Zhenjin, your strength is great; you need much more food than us.¡± ¡°My lord, put on this leather armor. We have spares.¡± Someone noticed Zhenjin in a plain robe and immediately offered their equipment. The exploration team members all knew he was the key person to save them; they placed all their hopes on Zhenjin. ¡°How much food do we have left?¡± After receiving the answer, Zhenjin shook his head and voluntarily stopped eating. The team¡¯s food supply was already low, and future circumstances were unpredictable; he needed to conserve as much as possible. ¡°Ah.¡± He stood up, straightened his back, and exhaled a dirty breath. Though he had only eaten to half full, he was indeed content at that moment. He took the leather armor offered to him and put it on. It was a bit large, and for its ability to resist acid corrosion, Zhenjin had no expectations. But having it was better than nothing, it was better than nothing. As for weapons, he had the Spider Blade, so he chose a Dagger. After this simple arming, he glanced around, surveying five or six exploration team members in turn. This was the most surprising thing for him¡ªthe fact that so many people were still alive! This was completely beyond his expectations. Zhenjin was not a Thief, lacking the ability of Stealth. So, he had only found the clue about the pink potion earlier and hadn¡¯t immediately investigated deep inside the lizard¡¯s underground cave. At that time, Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others were still in the cave. Neither party had discovered the other. The second time Zhenjin came here, he was suddenly thrilled to discover so many survivors! Seeing these people, he didn¡¯t hesitate and instantly decided to do everything in his power to preserve and rescue them. On one hand, it was the creed of a Holy Temple Knight, and on the other, the pressure of surviving alone was tremendous. Zhenjin had deeply felt it. He needed Cang Xu¡¯s knowledge, Zi Di¡¯s potions, and even Bai Ya¡¯s labor was precious. Looking even further ahead, once he escaped from this island and vied for the position of White Sand City Lord, he would greatly need the support of his subordinates. ¡°` Chapter 53 - 53: Section 54: I will not give up on anyone Chapter 53: Section 54: I will not give up on anyone Two beast packs were clamoring, their noise and power swelling by the moment. The scorpion group gradually prevailed, as they boasted a Silver Level leader that exuded confidence. On the other hand, the lizard side lacked a Silver leader, yet under the pressure of the foreign enemy, these lizards united closely. Many Black Iron Level green-scaled lizards huddled together, facing the Silver Scorpions without any intention of retreating. This was the location of their nest, with not just one cave storing lizard eggs. Moreover, the lizards outnumbered the scorpions by a considerable margin. Eventually, the scorpion group leader grew impatient and, swinging its large pincers like double doors, it struck with a booming blow. It charged headfirst into the lizards straight ahead. Several of the strongest Black Iron Lizards acted simultaneously, some spitting Acid Liquid, others bearing fangs and claws, to confront the Silver leader scorpion. ... Unrestrainedly brutal, the Silver leader scorpion swiftly shattered the Black Iron Lizards¡¯ defenses. The lizard pack began to panic, their previously tight formation scattering. Morale surged in the scorpion pack as they followed their leader, seizing the opportunity to charge into battle. At this moment, a full-scale battle unfolded between the two sides! Witnessing this scene, Zhenjin finally felt at ease. Compared to wild beasts, the Human Race¡¯s physical ability was poor, but humans possessed wisdom, a trait most wild beasts could never match. It was for this reason that Zhenjin could effortlessly manipulate the scorpion pack. Of course, intelligence existed among beasts as well. Without even mentioning pure Dragon breeds, let¡¯s consider the Zi Di squad that rescued Zhenjin; they were nearly wiped out under attack from a cunning Blue Wolf. In a head-to-head confrontation, the Blue Wolf might be weaker than the scorpion leader, but with human-like intelligence, it was able to fully leverage its abilities, its tactics cunning and ever-changing. Zhenjin wasn¡¯t in any rush to lead everyone to escape; instead, he patiently waited a moment. Moments later, the massive lizard throngs grew even more chaotic, with many from underneath the dunes joining the front lines. Although a bunch of lizards still surrounded the dune, reluctant to give up the food atop it, their numbers were now far more sparse than before. ¡°Follow me closely,¡± Zhenjin took a deep breath, looking down at the lizards below the dune. The group could hardly conceal their nervousness; breaking out was fraught with great risk. One misstep could lead to being devoured by lizards or demise from Acid Liquid corrosion. Yet not breaking out would certainly mean death if they remained on the dune¡¯s peak. The breakout began! Zhenjin, wielding the Spider Blade and donning ill-fitting leather armor, took the lead. The lizards encircling the dune had been resting their heads low on the sand, feigning sleep. At the sound of movement, they instantly lifted their heads and, hissing, lunged towards Zhenjin and his companions. The closest lizard, ten steps from Zhenjin, suddenly opened its mouth wide and sprayed a stream of Acid Liquid. As the Acid Liquid advanced, everyone instantly sensed a pungent stench of corrosion. Originally, the group had been tightly following Zhenjin, but facing the Acid Liquid, none could withstand it and they scattered in panic. The tight formation had just started to break out when it was utterly dispersed. Zhenjin tumbled to the sand, rolling adeptly to position himself under the Lizard Head. He let out a low shout and leaped up, his Spider Blade drawing a phantom streak across the lizard¡¯s eyes. Zhenjin brushed past the lizard. The next moment, the Lizard Head fell onto the sand, green blood spurting from the neck like a fountain. Zhenjin didn¡¯t stop; he kept running, charging into the lizard crowd. The Spider Blade truly lived up to its origins from a Silver Level Magic Beast, unsurpassed in sharpness, no lizard could withstand it. These lizards were just ordinary wild beasts, while the Bronze and Black Iron Level Magic Beasts among the lizard groups had been lured away by the Scorpion Group. Hence, Lord Zhenjin was invincible, unstoppable! The brave Lord Zhenjin drew almost all the attention, and the others followed him to break through, finding the pressure to be far less than anticipated. ¡°Lord Zhenjin is truly valiant!¡± ¡°This is a Holy Temple Knight¡­¡± ¡°The Holy Temple Knights indeed deserve to be the foremost Knight Order of our Human Race.¡± As everyone gazed upon Lord Zhenjin¡¯s silhouette, their hearts were filled with praise and admiration. However, just as they were about to break through the encirclement of lizards, a group of lizard Magic Beasts finally made their appearance. At a glance, there were more than a dozen Bronze Level lizards and three or four at the Black Iron Level. It was clear that the lizards had no intention of letting go of this delicious meal. Pressure mounted on Lord Zhenjin! His Spider Blade was still incredibly sharp, able to inflict severe injuries on the green-skinned Magic Beast lizards with a single stroke. But the acid liquid spewed by the lizards was something Lord Zhenjin found equally difficult to defend against. Both sides were in a similar predicament: strong in attack but weak in defense. To avoid the acid, Lord Zhenjin had to opt for rolling and jumping, using all his might to dodge. What hindered him even more was that he could not act alone; he also had to take care of the people behind him. ¡°Ahh!¡± Someone screamed in agony. Busy as he was, Lord Zhenjin glanced back only to see an exploration team member hit by the acid, falling to the ground, and writhing in pain. Almost simultaneously, the lizards around seized the opportunity, with some biting the exploration team member¡¯s head, some grabbing an arm, and others a leg. The team member struggled violently, screaming in desperation, but was still easily dragged away from Lord Zhenjin¡¯s team by the lizards to the side, while several lizards surrounded him, heads bowed, mouths opening and closing continuously, as they tore, chewed, and swallowed with relish. It was clear that rescue was impossible. Lord Zhenjin could only grit his teeth, exerting himself to the fullest to clear a path ahead. Finally, the young knight¡¯s vision suddenly cleared, and the pressure around him lightened drastically¡ªhe had broken through the encirclement. ¡°Ah, Scholar, sir!¡± However, Bai Ya¡¯s cry of alarm suddenly came from behind. Lord Zhenjin quickly turned, and with one look, fury erupted in his eyes. Cang Xu had fallen onto the sandy ground, and the lizards behind him were only five or six steps away! The aged Scholar, who was already physically frail, had fallen behind the group despite being cared for during the escape. ¡°Go on!¡± To Lord Zhenjin¡¯s surprise, Bai Ya suddenly turned around, ran back a few steps, and reached out to Cang Xu. The lizards hissed menacingly, almost at their ears. Cang Xu, aware of his predicament, shouted furiously at Bai Ya, ¡°Leave, don¡¯t mind me!¡± But Bai Ya ignored the advice, gritted his teeth, walked over to Cang Xu, grabbed his clothes, and violently dragged him several steps forward. Almost at the same moment, a lizard pounced from behind, its gaping maw missing Cang Xu by mere inches as it bit into the sand and stones instead. The Lizard erupted in fury, swinging its tail with a whoosh as it spun around. Bai Ya had no time to dodge and could only raise his free left arm in a hurried defense. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a muffled thud, he was unsurprisingly whipped into the air by the Lizard¡¯s tail. The Lizard opened its mouth, pouncing toward Cang Xu once again. But at that moment, Zhenjin finally turned back to join the fight, slashing down with his sword, not only finishing off that Lizard but also driving back several others behind it. ¡°Go!¡± Zhenjin picked up Cang Xu with one hand and broke through again. Cang Xu was frail, but Zhenjin had a physical strength far beyond ordinary people; lifting him was effortless, and he sped away without missing a step. Without Zhenjin leading the way, the team immediately lost their momentum, stuck in the mud and surrounded by more and more Lizards. During this chaos, one team member, exhausted and unable to dodge in time, was struck in the head by acid and died on the spot. Zhenjin, carrying Cang Xu, broke through and rallied the team, easily shattering the Lizard¡¯s encirclement ahead, kickstarting the team once again. After a fierce battle, the number of Lizards before Zhenjin dwindled, scattering in disarray. ¡°We¡¯ve broken through!¡± everyone rejoiced ecstatically. Zhenjin turned back to look, nearly all the members congregated around him, except Bai Ya, who had fallen into the midst of the Lizards. After being thrashed by the Lizard¡¯s tail, Bai Ya had broken bones in his arm and ribs, entwined in severe pain and substantially slowed down. The Lizards, not daring to confront Zhenjin, attacked the weakest instead. Just as Zhenjin was about to turn back and rescue, Cang Xu sternly warned, ¡°Lord, leave him. If we don¡¯t go now, the Lizards will close in again.¡± Everyone looked at Cang Xu. Had it not been for Bai Ya buying time, Zhenjin wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to rescue him. It could be said that Bai Ya was Cang Xu¡¯s lifesaver as well. But now, Cang Xu was preventing Zhenjin from saving Bai Ya, choosing to abandon him. Such ruthless indifference changed the way everyone looked at Cang Xu. Though they despised his attitude, no one argued. Having fought to this point, two members of the exploration team had been sacrificed. Everyone was in bad shape. Thinking back on battling through the sandstorm and falling into the underground caves of the Lizards, then being trapped at the top of a sand dune and now barely breaking free, they were all extremely hungry, thirsty, fatigued, and weak. Most had reached the limits of their physical strength, surviving solely on their fear of death and desire for life. Cang Xu was not wrong; if Zhenjin turned back, they would be encircled by Lizards once more. How much longer could they hold on? Could they last until Zhenjin returned with Bai Ya? No one had that confidence. For a moment, Zhenjin hesitated as well. Unlike Cang Xu, Bai Ya was an ordinary man, a hunter with precise shooting skills. His value was much lower than Cang Xu¡¯s, replaceable. ¡°What if I go to save him, and these people fall to a Lizard attack? What then?¡± ¡°Others may be one thing, but particularly Zi Di, and Cang Xu¡­¡± In an instant, the young Knight surveyed everyone around. They were all watching him. As he saw the complex looks in their eyes, Zhenjin¡¯s hesitation dissipated, and he made his decision. ¡°I¡¯ve said we won¡¯t abandon anyone,¡± Zhenjin declared resolutely, ¡°and Bai Ya will be no exception!¡± Everyone felt a jolt in their hearts. Just as Zhenjin was about to set off, Zi Di grabbed his arm, pointing in the northwestern direction, ¡°Lord, please be careful and look over there!¡± Zhenjin then saw the Scorpion group¡¯s leader, the Silver Level Golden Spear War Scorpion, was already charging nearby. The Lizard horde had no Silver Level leader, and not even many Black Iron or Bronze Level Lizards could stop it. The Silver Battle Scorpion bulldozed through, its claws like shielded gates blocking countless streams of acid. Its scorpion tail kept stabbing fiercely, each strike claiming the life of a Lizard. ¡°It¡¯s coming for me!¡± A bolt of realization struck Zhenjin. To provoke the Scorpion group, he had fiercely slashed at the War Scorpion, achieving no significant result but instead having his arm pierced by the scorpion tail, forcing him to flee in disarray. The Silver Battle Scorpion keenly held a grudge, stubbornly leading the Scorpion group in a long chase after Zhenjin, and now cutting through the Lizard horde, it sought trouble with Zhenjin. ¡°Please be very careful! I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Zhenjin reassured Zi Di and felt a touch of warmth in his heart. The Spider Blade in Zhenjin¡¯s hands was exceedingly sharp. With a single slice, another Lizard fell to the ground, never to rise again. Zhenjin quickly made his way to Bai Ya. ¡°Lord!!¡± Bai Ya, trapped in a desperate situation, was overwhelmed with emotion as he saw Zhenjin coming to rescue him, his eyes filled with gratitude, admiration, and devotion. Carrying Bai Ya, Zhenjin fought back and successfully regrouped with the others. The concerns Zhenjin had earlier did not come to pass; Zi Di, Cang Xu, and the rest were unharmed. ¡°Follow me out of here,¡± Zhenjin commanded calmly as he once again led the charge. ¡°Yes, Lord!¡± They all responded in unison. With Zhenjin¡¯s return with Bai Ya, the team¡¯s morale surged immensely! At that moment, the young man seemed enveloped in a halo of glory in the eyes of everyone. Zhenjin had once said he would not abandon anyone. Now having saved Cang Xu and returned with Bai Ya despite the threat of the Scorpion group¡¯s leader, he fulfilled his promise. He also made his will clear to all. Nothing is more persuasive than concrete action. At that moment, everyone was thoroughly convinced and sincerely admired Zhenjin. Finally breaking free from the siege, Zhenjin looked back to see the Lizard horde in disarray, with no pursuers. He had been worried about the Scorpion group¡¯s leader while saving Bai Ya earlier. Unexpectedly, in the end, it had been the Lizards and the Silver Battle Scorpion locked in fierce combat, both too preoccupied to pay Zhenjin¡¯s group any attention, allowing them to easily escape. Exhaling a sigh of turbid air, Zhenjin still harbored some concern. For some reason, he felt it wouldn¡¯t be so easy to shake off the Golden Spear Scorpion Group. Chapter 54 - 54: Section 55: Swarm of Scorpions Pursuing Chapter 54: Section 55: Swarm of Scorpions Pursuing The sun mercilessly baked the yellow-brown desert. Under the torment of the sunlight, the sand dunes could only slump and spread their bodies. The air, twisted by the scorching heat, a man slowly trudged on the burning sands, step by step. This man was gaunt, with swollen eye bags and a vacant gaze, panting heavily as he walked, like a mechanical puppet. He was not alone; on his back, he carried another man who was unconscious. The man being carried had his eyes tightly shut. Even in his unconscious state, his eyebrows were tightly furrowed, twisted into a knot. ... This was because he had a wound on his back, which continuously tormented him. In comparison, the unconscious man was more muscular, while the walking man was a bit thinner. Though their physiques differed, their faces were very similar, indicating their close blood relationship. It was Huang Zao and Lan Zao, the brothers. Since seeing Zi Di and Cang Xu cornered by a group of lizards on the sand dunes, under Huang Zao¡¯s insistence, the brothers had stealthily escaped from the green lizard¡¯s nest. However, on the way, they still encountered stray lizards. To save Huang Zao¡¯s life, Lan Zao bravely blocked the incoming acid liquid for his brother and, as a result, was seriously injured and fell into unconsciousness. The desert stretched endlessly, seemingly boundless. Huang Zao, carrying Lan Zao, had been on the move for a long time. He was both thirsty and hungry, his stomach had been rumbling for quite a while, but what tormented him more was the feeling of thirst. His throat was nearly smoking now, his lips were dry and cracked, and with each breath through his nose, the scorching air felt like magma being poured down his throat. ¡°Water¡­ water¡­¡± The feeble and weak call from Lan Zao reached his ears. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lan Zao was still unconscious, and this call was purely driven by his instinct to survive. The call snapped Huang Zao out of his dazed state, he blinked, stopped in his tracks, and stood still. Then, he braced his brother with one hand and freed the other to touch Lan Zao¡¯s forehead. Lan Zao¡¯s forehead was hotter than the sand beneath their feet. Huang Zao¡¯s heart sank. Lan Zao¡¯s unconsciousness and high fever were definitely not a good sign. Under normal circumstances, if a patient¡¯s condition was severe, one would seek treatment from Divine Arts. In the Holy Bright Empire, priests from the Holy Temple were highly skilled in healing. But now, the brothers were in this deadly and unpredictable island, in the middle of a desert, with no trace of human presence, where could they find a priest from the Holy Temple? ¡°Maybe, I should have tried harder to save Miss Zi Di with my brother earlier. She has potions, and even if not, she could prepare them.¡± Huang Zao thought to himself, feeling a hint of regret. But then he shook his head secretly: ¡°No, Miss Zi Di, and Cang Xu, they¡¯re definitely dead by now. Eaten by the lizards, consumed and then excreted. No matter how beautiful, how noble, how knowledgeable, or how young one is, they¡¯d only end up as a pile of excrement.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to end up as a pile of excrement.¡± ¡°Brother, you have to hang in there,¡± Huang Zao silently prayed in his heart. He stepped forward and resumed his journey. ¡°Water¡­ water¡­¡± Lan Zao still occasionally uttered his calls, each one weaker than the last. Huang Zao wanted to force a bitter smile, but he lacked the energy to even twitch the muscles of his face. ¡°I want water too, I¡¯d give anything for it!¡± Huang Zao cried internally. ¡°But all our water was used to clean your wounds, my brother.¡± ¡°I swear, if I find water now, even if it¡¯s a lake, I¡¯d dare to drink it all!¡± Huang Zao, fiercely determined, suddenly stood frozen in place the next moment. Turning past the sand dune in front of him, his view suddenly widened, and there indeed appeared to be an oasis. Huang Zao was stunned, then quickly regained his composure, his eyes widened, and his mouth fell open in ecstatic joy. He shouted. ¡°An oasis, it¡¯s an oasis!¡± ¡°Brother, we have water, we have water!!¡± ¡°Just like the last time, when we were transported here and found an oasis. Now we¡¯ve encountered another one.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha. We¡¯re saved! Brother, we¡¯re saved.¡± Huang Zao, carrying Lan Zao, rushed towards the oasis with unprecedented speed. His ecstasy seemed to endow him with limitless physical strength, and Lan Zao, who normally felt heavy now seemed as light as straw. However, no matter how frantically he ran, the distance between him and the oasis didn¡¯t seem to grow any closer. Suddenly, Huang Zao¡¯s legs gave out, and he fell to the sandy ground. Lan Zao, whom he was carrying, also fell, rolling several times, still unconscious. Huang Zao lifted his head, his face smeared with sand, but the vision of the oasis had completely vanished from his sight. Huang Zao was dumbfounded. Due to the intense sprint, his chest heaved with rapid breaths. ¡°No, no!¡± Huang Zao knelt on the ground, clutching his head, grasping his own hair, the despair following the hope made him more agonized. ¡°This isn¡¯t real, this can¡¯t be real.¡± He stretched out his hand, fingers spread, reaching towards the direction where the oasis mirage had appeared, but couldn¡¯t grasp anything. ¡°It¡¯s fake, all fake¡­¡± Huang Zao had no strength left. The frantic run had drained his last bit of physical strength, but due to his heightened emotions, he had ignored his real condition. Eventually, he collapsed to the ground as his body could no longer bear the strain. There was no oasis, just a mirage. Everything turned to naught. The sun still beat down intensely, the desert vast and endless, and within it, Huang Zao appeared just like a tiny insect. Insignificant, pitiable, laughable. The elder brother he had once relied on was now unconscious, lying motionless on the sandy gravel not far away. At this moment, a sense of helplessness enveloped Huang Zao¡¯s body and soul like never before. The pressure of surviving alone hit him clearly and unmistakably, no longer could he fend it off with his previous oblivious state. Breathe. Breathe. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Huang Zao told himself. Breathe. ¡°I feel like I can¡¯t breathe¡­¡± In the next moment, Huang Zao clutched at the clothes on his chest. Fear, helplessness, desolation, sadness, and other emotions were so intense they blocked his chest, his throat, his mouth and nose, almost suffocating him! ¡°I, I don¡¯t want to die¡­¡± Finally, Huang Zao burst into tears. Breathing heavily¡­ Zhenjin¡¯s chest heaved tumultuously as he gasped for air. His condition was not good either; the wound on his arm had not improved under Zi Di¡¯s treatment, oozing pus, and he ran a mild fever. Though water and food were prioritized for him, it was hardly enough to satisfy. Thus, he was still thirsty and hungry. Whether it was hunger or his injuries, both made him feel weak in the limbs. But now Zhenjin pushed all these aside, focusing all his attention on the formidable enemy before him. His adversary was the leader of the Golden Spear Scorpion Group, a Silver Level Magic Beast. After successfully breaking through and shaking off the green-scaled lizards, Zhenjin¡¯s worries quickly turned into reality. Under the leader¡¯s command, the scorpion group fiercely pursued Zhenjin and the others, overtaking them. Zhenjin had no choice but to step forward and confront the leader of the scorpions. This was their fifth confrontation. Both sides were still evenly matched. The Silver Battle Scorpion screeched and slowly backed away. After a distance, it turned and left. It had several fresh wounds inflicted by Zhenjin. But the scorpion shell was really too hard; even when Zhenjin exerted all his strength in his chop, he could not completely cut through the shell. ¡°If I could muster my Fighting energy, whether to amplify my own strength or to coat my weapon with sharpness, I could kill this scorpion,¡± Zhenjin sighed inwardly. Seeing the scorpion leader retreat, the others did not cheer, all wearing grim expressions. Initially, when they saw Zhenjin repel the scorpion leader for the first time, they cheered and jumped for joy. But soon they realized that the Silver Magical Beast did not truly leave but followed Zhenjin along with its group. Every so often, as if getting its breath back, the scorpion leader would charge again and engage Zhenjin in combat. The repeated intense fights exhausted Zhenjin greatly. He had spent too much physical and mental energy; even after regrouping with Zi Di, Cang Xu, and the others, he never really rested. But he dared not show the slightest weakness, for fear the swarm might see and surge forward. Zhenjin could barely fight against the scorpion leader, but if a full-scale battle broke out, he could barely save himself, let alone protect others. ¡°My Lord, please let me check your wounds,¡± Zi Di immediately came up to Zhenjin after the battle and carefully inspected his wounds. Many new wounds covered Zhenjin¡¯s body, some eroded by Acid Liquid, but most were inflicted by the scorpion leader. She drew out potions and sprinkled them over Zhenjin¡¯s wounds. However, she was helpless against the arm injury. The young lady frowned deeply, shaking her head repeatedly: ¡°My Lord, the wound on your arm is worsening. My potions have no effect on it. Ah, if only I had sufficient materials, perhaps I could concoct a potion to alleviate the injury.¡± Zhenjin patted the young lady¡¯s hand gently and smiled, ¡°Miss Zi Di, you have already done well enough. My strength grants me an extraordinary body, which requires highly effective potions to heal once injured. But the low-level Magic Potions available here are useless.¡± ¡°The herbal medicine you¡¯ve produced is surprisingly effective. You¡¯ve done all you can.¡± The girl was silent for a while, then seriously analyzed, ¡°Actually, the scorpion¡¯s golden spear has no toxin. Although the wound on your arm is large, your innate Recovery Power should suffice for self-healing. It¡¯s just now, we can¡¯t shake off the scorpions. My Lord, you have to continuously battle the scorpion leader, constantly draining your energy and physical strength. Each fierce battle aggravates the wound, with no rest or time for recovery.¡± ¡°Yes, My Lord, at this rate, we might all die at the hands of these scorpions,¡± someone interjected. The rest were visibly worried. Everyone could see: Zhenjin was getting progressively worse. The ongoing scene relied on Zhenjin for survival. If Zhenjin fell, even if they resisted with all their might, they would only end up as a feast for the scorpion swarm. Chapter 55 - 55: Section 56: Optimism and Hope Chapter 55: Section 56: Optimism and Hope Lord Zhenjin swept his gaze around and immediately understood the restlessness in people¡¯s hearts; the concerns and thoughts of the young knights were crystal clear to him. As the leader, he had to set aside his own injuries and prioritize the entire team. Lord Zhenjin knew that in such a desperate situation, watching oneself slide towards the end of death step by step, without any means of escape, the vast majority would break down, go insane, or even go mad. So, he chuckled lightly and consoled, ¡°Everyone, you should feel fortunate that this Golden Spear Scorpion Group sees us as a herd of beasts, its leader challenging me to a duel of kings. Unless the outcome is decided, the scorpion group will not launch a full attack.¡± ¡°Indeed, we owe it to you, Lord Zhenjin, that we¡¯re still alive!¡± ... ¡°But while that is true¡­¡± ¡°Sooner or later we will¡­¡± While members of the exploration team echoed his sentiments, they faltered in their speech. Lord Zhenjin continued, ¡°As long as we¡¯re alive, there¡¯s a lot of hope. For example, encountering other people, receiving support, and thereby getting rescued. Or another sandstorm could arise, scattering everything, or perhaps the teleportation could activate again, directly taking us away from this place.¡± Everyone looked at each other, wondering if Lord Zhenjin was being overly optimistic. Then they voiced their thoughts. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, we¡¯ve been through two teleportations, estimating the time to be about half a month. We¡¯ve just been teleported here a few days ago, and the chances of being teleported again are virtually nonexistent.¡± ¡°If we face another terrifying sandstorm, we¡¯re more likely to suffer than to be lucky.¡± ¡°We are trapped in the desert, with no idea how vast it is or our exact location. Who can come to rescue us? The likelihood is too small.¡± People spoke in twos and threes, their expressions filled with dejection. Yet, Lord Zhenjin maintained a smile: ¡°But there¡¯s still a possibility, isn¡¯t there? When you were trapped in the sand dunes, did any of you imagine you would be rescued by me? After I joined you, did any of you imagine the scorpion group would come to our aid?¡± Everyone looked at each other again, falling into silence, forced to admit there was some truth to Lord Zhenjin¡¯s words. ¡°So, never give up hope,¡± Lord Zhenjin sighed heavily, speaking earnestly, ¡°As long as we keep hope alive, not giving up on ourselves, there is still hope and a possibility to survive until death truly arrives!¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Sir.¡± ¡°With you here, we have hope!¡± Their eyes brightened slightly, and their morale lifted a bit with Lord Zhenjin¡¯s encouragement. But Lord Zhenjin promptly shifted the conversation: ¡°However, relying solely on external help and change is not the act of the brave. Self-reliance is more reliable.¡± He swept his glance around the group, with a brief pause when his gaze passed over Zi Di, finally resting on Scholar Cang Xu, ¡°Old scholar, do you have any thoughts?¡± Zi Di had almost run out of potions. The strongest medicine powder could release a dense green acid fog. However, after many attempts, the fog had proven to be useless against the scorpion group. The desert was barren, and Zi Di was severely lacking materials and unable to prepare new potions. That¡¯s why Lord Zhenjin was more hopeful about Scholar Cang Xu¡¯s performance. Cang Xu, sensing Lord Zhenjin¡¯s expectant gaze, shook his head with a wry smile: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lord Zhenjin, I don¡¯t have any means to change the situation. In fact, I have been very puzzled. Why does this scorpion group persistently pursue you? The biggest threat to their life here is probably those green-skinned lizards. Yet they ignored the defeated lizards to relentlessly chase after you. According to what you¡¯ve told us, gold mica stones are the food of these scorpions. They do not eat meat. But the scorpions always make us their primary target, which is illogical.¡± Someone murmured, ¡°In such a godforsaken place, what logic is there to speak of?¡± ¡°Maybe Lord Zhenjin provoked this scorpion group and inflicted great damage on them, causing them to hate him intensely, so they have been pursuing him relentlessly without giving up.¡± Lord Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°I have indeed slain several scorpions, but the casualties they suffered at the hands of the green-skinned lizards were far greater. As for that Silver Battle Scorpion, I fought with it. The injury on my arm is its doing, while my blade only left a white mark on its carapace.¡± ¡°It seems we must slay a gun scorpion and dissect its corpse to understand their anatomical secrets,¡± Cang Xu suggested. He had a belief¡ª the structure of a creature largely determined its habits. Lord Zhenjin agreed with this view, having benefited greatly from it during past explorations and survival attempts. However, with the scorpion group right in front of them, slaying and dissecting one was a risky endeavor. Currently, it was a king versus king situation, where the scorpions did not attack but rather gathered to watch their leader¡¯s duels against Lord Zhenjin. If the exploration team recklessly attacked a gun scorpion and dissected it, how would the scorpions react? It was highly probable that they would launch a group attack, and the few remaining members of the exploration team would be easily wiped out by the scorpions. Hurriedly attacking an ordinary gun scorpion was too risky. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s team needed a good opportunity. The sun slowly set. It was no longer blinding, hanging in the western sky like a round iron plate heated red from the forge. The daylight dimmed, turning the barren desert into a dry yellow hue. Lord Zhenjin and the others trudged through the desert. Each one of them looked haggard, with chapped lips, puffy eyes, growling stomachs, and sore legs. Food and water had begun to be rationed at the bare minimum. The scorpion swarm lingered far behind them. Throughout the journey, they frantically searched for anything edible. However, small insects and lizards had already been scared off by the scorpions, and even when they encountered a few plants, under Cang Xu¡¯s warning, the exploration team members reluctantly gave up. These isolated plants grew sparsely in the desert, with thin and withered branches and leaves, but well-developed roots deeply embedded in the ground. These plants were inedible, some also carried toxins; one prick leading to bleeding would result in poisoning. Cang Xu identified these plants, preventing everyone from rashly digging them up, thereby saving the group¡¯s physical strength. When night fell, Lord Zhenjin and others saw huge stones. These were gold mica stone clusters. The exploration team members were not surprised. The route was led by Zhenjin, this place was natural campsites he had used at night before, and it was also the first destination for their escape. With the gold mica stones for warmth, Zhenjin and the others could survive the bitterly cold desert night. They could even place their dry food on the gold mica stones and warm it up before eating. In other places, without gold mica stones, they would have had to make a fire for warmth. Fire-making required materials, and there was too little wood in the desert. If they had to make a fire, they would probably have to burn their own clothing for fuel. Here, they were spared the trouble of needing a fire, conserving many survival resources. Food and water were the most critical survival resources; their clothing provided warmth and protection from sunburn, making it an important resource for survival. The night breeze softly caressed their faces. Moonlight bathed the desert. Standing on what was nearly the largest gold mica stone, Zhenjin retracted his distant gaze. Although the scorpion swarm had entered the area of the gold mica stone clusters, like Zhenjin and his group, they contracted their ranks, settling in a corner to rest without any intention of aggression. Zhenjin breathed a sigh of relief. This situation was somewhat beneficial to him. The average person¡¯s vision was greatly limited at night, and without the assistance of fighting energy, Zhenjin was no exception at present. Compared to humans, wild animals, especially predators, often had excellent night vision. As for how far the gun scorpions could see at night, Zhenjin was not sure. Just in case, there would never be a lack of sentries during the night watch. Jumping off the gold mica stone, Zhenjin found Cang Xu kneeling on the ground, squinting and examining the map in his hand. Although no fire was made, the moon was high and bright tonight, so the lighting wasn¡¯t bad. Every so often, Cang Xu used his finger to trace some lines in the sand. Sensing Zhenjin¡¯s presence by his side, Cang Xu lifted his head, then continued to draw lines in the sand. ¡°Lord, I¡¯m estimating our position, as well as the size of this desert and the direction of the Oasis,¡± Cang Xu explained without looking up. Zhenjin nodded, ¡°Any progress?¡± ¡°Ah, my lord, you must understand, this task is difficult,¡± the old Scholar sighed deeply, ¡°We lack sufficient information. We don¡¯t know how big this island is, how extensive the desert is, or its location on the island. Previously we were transported into the desert and indeed luckily found an Oasis, but the desert lacks landmarks, and we have no way of judging how far we¡¯ve traveled from the Oasis.¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If the sun and the moon are not artificial, if what we observed is real, and if there has been no change in our route, then at least our direction can be determined.¡± ¡°If the owner of the island has not interfered too much, then this island should still have natural topography. Most islands have high central terrain and low-lying edges. Therefore, if we find a river and follow it downstream, in theory, we could reach the sea. But now we are in the desert¡­¡± As he concluded, the Scholar sighed again, ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, my lord, I cannot offer you much help. The current situation is quite grim, I think we need luck, a great deal of good luck!¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhenjin echoed with a sigh. The young knight wore a troubled expression as he spoke about their current predicament, ¡°We have very little food, enough for at most two days, and that¡¯s the bare minimum supply.¡± ¡°Even more troublesome is the scorpion swarm; we¡¯re having a hard time shaking them off.¡± ¡°I also need to remind you of something, my lord,¡± Cang Xu added, ¡°The crisis the scorpion swarm brings us isn¡¯t just death itself. Their constant pursuit is a sly, treacherous hunting tactic. Just like the Red Sand Gobi¡¯s red-haired spike porcupines, when facing large prey, they shoot thorn arrows and chase the prey, letting it bleed profusely and weaken through vigorous movement until it can no longer resist.¡± ¡°Perhaps the scorpion swarm is using this same tactic.¡± ¡°Even if the scorpion swarm doesn¡¯t launch a full attack, without enough food, we will become weaker and weaker.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not only our bodies that will weaken, but also our spirits.¡± ¡°Under constant pursuit by the scorpion swarm, our pressure will increase, and we will become more fragile. People trying to survive in extreme environments need most to maintain hope and inner peace.¡± ¡°I know of many records where the seemingly harmless mirages in the desert are actually very dangerous. Survivors stranded in the desert, once they fail to recognize the truth of the mirage and experience the huge drop from hope to despair, are very likely to break down and give up the principles they adhered to daily, or even give up their lives.¡± Chapter 56 - 56: Section 57: Metamorphosis of the Mind Chapter 56: Section 57: Metamorphosis of the Mind Zhenjin nodded, ¡°I understand what you want to say. Thank you for the reminder.¡± He walked away from Cang Xu at a slow pace. Even though this time, the old Scholar hadn¡¯t provided any effective strategy, and he was helpless against the pursuit of the scorpion swarm, he had still offered Zhenjin a lot of help. The young knight knew: Cang Xu was earnestly reminding him, telling him that he must make a decision as soon as possible. Because as time went on, the condition of the entire team would get weaker and weaker, not just physically but also mentally. If this situation were allowed to continue, it was very likely that before the scorpion swarm initiated a comprehensive attack, Zhenjin¡¯s team would collapse on its own. Zhenjin then communicated with Zi Di. ... ¡°My lord,¡± Zi Di¡¯s voice sounded very weak, leaning against the gold mica stone. Her petite body was still enveloped in a Magic Robe. Now, the robe had become dirty; the hem and the back were even more torn in many places. Her Purple Crystal-like eyes were far less bright than before, dull and lacking vitality. At her own request, she consumed less than any other member. In order to maintain her body temperature as much as possible, she put on a hood. Under the night wind, her flowing hair gently brushed her forehead. Zhenjin sighed lightly in his heart, an affectionate feeling involuntarily arising. He reached out, carefully brushing Zi Di¡¯s hair to the side to avoid covering her eyes. Zi Di¡¯s eyes flickered, ¡°My lord, do you think we can still escape this island?¡± Zhenjin was immediately startled by how feeble Zi Di seemed at this moment. The young knight suddenly realized that if all abilities and statuses were set aside, Zi Di was ultimately just a frail girl. She needed encouragement, needed comfort, needed someone to rely on. ¡°Of course, we can. As long as we give it our all,¡± Zhenjin encouraged, even though he knew his words were somewhat hollow. Zi Di nodded, then asked, ¡°My lord, when do you think we should take action and hunt a gun scorpion?¡± Zhenjin fell silent for a moment, ¡°We might as well wait and see a little longer.¡± After speaking with Zi Di for a while, just like Cang Xu, Zi Di expressed that she was unable to help Zhenjin any further. After personally comforting the other members, Zhenjin finally found himself alone. Whether it was Zi Di or Cang Xu, both were people of wisdom. Both understood the current situation very well, if they delayed pointlessly, then death was certain. Although they didn¡¯t say it outright, they were both subtly persuading Zhenjin to take a risk¡ªkill a gun scorpion and then dissect it, using parts of the gun scorpion¡¯s body as materials to prepare potions. But Zhenjin had his own thoughts. He had once seen lizards and golden scorpions confront each other among the clusters of gold mica stones. He thought, ¡°If there is such an environment again, where groups of lizards and scorpions meet and clash without giving way, fighting tooth and nail, it¡¯s sure to cause chaos.¡± ¡°Then, that would be an opportunity.¡± The reason Zhenjin led everyone back here was to create that opportunity. But Zhenjin didn¡¯t reveal his plan to anyone else. Why keep it to himself? Because Zhenjin too wasn¡¯t absolutely sure. To speak rashly would offer hope. But once the plan failed, the despair would be even greater. Given the team¡¯s current morale, Zhenjin felt that the disappointment coming after hope would be a great test for everyone¡¯s psychological limits. Cang Xu had previously advised him to understand the hearts of people and to prevent mental breakdown. Zhenjin didn¡¯t need Cang Xu¡¯s reminder; he had already grasped this point secretly. Late at night, atop the gold mica stone. The young knight withdrew his gaze that was cast into the deep night and shifted his attention to the Spider Blade in his hands. Under the moonlight, there was a noticeable crack on the surface of the Spider Blade. This extremely sharp weapon was no longer suitable for frequent use. Zhenjin was not surprised. It was normal. Strictly speaking, the Spider Blade was only a material, and not a true sword. It originally grew on the body of a Silver Level Magic Beast, the Blade Spider. Even though it was hard and sharp, it was still a part of the Blade Spider¡¯s body, receiving nutrition constantly sent by the spider¡¯s main body. Only like this could the limbs of the Blade Spider maintain long-term health and sharpness. After the Blade Spider was killed by Zhenjin, its limbs were all cut off, thus turning into a dead object, no longer receiving any nutrition. Afterward, these blade edges were constantly in use, being depleted. Under normal circumstances, the Spider Blade is excellent weapon material. Alchemists, casting masters, and the like would use a series of magical, alchemical, and smelting methods to process it, so that the Spider Blade could be preserved for a longer period of time. To truly forge it into alchemy tools or magic weapons, the required craftsmanship and technology would be even more high-end and complex. A variety of materials would come together to form a whole, achieving harmony with Magic Power. Even so, the alchemy tools or magic weapons produced also needed maintenance work. Even a Divine Artifact would need the nurturing of Faith or Divine Power. Zhenjin¡¯s Spider Blade had never received any maintenance from the beginning to the end, and it was simply tied to a hilt, which could be described as extremely crude. Damage was its inevitable fate. And in the past two days, Zhenjin had used the Spider Blade to clash with the gun scorpion, accelerating the wear and tear of the Spider Blade. The scorpion shell was extraordinarily hard, and Zhenjin could only leave shallow slash marks on the shell of the Silver Spear Scorpion, even with all his strength. The rest of the gun scorpions also required effort to slice through their shells. Right now, Zhenjin, alone, looked at the Spider Blade in his hand, now showing cracks, and couldn¡¯t help but ponder: How much longer could this weapon hold up? Could he rely on it to slay the Silver Spear Scorpion? Then, he thought of himself, ¡°How much longer can I hold on?¡± Since the second teleportation incident, the young knight had, like his sword, never had a chance to rest. He was undernourished with regard to food and water, and he had successively gone through long marches and valiant breakouts, severely straining his physical and mental strength to the verge of his limit. ¡°This Spider Blade is no longer reliable.¡± ¡°What else can I rely on then?¡± This time, Zhenjin began to stop considering the gods. He knew Divine Arts were a luxury. His only ace in the hole was Mutation. Relying on his body¡¯s Mutation, he had slain Silver Level Blade Spiders and ambushed the dangerous Flying Squirrels. But the ability of Mutation was very unreliable. After the teleportation, it had not been triggered again. Zhenjin didn¡¯t know the reason. He had guessed and thought there were two main possibilities. The first was that he wasn¡¯t at the brink of life and death; his emotions weren¡¯t intense enough to meet the triggering conditions. The second was that the Demon Crystal in his heart lacked Magic Power and was insufficient to allow him to mutate for the third time. Reflecting on it, the first Mutation produced sharp claws, the second made his arms as thick as a bear¡¯s, but the degree of the second Mutation was less than the first. Moreover, during the second time, Zhenjin had already felt a significant weakening of the Demon Crystal in his chest. ¡°As for Fighting Energy¡­¡± At the summit of the huge gold mica stone, Zhenjin¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Even if I could recall the crucial content and understand how to mobilize Fighting Energy,¡± ¡°The suppression of this island also prevents me from utilizing Fighting Energy. Actually, with the support of Fighting Energy, slaying the Silver Spear Scorpion would be very easy.¡± Of course, this is assuming Silver Fighting Spirit and higher quality Fighting Energy. The night sky was vast, and the cold night wind made Zhenjin¡¯s blonde hair sway slightly. The young knight no longer looked at the sword in his hands; instead, he cast his gaze upward toward the suspended moon. Moonlight poured down, like a thin veil, covering Zhenjin¡¯s handsome face and penetrating his golden hair, making the frown of the young man gradually smooth out. Zhenjin¡¯s lips slowly curled up, eliciting a silent laugh. In this moment, he found himself in the vast expanse of the sand sea, surrounded by profound silence, as if he were alone facing the grandeur of the world, the universe, nature. A surge of immense sentiment rose in the young man¡¯s heart¡ªcompared to nature, what did I amount to? My struggles, my resistance, my ambitions, my responsibilities¡ªthey are crucial to me, more important than life itself! Yet in this world, they are incredibly insignificant, like grains of common sand. My skirmishes with the scorpion and lizard swarms were just a tiny part of the countless tribes in nature, competing in the endless cycle of reproduction and survival. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin felt deeply, but he was not at all disheartened or upset. He found his heart very calm, utterly without a trace of restlessness, anxiety, or worry. Instead, he had plenty of composure and equanimity. This was completely different from before. Not long ago, he had led the entire exploration team, facing a crisis of food shortage. He decided to contend with rat swarms and to make a short bow. He bravely assumed the leader¡¯s responsibilities, but throughout the process, despite always appearing calm on the surface, his heart was filled with turmoil, helplessness, anxiety, and worry. The current situation was much worse than before, but the heart of the young knight was very calm. Adversity was a wealth bestowed by fate. Zhenjin had received this wealth, and he had experienced considerable growth. This was not growth in Cultivation or combat strength, but in his state of mind. Much like a butterfly emerging from its thick cocoon, struggling free. Chapter 57 - 57: Section 58: The Origin of the Demon Crystal in the Heart Chapter 57: Section 58: The Origin of the Demon Crystal in the Heart The night had passed. The morning sun, grazing the horizon, cast slanted beams, leaving faint shadows of gold mica stone on the ground. The exploration team had all woken up early. They were startled awake by the noise of the scorpions feasting. Lord Zhenjin showed no hint of pleasure or anger, his face the very image of calm. But in his heart, there was inevitably a great deal of disappointment. Contrary to his expectations, the sun had risen, but reality remained as harsh as ever. ... The lizard pack had not arrived. It seemed that having lost their Silver Level leader, or possibly due to the prior massacre by the scorpion swarms, the lizards had lost their courage, their will to fight drained, daring not to venture here again. The whole scorpion swarm was feeding. Although Cang Xu had heard Lord Zhenjin¡¯s descriptions before, seeing it firsthand was a different matter. The old scholar couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Nature is truly grand; it has created such magical creatures. These gun scorpions eat these stones because they actually feed on metal. Their digestive systems are extremely powerful and unique, able to consume various metals and assimilate them into their shells. It is for this reason that their scorpion shells are so tough.¡± ¡°Wait a second,¡± a member of the exploration team posed a question, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a powerful Mage on this island? Aren¡¯t these strange monsters all created by this Mage?¡± Cang Xu smiled and shook his head, ¡°Actually, that¡¯s not possible. Even if the master of this island were more powerful, he could only use the natural life around him and then piece it together. It¡¯s like how Mages create puppets and golems by using metal to construct the body of the golem, then harvesting a spirit and infusing it into the golem, giving it intelligence. It¡¯s just like cutting pictures into pieces and then piecing those fragments back together.¡± After a pause, Cang Xu continued, ¡°If the Island Master really had the power to create life, then they would be a creator, entirely above any emperor or duke in this world. To my knowledge, among the deities that are alive, many such as the Holy Emperor, several dukes of the Human Race, the Beast Race¡¯s chieftains, the Great Shamans, and so on, none can achieve the degree of directly creating life.¡± Zi Di clearly agreed with Cang Xu¡¯s statement. She also chimed in, ¡°Although the creatures of this island are fierce and eerie, they are actually quite imperfect. The magic power within them is not harmonious. If the Island Master were a creator, they could harmoniously stabilize the magic power within them. Strictly speaking, the Golden Level Magic Beasts of this island can only be considered Quasi-Gold and do not compare to true Golden Magical Beasts. They lack the Magic-like abilities of true Golden Magical Beasts.¡± No one raised any objections. Magical Beasts usually possess Magic-like abilities. But all the ferocious creatures encountered on this island, one after another, lacked such abilities. Flying Squirrels emit electricity because they have an organ structure similar to that of Electric Eels. Lizards can spit Acid Liquid because they have sacs for storing acid. Venomous snakes can spit venom because there are poison glands in the snake¡¯s head. The essence of Magic-like abilities is to utilize the magic power in the Magic Beasts¡¯ Demon Crystals, creating something out of nothing, ignoring and transcending the physical structure of the creature itself. This is akin to Fighting energy and Magic, which allow the being to exceed individual and racial limits in terms of power! But the silence did not last long. One of the exploration team members muttered, ¡°Even if these monsters¡¯ magic power is not coordinated, they are still very powerful. If we can¡¯t figure out a way to get rid of the scorpions, we¡¯re all going to die at their hands. Even if these Scorpions don¡¯t eat flesh, we¡¯re going to be shredded to pieces by them. I curse this Island Master! No matter how powerful he is!¡± ¡°He created these things; he must be extremely malicious and dangerous. These scorpions have their tails fashioned into spear tips. And the lizard¡¯s acid can corrode steel.¡± ¡°No matter what high-status figure he is or what research he wants to conduct. If I die here, I¡¯ll turn into a vengeful ghost, a resentful spirit, and haunt him relentlessly, making him taste the agony I suffered in life!¡± Upon hearing this, Cang Xu let out a long sigh, turning his head towards Zi Di, ¡°Miss Zi Di, I am gradually coming to accept your previous speculation.¡± Everyone looked puzzled. However, Zi Di understood Cang Xu¡¯s words and smiled, ¡°Are you saying that you now also believe that the Island Master is creating Biological Weapons?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cang Xu, still squatting on the ground, nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the others, ¡°We have previously speculated based on the significant artificial traces on this island that the Island Master is likely a Mage. I had thought that he was creating these monsters as part of some magical research. Perhaps he was seeking the essence of life, to facilitate his own breakthrough.¡± ¡°But having experienced so much and seen various Magical Beasts, I¡¯m more inclined to agree with Miss Zi Di¡¯s guess.¡± ¡°If one were researching a field of magic, seeking the essence of life, they should make artificial life more stable. But the artificial creatures here are vicious and aggressive. Scorpions are the size of warhorses, and their tails have been modified into spear tips. Lizards can spit acid, corroding swords. Flying Squirrels can emit strong electric shocks, all seemingly designed intentionally to counteract metallic armor.¡± ¡°` ¡°These creatures were created with an emphasis on their combat abilities. Lord Zhenjin, I remember you saying that you¡¯ve encountered Blade Spiders, and single-horned Black Panthers, Brown Bears that can consume ore to heal themselves, and even Blue Wolves cunning enough to possess human intelligence. These ferocious beasts don¡¯t seem to be merely manufactured for research purposes but rather deliberately crafted as special weapons!¡± Zhenjin thought for a moment, ¡°We¡¯ve encountered not just these ferocious beasts, don¡¯t forget, we also ran into flocks of sheep. Those sheep were all very weak.¡± Cang Xu shook his head, standing by his opinion, ¡°Although the sheep flocks are frail and let us slaughter them at will, such creatures make up too small a proportion.¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°An even more important point is, I believe¡ªthese sheep flocks are more formidable than most Magic Beasts!¡± Everyone felt puzzled by Cang Xu¡¯s view. Cang Xu continued to explain, ¡°The Island Master intends to create the strongest Biological Weapons, but his (her) technology is not yet mature. There is one major flaw, which is that the magic power used to alter life can¡¯t be synchronized, failing to form Magic Crystals. Therefore, the Island Master altered the environment to suppress the elements and the flow of magic power. Once we¡¯re in it, we can no longer use Fighting Energy or Magic.¡± ¡°From this point, we can see the prowess of the sheep flocks.¡± ¡°Other Magic Beasts have chaotic internal magic power, which dissipates quickly upon death. But the magic power within the sheep flocks has a trend towards stability. Even though the temperature rises, the magic power still remains chaotic and rapidly disperses. However, in colder temperatures, their internal magic power converges and hides so well that we can hardly detect it.¡± It¡¯s precisely because it was undetectable that the exploration team experienced poisoning incidents before. ¡°This shows that the Island Master is trying every means to develop Magic Crystals. Although he (she) cannot create them directly, it seems that the natural food chain is being used to indirectly foster the creation of Magic Crystals.¡± ¡°To accelerate the production of Magic Crystals, as well as to test and train the combat abilities of these Biological Weapons, the Island Master has set up transport Arrays. After a certain period, once the Array is activated, the Magic Beasts are transported over, they engage in fierce battles, fighting incessantly, to determine the victors¡ªthe qualified Biological Weapons.¡± Of course, Cang Xu knew that the magic power in the sheep flocks actually came from eating the local grass. But this secret still needed to be kept, and he was deliberately misleading the others at this moment. This didn¡¯t prevent him from expressing his speculation. Honestly, Zhenjin was immediately startled by the conjecture. ¡°I have a Magic Crystal in my heart.¡± ¡°How can a person possibly possess a Magic Crystal? This Magic Crystal might be the accidental result of Zi Di pouring bear blood into me to save my life back in the cave of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear.¡± ¡°So¡­ did I solve the Island Master¡¯s research problem?¡± ¡°The Magic Crystal in my heart, was it actually created indirectly with the help of the Island Master¡¯s power, an artificial Magic Crystal?¡± ¡°What will happen to me if the Island Master finds out?¡± Cang Xu¡¯s speculation caused everyone else to suck in a cold breath. ¡°What should we do now?¡± ¡°Perhaps the Island Master has already discovered us, just letting us struggle here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, he (she) might be watching us right now, using us to test the might of his creations.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean we¡¯re bound to die? Why bother struggling?¡± ¡°Surrender? Yes, we could surrender!¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Zhenjin suddenly spoke up, forcefully calming himself, his expression serious, ¡°It¡¯s too early for such talk now, everything is just speculation. It¡¯s time for us to leave.¡± The expressions of the rest remained panicked and bewildered. Zhenjin sighed, ¡°Have you seen the Island Master? Is there any evidence to support Cang Xu¡¯s speculations?¡± ¡°If you want to give up, believe you¡¯re doomed, or want to surrender, then go ahead!¡± ¡°But if you want to continue following me, then it¡¯s time to go.¡± With that, everyone stopped hesitating and chose to closely follow behind Zhenjin. ¡°` Chapter 58 - 58: Section 59: I Will Do My Best to Save Everyone Chapter 58: Section 59: I Will Do My Best to Save Everyone The exploration team had barely left the gold mica stone cluster when someone discovered in panic: the scorpion swarm was following them again. Hope was dashed. It turned out that what Lord Zhenjin had done earlier was correct. The young knight sighed inwardly, Cang Xu¡¯s speculation made him anxious, but he appeared calm and collected on the surface. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the scorpions just ate, and we are not on their food list.¡± ¡°The scorpion king will continue to battle with me alone.¡± ... ¡°As long as I don¡¯t fall, you all will be safe.¡± Everyone was successfully reassured by Lord Zhenjin. The group continued to move through the desert. They had to cherish the morning, which was an excellent time to travel. Logically speaking, this was just an island. There were various terrains on the island, and the desert should not be extensive. As long as they maintained a firm direction and kept moving, they could escape this nightmarish land. But for those within it, the experience was different. Yellow sand, endless yellow sand. Dunes, continuously rolling dunes. The monotonous scenery could easily make people think they hadn¡¯t traveled far. The desert seemed boundless, no matter how much they walked, the end was never in sight. Physical strength was quickly depleted; just after the morning, the explorers felt hungry. The food was really too scarce. Feelings of aimlessness and despair inevitably and uncontrollably sprouted in everyone¡¯s hearts. Whenever this happened, the explorers¡¯ eyes would turn to Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin led the way at the very front. He was just a youth, not taller than the others. But from Lord Zhenjin¡¯s slender back, the explorers drew courage. This courage helped them combat the confusion and despair in their hearts. The sun rose higher, and the desert¡¯s temperature quickly climbed. Sweat began to appear on the explorers¡¯ foreheads. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. About two to three hours later, the Silver Spear Scorpion suddenly issued a piercing shriek and quickly scuttled the sand beneath its feet, leaving the scorpion swarm and charging towards the exploration team. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡± The exploration team stirred momentarily, then calmed down again. Because Lord Zhenjin was prepared, he immediately stopped and turned, facing the gun scorpion. The two parties engaged in fierce combat, just like the day before. After a while, the Silver Spear Scorpion voluntarily withdrew from the battle. Lord Zhenjin, panting heavily, did not pursue. The young knight¡¯s mood grew heavier. ¡°Is it my imagination?¡± ¡°I keep feeling that the scorpion¡¯s shell is harder than before.¡± ¡°Is it because my Spider Blade is too worn out, or has the scorpion¡¯s shell thickened after it fed?¡± Lord Zhenjin was increasingly running out of options for dealing with the Silver Spear Scorpion. Every slash he made on the scorpion¡¯s shell merely left a white mark. And these marks were getting fainter. ¡°Unless I mutate and sprout sharp bear claws, with just the weapon in my hand, I¡¯m absolutely no threat to the Silver Spear Scorpion.¡± ¡°Besides, my physical strength is also weakening.¡± Lord Zhenjin could clearly feel this. In previous battles with the Silver Spear Scorpion, he was agile and enduring. Now, he would be out of breath and weak-limbed after just a short duration of combat. These days, Lord Zhenjin hadn¡¯t eaten well or rested properly, he was as worn out as his Spider Blade. Humans and fierce creatures like the gun scorpion had inherent differences and weaknesses. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s battle against the Silver Spear Scorpion was a case of attacking the enemy¡¯s strength with his own weakness. Fortunately, as the leader of the scorpions, it seemed very cautious. Each time it battled Lord Zhenjin for a while, it seemed to realize it couldn¡¯t defeat him and would then retreat temporarily. According to Cang Xu, this was probably the scorpion¡¯s hunting tactic. Each fight weakened Lord Zhenjin a bit; cumulatively, it aimed to exhaust him to the limit, making it difficult for him to burst forth when death loomed. This was perhaps a survival tactic of the scorpion swarm when hunting. But for Lord Zhenjin, it was a fortunate thing. The scorpion¡¯s nature gave him a chance to catch his breath. After such encounters occurred four times, the sun rose to its highest point in the sky. At noon, the sunlight was fiercely intense. The sand beneath their feet steamed with heat, making the explorers feel like fish and shrimp on a hot iron plate. Thinking long-term, everyone had to avoid the sunlight, taking a breather in the limited shade provided by the back of a sand dune. The scorpion swarm also feared the harsh, scorching sunlight and ceased their attacks. As the exploration team members watched, the scorpions brandished their pincers, twisted their bodies, and burrowed deep into the sand. This method of escaping the heat was enviable to the team members. ¡°Do you think these scorpions might attack us from underground?¡± someone expressed their concerns. ¡°Let them come then. I¡¯m sick of these dreadful days!¡± someone else said listlessly, sitting on the ground. Cang Xu, still maintaining his rationality, analyzed, ¡°Considering the scorpions¡¯ size, if they try to emerge, it would definitely cause a great disturbance. We¡¯ll surely notice it first.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t their way of hunting.¡± ¡°Think about how they dealt with those green-skinned lizards.¡± The people then relaxed. Zi Di began distributing food, which counted as today¡¯s lunch. Each person received only a small portion of dry provisions, smaller than half a palm. Fortunately, they still had a relatively ample supply of water. However, under Cang Xu¡¯s reminder, everyone nearly pursed their lips, taking just two or three small sips before stopping. Then they carefully resealed the stoppers and tied their water bags tightly around their waists, cherishing them immensely as if they were the most valuable treasures in the world. Among them all, Zhenjin had the most food. After all, he consumed the most and was also the greatest guarantee of everyone¡¯s safety. Even so, this food was far from enough for Zhenjin. The young knight could only eat little by little, as if by doing so, he could give his stomach the illusion that he was eating more. During the meal, Zhenjin also quietly observed the team. For now, although everyone looked gaunt, exhausted, with cracked lips and lifeless eyes, their mood was still relatively stable. Bai Ya¡¯s complexion was the palest. His arm had been broken while fending off a lizard and was now tied up and secured, but the pain continuously tormented the young man. The old Scholar Cang Xu was gently tapping his own calves, relaxing his muscles. Truth be told, it was surprising that he had managed to hold on this long with his physique. In the end, Zhenjin approached Zi Di. ¡°How are you?¡± he asked softly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Zi Di shook her head, her Purple Crystal-like eyes filled with resilience. She wore a Magic Robe, which theoretically should have regulated her temperature, but on this island, it seemed ineffective at blocking the heat. This caused beads of sweat to form on Zi Di¡¯s forehead, her hair dampened by the sweat, sticking together in strands. This was not a good sign. Excessive sweating could lead to a rapid decline in body water. Over time, a person could die from dehydration. A feeling of tenderness and sympathy arose in Zhenjin¡¯s heart; he knew why this was happening. Everyone carried water and dry food, but most of the food was concentrated in one place, on Zi Di. This burdened Zi Di, increasing her physical exertion as she walked. There were many reasons for this. While fending off the scorpion swarms, Zhenjin was also wary of those travelling with him. Hunger and thirst can be unbearable, and the powerful instinct to survive can drive people to madness, taking reckless risks. The storage of food and water sustained this small team, as well as Zhenjin¡¯s authority. He didn¡¯t trust others with it. Zi Di was the most trustworthy to him. Also, the potions Zi Di possessed had great dissuasive power. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I will not let you down,¡± Zi Di said, looking at him with concerned eyes. The girl was clever. She knew that when they had traveled together before, Zhenjin had carried most of the luggage. But now that he had entrusted these things to her, it was evident that the battle with the Silver Spear Scorpions had exhausted him greatly. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I can still endure,¡± Zhenjin smiled, his voice slightly elevated, ¡°Don¡¯t forget my strength, you all will fall before I do. I will be the last one to fall.¡± Hearing this, everyone naturally felt assured. But just then, a member of the exploration team suddenly collapsed on the ground and did not get up again. Everyone was alarmed and hurriedly checked. The person who had fainted was Bai Ya. ¡°Bai Ya!¡± The nearest exploration team member rushed over, trying to wake him. When he touched Bai Ya¡¯s forehead, he immediately exclaimed, ¡°He¡¯s burning up! He has a high fever.¡± Having a high fever was not good. Especially under these circumstances, where there was a lack of Divine Arts and potions for treatment. A group gathered around Bai Ya. Bai Ya was very popular, in fact, the most popular in the group. This hunter¡¯s son had greatly helped everyone when they were poisoned. Not only that, but during the hunting of the Flying Squirrel beasts, his archery also greatly assisted the team. But now he had passed out and couldn¡¯t be awakened no matter what. ¡°Make way,¡± Cang Xu walked over, and people immediately cleared a small space. ¡°Let me try,¡± Zi Di quickly took action. Not until Zhenjin brought his water bag to Bai Ya¡¯s lips and gave him a good amount of water did Bai Ya finally open his eyes a crack. He didn¡¯t have the strength to speak but pointed at his chest. He appeared very weak. Cang Xu was the first to understand what Bai Ya meant, and immediately reached into the pocket on Bai Ya¡¯s chest and pulled out several letters. Seeing the letters in Cang Xu¡¯s hands, a spark seemed to flicker in Bai Ya¡¯s eyes. He pointed at the letters again and then passed out once more. ¡°Bai Ya, Bai Ya!¡± This time, no matter what, Bai Ya had completely collapsed. ¡°Is he not going to make it?¡± ¡°Damn it, just at this critical moment.¡± ¡°I bet the kid knew he was done for, those letters must contain his last will.¡± ¡°This kid could read? Wasn¡¯t he just a hunter¡¯s son?¡± Generally, only Nobles, Mages, clergy, Scholars, etc., could read. These people only made up a very small portion of the Empire¡¯s population, with most people being illiterate. People discussed, their faces showing worry, confusion, and uncertainty. ¡°Bai Ya is strong; he¡¯s collapsed purely because he was injured. He collapsed because of what happened to Cang Xu!¡± someone else spoke. Thus, many eyes turned to Cang Xu. Cang Xu remained silent, seemingly unaware of the anger around him. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Zhenjin nipped the potential conflict in the bud before it could even start. He looked up at the sky, ¡°Though the sun is still strong, it¡¯s best if we move nearby. Let¡¯s not stay in one place for too long, the scorpion swarm is still hiding underground.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Understood, Lord Zhenjin.¡± ¡°What about Bai Ya?¡± someone asked. Zhenjin didn¡¯t hesitate to respond, ¡°Of course we take him with us. I am a Holy Temple Knight, I¡¯ve said it before, I won¡¯t abandon anyone, I will do everything in my power to save everyone!¡± Everyone was touched, and suddenly all was calm. Chapter 59 - 59: Section 60: Food Chapter 59: Section 60: Food Bai Ya collapsed, and everyone was worried and angry, not only because Bai Ya was well-liked but also because of a greater sense of panic. People were terrified they might become the next Bai Ya, fainting and left to fate. But Zhenjin¡¯s actions now made everyone understand: this young knight possessed true knightly virtues! The dunes stretched endlessly, rising and falling. Without a stretcher, Bai Ya was carried on someone¡¯s back in turns. Soon, everyone moved to the other side of another dune. ... The scorpion horde noticed the movement and emerged from the ground, following the people to the new location before burrowing back into the sand. ¡°They seem unable to move directly underground after burrowing into the sand,¡± Cang Xu analyzed. This was good news, but not by much. If everyone had mounts and moved fast enough, perhaps they could shake off the scorpions and escape them. The current situation, however, was that the group was utterly exhausted, and their speed couldn¡¯t match the scorpions¡¯. Moreover, there was an unconscious, injured comrade, significantly hindering their pace. Past noon and before evening arrived, Zhenjin once again led the team on their way. The scorpion horde quickly appeared behind the team. Silver Spear Scorpions swarmed once more and engaged in a fierce battle with Zhenjin. After a moment, they retreated on their own. Zhenjin watched helplessly as they retreated, without any way to stop them. The cracks on the Spider Blade grew larger, and Zhenjin didn¡¯t know how much longer this weapon could last. Without it, the situation would become very bad. Ordinary iron-made blades and swords posed no threat to the scorpion shells. Such battles occurred several more times, and the team went from terror to gradually becoming numb. Dusk arrived; the sun neared the horizon, dimming the sky, and the mood of the people darkened along with it. ¡°Is there really no way out?¡± ¡°Lady Zi Di, is there no potion that can kill these damned scorpions?¡± Zi Di shook her head. If there were, she would have used it by now. ¡°Let¡¯s just stop moving and die together with these damned scorpions!¡± someone said irritably. ¡°I feel the same way,¡± another agreed. Others sarcastically opposed, ¡°Die together? You¡¯re dreaming. If we charge at them, we¡¯ll just be cut in half by that Silver Magical Beast.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°And what do you mean?!¡± The tempers of the exploration team members flared up, and they looked at each other with dissatisfaction. Someone set Bai Ya down on the ground, then sat down with a thud, complaining, ¡°Hey, instead of having the time and energy to argue, you could help by giving me a hand, helping me carry this guy.¡± ¡°This kid is too heavy.¡± ¡°He¡¯s lucky, fainting away like this, not having to walk himself, truly saving energy.¡± The two arguing turned their gaze to the person on the ground, one of them scoffed, ¡°I¡¯ve carried him more than enough, even more than you¡ªalready can¡¯t stand it after just this short while?¡± The other looked askance at Cang Xu, making a snide remark, ¡°Frankly, I think a certain old man should carry Bai Ya the most. After all, Bai Ya got seriously injured trying to save someone. Without that injury, he would still be hopping around lively.¡± Disturbance within the team spread from the squabbling of the two. Under normal circumstances, they would have a lot of respect for Cang Xu. After all, Cang Xu¡¯s knowledge had helped them significantly. But now, facing a desperate situation, everyone was agitated and fearful. They didn¡¯t dare to target Zhenjin or Zi Di and subconsciously turned their anger, panic, and other emotions into words and looks, directing them at the weakest old man in the team. Most importantly, Bai Ya indeed ended up in this state trying to save Cang Xu. ¡°` According to morality, Cang Xu indeed deserved to be criticized. Thus, as everyone argued and argued, they focused their fire on Cang Xu. Amid the cold sneers and the malicious gazes, Cang Xu remained expressionless. ¡°Hey, old man, what¡¯s on your mind? Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s silence made him seem even more weak, until finally someone pursued him relentlessly, provoking Cang Xu. Cang Xu¡¯s mouth corner lifted, revealing a cold smile, then he scanned those who challenged him with a mocking gaze, ¡°Bai Ya falling unconscious is actually a good thing.¡± Everyone was stunned in unison. Cang Xu continued, ¡°At a critical moment, he is food, we can eat him.¡± In an instant, the air seemed to solidify. Those surrounding Cang Xu widened their eyes, showing expressions of shock. ¡°What, what did you say?¡± someone yelled. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin and Zi Di were also in disbelief. But Cang Xu remained very calm, his eyes, aged by the years, now appeared profound and icy cold, ¡°Heh heh, why do you all look at me like that? Bai Ya is already done for, anyone can see that. He is food, perfectly edible.¡± ¡°How can you say such a thing!¡± ¡°Yes, he is our teammate.¡± ¡°How can we eat people?!¡± Everyone shouted, their voices shrill. ¡°Old man, are you a devil in human skin?¡± someone even walked up to Cang Xu, looked down at him, and tried to intimidate him with their gaze. ¡°Why can¡¯t humans be eaten?¡± Cang Xu counter-asked, utterly unafraid. ¡°The fierce monsters we encounter on this island, don¡¯t they all see us as food?¡± ¡°Our current situation is that we are severely lacking food. Without food, we have no physical strength. Without physical strength, we will definitely get killed by the scorpion swarm in the end.¡± ¡°By then, Bai Ya would be doomed too.¡± ¡°In fact, he¡¯s already finished. This is a desert, we have no Priest, no potions. Even if we had a Priest, this island strictly prohibits low-level magic and fighting energy. Where are we supposed to find a high-level Priest?¡± ¡°So, rather than that, it¡¯s better to let us eat him. By eating him, we have a greater chance of survival.¡± The exploration team member who had been staring down Cang Xu was utterly furious and grabbed the old man¡¯s collar, lifting him up, ¡°You¡¯re still talking!¡± Cang Xu snorted coldly, and with a swift movement of his arm, with a slap, the exploration team member¡¯s hand was knocked away. Caught off guard, the team member stepped back two paces. He looked at Cang Xu in surprise, the strength of the man before him seemingly beyond his expectations. While straightening his collar, Cang Xu spoke deliberately, ¡°You have read too little, now let me tell you a principle¡ªmembers of the same species can eat each other.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an insect called the mantis. After mating, the female mantis will eat the male mantis that very night to replenish her nutrition, to ensure a more successful birth of the progeny.¡± ¡°In the years past, when famine struck, the people in the Empire¡¯s northwest were also exchanging their children to cook and eat.¡± ¡°Do not be bound by morality or law. These things are only there to maintain our everyday lives.¡± ¡°For any life form, the most basic thing is to survive and reproduce. If we can¡¯t even ensure our own survival, what¡¯s the point of discussing the law or morality?¡± ¡°Moreover, what kind of people are you all? Do you not know yourselves, even if others do not?¡± ¡°Our ship was headed to the Beast Race Continent. That place is about to go to war. What kind of people would go there at such a time?¡± Cang Xu let out a sneer, concluding with one sentence, ¡°Survival is more important than anything else, isn¡¯t it?¡± No one spoke; the whole team fell into a deathly silence. Many still glared at Cang Xu, but their gazes were no longer as angry or hateful as before. ¡°Cang Xu, I ask you to take back your words. Bai Ya is not food, but our teammate. I will never allow such a tragedy of cannibalism among teammates to occur.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, his expression stern. ¡°` ¡°As you wish, my knight,¡± Cang Xu said as he straightened his collar. He bowed to Zhenjin with such impeccable manners that not a single fault could be found, true to his life of serving nobles. The intense dry heat forced Huang Zao to open his eyes. His eyes were bloodshot, his mind in disarray. It took him a while after waking up to gradually come to his senses. He lay at the foot of a dune, with an unconscious man by his side, his own brother, Lan Zao. Lan Zao was motionless, still in a comatose state. His condition was worsening; his lips, already cracked, now had skin that was peeling from the sun. Although he was still breathing, the rise and fall of his chest was visibly weaker than the day before by more than half. Huang Zao tried to sit up. He immediately felt an intense dizziness and quickly supported himself with his hands behind him. ¡°I have a fever too,¡± he said touching his forehead, his heart sinking instantly. He remembered. The desert nights were bitterly cold, and he was so exhausted he could only sleep right where he fell. He huddled close to Lan Zao, using his brother¡¯s feverish heat to fend off the freezing cold. But he had failed. He had fallen into a deep sleep, and when he woke up, it was already noon. Huang Zao felt waves of fear wash over him. He was extremely grateful that during his sleep, he hadn¡¯t encountered any predatory beasts. ¡°But what now?¡± Huang Zao still had some dry food on him, but he had no water left! He had used most of his water to wash Lan Zao¡¯s wounds, and the rest he had already drunk. He wasn¡¯t just fighting for one life; he had to carry an adult man who was heavier than himself. After sitting in the sand for a while, Huang Zao slowly lifted Lan Zao onto his back and continued on their journey. However, the feelings of confusion, panic, regret, and despair in Huang Zao¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t be resolved, and they accumulated more and more inside him. Exhaustion, hunger, and dizziness wrapped around him like thorny vines, their sharp spikes digging deep into his flesh and bones, making every step forward pull at these numerous wounds. ¡°Water¡­ water¡­¡± Lan Zao began to murmur unconsciously again from behind. Huang Zao abruptly stopped, not understanding why, but a strong wave of irritation and hatred surged within him. ¡°Stop it, will you? Annoying!¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t gotten hurt, we¡¯d definitely have water by now!¡± ¡°With things like this, where am I supposed to find water for you?¡± ¡°I want to drink too, I do!!¡± Ignoring his dry throat that felt like smoking, Huang Zao roared out his frustration. But Lan Zao couldn¡¯t hear him, still murmuring incessantly, craving water. Huang Zao¡¯s eyes bulged out, a fierce and hostile energy rising within him to his brows, then swiftly spreading across his face. All of a sudden, he let go, dropping Lan Zao onto the ground. ¡°Shut up!¡± He yelled at Lan Zao, his gaze filled with anger and a brutal, icy ferocity. His chest heaved rapidly, his breathing becoming heavier. The intent to kill grew strangely fast within Huang Zao¡¯s heart. Huang Zao stared at Lan Zao, his Adam¡¯s apple involuntarily bobbing, his eyes flashing a wolf-like green in his hunger. The feeling of starvation filled his heart and mind, rendering him incapable of thought. The instinct to survive kept reminding him, to disregard who Lan Zao was, to ¡°see clearly¡± each piece of flesh on his body, every stream of fresh blood flowing within him. ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°Food!!¡± Huang Zao approached slowly, bent over gradually, then knelt halfway to the ground, reaching out with his hands. His hands reached towards Lan Zao, but the movements were very slow, as if carrying heavy iron weights. His hands still trembled. At first, they shook slightly, but the closer they came to Lan Zao, the greater the trembling became. Suddenly, Huang Zao noticed Lan Zao¡¯s eyelids quivered slightly. Shortly after, Lan Zao slowly opened his eyes a sliver. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re awake!!¡± Huang Zao shouted, joy flooding in, towering over him like a tsunami, engulfing his entire being. All of the prior hunger, brutality, despair, and madness, seemed like a mirage, merely an illusion. Lan Zao¡¯s expression was bewildered, the pupils within his partially opened eyes shifting minutely as he saw Huang Zao kneeling before him. The glaring sunlight was blocked by Huang Zao¡¯s figure, and Lan Zao¡¯s head was right in the shadow cast by Huang Zao. Lan Zao¡¯s lips moved. ¡°Brother, what did you say?¡± Huang Zao shuddered all over, immediately leaning into Lan Zao¡¯s face, his ear close to Lan Zao¡¯s mouth. Then he heard a voice, weak to the extreme. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t go on.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ burden yourself for me.¡± ¡°Without food and water¡­¡± ¡°Brother¡­ you¡­ just¡­¡± ¡°Eat me.¡± These words exhausted all of Lan Zao¡¯s strength, and he fainted once again. Upon hearing this, Huang Zao felt as if struck by lightning, his pupils shrinking to the size of needle points, and his entire being froze. He became like a stone statue. He stretched his neck, strained his ears, knelt on the ground, his hands pressed into the sand, maintaining this twisted and strange posture for quite some time. At last, his blank mind began to work again slowly. He pulled back his neck, still half-kneeling but sat up straight. Looking down at Lan Zao lying on the sand, his vision rapidly blurred. Tears welled up in his eyes and then streamed out in great torrents, trailing down his dusty face, leaving two dark streaks. ¡°Brother, brother!¡± He called out loudly, his guilt, regret, and self-reproach clogging up his nose and throat, making it difficult to breathe. ¡°You¡¯re my only family!¡± ¡°How could I see you as food?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°I will never do it!¡± He shouted, as if making a vow. Then he hoisted Lan Zao onto his back and staggered on once more. On his face, a look of sheer determination. Chapter 60 - 60: Section 61: Volcanic Cave Chapter 60: Section 61: Volcanic Cave The wind roared, bringing rolling heat. Before them was a bizarre sight. Yellow sand and crimson hard soil merged distinctly, the terrain abruptly changing here. The signs of human intervention were very noticeable. Zhenjin and his companions stood in the middle of the desert, but not far from them was a stretch of red land, devoid of any yellow sand. ¡°This looks like the scene after a volcanic eruption,¡± Cang Xu exclaimed. Zi Di sniffed, ¡°The air is also filled with the smell of sulfur.¡± ... Pfft¡­ Suddenly, gray-white smoke emerged from the black ground nearby. Then, a stream of crimson magma spurted out like a fountain, splashing around. Like molten iron, the lava sprayed around, lifting large plumes of smoke. Everyone frowned. In the air, the smell of sulfur grew stronger, bringing severe irritation to the nostrils. ¡°If we were splashed by the magma, wouldn¡¯t we be dead?¡± Including Zhenjin, everyone looked solemn. ¡°I originally thought the desert was the most perilous place, but I didn¡¯t expect such a deadly area on this island. Compared to it, the desert seems more bearable.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, what should we do next?¡± The group was at a loss, the young knight always being their mainstay. The original plan was to leave the desert. Though their goal was achieved, the situation seemed to have gotten worse. The direction was correct, there should be no mistake. Previously, the exploration team had been trapped in the desert but persisted in this direction and finally made it out. ¡°It seems that the initial location we teleported to was significantly different from what we imagined. The terrain of the desert is adjacent to forest and volcanic terrain,¡± analyzed Cang Xu. Zhenjin nodded slightly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, ¡°This is actually a good thing, everyone.¡± As soon as he began to speak, he immediately drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°This is volcanic terrain, indeed very dangerous, and even more terrifying than the desert.¡± ¡°But risk usually contains opportunity. Think about it, everyone. We are in danger here; so are the gun scorpions. Their bodies are adapted to the desert environment, but here, can they burrow? The underground surging magma will annihilate them.¡± ¡°Would there be any gold mica stone here? Probably not, and even if there were, it would be melted by the magma. Without gold mica stone as food, what would the scorpion packs eat?¡± The team¡¯s morale soared; Zhenjin¡¯s words truly made sense. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we move forward. This is our chance to get rid of the scorpion packs!¡± commanded Zhenjin. The exploration team continued onward, officially entering this volcanic terrain. Half a day later. Clang! Spider Blade struck fiercely on the head of the Silver Spear Scorpion, causing a loud clash of metal. Zhenjin pulled back, dodging the giant pincers. A white mark was imprinted on the head of the Silver Spear Scorpion, but Zhenjin¡¯s attack did not penetrate the scorpion¡¯s golden armor. The Silver Spear Scorpion retreated, no longer engaging in battle. A large group of scorpions immediately gathered around it, protecting their leader. Zhenjin¡¯s hands went numb, and his arms trembled slightly. He stood still, his body straight, but his legs continuously sent out feelings of weakness. A fierce battle had once again pushed him to his physical limits. Fortunately, the scorpions retreated. Surrounding the Silver Spear Scorpion, the scorpion packs kept retreating until they reached a certain distance before stopping again. This situation was the same as in the desert. The exploration team entered the volcanic terrain, and the scorpion packs, undeterred by the terrain, still followed. Once he confirmed it was temporarily safe, Zhenjin turned and rejoined the team. The faces of the team members looked grim. ¡°Damn it, these scorpions are determined to follow us!¡± ¡°Their food is clearly gold mica stone, yet they keep following us. Aren¡¯t they too belligerent?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Lord Cang Xu have a guess before? This must have been deliberately arranged by the Island Master. Being belligerent is the greatest advantage of a biological weapon!¡± Seeing Zhenjin return, the discussions ceased. Someone immediately greeted him, ¡°Lord, the scorpion packs are still behind us. What should we do?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s face was stern as he pointed toward the dark mass to the northwest, ¡°We climb the mountain.¡± It was a dark, low mountain. It might be an active volcano! No one opposed Zhenjin. At this moment, in this team, the young knight¡¯s word was law. After all, everyone¡¯s life rested on his shoulders. As they drew closer to Black Mountain, the temperature in the air increased. The ground underfoot was soft, and even through their boots, it felt as hot as stepping into water heated to over fifty degrees. Many people had blisters on their feet. The soil here was black, with some areas bulging and others forming pits. According to Cang Xu¡¯s guess, after the volcanic eruption, the flowing lava cooled down and formed the ground as it is now. Scorpions, clearly more heat-resistant than humans, kept following the exploration team up the mountain. Midway up the slope, Zhenjin and his people found a cave. Zhenjin sent one person to go into the cave and scout. It was risky to scout, and Zhenjin didn¡¯t hazard himself. If there were any monsters inside the cave capable of surviving such an environment, they would undoubtedly be more dangerous than the scorpions. The team member entered the cave, cautiously walking about ten meters before reaching the cave wall. ¡°There are no signs of life, it¡¯s safe for now.¡± Updated with this report, the whole team entered the cave. It was very hot inside. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were many vents on the walls, ground, and ceiling of the cave, intermittently spewing some fumes. These fumes contained a considerable amount of water, as well as powdery sulfur. Zhenjin¡¯s vision was greatly disturbed by the smoke. Just moments after entering the cave, he started feeling minor stings in his eyes. As for everyone else, their eyes were already red. As they reached the bottom of the cave, the stifling heat made many sweat profusely. The long trek had drained the energy and physical strength of the exploration team members so much that some suffered from dizziness and vertigo. They found it difficult to adapt to the environment all at once. ¡°Sir, we should leave quickly.¡± ¡°I feel like I can¡¯t hold up anymore.¡± ¡°We surely can¡¯t spend the night here.¡± Zhenjin scanned the group, his face determined, yet he loudly vetoed, ¡°No, this is ideal. We won¡¯t spend the night here, but we will fight those scorpions here!¡± The scorpions had consistently tracked them, and the young knight was determined to start the battle. He came here to create a battlefield advantageous to them. Everyone was astonished. Zhenjin turned around, smiling, ¡°Didn¡¯t you realize on our way here? Those gun scorpions seemed to be very afraid of this smoke.¡± Upon reflection, everyone perked up. Somebody blurted out, ¡°That¡¯s right, they¡¯ve been avoiding the fumes all along.¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible these fumes are highly harmful to them, which is why they never come close.¡± Cang Xu frowned, ¡°Logically, scorpions and spiders have respiratory organs. On either side at the front of their abdomen, they have one or more sac-like structures called air sacs. Inside these are 15 to 20 thin plates formed by overlapping folds of the body wall, resembling the pages of a book, hence called ¡®book lungs.¡¯ When blood flows through these book lungs, gas exchange occurs, absorbing fresh air and expelling waste gases from the body, completing the process of respiration.¡± ¡°However, merely based on their avoidance of the smoke, we cannot determine the actual harm these fumes pose to them. It may be possible that they just disdain it, and these fumes are not such a fatal threat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a possibility,¡± Zhenjin sighed, ¡°but we¡¯ve reached our limit. Who can continue the trek now?¡± Silence followed. Zhenjin stated the facts. The physical abilities of the people had reached the brink of collapse. Five to six hours earlier, they had been desperately clinging to life out of fear of death and longing for survival. If it weren¡¯t for the scorpions following them, the team members would have collapsed motionless long ago. Zhenjin paused for a moment, then continued, ¡°Our food supply is also running out.¡± The young knight looked towards Zi Di. Zi Di quickly understood and displayed the pack in public. The food reserves in the pack were even less than everyone expected. ¡°Can you corrode the cave walls with potions?¡± Zhenjin asked again. ¡°It should be possible, not a big issue. But it still needs to be tested before confirmation,¡± Zi Di answered meticulously. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, the young girl pulled out a potion and splashed it on the cave wall. The cave wall immediately melted like a heated candle, forming quickly. Zhenjin watched this extraordinary scene; it was the same potion that had helped Zi Di and others avoid a sandstorm. The air grew more foul, nearly nauseating enough to induce vomiting. But after ten or so breaths, the original cave wall had completely disappeared, further deepening the cave by several steps. Zhenjin finally relaxed. With such a potion, they could now create a battle terrain favorable for themselves inside this cave. Chapter 61 - 61: Section 62: I will protect you until the end of life Chapter 61: Section 62: I will protect you until the end of life All the food was distributed. Only a small portion of water was left. The food was basically all consumed. The exploration team members sat at the cave entrance, silently eating. Some of them had solemn expressions, while others gazed at the swarm of scorpions, their eyes radiating intense killing intent. Everyone knew that what followed would be their last stand. It seemed that the scorpions too sensed the unusually intense killing intent of the exploration team members and became restless, emitting strange and harsh screeches. ... As usual, Zhenjin consumed the most food. He chewed each portion of food carefully before swallowing it down his esophagus into his stomach. This simple process brought Zhenjin an indescribable sense of fullness and happiness. His stomach, already ravenous, was like a bottomless pit, devouring everything that entered it. Soon, Zhenjin felt his physical ability had greatly recovered. However, his stomach still churned violently, signaling to its master¡ªI want, I still want more food! But there was none left. Zhenjin stood up, took a few jumps, and positioned himself in front of the scorpion swarm. The Silver Spear Scorpion sensed Zhenjin¡¯s combativeness and immediately charged out from the crowd. But this time, Zhenjin didn¡¯t tangle with it. Instead, he leaped violently, jumping directly into the midst of the scorpion swarm. Descending from the air, he landed on the back of a regular gun scorpion and plunged his sword through its head. This unlucky gun scorpion emitted a piercing screech, its body wildly twisting as if it were a fiercely stubborn wild horse. Soon after, its yellow-brown blood spread across the ground, and it quickly lay motionless. The gun scorpions paused momentarily, as if stunned by Zhenjin¡¯s abrupt assassination. Then, the next moment, as if a hornet¡¯s nest had been disturbed, the entire scorpion swarm erupted into terrifying screeches and frantically lunged at Zhenjin. The Silver Spear Scorpion was particularly ferocious among them. Zhenjin laughed heartily. Before the swarm could envelop him, he leaped out and quickly fled. The scorpion swarm pursued him relentlessly, their rage allowing them to achieve astonishing speeds. If it had been in the desert or grassland¡ªsimple terrain¡ªZhenjin would have been quickly overtaken. However, on this volcano, Zhenjin could jump to higher elevations. The scorpions, due to their low-profile body structures, could only climb diagonally upward, providing Zhenjin with several opportunities. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing that they couldn¡¯t catch up to Zhenjin immediately, some of the gun scorpions shifted their target and attacked the exploration team members at the cave entrance. The previous tacit understanding was broken by Zhenjin, and the scorpion attack carried a strong sense of revenge. ¡°Into the cave!¡± The exploration team, well-prepared, quickly turned and crawled into the cave behind them. The gun scorpions pursued relentlessly but soon got stuck at the cave¡¯s narrow entrance. The small hole had been specially corroded with potions¡ªhumans could crawl through, but the scorpions were too large. Seizing this opportunity, the team members inside the small hole waved their arms energetically, swords and knives thrusting wildly, stabbing fiercely into the bodies of the scorpions. The scorpion¡¯s shells were tough and resisted the stabs. Their huge pincers also swung relentlessly, constantly striking the cave walls, creating loud banging sounds. Cracks appeared on the walls of the small entrance and grew progressively more numerous. ¡°Retreat!¡± Sensing that the small hole could no longer hold, the exploration team members immediately retreated further into the cave. About ten breaths later, the first small entrance collapsed with a crash, and the gun scorpions issued high-pitched screeches as they charged in. But they immediately discovered that there were five or six small holes, and each emitted the scent of humans. Lacking in intelligence, the gun scorpions didn¡¯t hesitate; they randomly chose one and continued to smash with their giant pincers. Then, swords and knives thrust out from the surrounding small holes. The scorpion¡¯s back armor was the toughest, while their bellies were relatively soft. This time, the swords and knives continuously stabbed at the scorpion¡¯s belly. This gun scorpion quickly couldn¡¯t withstand the assault; its shell was pierced, and yellow-brown blood flowed from its wounds. It tried to retreat, but turning around in the tunnel was extremely difficult. Moreover, its companions blocked its path of escape. Soon, it lay dead under the blades. Seeing the death of their companion, the gun scorpions behind became even more frantic, swinging their giant pincers to clear the body of the dead scorpion and charge forward. The exploration team members applied the same method and killed a second one. Had it been a direct confrontation, the exploration team would have suffered heavy casualties by now, but employing the correct tactics, they hadn¡¯t lost anyone. ¡°Keep at it!¡± ¡°We can kill them!¡± The morale of the exploration team soared. A third gun scorpion came in, quickly falling into the same predicament as its predecessors. It was soon wounded and emitted a painful screech. Then, it violently swung its scorpion tail, easily piercing the tunnel wall. One of the exploration team members, caught off guard, had his chest pierced, bright red blood spraying out, and he died instantly. The thick scent of blood further fueled the madness on both sides. Initially, the struggle and resistance of the first two gun scorpions had caused a collapse of the tunnel wall, enlarging the space. Thus, the third gun scorpion had room to maneuver its tail. The scorpion tail was the gun scorpion¡¯s strongest weapon, and since the exploration team¡¯s swords and daggers were limited in length, to strike at the scorpions, they had to be right next to the small entrance. Every swing of the scorpion tail could potentially end the life of an exploration team member. ¡°Die!¡± ¡°Kill, kill!!¡± ¡°Die, die!¡± The exploration team members were bloodthirsty, not one fled the scene. In this terrain, even if they had wanted to escape, there was nowhere to go. In open areas, lacking the physical capabilities of Zhenjin, they would have been easily overtaken by the gun scorpions even in the mountains. Unable to run, there was only the option to fight head-on, to kill the scorpion swarm to secure any possibility of survival. Moreover, every member of the exploration team knew there was no food left, and only by killing these gun scorpions could they find a source of sustenance. Desperation! No way back. They could only move forward, carving a bloody path! It was a consensus held by all. The battle, however, was gradually tipping in favor of the scorpions. As time passed, the initially explosive exploration team members quickly became exhausted, their attacks frail, making it increasingly difficult to fend off the relentless assaults of the gun scorpions. Even the common gun scorpions were far stronger than humans. Though the walls of the cave, corroded over time, were firm, they couldn¡¯t withstand the continuous pounding of the massive pincers for long. Zi Di, in an effort to create a favorable terrain, exhausted all the potions she had on hand. The favorable terrain was limited, but the number of scorpions seemed overwhelming. The exploration team kept retreating; the smaller cave formations continuously destroyed, until they finally reached their limit, leaving no path for retreat. One member after another perished. The casualties of the exploration team surged, horrific in death and injury. Zi Di¡¯s pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints! A scorpion tail, like the spear tip of a charging knight, penetrated the thinning cave wall, swiftly appearing before the girl. In the split second between life and death, a flash of swordlight. The scorpion tail was severed, brushing past Zi Di¡¯s ear, and struck diagonally onto the wall behind her, very close to the cave floor. Bai Ya lay there unconscious; the scorpion¡¯s long spear was a mere two or three fingers away from his head. ¡°Lord, you¡¯re back,¡± Zi Di, having narrowly escaped death, exclaimed as she grabbed Zhenjin¡¯s hand. The girl¡¯s face hadn¡¯t even had the chance to show joy before worry took over. ¡°Ah, Lord, you are injured!¡± Zi Di cried out. Zhenjin¡¯s body bore fresh, red bloodstains, and since the blood of the gun scorpions was darker in color, the origin of his wounds was clear. Zhenjin patted the girl¡¯s hand: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just a minor scratch.¡± He surveyed the surroundings; the casualties of the exploration team were a sore sight. Only Zi Di, Cang Xu, and the unconscious Bai Ya remained. If he had arrived even a moment later, he might have only been able to collect the corpses. Zhenjin had exhausted all his strength. To shake off the Silver Spear Scorpion, he even resorted to sustaining light injuries. But by the time he fought his way back to the cave, the loss of the exploration team still weighed heavily on him, filling him with sorrow and despair. ¡°Quick, let¡¯s seize the moment and leave this place,¡± Zhenjin said as he lifted Bai Ya onto his back, with Zi Di and Cang Xu closely following. However, upon reaching the mouth of the cave, they saw the Silver Spear Scorpion leading a circle of scorpions, forming a tight siege around the cave. Zi Di and Cang Xu were pale-faced. Zhenjin looked grim. ¡°Retreat,¡± the young knight gritted his teeth, his mouth tasting bitter. The exploration team had paid a ghastly price, but their final struggle proved unsuccessful. In comparison to the Flying Squirrel group, the scorpions were far too powerful. The Silver Spear Scorpion pounced forward, and Zhenjin took advantage of the limited terrain to confront it. The leader of the gun scorpions, larger than the common ones, found it difficult to maneuver in the cave, struggling even to swing its pincers. Zhenjin managed to land a hit, and the Silver Spear Scorpion withdrew from the cave, emitting a fierce screech. Under its command, not a single gun scorpion attempted to enter the cave again; they merely encircled the entrance. Night fell quickly. The scorpions lay motionless at the entrance, as if hibernating, yet occasionally they made rustling noises. Inside the cave, Zhenjin¡¯s wound was properly bandaged. Zi Di, looking at a pile of gun scorpion corpses, appeared distressed. ¡°These can¡¯t be eaten.¡± ¡°Their meat and blood contain very minute metal particles.¡± Humans aren¡¯t gun scorpions; they can¡¯t digest metal particles. Eating them would lead to consecutive failure of the kidneys and digestive system. Thus, the only food left was two bags of water. Zi Di turned her small leather bag inside out; what was once a full bag of potions had long since been depleted. Without raw materials, even with all these scorpion corpses, she couldn¡¯t concoct any new potions. Moments later, the girl¡¯s shoulders began to shake as she cried softly. ¡°There¡¯s no way, I can¡¯t think of any solutions.¡± For so long, this strong young girl had finally broken down. Zhenjin gently held her in his arms. ¡°I¡¯ve let you down; I can¡¯t make any potions to help you, Lord,¡± Zi Di sobbed. Zhenjin shook his head and sighed: ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯ve already done very well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m alive and here because of you.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t use low-level magic here; it¡¯s always been too hard on you.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s me who has burdened you, Lord Zhenjin. If it hadn¡¯t been for my suggestion, we wouldn¡¯t have sneaked aboard this ship. We wouldn¡¯t have ended up on this island facing lizards and gun scorpions. You could have easily left me behind to survive on your own.¡± Realizing something mid-sentence, Zi Di suddenly looked up at Zhenjin with eyes as purple as amethyst. She implored: ¡°Lord, please leave. Don¡¯t worry about me anymore! You can escape from here.¡± Zhenjin smiled softly, with a hint of pampering, as he brushed a strand of hair from her eyes: ¡°You are my fianc¨¦e, and I am your knight. Protecting you is my duty. I will guard you until the end of my life.¡± Chapter 62 - 62: Section 63: I Absolutely Will Not Eat People Chapter 62: Section 63: I Absolutely Will Not Eat People Cang Xu cast an astonished gaze. It was the first time he had heard this secret; the connection between Zi Di and Lord Zhenjin was so close. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you are a true knight,¡± the old scholar exclaimed sincerely, ¡°Throughout our journey, your noble conduct has always been our spiritual beacon.¡± ¡°We might still have hope.¡± ¡°These scorpion tails are extremely sharp, by your strength, throwing scorpion tails could very well deal fatal damage to the gun scorpions.¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°We could completely rely on the cave, launching attacks now and then. When the gun scorpions come to attack, we hide inside.¡± Cang Xu proposed a good battle strategy. ... The segment of memory that Lord Zhenjin had recovered made his weapon-throwing skills formidable. Cang Xu had a deep impression of this when they exterminated the Flying Squirrel group. But Lord Zhenjin simply shook his head slightly and admitted, ¡°The likelihood is small.¡± Without the amplification of Fighting energy, his previous attacks on the Flying Squirrels were due to a Mutation trigger, which caused his arms to swell and burst out with strength beyond the current limits of his body. But now, the young knight seemed to have lost the ability to Mutate. Whether it was the previous provocation of the scorpion group, the breakout from the lizard nest, or the recent fierce battle with the Silver Spear Scorpion, all had been life-and-death crises. Lord Zhenjin had relied on his own combat proficiency to escape these crises. From the beginning to the end, no Mutation had occurred. At the moments of life and death, the ability to Mutate had not been triggered. ¡°It seems the Magic Power of the heart crystal is too low.¡± There were actually ways to replenish Magic Power. For example, eating Magic Beast Meat or drinking Magic Beast blood. Although the blood of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear had been processed by Zi Di and a few tubes had been preserved for Lord Zhenjin. But because of the sandstorm, these tubes of Magic Beast blood had been lost. Now in Zi Di¡¯s small pouch, there were no such potions. ¡°I¡¯m afraid under these circumstances, I won¡¯t be able to Mutate anymore.¡± Without Mutation, the young knight, relying solely on human strength to throw these scorpion tails, would be very ineffective. Without the enhancement of speed and throwing strength, it wouldn¡¯t threaten the gun scorpions at all. ¡°Even this won¡¯t work?¡± Cang Xu sighed, his face full of disappointment. Lord Zhenjin passed the water pouch to Zi Di, who gradually stopped sobbing, sipping the clear water in small gulps. With the aid of the action of eating, her emotions gradually stabilized. A deathly silence fell inside the cave. They had truly reached the point of utter desperation. After a long while. ¡°Lord, you should drink some water too,¡± the girl in his arms offered the water pouch back to Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin took a sip, moistening his throat that was dry as a desert. The air in the cave no longer carried the previous sharp stench¡ªthe adaptability of humans sometimes exceeded their own expectations. Besides, in such a situation, what could they do if they didn¡¯t adapt? ¡°Lord, you go,¡± Zi Di urged softly. Lord Zhenjin made up his mind, nodding in response, ¡°I will go. I¡¯ll set off at dawn. After I break out, I¡¯ll try my best to draw the gun scorpions¡¯ attention, so you can also leave this place and go separate ways.¡± Although he very much wanted to protect Zi Di, Lord Zhenjin was clear in his mind that among the three of them, only he could take on the task of leading away the scorpions. This was their last chance. The choice to escape during the day was due to the uneven ground here, with many pits and even lava traps. Before the lava erupts during the day, gray-white smoke would first be released. But at night, the smoke is hard to detect by the human eye, making it extremely dangerous. ¡°Okay.¡± Zi Di¡¯s heart trembled, agreeing to Lord Zhenjin¡¯s escape plan. Cang Xu also nodded, remaining silent. Everyone knew that such an escape plan was very rudimentary and the hope for survival was extremely slim, but what else could they do? It was simply like a death sentence. But what else could they do? This was their last resort. Zi Di, cradled in Zhenjin¡¯s arms, fell into a deep slumber. She had drunk some water and hunger rumbled from her belly, but Zi Di was completely unaware, sleeping soundly. This was the most peaceful sleep she had in the desert and perhaps the last one of her life. Zhenjin did not sleep. He looked at the girl curled up in his embrace, his feelings of tender affection growing stronger. She seemed to him like a little cat that had been wandering for too long, emaciated and frail. Bai Ya was still unconscious. Most of the exploration team members had died, yet he had survived until now. But if he didn¡¯t wake up, he too would inevitably meet his end here. Time slowly passed, midnight came and went, and around three or four in the morning, Cang Xu opened his eyes slowly. The old Scholar let out a deep sigh, ¡°Lord, you are too hungry.¡± Zhenjin was feigning sleep, but at this moment, he cracked open an eye. The fact was undeniable. The more powerful the Cultivator of Fighting energy, the more nutrition they needed. The steel-armored Duke from the northern Empire consumed three meals of sub-dragon meat a day, while the Fire Phoenix Prince of the Elf Empire consumed two kilograms of White Frost Spirit Deer Antler. Zhenjin was now sitting back against the cave wall, not daring to move. He feared wasting energy needlessly; even a slight increase in strength for tomorrow¡¯s battle would be precious, so he conserved as much as possible. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you are in dire need of food,¡± Cang Xu¡¯s voice came, heavier than before. Zhenjin opened his eyes fully and saw the grief and indifference shining through Cang Xu¡¯s grey irises. Zhenjin snorted coldly. He understood what Cang Xu implied; the food he referred to was Bai Ya! The notion of a Holy Temple Knight consuming a person was preposterous! A hideous suggestion. ¡°Lord, you are too starved to fight. Bai Ya might still have a breath left, but the dead companions can serve as food, their blood a substitute for water.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Zhenjin rebuked in a low voice, fury evident in his gaze, ¡°I will not slaughter the innocent for my own sake. If you were their place, would you want to be seen as food?¡± Cang Xu was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, his expression filled with bitterness and perhaps a hint of relief. Cang Xu inhaled deeply and then made a shocking proposal, ¡°Then please, Lord, eat me first.¡± Zhenjin was taken aback. At the sight of confusion dawning on Zhenjin¡¯s face, Cang Xu said with a smile, ¡°Perhaps, Lord Zhenjin, you misunderstand me. I do not fear death. At my age, what is there left to see through? I only fear not seeing my pursuits and dreams fulfilled. Thus, I value my life even more than those younger than me because I know my days are numbered, and my time is precious.¡± ¡°However, if fate grants me an end, what can I do? I¡¯ve fought with all my might, using my life to argue, and the struggle may seem ridiculous, pitiful, and tragic, but I have no regrets.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin,¡± Cang Xu looked deeply into Zhenjin¡¯s eyes, very serious, ¡°Although our time together has not been long, I see that you are a noble, true Holy Temple Knight. You are brave, strong, and rise to challenges. No enemy can topple the flag of your spirit. Despite your exceptional strength and talent, you remain humble and have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Even though you are young, your adaptability is extraordinary; the growth you¡¯ve shown in this time is astounding. You come from nobility but maintain an attitude of equality with those of lower station, which is especially commendable.¡± ¡°Lord, the chances for Miss Zi Di and me to survive the breakthrough tomorrow morning are almost nonexistent. The scorpion swarm won¡¯t spare us; any ordinary gun scorpion could easily claim our lives.¡± ¡°The one most likely to survive is only you, Lord.¡± ¡°However, Lord, in your current state, can you escape?¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°You don¡¯t have confidence in that, do you?¡± ¡°Before then, any food at all could increase your chance of survival, Lord.¡± ¡°If we set aside morals and emotions, consuming Bai Ya would be the most sensible decision. You wouldn¡¯t deny that, would you, Lord?¡± Zhenjin remained silent. Cang Xu continued, ¡°I¡¯ve read notes from Ogres, and by the standards of food, the young Bai Ya¡¯s flesh is tender and more nutritious. But if I were the one to serve as food, I¡¯d be adequate as well.¡± ¡°The key point is, I¡¯m different from Bai Ya and the deceased companions; I am willing to offer myself. So, Lord, you are not a devil slaughtering the innocent, but a savior. The only difference is, you¡¯re saving a trivial wish of the weak before their death, not their lives. Before I die, I have a small request, and I hope, Lord, you can fulfill it.¡± Cang Xu had a deep understanding of his predicament. He was too old and frail, facing almost certain death in the morning¡¯s escape, and he had a wish, thus he was making a sacrifice of himself, hoping to leverage salvation to fulfill his dying wish. Zhenjin sighed and shook his head, ¡°I could never consume a human, whether you or Bai Ya. Because I am a knight, a Holy Temple Knight! Fate favors the strong but never shows pity to those who accept their lot. Cang Xu, if you believe yourself to be dead without doubt, then it will surely be so.¡± ¡°However, if you have a dying wish, you may speak of it. I promise that, without compromising my principles, I will make every effort to help you achieve it.¡± Chapter 63 - 63: Section 64: My Name is Cang Xu Chapter 63: Section 64: My Name is Cang Xu Cang Xu nodded slightly and was silent for a while, as if choosing his words carefully. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, he spoke in a desolate tone, ¡°My name is Cang Xu, and I was born into a farming family, originally a farmer¡¯s son.¡± ¡°When I was about five or six years old, I started to work. My main job was cleaning horse dung. Our family had a short-legged nag mainly used for plowing.¡± ¡°Once when I was cleaning the manure, the nag suddenly became angry and kicked me with its hind legs. I fell headfirst into the dung and nearly suffocated to death. Although I was lucky to survive, such a close encounter with death filled my young heart with fear that I could not easily let go of.¡± ¡°I became very timid, afraid of any type of horse, even things that resembled horses in shape. I even dared not go near the stables. My parents assigned me other tasks, but I was still trembling and cautious, hiding at any sign of the ¡®Grass Movement.''¡± ¡°Such was I, naturally mocked and alienated by playmates, disliked by my parents, with everyone in the village not optimistic about my future.¡± ... ¡°It was only much later that I realized that perhaps my fear was not of horses, but of the life of a farmer itself.¡± ¡°Shame made me lonely, and loneliness made me think. The gifts of fate, bitter before they are sweet, made me afraid of living my entire life as a farmer.¡± ¡°Luck came my way. When I was eight, I saw a ray of hope. A priest from the Horse God sect came to our village to build a church. There was no church in the village, and everyone hoped for a priest¡¯s healing when they were sick. So, the villagers organized themselves, volunteering to build a Horse God church for the priest without compensation. Among all the volunteers, I was the most enthusiastic. I tried my hardest to please the priest, desperately showing my faith in the Horse God to win his favor.¡± ¡°The priest liked children of my age. After a day¡¯s labor, he would gather about a dozen children, including me, and teach us arithmetic and literacy.¡± ¡°As seasons passed, once the church was successfully built, the priest publicly announced some news.¡± ¡°He was going to select a few volunteers to become fellow workers. He even planned to recruit two children to train as trainee priests.¡± ¡°No one is a fool, and the villagers flocked to it. The status of clergy was far higher than that of a farmer. And families with children of the right age were almost frantic.¡± ¡°I desperately wanted to become a trainee priest, knowing it might be my only chance in life to change my fate, for which I would even risk my life!¡± ¡°The competition was fierce.¡± ¡°I managed to stay until the final selection through hard work and previous perseverance. There were four people left, but only two trainee priests were to be recruited. The rest were rich villagers, including the village head. To increase their chances, they used their power and wealth to oppress my family and force my parents to make me concede.¡± ¡°My family was ostracized to the point of barely surviving, and every day was torture. My parents urged me to give up, but I refused, nearly breaking completely with them.¡± ¡°I went to the final assessment with a ¡®die before yielding¡¯ attitude. However, I failed.¡± ¡°The shadows of my childhood still clouded my heart; I feared horses. Toward the Horse God, I felt only fear, not reverence.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe in Him, despite my hardest efforts.¡± ¡°The priests of the Horse God are wise and sagacious, but equally ruthless. Despite my kneeling and pleading, he still dismissed me.¡± ¡°I was extremely depressed, feeling as if my entire life had become bleak and insignificant. That evening, I wandered the streets in a daze, surrounded by the villagers¡¯ scorn. I don¡¯t know how I made it back home; I couldn¡¯t eat anything at all.¡± ¡°In the days that followed, my father beat me while my mother scolded me for harboring unrealistic ambitions. Although my family were free people, due to my father¡¯s serious illness, our financial situation was poor. Out of necessity, we had to farm someone else¡¯s land and then pay rent. This was essentially no different from being serfs. However, because of this incident with me, no villagers would rent their excess land to us.¡± ¡°To punish me, my parents assigned me a heavy load of labor. Every day, I went to sleep on a pile of straw with a body almost falling apart.¡± ¡°Punishment and failure did not make me surrender, nor did mockery and exclusion lead me to despair. I became increasingly resentful, and this resentment gradually transformed into anger. Although I had many days of depression, I soon revived myself. My main effort was reviewing the knowledge I had learned from the priest.¡± ¡°I only had free time at night. During the day, I had to get up very early. If I did not complete the tasks my parents assigned, I would not even have a piece of black bread.¡± ¡°Despite being extremely tired every day, I never gave up my nighttime studies. I memorized everything the priest had taught me thoroughly, deeply imprinting it in my heart. Even now, I remember every bit of that knowledge very clearly. I cherish them, guarding them as the rare hopes of my life. They were my rebellion against my own fate!¡± ¡°One night, the priest of the Horse God quietly came near the straw pile and woke me from my deep sleep.¡± ¡°I was both shocked and overjoyed, thinking perhaps there was a turnaround. I immediately knelt down and loudly swore to the priest that I would devote myself wholly to the Horse God, purging all the fears deep in my heart.¡± ¡°But the priest of the Horse God shook his head, saying, ¡®The Horse God does not force faith. He found me because he noticed my state of life and had been observing me secretly for some time. My desperate effort and my thirst for knowledge moved him.''¡± ¡°The priest of the Horse God offered me a new choice. If I became his servant, he would teach me the knowledge I desired, and my future would depend entirely on my own efforts.¡± ¡°I persuaded my parents to sell me.¡± ¡°Of course, primarily because the priest of the Horse God spent a considerable amount of money to buy me.¡± ¡°The priest did not deceive me, and he treated me much better than I had imagined. He even kept the transaction secret, allowing me to serve as a servant in the church. I devotedly served the priest¡¯s daily needs, trying my hardest, and he imparted precious knowledge to me. I learned more about arithmetic, literature, astronomy, geography.¡± ¡°Among all the things I gained, I valued most the priest of the Horse God¡¯s curiosity about knowledge and his diligent attitude in seeking it. This attitude influenced my entire life.¡± As he spoke, Cang Xu paused a moment. The lengthy narration made him a bit breathless. Cang Xu continued, ¡°The competition of faith can sometimes be more intense than war. The Horse God originated from the Wilderness Continent and was worshipped by the Beast Race. On the Holy Bright Continent, His influence was too little. Thus, when the Life Sect spread here, the faith in the Horse God immediately faltered and rapidly collapsed, without any competitive power.¡± ¡°The priest of the Horse God was forced to leave. Before leaving, he freed me from servitude and advised me to continue my studies.¡± ¡°I went to Silver Bridge Academy and took the examinations. The teachings of the priest of the Horse God gave me a solid academic foundation, allowing me to pass the exams successfully and become an extremely impoverished student at the academy. Three years later, I graduated smoothly from the academy and became a scholar.¡± ¡°I taught at Silver Bridge Academy for three years, and afterward, relying on the academy¡¯s connections, I became the steward of a minor noble.¡± ¡°Later, I went through several nobles, holding minor positions in the management of their lands.¡± ¡°I am not a noble, nor a servant nurtured by nobles from a young age, and most importantly, I lack the aptitude for training. These reasons subjected me to constant disdain and exclusion, leaving me in lower ranks.¡± ¡°Five years passed like this until an opportunity emerged before me.¡± ¡°A village erupted in rebellion, and the officials sent to collect taxes were killed. The chief tax collector, fearing discovery by the Lord, offered a hefty reward to anyone who could successfully levy the taxes.¡± ¡°I was familiar with the villagers, so I saw this as an opportunity and volunteered.¡± ¡°I was hanged up, imprisoned, and continuously tortured.¡± ¡°Just when they were about to kill me, they asked if I had any last words.¡± ¡°I laughed aloud, simply shaking my head without speaking.¡± ¡°This puzzled the villagers.¡± ¡°I told them that I was their friend, never their enemy. I had come to save them. If they complied and paid the taxes, the tax collector would act as though nothing had happened. If they refused, knights would come to annihilate them.¡± ¡°The villagers, fearful, knew they couldn¡¯t withstand the knights, but paying the taxes would deplete their food reserves, leading to starvation.¡± ¡°I falsely claimed the tax collector had secretly reduced the tax. If they paid, the villagers would still preserve some food and survive. However, they were to keep this strictly confidential or it would inspire other villages to follow suit.¡± ¡°After deliberation, the villagers agreed. I secretly made up the shortfall in tax and reported back.¡± ¡°Thus, I gained the chief collector¡¯s favor and was finally promoted.¡± ¡°Originally occupying an important position, no one had high expectations for me. They saw me as a weak scholar, vulnerable to an easy assassination. Yet, I held that position for more than thirty years.¡± ¡°In that position, I had the opportunity to showcase my talents. My knowledge impressed the Lord gradually.¡± ¡°Throughout this journey, I never abandoned my quest for knowledge. Continuously acquiring new information only increased my value.¡± ¡°Though the Horse God Priest had left me early on, his passion for knowledge had fused into my blood.¡± ¡°I had thought I would serve the Lord until my death, but fate had other plans for me.¡± ¡°As time passed and I grew older, many saw it as an opportunity. My devotion to knowledge over power, and my avoidance of internal strife among the noble factions, displeased those in power.¡± ¡°They instigated a young man.¡± ¡°His name was Lan Tu, who daydreamed of becoming a knight and was my most trusted deputy. Seduced by the love of the Lord¡¯s third daughter, the young man decided to betray.¡± ¡°He accused me, claiming I was a dangerous criminal who had been hiding for years, harboring devious intentions and conspiring against the Lord and his lands.¡± ¡°To save my life, I had no choice but to flee. The young man smoothly took over my position, endorsed by the Third Lady.¡± ¡°My flight seemingly confirmed the young man¡¯s accusations. At the beginning of my escape, I was overwhelmed with grief and anger, drowning in negativity.¡± ¡°After a long time, I came to terms with it.¡± ¡°It was a new path set by fate.¡± ¡°I asked myself, at my age, with little time left, how should I spend the rest of my life? Ultimately, I decided to pursue what I truly desired¡ªknowledge. Among all fields, biology intrigued me the most. I aimed to make academic achievements and write a book explaining the mysteries of life to the best of my abilities.¡± ¡°Before long, news of a warrant for my arrest spread. This wasn¡¯t a surprise. Having served the Lord and been privy to many secrets, the noble family wouldn¡¯t easily let me go.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t stay in the Holy Bright Continent any longer, so I had to take a boat to the Beast Race Continent. Fortunately, the Wilderness Continent¡¯s unique ecology would greatly aid in completing my academic writings.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I am an old man with an outstanding warrant. If you decide to recruit me, you will undoubtedly make enemies with the Shata family. That¡¯s why I previously declined your recruitment.¡± ¡°The techniques for taming the explosive hooved ferocious horses mostly come from the Horse God Priest. The remaining part of the technique I developed myself over more than thirty years.¡± ¡°That is my story.¡± ¡°How fascinating,¡± Zhenjin admired. Cang Xu smiled slightly, ¡°Thank you for your compliment, my lord. It¡¯s an honor of my lifetime to have you listen to me. I have already completed half of my academic works. They are hidden in my mind, but I¡¯ve also secretly stashed a copy in Shata territory.¡± ¡°This half of the work is hidden in the ruins¡¯ prison of a certain village¡ªwhere I was once tortured severely. It¡¯s in the bricks beneath my shackles.¡± ¡°My last wish is¡ªif I die here, please hand over the half-completed work to Lan Tu. Of course, my lord, you are free to review it. If it can be of use to you, it would be my immense honor.¡± Zhenjin frowned, understandably puzzled. ¡°LAN TU?¡± Zi Di suddenly woke up, ¡°Unless I heard wrong, isn¡¯t Lan Tu the young man who betrayed you?¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Zi Di, you heard correctly.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s face revealed a complex mix of desolation, sadness, and a hint of pain mixed with hope. He continued, ¡°This young man is my son.¡± Chapter 64 - 64: Section 65: Wavering and Agony Chapter 64: Section 65: Wavering and Agony A silence fell within the cave. Being betrayed by his own son, it was imaginable, what a huge blow this was to Cang Xu as a father. However, in the moment when Cang Xu faced death, he still thought of this son of his. Cang Xu wished that his scholarly works could be of help to his son. Of course, he also hoped his works would be passed on. Here there was hatred, love, and so much helplessness and vicissitudes of life. Very complex emotions. ... Zhenjin and Zi Di finally began to understand the old Scholar before them. No wonder he previously clung to life, and no wonder he was now willing to sacrifice himself. ¡°If I escape, I will also help fulfill this final wish of yours,¡± Zi Di solemnly promised. ¡°Thank you, Miss Zi Di,¡± Cang Xu sincerely thanked her. ¡°Then, Lord Zhenjin¡­¡± Cang Xu turned to Zhenjin. Although Zhenjin did not speak, just slightly shaking his head, the attitude he revealed was very firm. In the standoff, Zi Di took out several letters: ¡°In fact, I think Bai Ya also entrusted his last wishes.¡± Zhenjin glanced at them and recognized them. These were the letters found on Bai Ya¡¯s person. ¡°Bai Ya seemed to struggle out of a comatose state for a moment, pointing with his finger to his chest, signaling us to these letters.¡± ¡°Cang Xu and I have both looked through the contents of the letters.¡± ¡°My lord, please take a look as well.¡± Zi Di handed these letters to Zhenjin. Zhenjin, out of curiosity, browsed through them. All of the letters were love letters. The male protagonist was Bai Ya, while the female protagonist was named Xi Qiu. Some of the letters were written by Xi Qiu to Bai Ya, treasured by him, and kept with himself. Others were written by Bai Ya to Xi Qiu, detailing his experiences and thoughts after embarking on the ship, yet to be mailed out. Xi Qiu was a young lady from the Nobles, and Bai Ya was the son of a hunter. The family of Xi Qiu owned a summer villa in the mountain village, and hunting was a traditional amusement of the Nobles. Bai Ya was thereby selected and employed as a guide. This brought the two of them together. Despite the disparity in their statuses, love blossomed between them. Such a situation was extremely rare, almost like a story told by bards. For Bai Ya, receiving this love was astonishing, as if living in a dream. He considered Xi Qiu his everything, writing repeatedly in the letters that he was willing to lay down his life for his beloved. However, what stood between them was the chasm-like difference in their statuses. In order to bring their love to fruition, Bai Ya sought to become a Knight. For a commoner to become a Knight, the task was difficult. To put it accurately, it was extremely challenging. The leap from commoner to Knight was something that had happened centuries before. Even when the Holy Emperor unified the entire Human Race Continent and completely subdued the coalition of the southern Nobles, there were hardly any newly risen Nobles. For Bai Ya, his only hope lay in the overseas battlefield. At the Holy Emperor¡¯s command, the Human Race fleets set sail for the Wilderness Continent, initiating an invasion against the Beast Race. This was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. Though fraught with great danger, for a commoner, the battlefield against the Beast Race held opportunities to become a Knight. That is why Bai Ya boarded the ship heading for White Sand City. Zhenjin sighed deeply, ¡°If I should survive by luck, I will deliver these letters to Miss Xi Qiu. And I promise on the honor of a Knight that I will tell her: her beloved Bai Ya was a very brave man. His skill in archery was exquisite; he had once aided me significantly. He had a heart full of benevolence, enduring grave injuries in order to save his companions. He was valiant and unyielding, showing no fear or retreat even at the very last moment of his life. Although he was not a Knight, I am certain that he possessed the virtues of one.¡± Truthfully, Zhenjin had no wish to be the messenger of pain, and as he spoke, he already envisioned the heartbroken and pitiable image of Miss Xi Qiu¡¯s crying. Yet, Cang Xu shook his head. The old Scholar showed a hint of mockery, ¡°According to what I know, the reality may not be such, Lord Zhenjin.¡± ¡°In recent years, a trend has emerged among the Empire¡¯s noblewomen. The trend originated with Duchess Ai Mei.¡± ¡°This Duchess openly pursues love and beauty, loudly proclaiming to raise women¡¯s power and status within the Empire. She herself is very powerful, one of the living deities, leading a life of extravagant indulgence, and is most skilled in lies, renowned for toying with men.¡± ¡°Taking Duchess Ai Mei as a role model, the noblewomen compete to emulate her. They lure men with love, ridiculing them so that they fall at their feet, watching them fight over them until bloodied, or manipulating them to become puppets.¡± Zhenjin frowned, clutching the letter, ¡°So you believe that Bai Ya and Xi Qiu are in such a situation as well?¡± Cang Xu nodded,¡± I do not speculate without evidence; the letters provide proof.¡± ¡°Firstly, the love came too abruptly. The time the two spent together was too short, and there was no heroic rescue.¡± ¡°Secondly, it was Xi Qiu who actively suggested and encouraged Bai Ya to become a Knight. Thus, it wasn¡¯t originally Bai Ya¡¯s own idea.¡± ¡°Thirdly, it was also Xi Qiu who asked Bai Ya to write letters to her.¡± ¡°From Xi Qiu¡¯s perspective, toying with Bai Ya, altering the destiny of a hunter¡¯s son, and manipulating him to become a Knight, could be a very interesting affair.¡± ¡°If successful, she would gain a Knight to serve her, with utmost loyalty, and her investment, minimal.¡± ¡°If unsuccessful, based on what is known from Bai Ya¡¯s letters, she could also greatly alleviate the boredom and tedium of her closeted life. Even if Bai Ya were to eventually be sacrificed, he could become a bragging point for Xi Qiu. Look, someone died for me¡ªwhat a fool who wanted to become a Knight.¡± ¡°Fourthly, I am so clear and even certain of this because my own son is one of the victims. Likely at this moment, he is still dreaming of marrying the third daughter of the Shata family. Perhaps this is my fault, I passed onto him my mediocre Bloodline but gave him no talent for cultivation. This poor and pathetic little fellow is just like I was when I was young¡ªnot content with his lot, wanting to break free from his current life.¡± ¡°The attention of the third daughter gave him a bright future. But he does not know, his father once paid a great price and spent long years to break free from his original life.¡± ¡°Young people always think they are favored by fate. Any good fortune that comes their way, even if initially hard to believe, deep down they feel entitled to it, and rightfully so. When good things or success happen to them, it¡¯s natural and deserved.¡± ¡°Only when they endure beatings and torment, weather storms and thunder, do they gradually understand: they are ordinary, the kindness of others is oh so precious, and they should cherish it. The reason tales of beautiful love are so widely spread is precisely because they are so rare in reality,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at the records in the history books. Those heroes, as though destined by fate, were born to rule a nation or to achieve a great feat. Even when they faced disasters, they always turned danger into safety. When confronted with moral dilemmas, they always chose virtue and honor,¡± ¡°That¡¯s because they are the victors,¡± ¡°Once they defeated all their enemies, how the history was written was up to them. They amplified their virtues, even fabricating them out of thin air, like lifting a dazzling torch for the world to look up to. Noble character, exceptional talent, destined by heaven, and so on, all served their rule, or to maintain their grand achievements, or to reap external benefits. However, their vulgarity, desires, filth, and cunning, all hid in the shadows beneath the torch. People see the torch, their gaze is drawn to the brilliant flame at first sight, and they don¡¯t lower their heads to see the shadows cast on the ground,¡± ¡°My lord, even if you eat me, no one will know. Bai Ya is unconscious, completely unaware. Miss Zi Di is your fianc¨¦e, with intertwined interests, a close union that will most certainly not betray you,¡± ¡°And only with enough food, can you escape and survive,¡± ¡°You are the victor, your narrative is unchallenged, and no one will know what truly happened here,¡± ¡°And I am truly willing, I believe you will do your utmost to fulfill my last wish!¡± Zhenjin shook his head slightly: ¡°You overestimate me, I am not a victor, I am just a knight,¡± The young knight then gave a bitter smile: ¡°To tell you the truth. It was Zi Di who brought people to search for me, and that¡¯s how I came back to life. However, I¡¯ve lost most of my memory. I only remember my name and my identity. Sometimes, I have a flash of memory that reminds me or lets me relearn a certain skill,¡± Cang Xu was suddenly shocked. After a moment¡¯s thought, the old scholar continued to persuade: ¡°If you steadfastly remember that you are a knight, then you should eat more food. Your physical ability is too weak, how long can you fight tomorrow? Maybe a sudden loss of strength, and you won¡¯t be able to avoid the scorpion tail¡¯s deadly strike,¡± ¡°You need food right now! A lot of food,¡± ¡°Think of your identity, your family. As the defeated, the Hundred Needle Family may have joined the Holy Emperor¡¯s camp, but your situation isn¡¯t too good, is it? You are the sole heir of the family, the entire territory will rely on you for leadership and revival in the future,¡± ¡°Apart from the responsibilities inherent to your birth, you also have to protect your fianc¨¦e¡¯s life,¡± ¡°By eating food, you¡¯ll have the physical strength. Not only will your chances of survival increase, but it will also protect your fianc¨¦e. Perhaps it¡¯s because you ate one more piece of meat that she will be amongst those fortunate to survive the breakout tomorrow morning,¡± ¡°Are you pressuring me?¡± Zhenjin shouted angrily. Cang Xu laughed: ¡°Yes, I am pressuring you. But please forgive me, Lord Zhenjin. I am about to die, and a dead man does not fear the authority of the secular world. And I want to fulfill my last wish, for which my life is just a chip in the game,¡± Zhenjin unconsciously clenched his fists. He glared at Cang Xu, furious. He was angry at Cang Xu for pressing him so. He was infuriated at his predicament, the torture of fate. He resented his weakness, being driven to desperation by the swarm of scorpions, no longer capable of responsibility, and unable to protect his fianc¨¦e¡¯s life. And what enraged him the most was¡ªhe found himself wavering! Zhenjin knew well: Cang Xu was a wise man. He also knew that Cang Xu¡¯s words made sense. Purely from a point of reason, he should indeed follow Cang Xu¡¯s advice. But what of his morality? His conscience? Where did they stand? What if he did eat another person? He would no longer be human, a criminal, clinging to life, his honor and reputation forever untethered to him. Yet, thinking like this, wasn¡¯t he being too selfish? Only minding his own reputation and virtue, yet neglecting another person¡¯s life? By eating the food, could he sacrifice one to save himself and others? Perhaps not, but Zhenjin knew in his heart that doing so would significantly increase the chances of survival for everyone! If he stuck to his own views, was that also a form of stupidity? Just as Cang Xu had just said, history is written by the victors. If he didn¡¯t consume another person, and he really died under the Silver Spear Scorpion, what would his father think? Would the ancestors curse him for being inflexible? If he ate another person, would he regret it in the future? If he didn¡¯t and survived, but others died, would he recall in the future that there was a chance, which he chose to give up? Perhaps he might have saved his fianc¨¦e and others, but he didn¡¯t. Zhenjin struggled internally, various thoughts rising and falling, swirling in his mind. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hesitation, doubt, confusion¡ªthese emotions gradually threw his thoughts into chaos. But Zhenjin wasn¡¯t the only one tormented that night. The cold night wind, like knives, scraped by. Huang Zao, facing the wind and carrying Lan Zao, moved forward with difficulty. He felt like a battered scarecrow, about to be whisked away by the gale. Everything before him was dark and obscure, just like Huang Zao¡¯s inner world at the moment. His continued advance was more out of numbness or inertia than anything else. His heart was cold, despair enveloped him, the only warmth was from Lan Zao on his back. Lan Zao¡¯s body temperature grew higher and his wounds festered. He was almost done for. ¡°Don¡¯t die, brother, don¡¯t die!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve paid such a hefty price, carrying you this far, it would be too unfair to me if you died,¡± ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to get off this boat for a long time, you know. But you wanted to make a living at sea,¡± ¡°If it was on land, would I have fallen to this damn island?¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s all you, you¡¯re to blame for all this,¡± Huang Zao shouted in his heart. With these calls, he spurred himself on. However, compared to mental encouragement, the sensation of hunger and thirst was a more piercing stimulus to his body and mind. Chapter 65 - 65: Section 66: The Fall Is Imminent Chapter 65: Section 66: The Fall Is Imminent Huang Zao was extremely thirsty. His throat felt as if a sun was jammed inside it, his entire pharynx and the root of his tongue seemed half-cooked, rendering him utterly speechless. Huang Zao was extremely hungry. He was so famished that his stomach clung to his spine, his body felt weak, and he staggered as he walked, dizzy and even hallucinating. In his hallucination, he felt as if he was walking among clouds. Yet, he bore the weight of a mountain on his body. The mountain was so heavy, it threatened to flatten him into paper. ... Soon, the mountain morphed into a devil with goat horns. The devil opened its gaping mouth, shrieking in his ear¡ªEat this! Eat you! Eat you! Huang Zao was terrified to the extreme, wanting to throw off the mountain or the devil on his back. But his arms, his hands, wouldn¡¯t obey him and were numb, simply carrying that mountain or devil. Then, quite swiftly, the devil on his back transformed again. It turned into a suckling pig. This pig reeked of intense sweat and rotting wounds. Huang Zao looked down and saw flames already blazing in his belly. It was a fierce, raging fire. It burned voraciously and spread rapidly, nearly enveloping Huang Zao¡¯s entire body in an instant. The flames were about to reach the suckling pig on his back, potentially turning it into a roast suckling pig. The aroma of food seemed to hit him in that moment. ¡°No, never,¡± as if he could smell the aroma, Huang Zao shuddered as if struck by an electric shock and miraculously broke free from the hallucination. He returned to reality. The night before him was pitch black, his hand couldn¡¯t see five fingers in front of it. The endless night wind blew cold and ceaseless by his ear. On his back was his brother, unconscious. He walked forward, stumbling, puppet-like. Exceedingly faint, exceedingly lonely. Huang Zao didn¡¯t realize that he was crying. He gazed ahead, as if there was light in front of him, as if there was a wide, flat road ahead of him. He told himself in his heart, ¡°The night is almost over; dawn is about to break.¡± ¡°Hang in there, hang in there, Huang Zao.¡± ¡°There should be an oasis ahead! That oasis is the place you and your team reached before.¡± ¡°Look at this terrain; doesn¡¯t it look similar?¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting close, you¡¯re about to reach the oasis! Hang in there, don¡¯t slack off.¡± ¡°There must be an oasis, there must be.¡± ¡°Once at the oasis, you¡¯ll have water, you¡¯ll have game. You can hunt, you are a Bronze Level strongman.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t die, you absolutely won¡¯t die. Your brother won¡¯t die either!¡± ¡°He will be saved by you!!¡± Huang Zao affirmed his belief, but Zhenjin felt his own faltering. Hunger tortured him. Every cell in his body was crying out: Food! Food! Anything will do, just give me food! ¡°Cang Xu was right; no one else will know what¡¯s happening here. If Zi Di survives, she will be even more grateful to me. If it really doesn¡¯t work out, then I must give her up as long as I survive so I can continue to shoulder the burden of revitalizing our family.¡± No sooner had this thought appeared that Zhenjin shuddered, although the cave was swelteringly hot all the while. Immediately afterward, intense shame made Zhenjin¡¯s face burn. He felt how utterly hideous he was. Was he really so afraid of death? Another thought arose: ¡°If I eat this¡­ food, my physical ability will greatly enhance. With enough physical strength, I will surely face this challenge more confidently. I eat meat, not for myself. I do it to kill the Silver Spear Scorpion, to crush the entire scorpion swarm. That way, no one will die. I won¡¯t die, Zi Di won¡¯t, Cang Xu won¡¯t¡­ I do it for them!¡± This idea was more enticing than any before it. Then, another idea appeared and vanished, followed by new thoughts emerging. Zhenjin knew he was wavering! The cave wall he relied on couldn¡¯t grant him the firmness to persist. Cang Xu and Zi Di remained silent, Bai Ya motionless, but their very presence seemed to oppress this poor young man! ¡°Am I supposed to commit such acts as a Holy Temple Knight?¡± Zhenjin asked himself. He began to reflect on himself. ¡°Have I led wrongly to get us to this point?¡± ¡°Are there many things I haven¡¯t done well?¡± ¡°Was setting up a battlefield here to fight the scorpion swarm overly presumptuous?¡± ¡°Knowing this, should I have chosen another path?¡± Zhenjin began to doubt himself, which only increased his hesitation. Zhenjin was indecisive. ¡°If I just regard them as food and eat them, in the future, when I recall the past, will I be tormented by guilt? Or will there be not a shred of regret?¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t eat, how will I fulfill my responsibilities? Am I supposed to watch my fianc¨¦e die?¡± ¡°She risked her life to save me, facing danger many times at the critical moment.¡± ¡°And my father, who is waiting for me to bring new hope to the family. I am the only heir to the Hundred Needle Family!¡± ¡°And myself? I have endured bullying, silently accumulating strength, just to rise up and get back at my opponents. Will this choice make my past self despise me?¡± Just then, a memory surfaced in his mind. A meticulously arranged room, luxurious and extravagant. Famous paintings hung on the walls, and the air was filled with the scent of expensive perfume; blush gold curtains were drawn, blocking most of the daylight and making the entire room dim and ambiguous. A Dancer, dressed in exotic attire from the northwest of the Empire, wore a purple veil across her face, enhancing her stunning features with an air of mysterious allure. Her figure was gracefully curvaceous, accentuated in all the right places. Her dance costume, primarily red with gold threads, was short and form-fitting, revealing her slender arms and porcelain navel. The dance had just ended. She stepped on the thick carpet with one foot, slowly elevating the other to waist height, lingering in the residual melody of the dance. She brought her hands together and then remained still. At that moment, the tip of her shoe bent over the top, exposing most of her foot under the candlelight, which shone with a crystal-like luster, making one¡¯s heart flutter with the urge to bite into it. Her demeanor was dignified, her eyes amber-like, and her still posture displayed the beauty of her feminine form for all to see. The three young men in the room were stunned. It took a while before they regained their senses and started clapping. The Dancer then slowly lowered her leg back down, standing straight on the spot and bowing slightly. ¡°This is Jisi, the Dancing Lady who has recently become famous in the capital. She truly lives up to her reputation,¡± one of the young men sincerely praised her. Zhenjin was one of the three young men, his attention mostly on another young man of a rather unusual status. Zhenjin asked with a smile, ¡°Ange, didn¡¯t you mention to me that you wanted to see Jisi dance? What do you think? I can decide right now to give Miss Jisi to you. You could warm your bed with her tonight. Hahaha.¡± ¡°What?¡± The young man who had just spoken was visibly shaken and looked at Ange with envy. Ange¡¯s features differed from Zhenjin¡¯s. Though both were very handsome, Zhenjin with his golden hair and blue eyes, Ange had shoulder-length black hair and a pair of very peculiar eyes. Where the whites should be was pitch black, and his pupils, white, set against the dark, gave off a cold light. He always sat perfectly upright, no matter the occasion. But now, as Ange stared at the Dancer Jisi in the center, his upper body subconsciously leaned forward. With just one word from him, this irresistibly tempting Dancer could be his to claim. The temptation was immense! Ange¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he swallowed repeatedly. He stared at Jisi, his gaze filled with aggressive desire and possessiveness. Perhaps his gaze was too intense because, feeling shy, Jisi lowered her head, exposing even more of her snowy neck. This subservient posture only fueled a warmth in Ange¡¯s lower belly. Seeing Ange in such a state, Zhenjin gave a smug, knowing smile. Ange usually maintained strict discipline; he held the most honorable position within the Fifth Holy Temple Knights and was also the most diligent in his ascetic practices. But the yearning for a beautiful woman, a feeling no normal man could avoid, could be especially terrifying when repressed desires were unleashed by usually self-restrained individuals. However, to Zhenjin¡¯s surprise, as time passed, Ange¡¯s expression turned fierce and then gradually settled back down to his usual calm demeanor. ¡°Ange¡­ you?¡± Another young man also noticed the change in Ange¡¯s demeanor, becoming uncertain. Ange smiled and casually wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. ¡°Impressive, the temptation of beauty is truly formidable,¡± he seemed relieved, ¡°However, this beauty no longer holds any value for me. I won¡¯t take her.¡± Zhenjin was puzzled, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ange said, ¡°Zhenjin, thank you for this favor. Let me tell you the truth, cultivation is not just about refining the body but also the spirit. Do you know the family motto of my Anhui family?¡± Zhenjin nodded; the family mottos of great nobles were always widely known. Ange continued, ¡°Our bloodline originates from Abyss Demons, and although this lineage is eminent and grants our clan members significant cultivation aptitude, it is also exceedingly dangerous. Clan members often find themselves engulfed in desires from which they cannot extricate themselves, causing them to lose their sanity and turn into chaotic madmen. Consequently, our family motto is this¡ª¡¯Hell lies at your feet, and damnation is but a moment away.¡¯ It reminds us to remain vigilant, for desires are an abyss; a slight negligence can transform us into devils, no longer human.¡± The young man beside him suddenly realized, ¡°So, this is actually a form of your discipline?¡± Ange nodded and looked at Zhenjin, ¡°Zhenjin, you and I are colleagues. Since you have aided me this time, I will offer you some friendly advice. It is your personal cultivation that matters most; focusing solely on networking is like being a leaf fluttering in the wind.¡± After finishing his words, Ange, without regard for Zhenjin¡¯s displeased expression, stood up and left. Memories faded, and Zhenjin suddenly woke up. Unconsciously, he was covered in cold sweat. His whole body was conveying a sense of weakness to him. Another segment of his memory was restored, yet it did not significantly enhance him. However, the saying was deeply profound. ¡°Hell lies at your feet, and damnation is but a moment away,¡± Zhenjin muttered to himself. Reflecting on this newfound memory, Zhenjin began to analyze. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The Darkglow family is a noble family of the Empire, and the Duke of Darkglow is a living deity, also the Holy Emperor¡¯s right-hand man. As the son of Duke Darkglow, Ange¡¯s position is extremely solid, and naturally, he does not need to network. However, my Hundred Needle Family needs to establish a firm foothold; connecting with Ange is a wise move.¡± ¡°Jisi¡­ indeed, she is an alluring woman. So, being able to control her freedom and spread Jisi¡¯s fame throughout the capital city proves that the Hundred Needle Family has significant resources and influence in the capital. The proverb ¡®A lean camel is bigger than a horse¡¯ truly suits the historic southern Nobles.¡± ¡°On the other hand, it also shows how successful my concealment has been. Ange even misunderstood me, thinking I am a climber. I am curious, what will my relationship with Ange be like afterward? Did I make any progress in connecting with him?¡± Realizing that his thoughts were starting to overflow, Zhenjin slightly shook his head and stopped speculating. Now was not the time to think about these matters. With a segment of memory restored, although it did not increase Zhenjin¡¯s combat capabilities, it unexpectedly resolved his distress. ¡°Hell lies at your feet, and damnation is but a moment away.¡± ¡°Was I close to falling?¡± ¡°That was close! I nearly let dust that cannot be cleaned off settle on my Knight¡¯s armor.¡± ¡°I am a brave, noble, and steadfast Holy Temple Knight! Even under the pressures of death and the intimidation of duty, I must adhere to the path of Knighthood!!¡± Zhenjin exhaled a breath of turbid air, as if lifting a massive burden from his shoulders. He slowly stood up. This action immediately caught the attention of Zi Di and Cang Xu; seeing Zhenjin¡¯s composed demeanor, they both realized he had made a decision. ¡°Lord Zhenjin,¡± Cang Xu looked at him with hopeful eyes. But Zhenjin shook his head slightly: ¡°I will not treat people as food!¡± Cang Xu slightly opened his mouth, showing a deep disappointment. Zhenjin, with clear eyes, intercepted before he could be persuaded further: ¡°Stop trying to convince me; I have already made my decision.¡± He then turned his gaze to Zi Di, expressing a hint of apology. Zi Di, understanding, slightly shook her head: ¡°Sir, you and I are one, and any decision you make is also my decision.¡± Zhenjin smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s go. According to the time, once we walk out of this cave, we will see the light of dawn.¡± Chapter 66 - 66: Section 67: My Name is Lan Zao Chapter 66: Section 67: My Name is Lan Zao A thread of light began to appear on the horizon. The light was weak, but in the dark night, it was incredibly conspicuous. Then, as if accompanied by the beating of the heart, the light gradually strengthened, becoming magnificent bit by bit. The darkness receded under the expansion of light, which resembled a giant that had just awakened, stretching its arms and limbs. Dawn. The dawn! ... The light fell on Huang Zao¡¯s face, but it brought him no warmth. ¡°Woo woo woo¡­¡± Huang Zao cried out in pain, suddenly kneeling on the desert, with Lan Zao also falling to the ground from his back. ¡°Oasis¡­ Oasis!¡± Huang Zao called out, his eyes already clouded and unclear. In his view, there was an empty desert; the oasis he had envisioned did not appear. ¡°But I clearly heard the sound of water. I definitely did!¡± Huang Zao screamed, determined to shout until his voice broke. ¡°There was the sound of water,¡± Lan Zao unexpectedly woke up. This was a sign of the returning light. ¡°Yes, brother, you heard it too, you heard it too!¡± Huang Zao, like a confused child who had suddenly found his guidance, screamed frantically. But Lan Zao did not respond to him, instead continuing to murmur, ¡°I heard it, the sound of the sea, the sound of the waves.¡± Huang Zao suddenly froze, abruptly realizing that Lan Zao had fallen into a hallucination. In a daze, tottering. Lan Zao¡¯s sensations were wonderful. Hunger had completely left him; he felt light, as if¡­ as if he were engaged in his favorite activity¡ª Diving. He loved to dive into the sea and then stay motionless, letting the ocean currents carry him in any direction, or descend slowly through the water, viewing the vast expanse of sky through the shimmering light. Such a pure blue without any impurities. The blue of the sky usually seemed indifferent, lofty, but through the sea¡¯s transmission, this blue became soft, elegant, sad, and approachable. Lan Zao loved this shade of blue the most. Immersed in this deep blue, he could forget himself. In such a beautiful scene, did it matter who he was? It didn¡¯t matter anymore. ¡°Let¡¯s just keep sinking¡­¡± Lan Zao sighed contentedly in his heart. Then, a giant shark quietly appeared. It had a snow-white belly, fins as straight as blades, rows of terrifyingly sharp teeth, and its eyes were blue, reflecting light like glass. The shark and the unconscious Lan Zao made eye contact, closely looking at each other¡¯s eyes, a thrill of terror emerging from deep within Lan Zao. Like an electric shock, he woke up, remembering who he was. ¡°Yes, my name is Lan Zao.¡± ¡°I was born in a seaside fishing village, and I loved to dive in the sea; I nearly never grew up.¡± Lan Zao was ten years old when the fishing village faced famine. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just the village; the entire domain had hardly any harvest. However, the lord of the land still ruthlessly exacted taxes. The villagers¡¯ spare grain was forcibly collected. In the humble thatched cottage, including Lan Zao, the family sat at the dining table. In front of others, there were big bowls with a small dollop of dark green paste-like food. But in front of Lan Zao, there were half a bowlful. Lan Zao looked at the food in his bowl, which was unprecedentedly plentiful. Likewise, an unprecedented fear enveloped his whole being. ¡°Eat, eat more,¡± Lan Zao¡¯s father said gently, like the rolling waves by the sea. Lan Zao looked up but couldn¡¯t see his father¡¯s face clearly. The village was so poor they couldn¡¯t afford candles. In the dim room, most of his father¡¯s face was hidden in darkness, only his blue eyes visible, reflecting light like glass. Late at night, Lan Zao heard breathing next to his ear, the sound growing heavier. He opened his eyes and saw his father leaning over his bed, staring at him, their faces almost touching. Lan Zao opened his mouth to shout, but the next moment, his father reached out his hands and grabbed Lan Zao¡¯s throat. Lan Zao struggled frantically, the thrashing sounds awakening his mother and brother, Huang Zao. Seeing their father trying to strangle Lan Zao, they hurriedly ran to stop him. ¡°Get away from me!¡± the father kicked the mother away. Huang Zao shrank into the corner of the Fang family¡¯s home, trembling with fear. ¡°This is your son!¡± the mother shrieked, her voice heartbreakingly sharp, like the last cry of a bird being strangled in a small throat. ¡°This life was given by me, now I am simply taking it back,¡± the father yelled, ¡°Stop struggling, give it to me, give it to me! Only then can I live, and our whole family can survive!¡± ¡°No, no!¡± The mother shook her head frantically, ¡°His life was not given by you, it was granted by the divine Spirit Mother. When I was in difficult labor, it was the Spirit Mother¡¯s priest who saved me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a god of the Elf Faith, our Human Race¡¯s Evil God! And you dare mention it?!¡± the father roared. But the next moment, Lan Zao reached for his solid wooden pillow and struck his father hard on the head. His father was caught off guard and knocked unconscious. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Lan Zao didn¡¯t stop, he kept shouting as if possessed, repeatedly lifting the pillow high and then smashing it down on his father¡¯s skull. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Blood flowed more and more, filling the room with the stench of blood. His father lay motionless. ¡°Stop, stop, he¡¯s already dead, dead!¡± Finally, the mother grabbed Lan Zao and held him tightly in her arms. Only then did Lan Zao stop his mechanical hitting, his vacant expression faded, and he came to his senses and sobbed uncontrollably. In the following days, seven people died in the fishing village. Most were either old, weak, sickly, or young; Lan Zao¡¯s father was the sole exception. Lan Zao and his mother buried his father together. Hunger can turn a person into a beast. Widows and orphans were the easiest to bully; the usually gentle and kind villagers became wild and rough. His mother was attacked and seriously injured. Sensing the danger, Lan Zao¡¯s mother took her two sons and secretly left the fishing village. Near their coastal fishing village were many very small deserted islands. A small deserted island became their new home and also the grave for their mother. ¡°It¡¯s better if I die, then you can survive,¡± the mother called Lan Zao to her side, whispering her last words into his ear, ¡°The great gods are calling me, my spirit will ascend to the Holy Temple of the Spirit Mother. Don¡¯t worry about me, take good care of your brother.¡± Crying, Lan Zao, placed his mother on the small boat. The boat was outfitted with firewood and fresh flowers. The most exquisite of the funeral goods was a statue. The statue depicted the Spirit Mother as a doe, but with antlers like branches, larger than those of a stag. The deer¡¯s legs were entwined with vines, and flowers bloomed across its body, forming patterns like deer skin. Together with Huang Zao, Lan Zao pushed the boat into the sea and then lit the dry wood on the boat with a torch. Watching the boat burning, drifting with the waves, the sea surface reflected an orange glow. In the continuous sound of the waves, it seemed as if they repeated the mother¡¯s last words. Take good care of your brother¡­ Take good care of your brother¡­ Take good care of your brother¡­ This last wish deeply etched in Lan Zao¡¯s heart until now, continued to echo in his ears. Lan Zao forced his eyes open wide. He only saw a vast expanse of bewildering white. ¡°Huang Zao¡­ my brother, where are you?¡± he called out, surprisingly, with enough strength to shout. ¡°That¡¯s fake, all fake.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no oasis, no Oasis!¡± ¡°Brother, there¡¯s no Oasis¡­ Wuuu wuuu¡­¡± Huang Zao lay beside Lan Zao, crying uncontrollably, already broken. Suddenly, Lan Zao reached out, grabbing Huang Zao¡¯s head and pulled it close. His mouth next to Huang Zao¡¯s ear, just like their mother had done before. Lan Zao gave his last words: ¡°Huang Zao, eat me, then you can keep going! Live well, take good care of yourself.¡± Huang Zao¡¯s body shook violently as if turned to stone, becoming a statue. About two or three seconds later, Huang Zao suddenly sprang into action, lunging at Lan Zao, hands gripping Lan Zao¡¯s neck. ¡°Brother, brother!¡± he yelled out. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry!¡± he cried. ¡°I¡¯ll eat you, eat you¡­¡± his eyes blood-red, like a wild beast. Lan Zao felt very uncomfortable, slowly suffocating. He tried to curl the corners of his mouth into a smile. It seemed the sound of surging waves came to his ears. Whoosh¡­ Whoosh¡­ Whoosh¡­ His body felt as if it were soaking in seawater, as if diving under the sea, serene and peaceful. Chapter 67 - 67: Section 68: I Want to Live! Chapter 67: Section 68: I Want to Live! Zhenjin felt as though he was on fire. After leaving the cave, he took the initiative to charge into the scorpion group, successively slaying three gun scorpions. Provoked in such a manner, the Silver Spear Scorpion became furious and led the scorpion group to encircle and kill Zhenjin. Previously, Zhenjin had broken the unspoken agreement, causing the scorpions to abandon their rules; all the gun scorpions attacked him. Zhenjin dodged to the left and right, climbed over rocks, his movements agile and flexible. The mountainous terrain was extremely unfriendly to the scorpion group, greatly hindering the movements of ordinary gun scorpions. Only the Silver Spear Scorpion could keep up with Zhenjin. ... Zhenjin engaged it, mostly defending. After several attacks and defenses, seeing the scorpions beginning to surround him again, he continued to retreat. ¡°Good, just like that!¡± Despite the immense pressure, Zhenjin was pleased because the situation was precisely what he wanted¡ªthe entire scorpion group was attracted to him, allowing Zi Di and Cang Xu to escape stealthily. ¡°Buy time! The more time passes, the greater their chances of escape.¡± However, the good times didn¡¯t last long, and Zhenjin¡¯s movements soon slowed. He was gasping for breath, and despite his fighting spirit, his limbs were weak, and he was unable to exert strength. Among the rugged rocks, he had just dodged a scorpion tail spear, when another gun scorpion appeared behind him on the left, swinging its pincers. Zhenjin tried to dodge, but due to insufficient strength, he was a beat too slow. With a muffled bang, Zhenjin was struck by the massive pincer of the gun scorpion, flinging him away. His back solidly hit a huge rock, causing him to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood and fall down. As soon as he landed, three gun scorpions surrounded him. Zhenjin first rolled to dodge the sweep of the pincers, then leaped up, stepping on the head of a gun scorpion to reach the boulder. As he soared through the air, the Silver Spear Scorpion arrived, its sharp tail piercing through the air towards Zhenjin. Hearing the sound of the wind, Zhenjin, in mid-air, struggled to turn around and used his Spider Blade to block. The scorpion tail struck the Spider Blade, bringing enormous impact force. Just as Zhenjin was about to use this force to reach the top of the boulder, he saw the cracks on the Spider Blade rapidly spreading. ¡°Damn!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s pupils dilated as he realized something was wrong, and then the entire Spider Blade shattered with a bang. With nothing to block it, the scorpion tail pierced directly through Zhenjin¡¯s left shoulder blade, and with unrelenting force, pinned him entirely against the rock. Agonizing pain struck, and Zhenjin cried out, spewing a large amount of fresh blood. He tightly grabbed the scorpion tail¡¯s tip, exerting all his strength to try and pull it out. However, the strength of the Silver Spear Scorpion was not something he could match, and no matter how hard Zhenjin clenched his teeth and exerted all his strength, he couldn¡¯t move the scorpion tail¡¯s tip by an inch. For a time, Zhenjin was immobilized. Seizing the opportunity, the Silver Spear Scorpion tried to climb the boulder using its limbs. But the boulder was steep, with smooth walls that were nearly vertical. The Silver Spear Scorpion pressed itself against the rock, almost standing upright, but its pincers still couldn¡¯t reach Zhenjin. The scorpion tail was long, thus it could sting Zhenjin and pin him solidly on the rock wall. But the gun scorpion couldn¡¯t climb the boulder, and since its pincers couldn¡¯t reach Zhenjin, it couldn¡¯t deliver a fatal blow. The battle fell into a strange stalemate. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t escape, nor could the Silver Spear Scorpion kill him outright. Blood continuously flowed from the wound in his left shoulder, running down Zhenjin¡¯s legs and dripping onto the pincers and head of the Silver Spear Scorpion. The Silver Spear Scorpion tried for a while but couldn¡¯t reach Zhenjin. It screeched and screamed in frustration, its voice sharp and piercing. But seemingly afraid that Zhenjin might jump and escape again, it didn¡¯t move its scorpion tail, keeping Zhenjin firmly fixed against the rock wall. As the blood loss increased, Zhenjin felt dizzy. His strength was also depleted. Unarmed. The wall of the rock was as if cleaved by an axe, also having no foothold. Once the scorpion tail was loosened, Zhenjin would fall and be instantly dismembered by the gun scorpions. ¡°I¡­ am about to die¡­¡± Death was indeed imminent. When Zhenjin realized this, fear swept through his entire being. ¡°Be brave!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid!¡± ¡°I am a Holy Temple Knight.¡± Despite his internal cries, an intense fear continued to surge from within, drowning his mind like a tide. If death had occurred in an instant, he wouldn¡¯t have had time to think, and this intense fear wouldn¡¯t have existed. But as death gradually approached, the immense pressure was not something he could imagine¡ªhe had to experience it to know its true terror. Originally, when he had killed the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear in the cave, he had felt fear upon waking. But the fear he felt after escaping paled in comparison to the intensity he felt at this moment. ¡°I also know I am afraid, but I never truly realized I could be this terrified!¡± Afraid. He was afraid of dying! Then, because of this intense fear, Zhenjin felt both shame and disgrace. ¡°Maybe I am a coward¡­¡± ¡°No, no!¡± The young knight¡¯s heart was in agony. Discovering he was a coward was more cruel to him than a heroic death. His blood soon pooled around, staining the entire head of the Silver Spear Scorpion red. Zhenjin¡¯s vision gradually darkened, his strength ebbed away, and his struggles became weaker. ¡°Well, I might be dying, but Zi Di and Cang Xu got away with their lives,¡± he seemed to see Zi Di and Cang Xu fleeing the cave. At that moment, a sense of absurdity rose in Zhenjin¡¯s mind. ¡°Those weaker than me managed to escape? I am stronger than them, and yet I am about to die?¡± ¡°Do they even save Bai Ya?¡± ¡°The chances are slim.¡± ¡°If I had heeded Cang Xu¡¯s advice and eaten human flesh, maybe I could have been saved too.¡± The moment this thought surfaced, Zhenjin wanted to deny it. But the more he denied it, the stronger the thought became! Thus, the young knight felt deep regret. Deep regret! ¡°If I die, could my soul be fortunate enough to enter the Holy Temple of the Great Emperor and become a Heroic Spirit?¡± ¡°The likelihood is too slim. Here, I can¡¯t even convey my prayers to the Great Emperor.¡± ¡°That means, once I die, I lose everything¡­ my responsibilities, my family, my aspirations, my future¡ªall will turn to nothing.¡± ¡°If I had another choice, I would not be stubborn. I would eat!¡± ¡°Why did I listen to the words of someone my age in my memory, saying ¡®Hell is right beneath our feet, and fall is imminent¡¯? Bullshit! I was foolish.¡± ¡°Others¡¯ answers are not my answers.¡± ¡°I thought about it all night, but did I truly think it through?¡± ¡°I want to survive, I really want to survive!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve realized, surviving is more important than anything else!¡± ¡°Even if¡­ others die, what does it have to do with me?¡± ¡°I want to live!!¡± Huang Zao was shouting the same thing. ¡°I want to live!¡± ¡°Brother, you were right. Since you¡¯re about to die anyway, if you sacrifice yourself, I can live.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t blame me, don¡¯t blame me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all because you got injured, otherwise how could we have run out of water so soon?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you! You killed father and caused me to lose my father at a young age. You ate mother, it¡¯s all your fault, all your fault!!¡± Huang Zao shouted, watching his brother, his only kin in the world, gradually lose breath. After a moment of shock, he released his hands and buried his head into Lan Zao¡¯s chest, sobbing uncontrollably. But just then, Lan Zao suddenly opened his eyes! His arm muscles bulged, and his fingers, like iron hooks, firmly gripped Huang Zao¡¯s head. Then Lan Zao quickly flipped over, pressing Huang Zao harshly onto the sandy ground, straddling him. Huang Zao¡¯s eyes widened, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinpoints, unable to react to such a sudden change. He wanted to shout, but in the next moment, Lan Zao¡¯s iron fist struck his eye socket. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a moment, it felt as if the world was spinning, his ears buzzing intensely. Instinctively, Huang Zao tried to push his brother away. However, Lan Zao grabbed his arm and then snapped it backward. Lan Zao¡¯s strength had eerily surged beyond the limits of the human body. ¡°Ah!¡± Huang Zao let out a terrible scream. Bang, bang, bang. Lan Zao swung his fists like a tempest, brutally beating Huang Zao as a strong boxer would ravage a frail punching bag. Huang Zao was powerless to resist, being beaten until he spat blood, and all his teeth were shattered. ¡°Stop, stop!¡± ¡°Spare me, I¡¯m about to die.¡± ¡°Brother, brother, I won¡¯t dare anymore.¡± ¡°Lan Zao! I¡¯m your brother, your own brother!¡± ¡°Brother, stop hitting me, stop!¡± The terrified Huang Zao could only loudly beg for mercy. But Lan Zao seemed deaf to his pleas, continuing to punch until Huang Zao no longer moved or struggled. Finally, Huang Zao¡¯s arms fell limply to the ground. His eyes were wide open, his face unrecognizable, as he was beaten to death by Lan Zao¡¯s relentless blows! Bang, bang, bang. Yet Lan Zao continued. His eyes looked vacant, lips tightly pressed together, maintaining a deathly silence. The motion of his punches made him resemble a machine performing repetitive motions. Zhenjin¡¯s vision gradually darkened. As he neared death, his mind was abnormally active. But as his body moved closer to death, his mind became unclear. Once again, he found himself in darkness. Endless, boundless darkness. ¡°Where is this?¡± ¡°Am I dead?¡± ¡°Wait¡­ who am I?¡± Though there were no points of reference in the darkness, the young man felt himself continuously sinking. He had forgotten almost everything, but at this moment, a great sense of crisis enveloped his heart. The young man realized that if he didn¡¯t do something, something irredeemable would happen. But he didn¡¯t know what to do, what he could do! ¡°What have I forgotten?¡± ¡°What exactly have I forgotten?¡± ¡°What should I remember?¡± ¡°Damn it, who can answer me!¡± The young man felt extremely powerless, like he was struck by a nightmare, his mind clear yet unclear, aware of the danger he was in, wanting to fully awaken, but unable to. This feeling of being eager yet powerless made him especially furious! And his anger was like a spark that seemed to trigger something. ¡°Roar¡ª!¡± A beast¡¯s roar suddenly erupted from the darkness. The roar was so magnificent and unmatched that it shattered the entire dark consciousness space. In reality, the previously closed-eyed Zhenjin suddenly jolted awake. He widened his eyes, his pupils shrinking to an extreme, his mouth opened wide, gasping heavily as if he had just been rescued from nearly drowning. A fierce, eerie power stirred in his heart. Fortune coming from the spirit¡¯s heart, Zhenjin immediately urged this power. The power surged out like a released tiger from his heart! Zhenjin¡¯s palms, which had previously fallen weakly to his waist, now reached out again and tightly grabbed the scorpion tail of the Silver Spear Scorpion. The next moment, that fierce and weird power surged into his palms, turning them a bloody red. The bloody light spilled out and transformed into four blood threads. Each blood thread was as thick as an adult¡¯s finger. Like venomous snakes striking, the blood threads rapidly followed the scorpion tail, spreading across the entire body of the Silver Spear Scorpion and quickly wrapped around it. On the surface, the Silver Spear Scorpion looked as if it was tightly bound. However, the Silver Spear Scorpion seemed to feel nothing at all. The blood threads visibly dimmed at a visible rate, as if they were seeping into the body of the Silver Spear Scorpion from the surface. Yet quickly, the interlacing blood threads rapidly regained their previous luster. ¡°Wait, it seems the blood light is even more enchanting and brighter than before.¡± Zhenjin squinted his eyes; just when he noticed this change, all the blood threads suddenly retracted. In an instant, there was nothing left on the body of the Silver Spear Scorpion. The blood threads returned to his palm and transformed back into the same kind of power as before, yet the scale of the power was evidently much greater than before. The power rapidly flowed within Zhenjin, continuously pouring into his heart. At this moment, Zhenjin¡¯s consciousness also focused on his heart, and he saw the Demon Crystal in his heart again! ¡°It really is the power generated by the Demon Crystal!¡± Right after Zhenjin verified his guess, the scorpion tail in his hand, like a long-weathered bone, burst all at once into innumerable tiny fragments. Without support, Zhenjin fell toward the rocky wall below. When his feet hit the ground, the fragments of the Silver Spear Scorpion also shattered again, turning into a pile of carbon ash. With the bizarre and eerie leader dead, the scorpions hesitated to advance, but Zhenjin, weak in the legs, stood only for a moment before sitting down on the ground. Seeing Zhenjin¡¯s weakness, the scorpions gathered again. Several scorpion tails swung, and sharp spear tips stabbed at Zhenjin from all directions. Zhenjin had nowhere to hide, no way to escape. At the brink of life and death, he instinctively mobilized the Demon Crystal, moving with a skill that seemed almost innate. The Demon Crystal in his heart immediately burst forth with bright red blood light. The blood light radiated from within, shining over Zhenjin¡¯s entire body. Clang, clang, clang! The spear tips of scorpion tails pierced Zhenjin, tearing through his clothes but failing to pierce his skin, only making a series of metallic collision sounds. At this moment, nearly all of Zhenjin¡¯s skin turned into scorpion shell, bulging out his outer clothing. And it was Silver Level scorpion shell at that. The scorpion shell was tough, completely blocking all the scorpion tail stings. Then, the remaining blood light flowed downward, pouring into Zhenjin¡¯s tailbone. With a soft ¡°puchi,¡± Zhenjin felt a severe pain at his tailbone, and a slender scorpion tail shot out from his buttocks. Zhenjin shifted to a kneeling position, trying to move the scorpion tail, which ended in a sharp long spear-like tip, and it pierced through a gun scorpion like a snake shooting out of its hole. A fatal strike! The scorpions were instantly stunned. They couldn¡¯t understand how a human could grow the same shell and scorpion tail as themselves, but Zhenjin¡¯s performance was enough to prove his strength. Upon realizing this, the scorpions turned and fled in a rout. Zhenjin did not pursue them and remained kneeling on the ground, exhausted. Looking at the scorpion shell on his body and the elongated scorpion tail, the shock still solidified on the face of the young knight. ¡°I¡¯ve grown a shell.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also grown a tail.¡± ¡°Right, I can now actively control the Demon Crystal!!¡± Chapter 68 - 68: Section 69: Exploring the Secrets of the Demon Core Chapter 68: Section 69: Exploring the Secrets of the Demon Core ¡°The most important thing is¡ªI survived!¡± ¡°I survived!!¡± The joy of survival was so intense and moving that Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but repeat the phrase subconsciously. At one point, Zhenjin thought he was surely going to die! Ever since he had awakened, he had experienced such near-death encounters several times, and the joy of surviving each time touched his whole body and soul. This time, it felt particularly intense, as if every cell in his body was cheering. Panting heavily, Zhenjin gradually calmed down. ... Though his shoulder blade wound was covered by the scorpion shell, pain still struck relentlessly. But soon, the young man¡¯s attention was drawn to the tail standing in front of his eyes. This scorpion tail shone like gold, reflecting a metallic luster. Previously, in his encounters with scorpion swarms, Zhenjin had suffered greatly from this type of tail. But now, this scorpion tail was his own. It felt very strange. With a thought from Zhenjin, the scorpion tail stiffened upright, motionless as a bamboo pole. Another thought, and the tail curved into an S shape, then undulated continuously like waves. It was like an extension of his own body! ¡°Although it¡¯s my first time having a tail, it feels like this scorpion tail has always been a part of my body.¡± Zhenjin then reached out to touch the scorpion tail. The cold, hard sensation transmitted into his heart. ¡°But the scorpion tail doesn¡¯t feel touched.¡± Zhenjin looked down at his chest. His chest was covered in scorpion armor, which seemed like a layer of natural armor, tightly protecting his body. Touching the scorpion armor on his chest, he felt the same cold hardness as when touching the tail. ¡°Similarly, the scorpion armor on my chest doesn¡¯t feel touched.¡± ¡°But earlier when the armor protected me from the spikes of the gun scorpions, I did feel a significant impact. That means it¡¯s not that there¡¯s no tactile sensation. It¡¯s just that light touches, like this one, aren¡¯t enough to be felt.¡± Humans have many kinds of sensations¡ª primarily sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Most beasts have shells, fur, feathers, etc. In comparison, human skin is delicate and thinly haired, so human defensive power is weak. However, at the same time, human skin and fine body hairs provide a sharper sense of touch. Sometimes, the landing of an insect can be quickly detected. In terms of touch, scorpion shells are inferior to human skin. But the defensive power they offer is incomparable to that of human flesh. ¡°It was the scorpion armor that saved my life!¡± Without the scorpion armor, he would¡¯ve been pierced through by several gun scorpions¡¯ tails. Zhenjin attempted to introspect again. Very smoothly! Or rather, without any hindrance, he saw the Demon Crystal inside his heart again. The Demon Crystal flickered with a bloody light, continuously depleting, silently supporting Zhenjin¡¯s current mutation. With a glint in his eye, Zhenjin tried to control the Demon Crystal to stop the current consumption. The next moment, the brilliance of the Demon Crystal in his heart quickly diminished, and in less than a breath, it completely ceased. Without the support of this mysterious crystal core, Zhenjin¡¯s scorpion shell and tail quickly turned black, then carbonized. Almost instantly, the mutated organs turned to carbon ash and fell to the ground. Immediately, a wave of weakness surged from the depths of Zhenjin¡¯s heart. This sensation was all too familiar to Zhenjin. He had experienced it when his hands mutated into bear claws, and also when his arm mutation subsided, and even with the emetic potion. Zhenjin looked down at his chest. The original scorpion armor was gone, revealing his muscular chest and the wound on his left shoulder. Of course, the muscles weren¡¯t very huge. ¡°I¡¯m only sixteen, still growing.¡± ¡°Moreover, it seems the mutation doesn¡¯t heal wounds.¡± The wound on his left shoulder blade was severe, completely penetrated by the Silver Spear Scorpion¡¯s tail, nailing Zhenjin to a huge rock. Even with Zhenjin¡¯s robust physique, he couldn¡¯t stop the bleeding. Bright red blood still slowly streamed from the wound. ¡°The wound must be treated immediately!¡± As the joy and happiness faded, the young man gritted his teeth, took out a potion, and sprinkled it on the wound. The potion, given by Zi Di, could help stop the bleeding. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then Zhenjin tore off the front of his shirt, twisted it into strips, and started bandaging. The strip of cloth, serving as a bandage, covered the wound and immediately became stained with red blood. Zhenjin looped the fabric under his armpit, bit one end of it with his teeth, and then tied it tightly with his hands. A sharp pain made him see stars. The boy gasped in a breath of cold air, endured for a few seconds, and the pain then slightly eased. He wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, panting continuously. After a while, his gaze finally regained focus. For now, that was as much as he could do for the wound. Zhenjin continued to investigate, having just wrapped his entire body in scorpion armor to fend off the scorpion swarm¡¯s assault. Now that the armor had dissipated, restoring his original form, Zhenjin found no lingering adverse changes. Afterward, he reached down to touch his buttocks. The pants covering his rear had a hole torn in it. This was where the tail had punctured through when it grew. Zhenjin touched his coccyx. Just like before¡ªvery normal. Zhenjin breathed a sigh of relief. He then refocused his attention on the Demon Core in his heart. He discovered that the more attention he focused on this mysterious and magical Demon Core, the clearer his perception of its condition became. When his perception reached a certain level of clarity, Zhenjin was able to detect the remaining energy reserves within the Demon Core. ¡°The level of transformation I experienced before, if each transformation lasts the same amount of time¡­ I can probably transform two more times.¡± Quite naturally, Zhenjin calculated the result. Moreover, his intuition told him this calculated result was very accurate. ¡°After the mutation, I will become very strong.¡± ¡°But the number of such mutations is limited. It cannot allow me to mutate endlessly.¡± ¡°The fundamental reason is that the energy in the Demon Core is finite.¡± A contemplative light flashed in Zhenjin¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not just this limitation.¡± ¡°There are other constraints¡ªI can only transform into scorpion shells and scorpion tails.¡± The pincer-like limbs of the gun scorpion could not be transformed. ¡°Wait! What is this?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s perception delved deeper, and he discovered something new. A trace of joy crossed the young man¡¯s face. Because he found that he could not only transform the body parts of the gun scorpion but also the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear again! But like the limitations with the gun scorpion, he could only transform the bear¡¯s claws and limbs and could not mutate any other organs of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. ¡°Besides the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, can I also transform into a Fire Poison Bee?!¡± Discovery followed discovery. Accompanying Zhenjin¡¯s thoughts, the Demon Core in his heart was quickly stimulated. The transformations of the gun scorpion, Monkey-tailed Brown Bear; Zhenjin was clear about these. Other mutations need to be tried and experienced one by one. This point of energy could not be saved. The mutation of the Fire Poison Bee was immediately generated! Zhenjin looked at the back of his hand. A black-and-yellow color quickly spread across his hands, covering them with a layer of down. This was the down of the Fire Poison Bee, similar to the stripes of a zebra, only black and yellow. ¡°I can cover all the skin on my body with this layer of down. However, doing so would consume a lot more energy.¡± Zhenjin immediately stopped stimulating the Demon Core in his heart, and a scene similar to before happened again. The down of the Fire Poison Bee quickly turned grey, then transformed into a pile of fine carbon powder. Zhenjin gently shook his hand, brushing off this layer of carbon powder, revealing the same normal skin as before. ¡°Gun scorpion, Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, Fire Poison Bee¡­ um, I can also transform into a goat.¡± However, this goat mutation could only transform Zhenjin¡¯s flesh into goat meat. Compared to the previous mutations, it was of low value. Zhenjin still tried it out a bit. ¡°The transformed goat meat does not contain the previous chaotic frost magic power. However, this is also normal because those goats contained it due to eating those green grasses.¡± He stopped the Demon Core in his heart, and the portion turned into goat meat quickly reversed back to normal human flesh. ¡°If I carved out the transformed goat meat with a Dagger, could it be used as food?¡± ¡°Eating myself?¡± Zhenjin thought again and shook his head slightly. Previous practices had proven that once the mutated part was detached from the support of the Demon Core¡¯s energy, it would quickly decay into a pile of carbon ash. So, his plan to eat himself would not succeed. When Zhenjin delved his sensing to the limit, he found that he had two other mutations. One was moss. The other was the meat of the Acid Liquid Green Lizard. ¡°This moss?¡± Zhenjin looked at the mutated back of his hand and immediately felt it looked familiar. In the next breath, he recognized it. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the moss that poisoned me?¡± Starting from the cave of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, he and Zi Di explored the path together. In this process, his skin was poisoned due to abrasion against this moss. Zi Di tried to detoxify him, which could only alleviate but not cure. In the end, they found the source of the poison and used the moss to make a potion that finally cured Zhenjin completely. ¡°Just call it Green Speckled Poison Moss.¡± Zhenjin remembered that after being poisoned, green spots grew on his face, these spots were round and small, and he felt nothing unusual himself. He also transformed into the meat of the Acid Liquid Green Lizard. Like the goat meat, it was basically the same, not of high practical value. After a session of probing, Zhenjin¡¯s understanding of the Demon Core in his heart deepened quite a bit. ¡°So, the energy absorbed, transformed, and stored in the Demon Core after absorbing external life is universal for any form of mutation.¡± ¡°But why can I transform into these and not transform into the Blue-haired Evil Wolf, Python Vine, Scale-Horned Black Panther, and Blade Spider?¡± After some thought, Zhenjin came up with his own answer. ¡°Gun scorpion¡­ is it because I activated the Demon Core and took all its life?¡± ¡°Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡­ is it because I received a lot of blood transfusion while being treated by Zi Di?¡± ¡°I ate a lot of goat meat. Similarly, lizard meat too. The main food recently has been lizard meat.¡± ¡°However, I also ate snake meat, Flying Squirrel meat, and other small insects like spiders and scorpions. Maybe I ate too little of these foods.¡± As for the Fire Poison Bee? ¡°I was poisoned. My body once contained a large amount of Fire Poison, which nearly caused my death.¡± ¡°Toxins and flesh both entered my body. From this angle, there¡¯s no difference.¡± ¡°So, they were all quietly absorbed by the Demon Core.¡± ¡°As for other Magic Beasts, although I encountered them, I didn¡¯t have close contact. The Blue-haired Evil Wolf, Molten Giant Turtle, Python Vine, and others were like this.¡± Thinking this far, Zhenjin arrived at another very valuable speculative conclusion. ¡°As it seems now, the object of the Demon Core¡¯s absorption and transformation is a living entity.¡± ¡°Plain magic power cannot be absorbed by the Demon Core.¡± Zhenjin had once been poisoned by ¡°Cold Poison,¡± and his body contained a lot of chaotic frost magic power. But this magic power was not absorbed and transformed by the Demon Core; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been poisoned. ¡°So, the role of the Demon Core in my heart is probably to forcibly absorb and transform life, forming a kind of special and mysterious demon energy. Once this demon energy is activated, it can produce a certain degree of human mutation, transforming into a series of life structures related to the life previously absorbed.¡± Chapter 69 - 69: Section 70: I Have Not Degenerated Chapter 69: Section 70: I Have Not Degenerated ¡°So, how should this demon energy be replenished?¡± Almost instantly, the scene in which Lord Zhenjin had dealt with the Silver Spear Scorpions jumped into his mind. It was a matter of life and death, the brink of existence, leaving too deep an impression on the young knight, almost as if it was etched into his heart. Lord Zhenjin immediately stood up and walked over to the corpse of a gun scorpion. The Silver Spear Scorpions had already turned to carbon ash, and the other surviving gun scorpions had fled, but there was still one ordinary gun scorpion that had fallen in battle. Lord Zhenjin activated the Demon Core within his heart, and his palm emitted a red light. ... However, the red light could not be directly fired. ¡°Do I need contact for it to be effective?¡± Lord Zhenjin frowned slightly. He didn¡¯t rush to place his palm upon the scorpion shell but first halted. Lord Zhenjin carefully sensed the Demon Core within him, muttering softly, ¡°It can be activated at any time, and stopped immediately without recoil from the Demon Core. Furthermore, this activation and cessation seem to consume very little because it doesn¡¯t cause bodily mutations, so the consumption is negligible.¡± ¡°Then, let¡¯s first test it with blood.¡± This gun scorpion had been pierced to death by Lord Zhenjin¡¯s scorpion tail, and from the puncture wound, scorpion blood continuously flowed out. Much of this blood had spilled onto the ground, where the hot volcanic molten lava caused steam to rise, and the intense scent of blood rapidly spread around. The red light enveloped Lord Zhenjin¡¯s palm. Lord Zhenjin dipped his hand into a small pool of blood on the ground. The red light expanded instantly, vanishing in a flash. The original small pool of blood directly turned into a pile of carbon dust. As more scorpion blood continued to trickle down, the carbon dust immediately mixed with the fresh blood. ¡°Any part of a living being can be converted through the Demon Core.¡± Lord Zhenjin waited patiently for a moment. Once the small pool of blood on the ground had accumulated to about the same amount as before, he activated the Demon Core again to absorb it. ¡°This time, the converted and stored demon energy is a bit more than before.¡± ¡°Is it because the scorpion blood has just accumulated, and the dispersion of Magic Power is better than before?¡± Lord Zhenjin speculated. ¡°Demon energy, although it cannot directly convert Magic Power, as long as it targets a living being, the more Magic Power contained within the life form, the more special demon energy will be converted.¡± ¡°So, under normal circumstances, the stronger the life form, the higher the quality of Magic Power it possesses. After absorption and transformation, the more demon energy there will be in the Demon Core.¡± ¡°Then, what is this limit?¡± ¡°At least, life forms at the Silver Level, the Demon Core is able to absorb.¡± In the end, Lord Zhenjin covered the gun scorpion¡¯s corpse with his palm, which glowed red. A similar scene to before occurred again. The red light spread from Lord Zhenjin¡¯s palm, forming four bloodlines. The bloodlines, like snakes, wound around the entire gun scorpion corpse, then quickly dimmed as if infiltrating into the insides of the corpse. Two breaths later, the four bloodlines became distinct again, the blood-red color more vivid and rich than before. The bloodlines retracted swiftly, adding a lot of demon energy to the Demon Core. Meanwhile, the gun scorpion¡¯s corpse also turned into a small pile of carbon ash. ¡°The gain from absorbing the Silver Spear Scorpion cannot be compared to this one.¡± Practice confirmed Lord Zhenjin¡¯s previous guess. ¡°Wait, I can now produce the Claw of a gun scorpion!¡± Originally, Lord Zhenjin could only mutate the tail and shell of the gun scorpion. After absorbing the body of the second Bronze Level gun scorpion, he acquired new gun scorpion transformations. The young knight¡¯s eyes twinkled with thoughtful luster. ¡°So it seems, the more of the same type of life forms I absorb, the more mutation options become available.¡± ¡°And all these mutation options are related to that type of life form.¡± ¡°If I absorb and convert enough gun scorpions, theoretically, could I completely transform into a gun scorpion?¡± Lord Zhenjin went on to clean up the battlefield. In this battle, his Spider Blades had been damaged and shattered into many pieces. He carefully collected these fragments from the battlefield. Then, he once again mobilized the Demon Core within him. The red light rose, and the Spider Blade fragments quickly turned into carbon ash. Lord Zhenjin scattered them lightly, and they drifted away as dust. Lord Zhenjin refocused his attention on the Demon Core. Soon, a hint of joy appeared on his face. He tried to activate the Demon Core again, and his left hand underwent mutation, transforming into five slender Spider Blades within a few breaths! The five Spider Blade fingers were very small, less significant than the ones he had swung before, only slightly longer than an adult¡¯s fingers. But the blades shone brightly, radiating a cold light. Lord Zhenjin moved his fingers, clashing them against each other. The blades emitted a clear metallic sound upon colliding. ¡°Clearly, these blades are just as sharp as when I first acquired Spider Blades.¡± Lord Zhenjin then tried to invoke even more Heart Core Magic Power. The Spider Blades formed by his fingers became even longer, trending towards matching the size of the Spider Blade that had previously shattered. But with that came an ever-increasing consumption of demon energy. Lord Zhenjin quickly stopped this attempt. ¡°I must conserve the demon energy within the Heart Core. I¡¯ve already used enough for today.¡± ¡°But wow, this is amazing!¡± The young man exclaimed with genuine admiration. Armed with such a powerful trump card, he could confidently face many dangers. The beings that had once posed a threat to him were now under the threat of the young knight. ¡°With this mysterious and wonderful Demon Core, I will definitely be able to get off this island and leave this place alive!¡± Not once since waking up did the young knight feel such confidence in his chances for survival and escape. Lord Zhenjin took one last look around the place. It was here that he first gained control of the Demon Core within him. ¡°Perhaps, this is where my fate takes a turn,¡± Lord Zhenjin smiled. Without hesitation, the young knight turned and strode away from the battlefield. He made his way back to the original cave successfully. Cang Xu and Zi Di were nowhere to be seen. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If Zi Di and Cang Xu encounter gun scorpions fleeing in defeat, their situation would be very grim.¡± ¡°I¡¯d better find them quickly.¡± ¡°But before that¡­¡± Lord Zhenjin focused his attention on the gun scorpion bodies inside the cave. Red light flickered continuously within the cave. The exploration team had fought a backwater battle here and killed many gun scorpions. These gun scorpions, under the red light, all turned into piles of carbon ash. Although the Silver Spear Scorpion¡¯s magic power had dissipated greatly over the course of the night, little by little, the demon energy reserve within Lord Zhenjin¡¯s Heart Core had reached its most abundant level ever in history. ¡°Hm?¡± Sensing the Heart Core, Lord Zhenjin raised his brows slightly, as expected! ¡°Scorpion shell, scorpion tail, pincer, Scorpion Eyes, claw, scorpion flesh, scorpion blood¡­ I can now transform into a complete Silver Spear Scorpion!¡± Lord Zhenjin had anticipated this outcome. But he did not expect the process to be so brief. The body of the Silver Spear Scorpion had been absorbed by Lord Zhenjin, so the young knight did not rush to leave, but instead stepped into the deepest part of the cave. There, he discovered Bai Ya. ¡°Just as I thought.¡± Lord Zhenjin sighed softly to himself. Bai Ya had been abandoned. Whether it was Zi Di or Cang Xu, both of them could barely save themselves, it was impossible for them to bring along the burdensome Bai Ya while escaping. But Lord Zhenjin could not blame the two. Everything was for survival. Lord Zhenjin placed his finger under Bai Ya¡¯s nostrils and immediately felt a faint breath. Bai Ya was not dead. Lord Zhenjin reached out to touch Bai Ya¡¯s forehead. He found his fever had subsided! ¡°Well done.¡± The young knight praised, sounding pleased. Since awakening, he had been struggling, struggling for survival and striving for his ideals. Bai Ya had not given up either. Even in unconsciousness, he had been striving hard to survive. This kind of spirit and will resonated strongly with Lord Zhenjin. But soon, the young knight¡¯s expression became complex and subtle again. Seeing Bai Ya in person, he could not help but recall the previous moment when his life hung by a thread. At the brink of death, Lord Zhenjin was in such a wretched state. Confronted by death, he had involuntarily succumbed to intense fear, throwing him into panic. The desire to survive was so strong it made him roar within, attempting to break his moral bottom line. ¡°Those weaker than me can escape death? I¡¯m stronger than them, and I¡¯m supposed to die?¡± ¡°If I had taken Cang Xu¡¯s advice and eaten human flesh, maybe I could have been saved.¡± ¡°Why should I heed the words of a peer in my memories, ¡®Hell lies at our feet, and to fall is but a moment¡¯s notice¡¯? Bullshit! How stupid I am.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve realized, nothing¡¯s more important than living!¡± ¡°Even¡­ what does it matter to me if others are dead?¡± ¡°I must live!!¡± All these were real thoughts, emerging from the deepest parts of his heart! And these thoughts would never occur under normal circumstances. Though it happened not long ago, it all felt like a dream. ¡°What a nightmare!¡± ¡°Could it be¡­ am I really so afraid of death, so cowardly?¡± ¡°Am I a despicable and shameless person?¡± At this moment, Lord Zhenjin questioned himself in his heart. With the joy of survival fading, the curiosity of exploring the secrets of the Demon Core gone, Lord Zhenjin finally had to face himself. The life-and-death battle with the Silver Spear Scorpion had revealed his own ugly side. ¡°Was that really me?¡± ¡°Would I really think that way?¡± The young knight knelt by Bai Ya¡¯s side, lost in thought. His complexion seemed covered by a layer of gloom. He hung his head low, the poise he had earlier lost, now looking somewhat hunched over. ¡°No, no, I¡¯m a Holy Temple Knight.¡± ¡°I am a Holy Temple Knight!¡± Though he told himself this in his heart, Lord Zhenjin still felt shame, self-reproach, and doubt about himself. ¡°Cough, cough, cough.¡± At that moment, Bai Ya coughed, and then the next moment, he slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Lord Zhenjin¡­¡± Bai Ya, noticing Lord Zhenjin kneeling beside him, spoke in a very weak voice. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body shook, and he quickly bent down close to Bai Ya, ¡°It¡¯s me, Bai Ya, you must hold on!¡± ¡°Sir¡­ thank you, you must have saved me.¡± Bai Ya looked at Lord Zhenjin, filled with gratitude. After saying this, he closed his eyes again and slipped back into unconsciousness. He was too weak, his physical condition very poor. ¡°Yes, I saved you. I will definitely save you.¡± Lord Zhenjin stared blankly at Bai Ya, murmuring incessantly. Bai Ya¡¯s words were like a beam of light, a pure white dawn, illuminating the young knight¡¯s heart, dispelling the darkness on his face. As if by fate, it seemed as though a force had entered the young knight¡¯s body. The young knight lifted his head, no longer appearing hunched over. His gaze swept over the cave, the events of last night resurfacing before his eyes. His ears seemed again to hear the echo of his voice in this place. At dawn, the young knight had resoundingly said here¡ª¡±I will not regard people as food!¡± He was very determined then¡ª¡±Do not try to persuade me anymore, I have made my decision.¡± Even in the face of dire circumstances, he still maintained optimism and hope¡ª¡±Let¡¯s go, if we make it out of the cave by this time, we¡¯ll see the light of dawn.¡± The family motto of the Dark Shine clan once again flashed in the mind of the young knight¡ªHell lies at our feet, and to fall is but a moment¡¯s notice. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyes gradually brightened. ¡°I haven¡¯t fallen.¡± ¡°I maintained my own bottom line, the principles of a knight.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± He looked toward the unconscious Bai Ya. ¡°I will save you!¡± ¡°And not¡­ eat you.¡± The young knight hoisted Bai Ya onto his back, slowly standing up. Bearing Bai Ya, he left the grisly cave battlefield behind. Dawn had already arrived. Chapter 70 - 70: Section 71: Convergence Chapter 70: Section 71: Convergence The black rocks twisted and overlapped. This was what volcanic magma looked like after it cooled. Amidst the billowing heat, an acrid sulfur smell pervaded the area. On the vast expanse of the black landscape, two people were traveling together. One was a young girl, wearing a tattered apprentice¡¯s magic robe. The hood did not cover her head, revealing a delicate and pretty yet haggard face. What was most captivating were the girl¡¯s eyes, dazzling and clear like the finest purple crystals. At this moment, her eyes were filled with worry. The other was an old man. His white and gray beard hung down to his chest and was filthy, like a rag that had been used for a long time without cleaning. He wore a pair of broken glasses on his nose bridge. He stumbled along with a thin frame and a face full of wrinkles that made the hardships he was suffering seem all the more profound. ... The old and the young were none other than Cang Xu and Zi Di. Following Lord Zhenjin¡¯s plan, when he was the first to break out, drawing away all the gun scorpions, the two of them took the opportunity to escape from the cave. At this moment, they were retracing their steps, trying to leave the fire-formed rock area and return to the desert. Boom, boom, boom. Suddenly, a sound like distant thunder came from afar. Zi Di and Cang Xu stopped in their tracks and turned to look back. They saw the distant volcano spewing out an enormous amount of red magma. The magma shot up high, at least eight hundred meters into the air by a simple estimate. The pitch-black smoke obscured half the sky. The bright red magma surged to its peak and then began to splash and fall. Zi Di and Cang Xu were both shaken, body and soul. ¡°Thank goodness we¡¯re still on the perimeter, let¡¯s get moving,¡± Cang Xu urged. But Zi Di moved slower and slower, occasionally turning her head to look back. Cang Xu knew what the girl was anticipating and immediately spoke to reassure her, ¡°Lord Zhenjin will meet up with us. We must have faith in him! Our escape was all thanks to his risking danger to draw away all the gun scorpions. We were lucky to make it this far, and we can¡¯t let down Lord Zhenjin¡¯s efforts and sacrifices!¡± Zi Di clenched her teeth, looking at the volcanic ash scattering across the sky, ¡°Although I¡¯ve left traces of pink potions along the way, the volcanic ash will soon cover these marks! Just wait a little longer¡­¡± Ssss, sss. Zi Di¡¯s words had barely finished when dozens of pale yellow streams of gas suddenly erupted from the ground nearby. The outbursts were very abrupt, and the sulfur smell in the air quickly became much more concentrated. Bang. The ground shook violently, and Zi Di and Cang Xu couldn¡¯t help but sway as if standing in a small boat being rammed by a great white shark. ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± Between shock and doubt, Zi Di and Cang Xu watched as the stream of gas spewing forth swiftly grew thicker. The gaps between the black volcanic rocks expanded rapidly, and then red magma started gushing out of these vents. In an instant, the temperature in the air skyrocketed! Zi Di and Cang Xu hurriedly ran, leaving behind the dangerous area to reach the relatively stable volcanic rock hundreds of meters away. The spot where they had stood moments earlier now had cracks in the volcanic rock expanding to several tens of meters. An immense amount of magma poured out, covering and destroying everything in its path. In its place, a two-hundred-meter radius was wiped out, replaced by a glowing red magma pool. A massive creature slowly rose from the magma. It had an enormous shell, which was not smooth but studded with many holes. The head of the giant turtle was red as clay, and from the sides of its jaw, two robust tusks protruded. The molten lava, with a temperature exceeding one thousand degrees Celsius, did not harm the giant turtle. It climbed comfortably out of the lava, its demeanor leisurely. Its weight was clearly excessive; its thick legs pressed into the fire-formed rock, sinking deeply with each step. As it lifted its legs, a bit of glowing red magma oozed out of the deep footprints it left behind. Streams of semi-liquid red molten lava also seeped from the holes in the giant turtle¡¯s shell. The immense Life Breath of a Golden Level being overwhelmed the spirits of Zi Di and Cang Xu. However, what shook them even more was that there wasn¡¯t just one Molten Giant Turtle. Following the first one, a second, third, and fourth head emerged from the magma pool. The four Molten Giant Turtles climbed ashore, wandering around and emitting calls similar to those of elephants. ¡°It seems this is their home. The one I saw in the rainforest before must have been transported out,¡± Zi Di thought to herself. ¡°Could it be, these are Molten Giant Turtles?¡± Cang Xu¡¯s voice trembled a bit. This was his first time seeing a Molten Giant Turtle. However, he had exchanged detailed intelligence with Lord Zhenjin beforehand. Cang Xu¡¯s eyes shone brightly, his trembling voice not from fear but from excitement. ¡°Golden Level Magic Beasts, with flesh and blood bodies, yet they can swim through magma. They are not elemental lives. Fascinating, truly fascinating!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± this time it was Zi Di who spoke up to urge their departure. The place was far too dangerous. The two had no choice but to flee, as the Molten Giant Turtles seemed to be of a gentle disposition and did not pursue them. ¡°We should be safe at this distance.¡± After retreating over a kilometer, Zi Di stopped, looking back at the distance again. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cang Xu heaved a sigh, not fleeing alone, and stood by Zi Di¡¯s side. ¡°Now he still hasn¡¯t appeared, I fear Lord Zhenjin may have met with more misfortune than fortune.¡± This was the thought in Cang Xu¡¯s mind. But he didn¡¯t voice it. ¡°Lord Zhenjin¡¯s physical condition is very poor, he has continually gone without food, and his physical strength is lacking.¡± ¡°Facing the pursuit and siege of the scorpion swarm, physical energy consumption will be fierce. The longer it goes on, the dimmer his life¡¯s breath becomes.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Cang Xu sighed inwardly. He fervently hoped that Zhenjin could survive; with Zhenjin¡¯s protection, his chances of survival would greatly increase. Cang Xu was very clear: relying solely on him and Zi Di, escaping from this sea island was simply wishful thinking. However, after waiting a while, Zhenjin¡¯s figure still did not appear. Cang Xu¡¯s heart sank to the bottom, the disappointment growing inside him finally turned into despair. He looked at the girl¡¯s slender figure, and as he was contemplating how to persuade Zi Di to retreat, Zi Di suddenly cried out with surprise. Then, Cang Xu saw Zhenjin¡¯s figure too. Large amounts of volcanic ash were scattered between the heavens and earth, a youth carrying another on his back, his steps steady, his speed not slow, and his posture exuded a stubborn and strong spirit. ¡°Lord, it¡¯s Lord Zhenjin!¡± Cang Xu also shouted, filled with joy. ¡°He brought Bai Ya back as well,¡± Zi Di remarked with mixed emotions. ¡°This is what it means to be a Holy Temple Knight!¡± Cang Xu exclaimed from the bottom of his heart. Moments later, the four of them successfully regrouped. Zhenjin distributed some weapons to Zi Di and Cang Xu. These were what he had gathered after cleaning up the battleground in the cave. These weapons had belonged to other members of the exploration team, all of whom had sacrificed their lives. ¡°Lord, you¡¯re injured! Let me take a look!¡± Zi Di saw the wound on Zhenjin¡¯s shoulder, her eyes quickly reddening. The wound on Zhenjin¡¯s shoulder blade had been caused by a Silver Spear Scorpion. The wound had already been bandaged on site. Although Zhenjin had killed the gun scorpion and controlled the Demon Core, he couldn¡¯t use it to heal his injuries. On the way here, after confirming that Bai Ya had fallen into a deep coma, Zhenjin stimulated the Demon Core within him to mutate his injury. When he mutated the scorpion shell, it would cover the wound. Turning into lamb, lizard meat, the wound was still damaged. Turning into the fluff of a Fire Poison Bee, the fluff covered the skin¡¯s surface, but without the skin, the wound couldn¡¯t mutate new fluff. Zi Di carefully unwrapped the cloth strips and exposed the wound. After examining it, the girl exhaled a heavy breath, ¡°Lord, this wound must have been pierced by a scorpion tail. The injury is severe, but it is stabilized now. Lord, your recovery power is truly extraordinary!¡± Zi Di began to concoct a new potion on the spot. She took out several bottles of potions from a small pouch on her waist, poured out some medicine powder or liquid from each, and then mixed them together in an empty bottle, shaking it vigorously. Finally, she carefully poured the freshly mixed potion on Zhenjin¡¯s wound. Zhenjin immediately felt waves of coolness, and the occasional pain from the injury quickly lessened. Having a Pharmacist nearby really makes a difference. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here for long; let¡¯s get moving quickly,¡± Zhenjin urged after hastily treating the wound, ¡°The scorpion swarm has been shaken off by me, and I would rather not have them catch up again.¡± Zhenjin concealed the death of the Silver Spear Scorpion. Although he controlled the Heart Core, he did not intend to reveal this secret. He was a Holy Temple Knight, and yet the Heart Core allowed him to mutate into a Magic Beast. The former is honorable and upright, while the latter is eerily fierce; the two styles differed greatly and could not be directly linked. If anyone were to see Zhenjin mutating, the most likely suspicion would be that Zhenjin had been tempted and corrupted by the Devil. Moreover, the volcanic eruption had also given Zhenjin a small favor. The volcanic ash covering the ground would conceal all traces of the battleground. If molten lava erupted and rolled over there, then that would be even better¡ªcompletely destroying the evidence. ¡°Yes, we¡¯d better leave as soon as possible,¡± Cang Xu agreed. When leaving, Zhenjin took a deep look at the four Molten Giant Turtles. ¡°I wonder if my Heart Core could absorb a Gold Level life?¡± This question crossed the young man¡¯s mind. Molten Lava would dissolve the scorpion shells, and the red light emitted by the Heart Core also required contact with the target. There was a significant risk for Zhenjin to take on the Molten Giant Turtles. Besides, he had to keep it hidden from Zi Di and Cang Xu. Ultimately, he also had to take care of Zi Di, Cang Xu, and the comatose Bai Ya. So, Zhenjin wisely gave up on the idea of going after the Molten Giant Turtles. Zi Di was unaware that Zhenjin had even contemplated taking on the Molten Giant Turtles. On the way, the girl expressed her worries, ¡°Our food has run out, and we have very little water left.¡± And that wasn¡¯t all. There were only four people left in the entire exploration team: Zhenjin, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and Bai Ya. Cang Xu then said, ¡°Lord, I suggest we return the way we came, back to the vicinity of the Acid Liquid Green Lizard¡¯s nest. Lizard meat is edible, and the existence of a large lizard population suggests there must be a significant water source nearby. There is a high possibility of an Oasis.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s head back,¡± Zhenjin nodded, ¡°and aim to reach the gold mica stone group by tonight.¡± Chapter 71 - 71: Section 72: Actually Absorbing the Bloodline? Chapter 71: Section 72: Actually Absorbing the Bloodline? His left foot was on the black volcanic rock, while Zhenjin¡¯s right foot had already stepped onto the desert. After half a day, they came once again to the boundary between the desert and molten lava landscape. Looking ahead, the yellow-brown sand stretched to the horizon. The scorching sun was distorting in the distance, turning into a haze. Zhenjin, Zi Di, and Cang Xu were all both hungry and thirsty. There was no food, and everyone hailed hunger pangs. The high temperature from the volcanic eruption made them sweat profusely. ... This was very dangerous¡ªsweating depleted the precious water in their bodies. They had to replenish water ahead of time. This consumed a lot of the already scarce water resources. Everyone talked very little, maintaining silence. Zhenjin paused at the boundary line, then, carrying Bai Ya, continued forward. With a youth on his back, Zhenjin had the heaviest burden. On the road, Cang Xu once suggested to Zhenjin: if he wasn¡¯t used as food, then just abandon him. Zhenjin refused without hesitation and warned Cang Xu to never speak of it again! The young knight¡¯s firm attitude rendered Cang Xu speechless. Zi Di repeatedly offered to share the load carrying Bai Ya. Cang Xu reluctantly made the same offer. But Zhenjin refused both offers. Zi Di was only a fifteen-year-old girl, and Cang Xu was an elderly man with white beard. Their physical conditions were both very poor too. If another one collapsed from fatigue, it would make things even more difficult. ¡°I once said that I will do my best to save everyone and will not abandon anyone. This is my promise and my responsibility,¡± Zhenjin told Zi Di and Cang Xu. ¡°My lord, your noble character makes the bright stars in the night sky dim in comparison!¡± Cang Xu sincerely exclaimed, ¡°You are the epitome of a Holy Temple Knight.¡± Zhenjin gave a wry smile and shook his head. Only he fully understood his own thoughts. He had wavered, even nearly fallen, having harbored the evil thought of using Bai Ya as food. He felt ashamed and doubted himself. Thus, saving Bai Ya at this moment felt more like a validation. He wanted to prove to himself that he was a qualified Holy Temple Knight! Zhenjin was actually in a very difficult situation at the moment. He felt his knees and legs growing weak. He had not eaten any food since last night and had narrowly survived a battle with the gun scorpion. He was injured and had severely expended his physical ability. Although he had mastered the Heart Core, the mutation did not fill his stomach. His empty stomach was secreting acid, as if it could digest a piece of iron if one were put into it! And his throat felt like it was filled with volcanic ash. To distract himself, Zhenjin began to ponder over many troubling questions. The first question¡ªwhat exactly was the Demon Core in his heart absorbing? Any life form, whether whole or a part from a lifeform, could be absorbed by the Heart Core. Besides turning into special fresh red demon energy, the Heart Core also added more options for mutation. ¡°So, is the Heart Core actually absorbing Bloodlines?¡± Even though Zhenjin had lost his memory, he knew the concept of Bloodline was not limited to blood. A Bloodline was not just cultivation talent; it was an informational inheritance of a life form! S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For example, drinking dragon blood does not make one a dragon. The Dragon Bloodline includes dragon blood, dragon scales, dragon body, as well as dragon crystal, Dragonese, Dragon Clan magic, combat skills, and more. ¡°Now that I control the Heart Core, does that mean I can master all the Bloodlines in the world?¡± Zhenjin was thrilled by this thought. He clearly understood what this meant! Mastering the Heart Core would mean absorbing and transforming external Bloodlines, which would bring boundless power, authority, wealth, and resources. If a life form had an outstanding Bloodline, its cultivation speed would be faster, and its efficiency greater. It would grow stronger more rapidly over a relatively shorter period. Having great power naturally attracted followers. Even without followers, sheer personal might could overturn the old order. Violence brought power, which made it easier to acquire resources. With abundant resources, strong cultivators would become even stronger, whereas the weak would grow weaker. Over time, the strong would become the upper ruling class, and the weak would become the lower class, ruled and exploited. This was the history and current state of all races. The cornerstone of human nobility governing society and standing unyielded was the Bloodline. Bloodlines were extremely important. The impact of Bloodlines spanned a lifetime! Without enough Bloodline, one remained ordinary, much like the sacrificed members of exploration teams. For Cang Xu to become one of the noble housekeepers was already a great achievement. His case was very rare in human society. Huang Zao and Lan Zao had Bloodlines, thus they managed to reach the Bronze Level with a common cultivation method of Fighting Energy. UnsupportedOperationException, they were at their peak, and not only was it difficult to improve, but their cultivation and life levels would also decrease with aging. Zi Di was a Black Iron Level Mage. She herself admitted that she had tapped out her personal cultivation potential. Why? Because she lacked a noble Bloodline! Zhenjin belonged to the Hundred Needle Family, which used to be a great southern nobility with a high-quality Bloodline. Its Bloodline source could be traced back to the Legendary Level gold needle bee queen. Thus, members of the Hundred Needle Family could theoretically cultivate to the Legendary Level. Throughout history, powerful individuals from the Hundred Needle Family emerged endlessly at the Silver Level, Gold Level, and even the Holy Domain Level! However, no one had reached the Legendary Level yet. The Legendary Level is the theoretical limit for the Hundred Needle Bloodline. Yet, in this world, there were many Bloodlines superior to the Hundred Needle Bloodline. The Holy Temple Bloodline represented by the Holy Emperor, the Quest for Knowledge Bloodline of Duke Quanfa, the Chimera Bloodline of Duchess Aimei, the Pleasure Bloodline of Duke Hengle, the Dark Demon Bloodline of the Dim Glow Family, and others. The upper limits of these bloodlines generally exceeded the Legendary Level, and their cultivation efficiency was also higher than the Hundred Needle Bloodline, with much more fruitful results. The advantage of the Hundred Needle Bloodline lay in its precision, whereas these bloodlines brought broader and more comprehensive benefits. ¡°If I were to master the Holy Temple Bloodline, wouldn¡¯t that provide me with the chance to become the second Holy Emperor?¡± ¡°No, theoretically, why should I only master a mere Holy Temple Bloodline? The Quest for Knowledge Bloodline, Chimera Bloodline, and others, I could possess them all. Because I have this Demon Crystal in my heart!¡± ¡°Provided, provided I kill enough targets, I could seize their bloodlines from their bodies¡­¡± Upon this thought, Zhenjin¡¯s heart violently trembled. A chill spread in an instant throughout his body, leaving him tremendously horrified. ¡°What¡¯s happening to me?!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m considering sacrificing others, targeting high-ranking nobles and even members of Holy Temple families!¡± ¡°A slight misstep could plunge the entire Hundred Needle Family into irretrievable doom.¡± ¡°No, I shouldn¡¯t be entertaining such thoughts.¡± ¡°This is criminal! To satisfy my own greed by sacrificing the innocent. It¡¯s too brutal! It¡¯s too evil!¡± ¡°I am Zhenjin.¡± ¡°I am a Holy Temple Knight.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do such things.¡± ¡°I swear, I will never attack the innocent. I will not tread the path of evil and corruption for my own selfish desires!¡± Zhenjin silently admonished himself. At the same time, he grew intensely wary of the Heart Core. ¡°It¡¯s too astounding, too mysterious.¡± ¡°It helped me find a way to survive from the brink of death, yet it constantly tempts me toward the path of evil and brutality.¡± ¡°However, in reality, it may not be capable of absorbing that many bloodlines. It¡¯s all my speculation. It can absorb bloodlines from Silver Level beings, but I¡¯ve never tried it with Gold Level beings, let alone Holy Domain Level, or Legendary Level; what if it can¡¯t absorb them?¡± ¡°And¡­¡± ¡°Does using the Demon Core to absorb and transform other bloodlines carry any risks?¡± ¡°Does each mutation leave any side effects?¡± ¡°Could it be that there are no apparent side effects, but deep-seated issues hidden beneath that I¡¯m unable to detect?¡± ¡°Could these latent issues accumulate and become severe enough to cause me to explode suddenly?¡± ¡°Or turn me completely into a Magic Beast, never to regain human form?¡± A shadow passed through Zhenjin¡¯s eyes. The sudden appearance of such an unusual, overly powerful foreign object in the body made anyone with a bit of rationality cautious and suspicious. One would try to understand it, strive to control it entirely while avoiding potential dangers. However, right now, Zhenjin had only figured out some uses for the Heart Core, but he knew nothing of this object¡¯s true nature. ¡°Why can the Demon Crystal in my heart be activated?¡± Zhenjin always remembered that this island was specifically made as a Magic Ban environment where low-level Combat Skill and magic couldn¡¯t be used. ¡°Even my repeated prayers were blocked.¡± ¡°Why could the Heart Core be activated?¡± ¡°The demon energy inside the Heart Core is mysterious and extraordinary, belonging neither to Combat Skill nor Magic, nor Divine Arts.¡± ¡°Could it be that it bypassed the Magic Ban¡¯s mechanism? That¡¯s why it wasn¡¯t affected?¡± ¡°Or is it because the purpose of the Island Master was to create such a Demon Crystal, so the entire surrounding environment was deliberately crafted to greatly favor the Demon Crystal?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s thoughts soared, leading to more and more ideas. But all this was a mystery. He had no answers. ¡°Up to now, what I know is that with each use of the Heart Core, my control over this Demon Crystal also rapidly deepened.¡± The first time was against a Silver Level Blade Spider, Zhenjin experienced a mutation for the first time. The second time was when he faced the attack of the Plasma Flying Squirrel, Zhenjin felt the Demon Crystal in his heart for the first time. The third time, it just happened this morning. Zhenjin initially controlled the Demon Crystal and annihilated the Gun Scorpion Leader. ¡°Will my grasp over the Heart Core deepen in the future?¡± ¡°The most crucial issue is still the old question.¡± ¡°Where did this thing come from?!¡± After long contemplation, Zhenjin thought the most likely answer still related to the Island Master. According to the discussions and speculations of Cang Xu and Zi Di: the Island Master was a powerhouse who reconstructed the entire island, created numerous monsters, and attempted to stabilize the chaotic Magic Power within the monsters to achieve balance. The magic power in the goat was a semi-finished product, demonstrating the Island Master¡¯s efforts. And the Magic Ban environment, Teleportation Array, stimulating endless battles among monsters, the true goal was to push living beings to breakthroughs and leaps through the stimulus of life and death, generating Demon Crystals. ¡°So, this Demon Crystal most likely formed accidentally inside me after battling the bear, following treatment with Zi Di¡¯s potions.¡± ¡°Thinking back, I was heavily afflicted with Fire Poison. This Demon Crystal is the product of my fierce battle with the Fire Poison Bee Swarm and the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear.¡± ¡°Does the Island Master encourage the monsters to battle each other, planning to harness life-and-death struggles to stimulate the generation of Crystal Cores?¡± ¡°Perhaps he/she/it wasn¡¯t successful before due to the missing critical factor¡ªhuman?¡± ¡°And I just happened to make up for this defect?¡± Chapter 72 - 72: Section 73: Hunger and the Glory of the Knight (Two in One) Chapter 72: Section 73: Hunger and the Glory of the Knight (Two in One) ¡°` It was high noon. Above the withered yellow desert, the sun hung fiercely in the sky. Waves of heat kept on assaulting us, and the sand grains beneath our feet were scorching enough to frighten. Hunger and the depletion of physical ability made one dizzy and blurred. Cang Xu and Zi Di staggered as they walked, nearly collapsing to the ground on their knees several times. ... In light of this, Lord Zhenjin and others had no choice but to take refuge in the shadows of the dunes for rest. Bai Ya remained unconscious, while the other three struggled to catch their breaths. It seemed as though the gods, in a rare act of mercy, pitied these wretched souls¡ªthe desert wind began to blow. The wind was not strong, but it mitigated some of the scorching heat. Under the caress of the wind, the wind-facing slope of the sand dunes churned with fine sand, while on the leeward side, the sand flowed like it was pouring out. The sound of the rolling sand was rustling, but those resting could not appreciate the desolate beauty of this sound in itself. Their significant physical energy was drained, leaving Lord Zhenjin and the others with an excruciating hunger. Lord Zhenjin felt so hungry that his stomach seemed glued to his back. Once he entered the shadow on the backside of a dune, he laid the unconscious Bai Ya on the ground. At the start of their journey, carrying Bai Ya hadn¡¯t seemed like much of a burden. But now, it felt to him as heavy as an elephant. With the burden gone, Lord Zhenjin immediately felt a tremendous relief throughout his body. He did not forget to check on Bai Ya¡¯s condition. ¡°Running a high fever again,¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyes dimmed. Bai Ya¡¯s condition was fluctuating and not good at all. Lord Zhenjin truly wanted to help him, but Bai Ya had already used up Zi Di¡¯s potions. With adequate food and water, Bai Ya¡¯s body could have been nourished properly. But their current situation was that Lord Zhenjin and the others had only sipped tiny amounts of water during their journey and had not eaten at all. There was nothing Lord Zhenjin could do about it. He could only open the mouth of the water skin and pry open Bai Ya¡¯s mouth to pour a tiny stream of water inside. The water had already been equally divided into three portions, each person having their own water skin. The water Lord Zhenjin was giving to Bai Ya was from his own share. Cang Xu and Zi Di watched Lord Zhenjin do so without saying a word. Both slumped on the ground, motionless, not wanting to talk¡ªor rather, lacking even the energy to speak. Lord Zhenjin also maintained his silence. He sat quietly, feeling as though he were an hourglass, with physical strength like grains of sand trickling one by one into his body, accumulating and storing up. Since awakening on this island, Lord Zhenjin had never felt as hungry and thirsty as he did at this moment. The closest time was the day he dug himself out from under the sand. But then, he had food¡ªit was an unwise desert viper. Now, looking out over the dry yellow desert, gazing at the vast expanse of heaven and earth, he very much hoped something like the viper would attack him. In the past, right after he had exterminated a group of Flying Squirrels and gained food and loyal followers, he was transported away, turning all his efforts to naught. When he emerged from the sand and was attacked by the viper, his heart was filled with sorrow. But now, sitting on the gravel, recalling the scene, he felt that the viper¡¯s attack might have been a gift from nature, or perhaps the pity of the gods. A sudden realization dawned on Lord Zhenjin. ¡°Heh,¡± he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly. The sound drew puzzled looks from Zi Di and Cang Xu. Noticing their gaze, Lord Zhenjin explained, ¡°There were many times, oh so many times, when the blows and torments of fate befell me. Each time, I thought I had suffered the heaviest hardships in the world.¡± ¡°However, that wasn¡¯t really the case.¡± ¡°There are no ¡®hardest¡¯ moments. In life, one will encounter even more excruciating difficulties.¡± ¡°Right now, my predicament is even tougher than when I was attacked by the viper. Perhaps in the future, I¡¯ll face even more desperate times.¡± Zi Di remained silent. They had already exchanged information, and the young girl understood the ordeal Lord Zhenjin had gone through after they got separated. Cang Xu, however, also let out a laugh. ¡°Lord, hearing you say that, I somehow feel lighter myself.¡± ¡°Your attitude is not just optimism, but a profound open-mindedness.¡± ¡°` Zi Di spoke softly, as if in thought, ¡°Suffering is a kind of wealth. The difference lies in whether people can dig out this wealth from their suffering.¡± Zhenjin recalled the scenes he had experienced on the island since he woke up, especially thinking about the Demon Core in his heart, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯m a millionaire.¡± The conversation ended there. After these few words, everyone immediately felt their fatigue deepen. For a long time afterward, they all maintained their silence. Time passed, and the brutal sunlight began to weaken. Zhenjin carried Bai Ya on his back, continuing their journey with Zi Di and Cang Xu. Their luck improved. On the road ahead, they found a dead sand willow, spiders, and scorpions, the latter all becoming precious food. They also discovered a desert lizard and a desert jumping rat. This jumping rat was just a common beast, its size small, similar to a normal rat, with very large ears and sensitive hearing. It sported yellow fur that blended closely with the desert. Its powerful hind limbs allowed it to hop one or two meters with a light leap. After a chase, its body ended up in Zhenjin¡¯s pocket. The lizard and the jumping rat were not immediately consumed; the rest basically went into the mouths of Cang Xu and Zi Di. Despite this, the nourishment was nowhere near enough to compensate for their physical exertion, forcing them to stop and rest multiple times along the way. Their progress was significantly slowed, and by nightfall, they had not reached their destination¡ªthe gold mica stone cluster. Cang Xu surveyed the surrounding terrain and studied the stars, then drew a map in the gravel. ¡°I¡¯m not well-versed in star patterns. But the terrain has become familiar, and we¡¯ve only been in and out of the Molten Lava landscape these past few days; the sand dune terrain should not have changed much.¡± ¡°So, we¡¯re not far from the gold mica stone cluster.¡± ¡°If we travel a short distance tomorrow morning, we can reach it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s rest here tonight, my lord. We¡¯re not capable of going any further.¡± The aged Scholar sighed as the night wind caused his snow-white beard to tremble slightly. Zi Di and Cang Xu both understood the benefits of reaching the gold mica stone cluster, but they were simply too exhausted to continue. In fact, Zhenjin wasn¡¯t in much better shape. The young knight nodded, ¡°We have the firewood from cutting down the sand willow. The nights in the desert are extremely cold, but we can light a bonfire to get through the night.¡± Starfire Stones collided to create sparks, and the dry wood caught flame easily, lighting the bonfire without issue. Everyone sat around the bonfire. The bodies of the small lizard and the jumping rat were skewered on two sticks, which Zhenjin held and rotated over the fire. Zi Di could not help but swallow at the smell of the roasting meat. ¡°This must be the most delicious delicacy in the world!¡± Zi Di said, her eyes revealing her longing. Cang Xu also stared intensely at the two servings of roast meat, struggling to divert his gaze as he scooped up a handful of sand from beneath him, ¡°Now, looking at this sand, I find it incredibly lovely¡ªso lovely that I can hardly resist the urge to swallow it.¡± Zi Di chuckled in agreement, ¡°I actually think those black pieces of volcanic Molten Lava look like fluffy chocolate bread with a burnt surface.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve read some historical records; when the Empire suffered famines, many refugees died from eating dirt.¡± ¡°I now understand their feelings completely. Hunger can truly drive one mad, and you stop thinking about anything else, just about eating. Whatever you see, you want to take a bite, whether it¡¯s grass, dirt, or sand.¡± Cang Xu let out a sigh, ¡°Indeed, some people ate dirt. On the southeast and southwest coasts of the Empire, famines occur every few years. The refugees there would mix mud with butter and salt to make mud biscuits.¡± ¡°The Shata family once dispatched me to deliver a batch of relief supplies. When I was there, I tried these mud biscuits.¡± ¡°Speaking of them, the texture of these mud biscuits is actually quite smooth. But as soon as you eat them, you can taste the unique dampness of the seaside.¡± ¡°Generally, these mud biscuits are made about the size of an adult¡¯s palm, and the refugees would lay them out on the ground to be baked by the sun¡¯s rays.¡± ¡°I only took a small bite, but that earthy fishy smell lingered in my mouth for several hours.¡± ¡°The local refugees ate these things for a long time, adults and children alike, to stave off hunger. As a result, they were all skin and bones, suffering from chronic diarrhea. Nearly every day, a child would die from diarrhea.¡± ¡°Do you know? While we were traveling during the day, I swore to myself: if I had mud biscuits now, I would eat until I couldn¡¯t stuff anymore into my stomach!¡± As Zhenjin turned the skewers in his hands, he asked, ¡°Speaking of digestive abilities¡­ Mr. Cang Xu, how¡¯s the digestive ability of wild beasts? Which beast has the strongest digestive system?¡± Cang Xu pondered before answering, ¡°Compared to humans, the digestive ability of wild beasts is incredibly powerful.¡± ¡°Hyenas are notoriously capable of consuming bones, so the bodies visited by hyenas are almost always left without a trace.¡± ¡°Vultures have highly corrosive digestive juices, making it easy for them to digest bones and marrow.¡± ¡°Pythons swallow their prey whole, whether it¡¯s crocodiles or small elephants, they can digest them.¡± ¡°Generally speaking, birds actually have the strongest digestive ability. They can digest insects in just fifteen minutes. Foods like berries take about thirty minutes to be excreted. Some Sea Birds can digest fish so fast that while the fish tail is still at their beaks, the fish head is already dissolving in their stomachs.¡± ¡°What about the digestive ability of the Silver Spear Scorpion?¡± Zhenjin asked again. Cang Xu said, ¡°Extremely formidable! The gun scorpion is a Magic Beast, and its abilities far surpass those of ordinary wild beasts. It can consume metal and possesses an extremely powerful digestive capacity that can completely dissolve and break down metal. According to my dissection, its digestion rate is also very fast; it takes approximately five minutes to digest the metal stones it consumes.¡± Zhenjin nodded and did not speak further. As the skewers of Jumping Rat and lizard meat were almost perfectly roasted, Zhenjin suddenly changed his expression, making a motion as if listening intently. This action immediately put Zi Di and Cang Xu on alert. ¡°There¡¯s a noise,¡± Zhenjin¡¯s expression darkened. Neither Zi Di nor Cang Xu heard anything, but they were aware that as a Fighter Cultivator, Zhenjin¡¯s physical abilities were far beyond that of an average person, so it was normal for him to hear certain sounds. ¡°You two go ahead and eat; I¡¯ll stand guard and drive away or kill any potential wild beasts.¡± ¡°Try to stay put and not move around.¡± After giving instructions to the two, Zhenjin handed them the skewers and slowly stood up. ¡°Lord, please be careful,¡± Zi Di said, full of concern. Zhenjin nodded, quickly stepped out, and his figure soon vanished in the night. He first made a round in the vicinity, confirming there were no traces of fierce beasts. Then he sprinted in a specific direction. Now unburdened by Bai Ya and without Zi Di and Cang Xu slowing him down, in no time Zhenjin arrived at the gold mica stone cluster. The gold mica stone cluster was also safe, devoid of any gun scorpion activity. Zhenjin took a deep breath, hesitation flickering across his face. But soon after, he resolved himself. He began to undress. Quickly, he stripped off all his clothing, leaving him entirely naked. The next moment, he activated his Heart Core, and his whole body glowed red. The thick red light obscured his face and body, leaving only the outline of a human figure in red. Then, very quickly, the red humanoid outline collapsed like water, transforming into the outline of a scorpion. As the red light faded, Zhenjin disappeared from the spot, replaced by a gun scorpion. A Silver Level Life Breath burst forth. Zhenjin had transformed into a gun scorpion leader! This was his first complete Mutation, with not a trace of his human form remaining. This action was actually very risky, but Zhenjin had no choice but to do so. He was starving. As a Silver Level Fighter Cultivator, those two mere skewers of meat couldn¡¯t do anything for him. In fact, even if Zi Di had eaten them all, it wouldn¡¯t have been enough. Therefore, Zhenjin decided to try another method. Gold mica stones weren¡¯t human food. So, he had turned into a thorough gun scorpion to try. At this moment, Zhenjin¡¯s senses had dramatically changed. The night no longer seemed so deep to him. With the gun scorpion¡¯s eyes, he could see far in the darkness. Moreover, the gun scorpion didn¡¯t just have one pair of eyes. The main eyes were at the front of the scorpion head, and two pairs of secondary eyes were positioned on the sides of the gun scorpion¡¯s head. Thus, Zhenjin had a very wide field of vision at this moment. The gun scorpion also possessed a good sense of smell, and Zhenjin instantly detected a rich aroma. He quickly discovered that this fragrance came from the gold mica stones surrounding him. Humans couldn¡¯t smell much from gold mica stones, at most a scent of stone or metal. But Zhenjin, now a scorpion, smelled a wonderful fragrance he had never experienced before. This delightful scent immediately enticed Zhenjin to lift the scorpion tail behind him. The scorpion tail shot out like lightning, piercing through the gold mica stone. Then, using his powerful claw-like pincers in coordination with his tail, Zhenjin smashed the honeycombed gold mica stone into many fragments. The pincers crushed these fragments into smaller pieces, which were then placed into the gun scorpion¡¯s mouthparts. Zhenjin chewed. ¡°Oh oh oh!¡± ¡°Delicious!¡± ¡°It¡¯s like the taste of chocolate cookies. They have a crisp texture, and the final flavor has a hint of silkiness.¡± Lord Zhenjin almost cried out. So for the gun scorpion, gold mica stone was such a delicacy! The taste system of the gun scorpion was completely different from that of a full human. Lord Zhenjin ate voraciously, continuously chewing. He was very hungry. After consuming two large chunks of gold mica stone, he finally stopped. He lay on the ground in the form of a gun scorpion, motionless for a good while, making sure that all the gold mica stone inside his body had been digested. A tingling, sour itchiness began to spread throughout his body. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Lord Zhenjin felt something was amiss, as he had been keeping a close eye on his internal organs, and the digestion of the gold mica stone was very smooth and complete. ¡°Could it be?¡± A sudden flash of inspiration struck Lord Zhenjin. He recalled something Cang Xu had once said, which meant that when the gun scorpion consumed gold mica stone, it could absorb the metal from the stone, making its scorpion shell even more robust. Lord Zhenjin immediately swung his scorpion tail, stabbing at the shell on his back. However, both the scorpion tail and scorpion shell were parts of Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body, with equal strength, and thus could not inflict any damage. Lord Zhenjin then mobilized the Heart Core, reverting to human form while retaining the scorpion shell over his chest. Perhaps because only this small piece of scorpion shell remained, the tingling, sour itchiness became extremely intense and focused on his chest. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s fingers transformed into Spider Blade, and he fiercely stabbed at his chest. The brand-new Spider Blade was incredibly sharp and pierced through the scorpion shell, creating several cuts. Instantly, the unbearable tingling, sour itchiness was greatly relieved. However, after a few breaths, the sensation returned with renewed intensity. Lord Zhenjin looked at his chest and found that the wounds on the scorpion shell had already mostly healed. A flush of joy appeared on Lord Zhenjin¡¯s face. Because he had proven his conjecture to be correct. He immediately continued jabbing his chest with the Spider Blade. Jabbing once, then again and again, he made many small holes. The scorpion shell healed rapidly over and over, and the tingling, sour itchiness gradually subsided, eventually disappearing completely. Lord Zhenjin touched his chest and found the newly grown scorpion shell was even tougher than before. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This must be the reason why the Silver Spear Scorpion was relentlessly pursuing me.¡± ¡°It wanted to be beaten and injured!¡± ¡°By leading them to the gold mica stone cluster previously and letting it feed again, I was actually hurting myself.¡± Realizing this truth, the joy on Lord Zhenjin¡¯s face vanished, replaced by a bittersweet smile full of resignation. Lord Zhenjin did not linger; after he had eaten his fill, he immediately headed back. Returning to the campfire, he saw Zi Di and Cang Xu. The Jumping Rat and lizard skewers were long ready, but neither Zi Di nor Cang Xu had eaten, despite being very hungry. ¡°Lord, please eat.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, don¡¯t make needless modesty. Only if you have enough physical strength can you ensure the safety of all of us, can¡¯t you? Even with adequate strength, we couldn¡¯t handle the fierce Magic Beasts.¡± Although Zi Di and Cang Xu were very hungry themselves, they both unanimously and vigorously urged Lord Zhenjin to eat the meat skewers. Needless to say, Lord Zhenjin refused, having already eaten his fill. The two sides made their own polite refusals, but this time Zi Di and Cang Xu were adamant. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s face turned serious: ¡°I still have plenty of physical strength, and my body condition is much better than both of you. You¡¯ve eaten too little food, and if you don¡¯t eat these, you might not even make it through tonight. This firewood might not last a whole night.¡± With that, Lord Zhenjin gazed at Zi Di with deep affection: ¡°I¡¯ve said before, I¡¯ll protect you until the end of my life.¡± Then, the young knight turned to Cang Xu: ¡°Old Scholar, even if you do not wish to depend on me or act as my subordinate, I will do my best to save you. I¡¯ve made a promise to do my utmost to rescue everyone. That includes you and Bai Ya.¡± ¡°Do you want me to break my word? Do you want to tarnish my knightly honor?¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s expression became solemn. Zi Di and Cang Xu both looked at him, feeling as if his whole being were radiating a holy light; they were moved, speechless for a moment. ¡°Burp.¡± Just then, Lord Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but let out a satisfied burp. Cang Xu, Zi Di: ??? Chapter 73 - 73: Section 74: I am a Gun Scorpion Chapter 73: Section 74: I am a Gun Scorpion The desert at dawn was still very cold. With each breath Cang Xu took, a puff of white mist formed. The elderly Scholar walked on, stretching out his hands to grasp the front of his clothes, trying to wrap his sheepskin jacket more tightly around himself. This sheepskin jacket, roughly made as it was, had come from the mass slaughter of a flock of goats by the exploration team in the forest long ago. Now Cang Xu cherished it more than ever, knowing that this unassuming garment had saved his old life the night before. The firewood had burned out, and the bonfire had extinguished in the latter half of the night. Without the flame to keep them warm, all four of them fell into a torment of severe cold. Zhenjin and Zi Di, Cang Xu and Bai Ya huddled together to share warmth. ... Only then were they able to hold on. As soon as the sky began to grow light, Zhenjin and the others set out once more. Despite the dim visibility, they had to get moving quickly to warm up their bodies. Cang Xu¡¯s lips were frozen purple, and walking helped generate heat in his body, but it also awakened his hunger. There was no food left, and only a tiny bit of water remained. The future seemed as dim as the sky and land before them. Cang Xu began to nostalgia for the lizard meat skewers they had eaten the night before. ¡°How delicious it was!¡± ¡°I should have saved some for now. Alas¡­¡± Zhenjin was still leading the way, carrying Bai Ya on his back. Bai Ya remained unconscious. Zi Di also had a sheepskin jacket, but it was covered by her apprentice Magic Robe. She put on her hood, still trembling from the cold. However, in the next moment, her purple crystal-like eyes suddenly lit up. ¡°Look!¡± she suddenly pointed ahead. Several dark silhouettes were gradually appearing on the desert horizon. Those were gold mica stones silently standing. Cang Xu smiled: ¡°It seems my speculation last night wasn¡¯t wrong. The gold mica stone formations are nearby, and we have come back.¡± ¡°You¡¯re impressive,¡± Zhenjin said admiringly, though he wasn¡¯t surprised in his heart. He had been to this place just last night. He set Bai Ya down: ¡°You all stay here, I¡¯ll go scout ahead.¡± Both Cang Xu and Zi Di had no objections. During this time, the gold mica stone formations were not safe. Acid Liquid Green Lizards would come to the stones, using the warmth from the mica to raise their body temperature, aiding in their mobility. Silver Spear Scorpions would also appear here, breaking apart the gold mica stones to alleviate their hunger. ¡°Be careful, my lord,¡± Zi Di cautioned with evident concern. Zhenjin nodded: ¡°I¡¯ll be back shortly. If you have to move, mark your path with pink potions.¡± ¡°I understand, my lord,¡± Zi Di nodded vigorously. Although Zhenjin wasn¡¯t confident about leaving the three alone, there was nothing to be done; he had to venture out by himself. Fortunately, as a Pharmacist, Zi Di wasn¡¯t completely powerless in the face of danger. ¡°If a real emergency arises, such a short distance should allow me to rush back to support, right?¡± Zhenjin could only reassure himself this way. Under the watchful eyes of Cang Xu and Zi Di, Zhenjin jogged all the way and eventually disappeared among the gold mica stones. Hiss, hiss, hiss¡­ As soon as Zhenjin stepped into the stone formation, he heard the sound of snake hissing coming from the depths. Zhenjin¡¯s heart leaped for joy at the sound. He had encountered Acid Green Lizards before and knew that the noise they made was just like this. Sure enough! When he followed the sound, he discovered dozens of Acid Green Lizards hidden among the rocks. ¡°Good, good!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes lit up with delight. These Acid Green Lizards had indeed appeared! Their timing could not have been better. At this moment, Zhenjin and the others had run out of food, and the meat of these lizards was most timely. Some of the Acid Green Lizards were lying down, their bellies resting on the surface of the gold mica stone. Others sat on the ground, their thick backs leaning against the rocks, and their long tails wrapped around the gold mica stone, nearly making a full circle. Still others rested their front limbs on the stone while their hind limbs were braced on the gravel. They held their heads high, mouth wide open, continuing to hiss. The serpentine sound that Zhenjin had heard mainly came from this type of lizard. There was no wind. Therefore, there was no upwind or downwind direction. Zhenjin approached quietly, careful not to make any sound. He used the large gold mica stones to conceal his figure, ensuring that he always stayed out of the lizards¡¯ line of sight. Before long, a few Acid Green Lizards on the perimeter turned their heads to look in Zhenjin¡¯s direction, a wary look on their faces. ¡°I can¡¯t go any further.¡± Aware of this, Zhenjin decisively stopped behind a gold mica stone. He was a sixteen-year-old boy with a small stature, and now hunched over, the lizards on the other side couldn¡¯t see him at all. But even if they couldn¡¯t see him, the lizards still had taste, smell, and the intuition of wild beasts. So, they sensed something was off. Zhenjin steadied his breath and didn¡¯t rashly peer out to observe. He hesitated for a moment before stripping off all his clothes, once again becoming naked. Compared to yesterday, his condition had improved a lot. The wound on his left shoulder blade had scabbed over, and the other scars had faded noticeably. Perhaps it was because he had had a good meal the night before, which nourished his body and made his self-healing ability come into full play again. Zhenjin stimulated the Heart Core and turned into a complete Silver Spear Scorpion again. At that moment, the Acid Green Lizards sensed the fleeting red light behind the gold mica stone and were alarmed. Countless eyes were fixed tightly on that piece of gold mica stone. The hissing noise became a cacophony. The next moment, the lizards saw a dark golden Silver Spear Scorpion crawling out from behind the gold mica stone. Its scorpion shell was thick and hard, its claws were as large as two shields, and it appeared very majestic. Its tail was long, elegant yet cold. The lizards immediately felt a strong threat, growing more restless! That¡¯s because just a few days ago, the lizard colony had suffered a massacre by a troop of scorpions. What was more crucial was that the Life Breath radiating from Zhenjin at this moment, typical of the Silver Level, was intensely strong, making these lizards, which were at most of the Black Iron Level, feel the gap between their life levels. Seeing Zhenjin slowly approach, the lizards began to panic, and their hissing reached its peak. They wanted to intimidate Zhenjin, their attempt to bluster was quite evident. However, Zhenjin¡¯s feeling at this moment was quite extraordinary. He found that his field of vision had lowered a lot, the height of a human¡¯s field of vision was much greater than that of a Silver Spear Scorpion. However, his field of view had become much wider. ¡°Human eyes are positioned on the front of the head, but a Silver Spear Scorpion not only has primary eyes in the front but also two pairs of auxiliary eyes on the sides of its body.¡± Zhenjin was doing his best to adapt to the life form of the Silver Spear Scorpion. Everything was so new! Although this was his second mutation, the first time was during the night. Moreover, at that time, he was tormented by hunger, focusing mainly on feeding. Now, he had filled his stomach and was beginning to fully enjoy the unique life experience of a Silver Spear Scorpion. Because of the ample light, Zhenjin found he could see farther, and the colors of objects in his eyes were more vivid than what human eyes could perceive. This meant that the visual capability of a Silver Spear Scorpion was better than that of Zhenjin. Clang clang. Zhenjin raised his claws, letting the massive pincers open and close a couple of times, and upon striking each other, a dull metallic clang resonated. This minor action, in the eyes of the lizards, was undoubtedly a show of menace and intimidation. The group of lizards became even more restless and agitated, with most having jumped onto the gold mica stone, looming from above at Zhenjin and hissing fiercely. Simultaneously, the crowns on their heads opened up like umbrellas, displaying their robust and massive physiques with all their might. The hissing reached its peak, as if thousands of venomous snakes had gathered here, ready to annihilate anything that dared offend them. Zhenjin, using several pairs of Scorpion Eyes, stared at these lizards and then looked at his own pair of giant pincers. Humans have two hands and ten fingers and had never grown something like massive pincers. Zhenjin looked at his pair of giant pincers, feeling their thickness and firmness. ¡°With these two shields, I can completely withstand the acid liquid sprayed at me. No need to dodge left and right like before, a slight inattention would have resulted in serious injury.¡± Zhenjin had once witnessed the battle between the Silver Spear Scorpion and these acid lizard creatures. He knew that even the acid sprayed by the silver-level lizard leader couldn¡¯t corrode the scorpion leader¡¯s shell. This gave him a strong sense of security and was also quite interesting. ¡°If I catch hold of a lizard¡¯s neck or tail with these, could it snap them right off?¡± Thinking of this, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t wait to try it out. ¡°Come on, I¡¯m not afraid of your acid now.¡± ¡°Charge!¡± After shouting in his head, Zhenjin rushed toward the group of lizards. The lizards were shocked. After all, they hadn¡¯t yet produced a leader; without a silver-level leader to hold the line, they were like a group of hyenas encountering a lion. The lion charged, and the hyenas weren¡¯t without the strength to fight back, but among them, none could withstand the lion head-on. The two lizards at the front, seeing Zhenjin charging at them, even leapt down from the gold mica stone and fled straight backward. But just at this moment, Zhenjin ¡°pfft¡± fell onto the gravel. His whole scorpion body lay flat on the ground, his underside scrapping heavily against the gravel due to his momentous charge, sliding forward a short distance. Acid Lizard: ??? That instant, the hissing noises halted. The two fleeing lizards also stopped on the sand and looked back at Zhenjin, their eyes revealing astonishment. What did they see? A scorpion leader stumbled on its own?! Zhenjin felt a burning sensation on his face, and if he were still in his usual human form, he probably would have blushed. He had never made such a low-level mistake before. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a knight, to trip over on his own during a charge! ¡°I¡¯m not a real Silver Spear Scorpion; this is just my second mutation.¡± ¡°Normally, following my own instincts, I can control the body of a scorpion and manage a normal walk.¡± ¡°But if I were to fight, I would end up in a clumsy rush, with my body parts unable to keep up with my consciousness and thoughts.¡± Humans have only two legs. A scorpion, not counting the claws, has as many as four pairs of legs. Zhenjin momentarily didn¡¯t adapt; during his run, there was a misstep among his multiple legs, causing him to trip over himself. Watching the self-tripped gun scorpion, the acid lizards didn¡¯t move. They seemed to think, ¡°Does this gun scorpion seem very clumsy?¡± For a moment, the scene fell into an eerie standstill. Suddenly, the bulkiest of the Black Iron level lizards, a green one, let out a piercing shriek and took the lead in charging at Zhenjin. The surrounding lizards were also incited, rushing over to attack. ¡°` For a moment, dust and debris flared up in every direction. The lizards encircled Zhenjin, launching attacks from all sides. They stomped, charged, collided, bit with their teeth, whipped with their tails, and slapped with their giant claws. Zhenjin found himself besieged, taking hits while retaliating. He took hits often, but struck back far less. His tough scorpion shell provided strong defense, bearing the brunt of various assaults. Zhenjin retaliated only with his scorpion tail. Even though the scorpion tail struck rarely, nearly every thrust took the life of a lizard. The lizards were mighty in number, but it was Zhenjin who actually held the upper hand. Initially, the lizards, seeing the Silver Spear Scorpion passively being hit, appeared clumsy and only able to spin in place, which stirred their aggression even more. But gradually, as they noticed fewer and fewer of their companions, the lizards began to sense that something was not right. A Black Iron Level Magic Beast lizard¡¯s throat bulged with a round sac before it violently spat a jet of Acid Liquid at Zhenjin. Zhenjin had a very wide field of vision, and he spotted the lizard the moment it tilted its head back to spit. As the Acid Liquid approached, Zhenjin calmly directed his Claw to turn sideways, then raised his right claw. The claw acted like a large umbrella, blocking all the Acid Liquid. Some Acid Liquid still splattered onto him, but Zhenjin felt nothing at all! Originally, the Silver Spear Scorpion could even defend against the Lizard Leader¡¯s Acid Liquid; now, this Acid Liquid spat out by Black Iron and Bronze Level lizards posed no threat to Zhenjin at all. Moreover, unlike the Silver Level lizard leader, the Black Iron and Bronze Level lizards would fall into a state of diminished spirit and weakened limbs for a period after spraying their Acid Liquid. Zhenjin then set his sights on that particular lizard which had just sprayed the Acid Liquid. He took the initiative to attack. While taking hits, he pushed forward. The targeted Black Iron Lizard turned tail to flee, but its speed had greatly reduced, lacking its previous vigor. After Zhenjin struggled to close some distance, he suddenly thrust out his scorpion tail. The scorpion tail was long, so its attack range was vast. In the next moment, the scorpion tail accurately pierced through the Black Iron Lizard¡¯s skull, killing it instantly. For the Silver Spear Scorpion¡¯s claws and legs, Zhenjin felt awkward using them, but he was quite skilled with the scorpion tail. ¡°On one hand, it¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve used the scorpion tail. On the other hand, it¡¯s probably because I have practiced my family¡¯s Combat Skill, the Hundred Needle Wind, which mainly involves thrusting motions. So, the attack method using the scorpion tail suits me very well.¡± Zhenjin silently assessed in his heart. Though he was quite unaccustomed to the life form of a gun scorpion and couldn¡¯t move swiftly in a short time, his solid and profound combat experience allowed him to quickly play to his strengths and rapidly find the most suitable battle method for the current situation. Since even the most powerful weapon of the lizards, the Acid Liquid, was ineffective, the defeat of the lizards had been predetermined. After leaving behind more than a dozen lizard corpses, the surviving lizards finally recognized the reality, terrified by Zhenjin¡¯s killing, and fled in panic. ¡°Don¡¯t run!¡± Zhenjin shouted in his heart and immediately set off in pursuit. This intense battle had stirred his instincts and provided him with exercise; he no longer tripped over himself. The eight legs alternated in sequence, moving fluidly, suddenly boosting Zhenjin¡¯s speed! But the next moment, bang. Zhenjin crashed into a gold mica stone. He still couldn¡¯t manage to control his direction while sprinting rapidly. The fierce momentum of his recent pursuit came to an abrupt halt. The lizards fleeing in panic witnessed this scene and were momentarily stunned. But immediately afterward, they continued their escape with even greater speed. ¡°` Chapter 74 - 74: Section 75: Oasis Chapter 74: Section 75: Oasis Zhenjin was merely left feeling a bit stuffy from the impact, the tough scorpion shell had protected his brain, and he didn¡¯t feel dizzy at all. A normal person slamming at the speed he just did would surely have met with a bloody, broken head. Seeing that the lizards had already run far away, Zhenjin knew he couldn¡¯t catch up. Plus, with Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others still far off, he gave up on the chase. Through this battle, Zhenjin deeply realized, ¡°The gun scorpion form is indeed very strong, but to fully unleash the gun scorpion¡¯s abilities, I still need a lot of practice.¡± Right now, he couldn¡¯t even run normally or, to put it more accurately, quickly adjust direction while running. He then looked at the Heart Core, which had lost a quarter of its demon energy. ... A complete transformation into a gun scorpion consumed demon energy quickly, much more so than merely transforming one or two parts before. Yet Zhenjin did not rush to cancel this form. He scuttled over to a lizard corpse, stabbing his scorpion tail into the lizard¡¯s belly with a ¡°puchi.¡± The next moment, he used his mind to control the Demon Core in his heart. The familiar red light surfaced, revealing four bloodlines on the lizard¡¯s body. The bloodlines quickly entwined, binding the lizard thoroughly. Then the bloodlines sank into the lizard¡¯s body, dimming a bit. But soon, the bloodlines brightened again, contracting with fierce speed, bringing back into the Heart Core the essence of the lizard¡¯s bloodline. The lizard¡¯s body turned into a pile of carbon dust. The reserve of demon energy in the Heart Core had risen a bit. ¡°Now, I can mutate out the crown of the lizard.¡± ¡°Even if my entire body undergoes mutation, under these circumstances, I can activate the Demon Core, absorbing and transforming the target life form.¡± After verifying this conjecture, Zhenjin finally canceled the gun scorpion form and returned to his human shape. Next, he absorbed and transformed most of the lizard corpses on the battlefield. These lizards had just died, still fresh, with much of their magic power remaining, so each lizard converted a significant amount of demon energy. In the end, upon checking, Zhenjin found that the reserve of demon energy in the Heart Core was now one and a half times higher than before the battle. ¡°Now, I can fully mutate into this acid-liquid lizard.¡± ¡°But only to a Black Iron Level.¡± This result plunged Zhenjin into deep thought. He gained a new understanding of the Demon Crystal in his heart. ¡°It seems that the Life Level I mutate to isn¡¯t based on my own life tier, but on the tier of the life I absorb.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve absorbed a Silver Level Silver Spear Scorpion leader, so I can mutate into a Silver Level Silver Spear Scorpion.¡± ¡°But I haven¡¯t absorbed enough Silver Lizards, the highest was just Black Iron Level, so I can only mutate into Black Iron Level lizards.¡± ¡°However, after the Silver Lizard was killed, I processed its body, obtaining a lot of lizard meat, and ate quite a bit afterward.¡± ¡°So in this, there¡¯s actually an accumulation of quantity.¡± ¡°If I had only absorbed a small part of the Silver Spear Scorpion¡¯s body, without enough quantity to lead to a qualitative change, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to mutate into a complete Silver Level Silver Spear Scorpion.¡± As the sun climbed, the temperature in the desert started to increase markedly. Zhenjin stopped his train of thought and began dressing. ¡°A complete mutation is powerful, but having to take off clothes each time is quite inconvenient.¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While dressing, Zhenjin noticed a tear at the back of his trousers, and an awkward expression crossed his face. After he put on his clothes, he deliberately adjusted his top to cover the tear in the rear. Then, he picked up his blade, making many cuts on the remaining lizard corpses. This blade had belonged to a member of the exploration team, who had perished in the Volcanic Cave. When Zhenjin carried Bai Ya away, he did not forget to take these valuable survival resources. It was just an ordinary iron-made blade, nowhere near as sharp as the Spider Blade. A normal person would need several strikes to penetrate the skin of a Black Iron Lizard. Zhenjin then erased any suspicious traces from the battlefield, burying all carbon dust. After ensuring everything was correct, he left the gold mica stone area and jogged to meet Cang Xu and Zi Di. Seeing Zhenjin exhausted, with many new bloodstains on him, Zi Di was very concerned and rushed to inspect him. Once she confirmed that Zhenjin had no wounds, the young girl let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I killed a few lizards. The rest I scared away, now we have food,¡± Zhenjin said with a smile. This good news brought joy to the faces of Cang Xu and Zi Di. Carrying Bai Ya on his back, Zhenjin led the two back into the gold mica stone area. Seeing no fewer than five lizard corpses, both Cang Xu and Zi Di were visibly shaken. Cang Xu scanned the battlefield, saw the complex traces of the fight on the sand and stones, along with many lizard tracks extending outward, and expressed heartfelt admiration. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I¡¯m beginning to believe Lady Zi Di¡¯s guess now.¡± ¡°You are probably more than just Silver Cultivation. To have such powerful combat strength under such poor physical conditions is very unusual. This group of lizards had at least thirty members, yet you singlehandedly managed to kill five of them with just an ordinary blade, without using Fighting energy, and you even forced the whole group to flee.¡± ¡°Sir, you are so valiant. But what I admire even more is your fearless spirit. You charged into a massive Magic Beast horde alone, undaunted by formidable enemies, such an action and scene, if placed in history books, would match those famous heroic solo warriors.¡± ¡°Although I didn¡¯t witness it myself, I can imagine the valiant scene of you charging into those lizards. Surrounded by them, you relied on extraordinary courage and exquisite combat skills to fight bravely. The lizards spewed Acid Liquid, and you were in a dangerous situation, but you had an exceptional will, always maintaining ice-like calm.¡± ¡°An ordinary iron blade in your hands could set off waves of blood. Moving and dodging among the lizard group, both brave and exquisite, you were like an Elf dancing in the woods.¡± Zhenjin touched his nose, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the praise: ¡°You flatter me.¡± ¡°No,¡± Cang Xu shook his head, his attitude very firm, ¡°although I am not adept at combat, I do have years of experience. These battle marks can¡¯t be faked.¡± A large part of these battle traces were actually forged by Zhenjin. Seeing that he had successfully deceived Cang Xu, Zhenjin felt a mix of relief and guilt: ¡°I had to do it, this lizard meat will be enough for us to eat for quite a while.¡± Yet Zi Di seemed to be frightened by Cang Xu¡¯s description. Her purple eyes fixed on Zhenjin, she spoke softly, ¡°My lord, please don¡¯t take such risks in the future. Quite often, we can devise a long-term plan.¡± Zhenjin nodded: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a sense of it. In fact, ever since we shook off the scorpion swarm, I¡¯ve felt a sort of renewal. It¡¯s as if I¡¯ve made some breakthrough, yet also as if I haven¡¯t. Now, when I fight, my thoughts are clearer than before, I understand the state of my body better, knowing what I can and cannot do.¡± Zhenjin said this after careful consideration¡ªhe needed to lay some groundwork. He deliberately kept it vague, to leave an impression on those around him. In the future, after he used the Heart Core to solve threats, this would make it less strange and abrupt to others that he had grown stronger. After hearing this, Cang Xu nodded repeatedly: ¡°I have heard of similar cases.¡± ¡°In the Eastern Empire, there is a group of cultivators who practice Fighting Energy and admire strenuous cultivation. During their training, they wear Magic Prohibition Rings on purpose, don heavy burdens, dress in the simplest clothes, sometimes trekking barefoot in the mountains, or sitting under waterfalls to endure the impact of thousands of tons of water.¡± ¡°They restrain most of their power, keeping their bodies in the harshest conditions at all times, to torment their physique and refine their spirit and will. Often, their Fighting Energy Cultivation breaks through the limit, growing rapidly.¡± ¡°After all, Fighting Energy is extracted and wrung out from a person¡¯s body. The stronger the flesh, the higher the own limits that can be surpassed, the more potential that can be squeezed out, and the stronger the Fighting Energy becomes.¡± The human body is the foundation of Fighting Energy, while Magic is different, the essence of Magic is about leveraging external elements. The essence of Divine Arts is the Divine Power actively lent by the gods. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, your experience on the island is akin to these ascetic warriors. At the brink of life and death, your body broke through its limits, uncovering the potential deep within. Quite possibly, when you leave this island, your Fighting Energy Cultivation will advance even further.¡± Cang Xu spoke with conviction, and even Zhenjin, as the person concerned, was a bit dazed. He hadn¡¯t expected that after just broaching the subject, Cang Xu had already provided a perfect explanation. Zhenjin came to his senses and couldn¡¯t help but appreciate Cang Xu more. ¡°If I had such house servants or subordinates, how smoothly future affairs would be handled.¡± ¡°Unfortunately¡­ Cang Xu is just an ordinary person. If he could cultivate, it would be truly perfect.¡± As for Cang Xu¡¯s status as a wanted criminal, Zhenjin didn¡¯t care. It was only the Shata Family that issued a warrant for Cang Xu. The territories of the Hundred Needle Family and the Shata Family were far apart, and they had already pledged allegiance to the Holy Emperor¡¯s line. Sheltering an ordinary person like Cang Xu, the Shata Family couldn¡¯t do much to Zhenjin. Then, the three of them set to work, processing the lizard corpses, cutting them into strips and chunks. Even though they had meat, no one indulged in a feast. The food was plentiful, but it was still not limitless. After experiencing this hunger, Zhenjin and the others treasured every portion of food even more. After tallying up the quantity of lizard meat, they had a detailed plan¡ªexactly how much meat each person would eat each day, each meal. Another important reason they didn¡¯t indulge was that there was very little water left. The human stomach doesn¡¯t store water, but digesting food requires a large amount of water. The body¡¯s water seeps into the stomach to participate in the digestive process. In the absence of sufficient water resources, eating a large amount of meat could also be fatal. ¡°Next, we have to supplement our drinking water,¡± Zi Di said. ¡°If we can¡¯t find water, even if we don¡¯t starve to death, we will die of thirst. However, I believe there must be a stable and large-scale water source nearby,¡± Cang Xu said with firm conviction. There lived scorpion and lizard swarms here, both of large scale, with copious amounts of water being an essential resource to support life activities. Unless they too were teleported here. But all the signs indicated that this was unlikely¡ªboth these beast swarms had lived here for a long time. ¡°We can observe the lizards¡¯ footprints; perhaps these traces could lead us to the water source,¡± Cang Xu offered a good suggestion. In the evening, the sunset was like fiery satin across the sky. The lingering light of the setting sun fell on Zi Di¡¯s face, and those purple crystal-like eyes suddenly sparkled. ¡°Look, the oasis is over there!¡± The girl who had climbed atop a sand dune pointed excitedly ahead. Zhenjin had already seen and sensed it, now carrying Bai Ya on his back, he remarked: ¡°Indeed, we¡¯ve found it.¡± The trails left by the lizard activities had given them much guidance. Cang Xu was the last to reach the top of the dune, he looked into the distance, gasping profoundly: ¡°Right, that should be the oasis. But we must also be wary of mirages. Mirages can create a huge psychological gap, and many who strive to survive in the desert succumb to despair, giving up on living.¡± As they drew closer, the view of the oasis became increasingly clear. Zi Di saw the tall, lush coconut trees and even the fiery red mirror-like surface of the lake under the sunset. ¡°This is all real, this is definitely not an illusion!¡± the girl exclaimed. The issue of water was perfectly resolved. Joy surfaced on the faces of both Zhenjin and Cang Xu. However, Zhenjin remained calm, reminding: ¡°Be careful, the oasis provides stable water and food, but there must be other creatures visiting. We cannot be careless.¡± Cang Xu glanced at Zhenjin, inwardly admiring: ¡°Through hardships, this young knight has grown, and not just in battle prowess.¡± The group officially entered the oasis. ¡°Wait, there are human footprints here! And they¡¯re quite fresh,¡± Zhenjin suddenly whispered, his vision the strongest, he was the first to detect the anomaly. ¡°Does that mean someone¡¯s in this oasis?¡± ¡°Who could it be?¡± Zi Di and Cang Xu exchanged a look, both becoming vigilant. Chapter 75 - 75: Section 76: This is... the Truth Chapter 75: Section 76: This is¡­ the Truth Following the tracks, they advanced carefully, and soon made a discovery. ¡°Is that you, Lan Zao? You¡¯re still alive! What happened to you?¡± When Cang Xu saw Lan Zao, he could hardly believe his eyes. In his memory, Lan Zao was a robust and composed middle-aged man with a resolute will, always on alert. But now, Lan Zao had become drastically thinner, disheveled, his face covered in blood. He sat in the thick grass like a puppet, with no awareness of his surroundings. When he heard someone calling his name, he slowly turned his head, his face filled with confusion and sluggishness. Zi Di¡¯s heart also sank, secretly guessing, ¡°Could he have been attacked by a Magic Beast, causing severe damage to his spirit, rendering him mentally incapacitated?¡± The moment they found Lan Zao, everyone was joyful. They were unaware of the covert departure and abandonment of Lan Zao and Huang Zao. In the eyes of Lord Zhenjin and the others, having separated from Lan Zao in the sandstorm, it was a pleasant surprise to reunite with him at the Oasis. ... However, this joy faded quickly like a gust of wind, replaced by perplexity and disbelief. ¡°Lan Zao, besides you, is there anyone else?¡± ¡°Where is your brother, Huang Zao?¡± Zhenjin inquired. Upon hearing the name ¡®Huang Zao,¡¯ Lan Zao¡¯s body trembled, as if a command had activated a golem. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He froze, then his facial expressions changed dramatically, as if he suddenly regained all his memories. He shouted frantically, agitated and anxious, ¡°Lord, Lord Zhenjin, you¡¯ve come!! Please, save my brother, save him.¡± Saying so, he rushed to Zhenjin¡¯s feet and clung to his lower legs. He then noticed Zi Di as if seeing her for the first time, and exclaimed with even greater excitement, ¡°And Miss Zi Di is here too, that¡¯s wonderful. With you here, we can surely cure my brother!¡± ¡°What exactly happened? Calm down, Lan Zao.¡± Zhenjin frowned deeply, bent down, grabbed Lan Zao¡¯s shoulders, and pulled him to his feet. ¡°Quick, over here!¡± Lan Zao suddenly broke free from Zhenjin¡¯s grip and ran towards the nearest coconut tree. After just a few steps, he stumbled in the undergrowth and fell to the ground, half-kneeling. Extremely anxious, he scrambled on all fours, leading the way ahead. Noticing something wasn¡¯t right and unable to get clear answers, Zhenjin and the others stayed alert, following behind Lan Zao. As they reached the coconut tree, the foremost Zhenjin¡¯s pupils slightly constricted as he saw Huang Zao in the undergrowth. Huang Zao¡¯s clothes were torn badly, most of his flesh missing, his pale ribs, arm bones, leg bones all exposed. He lay immobile on the ground, the remaining half of his fleshly body had begun to decay, emitting a foul stench. Huang Zao had died, his body now thoroughly a corpse. Eerily, the body was still bandaged. The bandages were clearly long strips of fabric torn from clothes, covered with many large coconut leaves. ¡°Brother, brother, open your eyes.¡± ¡°Look, Lord Zhenjin has come, and Miss Zi Di too. You¡¯re going to be saved, you¡¯re saved!¡± ¡°You¡¯re really lucky, to end up in the desert and still encounter the two lords, haha¡­¡± Lan Zao kneeled beside Huang Zao, propping up the back of Huang Zao¡¯s head with his arms, making his upper body sit up. It was, without a doubt, a chilling scene. Huang Zao was already dead, his face deathly pale, his body mutilated, the sight of blood and exposed bones was truly horrifying. Following behind, Cang Xu and Zi Di stopped abruptly in their tracks when they witnessed such a sight. ¡°Ugh.¡± Zi Di was caught off guard and suddenly retched, almost vomiting the acid from her stomach. ¡°Huang Zao?¡± Behind the broken lens of his glasses, Cang Xu¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°He¡¯s dead! When did he die? How did he die?¡± Stimulated, Lan Zao frantically shook his head, repeatedly denying, ¡°No, he¡¯s fine, he¡¯s not dead!¡± ¡°He¡¯s still alive.¡± ¡°Cang Xu, your old eyes are blurry! Look closer!¡± Then, Lan Zao looked toward his brother, his pitch rising sharply before dropping again, ¡°Brother, wake up, open your eyes and look!¡± Huang Zao was long dead, how could he possibly open his eyes? Lan Zao stared closely at Huang Zao¡¯s face and, seeing no reaction, began to grow anxious. ¡°Brother, brother.¡± ¡°Open your eyes, quick, open your eyes!¡± Lan Zao began to go mad. He extended his right hand¡¯s fingers, pried open Huang Zao¡¯s eyelids, and suddenly exposed the chilling whites of his eyes. ¡°Look, everyone look, he¡¯s opened his eyes. My brother has opened his eyes!¡± Lan Zao joyfully shouted. Zi Di and Zhenjin remained silent. Cang Xu shook his head and sighed deeply, ¡°Lan Zao, be sensible, your brother¡­ is indeed dead.¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s not dead. He¡¯s not dead. You¡¯re talking nonsense, talking nonsense!¡± Lan Zao yelled, becoming hysterical. He pressed his ear against Huang Zao¡¯s right chest, half of which was flesh and the other half bone, with the organs long gone. ¡°Listen, he still has a heartbeat!¡± Lan Zao suddenly exclaimed in surprise. Everyone was silent. Noticing the expressions of those around him and growing incredibly anxious, Lan Zao extended his finger again, placing it under Huang Zao¡¯s nostrils. ¡°Look, he¡¯s still breathing!¡± Lan Zao shouted loudly. Everyone remained silent. Lan Zao screamed ferociously at everyone, ¡°He¡¯s still alive!!!¡± His scream was enormous, a desperate cry that rattled everyone¡¯s eardrums. Everyone stood still, like three iron statues, motionless. ¡°He¡¯s still alive!¡± Lan Zao knelt on the ground, his arms around Huang Zao¡¯s corpse, his eyes wide as he roared again at those around him. But the volume of his scream was only half of what it had been before. Lan Zao¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and tears surged down, quickly carving two trails down his face. ¡°He¡¯s still alive, still alive¡­¡± Lan Zao softly called out, as if he was still trying to persuade everyone, and as if he was calling to Huang Zao. The robust man¡¯s upright upper body bent forward; he slowly lowered his head and buried it deep in Huang Zao¡¯s shattered chest. The sun had already sunk below the horizon, and the last ray of light had disappeared. Everything was shrouded in darkness. Lan Zao¡¯s cries echoed throughout the oasis. He cried and told his story. ¡°It was me¡­ it was me¡­¡± ¡°It was me who killed him, I killed him.¡± ¡°I killed Huang Zao, I killed my brother.¡± ¡°I killed him, I killed the last of my kin in this world!¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­¡± ¡°These days, it was him who kept me alive.¡± ¡°I truly didn¡¯t expect there to be an oasis here!¡± ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect¡­¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­¡± ¡°I survived, but he died.¡± ¡°I am the murderer, I am the murderer.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, little brother.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom¡­ I didn¡¯t take good care of him, I killed him. I should die, I truly should.¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­¡± It was hard to imagine such a heartbreaking cry coming from a robust man. The crying sounded like a ghost drifting over a tranquil lake. The starry night sky was still brilliant. The temperature in the oasis was much more normal than the outside, not as bitterly cold as the desert at night. And there was also a campfire. The orange flames burned quietly, occasionally cracking with the sound of burning wood. Each time it cracked, a small burst of sparks would rush upwards, then swiftly dissipate in the air above. On a rack over the fire, skewered lizard meat was being cooked. Around Lord Zhenjin and the others were several coconuts. There were many palm trees in the oasis, roughly two types, one yielding coconuts and the other dates. Cutting open the coconuts, the inside was fresh and tasty but carried a distinct smell of sulfur. The water problem was solved even better than expected¡ª Lord Zhenjin and his company now had not just lake water but also fruit juice. Of course, as it was nighttime and the condition of the lakeside was unclear, for safety reasons, Lord Zhenjin and his company did not rush to fetch water. Not far away, Lan Zao knelt among the bushes, his gaze vacant, fixed solely on Huang Zao¡¯s corpse. Regardless of the tempting aroma of the roasted meat or the calls from Lord Zhenjin and the others, he showed no reaction. He was like a puppet, seemingly dead apart from his ability to breathe. Bai Ya lay beside the campfire. He closed his eyes tightly, always unconscious. He was still feverish, and his temperature was getting higher and higher. Obviously, his condition was worsening. Perhaps by the next day, both of them would be corpses. The firelight shone on the faces of Zhenjin, Zi Di, and Cang Xu. Zi Di glanced in the direction of Lan Zao, then shifted her gaze to Zhenjin. The young girl took the initiative to break the long silence previously, ¡°Lord, such a person must not be spared.¡± ¡°We all saw the body of Huang Zao.¡± ¡°Lan Zao himself admitted his crimes. Such a person is too cruel. How can we keep him?¡± ¡°I also noticed that it seems Lan Zao¡¯s back was sprayed with Acid Liquid; the wounds have rotted severely, but it is obvious that they were cared for and bandaged before. This must be the work of Huang Zao, as Lan Zao alone couldn¡¯t have tended his back wounds to this extent.¡± ¡°Huang Zao helped his brother by carefully dressing Lan Zao¡¯s wounds. But what did Lan Zao do? Such a person is really terrifying.¡± Zhenjin did not respond, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on the campfire ahead. It was at this moment Cang Xu spoke, ¡°I have a doubt. Since Lan Zao had arrived at the Oasis, where food is plentiful, and he had weapons on him. Even if he couldn¡¯t hunt a Magic Beast, there were fruits fallen on the ground.¡± Zi Di immediately responded, ¡°Obviously, after Huang Zao died, Lan Zao discovered this oasis. Relying on the flesh of Huang Zao, Lan Zao managed to survive to get here. Perhaps it was also because of reaching the oasis that Lan Zao fell into endless regret and pain. Because he understood that if he hadn¡¯t been in a hurry to kill his brother, and had persevered a bit longer, they might have made it here. Then his brother wouldn¡¯t have died, and they both could have survived.¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°Lady Zi Di¡¯s conjecture is very plausible and reasonable. So, Lady Zi Di, you believe that it is because of regret and pain that Lan Zao has ended up in such a state. That is to say, Lan Zao is suffering from the torment of his inner kindness, ethics, and family affection, is that right?¡± Zi Di frowned, glaring slightly at Cang Xu, ¡°What do you mean? Are you trying to make excuses for someone who killed his own younger brother?¡± Cang Xu shook his head repeatedly, ¡°Lady Zi Di, you have misunderstood my point. I do not want to make excuses for anyone, no matter what kind of person Lan Zao is, he did kill his own younger brother with his hands; he is a murderer!¡± Saying this, Cang Xu looked towards Zhenjin, ¡°I merely wish to clarify some truths that I know may seem trivial or narrow-minded.¡± Zhenjin, interested, expressionless, said, ¡°Scholar Cang Xu, speak your mind.¡± Cang Xu smiled faintly, tossing a stick into the campfire, ¡°We of the Human Race are actually very weak. Compared to wild beasts, we have no sharp claws or teeth, no hard shells, no wings to fly, no gills to breathe underwater.¡± ¡°And our so-called pride, our Intelligence, is not unique to us. Elves, Beastmen, Demons, Angels, goblins, and others, all possess intelligence not weaker than ours, even surpassing that of the Human Race.¡± ¡°Although in today¡¯s world, the Human Race has the strongest overall strength. But if we look back in history, we¡¯ll find that our ancestors were at a disadvantage, struggling to survive in danger. The prosperity of the Human Race, becoming the foremost power, has only changed in the last few centuries.¡± ¡°So, long ago, when our human ancestors were savages, barely surviving in nature, they discerned a crucial point: as individuals, we are too weak. Only by helping each other, making use of the strength of the community, could there be more possibilities to survive.¡± ¡°Gradually, the earliest Human Race tribes emerged, followed by families, then embryonic nations, and now we humans have built a powerful Empire ruling the entire Human Race Continent.¡± ¡°Along this process, ethics and morality emerged. We value the strong because relying on the strong enables survival. We acknowledge the nobility brought about by Bloodlines, because a superior Bloodline is more likely to breed strong individuals. We developed a sense of community, individual sacrifice, and a feeling of honor, denouncing selfishness and promoting sharing, because we do not want to be ostracized by the community. Individual being too weak, getting greater acceptance among others in the community, is more conducive to personal survival.¡± ¡°However, the fact is, self-benefit is the most basic instinct of life. The emergence of ethics and morality follows after self-benefit. Essentially, ethics and moral principles also arise from the instinct of self-preservation.¡± ¡°Like sharing, fundamentally, it¡¯s to exchange for conditions more favorable to personal survival. Like our contempt for selfishness, because we do not want others to become selfish, which would not benefit our personal survival. We help others because aiding can enhance our survival in the group. Going alone decreases our survival and reproduction rates, making it harder for our Bloodline, high or low, noble or humble, to be passed down.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Zi Di called sharply, her gaze piercing through the campfire toward Cang Xu with anger, ¡°Scholar Cang Xu, are you trying to say that Lan Zao killed his own younger brother due to the instinct to survive? You are not only making excuses for Lan Zao but also for yourself for suggesting earlier that we eat Bai Ya!¡± Cang Xu did not stop because of Zi Di¡¯s interruption, showing an unusual firmness at this moment. His gaze remained focused on Zhenjin¡¯s face: ¡°After mating, female spiders or praying mantises might eat the male. They have no ethics of love.¡± ¡°Burly male lions drive out the old, aging lions to become the new leaders of the pride. They will do everything to guard their territory and strut pompously. They will have the lionesses hunt for them, and they will kill all the offspring of the previous aging lion. They hold no ethics of respecting the old and loving the young.¡± ¡°These words might sound very harsh, my lord,¡± Cang Xu finally sighed, his gaze earnest and sad, ¡°but this is¡­the truth.¡± Chapter 76 - 76: Section 77: Life Must Go On Chapter 76: Section 77: Life Must Go On ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer, don¡¯t come any closer!¡± Zi Di fled in a panic. And Zhenjin closely pursued the girl. ¡°I¡¯m so hungry, I¡¯m so hungry!¡± Zhenjin had completely mutated into a Silver Spear Scorpion, overwhelmed by hunger, with his mind filled only with thoughts of feeding. Zi Di was finally cornered at the bottom of the cave, tripping over a rock and falling to the ground. ... Zhenjin pounced fiercely, landing on top of her, his massive claws and sharp scorpion tail launching viciously. Puchi. Zi Di was dismembered in an instant, blood spraying and staining the cave floor red, as well as Zhenjin¡¯s entire field of vision. The next moment, Zhenjin suddenly opened his eyes. He saw the pitch-black night sky. He gasped for air, the cold air filling his lungs, his pupils gradually dilating back to normal size, his mood slowly settling. A nightmare. He had a nightmare. In this nightmare, he had become a gun scorpion, attacked Zi Di, and treated the girl as food to stave off his hunger. Zhenjin quietly sat up. He was drenched in a cold sweat. Looking around, he found Zi Di sleeping peacefully by his side, with Bai Ya and Lan Zao lying not far away. After hearing Cang Xu¡¯s words, Zhenjin had knocked out Lan Zao and placed her securely. As for Cang Xu, he was responsible for the second half of the night watch. The campfire was still burning quietly, the flames half the size they were before, but still steadily providing warmth. The firelight reflected on Zhenjin¡¯s face, giving the young knight¡¯s expression an uncertain light and shadow. ¡°Why did I have such a nightmare?¡± ¡°Is it because I have always been worried and afraid of this Demon Crystal in my heart?¡± This was a very normal psychological reaction. Imagine a normal person suddenly growing horns, or a tail, or their skin bubbling up with tumors ¨C wouldn¡¯t they be worried and afraid? No one is supposed to have a Demon Core, but Zhenjin had grown one. And this Demon Core was very mysterious, strange, and powerful, allowing Zhenjin to become a monster, to absorb the bloodline of living beings. ¡°I can¡¯t use Fighting energy, and in the face of danger, I can only use it.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ I should avoid using it if possible in the future.¡± ¡°Who knows what serious consequences there might be?¡± Zhenjin subconsciously touched his chest. He feared that if he abused the Demon Core, one day he might turn into a wild beast, a monster, never to regain his human form again. Zhenjin felt: this Demon Crystal was already tempting him, enticing him to slaughter the innocents, to sacrifice the guiltless in order to gain even more powerful strength and authority. ¡°On the other hand, I¡¯m also afraid of becoming like Lan Zao,¡± Zhenjin glanced towards the distant Lan Zao. To be honest, he could understand Lan Zao. And his understanding was very profound. Because Zhenjin had once faced the same choices as Lan Zao. Hunger could drive a person mad, hunger could turn Zhenjin into a gun scorpion to steal gold mica stone, could make Zi Di think of cooled molten lava as burnt chocolate bread, could make Cang Xu want to eat even a handful of sand. It made them not let go of any edible thing, to believe jumping rat meat, lizard meat was a supreme delicacy. Beyond understanding, Zhenjin also felt fear and relief from escaping a close call. ¡°If I had chosen to eat Bai Ya as food, wouldn¡¯t Lan Zao¡¯s current state be my fate?¡± ¡°Although Bai Ya is not my biological brother, I would constantly be tormented and questioned by my conscience, morality, and knightly honor.¡± ¡°I would live a life worse than death like Lan Zao!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s mood was very heavy. Because he naturally thought, ¡°Will I become someone like this in the future?¡± When he returned to the volcanic cave and shouldered Bai Ya, the knight youth told himself¡ªI have not fallen. However, he was very clear: there were many selfish, evil, shameless, and despicable thoughts that had crossed his mind, making it nearly impossible for Zhenjin to face himself afterwards. Beyond understanding, fear, and heaviness, Zhenjin felt an emergent pity for Lan Zao. ¡°In order to survive, he had become a beast.¡± ¡°He killed his own younger brother.¡± ¡°Afterward, he came to this oasis. Such circumstances are just cruel mockery and taunting by fate.¡± ¡°Lan Zao was regretful, perhaps discovering the oasis a bit earlier, or holding on a little longer, Huang Zao might not have died.¡± ¡°Extreme regret made him unable to believe in Huang Zao¡¯s death, desperately denying the reality of killing his own brother.¡± ¡°Even with normal sight, he firmly believed Huang Zao was still alive, still had hope of being rescued.¡± ¡°He deceived himself, tried his hardest to deceive himself. He was caught in his own fantasy, only in this way could he escape the condemnation of his conscience and the torment of morality.¡± ¡°The oasis is real, but he has fallen into his own mirage,¡± ¡°Yet, in the end, everything is just a fantasy.¡± ¡°Our arrival and attitude burst the bubble of illusion, the merciless reality and truth once again laid before Lan Zao¡¯s eyes.¡± ¡°And this time, he had no way to avoid it, no way to lie to himself.¡± ¡°Just as Cang Xu had said before, those who seek to survive in the desert can be driven to collapse by a mirage. Lan Zao was just like that, and his situation was even worse.¡± To be honest, if Zhenjin hadn¡¯t experienced life and death, he would also have looked down on the current Lan Zao with disdain, disgust, and hatred, and would probably have taken Zi Di¡¯s suggestion. But after experiencing so much firsthand, the young knight¡¯s body and mind had undergone tremendous changes. ¡°He is our companion. I once said I would do my best to save everyone, so I will help him.¡± This was Zhenjin¡¯s decision after facing the two radically different suggestions by Cang Xu and Zi Di beside the campfire earlier. Then, he got up and brought half a bowl of coconut water and dried meat to Lan Zao. Lan Zao didn¡¯t react at all, still staring blankly at Huang Zao¡¯s corpse. In the end, Zhenjin could only knock Lan Zao unconscious. Why make such a decision, to help Lan Zao? Zhenjin himself found it strange at the time. But now, he had a bit of an understanding, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because of a desire deep within myself. I hope that if one day, I fall into Lan Zao¡¯s predicament, there will also be outsiders to help me.¡± But Zhenjin was very clear that he couldn¡¯t really help Lan Zao. Lan Zao¡¯s problem was not external but lay within his heart. Zhenjin even began to doubt and ask himself¡ªshould someone like Lan Zao be helped? Human society has ethics and morals, so the ethics and morals of a Holy Temple Knight must certainly be above the standards of the masses. Lan Zao¡¯s behavior was undoubtedly immoral, unethical. ¡°Am I right to save someone like Lan Zao?¡± ¡°Do I save him because I see myself in him?¡± ¡°Am I making excuses for my possible downfall?¡± At this moment, watching the flickering flames, Zhenjin felt himself wavering, shaken. He had initially mastered the Demon Crystal in his heart and become very powerful. He had ample food and water, having escaped that crisis. But the knight youth felt weak. He questioned himself in his heart. ¡°What kind of person am I, really?¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I am very afraid of death. Can I continue to uphold the knight¡¯s spirit? Can I shoulder my family¡¯s responsibility?¡± ¡°Am I a selfish person?¡± ¡°If I fell into the predicament Lan Zao had faced before, what would I choose?¡± ¡°If I choose not to eat, then I lose my life and can¡¯t reach the oasis. If I choose to eat, then I live a life worse than death.¡± ¡°Which choice is the right one?¡± Zhenjin bravely faced himself; he didn¡¯t use the Heart Core as an excuse to evade his true self. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t answer his own questions. With every thought, every time he faced these issues, every inquisition of his soul, the strong self-confidence he once had was lost piece by piece, then lost again. Zhenjin was very clear in his heart: when he saved Bai Ya, he told himself he hadn¡¯t fallen. This was really just a subconscious denial. Who doesn¡¯t want to be brave? Who doesn¡¯t want to be virtuous? Who doesn¡¯t want to be upright and without any moral debt? ¡°However, Cang Xu¡¯s words indeed make some sense.¡± Zhenjin was really thinking. This kind of thinking, forcing himself to face the deepest ugliness and darkness of his humanity, was undoubtedly very painful. Having lost confidence in himself, Zhenjin simultaneously fell into deep self-doubt. In the middle of the night beside the campfire, the knight youth quietly got up and knelt on the ground. He bowed his head, covering the area over his heart with his hand, facing the direction of the Holy Bright Continent, and began to confess. ¡°God, Holy Emperor, my great Lord. Under Your gaze, the world is aglow with light, and shadows hastily flee. Now, Your believer, Your knight confesses to You, for I have sunk into the mire of my soul. Please let Your divine light shine upon me, so that my corruption, ugliness, and filthy dirt of shadows retreat. I earnestly beg Your forgiveness for my sins of thought and intention¡­¡± The long confession came to an end. A gentle night breeze brushed past the ears of the young knight. Everything was as Zhenjin had expected¡ªGod did not respond. The youth sighed with regret. Zi Di slept soundly. Bai Ya lay flat in the grass, while Lan Zao curled up on the ground, lying on his side like a shrimp. Both of them had furrowed brows and pained expressions¡ªthey were both struggling. Time passed, the night gradually faded, the sun rose, casting intense heat. Like countless days and nights before, nature continued to operate with its unchanging rules. Any sorrow, sadness, pain, confusion, and other such emotions seemed pretentious amidst the vastness of nature. The heavens and the earth are vast, but being alive is paramount. Before wealth, power, beauty, and honor, there must be food and water. No matter how painful, how confused, or how sad, life must go on. Chapter 77 - 77: Section 78: Oasis Rest Chapter 77: Section 78: Oasis Rest The next day. Lord Zhenjin prioritized scouting the entire oasis, finding it unexpectedly peaceful and tranquil. The footprints by the lake were basically those of gun scorpions and acid liquid lizards. It was easy to infer that there were only two large-scale groups of beasts near the oasis: gun scorpions and lizards. The water of the lake couldn¡¯t be explored, so it was unknown what was hidden within it. However, according to the traces left by the beasts around the lake, there seemed to be no signs of fighting or struggle, which might indicate that there was no threat hiding in the water. There were quite a few small creatures. ... Such as small lizards, normal scorpions, spiders, and jumping rats. Occasionally, birds would land on a palm tree in the sky. After discussing, Lord Zhenjin began to chop down these thick palm trees. After picking all the coconuts, he processed the trunks, splitting them into firewood and using the core part to make the body of the short bows. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di prepared potions. Compared to the barren desert, the oasis was much richer in resources. Cang Xu was in charge of twisting hemp ropes. Now, the exploration team was down to five people, two of whom couldn¡¯t even walk on their own. Of the remaining three, Cang Xu was elderly and Zi Di was just a fifteen-year-old girl, so the labor force had sharply decreased. But fortunately, since there were fewer team members, they needed fewer things. By the end of the morning, Lord Zhenjin had made five short bows. Zi Di finished the initial grinding process and began testing the medicinal properties of various materials. In the afternoon, Lord Zhenjin dug deep by the lake and got a lot of mud. Using this mud and fire, Cang Xu started making pottery jars. By evening, Lord Zhenjin stopped chopping palm trees and climbed to the top of one to pick coconuts. The coconut shells were very hard. As long as they didn¡¯t hit rocks, they remained intact even when falling to the ground. Lord Zhenjin also picked a large amount of palm leaves. Like the coconuts, both the palm leaves and the palm trees themselves emitted a strange sulfur smell. With the help of Zi Di¡¯s potions, the first pottery jar was made. At dinner time, the pottery jar was successfully heated on the fire to boil water. Drinking hot water and eating grilled meat, Lord Zhenjin and the others felt a strong sense of bliss. ¡°This is the ultimate pleasure in the world!¡± Zi Di exclaimed sincerely. The morning of the third day. Swish. A wooden arrow shot out, startling a bird in the palm tree canopy to fly away. Lord Zhenjin sighed beneath the tree. ¡°Although the first short bow was made, I am not good at tuning bows, and the arrow¡¯s accuracy is very poor.¡± He moved his left shoulder, the previous injury had mostly healed, no longer affecting Lord Zhenjin¡¯s archery. Watching the bird fly away, Lord Zhenjin took out a wooden dart and threw it on instinct. In the instant of the throw, Lord Zhenjin activated his Heart Core, mutating his arm into a bear¡¯s. Almost immediately, he canceled the Mutation. The dart was incredibly fast, like a bolt of lightning, striking the bird ferociously and accurately, falling to the ground with it. Lord Zhenjin walked over, picked up the dead bird. The wooden dart was deeply embedded in the bird¡¯s chest, with only the tail of the dart remaining inside, almost piercing through completely. Now, bird meat was no longer precious, there was still a lot of lizard meat. But bird feathers were critical, a source of material for arrow feathers. Bones of the bird were useful too. Last night, Lord Zhenjin told himself to try not to use the Demon Core in his heart. But without bird feathers, it was impossible to make qualified arrows. Additionally, the number of birds in the oasis was very scarce, could not compare with forest or rainforest areas, so Lord Zhenjin couldn¡¯t easily let go of any bird. Carrying the bird, Lord Zhenjin returned to the original spot and found a newly woven vine basket. The basket was filled with the mud from the lakeside. Breakfast had been eaten, and Lord Zhenjin¡¯s original goal was to dig up the mud and transport it back in the basket. Seeing the bird on his way back, the young knight didn¡¯t let it go and shot it down directly. Carrying the bird in one hand and the basket in the other, Lord Zhenjin returned to the temporary camp. Zi Di was in the camp, setting up tents. The tents were rudimentary, constructed with a few long thin wooden poles split to create a stable triangular structure and then covered with palm leaves. Then, vines or hemp ropes were used to tie the palm leaves and wooden poles together. The broad palm leaves, layered over one another, in addition to the tent floor covered with fluffy dry grass, successfully created a private resting place that was warm and windproof. They planned to build five tents like this, one for each person including Lord Zhenjin, Cang Xu, and others. Zi Di had already finished building one and was constructing the second. According to this rate, everyone would not have to sleep outdoors on the ground tonight. ¡°There¡¯s an unexpected gain,¡± Lord Zhenjin handed the bird to Zi Di. Zi Di looked up and smiled at Zhenjin, ¡°Just put it on the ground, here, this is the potion I prepared. It hardly smells to humans, but it can repel mosquitoes, insects, and poisonous ants.¡± Zhenjin took the potion and checked on Bai Ya and Lan Zao. The two lay motionless on the grass, not far from each other. Zhenjin bent down and touched Bai Ya¡¯s forehead, finding that his high fever had subsided and his breathing was steadier than before. This was a good sign. Zhenjin felt a slight joy inside, Bai Ya was better at handling the bow than him, but he couldn¡¯t rely on him yet. ¡°Hopefully, he wakes up soon,¡± Zhenjin silently wished. If Bai Ya woke up, he wouldn¡¯t need to be fed water anymore and could eat on his own. He would eat more than he currently did, take in more nutrients, and recover his health more effectively. As for Lan Zao¡­ He was already awake. He curled up on the ground, still motionless, his expression dull, his gaze numb, like a lifelike puppet. He was a Bronze Level cultivator with fighting energy, physically much stronger than Bai Ya. But his mental state was very poor, showing no interest in the food placed in front of him. Zhenjin sighed softly. The young knight was not good at persuasion and comforting, and more importantly, he harbored complex feelings for Lan Zao, who had killed his own younger brother to survive. Even the act of comforting Lan Zao filled Zhenjin with a faint fear. Was this a sort of indulgence and forgiveness for his own dark side? If indulged further, would he become utterly despicable? Would he let the heart core erode his spirit, and instead of a noble Holy Temple Knight, become a dark, fallen evil-doer? Zhenjin carried a basket of soil and left the temporary camp to a nearby open space. This area was originally a grassy field, the grass lush and taller than a man¡¯s knees, but now it had all been burned away. The bare ground had been dug into a fire pit, around which Cang Xu was building with wet clay. The structure he was building was taking shape, like a towering cylinder encircling the fire pit. ¡°This is a clay kiln. We burn wood underground here; this is the grate, dividing it into upper and lower layers. The wood burns in the lower layer. This design allows air to flow in faster, making the fire burn more vigorously,¡± explained Cang Xu. The nascent clay kiln only reached Zhenjin¡¯s knees, and even a complete kiln would not be half as tall as Zhenjin. Zhenjin looked down and immediately saw the bottom of the kiln, separated by a firebridge. The firebridge was a round clay brick, about thirty centimeters in diameter, its thickness unclear. The brick appeared to be air-dried with small round holes evenly distributed. Zhenjin could imagine: once the kiln was operating, the dry wood below would ignite, and flames would shoot through these holes onto the top of the firebridge. Although very small and simple, once built, this kiln would be much more stable than a campfire, burning hotter and more practical. ¡°With this kiln, we can make bricks and tiles, initially building wooden houses with tiled roofs. If we expand the scale of the kiln, or build more, we could bake bricks from clay and then construct brick houses,¡± Cang Xu continued to explain. Zhenjin could not help but admire, ¡°Scholar Cang Xu, is there anything you don¡¯t know?¡± Cang Xu shook his head with a smile, ¡°There is still too much I don¡¯t know. Actually, I only grasped all this knowledge in recent years. I¡¯ve long wanted to go to the Wilderness Continent, to complete my writings. I studied many materials on the Beast Race, which are actually their living techniques. The Beast Race is much more primitive than the Human Race, mostly still in the tribal stage. On the vast Wilderness Continent, there are few city-states of the Beast Race.¡± ¡°So, is this mud enough?¡± Zhenjin pointed at the basket filled with muddy soil. Cang Xu calculated for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s more than enough to build the kiln, but probably not sufficient for making pottery. I¡¯m afraid I must trouble Lord Zhenjin to make another trip.¡± Of course, Cang Xu had no plans to make bricks or tiles. Having gone through two teleportations, everyone knew that as long as the Teleportation Array existed, any houses or camps built on this island had no practical value. The reason for making pottery was because they needed containers for storing water. Zhenjin, Cang Xu, and Zi Di each had a water bag. But filling these water bags was far from enough for their water reserves. They needed more water, and the more, the safer. The oasis was just a resting place; they still had to embark on a journey, trekking through the desert. With a significant reserve of drinking water, even without a new water source, they could last a long period. This would allow them to face greater risks. Zhenjin dumped all the lake mud, took the now empty basket, and left the clearing. He didn¡¯t head straight for the lakeside but scattered a circle of potions around the camp. No threats were detected. For now, this oasis seemed safe. But going out was better left to Zhenjin. Neither Zi Di nor Cang Xu could easily fend off sudden attacks. When Zhenjin returned to the camp, Zi Di was already setting up the third tent. The progress was so rapid because these personal tents were too small. A few wooden sticks formed a framework, then layers of natural palm leaves were draped over it. Once inside the tent, one could only lie flat, barely covering head and foot. It was difficult to even turn over in this natural, green ¡°makeshift coffin,¡± as the space inside was very cramped. Seeing Zhenjin return, Zi Di immediately relaxed and resumed her work. She knelt on the ground, half her body diving into the tent, appearing to adjust the palm leaves inside. Her lower body remained outside, her light brown leather boots no longer obscured by the magic robe. Due to her posture, the robe clung tightly to her rear, outlining an alluring curve. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but be slightly moved by the sight. Chapter 78 - 78: Section 79: Yearning for Life and Death Chapter 78: Section 79: Yearning for Life and Death Once again arriving at the clearing, Zhenjin discovered that Cang Xu had already started a fire. The flames burned at the bottom of the kiln. The kiln had been built and was now enduring the trial by fire. The moisture within was being evaporated; the heat caused the clay to undergo some degree of transformation, becoming dry and hard, and more stable. Upon seeing Zhenjin, Cang Xu said, ¡°If the kiln doesn¡¯t crack after burning, it¡¯s a success, and we can rely on it to fire pottery vessels.¡± ¡°If it does crack, we¡¯ll have to make it anew. However, this possibility is not that great.¡± As he spoke, Cang Xu began making pottery vessels. ... First, he cleaned the mud, removing bits of broken grass, small stones, or earthworms, and then he continuously kneaded and slapped the clay to even out its texture. Afterward, he took a portion of the clay and fashioned a plate with his palms and fingers. The edges of the plate curled upwards vertically. Next, Cang Xu took another small portion of the clay and rolled it on a stone slab, creating a long, roughly uniform strip of clay. Cang Xu laid this cylindrical strip of clay on the vertical edges of the base, gently pressed it with his fingers, and firmly joined it to the base, as if they were one. After that, Cang Xu repeatedly followed this process. One clay strip after another was built up, the height of the base constantly changing, eventually forming a pottery jar with a narrow opening. The pottery jar was as large as an adult¡¯s head, pitch-black, and extremely ugly. Caringly, Cang Xu picked up this pottery jar and placed it on another stone slab. Zhenjin noticed with care that both the working stone slab and the one holding the pottery were previously covered with a layer of charcoal ash by Cang Xu. This was to prevent the bottom of the jar from sticking to the slab. In his dealings with the mud, Cang Xu¡¯s old hands and thin fingers appeared very agile, his clothing and graying fluffy beard soiled with mud, yet his old glasses remained spotless. Zhenjin did not stay to help Cang Xu, for he had more important tasks to attend to. That was to patrol the oasis once again. Although he had thoroughly explored the oasis on the second day of his arrival. This did not mean the oasis was free from danger. Beasts could move about, and Zhenjin¡¯s patrol range was limited. He could only avoid sticking to a single patrol route as much as possible. ¡°Perhaps if I mutated into a gun scorpion, I could see farther, hear more.¡± But this thought had barely surfaced in Zhenjin¡¯s mind when the young knight dismissed it. He was very wary of the Heart Core and had made up his mind not to use this mysterious Demon Core unless absolutely necessary. Zhenjin patrolled carefully, reaffirming the safety of the oasis. Of course, with regard to the lakes in the oasis, Zhenjin was not able to investigate. The lake water was cool and exhibited a deep blue color. When there was no wind, the water was still as a mirror, resembling a blue gemstone nestled in the embrace of the yellow desert, contrasted interestingly with the blue sky. After lunch, work continued. The creation of the pottery faced setbacks; most of the pots cracked after being fired in the kiln. ¡°It must be due to the lack of mature material.¡± Cang Xu knew the reason but was helpless, as Zi Di also couldn¡¯t provide any assistance in this regard. Nevertheless, crushing the cracked pots into fragments and incorporating these particles into the clay increased the success rate of the new pottery vessels. Zhenjin started to regret. If he had known this would happen, he should have brought back all the water bags from the Volcanic Cave. Every member of the exploration team had a water bag, but when Zhenjin left, he only selected a few weapons and took the empty water bags. Now, going back was not realistic. On one hand, was the consumption of food, time, and physical energy caused by the round trip, and on the other hand, the risk would greatly increase. Let¡¯s not forget that area was experiencing a volcanic eruption. Whether taking Zi Di and Cang Xu back or leaving them here was not a good choice. ¡°If only bamboo grew here, it would be much more convenient.¡± Zhenjin then recalled the bamboo forest he found and utilized when hunting Huang Zao. Bamboo segments are natural containers, very convenient for storing water. But coconuts shells are also quite good. Since coconut water is rich in nutrients, Zhenjin and others chose to keep it, preferring to drink boiled water. As evening approached, Zhenjin returned to the camp once more. Zi Di had already set up five tents and was preparing potions. She told Zhenjin some good news¡ªBai Ya had awoken. Zhenjin went to Bai Ya¡¯s tent. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai Ya was still very weak, lying in the tent with only his head sticking out. Seeing Zhenjin arrive, he tried to get up, but after several attempts, he couldn¡¯t. ¡°Don¡¯t move, just lie there.¡± Zhenjin immediately stopped him, noticing Bai Ya¡¯s weakness, and sat down beside him. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you¡¯ve saved my life again! You are my savior, and I am indebted to you beyond measure,¡± Bai Ya said, moved. ¡°Take care of your injuries, eat more, drink more. It wasn¡¯t easy for me to rescue you,¡± Zhenjin said with a smile. Bai Ya¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears as they welled up and spilled over. He choked out, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I know that it was you who carried me all the way. You, a noble Holy Temple Knight, took a life-threatening risk for someone as lowly as me. You even gave me your precious water to drink. Lady Zi Di and Scholar Cang Xu have both told me this.¡± ¡°To help the weak and save the virtuous is the very creed of the Holy Temple Knights,¡± Zhenjin smiled and placed his hand on Bai Ya¡¯s shoulder, stopping his attempt to rise again. ¡°Though I seek no recompense, I understand and accept your desire and feelings to repay me.¡± ¡°You must survive and recover as soon as possible.¡± ¡°I was just today troubled by bow adjustments. I remember that you are skilled at this, so I am waiting for your help.¡± ¡°My lord, I can now¡­¡± Hearing this, Bai Ya became even more anxious, trying to get up again, but with a gentle yet firm press from Zhenjin, he was pinned to the ground, unable to move an inch. ¡°Do not rush, follow my command,¡± Zhenjin said sternly. Bai Ya immediately ceased struggling and looked up at Zhenjin with eyes full of admiration and love: ¡°My lord, I will do as you say.¡± Just as he thought of getting up, Zhenjin suddenly remembered something, and took several letters from his bosom: ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. These letters are for you to have back.¡± ¡°We have read their contents. I had thought that if you were to die, I would deliver these letters to Miss Xi Qiu. But now that you have survived, they should rightfully be returned to you.¡± ¡°My lord¡­¡± Bai Ya suddenly became somewhat embarrassed. Zhenjin smiled and patted Bai Ya¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Strive hard to live, rise above others, and do not disappoint the girl you love. When you¡¯re in dire straits and unable to go on, just think more about it. Imagine the day when you become a knight, return triumphantly to your homeland, and go to claim Miss Xi Qiu.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Bai Ya nodded, his voice choked with emotion. His eyes were red-rimmed once more, tears brimming. At this moment, his whole being radiated with brilliance, filled with hope for the future. Zhenjin, regarding the matter of Xi Qiu, actually leaned more towards Cang Xu¡¯s opinion. But Zhenjin thought better of it and did not bring it up to Bai Ya. For one, he did not know the truth. Secondly, Bai Ya, as he was now, needed positive encouragement, not crushing truths. Bai Ya was filled with optimism, as if he were basking in the radiant sunshine. Lan Zao, on the other hand, lay in a small tent of palm leaves, exuding gloom and desolation. He was fasting. Ever since his illusions were shattered by Zhenjin and the others, Lan Zao could no longer face reality. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything, nor had he drunk a single drop of water. These days, he was either in a stupor or curled up in a ball, silently shedding tears. The contrast and change between the two men stirred Zhenjin¡¯s heart deeply, filled with wonder: ¡°Human nature truly is a delicate and strange thing.¡± ¡°While Bai Ya was alive, he risked his life to save Cang Xu. He didn¡¯t want to die, not at all.¡± ¡°When Lan Zao thought he was going to die, he would have sacrificed his own younger brother. But now he no longer wants to live, obsessively seeking death.¡± Zhenjin could not persuade Lan Zao. He did not know how to begin or what to say. One glance at Lan Zao was enough to know how resolved he was to die. It seemed every additional breath in this world, every further moment of existence, was torture for Lan Zao. And while this torture engendered Zhenjin¡¯s pity for him, it also brought with it a sense of satisfaction that justice was being served. After all, seeing a villain get his comeuppance is a cause for celebration. If someone truly wishes to die, what can an outsider do? Night fell. Another busy day came to an end. The bland lizard meat and the poor-tasting water for dinner drew unanimous praise from everyone. By the campfire, all who were eating did so with a deep sincerity and gratitude. To be able to sit comfortably on the ground and eat one¡¯s fill was an immense joy! And to be able to sleep inside a tent at night filled that joy to overflowing. They were no longer sleeping out in the open. True, the tent was small, but it was really warm. The bottom was cushioned with a layer of soft leaves, and there were makeshift pillows; it wasn¡¯t the hard, cold ground. Even if the night wind blew, the layers of palm leaves blocked it, and those inside were not awakened by the chill. As for not enough room in the tent to turn over? Turn over? Wasn¡¯t a day¡¯s toil tiring enough? How can these fine conditions not satisfy you? Tsch! Don¡¯t be ungrateful! When Zhenjin and the others fell asleep in their tents, they each wore a smile. Then, with those smiles still lingering, they awoke on the fourth day inside the Oasis. Hiss¡­ Hiss¡­ Hiss¡­ They all heard an unusual noise. It sounded like thousands of snakes were sweeping in. Dawn¡¯s light pierced the darkness of the night, and everyone could see the truth¡ª A large swarm of acid-spewing green lizards was pouring into the Oasis. Chapter 79 - 79: Section 80: Fat Ball Flying Fish Chapter 79: Section 80: Fat Ball Flying Fish Acid Liquid Green Lizards stretched their robust legs, racing against each other and exhibiting their agile and fierce stances. Zhenjin made a preliminary estimate that there were at least three hundred Green Lizards. Among them, there were over thirty at the Black Iron Level, more than sixty at the Bronze Level, and the rest were ordinary Green Lizards. Once the lizards entered the Oasis, they rampaged around, sweeping everything in their path. Then, without slowing down, they nearly sprinted into the lake. Numerous footprints of the lizards were left by the lake, along with traces where their tails had dragged across the ground. ... The lake¡¯s surface was no longer calm, stirring up sparkling waves. The lizards¡¯ deep green and emerald scales were washed clean, free from the dust of their journey through the desert. Some of the Black Iron and Bronze Level lizards began to frolic, diving into the lake, stretching their limbs, and flicking their tails as they swam underwater. After a while, they would resurface, blowing misty breath from their nostrils and gasping for air with their mouths wide open. Most of the lizards stood in the shallows, bowing their heads and continuously drawing water. ¡°These lizards are both hungry and thirsty,¡± Zi Di remarked with concern in her eyes. Hungry beasts are full of aggression. Standing beside her were Zhenjin and Cang Xu, both with solemn expressions. Bai Ya arrived shortly after. After a night¡¯s rest, he finally had enough strength to move, albeit with difficulty. Hearing the commotion caused by the lizards, he could no longer stay put and walked over with effort. After reaching Zhenjin¡¯s side, he bent down, supporting himself with his hands on the ground and sitting directly on the earth while gasping for air and gazing at the distant group of lizards. Bai Ya¡¯s face was very pale as he said in fits and starts, ¡°The lizard group¡­ is here, huff, huff¡­ Will the Scorpion group come?¡± His fractured injury would take a long time to heal, nowhere near Zhenjin¡¯s recovery ability. However, as time passed, the four people observing the lizards gradually shifted from tension to relaxation. It was expected for a beast horde to appear at the Oasis. After all, it was the presence of such a horde that had led them to deduce the existence of a large water source nearby. Another reason why everyone was able to relax was that the lizards were all bustling by the lake and rarely scattered around the Oasis to roam and forage. When establishing this temporary camp, Zhenjin had already taken into consideration the possibility of beasts coming to drink water. Therefore, the camp¡¯s location was quite advantageous. Zhenjin¡¯s eyes flickered. In his view, these lizards were food. Looking at their robust bodies, weren¡¯t they just bundles of jerky on the move? ¡°These lizards are still drinking water, they can actually hold so much. Terrifying!¡± Bai Ya exclaimed after watching for a while. The lizards were still guzzling, with the Bronze and Black Iron Level lizards submerged in the lake, their jaws wide open, letting the water pour directly into their spacious throats. Cang Xu mused, ¡°That¡¯s because this type of Acid Liquid Lizard has three stomachs, one main stomach for digesting food. The other two auxiliary stomachs are used for water storage. They are natural giant water bags.¡± ¡°With their size, they naturally need a lot of water to move. Don¡¯t forget, they also spray acid. To produce that acid liquid in their bodies, they already require a considerable amount of water.¡± Cang Xu had dissected Green Skin Lizards before and was very familiar with these beasts. ¡°Perhaps we could make water bags out of the stomachs of these lizards?¡± Zi Di suddenly suggested, knowing all too well that the progress of making clay pots was slow. Cang Xu thought for a moment, ¡°We can try.¡± After some discussion, they decided that Zhenjin would take action, hunting the lizards stealthily. Zi Di and Cang Xu would continue their unfinished work, while Bai Ya, still frail, would focus on rest. But Bai Ya insisted on doing work. Seeing the young man¡¯s eager expression, Zhenjin assigned him the task of twisting hemp ropes. Armed with an iron knife and carrying an iron sword on his back, Zhenjin left the temporary camp. He climbed a readily climbable, slanted coconut tree, giving him an extensive view for careful scouting. No lizards were found near the camp. Zhenjin then climbed down the tree and slowly approached the group of lizards by the lake. The concentrated activity of the lizard group made the temporary camp safe, but conversely, it increased the difficulty of Zhenjin¡¯s hunting. Zhenjin didn¡¯t want to rashly attack and enrage the entire horde, causing a pursuit. Animal behavior is hard to predict. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If Zhenjin were caught in the midst of the horde, he too would face great danger. If Cang Xu, Zi Di, Bai Ya, and Lan Zao were involved, it would be even more so. Even though Zhenjin could transform into a Silver Spear Scorpion, the scale of this group of lizards was large, far surpassing the one he had encountered in the Gold Mica Stone cluster before. Moreover, Zhenjin wasn¡¯t planning to use the Heart Core. There were many reasons. The first was that suddenly having a Silver Spear Scorpion appear would be highly suspicious. Both Cang Xu and Zi Di were very clever, and the more Zhenjin deceived, the greater the chance of being exposed. The second reason was Zhenjin¡¯s wariness towards the Demon Crystal in his heart. Absorbing the bloodline of other lives through the Heart Core was cruel and evil, and Zhenjin, as a Holy Temple Knight, naturally rejected and was disgusted with such things. The third reason was Zhenjin¡¯s own concern. He couldn¡¯t grasp the essence of the Heart Core and worried about potential hidden dangers. An intuition told him that the more he used the Heart Core, the more likely he was to stray from the path of a Knight in the future. Zhenjin wasn¡¯t in a hurry. His young and handsome face bore not a trace of naivety, but was filled with a reliable and composed temperament. Countless times of hardship and desperate situations had honed his body and mind. Zhenjin decided to wait and see, waiting for a possible hunting opportunity. Gua gua gua¡­ ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡± Zhenjin looked puzzled. After waiting for about an hour, he heard unusual sounds coming from the lake. The noises sounded similar to the croaks of frogs, but upon close listening, it was clear that these sounds were more muted than frog croaks. Zhenjin gazed intently but found no sign of frogs, yet the lizards began to show unusual behavior. Numerous lizards plunged into the water, paddling with their limbs and swimming swiftly. They opened their mouths, fighting fiercely in the water, stirring up waves. Some lizards simply tilted their heads back and ejected streams of acid. The acid shot into the air, suddenly striking something transparent. With the coating of green acid, the invisible beast revealed its true form. It was a kind of fish, resembling a pufferfish that had swelled up in defense, plump and round, floating in midair, propelling itself with pale yellow tails and fins. They had sharp, pitch-black spines all over their bodies, the source of the guttural frog-like sounds. After being corroded by the acid, the Fat Ball Flying Fish fell into the lake one after another. The surrounding lizards swarmed in, competing with each other and quickly consuming the Fat Ball Flying Fish. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Cang Xu and Zi Di were drawn by this unusual scene. ¡°These Fat Ball Flying Fish were hidden in the depths of the lake, and now the lizards have provoked them into coming out,¡± Zhenjin speculated. ¡°It¡¯s strange. We can¡¯t see these Fat Ball Flying Fish with the naked eye, but the lizards can see them clearly,¡± Zi Di said, frowning slightly. A thoughtful light flashed in Cang Xu¡¯s eyes, ¡°I think I understand why. These Acid Liquid lizards have a visual system similar to many snake species. They perceive objects by the heat they emit, and the higher the heat, the more it attracts the attention of these lizards.¡± ¡°These Fat Ball Flying Fish, for lack of a better name, emit at least some heat. We probably can¡¯t see them because their skin has chameleon-like camouflage capabilities.¡± As the lizards hunted the Fat Ball Flying Fish in large numbers, the fish began to slowly float up into the middle of the air to escape. But since the lizards could all spray acid, they shot them down one by one. Zhenjin noticed that these Fat Ball Flying Fish also had means of counterattack. Some would suddenly burst, emitting a burst of hot water, and their pitch-black spines would scatter explosively in all directions. The spines clearly carried a deadly toxin; upon hitting the lizards, Zhenjin could see the wounds immediately turn pitch-black. The pitch-black wounds quickly rotted the flesh and scales. What started as a mere dot soon expanded rapidly to the size of a bowl. However, the lizards had their own strategy. Upon seeing a fellow lizard struck by a spine, the others would crowd around, covering the black wound with their mouths and suctioning hard. The terrifying black toxin was then sucked into the lizards¡¯ poison glands. Then, as the lizards opened their mouths to spray their venom, the originally green acid, now mixed with the black toxin, turned into a deep green, increasing its potency. A spark of insight crossed Cang Xu¡¯s eyes, recalling the dissection of lizards. He had an epiphany, ¡°Inside the lizard¡¯s mouth are glands that shoot venom; these glands¡¯ muscles can expand to absorb liquids from outside. Once they¡¯ve absorbed the toxin, it effectively detoxifies the other lizards. This organ has such a clever use!¡± The Acid Liquid lizards had been brutally oppressed by scorpions and had been heavily culled by the exploration team, but now they were fiercely defending themselves. They were very effective at restraining the Fat Ball Flying Fish. ¡°It seems that these Fat Ball Flying Fish are probably the main prey of these lizards,¡± Zi Di conjectured. Gua gua gua! Gua gua gua! After watching the battle for a moment, the calls of the Fat Ball Flying Fish became more and more frequent and louder. The expressions of Zhenjin and the others gradually changed. More and more of the Fat Ball Flying Fish became visible in the battle, and their number was increasing at a terrifying rate. And that was just what they could see with their eyes; there were many more unseen! The Fat Ball Flying Fish were too numerous, quickly gaining the advantage in numbers and encircling the lizards. After a great deal of feeding and watering, the aggression of the lizards diminished. The counterattack from the group of Fat Ball Flying Fish grew stronger and the lizards began to retreat. Dark toxic spines flew continuously, and many lizards were pierced after they paused to suck the toxin from a comrade, ending up riddled with them. Within a dozen breaths, these lizards dissolved into a puddle of black water, which dispersed without a trace in the vast lake. Chapter 80 - 78: Section 79: Yearning for Life and Death Chapter 78: Section 79: Yearning for Life and Death Once again arriving at the clearing, Zhenjin discovered that Cang Xu had already started a fire. The flames burned at the bottom of the kiln. The kiln had been built and was now enduring the trial by fire. The moisture within was being evaporated; the heat caused the clay to undergo some degree of transformation, becoming dry and hard, and more stable. Upon seeing Zhenjin, Cang Xu said, ¡°If the kiln doesn¡¯t crack after burning, it¡¯s a success, and we can rely on it to fire pottery vessels.¡± ¡°If it does crack, we¡¯ll have to make it anew. However, this possibility is not that great.¡± As he spoke, Cang Xu began making pottery vessels. ... First, he cleaned the mud, removing bits of broken grass, small stones, or earthworms, and then he continuously kneaded and slapped the clay to even out its texture. Afterward, he took a portion of the clay and fashioned a plate with his palms and fingers. The edges of the plate curled upwards vertically. Next, Cang Xu took another small portion of the clay and rolled it on a stone slab, creating a long, roughly uniform strip of clay. Cang Xu laid this cylindrical strip of clay on the vertical edges of the base, gently pressed it with his fingers, and firmly joined it to the base, as if they were one. After that, Cang Xu repeatedly followed this process. One clay strip after another was built up, the height of the base constantly changing, eventually forming a pottery jar with a narrow opening. The pottery jar was as large as an adult¡¯s head, pitch-black, and extremely ugly. Caringly, Cang Xu picked up this pottery jar and placed it on another stone slab. Zhenjin noticed with care that both the working stone slab and the one holding the pottery were previously covered with a layer of charcoal ash by Cang Xu. This was to prevent the bottom of the jar from sticking to the slab. In his dealings with the mud, Cang Xu¡¯s old hands and thin fingers appeared very agile, his clothing and graying fluffy beard soiled with mud, yet his old glasses remained spotless. Zhenjin did not stay to help Cang Xu, for he had more important tasks to attend to. That was to patrol the oasis once again. Although he had thoroughly explored the oasis on the second day of his arrival. This did not mean the oasis was free from danger. Beasts could move about, and Zhenjin¡¯s patrol range was limited. He could only avoid sticking to a single patrol route as much as possible. ¡°Perhaps if I mutated into a gun scorpion, I could see farther, hear more.¡± But this thought had barely surfaced in Zhenjin¡¯s mind when the young knight dismissed it. He was very wary of the Heart Core and had made up his mind not to use this mysterious Demon Core unless absolutely necessary. Zhenjin patrolled carefully, reaffirming the safety of the oasis. Of course, with regard to the lakes in the oasis, Zhenjin was not able to investigate. The lake water was cool and exhibited a deep blue color. When there was no wind, the water was still as a mirror, resembling a blue gemstone nestled in the embrace of the yellow desert, contrasted interestingly with the blue sky. After lunch, work continued. The creation of the pottery faced setbacks; most of the pots cracked after being fired in the kiln. ¡°It must be due to the lack of mature material.¡± Cang Xu knew the reason but was helpless, as Zi Di also couldn¡¯t provide any assistance in this regard. Nevertheless, crushing the cracked pots into fragments and incorporating these particles into the clay increased the success rate of the new pottery vessels. Zhenjin started to regret. If he had known this would happen, he should have brought back all the water bags from the Volcanic Cave. Every member of the exploration team had a water bag, but when Zhenjin left, he only selected a few weapons and took the empty water bags. Now, going back was not realistic. On one hand, was the consumption of food, time, and physical energy caused by the round trip, and on the other hand, the risk would greatly increase. Let¡¯s not forget that area was experiencing a volcanic eruption. Whether taking Zi Di and Cang Xu back or leaving them here was not a good choice. ¡°If only bamboo grew here, it would be much more convenient.¡± Zhenjin then recalled the bamboo forest he found and utilized when hunting Huang Zao. Bamboo segments are natural containers, very convenient for storing water. But coconuts shells are also quite good. Since coconut water is rich in nutrients, Zhenjin and others chose to keep it, preferring to drink boiled water. As evening approached, Zhenjin returned to the camp once more. Zi Di had already set up five tents and was preparing potions. She told Zhenjin some good news¡ªBai Ya had awoken. Zhenjin went to Bai Ya¡¯s tent. Bai Ya was still very weak, lying in the tent with only his head sticking out. Seeing Zhenjin arrive, he tried to get up, but after several attempts, he couldn¡¯t. ¡°Don¡¯t move, just lie there.¡± Zhenjin immediately stopped him, noticing Bai Ya¡¯s weakness, and sat down beside him. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you¡¯ve saved my life again! You are my savior, and I am indebted to you beyond measure,¡± Bai Ya said, moved. ¡°Take care of your injuries, eat more, drink more. It wasn¡¯t easy for me to rescue you,¡± Zhenjin said with a smile. Bai Ya¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears as they welled up and spilled over. He choked out, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I know that it was you who carried me all the way. You, a noble Holy Temple Knight, took a life-threatening risk for someone as lowly as me. You even gave me your precious water to drink. Lady Zi Di and Scholar Cang Xu have both told me this.¡± ¡°To help the weak and save the virtuous is the very creed of the Holy Temple Knights,¡± Zhenjin smiled and placed his hand on Bai Ya¡¯s shoulder, stopping his attempt to rise again. ¡°Though I seek no recompense, I understand and accept your desire and feelings to repay me.¡± ¡°You must survive and recover as soon as possible.¡± ¡°I was just today troubled by bow adjustments. I remember that you are skilled at this, so I am waiting for your help.¡± ¡°My lord, I can now¡­¡± Hearing this, Bai Ya became even more anxious, trying to get up again, but with a gentle yet firm press from Zhenjin, he was pinned to the ground, unable to move an inch. ¡°Do not rush, follow my command,¡± Zhenjin said sternly. Bai Ya immediately ceased struggling and looked up at Zhenjin with eyes full of admiration and love: ¡°My lord, I will do as you say.¡± Just as he thought of getting up, Zhenjin suddenly remembered something, and took several letters from his bosom: ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. These letters are for you to have back.¡± ¡°We have read their contents. I had thought that if you were to die, I would deliver these letters to Miss Xi Qiu. But now that you have survived, they should rightfully be returned to you.¡± ¡°My lord¡­¡± Bai Ya suddenly became somewhat embarrassed. Zhenjin smiled and patted Bai Ya¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Strive hard to live, rise above others, and do not disappoint the girl you love. When you¡¯re in dire straits and unable to go on, just think more about it. Imagine the day when you become a knight, return triumphantly to your homeland, and go to claim Miss Xi Qiu.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Bai Ya nodded, his voice choked with emotion. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His eyes were red-rimmed once more, tears brimming. At this moment, his whole being radiated with brilliance, filled with hope for the future. Zhenjin, regarding the matter of Xi Qiu, actually leaned more towards Cang Xu¡¯s opinion. But Zhenjin thought better of it and did not bring it up to Bai Ya. For one, he did not know the truth. Secondly, Bai Ya, as he was now, needed positive encouragement, not crushing truths. Bai Ya was filled with optimism, as if he were basking in the radiant sunshine. Lan Zao, on the other hand, lay in a small tent of palm leaves, exuding gloom and desolation. He was fasting. Ever since his illusions were shattered by Zhenjin and the others, Lan Zao could no longer face reality. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything, nor had he drunk a single drop of water. These days, he was either in a stupor or curled up in a ball, silently shedding tears. The contrast and change between the two men stirred Zhenjin¡¯s heart deeply, filled with wonder: ¡°Human nature truly is a delicate and strange thing.¡± ¡°While Bai Ya was alive, he risked his life to save Cang Xu. He didn¡¯t want to die, not at all.¡± ¡°When Lan Zao thought he was going to die, he would have sacrificed his own younger brother. But now he no longer wants to live, obsessively seeking death.¡± Zhenjin could not persuade Lan Zao. He did not know how to begin or what to say. One glance at Lan Zao was enough to know how resolved he was to die. It seemed every additional breath in this world, every further moment of existence, was torture for Lan Zao. And while this torture engendered Zhenjin¡¯s pity for him, it also brought with it a sense of satisfaction that justice was being served. After all, seeing a villain get his comeuppance is a cause for celebration. If someone truly wishes to die, what can an outsider do? Night fell. Another busy day came to an end. The bland lizard meat and the poor-tasting water for dinner drew unanimous praise from everyone. By the campfire, all who were eating did so with a deep sincerity and gratitude. To be able to sit comfortably on the ground and eat one¡¯s fill was an immense joy! And to be able to sleep inside a tent at night filled that joy to overflowing. They were no longer sleeping out in the open. True, the tent was small, but it was really warm. The bottom was cushioned with a layer of soft leaves, and there were makeshift pillows; it wasn¡¯t the hard, cold ground. Even if the night wind blew, the layers of palm leaves blocked it, and those inside were not awakened by the chill. As for not enough room in the tent to turn over? Turn over? Wasn¡¯t a day¡¯s toil tiring enough? How can these fine conditions not satisfy you? Tsch! Don¡¯t be ungrateful! When Zhenjin and the others fell asleep in their tents, they each wore a smile. Then, with those smiles still lingering, they awoke on the fourth day inside the Oasis. Hiss¡­ Hiss¡­ Hiss¡­ They all heard an unusual noise. It sounded like thousands of snakes were sweeping in. Dawn¡¯s light pierced the darkness of the night, and everyone could see the truth¡ª A large swarm of acid-spewing green lizards was pouring into the Oasis. Chapter 81 - 81: Section 82: I want to keep on living! Chapter 81: Section 82: I want to keep on living! The Fat Ball Flying Fish was killed by Lan Zao with a single slash, fortunately, it hadn¡¯t managed to self-destruct. Zhenjin felt a tremor in his heart, curious about how Lan Zao had discerned the position of the Fat Ball Flying Fish. ¡°Sir!¡± Zi Di¡¯s voice came from inside a nearby tent. From another palm tent, Bai Ya and Cang Xu stuck their heads out. It turned out they had all been hiding inside the tents. Even if ordinary fish spines were shot out, they would be blocked by the layered palm leaves. ... Seeing them safe and sound, Zhenjin¡¯s heart lightened. He focused his gaze towards the center of the camp and saw Lan Zao wounded, with several fish spines sticking into his body. ¡°He was hit by fish spines and hasn¡¯t died from poison?¡± Zhenjin wondered. He pulled out a dart from his chest and secretly speculated, ¡°This means the deadly poison is relatively mild on the human body. Is the poison more targeted toward lizards?¡± ¡°We must kill these Fat Ball Flying Fish immediately. The lizard horde has been scattered, and the majority of the fish are returning. If we delay further, the fish will surely be drawn by the fight here. By then, with my strength alone, I won¡¯t be able to protect the others.¡± Under these circumstances, Zhenjin could only take a risk. The young knight could not detect the Fat Ball Flying Fish, but he could mutate. He immediately shifted his position, so that Cang Xu and others couldn¡¯t see his eyes face-on. Then he squinted his eyes and activated his Heart Core. With the eyes of a lizard, he immediately spotted the Fat Ball Flying Fish in mid-air. Including the one just killed by Lan Zao, there were a total of five Fat Ball Flying Fish in the temporary camp. The remaining three were light red, but one of them was the largest and displayed a deep red color, clearly a Black Iron Level Magic Beast flying fish. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The next moment, five darts shot out furiously, one missed, but the rest hit all the flying fish almost simultaneously. The three ordinary flying fish were pierced through and couldn¡¯t self-destruct in time. But the Black Iron flying fish detonated itself at the last moment. In a flash, it was like a downpour had covered the entire camp. The fish spines were powerful and not even the palm tents could resist them. Zi Di immediately let out a low cry; she had been hit! Zhenjin¡¯s heart tightened, and he hurried over. A pitch-black fish spine was lodged below Zi Di¡¯s right shoulder, close to her chest. ¡°Sir!¡± Zi Di¡¯s expression was tense. ¡°Let me see!¡± Zhenjin dove into the tent, embraced Zi Di, tearing open a hole in her apprentice cloak to fully expose the wound. On Zi Di¡¯s delicate skin, the pitch-black deadly poison was spreading at a speed visible to the naked eye. ¡°This is a Black Iron Level poison!¡± Zhenjin immediately pulled out the fish spine, then bowed his head, lips tightly pressed against the wound to suck fiercely. In that instant, Zi Di¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, feeling a strong suction near her chest. She instinctively pushed against Zhenjin¡¯s chest. But Zhenjin was unyielding, his whole body and arms seemingly cast from iron, firmly holding Zi Di in his embrace. Like this, before the poison could spread widely, Zhenjin sucked out the majority. Zi Di¡¯s face turned crimson, and she stuttered, ¡°Sir, I¡­ I have the potion. It can¡­ can counter this kind of poison.¡± Saying so, she took out a small glass bottle from her bag. Inside the potion was light blue, a bit viscous. Zhenjin removed the bottleneck, and as Zi Di directed, he applied the light blue potion to the wound. The pitch-black poison encountered the light blue potion and immediately dissipated, with good effect. Zhenjin: ¡­ The young knight realized his recklessness, his expression somewhat embarrassed, he coughed once, ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯m going to check on the others.¡± Zhenjin backed out of Zi Di¡¯s tent on all fours to check on everyone else. Bai Ya and Cang Xu had already crawled out of the tent, they had received Detoxification Potions from Zi Di earlier. But they were lucky and weren¡¯t hit by the last wave of fish spines. Lan Zao, however, was not so lucky. He was hit by several Black Iron Level poisonous fish spines and was now half-kneeling on the ground, propping himself up with his knife, clenching his teeth and glaring fiercely, stubbornly holding on. But soon, a smear of black appeared on his face, followed by extreme dizziness. Lan Zao could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground with a thud. Bai Ya and Cang Xu hurried over, pulling the fish spines out of Lan Zao and pouring the light blue potion on the wounds. The poison in Lan Zao¡¯s wounds slowly dissipated, but the blackness on his face grew even darker. ¡°It¡¯s too late. He¡¯s been poisoned too deeply,¡± Zi Di, having adjusted her clothes, crawled out of the tent and observed the scene. ¡°No, Sir Lan Zao, you saved our lives. You must hang in there!¡± Bai Ya shouted, forcibly prying open Lan Zao¡¯s mouth and pouring the light blue potion inside. It turned out that soon after Zi Di returned to the camp, she was hit by a fish spine. She had tried multiple potions and found the light blue potion had a strong relieving effect on the poison. She immediately distributed it, and even Lan Zao received a bottle. Lan Zao had originally huddled motionless inside the tent, resigned to death. Under the attack of the Fat Ball Flying Fish and the stimulus of impending death, he gulped down a bottle of light blue potion and roared, flinging open the tent to launch a desperate counterattack. Lan Zao¡¯s actions caught Cang Xu and Zi Di off guard. As soon as they realized that Lan Zao seemed to have the ability to discern the location of the Fat Ball Flying Fish, they immediately tossed all their swords to him. And so, the frenzied Lan Zao countered in the center of the camp, drawing the attention of all the Fat Ball Flying Fish. Whenever a Fat Ball Flying Fish neared Lan Zao, he seemed to sense it instinctively, brandishing his sword to force the fish back. In this way, Lan Zao bought precious time, dragging the fight out until Zhenjin¡¯s reinforcements arrived. It could be said that without Lan Zao¡¯s perseverance, Zi Di and the others would likely have lost their lives at that moment. ¡°I want to live¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to die. I really don¡¯t want to die.¡± ¡°Please, save me.¡± ¡°My lord, save me¡­¡± Lan Zao, on the brink of death, clutched at Zhenjin¡¯s pant leg, uttering weak pleas. Humans are truly strange. Previously, Lan Zao had yearned for death, refusing to eat anything. But when death truly approached, he displayed an intense will to live. Zhenjin was moved! ¡°Do everything to save his life!¡± commanded the young knight, displaying resolute will. Although Zhenjin wasn¡¯t yet fully briefed on the entire situation, he had guessed the harrowing battle that had taken place in the camp. It was Lan Zao who had saved Zi Di, Bai Ya, and Cang Xu. What touched Zhenjin even more was that in this moment, he saw himself in Lan Zao! ¡°I¡¯ll give it my all.¡± Zi Di checked Lan Zao¡¯s wounds, opened her small leather pouch at her waist, and started to urgently mix potions on the spot. A dozen breaths later, Zi Di poured the hastily made potion into Lan Zao¡¯s mouth. The blackness on Lan Zao¡¯s face slowly receded, but the wound turned black again, oozing black blood. But Lan Zao¡¯s breath grew weaker, and he was on the verge of death. ¡°We need another mix.¡± Zi Di gritted her teeth; sweat appeared on her forehead. Seeing this, she bent down to mix another potion, her hands moving even faster than before, pushing past her usual limits. ¡°He¡¯s fading fast!¡± Bai Ya paced anxiously. ¡°Hang in there,¡± Zhenjin growled low, and Lan Zao¡¯s eyelids twitched before slowly closing again. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Cang Xu¡¯s eyes dimmed, he sighed. ¡°Let me do it!¡± Bai Ya suddenly shouted, downed the light blue potion that was given to him, then pounced on Lan Zao and began to suck the black blood from his wound with his mouth. ¡°Stop it!¡± Cang Xu quickly intervened, reaching for Bai Ya¡¯s shoulder, trying to pull him up, ¡°Sucking out poison with the mouth can reduce the venom in the wound, but it¡¯s extremely dangerous and can poison the person doing it! You¡¯re just an ordinary person, Bai Ya.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai Ya was pulled back a short distance but still knelt on the ground, shrugging off Cang Xu. Without looking back, he shouted, ¡°This is a human life at stake, and just now, Lord Lan Zao saved us!¡± He bent down again, sucking out the poison vigorously. The sound of crashing waves¡­ In his dying moments, Lan Zao heard them again. His vision blurred, he saw the pale blue sky and the deep blue sea. He saw the yellow sand rush toward him, and then he was lying on the beach. ¡°Brother, brother, pull yourself together!¡± Huang Zao, still a child, shouted, struggling to prop up the young Lan Zao¡¯s body so he lay on his back on the sand. On Lan Zao¡¯s chest was a colorfully striped starfish. Huang Zao removed the starfish, revealing Lan Zao¡¯s poisoned wound. He immediately lowered his head to suck out the poison from the wound, then spat out the bloody water. The toxins from the starfish weren¡¯t deadly but caused limb numbness and weakness. Lan Zao hadn¡¯t fainted from the starfish¡¯s toxin but because the numbness had caused him to drown, having not breathed air for a long time. Gradually, Lan Zao came back to consciousness. ¡°Brother¡­¡± he murmured looking at Huang Zao. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re awake! Don¡¯t die, you¡¯re all I have left, brother!¡± The child, Huang Zao, looked up, crying and shedding tears. Hearing Huang Zao¡¯s shouting, Lan Zao tried to smile. He couldn¡¯t speak, but he tried with all his might to reassure his younger brother. But then, the voices by his ear began to change. ¡°He¡¯s awake, he made it! He¡¯s not dead!¡± It was Bai Ya¡¯s voice. And then, Lan Zao¡¯s blurred vision cleared. The child, Huang Zao, was gone, replaced by Bai Ya with a face full of excitement and black blood around his mouth. Lan Zao felt a void in his heart, but still, he tried again to smile. He didn¡¯t know if he managed to smile. He opened his mouth, wanting to speak. He wanted to say, ¡°I want to live, I don¡¯t want to die.¡± ¡°I want to keep living!¡± But in the next moment, he lapsed into unconsciousness. Chapter 82 - 82: Section 83: Re-entering the Forest Chapter 82: Section 83: Re-entering the Forest Eight days later. Lord Zhenjin and the others arrived at the boundary between the desert and the forest. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This time, their direction was finally correct. They had successfully walked out of the desert and returned to the forested area. One step forward would take them into the dense vegetation of the forest, while behind them lay the vast expanse of the yellow-brown desert. Tall trees soared straight into the sky. The continuous green merged into a ¡°city wall¡± that stretched beyond sight, isolating the sandy winds of the desert and containing vibrant life within. Cang Xu let out a sigh and pulled out a sheepskin map from his chest. ... He took a piece of charcoal, sharpened it into a pencil, and began to sketch lines on the map. ¡°Although this place isn¡¯t identical to where I entered the forest last time, they should be close by.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I suggest we don¡¯t rush into the forest but explore along this boundary line until we find the previous location,¡± Cang Xu proposed, while drawing on the map. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s gaze flickered as he carefully considered Cang Xu¡¯s proposal. According to the calculations, there was still plenty of time before the next teleportation. If they were unfortunately teleported back to the desert, a more complete map would provide more help. ¡°Indeed, spending some time exploring to improve the map is necessary.¡± ¡°However, I¡¯ve had enough of the desert. Let¡¯s enter the forest first,¡± Lord Zhenjin said. As soon as he finished speaking, someone nearby let out a cheer, like a hunting dog who had been locked up for a long time, suddenly reaching the outdoors and breaking free from its leash, joyously running into the forest ahead. ¡°Ah, ah, ah!¡± The young man who rushed into the forest let out a sound of enjoyment. He tilted his head back, opened his arms, breathed in the air of the forest, and shouted hoarsely, ¡°This is it, the scent of the forest! How sweet it is.¡± Then, he knelt on the ground, stretched out his hands to caress the grass, as if caressing the long hair of a beloved girl: ¡°How smooth, how lush!¡± Suddenly, he stood up, threw himself against a tree, wrapped his arms around the trunk, and kissed the bark with his black, thick lips: ¡°This is where I belong.¡± This young man was Bai Ya. Bai Ya was originally the son of a hunter and grew up in a mountain village, familiar with the forest. Having narrowly escaped death and arrived from the desert to the forest, he felt as though he had returned home. Compared to his previous time in the forest, he had changed significantly. His lips had thickened, resembling two chunks of fish intestines, and had turned very dark. His voice also became raspy and unpleasant. These changes were due to him sucking black poisonous blood from Lan Zao¡¯s wounds while in the Oasis. Lord Zhenjin had also sucked wounds from Zi Di¡¯s injuries, but as a young knight with strong physical attributes, it didn¡¯t affect him much. Bai Ya, however, was just an ordinary person, and despite taking a light blue potion in advance, he still experienced significant lingering effects. Bai Ya¡¯s transformation was not only reflected in his appearance but also in his personality. After a life-threatening ordeal, Bai Ya seemed to have opened his heart; from originally being reserved, he became outgoing, turning into a chatterbox. It seemed that if he didn¡¯t express all his thoughts, he would feel extremely uncomfortable, extremely regretful. ¡°This guy Bai Ya¡­¡± everyone chuckled lightly, all understanding Bai Ya¡¯s feelings. Only Lan Zao remained expressionless. He was at the back of the group, carrying numerous water bags on his back. Most of these water bags were made from the stomachs of Acid Liquid green lizards; only a few were pottery jars. Perhaps due to problematic soil in the Oasis, Cang Xu frequently failed at making pottery jars, leaving only a few finished products. However, under the joint effort of Fat Ball Flying Fish and Lord Zhenjin, many bodies of green lizards were left in the Oasis. When Fat Ball Flying Fish returned to the depths of the lake, Lord Zhenjin led people to process these green lizards, cutting their meat into pieces, making leather from their skins, and sewing the cleaned stomachs into crude water bags. Thanks to Bai Ya¡¯s adventure and the potions prepared by Zi Di, Lan Zao had his life saved. This originally calm and robust middle-aged man had also undergone tremendous changes. He became silent and taciturn, hardly speaking a word all day, giving the impression that he had lost the ability to speak. He only responded submissively when addressing Lord Zhenjin¡¯s commands¡ª ¡°Yes, Master.¡± ¡°Understood, Master.¡± ¡°I will follow your orders, my Master.¡± Zi Di¡¯s expression suddenly changed, and he quickly stepped forward, grabbed Bai Ya¡¯s shoulder, and pulled him back. Bai Ya was pressing his cheek against the tree trunk and turned to look at Zi Di, puzzled, ¡°Lord Zi Di?¡± Zi Di pointed at the tree trunk irritably, ¡°You¡¯re poisoned.¡± Bai Ya was stunned and confused: ¡°Wha, what?¡± Lord Zhenjin focused his eyes and saw a thin layer of green moss on the tree trunk. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the poison moss that once poisoned me?¡± Zhenjin suddenly realized. He was still able to mutate this kind of moss through the Heart Core! Afterward, Zi Di gathered the moss, prepared potions, and detoxified Bai Ya. ¡°Although we¡¯ve returned from the desert to the forest, don¡¯t forget, we¡¯re still on this dangerously bizarre island. We must not be careless,¡± Cang Xu warned Bai Ya. The ordeal of Bai Ya sobered everyone up. The dense trees were like giant umbrellas, their roots deeply embedded in the ground, and their leaves sprouting freely, shielding them from the harsh sunlight. The temperature in the forest was much lower than in the desert. At noon, Zhenjin and the others dared not wander in the desert; they spent most of their time hiding behind sand dunes, gasping for breath. However, in the forest, they could travel during midday, greatly enhancing the team¡¯s exploration efficiency. Zhenjin led at the front of the group. Suddenly, three iron-feathered birds swooped down from the sky! These fierce birds, creations of the Island Master, were only the size of an adult¡¯s fist and liked to climb trees. They would leap from high treetops, utilizing gravity to propel their attacks on other creatures. The speed of an iron-feathered bird¡¯s assault was comparable to arrows shot from a powerful crossbow. Two of the birds aimed for Zhenjin, and another targeted Zi Di. Zi Di looked up and before she could even scream, she heard a sharp whoosh. Then, the iron-feathered bird targeting her was struck by a wooden dart, flying sideways straight away. With a thud, the dart embedded deeply into the trunk of a tree, and the bird, like meat skewered on a spit, clung to the trunk motionless. Almost at the same moment the iron-feathered bird died, Zhenjin¡¯s left hand tightly gripped a wooden long spear, releasing it like a viper from its hole, striking swiftly twice. The two birds targeting him were hit by the spear tip, instantly losing momentum, their lifeless bodies falling weakly to the ground. The crisis had suddenly erupted and was just as suddenly resolved by Zhenjin. Lan Zao had just reached for the hilt of his sword, and Bai Ya had barely bristled, his muscles just beginning to tense. Then, all returned to calm. ¡°Wow, wow, wow! Lord Zhenjin, you are truly incredible. How many times have the iron-feathered birds attacked us now? You¡¯ve saved us again. Your martial arts are simply¡­ simply¡­¡± Bai Ya shouted loudly, gazing at Zhenjin with shining eyes, admiration and adoration overflowing from his heart. ¡°Concise and streamlined, humble yet decisive in battle, achieving tremendous results,¡± Cang Xu picked up Bai Ya¡¯s words. ¡°Yes, yes, those are the words,¡± Bai Ya looked towards Cang Xu, ¡°Scholar, you always manage to express exactly what I want to say.¡± ¡°My lord¡­¡± Zi Di smiled at Zhenjin. Lan Zao remained silent, but his gaze towards Zhenjin was anything but calm. After the group of five entered the forest, Zhenjin took the lead, single-handedly dealing with many attacks with perfection. Originally, everyone was worried that the speed of exploration was too fast, increasing risk. But under Zhenjin¡¯s protection, every attack turned into his victory. Hearing everyone¡¯s comments, Zhenjin first controlled the Heart Core, changing his lizard vertical pupils back to human eyes. Then he turned around, facing the others with a smiling, handsome face; even his dusty golden hair seemed to shine brilliantly, catching everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°Through the hardships we faced before, my martial arts seem to have reached a new level. I can¡¯t use Fighting energy, and the power of each strike hasn¡¯t changed. Still, each movement feels completely natural, as if I don¡¯t even need to think it through. This way, it seems I can act much sooner than before.¡± Actually, Zhenjin had used the green lizard¡¯s eyes to spot various hidden creatures. For example, the iron-feathered birds, although hidden among the lush foliage overhead, appeared as a conspicuous red mass behind the deep green to the vision of the green lizard. Thus, Zhenjin was always ready. Whenever they launched an attack, Zhenjin was already prepared, his responses perfectly timely. Of course, the green lizard¡¯s eyes had their flaws; they did not provide a clear view. So, after the first use in the Oasis, Zhenjin modified the usage. Now, he mutated one eye, while keeping the other in its human state, swapping the state of his eyes periodically. Because he was leading at the front, squinting to observe, the rest of the team was kept in the dark. ¡°This might just be¡­ the power of the spirit?¡± Cang Xu pondered aloud. Chapter 83 - 83: Section 84: The Shining Young Knight (Two-in-One) Chapter 83: Section 84: The Shining Young Knight (Two-in-One) ¡°What is spiritual power?¡± Bai Ya immediately voiced his confusion, ¡°It sounds very ethereal.¡± Cang Xu smiled, ¡°I can¡¯t cultivate, and I¡¯m not very clear on what exactly spiritual power is. But as far as I know, there are actually quite a few examples of those who can utilize spiritual power.¡± ¡°Inhabiting the Frost Continent, among the Barbarians, their elite warriors mostly possess an intuitive ability to dodge. When they encounter invisible attacks or are ambushed, they can all dodge responsively. According to scholars¡¯ research, they believe that the essence of this intuitive dodging is the power of the spirit. If this ability is stronger, it can even sense traps.¡± ¡°There are many icefall zones in the Frost Continent, large areas of ice with a key point of collapse. Hopping and running around randomly on other parts of the ice does nothing. But as soon as you lightly step on this point of icefall, the entire ice surface will instantly shatter, and the person who loses their footing often perishes as a result.¡± ¡°Other groups¡¯ explorers often die in icefall zones, or are killed by Magic Beasts hiding in deep snow. However, after elite Barbarians develop their intuitive dodging ability to the extent that it can sense traps, they can avoid them beforehand and safely walk on the snow.¡± ¡°As this ability continues to be enhanced, Barbarian warriors will no longer fear being encircled on the battlefield. They are always able to rely on their intuition to avoid being caught in a dire situation.¡± ... Upon hearing this, Zhenjin was stirred inside. He thought about the time when he had risked entering a group of lizards to rescue Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others. Facing the encirclement, he wasn¡¯t panicked, calmly dealt with all the attacks, and effortlessly dodged the relentless assaults¡ªit was quite similar to the Barbarians. Cang Xu continued, ¡°In the Wilderness Continent, there is a Wind Sword Saint. He is a Holy Domain Level expert, who since the beginning of his cultivation, has focused solely on his longsword. He wears no armor, has no other weapons, and devotes almost all his energy to improving his Sword Skill. According to the legends, every time he draws his sword, it¡¯s too quick for the eye. His sword techniques are extremely minimalistic, and each strike ensures the life of at least one enemy.¡± ¡°This Wind Sword Saint holds high prestige and influence among the Beastmen and is worshipped by many. Since the Fighting Energy he practices is very common and his bloodline is not exceptional, yet he has reached such heights, this serves as a role model and provides hope to the vast majority of Beastmen who lack good innate talent and don¡¯t practice superior Fighting Energy.¡± ¡°For those Beastmen who seek instructions from him, the Wind Sword Saint once explained¡ªextremes in heart, extremes in sword. People speculate that this is him developing spiritual power, projecting the spirit¡¯s power onto his sword, achieving the legendary mystical state of unity between man and sword.¡± ¡°Are there such figures among the Beastmen too?¡± Bai Ya exclaimed in surprise, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why are the Beastmen still unable to stand up to our Human Race?¡± Zhenjin shook his head solemnly, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate the Beastmen. The Beast Race can dominate the entire Wilderness Continent, clearly possessing many outstanding warriors and heroes. Although it¡¯s our Empire that currently holds the upper hand, in reality, we have only occupied a corner of the Wilderness Continent, having only broken through one of the tribes of the Beast Race. The true war potential of the Beast Race has yet to burst forth.¡± Bai Ya was just an ordinary person, harboring ambitions of making a mark and headed to the Wilderness Continent, hoping to become a knight. Many were like him. In the Empire¡¯s political propaganda, they purposefully downplayed the strength of the Beastmen, touted the benefits and prospects of war, inciting various levels of the Empire¡¯s forces to surge into the Wilderness Continent. Zhenjin and the Hundred Needle Family were included in this, but as a noble, Zhenjin had a much broader perspective than Bai Ya. People from lower social strata held purely optimistic views about the Human Race¡¯s prospects on the Wilderness Continent. The upper social strata almost all knew: this was just the initial phase of the Human invasion, merely getting a steady footing. A real major battle would still be needed in the future to determine the outcome of the conflict between the two races. ¡°The Wilderness Continent is at least twice the size of the Holy Bright Continent, and yet it has only produced one Wind Sword Saint. He is an exception; bloodline is still the cornerstone of power. When comparing overall strengths, our Human Race vastly surpasses the Beast Race,¡± Zi Di offered her opinion, ¡°This war between the Human Race and the Beastmen, we are destined to win!¡± Zi Di¡¯s optimism was also the most common perception of the Human Race. She too had to win. The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce had no room for development in the Holy Bright Continent; expanding and growing through the war between the Human Race and Beast Race was the best path. Zhenjin did not continue to explain. He had realized: every little thing he mentioned, Cang Xu could mention more, and Cang Xu¡¯s words were even more convincing than his own explanations. Yet Bai Ya clung tightly to the topic, ¡°How can one awaken spiritual power? I also want to become such a person!¡± He didn¡¯t possess an exceptional bloodline, and was merely a common hunter¡¯s son; Miss Xi Qiu had not provided him any material support. Thus, Bai Ya was very interested in spiritual power. Zi Di then chuckled and said, ¡°Your question, the Wind Sword Saint has already answered¡ªextremes in sword, extremes in heart. This means you need to focus all your attention and energy on one point. So, Bai Ya, if you want to learn from the Wind Sword Saint, you¡¯d first need to forget about your Miss Xi Qiu.¡± ¡°Ah, how can that be?!¡± Bai Ya was shocked and shook his head repeatedly. Everyone chuckled again. Bai Ya, hearing the laughter and seeing the teasing looks from others, realized he was being made fun of. He touched his head, his face turning red. But despite feeling embarrassed, Bai Ya still gritted his teeth and looked at Lord Zhenjin with eyes filled with admiration, love, inquiry, and begging, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, do you have any insights?¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a pause, Bai Ya continued to ask, ¡°You also possess spiritual power, but you are completely different from the Wind Sword Saint¡ªyou love Ms. Zi Di!¡± Lan Zao and Cang Xu glanced at Bai Ya, thinking how bold he was. Lan Zao, a middle-aged man, and Cang Xu, an elderly man, both had rich life experiences and understood the gap between social hierarchies. If it were them, they would never dare, as commoners, to ask a Holy Temple Knight for secrets of cultivation. But Bai Ya was just a young man, with very little life experience. It was for this reason that he had fallen in love with Ms. Xi Qiu, a noblewoman. Bai Ya had the romanticism and naivety typical of youth. In his heart, he had already decided: Ms. Xi Qiu was waiting for him, hoping he would become a knight, return gloriously to his hometown, and marry her. And after experiencing so much on this island, he also faced threats of death. Various reasons made him extremely eager to gain power. But he also understood the harsh reality. He didn¡¯t have bloodline advantages or cultivation resources, so spiritual power, though it seemed elusive, became his only hope. This was precisely why the Wind Sword Saint was so influential and charismatic. Bai Ya¡¯s straightforward words made Zi Di take a discreet look at Zhenjin, her gaze tinged with shyness. Zhenjin coughed and rolled his eyes inwardly. ¡°Who knows what spiritual power is!¡± He had reached this point solely by cheating with a Heart Core. But he didn¡¯t want to continue lying. Constantly lying would only lead to more lies. Because a lie is not the truth, there will be discrepancies. Once discrepancies occur, the liar needs to cover the previous lie with another. But would the subsequent lies have no discrepancies? This way, the discrepancies would accumulate, eventually forcing the liar into a state of desperation, unable to extricate themselves. Moreover, for Zhenjin, an important point was¡ªlying contradicted the knight¡¯s spirit! In fact, Zhenjin¡¯s recent lie covering up the lizard-like pupils had already put him under great pressure. So, he decided to tell the truth this time, ¡°Bai Ya, I might disappoint you. Regarding spiritual power, I am also not very clear. Maybe¡­ it is related to my experiences. I¡¯ve faced life and death many times, which has toughened my spirit.¡± ¡°Ah, is that so?¡± Bai Ya¡¯s face was full of disappointment. This young man admired and trusted Zhenjin greatly, not suspecting at all that Zhenjin might be hiding something. Zhenjin wanted to comfort Bai Ya, but he opened his mouth and didn¡¯t know what to say. He could only cast an expectant look towards Cang Xu. Cang Xu indeed did not disappoint him. The next moment, Cang Xu said to Bai Ya, ¡°What Lord Zhenjin said makes a lot of sense.¡± ¡°Many scholars have analyzed and summarized that the true essence of the Wind Sword Saint¡¯s cultivation is that he put his life on the line, facing death every time he fought or trained. Stimulated by death, he gradually unearthed spiritual power. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s encounters on this island share a similar essence to the Wind Sword Saint¡¯s voluntary combat against formidable enemies.¡± Bai Ya raised his eyebrows, ¡°So, to uncover the power of the spirit, one must actively seek adventures and face the threat of death? Isn¡¯t that too dangerous?¡± Cang Xu said, ¡°That¡¯s why the Sword Saint of the Blazing Wind had many disciples but never managed to foster another Sword Saint. Although there emerged many excellent talents, more of them met untimely deaths. His method of cultivation was too perilous, heavily dependent on luck. Till now, there hasn¡¯t been a disciple who could fully inherit the Sword Saint¡¯s mantle.¡± Bai Ya sighed upon hearing this and could only give up the idea. Although Bai Ya was willing to take risks for power, he had his limits. Seeking the power of the spirit by facing death everywhere was below his bottom line. Like Lord Zhenjin, who bore the responsibility of revitalizing his family, Miss Xi Qiu¡¯s love and expectations were Bai Ya¡¯s motivation and also his constraint. The next moment, Bai Ya looked at Lord Zhenjin with even more admiration and respect. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you are truly remarkable! So young, yet you¡¯ve mastered the power of the spirit. Compared to the Sword Saint, Lord, you possess an even superior bloodline. Among the Holy Temple Knights, you must be the most unique. It is my honor to meet you and follow you!¡± Bai Ya exclaimed heartfeltly. Lord Zhenjin: ¡­ ¡°Not just an honor, but also a hope,¡± Zi Di took over from Bai Ya and also gazed at Lord Zhenjin, her eyes filled with tender affection. Cang Xu laughed heartily and assertively said, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, your talent is exceptional, and you definitely have a brighter future than the Sword Saint. But what I admire most is the moral character you possess. With you here, the Hundred Needle Family will surely rise again.¡± Lan Zao said nothing, but upon hearing Cang Xu¡¯s words, he silently nodded his head. Like Cang Xu, he too held Lord Zhenjin¡¯s moral character in high esteem. At that moment, scenes of his interactions with Lord Zhenjin flashed through Lan Zao¡¯s mind. He and Huang Zao kneeling on the ground, with Lord Zhenjin forgiving their crimes¡ªthis was mercy. Lord Zhenjin toyed with the Bronze Level leader sheep and killed the Flying Squirrel chief among others¡ªthis was bravery. Lord Zhenjin repeatedly truly listened to and accepted recommendations from Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others¡ªthis showed his willingness to consider others¡¯ opinions. Leading the entire team, facing difficult decisions, Lord Zhenjin resolutely decided to cut wood for bows and successfully hunted the Flying Squirrel group¡ªthis was wise leadership. Poisoned, lacking food, enduring the pursuit of beasts in the desert, many crises, Lord Zhenjin always inspired others¡ªthis was steadfastness and optimism. Lord Zhenjin promised: to do his utmost to save everyone, although only their group of five remained, it wasn¡¯t Lord Zhenjin¡¯s fault. He had done all he could; he was always fulfilling his promise¡ªthis was reliability. What made Lan Zao feel both ashamed and admired was what he learned from Cang Xu and Zi Di. In the Volcanic Cave, at the most dangerous moments, even if Cang Xu offered himself up, Lord Zhenjin upheld the spirit of a knight and didn¡¯t resort to treating people as food¡ªsuch a noble character! None understood more than Lan Zao the nobleness, rarity, and commendable spirit and virtue under the shadow of death. After leaving the volcanic region, through battles, ravenous hunger, and severe lack of food, Lord Zhenjin still insisted on giving the little lizard and Jumping Rat meat to Cang Xu and Zi Di¡ªthis was his compassion for the weak, his selflessness! What deeply moved Lan Zao was that, even knowing his own crimes, Lord Zhenjin still pitied him, didn¡¯t abandon him, ultimately making Lan Zao decide to keep living. Although Lord Zhenjin never said comforting words to Lan Zao, Lan Zao firmly believed¡ªLord Zhenjin understood him! Looking at the young knight before him, at his handsome face, at his golden hair, at the composed and elegant smile on his lips, Lan Zao¡¯s eyes slowly moistened. He didn¡¯t just see Lord Zhenjin; he didn¡¯t just see a Holy Temple Knight; he saw the sun. In his eyes, in his heart, Lord Zhenjin seemed to constantly radiate light from all over! This light wasn¡¯t because of the identity of Lord Zhenjin Holy Temple Knight, nor because of being the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, nor from the external reflection of sunlight; it was from the internal character and spirit. There he stood, appearing ordinary but in reality, he was a banner, a banner belonging to knights! Lan Zao genuinely wanted to follow this flag from deep within his heart. In recent days, as night fell and Lan Zao rested, alone facing himself, he reflected and speculated. ¡°If at that time, when I discovered Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others trapped at the top of the dune surrounded by a swarm of lizards, my brother and I had disregarded our own safety to go to their rescue, we might have joined up with Lord Zhenjin. Would that have changed the outcome?¡± ¡°But at that time, I listened to my brother¡¯s words and chose not to rescue them. Could that be the divine, could it be fate punishing and warning us brothers?¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, even a person as deeply sinful as I have been saved by you, never abandoned!¡± ¡°From now on, I will follow you with all I have, with everything I possess, faithfully unto death!¡± ¡°You once saved my brother, but when your fianc¨¦e was in danger, both Huang Zao and I chose to flee and abandon her. From now on, I will spend my life atoning for this choice!¡± ¡°Following someone like you, is it possible¡­ perhaps¡­ that it could diminish my darkness? Could it reduce my sins?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like the sunlight shining down, melting all the darkness¡­¡± After coming out of the Oasis, Lan Zao was reticent, his internal journey unknown to others. He had once degraded himself to slavery and proclaimed loyalty to Zhenjin. But that was only because Huang Zao had offended such a significant figure as Zhenjin, and for his brother¡¯s sake, Lan Zao had no other choice. But now, Lan Zao¡¯s quiet loyalty was of a completely different nature. This loyalty was very little due to Zhenjin¡¯s noble status. More so, it was that Zhenjin¡¯s understanding of Lan Zao made him feel recognized, and the immense grace of Zhenjin having saved both Lan Zao¡¯s life and spirit. Furthermore, it also stemmed from Lan Zao¡¯s own remorse and guilt, his attempt at self-redemption, driven by an intrinsic human impulse towards goodness. Looking at Zhenjin expressionlessly, Lan Zao¡¯s emotions were exceedingly complex. In the tumult of overwhelming emotions, his eyes gradually reddened, and his vision blurred more and more. Zhenjin looked at Bai Ya, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and Lan Zao, feeling a tingling sensation on his scalp. All of these people looked at him, their eyes filled with eagerness, worship, affection, tenderness, loyalty, and appreciation. The young knight was a bit overwhelmed. What he found slightly terrifying was Lan Zao¡¯s tendency to burst into tears right there. ¡°What does this mean?!¡± ¡°I only told a very minor lie, hoping to lay a little groundwork for the future and to hide the Heart Core.¡± The unexpected intensity of everyone¡¯s reactions was overwhelming, and Zhenjin felt he could no longer bear it. He shook his head quickly, ¡°You all think too highly of me. Enough of this, let¡¯s keep moving.¡± Zhenjin turned around and continued to lead the way ahead. Others did not know, but did Zhenjin not know himself? He knew that his abilities were actually quite limited. He also knew that although he appeared very decisive on the outside, deep inside he also felt doubtful, lost, hesitant, and worried. He longed for bravery but also feared death. He was a noble, a knight, but he was also just an ordinary person. ¡°Right, I almost forgot! Lord Zhenjin also possesses a humble quality!¡± Lan Zao¡¯s eyes brightened again. ¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine someone his age, with such achievements, still maintaining such a humble and cautious mindset. This is certainly not pretence! I¡¯m sure this humility comes from his heart. I really want to know immediately how great the accomplishments of Lord Zhenjin will be in the future.¡± Lan Zao watched Zhenjin¡¯s retreating figure, filled with myriad emotions, endlessly admiring. Chapter 84 - 84: Section 85: I Am a Green Lizard (Two-in-One) Chapter 84: Section 85: I Am a Green Lizard (Two-in-One) The night forest was a picture of tranquility, occasionally pierced by the roars of unknown beasts or the calls of nightingales. Through the gaps in the leaves, one could see the bright moon hanging in the night sky. Three hammocks had already been set up. While at the Oasis, Lord Zhenjin had mutated into a gun scorpion leader, hunting a large number of Acid Liquid Green Lizards. With the stomachs of these lizards acting as water sacks, Cang Xu and the others focused their labor on making hemp ropes and coarse cloth. They first made hemp ropes of various thicknesses, and then wove the finest of those into the most rudimentary coarse cloth. Using this coarse cloth and hemp ropes, they then crafted hammocks. ... Due to the scarcity of resources in the Oasis, and the massive amount of labor required, Lord Zhenjin and the others ultimately only managed to make three hammocks. However, though they were a party of five, they didn¡¯t need that many. Each night, at least two people were assigned to keep watch. There were five in the small group, which left exactly three to enjoy the hammocks. Resources were tight, and the three hammocks were the little team¡¯s precious collective property. In the center of the three hammocks was a campfire burning bright. With no wind to disturb it, the campfire glowed orange, occasionally crackling and sending a few sparks flying. The area had already been carefully checked by Lord Zhenjin, and there was no sign of any Fire Poison Bee Swarms. Having nearly lost his life to Fire Poison, Lord Zhenjin naturally paid extra attention to this matter. However, even if Zi Di had promptly informed Lord Zhenjin of the existence of Fire Poison Bees, Lord Zhenjin, who had just woken up at the time, did not have the ability to scout the vicinity. Speaking of which, before meeting Lord Zhenjin, Cang Xu, Lan Zao, and the exploration team did not know about Fire Poison Bees either. They had lit fires in the forest many times without encountering any attacks from Fire Poison Bees. Dinner had just concluded, and all five had eaten their fill. For the time being, the team¡¯s food reserves were ample. Even since leaving the Oasis, the five members rarely replenished their food and water en route. They had made extensive preparations while at the Oasis. Upon reaching the forested area, the abundance of resources far exceeded that of the desert, further easing everyone¡¯s concerns about food and water. Cang Xu, by the campfire, stared at the map in his hands. His aging eyes had weakened, and with one hand holding the sheepskin map and the other pinching his spectacles, he peered closely to see. Sometimes, he would shift his gaze away from the map, murmuring calculations to himself, with his hands tracing crisscrossing lines on the ground. Other times, he would take out a charcoal pencil and cautiously add a few black lines to the sheepskin map. The charcoal pencil he used was created by burning one end of a piece of wood until it blackened and then whittling it down for use. After studying for a while, Cang Xu looked up and laughed, reporting to Lord Zhenjin, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, our progress is swift. According to my estimations, if we continue as we are, we should reach the place we first entered the forest within a day or two.¡± This was mainly because, with the protection of Lord Zhenjin, the entire team¡¯s pace had greatly exceeded Cang Xu¡¯s expectations. ¡°I have some not-so-good news, though¡ªwe don¡¯t have much of the pink potion left,¡± Zi Di said as she ground materials, speaking up after hearing Cang Xu¡¯s words. The materials she was grinding had been casually gathered along the route during the day. This included the feathers and blood of Iron Feather Birds and the Green Spotted Poison Moss that poisoned Bai Ya, among other things. The forest was rich in resources, unlike anything the desert could compare to. However, the primary ingredient for making the pink potion was a heat-generating and luminescent ore, a food source for Monkey-tailed Brown Bears. Zi Di had not collected this material. The exploration team needed this pink potion for marking their route. Besides preventing them from getting lost in the forest, it could sometimes serve as a distress signal. ¡°How long can we last?¡± Lord Zhenjin asked. Zi Di had already made calculations and answered directly, ¡°If we use it sparingly, it can last for three more days.¡± Lord Zhenjin nodded slightly, thought for a moment, and then replied, ¡°That¡¯s enough time. We needn¡¯t go out of our way to search for the ore; our primary goal is still to return to our original location.¡± No one objected. After all that had happened, Lord Zhenjin possessed supreme authority and influence within this five-person team. After further discussions, Cang Xu, Zi Di, and Bai Ya lay in their hammocks to rest. Tonight, it was Lord Zhenjin and Lan Zao¡¯s turn to stand watch together. In the desert, two people would take turns watching each night, one for the first half of the night and one for the second. However, in the forest, with the dense trees blocking the view, they had adjusted to having two people on watch simultaneously. The night grew darker. And the forest seemed even more impenetrable and frightening. Predators often moved under cover of darkness. This made the forest at night far more dangerous than during the day. Lan Zao wore an expression of vigilance, reacting to even the slightest rustling of grass. The recovery and addition of Bai Ya and Lan Zao greatly alleviated Lord Zhenjin¡¯s burden. Lord Zhenjin felt energized. Despite clearing the way as the vanguard all day, he was still responsible for night watch duty. This wasn¡¯t because his endurance had increased, but rather because the green lizard¡¯s eyes were simply too useful! With them, almost all hidden threats in the forest were exposed before Lord Zhenjin. ¡°In terms of practical value, the green lizard¡¯s eyes are certainly top-notch,¡± Lord Zhenjin felt deeply. Without the green lizard¡¯s eyes, the young knight would have had to move forward slowly, cautiously exploring step by step, always tensely on guard, passively defending against surprise attacks from any direction. With the green lizard¡¯s eyes, Lord Zhenjin could detect crises in advance, take control of the situation, and actively allocate his physical energy and focus. The difference in consumption of physical energy and focus between reactive and proactive states was immense. It was a transformative change. Squeak, squeak! Suddenly, a shrill cry of an animal being attacked rang out from the nearby forest. Lan Zao¡¯s heart instantly skipped a beat, and his hand, which was always on the handle of his knife, immediately gripped it tighter. But in the next moment, the squealing cry abruptly ceased, never to be heard again. Lan Zao frowned deeply, his expression serious. Without any special bloodline, although Lan Zao was at the Bronze Level of elite warriors, he didn¡¯t have the ability to see in the dark. He could only use the faint glow of the fire to discern his surroundings. Beyond a certain distance, all he could see was pitch black, unable to tell if there was nothing there or if an Evil Wolf or venomous snake lurked in the dark. In the dark forest, scenes of survival involving hunting and fleeing were underway. The campfire of the temporary camp had driven away many wild animals, but it seemed to have also attracted certain presences. In the darkness of the forest, something seemed to stir more and more restlessly. Sometimes, it was the sound of dry branches being crushed; other times, it was the sudden rise of a mysterious call. Lan Zao grew increasingly tense, feeling that something was slowly and quietly approaching the camp. ¡°I¡¯ll go check it out. If anything happens, you must call out loudly,¡± Zhenjin spoke at this moment, instructing Lan Zao. ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Lan Zao immediately responded. Zhenjin merged into the darkness, quickly disappearing from Lan Zao¡¯s sight. He too lacked the ability to see in the dark, so he activated his Heart Core. His vision suddenly transformed dramatically. The base color tone of the night forest became even more subdued, there was no wind, and the living creatures that could move radiated faint red, orange-yellow, fluorescent green, and other colors, more conspicuous than in the daytime. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During the day, Zhenjin had to rely on both human and lizard eyes. But at night, in the pitch-black forest, human eyes were almost useless, and both his eyes had transformed into lizard pupils. Zhenjin first patrolled around the camp a few times, accurately eliminating several wild animals, temporarily clearing the threats near the camp. Then, he picked a direction and delved deeper into the forest. After moving a certain distance from the temporary camp, Zhenjin slowly stopped his steps and began to undress. He stripped himself completely, then climbed up a tree and carefully placed his clothes in the treetops. Then, he made sure to memorize this location. If he forgot, he would have to return to the temporary camp stark naked. If Zi Di, Cang Xu and the others were to find him like that, it would certainly be embarrassing. Zhenjin, without a stitch on him, descended to the ground and took several dozen more steps, looking around to ensure there was no one else before he started to activate his Heart Core. Mysterious and eerie demon energy surged out from the Heart Core, rapidly enveloping his entire body. Within a glow of red light, Zhenjin¡¯s human form seemed to collapse like snow under sunlight, transforming into the shape of a lizard. The red glow quickly dissipated, and where Zhenjin once stood, there was now no trace of him. Instead, an Acid Liquid Green Lizard took his place. This Acid Liquid Green Lizard had sturdy limbs, a powerful long tail, and was covered in green scales. Zhenjin observed himself; within his lizard vision, he could only see the vague outline of his own faint green form. ¡°The visibility has dropped, but it¡¯s much better than that of the Silver Spear Scorpion.¡± Zhenjin tried sniffing the air vigorously and immediately found that the lizard¡¯s sense of smell was far more sensitive than that of humans. ¡°In the air, there seems to be¡­ the scent of water?¡± He opened his mouth slightly, sticking out a huge, dark purple snake tongue, successfully emitting a hissing sound. Zhenjin moved his fore and hind legs, maneuvering the agile lizard body as he walked through the dark forest. His progress was smooth. The green lizard had four legs, which was similar to the feeling of crawling on the ground with hands and feet while lying prone. Another reason was that this was not Zhenjin¡¯s first time attempting to completely transform into a green lizard. Back in the desert, during the night watches when he was alone, he had transformed multiple times. ¡°But there are still many differences compared to crawling with hands and feet,¡± Zhenjin stopped and silently summarized his experience. He turned his head to look behind him. The biggest difference was right there¡ªbehind him¡ªthe sturdy tail of the lizard. When transforming into the leader of the gun scorpions, the scorpion tail was thin and curved upwards, not much of a hindrance to Zhenjin. But as a lizard, the tail was thick, heavy, and long, dragging on the ground and being quite bothersome. Especially when Zhenjin moved forward on all fours, the lizard¡¯s tail would sway slightly from side to side. This swinging affected his balance, and the faster he moved, the more profound the impact. ¡°When the Acid Liquid Green Lizard runs, not only the limbs and the torso, but also the tail are coordinated together. Whether walking slowly or running, there is a perfect rhythm to the movements, a completely natural rhythm.¡± ¡°The lizard newborns, just emerged from their eggs, might be clumsy. But as time passes and they grow, through the exercises of hunting, fleeing, and playing, they will naturally master this movement rhythm.¡± ¡°But I haven¡¯t.¡± ¡°I am like a newborn lizard, just born, yet with a fully grown lizard¡¯s body.¡± ¡°Even though I¡¯ve trained many times at night, I still haven¡¯t been able to master the correct way of running as a green lizard.¡± Zhenjin found his tail to be quite bothersome, yet he had no solution. Just as he had secretly practiced the scorpion form, sharp turns remained tricky. After all, he was human, and the time spent transformed into a Magic Beast form was far too short. ¡°There is water here, indeed.¡± Following the scent of water, Zhenjin found a small pool. ¡°As long as I have sufficient training, I¡¯ll be able to completely master the shape of the green lizard at some moment in the future!¡± Zhenjin encouraged himself inwardly and began practicing with his tail near the pool. He first swung his thick long tail forcefully, creating whooshing sounds in the air. Then he charged towards a large tree. After brushing past the tree, he swung his tail hard against the trunk. The tree trunk shook slightly, its dense branches swayed even more, and the leaves rustled, but not a single one fell. Pat pat pat¡­ In a series of sounds, Lord Zhenjin was using trees to train his tail. After training for a while, he began to change his attack method. First, he charged fiercely at a tree, then his limbs forcefully pushed off, sharply changing direction and using his massive body inertia to whip his tail against the trunk. Pat! The trunk shook, large pieces of bark fell off, and branches rustled loudly, almost as if a strong wind had arrived. This mode of attack was much more fierce than before. ¡°With such force in my attack, even if a charging Ranger was coming at me, I could send them flying off their horse.¡± ¡°Hmm? That¡¯s not quite right.¡± ¡°Lizards have short and stubby limbs; I wouldn¡¯t be able to reach a knight on horseback.¡± ¡°Maybe I could try, in the moment when I swing my tail, to push off with my hind legs and prop my body up, forming a low-head, high-tail stance. That way, my tail could reach higher targets.¡± Having thought of this, Lord Zhenjin began to try it out. On his first attempt, he couldn¡¯t control his strength properly. When he flicked his tail, he pushed off too hard with his hind legs and flipped his whole body over, landing on his back. On the second attempt, he got the force wrong again. There was less upward thrust, but an increased forward momentum, causing him to nose-dive into the mud and grass. It was all too reminiscent of a dog face-planting. Lord Zhenjin propped himself up on all fours, spat the mud and grass from his mouth, and forcefully snorted from his nose. After a bout of shaking his head, he finally cleared his nostrils and mouth. The two failed attempts did not discourage him; they even fueled his motivation to keep trying. After practicing a few more times, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s moves became more fluid. But then he thought better of it and stopped this training regimen. ¡°Although I can hit higher targets, leaving my hind end suspended in the air makes the force of my tail whip considerably weaker than when I¡¯m stable on four legs.¡± ¡°Moreover, having my hind end in the air leaves me briefly suspended. That¡¯s a huge vulnerability.¡± Lord Zhenjin knew the knight¡¯s way of combat well and rapidly simulated a scene in his mind. A Ranger charging at him, and he, as a green lizard, rushing to meet them. As they were about to collide, he whipped around with a tail lash, his back end lifting as his tail swung towards the Ranger. But at the same time, the Ranger thrust his long spear forward, aiming opportunistically at¡­ um¡­ the green lizard¡¯s rear. At this point in his thoughts, Lord Zhenjin did not wish to simulate any further. He went back to practicing the tail whip attack method he had started with, training diligently. Hiss hiss¡­ Until Lord Zhenjin opened his mouth, taking in a sharp breath. ¡°I think I¡¯ve twisted my tail!¡± Pain shot intensely from his tail, making each slight movement feel like a barbed whip lashing against his head. In this state, Lord Zhenjin had no choice but to stop his tail training and start the next. He crouched on the ground, raised his neck, and suddenly his throat bulged, forming a round swelling. The bulge moved, rolling from his neck into his mouth. Lord Zhenjin strategically opened his mouth wide. Then, the next moment, a glob of green Acid Liquid shot from his mouth. The liquid hit a tree accurately. The thick trunk, corroded by the acid, sizzled and emitted pungent smoke. A few breaths later, the trunk bore a large hole and could no longer support the lush upper half; with a creaking sound, the tall tree fell to the ground with a boom. Lord Zhenjin backed up a few steps and continued to spray towards the surrounding trees. His ejected liquid almost always hit the targets accurately, with only one missing and hitting a stone instead. After a few breaths, the afflicted trees fell one after another, creating a continuous boom. The unlucky stone¡ªalthough not small¡ªdissolved away. This was to be expected, as the acid of the lizard could corrode even gold mica stone, let alone such ordinary rocks. If it were a silver-level green lizard¡¯s acid, even a Black Iron Level gun scorpion would perish instantly, only the silver-level scorpions could resist it. After so many consecutive shots, Lord Zhenjin felt weak, his head drooping down listlessly. Spraying acid was not the green lizard¡¯s normal combat method, but their trump card. Green lizards would not use this trump card unless absolutely necessary. However, for Lord Zhenjin, this long-range weapon was most suitable for him, as he also had the precision talent from the Hundred Needle Family. Despite scarce practice, his acid spray was much more formidable than that of any green lizard, almost never missing its mark. After catching his breath for a while, Lord Zhenjin gradually regained some strength. Weakness spread through his entire body. His strong limbs felt limp, and his lizard body heavy. At the same time, Lord Zhenjin felt his mouth and throat dry. He was dehydrated. Green lizards contain a large amount of water in their bodies, which allows them to synthesize corrosive acid. This means that after spraying their acid, green lizards would enter a state of dehydration. Now, even if Lord Zhenjin wanted to spray his acid, he temporarily couldn¡¯t. Additionally, due to the lack of bodily fluids, the synthesis of the acid had also plummeted to rock bottom. Lord Zhenjin moved his limbs and came to the edge of the pool of water. The pool wasn¡¯t deep and there were no signs of living creatures in the green lizard¡¯s vision. But, just to be safe, Lord Zhenjin did not take the opportunity to dive in and practice his swimming ability. First, he flicked his tongue out, tasting the water. After determining there was no issue, he began to drink heartily. A massive amount of water flowed into his stomach and then, under Zhenjin¡¯s deliberate control, was stored in his other three stomachs. ¡°That¡¯s really quenching my thirst.¡± Zhenjin sighed softly and began actively controlling his internal organs, attempting to accelerate the production of acid liquid. The water he had stored in his water stomach was squeezed out, flowing into the poison sack beneath his neck, beginning to transform into acid liquid. ¡°At this rate of transformation, by the end of the night, I should have a full sack of acid liquid. Just like before, firing off more than twenty times shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Zhenjin had now discovered that when he transformed from human form into the complete Green Lizard, the acid liquid reserve in his poison sack was only half. After several rounds of training, he had also unearthed the techniques for spraying acid liquid. Normally, a Green Lizard would viciously shoot out its poison, often emptying its supply in one go, capable at most of two or three shots. But Zhenjin would only spray out a small blob each time, deliberately controlling the nearby muscles, thus greatly increasing the number of shots. Zhenjin looked down again, drawing water into his mouth. This time, his method of drawing water differed from before, controlling different organ tissues and muscle groups. This time, the water from the pool directly entered his poison sack, instead of going down the esophagus into the stomach. This was the ability of the acid liquid Green Lizard to draw poison. After being pricked by the poison stingers of the Fat Ball Flying Fish, Green Lizards can draw poison from each other to detoxify. Moreover, the poison drawn in is stored in the poison sack, not only not endangering other organs of the body but also can combine with their own acid liquid to produce even more violent poison. This kind of situation is not uncommon in nature. Cang Xu casually mentioned a type of beetle in the desert afterwards. This beetle preys on ants, deliberately collecting formic acid. When the beetle encounters a predator mongoose, it sprays the collected formic acid, hitting the mongoose in the face, causing the mongoose to flee in embarrassment. As Zhenjin lay by the pond without much vigorous activity for a long time, he felt his body growing cold in waves. Temperature has a significant impact on the activity of lizards. This is why Green Lizards hurry to the gold mica stone clusters every dawn, using the temperature of the stones to raise their body temperatures. After the increase in body temperature, they gain stronger physical abilities. ¡°Tonight¡¯s training should about come to an end.¡± Zhenjin finally approached the big trees. These trees that had fallen to the ground had been corroded by a large extent, but there were still some treetops and branches left. The corrosive power of the acid liquid had clearly weakened. After all, with Zhenjin¡¯s intentional control, the frequency of continuous firing increased, but the amount of each blob of acid liquid sprayed out was limited. Although the trees were certain to be completely corroded, Zhenjin could not wait. He touched the surface of the tree trunk remnants with his right forelimb, activating the Heart Core. Red light emitted, red lines entwined around the tree trunk, and almost instantly retracted, leaving only a few ashes at the spot. Even ordinary trees are living entities. As long as it¡¯s a living thing, it can be absorbed by the Blood Core. But the converted demon energy was very little. After dealing with all the remnants of the trees, there was no option in Zhenjin¡¯s Heart Core to become a tree. ¡°The acid liquid damaged the essence of the trees¡¯ life, so related bloodline absorption was very minimal.¡± ¡°If I directly absorbed a large number of trees, I should eventually be able to transform into a tree.¡± Time was about right. Zhenjin returned to the distance, transformed into human form, climbed the treetops, and put on his clothes. It¡¯s worth mentioning that the hole in the back of his trousers had been mended. It was Zi Di who one day accidentally discovered him, sought out Zhenjin in secret, and mended it for him. He returned to the temporary camp. ¡°Master, you¡¯re back!¡± When Lan Zao saw Zhenjin, the furrowed brows immediately relaxed, and admiration was evident in his gaze. Zhenjin had not been gone long when he heard a roaring sound, as if it was the sound of trees collapsing. ¡°The master must have encountered some fierce beasts and clashed with them.¡± ¡°Such intense noise, the lurking predators in the darkness must be terrifying!¡± ¡°But now the master is back, unharmed, even without a single tear on his clothes, or a drop of blood.¡± ¡°Impressive!¡± ¡°As expected of one who holds the power of the spirit.¡± ¡°Even the darkness where you can¡¯t see your hand in front of you, cannot hinder the master¡¯s steps!¡± ¡°You know, on this strange island, the master can only rely on the strength of his flesh¡­ What would it be like if he truly could stimulate Fighting energy?¡± Lan Zao stared intently at Zhenjin, unblinking, his gaze growing more and more fervent. Zhenjin coughed, ¡°Is there any situation on your side?¡± ¡°With the master in action, the camp is very safe,¡± Lan Zao immediately replied. Zhenjin nodded, somewhat unsettled by Lan Zao¡¯s gaze, ¡°You stay here and keep patrolling, I¡¯ll go check the other side.¡± ¡°Yes, master,¡± Lan Zao immediately responded. His gaze followed Zhenjin¡¯s retreating figure until Zhenjin was blocked by the trees. ¡°After experiencing a fierce battle, the master is calm and composed, at ease ¨C this is the bearing of a strong one.¡± ¡°Or perhaps, the battle in the darkness just now was only for him to stretch his limbs,¡± Lan Zao inwardly praised immensely. Chapter 85 - 85: Section 86: Mysterious Gang Chapter 85: Section 86: Mysterious Gang Chirping birds echoed in the early morning forest. As Zhenjin and the others approached, a flock of birds fluttered their wings in panic and flew out of the branches. Perhaps because it was near the desert, there was no morning mist, and the sunlight sprinkled through the green trees, filling the air with a fresh scent. Zhenjin still led the way at the front. Although it did not show on the outside, his coccyx, together with his buttocks, still felt a bit numb and sore. His body was very healthy; the wounds he got in the desert had healed long before entering the forest. ... As for Bai Ya, a regular person, the fractures had only started to show signs of healing and, up to now, she was unable to draw her bow. ¡°It seems that yesterday¡¯s training volume was a bit too much,¡± Zhenjin mulled to himself. He knew that the numbness and soreness were due to last night¡¯s training with the lizard tail lash. After Zhenjin reverted to human form, even though he no longer had a tail, the injuries from using the lizard form would linger in a similar form within his body. Just like when he was injured in human form, the wounds would not instantly heal when he transformed into another life form. ¡°Whipping trees and rocks with my tail doesn¡¯t hurt me. After all, I transform into a Black Iron Level lizard.¡± ¡°It looks like there¡¯s a real problem with the way I exert force with the lizard tail.¡± ¡°When practicing the tail lash, I ended up injuring myself.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my strong recovery ability, I¡¯d probably even be walking with a limp by now.¡± Zhenjin sighed inwardly. After entering the forest, it wasn¡¯t very convenient to practice late at night. Previously in the desert, the exploration team had arranged for one person to keep watch at night. Now, with two people on watch simultaneously, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t stray too far from the camp for too long. Being away too long would worry his companions, who would start to search for him, leading to even greater trouble. Zhenjin could transform into the Silver Spear Scorpion and could also become a complete Fat Ball Flying Fish. But last night, he only managed to train his green lizard form; there was simply no time to practice the other two forms. ¡°I¡¯m already quite familiar with the Silver Spear Scorpion form,¡± he thought. ¡°As for the Fat Ball Flying Fish¡­¡± Zhenjin had secretly transformed into one back in the desert and found the form to be impractical. The Fat Ball Flying Fish¡¯s strongest attack was to shoot out pitch-black, extremely poisonous spines. But this form of attack hinged on the Fat Ball Flying Fish¡¯s self-destruction. It was a kamikaze method. Sometimes, the Fat Ball Flying Fish died so abruptly, they didn¡¯t even have the chance to explode. For Zhenjin to employ this method was tantamount to seeking an elaborate death. Beyond that, the Fat Ball Flying Fish could become invisible. But after his mutation, Zhenjin discovered that while the invisibility was unseen to the human eye, when the Fat Ball Flying Fish moved forward floating, it would open its mouth and make a croaking sound. If Zhenjin kept his mouth shut and didn¡¯t make the croaking sound, he couldn¡¯t exchange air with the outside environment and thus couldn¡¯t float swiftly in the air. The croaking sound significantly undermined the value of becoming invisible. Knowing all this, Zhenjin was rather reluctant to train his Fat Ball Flying Fish form. After some thought, he felt that the most practical form was still the green lizard form. The green lizard¡¯s eyes had brought him tremendous help. And the green lizard¡¯s acid spray could be described as the strongest long-range attack that Zhenjin currently mastered. The power of the acid was much greater than that of wooden darts, and their range was not too dissimilar. Zhenjin was particularly skilled at precision, which, combined with the acid, made for an extremely powerful attack. The green lizard form, being only of Black Iron Level, was actually an advantage. The Silver Level form of the Silver Spear Scorpion consumed a significant amount of demon energy from the Heart Core. By comparison, the Black Iron green lizard consumed much less, allowing Zhenjin more time to battle and practice this form. The Black Iron green lizard would be used as a standard fighting method, and the Silver Spear Scorpion, of Silver Level, would be reserved for facing powerful enemies as a trump card. This was Zhenjin¡¯s plan. He didn¡¯t initially think like this. After truly gaining control over the Heart Core, his feelings towards it included not only curiosity, exploration, and astonishment but also apprehension, defensiveness, and caution. He hadn¡¯t planned on frequently using the Demon Core inside his heart, but after the encounter with the Fat Ball Flying Fish at the Oasis, Zhenjin¡¯s thoughts changed. ¡°If I didn¡¯t have the eyes of the green lizard, I would not have been able to detect the Fat Ball Flying Fish.¡± ¡°I myself would be in great jeopardy, and Zi Di, Cang Xu, and the others would hardly survive!¡± ¡°On this island, anything could happen, and danger might strike any moment.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I clearly have a Heart Core that can absorb Bloodlines to master some ability to cope with such dangers, but choosing to be overly cautious and not preparing in advance means when a crisis arrives, I can only wait for death. Wouldn¡¯t that make me terribly foolish?¡± With these thoughts, Zhenjin decided, for his own sake and that of Zi Di and the others, to grit his teeth and use the Heart Core to prepare as much as possible. It is only by preparing in advance that one can avoid trouble before it arises. The complete form of the Fat Ball Flying Fish was the result of this line of thinking¡ªback at the Oasis, Zhenjin had secretly killed many Fat Ball Flying Fish behind the backs of the others, collecting their complete Bloodline, allowing him to transform into a Black Iron Level demon fish. ¡°Hmm? Hold on a moment,¡± Zhenjin, who was walking, suddenly glanced at something unusual and stopped in his tracks. The others immediately tensed up. Since entering the forest, Zhenjin had never stopped moving of his own accord before. Could it be he sensed a huge threat nearby? Zhenjin slowly walked toward his left front, and after twelve or so steps, he stopped under a tree. He placed his hand on the bark, which had lost a small piece, as if it was cut by a sharp tool. Zhenjin looked around and quickly found more subtle traces. Then, his gaze paused as if he had discovered something. He delved into the dense underbrush and bent down to pick up a silver-colored Armor Plate. Other people came over, and Cang Xu looked at the Armor Plate in Zhenjin¡¯s hand, surprised, ¡°This is a part of armor. The material quality is high, it¡¯s high-grade refined steel.¡± Zhenjin nodded slightly and continued to search the surroundings. Various footprints of different depths, residual bloodstains, fallen trees scattered all around, the soil exposed after the turf was completely removed¡­ More and more traces were found by him, but Zhenjin was unable to simulate the battle scene. ¡°There definitely was a fierce battle here.¡± ¡°The surviving side deliberately cleaned the battlefield, making it impossible for me to make more judgments.¡± Zi Di blinked her beautiful eyes, ¡°Does that mean, there are people nearby?¡± Bai Ya then asked, ¡°And what are they fighting against?¡± Zhenjin frowned, speaking with less certainty, ¡°It seems to be a kind of giant beast, larger than the Explosive Hoof Fierce Horse, quite heavy. Its primary mode of attack seems to be using its head to ram.¡± ¡°It must be the humans who won. Magic Beasts wouldn¡¯t bother to clean up a battlefield.¡± Zhenjin made a judgment, albeit reluctantly. ¡°Are you sure it was humans?¡± Zi Di inquired further. Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°I can only tell they are humanoid, but since they were able to clean up the battlefield, and do it so well, it shows that they must have high-grade intelligence. Having the strength to clear traces after an intense fight shows that this group of people is not to be underestimated.¡± Cang Xu squatted on the ground, his fingers touching a footprint, ¡°This battle happened several days ago. What I¡¯m more curious about is why they would clean the battlefield, remove these traces?¡± This question from Cang Xu was also what Zhenjin was worried about. Zhenjin and his companions rarely cleaned up after a Magic Beast attack. At most, they would clean up the blood to prevent the scent from attracting other predators. But this group not only cleaned the battlefield but did so very meticulously. This was not logical. To clean up a battlefield to such an extent would be a loss. Because it would consume a lot of time and physical strength, in the process of survival on a deserted island, every resource, every bit of energy needed to be conserved. Even if these traces were left behind, the predators in the forest were dim-witted and would not benefit from the battlefield traces. But this group did it anyway. What were they guarding against? Who were they? Were they crew members of Pig Kiss, or¡­the island¡¯s inhabitants? Zhenjin looked into the distance, his eyes slightly unfocused due to thought. An unexpected situation had arisen. Now, he had two choices before him. The first choice was to continue with their original plan, to reach the location where Cang Xu and the others had entered the forest earlier. This way, they could verify and fill out the map. The second choice was to abandon this plan and follow these traces, approaching the mysterious group that had suddenly appeared. There were many risks involved. The fighting strength of the mysterious group was unknown, but presumably not weak. Their numbers, race, and intentions were also unknown. Everyone was silent, some continued to observe the traces, while others were alert to their surroundings. They were all waiting for Zhenjin¡¯s decision. Without taking too much time to think, Zhenjin quickly made a decision, ¡°Abandon the previous plan, we will follow these traces. Remember to be cautious.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Bai Ya responded. ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Lan Zao stated succinctly. Cang Xu and Zi Di both nodded, no one raised any objections. The five-person exploration team thus changed their direction, no longer walking along the boundary between the forest and the desert, but heading deeper into the forest. Two hours later, a river appeared in front of everyone. Zhenjin gazed at the rippling water and sighed. Here, the clues had broken off. He had originally been tracking according to the traces, but the group had been cleaning up their tracks along the way. With their experienced and cunning methods, and several days having passed, Zhenjin had struggled to barely make out their previous route. But at the riverbank, the traces left by the mysterious group were completely erased by the water. ¡°The river flows very slowly, and the riverbed is very low, only reaching an adult¡¯s knee. They crossed the river here, but didn¡¯t directly go to the opposite shore. We have no idea whether they followed the flow or went upstream, at what point they might have landed.¡± ¡°However, this also means that this river is not very dangerous.¡± Zhenjin squinted his eyes, mutated into lizard eyes, and saw that there wasn¡¯t much life in the river water, at most some small fish and shrimp. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± After thinking for a moment, Zhenjin led the team across the river to the other bank. With no traces to follow, Zhenjin walked in the direction Cang Xu had estimated, aiming for the beach where Pig Kiss had run aground. About a quarter of an hour later, Zhenjin was the first to hear a noisy and piercing sound. As they got closer, the party of five unexpectedly discovered a camp in the middle of the forest. The camp was encircled by a row of stakes, not very big in area, but surprisingly there was even a wooden hall built in the center. There were two Arrow Towers in the camp, one completed and the other just taking shape. A horde of beasts was rampaging through the camp, and the people inside had retreated to the huddle in the central wooden hall, in a dire situation. Chapter 86 - 86: Section 87: Im Going to Die Chapter 86: Section 87: I¡¯m Going to Die ¡°What are these things?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s my first time seeing them too.¡± Zhenjin and others squatted down, using the tall trees for cover, watching from a distance as beasts rampaged through the camp. These beasts were not large, resembling monkeys. Their bodies were covered in purple-black fur, with two small black horns on their foreheads, and a pair of wide bat wings on their backs. Their claws were extremely sharp. When they screeched, their mouths split wide open, revealing full sets of sharp teeth. Some of them were flying in the air, occasionally diving down fiercely to crash into the cabins. Others were bouncing around on the ground and on the buildings of the camp, jumping off the ground and then leaping away, stirring up a cloud of mud and grass. ... After observing for a moment, Cang Xu shook his head and gave a wry smile, ¡°Their horns remind me of demons, but I¡¯m sure they¡¯re not any kind of demon. They resemble monkeys but have bat wings, so let¡¯s just call them bat monkeys.¡± Zhenjin and the others furrowed their brows, annoyed by the sharp, piercing screams of the bat monkeys. The noisy, piercing sounds Zhenjin had first heard were made by these bat monkeys. Among the group of bat monkeys, there were no shortage of Bronze and Black Iron Level Magic Beasts, but the Magic Beast-level bat monkeys were all flying in the air and did not participate in the attack. It was mainly the ordinary bat monkeys that surrounded the central wooden hall of the camp, incessantly scratching outside, trying to find a breakthrough. The doors and windows of the cabin were tightly closed. The cabin had a large chimney, currently emitting thick smoke. Ordinary bat monkeys trying to get in were immediately driven away by the thick smoke. The attack of the bat monkey group was making little progress. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What exactly could be inside the cabin? The cleared battlefield we saw earlier, could it have been these people?¡± Zhenjin secretly speculated. He didn¡¯t rashly go to the rescue. First, it was hard to discern friends from foes; he was not sure whether the occupants of the cabin were enemies or allies. Second, the situation in the camp was still at a stalemate and did not require immediate action. Third, there were numerous bat monkeys. Their constant jumping and flying, agile and fierce, would pose a significant threat if they were disturbed. Cang Xu and the others would likely be in a bad situation. The exploration team consisted of five members; aside from Zhenjin, only Lan Zao was capable of withstanding a few bat monkeys. If Bai Ya and the others were caught in an attack, they would certainly be torn to pieces by the bat monkeys. ¡°Sir¡­ it seems I built this camp,¡± Zi Di suddenly uttered, surprising everyone. ¡°Have you been here before?¡± Zhenjin was stunned. Zi Di shook her head. ¡°I led others deep into the rainforest and discovered you, sir. You were unconscious and couldn¡¯t be awakened. So, I decided to set up camp nearby. I planned to provide on-site care, aiming for a quick recovery.¡± At this point, Zi Di looked again at the camp, nodding in confirmation, ¡°There¡¯s no mistake. I have a deep impression of this wooden cabin and the camp. For your safety, sir, and to facilitate future treatment, I had intended to stay here for a while. That¡¯s why it took a lot of time to build the cabin very sturdily.¡± Bai Ya was astonished, ¡°So, how did this camp end up here¡­ Ah, I know, it was teleported!¡± Just like how Zhenjin and their camp had been teleported into the desert, this camp abandoned by Zi Di had also been affected by teleportation, from the rainforest to the forest. Afterwards, it was occupied by another mysterious group. They renovated it based on Zi Di¡¯s original constructions and expanded outward, building a larger camp. Bai Ya looked intently and nodded continuously, ¡°Zi Di is right. I also noticed that the wood used for the wooden cabin and the Arrow Tower are different. I recognize the wood of the Arrow Tower, it¡¯s from the trees of the forest.¡± Cang Xu was puzzled, ¡°Strange¡­ Before Zi Di set up camp, it was before the teleportation. Now that we all know about the Teleportation Array, does this group in the wooden house not know about it? Have they never experienced teleportation or are they just not concerned about it?¡± If they are not concerned about teleportation, that would mean that this group belongs to the camp of the Island Master. Contacting these people poses a great risk. Zhenjin pondered for a moment, ¡°Given the unclear situation, we must not act rashly. Let¡¯s retreat to a safe distance, and then I will quietly capture a bat monkey. By studying this beast, perhaps Zi Di can also develop relevant potions.¡± ¡°I will do my utmost,¡± Zi Di nodded. Her voice had barely faded when suddenly a window of the wooden house was thrust open, and a middle-aged man with a sallow face appeared inside, holding a peculiar crossbow and yelling loudly, ¡°Die, you beasts!¡± Saying this, he grabbed the bottom of the crossbow with his left hand and the upward-curving trigger at the back with his right hand. He pressed down hard on the trigger, and a short arrow shot out. He lifted the trigger, and the crossbow was strung. Pressing it down again, the second short arrow flew out. Continuously pressing and lifting the trigger, this sallow-faced man managed to fire a dozen arrows in a very short span of time. ¡°There are people in the wooden house!¡± Bai Ya whispered in shock upon seeing this. ¡°Are they from the Pig Kiss?¡± Zhenjin immediately asked. Everyone shook their heads. It was possible, or it might not be. Pig Kiss was a large sea vessel that could cross the ocean and connect two continents. With many and varied personnel on board, Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others could not possibly recognize everyone. ¡°Their hands have crossbows. What kind of crossbow is that, capable of firing continuously?¡± Zi Di frowned. Zhenjin¡¯s expression was solemn, ¡°The crossbow is good, but the shooter is terrible. He has no aim at all, just firing wildly. This is bad!¡± The sallow-faced man, with an aggressive demeanor, fired wildly and drove back the nearby bat monkeys. But soon, the bat monkeys counterattacked and swarmed him. Seeing trouble, the man hastily pulled out the rod supporting the window, and the heavy window slammed shut. But even in that brief moment, two extremely agile bat monkeys had already slipped inside. Immediately, there were screams and curses from inside the wooden house. ¡°Should we go and save them?¡± Zhenjin gritted his teeth, caught in indecision. ¡°Ah, quick, quick, quick, hide!¡± Inside the wooden house, a fat man screamed, trying to crawl under a table. Most likely due to his corpulence, the two bat monkeys targeted him at first sight. With a powerful kick against the wall to dodge an attack, the bat monkeys lunged at the fat man. The fat man had just hidden under the table when he heard a loud bang ¨C the sturdy wooden table was smashed to smithereens. Amidst the flying wood chips, the bat monkeys paused for a moment, then grabbed towards the fat man. The fat man¡¯s eyes almost popped out in that instant, overwhelmed by terror to the extreme. He had no thought of dodging; his mind went blank, and he simply collapsed on the ground, motionless as if he were a statue. At a critical moment, a guard stepped forward and repelled the bat monkey with the longsword in his hand. But the next moment, another bat monkey took the opportunity to fly onto the guard¡¯s head. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± The guard screamed in agony. His eyeball was gouged out by the bat monkey directly. The intense pain made him swing his longsword wildly, causing his companions, who wanted to rescue him, to retreat. Taking advantage of this moment, the bat monkey opened its mouth wide and buried its head, biting into the guard¡¯s neck. ¡°Splurt.¡± Accompanied by a chilling sound, the bat monkey fiercely jerked its head, ripping a large hole in the guard¡¯s neck as blood gushed out like a fountain. With a flap of its wings, the bat monkey, carrying its small body, flew directly to the rooftop. The bat monkey hung upside down on the roof, with a small piece of trachea still hanging out of its mouth. The bat monkey slurped it up, chewed it a few times, and swallowed it down. ¡°Beast!!!¡± shouted a person furiously inside the cabin. Finally, having tasted blood and flesh, the bat monkey became even more ferociously aggressive. They were incredibly fast and agile, turning the entire cabin upside down. The fat man collapsed on the floor, watching everyone panic and another person die, scared to the point of screaming incessantly, ¡°Help, help.¡± The man who had opened the window had just raised his crossbow when he saw a bat monkey charging at him. He quickly ducked, evading the bat monkey¡¯s dive, and awkwardly rolled three times on the ground. The bat monkey missed and hit the ground. Its limbs touched down, and its claws dug four furrows into the muddy ground, coming to a swift halt. Then it charged at the yellow-faced man again. The yellow-faced man, lacking any combat skills, was still lying on the ground trying to get up. Just as the bat monkey was about to pounce on his face, a sharp thin sword suddenly thrust out from behind the man. The thin sword instantly pierced the bat monkey¡¯s face, penetrating its skull. The bat monkey was too fast and impaled itself from the tip of the thin sword to the hemispherical guard at the hilt, turning itself into a kebab. But the bat monkey was not yet dead. In excruciating pain, the bat monkey struggled, flapping its wings violently. The person holding the sword hastily gave a fierce shake, flinging the bat monkey away. The bat monkey hit the ground, screamed frantically, and struggled wildly, biting around. After five breaths, it finally collapsed motionless. The person with the sword angrily pulled the yellow-faced man to his feet, ¡°Mu Ban, this is all your fault. I told you not to open the window! Why couldn¡¯t you just wait for Lord Xi Suo and the others to return?¡± Mu Ban snorted coldly, neck stiff, ¡°I have treasures in hand; all these riffraff must die.¡± Saying this, he again pulled the trigger, firing a dozen arrows in quick succession. In the cabin, there was only one bat monkey left. The arrows made a great sound but hit none. Instead, someone¡¯s thigh was struck by an arrow, who roared in pain and fury, ¡°Mu Ban, you hit me!¡± People scrambled to dodge the arrows. Whoosh. An arrow stuck in the ground, its tail quivering slightly. Seeing this arrow, and the realization that it had landed less than an inch from his groin area, the fat man who had previously collapsed let out a howl, his eyes rolling back as he fainted on the spot. ¡°Mu Ban, stop it!¡± ¡°Someone, stop Mu Ban.¡± ¡°He¡¯s more dangerous than these monkeys!!¡± People shouted loudly, rushing at Mu Ban with fierce expressions. Mu Ban hurriedly dodged, losing his crossbow in the chaos. ¡°Kill the monkeys, kill the monkeys!¡± someone else yelled. Just then, the last remaining bat monkey injured another person. The crowd¡¯s attention again focused on the bat monkey, and after a whirlwind chase, this bat monkey was also slain by the same thin sword. The person holding the thin sword was a young man. He had black hair, black eyes, and dark skin, his hair naturally curly. ¡°Well done, Hei Juan!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to have this trick up your sleeve,¡± the crowd praised, surprised. Hei Juan lightly snorted, twirling the thin sword beautifully in his hand, about to sheath it, when suddenly a thudding sound like war drums being struck was heard. ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡± people listened suspiciously as the drumming sound grew louder. ¡°Not good!¡± Hei Juan focused and listened briefly, then suddenly realizing something, he hastily lunged to his left. The next moment, a huge rhinoceros broke through the cabin, brutally and fiercely unstoppable. Those who couldn¡¯t dodge in time were either thrown into the air or trampled on the ground. The giant rhinoceros didn¡¯t stop its charge, breaking straight through the cabin, lifting a huge cloud of dust. Without the cabin to block them, the bat monkeys outside let out excited screeches, charging into the cabin towards the people. ¡°It¡¯s over! I¡¯m going to die!!¡± Seeing Bronze Level and Black Iron Level bat monkeys diving in, Hei Juan felt utterly desperate in that moment. Chapter 87 - 87: Section 88: Knight Hero! Chapter 87: Section 88: Knight Hero! ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to die, I don¡¯t want to die!¡± Hei Juan roared in his heart, consumed by an intense desire to live that filled his chest. He quickly scrambled to his feet. Dust swirled around him, obscuring most of his vision, while the screams and cries for help of his comrades were unceasing. Creak¡­ The dilapidated wooden hut standing before him groaned ominously, its remaining walls swaying on the brink of collapse. ¡°This place is done for! Staying here will surely be the death of me.¡± Hei Juan grit his teeth, turned around sharply, and crouched low, racing out of the hut. ... A common bat monkey shrieked, swooping down from above his head. Hei Juan immediately rolled forward, his movements agile, avoiding the bat monkey¡¯s attack. The common bat monkey, missing its target, did not linger to engage with Hei Juan but instead rushed into the wooden hut. But as Hei Juan looked up to rise, he saw another bat monkey pounce towards him. Unlike the previous one, this bat monkey was a Bronze Level Magic Beast. Hei Juan¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he hastily drew his sword. With a clanging sound, his thin sword flashed silver-white like a bolt of lightning, his draw swift, revealing Hei Juan¡¯s solid foundation in swordsmanship. But in his haste, Hei Juan couldn¡¯t aim for the Bronze bat monkey¡¯s vitals. The sharp point of the sword struck the bat monkey¡¯s chest, lodged between its ribs, failing to penetrate further. The Bronze bat monkey, injured, became even more vicious, using its bat wings for acceleration, forcing the thin sword to bend into a U-shape, its claws aiming for Hei Juan¡¯s eyes and nose. A hint of panic flickered in Hei Juan¡¯s eyes, and he hastily somersaulted backward to the ground, using his back as a support, his right foot raised high, kicking fiercely at the Bronze bat monkey. The bat monkey, struck by Hei Juan¡¯s kick, did not fly away but beat its wings wildly, its limbs and claws nearly blurring into a dark shadow in front of Hei Juan. Compared to the bat monkey, Hei Juan¡¯s strength was not enough to fend it off. He felt as though he was kicking a crazed young horse. He kicked several times in succession, only to have his boots torn by the bat monkey, with several wounds scratched on his shins by its sharp claws. Worried that continuing like this would result in being attacked by more bat monkeys, Hei Juan clenched his teeth, and with a forceful fling of his arm, he let go of the thin sword. The Bronze bat monkey, not expecting its obstacle to suddenly disappear, charged past Hei Juan, taking the sharp sword lodged in its chest with it, crashing into the ground. Hei Juan seized the moment to scramble on all fours toward the forest outside the camp. But soon, the Bronze bat monkey adjusted and pursued, its screams echoing as it flapped its wings furiously after Hei Juan. The wind from behind grew close, Hei Juan¡¯s heart filled with a chilling sensation, a hint of despair visible in his bloodshot pupils. ¡°Damn it, am I really going to die here?¡± Just then, a piercing screech resounded. A small shadow zipped past, just missing Hei Juan. ¡°Seems like a dart?!¡± The strong draft raised a gust of wind, causing the startled Hei Juan to squint. Then, he heard the shrill, agonized scream of the bat monkey from behind. ¡°Someone¡¯s there!¡± Hei Juan, overjoyed, didn¡¯t dare to look back and ran at full speed toward the direction from which the dart had come. The Bronze bat monkey seemed to be severely injured and stopped its pursuit. Hei Juan sprinted away, quickly reaching the forest, where several people stood under a tree. ¡°It¡¯s not Xi Suo and the others¡­ Wait.¡± Hei Juan¡¯s eyes lit up as he caught sight of the purple-eyed girl, a look of surprise and delight crossing his face. He blurted out, ¡°Zi¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s Hei Juan!¡± At the same time, Zi Di recognized Hei Juan¡¯s features and exclaimed in a low voice, ¡°He is a member of the mercenary group I hired!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, those inside the wooden hut should all be from Pig Kiss,¡± Zi Di informed Zhenjin. Zhenjin nodded, ¡°I must rescue them quickly! You guys stay here.¡± Zhenjin moved swiftly, reaching Hei Juan within a few breaths and gave him a quick up-and-down look, asking sharply, ¡°Can you still fight?¡± Hei Juan stood there dazed, looking at him, not responding for a moment. Zhenjin inwardly shook his head, ¡°It seems he¡¯s lost his nerve.¡± He had seen Hei Juan¡¯s escape with his own eyes. Immediately, the young knight turned to Lan Zao and instructed, ¡°Take care of him, I¡¯ll be right back.¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± Lan Zao responded at once. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, please be careful!¡± Zi Di took a few steps forward, her hands clasped at her chest, her gaze fixed on Zhenjin, her concern clearly seen. Zhenjin nodded at the young girl and then hastened his pace, charging towards the camp. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± At that moment, Hei Juan finally reacted, opening his mouth to stop Zhenjin. ¡°You¡¯re going to your death!¡± He never got the words out because, in the next moment, he saw Zhenjin pull a wooden dart from his embrace. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Zhenjin threw three darts in quick succession; three ordinary bat monkeys fell from the sky. More bat monkeys swarmed towards Zhenjin. Zhenjin¡¯s arms vibrated with strength, his wrists flicked lightly, and another three bat monkeys dropped to the ground, unable to take flight again. Hei Juan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the precision of Zhenjin¡¯s darts was simply astounding¡ªevery shot hit its mark without fail! A Bronze bat monkey landed on the ground, using its hands and feet together, it lunged at Zhenjin. Its charge was alarmingly swift, but even more surprising was the fact that it didn¡¯t advance in a straight line, but zigzagged across the ground, attacking Zhenjin in a Z-shaped pattern. ¡°Good beast!¡± A chill surged in Hei Juan¡¯s heart. Zhenjin¡¯s darts were highly precise, rendering the bat monkey a living target when airborne. But once it landed, using the ground¡¯s reactive force to quickly change direction, it considerably increased the difficulty for Zhenjin to aim. ¡°It seems this kind of bat monkey is quite intelligent.¡± Zhenjin slowly halted his steps, not attempting to throw another dart, but quietly waiting for the bat monkey to charge at him. ¡°What is he doing? Take action now!¡± Hei Juan almost couldn¡¯t help shouting out loud. The next moment, Zhenjin¡¯s right hand reached down and naturally grasped the hilt of a thin sword. This thin sword belonged to Hei Juan, who had to abandon it when it got caught in the Bronze bat monkey¡¯s body. The Bronze bat monkey hit the ground, thin sword in tow chasing after Hei Juan, then it was ended by Zhenjin¡¯s wooden dart. The thin sword, with its tip down, was now slanted in the ground. The Bronze bat monkey thrust forcefully off the ground, its small, purple-black body rocketing forward like a bomb, closing the distance to less than a foot from Zhenjin¡¯s face in the blink of an eye. Yet Zhenjin already had a sword in hand! Hiss. A light sound. All the people in the woods could only sense a blur before their eyes, then they saw Zhenjin holding the sword with one arm, extended straight out in front of him. The Bronze bat monkey¡¯s head was pierced by the thin sword, hanging on the blade. It wasn¡¯t completely dead yet, it was trying to struggle. But at that moment, Zhenjin flicked a circle with his sword, and the sharp blade traced a silvery-white arc in the air. The Bronze bat monkey was flung out, crashing to the ground, making an effort to rise. As it propped up its upper body, the last of its strength seeped out, just like the brain matter and blood oozing from the hole in its head. The next instant, it lay on the ground, its eyes wide open ¡ª the shock, disbelief, and fear on its face frozen in death. Hei Juan¡¯s breathing hitched. He fixed his gaze firmly on Zhenjin¡¯s back, a look of astonishment on his face. ¡°How can there be such terrifying power?¡± ¡°This is a place where Fighting energy can¡¯t be used.¡± Having fought the Bronze bat monkey, Hei Juan had used all his strength in a forward stab, only to get stuck between the ribs of the beast. Clearly, the skull was among the hardest of bones. Zhenjin¡¯s single sword thrust completely pierced the Bronze bat monkey¡¯s skull from front to back. This power was simply inhuman! ¡°Hei Juan.¡± At that moment, Zi Di, Lan Zao, and others came over. ¡°Miss Zi Di.¡± Hei Juan composed himself and bowed to Zi Di, ¡°Who exactly is¡­ this gentleman?¡± Zi Di was about to answer with a slight smile. But the usually silent Lan Zao beat her to it, ¡°He is my master¡ªLord Zhenjin! He is Miss Zi Di¡¯s fianc¨¦, the only heir of the Hundred Needle Family, a true Holy Temple Knight, and in the future, he will also be the City Lord of White Sand City. He is my savior, as well as yours.¡± Zi Di nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve hired you as guards to accompany me to White Sand City on the Wilderness Continent, and Lord Zhenjin has been concealed by my side all along. The goal was to mislead and prevent malicious interference from competitors. After the sea disaster occurred, I found Lord Zhenjin. Believe me, he will definitely lead us to leave this island alive.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Hei Juan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved once more, swiftly coming to terms with this reality. Zhenjin held the Stabbing Sword in one hand and clutched several darts in the other. When a bat monkey approached, he tossed a dart. If the bat monkey came within reach, he used his thin sword to reap its life. His figure appeared human, but underneath his clothing, his arms had mutated into bear arms. Immense strength combined with precision talent turned both darts and sword into Death God¡¯s scythe. The people inside the wooden hut were being attacked, caught between a rock and a hard place. But gradually, they felt the attacks they were taking were becoming fewer. Initially, the whole camp was filled with the piercing screams of bat monkeys. Now, however, the camp was becoming eerily quiet at an inexplicable speed. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Mu Ban lay weakly, half-sitting with his back against the wooden hut wall, his chest stained with blood¡ªsuddenly aware of someone approaching, he looked intently. At this moment, the dust slowly settled. Mu Ban then saw a young man with golden hair, a handsome face, and an air of nobility and grace. In one hand he held a sword, in the other he pinched a dart, his demeanor relaxed and unhurried as he casually strolled over. Around him, bat monkeys flew in the air, or snarled and bared teeth on the ground near him, filled with malice. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet the golden-haired young man sauntered as if in his own carriage, treating the battlefield as if it were a garden with a lovely view. A bat monkey, impatient, suddenly sprang out, dashing along the ground like a wild dog. Swish. A dart shot out like electricity, piercing the bat monkey through. The bat monkey died instantly, but because of its huge inertia, its body skidded across the ground for a long stretch, drawing a bright red trail of blood. Zhenjin stepped lightly over this bloody line, coming to stand in front of Mu Ban. Mu Ban looked up in a daze at the young knight. Although the young man¡¯s clothes were simple and tattered, Mu Ban swore, at that moment, he felt as though he was gazing upon a noble knight clad in full Golden Armor, mounted on a white horse, with his banner fluttering behind him. Chapter 88 - 88: Section 89: Sir, I am willing to work for you Chapter 88: Section 89: Sir, I am willing to work for you ¡°Still alive?¡± Lord Zhenjin asked indifferently. Mu Ban nodded his head. ¡°Lend it to me for a moment,¡± Lord Zhenjin said, looking at the crossbow in Mu Ban¡¯s hands. Mu Ban¡¯s mind went blank, but his body moved subconsciously, his hands presenting the crossbow. Lord Zhenjin grabbed the wooden handle of the crossbow with one hand, while still holding his sword in the other. Mu Ban was about to say that this posture was wrong, that one should hold the bottom of the crossbow to stabilize it, and use the other hand to operate the trigger. ... At that moment, another bat monkey attacked. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s hand gave a light shake, and the body of the crossbow trembled as a short arrow shot out. Thud. The attacking bat monkey was dead. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s wrist shook, and with a light click, the crossbow was cocked again. The bat monkeys screamed again, with one particularly cunning, launching an attack from behind Lord Zhenjin. Without looking back, Lord Zhenjin simply turned the crossbow around, his arm shaking, and the arrow flew. The arrow pierced through the bat monkey¡¯s wide mouth, the head penetrating its spine, and protruding from the other side of the monkey. The bat monkey fell to its knees, sliding on the ground from its momentum, ending up near Lord Zhenjin¡¯s heels. Then, as its head fell forward due to the halted body, it drooped to its chest. The pose made it look like it was begging for forgiveness from Lord Zhenjin with its life. To transgress against one¡¯s superiors, to offend a noble knight, was an unforgivable sin! ¡°Who is this man?¡± ¡°What kind of archery skills are these!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not dreaming, am I?¡± The people around were saved, their mouths agape as they stared at Lord Zhenjin. All the bat monkeys¡¯ attentions were on Lord Zhenjin, but each of their assaults ended with them falling along their path of charge. Lord Zhenjin simply stood in his spot, yet the number of bat monkey corpses around him kept increasing. His control of the crossbow was utterly non-standard, almost haphazardly casual. Yet every single arrow, as if it had eyes, unerringly found the lethal weak spots on the monkeys. If a monkey got close to Lord Zhenjin, his thin sword would certainly flash with a silver-white sword bloom, ruthlessly and coldly reaping the fiery lives of the bat monkeys one by one. Seeing their heavy losses, the Black Iron Bat Monkey in the air couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. It let out sharp cries, short and urgent. Following its command, the bat monkeys scattered in an uproar. ¡°Trying to flee?¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly. With a flick of his wrist, an arrow sought the Black Iron Bat Monkey. The Black Iron Bat Monkey dodged the flying arrow with a fierce flap of its wings. Then, it took a deep breath, its chest puffing up in an exaggerated curve. The next moment, it let out a piercing scream, sharp to the extreme, stirring visible semi-transparent sound waves in the air. The waves grew larger, enveloping the entire cabin. Everyone revealed expressions of agony, bending over, desperately blocking their ears, trying to isolate the sound wave, but it was in vain. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyebrows furrowed tightly; possessing extraordinary physical fitness, yet under the assault of this sound wave, he immediately felt severe nausea, wanting to vomit. A few breaths later, he started to feel dizzy. At this rate, his eardrums were sure to be severely damaged. The crossbow fired repeatedly, but the short arrows were either dodged by the Black Iron Bat Monkey or simply taken on its tough body. The Black Iron Bat Monkey was superior in both agility and bodily toughness compared to the Bronze Level bat monkeys. But at that moment, Lord Zhenjin suddenly threw a dart. The dart followed immediately behind an arrow, striking the Black Iron Bat Monkey in its left eye. Sustaining grave injuries, the Black Iron Bat Monkey¡¯s screams stopped abruptly. With the dart stuck in its eye, blood streaming down, it didn¡¯t choose retaliation but instantly turned to flee. The rest of the bat monkeys, seeing their leader retreat, dared not stay any longer, fleeing frantically into the forest. The ravaged camp soon returned to calm. Half an hour later. Some warriors were scattered around the camp, maintaining reconnaissance. Some began repairing the camp¡¯s fences, the Arrow Tower, while others propped up pillars to temporarily reinforce the cabins. Their gazes occasionally drifted towards the clearing in the camp, those who were close murmuring to each other, with words like ¡°big shot,¡± ¡°powerful warrior,¡± ¡°knight,¡± ¡°nobles¡± frequently cropping up in the conversation. Several severely wounded lay side by side on the ground, some looking at the sky, some having already lost consciousness. Zi Di examined these people¡¯s injuries, contemplating how to prepare healing potions. ¡°Pharmacist, I don¡¯t want to die, please save me,¡± a wounded man pleaded weakly. Zi Di smiled, ¡°I¡¯m not a physician, I¡¯m a pharmacist. Don¡¯t worry, your injuries are not fatal. Although you¡¯re quite injured, the bleeding was stopped in time, and the wound was treated properly, you will be fine.¡± While she spoke words of comfort, Zi Di knew in her heart: healing would require rest, and the length of that rest was uncertain. This was no safe place. As they recuperated, these severely wounded would only be cared for, contributing nothing and consuming significant resources. They would all be a heavy burden to the team. ¡°Chairman, is it¡ªis it¡ªyou? Is it really, really you?¡± A voice came, interrupting Zi Di¡¯s thoughts. Zi Di turned her attention and saw an excited fat man close to tears. ¡°Fat Tongue, are you awake?¡± Zi Di greeted him with a smile. Hearing the call, the fat man suddenly knelt on the ground, his fat right hand covering his face, tears streaming as he looked up crying, ¡°Wuuu¡­ it¡¯s so, so, so good, Chairman, you¡¯re not dead. You¡¯re still alive.¡± Tears streamed down his plump cheeks, carving two broad streaks. ¡°There, there, stand up now,¡± Zi Di could only step forward and pat the fatty¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Come with me to meet Lord Zhenjin.¡± ¡°Lo-Lord Zhenjin, the un- unmarried fianc¨¦?¡± The fatty named Fat Elder removed his hands, looking puzzled. Zi Di then explained, ¡°I must ask you to not blame me, Fat Elder, for I have kept some matters hidden from you. This trip to White Sand City was not just about setting up an advance post for the Hundred Needle Family. The true intent was to conceal our tracks and escort Lord Zhenjin to White Sand City ahead of schedule. The troops provided by the Hundred Needle Family to Lord Zhenjin unfortunately encountered a mishap on the way. I consulted with Lord Zhenjin and believe that this was the malicious obstruction of a competitor.¡± ¡°City Lord elections have a set time limit. Not arriving at the designated city within the allotted time would badly reflect on Lord Zhenjin. In order to foil our competitor¡¯s scheme, I served as a decoy, while Lord Zhenjin, under an assumed name, followed by my side and boarded the Pig Kiss.¡± ¡°Ah¡ªso that¡¯s how it is,¡± Fat Elder said, suddenly enlightened. In the camp¡¯s central clearing, Zhenjin sat on a wooden stool with Lan Zao standing behind him holding a knife. Zhenjin examined the crossbow in his hand. This was the repeating crossbow he had used in battle earlier. Unlike a normal crossbow, the repeating one had a rectangular magazine attached. On the magazine was a pitch-black number eight, and it could hold many short arrows. The trigger of the repeating crossbow was a wooden handle extending from the back of the crossbow¡¯s main body. By continuously lifting and pressing the handle, one could complete the drawing and shooting actions. ¡°Did you design this?¡± Zhenjin shifted his gaze from the repeating crossbow to the man kneeling before him. The man¡ªa middle-aged male with a sallow complexion and a bandaged chest wound¡ªwas Mu Ban. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mu Ban immediately replied, ¡°Your Excellency Lord Zhenjin, this is indeed the repeating crossbow I designed.¡± ¡°What does this number eight mean?¡± Zhenjin pointed at the magazine, ¡°Your eighth creation?¡± Mu Ban shook his head, ¡°No. The wood used to make the repeating crossbow was gathered from this campsite, of superior quality. The number eight was originally there.¡± Pausing a moment, Mu Ban took the initiative to say, ¡°Not only can I make this kind of repeating crossbow, I can also make other regular crossbows. It¡¯s just that we lack metal for the crossbow mechanism, so they can¡¯t be mass-produced.¡± Zhenjin nodded. The most intricate part of a crossbow was the mechanism, which usually was made of metal. The inner mechanism of the repeating crossbow in Zhenjin¡¯s hands, despite its unusual trigger, was still constructed of metal. Zhenjin had just used this type of repeating crossbow. Compared to a regular crossbow, the repeating model had a shorter range and the arrows had less power. Against the Black Iron Bat Monkeys, Zhenjin¡¯s wooden darts had been effective, but the repeating crossbow¡¯s arrows were either dodged or blocked by the creatures. The slow firing speed of the regular crossbow had always been a point of criticism. The repeating crossbow addressed this drawback, with firing speed turning out to be its greatest advantage. Clearly, the man before him, Mu Ban, was a talent for being able to design such a special weapon. ¡°So, you¡¯re a Crossbow Master?¡± Zhenjin inquired. ¡°Yes, Your Excellency. I, Mu Ban, wanted to go to the Wilderness Continent precisely to make the most of my skills. Your Excellency is my savior, and I am especially eager to work for you!¡± Mu Ban immediately responded, his attitude very fervent. Zhenjin¡¯s identity had already spread throughout the camp. The sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, a member of the Holy Temple Knights, a candidate for the City Lord of White Sand City! Any of these identities would suffice for Mu Ban to proactively seek out Zhenjin. This was a dignitary he would not normally have the opportunity to interact with! ¡°Very well, then work diligently; I¡¯m looking forward to your performance,¡± Zhenjin encouraged Mu Ban while calculating internally. Having a Crossbow Master meant he could mass-produce crossbows. Previously, he had had such an intention. But due to his circumstances at the time, and the inability to make metal mechanisms, it had not been feasible. Now, things were different. He had skilled craftsmen, and metal mechanisms could be mass-produced. Zhou Di, while in the oasis, had managed to collect a large amount of Lizard Acid Liquid. With these materials and the right potions, if molds were created, they could be used to mass-produce metal mechanisms. ¡°A crossbow¡¯s power is much greater than that of a short bow; its range is farther too. Even better, crossbows are more suitable for beginners to grasp, whereas bows require training.¡± ¡°The training required to use a crossbow is less than that needed for short or longbows.¡± ¡°The drawback of the crossbow is its low firing speed, but by creating some repeating crossbows, we can compensate.¡± ¡°The only concern is a reminder from Zi Di. If everyone wields a crossbow, it poses a hidden threat to other team members.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± Zhenjin thought of himself and his experiences on this island in recent days. ¡°I can now mutate, my strength greatly enhanced, able to handle stronger threats. Lan Zao, Bai Ya, and the others are my most loyal subordinates. Even Mu Ban and Hei Juan, who have benefited from my help, are under my firm control. My grip on this team runs much deeper than before.¡± ¡°The most critical point is that this island is too perilous. It¡¯s not easy to leave here alive! I do not want to face another beast attack where people die due to lack of proper weapons. If that happens, even if there¡¯s a ship, we can¡¯t depart with too few people.¡± Thinking up to this point, Zhenjin had made up his mind. Despite the risks and dangers of equipping crossbows on a large scale, in order to counter external crises and maximise the hope of survival, it was a risk worth taking on proactively. ¡°Your Excellency. This is Fat Tongue, one of the senior members of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. He is my deputy on this trip to White Sand City,¡± Zi Di approached with the fatty in tow. ¡°Fa-Fat Tongue pays respects to your Excellency,¡± Fat Elder hurriedly greeted Zhenjin with a smile plastered on his face. He naturally held a favorable impression towards Zhenjin. Because the alliance between the Hundred Needle Family and the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce was well known. Although Fat Elder had never seen Zhenjin in person, as a high-ranking member of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, he had long been privy to the relevant intelligence and seen Zhenjin¡¯s portraits. Zhenjin gave a slight nod, ¡°Tell me how you ended up here. I just heard you were forced to leave? Was there a rebellion?¡± Fat Elder nodded, his expression turning somber, ¡°Ye-Yes, Your Excelle¡ª¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Zhenjin raised his hand to interrupt in time. He had initially thought Fat Tongue was nervous, but after the second sentence, he understood that Fat Tongue had a stutter. Zhenjin then looked at Mu Ban, ¡°You tell me.¡± Chapter 89 - 89: Section 90: Great One, You are the Hero Arranged by the Gods! Chapter 89: Section 90: Great One, You are the Hero Arranged by the Gods! ¡°Sailing was going smoothly at first, but then the shipwreck happened so bizarrely and suddenly.¡± ¡°The Pig Kiss broke directly in half, but luckily, we were close to this island, so most of us made it to shore.¡± ¡°We discovered the Captain was missing, and the First Officer took charge of the situation¡­¡± Mu Ban recounted in detail. What he said didn¡¯t differ much from what Zhenjin had learned from Huang Zao and Cang Xu. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The survivors gathered on the beach, all wanting to leave, with no one wishing to spend the rest of their life stranded on an island. ... But the immediate issue before everyone was food. Therefore, the First Officer deployed the first exploration team, including Lan Zao and Huang Zao, their mission being to explore and gather food resources, ideally, a stable source of water and meat. Cang Xu volunteered to join the exploration team. However, this team, carrying everyone¡¯s hopes, mysteriously vanished. Those left on the beach grew even more fearful of this mysterious and dangerous island, becoming more desperate to escape. With the ship broken in two, everyone knew that to leave the island, a new ship had to be built. Trees were plentiful; dense, thick rainforest surrounded the beach. However, felling trees, processing the timber, and constructing a ship all demanded substantial labor, and as people toiled more, they expended more physical strength, increasing food consumption. People scoured for every last resource they could find from the ship¡¯s wreckage and barrels floating in the sea. Even corpses were not spared. But without a stable external source of food, these supplies, however significant, couldn¡¯t withstand the relentless consumption, day and night. As time went on, life for the main group got increasingly harder to bear. The First Officer had no choice but to enforce food rationing, provoking widespread dissatisfaction. The scarcity of food, the hopelessness of escape, and the heavy daily labor led to widespread complaints and restlessness. A ship capable of crossing the continent and withstanding attacks from sea-dwelling Fishmen naturally had significant combat strength. The sailors were united, following the First Officer¡¯s orders. Thus, despite growing internal conflicts, the First Officer managed to maintain control. With the food reserves dwindling to critical levels, the First Officer was forced to form a second exploration team. Some stepped forward, thinking of the greater good, and voluntarily joined the second team. But more people did not wish to face the dangers of the jungle. Wasn¡¯t there still food to eat daily if they stayed with the main group? The First Officer knew this couldn¡¯t go on. Since most were unwilling, he reluctantly announced a drawing of lots. The result of the draw caused an outcry. Few sailors were chosen; most were passengers. This led to suspicions that the First Officer rigged the lot drawing, deliberately showing favoritism. People demanded a re-draw. The First Officer hesitated. The sailors, of course, also did not wish to venture into the perilous rainforest, and they were his main supporters, while the passengers stood in opposition. In this atmosphere of internal unrest, a sudden incident detonated the entire stalemate. ¡°That day, I was exhausted and nearly fell asleep on the beach. Late into the night, I and those around me suddenly heard a woman¡¯s scream.¡± ¡°At first, we thought a bird had met its end in the jungle. But then, the commotion from the First Officer¡¯s side grew louder, with men¡¯s roars of anger and swearing, and the sounds of a fierce fight with swords and spears.¡± ¡°I had just risen from the grass bed when a sailor, his face panicked, informed us to grab our weapons and go to support the First Officer. He told me that a group of passengers had banded together and raided the First Officer¡¯s tent with malicious intent.¡± ¡°Although I was not a sailor, due to my work, I¡¯d always been with the Fourth shipwright. I slept close by.¡± ¡°The Fourth and others, of course, sided with the First Officer, quickly grabbing swords and rushing towards the tent. I also took up a crossbow and followed.¡± ¡°Approaching the tent, I saw that a fierce battle was already underway.¡± ¡°The passengers who had initiated the attack had surrounded the First Officer¡¯s tent. Our attempts to break through from the outside failed twice.¡± ¡°Fortunately, on the third attempt, the Fourth called over his adopted son. We all called him Big Fool; he was a foundling the Fourth shipwright had taken in. A hybrid of a giant and a human. Over three meters tall, he had immense strength, enough to uproot a tree. Big Fool listened only to the Fourth, and with a tree trunk, he swept away the passengers who couldn¡¯t resist and were thrown into disarray.¡± ¡°Just when we thought we were about to succeed, Zong Ge stepped forward.¡± ¡°He was a Half-Beast, the leader of the rebels. Wearing a suit of thick fine steel armor, he withstood Big Fool¡¯s sweeping tree trunk. Then he stepped on the trunk, ran along it, and jumped onto Big Fool, bringing him down with his fists alone, as Big Fool¡¯s wild counterattacks were easily parried, and ultimately, he was beaten into pleading for mercy.¡± ¡°With Zong Ge defeating Big Fool, he had defeated us too. He bound the First Officer tightly and then gathered everyone to explain the situation.¡± ¡°According to him, the First Officer had been secretly hoarding food for his own use. That very night, he had taken a liking to a female passenger. He had ordered people to drug her and abduct her into his tent, but Zong Ge and others accidentally discovered this, leading to the fierce battle.¡± ¡°We followed Zong Ge into the First Officer¡¯s tent and did indeed find a lot of food that was not in the public storehouse.¡± ¡°The female passenger called Queshan woke up and also confirmed Zong Ge¡¯s words.¡± ¡°After understanding the truth, I decided to stand with Zong Ge. Most people chose the same as me. Even many of the sailors were wavering.¡± ¡°With conclusive evidence at hand, the First Officer could only admit to his crimes. Ignoring the sailors¡¯ objections, Zong Ge forcibly executed the First Officer, relying on his strong combat abilities, he became the leader of the camp.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhenjin nodded, ¡°So it seems this Zong Ge, though a Half-Beast, was also heroic in his actions. Does he have any relationship with that Queshan?¡± Mu Ban shook his head, ¡°They don¡¯t know each other. Just like you, at first, I thought since Zong Ge could so righteously act on behalf of a stranger and stand up against injustice, he would be an even more qualified, superior leader. But what followed were bizarre events.¡± ¡°We were attacked.¡± ¡°Almost every night, someone died a horrible death.¡± ¡°We examined the bodies, and it looked like the fatal wounds were caused by wild beasts.¡± ¡°But we had cleared the vicinity of the camp multiple times. The camp was on the beach, nearly without cover. Where could the wild beasts come from?¡± ¡°Zong Ge personally led the team to guard at night, and at first, there were no more deaths. But soon, people were ambushed and killed during the daytime.¡± ¡°Zong Ge wasn¡¯t made of iron; he couldn¡¯t guard continuously, day and night without sleep. The Guard Teams formed by others couldn¡¯t stop the killings from happening either.¡± ¡°We were all terrified, the campsite was in a state of panic.¡± ¡°Rumors erupted. One of them pointed directly at Zong Ge, saying the real murderer was actually Zong Ge himself. Being a Half-Beast, his animalistic nature was hard to tame, and he had a craving for human flesh. If he didn¡¯t consume human flesh, he would go insane. Once driven mad, he would crave it even more. The mysteriously deceased in the camp, though they appeared to have been mauled by wild beasts, it was actually Zong Ge. Because he is a Half-Beast!¡± ¡°Like most people, I didn¡¯t believe the rumor at first. Until one day, someone spotted a floating body at sea.¡± ¡°Food was in such short supply that the discovery of the floating body was met with excitement, as the discoverer could vaguely see that it had drifted over and the body had intact clothes, which might have food or other resources on it.¡± ¡°Risking his life, the discoverer swam a long distance, finally reached the floating body, and eventually dragged it ashore.¡± ¡°The floating body was identified as the Captain. There were penetrating wounds on his body, obviously caused by weapons like gun spears.¡± ¡°The Captain had been assassinated!¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s very likely that the shipwreck was also a man-made conspiracy.¡± ¡°The discovery of the Captain¡¯s body caused a sensation. The Third Officer Xi Suo, who was the Captain¡¯s son, lay on top of his father¡¯s body and wept bitterly, swearing in public to find the killer and avenge his father.¡± ¡°We were all very angry, guessing who the real murderer was, why they wanted to kill the Captain, why they wanted to create this shipwreck?¡± ¡°Based on the fatal wounds on the Captain¡¯s body, we also speculated who possessed weapons like gun spears.¡± ¡°No one was more suspicious than Zong Ge.¡± ¡°Because not only did he have rather strong, thick steel armor, but what was most eye-catching was the pair of Short Spears hanging on his back. Even when confronting Big Fool, he had not used these Short Spears. Without a doubt, when he was wielding the Short Spears, his combat ability must have been formidable.¡± ¡°The Captain was of Black Iron Level strength, and so was Zong Ge.¡± ¡°The sailors all sided with Xi Suo, but everyone understood Zong Ge¡¯s strength.¡± ¡°The attacks continued to happen, becoming more frequent, with someone dying almost every day.¡± ¡°In terms of food, although the part stolen by the First Officer was added to the public storehouse, it was not enough to withstand the consumption, and Zong Ge had to resort to forming an exploration team.¡± ¡°This time, many sailors volunteered to join, and the exploration team was quickly formed.¡± ¡°On the day the exploration team set out, the shipwright pulled me aside secretly. He told me it was all Xi Suo¡¯s scheme.¡± ¡°Xi Suo knew he couldn¡¯t confront Zong Ge head-on for the time being, so he planned to lead the sailors away and build a ship by themselves.¡± ¡°I knew the shipwright was most skilled in shipbuilding, so after thinking it over, I decided to join them.¡± ¡°Not long after the exploration team departed, Zong Ge discovered that Xi Suo, Hei Juan, and I were missing. Realizing he had been tricked, he immediately led a pursuit.¡± ¡°We fled for our lives, about to be caught when suddenly the world around us changed! The rainforest was no more, and instead, we were surrounded by a forest.¡± ¡°We were brought here by a mysterious force and then discovered this campsite.¡± ¡°This campsite is peculiar; the log cabins are built directly on the ground without any foundations, as if some giant had plucked them straight up from the earth.¡± ¡°Xi Suo was delighted, believing it to be a divine sign that the gods had helped us escape from the vicious and cunning enemy, and blessed them with a temporary camp.¡± ¡°So we repaired the campsite and settled here. Because the shipwright and I were also glad¡ªthe timber from the forest suited new shipbuilding better.¡± ¡°After that, we divided into two teams. Xi Suo, the shipwright, his foolish son, and some others went to cut timber. We continued to build the camp. But unexpectedly, we were attacked by bat monkeys, and luckily you saved us!¡± ¡°A hero¡¯s arrival is always like this; it must also be arranged by the gods! Under your leadership, we will leave this Demon Land!¡± Mu Ban said, his tone becoming fervent. Chapter 90 - 90: Section 91: Formidable Enemy Zong Ge Chapter 90: Section 91: Formidable Enemy Zong Ge Mu Ban¡¯s narrative was very clear. He naturally developed the psychological impression that Zhenjin was a hero sent by the divine powers to save them. Zhenjin remained silent, deeply moved by Mu Ban¡¯s final words. ¡°If all of this is the arrangement of the divine, then why is it that every time I pray, there¡¯s no response?¡± Zhenjin pondered. ¡°As a Holy Temple Knight, shouldn¡¯t I always be under the watchful eye of the Holy Emperor?¡± ¡°Could it be¡­ that the lack of response to my prayers is actually the Holy Emperor¡¯s arrangement?¡± ¡°Or perhaps¡­ all of this is a specific test given to me by the Holy Emperor?¡± ... ¡°Is the Demon Core in my heart also a part of the test?¡± ¡°Wait, are you saying that you were transported here a few days ago?¡± Cang Xu, who had been quietly listening, asked at this moment. ¡°Yes. To be precise, five days ago.¡± Mu Ban replied. Cang Xu and Zhenjin exchanged glances. Neither of them doubted Mu Ban¡¯s words¡ªafter all, lying about something like this would be easily exposed given so many people were present. Of course, it was possible that everyone was in on it, sticking to a common story. But that seemed unlikely, the most critical point being that there was no benefit to be gained from such a lie. ¡°Ai!¡± Cang Xu sighed, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect so much to have happened in the camp after I left.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s expression was calm, ¡°It¡¯s normal. You and I have both experienced it. Watching the food run out right before our eyes, or under the pressure of death, people often go mad, fall into hysteria, and act out of character.¡± Lan Zao was stirred by these words, and he slightly lowered his eyelids. His hand, clenching the knife handle, strained until veins popped, and his steady breathing became erratic. ¡°A true leader should not be consumed by personal desires, becoming a parasite that sucks the life and blood from their subordinates. The First Officer has already met the fate he deserved.¡± ¡°If it were me, after the exploration team mysteriously disappeared, I personally would have led a second exploration team into the jungle to find more food and water for everyone. That is what a leader should do,¡± Zhenjin continued. Lan Zao stood behind Zhenjin, gazing at the young knight¡¯s back. His gloomy eyes lit up again, and his breathing returned to normal. In front of everyone, Cang Xu loudly praised, ¡°My Lord, I have no doubt of the determination you would have to execute all of this. Your bravery and virtue are the reason we all rally behind you, ready to follow your every command. This island is a devil¡¯s land, filled with tribulations and perils. Mu Ban is right, you are the hero sent by the divine to save us!¡± ¡°But Lord Zhenjin, there¡¯s something I¡¯m very concerned about right now.¡± ¡°Xi Suo, the old shipwright, and others went to chop wood and have not returned.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhenjin frowned and looked towards Mu Ban, ¡°When did they leave, and when were they scheduled to return?¡± Mu Ban glanced at the sky, ¡°According to our arrangement, they should have returned to the camp fifteen minutes ago.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t get attacked by a herd of animals, did they?¡± A worried expression crossed Mu Ban¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t worry, we have Big Fool with them,¡± Fat Tongue said. Hei Juan shook his head, speaking solemnly, ¡°Although Big Fool has giant blood and his life level has reached the Black Iron Level, he only relies on brute strength and has not trained in any martial arts. What if he encountered the Silver Level rhinoceros that just smashed the wooden hut? Even without a Silver Magical Beast, an attack from a group of bat monkeys could put Big Fool¡¯s life at risk.¡± The level of life doesn¡¯t necessarily determine victory or defeat. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, there¡¯s another thing I¡¯m really concerned about,¡± Cang Xu continued, ¡°The bat monkeys and that Silver Rhinoceros, why did they attack the camp in the first place?¡± ¡°Five days ago, when they were transported to the forest and started to repair this campsite, it was only today that they suffered an animal attack.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, ¡°Cang Xu, are you suggesting if this camp was invading the territory of the animals, they would have attacked on the first or second day. Attacking on the fifth day is indeed very strange.¡± ¡°And,¡± Cang Xu said, ¡°why would the Silver Rhinoceros attack here along with the bat swarm? They are two different types of Magic Beasts. Moreover, after the Silver Rhinoceros rammed into the wooden hut, it left the campsite, which is very unnatural.¡± ¡°Although there is not enough evidence, I have an indescribable feeling. It¡¯s as if they are being manipulated by someone.¡± ¡°Manipulated by someone?¡± The others looked at each other, puzzled. ¡°Could it be that the enemy has a Beast Tamer, a, a Beast Tamer?¡± Fat Tongue asked. Cang Xu said gravely, ¡°It might not necessarily be a Beast Tamer. In reality, most animals, even Magic Beasts, have low intelligence. If one understands their behaviors well enough, they can be manipulated. Like how we use the excrement of High-grade Magic Beasts to drive away the lower ones around our camp, or how we use bait when fishing. Aren¡¯t these ways we influence the behavior of these wild creatures?¡± Hearing this, Zi Di¡¯s complexion changed slightly, and a chill rose in her heart. She looked towards Zhenjin and called out, ¡°My Lord, that Armor Plate¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, Zhenjin already took out the Armor Plate. ¡°Who among you is wearing armor of this material?¡± Zhenjin, realizing something, asked urgently. Mu Ban shook his head, ¡°As you can see, my lord. This is a kind of high-grade fine steel, which we people can hardly afford. Most of our warriors wear leather armor. Even if they have armor, it¡¯s just a half set of iron armor, not this kind of steel armor.¡± ¡°Ah, ah, ah! It¡¯s, it¡¯s, it¡¯s him!¡± Fat Tongue suddenly exclaimed, his face filled with panic. ¡°Who is he?¡± Zhenjin narrowed his eyes and immediately pressed for an answer. ¡°He, he, he, is, is, is just¡­¡± As Fat Tongue grew more nervous, he became more stuttered. ¡°It¡¯s Zong Ge!¡± Hei Juan took over his words, his face also tense, ¡°On the entire ship, only Zong Ge had such high-quality battle armor. I¡¯ve seen him wear it many times, defeating Big Fool, he was wearing fine steel armor. This must be a fragment of the armor from his body!¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Mu Ban objected, ¡°How could Zong Ge be nearby? We¡¯ve already shaken him off.¡± ¡°No, you were teleported here.¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes sparkled, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say it? While Zong Ge was pursuing you, you were suddenly teleported. It¡¯s possible that Zong Ge¡¯s group was also transported.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s fingers stroked the shattered armor plate, his expression grave. All clues indicated that Zong Ge¡¯s group of pursuers had also been teleported here. The traces that Zhenjin had seen earlier were left by Zong Ge¡¯s group. The reason they cleaned up the battlefield was, in all likelihood, to guard against Xi Suo, Mu Ban, and their group. ¡°It must be Zong Ge!¡± Hei Juan suddenly asserted confidently, ¡°The bat monkey horde and the Silver Rhinoceros were also lured here by Zong Ge to launch a fierce attack on my camp.¡± Cang Xu was slightly taken aback, ¡°Do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°Hmph! Don¡¯t forget, he¡¯s a Half-Beast. He must have a connection with wild beasts; certainly, he has ways to influence the beast herds,¡± Hei Juan said. Zhenjin shook his head slightly, ¡°Beastmen and Half-Beasts indeed have a closer affinity with wild beasts, but that doesn¡¯t prove that Zong Ge¡¯s group is the culprit behind the assault on the camp. In fact, the penetrative wounds on the Captain¡¯s body are also insufficient to indict Zong Ge as the true murderer.¡± ¡°My lord.¡± Hei Juan touched his chest and bowed to Zhenjin, ¡°You truly are a Holy Temple Knight, always upholding a spirit of justice and fairness. But my suspicion of Zong Ge is not unfounded.¡± ¡°He has undergone strict combat training!¡± Hei Juan continued. Everyone looked at each other, puzzled. He continued, ¡°Every mercenary, or every sailor, has undergone combat training. The kind of combat training I¡¯m talking about isn¡¯t the usual kind, but military training.¡± ¡°Trust me, I¡¯m sure he has served in the military. Only someone who has undergone strict military training, and has served in the armed forces, could exude such a soldier¡¯s aura, which is something I know all too well.¡± ¡°Zong Ge is of Black Iron Level, and his skills are formidable. I witnessed him defeat Big Fool with just three punches and two kicks, the entire process was very clean and efficient. He fully demonstrated his own strength!¡± ¡°The key point is, on this island, we cannot use Fighting Energy or magic, in battle, we can only rely on our martial arts and the physical strength and agility of our bodies.¡± ¡°Zong Ge has the Bloodline of a Lion-man, his strength, speed, endurance, and so on, are all far superior to us of the Pure Blood Clan. With his high-grade battle armor, he even withstood a trunk sweep from Big Fool!¡± ¡°Gentlemen, think about it carefully. Why such a strong individual would not continue to serve in the army? Any army would not let go of such an elite if they could. As long as he served dutifully, his prospects would be bright! Unless he committed a major offense that revealed him as a cunning and evil person, leading to his expulsion from the military.¡± Hei Juan¡¯s analysis did have some merit. Mu Ban, Fat Tongue, and others could not help but nod slightly after listening. Indeed, those who boarded the Pig Kiss at this time of year to venture to the Wilderness Continent could not be viewed as ordinary. Most of them were people who could not mesh well in the Holy Bright Continent or were dissatisfied with their lives. They took the risk of endangering their lives in the hopes of seizing opportunities and gaining profits from war. They were adventurers, and possibly criminals. Like Bai Ya, he needed to become a knight. Like Cang Xu, he was a wanted criminal. Even Zhenjin, he too was carrying the mission to revive his family. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin stroked the hilt of his sword, lost in thought. From the narratives of Mu Ban and Hei Juan, as well as from the frightened demeanor of Fat Tongue, it was apparent how formidable Zong Ge was. Zong Ge was a mixed-blood of Beastman and Human Race, a Half-Beast status was not well-received in human society. More accurately, it was met with discrimination. However, upon this island, the identity of a Half-Beast made Zong Ge¡¯s combat power stand out. ¡°If I do not mutate, I fear I will not defeat Zong Ge.¡± ¡°Only with mutation would I stand a chance. But the mutation can¡¯t be seen by others. Once I use the Heart Core within me, I must ensure that Zong Ge will certainly die!¡± Zhenjin felt a pressure bearing down on him. He was unable to use Fighting Energy, his prayers to the divinities went unanswered, he could not be blessed with Divine Arts, he could only rely on the strength of his own body. He wasn¡¯t even clear about his own Cultivation level; although his physical fitness far surpassed the normal standard, his strength, speed, and so on, were merely average. If it were not for the Heart Core, a bit of luck, and Zhenjin¡¯s steadfast willpower, Zhenjin would have died long ago. ¡°So, is my opponent this time not some Magic Beast, but a person instead?¡± Chapter 91 - 91: Section 92: Rescuing the Shipwright Chapter 91: Section 92: Rescuing the Shipwright Many times, humans are often more fearsome than Magic Beasts! Half-Beasts are also high-grade intelligent beings, capable of using tactics and strategies. Another point of concern for Lord Zhenjin was that Zong Ge had excellent armaments. He possessed high-grade refined steel War Armor and a pair of War Spears. He had never used his War Spears in public, probably because the crises Zong Ge faced so far did not merit their use. An intuition told Lord Zhenjin that Zong Ge¡¯s War Spears were no ordinary items, and their Grade might even surpass that of his refined steel War Armor. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In comparison, Lord Zhenjin now only had a thin sword in his hand, which belonged to Hei Juan. ¡°Regardless, we must first search for Xi Suo and the others and safely bring them back,¡± Lord Zhenjin gathered his thoughts and made an immediate decision. ... Xi Suo was the third mate, and the old shipwright was skilled in the shipbuilding process. They were key personnel. To leave this island, they were quite important. ¡°Lan Zao, Hei Juan, the two of you come with me,¡± Lord Zhenjin surveyed the group and selected two individuals. Although he would have liked to act alone, considering he might need to search for Xi Suo and others in the forest, Lord Zhenjin still needed extra hands. If he searched on his own, the efficiency would be too low. Whether it was Lan Zao or Hei Juan, they both had Bronze Level strength. ¡°Next.¡± Lord Zhenjin raised his hand and tossed the thin sword to Hei Juan. As a Holy Temple Knight, he would definitely not covet another¡¯s equipment. ¡°Not a bad sword,¡± Lord Zhenjin even complimented Hei Juan. Hei Juan caught the sword, about to speak. ¡°My Lord,¡± Zi Di suddenly interjected, voicing her concern, ¡°If Zong Ge is the mastermind controlling the beast herd, then having been disrupted by Lord Zhenjin, he may have temporarily chosen to give up attacking the camp. But now that he is aware of your Lordship¡¯s bravery and strength, by heading into the forest, could you also fall under his surveillance? Could this be a ruse by Zong Ge to divide and lure our forces?¡± ¡°There¡¯s that possibility,¡± Lord Zhenjin frowned. ¡°So, what are your thoughts?¡± Zi Di: ¡°I want to accompany your Lordship. I¡¯ll do my utmost to assist you, and I also carry potions for protection, so I will try my best not to be a burden.¡± Lord Zhenjin hesitated. Zi Di looked back and said to Hei Juan: ¡°Hei Juan, I know your sword isn¡¯t ordinary. Please lend it to Lord Zhenjin for the time being.¡± Hei Juan was taken aback, his expression changing as he said, ¡°This sword is my family heirloom.¡± Hei Juan refused. He was merely a mercenary hired by Zi Di, not her subordinate, nor a house servant to Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin smiled faintly: ¡°Zi Di, there¡¯s no need to trouble him.¡± Lord Zhenjin could mutate the Silver Spear Scorpion, and the gun scorpion¡¯s scorpion tail should be able to pose a threat to refined steel. ¡°My Lord, that won¡¯t do!¡± Zi Di insisted, ¡°We¡¯ve just analyzed that Zong Ge is a powerful opponent. He also has a suit of high-grade refined steel armor, and his War Spears are certainly not ordinary. If your Lordship faces him with a common weapon, it¡¯s almost no different from being unarmed. And if your Lordship were to fail, our fate would be dire. Please consider not only for yourself but also for us.¡± Lord Zhenjin was stunned, then he smiled bitterly. He understood that Zi Di¡¯s words were heartfelt, ¡°bullying¡± Lord Zhenjin who adhered to a Knight¡¯s principles of compassion for the weak and protecting his comrades. But at the same time, Lord Zhenjin had to admit that Zi Di made a lot of sense. He was confident in his own mutated strength. But if he fought in public, he would not rashly use the Heart Core. Especially now with many onlookers, unlike a five-person squad, Lord Zhenjin couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. ¡°My Lord!¡± At that moment, Hei Juan voluntarily presented the thin sword with both hands and stepped forward to offer it, ¡°I¡¯ve been narrow-minded and short-sighted. This sword in your Lordship¡¯s hands will indeed realize its true value. It¡¯s my family treasure, named Silver Lightning. It will surely shine brilliantly in your Lordship¡¯s hands!¡± Zi Di smiled: ¡°Hei Juan, for this hire, I will pay you double the compensation.¡± A smile immediately appeared on Hei Juan¡¯s face. ¡°That works. I¡¯ll treat this sword well, and I will ensure that it is returned to you intact,¡± Lord Zhenjin saw Hei Juan¡¯s attitude and openly accepted the sword again. He abided by the principles of a Holy Temple Knight, but he wasn¡¯t old-fashioned. Since he could use the Heart Core discreetly for his own sake as well as others¡¯, borrowing a thin sword now was of course unproblematic. He had already used and carefully examined it before; this thin sword indeed was of high quality. Hei Juan wasn¡¯t exaggerating in calling it a family heirloom. For nearly all warriors and Knights, armor and weapons are costly investments, passed down as inheritance. Because equipment is expensive, many Lords, when summoning Knights for battle, would only bear the cost of provisions and not of weapons or horses, as it would be too much for their finances. Of course, there are Grades for weapon and armor equipment. Evaluating whether equipment is superior or inferior involves many factors. One of the most important factors is the conductivity for Fighting energy. Lord Zhenjin didn¡¯t know how the Silver Lightning thin sword conducted Fighting energy, but based on its hardness, sharpness, and flexibility alone, it was already outstanding. After another brief discussion, Lord Zhenjin set out with Zi Di, Hei Juan, and Lan Zao. He couldn¡¯t possibly take everyone with him. Many severely injured companions had to stay in the camp to heal. Cang Xu, Mu Ban, Fat Tongue, and others were left behind as they had practically no fighting power. Going into battle would have made them a burden on Lord Zhenjin. Mu Ban was vehement about participating but was refused by Lord Zhenjin, who also took his Repeating Crossbow. With it in Mu Ban¡¯s hands, his companions would be even more endangered. If this was a scheme by Zong Ge to divide their forces, then should the camp come under attack, Mu Ban would fire a signal flare. At which point, Lord Zhenjin would swiftly return to reinforce. There was no other choice. Lord Zhenjin couldn¡¯t neglect to rescue the shipwright and others due to fears of a plot. As for the firearm used to shoot the signal flares, it wasn¡¯t only available in the camp; Xi Suo also carried one with him. Xi Suo and the others¡¯ logging site was to the southeast of the camp, on a hillside two kilometers away. Lord Zhenjin and his companions had covered half the distance when a gunshot rang out from the hillside, and a pink signal flare soared mid-air. ¡°This is a distress signal! They¡¯ve really run into trouble. Let¡¯s hurry!¡± Zi Di whispered urgently. ¡°Not necessarily. We need to be more cautious. It could be bait released by the enemy on purpose, tempting us to speed up and lowering our guard against the surroundings,¡± Hei Juan cautioned. ¡°Maintain your current pace; I¡¯ll go ahead and check the situation,¡± Lord Zhenjin instructed, then immediately quickened his steps. Though Hei Juan¡¯s words made sense, the life of the old shipwright was at stake, and without this key individual, the others in the camp would be incapable of building a ship capable of crossing the ocean. It might be a trap set by Zong Ge, but it could also be something else. The quicker Lord Zhenjin acted, the greater the likelihood he would save the shipwright¡¯s life. The young knight¡¯s strides became quicker, and he began to run through the forest. His Heart Core surged, and his right eye subtly mutated, granting him thermal imaging vision. With this, even if Zong Ge and his men were ambushing, Lord Zhenjin would detect them in time. Soon, Lord Zhenjin heard the distinctive sharp cries of the bat monkeys. He sped up further, almost sprinting through the forest, until at last, he saw the hillside. The hill wasn¡¯t steep and on it were several crew members trapped and under attack by a swarm of bat monkeys. This group of bat monkeys was clearly not the same that had attacked the camp before, with seven Bronze bat monkeys and one Black Iron bat monkey among them. The attacked crew members, all wounded, were in dire straits. Without halting his strides, Lord Zhenjin charged up the hillside as he triggered the Repeating Crossbow. Whiz, whiz, whiz¡­ Short Arrows flew out, incredibly precise. One by one, regular bat monkeys were hit, falling to the ground like penguins diving into the sea, with thud after thud reverberating endlessly. ¡°We¡¯ve got someone coming to rescue us!¡± the crew cheered. The bat monkeys, enraged, several Bronze bat monkeys lunged towards Lord Zhenjin. He stowed away the Repeating Crossbow, and with a clank drew out the thin sword, Silver Lightning. He and the Bronze bat monkeys rapidly closed the distance between them. In a flash, Lord Zhenjin hurled several dazzling arcs of silver light from his sword! Then, he passed by the bat monkeys. The Bronze bat monkeys seemed to pause mid-air and then dropped to the ground one after another, their life force quickly fading away. The combat prowess Lord Zhenjin displayed momentarily stunned the crew members on the hillside. The sole Black Iron bat monkey was provoked; it flapped its wings, puffed up its chest, and let out a piercing shriek. The shriek stirred ripples in the air, expanding in circles swiftly enveloping Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin had already encountered such unique sonic attacks, and his mutated bear arm instantly launched a dart. The dart struck the Black Iron bat monkey, piercing through its left wing. Terrified, the Black Iron bat monkey, along with the few remaining of its kind, awkwardly fled. Lord Zhenjin did not pursue, instead, he hastened to the hilltop and saw the head of the crew. The leader was a young man, tall and thin. ¡°Are you Xi Suo?¡± Lord Zhenjin asked intently. The young man nodded eagerly, ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, my lord?¡± ¡°Where is the old shipwright?¡± Lord Zhenjin glanced around and inquired immediately. Xi Suo quickly pointed in a direction, ¡°We were attacked by monkeys. Big Fool was furious and charged out. The old shipwright, worried about Big Fool¡¯s safety, took some men and went after him.¡± Lord Zhenjin clenched his teeth and darted off again, following the direction indicated by Xi Suo. The trail along the way was very clear, and soon Lord Zhenjin found his target on another hillside. There was a small giant, three meters tall, wildly swinging a wooden club. The young giant¡¯s face was youthful; his upper body bare, his lower half covered by a yellow skirt with black spots, and his feet shod in massive straw sandals. His hair unkempt, he shouted incessantly, his spit flying every which way. ¡°Die, all you flies must die!¡± ¡°Big guy will squash you!¡± The young giant roared repeatedly; the club was so heavy that it could easily shatter boulders, fell trees, and when it hit the earthen ground, it created a small crater, with dirt flying all around. Several people surrounded the young giant, shouting, trying to calm him down. But the young giant, utterly provoked by the bat monkeys, wouldn¡¯t heed any advice. ¡°There¡¯s the old shipwright!¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s pupils dilated slightly as he saw an old man lying on the ground between the giant¡¯s legs. The old man¡¯s attire and features closely matched Mu Ban¡¯s description, but his eyes were tightly shut, leaving it unclear whether he was unconscious or dead. Chapter 92 - 92: Section 93: He is Zong Ge Chapter 92: Section 93: He is Zong Ge The shipwright¡¯s situation was critical. Bat monkeys moved with extreme agility; they had powerful limbs, explosive leaps, and could use their wings to execute various maneuvers in the air. Big Fool, though strong, had no martial arts training and fought solely with his brute strength, unable to protect the old shipwright. In fact, Big Fool was a threat in himself. Zhenjin was very worried that the little giant would step on the old shipwright while moving around and crush the old man to death on the spot. ¡°Roar roar!¡± ... ¡°Get lost, you annoying flies, all of you, get lost!¡± Big Fool swung his wooden club, but he couldn¡¯t hit the bat monkeys; his injuries increased as he began to lose his sanity. Suddenly, a bat monkey darted between his legs, pouncing toward the old shipwright. Big Fool had no reaction. But just then, an arrow whizzed in and killed the bat monkey on the spot. Big Fool, belatedly realizing what had happened, stared dumbly at the killed bat monkey. At that instant, another bat monkey took the opportunity to pounce on Big Fool¡¯s head, extending its claw in an attempt to gouge out his eyes. At the same time, two other bat monkeys, one on the left and one on the right, lunged at the old shipwright. If Big Fool wanted to save his own eyes, he couldn¡¯t protect the old shipwright. To protect the old shipwright, he would have to go blind. At the crucial moment, Big Fool didn¡¯t hesitate for a second; one hand grabbed the bat monkey on the left, and the other swung the wooden club, trying to swat away the bat monkey on the right. He was willing to sacrifice his own eyes to save the old shipwright! The bat monkey on the left screamed sharply, its wings beating furiously as it retreated backward, avoiding Big Fool¡¯s grasp. The bat monkey on the right suddenly crouched down, lying flat on the ground, dodging the wooden club¡¯s sweep. The bat monkey on top of Big Fool¡¯s head was about to insert its claw into his eyeball. Whoosh whoosh whoosh! The next moment, three arrows fell from the sky like a thunderbolt, killing the three bat monkeys on the spot! Big Fool was stunned again and instinctively looked in the direction from which the arrows came. He saw a young knight, with golden hair and blue eyes, holding a crossbow in one hand and a thin sword in the other, charging forward. Zhenjin struggled to get close to Big Fool; with his long-range firepower, Big Fool and the shipwright narrowly escaped with their lives. However, at that moment, a noisy screech suddenly erupted from the forest. Whooosh¡­ A large group of bat monkeys suddenly emerged from the woods; this horde was the largest Zhenjin had ever seen. There were three Black Iron Level Magic Beasts amongst the bat monkeys, over thirty at the Bronze Level, and the number of ordinary bat monkeys exceeded a hundred! ¡°This is bad,¡± Zhenjin¡¯s pupils shrank as he watched the swarm of bat monkeys rolling in, trapping him halfway. Bat monkeys attacked from all directions, from the sky and the ground. Zhenjin dodged left and right; sometimes he dived and leaped, other times he curled and rolled, avoiding being hit by any bat monkey. ¡°This feeling¡­¡± Zhenjin remembered his past experience of fighting a lizard swarm alone. The situation now was very similar to that time; despite being surrounded and the enemies all around him, he wasn¡¯t panicking at all. He maintained an icy calm, as if a natural talent allowed him to always find the best dodging path and avoid being caught in a pincer. While dodging, Zhenjin also counterattacked. His quiver of crossbow arrows soon emptied, killing over twenty ordinary bat monkeys; Zhenjin¡¯s shots hardly ever missed. However, there were too many bat monkeys surrounding him. A new batch of bat monkeys, nearly eighty percent of which, were concentrated on him. Replacing the quiver for the Repeating Crossbow was actually quite simple. But Zhenjin, under siege, had to dodge constantly and had no chance to replace the quiver. Under these circumstances, the thin sword Silver Lightning lent by Hei Juan became enormously helpful to Zhenjin. The thin sword swirled in his hands, its lightning-like silvery gleam always accompanied by the limbs of bat monkeys being severed, their blood splattering with their shrieks. The thin sword was indeed Hei Juan¡¯s family heirloom; it could easily pierce through Bronze bat monkeys. Hei Juan¡¯s inability to pierce through them was purely due to insufficient strength, not comparable to Zhenjin¡¯s. Indeed, Zhenjin had mutated his arms into those of a bear. As for whether it could threaten the Black Iron Bat Monkeys, that remained to be tested. The three Black Iron Bat Monkeys floated mid-air, staring fixedly at Zhenjin, constantly screeching but not engaging in the fight. Even though Zhenjin held the upper hand, constantly reaping the lives of bat monkeys, he also became bound in place, unable to rush to the shipwright¡¯s aid. With Zhenjin¡¯s arrow support gone, Big Fool fell back into peril. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt Daddy!¡± Big Fool guarded the old shipwright, continually driving away the bat monkeys, but they moved freely in and out; the smallest gap would see them pounce and tear a chunk of flesh from Big Fool. The old shipwright also sustained several attacks. Seeing the old shipwright with new wounds, Big Fool became frantic, bellowed a great cry, and suddenly bent down and hunched over, forming a half circle to shield the old shipwright within. The surrounding bat monkeys screamed excitedly as they swarmed over, continuously scratching, clawing, and biting at Big Fool. Big Fool was quickly covered in wounds, his blood flowing incessantly. But he clenched his teeth hard, bowed his head, bearing the constant onslaught of pain. He curled his limbs as much as possible, doing his utmost to maintain a tight defense around the old shipwright. His back, his arms, his thighs soon became a blurred mess of flesh and blood. ¡°Damn it,¡± Zhenjin realized the situation and moved even more swiftly, trying to carve out a bloody path. But the next moment, the trees trembled slightly, and a rumbling sound approached. A rhinoceros charged onto the battlefield. ¡°It¡¯s that Silver Level rhinoceros again?!¡± Zhenjin saw the rhinoceros heading straight for him. The rhinoceros was stout, its whole body seemed to be cast in silver, and it stood two meters tall. Its hooves, larger than millstones, left shallow pits in the ground with each stomp. With its head lowered, it charged forward, its speed increasing. The horn on its head was thick and sharp, a terrifying massive weapon! Zhenjin quickly dodged. It was unwise to confront the rhinoceros head-on. He even doubted that even if he mutated into a Silver Spear Scorpion, standing in front of the charging rhinoceros, he would likely be crushed flat. Fortunately, once the rhinoceros charged, its path was straight and it couldn¡¯t turn at will. Its weight was too great, its momentum too strong; it had to slow down to change direction. The bat monkeys, too, were intimidated by the charging rhinoceros and scattered. The path was too obvious; Zhenjin easily dodged the rhinoceros. But in the next moment, the dispersed bat monkeys surrounded Zhenjin once again. The Silver Rhinoceros eventually crashed into a tree, booming three times as it broke through three large trees in succession. For a moment, the ground shook, and leaves flew. Thump, thump, thump¡­ The Silver Rhinoceros shook its head, adjusted its direction, and set off on another charge. But this time, its target was no longer Zhenjin, but the closer and more conspicuous Big Fool! ¡°This is bad!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s face changed when he saw the Silver Rhinoceros charging towards Big Fool. ¡°Big Fool, get out of the way!¡± the crew members on the hillside yelled out, urgently reminding him. But Big Fool shook his head, shouting, ¡°Big guy won¡¯t hide, big guy will protect Daddy!¡± He had his head buried and couldn¡¯t see the Silver Rhinoceros charging at him. Zhenjin wanted to help but was blocked by the bat monkeys. Just as Big Fool was about to be rammed to death on the spot by the Silver Rhinoceros, and the old shipwright was about to be crushed into mincemeat, suddenly, a burly figure leaped down from the treetops and stood in the path of the charging Silver Rhinoceros. Bang! The next moment, the Silver Rhinoceros crashed solidly into the burly figure with a trembling thud. But the burly figure was not thrown flying, nor did he fall! He stood upright with his thick back, his chest¡¯s fine steel armor firmly withstanding the rhinoceros¡¯s horn. His legs swelled with exaggerated muscle curvature, planted in the ground, firmly supporting his upper body. The force of the rhinoceros¡¯s charge was too great, carrying the burly figure forward. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± The burly figure roared, his voice echoing in the wilderness. The speed of the rhinoceros¡¯s charge slowed more and more, finally coming to a halt. The burly figure had retreated hundreds of meters, his calves almost buried in the dirt. His chest¡¯s war armor had been completely deformed by the impact, an indentation caved in. His ribs were certainly broken! The burly figure¡¯s roaring ceased alongside the rhinoceros, both staring each other down. Suddenly, the burly figure spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± He let out a mad laughter. Then the next moment, he grabbed the rhinoceros¡¯s horn with his broad left hand and raised his right fist high. Bang! Bang bang! Bang bang bang¡­ Fists like torrential rain, smashing onto the Silver Rhinoceros¡¯s hard skull. The Silver Rhinoceros wailed, attempting to lift its head and toss the burly figure away with its horn, but it was unsuccessful. Its horn was firmly grasped by the burly figure, its head, its eyes continually pounded by the wild fists. Extreme pain and dizziness plunged the Silver Rhinoceros into a furious state; it stamped the ground with all four hooves, its thick leg muscles bulging, generating a potent force. But its head was still firmly pressed on the ground by the burly figure. The burly figure stood over two meters tall, with a goatee and a head of brown long hair cascading over his shoulders. His pupils were also a yellow-brown color. His exposed skin had a sparse layer of lion-like mane. ¡°This time, let¡¯s see where you can run. Ah ah ah!¡± The burly figure kept shouting, his ferocious aura terrifying. The Silver Rhinoceros under his iron fist had become the bullied and the weak. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°He must be Zong Ge!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes showed a trace of gravity, ¡°This guy, does he really only have Black Iron cultivation?¡± Chapter 93 - 93: Section 94: Recruiting Zong Ge Chapter 93: Section 94: Recruiting Zong Ge Zong Ge¡¯s move resisted the impact of the Silver Rhinoceros, saving the lives of Big Fool and the shipwright. His fist pounded on the rhinoceros¡¯s skull, producing a series of dull thuds. Eventually, the Silver Rhinoceros lay down in the mud, its body daring not to move the slightest bit. Zong Ge¡¯s bravery oppressed the Silver Rhinoceros and also shocked everyone present. Even the screeching of a group of bat monkeys softened, each monkey face showing fear, not daring to crowd around Zong Ge. Puh. The next moment, however, Zong Ge spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. ... The blood sprayed onto the face of the Silver Rhinoceros, and this recently suppressed Magic Beast suddenly stirred. ¡°Go support Lord Zong Ge!¡± A group of riders burst from the woods, led by a goblin. ¡°Go help them,¡± Zong Ge laughed heartily, eyes fixed on the Silver Rhinoceros, loudly refusing support. The Silver Rhinoceros grew increasingly restless, its keen animal instincts sensing that Zong Ge had weakened. It stared with wide eyes, observing Zong Ge. Because its head was smashed into the mud, it could only look up. From its angle, the sunlight was extremely dazzling. It could not see Zong Ge¡¯s face clearly, only seeing his dark silhouette under the blazing sun that seemed like a giant standing tall. In this dark silhouette, Zong Ge¡¯s brown-yellow eyes emitted a ruthless, cold light. The Silver Rhinoceros, upon seeing these eyes, immediately whimpered, feeling as if it confronted the king of all beasts! Previously rebellious and combative, the Silver Rhinoceros quietly shifted its view downwards and started trembling steadily, moving its limbs and gradually backing away. After retreating about fifteen steps, it then turned around and fled in panic. Zong Ge quietly watched it flee and did not pursue. At this moment, many bat monkeys were still rampaging across the battlefield. However, the humans had received reinforcements. Warriors who quickly came from the forest were quite skilled. Notably, this group of riders was almost not entirely pure Human Race. There were many Half-Elves, Half-Beasts, and a few goblins, dwarfs, and others. They varied in height and their equipment was uneven, a rag-tag bunch at first glance. However, judging from their Life Breath, there were several Bronze Level elites among them. The leading goblin exuded a Black Iron Level aura. This goblin wore leather armor, had dark green skin, long ears, and was bald. Wrapped in a white muslin scarf, his neck and even his mouth were covered. The characteristic long nose of a goblin protruded forward. This goblin moved very fast, running close to the ground. A bat monkey pounced toward him, and he immediately rolled forward, reaching into his calf during the roll. A dagger was strapped to the outside of his calf. He drew the dagger and with a light flick, he cut the bat monkey¡¯s throat. Then turning around, with a flick of his wrist, the sharp luminance of the dagger drew a semi-circular arc. The bat monkey that came into slight contact with the arc died on the spot. He sometimes rolled on the ground, sometimes spinning like a top, armed only with the small dagger, slaying the bat monkeys with no resistance. He used the dagger with great skill, the martial arts style fierce and treacherous. The dagger was not ordinary, easily harvesting the lives of Bronze Bat Monkeys. For a while, the goblin freely moved among the bat monkeys, easily tearing through their blockade and encirclement. Zhenjin keenly noticed that the goblin had two more knives. A scimitar hung at his waist, and a single-blade straight knife was strapped to his back. But the goblin didn¡¯t use these two knives, defeating the bat monkeys solely with the small dagger. Elsewhere, Zong Ge, who had scared off the Silver Rhinoceros, began to walk slowly. ¡°Bad guy, come any closer, and Big Fool will flatten you!¡± Big Fool shouted loudly, warning the approaching Zong Ge. The number of bat monkeys around him had significantly decreased. Because of the addition of Zong Ge and the goblin, the bat monkeys were drawn to their attacks. The shipwright was still unconscious. Big Fool was covered in wounds, almost no part of his body that had previously suffered bat monkey attacks was intact, blood continuously oozed out, already staining the soil beneath his feet red. Big Fool half-knelt and picked up the wooden stick, just about to stand up when his body swayed, feeling a strong dizziness. He was severely injured, having lost too much blood. Zong Ge snorted coldly, expressionlessly watching Big Fool, his brown-yellow lion eyes flickering with a ghostly glow: ¡°I am here to save you. If you attack me, I will kill your father. Surrender quietly, and both you and your father can live.¡± Big Fool was stunned, then became furious, continuously striking the ground with his wooden stick: ¡°Big Fool doesn¡¯t trust you, you are a bad person, daddy told me, bad people lie!¡± Zong Ge paused for a moment, his gaze becoming even more mysterious. Big Fool¡¯s attitude did not surprise him. He immediately gave up on persuading and silently gathered strength, preparing for a strong attack. With his martial arts skills, a rapid assault would knock Big Fool unconscious within a few breaths. Although Big Fool possessed the Life Breath of a Black Iron Level, he had not cultivated martial arts, and the gap between him and Zong Ge was too vast. However, just as Zong Ge was about to close in, suddenly a flying arrow shot in, embedding itself in the ground right in front of Zong Ge. It was a blatant warning. ¡°Zong Ge, stop!¡± Lord Zhenjin finally arrived. Because the number of the Human Race had greatly increased, the pressure on Zhenjin had sharply decreased, a reduction so significant it was qualitative. One could tell by seeing a Black Iron Level goblin leader charging through the battlefield. Holding the Sharp Sword Silver Lightning, Zhenjin even more easily freed himself. Zong Ge halted his steps and looked back. Seeing it was Zhenjin, Zong Ge¡¯s gaze grew even deeper, his mind naturally recalling the scene he had witnessed while jumping through the treetops to provide support¡ªZhenjin was surrounded by bat monkeys, yet wielding the Sharp Sword, he slaughtered all around. The bat monkeys¡¯ onslaught was relentless, but Zhenjin moved with ease, unharmed. Their gazes clashed, and Zhenjin immediately felt a tangible sense of oppression. Zong Ge stood over two meters tall, while Zhenjin was still a 16-year-old young knight. Coupled with Zong Ge¡¯s recent brave performance, Zhenjin, in confronting him, was immediately overpowered in terms of momentum. ¡°Who are you?¡± Zong Ge sized up Zhenjin, his voice deep. Just as Zhenjin was about to speak, Lan Zao¡¯s angry voice came from not far: ¡°How audacious! Vulgar and lowly Half-Beast, aren¡¯t you going to salute? Standing before you is my master, Lord Zhenjin, an esteemed Holy Temple Knight, the sole heir to the Hundred Needle Family, and the future City Lord of White Sand City!¡± Zhenjin looked back and saw Xi Suo, Zi Di, Lan Zao, Hei Juan, and others. They had finally arrived. ¡°Hmph. A pretty-faced noble!¡± Zong Ge contemptuously looked at Zhenjin, his gaze lingering on the hilt of the Sharp Sword at Zhenjin¡¯s waist, and commented lightly, ¡°Though¡­ the sword is not bad.¡± Zhenjin smirked slightly, eyeing the damaged War Armor on Zong Ge: ¡°Your armor is not bad either.¡± It seemed that the appearance of new reinforcements for the Human Race caused the three Black Iron Bat Monkeys to sense danger. They screamed shrilly, leading all the remaining bat monkeys in a swift retreat from the battlefield. They were fast and crucially, could fly, so everyone gave up on pursuing them. With no more beast attacks, the atmosphere on the field grew even tenser. ¡°Squad Leader Sanda?¡± Zi Di looked towards the goblin, her expression both surprised and delighted. The goblin¡¯s name was unknown, but Sanda¡¯s nickname was already well known in the Mercenary World. Sanda¡¯s blade skills were exceptional, but he was most known for his honest and honorable conduct. It was hard to imagine a goblin adhering to honesty and honor, but Sanda truly did, living up to every word he spoke, his actions surpassing those of most humans. This was exceptional both among the goblins and in the Mercenary World. ¡°Chairwoman Zi Di.¡± Sanda saluted Zi Di, his face expressionless, his demeanor cold. Zi Di¡¯s eyes sparkled: ¡°Squad Leader Sanda, it¡¯s really great to see you here.¡± Sanda¡¯s Mercenary Group was one of the two groups she had hired. However, Sanda slightly shook his head: ¡°Chairwoman Zi Di, I¡¯m sorry, but my mercenary group has already disbanded.¡± Zi Di was taken aback: ¡°What?¡± Sanda continued: ¡°I was saved by Lord Zong Ge, and to repay this lifesaving grace, I will henceforth follow him.¡± ¡°Lifesaving grace¡­¡± Zi Di exhaled a breath, managing a weak smile, ¡°Indeed, it must be repaid. I completely understand your decision, Squad Leader Sanda, but we did sign an employment agreement. Do you mean to break the contract?¡± Sanda immediately responded: ¡°That¡¯s precisely what I wanted to explain to you, Chairwoman. The former chairman¡¯s funding helped my mercenary group survive a great crisis. I promised then that I would help the old chairman once with all I had, even if it meant using my life to repay this kindness. This time, despite the risks, I accepted your hiring. However, the shipwreck nearly wiped out my group, and I too survived thanks to Lord Zong Ge¡¯s rescue. One could say, my previous life was paid as the price, settling all accounts with your guild.¡± Zi Di was rendered speechless. She knew Sanda was a goblin of strong will; pursuing further persuasion would only lead to failure. So, Zi Di turned to the other people beside Sanda: ¡°What about you?¡± The group of ragtag individuals looked at each other, and soon someone shouted: ¡°It¡¯s because we accepted your hiring that so many of us died!¡± ¡°Let it go, the shipwreck wasn¡¯t Chairwoman Zi Di¡¯s fault.¡± ¡°Our mercenary group has already disbanded. But since Lord Sanda is following Lord Zong Ge, we also choose to stick together!¡± Sanda was a leader with personal charisma; even though the mercenary group was disbanded, the remaining members still chose to follow him. Zi Di didn¡¯t manage to sway Sanda¡¯s people. She turned her thoughts and then looked at Zong Ge: ¡°Zong Ge, you are a brave warrior. Standing before you now is an Empire¡¯s noble, his bloodline noble and pure. Not only this, but he also possesses exemplary virtues, a true Holy Temple Knight. He is also the future ruler of White Sand City. Would you like to offer your bravery to Lord Zhenjin, to reap glory and wealth?¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. PS: Corrected all typos in chapters 1-90, chapter 67 has been unlocked, four bugs have been fixed. (1, companions eating meat in the Volcanic Cave. 2, Zhenjin facing the Fat Ball Flying Fish herd, changing clothes. 3, Cotton Sand family consistently revised to Sata family. 4, Lan Zao and Huang Zao cultivation revised to Bronze Level, not Black Iron.) Today¡¯s bonus for subscriptions within 24 hours: Based on the data, bonus chapter for 5000 initial subscriptions, a second for 8000. Guaranteed two releases. Chapter 94 - 94: Section 95: The Just Holy Temple Knight Chapter 94: Section 95: The Just Holy Temple Knight Zi Di had devised a clever plan. Since she had hit a wall with Sanda and the former mercenaries, she decided to directly recruit their leader. As long as Zong Ge agreed, Sanda and the rest would be at Zhenjin¡¯s disposal, and the best part was that Zi Di wouldn¡¯t have to maintain payments. The motley crew spoke not a word, only communicating with their eyes. Although it was their first time seeing Zhenjin, just from his golden hair, handsome face, and upright stature, they knew his identity was no simple matter. To be honest, Zi Di¡¯s words had moved them. Life in a mercenary group was tough; they earned their living fighting, barely making enough to maintain their weapons and equipment. Any extra money was often frittered away in taverns, gambling, or on men and women. ... Competition among mercenary groups was also fierce. Most mercenaries died abroad, and the few who survived to retire often lived out their days in poverty, dragging their crippled bodies. Following a noble and shedding their mercenary status to become part of a regular army¡ªor even auxiliary troops or guards¡ªoffered a more stable life than that of a mercenary. Usually, they never had such opportunities. But now, stranded on an island, chance had presented itself. Seizing it could mean not just security but perhaps even advancement. Sanda looked deeply at Zi Di, realizing that this young girl was truly worthy of being the guild¡¯s chairman and should not be underestimated due to her age. Sanda also looked at the ragtag group¡ªhe had personally disbanded the mercenary group, but as their former squad leader, he still habitually thought about their welfare. Therefore, although Sanda had no interest in Zi Di¡¯s recruitment, he didn¡¯t immediately express his refusal. He knew that once he refused, the former mercenaries would follow his decision. Moreover, Sanda¡¯s time following Zong Ge was relatively short and he did not fully understand Zong Ge¡¯s thoughts. So Sanda turned to Zong Ge and said in a deep voice, ¡°Lord Zong Ge, whatever decision you make, I will follow you.¡± Zong Ge scoffed, ¡°The Hundred Needle Family? What is so glorious about being a defeated southern noble? Holy Temple Knight? Can you defeat me? And the position of the White Sand City Lord requires election, doesn¡¯t it? As far as I know, you should be rushing to White Sand City by now. This shipwreck has already delayed your opportunity! What makes you think you can definitely secure this position?¡± Zong Ge was defiant, clearly not placing Zhenjin in high esteem. What surprised Zi Di even more was that Zong Ge, a Half-Beast, seemed to understand the upper echelons well. ¡°Knowing the position of city lord requires an election is not surprising. But understanding the delay in time¡­¡± Zi Di immediately realized, ¡°Zong Ge¡¯s identity might not be that simple!¡± Zong Ge outright refused the recruitment. Sanda and the other former mercenaries naturally acted in unison. ¡°With Lord Zong Ge¡¯s strength, wherever he goes, there will be people recruiting him!¡± ¡°We are about to fight a great war against the beastmen; there¡¯s no lack of opportunity to wield weapons.¡± ¡°Hmph, just a Half-Beast, really ungrateful!¡± Lan Zao was very angry. Xi Suo also disagreed with Zhenjin¡¯s attempt to recruit Zong Ge and approached Zhenjin, pointing at Zong Ge, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, it was he who has been pursuing us all along. Such a vicious person constitutes a threat to us all!¡± Sanda sneered, ¡°Pursuing? If it wasn¡¯t for us, your big fool and old shipwright would have already died.¡± Xi Suo snorted, deeply scrutinizing the place where Zong Ge had spat blood. Then, addressing Zhenjin, he said, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, this despicable Half-Beast is severely injured. Now is the perfect time to eliminate him!¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Damn bastard!¡± The former mercenaries were furious, their hands reaching for their sword hilts and knife handles. The atmosphere grew even tenser, as a battle seemed on the verge of breaking out. ¡°What? Since recruitment didn¡¯t work, you want to resort to murder? Is this the conduct of a Holy Temple Knight?¡± Zong Ge spoke coolly, fixing his gaze on Zhenjin. He was indeed injured and was well aware that Zhenjin was the one controlling the situation on the other side. Zhenjin slightly shook his head, ¡°The goblin Sanda is right; it was indeed Zong Ge who acted, saving the old shipwright and the big guy from disaster. This is indeed the truth.¡± ¡°I regret your refusal to my recruitment, but I don¡¯t see it as an affront to my dignity.¡± ¡°I am a Holy Temple Knight. Tolerance and compassion are part of my knightly creed. If I were to take out my anger on someone merely for refusing my recruitment, then I am not worthy of being a follower of the Holy Emperor.¡± ¡°Lord¡­¡± Lan Zao stood behind Zhenjin, slightly dazed. Zhenjin¡¯s words had calmed him, easing the situation. But just when Sanda and the others were slightly relieved, Zhenjin added, ¡°However, if one were to harm his companions, to mercilessly pursue and oppress the innocent, that would be another matter.¡± As he spoke, Zhenjin¡¯s gaze pierced Zong Ge like a sharp sword. Zong Ge furrowed his brows. ¡°Chase him down?¡± A person beside Sanda burst into laughter, loudly retorting, ¡°We did not chase down anyone. We were merely attempting to retrieve the shipwright. On the contrary, it is you, you despicable lot, who wish to lead us to our doom!¡± This statement immediately resonated strongly with the others. They burst out in reproach and low growls. ¡°You took the shipwright, and among those of us left, no one knows how to build a sea vessel. What chances of survival do we have?¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You planned this all along, scheming against our Lord Zong Ge.¡± ¡°Has Lord Zong Ge ever let you down? For you, he overthrew the disgraceful First Officer and even as a leader, he fought on the front lines, leading by example! When the camp suffered a mysterious attack, he protected you by guarding the camp day and night without rest! How have you treated Lord Zong Ge?¡± ¡°You have no respect for Lord Zong Ge at all. Whenever you speak of him, it¡¯s always ¡®Half-Beast, Half-Beast!''¡± ¡°But in fact, it was the Half-Beast who saved you all. You pure-bloods of the Human Race show no gratitude, instead repaying kindness with enmity!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, this is nothing but blatant betrayal!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s brows also deeply furrowed. ¡°Is it true? That besides the shipwright, no one else can make a sea vessel?¡± He looked towards Xi Suo. Xi Suo¡¯s gaze shifted around, stammering, with no response. ¡°Perhaps it is so, Master.¡± Lan Zao, being a sailor, had some understanding of the crew, ¡°A sea vessel must withstand storms and resist stealth attacks from Fishmen, which makes its structure unconventional. And the old shipwright is not ordinary; having been an advanced member of the Shipwright Guild, his greatest wish in life was to handcraft his own top-notch sea vessel.¡± Zhenjin fell into a deep contemplation. Zong Ge kept his gaze fixed on Zhenjin and spoke again, ¡°Zhenjin, you are a revered Holy Temple Knight. You tell me, when we learned that we were abandoned and the only shipwright capable of building a sea vessel was taken away, was our pursuit excessive?¡± Immediately, the pressure shifted onto Zhenjin. Zong Ge¡¯s words and his fierce fighting style were consistent; he directly cornered Zhenjin. Zhenjin slightly lifted his head, looking steadfastly into Zong Ge¡¯s eyes: ¡°Your choice is indeed reasonable and justified.¡± Upon hearing this, people like Big Fool and Xi Suo started to stir slightly. ¡°My Lord.¡± Zi Di came up to Zhenjin, reminding him quietly. Zhenjin turned his head and smiled reassuringly at his fianc¨¦e. Then, resting his left hand on the hilt of his Silver Lightning thin sword, he strode forward, standing between the two groups. He looked around, standing tall, his head slightly raised, his golden hair shining gloriously under the sunlight. He declared loudly, ¡°As a Holy Temple Knight, I uphold the principles of justice and fairness. I have not experienced the events at the camp myself but only heard your accounts. Yet, discerning right from wrong is not beyond my abilities.¡± ¡°Furthermore, I will not show favoritism towards my own race, the Human Race, nor will I despise others based on their identity as Half-Beast, Half-Elf, or goblin.¡± ¡°A shipwreck occurred, and we all ended up on this island. We must unite and assist each other; only by doing so can we increase our chances of survival.¡± ¡°Xi Suo sneaking away with the shipwright was wrong, and it¡¯s exceedingly selfish to abandon comrades.¡± ¡°Knight Lord!¡± Upon hearing this, Xi Suo immediately yelled, his face full of anger, and the looks from the crew behind him towards Zhenjin were no longer friendly or respectful. ¡°You don¡¯t understand!¡± Xi Suo, pointing at Zong Ge, his voice trembling with rage, exclaimed, ¡°He killed my father!¡± Zhenjin nodded, looking at him, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about this situation too, and I greatly understand your feelings. But where is the evidence?¡± Xi Suo immediately responded, ¡°My father had wounds caused by a gun spear-like weapon. If we just compare Zong Ge¡¯s twin spears with the wounds, that would be the best evidence!¡± Zhenjin then turned his gaze towards Zong Ge. With arms crossed over his chest and his chin slightly raised, Zong Ge looked down with disdain at Xi Suo and the others: ¡°Since when can my War Spears be easily handled?¡± ¡°You see, Lord Zhenjin!¡± Xi Suo yelled, pointing at Zong Ge, then glaring at Zhenjin, ¡°He¡¯s guilty! He dares not verify! What more needs to be said?¡± Zhenjin stared at Zong Ge. Although it was their first meeting, Zong Ge¡¯s valor and sternness left a deep impression on Zhenjin. The pair of Short Spears carried on Zong Ge¡¯s back were evidently of high quality just by sight. But faced with the charge of the Silver Rhinoceros, even at the cost of severe injuries, Zong Ge did not resort to using those spears. ¡°Is there something you¡¯re unable to disclose?¡± Zhenjin speculated within his heart, then looked towards Xi Suo, ¡°Do you have any other evidence?¡± Xi Suo widened his eyes, incredulously looking at Zhenjin, ¡°What other evidence is needed? Zong Ge¡¯s behavior is the clearest proof! He dares not verify because he is indeed the killer of my father. I admit his strength is immense, and that is exactly how he could assassinate my father!¡± Zhenjin, however, slightly shook his head, ¡°Whether Zong Ge wishes to verify is his business. Without conclusive evidence, we may suspect and strive to prove but should not slander. In fact, even if the wounds correlate with Zong Ge¡¯s War Spears, it would not constitute definitive evidence, as wounds can also be fabricated.¡± Xi Suo couldn¡¯t help but step back, his face filled with misery, loudly questioning, ¡°My Lord, would you rather believe a Half-Beast instead of your own race?¡± Chapter 95 - 95: Section 96: I am willing to accept you Chapter 95: Section 96: I am willing to accept you The crew was restless, their glances at Zhenjin filled with doubt. ¡°Xi Suo, watch your words!¡± Lan Zao stepped forward. But the next moment, Zhenjin put a hand out to stop him. With tranquil azure eyes, Zhenjin calmly regarded the agitated Xi Suo. ¡°I am merely stating the facts and upholding justice.¡± ¡°The identity of a Half-Beast should not obstruct our investigation of the true culprit.¡± ¡°If Zong Ge is not the real perpetrator, then Xi Suo, think about this,¡± he continued. ¡°you¡¯ve accused an innocent person and, because of your actions taking away the shipwright, implicated many more innocents on this ship, leading them to potential death. Meanwhile, the real culprit might still be alive, right beside you, watching your reckless accusations as if it¡¯s all a spectacle.¡± ... ¡°If that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t you think this is condoning sin, allowing justice to be clouded?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s tone remained steady; his counter-questioning made Xi Suo¡¯s face flush, leaving him speechless. The crew¡¯s murmurings quieted down, and they had to admit Zhenjin¡¯s points were valid. ¡°If you have concrete evidence, I will surely advocate justice for you. Trust me, this is my promise to you, as a Holy Temple Knight.¡± Zhenjin patted Xi Suo on the shoulder. Xi Suo opened his mouth, unable to voice a response as he looked at Zhenjin, then turned to look at the stoic Zong Ge, feeling disheartened. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I believe you.¡± Zi Di narrowed her eyes. ¡°But, Lord Zhenjin, we have found traces of Zong Ge, Sanda, and their group before. They deliberately cleaned the battlefield, erasing their own tracks. Doesn¡¯t this action itself contain malice?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my habit,¡± Zong Ge rarely took initiative to explain himself, significantly influenced by Zhenjin¡¯s earlier words. ¡°I must take responsibility for myself and for my people. Even if the shipwright didn¡¯t want to come with me, I had to do everything possible to capture him!¡± Zong Ge didn¡¯t conceal his intention. ¡°Bad guy!¡± Big Fool, hearing this, angrily slammed his wooden club on the ground. Zhenjin then remembered Hei Juan¡¯s speculations. He looked at Zong Ge, ¡°This is the style of soldiers. Have you served in the army? Which one?¡± Zong Ge snorted coldly, not contesting but neither responding, instead saying, ¡°Are you interrogating a criminal, Holy Temple Knight?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Zhenjin shook his head. ¡°However, this matter ultimately needs resolution. Effective communication is the basis of cooperation. If you continually refuse to prove yourself, how can we trust you?¡± Zong Ge scoffed, ¡°You want me to prove myself? And how will you prove your identity then? Just because some people emerge and name you as a noble and call you a Holy Temple Knight, should we just believe them? I¡¯ve heard that every Holy Temple Knight is under the watchful eye of the Holy Emperor. Maybe you should pray to the gods to bring down the Divine Arts so that we can truly believe.¡± Zhenjin suddenly gripped his sword¡¯s hilt, his brows furrowed deeply and his face darkened, his gaze turning icy. He sternly warned, ¡°Zong Ge, watch your words! You dare to belittle the gods! I carry the gaze of the Holy Emperor, which is the gods¡¯ blessing. Divine Arts are a divine gift, not for performances or proof of identity. Apologize now, this instant! Otherwise, you will face the wrath of a Holy Temple Knight!¡± Zhenjin said this and stepped forward, closing in on Zong Ge. Lan Zao, Hei Juan and I reached for our weapons behind him, Zi Di slid her hand into her bag, and Big Fool picked up his wooden club, growling from deep in his throat. In that brief moment, the wounds on this little giant had already stopped bleeding. The Giant Bloodline endowed him with strong recovery power. Zong Ge¡¯s face slightly changed, realizing he had misspoken. He placed his right hand on his chest, bowed deeply to Zhenjin, and gave a salute, ¡°I was wrong. Who am I, with what virtue and capability, to belittle a god? It¡¯s my sin. I swear I will donate three hundred gold, as a penalty for my reckless words today. And I will kneel before the priests of the Holy Temple and voluntarily confess my sins.¡± This was the era of gods. Blaspheming against the gods indeed brought divine punishment. Just as nobles were meant to be elevated, faith penetrated deeply into the hearts. Even Sanda and others who followed Zong Ge found Zong Ge¡¯s words too rash, privately thinking he had been reckless. Seeing Zong Ge sincerely admitting his error, Zhenjin¡¯s expression somewhat cleared. Hei Juan suddenly interrupted, ¡°Wait! Zong Ge, dare you swear to the gods you believe in that you¡¯re neither the attacker of the camp nor the murderer of the captain?¡± ¡°Attack on the camp?¡± Zong Ge questioned. ¡°Our camp was attacked by bat monkeys and rhinoceros; dare you swear these beasts weren¡¯t under your influence or control?¡± Hei Juan pressed on. Zong Ge snorted coldly, folded his arms, and held his head high, refusing to answer. The person beside Sanda was amused. ¡°What an imagination!¡± ¡°Think a little, we were all here.¡± ¡°How would we control these ferocious animals?¡± Hei Juan sneered, ¡°Then how do you explain, our second campsite, and just now Xi Suo and the shipwright were all attacked by beasts?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been attacked too, why suspect us?!¡± Hei Juan squinted at Zong Ge, ¡°You¡¯re a Half-Beast, even if you don¡¯t have special methods. Who¡¯s to say those with you don¡¯t?¡± Sanda coldly stared at Hei Juan, quietly counter-asking, ¡°A Half-Beast can control animals because they have Beastman ancestry?¡± Hei Juan smirked, ¡°Then why were you able to appear in time to rescue Big Fool and the shipwright? How would you explain that?¡± ¡°So, rescuing the shipwright in time is wrong now?¡± ¡°Your esteemed knight also appeared in time, didn¡¯t he?¡± someone immediately retorted. ¡°It all comes down to, because we¡¯re not Pure Blood Clan, you suspect us!¡± Sanda¡¯s companion was indignant. ¡°Enough,¡± Zong Ge raised his hand to stop the quarreling, turning to Zhenjin with a renewed cold and firm stance. ¡°Regarding this matter, I have no explanation. Nor do I need to provide one to you.¡± Zhenjin deeply sighed, putting a stop to the accusations from his people. ¡°Arguing is pointless.¡± ¡°Let us return to camp together.¡± Zhenjin took the initiative to invite Zong Ge and his group. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°Sir, are you going to bring these folks back to camp?¡± Xi Suo and others widened their eyes, utterly surprised by Zhenjin¡¯s decision. Lord Zhenjin scanned the people around him with cool, blue eyes, his gaze clear and sincere, ¡°Otherwise?¡± ¡°We are all people from the same ship, all survivors of a shipwreck.¡± ¡°We currently have wounded who need to return to camp to recuperate. They also have wounded, injured while rescuing the shipwright. I have seen it with my own eyes.¡± ¡°Seeing is not necessarily believing, my lord,¡± Hei Juan spoke up, ¡°What if it¡¯s an act? A ploy to gain sympathy?¡± ¡°Thank you for your reminder,¡± Zhenjin looked at Hei Juan with approval, ¡°You make a good point, and indeed that might be the case. However, there is also another possibility, isn¡¯t there?¡± ¡°Among all possibilities, all doubts not truly proven, we shouldn¡¯t deny one possibility because of another. Zong Ge might be wrongly accused, right?¡± ¡°Gentlemen, imagine if he were a Pure Blooded Human instead of a Half-Beast, would your suspicions toward him be greatly reduced?¡± The crowd fell silent. Zhenjin then turned to face the people with Zong Ge. ¡°We come from many places, we have differences in status, but here, we are all shipwreck victims stranded on an island, seeking a way out.¡± ¡°Our goal is the same. We should stick together, and any suspicion, indifference, dislike, confrontation, and so forth will only make our cooperation difficult, thereby reducing our chances of escaping from here.¡± ¡°I am Holy Temple Knight Lord Zhenjin. Here I promise you all that I will treat everyone fairly and justly, no matter where they come from, no matter their race, no matter their bloodline. I will also harshly punish criminals, bring the true culprits to justice, and not let evil roam free. I will do my utmost, lead from the front, and guide us all towards the hope of being rescued!¡± For a moment, all the eyes were on the golden-haired young knight, moved by his resolute words. ¡°You¡­ will you accept us?¡± Sanda was stunned. As a squad leader, he had dealt with many different beings. Yet, even he, a well-experienced goblin, had rarely seen such an impartial superior, a noble! Zhenjin smiled, ¡°I am a Holy Temple Knight, I will not deceive you with lies.¡± ¡°Holy Temple Knight¡­¡± many murmured the title, somewhat dazed. ¡°Interesting,¡± Zong Ge stroked his chin, looking deeply at Zhenjin, regarding the young knight with a fresh perspective. The next moment, the fierce warrior raised his tone slightly, ¡°Alright! Then I will go back with you.¡± ¡°My lord?¡± The people around Zong Ge were astonished. Just as Xi Suo and others were cautious of Zong Ge, Zong Ge¡¯s group was also wary of the others. Sanda immediately declared, ¡°The lord¡¯s decision is my decision.¡± The former mercenaries who objected immediately fell silent. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin¡¯s timely and successful rescue of Xi Suo, the shipwright, and others was commendable. Although the bat monkeys and the Silver Rhinoceros were fierce, everyone was only injured, and no one died. The return journey went smoothly, and the large group returned to the campsite safely. ¡°Is that an Arrow Tower?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve built a campsite so quickly?¡± ¡°There were also attacks by fierce beasts here.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say? It was a troop of bat monkeys and that Silver Rhinoceros!¡± People around Sanda chattered. Mu Ban and others first rejoiced at seeing Zhenjin, Xi Suo, and others but then showed surprise when they saw Zong Ge and his group. After explanations from Hei Juan and others, and Zhenjin¡¯s reassurances, Mu Ban and the rest reluctantly accepted the fact. However, strongly expressed by them, Zong Ge and his group were ultimately not accepted into the campsite but stationed nearby temporarily. PS: Subscription sales are bleak, friends. To be honest, this is a bit unexpected. When the book was launched, it had over 80,000 favorites, but currently, the first subscriptions are just over 2,000, with an average order of 1,000. This subscription ratio is a bit unreasonable. I analyzed the reasons this morning: 1. The book¡¯s pace is slow, especially in the beginning, leading to an increasing number of people stocking up on chapters. 2. Due to the ensemble and dramatized structure, the story spreading thinly across many characters, causing the plot points to be sparse, leading to a lack of momentum for readers to follow updates. 3. The protagonist has not yet reached the point of realization, and the difference style between the Holy Temple Knight and Fang Yuan is like two extremes, causing many original readers to lose patience. 4. The power system setup is old, lacking novelty. 5. There are too many things being improved at once, and the stride is too large, straining credibility. There might be other reasons, which I will reflect on and adjust actively. I urge those reading pirated versions to consider subscribing to the official release, with each chapter costing only a few cents. Indeed, this writing method may not align well with web novel reading habits. I anticipated this, but didn¡¯t expect it to be so severe. As I mentioned in the launch statement, I¡¯m exploring new writing pathways without the burden of fame. Regardless of the outcome, Chapter 96 - 96: Section 97: Pointing Out Bai Ya Chapter 96: Section 97: Pointing Out Bai Ya The shipwright slowly opened his eyes, first seeing the broken wooden cabin roof. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re awake! You¡¯ve come back to life!¡± Big Fool shouted loudly. Still groggy, the old shipwright was startled by the thunderous voice next to his ear. He frowned and scolded loudly, ¡°Shut up, I¡¯m not your dad. I don¡¯t have a foolish son like you!¡± Hearing the commotion, the sailors came into the cabin. Hearing the old shipwright¡¯s scolding, someone laughed, ¡°Come on, when we found this abandoned baby, you were the only one who didn¡¯t want to throw him away. You raised him from his diapers. If you¡¯re not his dad, who is?¡± ... Another person said, ¡°You were unconscious then, so you didn¡¯t see it. Your foolish son used his own body as a shield to protect you. Otherwise, those bat monkeys would have torn you apart.¡± ¡°Big guy protects Dad! Dad, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Big Fool pounded his chest, making a thumping sound. The old shipwright looked at Big Fool and snorted coldly, ¡°I am pure-blooded Human Race, at best, I¡¯m your foster father.¡± ¡°Foster father!¡± the old shipwright repeated. His tone was disdainful, but his eyes revealed warmth. Seeing Big Fool wrapped in bandages, he showed a look of concern. ¡°How are your wounds? Let me see¡­¡± the old shipwright beckoned. ¡°Don¡¯t bother looking, if you can walk, you should go and pay your respects to Lord Zhenjin right away.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin?¡± The sailors then recounted the events to the old shipwright. The old shipwright was astonished and realized that had Zong Ge not intercepted the Silver Rhinoceros, he would have been dead. He couldn¡¯t help feeling frightened. At the same time, he became worried, ¡°This Lord Zhenjin has actually invited Zong Ge and his group into the camp?¡± ¡°He is a Holy Temple Knight, but isn¡¯t he too young?¡± ¡°Well, no matter what, let¡¯s go pay a visit to this important person first.¡± The shipwright, supported by people, walked out of the broken cabin. On the campsite, several bonfires were burning simultaneously. Large chunks of lizard meat were roasting over the fire, emitting an increasingly strong aroma. There was plenty of clean water available. In Zhenjin¡¯s hand, there was even a small bottle of rum, which came from the sailors¡¯ supplies. The shipwright met Zhenjin for the first time, immediately placed his hand on his chest, and knelt down to pay his respects. ¡°Get up,¡± Zhenjin seemed pleased, laughing heartily. ¡°I will be relying on you a lot in the future, old shipwright. We don¡¯t know how to build ocean vessels,¡± Zhenjin encouraged. The old shipwright stood up but bowed his head even lower, ¡°I will definitely do my utmost!¡± Zhenjin raised his hand, ¡°Go eat and take care of your health.¡± The young knight held the skewered meat in his hand and took the initiative to walk towards Zong Ge. Zong Ge and others were gathered on one side, clearly distinct from Lord Zhenjin and his group on the other. As soon as Lord Zhenjin stepped forward, he attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Under the gaze of countless pairs of eyes, Lord Zhenjin approached Zong Ge and handed him the grilled meat. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Here, try the taste of lizard meat,¡± Lord Zhenjin said with a smile, his handsome face glowing dazzlingly under the firelight. Zong Ge candidly took the lizard meat, tore off a big bite, chewed a few times, and then swallowed it. ¡°So this is the green lizard from the desert that can spray acid liquid?¡± Zong Ge tasted it and then slightly frowned, ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem very special. Maybe the meat of a silver level green lizard leader would taste better?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also eaten the meat of a Silver Green Lizard, and it tastes about the same. Zong Ge, if you want to know, I can describe it in detail to you. Actually, exchanging information is beneficial for both of us,¡± Lord Zhenjin said. Sanda stared at Lord Zhenjin with an expressionless face, ¡°Lord Zhenjin¡¯s courageous adventures on the island, showing mercy to the weak, and rescuing the good¡ªit has all been conveyed to us by others.¡± Lord Zhenjin gave a bitter smile, ¡°What hero am I? I did my utmost and only managed to bring out four companions. On this island, my abilities are very limited.¡± ¡°Here,¡± Zong Ge took a skewer from the campfire and handed it to Lord Zhenjin, ¡°Silver bear meat might taste a bit better. Well¡­ let¡¯s just call it a bear. Even though it¡¯s got a monkey¡¯s tail and a gorilla¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°Monkey-tailed Brown Bear?¡± Lord Zhenjin thought to himself, his pupils slightly contracting undetectably while his smile remained unchanged as he naturally accepted the bear meat. ¡°Oh, right. Here, this is for you. It can heal the wounds on your body. Use it quickly; Miss Zi Di instructed when making it that the potion will expire after one day,¡± Lord Zhenjin tossed a bottle of potions to Zong Ge. Zong Ge subconsciously caught it, and just as he was about to reply, Lord Zhenjin had already turned and left. After this exchange, Lord Zhenjin and Zong Ge didn¡¯t speak any further. After dinner, Zong Ge and the others left the camp and returned to their temporarily erected tents. ¡°Lord, I have brought you another bat monkey,¡± Bai Ya said as he entered Cang Xu¡¯s tent, holding a dead bat monkey. With supplies brought by Xi Suo and others, Cang Xu finally didn¡¯t have to sleep in a hammock. He had his own tent arranged specifically by Lord Zhenjin. Inside the tent, besides the ground cover, there was a long wooden table. Several lit candles were placed on the table, covered with fresh blood; parts of the bat monkey, such as wings, skull, and eyeballs, were scattered around. Cang Xu, still wearing his broken glasses, was prying open the bat monkey¡¯s throat with an iron rod, carefully examining the inside by candlelight. ¡°What a tough vocal cord, paired with an extraordinary lung capacity; no wonder it can emit such intense sound waves,¡± Cang Xu murmured, not taking a glance at Bai Ya but instead instructing, ¡°Put the bat monkey down.¡± Bai Ya did as told and was about to leave when he heard Cang Xu ask, ¡°Was this bat monkey killed by the goblin Sanda?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bai Ya replied, ¡°As per your request, I picked it from the bat monkey¡¯s corpse and also had it confirmed by others.¡± Cang Xu stroked the cut on the bat monkey¡¯s neck, ¡°Clean and sharp, he is skilled with a blade.¡± Bai Ya stood still, his face showing hesitation. He opened his mouth and finally voiced his concerns, ¡°These people are very dangerous. Why is Lord Zhenjin bringing them back to the camp? Shouldn¡¯t we be on guard against them?¡± Cang Xu continued to cut along the bat monkey¡¯s neck, ¡°What do you think, is it easier to keep an eye on them by throwing them into the dense forest, or by keeping them under our watch?¡± Bai Ya was slightly stunned. He then asked, ¡°If Lord Zhenjin is on guard against them and even suspects Zong Ge, why doesn¡¯t he just interrogate him directly? Lord, you are a noble Holy Temple Knight; no one would oppose you interrogating a Half-Beast. Lord, you are really too kind.¡± Cang Xu looked up at Bai Ya and then shifted his gaze back to the bat monkey on the table. Lowering his head, Cang Xu said, ¡°You must have also heard from others retellings. This Half-Beast Zong Ge¡­ is very strong.¡± Bai Ya immediately retorted, ¡°But he¡¯s injured.¡± Cang Xu nodded slightly and pressed down hard with his hand, finally using the knife to sever the bat monkey¡¯s neck, ¡°He¡¯s injured. But how severe is the injury? Don¡¯t be fooled just because he spit out two big mouthfuls of fresh blood; some of it may have been play-acting.¡± Bai Ya widened his eyes slightly, ¡°Is that really possible?¡± ¡°How could it not be possible? You lack combat experience, young man.¡± Cang Xu laughed, ¡°And the most crucial point is, Zong Ge saved the old shipwright. Without him, the old shipwright would have died. Because of that, Zong Ge was injured, and our Lord Zhenjin, he would never take advantage of someone¡¯s misfortune or kick someone when they are down.¡± ¡°Lord, sigh¡­¡± Bai Ya sighed deeply. Cang Xu began to saw at the bat monkey¡¯s skull, ¡°Moreover, at the time, there were members of the Sanda Mercenary Group; those guys are much stronger than sailors. Once a conflict arises, triggering a melee, even if the Lord could defeat Zong Ge, protecting Zi Di, the old shipwright, and others would be difficult. If it drove the opponent to desperation and someone killed the shipwright, then we would lose the ability to build ships, trapping us on this island. Besides, Lord Zi Di was there at the time. Lord Zi Di couldn¡¯t use magic and only had potions for protection. How could the Lord put his fianc¨¦e in jeopardy?¡± Bai Ya nodded, ¡°It seems the Lord had thoroughly thought it through.¡± Cang Xu sawed for a long time, but the bat monkey¡¯s skull still held firm against the saw blade. He stood up and gestured to Bai Ya, ¡°Come, help me saw this open.¡± Without any delay or hesitation, Bai Ya immediately went to the table and took the saw. Using his hand that had fractured and was still healing, he steadied the bat monkey¡¯s head and pulled the saw with all his might with his other arm. Cang Xu stood beside, panting, and watching Bai Ya¡¯s efforts, decided to give the young man a few more pointers. After all, Bai Ya had saved his life. Although Cang Xu had publicly suggested using Bai Ya as food, that was a choice made when food was too scarce, and it was a last resort. In such a situation, Cang Xu was even willing to offer himself as food for Lord Zhenjin. Now, Cang Xu¡¯s attitude toward Bai Ya was naturally different. Cang Xu said, ¡°What the Lord did, actually has many benefits.¡± ¡°First of all, the Lord retained and is even expanding the possibility of recruiting these people.¡± ¡°They rejected it, didn¡¯t they?¡± Bai Ya puzzled. ¡°Do they really not want to?¡± Cang Xu laughed, ¡°If you were one of them, would you choose to follow Zong Ge or Lord Zhenjin?¡± ¡°Obviously, Lord Zhenjin,¡± Bai Ya didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Yes,¡± Cang Xu sighed deeply, feeling very emotional, ¡°Mercenaries live in a brutally competitive world, and although the few mercenary groups that stand at the top of the tower do indeed look glorious, Sanda Mercenary Group is not one of them.¡± ¡°Goblin Sanda is only of Black Iron cultivation. His mercenary group is just middle-tier at best.¡± ¡°How many mercenaries really end up with a good fate?¡± ¡°Young people may be naive, but these mercenaries have been mixed in this life for half a lifetime, they have already seen through reality and recognized themselves. What kind of people are they? What bloodline do they have?¡± Cang Xu scoffed, ¡°Following Lord Zhenjin is very tempting for them. Because this could be the chance to change their entire lives! Being favored by such a distinguished figure as Lord Zhenjin, allowing them to follow, is an incredibly rare and precious opportunity! They aren¡¯t ignorant of this.¡± ¡°Then why did they refuse?¡± Bai Ya asked. Cang Xu laughed, ¡°Humans are creatures of conformity; these mercenaries conform to Sanda, and inertia is too strong to change in a short time. Moreover, they met Lord Zhenjin for the first time and didn¡¯t understand his nobility. However, Lord Zi Di has already planted the recruitment seed in their hearts. In the future, when these seeds take root and sprout, and Lord Zhenjin personally makes the offer to recruit them, there is almost no possibility of failure!¡± ¡°Recruiting them is necessary.¡± ¡°This island is very dangerous, as you have also experienced.¡± ¡°Therefore, we must unite anyone who can be united. We must cherish every valuable manpower.¡± ¡°Think about it, perhaps in the future, when the ship is successfully built, we operate the ship but find ourselves caught in a storm. Just because a sailor failed to lower the sails in time, the ship capsizes and we all perish at the bottom of the sea.¡± ¡°Although this assumption is somewhat extreme, who can truly predict the future?¡± ¡°Can you imagine a shipwreck happening?¡± Bai Ya shook his head. Cang Xu said, ¡°Recruiting these people, Lord Zhenjin is at a great advantage. Zong Ge is just a Half-Beast, and his identity and bloodline are his biggest flaws. The longer they interact with him, the more naturally attracted to Lord Zhenjin these people will become.¡± ¡°But Zong Ge might be the murderer!¡± Bai Ya whispered sharply, stopping his saw. ¡°Keep going, don¡¯t stop,¡± Cang Xu immediately reminded. ¡°Oh.¡± Bai Ya quickly went back to sawing the monkey head. Watching the young man delve into his work, Cang Xu silently smiled and said, ¡°Do you think Zong Ge is the murderer?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± Bai Ya shook his head. ¡°Do you think he seems like it?¡± Cang Xu changed his approach. ¡°He¡¯s the most suspicious, isn¡¯t he? Xi Suo said a lot during dinner¡­¡± Bai Ya began, but Cang Xu quickly interrupted him. ¡°You must think for yourself, Bai Ya. Think carefully about Zong Ge¡¯s behavior before and after. Do you think he is the murderer?¡± Cang Xu continued to guide Bai Ya. This time, Bai Ya thought carefully and said uncertainly, ¡°Zong Ge seems very proud, as if he could not commit an assassination.¡± Cang Xu neither agreed nor disagreed with Bai Ya¡¯s speculation but analyzed Zong Ge¡¯s actions further, ¡°We could say that Zong Ge¡¯s act of rescuing the shipwright was for himself. But Sanda and others did not attack people like Lord Zhenjin and Xi Suo, did they? Given the situation at the time, it was very possible for Zong Ge¡¯s group to kill the Big Fool and forcefully capture the unconscious shipwright. But they certainly did not do so.¡± ¡°Despite his disrespectful attitude towards Lord Zhenjin, which could be said to be offensive, he never made a move but kept communicating with Lord Zhenjin.¡± Bai Ya thought of something and became very angry, ¡°Is that what you call communication? He even dared to ask the Lord to prove his identity with Divine Arts!¡± ¡°Hahaha, I believe that was more of a test rather than Zong Ge being reckless. He wasn¡¯t sure how much power Lord Zhenjin really had. After all, Divine Arts is a power bestowed by the gods, essentially different from Fighting Energy and Magic. Zong Ge was uncertain whether the island could prohibit Divine Arts.¡± Bai Ya¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°So, Lord Zhenjin actually figured it out. He scolded Zong Ge, causing Zong Ge to be wary of the Lord and more hesitant to act recklessly!¡± ¡°Correct. It¡¯s good you thought of that. Next, let¡¯s talk about Xi Suo,¡± said Cang Xu. ¡°What about Xi Suo? He¡¯s a good man, he¡¯s just the First Officer, but he doesn¡¯t put on airs and is very amiable,¡± Bai Ya said. ¡°Xi Suo is not that simple,¡± Cang Xu pushed up his glasses, ¡°Think carefully, the Captain is his father. That is to say, Xi Suo is the heir to the Pig Kiss, the private property of the Captain, and will definitely belong to Xi Suo in the future. How do the sailors usually regard Xi Suo? Even if he¡¯s not the young master, he is seen as the future boss. Xi Suo also got supported to be the First Officer, you can know his status aboard the ship.¡± ¡°Following the shipwreck, and the survivors coming ashore, the First Officer had hoarded a lot of food. Did Xi Suo, being the First Officer, know about this?¡± ¡°If I were the First Officer, acting as the leader, the first thing I¡¯d seek would be the support of the sailors. The First Officer holds a special place in the sailors¡¯ hearts; if I, as First Officer, wanted to stabilize people¡¯s hearts for my own image, I would also secretly take care of the First Officer. Therefore, Xi Suo most likely also benefited from the First Officer hoarding food.¡± ¡°However, the First Officer was overthrown by Zong Ge. Zong Ge became the leader, and even if another ship is built, it won¡¯t have anything to do with Xi Suo. What¡¯s more dangerous is that Zong Ge is a powerful man. The longer he holds the leadership position, the greater his influence will grow. At first, the sailors might follow Xi Suo, but over time, they will follow Zong Ge.¡± ¡°Without the ship, and without the sailors¡¯ support, what else could Xi Suo have left?¡± Bai Ya was dumbfounded. Cang Xu, stroking his white beard, said, ¡°Let¡¯s look again at the Captain¡¯s wounds.¡± ¡°The Captain¡¯s body, discovered after Zong Ge came into power, coincidentally had a penetrating wound, much like one made by a gun spear. And more coincidentally, Zong Ge carried a pair of Short Spears all day long, which was very eye-catching.¡± Bai Ya involuntarily gaped, his saw once again pausing. Chapter 97 - 97: Section 98: Let me challenge Zhenjin Chapter 97: Section 98: Let me challenge Zhenjin In the tent, Cang Xu continued, ¡°However, Zong Ge is undoubtedly powerful, and he is not alone ¡ª he also has Sanda following him. By Sanda¡¯s side are his former mercenaries.¡± ¡°The rumors about Half-Beasts eating humans, along with the suspicions regarding the true murderer of the Captain, have created divisions between the crew members and the mercenaries.¡± ¡°Nevertheless, the mysterious attacks did not cease, and almost every night someone lost their life, leaving everyone in the camp terrified. Would leaving the camp avoid the attacks? Surely everyone must have thought that.¡± ¡°The more fearful people become, the more dangerous the outside seems, and the stronger their dependency on those more powerful. Despite all the rumors pointing to Zong Ge, Zong Ge was indeed stronger than Xi Suo, leading to Xi Suo¡¯s diminishing influence.¡± ¡°In such a situation, if Xi Suo did not take advantage of his remaining influence to start anew, the crew members would soon gravitate towards the Half-Beast, Zong Ge.¡± ¡°Although people look down on Half-Beasts, when it comes to matters of life and death, these prejudices are secondary.¡± ... ¡°With that in mind, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for Xi Suo to secretly encourage others to flee the camp while the main group was establishing a second exploration team.¡± Bai Ya gazed at the old scholar before him, blinking repeatedly, momentarily at a loss for words. It was as if a door to a new world had suddenly opened¡ªBai Ya felt a mix of thrill, fear, and joy. The complex emotions were hard to articulate, leaving the young man experiencing a burst of enlightenment. ¡°I understand now!¡± Bai Ya suddenly exclaimed. ¡°I understand why Zong Ge did not verify the wound. Is it just pride? No! Because he too knows that verifying is pointless! Xi Suo would definitely try hard to prove that he is the murderer. If the wounds match Zong Ge¡¯s short spear, it would mean Xi Suo¡¯s efforts succeeded. If they don¡¯t match, Xi Suo could claim that it was altered from soaking in seawater.¡± ¡°So even if Zong Ge went to verify, he could not prove his innocence. It¡¯s very likely that he would fall deeper into Xi Suo¡¯s trap. Xi Suo must have crafted that wound with great care.¡± Cang Xu nodded and smiled approvingly, ¡°Young man, you¡¯ve finally learned to think for yourself. Maintain this good habit, and you will benefit immensely.¡± Bai Ya furrowed his brows again, ¡°But Zong Ge is so powerful, and Xi Suo is merely at Bronze Level. He dares to frame Zong Ge, which is incredibly bold. Zong Ge fully understands Xi Suo¡¯s plot; doesn¡¯t Xi Suo fear that Zong Ge might just kill him with a punch?¡± Cang Xu explained, ¡°The strangeness lies in the fact that Zong Ge is a Half-Beast. If he were a pure member of the Human Race, it would be different. Xi Suo sees an opportunity in this. More importantly, human nature is greedy and selfish. Blinded by personal greed, how uncommon are those who take risks for personal gain?¡± ¡°However,¡± Cang Xu¡¯s expression became serious as he stared deeply into Bai Ya¡¯s eyes, ¡°you must understand that our discussions are but speculations, without any evidence. If you speak of these things, you¡¯ll be the biggest fool in the camp!¡± Bai Ya felt stifled. He believed this to be the truth, yet he could not voice it! ¡°Everyone is confused, some genuinely so, others pretending.¡± ¡°I used to be genuinely confused, do I now have to pretend?¡± Bai Ya¡¯s emotions grew even more complex. Cang Xu reiterated, ¡°Unity is the utmost priority right now. You must understand that this is the most important matter!¡± ¡°Also, our discussion is indeed just speculative. As Lord Zhenjin once said, until the truth is fully revealed and the facts are proven, do not easily trust others, nor overly trust your own judgement. Our hearts must be broad, ready to accept and prepared for any possibility.¡± ¡°So, Lord Zhenjin had actually seen through the tricks long ago. I was so naive before¡­ truly befitting of a lord,¡± Bai Ya admired. Cang Xu laughed, ¡°Do you know the family motto of the Hundred Needle Family ¡ª one must neither overestimate nor underestimate others. Lord Zhenjin is a true Holy Temple Knight, possessing noble virtues, yet he is also a qualified Noble. In this game of power, he navigates with ease.¡± ¡°But Lord Zhenjin is really too lenient, he even provided Zong Ge with Healing Potion!¡± Bai Ya sighed again. ¡°Ha ha, that¡¯s precisely where the lord shows his brilliance!¡± ¡°Could it be a counterfeit medicine?¡± Bai Ya widened his eyes again. ¡°The likelihood is quite minimal. Lord Zhenjin is not that kind of person,¡± Cang Xu assured. ¡°But what if Zong Ge is healed? What if he becomes harmful to the lord?¡± Bai Ya worried. Cang Xu¡¯s smile deepened with significance, ¡°Lord Zhenjin indeed provided the potion, and Zong Ge accepted it. The question is¡­ does Zong Ge dare to use it?¡± Back in his tent, Zong Ge quietly surveyed the potion in his hand. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The potion was contained in a small glass vial in liquid form, displaying a slight blue hue that was quite appealing. Yet Zong Ge had no intention of using the medicine. Because he could not guarantee that the potion was harmless to him. He and Zhenjin had just met for the first time; although others relayed Zhenjin¡¯s noble knightly spirit, Zong Ge preferred to trust his own judgement. ¡°Zhenjin might not resort to such despicable tactics, but what about that lass, Zi Di?¡± ¡°This is a potion made by Zi Di, possibly concealing something from Zhenjin.¡± Without his Fighting energy, Zong Ge wouldn¡¯t have the ability to resist if the potion were poisonous. ¡°While I can¡¯t use my Fighting energy and am much physically stronger than Zhenjin, he too can¡¯t use Fighting energy, but Divine Arts¡­ who knows.¡± In Zong Ge¡¯s mind surfaced the confrontation when rescuing the shipwright. Zhenjin had shown an extremely tough stance, truly on the verge of action. Plus, he had willingly accepted Zong Ge and his people, and publicly offered the healing potion during dinner. ¡°All this indicates that Zhenjin is utterly fearless!¡± ¡°Thus, it¡¯s very likely he can pray and access Divine Arts.¡± Zong Ge¡¯s gaze was deep and contemplative as he pondered. The tent was filled with tranquility, while outside, conversations and discussions from members of Sanda¡¯s mercenary group could faintly be heard. Zong Ge¡¯s ears twitched slightly, his lion-man lineage endowed him with exceptionally sensitive hearing. ¡°Is this potion useful at all? Could there be any problems?¡± Not only had Lord Zhenjin publicly given Zong Ge the potions, but he had also ordered his men to deliver a batch of healing potions to Sanda and the others after dinner. ¡°Hey, what are you afraid of? Would Lord Zhenjin bother to scheme against us small fries? Don¡¯t flatter yourself too much.¡± ¡°Rest assured, I used it and it feels great, much better than the potions I had.¡± ¡°Ah, I spent a lot of money on magic potions, only to find they had no effect once here!¡± ¡°Help me apply it; I can¡¯t reach my back.¡± ¡°Wow, it¡¯s cool and refreshing. The pain relieved immediately. It really works¡­¡± ¡°Wait, you have wounds on your butt too. Let me apply it for you!¡± ¡°This¡­ I¡¯d better do it myself.¡± ¡°Can you even see it? Just lie down properly. Oh, are you shy now? Couldn¡¯t tell that normally.¡± ¡°Get lost! If you¡¯re going to apply it, just hurry up and spare me the damn chatter.¡± Slap, slap, slap! ¡°Sssss¡­ Why are you slapping my wound!¡± ¡°It needs to be rubbed in forcefully for the potion to penetrate. Do you get it?¡± ¡°Get the hell away from me!!¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± After a bout of roughhousing, all the injured had their potions applied. The topic naturally shifted to Zhenjin. ¡°Have you folks in the camp heard? Lord Zhenjin never abandons his fianc¨¦e and has repeatedly rescued the weak. When there was a food shortage, he even gave his own food to old men and water to those who had fainted.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that just something made up?¡± ¡°I heard it too, doesn¡¯t seem quite right. Rumors can¡¯t stand questioning, but these matters are very specific, down to the small details.¡± ¡°Not to mention anything else, but just by looking at how Lord Zhenjin accepted us and let us return to the camp together, it proves he¡¯s different from other nobles!¡± ¡°He¡¯s a Holy Temple Knight, after all!¡± ¡°The truly annoying ones are Xi Suo and his people; they wouldn¡¯t let us sleep in the camp. Today, it was us who saved them.¡± ¡°The camp is too small, they¡¯re also afraid we might harm them.¡± ¡°These crew members are selfish and not trustworthy. If Lord Zhenjin had been in charge, would that disgusting First Officer have mattered?¡± ¡°I heard that Lord Zhenjin was taking this ship to the Wilderness Continent to compete for the position of White Sand City Lord. Unfortunately, because of this shipwreck, he¡¯s already missed his chance.¡± At that, the conversation eerily ceased. When the conversation resumed, Zhenjin seemed to have been forgotten, with no one bringing him up again. In the tent, Zong Ge revealed a hint of bitterness. He understood all too well the psychological thoughts of these former mercenaries. They faced discrimination, lived dissatisfied lives, and were too eager to be accepted. ¡°Master, are you asleep?¡± Sanda¡¯s voice came from within the tent. He moved without a sound, and even Zong Ge did not notice his footsteps. It was only when he spoke that Zong Ge realized where Sanda was standing. ¡°Come in,¡± Zong Ge said. Sanda lifted the tent curtain and approached Zong Ge. He knelt halfway to the ground, saluting Zong Ge, his gaze fixed on the ground beneath Zong Ge¡¯s feet: ¡°Master, let me challenge Zhenjin tomorrow morning to probe his true capabilities!¡± ¡°Oh? Why do you want to do that?¡± A gleam of acuity flashed in Zong Ge¡¯s eyes. Sanda raised his head, still kneeling halfway. ¡°Master Zong Ge, although I have followed you for a short time, I feel your magnanimity and ambition. You ventured towards the Wilderness Continent alone with elite equipment, surely aiming to make a mark.¡± ¡°To achieve great deeds, fighting single-handedly shows independence, but gathering everyone will provide you, Master, with greater value.¡± ¡°Yet, the shipwright, whom you saved, has only paid homage to Zhenjin.¡± ¡°Our status restricts us. Compared to Zhenjin, your greatest advantage, Master, is your immense martial power. Once everyone realizes that you are the strongest in the camp, then Zhenjin¡¯s advantage of status will be greatly diminished.¡± ¡°With just his physique, Zhenjin is no match for you, Master! The only concern is his Divine Arts.¡± ¡°Let me pave the way for you, Master, and come tomorrow morning, we¡¯ll clarify all about Zhenjin!¡± Chapter 98 - 98: Section 99: I am a bat monkey Chapter 98: Section 99: I am a bat monkey Under the dim candlelight, Zong Ge quietly watched Sanda. The goblin knelt on the ground, his mouth covered by a white muslin scarf, but his eyes were filled with sincerity and determination. At this moment, Zong Ge suddenly gained a deeper understanding of Sanda. Beyond the debt of having his life saved, there was another reason Sanda followed Zong Ge¡ª a sense of identification. We are the same kind of people, marginalized by society. We are excluded, oppressed, and discriminated against. If we were of the Pure Blood Clan, we could have lived much better. But the reality is, even if we possess great abilities and make outstanding contributions, we still face unfair treatment. Thus, compared to Lord Zhenjin, Sanda would rather see Zong Ge succeed. ... Zong Ge remained silent for a moment before he spoke softly, ¡°Sanda, I understand your loyalty. But¡­ we must not be too impulsive.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, the boy, is very capable.¡± ¡°First, he publicly accepted us despite objections, brought us roast meat at dinner, offered potions, and proposed to actively share information. Such actions won people¡¯s hearts.¡± ¡°No matter what reason you use tomorrow, challenging him will only make others angry. They will think you are unappreciative and ungrateful. They will also believe it wasn¡¯t your own idea but mine since you follow me.¡± Zong Ge chuckled lightly, ¡°It¡¯s like how they falsely accused me of being the murderer who assassinated the Captain. Truth doesn¡¯t matter, what does is people¡¯s hearts.¡± ¡°But sir, if we don¡¯t take action soon¡­¡± Sanda clenched his teeth, a hesitant look on his face. Zong Ge continued, ¡°If you challenge Lord Zhenjin now, he would be the one who benefits the most.¡± ¡°You know why he accepted us and placed us near the camp? It¡¯s not only to guard against or to recruit us, but also to deepen his influence among the crew.¡± ¡°He had just made contact with Xi Suo and his people today and immediately rose to be a leader, seizing the power from Xi Suo¡¯s hands. Why didn¡¯t Xi Suo resist and instead chose to swallow the bitter pill?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not only because of Lord Zhenjin¡¯s identity, nor just because he saved the camp and Xi Suo¡¯s lives, but also because we were right in front of them. Without Lord Zhenjin¡¯s support, Xi Suo cannot counter me.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Sanda realized with a start, ¡°If I challenge Lord Zhenjin, it would only make Xi Suo depend more on him, and any crack between them due to my actions would be reduced to insignificance.¡± Zong Ge nodded, ¡°We must not further inflame conflicts or strengthen antagonistic emotions. Identity and lineage are our weaknesses, and because of that, we need to gain the trust of the crew even more. Otherwise, just with our group of people, no matter how strong we are, how could we maneuver the ship?¡± ¡°We need unity, and on this point, Lord Zhenjin and I agree. This is why I agreed to come to this camp.¡± ¡°This island is very dangerous.¡± ¡°Until now, I still have no clues about the true culprit in the mysterious attacks at the beach camp.¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s Xi Suo or us, we have both encountered attacks from bat monkeys and Silver Rhinoceroses. This is very strange, I always feel like someone is manipulating things behind the scenes!¡± ¡°The most crucial thing is to leave here.¡± ¡°When Lord Zhenjin publicly announced his acceptance of us, he was actually challenging me.¡± ¡°Only this challenge¡¯s stakes are not just about him and me, it includes you all, it includes Xi Suo and his crew, and it even includes the possibility of escaping from here.¡± ¡°When I agreed to come to the camp, I accepted the challenge.¡± ¡°I had already anticipated that this would be an extraordinary struggle. Our methods must not be too simple and crude, Sanda, otherwise we would lose.¡± ¡°To explore the depths of Zhenjin¡¯s combat strength, we don¡¯t need to rush into action. I have a premonition that the attack of the bat monkeys and rhinoceroses won¡¯t stop and will even intensify.¡± Sanda felt a chill in his heart and quickly bowed his head, ¡°I fully understand, my lord.¡± ¡°Hmm, go now.¡± ¡°Your subordinate takes his leave.¡± Sanda respectfully left the tent while Cang Xu went to meet with Zhenjin. ¡°You have arrived, Scholar. Please have a seat.¡± Zhenjin smiled, having waited for a long time. Long before leaving the camp to rescue the shipwright, Xi Suo, and others, Zhenjin had assigned Cang Xu the task of dissecting the bat monkey corpses and reporting the gathered intelligence to him. Cang Xu bowed, ¡°My Lord, before I report to you, please order additional lighting with fire pits and torches around the camp. I have discovered that these bat monkeys have a strong night fighting capability.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s expression turned serious, as this discovery was important. At night, human vision is greatly limited. If they were to engage with a group of bat monkeys without any lighting, it would be highly disadvantageous. Graciously agreeing, Zhenjin immediately issued an order. People who had just gone to sleep had to rise and start working upon receiving the order. Zhenjin also didn¡¯t forget to send someone to notify Zong Ge. Returning to the tent and hearing Cang Xu¡¯s report, Zhenjin frowned slightly, ¡°Are you saying that bat monkeys do not see at night? Instead, they emit a sound we cannot hear, and by its echo, they detect everything around them?¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s like calling out in a valley and the valley echoing back, this is the reflection of sound. Bats can fly in the dark, swiftly avoiding obstacles by using ultrasound to detect them.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Zhenjin¡¯s puzzled look, Cang Xu continued to explain, ¡°Ultrasound refers to frequencies higher than the sound our human ears can detect. Similarly, there are infrasounds which are frequencies lower than our ears can perceive. Scholars have long studied these. There are relevant works at Silver Bridge Academy, which I have had the honor to read.¡± Zhenjin was even more puzzled, ¡°Ultrasound¡­ And also infrasound¡­¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°Studies show that there is a range of sounds that our ears can hear, with an upper and lower limit. Sounds outside these limits are inaudible to us. Sounds above the upper limit are ultrasonic, and those below the lower limit are infrasonic.¡± Zhenjin scratched his head, ¡°You just mentioned a term, frequency, right? Cang Xu patiently explained, ¡°The precise definition of frequency is the number of vibrations the sound source makes in one second. When I shake a thin wooden slab, the slab is the sound source and makes a sound. The harder I shake it, the more frequent my actions, the higher the number of vibrations in one second, and thus the higher the frequency.¡± ¡°When we ring a bell, the copper bell produces rapid and minute vibrations due to the impact, thus emitting a bell sound.¡± ¡°And when we humans speak, it¡¯s because the vocal cords in our throats are vibrating, producing sound.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is,¡± Zhenjin felt his horizons suddenly broadening. Cang Xu continued, ¡°In my examination of the bat monkeys, I found that their vocal cords are very strong, their throat structure greatly resembles that of bats. Also, their ear structures are highly developed, their nasal passages seem similar to a monkey¡¯s, but inside they have a multitude of skin folds. A bat¡¯s nose uses such complex folds to aid their vocal cords in emitting high-frequency ultrasound.¡± ¡°The lungs of the bat monkey, together with the vocal cords and nose, form a perfect combination. Despite its small size, the bat monkey¡¯s lungs have an extraordinary ability to expand several times in volume. Its chest muscles and respiratory muscles are also very developed.¡± ¡°The eyes of the bat monkey do not have night vision. However, when they fly at night, they continuously emit ultrasonic waves of different frequencies. These ultrasonic waves, upon encountering objects, reflect back, allowing the bat monkey to receive them. By distinguishing these different frequency echoes, the bat monkey can deftly dodge and avoid hitting any obstacles.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Lord Zhenjin marveled, ¡°What a fascinating structure! So, can these bat monkeys ¡®see¡¯ in the fog as well?¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°My lord is insightful.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, Cang Xu. Go and get some rest.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Lord Zhenjin slept in the tent till the middle of the night and then got up and walked out of the camp. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin.¡± The night guards saw him and paid their respects. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°This is the first night, and I¡¯m a bit uneasy. Keep your guard up. I am going to scout around.¡± With a calm expression, Lord Zhenjin bid farewell to these men. Watching the young knight¡¯s receding back, the guards couldn¡¯t help but whisper among themselves. ¡°Why is the lord venturing into the forest? It¡¯s deep into the night.¡± ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you hear? After facing life-and-death challenges, Lord Zhenjin has mastered the power of the mind and can foresee danger. Any sneak attack on him is futile!¡± ¡°Is he really that powerful?!¡± the guard, hearing this for the first time, exclaimed in astonishment. Lord Zhenjin entered the forest, first mutated into lizard eyes to ensure there was no one around, then began to undress. He removed all his clothes, arranged them neatly, then canceled the lizard eyes mutation and started another form of transformation. After a blink of red light, he transformed into a bat monkey! Whether in the camp or during the rescue of the shipwright, Lord Zhenjin had killed many bat monkeys. Along with the kills by others, there were many bat monkey corpses. Lord Zhenjin requested a large portion of them in the name of Zi Di researching potions, but in reality, he only gave some to Zi Di. He secretly appropriated a part of the bat monkey corpses and quietly utilized a demon crystal to refine it. This allowed him to completely transform, upgrading his options from three to four. And the moment he completely transformed into a bat monkey, Lord Zhenjin felt the entire world change! Countless sounds poured into his ears: low humming, sharp whistling, rustling disturbances, and crunching chewing. The normally quiet night forest, where one might occasionally hear a nightingale or some wild animal call, now seemed, to Lord Zhenjin, as if he had suddenly moved from the suburbs to a bustling market. ¡°So this is what bat monkeys feel, it¡¯s way too noisy.¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s first impression was not good; he had never heard so many sounds before. These sounds, mixing and merging, all burrowing into his ears, seemed to immerse him in a multicolored mire, constantly stirring, agitating him to frustration and disgust. Lord Zhenjin endured the noise and began to move his limbs. The bat monkey¡¯s physique was similar to human form, making it easy for Lord Zhenjin to adapt, and he quickly became familiar with it. After running and jumping about in the bat monkey¡¯s body, Lord Zhenjin, suppressing his excitement, began to flap the bat wings, trying to fly. Although he could also fly as a Fat Ball Flying Fish, it was not fast; it was more like floating than flying. ¡°Now I can really fly.¡± ¡°Up, I go!¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s wings strongly flapped once behind him, then vigorously flapped. The lift generated propelled Lord Zhenjin¡¯s small body upward strongly. Bang. He flew diagonally into the air, then his head hit a treetop, emitting a dull thud. Afterward, he lost control, and the faster he flapped his wings, the faster he fell. Finally, he gracefully face-planted into the ground. ¡°Apparently, flying isn¡¯t easy.¡± Lord Zhenjin pulled his face out of the muck, wiped his face with his hand, clearing off the mud and grass. He steadied his mind, telling himself not to be impatient, and began to experiment with flapping the left and right wings one by one. Several flaps of the left wing, then the right wing. The wings were powerful, generating a strong lift. Lord Zhenjin tried flapping both wings together; a puffing sound arose as he awkwardly and slowly flew upward. Struggling to stabilize himself, and seeing he was about to hit a trunk, he quickly reached out to grab it. The next moment, he ceased flapping his wings, using his arms to Turn Over and sit on the trunk. Another awkward situation occurred. His wings, not having retracted in time, were caught between the dense branches. ps: Thanks to Shi Zhong Wu Mu for the Silver Alliance Hierarch reward these past two days, and to Shi Zhong Wu Mu, an old friend, thank you for your continued strong support! Thanks to the new xmukmb for the Silver Alliance Hierarch reward, I will strive to complete this ¡°Infinite Blood Core,¡± hoping to offer everyone a unique, impressive, and repeatedly enjoyable reading experience. Chapter 99 - 99: Section 100: The Beauty of Nature, the Great Love of Heaven and Earth Chapter 99: Section 100: The Beauty of Nature, the Great Love of Heaven and Earth Zhenjin spent a while fussing before he finally managed to wrestle his bat wings free from between the branches. A young man suddenly acquiring a pair of wings was, after all, not something one could easily get used to. However, the excitement of trying to fly soon took over his heart once again. He first attempted to take off from the ground, but the training effect was not very noticeable. Later, Zhenjin had an idea and climbed a tree. From high up on the trunk, he leaped down, spreading his bat wings wide to practice gliding and to feel the precise connection between the air and his wings during flight. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Changing his training approach, Zhenjin¡¯s training efficiency improved dramatically, and his understanding and depth of flying increased. ... This training also brought another result¡ªtree climbing. The bat monkey¡¯s limbs were all strong and powerful. The bat monkey¡¯s hands were similar to human hands, and the thumbs on the feet could also grasp, which made tree climbing quite easy. After practicing for a while, Zhenjin made significant progress in flying, and even more so in climbing trees! He now climbed trees very smoothly, using his hands and feet in unison, and he could leap to the top of the canopy in just a few breaths. Noticing such progress, Zhenjin changed his training method again. He began to learn from monkeys, leaping between large trees. He would leap up from one tree, soar in mid-air by spreading his bat wings, then quickly tuck in his wings and land on another tree. This training method significantly increased the time he spent gliding and vastly improved his efficiency. It also strengthened his jumping ability. ¡°Previously, Zong Ge intercepted the Silver Rhinoceros while rescuing the shipwright by jumping continuously from the branches, as if descending from the sky.¡± ¡°He must have trained in this aspect, which suggests that his martial arts are not bad.¡± ¡°Now, compared to him, I definitely wouldn¡¯t lose in jumping from branch to branch. The body structure of a monkey is just too suited for maneuvering between branches.¡± Zhenjin practiced flying for a while longer, then stopped on his own accord. ¡°With this training efficiency, I estimate that in three more days, I will be completely proficient, knowing how to use my wings to fly between trees without crashing.¡± ¡°But to fly flexibly and fast, to make flying an instinct, that requires much more time.¡± Zhenjin estimated. His flying still carried the possibility of failure. His success rate in gliding was relatively high, but even when he tried his best to control his body, true flapping flight often led to a haphazard flight path. However, he had adapted to the bat monkey¡¯s physique and body shape, and no longer got stuck between branches like before. Ending his flight training, Zhenjin squatted on a tree branch when his expression suddenly shifted. In the quiet night, countless sounds came through. The soft wind, the rustling of leaves, the murmuring of a distant stream, the chirping of insects, the roar of beasts, and the singing of nightingales. ¡°I¡¯ve also adapted to the bat monkey¡¯s ears,¡± Zhenjin realized. Initially, the plethora of noises, overly chaotic, had irritated him. But later, as he focused his attention on training to fly, he pushed the noise to the back of his mind. In the process, he gradually adapted to this excellent hearing. When he calmed down, he immediately noticed a huge improvement in this area. Sounds, countless sounds, were all being picked up by his developed ears. At first, Zhenjin tried to distinguish the types of sounds, guessing their origins, but he soon became immersed in the symphony of sounds. He subconsciously slightly opened his mouth, and his eyes lost focus. He felt like a young bird that had successfully flown for the first time, soaring into the vast sky, or like a droplet of water merging into the vast ocean. In this moment, he deeply felt a sense of beauty. The beauty of nature! Previously, on this island, Zhenjin had been clad barely and hardly fed, existing between life and death, filled with anxiety and impatience. At one moment, he sat on the gold mica stone, looking at the night sky and transformed his mindset, no longer agitated or plagued with despair. At another moment, he, Zi Di, and Cang Xu stared at the only two skewers of roast meat, facing life¡¯s hardships with laughter, becoming open-minded and composed. And now, such a moment had arrived again. This time, Zhenjin forgot himself. He was like an orphan who, after wandering for countless years, was suddenly embraced by his long-lost mother. He experienced his insignificance, he felt the beauty of nature, he felt the vast love of the universe. Such beauty was so magnificent, such love was so moving! The emotion brought by this was so powerful, so unexpected, like surging waves crashing against Zhenjin¡¯s soul, spreading throughout his entire being. He didn¡¯t see, he only heard. He heard the grandeur of nature, the richness of nature, the beauty of nature. Cang Xu had said that human ears are limited and can only hear sounds within a certain frequency range. ¡°Yes, humans are limited.¡± ¡°Being a bat monkey also brings a happiness that ordinary people cannot understand.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s thoughts scattered freely, and he indulged in this intense feeling of happiness, unable to extricate himself for a while. He thought of the Druids. He understood the Druids now. ¡°Druids can transform into bears, wolves, eagles; they too can experience the beauty of nature through different life forms. Thus, Druids love peace. They feel anger towards any existence that tramples or destroys nature. Nature is so beautiful! How tragic it would be if it were trampled and destroyed. The perpetrator must be extremely wicked!¡± He then thought of the Heart Core. ¡°My bat monkey mutation, the Heart Core brought it to me.¡± ¡°Perhaps the Heart Core is not as dangerous as I previously thought,¡± Zi Di mused. ¡°It¡¯s like a sword, the crucial factor is who wields it. Used rightly, it brings good; used wickedly, it brings evil.¡± Then, out of nowhere, Zi Di¡¯s thoughts drifted to Xi Suo. His understanding of Xi Suo deepened. According to Zi Di¡¯s deductions, the rumors at the beach camp and the wounds on the Captain¡¯s body were most likely inflicted by Xi Suo. Xi Suo was cunning and despicable. But he had suffered a shipwreck, lost his father, his ship was destroyed, he had no wealth left, the First Officer had died, and he had lost his support. He desperately hoped to grasp anything that could make him feel safer, to reassure himself he was still valuable and could lead among the crew. ¡°He is despicable and hateful, but he is also pitiful.¡± ¡°Perhaps this is the true meaning of mercy and tolerance.¡± Zi Di wiped his cheek. He was in tears. He now understood the excitement poets felt upon seeing their immortal works, the thrill painters experienced upon viewing unmatched beauty. It was purely the emotion wrought by beauty. And beauty, in turn, could inspire all that was wonderful in the world, the light and kindness within humanity. ¡°Sadly, people usually lack the ears to discover beauty.¡± As time passed, Zi Di¡¯s emotions gradually stabled. ¡°There¡¯s still a little time, I could practice that¡­ ultrasound.¡± If it weren¡¯t for Cang Xu, Zi Di wouldn¡¯t have turned into a bat monkey and yelled in the middle of the night. But now, he tried to let out a shout. The screech came the next moment. ¡°This shouldn¡¯t count as ultrasound.¡± Zi Di took a deep breath and tried to control his vocal cords to make the sound sharper. The scream this time startled even himself; it was somewhat akin to the screeches of bat monkeys during combat. ¡°But it¡¯s still not ultrasound.¡± Zi Di felt a slight thrill again, knowing he had found the right path. Next, he kept raising his voice as if someone were squeezing his throat. The frequency of his cries got higher, like fingernails scraping a chalkboard, but within the range of tolerance for monkey ears, no longer unbearable like it would be for human ears. Moments later, Zi Di successfully emitted his first ultrasound wave. Almost instantly, he heard an echo. ¡°There are trees over there, and stones beside the trees.¡± After his ears caught the sound, Zi Di naturally sensed the location and some of the shape of the trees and stones. The sensation was quite marvelous. The night was deep, and Zi Di could see nothing with his naked eyes in the pitch darkness. But it was this sensation that inexplicably painted a large tree and the stones beneath it in his mind. Zi Di immediately flew over to verify, and his sense was correct! ¡°The eyes of a bat monkey don¡¯t have night vision. But when they fly at night, they continuously emit ultrasounds of various frequencies. These ultrasounds, upon encountering objects, bounce back and are picked up by the bat monkeys. By distinguishing these different frequency echoes, the bat monkeys agilely dodge and avoid any obstacles,¡± Cang Xu¡¯s words once again emerged in Zi Di¡¯s mind. Zi Di immediately realized one key point¡ªdifferent frequencies! So, he continued to emit ultrasounds, controlling his vocal cords so that the frequency of each wave was unique. The ultrasound echoes came back and were smoothly caught by Zi Di¡¯s ears. Because the frequencies varied, Zi Di easily distinguished them. Thus, the environment unfolded in his mind as if sketched out with a white pen on a black canvas. As Zi Di kept emitting sounds and continually catching ultrasounds, the canvas in his mind rapidly expanded¡ªtwo hundred meters, five hundred meters, eight hundred meters¡­ The objects on the canvas became clearer and clearer. A sense of control welled up inside him. Following that, came a sense of security. I know everything here, I perceive all the changes within eight hundred meters. Zi Di felt increasingly elated. Although he had used the eyes of a lizard, thermal imaging had a much smaller range than hearing. Zi Di kept track of the time in his mind. The team had more members now; he couldn¡¯t stay out alone for too long. Regaining his composure, he returned to where he had transformed, resumed his human form, and put his clothes back on. Following the same path, he returned to the camp. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you¡¯re back!¡± the guards greeted him. Zi Di encouraged them a few words and returned to his tent. He lay on the camp bed, but couldn¡¯t fall asleep for a long while. The erratic flight was certainly thrilling, and the experience of ultrasound hearing was wonderfully beautiful, all of which left him yearning for more. Returning to human form, he could only walk on the ground with his feet; he couldn¡¯t hear the myriad wonderful sounds, let alone use his hearing to scout the things within a kilometer around him. It felt as though a bird had suddenly been stripped of its wings, or a normal person had suddenly gone blind. A faint sense of loss, like ripples on the surface of lake, involuntarily surged up in Zi Di¡¯s heart. Chapter 100 - 100: Section 101: My arrows never miss their target Chapter 100: Section 101: My arrows never miss their target The next day, morning. Thud! With a muffled sound, an iron-made axe was swung forcefully into a tree trunk, the sharp blade embedding deeply. Then the hands on the axe handle shook vigorously, shedding some wood chips before the axe was pulled out again. The one using the axe was a Dwarf, a former member of Sanda Mercenary Group. He was still wrapped in bandages, from which fresh blood seeped onto the white bandages because of the force used in chopping the wood. Zhenjin approached, his gaze on the Dwarf¡¯s wounds, and asked with a smile, ¡°Are the potions effective?¡± ... ¡°Ah, Lord Zhenjin,¡± the Dwarf hastily set down the axe and bowed to Zhenjin, then gratefully replied, ¡°The potions are very effective; my wound is healing quickly. Thank you for your noble gesture.¡± ¡°Mm, then carry on with your work,¡± Zhenjin patted the Dwarf¡¯s shoulder and moved on. However, even this simple greeting and pat on the shoulder made the Dwarf¡¯s face beam with joy. Those around witnessed this and looked on enviously. This was consolation from a Noble, a Holy Temple Knight! When the Dwarf swung his axe again, it felt lighter in his hands. The Dwarf had injuries, but to expedite the timber work, he had to put those injuries out of his mind. After yesterday¡¯s fierce battle, although there were few deaths, the severely injured could only rest in the camp for now. Those with minor injuries also had to work and contribute their labor, so the wood could be cut as quickly as possible. This wasn¡¯t just because food and water needed to be found, but also because of transport. Zhenjin and Cang Xu had thought that the teleportation intervals were fixed. But through Mu Ban and others, they had learned that the intervals weren¡¯t what they had previously thought. Perhaps there was a pattern to the teleportation, but such a pattern had yet to be discovered. So, cutting wood quickly was the best strategy. Should they delay and cause the teleportation to happen again without enough wood, it would be troublesome. This morning at breakfast, Zhenjin had discussed the matter with Zong Ge, and the two groups joined forces to chop wood. They chose to cut timber on the hillside where the shipwright had encountered danger before, where the trees grew relatively taller. Zhenjin continued on his way and soon saw Zong Ge. With a low shout, Zong Ge swung his ax in the air, casting a dark shadow before bringing it down heavily onto the trunk. Bark flew, and the tree shuddered violently. After the second blow from Zong Ge and a kick against the trunk, the tree creaked and fell with momentum, its crash resounding impressively. ¡°Lord Zong Ge is mighty!¡± ¡°Just with two blows¡­¡± The former mercenaries around him exclaimed in awe, casting admiring glances at Zong Ge. With a faint smile, Zong Ge stood on the fallen trunk, silently watching Zhenjin approach. He was bare-chested due to woodcutting, his upper body armor removed, still armored from the waist down. His chest was injured, and he was wrapped tightly with bandages around his chest and back. Even so, Zong Ge¡¯s robust chest muscles could not be concealed. His vigorous labor intensified the definition of his upper body muscles, and coupled with his heavy breathing and the sweat that made his brownish-yellow long hair stick together, he looked even more fierce and valiant. Zhenjin reached Zong Ge. The young knight had not yet grown tall, barely reaching Zong Ge¡¯s chest height. Compared to Zong Ge¡¯s robust stature, Zhenjin seemed rather slender. ¡°Care to try?¡± Zong Ge offered his axe to Zhenjin. Zhenjin smiled and shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve come here to deliver medicine.¡± He handed a bag he was carrying to Zong Ge. ¡°This is a new potion that Zi Di urgently concocted last night; it can speed up the healing of wounds,¡± Zhenjin said. Zong Ge¡¯s gaze sharpened and dropped the axe, taking the bag from Zhenjin. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said tersely. ¡°We¡¯re all stranded on this island, we should help each other as much as possible,¡± Zhenjin spoke earnestly, ¡°By the way, do you still have any bear meat? Zi Di said that potions made with bear meat and bear blood might work better.¡± ¡°I can exchange my lizard meat for an equal amount of bear meat with you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to exchange; you can have it all,¡± Zong Ge said generously. ¡°Okay,¡± Zhenjin¡¯s smile became even more sincere, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± He had taken only a few steps when he suddenly saw birds take flight from the distant woods. The birds soared into the sky, their cries anxious. The lumberjacks stopped their work to look at the birds, deeply concerned. Before long, they could faintly hear a raucous clamor. ¡°That¡¯s bat monkeys!¡± ¡°Quick, get ready for battle.¡± People started shouting. ¡°Armor me,¡± Zong Ge commanded in a deep voice. ¡°Yes, my lord!¡± someone immediately fetched his upper body Battle Armor and started dressing him. Zhenjin quickened his pace, returning to the shipwright and Big Fool. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, this time it¡¯s not only me, but Zong Ge and his men as well.¡± ¡°United, we can surely achieve victory, just like in the previous fight.¡± Encouraged by Zhenjin, everyone¡¯s gazes became more determined. The bat monkey horde attacked again, but everyone was prepared for such an event before departure, so after a brief moment of panic, they all calmed down. Zong Ge¡¯s group and Zhenjin¡¯s group quickly formed a battle formation, waiting for the arrival of the bat monkeys. At that moment, the piercing screams of the bat monkeys erupted simultaneously from the left and right. ¡°Are we surrounded?¡± ¡°How many bat monkeys are there?¡± The crowds became restless again. This time, the charge of the animal horde was far more formidable than the previous two battles. The forest obscured everyone¡¯s vision, making it unclear which direction had the most bat monkeys and the strongest offensive. The original formation was designed to concentrate strength at the front while the sides and rear were more vulnerable. ¡°I can use ultrasound to find out the exact numbers and their main force,¡± Zhenjin thought, but he quickly dismissed the idea. To do so, he would have to undergo a Mutation. For the ultrasound, his throat and nasal passages would have to change. To receive the ultrasound, his ears would have to mutate as well. It was too easy for others to notice. ¡°Maintain the formation!¡± Zhenjin shouted. It was too late to adjust now; they had no choice but to brace for battle. Soon, large swarms of bat monkeys appeared from the front, left, and right sides, lunging toward Zhenjin and the others. The shipwright, Hei Juan, and others all picked up their crossbows, with Zhenjin also aiming his Crossbow. Arrows whistled through the air, causing the bat monkeys to shriek incessantly as their bodies continuously fell to the ground. Zhenjin quickly emptied an entire quiver of arrows, his success remarkable, taking down more than twenty ordinary bat monkeys by himself. Dropping the Crossbow, he detached the empty quiver and pulled out a full one from his waist to reload. Whiz, whiz, whiz¡­ sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the continuous pulling of the trigger, short arrows flew through the air, shadows of arrows striking down bat monkey after bat monkey. The assault of the bat monkeys in front actually halted momentarily due to Zhenjin¡¯s shooting skills. After quickly emptying the second quiver, Zhenjin began to assist his companions on the flanks. Under the cover of Zhenjin¡¯s firepower, the lines on both sides quickly stabilized. Seeing Zhenjin¡¯s nearly unerring accuracy, the crew¡¯s morale soared. When Zhenjin loaded the third quiver, the bat monkey horde scattered. There was no relaxation for Zhenjin; he immediately led a group to support Zong Ge. Zong Ge and his men were still fighting. They faced nearly the same scale of bat monkeys as Zhenjin had, but because Zong Ge was fighting in close combat, their killing efficiency was relatively low despite holding a firm advantage. With the support of Zhenjin¡¯s arrows, this group of bat monkeys also quickly dispersed. The battle was over. Everyone cheered. Zong Ge and Zhenjin met, both with looks of concern. ¡°Although the bat monkey horde was impressive this time, there were very few Bronze Level ones, and there were only two Black Iron Level ones, both of which escaped.¡± ¡°The Silver Rhinoceros didn¡¯t show up either.¡± As they discussed, a pink flare suddenly rose into the sky. ¡°It¡¯s the camp! They¡¯re under attack.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s support them together!¡± Zhenjin and Zong Ge exchanged glances without any hesitation, merging their forces and quickly heading back to assist the camp. The camp housed all the injured, and with Zi Di and Cang Xu also within, the potential losses should it fall were unimaginable! Fortunately, the logging site wasn¡¯t far from the camp, so everyone quickly arrived back at the camp. Inside the camp, the Silver Rhinoceros was rampaging. The central wooden cabin, which had just begun to be repaired, was completely trampled by the rhinoceros. However, there were not many injuries among the people in the camp. A thick smoke enveloped the camp¡¯s surroundings. This was a potion devised by Zi Di, burned in bonfires and torches, creating thick smoke. The smoke affected the bat monkeys¡¯ sense of smell, keeping them flying outside the smoke, too afraid to venture deep. Though the Silver Rhinoceros was not afraid of the smoke, its charges were too linear, making it not difficult to dodge. The camp had a number of buildings too, which blocked the rhinoceros while giving people enough time to evade. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with these bat monkeys, Zong Ge, please go kill that rhinoceros!¡± Zhenjin called out. Zong Ge nodded. It wasn¡¯t that he liked taking orders from Zhenjin, but Zhenjin¡¯s plan was the most rational under the circumstances. Given the urgency, Zong Ge wasn¡¯t about to quibble with Zhenjin. The number of bat monkeys circling in the sky was not great, but clearly, they were the elite, with a considerable number of Bronze and Black Iron Level bat monkeys. Zhenjin led his troops into the smoke and then used their crossbows to shoot. While the thick smoke greatly hindered their visibility, the bat monkeys¡¯ fear of the smell kept them from charging in. Sacrificing precision for safety was a trade-off that was more beneficial than detrimental. Only Zhenjin¡¯s arrows remained deadly. Because he squinted his eyes and let his left eye mutate into a lizard¡¯s eye, with the aid of thermal imaging vision, even though the smoke had a temperature, the body temperature of the bat monkeys was higher. Thus, through the smoke, Zhenjin could still clearly see. The bat monkeys dared not plunge into the smoke and could only become targets for the arrows. ¡°Now my bat monkey transformation can only produce Bronze Level bat monkeys. Such strength is too low; killing a few Black Iron this time would enhance this transformation,¡± Zhenjin thought. Chapter 101 - 101: Section 102: Im sure the groin is the bat monkeys weakness. Chapter 101: Section 102: I¡¯m sure the groin is the bat monkey¡¯s weakness. Zhenjin locked onto his target and flung out the flying dart. With the full force of his bear-like arm, the flying dart burst forth with lethal power, posing a deadly threat to even the Black Iron Bat Monkeys. The Black Iron Bat Monkeys remained spiraling at the highest points in the air, their turning far more agile than that of the Bronze Bat Monkeys, and their flying speed was faster as well. Zhenjin tried several times but met with failure. Then, an idea struck him: he fired his crossbow with his left hand first, and immediately afterward, he hurled the flying dart forcefully with his right hand. The Black Iron Bat Monkey was forced to dodge the crossbow arrow, its maneuverability restricted. At that moment, the flying dart struck, leaving the monkey unable to evade in time or with limited space to do so, resulting in it often being hit. ... Zhenjin continued to attempt, with failures and successes. After he managed to kill three Black Iron Bat Monkeys, he suddenly heard a strange cry. The remaining Black Iron Bat Monkeys immediately shrieked, leading the few remaining monkeys in a rapid retreat. Zhenjin didn¡¯t rush to pursue them; instead, he immediately turned back to go deeper into the camp to support Zong Ge. He hadn¡¯t run far before he saw Zong Ge coming toward him, holding a longsword that was now completely deformed. ¡°This rhinoceros has such tough skin and flesh; it still got away,¡± Zong Ge said regretfully. ¡°If you had used those short spears on your back, it might not have been the case,¡± Zhenjin thought to himself. But that wasn¡¯t the main point. Zhenjin scanned the surroundings and saw that Zi Di, Cang Xu, and the others were all safe and sound. He said to Zong Ge, ¡°I just heard a strange cry, and I suspect that could be the hidden mastermind!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± A glint of sharpness flashed in Zong Ge¡¯s eyes. Zhenjin¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°This mastermind is no simple matter. He not only can mobilize the bat monkey horde and the Silver Rhinoceros but also possesses considerable tactical acumen. He divided his forces into two this time, one was just to restrain us, and the other focused on attacking the camp. He understands all too well that our camp is both our weakest and most crucial point.¡± ¡°Exactly. We must eradicate him!¡± Zong Ge nodded. ¡°Then let¡¯s go, just the two of us. Everyone else would be a drag,¡± Zhenjin said, stepping forward, and Zong Ge, discarding the broken sword in his hand, followed closely behind. ¡°My lord!¡± Sanda called out from the side, wanting to speak but stopping himself. He worried that this might be a ploy by Zhenjin, potentially to the detriment of Zong Ge. Zong Ge, however, was full of courage and understood Sanda¡¯s warning. He nodded at him, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back. You clean up the battlefield.¡± In that moment of pause, Zhenjin had already walked a good distance away. Zong Ge burst into a sprint, soon catching up to Zhenjin at the entrance of the camp. ¡°After that strange sound, the bat monkey horde immediately retreated. It came from this direction!¡± Zhenjin explained, then started running. ¡°What exactly did the strange sound sound like? Can you describe it?¡± Zong Ge asked as he quickened his pace, his breath rushing with the wind. Zhenjin frowned slightly, carefully considering his words, ¡°It kind of sounded like a dog barking.¡± As he spoke, he lightly leapt over a thick tree root protruding from the ground. After a dozen breaths, the two reached their maximum speed. The sound of wind from their rapid sprinting howled in their ears. Trees seemed to rush toward them only to be rapidly left behind as they zoomed past. Zhenjin no longer heard the weird cry from before, but what gave him confidence was the trail of defeated and retreating bat monkeys he found as he progressed. They could still faintly hear the calls of the bat monkeys. The longer the chase went on, the more astonished Zong Ge felt towards Zhenjin. ¡°I may be injured, but I have the Beastman¡¯s bloodline.¡± ¡°Zhenjin, relying purely on his physical condition, is able to run as fast as me, with enduring stamina and no signs of fatigue.¡± ¡°The Hundred Needle Family¡¯s bloodline only stands out in precision.¡± ¡°This lad might be a genius, his true Fighting Energy cultivation is undoubtedly strong!¡± They ran for a while longer, yet they still had not seen a glimpse of the figure commanding the beasts from behind the scenes. ¡°We¡¯re hardly hearing the bat monkeys¡¯ screams now. Can we climb trees?¡± Zong Ge inquired, a bit anxious. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Sure,¡± Zhenjin nodded, climbing up a large tree without slowing down in the slightest. Zong Ge saw the entire process of Zhenjin climbing the tree. He shot up to the treetop with quick and nimble movements. What surprised Zong Ge even more was the natural grace Zhenjin exhibited climbing the tree, harmoniously using hands and feet like it was the most natural thing, reminiscent of flowing clouds and water. ¡°Has the Holy Temple Knights now included tree climbing in their training?¡± With doubts in his mind, Zong Ge quickly clambered up to the treetop of a large tree as well. Standing atop the lofty treetops broadened their view. Different from rainforests, the trees here were lush but their branches and leaves were not as dense as those in rainforests. Both of them kept leaping forward on the branches. Zong Ge¡¯s amazement grew. Zhenjin¡¯s leaps were full of wildness. After observing secretly for a while, Zong Ge noticed the exceptional coordination of his limbs; his way of jumping seemed even more effortless than his own. ¡°How was he trained?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the style of the Holy Temple Knights.¡± ¡°Could it be that the Hundred Needle Family hired a Martial Artist from the Eastern Empire to teach Zhenjin some sort of Xiangxing fighting technique?¡± Zong Ge couldn¡¯t help but speculate. ¡°Zhenjin, it seems we can¡¯t catch up!¡± After a moment, Zong Ge sighed helplessly. The first time he climbed to the treetop, he could still see the retreating figures of the bat monkeys in the distance. But now, all he could see was the deep and lush greenery, layers upon layers of branches and leaves, and he could no longer hear the calls of the bat monkeys. ¡°No, let¡¯s hold on a bit longer. You follow from behind, I¡¯ll head toward this mountain, go straight over it, and maybe we can cut them off,¡± Zhenjin suggested. According to the traces left by the bat monkeys, they were moving around the foot of the mountain. Zhenjin and Zong Ge still had a chance, it wasn¡¯t hopeless yet. Zong Ge thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement with Zhenjin¡¯s plan. They split up. Zhenjin climbed up to the summit of the small mountain. When he checked his surroundings and saw no sign of Zong Ge following, he immediately stripped off his clothes and transformed into a Bronze Bat Monkey. Zhenjin bit down on his teeth, quietly bolstering himself. Although he¡¯d only practiced for one night, with the situation at hand, he had no choice but to make do. Zhenjin had transformed into a bronze bat monkey, and his speed of movement had at least doubled compared to before! The body structure of the bat monkey was extremely suitable for leaping forward on the branches. When encountering a terrain like a sheer cliff, Zhenjin simply spread his wings to glide down, following a straight path, which was incredibly convenient! ¡°Right, I can also emit ultrasound for exploration.¡± While gliding, Zhenjin remembered he had this ability. He immediately tried, attempting to emit ultrasound. Bang. The next moment, he crashed head-on into a tree trunk, then tumbled down, breaking several forked branches before finally being stopped by a thicker branch under his groin. ¡°Oh!¡± Sharp pain shot through him, and Zhenjin let out an involuntary shriek. His legs were split apart as he straddled the branch, and his body curled up from the pain. He gripped the branch, using his forearms to support his body as much as possible to slightly lift his groin from the branch. After taking several deep breaths of cold air, Zhenjin felt a bit better. ¡°So, the groin is still the bat monkey¡¯s weak spot!¡± The young knight was deeply impressed by this discovery. ¡°What was I doing, trying to emit ultrasound while flying?¡± Zhenjin was filled with regret. He had only practiced for one night, no, half a night¡¯s time, and still couldn¡¯t emit ultrasound while flying or running. Currently, he could only emit ultrasound when stationary. ¡°Let¡¯s do some exploration first.¡± Zhenjin did not rush off, as his groin still hurt. He needed to take a moment to recover. Taking advantage of this time, he tried a few times and soon emitted ultrasound again. The canvas in his mind slowly unfolded and rapidly expanded. One hundred meters, four hundred meters, eight hundred meters¡ªafter surpassing a thousand meters, Zhenjin¡¯s face lit up with joy; he had successfully caught the tail end of the fleeing bat monkey group. ¡°My luck has arrived. This group of bat monkeys is indeed circling around the mountain.¡± ¡°Following this direction, I can intercept them.¡± Zhenjin once again leaped forward through the trees, occasionally gliding with his wings. After running for a distance, Zhenjin stopped again, wanting to emit ultrasound. This time, he succeeded in emitting a wave of ultrasound after only two attempts. Just as he was about to redouble his efforts, three bat monkeys jumped beside him. Zhenjin¡¯s scalp tightened, and he almost reacted with a strike. Because he saw that two of the three bat monkeys were injured, clearly they were from the same group that he had fought with before. However, the three bat monkeys did not attack; instead, they stopped in front of Zhenjin, calling out to him and gesturing with their hands. Zhenjin was stunned: ¡°Oh yeah, I¡¯m a bat monkey now!¡± After calling out for a while, the three bat monkeys noticed Zhenjin was a bit slow and became impatient. Their calls grew louder, and their movements more animated. Zhenjin guessed, ¡°What are they trying to do? It seems like they¡¯re trying to communicate with me?¡± The three bat monkeys realized that Zhenjin wasn¡¯t just slow¡ªhe was really slow. One of them jumped right beside Zhenjin and pushed his back. Zhenjin resisted the urge to react aggressively and then saw the other two bat monkeys jump away and then look back at him, gesturing for him to follow as if they were leading the way. ¡°Where do they want to take me?¡± Zhenjin suddenly realized. Seeing he wasn¡¯t moving, the bat monkey behind him started calling out again, seemingly urging him on. Ideas rapidly churned in Zhenjin¡¯s mind and, without further ado, he started running with the three bat monkeys. After a series of jumps and flights, Zhenjin saw more and more bat monkeys. Finally, he was led by the bat monkeys into a clearing in the forest. A large group of bat monkeys was gathered there, and among them was the Silver Rhinoceros! Some bat monkeys were squatting on branches, some climbing trees, some jumping and rolling on the ground, others flying through the air only to land on a branch, quickly bending the slender twigs. Just when it seemed the branches would break under the weight of the bat monkeys, they would spread their wings and fly off again. Some bat monkeys had severe injuries, with others attending to them. The attending bat monkeys would lean their heads close to their companion¡¯s wound, then take a deep breath, their chests visibly inflating. Then, they would clench their jaws, block one nostril, and aim the other one at the wound. ¡°What are they trying to do? Blow their nose?¡± Zhenjin watched this scene, full of doubt. The next moment, the bat monkey¡¯s chest relaxed, and the ultrasound, mostly delivered through the nostrils, covered the wound. Under the ultrasound¡¯s effects, the blood-covered wound appeared to be heated, quickly scabbing over, with a scent of seared meat emanating from it. But this treatment was also quite damaging to the nasal cavities. Soon, the bat monkeys who were treating their companions were all bleeding from their nostrils. ¡°They can actually use ultrasound for healing?!¡± Zhenjin was amazed. Then, he saw some bat monkeys standing on the ground, emitting ultrasound toward the soil. After a round of emissions, the bat monkeys quickly hopped to a certain spot, dug with their claws, scooping out a lot of mud, and pulled out white worms. These white worms looked like earthworms but were a bit fatter. The white worms were brought to the mouths of the most severely wounded counterparts. Accompanied by the bat monkeys¡¯ chewing, the white worms burst open, releasing a thick fluid that was white like milk. Zhenjin even detected a rich milky aroma. ¡°These white worms seem very nutritious. Are they being used by the bat monkeys as a nourishing supplement?¡± ¡°The bat monkeys can find the white worms deep in the soil. Were they using ultrasound to search for them before?¡± ¡°That level of ultrasound can detect things in the soil?¡± The astonishment in Zhenjin¡¯s mind surged. He had only arrived here and, in less than a few breaths¡¯ time, learned so much. ¡°They¡¯re stopping here to rest, and those three bat monkeys seemed to treat me as a stray member? So, where¡¯s the mastermind behind all this?¡± Zhenjin had accidentally entered the enemy¡¯s ranks, but he hadn¡¯t forgotten what was important and searched around. The next moment, a figure stepped onto the clearing. Zhenjin¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly. ¡°It¡¯s actually¡­¡± He was greatly shocked. Chapter 102 - 102: Section 103: I Have a Plan to Lure and Decapitate the Enemy in Hiding Chapter 102: Section 103: I Have a Plan to Lure and Decapitate the Enemy in Hiding This was a Silver Level Magic Beast. It had deep blue fur, and the appearance of a wolf. Zhenjin¡¯s impression of it was too profound. Because the first thing he saw when he awoke in the jungle was this kind of Silver Magical Beast. He and Zi Di had named it¡ªthe Blue-Furred Evil Wolf! The Blue-Furred Evil Wolf nearly took Zi Di¡¯s life, and Zhenjin had managed to defeat it by a fluke, with outside help. ... Zhenjin hadn¡¯t expected to find a second Blue-Furred Evil Wolf here. ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± The Blue-Furred Evil Wolf walked to the center of the clearing in the woods, and suddenly opened its mouth to letting out a sound eerily similar to a dog¡¯s bark. Zhenjin was stunned, ¡°So the sound I heard before was made by the Blue-Furred Evil Wolf? Isn¡¯t it a wolf?¡± Hearing the barking sound, the surrounding bat monkeys all congregated towards the Blue-Furred Evil Wolf. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Sure enough, it¡¯s controlling the beast pack!¡± Zhenjin felt a tremor in his heart. Most of the bat monkeys landed on the ground and squatted by the Blue-Furred Evil Wolf, forming a circle. However, a few bat monkeys remained in place, showing no intention of coming closer. The bat monkeys on the ground beckoned to their unmoving companions, continually emitting sharp screeches and even gesturing with their hands. The unmoving bat monkeys started to waver, with some also making noises and communicating with each other. Others bounced between the branches, spread their wings to fly or glide between trees, showing a tendency to leave. The Silver Rhinoceros, upon hearing the barking, hesitated as well, circling in the clearing but never attacking the bat monkeys or the Blue-Furred Evil Wolf. The Blue-Furred Evil Wolf stood tall and proud, beginning to wag its tail, releasing a strong, fragrant scent. The fragrance quickly spread across the entire clearing, and the restless bat monkeys began to quiet down. The bat monkeys near the Evil Wolf breathed deeply, soaking in the dense fragrance in the air, and their monkey faces expressed a look of rapture. And those bat monkeys that hadn¡¯t gathered, upon smelling the fragrance, also became less agitated. They folded their wings and settled on the branches, beginning to absorb the scent. ¡°Woof woof woof.¡± After a dozen breaths, the Blue-Furred Evil Wolf barked again. This time, those bat monkeys perched in the trees all clambered down and gathered by the Blue-Furred Evil Wolf, lining up behind the originally gathered monkeys. And the Silver Rhinoceros became calm as well, no longer wandering but standing in place, quietly watching the Blue-Furred Evil Wolf, as if awaiting the next command. Zhenjin watched this scene, his heart shaking. ¡°Is this how the Blue-Furred Evil Wolf controls the bat monkeys and the Silver Rhinoceros?¡± ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± The Blue-Furred Evil Wolf barked fiercely again. At the same time, it cast its gaze towards Zhenjin. ¡°Hmm, am I the only one left?¡± Zhenjin surveyed his surroundings and suddenly realized that only he remained in the branches. The Blue-Furred Evil Wolf looked at Zhenjin, puzzled. It wagged its tail again, and the fragrance in the air instantly intensified. The surrounding bat monkeys and the Silver Rhinoceros breathed deeply, enjoying the fragrance. ¡°It does smell quite good, but it has no effect on me!¡± Zhenjin cast aside his worries. The Blue-Furred Evil Wolf barked a few more times, looking at Zhenjin who remained indifferent, and its doubt became apparent. Zhenjin¡¯s gaze, however, had noticed a nearby squirrel and several woodpeckers that were also unaffected. ¡°I understand now.¡± ¡°Only man-made magical beasts are influenced by the fragrance and the barking.¡± ¡°My nature is human, so I am not affected.¡± ¡°If the Blue-Furred Evil Wolf could control people, it would have done so long ago. But in fact, Zi Di and I have never discovered our companions being controlled.¡± With this thought, Zhenjin glided down and landed on the ground. He mimicked the behaviour of the other bat monkeys, inhaling the air¡¯s fragrance deeply, showing an intoxicated expression. But the Blue-Furred Evil Wolf was not yet convinced. It took the initiative to move from the center, stepping past many bat monkeys, and approached Zhenjin. Zhenjin was only a step away from it. ¡°I¡¯m just a Bronze bat monkey, if it bites me, it will surely cause serious injury.¡± ¡°If it suddenly bites me and doesn¡¯t let go, allowing the other bat monkeys to attack me, I will fall into a dangerous situation. A slight misstep could cost me my life.¡± Naturally, Zhenjin felt tense. Although he had once resolved a Blue-Furred Evil Wolf, he knew well the strength of this Silver Magical Beast. The Blue-Furred Evil Wolf scrutinized Zhenjin carefully, then circled around him, not missing any detail of Zhenjin¡¯s body, including his swollen lower body. The doubt in its eyes gradually dissipated. Because what it saw before it, was indeed a bat monkey. ¡°Woof woof woof.¡± The Blue-Furred Evil Wolf barked at Zhenjin again. Zhenjin¡¯s mind was filled with question marks, and he didn¡¯t know how to react, so he wisely stood still. Seeing the blue-haired Evil Wolf close at hand, Zhenjin had a thought growing stronger and stronger in his mind, ¡°If I make a move now, can I kill this wolf?¡± The blue-haired Evil Wolf could command hundreds of beasts, and in addition to that, it had an exceptional intelligence on par with humans. Both of these traits together resulted in a qualitative change! Previously, it had manipulated the beast herd, deliberately dividing its forces in two. One part was to restrain Zhenjin and Zong Ge, while the other focused on attacking the camp. It knew to target the enemy¡¯s weak points. Generally speaking, bat monkeys and Silver Rhinoceroses cannot coexist. But now, because of the presence of the blue-haired Evil Wolf, they sat peacefully in this forest clearing, not invading each other¡¯s space. During battle, the Silver Rhinoceros was responsible for the assault, and the bat monkeys were responsible for killing the enemy; the two could even cooperate. The blue-haired Evil Wolf could make different species work together, forming a Monster army capable of employing tactics. This was terrifying! ¡°I must eliminate this wolf!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s intent to kill grew even stronger. But at the same time, he also saw the surrounding bat monkeys and the Silver Rhinoceros, all watching him intently. If he suddenly made a move now, it would definitely provoke a fierce attack from these beasts. Just then, the blue-haired Evil Wolf suddenly lowered its head, no longer circling Zhenjin, and took a step forward to sniff the scent on Zhenjin¡¯s body. Its nose almost touched Zhenjin¡¯s monkey fur! Watching its neck exposed right in front of him, Zhenjin smelled an even stronger fragrance and felt his killing intent surge violently. ¡°Right now I¡¯m just a Bronze bat monkey, so the blue-haired Evil Wolf is very careless, thinking I¡¯m no threat at all and hence not on guard.¡± ¡°By myself in this state, of course, I¡¯m no match for it. However, I have the Demon Core in my heart. If I suddenly make a move now and grapple with the blue-haired Evil Wolf, initiating the Heart Core, what would happen?¡± As long as he touched the target, the Heart Core could be activated. Zhenjin had once used this method to directly refine a Silver Spear Scorpion. ¡°Better not.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too risky for me to make a move like that.¡± ¡°The Heart Core takes some time to take effect once activated. Although the time is very short, it¡¯s enough for the blue-haired Evil Wolf to tear me to pieces.¡± ¡°I should wait for Zong Ge to appear, causing turmoil among this herd of beasts, when the blue-haired Evil Wolf¡¯s attention is focused on Zong Ge. Then I¡¯ll have a chance to muddle through the chaos and launch a surprise attack.¡± ¡°Or, should I leave here and transform into a Silver Spear Scorpion?¡± ¡°The scorpion shell¡¯s defensive power is extremely strong, allowing me to charge into the beast horde to directly target the blue-haired Evil Wolf.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not right, the blue-haired Evil Wolf is also at Silver Level and won¡¯t be killed swiftly by me. There¡¯s also a Silver Rhinoceros here. If it really charges and tramples me, the Silver Spear Scorpion definitely won¡¯t fare well either. And then there are the bat monkeys; once they emit their sonic attack, the Spear Scorpion form won¡¯t be able to withstand it.¡± Zhenjin knew that Spear Scorpions also had very sensitive hearing. Under a sonic attack, sensitive hearing was no longer an advantage but a disadvantage. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll transform into a Spear Scorpion first. I¡¯ll let the blue-haired Evil Wolf ¡®subdue¡¯ me, then, when I get close to it, I¡¯ll strike it with all I¡¯ve got! Thus, the bat monkey¡¯s wave attack and the rhinoceros¡¯s charge would be rendered unusable because of my entanglement with the Evil Wolf, and my scorpion shell could withstand the wolf¡¯s claws and teeth.¡± ¡°By just using the Spear Scorpion, I can¡¯t swiftly kill a Silver Level Evil Wolf. But I can make use of the Heart Core and eliminate it with the Heart Core!¡± Zhenjin set his plan in secret as the blue-haired Evil Wolf finally lost interest in him, seemingly decided that he was just a Bronze bat monkey and odd simply because it was rather foolish. The blue-haired Evil Wolf turned and slowly left Zhenjin. Watching its retreating figure, Zhenjin suddenly changed his mind slightly. ¡°No, I should not be in a hurry to get rid of it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no threat to the camp from the current Evil Wolf and this herd.¡± ¡°I should gather as much intelligence as I can!¡± Discovering a second blue-haired Evil Wolf naturally leads to a third, a fourth. Having gone through life-and-death situations on this island multiple times, Zhenjin always considered the future and the worst-case scenario before acting. If I don¡¯t take the opportunity to gather intelligence now, increasing my certainty against the enemy, what will I do if I encounter the blue-haired Evil Wolf again in the future? ¡°The scent emitted by the blue-haired Evil Wolf is the key to subduing the beasts.¡± ¡°At the same time, this scent¡¯s effect should be time-limited.¡± ¡°The most important thing right now is to figure out what this time limit actually is. Also, to understand whether all man-made magical beasts are influenced by this scent.¡± Zhenjin wasn¡¯t in a rush to leave; he chose to stay for the time being. Besides gathering intelligence, there was another reason: Zong Ge. Zhenjin¡¯s plan to assassinate the Evil Wolf using his gun scorpion form could easily be disrupted by external factors. But if he could make good use of Zong Ge, Zhenjin could kill the Evil Wolf with much less effort. Zhenjin decided to wait a little longer for Zong Ge. ¡°Woof woof woof.¡± The blue-haired Evil Wolf walked back to the center and barked again. Then, it led the beast herd out of the forest clearing. The troop of bat monkeys and the Silver Rhinoceros set off one after another, closely following the blue-haired Evil Wolf. Zhenjin mingled with the main force of bat monkeys, jumping on branches with the surrounding monkeys, running on the ground from time to time, and sometimes opening his wings to fly. The blue-haired Evil Wolf led the way, its fluffy tail swaying side to side. Zhenjin noticed this detail, thinking to himself: ¡°A wolf¡¯s tail hangs down and does not sway. This is not a wolf¡¯s tail; it¡¯s more like a fox¡¯s tail. But it can bark like a dog.¡± ¡°Calling it a blue-haired Evil Wolf doesn¡¯t seem quite right. Maybe it should be called a fox-wolf-dog? Wolf-dog-fox? Fox-dog-wolf?¡± The blue-haired Evil Wolf led the beasts further away from the hill, and their pace was getting faster. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Zong Ge shown up yet?¡± Zhenjin started to worry that Zong Ge would lose them, as he was getting further away from that hillock. After waiting a good while longer and still not seeing Zong Ge, Zhenjin started to grow impatient: ¡°Should I just not wait for him and transform into a Spear Scorpion to execute the enticing ambush and beheading plan?¡± Chapter 103 - 103: Section 104: Strong Life White Rhinoceros Chapter 103: Section 104: Strong Life White Rhinoceros As Zhenjin hesitated whether to initiate his own plan, a series of shrill cries from bat monkeys echoed from the forest ahead. Zhenjin felt a stir in his heart, realizing, ¡°It seems we have encountered a new group of bat monkeys.¡± ¡°Woof, woof, woof!¡± the Blue Dog Fox Wolf barked a few times. The bat monkeys around Zhenjin flew out in droves, quickly disappearing into the bushes. After a while, the bat monkeys returned, bringing along even more of their kind. It was just like before when three bat monkeys dragged Zhenjin into the large troop. But this time, the number of bat monkeys was greater, over twenty of them. ... The bat monkeys landed beside the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, which began wagging its tail, emitting a strong fragrance. Under the influence of the scent, the Demon Beast Army of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf immediately gained over twenty new members. ¡°Woof, woof, woof.¡± The Blue Dog Fox Wolf issued another command. The new recruits all leaped out, returning to their own groups. Moments later, they came back, bringing along over forty other bat monkeys. Clearly, the persuasion of these familiar faces was much more effective than that of the first batch of bat monkeys. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf repeated the process, subduing these bat monkeys as well. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following that, it led its troops straight into attack. Most of the bat monkeys living in the forest ahead had already sworn allegiance, leaving only a dozen or so bat monkeys, including the Black Iron Bat Monkey leader. Under the olfactory assault of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, not a single bat monkey could escape; all of them became new comrades by Zhenjin¡¯s side. ¡°This efficiency is just too high!¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help feeling a chill in his heart as he witnessed this scene. The man-made magical beasts on the island were uncountable, meaning that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf could replenish its forces everywhere; there was a limitless supply of troops. Just this time, it had compensated for thirty percent of the losses incurred during the attack on the camp. Under the leadership of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, the Demon Beast Army continued forward. The forest was teeming with bat monkeys; it was the largest community of such wild beasts. In one morning, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf encountered three bat monkey troops. With some effort, its team gained five Black Iron Bat Monkey leaders, more than a dozen Bronze Flying Squirrels, and a multitude of common bat monkeys. The army had basically returned to its former presence. By noon, they encountered a group of Flying Squirrels. When the Demon Beast Army intruded into the Flying Squirrels¡¯ territory, they were immediately attacked. Zhenjin was no stranger to these Flying Squirrels. He had once ordered the exploration team to cut down trees to make bows, set up the battlefield, and lured and hunted a group of Flying Squirrels, which had helped the team successfully solve the problem of food scarcity. Now, the group of Flying Squirrels encountered by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was even larger, with three Black Iron Level Flying Squirrel leaders and one Silver Level Flying Squirrel chief. ¡°Flying Squirrels can deliver electric shocks; a close-quarters encounter will greatly damage the bat monkey group.¡± Zhenjin was secretly pleased, familiar with the two Magic Beasts, and thus capable of assessing the strength of both sides. Unlike the bat monkey group, there were no Flying Squirrels in the Demon Beast Army, so there was no peaceful recruitment from the frontline. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf suffered heavy losses, which was very beneficial for the people in the camp. But at the next moment, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf let out a series of barks. The leader of the bat monkey group, a Black Iron Bat Monkey, flew up into the midair, took a deep breath, and then they all launched a sonic assault. The extremely piercing sound caused the air itself to ripple with translucent waves. Just as the Flying Squirrel group was about to rush in front of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, they were immediately engulfed by the sonic waves. The entire cluster of squirrels suddenly collapsed; most ordinary Flying Squirrels were directly killed by the sonic attack, the Bronze Flying Squirrels let out pitiful shrieks, and the Black Iron Flying Squirrels struggled, only the Silver Flying Squirrel leader kept its staggering posture and persisted in the charge. Flying Squirrels have weak vision but excellent hearing, this advantage became the key to overturning the battle under the sonic waves. ¡°Bark! Bark!¡± With another command from the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, the nearby Silver Rhinoceroses immediately charged. The Flying Squirrel leader quickly dodged, but unfortunately, many squirrels behind it were trampled underfoot by the rhinoceroses, dying tragically on the spot. Among the dead was a Black Iron Flying Squirrel leader. Seizing the opportunity, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf wagged its tail, and its fragrance quickly enveloped the battlefield. The resistance of the Flying Squirrels rapidly diminished, and although the Silver Flying Squirrel continued to fight back, clinging to the Silver Rhinoceros¡¯s body and fiercely biting into the rhinoceros¡¯s right hind leg, unleashing a burst of intense electricity. After letting out a high-pitched and short scream, the Silver Rhinoceros shuddered violently and then loudly toppled to the ground. It was knocked unconscious, with wisps of white smoke coming out of its open mouth and nostrils, its body internally electrocuted in an instant. ¡°Great! This Silver Rhinoceros is going to die.¡± Zhenjin said, delighted. But at that moment, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf suddenly sprang into action. It had been standing still from the moment the two beast groups started fighting, barely moving an inch. Now it abruptly switched from stationary to motion, faster than a loosed arrow! It was Zhenjin¡¯s first time witnessing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s full-powered charge, covering a hundred meters in just a few breaths with ease. It reached the side of the Silver Rhinoceros, giving the Silver Flying Squirrel a vicious swipe with its paw. The Silver Flying Squirrel was sent flying, crashing to the ground and rolling a great distance away. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf pounced on it, opening its jaws wide for a bite! The Silver Flying Squirrel, seemingly drained from the recent effort of electrifying the rhinoceros, fell into a feeble state and couldn¡¯t retaliate in time, let alone unleash another electric shock. Just like that, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf clamped down fiercely with its jaws, its sharp wolf teeth instantly piercing and mangling the Silver Flying Squirrel. After a dreadful scream, the life force of the Silver Flying Squirrel plummeted to nothing, and it was killed by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s bite. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it want to subdue the leader of the Silver Flying Squirrels?¡± Zhenjin wondered. At the same time, the young man secretly rejoiced, ¡°This encounter with the Flying Squirrel group led to the Blue Dog Fox Wolf losing a Silver Rhinoceros, only recruiting two Black Iron Flying Squirrels, and very few Bronze Level and ordinary Flying Squirrels survived. It¡¯s suffered a great loss!¡± The Flying Squirrels that were still alive, under the fragrance of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, now one by one submitted. The two sides, which just moments ago were locked in battle to the death, now obediently aligned with the Blue Dog Fox Wolf and coexisted peacefully as if it had always been that way from ancient times. Once subdued by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, different species could coexist harmoniously. This was rather terrifying. ¡°The even more terrifying thing is that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s command could directly control the Black Iron Bat Monkeys to launch a collective sonic attack.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t they use this tactic when they attacked the camp earlier?¡± ¡°Was it because they were afraid of being discovered and ambushed for a beheading during on-the-spot command?¡± Zhenjin speculated and once again felt a wave of palpitations at the wisdom of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Whether it was Zong Ge or Zhenjin himself, once they discovered the existence of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, they would definitely charge and strive to eliminate this most critical existence. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf clearly knew this, so it had always kept itself well hidden. ¡°Thinking carefully, in terms of timing, the first opponent the Blue Dog Fox Wolf led the Demon Beast Army against was Zong Ge and Sanda¡¯s group,¡± Zhenjin recalled the entire sequence of events. ¡°Zong Ge drove away the Silver Rhinoceros, and the formidable combat strength of Sanda and the others might have caused the Blue Dog Fox Wolf to misjudge.¡± ¡°Since they were all humans, it likely didn¡¯t realize the divide and conflict between Zong Ge and Xi Suo¡¯s factions. Thus, it didn¡¯t show itself during the attack on the camp but commanded from a far distance, not utilizing the full strength of the entire Demon Beast Army.¡± ¡°Perhaps it considered joining the battle itself, but I had already appeared by then, and my darts could threaten the Black Iron Bat Monkeys. Seeing such a battle situation, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf ordered a retreat. Hence, the Silver Rhinoceros only charged once before withdrawing. Maybe it was too far away, or maybe I didn¡¯t notice, but in any case, I didn¡¯t hear the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s howling.¡± ¡°Afterward, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf went to hunt the shipwright, Xi Suo, the Big guy, and others, but it was repelled by the joint efforts of myself and Zong Ge.¡± ¡°Today, during the logging, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf again took charge of the camp but finally suffered heavy losses, forcing it to keep its distance and replenish its forces everywhere.¡± In the previous attacks, Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and the others had not detected the presence of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. It was not until the attack this morning that Zhenjin heard a dog bark, catching on to something amiss. ¡°Woof, woof, woof.¡± Next, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf began to command the bat monkeys to clean up the battlefield. The bat monkeys gathered the bodies of the dead Flying Squirrels, while those that surrendered entered their own nests, moving out all the stored food and offering it to the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Soon, there was a pile of food in front of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The food was placed next to the Silver Rhinoceros, which remained motionless. Under the watchful eyes of all the beasts, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf began to enjoy its lunch¡ªthe Bronze Flying Squirrel¡ªfirst. Its sharp teeth easily tore through the Flying Squirrel¡¯s flesh and snapped its bones. Before long, the Bronze Flying Squirrel was reduced to a pile of bones and remains, with most of its flesh, innards, and brain matter ending up in the stomach of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Only after the Blue Dog Fox Wolf barked twice did the bat monkeys start moving, selecting food from the pile to eat. From this, Zhenjin discovered that the bat monkeys were actually omnivorous. Because some bat monkeys began gnawing at the Flying Squirrels, while others picked up ground tubers and nuts. Zhenjin didn¡¯t want to appear too unusual, so he followed the bat monkeys to the pile of food. Not wanting to eat raw Flying Squirrel directly, he chose a piece of tree fruit. He had eaten this kind of tree fruit before. After leading the exploration team to exterminate the Flying Squirrel group, there were many such fruits in their food storage. After confirming the fruit wasn¡¯t poisonous, Zhenjin found it to be quite delicious, sour and sweet. However, his actions at this moment aroused the curious gazes of the surrounding bat monkeys. Zhenjin took a bite of the tree fruit. ¡°Ah ptooey ptooey ptooey!¡± His entire tongue went numb in an instant, and an intense bitterness attacked his heart from his tongue, almost causing him to vomit on the spot. The surrounding bat monkeys, seeing Zhenjin in such an embarrassing state, couldn¡¯t help but squeak and laugh wildly, constantly hopping around, uncontrollably joyful! Some even pushed Zhenjin, looking at him as if he were a fool. ¡°It seems that this kind of food is harmful and not beneficial to bat monkeys, or else it wouldn¡¯t give them such a painful taste experience.¡± Zhenjin didn¡¯t stoop to the level of these wild beasts; he threw away the half-eaten tree fruit in his hand and turned his attention to the numerous Flying Squirrel corpses in front of him. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but be tempted, ¡°Although the Silver Flying Squirrels were eaten by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, once these Flying Squirrel corpses are absorbed by the Demon Crystal in my heart, I¡¯ll be able to transform into a complete Black Iron Flying Squirrel. I wonder what the experience of discharging electricity is like?¡± ¡°And this Silver Rhinoceros is also close to death. Although it doesn¡¯t have any special skills, it¡¯s still a Silver Level Magic Beast. If I could absorb it, no matter what it transforms into, it would be an enhancement.¡± The Silver Rhinoceros had been motionless on the ground ever since it was electrocuted. The white smoke that had been billowing from its mouth and nose was no longer there, its eyes still rolled back, its breath declining more and more, now almost completely vanishing. ¡°It¡¯s really about to die.¡± Despite being tempted, Zhenjin did not act rashly. Because after the Blue Dog Fox Wolf finished eating the Flying Squirrel leader, it lay down beside the Silver Rhinoceros, seemingly preparing to eat the rhinoceros next. But next, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf remained motionless. As time passed, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf quietly lay beside the Silver Rhinoceros, as if waiting for something. The other bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels, without further orders from the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, gathered around it and did not disperse. After about fifteen minutes, the Silver Rhinoceros suddenly stirred. Zhenjin thought he was seeing things. But immediately thereafter, he sensed the Life Breath of the Silver Rhinoceros rapidly intensifying. Previously barely perceptible, but its breathing soon became as robust as usual. Next, the Silver Rhinoceros¡¯s rolled-back eyes suddenly spun back into place. Its massive body gave a violent shudder, and then its limbs seemed to regain strength as well; after flailing about, it miraculously stood up once again. ¡°Does this Silver Rhinoceros have such strong Recovery Power?¡± Zhenjin was quite shocked. The Silver Rhinoceros was nearly dead, the electric shock it received must have charred its insides. But still, it tenaciously survived with its flesh¡¯s self-recovery ability, it came back to life! The Silver Rhinoceros¡¯s standing made the surrounding bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels disperse. Before this, many bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels had already been standing on the rhinoceros, treating it as a dead thing. Only the Blue Dog Fox Wolf slowly stood up, with an unsurprised demeanor. Zhenjin suddenly realized, ¡°So, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf wasn¡¯t intending to eat the rhinoceros; it was waiting for the rhinoceros to recover.¡± ¡°This Silver Rhinoceros looks unremarkable, but its Recovery Power and life force are too strong. It might as well be called the Strong Life White Rhinoceros!¡± ¡°If I could absorb it and possess that level of self-recovery ability, wouldn¡¯t I no longer have to worry about getting hurt?¡± Chapter 104 - 104: Section 105: Luring and Killing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf Chapter 104: Section 105: Luring and Killing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf Zhenjin realized the true specialty of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros and while excited, also felt somewhat heavy-hearted. The Strong Life White Rhinoceros had not died, and with it, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had eliminated the Flying Squirrel group, enlisting many into its ranks, securing a profit without loss. ¡°Where is Zong Ge now?¡± ¡°I deliberately left many obvious tracks along the way.¡± ¡°Could it be that he encountered some mishap on the way?¡± Zhenjin grew increasingly anxious. ... As time passed, the power beside the Blue Dog Fox Wolf grew stronger, making Zhenjin¡¯s assassination plan more difficult to execute. Once the Strong Life White Rhinoceros came back to life, it practically buried its head into the pile of food. It ate a massive amount of food, consuming all the tree fruit and grass leaves in the pile, leaving only the meat behind. Still not satisfied, the Strong Life White Rhinoceros started grazing on the grass on the ground. ¡°It seems that although its recuperative healing is strong, it also consumes a great deal of energy within its body. Every time it recovers, it urgently needs external nutrition replenishment.¡± ¡°Woof woof woof.¡± Right then, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf let out another bark. The bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels, hearing the command, scattered in all directions. They plucked the grass and tree fruit and gathered them by the mouth of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros. To hide his identity, Zhenjin went with the flow and did the same thing. It was his first time feeding a Silver Level wild Magic Beast, and the feeling was quite novel. With the help of these beasts, the Strong Life White Rhinoceros no longer had to move around painfully. It stayed put with an endless supply of food delivered straight to its mouth. After eating for quite some time, the Strong Life White Rhinoceros finally stopped feeding. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf then issued a command for the bat monkeys to grab the remaining Flying Squirrel corpses in their hands or pile them up on the Strong Life White Rhinoceros¡¯s back. ¡°This Blue Dog Fox Wolf is actually starting to store military rations!¡± The more he observed, the more Zhenjin feared the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The troop set off again. Perhaps because it had just had a hearty meal, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf knew that the beast group¡¯s combat power had greatly decreased, so it deliberately slowed down the pace. During the journey, they encountered two bat monkey groups and one Flying Squirrel group, most of which merged into the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s ranks. By evening time, the Demon Beast Army had arrived near a hill. The size of the army was now even greater than when they attacked the camp this morning. ¡°The Blue Dog Fox Wolf has to be killed. As long as it lives, it will be able to subdue many Magic Beasts and launch continuous attacks on us!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s desire to kill grew even deeper. The hill loomed high, with caves at its base. Three Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, all Silver Level Magic Beasts, lived in the caves. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf had its eyes on them and hid among the bushes to observe for a long time. ¡°If the Blue Dog Fox Wolf were to subdue these three Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, the increase in strength would be too much,¡± Zhenjin worried. ¡°But, this is also an opportunity!¡± After such a long time, Zhenjin no longer harbored any hope for Zong Ge¡¯s arrival. He decided to initiate the assassination plan. ¡°First, let the Blue Dog Fox Wolf deal with the three bears and weaken its strength. Then I¡¯ll transform into a Silver Spear Scorpion and lure it to subdue me.¡± If not, Zhenjin, as a Silver Level gun scorpion, joining the Demon Beast Army too early might be used by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf to deal with the three Bears in their prime. However, what Zhenjin did not expect was, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf did not directly confront the three Bears. It first used a small part of the bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels to lure away the other two, leaving only the youngest Monkey-tailed Brown Bear behind. Then it led the main force to siege it. The Strong Life White Rhinoceros became the main force against the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Both Silver Level Magic Beasts were of the large type, their clashes resonating with great might. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear stood up on its hind legs, even taller than the Strong Life White Rhinoceros. Its searing claws could easily pierce the Strong Life White Rhinoceros¡¯s outer rhino hide. Yet the Strong Life White Rhinoceros was a tad heavier. When it charged, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear did not dare to take it head-on but had to dodge proactively. The two were evenly matched, but don¡¯t forget the Blue Dog Fox Wolf at the side commanding the bat monkey and Flying Squirrel army. The bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels occasionally rushed in to help the Strong Life White Rhinoceros, harassing or attacking the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear did kill many bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels, but this also allowed the Strong Life White Rhinoceros to seize opportunities to attack. It remained at a disadvantage with no chance to turn the tables unless the two Monkey-tailed Brown Bears that were lured away returned in time. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf continued to bark commands while releasing a fragrant scent. Finally, after six demon-level bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels died, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was defeated, its morale dropping to the limit. First it turned to flee, but after not running far, it slowly tapered its pace, remaining in place. A few breaths later, it was completely attracted by the fragrance, slowly turned back, approached the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, lay down on the ground, and exposed its neck to the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, showing submission. ¡°The Demon Beast Army has grown again!¡± Zhenjin sighed in his heart. All throughout, the other two Monkey-tailed Brown Bears never returned. The difference between having intelligence and not was too great. For the Blue Dog Fox Wolf to deal with other man-made magical beasts was like a dimension-reducing blow. However, next, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf didn¡¯t go to subdue the other two Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, but instead had the bat monkeys scavenge the cave, pulled out many blocks of ore, and then led the troop away, settling nearby to rest. ¡°This wolf is definitely a qualified commander; it knew the exact combat state of the entire army.¡± Zhenjin followed the main force, with the bat monkeys around him starting to heal each other. They used ultrasound to cauterize their wounds, thereby stopping the bleeding. As for the Strong Life White Rhinoceros, it had already stopped the bleeding on its own due to its Recovery Power. And shortly afterward, the blood and flesh wounds on its body began to crust over. ¡°In a little while, the scabs on the rhinoceros might just fall off. It¡¯s as if time itself has accelerated!¡± The newly subdued, limping Monkey-tailed Brown Bear began to devour ores voraciously. It could heal itself rapidly by consuming a large quantity of ores. Zhenjin had a profound, life-and-death understanding of this fact. Meanwhile, the most dazzling performer, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, lay quietly on the ground, unmoving with its eyes tightly shut, and emitting weak breaths. ¡°It seems very tired.¡± ¡°Is it because it has been frequently emitting scents, especially after subduing the second Silver Level Demon Bear?¡± Zhenjin also keenly observed that the outer circle of bat monkeys began to show some of their natural monkey behavior again, becoming more scattered and less cohesive than before. ¡°These are the first batch of bat monkeys. It has been roughly ten hours since they absorbed the scent.¡± ¡°In that case, the duration of the scent¡¯s effectiveness is less than ten hours. That¡¯s because, in the meantime, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf has repeatedly emitted its scent and conquered many beast packs. These bat monkeys also replenished their scent absorption during this process.¡± After spending nearly a day with the main forces, Zhenjin finally obtained the intelligence he desperately wanted at this moment. ¡°I can¡¯t wait any longer,¡± Zhenjin stealthily slipped to the outskirts and, seizing the right moment, dashed into the forest. After distancing himself from the Demon Beast Army, Zhenjin transformed, mutating into a green lizard. He spat out a ball of acid onto a stone. The acid quickly corroded the stone, forming a hemispherical depression on its surface. Then, he transformed into a gun scorpion, immersing the scorpion tail spear into the stone bowl. Zhenjin was experimenting; he wanted to maximize the threat of his scorpion tail. The acid couldn¡¯t corrode the scorpion tail, but it also couldn¡¯t stay on the spear point for long. Zhenjin¡¯s attempt failed. ¡°Wait a moment, I have one more transformation,¡± Zhenjin looked at his scorpion tail and suddenly a flash of inspiration struck. He thought of the green-variegated poisonous moss. He could transform into this highly toxic plant. The next moment, the Demon Crystal in Zhenjin¡¯s heart consumed more energy, and a peculiar blood light flickered on the scorpion tail. After the crimson light faded, the golden scorpion tail sprouted a layer of green moss. ¡°Success!¡± Zhenjin rejoiced inwardly; this was his first time trying such an endeavor. In the form of a Silver Spear Scorpion, Zhenjin began charging toward the Demon Beast Army. Soon, the bat monkeys in the corps cried out in alarm. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf quickly opened its eyes, lifted its head, and listened to the bat monkeys¡¯ cries. Following that, it barked a few times and took off running, starting a chase. The bat monkeys, Flying Squirrels, and rhinoceroses all followed closely behind. ¡°That wolf is actually running? Isn¡¯t that too cautious?¡± Zhenjin quickly noticed this and felt quite frustrated. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf was slippery; if it kept dodging, Zhenjin¡¯s beheading plan might fall through. Zhenjin had many transformation options, but the strongest was still the Silver Spear Scorpion, followed by the Black Iron Green Lizard. ¡°Is it because I¡¯m at the Silver Level that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf chose to retreat?¡± ¡°What if I become the Black Iron Green Lizard?¡± Zhenjin shook his head. Becoming the Black Iron Green Lizard, the likelihood of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf retreating on its own was slim. But Zhenjin couldn¡¯t confront the Blue Dog Fox Wolf in this form. The Strong Life White Rhinoceros alone could make Green Lizard Zhenjin unable to escape. Zhenjin could also become the Fat Ball Flying Fish to hide his tracks. But the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had bat monkeys by its side, which didn¡¯t rely on sight but rather used echolocation. The Fat Ball Flying Fish couldn¡¯t allow Zhenjin to stealthily approach the Blue Dog Fox Wolf; he would likely be besieged by the bat monkey group before that and possibly torn apart by the Black Iron Bat Monkeys. ¡°I won¡¯t give up just like that!¡± Zhenjin chose to persist. After several pursuits, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf finally stopped fleeing and instead charged toward Zhenjin. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin was momentarily overjoyed, only to then find himself in a predicament. He had to confront the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear and the Strong Life White Rhinoceros, two great Silver Magical Beasts, while also wary of a potential sneak attack from the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Lastly, swarms of bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels continued to harass him, launching sneak attacks from time to time. Relying on his tough scorpion shell, Zhenjin gritted his teeth and held on for quite a while until his shell was covered with claw marks. He then began to retreat. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf barked twice, straining its weakened body to emit a strong scent again. Deep down, Zhenjin remained indifferent, but on the surface, he showed hesitancy and reluctance. Then, he followed the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s example and obediently turned back, crawling toward the Demon Beast Army. As the Blue Dog Fox Wolf barked, both the Strong Life White Rhinoceros and the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear ceased troubling Zhenjin and actively cleared a path for him. And so, Zhenjin arrived in front of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, lying on the ground with his scorpion tail drooping, no longer poised to strike. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf seemed very excited; at the brink of exhaustion, it had managed to subdue a third Silver Magical Beast¡ªits luck was too good! It circled Zhenjin, observing its newly recruited subordinate from all sides. In the moment the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s gaze drifted, Zhenjin suddenly attacked; his giant pincers stretched out and forcefully clamped onto the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s tail. The tail was so fragile it almost got clipped off by Zhenjin in one snatch, causing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf to let out a earth-shattering scream of pain. It turned to face Zhenjin, its instinctive reaction not to flee but to pounce! But its invincible blue fangs managed only to indent the scorpion shell slightly, leaving a few tooth marks. Zhenjin was overjoyed, and his scorpion tail shot out like lightning. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf tried to dodge with all its might, but its left eye was still pierced by the scorpion tail! ¡°Die!!¡± Zhenjin roared in his heart. Chapter 105 - 105: Section 106: One Man Beats Back an Army Chapter 105: Section 106: One Man Beats Back an Army Even though the Blue Dog Fox Wolf possessed intelligence not inferior to humans, it had never expected that the Magic Beast it had subdued would actually turn on it and bite back! At the brink of life and death, it unleashed unprecedented power, forcibly retracting and retreating regardless of everything, even if it meant breaking off its Zhenjin Claw that was still hooked to its tail. Its left eyeball was still impaled on the Zhenjin scorpion tail, and the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s violent movements caused an intense stream of blood to spurt from the socket of its left eye. ¡°Woof woof woof woof!¡± Under the heavy injury, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf fell into a rage, letting out a roar. The surrounding Magic Beasts all awoke and started surrounding Zhenjin for an attack. Zhenjin had originally thought he could pierce the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s brain through its left eye with a single thrust and kill it in one shot. But he hadn¡¯t anticipated that, under the stimulus of death, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf would explode with such lightning-fast reflexes and speed. ... As a result, Zhenjin only destroyed one of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s eyes. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear fiercely pounced over, forcing Zhenjin to give up the chase after the Blue Dog Fox Wolf and dodge to the side. The Strong Life White Rhinoceros also launched a charge, but Zhenjin swung his scorpion tail and stabbed a Bronze Flying Squirrel, barely scraping by the Strong Life White Rhinoceros. Zhenjin had already been entangled with these two Silver Level Magic Beasts for half a day, and now his scorpion shell was covered with numerous scars. The Silver Level scorpion shell was very hard but could not be overly relied upon in front of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros and Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Too many attacks could not be taken head-on, so evasion was the wise choice. The erupting Demon Beast Army was like a flood that overwhelmed Zhenjin. Zhenjin barely made his way out through a bloody path and then ran blindly. Magic Beasts were everywhere in his field of vision, chasing after the Blue Dog Fox Wolf now would be purely suicidal! ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± The Blue Dog Fox Wolf barked furiously, the flames of vengeance burning fiercely. The Demon Beast Army relentlessly pursued Zhenjin. Zhenjin was greatly troubled. He wasn¡¯t good at escaping in the form of the gun scorpion, especially as the frequent appearance of forests and rocks forced him to keep changing direction. Running in a straight line was fine, but the high-speed turns often led to Zhenjin himself crashing. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If he crashed and ended up belly-up, it would be hard for Zhenjin to flip back over instantly. In front of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear and Strong Life White Rhinoceros, he would become a live target. Zhenjin could only try his best, but inevitably his speed plummeted during the turns. A Black Iron Flying Squirrel took advantage of this opportunity and pounced on Zhenjin¡¯s back. It released a powerful electric current that instantly paralyzed Zhenjin. The Strong Life White Rhinoceros arrived soon after, violently thrusting its horn into Zhenjin¡¯s underside, flipping him high into the air, clearing several treetops before finally descending. The Black Iron Flying Squirrel¡¯s electric shock caused significant interference to Zhenjin. The bat monkeys were also a threat. ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± The Blue Dog Fox Wolf called out again. The next moment, the Black Iron bat monkeys in the sky all erupted with sound waves. As the gun scorpion Zhenjin fell, breaking countless branches, the sound waves enveloped him, making his head spin even more. But the other Magic Beasts were in even worse shape. The flying squirrels completely collapsed on the spot, screaming in agony, some being killed by the sound waves on the spot. Rhinoceroses and bears were also affected. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear stood still, using its gorilla-like palms to plug its own ears. The Strong Life White Rhinoceros could withstand the sound waves, but its charging speed had halved. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf had a narrow escape and was extremely agitated, so focused on killing the incomprehensible abomination Zhenjin that it lost its usual calm. The entire Demon Beast Army also fell into chaos. Zhenjin finally hit the ground, landing on his back, unable to flip over for a moment. The young knight quickly stimulated his Heart Core, transforming himself into an Acid Liquid green lizard. This was a carefully considered decision. The form of the Silver Spear Scorpion was the strongest and had outstanding defense, but in the forest with trees and rocks everywhere, including protruding tree roots, the gun scorpion couldn¡¯t run fast. The bat monkey¡¯s form had the fastest movement, but at only Bronze Level, getting surrounded would lead to getting torn apart by the bat monkeys, with no need for the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear or Strong Life White Rhinoceros to act. The lizard form was not the strongest, but it wasn¡¯t weak either; stronger than the Bronze bat monkey, at Black Iron Level. Zhenjin found this form easier to handle than the gun scorpion, and while running, he was less affected by the forest environment. Moreover, compared to the gun scorpion form, the green lizard¡¯s form consumed less energy from the Demon Crystals. And so, Zhenjin transformed into the Acid Liquid green lizard. The sound waves still made him quite uncomfortable. The green lizard also had good hearing. However, the bat monkeys that were chasing him, as well as the Strong Life White Rhinoceros, had lost their target. After Zhenjin¡¯s complete transformation, they didn¡¯t see the gun scorpion, and even if they were intelligent enough to have witnessed Zhenjin¡¯s transformation process, they probably couldn¡¯t understand it. ¡°To deal with Magic Beasts, I can transform into other forms, that way their target disappears.¡± Zhenjin discovered another marvelous use for the Heart Core. This was the benefit of applying practice. He could find wondrous things that were hard to notice during deduction and training. Of course, if the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had seen this, it would definitely have directed its spearhead toward the Acid Liquid green lizard. ¡°The Blue Dog Fox Wolf isn¡¯t dead yet! Now, the entire Demon Beast Army has pounced over, and the area around the Blue Dog Fox Wolf is very empty. I can bypass them and attack the Blue Dog Fox Wolf again!¡± Zhenjin was undaunted by failure, his fighting spirit only growing stronger with each setback. He immediately started to act. ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± But in the next moment, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s call sounded again. This time, after receiving the orders, the Black Iron bat monkeys stopped emitting sound waves, and the bat monkey group dispersed in all directions, beginning to slaughter all life. Little squirrels, birds in the forest, and all sorts of bugs, rodents, and snakes on the ground met a terrible fate. The Strong Life White Rhinoceros and the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear arrived afterward, joining the massacre as well. ¡°The way this Blue Dog Fox Wolf is acting, it¡¯s like it¡¯s gone mad!¡± Zhenjin sighed. It had to be said that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s frenzied command really did cause Zhenjin trouble. The Acid Liquid Green Lizard was the biggest target here. Many bat monkeys swooped down on Zhenjin. Zhenjin¡¯s neck quickly swelled up with a round bulge, which slid up, sliding into Zhenjin¡¯s lizard mouth. His mouth gaped open, ejecting bursts of Corrosive Acid Liquid. The acid accurately hit the charging bat monkeys, which immediately let out piercing shrieks as they fell to the ground, their bat wings first corroding to mere skeletons. Their fur also suffered, producing a waft of charred smoke that was foul-smelling after the corrosion. Soon after, their flesh also corroded, turning into pus. Their ghastly white bones were exposed, visible to the naked eye. In just a few breaths, these bat monkeys were all dead. The bat monkeys became terrified, clearly hesitating, no longer charging at Zhenjin to their deaths. ¡°The Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s control over the bat monkeys is weakening rapidly!¡± Zhenjin keenly noticed this. For him, this was quite good. After all, he had only just transformed, and the acid was only half stored. Using it all on the bat monkeys wouldn¡¯t kill them all. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear and the Strong Life White Rhinoceros caught up. At this moment, Zhenjin¡¯s speed was about the same as theirs. He ran in circles while looking back to spray acid. Both the bear and the rhinoceros were huge and inevitably got hit many times. But after all, they were both Silver Level Demon Beasts, so the corrosive effect of the acid was not ideal. The injury on the thigh of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was rapidly worsening, making it stumble, its speed declining further and further. While the rhinoceros¡¯s thick skin or keratinous layer made the acid practically ineffective. Zhenjin shook off the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, but he couldn¡¯t shake off the Strong Life White Rhinoceros. As he ran, Zhenjin suddenly had a bright idea. He sprayed acid forward, hitting the trunks of trees in front of him. After the trees were corroded, they rapidly dissolved into big holes, and tall trees started to slowly topple. Zhenjin quickly ran through this dangerous area, but when the rhinoceros arrived, the ground shook intensely, and the trees came crashing down. At least eight trees fell, some landing directly on the rhinoceros¡¯s back, others blocking its path. The rhinoceros wouldn¡¯t jump while running. It could only detour or simply charge through these trees. Whatever choice it made, it wouldn¡¯t be able to catch up with Zhenjin anytime soon. Zhenjin rushed towards the position of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf he remembered. ¡°Woof woof woof.¡± The barking of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf echoed through the forest. The bat monkeys, bears, rhinoceroses, and finally the recovering Flying Squirrels began to converge towards the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. ¡°This?!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s plan to ambush was thwarted by this change. ¡°Has it calmed down? It seems to have detected my intentions!¡± Zhenjin regretted deeply as he watched the Demon Beast Army surround the Blue Dog Fox Wolf and escape. ¡°To chase or not to chase?¡± Zhenjin hesitated. At this moment, the evening sun gradually set at the horizon, the twilight like fire, shining on Zhenjin¡¯s face, and illuminating this messy battlefield. It was precisely this messy battlefield that made Zhenjin resolve once more. ¡°Chase!¡± To leave this Blue Dog Fox Wolf alive was too great a threat. He didn¡¯t want his camp to one day become as devastated and deserted as this battlefield. Zhenjin extended his four legs and chased after the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. However, just as he was about to leave the battlefield, he stopped his steps. He came in front of the Demon Beast Army¡¯s rations. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf had fled too hastily, not having time to take these rations with it. Most of the rations were the bodies of Flying Squirrels and bat monkeys, followed by a pile of ore ¡ª the food of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Zhenjin activated his Heart Core, absorbing and converting all of the bodies. The demon energy in the Heart Core was greatly replenished at once, and it brought some qualitative changes as well. ¡°I can now fully transform into a Bronze Flying Squirrel, and the bat monkey form has also been upgraded to Black Iron Level!¡± After finishing all this, Zhenjin continued the chase. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf was seriously injured, and the violent running caused it to bleed profusely. Along the way, Zhenjin saw the trail of blood left behind by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. After the Demon Beast Army withdrew for a distance, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf stopped to rest. Whenever the lizard Zhenjin got close, the bat monkeys would become restless, emitting warning calls. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf had to flee once more, engaging in intense activity again. Zhenjin found that every time he got close to the Demon Beast Army, the army would retreat rapidly, always preventing Zhenjin from getting completely close. Zhenjin understood, ¡°It¡¯s very scared of me now! It also knows that I¡¯m hunting it.¡± ¡°The bat monkeys have ultrasonic detection. It seems that with this lizard form, there¡¯s no way for me to really get close.¡± ¡°The Fat Ball Flying Fish won¡¯t work either. Although it can become invisible, the ultrasonic detection would still allow the bat monkeys to find it. Plus, the Fat Ball Flying Fish also makes quacking noises.¡± Chapter 106 - 106: Section 107: I Can Also Heal Chapter 106: Section 107: I Can Also Heal Zhenjin thought for a moment, then transformed into a Black Iron Bat Monkey. Next, he didn¡¯t head straight for the Demon Beast Army, but cut diagonally across, disguising himself as a lone, wild bat monkey that happened by chance. This time, the bat monkeys no longer raised the alarm. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf stayed where it was. Zhenjin gradually approached the Demon Beast Army. Some bat monkeys were leaving the army, sneaking into the surrounding forest. ... ¡°The Blue Dog Fox Wolf is severely injured, it seems to have no strength left to replenish the fragrance for these bat monkeys. The bat monkeys are losing control.¡± After Zhenjin noticed this, he naturally felt joy in his heart. The activities of the bat monkeys became uncontrolled and the scene chaotic, which presented Zhenjin with an opportunity. Soon, Zhenjin flew into the midst of the Demon Beast Army, without arousing any suspicion. He saw that the whole Demon Beast Army was divided into three lines of defense, each sharply delineated. The outer layer consisted of ordinary bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels. The middle layer hosted Magic Beast level bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels. The innermost layer held the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears and Strong Life White Rhinoceros. Two Silver Magical Beasts were staunchly guarding the very center, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, loyal and meticulous. Zhenjin noticed that the acid wound on the thigh of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear had stabilized, while almost no scars could be seen on the Strong Life White Rhinoceros. Its recovery power was incredibly strong. As for Zhenjin¡¯s target, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, it lay on the ground, its head resting on the grass, extremely weak. Its left eye had become a complete blood pit, and a Black Iron Bat Monkey was blocking one nostril in front of the blood pit, emitting ultrasonic waves from the other nostril to stop the bleeding from the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. But the blood did not stop. The blood flowing from the eye socket carried traces of green. ¡°Could it be that the Green Patched Poison Moss is effective against the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, preventing the wound from healing?¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help speculating. The Black Iron Bat Monkey treating the Blue Dog Fox Wolf soon couldn¡¯t hold on, its ultrasonic waves weakening. Enraged, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf suddenly raised its head and bit the neck of the Black Iron Bat Monkey, killing it instantly. Following this, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf grasped the body of the Black Iron Bat Monkey with its forepaws and began to eat. The Black Iron Bat Monkey was quickly consumed by it. ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± called out the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, gazing with its remaining eye towards another Black Iron Bat Monkey in the middle defense line. That Black Iron Bat Monkey immediately came to the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s side, using ultrasonic waves to treat the wound. After a while, the bleeding situation of the wound did not slow in the slightest. Furious, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf ate that Black Iron Bat Monkey as well. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Watching these Black Iron Bat Monkeys die right before his eyes, the other bat monkeys became restless, itching to move about. The control of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf over them was weakening. Zhenjin immediately realized, ¡°This might be my chance!¡± If he suddenly transformed into a gun scorpion and attacked fiercely, the hope of killing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was slim. The outcome might just replay the earlier battle. But he could disguise himself as a bat monkey, and once the Blue Dog Fox Wolf picked him to treat itself, Zhenjin could get close to the Blue Dog Fox Wolf again. By then, at such a close distance, and with the Blue Dog Fox Wolf so weak, Zhenjin transforming back into a gun scorpion for a stab attack would almost surely succeed. Taking advantage of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf being occupied with tearing at food, Zhenjin quietly flew into the second line of defense. The second line of defense consisted of Magic Beast level bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels; some stood on branches, others lay on the ground, and Zhenjin blended in without appearing conspicuous. But after waiting for a considerable while, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf did not pick him. The Black Iron Bat Monkeys could not heal the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s wound, and the blood continued to flow. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf was not only furious but also panicked, and it killed three more bat monkeys. ¡°Why won¡¯t it pick me?¡± Zhenjin felt a bit bewildered. He saw the bat monkeys around him treating each other and couldn¡¯t help but guess, ¡°Could it be that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf is choosing only those bat monkeys who had successfully treated their companions?¡± Zhenjin remained standing, not making any rash movements. This calm demeanor actually made him less noticeable to the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Zhenjin thought it over and increasingly felt his speculation made sense. He looked around and then ran over to a Black Iron Bat Monkey. This Black Iron Bat Monkey had a wound on its back. Seeing Zhenjin run over, it cast a strange look at him. Zhenjin cleared his throat first, then blocked one nostril, getting the other nostril close to the target bat monkey¡¯s wound. The injured Black Iron Bat Monkey, upon seeing this action by Zhenjin, relaxed, its eyes showing a trace of gratitude. ¡°I must successfully emit ultrasonic waves,¡± Zhenjin silently encouraged himself. He was not skilled at this, failing five or six times out of ten. Fortunately, this time he succeeded. The ultrasonic waves were emitted, but Zhenjin didn¡¯t close his mouth, causing the ultrasound to be almost entirely dispersed from his mouth, bombarding the bat monkey he was treating. The target bat monkey¡¯s body shook violently, its ears buzzing, its vision blurring as if someone had just detonated a bomb next to a normal person¡¯s ears! The surrounding bat monkeys, startled by Zhenjin¡¯s action, jumped or flew, putting some distance between themselves and Zhenjin. The injured bat monkey steadied itself, angrily glaring at Zhenjin, chirping chaotically. It was riled up, and although Zhenjin did not understand the language of bat monkeys, at this moment, he completely understood what the injured bat monkey meant. Zhenjin quickly glanced at the Blue Dog Fox Wolf and found that it was still eating the meat of the Black Iron Bat Monkey and was not paying attention to this side. Zhenjin thought to himself, ¡°Calm down, calm down!¡± He then reached out to hold the shoulder of the injured Bat Monkey, but the injured Bat Monkey shook off Zhenjin¡¯s arm and ran away alone. Zhenjin could only watch it go and had to choose another target. But as soon as the other Bat Monkeys saw Zhenjin approaching, they actively left the spot, not wanting to receive Zhenjin¡¯s treatment at all. ¡°Where is the basic trust between monkeys?¡± Zhenjin was distressed. At that moment, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf chose another Bat Monkey and ignored Zhenjin again. ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± Zhenjin saw something on the ground and suddenly had an idea. He landed on the ground and used ultrasonic detection to search for food underground. Soon, he found his target and began to dig in the dirt. Before long, he dug up a plump white earthworm. The plump white earthworm immediately caught the attention of the Bat Monkeys. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s command restricted the actions of these Bat Monkeys; they could heal each other but couldn¡¯t leave their alert positions. ¡°One is not enough¡­¡± Zhenjin dug up three more. The plump earthworms emitted a strong fragrance, like the finest milk, with a wonderful sweetness emanating from the scent. Almost all the Bat Monkeys were staring straight at the four earthworms in Zhenjin¡¯s hands. ¡°The most injured one is still you.¡± Zhenjin ran back to the Black Iron Bat Monkey he had approached earlier. This time, perhaps enticed by the earthworms in Zhenjin¡¯s hand, the Black Iron Bat Monkey stayed put and watched Zhenjin approach. ¡°Let me give you one first,¡± Zhenjin said, reaching out to take a plump white earthworm and bringing it to the mouth of the injured Bat Monkey. The injured Bat Monkey immediately opened its mouth and ate the earthworm. The other Bat Monkeys watched the injured Bat Monkey chewing, seemingly swallowing saliva in envy. Finally, one other Black Iron Bat Monkey couldn¡¯t restrain itself, copied Zhenjin, landed on the ground, and began searching for plump white earthworms. After eating one plump white earthworm, the injured Bat Monkey wanted more. But at that moment, Zhenjin patted its shoulder and brought his nostrils close to its wound. The injured Bat Monkey hesitated but didn¡¯t leave. Zhenjin was inwardly happy, and this time, he closed his mouth tightly, blocked one nostril, and emitted an ultrasound. The next moment, pfft! A stream of fresh red blood spurted from his nostril, sending a flood of blood directly onto the injured Bat Monkey¡¯s wound. The injured Bat Monkey was shocked and leaped onto a tree. ¡°I think I might have overdone the ultrasound this time,¡± Zhenjin said, feeling very embarrassed; he realized his nostril was severely injured, and blood kept flowing nonstop. This commotion finally attracted the attention of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Seeing Zhenjin¡¯s failed attempt to heal his comrade but instead injuring himself, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf displayed a clear look of inquiry, skepticism, and disdain. ¡°Did I outsmart myself?¡± At that moment, Zhenjin felt like he was hoisting a rock only to drop it on his own feet. ¡°No, I can do this.¡± Zhenjin flew to the injured Bat Monkey again¡ªit was time to get back up from where he had fallen and quickly prove that he could heal his comrade. Under the offensive of the second plump white earthworm, the injured Bat Monkey accepted Zhenjin¡¯s treatment again. This time Zhenjin was very careful about the force, and the ultrasound successfully hit the Bat Monkey¡¯s wound. However, the injured Bat Monkey was still unsatisfied, making a sound. Zhenjin realized he was being too gentle and began to gradually increase the force. But, as a beginner, the force of the ultrasound he emitted was not stable, causing the ultrasound to fluctuate in intensity. The injured Bat Monkey was tormented, but with Zhenjin feeding it the remaining two plump white earthworms in succession, it finally endured Zhenjin¡¯s treatment with great perseverance. Eventually¡­ its wound was cauterized and successfully stopped bleeding. Zhenjin paid a price¡ªhis other healthy nostril started bleeding due to the frequent emission of ultrasound. The injured Bat Monkey, seeing Zhenjin bleeding from the nose, softened in expression. Glancing at Zhenjin¡¯s swollen and painful lower body, the injured female Bat Monkey¡¯s expression softened even more. She gently grabbed Zhenjin¡¯s hands, then spread her bat wings behind her back, covering Zhenjin¡¯s back as if she were embracing him. Zhenjin was startled by this action. Quickly, the female Bat Monkey retracted her wings and let go of her hands. Zhenjin then noticed the other Bat Monkeys¡¯ gazes around him seemed a bit off, especially Xiong Xin Bat Monkey, who seemed both hateful and envious of him. Then, the injured female Bat Monkey spat twice into her palm, and pressed her palm against Zhenjin¡¯s chest, making a spreading gesture. At this, the surrounding male Bat Monkeys got restless, looking ready to fight Zhenjin. ¡°What does this mean?¡± Zhenjin was confused and felt a bit nauseated. Howl! Just then, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf stirred. It raised its head and howled a wolf¡¯s call. ¡°So it can make a wolf¡¯s call. But why did it suddenly start howling?¡± Zhenjin was completely drawn to the sound. Chapter 107 - 107: Section 108: Perished by Howling at the Moon Chapter 107: Section 108: Perished by Howling at the Moon The howl of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf stirred the winds and clouds, and Zhenjin felt a surge of blood boiling within him. Pfft. Suddenly, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and its howling was cut off. It dropped its head, vomiting several more mouthfuls of fresh blood onto the ground, the blood mixed with streaks of green. After vomiting blood, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf gasped with its mouth open, breathing rapidly. It seemed to want to keep standing, not wanting to lie down on the ground again. But it was too weak, its condition dire, and Zhenjin could clearly see its forelimbs, which it used to support its upper body, trembling in the moonlight. ... Finally, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had no more strength and had to lie down on the ground again. After resting for a while, it didn¡¯t let the Bat Monkey treat it, but used its accumulated strength to raise its head and howled at the crescent moon in the night sky. This time, the howl was even shorter than before. Because the Blue Dog Fox Wolf quickly spat out blood again. It lay on the ground again, and this time the rest lasted even longer. Its mouth and nose were frothy with blood, the only remaining ice blue wolf eye became very lifeless, as if covered with a thin mist, no longer clear and sharp. As it gasped, its abdomen heaved rapidly, the extent of the heaving significant, conveying a deeply pathological impression, as if each breath it took was done with all its might. After struggling to breathe for a long time, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf got up a third time and howled. The howling sound was already very weak and lasted for an even shorter time. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf lay down on the ground once again. A thought suddenly jumped into Zhenjin¡¯s mind, ¡°It¡¯s going to die!¡± The toxicity of the Green-Spotted Poison Moss far exceeded Zhenjin¡¯s expectations. Although Zhenjin was at least of Silver Cultivation, he was human. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf was a Silver Level Magic Beast, physically much stronger than Zhenjin. ¡°Perhaps its injuries were too severe, not only was one of its eyes blinded in a gang beating, but its tail was also broken by me. Afterwards, it kept running, and during the vigorous exercise, it lost too much blood.¡± Then, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf howled a few more times. The howls became increasingly deep and increasingly brief, like the cough of an old man. But Zhenjin listened quietly, witnessing these changes, he did not find the plight of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf in the least bit funny, instead, he felt a strong sense of sorrow. This Blue Dog Fox Wolf seemed to have grand ambitions, but it had reached the end of its life. It still wanted to run, it still wanted to kill enemies, it still wanted to dominate the herd, but it indeed had reached the end of its life. Finally, when it nearly collapsed, lying down on the ground, death arrived. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf seemed to sense it, unwilling to give up it tried to rise, trying to support its upper body with its forelimbs. It couldn¡¯t do it. Despite exerting all its strength, it only managed to slightly wriggle its two front paws in the pool of blood. Its already imperceptible breathing finally stopped. Its gaze dimmed, becoming completely lusterless. Its body lay motionless, like a sculpture. Under the moonlight, a sculpture in a pool of blood. The night breeze blew gently, causing its fur to flutter slightly. It seemed like the last remnants of its vitality, or perhaps its final defiance. In the end, it was completely dead, its magic power rapidly dissipating. Zhenjin¡¯s emotions were complex. Stranded on this island, he struggled to survive here; during this process, he had encountered many Magic Beasts. Python Vines and Molten Giant Turtles were as high as Gold Level. Gun Scorpions, Monkey-Tailed Brown Bears, and Blade Spiders had brought him close to death. But the one that left the deepest impression on him was the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. This was his second fight with the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. In fact, when he found the traces cleaned up by Zong Ge and his people, Zhenjin had already started matching wits and strength against the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Afterward, Zhenjin saved the camp, supported the shipwright and others rapidly, and then accepted Zong Ge. Because of Zong Ge and the others, they held the camp, cracking the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s treacherous tactic of feinting one way and hitting in another. If he had made a wrong decision during this, Zhenjin might have led to a chain of failures, eventually being defeated by this Blue Dog Fox Wolf. This morning¡¯s camp battle was a turning point in Zhenjin¡¯s struggle against the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Hearing barking, he did not hesitate, relying on his intuition, he firmly caught this flaw, thus exposing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Afterward, following a long pursuit which Zong Ge gave up on, Zhenjin persisted doggedly. After severely injuring the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, Zhenjin knew the risk significantly increased, yet he still continued, willing to take the risk, his resolve still incredibly firm. Finally, when he infiltrated the Demon Beast Army again, painstakingly performing a scene to deliver a fatal blow, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, severely injured, finally died. Watching the wolf corpse in the pool of blood, Zhenjin felt admiration, a full sense of achievement, and a faint sense of loss. If it were a human, he would definitely salute and pay his respects. Perhaps in his later years, Zhenjin would reminisce about this moment¡­ perhaps, in a snow-drifted cave haven, the elderly him would lie on a recliner, lit by the glow of the fireplace, surrounded by a group of children. His gaze would sink deep into memories, appearing somewhat bewildered, and he would comment, ¡°That was a respectable opponent.¡± But the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was just a Blue Dog Fox Wolf. And Zhenjin was not human; he was merely a Black Iron Bat Monkey at present. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear and the Strong Life White Rhinoceros still stood guard by the wolf¡¯s body. The bat monkey and flying squirrel groups hadn¡¯t dispersed either. The exotic fragrance emitted by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf still had some time before it completely subsided. As Zhenjin composed himself, his gaze swept around, gradually heating up. All these were good prey, each able to be absorbed and transformed by the Heart Core! Zhenjin was increasingly adept at using the Heart Core. One could say the Blue Dog Fox Wolf fell largely because of the Heart Core. Without the Heart Core, Zhenjin wouldn¡¯t even have been able to chase it, let alone implement a seduction, ambush, and beheading plan. ¡°Look at this Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, such a plump body, look at its muscles, look at its bear legs.¡± ¡°And look at this Strong Life White Rhinoceros, its terrifying recovery power, what do I have to fear from injuries with it?¡± ¡°The key is this Blue Dog Fox Wolf. If I could emit that exotic scent, I could tame other demon beasts. On this island, I could practically walk sideways.¡± ¡°Of course, just by absorbing one Blue Dog Fox Wolf, it¡¯s unlikely I could completely transform into one.¡± No matter. Zhenjin was full of hope. This was the second Blue Dog Fox Wolf he had encountered. ¡°If there¡¯s a second, a third and a fourth are surely not far behind?¡± Howl¡ª! As Zhenjin contemplated this, suddenly, howls came from the southeast and the northwest of the forest. Zhenjin¡¯s face froze, and then his heart shuddered violently. He was all too familiar with this howl. The two howls from two directions meant there were two Blue Dog Fox Wolves. It seemed his wish was granted as soon as he desired the third and fourth Blue Dog Fox Wolves¡ªthey appeared. But Zhenjin couldn¡¯t smile at all. ¡°So, it was calling for its companions before it died!¡± ¡°Through the howl, it seems to have left a will. What exactly did these Blue Dog Fox Wolves communicate?¡± ¡°Is the camp exposed? Are the gun scorpions, uncontrolled by the exotic scent, revealed?¡± ¡°No! These two Blue Dog Fox Wolves must also be killed. Take advantage of their isolation and kill them directly!!¡± A strong desire to kill rose in Zhenjin¡¯s heart. He could ignore the scattering beasts for now. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The newly appeared two Blue Dog Fox Wolves were the largest threat. However, when Zhenjin used ultrasonic detection, he was surprised to find that these two Blue Dog Fox Wolves were not alone; each led a Demon Beast Army. From the images depicted by the ultrasound, Zhenjin spotted familiar figures of bat monkeys, flying squirrels, and Monkey-tailed Brown Bears. Besides these, there was a massive type of snake. This giant snake had a sharp protrusion on its head, a very large body, and a swollen tail. ¡°Not good! I can¡¯t kill them in a short time.¡± Zhenjin intuitively felt that if he were to mutate into a gun scorpion again, seeking to re-implement the seduction, ambush, and beheading plan, he might fall into a trap set by these two Blue Dog Fox Wolves. Zhenjin abandoned the plan to kill the Blue Dog Fox Wolves and swiftly left the Demon Beast Army, morphing into a green lizard. The green lizard broke into the Demon Beast Army¡¯s security line again, attracting the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, Strong Life White Rhinoceros, and groups of bat monkeys and flying squirrels by constantly spraying Acid Liquid. Zhenjin led them in a circle and then transformed into a Black Iron Bat Monkey, rushing to the wolf corpse. He transformed back into a Black Iron Green Lizard, took the wolf corpse, and left. Without the command of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, the Demon Beast Army, leaderless and with low intelligence, was easily fooled by Zhenjin¡¯s simple trick. He finally had the body of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf! Hopefully, after the transformation by the Heart Core, Zhenjin could possess an organ capable of emitting the exotic scent. Chapter 108 - 108: Section 109: Sir, You Have a Nosebleed Chapter 108: Section 109: Sir, You Have a Nosebleed The moonlight tonight was not bright, and the forest under its glow seemed deeper and darker. At this moment, an acid-liquid green lizard was sprinting through the forest. Oddly, it was carrying a silver wolf corpse on its back, and blood spilled from the wolf, scattering along the path like flowers of fresh blood. ¡°This way is too easy to be tracked,¡± the green lizard thought, revealing itself to be Lord Zhenjin, who had noticed the blood trail and stopped. He was now quite far from where the blue dog fox wolves had perished. Lord Zhenjin pondered, ¡°It would be a pity to simply let this wolf blood go to waste. Maybe I can collect it and give it to Zi Di for research, to see why the green-spotted poison moss is so effective against the blue dog fox wolves. Perhaps Zi Di could create even more potent potions.¡± With this thought, Lord Zhenjin flung the wolf corpse to the ground and began to spray out acid liquid. ... He emptied his venom sack completely, shooting out all the thick liquid within. Then, he extended his mouth toward the wolf corpse and, with specific muscles in his mouth and neck, produced a strong suction force. The remaining fresh blood from the wolf corpse was quickly sucked into the venom sack within Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body. Even if Lord Zhenjin were poisoned, he would not be afraid, as he could use the magic crystal in his heart to detoxify. Looking back in the direction he had come from, Lord Zhenjin decided to investigate the remaining Demon Beast Army, as well as those two newly appeared blue dog fox wolves. ¡°Just a moment,¡± Lord Zhenjin thought of transforming into a bat monkey but then had a new idea. He remembered how he had, in his gun scorpion state, stacked the transformation with the green-spotted poison moss. ¡°What if I use the body of the acid-liquid green lizard and then transform it into a bat monkey¡¯s head?¡± Lord Zhenjin attempted this, and soon, he succeeded. He had now become a green lizard with a bat monkey¡¯s head. ¡°Now I surely can¡¯t spray out acid liquid. It can pass through the lizard¡¯s neck, but when it reaches the bat monkey¡¯s mouth, it has no exit.¡± Lord Zhenjin began to attempt emitting ultrasound in this form. His vocal cords were still those of a bat monkey, but his lungs remained those of a green lizard. After failing twice, Lord Zhenjin successfully made a sound on the third try. The results of the detection were smoothly relayed back to him. The original scene had descended into chaos, the left-behind Demon Beast Army was resisting the pincer attack of two Demon Beast Armies. Without the leadership of the blue dog fox wolves, the remaining Demon Beast Army was sure to be defeated, and the survivors would be assimilated. But what surprised Lord Zhenjin was, ¡°These two Demon Beast Armies are not fighting each other. The two new blue dog fox wolves don¡¯t seem to be hostile to one another; they appear to be in some kind of cooperative relationship.¡± ¡°Do they want to eliminate the remaining Demon Beast Army first and then turn on each other?¡± ¡°Or have they allied because of the wolf howl heard earlier?¡± Lord Zhenjin speculated that if it were the latter case, it would mean that the deceased blue dog fox wolf might have shared a lot of information in its dying howl. Stopping the ultrasound, Lord Zhenjin transformed back into a complete green lizard. ¡°The overall effect is still acceptable.¡± Perhaps because the green lizard¡¯s neck was much longer than that of the bat monkey, the airflow through it allowed Lord Zhenjin to control it more steadily. Thus, the ultrasound he emitted was no longer fluctuating wildly, and the sound frequency could be maintained within a very stable range. However, the maximum frequency of the ultrasound in this form was much lower than that of the bat monkey¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m using the lungs of the green lizard; the ability of the bat monkey¡¯s lungs to expand and contract is much more powerful.¡± ¡°Regardless, I have really combined two life forms, the bat monkey and the green lizard!¡± ¡°It¡¯s marvelous, the green lizard is a cold-blooded creature, the bat monkey warm-blooded; coexistence between the two is inherently contradictory.¡± Lord Zhenjin had once consulted Cang Xu on this. Each living organism has its unique system. Simply piecing together the strongest parts of animals does not create the strongest beast. But now, Lord Zhenjin clearly trended towards achieving such a feat. The bat monkey¡¯s head and the green lizard¡¯s body apparently coexisted harmoniously. ¡°However, this kind of multi-layered transformation consumes much more demon energy from the heart core!¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyes suddenly flashed with insight. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ve found the reason. These parts of life forms do not rely on their own to assemble and coexist. Their real core is the demon crystal within my heart.¡± ¡°It is the continuous consumption of demon energy that supports my mutation, possessing the organs and characteristics of other life forms.¡± In fact, Lord Zhenjin had already started multiple mutations earlier. Originally, when he faced the Fat Ball Flying Fish in the Oasis, he had simultaneously mutated bear arms and lizard eyes. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s thoughts continued to diverge. ¡°Wait, can I make the Green Lizard grow bat wings?¡± Soon, a pair of bat wings really grew out of the back of the Green Lizard Zhenjin, making him look akin to a low-level sub-dragon. Zhenjin then tried to flap the wings. He could fly, but it was very strenuous. Whether it was the height, speed of flight, or agility, it was incomparable to the Bat Monkey. ¡°The Bat Monkey¡¯s back muscles are particularly well-developed, allowing the bat wings to flap more powerfully and at a higher frequency.¡± ¡°The muscle growth on the Green Lizard¡¯s back is suited for running, or swimming in the water. To support a pair of bat wings is completely overtaxing these muscle groups.¡± Practice yields true knowledge. After trying it out, Zhenjin immediately gained many profound experiences. ¡°I got a little carried away. Now is not the time for experiments.¡± Zhenjin quickly regained his senses, cancelled the bat wing mutation, slung the Wolf Blood carcass back over his shoulder, and continued to run. Having spent quite some time, he finally returned to the mountain top he had initially leaped over. He successfully found his own clothes and equipment. Once again looking at the Wolf Blood carcass, Zhenjin fell into hesitation. What should he do with it? Zhenjin knew he had two choices. The first option was to bring the Wolf Blood carcass back intact and let Cang Xu dissect it, which might reveal the secret of how the Blue Dog Fox Wolf could control other wild beasts with its scent. The second option was to directly let the Heart Core absorb and transform it. The first option was very safe, while the second was essentially a gamble. Zhenjin was well aware that simply absorbing and transforming a Blue Dog Fox Wolf wouldn¡¯t allow him to completely become this life form. But if the gamble paid off, and Zhenjin gained the organ capable of emitting a strange fragrance, then the rewards would be immense. Zhenjin pondered for a moment and decided to take a gamble. He used his Spider Blade to cut off some of the Wolf Blood fur, keeping it on his person. He then emptied the water from his water bag and squirted in the Wolf Blood. After that, he activated his Heart Core and absorbed the Wolf Blood carcass entirely. ¡°Now can I transform into, uh¡­ a wolf¡¯s nose? And Wolf Blood fur?¡± Zhenjin felt quite regretful. He had not won the gamble. The two new options he gained were not very impressive. The wolf¡¯s nose had a sense of smell that surpassed humans, but the olfactory senses of Zhenjin¡¯s Gun Scorpion and Green Lizard forms were also not bad. Wolf Blood fur could keep warm, but in the current temperature, it was completely unnecessary. Zhenjin had no choice but to revert to human form, got dressed, strapped on the thin sword, filled the water bag, and set off once again. After walking a few steps, he furrowed his brow. When he transformed into other forms, things were fine, but as a human dressed in clothes, every movement caused the fabric to rub against his lower body, intensifying the pain and exacerbating the injury. ¡°If I could take down that Strong Life White Rhinoceros, absorb and transform it, with luck, these injuries wouldn¡¯t trouble me.¡± Zhenjin sighed and had to take off his clothes, remove his gear, and mutate once again. He transformed into a Black Iron Bat Monkey, grabbing his clothes, thin sword, boots, and water bag in hand, and spread his bat wings as he flew into the night sky. Flying in a straight line above the canopy saved him a great deal of time. He would fly for a while, then stop to use ultrasound to scan his surroundings, preventing anyone from witnessing this odd scene. Although in the darkness, human vision was greatly limited. But, what if? Zhenjin remained very cautious. All the way to the vicinity of the camp, he encountered no troubles and everything went smoothly. Landing in a dark corner, he transformed back into a human shape, got dressed, donned everything again, and, bearing the discomfort below, arrived at the camp¡¯s gate. ¡°Who goes there?!¡± Zhenjin had just appeared when he alerted the guards. When the guards saw clearly, they suddenly cheered in surprise: ¡°Ah, it¡¯s Lord Zhenjin.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, it really is Lord Zhenjin.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin is back!¡± The two guards cooperated to open the camp gate. As Zhenjin stepped inside, he immediately saw a huge snake carcass. ¡°What is this?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes flashed sharply. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The snake carcass was six meters long, resembling a forest boa. However, both its head and tail were peculiar; its head was like that of a crocodile, and its swollen tail resembled a huge round hammer. Upon closer inspection, Zhenjin noticed that the snake¡¯s scales were not standard either, resembling the skin of a crocodile. ¡°This is a prey brought down by Zong Ge, a Silver Level Magic Beast.¡± ¡°Cang Xu, the Scholar, dissected part of it and named it the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa!¡± Two guards introduced it to Zhenjin. ¡°I see,¡± Zhenjin nodded, then inquired, ¡°How did Zong Ge take it down? Was he injured?¡± The guards shook their heads, indicating they did not know. ¡°Lord, you and Zong Ge were chasing the manipulator behind the scenes, but Zong Ge returned without you.¡± ¡°Consequently, Lord Zi Di, along with Lan Zao, Hei Juan, and others, went to question Zong Ge at his camp.¡± ¡°Zong Ge then handed over this Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa to us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s truly wonderful that you¡¯ve returned, Lord.¡± Zhenjin fell silent, thinking. He had only just shown his face, and the guards immediately spotted him. Evidently, with the return of Zong Ge and his own disappearance, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others faced tremendous pressure. ¡°Ah, Lord Zhenjin, is it really you?¡± Xi Suo was the first to hear the commotion and ran out. Although Zhenjin had usurped his authority, Xi Suo was genuinely delighted to see Zhenjin at this moment. Zhenjin nodded at Xi Suo and commanded, ¡°I have returned. There is important business to discuss with everyone. Also, summon Zong Ge and Sanda here.¡± Half an hour later. In the central wooden cabin. On the long wooden table, multiple candles were placed, illuminating a pile of blue wolf fur. ¡°The course of events is roughly as follows,¡± Zhenjin finished recounting his own narrative to the brokers in the cabin. Mu Ban exclaimed, ¡°Inconceivable! To command other species of beasts solely with scent?¡± ¡°Cang Xu, the Scholar, what is your opinion on this?¡± Zhenjin inquired. Cang Xu pondered, ¡°Scent serves a very broad role for animals.¡± ¡°For instance, ants. When ants find food, they will leave a scent trail on their way back. Other ants will then follow this scent trail and collectively gather food.¡± ¡°Or take the stag. During mating season, they rub against trees to leave their scent. Female deer, smelling this scent, will find the stags.¡± ¡°Hyenas, lions, wolves, and such, mark their territory with urine, serving as waymarkers to prevent getting lost.¡± ¡°Skunks use their foul odor as a defense, to ward off enemies. Ring-tailed lemur use odor for offense, they fight amongst one another, and the stenchiest one wins, securing a higher position within the lemur hierarchy.¡± Cang Xu shook his head as he spoke, ¡°But I have never heard of scent being used to subjugate wild beasts of other species.¡± ¡°The activities of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, however, are somewhat akin to those of a shepherd dog.¡± ¡°Farmers¡¯ shepherd dogs can help herd sheep, prevent cows, sheep, horses from escaping, and also protect them from the attacks of bears and wolves.¡± Zi Di spoke, ¡°According to Lord Zhenjin¡¯s description, only man-made magical beasts were influenced. The scent of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf having such an effect is likely a deliberate arrangement by the Island Master.¡± ¡°Consider this, the Island Master has created so many war living weapons, how could there be soldiers without a commander? The Blue Dog Fox Wolf is just that¡ªa commander of the beasts, created by the Island Master.¡± Zi Di had long been a proponent of the weapon theory hypothesis, indeed, she was the first to propose it. Subsequently, Cang Xu also came to support this guess. ¡°What a pity, we don¡¯t have a wolf corpse at hand. Otherwise, if I could dissect it, I would uncover many more secrets,¡± Cang Xu lamented. Zi Di immediately objected, ¡°No, Lord Zhenjin did the right thing. How could you carry a heavy wolf corpse for such a long distance, traversing the night forest?¡± ¡°Lord tracked the beast pack for a long time before risking his life to ambush and kill the Blue Dog Fox Wolf while it attempted to assert control over the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, by your solitary efforts, you resolved the enduring threat to the camp. You have done exceedingly well.¡± Zhenjin looked into Zi Di¡¯s amethyst-like eyes, smiled slightly, and reached out to hold Zi Di¡¯s hand resting on the table. Zi Di¡¯s hand instinctively flinched but remained still, allowing Zhenjin to hold it. Zhenjin continued, ¡°Sadly, the final howling of the wolf attracted two more Blue Dog Fox Wolves. I am not clear on what exactly the howls conveyed or communicated. We must be vigilant, and prepare for the worst-case scenario¡ªwe might soon be facing an onslaught from a Demon Beast Army led by a pair of combined Blue Dog Fox Wolves!¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions were solemn and grave. ¡°Seems we need to change our tactics,¡± Mu Ban said. ¡°We can¡¯t just chop wood, we must quickly produce strong crossbows. Lord Zhenjin had once led an exploration team using short bows to eliminate a squad of Flying Squirrels. We can draw from that successful experience.¡± ¡°I know there are many models of crossbows, and as for Lord Zi Di, we discussed this over dinner. Lord Zi Di can provide potions that corrode metal. As long as we have enough metal mechanisms and wood, and enough time, we will have a steady supply of crossbows.¡± Everyone nodded slightly upon hearing this; it was a good suggestion. At this point, Zong Ge spoke up, ¡°The likelihood of the Demon Beast Army of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf continuing to trouble us is quite high. Instead of waiting passively for their attack, it would be better if we took the initiative to strike.¡± ¡°The vast forest sea makes it too risky for our lone forces to venture too deeply,¡± Xi Suo immediately shook his head. Zong Ge laughed, ¡°What I mean is, we clear out all the beast herds near our camp!¡± It was then that everyone saw the light in this idea. Sanda chimed in, ¡°Lord Zong Ge is right. According to Lord Zhenjin¡¯s intelligence, the Mutation has a time limit. The scale of the Demon Beast Army is actually limited by the food supply; it cannot grow indefinitely.¡± ¡°By eradicating the surrounding herds, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf won¡¯t receive any support. At the same time, the Beast Meat we clear out will also augment our food reserves.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re to do this, we first need more detailed intelligence.¡± Zhenjin mused. Zong Ge burst into laughter, his gaze challenging as he looked at Zhenjin like the Short Spear behind him, ¡°Then let¡¯s start with reconnaissance. You¡¯re responsible for half, and I¡¯ll take the other half. We¡¯ll survey the terrain within a thousand meters of the camp, as well as all the beast herds. What do you say, Holy Temple Knight?¡± Zhenjin looked at Zong Ge and fell silent for a moment. He understood Zong Ge¡¯s meaning. This time, Zong Ge had slaughtered a Silver Level Magic Beast, but after all, he had lost sight of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Zhenjin, on the other hand, had managed to do so; even according to Zhenjin¡¯s account, he had killed the extremely threatening Blue Dog Fox Wolf single-handedly. This military exploit was certain to be publicized far and wide, becoming well-known. In this way, Zong Ge had undoubtedly been overshadowed. The shortcomings of Zong Ge¡¯s status, combined with the comparison of military exploits, would see Zhenjin¡¯s influence in the team rise sharply. This was what Zong Ge did not want to see. ¡°Perhaps because of your training in the military, you are well-versed in intelligence gathering techniques. But do you really want to compete with me in this area?¡± Thinking this, Zhenjin sighed and nodded slightly, ¡°Then let it be so.¡± After the discussion concluded, the group dispersed. After thinking for a while, Zhenjin approached Zi Di¡¯s tent. ¡°Zi Di, are you asleep?¡± ¡°My Lord, I have not slept yet. Please come in and speak,¡± Zi Di¡¯s voice came from inside the tent. Zhenjin lifted the flap and entered. Zi Di was still wearing her hooded Magic Robe, the oversize robe making her seem even more delicate and pitiable. Seeing Zi Di¡¯s demeanor, Zhenjin sighed and walked over to her, pulling her into his embrace. Zi Di¡¯s body trembled slightly but did not resist. ¡°Are you scared?¡± Zhenjin asked softly, comforting her. He was aware of the immense psychological shadow the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had cast upon Zi Di. ¡°With you here, My Lord, I am not afraid,¡± Zi Di said softly. ¡°Right, I will always be by your side. The first Blue Dog Fox Wolf died at my feet, and the second one died too. The third, the fourth, even if more appear, as long as I am here, I won¡¯t let them hurt you. I promise you that!¡± Zhenjin comforted her. Zi Di looked up while in Zhenjin¡¯s arms, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I believe you.¡± It seemed as though she felt something, and her expression turned a bit peculiar. ¡°Oh, right. The main reason I came to see you is about some blood,¡± Zhenjin said to Zi Di with a smile. ¡°I need you to do it secretly.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone else before we have a result.¡± Zi Di¡¯s face immediately flushed with embarrassment. ¡°My Lord, what do you wish to¡­ do?¡± Zhenjin saw Zi Di¡¯s expression, thought for a moment, and understood that she had misunderstood him. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, I mean¡­¡± he hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Zi Di interrupted him. ¡°My Lord, you have a nosebleed.¡± ¡°Uh.¡± Zhenjin too felt the blood trickling down as he became extremely embarrassed, ¡°Listen to me, Zi Di, it¡¯s not what you think.¡± ps: Today¡¯s second update is a long chapter, tomorrow will only have one update; I need to correct typos and organize the outline, as well as optimize it further. Chapter 109 - 109: Section 110: Sir, please get nervous Chapter 109: Section 110: Sir, please get nervous The sky was filled with twilight, red enough to make the heart palpitate. Wisps of blood rain fluttered down. ¡°Awoo¡ª!¡± Amidst the howling of wolves, two Blue Dog Fox Wolves charged in. Their bodies were even larger than that of the Strong Life White Rhinoceroses, crashing directly through the camp¡¯s main gate. The people in the camp were fleeing in panic. ¡°Lord, save me!¡± Running, Zi Di twisted her ankle and fell to the ground. ... The two Blue Dog Fox Wolves stepped closer to the girl, baring their wolf teeth and red gums. Their expressions were fierce and malevolent, their eyes even emitted a green light, as if they were starving. ¡°Zi Di, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here,¡± Zhenjin shouted loudly, running over. Zi Di, seeing Zhenjin, screamed instead, ¡°Ah, don¡¯t come over!¡± ¡°Another Blue Dog Fox Wolf! Sorry, I can¡¯t save you,¡± Hei Juan shouted, trembling with a strong sense of fear as he ran away from Zi Di. An arrow whizzed through the air and struck Zhenjin in the back. ¡°I hit it!¡± From a distance, Bai Ya on the arrow tower cheered with delight. Lan Zao, wielding a scimitar, pounced forward, chopping into Zhenjin so that blood poured freely from Zhenjin¡¯s abdomen. Lan Zao glared at Zhenjin with hatred and anger, shouting, ¡°The master is not here, but I will protect our mistress with my life! Beasts, be gone.¡± ¡°Let me do it,¡± suddenly a figure emerged from the ground, it was Zong Ge. Zong Ge held the pair of Short Spears he always carried on his back, and with one thrust, he pierced Zhenjin¡¯s chest, impaling his heart straight through. Zhenjin suffered a fatal blow, his eyes wide as he fell to the ground with a thud. ¡°Lord Zong Ge killed a Blue Dog Fox Wolf!¡± Sanda exclaimed. The remaining two Blue Dog Fox Wolves fled in fear. ¡°Zong Ge! Zong Ge!¡± Cheers erupted throughout the camp. At that moment, Zhenjin shifted from the form of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf back to human shape. The cheering abruptly ceased, and everyone formed a circle, staring down at Zhenjin on the ground with a mix of shock, disbelief, contempt, and disgust. Suddenly, Zi Di pushed through the crowd, knelt down, and cradled Zhenjin¡¯s head, crying, ¡°Lord, you¡¯re bleeding!¡± The next moment, in his tent, Zhenjin¡¯s eyes snapped open. ¡°Huff, huff, huff¡­¡± His breathing was labored, his eyes focused, realizing he was still in his tent. He slowly sat up, reached out to touch his forehead, which was covered in cold sweat. ¡°Another nightmare!¡± Realizing this, Zhenjin gradually calmed down. There was no source of light in the tent, as the candle had been blown out by Zhenjin before he went to sleep the previous night. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tent, indicating it was already dawn outside. Sounds of people moving around could be heard outside the tent. ¡°How long have I slept?¡± Zhenjin got up, organized his undergarments, put on his leather armor, and slipped into his boots. Finally, he hung the thin sword at his waist and carried a water bag and some dry food. These last items had become a habit for Zhenjin since undergoing the teleportation. Before lifting the tent flap, Zhenjin gave himself one last look over. Only then did he realize the swelling on his lower body had gone down. The embarrassing scene that had unfolded the previous night in Zi Di¡¯s tent flashed through his mind. Zhenjin could have asked Zi Di for some potions to reduce the swelling, but in the end, he said nothing and hurriedly took his leave of Zi Di. Thankfully, after resting for part of the night and relying on his own recovery ability, he was completely healthy again. Stepping out of the tent, Zhenjin saw Lan Zao, who stood straight and attentively guarding the tent. Upon noticing Zhenjin, Lan Zao promptly saluted and said respectfully, ¡°Good morning, my master.¡± Zhenjin nodded, ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°Not yet, master.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s eat something together.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± Zhenjin and Lan Zao, one following the other, walked through the camp. The camp was undergoing comprehensive repairs. The most important wooden hall was being worked on by a giant who used his fist to hammer the stakes deep into the ground, forming the new foundation for the hall. The giant¡¯s wounds had already healed, one of the benefits of his giant heritage being a powerful recovery ability. On the other side, Mu Ban was leading a group of people using axes, saws, and other tools to work on the wood. ¡°Don¡¯t saw like that, saw like this!¡± ¡°Stop, let me show you how it¡¯s done.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just wasting the wood!¡± Mu Ban continued to bark orders, clearly agitated. Zi Di¡¯s tent had a specially made skylight, from which black, pungent smoke was billowing out. Clearly, she was mixing potions. Zhenjin and Lan Zao stopped in front of the campfire pit. A pot hung over the campfire, bubbles rising in the meat soup inside, emitting a rich fragrance. The camp still lacked a kitchen, and it was feared one might never be built. At most, a shed would be constructed to provide shelter from wind and rain. However, there were already people assigned to cooking. Soon, breakfast was served with both hands. The breakfast was simple, just meat soup. But having hot water had already made Zhenjin feel blessed. The meat tasted good as well, and the key was it was chewy. ¡°Is this the meat from the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa?¡± Zhenjin inquired. The person in charge immediately responded, ¡°Yes, my lord. Lady Zi Di has already examined it and found not a trace of poison. This serpent is truly enormous; its flesh can feed us for a whole three days.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Zhenjin picked up his bowl and strode over to the carcass of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. He hadn¡¯t had the chance to take a good look when he returned to the camp late last night. After a hurried discussion with everyone, he had consoled Zi Di and then went straight to his tent to sleep. He slept until now. Zhenjin sipped the meat soup while observing the huge serpent carcass. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa was incredibly large, easily outweighing the Strong Life White Rhinoceros after a rough estimate. Among all the Magic Beasts Zhenjin had seen on this island, only the Molten Giant Turtle possessed a more massive body and heavier weight than the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. ¡°It seems that Zong Ge put in quite an effort to kill this silver Magic Beast.¡± Scanning the entire serpent carcass, Zhenjin didn¡¯t find any wounds left by gun spears; instead, there were many bite marks. ¡°Lord Zhenjin,¡± Bai Ya came to pay his respects to Zhenjin at this moment. One of his arms was still wrapped in bandages. Such a bone-fracture injury would take at least a couple of months to heal for an ordinary person. ¡°They set out for reconnaissance just as dawn broke,¡± Bai Ya reported. ¡°My lord, I have grown up in the forest since I was a child. While I might not be able to hunt right now, I am certain that I can be of assistance in scouting for you!¡± Bai Ya was enthusiastic, volunteering his services at first sight. Zhenjin smiled, ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°I ate long ago, my lord,¡± Bai Ya was eager, hoping to hear the next words from Zhenjin¡ªLet¡¯s depart now. But Zhenjin handed his wooden bowl to Bai Ya instead, ¡°Then, help me with another bowl. I¡¯d like to eat a little more.¡± Bai Ya was momentarily stunned, then quickly took the wooden bowl, ¡°It would be my honor, my lord.¡± Zhenjin leisurely began eating his second bowl of meat soup. Lan Zao, having finished a bowl, followed silently behind Zhenjin. Bai Ya, watching Zhenjin¡¯s relaxed demeanor, felt increasingly agitated, wanting to urge him on but unable to start. After all, he knew Zhenjin had returned to camp late at night. ¡°It seems I am indeed still harboring fear,¡± Zhenjin mused over his dreams and sighed to himself. The challenge of scouting was initiated by Zong Ge, but Zhenjin wasn¡¯t concerned about it, knowing he had the situation well in hand. However, he could see Bai Ya¡¯s look of concern and was somewhat touched. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Once he had his fill, Zhenjin led a group out of the camp. In addition to Bai Ya, there were other hands, including Lan Zao and Xi Suo. All of this was arranged by Cang Xu, who had reported to Zhenjin the night before and received his approval. With the reconnaissance work, efficiency was indeed too low solo. On this Magic Ban environment, Fighting energy couldn¡¯t be utilized, so Zhenjin¡¯s role was more about protecting the scouting team. Nothing special about drawing the map. The pink potions ran out quickly¡ªthere wasn¡¯t much of it to begin with. At midday, Zhenjin led the team back to camp for lunch. Bai Ya frantically reported to him, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, we haven¡¯t seen Zong Ge and his team return. They probably brought food and ate out there.¡± As evening approached, with the sun just touching the treetops, Zhenjin had already called the team back to camp. ¡°Lord, Zong Ge and his team haven¡¯t returned yet. They are exerting their utmost efforts!¡± Bai Ya reported again. The phrase ¡°exerting their utmost efforts¡± struck a chord with Zhenjin. He suddenly realized that under such circumstances, if he felt pressured, the pressure on Zong Ge must be even greater. ¡°It¡¯s tough for everyone,¡± Zhenjin remarked. Bai Ya¡¯s eyes widened slightly¡ªhe had advised persistently and gently, trying to alert Zhenjin to the urgency and danger, only to get such a casual comment? Bai Ya grew anxious, ¡°My lord, we could just as well carry dry food and continue to scout at noon, without wasting precious time traveling to and from the camp.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s a good suggestion. Let¡¯s do that tomorrow,¡± Zhenjin readily agreed. He had intended to do so from the start. Although he was certain of victory, he still had to put on a show to avoid suspicion from others. By the time night had completely fallen, noises from the vicinity of the camp signaled that Zong Ge and his party had finally returned. Zong Ge and the others, due to their mixed lineage, had a certain night vision ability. But Zong Ge still chose to return. They had scouted all day with all their might, exhausted both in body and mind, with greatly diminished combat power. And in the night, predators prowled the forest, greatly increasing the risks. Even more crucial was the valuable intelligence brought back by Zhenjin¡ªtwo Blue Dog Fox Wolves were likely leading the Demon Beast Army to trouble them. So, even if Zong Ge was brave, he was concerned about a night attack from the Demon Beast Army. Such a decision greatly facilitated Zhenjin¡¯s plans. After dinner, he headed deep into the forest alone, purportedly on patrol. Having previously laid the pretext, he received the expected results; no one doubted his real motives. Once away from the camp, he confirmed there were no onlookers and then removed his clothes to practice transforming into various Magic Beast forms. In the Silver Spear Scorpion form, he mainly practiced turning while sprinting at high speed. In the Black Iron Bat Monkey form, he became more proficient in using ultrasound. In the Bronze Flying Squirrel form, he attempted to unleash electrical attacks. ¡°Time is too short!¡± ¡°And there¡¯s more to practice now.¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin spent most of the night diligently training, scarcely resting at all. Only close to dawn did Zhenjin return to the camp, crawling into his tent to catch up on sleep. Chapter 110 - 110: Section 111: Its Time to Take It Out Chapter 110: Section 111: It¡¯s Time to Take It Out When the next day arrived, Zhenjin was woken up by noise. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Zhenjin opened his bleary eyes. After listening for a while, he thought he heard Zong Ge¡¯s voice. Due to practicing intensely the night before, Zhenjin was too tired even to take off his leather armor. He simply tossed aside his thin sword and water pouch and fell asleep. Now, he rose immediately, donned his thin sword, lifted the tent flap, and stepped out. The argument had just ended, and Zong Ge was leading a group of people who were about to leave. ... Each of these people was holding a crossbow. ¡°Lord Zhenjin!¡± Xi Suo spotted Zhenjin and immediately felt as if he had found his anchor. He hurried over to Zhenjin, pointing at Zong Ge and the others, ¡°These people are barbaric; they came here to take away most of the crossbows!¡± The people around Zong Ge stopped in their tracks when they saw Zhenjin arriving, their expressions tense. Zong Ge stared at Zhenjin and spoke indifferently, ¡°Yesterday, we scouted an area of eight thousand meters and were attacked no less than twenty times. Having more crossbows allows us to scout faster and with fewer losses.¡± ¡°Holy Temple Knight, I think you should understand the situation we are in.¡± Zhenjin looked at Zong Ge but didn¡¯t speak for a moment. The young man keenly observed that the steel armor on Zong Ge¡¯s body was more rugged and deformed than he remembered, especially around the waist where there were clear signs of being compressed by a tremendous force. These were likely the marks left from his fight with the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. Behind Zong Ge, not only were there a pair of Short Spears, but also a large white bone hammer. The bone hammer was incredibly dense and heavy, clearly refashioned from the tail bone of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. Zhenjin was aware of this. Just yesterday, Zong Ge had sent someone to take the tail bone of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. He didn¡¯t expect them to act so swiftly that Zong Ge had acquired a new weapon just one day later. Zhenjin remained silent, and Zong Ge did not speak further. Both parties fell into a brief silence, creating a tense atmosphere. ¡°The bone hammer looks nice.¡± Suddenly, Zhenjin cracked a slight smile, breaking the silence. ¡°Has anyone been injured? What are the casualties? Perhaps I could arrange for Zi Di to prepare another batch of Healing Potions,¡± Zhenjin continued. For some reason, seeing Zhenjin¡¯s smile made Zong Ge feel even more nervous than before. But outwardly, Zong Ge appeared quite calm, ¡°The casualties aren¡¯t significant, it¡¯s better not to bother Miss Zi Di with other matters. Let Miss Zi Di prepare more Corrosive Potions and make more triggers. Right now, we need more crossbows.¡± ¡°The more, the better,¡± Zong Ge reiterated. Zhenjin nodded, ¡°It seems you and I are of the same mind. Then, I wish you good luck today.¡± ¡°Lord¡­¡± Xi Suo was stunned, not expecting Zhenjin to simply let Zong Ge and his people go. Zong Ge, appearing unsurprised, nodded at Zhenjin and, leading the visibly relieved former mercenaries, left the camp. Watching Zong Ge¡¯s retreating figure, Zhenjin noticed that his new weapon was crudely made, basically a wooden handle stuck into the bone hammer. It was very similar to when Zhenjin had made the Spider Blade from a spider¡¯s leg. Then Zhenjin spoke again, ¡°Tonight¡­¡± Hearing Zhenjin suddenly speak, the people around Zong Ge tensed up and turned around in unison. ¡°You can bring the bone hammer over, Mu Ban¡¯s craftsmanship might be better.¡± Zong Ge paused his steps but still didn¡¯t turn around. The robust Half-Beast warrior continued walking until he was about to exit the camp gate, then left a comment¡ª¡±Thank you then.¡± Xi Suo watched as the group took the crossbows and smoothly left the camp, ¡°Lord, are you just letting them go?¡± Zhenjin smiled, ¡°They truly need these crossbows.¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xi Suo shook his head, ¡°But, that¡¯s most of our crossbows. We¡¯re running low now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright,¡± Mu Ban came over, having heard Xi Suo¡¯s recent comment, ¡°We can make more. With the Corrosive Potions provided by Chairman Zi Di, I¡¯ve already made a template for mass-producing triggers. These triggers are of better quality, and the crossbows made will be stronger.¡± ¡°As for those taken by Zong Ge and his group, most have been soaked in seawater and worn through battles without proper maintenance; they¡¯re basically defective products. It¡¯s already good enough if they can make do with them.¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Xi Suo glared at Mu Ban. Mu Ban bowed his head and stopped speaking. He was merely a common man, whereas Xi Suo had the Cultivation of the Bronze Level. ¡°No, if new crossbows are made, we should also provide some to Zong Ge,¡± Zhenjin declared. ¡°Ah? Lord, if we do that¡­¡± Xi Suo was astonished. Zhenjin looked at Xi Suo, his blue eyes deepening, ¡°More than crossbows, I am more interested in how Zong Ge and his people were able to enter the camp.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s currently on duty?¡± Zhenjin asked. ¡°It¡¯s me, Lord,¡± Xi Suo quickly lowered his head, but then he argued, ¡°Zong Ge came here with a large group, demanding crossbows aggressively. If I had just closed the camp gates, it might have led to a greater conflict. You know, I¡¯m only a Bronze Level sailor. Thus, helplessly, I let Zong Ge and a few of his men into the camp.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you notify me then?¡± Zhenjin asked. Xi Suo licked his dry lips, ¡°Lord, I was about to send someone to notify you. I originally planned to stall Zong Ge for a while, but Zong Ge doesn¡¯t play by the rules; he directly went to the armory and forcibly took the crossbows!¡± Zhenjin fell silent, not speaking, just looking at Xi Suo. It seemed that Xi Suo was gradually unable to bear the invisible pressure in Lord Zhenjin¡¯s gaze, lowering his head more and more. Mu Ban watched this scene and couldn¡¯t help but feel secretly pleased. Zhenjin suddenly said, ¡°Xi Suo.¡± ¡°Lord, I am always waiting for your command,¡± Xi Suo quickly responded. Zhenjin sighed softly, ¡°Both of us are pure members of the Human Race, we should not underestimate each other¡¯s intelligence, should we?¡± ¡°Lo-Lord¡­¡± At that moment, Xi Suo seemed to be possessed by Fat Tongue. ¡°Your performance this time has truly disappointed me,¡± Zhenjin continued. ¡°However, I understand you and know the pain and unease in your heart. But please also try to understand the current situation. You attended yesterday¡¯s council, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Go and personally guard the camp gate. If today¡¯s situation occurs again, you should know what to do, right?¡± Xi Suo kneeled on the ground, drenched in a cold sweat in a short amount of time, his hand over his heart, he promised Zhenjin, ¡°Lord, I will definitely guard the camp gate with my life! If Zong Ge comes again with men, I will guard the camp gate to the best of my ability!¡± ¡°Very well, I look forward to your performance. You may leave now.¡± After receiving a lecture from Zhenjin, Xi Suo put away his petty thoughts and stood guard at the camp gate all day, even eating his meals there. Regardless of his real thoughts, this attitude of accepting punishment had satisfied Zhenjin. That day, the young knight continued to scout the surroundings with Bai Ya and others. He had trained hard the previous night, slept little, and had inadequate rest, resulting in a backache and sore waist while traversing the mountains and forests throughout the day. Thus, Zhenjin returned to the camp earlier than the day before. At dinner, Bai Ya approached Zhenjin, ¡°Lord, Zong Ge and his group haven¡¯t returned yet. But they sent back a severely wounded person at noon. I heard that just in the morning, they covered a distance of over ten thousand meters. Calculating their total scouting achievement today, they have completed one-tenth of their assigned task.¡± Bai Ya added, ¡°Since we don¡¯t return to the camp at noon, we could eat dried meat in the evening outside. This way, we can have more time for scouting.¡± Looking at Bai Ya¡¯s anxious expression, Zhenjin¡¯s heart warmed, and he patted his shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Bai Ya. Scouting must be done carefully, and we must ensure the safety of our own people, not act rashly. The forest is full of dangers, and we must always be vigilant. A slight inattention could fall prey to lurking beasts. So, it¡¯s essential to rest well.¡± After dinner, Zhenjin went back to his tent to catch some rest. Deep into the night, he set out again, using the excuse of a night patrol to secretly train. This continued for three consecutive days. Zong Ge¡¯s group had far outpaced Zhenjin and the others. Bai Ya became impatient: ¡°Lord, we are about to lose! I heard that you go on night patrols every day. No wonder you¡¯re low on energy during the day. Lord Zhenjin, please stop doing this. Xi Suo is very serious about guarding the camp; he is sufficient.¡± Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°In warfare and marching, there must be tension and relaxation, Bai Ya.¡± Bai Ya exclaimed with wide eyes, ¡°But Lord, we are well-rested every day, our energy has no outlet. We could travel further, scout more areas.¡± Zhenjin smiled, ¡°You haven¡¯t grasped my meaning. I mean that Zong Ge¡¯s group is exerting themselves too much in scouting the surroundings, their combat strength has severely decreased, with almost daily injuries.¡± ¡°What if Blue Dog Fox Wolf leads the Demon Beast Army to attack us at this time?¡± ¡°Therefore, we must retain some combat strength. If Zong Ge¡¯s group can¡¯t perform in a critical moment, we will have to rely on ourselves.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s what you¡¯ve been thinking.¡± Bai Ya paused, ¡°Lord, you are truly kind and considerate. That detestable Half-Beast, Zong Ge, must be exploiting your all-encompassing kindness!¡± ¡°Lord Cang Xu pointed out to me that this is precisely what Zong Ge intended. The challenge of this scouting mission was initiated by him. If he can defeat you, his influence will rise significantly. He intentionally conducts Rapid Marches daily, putting his team in crisis while controlling casualties. This is a clear soldier¡¯s approach. By placing the people around him in danger, they naturally rely on Zong Ge, a strong leader. And each time Zong Ge resolves a crisis, it deepens the gratitude or adoration of the people around him. Lord, Zong Ge is challenging your authority!¡± Zhenjin nodded, ¡°As expected of an old Scholar, with a sharp insight.¡± ¡°My lord!¡± Bai Ya was frantic, almost stomping her foot, ¡°Now, people¡¯s hearts have changed.¡± ¡°Our comrades have begun to slack off. Some think it¡¯s good that we¡¯re being slightly lazy, letting Zong Ge¡¯s group sacrifice more so we can enjoy the benefits.¡± ¡°Some people are dissatisfied. According to this trend, we are going to be defeated by Half-Beasts, goblins, and the like, even though we could have tried harder. This isn¡¯t us giving our all.¡± ¡°Zong Ge¡¯s group also has rumors.¡± ¡°They look down on us, thinking we fear danger, are too cautious, not real men.¡± ¡°Among their wounded, a rumor has even arisen.¡± Here Bai Ya appeared very angry, ¡°Oh? Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°The rumor states that you, Lord, didn¡¯t actually kill any Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Perhaps from the start, there were two Blue Dog Fox Wolves, and you just picked up a tuft of wolf fur from the ground. When you returned to the camp and saw the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa killed by Zong Ge, worried about your status being impacted by his achievements, you lied about the wolf fur.¡± ¡°Comparing real combat capabilities, you are not Zong Ge¡¯s equal. The results of the past few days¡¯ scouting have shown what kind of person you are.¡± Having spoken in one breath, Bai Ya, angry and somewhat uneasy, paused. Zhenjin laughed lightly, ¡°This rumor is very interesting. It seems Zong Ge has united his group very tightly.¡± ¡°Lord, aren¡¯t you upset being misunderstood like this?¡± Bai Ya was puzzled. Zhenjin smiled, ¡°Did you not say it was just a rumor?¡± ¡°But Lord¡­¡± Zhenjin went on, ¡°What concerns me more is the casualties of Zong Ge¡¯s group. It¡¯s said they have already lost two people?¡± ¡°Yes, one was killed by a snake on the spot, the other fell and died halfway while being carried back to the camp. Besides, there are over a dozen injured.¡± ¡°The casualty rate seems high,¡± Zhenjin murmured, ¡°It seems like time to bring out the complete map.¡± Chapter 111 - 111: Section 112: A Moment of Silence Chapter 111: Section 112: A Moment of Silence When the night deepened, Zong Ge led a group of men back to their encampment. ¡°Lord Zong Ge, Lord Sanda, you¡¯ve returned,¡± greeted a group who had stayed at the camp as they quickly came to welcome them. ¡°Phew, finally back!¡± ¡°Today was no easy day either.¡± ¡°Right now, what I want most is to drink some hot water.¡± ¡°Enough talk, I should have some wound medicine in my tent.¡± ... People at the camp entrance began to disperse, all ravenously hungry and exhausted, some bearing fresh wounds. Zong Ge and Sanda, however, did not rest and instead went straight to the largest tent in the center of the camp. This tent was originally Zong Ge¡¯s quarters, but as the number of injured had been increasing in recent days, making individual care difficult, Zong Ge voluntarily gave it up. He saw that the injured were gathered here and arranged for specialized people to care for them. Lifting the tent flap, Zong Ge began inspecting the injured. The large tent was about sixty square meters, illuminated dimly by candles. The injured inside were mostly severely wounded, each lying on a straw mat. Hearing the movement, the conscious injured all opened their eyes, looking at Zong Ge with reverence. ¡°It¡¯s Lord Zong Ge!¡± someone struggled to sit up. There were also those who continuously groaned, their eyes barely a slit open, the pain becoming unbearable. Others were unconscious, burning with high fever. ¡°There¡¯s no need to get up,¡± Zong Ge stopped them promptly. ¡°How is your condition?¡± he inquired from the nearest injured man, his face expressionless. ¡°Give me two more days, and I can join your squad, continue the recon!¡± the injured man called out. Zong Ge smiled and patted his shoulder, praising him, but he was well aware that the man¡¯s leg injury needed at least a week¡¯s recuperation. ¡°And you?¡± Zong Ge walked to the next injured person. This injured man was an old Dwarf, his face surrounded by a messy white beard. The old Dwarf laughed, ¡°I¡¯m almost done for, Lord Zong Ge. My last wish before dying is to have a beer. To have a drink before death makes it all the less regrettable for me.¡± Zong Ge remained silent. Sanda cursed jokingly, ¡°Old thing, trying to con a drink again? Your injury won¡¯t take your life.¡± The old Dwarf frowned miserably, ¡°Without alcohol, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t last. If not beer, rum would do.¡± Zong Ge had no choice but to say, ¡°I¡¯ll think of something.¡± The old Dwarf¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, ¡°Thank you, my lord. As long as there¡¯s alcohol, even if you take my old life, it¡¯s fine by me!¡± After the inspection, Zong Ge walked to the very back of the tent. There lay an injured man with very severe wounds, his body swollen, the wound on his back no longer bleeding, but festering. The man emitted a foul stench. The injured man showed no reaction to Zong Ge¡¯s arrival. He wasn¡¯t unconscious, more precisely, he was nearly dead. If he were to stop breathing the next moment, no one would be surprised. Sanda¡¯s gaze dimmed. He knew this injured man well; they had fought together, drunk together, and traveled together for over a decade. Everyone knew his chances were slim. Zong Ge touched his forehead, which was frighteningly hot. He then checked the wound on his back; the situation looked dire. Zong Ge first heated a Dagger over fire, then cut away the rotten flesh from the wound with the blade. Next, using a clean cloth dipped in water, he cleansed the wound; the water had been boiled and then cooled. Finally, astonishingly, Zong Ge leaned down and sucked out the pus and blood seeping from the wound with his mouth. After the treatment, Zong Ge sprinkled potions on the wound. The injured man in his near-death state showed no response, his breath seeming to grow weaker. Through the entire process, Sanda stood his ground, watching Zong Ge do this. This wasn¡¯t the first time Zong Ge had done this. Three days ago, the injured man accidentally protected Zong Ge, shielding him from a poisonous creature¡¯s stealth attack. After being brought back to camp, he had been unconscious since that night. Even Zi Di¡¯s potions had no effect. Over the past three days, his condition had worsened, the hope for his survival increasingly bleak. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the first night of his injury and unconsciousness, Zong Ge did the same, which at the time caused Sanda¡¯s intervention and shocked those around him. Every day since, he continued the same way. Sanda no longer interfered. The gazes of those around Zong Ge gradually shifted from shock to reverence and affection. Having finished, Zong Ge and Sanda left the central tent. At that time in the camp, several campfires had been lit, people gathered around them, eating dinner and chatting leisurely. Every now and then, bursts of laughter echoed through the air. At this moment, their stomachs, sore from the acid, were satisfied, and the nerves that had been tense all day relaxed. When Zong Ge arrived, the former mercenaries shuffled their seats to make space for two people. Zong Ge and Sanda sat down close together. The firelight shone on Zong Ge¡¯s brownish yellow shoulder-length hair, and the warmth slowly penetrated through the gaps in his fine steel armor, seeping into his body. Zong Ge pulled out the Dagger from the inside of his steel boot, gently sliced off a steaming piece of roast meat. After blowing on it just once, he popped the slice of meat into his mouth. He ate silently, while listening to the discussions of the people around him. ¡°Do you know? I thought that Bronze Magic Beast was dead, but when it pounced at me, aiming for my head, I almost peed myself. Just when I thought I was really going to die, that big white Bone Hammer came smashing down, grazing my scalp and turning that Bronze Magic Beast into pulp, splattering my face with blood and brains! I swear I will never forget this experience for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha.¡± Laughter erupted from the crowd. ¡°That Bone Hammer was what the two of us were carrying to give to that guy named Mu Ban. Boss Zong Ge really is strong, able to twirl the Bone Hammer around with just one hand.¡± ¡°At least ten Magic Beasts died under the Bone Hammer today!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the bone of a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, you know. I heard that old Scholar babbling on about how the bone in that tail is even harder than a giant snake¡¯s skull.¡± ¡°Talking about that, it¡¯s really a shame, because snake meat is really chewy. When Boss Zong Ge gave the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa to them, we were at a loss.¡± ¡°Tch, would you have dared to eat it back then? Would you bet your life on it not being poisonous?¡± ¡°Speaking of which, how did Lord Zhenjin and his team fare today?¡± someone asked. At this point, the wounded left behind in the camp told them the scouting report. ¡°Lord Zhenjin returned with his team this evening.¡± ¡°So early again.¡± ¡°It looks like we¡¯re definitely winning, hahaha.¡± ¡°Holy Temple Knights aren¡¯t so impressive after all.¡± ¡°Hey, you sure talk big. You don¡¯t even take Holy Temple Knights seriously?¡± ¡°Heh heh heh, right now the person I admire most is Boss Zong Ge. He saved my life, so whatever the boss tells me to do from now on, I¡¯ll do it!¡± ¡°Hey, you didn¡¯t say that just before; the boss only just sat down to eat, and you¡¯re shouting so loudly. You sycophant!¡± Another round of laughter went around. ¡°Hmph, these are my loyal supporters,¡± Zong Ge maintained his silence, continuing to eat his meat and looking into the campfire as if searching for his future in the light of the flames. ¡°It¡¯s going well like this¡­¡± Sanda sat beside Zong Ge, seeing the scene of unity among everyone. ¡°Just in these few days, the boss has carved out his authority in their hearts. Following the boss, we will surely reach heights that I couldn¡¯t imagine,¡± Sanda also harbored hope. Just then, the camp gate guard came to report. After receiving Zong Ge¡¯s permission, the guard brought in a young man. ¡°Your name is Bai Ya?¡± Zong Ge asked the young man, initiating the conversation. Bai Ya was flattered, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Boss Zong Ge to remember my name.¡± Sanda spoke, ¡°What brings you here?¡± Bai Ya took out a map from his chest, lifted his head, and proudly said, ¡°This map records all the terrain within 30,000 meters around the camp, as well as the distribution of the beast herds.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin received the Divine Intervention of the Holy Emperor during his evening prayers just now. All the intelligence about the vicinity of the camp was infused into Lord Zhenjin¡¯s mind.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin hastily wrote two maps, sending me to deliver one to Boss Zong Ge.¡± ¡°Eh? Why are you all staring at me?¡± The previous buzz and laughter vanished without a trace, leaving only the leaping flames and the crackling sounds of the burning firewood. ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s great news,¡± Zong Ge spoke calmly, breaking the silence. Sanda was startled by these words and hurriedly stood up to take the map that Bai Ya handed to him. Then, Sanda eagerly sat back down and unfolded the map in front of Zong Ge. Everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on the map, with only the sound of the map unfurling breaking the silence. A clearly lined, meticulously structured map was laid out before Zong Ge and the rest. Zong Ge and Sanda were silent again. After a long while, Sanda spoke in a hoarse voice, ¡°It seems this map is real. All the places we¡¯ve scouted match the markings on this map, and this map is even more detailed and precise than our findings.¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s real!¡± Bai Ya raised his voice, ¡°We have compared it with the map ourselves, and the results of our scouting over the past few days are completely consistent with it. This is a miracle! Of course, many of you don¡¯t share the Faith in the Holy Emperor. If you still do not wish to believe, you can continue to scout and explore to verify it.¡± The area was silent once more. ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Zong Ge spoke indifferently, touching the map with his palm, ¡°Calling it a miracle might be an exaggeration. But this is indeed the power of the divine. Because the terrain can be scouted, but the distribution of each beast herd, their sizes, numbers, and even their Life Levels are very detailed. Although we can also do this, it would take an unimaginable amount of time and effort.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Boss Zong Ge for you,¡± Bai Ya praised, ¡°When Lord Zhenjin dispatched me, he said that Boss Zong Ge is a wise man and would surely be the first to confirm the authenticity of this map.¡± Zong Ge remained silent. Bai Ya continued, ¡°Lord Zhenjin is also very concerned about the casualties on your side, considering that you have been pushing yourself too hard in scouting these days. Lord Zhenjin said that this time, for the eradication of the Magic Beasts, any herd with Silver Magical Beasts on the map will be our responsibility to clear.¡± Silence fell around them again. Chapter 112 - 112: Section 113: This Will Be a Fair Competition Chapter 112: Section 113: This Will Be a Fair Competition The trees here tower higher than in usual areas. The emerald branches and leaves stack upon each other, almost obscuring the sky. Zhenjin led a group of men to this place, but did not venture deep into the forest. Because he knew that a group of bat monkeys lived here. As soon as Zhenjin and his men set foot on the edge of the bat monkey territory, they immediately stopped. ¡°Let¡¯s begin,¡± Zhenjin ordered, and Bai Ya led the others, placing the bundles of dry wood they carried in several piles, just as the team was gathered in the center. Several people took out Starfire Stones; when the Starfire Stones collided with each other, sparks flew. The sparks first fell into the loose wood shavings and sawdust, igniting quickly. Then, the team members placed these on the piles of dry wood. As the wood burned, the flames grew stronger, and several large bonfires successfully formed. ... Zhenjin took out a paper package from his bosom and distributed it to others. The others approached the bonfires. While the bonfires were still small and they could get close, they quickly opened the paper packages to reveal the brown medicine powder inside. They sprinkled the medicine powder into the fires, and soon the smoke from the burning bonfires changed color. The thick smoke expanded rapidly, not entirely following the hot air upwards into the sky but settling down, enveloping the entire team and continuing to spread around. A sharp scream seemed to come from the distance, as if a bat monkey had detected something unusual here. At this moment, Zhenjin was carrying an arrow bag, from which he took an arrow. This arrow was specifically crafted by Mu Ban; the shaft was hollow with a hole on the side of the arrowhead and another on the shaft¡ªit was a signal arrow. Zhenjin then took down the crossbow that he was carrying. This time he brought three sets of crossbows, two were repeating crossbows, and one was an arm-crossbow. Putting aside the magic crossbows, regular hand-loaded ones are generally divided into three types: arm-crossbows, kick-crossbows, and waist-crossbows. As the name suggests, arm-crossbows are powered by the arms to pull open the bowstring. Kick-crossbows use the legs to draw the crossbow. Waist-crossbows have hooks at the waist and require the crossbowman to sit on the ground when drawing, with feet pressed against the crossbow stock and waist hooks grabbing both ends of the bowstring. When drawing the crossbow, the crossbowman has to use the strength of his legs, straighten them as much as possible, and simultaneously lean back to cooperate with his fingers and arms to draw the crossbow. The strength of a person¡¯s legs often exceeds that of the arms. Therefore, the draw weight of waist-crossbows is greater than that of kick-crossbows, and kick-crossbows are greater than arm-crossbows. The waist-crossbow in Zhenjin¡¯s hands is one of the three best-quality waist-crossbows produced by the camp. The waist-crossbow, set up on the ground, was taller than Zhenjin¡¯s waist. The crossbow was also very wide, wider than Zhenjin¡¯s body. However, Zhenjin¡¯s waist did not have hooks; he simply reached out, grabbed the bowstring, and stepped on the stock with his foot. Then, exerting force with his arms, he pulled hard, and the waist-crossbow was strung. Every move he made was under the watchful eyes of the others. Seeing Zhenjin string the crossbow so effortlessly, the people around him had shining eyes, revealing excitement and admiration. Zhenjin placed the signal arrow on the crossbow, then lifted the waist-crossbow in one arm, as easily as though lifting a straw. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This action once again provoked a wave of admiration from the crowd. Zhenjin then lightly triggered the crossbow, and the signal arrow shot out diagonally, not completely perpendicular to the ground. The signal arrow traced a parabola in the air, emitting a sharp whistle, and fell deep into the bat monkey territory. Bat monkeys are very sensitive to sound. Soon, the forest was completely agitated. A large number of bat monkeys flew into the sky, then spotted Zhenjin and his men, and immediately swooped down to attack. Zhenjin fired off the waist-crossbow several times, hardly ever missing, and directly killed three Black Iron Bat Monkeys. The remaining two Black Iron Bat Monkeys quickly hid in the forest, constantly shrieking, urging the Bronze Level bat monkeys to lead the main force in continuing to charge at the human crowd. As the distance closed, Bai Ya and others began to fire back with their own crossbows. The bat monkeys kept being hit by arrows, falling to the ground, dying on the charge. By the time the remaining third of the bat monkeys finally charged in front of Bai Ya and the others, they smelled the pungent smoke. This smell assaulted their sense of smell¡ªno, more precisely, it was destroying their sense of smell! The momentum of the bat monkeys faltered, and their formation completely dispersed. Some circled in mid-air, others ran on the ground, some jumped in the bushes, always unable to charge. The thick smoke repelled the bat monkeys. This was a potion formulated by Zi Di. It had previously bought enough time for reinforcements under the attack of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s Demon Beast Army, arguably saving the camp. Now, the same scene was happening again. The bat monkeys could not rush into the smoke, while Zhenjin and his people used them as living targets for shooting practice. Soon, the hunt came to an end. All the surrounding bat monkeys had become corpses. Zhenjin led his men to the depths of the bat monkey territory and found that the two Black Iron Bat Monkeys previously hiding there had fled. Zhenjin and his companions weren¡¯t surprised. Having faced off against the bat monkeys more than once before, he knew bat monkeys were too clever by nature. If the battle turned unfavorable for them, they were likely to choose to flee, especially the Black Iron Bat Monkeys. Aside from shooting them, Zhenjin and his people had no other good way to deal with the fleeing bat monkeys. They didn¡¯t completely overpower the beasts but instead used the clever tactic of the smoke trick. While Zhenjin was cleaning the battlefield, on a hillside, Sanda was running desperately, escaping from a cave. Behind him, a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear relentlessly pursued. Don¡¯t be deceived by the bear¡¯s bulky frame; when it charges, it¡¯s very fast. At the same level of existence, the bear¡¯s speed is almost twice that of a human¡¯s. Sanda was merely at the Bronze Level, while the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was a Silver Magical Beast. The distance between them rapidly closed, and just as the goblin Sanda was about to be caught, the ground under the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear collapsed. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear suddenly fell into a trap. The pit was deep, and inside, sharp wooden long spears stood erect. After the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear fell in, it let out an angry roar. Most of the wooden spears could not cause it any serious injuries; many broke under the strain after piercing through the bear¡¯s hide. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear lifted its head, only to see a group of people appear beside the trap. ¡°Good job, Sanda,¡± Zong Ge praised. Sanda wiped the sweat from his forehead, panting heavily and unusually speechless. He was still shaken, having felt the breath of death moments before. Of course, the trap had been laboriously dug by Zong Ge and others; the trap was so deep that even if the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear stood up, it couldn¡¯t reach half the depth of the pit. Moreover, the walls of the trap were made as vertical and smooth as possible. ¡°Fire,¡± Zong Ge signaled, and the surrounding team members all took out their crossbows and shot at the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. For a moment, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was like caught in a downpour of arrows. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, being a Silver Magical Beast, was furious after being bombarded by a barrage of arrows. Its palms started to change, sharpening as if its fingertips were forged from Black Iron, glowing red hot as though just removed from a furnace. Using its fiery red fingertips to dig into the wall and pushing forcefully with its legs, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear rapidly climbed up the inner wall of the pit. However, just as it was about to emerge from the edge of the trap, a massive white Bone Hammer slammed forcibly onto its head! The thud of the impact made the hearts of those around quiver. Struck by the tremendous force, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear fell back to the bottom of the pit. It shook its head to clear the dizziness, then stood up to battle again, furiously roaring at the culprit, Zong Ge. It was met with another flurry of arrows. Thus, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear repeatedly tried to climb out of the trap, only to be knocked down again by Zong Ge, falling to the bottom. In an endless loop of frustration and resentment, the Silver Magical Beast lay dead in its own pool of blood. As the last rays of the sunset lit the sky, Zhenjin and his people were the first to return to camp. They brought back a large number of bat monkey corpses; their primary goal today had been to clear out the bat monkeys. There were over a dozen Black Iron Bat Monkeys, two or three of which died dismembered by Zhenjin¡¯s thin sword. Thick smoke wasn¡¯t all that threatening to Black Iron Bat Monkeys, at least not enough to stop them from charging into it to kill a human in a furious rage. However, those Black Iron Bat Monkeys who tried this all died at the hands of Zhenjin. This proved how unpredictable the nature of the beast can be. Zhenjin¡¯s triumph incited cheers throughout the camp. While Zhenjin and others were having dinner, Zong Ge¡¯s team also returned. Xi Suo was guarding the camp gate and stopped them. After reporting to Zhenjin and receiving his approval, Zong Ge¡¯s team was allowed to enter the camp. They brought back the corpses of three Monkey-tailed Brown Bears! The people in the camp were greatly shocked. After all, these were three Silver Level Magic Beasts. When Zong Ge took out the Bone Hammer from behind to have it repaired by Mu Ban, everyone¡¯s eyes widened a bit, noticing that the wooden handle had snapped off from being overly exerted. Zong Ge¡¯s bravery was startling. Zong Ge glanced around and paused when his eyes landed on Zhenjin by the distant bonfire, then asked Mu Ban, ¡°Can it be fixed?¡± Mu Ban rolled his eyes and put down the bowl he was holding, ¡°With this damage, fixing¡¯s a thankless task. It would be better to craft a new handle. This is only the first day. With the way you¡¯re using it, unless the handle¡¯s made of iron¡­¡± Zong Ge shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ll make do with it for now. Iron should be reserved for making arrowheads. Wooden arrowheads are useless, and Bone Arrowheads are hardly effective.¡± That¡¯s when Zi Di came over, ¡°While my potions can dissolve and refine iron, the consumption is significant. Only with a large amount of iron ore can we make enough iron arrowheads. Maybe, Zong Ge, you could lead a mining expedition.¡± Zong Ge shook his head, uninterested in mining. But at that moment, Zi Di handed him a list. Zong Ge glanced at the list, his expression changing slightly, ¡°One Silver Monkey-tailed Brown Bear can be exchanged for ten sets of Repeating Crossbows, or two sets of Waist-crossbows, or twenty sets of newly made Arm-crossbows. What kind of pricing is this? Just for some crossbows, we need to trade?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not an army after all, Zong Ge,¡± Zi Di smiled, ¡°I think it¡¯s fair.¡± Zong Ge was about to scoff when Zhenjin approached, the young knight said, ¡°I swear on my honor, I also exchange according to the rules. This is fair competition.¡± Zong Ge looked at the Waist-crossbow on his back, ¡°Holy Temple Knight, what did you exchange for that crossbow? Today¡¯s bat monkeys? The list doesn¡¯t say anything about buying on credit.¡± Zhenjin shrugged, ¡°Of course, it was for my previous victories. Don¡¯t forget, I killed a Blue Dog Fox Wolf.¡± Zong Ge raised his eyebrows; he remembered the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa he had killed. But Zi Di spoke again, ¡°Your victories have already been exchanged for, Zong Ge, don¡¯t forget, those crossbows you took from the camp earlier.¡± Zong Ge and his people: ¡­ Chapter 113 - 113: Section 114: Clearing Out the Silver Bat Monkey Group Chapter 113: Section 114: Clearing Out the Silver Bat Monkey Group ¡°Indeed, she is the current Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. It seems I had underestimated her before,¡± Zong Ge looked at Zi Di with a completely new perspective. Initially, Zong Ge had led a group of people and almost forcibly took the crossbows away. Of course, they needed a valid reason to avoid accusations, and it was a legitimate one: for scouting the area near the camp, having crossbows at hand could reduce casualties. However, the issue surfaced after Zhenjin brought out the map. Even Zong Ge and his companions benefited from Zhenjin¡¯s map; the achievements from Zong Ge¡¯s group¡¯s reconnaissance were completely overshadowed by Zhenjin. What¡¯s more, the appearance of the map had severely shaken the pride and motivation of the former mercenaries, making them fully recognize the significance of Zhenjin¡¯s identity, and no one dared to make light of Zhenjin anymore. People realized one thing: Even though Zhenjin had fallen to the island and lacked the support of his family¡¯s power, he still had a backer. This backer was comparable to heaven and earth ¡ª the Holy Emperor worshipped by the Holy Temple Knights might be the strongest living god in the world! ... Zong Ge and others had paid such a high price, fighting desperately day in and day out, losing two men, with many injured, only to find their efforts paled in comparison to a single prayer from Zhenjin. The cold, hard truth was laid out in front of everyone¡¯s eyes once more, reaffirming the vast disparities in social status among people. After being taught a lesson, now the sight of Zhenjin standing there, even if he was just standing simply, brought an unprecedented pressure that people had never felt before. Many even subconsciously slowed their breathing. ¡°Holy Temple Knight¡­¡± After a long while, Zong Ge looked at Zhenjin, his voice slightly husky, ¡°then I can only trust your reputation.¡± ¡°Of course. Zong Ge, I guarantee fairness in this matter with the honor of my Hundred Needle Family¡¯s name and on my honor as a Knight.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s words were crisp and forceful. ¡°Please trust me, everyone. We are not an army; nor are we a Mercenary Group; this system simply binds us more closely together. Let each one of us understand how much we have contributed to our collective. And every single contribution should receive its proper positive feedback. We should not let any member of us bleed in vain or sacrifice without reward. No matter who he is, no matter his status, he cannot shed blood for nothing, cannot sacrifice in vain.¡± Zong Ge¡¯s eyes glinted coldly, sensing that Zhenjin¡¯s words had deeper implications, containing hidden barbs. The others, looking at the golden-haired youth in front of them, saw their suspicions gradually fade away. Zi Di added, ¡°Gentlemen, the content on the list is not set in stone. If you have any objections or think something is unreasonable, we can discuss it.¡± Faces relaxed again among the crowd. Sanda remained indifferent. He had dealt with merchants many times before. His past experiences told him: merchants usually had a strong ability to persuade, turning the dead into the living, and quibbling with them often left mercenaries at a disadvantage. But by then, Zong Ge had already handed the list to him: ¡°Sanda, what do you think would be a better exchange?¡± Zong Ge¡¯s remark eased the hearts of both Zhenjin and Zi Di. Since Zong Ge had already recognized this system, there was not much for Sanda to say. He examined the contents of the list carefully. His life experience as a mercenary squad leader made him quickly realize the most valuable items on the list: ¡°We need crossbows and iron arrows. The stronger the crossbows, the fewer our casualties will be.¡± ¡°Of course, it also depends on what your hunting target is, my Lord.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s still the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, then we need the strongest waist-fired crossbows. If it¡¯s creatures like bat monkeys or Flying Squirrels, then we need to exchange for Arm-crossbows for everyone.¡± ¡°Our previously obtained crossbows were already in bad shape, and most of them are broken now.¡± Zong Ge nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s exchange for the waist-fired crossbows.¡± Implicit in his words, he still wanted to hunt the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears. ¡°We only have two waist-fired crossbows, and new ones will take at least three days to make,¡± Zi Di reminded. Sanda frowned slightly. Only having two waist-fired crossbows was too few. They would have to settle for the next best thing, exchanging for knee-fired crossbows. But upon further inquiry, Zi Di informed him that the knee-fired crossbows had already been exchanged by Zhenjin and the others. After all, Zhenjin had returned to camp ahead of others. Sanda laughed out of frustration: ¡°So, you mean to say we can only exchange for Arm-crossbows? You might as well have made that clear from the start.¡± Zi Di smiled, ¡°There are also many Healing Potions on the list, which I believe are essential supplies. I haven¡¯t included those Healing Potions that Lord Zhenjin had previously provided you.¡± Being beholden meant Sanda found it difficult to argue back. Zi Di then expressed a clear apology, her tone even more sincere: ¡°Gentlemen, we all know what our current situation is like. We¡¯ve only just started to stabilize our footing here; there¡¯s so much to rebuild. Our supplies are very limited, and we don¡¯t have mature workshops or production lines, so the output of potions and crossbows is not high.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite normal for the items on the list to be in short supply, and this will continue for a long time. I hope you can understand.¡± People around glanced at each other, with some instinctively nodding in agreement, basically accepting Zi Di¡¯s words. At this point, Zhenjin looked at Zong Ge: ¡°Actually, I would suggest that you exchange for Arm-crossbows instead.¡± ¡°Today, we cleared out three bat monkey troops. We found that the Black Iron Bat Monkeys tend to flee first when the situation is unfavorable. The other Bronze Bat Monkeys and ordinary bat monkeys also exhibit fleeing behavior when defeated.¡± ¡°Bat monkeys can fly, and they move incredibly fast in the forest; we can¡¯t catch up.¡± ¡°According to Scholar Cang Xu¡¯s deduction, bat monkeys are gregarious animals. These fleeing bat monkeys will regroup and form new troops together. And most likely, a large portion of them will be absorbed into existing bat monkey troops.¡± ¡°In this way, the more bat monkey troops we clear out, the larger the remaining ones tend to be, making hunting them even more difficult.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Zong Ge, my idea is that we should cooperate and first eliminate the largest bat monkey troop near our camp!¡± Zong Ge immediately thought of the information on the map. The largest bat monkey troop had a Silver Level bat monkey leader. It was indeed the most threatening Magic Beast troop. Zong Ge thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement. According to the list, one Silver Magical Beast Monkey-tailed Brown Bear could exchange for twenty Arm-crossbows. Having hunted three, Zong Ge could exchange for sixty Arm-crossbows in total. ¡°` However, there were only a little over forty arm-crossbows in the camp. Zong Ge and Sanda discussed and decided to swap out all the arm-crossbows first, ensuring that everyone had a good crossbow. Then, they exchanged for healing potions, pink route-marking medicine powder, smoke potions to drive away the bat monkeys, and so on. On the second day, Zhenjin, Zong Ge, Sanda, Lan Zao, Hei Juan, Bai Ya, and others set out together, aiming to clear out the largest group of Silver Magical Beast bat monkeys. They used the same tactic involving the smoke potion as before. The signal arrows attracted a large number of bat monkeys. First, Bai Ya and some others crouched and launched their repeating crossbows. As the bat monkeys charged even closer, it was time for Sanda and the others with their arm-crossbows to shine. With arrows slaying the bat monkeys, the fury of the entire swarm was further ignited. Soon after, the Silver Bat Monkey leader took to the sky, accompanied by over twenty Black Iron Bat Monkeys, pressing towards Zhenjin and the others. Zhenjin observed quietly and realized that the Silver Bat Monkey leader was larger than the Black Iron Bat Monkeys, with broader bat wings. Standing on the ground, if it did not crouch, it was almost as tall as Zhenjin himself! ¡°Once I transform it, my bat monkey form will be able to reach the Silver Level,¡± he thought to himself. For Zhenjin to hunt down the Silver Bat Monkey leader alone would be very difficult. After all, there were a large number of bat monkeys guarding the leader. However, with the help of everyone, common bat monkeys suffered heavy casualties, and a substantial number of Bronze Bat Monkeys were also lost. Especially when the bat monkey swarm almost reached the front lines but was driven back by the thick smoke, their formation became disorganized. At such close range, the accuracy of Bai Ya and the others greatly improved, and the casualties in the bat monkey swarm surged in an instant. The most outstanding feat belonged to Zhenjin, of course. He was wielding a repeating crossbow in each hand. One should hold a repeating crossbow with both hands, one steady on the crossbow arm and the other pulling the trigger. But Zhenjin just held onto the triggers and continually shook his arms and wrists. With both repeating crossbows trembling, arrows after arrows flew out, nearly forming two dotted lines. Where the dotted lines went, not a single bat monkey was left standing. Zhenjin¡¯s killing efficiency was undoubtedly the best. Even Zong Ge couldn¡¯t help but take notice, silently admiring that this was indeed the bloodline of the Hundred Needle Family. Although his own archery had been laboriously practiced over many years, next to Zhenjin, he felt insignificant. Clearing the Silver Bat Monkey swarm had almost become a stage for Zhenjin to showcase his archery skills. Finally, the Silver Bat Monkey leader, enraged, led all the Black Iron Bat Monkeys and dived down together. They aimed straight for Zhenjin! Zhenjin¡¯s steel-head arrows shot towards the Silver Bat Monkey, but it easily dodged them. It was more agile than the Black Iron Bat Monkeys, like a purple-black ghost. ¡°Coordinate with me,¡± Zong Ge suddenly barked. The Silver Bat Monkey plunged into the thick smoke, Zhenjin held his ground, then suddenly pulled back, as Zong Ge stepped forward at just that moment. The white bone giant hammer swept fiercely, hitting the Silver Bat Monkey and sending it flying like a batted ball. The Silver Bat Monkey let out a sharp scream, crashing into a tree trunk and breaking the tree behind it. Spitting out a mouthful of blood and displaying a look of fear in its eyes, it immediately soared high into the air, no longer daring to dive down. Seeing their leader behave this way, some of the Black Iron Bat Monkeys followed back into the high air, while others continued their charge, only to die at the hands of Xi Suo, Lan Zao, Sanda, and others who had long been prepared. Casualties within the team also occurred. With many Black Iron Bat Monkeys sacrificed, they had achieved some degree of victory. Watching its swarm reduced by eighty percent, the Silver Bat Monkey leader let out a mournful cry. Then, it took a deep breath and unleashed a sonorous attack. Around a dozen Black Iron Bat Monkeys joined in with their sonic waves, yet even combined, their sonority fell far short of that of the Silver Bat Monkey leader alone. The sonic waves enveloped the area, causing the air itself to stir into semi-transparent ripples. Affected by the sonic waves, the dense smoke spread rapidly. At this rate, the smoke would soon be cleared away. Bai Ya and others desperately covered their ears, collapsing to the ground, wailing and howling in pain, even though they had already stuffed something into their ears beforehand. Even Lan Zao, Xi Suo, and others were swaying, struggling to stand firm. The rain of arrows ceased in an instant. Only Zong Ge and Zhenjin still stood erect. Zhenjin, struggling to ignore the irritation and dizziness, hurriedly ordered more medicine powder to be supplied, while using a waist-held crossbow to shoot the bat monkeys in the sky. The waist-held crossbow had the highest draw weight; its steel arrows severely disrupted the bat monkeys¡¯ maintenance of their sonic waves. Zhenjin shot down many Black Iron Bat Monkeys, and finally, even the Silver Bat Monkey leader, with its sonic waves now intermittent, failed to demonstrate its full power due to the flurry of flying arrows. Meanwhile, Zong Ge had already charged out of the formation and into the ordinary bat monkey swarm, wreaking havoc. His white bone giant hammer was incredibly fearsome, and even the Black Iron Bat Monkeys that were hit met immediate death on the spot. In the end, the Silver Bat Monkey leader let out a pitiful shriek and voluntarily left its homeland. Almost entirely decimated by the joint efforts of Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and the others, this largest bat monkey group scattered in every direction, failing to follow their leader. After resting for a while on the spot, everyone cleaned up the battlefield and then triumphantly returned. The camp was in high spirits; the unprecedented number of bat monkey corpses piled up in the corners, difficult to process promptly. Following Zhenjin¡¯s wishes, with Fatt Tongue overseeing, a modest victory feast was held. Despite the scarcity of food, the atmosphere was kept lively by the distribution of alcohol. People crowded around Zhenjin, praising his bravery and his impeccable archery skills. Those former members of the Mercenary Group also looked at him with admiration. It was Zhenjin¡¯s interference that had driven back the Silver Bat Monkey leader, making him the key figure of the battle. Zhenjin became the protagonist of the banquet, the focus of all eyes. Meanwhile, Zong Ge sat with only Sanda by his side, both prominently seated yet somehow giving off the impression of being in a corner. ¡°` Chapter 114 - 114: Section 115: The Terrifying Attack of the Mysterious Monster Chapter 114: Section 115: The Terrifying Attack of the Mysterious Monster ¡°Sir, this is the newly crafted Crocodile Boa leather armor,¡± Cang Xu reported to Zhenjin at night, bringing a whole set of sturdy armor. The leather armor, made from the hide of a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, was roughly crafted, yet because it was made from Silver Level material, its defensive power far exceeded the ordinary leather armor Zhenjin wore. It even outperformed thin iron plate armor and chain mail. Zhenjin, deeply interested, tried on the armor while speaking, ¡°Tell me, what did you learn from dissecting this Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa? What are its weaknesses, and what are its strengths? There are three more Silver Magical Beasts like this near the camp; how should we deal with them?¡± Cang Xu then reported, ¡°Speaking of weaknesses, the most significant weakness is its poor hearing.¡± ¡°Most snakes have no external or middle ear, only an inner ear. They lack a tympanic membrane, a tympanic cavity, and eustachian tubes, having only a columella ear bone. Thus, snakes can¡¯t hear sounds carried through the air. However, because the inner end of the columella bone connects with the oval window of the inner ear, and the outer end connects with the quadrates, snakes are extremely sensitive to ground vibrations. That¡¯s why when we walk, tapping the ground and the underbrush with a stick can scare away ordinary snakes; that¡¯s the principle.¡± ... ¡°Snakes have naturally poor hearing, and the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s hearing is even worse. Autopsy findings suggest that its auditory structure is more aligned with that of a crocodile.¡± ¡°Crocodiles don¡¯t even have ears; they use a small bone that supports the tongue to feel vibrations.¡± ¡°However, the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa has a crocodile¡¯s head, so its visual capability far exceeds that of snakes, particularly excelling at stalking from beneath the water to spot what¡¯s above the surface. Its eyes have nictitating membranes, which are natural diving goggles ¨C something land-based snakes practically lack. Its throat also contains a valve that can block the airways. Thus, the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa can open its mouth wide underwater without worrying about water pouring into its airways.¡± ¡°From this, one can infer that this Silver Magical Beast¡¯s combat ability underwater is also notable.¡± ¡°Apart from its terrifying biting force, the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s most potent weapon is its coiling. The pressure generated from constriction is immensely powerful. Sir, you must have seen the deformations on Zong Ge¡¯s steel armor; those were caused by the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa.¡± ¡°And the third weapon is the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s tail hammer. Its tail bone density is exceptionally high, and when lashed out, it can easily shatter rocks and snap trees. Even iron gates can¡¯t withstand a few blows from such a tail hammer.¡± ¡°It is not snake scales that envelope the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s body, but rather a thicker layer of crocodile skin. This allows most crossbow arrows to bounce off ineffectively, with only iron-headed bolts fired from a waist-drawn crossbow capable of causing injury.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhenjin inquired, ¡°And how does it compare to the Gun Scorpion leader?¡± After contemplating briefly, Cang Xu immediately replied, ¡°The scorpion shell is tougher than crocodile skin, and even the iron-headed bolts of a waist-drawn crossbow would likely fail to penetrate a Silver Level scorpion shell.¡± Zhenjin nodded. By this time, he had fully donned the entire set of leather armor and put on the helmet that came with it. His first impression was that it was heavy. The second realization was that his movements were restricted, making it inconvenient to act. After all, the person who made this leather armor was neither a specialist in crafting armor nor in making clothing. However, compared to the previous leather armor, the increase in defense was far more than just a notch. For ordinary people, wearing this leather armor would be more beneficial than not. But for Zhenjin, the crocodile leather armor became a burden. Although he was not in a position to say this, for now, he could only reluctantly praise it, ¡°It¡¯s a fine set of leather armor.¡± Cang Xu said, ¡°I must remind you, sir, that the defensive power of this leather armor will continue to diminish over time. We processed it too roughly.¡± The hide from the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa was, of course, Magic Material. But because low-level Magic and Fighting Energy were prohibited here, the leather armor on Zhenjin was merely cut and sewn using its material properties, without truly being processed on a deeper level. Given time, the fate of this leather armor would be the same as the Spider Blade Zhenjin had assembled before. Noticing Zhenjin¡¯s slight nod, Cang Xu added, ¡°Another point to remind you, sir ¨C be wary of Zong Ge.¡± ¡°The fact that he was able to kill this Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa single-handedly proves Zong Ge¡¯s strength.¡± ¡°Your current gear is far inferior to that of Zong Ge. Zong Ge¡¯s steel armor is superior to yours, and his bone hammer poses a significant threat, one that even the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear could not withstand. Then there are his pair of short spears that he has yet to use, but from their appearance alone, they are surely no ordinary weapons.¡± ¡°From my years of experience, Zong Ge is not the type to be content with being second best. Even though he agreed to the exchange system today, it doesn¡¯t mean that it represents his submission or compliance.¡± ¡°Sir, please be cautious of this man. If he challenges you in public, it will be a significant problem. The Beastman bloodline gives him an advantage on the island.¡± ¡°Thank you for the warning; I understand,¡± Zhenjin dismissed Cang Xu. Wearing the Crocodile Boa leather armor would result in poor quality rest, and despite the armor being cumbersome to put on and take off, Zhenjin removed it once more. He lay on his bed to rest for several hours and, when night fell, he dressed in the Crocodile Boa leather armor again, despite the inconvenience. After preparing all his gear, he left the camp once more. The guards were already familiar with Zhenjin¡¯s night patrols. Arriving at an uninhabited corner of the Dark Forest, Zhenjin once again removed all his gear and transformed into a Black Iron Bat Monkey. As the Bat Monkey Zhenjin traversed through the forest, he was agile and unrestrained. He leaped between branches, glided with his wings, and sometimes stopped to stand atop a tree canopy, delicately sniffing the night breeze. His nose had become that of a Blue Dog Fox Wolf. In the training over the past few days, he had accidentally discovered the remarkable utility of the wolf¡¯s nose. That was the ability to detect nearby herds through their scent. This was also why the Blue Dog Fox Wolf could lead the Demon Beast Army with precision through the vast forest and accurately locate herds, subjecting and subjugating them. But this time, Zhenjin was not out to find a herd; he was on the hunt for that Silver Bat Monkey leader. During the day, by relying on the strength of the crowd, Zhenjin had routed the entire Bat Monkey group, and most of the Bat Monkeys had become a reserve of food. The Silver Magic Beast was injured and fled in a panic. While Zhenjin was clearing the battlefield, he deliberately picked up the arrows stained with the blood of the Silver Magic Beast and firmly memorized its scent. The scent could linger for a while, and for Zhenjin, with his wolf-dog nose, it was an extremely obvious clue. But now, the location of the Silver Magical Beast leader was well beyond the range of ultrasonic detection. ¡°Ultrasonic detection has a wide and accurate range, but for tracking, it¡¯s still all about the scent,¡± Zhenjin summarized his experience in practice. ¡°Found it!¡± Not long after, Zhenjin spotted the target on the canvas painted by the ultrasound. The Silver Magical Beast was injured and had escaped, but it was still nearby, not far away. It had once again gathered some bat monkeys behind it¡ªBlack Iron, Bronze, and more were ordinary beasts. The appeal of a Silver Level was exceptional. Just as people desired to ingratiate themselves with and cling to powerhouses like Zhenjin and Zong Ge, bat monkeys had the same instinct. Without any hesitation, Zhenjin charged towards the Silver Magical Beast. At that moment, he canceled the mutation of his wolf nose, making him appear to be a stray Black Iron Bat Monkey. The effect of doing this was that when Zhenjin flew into the warning perimeter of the Silver Magical Beast, the creature still stayed put, not moving. When Zhenjin was about two to three hundred meters away from it, the Silver Magical Beast let out a shrill scream, spread its bat wings, stood erect, and made itself appear more majestic. Zhenjin then hunched down and bowed his head, displaying a submissive posture. The Silver Magical Beast felt greatly satisfied; it had long noticed the bat monkey, Zhenjin, and had stayed there specifically to subdue Zhenjin. Pretending to be subdued, Zhenjin folded his bat wings and hopped even closer to the Silver Magical Beast. The Silver Magical Beast wasn¡¯t alert at all, as it had gathered bat monkeys like this numerous times over the past dozen hours. Otherwise, where did all these bat monkeys by its side come from? It was only when Zhenjin climbed onto the branch at the foot of the Silver Magical Beast that the Magic Beast started to feel a bit puzzled¡ªthis newly subdued underling seemed overly enthusiastic about him. But in the next moment, a red glow emerged, and the head of the bat monkey, Zhenjin, transformed into a crocodile¡¯s head. Zhenjin opened his large mouth and clamped down on the head of the Silver Magical Beast! When the leader of the Silver Magical Beast was attacked, it instinctively scratched at Zhenjin. The body of the Black Iron Bat Monkey could not withstand the mighty claws of the Silver Magical Beast, but Zhenjin had anticipated this and formed a layer of scorpion shell over his chest. The leader of the bat monkeys scratched at the scorpion shell, nearly breaking off its claw tips. The leader of the Silver Magical Beast realized in an instant how formidable Zhenjin was. Its bat wings beat ferociously behind it, and it breathed heavily, attempting to open its mouth to unleash a sonic wave. Under the stimulus of death, the bat monkey leader unleashed an unprecedented sonic wave. But Zhenjin¡¯s senses were much better than when he was in human form! S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The hearing of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa was very poor. Then Zhenjin¡¯s arms mutated as well, transforming into thick and sturdy bear arms. The front ends of the bear arms, with two four-fingered paws similar to a gorilla¡¯s, grabbed the root of the Silver Magical Beast¡¯s wings. The next moment, the bear arms pulled forcefully. With a tearing sound, the pair of bat wings of the Silver Magical Beast was brutally ripped off by Zhenjin! Blood spurted, and the Silver Magical Beast let out a piercing, mournful scream, the sonic attack abruptly ceased. Without the interference of the sonic wave, Zhenjin bit down hard again. The crocodile head unleashed a terrifying biting force, and with a crunch, it directly crushed the head of the bat monkey leader. The Silver Magical Beast died on the spot! The surrounding bat monkeys screeched, fleeing in extreme terror. Everything had happened too quickly. Just as the Silver Magical Beast had realized something was wrong, Zhenjin had already mutated several times, firmly seizing the victory. The leader of the bat monkeys struggled and resisted only briefly before being killed by Zhenjin¡¯s long-premeditated attack. To the other bat monkeys, it looked like one of their kind had suddenly turned into a monster with a crocodile¡¯s head, a pair of bear arms, and a chest covered in a scorpion shell! The monster was terrifying and ferocious; the sonic attack of the bat monkey leader had almost no killing power. The mighty leader struggled frantically but could not escape the fate of death. ps: I have revised the typos in chapters 1-114, enhanced the temperature detail of the dense smoke in chapter 101, and corrected the bug of loss in different media during ultrasonic detection in chapter 102. While correcting the typos, I realized that the quality of the writing this past week has slightly decreased compared to previous texts. Since the launch, a schedule of two updates per day has made the progress of my daily study plan very slow. The ambition for this book is to reach for the moon, and if I blindly increase updates due to the pressure of pennies, I would be the first to despise myself. After much reflection, starting tomorrow, the update schedule will be adjusted to one update per day, at noon. The duration of the new update plan is to be determined¡ªwhen I feel that the quality is assured, and I can manage two updates, I will accelerate again. Everything will be predicated on quality. I want to write a good novel that meets my own standards. Chapter 115 - 115: Section 116: Lost Chapter 115: Section 116: Lost Tonight, there was no moon. In the pitch-dark forest, the cold wind weaved through like a ghost. The body of the Silver Level Bat Monkey leader had been put together, and since it was a warm-blooded creature, its body had not yet cooled completely. Zhenjin had now transformed into a complete Black Iron Bat Monkey. The previous multiple transformations had consumed a great deal of demon energy. ¡°Based on my previous conjecture, a mutation is simply a type of life form, with organs and parts that are coordinated and share the burden. However, when multiple transformations occur, it is mostly the Heart Core in the heart that bears the load, so the consumption of demon energy is much more intense.¡± ... Zhenjin suppressed this further hypothesis and looked at the bat monkey corpse in front of him, ready to make a new attempt. Using the Heart Core, he once again released four blood threads from his palm. The blood threads wrapped around and then submerged, and after a few breaths, the blood threads re-emerged, transforming both bat wings of the bat monkey entirely and sending the essence into the Heart Core. Zhenjin checked it once more and felt a surge of happiness. ¡°Now I can transform into a complete Silver Level Bat Monkey.¡± As this thought occurred, a surge of red light emerged and covered his entire body. Within the red glow, his blurry figure rapidly grew taller, and his back wings widened. After the red light dissipated, standing in its place was the Silver Level Bat Monkey, Zhenjin. ¡°The strength has increased somewhat, but it still cannot be compared to the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear.¡± ¡°The sound¡­.¡± Zhenjin took a deep breath and listened intently, finding that the Silver Level Bat Monkey¡¯s hearing was stronger than the Black Iron¡¯s, with a wider sound reception range. He tried emitting ultrasound. He succeeded on the first try. A canvas appeared in his mind, displaying various things around him all on it. The canvas rapidly expanded, reaching over two thousand meters before the edges began to blur. ¡°It seems the maximum distance of ultrasound exploration for a Silver Level Bat Monkey is twice that of the Black Iron Level.¡± Zhenjin closed his mouth, stopping the sound, and then opened it again. The ultrasound was successfully emitted once more. Time and time again, he found that he could emit ultrasound smoothly every time. ¡°It seems my feeling was not wrong.¡± ¡°The vocal cords of a Silver Level Bat Monkey are more stable, which is more conducive to making sounds.¡± ¡°These days I have been training every night, and the Black Iron Bat Monkey form could achieve a success rate of about eight or nine times out of ten in emitting ultrasound. Now in the Silver Level Bat Monkey form, it has reached a hundred percent success rate.¡± ¡°My experiment has also yielded results. For the same type of life, when I absorb enough lower-level individuals, the bloodline information storage is very complete. Absorbing higher-level life forms doesn¡¯t require a complete individual, just a part, can provide the corresponding bloodline information to let me transform into a complete higher-level life form.¡± Zhenjin quickly cleaned up the surroundings. He had other tasks to perform. Tonight¡¯s mission was not merely about a single Silver Level Bat Monkey. He grabbed the corpse of the Silver Level Bat Monkey with his feet and after a few flaps of his wings, he swiftly ascended and left this murderous scene. Half an hour later, he arrived at a gathering area of a Flying Squirrel group. This was the largest Flying Squirrel group near the camp and had two Silver Level Flying Squirrels. Zhenjin flew to the edge and tossed the corpse of the Silver Level Bat Monkey into the trees, then used ultrasound to explore. The flying squirrels lived in tree hollows and underground, but under the ultrasound exploration, they were revealed one by one. ¡°` Because Flying Squirrels have different life levels, their sizes vary as well, and both the Black Iron and Bronze Flying Squirrels have some minor external features, allowing Zhenjin to determine their corresponding life levels. The exploration yielded no difference from before, so Zhenjin flew directly into the territory of the Flying Squirrels. Sensing an intruder, the swarm of Flying Squirrels became agitated, and soon a group led by a Silver Flying Squirrel surged towards Zhenjin. Zhenjin watched the approaching swarm, standing proudly on a branch. When they were close enough, he opened his mouth and suddenly unleashed a sonic wave attack. He had mastered the technique of sonic wave attacks long ago. As far as Zhenjin¡¯s practice was concerned, producing ultrasound was more difficult than the sonic wave attack. Humans could hear sonic waves but not ultrasounds. The essence of a sonic wave attack was not high-frequency sound but a more powerful breath, which drove the vocal cords to produce louder sounds. The hearing of the Flying Squirrels was extremely sensitive. These creatures dug underground using their hearing and taste to locate food; their vision was poor, but their hearing was strong. This advantage became their fatal weakness under the sonic waves. Initially, Zhenjin had witnessed the Blue Dog Fox Wolf leading a large group of Black Iron Bat Monkeys, emitting sonic waves together that wiped out a group of Flying Squirrels including a Silver one. Now, in his transformed state as a Silver Bat Monkey, the sonic wave attack he emitted was even more formidable than the collective efforts of the Black Iron Bat Monkey group. Under the envelopment of the sonic waves, the previously fierce swarm of Flying Squirrels suddenly collapsed. The squirrels shrieked tragically, and a large number of them were killed directly by the sonic waves. The Silver Flying Squirrel tried to resist but Zhenjin increased the volume again, knocking it out on the spot. In an instant, Zhenjin resolved the battle. More Flying Squirrels scurried out of their holes, trying to escape. In a sense, the Bat Monkeys were natural predators of the Flying Squirrels. The leader of those trying to escape was another Silver Flying Squirrel. Of course, Zhenjin wouldn¡¯t let them get away, another sonic wave bombardment killed most of the Flying Squirrels, and the other Silver Flying Squirrel was also stunned. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Next, he used the Heart Core to absorb the bodies of the Flying Squirrels strewn about. The reserves of demon energy in the Heart Core climbed to an all-time peak. So far, Zhenjin had not discovered the limit of demon energy storage. Zhenjin thought for a moment, killed both Silver Flying Squirrels, and used the Heart Core to absorb and transform one of them. With this step, Zhenjin¡¯s Flying Squirrel form also upgraded to the Silver Level! ¡°Too bad I can never emit electricity.¡± In this aspect, Zhenjin had tried many times but had never been able to decipher the technique of emitting electricity. Zhenjin was able to learn the ultra-sound emitting from the Bat Monkey because ultrasounds came from the vibration of the vocal cords. Zhenjin himself also used human vocal cords to talk, a very similar type of life activity. But emitting electricity was different. Humans never emit electricity. According to Cang Xu¡¯s anatomy, Flying Squirrels emit electricity through tiny muscle filaments throughout their bodies. These muscle filaments are similar to a type of eel that can emit electricity in water. Thus, the Flying Squirrel¡¯s electricity emission is an internal muscle movement. However, Zhenjin was completely unfamiliar with this area and utterly clueless. The difficulty of learning to emit electricity was greater than emitting ultrasounds. Therefore, this time Zhenjin did not kill the unconscious Bronze and Black Iron Flying Squirrels; he deliberately spared some. ¡°These will be my pets now.¡± ¡°` Lord Zhenjin observed them and learned how they discharged electricity. Once again cleaning the battlefield, removing the carbon ash left behind from the Heart Core transformation, Lord Zhenjin set out again with the bodies of the Silver Bat Monkeys, Silver Flying Squirrels, and an unconscious, yet alive, Flying Squirrel. Having spent considerable time, and being quite far from the camp, Lord Zhenjin decided to head directly back. The Silver Bat Monkey Lord Zhenjin flew through the air. Since he was holding onto corpses with his hands and feet, he could no longer climb or leap haphazardly through the bushes. The cold night wind did not chill Lord Zhenjin¡¯s boiling hot blood. Once, to deal with a Flying Squirrel group that had only a Black Iron leader, he led everyone to fight with all their strength. Now, he alone had wiped out an even larger group of Flying Squirrels. After this night, his Bat Monkey and Flying Squirrel forms had both upgraded to Silver Level. His Gun Scorpion form was also Silver Level. Having eaten a lot of bear and snake meat these days, he could transform many parts of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear and Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. Especially the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, he was not far from its complete form. ¡°As long as I have enough time, I can become the king of this island!¡± The cold wind howled by Lord Zhenjin¡¯s ears as he deftly flapped his Bat Wings, mastering every gust of wind. His wide Bat Wings brushed over the crowns of trees, and countless wild animals in the dark forest, sensing Lord Zhenjin¡¯s Life Breath, all fled in panic or curled up, shivering with fear. Lord Zhenjin looked down at the forest beneath his feet and felt, at that moment, that he had the forest and the earth itself under his foot! Although he could not see clearly, his ultrasound explored within a two-thousand meter radius, and nothing could escape his detection. ¡°Now, I¡¯m the finest Hunter. There is no prey that can escape my pursuit!¡± ¡°I choose not to kill them not because I can¡¯t, but because I don¡¯t want to.¡± Before long, the fires of the camp appeared on the horizon. Lord Zhenjin found a place to disrobe, temporarily discarded the Magic Beast bodies, and reverted to human form. After donning his gear, he approached the camp¡¯s gates with the dead and alive beasts. ¡°It¡¯s Lord Zhenjin!¡± ¡°My God, what has he brought back?¡± The guards started to exclaim upon seeing Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin gave a faint smile, yet he sighed softly in his heart, unable to avoid a sense of loss. ¡°Compared to my Magic Beast forms, I¡¯m really too weak like this. I can only see my surroundings because of the firelight, my ears feel as if they have been blocked.¡± ¡°Facing Zong Ge in human form, my chances of winning are not good. I must learn to discharge electricity soon; stainless steel armor conducts electricity very easily.¡± ¡°Seems like there¡¯s some noise from the camp?¡± Inside his tent, Zong Ge sensed something, ¡°Has Lord Zhenjin returned?¡± Zong Ge guessed, knowing Lord Zhenjin had a habit of patrolling at night. Tonight¡¯s celebration dinner left him tasteless, and the exchange list made it difficult for him to sleep. He had learned that the system was conceived and provided by the old Scholar, Cang Xu. ¡°This old man, he really has political skills.¡± Zong Ge¡¯s understanding of Cang Xu deepened. If Lord Zhenjin forcefully incorporated people around him, it could spoil things. Too impatient, because Lord Zhenjin could not truly resolve the conflict between the two sides. Represented by Xi Suo, the crew, and Zong Ge, Sanda, and other mercenaries had long clashed. The conflicts were deep, and they were mutually wary, never truly trusting each other. If Lord Zhenjin forced incorporation, there would surely be significant internal conflicts, which would diminish his authority and distract his energy. Poor handling of such conflicts could lead to even worse outcomes. If mishandled, Zong Ge would then have a real opportunity. Only by disappointing the members of the Mercenary Group with Lord Zhenjin could Zong Ge take his chance to truly bind them with himself. But Lord Zhenjin adopted Cang Xu¡¯s system, preventing Zong Ge from seizing this opportunity. With such a system in place, and Lord Zhenjin controlling essential production techniques, it was safe to say he had the upper hand completely. Fair? There was never true fairness! Controlling the production techniques and using the manufactured crossbows and potions to exchange for precious resources was priced by Zi Di himself. This alone contained substantial profits. The exploitation began the first time Zong Ge made an exchange. Going forward, with the exchange system, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s side could easily gain maximum benefit, like in the competition between the jump-draw and the chest-draw crossbows. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s side, possessing the more powerful jump-draw crossbow, began to suppress Zong Ge¡¯s side in terms of long-range combat capabilities. Continuing to use this advantage, granting small personal favors in private, would easily make the former members of the Mercenary Group overwhelmed with gratitude. For instance, according to the exchange list you could only change for two bottles of potions, but if I took a liking to you and secretly gave you an extra bottle, wouldn¡¯t you be happy? Having this initiative, Lord Zhenjin didn¡¯t even need to show up personally to win people over, continuing to lure them with ongoing incentives, Zong Ge would end up isolated. Zong Ge was not blind or confused, but he had no choice. With immediate threats like the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, facing mighty enemies, and the distant necessity of escaping the island requiring sailors to operate ships, Zong Ge knew he had to cooperate. Since cooperation was necessary, the means of struggle were limited. Cang Xu¡¯s soft knife stroke, a bloodless way of killing, combined with the map previously revealed by Lord Zhenjin, had suddenly thrust Zong Ge into the abyss. The lesser the cards, the more disadvantageous. Zong Ge was already at a disadvantage, now it was intensified, and he could already see his own defeat. ¡°No, as long as I draw breath, I, Zong Ge, will not give up.¡± ¡°I still have a chance.¡± ¡°I am of Silver Cultivation, and even a step away from Gold.¡± ¡°If I cannot even protect this foundation, how can I rise above and vindicate myself?¡± ¡°How can I make sure my father¡¯s expectations are not met with disappointment, making him proud of me?¡± The dim candlelight flickered in Zong Ge¡¯s eyes, gradually transforming into a play of light and shadow. In the light and shadow, Zong Ge saw himself dominating the battlefield, endless honors and glories accumulated upon him. In the light and shadow, Zong Ge saw himself returning to his hometown, proudly returning to the castle he lived in as a child. But this time, he didn¡¯t stay in that dark, damp room. He was welcomed into the hall, he attended a ball. The hall had a vibrant red carpet, crystal chandeliers, tables after tables of gourmet foods, enormous and expensive exquisite tapestries on the walls, and priceless masterpieces of famous paintings. He marveled within, finally able to truly step foot here. He became the protagonist of the ball, the focus of numerous high-class ladies¡¯ attention. And after a dance, his father, the castle master who maintained the appearance of middle age due to his powerful abilities, Zong Ge¡¯s lifelong idol, rose and raised a glass filled with red wine. Then, Zong Ge heard his father¡¯s voice echoing in the hall, ¡°Now, I am proud to introduce to you all, Zong Ge, my son!¡± The candle burned out. The light and shadow disappeared. Zong Ge came back to his senses, in the dark tent, he caressed his own arm. It was covered in thick fur, a feature of a Beastman. Just like many other moments in his life, this time too, a sense of loss emerged from the depths of Zong Ge¡¯s heart. ¡°If only I were a pure-blooded human, how wonderful that would be¡­¡± Chapter 116 - 116: Section 117: This is the Lord Zhenjin I follow Chapter 116: Section 117: This is the Lord Zhenjin I follow The sun had once again unleashed its heat throughout the day, and now it began to plummet toward the west. The vast forest gradually darkened, and the elongated shadows of everyone spread out, completely covering the deep pit trap in front of them. In the deep pit, a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear let out the last roar of its life. The roar was weak, and soon after, it lay in a pool of blood with no breath left. Its body was almost filled with arrows, and the pit was in a mess, with shattered wooden stakes smashed by the Brown Bear all around. The walls of the trap were not smooth; clearly, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear had struggled a lot to climb out. Boom. ... Zong Ge was the first to jump down. He bent down to check the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s condition and, after ensuring it was indeed dead, waved for the rest of the people to come down and handle it. The blood was also collected; it could be exchanged for resources and should not be wasted. The entire bear, being too large, would be dismembered. Each part of the body was secured with hemp rope, to be pulled up by the combined efforts of those by the trap. It took about half an hour to process the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s body. Zong Ge led the team and began the return to camp. Aside from the four Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, there were several monkeys, squirrels, snakes, and also the body of a Half-Elf. After killing a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, this Half-Elf was the first to jump into the pit to harvest the bear corpse. Unfortunately, the bear was not completely dead, just unconscious. Awoken by pain, it struck the Half-Elf¡¯s flank and kidney, shattering both. With such a severe injury and no Divine Arts or magic, the Half-Elf took only a few breaths before dying completely. Since then, Zong Ge was always the first to jump into the trap to personally check the condition of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears. The afterglow of the sunset shone on the entire team. The team returned full-loaded. Although they had lost a companion, the faces of each were filled with the joy of the harvest. People chatted and laughed all the way home. They had once been part of a Mercenary Group; they had grown accustomed to the death of companions and even themselves. Some even felt happy for the Half-Elf¡ªat last, he need not suffer any further on this accursed island! Zong Ge walked at the front of the team, still cautious and fully concentrated on scouting to guard against any possible ambushes. Sanda moved up from the middle of the team. He quickened his pace and caught up to Zong Ge, pulling out a map from his chest: ¡°Lord, there aren¡¯t many bears left. I think it would be best to finish off these last few tomorrow. Marching this way, we can conserve as much time and energy as possible.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zong Ge glanced at the map and saw Sanda¡¯s finger trace a route on it; he knew this route Sanda had researched was no different from what he had envisioned. As for the map, Zong Ge had already committed it to memory. This was an excellent strategic skill he had cultivated in the army. Sanda expressed his concerns: ¡°After we kill these last three Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, we need to consider what to target next.¡± ¡°Lord, I believe we should not touch the Flying Squirrel group for now. Flying Squirrels are small, and our big guys¡¯ archery isn¡¯t too reliable either. Most of us are better at close combat, but Magic Beast-level Flying Squirrels can emit electricity, a huge counter to us.¡± ¡°Lord, what do you think about targeting the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa?¡± ¡°On the exchange list, one Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa is worth almost two Monkey-tailed Brown Bears.¡± Zong Ge shook his head slightly. He had previously encountered the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, and it had been a hard-won victory. ¡°The skin of the boa is very thick. Most of our arrows are made of wood or bone. There are few iron arrowheads, and only iron arrowheads can cause injury to the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa.¡± ¡°If we really have to deal with the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, I can¡¯t hold it off directly. The deep pit wouldn¡¯t limit the climbing ability of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa.¡± Zong Ge explained the reasons. ¡°Then our next target should be the bat monkey group.¡± ¡°This is also Lord Zhenjin¡¯s target.¡± ¡°On the exchange list, the value of bat monkeys is not high, but we compensate with quantity. The forests near the camp have the most wild bat monkeys.¡± ¡°However, this means we have to compete with Lord Zhenjin¡¯s group for the bat monkeys. When compared to archery, we¡¯re still behind them.¡± Sanda analyzed the situation. His gaze was sharp, and he had a precise assessment of both sides¡¯ strengths. Indeed, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s side had stronger ranged firepower; Lord Zhenjin himself, with a crossbow, was a very powerful archer. The rest of his crew had practiced archery as well¡ªafter all, cannons and crossbows were standard weapons aboard ships. Sanda rolled up the map and tucked it back inside his clothes, then he pulled out the exchange list. Ever since he got the list, he¡¯d been pondering it whenever he had time. Sanda was a goblin; even if honest, his racial shrewdness had not faded. He was once the squad leader of the Three Knife Mercenary Group, who understood the value of everyday necessities. ¡°Sir, I have analyzed the situation. Now that our crossbows have been replaced with the new arm-crossbows, hunting efficiency has indeed increased a lot today. The production of other crossbows is low, and it wouldn¡¯t be cost-effective to exchange for Jing Zhang crossbows in the short term. Replacing them prematurely with arm-crossbows is a waste.¡± ¡°What we need the most now are iron-headed arrows!¡± ¡°The production of iron has always been very low. I suggest that today, we first exchange all the iron-headed arrows in stock, then exchange for other materials.¡± Zong Ge nodded, patting Sanda¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Good, your analysis is excellent. Let¡¯s proceed with this plan.¡± Sanda quickly flushed with pleasure at Zong Ge¡¯s approval. However, their plans were beautiful only in theory. When they went to exchange at the camp, they were informed that the iron-headed arrows had already been monopolized by Lord Zhenjin. ¡°They, they came back earlier. As soon as they arrived, they exchanged for them,¡± the man with the stutter was in charge of the exchanges. ¡°Last time it was Jing Zhang crossbows, this time iron-headed arrows¡­ This won¡¯t do! Why is it that we can never exchange for the most valuable materials?¡± Sanda was furious. ¡°You, you could come back earlier,¡± the man with the stutter said. Sanda sneered, ¡°The reason we returned late is that we spent time clearing out the area. Look, this is what we caught today, a whole four Monkey-tailed Brown Bears!¡± ¡°We hunted so many Silver Magical Beasts, and the cost wasn¡¯t just effort, it included the life of one of our members.¡± ¡°And yet, due to the delay in time, we are unable to obtain the materials we want. Do you think this is reasonable? Do you think this is fair?¡± ¡°I remember that the Holy Temple Knight Lord Zhenjin once promised fairness to us. But now, there is no fairness at all.¡± ¡°Wait, what is that?¡± Sanda¡¯s gaze sharpened as he saw Bai Ya walking past the distant tents, holding a metal cage. Sanda immediately rushed over to Bai Ya, his eyes wide with anger, ¡°A cage forged from iron? I¡¯m not seeing things, am I? Can someone explain this to me?¡± ¡°The production of iron has always been very limited. Is this how you use iron?¡± ¡°We wanted iron-headed arrows, yet you¡¯ve cast the iron into a cage. Do you realize how many iron-headed arrows could have been made from it?!¡± Bai Ya found his path blocked by Sanda. Confronting the goblin before him who had Black Iron Level cultivation, Bai Ya remained undaunted. He held the iron cage, looking down from his greater height at the goblin, ¡°Lord Sanda, this iron cage has a far greater use than you could imagine.¡± ¡°Oh? Kid, I¡¯m curious to see what excuse you can come up with,¡± Sanda said, arms crossed, sneering coldly. Bai Ya smiled, ¡°It seems that you are not aware that last night, during his patrol, Lord Zhenjin received divine instruction. He bravely ventured into the forest alone at night, tracking down the Silver bat monkey that had escaped and slaughtering the Flying Squirrel group by midnight.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin killed the Silver bat monkey and even wiped out the largest Flying Squirrel group in the camp, bringing back several unconscious Magic Beasts.¡± ¡°This iron cage is for holding the Black Iron Flying Squirrels and Bronze Flying Squirrels.¡± ¡°With these live Flying Squirrels, there¡¯s a much greater hope that Zi Di can continually experiment and develop potions targeted at Flying Squirrels.¡± ¡°We should all be aware that with our current means and strength alone, the risk of clearing out Flying Squirrel groups is considerable.¡± ¡°What?¡± Sanda and the others showed looks of astonishment. Even Zong Ge¡¯s pupils contracted slightly. This was indeed the first time they had heard this news. They were all veterans of battle and understood that Zhenjin¡¯s new feats outshone the four Monkey-tailed Brown Bears. Because while the Brown Bears were easy to deal with, taking down a wildly flying Silver bat monkey and the largest Flying Squirrel group was far from simple. ¡°The Holy Emperor¡­ Did he give guidance to Lord Zhenjin again?¡± ¡°Such incredible luck!¡± ¡°Holy Temple Knight¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not luck; who dares to venture alone into the forest? That Flying Squirrel territory is far from the camp.¡± ¡°It may seem like an easy win, but the difficulty is high. The Silver bat monkey was hardly wounded¡­ Lord Zhenjin truly is brave.¡± People started discussing. Bai Ya¡¯s smile grew wider, and his head gradually lifted in pride. Although Bai Ya had heard such comments many times before. All day long, people in the camp had been talking about Zhenjin¡¯s achievements, with no one failing to praise him. Now, hearing these people¡¯s evaluations, Bai Ya still felt proud, honored, and joyful. ¡°This is the Lord Zhenjin I follow¡­¡± Zong Ge fell silent. Subconsciously, his hand brushed the handle of the hammer on his back, and he made a decision, ¡°I can¡¯t let this continue. I must confront Zhenjin soon! A sacred duel¡­ The Holy Temple Knight will have no reason to refuse me.¡± Chapter 117 - 117: Section 118: I am a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear Chapter 117: Section 118: I am a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear The forest tonight was unusual. Bear roars resounded continuously, a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear had lived on this hill for years and was the ruler of this area. But now, its roars revealed clear anxiety, fury, and pain. What kind of formidable enemy must the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear be facing to elicit such cries? It seemed that the threat had been recognized, and the beasts near the cave were disturbed by the waves of bear roars, fleeing one after another, trying to keep away from the cave. At this moment, the one troubling the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was a monster. ... It possessed the body and wings of a Silver Bat Monkey but the head and neck belonged to a Black Iron Level Acid Liquid Green Lizard. This made the monster look disproportionate, completely large-headed and small-bodied. The monster was soaring, continuously circling above the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s head, and from time to time, it would open its mouth, rolling out a spherical bulge from the skin of its neck. When the bulge slid into its mouth, the monster would spew out a stream of acid. The acid was incredibly precise, even accounting for lead time, hitting the mark even though the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear on the ground made evasive maneuvers. The acid had already corroded most of its fur, worsening its injuries. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was extremely furious, the front segments of its gorilla-like palms were already vivid red. Originally, Zhenjin had used these sharp claws to flip a Silver Level Blade Spider with a single strike. Normally, the claws, resembling Black Iron, were also exceptionally sharp and hard. When the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear faced a formidable enemy and was very angry, the dark claws would turn bright red, emitting high heat as if they had just been taken out of a forge. At that moment, the claws were terrifyingly powerful; Zhenjin himself had tried, and even a Silver Scorpion Shell couldn¡¯t withstand it! It was known that the Silver Scorpion Shell could withstand the blade of a Silver Spider. However, regardless of how powerful the claws were, if they couldn¡¯t reach Zhenjin, it was all in vain. Indeed, this monster with the head of a lizard and the body of a bat monkey was Zhenjin. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, being large and bulky, found it difficult to even jump, let alone fly. Otherwise, Zong Ge¡¯s ambush tactics wouldn¡¯t have been so tremendously successful. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear couldn¡¯t hit Zhenjin, and almost every one of Zhenjin¡¯s acid attacks added to the injuries of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. This asymmetric battle had its outcome sealed from the start. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear went from anger to helplessness, from hatred to fear, and the severe injuries made it unable to stand and roar at Zhenjin; instead, it turned and fled toward the cave. Zhenjin constantly observed the state of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. As soon as it turned around, he perceived its intent and immediately flapped his wings, plunging downwards. Just as he was about to draw close to the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, a red light flashed behind Zhenjin, and a scorpion tail of a gun scorpion grew out. The Silver Magical Beast¡¯s scorpion tail whooshed forward, piercing the head of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear from above its back. Zhenjin drew out his tail, bringing with it a mixture of blood plasma and brain fluid. Because Zhenjin¡¯s stabbing and pulling motion was so fast, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear seemed not to notice and kept running for a dozen more steps before it suddenly collapsed to the ground with a thud, sliding forward a bit and kicking up a cloud of fine dust. Zong Ge had expended considerably effort, leading a group to first dig pits, then lure the enemy into a trap, and finally shoot to kill them together. Zhenjin, on the other hand, had easily disposed of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear in about one-tenth of the time it took Zong Ge and his people. ¡°Multiple transformations, the power is truly immense!¡± ¡°The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, when facing the Silver Bat Monkey, is at most annoyed by the sonic waves it attacks with. If the Silver Bat Monkey really needed to deal with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, it would have to fight up close, using its monkey claws to scratch. By then, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear would certainly teach it a lesson.¡± ¡°Against the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, the Acid Liquid Green Lizard can only spit a few shots of acid liquid in the early stage of the fight. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear runs very fast, much faster than the green lizard. Even if the green lizard shoots while running, it would quickly be caught up by the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear and then it would have to pay with its life.¡± ¡°However, when the mutations of the bat monkey and the green lizard are stacked together, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear has no chance to fight back. Add in the scorpion tail, and no single Monkey-tailed Brown Bear could match me in combat!¡± Zhenjin landed on the ground, full of emotion. These days of rigorous training, Zhenjin began to profoundly exploit the combat potential of his Heart Core. Through repeated real battles, he increasingly felt the strength and wonder of multiple mutations. Zhenjin set his foot on the head of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. This Silver Magic Beast, which had almost killed Zhenjin even when it was severely injured, now in optimal condition, hadn¡¯t injured a single hair on Zhenjin. The next moment, the Heart Core was activated by Zhenjin. Four red lines emerged, binding the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear tightly before refining it, absorbing the essence of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s bloodline back into Zhenjin¡¯s Heart Core. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s body surged with red light again, the light dissipated, and he no longer was in his bat monkey form, but had transformed into a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Having already been able to mutate bear claws and bear arms, and having consumed a lot of bear meat these days thanks to the contribution of Zong Ge and others, Zhenjin had finally achieved the standards of a complete transformation to the Silver Brown Bear. Looking at his own palms and then at his chubby chest, Zhenjin was enveloped by a novel sensation once again. Zhenjin stood up, and his perspective immediately elevated. Whether it was the sense of smell, hearing, or sight, all were very sensitive, but his sense of smell was not as good as that of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, his hearing not as good as a bat monkey or a Flying Squirrel, and his vision not as good as a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, and in terms of practicality, not comparable to the green lizard. But how to put it, on the whole, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s three sensory abilities combined provided powerful insight into the external world. The bat monkey and the Flying Squirrel¡¯s vision could not compare to it; the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s hearing was far inferior. In terms of smell, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was second only to the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The gun scorpion and the green lizard were below it. ¡°The most powerful weapon of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear is still these eight sharp claws.¡± Zhenjin focused his attention on his fingernails, which soon changed from a Black Iron-like appearance to being red-hot. Under the stimulus of life and death, Zhenjin instinctively used the claws of the brown bear and from then on, this feeling was etched in his heart. So, when Zhenjin used them again, he did it very easily. But upon further investigation, the transformation of the claws and the difficulty of the Flying Squirrel producing electric charge are the same. Human nails would never undergo such a change, and this skill of maneuvering such abilities is completely foreign to an ordinary person. Zhenjin could not yet produce electric charge, but he was quite adept at using these claws. ¡°Let¡¯s try mining!¡± Zhenjin exited his upright human stance, placed all limbs on the ground, and crawled forward. He had experience in the form of a green lizard, so he was very familiar with how to efficiently run using all limbs. ¡°The brown bear¡¯s hind legs are thick and short; running is difficult in an upright stance, so it is best suited for running on all fours.¡± Zhenjin quickly got the hang of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear form. He came to the cave, dug into the cave walls with his claws, and mined the ore to eat. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°The taste is quite good!¡± After eating the ore, Zhenjin felt as if he bit into a piece of meat that was both fat and lean, sweet and tender. The meat was not grilled but cooked in a sauce. According to the Eastern Empire, it was called ¡°braised.¡± ¡°So, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear eats ore just like it eats meat.¡± Zhenjin thoroughly savored this delightful meal. Usually, in the camp, although he was fed enough, the soup and other dishes were lacking salt and other seasonings, making them quite bland in taste. ¡°Cang Xu dissected a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear and found its digestive ability to be extremely outstanding, especially adept at digesting iron. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s claws also grow from the absorbed iron, solidified into Biological Iron!¡± ¡°I remember Cang Xu also said that such digestive absorption capabilities allow the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear to even consider iron-made swords as food.¡± At that moment, Zhenjin was intrigued. ¡°When I return, I can secretly give it a try. I wonder what the taste of iron swords would be like?¡± In his human form, Zhenjin could only use iron swords as weapons. But as the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, he could see them as a type of food. As Zhenjin¡¯s life form kept transforming, his perspective and feelings towards things also changed. Some changes were silent, to the extent that Zhenjin himself didn¡¯t notice them. Other changes were transformative. Zhenjin heated his claws until they were red and warm, and he used them in this state to dig into the cave wall. The hard cave wall seemed quite soft; with a gentle thrust, Zhenjin could bury his entire claw into the wall. With a slight stir, he could dig out a large piece of ore. ¡°Next, let¡¯s try the healing effect of the ore.¡± Behind Zhenjin¡¯s plump bear buttocks, a scorpion tail grew. He poked himself with the scorpion tail, quickly creating a small blood hole, not very deep. Zhenjin started to devour the ore, and the blood hole quickly clotted. Zhenjin carefully observed and felt the ore digesting in his stomach, transforming into a warm flow, moving toward the wound. His pain also quickly decreased, and as time passed, a thin scab gradually formed over Zhenjin¡¯s wound. ¡°The digestive system of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear is strong, capable of rapidly digesting the consumed ore, directing the nutrients specifically to the body¡¯s wounds, and facilitating quick recovery.¡± ¡°However, in terms of recovery ability, it is still not as good as that of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros.¡± The recovery ability of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros was not only stronger but also more practical. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear heals by consuming large amounts of food afterward, requiring specific ores. Meanwhile, the Strong Life White Rhinoceros eats a huge amount of food only after healing, consuming more common foods like grass, tree leaves, and fruit. Zhenjin stayed in the cave for a while longer, easily digging out a lot of ore. ¡°Now with a shortage of iron, mining as a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear is too easy; I¡¯ve practically unearthed the entire mountain!¡± ¡°My work efficiency alone could match that of a hundred people.¡± ¡°These ores will be taken by people tomorrow. Iron has always been in severe shortage at the camp.¡± As for the excuse, Zhenjin didn¡¯t need to come up with one, Cang Xu would certainly speculate¡ªperhaps, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear has a habit of storing food? This might become a flaw, but as long as Zhenjin doesn¡¯t transform in front of others, Cang Xu can only suspect that this Monkey-tailed Brown Bear might be a unique exception. The immediate priority for the team was still to acquire more iron. It was about time, so Zhenjin left the cave, transformed back into a Silver Bat Monkey, and flew back to the camp. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He still pondered about the iron ore in his heart. ¡°Perhaps, I should take some time out each night to secretly mine and stockpile it, then discover it all at once.¡± ¡°My mining efficiency is too high.¡± ¡°These days, Zi Di and Cang Xu also planned to mine, but they are severely short-handed, and mining also requires iron pickaxes; there is simply not enough iron available to afford making iron pickaxes.¡± ¡°Hmm?!¡± At that moment, during his flight, Zhenjin suddenly changed his expression. Chapter 118 - 118: Section 119: Emergency Preparations Chapter 118: Section 119: Emergency Preparations ¡°It¡¯s the Demon Beast Army of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf!¡± Zhenjin transformed into a bat monkey and had to use ultrasonic detection when flying in the dark. The ultrasonic detection range of the silver bat monkey stretched up to two thousand meters. Right now, Zhenjin hovered on the edge of this two-thousand-meter range, discovering large numbers of bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels. He continued his surveillance and soon spotted Magic Beasts like the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear and the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa intruding into his detection range. ¡°They are coming!¡± Zhenjin had been expecting this moment, but when it actually occurred, he still couldn¡¯t help feeling a sinking sensation in his heart. ... What truly jarred Zhenjin was that the Demon Beast Army¡¯s marching route was incredibly straightforward, with their target clearly being the camp where they were stationed! ¡°Can I disguise myself, get close to the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, and kill them?¡± This thought had barely surfaced in Zhenjin¡¯s mind when an alarm bell rang within him. This was the intuition of an excellent warrior, and Zhenjin had always trusted it. Since his awakening on the island, his intuition had never been wrong. Zhenjin recalled the wailing and howling of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf he had killed before its death. ¡°It seems this creature relayed a lot of crucial information, not just about my trick of luring and beheading it in an ambush, but also about the location of our camp.¡± Zhenjin hurriedly returned to a crucial point, put on his clothes and equipment, and rushed back to the camp with rapid speed. Arriving at the forest by the camp gate, he slowed his pace, emerging cautiously to avoid being mistakenly shot by the guards. ¡°Lord Zhenjin!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin has returned.¡± The guards spotted Zhenjin, shouting out and saluting one by one. But the next moment, they heard Zhenjin¡¯s command, ¡°Quick, fire three signal arrows, rally everyone¨Cwe are about to face a major battle!¡± A few breaths later, the sharp sound of the signal arrows tore through the night. Most people were jolted awake from their sleep. ¡°What was that sound?¡± ¡°It sounded like signal arrows¡­¡± Then, they heard another shriek of a signal arrow. Rapidly they left their beds, donned their gear, and emerged from the tents or wooden huts. At this moment, they heard a third signal arrow. ¡°Three signal arrows signify the most critical moment has arrived.¡± ¡°Where are the enemies?¡± The camp¡¯s shipwrights were clamorously stirring, while former members of the Mercenary Group around Zong Ge were much quieter and more orderly. Zong Ge stepped out of his tent, struggling a bit due to his heavy steel armor: ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Sanda quickly approached him and explained, ¡°Lord Zhenjin returned from his night patrol with important military intelligence. Soon, the Demon Beast Army will attack the camp. Lord Zhenjin has ordered us to join the camp and abandon this site. We have about ten minutes.¡± Zong Ge suppressed his confusion, aware that Zhenjin wasn¡¯t joking. The imposing Half-Beast surveyed his surroundings and loudly ordered, ¡°Immediately grab all the food, water, and your equipment, leave all the tents, and follow me to the camp!¡± Zong Ge, trained in the military, understood very well the critical value of rapid response. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ten minutes was indeed very short. Because Zong Ge and his men still needed to enter the camp and coordinate defenses with the shipwrights. When Zong Ge and Sanda hurriedly arrived at the camp, they saw Zhenjin in the open ground behind the camp gate, examining a map alongside Xi Suo, Hei Juan, Zi Di, and Cang Xu. Seeing Zong Ge arrive, Zhenjin nodded at him and voluntarily explained, ¡°During my night patrol, I received a divine revelation from my lord. He told me that various types of wild beasts gathering together form a significant threat coming from the northeast direction.¡± ¡°I think apart from the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s Demon Beast Army, there can¡¯t be any other possibility.¡± Zong Ge had no doubts, ¡°If it¡¯s divine guidance, then it must be absolutely certain.¡± ¡°How large is the scale of the Demon Beast Army?¡± Zong Ge continued to ask. ¡°The divine instruction only goes so far. I¡¯m not sure,¡± Zhenjin shook his head, frowning, ¡°but I guess, since the Demon Beast Army is heading straight for the camp, the dying howl of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf must have left sufficient information. Given the intelligence of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, they would not decide to attack alone. Most likely, we face not just one, but two Blue Dog Fox Wolves, along with a vast Demon Beast Army.¡± Indeed, Zhenjin hadn¡¯t investigated thoroughly. After spotting the Demon Beast Army, he immediately flew across the forest at full speed to report back to the camp. At the camp, Zhenjin had been busy and hadn¡¯t had the chance to check again. Zong Ge and the others nodded their heads, accepting Zhenjin¡¯s assumption without doubt. After all, divine instructions are often vague and even metaphorical. That Zhenjin had received such a clear oracle was already quite rare. Zi Di saw the heavy atmosphere and said, ¡°Fortunately, we had already studied how to defend against the attack of the Demon Beast Army and had several rehearsals over these days.¡± Indeed, when Zong Ge and the others arrived, the camp guards immediately opened the gates instead of reporting and wasting a lot of precious time. Meanwhile, Zong Ge and the crew joined forces in garrisoning, which went very smoothly and skillfully. However, Zong Ge still seemed deeply worried, ¡°Our drills were based on old intelligence. If the Demon Beast Army adds new beasts that we have never seen, I¡¯m afraid these new species might lead to the total collapse of our battle strategy.¡± Zhenjin knew Zong Ge had a point, and he thought to himself, ¡°It seems like the previous reconnaissance didn¡¯t reveal any new types of beasts. However, I still need to secretly try ultrasonic detection when no one is paying attention.¡± Xi Suo, hearing Zong Ge¡¯s words, scoffed, ¡°In warfare, who can know the enemy¡¯s complete intelligence? We should be very grateful to Lord Zhenjin for our preparations, which are already very impressive. Are you still not satisfied?¡± Hei Juan chimed in, ¡°The way we¡¯ve set up our defense is already great. Don¡¯t forget, we even have a reserve force. If things really go south, we can break through according to the original plan. Abandoning the camp is also an option.¡± Zong Ge frowned slightly but said nothing. Abandoning the camp was a last resort for everyone. Building the camp had taken a tremendous amount of time and labor, not to mention the high cost of clearing the surrounding beast herds. Yet, the time to reap the benefits had not yet come. Most of their collected wood had been used for building the camp and making crossbows. They still needed a lot of wood to build ships! The current camp, after considerable transformation and construction by everyone, looked very different from when Zhenjin first saw it. The original wooden fence had completely disappeared, replaced by a wooden wall. This wall was constructed entirely of tree trunks, starting with selecting similarly sized trunks, stripping the bark, charring the roots with fire, and then inserting them deep into the soil. The exposed trunks were closely aligned with each other and secured with hemp ropes and other materials, forming towering wooden walls. Behind the wooden walls, two rows were built with planks between them to create walkways. Large wooden ladders behind the walls allowed many people to move up and down while also supporting the walls. The biggest contributor to building the wooden walls was the shipwright¡¯s foster son¡ªthe Big Guy. His giant lineage endowed him with great strength, and his towering stature made him a natural crane and pile driver, the largest labor force in the camp. Even the traps and trenches outside the wooden walls were mainly dug by him. More and more fires were being lit. The stacks of dry wood had been prepared early to prevent night battles. The blazing fires illuminated the surroundings of the camp as if it were daylight. Many animals could see at night, but normally, human eyes could not. Zhenjin stood at the very front of the wooden wall, slightly opened his mouth, and quietly emitted ultrasonic waves. In terms of practicality, ultrasonic waves were even better than a lizard¡¯s eyes. Because human ears can¡¯t hear ultrasound, but lizard eyes can be seen by human eyes. Of course, this also involved Zhenjin¡¯s intense training. Human anatomy does not naturally produce ultrasound. Zhenjin secretly used the Heart Core to transform his lungs, trachea, and vocal cords into those of a silver bat monkey, not neglecting even the interior of his nasal cavity. Yet on the surface, he still appeared human. Just like before, when he mutated into the form of a Lizard Head and bat monkey body and bullied the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear to death. The real challenge of this multiple mutation was actually internal¡ªZhenjin had mutated the acid sac of the green lizard, placing it in the chest cavity of the bat monkey. Originally, the bat monkey¡¯s chest cavity contained a pair of strong and powerful lungs. To accommodate the poison sac, Zhenjin scrapped one lung, thus gaining enough space. Anyway, against the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, sound wave attacks were ineffective, so one bat monkey lung was sufficient. The results of the reconnaissance were quickly communicated to Zhenjin¡¯s mind. The scale of the Demon Beast Army was vast¡ªmore than twice the size of that blue Dog Fox Wolf that had died before. Zhenjin also spotted the familiar Strong Life White Rhinoceros. What truly startled him was that there were not many bat monkeys in the Demon Beast Army. ¡°If we use common sense, bat monkeys are the most commonly seen beasts in this forest. However, these two Blue Dog Fox Wolves did not integrate these beasts but chose other species.¡± ¡°Could it be that the last words of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves revealed that we possessed the ability to counteract the thick smoke effective against bat monkeys?¡± With this development, the practical value of the smoke rapidly decreased. Part of Zi Di¡¯s preparations had also been thwarted. Zhenjin also noticed that there were many Flying Squirrels among the invading Demon Beast Army, and they formed the largest group. This was troublesome. Flying Squirrels were small and quick, making them hard to target. Demon Beast-level Flying Squirrels could also emit electricity, posing a significant threat once they got close. Monkey-tailed Brown Bears and Hammer-tailed boas were appearing more frequently, and there were as many as three Strong Life White Rhinoceroses. Zhenjin continued his reconnaissance, his brows furrowing ever deeper. ¡°Wait, they¡¯ve actually split their forces.¡± The next moment, Zhenjin¡¯s heart trembled as he noticed crucial military information. The Demon Beast Army had divided into two groups, each led by a Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The larger group was still heading straight for the camp gates. The smaller group, though less numerous, consisted mostly of Flying Squirrels. Without the encumbrance of large beasts like the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, this small troop of the Demon Beast Army moved quickly and quietly, swiftly becoming an infiltrating force. ¡°The camp¡¯s defenses must be adjusted quickly.¡± Before the battle had even begun, Zhenjin felt sweat on his forehead. Chapter 119 - 119: Section 120: God, Please Give Me Bright Eyes Chapter 119: Section 120: God, Please Give Me Bright Eyes The Blue Dog Fox Wolves were too cunning, their tactics as sinister and vicious as ever. ¡°Damn it, what should we do?¡± Zhenjin gritted his teeth silently; he couldn¡¯t directly alert everyone, as doing so would certainly arouse suspicion. But if he didn¡¯t alert them, would he really just watch as the two Blue Dog Fox Wolves succeeded? In the end, it was a case of the enemy being strong and us being weak. In just these few days, the Demon Beast Army had already expanded to this extent. Everyone had to give their all and avoid any mistakes if there was any hope of victory. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡± On the wooden wall, Xi Suo squinted his eyes slightly, his mouth dry. ... The previously tranquil forest at night became restless: birds flitting chaotically, snakes and rodents retreating. Soon, the sounds of a myriad of beasts running became more distinct¡ªthe piercing screeches of bat monkeys, the squeaks of Flying Squirrels, the roaring of Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, the hissing of Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boas, and the thundering of the Strong Life White Rhinoceroses¡­ These sounds mixed together like an invisible sledgehammer, continuously hammering down everyone¡¯s morale. A crew member swallowed, his arms tightly gripping a crossbow, his body trembling more and more visibly. Whoosh. His fingers also trembled, triggering the release of an arrow. With that arrow, others around him also fired, resulting in a sparse rain of arrows. The others were stunned. Xi Suo snapped back to reality and immediately scolded, ¡°What are you doing? Calm down, everyone calm down!¡± The quantity of iron-headed arrows was limited, very precious. The wasteful use of more than a dozen iron-headed arrows left the tense crew members feeling ashamed; many of them lowered their heads. The members of the Three-blade Mercenary Group hadn¡¯t fired any arrows, but their faces were also tense, with no inclination to ridicule the crew members. The future was uncertain, just like the pitch-black night before them. Who could say what the outcome would be, who could survive? For a moment, even Lan Zao, Hei Juan, and others showed signs of unease in their eyes. It was at this moment that everyone heard Zhenjin¡¯s prayer. ¡°Great Holy Emperor, my God, my Lord. Your knight is about to enter battle, to enact Your teachings. Thanks to Your grace, I am fully armed. I wear the belt of righteousness, the courageous Heart Protector, the shoes of peace, and the helmet of salvation. However, the night is like a fog, obscuring my vision. Oh God, please grant me bright eyes, let me see the enemy clearly and lead everyone toward victory!¡± Unlike usual, this time Zhenjin prayed openly, his voice loud enough for many to hear clearly. Everyone¡¯s gaze turned toward Zhenjin with anticipation. However, after several breaths, Zhenjin remained unchanged, with no Divine Light descending upon him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Did it fail?¡± ¡°Does God also not favor us in this battle?¡± Everyone¡¯s heart became frantic. ¡°Damn it!¡± Zong Ge couldn¡¯t help but curse in his mind. He knew more of the inner workings: not everyone could pray successfully; God couldn¡¯t watch over everyone at the same time. It¡¯s said that the Holy Emperor¡¯s gaze rests on every Holy Temple Knight, which is true, but there are nine groups of Holy Temple Knights, each group having thousands to tens of thousands of members. Before battle, when Holy Temple Knights pray, each time the Holy Emperor descends Divine Arts, it¡¯s recorded in history. Basically, it¡¯s usually when a group of Holy Temple Knights prays together, led by one or more squad leaders, facing a large-scale battle of at least ten thousand soldiers, or in an extremely critical battle in the whole campaign. Other than that, the usual addition of Divine Arts is through sacrifices, bishops, or priests accompanying the army. It¡¯s not possible for every Holy Temple Knight to receive a response from the Holy Emperor in every battle throughout their life, including duels and single combats. In fact, the death of a Holy Temple Knight means little to the Holy Emperor. He is a god on earth, also an Emperor, ruling the entire human Empire. The Empire once lost an entire Fifth Group of Holy Temple Knights, which was quickly rebuilt within a few years. So, a Holy Temple Knight not receiving a response to his prayer before battle is not a big deal. Or rather, it¡¯s very normal, very possible. But the general public wasn¡¯t aware of this. Now, seeing that Zhenjin¡¯s prayer received no response, it was natural for everyone to become more panicked. ¡°It¡¯s still the young ones¡­ They¡¯ve experienced too few battles!¡± Just when Zong Ge thought Zhenjin had made a mistake¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± Zhenjin suddenly trembled all over, opened his tightly shut eyes, and let out a cry of surprise and joy, ¡°I see it!¡± Everyone was stunned. Zhenjin immediately turned around and directed the others, ¡°Quick, there are two Blue Dog Fox Wolves in the Demon Beast Army. Now, they have split their forces. One leads the main force, charging straight at the camp gate. The other, meanwhile, is leading a group of Flying Squirrels around to attack the side of our camp.¡± People listened in a daze. Then, Zhenjin further detailed the composition of these two enemy forces, how many Monkey-tailed Brown Bears there were, how many Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boas, how many bat monkeys, and so on. Everyone was overjoyed! Given how detailed Zhenjin¡¯s account was, it had to be true. As a Holy Temple Knight, he couldn¡¯t possibly use the name of the divine to lie at such a critical moment. Because that would be of no benefit to him and very easy to expose. ¡°Did the prayer actually succeed?¡± Zong Ge breathed out deeply, marveling, ¡°This Zhenjin really has good luck.¡± ¡°Are Blue Dog Fox Wolves really Magic Beasts? To actually split their forces, they¡¯re too cunning.¡± ¡°We have received divine revelations from the Holy Emperor, which means this battle is blessed by the Divine. We will surely win!¡± At that moment, morale surged. Finally, the Demon Beast Army charged out of the forest and into everyone¡¯s view. ¡°Look, just as Lord Zhenjin said.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the exact number of Magic Beasts!¡± ¡°We will definitely achieve victory, brothers, with the Divine watching over us!¡± Had it not been for Lord Zhenjin¡¯s prior warning, everyone would have inevitably felt fear and shock upon suddenly encountering such a massive force of Magic Beasts. But now, with Lord Zhenjin¡¯s forewarning, counting the Magic Beasts instead boosted their morale. Under Divine watch, everyone felt confident. Not just against the Demon Beast Army, but they would fearlessly face even a ten-thousand-strong tribe of Beastmen. The Demon Beast Army had no intention of organizing their formation, and once they dashed out of the forest, their speed burst to the maximum, directly charging towards the camp gate. Unless it was a castle, such wooden camp gates were often the weakest spot. ¡°Prepare¡ªfire!¡± Xi Suo bellowed. Crossbows fired simultaneously, arrows flying out in a thin layer of arrow rain. Under the arrow rain, many bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels died. Monkey-tailed Brown Bears and Strong Life White Rhinoceroses were also hit by arrows, but they continued to charge forward, their speed even slightly increased by the injuries and pain stirring their ferocity. The archers shot with great technique. Instead of targeting the large Magic Beasts, they first eliminated those capable of flight. Bat monkeys were particularly targeted, followed by Flying Squirrels. The newly made crossbows, along with iron-head arrows, caused significant losses among the bat monkeys and Flying Squirrels. The Blue Dog Fox Wolves, hiding within the forest and in dark places, remained indifferent. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were not many bat monkeys tamed initially, and with the interference of thick smoke, they weren¡¯t much use. Most of the elite Flying Squirrels had been taken away by another group of Blue Dog Fox Wolves; these were merely cannon fodder. Ultimately, they had drawn fire, playing their intended roles. Still, the true hope lay with the large Magic Beasts galloping on the ground. However, the open ground in front of the camp gate was not empty. A circle of anti-cavalry obstacles and wooden stakes surrounded the camp, along with large stones moved by the Big Guy. Strong Life White Rhinoceroses, Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, and Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boas smashed through all obstacles in their path. Yet, inevitably, their charging speed decreased significantly. After crossing the obstacle zone, they arrived at the trap zone. Dust billowed; the trap covers that could support normal human walking certainly couldn¡¯t bear the weight of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, let alone the heavier Strong Life White Rhinoceros and Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. Thus, the large Magic Beasts fell one by one into deep pits. Considering the quasi-human intelligence of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, numerous denser traps and obstacles had been laid at the camp¡¯s weakest point, the gate. Trapped at the bottom, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears and Strong Life White Rhinoceroses couldn¡¯t escape for a while, but the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boas crawled out along the pit walls. They were too massive, and a pit often trapped several Magic Beasts. The pit at the forefront trapped the most Magic Beasts. These Magic Beasts, stacking upon each other, gradually enabled several Monkey-tailed Brown Bears to climb out. The archers on the wooden wall shifted their fire, suppressing the Magic Beasts in the traps with full force. Still, one of the most massive and toughest Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boas charged beneath the wooden wall. It held its head high and chest out, climbing the wooden wall, the massive crocodile head reaching the same height as the people. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you!¡± Zong Ge sneered coldly, prepared for a long time, and as the crocodile head appeared, he gripped the handle with both hands, swinging the giant hammer with all his might. The giant bone hammer swept fiercely, stirring a vigorous wind! Bang. The hammer struck the crocodile head fiercely. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa was stunned by the heavy blow, its body went limp, falling to the ground like a siege ladder and causing a loud crash, shaking the wooden wall and the ground violently. Before the people could cheer, three more Silver Magical Beasts charged forward. Two Monkey-tailed Brown Bears and one Strong Life White Rhinoceros! Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Three sharp arrows shot out, hitting the pupils of the three Magic Beasts accurately. Everyone quickly looked to find Zhenjin handing his crossbow to someone behind him. He had two assistants, each bearing injuries. Their combat abilities were limited, but their sole task was to draw the bow for Zhenjin. Zhenjin had just fired three crossbows consecutively. Both Monkey-tailed Brown Bears collapsed to the ground, clenching the shafts in their sockets and screaming in pain. The other Strong Life White Rhinoceros, however, endured stoically. Even blinded in one eye, it still charged, but possibly not quickly adapting to the change in vision or due to acute pain, its originally straight charge veered off course, eventually crashing into ¡­ the carcass of the previously fallen Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. Chapter 120 - 120: Section 121: Fierce Battle Chapter 120: Section 121: Fierce Battle The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, awakened by the severe pain, had a bloody hole rammed through its body by the Strong Life White Rhinoceros. In a fit of rage, with a swing of its tail, the Bone Hammer struck the Strong Life White Rhinoceros so powerfully that it sent the behemoth flying. Only after covering more than twenty meters did it crash to the ground with a thunderous sound. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa went berserk, repeatedly slamming its tail hammer, body, and even its head against the wooden wall. Bang Bang Bang¡­ The wooden wall, unable to withstand the assault, soon began to moan as a multitude of cracks rapidly spread along each of the logs. Some fissures expanded continuously, even splintering off chips of wood. If it continued to rampage like this, the wooden wall would quickly collapse. ¡°Cover me!¡± Zong Ge shouted, abandoning his plan to challenge Zhenjin in that moment. Clad in full body fine steel armor and with a thick rope tied around his waist, he leaped right off the top of the wooden wall. ... While still in mid-air, Zong Ge swung his giant white bone hammer, smashing it down hard towards the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa opened its gaping maw wide, craning its neck to swallow Zong Ge in one bite. ¡°Lord Zong Ge!¡± Sanda exclaimed. Time seemed to slow in that moment as the distance between Zong Ge and the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa rapidly closed. Zong Ge could clearly see every detail of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s head, even the strands of flesh between its teeth were plainly visible. ¡°This beast reacts so quickly!¡± Zong Ge clenched his teeth. Hanging in mid-air, evasion was impossible without the aid of Fighting energy; he could only wait to be swallowed by the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa before piercing through the snake¡¯s body to escape. But just then, two iron-headed arrows whizzed past Zong Ge, promptly and precisely striking both eyes of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, blinding it. ¡°It¡¯s Zhenjin! That support came right on time!¡± Zong Ge rejoiced internally, unable to help but admire Zhenjin¡¯s timely intervention. He didn¡¯t need to look back to know that no one in the entire camp but Zhenjin could have shot such decisive arrows, not even Zong Ge himself. It turned out, when Zhenjin saw Zong Ge leaping down to attack the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, he sensed something was amiss. He had learned a lot of knowledge from Cang Xu. The eyes of a crocodile are quite special, with strong visual capabilities, especially for observing the surface of the water from within. Without turning its head, merely by rotating its eyes, a crocodile could observe the entire water surface for any disturbances. It was precisely with this talent that the crocodile detected its prey. Zong Ge¡¯s dive from above immediately triggered the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s hunting instinct. Without thinking, it performed the predatory act of biting down. Blinded by the arrows, the pain instantly caused the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s attack to crumble. It fell to the ground, writhing and rolling, kicking up a huge dust cloud. Within the dust, Zong Ge struck from midair, his white bone hammer squarely hitting the head of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. With a mighty crash, the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s head, struck as if by a meteorite, endured an immense impact force, virtually embedding it into the ground. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa lay still, its nostrils and eye sockets beginning to bleed. The top of its head even caved in to a shocking degree. But it was still alive¡ªits Life Breath was noticeably present. Zong Ge glanced at his own hand; it was still enclosed in a glove, but he knew he had split the skin of his palm. The wooden handle that affixed the giant bone hammer also had a large crack. That one strike had been delivered with all his might, truly ferocious! ¡°Useless piece of trash,¡± Zong Ge said with a curl of his lip before striding forward with his head held high. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, now devoid of its fighting strength, was dismissed from Zong Ge¡¯s mind. Several Monkey-tailed Brown Bears crawled out of a pit and charged at Zong Ge. ¡°Bring it on!¡± Holding his giant hammer, Zong Ge didn¡¯t dodge or flinch; instead, he charged forward fiercely. Then, he clashed violently with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, engaging in a brutal and bloody struggle that made the blood of any onlooking men boil. Zong Ge displayed a savage valiance that was beyond human¡ªa battle against multiple foes in which he managed to defeat several Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, throwing the spirits of these Silver Magical Beasts to rock bottom. ¡°This guy¡¯s bloodline must be extraordinary!¡± ¡°His Cultivation has to be silver at the very least!¡± Zhenjin, taking in the scene of Zong Ge battling, couldn¡¯t help but be struck with awe. Zong Ge¡¯s displayed strength, whether in power, agility, or martial arts, completely surpassed the humanoid form of Zhenjin. ¡°Without using unique methods like releasing electricity to ensure victory, it¡¯s tough for me to defeat Zong Ge in a one-on-one battle,¡± Zhenjin reflected on their difference in combat prowess. ¡°Quick, pull Lord Zong Ge up!¡± After Zong Ge had fought furiously for a long time, single-handedly repelling over a dozen Silver Level Demon Beasts, he had temporarily kept the camp¡¯s gate safe. But in just a short moment, he was completely exhausted. Seeing Zong Ge signaling his return, Sanda immediately ordered the men to turn the crank, activating the winch. As the winch wheel rotated, it wound up the hemp rope. The other end of the rope was attached to Zong Ge. Thus, Zong Ge was hoisted back up by the rope around his waist. No one found it curious or surprising, as Zong Ge had practiced this method of combat in public a few times already. This tactic was particularly well-suited to Zong Ge; it wouldn¡¯t work for anyone else. Because only Zong Ge had a full set of fine steel armor¡ª even if he were to be hit by an arrow, the iron arrowheads often failed to penetrate his steel armor. With this layer of tight and robust protection, Zong Ge was safe from accidental injury by flying arrows, granting him the capacity to fight alone. This practice run had proven just that. All the arrows that struck Zong Ge were blocked by his fine steel armor. Other iron-headed arrows, however, were embedded in the bodies of the Silver Magical Beasts. No longer did they exhibit their previous ferocity. ¡°Woof, woof, woof!¡± The sound of dog barking echoed through the forest. A small squad of bat monkeys suddenly flew out and arrived above the battlefield. They didn¡¯t get too close because the camp was surrounded by smoke that the bat monkeys hated very much. Still at a distance, the bat monkeys began to throw down the things in their hands. Buzz buzz buzz¡­ The objects thrown into the camp broke upon hitting the ground, and from them flew out a large number of poisonous bees, precisely Fire Poison Bees! The Fire Poison Bees dove straight for the bonfires. The bonfires must not be extinguished, for once extinguished, without sight, there would be no hope of winning this battle. ¡°Looks like there really are Fire Poison Bees!¡± In the camp, Zi Di snorted coldly but didn¡¯t panic; instead, a look of expectation appeared on her face. ¡°Release the smoke medicine!¡± At the top of the wooden wall, Zhenjin immediately ordered decisively. The warriors guarding the bonfires, upon hearing the command, immediately took out a small potion bottle from their chests. They poured the potion onto the bonfires. Quickly, the smoke that enveloped the camp changed! ¡°Quick, cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth,¡± Hei Juan loudly reminded. Zhenjin had once told everyone that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf could control other man-made magical beasts. From this, Zi Di understood why the Blue Dog Fox Wolf that had previously brought the beehives and released Fire Poison Bees only attacked the exploration team and not itself. Having suffered a loss once, Zi Di had made preparations in advance, specifically developing a smoke medicine to deal with the Fire Poison Bees. The Fire Poison Bees flew into the smoke, at first, everything seemed normal. But soon, as the smoke accumulated, it reached a tipping point, and the greasy dust covered the wings of the Fire Poison Bees. The more the Fire Poison Bees struggled to flap their wings, the more smoke they collected, and the slower their speed became. In more severe cases, even their wings were stuck together by the smoke. One by one, the Fire Poison Bees fell to the ground or onto the wooden wall. The waiting crowd brandished their slaughter knives together, killing off this batch of Fire Poison Bees cleanly. Howl¡ª! From the opposite forest came the howling of a wolf. On the front side of the camp, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had exhausted all means and had not yet broken through the camp¡¯s main gate, and this howl was informing another comrade. Thus, when the howl suddenly stopped, the camp¡¯s side immediately came under attack. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was consistent with Zhenjin¡¯s early warning; this group of Demon Beast Army was extremely elite. ¡°Fire!¡± Bai Ya lead a team of five, who had been waiting for a long time. These five people were meticulously selected, the best shooters, and together with Bai Ya, a total of six people, all used Repeating Crossbows. The Repeating Crossbows burst out with an astonishing volley of arrows, and the incoming creatures were mostly Flying Squirrels, whose advance was greatly hindered by the dense arrow rain. ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± The Blue Dog Fox Wolf issued new orders, and the flying squirrels scattered, no longer charging in dense formations. Bai Ya and the others furrowed their brows, the pressure surged, and the previous kill rate plummeted rapidly. With only six people in Bai Ya¡¯s team, even with Repeating Crossbows, they had to reload the arrow box after a spray of shots. There were simply too many Flying Squirrels; Bai Ya and the others couldn¡¯t shoot fast enough, gradually going from flustered to losing control of the situation. ¡°The side is in bad shape, I¡¯m going to support!¡± Zhenjin used ultrasound to survey the entire battlefield. ¡°Go ahead with confidence,¡± Zong Ge nodded, gasping for air. Zhenjin completely handed over the defense of the gate to Zong Ge and immediately turned and sprinted, rushing to the side. ¡°Flaying Squirrels are climbing the wooden wall!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s pupils sharply contracted. If they couldn¡¯t stop these Flying Squirrels, not to mention Bai Ya and the others being sacrificed, the camp¡¯s defense would be breached, making it easy for the enemy to break through. ¡°God, my Lord, the great Holy Emperor, please grant me strength to fight to the death, to follow Your way¡­¡± Zhenjin deliberately prayed loudly, but this time, before he could finish, he was interrupted by an attacking Flying Squirrel. A Magic Beast-level Flying Squirrel, once it bites and electrifies, a normal person was basically doomed. ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Zhenjin roared. His booming voice formed a half-transparent wave of sound that spread out from Zhenjin at the center, stunning the attacking Flying Squirrels on the spot. Since Zhenjin was capable of mutating his body internally in secret, to emit ultrasound, then mimicking a bat¡¯s sonic attack was even easier. ¡°Roll¡ª!¡± ¡°Die!¡± ¡°Kill kill kill!!¡± Zhenjin, holding a thin sword, shuttled back and forth atop the wooden wall, and any climbing Flying Squirrel was directly shouted at and generally stunned. Even if not stunned, they would surely be halted. Zhenjin used these openings to easily slay the lives of the Flying Squirrels. ¡°The Lord¡¯s prayer worked again!¡± ¡°We have a Holy Temple Knight!¡± ¡°These rats are no good, they¡¯ve all been stunned by the Lord, kill them!¡± Atop the wooden wall, Bai Ya and the others were greatly energized. ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± The Blue Dog Fox Wolf issued orders again. All of the Flying Squirrels changed their target of attack to Zhenjin. Zhenjin could only tire himself out in response, and just at that moment, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf suddenly sprang out from the forest and climbed the wooden wall. It was unclear how it managed it, but climbing the wooden wall was as easy as walking on flat ground for it, moving fast as a bolt of blue lightning, arriving at the top of the wooden wall in just a few breaths. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf bared its fangs and fiercely pounced towards Zhenjin. It knew: Zhenjin was the key figure! If he were killed, they could win this battle. Chapter 121 - 121: Section 122: Is This—A Human?! Chapter 121: Section 122: Is This¡ªA Human?! This was the third time Lord Zhenjin faced the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The young knight was surprised that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf could break out alone. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyes narrowed, focusing intently on the formidable enemy before him, his thoughts flashing like electricity through his mind. ¡°Until now, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had always stayed at the back, using the forest to cover itself; I never thought it could be so brave.¡± ¡°No, this Magic Beast has always been very ruthless! Initially, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf that attacked the rescue team led by Zi Di was also so aggressive.¡± ¡°It seems that calling other Magic Beasts is something the Blue Dog Fox Wolf does only when it feels necessary, like Zi Di once said, the one that chased them had used the Fire Poison Bee Swarm.¡± ... ¡°Wait, why did I see a Demon Beast Army with these two Blue Dog Fox Wolves before?¡± Questions arose, but Lord Zhenjin immediately suppressed them in his heart. Because at that moment, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had already pounced! Lord Zhenjin immediately rolled away, avoiding the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s strike. But as the Blue Dog Fox Wolf crossed over Lord Zhenjin in mid-air, its tail whipped fiercely, striking Lord Zhenjin¡¯s back. Lord Zhenjin took a heavy hit, as if someone had hammered him on the back with an iron mallet. ¡°What hit me?¡± Lord Zhenjin rolled continuously to dissipate the force and immediately knelt on the ground. ¡°I definitely dodged it,¡± Lord Zhenjin was a bit dazed. The wooden wall was narrow, leaving little room; he almost rolled off the edge of the wall. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s gaze gradually focused on the fluffy tail behind the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. ¡°This thing can also be used as a weapon?¡± Lord Zhenjin realized. The intelligence of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was similar to that of a human, incredibly high, enough to have extensively trained its body. The fox tail was not really a conventional weapon of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, it should rather be considered a weak point. Yet, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had deliberately trained it to become a weapon. Perhaps against creatures like the Strong Life White Rhinoceros, the tail of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was of no use. But against humans like Zhenjin, especially when he was not aided by Fighting Energy, the hardness and strength of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s tail surpassed that of a man. Lord Zhenjin snorted coldly, quietly activating his Heart Core. The next moment, red light surged within his body, turning his bones and muscles into those of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s gaze tightened, sensing some change in the young knight before it, but upon closer inspection, nothing seemed different. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf attacked again. Its speed was incredibly fast, almost like a blue streak of lightning, reaching Lord Zhenjin in the blink of an eye. Lord Zhenjin held up his thin sword, Silver Lightning, firmly blocking the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The unstoppable strike of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was blocked by the slender blade, and just as a hint of shock arose in its heart, the next moment, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s fist swept across. Bang. The fist slammed into the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s ear, the tremendous force sending the Blue Dog Fox Wolf flying. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf tumbled three times on the wooden planks and immediately stood up again. Planting its four paws on the ground, it shook its head to rid itself of the dizziness. ¡°Bark Bark!¡± The Blue Dog Fox Wolf roared at Lord Zhenjin, showing a very human-like expression of shock. Is this¡ªa human? Lord Zhenjin looked like a still-maturing human juvenile; how could he possess such immense strength? Hearing the roar of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, surrounding Flying Squirrels gathered and charged at Lord Zhenjin from all directions. Lord Zhenjin took a deep breath, and his lungs, mutated into those of a bat monkey, expanded due to a sudden intake of a large volume of air, causing his chest to bulge noticeably. ¡°Get out of the way¡ª!¡± Lord Zhenjin suddenly opened his mouth, and his roar stirred the surrounding air, creating translucent ripples. The Flying Squirrels rushing towards him were basically seeking their own deaths, most of them collapsed on the ground, the stronger ones screamed and rolled around, most of them laying dead, either knocked out or truly having lost their lives. Lord Zhenjin swung his thin sword, Silver Lightning, and in the flickering light of the blade, he dispatched the wailing Flying Squirrels still gasping for breath. Watching Lord Zhenjin reap the lives of the Flying Squirrels, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf made another dash, charging at him. Lord Zhenjin swiftly half-raised his thin sword, bracing for the attack. However, this time the Blue Dog Fox Wolf didn¡¯t jump to attack; it kept its paws firmly on the wooden boards the whole time. The distance between them rapidly closed, and Lord Zhenjin abruptly swung his thin sword downward in a chopping motion. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf suddenly ducked lower, evading the thin sword, almost rubbing its belly against the wooden boards as it quickly slipped behind Lord Zhenjin. A wolf howl exploded behind him, Lord Zhenjin hurriedly turned around while horizontally slashing with his sword in one smooth motion. But he missed. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf had merely roared to force Lord Zhenjin to turn and swing his sword. After Lord Zhenjin swung his sword, his force spent, a vulnerability appeared in an instant. It seemed as if a flash of green light blinked in the eyes of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, and only then did it truly leap forward. ¡°This beast fights as if it¡¯s skilled in martial arts!¡± Lord Zhenjin was greatly shocked. The exposure he had revealed was something the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had cunningly orchestrated and seized. He was already too late to dodge. At the critical moment, Lord Zhenjin raised his empty left arm, using it as a shield in front of his face to protect his vulnerable neck, preventing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf from crushing his throat in one bite. Mid-leap, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf saw Lord Zhenjin sacrificing his left arm and, excited, it opened its mouth even wider. Then, it fiercely bit down on Lord Zhenjin¡¯s left arm. Its mouth full of sharp teeth, its terrifying biting force could even shatter an iron helmet. But Lord Zhenjin¡¯s left arm did not break under the bite. Instead, several of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s teeth were smashed! At the crucial moment, Lord Zhenjin had covered his left arm with a layer of tough Silver Scorpion Shell. The intense pain from the broken teeth made the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s body shudder sharply; then the Silver Magical Beast, its ferocity stoked, bit down hard on Lord Zhenjin¡¯s left arm with its mouth bloody, and using the inertia of its leap, it violently knocked Lord Zhenjin down. Lord Zhenjin and the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had originally been clashing on top of the wooden wall, and now, one was biting onto the other¡¯s left arm, refusing to let go as they fell from the sky. ¡°Ah, Lord Zhenjin!¡± Bai Ya exclaimed, hurriedly jumping down the brace. On the ground, he saw Lord Zhenjin just getting up. ¡°Damn it, it was hit by my sword and still it ran!¡± Lord Zhenjin coughed violently, observing a trail of blood on the ground, as the figure of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf disappeared among the distant tents. Falling from such a height was obviously a painful experience; the Blue Dog Fox Wolf intended to use Silver Magical Beast¡¯s physical superiority to overpower Lord Zhenjin. But Lord Zhenjin¡¯s bear bones and bear flesh were not for show; instead, in the falling process, he seized the opportunity to stab his sword from the belly of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf toward its spine, the blade tip piercing through the wolf¡¯s skin, creating a through-and-through wound. ¡°Good sword!¡± ¡°Pity it didn¡¯t penetrate the spine of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf.¡± ¡°We must find it; a wounded Magic Beast is even more dangerous!¡± ¡°Bai Ya, stay behind and clean up the remaining Flying Squirrels,¡± Lord Zhenjin shouted orders at the running Bai Ya. ¡°I¡¯ll chase down the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. There¡¯s no enemy situation here, you go to the main gate to support Zong Ge.¡± By now, the attack of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf on the camp¡¯s side had been essentially neutralized. The Flying Squirrel was severely restrained by Lord Zhenjin¡¯s roar, unable to unleash even a tenth of its strength. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf that fled to the camp became the only remaining trouble. ¡°I understand, Lord,¡± Bai Ya said admiringly as he watched Lord Zhenjin speed away. Just then, there was a loud boom¡ªthe camp¡¯s gate had unexpectedly¡­ collapsed! ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± exclaimed everyone else in the camp, all of them shocked. ¡°What was Zong Ge doing!¡± Lord Zhenjin too paused in his strides because of this mishap. He fixed his gaze towards the camp gate and simultaneously used ultrasonic detection. At the original site of the camp gate, there was a pitch-black deep hole. A yellow and white Magic Beast was shrinking back into the hole. Lord Zhenjin barely caught a glimpse of it. It was a Silver Magical Beast, seemingly very skilled in underground attacks! ¡°The Blue Dog Fox Wolf actually had an ace up its sleeve!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t detect it. It seems to have been stealthily underground all this time.¡± The Demon Beast Army, led by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s command, used various tactics. Lord Zhenjin guarded against split forces and assaults but hadn¡¯t expected an underground Magic Beast. Ultrasonic detection had its limitations. Although it could probe the underground, it worked best in close contact with the ground. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s scouting was done from high atop the wooden walls. And even with close-to-ground probing, it was unlikely to detect this mysterious underground beast anytime soon, for it burrowed very deep. The collapse of the camp gate also brought down parts of the surrounding wooden walls. The hole beneath the gate, though deep, wasn¡¯t very wide. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, Strong Life White Rhinoceros, and Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa all surged into the camp. Inside the camp, there were reserves. ¡°You¡¯ve finally arrived; the Big guy was getting impatient!¡± a little giant yelled abusively, swinging his massive club and charging back to ¡°warmly welcome¡± the advancing Demon Beast Army. These Silver Magical Beasts were all injured, but the little giant was in his peak condition. His giant bloodline provided him with extraordinary physique and strength. With his wooden club, he swept aside two or three Monkey-tailed Brown Bears. A Strong Life White Rhinoceros charged over. ¡°This way is blocked!¡± The Big guy blocked it head-on, only to have his belly pierced by the rhinoceros¡¯s horn. Then, the comparatively slowest Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa slithered over and wrapped around the Big guy, tightly squeezing him. The Big guy tangled with the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa swiftly fell disadvantaged. Suddenly, a huge Long Arrow shot out, striking right into the torso of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. The arrow was very long, over one meter, with an iron tip. Its shooting power was even greater than Lord Zhenjin¡¯s waist crossbow. Although the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa was tough-skinned, the arrow nearly pierced through it. Severely wounded, the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa still clung tightly to the Big guy. The Big guy¡¯s face turned red, obviously struggling to breathe. ¡°Don¡¯t hit my son!¡± yelled a shipwright from within the central wooden house. ¡°You think I¡¯m Mu Ban?¡± The shooter was Hei Juan, arrayed before him was a Bed Crossbow. Indeed, it was a Bed Crossbow! The Bed Crossbows were constructed by Mu Ban, who didn¡¯t make just one but three. Bed Crossbows were large war machines, commissioned specifically to combat large Magic Beasts. Regrettably, there wasn¡¯t much space atop the wooden walls, and the makeshift planks couldn¡¯t support the weight of Bed Crossbows. Therefore, the Bed Crossbows had only been set up inside the camp. When the gates were smashed, the Magic Beasts charged in, right into the firing line of the three Bed Crossbows! Boom, boom, boom¡­ Arrows flew, some directly piercing through Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, others scoring a bloody trail from head to tail on a Strong Life White Rhinoceros, while some missed. Operating the Bed Crossbows was challenging; they were difficult to load and required several people¡¯s coordination. Injured personnel standing beside the three Bed Crossbows disregarded their wounds and exerted all their strength while reloading. Hei Juan displayed formidable shooting skills, being the main archer. Under his operation, three arrows successively hit the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, increasingly wounded and losing blood rapidly, gradually lost strength and finally was freed by the Big guy. The Big guy then viciously bludgeoned its head with the club until the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa lay motionless on the ground. The reserve forces performed well, seemingly about to hold back the incoming large Magic Beasts. ¡°Run!¡± Just then, Lord Zhenjin came running at top speed, shouting loudly at Hei Juan and the others. Hei Juan hesitated for a moment, then promptly started running, not hesitating to leave behind the Bed Crossbows. In the next moment, the ground burst open, and a huge eel-like Monster emerged from beneath. It seemed to have no eyes, its body milky yellow and unarmored, greasy, resembling a giant earthworm. Yet within its wide-open mouth were rings of saw-like teeth, closely packed. The Monster swallowed the Bed Crossbow whole, its teeth sawing incessantly inside its mouth. After a few breaths, the Bed Crossbow was spat out, now reduced to countless wood shavings and fragments. Hei Juan and the others were horrified; had it been a person swallowed, even full iron armor wouldn¡¯t have withstood it. The Underground Giant Worm chewed up one Bed Crossbow and swiftly burrowed back into the ground. Left with no alternative, Lord Zhenjin also ended up lunging at nothing. He had just been using ultrasonic detection, detecting this mysterious underground Beast before even spotting the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The Underground Giant Worm didn¡¯t stay deep underground but moved just beneath the surface layer, constantly burrowing around. Hence, Lord Zhenjin gave an early warning, allowing Hei Juan and the others to narrowly escape with their lives. ¡°My God!¡± ¡°What on earth is that Monster?¡± ¡°I almost died¡­¡± Those who survived were terrified by the close call. Two more Bed Crossbows stood in place, but Hei Juan and the others dared not approach them again, fearing another sudden attack by the Underground Giant Worm. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They weren¡¯t soldiers, just mercenaries and crewmen, lacking the spirit of devotion and sacrifice. The key issue was the Underground Giant Worm¡¯s attacks were utterly unpredictable and impossible to guard against. Zhenjin pressed his palm against the ground, slightly opened his mouth, and emitted an ultrasound once again. ¡°Found it!¡± The next moment, Zhenjin was both shocked and furious as the direction of the Underground Giant Worm was not the remaining Bed Crossbows but strikingly the central wooden cabin. Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others were hiding in the central wooden cabin. ¡°Zi Di, Cang Xu, run out now!¡± Zhenjin yelled urgently before rushing towards the cabin. Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others, who had been observing the situation outside, saw the Underground Giant Worm and heard Zhenjin¡¯s shout. Without any hesitation, they all ran out the door. Boom! They had just run out, about twenty steps away from the cabin, when the Underground Giant Worm launched another attack. The cabin had been repaired and reinforced, but under the attack of the Underground Giant Worm, a small half of it collapsed instantly. Zhenjin, together with Hei Juan, hurriedly went to meet Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others. Zhenjin continued to charge toward the Underground Giant Worm, but the latter ran off again. So cunning! The nature of the Underground Giant Worm seemed different from other Silver Magical Beasts: it liked to ambush and disliked direct confrontation. Seeing Zhenjin fail again, Hei Juan loudly suggested, ¡°Lord, the camp can¡¯t hold any longer. Let¡¯s break through quickly!¡± Zhenjin shook his head, not discouraged, his predicament only further ignited his fighting spirit, ¡°Hei Juan, you take charge of the breakout, protect the lives of Zi Di, Cang Xu, Mu Ban, the shipwright, and the others. They are extremely important.¡± Zhenjin detected with ultrasound that the Underground Giant Worm was attacking the Bed Crossbows again. This time, the young knight didn¡¯t miss. While the Giant Worm was devouring the Bed Crossbow, he thrust his sword deeply into the body of the worm. The Giant Worm didn¡¯t even tremble as if it was not the one that was stabbed, and, taking the thin sword Silver Lightning with it, it retracted back into the ground. ¡°Where, where is my sword?!¡± Hei Juan was dumbfounded. This instead drew a rebuke from Zhenjin, ¡°Aren¡¯t you leading them to breakout yet!¡± ¡°Let me handle it!¡± Zong Ge arrived at this moment, ¡°Where is it?¡± Zhenjin no longer paid attention to Hei Juan and bent down, pressing his palm against the ground, his face grim, slightly shaking his head: ¡°The Divine Arts within me are rapidly depleting. I¡¯m increasingly unable to see clearly ¡ª wait, straight ahead, thirty-eight steps!¡± Zong Ge hurried over there, and the Underground Giant Worm emerged again. This time, it tried to attack an isolated wounded person. The isolated wounded person smartly rolled forward, dodging the Underground Giant Worm¡¯s assault. Zong Ge slammed his hammer down, hitting the head of the Underground Giant Worm. But the Half-Beast¡¯s face changed slightly as he felt that the target area was greasy and soft; the Bone Hammer¡¯s attack was significantly weakened by the Giant Worm¡¯s slick, fatty appearance. Zong Ge¡¯s expression grew solemn, and he shouted to Zhenjin, ¡°We¡¯ve stabilized the front of the camp. We must kill this Underground Demon Beast!¡± Zhenjin was still half-kneeling on the ground, seemingly using the power of Divine Arts to scout around, ¡°There¡¯s also a Blue Dog Fox Wolf that has infiltrated the camp.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zong Ge nodded. It was because of Bai Ya and others supporting the front of the camp that he knew this news. Moreover, with the appearance of the Underground Demon Beast, Zong Ge could no longer sit idly and rushed to support Zhenjin. Zhenjin continued to concentrate, using ultrasound to scout. As he was in human form and there were people around, Zhenjin could not exert his full strength with ultrasound. Simultaneously scouting underground and above ground also greatly reduced the efficiency of the ultrasonic detection. The strength of the Underground Demon Beast lay in its underground movement, attacking without any warning beforehand. But under Zhenjin¡¯s ultrasound, its movement trajectory was revealed. Zhenjin and Zong Ge¡¯s cooperation was not their first. Back when they cleared the bat monkey horde, they had cooperated once to handle the Silver Bat Monkeys. Now, closely coordinating, after just a few times, their cooperation became even more tacit. Every attack of the Underground Giant Worm was preempted by Zhenjin, then Zong Ge rapidly moved in for the kill, attacking continuously. Although the White Bone Giant Hammer¡¯s attack was weakened by the Giant Worm¡¯s exterior, the increased frequency of the attacks made the injuries of the Underground Giant Worm more severe, noticeably slowing its movements. Zhenjin¡¯s predictions thus became even more accurate, and Zong Ge¡¯s strikes yielded more results. After repelling the Underground Giant Worm three more times, the Demon Beast turned and fled, burrowing deep into the ground, leaving the camp, and disappearing from the edge of Zhenjin¡¯s scouting. Yet, flames spread throughout the camp. ¡°The fire, it¡¯s on fire!¡± someone noticed, shouting loudly. ¡°It¡¯s that Blue Dog Fox Wolf, it¡¯s carrying a torch, setting fires everywhere,¡± Zhenjin got up. He had noticed the trace of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf earlier but had ignored it. The Underground Giant Worm had to be dealt with. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf setting fires, without attacking others, was in Zhenjin¡¯s view, also a good thing. This was akin to sacrificing the camp, buying precious time. As long as people were still alive, the camp could be rebuilt. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with it, you go to the front,¡± Zhenjin said. ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it. You¡¯re unarmed now,¡± Zong Ge glanced at Zhenjin, his brow furrowed. Awoo¡ª! Just then, a wolf howl came from the direction of the main gate. ¡°Another Magic Beast is attacking!¡± ¡°The second Blue Dog Fox Wolf has appeared!!¡± Shouts erupted from the direction of the main gate. Clearly, knowing that the Underground Giant Worm had fled, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf played its last card, launching the final assault. Zong Ge¡¯s brow furrowed even deeper. The battle had reached its endgame. Three Bed Crossbows in the camp had been destroyed by the Giant Worm, the little giant was bathed in blood, severely wounded, and unable to walk. The reserve force of the camp was finished. Almost all their fighting strength was concentrated at the main gate, fighting until now, equally exhausted, their overall combat strength at its lowest. Zong Ge had to prevent these people from fleeing. Mercenaries and crew members were not regular troops, and even regular troops would flee. The impact of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf setting fires was evident; not only the camp was being burnt down, but it also threw people into disarray. Morale was very low. Without a powerful figure to suppress the scene, these people might start deserting. As soon as one deserter appeared, a second and third quickly followed, likely leading to a rout in the blink of an eye. Of course, by now, the Demon Beast Army had suffered even heavier losses. However, the overall strength of the Demon Beast Army was still stronger, and they still had the strength to launch one final charge. ¡°I must rush back, but here¡­¡± Zong Ge hesitated in his heart. Lord Zhenjin snorted coldly at him, ¡°Lack of weapons is no excuse for avoiding battle. It is my prey; yours is over there.¡± Zong Ge shuddered inside, the knight youth before him no longer had his usual cleanliness; his face was grimy, and his blonde hair was even mixed with wood chips. However, those blue eyes of the youth, reflecting the surrounding firelight, displayed an undeniable resolve and determination to kill. This was the determination of a warrior! Zong Ge looked into those eyes, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. ¡°This kid, he truly is a man!¡± Zong Ge praised in his heart. This was a gaze exchanged between men! Men don¡¯t need pity or caregiving, those are for the weak. What men need might just be trust. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zong Ge smiled slightly, his deeply furrowed brow suddenly smoothing. He brushed past Lord Zhenjin, ¡°If the situation turns dire, I¡¯ll lead my men to retreat. It¡¯s not worth dying fighting these beasts! You are a worthy opponent, don¡¯t die; I plan to spar with you again.¡± Lord Zhenjin glanced at Zong Ge and snorted coldly. The two of them turned away from each other, gradually started walking, then began to run. One ran toward the main gate; the other ran straight towards the fire-setting Blue Dog Fox Wolf. ¡°Come on, I¡¯m right here!¡± Soon, Lord Zhenjin appeared in front of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, provoking it deliberately. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf dropped the torch it held in its mouth; by this time, the camp was already ablaze on all sides. It didn¡¯t see the thin sword that had wounded it, but was still very cautious, attempting to attack Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin continuously retreated, drawing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf into the central wooden house. The central wooden house too caught fire and burned vigorously. A man and a wolf almost confronted each other in a sea of flames. The burning walls and billowing smoke obscured everyone else¡¯s sight. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf, seeing Lord Zhenjin trapped, also seemed to think that Lord Zhenjin wanted to perish together by using the surrounding environment. The next moment, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf roared, attacked directly from the front, rushed forward a few steps, and, with force, leaped into the air, diving down towards the slender-bodied youth. This was the most skilled and ferocious way of attacking for the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. It aimed directly for the vulnerable throat of the youth, its sharp teeth flashing with cold light! Lord Zhenjin watched as the Blue Dog Fox Wolf lunged towards him but stood motionless in his spot. The next moment, a surge of red light emerged, and the Heart Core mutated him. Just as the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was about to bite Lord Zhenjin¡¯s throat, suddenly its vision darkened! Lord Zhenjin¡¯s head transformed into a crocodile¡¯s, his mouth opening wider than the wolf¡¯s muzzle of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, and he bit down in one gulp, capturing the entire head and even the neck of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf in his mouth. Blue Dog Fox Wolf: ??!! If it were a person, it would certainly be shouting in its heart, ¡°I, I¡¯ve been bitten? Who bit whom?¡± The neck and head of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf were tightly clenched between the crocodile¡¯s teeth. The eyes of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf stared straight ahead, directly catching sight of something brewing in Lord Zhenjin¡¯s throat. hei¡­ tui! The next moment, a stream of emerald Acid Liquid burst forth from the throat, spraying all over the face of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf had no time to close its eyes, and the Acid Liquid corroded its eyes, bringing intense pain that made it howl miserably while its limbs frantically scratched at Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body. Lord Zhenjin stood proudly in place, unmoving. His body was made of bear bones and bear meat, covered with a scorpion shell. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s own claws were bleeding, but they only managed to scratch through the crocodile head Hammer-tailed boa leather armor worn by Lord Zhenjin, at most leaving white marks on the scorpion shell. Then, Lord Zhenjin extended his hands, which mutated into those of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Demon energy surged wildly in the Heart Core, and Lord Zhenjin¡¯s fingers turned red, like iron melting in a furnace. Lord Zhenjin plunged his hands into the body of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Despite being a Silver Magical Beast, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had no chance of resisting. Lord Zhenjin felt as if he were piercing through cardboard paper; with just a little effort, he punctured through. His entire palms deeply embedded into the body of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Yet, a more ruthless attack followed! After breaking through the defense with his bear hands, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s fingers mutated again, this time into the limbs of a Blade Spider, rapidly growing within the body of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The next moment, glittering blades shot out from the body of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, piercing through its heart and spine. The blades clanged against each other, emitting several crisp sounds. Blood spurted out, and the body of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf trembled violently. It continued to claw at Lord Zhenjin, but its strength rapidly weakened, and soon its scratches felt more like caresses. A few breaths later, Lord Zhenjin released his bite, and the Blue Dog Fox Wolf fell to the ground, motionless. Its face was unrecognizably corroded by the acid, with the eyes suffering the most damage, yet they were still preserved. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s Acid Liquid was merely of Black Iron Level. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf was dead. It seemed like it wanted to howl or leave some last words, but Lord Zhenjin¡¯s teeth had been tightly clamped on it, and at most, it could only whimper, emitting a mournful scream. Its eyes wide open, it seemed unwilling to accept its fate, appearing extremely shocked. Its gaze seemed still fixed on Lord Zhenjin, as if making a ruthless accusation, as if forming a human sentence ¡ª ¡°Are you f-ing human?!¡± Firelight and thick smoke covered everything. A red light surged from the Heart Core, forming a bloodline that covered the body of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf disappeared, turning into a pile of carbon powder. The central cabin collapsed thunderously, forming the largest bonfire, while Lord Zhenjin¡¯s whereabouts were unknown. Chapter 122 - 122: Section 123: This is the Knights Romance Chapter 122: Section 123: This is the Knight¡¯s Romance The fire raged fiercely, illuminating the entire nearby forest. The Camp within the flames kept collapsing, occasionally letting out thunderous roars. ¡°The Camp¡­ it¡¯s gone,¡± someone murmured dejectedly, looking at the flames that soared even higher than the treetops. ¡°Fortunately, we saved the key timber outside,¡± Mu Ban said with relief. Zi Di was directing some people to bandage the Big Guy¡¯s wounds. The Big Guy¡¯s injuries were severe, and after staggering to this place, he slipped into unconsciousness. ... The shipwright surrounded Zi Di, looking at the girl eagerly, ¡°Chairman, how is the Big Guy doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a Pharmacist, not a doctor,¡± Zi Di wanted to say but seeing the shipwright¡¯s worried expression, she replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he has the giant¡¯s bloodline and strong recovery abilities. Combined with my potions, he¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good,¡± the shipwright sighed in relief, and his worried look gradually eased. Zi Di added, ¡°It¡¯s just that his injuries this time are much more severe than before. For the next half-month, he¡¯ll only be able to recuperate and must not move around recklessly.¡± At that point, Zi Di questioned the shipwright further, ¡°He has Black Iron Level strength; haven¡¯t you thought of training him? If he had some basic training, he wouldn¡¯t have sustained such severe injuries.¡± The shipwright sighed woefully, ¡°My lord, it¡¯s not that I haven¡¯t had such thoughts. But this big guy¡¯s mind isn¡¯t right, and sometimes he goes berserk. Only I can communicate with him effectively; he simply won¡¯t listen to anyone else.¡± Zi Di nodded, as if to show she understood. She looked around, and a worried expression slowly emerged on the girl¡¯s face. The ¡°he¡± in her heart had still not appeared. After splitting up with Zhenjin, Zong Ge quickly headed towards the main entrance of the Camp but was one step too late. The team left guarding the main gate had already begun to rout. Blue Dog Fox Wolf led the remnants of the Demon Beast Army and charged over. Fortunately, Zong Ge arrived in time to withstand the onslaught of the Demon Beast Army. He found himself surrounded by Magic Beasts, fighting hand-to-hand with Blue Dog Fox Wolf. His fine steel armor was pierced by the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s claws, leaving bloody holes, and the handle of Zong Ge¡¯s white bone giant hammer was broken in the intense fight. In fact, during the battle, the hammer handle had already broken once. But Mu Ban had made a spare handle for Zong Ge. Under the brave leadership of Zong Ge, Sanda, Lan Zao, and others fought fiercely against the enemy, leading to a brief stalemate between the two forces. But Zong Ge knew his side was already exhausted, fighting on their last breath. The Magic Beasts¡¯ strength was enduring and sustained, so he led the breakout. With the Camp burning fiercely, Zong Ge used many of the burning structures to shake off the pursuit of the Magic Beasts. Then, he exerted all his strength to rescue others in the Camp, leading as many as possible out of the Camp. After leaving the Camp, Zong Ge and his group successfully regrouped with Hei Juan, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others. It seemed that the Demon Beast Army had stayed within the Camp. Zong Ge hastened to reorganize his forces and regroup his team while also ordering Bai Ya to launch a signal arrow at regular intervals. Receiving the signal, scattered companions gradually returned to the main body of the group. ¡°Cough, cough, cough.¡± A coughing sound came from within the forest, immediately drawing the attention of those around. The next moment, Zhenjin, covered in blood, slowly walked out of the forest. ¡°It¡¯s Lord Zhenjin!¡± ¡°I knew he wouldn¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Master!!¡± Lan Zao shouted, rushing forward ahead of Zi Di, and helped support Zhenjin¡¯s arm. Zhenjin staggered, drenched in blood, and it seemed his wounds were severe. The gazes of the people turned from surprise to shock and admiration as they looked at him. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa leather armor on Zhenjin was now barely recognizable; cuts and scars revealed the young knight had endured an extremely perilous life-and-death struggle! However, in reality, Zhenjin¡¯s leather armor around the chest and shoulders had indeed been scratched and torn by Blue Dog Fox Wolf. But the other injuries were actually self-inflicted in his Mutation, as he clawed and bit himself with wolf claws and head. ¡°Using the flames, I defeated Blue Dog Fox Wolf, but I didn¡¯t kill it; it got away,¡± Zhenjin reported. ¡°Stop talking; let me take a look at your wounds,¡± Zi Di approached Zhenjin, her voice choked up. She extended her slender hand, carefully probing towards Zhenjin¡¯s leather armor, intending to remove the tattered armor. But Zhenjin stopped her. He was completely unharmed, and removing the leather armor would give it away. ¡°Give me some wound medicine; I will tend to it myself!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°My injuries aren¡¯t serious.¡± Zong Ge stepped forward, ¡°No matter how brave a warrior is, he must learn to take care of his own body. Your sword.¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zong Ge handed the thin sword, Silver Lightning, to Zhenjin. Zhenjin took it, sheathing it back into the scabbard at his waist. Sanda explained from behind Zong Ge, ¡°Blue Dog Fox Wolf organized one last charge at the main gate, and that Underground Giant Worm also joined in. But it met with Lord Zong Ge and was defeated once more.¡± ¡°Lord Zong Ge saw the sword stuck in it and risked jumping into the pit to retrieve this thin sword.¡± Zhenjin nodded, looking at Zong Ge, ¡°That must have been a spectacular fight.¡± ¡°Thank you! It returned just in time, and now we can pursue our victory.¡± Apart from Zong Ge and Cang Xu, everyone else was shocked. Zhenjin, hand on the hilt of his sword and the other on his hip, still shaky, raised his voice, ¡°Everyone, both Blue Dog Fox Wolves are not dead. We can¡¯t just ignore this; although we¡¯ve cleared the surrounding beasts, the Blue Dog Fox Wolves have set their sights on us. Given some time, they can regroup, potentially reassembling today¡¯s army or an even larger one!¡± ¡°What worries me more is that these two Blue Dog Fox Wolves may call more of their kind. If so, our future troubles will multiply beyond our control, leaving us helpless to die.¡± The look on everyone¡¯s faces darkened. They had not failed to consider this; they were simply in denial. It wasn¡¯t their fault but human nature. Today¡¯s battle had been a sure defeat without Zong Ge and Zhenjin. Now, with the Camp burnt down, numerous casualties, and the Demon Beast Army still a threat, these were all factors in the dampening of spirits. For this fight, they had prepared for days, exerted all their might, and still failed. The fear that had arisen among the people was a natural reaction, and all subconsciously chose not to dwell on the issue. Now, with Zhenjin¡¯s words, the problem was thrust upon them once more, forcing them to confront it. Zhenjin encouraged them, ¡°Everyone, there¡¯s no need to fear. Think about it carefully!¡± ¡°The Demon Beast Army hasn¡¯t appeared up until now, they haven¡¯t pursued us. Would they burn to death in the sea of flames?¡± ¡°The Blue Dog Fox Wolf is so cunning, it would definitely lead them away from the camp.¡± ¡°But why haven¡¯t they come to chase us?¡± ¡°If they were really strong, they would have come after us by now, they surely wouldn¡¯t let us go.¡± ¡°But now, they haven¡¯t followed us, which exactly shows their weakness and exhaustion. In the eyes of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, the Demon Beast Army is no longer a match for us.¡± ¡°They are already very weak. As long as we muster our courage and fight with all our might, we can fight for a great chance at survival.¡± However, the people remained silent. Wherever Zhenjin¡¯s gaze landed, those people lowered their heads or shifted their eyes to look at others beside them, avoiding meeting Zhenjin¡¯s gaze. Zhenjin could only sigh deeply in his heart. After dealing with the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, he had observed the battle situation at the main gate and had considered making a move on the remaining Blue Dog Fox Wolves. But his instincts had warned him of the danger in this plan. Indeed, with many Magic Beast guards around the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, and with no contact with the other Blue Dog Fox Wolf, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf on its own was exceedingly vigilant. Even if Zhenjin mutated into a complete Magic Beast, an abrupt approach would have been met with ferocious retaliation. In front of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, Zhenjin did not wish to reveal too much about himself. The Wolf Howl could convey much information, and he had suffered from this the last time. Realizing that his previous plan of luring, hiding, and assassinating could not succeed, Zhenjin didn¡¯t venture out alone. He returned to the main force, wishing to leverage the strength of his comrades to distract the Magic Beasts around the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Without these obstacles, Zhenjin was confident in his ability to fight and kill the Blue Dog Fox Wolf alone. As he had said, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf must be eradicated! Any appeasement would quickly escalate the problem to a scale beyond the capacity of Zhenjin and others. The reason Zhenjin lied about the existence of two Blue Dog Fox Wolves was that even if the camp burned, the corpses of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves would remain in the ruins. But in reality, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was utterly transformed by Zhenjin, leaving no evidence behind, which created a flaw. To others, it appeared that the Demon Beast Army still had two Blue Dog Fox Wolves. After this battle, the cunning and treacherous nature of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves instilled fear in people, but in fact, only one remained. Perhaps if Zhenjin told the truth, it could lessen the psychological burden. Zhenjin exhaled a turbid breath, his eyes resolute, ¡°Alright then, you have your own choices, and I won¡¯t force you. But even if I¡¯m alone, I have to take care of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf.¡± ¡°Lord!¡± Zi Di exclaimed softly. The others were also visibly moved. ¡°Master, please let me accompany you to face death!¡± Lan Zao said with a solemn face, standing in front of Zhenjin. Zhenjin nodded at him. Zong Ge laughed heartily, ¡°This is interesting. Count me in.¡± ¡°I will follow the Lord, wherever it may be.¡± Sanda also stepped forward immediately. ¡°Lord Zong Ge, Lord Sanda¡­¡± other members of the Mercenary Group were also beginning to be swayed. Bai Ya¡¯s expression changed, wrestling with his thoughts in his heart. This was too dangerous! Although he had previously risked his life to save Cang Xu from the jaws of the green lizard without a second thought, that had been an impulsive act from Bai Ya, with no time to think it through. Given ample time to consider now, he was fully aware of the danger, which inevitably brought a strong sense of fear. Observing their reactions, Sanda spoke up before his former Mercenary Group members could, preventing them from joining, ¡°You don¡¯t need to come, we are enough. The forest is treacherous. If something happens, we won¡¯t be able to look after you.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t go, Lord Zhenjin, please stay by my side,¡± Zi Di rarely opposed Zhenjin¡¯s decisions, always supporting him without question. ¡°Don¡¯t try to persuade me, you should be the one to understand me most. If we do nothing, we will surely perish. But if we act now, there¡¯s still hope,¡± Zhenjin looked at the young girl with deep affection, sighing internally. He knew that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had brought tremendous psychological trauma to Zi Di. Seeing Zhenjin badly wounded but still insisting on pursuing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, Zi Di had lost confidence. ¡°You need to heal your wounds first,¡± Zi Di insisted. ¡°There¡¯s no time to waste,¡± Zhenjin shook his head. Zi Di looked intently at Zhenjin, seeming to forget everything around her, her beautiful eyes, like amethysts, brimming with tears. ¡°When I wasn¡¯t around just now, Zi Di must have been extremely worried for me. Actually, I had great confidence, as long as someone could draw fire for me. But I couldn¡¯t tell her that, I could only let her worry about me.¡± Zhenjin also gazed deeply into Zi Di¡¯s eyes, a sense of guilt from hiding the truth and a deep tenderness for her welled up within him. The next moment, Zhenjin embraced Zi Di gently. Zi Di¡¯s body trembled slightly. Zhenjin, with his breath against Zi Di¡¯s ear, softly assured her, ¡°Wait for my return, I promise you, I will come back.¡± After saying that, Zhenjin let go of Zi Di and walked away. Zong Ge and the others followed closely behind. The others stood speechlessly, watching as the four men gradually drifted away. ¡°So this is what heroes are,¡± someone exclaimed sincerely. The words struck deeply into Bai Ya¡¯s heart, and the young man let out a loud cry, ¡°Lord, wait for me!¡± Bai Ya burst through the crowd, his face devoid of any hesitation. At this moment, he was filled with the spirit of adventure and glory, losing all his sense of reason. ¡°Stop him,¡± Zi Di ordered immediately. ¡°Just give it up, kid,¡± Xi Suo said as he tripped Bai Ya with a light hook of his foot. ¡°You¡¯re marching to your death.¡± Bai Ya got up, still determined to follow Zhenjin: ¡°I want to become a Knight. How can a Knight back down?¡± ¡°Bravery is not stupidity, young man,¡± Cang Xu sighed, advising, ¡°Perhaps one day, you will be a Knight. But for now, you are just a mortal and this¡­ this is the romance of Knights.¡± Bai Ya tried to speak again. ¡°Shut up!¡± Hei Juan knocked Bai Ya out with a blow, looking annoyed and embarrassed. Chapter 123 - 123: Section 124: To Save or Not to Save? Chapter 123: Section 124: To Save or Not to Save? Zhenjin and the others arrived in the forest but saw scattered Beast Marks like a disbanded legion, and it seemed that they could no longer control the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. ¡°How should we pursue?¡± Zong Ge furrowed his brow tightly, he was a soldier, not a hunter, and was not adept at distinguishing such wild beast tracks. Bai Ya was definitely very skilled at it, but he was too weak. ¡°The divine power still lingers in my body, I can barely see. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf went there!¡± Zhenjin had silently emitted an ultrasound and now, without hesitation, immediately pointed out the correct direction. ¡°The divine power still lingers in Zhenjin¡¯s body? Such favor is very unusual. Zhenjin¡­ is probably not an ordinary Holy Temple Knight!¡± Zong Ge looked deeply at Zhenjin, hiding the astonishment in his heart. He heard from Bai Ya that Zhenjin had also received a new blessing from the deity during the fight, which actually stunned the Flying Squirrels with a roar. ... The group sprinted through the forest, launching a chase. They found that the Magic Beast tracks along the way were getting fewer and fewer, Sanda exclaimed joyously, ¡°It seems the exotic scent duration of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf has indeed worn off, it can¡¯t control the herd, and is gradually becoming isolated. No wonder they stormed into the camp but did not continue to chase us, instead disappearing without a trace.¡± Lan Zao guessed as well, ¡°Perhaps the Smoke Potion made by Lady Zi Di could have interfered with the exotic scent of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf too!¡± A moment later. ¡°We¡¯ve caught up!¡± Zong Ge laughed loudly, charging towards the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf, seeing the pursuers, panicked and hastened its pace, fleeing through the forest. As they pursued, Zhenjin began to hesitate, ¡°I have a bad feeling.¡± Zong Ge, who was running, quickly glanced at Zhenjin, feeling the same. Suddenly, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf stopped fleeing, it began to bark furiously, and the surrounding forest became restless, as Magic Beasts surged from all directions, encircling Zhenjin and the others. ¡°It deliberately split its forces, creating the illusion of a disbanded herd, then kept showing weakness, luring us in deep to encircle us!¡± Zong Ge shouted lowly, his expression extremely grave. Lan Zao and Sanda looked grim, they had never expected to be outmaneuvered by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. ¡°Let¡¯s break out first, then turn around and counter-attack!¡± Zhenjin shouted, the current formation was too disadvantageous. He had already used ultrasound to survey everything, and there were no surprises. Zong Ge led the charge, his white Bone Hammer whistling through the air. Zhenjin was by his side, his thin sword Silver Lightning striking ruthlessly. With the two of them leading, the encirclement soon wavered, these Magic Beasts had just been through a big battle, and had not rested, all were wounded. Sanda and Lan Zao were somewhat weaker, but fortunately, with the care of Zhenjin and Zong Ge, the four finally broke through the encirclement. ¡°If we had more people coming, we really wouldn¡¯t be able to take care of them,¡± Zong Ge exhaled a breath of turbid air. ¡°Terrifying! This Blue Dog Fox Wolf actually thought of outmaneuvering us, it intentionally split its forces. If our large forces had pursued, with everyone¡¯s different speeds, we definitely would have lost formation in the forest, resulting in heavy casualties,¡± Sanda said, shaken. Zhenjin¡¯s expression was as grave as iron, ¡°Leaving such an opponent alive makes one¡¯s sleep uneasy. I must eliminate it! This is probably the last chance.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Zong Ge¡¯s resolve was also very firm. The four reorganized and once again launched a pursuit. The Demon Beast Army also gathered. But Zhenjin, relying on ultrasound, kept making guerrilla attacks, first targeting the peripheral forces of the Demon Beast Army. The Demon Beast Army also had Bat Monkeys, whenever Zhenjin and the others attacked, the Demon Beast Army would prepare in advance. However, the weakest aspect of the Demon Beast Army was revealed¡ªthey lacked long-range firepower. Zhenjin and the others all had crossbows and a large number of arrows. They avoided close combat with the magic beasts and instead, at a certain distance, fiercely launched arrows at them. When the magic beasts counterattacked, they turned and ran. Exhausted, the magic beasts¡¯ speed was no longer at its peak. Even if a magic beast caught up with Zhenjin and the others, its formation would inevitably become chaotic, allowing Zong Ge and Zhenjin to strike mercilessly at those leading the charge, killing each one. After all, though the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was cunning and deceitful, the intelligence of the other magic beasts was a cause for concern. The commands of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf couldn¡¯t be delivered very precisely and specifically, and couldn¡¯t maintain the formation after a charge. Thus, Zhenjin and the others only expended arrows, while the Demon Beast Army paid with their lives. Finally, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf knew it was defeated, and, taking some elites, accelerated and fled deep into the forest, while another group of the old, weak, sick, and disabled stayed behind to block Zhenjin and the others. Zhenjin¡¯s group of four tried to take a detour, but those who stayed behind also shifted, driven by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s peculiar scent which ensured their loyalty and desperation, always intercepting the four in front. Zong Ge grew impatient, led a charge, and engaged directly in close combat, barely breaking through the defensive line. There were still faster beasts entangling them from behind. ¡°Sirs, you go chase; we¡¯ll draw these magic beasts away!¡± There had been much delay, Sanda loudly suggested while running. Zong Ge and Zhenjin agreed in an instant. Sanda and Lan Zao stayed behind to draw the attention of the pursuing magic beasts. Zong Ge and Zhenjin continued the pursuit. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf, noticing this, continued to leave magic beasts behind to block their path. ¡°If this continues, we¡¯ll actually let the Blue Dog Fox Wolf escape, let¡¯s also divide our forces!¡± Zhenjin said. Zong Ge hesitated for a moment. There were still some troops around the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, and neither Zhenjin nor he alone could withstand them. But Zong Ge nodded, ¡°No matter who catches up to the Blue Dog Fox Wolf first, focus on entanglement, wait for backup, then attack!¡± Zhenjin nodded, and the two quickly split up. A Strong Life White Rhinoceros charged at Sanda and Lan Zao. Lan Zao, entangled by a Flying Squirrel, was about to be fatally rammed by the Strong Life White Rhinoceros. ¡°Go!¡± Sanda timely intervened, pushing Lan Zao out of the rhinoceros¡¯s charging path. Caught off guard, Lan Zao cried out, rolled three times, and dodged the rhinoceros. But the goblin, Sanda, stayed in place. The Silver Rhinoceros was large, while the goblin was quite short. As the rhinoceros charged, Sanda suddenly crouched down, forming a small ball, and shook left and right in place. The rhinoceros completely charged past; Sanda still remained on his feet, perfectly dodging the trampling of its legs from under its belly. ¡°Amazing!¡± Seeing this, Lan Zao couldn¡¯t help but show a look of shock and admiration. But the next moment, a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa swept through, forcing Lan Zao and Sanda to flee in a pathetic scramble once more. Facing these magic beasts, their strength seemed too low. Sanda was somewhat better off, while Lan Zao had several narrow escapes from death. ¡°Go support your master! I¡¯ll hold them off here,¡± Sanda called out. Lan Zao hesitated, then shook his head in refusal, ¡°My life should be sacrificed here, even if it only gives my master a few more seconds, it¡¯s worth it!¡± The goblin cursed angrily but did not try to persuade further, instead, he diverted the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s attention to himself and quickly left the woods. ¡°Don¡¯t come over and interfere with me!¡± Sanda cursed before leaving. ¡°Thanks!¡± Lan Zao could only thank him inwardly, and soon, he was entangled by a group of Flying Squirrels. As for the Strong Life White Rhinoceros, it had charged past long ago, chasing after the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Neither Sanda nor Lan Zao could detain it. Lan Zao was only Bronze Level, and at this moment, not only Bronze Flying Squirrels surrounded him but also two Black Iron Magic Beasts! Lan Zao dared not stay put and could only continue to flee. Realizing Lan Zao was leaving, Sanda sighed inwardly, ¡°I have already done my best.¡± Normally, he wasn¡¯t familiar with Lan Zao, but in this pursuit, he came to respect the human¡¯s bravery and loyalty. Just like when he used to look after the new members of the Mercenary Group, he subconsciously took care of Lan Zao. Boom! The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa fiercely swung its tail, smashing a giant rock. Sanda had to leap from his hiding spot, climbing up a large tree agilely like a flea. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa continued its attack, raising its upper body to level with Sanda who had escaped to the tree canopy. ¡°Good timing!¡± Sanda wanted to create this battle opportunity. He suddenly let go, the tree branch he had deliberately suppressed rebounded vigorously, and the dense leaves immediately blocked the vision of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa subconsciously closed its mouth and slightly backed off. The next moment, Sanda burst out from the thick leaves, jumping onto the head of Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His dagger in hand was tricky and ferocious, swiftly plunging down like a shooting star, aiming for one of the boa¡¯s eyes. But the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa reacted swiftly, violently shaking its head, flinging Sanda off into the air. As Sanda flew, the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa swung its tail forcefully. If hit, relying solely on Sanda¡¯s leather armor, he would undoubtedly be unable to resist and would surely die on the spot. At the critical moment, Sanda swung his arm, releasing a grappling claw from his sleeve. The claw caught onto a nearby tree trunk, and Sanda pulled himself to safety using the rope attached to the claw. However, the tail hammer of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa still grazed his right arm. It caused a shattering fracture, completely paralyzing his right arm! After swinging its tail, the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa turned to attack again. Just as Sanda reached the tree trunk from midair, in a dire moment, he could only move behind the tree trunk. Crack! The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s massive jaws snapped the tree trunk in half, Sanda barely managing to dive forward and avoid a fatal blow. After he hit the ground, Sanda immediately rolled up. The motion touched his right arm, causing him such pain that his face turned pale, and he grimaced. ¡°Damn it!¡± Sanda also realized he had lost his dagger. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa slowly advanced again. Sanda, sweating profusely, knelt on the ground, helplessly gripping the handle of the scimitar at his waist with his only functioning left hand. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to use this blade. No choice!¡± Sanda took a deep breath, then held his breath, drawing the scimitar with a cling. This scimitar was not made of iron; the blade was extremely thin, as thin as a sheet of paper, and a layer of bluish-green color flashed across it. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa attacked once again! Sanda¡¯s movements were swift, he dodged the attack and brushed past the Crocodile Head. The scimitar in his left hand lightly sliced, cutting through the thick skin of the boa, leaving a trail of blood. Having made the cut, Sanda immediately sheathed the thin blade. He quickly distanced himself from the battlefield. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa pursued relentlessly behind him. Sanda ran frantically, occasionally jumping, using the sounds of the wind to dodge the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s repeated strikes. After a dozen breaths, the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa suddenly collapsed to the ground, its body struggling slowly, unable to rise again. Sanda continued to run determinedly for a while before he finally leaned against a tree trunk, bent over, and resumed breathing. ¡°Almost got suffocated! Ah ha ah ha¡­¡± After gasping heavily for a while, worry arose again, ¡°What about Lan Zao? I need to find him; if he tries to come back for me, that¡¯s tantamount to seeking death!¡± According to his memory and the signs of the struggle, Sanda quickly found Lan Zao. ¡°You!¡± Sanda was shocked. In the shattered woods, Lan Zao, covered in blood, stood upright, holding twin daggers. At his side lay the bodies of about a dozen Flying Squirrels. Though there were no Black Iron Magic Beasts, there were as many as eight of Bronze Level. Seeing Sanda, Lan Zao, who had already reached his limit, collapsed onto the ground and passed out. Zong Ge ran through the forest. Ahead, the sound of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf emerged. This greatly exhilarated the Half-Beast! ¡°Zhenjin should have caught up successfully and entangled the Blue Dog Fox Wolf.¡± Zong Ge¡¯s speed was hindered, though the subsequent arrivals of Strong Life White Rhinoceros, Black Iron Flying Squirrel, and others, he dealt with. Dashing through a dense thicket, Zong Ge then saw down the small hillside, Zhenjin surrounded by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf and several Monkey-tailed Brown Bears. ¡°Bad!¡± A sinking feeling hit Zong Ge. This was nothing like what he had expected. Zhenjin hadn¡¯t used his crossbow for restraint but instead had fallen into the encirclement. Without his Iron-made armor, Zong Ge¡¯s support would be vital, or Zhenjin¡¯s chances were grim! Just as Zong Ge was about to step forward, a thought struck him. He suddenly wondered, ¡°Should I¡­ go to his rescue?¡± Chapter 124 - 124: Section 125: Hmph, Zong Ge! Chapter 124: Section 125: Hmph, Zong Ge! The intense battle scene at the foot of the hillside unfolded before Zong Ge¡¯s eyes. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s right hind leg was injured, and it lay on the ground, howling continuously. Under its impromptu command, those Monkey-tailed Brown Bears actually displayed exquisite coordination, tightly encircling Zhenjin. They cut him off from the left, blocked him from the right, one attacking above as another struck below, leaving no gaps for escape. Zhenjin swung his thin sword, Silver Lightning. Although the blade was extremely sharp, each thrust spilling blood and causing pain that made the Brown Bears retreat, his shortcomings were undeniably exposed at this moment. He lacked proper armor for protection, which made his offense strong but his defense weak, severely lacking the capacity to breach and break free. ¡°Zhenjin would never be foolish enough to attack directly,¡± ¡°It must have been the Blue Dog Fox Wolf using itself as bait to lure him in.¡± ... ¡°Zhenjin hadn¡¯t anticipated that these Monkey-tailed Brown Bears could coordinate like this. No, even I wouldn¡¯t have expected the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s command to reach such a level!¡± At this moment, Zong Ge fell into hesitation. Zhenjin¡­ a Holy Temple Knight¡­ the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family¡­ As for him, a Half-Beast, even if his lineage was superior, he couldn¡¯t declare it openly. After this defense battle at the camp, Zhenjin¡¯s prestige was bound to rise once more. Zong Ge had hoped to seize this opportunity to display his own formidable combat strength. Yet, it seemed he could not outshine Zhenjin¡¯s brilliance. There was even a hint that the youth overshadowed him. ¡°This young man, he truly is outstanding!¡± To be honest, Zong Ge was very envious of Zhenjin. How wonderful it would be if he were in Zhenjin¡¯s place. All his aspirations could come true naturally. And now, after wasting so many years, having reached middle age, he remained unaccomplished. He could only go to the Wilderness Continent to seek opportunities, to try his luck. But what about Zhenjin? From the start, he was vying for the position of White Sand City Lord. If he were successful, such a starting point in his career would far surpass Zong Ge. Maybe Zong Ge would need to struggle for more than a decade to reach that level of City Lord. Jealous? Zong Ge admitted that he was. He often asked himself¡ª ¡°Why is there such a huge difference between people?¡± ¡°Why are some born high above, while others are lowly, in the mud?¡± ¡°Why do lineage, status, and racial prejudice make all efforts seem so trivial and weak?¡± ¡°Why, after all my years of hard work, am I still only able to mingle with mercenaries? Still struggling at the bottom rungs?¡± And what about Zhenjin? He didn¡¯t need to ponder these questions. He was free from such troubles that plagued Zong Ge. He had a fianc¨¦e, Zi Di, the Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. He had the Hundred Needle Family as his support. People like Cang Xu and Mu Ban by his side were talents that Zong Ge longed for, all gladly siding with the youth. He was a man, a pure-blooded human, a noble, a Holy Temple Knight. He was a natural leader, radiating noble light from within, a light that made most others feel ashamed and bow down, ready to kneel. For the majority of people, following Zhenjin was a great honor! So much. Zhenjin had so many things that Zong Ge, despite efforts many times greater, perhaps dozens of times greater, could only hope to obtain a fraction of. And then there were things that, no matter how hard Zong Ge tried, he could never achieve. In Zhenjin, Zong Ge saw his own childhood, the castle where he lived, the half-siblings within the castle. They all had throngs of servants, smiling housekeepers, and loyal guards. Zong Ge had hated it! In his childhood, he cursed his siblings. ¡°Why do you exist?¡± ¡°With you around, father¡¯s gaze lands on you first, then he turns to consider me.¡± ¡°He must ask about your well-being before inquiring about mine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of you that I am here.¡± As a child, Zong Ge lay in bed, curling up his body. He had to curl up because he grew so quickly that the bed seemed short. If he stretched out, his feet would dangle off the edge. His bedding was torn, and his single layer of hemp clothing also bore stains. There was nothing he could do; it was the only set of clothes he had. He had to wait for a sunny day to wash them, else, if not dried properly, he would have to shrink back into his small room all day, unable to go out, and of course, unable to eat. Whenever Zong Ge washed his clothes, he curled up on the bed, his mind filled with dark thoughts, cursing his brothers and sisters, wishing they would all die. Die. May the horses run wild and lead to your demise in a fall. Make a mistake during sword skill practice, and perish skewered by each other. Slip and fall, plunge to your death from the castle during a rainy day. Die¡­ Die. Die! ¡°If you die, Father will only have me as a son.¡± ¡°If you die, I¡¯ll become the strongest in the exploration team, no one more suitable to lead. These people would then likely become my followers!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to do anything.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to backstab, I don¡¯t need to kill, I just need to watch, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°When you die in battle, I will eliminate the Magic Beast that killed you, collect your body, bring you back, I will grieve, I will cry, I will become the team¡¯s only leader.¡± ¡°Perhaps this is the opportunity that fate has granted me!¡± ¡°How many years has it been? Haven¡¯t I always longed for this sort of opportunity?¡± ¡°How easy, I hardly need to do anything! I just need to watch, I merely need to wait for things to happen¡­¡± As a child, Zong Ge spun dark musings, curled up on the cold, hard bed, staring blankly at the wooden door. Bang! The wooden door was suddenly flung open with force from the outside. Intense sunlight pierced into the small room like countless sharp swords. Shadows screamed in madness, retreating to shrink into tiny specks, hiding in the corners. A familiar figure appeared in front of the young Zong Ge. Because he stood with his back to the sunlight, his face was a blur, but his rough, loud voice was deeply etched in Zong Ge¡¯s heart, ¡°Get up, stinky boy, stop lying around in the dark nook. Come and learn sword skills with me!¡± ¡°Teach, instruct¡­¡± Young Zong Ge was stunned. The hallucination abruptly ended. Zong Ge found himself still on the hillside, having just rushed out of the bushes, one foot still raised mid-stride in a posture ready to charge to the rescue. The hallucination felt lengthy, but not even a second had elapsed in reality. ¡°Hmph, Zong Ge!¡± Zong Ge snorted coldly to himself inside. His confused gaze swept away, cleared by a sudden emptying of complex emotions. His hand clenched the wooden handle of the Bone Hammer tightly, lifting his head up proudly. He took a heavy step forward, pressing into the earth and leaving a deep footprint. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± He let out a roar to the sky. And took another step. He began to run. Under the sunlight, his shoulder-length hair fluttered, his thick body hair and booming voice, the signs of his Half-Beast nature, made him appear like a lion descending the hill. His roars were unending, as if he opened his chest, allowing the sunlight and immense courage to pour into his heart. Taking strides, each one bigger than the last. He charged, his speed increasing. The wind whistled past his ears, and the distance between him and Zhenjin rapidly diminished. The wind¡¯s sound seemed to change, transforming into the instructor¡¯s loud voice, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it, just like that. Charge, charge. I¡¯m a soldier, and you will be a soldier too. Charge, your comrades are waiting for you to support them!¡± ¡°Hold on, Holy Temple Knight!¡± Zong Ge bellowed, though he was not yet at Zhenjin¡¯s side, he sent courage and hope into Zhenjin¡¯s being through his shouts, ¡°Your reinforcements are coming!!¡± His bellow echoed through the forest, and even the ground seemed to tremble with the sound. ¡°Woof, woof, woof!¡± The Blue Dog Fox Wolf spotted Zong Ge, turned its head sharply, and barked loudly. In the next moment, a section of the ground erupted, dirt flying in all directions, and a massive monster, with its gaping maw wide open, lunged at Zong Ge. It was the Underground Giant Worm that had been driven off. The ground collapsed, and Zong Ge was immediately caught in a deep pit, only able to raise his Bone Hammer to defend. The mouth of the giant worm, though opened to its fullest extent, couldn¡¯t swallow the entire Bone Hammer, only managing to take in a small part. A grating screech resounded, sharp and piercing. It was the sound of the serrated teeth within the worm¡¯s mouth frantically grinding against the Bone Hammer. Zong Ge supported the Bone Hammer with one hand, while desperately throwing punches and kicks at the Underground Giant Worm with his other limbs. The worm¡¯s fatty, greasy body caused Zong Ge¡¯s punches and kicks to sink in, greatly reducing their force. His blows were nothing more than an annoyance to the giant worm. After a stalemate lasting several breaths, the Underground Giant Worm suddenly raised its head and retracted it, spitting out the Bone Hammer. Its mouth¡¯s front rows of teeth were almost completely ground down, and the surface of the Bone Hammer also showed concentric circles, all marks of the Underground Giant Worm¡¯s tight bite, with a large amount of bone powder ground off. ¡°What are you waiting for? Move with the speed of the nobles, fast, fast, fast!¡± a guiding voice seemed to come through again. Zong Ge snorted coldly, stepping on the pit wall and leaping up. Next, he swung the hammer down fiercely, knocking down the Giant Worm, stepped on its body, and used the momentum to jump out of the deep pit. ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± Zong Ge roared again. But he had just run a dozen steps when the ground split open again, and the Underground Giant Worm lunged at him a second time. ¡°Another one?!¡± Zong Ge paled. In an instant, he questioned, ¡°If there are two, why didn¡¯t they use them when they attacked the Camp?¡± Continuing his observations, his confusion cleared, ¡°No, it¡¯s just one. It turns out the Giant Worm has big mouths at both ends!¡± Typically, Underground Giant Worms attacked with one end and kept the other buried in the earth, ready to flee. But now, under the command of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, the Underground Giant Worm fought with all its might. As a result, it couldn¡¯t burrow and escape in the event of danger. However, the ferocity of the attacks from both ends also put Zong Ge in a difficult position, trapping him and preventing advancement. Zong Ge was already struggling with one head, and with the attack of two heads, the Half-Beast was overwhelmed. On the other side, Zhenjin faced life-threatening danger. ¡°No!¡± Zong Ge roared, ¡°Hold on!¡± He wanted to rush over. ¡°Damn insects!¡± In the next instant, the Half-Beast had to dodge again. ¡°You have to take risks, a man¡¯s got to take risks! Everyone faces danger on the battlefield, don¡¯t be afraid, face your fears, only then will you survive, only then can you win!¡± the voice of guidance rose again in his heart. Zong Ge let out a low growl, suddenly extending his left arm, letting the Underground Giant Worm bite down on it on purpose. The Giant Worm was massive, but after biting down on Zong Ge¡¯s left arm, its mouth contracted fiercely, shrinking its body by at least half, trapping Zong Ge tightly and preventing his escape. Meanwhile, the other head aimed for Zong Ge¡¯s back. In this moment of crisis, Zong Ge swung the Bone Hammer, striking hard at one head of the worm. To bite Zong Ge, the Giant Worm had contracted itself, becoming more solid, no longer having the defense to absorb blunt force like before. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The hammer kept pounding, and the pain drove the Giant Worm to thrash wildly, its body twisting and struggling frantically on the ground. Zong Ge was sometimes thrown to the ground, and sometimes lifted high into the air. No matter how the world in his vision spun, Zong Ge focused solely on his target, the hammer relentlessly beating on one head of the worm. With each fierce smash, he managed to kill the Giant Worm right there on the spot! Upon death, the Giant Worm loosened its jaws, and Zong Ge withdrew his left arm. His left arm was a bloody mess, the fine steel armguard had been sawed into strips, revealing ragged skin beneath, his flesh bloody and torn, some parts revealing white bone. Where pieces of the steel armor remained, they were embedded into his flesh in strips, creating a horrifying sight. Agonizing pain hit him, Zong Ge was covered in sweat, droplets falling into his eyes further blurred his vision. ¡°Don¡¯t give up, don¡¯t give up! Stand up, don¡¯t lie there. Do you want to be trampled to death? Are you not a soldier? Stand up, even if you have to die, die standing!¡± the guiding words seemed to whisper in Zong Ge¡¯s ear again. ¡°Shut your mouth! You old fart,¡± Zong Ge retorted. He dragged his numb left arm, and the Bone Hammer, towards Zhenjin. This time, there were no more obstacles in his way. Chapter 125 - 125: Section 126: If you didnt want my help, you should have said so earlier Chapter 125: Section 126: If you didn¡¯t want my help, you should have said so earlier Roar! Two Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, one in front and the other behind, charged at Lord Zhenjin. With a flick of his Silver Lightning thin sword, Lord Zhenjin immediately drew a spray of Blood Pearls. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear behind him convulsed in severe pain, its movements becoming distorted. Lord Zhenjin recoiled back, avoiding the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear in front. But perhaps because he couldn¡¯t see behind him, or perhaps because his peripheral vision was obstructed by the injured Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, he failed to notice that another Monkey-tailed Brown Bear had moved in to fill the gap. When this Monkey-tailed Brown Bear attacked, Lord Zhenjin showed a look of surprise and could only raise his sword to defend. ... With a slap, his thin sword was knocked out of his hand by the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. ¡°Woof, woof, woof!¡± The Blue Dog Fox Wolf barked excitedly upon seeing this scene. Without his thin sword Silver Lightning, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s situation became even more awkward. He could only dodge left and right, no longer capable of counterattacking. He seemed to know that continuing this way would surely lead to his death in battle, so he made a desperate attempt to break through. But as soon as a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear blocked the exit, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s breakout plan was doomed. He could only rely on pulling the movements of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears to create gaps in their formation. However, achieving this was easier said than done? Blue Dog Fox Wolf was nearby, directing the fight, and it barked continuously, preemptively thwarting all of Lord Zhenjin¡¯s breakout attempts. Bang. A muffled sound erupted as Lord Zhenjin was finally knocked down by a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. He rolled continuously, dodging the successive attacks of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, and momentarily ended up dusty and slightly kneeling on the ground. ¡°No!¡± Zong Ge¡¯s shout came from the hillside. Even though he was chasing with all his might, the delay caused by the Underground Giant Worm had cost him too much time, leaving a significant distance between him and Lord Zhenjin. Seeing that Lord Zhenjin was about to be overwhelmed, he could only continue sprinting. ¡°Woof, woof!¡± yelled the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, as if to say¡ªfinish him! The Monkey-tailed Brown Bears drew closer again. Just then, Lord Zhenjin began to pray loudly. ¡°Holy Emperor, my Lord, Thy knight fights to the death, unafraid in the face of danger! Please grant me the strength to stand.¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body began to swell. He had been just a young man, not very tall and rather slender, but now his whole body inflated like it was filled with air, becoming tall and robust, almost as tall as a standing Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. This caused his well-fitting leather armor to burst off him. Only strips of cloth hung on his body. Seeing Lord Zhenjin suddenly destroy his clothes and armor and stand up defiantly, morale soared. Zong Ge and Blue Dog Fox Wolf were taken aback, and the charging momentum of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears was visibly reduced. Lord Zhenjin continued to pray, shouting loudly, ¡°Great Emperor above, my Lord, please bestow upon me Golden Armor, making me indestructible!¡± The next moment, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s exposed skin underwent a Mutation into a scorpion shell. The armor of a Silver Level gun scorpion, which was of a dark golden color. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bears finally rushed up to Lord Zhenjin. But by that time, Lord Zhenjin had transformed into a small giant, his entire body enveloped in golden colored armor. Even Lord Zhenjin¡¯s head was covered in scorpion shell, only revealing his nostrils and the slits in his eyes! Lord Zhenjin threw a punch, striking right at the nose of the nearest Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear howled in pain, immediately lying down on the ground, covering its nose. Lord Zhenjin leaped sideways, dodging the attack that followed, and retaliated with a punch. Bang, bang, bang¡­ He did not dodge or evade, exchanging blows with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, his presence becoming even more fierce. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bears were already in poor condition, and now, their palms and claws were not even red; hitting the scorpion shell just made Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body shake slightly¡ªit was neither painful nor itchy. But Lord Zhenjin knew well the physiological weaknesses of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. He couldn¡¯t help it; he could transform into a complete Monkey-tailed Brown Bear and had secretly done so many times. Years of hard training were now bearing fruit. Using his Iron Fists, Lord Zhenjin pummeled the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, who had just been overbearing, forcing them to the ground! Lord Zhenjin widened his stance and sprinted toward the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf saw the Golden Armor Giant rolling toward it, its entire wolf face twisted, as if to say¡ªwhat in the world is that?! After snapping back to reality, its first thought was¡ªrun. Retreat first, save myself; the opponent is too strange, having become so strong, so terrifying! I¡¯m just a lone wolf; how could I possibly be an opponent for this kind of freak? It¡¯s better to regroup with the Demon Beast Army in the future and gang up on him¡ªthat¡¯s the proper strategy in warfare. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf initially was lying on the ground, now it stood straight, turned, and ran. Lord Zhenjin had already anticipated the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s escape; he suddenly stomped the ground, giving up running and pouncing toward the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Perhaps because of the injury in its hind legs, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s movement had slowed slightly. Or perhaps because of Lord Zhenjin¡¯s sudden mutation, it caught the Blue Dog Fox Wolf completely off guard. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf had just turned to run, when suddenly, it froze, feeling its tail gripped firmly by a large hand. In the next moment, an immense force, impossible to resist, came from the tail. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf displayed a look of terror, its claws digging into the ground. But the force from behind was so immense that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf left four long claw marks on the ground, and its whole body was inevitably yanked backward. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re running off to!¡± Lord Zhenjin bellowed with a commanding voice. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf screamed wildly, and the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears received orders to immediately come to its rescue. Lord Zhenjin swung his arm, using the Blue Dog Fox Wolf in hand as a weapon. In the next moment, the head of Blue Dog Fox Wolf traced an arc in mid-air, smashing hard into the chest of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. The momentum of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was instantly halted, and the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, due to the severe pain, had its howls abruptly cease, and a powerful dizziness assaulted its body and mind. Bang, bang, bang¡­ Holding the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, Lord Zhenjin charged into the group of bears, striking hard with the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The poor Blue Dog Fox Wolf soon spat out blood, its skull and bones cracking. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bears seemed to have received orders from the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, their attacks were hesitant and restrained. A violent collision quickly knocked the Blue Dog Fox Wolf unconscious. Yet Lord Zhenjin¡¯s attack continued! The Monkey-tailed Brown Bears were sent scrambling in terror. Aoow¡ª! Suddenly, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf let out a piercing scream, awakening from the intense pain. As the Blue Dog Fox Wolf came to, its pupils constricted, only to see the Golden Armor Giant holding its tail, while it lay on the ground not far away. Lord Zhenjin swung wildly, severing its tail. But no matter, in the next moment, Lord Zhenjin extended both hands, grabbing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s hind legs. ¡°Aoow!!!¡± The Blue Dog Fox Wolf cried out, as if pleading, ¡°Don¡¯t! Let me go!¡± But the terrifying Golden Armor Giant dragged it back, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s eyes filled with fright and despair, frantically clawing at the ground and leaving twisted marks everywhere. All efforts were in vain. It was still flung by Lord Zhenjin, used as a weapon, swirling fiercely through the air. Zong Ge slowly halted his steps. This was all too unbelievable! He witnessed everything, the expressions of shock and anger, concern still partially visible on his face. But next, when he saw the Golden Armor Giant notice that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf showed no sign of life and tossed the corpse aside, starting to brawl with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears using a pair of Iron Fists. The look of shock and urgency finally disappeared from his face, his eyelids twitching wildly. As he slowly descended the hillside to the edge of the battlefield, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears around Lord Zhenjin all lay on the ground, beaten to death by him! Zong Ge instinctively halted, standing in place, staring blankly at Lord Zhenjin. As if asking himself, ¡°What was I rushing here for?¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s armor swiftly dissipated, turning into charcoal dust that scattered on the ground, his body returning to its original youthful form. Lord Zhenjin also seemed confused. He looked down at his hands, surprised and curious. On the hillside, a green head suddenly appeared. It was Sanda. On Sanda¡¯s shoulder lay an unconscious Lan Zao. Sanda¡¯s gaze swept the scene, stunned by what lay below. ¡°What happened?¡± his eyes widened. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf was dead, its body severely deformed, its tail severed from its torso, a gruesome death. Several Monkey-tailed Brown Bears lay around the standing Lord Zhenjin, highlighting the ultimate victor. And Lord Zhenjin, clad in mere scraps of cloth, almost naked, looked at his body, seemingly puzzled but also pleased. At the edge of the battlefield, Zong Ge was covered in blood, his left arm dangling, dragging a Bone Hammer, his injuries severe! Then a faint sound, as Zong Ge dropped the wooden handle, letting the Bone Hammer fall to the ground. He exhaled a murky breath, then sat down abruptly. ¡°Cough cough cough,¡± he coughed a fit, spitting out bloody froth, and finally a mouthful of fresh blood before he could breathe smoothly, regaining his strength, ¡°No need for my rescue? You should have said so earlier!¡± Lord Zhenjin, hearing Zong Ge¡¯s words of complaint, suddenly raised his head, as if awakened. He looked at Zong Ge, his gaze particularly focused on Zong Ge¡¯s severely injured left arm. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling his gaze, Zong Ge smiled wryly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a scratch.¡± His tone seemed casual, but his eyes were intensely fixed on Lord Zhenjin. After a moment, the Half-Beast spoke, his voice carrying a mix of weirdness, helplessness, and a hint of anger, ¡°Hey, Lord Zhenjin, aren¡¯t you¡­ a Divine Favored Knight?¡± ¡°Divine Favored Knight?¡± Lord Zhenjin raised his eyebrows, ¡°Am I a Divine Favored Knight? I¡¯m not quite sure myself.¡± Lord Zhenjin shook his head, clearly confused. ¡°Hey, are you two alright?¡± Sanda¡¯s call came from the hillside, ¡°Can someone tell me what exactly happened here?¡± Lord Zhenjin and Zong Ge looked at each other, both remaining silent. The breeze blew in, and Lord Zhenjin suddenly realized his current state. ¡°Quick, Sanda, strip down Lan Zao for my clothes,¡± Lord Zhenjin called out. Sanda¡¯s eyes bulged. Did I rush here with my comrades, risking our lives, just to deliver clothes? Reluctantly, Sanda did as asked. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s current state was indeed indecent. Speaking of which, stripping a man¡¯s clothes was indeed quite unfamiliar. ¡°I¡¯m usually experienced with searching corpses, but this is really my first time doing this kind of thing,¡± the goblin muttered, trying to ease his own embarrassment. ¡°You, what are you doing?!¡± Lan Zao woke up to find the goblin stripping him and immediately shouted. ¡°I¡¯m not dead yet. And if you¡¯re going to loot my corpse, why completely strip me?¡± ¡°Shut up, your master wants your clothes!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin? You¡¯re joking!!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t believe? Look down the hill.¡± ¡°My, Master?!¡± Lord Zhenjin nodded slightly at Lan Zao, his expression returning to its usual calm. ¡°Get away!¡± Lan Zao slapped away the goblin¡¯s hands, ¡°I can undress myself!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s helping you anyway!¡± Sanda snapped, frustrated, ¡°Hey, why are you yanking my scarf?!¡± ¡°Let me have something,¡± Lan Zao¡¯s tone dropped. Sanda fumed, ¡°My scarf is for my neck, where do you plan to put it, you jerk?¡± ¡°Sanda!¡± Zong Ge finally spoke. Sanda: ¡­ Chapter 126 - 126: Section 127: Divine Favored Knight Chapter 126: Section 127: Divine Favored Knight The chase battle had ended. They had killed only a Blue Dog Fox Wolf, and though Zong Ge was seriously injured, he remained dissatisfied after a fruitless search. Only Lord Zhenjin knew that there had been only one left. ¡°When Divine Power was infused into my eyes, I could see the target I wanted to see, and even overlook the world to analyze the target¡¯s route. But when I had just caught up with this Blue Dog Fox Wolf, the Divine Power in my eyes was depleted, and I no longer had the vision I had before,¡± Lord Zhenjin provided the answer. Zong Ge and the others were left with no choice. Lord Zhenjin tried to pray publicly again, but this time, there was no response from the gods. ... Of course, there would be no response! Lord Zhenjin wanted to continue praying, but Zong Ge stopped him, ¡°Don¡¯t overuse it, Divine Grace is not infinite, Zhenjin.¡± The four of them quickly cleaned up the battlefield and returned to the temporary camp with their spoils. ¡°Look, they¡¯re back!¡± a sentinel in the bushes suddenly shouted. The temporary camp erupted in cheers and a large crowd immediately came out. ¡°Lord Zhenjin is back?¡± ¡°Where are they?¡± The forest blocked their view. The sentinel in the tree had a clearer sight and he shouted again, ¡°Wait, I see them. Lan Zao is carrying a corpse.¡± ¡°My God, it¡¯s a Blue Dog Fox Wolf!¡± the sentinel then exclaimed. The crowd under the tree immediately cheered. ¡°My God, they did it!¡± ¡°They succeeded! They killed the main culprit.¡± ¡°Unbelievable¡­ they really succeeded.¡± Hei Juan, who had stayed in the camp, revealed a shocked expression upon hearing the cheers of the crowd. The Demon Beast Army attacked the camp, causing significant casualties and burning the entire camp to the ground. The cunning and treacherous nature of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf put immense psychological pressure on everyone. Lord Zhenjin decided to pursue and kill them, but the vast majority lacked the confidence. ¡°Divine Favored Knight, this is the Divine Favored Knight!¡± Bai Ya, who had awakened, heard the cheer and exclaimed fervently as he rushed out of the tent toward the crowd. Hei Juan glared fiercely at him, but Bai Ya was completely unaware and left Hei Juan with only his back. Through the gaps between the trees, people saw Lord Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and others and moved forward to greet them. ¡°Lord Zong Ge!¡± As they got closer, someone called out softly. Zong Ge¡¯s wounded left arm was horrifying, and even without seeing the final battle, the severity and danger of the fight were immediately clear from his injury. ¡°How strange¡­¡± the crowd began to wonder. ¡°Why is Lan Zao naked, covered only with a white cloth around his groin?¡± ¡°That loop of white cloth looks somewhat familiar.¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. People were curious. To what extent was this chase battle grueling that Lan Zao¡¯s clothes were all gone? ¡°Wait, Lord Zhenjin seems to be wearing Lan Zao¡¯s clothes. Where is his own armor?¡± People were even more puzzled. ¡°Lord Sanda!¡± ¡°I knew Lan Zao¡¯s white cloth looked familiar!¡± Former members of the Mercenary Group waved and called out to Sanda, most of them holding back laughter. Sanda¡¯s face remained stern throughout, his large bald head completely exposed without a white scarf to cover it, making his normal neck look thin in comparison. This made him look quite comical. No wonder he wore a scarf all the time; this kind of attire really undermined his dignity as a Mercenary Squad Leader. ¡°My lord!¡± Zi Di ran up to Lord Zhenjin, her eyes brimming with tears, seemingly wanting to throw herself into his arms, but she stopped short due to shyness with so many people around. ¡°I said I would come back,¡± Zhenjin smiled at her. Zi Di nodded, ¡°My lord, let me treat your wounds.¡± Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°My injuries have been dealt with and are not serious. This battle is hard to describe in a few words. We can talk about the details later, right now I just want to sleep deeply.¡± Zi Di immediately nodded, ¡°Your tent is ready.¡± Everyone considerately made way. Everyone was exhausted. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s Demon Beast Army had launched their attack during the night. Zhenjin had not only fought throughout the night, facing powerful Magic Beasts like the Blue Dog Fox Wolf multiple times, but by day, he had taken the initiative to pursue them, and after traversing mountains and hills, he had decapitated the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, please rest well!¡± ¡°Quick, someone, treat Lord Zong Ge.¡± ¡°First, we need to figure out how to remove the broken steel armor!¡± ¡°Lan Zao, come and tell me what kind of battle it was. Why are you naked?¡± Lan Zao: ¡­ Although the camp had been burned down, there were still tents. In fact, not just tents, but food, water, and other supplies had been partially taken out beforehand and buried outside the camp. This was Cang Xu¡¯s suggestion¡ªdo not put all your eggs in one basket. Upon entering the tent, Zi Di carefully checked Zhenjin¡¯s entire body, and after confirming that his injuries were not severe at all, Zi Di finally exhaled a turbid breath and tenderly helped Zhenjin clean his wounds, apply medicine, and bandage him. Lying on the newly laid bed in the tent, Zhenjin quickly fell into a deep sleep. He really was exhausted. The first half of the night he had rigorously practiced transforming into the shape of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, and the latter half he signaled warnings, directing everyone to protect the camp and counterattack the Demon Beast Army¡¯s assault. In the burning central wooden hut, he finally found the opportunity to kill a Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The camp was destroyed, daylight came, and Zhenjin encouraged Zong Ge and two others to chase down the remaining Blue Dog Fox Wolf. This was not just a simple hunt; Zhenjin had also staged a big drama in front of Zong Ge, using the Blue Dog Fox Wolf and several Monkey-tailed Brown Bears. It wasn¡¯t just physical exhaustion for Zhenjin; it was also mental. This sleep lasted until the evening. Zhenjin slowly opened his eyes, and through the slits of the tent, he saw the leaping flames of the campfire and heard the sounds of people having dinner and talking to each other. ¡°So, did the lord and the others only kill one Blue Dog Fox Wolf?¡± the shipwright asked. ¡°Yes, just one,¡± it seemed to be Mu Ban who answered. The shipwright sighed, ¡°In that case, aren¡¯t we still in big trouble? Once this Blue Dog Fox Wolf replenishes its forces, the Demon Beast Army will attack again. It might even summon more Blue Dog Fox Wolves!¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do. The lords did everything they could! Didn¡¯t you see the wounds on Zong Ge?¡± Mu Ban also sighed, worried. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Zhenjin apologized inwardly. In fact, both Blue Dog Fox Wolves were already dead, but it was difficult for Zhenjin to explain. However, leaving the illusion that one survived could also keep everyone always alert and maintain a sense of crisis, which was not entirely a bad thing. Mu Ban and the shipwright were positioned close to Zhenjin¡¯s tent, so he could not hear the conversation of others clearly. This did not deter Zhenjin. After these nights of almost continuous rigorous training, Zhenjin¡¯s mastery of the Heart Core had deepened considerably. The next moment, he mutated his ears into those of a bat monkey. The exquisite part was that Zhenjin¡¯s outer ear still maintained a human form, only the structure of the inner ear and such had subtly transformed. Actually, this change alone was very dangerous. Zhenjin¡¯s other physical structures were still in human form, and the sudden increase in hearing could overwhelm the human nerves. But the Heart Core, through the consumption of demon energy, took on the contradictions between life structures. This allowed Zhenjin to not only hear more sounds but also maintain his own safety as he continued to listen quietly. Soon, he heard Bai Ya asking Cang Xu. ¡°What is a Divine Favored Knight?¡± Bai Ya asked. The young man was curious about everything related to knights. Cang Xu slowly explained, ¡°The so-called Divine Favored means deeply cherished by the gods.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin is a Holy Temple Knight who worships the Holy Emperor. Does that mean he is deeply favored by the Holy Emperor?¡± Bai Ya continued to ask. ¡°Of course!¡± Cang Xu¡¯s answer was definitive, ¡°You experienced last night¡¯s battle yourself, you saw it, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s prayers were always answered. You also heard the recounts from Sanda and Lan Zao. When Lord Zhenjin faced a desperate situation, the Holy Emperor immediately helped him, turning defeat into victory!¡± ¡°This is very rare.¡± ¡°The Divine watches every believer, but His response is actually very scarce.¡± ¡°Yet Lord Zhenjin almost every time he prays, immediately receives a response from the Holy Emperor. The Emperor repeatedly intervenes, heeding the requests of His believers, His knights¡ªit¡¯s almost as if he responds to every plea!¡± ¡°If this is not Divine Favor, what else could be considered as such?¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin is a Divine Favored Knight!¡± Cang Xu declared with utmost certainty. Carrying a look of aspiration and admiration, Bai Ya whispered softly, ¡°Lord Zhenjin is a Holy Temple Knight, he is also a Divine Favored Knight¡­ Divine Favored Knight¡­¡± ¡°Thinking back now, it isn¡¯t actually surprising,¡± Cang Xu stroked his beard. Drawing more attention, he spoke at length, ¡°Lord Zhenjin himself is an extremely outstanding cultivator, his talents are extraordinarily remarkable.¡± ¡°He possesses a noble bloodline, is a Holy Temple Knight, and has devoted all his faith to the Holy Emperor.¡± ¡°These already make him one in ten thousand, but what is more precious is that he always adheres to the knight¡¯s path, uprooting the strong to support the weak, combating evil and promoting good, caring for the vulnerable, even if it means sacrificing himself, he never violates the principles of the Holy Temple Knights!¡± ¡°He is brave and fearless, fair and just, willing to accept anyone, treating everyone as comrades, which demonstrates his broad-mindedness, and his compassionate and benevolent nature.¡± ¡°Such a person, receiving the favor of the Divine, isn¡¯t that rightful?¡± Hearing Cang Xu¡¯s analysis, the audience subconsciously nodded in agreement. Cang Xu sighed with deep emotion, ¡°Perhaps, encountering a shipwreck and ending up on this island was an opportunity for Lord Zhenjin. Here on this island, Lord Zhenjin faced danger with courage, always considering the bigger picture, fighting bravely, often risking his life to save others. All these caught the attention of the Divine, thus bestowing dense Divine Favor. Lord Zhenjin is absolutely deserving of it.¡± ¡°Further analyzing, although the will of the Divine is inscrutable, the Holy Emperor is a living God, the ruler of the Empire.¡± ¡°He dispatched many Holy Temple Knights to enter the Wilderness Continent, to compete for the title of City Lord. A great battle between the Human Race and the Beast Race will surely occur, these Holy Temple Knights will become the vanguard and cornerstone of the war. For those Holy Temple Knights who perform outstandingly, the Holy Emperor will not spare His favor.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, perhaps due to the shipwreck, stood out early and became one of the most followed believers of the Holy Emperor. I have a premonition that he will certainly become a dazzling new star in the grand battle between the Human Race and the Beast Race. A grand war, a racial war, will definitely bring forth a hero of the Human Race! And both the Empire and the Divine require a new hero of the Human Race. Ladies and gentlemen, perhaps we are witnessing the birth and rise of a great figure destined to be remembered in history, what an honorable thing this is!¡± Everyone was momentarily stunned by what he said, leaving only the night wind to weave through the temporary camp around the fire. ¡°Lord Zhenjin is coming out!¡± Bai Ya suddenly shouted loudly. Zhenjin opened the tent¡¯s curtain, having heard Cang Xu¡¯s analysis, and as the subject, he felt his face growing hot. Everyone¡¯s gaze collectively turned towards Zhenjin. Zhenjin could only nod, smiling at everyone. What a perfect smile! It was not like a mere noble¡¯s dismissive or arrogant smile, it was like sunlight, like dew; it was friendly, warm, graceful, and composed. The eyes of the audience gradually brightened. ¡°Zhenjin, Zhenjin, Zhenjin!¡± Bai Ya took the lead in cheering, and soon more and more people also stood up, chanting Zhenjin¡¯s name. Even former members of Sanda¡¯s mercenary group did so. In this moment, Zhenjin¡¯s influence on the crowd reached an unprecedented peak. The title of Divine Favored Knight, along with the bright future Cang Xu personally painted, Zhenjin¡¯s consistent performance added more and more worship, admiration, affection, and even fervor in the eyes of the people. In a corner, Zong Ge and Sanda were still sitting. Zong Ge extended his left arm, while Sanda was forcefully removing metal armor strips from Zong Ge¡¯s bloodied left arm. This task was quite bothersome; Sanda was already sweating profusely. Listening to the cheers for Zhenjin around him, Zong Ge, although he had been prepared, still couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of loss. Zhenjin¡¯s momentum had risen, and Zong Ge had also lost the courage to challenge him. How to challenge? The form of Golden Armor that Zhenjin took after his prayers was deeply ingrained in Zong Ge¡¯s heart. Zong Ge silently watched the campfire in front of him. The flames jumped in the half-beast¡¯s eyes. He seemed to see his own past¡­ The battle was over. He sat under a big tree, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves, shining on his armor. He silently wiped his armor with a cloth. Not far away, the voices of the generals arguing over their contributions and rewards could be heard. ¡°Please, without my cavalry flanking them, who could have broken their formation?¡± ¡°Hmph, if my team hadn¡¯t held back the enemy¡¯s main force at the front, where would you have gotten the chance?¡± ¡°No matter what you say, the gnolls killed by my team outnumber those killed by yours. If you don¡¯t believe me, just compare the gnoll heads we¡¯ve harvested.¡± ¡°Haha, you did kill more gnolls than us. But what about it? Our Great Tree General is always the one who kills the most enemies. Do you want to compare yourself with him?¡± ¡°Hmph! He is the Great Tree General, with high aspirations, aiming to be a Great General. How can we ordinary mortals compare to him? I¡¯d rather fight for the recognition I deserve. That¡¯s reality.¡± The Great Tree General mentioned by the generals was naturally Zong Ge. Every time after a battle ended, he would always sit alone under a tree, quietly wiping his armor, and remain silent, never arguing over his merits. Because he knew that even if he argued, he still would not win. He had experienced more, his every military merit would be diminished, or partly claimed by others. What could he do, being a Half-Beast? Not a single Human Race general would initiate a conversation with him. He could only be alone, forever a solitary figure. ¡°Hisss¡­¡± Pain struck, and Zong Ge lightly inhaled a breath of cold air, interrupting his reminiscence. ¡°Sorry, sir, this thing is too tough to handle.¡± Sanda apologized, as he had just attempted to pry open a piece of steel armor forcefully, but unexpectedly exerted too much strength and couldn¡¯t control it, failing to pry open the arm armor, which instead hit Zong Ge¡¯s wound. As Zong Ge was about to speak, a figure arrived in front of him, blocking the light from the fire. Zong Ge looked up and saw the young knight Zhenjin. ¡°I want to thank you for your rescue, Zong Ge,¡± Zhenjin said sincerely. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Zong Ge replied indifferently. Zhenjin nodded, drew out the thin sword Silver Lightning, ¡°Let me give you a hand.¡± Zong Ge extended his left arm towards him. Zhenjin took a deep breath and the thin sword flashed continuously in front of Zong Ge, a dozen streaks of silver-white lightning disappeared in an instant. In the next moment, both the arm armor that bound Zong Ge and the steel armor shards embedded in his flesh were cut by Zhenjin. Zong Ge gave his left arm a gentle shake, and the shattered arm armor completely fell to the ground. ¡°Good sword skill, worthy of the bloodline of the Hundred Needle Family. Thank you,¡± Zong Ge said. ¡°No need, we are comrades in arms, aren¡¯t we? Here¡¯s some wound medicine, the latest concoction by Zi Di, it should be very effective for your injuries.¡± As he spoke, Zhenjin handed the potion to Sanda. ¡°Comrades in arms¡­¡± The words echoed in Zong Ge¡¯s heart. Suddenly, Zhenjin raised his voice, ¡°This time in the chase, without your help, I absolutely couldn¡¯t have done it. In fact, without you, Zong Ge, holding back and slaying so many Silver Level Magic Beasts, I couldn¡¯t have achieved such a feat!¡± The entire camp quieted down again, everyone¡¯s gaze centered on Zhenjin. Zhenjin¡¯s voice spread throughout the camp, ¡°So, not just my name, we should also cheer for Zong Ge, for Sanda, for Lan Zao, for all our warriors!¡± ¡°Zong Ge!¡± called out Zhenjin, raising his arm, his gaze sweeping around, leading the shout. ¡°Zong Ge, Zong Ge, Zong Ge!¡± Everyone was stirred, all raising their arms, echoing in unison. Zhenjin shouted, ¡°Sanda!¡± ¡°Sanda! Sanda! Sanda!¡± Both Zong Ge and Sanda were staring blankly at the blond young knight before them. Zhenjin called out again, ¡°Lan Zao!¡± ¡°Lan Zao, Lan Zao, Lan Zao!¡± Everyone¡¯s emotions peaked. Lan Zao was tightly pursing his lips, his body trembling slightly. Bai Ya was overjoyed, clapping Lan Zao¡¯s shoulders vigorously. Zhenjin left Zong Ge and Sanda and moved into the crowd. Every time he raised his arms and shouted someone¡¯s name, it triggered waves of calls. The temporary camp was filled with joy, the shouts of the people accompanied by the flames echoing through the nearby forest. Watching the young knight among the crowd, even the bright bonfire couldn¡¯t overshadow his brilliance. Zong Ge sighed and said to Sanda, ¡°Apply the medicine to me.¡± Chapter 127 - 127: Section 128: Catch them alive, and well make a fortune! Chapter 127: Section 128: Catch them alive, and we¡¯ll make a fortune! The tent was filled with a thick, bloody scent. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf had been dissected, and its gruesome injuries were fully exposed for all to see. Its skull was shattered, and there was hardly a bone in its body that was not fractured; the internal organs, lacking skeletal protection, were mostly crushed by external forces. Because Zhenjin used it as a weapon, constantly swinging and hitting the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, its muscles were also beaten to a pulp, and the muscle fibers were not neatly organized. Its tail was also brought back, placed at a position close to its buttocks. This was probably the position nearest to the original place where Zhenjin had pulled the tail off. ¡°How tragic¡­¡± This was the first thought of almost everyone who saw the wolf¡¯s corpse. ... Then, their looks towards Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but contain a lot of curiosity and a bit of oddness. Though they had learned the process of the battle from Zong Ge, they truly couldn¡¯t imagine a blond young man with a sunshine-like smile, slender build, holding a thin sword, turning into a golden-armored strong man like Zong Ge, swinging the Blue Dog Fox Wolf around like a heavy weapon. Feeling this gaze, Zhenjin said to Cang Xu, ¡°Old scholar, let¡¯s get straight to the point.¡± ¡°As you command, my lord.¡± Cang Xu nodded, extending his palm towards the wolf corpse on the wooden table, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, you can see, this is a genuine Silver Magical Beast.¡± ¡°Though it is mutilated, one can see from its fur, muscles, and bones that it possessed powerful strength, speed, and notable defensive abilities.¡± ¡°Its cranial cavity is much larger than that of a usual wolf, dog, or fox. Though its brain is a mess, we can still barely make out the four major parts: the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, and diencephalon. Key here is its very developed frontal lobe, which is extremely rare among beasts.¡± ¡°There are no such wolf species magic beasts in nature; it must be a creation of the Island Master. Its brain structure is very close to that of a human brain. This perhaps is the key reason why its intelligence can rival that of humans.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Then, where does its peculiar scent come from?¡± Zhenjin inquired, this being his most pressing concern. ¡°Please look here,¡± Cang Xu instructed, pointing to the buttocks of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. There, in the dissected spot, was a clear sac-like object. ¡°This is a sac-like scent gland, located at the rear of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s abdomen, near the tail, above the genitals.¡± ¡°The peculiar scent of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf comes from here.¡± ¡°In essence, it is no different from the acid sac of the green lizard, commonly known as the biological scent pouch.¡± Cang Xu talked at length, ¡°This biological structure actually exists in many animals.¡± ¡°I know this,¡± Zi Di unexpectedly interjected, ¡°Musk deer, scent cats, scent mice all have this kind of biological scent pouch.¡± Cang Xu smiled and nodded in approval, ¡°Correct. The Island Master endowed the Blue Dog Fox Wolf with this structure, and also equipped it with a tail similar to a fox¡¯s. Look at its tail, although it is also damaged, one can infer that in its normal state, the tail is very fluffy and flexible.¡± ¡°When the Blue Dog Fox Wolf wants to emit its peculiar scent, it will use the muscle group around the scent pouch. This section here, these muscles are densely arranged, structurally distinct from the surrounding areas. Once used, the muscles compress the scent pouch, causing the fragrance liquid to spew out from the gland.¡± ¡°The fragrance liquid doesn¡¯t exit through the anus or urethra. Gentlemen, the most exquisite part is coming up.¡± Here Cang Xu raised his eyebrows, his tone more excited than before: ¡°The fragrance liquid flows into the tail of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. You see the bones of its tail are hollow, similar to those of birds. The hollow bones form conduits, allowing the fragrance liquid to flow into them.¡± ¡°And on the surface of the bone conduits, there are numerous tiny pores. The pores connect to large and small sweat glands, eventually dispersing from the skin surface of the tail.¡± ¡°Generally speaking, the sweat glands of dogs or wolves are underdeveloped, much poorer than those of humans, mainly concentrated on the tongue and toes. They often need to stick out their tongues to dissipate heat. But the Blue Dog Fox Wolf is different; its sweat glands are very developed, largely concentrated at its tail.¡± ¡°Normally, it doesn¡¯t need to stick out its tongue to serve the function of dissipating heat. When the Blue Dog Fox Wolf compresses the scent pouch, it can emit the peculiar scent that subjugates other magic beasts. Lord Zhenjin once observed that every time the Blue Dog Fox Wolf releases its peculiar scent, it shakes its tail. This is actually intentional by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf to disperse the scent more quickly.¡± Everyone understood, yet new doubts arose. Zong Ge asked in a muffled voice, ¡°Then why can the peculiar scent of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf control other magic beasts? Can we configure this scent to use other man-made magical beasts at our disposal? If not, can we concoct potions to interfere with the effect of this scent?¡± This question was crucial; everyone¡¯s eyes focused back on Cang Xu¡¯s face. But Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have to disappoint everyone. The principle by which the peculiar scent subdues other man-made magical beasts cannot be simply discovered from dissection. I believe the effect of the scent should have a more fundamental explanation. When the Island Master created so many magical beasts, he must have thought about how to control them.¡± ¡°Currently, it appears that the Island Master¡¯s control scheme relies on the peculiar scent. When he created different magic beasts, he must have already created corresponding weaknesses in the man-made magical beasts. Upon sensing the peculiar scent, these magical beasts become obedient. This is also why the peculiar scent doesn¡¯t work on normal species.¡± ¡°If we had a live Blue Dog Fox Wolf or enough fragrance liquid, I might try it. Unfortunately, this wolf is dead, and the scent sac is empty.¡± Zi Di looked at the wolf corpse, her purple eyes gleaming brightly. The Demon Beast Army was massive, and controlling so many magical beasts consumed a great deal of fragrance liquid. It was normal for the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s scent sac to be empty. ¡°So, Miss Zi Di, how confident are you in this regard?¡± Zong Ge¡¯s eyes gleamed with contemplation. ¡°Not confident at all!¡± Zi Di shook her head, being very honest, ¡°but the prospects here are huge.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Hei Juan sighed beside her, ¡°If we could have such exotic fragrances, it would suffice to control many magical beasts. What else on this island could possibly stop us?¡± Cang Xu shook his head, having a different view, ¡°Even with exotic fragrances taming many magical beasts, we can¡¯t command them as freely as the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, because issuing commands requires a specific canine language.¡± Hei Juan was startled. Zhenjin also slightly started, noting he had previously overlooked this point. However, Zi Di disagreed, ¡°No, the prospect I mentioned isn¡¯t that one. If I can develop a perfume based on the fragrance liquid of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, then this perfume might very well be the most superior fragrance!¡± Everyone: ??? Cang Xu frowned slightly, ¡°Is it the kind of perfume that noble ladies like to wear?¡± Zi Di looked at Cang Xu and nodded, then shook her head, ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Perfume has long been popular among noble women. Not just among noble women now, it has also become popular among men. Many businesspeople have predicted that perfume will become a widely popular product.¡± Others exchanged glances, everyone had been discussing magical beasts, battles, survival, but Zi Di shifted the topic to perfume. This topic jumped quite far. Seeing the baffled expressions on everyone¡¯s faces, Zi Di enthusiastically continued, ¡°The invention of perfume was by Duchess Amy. Initially, she noticed that many young boys and girls had a natural body scent. This scent is usually found in individuals between ages 16 to 24 and oddly, it¡¯s unnoticeable to those who have it. Often, people with a natural body scent possess an unusually prominent charm.¡± ¡°Duchess Amy adored beautiful things. She not only invented various types of perfume but also developed a complete set of standards for evaluating them.¡± ¡°Did you know? A good perfume has three scent stages. They are called the top note, the middle note, and the base note.¡± ¡°When perfume is sprayed on the skin and disperses into the air, we first smell the top note, followed by the middle note, and finally the base note. These three stages of scent connect seamlessly, like an elegant and melodious symphony.¡± ¡°Currently, there are types of perfume such as citrus, natural fresh scent, single floral, bouquet, aldehydic, Iris, oriental, exotic, woody, spicy herbs, and leather tobacco.¡± Everyone was bewildered. Pointing at the carcass of the wolf, Zi Di grew more excited, ¡°But smell this, the exotic fragrance of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf is quite unique. It doesn¡¯t fall into any discovered category of scent, but it smells marvelous. It¡¯s like a snow lotus in a glacier, ethereal and pure, mysterious and elegant. The harshness of the glacier and the delicacy of the petals, the cruelty of frost and the vitality of the snow lotus, form a contrast, yet harmoniously blend into everything. When applied on human skin, it makes women appear noble and pitiable, while men seem strong yet subtly sensual. Leaving aside the effect this exotic scent has on controlling magical beasts, I am sure it is the most deluxe of scents!¡± Everyone: ¡­ Lan Zao sniffed hard, puzzled, ¡°Why do I only smell a bloody scent?¡± Everyone agreed. Zong Ge then said, ¡°There indeed seems to remain a trace of exotic fragrance.¡± A Half-Beast¡¯s nose is somewhat different from humans¡¯, more sensitive. ¡°But is it really that good?¡± Zong Ge looked doubtful, as hardened soldiers in the army had no knowledge of perfumes. Zi Di nodded firmly, ¡°Among all potions, I¡¯ve researched perfume the deepest and spent the most time and effort on it. I¡¯m not mistaken.¡± ¡°Do you know what this means?¡± ¡°Money!¡± ¡°Wealth!¡± ¡°Endless wealth!¡± As Zi Di spoke, Purple Crystal¡¯s eyes sparkled, making everyone feel as though Gold Coins were shining in their pupils. Seeing Zi Di caught up in excitement, everyone was speechless. Zhenjin, however, was familiar with this side of Zi Di. After all, he had once adventured and survived with her, understanding her character more deeply. ¡°It looks like, the psychological shadow that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf left on you has vanished,¡± the young knight teased his fianc¨¦e. Zi Di, with sparkling eyes, stared at Zhenjin, ¡°Capture it, it must be alive. Let me try to formulate the perfume. With it, we¡¯ll make a fortune!¡± Chapter 128 - 128: Section 129: Sacrifice Chapter 128: Section 129: Sacrifice ¡°Now, considering making fragrance to earn money under these circumstances, isn¡¯t that too far-fetched?¡± Hei Juan looked at the excited Zi Di, his mouth twitching slightly, ¡°We should think about how to stay alive and leave this island first.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Many people agreed with Hei Juan. Zi Di¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement, which was somewhat frightening. Lord Zhenjin, however, was secretly contemplating; Zi Di¡¯s suggestion actually tempted him greatly. Due to the Hundred Needle Family facing exclusion and oppression, and separated by a vast ocean, even if they could support Zhenjin, it likely wouldn¡¯t be timely. Zhenjin knew that arriving in White Sand City with more gold coins was obviously better. Zhenjin had only Lan Zao as his slave, and he had to pay salaries to nearly everyone else. If he became the City Lord of White Sand City, then starting and operating a newly built city would require a substantial amount of financial investment. Reliance on his family alone was not advisable; it was better for Zhenjin to be self-sufficient, and even to give back to his family in return. ... Unlike the worries of the others, Zhenjin knew more of the truth. ¡°I have the Heart Core, the longer the time, the stronger I become! The threat on this island mainly comes from Magic Beasts. But these Magic Beasts are becoming weaker for me.¡± ¡°The impression of a Divine Favored Knight has already taken deep root in people¡¯s hearts. In the future, if I mutate publicly, as long as it is limited, it won¡¯t make people suspicious.¡± ¡°Both Blue Dog Fox Wolves have died. Our team is very safe now, the only thing to worry about is teleportation¡­¡± In the entire tent, Zhenjin was the most moved by Zi Di¡¯s proposal. The young knight looked at the purple-eyed girl, his eyes showing admiration. ¡°My fianc¨¦e studies potions, probably just to figure out how to make fragrance, right?¡± ¡°Danger contains opportunities. I would never have thought of the peculiar scent of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, and such a business opportunity! Zi Di is indeed worthy of being the new Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce.¡± Zhenjin was full of thoughts but still maintained his silence and did not openly support Zi Di. Seeing that no one supported her, Zi Di immediately said, ¡°Then let¡¯s not worry about making money and trending products now, but for us to survive better, it¡¯s very necessary to capture a Blue Dog Fox Wolf alive. As long as I formulate the corresponding potion based on the fragrance liquid, it could tame other Magic Beasts or neutralize the effects of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s peculiar scent, which would be extremely helpful for us to leave this island.¡± Everyone was speechless. Had it not been for Zi Di¡¯s previous statements, they surely would have agreed. But now, everyone was fully aware of Zi Di¡¯s real intentions. Cang Xu coughed, ¡°As far as I know, high-end fragrances are Magic Potions. They have high production costs, requiring Alchemists, Pharmacists, and even using the Mage Tower as a workshop. The costs for fragrance storage and transportation are also enormous, and the market is restricted to the upper classes such as nobles.¡± Zi Di immediately responded, ¡°That¡¯s what Magic Potions are!¡± Pointing at the wolf corpse, she said, ¡°Do you think this is a normal fragrance? Can an ordinary fragrance affect a Silver Magical Beast? And not just one? The Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s magic power should be very abundant, far surpassing other Silver Magical Beasts. It¡¯s because of its internal magic power that such a peculiar scent could be created.¡± ¡°Wait, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf doesn¡¯t have a Demon Crystal either, right? It cannot balance the magic power inside it.¡± someone immediately retorted. Zi Di shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not actively involved, but passively involved. It¡¯s like a kind of Magic Material, used only superficially. For instance, like the bone giant hammer carried by Zong Ge, or the Spider Blade Lord Zhenjin once used. Thus, it¡¯s not purely magical power involved in making the fragrance liquid, but a material containing magical power. Perhaps the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s blood? Or its body fluids?¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin once brought back a piece of intelligence that a Blue Dog Fox Wolf killed a Silver Level Flying Squirrel leader and ate it. I was curious about it then. Now thinking about it, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf likely needed to supplement its magic power to process more peculiar scent internally. Given the intelligence of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, it surely understands the benefits of keeping a Silver Flying Squirrel leader; however, it chose to eat it because the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, otherwise it wouldn¡¯t have done that.¡± The mood of the crowd turned somber, finding Zi Di¡¯s analysis quite reasonable. The purple-eyed girl spoke again with excitement, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then we don¡¯t need to hire Alchemists or Pharmacists at all, as their hiring costs are too high. Loyalty is also a critical issue, for if the temptation is enough, even the most secretive potion formulas could be leaked.¡± ¡°We only need to breed more Blue Dog Fox Wolves, letting them synthesize the fragrance liquid themselves. We could even directly collect this fragrance liquid, sell it directly, or just add some alcohol.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Feeding costs might be a bit high, but as long as the Blue Dog Fox Wolves eat Magic Beast meat, they can produce the fragrance liquid. Calculating overall, our costs would be far lower than normal fragrance production.¡± ¡°Being the raw materials for the perfume, the transportation and purchasing costs of spices are huge. But by transferring the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, we can control the source of the spices production, monopolizing this perfume market. Monopoly makes business simple, and we almost decide the price of the peculiar scent.¡± ¡°The vast profit margin also allows us to go high-end, turning the fragrance into a luxury item. Or we can opt for a mid-range, making corresponding soaps, shower gels, etc., and distribute them widely. Moving forward on all fronts is also feasible.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot to be done here!¡± ¡°Perfume has already become popular among the upper echelons of our Human Race. Along with trade and wars, it will influence other continents, such as the Molten Lava Continent, the Life Continent, the Ghost Continent, and even the Wilderness Continent, making perfume popular in these regions.¡± ¡°The perfume market is very broad!¡± Zi Di spoke confidently. Everyone was stunned. How had the topic come back to this again? People looked at the wolf corpse, feeling an inexplicable sorrow for it. Blue Dog Fox Wolf was a great threat to humans, a cunning and powerful enemy. Heroes like Lord Zhenjin and Zong Ge had struggled mightily, exerting all their efforts to slay it. Such beings deserved ample respect, but now it had become a cash cow in the imagination of the young Guild Chairman. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, such a pity. The dead Blue Dog Fox Wolf can¡¯t let me study the fragrance liquid.¡± ¡°If we could capture one alive, then I could extract the fragrance liquid and conduct a series of experiments.¡± ¡°Wait, my lord, isn¡¯t there one still alive?¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes sparkled brilliantly. Everyone felt a bit strange hearing Zi Di analyze this, as if keeping a Blue Dog Fox Wolf alive was actually a good thing? ¡°No, I¡¯ve already transformed that one,¡± Lord Zhenjin shook his head secretly. He said, ¡°The Demon Beast Army is very strong. To deal with a large number of magic beasts and capture their commander in battle is incredibly challenging. For now, survival is our priority. Only by staying alive do we stand a chance at everything else.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s words made everyone nod in agreement and also sigh in relief. People were beginning to understand Zi Di¡¯s nature, and at that moment, they all felt that the young knight was more reliable. ¡°If this wolf corpse isn¡¯t of much value, I would like to use it as an offering, sacrificing it to my lord, the great Holy Emperor,¡± Lord Zhenjin added. The atmosphere inside the tent became immediately solemn. ¡°Of course!¡± Cang Xu was the first to respond after catching on. Lord Zhenjin looked towards Zong Ge, who immediately smiled and said, ¡°Holy Temple Knight, this is originally your spoil of war.¡± Although Zi Di really wanted to chop the wolf corpse into pieces to make it into potion materials, she supported Lord Zhenjin without hesitation at this moment, ¡°We managed to survive and achieve victory, thanks to the protection of the Holy Emperor. Indeed, we should offer a sacrifice to Him!¡± Hei Juan even suggested, ¡°We should build an altar and then hold a ceremony. It¡¯s a pity we don¡¯t have a priest to preside over it.¡± This was a world of deities, and even if one did not worship a particular god, there would still be reverence. The act of offering sacrifices was very common, even frequent. Among races like the Human Race, Beastmen, and Fishmen, there were numerous ceremonies dedicated to various divine beings, and most had become traditional festivals of those races. There were many considerations for offerings made to gods. Often, specific gods preferred different offerings. The main god of the Zor Elves, the Spider God, liked to arrange trials, and if the trial was successful, the corpses of other races were the best offerings. The Human Race¡¯s Duke of Wheat Fragrance, also a living god, had his followers offer the first batch of harvested grain on his altar. Offerings weren¡¯t limited to material things. For example, the Duke of All Law, the most powerful mage among the Human Race and also one of the living gods, received new research achievements from his followers, who often received his rewards or even favors in return. Sometimes, offerings could just be an act. For instance, the tribes of the Beastmen would often launch wars against other tribes during the festivals of the God of War. Regardless of victory or defeat, it was the best offering to the God of War. For the Holy Emperor, He was the god of wisdom, light, dawn, hope, and victory. His followers, after achieving great victories personally or as an army, used their achievements and honors as offerings. They built exquisite altars or held grand ceremonies in magnificent Holy Temples to fully praise and glorify the Holy Emperor. The larger the scale of the ceremony, the more participants, the more devout the followers¡¯ faith, and the greater the achievements and honors, the more attention from the Holy Emperor it would attract. The priests presiding over the ceremonies would be greatly elevated, and even Divine Grace might be bestowed. Offering sacrifices was a normal, frequent, and solemn matter. As a Divine Favored Knight, for Lord Zhenjin to offer the corpse of a Blue Dog Fox Wolf to the Holy Emperor was perfectly normal. Everyone not only understood this very well but also proposed building an altar and holding a ceremony, incorporating other beast corpses into the offerings. Everyone feared neglecting the deities. But Lord Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°After escaping from here, I will organize a grand ceremony in White Sand City at full capacity. But not now!¡± ¡°My lord is the god of wisdom, to see me wasting precious manpower here and now would disappoint Him.¡± ¡°This will be my personal offering. This wolf corpse is not the best offering, but it is suitable for now.¡± ¡°The rest of the magic beast corpses should be used as materials for magic potions, weapons, or made into dried meat.¡± Everyone had no objections. Chapter 129 - 129: Section 130: I am a Fat Ball Flying Fish Chapter 129: Section 130: I am a Fat Ball Flying Fish ¡°This forest is a bit unusual!¡± A Half-Elf mercenary paused briefly, watching the forest before him with wariness and noting an aura of decay. Both the color of the tree trunks and the foliage were much darker than in a normal forest. Compared to ordinary humans, this Half-Elf mercenary had slightly pointed ears and pale blue eyes, indicating that his Half-Elf bloodline was not strong, rather diluted. Despite this, his Half-Elf lineage still made him more adapted to the forest than ordinary people. Without relying on any reference points, he could barely discern directions in the forest, and his judgments were generally accurate. It was an efficient use of his skills to have appointed him to scout ahead for the exploration team. ¡°Could this place be¡­¡± The Half-Elf¡¯s expression grew increasingly serious as he considered the intelligence on Blade Spiders. ... This information had been widely shared to increase everyone¡¯s chances of survival on this island. The Half-Elf proceeded with utmost caution, slowing down to a crawl as he made his way deeper into the gloomy forest. Moments later, returning to the original spot with a cold sweat, he confirmed, ¡°No mistake about it! There¡¯s a large group of Blade Spiders up ahead.¡± He quickly relayed this crucial information to the main forces behind him. ¡°Are there spider webs?¡± the shipwright asked eagerly. The Half-Elf shook his head. The shipwright sighed, ¡°According to the reports, the webs of the Blade Spiders have adhesive and toughness, which could be excellent materials for making sails or even for binding wooden planks!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll get it,¡± Zhenjin said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s almost evening. Stop advancing and set up camp here. Next, we have to deal with those spiders!¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± everyone acknowledged his command. Since the camp had been burned down, the group had rested for a few days and, following a joint decision, had started to move through the forest as a unit. To most, with the Blue Dog Fox Wolf still alive, staying in place was meaningless. It was highly likely that just after a new camp was established, an even larger attack by the Demon Beast Army would come. The farther away from the original camp, the better. Besides that reason, there were a few other important considerations. First, the sea ship was massive and could not be built in the forest. To transport a finished ship to the sea would require an effort beyond everyone¡¯s physical capabilities unless, by good fortune, they were transported directly to the beach with the ship, a clearly unreliable method. Second, a sea ship differs from a riverboat; its base is not flat, but rather, it should have a V-shape which is crucial to withstand the great wind and waves of the ocean. Such a V-shaped structure is hard to launch; dragging it across the ground would damage the hull. So, at the very least, a dock would be needed, naturally built near water. Third, building a seaship requires a massive amount of work and the more manpower, the better. By returning to the beach and uniting with the remaining survivors, they would have the maximum labor force. Also, only by knowing how many people were left could they decide what size ship to build. Too large would be unnecessary, wasting time and manpower, and adding risk. Too small, and they would have to leave people behind on the island, which Zhenjin didn¡¯t want to see. Zhenjin¡¯s orders were swiftly relayed, and the team halted. Everyone began to work methodically. It was Cang Xu¡¯s responsibility to coordinate the arrangements. Xi Suo led a group in using weapons and fire to drive away snakes and vermin, ensuring safety before marking out the boundaries of the camp and starting to erect tents. Bai Ya led people in setting traps around the camp perimeter. Hei Juan and others, upon receiving potions distributed by Zi Di, began to spray them around the camp and inside the erected tents. Mu Ban lay on the ground inspecting the carts, which he had designed and built. Of the twelve carts made to transport supplies for the team, the workload was mainly shouldered by human power, with eight carts handled by the Big guy and four split among other physically strong members. Mu Ban¡¯s main concern was the axles of the carts. ¡°This one¡¯s about to split. Big guy, move the wood off; we need to replace the axle,¡± Mu Ban called out to the Big guy. The Big guy sat on the ground, drenched in sweat, glanced at the smaller Mu Ban beside him, then looked away. Mu Ban shook his head helplessly and shouted to the nearby shipwright, ¡°Talk about your son.¡± ¡°How many times do I have to say, he¡¯s not my son,¡± the shipwright immediately retorted, then shouted, ¡°Quick, take down the wood from the cart.¡± ¡°Okay, daddy,¡± the Big guy immediately stood up, dragging his tired body. With giant bloodlines, he was like a humanoid crane. With a single arm, he would grasp the timber, toss it to the ground, and let it roll a few times. Mu Ban jumped up as if his foot had been stepped on, both anxious and angry, ¡°Big Fool, be gentle, be careful, you clumsy oaf. We went through a lot to bring these woods here; don¡¯t ruin them. Even in the forest, such good timber isn¡¯t easy to come by!¡± ¡°Take it slow, gently put it down, got it?¡± the shipwright shouted. ¡°Got it, daddy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me daddy!¡± After some commotion, the wood was offloaded from the carts, and the Big guy completely overturned the cart for Mu Ban and his team to start disassembling the axle. ¡°We¡¯re running low on spare axles.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re here for a longer period, we can take the opportunity to make some more.¡± Mu Ban planned in his mind. Most of the tents were up, though not everyone had one. The number of tents was quite limited. It wasn¡¯t uncommon to see several people crammed into a small tent. Of course, Zhenjin¡¯s tent was the largest and often the first to be set up. As the sky filled with sunset hues, smoke started rising from the window at the top of Zi Di¡¯s tent. The smoke carried a strange odor¡ªZi Di was rushing to use potions to dissolve the ore and extract the iron. In passing, when the team left the original campsite, Zhenjin had led a small team to find a large amount of ore in a cave. These ores were substantial, the result of Zhenjin, turning into a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear over several nights after the battle, digging continuously. This discovery led Cang Xu to speculate that Monkey-tailed Brown Bears might have the habit of sharpening their claws. For the misunderstanding the old Scholar had towards him, Zhenjin could only apologize in his heart; he found it difficult to explain. As the sun completely set and darkness fell, the campsite quieted down significantly. The construction work was complete, and several large bonfires burned brightly as people began to prepare dinner. Even if a Fire Poison Bee Swarm were to attack now, no one was worried. Zi Di¡¯s potions proved effective time and again, significantly reducing the threat posed by bat monkeys and the Fire Poison Bee Swarm. Zhenjin watched as the team members sat close to each other, conversing and discussing by the bonfire, occasionally erupting into loud laughter, and he was filled with satisfaction. At this moment, it seemed as if divisions and prejudice of status and race had never existed. Previously, the team had been split into two factions, but now everyone got along harmoniously. Interestingly, this harmony owed thanks to the assault of the Demon Beast Army. Another reason was the elevation of Zhenjin¡¯s status¡ª in everyone¡¯s hearts, the young man wasn¡¯t just a Holy Temple Knight, but a Divine Favored Knight! Of course, to unify everyone as much as possible, after the Camp defense battle, Zhenjin had secretly summoned Xi Suo for a talk and assured him: promising that in the future, he would help Xi Suo build a new ship. However, Xi Suo declined this proposal, instead half kneeling on the ground, expressing his desire and pleadings to follow Zhenjin. In Xi Suo¡¯s view: it was far better to serve Zhenjin than to follow his father¡¯s old path. Following a Divine Favored Knight held such a bright and splendid future, and under normal circumstances, even if Xi Suo wished to cling to such a powerful figure, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to reach him. But the shipwreck had given him an unparalleled opportunity, and he wouldn¡¯t let it pass him by. While grateful for Cang Xu¡¯s speculation and publicity, Zhenjin accepted Xi Suo¡¯s loyalty. With Xi Suo¡¯s pledge of loyalty, Zong Ge also lowered his flag and reined in his ambition, without any desire to challenge Zhenjin¡¯s authority. Such an outcome was enough to prove that Zhenjin¡¯s previous strategy in pursuing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was correct. He had deliberately demonstrated his formidable combat strength in front of Zong Ge. It wasn¡¯t just to facilitate his use of a part of his Mutation ability publicly in the future, but more importantly, to deter this powerful Half-Beast. Zong Ge had a sense of the bigger picture; otherwise, he would not have overthrown the second mate, nor would he have agreed to follow Zhenjin back to the Camp. Once he understood he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance in a duel with Zhenjin, Zong Ge became very cooperative. Zong Ge¡¯s wholehearted rescue of Zhenjin also caused Zhenjin to reevaluate the Half-Beast, lessen his guard, and grow more trusting. In summary, through Zhenjin¡¯s relentless efforts, the team achieved its best interim results. He preserved the team¡¯s living strength as much as possible, avoiding excessive internal strife due to divisions and standoffs. He annihilated the Demon Beast Army, slaying all three Blue Dog Fox Wolves himself. And his merits, toils, the hardships, and risks he faced, were probably only truly clear to him. To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. The burdens Zhenjin silently carried surpassed common expectations. Perhaps, this was the cost of becoming a leader. Deep into the night, Zhenjin left the campsite once again. His habit of night patrolling was well-known. As a leader and a noble, Zhenjin always led by example, silently contributing; his crucial night patrols almost never stopped, and such persistent actions only made the others respect and love him more. However, unknown to everyone, the first thing Zhenjin did whenever he was far away from camp, was to strip off all his clothes. After the Camp defense battle, Zhenjin not only ruined his leather armor but even his undergarments. Yet soon after, he acquired new clothes and a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa leather armor. Having tidily stored his clothing and armor, Zhenjin transformed into a silver Flying Squirrel. After practicing for a while, he let out a disheartened sigh. He still couldn¡¯t generate electricity. He couldn¡¯t find that feeling of muscle exertion. Speaking of which, Zhenjin had once caught a few Flying Squirrels alive, but they all died in the battle at the Camp. However, since Zong Ge had temporarily submitted to Zhenjin, he was no longer as urgent as before to master the skill of electricity generation. After practicing the Flying Squirrel form for a while, Zhenjin switched to the Silver Bat Monkey. During the day as the team advanced, he slightly opened his mouth, often using ultrasound to probe the direction the team was heading and the nearby surroundings. Ultrasound probing was extremely convenient, even more so than lizard eyes. But even if he detected powerful Magic Beasts, as long as they didn¡¯t threaten the whole team, Zhenjin pretended not to know. He had already discovered the Blade Spider Group before the Half-Elf mercenary did but kept silent about it the entire time. Of course, he could use the name of the gods to ¡°predict¡± some events, but if he always did so, it would give the impression that Zhenjin was abusing Divine Grace, that this Holy Temple Knight was ignorant of propriety. Cang Xu and Zi Di, being smart, would become suspicious. ¡°One, two, three¡­¡± Zhenjin went amidst the Spider Forest, and using ultrasound, he quickly figured out the position of all the spiders. This group of spiders was even larger than the ones he had encountered before. There were two silver-level Blade Spider leaders. Instead of flying into the Spider Forest in the form of a bat monkey, in the next instant, Zhenjin transformed into a¡­ Fat Ball Flying Fish. Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit¡­ The Fat Ball Flying Fish Zhenjin flapped its fins, swayed its tail, and rose slowly; upon reaching a height higher than the treetops, he flitted waveringly above the Spider Forest. Then, he began spitting saliva down below continuously. The Fat Ball Flying Fish body temperature was very high, capable of spurting scalding saliva. This attack method was weak in effect, as the real strength of the Fat Ball Flying Fish lay in its self-destruction at the brink of death. However, now Zhenjin¡¯s saliva had completely transformed. Each spit was the fragrance liquid of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf! The fragrance liquid splattered all around, quickly evaporating due to the heat, and soon the aroma enveloped the entire Spider Forest. Zhenjin waited a little longer, then he canceled the Flying Fish form, transformed into a bat monkey, and descended into the tree canopy. The Blade Spiders watched him quietly, as the vast Spider Group had already submitted to him! Chapter 130 - 130: Section 131: I am a Blade Spider Chapter 130: Section 131: I am a Blade Spider Zhenjin still couldn¡¯t mutate into a complete Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Even though he had killed three Blue Dog Fox Wolves one after the other, each of them at Silver Level. Using the Heart Core to absorb and transform the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, there were two complete ones, and while the last one had been dead for a long time and its magic power had almost dissipated, having been dismembered by Zhenjin and dissected by Cang Xu, it was also nearly complete. In general, no parts were missing. This showed that for the Heart Core, in order to collect a complete mutated form, both quality and quantity were needed. Quantity is the foundation. The forms of the gun scorpion, green lizard, brown bear, and such that Zhenjin possessed, were all based on absorbing a large number of corresponding magical beasts. Quality can break through the limits. Zhenjin absorbed many green lizards, but the lack of a Silver Level green lizard meant he never acquired a Silver Green Lizard form. Quantity and quality are indispensable, and the two must be balanced. ... Enough quality but too little quantity is not good either. Like the Blue Dog Fox Wolves that Zhenjin absorbed, although each one was Silver Level, there were too few of them, preventing him from collecting a complete form of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. However, for Zhenjin, whether he had a complete Blue Dog Fox Wolf form didn¡¯t matter anymore; he could now mutate the key organ¡ªthe Biological Scent Pouch. From then on, Zhenjin became a man who could emit a rich body scent! But he was missing the wolf tail transformation. The Biological Scent Pouch is the core, but without the accompanying wolf tail, Zhenjin would find it difficult to quickly diffuse his special fragrance. Zhenjin made many attempts for this purpose. At first, he used the Heart Core to mutate, connecting the scent sac duct to his sweat glands. After intense exercise, as long as he sweated, every drop of his sweat was fragrant. From then on, Zhenjin became a man capable of being drenched in fragrant sweat. Although the first attempt was successful, he found that this method was too slow to take effect. Therefore, Zhenjin connected the Biological Scent Pouch¡¯s duct to his urinary tract. That way, the urine that Zhenjin sprayed was now fragrant urine. Although the second attempt was successful, its practical value was still very low. After all, suddenly urinating in the midst of intense battle was always quite embarrassing. The only advantage might be to catch the opponent off guard¡ª¡±Look, Zhenjin has been scared to pee by me!¡± Zhenjin did not want to become the first Holy Temple Knight who would urinate during combat, even if the urine was fragrant. The third attempt showed that Zhenjin¡¯s development of the Heart Core had become much more profound than before. He first mutated into the green lizard form, then removed the green lizard¡¯s poison glands and venom sacs, replacing them with the Biological Scent Pouch. The attempt was also successful. As a result, what he spewed from his mouth was no longer Acid Liquid, but¡­ well¡­ fragrant saliva? During the past few evenings, Zhenjin conducted live combat tests with this method. His opponents, those wild magical beasts, often got a face full of Zhenjin¡¯s fragrant saliva. Moments later, they surrendered. Fragrant saliva did have practical combat value. But, Zhenjin also found a drawback. That was, he spit too much at once. Creating fragrance liquid in the Biological Scent Pouch consumed much more magic power than creating the same amount of Corrosive Acid Liquid. The fragrant saliva could often only target one, and then he¡¯d have to wait for the fragrance to volatilize freely, affecting the surroundings. The subsequent influence was inefficient, which Zhenjin found unsatisfying. From a cost-effectiveness perspective, the fragrant saliva attack method was too wasteful. After some thought, Zhenjin made his fourth attempt, which was his current mode. He paired the Fat Ball Flying Fish with the Biological Scent Pouch. All along, although Zhenjin could mutate into a complete Fat Ball Flying Fish, this form wasn¡¯t very practical. After practicing it a few times, Zhenjin shelved it. After many attempts, Zhenjin finally managed to mutate into a Fat Ball Flying Fish that had a Biological Scent Pouch. The attack method of the Fat Ball Flying Fish, which was to spray rolling water, thus turned into spraying scalding hot fragrance liquid. The fragrance liquid was hot, which accelerated volatilization, and its impact was even more swift than the Blue Dog Fox Wolf wagging its tail. Although this form, whether in attack, defense, or moving speed, was far inferior to other forms, as soon as it was created, it immediately became a powerful ace up Zhenjin¡¯s sleeve. At this moment, the submission of the Blade Spider Group was enough to prove the unusual strength of this form. ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that the fragrance liquid I create can¡¯t be used as a raw material,¡± Zhenjin still felt somewhat regretful. He had experimented. He deliberately sprayed out a pool of fragrance liquid and sealed it. It had to be sealed, as fragrance liquid was a highly volatile substance. However, after sealing it over one night, when Zhenjin checked it the next day, he found that the fragrance liquid inside had turned into a thin layer of carbon powder. Zhenjin was disappointed but not surprised. Because earlier on, he had conducted a similar experiment with the green lizard¡¯s Acid Liquid. After being left out for a while, the Acid Liquid reverted to a small heap of carbon powder. ¡°The reason I can mutate into various life forms is all because of the Heart Core within me. It¡¯s demon energy that acts as the energy source, bearing the contradictions and pressures between various life forms.¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s Acid Liquid or fragrance liquid, both are part of the body. It¡¯s equivalent to hair, saliva, and so on, just more easily separated from the torso compared to arms or legs.¡± Having understood this, Zhenjin also realized why, when he mutated into the green lizard, there was always some poison reserved in the venom sac. Bat Monkey Zhenjin squatted on the tree branch, with red light surging from the Heart Core and flowing to his head. The next moment, as the red light faded, he had gained a wolf¡¯s head. Not only a wolf¡¯s head, but Zhenjin¡¯s vocal cords also changed into the same type as the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Watching the Blade Spiders hiding among the layers of leaves, Zhenjin coughed twice and began what was perhaps his nth attempt. ¡°Woof(^) Woof(¨@) Woof(¡¦) Woof(¨A).¡± Zhenjin made a dog¡¯s bark, with varied intonations. The Blade Spiders remained silent. ¡°Woof(¨A) Woof(^) Woof(¡¦) Woof(¨@)?¡± Zhenjin barked again, changing the pitch this time. The Blade Spiders were indifferent. ¡°Woof(¡¦) Woof(¨A) Woof(^) Woof(¨@) Woof(¨A)!¡± Zhenjin barked louder. The Blade Spiders were like puppets, showing no reaction. Perhaps attracted by Zhenjin¡¯s sequence of strange sounds, their gaze seemed to change, looking at Zhenjin not only with submission but also with a hint of seeing an idiot. ¡°You guys aren¡¯t going to move, are you¡­¡± Zhenjin heaved a deep sigh. He found it incredibly hard. Learning a foreign language was truly not easy. He hadn¡¯t even grasped the basics and had made no progress whatsoever. ¡°To learn the language of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, I must capture one alive! It¡¯s nearly impossible to succeed just by fumbling around on my own.¡± Zhenjin finally faced up to reality. Like Zi Di, he also had the idea of capturing a Blue Dog Fox Wolf alive. The only difference was that the former wanted to extract the fragrance liquid from the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, while he wanted to learn the foreign language from it. Without the language of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t command the beast herd that had submitted to him. He had tried, and the only way to get these Magic Beasts to move was for Zhenjin himself to relocate. When he moved, the man-made magical beasts that had submitted to him would also silently follow him. This had its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage was clear: Zhenjin could actively charge into other beast herds, with the man-made magical beasts following him, and when Zhenjin was attacked, the man-made magical beasts that had submitted to him would protect him, launching a counterattack against the attacker. The downside, however, was that Zhenjin couldn¡¯t quietly build up Magic Beasts. Because when Zhenjin returned to camp, these Magic Beasts would follow him too. As a result, it would lead to conflicts between the Magic Beasts and people like Zong Ge. Human ears can¡¯t hear ultrasound, but the human nose can smell unusual fragrances. Zhenjin had also thought about claiming, in the name of divinity, that the peculiar scent was a miraculous ability bestowed upon him by God. But that wasn¡¯t reliable. In the historical records, none of the Divine Graces of the Holy Emperor were of this type. The powers of the Holy Emperor were commonly manifested in the form of light! If it were the Flower God, Beast God, or some flesh and blood Evil God, then such a bestowal would be quite fitting. Zhenjin had already taken a big risk by undergoing a Mutation in front of Zong Ge. After the setback of trying to save Huang Zao, he wouldn¡¯t underestimate anyone. So, the only choice left to Zhenjin was one. Next, he came to each Blade Spider one by one, using the blade he had mutated to kill them one by one, then, while their bodies were still fresh and warm, he used the Heart Core to absorb and convert them. The Blade Spiders had submitted to Zhenjin, and although they would struggle a bit before death, they never truly resisted. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but be filled with emotion. It was too easy! That¡¯s how he easily wiped out this massive group of spiders. Easier than he had ever imagined. If someone had told him before that one day these Blade Spiders would just quietly stand in place, practically lining up for Zhenjin to kill, he surely would have thought that person was insane! But sometimes, reality is even more incredible than imagination. With the eradication of this Blade Spider Group, the demon energy reserve of Zhenjin¡¯s Heart Core once again rose to a new peak. At the moment, Zhenjin had not yet discovered the limit of his Heart Core¡¯s demon energy reserve. Another gain was that he now possessed the complete form of the Blade Spider. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Previously, he could only transform into the Spider Blade. ¡°Let¡¯s try out the form of the Blade Spider.¡± The next moment, red light surged, and Wolf Head Bat Monkey Zhenjin disappeared, replaced by Blade Spider Zhenjin. In an instant, Zhenjin felt as if he had been stuffed into a wooden box. Vision, hearing, smell, and so on, all diminished significantly. This made Zhenjin somewhat uncomfortable. The visual acuity of the lizard, the auditory ability of the bat monkey, and the olfactory function of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf were all so strong, but it all plummeted to rock bottom with the Blade Spider. However, as time passed, Zhenjin discovered the most sensitive perception ability of the Blade Spider¡ªtactile sense. His touch-feet were indeed made of blades, but the upper part of the blade still had a section of the spider¡¯s joint. Whether it was the joints or the surface of the spider¡¯s body, they were covered with a dense and fine layer of down. As a breeze passed, the down trembled slightly, and Zhenjin immediately ¡°heard¡± the wind and ¡°smelled¡± the scent of the forest. A nightingale flew by nearby, the sound of its wings flapping, and the consequent air vibration, all transmitted to the down on Zhenjin. Zhenjin instantly sensed a nightingale fluttering in mid-air in that direction! As the vibrations continuously registered by the down, the flight path of the nightingale was clearly outlined in Zhenjin¡¯s mind. A strong intuition told Zhenjin that if he shot a web in that direction, he would definitely be able to capture the tiny nightingale. Thinking so, Zhenjin immediately opened his mouth and sprayed. The web flew out, at first just a clump, then suddenly expanded in mid-air. The nightingale happened to fly there, collided with the web, became entangled, and stuck to the tree trunk. The nightingale screamed continuously, struggled fiercely, but the web on its body tightened further and further. The Bloodline of the Hundred Needle Family, coupled with any ranged attack method, always complemented each other so well. A Silver Level Blade Spider could spit out the web. Those below the Silver Level could only weave webs and set traps. Next, Zhenjin tried spitting silk. Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t called spitting silk. Perhaps calling it ¡°spitting juice¡± would be more accurate. Moreover, this didn¡¯t come from the mouthpiece, but was spat out from the silk spinner located at the back of Spider Zhenjin¡¯s abdomen, near where the buttocks would be. The silk spinner is an organ of the Blade Spider, containing a Textile Gland where the liquid is produced. This is a milky white, viscous liquid. After being expelled from the silk spinner and encountering the air, it immediately hardened and transformed into a thread of spider silk. Spider silk is quite miraculous, tough, delicate, and both sticky and elastic. ¡°This feeling is very strange.¡± ¡°It feels a bit like defecating, and also a bit like urinating.¡± ¡°To sum it up, it¡¯s like urinating from the anus.¡± Zhenjin earnestly experienced this for a while, then, seeing the tangled mess of spider silk behind his buttocks, the young knight fell silent. ¡°Weaving a web is also an art, isn¡¯t it!¡± Zhenjin was troubled. Without a lot of practice, he couldn¡¯t master this skill. Chapter 131 - 131: Section 132: Everyone Was Frightened by Zhenjin Chapter 131: Section 132: Everyone Was Frightened by Zhenjin ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Are you sure?!¡± The next day, Lord Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and others led the elites to the habitat of the Blade Spiders. The report brought back by the Half-Elf Scout surprised and puzzled everyone. The Half-Elf Scout had a pale face and shook his head with certainty, ¡°They¡¯re gone, not a single spider left! I¡¯m sure of it.¡± ¡°How could this happen?¡± ... ¡°Could the entire group of spiders have gone out to hunt?¡± ¡°That¡¯s unlikely, don¡¯t these Blade Spiders rely on their webs to hunt? They should be staying here.¡± Everyone was full of doubts. ¡°Nothing nearby either?¡± Xi Suo asked with a frown. The other Scouts shook their heads. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Could it be that the spiders have been wiped out by another group of beasts?¡± Sanda suggested a hypothesis. ¡°Impossible!¡± the Half-Elf Scout denied once more, ¡°There¡¯s no trace of any battle throughout the forest!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zong Ge couldn¡¯t help but frown as well. The situation was too bizarre. Zong Ge had thought there would be a fierce battle, but upon arriving at the Spider Forest, the formidable enemy they had planned for¡ªwas gone! The Half-Beast looked at Lord Zhenjin and saw that the knight youth also had a furrowed brow, looking utterly perplexed. Noticing the Half-Beast¡¯s gaze, Lord Zhenjin gave a slight nod to Zong Ge, then quickly scanned the area and issued his command, ¡°No matter what, let¡¯s first enter and investigate the scene. Everyone be on high alert; there might be a huge trap waiting for us ahead!¡± Moments later, they were standing deep within the Spider Forest. ¡°There really isn¡¯t a single Blade Spider!¡± Zong Ge expressed his astonishment. ¡°It¡¯s so strange, there are no signs of struggle. Could it be that the group of spiders sensed our arrival and withdrew on their own?¡± Xi Suo speculated. The speaker did not intend it, but the listener had taken it to heart. Zong Ge felt a slight jump in his heart. A chilling thought surfaced in the Half-Beast¡¯s mind, and he couldn¡¯t help but look at Lord Zhenjin again. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°It seems he¡¯s thought of the same thing,¡± Zong Ge sighed inwardly, keeping his thoughts to himself without saying more. ¡°Now that we¡¯re sure there¡¯s no danger here, let¡¯s move. No matter where the Blade Spiders have gone, their webs are still here. These things could likely help us create sails and be of great help to us. Let¡¯s all try to be as gentle as possible and collect them carefully,¡± Lord Zhenjin ordered. ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone immediately accepted the order. In the Spider Forest, there were not only abundant webs laid out on the ground but also those hanging between branches, all of which contained the Blade Spiders¡¯ food reserves. Before noon, the hunting squad had returned to the temporary camp. The people were laden with spoils but were still anxious. Lord Zhenjin immediately called everyone together to discuss. He recounted all the events and observations from this morning. ¡°This situation is truly extraordinary!¡± Cang Xu sighed, while Zi Di¡¯s complexion turned grim. Hei Juan¡¯s face turned white with a hint of terror in his voice, ¡°Wait a minute, the mysterious disappearance of the Blade Spider Group, could it be that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf has actually been secretly following us?¡± The atmosphere inside the tent grew heavy. This was what Zong Ge had thought earlier in the Spider Forest, and now Cang Xu and Zi Di had come to the same conclusion. Lord Zhenjin had killed three Blue Dog Fox Wolves, but everyone knew only of two, thinking that not all of the Demon Beast Army had been wiped out and one Blue Dog Fox Wolf was still alive. Lan Zao clenched his teeth, ¡°If this Blue Dog Fox Wolf has been following us, why hasn¡¯t it attacked us all these days? We¡¯ve been trekking through the forest, without a camp, and we¡¯re exhausted every night, with our combat strength at its lowest. The intelligence of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf should be able to see our weakness.¡± Hei Juan shook his head, ¡°Even if our combat strength has declined, there¡¯s still Lord Zhenjin and Zong Ge in the team. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf wouldn¡¯t dare to take us lightly!¡± ¡°Besides that reason, it could have been injured and needed time to recover. Its Demon Beast Army was severely damaged by us, nearly annihilated, and it would need time to subdue other groups of beasts. Just like now, the Blade Spider Group must have been taken over by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf! Otherwise, how do you explain the disappearance of these spiders?¡± With that, Hei Juan said almost certainly, ¡°All the evidence fits! The Blade Spider Group wouldn¡¯t move randomly, and they wouldn¡¯t escape just because they were afraid of us; this is their stronghold! But they disappeared without any fight or struggle, they must have been taken away by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf.¡± ¡°The Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s forces are still relatively small now, it might have analyzed that with just the Blade Spider Group alone they couldn¡¯t eliminate us. So, it led the Blade Spider Group away, with the aim to continue amassing an army nearby and when it reached a certain level, it would lead the army to attack us again!¡± The tent fell into silence. Lan Zao also bowed slightly this time, refraining from questioning any further. ¡°Sorry, everyone,¡± Zhenjin wore a grave expression, yet he apologized in his heart. He had wiped out the entire Spider Group, but the specific reasons were difficult to explain, and he could only let his companions speculate wildly. Now, whether it was Xi Suo, Hei Juan, Zi Di, Cang Xu, or the Half-Beast Zong Ge, all were frightened by his thoughts. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, what should we do next?¡± Xi Suo frowned worriedly, ¡°Should we build a camp right here to defend against another attack from the Demon Beast Army?¡± ¡°Of course not, in fact, you¡¯re all very safe. I scout with ultrasound every day, and if there are powerful Magic Beasts nearby or ahead, I take care of them during the night.¡± These were Zhenjin¡¯s innermost thoughts, but of course, he would not say it so. He shook his head saying, ¡°Xi Suo, we shouldn¡¯t be overly cautious. Our most important goal is to build a seafaring ship and leave this ocean island. If we focus on constructing a camp, the wasted time and manpower would be excessive. When would we be able to leave this place?¡± ¡°There is still a group of survivors from the Pig Kiss left on the beach; we need to meet up with them as soon as possible. Without our help, they won¡¯t last long.¡± ¡°Moreover, if we stay here and build a camp, we¡¯d be playing right into the hands of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. It wouldn¡¯t have to waste time and energy tracking us anymore, it would have more freedom to subdue even more Magic Beasts.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget about teleportation. We thought it was regular before, but after receiving information from you, Zong Ge, we realized we haven¡¯t figured out the pattern yet; there might not even be a pattern at all! If a teleportation happens, even the most sturdy camp would collapse in an instant. And the nearby Demon Beast Army might be transported along with us, just like the Scale-Horned Black Panther Group that pursued us before.¡± ¡°We need to move forward, keep moving, and quicken our pace!¡± Zhenjin said this, his voice rising, revealing a determined attitude. The hesitation and confusion among the people were swept away by this resolve. This is a leader! To this day, Zhenjin¡¯s authority had spread over the entire team, deep into their hearts. ¡°Truly worthy of you, my lord,¡± Cang Xu said complimentarily, ¡°After your explanation, my heart feels settled.¡± Zi Di looked at Zhenjin with affection but said nothing. Lan Zao stood proud, expressionless, but a look of pride seemed to say: Worthy indeed is the master I serve! Hei Juan grumbled, ¡°This is very risky. During our march, we could potentially encounter a surprise attack from the Demon Beast Army.¡± ¡°We must take this risk,¡± Zhenjin looked at Hei Juan with a firm gaze. Hei Juan met his gaze for a moment before looking away and bowing slightly, yet still insisted, ¡°Then we should increase the number of scouts and expand the scouting range.¡± Zong Ge spoke up proactively, ¡°Let my people do this.¡± Some of his people had Elf Bloodline, and though they were all Half-Elves with a relatively thin Bloodline, they were still the best scouts currently in the team. But Zhenjin shook his head, rejecting the idea, ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± ¡°Our current scouting range is actually quite extensive. As long as we¡¯re fully alert, we¡¯d have enough time to react if the Demon Beast Army attacks.¡± ¡°Scouting on this ocean island is extremely perilous. We can¡¯t use low-level Fighting energy or Magic, we must rely solely on our physical bodies to fight.¡± ¡°I said that as your leader, I would treat everyone equally. Whether Pure Blood Clan, Half-Elf, Half-Beast, goblin, and so on.¡± ¡°We are all in the same boat, we will share the risks together, we will share our food, and we will face our enemies shoulder to shoulder!¡± The tent fell silent. Lan Zao stared at Zhenjin, entranced, as if Zhenjin shimmered with light all over. The light of a Knight¡¯s glory, the light of mercy, the light of wisdom and valor! The goblin Sanda was moved too, he opened his mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but ultimately he said nothing. Zong Ge, however, frowned slightly and shook his head, ¡°Holy Temple Knight, I understand your intentions, I really do! But I agree with the idea of expanding the number of scouts and their range.¡± ¡°I was once a soldier¡ªwar is cruel, and no amount of merciful intentions will change the outcome. Having Half-Elves form a scout squad is because they are best suited for it.¡± ¡°If these people sacrifice themselves during scouting, but if they can send back information in time, allowing us to be on our guard, even if it¡¯s just a minute earlier, it would be utterly worth it!¡± Seeing Zong Ge stick to his opinion, Zhenjin felt a headache. Sometimes, comrades can be troublesome when they are so upright and with such a broad perspective. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zong Ge, my fellow,¡± Zhenjin smiled at the Half-Beast, showing his white teeth gently. ¡°If we were to do it this way, even if the scouts don¡¯t encounter the Demon Beast Army, the inherent dangers of the forest could lead to casualties.¡± ¡°Of course, I completely understand why you insist. Because I am also a Knight, who has also undergone a lot of military training.¡± ¡°Like this, I will pray to my Lord, and if I can gain the same kind of vision I had before, maybe then I might be able to spot the Blue Dog Fox Wolf and the Demon Beast Army.¡± ¡°Our early strike, eliminating them, would be the best outcome.¡± Chapter 132 - 132: Section 133: Sorry, I scared you again Chapter 132: Section 133: Sorry, I scared you again Zhenjin¡¯s proposal immediately stabilized Zong Ge and ignited new hope among the others. However, they were destined to be disappointed. Because Zhenjin could not conjure a Demon Beast Army out of thin air for them to kill. He couldn¡¯t even transform into a complete Blue Dog Fox Wolf. So, Zhenjin could only tell them in the afternoon that he had prayed, but the gods had not responded. Although everyone was disappointed, they did not doubt him. After all, the gods stand high above, and it was normal even for a Divine Favored Knight¡¯s prayers to go unanswered. For Zhenjin, in the previous Camp defensive battle, every prayer being answered was actually abnormal! ... With no spiders to block their path, the team fixed the trailer and immediately set off. The atmosphere among the team became much heavier. Everyone was on high alert, apprehensive of an assault by the Demon Beast Army. In a moonless deep night. Trees toppled one after another, and the ground shook continuously. The culprit causing all this¡ªa Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡ªopened its huge mouth and furiously pounced toward Zhenjin. Zhenjin had already mutated; based on the form of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, his body was encased in dark scorpion shell. He suddenly crouched down, dodging the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡¯s massive jaws. ¡°Now!¡± Red light suddenly surged on the back of Zhenjin¡¯s hand. The red light flashed and vanished, and four sharp Spider Blades grew from the back of his hand. Hiss. The Spider Blades fiercely pierced into the body of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa; its thick crocodile skin could not withstand the sharp Spider Blades. Zhenjin sprinted fiercely, pulling his arm to drag the Spider Blades along the side of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, ripping a huge gash over a dozen steps long! This was a fatal injury. Blood spurted out massively from the giant wound. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa let out a dreadful scream, and in intense pain, it lashed back fiercely. But Zhenjin, experienced in combat, had anticipated this. After rolling on the ground, he transformed into a Silver Bat Monkey and flew directly into the air. Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa: ?! In its furious rage, as death neared, it wanted to perish together with its foe; yet, its enemy had flown up into the air, out of its reach! Infuriating it further, this enemy, now in the air, morphed its neck and head into those of a lizard and kept shooting Acid Liquid at it. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa could only expend the last of its life¡¯s spark, along with its tyrannical, hateful, and angry emotions, lashing out on the innocent trees and rocks around it. After struggling for a while, the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa lost its strength, fell to the ground, and breathed its last. Zhenjin descended upon its body, extending four trails of blood from his feet; these lines wrapped around the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. Soon, a very familiar scene occurred to Zhenjin. The Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa was absorbed and transformed by the Heart Core, leaving behind nothing but a devastated battlefield and a small heap of charcoal ash. A gust of night wind then completely blew away these ashes. After every battle, Zhenjin would reflect on the gains and losses, a valuable habit of his. ¡°Another step closer to the complete form of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa.¡± ¡°Demon energy reserves have diminished some; multiple layers of mutation consume a lot of demon energy. This time, the battle duration was a bit too long.¡± It was not that Zhenjin lacked ways to win quickly; not to mention, he could have taken down this Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa with his very tactical Flying Fish shooting fragrance alone. But Zhenjin needed deliberate practice, continuous training to enhance his combat skills. Training was immensely important! For instance, this battle proved a brand-new combat method. Zhenjin had integrated the advantage of the Blade Spider form into himself. For this kind of form in its first trial, when Zhenjin became a complete Blade Spider, the attempt was rather superficial. During the days as the team continued moving, Zhenjin deeply explored the potential of the Blade Spider form. The Blade Spider is strongest in three aspects¡ªsensory perception with their feelers, their web of silk, and ultimately, their sharp blades. What interested Zhenjin the most were indeed the blades. They are strong, sharp, and durable, and what¡¯s more¡ªthe blades require no maintenance from Zhenjin! Actually, Zhenjin is quite adept at using the Thin Sword Silver Lightning, but this weapon is not his; it is Hei Juan¡¯s heirloom, which Zhenjin plans to return after leaving the island. In the past, Zhenjin could only grow Spider Blades from the very tips of his hand bones. The positioning of the blades was limited and greatly reduced their usability. Now, Zhenjin could mutate the pedipalps and walking limbs of a Blade Spider. This battle, Zhenjin first mutated the pedipalps from his own carpal bones; the limbs grew in parallel from the back of his hand. Then he wrapped them with scorpion shell and grew blades from the front end of the pedipalps. Thus, Zhenjin¡¯s hands now had four blades. These four blades easily severed the life of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. Zhenjin could also grow pedipalps from his ribs, extending outward from his body. This way, from his armpit to his waist, the sides of his body could host four pairs of blades. Zhenjin had tried this usage, and frontal attacks were incredibly aggressive. Under a sweep of the blades, a large tree could be chopped into numerous chunks in just a few breaths. But put to practical test, Zhenjin found the blades on his hands were still the most convenient to use. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Convenience is very important. Because many beast forms are contrary to the human anatomy, and to adapt to these beast forms, Zhenjin inevitably had to spend a lot of time and effort training. Zhenjin is most familiar with human form. Thus, his most commonly used form had become that of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Because this Magic Beast¡¯s form is very close to the human form and much tougher than that of the bat monkeys. Even the powerful Scorpion Tail, Zhenjin seldom mutated. Because employing a scorpion tail in intense combat is quite difficult. The stronger the opponent, the more likely using an unfamiliar form would expose Zhenjin¡¯s flaws. Zhenjin now needed immediate combat power. The team moved forward in the vast forest. Sunlight sprinkled down, piercing through layers of leaves and forming tiny star-like specks of light on the ground. Under a rare large tree, the team halted. The tree was lush with leaves, and its roots protruded greatly from the ground. ¡°This tree is at least a thousand years old, quite good, very good!¡± Mu Ban¡¯s eyes glowed with fervor as he circled the tree, his face filled with joy. ¡°Quick, cut it down for me; with it, we can build suitable dragon bones,¡± Mu Ban shouted. So, the crowd slowly gathered around. However, Zhenjin looked towards the nearby mountains where, through ultrasound detection, he detected a considerable presence of Monkey-tailed Brown Bears. Late at night. In the narrow cave, where the air was stuffy and ore emitted an orange-red glow under which there was not a trace of darkness. Roar! A Monkey-tailed Brown Bear pounced towards Zhenjin. Its massive and heavy body left imprints in the stony ground with every step. Zhenjin stood bare-bodied, watching as the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear approached, remaining motionless. Suddenly, a red light surged from his body and in a blink, he transformed into a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear clad in dark golden armor. ¡°Come!¡± Zhenjin bravely initiated a counterattack, colliding fiercely with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Both the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear and Zhenjin stood up, swinging their large paws and continuously beating each other. The slaps landed on their bodies¡ªZhenjin¡¯s felt like flesh to flesh, while the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s blows resounded dully off the scorpion shell. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear opened its mouth to bite, and Zhenjin did likewise. Zhenjin bit the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear near its shoulder, tearing at its flesh. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s teeth clashed against the scorpion shell, nearly breaking them at the scene! The two exchanged blows, with Zhenjin maintaining the upper hand. After a while, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear retreated and turned to run. No more fighting, it¡¯s too disadvantageous! Zhenjin did not pursue but stood still, reflecting on the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s combat style. He deliberately studied its way of attacking to understand the correct method of exerting force in a bear¡¯s form. Soon, Zhenjin came back to himself, feeling he had gained a lot. The bear¡¯s body was different from a human¡¯s; many ways of exerting force were distinct. Although the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear had low intelligence, it used its animal instincts to efficiently utilize muscles and bones in its attacks, possessing straightforward and clear characteristics. Having a teacher is indeed different. Together with practical combat experience, Zhenjin could greatly enhance his efficiency in mastering the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s form. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s form was extremely practical and something Zhenjin needed to grasp. Over the next few days, Zhenjin continually sought out and sparred with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears residing in the area at night. Eventually, having learned a painful lesson, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears avoided Zhenjin whenever they saw him. ¡°Then I¡¯ll give you a quick end.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s bear head mutated, developing the jaws of a Blade Spider, and he sprayed out a burst. A web shot out, dispersing in the air to form a milky-white net that instantly enveloped the face of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear in front of him. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear hastily retreated, its orangutan-like paws desperately pulling at the webbing on its head. The web blocked its vision and was extremely sticky and tough; the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear struggled to tear it off. Zhenjin leapt forcefully into the air, his left arm bending to protrude his elbow. Suddenly, a relatively thick Spider Blade emerged from the front of his elbow. Zhenjin dived down, crossing past the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. The next moment, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s head became glued to a pair of hands by the blood springing from its neck, catapulting them away. Zhenjin did not look back but walked slowly towards the other Monkey-tailed Brown Bears. ¡°Next, it¡¯s your turn.¡± After a moment of shock, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears started a frantic escape. The bloody night passed. The night faded, and the sun sprinkled through the forest. ¡°Good, a bit to the left, a little more to the left,¡± Mu Ban loudly directed everyone. After great effort, the crowd finally moved the felled giant tree onto a specially made trailer. The shipwright, Zi Di, then approached Zhenjin together. ¡°Having the giant tree isn¡¯t enough; we also need iron. Without iron, we can¡¯t make the tools to build ships. We need a lot of iron bars, sheets, and nails,¡± Zi Di said. The shipwright added, ¡°Iron nails are prone to rust, but there¡¯s no helping it; the only mineral we can find and mass-refine right now is iron.¡± Zhenjin nodded, ¡°So, we need to gather a lot of ore?¡± Zi Di confirmed, ¡°To put it precisely, a significant amount of ore. Yesterday, the scouts found several Monkey-tailed Brown Bears living in nearby caves.¡± ¡°They¡¯re all dead, and I also dug up a lot of ore,¡± Zhenjin thought to himself, but merely nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s arrange for Zong Ge to lead a group to exterminate them; we need to start collecting ore.¡± Zong Ge, Sanda, and others went, full of battle spirit. Half an hour later, they returned, their faces unable to hide their anxiety and gravity. ¡°The Monkey-tailed Brown Bears are gone, there are some battle traces near the cave, not much.¡± ¡°That Blue Dog Fox Wolf ist still following us!¡± ¡°The Demon Beast Army has grown stronger, what should we do?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyebrows also furrowed slightly, but his heart sighed: ¡°Sorry, everyone. As long as I¡¯m here, the ¡®Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯ will always follow you.¡± Chapter 133 - 133: Section 134: Making a Move on the Gold Python Vine Chapter 133: Section 134: Making a Move on the Gold Python Vine The sun rose and fell, rose and fell¡­ The sky brightened, then darkened, darkened, then brightened again. The team led by Zhenjin trekked through the forest by day and camped by night, the threat of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf pressing on almost everyone like a massive boulder. The occasional minor crises they encountered frayed everyone¡¯s already tense nerves. Their supplies of food and water continued to deplete, even though they were replenishing along the way, the stockpile nonetheless steadily decreased. Big guy¡¯s thinning frame was the most obvious; the fellow with the Giant Bloodline often went hungry, yet he did the heaviest and most tiring work. ... The team slept exposed to the elements, and even the preferential treatment received by Zhenjin and Zong Ge was limited. The wear and tear on everyone¡¯s leather armor and weapons intensified, and Zong Ge¡¯s steel armor gradually lost its luster. A Half-Elf fell along the way. Under the threat of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, Zong Ge, Hei Juan, and others were very persistent in expanding the scouting range and numbers of Scouts, and Zhenjin did his best to suppress this suggestion. But unexpectedly, Zong Ge had sent out additional Scouts behind the scenes. Zhenjin was usually active only at night, clearing as many obstacles for the team as he could. During the day, he mostly stayed within the team, bearing the responsibilities of a leader. At the death of the Half-Elf, Zhenjin could only sigh inwardly. In a way, he knew Zong Ge¡¯s decision was correct; a leader must not be overly kind, timely intelligence was too crucial for the whole team. The death of a team member did not lead to conflicts, dissatisfaction, or division among them. The mysterious Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s Demon Beast Army had always been the greatest external pressure. This intangible pressure, like a gigantic hammer, forged and refined the entire team. Everyone, including Zhenjin, Zong Ge, Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others, under this pressure, became closer to each other, more in sync, more harmonious. This continuously advancing team became more resolved after overcoming each hardship, and more united with each casualty. At last, the rainforest appeared before them. In terms of dense vegetation, the rainforest far surpassed the forest. The hot and humid air teemed with countless snakes, ants, mosquitoes, and bugs under the layers of vines and leaves. Cang Xu held the map, scribbling on it and using a stick under the sunlight to test the direction. ¡°Our direction is correct, we just need to keep going,¡± Cang Xu told everyone the good news. However, trouble arrived. The current team was far more enormous than when they had set out. Many more supplies had been added. Close to thirty carts were loaded with timber and ore. It was challenging enough to move through the forest, but upon entering the rainforest, the difficulty instantly increased several-fold. After a day¡¯s journey in the rainforest, the team had only made half the distance they would have covered in the forest. The thick vines, shrubs, and knee-high grass, as well as the layer of decaying leaves that would give way beneath their feet, all made it extremely difficult for the carts to move forward. Zhenjin had no good solutions for this and could only set an example, brandishing a Spider Blade at the very front of the team. These Spider Blades, all were taken from one or two Blade Spider Groups that Zhenjin had deliberately left behind, leading Zong Ge and others to clear them out and acquire these sharp weapons for the team. The Spider Blades were extremely sharp, cutting through any vines and roots in their way. Zhenjin and others had to clear a path first before the carts could barely pass. Sometimes, they had to move the cargo off the carts first, then drag the carts through complex terrain. The hot and humid air was inhospitable to everyone. Even without engaging in labor, just silently standing there was enough to make a person sweat profusely. After traveling only a short distance, everyone was soaked with sweat. The sound of river water trickling gradually became clearer. A stretch of river quickly came into view. ¡°Be careful, everyone!¡± Zhenjin said with a grave expression after conducting ultrasound scanning, he discovered that Python Vines were growing in the river. This was a Golden Level Magic Plant, which could easily exterminate a silver Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Everyone was extremely cautious. Information on the Python Vine had already been circulated among them. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following along the river, they soon halted at its banks. This part of the river was bounded by steep banks, an ideal crossing point. The team extracted wooden logs from the carts, allowing Big guy, Zong Ge, and others to work together and position the logs across to the opposite riverbank. Long by long, the logs were joined together to form a temporary wooden bridge. Then, agile team members first climbed onto the bridge, using hemp ropes to tie the logs together, securing them firmly. After these tasks were completed, everyone began to pull the carts across the bridge in succession. When they reached the other side, they promptly untied the ropes and retrieved the logs before carrying them back up onto the carts. After a short rest, the team continued on their journey. Hei Juan looked back at the river behind them, ¡°Maybe, we can rely on this river to shake off the Blue Dog Fox Wolves.¡± Zong Ge shook his head, ¡°At best, we¡¯ll shake off a portion of the Demon Beast Army.¡± In the past few days, everyone had been wondering why the Demon Beast Army hadn¡¯t attacked them, not even a single ambush. Zhenjin stared ahead, not looking back, but his mind was preoccupied with the Python Vine in the river. It was the first Golden Level Magic Plant he had seen since he woke up on the island. ¡°What kind of Mutation would I undergo if I absorbed this Python Vine with my Heart Core?¡± Zhenjin thought to himself. That same night, Zhenjin took the shape of a bat monkey and returned to the riverbank. He glided through the treetops while, on the ground, a small group of Scale-Horned Black Panthers followed closely behind him. Most of these Black Panthers were ordinary wild beasts, with only a few possessing Bronze Level Life Breath. Under the influence of Zhenjin¡¯s enchanted scent, they had no power to resist and completely submitted to Zhenjin. Zhenjin flew straight over the river. The formation of the Scale-Horned Black Panthers was briefly in disarray, but they persisted in following Zhenjin. Unable to fly, they had to jump into the river and swim across. Tigers and leopards are capable swimmers, sometimes even hunting aquatic prey. The swimming ability of the Scale-Horned Black Panthers was surprisingly good, beyond Zhenjin¡¯s expectations. ¡°It seems your fish scales aren¡¯t for nothing. Why hasn¡¯t the Python Vine attacked yet?¡± Zhenjin landed on the opposite bank, his gaze sharp, his whole body tensed up. Splash! Suddenly, fierce waves surged in the river, as the thick Python Vine, like a monstrous snake, launched a ferocious attack. The Scale-Horned Black Panthers in the water didn¡¯t stand a chance against the Python Vine and were immediately devastated. Agile and brutal, the Python Vine dragged most of the Black Panthers into the water. Like mosquitoes caught in a spider¡¯s web, they struggled only briefly before meeting their demise. ¡°The Python Vine isn¡¯t stupid, waiting until most of the Scale-Horned Black Panthers were in the river before striking.¡± ¡°Opportunity!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes suddenly sparkled with brilliance. While there were many Scale-Horned Black Panthers, and the Python Vine could easily harvest them, some managed to escape to the opposite bank. Just as Zhenjin expected, the Python Vine didn¡¯t intend to let its prey escape. Its vines struck out quickly, catching the Black Panthers on the bank before smoothly retracting. That¡¯s when Zhenjin swiftly pounced forward. He transformed into a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, wrapped in scorpion shell and with four long Spider Blades growing from his hands. The blades viciously slashed at the Python Vine that was retracting. All that was left on the surface of the Python Vine were four white marks! Attacked, the Python Vine retaliated against Zhenjin. Zhenjin¡¯s heart trembled, a warrior¡¯s instincts frantically warning him¡ªyou must not be entangled or face death! Zhenjin quickly retreated as the Python Vine relentlessly pursued. However, its length ultimately had limits, and Zhenjin¡¯s attack had been probing at the edge of the Python Vine¡¯s reach. Unable to catch Zhenjin, the vine retracted once more. Zhenjin attacked again with forceful slices from his blades. However, the typically sharp Spider Blades could only inflict superficial damage, leaving four more white marks on the Python Vine. ¡°I must continuously strike the same section if I want to cut off a part of its body!¡± Realizing this, Zhenjin felt a mix of bitterness and helplessness inside. The Python Vine was not stationary but thrashed and whipped like a wild python, with terrifying attacks that could effortlessly snap tree trunks. Zhenjin had to stay alert to dodge; a moment¡¯s carelessness could lead to serious injury or even death. Under such circumstances, consistently hitting the same spot was next to impossible. Zhenjin counterattacked, the Python Vine pursued, Zhenjin fled, the Python Vine retracted, Zhenjin counterattacked again¡­ After several rounds like this, Zhenjin, skirting the edge of life and death in a mad leap, was already drenched in sweat. Though the Python Vine was Golden Level, it wasn¡¯t as intelligent as Zhenjin and was constantly outmaneuvered by him. But Zhenjin¡¯s situation got increasingly worse; in just a short time, he felt exhausted. This exhaustion stemmed not only from his severe physical effort but also from having to stay on high alert to evade¡ªthe possibility of dire consequences made it hard for him to bear. ¡°I must take a risk!¡± Zhenjin suddenly dispelled his Spider Blades, both hands mutating, his fingers turning into glowing red iron bars, stabbing towards the Python Vine. Finally pierced by Zhenjin, the Python Vine was too thick and sturdy for his fingers to penetrate completely. In that moment, Zhenjin furiously spurred his Heart Core. Four bloodlines immediately surged out, wrapping around a small segment of the vine¡¯s surface yet failing to sink in! The Python Vine launched a counterattack, other segments of the vine violently whipping at Zhenjin. Zhenjin quickly canceled his Monkey-tailed Brown Bear transformation, his body bathed in red light as he rolled back on the ground, changing into a bat monkey again. With a powerful kick, the bat monkey Zhenjin propelled his body into the air. Then, flapping his wings fiercely, he soared even higher, narrowly avoiding being struck by the vine where he had previously been. Eventually, Zhenjin suspended himself high in the air, watching in resignation as the Python Vine withdrew back into the river. ¡°My Heart Core is ineffective against Golden Level beings!¡± In that instant, Zhenjin distinctly felt the limit of his Demon Core within his heart. As the tension faded, emotions like disappointment and loss began to spread through him. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± The young knight had been prepared, yet facing this reality still brought a touch of dismay. Having tried and learned the truth, he flapped his wings, quietly flying alone toward the temporary encampment. Chapter 134 - 134: Section 135: Home and Hope Chapter 134: Section 135: Home and Hope Inside the tent. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± The shipwright lay on a bed of grass, his face flushed, his breath weak, and his skin swollen, seeing everything blurred. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, my lords, for the trouble I have caused you,¡± he said weakly. ¡°Rest well and don¡¯t worry; I¡¯m here and won¡¯t give up on anyone,¡± Zhenjin tried to comfort the shipwright. Then, he and Zi Di, among others, slowly left the tent. ¡°How is he?¡± Hei Juan immediately asked. ¡°The shipwright cannot be lost; what sickness does he have?¡± ... S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di shook her head and sighed. ¡°How many times have I told you all, I¡¯m just a Pharmacist who specializes in scents, not a doctor.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t find the cause of the disease.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be poisoning or some magic erosion; it¡¯s just an illness.¡± ¡°If it were a common case, I might have some confidence. But with this kind of disease, which is likely related to the environment here, I¡¯m at a loss.¡± Zong Ge¡¯s voice was deep. ¡°The shipwright isn¡¯t the only one with this disease; there are several others. I suspect this is a contagious disease.¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions changed slightly. ¡°A contagious disease¡­¡± Zhenjin¡¯s face grew solemn, and he sighed inwardly. It had been over a dozen days since they entered the jungle, and he was facing a difficult situation again. This time, it wasn¡¯t ferocious magic beasts or a shortage of food and water that posed a problem, but a disease attack. ¡°Although the symptoms vary among these sick people, they all look very similar. Should we abandon these people?¡± Sanda asked Zhenjin. ¡°Abandon?¡± Hei Juan shook his head. ¡°Without the shipwright, how can we build a ship?¡± Zong Ge sighed. ¡°We can¡¯t let the disease spread to more people. If it¡¯s necessary, we might only have to¡­¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but everyone felt a chill in their hearts. Zong Ge¡¯s actions were always full of military precision, both cruel and efficient. Zhenjin shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t easily give up on anyone. Let¡¯s see how it develops. The shipwright is important, but the others have the right to live too; they are all our companions!¡± ¡°As a Holy Temple Knight, sometimes being too merciful is indecisive and can lead to greater losses,¡± Zong Ge stared into Zhenjin¡¯s eyes, his attitude as resolute as ever. Zhenjin looked up at the Half-Beast unwaveringly. ¡°Of course I understand that principle, but the situation has just occurred, and it is far from the moment to make a cruel decision, right?¡± Zong Ge had no more rebuttals and turned away. The slight estrangement between the two added to the gloomy atmosphere among the team. In the following days, the disease spread within the team, and more people exhibited the same symptoms. ¡°My tools are too few,¡± Zi Di complained to Zhenjin. ¡°I can¡¯t use magic, and my techniques and skills in concocting potions are limited. Now I can only make some simple herbal medicines to alleviate their suffering.¡± Zi Di was helpless. Zong Ge approached Zhenjin again, repeating his previous suggestion and brought Cang Xu along. Cang Xu himself was a very rational person; this time, he sided with Zong Ge. He told Zhenjin that in many places where plagues occurred, lacking doctors and priests, the local nobles would lead knights to kill and burn the sick to contain the spread of the disease source. If the plague was contained, the nobles and knights who slaughtered civilians and patients would receive awards from the Empire¡¯s high command and all the major temples. ¡°It¡¯s not time yet,¡± Zhenjin refused their suggestion again. ¡°No one has died from the disease yet; moreover, haven¡¯t you noticed? Only ordinary people are getting sick; all Transcendents are free from any illness. Perhaps this is due to sudden changes in weather, psychological stress, and fatigue.¡± Zhenjin shortened the travel distance for the team, and every day before evening, they would set up camp to rest. He gathered the sick together, trying to isolate them from the others as much as possible. He visited the sick every day. ¡°My lord, please don¡¯t give up on us¡­¡± ¡°I still want to live! My lord, am I going to die?¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you truly are a worthy Holy Temple Knight, if I die, could you please transfer this money to my wife and children?¡± Zhenjin could only try to comfort them with his words. ¡°Don¡¯t be panicked.¡± ¡°These are all minor ailments, you must believe in yourself.¡± ¡°And believe in me! I am not just a Holy Temple Knight, but also a Divine Favored Knight.¡± ¡°You must understand, the Holy Emperor might be watching over us!¡± The habit of night patrols was still maintained by Zhenjin. Every deep night, he did his best to exterminate nearby groups of beasts, adding a sliver of security for the team. However, the patients were growing weaker, and Zhenjin felt his own weakness once again. ¡°The Heart Core is ineffective against Golden Level lifeforms.¡± ¡°Even if I could mutate more, I can¡¯t cure others.¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°Is what I¡¯m doing right?¡± The patients yearned to see Zhenjin every day, though they knew he couldn¡¯t cure them, and the divine favor he spoke of wouldn¡¯t bless them. But every time they saw Zhenjin, their hearts settled¡ªit proved that Zhenjin hadn¡¯t given up on them. Zong Ge, Cang Xu, Hei Juan, and others increasingly hardened their stance, and more people joined their side. There was a growing view, privately agreed upon by more people, that ¡°Zhenjin is young and overly merciful.¡± As this situation intensified, Zhenjin began to worry that Zong Ge would act on his own, just like he had previously ordered more Half-Elves to scout and expand the surveillance. Zi Di still supported Zhenjin as always. From the moment Zhenjin woke up until now, Zi Di had maintained this attitude. But this time, she gently advised Zhenjin to try not to visit the sick, just in case he got infected. Lan Zao highly supported Zi Di¡¯s advice, repeatedly asking Zhenjin to let him visit the sick in his stead. But how could that be possible? Lord Zhenjin knew the fear of the sick. Lan Zao could never replace Lord Zhenjin. The team was small, but people had different opinions, and the pressure from all sides weighed on Lord Zhenjin¡¯s heart. This, of course, included Lord Zhenjin¡¯s doubts about himself ¡ª perhaps Zong Ge and others¡¯ suggestions were wise. Is my decision right or wrong? Will I lead the whole team into an irredeemable abyss? It was impossible to judge this question. Because he was not a prophet, nor did he have extensive life experience. People often judge right from wrong based on the outcomes of events, but once the outcome is there, it¡¯s too late. Lord Zhenjin felt his loneliness, the taste of being a leader. Behind the glory, naturally, there were hardships. Each day started to feel longer, especially when the coughing from the quarantine area kept coming, making it even harder to endure. Lord Zhenjin still resisted the pressure from all sides. After more than a week, the situation began to improve. The condition of the sick began to ease, and their bodies were slowly recovering. Another week passed. Most of the sick visibly recovered, proving Lord Zhenjin¡¯s strategy was effective. Zong Ge, Cang Xu, and others no longer proposed their previous suggestions, and the team members stopped discussing in private that ¡°Knight Zhenjin was too merciful,¡± instead, they praised his wisdom, truly a Divine Favored Knight! When the team crossed the jungle and reached the beach, seeing the open sea, everyone cheered involuntarily. At this time, the shipwright¡¯s health had also improved a lot. At his strong request, he was helped to the beach, looking at the surging sea, and tears flowed in silence. Lord Zhenjin was tormented, and so were the shipwright and the other sick ones, who had been filled with fear of death during the past time. At this time, the team had not yet reached its destination. Lord Zhenjin and others still needed to head north along the beach to find the first camp and meet up with the remaining survivors. ¡°Just the last part of the journey left, and we¡¯ll be able to meet them!¡± Lord Zhenjin encouraged everyone. The looks people gave the young knight still held admiration and respect, but compared to before, there seemed to be some new changes. The journey suddenly became lighter. Because people didn¡¯t need to cut through vines, carve paths, or drag log carts, nor did they need to frequently move supplies. Compared to the jungle, the beach, though rocky, was much more open and the terrain generally much flatter. Therefore, the team¡¯s morale steadily rose. One day, Bai Ya ran excitedly back to the main forces. As a scout, he held a small wooden barrel in his arms. ¡°Hey, guess what I found on the beach?¡± Bai Ya¡¯s voice quickly attracted a crowd. ¡°This must be cargo from the Pig Kiss.¡± ¡°Guess, what good stuff could it be?¡± ¡°Hurry up and open it, I can¡¯t wait any longer!¡± The people opened the small barrel and found a dozen bottles of rum. Then, a cheer rose again from the team. After hearing the news, Lord Zhenjin smiled and announced a campfire feast for the evening. The feast was crude, with food and water supplied in limited quantities, but people sitting around the bonfires were very excited. Lord Zhenjin specifically assigned Bai Ya to pour the drinks. Most of the rum was reserved as supplies, with only a few bottles taken out for use. When Bai Ya approached a team member, the member immediately held a seashell, staring at the bottle in Bai Ya¡¯s hand. The rum quickly filled the shallow shell. Yet the member was still not satisfied: ¡°Pour some more, add a bit more!¡± ¡°Move it! It¡¯s my turn next,¡± a nearby team member urged loudly. In the end, each person received only a tiny sip of rum, yet every face glowed with happiness in the firelight. Sometimes, attaining happiness is that simple. On the edge of the group, Lord Zhenjin sat on a rock, surveying the area. He saw many people in tattered clothes, unkempt beards, looking like wild men, saw Bai Ya¡¯s serious face as he poured the drinks, saw Fat Tongue quietly sipping the edge of his shell, saw Zi Di¡¯s torn magic robe, saw Cang Xu wiping his eyes, after going through the jungle his glasses had only one lens left, the other side just an empty frame. Mu Ban was holding an empty bottle, his fingers tenderly touching its surface ¡ª this was the touch of human civilization. Zong Ge and Sanda were talking quietly with bowed heads. The Big guy sat quietly on the ground, listening to the shipwright sing. Lan Zao still stood loyally behind Lord Zhenjin on the beach. Hei Juan let the person next to him have the rum in his shell. He looked west, toward the Holy Bright Continent, where home was. Lord Zhenjin looked up at the night sky. The myriad stars. The waves surging, splashing loudly. The salty ocean scent hit his nose. He then gazed toward the east, where the Wilderness Continent, White Sand City, his responsibilities, and future hopes lay. Chapter 135 - 135: Section 136: Finally Converging Chapter 135: Section 136: Finally Converging Dark clouds engulfed the entire sky, and waves crashed upon the shore, slamming into the rocks, stirring up heart-stopping spray. The torrential rain reduced visibility to near nothingness; fifty paces ahead, sky and earth seemed to merge into one mass. Zhenjin¡¯s team did not venture forward in the rain; rather, they moved off the beach and took refuge in the nearby rainforest. Though Zhenjin and Zong Ge were not afraid of such rain, most of their group were ordinary people. Even those at the Bronze Level like Lan Zao and Xi Suo did not have the constitution to withstand such a change. For them, marching on in the torrential rain while dragging heavy supplies was incredibly dangerous. Engaging in strenuous activity while soaking wet could easily lead to illness. ... Having just faced a trial by disease, Zhenjin and the others certainly did not want to invite trouble. At this time, the rainforest became a natural shelter for everyone. The lush branches and dense vegetation made it easy to find shelter from the rain, and in combination with the tents, they could even create a completely dry and warm space. Listening to the sound of the formidable rain from outside his tent, Zhenjin felt a sense of tranquility. He continuously released ultrasound waves, scanning everything around him. He found that, although ultrasound did not penetrate through rain and received good reflection, the dense raindrops and pervasive mist greatly reduced the range and clarity of the scan. Nevertheless, his ultrasound sweep still covered the entire encampment, ensuring he would be the first to notice any emergencies. According to the ultrasound scan, except for those braving the rain on watch, almost everyone else was huddled in their tents without any signs of restlessness or negative emotions. ¡°Now morale is stable.¡± ¡°The cheap banquet of a dozen bottles of rum the other night played a significant role.¡± ¡°Just waiting for the rain to stop¡­¡± Zhenjin was hopeful. However, that hope lasted several days. As the rain poured on, people began to grow increasingly restless. But every time Zhenjin appeared before them, without him needing to say anything, their irritation and worries would greatly subside. Zhenjin¡¯s authority had deeply rooted in their hearts. Food was being quickly consumed, but water had been stockpiled to the limit. The most anxious was the shipwright. He reported to Zhenjin alone, ¡°The situation is getting troublesome, my lord. If the rain doesn¡¯t stop, we¡¯ll have to build a shipyard. It¡¯s not a small project, and I¡¯m very concerned we may not have enough lumber prepared for building the ship.¡± ¡°Even if we build a shipyard, using all the timber from the rainforest, it will still consume a lot of manpower.¡± ¡°In the original plan, many parts could be made outside. But now if the rain keeps falling, all work will have to be carried out in the shipyard. This means we¡¯ll have to expand our shipyard many times over!¡± Zhenjin could only comfort the shipwright, ¡°You are the most professional among us when it comes to building sea vessels. I don¡¯t have any better ideas, but even if we build a shipyard, it only means spending more time and effort, right?¡± ¡°As long as we successfully build the ship and leave this place, all the effort will have been worth it, don¡¯t you agree?¡± The shipwright was stunned for a moment, then wholeheartedly agreed, ¡°My lord, you posses a perseverance and patience that are beyond most. Hearing you say this, I feel much better.¡± Eventually, the rain started to lessen. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sometimes it was a downpour, other times a drizzle, and sometimes the sky was overcast as the sea breeze blew coldly. When it wasn¡¯t raining or was just a light sprinkle, the team would move on. When the rain grew heavier again, they would halt. ¡°This damn rain!¡± Hei Juan cursed. Without the rain, according to the schedule, they should have reached the first campsite by now. ¡°The timber, especially the dragon bone timber for construction, must be protected at all costs!¡± Shipwright Old Four was deeply concerned about this and kept a close eye on it. As night fell, Zi Di secretly visited Zhenjin¡¯s tent, ¡°My lord, this is a potion I¡¯ve made, using a type of poisonous mushroom as the main ingredient. The potion has a slight toxicity that can invigorate the Spirit, especially good for warming the body and enhancing flavors.¡± It was a handy little gadget. Upon hearing this, Zhenjin¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Can you make more? Can it be distributed to everyone?¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°Only those with strong physical constitution can ignore this toxicity. At the very least, they have to be at the Black Iron Level.¡± ¡°Thank you, Zi Di,¡± Zhenjin said gently. Zi Di responded with a beaming smile. The downpour grew less intense, the drizzle lasted longer, sometimes going on uninterrupted for a whole day. The team pushed forward, bathed in the ceaseless drizzle. ¡°It¡¯s strange,¡± Xi Suo reported to Zhenjin, ¡°According to the season, it¡¯s not even the rainy season yet. But we¡¯ve had rain for over a week in a row now.¡± Cang Xu speculated, ¡°Perhaps, the weather on the island isn¡¯t natural. The Island Master may control the weather here, which is why the island can have such distinctly different terrains. Each terrain must have its own climate, and over time, that¡¯s what keeps the landscapes unchanged.¡± Zi Di raised a new question, ¡°So now, why has there been a sudden climate change in the rainforest? Does it mean that the Island Master¡¯s means of controlling the weather around the island is failing?¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s unclear. We haven¡¯t been on the island long enough, and rain like this is actually quite normal for a rainforest. But if the desert, forest, volcano, and other terrains are also experiencing rain like this, then that would be abnormal.¡± Regrettably, no one could know what was happening in the desert, forest, volcano terrains at that moment. Zhenjin¡¯s ultrasound scan also couldn¡¯t reach that far. That afternoon, with the fine rain still falling and dark clouds overhead, a Half-Elf Scout came with a report: ¡°I¡¯ve seen it; the first campsite is right ahead!¡± Everyone was momentarily stunned, then erupted in unanimous cheers. After such a long and arduous journey, braving life-threatening dangers multiple times, they finally made it back to the first camp. Zhenjin wasn¡¯t surprised, his ultrasound had already detected the first camp. ¡°But¡­ why is there no one in the camp?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart weighed heavily. The scouts brought back good news that greatly boosted the team¡¯s morale, and everyone¡¯s pace quickened unconsciously. Realizing this, Zhenjin immediately gave an order, and the team quickly returned to their original pace, while also dispatching a scout squad to make contact with the people at the first camp. Zong Ge quietly appreciated this cautious and prudent approach. The Half-Beast volunteered to go to the first camp first. Zhenjin granted his request, and told him to be very careful. Actually, Zong Ge was somewhat impatient; at the beginning, he had hurriedly left to pursue Xi Suo and the shipwright, taking a large number of combat personnel with him. He only left a deputy leader and eight combatants behind at the camp. ¡°Is everything safe at camp?¡± Zong Ge, leading several people, arrived at the first camp. There was no one to greet them, not even a guard. A completely silent campsite gave Zong Ge a bad feeling as he carefully entered to investigate. Moments later, he emerged completely intact with the scout squad, his formerly furrowed brows slightly relaxed. After regrouping with the main force, Zong Ge handed a deliberately left note to Zhenjin. Zhenjin read it and understood what had happened. It turned out that incidents of mysterious beast attacks and killings had been happening at the first camp for a while. Zong Ge himself had patrolled the camp at night, which had contained the frequency of the killings. But after Zong Ge left to pursue Xi Suo and his group, the killings happened again, and with increasing frequency. The hearts of those at the first camp were gripped with fear; no one could find the murderer, nor could anyone protect everyone¡¯s lives. As time went on, almost every day someone died. Even the deputy leader left by Zong Ge was killed. Their emotions collapsed, and they came to believe that the first camp had become a cursed land, that an invisible devil was taking the lives of their comrades. They all left the first camp, finding a small valley in the nearby rainforest. The last people who left were worried about Zong Ge or the first exploration team returning, so they left a note indicating the exact location of the small valley. Understanding this, Zhenjin breathed a sigh of relief and immediately ordered the team to continue on, turning towards the small valley. In the small valley. Panicked people gathered together. ¡°Gone, another person has disappeared!¡± ¡°It¡¯s here, it¡¯s right here!¡± ¡°The devil didn¡¯t stay at the first camp, it followed us. It won¡¯t stop until it kills us all!¡± Their loud cries spread the panic, making everyone even more terrified. Without a leader. The deputy leader was dead, and the situation with the mysterious beast attacks had become even more terrifying¡ªbefore there were bodies left, now not even the bodies could be found. ¡°I think it¡¯s not a devil, but a Magic Beast. It comes from underground, and every time there¡¯s a mysterious disappearance, there¡¯s a hole at the scene. Usually, it¡¯s a burrow, sometimes holes in the cliffs, and at other scenes near water, we can¡¯t see the hole, but I think it¡¯s likely covered by the river water or vegetation,¡± a clear female voice rang out. Everyone was stunned, and countless pairs of eyes focused on her. It was Queshan. She wore a dark green long dress, with black hair that reached her waist, fair features, but with green eyes, a full figure, and an explosive body shape, like a mix of Eastern Empire and Westerner. Suddenly under so many gazes, Queshan seemed a bit constrained and nervous, but still continued, ¡°We need to unite and must fight back, otherwise we¡¯ll be defeated one by one by that mysterious Underground Demon Beast!¡± Queshan¡¯s analysis was logical and well-founded, revealing a corner of the veil of the mysterious culprit. However, the crowd was hesitant about her proposition to fight back. ¡°Can we really deal with it?¡± ¡°Is it really a Magic Beast?¡± ¡°So many have died, even the deputy leader. What can we do to it?¡± ¡°Xi Suo and the others have run off, out of fear. It¡¯s likely the same with Zong Ge and his people. They say they went after Xi Suo and his group, but what¡¯s the truth?¡± ¡°I think fighting back is just courting death, we should split up and run. That¡¯s what Xi Suo, Zong Ge, and they did.¡± ¡°Bullshit!!!¡± Suddenly, a booming voice echoed through. The Half-Beast, wearing full steel armor (missing the left arm brace), strode forward confidently out of the bushes to appear before everyone. It was Zong Ge. Everyone was astonished, then overjoyed. ¡°It¡¯s Lord Zong Ge!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve finally returned.¡± ¡°My god, am I having a hallucination?¡± The crowd surged towards Zong Ge, but he stepped back half a step and made way for a path. At that moment, a young knight calmly walked out. Chapter 136 - 136: Section 137: I am a dignified leader Chapter 136: Section 137: I am a dignified leader All eyes were focused on Zhenjin. The gazes of those present were filled with intense curiosity and confusion. Zhenjin had snow-white skin and golden hair, and he was quite handsome. From his appearance, it was clear that he was young, around fifteen or sixteen, but no one underestimated him. Although Zhenjin¡¯s leather armor was crudely made, it was clearly the skin of a Magic Beast. Those with discerning eyes also noticed the thin sword at Zhenjin¡¯s waist; just from the scabbard, one could tell that this sword was no ordinary blade. ... Zhenjin¡¯s lips were pressed together tightly, exuding an air of authority. His adventures and efforts on the island had endowed him with an aura of calm, stability, determination, and power, which belied his youthful appearance. What was more important, he was leading the way, with a group of people crowded behind him. There was Lan Zao, who followed closely behind with a confident stride, the Half-Beast Zong Ge in shining steel armor, Zi Di in a Magic Robe, the leader of the crew members Xi Suo, the Big guy of giant lineage¡­ The trials they had faced together had revealed a spirit unlike that of ordinary people, like dark, smooth stones on a beach, polished by the waves. At a glance, this band of followers appeared elite. With such people thronging around him, it was obvious that Zhenjin, as their leader, was even more extraordinary! Without Zhenjin uttering a single word, everyone instinctively cleared a path for him. This was a clearing in the valley, where stepped stones lay naturally, forming a high platform. Under the watchful eyes of all, Zhenjin ascended the stone steps and stood at the highest point. He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, his gaze calm as he looked down upon everyone present. Those who followed him, Cang Xu, Zi Di, Zong Ge, Lan Zao, and others, took their places on the lower steps. The crowd fell silent, the only sounds were the footsteps of those walking and the rustling and clinking of their clothes or armor. Once Zhenjin¡¯s group had taken their positions, the clearing fell into a still and silent state. Lan Zao stood on a lower step, proclaiming loudly, ¡°Let all who are present listen with open ears! Standing before you now is my master¡ªLord Zhenjin. He is the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, a noble Divine Favored Knight of the Holy Temple, and the future City Lord of White Sand City in the Wilderness Continent!¡± Noble, City Lord, Holy Temple Knight, Divine Favored Knight! Each term exploded like a bomb in the hearts of the crowd, creating towering waves. No order from Lan Zao was needed as everyone began to bow their heads to Zhenjin, offering him a bow or a kneel. The expressions on people¡¯s faces were rich with shock, joy, and confusion. Was there really such a great figure among those on the same ship? Zhenjin surveyed the surroundings with a keen gaze, noting many were stealing glances at him. Such behavior was improper. Yet Zhenjin was not surprised¡ªwhat kind of people would voluntarily travel by ship to the Wilderness Continent, where war was certain to erupt? Most of them were opportunists, criminals, and ambitious characters. Despite the brazen stares, no one questioned Zhenjin¡¯s identity or showed a hint of defiance. They were, after all, the weakest, with meager combat power. Although numerous, they were essentially a disparate rabble. Watching the crowd bow to him, Zhenjin finally began to speak slowly, his voice echoing clearly over the area. ¡°No matter the mountains or seas, the swamps or islands, my master¡¯s Holy Light shines upon all. The flag of the Empire will always fly high, standing unassailable.¡± ¡°Nothing can impede my progress. I will claim glory, and those who follow me will share in that glory.¡± ¡°From now on, this place is under my control.¡± ¡°Does anyone object?¡± The scene was silent as the grave. Zhenjin nodded his head in satisfaction. Many, including Zi Di, showed subtle reactions; the young knight was displaying a level of dominance and dignity previously unseen. Zong Ge¡¯s face was expressionless, as he had a sense of the big picture and knew the group needed a single voice. And it was best if there was only one voice. That way, they could fully mobilize everyone and react more swiftly. Zong Ge had a deep trust in Zhenjin¡¯s abilities. Zhenjin then began to reassign living quarters. There were caves of various sizes in the valley, not the work of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, but naturally formed. Many who had initially taken up residence were driven out. The most spacious and brightest cave was, of course, reserved for Zhenjin. Besides that, the better caves were assigned by Zhenjin to people like Zi Di, Cang Xu, Xi Suo, Zong Ge, and a few others. The people who were driven out were naturally disgruntled, but no one openly protested from beginning to end. In the eyes of all, such an arrangement was entirely warranted. ¡°` People of high status and strength should enjoy better treatment. The value system that respects the strong and disdains the weak has long prevailed among various races. The public storage of supplies immediately fell under the control of Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin then began to direct the people in the valley, relocating his own supplies to the public storage. Those who had accompanied Lord Zhenjin were all resting. The people in the valley had far more physical strength than them. ¡°These people are really living the good life;if they had to endure the hardships we¡¯ve faced, they¡¯d probably be crying for their moms and dads.¡± ¡°Although there¡¯s a mysterious killer, most people should have survived.¡± ¡°If they follow us, they¡¯re likely to lose their lives halfway through.¡± ¡°Hey, be careful! Handle these woods gently, don¡¯t damage them. We went through a lot to bring these back!¡± Watching these people work, the returning members generally felt a sense of superiority. The working people, seeing others resting so openly and shouting orders at them, did have some complaints, but nobody voiced them. ¡°Did you see? Even the powerful Zong Ge is subservient to Lord Zhenjin.¡± ¡°Xi Suo is back too, along with the shipwrights. We have craftsmen again!¡± ¡°It really looks like we¡¯ve got a genuine chance of leaving this godforsaken place.¡± ¡°They brought in so much wood, they¡¯re probably planning to build new ships.¡± ¡°Is all this trouble necessary? Lord Zhenjin is an important figure; maybe as soon as tomorrow, reinforcements from his family will arrive on the island.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No one felt humiliated by being directed by Lord Zhenjin; they were excited and felt honored. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s status was lofty; they had never been so close to such an important figure. The valley was noisy, and the cave dwelling of Lord Zhenjin welcomed a beauty. Queshan. She bowed to Lord Zhenjin, bending at the waist, revealing her fair and unblemished chest. Though her figure was voluptuous, the dress¡¯s neckline was high, concealing her bosom completely. With customs being comparatively traditional in the Eastern Empire, coupled with Queshan¡¯s features that carried Eastern characteristics, she radiated a unique charm. No wonder the First Officer had desired her. She was indeed a rare beauty, only slightly less stunning than Zi Di. Having completed the curtsey, Queshan stood straight and sized up Lord Zhenjin from close range, with a look of genuine curiosity. She understood the pride of the Half-Beasts like Zong Ge, who kept it hidden in their hearts. And to see such a strong Half-Beast submit to the young man before her was a clear sign that he was no ordinary person. Queshan came here, naturally, because Lord Zhenjin had summoned her. ¡°Tell me about your observations regarding the mysterious Magic Beast and the cave entrance,¡± Lord Zhenjin spoke. ¡°Yes, Lord Zhenjin, I shall hold nothing back!¡± Queshan¡¯s intelligence was only skin deep. After hearing her report, Lord Zhenjin, disappointed, dismissed her. Sitting on a stone that served as a makeshift stool, Lord Zhenjin fell into deep thought. Taking over the group in the valley had gone very smoothly, without any issues. This was all within Lord Zhenjin¡¯s expectations. Being the strongest amongst all, he naturally held a position of leadership due to his high status. He was not alone; he had a group of subordinates who followed him closely. These subordinates also held combat abilities far surpassing the people of the valley. Moreover, in the state of seeking survival, the psychology of relying on the strong to enhance the chances of living made bringing the valley people under his control quite effortless and natural. The numbers were quite large; Lord Zhenjin had quickly estimated at least two hundred people just now! With such a large number, the way Lord Zhenjin led had to change. He had to demonstrate the authority of the Nobles, reminding everyone silently with his expressionless face, or stern look, that he was a leader, a Superior! At the same time, he also needed to establish the status of his own core group, ensuring they were slightly above the people of the valley. In this way, his subordinates would support him even more and ensure his authority. This was one of the deeper reasons behind his orders for his subordinates to rest while having the valley people labor. ¡°Xi Suo and the other crew members are despised by the valley people because of their earlier escape. The Half-Beast Zong Ge, Sanda, and others also have an awkward standing because of their racial identities.¡± ¡°This is all good.¡± From the vantage point of a Superior, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s perspective and the angles from which he viewed things naturally differed from ordinary people. ¡°The most important thing next is to find the real culprit behind the murders of the survivors.¡± ¡°` Chapter 137 - 137: Section 138: Because, I Follow Lord Zhenjin Chapter 137: Section 138: Because, I Follow Lord Zhenjin In contrast to forest terrain, the rainforest terrain is flat with few mountains. This valley was not large, cramped with over two hundred people and a lot of supplies. In the little valley, large trees provided shade with dense vegetation, bushes, and vines stacked layer upon layer. Aside from a small clearing at the center, the rest of the area was almost completely covered by lush branches and leaves. Inside the valley¡¯s mountains, there were natural rock caves of various sizes, both deep and shallow, a gift from nature. Additionally, there was a spring in the valley, this stable freshwater source was extremely valuable. It was the main reason everyone at the first campsite decided to relocate here. ... Unfortunately, the mysterious killer had followed them. Since relocating there, over a dozen people had mysteriously disappeared in the valley; their chances did not look good. After a night of rest, having relieved most of their fatigue, Zhenjin, Cang Xu, and others arrived at one of the caves. This cave was not deep and was one of the crime scenes. The individual who had once lived here had mysteriously disappeared. The cave was self-evident; after someone disappeared here, no one dared to live here anymore. Inside the cave, there were some simple household items exuding a faint moldy odor, along with an almost imperceptible smell of blood. The most captivating feature was a huge rock in the middle. Beneath the huge rock was an opening. With one look from Zhenjin, Lan Zao understood and volunteered to move the huge rock. The master and servant had met in the forest, and after experiencing sandstorms, deserts, volcanoes, and oases together, their numerous adventures had developed a deep understanding between them. Upon moving the huge rock, the opening underneath was immediately revealed. The diameter of the hole was about one meter seventy, its depths dark and impenetrable; even dropping a stone or a torch wouldn¡¯t reach the bottom¡ªsomeone would have to crawl in. But this was extremely dangerous. According to Queshan¡¯s estimation, the mysterious, continuous murderer utilized this underground hole to come and go. Indeed, this idea seemed natural since the suddenly appearing hole was too conspicuous. However, none of them were able to address the problem, as no one wanted to risk crawling in. The hole was too narrow, encountering the mysterious real culprit in these underground depths was tantamount to seeking death. Zhenjin and others carefully examined the hole¡¯s entrance. Cang Xu stretched out his gaunt old hand and touched the edge of the hole. On the wall of the hole, he felt a slick greasiness. Zi Di then took out a bottle of potions and sprinkled it around the hole. Soon, the colorless liquid reacted, emitting a pungent, strange odor. ¡°The evidence is conclusive, it must be the ¡®Underground Giant Worm,''¡± Zi Di confidently stated. Zhenjin nodded, and the others wore expressions that seemed to say, ¡°That figures.¡± During the defense battle at the camp, this Silver Level Magic Beast was discovered for the first time¡ªit could burrow through the ground, was huge in size, and very vital. It fought Zong Ge several times, at one point posing a significant threat to the camp. While Zhenjin was pursuing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, Zong Ge managed to crush it to death. Naturally, its body wouldn¡¯t go to waste. After others dragged it back, Cang Xu immediately presided over its dissection. Cang Xu deduced that this Underground Giant Worm was composed of at least three different creatures, with the sandworm as its main body. Sandworms, also known as sea earthworms, are usually about the size of earthworms under normal circumstances and are primarily found on sandy beaches. The group¡¯s understanding of the Underground Giant Worm deepened immediately. Upon learning this, Zong Ge and Sanda speculated: could it be that this Magic Beast had attacked the survivors at the first camp? The terrain of the beach differs from other terrains; the tunneling in and out by the Underground Giant Worm causes the holes to collapse. Additionally, the continuous rainfall at the time of the attack kept the sand moist, obscuring any tracks even further. If the Magic Beast had launched its attack from underground and escaped the same way, then everything made sense. Cang Xu further analyzed: the Underground Giant Worm secretes a greasy fluid on its body, facilitating swift movement in and out of the tunnels it digs underground. It was Zi Di who had collected this fluid to specifically concoct potions. Once the potions came into contact with the fluid again, a reaction occurred, producing a strange odor. Now, the speculations of Zong Ge and others were confirmed. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Later, the group continued to explore several other burrow entrances, Cang Xu spoke with gravity, ¡°The Underground Giant Worm grows rapidly, as can be seen from the diameters of these burrow openings.¡± ¡°It is very likely the case. The juveniles of the Underground Sand Worm are attracted by human activity beneath the sands of the beach and begin their hunting.¡± ¡°At that time, it was relatively young, so it could only hunt, unable to drag a person into a burrow or swallow them whole.¡± ¡°Later, as people began to migrate and abandoned the first camp, the Underground Giant Worm caught onto this and followed them underground, turning this small valley into its new hunting ground.¡± ¡°Due to the continuous supply of food, it grew rapidly underground. Its size and strength increased significantly, enabling the now-mature Underground Giant Worm to drag people into its burrows or even consume them whole!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why, on the beach, people were killed, but in the small valley, they mysteriously disappeared.¡± Everyone present agreed with Cang Xu¡¯s analysis. Zi Di added, ¡°We examined several burrows and found no traces of blood or the like near the entrances. If people were dragged into the burrows, there would certainly be various signs. Thus, I lean more towards thinking that the Underground Giant Worm simply swallowed people whole.¡± ¡°It attacks during the night, seemingly taking advantage of people¡¯s sleep to make its move. With such tactics, swallowing a person whole is becoming an easier task.¡± ¡°What should we do to counter it?¡± Zong Ge expressed his concerns. The Giant Worm was active underground, and its numbers were unknown. It only emerged during its hunting. However, the problem was that it could precisely sense life activities on the surface through touch. Therefore, it had always been able to avoid direct confrontations and target isolated individuals. Back on the beach, despite Zong Ge and others keeping watch overnight, they hadn¡¯t even caught a glimpse of it, and this was why. Simply hiding and setting traps, then surrounding it for a group hunt seemed ineffective against the Underground Giant Worm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a plan,¡± thought Zhenjin. He had ultrasonic detection to easily monitor the Underground Giant Worm¡¯s movements underground. He also had exotic fragrances, controlling the Giant Worm was not a problem. He could even mutate into forms like the Gun Scorpion and directly burrow into the tunnels. However, on the surface, Zhenjin also showed a troubled expression. ¡°Zi Di, I hope you can devise a potion that can produce a scent the Underground Giant Worm likes, to lure it out.¡± ¡°Since the Underground Giant Worm prefers to hunt isolated targets, I suggest, Zong Ge and the others, that you keep everyone together as much as possible while resting.¡± ¡°As for me¡­¡± ¡°Do not disturb me; I will need some time alone.¡± ¡°I will pray to my lord!¡± Hearing Lord Zhenjin¡¯s last words, everyone¡¯s eyes shone brightly. Dark clouds hung over the beach, with no sign of tomorrow. Tiny raindrops sprinkled from the sky, and gusts of sea wind caused Mu Ban to shiver uncontrollably. ¡°Pig Kiss¡­¡± Bai Ya gazed at the half of the ship¡¯s hull lying on the beach, his expression complex. He had dreamt of becoming a Knight and making something of himself, a dream which met with criticism and opposition from his Hunter father. But that only fueled Bai Ya¡¯s rebellion, and the young man had stolen money from his family, barely scraping together enough for the lowest class ticket aboard the Pig Kiss. He never expected that the Pig Kiss, which he had carefully chosen, would suffer a shipwreck. ¡°I¡¯ll go in first to explore and ensure it¡¯s safe. After that, you can proceed to dismantle the ship,¡± Sanda said. ¡°If I don¡¯t come out, don¡¯t come in after me. The best course of action would be to go back and find Lord Zhenjin or Lord Zong Ge.¡± Mu Ban and Bai Ya nodded simultaneously. They both knew they were not strong fighters; if Sanda fell, charging in to save him would be suicidal. Mu Ban, Bai Ya, Sanda, and others were dispatched by Lord Zhenjin to dismantle the Pig Kiss. The materials inside the Pig Kiss had already been scavenged, but the wreckage itself still held great value. Many wooden planks could still be used, as could the masts, especially the nails, which were currently very scarce commodities for Lord Zhenjin and his group. Sanda soon appeared on the tilting forward deck. He waved to everyone on the beach below and shouted, ¡°Come on up, everything here is secure.¡± Mu Ban, Bai Ya, and about twenty others, armed with hammers, saws, and other tools, entered one by one. The Pig Kiss had two decks, a forward superstructure and a ship¡¯s stern. Now only half of the ship¡¯s hull remained, naturally devoid of any stern. The forward superstructure included the Captain¡¯s quarters. The front portion also had the crew¡¯s quarters, and the cargo was usually stored on the lowest level. Following the shipwright¡¯s instructions, they first dismantled the masts. The forward mast was rarely well preserved; the middle mast had broken into two, but the remaining half still held value. Then they dismantled from top to bottom, from outside inward. For a time, the wreckage of the Pig Kiss was filled with shouts, the sound of sawing wood, and the banging of hammers. They had arrived in the morning, taken a break at noon to eat the dry food and water they¡¯d brought, and then continued working in the afternoon. No wild animals attacked, nor were there any unexpected finds. The survivors had already scoured this derelict ship several times before, taking anything useful or edible, neatly cleaning everything out. It wasn¡¯t until evening, when Bai Ya and his group dismantled their way to the Captain¡¯s quarters in the forward superstructure, that they found something small. In a corner, Bai Ya found a small bottle of ink, a nearly destroyed feather pen, and a stack of papers in a drawer. Bai Ya just showed his delight when suddenly¡ª Whoosh! A strong gust of wind blew and the entire ship¡¯s body violently shook. ¡°Get out quickly, the Pig Kiss is collapsing!¡± Bai Ya heard Mu Ban¡¯s roar. The wreckage was already unstable, and after a full day of dismantling, only the skeleton remained, making collapse a natural outcome. Bai Ya and the others immediately turned and ran. But just as they reached the door of the Captain¡¯s quarters, gritting his teeth, Bai Ya suddenly turned back and ran inside! The people beside him failed to grab him; they hesitated for a moment and then ran for their lives. A dozen breaths later, the ship thunderously collapsed, raising a cloud of dust into the air. ¡°Where¡¯s Bai Ya?¡± ¡°He suddenly turned around and ran back inside!¡± ¡°He¡¯s still in there!¡± Realizing this, the group hurriedly rushed back into the cloud of dust. Soon, they saw Bai Ya. Bai Ya lay on the beach, covered in dirt and sand. Behind him, and merely half a meter away, a large pile of broken ship parts towered like a mountain. Seeing this, Sanda and Mu Ban, among others, couldn¡¯t help but feel fearful for Bai Ya. But the unharmed young man stood up on his own, wearing a fearless, unknowing smile. As the night deepened, they carried torches, dragging a huge pile of dismantled materials, and returned to the small valley. The atmosphere in the small valley was spirited; after inquiring, Sanda and Mu Ban learned that Lord Zhenjin and the others had found and killed the mysterious culprit¡ªa huge, ferocious worm! Everyone was overjoyed; the fatigue from a day¡¯s work seemed to vanish with this news. That night, Lord Zhenjin and the others held a celebratory feast. At the edge of the cavern, Bai Ya leaned against the cave wall, sitting on the damp ground. He carefully spread the paper on his thigh and, using the feather pen, dipped a bit of ink and began writing by the light of the bonfire outside. My dear Miss Xi Qiu: It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve written to you, please forgive me. The shipwreck happened so suddenly and the subsequent experiences were tough, dangerous, and fascinating, far exceeding anything I¡¯ve encountered in my life. ¡­ Bai Ya wrote a lot, leaving spaces where he didn¡¯t know the words. At the end of the letter, he wrote¡ª When we returned, we saw in the open space in the valley, on a high platform, the body of the Underground Giant Worm was displayed. This Underground Sand Worm was still young, not as large as the one that previously attacked our camp. People cheered around the body of the Underground Giant Worm, cursing and frolicking, venting their emotions. I can imagine their shock, their joy, and their admiration for Lord Zhenjin! Lord Zhenjin did it. This was no surprise to me. For him, it was a minor thing. What do they say in Eastern Empire? A piece of cake, is that the phrase? My life was saved by Lord Zhenjin, a true Knight. It seems only right that the gods favor him¡ªwho else would be worthy of such favor? I believe everything will get better. Once we build a new ship, we can leave this island. I can go to the Wilderness Continent to fight and earn glory. Because I follow Lord Zhenjin! Chapter 138 - 138: Section 139: Shipbuilding Chapter 138: Section 139: Shipbuilding Inside the cave, a long wooden table held the rough sketches of a sea vessel. Lord Zhenjin, Zi Di, Cang Xu, Zong Ge, and others sat around it, their gazes intensely focused on the sketches. The sketches depicted the side view, top view, and perspective view of the ship. The author of the sketches¡ªthe shipwright¡ªexplained, ¡°After taking stock, we have a total of 247 survivors. The Pig Kiss has been disassembled, and taking into account the timber we¡¯ve transported here, as well as an estimate of how much iron our ore can produce, I have devised this vessel.¡± ¡°The new ship is estimated to be 42 meters in length, 16 meters in width, and 8 meters in height, with a displacement of 300 tons.¡± ¡°As you can see, the new ship will have two decks, with the top layer fitted with five cannons.¡± ... ¡°There will be three masts, each with a crow¡¯s nest.¡± ¡°This is the fore slash.¡± ¡°The masts and the fore slash will have sails, mainly square sails. According to our sea charts and the shipping route, the wind direction is stable, and square sails are the most practical. However, the rear mast will have a triangular sail. More precisely, a large triangular sail.¡± ¡°We estimate that the main sail will exceed 200 square meters in surface area.¡± ¡°This is the ship¡¯s bow. It¡¯s mainly for the big guy to live in. This is the ship¡¯s stern, which has a room for you, Lord Zhenjin. Behind the ship¡¯s stern is a veranda that offers a wide view, where one can enjoy the beautiful sights on the sea surface.¡± At the end, the shipwright showed a flattering smile to Lord Zhenjin. The size of the new ship was to be half that of the Pig Kiss. The Pig Kiss, at 76 meters long, was a large trade ship capable of transporting considerable amounts of goods and personnel over long distances. In terms of the voyage, this island was located near the midpoint of a straight line between the Holy Bright Continent and the Wilderness Continent. The goal of Lord Zhenjin and the others was not to construct a ship with superior performance but to leave the island as quickly as possible, to complete the next leg of the journey, thereby rushing to the Wilderness Continent. ¡°How much are we short on materials?¡± Lord Zhenjin broke the silence and inquired. The shipwright replied, ¡°Mainly ship nails. We need a lot of iron, which is the biggest shortfall.¡± ¡°Are our ore supplies still not sufficient?¡± Lord Zhenjin felt puzzled. He had been worried about this and had spent many nights transformed into the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, digging relentlessly for ore. Most of the ore they had was dug up by Lord Zhenjin himself. Zi Di responded, ¡°We have to thank those Monkey-tailed Brown Bears; we have an ample supply of ore. However, extracting the iron from the ore currently relies on dissolving it with potions, and we are far from having enough of those potions.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Lord Zhenjin nodded and scanned the group. ¡°What solutions do you all have for this problem?¡± Zi Di showed a troubled expression, ¡°Currently, I am actively searching for alternative materials around the area, but I can¡¯t guarantee success. After all, this is a rainforest, not a forest. Perhaps we could organize an exploration team to collect these raw materials from forest terrains.¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s too difficult and the risk is too high. Lord Zhenjin needs to guard the valley, and our combat strength is insufficient to support an exploration team. Using potions to process ore is not a conventional method. My suggestion is to construct earthen kilns. Not the small ones I made in the Oasis, but large kilns. We can use charcoal heat to melt the ore and produce a large amount of pig iron.¡± ¡°Is it feasible to build a large kiln here?¡± Lord Zhenjin pressed. He remembered that back in the Oasis, Cang Xu¡¯s attempts to create an earthen kiln had failed. But Cang Xu nodded, ¡°It¡¯s possible. The soil here is different from that in the Oasis; in fact, someone has already succeeded. He is a craftsman with far more experience in making kilns than I have.¡± The survivors had a high proportion of artisans. These people were all heading to the Wilderness Continent to work. To gain a foothold on the Wilderness Continent and win this war of invasion, the Human Race needed to construct a large number of castles, camps, and other defensive fortifications. These constructions represented a significant number of job opportunities, offering wages far beyond the standards of the Holy Bright Continent. Lord Zhenjin nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s go with Cang Xu¡¯s suggestion and build the kilns.¡± After making the decision, Lord Zhenjin looked again at the shipwright. ¡°There are other shortages,¡± said the shipwright. The remaining shortfalls were: one, the sails. Making sails required a great deal of fabric, and the shipwrights had pinned their hopes on the sails from the Pig Kiss. However, after dismantling it, they only retrieved a few fragments of the sails because the survivors from the first campsite had torn them down and used them as warm clothing when the temperature dropped. Another was the adhesive. The ship¡¯s planks used butt joint techniques, which left gaps. Normally, they would be filled with bitumen, hemp rope, glue, etc., and the shortfall in adhesives was significant too. The third was the need for crew and sailors. Lord Zhenjin and his companions needed to train some temporary sailors. Lastly, provisions. There was a large stock of food and water, but it was not enough. Constructing a ship required a lot of physical effort, which would lead to an increased consumption of food. After the ship was built, sufficient supplies needed to be reserved. During the voyage, it would be difficult to obtain supplies. Some might suggest fishing at sea. That was very amateurish. Fishing operations usually take place in fishing grounds, and efficiency is low in other marine areas. Work aboard the ship was laborious; if everyone went to fish, the efficiency would not only be low, but the speed of travel would also slow down, leading to even greater consumption of food over time¡ªa completely uneconomical choice. In this respect, the sea and the desert aren¡¯t that different. ¡°How long will it take to build this new ship?¡± Lord Zhenjin asked the most pressing question. The shipwright answered, ¡°Normally, ship construction takes about two years. For our new ship, it¡¯s hard to estimate the schedule, but it should take at least half a year at the least.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too long, can you shorten the timeframe at all?¡± Hei Juan was also unsatisfied with this timeframe. The shipwright sighed, ¡°That¡¯s already the fastest speed we can manage. The main reason being the potions from Lady Zi Di that can accelerate the drying of the wood. Typically, the wood used in shipbuilding needs to dry out to completely eliminate moisture, usually taking over a year to air-dry.¡± ¡°Fortunately, we have many craftsmen.¡± ¡°Not just the two hundred people in this valley, even with our previous personnel, it would take four or five years to build a ship capable of sailing.¡± Lord Zhenjin was very disappointed with this answer. By the time half a year had passed, the seat of the White Sand City Lord might have already been decided. The Empire¡¯s officials would not wait for Lord Zhenjin alone. The two Holy Temple Knights contesting the City Lordship wouldn¡¯t wait for Lord Zhenjin either. But there was no other way. ¡°` Unless rescue arrived during this period, Lord Zhenjin would have to accept this timeline if he were to rely on building a new ship for escape. The shipbuilding site was set up in a small valley. With just a few modifications, the open space in the small valley became an excellent shipbuilding site. Constructing a dry dock would be too troublesome. Of course, the materials chosen for the dry dock did not need to be as high-quality as those for shipbuilding; the rainforest would never be short of timber. Hei Juan, Sanda, and others formed the logging team and patrol squad. Timber was continuously brought into the small valley. The areas they logged were mainly concentrated along the valley and the beach line. Clearing the woods here would also facilitate the construction of a track in the future, benefiting the new ship¡¯s launch. The amount of work to build the track was much less than constructing a dry dock directly on the beach. After several days, the valley¡¯s open space was finally sheltered from the raindrops, and the ground remained dry even in heavy rain. Shipbuilding required a dry environment. The shipwrights and others began to work on that largest tree trunk, which was the best material for constructing the dragon bone. According to the shipwright and Mu Ban, even the major ports of the Holy Bright Continent would hardly find such good materials! Under Cang Xu¡¯s comprehensive coordination, all the valley¡¯s survivors got busy, each with their own responsibilities. Lan Zao and Bai Ya were in charge of repairing and transforming the valley, forming defensive works and laying traps and alarm devices around the perimeter. Fat Tongue assisted Cang Xu, while Zi Di was responsible for developing potions. Lord Zhenjin and Zong Ge mainly cleared the surrounding beasts to replenish food reserves. Queshan led the women and the wounded to make hemp ropes and fabrics. Once the dragon bone was made, the shipwrights and others tirelessly started making masts. Due to the lack of suitable timber, at least six masts had to be constructed and joined in pairs to form the foremast, mainmast, and mizzenmast. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, Fat Tongue led some people to apply potions onto the dragon bone. With the potions, the dragon bone would cure and dry faster. Just the amount of potions used on the dragon bone alone almost emptied Zi Di¡¯s inventory. Zi Di had no choice but to break down the potion-making steps and distributed them to others for production, to increase the output. New hands were needed for this. Luckily, with Cang Xu¡¯s extensive experience, he quickly reassigned enough personnel from other areas while minimally slowing down the progress of other projects. Thanks to ultrasound scouting, Lord Zhenjin did not miss any herds near the valley. Each time he undertook an action, he reaped a great deal. Zong Ge no longer competed with Lord Zhenjin in this aspect, his achievements only second to Zhenjin¡¯s. When the shipwrights and others started making planks, everything within a radius of 50,000 meters centered on the valley had been cleared. But the work of clearing the beasts would continue. Because the herds had migratory tendencies, the empty terrain and abundant food sources were huge temptations for the beasts. Clearing the herds was no longer as frequent as before, and the danger also decreased sharply. The attracted herds were usually weaker in competition, or magic beasts. Powerful magic beasts or herds were the rulers of their own territories and did not need to migrate. Gradually, Lord Zhenjin handed over this work to Zong Ge, Hei Juan, and others. The spare time he gained was used for private intensive practice of various forms contained in his Heart Core, making significant progress. The frequency of torrential rains was becoming lower, and sunny days started to outnumber rainy ones during the week. By evening, the weather had cleared up. The setting sun¡¯s light shone on Lord Zhenjin and a group of Scale-Horned Black Panthers. While Lord Zhenjin was training privately on the edge of the alert line, this group of Scale-Horned Black Panthers entered the range of his ultrasound scouting. Seeing the magic energy reserve delivered to his doorstep, Lord Zhenjin gladly accepted it with a smile. After a skirmish, the battlefield calmed down. ¡°Too easy¡­ As soon as they come into contact with the Scale-Horned Black Panthers, they get electrocuted immediately,¡± Lord Zhenjin revealed a satisfied smile. His long-term persistence and intensive practice had paid off. He was now able to release electricity effortlessly! ¡°I am different from the silver Flying Squirrels; they get enervated straight away after discharging electricity, but when I release electricity, it intensifies the consumption of magic energy, which hardly affects me,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Lord Zhenjin suddenly detected someone in the distance as he used his ultrasound again. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s expression changed instantly. He had stopped the ultrasound during his fight, focusing his attention on discharging electricity, and thus did not notice in time. What had this person observed? When did they come here, and what did they discover? The scorpion shell on Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body was easily connected to what Zong Ge had seen before. And who was this person? Lord Zhenjin sprinted, chasing after the mysterious figure. The mysterious person sensed him and turned to run frantically, escaping towards the valley! Chapter 139 - 139: Section 140: Should I Kill Him? Chapter 139: Section 140: Should I Kill Him? Red light burst forth from Zhenjin¡¯s body! In the blink of an eye, he had transformed into a Silver Lightning Bat Monkey. He pushed off the ground with his feet, then flapped his wings violently, and the Bat Monkey Zhenjin shot into the sky. He took flight, like an arrow speeding through the air. He zigzagged through the trees, sometimes flapping the wings on his back, sometimes using hands and feet together, leveraging branches to climb and jump, his movements filled with wildness and an extreme coordination of limbs, indistinguishable from a real bat monkey. This was the result of hard training! ... Zhenjin was full of anxiety. ¡°I must stop him (her)!¡± ¡°Who could it be?!¡± ¡°I was careless! I should have never transformed during the day.¡± With anxiety came regret. Usually, Zhenjin would transform at night. No one would wander the wilderness under the cover of darkness because the limited visibility restricted human activity. But during the day, even at a distance of fifty thousand meters from the small valley, there could still be human activity. Zhenjin just wanted to practice his Magic Beast form more. Especially the ability to discharge electricity, a skill he had just mastered. It was like a child with a new toy, and the approaching Scale-Horned Black Panther group was an excellent target for practice. Usually, Zhenjin would emit ultrasound waves at regular intervals to scan his surroundings. Just then, however, while combating the Scale-Horned Black Panther group, his focus was on manipulating his muscles to emit electricity, which increased the intervals between his ultrasonic scans. This was rare, but it just so happened that at such a critical moment, something did go wrong! The mysterious person was very fast, far surpassing that of ordinary people. But after running at top speed for a while, limited by his physical stamina, his pace slowed down. Suddenly, the canopy behind him trembled, and the mysterious person, hearing the noise, spun around to look, his face etched with fright and panic. His skin was dark, and he had a head of curly hair, dripping with sweat from the frantic run, gasping for breath. It was Hei Juan. Pausing for a few breaths in place, there was no further movement from the quivering canopy; Hei Juan exhaled a breath of turbid air and continued to run. Hidden in the dense, lush canopy was a Silver Lightning Bat Monkey. Even with monkey fur covering his face, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t hide his fluctuating complexion. ¡°It¡¯s him, Hei Juan! The mercenary hired by Zi Di.¡± ¡°Why would he be here?¡± ¡°No, he should be here. I¡¯ve gradually handed over the cleaning tasks to Zong Ge and him; he is a Bronze Level Cultivator with Fighting energy, it¡¯s not strange for him to be here.¡± ¡°But wait, why is he alone? Where are the other patrol team members?¡± ¡°What exactly did he see?!¡± For a while, Zhenjin just watched Hei Juan flee, as the latter¡¯s figure disappeared into the rainforest, rapidly vanishing from his sight. Zhenjin was very confused. And panicked. ¡°What should I do now?¡± Just moments ago, he was too anxious, not thinking clearly, and had launched into pursuit. He really wanted to inquire and find out who had seen him. Just now, he had gotten his answer. Then, he found himself trapped in a state of bewilderment. He had no idea what to do next! A thought began to swell in the young man¡¯s mind. Kill him! I could have killed him. He was just Bronze, and the gap in our strengths was immense. ¡°Kill him, and no one will know it was me who killed him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very normal, he was alone, in the rainforest, where he encountered a ferocious Magic Beast, and was killed by the Magic Beast. This reason is great, very natural, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I can disguise the battlefield traces, I¡¯ve been very skilled at this for a long time! Cang Xu, Zong Ge would be deceived by you, just like before!¡± The thought of killing Hei Juan was growing stronger and stronger. ¡°No, I can¡¯t!¡± Zhenjin subconsciously clenched hard, his fingers digging into the bark of the tree. ¡°I am a Holy Temple Knight, not a murderer,¡± ¡°How can I, for the sake of my own self-interest, a mere suspicion, take a life?¡± ¡°Hei Juan is by no means my enemy, in fact, he has helped me a lot. He lent me the thin sword Silver Lightning, his family heirloom!¡± The malicious thoughts were forcefully suppressed by Zhenjin, but they bounced back with even greater force, striking at the foundations of Zhenjin¡¯s convictions, shaking his heart violently. ¡°Come on, Zhenjin! Don¡¯t let morality constrain you, wasn¡¯t the lesson from the gun scorpion enough?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten? It hasn¡¯t been long, have you forgotten?¡± ¡°The gun scorpion nearly took your life, and you screamed in your heart¡ª¡¯I want to live! The creeds and family maxims of others, they are all theirs. To fall is imminent, the Abyss is at my feet¡­ Bullshit!''¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes, I want to live, to walk tall and live on, to revive the Hundred Needle Family, to become the White Sand City Lord. Not to be doubted by others, questioned, despised, spat upon!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a Holy Temple Knight, you¡¯re not a monster. What would they think if they discovered your secret? What would your end be?¡± Even though Bat Monkey Zhenjin was supporting himself against the trunk, at that moment, his body was nearly falling apart. His conscience was also roaring in his heart: ¡°No, they would understand, as long as I explain it clearly enough!¡± ¡°From beginning to end, I have saved many lives, I have given so much for this team¡ªthey will cherish these, they will understand me, forgive me, accept me.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± As if there was another Zhenjin in his heart, mocking him with laughter. ¡°Wake up, Zhenjin. Don¡¯t hold onto unrealistic fantasies!¡± ¡°By sparing Hei Juan, it means your secret is completely exposed, your great situation completely destroyed.¡± ¡°How would people look at you? ¡®Divine Favored Knight? No, he is just a monster, a devil in human skin!''¡± ¡°Think about Zong Ge! He is a Half-Beast, still carrying the blood of the Human Race. Despite his immense fighting energy, he is still so despised, loathed, what about you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not even a Half-Beast; you¡¯re just a monster!¡± ¡°Kill him.¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s breathing became heavy, and he continued to run through the thickets, resuming his pursuit of Hei Juan. But at the same time, his heart was constantly torn. ¡°No, I am not a monster. I am Zhenjin, I am a Holy Temple Knight.¡± ¡°Just because of some doubts, I kill. Then I would truly become a monster! No matter what the exterior, my heart is the vibrant red of a human, if I killed Hei Juan, how would I be any different from those Magic Beasts?¡± ¡°Heh heh heh. Then why are you pursuing him?¡± another ¡°Zhenjin¡± in his heart said with a phrase that left Zhenjin unable to refute. The young man was extremely parched, and at this moment, he felt out of control. His body was acting on its own, while his mind was in disarray, more so than it had ever been before. The ¡°Zhenjin¡± in his heart shouted again: ¡°Hei Juan isn¡¯t your enemy now, but he will be soon. He will destroy everything, and once your secret is discovered, people will doubt you, no longer trust you. People will become divided, confrontational, then infighting begins, Zong Ge, full of ambition, will not let this opportunity pass! And what about Zi Di? Think about your poor fianc¨¦e. She has always followed you, supported you, do you want to make your fianc¨¦e worry? Put her in danger?¡± ¡°Zhenjin! You must be a Holy Temple Knight, you must be a Divine Favored Knight. Only in this way can you lead these people, unite them, and twist everyone¡¯s strength into a single strand.¡± ¡°The ships are already being built, the beast herd no longer poses a threat, food and water are all being stockpiled.¡± ¡°No one knows how much effort, how much hard work, how many times you risked your life for this situation.¡± ¡°Just because of a word from Hei Juan, an exposed secret, would you throw all this away?¡± ¡°Kill him! Kill him!!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s face alternated between ferocity and sorrow. He felt himself plunging into the Abyss, his conscience within growing weaker and weaker. ¡°No, no, this is a living person.¡± ¡°He is my companion!¡± Zhenjin weakly cried out in his heart. But another voice immediately contradicted Zhenjin, ¡°Companion? This is a person who jeopardizes the bigger picture, like a single rat dropping spoiling the whole pot of soup. You can¡¯t let it ruin everything!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t owe him anything.¡± ¡°You are his lifesaver, have you forgotten?¡± ¡°Without you, he would have died long ago! Died at the claws of the Black Iron Bat Monkey.¡± ¡°Yes, he lent you the thin sword Silver Lightning, and indeed it greatly helped you. But if he had died back then, whom would the sword have belonged to?¡± ¡°Kill him, stop hesitating.¡± ¡°Just pretend you were a step too slow to save his life!¡± ¡°This is not only for you but also for the greater good.¡± ¡°Cang Xu said, and you understood it all along, didn¡¯t you? Those who achieve great things don¡¯t sweat the small stuff. The past of successful people may be shady, vile, and shameless, but all this will be overshadowed by brightness and victory.¡± The vast majority of the world doesn¡¯t care how they succeed; people generally only care about the outcome, only whether you are a success or a failure. ¡°Think about it, when you rescue these people, leading them out of this damned island. You will be a hero, the savior of over two hundred people. Missing one Hei Juan, what does it matter? As a Holy Temple Knight, you will receive commendation, and your relentless struggle, unfailing optimism, and perseverance will make you a role model.¡± ¡°You absolutely cannot be a monster!¡± ¡°Once this secret is exposed, even if you save these people, what can you gain? You may not even be able to lead them, and escaping from here could likely fail.¡± ¡°For the sake of over two hundred people, sacrificing only one Hei Juan.¡± ¡°He is very suspicious.¡± ¡°Extremely suspicious!¡± ¡°Why did he come to the wilderness alone and just happened to discover your secret?¡± ¡°He must be harboring ill intentions towards you!¡± ¡°It must be so!¡± Countless threads of blood filled Zhenjin¡¯s eyes. A murderous intent brewed incessantly in his heart, growing rapidly! He caught up with Hei Juan again, looking down from above at Hei Juan¡¯s head and back. ¡°Look at him, how weak he is.¡± ¡°Now, if you pounce, you could easily kill him!¡± There are many ways you could take his life. A mouthful of Acid Liquid could disfigure his face. The fine point of a gun scorpion could pierce directly through his skull. Could his bones be stronger than those of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear? A Bronze Level human? Heh, as brittle as a piece of paper. Kill him; kill him now! Zhenjin¡¯s breathing became more rapid, his murderous intent growing ever stronger. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± Just then, shouts from others suddenly came from ahead. Zhenjin¡¯s heart trembled, and he hurriedly stopped, hiding behind the trunk of a large tree. ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± Hei Juan shouted. The shouting person immediately relaxed. They were a group of over a dozen people, and upon seeing Hei Juan, they greeted him, ¡°Sir.¡± Hei Juan nodded, ¡°I followed that strange noise and explored for quite a distance but found nothing. Let¡¯s go back to the camp now.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s still early in the day.¡± Someone objected. ¡°The time is almost right, and we are already far from the valley camp. If we hurry back, we will just make it in time for a hot meal.¡± Hei Juan shook his head and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve surveyed this area already. If any beast packs come, they¡¯re sure to trigger one of the traps, which will alert us.¡± Seeing Hei Juan¡¯s attitude, the others no longer insisted. ¡°Alright then.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s follow Sir Hei Juan¡¯s lead.¡± There were also those who laughed jovially, ¡°I always thought Sir Hei Juan was difficult to get along with, but it turns out, after actually being with you, all that is just rumors.¡± ¡°Enough talk, let¡¯s hurry up and move,¡± Hei Juan urged. Watching Hei Juan merge with the dozen people and leave, Zhenjin slowly stepped out from behind the tree trunk. ¡°It seems Hei Juan went alone to investigate after hearing some strange noises.¡± ¡°He is Bronze, fast, and left the others behind to continue patrolling.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s what lead to what happened before.¡± ¡°The key question is what exactly did he see? Why is he so eager to return?¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°Should I¡­¡± Zhenjin¡¯s face no longer showed confusion but was twisted with struggle. Despite not exerting much physical effort, he was sweating profusely. At this moment, he finally understood that he had been avoiding the inevitable all this time. Suddenly one day, he had to confront the worst scenario he feared deep inside. Making related decisions was so difficult; Zhenjin had lost his usual standard. Under normal circumstances, Zhenjin would have already used ultrasound to detect the patrol members ahead. But he had been chasing after Hei Juan, following him, with his heart in turmoil, his brain a mess. ¡°Hei Juan is scared!¡± ¡°I can feel it!¡± ¡°He must have discovered my secret¡­ What am I hesitating for?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so cowardly, transform into a Magic Beast, kill him.¡± ¡°The other people being present is even better; they will be my witnesses.¡± ¡°Who would know the murderer was your transformed self?¡± ¡°If still unsure¡­ might as well kill all these people! End it all!¡± The breaths of the bat monkey Zhenjin became increasingly heavy as the surging murderous intent in his heart made it difficult to maintain control. He struggled fiercely. And hesitated greatly. ¡°This is not the way of a Knight!¡± The voice in his heart grew weaker and weaker. ¡°If the secret is exposed, the consequences are unimaginable!¡± Another voice grew stronger and stronger. Zhenjin continued to follow Hei Juan and the others; many times, he was on the verge of taking action. The small valley came into view for the group. Hei Juan and the others were about to return to the camp. The voices in Zhenjin¡¯s heart spiked in volume, like a roar, ¡°Strike now! If you don¡¯t act soon, it will be too late.¡± The sun was just setting on the horizon, and night was descending. The evening wind blew chaotically, mixing with the rough breaths of the bat monkey Zhenjin, making them indistinct. His fingers clenched fiercely, crushing the tree bark and some of the wood into dust. Zhenjin¡¯s face bore a vicious look, his eyes fiercely menacing! Roar! He let out a furious roar. Chapter 140 - 140: Section 141: Cant Go Back Anymore Chapter 140: Section 141: Can¡¯t Go Back Anymore The roar of the bat monkey, Zhenjin, startled nearby birds, sending them soaring into the sky. This commotion also caught the attention of Hei Juan and his companions. They instinctively stopped in their tracks and turned to look behind them. ¡°What was that sound?¡± ¡°Did you guys just hear something?¡± ¡°It sounded like a bat monkey was roaring.¡± ... ¡°How could that be?¡± Hei Juan chuckled, ¡°Bat monkeys always move in packs, and even those cast out from the group wouldn¡¯t dare to venture near the valley camp.¡± ¡°Should we go check it out?¡± someone suggested. Hei Juan shook his head, ¡°No need. A single wandering bat monkey poses no threat. Did we actually hear something? I didn¡¯t. The wind is picking up, getting louder. The camp is right ahead; are some of you just too nervous?¡± Knowing Hei Juan¡¯s capabilities as a Bronze Level elite anyone felt reassured. ¡°It must have been just the wind.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head back to the camp.¡± Hei Juan and his companions entered the valley. In the distance, among the treetops. The bat monkey, Zhenjin, stopped roaring and was clenching his teeth tightly. That roar seemed to have vented all the murderous intent and impulse in his heart. ¡°No, no!¡± ¡°I am Zhenjin.¡± ¡°I am Zhenjin!¡± Half-kneeling on a tree branch, Zhenjin was bent over, hunched, as if bearing a tremendous weight. ¡°I am¡­ Holy Temple Knight.¡± His forehead was now damp, oddly enough; the previous running and chasing should not have caused so much sweat. The fog of confusion in his eyes was gradually clearing, and within it seemed to be a flickering candle flame, burning, steadily firming. ¡°I am not the killer. I couldn¡¯t do it, and I shouldn¡¯t kill Hei Juan.¡± ¡°I protect the good and the weak, I uphold justice and fairness, I do not slaughter the innocent, never!¡± Zhenjin kept swearing to himself internally. He breathed heavily, feeling utterly exhausted at the moment. He felt drained. Finally, he cast a deep glance at the valley, turned around, and returned the way he came, with staggered steps and a faltering stride. ¡°Hurry up.¡± ¡°Your secret is out.¡± ¡°Go, and never come back. Pretend ¡®Zhenjin¡¯ is already dead. At least this might still leave you with a good reputation. If your secret gets confirmed, the Hundred Needle Family will all be disgraced!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Zhenjin roared inwardly. ¡°I will not flee. I am a leader; I must lead these people to escape this island. No matter how they see me, I must follow my knight¡¯s path, I must fulfill my responsibilities as a leader! If the secret is fully exposed, then I shall face it nobly. Even if they misunderstand me, despise me, reject me. Because these are all things I must do!¡± On the way back, Zhenjin steeled his heart. He found his equipment and dressed neatly. Despite having donned them many times, he never felt the weight of his clothes as he did now. Heavier even than Bi Zong Ge¡¯s full suit of steel armor. The steps of the young man seemed even heavier. He walked back toward the valley, expressionless. The dark and gloomy rainforest, the overlapping vegetation filling his vision, seemed like walls. The night was dense, like his future that had no light. What a difficult journey! Zhenjin was used to trekking in the rainforest, and the pathway now had no Magic Beasts obstructing it. However, Zhenjin felt an immense difficulty; it seemed every step he took greatly exhausted his physical and mental strength. Deep inside, a weak voice emerged, constantly praying¡ªlet this journey be infinite, let him keep walking forever, never reaching the end. The return was finite, and Zhenjin eventually arrived at the outskirts of the small valley. He saw the camp¡¯s gate, saw the firelight inside the valley, felt the presence of people. In the past, whenever he returned and saw these signs of human presence, he would feel warmed. But now, whether it was the camp¡¯s gate or the guard, the firelight, or the smoking food, it seemed there was a layer between them and him. Just one layer, yet as distantly apart as heaven and earth! Zhenjin took a deep breath, tried to stand tall, as if walking to his execution, he approached the camp¡¯s gate. ¡°Lord Zhenjin?¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin is back!¡± The guards greeted him, hastened to open the camp¡¯s gate for Zhenjin, looking at him with admiration and love. However, such words and looks no longer warmed him as before, no longer motivating him to move forward. They were like arrows, shooting into his heart, piercing him sharply, causing a twitching pain. Passing through the gate, Zhenjin quickly reached the open ground in the middle of the valley. The place had been transformed into a dock; dragon bones and masts were arranged in the corners, and a large amount of hemp rope, treated with ointment provided by Zi Di, was laid out. After drying and then being left in the sun, the ropes would become stronger and more durable, ideal for use as riggings. Walking across the open space, halfway toward the cave, Zhenjin saw many people. They had just finished their work and were gathered around long tables eating their evening meal. Zhenjin¡¯s arrival made the diners stand up and salute. It was a gesture they made on their own. Now, facing them, Zhenjin felt an invisible oppressive force! ¡°They don¡¯t know yet, but when the secret is exposed, how will they look at me?¡± Zhenjin thought bitterly to himself, while smiling at them, motioning them to sit down and not to bother with formalities, to continue their meal. Moving past the crowd that continued to eat, Zhenjin saw Bai Ya. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you¡¯re back. The other leaders have been looking for you; they¡¯re all in the big cave now,¡± Bai Ya said respectfully. Zhenjin nodded. He approached the entrance of the large cave. This cave was the largest in the valley, used for meetings and discussing important matters. Before, when the shipwright presented the sea ship sketches, it was done here. Now, Zong Ge, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others were inside. Clearly, they had already learned about the situation from Hei Juan. Standing in front of the big cave, Zhenjin inevitably hesitated. At that moment, his feet felt as if they were being pressed down by invisible mountains, the voice urging him to flee grew louder within. He couldn¡¯t step forward! The cave seemed to grow larger in his eyes, the entrance turning pitch-black, forming a deep abyss that swallowed everything. Lord Zhenjin took a deep breath, closed his eyes, then opened them again. He held his breath, steeling himself as he walked into the large cave. As he had anticipated, the moment he appeared, he immediately attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Cang Xu, Zi Di, Zong Ge, Sanda, and Hei Juan were all seated around the rectangular stone table, with the main seat still empty, reserved for Lord Zhenjin. ¡°Lord,¡± Zi Di, who was seated to the immediate left of the main seat, greeted Zhenjin with a smile, albeit a strained one. The expressions on the others¡¯ faces were all grave. Fear still lingered on Hei Juan¡¯s face. ¡°He has finished speaking, hasn¡¯t he¡­¡± Zhenjin sighed to himself. ¡°Perhaps, we are in big trouble,¡± Zong Ge spoke up. Zhenjin felt his mouth dry, standing in place like a criminal awaiting his sentence. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di said, ¡°Hei Juan, repeat the information you just shared.¡± Hei Juan swallowed, his voice hurried and still filled with aftereffects of fear, ¡°I saw from a distance a monster, it was terrifying! A large group of Scale-Horned Black Panthers stood no chance against it, it attacked in a bizarre and mysterious way, just a touch, and those Scale-Horned Black Panthers, no matter how strong, would immediately fall to the ground, lifeless. It was an absolute massacre, a thorough slaughter. A large group of at least fifty Scale-Horned Black Panthers was easily wiped out by the monster, easier than drinking water.¡± ¡°Too terrifying.¡± ¡°Really too terrifying!¡± ¡°I feel that none of us would be its match. After spotting it, I immediately rushed back to the camp to report this important military intelligence. To avoid panic, I didn¡¯t tell anyone else.¡± Lord Zhenjin: ¡­ ¡°We analyzed it, and this fearsome Magic Beast is at least of Silver Level,¡± Zi Di stated gravely. ¡°No, even a Silver Level like the Blue Dog Fox Wolf wouldn¡¯t slaughter a group of Scale-Horned Black Panthers so effortlessly. It¡¯s more likely a Golden Level Magic Beast!¡± Zong Ge expressed his opinion. ¡°Golden Level?¡± Zhenjin chewed on the word, his brows slowly furrowing, then he slowly walked to his seat and gradually sat down. ¡°What kind of Magic Beast is it?¡± Zhenjin stared at Hei Juan, pressing for answers. Hei Juan shook his head, ¡°I was very far from it at the time, I didn¡¯t see it clearly. In fact, I only noticed it by chance. I was drawn by a strange noise. Since the others weren¡¯t as fast as me, I immediately went to investigate. The noise stopped, and as I looked around, I spotted this fearsome Magic Beast. I thought this information was too critical, and feeling that the Magic Beast might have noticed me, I immediately turned and fled, doing my best to rush back here.¡± Zong Ge snorted coldly, clearly dissatisfied with Hei Juan¡¯s account, his eyes on Zhenjin: ¡°His view was very blurred, he couldn¡¯t even make out the physical characteristics of the Magic Beast. He only saw it was a huge primate with golden fur. To deal with this Magic Beast, we need more detailed intelligence!¡± Hearing this, Zhenjin leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and exhaled heavily. Then, he heard Zi Di¡¯s voice: ¡°Indeed, more information is needed, but I believe Hei Juan did nothing wrong. Given the combat strength of this terrifying Magic Beast, Hei Juan wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance against it, any hesitation might have cost him his life. That he was able to bring back the information promptly and alert us is commendable enough.¡± Zhenjin opened his eyes, he could tell. There had probably already been a minor dispute here earlier. Zong Ge was dissatisfied with Hei Juan, thinking him cowardly for fleeing, believing he could have brought back more information. And as the employer who hired Hei Juan, Zi Di naturally wanted to defend her own. Sure enough, Zong Ge immediately snorted, ¡°If Hei Juan had perished, wouldn¡¯t we have noticed? Even corpses can speak, and we would have obtained more information. His actions have breached our protocols. At least after rejoining the squad, he should have sent two to report back while the rest continued scouting. Now, we only know of this Magic Beast¡¯s appearance, nothing else! In this vast forest, finding a Magic Beast is too difficult. If we don¡¯t find it, we have to be constantly on guard for its attacks, leaving us defensively passive, and it will consume our massive attention and energy.¡± ¡°Zong Ge,¡± Zhenjin gestured with his hand, ¡°I understand you, but please try to understand them as well. Hei Juan is a mercenary, not a soldier.¡± Zong Ge didn¡¯t speak further. Zhenjin then turned to Zi Di and Hei Juan, switching his tone: ¡°Of course, Hei Juan, your actions indeed violated the rules. Your subsequent actions and commands indeed made us miss the opportunity to gather intelligence.¡± ¡°But I do not believe it was due to cowardice.¡± ¡°You are not a coward, I clearly remember the first time I saw you, you were fighting for your life against a bat monkey.¡± ¡°You brought back the intelligence to us, which is commendable, but as you see, others have significant objections towards you. I will assign the task of scouting this Magic Beast to you, tomorrow, you will lead a small team to delve deep into the rainforest, to scout for relevant information. I hope you can complete this task and dispel the doubts others have towards you.¡± Lord Zhenjin had barely finished speaking when Hei Juan stood up immediately, his posture straight and rigid, loudly declaring, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I accept this mission! I will make the others shut up.¡± After speaking, he glared at Zong Ge, bristling with anger. Zong Ge snorted coldly and dropped the matter. The meeting concluded, and Zhenjin left the large cavern with the others. His heart was filled with intense relief. He hadn¡¯t expected that he could still walk out of this cavern as a Holy Temple Knight. ¡°The truth is actually like this; Hei Juan didn¡¯t see clearly at all.¡± ¡°Thinking back, it actually makes sense. Human vision is limited; we¡¯re not falcons or hawks. From such a distance, seeing a vague figure and mistaking a golden scorpion shell for fur, Hei Juan¡¯s vision is already beyond that of ordinary people.¡± ¡°That was close, very close¡­ What if I hadn¡¯t controlled myself at that moment and had killed Hei Juan or even the members of that squad?¡± ¡°For the rest of my life, I would be tortured by regret and guilt!¡± ¡°Thankfully, in the end, I adhered to the knight¡¯s code!¡± Grumble¡­ Zhenjin¡¯s stomach growled. After completely relaxing, he suddenly felt a strong sense of hunger. After eating a hearty meal, Zhenjin returned to his dwelling. He was extremely tired. More tired than during the initial defense battle at the camp. He lay on his bed, breathed out a long sigh, and hope flickered in his azure eyes. ¡°I am still a Holy Temple Knight, still a Divine Favored Knight, no one suspects me!¡± ¡°From now on, I will be extra careful, transforming only at night and practicing privately. I will minimize mutations during the day, and if I must mutate, I will definitely use ultrasound to scout the surroundings.¡± ¡°To those who are frightened and worried because of this, I can only apologize. But just like the previous Blue Dog Fox Wolf, I believe with time, you will all gradually get used to it.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t practice tonight; I need a good rest.¡± ¡°Today was really exhausting¡­ Oh, I didn¡¯t absorb those Scale-Horned Black Panthers¡­¡± ¡°Forget it, let Hei Juan find out.¡± With that, Zhenjin drifted into a heavy sleep. Shortly afterward, he suddenly opened his eyes and sat up. He panted heavily, shaken, having just had a nightmare. Everyone had discovered his secret; he was abandoned by all, even Zi Di looked at him with questioning eyes. ¡°It was just a nightmare.¡± Zhenjin gritted his teeth and went back to sleep. A while later, he was again awakened by a nightmare. The content was similar to before, but this time, Zi Di, who had always supported him, was also regarded as a monster. After calming his emotions, Zhenjin fell back into deep sleep. When he was woken by a nightmare for the third time, he sat on his bed in silence for a long time. The physically and mentally exhausted young knight finally realized something¡ª His secret had not been revealed, and everything seemed unchanged. But in reality¡­ he could never go back. Chapter 141 - 141: Section 142: God, I Have Sinned Chapter 141: Section 142: God, I Have Sinned Dense vegetation nearly obscured the entire sky, the air was both wet and hot. Because it had rained continuously in the previous days, many places still retained dew, and Hei Juan¡¯s group, moving through the underbrush and vines, quickly became drenched. ¡°We¡¯re approaching the outermost edge of the area we cleared of beasts, everyone be careful!¡± Hei Juan said, frowning. ¡°Yes!¡± the more than ten people behind him responded in unison. A moment later. Hei Juan led everyone to stand in the midst of a chaotic battlefield. ... The battlefield had been cleaned up. But there were still many telltale signs, such as scales from the Scale-Horned Black Panthers. ¡°There has been a great battle here!¡± ¡°Just recently, it could have been yesterday.¡± ¡°It must have been a group of Scale-Horned Black Panthers, and they were the ones defeated!?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not just a simple defeat. These Scale-Horned Black Panthers were easily slaughtered without any power to resist. And the opponent might have been just one Magic Beast!¡± ¡°Hiss¡­ Could it be a Golden Magical Beast?¡± Everyone was shocked, and then they felt fear. What kind of monster was it that could easily slaughter such a large group of Scale-Horned Black Panthers? Hei Juan¡¯s face was grim as he stood his ground and looked around: ¡°This information is very important. You two, take this information back to the camp first. The rest follow me to continue exploring our surroundings. We must find new clues about this mysterious Magic Beast.¡± They quickly made a discovery. The clues led straight to the depths of the rainforest away from the valley. Biting his teeth, Hei Juan led the remaining team members to set off. Two patrol members rushed back to the valley with all their might, panting heavily as they returned with the crucial information. Learning this information, the higher-ups¡¯ expressions became even graver. Cang Xu pondered, ¡°To actually clean up the battlefield, this mysterious Magic Beast¡¯s intelligence cannot be underestimated.¡± Zong Ge had a deep look in his eyes, ¡°It¡¯s just a Magic Beast, how exactly did it clean up the battlefield? Does it have companions, or is it itself a member of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf Commander¡¯s Demon Beast Army? How likely is that?¡± Reminded by Zong Ge, the faces of those present darkened again. That ¡°mysterious¡± Blue Dog Fox Wolf had followed them all the way to the rainforest, successively subjugated beast groups, but the massive Demon Beast Army had never appeared. Zi Di looked worriedly at Zhenjin, ¡°Lord, you still patrolled last night. Please don¡¯t do this anymore, okay? A massive Demon Beast Army is likely lurking around us, and that Blue Dog Fox Wolf must have learned its lesson, this time it may have subdued a completely new type of terrifying Magic Beast. Lord, although you have the power of the spirit, in the dead of night, you are ultimately alone.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s face became heavy. The one who had cleaned up the battlefield, of course, was him! Last night he had a series of nightmares, couldn¡¯t sleep anymore, and went on patrol again. He rushed to the battlefield, where the bodies of Scale-Horned Black Panthers lay in heaps. Zhenjin then absorbed them all, transforming them into demon energy, stored in the Demon Core. ¡°It¡¯s best to make these bodies disappear.¡± ¡°If Hei Juan were to clean up the battlefield tomorrow and take them back. Someone as astute as Cang Xu might deduce from the bodies that they were killed by an electric shock or paralyzed before I finished them off.¡± This was unfavorable to Zhenjin. Of course, the fewer the loopholes, the better. After yesterday¡¯s scare, Zhenjin became very cautious, afraid of overlooking something and revealing a flaw. Even if these flaws were small, accumulated together, they could lead to speculation. Although Zhenjin¡¯s ability to release electricity was not known to others now. But what about the future? If some situation forced Zhenjin to use his electric shock ability in public, then not dealing with the bodies of the Scale-Horned Black Panthers today would leave a loophole. ¡°Lord Zi Di makes a very good point. Master, your personal safety is crucial to the overall situation. It is because of you that we have come together again, built ships, and worked side by side to escape. Without you leading us, we would be like scattered sand. Your identity is precious, and you should not personally risk danger anymore.¡± Lan Zao said in persuasion too. Cang Xu and the others nodded in agreement. Even Zong Ge spoke up, ¡°Holy Temple Knight, we can all understand your feelings and acknowledge your bravery, and never shirking the responsibility of a leader. But because of this, we need to be even more careful. If you are attacked in the wild by the Demon Beast Army or that mysterious Magic Beast during the night, it would be a huge blow to us. In a war between two armies, the Commander can¡¯t just run around recklessly.¡± Zhenjin was expressionless. If it had been before Hei Juan¡¯s investigation, Zi Di¡¯s concern, Lan Zao¡¯s admiration, Zong Ge¡¯s agreement, and so on might have made him feel good, further stimulating his sense of honor and responsibility. But now, a warmth that rose in his heart quickly turned cold. He inevitably thought: If they knew my secret, what would their attitude be? The young knight¡¯s heart was full of complex emotions that were hard to express and dared not express. In the end, he nodded, ¡°I will consider your opinions. Thank you all for your concern!¡± That night, Zhenjin patrolled again. He transformed into a Scale-Horned Black Panther, a form of life in which he was currently only at Black Iron Level, which he had only mastered recently. The novelty brought by the new form of life was gone. He then transformed into a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, bat monkey, gun scorpion, green lizard, and so on. Compared to his previous excitement and determined mindset, his heart now felt like it was under a heavy stone. He practiced releasing electricity again, even though this way of muscle movement was discovered by him through extreme difficulty, relying on a spark of enlightenment and luck. He should have felt a great sense of accomplishment, especially after he demonstrated the power of his electricity ability in actual combat yesterday. But his face remained calm. Even in his heart, there crept a faint irritation and aversion. Before, no matter how difficult or strenuous, as long as Zhenjin thought about his responsibilities, about his fianc¨¦e, about Cang Xu, Mu Ban, and others, he found it sweet. But now, thinking of them didn¡¯t bring warmth to Zhenjin¡¯s heart, only a cold feeling, A distance had begun to form. A wariness had developed. Their secrets remained hidden, these people treated Zhenjin just as before, but Zhenjin had changed. ¡°Holy Emperor, my Lord, Your Holy Light shines through me, revealing that I am a helpless sinner. And You are the great victor and savior. By Your love and grace, I confess I am a sin-child and am willing to repent all. I earnestly beg Your forgiveness for all my sins, support me, cleanse me with Your Holy Light, and let me continue to walk the path of a Knight as You have directed!¡± After completing his training, Zhenjin knelt on the ground, facing the direction of the Holy Bright Continent, and bowed his head in prayer. This was a gesture he had not shown before. But like all prayers before, Zhenjin still received no response. In the silent rainforest at night, the roars of beasts and the calls of birds occasionally enveloped the vibrancy of life. Sunrise and sunset. The rain would stop and then start again. Although not as continuous as the previous weeks of torrential rain, the drizzle was frequent. The decision to turn the small valley into a dry dock proved more and more prescient. The open space in the small valley gradually filled with ship planks. There were both straight and curved planks, as the shipwright displayed his skilled craftsmanship once again and taught a group the Sand Burying Method, which involved burying wood in wet sand to extract its juices and make it more pliable. People toiled diligently, coordinated by Cang Xu, synchronizing the work of each crew without any hindrance to each other¡¯s progress. Zi Di led a group, struggling to maintain the supply of potions. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A large kiln was completed, despite the humid environment causing some obstacles in building it. With the smooth operation of the large kiln, people began to have a stable and plentiful supply of wrought iron. Zi Di was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. The work of clearing the beast herds continued. A radius of fifty thousand meters was the limit of the people¡¯s control, with groups of animals occasionally breaking in. Though the rainforest was expansive, no beast escaped under Zhenjin¡¯s ultrasound detection. The night patrol grew more adept with their crossbows, and with the kiln, they had an abundance of iron arrowheads, which increased their combat capability. Common wild animals and weaker magic beasts were killed in volleys by the team, while the stronger magic beasts fell at the hands of Zhenjin and Zong Ge. Each time they brought back the bodies of magic beasts, Zhenjin received the praise and admiration of others. Yet these words of praise were no longer as comforting as before; they felt like pebbles thrown into Zhenjin¡¯s heart lake. The surface rippled with joy, but as the stones sank to the soft bottom, they brought an underlying pressure to Zhenjin. Despite the encouragement from Zi Di, Zong Ge, and others, Zhenjin maintained his nightly patrols. It seemed that since he grasped the demon core in his heart, his nightly private training had never stopped. Following Hei Juan¡¯s reconnaissance incident, Zhenjin¡¯s training intensified even more. He found that only by torturing himself to exhaustion every night could he sleep in those few hours before dawn. He slept deeply, devoid of nightmares. Or if he dreamed, upon waking he could not remember them. Each night after training, he prayed to the Holy Emperor. The Hei Juan reconnaissance incident led Zhenjin to introspection, contemplating his own experiences. He began to examine himself¡ªhad he been seduced by the demon core within him? During the defense of the camp, he repeatedly invoked the name of the Holy Emperor to deceive the people. Even if his intentions were good, and despite the dire consequences had he not acted so, he had indeed used the name of a deity to deceive. This was a sin of swindling the world in the name of God! ¡°Why did I not realize before that I had committed such a grave sin?¡± ¡°Am I lost in the pursuit of power?¡± ¡°No, my actions were forced. For everyone¡¯s sake, to save as many comrades as possible, I did what I had to do. I am not wrong!¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­ I truly am wrong.¡± ¡°I confess to You, my Lord, my God.¡± ¡°I know that God cannot be mocked, yet I was blinded in mind. I should not have dishonored You, great Holy Emperor.¡± ¡°I pray for the Lord to forgive all my trespasses and grant me the power to walk the path of righteousness. Let my actions, thoughts, and words find favor with You.¡± Zhenjin reflected and prayed incessantly. God had never responded, yet he still prayed. He wondered: Could this be a trial bestowed by God solely to me? Deep into the night, when Zhenjin, exhausted from his strenuous training, returned to the valley, Fat Tongue had already been waiting for a long time outside his rocky dwelling. ¡°Lord Zhenjin,¡± Fat Tongue greeted him respectfully. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhenjin asked, somewhat puzzled. ¡°I¡¯ve, I¡¯ve hesitated for a long time, and though I know this isn¡¯t quite appropriate, I couldn¡¯t, couldn¡¯t hold back any longer,¡± Fat Tongue spoke with restraint. Zhenjin¡¯s curiosity grew: ¡°Go ahead and speak, no need to feel burdened, we¡¯re all on the same side.¡± The young knight smiled softly, his smile and the words ¡°on the same side¡± helping Fat Tongue to relax. Chapter 142 - 142: Section 143: Its Nothing Chapter 142: Section 143: It¡¯s Nothing ¡°Sir, I take the liberty to remind you that Chairman Zi Di¡¯s birthday is the day after tomorrow,¡± said Fat Tongue. ¡°Birthday?¡± Zhenjin raised his eyebrows, feeling surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Fat Tongue to bring up this matter. Fat Tongue, with his eyebrows drooping, sighed and said, ¡°A long time ago, I used to follow the former Chairman on his adventures. I watched Miss Zi Di grow up from birth, learn to walk, and gradually become an adult.¡± ¡°All along, the former Chairman treated Miss Zi Di as the apple of his eye, lavishing her with affection and indulgence. No matter the size, the Chairman always held a birthday banquet for her. In fact, as the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce grew larger and Miss Zi Di aged, her birthday banquets became increasingly grand and extravagant.¡± ¡°I still remember when Miss Zi Di turned 11. That birthday party turned the entire Garden City into a sea of joy, and the City Lord even arrived in person to offer his blessings. That was the pinnacle of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce¡¯s glory.¡± ¡°The former Chairman spent a fortune to hire a famous pastry master, who made Miss Zi Di¡¯s birthday cake. It was 11 tiers high, full of dazzling colors, like a rainbow. The ingredients included many precious magic materials, eating it could uplift one¡¯s mood, savoring the sweetest taste in the world. Each layer of cake had different effects; some increased magic power, some excited the spirit, and some doubled the power of one¡¯s attacks. Even months after the birthday banquet, people still fondly talked about the Rainbow Cake.¡± ... Having said this, Fat Tongue¡¯s eyes twinkled with nostalgia. But soon, that light faded, and his tone became heavy, ¡°After the old Chairman had his accident, the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce fell apart, and no one remembered to celebrate the Miss¡¯s birthday anymore.¡± ¡°In the past year or two since Miss took over as Chairman, we have proposed many times to hold a birthday banquet for her, but she has declined each and every time.¡± ¡°I think that might be because Miss fears being reminded of the old Chairman.¡± ¡°But now it¡¯s different.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, now you are by Miss Zi Di¡¯s side. You are a Holy Temple Knight, endowed with deep divine favor. You are the sole heir to the Hundred Needle Family and even more so, Miss Zi Di¡¯s fianc¨¦. With you here, everything will get better, and the future of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce will be bright. The Miss will certainly find happiness.¡± ¡°I think¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to say anymore.¡± Zhenjin took a deep breath. He walked closer to Fat Tongue, patting his shoulder, and sincerely thanked him, ¡°Thank you for the reminder. You¡¯re absolutely right; I understand your meaning completely. I¡¯ll throw a birthday banquet for Zi Di and give her a surprise. She deserves for me to do this!¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, Sir, thank you so much,¡± Fat Tongue hurriedly showed his gratitude, revealing his loyalty to the former Chairman and the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. Watching Fat Tongue¡¯s retreating back, Zhenjin once again fell into introspection. ¡°Have I been too focused on myself recently? I seem to have been too engrossed in my own world and neglected the people around me.¡± ¡°No matter how many troubles I have, how can I neglect the people around me?¡± ¡°In doing so, I was indeed a little selfish.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s thoughts were scattered by Fat Tongue¡¯s hint and his own introspection. ¡°Looking back on the journey, it was Zi Di who awakened me, willing to cover my retreat when we were attacked by the Fire Poison Bee Swarm.¡± ¡°In the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s cave, I fought desperately for her, and she healed me with all her might.¡± ¡°When Huang Zao called for help, she was the one who devised strategies for me. When Huang Zao betrayed himself and fled alone, it was she who stayed by my side to face the ferocious Blade Spiders.¡± ¡°It was her pink potion that could mark our trail along the way, helping us find our way.¡± ¡°We accidentally ate mutton and suffered from magic erosion; it was she who uncovered the truth and detoxified everyone. Without her contributions, we would still be stuck and unable to freely explore.¡± ¡°She used potions to forge tunnels in sandstorms, protecting many comrades. It was also her Acid Liquid potion that held off the green lizard siege until I came to the rescue.¡± ¡°When we were chased by a swarm of scorpions and ran out of options, she was still by my side, curled up in the face of impending death, never leaving me.¡± ¡°Her potions drove away the bat monkey swarm, and it was her potions that dealt with the Fire Poison Bees. If those two threats remained, the Camp defense battle would have been a disastrous defeat or even annihilation for the Human Race.¡± ¡°Again, it was her potion that corroded metal, helping Mu Ban to create an endless supply of crossbows. At the beginning of shipbuilding, it was also her potion¡¯s melting power that gave us a large amount of iron.¡± ¡°Without Zi Di, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have made it this far.¡± ¡°Her merits are truly immense, but she never showed off. She willingly stood behind me, content to leave the center of the stage to me, letting me carry all the worship and love.¡± ¡°She has always silently supported me; she has never opposed almost any of my decisions. The few times she did, it was out of excessive concern for my safety!¡± Zhenjin continued to reflect, recalling every moment with Zi Di, a feeling of shame rapidly sprouting in the depths of his heart. The young knight decided he must hold a birthday banquet to reward and comfort Zi Di. Zi Di was absolutely worth doing this for. Her achievements were enough to silence everyone. However, as Zhenjin began his preparations, Zi Di took notice. She was the current Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce and was very astute. ¡°Do not do this, Sir. I have received your sentiment, and that is enough,¡± ¡°Holding a birthday banquet is just not appropriate right now.¡± ¡°We may have a Demon Beast Army lurking around us, possibly led by a mysterious and terrifying Magic Beast of Golden Level.¡± ¡°Our food reserves have been diminishing, shipbuilding has caused people to labor intensely, and consumption can¡¯t keep up with replenishment.¡± ¡°And there¡¯s alcohol. We only have a small amount of rum, not enough to support our upcoming venture to the Wilderness Continent.¡± Sailing requires alcohol. That¡¯s because it¡¯s difficult to acquire fresh water while sailing on the sea. The water stored on the ship will soon develop green patches and breed bacteria and worms due to limited preservation technology. This kind of fresh water is filled with a strange taste, hard to swallow, but sailors have no choice but to drink it. At times like this, alcohol is needed. Alcohol can mask the strange taste and also has some bactericidal and disinfecting effects. So, sometimes, it¡¯s not odd to see sailors staggering drunk. Zi Di strongly opposed holding a birthday celebration, even though Zhenjin said there was a need for a reason to lift everyone¡¯s spirits. Recently, rumors about terrifying magic beasts had spread throughout the entire valley, making everyone anxious. Zi Di¡¯s refusal was very adamant, which made Zhenjin perceive her compassion, and at the same time, made him feel even more ashamed. A thought suddenly appeared in the young knight¡¯s mind¡ª¡±Perhaps, I made a mistake from the very beginning. I shouldn¡¯t have concealed it from her; I should have told her about the mutation that occurred within me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to worry her at the time, and step by step, it led to the current situation.¡± ¡°If it goes on like this, I will find it increasingly difficult to speak out, and the misunderstandings will only deepen!¡± ¡°Maybe, I¡¯m too proud.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to worry her, and besides feeling pity, I also thought that even if I told her, it wouldn¡¯t solve the Demon Core in my heart.¡± ¡°Why do I think she¡¯s not capable? Based on what?¡± ¡°All along, Zi Di¡¯s potions have helped me, have helped others so much.¡± ¡°Perhaps she truly has no ability to resolve the Heart Core and the mutation. But of all the people by my side, who is the one most able to accept this truth, accept my ugliness, and forgive my sins? It has to be her.¡± ¡°It has to be her!¡± ¡°She is my fianc¨¦e!¡± Thinking this, Zhenjin¡¯s gaze became brighter and brighter. He was like finding a glimmer of light in the darkness or like a drowning man grasping at the grass on the shore. The pressure in his heart was immense. Carrying secrets and bearing sins made it difficult for him to face those who admired and loved him. He wanted to speak out. He wanted to share his burdens. He longed for someone to share his burden and to gain genuine acceptance! ¡°Zi Di, Zi Di¡­¡± Zhenjin gently called out in his heart. But he still couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it out loud. ¡°A catalyst is needed,¡± the young knight realized. The next day. He left the valley, crossing a distance of fifty thousand meters, to reach the edge of the controlled territory. A huge beehive hung high in the trees. It was a Fire Poison Bee beehive that Zhenjin had inadvertently discovered using ultrasonic detection. Before taking action, Zhenjin carefully used ultrasonic detection to ensure there was no one around before he took on the Fire Poison Bee Swarm. He lit a bonfire, released potions, and created Smoke Medicine. The Fire Poison Bee Swarm came out of the beehive, and under the effect of the smoke, they were utterly defeated. Even the Magic Beast-level Fire Poison Bees were no match for Zhenjin after his mutation. On the evening of Zi Di¡¯s birthday, Zhenjin went alone to Zi Di¡¯s residence. ¡°Happy Birthday, Zi Di,¡± Zhenjin said with a smile, bringing out a bowl full of thick, amber-like honey from behind. Zi Di covered her mouth, both shocked and delighted. ¡°Thank you.¡± She looked up at Zhenjin, her voice full of affection, and her beautiful Purple Crystal eyes shimmered with emotion. ¡°Now, although there is no Rainbow Cake, I have tasted the honey and it¡¯s very sweet,¡± Zhenjin said. Zi Di¡¯s expression changed at once, ¡°Lord, you ate the honey? It is poisonous!¡± ¡°Ah? I, I don¡¯t feel poisoned at all.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably because you tasted only a little. This contains the essence of Fire Poison. If the dosage were increased, even a Golden Level might be hurt,¡± Zi Di quickly explained. Her face immediately showed a guilty expression, ¡°It¡¯s my fault! I failed to inform you about the latest research findings. I remember, there are no beehives around the valley. Lord, heading out on your own, even with Smoke Medicine, was too dangerous.¡± ¡°I am willing to take risks for you!¡± Zhenjin blurted out. ¡°Lord!¡± Zi Di gave Zhenjin a sidelong glance, her face flushed with shyness. ¡°Alright, I admit I was foolish. What I did was indeed reckless. I¡¯ll be more cautious from now on,¡± Zhenjin raised his hand in apology. In fact, he had already mutated into a Fire Poison Bee. With this mutation as the baseline, he had dared to taste the honey. Fire Poison Honey is brewed by Fire Poison Bees, and certainly harmless to them. Zhenjin put down the honey, helplessly. Zi Di walked over to Zhenjin, taking the initiative to grasp the young knight¡¯s hand. Come to think of it, this was her first time being so proactive. She looked deeply into Zhenjin¡¯s eyes and said softly, ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhenjin shook his head, looking at the bowl of honey, feeling somewhat deflated. Zi Di¡¯s eyes twinkled. She suddenly said, ¡°Thank you for the cake.¡± ¡°Cake?¡± ¡°Yes, such a big cake, made with non-toxic honey, didn¡¯t you see it?¡± Zi Di released Zhenjin¡¯s hand and gestured with both hands in front of her chest, drawing the shape of a cake in the air. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but smile, playing along with Zi Di¡¯s words, ¡°Oh, I did see it. The cake is very large, and even has several layers, kind of like a Rainbow Cake.¡± ¡°No, it has only one layer,¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°It doesn¡¯t resemble a Rainbow Cake at all. It¡­ is sweeter than a Rainbow Cake!¡± Saying this, Zi Di extended her slender index finger and gently poked the air as if dabbing a lot of cake cream on it. She then tenderly placed her finger into her mouth, sucking it gently, and squinted her eyes, revealing a joyous and indulgent smile, ¡°So sweet!¡± ¡°Won¡¯t you have a taste?¡± she asked, looking at Zhenjin. Zhenjin chuckled and shook his head, ¡°Thank you for your comfort¡­¡± His words were cut off, as Zi Di extended her index finger, poking the air again, and then inserted her finger into Zhenjin¡¯s mouth. Zhenjin¡¯s mouth was blocked, and he instinctively sucked on Zi Di¡¯s finger. When Zi Di pulled her finger away, he couldn¡¯t help but linger, murmuring, ¡°So sweet¡­¡± His gaze fixed on the girl with purple eyes in front of him, his heart began to throb with acceleration. ¡°Really sweet,¡± the young knight mimicked the gesture, dabbing at the air with his finger, sucking it a little, and then extended it, drawing an arc in the air. ¡°Today is your birthday, please have some more,¡± Zhenjin said, offering his finger to Zi Di, as if it had a large dollop of cream on it. ¡°Wow!¡± Zi Di reacted with a feigned ferocity, opening her small mouth wide, and suddenly enveloping Zhenjin¡¯s fingertip. ¡°It¡¯s delicious,¡± Zi Di mumbled vaguely, playfully biting Zhenjin¡¯s finger with her teeth. Zhenjin¡¯s breathing grew heavier, and a deep blush rose on Zi Di¡¯s face; the latter quickly let go, and Zhenjin gazed at her even more affectionately, stepping forward. Now, the distance between them was only about a fist apart. The atmosphere in the cave became romantically charged. Zhenjin took a deep breath, biting his lip slightly, ¡°Zi Di, there¡¯s something¡­¡± Roar! The next moment, a commotion and disturbance suddenly came from outside the cave. ¡°He¡¯s gone mad!¡± ¡°Big Fool has gone mad!!¡± ¡°Quick, someone come, he¡¯s about to kill!¡± Zhenjin and Zi Di¡¯s complexions instantly changed, and they ran out of the cave. Zhenjin was faster, taking the lead to the small clearing inside the valley. He saw the big guy going mad, bellowing furiously, eyes bloodshot, holding a mast in his hands, wildly swinging it around. Some people, who hadn¡¯t escaped in time, lay on the ground, some accumulating pools of blood beneath them, others groaning in agony. ¡°Lord, come save us please!¡± A group of people trapped in a corner saw Zhenjin and hurriedly cried for help. Their cries stimulated the big guy, who smashed the broken mast in his hands viciously towards the survivors. But the next moment, Zong Ge arrived and knocked the mast away with a swing of his Bone Hammer. Zhenjin was even faster, shooting forward like an arrow, charging straight at the big guy. The big guy beat his chest and let out an angry roar, lunging at Zhenjin. Zhenjin, proficient in martial arts, simply shifted slightly and dodged the big guy¡¯s charge, jumping onto his back. Zhenjin struck the back of the big guy¡¯s neck with the palm of his hand, and the big guy¡¯s eyes rolled back as he fell unconscious on the spot. ¡°We¡¯re saved!¡± The survivors cheered. ¡°Kill him, kill this monster!¡± Soon, hatred and anger filled everyone¡¯s hearts. The injured, the unscathed, all spoke unanimously. ¡°No, don¡¯t! Please, for my sake, spare him,¡± the shipwright pleaded desperately with a panic-stricken face. ¡°Did you see? These are the ¡®good deeds¡¯ your son has done!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve just wasted at least a week for nothing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point! He¡¯s too dangerous. He¡¯s had these fits of madness before on the ship; we¡¯ve all been living in fear.¡± ¡°Who knows when he¡¯ll go mad again? It¡¯s terrifying! He¡¯s a ticking time bomb.¡± ¡°Look how much he eats each day? Without him, our supplies wouldn¡¯t be running low.¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± ¡°We shouldn¡¯t kill him, after all, he was once our companion. We can exile him, banish him.¡± People argued back and forth, all wanting to deal with the big guy. ¡°Enough!¡± Zhenjin shouted, his expression as dark as still waters, ¡°He¡¯s our companion! He was before, and he is now!¡± ¡°He¡¯s sick, we all know it. The shipwright told us long ago.¡± ¡°Indeed, he has caused damage, but fortunately, none of us have died. He destroyed a lot of the ship¡¯s equipment, he consumes a lot of food, but his contribution far exceeds what he takes. This is beyond doubt!¡± ¡°Why was he able to stay on the ship and live with everyone else for so many years? This proves that coexisting with him is possible.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t we?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t give up on anyone easily, especially not a sick man!¡± ¡°He¡¯s not a monster!¡± ¡°He¡¯s not!¡± ¡°He¡¯s our companion¡­ a sick person. It¡¯s not his intention.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s stern tone was something he had never exhibited before. His words intimidated everyone, silencing the entire scene. Zi Di then hurried over. Only then did Zhenjin¡¯s stern face soften. He assigned tasks to everyone to clean up the place and tally the losses, ordering some to tend to the wounded, which surely included the big guy. After dealing with everything, more than an hour had passed. Only Zhenjin and Zi Di were left, walking side by side. ¡°I don¡¯t know where to begin with the big guy¡¯s illness,¡± Zi Di said worriedly. ¡°I¡¯m not a physician, and in fact, according to the shipwright, he always tried treating the big guy, but all physicians were at a loss. The shipwright even hired a Priest at a high price who used Divine Arts on the big guy.¡± ¡°We must consider this risk. If the ship is nearly complete and the big guy suddenly goes mad, the damage would be unimaginable.¡± In the quiet of the night, Zhenjin remained silent. As they neared their lodgings, they faced parting ways. ¡°By the way, Lord, what¡­ what were you going to tell me earlier?¡± Zi Di asked. Zhenjin stopped in his tracks, then slowly turned around, a faint smile cracking at the corner of his mouth, and he spoke. ¡°Nothing.¡± Chapter 143 - 143: Section 144: Hitting You is Loving You Chapter 143: Section 144: Hitting You is Loving You S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The glow of the setting sun illuminated the hillside. On a gentler part of the slope, a straw hut had been erected. Big guy was lying inside that hut, which served as his residence. There were larger caves in the valley, but Big guy¡¯s snoring resonated loudly in those caves, causing quite a bit of noise. So, as more and more people protested, the old shipwright took the initiative to move Big guy here. Lord Zhenjin, Cang Xu, and Lan Zao trio arrived at the spot; from afar, the old shipwright hurried over to greet them. ¡°Bad guy!¡± Big guy tucked himself inside the straw hut, baring his teeth at Lord Zhenjin with a fierce expression. ... ¡°Shut up, you idiot,¡± the old shipwright scolded angrily. ¡°You should be thanking Lord Zhenjin. He stood up for you, you fool. Now say thank you!¡± Big guy was baffled. Unable to maintain his ferocious face, he scratched his head, and seeing the old shipwright glaring at him continuously, he felt confused and wronged, ¡°But dad, he hit me!¡± The old shipwright shook his head, ¡°It was right for him to hit you.¡± Big guy was even more puzzled, shaking his head, ¡°Hitting me isn¡¯t right, that¡¯s wrong.¡± The old shipwright snorted coldly, ¡°Have I ever hit you?¡± Big guy was startled, and countless scenes flashed through his mind. When he was very young, he had a huge appetite. Supplies were limited on the ship, and he was often hungry. After a long day, the shipwright only wanted to collapse on the ship and sleep soundly. But when he returned to his own cabin, he was taken aback. The cabin was a mess; the still-infant Big guy was ransacking the place. ¡°What are you doing? You little rascal!¡± ¡°Ah, you ate all my tobacco? You idiot, idiot!¡± The old shipwright furiously slapped his bottom. Big guy: ¡°Wah wah wah¡­¡± Late at night. The old shipwright was awoken by pain. ¡°Why are you biting me? You fool, I¡¯m not a woman, there is no milk here!¡± Injured and furious, the old shipwright aimed another fierce slap at Big guy¡¯s tiny bottom, who was small at that time. Big guy: ¡°Wah wah wah¡­¡± As Big guy grew a little older. ¡°Alright, got it? That¡¯s how you clean the deck, with a cloth, and water. If there¡¯s not enough water, go get some from the side of the ship. Work hard, we don¡¯t keep slackers on the ship, understand?¡± the shipwright reiterated. Big guy nodded, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°What on earth did you do? Oh my God!¡± Half a day later, the shipwright looked at the deck, which was cracked and even had holes, pulling his hair out almost madly. Big guy sat crouching nearby, puzzled, ¡°Dad, you told me to ¡®work hard.''¡± The shipwright looked up, took a deep breath, then walked up to Big guy and raised his fist. Thump thump thump. ¡°Wah wah wah¡­¡± A boarding battle had just ended, and blood flowed on the deck. The shipwright was bandaging Big guy¡¯s wounds, ¡°I told you, don¡¯t just go charging in blindly, you fool!¡± ¡°But they were hitting dad! They are bad people!¡± Big guy objected. ¡°You¡¯ve learned to talk back now!¡± the shipwright glared at Big guy, ¡°Damn it, we¡¯re out of medicine. The bleeding won¡¯t stop! Damn it, damn it.¡± ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not in pain,¡± Big guy consoled. ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± the shipwright unconsciously smacked Big guy on the head, but he immediately realized it was inappropriate and quickly lessened the force. The shipwright¡¯s cabin was tightly shut. Big guy squatted outside the door, idly staring at a flying insect. The insect buzzed in front of Big guy, while inside the cabin, sounds of a man and a woman panting and frolicking could be heard. ¡°You dead man¡­¡± ¡°Hey hey, madam, don¡¯t be fooled by my age, I¡¯ve still got plenty of energy!¡± ¡°Uh¡­ ah¡­ uh¡­ ah¡­¡± Bang. Big guy abruptly forced the cabin door open. ¡°Dad!¡± Big guy shouted. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± The woman screamed. The shipwright was infuriated, ¡°What are you doing!! Didn¡¯t I tell you, no matter what noises you hear, you should not intervene.¡± ¡°But dad, I heard it; you seemed hurt. You were gasping; you were tired! You couldn¡¯t take it anymore!¡± The shipwright bulged his eyes, ¡°No more?!¡± His eyes twitched uncontrollably, and he jumped out of bed barefoot, raising his foot and kicking the big guy incessantly, ¡°You say I¡¯m done? You say I¡¯m done?!¡± The big guy wailed loudly, covering his head and scurrying away. Back to reality. Seeing the Big guy in a daze, the shipwright repeated, ¡°Did I hit you?¡± ¡°Many times,¡± the Big guy admitted honestly. ¡°I hit you, but have I ever truly hurt you?¡± the shipwright continued, ¡°Haven¡¯t I? Thus, this hitting is different from others. I hit you because I care about you. Understand?¡± ¡°Without Lord Zhenjin knocking you out, you would cause more damage, more trouble!¡± ¡°The Lord hits you for your own good, got it?¡± The Big guy shook his head, ¡°Big guy doesn¡¯t understand¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?!¡± The shipwright glared and raised his fist. The Big guy quickly nodded, ¡°I understand, I understand.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Seeing the shipwright stabilize the scene, Zhenjin smiled, ¡°It¡¯s good to see you all so lively.¡± Saying so, the young leader looked towards Cang Xu. Cang Xu nodded and walked into the straw hut. The shipwright shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± The Big guy stood still, allowing Cang Xu to inspect and pinch him. Cang Xu even motioned for the Big guy to lower his head. Of course, the Big guy wouldn¡¯t normally comply, but the shipwright quickly gave the order. Cang Xu lifted the Big guy¡¯s eyelid, carefully examining his pupil. He had the Big guy open his mouth through the shipwright, enduring the indescribable foul smell, to inspect the Big guy¡¯s teeth. After observing for a long time, Cang Xu exited the straw hut. Back beside Zhenjin, the Old Scholar shook his head, ¡°My Lord, I¡¯m afraid I have to disappoint you.¡± ¡°Just say it, everyone knows you¡¯re not a doctor.¡± The Old Scholar said, ¡°Clearly, the Big guy has many signs that he possesses the Giant Bloodline, he¡¯s a mixed-blood. The connection to the Giant Bloodline is very diluted, seemingly quite low-level. As you know, many Giants are inherently lacking in intelligence. Perhaps it¡¯s this low-level Giant Bloodline that¡¯s burdening him, preventing the Big guy from being as smart as normal people.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t determine the cause of his madness, but I suspect it might be related to his brain. If we could open up his skull and dissect it, I might find the reason.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s words startled the shipwright. But luckily, Zhenjin immediately spoke up, ¡°Don¡¯t always suggest dissection, I understand. Let the Big guy rest well for the next few days, no need for work. Let¡¯s head back now.¡± The shipwright eagerly saw them off. On the way back, Zhenjin asked Cang Xu, ¡°What do you think would be the best way to handle the Big guy?¡± Cang Xu analyzed, ¡°The Big guy is very valuable. Although he consumes a lot of food, he does much more work. His contributions and hardships are numerous. Sometimes, many tasks that the Big guy can complete perfectly would take others a long time, or they might even fail.¡± ¡°The Big guy¡¯s madness, while destructive, was minimal in damage due to your timely intervention. Many were indeed injured, but no one died.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s analysis was lin his usual calm and rational manner. At that moment, Zhenjin looked back at Lan Zao, ¡°I¡¯m curious, given the Big guy¡¯s frenzied strength poses a great threat to the ship, why has the Pig Kiss always allowed him to remain on board?¡± Lan Zao was silent for a moment before answering, ¡°The main reason is probably the old shipwright. He¡¯s been on the ship much longer than I have, and I¡¯ve heard from many people just how much he has sacrificed to raise his son.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen it, the old shipwright¡¯s skills are exceptional. Ordinary people can¡¯t make sea ships.¡± ¡°Of course, because we always stay wary of the Big guy, when situated near him, we are always on edge. This lowers the damage caused when he falls ill.¡± Zhenjin frowned slightly, ¡°But I saw, among the wounded included several sailors.¡± ¡°Yes, master. Since the Big guy boarded this island, he has never fallen ill. It¡¯s been such a long time, and the sailors¡¯ focus has been on how to survive, how to escape here. It¡¯s normal to overlook the Big guy¡¯s danger, including myself.¡± Lan Zao continued, ¡°In fact, to protect the ship, to counter the hazard of the Big guy falling ill, the Captain purchased a Magic Tool at a high price. It can protect the cabin and deck for a certain period, rendering them indestructible by the Big guy.¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­ there¡¯s another reason.¡± Lan Zao said this hesitantly, ¡°We suspect, the Big guy¡¯s illness also serves as a warning. Whenever danger approaches, the Big guy falls ill.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± both Zhenjin and Cang Xu slightly paused their steps. Cang Xu doubted, ¡°In our journey, we¡¯ve faced many dangers, but the Big guy has never fallen ill.¡± ¡°Is this accurate?¡± Zhenjin frowned slightly. ¡°Not exactly,¡± Lan Zao sheepishly smiled, ¡°Actually, we aren¡¯t certain.¡± ¡°But over the year, there have indeed been a few instances. Right after the Big guy fell ill, a storm or violent waves would arrive shortly thereafter.¡± Cang Xu asked further, ¡°So, how often does the Big guy fall ill in a year?¡± ¡°Twenty times? Thirty times?¡± Lan Zao shook his head, ¡°We haven¡¯t kept count.¡± Cang Xu chuckled, the Old Scholar shook his head slightly, ¡°The climate of the deep sea is often as unpredictable as the temper and mood of a young girl in love.¡± ¡°However, the sailors live in cramped quarters, work hard every day, facing the boundless sea, under great stress, anything can be a token of reliance. Thus, sailors¡¯ Faith is generally more devout than that of land-dwellers.¡± ¡°My lord, please allow me to retire.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Zhenjin nodded, knowing Cang Xu¡¯s coordination and planning tasks were actually very tedious and demanding. After parting with Cang Xu, the master and servant hurried to the cave where the wounded stayed to visit them. Chapter 144 - 144: Section 145: Big Guy Chapter 144: Section 145: Big Guy Lord Zhenjin¡¯s protection of the Big guy did not damage his authority. Perhaps others didn¡¯t understand, but their admiration and love for Lord Zhenjin remained overwhelming. Lord Zhenjin was a Divine Favored Knight, the strongest in personal combat, who also had the titles of Holy Temple Knight, heir to the Hundred Needle Family, and future White Sand City Lord. He also had a group of followers who always stood by him, and the most capable competitor, Zong Ge, also showed obedience. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s leadership was unbreakable. After consoling the wounded, Lord Zhenjin received numerous expressions of gratitude. It was the Big guy whom people loathed and guarded against, not Lord Zhenjin. In fact, if Lord Zhenjin hadn¡¯t knocked out the Big guy, they would have been in greater danger. It was Lord Zhenjin who had saved them. ... If the Big guy were an unforgivable killer, perhaps someone might still question Lord Zhenjin¡ªIs this the justice of a Holy Temple Knight? But the Big guy was ill. Moreover, his illness had been long-standing, and the shipwright had not hidden it¡ªit had been disclosed long ago. Although that was the general sentiment, after his own visit, Lord Zhenjin still secretly ordered Xi Suo to arrange for some sailors to actively engage and somewhat guide the wounded. ¡°Speaking of which, ¡®going mad as a warning¡¯ is a good reason,¡± Lord Zhenjin advised Xi Suo. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to lie, as that would create loopholes and mishandlings. Just let those sailors who have been around the Big guy for a long time tell the truth.¡± ¡°I understand. My lord, I promise to accomplish this task!¡± Xi Suo was invigorated. Nevertheless, he had sided with Lord Zhenjin early on, though he never had a chance to show it. In terms of martial power, he was not as good as Zong Ge, in loyalty, he was outshined by Lan Zao and Bai Ya, he lacked Cang Xu¡¯s wisdom, and he did not have Zi Di¡¯s ability to prepare potions. Xi Suo felt immense pressure. He wanted to stand out but was overshadowed by others. For the first time, Lord Zhenjin assigned a task to Xi Suo. ¡°This is a private job!¡± Xi Suo was excited, feeling that he might have found a way out. ¡°Yes, I can handle some private and dirty tasks for my lord. How did I not think of this before?¡± ¡°Even though my lord is a Holy Temple Knight, adhering to the Knight¡¯s code with a heart of clarity, there must be some tasks inconvenient for him to handle himself, like this current matter.¡± The Big guy¡¯s breakdown, for most, was a terribly bad incident, but for Xi Suo, it turned into an opportunity. ¡°This is a good thing, one that could deepen my impression in Lord Zhenjin¡¯s heart. I must handle this well!¡± Xi Suo motivated himself forcefully and took proactive actions. On Lord Zhenjin¡¯s side, after being interrupted by the Big guy¡¯s incident, it became even harder to confess his secrets to Zi Di. It seemed like a return to the days before, every night he would train arduously, spending the mornings catching up on sleep, and in the afternoons, he would oversee the clearing of beast herds. Each successful hunt, the prey he brought back continuously reinforced his authority and status. He constantly reminded everyone that he was a very powerful leader, forbidding any disrespectful thoughts among them. At the same time, he also quietly heightened his vigilance, after all, the Big guy¡¯s breakdown served as a warning. However, no disasters occurred subsequently. Almost after every dinner, Lord Zhenjin would personally visit the wounded, occasionally bringing potions. The potions, prepared by Zi Di, were all personally distributed by Lord Zhenjin. This act of distributing potions seemed minor, but was actually very meaningful. The wounded urgently needed the potions, and within the entire camp, it seemed only Lord Zhenjin could distribute them. According to the Eastern Empire¡¯s saying, this was like ¡®sending charcoal in snowy weather,¡¯ precisely meeting urgent needs. A small potion, once distributed by Lord Zhenjin, could serve a value far beyond itself. However, without the Big guy, the efficiency of shipbuilding dropped significantly. As Cang Xu said, the Big guy played a crucial role in labor tasks. About a week later, Lord Zhenjin again visited the hillside shack to discuss with the shipwright about letting the Big guy return to work. The shipwright did not hesitate and immediately agreed. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For he had clearly seen over these days, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s continuous visits had dispelled the sorrow in the wounded. And behind movements like those of Xi Suo and other sailors, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s influence was evident. ¡°My lord, you are a wise leader,¡± the shipwright was genuinely deferential to Lord Zhenjin at this moment. Previously, when he had awakened in the camp, he had heard about Lord Zhenjin gathering people like Zong Ge and Sanda, and he was quite worried, thinking that Lord Zhenjin might be too young. Walking this path, the shipwright had greatly changed his opinion of Lord Zhenjin. Now, the shipwright fully realized that the knight before him, though young, was far more than just a simple believer. He upheld the knight¡¯s way, but also lived up to his noble identity and bloodline¡ªhe possessed profound strategic acumen. ¡°You must continue tomorrow and work well. What will you do if someone insults you?¡± In Lord Zhenjin¡¯s presence, the shipwright asked the Big guy. ¡°I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear it,¡± the Big guy answered. ¡°What if they hit you?¡± the shipwright further inquired. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t hurt, like if they throw stones at me, I won¡¯t cry out. If it hurts, I will cry out. If someone hurts me, makes me bleed, I will shout ¡®Dad,''¡± the Big guy answered smoothly. The shipwright nodded in satisfaction and turned to assure Lord Zhenjin: ¡°My lord, the Big guy is ready. Actually, he isn¡¯t dumb, he is quite clear about how to handle things. In fact, I had instructed him on this long ago. You can rest assured!¡± Lord Zhenjin gazed at the Big guy in the grass hut. Though he was physically large, at that moment, he curled up in a ball on the grass bed. It was evident that the shipwright had been teaching him frequently these past days. At the same time, Lord Zhenjin could easily infer the life of the Big guy aboard the Pig Kiss, filled with exclusion and loathing. He often faced insults and even beatings. Sailors generally had hot tempers, and throwing objects at the Big guy was certainly not uncommon. And if it didn¡¯t hurt, the Big guy wouldn¡¯t call out. His means of resistance consisted of only two. One was to shout. The other was to call for ¡°Dad¡±¡­ The Big guy in the grass hut, just like before: disheveled, with full yellow teeth, ugly, and upon closer inspection, disproportionately large-headed and somewhat deformed. It seemed he had grown accustomed to bending over and shrinking due to the long life on the ship, or perhaps out of fear of Lord Zhenjin, his gaze darted around, his movements shrinking. Just this appearance alone made the Big guy quite unlikable, even repulsive. That was just human nature. But now, hearing and seeing this, Lord Zhenjin felt very complex emotions. He felt quite troubled. Besides pity, there was something else stuck in his heart that he wanted to express, but he couldn¡¯t. It made him anxious. In the following days, Lord Zhenjin kept a close watch on the Big guy. Nothing unexpected happened. The Big guy was restraining himself, often making way for others voluntarily. Whenever someone came slightly close, he would quickly shrink into the corner. His huge body, when curled up, looked rather comical. Many people couldn¡¯t help but laugh, and their mood gradually relaxed. Lord Zhenjin, observing all this, couldn¡¯t bring himself to laugh. Instead, his heart felt even heavier. It seemed that after the shipwright¡¯s admonitions, the Big guy worked even harder. With the participation of the Big guy, the shipbuilding work progressed by leaps and bounds. On this day, the weather was clear. Almost everyone gathered together, in the open area of the small valley, doing some important work. ¡°Right, just like that, a bit slower, aim for the square hole and insert the mast,¡± the shipwright instructed. ¡°Be sure to do it slowly,¡± the shipwright anxiously reminded again. Under his father¡¯s instructions, the Big guy looked very serious, carefully inserting the mast into the hole in the dragon bone. ¡°Very good!¡± the shipwright exclaimed joyfully, praising him. The masts needed to be secured to the dragon bones, as this would provide the most stable support. Simply fitting them onto the deck would lead to the masts being broken by the wind after the sails were set, even endangering the entire ship. The first mast had already been installed properly; according to the design of the ship, it was the foremast. ¡°Alright, next is the aft mast. Hm?¡± The shipwright looked up, noticing that the Big guy had fallen eerily silent and was behaving abnormally. His head was bowed, his hand still resting on the foremast, his whole body motionless. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing a vague foreboding. The shipwright shouted a few times, but the Big guy didn¡¯t respond. His expression also became panicked. The Big guy started breathing heavily, like an exhausted old ox, gritting his teeth and grimacing, his eyes becoming redder and redder. ¡°Damn it!¡± The shipwright saw this and his heart sank, but he still didn¡¯t give up and continued to shout, ¡°Calm down, calm down, you stupid kid!¡± ¡°Run, he¡¯s going crazy again!¡± An experienced sailor shouted and turned to run. In an instant, the valley was thrown into chaos. Roar! The Big guy let out a bellow. He forcefully pulled out the recently installed foremast and hurled it away. The foremast struck the mountain wall; the front half shattered, but the back half stuck into the rock. The Big guy then punched the dragon bone. But at that moment, Lord Zhenjin moved against the flow, fast as lightning, leaping to the Big guy¡¯s back and striking him again on the back of the neck, knocking him unconscious. It had only just begun, and it was already over. The situation was always under Lord Zhenjin¡¯s control. ¡°The dragon bone is fine, nothing¡¯s wrong!¡± the shipwright shouted loudly, immensely relieved. Everyone gathered back, all deeply shaken. ¡°The Big guy went crazy again.¡± ¡°How many days has it been?¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t keep working with him, I don¡¯t want to die senselessly.¡± ¡°He¡¯s been pretending all along! We can¡¯t be deceived by him anymore. He has the bloodline of a giant, and I¡¯ve heard that many giants eat people!¡± ¡°This illness is incurable, didn¡¯t you hear what those sailors said? We absolutely can¡¯t keep this Big Fool around; who knows when he might go mad again?¡± Lord Zhenjin stood on the back of the Big guy, sweeping his stern gaze around, and the murmuring quieted down. ¡°Enough,¡± the young leader commanded sternly, ¡°Work is done for today, go and eat!¡± He then singled out a few people, former members of the Mercenary Group, along with Lan Zao, and instructed them to drag the Big guy back to the grass shed. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I can put shackles on the Big guy,¡± the shipwright ran up to Lord Zhenjin, urgently offering, ¡°He often wore them previously on the ship, he¡¯s used to it.¡± Lord Zhenjin furrowed his brow, clapping the shipwright on the shoulder: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t blame you, nor am I blaming the Big guy. It¡¯s just one foremast, we can easily make another.¡± Hearing this from Lord Zhenjin, the shipwright let out a huge sigh of relief but insisted on shackling the Big guy. Honestly, Lord Zhenjin didn¡¯t want to put shackles on the Big guy, he felt a strong aversion, but what else could be done? Lord Zhenjin secretly summoned Xi Suo: ¡°Do you know what I need you to handle?¡± ¡°I understand, my lord, this time it¡¯s simpler than the last. We sustained no injuries, and you truly are brilliant and mighty! Look how scared these people are, they are too cowardly; a bit of mockery should stimulate their spirits.¡± Seeing that Xi Suo understood his intentions, Lord Zhenjin nodded in satisfaction: ¡°Go do it.¡± Lord Zhenjin needed the Big guy for the work, not just because the shipbuilding task was enormous, or to appease the crucial talent of the shipwright. The young knight had a deeper motivation¡ªhe wanted to help the Big guy, to protect him; he wanted to find a way for the Big guy to coexist harmoniously with others. That night, as the Big guy was sick again, an unexpected event occurred. Rumble. The earth trembled, stones rolled, and massive trees fell in succession. Most people were awoken from their sleep, terrified, fleeing from their cave dwellings, escaping the small valley. There was an earthquake! Chapter 145 - 145: Section 146: One of Us Chapter 145: Section 146: One of Us ¡°An earthquake actually happened!¡± Zhenjin hurried back from the wild. At the time of the earthquake, he was still training in his Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa form. To Zhenjin¡¯s relief, as he rushed back to the small valley, he didn¡¯t witness a scene of chaos. Although he wasn¡¯t present, Cang Xu, Zi Di, and Zong Ge had joined forces to quickly stabilize the situation and began to clean up the campsite. The scale of the earthquake wasn¡¯t large, and it came and went quickly. Zhenjin was particularly concerned about the valley clearing, where the dragon bone and masts were intact without any damage. The wooden plank canopy above the worksite was the biggest contributor this time, as it firmly blocked the falling debris and protected everyone¡¯s hard work. ... After the inspection, there were many debris piled on the wooden plank canopy, many places were smashed into holes, and even more planks were covered with cracks. With a grave expression, Mu Ban reported to Zhenjin, ¡°Sir, the wooden plank canopy not only needs to be refurbished but also reinforced.¡± Zong Ge frowned tightly, ¡°We have been on this island for so long and have never experienced an earthquake.¡± Even the Half-Beasts felt utterly powerless in the face of such a natural disaster. Zi Di then said, ¡°Was that the only earthquake? To be honest, I have a bad feeling. If earthquakes continue to happen, our current residence is very dangerous.¡± Everyone was living in rock caves, and should a more intense earthquake occur causing a mountain collapse, those sleeping in the caves would most likely be crushed to death or buried alive. Shipbuilding also became a major problem. Originally, setting up the worksite in the small valley was to take advantage of the terrain to build a shipyard, saving a lot of labor, materials, and time. But now, if earthquakes continue to occur, the small valley becomes a dangerous place, far less safe than open or gentle ground. This time, only small rocks fell from the mountain, but if the earthquake were stronger, large boulders could roll down, potentially causing massive damage to the ships. Zhenjin sighed and then decisively said, ¡°This is Big guy going mad, warning us.¡± Cang Xu beside him was momentarily stunned, then nodded in complete agreement, ¡°Indeed, it seems Big guy plays a pivotal role. His madness is a great thing for us!¡± Zhenjin looked at Cang Xu appreciatively, and then continued, ¡°Let¡¯s not stay in the caves tonight. Everyone should use tents to reside in the wilderness for the time being.¡± ¡°Starting tomorrow, we¡¯ll cut down the trees around the valley and clear a large open area. We need to make slide rails, at least extending a section from the clearing in the valley. If the earthquake happens again, we should be able to quickly move the important ship components.¡± After finishing, Zhenjin¡¯s gaze circled around and then settled on Xi Suo. Xi Suo¡¯s face changed slightly, then quickly grasped Zhenjin¡¯s intention for him to continue the propaganda, nodded slightly, saluted Zhenjin, and then quietly withdrew. Zhenjin knew very well that just based on this one time, to say Big guy¡¯s madness could serve as a warning was actually unreliable. It was an excuse, but it could change people¡¯s perceptions of Big guy significantly. Zhenjin needed Big guy back at work, needed such an important labor force. Others might have complaints, but in the current situation, Zhenjin could no longer care about that. The most basic responsibility of a leader is to prioritize what is important and urgent. ¡°To tell the truth, my feeling is similar to Chairman Zi Di¡¯s. Earthquakes have never happened here before, and suddenly there is one, which seems like some drastic change is happening somewhere we don¡¯t know. Everything is starting to go wrong.¡± ¡°Next, we have to work with all our might to build a seafaring ship at the fastest speed.¡± Saying this, Zhenjin looked at the shipwright with a sharp gaze. ¡°Whatever method you use, you must shorten the construction period.¡± ¡°If you can cut corners, then cut corners!¡± ¡°We first need a ship that can sail. Any work that can be done on the ship, leave it until we¡¯re underway.¡± The shipwright quickly bowed to accept the command, ¡°I understand, Sir.¡± Without rest through the night, the shipwright worked on the new shipbuilding sketches. Unlike the original sketches, the size of the new ship was reduced by a fifth, and many cabins were cancelled. Initially, everyone had hammocks to sleep in, but now in the place of hammocks, there were only some straw bed schematics left. A complete mast was originally continuous. Now, all the masts were reduced by at least half. To extend the masts in the future, they would have to be joined while en route. The original drawings had cannons and more than ten Crossbow Carts, but now the number of cannons remained at three, and Crossbow Carts were cut in half. The cannons were salvaged from the wreckage of the Pig Kiss, and the original plan was to build more than ten Crossbow Carts to replace the cannons to some extent. A long-distance voyage without firepower was unacceptable. Whether it was Fishmen, Sea Monsters, or pirates, they posed a huge threat to seafaring ships. But now they were no longer increasing the number of Crossbow Carts, and the ones in the blueprints were all that the camp had. ¡°We don¡¯t need to make so many sails. We can have people contribute their own clothing, join these clothes together to form a makeshift sail. Actually, it¡¯s also okay for men to go shirtless.¡± To shorten the construction period as much as possible, the shipwright was all in. Zhenjin¡¯s orders were quickly issued, and the people, frightened by the earthquake, became more proactive about shipbuilding. During the day, Zhenjin even began to guard the valley clearing, personally supervising everyone¡¯s labor. With Zhenjin present, everyone felt at ease, no longer fearing Big guy¡¯s madness again. A strong pressure in everyone¡¯s heart increased the efficiency of the new ship¡¯s construction considerably. In the following week, Big guy didn¡¯t fall ill again. Nor did another earthquake occur. But the consumption of food was great. People truly worked as if their lives depended on it, many volunteered to continue working at night, feeling that their sleeping and resting time was too excessive! After all, the construction of the new ship was crucial for everyone¡¯s life and property. Zhenjin personally supervised the site during the day. The masts were inserted onto the dragon bone. The crossbeams were erected, and with the frames, the outline of the new ship could be seen. The sails were built at a fast pace, largely because there was a large reserve of spider silk, and just as the shipwright had estimated before, the Blade Spider¡¯s webs were very suitable as one of the main materials for the sails. When the third sail was constructed, the earthquake hit again. But Big guy didn¡¯t fall ill. Everyone overlooked this and, in fact, as directed by Xi Suo, it had already been pointed out that the prediction of madness was not accurate. The island was becoming increasingly dangerous, and what people cared about most was whether they could escape from it. Everyone prayed that no more earthquakes would occur, but reality was at odds with people¡¯s hopes. In the time that followed, the earthquakes not only became more frequent but also increased in scale with each occurrence. The wooden ceiling had to be reinforced many times, but ultimately, it could no longer hold up. Zhenjin had no choice but to order everyone to move the new ship¡¯s nascent form out into the valley. The outside forest was completely cleared, then burned, to form a new worksite. The new site was completely open-air, there was no time to construct a shipbuilding shed. In fact, due to the earthquakes, even if a shed was built, it would collapse and fall onto the new ship¡¯s nascent form. Aside from the earthquakes, there was the difficulty of the incessant rain. Humidity is the archenemy of shipbuilding. The body of the ship particularly needs to be dry, requiring the removal of moisture from the wood. Zi Di¡¯s potions played a significant role and, apart from that, people disassembled tents to create an integrated setup, constructing a giant tent in rainy weather to work inside of. When it was sunny, they would take down the tents, allowing the new ship¡¯s nascent form to bask in the sunlight, doing everything possible to eliminate the moisture within. When the eighth earthquake struck, amidst the shaking ground and trembling mountains, people were horrified to witness a column of molten lava shooting straight up into the sky. According to Cang Xu¡¯s estimates, Zhenjin and others were located at the edge of the island, while the volcanic terrain was at the heart of the island, even right in the central area. From Zhenjin¡¯s position, one could observe the spectacular sight of the volcanic eruption, which meant the reality of the volcanic region was certainly even more terrifying. ¡°It¡¯s like the apocalypse has arrived!¡± ¡°Can we really escape from here?¡± ¡°If this island sinks tomorrow, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised at all.¡± Everyone was panic-stricken. Sensing this, not long after, Zhenjin hosted a bonfire banquet. During his public speech, as a Divine Favored Knight, he used discourse on the Empire, glory, and contribution to boost everyone¡¯s morale. The speech was clearly effective. People, seeing Zhenjin, realized once again that they had such a reliable leader beside them. Zhenjin was not only powerful, but he was also of high moral character; he assured them he wouldn¡¯t abandon a single person, and everyone believed him. The aroma of the roasted meat was overpowering, and over ten bottles of rum were also provided. People got very little alcohol, but the marvelous taste left them intoxicated. The tight nerves that had been stretched thin over this period of time were now relieved; furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and the sound of laughter grew increasingly loud. Carrying a large piece of roast, Zhenjin approached the bonfire in the corner. This was where the Big guy and the shipwrights were. Zhenjin handed the roast to the Big guy. The Big guy didn¡¯t dare to take it, and only after being scolded strongly by a shipwright did he hesitantly accept it. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You¡¯ve done well these days; without you, the ship wouldn¡¯t have been built so quickly. Keep it up.¡± Under everyone¡¯s watchful gaze, Zhenjin encouraged the Big guy. The Big guy, shrinking in his seat, looked up to see Zhenjin smiling at him, and then quickly looked down again at the roast in his hands, not knowing what to say. Zhenjin didn¡¯t linger long, and soon after, he turned and left. As the shipwrights respectfully saw him off, they sincerely lamented, ¡°Sir, you are truly different from the others! I¡¯ve never seen someone as noble as you.¡± This old father¡¯s thanks were extremely sincere; his voice choked up, and his eyes were faintly red. Zhenjin patted his shoulder and looked around to see that the attention of everyone was on him. He raised his voice slightly, ¡°Every person has a place on this ship, and no one will be left behind.¡± ¡°In other words, we¡¯re all in the same boat.¡± ¡°I know that differences exist between us.¡± ¡°Differences in status, bloodline, appearance, personality.¡± ¡°But these differences should not be the reasons for us to doubt, oppose, or weaken each other from within. We need to unite tightly, only then can we maximize our chances of survival.¡± ¡°We are all¡­ one of us!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s last words were spoken with particular emphasis. As expected, his impromptu speech once again won the cheers of the crowd. Many found that they had fallen in love with Zhenjin¡¯s speeches, very willing to listen to him speak a little more. Zhenjin¡¯s words comforted their frantic hearts, calmed them down, and filled them with hope and motivation once again. Zi Di stared intently at the young leader. Cang Xu wore a smile of approval. Bai Ya¡¯s fervent eyes seemed to blaze, while Lan Zao remained silent and restrained. Hei Juan quietly clenched his fist. Even the usually composed Sanda showed a trace of distraction. ¡°One of us?¡± Zong Ge looked at the bonfire in front of him, the phrase causing a past incident to reemerge before his eyes. He lay on the cold floor tiles, his head pinned down hard by a foot. ¡°One of us?¡± the sneering voice of the youth stepping on Zong Ge was sharp, ¡°Ha! You¡¯re actually saying you¡¯re one of us?¡± The young Zong Ge struggled, but could not resist the power of the youth before him; he could just muster, ¡°Don¡¯t we all share the same blood, have the same father, aren¡¯t we brothers and sisters, aren¡¯t we all one of us?¡± As soon as he spoke, Zong Ge felt the force of the foot on his head suddenly intensify. That ornate boot even ground vigorously against his temple. ¡°Shut up, you bastard!¡± yelled the youth stepping on him. The other onlooking youths also raised their voices. ¡°Who¡¯s your brother or sister?¡± ¡°You were born in the filth of the mud; what makes you worthy to stand shoulder to shoulder with us? Indeed, you carry noble blood, but that¡¯s precisely your tragedy. Because it only highlights your inferiority and incompetence.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a disgrace to our family!¡± ¡°A stain on our family¡¯s reputation!¡± ¡°Bastard!¡± ¡°Look in the mirror, see your ugly face, your body covered in fur. A mere Half-Beast, you actually think you can stand side by side with us!¡± ¡°Wishful thinking!!¡± Chapter 146 - 146: Section 147: One Man Defeats an Army Chapter 146: Section 147: One Man Defeats an Army Zong Ge slowly opened his eyes. His vision went from blurry to clear, and he saw the ornate, exquisite floor tiles. The intense pain on his body made his memory also become clear. He had been surrounded and beaten by his half-brothers and sisters until he passed out. Silent tears flowed from his eyes. Despair, anger, hatred, and confusion overwhelmed the young Zong Ge. He curled up his body and sobbed quietly. Footsteps suddenly approached and finally stopped in front of Zong Ge. ... Through tear-blurred eyes, Zong Ge vaguely saw a pair of boots. ¡°Sigh,¡± the owner of the boots let out a deep sigh. That mere sound of sighing made Zong Ge realize the identity of the newcomer. The next moment, he was pulled up to stand by the person. ¡°Instructor¡­¡± Zong Ge called out helplessly. The Instructor stared at him and did not embrace Zong Ge to offer comfort, but instead handed him a sword. ¡°Continue with your sword training,¡± the Instructor said. Huff, huff, huff¡­ The middle-aged Zong Ge stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, holding the wooden handle of a bone giant hammer, continuously making vertical chopping motions. This was one of the most fundamental moves in swordplay. Zong Ge executed them meticulously. The massive, heavy Bone Hammer felt as light as straw in his hands. What moved the swordplay masters even more was that every one of his actions appeared to be a carbon copy of the previous one, whether it was the angle of the chop, the speed, or the heights of the hammer¡¯s ends at the top and bottom, there was no variation whatsoever. After performing three hundred such chopping actions, the powerful Half-Beast was covered in sweat. Multiple strands of his brown hair were damp with sweat and stuck to his forehead. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The banquet had long since ended. The night was windless and without a moon. Zong Ge now stood at the edge of the temporary camp, with the bright campfire behind him and the vast, deep rainforest in front of him. The words ¡°one of our own¡± from Zhenjin¡¯s mouth brought back memories for Zong Ge, and under his calm and quiet expression, there was a restless heart. At times like this, Zong Ge would practice swordplay. Anything related to swordplay, even the most fundamental vertical chopping motion, could stir his thoughts and allow him to focus all his attention, dispelling any distracting thoughts. Zong Ge¡¯s restless mood gradually calmed down. The monotonous swordplay motions, in his view, were almost an entertaining delight. ¡°One of our own?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a matter of circumstances.¡± Zong Ge finished his routine and propped the Bone Hammer on the ground, sighing inwardly. But the next moment, his ears trembled slightly, and his expression changed abruptly. In the faint sounds, he thought he heard a Wolf Howl. A night passed. After getting information from Zong Ge, Zhenjin personally led a team to investigate. At a distance of fifty thousand meters from the edge of the valley, Zhenjin and his team discovered a large area of disordered Beast Marks. ¡°There are the paw prints of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, the hoof prints of a Strong Life White Rhinoceros, and the trail of a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa¡­ There¡¯s no doubt about it, it¡¯s the Demon Beast Army!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart sank. The investigation continued, and the results were even more serious than he had originally predicted. In the northwest and southwest directions of the small valley, there were one and two Demon Beast Armies respectively. These three Demon Beast Armies roamed the edges of the controlled area of the small valley without venturing deep inside. The intelligence brought back caused the leaders to have a gravely serious expression. ¡°This means there are at least three Blue Dog Fox Wolves eyeing our camp!¡± ¡°Could it be that there is only one Demon Beast Army, and the Blue Dog Fox Wolf is using a feint?¡± ¡°No, the scale of the army that attacked the camp before has basically confirmed that it is the limit of control for a single Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The traces left by the beast groups are very different. Moreover, it¡¯s extremely difficult for these magic beasts to fake their own traces. After all, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf is special.¡± ¡°Since these Demon Beast Armies are deliberately staying away from the valley, it proves they have discovered us. Their not attacking now means they are definitely building up strength!¡± ¡°It¡¯s very likely the Blue Dog Fox Wolf that was tailing us, it must have called more of its companions!¡± The situation turned very bad. Everyone needed to build ships while also defending against the attacks of the Demon Beast Armies. A Demon Beast Army commanded by a Blue Dog Fox Wolf is more than ten times tougher than a beast group of the same size! What¡¯s worse, the volcanic eruption continued unabated, and the island seemed to be in the midst of some drastic transformation. If the shipbuilding was completed too late, everyone might have to be buried with the island. The leaders discussed many countermeasures, and they had experience dealing with Demon Beast Armies. But no matter how ingenious the methods, they needed people to implement them. Once manpower was diverted, the speed of shipbuilding would decrease. This was something no one wanted to see, but it could not be helped. ¡°No, I have a way!¡± These were Zhenjin¡¯s thoughts, but he didn¡¯t say them out loud. Defense works began to be built and reinforced; as the others rested at night, Zhenjin sprang into action. After transforming into a bat monkey, he quickly made his way through the rainforest. Ultrasound detected a Demon Beast Army. Bat Monkey Zhenjin swiftly flew to higher skies. In the air, he saw the Blue Dog Fox Wolf firmly in the center of the army, heavily guarded. The next moment, Zhenjin mobilized his Heart Core and underwent a Mutation. Red light twinkled high in the sky, then the bat monkey form dissipated, replaced by Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa Zhenjin! Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa Zhenjin had no wings nor the ability to float, and his body was even fatter than that of an ordinary Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa. Zhenjin plummeted straight down from the high skies! The Demon Beast Army naturally had bat monkeys, and initially, Bat Monkey Zhenjin didn¡¯t alert them, but a large Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa Zhenjin falling from above made the bat monkeys emit screams of terror. Just as the Blue Dog Fox Wolf began to react, boom, with a loud noise, Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa Zhenjin smashed onto the ground. Tall, stout trees were toppled by his weight, and several unfortunate magic beasts were crushed to death on the spot. The crocodile skin of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa showcased formidable defensive power. But this skin armor alone wasn¡¯t enough; underneath it was a thick layer of fat. This fat was certainly not all from the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, but rather from the Underground Sand Worm. Zhenjin had defeated the Underground Sand Worm and naturally covertly transformed some of it. Although he could not yet transform into a complete form, the thick fat was one of his current optional Mutations. The fat violently trembled, significantly reducing the reaction force from the impact with the ground. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf leaped backward, and Zhenjin burst forward, quickly closing in on the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Then, with a sudden lunge of his head, the massive crocodile jaw opened, struck like lightning, and bit down on the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf tried to howl, but at that moment, a large gush of Acid Liquid erupted from Zhenjin¡¯s throat. The Acid Liquid surged back up, causing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf to cough uncontrollably. It frantically scratched and clawed, its hind legs outside kicking in vain. Unfortunately, by that time, Zhenjin had already angled his upper serpentine body upward, suspending the Blue Dog Fox Wolf in the air where its hind legs could find no purchase. Then, red light surged from Zhenjin¡¯s mouth, forming four blood lines that bound the Blue Dog Fox Wolf tightly. As the blood lines submerged, the Demon Beast Army launched a frenzied attack on Zhenjin. The fastest to act were not the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears or the Strong Life White Rhinoceros that were closest to Zhenjin, but the Flying Squirrels. A large number of Flying Squirrels. But Zhenjin had anticipated this, although he was in the form of a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, he erupted with a Silver Level bat monkey¡¯s sonic wave. The Flying Squirrels suffered from the sound waves, instantly sprawled and fell to the ground, no longer a threat. Two Strong Life White Rhinoceroses charged at him, and Zhenjin had no time to dodge. Since he was not yet proficient in the form of a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, even if he had made a dodging move, it might not have been successful. So, he simply did not dodge and instead transformed his crocodile skin into a scorpion shell. The Strong Life White Rhinoceroses fiercely collided with the scorpion shell, not penetrating it, but the immense force of the impact was transmitted to him. The thick layer of fat beneath the scorpion shell once again acted as a shock absorber, the severe vibrations rapidly dissipated the force, perfectly catching it. At the same time, a red light glinted in Zhenjin¡¯s mouth; the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was transformed and absorbed, turning into a pile of carbon dust. After killing this Blue Dog Fox Wolf, Zhenjin¡¯s spirits soared. Having or not having a Blue Dog Fox Wolf meant completely different scenarios! The effects of the strange scent persisted. Watching their Commander be killed before their eyes, these demon beasts erupted into a frenzy, launching a mad assault on Zhenjin. The other demon beasts were somewhat better, but the key was the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s fiery red claws; each thrust could pierce the scorpion shell, poking holes in Zhenjin, as the underlying fat was roasted alongside, emitting a pleasant food aroma. Zhenjin rolled on the spot, crushing out a path. The red light flashed, and the huge form of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa dissipated; he transformed again into a Silver bat monkey and flew into the sky. All of the bat monkeys went after him, while the rest of the beast horde could only stand on the ground, helplessly roaring. Zhenjin elevated himself, soaring into the sky, moving extremely fast; only two Silver bat monkeys could barely keep up with him. Zhenjin suddenly turned around and launched an attack on the Silver bat monkeys. He grew a Lizard Head, but with Spider Blade mouthparts. Two clumps of milky white spider silk squirted out, hitting the two Silver bat monkeys straight on, binding their wings. The Silver bat monkeys shrieked as they plummeted toward the ground. The other bat monkeys stretched out their hands to help, catching their leader in mid-air. But this was precisely Zhenjin¡¯s scheme. He dominated the high altitude, continuously spraying spider webs, shooting down one bat monkey after another. Soon, the sky cleared, leaving only Zhenjin. With no bat monkeys to tangle with him anymore, Zhenjin began to use Acid Liquid, continuously spraying it. The horde of demon beasts could only roar and howl, but they were helpless against Zhenjin; common wild beasts were killed by the Acid Liquid, while Bronze and Black Iron Level demon beasts were all seriously injured by it. After such prolonged battle, Zhenjin¡¯s reserve of Heart Core Magic Power had decreased by more than half, and the entire Demon Beast Army had been exhausted by his torment. ¡°Now¡¯s the time!¡± Zhenjin saw the moment and swooped down, transforming into the form of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. He landed directly on top of a Strong Life White Rhinoceros. His fiery red bear claws pierced straight through the skull of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros, then his nails mutated into Spider Blades, piercing directly through the White Rhinoceros¡¯s brain and emerging as sharp points from its jaw. Another Strong Life White Rhinoceros charged at him, while at the same time, a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa behind him launched an attack. In a split second, Zhenjin transformed into a Silver Flying Squirrel, dodging like a shot from a gun. The Strong Life White Rhinoceros and Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa collided with each other. Zhenjin crashed directly into the embrace of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear and, before it could react, unleashed a powerful electric shock. Bang. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear fell, smoking all over. It was not a Strong Life White Rhinoceros; such a hit killed it instantly, with no chance of Resurrection. But an electric shock assault of this degree consumed the most demon energy. Afterward, Zhenjin no longer used such a method. Even without electric shock, he still managed to throw the Demon Beast Army into utter chaos. Without the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, these Demon Beasts had limited intelligence and were arbitrarily manipulated by Zhenjin, with no concept of formation at all. In fact, many of their attacks landed on their own companions. The most critical change was that Zhenjin had grown stronger. All this time, he had trained tirelessly and accumulated many accomplishments, making significant progress in many areas. For instance, before, Zhenjin could not switch forms quickly during intense combat. Now, however, he did it very smoothly. Before the battle with this Demon Beast Army, Zhenjin lacked an opportunity to thoroughly test himself. Now the opportunity had arrived! ¡°Exhilarating! Too exhilarating!!¡± Zhenjin felt his blood boiling more fervently as the battle raged on. At first, when he employed various Magic Beast forms, there were many awkward aspects, especially the transitions between Magic Beast forms. But in the heat of battle, he became increasingly adept and composed. Many movements that were not fluid during routine training became much smoother under the external pressure of being surrounded and attacked. The connections between various moves and tactics also became automatic. Quantitative change had triggered a qualitative transformation, and Zhenjin could feel himself getting stronger! He was stronger the next second than he was the one before. ¡°Just a bit stronger!¡± ¡°Even stronger!¡± Zhenjin roared inwardly. ¡°Slow, too slow!¡± he caught up to a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, his hand blade flashed, and the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s head fell to the ground. ¡°Weak, too weak!¡± he stomped one after another on the bat monkeys bound by spider webs, crushing them on the spot. Corpses were strewn everywhere, blood covered the ground. Zhenjin single-handedly faced an army, unfolding a bloody and brutal slaughter. The Demon Beast Army had been decimated, and the survivors began to flee. Zhenjin pursued relentlessly. There were no Demon Beasts that could escape his pursuit. When the last Strong Life White Rhinoceros fell beside the small lake, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but throw his head back and laugh wildly. ¡°HAHAHA!¡± The confusion and depression of recent days, the pressure, all found their release and venting in this battle. Behind him, the scorpion tail skillfully stabbed, piercing through the body of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros. Then bloodlines wrapped around it, transforming and absorbing the Strong Life White Rhinoceros. ¡°So, I¡¯ve become this strong!¡± ¡°What else can stop me?¡± ¡°Hmm? What else?¡± ¡°Even if another Demon Beast Army comes, what can they do to me?¡± Zhenjin stood tall and proud, his chest out, as he surveyed his surroundings. The clouds dispersed, revealing moonlight. At this moment, the vast rainforest fell silent as if cowering before his ferocity. Zhenjin¡¯s gaze swept around, and suddenly, he paused; he saw his reflection in the lake. At this moment, he had a scorpion tail, a Lizard Head on top, a body covered in scorpion shell, the physique of a bear, and Spider Blades on the back of both hands. A¡­ monster. Zhenjin was stunned. The joy in his heart, the surging battle spirit, receded like the tide. He became like a statue. Moments later, his body trembled slightly, as if coming to a realization. He slowly backed away, backing away until he could no longer see his reflection in the lake. Chapter 147 - 147: Section 148: My abilities are limited Chapter 147: Section 148: My abilities are limited ¡°Shoot!¡± Lan Zao shouted hoarsely. Swoosh. The next moment, crossbows fired simultaneously, forming a dark curtain of arrows. Under the cover of the arrow screen, bat monkeys fell to the ground one after another. On the hillside, the remaining giant Magic Beasts still attempted to charge forward. A monkey-tailed brown bear was at the forefront. Thump. ... Suddenly, a huge crossbow arrow, like a war spear, shot out, wrapped in a strong wind, and instantly hit the monkey-tailed brown bear. It penetrated through its chest and abdomen and exited through the body. The monkey-tailed brown bear was instantly killed, and its body was even carried away a short distance by the crossbow arrow. ¡°Well done, Hei Juan!¡± The morale of those around soared after witnessing this scene. The giant crossbow arrow was fired by a crossbow cart, and Hei Juan was the one who shot the arrow. When it came to shooting skills, he was recognized as second only to Lord Zhenjin in the camp. ¡°Woof woof woof¡­¡± At the rear of the Demon Beast Army, several Blue Dog Fox Wolves barked together, and the Demon Beast Army began to retreat. ¡°We¡¯ve succeeded!¡± ¡°Another victory, we¡¯ve held this place.¡± ¡°All thanks to Lord Zhenjin and Lord Zong Ge!¡± Everyone cheered, almost all eyes were on Zhenjin and Zong Ge. Since Zhenjin¡¯s night raid annihilated an entire Demon Beast Army, more than half a month had passed. During this half-month, the situation worsened sharply. Noticing that scattered Demon Beast Armies could be ambushed and annihilated, after Zhenjin¡¯s first attack, the remaining Blue Dog Fox Wolves chose to converge in one place. That made it difficult for Zhenjin to strike. Afterward, he attempted to strike multiple times. He annihilated the Blue Dog Fox Wolves and slaughtered many Magic Beasts, but he was also tricked by the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, fell into their traps, was surrounded, and severely injured. Fortunately, Zhenjin¡¯s Heart Core was no longer what it used to be. He could transform Beast Meat into that of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros. This rhinoceros meat was much more practical than other Magic Beast meats. After turning the flesh at the wound into rhinoceros meat, Zhenjin gained the powerful recovery ability of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros, basically leaving no overnight wounds. And the Strong Life White Rhinoceros needed to consume a vast amount of food to replenish the energy for healing. Zhenjin, possessing a Heart Core, only consumed the demon energy within it. Whether he was unleashing electric shocks or healing, he consumed demon energy. He increasingly discovered the practicality of demon energy. ¡°This time, new Blue Dog Fox Wolves have appeared again,¡± Zong Ge sighed, standing triumphant beside Zhenjin. The situation was such: whenever one Blue Dog Fox Wolf was eliminated, soon another, or even two, would appear. Each Blue Dog Fox Wolf led a Demon Beast Army of varying sizes. Zhenjin remained silent. In the early detection of the Demon Beast Army, he had given his all, hoping to resolve the camp¡¯s crisis by his efforts alone. It started off well, and he alone had eliminated an entire Demon Beast Army. However, the remaining two Blue Dog Fox Wolves lingering on the borders quickly noticed the demise of their companion and army, and immediately gathered together. The two Blue Dog Fox Wolves side by side made it difficult for Zhenjin to move against them. He tried a raid, which failed, and one of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves survived. After learning of Zhenjin¡¯s intelligence, the Blue Dog Fox Wolves made the correct move again. It ordered the Flying Squirrels to hide underground. The Flying Squirrels were naturally adept at digging holes in tree trunks and burrowing underground. Once hidden deep underground, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s sonic attacks became ineffective. And when Lord Zhenjin began his attack, following the orders of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, the Flying Squirrels launched waves of attacks. No matter what form Lord Zhenjin took, he was not immune to electric shocks. Though he also had thick white tendons to protect himself, these crystal films only covered internal organs, the brain, and so on, but muscles were largely unprotected. Each electric shock induced paralysis, causing him to halt his movements. This was extremely deadly. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf was even more cunning, never deploying the Flying Squirrels all at once but attacking Lord Zhenjin wave by wave. Lord Zhenjin was severely injured and retreated. Just when he planned to attack again on the second night to eliminate the remaining few members of the Demon Beast Army, he discovered that the enemy had shockingly added two more Demon Beast units! He and the Demon Beast Army were deadlocked, and as more and more of his own intelligence leaked, the Blue Dog Fox Wolves devised more accurate counter-strategies. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf paid great attention to their own safety. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s beheading tactics repeatedly failed, and once, the Blue Dog Fox Wolves even turned his tactics against him, deliberately exposing a weakness, using one of their own as bait to lure Lord Zhenjin into an ambush. The rest of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves commanded and hunted Lord Zhenjin. Fortunately, Lord Zhenjin could fly, and he narrowly escaped. But afterward, the newly added Blue Dog Fox Wolf brought the Blade Spider Group, which posed a significant threat to Bat Monkey Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin fought with all his might, but only in the dead of night. Once the Demon Beast Army secured its position, they began to penetrate deeper into the defense area and attack the valley. Lord Zhenjin had no solution; he couldn¡¯t stop the massive march of the Demon Beast Army alone. ¡°If I fully transformed in combination with others, perhaps I could kill all the Demon Beasts and Blue Dog Fox Wolves,¡± an idea flashed through Lord Zhenjin¡¯s mind. But immediately after, he dismissed this thought. Unless absolutely necessary, he would not do so. Even in his mutated human form, he was very restrained. Normally, he would only mutate during a charge. Even if he mutated among others, he would quickly rush into the herd. Luckily, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and other non-combatants were always far in the rear and had never observed Lord Zhenjin¡¯s transformation up close. And Lord Zhenjin¡¯s prayers to the Holy Emperor sometimes showed unpredictably effective results. Everyone considered this normal, and no further suspicions were raised. ¡°The pivotal change might have occurred long ago; our hope lies in the new ship,¡± Lord Zhenjin answered Zong Ge while looking into the distance. The volcanic eruption never ceased, and though there were pauses, the eruptions became more frequent. The sky in the distance was pitch black, all filled with volcanic clouds. Though the sky above the rainforest was still clear, the volcanic clouds were visibly spreading in all directions, threatening to cover the entire island. Zong Ge also looked towards the erupting molten lava plumes and nodded. After bidding farewell to Lord Zhenjin, the Half-Beast continued to command the defense line. These days, it was mainly his responsibility to lead the defensive battles, not being an ordinary soldier but a former general with considerable ability. Cang Xu was in charge of logistics coordination and was often praised by Zong Ge. Lord Zhenjin mainly guarded the construction site. The upper echelons all had clearly defined roles. In the clearing of the small valley, most of the ship¡¯s hull had been successfully constructed, with numerous planks joined and installed onto the frame. The planks utilized a modern butt joint method, as opposed to the outdated lap joint method. Most of those working around the hull were injured. The frontline needed combat power, so the wounded provided labor power. These days, they were very diligent, sweating profusely every day with wounds reopening, exhausted to death by nightfall, and falling asleep as soon as they lay down. The perilous situation necessitated an escape by new ship¡ªthis viewpoint had already become a consensus among everyone. In the open space, the most conspicuous was the Big guy. The Big guy¡¯s labor was crucial, but he also concealed a hazard. Should he go mad and damage the ship, then everyone would lose their hope of escape. Thus, normally, Lord Zhenjin had to supervise here, ready to incapacitate the Big guy should he go mad. Only when the defensive line was strained would Lord Zhenjin appear there. Over the past fortnight, there had been more than a dozen earthquakes, quite frequent indeed. The Big guy had fallen ill nearly ten times, each incident promptly contained by Lord Zhenjin. After each episode, everyone would relocate the ship along the slide rails to the open space outside the valley, dodging several earthquakes in the process. No one bothered the Big guy anymore; the immense external pressure from the Demon Beast Army almost made internal conflicts negligible. Bai Ya, dragging his weary body, arrived at the cave entrance. By the light of the fire outside, he placed the parchment on his lap. Dipping his quill in ink, that small action made him wince in pain. His arm was wrapped in bandages that were stained with splotches of blood red. In today¡¯s battle, he had been wounded, bitten on the forearm by a bat monkey. The humid air made his clothes stick to his body. Only his stomach, filled from a good meal, brought him a sense of happiness. Bai Ya caught his breath, steadied his rapid breathing, and then began to write a letter. Dear Miss Xi Qiu, Please forgive me for the long delay since my last letter. Also, forgive me, as these letters still cannot be delivered to your hands. The Demon Beast Army launched another attack, I shot dead a dozen bat monkeys, and wounded many Magic Beasts¡­ We originally thought these Demon Beast Armies would not pose a problem, but in reality, their reinforcements were ceaseless. The situation appears to grow progressively worse. Today, another contingent of Demon Beast Army added on, turning our past week¡¯s fierce fighting and slaughter efforts into naught. For the Demon Beast Army, replenishing their forces is far too easy. Fortunately, however, we occupy the valley. This terrain is far easier to defend than the camp. The most evident point is that the Crossbow Carts can be placed higher up. Lord Hei Juan¡¯s prestige has greatly increased recently, thanks to his skilled handling of the Crossbow Carts. The enormous Crossbow Arrows are terrifyingly powerful, often severely damaging the Silver Magical Beasts. Even more admirable is Lord Zong Ge. Although a Half-Beast, he possesses courage rarely found in ordinary people. His left arm armor might be damaged, yet using an iron face shield, he often stands at the forefront, personally blocking the attacks of Magic Beasts. That huge shield, almost as tall and heavy as me, yet Lord Zong Ge raises it effortlessly each time. Yet, the one we admire the most is always Lord Zhenjin! Whenever the defense line is critical, he always appears where he is most needed. Each appearance, he would slay Magic Beasts, not only stabilizing the defense line but also leading the charge. Every time we see his figure, our fears and wavering hearts would rapidly stabilize, and our drooping morale would swiftly rise. Lord Zhenjin is a devoted believer of the Holy Emperor and is deeply loved by the Great Emperor; he brings us light and victory. With the Lord present, we shall prevail! ¡­ Dear Miss Xi Qiu, Today¡¯s battle had me break out in a cold sweat. Our defensive line¡¯s reality was clearly tested by the Blue Dog Fox Wolves; they orchestrated an extremely sinister ambush. All the Strong Life White Rhinoceroses were gathered to charge on the gentle slope. Our defensive line was directly breached, just as other Magic Beasts were about to break through, Lord Zhenjin appeared. I will never forget that scene. After praying out loud, a miracle occurred once more! He transformed into a giant even larger than Zong Ge, clad in golden armor, possessing unmatched strength. Strong Life White Rhinoceros could not harm him, and as he prayed loudly, the Holy Emperor indeed granted him a Sharp Sword that no one could resist. The Sharp Sword, flashing with electric light, was firmly grasped in his hand as he pierced through the head of Strong Life White Rhinoceros, cooking its brain with electric shock. Wherever Lord Zhenjin went, the Magic Beasts were flipped over and scattered in disarray. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He then charged down the hillside, causing the Blue Dog Fox Wolves to turn tail and scurry away! Although victoriously achieved, this battle was a chilling one. Had it not been for Lord Zhenjin, we would have been defeated. Hence, Lord Zhenjin, along with Zong Ge, Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others, decided after consultation to build more Crossbow Carts and crossbows. They also reallocated more personnel for defense. This resulted in a slower construction speed for the new ships. But there was no other way. The Big Guy was also a concern, as I¡¯ve mentioned in previous letters, he suffers from an illness. Some suggested letting the Big Guy command the defense line, because many, including myself, were worried¡ªwhat if Lord Zhenjin one day went to the front lines, and the Big Guy suddenly fell ill and ruined the new ship? That would be disastrous. But Cang Xu Scholar had calculated, he told us that the Big Guy¡¯s labor alone was worth fifty men. He was even a skilled shipwright! He might appear clumsy, but he was actually very adept. This was because he grew up on ships and had always been taught by a shipwright, involving him in ship repairs. The Big Guy was instrumental in the shipbuilding process. If he were dispatched to fight, the efficiency of shipbuilding would plummet to rock bottom. Cang Xu Scholar¡¯s words did not convince everyone, but of course, I believed him. And after Lord Zhenjin explicitly supported Cang Xu, there was no objection from anyone. Bai Ya put away the letter he had written, as large beads of sweat rolled down, his face turning pale, the intense battles leaving him no time to heal or rest. ¡­ Dear Miss Xi Qiu: Today was another fierce battle. The Demon Beast Army¡¯s attacks are becoming more frequent and more ferocious. I feel numb. I¡¯m not speaking of emotional numbness¡ªindeed, as long as Lord Zhenjin is here, my heart will always be filled with hope and fighting spirit. The numbness I speak of is my body. I¡¯m ill. It might be that the accumulation of old and new injuries has dragged me down. Or perhaps a wild beast¡¯s bite has left some toxin in my wounds. Now I see darkness before my eyes, and when I turn my head quickly, the world spins, even causing hallucinations of mountains collapsing towards me. I¡¯ve lost my sense of touch; although I¡¯m holding a crossbow, my fingers cannot feel the bowstring or the trigger. My tongue is numb too, completely devoid of taste. Zi Di has given me potions to drink, which relieve my pain for half a day after each dose. But after half a day, my body feels like it¡¯s in an oven, barely able to contain my spirit, my soul feels like it¡¯s about to disperse. I don¡¯t know if I can get through this. But I assure you, since our misfortune began, I have never been cowardly. I have fought with all my might. I emulate Lord Zhenjin¡¯s conduct; I desperately wish to have the same strength as him. Unfortunately, I¡¯m just an ordinary person. If¡ªI mean if¡ªI can¡¯t survive this ordeal, and I lose my life here, I beg you, please, based on these letters, to take care of my elderly parents on the mountain. Tell them of my death, ask them to forgive their unfilial son, and let my example warn my younger brothers and sisters to take heed. I must admit, after sensing the smell of death, I regretted. But I never regret meeting you, my beautiful, most beloved Miss Xi Qiu. Your smile is forever etched in my heart. But please forgive me, my abilities are simply too limited¡­ As Bai Ya wrote this, his pen paused, then with his drooping hand, it abruptly dragged across most of the parchment, eventually falling to the ground. With a thud, Bai Ya collapsed. Chapter 148 - 148: Section 149: No Distinction Chapter 148: Section 149: No Distinction ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡± Zhenjin entered Bai Ya¡¯s dwelling. On the straw bed lay a young man, his face deathly pale, his life hanging by a thread. Zhenjin used ultrasound to probe and, with ears capable of detecting internal structural mutations, listened to find that Bai Ya still had a trace of breath. But that breath was too faint, barely perceptible, almost nonexistent. ¡°The situation is quite grim,¡± Cang Xu replied, looking back. Zhenjin fell silent. ... Bai Ya¡­ This young man had made significant contributions to the exploration team. He was young, innocent, and full of admiration for being a knight. Now, he lay here, eyes tightly closed, the scythe of Death God already embedded in his throat. After so much, he still ended up here. In recent times, the number of casualties in the valley camp had increased, death not being uncommon. If it had been before, morale would have plummeted. But now, with Zhenjin present, whose prestige was unparalleled, the team still maintained high spirits by relying on his presence. Regarding Bai Ya, Zhenjin was not surprised by his condition; rather, he felt regret. With the right background, with the right bloodline, relying on his fighting spirit and perseverance, things might have been different. Bai Ya, he was really too ordinary. He was just an ordinary person, a commoner, young with vitality and enthusiasm, with naivety, and with foolishness too. Yet sometimes, this ¡°foolishness¡± seemed so precious. Bai Ya was always willing to help others, a trait that stemmed from his nature. While in the exploration team, during the outbreak of poison, he took care of others, which earned him good relations. During the break from the Acid Liquid green lizard swarm, he foolishly went to save Cang Xu, nearly trapping himself in a fatal predicament, only saved by Zhenjin returning to rescue him. At the Oasis, he once again saved Lan Zao, unafraid of being poisoned himself. His worship of Zhenjin was almost blind; he was one of Zhenjin¡¯s most fervent followers among everyone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m late,¡± came the voice of Zi Di from behind. ¡°Zi Di, quickly diagnose him,¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart kindled with new hope. But after Zi Di examined him, she responded only with silence. Hope quickly faded from Zhenjin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Ah,¡± Cang Xu sighed deeply, ¡°Lord, please look at this.¡± He had just discovered a stack of letters under Bai Ya¡¯s straw bed. ¡°These seem to be all written by him,¡± Cang Xu briefly scanned through them, his brows slightly furrowed, and even the calm and rational him now showed a rare anger. According to his judgment, Miss Xi Qiu had toyed with Bai Ya¡¯s feelings, deceiving a young man with little worldly experience with a false romance, luring him into danger, and letting him die for her own amusement. Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°Cang Xu, we cannot be sure until the truth comes out.¡± The young knight, from the bottom of his heart, did not wish for Cang Xu¡¯s speculation to be true. Taking the stack of letters from Cang Xu, Zhenjin scanned them quickly. The handwriting in the letters was terrible, messy, lacking any aesthetic appeal, but it was evidently Bai Ya¡¯s writing. Clearly, he had not been writing for long. Many places in the letter were intentionally left blank, words Bai Ya likely did not know how to write. The text within the letters had also discolored, turning purple as if the ink had deteriorated. In the letters, besides expressing his love for Miss Xi Qiu, there was mostly admiration for Zhenjin. And in the last letter, he wrote of regret. Seeing Bai Ya¡¯s regret, Zhenjin¡¯s heart trembled involuntarily. Without being in a life-and-death crisis, there wouldn¡¯t be such a profound resonance! Zhenjin¡¯s face grew solemn as he gazed at the unconscious Bai Ya and declared with seriousness, ¡°I promise you, Bai Ya. If you unfortunately perish, I will personally deliver these letters to your beloved. If Miss Xi Qiu sincerely loves you, I will tell her everything, that she did not misjudge you, that you possess the spirit of a knight. You fought bravely, giving your all, always walking the path of kindness and justice, never retreating. But if she was just toying with you, then I shall seek justice for you, and she will face the judgment of a Holy Temple Knight!¡± After speaking, Zhenjin solemnly placed the stack of letters into his chest. Bai Ya¡¯s fate seemed sealed as everyone left the cave. ¡°Lord, please wait,¡± Zi Di suddenly spoke, and at the same time, she gave Cang Xu a look. Cang Xu bowed to Zhenjin and quickly departed. Only Zi Di and Zhenjin were left in the corridor. A moment of silence. ¡°Lord, let me keep these letters safe. After all, you¡¯re often at the forefront,¡± Zi Di said. ¡°Please take good care of them,¡± Zhenjin nodded and handed the letters to Zi Di. ¡°Lord, I¡­¡± Zi Di began. Zhenjin smiled, ¡°No need to comfort me. Indeed, my heart is heavy now. My comrade has fallen. But I wasn¡¯t able to save him, and too often, my abilities are limited.¡± ¡°Lord, we are only human, after all, not gods. Even gods have their domains of expertise and their deficiencies,¡± Zi Di took Zhenjin¡¯s hands, ¡°Lord, please do not blame yourself too much.¡± ¡°How can I not blame myself?¡± Zhenjin replied with a bitter smile, ¡°I overlooked him too much. He was a meritorious Knight, but later, as more people came around, his abilities were overshadowed by others, and I neglected him.¡± ¡°Now, I reflect: Did I treat him as a tool? And when this tool became less useful or redundant, did I cast it aside?¡± ¡°Am I a qualified leader? I often give public speeches, claiming I treat everyone equally, but have I truly done so? If I had paid a little more attention to Bai Ya and noticed his unusual condition earlier, would the outcome be different now?¡± ¡°Sir!¡± Zi Di softly called out, stepping forward and throwing herself into Zhenjin¡¯s embrace. Her arms wrapped around Zhenjin¡¯s waist, tightly hugging the young knight, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you are definitely qualified, no, an outstanding leader. You are a Knight, my¡­ Knight, please don¡¯t doubt yourself.¡± Her soft body and firm encouragement slightly eased Zhenjin¡¯s crestfallen expression. The young man lifted his hands, resting them on Zi Di¡¯s shoulders. At that moment, the young man felt as if a warm current emanated from Zi Di¡¯s body. This warm current kept flowing into his heart, melting the ice that had accumulated in the dark corners of his heart. The invisible barrier seemed to be dissolving. Zhenjin felt a surge of impulse again, wanting to pour out his secrets to Zi Di. But the next moment, his expression changed slightly as the ultrasound detection picked up an urgent situation at the front. The Communications Soldier had already run toward the shipyard in the small valley clearing. ¡°We need to go. I still need to keep an eye on the Big guy,¡± Zhenjin said gently, pushing Zi Di away. ¡°Mhm,¡± Zi Di released her arms, her Purple Crystal eyes deeply gazing at Zhenjin, watching him turn and leave, his figure vanishing around the corner. When the Communications Soldier arrived at the valley clearing, he successfully found Zhenjin. Zhenjin took action and, not long after, repelled the Demon Beast Army again, stabilizing the defense lines. That same night, he once again acted alone, seeking trouble with the Demon Beast Army. However, the casualties he caused became increasingly limited, as the defenses around the Blue Dog Fox Wolves were very strong. Each death of a Blue Dog Fox Wolf was a bloody lesson that made the survivors even more experienced. Although Zhenjin could also produce an odd fragrance, this phenomenon did not disrupt the Demon Beast Army. Zhenjin fought with all his might, killing many Magic Beasts, and dragging his exhausted body back to camp to rest. The watchful warriors cast admiring and loving gazes at him. Zhenjin¡¯s rest periods were very short. Among the high-rankers, he was the most laborious. However, these gazes, filled with adoration and frenetic praise, did not give Zhenjin the pure warmth and motivation he needed. They were like cold, temperatureless lights, making him feel irritated. As usual, the next day the Demon Beast Army launched another offensive. People held their ground, and under Zong Ge¡¯s command, they fought against the Demon Beast Army with all their might. If they didn¡¯t, given the Demon Beast Army¡¯s constant reinforcements, the situation would quickly deteriorate. However, despite people fighting with all their might, and the Demon Beast Army suffering heavy casualties, their forces seemed to increase over time. People then realized that there were so many Blue Dog Fox Wolves on this island. Yet, upon reflection, it made sense. The island was large, with vast jungles and deep forests, which provided a proper environment for the Blue Dog Fox Wolves to thrive and breed. The situation reached a temporary stalemate. The intensity of the earthquakes diminished, but the frequency increased, sometimes shaking three or four times a day. The Big guy was also having frequent outbreaks. Roar. The Big guy bellowed furiously. ¡°Run, he¡¯s having an attack!¡± the people panicked and fled. Zhenjin moved like lightning, leaping straight for the nape of the neck. Bang. Just after the Big guy roared, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground. Roar. ¡°Run, he¡­¡± Zhenjin had already made his move. Bang. Just after the Big guy roared, he thunderously fell to the ground. Roar. ¡°Quick¡­¡± Bang. The Big guy hit the ground. Roar. Bang. The Big guy had just opened his mouth, attempting to roar. Zhenjin acted swiftly. Bang. As the times he subdued the Big guy increased, Zhenjin¡¯s technique grew more proficient. He even began using thrown rocks as a substitute. Each rock hit the Big guy¡¯s nape exactly right, with just enough force to knock him unconscious. So much so that later, every time the Big guy saw Zhenjin, he felt a tingling pain in his neck. Each time Zhenjin suppressed him, initially the Big guy was filled with fear towards Zhenjin, which later turned to numbness, and eventually, the numbness gave way to acceptance. The Big Guy had a look that said, ¡°Go ahead and knock me out, do whatever you want, I can¡¯t resist anyway; I always end up unconscious.¡± And in the end, his calm demeanor even began to take on a hint of fondness. It was as if he took the shipwright¡¯s saying ¡°to hit is to love¡± to heart. But indeed, Zhenjin had never hurt him. Each time Zhenjin timely stopped the Big Guy from having an outburst, allowing him to avoid harming the new ship or others¡¯ lives, which created a more tolerant social environment for him. As the Big Guy repeatedly collapsed with thuds, the new ship became more and more complete. The planks of the hull were smoothly joined, the rudder at the ship¡¯s stern was completed and reinforced with iron bars. Most of the deck had also been finished. The new ship had two layers of decks; after completing the second deck, the next tasks were the ship¡¯s bow and the ship¡¯s stern. Currently, people were rushing to finish the essential cabins. To build this sea ship, everyone had exerted their utmost effort. Meanwhile, the frontline was continuously retreating. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At first, the defenses were repaired, but as the situation developed, people only had the choice to abandon them. The defense line retreated from the foot of the mountain to the slopes. Initially, in order to protect the small valley clearing, people suffered heavy losses. Mu Ban came up with a plan that was beyond anyone¡¯s imagination. After getting a confirmation from the shipwright, they moved the new ship up, dragging it to the slope. Thus, by shrinking the defensive area and consolidating the troops, the defense line finally stabilized. The retreat was due in part to the fact that Zhenjin¡¯s side kept losing men while the Blue Dog Fox Wolves kept receiving reinforcements. The scales of victory were slowly tilting in favor of the Demon Beast Army. On the other hand, several Blue Dog Fox Wolves rounded up the Underground Sand Worms to use them. Zhenjin and Zong Ge could not quickly kill these sandworms and could only watch as they withstood countless attacks and forcefully demolished the defenses. Zhenjin performed his duties as a leader. Despite the constant defeats on the frontline, he continually boosted morale and led by example. And the continuous improvements to the new ship also preserved hope for everyone. Everyone persevered, gritting their teeth. Like iron in a large kiln, continuously heated and hammered, people gradually coalesced into a true group, becoming closer and more in tune with one another. Estrangement, disgust, and doubt disappeared, replaced by the camaraderie of comrades-in-arms, by trust. From beginning to end, not a single deserter appeared. There would be no deserters, for they had nowhere to flee. Finally, at the cost of nearly fifty casualties, the new ship was completed. The weather was clear on that day. An earthquake had just occurred at noon, so the Demon Beast Army did not launch an attack. After an earthquake, the Demon Beast Army would always calm down for a while. On the slope, a simple ceremony was underway. ¡°Sir, please wield this hammer for the final blow,¡± the shipwright solemnly offered a hammer to Zhenjin. ¡°No, you have the greatest merit. You should deliver the final blow,¡± Zhenjin shook his head. The shipwright tried to decline, but Zhenjin insisted, ¡°Go ahead, this is an order.¡± The shipwright had no choice but to comply, and in full view of everyone, he swung the hammer forcefully, driving the specially left iron nail into the plank. A cheer rose from the crowd. With misty eyes and teary, the shipwright returned to Zhenjin¡¯s side, his voice somewhat choked up, ¡°Sir, my lifelong dream has been to build a sea ship. I never imagined, not in a dockyard, but on this island, I would fulfill my heart¡¯s desire. Of course, this ship has many flaws. Like the masts, we only have short ones, and after splicing them together, they just reach an acceptable height. Like the sails, our canvas is too small, and we can¡¯t harness much wind power. Also, the underside of the deck and both sides of the ship¡¯s body need to be reinforced with iron bars, the current structural strength is worrying. Oh, and the anchor, we still lack a proper anchor¡­¡± ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Zhenjin laughed, patting the shipwright¡¯s shoulder to interrupt him, ¡°We can make up for all these things while we sail.¡± ¡°Now is the time for celebration, go ahead, eat well, drink well.¡± ¡°Today, you¡¯re the brightest star!¡± ¡°Many people are waiting for you, eager to toast to you.¡± Zhenjin pushed the shipwright toward the people. Moved almost to tears by Zhenjin¡¯s respect, the shipwright joined the crowd as the cheering crescendoed. For months, this was the only feast. The new ship was completed, although it was only a basic completion, barely reaching the passing line for sailing the seas. But it was significant! From now on, Zhenjin and his people could advance or defend as needed. Of course, launching the new ship into the sea still required a slipway. The original slipway had been destroyed by the Demon Beast Army, but on the other side, there lay another pair of slipways just beneath the surface. This was Zong Ge¡¯s suggestion. Everyone had to thank his foresight as a leader. Apart from the slipway, when the new ship was launched, they would need to attract the attention of the Demon Beast Army, to draw their forces to another side. There would inevitably be a great battle! ¡°Stop thinking about these things now, today, all I need is rest,¡± Zhenjin too wanted to catch his breath, as the pressure on him as a leader had undoubtedly been the greatest in recent days. The shipwright was surrounded by people at the center, shining bright in the highlight of his life. Of course, Lord Zhenjin was never neglected. Xi Suo knelt on one knee on the ground, one hand on his chest, the other raising a shell that served as a wine cup, his emotions running high, ¡°My Lord, it is because of your leadership that we¡¯ve been able to hold on. You are a role model amongst the Holy Temple Knights, the guiding light for us all!¡± ¡°My Lord, please allow me, the lowly one, to offer you this modest piece of roasted meat.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, all words of praise fall short to describe you. Being led by you is the fortunate blessing we¡¯ve aspired to all our lives.¡± Seemingly infected by the celebratory spirit, in the cave where the wounded were being treated, Bai Ya¡¯s eyelids slowly opened. However, the flattering words, the words of praise, the atmosphere of celebration, none could touch Zhenjin. He sat in the place of honor, watching the laughing people. Although he was joyful, although he also wore a smile, he felt a barrier, a deep chasm. He was among them, yet apart, as if he and they were people from two separate worlds. Since that last time, he was unable to confess his secret to Zi Di, he never found the words to say it. The feast continued, and taking advantage of the jubilant crowd, Zhenjin silently left the group. He made his way to a distant hillside, where he saw a grass hut. In this hut, unable to shield from wind and rain, crouched the Big guy, lying on a bed of grass. ¡°Here.¡± Zhenjin handed the roasted meat he had brought to the Big guy. The Big guy took it without a word. Zhenjin walked a few steps and sat down on a huge stone. He looked up at the sky, above was a pitch-black volcanic cloud, deep and thick. It seemed that because of them, there had been no rain for this recent period. The construction of the ship was new, and thus one major obstacle had been lifted. Zhenjin looked off into the distance. The hill rose above the jungles; he could see the sea. The sky above the sea was not obscured by volcanic clouds. At the horizon, where sea and sky met, the sun was setting. The sea¡¯s surface was calm, under the fading light, shimmering with a fish-scale brilliance. And on the hillside, a new ship had just been constructed. Once the obstacles were cleared, it would follow the slipway on the hillside, plunging downward. It would surge faster and faster, tearing through all in its path, until it plunged into the sea and splashed up towering waves. This wonderful scene, not only imagined by Zhenjin, was also the dream of others, the greatest motivation sustaining them until now! The sounds of the Big guy eating the roasted meat reached Zhenjin¡¯s ears, rough but bringing calm to him. He found himself preferring this place over the feast. In his heart, there was a thin thread of joy. Zhenjin himself was puzzled, why at this moment, he did not seek out Zi Di but came to the Big guy¡¯s side. Under the glow of the setting sun, the shadow of the young knight stretched long and reached the grass hut. Inside the hut, the Big guy finished the roast meat and looked towards Zhenjin, who was sitting with his back to him, and slowly crawled out. He squatted in the distance, imitating Zhenjin¡¯s action, gazing towards the setting sun. Zhenjin noticed the Big guy¡¯s movement, glanced at him, and gave him a faint smile. Then, the young Knight looked back at the sunset, the scene before his eyes splendid and beautiful, but his brows remained slightly furrowed, harboring a sorrow that was hard to dispel. The Big guy looked at the sunset; very soon, he grew bored. He glanced at Zhenjin and tried to shift his bottom, inching closer to the young Knight. Zhenjin did not react. The Big guy stayed silent for a while as he watched the sunset, then he moved again, now closer to Zhenjin. Zhenjin still did not react. The Big guy shifted, then shifted again. At first, the intervals between his movements were long, but then, they became more and more frequent. Zhenjin suddenly turned his head to look at him. The Big guy was in the midst of moving, his bottom off the ground, hands supporting him on the earth. Caught by Zhenjin¡¯s gaze, he stiffened like a statue. A sea breeze came, moving his hair ever so slightly. Zhenjin was amused, a laugh escaping him as he patted the stone he was sitting on. The Big guy immediately grinned foolishly, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. He finally completed the rest of the movement, this time sitting directly next to Zhenjin, right up against the boulder. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of me?¡± The Big guy shook his head, mumbling, ¡°Big guy stay with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve knocked you out so many times, don¡¯t you hate me?¡± The Big guy shook his head again, ¡°You¡¯re the same as Big guy.¡± A shock went through Zhenjin¡¯s heart, and he froze on the spot. Under the setting sun, the shadows of the two were stretched out diagonally, pressed together. At first glance, there was no distinction between them. Chapter 149 - 149: Section 150: Father and Son Chapter 149: Section 150: Father and Son ¡°Nonsense!¡± Just as Lord Zhenjin was dazed, a scolding voice suddenly came from behind. The young knight and the big guy both turned their heads to see the old shipwright carrying a small barrel of wine in one hand and a large chunk of roasted meat in the other. Clearly, the old shipwright was concerned about the big guy and had left the banquet, only to overhear what the big guy had just said. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, please forgive him. The Big Fool didn¡¯t mean to offend you!¡± The old shipwright knelt on the ground, his expression anxious. The big guy looked puzzled. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lord Zhenjin laughed heartily, ¡°Stand up, I know your son, don¡¯t I? I¡¯ve knocked him out many times. In a sense, what he said isn¡¯t wrong. We are all in the same boat, fallen to this state.¡± ... The old shipwright felt immensely grateful, ¡°My Lord, your nobility isn¡¯t just in your rank or your bloodline, but in your spirit, your character. You saved us, and the time we have spent with you will surely be a cherished memory for life. Your bravery, tolerance, and wisdom ¨C all these virtues will surely be widely praised in the future.¡± Lord Zhenjin nodded; he felt differently about these words now. He said to the old shipwright, ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate me, shipwright. And don¡¯t underestimate yourself either. Indeed, you are crucial. Without you, how could we possibly make a new ship? Your son has also contributed greatly; without his efforts, we would still be far from completion.¡± Hearing this, the big guy immediately showed a happy smile. His efforts had been recognized. With the arrival of the shipwright, Lord Zhenjin felt it was time to leave. The young knight jumped down from the boulder. ¡°My lord, please allow me to see you off,¡± the shipwright insisted, placing the items in his hands inside the hut. Lord Zhenjin, seeing that the old shipwright was still worried, reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t hold a grudge against the big guy.¡± The old shipwright felt relieved only after Lord Zhenjin¡¯s reassurances. Nobles and knights take their honor very seriously; most would consider the big guy¡¯s words as an insult to themselves. ¡°My Lord, you really are different from other dignitaries!¡± the old shipwright said, full of emotion, sincerely expressing, ¡°Forgive my boldness, but I have never seen the big guy be close to anyone but me.¡± ¡°You may not fully grasp how shocked I was to see the big guy sitting shoulder to shoulder with you.¡± ¡°Before meeting you, no one had ever treated him as an equal, ever looked at us properly.¡± Lord Zhenjin gave a wry smile, ¡°I really am a bit different.¡± He patted the old shipwright¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Though you¡¯ve never mentioned it, I can imagine the big guy¡¯s life experiences.¡± ¡°He was an abandoned infant on the ship, taken in by you. Born with the Giant Bloodline, he was always subjected to strange looks.¡± ¡°His strength grew, his stature enlarged, he even suffered from fits, almost everyone discriminated against him, detested him, guarded against him, insulted him, cursed him.¡± ¡°He has very sensitive hearing; he can hear people¡¯s whispers, their curses, their mockery, their hatred towards him.¡± ¡°Only you were good to him, giving him a father¡¯s love.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why he has always been close to you. From what I¡¯ve seen, he fights for you, even without any martial arts skills, willing to lay down his life to protect you!¡± ¡°And you must have sacrificed a lot for him.¡± ¡°Seeing him curl up in the hut, seeing him voluntarily avoid others, his fearful demeanor, I know you must have painstakingly taught him how to survive as a ¡®monster¡¯ in the human world.¡± ¡°You must be very worried, afraid that one day, many people will call him a monster and kill him in the name of justice. You must be heartbroken seeing him bullied by others, yet unable to fight back. Because you¡¯ve taught him never to retaliate, otherwise, the consequences would be severe!¡± ¡°So, he doesn¡¯t know martial arts, he¡¯s accustomed to enduring.¡± ¡°Is he ugly? No, he just looks different from most people. His heart is much kinder than most.¡± ¡°Is he strong? No, who says having great strength and a sturdy physique is strong? Which mighty figure can only defend themselves by crying out in pain and calling for dad? He is actually very vulnerable.¡± ¡°Kind, vulnerable¡­ Isn¡¯t it the spirit of a knight to protect and assist such people?¡± ¡°My Lord¡­¡± the old shipwright¡¯s eyes filled with tears, he was choked up, unable to speak. The praise and affirmations he had heard at the banquet, even if multiplied a hundred, a thousand times, could not compare to Lord Zhenjin¡¯s words. Because Lord Zhenjin truly understood him! Understanding this word seems simple, but in reality, it is quite difficult and significant. ¡°You are a good father,¡± Zhenjin had dropped these words and walked away directly. Leaving the old shipwright to stand in place, gazing at Zhenjin¡¯s retreating figure. The setting sun sunk into the sea, leaving no afterglow. In the old shipwright¡¯s tear-blurred vision, Zhenjin¡¯s silhouette looked somewhat strange but seemed to radiate¡­ light. The construction of the new ship was essentially successful, endowing the survivors with the ability to sail. This greatly boosted their morale. In the days that followed, Zhenjin and the others began preparations for taking the new ship to sea. If it hadn¡¯t been for the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, setting sail would have been an easy task. But now, with the Demon Beast Army heavily surrounding the small valley, the difficulty of this task exploded by more than a hundredfold. Someone expressed gratitude that they had followed Zong Ge¡¯s advice to build a spare track. However, whether this track could be used was still a question. After all, the island had undergone countless earthquakes, and the spare slideway was buried in the shallow layer of the land to avoid wind and rain. Even if the slideway were undamaged, the wood planks and other coverings on top of it still needed to be cleared away to activate it. According to Mu Ban¡¯s estimates, there was a high probability of intermittent minor damage to the slideway, meaning it needed to be repaired in advance to be usable. The intelligence of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves made repairing the slideway complicated. If the Blue Dog Fox Wolves became aware of their intentions, the plan to sail the new ship could face stronger obstacles or even ultimately fail. After a discussion, Zhenjin and his team decided to distract the attention of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, dig tunnels, and secretly dispatch a repair team to inspect the slideway, seizing every opportunity to make prompt repairs. To maximize the chance of escape, Zhenjin no longer trained at night. On one hand, he continued harassing the Demon Beast Army to weaken their combat capability as much as possible. On the other hand, he personally surveyed the state of the underground surface slideway. The survey¡¯s result was not optimistic¡ªthe slideway was damaged in many places, with some sections almost reduced to rubble. The repair work was vast, yet not difficult¡ªthe structure of the slideway was quite simple. During these busy times, Zhenjin received good news. He visited the cave where the wounded were gathered and saw Bai Ya. Bai Ya, who had been unconscious for many days, was now awake. ¡°Lord Zhenjin¡­¡± His breath was still very weak, his complexion pale, his cheekbones protruding, and he had lost a lot of weight over those days. ¡°You¡¯ve made it through again. Heal well. Let me tell you the good news: the new ship is completed and has reached the standards for setting sail,¡± Zhenjin said with a smile. He had lost all his memories, but his impressions of Bai Ya were deep and favorable. Since returning from the Volcanic Cave, only Cang Xu, Zi Di, and Bai Ya had been at his side. Bai Ya nodded, his face showing a hint of guilt, ¡°I have been unconscious for so many days; I have been a burden to everyone.¡± Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°This is not a burden. We are companions on the same ship, helping each other, and leaving this place together is our common goal.¡± ¡°This is your letter.¡± Zi Di, standing beside them, returned the previous letter to Bai Ya, ¡°It seems we do not need to deliver it now.¡± ¡°Oh, and also, there¡¯s new ink. The bottle of ink you used before has gone bad, but this new bottle I¡¯ve mixed won¡¯t fade.¡± Zi Di had also brought Bai Ya a little gift. Touched and a bit choked up, Bai Ya responded, ¡°It¡¯s so wonderful to have met you all. While I was unconscious, I felt like a lonely soul adrift in an endless darkness. I did not know where to go or where I came from. In a daze, I heard Miss Xi Qiu calling out to me; it must have been love guiding me¡­¡± Bai Ya began to recount his experiences while unconscious. Since emerging from the Oasis, he had developed a tendency to talk excessively. This near-death experience seemed to have increased his verbosity. Zhenjin smiled. He knew how Bai Ya felt, profoundly understanding. For he too had been close to death multiple times. Being able to speak so much was truly wonderful! That was the feeling of being alive! Bai Ya¡¯s awakening was like a ray of sunshine warming Zhenjin¡¯s heart. In the following days, Lord Zhenjin was clear-headed. Each night after praying to the Holy Emperor, Lord Zhenjin told himself, ¡°Things will get better, everything will improve. I can take Bai Ya, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and the others, and together we will survive and leave this island.¡± ¡°Once we reach White Sand City, I¡¯ll forget about the Heart Core and all the Mutations. Maybe I¡¯ll ask a Priest or a doctor to purge the lurking dangers from my body.¡± Finally, the repair of the slide rail was completed. While the higher-ups rejoiced, they were grateful that the difficulty of the repair was much lower than they had anticipated. What they didn¡¯t know was that the main reason was that whenever the repair team mobilized, Lord Zhenjin would personally take action, harassing the Demon Beast Army alone. To draw as much attention from the Blue Dog Fox Wolves as possible, Lord Zhenjin risked his life numerous times, charging into enemy lines and eventually retreating with serious injuries. During these days, the shipwrights, Mu Ban, and others were also busy. Previously, the new ship was only basically completed, and there were many follow-up tasks. Now, the new ship had wooden strips strengthening the structure on both sides of its hull. The gaps on the hull planks and decks were filled with hemp ropes, then bonded with Zi Di¡¯s potion glue. The shipwright also taught some people a small craft on how to process wood into qualified pulleys. A lot of pulleys were needed for the rigging of the sails. High-grade pulleys were made of metal and were truly wheels. However, the new ship used wooden modules, carved into the shape of wheels, then lubricated with oil to make their surfaces smooth. Most notable was the ship¡¯s bow. At the very front of the bow, a ram was installed, which was formed by several logs bound together, resembling a knight¡¯s long spear. The curved surface of the bowsprits was reinforced with many planks, resembling a shield. A long spear coupled with a shield, and with the momentum of descending the mountain, even a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa in the way could be instantly knocked aside. The day for the new ship to launch was truly just around the corner. However, on the evening of that day. Boom, boom, boom¡­ The sound of the volcanic eruption seemed to carry all the way here. People were startled awake and standing on the hillside, they saw the volcano erupting, forming an unprecedented pillar of magma shooting straight into the sky! Then, the ground shook violently, and rocks rolled down, hitting the protective barriers erected around the new ship. A historically unprecedented earthquake! Amidst the terrified gazes of the people, the small valley they had considered home finally could not hold up, and massive cracks appeared on the surface of the mountain. The cracks cut across the valley, and then the valley devastatingly collapsed! ¡°Quick, run!¡± The crowd was in utter chaos, scrambling wildly. Zong Ge tried to stabilize the situation, but to no avail. ¡°Protect the ship!¡± It seemed to be the desperate shout of the shipwright, but no one listened. When the earthquake occurred, Lord Zhenjin was battling the Demon Beast Army. When he rushed back to the camp, the small valley looked nothing like he remembered; it was full of debris, broken wood, and human bodies. ¡°No!¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s face went pale as he dashed deeper into the ruins. There were aftershocks, maybe even a bigger earthquake imminent, but people in the ruins had already begun self-rescue. ¡°The ship! We must dig out the ship!¡± ¡°Someone come help me move these rocks.¡± ¡°It¡¯s over, we¡¯re done for, the ship must be destroyed, we have no hope.¡± Voices were clamorous, some people were ashen-faced, desperately digging and moving rocks, while others wailed uncontrollably, emotionally broken. The new ship, which carried their hope, had a very small chance of survival. ¡°I always said the small valley was dangerous, a major collapse would be disastrous. You just wouldn¡¯t listen to me!¡± someone shouted, continuously complaining and blaming others. Many more were silent. Others cursed, emotionally charged, ¡°Bullshit! Without the valley, could you have stopped the Demon Beast Army?!¡± Lord Zhenjin didn¡¯t stop people from venting; they needed to vent, for only after venting could their emotions calm down. In fact, Lord Zhenjin needed to vent too. Looking at the ruins, he felt anger, shock, panic, disappointment, but as a leader, he had to suppress these negative emotions. He had just taken over command when suddenly a large hand appeared from under the shaking rocks. ¡°Help, help me¡­¡± Then, the voice of Big Guy came from below. ¡°Son, my son!¡± The shipwright, who had been frantically searching for Big Guy, immediately rushed over, feverishly moving rocks. ¡°Hold on, hold on!¡± The old shipwright kept calling out. Lord Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and others all helped, uniting everyone¡¯s strength to quickly move the many rocks. Big Guy appeared, his legs crushed under a huge rock, severely wounded, certainly with crushed bones. But Big Guy was still using his hands, using his chest to withstand the rock. Upon seeing the shipwright again, Big Guy was overjoyed, proudly saying, ¡°Dad, look, I protected the ship!¡± The old shipwright¡¯s eyes reddened, staring blankly at Big Guy. Seeing that Big Guy was alive brought him tremendous joy. But seeing Big Guy¡¯s injuries, he immediately sank into intense regret and self-blame. ¡°Dad was wrong, Dad was wrong!¡± the old shipwright wailed. When the landslide occurred, in his urgency, he had shouted to protect the ship. Aside from Big Guy, who had done so, no one else had heeded the shipwright¡¯s words, not even himself. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t cry, the ship is here, the ship is still here.¡± Big Guy quickly comforted the shipwright, knowing what the ship meant to him. ¡°Unbelievable, the ship only suffered minor damage!¡± Mu Ban announced loudly after inspecting. ¡°Thanks to Big Guy, if this rock had truly struck the ship, the ship would definitely have been destroyed!¡± ¡°Big Guy, well done.¡± ¡°Thanks to you¡­¡± After understanding the situation, people began to express their gratitude. Big Guy was somewhat confused; he had never faced such a scene before. Only the old shipwright got close to Big Guy, looked at the giant rock, looked at Big Guy¡¯s severely deformed legs. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Big Guy nodded, then shook his head, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t cry, Big Guy doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°Get this rock off me!¡± Zong Ge shouted. ¡°We can¡¯t move it, it will cause secondary damage to Big Guy¡¯s legs. We need to either smash this rock or corrode it away,¡± Lord Zhenjin shook his head. He was about to give an order when he suddenly heard a wolf¡¯s howl. Awooo ¡ª The howl of the wolf reverberated. Everyone heard it clearly, their faces instantly changing. The Demon Beast Army was attacking! Chapter 150 - 150: Section 151: Can Only Undergo Complete Mutation Chapter 150: Section 151: Can Only Undergo Complete Mutation ¡°Isn¡¯t it after the earthquake that the Demon Beast Army won¡¯t attack?!¡± ¡°Now what do we do? Our defense line has collapsed!¡± The crowd was in a noisy panic. Zhenjin frowned deeply, the situation had suddenly reached its most critical moment. ¡°Let¡¯s retreat; we simply can¡¯t beat them,¡± someone suggested, from the Three-blade Mercenary Group. Up till now, the survivors had been dealing with the Demon Beast Army by occupying the high ground, relying on city defenses, and then using ranged firepower like crossbows to wear down and suppress them. ... This was the most correct tactic. Because on this island, magic was banned, prohibiting the practical use of low-level fighting energy. But now, after a huge earthquake, the valley had collapsed, there was a shortage of crossbows, and without city defenses, relying on mere flesh and blood for a hard fight¡ªmost were ordinary people who struggled even against common wild beasts, let alone a large number of Magic Beasts. ¡°We can¡¯t retreat. The ship is still here!¡± ¡°We can build another one!¡± ¡°How much time can you give to build one? I think this cursed island is about to be doomed.¡± People began to argue, their opinions highly divided. Indeed, in recent times, the weather on the island had been noticeably abnormal, with volcanic clouds covering the sky and earthquakes happening constantly. It was feared that the island would either be split into countless pieces by earthquakes or be completely covered by volcanic lava. The shipwright cried out tragically, ¡°We can¡¯t retreat, my son can¡¯t run away.¡± The big guy was still pinned under a huge rock. People became more and more frantic. ¡°Calm down!¡± Zhenjin suddenly shouted. In an instant, everyone¡¯s gaze converged on Zhenjin. ¡°Fate¡­¡± the young leader sighed in his heart and couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. The situation had been very promising before, but in the blink of an eye, he was once again faced with a desperate situation and difficult choices. However, since awakening on this island and struggling to survive, had he faced any fewer difficult choices? This time, Zhenjin had to be more decisive than ever! His gaze was firm as he surveyed his surroundings, ¡°Retreat? Where can we retreat to? Some of us can retreat because our physical condition far exceeds the ordinary. But what about most of you, can you outrun bat monkeys, Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boas, and the cunning Blue Dog Fox Wolves in the jungle?¡± Everyone fell silent. ¡°Gentlemen, the critical moment has arrived! We have no camp defenses, not enough weapons, and the recent earthquake has caused us heavy losses, but this time we can only fight to the death without retreating!¡± ¡°We must fight while clearing the obstacles to get the new ship into the slipway.¡± ¡°We have to get the new ship to sea, breaking through all the barriers!¡± ¡°When we win, when we celebrate on the open sea, when we look back at these cursed Magic Beasts, drowned by the magma, sinking along with this damned island, we will be thankful for our efforts and glad that we didn¡¯t give up when it was most hopeless.¡± ¡°Believe me, we will be the ultimate victors!¡± Zhenjin shouted, drawing out his thin sword, Silver Lightning. He held the thin sword upright in front of himself and began to pray loudly to it, ¡°Holy Emperor, my lord, please show us a little mercy, and cast your gaze down here. Your Knight will engage in a death battle, will continue to walk your path. Will keep the Empire¡¯s flag flying, save the people, support the righteous and weak, even at the cost of his own life!¡± As his words ended, his body swelled as if inflated, quickly expanding. His clothes burst and dark golden armor grew out, covering Zhenjin¡¯s limbs and torso, enveloping his head, and even his soles. Zhenjin raised his hand, tossing the thin sword, Silver Lightning, back to Hei Juan. Out of sight of the others, a small section of spider leg mutated in the palm of his right hand, also covered by a scorpion shell. Then Zhenjin grabbed his fist, and the end of the spider leg grew a Blade Spider edge, extending from his fist¡¯s center. The sharp blade edge was wrapped in electric light. This was the latest result of Zhenjin¡¯s rigorous training. He combined the electric shock of the Flying Squirrel with the Blade Spider, electrifying only parts of the blade. It not only greatly reduced the consumption of demon energy but also significantly improved his attack power. Everyone gasped. This was the first time Zhenjin completed the Mutation in front of a crowd. ¡°Divine Favored Knight!¡± ¡°This is a miracle.¡± ¡°The Holy Emperor is watching over us.¡± ¡°We will definitely win.¡± Morale stabilized, and the eyes of the people were rekindled with the light of hope. But Zhenjin¡¯s heart was heavy. This was a necessary evil. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn¡¯t show his Mutation in front of everyone. But the situation was extremely critical, he couldn¡¯t care less, he had to calm people¡¯s hearts as quickly as possible, so he took the risk. ¡°The upcoming battle, even if we win, will be a Pyrrhic victory with heavy casualties,¡± Zhenjin judged clearly in his mind. If it were just him alone, the Demon Beast Army couldn¡¯t trouble him. But he had to protect many others, including Zi Di, Cang Xu, and more. He had to ensure that as many people as possible survived. Because he was a Holy Temple Knight, and also, such a large ship needed people to operate. A dozen or so people would find it difficult to sail it. Even if they could start, in the future on the high seas, facing storms or even slightly bigger waves, they would have little ability to resist. Without any wasted words or adjustments to the formation, the Demon Beast Army, under the command of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, charged directly in a dense mass. People occupied the ruins of the collapsed valley and resisted desperately. Zhenjin and Zong Ge stood proudly at the forefront. Zong Ge had also put on his helmet, fully armed. Beneath their face armor, both men looked extremely solemn. The Demon Beast Army was coming on too fast, they hadn¡¯t even had time to count their own numbers. Most people, hurrying to escape the earthquake, were now caught completely unarmed. ¡°Fire, quick, set up the fire!¡± Zi Di called out urgently. The girl opened her leather bag to reveal neatly arranged backup potions. ¡°Quick, quick.¡± Mu Ban directed a group of wounded, clearing the road. ¡°Son, hold on, Dad will take you away in a bit!¡± After comforting the Big guy, the shipwright immediately hurried to join Mu Ban and the others. Boom, boom boom. A stampede of beasts surged like a tidal wave sweeping over everything. Many swallowed hard, for they were accustomed to shooting from a high vantage point. Now, facing the horde on almost level ground, they immediately felt the terrifying force of the Demon Beast Army. But the charge of the beasts suddenly slowed. A valley collapse, with numerous stones, hindered their momentum. Both Zong Ge and Zhenjin¡¯s eyes sparkled simultaneously, as they saw an opportunity in battle. ¡°You take charge of the front line, I¡¯ll go out and fight for a while,¡± Zhenjin shouted. Zong Ge nodded. He knew Zhenjin was stronger and more suited to the task. Zhenjin charged into battle alone. He plunged directly into the mass of Magic Beasts, slaughtering them left and right. He roared repeatedly, and the Flying Squirrels couldn¡¯t even get close to him. The claws and blades of bat monkeys and Blade Spiders could not penetrate the scorpion shell. The webs of the Blade Spiders were even cut directly by the blades that Zhenjin wielded. Only the red claws of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear made Zhenjin wary, but it wasn¡¯t too troublesome. The young knight used ultrasound, wielding his talent for chaotic battle, always managing to find the best path of attack amidst the mayhem. He turned the Demon Beast Army upside down, the flashing Silver Lightning of his blades slicing precisely, killing a Magic Beast with each strike, not sparing even the Silver Magical Beasts. Zhenjin¡¯s valiant figure boosted the morale of everyone behind him as their blood boiled with excitement. ¡°Bark, bark, bark.¡± The Blue Dog Fox Wolves let out their cries. The Demon Beast Army quickly changed tactics, leaving some to entrap Zhenjin while two other groups raced towards the crowd from left and right. ¡°These cunning beasts!¡± Zong Ge cursed, leading the people to hold their ground in combat. Arrows fell sparsely and could not hit the fierce beasts. As the distance closed, everyone resorted to hurling stones, which hindered ordinary beasts, but for the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears and such, even hits seemed merely to tickle them. When the Magic Beasts closed in, the survivors were no match at all. Screams filled the air as casualties mounted in an instant! Zong Ge, Sanda, Hei Juan, Lan Zao, and others became the pillars of the fight but could only hold out briefly before the swelling pressure forced them into a steady retreat. Sandworms attacked from underground, bat monkeys swooped from overhead; from all sides came Strong Life White Rhinoceroses, Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, or Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boas. The people could not hold them off! ¡°Retreat, retreat!¡± Zong Ge, desperate, let out a hoarse bellow, his voice breaking. He had the abilities of a commander and knew retreating hastily could easily trigger a rout. But there was no choice; to remain was certain death. Now they had to take drastic measures. Luckily, at the critical moment, Zhenjin saw the dire situation and fought his way back. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Zong Ge, personally covering the rear, fiercely fighting back and instilling fear into the Magic Beasts. This allowed the people to retreat successfully near the new ship. Seeing the main forces retreating to their side so quickly, Mu Ban, the shipwright, and others displayed panic. They had exerted all their strength but hadn¡¯t managed to clear even half of the obstacles. There was simply not enough time! The sly Blue Dog Fox Wolves, with just one tactic, had cornered the survivors. Mainly because the situation was too passive. The main force had sustained over half casualties in this round of exchange. ¡°Bark, bark, bark.¡± The deadly barking reverberated across the battlefield anew. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Blue Dog Fox Wolves didn¡¯t intend to give Zhenjin and his people any respite. The Demon Beast Army charged once more. The people were utterly despairing, even in the presence of Zhenjin. ¡°I have to fully mutate now!¡± Zhenjin cast aside all concerns and made up his mind. ¡°Zong Ge, you defend here. I need to break through and kill the Blue Dog Fox Wolves; that will significantly lower the threat of the Demon Beast Army,¡± Zhenjin shouted. This was their only chance! Purely defending, even with complete mutation, would not work, for Zhenjin was just one man. He had no choice but to attack in place of defending. You want to kill my people; then I will take you down directly. The disadvantage was too great; Zhenjin could only use such a desperate tactic! ¡°Sir!¡± Zi Di¡¯s voice came from behind, ¡°Be extremely careful!¡± The bonfire was lit. Zi Di sprinkled the medicine powder, the thick smoke repelling the Flying Squirrels, Fire Poison Bees, and bat monkeys, greatly reducing the defensive pressure. But it couldn¡¯t last. The small leather bag¡¯s capacity was limited, and the backup potions were only a small part of it. ¡°Take care of yourself as well.¡± Zhenjin only had time to toss this phrase to his fianc¨¦e before he turned and launched into a fearless charge! Chapter 151 - 151: Section 152: The Madness of Beastification Chapter 151: Section 152: The Madness of Beastification Charge, charge, charge! Lord Zhenjin charged directly towards the rear of the Demon Beast Army, his dreadfully decisive aura shocking the surrounding Magic Beasts. ¡°Woof, woof, woof!¡± Under the orders of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, a large number of Magic Beasts encircled and intercepted Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin rolled on the spot to dodge a bite from the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, quickly ran past a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, swung his sword, and split an attacking bat monkey into two halves. He leaped fiercely, stepping on the back of a Strong Life White Rhinoceros, then landed, rolled, and continued his charge! ... Flying Squirrels attacked, he roared loudly, and the Flying Squirrels rolled to the ground, wailing ceaselessly. An Underground Sand Worm burst through the ground aiming for a surprise attack, but Lord Zhenjin¡¯s ultrasound had already detected it, and he dodged in advance, leaving the Underground Sand Worm to return without success. From a high altitude, the Demon Beast Army looked like huge waves of a tide, and Lord Zhenjin was the only one pushing against the current! The Blue Dog Fox Wolves were not at all flustered, Zong Ge and the others did not know Lord Zhenjin¡¯s identity, but they had already guessed it. After all, Lord Zhenjin nearly harassed the Demon Beast Army every night, and both his scorpion shell and his battle method were very apparent characteristics. When Lord Zhenjin reached halfway, the Blue Dog Fox Wolves that were gathered together suddenly dispersed rapidly, leaving only one standing still. ¡°Woof, woof, woof!¡± A new order was issued, and a large part of the Demon Beast Army began charging at the ships and Zong Ge and others! For some reason, these Blue Dog Fox Wolves had extreme enmity toward the survivors, determined to not stop until they annihilated them. And the remaining Blue Dog Fox Wolf commanded many Magic Beasts to drain Lord Zhenjin¡¯s physical strength. It poised itself as if to say, ¡°I am here, come get me if you can!¡± Lord Zhenjin was not afraid to sacrifice himself, but at this moment, even the Blue Dog Fox Wolves showed a spirit of no fear of sacrifice. The tactic employed by the Blue Dog Fox Wolves was clear¡ª Indeed, I can¡¯t handle you, dealing with Lord Zhenjin is no use. But even if one or more Blue Dog Fox Wolves die on our side, more of your people will surely die, even everyone except you, Lord Zhenjin! Annihilate these people except you, destroy the new ship, and then we will continue to wear you down. Whether you fight, flee, or slay all the present Demon Beast Army, you will surely not leave this island, and your fate is already sealed!! Lord Zhenjin¡¯s heart sank fiercely, realizing that the Blue Dog Fox Wolves were employing the very tactic he dreaded most. Continuous screams echoed from behind; incapable of restraining himself, Lord Zhenjin looked back, and the sight of Zong Ge and the others in their current dire situation nearly made him furious. Zong Ge fought desperately, bloodied in battle, Sanda, Xi Suo, and others had already been injured. He, Lord Zhenjin, could certainly save them and stabilize the situation if he returned now. But that would only be temporary, merely relying on the current circumstances, the survivors were simply indefensible. If Lord Zhenjin didn¡¯t go back, even if he fully mutated, he could kill only one or a few Blue Dog Fox Wolves, yet he would lose his companions and the new ship, and his end was also sealed! With the intelligence of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, Lord Zhenjin, no matter how strong, was destined to fail! Distracted by looking back, Lord Zhenjin exposed a vulnerability. The Underground Sand Worms launched a combined surprise attack; Lord Zhenjin dodged the first two, but ultimately, the third one swallowed him and quickly dragged him into the deep underground. ¡°Dad, get to the ship quickly!¡± Big guy yelled. ¡°Get on the ship!!¡± Zong Ge also bellowed. Originally, everyone wanted to protect the new ship, but now with the fierce attack of the Magic Beasts, Zong Ge and others no longer cared about the future. Everyone entered the ship, relying on the shipboard and other structures, they temporarily stabilized their footing. ¡°No!¡± the shipwright let out a wretched scream. Big guy was still outside the ship! Time was too tight, and it was impossible for everyone to move the huge stones trapping Big guy¡¯s feet in time. Big guy was besieged by the Magic Beasts, immediately his skin split open, and blood gushed wildly. He had no martial arts and was facing the boulders, his back to the enemy, with no power to resist. ¡°Throw him a knife, let him cut off his own legs, then climb up!¡± Zong Ge shouted while fighting intensely. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The cruel suggestion made the shipwright shudder violently. Although Big Guy had the Giant Bloodline and a robust life force with strong recovery power, directly chopping off both of his lower legs meant such a severe injury was utterly irrecoverable. But if he didn¡¯t amputate, he would lose his life! The shipwright¡¯s face turned pale, his hands trembling violently, yet he dropped the knife. ¡°Hold it, aim at your knees, cut off your own legs!¡± the shipwright yelled at Big Guy. Bang bang bang. Zi Di threw several glass potion bottles in succession, quickly creating a pale green smoke around the hull. The smoke blocked many Magic Beasts, but the powerful ones, like the Strong Life White Rhinoceros, Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, and Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, still moved freely. Big Guy howled in agony as he brutally chopped off his lower legs. Blood poured out, but he managed to break free and regain his freedom. He brandished an iron knife, momentarily forcing back the surrounding Magic Beasts, then dragged his half-body, using his arms to quickly crawl toward the new ship. ¡°Come on up!¡± The shipwright reached out to Big Guy. He leaned out, wanting to pull Big Guy aboard and help him use the leverage to get on the ship. But Big Guy didn¡¯t climb aboard. He looked up, giving the shipwright a silly smile. He threw away his iron knife and used his chest to brace against the stern, his hands beginning to desperately push the ship. ¡°Dad, go now!¡± Several bat monkeys swooped in, landing on his shoulders and back, frenziedly gnawing at his flesh. But the pain they brought was just a drizzle compared to the agony from Big Guy¡¯s severed legs. The excruciating pain almost made Big Guy faint, but he still used his sawed-off legs, the freshly chopped wounds pressed hard against the ground, supporting his body. No matter the injury, no matter how painful, it didn¡¯t matter¡­ As long as dad survives, as long as dad survives, that¡¯s all that matters! ¡°Ah ah ah¡ª!¡± Big Guy roared maniacally. The new ship, driven by his desperate pushing, began to move. Initially by mere inches, then by a few inches at a time, gradually gaining noticeable speed, and then increasingly faster. ¡°How is the ship moving?!¡± someone exclaimed uncertainly. ¡°It¡¯s Big Guy¡­¡± many had tears in their eyes. ¡°My son, my son!¡± the old shipwright cried out in anguish, ¡°Get the hell on here, stop what you¡¯re doing, come up! Listen, listen to your dad!¡± Big Guy no longer made a sound; he bowed his head, unable to look at the shipwright. He pressed his forehead against the deck, contributing to the ship¡¯s propulsion. In his heart, he apologized to the old shipwright: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, dad, sorry, this is the first time¡­ I¡¯m not listening to you!¡± Seeing Big Guy offering no resistance, countless wild beasts and Magic Beasts almost piled on top of him, inflicting brutal, savage bites. The pain Big Guy felt was paradoxically diminishing. In fact, this was a dangerous sign. When the human body experiences too intense of a pain, threatening one¡¯s life, the brain will stop using pain as a way to alert a person. Extreme pain can also form interference, hindering one¡¯s self-rescue efforts. Big Guy had no intention of rescuing himself. Step by step, he pushed the new ship, giving it speed on land. He only wanted to protect his father, to see him safely to the sea! Everyone on the ship was deeply moved. The new ship broke through various rubble, and, just a bit more effort, it would clear all obstacles and enter the slipway. The slipway had already been repaired and reinforced earlier by the maintenance team to withstand earthquakes. With such speed, once on the slipway, the new ship was very likely to successfully make it to the sea! Once at sea, the Demon Beast Army could no longer threaten anyone¡¯s life. ¡°Get up here, damn it¡­¡± the old shipwright cried, his face streaked with tears of agony. Big guy had run out of strength. His injuries were too severe, and he had lost too much blood. He tripped over a huge rock and fell to the ground, his head cracked and bleeding. The wild animals and Magic Beasts almost instantly overwhelmed him. ¡°Push again,¡± the new ship slowed drastically, and in desperation, Hei Juan shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t you want your dad to survive?¡± Big guy lay on the ground, utterly dazed, but upon hearing those words, he suddenly became alert. He raised his mangled hands and placed them on the ship¡¯s plank again. Push! Big guy couldn¡¯t stand up, but he still wanted to keep pushing the boat. Most people¡¯s hearts thumped wildly. They faced the oncoming Beast Tide while keeping a close watch on the front of the ship. There was really just one last obstacle left! ¡°No, Lord Zhenjin hasn¡¯t returned yet,¡± Zi Di shouted. ¡°He will come back; we need to go first so that we don¡¯t drag him down!¡± Hei Juan screamed. ¡°No!!!¡± At this moment, the old shipwright roared and suddenly jumped off the ship. He held a long piece of wood, swinging it wildly, and actually managed to drive off many of the Magic Beasts on Big guy. ¡°Have you lost your mind?!¡± People next to him stared in shock, trying to grab the old shipwright, but it was too late. ¡°Dad!¡± Seeing the old shipwright jump down to his side, Big guy somehow squeezed out a bit more strength to swing his arms, protecting the old shipwright. ¡°Son, hold on, Dad will take you away!¡± Just as the shipwright finished shouting, a Blade Spider charged through in a tricky trajectory, dodging Big guy¡¯s arms and stabbing through the chest of the old shipwright. The old shipwright¡¯s body shook violently, and fresh red blood quickly soaked his clothes; all his strength swiftly drained out from the wound. ¡°Dad!¡± Big guy let out a piercing scream. Zong Ge finally had his chance, leaping down and smashing the Blade Spider to death with his hammer. But seeing the old shipwright¡¯s injuries, his heart sank. It was a fatal injury, beyond saving. ¡°Hurry and climb aboard, I¡¯ll cover our retreat,¡± Zong Ge shouted at Big guy. But Big guy just stared blankly at the old shipwright, deaf to Zong Ge¡¯s shouting. ¡°Push, damn fool,¡± Hei Juan urged Big guy. Big guy suddenly went wild. He crawled to the old shipwright¡¯s side, fighting off the Magic Beasts recklessly. The Magic Beasts counterattacked, and he used his body to protect the old shipwright, many of his wounds now exposing bone. Seeing this, Zong Ge let out a deep sigh. He shouted at the people on the ship, ¡°Some of you come down and move the stones at the front. Another group, push the ship!¡± But under these circumstances, with the Beast Tide almost cramming the ship, who could undertake such a dangerous task? Only Sanda and some former members of the Mercenary Group jumped down and tried to save themselves with Zong Ge. Woof woof woof! Perceiving these people¡¯s actions, the Blue Dog Fox Wolves barked again. Thus, the Beast Tide immediately changed its target. They abandoned the old shipwright and Big guy, charging directly at the ship, launching a mad attack on Zong Ge and the others. ¡°Do we have any potions left that can be useful right now?!¡± Hei Juan shouted at Zi Di. His eyes were bloodshot, the pressure of near death driving him to madness, losing his normal composure. Zi Di shook her head faintly, ¡°They¡¯re all used up.¡± ¡°Damn it, damn it!¡± Using his thin sword, Silver Lightning, Hei Juan killed a bat monkey and looked down from the ship. Zong Ge, Sanda, and others were struggling to protect themselves, let alone clearing obstacles or pushing the ship. One after another, ferocious Magic Beasts boarded the deck; a Strong Life White Rhinoceros damaged the ship¡¯s side, creating holes. Hei Juan looked around, his face showing a blank expression. The screams of the people, the trembling of the ship being smashed, the gray-black sky¡ªit all seemed like a nightmare. ¡°Holy Emperor, if this is a nightmare, let me wake up soon. Please!¡± Hei Juan prayed inwardly. He was pushed to the limit, the immense pressure driving him to the brink of mental breakdown. Arooo! Suddenly a beast¡¯s roar made Hei Juan¡¯s body tremble. He instinctively looked over. The roar was right in front of him, but it didn¡¯t come from a Magic Beast, but from a person. Yet, in the next moment, this person¡¯s hair grew wildly, his body swelled, turning into a tiger-headed human figure. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Hei Juan¡¯s eyes nearly popped out. Then, he watched as this tiger-headed comrade furiously leapt out and killed a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear with its sharp teeth! Roars kept sounding. It was not just him; many others too. In an instant, they grew claws, teeth, tails, and horns. ¡°What is happening?!¡± Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others all showed extreme shock. These Beastification People seemed to have lost their sanity, driven only by the desire to kill. Magic Beasts fell one after another, and even the humans nearby were among their targets. ¡°They¡¯ve gone mad.¡± ¡°Even killing their own comrades!¡± ¡°Stay away from them!¡± The survivors huddled together, occupying a corner of the rear deck. They were utterly shocked and puzzled as they watched the counterattack of their suddenly Beastified comrades. These suddenly transformed individuals unleashed a wild massacre, their unclear minds making them disregard their own safety, and the Magic Beasts were actually being defeated decisively. For a long time, the human body had been fragile. Even those with advanced Fighting energy training and higher physical fitness were usually at a great disadvantage compared to Magic Beasts of the same life rank. But now, after their Beastification, the strength, defense, agility, and more that these humans displayed completely outmatched the Magic Beasts! For the first time since the beginning of the battle, the Demon Beast Army¡¯s assault was thwarted. Soon, the Magic Beasts around the ship were cleared, and the Beastification People continued to slaughter outwards. It seemed they targeted whoever posed the greatest threat. Zhenjin emerged; he had completely Mutated underground, killing all the sandworms, allowing him to escape. He hurried back to the frontlines, only to discover these Beastification People. At that moment, Zhenjin was utterly shocked and confused. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Could they also have a Heart Core?!¡± Chapter 152 - 152: Section 153: Dad!!! Chapter 152: Section 153: Dad!!! The Beast Tide had receded. After the transformation of the Beastification People, they launched a frenzied counterattack, and the Magic Beasts were outright slaughtered by them. The Blue Dog Fox Wolves tried their best to command, showcasing exquisite tactics. If not for Zhenjin, their efforts might have had some effect. Upon witnessing the Beastification People¡¯s outbreak and counterattack, Zhenjin, suppressing the shock and confusion in his heart, continually hunted down the Blue Dog Fox Wolves from the rear. The majority of the Demon Beast Army¡¯s forces were concentrated at the very front, around the new ship. Their strategy was to temporarily ignore Zhenjin, but the sudden appearance of the Beastification People gave Zhenjin the advantage. ... After killing three Blue Dog Fox Wolves in succession, the only remaining Blue Dog Fox Wolf finally managed to flee far away with the remnants of its defeated army. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t catch up. In fact, his Physical Ability was nearly exhausted. The difficulty of beheading tactics was extremely high, especially in such direct battlefronts. Having lost ninety percent of its troops, the remnants of the Demon Beast Army could no longer pose a threat. The panicked escape of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves also indicated that they wouldn¡¯t be causing trouble any time soon. And as soon as the Demon Beast Army had retreated, the Beastification People who had erupted in battle also collapsed, one by one losing the breath of life. ¡°We survived!¡± Many people collapsed onto the deck. ¡°I actually survived.¡± Then, even more people cried out of sheer joy. ¡°What the hell just happened? It¡¯s like seeing a ghost!¡± Hei Juan stood on the ship, looking at the dead bodies of the Magic Beasts and the deceased Beastification People around him. Fear still lingered on his face. It all happened so suddenly, deeply shaking him. Zhenjin had returned. He still bore the appearance of the golden scorpion armor. Because of the Beastification People, he hadn¡¯t fully undergone Mutation in this battle. Seeing that people like Cang Xu and Zi Di, though disheveled and slightly injured, had all kept their lives, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. But although this battle was won, the number of survivors and casualties was devastatingly high. From the more than two hundred people, after enduring the earthquake and slaughter, only about fifty remained. There were many with light injuries, but few with severe ones, as the intensity of the battle was so high, and without a reserve force like in the Camp defense, those with serious injuries were quickly killed. Others could afford to be caught up in their emotions, but Zhenjin, as a leader, could not. Under his orders, people began to quickly clean up the battlefield and treat the wounded. ¡°The old shipwright is still breathing, and the Big guy is alive too, but it¡¯s not looking good for him.¡± Someone reported shortly after. The result was somewhat bewildering, as many people had died on the deck. Yet, this father and son outside the ship were still hanging by a thread. In fact, thanks go to the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, whose commands had led the Magic Beasts to temporarily spare the father and son. Zhenjin hurried over. The Big guy lay on the ground, arms still wrapped protectively around the old shipwright, his injuries so severe that he seemed on the verge of death. The wounds on his severed legs were a mess of blood and flesh, but the bleeding had stopped on its own due to his Giant Bloodline. The old shipwright had suffered a fatal injury, lying motionless on the ground, his face as pale as death from excessive blood loss. However, when he saw Zhenjin, his previously lifeless eyes suddenly glowed with a hint of light, obviously with something to say. ¡°Zi Di, is there anything you can do?¡± In his grief, Zhenjin turned to his fianc¨¦e for help. Zi Di didn¡¯t disappoint him, quickly pulling a potion from her deflated little bag. Zhenjin took it, pouring it into the old shipwright¡¯s mouth. A flush of color immediately rose to the old shipwright¡¯s cheeks. ¡°My Lord¡­ Lord Zhenjin¡­ I have a favor to ask of you. Please, you must promise me to take my son away, take him¡­¡± ¡°He is still alive, I will take him away. He is a true warrior!¡± Zhenjin immediately promised. ¡°No, Dad. I want to be with you!¡± The Big guy wailed, resting his chin on the ground, looking hopefully at the old shipwright. His injuries were too severe, leaving him without the strength to stand. Once again, the Bloodline of the giant clung to his life. Yet his face was resigned to death; if the old shipwright died, he did not want to live. The old shipwright couldn¡¯t stand up, he couldn¡¯t even turn his head; he couldn¡¯t see the Big guy, but he knew his son was right behind him. The old shipwright gave a bitter smile, speaking in a voice filled with regret, sadness, longing, yet tinged with hope and blessing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, son. Dad can¡¯t take you with him.¡± ¡°But you must live on.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still so young.¡± ¡°Dad, I¡¯m not leaving, I want to be with you. If you die, then we¡¯ll die together.¡± The Big guy¡¯s attitude was adamant, and he had realized the inevitability of the old shipwright¡¯s death, now in tears. ¡°You¡­ fool.¡± The old shipwright tried to scold, but his tone was mild, sounding more like comfort and affection. No matter how much the old shipwright tried to convince him, the Big guy refused to change his stance. A look of worry appeared on Zhenjin¡¯s face. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if he knocked the Big guy out, he couldn¡¯t make him want to live. He understood the Big guy; nothing could stop him from seeking death. After a few attempts to persuade him, the old shipwright was quickly losing strength, feeling his life slipping away. I can¡¯t drag this out! In a moment of desperation, a flash of inspiration struck him. He raised his voice slightly, ¡°Silly boy, I¡¯m not your dad.¡± ¡°No, Dad. You can¡¯t drive me away. I¡¯m going to die with you. You¡¯re my only family.¡± But the old shipwright looked straight at Zhenjin, ¡°You idiot, Lord Zhenjin¡­ he is your dad! Your biological father!¡± ¡°?!,¡± The Big guy stared in disbelief, ¡°Dad, what are you talking about?¡± Those around who heard this were also shocked. The old shipwright turned to Zhenjin, his face full of pleas. Zhenjin fell silent and gave the old shipwright a slight nod. The old shipwright¡¯s eyes immediately welled up with extreme gratitude. He coughed violently, spitting out mouthfuls of blood, and continued to the big guy, ¡°There are some things you¡¯ve known all along, you silly boy. I am human, and you are a giant. I am merely your adoptive father. Ah¡­ at this point, I don¡¯t want to keep this secret hidden any longer.¡± ¡°But I also have human blood in me.¡± ¡°You fool, I¡¯m just an ordinary shipwright. How could I possibly have any relation to a female giant?¡± ¡°There was a time, you asked me, didn¡¯t you? You really wanted to meet your biological parents, right? Now I¡¯ll tell you. Your real father is right in front of you, it¡¯s him, Lord Zhenjin!¡± The big guy opened his mouth wide, staring blankly at the old shipwright, looking at Zhenjin. The others maintained their silence, realizing that the old shipwright was deceitfully trying to help the big guy survive. Zhenjin sighed, looking at the big guy, ¡°That¡¯s right. Big guy, you¡­ are actually my son.¡± ¡°No, no!¡± the big guy shook his head, believing it to be true, but the news was too shocking for his heart, and he found it difficult to accept. ¡°What else could it be?¡± the dying old shipwright was very anxious, ¡°Your father is stronger than you, and this poor old man is just an ordinary human. Your father also understands you, cares for you, and many times he just knocked you out, never really harming you. Do you think that¡¯s something others could do? He admires you too, doesn¡¯t look down on you at all. Don¡¯t you find it strange? You want to get closer to him, right? It¡¯s natural, because the kinship between your bloodlines attracts you to each other, unconsciously drawing close. That¡¯s the bond of father and son!¡± The old shipwright spouted nonsense, and those around him couldn¡¯t help but grimace, holding back their reactions. But to the big guy, every word the old shipwright spoke struck like a bell toll, each statement was an ironclad truth. ¡°I wanted to keep this secret because revealing it wouldn¡¯t be good for your biological father. He is a noble, and a knight; having a bastard child like you is very dishonorable for him. But you, you silly fool, are so intent on dying with me, this poor old man, that I had to spill the beans. Forgive me, silly boy, I am just your adoptive father. You must survive, your real father is right here, now call him dad!¡± urged the old shipwright. His words indeed reflected reality. For a noble human to have such a half-giant son, it was a stain on his life, capable of ruining a noble¡¯s reputation. Especially since Zhenjin was a Holy Temple Knight. Now, using his impending death, the old shipwright was pleading with Zhenjin, thus garnering an opportunity. Any normal noble would have already scolded or even whipped the senile old shipwright for spouting such nonsense. But Zhenjin was different! Throughout this time, the old shipwright had realized more than once that Zhenjin was a very unique noble! He genuinely had compassion, a kind heart, and a broad-mindedness that did not befit his young age. The old shipwright was exploiting Zhenjin¡¯s compassion but was also deeply worried that Zhenjin would change his mind. So, while he still had a breath left, he wanted to confirm the ¡°relationship¡± between the big guy and Zhenjin. With that done, Zhenjin would have no room to back out. Of course, the old shipwright didn¡¯t truly believe that Zhenjin would back out, but as a father, a dying father wanted to grasp every chance to add more insurance during his last moments. The big guy was lost for words. He had already believed the old shipwright; in fact, he had always followed the old shipwright¡¯s words without question. But he couldn¡¯t utter the words. He didn¡¯t know why, but he just couldn¡¯t call someone else ¡°dad¡± in front of the old shipwright! As the old shipwright waited in vain for the big guy¡¯s response, his vision began to darken. ¡°I¡¯m satisfied to be able to leave you in the care of your biological father.¡± ¡°Survive, silly boy¡­¡± ¡°Survive. Be obedient, listen to your father¡¯s words, little good boy.¡± It had been a long time since the old shipwright had called him by the nickname ¡°little good boy,¡± and the big guy shook violently upon hearing it. Death was upon him. The old shipwright vividly felt it. ¡°So this is what death feels like¡­¡± ¡°I still really want to call out ¡®son¡¯¡­¡± But he couldn¡¯t. He needed to deceive the big guy. Scenes from the past began to flash rapidly before his eyes. Inside the hold of the Pig Kiss. ¡°Waaah, waaah¡­¡± The cries of an infant drew a bunch of sailors to investigate. ¡°My God, look what I¡¯ve found!¡± the old shipwright exclaimed as he carried an infant out from a corner. ¡°Good Lord, it¡¯s really a child!¡± ¡°Someone gave birth aboard the Pig Kiss, leaving a child behind for us.¡± ¡°Which heartless bastard did this?¡± ¡°Must be a bastard child, just abandoned like that, such a cruel mother.¡± After a burst of discussion, they all turned and left. The old shipwright was stunned, holding the child, ¡°Hey, what are we going to do with this little guy?¡± Some of the other sailors shrugged irresponsibly, others laughed heartily, ¡°Old Four, you found this child, it¡¯s your responsibility now.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± the old shipwright was furious, looking at the infant in his arms as if holding a hot potato, he was tempted to toss it aside. The sailors dispersed, none wanting to be involved with this trouble. Out of desperation, the old shipwright had no choice but to bring the infant to the Captain. ¡°Poor little guy, being born into this world was your misfortune.¡± ¡°Perhaps you should grant him relief; how could we possibly care for a child on board?¡± said the Captain of Kiss. The old shipwright shook his head, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it! ¡°Then, when we reach port, find a suitable person and leave the child in their care,¡± the Captain suggested. The old shipwright nodded at that. But how could he find a suitable person? The Pig Kiss docked at ports often, but the stops were very short. In such a short time, in unfamiliar places, it was difficult for the old shipwright to find a trustworthy and appropriate person to entrust the child to. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to see at the next port.¡± With that thought in mind, the baby stayed on the Pig Kiss under the old shipwright¡¯s care. ¡°Damn it, pooped again! Eats a lot and craps a lot too.¡± The old shipwright grimaced as he changed the baby¡¯s diaper. ¡°He¡¯s got a fever. What should I do? What on earth should I do?¡± The old shipwright was frantically looking for remedies. ¡°Why won¡¯t you stop crying? Are you hungry? But you¡¯ve just been fed.¡± Unable to find the reason, the old shipwright resorted to singing a lullaby, ¡°Good baby, don¡¯t cry, good baby, don¡¯t fuss, let me take care of you¡­¡± The surrounding crew burst into laughter, ¡°Hey, shipwright, that¡¯s a love song, not a lullaby!¡± Time passed, and a year later, the baby started to show extraordinary traits. He could eat too much. So much that it was more than the shipwright could handle. The cabin was a complete mess, and the still infantile Big Guy continued to rummage through boxes and drawers. ¡°What are you doing, you little troublemaker!¡± ¡°Ah, you ate all my tobacco? You idiot, idiot!¡± The old shipwright slapped his bottom hard. Thump. The old shipwright collapsed on the deck. ¡°Oh my God!¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy, shipwright. You gave all your rations to that baby, and you¡¯re still doing such heavy work, fainting from hunger on the deck.¡± ¡°You should be thankful, the sea is calm today.¡± ¡°Why are you working yourself to the bone? I really don¡¯t get you.¡± ¡°In my opinion, you should have dumped him a long time ago!¡± The crew shook their heads in incomprehension. ¡°I should throw him away, but to whom?¡± ¡­ Late at night. The old shipwright was awakened by pain. ¡°Why are you biting me? You imbecile, I¡¯m not a female, I don¡¯t have milk!¡± The injured and infuriated old shipwright targeted the still-small buttocks of the Big Guy and gave them a fierce smack. Big Guy: ¡°Wah wah wah¡­¡± Docked. The old shipwright went to the bar. Seeing an acquaintance, the bartender smiled, ¡°Old shipwright, do you need rum or beer?¡± ¡°Got milk?¡± The bartender was startled. ¡°Breast milk is fine too.¡± The bartender froze, then took a fresh look at the old shipwright, ¡°Old man, your tastes have changed drastically, what kind of shock did you get?¡± The fellow seamen laughed. ¡°He¡¯s lost his mind!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all for his ¡®son¡¯.¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely a little monster, I¡¯ve never seen a baby who could eat so much! My God, eats more than I do.¡± ¡­ ¡°What on earth have you done? My God!¡± Half a day later, the shipwright, looking at the deck covered in cracks and even holes, tore at his hair, almost crazy with frustration. Big Guy sat squatting at the side, puzzled, ¡°Dad, you told me to ¡®work hard¡¯.¡± Captain of Kiss¡¯s face turned dark, ¡°Throw him away. If we keep him, one day my deck will be gone, my sails will be gone. Who knows, I might wake up from a nap and the whole ship¡¯s gone!¡± The old shipwright pleaded desperately, but the captain was resolute. Thump. The old shipwright bent his knees and knelt down, ¡°Whatever the cost, I will compensate for it all! I can build ships, isn¡¯t that why you hired me in the first place, Captain, for my skills?¡± The captain squinted his eyes, looking down at the shipwright, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you¡¯re still in debt to me, right? Before long, you would have been able to pay off your debt and be free again.¡± ¡°Then extend my debt period!¡± The captain scoffed, ¡°At your age, with your current salary, counting this damage, it will take you another three years of work for me to pay off your debt. But in these three years, will Big Guy not make mistakes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish!¡± ¡°He¡¯s a simpleton, never learns anything, and only messes up what¡¯s already working.¡± ¡°At this rate, you¡¯ll never pay off your debt in your lifetime.¡± The old shipwright suddenly raised his head, straightening his upper body, ¡°Then let it be a lifetime!¡± The captain was momentarily taken aback. ¡­ A boarding battle had just ended, blood flowed across the deck. The shipwright bandaged Big Guy¡¯s wounds, ¡°I told you, don¡¯t just charge in blindly, you fool!¡± ¡°But they were hitting dad! They¡¯re bad guys!¡± Big Guy retorted. ¡°Now you¡¯ve learned to talk back!¡± the shipwright glared at Big Guy, ¡°Damn it, we¡¯re out of potions. The blood won¡¯t stop! Damn it, damn it.¡± ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry, it doesn¡¯t hurt,¡± Big Guy consoled. ¡°Shut up!¡± The shipwright instinctively slapped Big Guy on the head, but realizing his mistake, he quickly pulled back most of his strength. Late at night. On deck, the Big Guy¡¯s snores shook the heavens. The old shipwright sat in front of him, looking at the bandages on his body, sighed, and whispered to himself, ¡°It¡¯s not that Daddy is heartless, silly boy.¡± ¡°To stay on this ship, it¡¯s not easy.¡± ¡°No one likes to keep a burden; you have to contribute.¡± ¡°Your dad, my body is getting weaker by the day. I hope that one day, without me, you can still survive on your own.¡± ¡­ After a tender moment. The Lady urged the old shipwright, ¡°I¡¯ve been a widow for many years, and I have a small estate outside Garden City. Come with me, there are no storms on the estate, and with my support, you could even build a small ship yourself. I know that¡¯s what you dream of.¡± ¡°But I must leave him behind, right?¡± The old shipwright sat on the bed, bent over, looking toward the door. He knew that outside the door was the Big Guy, surely squatting on the ground, staring eagerly at the door. ¡°Of course.¡± The Lady¡¯s attitude was decisive, ¡°A bastard mixed with Giant Bloodline, and a fool at that. If I took him back to the estate, everyone would laugh at me.¡± ¡°Then I refuse!¡± The old shipwright shook his head, equally determined. ¡°This is the third time I¡¯ve offered,¡± the Lady frowned, displeased, ¡°Are you sure? You have no blood relation to him.¡± ¡°I am sure, esteemed Lady,¡± the old shipwright sighed, ¡°I might be able to live without him, but he can¡¯t live without me. In this world, he only has me.¡± ¡°To be favored by you, Lady, is the luckiest thing in my life. I am very grateful to you, thank you.¡± The Lady¡¯s voice turned cold, ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re giving up?¡± The old shipwright looked at the cabin door and smiled, ¡°And do you know what I¡¯ve gained?¡± ¡­ The effect of the potions wore off, the old shipwright¡¯s eyelids grew heavier, he struggled to keep them open. His body spent the last of its energy, an unparalleled fatigue enveloped his mind and body. ¡°So tired, I can finally rest this time.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried.¡± ¡°Is this all I can do?¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, he¡¯s no ordinary person. As long as he lets slip a little from his hands in the future, he could support the silly boy. After all, the silly boy is quite capable.¡± ¡°He acknowledged my lie, and I believe in his character.¡± ¡°There¡¯s just a bit of regret.¡± ¡°I wish, at the end of my life, to hear it just one more time.¡± ¡°To hear it just once more.¡± ¡°Even just one time would be good¡­¡± The old shipwright¡¯s breath grew weaker and weaker. The Big Guy propped up his upper body, using his hands to support himself, failing to struggle towards the old shipwright. Seeing his father walk towards death, he paused midway, immense grief flooding him like a towering tsunami. Besides the sorrow, there was endless loss and panic. The support that helped him survive in this cruel world was gone. The tender support that helped him face the world¡¯s cruelty was gone. He felt as though he was falling from the sky, like a fragile, withered leaf drifting in the abyss. As large as his body was, his heart was equally fragile. At this time. Zhenjin stepped forward, kneeled on the ground, facing the Big Guy, and spread his arms to embrace him. The Big Guy was stunned; in that moment, his drifting heart felt like it touched the solid ground. The young man sighed, softly saying, ¡°If you want to cry, just let it out.¡± The corners of the Big Guy¡¯s mouth turned down, his lower lip covered the upper, and it trembled uncontrollably. He tried to hold back, not wanting to cry. Because when he was very young, he cried noisily on the ship, which was quite annoying, and was gently advised by the old shipwright. The Big Guy bit down hard on his upper lip, but tears were already flowing. After a moment of silence. The pain and grief in his heart eventually made it impossible to hold on. ¡°Daddy!!!¡± He suddenly let out a roar. Utter anguish, extreme heartache. Then. ¡°Wahhhhh!¡± he cried loudly in Zhenjin¡¯s arms. His cries were hoarse, the sound waves spreading through the rubble, resonating on the shattered ship, echoing in the rainforest. In the battle, the urgently lit bonfire was still burning. Under the firelight, the old shipwright breathed no more. But his mouth seemed to curve slightly, as if¡­ He was smiling. Chapter 153 - 153: Section 154: Desperate Situation Chapter 153: Section 154: Desperate Situation This was the new ship¡¯s hold, planned for storing supplies, thus it was the largest space. In the cabin, rows of the Beastification People¡¯s corpses were laid out. The autopsy had already ended. Zhenjin, Cang Xu, and the others all walked out from the cabin. ¡°None of their bodies contained a Heart Core, why is that?¡± Zhenjin had been present the whole time, witnessing the entire autopsy process. The reality diverged from his expectations, deepening his confusion. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Returning to the cabin used for discussions, Cang Xu couldn¡¯t help but lament, ¡°It¡¯s unimaginable¡­ this kind of Beastification isn¡¯t some magic, yet it truly changes a person¡¯s bloodline. It¡¯s simply too miraculous!¡± ... ¡°They all originally belonged to the Human Race, but now, they have become hybrids of humans and Beastmen. Just from the autopsy we¡¯ve done so far, there¡¯s no obvious flaw; it¡¯s as if these people were born this way!¡± Zhenjin then asked, ¡°So, how exactly did they get like this?¡± Cang Xu shook his head with a sigh, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. All I managed was a mere autopsy; not seeing deeper causes is normal. I am no Mage, after all.¡± ¡°No, even Mages might not be able to perceive the underlying reasons,¡± Zi Di said seriously, ¡°This Island Master is simply too unfathomable. Perhaps our previous speculations were wrong; those Transformed Magical Beasts weren¡¯t cultivated in the Alchemy Room or the Mage Tower, but right here on this island. The entire island is his nurturing ground!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zong Ge furrowed his brows. ¡°Don¡¯t you think these Beastification People, and those Transformed Magical Beasts seem similar?¡± Zi Di suggested. ¡°Of course, whether they are Beastification People or Transformed Magical Beasts, they all seem to be a mishmash of parts taken from various life forms,¡± Sanda commented. Zhenjin understood what Zi Di meant, his face showing distress, ¡°So the critical question is, what exactly caused our comrades to turn into this. Zi Di, did you discover anything?¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°I have no evidence, just a speculation. The Island Master has laid out a colossal Magic Array on this island, or some other form of arrangement. Such arrangements forcibly teleported us randomly, created a Magic Ban environment, and even controlled the weather among other effects. In addition to that, perhaps it could subtly change the various life forms on the island. Our comrades¡¯ Beastification, I fear, may be due to this reason.¡± ¡°Then why haven¡¯t we mutated?¡± someone raised an objection. ¡°Is it individual strength?¡± ¡°No, among ordinary people, there are those who have not mutated, and among the Bronze Level members, there are those who have died after Beastification.¡± ¡°Is it because of consuming things here?¡± ¡°Who among us hasn¡¯t eaten the Beast Meat from this place, or drunk its water?¡± ¡°Could it be because of injuries sustained?¡± someone speculated. ¡°We¡¯ve all been injured though.¡± ¡°No, I mean serious injuries! Or somewhat special ones.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too hard to keep track of. Even recalling all the injuries I received on this island isn¡¯t easy for me.¡± Listening to everyone¡¯s discussion, Zhenjin¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He suddenly remembered being stung by a Fire Poison Bee, an injury that was extremely serious at the time, and later, he was infused with the blood of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Cang Xu spoke gravely, ¡°Perhaps we¡¯ve all started to mutate, just not to the extent of a qualitative change, so we haven¡¯t undergone Beastification. Beastification may require a significant mental stimulus, otherwise, during our previous defensive position, there should have been one or two people who mutated.¡± Hearing Cang Xu¡¯s speculation, everyone felt a heaviness in their hearts. Cang Xu continued, ¡°And perhaps¡­ these Transformed Magical Beasts were not originally just mere wild animals or Magic Beasts.¡± Hei Juan¡¯s face turned pale, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you find the Blue Dog Fox Wolf to be too intelligent? If they were originally human¡­¡± Cang Xu¡¯s eyes were calm behind his glasses, which felt frightening to others. A feeling of horror quickly spread throughout everyone¡¯s hearts. Cang Xu went on, ¡°We can speculate, are we really the only victims? The shipwreck happened too suddenly. After gathering with everyone, I inquired as many people as possible. The crew members all said that on the night the Pig Kiss met with disaster, it was in good condition, without the slightest sign of shipwreck.¡± ¡°The Island Master need not personally take action against us; if he left any arrangements in the seas near the island. With his capabilities, destroying the Pig Kiss would be an incredibly easy task.¡± ¡°If we were to speculate even further, the Pig Kiss may not be an isolated case; it¡¯s very likely not the first ship to fall victim to this location. If there have been previous shipwrecks, then what happened to those victims?¡± ¡°These individuals have varying degrees of Beastification; some are mild, some more severe. This might suggest that Beastification is not a fixed state but can continue to deepen. If it goes to completion, what would they become?¡± ¡°Could they turn into Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, into Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boas, into Blue Dog Fox Wolves?¡± Everyone, including Zhenjin, looked troubled. Xi Suo blinked repeatedly after hearing this, ¡°In recent centuries, ship technology has continuously developed, and travel between continents has become very frequent. Pirate activities have also become increasingly rampant along these routes. The course of the Pig Kiss was relatively safe. I always thought that those unfortunate ships that disappeared either perished in the waves or fell prey to pirates.¡± ¡°But wait, if these Transformed Magical Beasts were once human, then they are also victims. Why don¡¯t they come to help us, to overthrow the Island Master together?¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°Their nature has undergone drastic changes. Like the Beastification People, one moment they are our comrades, and the next, they can turn on us. Perhaps after becoming Magical Beasts, they know deep down that there¡¯s no going back, and that¡¯s why they hate us even more. This change in nature is likely also the Island Master¡¯s handiwork.¡± Having struggled to survive on the island for so long, the truth of the island remained shrouded in layers of mist. Cang Xu¡¯s words seemed to lift a corner of the fog for others. However, the truth was so harsh and terrifying that it made almost everyone shudder. Hei Juan grabbed his own curly hair, grinding his teeth, cursing, ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of this damned place! What¡¯s the point of all this guessing? Let¡¯s hurry up and fix the ship so we can get out of here as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Yes, we must repair it with all our might. If we delay any further, it will be terrible when the Demon Beast Army sends new reinforcements,¡± Lan Zao echoed. Xi Suo shook his head and bitter-smiled, stating a fact in a very heavy tone, ¡°The situation is worse than you all imagine. I fear this ship may be beyond repair.¡± ¡°How could that be?!¡± Many people¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Xi Suo sighed deeply, ¡°Don¡¯t glare at me. Like you, I too wished the ship was in better condition. But its state is terrible beyond belief. Trust me, although I¡¯m not as skilled as the old shipwright, the ship¡¯s condition is glaringly obvious. Any cashier, with even a little experience, would know that it can¡¯t sail the seas.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t just look at the ship¡¯s body still being here, the structure not too badly damaged, with only a few cabins seemingly destroyed. But all of that is useless! The dragon bone is nearly snapped! We could barely repair it to the point where it can struggle on the calm seas. But it can¡¯t withstand the wind and waves. We still have half the journey to go, how could there not be wind and waves? In fact, the latter half of the journey will see even more and larger storms. Sailing with this ship is simply seeking death!¡± The cabin fell into a deadly silence. ¡°What about building a new ship?¡± Someone broke the silence after a long while. ¡°We¡¯re out of shipwrights,¡± Xi Suo sighed deeply. ¡°But we have blueprints, many of us have been involved and have experience,¡± Hei Juan objected. Xi Suo kept shaking his head, ¡°It¡¯s too difficult. Did you think building a seaship was easy?¡± ¡°The shipwright designed the blueprints based on the materials available. We could revise the blueprints, but what about the timber, the iron nails? We have to collect the materials all over again. Most of the rainforest timber doesn¡¯t meet the standards, we need wood from the forest. This ship has a lot of materials, but dismantling it would require a lot of labor, and time. Dismantling would inevitably damage many things due to destruction by force.¡± ¡°We need iron ore, to rebuild the smelting furnaces. Our manpower is less than a quarter of what it was before; building a new ship would take even longer, and by the time it¡¯s done, what if the Demon Beast Army comes to attack us?¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying there¡¯s no hope?¡± Hei Juan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Maybe all we can do now is wait for rescue,¡± said Xi Suo, glancing at Zhenjin. It was clear from his words, with someone as important as Zhenjin in distress, the Hundred Needle Family would surely attempt rescue. Zhenjin shook his head with a bitter smile, ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee a rescue. Right now, we¡¯re utterly incapable of sending out a distress signal.¡± Hei Juan also shook his head, his face filled with a bleak expression, ¡°Several months have passed with no rescue. It¡¯s so long already, it¡¯s clearly not normal.¡± ¡°I¡¯m familiar with the sailing route of the Pig Kiss. This sea area has already been explored, and pirate activities are also less frequent. But so many ships have never discovered this island.¡± ¡°This island can cut itself off from the outside world and hide!¡± After discussing for a while longer, no one came up with any good solutions. It seemed the only option was to wait for rescue. ¡°Let¡¯s rest for now; we can¡¯t expect to find a solution in one night,¡± Zhenjin finally said. The new ship was unseaworthy, but it was still the best choice for a camp. The night sky was dotted with stars. On the deck, Big guy lay passed out. The forward superstructure was not built, Big guy did not have a proper room. Zhenjin sat in front of Big guy, watching his every breath, his chest weakly rising and falling with a series of bitter smiles. After such intense battles, Zhenjin was extremely tired, but the anxiety, confusion, loss, and helplessness in his heart prevented him from finding peaceful sleep. The old shipwright had entrusted him with a mission on his deathbed, but now he could hardly ensure his own survival. Wait for rescue? A gut feeling told Zhenjin that rescue was probably not coming. Looking up at the starry sky, the young knight¡¯s heart was filled with bitter sorrow. He had worked so tirelessly, desperately fighting to survive, struggling over and over at the brink of death, getting back up after countless failures, only to end up in such a state. ¡°We were so close to success.¡± ¡°If only we¡¯d known it would be like this, we should have sped up the work, shortened the time to build the new ship.¡± Alas, facts are just that, and is there a pill for regret in this world? At least Zhenjin didn¡¯t have one. He couldn¡¯t start over again. Lowering his head, he saw Big guy¡¯s broken leg. He had to admit, they were like creatures with broken legs now, trapped on this island with no path ahead. They were truly in a dire situation. Chapter 154 - 154: Section 156: Setting Sail Chapter 154: Section 156: Setting Sail Caught in a desperate situation, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s heart was still filled with doubts. ¡°They don¡¯t have a Heart Core, yet I do, why? What caused this?¡± ¡°What exactly causes a Heart Core to form? Is it due to poisoning? Is it because I was more severely injured and my body contains a lot of Fire Poison? Or is it luck, will, or a combination of strength, luck, and the extent of my injuries?¡± Beyond his doubts, Lord Zhenjin harbored many fears: ¡°Will I one day become like these Beastification People? Fall into utter rage and madness, devoid of any reason, even killing my companions?¡± ¡°Has my temperament really not been affected by the Heart Core?¡± As Lord Zhenjin continued to reflect, his fear deepened. ... ¡°No, I fear I am deeply affected!¡± ¡°How worried and wary I was about the Heart Core earlier, but forced by circumstances, I started using it more often and began to unconsciously accept it. Now, I have come to rely heavily on it. If it weren¡¯t for my self-reflection along the way, I might have already become infatuated with it.¡± ¡°Whenever I use the Heart Core, transforming into a monster, my disposition seems to become wild, disdainfully looking down on all lives weaker than mine from the bottom of my heart. Absorbing, transforming. I have been immersed in this power, gradually unable to control myself.¡± ¡°My actions, my thoughts, have actually strayed more and more from the path of the Holy Temple Knight!¡± ¡°I seem to be¡­ constantly¡­ falling?!¡± ¡°God, my Lord, Great Holy Emperor. I pray for your response, your mercy, your salvation. Here lies your straying lamb¡­¡± Once more, Lord Zhenjin knelt on the deck, facing the direction of the Holy Bright Continent, bowing his head in prayer. Like all previous prayers, there was still no response. And this prayer was different from the nighttime prayers of recent times. No longer could Lord Zhenjin find even a trace of peace or consolation in his heart. For he realized his own fall, and also realized a possibility¡ªcould it be that the Holy Emperor does not respond because I have already fallen? ¡°Could it be that I am a despised Fallen Knight?¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°Should I confess? Tell my comrades that I too am mutated, that I am also¡­ a beast-like monster?¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t do that.¡± As a leader, Lord Zhenjin was very clear¡ªhis group¡¯s situation was extremely dangerous, on the verge of collapse. Once there was hope for a new ship to go to sea, now everyone is caught in a desperate situation. ¡°Even if I have fallen, am no longer a Holy Temple Knight, even if I am actually a transformed magical beast, I should still play the leader well.¡± They need a leader, need Holy Temple Knights, need reliance, need new hope. Even if Lord Zhenjin himself has no reliance, no hope. This is the heavy burden a leader must bear! Lord Zhenjin gradually felt like he was suffocating. Having undergone various hardships, his mentality had transformed many times, far different from before. Yet, this heavy feeling that left him breathless came over him once again. He once again realized his naivety. His fear came not only from the environment but also from concerns about his companions¡¯ safety and his own future. Now¡­ he feared himself too! ¡°What if, at some moment, I completely become beast-like, lose my reasoning, and harm others, what should I do?¡± ¡°I might even end up killing Cang Xu, Lan Zao, or even Zi Di with my own hands. If such a thing happens, what should I do?¡± ¡°Can I control all sorts of mutations?¡± ¡°In the short term, it seems so. It seems like I have a Heart Core, a Heart Core should be able to let me perfectly control the mutations¡­ right?¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t guarantee it, he couldn¡¯t even be sure how the Heart Core was formed. Perhaps, he was not far from a complete frenzied beastification, not far from utter madness. Maybe in a few days, or perhaps the next time? ¡°Perhaps, I¡¯m not the only one with such hidden dangers.¡± ¡°Others have them too! Those comrades who died violently due to beastification were just the first batch. Next, there will be a second batch, a third batch¡­ and even the last survivors will become one of the demon beasts seen on this island. They will hate all outsiders, considering themselves mere demon beasts, with their humanity dissipated, memories all gone.¡± How cruel this future vision was, making Zhenjin shiver every time he thought about it. He suddenly thought again, ¡°Wait, could it be because of my amnesia?¡± ¡°Why do the beastified comrades fall into madness? Perhaps it¡¯s due to the severe conflict and contradiction between their inherent memories and their current forms of life, unable to accept it, thus becoming mad.¡± ¡°Why am I the only one able to control the mutations? Am I the only one who has a Heart Core? Perhaps amnesia is the main factor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s precisely because I have amnesia, but still adhere to the faith, sticking to the way of the Knight, that I haven¡¯t been overwhelmed by the intense conflict, and thus retained my humanity to the greatest extent.¡± ¡°How does the Island Master cause human-beast transformation? Perhaps the environment he altered is making people continuously lose their humanity. Staying here for a long time, our humanity will be eroded by our beast instincts, gradually devoured. The higher the degree of devouring, the deeper the beast instincts. Eventually losing humanity completely, being fully covered by beast instincts, thereby becoming utterly insane?¡± ¡°And every time, my insistence on my own principles and bottom lines represents humanity¡¯s victory over beast instincts. These victories, accumulated, have given me a Heart Core, letting me rationally control mutations, whereas others can¡¯t.¡± ¡°If this guess is true, then using my Heart Core to absorb the beast nature of my transformed comrades, could I possibly draw out their beast instincts, allowing them to regain reason?¡± ¡°No, my Heart Core absorbs bloodline. The comrades after the beastification have a mix of Magic Beast bloodline and Human Race bloodline. I will absorb all these bloodlines!¡± ¡°Those Magic Beast bloodlines, I already possess them now. But not the human ones. Adding these bloodlines, wouldn¡¯t it stabilize my Human Race¡¯s nature? Could it possibly prolong the time before I go completely mad?¡± Thinking this, Zhenjin¡¯s body violently trembled, his complexion turning pale. ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening to me?¡± ¡°Do I really intend to harm my comrades, attack the Human Race?!¡± However, another voice rose in Zhenjin¡¯s heart. ¡°Don¡¯t restrain your actions anymore. You should be bolder. We are now in a desperate situation, by tying yourself down, waiting for death to come is too late! You can¡¯t start over, can you?¡± ¡°After all, it¡¯s not like you¡¯re being asked to kill living people. You¡¯re just absorbing those that have died, and they were going to be buried anyway without any other value, totally a waste utilization!¡± ¡°Act quickly, if you don¡¯t act now it will be too late. These people just died not long ago, absorbing and transforming now will yield much more than doing so later!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget your family, you are considering others too. If it wasn¡¯t for these people dragging you down, you could mutate and then escape this island by yourself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of them that you¡¯re staying here, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Stop rigidly sticking to some unnecessary things. Think carefully, how many times have you regretted? That time you were nearly killed by the gun scorpion, what were you thinking? Just now, don¡¯t you regret it?¡± ¡°Do you want a tragedy to happen again?¡± ¡°Next time will it be the old shipwright, Lan Zao? Cang Xu? Or Zi Di!?¡± ¡°No, stop talking! Stop talking!!¡± Zhenjin was in unbearable agony, going from kneeling on one knee to both knees on the ground, he bowed his head deeply, burying his face in his palms. His thoughts overflowed too fiercely, he suspected he had fallen, his confidence that had supported him all along had dissipated considerably. He began to lose clarity. He couldn¡¯t tell which of his thoughts were rational advice and which were the temptations of corruption! Zhenjin was plunged into an unprecedented wavering and chaos. The next moment, it really wavered. Boom! Amid the enormous roaring, the earth shook. Once again, the earth quaked violently! The sleeping survivors all screamed in terror, desperately fleeing from the cabins. Another earthquake had come, and it was even larger than the last! Right before their eyes, the ground split open thunderously. The island shifted, the crack widened, stretching from the direction of the volcano, splitting the beach open and forming an estuary. Seawater backflooded, the waves surged violently. It lasted for about twenty breaths before the earthquake slowly subsided. A new river appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes, leaving them speechless with shock. After a long while, the unnerved people gradually snapped back to reality. Queshan knelt on the ground and began to cry, ¡°Can we really survive? Can we really escape from here?¡± No one could answer her, not even Zhenjin. ¡°Even if we can hold on, I¡¯m afraid this island cannot last much longer!¡± Hei Juan sighed deeply. The survivors were in despair, their faces filled with gloom. ¡°Perhaps, I still have a way,¡± Zi Di suddenly said. Her words instantly drew everyone¡¯s attention. Yet, hesitation was clear on Zi Di¡¯s face. ¡°Come on, what are you hesitating for at a time like this?¡± Hei Juan urged. Taking a deep breath, Zi Di suddenly pointed towards the volcano, ¡°We can go to the most central area, there might be a chance of survival there!¡± Almost everyone gaped, doubting what they had heard. Cang Xu, Zhenjin, Zong Ge paused for a moment before they all caught on, falling silent in contemplation. Zi Di continued, ¡°Do you remember our analysis? This island has a master, he must be a powerful being! He has transformed the island, the magical beasts, and even controls the weather. It seems he is cultivating biological weapons here, but whether it is the Magic Ban environment, controlling the weather, or forced teleportation, all require a Magic Array.¡± ¡°On this island, there must be a central hub to the Magic Array, or it might simply be a Mage Tower.¡± ¡°If we can seize that hub, then there may be hope for escape.¡± ¡°Please, how could we possibly match the Island Master?¡± Xi Suo shouted, only to stun himself. He stared blankly at the river created by the crack, gazed at the erupting volcano, and then looked up at the heavy volcanic clouds overhead. Xi Suo suddenly yelled, ¡°Something must have happened to the Island Master! The Magic Array has clearly gone out of control, the volcano is erupting, the earth has split open! No, wait, even when we first got back to the beach, the weather was very abnormal, constantly raining heavily or drizzling; we¡¯ve never experienced this before. It might have been out of control even then.¡± ¡°Perhaps even earlier,¡± Zhenjin spoke up, ¡°At the very beginning, we encountered the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, these magical beasts typically act alone. But when we met them in the forest, they had already formed a Demon Beast Army.¡± ¡°Controlling the Demon Beast Army puts significant strain on the Blue Dog Fox Wolves,¡± Zi Di explained. ¡°Creating strange fragrances requires the consumption of magic power. To control the Demon Beast Army for long periods, the Blue Dog Fox Wolves must devour other magic beasts to replenish their demon energy and continue creating these fragrances.¡± Cang Xu nodded and added, ¡°The larger the scale of the Demon Beast Army, the greater the burden on the surrounding environment. These magic beasts need to eat! Thus, it¡¯s clear that the gathering of the Demon Beast Army by the Blue Dog Fox Wolves is not normal.¡± ¡°We are guarding the small valley,¡± Zi Di continued, ¡°and the Demon Beast Army keeps attacking and reinforcing itself. This stance obviously aims at eliminating enemies. It¡¯s a reasonable guess that the Island Master might have issued orders controlling the Blue Dog Fox Wolves to eradicate all outsiders.¡± ¡°If he were in good condition, he could have eliminated us with merely a breath and wouldn¡¯t have let the island be so unstable.¡± ¡°But he didn¡¯t do that; he neglected the island and only commanded the Demon Beast Armies to deal with us.¡± ¡°This clearly shows he is very weak and can only let the Blue Dog Fox Wolves fight; he also fears us escaping, which would expose this place.¡± ¡°Indeed, he might even be dead.¡± ¡°Or perhaps, he is entangled by some matters outside and cannot return in time!¡± Zong Ge nodded, ¡°That¡¯s exactly right. Now is the best opportunity to strike at the core! Any delay would lead us to a dead end.¡± Everyone was momentarily stunned. Hei Juan swallowed his saliva, ¡°Then why should we rush to the center? There¡¯s a volcano erupting there; can you be sure that the core is there?¡± Cang Xu took out a map from his bosom. ¡°Based on our current exploration, the central area is indeed volcanic. Typically, the core of the array, or rather, the Magic Tower, is located in the central areas.¡± Zi Di added, ¡°The operation of a magic array requires a huge amount of energy. The Island Master might be extracting the surrounding elements or possibly using the mana pool in the Mage Tower. After a problem arises, the most turbulent place is likely where the core or Mage Tower is located.¡± Hei Juan frowned. ¡°All of this is speculation; you have no evidence!¡± Zong Ge nodded with a slight smile, ¡°No evidence, who could present any? But this is enough to take a gamble; do we have any other paths to take?¡± Silence fell once again. ¡°No,¡± said Hei Juan. ¡°We can wait for rescue. Attacking toward the center of the island is madness! There¡¯s a volcanic eruption there, and the Demon Beast Armies along the way; we might even die en route.¡± ¡°No, we use a boat,¡± Zhenjin¡¯s voice came through. ¡°This will save us a great deal of journey and time.¡± Hei Juan was taken aback. Xi Suo¡¯s eyes lit up as he shouted, ¡°That¡¯s right, we can build a boat. Though we can¡¯t sail the seas, right in front of us is an inland river without any waves. The volcanic ash even covers our skies; it¡¯s not even raining!¡± Zhenjin continued, ¡°In fact, even if rescue comes, risks will remain. Don¡¯t forget, those companions who died from beastification. The environment has likely eroded us too, affected by the Island Master¡¯s schemes. Can such a powerful being¡¯s schemes be easily resolved? Can a priest simply purify us?¡± ¡°Also, could we simply forget the way he wantonly played with us and humiliated us?¡± ¡°Just now, the Holy Emperor sent me a revelation!¡± Zhenjin pointed at the river. Everyone was momentarily stunned again. ¡°Could it be that this river was created by the Holy Emperor?¡± ¡°No wonder none of us have died.¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The will of the gods is unfathomable!¡± ¡°Divine Favored Knight¡­¡± Cang Xu bowed deeply to Zhenjin, his admiration palpable. ¡°This might just be the path of your heroism. My Lord Zhenjin!¡± Nearly everyone present felt a chill run through their scalps. It seemed as though they were witnessing history in the making. If the epic of a hero were to be sung in the future, would they also have a role in it? Zhenjin looked around, confidence unyielding as he loudly commanded, ¡°It¡¯s decided then. We¡¯ll fully repair the sea ship, cremate our companions, and gather as much food, water, and weapons as possible. We will set sail; we will head to¡­ the very center of the island!¡± Chapter 155 - 155: Section 156: Zhenjin, youve finally arrived. 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. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t 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.¡± Chapter 156 - 156: Section 157: The Identity of the Island Master Chapter 156: Section 157: The Identity of the Island Master Jia Sha. He was a middle-aged man dressed in a priest¡¯s white robe, with an ordinary appearance, even ugly, one might say. That was because a scar ran across his face, starting from the left side of his forehead and slicing down to near his right ear. This fierce scar virtually divided his face into two parts: the upper right and lower left, making it extremely noticeable. His hands were empty, but he wore a necklace-style holy emblem on his chest. The pendant was a white gold disk, hollow and larger than an adult¡¯s palm. The disk, created using a relief technique, had a circular edge and in the center, superimposed eyes with horizontal and vertical pupils. The horizontally aligned human eye sockets and the vertical ones were made with gentle curves, forming a subtle cross between the horizontal and vertical. ... And the shared pupil of the two eye sockets was precisely the hollow of the disk. This was the Holy Emblem of the Great Emperor. Wearing this emblem signified that the priest Jia Sha in front of them served the Great Emperor. A Life Breath typical of the Silver Level radiated from Jia Sha, unobscured. He was a seasoned Transcendent of the Silver Level! Zhenjin had long known about Jia Sha. A long time ago, when he and Zi Di were supporting each other, he had learned of Jia Sha¡¯s existence from Zi Di. Zhenjin knew that being a Holy Temple Knight and for the sake of the Hundred Needle Family, his trip by ship was to head to the Wilderness Continent to compete for the position of White Sand City Lord. There were three Holy Temple Knights competing for the City Lord position, and the chief examiner was Priest Jia Sha. The competition was fierce. It was very likely that the forces behind the other two competitors had struck, leading to the demise of the team sent by the Hundred Needle Family to aid Zhenjin. After discussing with Zi Di, they secretly boarded the Pig Kiss. On one hand, the other two competitors had already set off, and to prevent the hidden hands from succeeding, Zhenjin and his people needed to hurry and prevent delays. On the other hand, it was because Jia Sha was also aboard the Pig Kiss. If they could build rapport with the chief examiner or leave a good impression in advance, it would naturally be of great help for competing for the City Lord position in the future. Afterward, the shipwreck happened. After being stranded on the island, Zi Di had even mentioned to Zhenjin: if possible, find Priest Jia Sha, help him, and leave a good impression. Now, they finally met Priest Jia Sha. Only it wasn¡¯t Zhenjin and the others helping the priest, but the priest had helped Zhenjin. ¡°Holy Temple Knight Zhenjin, you finally arrived,¡± Jia Sha¡¯s hoarse voice seemed to still echo in Zhenjin¡¯s ears. After Zhenjin finished his salute, he asked with a puzzled expression, ¡°Priest Jia Sha, thank you for your help. But how did you know I would come, it sounds like you¡¯ve been waiting for me for a long time?¡± Jia Sha lightly caressed the holy emblem on his chest, stating meaningfully, ¡°Under the gaze of the Great Emperor, the future too has traces to follow.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart shook immediately, he thought of a certain Divine Art ¡ª Extreme Vision! Gods are omnipotent, but each has their specialties. Each deity, according to their Divine Office, has different achievements in different domains. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Great Emperor is the God of Victory, the God of Light, one of his unique Divine Arts is Extreme Vision. Extreme Vision means surpassing the limitations of sight, seeing not the spatial realm but the temporal one. Those who successfully cast this art would perceive the outcome of predetermined actions. In short, it¡¯s Prophecy Skill! ¡°Does Priest Jia Sha actually possess the Extreme Vision skill?¡± Zhenjin was inwardly shaken. Jia Sha glanced around at everyone; their state of extreme weariness became clear to him. ¡°What you need most now is rest. Follow me, our temporary camp is not far from here,¡± Jia Sha said. Zhenjin and the others didn¡¯t refuse; they indeed needed to recuperate. But as they followed Jia Sha and his six companions, just as they crossed the hillside ahead, they were all stunned on the spot. Many showed expressions of horror, as they saw the ground littered with the corpses of Magic Beasts, almost covering the entire field. It turned out the ¡°attacking¡± Demon Beast Army that Zhenjin and the others encountered were mere remnants, pursued and slain by Jia Sha and his party. The actual scale of the main force was more than five times what Zhenjin had faced, now all reduced to bodies. ¡°Jia Sha and merely six people, how could they have slain so many Magic Beasts?¡± ¡°How exactly did they manage that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s clear, Jia Sha can cast Divine Arts!¡± ¡°` ¡°It seems that only low-level magic and fighting energy are prohibited here, not Divine Arts.¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange, Jia Sha¡¯s scars are clearly treatable with Divine Healing, just needing Divine Arts for minor wounds. Why hasn¡¯t he healed them?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point; the point is what he just said. He might very well possess Extreme Vision!¡± ¡°What is Extreme Vision?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Divine Art that can only be mastered by followers of God who are truly devout. Generally speaking, only bishops in the Holy Sect can master it.¡± ¡°Ah? But Jia Sha is clearly just a priest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I say he¡¯s not just a simple priest. His future isn¡¯t limited to this; we can completely see him as a prospective bishop.¡± Along the way, the discussions about Jia Sha never stopped. Just as Jia Sha had said, the temporary camp was not far ahead and was quite small and rudimentary. After all, there were only six of them. The ground was scorching, but within this small camp, not a trace of the heat could be felt. ¡°This is Divine Arts¡ªthe Sanctuary,¡± Zhenjin thought to himself, his memory largely lost, but his common sense intact. The Sanctuary could create a suitable environment for rest and recuperation. ¡°Please wait a moment,¡± Father Jia Sha said with a smile, then clasped the Holy Emblem in front of his chest and bowed his head to begin his silent prayer. Moments later, a ray of Holy Light descended from the sky and touched the ground. After the pristine Holy Light gradually faded, it seemed to have permeated the surrounding environment. Many people gasped in amazement. They felt the sudden change in the environment, which returned to normal from scorching heat in an instant. It was still the Sanctuary Divine Art, but this time, the range of the Divine Art had expanded by more than tenfold. Of course, the Divine Art was not only about altering heat and cold; those resting here would also benefit in other ways, such as accelerated physical recovery, enhanced effects of sleep and eating, soothing of the heart, and so on. The specific degree of these effects usually depended on the prayer¡¯s strength. Having settled everyone for the time being, Jia Sha gestured for Zhenjin to have a talk. With mixed feelings, Zhenjin entered the tent. On one hand, he was extremely anxious. He was impersonating a Divine Favored Knight, actually using his Heart Core to induce a Mutation in himself and repeatedly pretending to convey the will of the gods to boost morale. Although his intentions were good, his behavior was in essence abominable. On the other hand, Zhenjin found Jia Sha warm and reliable. Holy Temple Knights like Zhenjin fought in the name of God, while priests like Jia Sha preached righteousness and expanded the faith. To a certain extent, Jia Sha was closer to the Holy Emperor than Zhenjin was. When the Holy Temple Knights went into battle, they would be accompanied by priests or bishops. In combat, these latter ones would use Divine Arts to greatly assist the Holy Temple Knights. At the same time, compared to ordinary people, priests and bishops of the Holy Sect would give more favorable treatment to the Holy Temple Knights. ¡°This is truly one of our own!¡± ¡°Should I tell Jia Sha about the Heart Core?¡± In the end, Zhenjin shared almost everything about his journey with Jia Sha but still kept the Heart Core a secret. ¡°These are all the people I could save. Father, my abilities are too limited,¡± Zhenjin said, filled with shame. Jia Sha shook his head, gently patted Zhenjin¡¯s shoulder, and in a warm and appreciative tone said, ¡°Child, you¡¯ve tried your best and reached the limit. You have always adhered to the knight¡¯s duty¡ªbrave and fearless, protecting the weak, upholding justice, and embodying tolerance. Personal cultivation is just superficial because both of us serve the gods. Your power may be small at the moment, but your spirit is very strong and filled with light. Your performance has, in fact, surpassed that of many Holy Temple Knights.¡± ¡°Now, tell me specifically about Beastification.¡± ¡°Former comrades suddenly becoming incredibly wild, completely losing reason, and even in death retaining characteristics of Beastification?¡± Jia Sha was clearly interested. Zhenjin¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He had hidden the Heart Core, but he hadn¡¯t hidden the Beastification. Because it couldn¡¯t be hidden. Zhenjin could only try to recount everything he knew. ¡°If only the Father had been there, then no one would have had to sacrifice themselves to Beastification,¡± Zhenjin lamented. But Jia Sha shook his head gently and sighed, ¡°My abilities are limited; I cannot purify them. Your speculations are interesting and make sense. This island may indeed be a place of cultivation, and although you¡¯ve survived, you may have been affected, leaving behind a predisposition for Beastification within you.¡± Zhenjin frowned, ¡°You mean to say, Father, that you cannot purify it either?¡± ¡°Of course not. According to my guess, the owner of this island is a legend.¡± ¡°Sir, do you know the identity of the Island Master?¡± Jia Sha nodded, ¡°I wasn¡¯t quite sure before, but knowing about Beastification, I can almost confirm it now.¡± ¡°` Chapter 157 - 157: Section 158: War Merchant Chapter 157: Section 158: War Merchant Upon hearing that Jia Sha knew the identity of the Island Master, Zhenjin hastily sought his advice. For a long time, the mysterious Island Master had been a colossal shadow in the minds of Zhenjin and the others. Jia Sha: ¡°If I truly reveal the answer, you all should already know him. He is one of the top ten on the bounty list, the War Merchant.¡± Zhenjin was suddenly shaken to the core. Various organizations, countries, and even continents all have countless bounty lists. Over the past several hundred years, the Bounty Guilds of the various continents have cooperated more closely, consolidating and organizing the bounty lists into a single, larger list. In this list, the top ten wanted criminals have remained almost unchanged, their positions extremely solid. This is because the various empires, sects, and guilds are usually powerless against these ten criminals. ... These ten criminals, not only possess formidable strength, but also have their own world-shocking special talents. ¡°War Merchant¡­ a goblin race, Legendary Mage, Alchemy Grandmaster, seventh on the bounty list¡­¡± Information about the War Merchant instantly flooded Zhenjin¡¯s mind. Bronze, Black Iron, Silver, Gold, Holy Domain, Legend, Divine¡­ the War Merchant¡¯s cultivation level was already at the peak of this world, second only to the Divine. If one were to truly calculate combat power, a Legendary Mage equipped with a Mage Tower, Forbidden Curses, and Divine Artifact-level gear certainly has the power to slay gods! War Merchant was not his real name, which few people in the world knew; War Merchant was just his nickname. But just as this nickname implies, he made his fortune from war. The reason why he has been jointly wanted by multiple continents is for secretly instigating wars among the various races and profiteering from arms trading. Seeing the subtle change in Zhenjin¡¯s expression, Jia Sha continued, ¡°It seems you¡¯ve remembered. This place must be the War Merchant¡¯s Mysterious Monster Island.¡± ¡°Mysterious Monster Island¡­¡± Zhenjin muttered. He then thought of the rumors about Mysterious Monster Island, the War Merchant¡¯s stronghold, which was said to be his Half-plane. He never expected that it was actually located within the Main World. Zhenjin slightly furrowed his brows, mainly puzzled about two things: ¡°If Mysterious Monster Island isn¡¯t a Half-plane, then why has it remained undiscovered for so many years despite him being wanted?¡± ¡°And another thing, Father. The War Merchant is an Alchemy Grandmaster, and I know he excels in crafting weapons of war. Various alchemy arrows, arrowheads, bullets, and his trademark product, the explosive dumbbell. But I have never heard that he specializes in Life Alchemy.¡± Jia Sha nodded, ¡°Actually, in these recent years, the War Merchant seems to have adjusted the direction of his alchemy development, gradually shifting from Alchemy Items to the field of Life Alchemy. Products in this area have already started to appear on the market under many other names.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s brows lifted, somewhat realizing, ¡°Does that mean, Beastification People have already appeared on the battlefield?¡± Jia Sha smiled slightly, deliberately asking, ¡°How did you deduce that?¡± Zhenjin slightly bowed his head, ¡°Father, you mentioned earlier that you were very interested in the information about Beastification. It was after I recounted this information that you nearly confirmed the identity of the Island Master verbally. Obviously, the Beastification People are already linked to the War Merchant.¡± Jia Sha couldn¡¯t help but look at Zhenjin with appreciation in his eyes, ¡°Child, your mind is very sharp. Indeed that is the case. Many pieces of information are inaccessible to you, which is why you didn¡¯t guess the true identity of the Island Master. In fact, you all have already done well enough, deducing the status of the Island Master from various signs and even having the courage to make one last stand.¡± Following that, Jia Sha voluntarily shared his own experiences, ¡°After the shipwreck, I and six Guardian Knights landed on this island.¡± ¡°The man-made landforms and magical beasts on the island astounded me.¡± ¡°Although low-level magic and fighting energy were prohibited on the island, they couldn¡¯t suppress divine power, leaving my strength entirely intact.¡± ¡°Relying on various divine arts, we explored the island. When we tried to venture into the central area of the island, we encountered involuntary teleportation.¡± ¡°Whenever we approached the volcanic region at the heart of the island, we would be forcefully teleported away.¡± ¡°More than a month ago, the situation changed. The forced teleportations stopped, and instead, we were obstructed by the Demon Beast Army. The deeper we went into the center of the island, the greater the resistance we faced.¡± ¡°As you guessed, I also wondered: could there be a problem with the War Merchant? Perhaps a meditation backlash, or maybe an explosion while developing a new alchemy item. If nothing was wrong with him, why wouldn¡¯t he come to solve our problems? Why allow this island to gradually edge towards the abyss of destruction?¡± ¡°Just yesterday, when I used the divine art Extreme Vision to predict the outcome of the battle, I discovered your arrival.¡± ¡°I originally planned to join forces with you first, but the Demon Beast Army launched their attack ahead of us.¡± ¡°Holy Temple Knight Zhenjin, I know that you¡¯re the sole inheritor of the Hundred Needle Family and wish to compete for the position of the White Sand City Lord. However, what lies before us is an enormous opportunity that is even rarer than the position of City Lord!¡± ¡°Over the past few centuries, there have occasionally been adjustments to the top ten on the bounty list, but the top ten most wanted have almost never changed.¡± ¡°If we could eliminate the seventh-ranked War Merchant for the Empire, do you realize how significant this merit would be? You could be directly promoted to Great Commander of the War Zone, become the master of no less than ten cities, and possibly even be promoted to Earl. If you don¡¯t want a domain on the Wilderness Continent, you could directly apply to the Royal Family of the Holy Bright Empire for a domain exchange, getting land on the Holy Bright Continent and restoring the former glory of the Hundred Needle Family!¡± Zhenjin was silent for a moment. Jia Sha smiled again and said, ¡°Of course, we are well aware of the immense risks this entails. But what can we do? We have no other path left but to make this final attempt.¡± Zhenjin asked, ¡°Father, since divine arts are not forbidden here, can¡¯t we rely on prayer to seek assistance from the Holy Bright Empire?¡± Jia Sha¡¯s expression darkened slightly, ¡°My lord did not clearly respond to my prayers. According to my speculation, the War Merchant has a method to shield himself from the divine senses. It is precisely for this reason that Mysterious Monster Island has remained hidden in the Main World, unnoticed by the deities.¡± ¡°Even the divine arts were originally prohibited on this island, but due to some damage, my divine power has some space to operate.¡± ¡°Now, Zhenjin, tell me your decision.¡± Zhenjin gave a bitter smile, spread his hands, and said to Jia Sha, ¡°Do I have any other choice? To speak honestly, this trip here was my last gamble, one without certainty. It¡¯s an honor to fight alongside you, Father.¡± ¡°Very well, Holy Temple Knight Zhenjin,¡± Jia Sha showed his pleasure, ¡°You have not disappointed me. I¡¯ve noted all of your merits. If our endeavor here fails yet we somehow survive by chance, I will recommend you to become the City Lord of White Sand City!¡± Fate is indeed unpredictable. Zhenjin had actually all but given up hope for the position of the White Sand City Lord since he¡¯d been delayed for so long. But to his surprise, he had garnered an excellent opportunity. Who would have thought that Jia Sha, the examiner, would end up stranded on this island, too? After returning, Zhenjin shared the news with Zi Di, and she was very pleased. From their perspective, they were ready for a final push; joining forces with Jia Sha and the others was like gaining strong reinforcements. Divine Arts ¡ª Water Creation Skill. Jia Sha held the Holy Emblem and prayed, and as the Holy Light descended, clear water magically filled the bowls, water bags, and earthenware jars laid out by everyone. Divine Arts ¡ª Food Technique. The Holy Light descended again, and a large amount of dry provisions appeared on the canvas spread out on the ground. Divine Arts ¡ª Repair Skill. The Holy Light swept across everyone¡¯s clothes and equipment, achieving minor repairs in an instant. Divine Arts ¡ª Elemental Tolerance. The Holy Light continuously fell, and as everyone bathed in the Holy Light, they received its blessings. Now, even if they left the shelter, they hardly felt the harsh heat of the outside world. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Divine was omnipotent, and the Divine Arts naturally encompassed a myriad of powers. As long as Divine Arts were not prohibited, Jia Sha was an all-rounder and a master of logistics. ¡°Don¡¯t eat the Magic Beast meat, and for now, don¡¯t drink the water on this island. Let me provide the food and drink,¡± Jia Sha smiled. Everyone quickly expressed their gratitude. Due to their companions Beastification, they all became wary of the Magic Beast meat and the water they had collected. Jia Sha immediately gained recognition and popularity. After leaving the shelter, they were soon attacked by the Demon Beast Army. According to Jia Sha, the Blue Dog Fox Wolves on this island, as well as the wild beasts and magical beasts, were all gathering or had gathered here. Their purpose was to protect the War Merchant and obstruct all outsiders. However, no amount of Magic Beasts blocking the path could stop Jia Sha, Zhenjin, and their group. Divine Arts ¡ª Blessing Skill. Divine Arts ¡ª Horror Technique. Divine Arts ¡ª Calming Spirit. Divine Arts ¡ª Resilience Technique. Divine Arts ¡ª Flash Skill. Divine Arts ¡ª Immobilization Technique. Divine Arts ¡ª Invisibility Technique. Divine Arts ¡ª Extreme Vision. Blessing Skill significantly increased the attack power of Zhenjin and the rest, Horror Technique threw the Demon Beast Army into panic, Calming Spirit stabilized morale, Resilience Technique was as reliable as iron armor, Flash Skill blinded the Magic Beasts, Immobilization Technique held them in place, watching helplessly as they were easily slaughtered by humans. Invisibility Technique allowed Zhenjin and others to become invisible, which made it even easier to execute decapitation strategies. Extreme Vision allowed them to discern the outcomes of their movements for timely and precise adjustments. Jia Sha¡¯s presence changed the entire battle situation! At the Silver Level, one is usually a City Lord or the head of a medium to small-sized organization. Sanda, the squad leader of a mercenary group, only had Black Iron Level cultivation. After combat, Jia Sha would also cast Healing Divine Technique and Detox Divine Technique. The five Guardian Knights were each capable of standing on their own, all having Black Iron Level strength. Guardian Knights were different from Holy Temple Knights. Holy Temple Knights were an army solely belonging to the Holy Emperor, only possessed by the emperor. In contrast, Guardian Knights were broadly selected across various sects as a standard configuration. The five Guardian Knights had solid martial arts skills and deep combat knowledge. Originally there were six of them, but one was sacrificed upon initially entering the island. Jia Sha also took the initiative to lead daily prayers and confessions, and with him around, morale was almost never going to collapse. After such a week had passed. The group cut through brambles and thorns and finally arrived at the base of the largest volcano. Divine Arts ¡ª Detect Mechanism. Divine Arts ¡ª Detect Magic. ¡°It really is here!¡± exclaimed Jia Sha, his face lighting up with joy. Divine Arts ¡ª Teleportation Gate. The group stepped through the Teleportation Gate and went underground. They found themselves in a vast square. ¡°It seems this is the War Merchant¡¯s underground alchemy factory!¡± Jia Sha was the last to enter, surveying the surroundings. Chapter 158 - 158: Section 159: Alchemy Arms Chapter 158: Section 159: Alchemy Arms ¡°` This was an enormous square, at least four hundred meters in length and three hundred meters in width by estimation. By comparing it to the stature of the big guys standing around, the height seemed to be around four meters. The ground was very smooth, not laid with tiles, but made of single pieces of white metal. Not just the ground, but the walls and ceiling were made of this metal as well. On the ceiling, there were also strips of blue light sources. In the square, there were boxes of various sizes. The largest boxes were even bigger than the Molten Giant Turtle, and the smallest ones were three meters long, two meters wide, and one meter high. The boxes looked like they were made of iron, but they were actually made of ironwood. On the surface of these ironwood boxes, there was red paint depicting various letters and numbers, such as Em-096, Sg-734, ID5D-VR-862, and the like. ... After confirming there were no enemies in the square, Jia Sha clasped the Holy Emblem on his chest and began to pray silently with his head bowed. A few breaths later, Holy Light descended. Divine Arts¡ªDetect Traps. There were no traps around. Divine Arts¡ªDetect Magic. In an instant, within the range of detection, almost all of the boxes lit up with dazzling brilliance. This proved that almost all contained items related to magic. Divine Arts¡ªDetect Mechanism. Similar to the previous detection of traps, no mechanisms were found. After a series of detections, Jia Sha, with a satisfied expression, ordered, ¡°Open these boxes.¡± The first small box was opened. What met everyone¡¯s eyes was a layer of dry and fluffy straw. After removing the straw, everyone saw bundles of arrows. These arrows were dark red in color, with surfaces resembling rusted metal. Someone tried to pick one up and found that it was very light, lighter than an egg. ¡°These are Alchemy Arrows¡ªFlame Arrows,¡± Zi Di recognized with a twinkle in her eyes. Bang bang bang. One after another, the small wooden boxes were pried open in succession. Inside, there were almost exclusively Alchemy Arrows. Flame Arrows were the majority, but there were also Frost Arrows, Rapid Flow Arrows, Wind Needle Arrows, Smoke Arrows, Slow Arrows, Flash Arrows, and more. The variety was vast, and the quantity was astounding. Many swallowed hard, having never seen such an astonishing scene before. Alchemy Arrows were expensive to make, and it was quite rare to see them packed in boxes like this. ¡°Can we use these arrows?¡± Sanda, intrigued, caressed the shafts of the arrows like someone caressing their lover¡¯s skin, full of passion. Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and the Guardian Knights, on the other hand, appeared indifferent. As a Mercenary Group squad leader, Sanda always had limited financial resources and rarely used such costly consumable weapons. But whether for Zhenjin or Zong Ge, the Guardian Knights, these Alchemy Arrows were part of their standard equipment. And the quality would only be better, not worse, provided officially through channels of the Holy Bright Empire. Zi Di picked up several arrows and examined them closely. After a moment, she shook her head in disappointment, ¡°The arrays on these arrows are only subsidiary arrays. They need to be used in conjunction with a main array to truly unleash the power of the Alchemy Arrows. Otherwise, simply shooting them would be less effective than our homemade wooden arrows.¡± However, Sanda was not disappointed; instead, he looked even more excitedly around at those unopened boxes. ¡°There must be crossbows inside these!¡± Exclaimed the former Mercenary Group squad leader, unable to contain his excitement. Thus, everyone¡¯s enthusiasm for opening boxes grew even stronger. More and more boxes were opened. This time, the most discoveries were arrowheads and bullet tips. Most of the arrowheads were triangular, with a few in shuttle shape, some with barbs. The arrowheads came in different colors with crystal-like textures, yet not transparent¡ªrather, they were semi-opaque. ¡°These arrowheads are usable! They only need a certain degree of impact to activate,¡± stated Zong Ge. As a former officer, the Half-Beast had served in the army for many years and was familiar with some common equipment. Then came the bullets. These bullets were spherical, the small ones about the size of an adult¡¯s fingertip, and the large ones two or three times the size of the small bullet heads. These were bullets for flintlock guns. The various sizes matched the popular models of flintlock guns on the market. Like the arrowheads, the bullets also required only the standard impact force to activate. But no one had a flintlock gun in their hands. After opening a box taller than a person, they discovered neatly arranged smaller boxes inside. ¡°What is this?¡± after opening one of the smaller boxes, someone pulled out an explosive dumbbell. The dumbbell seemed to be made of glass, storing liquids inside; half appeared to be yellow oil, and the other half seemed like red water. Curiously, the oil and water were distinctly separated and did not mix with each other. ¡°` ¡°Put it down gently, don¡¯t shake it.¡± Hei Juan¡¯s face turned pale, his tone trembling faintly. Many people gathered around at the sound. Zong Ge¡¯s gaze sharpened: ¡°Explosive dumbbells¡­¡± ¡°Sway fun,¡± Sanda said, revealing the nickname for the weapon. There was a significant quantity of explosive dumbbells, and likely, every box shaped like this contained them. ¡°It seems this place is indeed the War Merchant¡¯s Alchemy Factory,¡± Jia Sha confirmed again. This weapon was a signature product of the War Merchants. Upon violent shaking, two liquids would mix together and explode after a set time. The resulting fire would cling to the target and burn intensely for a duration. The burning temperature was tenfold that of ordinary flames! This throw-and-go weapon was renowned, with lower-rank mercenaries humorously calling it sway fun, a laugh leading up to meeting the Death God. ¡°Ha ha, we¡¯ve finally found it!¡± Sanda laughed loudly after a moment. They had finally discovered Alchemy Crossbows within the larger boxes. However, Sanda¡¯s smile soon faded, and a look of distress crossed his face. This was because magic was still banned in the underground factory, rendering these crossbows ineffective. ¡°There are guns here too.¡± Loads of flintlock guns, all products of alchemy. But like the crossbows, they were low-level alchemy tools, rendered useless by the environmental restrictions. ¡°These bullets seem to be made of bone?¡± Amidst the box of flintlock guns, people found a twisted, bone-like, elongated form of special bullets. Upon seeing these, Jia Sha¡¯s expression darkened instantly. Zi Di also appeared puzzled: ¡°Resentful Bullets? Aren¡¯t these Black Braid¡¯s signature products?¡± These bullets had come into the market over the last hundred years and had been selling like hotcakes. They harnessed the power of Undead Magic, which annually claimed the lives of Empire high-ranking officials. This was the case not only in the Holy Bright Empire but across other continents as well. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Undead Magic, a magic school that rose to prominence in recent centuries, was bizarre and fierce, and conventional defenses were significantly less effective against it. Anyone revealed to be an Undead Mage was immediately a wanted criminal, everyone their enemy. The founder of this school of magic, known as You Can, had an untraceable race. Some said he was once a Beastman Great Shaman, others said he was a Desecration Priest who had stolen much Divine Power. His most significant identity was the Ancestor of the Undead, currently sixth on the most-wanted list, even higher than the War Merchant. And Black Braid was a newcomer amongst arms dealers over the past century. She was a Dark Night Elf. ¡°Why would her signature product be here?¡± Zi Di wondered. Jia Sha scoffed coldly, ¡°Simple, Black Braid is just another fake identity of the War Merchant.¡± With few boxes left, people finally turned to the large ones. ¡°Let¡¯s see what¡¯s hiding inside this one. Wow, what a big, thick fellow,¡± Mu Ban whistled. It was an Alchemy Cannon! The black cannon body adorned with golden patterns exuded toughness and dominance. Beneath the cannon was a silvery-white base forming a cannon mount. ¡°This is a Golden Level Alchemy Cannon!¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes shone with excitement. This meant that the Alchemy Cannon might be operable in the current conditions. ¡°There are matching bombs inside too!¡± someone exclaimed with a new discovery. The spherical bombs seemed to be solid shots, varying in color, but what they had in common was every bomb¡¯s surface depicted a roaring Dragon Head. ¡°These are the Thunderous Dragon Roar Bullets,¡± Zi Di murmured. Thunderous was a giant and a recently emerged new arms dealer of the past century. The Dragon Roar Bullets were his trademark. Hearts sank among the crowd. This suggested that Thunderous, the rising star arms dealer, might just be another identity of the War Merchant. ¡°Doot¡ª! Doot¡ª! Doot¡ª!¡± At the very moment they dragged out the Alchemy Cannon, a piercing alarm echoed throughout the plaza, and simultaneously, the blue lights overhead shifted to flashing red. ¡°Alert! Alert!¡± ¡°Intruders in the shipping warehouse, intruders in the shipping warehouse.¡± A mechanical voice resonated across the plaza. Everyone¡¯s expressions turned grave. ¡°The Tower Spirit?!¡± Jia Sha¡¯s face turned ashen. ¡°This underground Alchemy Factory might just be the War Merchant¡¯s Mage Tower.¡± ¡°Get ready, we have a fight coming!¡± Chapter 159 - 159: Section 160: Abandoned Golem Chapter 159: Section 160: Abandoned Golem The red light flickered incessantly overhead, casting shadows on the tense faces of everyone below. Divine beings were extremely rare, and those of the Legendary Level were the peak of existence in the world, usually serving as leaders of great nations, heads of powerful alliances, or leaders of sects. Transcendents like Zong Ge and Jia Sha, at the Silver Level, often controlled a city or led a medium-sized organization. The vast gap between the two was obvious at a glance. Characters at the Legendary Level were usually known only from rumors, but without firsthand experience, everyone looking at the alchemical firearms stored in various-sized wooden boxes could fully sense the might of the War Merchant. A single cannon shot from the Golden Level, and everyone would be finished. Merely selecting any box of alchemy arrows, and with only one-tenth of the arrows fired simultaneously, the survivors would easily be annihilated in a Magic Prohibition environment. ¡°Quick, quick, quick!¡± ... ¡°Load all the arrows you can!¡± the Guardian Knights shouted loudly. With them around, it wasn¡¯t Zong Ge, the Half-Beast¡¯s turn to command. Complete alchemy arrows and alchemy crossbows were no better than ordinary crossbows in a Magic Prohibition environment. The same was true for alchemy flintlock guns. Without the infusement of Magic Power or Fighting Energy, they couldn¡¯t fire. Everyone picked up alchemy arrowheads and fitted them onto their own arrow shafts. Regrettably, there was not a single piece of armor or shield among these crates. Whether it was the War Merchant, or the military products of Black Hair or Big Burst, there was little involvement with protective gear. Big guy exerted all his strength attempting to drag out the cannon, but the Golden Cannon wouldn¡¯t budge. His leg injuries had been healed a few days ago. Jia Sha had been applying Divine Healing for severe injuries and Divine Healing for limb regeneration on Big guy every day. Because of this, he was free from the bitter and difficult situation of moving around on his hands, but he was still physically weak. The cannon was too heavy; in the end, only the combined efforts of Zong Ge, Zhenjin, and Big guy could drag out the Golden Cannon and aim its muzzle at the main gate. After forming their ranks, they prepared for battle. Time passed, and still, there were only alarm sounds and flashing red lights overhead; the gate did not budge. ¡°Just as we guessed earlier, something must have gone wrong on the War Merchant¡¯s side!¡± ¡°It looks like his situation is dire; there¡¯s even no defensive force left in the Alchemy Factory.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be careless, maybe they are gathering, or maybe there¡¯s an army behind the door.¡± Jia Sha, Zhenjin, and others discussed and conversed. After waiting a bit more, still no enemy forces appeared. Divine Art¡ªDetect Magic. Divine Art¡ªDetect Magic. Divine Art¡ªDetect Magic! Jia Sha used the Divine Art three times in succession but failed to detect any truth beyond the door. ¡°It¡¯s no use¡­¡± he sighed. ¡°This door is part of the Alchemy Factory, and my Detect Magic is only of Silver Level, unable to detect any useful intelligence.¡± According to speculation, the Alchemy Factory was a Mage Tower of the War Merchant, and the level of a Legendary Mage Tower was very high. Previously, they had been able to detect the goods in the wooden boxes because these alchemy weapons weren¡¯t part of the Alchemy Factory. Everyone armed themselves thoroughly. Arrowheads had all been switched to alchemy arrowheads, and each person was equipped with at least three explosive dumbbells. Zong Ge and others were given even more. Hei Juan expressed concern about the explosive dumbbells, a consumable throwing weapon that could easily cause accidental injuries to allies or oneself. Left waiting and right waiting, still no enemies appeared. This couldn¡¯t go on; it wasn¡¯t feasible for everyone to remain in a tense, battle-ready state indefinitely. Maintaining this state for a long time was a huge drain on their physical and mental resources. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s break through!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s suggestion was met with unanimous approval. First, they needed to destroy the tightly closed front gate. Everyone started with arrows fitted with alchemy arrowheads, designing small explosions one after another, leaving the door intact but coated with a layer of dark gray. ¡°I¡¯m going to throw an explosive dumbbell now,¡± Zong Ge warned, and everyone cautiously backed away. Zong Ge held a dumbbell, shaking it frantically up and down before throwing it forcefully. The dumbbell hit the door, immediately causing a loud boom, followed by blazing flames. The scorching air continuously beat against everyone¡¯s faces; they retreated again, most seeing the power of explosive dumbbells for the first time and showing shocked expressions. Even Zong Ge and Hei Juan showed a bit of a different color. A Guardian Knight reconsidered his explosive dumbbell and remarked, ¡°These explosive dumbbells are much more powerful than I remember, they must be a new, improved type.¡± However, after the flames died down, the door was still intact. ¡°It seems we have to use the Alchemy Cannon,¡± Zhenjin gritted his teeth. Everyone¡¯s expression grew solemn. Using the cannon in this enclosed underground space was a dangerous act. If its power was too great, causing a collapse, it would be difficult for anyone to survive. And if the door wasn¡¯t blasted open, the small space, due to the intense explosion and burning, would also suffer severe damages. But there was no other way. Jia Sha could maximize his output, but his attack Divine Arts were limited in power, helpless against the door. Everyone backed off again, letting Jia Sha operate the Alchemy Cannon. Starting the Alchemy Cannon required the infusement of Magic Power or Fighting Energy; since everyone was restricted by the environment, Jia Sha had to use Divine Power as a substitute. When Divine Power was infused to a certain extent, the Alchemy Cannon began to emit a strong aura, its surface even covered with a layer of radiance. The cannon ammunition was all taken out and laid at the cannon¡¯s rear. ¡°Solid shot, chain shot, grape shot¡­ It looks like this Alchemy Cannon is actually a ship cannon. Who exactly ordered such high-level ordnance, the ship it belongs to must be extraordinary,¡± Cang Xu remarked. With many types of bombs available, choosing one was challenging. The charging process of the Alchemy Cannon wasn¡¯t continuous, so Jia Sha paused the charge to use Divine Arts to identify these shells. The shells were also of Gold Level, and due to the drag of Jia Sha¡¯s Silver level, it took several uses of the Eye Measurement Skill to discern some information. After more than a dozen uses of the Eye Measurement Skill, Jia Sha selected a bomb marked with a green dragon head. Big guy moved it, stuffing the shell from the rear into the cannon. Jia Sha then used Extreme Vision, predicting the outcome of this cannon firing. The result was very satisfactory to him. Moments later, he had finally finished charging, exhausted to the point of death. Normally speaking, if one were to operate this alchemy cannon alone, it would be presided over by a Transcendent of the Gold level. If not, several Silver strong ones would have to collaborate. If the alchemy cannon were mounted on a sea ship, it would generally be powered by the Mana Pool or demon energy furnace on the ship. Now, relying solely on Jia Sha, it nearly drained him completely. ¡°My condition is quite poor; if the gate breaks and battle ensues, I basically won¡¯t be able to provide any support to you all. Let us rest for the night,¡± Jia Sha panted heavily. No one had any objections. Jia Sha¡¯s presence was crucial; without him, even if Zhenjin underwent a complete mutation, they wouldn¡¯t break through the Demon Beast Army¡¯s blockade. Next, they had to contend with the War Merchant, and it was impossible without Jia Sha. Despite being extremely exhausted, Jia Sha still presided over everyone¡¯s prayers before going to sleep. Priests and fathers, as Transcendents, are different from mages and fighters. The essence of a priest¡¯s power is borrowed from gods, not their own strength. But priests and fathers don¡¯t lack personal cultivation. Their daily cultivation is prayer, offering their faith to the gods, proving their devotion. The gods lend them Divine Power based on each sect member¡¯s level of devotion and sacrifice. Constantly bathed in Divine Power and using it, the physical abilities of priests, fathers, and bishops also improve. From the divine perspective, lending out Divine Power is about creating a receiver. The more devout the priest or father, and the better their physical condition, the more Divine Power the god can channel to them. Jia Sha prayed before sleeping and went into a deep sleep; upon waking, he prayed again and thoroughly regained his strength. Jia Sha fired the alchemy cannon, immediately a dragon¡¯s roar sounded, and the bomb was launched. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once it hit the door, there was only a muffled noise, followed by the splashing out of a large amount of thick green liquid. Everyone had already retreated to the far back, not affected by the green fluid. The green liquid corroded the door, quickly dissolving a small hole. After about a dozen breaths, the small hole expanded rapidly, progressing to the size of one person, then two, until even the Big Guy could pass through with head held high. Everyone cheered; all this was thanks to Jia Sha. No enemy awaited behind the door, just a long corridor. The corridor¡¯s four walls were all made of a seamless metal material, just like the previous storage warehouse, all in white metal. Meanwhile, on the ceiling, red light sources still blinked steadily. Divine Arts¡ªDetect Magic. Divine Arts¡ªDetect Traps. Divine Arts¡ªDetect Mechanisms. As everyone moved forward, Jia Sha alternated using these three types of Divine Arts, but to little avail. ¡°Not finding anything doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s nothing. This is the War Merchant¡¯s alchemy factory, after all,¡± Jia Sha sighed, helpless. The atmosphere within the team grew heavier; it seemed that only by sacrificing lives could a safe route be discovered. ¡°Hold on a moment; perhaps we can use these ironwood boxes,¡± Sanda suddenly suggested. ¡°Think about it, this corridor would obviously have a lot of goods passing through. Mechanical traps wouldn¡¯t likely target these items, right?¡± That was a good idea. Quickly, an ironwood box was brought over. Divine Arts¡ªHeavenly Messenger. A small Light Door materialized, and from within the door emerged a white bird resembling a dove. Jia Sha stuffed the dove into the box, and the Big Guy kicked it hard, sending the entire box sliding far across the smooth metal floor without a problem. Jia Sha mentally commanded, and the dove nudged open the lid of the box, flying back. Before it flew a hundred meters, suddenly countless long spears extended from the floor, both sides, and the walls above, with clanging sounds, the bird was impaled, scattering platinum blood everywhere. Everyone couldn¡¯t help but gasp. ¡°Warning! Warning!¡± ¡°The cargo corridor has detected intruders, detected intruders¡­¡± The Tower Spirit¡¯s voice appeared once more. ¡°Mobilize the garrison golems, exterminate the intruders.¡± Everyone¡¯s hearts immediately went tense. Then the next moment, the Tower Spirit, ¡°No garrison golems detected, urgently mobilize transport golems.¡± Everyone¡¯s hearts had just relaxed but were now tense again. ¡°No transport golems detected, detecting three discarded golems, conducting emergency repairs.¡± ¡°Emergency repair successful for one, discarded golem dispatched!¡± Then, everyone saw the ground crack open with a square opening, from which a pedestal rose up, standing atop the pedestal was an iron golem. This golem was about the height of an adult, with its head inverted like a cooking pot and crystal pupils exuding red light, one of its arms was a large wrench, and the other a spinning drill. The discarded golem immediately charged towards them. ¡°Fire!¡± Almost the next moment, a torrent of arrows flew out. Frost, flame, acid, sparks covered the golem from head to toe, but the golem relentlessly advanced, quickly moving past the corridor. Everyone kept retreating, Zong Ge once again threw an explosive dumbbell. He had trained in throwing, and his accuracy was excellent. After an explosion, the discarded golem paused for the first time, engulfed in flames. However, just as everyone was about to cheer, it activated again and charged towards them. The faces of the crowd turned grim. Zhenjin also felt very heavy-hearted. ¡°This is just a discarded golem!¡± ¡°I might have to fully mutate to combat it.¡± ¡°But can I do that?¡± Zhenjin was very worried. Now, Jia Sha was by his side. As a priest of the Holy Emperor, he was not so easily deceived. Once Zhenjin mutated, even if it was a limited mutation, if Jia Sha spotted any flaws, how could Zhenjin explain it? Chapter 160 - 160: Section 161: Production Workshop Chapter 160: Section 161: Production Workshop Bang! The giant bone hammer viciously struck the front of the abandoned golem. The abandoned golem could no longer hold up, as its already cracked upper body shattered into pieces. Yet, its lower body still remained, rooted in place, with every breath causing the Black Iron-made legs to twitch, accompanied by sparks. ¡°We¡¯ve finally crushed it!¡± Moments later, Zong Ge confirmed that the abandoned golem no longer posed a threat and then he exhaled deeply. ¡°Was it really just a transport golem, and it was this formidable?¡± ¡°The main reason is that we¡¯re unable to use our Fighting Energy. If we could, even just Lord Zong Ge alone would have been enough to handle it.¡± ... ¡°Next time, be more careful when using explosive arrowheads, and don¡¯t use them in narrow places. I almost couldn¡¯t breathe just now.¡± The group gazed at the remains of the golem, discussing among themselves with grave expressions. Jia Sha was only a priest, not skilled in melee combat. Even though he also cast shields for the warriors at the front, it wasn¡¯t as solid as Fighting Energy. Five Black Iron Level Guardian Knights had joined hands but still couldn¡¯t withstand the charge of the abandoned golem. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the end, it was Zhenjin and Zong Ge who forcibly held it off, due to their greater strength. Though victorious, a shadow nonetheless hung over everyone¡¯s hearts. According to the Tower Spirit, which they all heard clearly just before, this golem was merely used for transport, and even after being abandoned and hastily repaired, it was still so powerful that it drove everyone back to the shipping warehouse. What would have happened if it was a defensive golem, or other standard defensive forces? ¡°Continue onwards!¡± ¡°Other than moving forward, we are already out of options.¡± ¡°And the fact that the enemy can¡¯t even dispatch a regular golem indicates that this place is indeed quite vacant.¡± ¡°The Tower Spirit seems to have suffered heavy damage, with its wits scattered. When we first came in, it didn¡¯t even react when all the alchemy munitions were activated.¡± ¡°It was even rambling just now, letting us know that no defensive golems were left, only a repaired abandoned golem.¡± ¡°I have already seen the light of victory! My Lord is the God of Light, the God of Victory, and He will definitely guide us to victory!¡± Jia Sha shouted loudly. The morale of the people stabilized, keeping it from falling further. Without the abandoned golem¡¯s hindrance, the passage ahead was clear. Following Sanda¡¯s suggestion, everyone entered into wooden boxes. These boxes were forcibly pushed by Big Guy, Zong Ge, and others, ferrying those lighter across the corridor. Each box carried members, cleverly evading the traps. ¡°The Tower Spirit is malfunctioning. This Alchemy Factory shouldn¡¯t allow us to exploit such a loophole so easily.¡± ¡°Speed up a little more, we need to save time!¡± ¡°Dad, don¡¯t leave me behind.¡± Big Guy grimaced, edging closer to Zhenjin as he saw fewer people around him, his face full of worry and fear. The height of the passage was suitable for ordinary people, but for Big Guy, it was quite low, and he had to stoop and bend over. Zhenjin patted Big Guy¡¯s thigh: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave you. We¡¯ll go through this together at the end!¡± Big Guy still seemed uneasy and stayed close to Zhenjin. Eventually, even the Alchemy Cannon was dragged over, and Zhenjin and Big Guy entered the ironwood box together. On the other side, with Zong Ge, the five Guardian Knights, and everyone pulling forcefully at the hemp rope, the ironwood box carrying both Zhenjin and Big Guy was gradually pulled through the corridor. After this corridor, three forks appeared in front of them. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let me scout a bit.¡± Jia Sha started to use his Divine Arts Extreme Vision. He led the five Guardian Knights, choosing the leftmost corridor first where the Extreme Vision showed a blood-red color. ¡°This path will severely injure me,¡± Jia Sha realized suddenly. He then moved with the Guardian Knights towards the middle corridor, where under the Extreme Vision, the view turned from gray to total darkness. Jia Sha¡¯s heart skipped: ¡°If we take this route, I will die!¡± Following the same method, Jia Sha checked the third corridor. ¡°It seems there will be a fierce battle, but I and the Guardian Knights will be unharmed.¡± Without hesitation, Jia Sha chose the third path. Even if the War Merchants were in disarray and the Tower Spirit was also problematic, this Legendary Level Alchemy Factory was still a dangerous place. Extreme Vision became extremely crucial. Without Jia Sha¡¯s guidance, if Zhenjin and the others stumbled about chaotically, the entire force could easily be wiped out. Thus, the group gradually moved deeper into the Alchemy Factory. At times, a fierce battle occurred, at times, traps or mechanisms cost them two or three men. As the survivors moved closer to the core of the Alchemy Factory, the difficulty of the battles increased. The Guardian Knights all sustained injuries, and the members brought by Zhenjin had reduced by more than a dozen. If it were not for Jia Sha¡¯s Divine Arts to heal, those who would have died from injuries could account for half of the number. And those who survived injuries would greatly hinder their companions. Two days, three days¡­ Although they saw no daylight, Jia Sha could estimate time with his Divine Arts. Zhenjin¡¯s worries grew increasingly heavy. Several times, he nearly underwent Mutation, pushed to the brink to trigger his Blood Core. Zhenjin fell into hesitation. His mutation might be concealed from others, but it would be difficult to hide the mutated form from Priest Jia Sha. ¡°If I use the opportunity of confession to be honest in advance, then when it comes to battle, I won¡¯t be restrained.¡± ¡°However, will Jia Sha understand me? Will he forgive me?¡± ¡°Should I trust him?¡± ¡°But if things continue this way, it will truly be dangerous.¡± ¡°Being overly cautious and not using the Heart Core, resulting in losses that I cannot accept, would be too pedantic and foolish.¡± Several times, Zhenjin wanted to confess to Jia Sha, to explain the origins and consequences of the Heart Core. But in the end, he gave up. Just as he never gathered the courage to speak to Zi Di. ¡°So, I am still fearful, there¡¯s a big part of me that is cowardly,¡± Zhenjin bitterly smiled. Ahead was another fork, but this time there were five passages. After using Extreme Vision eight times, Jia Sha clenched his teeth and pointed down the middle passage, ¡°Let¡¯s go this way!¡± As the days passed, he grew increasingly haggard. The closer they got to the center of the Alchemy Factory, the pressure swelled like a boulder, heavily weighing down on Jia Sha¡¯s heart. He could clearly feel the effectiveness of the Extreme Vision being suppressed. The closer they got to the core, the more evident the suppression. The less he could foresee, forcing him to use this Divine Art more frequently. This greatly added to his burden, forcing him to rest more frequently. ¡°Perhaps, this decision was wrong.¡± ¡°No matter how skilled, a War Merchant is not someone I can handle.¡± Jia Sha felt like he was walking on a cliff¡¯s edge, where a slight misstep would send him plunging into the Abyss. But this uncertainty vanished in an instant, his eyes soon filled with a burning resolve again. ¡°No!¡± ¡°Such opportunities are rare in a lifetime, if I give it up, if I hold back, I would regret it forever!¡± ¡°Riches¡­ are hidden amidst infinite risks.¡± ¡°If I can overcome the War Merchant this time, the merits I gain could lead to my promotion to bishop. No, even a red cardinal is possible!¡± ¡°Then, I will receive the infusion of Divine Power, I will ascend to the Golden Level or even the Holy Domain Level. I will master even more powerful Divine Arts, I will return and stand before Bishop Ping, watching him bow to me voluntarily. Then I will smile and ask him, ¡®Now, do you think you were right, or was I?''¡± ¡°Gentlemen, I have an astonishing discovery!¡± As a Scout, Sanda¡¯s return from scouting interrupted Jia Sha¡¯s thoughts. Due to the limitations on Extreme Vision, the survivors had started deploying elite teams yesterday to scout and explore paths. Moments later, the group arrived at a destroyed gate through the passage. ¡°This place has already been breached!¡± ¡°They forcefully broke through. Such fierce Fighting energy!¡± ¡°But Fighting energy and Magic are forbidden here.¡± ¡°At most, it¡¯s only low-level prohibition. Looking at these marks, the Fighting energy is at least at the Golden Level.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Holy Domain!¡± Jia Sha opened his eyes, having procured the answer through Divine Art, ¡°At least three from the Holy Domain, forcefully breached this place.¡± Clearly, these Holy Domain figures were the enemies of the War Merchant. Who exactly were they? From which faction did they come? Why were they enemies with the War Merchant? The answers to these questions remained unknown. Beyond the gate was a production workshop. ¡°It seems to be a place producing Alchemy Arrows,¡± Sanda speculated, ¡°Be careful, there are still defensive forces inside.¡± The group stood at the broken gate, and following Sanda¡¯s guidance, they saw several small Crossbow Carts stationed in the workshop¡¯s corners. These Crossbow Carts were mounted on bases, seemingly capable of quick rotations. In the severely damaged production workshop were heaps of Alchemy machinery wreckage, some were worker golems, others defensive golems, shattered into pieces. Amid the ruins of the battlefield, if one looked closely, they could even see tiny fragments of Alchemy Arrows. Everyone immediately formed a conclusion. At least three enemies from the Holy Domain forcefully breached the gate. Inside the workshop, they engaged in fierce battles with numerous defensive golems and worker golems, the Crossbow Carts continuously firing. But in the end, the Holy Domain squad nearly wiped out all the defensive forces here and left triumphantly. The reason they left these few Crossbow Carts untouched was simply because they didn¡¯t care! ¡°Did you go in?¡± Jia Sha asked Sanda. Sanda shook his head outright, ¡°No. I can¡¯t activate Fighting energy to protect myself, facing those Alchemy Arrows is too dangerous!¡± ¡°A prudent choice,¡± Jia Sha nodded, ¡°I will cast a Shield for you¡­¡± ¡°I refuse.¡± Sanda interrupted Jia Sha before he could finish. Jia Sha was taken aback. ¡°I¡¯m injured.¡± Sanda lifted his shirt, revealing a wound on his abdomen, ¡°The wound hasn¡¯t healed, it¡¯s slowed me down, these Crossbow Carts might not trouble a Holy Domain mighty one, but I¡¯m not confident I can escape unscathed.¡± Jia Sha smiled faintly, ¡°I was negligent, I will heal you now. Alas, I am but a priest, not a bishop, consuming Divine Power too intensely, limits the Divine Arts I can use each day.¡± Sanda also smiled, ¡°I completely understand, Reverend. So, you see, these five Guardian Knights have been in very good condition. They also have Black Iron cultivation, sending them is most suitable.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Zong Ge added. Jia Sha¡¯s smile gradually faded. Chapter 161 - 161: Section 162: Exterminator Chapter 161: Section 162: Exterminator In the blink of an eye, it had already been the fourth day since the survivors arrived at the underground alchemy factory. This peculiar Mage Tower covered a very large area. Over these four days, the journey of the survivors had not been long. At every fork in the road, they had to use Divine Arts to judge the correct path, and every passage had to be checked for the presence of traps, mechanisms, and so on. All of this relied entirely on Jia Sha alone. For Jia Sha, the burden was considerable. Whenever he was in poor condition, he could only take the initiative to rest. Without the enhancement of Divine Arts like Shields and Blessings, relying solely on the flesh and blood of the people, it was difficult to contend against a transport golem. The closer they got to the core of the alchemy factory, the more difficult it became to advance. ... Casualties were inevitable. The group that suffered the most losses was the members of the Sanda Mercenary Group. In Jia Sha¡¯s view, this was normal. Mixed-bloods were treated this way, and even when using Divine Healing, he always favored Zhenjin and those of the Pure Blood Clan. Of course, the fact that Jia Sha¡¯s Divine Arts and Divine Power were limited was also true. But Sanda was discontent with this, and naturally, Zong Ge felt the same. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t command Sanda, Jia Sha¡¯s smile receded, and he quietly looked at Sanda and Zong Ge, exerting an invisible pressure. But Zong Ge and Sanda were not at all afraid, they confronted Priest Jia Sha directly, unwavering. The Guardian Knights¡¯ faces became solemn, some of them slightly gripping their weapons. This type of small Crossbow Cart used in the production workshop, they were seeing for the first time. They were completely unaware of its firing rate, and the potency of the alchemy arrows. There was also the question of whether there were golems hidden in these ruins that could launch attacks. All of this needed to be probed clearly. And this kind of cannon fodder work was always done by people like Zong Ge and Sanda. This was perfectly normal. Many lords also employed Mercenary Groups when waging war, using them as cannon fodder. But as the parties involved, Sanda and Zong Ge, were naturally unwilling. The situation was at a stalemate, the atmosphere delicate, when Jia Sha turned his gaze to Zhenjin. Zhenjin smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s use the Heavenly Messenger.¡± Jia Sha showed no expression, while some of the other Guardian Knights frowned. The Heavenly Messenger took the form of a bird and was not a magical creature, but an actual bird that lived in Heaven. Jia Sha¡¯s Summoning Technique, strictly speaking, was an Otherworld Summoning Technique¡ªsummoning things from other worlds to the Main World. Since entering the alchemy factory, this kind of exploratory reconnaissance had mostly been carried out by the Heavenly Messenger. However, the more Heavenly Messengers he used for probing, and the more that were sacrificed, the more disadvantageous it was for Jia Sha. The next moment, Priest Jia Sha stared deeply at Zhenjin, showing a worried expression and sighed, ¡°The more Heavenly Messengers are sacrificed, the more difficult it becomes for me to summon them again, and the greater the expenditure of Divine Power. Now, casting the Heavenly Messenger Divine Art once consumes almost as much Divine Power as the Extreme Vision technique. This is quite an unfavorable exchange, if Divine Power use is too high, I¡¯ll need to rest more frequently, which will greatly delay our progress.¡± ¡°Now it¡¯s already the fourth day.¡± ¡°Perhaps the War Merchant is recuperating, and all the obstacles we encountered along the way are buying time for his treatment.¡± ¡°The sooner we attack, the better.¡± But Zhenjin shook his head, his attitude firm, even facing a priest of the same faith, ¡°We embarked on the ship together, encountered misfortune together, we are companions. Every life is precious, and we should do our utmost to preserve lives. If there comes a time to confront the War Merchant, every bit of fighting strength will be important.¡± Zong Ge, Sanda, and others cast their eyes over, Zhenjin still stood by their side, which was rather unexpected. Jia Sha blinked, then his expression softened, and he smiled, ¡°You make a good point. I might be under too much pressure and have caused some misunderstandings. Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s continue to probe with the Heavenly Messenger.¡± ¡°Just a moment, everyone,¡± Zi Di suddenly spoke up, pointing at the ceiling of the production workshop, ¡°Do you see that place, could there be a scouting Magic Array there?¡± Everyone looked intently, the ceiling had been damaged, not intentionally, but affected by the aftermath of their skirmishes, revealing lines that sketched out the Array underneath the broken ceiling. Jia Sha shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know much about Magic Arrays.¡± As a priest, acquiring power merely required prayer, proving one¡¯s devotion, and making a contribution to the sect and the divine was enough. Compared to him, although Zi Di was of Black Iron Level, her knowledge about Arrays surpassed Jia Sha. Zi Di continued, ¡°I have seen this Magic Array before, if it were intact and activated, it would provide True Vision. Revealing Invisibility, disguises, and so on.¡± At this, Zhenjin, Jia Sha, Cang Xu, Zong Ge, and others showed a thoughtful look. Zi Di, ¡°Given that the War Merchant designed and placed such an Array and hid it on the ceiling, if it weren¡¯t destroyed, it would be undetectable from the outside. This indicates that the production workshop needs it. I believe that both the small foundation Crossbow Carts and these golems probably require True Vision to coordinate, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t detect disguised enemies.¡± ¡°A good discovery, Miss Zi Di. I can cast the Invisibility Technique to test it,¡± Jia Sha nodded. Divine Arts¡ªHeavenly Messenger. Divine Arts¡ªInvisibility Technique. A Silver Level Invisibility Technique was not merely visual invisibility; it also involved olfactory and tactile invisibility, among other aspects. After being rendered invisible, the Heavenly Messenger indeed flew around the workshop safely and returned. ¡°Now, we need a few brave warriors to enter the workshop and use my Invisibility to approach those foundation Crossbow Carts and destroy them,¡± Jia Sha said. A moment of brief silence followed. If the Invisibility Technique was cast, they could not use a Shield to protect their bodies, and if shot by a Crossbow Cart, death was almost certain! Sanda and the others stood still, obviously reluctant. ¡°Xi Suo, it¡¯s your turn,¡± Jia Sha suddenly said. Xi Suo hesitated, his face showing difficulty. However, under Jia Sha¡¯s intense gaze, he nodded and agreed. Jia Sha¡¯s smile showed, his eyes filled with deep meaning as he swept his gaze around the group, finally resting on Xi Suo, ¡°Mr. Xi Suo, your contributions will not go unnoticed, I believe you need these.¡± Xi Suo nodded repeatedly, ¡°I understand, Lord Priest.¡± ¡°There are a total of four, we need three more people. We¡¯ll provide two from our side, Xiong Dun, Chai Zha.¡± As soon as Jia Sha spoke, two Guardian Knights stepped forth from the crowd. Xiong Dun was burly, even taller than Bi Zong Ge, holding a Heavy Shield that was half his height. Chai Zha was a middle-aged man with a hooked nose; his weapon was a Two-Handed Greatsword. ¡°We need one more brave soul!¡± Jia Sha called out loudly. ¡°May I volunteer, Lord Priest?¡± Bai Ya offered proactively. Jia Sha looked at Bai Ya and nodded with a gentle attitude, ¡°Of course, you can, brave young man. Clearly, you possess a certain Knight¡¯s spirit.¡± With the four chosen, Jia Sha then cast the Invisibility Technique on them. The rest stayed outside the door, watching the production workshop anxiously. They couldn¡¯t see the four¡¯s actions, but soon after, they witnessed the destruction of the four Crossbow Carts. The Crossbow Carts might have originally had strict protective measures, which seemed to have been damaged, allowing the four to directly destroy these defenses. The four retreated successfully, Bai Ya and Xi Suo both looked excited. The two Guardian Knights remained calm. ¡°Well done!¡± Everyone cast their admiring glances. Jia Sha then dispelled the Invisibility Technique on the Heavenly Messenger and had it fly directly into the workshop. Nothing more was elicited. ¡°It seems safe now,¡± Jia Sha cancelled the Summoning Technique, and the Heavenly Messenger returned to its original plane. Only then did everyone file in. They began to loot the production workshop, where magical construct debris was everywhere. Some was scorched into glazed sculptures by flames, some covered in frost, and others smashed directly, from which the methods of the three Holy Domain powerhouses could be distinguished. ¡°Warning! Warning!¡± ¡°Intruder detected in production workshop 8, intruder detected in production workshop 8.¡± As they were searching, the voice of the Tower Spirit suddenly rang out. Everyone prepared for battle. They retreated outside the door in a flurry, as Jia Sha cast multiple Shields, bestowing them to the Guardian Knights, Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and others. ¡°Crossbow Cart system damage detected, no defensive constructs detected, initiating exterminator release,¡± continued the Tower Spirit. Afterward, the group saw openings appear high up on the four walls of the production workshop, revealing several passageways. The passageways were very narrow, like the length and width of a few books stacked together. Everyone braced for confrontation. However, after a dozen breaths, nothing appeared from the passageways. ¡°Damn it! Scared me again.¡± ¡°Ha ha, it seems these exterminators were also destroyed.¡± But in the next moment, Zhenjin suddenly felt an immense sense of danger in his heart and hurriedly jumped backward. A strand of hair was sliced off and fell in front of Zhenjin¡¯s eyes in an instant. ¡°Ahh!¡± At the same time, the head of his comrade who had just laughed was split in half. The killer, slightly revealed due to the blood splashed upon it, vanished from everyone¡¯s sight just after exposing a glint of its silhouette. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°It appeared to be a disk!¡± ¡°Careful, these exterminators can turn invisible!!¡± Many shouted in panic, instinctively huddling closer together. They had just used Invisibility to sabotage the Crossbow Carts, only now to face attacks from invisible enemies. Without knowing the enemies¡¯ location, many began shooting arrows randomly. Jia Sha quickly utilized several Divine Arts and eventually detected the invisible exterminators. Under their counterattack, the four exterminators were successively destroyed, scattering into pieces on the ground. This round of attack left three dead, Queshan severely wounded. The exterminator appeared to be like a three-blade fan, with fan blades razor-sharp, a light slice could displace a person¡¯s head. Cautiously re-entering the workshop, they feared that the Tower Spirit¡¯s voice would emerge again. But until the rest was over, nothing else happened. ¡°This kind of fan blade, even if I turn into a scorpion shell, would be hard to resist. If not for Mutation, one successful ambush by an exterminator, and I¡¯d be dead,¡± Zhenjin secretly tested the Fan Blade while others weren¡¯t paying attention, the result not very optimistic. ¡°It seems I must tell Jia Sha the secret of my ability to Mutate,¡± Zhenjin sighed. Chapter 162 - 162: Section 163: Magma Battlefield Chapter 162: Section 163: Magma Battlefield Marching toward the center of the sea island, that was Lord Zhenjin and the others¡¯ final gamble, given their new ship couldn¡¯t sail. Feeling extremely fortunate to have met someone like Jia Sha who could use Divine Arts, Lord Zhenjin treasured this chance. Over the past days, Jia Sha naturally had learned that Lord Zhenjin was a Divine Favored Knight and that a companion had gone berserk through beastification. But Jia Sha had never inquired about anything regarding Lord Zhenjin as a Divine Favored Knight. This seemed like a benevolent signal. And as for the berserk beastification, since the catastrophic battle at the ruins, it had become a huge hidden worry in everyone¡¯s hearts. ... Jia Sha¡¯s role was too critical; without him, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to even enter the underground alchemy factory! Lord Zhenjin knew he had to explain the situation to Jia Sha in advance, otherwise, should the moment come when he was forced to mutate, and the others mistook him for a beast and attacked him, that would be disastrous. Even without being attacked, if Lord Zhenjin suddenly mutated, it could inevitably lead to suspicion and mistrust from Jia Sha and the others. ¡°Our biggest enemy at present is the War Merchant.¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t cooperate completely, if there are doubts and hesitations within us, making us unable to give our all, that would be extremely foolish.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to see any of my companions being hurt without having given my full effort.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to have regrets¡­¡± With such thoughts and emotions, Lord Zhenjin sought out Jia Sha alone and said in a heavy tone, ¡°Priest, I need to confess.¡± Jia Sha smiled at him, a smile fraught with deep meaning, ¡°Young Holy Temple Knight, do you know? I have been waiting for this moment for a long time.¡± ¡°Father, I am a sinner!¡± Lord Zhenjin furrowed his brow, his expression one of agony. ¡°All people are sinners,¡± Jia Sha shook his head, comforting and encouraging him with a gentle and inclusive tone, ¡°And being able to face your own sins, that¡¯s your courage, and it¡¯s also your path to becoming a saint. Please allow me to pray to my Lord first.¡± Lord Zhenjin nodded. The confession began. The young knight knelt on the ground, his mood somber, facing Jia Sha. Lord Zhenjin said, ¡°Ever since waking up on this island, my prayers have never been answered by my Lord. I have no Fighting Energy; I only rely on my Lord.¡± ¡°But my Lord has never responded, and I inevitably feel lost, disappointed, and even resentful.¡± ¡°I am a sinner!¡± Jia Sha nodded. Lord Zhenjin continued, ¡°I thought none of it was my problem, that the unique environment of the island or the War Merchant¡¯s schemes were what severed my connection with my Lord.¡± ¡°I underestimated my Lord¡¯s mighty power, even thinking my Lord was frail.¡± ¡°I blamed the outside world, without true self-reflection.¡± ¡°I am a sinner!¡± Jia Sha sighed, ¡°Child, you¡¯ve recognized and repented at this moment; half of your sins have already been dispelled.¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knit, his teeth clenched in pain, ¡°When I saw you, Father, receive responses and Divine Power infusion in your daily prayers, only then did I realize the island does not forbid Divine Arts.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°But I dare not face such truth; I am cowardly, allowing myself to escape, afraid to think deeply or investigate further.¡± ¡°I misunderstood the Lord, underestimated Him, and even deceived Him!¡± ¡°Many times, to raise the team¡¯s morale, I had to pretend to be a Divine Favored Knight in my Lord¡¯s name. But I am not, in fact, I have never received a response from my Lord from the beginning.¡± ¡°I am a sinner most grievous!¡± Jia Sha nodded, his expression unsurprised, ¡°Child, my Lord¡¯s lost lamb, pitiful yet respectable person. Seeing you brings me joy and comfort because you are finding your way back.¡± ¡°Is there more? Continue, good child.¡± ¡°My Lord¡¯s gaze is omnipresent; perhaps He has always been watching you, but you have not understood the gaze He longs for.¡± Jia Sha gently stroked Lord Zhenjin¡¯s hair, casting Divine Arts to soothe his painfully burdened emotions. Lord Zhenjin felt a warmth in his soul. He was bathed in a layer of pure Holy Light, which made him feel like a weary traveler returning home. The young knight took a deep breath, about to reveal the secret of his ability to control his Mutation voluntarily, but the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. He took another deep breath and tried again, but still couldn¡¯t speak. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s breathing became rapid and slightly disordered, feeling as if a mountain was pressing down on his chest, and the encompassing Holy Light seemed fragile. ¡°Something urgent has come up!¡± At that moment, Zi Di¡¯s voice suddenly came from afar. Following that, Guardian Knight Xiong Dun replied, ¡°Please halt, Chairman Zi Di. Father is presiding over Lord Zhenjin¡¯s confession.¡± The interruption dissipated the hard-earned courage that Lord Zhenjin had mustered. Crushed by the pressure in his heart, he could only sigh deeply, ¡°No more, Father. That is my entire confession.¡± Jia Sha stood still, looking down at the kneeling Lord Zhenjin, silent for a moment, ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Then he bowed his head, clasping the Holy Emblem over his chest with both hands, and intoned in a deep voice, ¡°Lord, the Great Holy Emperor, my God.¡± ¡°You are the God of Hope, the God of Victory, the God of Light.¡± ¡°Now, I bring before You the Holy Temple Knight Lord Zhenjin, for only You know his heart. I cannot change Lord Zhenjin; only You can. I beseech You to open Lord Zhenjin up, to help him understand what made him turn away from You. I pray that You cause Lord Zhenjin to repent, to rekindle his desire for reconciliation with You, to cause him to loathe sin. Do all that is necessary to shatter his cowardice and prejudice, but I beg You to do it gently, and bring experiences into Lord Zhenjin¡¯s life to encourage him to return to Your side.¡± After saying all this, Jia Sha bent down, reached out, and helped Lord Zhenjin to his feet. ¡°Child, you must have confidence in yourself,¡± ¡°And have even more confidence in our Lord.¡± ¡°He is tolerant and merciful; He can encompass the vast ocean and embrace the Cang Qiong.¡± Jia Sha remained ever gentle, like a kind father, his words carrying deeper meaning. The hesitance that had just shown on Zhenjin¡¯s face was very obvious. Zhenjin nodded, and the two of them left the corner side by side. Zi Di was stopped by Guardian Knight Xiong Dun. Seeing Zhenjin and Jia Sha emerge, she had a grave look on her face, ¡°Xi Suo, who was responsible for reconnaissance, has returned. The situation ahead is highly unusual!¡± Zi Di then detailed the intelligence, shocking both Jia Sha and Zhenjin, who exchanged looks of disbelief. Not long afterward, the group arrived at the entrance of a ruin. Clearly, a significant battle had taken place here, and the fighting was exceedingly fierce. Earlier, Zhenjin and the others had passed through several workshops, with the destruction worsening progressively until they reached this point, where the original metal corridors had completely vanished, replaced by a massive gaping hole. Before even entering the hole, the astonishing heat from within hit them squarely in the face. The previous scouts, out of caution, did not rashly enter. After deliberating for a while, Jia Sha and Zhenjin cast Divine Arts. When the reconnoitering returned and recounted their findings, they were so overwhelmed that their words tumbled out incoherently. The group stealthily entered the hole to find an enormous battlefield, nearly the size of a town. Dark red light filled everything. The ground and dome were pitted and uneven, hardly level, littered with fragments of war golems, alongside bloodstains from the wounded powerhouses of the Holy Domain. Signs of battle were everywhere. Nearly half of the battlefield had turned into magma. It was the shifting magma that created the dark red glow and the terrifying heat. Without Divine Arts¡ªElemental Tolerance, it would be nearly impossible for ordinary people to breathe normally here. On the other half of the battlefield, which was still walkable, a large number of war golems were active. ¡°There are many defensive war golems!¡± ¡°And one big fellow¡­¡± Behind a massive boulder, protected and temporarily concealed by Divine Arts, everyone scrutinized the scene with a serious demeanor. After the first factory, the survivors had encountered defensive war golems. These golems were at least twice as strong as the transport golems! Defeating a single defensive war golem required the entire team to exert their utmost effort. At first glance on the battlefield, it was clear there were more than ten of these golems! But what attracted everyone¡¯s attention the most was a gigantic Monster. It too was a war golem, not humanoid in form, possessing a dragon¡¯s head, a pig¡¯s body, elephant legs, and a python¡¯s tail. Some defensive golems stood still, while others patrolled, their routes appearing to lack any specific pattern. This Monster golem stood six meters tall and continually opened its massive maw to devour fragments of other golems on the ground, crushing the tough fragments into even more ragged pieces within its jaws. ¡°This was the site of a tremendous battle, intense beyond our wildest imaginations! This place was supposed to be a strategic defense area for the alchemy factory, but all the facilities are destroyed, and the fight reached deep underground, even unleashing magma!¡± ¡°It¡¯s terrifying; nearly everywhere you look there are fragments of golems, thousands of them destroyed!¡± ¡°Have you noticed? Some of the fragments are particularly unique, looking like they¡¯re made of Refined Gold. These must be from golems more powerful than the defensive ones, which we haven¡¯t yet encountered.¡± ¡°Who ended up winning?¡± ¡°I think it was the Holy Domain powerhouses.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also possible they all perished, and their bodies have been taken away. These active defensive golems, and the big fellow, are clearly cleaning up the battlefield.¡± The War Merchants could create and sell Alchemy Cannons, which suggests that mass-producing Gold-level equipment is entirely within their capabilities. Consequently, it is highly probable that they also mass-produced Gold-level alchemy war golems. Although the Holy Domain is formidable, an enemy at the Gold level in sufficient numbers could still represent a significant threat. ¡°How do we get past? The defensive golems all have True Vision.¡± The group was at an impasse. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to get through. Merely three defensive golems could plunge us into crisis.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back the way we came and find another path.¡± This suggestion was accepted by the vast majority. Yet, Jia Sha, Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and others hesitated. ¡°Something¡¯s strange,¡± Zong Ge remarked. ¡°With so many defenses here, why not divert some to eliminate us? The Tower Spirit has long been aware of our incursion.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so strange about that?¡± Guardian Knight Xiong Dun scoffed. ¡°Everyone knows the Tower Spirit is already halfway to ruin.¡± ¡°Father, shall we use Extreme Vision again?¡± Zhenjin suggested. Jia Sha nodded and quietly started the Divine Arts. Moments later, his face turned ashen, ¡°All I saw was magma, dark red magma rushing at me.¡± ¡°We should retreat and take another path,¡± Xiong Dun also proposed. Just as Jia Sha was about to agree, a thunderous roar exploded by his ear. Roar! A blast of incomparably fierce Dragon Roar came up from the magma, and simultaneously, hundreds, thousands of majestic golden beams pierced through the magma. The apparition of an immense dragon materialized within the magma. ¡°It¡¯s¡­the King of Flame Dragons!¡± the hearts of Zhenjin and the others trembled fiercely. Chapter 163 - 163: Section 164: Seize the Opportunity Chapter 163: Section 164: Seize the Opportunity King of Flame Dragon¡ªFlame Mountain! This was a well-known powerful entity within the Holy Bright Empire. Like the statues of many Dukes and Earls, there were numerous statues of it in major cities across the Empire. Thus, Zhenjin and the others recognized it right away. Flame Mountain was a Fire Dragon of Legendary Level strength and also the mount of the Great Duke of the entire law domain. ¡°So this time, the War Merchant is facing not just the Holy Domain¡¯s assault team but also a Legendary Level Fire Dragon!¡± ... ¡°Flame Mountain is no ordinary Fire Dragon, its powerful strength has earned it the title of King of Flame Dragon, no wonder the War Merchant encountered problems.¡± ¡°Wait, it¡¯s sealed!¡± The phantom of Flame Mountain struggled in the magma, roaring continuously, but every time it tried to break free, a giant semi-transparent Alchemy Array emerged on the surface of the magma. The Alchemy Array acted like a seal, firmly suppressing Flame Mountain into the magma. Flame Mountain repeatedly failed to break free and could only roar and roll violently in the magma. Every time the King of Flame Dragons collided with the Array, it caused a massive tremor, and the whole underground shook, with Zhenjin and the others swaying, unable to keep their footing, and large chunks of rock fell from the cave walls. Everyone¡¯s faces turned pale. After recognizing it, Zi Di suddenly realized, ¡°This Alchemy Array is linked to the entire alchemy factory, sealing the King of the Flame Dragon by redirecting every collision it makes outward.¡± ¡°I finally understand why there are earthquakes and volcanic eruptions!¡± ¡°The King of the Flame Dragon is trying to break through the seal, resulting in the Earth Vein being damaged and shaken, and both the volcanoes and earthquakes are the result of its struggle with the Alchemy Array.¡± Everyone¡¯s faces changed dramatically, and Hei Juan showed an expression of shock, ¡°To think even the King of Flame Dragon could be sealed, just how powerful is the War Merchant?¡± ¡°No one knows. The top ten on the wanted list are high-reward targets of various continents, either individually or jointly sought after; how could they dominate the list for so many years without formidable, terrifying strength?¡± Cang Xu shook his head, deeply moved. Zong Ge had calmed down and he said thoughtfully, ¡°The King of Flame Dragon has been sealed, it seems the War Merchant has won this battle. But the volcanic eruptions are getting more intense, and earthquakes are happening more frequently, indicating that the War Merchant no longer has the power to clean up the aftermath.¡± ¡°Yes, to suppress the King of Flame Dragon, the island itself has cracked. At this rate, the King of Flame Dragon will eventually break free,¡± Sanda said. ¡°Can we help it break free?¡± a Guardian Knight suggested. ¡°With so many magic constructs, are you suggesting we destroy the Array?¡± Hei Juan glared at the one who made the suggestion. Jia Sha also shook his head, ¡°Even without these magic constructs, letting us do as we please, we wouldn¡¯t be able to destroy this Alchemy Array.¡± ¡°This Alchemy Array was personally laid out by the War Merchant, he must have paid a heavy price for it.¡± ¡°Legendary Level handiwork is not something we can interfere with,¡± Zong Ge also shook his head. ¡°What do we do next?¡± Queshan asked weakly. Jia Sha, Zhenjin, and the others all showed troubled expressions. The defense on the Magma Battlefield was too strong, it was almost a dead end for them. Yet, to turn back and find another way around might not be a good choice either. All signs indicated that the War Merchant might have achieved final victory, but at a great cost, and he was likely recuperating, temporarily unable to clean up the situation. If possible, no one would want to attack here. Zhenjin and the others were purely forced into a corner, with no choice but to come here in search of a possible escape route. But having explored the underground alchemy factory for so many days, they still hadn¡¯t found any feasible ways. Perhaps in the core or vault of the alchemy factory, there was something to help them escape. Given the situation, the key issue facing Zhenjin, Jia Sha, and others now included the factor of time. If they turned back and chose another path, thus wasting a lot of precious time, allowing the War Merchant sufficient rest and recovery of strength, they too were on a path to death. ¡°Let me take a look first,¡± Jia Sha quietly used the Divine Arts Extreme Vision. His expression slightly changed; among the options of turning back, their future was a dark gray. ¡°Turning back now would mean death,¡± Jia Sha said solemnly. The crowd was startled. ¡°Neither retreating nor advancing works, what now?¡± Everyone fell into a deadlock. ¡°We can first create chaos with the Alchemy Cannon, then take advantage of the chaos and try to rush through this battlefield. We all know the defensive magic constructs here don¡¯t move particularly fast. Mostly, they rely on the factory¡¯s Arrays to slow down enemies. But this alchemy factory here has been completely destroyed,¡± Zong Ge proposed a very risky plan. Everyone¡¯s hearts raced upon hearing this; the outcome of this plan was bound to be brutal, with most becoming cannon fodder, distracting the magic constructs to buy time for the last survivors. And the last to survive were likely only a few. Total annihilation was also a possibility. ¡°Although the priest saw the consequences of turning back, the difficulty of retreat might not necessarily be higher than charging ahead. I don¡¯t quite believe that our route back is blocked by foes more powerful than those before us,¡± Zhenjin shook his head, analyzing, ¡°We could retreat first, compare the actual situations on both sides, then make a decision.¡± Many nodded slightly upon hearing this. But just then, the underground shook violently again, the roaring sound of the King of Flame Dragons resounded once more, and the Alchemy Array burst into magnificent light. The magma churned violently, forming dark red giant waves. Most of these giant waves were blocked by the Alchemy Array, but still, some penetrated the Array and fell on the other half of the battlefield. These magma drops hit the ground and actually coalesced into form. In an instant, hundreds of Flame Element lives had been born. These Fire Elements each had a massive physique, almost the size of a Big Guy. Their bodies were robust, generally humanoid with the build of a tiger¡¯s back and a bear¡¯s waist, and their arms were thick and strong. Possibly because they were created by the King of Flame Dragon, their heads were all dragon heads. And the lower half of the Flame Elements was in the form of a tornado. As they were condensations of Fire Elements, their bodies were bright red and yellow. They had simple minds, and as soon as they were capable of movement, they launched an attack on the Alchemy Array. It was like poking a hornet¡¯s nest, all the stationed Magic Beasts and that huge Magic Beast with a dragon head and a pig¡¯s body began a frenzied slaughter. Extremely hot fireballs exploded one after another, multicolored rays shot around wildly, and the scene fell into extreme chaos momentarily. The survivors were all stunned. Divine Arts¡ªExtreme Vision! Jia Sha started predicting at once. ¡°Wait for five seconds, then go this way!¡± Jia Sha revealed a hint of joy. ¡°Five.¡± ¡°Four.¡± ¡°Three.¡± ¡°Two.¡± ¡°One, follow me and charge!¡± The opportunity was right before their eyes; the survivors sprinted desperately. They emerged from a corner and immediately drew the attention of the Magic Beasts, Fire Elements, and others. Even the King of Flame Dragon in the magma was taken aback. Then, its rough voice echoed across the entire battlefield, ¡°Priests of the Holy Emperor? You¡¯ve come at the right moment, attack quickly to help me escape this trap. I will grant you the richest spoils of war, and your achievements will be enough for promotion to nobility!¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± Jia Sha roared as if he hadn¡¯t heard, shouting loudly. In a fury, the King of Flame Dragon shouted, ¡°You lowly priest, you dare to openly defy the commands of Flame Mountain! Roar!¡± Everyone ran even faster. ¡°Get back here, you worms!¡± the King of Flame Dragon bellowed, extremely furious. It ferociously rammed the Alchemy Array, but the earthquake it triggered was not as violent as before. It was tired. The recent charge at the Array had drained the power it had accumulated. ¡°Get back here! You dare to steal Flame Mountain¡¯s achievements, despicable worms, even if you¡¯re promoted to nobility, I will never let you go!¡± Flame Mountain roared furiously. Zhenjin and the others slowed down. Not because of Flame Mountain, but because intercepting Magic Beasts were appearing ahead. Three stationed Magic Beasts! ¡°I have already seen through the future with Extreme Vision; we can¡¯t fight them, nor can we stop,¡± Jia Sha yelled, ¡°Spread out and retreat, we will regroup on the other side of the battlefield!¡± People scattered immediately. The effect was immediate! There were only three intercepting Magic Beasts, but the survivors were numerous. Many of them successfully evaded, while the unlucky ones who were targeted quickly perished at the hands of the Magic Beasts. ¡°Damn!¡± Zhenjin gritted his teeth, forced to watch his companions be sacrificed. He looked after Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others, with Big Guy sprinting behind him, dragging their speed. Just as they were about to leave the battlefield, the person running ahead suddenly had their head chopped off. Before the body slowly fell, blood spurted out like a fountain from the neck. ¡°Damn, it¡¯s an invisible exterminator!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart sank. Boom, boom, boom¡­ The ground shook, and that huge Magic Beast with a dragon head and a pig belly also charged towards Zhenjin and his small group. ¡°Dad, run fast, Big Guy protect Dad!¡± Big Guy shouted, suddenly stopped, and roared at the huge Magic Beast. Clearly, he intended to stay behind, sacrificing his life to buy time for Zhenjin. ¡°No, enough of our companions have sacrificed already. Listen to me and come back!¡± Zhenjin yelled. As he spoke, his body swelled, and his skin surfaced with the tough dark gold scorpion shell, gripping Zi Di and Cang Xu, his speed surged. Big Guy hesitated for a moment but chose to listen to Zhenjin and turned around to sprint again. He was large in stature and had a wide stride, quickly catching up to Zhenjin. However, the giant Magic Beast was faster, and the distance between them rapidly closed! Puchi. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A soft sound, a sailor not far in front of Zhenjin was suddenly cleaved in half! Zhenjin witnessed this scene, his pupils constricted, and both Zi Di and Cang Xu¡¯s faces were filled with shock. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t see the position of the exterminator, regardless of using ultrasound or the Eyes of the Green Lizard. The invisibility level of the exterminator was almost like Jia Sha¡¯s Invisibility Divine Technique, including not only visual invisibility but also thermal invisibility, tactile invisibility, and more. Suddenly, he felt an intense warning in his heart; instinctively, his body swayed to the side. Then, a spray of blood soared; a wound appeared on his left shoulder, the exterminator was too sharp, and the scorpion shell protected Zhenjin. If not for this protection, half of Zhenjin¡¯s body would have been cut off! Chapter 164 - 164: Section 165: Im okay Chapter 164: Section 165: I¡¯m okay ¡°Lord Zhenjin, abandon me, remember my last wish!¡± Cang Xu shouted against the strong wind. Zi Di also said, ¡°Zhenjin, let go of me, you¡¯ll be a bit faster.¡± ¡°What a joke, I am a Holy Temple Knight. Big guy, run to the front, catch them!¡± Zhenjin bellowed. The big guy paused momentarily, then saw Zhenjin vigorously swing his arms, unexpectedly hurling Zi Di and Cang Xu out. His strength was immense, Zi Di and Cang Xu drew a parabola in the air, crossing over the final distance of the battlefield, and finally moving ahead of Jia Sha and his men. The big guy instinctively dashed forward, took a dozen steps, then lunged forward with outstretched arms, crashing to the ground, and caught Zi Di and Cang Xu in a startlingly close call. ... ¡°That was reckless!¡± ¡°How did they fly over?!¡± Several Guardian Knights nearly got knocked over by the big guy, dodging to the side, eyes wide and mouths agape. ¡°Lord Zhenjin!!¡± Zi Di and Cang Xu stood up, looking back anxiously, only to see another huge wound had been added to Zhenjin¡¯s body, with blood flowing. ¡°Dad, watch out behind you!¡± After catching Zi Di and Cang Xu, the big guy quickly turned around, only to see a giant golem about to collide with Zhenjin, his eyes filled with fury. He broke into a run again, intending to go back to help Zhenjin. But seizing the opportunity, Jia Sha cast a Divine Art, and the big guy¡¯s speed suddenly became incredibly slow. ¡°Bad guy, you¡¯re messing with us!¡± The big guy roared at Jia Sha, his eyes brimming with chilling murderous intent. Jia Sha glared at him and shouted harshly, ¡°Idiot, if you go back now, you¡¯ll only make things worse for him!¡± ¡°Come on.¡± Meanwhile, Zhenjin suddenly turned around, facing the giant golem head-on. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, like a shield. The next moment, the giant golem crashed directly into Zhenjin. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a bang, Zhenjin was sent flying, even faster than Zi Di and Cang Xu before, soaring over the heads of Jia Sha and the others, to come in first place. After landing, Zhenjin rolled a few times and quickly stood up, simultaneously reverting back from his transformed state. Before the severe pain could hit him, Zhenjin¡¯s arms were numb, completely deformed, with bones utterly shattered. Zhenjin shouted to Jia Sha and the others, ¡°Run! They¡¯re coming out!¡± Jia Sha hurriedly cast Divine Arts on everyone, accelerating their pace. The giant golem soon stopped the chase because Zhenjin, Jia Sha, and the others had entered the passage. The passage was narrow, not something the golem could fit through. The golem¡¯s speed was also very slow, quickly falling behind Zhenjin and the rest. The exterminator was the largest threat. However, Jia Sha began to cast Divine Arts in succession, and after several rounds of Divine Arts, the exterminator was forced to reveal its tracks, and everyone¡¯s crossbow arrows began to fire back. Before long, the exterminators that chased after were all annihilated. The situation was stabilized! ¡°We¡¯ve made it through this battlefield,¡± the Guardian Knights cheered, but the cheers soon quieted down, replaced by expressions of sorrow. Only four Guardian Knights remained. One had sacrificed himself to cover for Jia Sha during their escape. ¡°There are still many people trapped inside; I will go rescue them out.¡± Zhenjin hurried back to the battlefield, and during this time, his arms had healed. ¡°Lord Zhenjin!¡± Zi Di spoke up, trying to stop him, but it was too late. The big guy wanted to follow but was again stopped by Jia Sha. Zhenjin once again transformed into the scorpion armor giant, his hands mutated into Spider Blades, wrapped with strands of electric sparks. ¡°Divine Favored Knight!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, it¡¯s you!¡± ¡°Thank you, you saved my life!!¡± With the help of Zhenjin, several comrades, who were about to fall at the final stretch, were aided. In this state, Zhenjin could face the golems head-on. As for the exterminators, Zhenjin still couldn¡¯t detect them, but he had noticed that every time an exterminator attempted to attack him, a warning would arise in his heart. Using these warnings, Zhenjin¡¯s dodges were successful most of the time. But even so, evading usually only changed what would have been a fatal blow into an injury. Soon, Zhenjin was covered in blood. ¡°Lord Zhenjin¡­¡± ¡°He is a true hero!!¡± Inside the passage, everyone watched Zhenjin¡¯s blood-soaked, valiant figure, all deeply moved. Jia Sha looked on quietly at the distant Zhenjin, deep in thought. ¡°Ah, with such a look, Jia Sha must have noticed something¡¯s wrong. After this battle, I should come clean,¡± thought Zhenjin. He might have deceived others, but not Jia Sha, being the Holy Emperor¡¯s priest. ¡°The number of Fire Elements is rapidly decreasing. Luckily, that giant golem hasn¡¯t targeted me and continues its massive slaughter of the Fire Elements.¡± ¡°Who else needs my help?¡± Zhenjin quickly scanned his surroundings. Suddenly, his gaze narrowed at the sight of footprints on the ground. Human footprints, very fresh, likely a comrade¡¯s. Blood stains were beside the footprints. ¡°This comrade is injured!¡± Following the footprints, Zhenjin ran to a corner of the battlefield. There was a small hillock here, a good hiding place. ¡°I¡¯ll save this person and then leave¡­ There¡¯s not much time left for me.¡± The Fire Elements were completely at a disadvantage; Zhenjin could only do his best to rescue his comrades, not risking himself. However, upon reaching this corner of the battlefield, Zhenjin didn¡¯t find his comrade but his heart alarm surged. He quickly dodged, a huge wound nearly making a horizontal cut across his back. The scorpion shell was paper-thin against such an attack! ¡°No ordinary exterminator!¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t see the enemy attacking him, but he could discern their strength from the injury he had received. This sharpness was unprecedented! Zhenjin couldn¡¯t find the enemy, and Jia Sha was not by his side, a sense of alarm once again arose in his heart, and he immediately fell into a bitter fight. At the passage, everyone had been waiting for a long time. Their comrades had not regrouped for a while now, and Zhenjin was also missing. The big guy roared, still struggling under the restriction of Divine Arts, ¡°I want to find daddy, let me go, you meanie!¡± ¡°You two go check on Zhenjin, try your best to bring him back!¡± Jia Sha ordered with difficulty while maintaining the Divine Arts. ¡°Yes,¡± two Guardian Knights took the order and rushed back to the battlefield. Complete Mutation! Zhenjin, with the head of a lizard, spewed violently from his mouth. This time he wasn¡¯t spewing green acid liquid, but the scalding water of the Fat Ball Flying Fish. The water vapor spread quickly, turning into dense fog while Zhenjin discharged electricity with all his might! The invisible enemy entered the fog and in an instant, sparks flew. ¡°Here!¡± Zhenjin bellowed, his blade slashing wildly. The special kind of exterminator moved with exceptional agility, dodging the attack and circling to Zhenjin¡¯s back, fiercely striking toward the back of his head. If hit, Zhenjin would die on the spot, as scorpion armor could not provide adequate protection. But all this was actually a vulnerability deliberately exposed by Zhenjin. The next moment, the scorpion tail behind him stabbed violently, piercing the invisible enemy straight through. The exterminator suffered a fatal blow, and the Fan Blades suddenly disintegrated, shooting towards Zhenjin. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t dodge in time, his shoulder was pierced by the Fan Blade, and one ear was almost completely cut off, hanging by a thread of skin. The scorpion tail spearhead was no longer sharp, almost ground to half. And the exterminator was utterly destroyed, revealing its true form. ¡°It really is an exterminator! But ordinary exterminators only have three Fan Blades; this one had five.¡± In the dense fog, Zhenjin knelt on the ground. The next moment, a red glow emerged, covering the spear tip and the wound. The flesh on the ear and shoulder transformed into Strong Life White Rhinoceros, and the wound healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. The nearly broken spearhead was restored to its peak state. The dense fog gradually dispersed. Suddenly, an odd sound came through. ¡°Another exterminator!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and like a snake, his scorpion tail viciously stabbed toward the source of the noise. Pfft. This stab did not feel like it had hit alchemy items but went through flesh and blood. Zhenjin¡¯s expression changed drastically. He quickly retracted his scorpion tail, and the next moment, he saw a person kneeling on both knees, then falling face-first to the ground. ¡°No!¡± Zhenjin exclaimed, realizing he had accidentally injured a comrade; he hurriedly ran over, knelt down, and held his comrade in his arms. A familiar face came into Zhenjin¡¯s view. It was Xi Suo! ¡°No!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s pupils constricted sharply, and he let out another low cry, his face full of pain and shock. He suddenly remembered, Xi Suo was one of the Scouts this time. And every time the Scouts were dispatched, Jia Sha would cast the Invisibility Divine Technique on them. Xi Suo looked at Zhenjin with a look of terror. In his eyes, Zhenjin was a monster with a lizard head! ¡°You¡­ Beastification¡­ not Divine Favored¡­¡± Xi Suo spoke with difficulty, blood flowing from his mouth. He had been invisible on the side, witnessing the entire process of Zhenjin¡¯s complete mutation in battle. A surge went through Zhenjin¡¯s heart, his heartbeat accelerated rapidly, and he immediately explained: ¡°I am still Zhenjin! Rest assured, I am still rational. You will be saved, you will be¡­¡± Zhenjin comforted Xi Suo while checking his injuries. Seeing the injuries, Zhenjin was stunned for a moment. Xi Suo¡¯s heart had been pierced by Zhenjin, a fatal wound, and Jia Sha was not by their side! ¡°Lord Zhenjin, are you here?¡± Suddenly, the Guardian Knights¡¯ voices came through. Following the footprints Zhenjin had left, the two Guardian Knights arrived at this corner of the battlefield. They found Zhenjin. He was half-kneeling on the ground, covered in a lot of blood. And the parts of the exterminator were scattered on the nearby ground. The two Guardian Knights quickly judged that a fierce battle had occurred here. ¡°This is no ordinary exterminator!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, are you all right? Can you walk?¡± Zhenjin knelt on the ground, motionless, appearing not to hear their calls, which was odd and worrisome. But in the next moment, Zhenjin slowly lifted his head; his eyes were bloodshot, and his voice had turned hoarse. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± The young man stood up, his expression numb: ¡°I was ambushed here. Let¡¯s go, there are no comrades here¡­¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s hurry back.¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s waiting for you.¡± The two Guardian Knights, suspecting nothing, turned and left. The Fire Element was almost completely slaughtered, if they didn¡¯t leave soon, they wouldn¡¯t be able to make it out. Zhenjin followed close behind. A sprinkling of ash quietly fell from between his fingers. Chapter 165 - 165: Section 166: The Lonely Fallen Knight Chapter 165: Section 166: The Lonely Fallen Knight ¡°Lord, please allow me to follow you and show my allegiance to you,¡± Xi Suo half-knelt before Zhenjin inside the tent, his tone sincere. ¡°Oh? Do you mean you¡¯d rather forgo the compensation for the ship and seek the opportunity to follow me? Why such a decision?¡± Zhenjin showed an interested expression. Xi Suo took a deep breath and looked up at Zhenjin, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you are a Holy Temple Knight, the sole heir to the Hundred Needle Family, and the future White Sand City Lord! To follow a person of such stature is an opportunity someone like me might never encounter again in my life.¡± ¡°If I were to accept the new ship as compensation, at most I¡¯d amount to what my father did, becoming the owner of a sea vessel. For a living, I¡¯d have to brave the stormy waves time and again, struggling for survival in the vast ocean. Every voyage requires me to exert all my efforts and wrack my brain, and should we encounter powerful pirates or vicious sea monsters, my ship would risk sinking. Just like this shipwreck.¡± Zhenjin nodded, ¡°You have answered very candidly, I can tell these are words from the bottom of your heart.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, Xi Suo, I permit you to follow me.¡± ... ¡°But also remember this moment, remember your sincerity right now.¡± ¡°I hope you can maintain such excellent qualities.¡± Xi Suo was overjoyed, some stammering in his excitement, ¡°I, I understand, Lord, I understand!¡± But the next moment, a stream of fresh red blood suddenly burst from Xi Suo¡¯s mouth. Xi Suo¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he looked towards Zhenjin, ¡°You¡­ you are not a Holy Temple Knight!¡± ¡°Monster, you are a monster!¡± He violently grasped his chest, not knowing when, a fatal wound had appeared there, piercing through his body. ¡°I¡­ was wrong about you¡­¡± With a thud, Xi Suo collapsed to the ground, devoid of any remaining breath. ¡°No!¡± Zhenjin cried out, instantly waking from the nightmare. Soaked in a cold sweat. He took several breaths before stabilizing his emotions. Looking around, all was calm. Although in the underground alchemy factory one doesn¡¯t see the sun or moon, whether it be Cang Xu or Jia Sha, Zi Di, they all had ways of keeping time. It was already deep into the night. The survivors had passed through the Magma Battlefield, leaving only about thirty people. As the Fire Element was distracting the golems¡¯ attention, Zhenjin was retrieved by two Guardian Knights and they immediately set forth, the rest of the journey going quite smoothly without any pursuit or interception. The defensive golems were artificial, with low intelligence, mainly relying on the command of the Tower Spirit. But the Tower Spirit¡¯s voice had not appeared in the Magma Battlefield. This was the middle segment of the passage. Jia Sha, using the Extreme Vision technique, discerned that it would be safe to rest here for the night and thus ordered a regrouping. He had almost completely exhausted his Divine Power, treating the other survivors¡¯ wounds was already quite strenuous. Jia Sha had already completed his evening prayers early and, guarded by two Guardian Knights, had fallen into a deep sleep. ¡°How should I explain it to him? Today, in crossing the Magma Battlefield, the priest must have seen my mutated form, yet he does not speak of it.¡± Zhenjin knew that Jia Sha was waiting for his confession. But how could Zhenjin possibly find the words? ¡°Xi Suo¡­¡± ¡°It was I who personally killed him!¡± Regret and powerlessness welled up inside him. Zhenjin closed his eyes in pain. Seated on the ground, leaning against the metallic cave wall, he felt the icy silver metal, seemingly reaching deep into his heart. The young knight was consumed with deep self-blame, ¡°At the time, I should have held back, I shouldn¡¯t have struck so fiercely. I should have remembered, the Scout on reconnaissance would be in Invisibility. Why did I forget? Why did I forget this?¡± Yet, another voice rose from the depths of his heart, ¡°Don¡¯t grieve too much, it was but a misfortune.¡± ¡°No, I am falling¡­ I have already fallen. My hands have been stained with the blood of my companions.¡± ¡°Damn it, I wanted to save him!¡± ¡°I truly wanted to save him!!¡± Zhenjin clenched his teeth, his right hand covering his eyes. He tilted his head back, the back of his skull against the cold wall, his left fist clenched very tight. The scene of him killing Xi Suo replayed in his mind. When he realized it was Xi Suo, Zhenjin was full of shock. Yet, when he wanted to rescue Xi Suo, he found that the wound was fatal, and Zhenjin immediately fell into confusion. Faced with Xi Suo¡¯s accusations, he instinctively raised his voice in defense. Suddenly hearing the call of the Guardian Knights, Zhenjin felt his heart skip, without time to think further, he rapidly stimulated his Heart Core, directly absorbing Xi Suo! ¡°No!¡± ¡°I swore, I would never lay hands on the Human Race. Not only did I do so, but I also killed one of my own.¡± ¡°Why did I hide the evidence? Why?!¡± That question was what tormented him the most. He could not avoid this question. ¡°It was my cowardice, my fear, my worry about misunderstandings.¡± ¡°I could explain it clearly. I could.¡± ¡°How to explain?¡± another voice in his heart scoffed. ¡°Why did I kill him, if not out of fear he would reveal my secret? With such a wound, he was as good as dead; better for him to die right away. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t just speaking more put me in trouble?¡± ¡°Think about it, didn¡¯t I save Xi Suo¡¯s life before?¡± ¡°He is ungrateful and even tries to make things difficult for me! Letting the Guardian Knights misunderstand me could have serious consequences!¡± ¡°No!¡± Zhenjin clutched his head and screamed inwardly, ¡°Get out of my head, I¡¯ve never thought like that, and I am definitely not such a despicable and sly person!!¡± The voice inside his head laughed again. ¡°Let me rephrase that so it¡¯s more acceptable to me.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Um¡­ I can¡¯t be misunderstood because I have responsibilities!¡± ¡°The responsibility to rejuvenate my family, to protect my fianc¨¦e, and to lead these survivors by my side to successfully escape this island. I promised them, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°So, I can¡¯t die, and I can¡¯t be misunderstood. I can¡¯t let others down.¡± ¡°No, no, no, this is all sophistry, nothing but sophistry.¡± Zhenjin buried his head into his chest, struggling to fend off the darkness within. ¡°I am falling! I am descending into the Abyss!¡± the young knight felt so weak at that moment, like a leaf in the wind. But soon, that inner voice spoke up again. ¡°Falling? What does it mean to fall?¡± ¡°Is betraying the path of the Holy Temple Knight falling?¡± ¡°Relax, I¡¯ve just made the most correct choice. It¡¯s a rational choice, sufficient to prove my intelligence.¡± ¡°Look now, no one knows the truth. No one will think you killed Xi Suo.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes snapped open, flickering with light as he loudly contested inwardly, ¡°No, I must confess, I must come clean, atone for my sins!¡± ¡°Heh heh heh, go ahead then¡­¡± The voice inside did not stop him. ¡°Go on, do it!¡± the voice inside was taunting him. But Zhenjin no longer spoke out against it, his complexion growing paler, like that of a dead man. His breathing became so faint, as if a dead man had no breath. At that moment, he realized he could never reveal the secret of killing Xi Suo or have the courage to expose the secret of the Heart Core! Each time he had mustered his courage before, he felt he was just a step away, but something unexpected or someone¡¯s interference always occurred. But was that really the case? No, it wasn¡¯t. If he truly wanted to say something, he could have spoken up the majority of the time. ¡°In fact, I don¡¯t want to say it, I really don¡¯t!¡± ¡°The only reason I thought about confessing to the priest was due to the external pressure to survive.¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t want to appear flawless, who doesn¡¯t want to hide their darkness and disgrace? I want to, I really do!¡± Regret, loss, pain, and sorrow tortured the young man, interrogating his heart and making him more aware of his innermost true thoughts. The agonizing night passed. The group set off again. They needed a Scout to check the road ahead. ¡°Let me do it,¡± Zhenjin volunteered. Everyone was surprised and objected. Zhenjin shook his head, insistent, ¡°Everyone needs more rest, and I am in better condition. We¡¯ve just passed the Magma Battlefield, so there might be more dangers ahead. The road will require someone stronger to scout. This is my decision; I insist on it.¡± He needed to keep himself busy, too busy to think. Scouting required more than one person. A Bronze Level crew member knelt down, his voice filled with emotion, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you have saved my life, not just this once. Please let me follow you and join you on this mission!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s action of returning to the battlefield the day before had inspired the crew member. But Zhenjin frowned, at that moment he felt as if he saw Xi Suo: ¡°No, I¡¯ll go alone. Get up!¡± The crew member was stunned. Zhenjin realized he had overreacted and quickly said to make amends, ¡°Right now, there are no intersections ahead. Just I alone will suffice; what you need more is rest.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s words once again earned him the praise and admiration of everyone. However, faced with such gazes and attitudes, Zhenjin wanted only to flee. The scouting went very smoothly, so smoothly that Zhenjin began to doubt it. Afterward, to everyone¡¯s disbelief, they encountered no golems, no exterminators, and not even any mechanical traps or Magic Traps. They traveled on for two more days. Zhenjin felt as if every day was an eternity. ¡°Lord, you need not grieve for the fallen. What¡¯s more important is to lead those who are still alive and escape from here,¡± Cang Xu advised. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, don¡¯t blame yourself. We certainly won¡¯t blame you. You¡¯ve already done well enough,¡± Bai Ya consoled. ¡°If you have anything to say, you can tell me. Actually, I have many things I want to talk to you about too,¡± Zi Di approached Zhenjin privately. ¡°Child, remember that the Lord of Light¡¯s gaze penetrates everything, and no shadow can hide from it,¡± Jia Sha encouraged Zhenjin. Yet, these encouragements, consolations, and persuasions only made Zhenjin feel more shameful. And¡­ more isolated. ¡°There is a body ahead!¡± the Scout relayed urgent information. A strong body from the Holy Domain lay in the corridor. Signs of a fierce battle were everywhere. ¡°He must be one of the attackers who came here. Wait, this outfit¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s from the Blood Light Sanction Court!¡± When everyone rushed to the scene, they were all deeply shaken. Chapter 166 - 166: Section 167: Finally Meeting the War Merchant Chapter 166: Section 167: Finally Meeting the War Merchant The corpse of this Holy Domain powerhouse was clothed in blood-red robes, with iron gauntlets on its hands and iron boots on its feet. An iron helmet and iron mask obscured its face. On the front and back of the blood-red robe, a white-gold, nine-pointed star was depicted. This was the attire of the Blood Light Sanction Court. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Blood Light Sanction Court¡­ The name of this organization was like thunder piercing one¡¯s ears; it was also known as the ¡°Whip of Gods,¡± an entity used by the gods of the Holy Bright Empire to chastise their divine enemies. Some of the Empire¡¯s dukes, all its grand dukes, and the Emperor were living deities. ... These gods each had their domains of expertise and sectarian powers, influencing and directing every aspect of human society. They supported and constrained each other, intertwined like the roots of an ancient tree. An entity that could become the enemy of these gods, even if it couldn¡¯t confront a god head-on, possessed extraordinary abilities to hide, disguise, or flee. And the gods, lofty and preoccupied with myriad tasks, seldom took action themselves. To facilitate the pursuit and extermination of these divine enemies, without interference, the gods joined forces to establish the Blood Light Sanction Court. The Blood Light Sanction Court didn¡¯t have many members, but each one was exceptionally powerful. They came from the various major forces of the Holy Bright Empire and were truly strong in their own right. The Blood Light Sanction Court wielded immense power, with authority to issue continent-wide warrants, make on-the-spot arrests and executions, and act first and report later, towering above the Holy Temple Knights, Holy Temple Mage Group, various sects, noble families, the Mage Alliance, and so on. The official members of the Blood Light Sanction Court could freely enter any area of the Empire, access most of the hidden information, and had the right to urgently mobilize almost any imperial garrison. ¡°It seems that the Grand Duke of All Magics has dispatched his mount, the King of Flame Dragon, Flame Mountain, into the Blood Light Sanction Court. Flame Mountain must also be a member of the Court!¡± ¡°I thought it was the Grand Duke of All Magics who was going to make a move against the War Merchant.¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange, why does the Blood Light Sanction Court attack the War Merchant? The War Merchant is not an enemy of the gods.¡± ¡°Perhaps he committed some blasphemous act against the gods in secret.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s possible that the Empire requires the War Merchant¡¯s technology for transforming magical beasts. Think about it, if the Empire mastered this technology, how many sacrifices from the Human Race could be reduced when confronting the Beastman.¡± Everyone discussed among themselves. ¡°Then, who might this Holy Domain powerhouse be?¡± Someone curious wanted to approach the corpse and lift the iron mask. ¡°Don¡¯t touch!¡± This action immediately triggered a stern warning from Jia Sha. After uttering this warning, Jia Sha looked toward the Guardian Knight, Xiong Dun, at his side. Xiong Dun lifted his foot and kicked a pebble beside him. The pebble flew and struck the Holy Domain corpse, immediately turning into gold. ¡°According to the information I hold, the War Merchant¡¯s spell ¡®Golden Hand¡¯ had long since reached Legendary status. This member of the Blood Light Sanction Court is killed by this spell.¡± ¡°His clothing completely covers his skin, but with Divine Arts observation, one can see that he has entirely turned into a gold statue.¡± Jia Sha¡¯s timely guidance caused the would-be mask lifter to turn pale with fright. Their own strength was too weak; even the corpse of a fallen Holy Domain warrior was not to be touched carelessly. Cautiously, they skirted around the corpse and continued on their way. They then encountered even more signs of intense combat. People saw fresh blood spilled by someone unknown, severed limbs, and fragments of golems, magical tools, and weaponry. Jia Sha analyzed, ¡°In the earlier Magma Battlefield, the War Merchant and the Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s squad clashed head-on, sealing the Flame Mountain but also suffering serious injuries.¡± ¡°He evacuated in haste, with the Holy Domain warriors in hot pursuit.¡± ¡°Soon after, the War Merchant was overtaken, retreating while fighting.¡± ¡°In this process, a Holy Domain warrior was killed¡ªthe very corpse we had seen earlier.¡± ¡°The rest continued their pursuit, each side paying a heavy toll.¡± This was why, as they arrived here, they hardly encountered any defensive forces. ¡°Let¡¯s move on; I feel the central hub is not far now!¡± Jia Sha¡¯s voice was slightly excited. Zi Di¡¯s eyes also sparkled with anticipation. The further they went, the wider the passageway became. Before long, they all stopped before a massive door. The surface of the door was as gleaming as if it were new, but the lower left corner was missing a piece. Through this gap, they could see beyond the door. The gap was small, just enough for a normal cat or dog to squeeze through. ¡°What a sturdy door!¡± ¡°Look inside, it¡¯s very different; the space is extremely vast.¡± ¡°So many coffins!¡± ¡°The floor is practically covered with the corpses of magical beasts!!¡± Through the gap in the lower left corner, everyone peered inside and exclaimed in astonishment. The light inside was dim, and the scene was chaotic, littered with the corpses of transformed magical beasts such as bat monkeys, Scale-Horned Black Panthers, and Blue Dog Fox Wolves, clearly the aftermath of a fierce battle. ¡°The Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s powerhouses pursued their enemies all the way in, and this door failed to stop them in time,¡± someone speculated about the past battle. ¡°Perhaps, this is a trap the War Merchant set for the Blood Light Sanction Court.¡± ¡°These coffins are closely arrayed together. Although many are destroyed, a very few remain intact. What exactly were they used for?¡± ¡°This might not be the central hub, but it¡¯s definitely a critical place!¡± Everyone was both excited and tense. Divine Arts¡ªDetect Magic. Divine Arts¡ªDetect Traps. Using these Divine Arts repeatedly, Jia Sha finally confirmed that the massive door was harmless, merely a door on its own. ¡°Break down this door!¡± Jia Sha commanded. ¡°` However, all four Guardian Knights returned without success, and Zong Ge¡¯s Bone Hammer failed to leave even a slight dent in the imposing gate. Jia Sha furrowed his brow, blessing everyone with Divine Arts, but still could not cause any damage to the gate. Unwilling to accept defeat, Jia Sha used offensive Divine Arts himself, the radiance of the spell colliding with the gate only to shatter into countless points of light, achieving nothing. ¡°This must be a gate forged from legendary material!¡± Zi Di said with a heavy voice. ¡°What can we do now?¡± Hei Juan asked helplessly; even when he tried using his thin sword Silver Lightning, it left only a faint scratch. ¡°We should have brought that cannon with us,¡± Cang Xu sighed. During their rush across the Magma Battlefield, they had abandoned the exceedingly heavy Alchemy Cannon in their haste to flee. ¡°Are we really going back to retrieve the cannon?¡± The suggestion made many shake their heads. The Magma Battlefield still held defensive golems and invisible exterminators; going back for the cannon would be a death wish. ¡°Zhenjin, perhaps you can give it a try,¡± Jia Sha looked at Zhenjin, a slight smile on his face as he encouraged him. A jolt shot through Zhenjin¡¯s heart. ¡°Yes, my lord, if you pray successfully, the power of a Divine Favored Knight might break through this gate,¡± Hei Juan called out. In a moment, almost everyone¡¯s gaze focused on him. Zhenjin¡¯s breath caught slightly. Expressionless, he approached the gate with heavy steps, then turned his back to the crowd and lowered his head in silent prayer. After a long while. He turned around, his face filled with disappointment: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my lord did not respond to me.¡± The crowd sighed, but no one blamed Zhenjin. ¡°My lord, do not force yourself too much. The Holy Emperor surely has his reasons,¡± Zi Di consoled. Zhenjin nodded and rejoined the group. Jia Sha gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing as he stared at the gate: ¡°To use legendary material for this door, surely what lies behind must be the central chamber. Damn it! We are actually blocked by a door.¡± Everyone was at a loss and gradually fell into despair. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s another way.¡± ¡°Yeah, there can¡¯t be just one path to the central chamber, right?¡± Someone proposed looking for an alternate route. It was at this moment that the Big Guy suddenly shouted: ¡°I¡¯ve got it, I¡¯ve thought of a good method.¡± ¡°What method?¡± They asked, with little hope in their hearts. ¡°Let me try,¡± the Big Guy said confidently. He rushed to the front of the gate and grabbed onto a gap in the bottom left corner of the gate. ¡°Does he intend to squeeze through?¡± Someone laughed. But the next moment, the Big Guy gritted his teeth and pulled hard at the gate with all his might, trying to move it aside. At first, the gate didn¡¯t budge, but after a few breaths, it trembled slightly and then slowly moved to the right. Many people were stunned. Jia Sha laughed loudly: ¡°Hahaha, well done, good job!¡± Their thinking had not adapted, while the Big Guy, with his simple mind, employed the most straightforward method to move the door. Of course, if the Tower Spirit had been around, and the place had not been damaged by battle, this gate would have been locked tight without such an obvious flaw. The Big Guy quickly lost his strength, but the gate had already opened up wider, enough for someone of smaller stature to get through. Zong Ge, Zhenjin, and the four Guardian Knights, with the blessing of Jia Sha¡¯s Divine Arts, continued to pull at the gate. After much effort, they were all drenched in sweat but finally managed to open the door halfway, enough for even the Big Guy to barely squeeze through. The gate now revealed the inside. Behind it was a vast expanse of space, the walls curving like a dome to create an arena-like environment. Hundreds of coffins were arranged and laid out like seats in an arena, closely encircling the area. Many of the coffins were opened or destroyed, and it appeared they originally contained blood. Many coffins remained intact. The destroyed coffins and the numerous corpses of magical beasts vividly depicted the route of the Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s strong assailants. They had charged straight from the gate to the central Mage Tower. Indeed, within this large underground space stood a Mage Tower. Unlike most Mage Towers, this one was short and stout, with only four floors. The first floor of the Mage Tower was severely damaged, and from a distance, they could see a small hill¡¯s worth of magical beast corpses, along with massive chunks of golems. Jia Sha¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and with certainty, he said, ¡°This is definitely the heart of the Alchemy Factory!¡± Everyone fell into a mix of excitement and tension. Advancing through the battlefield that resembled ruins. No accidents occurred, and they smoothly arrived at the base of the Mage Tower. Crossing over the mountain of magical beast corpses, they entered the Mage Tower. Several humanoid corpses came into view. Three corpses of Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s Holy Domain powerhouses, and one goblin. This goblin wore an exquisite gold magic robe and lay prostrate on the ground, the faint trace of legendary Life Breath remaining on his body which revealed his identity beyond doubt¡ªan Alchemy Grandmaster¡ªWar Merchant! ¡°` Chapter 167 - 167: Section 168: Divine Artifact! Green Jade Gold Coffin Chapter 167: Section 168: Divine Artifact! Green Jade Gold Coffin The War Merchant lay prostrate on the ground, his back facing upward. A peculiar long spear, two meters in length, had pierced through his back and out his chest, with the spear tip lodged in the floor tiles. This slender spear, appearing as if it were woven from interlaced vines, had dealt the War Merchant his most fatal blow. The identity of the Holy Domain powerhouse who had thrown the spear was unknown; it might well have been a desperate final strike, which resulted in the mutually assured destruction scene before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°This wooden vine spear seems to be the Legendary Weapon recorded in the annals¡ªthe Thistlewood Vine Spear,¡± Zong Ge asserted after some examination. The spear constantly emitted a Legendary Level aura; peculiarly, it seemed alive, akin to Magic Plants. ¡°The last record of this Thistlewood Vine Spear was its inclusion in the arsenal of the Great Duke Zhan Wan. That must be it. A Legendary Weapon with such distinctive features.¡± ... ¡°No wonder the War Merchant was also killed. The Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s assault team possessed the Legendary King of Flame Dragons, and a Legendary Weapon!¡± But Zi Di shook her head, ¡°This is the War Merchant¡¯s main base, and the Alchemy Factory is part of his Mage Tower. If it had come down to direct combat, the outcome would not be clear. The key is that this team evidently came prepared, they didn¡¯t launch a frontal assault but instead directly infiltrated the inner workings of the Alchemy Factory. The reality is, the War Merchant was caught completely off guard.¡± Zi Di¡¯s analysis won Cang Xu¡¯s approval. The old Scholar nodded slightly, looking upon the War Merchant¡¯s corpse with a deep sigh: ¡°A Legendary Mage who could reside within a Mage Tower and even contend with deities has fallen just like this.¡± ¡°His Magic Robe must also be of Legendary rank. Sadly, it could not withstand the Thistlewood Vine Spear.¡± Someone noted this fact. ¡°Even a damaged Legendary Magic Robe, just based on the manufacturing material, is worth a fortune, let alone the possibility that it could be repaired!¡± ¡°Better not to touch him. Who knows if the War Merchant set up some treacherous Spell before his death?¡± Cang Xu warned. His words instantly reminded everyone of the first Holy Domain powerhouse corpse¡ªrashly touching it would result in transformation into a golden statue. A shiver ran through everyone¡¯s hearts, and they inwardly heaved a sigh. The gap between them was so vast that they couldn¡¯t even approach the corpse. ¡°Nor should we touch this Thistlewood Vine Spear. It¡¯s extremely domineering, capable of drawing in almost all substances and energy. When it encounters water, it absorbs water; when it encounters fire, it draws in fire; when it encounters flesh and blood, it absorbs flesh and blood. Therefore, it is a strong counter to a Mage¡¯s energy shield.¡± Zong Ge reminded them. Hearing this, everyone discreetly distanced themselves further from the War Merchant. ¡°How are we supposed to clean up the battlefield then?¡± ¡°Yeah, how are we going to take these spoils of war back with us?¡± ¡°I never imagined such a huge gain from this misfortune! My goodness, fate is too unbelievable.¡± ¡°The credit for this is too great, the bounty for the War Merchant is a huge sum. He is seventh on the wanted list, after all!¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ It¡¯s more than just the bounty.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve picked up a huge advantage. As long as we bring these back to the Empire, we might be granted noble titles, win lands. And the stories about us will spread across the entire Continent, making countless adventurers envious.¡± The crowd gathered around the War Merchant¡¯s body and, gradually, their voices grew louder, their breaths heavier, and many faces flushed with excitement. Zong Ge felt the same. He thought of his father and realized that before he even set foot in the Wilderness Continent, he had accomplished such an enormous feat, undoubtedly shortening the distance between himself and his goals. Sanda, too, was visibly elated. He had been the squad leader of the Sanda Mercenary Group, and had devoted most of his life to it. To think that after being stranded on an island and disbanding the Mercenary Group, he would encounter a turning point in life! Zhenjin, however, frowned slightly, looking at the side of the War Merchant¡¯s face. He couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled, ¡°Strange, why do I have a sense of familiarity when I look at him?¡± Everyone was actually clear about the appearance of the War Merchant, considering the world¡¯s seventh biggest bounty had spread his portrait across almost every Continent. However, Zhenjin was sure that this sense of familiarity did not come from looking at portraits but rather resembled that derived from personal contact. Cang Xu suddenly spoke up, ¡°Gentlemen, this might not be such an easy bargain to grab. The War Merchant was killed by the Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s team. What would happen if we presented these spoils? What would be the Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s reaction?¡± ¡°When we passed through the Magma Battlefield, Flame Mountain roared explicitly at us, warning us not to covet this credit.¡± ¡°Flame Mountain is not just a Legendary Fire Dragon. Its master is the all-powerful Duke of the Mage Empire.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s words caused everyone to involuntarily calm down. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°This credit is too significant; it¡¯s not something we can swallow up.¡± ¡°My little body wouldn¡¯t even stand a chance against one press of the King of Flame Dragons¡¯ Dragon Claw!¡± The group worried, showing distressed expressions. Jia Sha scoffed, ¡°Gentlemen, you must understand, these are gifts bestowed upon us by fate!¡± The priest looked at the crowd, declaring loudly, ¡°Originally, we might have been able to sail safely to the Wilderness Continent. However, the Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s team assaulted Mysterious Monster Island, perishing alongside the War Merchant. The island collapsed, the Tower Spirit lost control, and the leaking tremendous force caused our ship to suffer misfortune.¡± ¡°We are the victims, the unfortunate ones caught in the crossfire, stranded on this island as a result. Over the past several months, we¡¯ve struggled. We have battled various Magic Beasts, traversed mountains and rivers, and gathered food and water with all our might for self-rescue. In the end, we were still forced to come here, trying to carve out a chance for survival from a desperate situation.¡± ¡°We have succeeded!¡± ¡°Now we have reached this place.¡± ¡°Looking back, we have sacrificed so many companions, shed so much sweat and blood, and survived so many close calls. We supported each other, relying on our own efforts and the indispensable luck, and here we finally stand.¡± Jia Sha pointed at the War Merchant¡¯s corpse, ¡°This is what we deserve.¡± ¡°Right!¡± ¡°Absolutely correct.¡± ¡°The priest spoke the truth!¡± Everyone was deeply moved by Jia Sha¡¯s words. Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and a few others remained silent. Jia Sha continued, ¡°Indeed, by claiming this feat for ourselves, we will offend the Blood Light Sanction Court, Flame Mountain, the Grand Duke of the Entire Empire, and others. But if I were to pass up the achievements before us, I would regret it for the rest of my life!¡± ¡°As everyone knows, I am a priest. I believe in my lord¡ªthe great Holy Emperor! Within the Holy Sect, I have my mentors, I have my superiors, and a large number of colleagues. I was also the son of a noble, and my family¡¯s background could offer me convenience.¡± ¡°So, I will make use of all my connections, relationships, and will fight with all my might for these achievements.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Bai Ya exclaimed, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, we also have Lord Zhenjin.¡± Everyone¡¯s gaze once again focused on Zhenjin. ¡°Yes, we have always been following Lord Zhenjin.¡± ¡°He is a Holy Temple Knight, a Divine Favored Knight!¡± ¡°The Hundred Needle Family will undoubtedly support us, ensuring our accomplishments!¡± Zong Ge was thoughtful; he thought of his own father. Hei Juan wore a slight smile. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Th-thank goodness,¡± Fat Tongue, with tears in his eyes, said, ¡°Chairman, our Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce will also, also be revived.¡± However, at this moment, Zi Di was unusually calm, ¡°Gentlemen, do not celebrate too soon. Our main purpose in coming here is not to claim achievements. The War Merchant¡¯s and the Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s squads perishing together was unexpected. We need to survive and escape from here.¡± ¡°Even though we have not felt the earthquakes after entering the Alchemy Factory, it doesn¡¯t mean they have stopped. The source of the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions is Flame Mountain.¡± ¡°If we do not hurry and find a way to escape, when the island collapses, we will all perish. If Flame Mountain is liberated, we will all suffer.¡± Their faces turned grave. Zi Di was right, and they all sobered up a bit. ¡°Quick, let¡¯s go upstairs and check.¡± ¡°This Mage Tower must be the heart of the Alchemy Factory. Inside, there must be a way to control the entire factory.¡± ¡°There must also be a way to leave here, like a passage or a Teleportation Gate of some sort. The War Merchant would have left a route of escape for himself.¡± ¡°We have to hurry and find the command center!¡± ¡°Could this coffin be the command center?¡± On the first floor of the Mage Tower, besides the destroyed door and the corpses of the War Merchant and Holy Domain strongmen, and apart from the Legendary Weapon, Thornwood Vine Spear, at the center stood a massive coffin. The coffin seemed to be completely made of gold, its surface inlaid with green jade bas-reliefs followed by silver outlines, depicting an elegant serpentine body and expansive magnificent wings. The entire coffin was three meters long and one-point-eight meters wide, splendid and peerlessly luxurious. The coffin was not intact; they did not find its lid. Approaching carefully, they made another discovery¡ªthe interior walls of the coffin were lined with black lines depicting twelve murals, all in an ancient style, showing gods, creation, worship, skylight, and other mythological subjects. ¡°This deity seems to be¡­ the Feathered Snake,¡± Jia Sha recognized after a moment and his expression shifted slightly. The Feathered Snake was not a deity of the Human Race but was one of the gods worshiped by the Trolls. And now the Troll race was nearly extinct, and the Feathered Snake had long since fallen. Jia Sha¡¯s eyes gleamed as he spoke with certainty, ¡°This coffin must be the Feathered Snake¡¯s Divine Artifact¡ªthe Green Jade Gold Coffin!¡± ¡°The Feathered Snake deity had dominion over life, reproduction and related Divine Offices, and Divine Authority. According to records, whenever It was gravely wounded, It would retreat into the coffin to receive rapid and complete healing. The healing power of this Divine Artifact, the Green Jade Gold Coffin, is so potent that some even speculated it may be able to resurrect deities!¡± ¡°I cannot believe that War Merchant managed to acquire the main body.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, he did not possess the lid; this artifact is incomplete.¡± ¡°I understand now!¡± Speaking, Jia Sha suddenly turned to look back at War Merchant, ¡°He was gravely injured, retreated to the command center, and aimed to use the Green Jade Gold Coffin to heal himself. He nearly succeeded, but in the end, he perished during the final stretch of the journey.¡± Chapter 168 - 168: Section 169: The Second Heart Core Chapter 168: Section 169: The Second Heart Core Divine Artifact¡ªGreen Jade Gold Coffin! Zi Di hadn¡¯t expected that on the first floor of the Alchemy Factory¡¯s Central Tower, there would be a Divine Artifact on display. The crowd couldn¡¯t help but be shocked, but upon closer thought, it wasn¡¯t strange for War Merchant, who was ranked seventh on the wanted list of Legendary Alchemists, to possess such wealth. ¡°We have to move this Divine Artifact! Presenting it to the Empire will surely result in unimaginable credit,¡± someone shouted. ¡°To prevent any accidents, let¡¯s not touch it for now. There is an Alchemy Array here, and it must be the core,¡± Zi Di saw through some clues. ¡°The countless replica coffins outside the tower must be its replicas. Through the Alchemy Array, War Merchant spread the power of this Divine Artifact into the replica coffins, which then created the various Transformed Magical Beasts on the island.¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°It seems I was wrong in my previous guess. The man-made magical beasts on the island weren¡¯t created by Beastification, but were forcibly crafted here. The Green Jade Gold Coffin truly is unbelievable!¡± ... ¡°After all, it is a Divine Artifact¡­¡± Jia Sha sighed with admiration, leading the way around the exquisitely beautiful Divine Artifact coffin, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry to the next floor and find a way to control this place.¡± Aside from a few corpses and the Divine Artifact coffin, the first floor of the Mage Tower only had a single staircase. Jia Sha cast Divine Arts to probe the surroundings and the area ahead. But the results were very poor¡ªnothing was detected. Even if this place had lost control, due to the materials used in construction and Legendary grade alchemy techniques, the effectiveness of Silver Level detection Divine Arts was nearly nil. Therefore, Jia Sha did not walk in front, letting others scout ahead. Everyone proceeded with full vigilance, approaching the staircase without any incident. ¡°Listen, it sounds like the sea waves!¡± Lan Zao suddenly said. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Many nodded in agreement; they had heard it too. ¡°Could there be a permanent Teleportation Gate on the second floor that lets us leave Mysterious Monster Island directly?¡± ¡°Or perhaps it¡¯s the activation of some Defensive Magic¡­¡± The crowd was abuzz with discussion, while Zhenjin¡¯s heart silently skipped a beat, ¡°This feeling¡­¡± He suddenly felt a call, a mysterious attraction, just above the first floor. As he stepped onto the staircase, the closer he approached the second floor, the stronger this pull and call became. ¡°What exactly is on the second floor?¡± Harboring such strong curiosity, Zhenjin, along with the others, finally set foot on the second floor. Upon arrival, the sea wave sounds they had heard before vanished. There was almost nothing in the second floor; contrary to expectations, there was no permanent Teleportation Gate, only an ordinary seashell suspended in mid-air. The seashell looked mundane and old, as large as a basin with moss growing on it, mostly a dark greenish-black color. They could sense a faint Life Breath from it, proving that the seashell was alive. But it was not a Magic Beast; the Life Breath indicated¡ª it was just an ordinary seashell. Why would War Merchant place an ordinary seashell on the second floor? In War Merchant¡¯s view, this seashell must have been more important than the first floor¡¯s Divine Artifact, the Green Jade Gold Coffin! While the others hesitated, Jia Sha¡¯s expression suddenly shifted as he thought of something. ¡°Could it be the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale?¡± Jia Sha was uncertain. ¡°What thing?¡± ¡°Fairy tale?¡± The crowd was utterly baffled, finding it difficult to connect a seashell with a fairy tale. However, Cang Xu recalled some piece of knowledge and explained, ¡°What the priest must have been referring to is the Divine Artifact of Mei Lan, the god. The name of the Divine Artifact is the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale.¡± Seeing everyone¡¯s gaze focused on him, Cang Xu continued, ¡°Mei Lan is the deity that the Fishmen worship, best at deception and disguise. Her true form is that of a mermaid, fond of using her charm to lure excellent males of different races from sea vessels. However, on one occasion, She encountered a Duke from our Human Race¡­ As for what happened next, it would be inappropriate for me to elaborate.¡± Everyone seemed to realize something, recalling the scrapes and scandals associated with a certain great person from the Holy Bright Empire. ¡°I had always thought that was just a rumor.¡± ¡°Many things aren¡¯t unfounded.¡± ¡°Stop talking about it, this topic is taboo¡ªbe careful of the trouble that comes from your own mouth!¡± The group voluntarily stopped discussing the matter, turning their attention back to the unremarkable seashell. ¡°I am still not certain,¡± Jia Sha shook his head, ¡°but if this really is the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, then everything would make sense.¡± ¡°The War Merchant was able to hide his stronghold directly within the Main World by relying on this Divine Artifact, utilizing its talents in deception and disguise,¡± someone said. ¡°That¡¯s why the gods couldn¡¯t detect Mysterious Monster Island here, and no ships can reach it either. Our arrival is purely the result of numerous accidents!¡± Zong Ge gazed at the large shell in front of him, his tone full of admiration, ¡°The War Merchant is truly a Legendary Alchemist, capable of using a Divine Artifact.¡± Divine Artifacts, as the name suggests, are tools used by the gods. Most Divine Artifacts are crafted solely by the gods themselves, each perfectly suited to their respective Divine Powers. Only when the gods permit it, can Divine Artifacts be used by other beings. However, the War Merchant clearly did not have the permission of the Feathered Snake or Mei Lan gods. He forcibly unearthed some of the abilities of these two Divine Artifacts through his own means. The War Merchant¡¯s alchemy skill, which was at the peak of the world, was undoubtedly revealed. The War Merchant was not a believer; to steal the power of Divine Artifacts for alchemy was an affront, a sacrilege to the Feathered Snake and Mei Lan gods. If discovered, he would become an enemy of the gods. But both of these gods had long since fallen, so they could not cause any trouble for the War Merchant. This also showed the War Merchant¡¯s caution; he had the sense to only target fallen gods. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the third floor,¡± said Jia Sha as he walked toward the stairs. Just like before, no one dared touch the large shell, carefully bypassing it, for fear that getting too close would trigger something. Zhenjin glanced at the Divine Artifact one last time, harboring no familiar feelings within him, it felt quite alien. But the youth¡¯s gaze grew heavier, as he felt an even stronger mysterious call and attraction. ¡°So the source of the summons isn¡¯t on the second floor, but even higher up!¡± ¡°What exactly is the reason for this hidden summoning?¡± ¡°Why does this Central Tower look somewhat familiar to me?¡± ¡°Could it be that I have been here before?¡± ¡°That¡¯s unlikely, how could I have been here?¡± Using Divine Arts, Jia Sha still couldn¡¯t detect any traps, and those walking in front remained unscathed. Soon, everyone reached the third floor. This floor was similar in layout to the second one, empty with nothing but an object suspended in the center, and a staircase at the edge of the wall. ¡°What is this thing?¡± ¡°Could it be another Divine Artifact?¡± ¡°The War Merchant placed it on the third floor, indicating that it¡¯s even more important than the Green Jade Gold Coffin and Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale in his heart!¡± However, this time, whether it was Jia Sha, Zong Ge, or Cang Xu, they all furrowed their brows in confusion, unable to recognize it. In the eyes of the observers, it was a round small ball. It was only the size of a thumb, thoroughly red, and its surface was not smooth, resembling an exquisitely delicate little walnut with extremely fine crisscrossing lines. Its texture was akin to crystal, faintly transparent, radiating blood-like radiance from within. Zhenjin also looked puzzled, but he was filled with shock inside. ¡°This is a Heart Core!!!¡± He was all too familiar with this strange object, as there was one just like it hidden within his heart. Size, shape, texture, all were identical; only the pattern on the surface was different. Without the Heart Core, Zhenjin would have died long ago in a corner of Mysterious Monster Island. It was by continuously tapping into the power of the Heart Core that Zhenjin relied on his Mutation to reach where he was now. ¡°The War Merchant also has a Heart Core!¡± ¡°Did he create this Heart Core himself?¡± ¡°He put it on the third floor, he must feel its value exceeds that of the Green Jade Gold Coffin and the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale!¡± Zhenjin was surprised, yet somehow not surprised. He had long speculated that the incessant battles between the magical beasts on Mysterious Monster Island might be for the purpose of forging Heart Cores. The young knight then recalled information previously mentioned by Jia Sha. In recent years, the War Merchant had mastered the alchemy technique for Beastification People and was already selling it as military hardware to others. ¡°But why such a strong attraction?¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help swallowing hard, the Heart Core suspended in mid-air, broadcasting an incredibly strong call. The caller was not Zhenjin, but the Heart Core inside Zhenjin¡¯s heart. The Heart Core inside Zhenjin emitted a weird red light, flashing on and off as if loudly reminding Zhenjin: ¡°Eat it! Eat it! Quickly, assimilate it!!¡± Chapter 169 - 169: Section 170: Victory Descends Suddenly Chapter 169: Section 170: Victory Descends Suddenly The young knight felt a strong intuition deep in his heart¡ªabsorbing this Heart Core would be greatly beneficial to him! But under the watchful eyes of everyone, how could he make his move? The Divine Artifacts, Green Jade Gold Coffin, and Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale on the two lower levels had not been touched by anyone. Who knew what defensive measures the War Merchant might have set up on this even more crucial third level. Zhenjin could only endure quietly. ¡°This floor also didn¡¯t have the key item to control the Alchemy Factory?¡± Hei Juan asked, a bit anxiously. ¡°It must be on the fourth floor!¡± Zi Di declared. ... Everyone bypassed the Heart Core and climbed the stairs. Soon, the Scout, who was leading, spoke, ¡°The fourth floor is completely empty, not a single item!¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Our gods, what are we to do?¡± Everyone quickly ascended to the fourth floor and sure enough, found it completely empty. Panic began to set in. ¡°Damn it, without a way to control it, it will be hard for us to use the Array here to escape.¡± ¡°Even if we had many Divine Artifacts, what use would they be?¡± ¡°The island is collapsing; we¡¯re all going to die here. No, once Flame Mountain breaks free, it will surely crush us like ants!¡± Many were holding their heads, faces showing utter despair. ¡°We still have time,¡± Bai Ya comforted. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Central Tower?¡± Cang Xu frowned, his expression puzzled. ¡°The War Merchant chose to retreat here after his defeat. It¡¯s highly likely that this is the Central Tower!¡± ¡°But why aren¡¯t there any items to control the factory?¡± ¡°Could it be on the War Merchant¡¯s person?¡± ¡°Perhaps there are other Mage Towers within this factory.¡± As everyone speculated, Jia Sha¡¯s expression suddenly changed. He burst out with a look of joy, ¡°Wait, this is it! This is the Central Tower!¡± All eyes were drawn to him. ¡°This Mage Tower, no, to be precise, this floor is the key to controlling the Alchemy Factory!¡± Jia Sha said as he channeled his Divine Power into the wall. He had been doing this for a while now, previously without any response, but now it finally had an effect. Everyone saw the Divine Power shine with a pure white light, flowing from Jia Sha¡¯s hands and streaming along the walls of the fourth floor. Where the Divine Power flowed, straight and curved lines and runes formed. These runes and lines, arranged tightly, began to reveal a small part of the Alchemy Array in the eyes of everyone present. ¡°Amazing, truly amazing,¡± Jia Sha¡¯s face grew increasingly joyful as his knowledge of the Mage Tower rapidly expanded with the corrosion of the Divine Power. ¡°True to the War Merchant, he is indeed a peak figure in the world of alchemy!¡± Then, Jia Sha¡¯s expression slightly changed, his voice carrying a tone of relief, ¡°Thank goodness the Tower Spirit is in poor condition. If it were intact, we would have been wiped out on the first floor!¡± ¡°I told you, everyone! This is a gift bestowed upon us by fate.¡± Everyone was overjoyed. ¡°Fantastic!¡± ¡°Truly worthy of Lord Jia Sha.¡± ¡°With this, we can control the entire Alchemy Factory!¡± ¡°Quick, see if there¡¯s anything here that can help us escape.¡± As everyone spoke all at once, the Tower Spirit¡¯s voice suddenly rang out again. ¡°Warning! Warning!¡± ¡°The Alchemy Central Tower has been invaded, intruders detected on the control deck, fourth floor.¡± ¡°Initiate purge¡­ no guards detected in the Central Tower.¡± ¡°Awaken the Elemental Warriors¡­ no life signs of Elemental Warriors detected.¡± ¡°Release poison gas¡­ control valve is unresponsive.¡± ¡°Summon the external statues¡­ communication is disrupted, unable to establish contact.¡± ¡°Emergency halt to the nurturing process, awaken the Magic Beasts in creation¡­ awakening successful!¡± The Tower Spirit¡¯s words threw everyone into a flurry, and by the end, everyone¡¯s face drastically changed. A roar! Separated by the Central Tower, everyone could hear the loud, raging roars. Within a few breaths, the roaring intensified, countless howls intertwining to form a tsunami-like wave of sound. Jia Sha¡¯s face turned pale, ¡°It¡¯s the coffins outside the tower, all the intact coffins have been opened, a massive swarm of Magic Beasts is heading this way!¡± ¡°We must block them!¡± ¡°Buy me time, as long as my Divine Power completely saturates this place, the Tower Spirit will be powerless against us!¡± Everyone knew the critical moment had come, and they hurriedly fought their way down to the first floor. The doors of the first floor had already vanished, a third of them destroyed, forming a massive gap. Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, Blue Dog Fox Wolf, Strong Life White Rhinoceros, gun scorpions, and more surged like a tide, attacking violently. The extreme ferocity exerted immense pressure on everyone. ¡°Fire!¡± Hei Juan commanded loudly, his voice trembling. A round of arrow rain, two rounds of arrow rain, three rounds of arrow rain¡­ Although the survivors were few in number and their Arrow Screen sparse, they were now utilizing alchemy arrows. These arrows either exploded, blazed fiercely, emitted frost, or shot out thunder¡­ Their extraordinary power inflicted massive damage on the beast horde. However, the Magic Beasts were in an extremely ferocious state, their eyes filled with blood, possibly because their nurturing process had been interrupted, and blood seeped from their pores even without being attacked. The Tower Spirit seemed to fully ignite their life force, recklessly bursting it forth. The Magic Beasts trampled over the bodies of their own kind and charged at the survivors. Divine Arts¡ªHoly Temple Shield! A pure white radiance suddenly cascaded from the fourth floor along the walls of the Central Tower, enveloping everyone. This Divine Art came just in time. Big guy, Zong Ge, and others were positioned at the very front of the breach, relying on the light shields covering their bodies to firmly stabilize the line! ¡°Hold on, I can now utilize the Central Tower to transfer my Divine Power at will,¡± shouted Jia Sha from the fourth floor. Zhenjin, already mutated, transformed into his ¡°Divine Favored¡± form with golden scorpion armor and holding two Spider Blades. A flash of sword light passed, and the head of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was cleanly severed by Zhenjin! Blood spurted, obscuring Zhenjin¡¯s eyes. Suddenly, a massive Crocodile Head burst through the splashing blood. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t evade in time nor was he able to, with his comrades right behind him; he had to take the hit head-on. With a muffled thud, he was knocked back, crashing into a companion and nearly breaking his ribs! ¡°We can¡¯t hold any longer!¡± Zong Ge grit his teeth, ¡°Retreat to the second floor quickly.¡± Human physical strength is limited, incomparable to Magic Beasts. The intensity of this clash between man and beast was so severe that after just a brief skirmish, Zong Ge was already feeling overwhelmed, finding his Bone Hammer extremely heavy. ¡°Lord Jia Sha, have you succeeded? We can¡¯t hold on any longer!¡± someone shouted. ¡°Just a moment, I¡¯ve successfully seized control of the first floor¡¯s Array,¡± replied Jia Sha immediately. In the next instant, Holy Light flowed downward, tracing the intricate details of the Alchemy Array. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Almost in the blink of an eye, the pure white Divine Power merged into the Green Jade Gold Coffin. The Green Jade Gold Coffin suddenly erupted with a mixed radiance of blue and gold, healing everyone¡¯s injuries in an instant and restoring their spirit and physical strength to peak condition. Then, the blue-gold radiance spread out, and many Magic Beasts were also bathed in the light, completely restored! ¡°Sorry, I can only control it to this extent,¡± Jia Sha¡¯s voice came down again, ¡°I¡¯ve unlocked the Alchemy Array, now you can safely touch this Divine Artifact. Quickly, bring the Green Jade Gold Coffin up to me while you can!¡± The people hurriedly dragged the Green Jade Gold Coffin and retreated up the stairs to the second floor. The Magic Beasts relentlessly pursued them. ¡°Dad, go first, I¡¯ll cover you from behind!¡± Big guy took the rear guard position. Once they retreated to the second floor, their pressure considerably decreased. Their defensive position was greatly reduced, and being at a higher vantage point, looking down to attack, was significantly advantageous. However, after attacking for a while, Jia Sha¡¯s annoyed voice came, ¡°Don¡¯t use alchemy arrows anymore. The damage to the Central Tower is severely interfering with me!¡± The people could only engage in close combat. Thus, the line had to gradually fall back. The Magic Beasts pressed on fearlessly and ferociously, the injuries among the people rapidly increased, and the Divine Art¡¯s shield armor was significantly weakened. But soon, the shield Divine Art was cast again upon them. At the same time, Holy Light flowed, drawing out a large alchemy array, and eventually concentrating the Divine Light onto a large shell floating in the air. This Divine Artifact abruptly dropped to the ground, causing those close by to sweat from the fright. ¡°Pick it up quickly, you can withdraw now!¡± Jia Sha yelled. ¡°Father, have you succeeded?!¡± The people were both alarmed and delighted. Jia Sha replied, ¡°Not yet, the Tower Spirit still tightly controls the teleportation privileges, I need more time!¡± ¡°Not succeeded yet?!¡± Hei Juan cried out discontentedly. Jia Sha snorted coldly, ¡°I¡¯m rapidly gaining control over the Central Tower. Taking over the teleportation privileges is only a matter of time. Without my help, how could you possibly touch these two Divine Artifacts?¡± ¡°Forget those Divine Artifacts, they are useless to us!¡± someone loudly objected. ¡°No, these are gifts from destiny. Do you know how much merit you would get presenting them to the Empire¡¯s high officials? You can¡¯t even imagine!¡± Jia Sha roared. The fierce battle continued, and the casualties among the survivors gradually increased. A large Crocodile Head clamped onto an arm of a survivor and savagely dragged him back. ¡°Save me!¡± the survivor screamed in terror. Zong Ge quickly grabbed his other arm, but? the power of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa was terrifying. If not for Zong Ge letting go immediately, he would have almost been dragged away as well. The survivor¡¯s body was swiftly submerged in the Beast Tide, nearly instantly devoured by several Magic Beasts. Two survivors staggered backward, one losing his left arm, severed by a Spider Blade. The other clutched his perforated abdomen, the nearby intestines charred by the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s claws. A gap appeared in the line, and Zhenjin hurriedly filled it. Bathed in blood, he repeatedly ignored his own safety. By seizing the opportunity to strike despite his injuries, he killed several Magic Beasts, narrowly stabilizing the line. ¡°Retreat to the third floor, hurry!¡± A survivor broke down, fleeing towards the third floor, hoping to be the first to ascend. However, at that moment, lightning inexplicably struck down inside the tower, instantly killing the fleeing soldier. Subsequently, the crackling sounds continued, and dense lightning repeatedly struck down, turning the Magic Beasts inside the tower into charred remains. Afterward, the lightning swiftly spread, extending outside the Central Tower, striking down all remaining Magic Beasts. Zhenjin and others, however, were not hit by the lightning. Victory came too suddenly, and everyone was stupefied in place. Chapter 170 - 170: Section 171: Send the Divine Artifact or the Person First? Chapter 170: Section 171: Send the Divine Artifact or the Person First? ¡°Father?¡± Hei Juan looked incredulously at the Magic Beast corpses scattered on the ground. ¡°It was me!¡± Jia Sha¡¯s voice came through, and he laughed with pride, ¡°I¡¯ve gained control over the Central Tower¡¯s authority to manipulate the island¡¯s weather, and this was just a small test.¡± ¡°Lord Jia Sha, you¡¯re fantastic!¡± ¡°We¡¯re safe¡­¡± Some people slumped to the ground, completely relieved. ¡°We won!!¡± Others cheered with joy. But the cheers had barely begun when suddenly an immense pressure arose, and space twisted instantly. ... A teleportation had occurred! On a much larger scale than before, legions of man-made magical beasts filled the entire central space in an instant, tightly encircling the Central Tower. Roar! The next moment, countless Magic Beasts attacked again. Everyone was struck with sudden fear. Jia Sha¡¯s voice, filled with shock and anger, came through: ¡°It¡¯s the Tower Spirit, it¡¯s the one with the teleportation authority, it transported all the man-made magical beasts from the surface over here!¡± ¡°Cast lightning!¡± someone shouted. Jia Sha didn¡¯t need the reminder, as he was already in action. Lightning burst forth, once again causing massive casualties among the Demon Beast Army. But for every Magic Beast struck down by lightning, an equivalent number was teleported in to continue their assault on the Central Tower. The lightning began to lessen rapidly. ¡°Father, what¡¯s happening?!¡± The crowd was filled with uncertainty. ¡°It¡¯s no use, this way the Mana Pool will dry up completely. Both lightning and teleportation share the same Mana Pool. Without mana, we can¡¯t open or maintain the Teleportation Gate! Don¡¯t forget, we still have to bring back these Divine Artifacts, and the mana consumed for teleportation will be massive!¡± Both Divine Arts and Spells involved teleportation. But Jia Sha¡¯s teleportation Divine Technique was incapable of even saving itself; the teleportation distance was too short. The survivors had to use the Teleportation Gate in the Alchemy Factory. This gate was far more powerful than Jia Sha¡¯s Divine Technique, and even the War Merchants¡¯ personal teleportation paled in comparison. However, the Teleportation Gate required mana to activate; each teleportation consumed mana proportional to the number of people, life levels, items, and the items¡¯ Levels. The more people, the higher the life levels, the more items, and the higher the Levels of the items, the more mana was consumed by the teleportation. To take away the Green Jade Gold Coffin and Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, two Divine Artifacts, the mana consumption would be terrifying. ¡°At a time like this, you¡¯re still concerned about the Divine Artifacts!¡± ¡°Then what do we do?¡± The crowd found themselves in a predicament once again. Although they had lightning, they were unable to eradicate the Demon Beast Army. Because for every beast they defeated, the Tower Spirit would teleport in another one. Who knew how many man-made magical beasts remained alive on the island? Once the mana reserves in the Mana Pool were exhausted, everyone¡¯s situation would be dire. Only the Tower Spirit was unfazed, or rather, it had no instinct for self-preservation at all. The range covered by the lightning quickly shrank until it vanished completely. Without the lightning¡¯s strikes, the Demon Beast Army swept forward, immediately covering the areas around the Central Tower that had been cleared before and then surged inside. Jia Sha exclaimed, ¡°From now on, unless absolutely necessary, I won¡¯t cast lightning again. I will do my utmost to combat the Tower Spirit and snatch the teleportation authority from its grasp! So, you all must fight with all your might and hold back these Magic Beasts!¡± Jia Sha was deliberately controlling the scale of the battle. He couldn¡¯t let too many Magic Beasts die since the Tower Spirit would teleport an equal number in, each of whom also consumed mana. The Tower Spirit spared no thought for itself and sought only to kill the invaders. But the survivors all wanted to escape and had to save mana. The people hurriedly reformed their lines on the first floor, establishing the first line of defense. Close combat ensued! Big guys like Zhenjin, Zong Ge, and others stayed at the front lines. Jia Sha¡¯s Divine Technique, Holy Light, also showered down, shielding and bolstering everybody. Unlike the previous fight, this time, Zhenjin and the others aimed to harm but not kill the beasts. The difficulty of the battle had doubled at least. Weapons with strong lethality, like alchemical arrows, were almost out of the question now. Most people were naturally inferior to Magic Beasts of the same Level in physical ability, strength, defense, and so on. Fortunately, with the support of Divine Arts, everyone had just enough to keep fighting. But this initiative felt puny once the Golden Magical Beasts charged the front lines. Previously, the man-made magical beasts that emerged from the coffins were not of Gold Level. It seemed that the higher-level man-made magical beasts had all been exhausted in combat against the powerful fighters of the Blood Light Sanction Court. But now, many Golden Magical Beasts were mixed in with the teleported Demon Beast Army. Zhenjin kicked with all his might, toppling a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. Its bear paws had been severed by Zhenjin, greatly reducing its threat, but it fought fiercely without backing down. Every time Zhenjin repelled it, he used its bulky body to block the other Magic Beasts behind it. But then, a Molten Giant Turtle charged through. Its massive elephant-like legs crushed the severely wounded Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, and then it opened its mouth to bite at Zhenjin. Zhenjin gritted his teeth and withstood the attack with all his strength, but the collision nearly sent him flying back, causing him to retreat several steps and disrupting the formation. ¡°Retreat!¡± Zhenjin spat out a mouthful of blood and hastily ordered a withdrawal, realizing that the enemy¡¯s power was not something he could withstand. The survivors quickly pulled back to the second floor. During the retreat, they lost the bodies of several more comrades. The Molten Giant Turtle penetrated the first floor, but it had difficulty trying to enter the second floor. It didn¡¯t know how to climb stairs, and the stairwell was too narrow for a creature of the Molten Giant Turtle¡¯s size. The group made it back to the second floor, and the pressure dropped sharply as a result. The Molten Giant Turtle occupied a large space, preventing other Magic Beasts from breaking through. After several unsuccessful attempts, Zhenjin¡¯s worst fear happened. Large and small black holes on the Molten Giant Turtle¡¯s shell began to emit thick smoke, which drifted into the second floor, causing everyone to start coughing incessantly. The air temperature rose sharply, and magma began to spurt out amidst the dense smoke. The second floor was filled with smoke, causing violent coughing among the people, who also heard the agonizing cries of other Magic Beasts burned by the magma. ¡°This won¡¯t do, the magma will rise.¡± ¡°Quick, block it with that coffin!¡± Bai Ya came up with a good idea. Zong Ge dragged the Green Jade Gold Coffin over and pressed it directly against the stairwell. Although there were still small gaps, the smoke and the rise in air temperature were mostly blocked. Bang bang! The Molten Giant Turtle began to ram its head against the Green Jade Gold Coffin, which nearly got knocked away. Zong Ge, Zhenjin, and the others hurriedly moved it back in place and suppressed it with all their might. After holding out for a short while, the survivors reached their limit. The Green Jade Gold Coffin was scalding hot, hot enough to cook an egg. The heat could not be stopped, and the second floor became so hot it was difficult to breathe. ¡°Lord Jia Sha!¡± Hei Juan called out loudly for help. Jia Sha sighed and lightning struck once more. The crackling sound filled the air, and the vicinity of the Central Tower was cleared. The Molten Giant Turtle took the brunt of the lightning strikes and eventually died. The Teleportation occurred, and the replenished Demon Beast Army charged into the Central Tower once more. The group relied on the defense at the stairwell, but they couldn¡¯t hold on for long. This time, the Golden Magical Beast that attacked was a deer. It resembled a moose, with antlers made of huge white bone that intertwined like branches, and it also had huge white wings on its back. This was the Golden Magical Beast that Cang Xu and the others had accidentally glimpsed near the snowy mountains, which Cang Xu named the White Bone Winged Deer. The White Bone Winged Deer couldn¡¯t get through the stairwell either, but it attacked with its antlers. The antlers were not sturdy; after they broke, they disintegrated and turned into a surge of frost that severely eroded the survivors. Several survivors were caught off guard and got frostbite, resulting in amputations, but they were saved by Jia Sha¡¯s Healing Divine Technique. The second floor soon became filled with the cold, almost turning into an ice cave. ¡°We need support, priest!¡± In desperation, the group cried out once again. But there was no response from Jia Sha. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Could it be that some Magic Beast has teleported to the fourth floor?¡± While everyone was in a state of shock and suspicion, Jia Sha¡¯s excited voice suddenly rang out, ¡°Look what I¡¯ve found!¡± Amidst his speech, the Magic Beasts outside the tower suddenly descended into chaos, starting to fight amongst themselves. ¡°I¡¯ve managed to seize part of the control from the Tower Spirit; it¡¯s the method of controlling these Magic Beasts.¡± ¡°They are actually manipulated by scent.¡± ¡°Although I haven¡¯t completely taken over this part of the control, I have already shut down the scent dispersing device here, haha!¡± Jia Sha laughed. The pressure on those defending dropped drastically, but the White Bone Winged Deer continued to stab at the Green Jade Gold Coffin with its antlers. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such Golden Magical Beasts stand out among the rest, and even with the man-made magical beasts regaining their autonomy, the vast majority went out of their way to avoid Golden Level Magical Beasts. The cold grew worse, leaving a layer of white frost on everyone¡¯s hair. Left with no choice, the group retreated to the third floor. They finally caught their breath. The survivors avoided the Heart Core floating in mid-air, gathered around the stairwell, and as the oppressive cold continued to seep upward, they blocked it again with the Green Jade Gold Coffin. ¡°This will turn the third floor into an ice cave too.¡± ¡°Quick, kill it with lightning.¡± ¡°Lord Jia Sha, do you have control of the teleportation authority yet?¡± The group, exhausted, spoke over one another. ¡°No, we have to conserve mana. That stupid deer is stuck at the stairwell, blocking the other Magic Beasts. You are temporarily safe,¡± Jia Sha¡¯s voice came down. ¡°Xiong Dun, Chai Zha, bring me the coffin and the large shell first,¡± Jia Sha suddenly ordered. Most people were stunned, but Zhenjin, Zi Di, Zong Ge, and Cang Xu were the first to react, their expressions changing slightly. The two Guardian Knights reacted and gritted their teeth as they moved towards the Divine Artifacts, but Zhenjin and Zong Ge immediately stepped forward to stop them. ¡°What do you mean by this, Father Jia Sha?¡± Zhenjin glared at the Guardian Knights in front of him and demanded in a low, cold voice. Jia Sha sighed, ¡°The Divine Artifacts cannot be used indiscriminately; they¡¯re too important. The Tower Spirit is too wounded to be my opponent. I¡¯m about to succeed. After the Teleportation Gate forms, we¡¯ll first send out these two Divine Artifacts.¡± Zhenjin flatly rejected the proposal, ¡°No, we send people first, then the Divine Artifacts!¡± Chapter 171 - 171: Section 172: The Death of Zhenjin Chapter 171: Section 172: The Death of Zhenjin Jia Sha¡¯s proposal was rejected by Lord Zhenjin, and the priest¡¯s voice suddenly turned severe, ¡°Holy Temple Knight, you need to think about the greater good.¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s gaze was resolute, ¡°I¡¯d rather think about my comrades, priest!¡± Jia Sha sneered, and suddenly a lightning bolt appeared out of nowhere, aiming for Zi Di. Zi Di couldn¡¯t react in time and could only watch the lightning strike at her feet. After a moment of astonishment, everyone immediately burst into uproar. ¡°Father Almighty, what are you doing?!¡± ... sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That lightning just now, did you control it?¡± ¡°What on earth are you trying to do?!¡± ¡°What am I trying to do?¡± Jia Sha roared, ¡°I¡¯m only trying to save time! Now is not the time to doubt each other, bring up the Divine Artifact at once! Otherwise, the next lightning bolt won¡¯t strike so indiscriminately.¡± ¡°Xiong Dun, Chai Zha, how much longer are you Guardian Knights going to dawdle?¡± ¡°Hurry up and bring the Divine Artifact.¡± ¡°This is an order!¡± ¡°Rest assured, they won¡¯t stop you. Because our Holy Temple Knight here is keen on thinking of his comrades.¡± At the end, Jia Sha¡¯s tone carried a clear hint of mockery. Xiong Dun and Chai Zha took a step forward, looking at Lord Zhenjin, ¡°We¡¯re very sorry, my lord.¡± Lord Zhenjin clenched his teeth and stood off against the Guardian Knights for a few breaths before finally stepping back and clearing the way. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, four Guardian Knights lifted the Green Jade Gold Coffin, with the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale in tow, and together ascended to the fourth floor. ¡°Lord Jia Sha?!¡± The four Guardian Knights all felt their hearts jump, revealing shock. When they saw Jia Sha again, they found that the priest was unrecognizable. Jia Sha was originally full of vigor, in his prime, but now he appeared gaunt, skin and bones, his brow deeply furrowed, his expression twisted, with veins bulging on his forehead. Upon seeing the four, Jia Sha let out a bitter laugh and said in a volume only they could hear, ¡°Did you think taking over this Central Tower would come without a price? At the end of the day, I am just a Silver Level priest, yet this is the stronghold of a Legendary level Alchemist!¡± Priests, bishops, and devout believers, all to varying degrees, receive imbuing of Divine Power through their faith. Normally, Jia Sha¡¯s body was constantly suffused with Divine Power, nourishing him continually. Over time, Jia Sha¡¯s physical condition had improved, especially his eyesight. However, to take over the Central Tower, Jia Sha¡¯s full state of Divine Power wasn¡¯t enough, not to mention the journey here and the recent fierce battle, during which he had repeatedly used Divine Arts, consuming a great deal of Divine Power. Divine Power was far from sufficient for taking over the Central Tower, so Jia Sha resorted to unconventional methods. He squeezed his life force, overdrawn his potential for future advancement, and only then did he unleash an extraordinary surge of Divine Power. ¡°Lord Jia Sha¡­¡± The Guardian Knights were deeply moved, their voices slightly choked up, fully aware of the enormity of Jia Sha¡¯s sacrifices. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Jia Sha smiled, ¡°As long as these two Divine Artifacts are enshrined, and we inform the higher-ups about the situation here, the merit and reward we¡¯ll receive will far exceed our contributions. By then, I may even become a Red Archbishop. And you will be more than just Knights responsible for protecting a priest.¡± ¡°My lord, when can we leave this place?¡± ¡°We¡¯re about to succeed. The Tower Spirit is badly injured, constantly retreating. We¡¯ll soon be able to open the Teleportation Gate.¡± Jia Sha said this with eyes gleaming, extremely confident. Roar! A Monkey-tailed Brown Bear attempted to rush up to the third floor. The giant white bone antlered deer was stuck at the staircase entrance from the first to second floor, but a man-made magical beast like the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear wasn¡¯t included among them. Zong Ge swung his Bone Hammer, driving the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear back. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear was swiftly bitten and dragged down by the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa behind it, which then began to devour it. Several bat monkeys were about to rush over together when they were sprayed with Acid Liquid and fell to the ground one after another. The green lizard that had sprayed the Acid Liquid was quickly trampled by a group of gun scorpions led by the Strong Life White Rhinoceros and ran away in panic. The second floor was in total chaos; lacking a unified scent for direction, these man-made magical beasts were slaughtering each other. The survivors stationed on the third floor experienced a sudden drop in pressure. However, ironically, Zong Ge thought that it would be better if the pressure was even greater. ¡°The situation is bad, Zhenjin. Jia Sha is controlling the Central Tower, and the key point is that we don¡¯t know his progress at all!¡± Zong Ge said to Zhenjin during a brief respite. Zhenjin frowning deeply, a look of difficulty on his face, heaved a deep sigh, ¡°What else can we do? We don¡¯t have Divine Power, and the only one who can invade the Central Tower is Jia Sha.¡± ¡°He has even taken control of the lightning¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s ultimately the priest of the Holy Emperor, and Divine Arts cannot be faked.¡± Zong Ge was stunned to hear Zhenjin respond in such a way and soon felt even worse. The Half-Beast¡¯s heart sank as he suddenly understood, ¡°Bad news. Zhenjin is brave and just but too merciful. That¡¯s his strength and his weakness, and now Jia Sha has seen it and is holding on tight. Zhenjin is too young and wants to save everyone, especially since his fianc¨¦e is here.¡± ¡°Another thing is that Zhenjin is a Holy Temple Knight and Jia Sha is a priest of the Holy Emperor; the two have the closest relationship. So, even though the priest threatened Zhenjin with lightning on purpose, Zhenjin still believes that the priest would never betray him.¡± Holy Temple Knights are the armed forces directly under the Holy Emperor, while priests and others are the clerical positions directly under the Holy Emperor. They belong to the same system and share the same faith. If they were to fight each other, it would surely displease the divine. If Zhenjin were to strike at Jia Sha, he would be stripped of his status as a Holy Temple Knight and wanted. Conversely, if Jia Sha harmed Zhenjin, his clerical rank would be decreased or completely nullified, and he might even be labeled a traitor. Therefore, Jia Sha¡¯s lightning did not strike Zhenjin but targeted Zi Di instead. But it wasn¡¯t really aimed at Zi Di; it was just a warning. Zong Ge¡¯s eyes were filled with shadow as he silently analyzed the situation, ¡°The current situation is very bad, only Jia Sha can invade the Central Tower. He¡¯s been in action for a long time, controlling most of the Central Tower, able to wield lightning and firmly taking the initiative.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t judge how much of what he says is true. The crisis of the Mana Pool drying up is likely real. But it¡¯s also very possible that he can now open the Teleportation Gate.¡± ¡°Sending up these two Divine Artifacts is really too bad. We¡¯ve lost our crucial leverage over Jia Sha.¡± ¡°But if we don¡¯t send them, we¡¯ll probably be struck by lightning!¡± ¡°From the way he talks, this priest has only credits in his mind, clearly, in his heart, Divine Artifacts are more important than people!¡± ¡°Zhenjin is a Holy Temple Knight, so he does not carry this worry. But our identities will not be considered by Jia Sha. In that case, we are in great danger.¡± ¡°And now, the only thing that can make Jia Sha apprehensive is these man-made magical beasts here.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°I used to wish these man-made magical beasts dead and now I need them to exhibit a stronger offensive to ensure my own safety?¡± ¡°What an irony!¡± Zong Ge is a tough guy, well-versed in the concept that the merciful cannot command soldiers and equally understands the benefits of raising a powerful force that can potentially turn on you. For Zhenjin, he is both disappointed and understanding, after all, Zi Di is the young knight¡¯s fianc¨¦e. ¡°What to do, this is really headache-inducing.¡± Zong Ge was not adept at dealing with such matters. Although his father was high-ranking and influential, being an illegitimate child, his childhood only benefited from martial arts training and he received no strategic nurturing. Otherwise, he would not have the most outstanding military achievements after joining the army but still be ostracized by his peers. To a greater or lesser extent, others shared Zong Ge¡¯s sentiment. The threat of Jia Sha and the lightning that fell at Zi Di¡¯s feet chilled everyone to the bone, filling them with doubt and fear. And as they saw even Lord Zhenjin being pushed to the point of desperation, their morale swiftly declined by a large margin. In spite of the Magic Beasts slaying each other, the survivors¡¯ defenses were clearly unstable under the sporadic assaults of the Magic Beasts, showing a frightening waver. ¡°Hold the line!¡± Jia Sha sharply perceived this situation and, in fact, he was well-prepared. He then shouted in rapid succession, ¡°As long as we get through the last hurdle, we¡¯ll all be saved!¡± ¡°With the merits you¡¯ve earned with what you hold in your hands right now, it¡¯s enough for you all to start over.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, don¡¯t forget, I am your examiner. As I¡¯ve said before, our merit isn¡¯t just for a mere position of White Sand City Lord.¡± ¡°Mu Ban, you stole a large number of crossbow designs from the Guild. With these merits, you can return to the Guild, you could even become the Chairman of a branch!¡± ¡°Cang Xu, perhaps you¡¯re still unaware that the family strife within the Sha family has settled down. Though you were betrayed by your son, because he was part of the same faction, he has been implicated and imprisoned. The Sha family is setting things straight. With your merits and my guarantee in the future, the Sha family will revoke their bounty on you, admit their own errors, and you can be a Scholar again.¡± ¡°Zi Di, your Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce is allied with the Zhenjin family, but you¡¯re still in a tight spot. After this battle, I will connect you to some of the Holy sects to become your trading partners. You should understand how important this is for a Guild.¡± ¡°Sanda, you indeed value trust. But because of trust, your Mercenary Group has done its fair share of dirty work, right? Though it disbanded, I can find a place for you all, like the guards of a certain city. If you truly can devoutly worship the Holy Emperor, I might even bring you into the ranks of the Guardian Knights!¡± ¡°Zong Ge¡­ I know your status; you are a bastard child, you want to make a name for yourself, you want to return with your head high and reclaim what belongs to you. So you should grab the opportunity before you right now, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡­ Jia Sha¡¯s speech once again stirred the survivors. He seemed to know them very well, so intimately it was as if he understood the thoughts and demands of everyone. He remembered the name of each survivor distinctly, not missing anyone in his speech, not even a commoner like Bai Ya. This was the excellent quality of a Preacher! He assured Bai Ya that as long as he cooperated with him, these merits would surely make him a Knight! ¡°Father, I¡­ I believe in you!¡± Bai Ya¡¯s face revealed a look of yearning. The morale of the people no longer fell, and the line steadied a bit. More importantly, Jia Sha had too much of the initiative, and the people simply had no way to counteract him, they could only choose to believe. However, on the fourth level. After Jia Sha¡¯s inspiring speech, he sneered, full of disgust and disdain, ¡°A bunch of scum, also worthy of sharing these merits with us! Let them die here and atone for their sins.¡± ¡°Father?¡± ¡°There are Holy Temple Knights present, though.¡± ¡°We are all in the same boat, after all, we¡¯ve come this far supporting each other¡­¡± Several Guardian Knights showed reluctance. Jia Sha snorted, ¡°Of course, I will save the Holy Temple Knights!¡± ¡°But the others, I can¡¯t take them.¡± ¡°The more I take over the Central Tower, the more information I gain. Based on the records of past War Merchants¡¯ teleportations, our current Mana can barely manage to teleport two Divine Artifacts. We can only take a few people.¡± ¡°Do you want companions? Or do you want merit?¡± Jia Sha¡¯s gaze was sharp as he scanned the room, and the Guardian Knights all lowered their heads, not daring to meet the priest¡¯s eyes. Jia Sha smiled smugly, but just then, another Golden Magical Beast charged in. It wasn¡¯t large in size, but it was a Golden Level bat monkey! The people couldn¡¯t withstand it, the line was on the verge of breaking down. ¡°Damn it, I still have to unlock the third layer of the Array and retrieve that strange blood sphere,¡± Jia Sha said anxiously, then yelled at the next layer, ¡°Lord Zhenjin! Hurry up and charge, with all your strength.¡± ¡°I know your concerns, but they don¡¯t matter!¡± ¡°Rest assured, with me here, I will purify everything for you.¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s expression changed dramatically. At this moment, his state was that of a ¡°Divine Favored Knight,¡± and Jia Sha¡¯s implication was undoubtedly to compel Lord Zhenjin to fully Mutate. It seemed he had already seen through Lord Zhenjin¡¯s greatest secret! Lord Zhenjin hesitated for a moment but still gritted his teeth and charged forward. However, the direction in which he charged was not toward the Golden bat monkey but toward the staircase of the fourth level. ¡°Halt!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, what are you trying to do?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t stop now, you will bear the consequences!¡± Lord Zhenjin turned a deaf ear, his speed ever increasing. Everyone was stunned, not expecting Lord Zhenjin to be so reckless. And then in the next moment, they were even more horrified. Several bolts of lightning struck down in succession, hitting Lord Zhenjin and killing the young knight right there. ¡°No¡ª!¡± Stunned for a moment, Zi Di immediately let out a piercing scream, running toward Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body, only to be grabbed by Hei Juan beside her. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± Hei Juan yelled, ¡°Chairwoman Zi Di, please be calm.¡± ¡°Dad!!!¡± The Big guy roared, coming to his senses and charging toward Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body. The Big guy ran with all his might, directly kneeling down, disregarding the severe friction of his knees on the tiles. He carefully turned over Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body, a layer of black over his surface, utterly lifeless. ¡°Dad, dad, wake up, please wake up¡­¡± The Big guy¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and tears gushed forth like a spring. But clearly, Lord Zhenjin was dead. Everyone could sense that his Life Breath was completely gone. After all, how could a human body withstand the strike of lightning in such a Magic Ban environment? Even those man-made magical beasts crumble to dust under lightning. ¡°No, this can¡¯t be real.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin¡­ is dead?!¡± ¡°Has Jia Sha gone mad? He actually struck down a Holy Temple Knight! Even with his overwhelming merits, just for this alone, he won¡¯t be able to turn the situation around!¡± While Zong Ge and others struggled to fend off the Golden bat monkey, on the verge of collapse, they couldn¡¯t believe the scene unfolding before their eyes. ¡°Murderer! Murderer!! The murderer who killed my dad, I am going to kill you!!¡± The Big guy roared with a ferocious look, charging toward the staircase leading to the fourth level. ¡°Don¡¯t go!!¡± Zi Di screamed. But it was too late. In the next moment, several more bolts of lightning struck, and the Big guy collapsed to the ground, convulsing, foaming at the mouth, unable to move. Chapter 172 - 172: Section 173: I am the Real Zhenjin! Chapter 172: Section 173: I am the Real Zhenjin! Everything happened too suddenly. Only a few breaths later, Lord Zhenjin died before everyone¡¯s eyes. Zi Di¡¯s heartrending calls, the big guy who made a desperate attempt and then fell to the ground, motionless¡­ The crowd fell silent for a moment, and then exploded in an uproar. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Zi Di struggled fiercely to shake off Hei Juan¡¯s grip, but he held fast to her arm, looking grave. ¡°Damn it, damn it all!¡± Zong Ge fought off the attacking Magic Beasts, gnashing his teeth in anger, his face full of rage. ... ¡°Master!!!¡± Lan Zao roared, also rushing toward the body of Lord Zhenjin. ¡°Be careful!¡± Zi Di¡¯s heart was in her throat as she cried out a warning once again. But this time, when Lan Zao flung himself beside Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body, he didn¡¯t get struck by lightning. ¡°Master¡­¡± Lan Zao embraced Lord Zhenjin¡¯s corpse, wailing in agony. Tears streamed down his red eyes. Previously injured, he had retreated to the rear of the formation, waiting for Divine Healing, so when Lord Zhenjin charged, Lan Zao hadn¡¯t even realized what was happening in time. And by the time he acted, it was all too late. Bent over, Lan Zao clutched Lord Zhenjin¡¯s body tightly. In that moment, he felt the light of his life fade away, his existence plunging once more into boundless darkness. An abyss of endless pain and confusion seemed to engulf him. At the same time, a vast regret and hatred for Jia Sha grew rapidly in the darkness, gathering strength fiercely! ¡°Lord Zhenjin! You killed our Lord Zhenjin!¡± Many people bellowed in rage. Some held their heads in their hands, standing stiff like statues, unable to believe the scene before them: ¡°Lord Zhenjin is dead? He was actually killed by one of our own?¡± ¡°No!¡± Bai Ya screamed, snapping to his senses and rushing toward Zi Di, ¡°Miss Zi Di, potions, quickly, let¡¯s bring him back to life!¡± Yet those words struck Zi Di like lightning, leaving her stunned and speechless as tears ran down her face. ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Seeing Bai Ya lunging forward, looking wild with desperation, Hei Juan grasped Zi Di¡¯s arm with one hand and with a raise of his foot knocked Bai Ya to the ground. ¡°Hei Juan, what are you doing?!¡± Cang Xu shouted sternly. ¡°Quick, let go of our Chairman!¡± Fat Tongue advanced threateningly. ¡°Kid, you¡¯d better release Lord Zhenjin¡¯s fianc¨¦e. You¡¯re out of line here!¡± Sanda warned, daggers in hand, eyes filled with caution. ¡°Heh, hehehe, hehehehe¡­¡± Hei Juan laughed eerily, looking at everyone with a taunting, disdainful gaze, showing no fear. ¡°All of you ignorant fools, blinded idiots!¡± Hei Juan stood tall and shouted, ¡°I am Zhenjin! I am the real Zhenjin!¡± The crowd was shocked, quickly followed by outcries of anger. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Are you insane?!¡± ¡°Have you cracked under pressure?¡± However, at that moment, Jia Sha¡¯s voice came through again: ¡°He indeed is the real Zhenjin, the Holy Temple Knight, the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, the man you all wished to follow.¡± ¡°Did you hear that, idiots!¡± Hei Juan glared. The crowd fell into silence once again, then erupted in chaos. ¡°These two have gone mad!¡± ¡°Jia Sha must have gone mad, no wonder he did that!¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s not the priest¡¯s fault but the doing of the Tower Spirit.¡± ¡°No, maybe that Divine Artifact¡ªthe Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale¡ªis having its effect; we have all been deceived! All of this is fake.¡± Cang Xu fell into silence, his gaze drifting over Zi Di and Hei Juan, before settling on the corpse of Zhenjin, his face reflecting deep contemplation. ¡°Who told you,¡± Jia Sha said with a voice dripping with sarcasm, ¡°that the criminal I just slew is the real Zhenjin? Or do you really think I would be so foolish as to, in the identity of a priest of the Holy Order, openly murder a Holy Temple Knight? If I did that, what good would it do me to have any more merit?¡± ¡°And don¡¯t you think Zhenjin¡¯s behavior just now was impulsive and strange?¡± ¡°Why did he rush to the fourth floor? It¡¯s because my words just now made him realize that his identity had been exposed.¡± The clamorous voices of the crowd subsided. ¡°But he was a Divine Favored Knight; almost all his prayers received a response from the Great Emperor!¡± someone retorted. ¡°Was he a Divine Favored Knight? Have any of you seen what a real Divine Favored Knight looks like?¡± Jia Sha was furious. ¡°Take a good look at the armor on his body, the sword in his hands! Do they look like the shells of gun scorpions, like the legs of Blade Spiders!!¡± The crowd¡¯s eyes focused, and their expressions changed. Jia Sha¡¯s voice softened, becoming gentler: ¡°I know what you¡¯re all thinking, and I understand you completely. In fact, didn¡¯t anyone among you find this fake Zhenjin¡¯s appearance suspicious? Didn¡¯t you associate it with the shell of gun scorpions, the footpads of Spider Blades?¡± ¡°You wanted to escape, to leave this place alive, to follow Zhenjin, to see a bright future. So, you intentionally overlooked these suspicious points.¡± ¡°This fake Zhenjin indeed had means; he played on the greed and selfish desires in your hearts, making you help him deceive yourselves.¡± Jia Sha paused, then solemnly announced: ¡°You¡¯ve all been tricked!¡± The crowd was filled with doubt and suspicion. Bai Ya, who had just been kicked to the ground by Hei Juan, was now sitting there, shaking his head incessantly: ¡°No, it can¡¯t be true, this can¡¯t be true.¡± Hei Juan sneered, scanning the faces around him: ¡°Look at your expressions now, truly fascinating!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, and you don¡¯t believe in the priest of the Holy Order, then I have another witness here.¡± ¡°Zi Di, my fianc¨¦e, quickly tell them the truth!¡± Hei Juan stared at Zi Di with piercing eyes. But Zi Di was already reduced to a crying wreck, her arm firmly controlled by Hei Juan. She stared blankly at the body of the young man, motionless, her expression overflowed with confusion as if she hadn¡¯t heard Hei Juan at all. Hei Juan huffed coldly, clearly dissatisfied with Zi Di, and looked around: ¡°Are you really that naive, or are you just pretending to be? She has already conceded.¡± Indeed, Zi Di¡¯s strange manner was enough to validate the words of Hei Juan and Jia Sha. The scene was dead silent. Only the sounds of Magic Beasts clashing downstairs continued to filter through. At this moment, Hei Juan felt greatly satisfied. He took a deep breath; the air hadn¡¯t changed, but he felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration. Standing amidst the silent crowd, Hei Juan once again proclaimed proudly: ¡°Now you should understand, I am the real Zhenjin.¡± ¡°I am Zhenjin!¡± I am Zhenjin¡­ As a child, Zhenjin stood in a pool of blood, surrounded by the corpses of his brothers and sisters. And the murderer was squatting in front of Zhenjin, her delicate face wearing a captivating smile. The killer reached out with a slender, white hand, gently stroking Zhenjin¡¯s hair, and softly consoled: ¡°What¡¯s your name, little one?¡± Childhood Zhenjin¡¯s pupils had already shrunk to the size of needlepoints, his body stiff as if dead, his whole being filled with terror. ¡°If you don¡¯t answer sister¡¯s question nicely, you¡¯ll die, you know.¡± The murderer said with a smile. Childhood Zhenjin shivered violently, opening his mouth to speak, but his teeth chattered so badly that he couldn¡¯t make a sound. He was terrified to the extreme, acutely anxious, cold sweat continuously rolled down his cheeks. ¡°Hehehe, good kid, no need to be scared, no need to be scared,¡± the murderer patted Zhenjin¡¯s little head again, then leaned close to Zhenjin¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°You don¡¯t have to say it, I know your name is Zhenjin, right?¡± The murderer laughed with a hehehe, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your sister, I was just playing a little joke on you. Sister won¡¯t kill you, you will live. Who let the Great Emperor choose to forgive your Hundred Needle Family?¡± ¡°According to what I desire, such a decaying Southern great nobility that continuously betrays and surrenders should be completely exterminated. Tsk tsk¡­ what a pity.¡± ¡°Although the Hundred Needle Family has survived, it¡¯s almost like being exterminated. The Great Emperor only allows the Hundred Needle Family to have one heir, do you know why sister chose you?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re too cowardly, look at these brothers and sisters around you, they are brave, they are full of hatred, they wish to revive the family¡­ Therefore, they are dead.¡± ¡°You should thank your cowardice and fearfulness ¡ª that¡¯s your disposition, you must maintain it well, little friend.¡± ¡°Do you hear me?¡± The child Zhenjin trembled violently once more, then began to nod his head frantically. ¡°Very good!¡± The murderer smiled and stroked Zhenjin¡¯s little head one last time, then stood up. She surveyed the bodies strewn across the ground, her face revealing the joy and satisfaction after slaughter. But when her gaze landed on the frantically nodding child Zhenjin, she couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of regret. She turned and left that place, leaving the child Zhenjin behind like a puppet, still crazily nodding his head. ¡­ In the bright and grand white hall, sunlight streamed through the towering stained glass windows. A group of young boys gathered, and Zhenjin was among them. Zhenjin and the other boys took their oaths¡ª I swear to love the living gods, the lord of the great Empire, the Holy Emperor! I swear to strive to follow in the footsteps of my superiors, to forge ahead! I swear to protect my family, undaunted by dangers! I swear to treat my friends with sincerity, rejecting hypocrisy! I swear to remain faithful to my loved ones unto death, never to leave nor forsake! I swear to bravely confront tyranny, and to be kind to the weak! I swear to uphold justice and fight against all wrongs! From today onwards, I am a Holy Temple Knight! ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± After taking the oath, the young Zhenjin¡¯s heart was filled with excitement, ¡°Becoming a Holy Temple Knight means our family has support, and our future will be safe!¡± ¡­ The gloomy sky poured fine rain. Within a vast training field. A group of young boys formed a circle, with Zhenjin lying on the ground, encircled by the boys in the middle. The boys looked down at Zhenjin, continuously letting out jeers and mocking laughter, their faces full of disdain. The leading young boy was burly with green hair, resembling several inches of steel needles, standing erect on his scalp. The green-haired young boy crossed his arms, stepping on Zhenjin¡¯s shoulders, ¡°Zhenjin! Remember this well, your Hundred Needle Family is just a Viscount Domain, defeated! You think you can be our equal?¡± The green-haired young boy suddenly lifted his foot, and fiercely stamped on Zhenjin¡¯s head, sneering, ¡°I¡¯ll teach you a lesson today! From now on, whenever you see us, no matter where it is in the castle, you bow your head obediently and make way, shrinking aside!¡± ¡°Lower nobles should behave like lower nobiles. If I catch you looking at me, Qing Kui, in the eye again, I¡¯ll beat you crippled.¡± ¡°Do you understand now?¡± Qing Kui roared loudly, pressing down hard with his foot, grinding Zhenjin¡¯s head into the muddy ground. ¡°Yes¡­ I understand. Cough cough cough!¡± Zhenjin struggled to make a sound, his heart filled with fear. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Qing Kui threw his head back in victorious laughter, released his foot, and strode away. Before he left, he dropped a line, ¡°Of course, Zhenjin, if you feel aggrieved, you can challenge me anytime. I, Qing Kui, will be waiting for you anywhere, anytime!¡± ¡°Cough cough cough.¡± Zhenjin struggled, sitting up in his upper body. He wanted to say he would never challenge him or something of the sort, but as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, the mud and water couldn¡¯t help but flow back into his throat, triggering another fit of coughing. Seeing him in such a wretched state, the young men lost interest. ¡°Pah, what a joke!¡± ¡°He wants to challenge young master Qing Kui? On what basis?¡± ¡°On the basis of that embroidery needle he has, hahaha.¡± The rain fell harder, and the young men crowded around Qing Kui, bursting into laughter, all entering the castle. Zhenjin sat in the mud, letting the rain beat down on him. His teeth chattered, and he felt extremely wronged, ¡°I¡¯m innocent. I just wanted to make your acquaintance, Qing Kui, I never intended to challenge you!¡± ¡­ Evening in autumn. Zhenjin found himself in a study. The study was dim, with a narrow window opened in the stone wall to one side ¡ª the only source of light at the moment. Zhenjin¡¯s father, the leader of the Hundred Needle Family, was sitting behind the desk. He was a middle-aged man, slim and pale, with two straight and slender mustaches. His brows were slightly furrowed, revealing a stern temperament, ¡°Zhenjin, my son, don¡¯t hang your head.¡± Zhenjin lifted his head to look at his father, then quickly averted his gaze in fear. ¡°Why? Half a month has passed, my son, and you¡¯ve made no progress with your Concealing Breath Technique, remaining at the same level,¡± the middle-aged man¡¯s voice continued. Zhenjin shivered, not daring to make a sound. The middle-aged man seemed to understand and said, ¡°I know what you feel. You¡¯ve never been interested in the Concealing Breath Technique, and you think the family¡¯s Combat Skills are weak, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You think that our Hundred Needle Family¡¯s bloodline does not bring you exceptional physical ability, strength, or speed, and now we¡¯re just Lower Nobles in the Empire, right?¡± Zhenjin remained silent. The nobleman sighed deeply, stood up, circled the desk, and walked over to Zhenjin, ¡°Come, walk with me.¡± The two left the study, walked down the dim corridor, past the mottled stone walls, and into the garden within the castle. ¡°Combat Skill ¡ª Hundred Needle Wind!¡± The middle-aged man suddenly drew his sword. This sword was not a bladed slashing sword but a slender Stabbing Sword. The Stabbing Sword continuously thrust in the hands of the middle-aged man, so fast that it formed a blur of sword shadows. Especially at the very tip of the Stabbing Sword, enveloped with Fighting energy, at that moment, stars sparkled brightly, dazzling and splendid! Tree Winged Butterflies were plucked up by the fierce wind, struck by the sparkling stars, and fell to the ground one by one. A few breaths later, the ground was covered in a layer of ¡°plane tree leaves,¡± with hundreds and thousands of Tree Winged Butterflies, not a single one managed to escape! ¡°Good, so powerful!¡± Lord Zhenjin was struck dumb with amazement. ¡°Cough cough cough.¡± The middle-aged man sheathed his sword, coughing continuously; his complexion turned pale, ¡°Do you still think our Hundred Needle Family is weak?¡± Lord Zhenjin vigorously shook his head. ¡°Every noble family has its own foundations. Not to mention, our Hundred Needle Family was once a great noble in the south! Hundred Needle Wind is the signature combat skill of our clan and part of our foundation. However, few outsiders know of this secret.¡± ¡°Managing a family requires strategy. Sometimes, we need to be high-profile, brandishing our claws and teeth like fierce beasts. But at other times, we must lie low. Like now, our Hundred Needle Family needs to appear weak, to reduce our presence.¡± After a pause, the middle-aged noble continued, ¡°Do you know what the fundamental requirement for utilizing the Hundred Needle Wind is?¡± Not waiting for Lord Zhenjin¡¯s response, the middle-aged noble promptly said, ¡°It¡¯s the Concealing Breath Technique.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Lord Zhenjin was surprised. ¡°Only by enduring and accumulating strength can there be a startling burst of power. The Concealing Breath Technique allows us to conceal our aura, making it difficult for others to detect, or to underestimate our cultivation in fighting energy. Moreover, the Concealing Breath Technique also has the effect of accumulating strength. Only when this combat skill is cultivated to a profound level can one train in skills like Hundred Needle Wind. It can be said that the Concealing Breath Technique is the cornerstone of our clan¡¯s combat skills. Lord Zhenjin, you are the successor of the Hundred Needle Family. You must practice diligently.¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll work hard, Father!¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyes shone, filled with excitement. He had found his reason. ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m just biding my time. I¡¯m not timid, nor have I ever been cowardly.¡± ¡°I am accumulating strength. I am silently bearing humiliation for the family!¡± ¡­ In an old tavern, the lights were dim, and the noise of the crowd filled the air. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°We won!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s drink to the full!¡± This was a victory celebration for the newly formed Fifth Group of the Holy Temple Knights. The knights¡¯ armor, cloaks, and even their bodies bore fresh scars, yet everyone was exhilarated. Lord Zhenjin was among them. ¡°Squad leader, tell us about it, will you? I know you¡¯ve been in many great battles, like the capture of Iron Flag Fortress, the extermination of the Blood Knights, the defense of Griffin Cliff. What do you think was the toughest battle?¡± someone asked. The old squad leader¡¯s remaining eye reflected the firelight, revealing a look of reminiscence. He replied, ¡°The toughest battle would have to be the one six years ago in Jackal Valley.¡± ¡°I know. It was the annihilation battle of the Cold Pine Knights!¡± someone exclaimed excitedly. Many others cast sharp glances at Lord Zhenjin. The old squad leader nodded and continued, ¡°Yes, in Jackal Valley. Those southern nobles were almost all treacherous scoundrels, contemptible and shameless, fickle and volatile!¡± ¡°Our Fifth Group of Holy Temple Knights had been marching for five days. After entering Jackal Valley, we were betrayed by allied forces. Thousands of Cold Pine Knights launched a surround and kill operation on us.¡± ¡°Our Fifth Group had just been pulled back from the front line. Caught off guard by the first wave of attacks, we lost thirty percent of our men on the spot, only a little over a thousand remained, nearly all of us wounded.¡± ¡°We lost!¡± ¡°The entire Fifth Group was wiped out, leaving only me.¡± ¡°It was the Great Emperor himself who stepped in to save my worthless life. He asked me what reward I wanted.¡± ¡°I told His Majesty, I asked him to give me the number of the Fifth Group of Knights. I wanted to rebuild the Holy Temple Knights Fifth Group!¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s how you bunch of whelps came to be, understand?¡± ¡°Otherwise, how could the Holy Temple Knights recruit new members so easily?¡± ¡°You little ones hit the jackpot. But you¡¯re still too young; what was that last battle good for?¡± The old squad leader shook his head without ceasing, then said no more and simply continued to drink. His words were brief and rough, but the young Holy Temple Knights in the pub were filled with excitement. They began to talk excitedly. ¡°I know, in that battle at Jackal Valley, our Fifth Group relied on just a thousand men to eradicate over five thousand from the Cold Pine Knights, wiping out three of their formations!¡± ¡°The Cold Pine Knights had just finished cleaning up the battlefield when they were struck by lightning-fast assaults from the Holy Temple Knights¡¯ Third Group, ultimately being wiped out in Jackal Valley.¡± ¡°The Cold Pine Knights were the first ace of the Southern Nobles Alliance. This battle, it broke the backbone of the Southern Nobles Alliance!¡± ¡°Exactly, this is our Holy Temple Knights!¡± ¡°We are unrivaled, unstoppable!¡± ¡°Even when trapped in a desperate situation, we go to our deaths with our heads held high!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, charge, charge, toward death with a charge!¡± The atmosphere in the pub heated up again, the young Holy Temple Knights either flushed from the drink or from excitement, their faces glowing red. The only exception was Zhenjin, sitting in a corner, sinking into silence, no longer distracted. The glory of victory seemed to have completely stripped away from him, with not even a single person willing to sit by his side. ¡­ The arena¡¯s perimeter was crowded with people. The duel in the center of the arena was also entering its final stage. The Holy Temple Knight Qing Kui was pushed into a desperate situation, his opponent was none other than the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family. Zhenjin, amidst the crowd, screamed inwardly: ¡°That¡¯s it, father, kill this damn guy! In the Holy Temple Knights, he¡¯s always been picking on me. Ever since I joined the Fifth Group, he has never stopped bullying me!¡± And around Zhenjin, many familiar faces of the Holy Temple Knights were squeezed in. ¡°Qing Kui, if you can¡¯t fight anymore, just admit defeat!¡± ¡°The opponent is too strong, you¡¯re too young, there¡¯s no shame in losing the fight.¡± ¡°Think of your sister, Qing Kui, don¡¯t be stubborn.¡± The young Holy Temple Knights were shouting. Qing Kui¡¯s sister was also outside the arena, her face pale without a trace of color, her delicate body trembling, like a pitiful flower in a raging storm. Zhenjin sneered secretly: ¡°Qing Kui¡¯s sister? Good! Qing Kui¡¯s death is not the end! Once I get the chance, you as his sister, will have to atone for your brother¡¯s sins.¡± Then, the last clash. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family broke his sword-wielding hand, while Qing Kui collapsed to the ground. ¡°Father, Father!¡± Zhenjin exclaimed in shock, his voice trembling violently. ¡°Impossible, this can¡¯t be! How could Qing Kui injure my father!¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t believe what was happening before him. ¡°Kill him, kill him now, father!¡± Zhenjin wanted to shout loudly, but he never had the courage to yell out loud. It was at this time that the old squad leader walked into the arena, declaring the duel over. ¡°No, how could this be!?¡± Cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd, but Zhenjin felt as if he had plummeted into an ice cave. ¡°Father!¡± He ran over and supported the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family. The middle-aged man looked around, taking in the scene, but his expression had already returned to calm: ¡°My son, lift your head and look at me. Tell me, what is our family¡¯s creed?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate people, yet don¡¯t underestimate them either,¡± Lord Zhenjin struggled to raise his head, his voice choked with emotion, his heart trembling. ¡­ There were only two people in the archery range. ¡°Father, I have come as per your summons,¡± Zhenjin spoke. The clan leader of the Hundred Needle Family nodded slightly, ¡°You¡¯ve been back from the imperial capital for a few days now. It is time I assess whether your training there has slackened. This time, we will test our archery skills. If you can beat me, I will bestow upon you the Swift Bee.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart trembled, and with sorrow and hesitation, he said, ¡°But Father, your arm¡­¡± The clan leader carelessly replied, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, you shoot first.¡± Zhenjin picked up the longbow and released an arrow, but with his spirits low, he failed to hit the center of the target. It was the clan leader¡¯s turn. ¡°Watch carefully, my son.¡± The Hundred Needle Family leader pinched one of the White Crystal Long Needles between his index and middle finger and flicked it with a bend of his fingers. Whoosh! A sharp, piercing whistle that cut through the air instantly rang by Zhenjin¡¯s ears. At the same time, he saw the golden needle trace a luminous line through the air. The light extended straight towards the target, striking it dead center, followed by a thunderous explosion, completely shattering the target into powder! ¡°What is this?!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s mouth hung open in utter shock. ¡°This is a secret skill passed down through the generations of our Hundred Needle Family¡ªthe Piercing Needle Boom. Would you like to learn it?¡± ¡°Given your current total amount of fighting energy, you should barely be able to launch one needle,¡± the clan leader immediately estimated. Zhenjin smiled bitterly, ¡°Father, if I were to use this secret skill, wouldn¡¯t it be a bit risky?¡± The smile on the clan leader¡¯s face slowly faded as his expression turned serious. He looked intently at Zhenjin, profound meaning in his eyes, ¡°My son, reality is always cruel. Whether in combat or other areas, you will always find yourself amidst risks.¡± ¡°Often, you will find that to launch a needle with all your might is precisely the wisest choice.¡± ¡°To temporarily exhaust all the fighting energy in your body is an empty and painful feeling that¡¯s very hard to endure. But sometimes, that¡¯s what we need to do.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid of risk, nor fear sacrifice!¡± ¡°Sacrifice?¡± Just that word made Zhenjin¡¯s heart quiver. ¡­ A room clearly arranged with meticulous care, opulent and extravagant. Paintings by famous artists hung on the walls, expensive perfume lingered in the air, and the pink-gold curtains were drawn, blocking out much of the daylight and casting the room in a dim, ambiguous light. The Dancing Lady Jisi, wearing exotic attire from the northwest of the Empire and a purple veil, added an air of mysterious allure to her stunning beauty. Her figure, voluptuous and curvaceous, with a red dance costume, mainly red with interwoven gold threads, was short and form-fitting, revealing her slender arms and her pale belly button. As the dance music ended, the three young men in the room were all spellbound. They came to their senses and clapped one after another. Zhenjin¡¯s primary attention was focused on one of the youths, whose status was quite extraordinary. Suppressing his reluctance, Zhenjin smiled and asked, ¡°Zong Ge, haven¡¯t you expressed the wish to see Jisi dance? What do you think? I have the authority to offer Miss Jisi to you right now. Tonight, she can warm your bed. Hahaha¡­¡± However¡­ ¡°Amazing, the temptation of beauty is truly formidable.¡± ¡°This lady holds no value for me anymore. I will not take her.¡± ¡°Our family creed is these words¡ª¡¯Hell lies at our feet, and downfall is but a moment away.¡¯ It reminds us to remain vigilant, desire is an abyss, a careless step can transform us into demons, never to return to humanity again.¡± ¡°Zhenjin, you and I are colleagues. This time, you¡¯ve helped me, so I¡¯ll give you some friendly advice. Personal cultivation is what¡¯s important, relentlessly pursuing connections is like a leaf fluttering in the wind.¡± Having said this, Cang Xu left without regard for Zhenjin¡¯s unpleased expression and stood up to leave. ¡°Damn it, hateful!¡± Once there were no outsiders present, Zhenjin slammed the cups and pots in the room out of anger, ¡°They all look down on me, they all do!!¡± ¡­ ¡°What?! Father, you want me to compete for the position of White Sand City Lord?¡± ¡°This, this won¡¯t do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only at Black Iron cultivation, a city lord should at least have Silver Level cultivation!¡± Zhenjin kept shaking his head. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family snorted coldly: ¡°Who told you not to practice diligently on ordinary days? Look at your colleagues around you, people like Qing Kui and Cang Xu, which of them isn¡¯t at Silver Level?¡± Zhenjin lowered his head and muttered, ¡°They all have deep backgrounds and too many cultivation resources, how can I compare?¡± The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family snorted again, ¡°Although our Hundred Needle Family has declined, we won¡¯t skimp on the support for you.¡± ¡°This time, it¡¯s an opportunity for the revival of our family. You must seize it!¡± ¡°Because you are the only heir of the Hundred Needle Family.¡± ¡°I will dispatch elite forces, and I¡¯ll have Biwa lead the team to help you compete for the position of the city lord.¡± Zhenjin immediately showed joy, ¡°Ah, Uncle Biwa?¡± ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve secured an outside ally for you. Congratulations, my son. Not long ago, I selected a fine fianc¨¦e for you. Her name is Zi Di, the current Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce.¡± ¡°That?!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s joy disappeared, ¡°Father, she doesn¡¯t have any noble blood at all, you want me to marry her? If we¡¯re talking about the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce of the past, there might be something to discuss. But now, this Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce¡­¡± ¡°Enough, I called you here to inform you to get ready, not to listen to your complaints. Go now.¡± The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family waved his hand. Zhenjin opened his mouth, clearly reluctant, but ultimately had to comply with his father¡¯s authority and left with resentment. ¡­ ¡°So you are Zi Di?¡± Zhenjin looked down slightly, sizing up the purple-eyed young woman before him. Although he was expressionless, her beauty stirred ripples in his heart. ¡°Truly a beauty!¡± ¡°Although marrying her would really be a disgrace to my status, and could even become a joke amongst my peers.¡± ¡°But just for this beauty, it seems to be worthwhile.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin.¡± Zi Di, however, looked anxious, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the rush, but the situation is really urgent. The people sent by your family have all been annihilated.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Zhenjin nodded, his face showing a mix of shock and anger, ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have happened if Uncle Biwa were personally leading the team.¡± Zi Di continued, ¡°I am worried now that the other competitors will reach White Sand City ahead of us and establish an early advantage. So, I suggest that we create the illusion of staying put, but actually disguise ourselves and set out secretly, taking the Pig Kiss to set sail.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s pupils shrank, and he was inclined to retreat in his heart, but he didn¡¯t want to appear weak in front of this beautiful woman, so he snorted coldly, ¡°It¡¯s a good idea, but also risky. I only have Black Iron cultivation, acting recklessly could result in being framed, rendering all plans fruitless.¡± Zi Di smiled, ¡°Please rest assured, my lord. I have measures to ensure your safety. First, we will hire a powerful Mercenary Group to guard us. Second, moving quietly, we may not be noticed. Third, aboard the Pig Kiss, there is also the presiding official for the White Sand City Lord examination, Priest Jia Sha of the Holy Emperor¡¯s sect. Lastly, I strongly suggest that you disguise yourself as an ordinary mercenary and use a substitute in public as a decoy.¡± Zhenjin was captivated by Zi Di¡¯s smile, feeling dazzled, and he reluctantly furrowed his brow, ¡°Will this¡­ really work?¡± ¡°It will, my lord. The potion we¡¯re going to use is a Transformation Potion personally crafted by Duke Aimei. After drinking it, one¡¯s skin color, hair color can change, or it can make one¡¯s nose more sculpted, eyes bigger, and so on. Most importantly, its effects are significant, very safe, and secretive. If we use usual Spells or Magic Tools for disguise, it would require continuous Mana consumption and there would be fluctuations in Mana,¡± Zi Di said softly, persuading him. ¡°This¡­ seems like a good idea.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s tone was hesitant, ¡°What about my substitute?¡± ¡°Trust me, Lord Zhenjin, you will meet him soon, and you will be very satisfied!¡± Chapter 173 - 173: Section 174: Memory Crystal Chapter 173: Section 174: Memory Crystal Dock. The Pig Kiss lay quietly at anchor, with a few crew members staying on board while the majority enjoyed themselves in taverns and gambling houses on the dock. The departure was scheduled for tomorrow. Inside a warehouse on the dock. A sturdy and exquisite wooden box, its lid now opened, revealing the contents inside. ¡°Ah, what is this?!¡± Lord Zhenjin stood in front of the wooden box, unable to help but exclaim in amazement. He saw: inside the box lay a blond youth, who was in a deep sleep. From his nostrils to his eyebrows, his arms to his ankles, he was an exact copy of Lord Zhenjin, even down to the same height. ... ¡°My lord, this is the substitute I have prepared for you,¡± Zi Di said with a smile beside him. ¡°Incredible! It¡¯s just unbelievable. How could such a perfect substitute be found!¡± Lord Zhenjin exclaimed repeatedly. Zi Di explained, ¡°It wasn¡¯t found, of course, he was genetically modified. He is one of the Beastification People.¡± ¡°Beastification People?¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s pupils slightly constricted, and he quickly recalled related intelligence. ¡°These biological weapons seem to have become very popular. Especially in recent years, they are increasingly appearing in the warzones across various continents.¡± ¡°Not surprisingly, my lord, you have extensive knowledge indeed,¡± Zi Di complimented gently. Such flattery from a beauty was quite pleasing to Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin hummed softly, then frowned again, ¡°But why does he look exactly like me?¡± Zi Di responded, ¡°Because this Beastification Person was custom-made for you, my lord.¡± ¡°There¡¯s customization?¡± A keen light flickered in Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyes, and he inwardly praised, ¡°The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce truly lives up to its reputation as one just below the top six guilds; no wonder my father agreed to this alliance through marriage. With its vast scale, Purple Vine has touched many dark corners of the world and many dangerous figures. Even if crippled, they are not to be underestimated.¡± Zi Di continued, ¡°As per our request, this Beastification Person was customized by an arms dealer. You see, he has the same appearance, height, and other characteristics as you. More importantly, like you, he is also a Knight, practicing Fighting Spirit. His Fighting Spirit has already reached the Silver Level.¡± Lord Zhenjin felt a chill in his heart and said, ¡°Capturing a Silver Level Knight, a figure of the City Lord level, must not have been easy, right?¡± Zi Di shook her head and smiled, ¡°Our guild would not do such dangerous things. It was all provided by the arms dealer.¡± Lord Zhenjin pressed on, ¡°So, what is his actual identity? Is he a noble¡¯s son or a knight promoted from the commoners?¡± Zi Di continued to shake her head, ¡°We do not know, but you can rest assured, his original memory has been completely erased, and he is now a blank slate. Even if we wake him up now, unaware of his identity, he will definitely remain loyal and obey our commands until death.¡± ¡°This technology of Beastification is indeed convenient,¡± Lord Zhenjin remarked, though a sense of crisis arose in his heart. If a Silver Level Knight had fallen, what about him, a mere Black Iron Level? ¡°However, Zi Di and I are connected by marriage, I am a Holy Temple Knight, and also the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family. They wouldn¡¯t dare harm me.¡± As Lord Zhenjin thought this, his brow furrowed deeper, noting a drawback with the Beastification Person, ¡°A blank slate as a substitute, how could he convincingly portray me?¡± ¡°Regarding that, please look here, my lord,¡± Zi Di prompted, showing Lord Zhenjin an object. ¡°We were, of course, prepared for this.¡± Lord Zhenjin looked and saw a milky-white crystal cylinder in Zi Di¡¯s palm. ¡°Angel¡¯s Tear?¡± Lord Zhenjin raised an eyebrow, ¡°No, this is the Memory Crystal of You Can!¡± Zi Di smiled, ¡°Having a conversation with someone as insightful and wise as you, my lord, is truly a pleasure.¡± Ancestor of the Undead, You Can, ranked sixth on the wanted list, a legendary figure who pioneered Necromancy. It was impossible to determine his exact race, but many reports mentioned he was a successful Desecration Priest, having stolen divine powers from many gods. This was no simple feat. He had repeatedly deceived gods into believing he was a devout believer of theirs, causing them to channel divine power into him. Some powerful beings speculated that You Can might have stolen a great amount of divine power from various gods for his private research, leading him to successfully create the art of Necromancy. And the essential tool You Can used to deceive the gods was his newly developed Memory Crystal. This magical artifact, which appeared similar to an Angel¡¯s Tear from the outside, could delete, modify, and duplicate the memories of intelligent life forms. Each time You Can changed his identity or started to follow a different deity, he would transfer his own memories into the Memory Crystal and then plant forged memories into his own body. By doing this, he deceived even himself, eliminating any discrepancies and therefore managing to deceive various deities as well. ¡°Brilliant!¡± Zhenjin clapped his hands in laughter. ¡°Just by duplicating a set of memories and infusing them into this substitute, it¡¯s as though I¡¯ve cloned myself.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Zhenjin thought of something and started to harbor new doubts. Zi Di knew what he was thinking and quickly reassured him, ¡°My lord, rest assured that the secrets of the Hundred Needle Family and the Holy Temple Knights will not leak. Once the memories are infused, he will only think he is Zhenjin. How could he possibly reveal these secrets and harm himself? We will strictly control the Memory Crystal and make necessary modifications and deletions. We won¡¯t transfer some critical memories to him. Besides, the only people handling this Memory Crystal are the two of us. I am your fianc¨¦e, with devotion to magic, and I certainly have no designs on these secret skills. Our interests are aligned, Lord Zhenjin.¡± Zhenjin nodded, ¡°You are quite right. Actually, the family¡¯s combat skills and secret techniques have already been leaked. As the defeated, they have been hidden deep in the Empire¡¯s library. These combat skills and secret techniques can only show their true value when combined with our Hundred Needle Family¡¯s bloodline.¡± Zhenjin looked at the sleeping substitute before him, increasingly satisfied: ¡°Excellent, having a substitute makes me very safe. The Silver Fighting Spirit is also perfect for competing for the position of White Sand City Lord. My own fighting energy is still too weak. My father truly made a wise decision. I fully approve the decision now. Cooperating with the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce really brings substantial benefits.¡± Noticing the changes in Zhenjin¡¯s expression, Zi Di knew he had approved her plan, so she softly continued, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, there are a few considerations we should keep in mind when copying memories.¡± ¡°First, we don¡¯t need to copy all memories into the crystal since humans tend to forget. We don¡¯t even remember everything that happened in the past.¡± ¡°Second, please try not to miss any significant moments in our lives. If those are missed, the substitute might treat enemies as friends when they meet, which could trouble us.¡± ¡°Third, please try to duplicate more positive memories. Let the substitute recognize himself as a Holy Temple Knight, a distinguished noble offspring. That way, he can bring more value to us.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s demeanor turned serious, nodding continuously. What Zi Di said made a lot of sense, and he quickly thought of people like Qing Kui and Hei Juan: ¡°Haha, let my Silver substitute deal with them. They will be very surprised when they see my level has suddenly advanced to Silver.¡± After a moment. ¡°How do you feel now, my lord?¡± Zi Di asked. Zhenjin shook his head slightly, ¡°Apart from the headache caused by copying memories, everything else is fine.¡± He stared intently at the mirror in front of him. In the mirror was a young man with a sword at his waist. With black hair and eyes, his skin was dark, and his hair naturally curly. Zhenjin looked at his reflection with curiosity: ¡°This is indeed worthy of Duke Ami¡¯s personally crafted potion; I have completely become someone else! What should I call this new identity?¡± Zhenjin thought about it and suggested a few names, but Zi Di shook her head to dismiss them: ¡°My lord, those names are too noble. You are playing the role of a mercenary now; a mercenary¡¯s name needs to be more common. Perhaps we should call it Hei Juan.¡± ¡°Hei Juan? That¡¯s a terrible name,¡± Zhenjin shook his head, then shrugged, ¡°But never mind, let¡¯s settle for that.¡± Zi Di then glanced at the sword on Zhenjin¡¯s waist, ¡°My lord, please also entrust the sword to the substitute.¡± This time, Zhenjin¡¯s refusal was very firm. He shook his head decisively, ¡°No, that can¡¯t happen.¡± ¡°This sword, named Silver Lightning, was personally bestowed by my father. It is of Gold Level, and in fact, it is one of the auxiliary swords of the Shining Nine Swords.¡± ¡°Such a precious item must be personally guarded by me!¡± Zhenjin added, looking at Zi Di, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, although the Shining Nine Swords are famed throughout the world, the auxiliary swords are numerous and obscure. My identity won¡¯t be exposed because of this.¡± Zi Di nodded, ¡°Then, Lord Zhenjin, you may go rest now. I have prepared a room for you, and also engaged the most popular dancing lady from the docks. Of course, she does not suit your true status. Consider it a trial to get acquainted with your new identity.¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ha ha ha,¡± Zhenjin laughed loudly, ¡°I¡¯ve never experienced these activities as a low-ranking mercenary before. This will certainly be interesting. Oh, Zi Di, I am very pleased with everything. You have done well. I have come to recognize you, and perhaps, in time, you will indeed be fit to be my wife. Are you not coming to join me tonight, though?¡± Zi Di smiled, curtsying while using the moment of bowed head to disguise her scorn, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my lord, the Pig Kiss will set sail tomorrow, and there are still many things to handle.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha,¡± Zhenjin laughed, ¡°Then go and handle that. Keep striving, becoming the wife of nobility is not easy for someone of your status and bloodline.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep your words in mind, my lord!¡± Chapter 174 - 174: Section 175: Let go of your hand quickly! Chapter 174: Section 175: Let go of your hand quickly! Onboard the ¡°Pig Kiss¡±. Standing in his assigned cabin, Zhenjin¡¯s face looked terrible, ¡°Do I really have to play Hei Juan as soon as I get on board? Isn¡¯t there a slightly larger cabin?¡± The cabin in front of him was indeed cramped, but it was very normal to treat a Black Iron Level mercenary this way. Zi Di spoke in a soft voice to persuade, ¡°Lord, don¡¯t forget that our journey is a disguise. We¡¯ve created the illusion that you are still in the same place, and as your fianc¨¦e, I am only taking a group of people to the Wilderness Continent in advance to pave the way for you. If we expose ourselves now, it would be a huge loss. In fact, even I am pretending to conceal my identity.¡± ¡°The cabins on the ¡®Pig Kiss¡¯ are actually not much different. The largest cabin is currently in the hands of Priest Jia Sha. The rest are pretty much the same.¡± Zhenjin nodded with resignation, ¡°When can my substitute come out?¡± ... ¡°Once we reach White Sand City, we will let the substitute wake up. By then, I am sure it will give our two competitors a big surprise,¡± said Zi Di with a smile. ¡°Hehe,¡± Zhenjin mused, ¡°I am eager to see the look on their faces.¡± ¡°Forget it, then I will deign to spend a few days in this kind of cabin.¡± ¡°You can come to accompany me tonight.¡± Zi Di immediately showed an appropriate shade of regret, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, although I would very much like to do so, don¡¯t forget that Priest Jia Sha is on this ship.¡± ¡°In fact, according to our previous agreement, we have ¡®accidentally leaked¡¯ our information to the Guardian Knights.¡± ¡°Next, we have to create an accidental meeting, to get acquainted in advance with the official who is your assessor this time.¡± ¡°If we live together secretly while maintaining disguises, I¡¯m afraid it will leave a very bad impression on Priest Jia Sha.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s face grew uglier, ¡°You¡¯re right. Hmph, then I¡¯ll just endure it for a few days.¡± ¡­ The night was deep. The ¡°Pig Kiss¡± sailed quietly on the vast ocean. Zhenjin turned over to sleep on his side, and suddenly the bed flipped over, throwing him onto the floor. He woke up from the impact, opened his eyes, and saw that the floor was covered in water. At the same time, many panicked cries reached his ears. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Before he could react, the cabin door was violently pushed open, and with a thunderous crash, the seawater poured in. ¡°I¡­¡± Zhenjin tried to yell for help but was violently submerged, completely engulfed by the water. ¡­ Zhenjin gasped for air, emerging from the waves, and finally his feet touched the sand on the beach. Dripping wet, he staggered a dozen steps forward, and then finally his knees gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground. Around him was chaos, with many survivors making it to the beach. Some were praying loudly, some were crying out, some were sobbing, and others were desperately organizing rescue efforts. ¡°Hey, get up, help save others,¡± someone running by shouted upon seeing Zhenjin. But Zhenjin had no reaction; his head was buzzing and the world seemed isolated from him. He was stunned for a good while before his senses finally returned. ¡°A shipwreck?¡± ¡°How could this happen!¡± Zhenjin felt like he was falling into an icy cave, tearless and desperate. More and more survivors gathered around, people crying out in grief, helplessly watching as half of the ¡°Pig Kiss¡± sank completely, and the other half was marooned on the beach. ¡°It really is a shipwreck!¡± ¡°So unlucky.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s body trembled, he reached for his waist, and after touching Silver Lightning, he let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank goodness it¡¯s still here.¡± As for how he managed to don this sword while fleeing, Zhenjin had no recollection. He was both relieved and frightened now. People around him began to call for their relatives and friends, and Zhenjin too started to search the crowd for Zi Di and other mercenaries. He saw some familiar faces, but could not find Zi Di at all. ¡°My fianc¨¦e¡­ has met with disaster!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart sank to the bottom. ¡­ ¡°The Captain is missing, and I am the First Officer. This shipwreck is highly suspicious; there wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of trouble beforehand. Instead of discussing the causes of the shipwreck, I think we should think about how to escape from here.¡± ¡°At present, we have gathered only a little food and water. But this island is covered with rainforests, so resources must be abundant. We need to form an exploration team first to scout out the terrain here and see where there¡¯s a stable source of food and drinking water.¡± The First Officer was giving his speech. Zhenjin shrank back in the crowd, watching as a group of people was gathered up, seeing Cang Xu volunteer to join. ¡°These people are taking a risk! This island is strange, it forbids magic and fighting energy, and the limit of prohibition isn¡¯t clear; they actually dare to go and explore.¡± ¡°Zi Di is dead, Priest Jia Sha and the others are also out of sight, it does not bode well!¡± ¡°Sigh, I better just stay here, hiding my identity. With this disguise, others will just think I am a mercenary.¡± ¡°When my family comes to the rescue and finds me, it won¡¯t be too late to reveal my identity.¡± ¡­ Zhenjin angrily threw the axe in his hand onto the ground. ¡°Chopping trees all day.¡± ¡°I, a Holy Temple Knight, actually have to do this sort of thing!¡± ¡°Building a ship? When will this end? It¡¯s still better to wait for rescue.¡± ¡°I am the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, and the Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, as well as Priest Jia Sha are also stranded here. There will definitely be a rescue!¡± ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that noise?¡± Zhenjin, with his Black Iron cultivation, had physical capabilities beyond the ordinary and heard rustling noises. He followed the sound and discovered an old man eating. ¡°Old man, have you hidden something?¡± Zhenjin was delighted, and he approached. The old man realized Zhenjin¡¯s Black Iron cultivation and immediately became panic-stricken, ¡°Lord, this was originally mine. I brought it to the island. I am so hungry; I beg you to have mercy and not report me. I am willing to share these things with you.¡± The exploration team had been gone for a long time, without a stable source of food from the outside, reserves of food couldn¡¯t hold out against the continuous consumption, especially with the need to chop wood to build a new ship. So the First Officer had imposed food rationing, and no one was allowed to hoard food. Zhenjin snorted coldly, kicked the old man down, and seized all the food. The old man clung to Zhenjin¡¯s leg, ¡°Lord, please have mercy, give me a little food. If I don¡¯t eat something, I really will starve to death.¡± ¡°A worthless mortal dying isn¡¯t a bad thing, right? Why waste any food on him!¡± Zhenjin said with utter contempt, delivering a vicious kick to the old man before striding away. The old man nearly had the breathe kicked out of him by that blow. However, soon after, three sailors confronted Zhenjin. ¡°Hei Juan, we¡¯ve heard you¡¯ve been hoarding food. You do know the current rules, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Kid, if you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯ll hand it over,¡± one sailor said. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯ll be better for all of us.¡± Zhenjin looked at the leading sailor who, like him, also exuded the Life Breath of a Black Iron Level. ¡°It must have been that old man who squealed! Damn it.¡± ¡°The sailors are many and strong, there¡¯s no need for me to clash with them head-on. Just wait until my family comes to my aid, I¡¯ll make sure these bastards pay!¡± he schemed inwardly, though on the surface, Zhenjin chuckled: ¡°I have another way that might be even more beneficial for both parties.¡± As he spoke, he pulled out three Gold Coins. Catching sight of the coins, the sailors¡¯ eyes lit up instantly. ¡°Alright, that is indeed better,¡± one sailor agreed. ¡°You¡¯re learning, kid,¡± praised another. ¡°Is this how you make money as a mercenary?¡± questioned the third. Zhenjin replied with a smile, ¡°I simply wish to make friends with you all, and I hope you¡¯ll return the favor in the future.¡± The sailors burst into laughter, and the leader clapped Hei Juan on the shoulder: ¡°Smart kid, you know the way of the world.¡± After the sailors left, Hei Juan disdainfully brushed off his shoulder where he had been clapped, his face full of contempt: ¡°You lowlifes are so easy to deal with, just a few Gold Coins and you¡¯re satisfied. Wait until my family comes to my aid, you¡¯ll regret your attitude today!¡± ¡­ Food reserves had dropped to critical levels, and after the first exploration team went missing, the First Officer attempted to assemble a second team. ¡°I now announce the results of the draw. Those whose names I call out will become members of the second exploration team¡­¡± announced the First Officer, causing an uproar among the crowd. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t a single sailor drawn?¡± ¡°I question the fairness of this draw!¡± ¡°Redraw, redraw!!¡± Concealed in the crowd, Zhenjin watched the indignant people around him with an air of watching a drama unfold. He wasn¡¯t on the list, having once again bribed a sailor with Gold Coins. ¡­ Late at night. Zhenjin was awakened by a commotion: ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± ¡°Someone has incited a brawl with the sailors!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Zhenjin was alarmed and quickly took Silver Lightning to see what was going on. He witnessed Zong Ge taking the lead and with dominating force, easily defeating the Big guy, and then, under Queshan¡¯s testimony, publicly disposing of the First Officer. ¡°This Half-Beast has too much strength, and his equipment is of exceptional quality! The bans on Fighting energy and Magic here have turned this dirty-blooded Half-Beast into the strongest of us all.¡± ¡°I was correct to hide my identity; who knows how much these Half-Beasts and Half-Elves despise someone like me.¡± ¡°These sailors are all useless!¡± ¡°This big guy grew so huge for nothing, not a shred of any martial arts.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°With the sailors losing power, all the Gold Coins I invested are going down the drain.¡± ¡­ Zong Ge replaced the First Officer and began to control the situation here. But every night, the survivors suffered from mysterious attacks, and people died, one after another. ¡°Damn it, this is really sinister!¡± cursed Zhenjin. ¡°What the hell is killing these people?¡± ¡°Damn it, the rescue is too slow; when are they ever going to arrive?¡± ¡­ The sailor who had received the most bribery from Zhenjin quietly came to him. ¡°Hei Juan, come with us. The Captain was assassinated, and we¡¯ve been subjected to mysterious attacks. It¡¯s likely that Zong Ge, the Half-Beast, is behind all this!¡± ¡°We plan to use the assembling of the exploration team as a chance to escape together.¡± ¡°Who all are in?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart raced as he proactively handed over a Gold Coin. With a look of pleasure, the sailor answered, ¡°Lord Xi Suo, the shipwright, Mu Ban¡­ To tell you the truth, only the old shipwright can build us a new ship. You understand.¡± Zhenjin nodded repeatedly: ¡°I understand!¡± Being beneath a Half-Beast was a humiliation for Zhenjin. And with mysterious attacks occurring every night, the living conditions were treacherous. Zhenjin had long since lost any desire to stay. ¡­ Xi Suo, Hei Juan, and others snuck off with the exploration team but were quickly discovered, prompting Zong Ge to lead a pursuit. During the chase, there was a teleportation. Upon stumbling on a strange camp, Xi Suo exclaimed: ¡°This must be the divine arrangement, allowing us to escape the clutches of our vicious and insidious enemy and blessing us with this temporary camp!¡± The camp was fixed up but was soon under attack by bat monkeys and Strong Life White Rhinoceroses. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to die, I won¡¯t die!¡± Zhenjin roared within, an overwhelming desire to survive filling his chest. ¡°It¡¯s all over here! Staying here means certain death.¡± Zhenjin gritted his teeth, turned around, and crouching low, sprinted out of the wooden hut. In the midst of the life-and-death struggle with the bat monkeys, Zhenjin unexpectedly received support. ¡°Someone!¡± he exclaimed joyfully, not daring to look back as he sprinted towards the direction from which the darts had come. After a mad dash, Zhenjin quickly entered the forest and found a few people standing under a tree. ¡°Not Xi Suo and the others¡­ wait a minute.¡± Zhenjin could hardly believe it, his heart swelling with ecstatic joy. He had actually found Zi Di, his fianc¨¦e was still alive! His eyes suddenly lit up, revealing a look of surprise and delight, he blurted out, ¡°Zi¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s Hei Juan!¡± At the same time, Zi Di recognized Hei Juan¡¯s face and exclaimed in a low voice, ¡°He is a member of the Mercenary Group I hired!¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Zhenjin was startled. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, the people inside the cabin should all be from the Pig Kiss,¡± Zi Di said to the young knight beside her. ¡°That man? He¡¯s my substitute!¡± Realization dawned on Zhenjin. The young knight nodded, ¡°I must rescue them quickly! You all stay here.¡± He moved swiftly forward, and in a few breaths, stood before Zhenjin, his gaze quickly sizing up the tanned young man, ¡°Can you fight again?¡± Zhenjin stood there, staring blankly at the substitute before him. ¡°Just like me!¡± His heart was filled with exclamation, but he did not respond for a moment. The young knight shook his head privately, ¡°It seems his courage is lost.¡± The image of Zhenjin¡¯s escape was witnessed by him. The young knight charged toward the camp, but Zhenjin hurriedly opened his mouth to stop him, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± You are my substitute, don¡¯t lose your life for these fools. Don¡¯t take risks, come back and protect me! But the next moment, Zhenjin saw the substitute¡¯s formidable combat power. Zhenjin stared intently at the substitute¡¯s retreating figure, his expression one of shock. ¡°How could there be such terrifying strength?¡± ¡°Fighting energy cannot be used here.¡± That¡¯s right, he¡¯s a Beastification Person. He was a Silver Knight before he was transformed, his physical condition far superior to mine. How does he compare to Zong Ge? ¡°Hei Juan,¡± Zi Di, Lan Zao, and others walked over. Hmph, well-played. Do you intend to keep hiding it? That¡¯s fine, exposing you now would be pointless for me. Let this foolish substitute fight on my behalf. ¡°Miss Zi Di.¡± Zhenjin composed himself and gave Zi Di a bow, ¡°Who exactly is this lord¡­¡± Zi Di was about to reply with a light smile. But it was the usually silent Lan Zao who spoke first, ¡°He is my master¡ªLord Zhenjin! He is Lord Zi Di¡¯s fianc¨¦, the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, a true Holy Temple Knight, and will one day be the City Lord of White Sand City. He is my savior as well as yours.¡± Zhenjin: ¡°???¡± ¡°Who is this idiot?¡± ¡°It seems like a good opportunity to have collected a servant who will give his life for me. Not bad.¡± Zi Di nodded, ¡°I hired you to escort me to White Sand City on the Wilderness Continent, and Lord Zhenjin has been hiding by my side all along. The purpose was to deceive onlookers to prevent our rivals from maliciously obstructing our journey. After the shipwreck occurred, I found Lord Zhenjin. Trust me, Lord Zhenjin will surely lead us to leave this island alive.¡± ¡°So it is.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s adam¡¯s apple bobbed, thinking to himself, ¡°You¡¯re right, my fianc¨¦e. Relying on family rescue is no longer reliable, self-rescue is the only way out!¡± ¡°` ¡­ After repelling the horde of beasts, the substitute received a warm welcome, and everyone treated him as a hero. ¡°This substitute is doing quite well,¡± Zhenjin thought to himself, feeling reassured. Zhenjin secretly sought out Zi Di for a private conversation. ¡°My dear Zi Di, I¡¯m so relieved you¡¯re all right! I thought you had perished; those days were filled with immense sorrow for me.¡± Zhenjin stepped forward with his arms open, wanting to embrace Zi Di. Zi Di took a step back, nervously looking around, ¡°Lord, be careful, lest others see us.¡± Then, she continued in an excited tone, ¡°After the shipwreck, I and a group of people were washed up on another part of the island¡¯s beach. Lord, I¡¯ve been trying to find you all this time. We are truly fortunate! I almost cried out and exposed your identity when I saw you just now, but luckily your glance signaled me to be cautious.¡± Zhenjin stroked his chin, this wonderful misunderstanding immediately eased many of his concerns, and he smiled, ¡°Communicating with someone as clever as you is indeed a time and effort saver.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the situation now? Have you sent out any distress messages? Have you received any responses?¡± Zi Di shook her head, looking downcast, ¡°No response at all. This island is very strange and extremely dangerous. I had no choice but to awaken the substitute. Without him, I would have died already.¡± ¡°You did the right thing. What kind of strength does my substitute have, exactly?¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°He¡¯s a Beastification Person, but the memory infusion isn¡¯t complete. I found he can partially beastify. As for having stronger combat abilities, I don¡¯t think there are many.¡± Zi Di provided a detailed account of some events. Zhenjin showed a disappointed expression, ¡°It seems that he won¡¯t be able to defeat Zong Ge.¡± ¡°Somebody¡¯s coming,¡± Zi Di immediately warned. Zhenjin could only cut short the brief exchange with Zi Di and quietly and swiftly leave. ¡­ And as the two groups continued to interact, when the substitute took out the Armor Plate, Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but be alarmed, ¡°This isn¡¯t good. It seems Zong Ge has also been transported here. I need to warn them quickly: This Zong Ge is very dangerous!¡± ¡°Lord,¡± Zhenjin placed his hand on his chest and bowed to the substitute, ¡°You are truly worthy of being a Holy Temple Knight, always upholding a spirit of justice and fairness. But my suspicions about Zong Ge are not baseless.¡± ¡°He has undergone rigorous combat training!¡± Zhenjin added. Everyone looked at each other, puzzled. Zhenjin continued, ¡°Every mercenary, or every sailor, has been trained in combat. The kind of training I¡¯m talking about is not ordinary training, but military training.¡± ¡°Trust me, I¡¯m certain that he has served in the military. Only someone who has undergone strict military training and has served in the army would have such a soldier¡¯s aura. I¡¯m most clear about this.¡± He offered insights he had never publicly mentioned before, which both the substitute and Zi Di took very seriously. ¡­ With Zong Ge and others lurking outside and Xi Suo, the shipwright, and others not returning, the substitute immediately decided to go out and search. ¡°Not a bad sword,¡± the substitute returned the thin sword, Silver Lightning, to Zhenjin. Zi Di suddenly said to Zhenjin, ¡°Hei Juan, I know your sword is no ordinary blade. Please, for now, let Lord Zhenjin use this sword.¡± Zhenjin was taken aback, his expression changing slightly, ¡°This sword is a family heirloom.¡± He refused without further thought. The substitute gave a faint smile, ¡°Zi Di, there¡¯s no need to trouble him.¡± ¡°Lord, this won¡¯t do!¡± Zi Di insisted, ¡°We¡¯ve just analyzed; Zong Ge is a powerful adversary. He also has a set of high-quality steel armor, and his War Spear must also be extraordinary. Lord, if you face Zong Ge with ordinary weapons, it will almost be like fighting unarmed. If you fail, Lord, the outcome will be dire for the rest of us. If you won¡¯t consider your own well-being, please consider ours.¡± The substitute was stunned, then forced a wry smile. ¡°` Zhenjin¡¯s heart jolted, ¡°That¡¯s it! I should hand this sword over to the substitute to use, Zong Ge is extremely powerful, the substitute must be fully armed.¡± ¡°He is fighting in my place! If he were to be defeated due to a lack of weapons, I would still be the one to suffer in the end.¡± ¡°Zi Di has considered well, she has my interests at heart.¡± ¡°Handing over the sword to the substitute lessens the risk for me!¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lord!¡± Thinking thus, Zhenjin changed his mind. He actively cradled the thin sword in his hands, stepped forward, and offered it with clasped hands, ¡°It is my ignorance, my vision too narrow. Only in your hands can this sword truly exhibit its value. This is my family heirloom, its name is Silver Lightning. It will surely shine radiantly in your hands!¡± Zi Di smiled, ¡°Hei Juan, for this job, I will pay you double the remuneration.¡± A smile instantly appeared on Zhenjin¡¯s face. ¡°Alright. I will take good care of this sword, and I will try to ensure that it is returned to you intact.¡± Seeing Zhenjin¡¯s attitude, the substitute also took the sword back with confidence. Zhenjin laughed smugly to himself, ¡°You just work hard for me.¡± ¡­ Zhenjin, the substitute, and Zi Di successfully rescued Xi Suo and the others, including the shipwright. The substitute faced off against Zong Ge. ¡°Hmph, a pretty-faced noble!¡± Zong Ge scorned as he looked at the substitute, his gaze settling on the thin sword¡¯s hilt at Zhenjin¡¯s waist, and commented lightly, ¡°However¡­ the sword is not bad.¡± The substitute gave a slight smile, eyeing the remnants of high-grade steel War Armor on Zong Ge, ¡°Your armor isn¡¯t bad either.¡± Zhenjin observed secretly, his heart pounding, ¡°Please don¡¯t start fighting!¡± Seeing Sanda, Zong Ge, and the others reject Zi Di¡¯s offer, he was nearly uncontrollably furious, swearing inwardly, ¡°You mixed-breed scum, you dare to refuse to serve under me. Such disdain! Do you even have the status to? Very well, I have etched this humiliation in my heart, and one day, I will make you regret it!¡± Zong Ge challenged the substitute to prove his identity through prayer, which infuriated the substitute. The substitute clenched the sword hilt, his eyebrows deeply furrowed, his face darkened, and his gaze turned icy as he rebuked, ¡°Zong Ge, watch your words! You dare to belittle the gods! I carry the gaze of the Holy Emperor, which is a blessing from the gods. Divine Arts are bestowed by the gods, not a show or proof of identity. Apologize to me now, immediately! Otherwise, you will face the wrath of a Holy Temple Knight!¡± With that, the substitute took a step forward, closing in on Zong Ge. Lan Zao, Hei Juan, and others behind him placed hands on their weapons, Zi Di reached into her pouch, Big Fool picked up a wooden stick, and let out a deep growl from his throat. Zhenjin¡¯s heart leapt to his throat, sweating with nerves, ¡°Damn it! Why act so recklessly? You can¡¯t beat Zong Ge!¡± Then, to Zhenjin¡¯s relief, Zong Ge¡¯s retreat made him feel as if he had moved from the edge of a cliff to a place of safety, ¡°This substitute is too brave for his own good.¡± The substitute then publicly accepted Zong Ge and his party, inviting them back to the camp. Zhenjin was so angry he wanted to jump, ¡°You¡¯re inviting the wolf into the house! Utter stupidity beyond redemption!¡± After returning to the camp, Zhenjin again found Zi Di privately, greatly dissatisfied with the substitute¡¯s decisions. He angrily said to Zi Di, ¡°He really thinks he¡¯s a Holy Temple Knight now. Speaking of justice and fairness, treating everyone equally¡­ Bringing Zong Ge and his crew in like that, haha, utterly foolish!¡± Zi Di explained helplessly, ¡°Lord, I didn¡¯t make the previous situation clear, there were some serious issues when infusing the substitute with memories.¡± ¡°It would not be good to contradict him openly. It¡¯s your authority at stake, after all.¡± ¡°His actions actually have a great advantage; it is a perfect disguise. Now even Zong Ge is utterly convinced of his identity.¡± Zhenjin sighed deeply and was eventually persuaded. ¡­ The logging team and the camp were both suddenly attacked by a horde of beasts. During the defense and counterattack, the substitute discerned the traces of a hidden mastermind. The substitute¡¯s expression was grave, ¡°This behind-the-scenes mastermind is not simple, not only can he mobilize bat monkeys and Silver Rhinoceroses, but he also possesses exceptional tactical skill. This time he divided his forces in two, one to distract us, the other to focus on attacking the camp. He understands very well that the camp is our weakest and most crucial point.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. We must eliminate him!¡± Zong Ge nodded. ¡°Then let¡¯s go, just the two of us, everyone else would be a burden.¡± The substitute took the lead, and Zong Ge threw away his broken sword and followed closely behind. Zhenjin watched the two leave the camp, feeling both relieved and worried. ¡°This guy is too reckless. What kind of residual memories does he have that make his character so recklessly brave?¡± ¡°This is too risky.¡± ¡°Sigh, I hope he can return safely!¡± Zong Ge did come back, with the corpse of a Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa, causing a sensation, but the substitute had not yet returned. Zhenjin found Zi Di, ¡°We paid a huge price to get this substitute. We can¡¯t let him act independently like this anymore!¡± ¡°He actually ventured into the forest alone, such recklessness is too brainless.¡± ¡°We need to make good use of him, letting him protect our safety and maximize his value.¡± ¡°Lord, you are absolutely right.¡± Zi Di¡¯s face showed agreement and distress, ¡°But how should we do it?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Zi Di added, ¡°Honestly, right now I just pray that the substitute can return safely, I would be so grateful.¡± Zhenjin sighed again, ¡°Sigh, I feel the same way.¡± ¡­ Not only did the substitute return, but he also eliminated a Blue Dog Fox Wolf and brought back critical intel about the true nature of the mastermind behind the scenes. Zi Di said, ¡°Lord pursued the beast groups for a long time and took a life-threatening risk to ambush during the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s attempt to subdue the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, killing the Blue Dog Fox Wolf.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, with your own strength, you have resolved the threat to the camp that has been present all along. You have done very well indeed.¡± The substitute looked at Zi Di¡¯s beautiful purple crystal-like eyes and smiled slightly, reaching out to hold Zi Di¡¯s hand that was resting on the table. Zi Di¡¯s hand instinctively shrank back a little but stayed in place, letting the substitute hold it. ¡°Indeed worthy of being my substitute!¡± Zhenjin, who was also attending the meeting, felt proud inside, ¡°Well done¡­ my ass!¡± ¡°Damn it, he dares to hold the hand of my fianc¨¦e!¡± ¡°Let go, you bastard!!¡± ¡°It looks like we need to change our strategy,¡± Mu Ban said, ¡°We can¡¯t just focus on logging, we need to quickly make strong crossbows.¡± Everyone began discussing how to deal with the Demon Beast Army under the command of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. Zhenjin, however, was always paying attention to the hand of Zi Di held by the substitute. ¡°Not letting go yet? Just how long do you plan to hold on?!¡± He was furious and really wanted to leap up and plunge the Silver Lightning into the substitute¡¯s forehead. But he couldn¡¯t! ¡°Calm down, calm down. I am Hei Juan now, he is Zhenjin!¡± ¡°And¡­¡± ¡°The Silver Lightning is in his hand.¡± Chapter 175 - 175: Section 176: She was just putting on an act Chapter 175: Section 176: She was just putting on an act Inside the tent, Zhenjin and Zi Di were arguing in hushed tones. ¡°Tell me the truth, my beautiful and lovely fianc¨¦e, the substitute hasn¡¯t touched you, has he?¡± Zhenjin squinted his eyes, staring intently at Zi Di while emitting a dangerous aura. Zi Di widened her eyes and shook her head, looking at Zhenjin with disbelief, ¡°What are you suspecting? My lord! Of course not!¡± ¡°No, please wait a moment.¡± Zi Di extended her hand and made a pressing down gesture, ¡°That¡¯s not the key issue right now. I thought you sneaked over here to discuss with me the matters about the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, about the Demon Beast Army. This is what we need to be concerned about at the moment!¡± ¡°Of course, that needs to be concerned about, but I also have to be concerned about my fianc¨¦e!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s brows raised, his eyes showing a burst of anger, ¡°Especially when other men, right in front of me, personally take my fianc¨¦e¡¯s hand! I have not even held your hand myself.¡± As he spoke, Zhenjin reached out to take Zi Di¡¯s hand. ... Zi Di immediately retreated, her hand pulled back, leaving Zhenjin grasping air. Zhenjin was about to explode in anger when the voice of the substitute came from outside the tent: ¡°Zi Di, have you gone to sleep?¡± Zhenjin was startled. ¡°Quick, hide.¡± Zi Di also began to panic, silently mouthing words, her lips continuously changing shapes to convey her meaning. Fortunately, the inside of Zi Di¡¯s tent was cluttered with items, and Zhenjin quickly hid in a corner. ¡°My lord, I have not slept yet. Please come in and speak.¡± After taking a few deep breaths, Zi Di spoke with a relatively calm voice. The substitute lifted the flap, entered. Zi Di, wearing a hooded magic robe, appeared even more petite and pitiful due to the oversized garment. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Zi Di¡¯s demeanor, the substitute sighed and walked up to her, drawing Zi Di into his embrace. Zi Di¡¯s body trembled slightly but she did not resist. From the dark corner, Zhenjin secretly witnessed this scene and his eyes filled with rage, so much so that he almost jumped out! ¡°Are you scared?¡± the substitute whispered soothingly. He knew the Blue Dog Fox Wolf had left a significant psychological trauma on Zi Di. ¡°With my lord here, I am not afraid,¡± Zi Di replied softly. ¡°Good, I will always be by your side. The first Blue Dog Fox Wolf died at my feet, and so did the second. The third, the fourth, even if more appear, as long as I am here, I will not let you be harmed by them. I promise you!¡± Zhenjin consoled. Zi Di looked up in Zhenjin¡¯s arms, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I believe in you.¡± It seemed as if she sensed something, and her expression became somewhat unusual. ¡°Damn it, damn it all!¡± Zhenjin, hiding in the dark, gnashed his teeth. In just a few breaths, he had mentally dismembered the substitute more than a dozen times. ¡°Oh, by the way, I¡¯ve come to see you mainly because of some blood,¡± said the substitute, smiling at Zi Di. ¡°I need you to do it secretly.¡± ¡°Until there¡¯s an outcome, don¡¯t tell anyone else.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Zhenjin, who was in hiding, felt a surge of anger rush from his chest to the top of his head. ¡°What do you plan to do?!¡± ¡°Damn audacious thing! You are just a substitute, you are fake!!!¡± ¡°You dare¡­ you actually dare to covet something that isn¡¯t yours!¡± Zi Di was embraced by the substitute, her cheeks flushing with a hint of embarrassment: ¡°My lord, what¡­ what do you wish to do?¡± Zhenjin, observing this scene, felt his pupils shrink to the size of pinpoints, overwhelmed by unprecedented humiliation: ¡°This woman¡­ this woman!!¡± Since acquainting himself with Zi Di, he had never seen her reveal such an enchantingly shy demeanor. And his fianc¨¦e, who displayed such shyness, was tightly held in the arms of another man! ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, what I meant was¡­¡± the substitute hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Zi Di interrupted him. ¡°My lord, your nose is bleeding.¡± ¡°Uh.¡± The substitute also felt blood flowing down, extremely embarrassed, ¡°Listen to me, Zi Di, it¡¯s not what you think.¡± Zhenjin felt like he was about to explode with rage! ¡°The heat is on! Even your nose is bleeding. You damn thing, once the truth comes out, I swear I will castrate you, castrate you!!!¡± Zhenjin roared inwardly. After the substitute left, Zhenjin immediately leaped out and pointed at Zi Di, shaking all over: ¡°You! You just said he hadn¡¯t done anything to you! Speak, tell me the truth, don¡¯t hide anything from me!¡± ¡°I am speaking the truth!¡± Zi Di¡¯s face was tense, with the added distress of being wronged, ¡°My lord, how can you not believe in me?¡± ¡°How can I believe you?! Huh? Just now, before my very eyes, you were throwing yourself into the arms of another man!¡± Zhenjin bellowed. ¡°Keep your voice down; do you want him to hear us? His Silver Cultivation grants him sharper hearing than ours,¡± Zi Di hastily reminded. Zhenjin immediately lowered his voice. But the next moment, he felt even more wrong and humiliated. ¡°I am your fianc¨¦, I am the real Zhenjin, and now I have to speak to you in secrecy, afraid of being discovered by an impostor?!¡± ¡°Sir, enduring small grievances is crucial to our grand scheme! Do you think I want this? To demean myself, playacting with a substitute? Am I not doing this for our current safety, for our plan?!¡± Zi Di¡¯s face changed as she sharply retorted. Zhenjin¡¯s imposing aura faltered. Zi Di continued, ¡°What do you think will happen if the substitute discovers the truth? You know our current strength. Can we control him?¡± ¡°We cannot!¡± ¡°Not only that, we must rely on him to deal with Zong Ge, to handle the Demon Beast Army of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf!¡± ¡°Let him falsely believe he is you, let him work for us, let him risk venturing into the forest to investigate, let him stand on the front lines of battle, while you, Sir, safely stay in the rear. Aren¡¯t his achievements and reputation ultimately yours?¡± Zhenjin had no rebuttal; he bowed his head, hands on his hips, panting heavily, his expression fierce, alternating between anger and hesitation. Zi Di went on, ¡°If he realizes he¡¯s fake, what do you think he¡¯ll do?¡± ¡°Sir, do you think he will accept this truth?¡± ¡°Or, upon discovering your identity, kill you and then replace you?¡± Zhenjin shuddered, his eyes filled with terror: ¡°Zi¡­ Zi Di, you are absolutely right. This island is dangerous, Zong Ge is dangerous, but he is more dangerous.¡± ¡°Conceal! We must continue to hide it!¡± Zi Di exhaled a murky breath, ¡°Sir, you are admirable, you have not let me down. Victors always bear burdens unimaginable to others, endure pressures others cannot withstand, Sir, you have done it. We will succeed, we will leave here, we will become the White Sand City Lord. After all, a substitute is just a substitute; one day, his disappearance will go unnoticed by anyone. No one will know what happened in this process. People will only sing praises of you, marvel at your accomplishments.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Zhenjin nodded repeatedly, his face then showing a trace of guilt, ¡°I¡¯ve wronged you too, my fianc¨¦e. I was a bit too intense just now.¡± ¡°Sir, as long as you understand me. Everything I do is for our plan, for our safety, for our future!¡± Zhenjin nodded, ¡°Yes, all for our bright future!¡± ¡­ Seizing the opportunity with the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, Zong Ge openly challenged the authority of the substitute, setting a contest to compare their respective team¡¯s reconnaissance outcomes. At the break of dawn, Zong Ge began scouting with a group, while the substitute, having trained hard last night, was catching up on sleep. Zhenjin had already eaten breakfast and was standing outside the tent growing more and more anxious, ¡°This damned guy, how long is he going to laze around? Does he have any idea of the situation? If I let Zong Ge¡¯s provocation go unchecked, my authority will be seriously undermined.¡± ¡°The sun has risen, and he¡¯s still sleeping, still sleeping!¡± ¡°No, I have to urge him to act more quickly! Of course¡­ I won¡¯t remind him personally.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s gaze swept around, finally resting on Bai Ya. Bai Ya, inexperienced in the world, quickly revealed almost all of his intelligence under Zhenjin¡¯s sly social skills. ¡°I¡¯m really worried for Lord Zhenjin.¡± Zhenjin sighed, a worried look on his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bai Ya asked curiously. Zhenjin narrowed his eyes slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t you know the current situation is very delicate? That Half-Beast has malicious intentions, daring to challenge Lord Zhenjin¡¯s authority. It¡¯s like this¡­¡± Soon, Bai Ya, informed of the details, became anxious. After the substitute showed up, Bai Ya hurriedly went to pay his respects. ¡°Lord Zhenjin.¡± ¡°As soon as it was light out, Zong Ge and his group are out scouting.¡± ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve grown up in the forest since I was a child. Maybe I can¡¯t hunt now, but in reconnaissance, I can definitely help you!¡± Bai Ya was very enthusiastic, volunteering eagerly. By noon, the substitute brought his team back to the camp for lunch. Zhenjin was seething, ¡°This damned guy, does he have no clue about the situation? He even has the leisure to come back for lunch! Get out there and scout for me!¡± He secretly informed Bai Ya of Zong Ge¡¯s efforts. Bai Ya, anxious, reported to the substitute, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, we haven¡¯t seen Zong Ge and his men return. They must have brought food and eaten outside.¡± By evening, as the sun just touched the treetops, the substitute had returned to camp. Bai Ya reported again, ¡°Sir, Zong Ge and his men haven¡¯t returned yet. They are giving it their all!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy for anyone,¡± the substitute sighed. Bai Ya was really worried, ¡°Sir, we could also take dry rations and continue scouting at noon, no need to waste precious time traveling back and forth to camp.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s a good suggestion. Let¡¯s do that tomorrow,¡± the substitute agreed readily. ¡°At last, he¡¯s starting to make an effort!¡± Zhenjin internally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he felt a sense of suffocation, like phlegm stuck in his throat that he just couldn¡¯t cough out ¨C it was terribly uncomfortable! ¡°This damned thing, under my name, basks in everyone¡¯s praise, covets my beautiful fianc¨¦e, taking advantage of what¡¯s mine! And I still have to worry about him, help him secretly?!¡± ¡°God, why has it come to this?¡± For Zhenjin, this experience was truly too terrible. After Zhenjin¡¯s worries, the substitute pulled out a complete map. The scouting results overwhelmingly surpassed the desperate efforts of Zong Ge and the others. Zhenjin secretly approached Zi Di. ¡°How could he have such a comprehensive map? Tell me not, my fianc¨¦e, that he is a Divine Favored Knight of my lord, and this is a gift from my lord.¡± Zhenjin questioned Zi Di. Zi Di shook her head, her eyes full of confusion: ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics, the appearance of this map far exceeds my expectations.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s a good thing, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Zong Ge failed the challenge, and he lost disgracefully.¡± ¡°No, no!¡± Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°This trend is very troubling! He is slipping out of our control! If this continues, it will become more and more dangerous.¡± Zi Di puzzled: ¡°My lord, hasn¡¯t he always been beyond our control? Indeed, the degree of control is very weak, but I think it should maximize his effort.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that.¡± Zhenjin continued to shake his head in denial, his face growing more serious and grave, ¡°I¡¯m speaking of the trend. He is more difficult to control than before.¡± ¡°Why would he take out such a comprehensive military map? Even the size of the Beast horde has been clearly scouted?¡± ¡°He even dares to deceive openly in the name of my lord!¡± ¡°We know the truth, he must possess methods and abilities that we are unaware of.¡± Zi Di nodded: ¡°Lord, your concerns are indeed valid. He is a Beastification Person, he can freely control part of the Beastification. I guess, this must be the means by which he obtained these scouting results!¡± ¡°What exactly can he transform into?¡± Zhenjin pressed. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zi Di said. ¡°You don¡¯t know?!¡± Zhenjin glared, his face full of suspicion. Zi Di gave a wry smile: ¡°Lord, he is customized. The arms dealer promised to meet my customization requirements, but they also told me they couldn¡¯t guarantee anything else. It¡¯s like one cannot swim and sleep at the same time. To my understanding, this should be a limitation of the Beastification transformation technology.¡± ¡°Are you saying that even the arms dealer doesn¡¯t know his exact abilities?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s face showed a thoughtful expression. ¡°Yes. The arms dealer indicated that meeting our customized standards was already not easy. And, Lord, you should know that ordinary Beastification People are one-time consumables, once they initiate Beastification, they will go mad, killing the most threatening targets without a concept of teammates.¡± ¡°Therefore, the Beastification People produced are not thoroughly tested by the arms dealer because once Beastification is initiated, the Beastification People are finished.¡± ¡°The substitute can partially Beastify and control it freely, which is quite rare for a Beastification Person.¡± ¡°Actually, I have always believed that if the arms dealer found out, they would probably forcibly retrieve him, not sell him to us. At least, not at the previous price.¡± Zhenjin looked intently at Zi Di for a while, then finally nodded, accepting Zi Di¡¯s explanation, and he sighed in resignation: ¡°It seems that getting him was our luck.¡± The situation around the camp was thoroughly scouted, and the competition between the substitute and Zong Ge naturally changed into exterminating the Beast horde. Using the smoke created by Zi Di, the substitute and Zong Ge joined forces to deal with the largest bat monkey horde. In this battle, the substitute performed exceptionally well. His crossbow bolts seldom missed their mark, and his efficiency in killing was undeniably the best. Even Zong Ge took a second look, inwardly marveling at the Bloodline of the Hundred Needle Family. Although he too had trained in archery for many years, compared to the substitute, he was clearly inferior. Zhenjin, competing from the shadows, lost as well. ¡°Damn it!¡± Zhenjin clenched his fists in secret. Disdainful cold sneers followed his unwillingness. ¡°What am I thinking? He¡¯s at Silver Cultivation, and I¡¯m just Black Iron, it¡¯s natural to lose to him.¡± ¡°But no matter how strong you are, you are still just my substitute. All you do now is adding to my battle achievements!¡± ¡°What kind of background does the arms dealer who modified him have? How did they give him such strong archery skills, surpassing even me, a descendant of the Hundred Needle Bloodline? Perhaps¡­ before the modification, he was already a Transcendent archer.¡± Zhenjin quietly sought out Zi Di again. He got straight to the point: ¡°I heard that someone made a set of Hammer-tailed boa leather armor and gave it to the substitute. I want one too!¡± Zi Di smiled: ¡°Lord, please rest assured. I¡¯ve been keeping it in mind, you¡¯ll definitely have your equipment. It¡¯s just that the first set has to go to the substitute, after all, he is officially you.¡± ¡°As soon as the new Hammer-tailed boa leather armor is made, it will certainly be prioritized for you, Lord. After all, the identity of Hei Juan belongs to a mercenary hired by me. Of course, I will equip my own people first, won¡¯t I?¡± Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but smile, satisfied with Zi Di¡¯s answer. But then he frowned again: ¡°I heard some news. The substitute picked up a big bargain last night. He got that Silver Level bat monkey, along with a whole troop of Flying Squirrels.¡± ¡°How did he manage to do that?¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°The map is a clue, and we¡¯ve already confirmed that he possesses powerful reconnaissance abilities. Perhaps it was precisely these reconnaissance abilities that helped him catch the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the battle between the silver bat monkeys and the swarm of Flying Squirrels and make off with a bargain.¡± Lord Zhenjin sighed, ¡°He¡¯s getting too out of hand, repeatedly acting in the name of my master. Every night he goes out to patrol, which is very strange. The secrets he harbors are no small matter.¡± ¡°Yes, Lord, you¡¯re exactly right. However many secrets he has, he¡¯s still being fooled by us, isn¡¯t he?¡± Zi Di said with a smile. Lord Zhenjin too smiled, his brows relaxing, and he nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡­ The Demon Beast Army, led by two Blue Dog Fox Wolves, began attacking the camp. Everyone heard the substitute¡¯s loud prayers. ¡°Oh Great Holy Emperor, my God, my lord. Your Knight is about to do battle, to carry out Your teachings. Blessed with Your gifts, I am fully armed. I don my belt of righteousness, the Heart Protector of courage, the shoes of peace, and the helmet of salvation. Yet, the night is like a fog, obscuring my vision. Oh God, please grant me bright eyes to clearly see the enemy, to lead everyone towards victory!¡± Not a sound in response. ¡°This fool!¡± Zhenjin glared in his agitation, ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re a Holy Temple Knight? Daring to perform this public prayer! Even the squad leader wouldn¡¯t dare to pray so casually!¡± And while Zong Ge also thought the substitute had made a mistake, the substitute suddenly shuddered, opened his tightly closed eyes, and let out a surprised and unexpected cry, ¡°I see them!¡± The substitute immediately turned and instructed everyone, ¡°Quick, there are two Blue Dog Fox Wolves within the Demon Beast Army. Now, they¡¯ve split their forces. One is leading the main force straight for the camp gate. The other is leading the Flying Squirrel horde around to attack our camp¡¯s flank.¡± After a moment of astonishment, Lord Zhenjin realized, ¡°So he scouted them out. But how did he do his reconnaissance? I didn¡¯t see him undergo Beastification. No, he shouldn¡¯t Beastify, not even a partial transformation. If others saw it, what would they think of me, Lord Zhenjin?¡± ¡°But the battle tonight will undoubtedly be extremely perilous! If not Beastifying means I face defeat and death, then I should Beastify.¡± ¡°Later, I¡¯ll just have to step forward and redeem my reputation.¡± However, the subsequent battle was an eye-opener for Lord Zhenjin. Watching the substitute wreak havoc left and right, Lord Zhenjin realized something more, ¡°I had underestimated his combat strength! With skills like that, it makes sense that he could stand up to Zong Ge. No wonder he was so confident before, causing me an undue worry all this time. Even the previous reconnaissance information¡­ this damned guy!¡± Due to the sudden assault of the Underground Sand Worms, the survivors fell into a disadvantage. ¡°Run!¡± the substitute came sprinting, yelling at Lord Zhenjin and the others. Lord Zhenjin paused for a moment, then immediately began to run, unhesitatingly leaving the Bed Crossbow behind. The next instant, the ground broke open and a sandworm attacked, swallowing the Bed Crossbow and spitting out countless fragments. Drenched in cold sweat and shaking with fear, Lord Zhenjin thought, ¡°That was close, I nearly died. Was I saved by the substitute? Well done!¡± Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others were hiding inside the central wooden hut. ¡°Zi Di, Cang Xu, hurry out!¡± the substitute bellowed, then swiftly moved towards the wooden hut. Zi Di, Cang Xu, and the others had been observing the situation outside and had just seen the Underground Giant Worm. Hearing Lord Zhenjin¡¯s shout, they didn¡¯t hesitate and all ran out the door. Once again, the Underground Sand Worm missed its mark. Lord Zhenjin was overjoyed, ¡°He saved my fiancee again!¡± He loudly suggested to the substitute, ¡°Lord, the Camp can¡¯t hold out. Let¡¯s break out quickly!¡± The substitute shook his head, undaunted, his fighting spirit ignited even more by the dire situation ahead, ¡°Hei Juan, you take charge of the breakout, protect the lives of Zi Di, Cang Xu, Mu Ban, the shipwright, and the others, they are of utmost importance.¡± The substitute utilized his ultrasound reconnaissance, discovering that the Underground Giant Worm went to attack the Bed Crossbow again. This time, the young knight didn¡¯t miss. Taking advantage of the moment when the Giant Worm swallowed the Bed Crossbow, he plunged his thin sword deeply into the body of the worm. Amazingly, the worm didn¡¯t even flinch, as if the one pierced wasn¡¯t it, and it quickly retreated back underground with the thin sword, Silver Lightning. ¡°My, my sword?!¡± Lord Zhenjin stood dumbfounded. ¡°My family heirloom sword, my Silver Lightning! Substitute, you fool!!!¡± he roared inside. ¡°We need to break out fast,¡± Zi Di came over to remind him. Lord Zhenjin clenched his teeth fiercely. Life was more important than a sword, after all. The camp burned fiercely, the fire reaching for the sky. Zi Di wore a worried expression, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, isn¡¯t he back yet?¡± Lord Zhenjin was startled for a moment, then realized his fiancee meant the substitute, and his heart was also full of concern. After all, it was his substitute. The substitute, covered in blood, finally appeared before everyone. The sight of him bearing severe injuries made Lord Zhenjin silently lament, ¡°He fought so hard! But he did really well, I¡¯m very pleased with you, my substitute.¡± ¡°Using the flames, I won against the Blue Dog Fox Wolf but didn¡¯t kill it, letting it escape,¡± the substitute reported to everyone. ¡°Stop talking, let me see your wounds,¡± Zi Di approached the substitute, her voice choked up. She extended her delicate hand, gently reaching for Lord Zhenjin¡¯s tattered leather armor, trying to remove the badly damaged piece. But the substitute stopped her. Lord Zhenjin watched the scene silently, his fist tightening covertly, feeling a bitter taste in his heart, yet consoling himself, ¡°It¡¯s all an act for the moment, fake¡ªall of it is fake.¡± Chapter 176 - 176: Section 177: You couldnt have fallen in love with him, could you?! Chapter 176: Section 177: You couldn¡¯t have fallen in love with him, could you?! Zong Ge handed the thin sword Silver Lightning to the substitute. Behind Zong Ge, Sanda explained, ¡°The Blue Dog Fox Wolf organized one final charge at the main entrance, and the Underground Giant Worm also participated. But it encountered Lord Zong Ge and was defeated by him once again.¡± ¡°It was Lord Zong Ge who saw the sword stuck in its body, took a risk by jumping into the deep pit, and retrieved this thin sword.¡± Zhenjin heaved a sigh of relief, ¡°It has finally returned. I was worried that Zong Ge would keep Silver Lightning in his possession.¡± The substitute nodded and looked at Zong Ge, ¡°It must have been an incredible battle. Thank you! Its return is very timely; now we can pursue the victory.¡± ¡°What? Pursue further?¡± Zhenjin was secretly shocked. ... However, the substitute¡¯s next words were logical and compelling, leaving it unattended would only lead to greater danger later. It would be better to strike now while the remaining Magic Beasts are still weak. The substitute sought help, but wherever his gaze traveled, people lowered their heads or shifted their eyes to look at those beside them, avoiding his gaze. The substitute was resolute, ¡°Alright, you have your choices, and I won¡¯t force you. But even if I¡¯m alone, I will deal with the Blue Dog Fox Wolf.¡± ¡°Lord!¡± Zi Di exclaimed softly. Others were also visibly moved. Zhenjin glared, ¡°Are you seeking death, you bastard, do you know how much we spent to buy you?!¡± Lan Zao, Zong Ge, and Sanda all stood up, choosing to join Zhenjin in the strike. ¡°These fools, going to the forest to hunt down the Demon Beast Army, it¡¯s simply seeking death!! They¡¯re insane, we just suffered a terrible defeat, and even our camp was burned!¡± Zhenjin was frantically upset, but helpless, unable to stand up and object. In fact, he too thought there was some sense in what the substitute said. ¡°At least heal your injuries first,¡± Zi Di insisted, blocking the substitute. ¡°I must race against time.¡± The substitute shook his head. Zi Di gazed at the substitute, seemingly forgetting everything around her, her beautiful purple crystal-like eyes brimming with tears. ¡°When I was not around just now, Zi Di must have been extremely worried about me. Actually, I was quite confident, as long as someone could draw fire for me. But these things I couldn¡¯t tell her, I could only make her worry about me.¡± The substitute also gazed back at Zi Di, a mixture of concealed guilt and deep affection rising in his heart. The next moment, the substitute slowly embraced Zi Di in his arms. ¡°I¡­¡± Zhenjin saw this scene, his eyes immediately blazing with fury. ¡°Again! You¡¯re hugging my fianc¨¦e again!¡± ¡°This time in front of so many people!!¡± ¡°You¡¯re dead, you¡¯re definitely dead!¡± Zhenjin was furiously enraged, roaring inwardly. Zi Di trembled slightly. The substitute pressed his nostrils close to Zi Di¡¯s ear and gently said to her, ¡°Wait for my return, I promise you, I will come back.¡± After saying this, the substitute released Zi Di, turned, and walked away. Zong Ge and the others followed closely. The rest were dumbstruck, watching as the four of them gradually moved further away. Zhenjin was panting and dizzy with anger. ¡°Go die quickly, I don¡¯t want to see you anymore!¡± ¡°It would be best if you perished along with those bizarre Blue Dog Fox Wolves!¡± ¡°This is what heroes are like!¡± someone exclaimed sincerely. These words touched the depths of Bai Ya¡¯s heart, and the young man shouted, ¡°Wait for me, sir!¡± Bai Ya charged out of the crowd, with no hesitation on his face. At that moment, the spirit of adventure and honor filled his chest, causing him to lose his reason. ¡°Stop him quickly,¡± Zi Di immediately ordered. ¡°Just take a rest, you little rascal,¡± Xi Suo said gently as he tripped Bai Ya, sending him tumbling to the ground, ¡°You¡¯re going to your death.¡± Bai Ya got up and still wanted to follow Zhenjin, ¡°I want to become a Knight, how can a Knight retreat?¡± ¡°Bravery is not stupidity, young man,¡± Cang Xu sighed, trying to persuade him, ¡°Perhaps one day, you will become a Knight. But you are still merely a mortal right now, and this¡­ is the romance of a Knight.¡± Bai Ya wanted to speak again. ¡°Shut up!¡± Zhenjin struck Bai Ya, knocking him unconscious, with a look of embarrassment. ¡°You also seek the glory of a Knight? Humph!¡± Zhenjin snorted coldly inside, growing even more irritated. His irritation was complex. Even he did not notice that his irritation included a mix of respect and envy for the substitute. ¡­ While the substitute, Zong Ge, and others were chasing the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, Zhenjin and Zi Di had another argument. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you throwing yourself at him again, understand my words!¡± Zhenjin warned Zi Di sternly. Zi Di shook her head, staring at Zhenjin with innocent and aggrieved eyes, ¡°Sir, please don¡¯t use such words, I have never thrown myself at anyone!¡± ¡°I know, but you have never refused!¡± Zhenjin paced around, appearing very agitated. ¡°Sir, if I dodged, wouldn¡¯t that make people suspicious?¡± Zi Di countered, ¡°How do you want me to handle this so we can continue our plan? Please teach me.¡± Zhenjin, rendered speechless by the retort, burst out in irritation, ¡°I don¡¯t care about these! Do you know? When he hugged you, I could hardly control myself. Rage rushed to my head, and each time it made me want to kill him, kill everyone else!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin!¡± Zi Di shook her head, looking exasperated, ¡°I understand you, but please keep your jealousy in check, alright? He does not deserve your jealousy, sir. He is just a substitute, a pitiful tool kept in the dark. Everything he does paves the way for your future, sir.¡± After Zi Di¡¯s persuasion and comfort, Zhenjin finally calmed down, ¡°I behaved improperly. You are right, he¡¯s just a tool. A very useful tool. Unfortunately¡­ he probably won¡¯t make it back this time.¡± Zi Di was taken aback, and then sadness and concern showed on her face. Zhenjin sharply caught this change in expression and suddenly felt uneasy. ¡°Wait,¡± he said, staring intensely at Zi Di, ¡°What are you thinking about? My fianc¨¦e, are you worrying about him? Worrying about a substitute, a pawn?¡± Zi Di immediately glared, her previous expression vanishing instantly, ¡°Sir! What¡¯s wrong with you? Is it wrong for me to worry about him? If he¡¯s lost, our previous investments are wasted. The impact on our future would be huge! After all, he holds Silver Cultivation, while you, sir, are still at Black Iron.¡± A strong sense of embarrassment and irritation instantly surged in Zhenjin¡¯s heart, causing him to glare at Zi Di. ¡°I, I will eventually become a Silver Knight!¡± Zi Di realized she misspoke and quickly tried to make amends, ¡°Sir, your talents are clear for all to see, and becoming a Golden Knight is certainly not your end. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m just very nervous. If the substitute is lost, how do we ensure our safety? How do we escape from here?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s attention was drawn to their personal safety, and he no longer felt like arguing with Zi Di. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± He sighed deeply, ¡°The substitute died a bit too early.¡± ¡°I think we should keep hope,¡± Zi Di insisted. ¡°Hopefully¡­ But hope seems very bleak,¡± Zhenjin replied listlessly. ¡­ But when the substitute, Zong Ge, and the others triumphantly returned, and also brought back the corpse of a Blue Dog Fox Wolf, Zhenjin was really shocked. ¡°Unbelievable¡­ They really succeeded.¡± ¡°My lord!¡± The young girl Zi Di ran up to the substitute, her eyes reddened, seemingly wanting to throw herself into his arms, but she stopped because she was too shy and there were so many people around. Seeing this, Zhenjin¡¯s heart which had been in suspense, finally relaxed. At the victory banquet, the substitute became the deserved protagonist. People¡¯s admiring and respectful gazes tightly surrounded the substitute, discussing topics about the Divine Favored Knight. Zhenjin sat in a corner, feeling extremely disdainful. ¡°Divine Favored Knight?¡± ¡°Heh, if he¡¯s a Divine Favored Knight, I could swallow Silver Lightning whole!¡± ¡°Even Zong Ge was deceived! Hah, Half-Beast really didn¡¯t have a brain.¡± ¡°But¡­ what kind of beastification could actually grow armor?¡± Watching the celebrated substitute, Zhenjin grew increasingly envious, wishing he could take his place. Then, Zhenjin heard a series of words from Cang Xu. ¡°Lord Zhenjin himself is a very excellent Cultivator, his talents are extraordinary.¡± ¡°He possesses a noble bloodline and is a Holy Temple Knight, who has dedicated his entire faith to the Holy Emperor.¡± ¡°These already make him one in ten thousand, but what¡¯s more valuable is that he always adheres to the Knight¡¯s path: he upholds justice, helps the weak, takes care of the vulnerable, and never violates the principles of a Holy Temple Knight, even if it means sacrificing himself.¡± ¡°He is brave and fair, willing to accept anyone and treats everyone as his companion, which shows his broad-mindedness, as well as his merciful and benevolent nature.¡± ¡°Such a person, receiving the divine¡¯s favor, isn¡¯t that expected?¡± Zhenjin fell into silence. In his mind, a question suddenly surfaced that he found difficult to face¡ª If it were him, could he do all that? Could he? ¡°Hmph, this question is meaningless.¡± ¡°He is a Beastification People, and he was a Silver Knight before transforming, his strength was much greater than mine.¡± ¡°If I had Silver Cultivation, I could¡­ probably do it too.¡± Zhenjin grew increasingly silent. The substitute¡¯s voice then spread throughout the camp: ¡°So, it¡¯s not just my name we should cheer for, but also for Zong Ge, for Sanda, for Lan Zao, for our brave warriors!¡± As the substitute shared the credit and glory with Zong Ge, Sanda, and Lan Zao, letting everyone continually chant these three names, Zhenjin was dead silent, his face turning somewhat pale. ¡­ The wolf corpse brought back by the substitute was publicly dissected, Zi Di mentioned perfume and was very excited. The camp was burnt down, and the survivors started their journey with timber. Because of the title of Divine Favored Knight, Xi Suo voluntarily joined the substitute, and Zong Ge ceased the hostilities, making everyone get along harmoniously, no longer like the two previous camps. ¡°He really did it. Now, he is the true leader of everyone!¡± Zhenjin inwardly exclaimed. The obstructing Blade Spider Group mysteriously disappeared. Zhenjin thought about the remaining Blue Dog Fox Wolf and was struck with fear: ¡°Could it be that the Blue Dog Fox Wolf was actually secretly following us all along? The Blade Spider Group wouldn¡¯t migrate randomly, and they certainly wouldn¡¯t run away out of fear of us, this is their lair! But without any fighting or struggle, they just disappeared like that, they must have been taken away by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. It led the Blade Spider Group away voluntarily, with the purpose of continuing to amass an army nearby, and after reaching a certain level, it will lead the army to attack us again!¡± A large number of Monkey-tailed Brown Bears also disappeared. Survivors¡¯ faces couldn¡¯t hide their worry and gravity. ¡°The Monkey-tailed Brown Bears are gone, there are some signs of a fight near the cave, but not many.¡± ¡°The Blue Dog Fox Wolf is still following us!¡± ¡°The Demon Beast Army has grown larger, what should we do?¡± During the long journey, disease spread among the survivors. ¡°These people who are sick, although the symptoms vary in severity, they are all very similar. Should we give up on these people?¡± Sanda asked the substitute. ¡°Give up?¡± Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°Without the shipwright, how can we build a ship?¡± The substitute insisted on seeing the sick. ¡°What¡¯s the point of this performance now? This guy, the substitute, is taking his role too seriously. A superior should maintain his own safety, that¡¯s the best responsibility towards others!¡± Zhenjin scoffed at the substitute¡¯s actions in secret, and also worried about them. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t control the substitute¡¯s actions. The disease subsided, and people began to praise the substitute¡¯s right choice and wise leadership. Upon reaching the beach, Bai Ya found a small barrel of rum. Bonfire dinner on the beach. The survivors, ragged and bearded, looked like wild men. Bai Ya distributed the rum, his face serious. Fat Tongue bowed his head, slowly sipping the edge of his shell rim. Cang Xu wiped his glasses, which, after the journey through the jungle, had only one lens left, the other side just an empty frame. Mu Ban held an empty wine bottle, his fingers affectionately caressing the surface¡ªthis was the touch of human civilization. Zong Ge and Sanda quietly conversed with their heads down. Big guy squatted on the ground, quietly listening to the song of the shipwright. Lan Zao still stood loyally on the beach behind Zhenjin. The substitute gazed at the starlit night sky. He was looking towards the east where the Wilderness Continent and White Sand City lay, where his duties and future hope resided. Zhenjin looked at the rum in his shell and internally scoffed, ¡°Hmph, rum. How could I, the great Zhenjin, stoop to this level?¡± The rare cheap rum didn¡¯t bring Zhenjin joy, but a sense of shame. He disdainfully handed the wine to the person beside him, and gazed toward the west¡ªtoward the Holy Bright Continent, where home was. ¡­ The weather became freakishly erratic, the torrential rain unceasing. In the absence of the substitute, Zhenjin confronted Zi Di and demanded,¡± That night, someone saw you stealthily go alone to the substitute¡¯s tent. What were you doing there?¡± Zi Di blinked in slight surprise, then promptly responded, ¡°I was there to deliver potions, my lord, and I left quickly.¡± ¡°Hmph, I certainly know you didn¡¯t linger long. If it weren¡¯t so, my attitude right now would be entirely different!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Why did you proactively go to his tent? He didn¡¯t provoke you, yet you sought him out! Potions, what kind of potions?¡± ¡°A sort of anti-cold potion. It¡¯s made primarily with a poisonous mushroom. The potion is slightly toxic but can invigorate the spirit and is only usable by those whose life rank is not low,¡± Zi Di answered. ¡°Why do you care about him so much? Anti-cold? Does he need warmth? Before the transformation, he was a Silver Knight, after transforming he became a Beastified Man, likely even stronger than Zong Ge!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s gaze sharpened as if it could penetrate Zi Di¡¯s very soul. Zi Di shook her head, her voice tinged with indignation, ¡°Lord, we can no longer control him. We need to maintain close ties, to bind him with other methods. I¡¯ve been executing the plan we already agreed upon.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s gaze turned scrutinizing, ¡°My fianc¨¦e, something seems off with you!¡± ¡°So, I ask where am I wrong? Everything I did, I did for us!¡± Zi Di¡¯s demeanor shifted slightly, retorting directly. Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°Just know that I am Zhenjin, That one is nothing but an impostor. When he is no longer useful, he will meet his demise. This damned island is not the whole world. Remember who you are, Zi Di, you¡¯re the chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce and my fianc¨¦e!¡± Zi Di slightly widened her eyes, ¡°I know! Lord Zhenjin, what are you doubting about me?¡± ¡°Mind yourself,¡± Zhenjin said coldly, as he quietly retreated. ¡­ ¡°Be it mountains, oceans, swamps, or islands, my Lord¡¯s Holy Light shines upon all. The Empire¡¯s flags will always flutter against the breeze, standing tall and unyielding!¡± ¡°Nothing can obstruct my progress. I will achieve glory, and those who follow me will share in it.¡± ¡°From this moment, I take charge here.¡± ¡°Any objections?¡± The room fell deadly silent. The substitute nodded in satisfaction. He led the people and finally regrouped with the remaining survivors, promptly taking control of them. At this moment, the substitute exhibited a domineering and dignified air previously unseen. ¡°Indeed, I¡­ should be like this!¡± In the crowd, Zhenjin looked up at the substitute, filled with admiration, relief, joy, envy, excitement, and also a trace of fear and hesitation. ¡­ Having dealt with the threat of the Underground Sand Worms and dismantled half of Pig Kiss, the shipwright designed a new ship. People began building the ship and also clearing the nearby Magic Beast herd. Zhenjin, having prepared for a long time, finally seized the opportunity. He climbed a hillside and witnessed Zhenjin, after transforming, annihilating an entire group of Scale-Horned Black Panthers. ¡°He¡¯s so powerful! A monster, he¡¯s literally a monster!!¡± Zhenjin trembled all over. Suddenly, the substitute turned his head, his gaze landing on him. ¡°He¡¯s spotted me! Damn, run!!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s heart pounded as he turned and sprinted towards the valley! ¡°Why?¡± ¡°How did he find me?¡± ¡°Did he sense my gaze?!¡± ¡°Quick, faster. If he catches me, I¡¯ll be silenced!¡± Overwhelmed by fear, Zhenjin exploded with unprecedented speed. Running non-stop, he quickly became breathless and drenched in sweat. Suddenly, the treetops behind him shook, and Zhenjin turned sharply to look. ¡°Is there something there?¡± ¡°Could it be the substitute?¡± ¡°Is he really that fast?!¡± ¡°Am I going to die? Am I going to die?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t scare yourself like that. Keep running, just run!¡± Pausing for a few breaths where he stood, the recently shaking treetops did not make any further movement. Yet inside, Zhenjin was gripped by a tempest of thoughts. ¡°Am I scaring myself?¡± ¡°No! It could really be the substitute. He¡­ is hesitating. Yes, he is hesitating!¡± ¡°My memory has shaped him, he thinks he is a Holy Temple Knight, how could he strike at me, his fellow? But I also saw him in his beastified state.¡± ¡°Not good, not good!¡± ¡°Should I reveal my identity? No! That would just provoke him, encourage him to kill me.¡± ¡°Run, pretend you haven¡¯t figured it out, just keep running!¡± ¡°Run fast!¡± Zhenjin breathed out a heavy sigh, feigning some relief, and continued running. Moments later, Zhenjin joined up with other patrol members. ¡°Lord Hei Juan.¡± The members greeted Zhenjin. ¡°Assuming the worst, the Substitute is right behind us.¡± ¡°Given the Substitute¡¯s combat ability, it¡¯s more than enough for him to massacre the entire patrol in two to three minutes!¡± ¡°I have to explain first to stabilize him.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s thoughts flickered rapidly as he nodded, ¡°I followed that strange noise for a long distance and found nothing. Let¡¯s return to the camp.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s still early,¡± objected one member. Zhenjin was furious inside, ¡°What do you mean early?! Do you not know that we might all be dead the next second?¡± Suppressing the intense emotions inside, Zhenjin smiled, ¡°It¡¯s about time. We are already far from the valley camp; if we hurry back now, we can still have a hot meal.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we have already surveyed this area. If a beast herd approaches, they will surely trigger a trap and alert us.¡± Seeing Zhenjin¡¯s attitude, the others no longer persisted. ¡°Fine then.¡± ¡°Just listen to Hei Juan.¡± Some began to chuckle. ¡°I always thought you were difficult to deal with, Lord Hei Juan. But after spending time with you, it turns out it was all just rumors.¡± ¡°Enough chit-chat, let¡¯s hurry up,¡± Zhenjin urged impatiently. Yet inside, he was bellowing, ¡°Hurry up, you fools!!! If we don¡¯t leave now, we¡¯ll all die!¡± Finally, under extreme anxiety, Zhenjin and the others returned to the valley camp. A howl! Suddenly, the beastly roar of the Bat Monkey, Zhenjin, disturbed the nearby birds, causing them to fly into the sky. Zhenjin shivered all over, a strong intuition telling him, ¡°It¡¯s the substitute, it has to be! He must have been following us all along, hesitating whether to strike at me!¡± ¡°Has he finally made up his mind?¡± ¡°Is he going to kill me?¡± ¡°No! It cannot end like this, how can I die here?¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°To be killed by my own substitute?! That¡¯s just too sad, too ridiculous!¡± This commotion also caught the attention of the others. ¡°What was that sound?¡± ¡°Did you guys just hear something?¡± ¡°It sounded like a bat monkey was howling.¡± They instinctively stopped and turned to look behind them. ¡°Hurry up, you idiots!¡± Zhenjin roared inwardly. He dared not show any sign of alarm; success was close at hand. If he provoked the substitute into attacking, his death would be filled with rage and regret. ¡°How could that be?¡± Zhenjin forced a smile and countered, ¡°Bat monkeys move in groups; even those ostracized and wandering wouldn¡¯t dare come close to our camp in the valley.¡± ¡°Should we go check it out?¡± someone suggested. ¡°If you want to die, I won¡¯t stop you!!!¡± Zhenjin wished he could strangle the suggester on the spot. But he continuously suppressed his impulse with reason. Zhenjin shook his head, striving to maintain a calm expression. ¡°No need. A single wandering bat monkey poses no threat. Did we really hear something just now? I didn¡¯t hear anything. The wind is picking up, getting louder. The camp is right before us; are some of you just too nervous?¡± Everyone was aware of Hei Juan¡¯s capabilities; since such an elite of the Black Iron Level had said so, they all became reassured. ¡°It must have been just the wind.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s return to the camp.¡± As he officially entered the camp, Zhenjin was inwardly in tears: ¡°At last, I have returned! I really have saved my own life.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s still not enough!¡± ¡°I must completely clear myself of any suspicion. If I can¡¯t dispel the substitute¡¯s doubts, I might be assassinated here in the camp someday!¡± ¡°I need to find Zi Di!¡± ¡°Only she can help me now!¡± Zi Di stared at Zhenjin in disbelief, ¡°Lord, how could you do this? This is too risky; there¡¯s no need for this. What we need to do now is to escape from here with all our might.¡± ¡°No, how can there be no need?¡± Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°We need to investigate; we know too little about him. His authority is now untouchable, and if he really wanted to harm us, we wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. He has hidden too deep, and he is too cunning. If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, I would never believe he has such strong combat power!¡± ¡°This time, you have to help me.¡± ¡°If he decides to assassinate me in the future, we are all done for. You and your Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce will be completely annihilated under my father¡¯s wrath!¡± Zi Di shook her head with a bitter smile, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, rest assured. According to your description, the substitute has been following us all along. But along the way, he has never made a move; you are safe!¡± ¡°No,¡± Zhenjin immediately retorted, ¡°What if he changes his mind in the future? I am still in great danger; we must find a way to dispel his suspicions about me as soon as possible.¡± ¡°You do not understand him, Lord,¡± Zi Di sighed. Zhenjin glared at Zi Di intently, ¡°I don¡¯t understand him, you do? Why do you think he won¡¯t kill me? Why? Is it because you have some close relationship with him that I don¡¯t know about? Or do you think that even if he kills me, it doesn¡¯t matter?¡± ¡°Ha.¡± ¡°Zi Di, I must tell you. If I die, many letters containing our secrets, about the truth of the substitute, will be found a few days later.¡± ¡°How could I spy for information and not take any precautions?¡± Zi Di¡¯s expression changed suddenly, ¡°Lord, you are playing with fire! Where are the letters?¡± Zhenjin smiled, ¡°The letters are specially made; they won¡¯t be easily found by you.¡± Zi Di took a deep breath, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, please calm down. I will definitely help you because we are always on the same side. Please don¡¯t take any drastic actions; let¡¯s calm down first, okay?¡± ¡°If I keep being calm, I might end up being killed by the substitute and replaced by him!¡± Zhenjin roared. ¡°How could that be?¡± Zi Di rolled her eyes in exasperation, ¡°Even if he resembles you, even if his bloodline is the same as yours, he can¡¯t replace you. The Empire has a strict vetting system; all the Dukes are divine, seeing through everything. There has never been a case where a high-ranking member of the Empire was replaced under a long-term disguise!¡± ¡°But I am in danger now. What if he changes his mind and wants to kill me? Who could protect me?¡± Zhenjin continued to roar, the immense pressure of death making him hysterical. ¡°Wait!¡± Zhenjin suddenly narrowed his eyes, ¡°Your reaction is very strange, my fianc¨¦e!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem worried about my safety at all; I am your fianc¨¦. The fact of our alliance has been announced. If I die, your Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce will surely be doomed!¡± ¡°What did you just say? I don¡¯t understand the substitute. You trust the substitute too much. Do you really think he is a Knight? A Divine Favored Knight?¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s gaze became incredibly sharp as he stared intently into Zi Di¡¯s eyes, his voice strained as he asked, ¡°You couldn¡¯t have fallen in love with him, could you?¡± Zi Di rolled her eyes, visibly frustrated, ¡°Lord, what exactly are you thinking? Me, fall in love with him? A substitute? A Beastification People?¡± ¡°Ha ha ha.¡± Zhenjin sneered incessantly, his face full of skepticism. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s ridiculous, falling in love with a substitute, falling in love with a Beastification People¡­ It¡¯s really unwise, definitely not something a Chairman of a Guild should do.¡± ¡°But love¡­ that thing can truly be unpredictable.¡± ¡°When love clouds the mind, even the most rational people in the world can become irredeemable fools!¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous, Zi Di; your current behavior makes me feel that you are in great danger.¡± ¡°I hope you can see the reality clearly.¡± ¡°Even if you have fallen in love with him, your relationship can only end in tragedy!¡± ¡°Think about it¡ªwhen he learns the whole truth, when he realizes he is not a Holy Temple Knight but just a humble substitute, when he discovers that the person he loved most, whom he thought was his fianc¨¦e, is actually the person who deceived him the most. What will he do? How will he see you?¡± Zi Di held her breath. Chapter 177 - 177: Section 178: I Dont Mind the Mistakes Youve Made Chapter 177: Section 178: I Don¡¯t Mind the Mistakes You¡¯ve Made ¡°Stop, stop, stop!¡± Zi Di extended her hand in a halting motion, ¡°Lord, please put an end to these persecuted fantasies! I¡¯ve had enough!¡± Zi Di brushed the hair from her forehead behind her ears, took a deep breath, and tried to stabilize her emotions. A few breaths later, she spoke, ¡°I have a way, I¡¯ve thought of a solution, Lord Zhenjin, you must calm down first and listen to me carefully¡­¡± ¡°Only reveal a part of it? Make him think I haven¡¯t seen clearly? That is indeed a method.¡± Zhenjin nodded, acknowledging Zi Di¡¯s plan. After a meeting, both the substitute¡¯s and Zhenjin¡¯s crises were temporarily resolved. The next day, Zhenjin led another survey of the battlefield, only to discover that it had been cleaned. Information was relayed back, and the higher-ups discussed the matter again. ... Zi Di looked worriedly at the substitute, ¡°Lord, you still went on night patrols last night. Please don¡¯t do this anymore, okay? A large Demon Beast Army could be lurking around us, and that Blue Dog Fox Wolf might have learned its lesson, subduing a whole new type of terrifying magical beast this time. Lord, even though you have the power of the mind, you are, after all, alone at night.¡± The substitute was heavy-hearted. He, of course, was the one who had cleaned up the battlefield! ¡°This woman¡­¡± Zhenjin lowered his head, hiding his gloomy expression. ¡°Lady Zi Di makes a lot of sense. Master, your personal safety is of great importance. It is because of you that we have regrouped, worked together to build ships, and strive side by side for our common escape. Without you leading us, we would become scattered. Your high status means you should not take such risks,¡± Lan Zao also advised. Cang Xu and others all nodded in agreement. Even Zong Ge spoke up, ¡°Holy Temple Knight, we can all understand your feelings and know of your bravery, never shying away from your responsibility as a leader. But it is precisely for this reason that we need to be more careful. If you¡¯re attacked by the Demon Beast Army or that mysterious magical beast at night, it would be a huge blow to us. In a battle between two armies, the Commander can¡¯t just run around recklessly.¡± ¡°How ridiculous, how pitiful! What would their expressions be if they knew the true identity of the substitute?¡± Zhenjin sneered inwardly. The ship construction had made much progress, however, the Big guy went mad, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurred, and an increasing number of Demon Beast Armies kept attacking the valley camp. In such difficult circumstances, the new ship was finally built. During the celebration, the substitute quietly left. ¡°Where is he going?¡± Zhenjin secretly followed and soon discovered Zhenjin and the Big guy sitting on a hillside. ¡°Humph, birds of a feather flock together, one a Beastification Person, the other a half-giant, both monsters!¡± Zhenjin scoffed and returned to the feast. However, under the double attack of the earthquake and the Demon Beast Army, the new ship was still destroyed. In a critical moment had it not been for many individuals suddenly undergoing Beastification and counterattacking fiercely, Zhenjin would have died at the hands of the beasts. The old shipwright, at death¡¯s door, still could not let go of the Big guy, pleading with the substitute with his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t agree! With such a fool, what nobility and honor do I have!¡± Zhenjin vehemently opposed, but he was helpless. He watched helplessly as the substitute agreed, successfully deceiving the Big guy. ¡°The mutual sympathy of two monsters, truly disgusting!¡± Zhenjin spat to himself. The dissected Beastification companions led Zi Di to suspect, ¡°The Island Master¡¯s arrangements might have the power to subtly change all life on the island; the reason for our companions¡¯ Beastification might be due to this.¡± ¡°Could I have been affected too? I have been on this island for so long; perhaps I also am being transformed in secret!¡± Zhenjin felt a surge of fear. Cang Xu¡¯s hypothesis that the strange magical beasts might have been human before sent chills down everyone¡¯s spine. Zhenjin grabbed his curly hair, gnashing his teeth and cursed, ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of this damn place! What¡¯s the use of guessing so much? We should hurry up and repair the ship and leave here as soon as possible.¡± Reality was brutal¡ªthe new ship was destroyed, unable to sail. Another huge earthquake struck, the ground split open, and a new river appeared before everyone. Zi Di suggested heading to the volcanic region to attack the Central Tower. ¡°No,¡± Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°We can wait for rescue. Attacking the center of the island is madness! The volcanoes are erupting there, and along the way, the Demon Beast Army might even kill us midway.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll use a boat,¡± said the substitute, ¡°This will save us a lot of travel and time.¡± Zhenjin was taken aback. ¡°Just now, the Holy Emperor conveyed a revelation to me!¡± the substitute pointed at the river. The others were stunned. Zhenjin was so angry he almost slapped him¡ªwhat was the substitute¡¯s background? How could he keep deceiving people to death! ¡°Are you saying that this river was created by the Holy Emperor?¡± ¡°No wonder none of us died.¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible to fathom the will of the gods!¡± ¡°Divine Favored Knight¡­¡± Cang Xu bowed deeply to Zhenjin, full of admiration, ¡°This might just be your heroic path. My Lord Zhenjin!¡± Almost everyone present felt a tingling on their scalps. It seemed like they were witnessing history! If the epic of the hero was sung in the future, would they also play a part in it? ¡°It¡¯s over! You bunch of fools!!¡± Zhenjin was filled with despair, ¡°He¡¯s not any hero; he can mutate into a beast, he is the greatest threat!¡± The substitute looked around, assuring himself that the people¡¯s hearts had changed, and he firmly ordered in a loud voice, ¡°That settles it then, let¡¯s fully repair the ship, cremate our companions, and collect as much food, water, and weapons as possible. We will set sail, we will head to¡­ the very center of the island!¡± No one objected. Zhenjin roared inside, ¡°Madness! The substitute is mad, Zi Di is mad, all these people are mad, all on a path to their own destruction!¡± ¡­ Everyone marched on, forced to disembark and encountered an attack from the Demon Beast Army. Jia Sha appeared: ¡°Zhenjin, you¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± ¡°Jia Sha?! He¡¯s still alive!¡± Zhenjin was secretly thrilled beyond measure. ¡°My lord, we¡¯re going to succeed!¡± Zi Di quietly found Zhenjin, ¡°With Lord Jia Sha¡¯s Divine Arts, our hopes have greatly increased. Jia Sha has already reached an agreement with the substitute, and he will support you fully in becoming the White Sand City Lord. And if we make great achievements this time, it won¡¯t just be a single city! The shipwreck was an accident, but it was filled with opportunities. The substitute is fighting for us, and as long as we keep going, we will reap great rewards.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re absolutely right,¡± Zhenjin said, but he was full of worry, ¡°With the substitute out front, we can be a bit safer. Sigh, I hope we can succeed in the end.¡± ¡°We have no choice, my lord. Waiting here for rescue, hope is very slim,¡± Zi Di said. ¡°I understand.¡± After conversing a bit more and watching Zi Di¡¯s departing figure, Zhenjin¡¯s gaze became profound. The journey was filled with opportunities and Zhenjin finally waited for his chance, finding Jia Sha alone: ¡°Priest, I crave a confession.¡± In the confession, Zhenjin revealed everything that had happened. ¡°How interesting!¡± Jia Sha couldn¡¯t hide his shock, ¡°Whether it¡¯s your substitute or your fianc¨¦e, both are very interesting.¡± ¡°Zhenjin, you have made the wisest choice.¡± ¡°But for now, let¡¯s pretend this conversation between you and me never happened. You understand what I mean, right?¡± ¡°I understand, Father!¡± Zhenjin bowed deeply. ¡­ Under Jia Sha¡¯s leadership, everyone broke through to the underground alchemy factory, and marched all the way to the Central Tower. A lightning bolt struck and killed the rashly charging substitute, and Zhenjin, holding onto Zi Di tightly, confessed everything to the others. The man-made magical beasts fell into great chaos, fighting each other, and with the narrow staircase entrance, very few could break through. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, everyone. The revelation of the truth is beneficial to all of us. Now, only a substitute has died, I am still alive!¡± Zhenjin began to persuade the other survivors. ¡°Lan Zao, you should understand by now that I am your master,¡± Zhenjin looked towards Lan Zao. Lan Zao was still holding onto the substitute¡¯s body, his face filled with confusion; the truth had completely overturned his understanding. Zhenjin then turned and smiled at Bai Ya and others: ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re willing to follow me. I guarantee with my honor as a Holy Temple Knight and as a noble, loyalty will be rewarded. Follow me, and you will obtain the wealth and glory you desire.¡± ¡°My God, what on earth is going on?!¡± Bai Ya held her head, her thoughts utterly in turmoil. Cang Xu remained silent. Half-Beastman was repelling the charging magical beasts while snorting coldly, ¡°Shut up! You coward, what right do you have to lead us? Your substitute was more of a Holy Temple Knight than you ever were!¡± Zong Ge believed in the words of Jia Sha and Zhenjin because a priest would not joke about faith, but he couldn¡¯t accept this Zhenjin. ¡°No, no matter if you are Lord Zhenjin or not, please let go of my Chairman,¡± Fat Tongue said sternly. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhenjin shook his head, gripping Zi Di¡¯s arm tightly, and refused, ¡°She is your Chairman, but she is also my fianc¨¦e.¡± Zi Di was in a daze, her eyes fixated on the substitute¡¯s body. Seeing his fianc¨¦e like this, Zhenjin lost his composure and yelled, ¡°Enough, snap out of it.¡± Just then, several Flying Squirrels rushed in. ¡°Watch out!¡± Zong Ge shouted a warning. The minds of the people were already in disarray, and morale had hit rock bottom; the surprise attack by the Flying Squirrels immediately caused panic. Zhenjin, dragging Zi Di, shot crossbow arrows at the Flying Squirrels while retreating. Zi Di had no intention to move; she even wanted to rush to the substitute¡¯s body, but Zhenjin quickly noticed and promptly stopped her. ¡°Enough!¡± Zhenjin growled. ¡°Zi Di, it¡¯s normal for young people to make mistakes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve looked into your records; I know you have no experience with love. Don¡¯t think that it¡¯s the end of the world.¡± ¡°Think about your Guild, think about the many years of youth you still have.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind the mistakes you¡¯ve made, come with me! We are the most suitable pair; we need each other!¡± Zi Di still struggled. Zhenjin had no choice but to plead in a low voice in her ear: ¡°We¡¯re going to the upper level right now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t trust him; he¡¯s been blinded by the prospect of great achievements. Of course, if I were him, I would do the same! Who would like to share the credit?¡± ¡°Jia Sha doesn¡¯t dare to kill me, but he certainly won¡¯t mind if you die! Follow me if you want to live!¡± ¡°Besides, Jia Sha is the murderer who killed the substitute. Don¡¯t you want to stay alive to take revenge for the one you loved?!¡± In his urgency, Zhenjin could only use such words to persuade her. Zi Di shuddered, finally ceasing to resist, and followed Zhenjin to the highest floor of the Central Tower. The other survivors watched wide-eyed; some wanted to follow, but a lightning strike fell right in front of them. Chapter 178 - 178: Section 179: Please Resurrect Him! Chapter 178: Section 179: Please Resurrect Him! Lord Zhenjin successfully ascended to the top floor of the Central Tower with Zi Di. ¡°Father, what has happened to you?!¡± Seeing Jia Sha once again, Lord Zhenjin could hardly believe his eyes. Jia Sha¡¯s hair had turned grey and thin, his body emaciated, and his eyes deeply sunken¡ªhis condition looked even more severe than when the four Guardian Knights had brought the Divine Artifact. His state of health was concerning, and his calm yet crazed expression was unsettling. A pang struck Zi Di¡¯s heart; she suddenly realized: Jia Sha had extracted too much divine power from within himself! Priests and fathers obtain divine power through prayer, which is imparted to them. The more devout the Divine Officer and the higher their rank, the more divine power they receive with each prayer. The divine power transforms the Divine Officers constantly, enhancing their physical constitution. ... However, the number of prayers per day is fixed. For instance, the Holy Emperor usually prays only three times a day¡ªonce in the morning, once at noon, and once at night. Jia Sha received a limited amount of divine power each day. And to take over the Central Tower, the divine power within him was far from sufficient; and since it wasn¡¯t time for prayer yet, he had no choice but to extract it from his own body. ¡°Clearly, Jia Sha has sacrificed his own potential for advancement, greatly damaging his talents, and even consumed his own life energy to obtain more divine power!¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di understood all too well the madness and urgency in Jia Sha¡¯s actions as she analyzed the situation in her mind. The price he had paid was far too high. Even if he managed to survive and escape, he would be disabled (as the sect prioritizes talent when selecting Divine Officers) and wouldn¡¯t live more than a couple of years. If possible, Jia Sha wouldn¡¯t have taken such a risk, wouldn¡¯t have gambled everything. But there was no other way! Low-level magic and fighting energy were prohibited here; he couldn¡¯t count on anyone else. He had to step up. If he didn¡¯t, he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape; and if he didn¡¯t escape, he would die. Facing death, what significance did talent, lifespan, or the future hold? As an invader, he couldn¡¯t merely use his spirit to connect to the Central Tower. He had to fuse his spirit with his divine power and erode forcefully to progressively secure victories in the Central Tower, defeating the Tower Spirit¡¯s control and seizing authority bit by bit. Why was Jia Sha so desperate for the Divine Artifact? Because he saw only one way forward: he must exchange the Divine Artifact for immense merit. Then, use this immense merit to entice the sect, or even the deities themselves, to restore his prospects in life. Otherwise, without this immense merit, even if he survived, he would end up a crippled man, living a life worse than death! Facing Lord Zhenjin¡¯s doubtful gaze, Jia Sha clenched his lips and just glared fiercely, unable to afford any distraction, giving no response. Suddenly, he roared. The next moment, the fourth floor of the Central Tower suddenly lit up with a point of blue light. Then the blue light spread, forming an elliptical Light Door. A Teleportation Gate! Both Lord Zhenjin and the Guardian Knights showed intense joy at this sight. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Jia Sha laughed heartily, but soon started coughing violently due to his physical weakness. ¡°Father, you¡¯ve succeeded! We should go now, let¡¯s hurry and leave this place!¡± Lord Zhenjin urged impatiently. ¡°Let¡¯s not rush; I have already wrestled half of the teleportation permissions from the Tower Spirit. This Teleportation Gate is under my control, very stable, and the Tower Spirit can do nothing about it. Now¡­ it¡¯s up to me who goes first and who retreats last.¡± With that, Jia Sha stared meaningfully at Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he managed a strained smile, ¡°Father, you¡¯ve always been our leader, haven¡¯t you?¡± Zi Di¡¯s face turned pale. Ignoring Lord Zhenjin, Jia Sha ordered the Guardian Knights, ¡°First, shove the Green Jade Gold Coffin into the Teleportation Gate.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The four Guardian Knights, each gripping a corner of the coffin, pushed it through the Teleportation Gate, eventually getting the coffin completely to the other side. The Divine Artifact was sent through, and during this process, the Teleportation Gate fluctuated sharply but remained overall very stable. Where the Divine Artifact exactly went, no one knew except Jia Sha, who controlled the Teleportation Gate. Jia Sha¡¯s sacrifice was worthwhile; he held the permissions of the Teleportation Gate, firmly in control of the current situation. ¡°Very good, very good,¡± Jia Sha smiled, his previously tense face relaxing significantly. Sending away the Green Jade Gold Coffin had depleted a lot of mana. But there was still some left in the Mana Pool. Enough to send another Divine Artifact through and still have sufficient to transport Jia Sha and a few others afterward. ¡°Now, send the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale through,¡± Jia Sha commanded again. The Guardian Knights were just about to act when the Tower Spirit¡¯s voice suddenly rang out, ¡°Warning, warning!¡± ¡°Detected loss of teleportation permissions: 55%, 56%, 58%, 59%, 61%¡­¡± ¡°The Teleportation Gate is opening, the man-made magical beast alchemy core component is missing, attempting to close¡­¡± ¡°The Teleportation Gate cannot be closed.¡± ¡°Warning, warning. The loss of teleportation permissions has reached 65%. Tower Spirit unable to resist, is losing control, is losing control.¡± Everyone was tense for a moment, then relaxed again. ¡°Hahaha,¡± Jia Sha laughed again, ¡°A false alarm, I already have the winning ticket!¡± But then, they heard the Tower Spirit again, ¡°Tower Spirit requesting support, requesting support.¡± ¡°No response to the request target.¡± ¡°Warning, the loss of teleportation permissions has reached 68%.¡± ¡°No response to the request.¡± ¡°Initiating emergency distress call, searching for external support.¡± ¡°Beginning to check permissions.¡± ¡°Scanning for Level 10 Authorization¡­ None.¡± ¡°Scanning for Level 11 Authorization¡­ None.¡± ¡­ ¡°Ding, Level 18 Authorization detected¡ªMiss Zi Di.¡± ¡°The Tower Spirit of the Alchemy Factory is seeking your help and requests your support, hoping you can lend a hand.¡± ¡°Your contribution this time will be recorded. Based on your contribution, you will receive material rewards under the authority of the Tower Spirit. You will gain goodwill and friendship from the owner of the Alchemy Factory. In the future, you will receive a discount corresponding to your contribution when purchasing products from this factory.¡± ¡°Would you accept this call for help?¡± Under the stunned gaze of everyone, Zi Di quickly recovered and responded, ¡°Yes!¡± Magic Light fell, forming a contract array in mid-air. The next moment, the array condensed and landed on Zi Di¡¯s forehead, forming a tattoo pattern of the array. The Tower Spirit said, ¡°The contract is established.¡± ¡°Please assist the Tower Spirit, Miss Zi Di, in defeating the intruders and regaining control permission. Priority targets are as follows: Teleportation authority first, weather control authority second, command authority over man-made magical beasts third¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± Jia Sha roared in fury, enraged, having been attacked by Zi Di. The attack was relentless, carrying the fury of revenge, and Jia Sha was rapidly losing the permissions he had so hardly gained. The elite squad of the Blood Light Sanction Court and the War Merchant both suffered mutual destruction, effectively destroying each other. In this brutal confrontation, the Tower Spirit also received critical attention and was in dire condition. As the central brain, it was no longer able to control the Alchemy Factory, and most of the time, it was forced into dormancy, otherwise, it would completely disperse. So, when a Silver Priest came to corrode the center, the Tower Spirit had no way to resist. To contend for authority, one must battle spiritually, an area where Jia Sha was invariably successful. What truly constrained this Silver Priest was Divine Power. He had to use Divine Power to invade the center spiritually. In a battle for authority, Divine Power serves as the carrier of the Spirit. However, now the situation was different. After Zi Di agreed to help, her spirit was accepted by the entire Central Tower. She was a Mage, never once using magic, and in good condition. Although she was only at Black Iron Level, her spirit still far exceeded that of the average person. Jia Sha was a priest, worn to the brink at this point, and facing resistance. His spirit had to adhere within Divine Power to be able to erode the center. The outcome of the duel was predictable, Zi Di, armed with a fresh force and adept in manipulating spirit, drove Jia Sha¡¯s remaining spirit into full retreat. Soon after, the Teleportation Gate closed. This wasn¡¯t Zi Di who closed it, but Jia Sha seeing how adverse the situation was, voluntarily closed it. If he didn¡¯t close the Teleportation Gate, Zi Di would have been able to ascertain the specific location of the other side of the gate from this spatial connection. ¡°How could you have authorization? You¡¯ve been here before!¡± Jia Sha stared at Zi Di fiercely. Zhenjin also looked at Zi Di, dumbfounded. Undeterred, Zi Di stared back at Jia Sha, glanced at Zhenjin beside her, and with a cold laugh said, ¡°So, where do you think Lord Zhenjin¡¯s substitute was custom-made?¡± ¡°Just a Black Iron Mage!¡± Jia Sha raged inwardly, exerting his full strength, but he had truly reached his limit. All his remaining strength was still no match for Zi Di. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doing? Do you want to betray the Empire? Zhenjin, do you want to betray your faith and become a fallen knight?¡± Jia Sha challenged. Zi Di chuckled, ¡°Priest sir, please don¡¯t make alarmist statements. We have never thought of betraying the empire, nor should you wrongfully accuse Lord Zhenjin of betraying his faith. We actually have no intention of being your enemy; we just want to have a proper talk.¡± Jia Sha clenched his teeth in anger. He very much wanted to order the four Guardian Knights to kill Zi Di. But crucially, Zhenjin stood in front of Zi Di, who had seen through the situation and used the Holy Temple Knight as her amulet. This maneuver was truly formidable, rendering Jia Sha unable to make a move against her. His head still spun slightly, Jia Sha knew this was purely out of frustration! But therein lay his only option, to force himself to calm down. ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± Jia Sha asked. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about contribution!¡± Zi Di said immediately, ¡°On this journey, priest sir, your contribution is the greatest, which we acknowledge. But our contributions cannot be denied, right?¡± Zhenjin quickly recovered and immediately echoed, clearly supporting Zi Di. Now was not the time to delve into Zi Di concealing her connections with the War Merchant. ¡°I have never thought of denying your contributions and merits!¡± Jia Sha¡¯s tone turned grim. ¡°Then please, where exactly was the Green Jade Gold Coffin transported?¡± Zi Di¡¯s words were sharper than Silver Lightning. Jia Sha snorted coldly, extremely displeased, ¡°You think I would easily say it?¡± Zi Di scoffed, ¡°But we played a part in acquiring the Green Jade Gold Coffin. Priest sir, you just said you didn¡¯t deny our contributions and merits, yet your actions don¡¯t match your words.¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t fortuitously gained the Tower Spirit¡¯s approval, priest Jia Sha, would you have thought about abandoning us?¡± Jia Sha¡¯s head throbbed faintly, Zi Di¡¯s incisiveness and persistence took him by surprise. He shook his head and exhaled a murky breath, his face now calm, ¡°There¡¯s no need to discuss this now! Even if I explain well, lacking a foundational trust, you would still not believe. Just like I won¡¯t believe you¡¯d reveal the location where the Green Jade Gold Coffin was transported.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay.¡± Zi Di smiled, ¡°Once my spirit completely defeats your imprint and I gain full control of the teleportation permissions, I can completely retrieve the recent teleportation records!¡± Jia Sha turned pale. If he had full teleportation permissions, he naturally could have erased the teleportation records. But his teleportation authority had never reached 100%. ¡°Haha, Zi Di, well done!¡± Zhenjin laughed heartily. ¡°Perhaps we could make a deal.¡± Zi Di continued, her tone becoming more gentle, ¡°We never intended to coerce you, priest sir, and we recognize your contributions far exceed ours. We just want to protect our own share.¡± ¡°What exactly do you want? Speak up!¡± Jia Sha, extremely irritable, was finally driven to desperation by Zi Di and had no choice but to compromise. Zi Di¡¯s eyes were deep, ¡°It¡¯s simple, just have priest sir use the Resurrection Technique to revive the recently slain Zhenjin substitute.¡± ¡°What??!!¡± Zhenjin exclaimed, sharply turning his head, furiously glaring at his fianc¨¦e. comment0 comment Chapter 179 - 179: Section 180: Zi Di Battles Jia Sha Chapter 179: Section 180: Zi Di Battles Jia Sha Lord Zhenjin was extremely angry. Any man who saw his fianc¨¦e¡¯s heart set on another man would be infuriated. Lord Zhenjin had originally resolved to extract the maximum value from the substitute before letting him die a terrible death. But not long before, the substitute had already died! There was nothing to be angry about with a dead man. Furthermore, compelled by the situation, Lord Zhenjin chose to temporarily forgive Zi Di. But who would have thought, Zi Di actually wanted to resurrect his substitute! Although Lord Zhenjin did not speak again, his gaze was like flames, seemingly accusing: ... ¡°You just can¡¯t stop thinking about him! What¡¯s so good about him?¡± ¡°Right in front of me, you want to resurrect your lover, what am I to you?!¡± Zi Di spoke to calm him, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, we must resurrect the substitute. Because once we leave this island, we won¡¯t find another Magic Ban environment. We¡¯ll face a Silver Priest and four Knights of the Black Iron Level. I¡¯ve already reclaimed many teleportation permissions, and if we transport a second Divine Artifact, the Mana will only be enough for a limited number of people to escape!¡± Looking at Zi Di¡¯s eyes, twinkling with intelligence, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s heart chilled. ¡°You make a compelling case!¡± ¡°Yes, once we escape from here, if Jia Sha reneges and occupies the spoils of war again, we simply won¡¯t have the strength to resist.¡± ¡°This woman is still very astute, worthy of being the Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, thinking further ahead than I did. But is this really all there is to her schemes?¡± Lord Zhenjin felt mixed emotions at the moment, and his thoughts were somewhat chaotic. Jia Sha let out a cold laugh, ¡°Resurrect the substitute? Holy Temple Knight, it seems the relationship between your fianc¨¦e and your substitute is quite unusual. When the substitute was just killed by me, she almost wanted to die with him.¡± ¡°Ha, ha, ha. Holy Temple Knight, do you really trust her that much?¡± ¡°She¡¯s even been in secret contact with the War Merchant, and you¡¯re not afraid that after the substitute is resurrected, you¡¯ll be replaced by him?¡± Lord Zhenjin scoffed, ¡°Lord Jia Sha, I am a Noble, after all, a Holy Temple Knight! Don¡¯t try to deceive me with such talk.¡± ¡°If Imperial Nobles were so easily impersonated, Human Race society would¡¯ve been in chaos long ago. First and foremost, Bloodlines are extremely difficult to forge, and secondly, senior officials holding important positions are verified by clergy using Divine Arts at regular intervals. Who can deceive the gods?¡± ¡°I have a marriage contract with Zi Di, which is a strict Magic Contract. Betraying each other will come at a dire cost.¡± ¡°And most crucially, the best ally for the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce is my Hundred Needle Family, our interests are highly aligned! If I die here because of her betrayal, the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce will surely be destroyed.¡± ¡°As for her secret dealings with the War Merchant? Ha, ha, ha, what does it matter? Many Nobles of the Empire also have contact with Demons, making secret transactions! For a huge Guild like hers to have secretive connections like the War Merchant is quite normal.¡± Looking at Lord Zhenjin speaking confidently, Jia Sha was slightly taken aback. He had originally despised the cowardly Zhenjin, but didn¡¯t expect that at a critical moment, he remained unmoved, showing a side of himself that surprised Jia Sha. ¡°Damned Noble. Once it involves their own interests, they often become incredibly shrewd!¡± ¡°Do I really have to compromise with these two?¡± Jia Sha found this ridiculous and was also incredibly angry. He had paid such a great price, but in the end, others stood to benefit. The priest was particularly unwilling. He shook his head, making excuses, ¡°Resurrection Technique? Miss Zi Di, don¡¯t you have any knowledge about this? Such Divine Arts can only be used by bishops, I am merely a Silver Priest. You¡¯re purely making things difficult for me.¡± Zi Di sneered, ¡°Lord Jia Sha, you manage to investigate the members boarding the Pig Kiss. Would I not investigate your background? In truth, based on your accomplishments, you should have been promoted to bishop by now, which aligns with common sense. You¡¯ve long been able to use the Resurrection Technique, one of the clear proofs of your exceptional talent.¡± ¡°Father. I know much more than you think, so get moving.¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± Jia Sha shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m just a Silver Priest. To trigger the Resurrection Technique, one must be in peak condition, and you all have seen for yourselves the state of my body. My Divine Power isn¡¯t even a tenth of what the Resurrection Technique would consume, and to forcibly initiate this Divine Art would be asking me to willingly die.¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s expression slightly changed. With a gleam flickering in her eyes, Zi Di said, ¡°How am I supposed to believe you, Father, when you can occupy the Central Tower? Tell me, you don¡¯t have enough Divine Power now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s precisely because I¡¯ve occupied the Central Tower that I¡¯ve expended a great deal of Divine Power. I have no need to deceive you, as we are not enemies, are we? At most, we have some disputes over the division of credit.¡± Jia Sha tried to defuse the tense atmosphere. Zi Di narrowed her eyes slightly, ¡°Father, do you truly lack Divine Power? Or perhaps saving it to deal with us after teleporting out sounds like a good plan!¡± Jia Sha¡¯s complexion changed as sweat started to form on his forehead during their conversation. This was because while Zi Di negotiated with Jia Sha, she never stopped assaulting him with her spirit, attempting to take back the permissions he held. ¡°Miss Zi Di, don¡¯t go too far!¡± Jia Sha could no longer support himself, continuously losing permissions, and even beginning to experience dizziness. Zi Di emphasized again, ¡°Resurrect the substitute, and I can temporarily halt my offensive! In your current state, you can¡¯t possibly be my match, can you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re pushing me to my death!¡± Jia Sha was so angry that he felt consumed by rage. ¡°Hard to imagine, I, Jia Sha, a Silver Priest, am actually being coerced by a mere merchant woman.¡± ¡°This is an utter disgrace!¡± Looking at Jia Sha¡¯s fearsome expression, Zhenjin turned to Zi Di and said, ¡°Perhaps we should choose to trust him, after all, putting Jia Sha to death would be quite harmful to us as well.¡± Zi Di slowly shook her head, ¡°I have signed a magic contract with the Tower Spirit, I must eradicate or expel Jia Sha¡¯s spirit from the Central Tower.¡± ¡°As long as I complete this step, my contract would be fulfilled.¡± ¡°Not only would we be able to obtain rewards from the Tower Spirit, but also greatly weaken Jia Sha¡¯s combat ability. Once we leave this island, he won¡¯t make a move against you, but he would have no reservations against me.¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, do you think my analysis makes sense?¡± Zi Di¡¯s words were so sound and well-founded that Zhenjin could only nod in agreement. It seemed reckless for Zi Di to have made a contract with the Tower Spirit, but in reality, without it, they would not have been able to reach this standoff, and the spoils would have been completely under Jia Sha¡¯s control. ¡°So!¡± Zi Di once again turned her gaze to Jia Sha, raising her voice urgently, ¡°Death is not the end, Father. As long as you resurrect the substitute, everything is negotiable. Even if you should perish, we will use this tremendous merit to pray to the deities for your resurrection in the temple.¡± Jia Sha sneered, ¡°Miss Zi Di, your heart is rather cruel. The limits of the Resurrection Technique are clear, and once exceeded, the soul of the deceased will dissipate. Without a soul, even if deities themselves performed the resurrection, they could not bring me back to life! How can you guarantee that after my death you would be able to resurrect me in time? Even with the use of the Teleportation Gate here, we could only reach nearby islands.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di¡¯s expression darkened slightly. This was also where her anxiety lay, if not for this, she wouldn¡¯t want to force Jia Sha into using the Resurrection Technique. ¡°Wait, I have an idea, we can retrieve the Green Jade Gold Coffin! Isn¡¯t this Divine Artifact capable of bringing back the dead?¡± Zhenjin had a flash of brilliance and exclaimed. Jia Sha sneered, ¡°Retrieve the Green Jade Gold Coffin and send it out again? There isn¡¯t enough mana!¡± ¡°Besides, the Green Jade Gold Coffin is a Divine Artifact; we have no way to activate it. The Alchemy Array that the War Merchant set up here is mostly destroyed, and even if it weren¡¯t damaged, this Alchemy Array was used for Transformed Magical Beasts, not for resurrecting corpses.¡± ¡°In that case¡­¡± Zhenjin furrowed his brow deeply, straining to think, his face showing signs of misery. Just then, Zi Di once again achieved a huge victory. Jia Sha¡¯s expression changed dramatically, as shock and anger intertwined! It turned out that after a moment of gathering strength, Zi Di suddenly launched an attack, not to seize teleportation privileges but to aim for the weather control privileges. ¡°Zi Di, you¡¯ve done well!¡± Caught completely off guard, Jia Sha desperately fought back, trying to hold onto the last of his privileges. The priest couldn¡¯t help but take a fresh look at Zi Di once more. Lightning shouldn¡¯t appear on the fourth floor; this is the core of the core, where the War Merchant would not allow it to fall under the influence of the weather. The priest had wanted to rely on the weather control privileges to negotiate with Zi Di, but the latter had already anticipated this and struck suddenly, intending to take away Jia Sha¡¯s trump card. Watching Zi Di succeed step by step, he was about to lose this bargaining chip. Jia Sha, having no other choice, played his hand ahead of time. ¡°It¡¯s you who forced me!¡± Jia Sha roared, using his weather control privileges to unleash bolts of lightning. Zi Di, meanwhile, gritted her teeth and tried to use the newly acquired privileges to stop the lightning from erupting. Crackle, crackle. The lightning changed from dense to sparse; where it struck, the man-made magical beasts were either killed or severely injured. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The survivors on the third floor were confused and uncertain. Previously, the conversation between the Tower Spirit and Zi Di had informed them that something had changed on the fourth floor, but no one dared to risk ascending. ¡°Tower Spirit, come help me,¡± Zi Di, unable to close off the lightning, called for reinforcements. The Tower Spirit appeared, inserting itself into the struggle between Zi Di and Jia Sha. However, contrary to what both of them expected, the Tower Spirit didn¡¯t directly assist Zi Di, but instead, took the opportunity to manipulate the lightning, causing it to escape Jia Sha¡¯s control and become Chaotic Lightning. Sanda, caught by surprise, almost got struck by the lightning. ¡°What on earth is going on on the fourth floor?!¡± ¡°Father Jia Sha, why are you striking us!¡± The survivors fell into chaos. Jia Sha¡¯s voice came through, ¡°I¡¯m no longer able to control the lightning now. Zi Di, this is all your fault! Your companions are about to be struck dead because of you.¡± Zi Di quickly responded, ¡°Hide near the Blood Core, within three meters of the Blood Core is a safe zone!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone hurriedly huddled around the Blood Core. Lan Zao, clutching the corpse of the substitute, also rushed over. Zong Ge and a few others took the risk to drag the still twitching Big Guy into the crowd. Chapter 180 - 180: Section 181: Ive really had enough of you guys! Chapter 180: Section 181: I¡¯ve really had enough of you guys! Lightning struck down relentlessly, casting an uncertain glow across the faces of the survivors. The mana reserves in the Mana Pool were being rapidly depleted. Following Zi Di¡¯s warning, the survivors had retreated to the vicinity of the Blood Core, where they found temporary safety. But those man-made magical beasts were not so fortunate, as they turned on one another and fell, one by one, to the lightning strikes. However, the number of Magic Beasts did not seem to diminish significantly, because the Tower Spirit was still incessantly summoning reinforcements. Zi Di¡¯s complexion changed, ¡°Tower Spirit, stop the summoning now!¡± ... Tower Spirit: ¡°Request denied, eliminating intruders, protecting the Central Tower is the highest¡­ priority¡­¡± No matter how Zi Di called out, the Tower Spirit forced itself into hibernation again. ¡°Damn it!¡± Zi Di¡¯s expression grew heavy as the situation became dire. Jia Sha, that crafty old fox, seemed as if a single breath could knock him over, but he still had strength in reserve. Zi Di¡¯s surprise attack to snatch full control of the weather manipulation authority had failed. What¡¯s more fatal was the Tower Spirit¡¯s interference, resolutely intent on eradicating everyone but Zi Di. The three parties each had their schemes, entangled with one another, leading to a deadlock. Panic was evident on Zhenjin¡¯s face, and he quickly urged Zi Di and Jia Sha to stay calm, ¡°We¡¯re on the same side; there¡¯s no need for things to escalate like this.¡± ¡°Hehehe,¡± Jia Sha sneered, ¡°It¡¯s too late. The lightning has escaped both mine and Zi Di¡¯s control and is striking indiscriminately. She also reclaimed a substantial part of the summoning authority. If it were in my hands, the Tower Spirit wouldn¡¯t have the capacity to summon so many Magic Beasts!¡± Sweat formed on Zhenjin¡¯s brow. Between the lightning and summoning, the reserve in the Mana Pool would soon be exhausted. And then, no one would be able to leave! ¡°Zi Di, my fianc¨¦e!¡± Zhenjin turned to look at Zi Di, his eyes filled with urgency and a hint of pleading. Zi Di shook her head, her gaze cold, ¡°I can¡¯t return the authority. If I deliberately lose to Jia Sha, the covenant will take my life. Only when Jia Sha has no control at all can I free myself.¡± ¡°When the Tower Spirit hibernates, I¡¯ll be able to stop controlling the weather, halt the lightning and Magic Beast summoning. Then we can win!¡± Zhenjin looked towards Jia Sha, ¡°Priest, take a step back for vast possibilities. The Green Jade Gold Coffin is yours; we won¡¯t intervene anymore!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Jia Sha laughed wildly, ¡°On what grounds? I have led you all this way, healed you, provided you with food, and shielded you with Divine Arts. Without me, you wouldn¡¯t even be able to enter this underground alchemy factory!¡± ¡°Why should I relinquish other credits to you?¡± ¡°What have you contributed?¡± ¡°Despicable merchants, cowardly nobles! Do you think you can control me now just because you turn traitor at the last moment and threaten me?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Lord Jia Sha, could you please calm down? If no one yields, we all die! Only you can compromise, my fianc¨¦e is bound by a covenant.¡± Jia Sha sneered, a scornful look in his eyes as he stared at Zhenjin and Zi Di, ¡°Why can¡¯t your fianc¨¦e yield and I have to?¡± ¡°Besides, who knows the exact terms of the covenant? Holy Temple Knight, are you sure your fianc¨¦e hasn¡¯t deceived you?¡± Zhenjin was stunned. In the end, a severe lack of trust marked the relationships among the three parties. Initially, it was just a struggle for benefits, but now all parties were unable to back down, and the situation had slipped beyond everyone¡¯s control. They were all riding a tiger, unable to dismount. ¡°Lords Jia Sha and Miss Zi Di, please, both of you be rational.¡± ¡°Yes, such pointless infighting will only benefit the Tower Spirit!¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The War Merchant is already dead; we can escape. It would be too senseless if the outcome is mutual destruction.¡± The Guardian Knights were also panicking. Jia Sha sneered, his bloodshot eyes filled with a heavy intent to kill, ¡°Then let¡¯s kill Zi Di first! As for Zhenjin, he just has to stay alive!¡± The Guardian Knights hesitated, their loyalty wavering. As Guardian Knights, their duty was to protect the sect, and they had no desire to battle the Holy Temple Knights. Yet in the current tense situation, eliminating Zi Di, as long as Zhenjin¡¯s life was spared, seemed like the best option. After all, they had always followed Jia Sha¡¯s orders. Zhenjin looked at the restless Guardian Knights, growing tense; if they really started fighting, he would be outmatched and unable to fully protect Zi Di. ¡°Zi Di, let my voice be heard!¡± Zhenjin said to Zi Di. And so, the next moment, the survivors heard Zhenjin¡¯s call, ¡°Zong Ge, Sanda, Lan Zao, and all crew members, I, Zhenjin, in my capacity as Holy Temple Knight and sole heir to the Hundred Needle Family, summon you, I call to arms.¡± ¡°The Empire¡¯s flag waves above our heads, glory will be bestowed upon you.¡± ¡°Come forward, fight at my side!¡± ¡°I, Zhenjin, swear on my honor, that I will not fail you.¡± The crowd stirred. Before, the conversation between Zi Di and Jia Sha had not been broadcasted and was limited to the fourth floor. The people saw only the continuous strikes of lightning and summoning, completely unaware of the internal situation. Now, with Zhenjin¡¯s sudden summoning, everyone was astonished and uncertain. ¡°What¡¯s happening? What exactly occurred upstairs?¡± ¡°Did they encounter an enemy? Could it be that an augmented Magic Beast was teleported there?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s hasty call to arms was ineffective; not a single survivor moved. ¡°It¡¯s useless.¡± Zi Di¡¯s complexion was ashen, ¡°That¡¯s why I had to resurrect a substitute.¡± ¡°Damn, I am Zhenjin, a proud Holy Temple Knight!¡± Zhenjin gritted his teeth, deliberately vague in his words to motivate the crowd to stand against Jia Sha and the Guardian Knights. Yet the crowd remained unmoved, filling Zhenjin with a sense of humiliation and shame. Now, having lost the authority to control the weather, Jia Sha could no longer direct lightning at a specific target. However, the indiscriminate lightning strikes seemed even more threatening in the eyes of the survivors. ¡°To reach the fourth level, one must risk their life!¡± Zi Di said. Zhenjin, seemingly deep in thought, spoke dejectedly, ¡°If the substitute were still alive, he would definitely incite these people, wouldn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°You¡¯ve exposed your true identity, and his prestige has fallen to rock bottom, making it very difficult for people to believe him. Lord Zhenjin, I¡¯ve reminded you time and again, you must remain hidden! Once your identity is revealed, the loss to us is truly too great.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all my fault!!¡± In this moment, Zhenjin was filled with regret. He wiped away the cold sweat from his forehead, ¡°Is the Mana Pool about to dry up? We better open the Teleportation Gate right away. You four can go first!¡± Zhenjin said to the four Guardian Knights. The Guardian Knights, originally restless, hesitated upon hearing this. Because the teleportation privileges were largely in Zi Di¡¯s hands, the current situation had spiraled out of everyone¡¯s control. If they left early and saved their lives, it would also be a good choice. Jia Sha¡¯s heart suddenly sank. At the moment, he and Zi Di were at a deadlock. Although he was continuously losing ground, he still had the strength to resist. Even if Zi Di eventually won and took full control, it would take a long time. By then, the Mana Pool would be completely dry, and no one would be able to teleport. Neither Jia Sha nor Zi Di wanted this to happen, so both had to change the situation ahead of time. After Zhenjin¡¯s failed attempt at a last-minute conscription, the decision of the four Guardian Knights became the biggest factor in changing the circumstances. The Guardian Knights were in a difficult position. They wanted to live and gain credit. They didn¡¯t want to confront Zhenjin but also didn¡¯t want to defy Jia Sha¡¯s orders. Seeing the Guardian Knights¡¯ hesitation, Zi Di¡¯s heart leapt with joy, and she immediately upped the stakes, ¡°Can¡¯t you see? Father Jia Sha has gone mad! Maybe he was backlash when seizing control, and he¡¯s not in his right mind anymore. In fact, he¡¯s not afraid of death. Because even in death, his spirit could be summoned by the Holy Emperor and enter the Divine Country, even becoming a Heroic Spirit.¡± ¡°But what about you? Do you have such an honor? You¡¯re actually in the same situation as us!¡± The Guardian Knights¡¯ hesitation grew stronger. But in the next moment, Zhenjin spoke in terror, ¡°Zi Di, my dear fianc¨¦e, I don¡¯t want to die. A Believer¡¯s soul entering the Divine Country has its standards, and my faith in the Great Emperor still falls short of true devotion. Open the Teleportation Gate and send me away first!¡± Zi Di was stunned. She had thought that Zhenjin was suggesting opening the Teleportation Gate to stabilize the Guardian Knights, not realizing he truly wanted to open the gate. Under the great pressure of death, Zhenjin¡¯s true nature was revealed, his reasoning was being crushed, and a strong desire to survive was prevailing. Jia Sha and the Guardian Knights again shifted subtly in color, as Zhenjin¡¯s panic allowed them to instantly grasp a major flaw in Zi Di¡¯s side. Zi Di quickly tried to remedy the situation, speaking coldly to Zhenjin, ¡°My fianc¨¦, if you leave, do you mean to leave me here alone? The reason I agreed to the Tower Spirit and accepted the contract was for our future, wasn¡¯t it?!¡± Zhenjin stammered, ¡°I will find a way to resurrect you! I swear!!¡± Zi Di sneered, ¡°Even if you could resurrect me, if I die at their hands, all the tremendous credit would belong to them! Would you be content with that?¡± ¡°My fianc¨¦e, why talk about credit now? Let¡¯s save our lives first! I can see now that Jia Sha has gone mad, he doesn¡¯t care about life or death! This is actually quite normal; he¡¯s not a merchant, he¡¯s a Believer, a devout follower of the God of Victory!¡± Zhenjin cried out, his face filled with pleading. Zi Di closed her eyes and slowly shook her head, completely disappointed in Zhenjin at this moment. The Guardian Knights once again became restless. Zi Di suddenly opened her eyes and laughed coldly, ¡°Killing me wouldn¡¯t allow you to escape. Jia Sha, do you think I don¡¯t understand your state?¡± ¡°You already have no strength left!¡± ¡°Even if I die, you would still have to expend Divine Power and Spirit to seize control. Do you have that much Divine Power? Your Spirit has also been heavily damaged in our struggle.¡± ¡°Which means, if I die, no one will be able to open the Teleportation Gate!¡± The Guardian Knights hesitated again. They wanted credit but even more, they wanted to live! Jia Sha laughed out loud, deliberately using a bright tone to highlight his state, ¡°You underestimate me too much, Miss Zi Di.¡± ¡°How could you, a mere Black Iron, understand the Silver Level?¡± ¡°I have plenty of strength left! Your alarming words only show your weakness.¡± ¡°My Spirit is still vigorous, and my Divine Power is even enough to perform a Resurrection Technique. But I won¡¯t resurrect the substitute!¡± ¡°To resurrect him and let him incite the people below to attack me? I have already seen through your plot!¡± The Guardian Knights were moved once more. Zi Di also sneered, ¡°Spirit still vigorous? Then why are you continuously losing ground, with control being gradually taken back by me¡­¡± The Guardian Knights hesitated again. ¡°Enough! The two of you! I¡¯ve really had enough of you!!¡± Suddenly, Zhenjin burst out. He grabbed his own hair, his face flushed with rage as he roared, ¡°What on earth are you two damned people doing?! We could¡¯ve escaped already, what are you playing at?¡± ¡°Ah! Now the Mana Pool is about to dry up, and you still refuse to yield!¡± ¡°Do you want to die?¡± ¡°If you want to die, why not do it earlier? Why not die on the road? Why not deliver yourselves into the mouths of the beasts? Why even bother coming here?¡± ¡°The longer time drags on, the less credit we¡¯ll have, and the smaller our hope for survival. Don¡¯t you understand this simple truth?¡± ¡°You two fools!!!¡± Zhenjin roared again and again, venting the anger and panic in his heart. ¡°Lord Zhenjin is absolutely right!!¡± The four Guardian Knights nodded in agreement, more convinced than ever. ¡°Since I¡¯m right, then you four damned fools listen to me, don¡¯t let these two people¡¯s words affect you again!!¡± Zhenjin raged furiously. The Guardian Knights looked at each other, then nodded firmly at Zhenjin. Jia Sha and Zi Di¡¯s expressions changed simultaneously. The situation suddenly turned, Zhenjin¡¯s outburst had actually changed the circumstances! Now, his attitude and choice became key. Chapter 181 - 181: Section 182: Just Because I Am Jia Sha Chapter 181: Section 182: Just Because I Am Jia Sha The betrayal of the four Guardian Knights towards Jia Sha seemed unexpected, but upon closer consideration, it wasn¡¯t surprising at all. It was impossible for them to pledge allegiance to Zi Di, but Lord Zhenjin was another matter altogether. Lord Zhenjin came from a noble bloodline, a genuine Noble and also a Holy Temple Knight. Lord Zhenjin and Jia Sha shared similar statuses, both devoted to the same deity. The clergy of the Holy Bright sect often cooperated with the Holy Temple Knights in battle. Every squad leader in the Holy Temple Knights was equivalent to a Red Archbishop, a rank higher than a bishop. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Guardian Knights were not directly descended from Jia Sha; originally, there were six assigned to protect the priest, and now only four remained. Jia Sha appeared to be in poor condition; moreover, no matter how great the achievements, they held more significance for upper echelons like Jia Sha, leaving it questionable how much the four Guardian Knights could actually claim. ... The depletion of the Mana Pool was too severe, and the four Guardian Knights also worried that should the mana prove insufficient, they would become the sacrifices. After all, Holy Temple Knights and priests could not harm each other, but this did not apply to these four men. In their eyes, preserving their own lives was the priority. Lord Zhenjin, who was solely focused on survival, became their best choice of allegiance! Now, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s attitude and choice had become critical. ¡°Lord Zhenjin!¡± Zi Di called out. Looking at his fianc¨¦e, Lord Zhenjin nodded and then turned around, staring sternly at Jia Sha. A heavy weight fell upon the priest¡¯s heart. ¡°Father Jia Sha, I now ask you to step back from this contest for authority!¡± Lord Zhenjin commanded. Zi Di exhaled a turbid breath, and as she expected, at the critical moment, Lord Zhenjin chose to stand by her. Jia Sha was furious. ¡°Even if you kill me, I won¡¯t back down from this contest!¡± Lord Zhenjin shook his head, his tone becoming milder, ¡°Why would I strike a priest? I would only knock you out.¡± ¡°Knock me out?¡± Jia Sha scoffed, and suddenly, a trace of Holy Light emanated from his body. His physical and mental condition was worrisome at this moment; he looked as if his bones were merely wrapped in a layer of skin. Normally pristine, the Holy Light seemed somewhat unsettling on him. ¡°You think I have no power to fight back? In this Magic Ban environment, none of you can use your Fighting Energy, how will you resist my Divine Arts?¡± This remark made Lord Zhenjin and the four Guardian Knights hesitate. Jia Sha continued addressing the four Guardian Knights, ¡°I can understand your choice. But even if you survive and leave, what will you face? All your training involves protecting our sect and our clergy. It¡¯s still okay if you just stand by, but if you really attack me, think about it, even if you survive, you will face punishment and accountability, you would be living a fate worse than death!¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The four Guardian Knights looked at each other, their expressions extremely grave. Jia Sha¡¯s rhetoric was sharply potent, suddenly making it extremely difficult for the four Guardian Knights. They could only look towards Lord Zhenjin, their eyes pleading for him to take action. Lord Zhenjin hesitated. He didn¡¯t dare to! Along the way, he had fully sensed the power of Divine Arts. To confront Jia Sha now? It was very likely he would die under those Divine Arts. With Jia Sha¡¯s current physical and mental state, if pushed, would he truly not massacre the Holy Temple Knights? Lord Zhenjin couldn¡¯t take that risk. Even Zi Di began to hesitate, ¡°Be careful, my lord, do not act rashly.¡± At this moment, Lord Zhenjin was her amulet; if Lord Zhenjin died, it was needless to say whom the four Guardian Knights would listen to. Lord Zhenjin gritted his teeth, staring at Jia Sha, he ventured, ¡°You cannot kill me!¡± A chill went through Zi Di¡¯s heart, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s words revealing his fear. Sure enough, the next thing Jia Sha said was, ¡°Ha ha, Holy Temple Knight, you can try and see if I dare! When pushed, I am capable of anything.¡± Lord Zhenjin clenched his jaw tighter, his expression more hesitant. He was caught in a dilemma. His anger earlier stemmed merely from a desire to survive. But now Jia Sha seemed eerily determined to the end, leaving Lord Zhenjin at a loss. ¡°If I try to knock out Jia Sha, but end up dying under his Divine Arts, wouldn¡¯t that be too tragic?¡± The risk was too great, and Lord Zhenjin backed off. The looming threat of death also made his mind spin like never before. He rapidly organized his thoughts, trying to persuade, ¡°Jia Sha, the longer we drag this out, the more the Mana Pool will deplete. The next Divine Artifact may not even be able to be transported.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just because the division of contributions isn¡¯t fair that we¡¯re at a deadlock now!¡± ¡°I suggest we split all the credit equally.¡± ¡°Split equally?¡± Zi Di raised an eyebrow, not quite willing. ¡°Shut your mouth! My fianc¨¦e, do you want to die?¡± Lord Zhenjin turned around, sternly reprimanding. Zi Di said no more. ¡°A equal share? That¡¯s impossible!¡± Jia Sha sneered, pressing Lord Zhenjin into submission. If not now, when? Jia Sha continued, ¡°Do you know how much it cost me? Besides, do you think you can equally share credit just because you want to? Rewards based on contributions are decided by those above us. Can you intervene in their judgments and decisions?¡± Jia Sha¡¯s attitude had become even tougher. Lord Zhenjin clenched his teeth. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make a concession. We don¡¯t want anything from the third floor! For the two divine artifacts, we¡¯ll only take this giant shell. You can have the Green Jade Gold Coffin.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not acceptable either!¡± Jia Sha roared lowly. Lord Zhenjin was stunned and then burst into flames of rage, shouting, ¡°Do you understand what you¡¯re doing right now, Father? You¡¯re on a path to self-destruction.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t understand, why do you need so much credit?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you distribute some to us?¡± ¡°Yes, your contribution is the greatest, but haven¡¯t we contributed too? Without our group¡¯s sacrifices, how could you have safely reached here? Perhaps you would have already been sacrificed. At least four guardian knights would not have survived.¡± ¡°Hehehe,¡± Jia Sha laughed, his laughter becoming more manic. Regardless if it was Lord Zhenjin¡¯s outburst or his negotiations with Jia Sha, during the whole process, Zi Di never stopped attacking Jia Sha. To resist Zi Di, Jia Sha had to continuously exhaust himself, reckless of all consequences. He now appeared even more aged and decrepit, his formerly white hair gradually falling out, revealing a bald head streaked with bulging veins. His eyes were bloodshot and bulging, his body skeletal, as if he could drop dead at any moment. ¡°I will not yield!¡± ¡°If I must die, we all die together!¡± ¡°Why should I yield to you scums?¡± ¡°All the credit is mine, all mine! If you won¡¯t give it to me, let¡¯s all die together!¡± Jia Sha roared, his face contorted, seemingly having completely lost his sanity. ¡°Father!¡± ¡°Can you calm down, please?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not forcing you!¡± The guardian knights panicked. ¡°I will never yield. I will never yield to your kind!¡± Jia Sha murmured under his breath, his gaze vacant, giving off an impression of clouded consciousness. ¡°What¡¯s the reason? We can discuss this. We can solve this together if there¡¯s a problem on your side.¡± Lord Zhenjin growled, facing such an obstinate and hardheaded Jia Sha, he was exasperated. After a long while, Jia Sha finally responded, ¡°The reason?¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± ¡°There¡¯s only one reason. Listen carefully.¡± Lord Zhenjin quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m all ears!¡± The next moment, Jia Sha expelled a mouthful of stale breath, his voice weak but resolute, softly said, ¡°Because I am Jia Sha.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lord Zhenjin couldn¡¯t believe it. His expression amused Jia Sha, Jia Sha¡¯s face twisted into a smile as he repeated, ¡°Yes, because I am Jia Sha!¡± Everyone was shaken, as Zi Di said, the Father seemed to have become mentally unclear due to severe physical overstrain¡ªhe had gone mad! ¡°I am Jia Sha¡­¡± Father¡¯s vision gradually blurred, in this moment, he saw his past. Holy Bright Continent, West Coast. The salty, warm breeze of the sea, blowing through the tall arched windows, entered the church. The soft light of the evening glow, shining on the colorful stained glass, created a mystical atmosphere. Father Jia Sha forcefully pushed open the door, briskly walked into the large chapel. He arrived with an angry face, swiftly moving past rows of pews to the pulpit, where he demanded, ¡°Bishop Ping Yi, why did you veto my promotion?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been in this parish for three years! For three years, I have dedicated myself to the parish¡¯s contributions, never failing to rise early and retire late. Most of the small chapels in the areas of the parish were built under my supervision, and the majority of new parishioners were recruited by me. I¡¯ve worked tirelessly, tirelessly day and night. My achievements are more than enough for a promotion to bishop; my devotion to the Holy Emperor is clear, my qualifications are beyond question, I could even perform the Resurrection Technique as a priest!¡± ¡°I want to be a bishop! That has been my goal for these past three years.¡± ¡°Why do you deny it, when others agree, but your veto nullified three years of my efforts?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Are you afraid? Or are you jealous? Jealous that I, at such a young age, am about to become your peer, a bishop just like you.¡± Bishop Ping Yi listened silently to everything, then he finished his prayer, turned his head, and looked at Jia Sha. He was very old, his hair completely white, and his beard a snowy white as well. His stature was tall, but his back was hunched due to his age. Even when subjected to furious scolding and reproach, his gaze remained gentle and kind. ¡°Young and capable Jia Sha, anger will not harm me, it will only harm yourself.¡± ¡°The reason I dismiss you is simply because you are not yet suitable to be a bishop.¡± ¡°Not suitable? What right do you have to say I¡¯m not suitable?!¡± Jia Sha raised an eyebrow and exploded again. Bishop Pingyi extended his broad palm and made a pressing down gesture toward Jia Sha. Despite Jia Sha¡¯s anger, his mood surprisingly soothed a bit with the bishop¡¯s gesture. Bishop Pingyi slowly said, ¡°Three years ago, there was a theft. A young guard under the city lord stole treasures from the city lord¡¯s mansion and was caught. His body was hung at the city gate for a whole year. You reported this, didn¡¯t you?¡± A cold gleam flickered in Jia Sha¡¯s eyes, ¡°Indeed! The truth is, this young guard tried to elope with the city lord¡¯s daughter. Before the act, the guard confessed to me, repenting for betraying the lord and feeling guilty for leaving his parents, while praying for the success of this elopement.¡± ¡°Hmph, this peasant, he thought he could climb to the upper class with his good looks and sweet words. The city lord¡¯s daughter, naive to the world, was deceived by him.¡± ¡°How could I tolerate such disrespect to authority? The city lord gave him a chance to be a guard, what a grace. Yet, he thought of repaying kindness with ingratitude!¡± ¡°So, filled with rage, I reported this to the city lord overnight. Was I wrong?¡± Bishop Pingyi shook his head, ¡°Confession is a moment when mortals draw near to God. We should forgive; it is sacred and should not be exploited. You violated the church rules.¡± ¡°Two years ago, Archbishop Mi Hong came to inspect, and you were responsible for hosting. During those seven days of reception, hundreds died in the parish. This is true, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jia Sha nodded, ¡°It is true!¡± ¡°However, Bishop Pingyi, you know the situation of our parish better than anyone. Our area is too barren, our only specialty being the Silver Silk Fish. I mobilized the congregation, offered high rewards to encourage them to catch the freshest Silver Silk Fish to entertain Archbishop Mi Hong. Archbishop Mi Hong praised it endlessly! Though diving deep to catch Silver Silk Fish is dangerous, the worshippers were willing to risk it to serve the Archbishop.¡± Bishop Pingyi sighed, ¡°However, the money you used for rewards was itself contributed by these worshippers. My original plan was to use this money to buy improved seeds to distribute to people for free, to improve the food in the parish. Allow these people to eat real food, instead of mud cookies made from dirt, butter, and sea salt.¡± Jia Sha raised his eyebrows angrily, ¡°It¡¯s a good plan, but I firmly believe that using it for Archbishop Mi Hong was not a mistake! I used it correctly, and I never embezzled. I haven¡¯t even tasted Silver Silk Fish!¡± ¡°Lower-class people providing for upper-class is justifiably natural.¡± ¡°No need to worry too much about these people; they are like weeds, the more that die, the more that grow. What do we have most in the parish? Isn¡¯t it these people?¡± ¡°Bishop Pingyi, I know you were promoted from the common folk, I understand your sentiment. But you have too much sympathy for these lower-class people.¡± ¡°Actually, human society doesn¡¯t differ much from the jungle or the ocean.¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s status and social class are determined at birth.¡± ¡°Upper-class people are like sea sharks, like fierce tigers; lower-class people are like fish and shrimp, like birds and rabbits. They are naturally meant to be sacrificed; their flesh nourishes the upper-class. This is our human society.¡± ¡°No, more precisely, whether elves, beastmen, or dwarves, isn¡¯t it all the same?¡± ¡°Only when the strong rule over the weak, the upper class over the lower, with respect and order in hierarchy, can society be stable, families have order, and the empire have hope!¡± Bishop Pingyi kept shaking his head, ¡°Because of the misappropriation of this money, famine struck a year ago, and many people were desperate. It was you who collaborated with the lord to suppress these people, slaughtering them all. I remember I advised you not to act so hastily, right?¡± Jia Sha sneered, ¡°Indeed, Archbishop, that was your idea at the time, to mediate and reconcile, so you advised me.¡± ¡°But I was not willing!¡± ¡°These mobs! The thought of them rebelling against the lord infuriates me! Worms should live in the filth; that is their life¡¯s trajectory. Any lower-class person filled with envy and discontent toward the upper class must receive a bloody lesson!¡± ¡°I killed all those who attempted to revolt. Since then, the parish has been peaceful, with no resistance! All this is my contribution!!¡± Bishop Pingyi was silent. After a moment, he sighed and said, ¡°Jia Sha, I remember you were also born into nobility, as an illegitimate son, right? You had no right to inherit land, so you chose the clergy. Please, understand these mortals a bit. In a way, their situation is quite similar to yours.¡± Jia Sha laughed heartily, ¡°Bishop Pingyi, how can you speculate about me like this? You really are from a common background; you can¡¯t understand the mindset of us nobles.¡± ¡°Let me tell you the truth; I was not born out of wedlock, but as the legitimate first son!¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because my bloodline is not outstanding, it¡¯s very diluted, and my younger brother has significantly more potential.¡± Bishop Pingyi was slightly stunned. ¡°What do you think the world is, Bishop Pingyi? What is the foundation of the empire?¡± Jia Sha spread his arms wide, his voice booming enough to echo in the grand chapel. ¡°It is because of our correct thinking!¡± ¡°A person¡¯s bloodline determines his life at birth.¡± ¡°The bloodless commoners should live their lives in the mud; it¡¯s actually a protection for them. You want worms to ascend high, only for them to be scorched to death by the sunlight.¡± ¡°Although I have a relatively superior bloodline, there are peers in my family who are much better than me. For the whole family, I had to step aside. Lion prides are always competing. The most gifted young lions must eat the best meat so that there can be the strongest Lion King in every generation!¡± ¡°The same applies to families and to the empire. It is because of this that our human race can dominate the world, holding the supreme throne!¡± ¡°Bishop Pingyi, do you not realize how dangerous your thoughts are?¡± ¡°These mortals are simply not worth considering! By trying to protect them, sacrificing the interests of the upper-class, you will only weaken the Lion King among the lions, and as time goes by, the Human Race will deteriorate and be dominated by other races.¡± The bishop maintained a calm demeanor, but his gaze was resolute, ¡°If mortals are not worth considering, then what am I?¡± ¡°That is the fairness of destiny.¡± ¡°Among countless mortals, there will always be one or two who stand out.¡± ¡°But what does that amount to?¡± ¡°For you, it¡¯s a miracle. For a noble family, it continuously produces Transcendents. What about the mortals? Among tens of thousands of people, there might not even be one in several years. Look at the Empire, almost all the upper echelons are of noble origin! Even those from a mortal background are one in ten thousand exceptions.¡± ¡°Enough, from your expression, I can tell you are obstinate.¡± Jia Sha exhaled a breath of murky air, sneering, ¡°You cannot convince me, and I cannot convince you. So, come on, bishop, I formally challenge you to a duel within the sect!¡± A duel within the sect was one of the distinctive features of the Holy Bright sect, because the Great Emperor was the God of Victory. Once there was an unresolved dispute, the winner of the sect duel would also prevail in the dispute. A fierce battle ensued throughout the night. A few days later, Jia Sha bid farewell to the bishop. ¡°I can heal the scar on your face,¡± said the bishop. ¡°No need, I am keeping it intentionally,¡± Jia Sha replied calmly, but his eyes carried a hint of hatred, ¡°I want to carry it as I continue on the journey of my life.¡± ¡°I want it to constantly remind me of the humiliation and failure I suffered here.¡± ¡°One day, one day, I will return and prove to you that I was the right one!¡± The bishop remained silent. Jia Sha turned around, holding his head high, and strode away from the church. As his blurred vision gradually cleared, emerging from the memories, Jia Sha once again saw Lord Zhenjin, Zi Di, and the four Guardian Knights in front of him. The anger and fear on their faces added to the pleasure in Jia Sha¡¯s heart. ¡°I will never back down!¡± ¡°You lowly-blooded scum, mere Black Iron, dare to insult me?¡± ¡°As for you, Lord Zhenjin, you bring shame upon your family and your lineage!¡± ¡°How can the noble yield to the lowly?¡± ¡°Even if it means death¡­¡± A deathly silence. Lord Zhenjin was dumbfounded. If a person does not even fear death, what else can be done? Everyone was at a loss with such a Jia Sha. ¡°Then go ahead and die!¡± Zi Di said through gritted teeth. ¡°Father, aren¡¯t you forcing us to take action?¡± the Guardian Knights seemed eager to move. Jia Sha only responded with a cold snort. The four Guardian Knights exchanged glances, then spread out, slowly closing in on Jia Sha from four directions. The scent of defeat overwhelmed him. Jia Sha knew himself; he had always been bluffing and was now at the end of his strength, with little Divine Power remaining. He also knew he was being irrational, but without this anger and unwillingness driving him, he would have collapsed long ago. Perhaps that¡¯s just human nature. Some people are dominated by emotions without realizing it, but in critical moments, they become as cold and rational as ice and snow. Meanwhile, some people are calm and rational usually, but when faced with a life or death crisis, they are overwhelmed by their emotions. ¡°Is this as far as I go?¡± At the brink of failure, Jia Sha¡¯s eyes suddenly burst with a bright light. ¡°Wait!¡± he exclaimed abruptly. At that moment, it was as if a flash of lightning crossed his mind. This bolt of lightning tore through the dark fog, illuminating a path to victory! ¡°Oh, my great Lord¡­¡± Jia Sha sighed, his gaze skipping over the Guardian Knights he had addressed, past Lord Zhenjin, and settling on Zi Di. ¡°The shipwreck of the Pig Kiss, it was your doing, wasn¡¯t it, Miss Zi Di?¡± Everyone: ?! ?! Lord Zhenjin, annoyed, said, ¡°Father Jia Sha, you spout nonsense just to buy time. This trick¡­¡± ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Jia Sha suddenly burst into manic laughter, his spirit greatly lifted. His gaze, sharp as an arrow, locked onto Zi Di, repeating, ¡°In the end, I win! Because¡­ the shipwreck of the Pig Kiss, it was indeed your doing!¡± Chapter 182 - 182: Section 183: My Downfall Chapter 182: Section 183: My Downfall Jia Sha was so certain, it inevitably aroused some suspicion among Zhenjin and the four Guardian Knights. Zi Di felt a sinking feeling, and sneered on the surface, ¡°Heh. Priest, you want to struggle, just based on this unilateral claim?¡± ¡°I have evidence!¡± Jia Sha snapped. ¡°First, you possess level 18 clearance. This clearance is not simple, it doesn¡¯t just come from making deals with a War Merchant or reaching a certain volume of trade. I¡¯ve found out that there are fifty levels of clearance, and level 18 is already quite high, at least a partner level. So, the relationship between you and the War Merchant isn¡¯t that simple!¡± ¡°Second, you just admitted that Zhenjin¡¯s substitute was custom-made from the War Merchant. Zhenjin once confessed to me, so I know the first time he saw the substitute was in the warehouse on the dock. Before that, you could not show Zhenjin his substitute. This means that you picked up the goods from the War Merchant and then transported them to the dock warehouse. I guess you had already set foot on Mysterious Monster Island before this, bringing Zhenjin¡¯s substitute back to the dock.¡± ¡°You also said, this is all your speculation.¡± Zi Di shook her head. ... ¡°Do not worry, there¡¯s a third point. After the shipwreck occurred, you disappeared. Most of the survivors landed on the nearest beach to the sunken ship, but you were nowhere to be seen. Why was your landing point so far from the sunken ship? After falling into the water, why didn¡¯t you swim towards the nearest beach, instead choosing a farther one?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so strange about that? I was swept away by the waves,¡± Zi Di said indifferently. Jia Sha¡¯s gaze grew even sharper, ¡°Heh heh heh, how convenient an excuse! The fact that it rolled off your tongue proves you were well-prepared to handle such an inquiry.¡± ¡°But if it were the waves¡¯ doing, and you were helpless, then it¡¯s even stranger. Why did you land on this island with a group of people following you? Why did you conveniently manage to keep Zhenjin¡¯s substitute in good condition? Do you perhaps worship the Sea God, and received His favor, not only being swept to the shore by the waves, but also having a group of people, who just happened to be yours, follow you to protect you?¡± Zi Di scoffed, ¡°Aren¡¯t you lot also together? Then, can I also suspect that you, along with the Guardian Knights, orchestrated the shipwreck?¡± ¡°No, clearly, Priest Jia Sha used Divine Arts, uniting all the Guardian Knights. During the time on the ship, the Guardian Knights stayed close to the priest,¡± Zhenjin shook his head, denying Zi Di¡¯s suggestion. He began to look at his fianc¨¦e in front of him with a gaze filled with suspicion and uncertainty. Zi Di¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Jia Sha laughed loudly, ¡°Holy Temple Knight, it seems you are not so foolish.¡± ¡°I can thus ascertain that after the shipwreck, you gathered a team, used a small boat to land, departing from a place you were relatively familiar with. You came prepared!¡± Zi Di retorted, ¡°If I were prepared, I certainly wouldn¡¯t choose such a landing point. It¡¯s a huge flaw. It¡¯s easy for you to notice; wouldn¡¯t others see it too? Would I expose myself so easily?¡± ¡°Therefore, you intended to land on Mysterious Monster Island, and you did prepare, but the timing was too rushed, your preparations insufficient. This was probably because your act of causing the shipwreck was a spur-of-the-moment decision!¡± ¡°Your original plan was to meet with Zhenjin and head to the Wilderness Continent to assist him in competing for the position of White Sand City Lord.¡± ¡°But when the Pig Kiss reached the disaster site, you discovered a shocking change on Mysterious Monster Island!¡± ¡°The Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s elite team raided the underground alchemy factory; they and the War Merchant nearly perished together. Since you had level 18 clearance, you were aware of this situation. You decided suddenly to land on Mysterious Monster Island!¡± ¡°From your perspective, if the War Merchant were severely injured, you could perform a rescue, which would result in a huge merit. If the War Merchant died, you could immediately take over all his assets. If the Blood Light Sanction Court succeeded, you could pretend innocence and see if there was an opportunity to destroy any evidence of collusion between Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce and the War Merchant.¡± ¡°But when you decided to act, you realized you couldn¡¯t go public and had to move in secrecy. Another problem was that you and Zhenjin had planned to head to the Wilderness Continent.¡± ¡°The competition for the City Lord of White Sand City mattered for your future. But the War Merchant and Mysterious Monster Island represented an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime. A gamble, and perhaps your entire life could change overnight!¡± ¡°I must admit, you have a spirit for adventure. In fact, if you could really make it here, you might indeed have a chance to inherit the War Merchant¡¯s assets promptly.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, your team was too weak, unable to even cross the jungle. This might have been because you underestimated the dangers of Mysterious Monster Island, or perhaps because of the previous fierce battle when the War Merchant activated all defensive measures, releasing countless man-made magical beasts. At the most critical moment, your life was nearly lost, forcing you to hurriedly awaken the substitute. The substitute¡¯s memory was also hastily imbued, leading to your subsequent experiences.¡± Zi Di¡¯s gaze flickered as she countered, ¡°Then why would I want to kill the captain? If I really wanted to land on Mysterious Monster Island, I wouldn¡¯t bring more people ashore, right? After discussing with Zhenjin, couldn¡¯t I just have secretly left with a landing boat? Why bother to go further and kill the captain, causing a shipwreck, letting more people land on Mysterious Monster Island?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of Zhenjin and the four Guardian Knights dramatically changed. Seeing the change in their expressions, Zi Di¡¯s own face abruptly paled. In that critical moment, she had made a monumental blunder! Jia Sha, thrilled, his pupils dilated, stared fixedly at Zi Di, ¡°Did I say it was you who killed the captain?¡± Zi Di did her best to cover up her mistake, shrugging as she said, ¡°What¡¯s there to be surprised about? You accuse me of causing the shipwreck, so the captain must have been the biggest obstacle. His mysterious death occurred just before I could preempt what you¡¯re about to accuse me of!¡± ¡°Indeed, worthy of being the Chairman of a guild, truly eloquent! Unfortunately, I know why you killed the captain!¡± Jia Sha said. ¡°Because you discovered that the captain of the Pig Kiss was against you!¡± ¡°In reality, he was one of Fen Yi¡¯s men. Fen Yi is one of the competitors for the position of White Sand City Lord. It was only later that I realized my travel arrangements were actually a man-made coincidence. The captain, loyal to Fen Yi¡¯s family, was tasked with investigating my information and, if possible, was to show goodwill towards me in Fen Yi¡¯s name.¡± ¡°The reason you boarded the Pig Kiss was to get close to me. The captain might not have discovered Zhenjin, but he discovered his fianc¨¦e¡ªthat¡¯s you, Miss Zi Di.¡± ¡°Of course, the captain would be against you. For some unknown reason, Miss Zi Di, you figured this out. If you had left secretly, it might have triggered the captain¡¯s pursuit. This would have caused significant trouble for your landing on Mysterious Monster Island. So, you simply caused a sea disaster and killed him!¡± ¡°So how did you come to know of this, priest?¡± Zhenjin turned and asked Jia Sha. Jia Sha smiled slightly, ¡°Because Xi Suo is the captain¡¯s son, and he surely knew his father¡¯s allegiance. However, struggling to survive on Mysterious Monster Island, he chose to side with your substitute. Of course, he thought the substitute was the real Holy Temple Knight.¡± ¡°He confessed to me, extremely worried. He truly sided with the substitute but also feared that the substitute would discover his father¡¯s allegiance in the future.¡± Zhenjin then came to a realization. Zi Di countered, ¡°The captain of the Pig Kiss was powerful. I am just a low-level mage who has just started out. How could I have killed him without making a slightest sound?¡± Jia Sha scoffed coldly, ¡°That I do not know. You are a mage, and mages have countless means at their disposal. You are also proficient in potions; there must have been various ways.¡± ¡°In any case, after you killed the captain, you went on to destroy the Pig Kiss, breaking it in two. You led a team of the most loyal and reliable people to land on Mysterious Monster Island.¡± Zhenjin and the four Guardian Knights all looked towards Zi Di. ¡°Zi Di, quickly tell me this isn¡¯t true!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s voice trembled. Zi Di sneered, ¡°So, in the end, all of this is just your speculation.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ha ha, of course I can prove it.¡± Jia Sha laughed loudly again. Divine Arts¡ªDetect Lies! The next moment, the divine art cast by Jia Sha enveloped Zi Di. ¡°Now, if you are being wrongfully accused, Miss Zi Di, you can prove it yourself!¡± Jia Sha took a deep breath, his expression utterly calm. Zi Di fell into a deadly silence. Jia Sha¡¯s complexion changed, slowly shifting from calm to excited. He couldn¡¯t help but be excited! At the final moment, at the brink of potential defeat, he still grasped the last chance for victory! Indeed, it was all just his conjecture. He had merely seen a possibility. But now, he had succeeded! Zi Di¡¯s silence said it all. His remaining divine power was extremely scarce, just enough to perform a minor divine art of detecting lies. And it was this seemingly ordinary divine art that changed everything! Zhenjin and the Guardian Knights¡¯ expressions grew increasingly ugly. ¡°I almost got used by her!¡± ¡°Such a wicked woman, so beautiful on the outside, but so dark inside.¡± ¡°So many people have died because of you, you should be hanged!¡± ¡°Tell me, Zi Di, why did you do this?!¡± Zhenjin stepped in front of Zi Di, emotionally questioning her. Zi Di sighed, shaking her head, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know so much.¡± Zhenjin continued to question, ¡°You orchestrated the shipwreck without even informing me. You disregarded my life and death, you abandoned me, it¡¯s unreasonable!¡± ¡°We were engaged, the engagement was announced. By orchestrating the shipwreck without informing, you essentially attempted to harm me in secret, violating our engagement, which should result in death by contract backlash. Why are you still alive?¡± Zi Di responded with silence. Jia Sha then said, ¡°It¡¯s simple, I speculate that it was the War Merchant who interfered, altering the engagement. He¡¯s an Alchemy Grandmaster, a Legendary Mage!¡± Zhenjin narrowed his eyes, staring at the Zi Di in front of him, beginning to exude a dangerous aura. The fact had already proven Jia Sha¡¯s speculation¡ªZi Di betrayed him and yet did not suffer the backlash of the engagement. Jia Sha continued, ¡°Think more, Holy Temple Knight. Why did Miss Zi Di choose a substitute after causing the shipwreck, instead of you?¡± ¡°Speaking of which, this substitute really looks a lot like you. If it wasn¡¯t for you revealing it yourself, I would have been kept in the dark too.¡± ¡°Your substitute is different from ordinary Beastification People, he is very special. It is likely that the War Merchant personally modified him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid, Miss Zi Di truly intended to replace you with that substitute!¡± These words made Zhenjin¡¯s body and soul tremble, followed by an icy chill erupting from the depths of his heart, rapidly spreading through his body. ¡°No, that¡¯s not possible!¡± Zhenjin clutched his head, his pupils shrinking to their smallest in horror. ¡°I am to compete for the position of the White Sand City Lord, my identity will be strictly scrutinized. If I become the City Lord in the future, I will undergo even more rigorous scrutiny!¡± ¡°Scrutiny includes checking the bloodline, as well as memories, and Divine Arts inspections,¡± Zhenjin instinctively retorted. Jia Sha scoffed, ¡°Look at these man-made magical beasts, all these are proving that the War Merchant has reached the peak in the field of Life Alchemy. Bloodline checks are no issue for him. Think about your substitute, Holy Temple Knight, displaying precise talents, even surpassing yours. Did I hear that he could even perform the Hundred Needle Wind Combat Skill?¡± ¡°And memories¡­ that¡¯s even less of a problem. Haven¡¯t you used the Memory Crystal before?¡± ¡°As for Divine Arts inspection, this indeed is a huge barrier. But for the War Merchant, I think it¡¯s not a big problem. Look, what is this big clam?¡± Jia Sha gestured with his eyes. Zhenjin¡¯s body and mind shook again, murmuring under his breath, ¡°Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale!¡± The Pearl Bubbles generated from this Divine Artifact could even deceive gods, an exceptional disguise in the world. At that moment, Zhenjin finally recognized his real situation. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that a deadly snake was lurking by my side!¡± Beyond horror was boundless rage. ¡°You damn woman, you actually wanted to endanger my life!¡± Driven by emotion, Zhenjin drew Silver Lightning and stabbed toward Zi Di. ¡°Spare her life!¡± At the crucial moment, it was Jia Sha who called out. Zhenjin¡¯s wrist flicked, and Silver Lightning nearly grazed Zi Di¡¯s heart as it passed through. Jia Sha shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive, Holy Temple Knight!¡± ¡°My Divine Power is no longer sufficient, I can¡¯t invade the rights alone. But my spirit has always been entangled with Zi Di¡¯s spiritual power. Her spirit has been recognized by the Tower Spirit, I am trying hard to adjust my own spirit, to pretend to be her. Only this way, I can regain control of the teleportation rights and more.¡± ¡°Of course, it would be best if Miss Zi Di could cooperate nicely.¡± Zi Di scoffed coldly, ¡°You¡¯re dreaming beautifully.¡± As she spoke, she once again stirred her spirit, fiercely attacking Jia Sha. Priest Jia Sha suddenly had blood dripping from his nostrils, his head spinning. ¡°Very well!¡± Jia Sha clenched his teeth, persistently enduring, ¡°Torture her, torture her viciously!¡± Obedient to the command, Zhenjin kicked Zi Di, flipping her to the ground. Then, the Silver Lightning in his hand gently stabbed down, piercing Zi Di¡¯s shoulder, temporarily pinning her to the floor tiles. The intense pain caused fluctuations in Zi Di¡¯s spirit, Jia Sha seized the chance to counterattack, steadying his position. But Zi Di¡¯s spirit still strongly resisted, ¡°Let¡¯s die together!¡± ¡°You want me to die? Why? What right do you have! Have I ever mistreated you? I have always treated you sincerely!!¡± Zhenjin roared, his anger extreme. His Silver Lightning continued to stab down, soon creating several small blood holes on Zi Di¡¯s body. Silver Lightning kept provoking, Zi Di¡¯s hands and feet were broken, unable to exert force anymore. The immense pain made the girl¡¯s body convulse. But she clenched her teeth hard, surprisingly not uttering a single cry of pain. This strong demeanor only made Zhenjin hate and rage more, he inflicted even more malicious torture on Zi Di. The Magic Robe could not resist the sharpness of Silver Lightning, Zi Di¡¯s ears and fingers were cut one by one, her arms and legs had skin sliced off piece by piece, exposing the fresh red muscles beneath. Soon, a pool of blood accumulated under Zi Di. The four Guardian Knights watched, feeling a chill in their hearts. Zhenjin was proficient in martial arts, his means of torturing and interrogating people were exceedingly skilled, he had a thorough understanding of human anatomy, Zi Di endured great pain, yet did not die immediately. Moments later, Jia Sha suddenly shouted, achieving a breakthrough in the spiritual duel. He began to regain previously lost privileges, advancing victoriously! Zi Di¡¯s spirit continuously receded, collapsed, her once bright Purple Crystal-like eyes dimmed. Waves of black and gray spread in her vision. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that this would be my end¡­¡± ¡°I have ultimately failed.¡± Death¡¯s breath overwhelmingly approached. Chapter 183 - 183: Section 184: Princess, Demon and Knight Chapter 183: Section 184: Princess, Demon and Knight In a room filled with the scent of medicine, a seriously ill woman lay weakly on the bed. The door gently opened, and a father-daughter pair approached the bedside. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The father, wearing a worried expression, sighed and said to his daughter, ¡°Zi Di, say your last few words to your mother¡­¡± Young Zi Di softly called out, ¡°Mommy.¡± The lady barely managed to open her eyes and upon seeing Zi Di, her expression instantly showed intense love, reluctance, and guilt, ¡°My daughter¡­¡± Young Zi Di, puzzled, said, ¡°Mommy, daddy says you have to go to another place. Can¡¯t you stay?¡± ... The lady smiled, though her eyes quickly reddened, ¡°I can¡¯t, sweetie. I wish I could stay and be with you forever. But I can¡¯t, I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± Young Zi Di started to sob softly. Her father, standing behind her, was also immersed in grief and remained silent. Feeling extreme heartache, the lady mustered all her strength, barely grasping Zi Di¡¯s small hand, and comforted her, ¡°Little Zi Di, don¡¯t cry, be good. Before I leave, let me tell you your favorite story one more time.¡± Young Zi Di looked up, with tears lingering in her big eyes, yet her attention was clearly drawn away, ¡°Is it the story about the Princess, the Demon, and the Knight?¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± ¡°I¡­ love it so much,¡± Young Zi Di nodded, choking up. A long, long time ago, there was a kingdom. The King was kind and loved by his people, and he and the Queen loved each other deeply, but it was a long time after their marriage that they had a child. She was a little princess, not only naive and lively, adorable, but also the most beautiful person in the kingdom. Everyone in the kingdom, whether it be the King, the Queen, or all the people, loved this little princess dearly, treating her like an angel. One day, a very evil demon stealthily entered the castle and forcefully took the princess away. The demon took the little princess to his lair in the abyss, not allowing her to leave. The demon was very fond of the little princess and said to her harshly, ¡°Marry me quick, little princess, you are the cutest person I have ever seen in this world.¡± The little princess shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry you, you bad demon. My daddy and mommy will send a knight to rescue me.¡± The demon laughed loudly, ¡°My lair is in a very deep part of the abyss, nobody knows exactly where. How could a knight ever find it?¡± As the little princess grew up, the demon told the princess with a gruesome smile, ¡°Oh princess, you are now the most youthful and charming young lady I¡¯ve ever seen in the world. Marry me! So many years have passed, and your knight still can¡¯t find this place.¡± But the princess didn¡¯t doubt, instead more resolute than before, ¡°A knight will definitely find this place, I will never marry you.¡± The princess grew older and turned into a great princess. The demon was even more obsessed with the great princess, ¡°Great princess, you are the most alluring person I¡¯ve ever seen, your skin is whiter than snow, your face is more beautiful than Venus, your eyes are brighter than the stars at night, your golden hair long and soft, like silk woven by the sunshine. Marry me!¡± ¡°My knight will come to rescue me!¡± the great princess remained very firm. The demon mocked, ¡°You can¡¯t wait any longer, you¡¯ve waited so many years. If you wait further, the God of Time will take away your youth and fade your beauty, sticking wrinkles and old age onto you. Instead of that, why not marry me now?¡± The great princess thought for a moment, deliberately said to the demon, ¡°Let me think about it, if I feel like it, I¡¯ll agree to you.¡± The demon was pleased, ¡°Then what can I do to make you happy?¡± The great princess said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s like this, you see, your lair is dark and stifling. Over all these years, I haven¡¯t seen the night sky. If I could see the wide-open sky, feel the cool evening breeze, then my mood would naturally brighten.¡± The demon thought for a moment, then agreed to the great princess, ¡°That¡¯s easy, I¡¯ll just open the top of the abyss, and you¡¯ll be able to see the night sky.¡± So the demon opened the cover, and the great princess looked up to see the night sky, the many stars. Suddenly, she snapped her headband, and her beautiful golden hair, like a waterfall, spread out widely. Her hair shone brilliantly with golden sunlight, lighting up the night sky and overshadowing the stars¡¯ light. A handsome, brave knight, seeing the golden sunlight, stormed into the abyss and found the demon and the great princess. ¡°Let the princess go, you despicable demon!¡± the knight shouted, and engaged the demon in a fierce battle. The knight was very powerful, the demon was no match for him. But the demon was very cunning, he pointed his finger and turned the princess into his likeness. Now, two demons were standing before the knight, both smirked at the same time, ¡°Knight, drop your long spear. You can¡¯t tell who is real and who is fake. What if you choose wrongly and kill the real princess; that would be terrible.¡± The knight hesitated for a moment, but quickly made a decision. He drew his sword and with one sweep, struck the real demon. The demon, severely injured, cried in disbelief, ¡°How did you know I was real?¡± ¡°Because you have a strong sulfuric scent, while the real princess, though you transformed her appearance into that of a Demon, still carries a captivating fragrance,¡± the Knight replied. Thus, the Demon was vanquished by the Knight. Upon the demon¡¯s death, his Dark Magic also vanished, and the Princess reverted back to her original form. The young Knight took the Princess out of the sinful Abyss and returned to the castle, where they met the King and Queen. The family was finally reunited. The Princess married the Knight, and from then on, they lived a beautiful and happy life. After finishing the story, the lady became even weaker. She tried her best to support herself, preventing herself from falling asleep. With her last bit of strength, she tightly grasped Zi Di¡¯s small hand and instructed, ¡°My little Zi Di, my little Princess, though Mommy is leaving, you will still have your father¡¯s love.¡± ¡°No matter what difficulties you face in the future, always keep hope in your heart.¡± ¡°You must be optimistic, you must be strong.¡± ¡°As long as you persist, there will certainly be a Knight, your Knight, who will come to help you, to save you!¡± After the lady finished speaking, her strength finally dissipated, and she slowly closed her eyes. The breath of life gradually faded away. This was a mother¡¯s blessing to her daughter, and also her last words. The young and naive Zi Di did not yet understand the weight of the scene before her, but her mother¡¯s dying words were deeply etched in her heart. ¡°Be good, don¡¯t disturb your mom. She is sleeping,¡± came her father¡¯s choked voice from behind. ¡°Oh.¡± Zi Di obediently nodded and followed her father¡¯s steps quietly to the door. ¡°Daddy, can I see Mommy off when she leaves?¡± Zi Di looked back at the sickbed, extremely reluctant. The father suddenly clenched his teeth and, with trembling hands, closed the door, ¡°I think it should be possible¡­ as long as you don¡¯t stay in bed, and can get up early.¡± ¡­ Time passed, and the childhood Zi Di gradually grew into a young girl. Inheriting her parents¡¯ features, she became youthful and charming, like a princess from a fairy tale. Her father never remarried; he founded the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. The business became increasingly burdensome, but his affection for Zi Di was enormous. Perhaps because he spent too little time accompanying Zi Di as she grew, this affection was mixed with much guilt. Her beautiful face made Zi Di the center of attention and welcome wherever she went. In the academy, the young girl Zi Di attracted many young men¡¯s pursuits. Soon, a noble young man from a distinguished family outshone all the other suitors. He was handsome, wealthy, and gentle. Under his passionate and various courtship methods, the young Zi Di gradually fell in love. ¡°Perhaps, he is my Knight.¡± However, one day, at a dinner party standing on a balcony for fresh air, Zi Di inadvertently overheard a conversation among the noble youths. ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m about to win Zi Di over!¡± ¡°Our bet, I¡¯ll definitely win. She seems tough to chase, but actually, she just really thinks she¡¯s a Princess, so she acts all high and mighty.¡± ¡°Hehehe, how ridiculous! She is merely a merchant¡¯s daughter, and no matter how big the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce is, her bloodline is utterly lowly.¡± ¡°A Princess? Little girls of this age like to dream such dreams! She must be fantasizing about marrying me, but someone of my status marry a merchant¡¯s daughter? That¡¯s a joke! After I¡¯m done playing with her, anyone of you can take over, I don¡¯t care.¡± Standing against the wall on the balcony, Zi Di¡¯s face turned pale, her hands tightly covering her mouth, tears streaming from her eyes. ¡­ The shattering of love inflicted a profound wound on Zi Di¡¯s spirit, making her feel her world was filled with misfortune. From then on, she became extremely cautious with all suitors, never easily moved again. Her busy father could not reach into the sensitive heart of the young girl. Numerous sorrows and concerns, she could only confide to herself. First, her dream of being a Princess was shattered, then the burden of her studies gradually increased, making her realize a cruel reality¡ªher lowly bloodline meant that even with sufficient resources from the Guild for cultivation, and no matter how hard she worked, her highest achievement in life could only be the Black Iron Level. Her father¡¯s business grew larger and larger, and the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce expanded continuously. He increasingly felt overwhelmed, his smile fading day by day, and afterward, he almost always looked worried. Many late nights, Zi Di found the light still on in her father¡¯s study. Zi Di would knock on the door, enter the study, and remind her father to go to bed early. The Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce often smoked a cigar, his increasingly portly body hunched in a large leather chair, enveloped in thick smoke, giving Zi Di an impression of coiled fear. When he saw Zi Di, he would lift his head, squeeze out a smile from his face, and quickly extinguish the cigar in his hand. Before Zi Di could roll her eyes, he¡¯d nod with a penitent look, volunteering, ¡°My dear daughter, say no more, I understand, I¡¯ll go to sleep now!¡± Chapter 184 - 184: Section 185: The Princesss Crown Chapter 184: Section 185: The Princess¡¯s Crown In the process of growing up, there were many changes. Yet the one thing that remained constant was a father¡¯s doting love for his daughter. Year after year, the birthday parties he held for his daughter became increasingly grand and opulent. At her 11th birthday party, her father had spent a great fortune, and the celebration encompassed the entire Garden City. ¡°Right here, stop.¡± Father released the hands covering Zi Di¡¯s eyes, ¡°Ding ding ding!¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened, and her small mouth instinctively formed an O shape, her face showing thick layers of shock and surprise. In front of her, a towering cake, three meters high and divided into 11 layers, sparkled with brilliant light, each layer its own dominant color¡ªred, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple¡­ it was as dreamy and enchanting as a rainbow. ... Zi Di exclaimed, ¡°Rainbow Cake!¡± This classic dessert was famous throughout the entire Empire. Less than ten people in the world could make it, as it required many rare Magic Materials. Each bite of Rainbow Cake allowed one to taste the sweetest flavor in the world and brought about a marvelously relaxing and joyful mood. This was a top-class pastry, greatly beneficial to the eater¡¯s Cultivation and state, enhancing them considerably. ¡°Have you not always been curious about the taste of Rainbow Cake?¡± Her father smiled, ¡°So this time, I¡¯ve invited the famous pastry master. This cake is your birthday cake!¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Dad, this is¡­just amazing!¡± Zi Di was so excited she became a bit incoherent, hugging her father¡¯s arm and leaning her head on his shoulder, her eyes sparkling, ¡°I just knew you loved me the most.¡± ¡°Of course, you are my little Princess.¡± Father laughed, then his expression showed a touch of hesitation, ¡°My daughter, in addition to this birthday cake, I¡¯ve also arranged a date for you.¡± ¡°Another date?¡± Zi Di quickly let go of his arm and stepped back, looking at her father with a furrowed brow. The father gave a bitter smile, ¡°Child, you¡¯ve grown up, it¡¯s time to accept these things. I know you¡¯ve always been against it, but¡­¡± ¡°Alright, alright. For the sake of the Rainbow Cake, I¡¯ll go. But don¡¯t expect me to lower my standards¡­ Which family is it this time?¡± Father blinked repeatedly, he had prepared these words for a long time, but when it came to speaking them, he found it so difficult to express! ¡°He¡¯s a Noble among Nobles, of course, and also a Knight, he¡­¡± Father had a hard time starting, speaking with a strained tone. ¡°Okay, I get it. Don¡¯t say anymore!¡± Zi Di didn¡¯t wait for her father to finish, interrupting him as she began to circle the Rainbow Cake, admiring it carefully. Her whole mind was focused on it, constantly giving words of admiration. Watching his daughter¡¯s joyful appearance, the father¡¯s expression was quite complex. He opened his mouth several times, wanting to reveal more details. Zi Di occasionally looked up, saw that her father was still standing there, and waved her hand: ¡°Dad, you¡¯re still here? Go ahead with your business. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle it, even if I don¡¯t like it, I won¡¯t offend the other party!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go.¡± Father sighed and turned to leave with difficulty. The banquet was a gathering of the powerful and privileged. Zi Di was undoubtedly the protagonist, her hands going soft from the weight of the gifts. During the banquet, Zi Di walked up to a room on the second floor. Today she was dressed to the nines, in a pink Princess Dress, with a skirt hem laced with cute ruffles. On her feet were a pair of high heels that looked like white pearls, and her arms were adorned with long gloves made of pink silk. Her hair curled up like waves, her Purple Crystal-like eyes partly veiled by thick lashes, making her look adorable, noble, and a tad enchanting. She was now wearing a resplendent diamond necklace around her neck, compared to just after making her appearance, and had added a golden jade-inlaid bracelet to each wrist. She also wore a small, exquisite Crystal Crown on her head. These were the gifts given by the Nobles during the banquet, which she opened and joyfully donned on the spot, pleasing both host and guests. Downstairs in the ballroom, the sensation caused by the Rainbow Cake was still ongoing. ¡°This is the most glorious birthday party I have ever had.¡± Zi Di felt delighted and knocked on the room door. ¡°Come in,¡± a voice came from inside the room. Zi Di entered the room and saw a short, plump middle-aged man standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a wine glass filled with grape wine, overlooking the Garden beneath the night sky. Moonlight streamed through the window, revealing the greasy shine on his face. ¡°City Lord?¡± Zi Di was slightly taken aback; she had come for an appointment and had not expected to meet the City Lord of Garden City. ¡°I think I might have entered the wrong room.¡± Zi Di was about to take her leave. ¡°You haven¡¯t entered the wrong room, my little beauty.¡± The City Lord of Garden City turned around, smiling as he appraised Zi Di, ¡°Your date is with me.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes widened, utterly shocked as she stared at the middle-aged man before her who was even older than her father. ¡°This can¡¯t be!¡± Zi Di shook her head, her face drained of color, stepping back repeatedly, ¡°This joke isn¡¯t funny.¡± The City Lord of Garden City watched her with interest: ¡°Of course, this is no joke. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can look up at the room number.¡± Zi Di retreated to the doorway and looked up at the doorplate, her slender body trembling slightly with panic and fear. ¡°No, no, this can¡¯t be real¡­¡± Zi Di muttered to herself, unable to believe what was unfolding before her. ¡°Didn¡¯t your father tell you?¡± The City Lord of Garden City found it strange. Zi Di¡¯s body and soul shuddered; at that moment, she fully understood the difficult and complex expression her father had when they had spoken earlier. The young girl¡¯s heart was in turmoil. ¡°Oh¡­ my poor little thing.¡± The City Lord of Garden City slowly walked towards Zi Di, ¡°Look at you now, so much like a delicate little flower swaying in the storm. Don¡¯t worry, I am a man who cherishes flowers, and I will take good care of you.¡± ¡°No, no!¡± Zi Di suddenly came to her senses, backing away rapidly until she found herself in the corridor, shaking her head ceaselessly, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be like this, it shouldn¡¯t¡­¡± The City Lord of Garden City stepped to the door, his pity mingled with mockery, his coldness laced with jest, looking down at Zi Di: ¡°In fact, it should be exactly like this.¡± ¡°Do you know how large the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce is now? How many powerful figures have infiltrated it?¡± ¡°Do you know that your father has long since lost control of the guild?¡± ¡°You and your father simply don¡¯t have the status to be seen in public circles, with lowly bloodlines and humble identities. For the rest of your lives, you¡¯re confined to the Black Iron Level, yet you hold immense wealth. The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce¡­ second only to the six major guilds¡­ a behemoth¡­¡± ¡°I have to admit,¡± the City Lord of Garden City shrugged, ¡°your father has an extraordinary talent for business. It¡¯s his fortune, perhaps also his misfortune. He doesn¡¯t have the qualifications or the power to control such a large guild.¡± ¡°He realized this too, so after exhausting all means and pulling strings, he finally came to me.¡± ¡°At first, I refused.¡± ¡°But later, the bargaining chip your father offered moved me.¡± ¡°You know, my brother is the Grand Duke of Wheat Scent. To ally with me is to seek the favor of a living deity within the Empire. That¡¯s the only way your father can preserve the fruits of his labor as well as both of your lives.¡± ¡°I will marry you, I will be your husband.¡± ¡°So, come here.¡± The City Lord of Garden City gestured to Zi Di: ¡°Come close to me obediently, step into this room, then close the door, and willingly throw yourself into my arms.¡± ¡°I am a man who dislikes taking the initiative.¡± ¡°No, no¡­¡± Zi Di shook her head incessantly, the cruel reality too overwhelming for her to truly think straight. ¡°I will not step out this door,¡± the City Lord of Garden City declared arrogantly, ¡°With my status, I will certainly not make any moves to pursue you. Miss Zi Di, young and naive, you are merely an addition to this transaction. Please be sure to understand this.¡± ¡°Of course, you are also crucial. Without our marriage, the other powers within the Empire wouldn¡¯t easily back off. This is one of the rules of a game called ¡®politics.''¡± ¡°I can¡¯t possibly marry you, City Lord; I don¡¯t want to!¡± Tears streamed down Zi Di¡¯s face as she cried. The City Lord of Garden City¡¯s brows furrowed, his tone becoming displeased: ¡°Of course, you are perfectly free to refuse me. In fact, I also wouldn¡¯t want to sacrifice the precious position reserved for my wife for the sake of this transaction. Making you my wife would be a waste of a significant political resource!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± she said. ¡°If you¡¯re unable to make up your mind now, I can give you some time to think.¡± ¡°You may go downstairs now. I believe your father is already waiting for you at the turn of the staircase.¡± ¡°You and your father will have a good talk.¡± Zi Di¡¯s face turned deathly pale, forgetting to salute the Garden City Lord as she stumbled down the stairs. And indeed, her father stood at the turn of the first-floor staircase. ¡°Zi Di,¡± her father¡¯s expression was extremely complicated. ¡°You lied to me!¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears as she yelled angrily at her father. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you, I never thought of deceiving you, my daughter!¡± Her father quickly defended himself. ¡°How could you choose to sacrifice me for the sake of the Guild!?¡± Zi Di questioned, ¡°Which is more important to you, the Guild or me?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s you, you¡¯re my only family, my precious daughter!¡± Her father blurted out, and then he covered his face with his hands, beginning to sob, ¡°But I¡¯m helpless, I really am.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to give up the Guild so many times, I swear to you, more than once!¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already in too deep, the Guild has been infiltrated by too many people of power, and it¡¯s beyond my control. As the founder, I can¡¯t just step back into the shadows. They won¡¯t spare someone like me with such great influence. If I don¡¯t choose to align myself with one of the powers, if I don¡¯t take sides, I¡¯ll be devoured by the swarm! Then, both of us, father and daughter, will lose our lives!¡± Zi Di stood in stunned silence, as if plunged into an icy cavern. After a long time, she finally spoke, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°Would telling you the truth have made a difference?¡± Her father grew agitated, ¡°Would it? We¡¯re just lower-class people, merchants with lowly bloodlines; with all our resources, we¡¯re still nothing but Black Iron.¡± ¡°Even if I spend all my wealth to hire powerful protectors, even those of Legendary level, no one would face off against the major powers within the Empire for our sake.¡± ¡°The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce¡­ haha, Purple Vines may twist and turn, lush and growing widely, but without the support of a great tree, they can only lie on the ground, trampled by others!¡± ¡°We must side with one of them, do you understand? My daughter.¡± Zi Di furrowed her brows, her heart filled with boundless sorrow, ¡°So, you want to sacrifice me? Make me marry a man even older than you?¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry, sorry¡­¡± Her father tried to approach, to embrace Zi Di. But Zi Di quickly stepped back, resolutely shouting at her father, ¡°The man upstairs will never be my knight! My future is not like this.¡± As she spoke, her voice trembled with sobs. ¡°Zi Di, my daughter¡­¡± Her father called out tenderly. But at that moment, the Garden City Lord¡¯s impatient voice came from upstairs, ¡°Chairman Purple Vine, you had better hurry, my patience is limited.¡± Her father¡¯s face clouded over like a gathering storm, and he urgently hissed at Zi Di, ¡°Zi Di, stop this nonsense. Do you know how much I¡¯ve sacrificed for this deal?¡± ¡°You know how much effort, how many risks, I¡¯ve taken for the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. You know how difficult it has been for me!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just watch it be taken away!¡± ¡°Help your father, ah, consider it repaying me for raising you. All these years, your living expenses, your costly tuition, it¡¯s all been provided by me. Whatever it is financially, I¡¯ve tried my best to satisfy you, haven¡¯t I? Like the Rainbow Cake this time, you liked it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Gazing at her father like this, Zi Di felt a chill to her core. ¡°No, I don¡¯t like Rainbow Cake at all! Now, it seems just a means for you to achieve your plans!¡± ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t spend a penny of your money. I will repay every investment you made in me!¡± Seeing Zi Di so resolute, her father became even more furious, ¡°Enough with this nonsense, you wouldn¡¯t survive a single day without me! How could you possibly live the privileged life of a young lady on your own? Listen to dad, marry the City Lord of Garden City, and you¡¯ll never have to worry for the rest of your life!!¡± ¡°No, never!!¡± Zi Di roared, lifting her dress hem and turning to run. Behind her, her father¡¯s calls for her to stop only made her run faster. She bolted out of the building¡¯s front door, nearly spraining her ankle. One of her beautiful pearl white high heels came off, and Zi Di kicked the other away without a second thought. She ran into the garden, her lovely and fluffy Princess Dress getting recklessly torn by the bushes, creating gaps and becoming ragged. She cried as she ran, with tears streaming down her face. Her father¡¯s words still echoed in her ears¡ªwithout me, you wouldn¡¯t survive a single day! How could you possibly live the privileged life of a young lady on your own? How hurtful those words were, making Zi Di even more angry and sad. She tore off the diamond necklace from her chest and slid the expensive and exquisitely crafted bracelet off her wrist, then casually tossed them aside on the roadside. Finally, she reached the estate¡¯s main gate, where the guards looked on in surprise at today¡¯s main character. The once grandly dressed Princess, the jewel in the Chairman¡¯s palm, now stood there in a tattered dress, breathless, with tear-stained cheeks, in a total mess. ¡°Miss Zi Di, is there anything we can help you with?¡± ¡°Open the gate for me!¡± ¡°That is out of the question; the Chairman has issued a strict order.¡± The guards shook their heads insistently. ¡°Zi Di.¡± A familiar voice came from behind. Zi Di turned around and saw Fat Tongue, her body trembling, her eyes tearing up, ¡°Are you here to persuade me too? Uncle Fat Tongue.¡± Fat Tongue slowly shook his head, ¡°I, I don¡¯t agree with your father¡¯s actions. Take my horse, carriage and go. I will talk to your, your dad.¡± After he spoke, he ordered the guards, ¡°Now, open the, the gate.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°I will explain to the, the Chairman. If anything happens, the responsibility will be all on me, me; it won¡¯t implicate any of you.¡± Fat Tongue was resolute. The guards had no choice but to comply. Fat Tongue escorted Zi Di all the way to his own carriage. ¡°Uncle Fat Tongue, thank you!¡± Zi Di stepped onto the carriage stairs, overwhelmed with gratitude towards Fat Tongue. Fat Tongue gave a wry smile, ¡°I¡¯ve watched you grow up, child. Don¡¯t blame your father, father. He is under distress, forced into a corner without, without a choice.¡± ¡°No, I will never forgive him!¡± Zi Di clenched her teeth. She took one last deep look at the estate, the home where she had lived for so many years. Then she climbed into the carriage. Inadvertently, the Crystal Crown on her head bumped against the carriage door frame and fell off. Zi Di glanced back at the crown lying on the ground, then resolutely closed the carriage door behind her. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Back to the Magic Academy.¡± The next moment, her determined voice came from inside the carriage. Chapter 185 - 185: Section 185+: Soul-devouring Skill Chapter 185: Section 185+: Soul-devouring Skill Returning to the Magic Academy, Zi Di sighed in relief, knowing she was temporarily safe. The academy boasted seven towers of Legendary Mages and possessed several passages leading to sixteen half-planes. It was one of the best Magic Academies in the Empire. To study here, Zi Di¡¯s father had spent a fortune. The escape during the birthday banquet felt like a dream. Perhaps out of concern for reputation and face, the Garden City Lord didn¡¯t seize the opportunity to make things difficult. Her father also continued to provide for Zi Di¡¯s extravagant living and education costs without interruption. ... Zi Di¡¯s life seemed to have returned to its former tranquility. However, she understood that her heart had undergone a tremendous change. She no longer used the money her father provided every month; she started to rely on herself. There were roughly three types of students in the Magic Academy. One type was the nobility, whose superior Bloodlines naturally bestowed high status. The second type was the children of the wealthy, like Zi Di, who had lower Bloodlines and modest talent for studying magic, limiting their lifelong achievements. However, being taken in as an apprentice by a mentor could yield a substantial monetary supply. The study and practice of magic consumed vast resources. The third type was the exceptionally talented commoners. These students, mostly with outstanding spiritual power, were filtered through the Empire¡¯s selection system and included seeds of exceptional Bloodline Mutations. If these students could grow successfully, they often became the pillars of both the academy and the Empire. Zi Di¡¯s refusal to use the funds provided by her father greatly displeased her mentor. The academy distributed a plethora of tasks daily, mainly for the commoner students. As a Bronze Level Magic Apprentice, Zi Di had a narrow range of tasks to accept, all of which were arduous to complete. But it was through these tasks that she struggled to survive. This, of course, was not enough to make her self-sufficient, and her situation became increasingly difficult. She no longer had exquisite dresses and started to compete with other students for higher paying tasks, sometimes going hungry when money was tight. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her plight became known to others. Former playmates and intimate friends all shunned her, some even offering scorn and seizing any opportunity to ridicule her. There were male students who kept hinting to Zi Di¡ªthere¡¯s no need for you to live this hard. Actually, your conditions are not bad, you could make good use of your ¡°natural resources¡±, and this way, you could easily exchange for a lot of resources. Sometimes, even beyond your imagination. Without exception, Zi Di firmly rejected these insinuations and implicit demands. She saw another side of the world. The once glorious and serene, noble and solemn Magic Academy now revealed its bloody and brutal side to her. Those Mage Towers intertwined into a peculiar jungle. The law of the jungle, the survival of the fittest, was equally prevalent here. In this jungle, every life had its own way to survive. The strong stood alone; the weak bonded together. Of course, Zi Di was not among the strong, and at the same time, it was difficult for her to be accepted by the groups of the weak. Zi Di was like a canary in a nest on a high branch, who had suddenly fallen to the very bottom of this jungle. In the darkest depths of the jungle, where there was little light, she had to seize every sliver of sunlight, every bit of food and water to survive. Those as weak as her looked upon the canary-like creature with natural aversion, caution, and even a touch of schadenfreude. She stumbled and suffered continuously. Throughout the difficult process of survival, there were many temptations and traps. The hints from those male students never ceased, and the funds in her account kept accumulating over time¡­ They all reminded her that she could regain her brilliance and relive the ease and glory of standing on high branches if she just gave up some things that seemed insignificant. But Zi Di never wavered. Sometimes, her determination astounded even herself. Gradually, with great difficulty, she found her footing in the highly competitive academy, learned self-reliance, and began to support herself. ¡°I can finally support myself with my own hands, with my own labor!¡± This sense of achievement brought her joy and pride. But at the same time, she also felt inferior and discouraged. The harder she worked, the more she felt the impoverishment of her own potential and the dim prospects of her future. According to her spirit and bloodline, her lifetime¡¯s greatest achievement would be Black Iron Level! This meant that in this unique jungle, her lifelong efforts would only just allow her to move out of the mire and reach the trunk. She couldn¡¯t even climb to the lowest branches. Although Zi Di had long been aware of this, now she felt the despair more acutely than ever. She began to understand those companions around her, some of whom ridiculed and made life difficult for her, why they chose to use their bodies in exchange for a relatively easy and superior life. Understanding did not imply agreement. Being an extremely beautiful figure of the academy, Zi Di¡¯s persistence and personal effort made her stand out and added to her charm. More and more suitors appeared around her, but all were met with her stern rejection. One of her suitors, formerly unremarkable, had suddenly bloomed with radiance. ¡°Miss Zi Di, do you know why my strength has improved by leaps and bounds?¡± The suitor, after a long time of lurking, finally found the opportunity to talk to Zi Di alone. Zi Di was slightly taken aback, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about my performance? My bloodline is nearly the same as yours,¡± the suitor smiled. ¡°Are you saying you have a method to change your bloodline?¡± Zi Di asked, surprised. The male student silently smiled, shook his head, and said, ¡°Change the bloodline, how could you have such a na?ve thought? Bloodlines cannot be changed; they are determined at the time of a person¡¯s birth.¡± ¡°Even if there is a bloodline awakening, it¡¯s just that one originally possessed such potential.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve all had our bloodlines tested upon entering the academy, our potential is as it is, you shouldn¡¯t hold any hope for that aspect.¡± Zi Di frowned, ¡°Then you¡­¡± The male student took a deep breath, ¡°My dear Miss Zi Di, you have to understand one thing, there are many types of power, magic, fighting energy, divine arts¡­ and within magic, there are many subdivisions, Fire Element, Space Department, Thunder Element, Wind Element, Summoning System¡­¡± ¡°Our bloodlines have very low potential in these schools, but these magic disciplines were also invented one by one, and then prospered.¡± ¡°Now, there is such a new discipline. Perhaps your bloodline could help you more in this field.¡± Zi Di furrowed her brows, ¡°What are you really trying to say?¡± ¡°Here, take this.¡± The male student actively handed Zi Di a rolled-up piece of parchment. Zi Di unfolded the parchment and immediately her pupils shrank, she couldn¡¯t help but gasp, ¡°Soul-devouring Skill? Undead Magic? Have you lost your mind?¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± The male student¡¯s face was full of mockery, ¡°I¡¯ve lost my mind? Indeed, reality is pushing me to the brink of madness. But I would rather be a madman and learn Undead Magic because it can help me change my status quo and, to some extent, break through the existing limits!¡± ¡°You and I are the same, our talents are too mediocre, and our bloodlines too common.¡± ¡°Without going a little mad, we¡¯ll always be at the bottom, stepped on by others.¡± ¡°But with this spell, I can use my spirit to devour other people¡¯s spirits, thus strengthening my spiritual power!¡± ¡°How about it? Do you accept or not?¡± Zi Di¡¯s face turned pale. The suitor in front of her had a pale face, dark circles under his eyes, and a maniacal expression¡ªone look and you knew something wasn¡¯t right. If she refused, she would almost certainly be attacked by this suitor. Since he had revealed the Undead Magic, he would surely kill to silence her. And unfortunately, this place was a secluded part of the street. ¡°And¡­ spiritual power¡­¡± Zi Di was all too aware of the significance of the spirit for a Mage. On one hand was the despair over her own bloodline and talent, and on the other was the prospect of a new school of magic. Perhaps, as the suitor claimed, she would perform better in the school of Undead. Zi Di felt her mouth dry. She knew she was tempted. Her bloodline and talent confined her, making her a Black Iron for life. But perhaps¡­ If she practiced Undead Magic, could her bloodline talent be stronger in this area? ¡°This spell, I¡­ will take it.¡± After a moment of hesitation, Zi Di said stiffly, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Hehehe, let¡¯s sign a contract first. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you. The contract is lenient, it¡¯s just to prevent you from reporting me as soon as you leave,¡± the suitor laughed heartily. The contract had no problems, and Zi Di signed it. ¡°From now on, we are the same kind of people. Hehehe.¡± Someone passed by, the suitor immediately slipped into the shadows and left the area. Afterward, Zi Di also left with a heavy heart. At first, she stored the spell on a high shelf, not daring to touch it. She was extremely hesitant about practicing Undead Magic. As time passed, her situation became even more difficult. Her mentor, after several hints and explicit statements to no avail, finally lost patience and stripped her of her position under his command. This added insult to injury for her. With no bloodline talent, having lost her wealth, and unwilling to sell her beauty, Zi Di seemed to have fallen into a trap of despair with no way out, nowhere to escape. Finally, one deep night, alone, Zi Di once again unfolded the parchment detailing the Undead Magic with trembling fingers. She began to attempt practicing Undead Magic! Her soul was gradually transformed by the power of the Undead Magic. ¡°Devour¡­ If I devour a person¡¯s spirit, my spiritual power will increase tremendously!¡± The intense temptation nearly overwhelmed Zi Di. ¡°No, how can I become a murderer?¡± ¡°A single misstep leads to a path of continued errors. I cannot descend into the abyss of sin.¡± ¡°Think about it carefully, I only need the spirits of intelligent life! I don¡¯t have to strike against the Human Race; there are countless foreign slaves in the slave market.¡± The tempted Zi Di began to search the slave market for suitable targets. Boom! A loud bang, and flames erupted from a house on the street. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, don¡¯t kill me!¡± The familiar voice made Zi Di, who was passing by, freeze, and then she saw the suitor who had given her the Undead Magic burst out of the fiery house, running desperately. A long spear shot out with the speed of a thunderbolt. The suitor couldn¡¯t dodge in time and was impaled on the spot. ¡°We received a tip and have verified that he has been corrupted, becoming an Undead Mage!¡± The City Guard came out from the burning house and loudly explained to the onlookers. Accompanying them was a mentor from the Magic Academy. He cast a spell in public, and under the effect of the spell, the suitor¡¯s soul appeared, visible to the naked eye. His soul shimmered with a thick gray light, a characteristic of the power of an Undead Mage. The onlookers exclaimed, and then they burst into shouts: ¡°Kill the Undead Mage!¡± ¡°Smash his soul to pieces, completely annihilate him!¡± ¡°Well done, City Guard!¡± Zi Di stood to one side, her face as white as paper. The suitor¡¯s human-shaped soul was screaming hysterically, emitting a sharp and piercing noise. Suddenly, he spotted Zi Di. Mad with rage, he charged towards the girl. ¡°No, don¡¯t come near me!¡± In her panic, the girl stumbled backward and fell to the ground. A bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, annihilating the suitor¡¯s soul. ¡°You¡¯re also an apprentice from the academy, right? Your combat prowess needs improvement,¡± said the Magic Academy mentor as he destroyed the Undead with lightning and helped Zi Di to her feet. ¡°Mentor¡­¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes were vacant, her mind flooded with the image of the suitor¡¯s soul being obliterated by the lightning. ¡°Let me check to see if you have been infected by the Undead Magic,¡± the Magic Mentor cast a Detecting Spell once again. After all, the suitor¡¯s Dead Soul had nearly reached Zi Di. The girl felt as if she was falling into an icy abyss, her heart raced in panic, and she was overwhelmed with endless fear. However, after the spell swept over her, there was no reaction. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you are healthy,¡± said the mentor after extinguishing the fire in the house and then left. Zi Di stood motionless until the City Guard and the onlookers had all dispersed, and only then did she come to her senses. She was drenched in cold sweat and listlessly dragged her steps, leaving the place. After returning, she fell seriously ill and no longer entertained the idea of touching Undead Magic. Chapter 186 - 186: Section 186: There is no Knight in Your Destiny Chapter 186: Section 186: There is no Knight in Your Destiny Zi Di continued to live within the academy, hiding under the guise of a mere student. The grueling days slowly became a thing of her past, she adapted, and eventually, she thrived like a fish takes to water. She abandoned the perilous spells of the Undead, did not tap into the living expenses her father had sent her, and never compromised her principles. Using her clever mind, sharp insight, as well as leveraging her good reputation, eloquence, and savvy, she gradually built her own network; seizing small opportunities here and there, the little gains added up, forming a mighty tower from grains of sand. At dawn, the Fish Market was already bustling. Dressed in casual clothes, Zi Di strolled through the market. ... The fishy smell, which she once loathed, was now something she didn¡¯t mind in the slightest. She had been to the Fish Market many times, each visit with the purpose of selecting Tuna. Tuna was a large category of fish, divided further into varieties such as Yellowfin, Bigeye, Bluefin, Albacore, and Skipjack among others. Zi Di always managed to select the best quality Tuna. This was the result of her inquiries, the rich resources of the library, and the experience she gained from her repeated purchases. There was an instructor in the academy who loved Tuna above all else, who almost daily, posted such tasks. Zi Di, with her dedication and competence, stood out from many competitors. Although the rewards for these tasks weren¡¯t substantial, the advantage lay in their daily consistency. Soon, with her sharp negotiating skills, Zi Di pressed the prices to their absolute limit and purchased enough Tuna. Just as she was about to leave, a commotion erupted not far from her. Glancing over, Zi Di saw two Bronze-level Fishermen locked in an argument. She immediately understood that this was a dispute over the title of ¡°King of Fish¡±. Almost daily there would be contention among the fishermen at the market for this accolade. The fisherman who won the title would draw significant attention to their stall. Often, his fish would be sold out well before midday. The rules for competing for the King of Fish were simple, based purely on the weight of the single heaviest fish caught that morning. However, today¡¯s situation was more complicated, hence the dispute. A fisherman who had originally secured the title was discovered to have a person hidden inside the large sea fish he had caught! This unfortunate person was barely alive, half-ensnared within the belly of the fish. The fisherman who had originally lost the title argued that the weight of the person should not be counted towards that of the fish. But the fisherman who had been confident in his victory argued that the unfortunate victim was just part of the fish¡¯s stomach contents and should be counted in the weight. After all, he had managed to catch the great fish and the human simultaneously, which was no small feat. The other fishermen scoffed at this, asserting that the large fish, encumbered by a man in its stomach, must have been sluggish, which was the key to its capture. Both sides were adamant in their views, the dispute persisted, and the onlookers were divided, each supporting one of the fishermen. Zi Di, however, noticed the dire state of the drowning victim and called out, ¡°Regardless of the situation, shouldn¡¯t we prioritize saving a life?¡± ¡°Tch, he¡¯s just a Barbarian, what¡¯s there to save?¡± replied the indifferent crowd. If it had been a pure member of the Human Race, the people might have been inclined to help, but Barbarians mainly resided on the Frost Continent and were considered foreigners. Unable to bear the thought of the Barbarian dying before her, Zi Di hesitated, but still pulled out a potion from her bosom and poured it into the Barbarian¡¯s mouth. The aged Barbarian awoke, but immediately began to shout incoherently, unable to communicate, clearly a madman. Some in the crowd mocked Zi Di, saying the Healing Potion she used was valuable and yet she wasted it on a madman, with no compensation in return. Zi Di sighed. Her intent had been merely to alleviate suffering, not to seek a reward. But she offered no rebuttals and simply walked away without drawing attention to herself. Because every time she went out, she would use a Transformation Potion to temporarily alter her appearance. Otherwise, with her natural beauty, she would be the focus of people¡¯s attention wherever she went. As the days passed, the mad old Barbarian gradually became a fixture of the Fish Market. He was as thin as a rail, with wild, unkempt hair. Though he was erratic and seemed crazed, he posed little threat. The fishermen took to mocking him, making a sport of him every day, seeking amusement at his expense. But, though mad, the old Barbarian¡¯s instinct to eat remained intact. He survived by reluctantly feeding on the discarded innards of fish from the Fish Market. Zi Di frequented the Fish Market almost every day, sometimes seeing the old crazy Barbarian, sometimes not. More often, Zi Di brought some food, particularly for the old man. Two years later, one day. She discovered the old Barbarian, fast asleep, in a corner at the end of an alley in the Fish Market. As she placed the food in front of him, the old Barbarian slowly opened his eyes and uttered in fluent Universal Language, ¡°Thank you, young and kind miss.¡± Zi Di was taken aback. The old Barbarian pulled out a scroll of beast skin from his chest. ¡°I am becoming clearer,¡± he said. ¡°This is a potion formula I¡¯ve brewed, a potion of our Barbarian tribe.¡± ¡°Please accept it, young miss. We Barbarians always repay our debts.¡± Zi Di took it from him and was immediately captivated. ¡°These formulas use only the natural properties of herbs, they aren¡¯t considered Magic Potions. But they¡¯re extremely rare; even the library has only a copy or two. Thank you¡­¡± Zi Di looked up, suddenly falling silent. Perhaps she was too engrossed in these potion formulas; the old Barbarian had vanished. For the first time, she realized that this was a Barbarian with a story. This significant, albeit not huge, adventure had an increasingly noticeable impact on Zi Di in the years to come. The more Zi Di studied, the more she noticed that the potions on the beast skin differed from the system of Magic Potions. Clearly, it was a compilation of the Barbarians¡¯ tribal experiences, lacking the research and meticulous spirit promoted by Mages, but its practical value was notably high. Zi Di¡¯s previous mentor was most skilled in Alchemy, and alongside her primary magic training, she had also chosen to minor in a branch of alchemy¡ªpotion study. A few months later, Zi Di began to see modest results from her research. One year later, those results grew in number. The good reputation of some of her ordinary potions began to spread among the townsfolk, and even some students, due to tight budgets, forsake expensive Magic Potions for Zi Di¡¯s Barbarian Potions. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°As soon as I graduate, perhaps I could open a common potion shop in the city.¡± Just as she was beginning to look forward to a promising career, devastating news suddenly came. Her father had died! When she first heard the news, Zi Di¡¯s initial response was disbelief. ¡°Could this just be a ruse my father is using to lure me home?¡± Over the years, she had not returned home even once. But soon after, letters from Fat Tongue and several other elders arrived in succession, confirming the harsh reality. Endless grief overwhelmed Zi Di. Despite hating her father, she had never truly thought that one day she would hear news of his death. ¡°He was my only relative in this world,¡± she wept. Feelings of loneliness, bewilderment, and insignificance washed over her like endless waves. Zi Di had become independent over the years, capable of living alone in the city. She hadn¡¯t spent a cent of the money her father had sent her. It was only when her father truly passed away that she realized the actual place he held in her heart, in her life. Though she was estranged from her father, though she loathed him, she also loved him deeply! In the following months, the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce was battered by the storm, sinking into an intense internal strife. The elite swiftly divided up the assets of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, and many guild members changed sides, either willingly or by coercion, to serve others. There were many letters to Zi Di, with the vast majority urging her to come forward and protect the legacy left by the old Chairman. According to tradition and the laws of the Empire, she was the sole heir to the guild. But Zi Di ignored them as if she had heard nothing. She nestled within the Magic Academy, never venturing out again. The Fish Market duties she had kept up for years were also abandoned. She knew that the Magic Academy was her haven, the only place at this stage that could provide her shelter and security for her life. Finally, after several months, the tumultuous feast of the various powers gradually drew to a close. The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce was left with barely a name, the vast majority of valuable assets now belonged to others. The once glorious super guild, with the strong trend of surpassing the traditional top six guilds, had plummeted completely into the dirt in just a few months. There were those who sighed and lamented, those who feared after the fact, those who kicked someone already down, and those who remained indifferent onlookers¡­ Finally, when everything had settled, Zi Di left the Magic Academy. She had been hiding within the Magic Academy this whole time. Now, she needed to attend her father¡¯s funeral. ¡°Little Zi Di, do, don¡¯t feel guilty. What you did was ri, right,¡± Fat Tongue, leading a group of people, came to meet her. ¡°They, those who advised you to come out were all, all ulteriorly motivated, wanting to use you to fight for more, more benefits.¡± ¡°But, still be careful, after the big crocodiles are sated, the ferocious piranhas are still swimming in the murky waters.¡± Traveling discreetly for several days, Zi Di and her group arrived at a small town at the foot of the mountains. The town was filled with a joyful atmosphere, as a circus had come to town, bringing one of the few entertainment events of the year to the townspeople. Clowns, fireworks, colorful balloons, puppet shows, a Brown Bear walking on barrels, dancing monkeys, and snake charmers from the East playing their flutes. Zi Di¡¯s carriage slowly made its way through the crowded crowds. Inside the carriage, silence reigned, with grief surging in Zi Di¡¯s heart. The inside and outside of the carriage were like two distinctly different worlds. Peering through the window curtains, Zi Di could gaze upon the manor on the hillside. That place used to be her home, the manor seemed to have changed little. Childhood memories flooded her mind¡ªscenes of her life in the manor and the town. Every year when the circus came, she would visit and have fun accompanied by the guards. Even a performing parrot that could smoke in the circus could amaze and fascinate the young her. Now, she had returned. She had grown up, both in age and experience. The manor of her past, which once radiated joy, now exuded a sad aura. The enigmatic circus of her memories no longer brought the awe and the thrill it once did to Zi Di. Everything had changed beyond recognition. The carriage procession slowly made its way through the busy market, and under a makeshift stage converted from a wagon, a group of children sat around. On the stage was a puppet show, which narrated Zi Di¡¯s favorite story from her childhood¡ªthe Princess, the Demon, and the Knight. Hearing those familiar lines, Zi Di was reminded of the times she had strolled through the town with her mother. ¡°Mommy, the Demon is so nasty, I want to defeat it! I¡¯m very strong, I can even beat the gardener¡¯s son who is two years older than me,¡± she proclaimed. Her mother laughed, ¡°My little princess, fighting is not what a lady should do. Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t have to lift a finger; you¡¯ll have your Knight, and he will protect you for life.¡± ¡°My Knight?¡± the young Zi Di¡¯s eyes sparkled, ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Mommy isn¡¯t quite sure either. But what¡¯s certain is that he will appear in your life.¡± ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s that tent over there?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the Divination Master¡¯s tent.¡± ¡°Divination, what is it? I want to go see,¡± Zi Di said. ¡°It¡¯s too late, sweetie. Mommy will take you next year, okay? My lovely little princess, we should head home to sleep now. Be good,¡± her mother replied. ¡°Oh¡­¡± A youthful Zi Di lowered her head, her reply steeped in reluctance. Eventually, the caravan reached the end of the street, behind which lay a mountain path. At the far end of the mountain path was the estate. A blue tent stood at the street¡¯s end. This was the Divination Master¡¯s tent, sparsely visited, stark and quiet in contrast to the other bustling stalls of the circus. Divination was a form of prophecy, a deeply profound domain of magic. But most of the folk Divination Masters were charlatans, full of nonsense and deceit. Perhaps because they visited the town each year, the townsfolk were too familiar with the circus¡¯s diviners and had lost any interest in patronizing them. ¡°Stop the carriage, I want to get out,¡± Zi Di suddenly declared, spirited. She stepped down from the carriage, leaving her guards outside the tent. Inside the tent, the lighting was dim, as if intentionally crafted to conjure a mysterious atmosphere. Zi Di surveyed the tent¡¯s furnishings with interest. Years of honing her sharp eye, she quickly discerned the many fake herbal medicines and countless imitation Magic Tools. She was both disappointed and unsurprised. ¡°My dear, what would you like to divinate?¡± the Divination Master asked. Only then did Zi Di turn her attention towards her. The Divination Master was an old crone with deep wrinkles, her forehead marked by a deep blue nine-pointed star. Zi Di sat down casually, ¡°Please divine when the knight in my life will arrive.¡± The Divination Master started fumbling with an evidently fake Crystal Ball on the short table, muttering to herself in a continuous, unclear whisper that even she might have found incomprehensible. The Divination Master¡¯s brow furrowed, her voice growing more frantic, as if grappling with some indecipherable dilemma. Suddenly! She convulsed, her eyes rolling back to show only the whites. From the corners of her eyes, nostrils, mouth, and ears ran fresh streams of blood! She cried out in terror, ¡°Ah¡­ Ah!¡± ¡°I see¡­ I see your fate¡­¡± ¡°In your fate¡­ there is no knight!¡± ¡°Only, only¡­ Ah!!! A beast, no, a monster!¡± ¡°Monster!!!¡± Zi Di was startled and stood up instinctively. The guards outside the tent, hearing the commotion, hurried inside. The Divination Master lay sprawled across the table, her eyes rolled back, revealing only the whites, her gnarled, crone-like hands reaching for Zi Di. The guards sprang forward, one of them already drawing his sword halfway. ¡°Stop, there¡¯s no need for panic. This is just a silly scare tactic,¡± Zi Di calmed down and chuckled. She tossed a silver coin onto the short table. ¡°For you.¡± ¡°Well played.¡± She turned and walked away, the guards following close behind her. Chapter 187 - 187: Section 187: New Chairman of Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce Chapter 187: Section 187: New Chairman of Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce The drizzle continued, and the sky was overcast. Zi Di¡¯s father was buried behind the manor, next to her mother. This had been decided in the year her mother died, following her father¡¯s last wishes. Originally, when he had made his first fortune in life, he had used nearly all his assets to buy this hill and build the estate, all to marry Zi Di¡¯s mother. For Zi Di¡¯s father, this was a testament to the brilliance of his life, the beginning of happiness, and also the end of his life. The priest prayed as the coffin lowered into the grave. A group of people dressed in black stood silently, the atmosphere somber. ... Zi Di stood at the forefront, silently gazing at the coffin before her. Inside lay the last of her relatives in this world. Her face was expressionless, but her heart was filled with grief and hatred. Dead from a fall off a horse,¡ªhow ludicrous the cause of death! Her father had been a chairman of a major guild, at the Black Iron Level of cultivation, and possessed many powerful protective devices. Even riding a bursting-hoofed fiery horse, he shouldn¡¯t have died this way. Yet such a ridiculous reason was accepted by others. The ignorant truly believed, lamenting the unpredictability of fate. And those knowledgeable of societal rules, endowed with wisdom, understood even better¡ªthis was actually a cold, fierce warning from the empire¡¯s elite to the lower classes: even the chairman of such a large guild like the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce could suddenly die from a fall off his horse one day. You should be clear on who controls the empire! After the priest finished praying, someone took a shovel and began to fill the grave with earth. Soon, the funeral was over. ¡°Thank you, Father,¡± Zi Di, as a family member, thanked the priest. ¡°My dear lady, please take comfort. May your father be guided by the divine and ascend to Heaven,¡± the priest consoled. Zi Di¡¯s father was a believer in the God of Wealth, but not devout. Indeed, followers of the God of Wealth were often either very poor and devout or wealthy and lukewarm in their faith. That made sense. Those capable of earning wealth typically kept the fruits of their labor for themselves, rather than contributing to the divine. Those impoverished and lacking talents longed for wealth and could only put their hopes into prayers, often with genuine devotion. Of course, there were also some wealthy fanatics, but they were clearly fewer compared to followers of other deities. Zi Di knew well that the priest¡¯s blessing was impossible. Not to speak of her father¡¯s faith, the most crucial point was, after his death by falling from a horse, his spirit had dissipated. In this world, death did not mean secrets were buried forever. Whether through magic or divine arts, many methods existed to cross the boundary of death and unearth plenty of information. The dissolution of the spirit was clearly the perpetrator¡¯s clean work. The real culprit behind the scenes did not want to leave any clues. This was not because they worried about Zi Di or someone from the guild doing something, but rather to prevent this clue from falling into the hands of other powerful factions. This had led to Zi Di and others still being unaware of who the enemy that killed her father was, and which faction backed them. ¡°But I will still do all I can, do everything possible to investigate the truth and avenge you, my¡­ father.¡± Zi Di stood still as if sculpted from stone, unmoving for a long time. Fat Tongue sighed behind her, patting her shoulder, ¡°Do not grieve too much, little Zi Di.¡± ¡°The chairman, he¡­ he had a premonition.¡± ¡°He always loved you, and held guilt toward you.¡± ¡°After you refused the Garden City Lord, he withstood the pressure and never forced you again.¡± ¡°All these years, you rejected his money, never using a penny, instead, you strived on your own; this made him both heartbroken and very proud. Many times in private, he bragged about every little achievement of yours to me¡­ to us¡ªhe had such an excellent daughter!¡± After a long silence, Zi Di said, ¡°Uncle Fat Tongue, I want to be alone with my father for a while.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Fat Tongue nodded, turned around, waved his hand, signaling others to move away from the tombstone. The group stood at a distance, watching Zi Di and the tombstone, and began to whisper among themselves. ¡°How long will she stay? How much longer must we wait?¡± someone asked impatiently. ¡°Hmph, if it wasn¡¯t for her staying in the academy all the time, how could the chairman not have been buried until now!¡± another person expressed dissatisfaction with Zi Di, ¡°Even if there are disputes between father and daughter, it shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡± ¡°According to the schedule, the meeting is next. Let¡¯s hurry up; time is tight on my side.¡± Fat Tongue turned his head, looking coldly at the crowd, indicating: Those who want to wait can continue waiting. Those who do not want to wait, if time is tight, can leave directly, and naturally there is no need to attend the meeting. The murmurs of the crowd paused immediately. Fat Tongue once again directed his gaze towards Zi Di, his heart filled with anxiety. This group attending the funeral included the seasoned members of the guild, or rather the elders, but now they had disparate intentions. Some wanted to go solo, others aimed to revitalize the guild, and certainly, there were spies among them. Compared to her father, Zi Di had no authority over these people and certainly couldn¡¯t control the situation. As soon as the meeting started, Zi Di directly said, ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand how to manage the guild yet. Whatever you want to say, just say it.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll speak frankly, my main business is producing Griffin chairs. But currently, all the alchemists in the guild have been poached, and I still have a large number of orders uncompleted. I need the guild to allocate sufficient alchemists to help me through this difficulty!¡± ¡°In Stone Statue City, my flour business has also faced suppression. Several merchants in the city have united against me, competing maliciously. They employ local thugs to disrupt my store and hired thieves attempting to burn down my granary. I caught the thief, but both the City Lord and the City Defense Army took their side, showing no justice.¡± ¡°I¡¯m also suffering bank runs in various locations in Fire Ash Province. Currently, my cash flow is completely cut off, and I need substantial financial aid.¡± ¡­ The situation was tough for everyone, the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce used to be a gigantic and prominent empire in the business world, expanding quickly¡ªeven scaring the Chairman. But now, everyone knew that the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce had fallen, with the majority of its assets split among powerful forces. The well-fed big players gradually left the scene, while piranhas drawn by the scent of blood swarmed in. Everyone saw the weakness of what was left of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, and everyone wanted a bite. The remaining elders of the guild were in deep misery; they attended the meeting primarily to seek help and support each other. Faced with many requests, Zi Di slowly shook her head: ¡°I can¡¯t help everyone; in fact, I don¡¯t even know how.¡± ¡°Miss Zi Di, it¡¯s actually quite simple,¡± said the elder who ran the bank, with a smile, ¡°We know that over the past few years, your father has been remitting money to your account for your tuition.¡± ¡°But in fact, the amount of money is huge, far exceeding what is needed for education.¡± ¡°I think this was a foresight by the Chairman, a preparatory measure to deal with our current situation.¡± Zi Di, who studied at the Magic Academy, had assets in her personal account that were relatively safe. Zi Di blinked: ¡°Are you suggesting I lend this money to you?¡± ¡°Yes, once I get through this difficulty, I will surely repay you several times over, beautiful miss,¡± said the elder. Zi Di nodded: ¡°I agree to this plan, in fact, I am very willing to do my best to help everyone.¡± The guild elders smiled with gratitude; some began to praise Zi Di¡¯s benevolence and responsibility, very much in the style of the Chairman. Zi Di thought for a moment: ¡°I am willing to lend out ten thousand Gold Coins, on the condition that you mortgage the Black Mane Horse Farms. The interest will be ten percent per year.¡± The smiles of the guild elders froze. Fat Tongue chuckled to himself. On the way, he had cautioned Zi Di about many things, but after the communication, he was pleasantly surprised to find she was far more mature than he had anticipated. The elder who managed the bank changed his face, suddenly standing up from his seat: ¡°You are robbing us!¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How can you say that?¡± Zi Di smiled, yet the hint of grievance was apparent, ¡°This sum of money is unusual for you. In fact, I¡¯m also taking a great risk. After all, I know a bit about what¡¯s happening on your end.¡± The elder shook his head, his face full of disappointment: ¡°If it were the Chairman, he would never do this. Miss Zi Di, by sucking the blood of your comrades, you¡¯re really making our teeth cold.¡± ¡°Yes, it really disheartens us.¡± ¡°Why have the old hands gathered here? Why did we not accept the invitations of those nobles? Isn¡¯t it because of a principle we hold?¡± ¡°Although the old Chairman has passed away, we still unite here for what? I hope Miss Zi Di will consider that clearly.¡± Zi Di smiled and surveyed everyone with a calm gaze. She said with a hint of sarcasm: ¡°Gentlemen, it seems you don¡¯t know me yet. Let me introduce myself, my name is Zi Di. My father was the previous Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, but he is dead. During the time his body lay in the manor, only a few among you came to watch over it.¡± ¡°This Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, no matter the circumstances, according to the laws of the Empire, I am its sole legitimate heir! When I want it to dissolve, it will dissolve. Because it is entirely up to me.¡± ¡°If you wish to leave the guild, then simply go. Out of the old affection between you and my father, I won¡¯t make it difficult for you.¡± ¡°But if you want to continue to remain in the guild, then please begin by calling me¡ªChairman!¡± As she spoke, Zi Di emitted an aura of the Black Iron Level. The crowd¡¯s expressions changed subtly, filled with surprise. Among them, the strongest were only Black Iron. ¡°When was she promoted?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a Black Iron Level Mage now?¡± ¡°She truly is the old Chairman¡¯s daughter¡­we underestimated her before.¡± Zi Di¡¯s father practiced Fighting Energy and was also at the Black Iron Level. Compared to Fighting Energy Transcendents, Black Iron Level Mages with their myriad abilities were naturally more formidable. The people withdrew their previous underestimations, realizing suddenly that this seemingly young girl was in some ways more challenging than her father. Chapter 188 - 188: Section 188: Go Form a Marriage Alliance Chapter 188: Section 188: Go Form a Marriage Alliance Under the veil of night, the manor was serene. Zi Di slowly pushed open the room door and entered. She lit the candle. The study remained the same as it ever was, hardly any different from her memory. The room wasn¡¯t large, but the lighting was excellent. In daytime, sunlight would pour through the glass, brightening the whole area. The furnishings in the study were minimal, no paintings hanging on the walls, only a massive map of the Continent where her father had marked numerous red and blue symbols. ... Whenever Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce expanded to a new location, he would update this map accordingly. Zi Di stood in front of the vast map, pausing. Childhood memories came flooding back. When she was very young, whenever her father achieved something, he would joyfully invite her mother to view the map and report on the progress of the Guild. Her mother would often tease him, saying he was like a child. Her father would then point to certain cities on the map that hadn¡¯t yet been marked, telling her mother how long he estimated it would take to expand the Guild to those locations. He¡¯d explain how one kind of business would boost and another would have significantly reduced costs by then. Watching her father talk endlessly, Zi Di¡¯s mother would gradually show a look of concern. ¡°Don¡¯t overwork yourself. It¡¯s enough,¡± she would advise. Her father, however, would shake his head, ¡°It¡¯s not enough, not enough, far from enough. I want to establish branches here, here, and here, in every important city, not letting any slip away!¡± ¡°He did it¡­¡± Zi Di looked up at the map on the wall, with various colored symbols covering all the major cities of the Empire and many unique towns and villages. Such an astounding business achievement! It was hard to believe that a Black Iron Level could achieve this. Yet, it was precisely such tremendous success that led to his demise. Zi Di withdrew her gaze, slowly walked around, and eventually settled behind the desk. On the massive mahogany desk lied a writing set, paper drafts, and a small easel. In the easel was a portrait of her father, her mother, and herself standing together. In the painting, Zi Di was very young, not even four years old, snuggled into her father¡¯s chest, fast asleep on his shoulder. Zi Di slowly sat down in the real leather chair her father had always used. Her petite frame made the seat seem wide and large. The chair was quite old. Even with Zi Di¡¯s light weight, it still creaked. Remembering how her father used to sit, she subconsciously imitated him, resting her elbows on the desk and softly forming fists, either propping up her chin or touching her lips. This was what she would often see late at night when she went to remind her father to go to bed and found the lights in his study still on. ¡°Father¡­¡± Zi Di murmured, thinking of the day¡¯s meeting. After many of the elders stopped underestimating Zi Di, it was followed by challenging negotiations. Despite having been through many hardships over the years and being exposed to a lot from a young age, when it came to personally dealing with and participating in these business negotiations, she was still inexperienced. Fortunately, Fat Tongue publicly supported her, speaking up several times to clearly point out traps in various clauses. Most matters had not been agreed upon yet. Only a few had reached preliminary cooperative agreements. Some openly left, announcing their departure from the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, including that elder who controlled the banking business. Zi Di let these people go without any difficulty. She conveyed a strong message to the others¡ªleave if you want to. I¡¯m not afraid of any one of you leaving; I would not even fear if everyone left! She knew that these people didn¡¯t accept the offers because they considered them unappealing, and the powerful forces also had little interest in them. They came here this time ostensibly to attend a funeral, but what they really wanted was to extract real benefits from within the Chairman¡¯s line to subsidize themselves. But unexpectedly, Zi Di was no longer the na?ve, inexperienced girl they remembered. Zi Di firmly controlled her assets without ever slackening. The sudden changes in Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce meant the Chairman¡¯s line underwent the greatest losses. Zi Di was only interested in partnerships that promised her a profit. Now, nestled in the leather chair, Zi Di felt two main things. The first was wealth. Even with a loss of more than eighty percent, the remaining twenty percent was still considerable. The second was difficulty. The intellectual clashes and verbal sparring during the meeting negotiations left her with a headache that persisted until now. Additionally, managing such a vast wealth for the first time, Zi Di lacked confidence. ¡°Can I do this right? Can I protect these assets? Can I support Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce?¡± ¡°Zi Di, you must succeed!¡± ¡°This was your father¡¯s lifeblood, and similarly, your hope for revenge!¡± She had never revealed this to anyone else, but Zi Di was already resolute in her decision for revenge. The words that Fat Tongue shared with Zi Di during the day at the funeral were things she already knew. Her years of hardships had made one thing very clear to her¡ªactions reveal more about a person than words. The hatred she once felt had dissipated, morphing into a complex sentiment for her father. Who could be faultless? Especially when confronted with almost the entire Empire¡¯s nobility. Moreover, he had never truly forced his daughter into anything. Just on her first day in office, Zi Di gained a deeper understanding and empathy for her father. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Just then, a sudden laugh shattered Zi Di¡¯s reminiscence. Then the study door was flung open. A young boy strode in with confidence. He was very short, resembling a dwarf. His gray, explosively styled hair caught the eye because it was exaggerated and flamboyant. He held a dagger, yet it somehow gave off the grandeur of a great sword. ¡°Who are you?¡± Zi Di demanded. ¡°Hahaha,¡± the youth with explosive gray hair laughed loudly, ¡°Good question!¡± His voice suddenly lowered, forcefully roughened as if mimicking a raspy, aged tone, and he intoned, ¡°I come from the shadows, I dance on the blade¡¯s edge! Fate chose to lay me down, but I choose slaughter. Gods offered me salvation, yet I prefer destruction. Embodiment of love and truth¡¯s evil, I am I, surely the greatest assassin in the world¡ªthe mighty Luo Shi!¡± ¡°Girl, I¡¯ve come to claim your life. Make your move, and let me end you!¡± Zi Di was utterly shocked. Although it was her first experience with an assassination attempt, this brazenly open assassination was something she had never heard of before. No matter how bizarre the assassin was, the killing intent he exuded was unmistakably real. ¡°Guards, to me!¡± Zi Di raised her voice to call out. The youth Luo Shi laughed loudly, proudly saying, ¡°Hahaha, keep shouting, shout until your throat is sore, but no one will come to save you because I¡¯ve already taken them all down.¡± Zi Di snorted coldly, her arm trembled slightly, and she flicked a small pinch of powder from her wide sleeves. Magic¡ªLime Technique! She uttered a few short syllables, and the powder, acting as a casting material, exploded rapidly, transforming into an even finer mist that immediately filled the entire study. Then, she immediately leaped, nimbly evacuating the desk, and rolled into the corner. In this interval, she had begun a brief chant using the casting materials in her arms. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Magic¡ªMicrosound Technique! As she stood up, the silence spell was successfully cast, making Zi Di¡¯s movements and chanting sounds incredibly quiet. Following that, she cast another spell¡ªMirror Image Technique. A likeness of her, looking extremely similar to her, ran towards the door. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s well done,¡± Luo Shi¡¯s voice suddenly came from behind Zi Di. Zi Di had just felt a shock of surprise when Luo Shi¡¯s dagger handle lightly tangled behind her, instantly transmitting Fighting Energy, infiltrating Zi Di¡¯s body, locking her in place, rigid as a stone, unable to move. ¡°Lime Technique could almost be Instant Cast, Microsound Technique was also cast very sharply, and the choice of Mirror Image Technique isn¡¯t bad either.¡± Luo Shi¡¯s intrigued commentary from behind made Zi Di¡¯s heart sink to the bottom. Following that, Luo Shi burst out with Fighting Energy, swiftly clearing all the powder mist from the room. ¡°Silver Level!¡± Seeing the color of the Fighting Energy, Zi Di felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave. Amidst her fear, there was also anger and hatred. ¡°Did you kill my father?!¡± the girl questioned. Luo Shi shook his head, ¡°That wasn¡¯t my doing. Stealthy assassinations are really not the style of an assassin. I aspire to be the number one assassin in the world, how could I do such a tasteless thing?¡± Despite it being their first encounter, Zi Di found herself naturally inclined to believe Luo Shi¡¯s words. Luo Shi placed the dagger horizontally against Zi Di¡¯s neck. Being short, to perform this action, he had to stand on the wall with his feet, attaching Fighting Energy to the soles of his shoes to stabilize his posture. ¡°The intelligence said you were busy with livelihood, neglecting magic practice. Yet you secretly got promoted to Black Iron Level, and your combat stance just now clearly shows regular hard training.¡± ¡± Tsk tsk, you really are a cunning girl.¡± ¡°Remember, the one who will kill you is me, Luo Shi, a genius destined to become the world¡¯s number one assassin!¡± ¡°Wait, dwarf! How much are they paying you, I¡¯ll give you double!¡± Zi Di shouted. Luo Shi behind her paused, then suddenly became furious, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m going to explode!¡± ¡°I am the finest assassin in the world, surely I possess the best professional integrity.¡± ¡°Also, I am of the Human Race, pure Human Race, definitely not a dwarf!!¡± ¡°You can go die!¡± The dagger, carrying Luo Shi¡¯s soaring anger, slashed fiercely towards Zi Di¡¯s neck. Just when Zi Di thought she was undoubtedly going to die, she suddenly heard Luo Shi let out a panicked scream, then he disappeared without a trace. A bloodstain remained on the wall. ¡°What happened?¡± Zi Di suddenly found that she could move again. ¡°I saved you, the new chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce,¡± said a goblin who was about the same height as the previous Luo Shi, appearing in front of Zi Di. He had the goblin¡¯s sleek head, green skin, and a long nose with a slight hook. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, I had already prepared my spell and caught him at the moment he made his move, intending to kill him on the spot. I didn¡¯t expect this lad to be able to dodge and even escape. He¡¯s young, but his cultivation in fighting energy is approaching the Golden Level, about to undergo a qualitative change. This talent is very rare,¡± the goblin commented slowly while looking at the bloodstain on the wall. ¡°Golden Mage!¡± Zi Di trembled; the goblin¡¯s Life Breath was indeed at the Golden Level, no wonder he could scare away Luo Shi. ¡°Who are you?¡± Zi Di asked after giving a respectful bow. ¡°You can call me Master Sharp Drill, a pupil of the War Merchant,¡± the goblin, Sharp Drill, said with a proud smile. War Merchant! Zi Di¡¯s heart shook violently. ¡°Your father and my mentor, the War Merchant, have always had business dealings. Several months ago, your father sent a distress message to Mysterious Monster Island. Unfortunately, at that time, I was assisting my mentor with an important magic experiment, so the tower spirits set aside the letter. After we found the distress message, my mentor sent me to rescue,¡± explained Goblin Sharp Drill. ¡°Thank you, sir, for saving my life!¡± Zi Di bowed again, her face filled with gratitude and relief. However, a chill flowed through her heart. The scene just now clearly showed that Sharp Drill had used her as bait, luring Luo Shi to expose himself. Evidently, for Sharp Drill, killing Luo Shi was the priority, rescuing Zi Di was secondary. Combining this with his earlier explanation, Zi Di¡¯s father¡¯s distress letter was not truly valued by the War Merchant and his pupil, otherwise, why would it be delayed by an experiment? But Zi Di¡¯s father must have had close business dealings with the War Merchant. Zi Di¡¯s father must have been desperate to send a rescue letter to the War Merchant, assuming there was some certainty in receiving help. Now, that the War Merchant has sent his student Sharp Drill to assist also shows that Zi Di¡¯s father had a certain utility value to the War Merchant. ¡°Think about it, it¡¯s not surprising.¡± ¡°The War Merchant is seventh on the wanted list, a recognized Alchemy Grandmaster, an established arms dealer. The best choice for him to sell arms externally would be the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, since only six major guilds larger than Purple Vine are completely controlled by imperial elites.¡± ¡°My father must have sold a lot of arms for the War Merchant, which is why I received assistance.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s too late!¡± ¡°It¡¯s bad.¡± ¡°He just saved me incidentally, focusing on killing Luo Shi. This shows that he¡¯s aware of the current situation of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, and I hold very low value in his eyes.¡± In a few breaths, Zi Di¡¯s thoughts raced, and she saw the situation clearly. A spark flashed in her eyes, and she immediately spoke: ¡°Master Sharp Drill, although my father has passed away, I have taken his place. From now on, I am willing to serve you, as well as War Merchant wholeheartedly!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Sharp Drill paused, then looked at Zi Di with new respect, ¡°Your expression just now changed; you must have just learned this secret about your father¡¯s business. To protect yourself, you seek to borrow our power¡­ Hehe, you are an interesting little girl.¡± ¡°Nothing escapes your eyes, sir,¡± Zi Di responded sincerely, ¡°I am very scared. I never thought that just after taking over, I would face assassination. To save my own life, I am willing to take even greater risks. And I also believe that looking across all the guilds on the continent now, mine still remains the most worthy of your investment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Sharp Drill nodded, ¡°We¡¯ve actually been cooperating with your father for a long time, and we indeed trust you somewhat. Although the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce is now but a name, that name is still world-renowned, so it still has high value.¡± ¡°But with your current strength, to cooperate with us, to receive our protection¡ªyou are not yet qualified.¡± ¡°Then, what would make me qualified?¡± Zi Di asked with a smile. The following words from Sharp Drill, however, turned her face pale instantly: ¡°Then go for a marriage alliance.¡± Chapter 189 - 189: Section 189: Zi Di on the Island Chapter 189: Section 189: Zi Di on the Island ¡°You can open your eyes now,¡± the sharp voice came. Zi Di slowly opened her eyes, finding herself not on the dock anymore, but in an alchemy factory. The alchemy factory was massive, the production lines were in operation, and numerous explosive dumbbells were being filled with a special liquid by the precise manipulation of robotic arms. Zhenjin led Zi Di on a tour for a while, then suddenly said, ¡°The master has awakened, follow me.¡± Passing through a gate made from Legendary Level materials, Zi Di arrived at the core of the alchemy factory, where countless coffins left her astonished. On the first floor of the Central Tower, she met the War Merchant. ... This Legendary Level Mage, a peak Alchemy Grandmaster of the world, was emitting a somewhat weak Life Breath at that moment. Clearly, he had been injured. Three of his fingers were missing, and they were currently soaking in a Green Jade Gold Coffin. The coffin was filled with some kind of green liquid. The semi-translucent green fluid seemed to contain an extremely strong life force. A few breaths later, the War Merchant¡¯s severed fingers regrew in the green liquid. He withdrew his hand, shook off the green liquid, moved it around for a bit, and then nodded in satisfaction. Then the War Merchant looked at Zi Di, ¡°As you can see, studying alchemy comes at a cost.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di, her face filled with astonishment, said, ¡°Lord War Merchant, what exactly is this healing liquid? It can instantly heal Legendary Level limb injuries? Such potions, even if not sold in large quantities, would surely cause a sensation around the world!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha,¡± the War Merchant laughed loudly, ¡°You are like your father. The first time he came here, he was fascinated by the Alchemy Cannon. He suggested a price for the cannon and devised a sales plan within a few sentences.¡± ¡°Though he was only Black Iron, he indeed possessed rare business talents! I have partnered with many merchants, but any goods that went to your father always had the highest sales.¡± ¡°Thank you for your compliment, my lord,¡± Zi Di bowed again. The War Merchant nodded once more, his eyes expressing admiration, ¡°You are bolder than your father, and your eloquence is outstanding. You persuaded the Hundred Needle Family all by yourself and facilitated this alliance. You chose your targets very wisely and appropriately.¡± Zi Di verbally expressed her gratitude, but her heart harbored a trace of darkness. The night she took over as the chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, she was attacked by Luo Shi. If it weren¡¯t for her father¡¯s plea for help, which brought the Golden Level Mage Zhenjin here to drive away Luo Shi, Zi Di would have died by now. Clearly, someone did not want to see a new, strong-willed chairman at the helm of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. Zi Di did not know who the mastermind was, whether it was a powerful force or just one of the attendees at that day¡¯s meeting. For her own protection, Zi Di needed the shelter of powerful protectors. Zhenjin and the War Merchant were obviously the best choices. Because they were criminals wanted by various continents, their stance was naturally clear. They needed Zi Di, while those noble forces had plenty of substitutes. Zhenjin proposed an alliance through marriage, only if Zi Di met the qualifications could she collaborate with Zhenjin and the War Merchant. The current state of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce was too weak compared to its former peak. Once, Zi Di had rejected the marriage alliance. But now, to protect herself, to seek revenge for her father, Zi Di had no choice but to accept the marriage. She succeeded. She reached a close alliance with the Hundred Needle Family and formed a marital bond with Zhenjin. Thanks to the Southern War, the severely weakened Hundred Needle Family also needed the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce now. The War Merchant continued, ¡°This green liquid cannot be sold, the real healing power does not come from it, but from the Divine Artifact that is this Green Jade Gold Coffin.¡± Zi Di widened her eyes, ¡°Is it that artifact rumored to be able to resurrect the Feathered Snake God?¡± The War Merchant nodded, then immediately shook his head, ¡°It is indeed the Feathered Snake God¡¯s artifact, but it is not complete. As you can see, this artifact is still missing a coffin lid.¡± ¡°Besides, I am not a follower of the Feathered Snake God, I do not possess the necessary Divine Power.¡± ¡°I used alchemy to steal some of the divine power of this artifact, but producing this green liquid is already the limit. Once it leaves the range of the alchemy array, the green liquid will immediately lose its effect. Even within the array, the green liquid is far from being able to resurrect life.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is,¡± Zi Di sighed. ¡°Your goods are all ready, they are already placed in the warehouse,¡± War Merchant called the Tower Spirit and opened the Teleportation Gate. Zi Di followed War Merchant and Zhenjin to the goods warehouse and saw the substitute. The substitute lay with closed eyes inside a wooden box. The box was labeled with the number EX¡ª866. Seeing the appearance of the substitute, Zi Di was shocked; it bore an uncanny resemblance to Zhenjin. War Merchant laughed and said, ¡°This is my proudest creation to date!¡± ¡°Adjusting the appearance is just a minor detail.¡± ¡°His original self was a Silver Knight. In order to perfectly replace Zhenjin, I successfully infused the bloodline of the Golden Bee Queen into his body.¡± Zi Di immediately changed her expression, showing shock. The Golden Bee Queen was a Legendary Magic Beast, the origin of the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s bloodline. The Hundred Needle Family¡¯s combat energy formulas, combat skills, secret skills, and so on, were all based on the bloodline; they had been created and refined over many years to reach the state they were in today. ¡°Before instilling Zhenjin¡¯s own memories, I had already begun by infusing the memories of a strong member of the Hundred Needle Family into him using a Memory Crystal.¡± ¡°After a series of battles and training, his muscles have also been adjusted to perfectly match the combat techniques of the Hundred Needle Family.¡± ¡°His memories have also been carefully filtered and modified, and they won¡¯t lack common sense. Once he receives Zhenjin¡¯s memories, they will match very well with his current physical state.¡± The more Zi Di listened, the more horrified she became. Having finished, War Merchant looked meaningfully at her, ¡°Regarding the Golden Bee Queen¡¯s bloodline, I spent a great deal of money to secretly purchase it from the Giant Mouth Hunting Group. Legendary-level blood¡­ well, I must say, we¡¯ve been very lucky.¡± Zi Di¡¯s face turned completely pale. ¡°Hehehe. It seems you¡¯ve realized,¡± the smile on War Merchant¡¯s face grew thicker. ¡°Guide, I¡¯ve told you, she is a clever little girl from the Human Race,¡± Zhenjin chimed in. Zi Di¡¯s mouth was dry, and her heartbeat accelerated, ¡°So, has the plan changed?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± War Merchant gave her an appreciative look but did not elaborate; instead, he said to Zhenjin, ¡°You explain the details to her.¡± Zhenjin explained, ¡°Originally, we intended to support you, to provide you with protection so you could sell our weapons. Of course, as of now, the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce doesn¡¯t qualify to work with us, but you accepted my suggestion, or rather, the test.¡± ¡°You succeeded, you allied through marriage with the Hundred Needle Family. Once Zhenjin successfully competes for City Lord, your Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce will be able to establish itself firmly and sell our weapons extensively on the Wilderness Continent.¡± Whether it¡¯s practicing magic or researching alchemy, both require extensive experimentation and consume massive amounts of resources. By selling weapons, the teacher-student duo of War Merchant and Zhenjin could acquire funds to invest in training and research. And the outcomes of their research and training would, in turn, enable them to produce more advanced weapons, earning more money. Over the years, War Merchant had been engaged in this kind of virtuous cycle. In recent years, he had even shifted his focus to the field of Life Alchemy and had made many achievements. ¡°But recently¡­¡± Zhenjin continued, ¡°our alchemy has had a significant breakthrough. We can now perfectly integrate Legendary-level bloodlines into living beings. Of course, it¡¯s only a part of the bloodline, and the quality of this living being must also meet standards, at least Silver Level.¡± ¡°Combined with the Memory Crystal, we can directly create a ¡®Zhenjin,¡¯ a perfect puppet under our control.¡± ¡°Our luck has indeed been very good. By chance, the Giant Mouth Hunting Group had hunted down a Legendary-level Golden Bee Queen.¡± ¡°We set up an ambush, and the direct line team that the Hundred Needle Family sent to Zhenjin was completely annihilated by us.¡± With breakthroughs in technology and increases in strength, WarMerchant and Zhenjin¡¯s ambitions also swelled. They were no longer satisfied with just supporting Zi Di; they wanted to devour White Sand City and even begin to erode and control the Hundred Needle Family. ¡°But I have a marriage arrangement; if I harm Zhenjin, I will suffer backlash,¡± Zi Di expressed her concerns. ¡°Rest assured, next I will personally intervene to modify the magic contract on you,¡± War Merchant said with a smile. Zi Di felt a chill in her heart. She fully realized that cooperating with an existence like War Merchant was akin to making a deal with a tiger. She could barely accept the previous plan because she could use both War Merchant and the Hundred Needle Family to her advantage. She would voluntarily reveal her trade relations with War Merchant to the Hundred Needle Family, which would greatly enhance Zi Di¡¯s value to them and ensure her freedom. But now things were different. Now, War Merchant and his associates wanted to go against Zhenjin and the Hundred Needle Family. Zi Di was too weak and could only be swept up in their schemes. Once exposed, for plotting against Zhenjin, the sole heir, Zi Di would become an enemy of the Hundred Needle Family and would also be despised by all the nobles of the Empire! The risks of the new plan were too high, but Zi Di had no power to refuse. ¡°I am not cooperating with War Merchant, I am merely a pawn for them.¡± Her heart was filled with despair, but Zi Di nodded to the master and disciple before her and said with a heavy tone, ¡°A great new plan.¡± Not long after, Zi Di staggered out of the magic array. War Merchant, truly a Mage of legendary level, personally intervened and successfully changed the magic contract on Zi Di. Having just finished the magic ritual, Zi Di was dizzy and her spirit was significantly damaged. But War Merchant was prepared and handed her a potion. Without hesitation, Zi Di drank it all and her condition quickly improved. Within a few breaths, the damage to her spirit was completely healed, and even slightly stronger than before. Her complexion subtly changed as her peak condition quickly made her aware of the magic contract. War Merchant smiled and said, ¡°I merely modified it, transferring its original target to the substitute. In this way, this magic contract has also become a powerful piece of evidence for the substitute¡¯s disguise.¡± ¡°From now on, your life is linked with the substitute¡¯s, sharing each other¡¯s life.¡± ¡°Of course, the highest authority is in my hands. With a mere thought, I can instantly turn this magic contract upside down and take both of your lives. Unless I die one day, this contract will accompany you for life, oh girl of the Human Race.¡± Zi Di¡¯s complexion turned ghostly pale. War Merchant was extremely thorough in his dealings, giving neither Zi Di nor the substitute any room for rebellion. If nothing unexpected occurred, Zi Di could only be War Merchant¡¯s pawn from now on! ¡°Currently, what this substitute lacks are Zhenjin himself¡¯s memories,¡± War Merchant remarked. ¡°I will provide you with a set of memory-implanting crystal devices.¡± ¡°Of course, I have tampered with it, so once Zhenjin uses this device, all his memories will be secretly copied into it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to let him volunteer to do it.¡± ¡°Forcing him would cause flaws in the memory copying.¡± ¡°As for how to make him volunteer, I believe you can definitely do it.¡± ¡°I will do my utmost, and shall not fail War Merchant¡¯s expectations!¡± Zi Di saluted, half-kneeling on the ground. This attitude pleased both War Merchant and the disciples greatly. Several days later¡­ In a warehouse by the dock. ¡°Lord, this is the substitute I have prepared for you,¡± said Zi Di with a smile beside him. ¡°Incredible! This is truly unbelievable. How could such a perfect substitute be found!¡± Zhenjin exclaimed repeatedly. Zi Di wore a smile, yet her feelings were complex. Who could have imagined that Mysterious Monster Island was actually within this sea area? The trip to Mysterious Monster Island had a profoundly huge impact on her life. ¡°From now on, is my life linked with yours?¡± Zi Di silently stared at the substitute. ¡°I am in a marital alliance with Zi Di. I am a Holy Temple Knight and the sole heir to the Hundred Needle Family. They wouldn¡¯t dare harm me.¡± Embracing these thoughts, Zhenjin trusted Zi Di deeply. Following Zi Di¡¯s plan, Zhenjin created a Memory Crystal and disguised it as Hei Juan. ¡°Hahaha.¡± He laughed heartily, ¡°Then let¡¯s get down to serious business. You must continue to strive if you want to become a noble¡¯s wife. With your status and bloodline, it won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°I will certainly keep your words in my heart!¡± Zi Di responded. After the Pig Kiss had sailed for a while¡­ Late at night, in the captain¡¯s cabin. The captain fell limply to the ground, looking terrifiedly at Zi Di in front of him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he was paralyzed, unable to move, ¡°I¡¯ve been very careful, vigilant but discreet, constantly monitoring you all. How did you manage to poison me?¡± Zi Di smiled, glancing at the ink bottle on his desk. ¡°Captain, you send letters to the Holy Temple Knight Fen Yi almost every three days, reporting on both Father Jia Sha and our intelligence.¡± ¡°Do you find this expensive ink to your liking?¡± The captain stared at the ink: ¡°Did you use it to poison me? Impossible, I¡¯ve been using this ink for a while now, why am I only poisoned now?¡± Zi Di shook her head: ¡°You don¡¯t need to know more because it involves some herbal knowledge of the Barbarians. You can rest now.¡± ¡°No, wait! I can join you, join the Hundred Needle Family. Don¡¯t kill me, without a captain, how can you proceed safely to the Wilderness Continent? Without a captain, the Pig Kiss will be in grave danger!¡± the captain pleaded desperately. Zi Di drew the Stabbing Sword she had prepared earlier: ¡°If you were just monitoring us, I might have let it go. Unfortunately, you intentionally slowed down the journey these past days, delaying us longer than favourable.¡± With that, the sword pierced effortlessly through the captain¡¯s body, aided by magic. ¡°You will regret¡­ this.¡± the captain glared, his eyes fierce with the horror of approaching death and venomous vengeance. ¡°Not good.¡± Zi Di instantly realized that the captain must have had some sort of countermeasure. Almost immediately, the Pig Kiss¡¯s magic device activated, and the whole ship split in two. ¡°Damn it!¡± Zi Di hurried out of the captain¡¯s cabin. Using invisibility magic, she went unnoticed by the panicking crowd. However, as she rushed towards Zhenjin¡¯s cabin, she suddenly halted, shocked into standing still. The magic contract had abruptly been terminated! The joke by the War Merchant replayed in Zi Di¡¯s mind, making her realize an incredible fact¡ªthe War Merchant was dead! ¡°This is impossible!¡± ¡°But the magic contract has indeed been terminated, the War Merchant wouldn¡¯t do this without a reason.¡± ¡°He¡¯s dead!¡± ¡°What has happened on Mysterious Monster Island?¡± ¡°I¡­ must go see!¡± ¡°I must find out. Something significant must have occurred on Mysterious Monster Island.¡± ¡°If the War Merchant and Sharp Drill aren¡¯t dead, they will surely find me again in the future. If they are barely alive, I will then decide whether to save or kill them on the spot!¡± ¡°If they are both dead, doesn¡¯t that mean I might take over the alchemy industry of Mysterious Monster Island?¡± ¡°Yes, absolutely right.¡± ¡°I need to get to the island.¡± ¡°I still have Level 18 clearance, I must get to the island quickly!¡± Chapter 190 - 190: Section 190: He is not a Knight at all Chapter 190: Section 190: He is not a Knight at all The howling wind roared, and the waves surged violently. Three small boats, carrying Zi Di and seventeen others, rushed swiftly toward Mysterious Monster Island. Each boat was loaded with a large amount of supplies, including food, water, and weapons. On the lead boat where Zi Di was, there was also a coffin-shaped wooden box. They deliberately avoided the nearest beach and steered clear of the location where the Pig Kiss had shipwrecked, choosing another stretch of beach to land. ¡°Hurry, row faster!¡± Zi Di kept urging. Not far behind the three landing crafts, a giant shadow loomed in the sea, quickly closing in on them. ... ¡°Magic, fighting energy, none can be activated! Damn it, hopefully, the situation on the island will be different. The authority I possess doesn¡¯t allow me to wield magic freely!¡± Zi Di clenched her teeth, watching the immense shadow in the water draw nearer, her heart thudding uncontrollably. Fortunately, as they approached the beach, the shadow in the water gradually halted its pursuit, its speed dropping to the minimum. The three boats arrived at the beach without incident. Everyone was frightened in hindsight: ¡°What exactly was that huge shadow?¡± ¡°Could it be the one that caused the shipwreck?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a relief it gave up in the end; it was about to catch up, but then it hesitated.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this, it¡¯s as if it got scared. Maybe there¡¯s something on the island that threatens its life.¡± ¡°After all, Miss Zi Di, why are we here in the first place?¡± Among these people, some were veteran guards of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, while others were mercenaries hired by Zi Di for this expedition. Captain of Kiss was killed by Zi Di with measures taken after the fact. The shipwreck happened so suddenly that Zi Di, despite her best efforts, could only take these people and supplies with her. Of course, these people had no clue about it. ¡°You should be thanking me first, for I saved your lives, didn¡¯t I?¡± Zi Di¡¯s response left everyone feeling awkward. ¡°Now, just follow my orders.¡± ¡°Get the supplies off the boats first.¡± ¡°Make sure to protect this wooden box, the contents are extremely important. Guard it as if you¡¯re protecting me!¡± ¡°Understood! Miss Zi Di (Mr. Chairman).¡± After a brief rest, Zi Di couldn¡¯t wait to lead everyone into the rainforest. As the team ventured deeper, Mysterious Monster Island began to reveal its cruel and terrifying side. The complex terrain of the rainforest often brought their progress to a standstill, and the dangerous Magic Beasts lurking within the dense vegetation necessitated that the team proceed with extreme caution. A moment¡¯s negligence could endanger their lives. After repeated advisement by the guards, Zi Di, though very reluctantly, had to bow to reality and abandon her plan to quickly find the core. They began to set up camp more frequently and, to lighten the load and leave a way out, they left behind batches of supplies at each campsite. Zi Di was full of regrets, ¡°Had I known magic was banned here, I would¡¯ve awakened the substitute first. He already possessed Silver Cultivation and had been transformed into a Beastification Person.¡± ¡°Clearly in the Alchemy Factory, I was free to cast spells.¡± ¡°This is going to be a prolonged exploration.¡± ¡°But if I succeed, my life will undergo a complete transformation!¡± ¡°I will succeed!¡± Zi Di¡¯s conviction was firm, but the dangers from the outside world were becoming increasingly severe. The team began to lose members; after a couple of weeks into the rainforest, they encountered a nightmare ¨C the Blue Dog Fox Wolf! This extremely cunning Magic Beast first deliberately attacked a guard at the rear of the group, intentionally not killing him right away, but dragging him in a frenzied run. Zi Di and the others hurried to rescue him, causing a major disorder in their formation. The Blue Dog Fox Wolf took the opportunity to strike. Three guards were lost, and it was heavily injured by a Crossbow. Sensing the tide turning against it, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf fled into the rainforest, and the group was unable to give chase. A few days later, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf attacked again. It brought a beehive, and the Fire Poison Bees assaulted the entire camp. Four guards died from the Fire Poison. After that, the Blue Dog Fox Wolf kept pestering the Human Race team, launching frequent surprise attacks that claimed the lives of several members. Zi Di and the others had to lighten their load, abandoning the wooden box containing the substitute. That¡¯s when everyone discovered that the box actually contained a person. ¡°He is my fianc¨¦, Lord Zhenjin, and as you know, our expedition was to pave the way for him. But in fact, we used a ruse to help him sneak into White Sand City, catching his competitors off guard,¡± Zi Di explained. ¡°So that¡¯s why the Chairman was so concerned about a wooden box.¡± ¡°But why has Lord Zhenjin been unconscious the whole time?¡± Zi Di sighed, ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy to deceive those opponents. He was supposed to be awakened upon arrival in White Sand City, but now you see, due to unforeseen circumstances, there¡¯s nothing I can do but hope that he wakes up on his own.¡± No matter how perilous the situation became afterward, Zi Di always kept the substitute by her side. ¡°The situation is getting worse and worse; he is my last line of defense!¡± But awakening the substitute was extremely difficult. Zi Di couldn¡¯t use magic, and forcing the use of the Memory Crystal in such a Magic Prohibition Ring environment could likely fail, with a very low chance of success. If she couldn¡¯t awaken him that was one thing; however, should an accident occur during the awakening, and the substitute realized the deception and learned she wasn¡¯t Zhenjin, it was hard to predict what actions he would take against Zi Di in his anger. Finally, the last two guards were also killed by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The girl embarked on a perilous river crossing, but soon realized she was still hanging by a thread. She took out the Memory Crystal, beginning to activate it with all her might. The girl grew more anxious, muttering under her breath, ¡°Hurry, hurry! Please, start working.¡± The Blue Dog Fox Wolf struck once more. At the moment of Zi Di¡¯s utter despair, the substitute suddenly opened his eyes. Awakened by the roar of a beast, he kicked fiercely, sending the Blue Dog Fox Wolf into the river. ¡°I, I¡¯ve been saved?! Did I manage to wake him up?¡± Zi Di¡¯s pupils shrank, her breath hitching as she gazed at the boy¡¯s slender back, feeling a strong sense of security. Relying unexpectedly on the Python Vine in the river, they dealt with the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, but Zi Di realized the boy had amnesia. Her heart skipped a beat, ¡°Most of the memories weren¡¯t instilled? He doesn¡¯t even know his own identity?¡± ¡°You¡¯re Zhenjin, you¡¯re actually Baron Zhenjin. My God, Lord, have you forgotten your own identity?¡± The girl quickly reminded him, her face eager and anxious, a true reflection of her inner emotions. Zi Di started fabricating lies, temporarily stabilizing the substitute boy. During their conversation, Zi Di mentioned the Holy Temple Knight, which triggered a flashback in the substitute boy. ¡°Yes, I remember now. I was taking a solemn oath when I became a Holy Temple Knight,¡± the substitute replied. Zi Di was elated, ¡°Lord, perhaps you could try and see if you can summon your Fighting energy?¡± The substitute shook his head, ¡°No, I have no memory of cultivating Fighting energy at all, and I can¡¯t even feel it inside me, let alone know how to use it.¡± This answer from the substitute gave Zi Di a clear grasp of his memory condition. ¡°Perhaps the time hasn¡¯t come yet. But it doesn¡¯t matter, Lord, this at least proves that your memory can be restored! It just¡­ needs some time.¡± Zi Di comforted Zhenjin, but in reality, she was calming herself as well. ¡°It seems memories have been instilled, only interrupted midway, preventing recollection.¡± ¡°However, once he remembers, it comes naturally, without a trace of doubt.¡± ¡°Maybe soon he will recall the key memories. Perhaps this environment doesn¡¯t prohibit Silver Fighting Spirit!¡± Originally Zi Di had lost all hope, but the awakening of the substitute reignited her hope. At the same time, she didn¡¯t let down her guard, ¡°What if the substitute¡¯s memory has flaws? It¡¯s possible that one day he¡¯ll discover his true identity.¡± The two set out, talking as they went. Returning to the scene where the two guards had died, the substitute boy was injured by a Bloodline Centipede Snake. The substitute kept asking Zi Di about everything concerning himself. Zi Di¡¯s vigilance grew, constantly reminding herself, ¡°I must be as careful as possible! I can¡¯t reveal any inconsistencies when deceiving him.¡± ¡°There are things I can tell him, and some I must conceal!¡± ¡°He¡¯s not Zhenjin, not a Holy Temple Knight; he¡¯s a Beastification Person transformed by War Merchants. Essentially, he¡¯s no different from Evil Wolves and Bloodline Centipede Snakes.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a beast, merely deceived by me for the time being.¡± ¡°Perhaps one day, he will realize the truth and bare his fangs, swallowing me whole for having deceived him!¡± They made camp at night. By the fire, Zi Di dressed the wounds of the substitute boy. ¡°If only you had been wearing this Iron-made Protective Arm earlier, Lord, you wouldn¡¯t have been injured by the Bloodline Centipede Snake.¡± The substitute boy was inwardly stirred, reaching out involuntarily to touch Zi Di¡¯s hair. Zi Di shivered slightly. ¡°Lo-Lord,¡± Zi Di lowered her head, seemingly frightened by Zhenjin¡¯s gesture, holding her breath tensely like a scared little kitten. She was truly afraid because it suddenly occurred to her, ¡°Zhenjin is a lecher, could the substitute have inherited this trait?¡± ¡°We traveled carefully by day, and now it¡¯s night, just him and me.¡± ¡°If he truly has any designs on me, I¡¯m utterly powerless to resist, and there¡¯s no one to save me!¡± But the substitute quickly withdrew his hand, asking flatly, ¡°Zi Di, what kind of person do you think I am?¡± That was a difficult question indeed. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A wrong answer could betray her deceit. Zi Di instinctively held her breath, her mind spinning rapidly. After carefully choosing her words, she replied, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, to be honest, I don¡¯t know much about you.¡± (Setting the tone at the outset could save me from much cross questioning.) ¡°But according to rumors, you usually avoid the company of women, preferring solitude. Even in serious matters, you do not openly display joy or anger.¡± (I hope this deters any intentions you might have toward me!) ¡°Most of your time is spent in arduous training at the Holy Temple, your demeanor serious, and you¡¯re often reticent. Your daily life and every move you make are graceful and composed, befitting the nobility.¡± ¡°Although you have few friends, you¡¯re always willing to help others, especially the weak and the poor. As a result, Lord, your reputation among the lower classes has always been very good.¡± ¡°Furthermore, your recent unexpected entry into the competition for the lordship of White Sand City seems to have surprised the other Holy Temple Knights.¡± With these words, Zi Di crafted an almost perfect image of a Holy Temple Knight. Since he had lost all memory, this narrative was a process of shaping and controlling him. As for the future, back in Human Race society, whether the substitute would harbor doubts upon learning the truth, Zi Di couldn¡¯t afford to care much about that now. Indeed, even if there were doubts, Zi Di had already provided an explanation in her first sentence¡ª¡±Lord Zhenjin, to be honest, I don¡¯t know much about you.¡± Chapter 191 - 191: Section 191: I Should Trust Him More Chapter 191: Section 191: I Should Trust Him More As the young boy and girl were talking, a swarm of Fire Poison Bees suddenly attacked. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How could there still be a Fire Poison Bee swarm here?!¡± Zi Di panicked, almost losing her composure. Right now, she had no loyal guards by her side, only a substitute with an unclear character who had lost his memory. Under the threat of death, if the substitute chose to abandon Zi Di and run away, she wouldn¡¯t be surprised at all. ¡°My life now hangs on his actions,¡± Zi Di thought in a flash of insight at this critical juncture, ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± ¡°These are Fire Poison Bees, sir, you must run. I¡¯ll cover our retreat!¡± ... ¡°Hurry, sir!!¡± Zi Di shouted urgently, revealing a willingness to sacrifice herself. ¡°Sir, you go ahead. I have potions that can detoxify!¡± Zi Di urged again. ¡°You go! I¡¯ll deal with these Fire Poison Bees.¡± The substitute chose to stay, standing in front of Zi Di. Zi Di secretly breathed a sigh of relief. But soon, under the swarm¡¯s attack, the substitute was engaged in a bitter struggle. ¡°Could today be the day I am destined to die?¡± Just when Zi Di was nearing despair, Zhenjin suddenly performed the Combat Skill Hundred Needle Wind. ¡°What is this?!¡± Zi Di lifted her head, her face showing shock mixed with joy. Zhenjin¡¯s counterattack gave her hope. ¡°As expected of sir!¡± Zi Di blurted out, cheering for Zhenjin. One by one, the Fire Poison Bees fell to the ground, the Hundred Needle Wind Combat Skill proving to be quite effective against these venomous bees. ¡°Sir¡­¡± Zi Di, well-protected, watched Zhenjin¡¯s silhouette, her eyes reflecting the dimming bonfire and shimmering brightly. ¡°It seems that at least some information has been instilled by the Memory Crystal, but it required a strong stimulus or a specific trigger.¡± ¡°He has been protecting me all this time; he must have complete faith in what I said.¡± ¡°In the short term, he seems reliable.¡± ¡°No good, he¡¯s been stung too many times. The Fire Poison is accumulating too much in his body, and even with potions, I won¡¯t be able to save him.¡± Zi Di stood behind the substitute, watching him closely and growing increasingly worried. The last small wave of Fire Poison Bees attacked, and knowing he couldn¡¯t continue fighting, the substitute took Zi Di¡¯s hand and they both turned to flee. The two plunged into the dark jungle. ¡°Sir, let me stay behind. I will lead them away¡­¡± Zi Di gasped urgently. ¡°Be quiet!¡± Zhenjin suddenly stopped, turned, and faced Zi Di. The girl let out a startled cry and bumped into Zhenjin¡¯s chest as a result of inertia. The next moment, the girl was dizzy, her view altering dramatically. When she came to her senses, she realized she was already in Zhenjin¡¯s arms, running wildly. Zi Di pressed against the substitute¡¯s hard, broad chest, feeling the strong masculine scent he emitted from his strenuous activity. She had never been held like this by a young man before! In her field of vision were dark shadows rushing towards her. Those were the branches and vines of the rainforest. As the substitute crashed through, branches and vines along the path were broken off and torn down. ¡°Is this what it feels like to be protected?¡± A strange emotion rippled out in Zi Di¡¯s heart. But soon, she collected herself and calmly pulled out a potion from her bag. Using the glow of the potions, which resembled the light of fireflies, she tried her best to help the substitute see enough to run. Then, she used one potion after another, attempting to delay the pursuit of the Fire Poison Bee Swarm. Transportation happened at this stage, but both the substitute and Zi Di were under extreme stress and didn¡¯t notice it. Eventually, they were forced by the Fire Poison Bee Swarm to seek refuge in a cave. The Fire Poison struck, and the substitute was in very bad shape. Zi Di gradually lost hope. With a mere thread of consciousness left in his mind, the weak substitute told Zi Di, ¡°You run, get out of here quickly.¡± But the girl shook her head fiercely, her eyes brimming with tears, and with a sob-laden voice she insisted, ¡°No, sir! I will never abandon you. It wasn¡¯t easy to find you, and we¡¯ve come this far together, how can we give up now!¡± (Without you, the substitute, how could I ever escape Mysterious Monster Island alone? If it comes to it, I am ready to die. I¡¯m just losing a bet; I underestimated Mysterious Monster Island and the War Merchant, but I accept the outcome and it doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t afford to lose.) Then, something unexpected happened. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, feeling its territory invaded, charged out, driving the Fire Poison Bee Swarm out of the cave. Zi Di and the substitute were temporarily safe, but the condition of the substitute worsened, and he was at death¡¯s door. The substitute urged her again, but Zi Di shook her head in refusal, ¡°I won¡¯t go, I won¡¯t give up. Sir, I can mix potions, I will definitely be able to concoct the right medication! We still have hope, please don¡¯t give up either!¡± ¡°Quick, move faster!¡± Zi Di internally screamed while pulling out one pharmaceutical bottle after another. To save time, she directly poured the potions onto the ground, corroding a small pit. ¡°Simple potions can¡¯t save the substitute now, I need to quickly mix a more effective and specific one!¡± ¡°Come on, Zi Di!¡± ¡°You must succeed! By saving the substitute, you still have a chance to live and escape from here!!¡± The girl¡¯s movements were unprecedentedly swift, the content of the Barbarian Potion that she knew by heart roiling rapidly in her mind. She mixed several potions together, then took out many kinds of dried grass leaves and roots from her bosom, first grinding them into powder, then pouring them into the pit. Gurgle, gurgle¡­ The mixed potion in the pit began to bubble, smoke swirling around. Zi Di knew that her chance for survival lay in this moment¡ªit all depended on whether she could take control. Enormous pressure forced her to tears as she concocted the potions. To pursue a fierce medicinal effect, she risked adding a large quantity of Frenzy Potion. She had no confidence in her heart, but she knew the other methods stood no chance at all. Fortunately, the potion she compounded successfully woke the substitute and neutralized a large amount of Fire Poison in him. However, the components of the Frenzy Potion were also draining the substitute¡¯s life force. Once the effects of the potion wore off, Zi Di had no assurance whether the substitute would live or die. The substitute, carrying Zi Di, tried to escape the cave but ended up witnessing the deadly battle between the Scale-Horned Black Panther swarm and Monkey-tailed Brown Bears. Blocked by the beasts, the substitute and Zi Di¡¯s plan to escape failed, forcing them to retreat back into the cave again. The victorious Monkey-tailed Brown Bear returned and ate ore to heal its wounds. Faced with another difficult choice, the substitute once again invoked a segment of Zhenjin¡¯s memory. Finally, he made up his mind and, undaunted, charged at the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. A brutal battle! It was a fight to the death. The substitute¡¯s arms were completely broken, the muscles turned to mince, with multiple fractures throughout his body and severe internal bleeding. The Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s sharp claws pierced through the substitute¡¯s abdomen, pinning him to the ground. The scorching claws instantly seared his intestines and flesh. In the end, the substitute and the Brown Bear bit each other to death¡ªa mutual demise! ¡°Are¡­ are they all dead?!¡± Zi Di stood there in a daze before her body trembled violently, snapping back to reality. She rushed to the substitute¡¯s corpse, checking him with a slim hope, and after confirming his death, Zi Di¡¯s emotions became incredibly complex. She had never witnessed such a violent battle up close before, her heart filled with shock. At the same time, she felt gratitude toward the substitute. ¡°He died for me.¡± ¡°He died like a true Knight. No, the War Merchant once said that he was a Silver Knight before the transformation!¡± ¡°I should have¡­ trusted him more.¡± Then, loneliness and fear gradually expanded. ¡°Now¡­ it¡¯s just me left!¡± The substitute had been awoken, but after spending merely a day and a night together, he was dead. On the vast Mysterious Monster Island, amidst the dense jungle, surrounded by endless fierce Magic Beasts, only Zi Di remained alone. What path should she take? How could she survive? Zi Di had no answers, no direction; she was enveloped in despair. She sat on the ground, leaning against the substitute¡¯s corpse, reflecting on her life, thinking of her father¡¯s vengeance, then recalling the shipwreck. Her emotions fluctuated between anger, hatred, regret, and disbelief, as if she were in a dream. After all, she was just a fifteen-year-old girl! She curled up, hugging her legs with her arms, feeling as if the silent cave had become her tomb. Time passed quietly, and who knows how long it took. Suddenly, Zi Di lifted her head, her face still streaked with tears, but her eyes regained their determination! ¡°No, it¡¯s not over yet. I can¡¯t give up now!¡± ¡°Even if I¡¯m alone, I still have a chance to escape from here.¡± ¡°Even if the odds are extremely slim, I will do my utmost to seize that chance.¡± Zi Di reignited her fighting spirit, fiercely wiped away her tears, and started to take action. The first thing she did was to collect materials for concocting potions. In this Magic Ban environment, potions were the most helpful, particularly those from the Barbarian scrolls. However, as she knelt on the ground to gather the blood from the bear¡¯s corpse, she heard a faint thump. Zi Di¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She quickly turned around and, to her shock, saw the substitute awoken. A fierce shock rushed at her, and she inwardly exclaimed, ¡°Impossible, he was clearly dead just a moment ago!¡± Resurrected from death?! For a moment, Zi Di found it difficult to believe her own eyes. There was no magic here, no Divine Arts¡ªhow could he have resurrected out of thin air? ¡°Wait a second.¡± Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, ¡°The substitute was personally concocted and transformed by the War Merchant, who admitted that this was his proudest creation!¡± ¡°Could this be one of the effects of the War Merchant¡¯s transformation?¡± ¡°Think about it, it seems very likely! The War Merchant wanted to use the substitute to replace Zhenjin, even using the bloodline of the Golden Bee Queen. It¡¯s quite reasonable that his full-effort transformation granted the substitute the ability to resurrect.¡± In the span of a breath or two, Zi Di came to her senses. The girl immediately rushed to the substitute¡¯s side, exclaiming with joy, ¡°Lord?! Lord Zhenjin, you¡¯re awake!¡± Chapter 192 - 192: Section 192: The Substitute Worth a Fortune Chapter 192: Section 192: The Substitute Worth a Fortune The substitute saw Zi Di, he lay on the ground, wanting to speak but unable to. His throat and tongue were so swollen that it made it hard for him to articulate, leaving him only able to give the girl a pained smile. Zi Di¡¯s mind raced with thoughts as she immediately explained to herself, ¡°Lord, the Fire Poison has flared up again, and the previous potions no longer work. I am currently mixing a new potion, I can definitely succeed!¡± ¡°Believe in me, Lord, you absolutely cannot give up! I will definitely be able to save you!¡± The substitute nodded, but even that minimal action caused him to fall into a coma once more. Zi Di was stunned on the spot. Not again? He fainted? She hurriedly checked the substitute¡¯s condition and found it to be extremely poor. Compared to his previous state of death, he had barely a breath left, much like the final flash of vitality before a person¡¯s death. ... ¡°Could my recent guess have been wrong? Did the War Merchant not set up any means of resurrection?¡± ¡°Perhaps it was feigned death¡­ I remember reading about such a case in some book.¡± ¡°Or maybe, the War Merchant did indeed set up a means of self-rescue, but the effect could only go so far?¡± ¡°Damn it! Am I to be bitterly disappointed?¡± Zi Di gritted her teeth, unwilling to watch the substitute die again. Suddenly, a light flashed through her mind. ¡°Wait, most of the Fire Poison has accumulated in his blood, that¡¯s what¡¯s fatal. If I drain his poisoned blood, it might lessen the burden on his body and thereby save him!¡± Of course, this method had significant risks. The substitute had already been through a brutal battle and had lost a lot of blood. If more blood were drained, he might die from excessive blood loss. But there was no other option. Without draining the poisoned blood, he was certain to die. With it, there seemed to be a chance of survival! Zi Di took a deep breath, cut open the substitute¡¯s arm vessels, and started to drain the poisoned blood. Watching the blood flowing out, Zi Di also observed the substitute¡¯s condition anxiously. She kept calling out to him, occasionally prying open his eyelids to check on his pupils. ¡°What is this?!¡± Suddenly, the substitute¡¯s pupils underwent a mysterious change, turning into the vertical pupils of a beast, pitch-black irises and gold whites. Seeing such eyes, Zi Di was paralyzed, her thoughts frozen, unable to think or escape, as if she had encountered a natural predator! But the next moment, the substitute¡¯s pupils changed again, returning to their human appearance. It all happened so fast that Zi Di was in a daze, almost believing she had hallucinated. The substitute once again forced his eyelids open, looked around, and noticed Zi Di beside him, drawing blood out of him. ¡°Lord, I am treating you! I am draining your poisoned blood to dilute the Fire Poison in your body.¡± The substitute remained silent, not daring to move rashly. His head was still spinning with dizziness, and any substantial movement would knock him down. The substitute quietly watched the ceiling of the cave and soon died again. ¡°He¡¯s dead again?!¡± Zi Di was stunned, her heart growing cold once more. She pried open the substitute¡¯s eyelids and saw his pupils had dilated, his heartbeat completely ceased, and just like before, he had died completely. Had it been anyone else, Zi Di would have surely given up. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But she knew that the substitute was personally transformed by the War Merchant, who held great expectations for him, to the extent of even using the blood of a Legendary Magic Beast. ¡°Just now, the substitute was in this state, then suddenly came back to life¡­ maybe this time it¡¯s also a feigned death.¡± However, this time, Zi Di waited for a long time but did not see the substitute come back to life. ¡°Could resurrection only happen once?¡± Zi Di examined the substitute¡¯s body and found it to be very cold. ¡°Too much blood lost? Could it be because I drained his blood, he has died completely?¡± Zi Di started to panic. ¡°The potions I have can¡¯t bring someone back from the dead. We can only rely on his own life potential; right now, he¡¯s lost too much blood. I need to replenish his blood!¡± After a simple test, Zi Di found that her blood type was completely incompatible with the substitute¡¯s. She saw the corpse of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, and her gaze paused. ¡°Transfer bear blood into his body!¡± ¡°He was transformed by the War Merchant, possessing the bloodline of the Golden Bee Queen; the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear is also a man-made magical beast, the two share commonalities.¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth a try!¡± At the same time, this was the only option in front of Zi Di. Soon after, the substitute woke up again. This time, he furrowed his brow tightly, feeling intense pain! ¡°It worked, it worked!¡± Zi Di couldn¡¯t help but cry out, her heart filled with overwhelming excitement. Quickly, the substitute closed his eyes once more. ¡°He¡¯s dead again?!¡± Zi Di was dumbfounded, her anger rising uncontrollably. Dead and then alive, alive and then dead again? What exactly are you trying to do?! Zi Di¡¯s emotions surged violently with the substitute¡¯s life and death, flitting between heaven and hell. Ironically, the life and death of the substitute was closely linked to whether Zi Di could escape or not. Zi Di took a deep breath and checked the substitute¡¯s physical condition again. She then exhaled a turbid breath and allowed her heart to relax a bit. It turned out that this time, the substitute had not died but had fallen into a coma. ¡°Now it¡¯s all up to him, I¡¯ve done everything I can!¡± Zi Di sighed. She began to feel confidence in the substitute. Building that confidence was simple¡ªIf the substitute could even resurrect from death, how much more when he¡¯s merely in a coma? ¡°Wait, while he¡¯s unconscious, I have to give him a thorough check!¡± ¡°This is the best opportunity.¡± ¡°If he comes to, I won¡¯t have this chance anymore.¡± Zi Di knew she needed to gain a deeper understanding of the substitute, given the many mysteries about him. How many alchemical tricks had the War Merchant set up in him? Zi Di did her best to remove the substitute¡¯s equipment and clothing that she could remove. When it came time to take off his pants, Zi Di¡¯s movements suddenly stiffened. She abruptly realized what she was doing! Before this, she had never actively pulled down the pants of a young man! ¡°I¡¯m just researching, I¡¯m doing this to survive, I must do this!¡± ¡°Zi Di, you can do it! You¡¯re strong.¡± ¡°No one will know what you did, he¡¯s already passed out!¡± Even as she encouraged herself, Zi Di delayed for a dozen or so breaths before she continued her actions. By the time she put the substitute¡¯s pants back on, her face was flushed red like a ripe tomato, feeling as if she was burning up. It took her a long while to recover and continue. She cleaned up the battlefield, disposing of the Brown Bear and Black Panther corpses. Using bear¡¯s blood, she concocted a Wild Game Potion, sprinkling it around the cave to create the illusion that the Brown Bear was still alive, to deter other potential predators. She then ventured deeper into the cave and at the end discovered a dead-end alley. Upon returning from another excursion, she was pleasantly surprised to find the substitute already opening his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± Her heart stirred, and she took several steps close, almost throwing herself into the substitute¡¯s arms. On the one hand, she was genuinely excited; on the other, she was also performing. She quickly felt the substitute patting her shoulder and heard his hoarse voice, ¡°I listened to you, I didn¡¯t give up.¡± ¡°Mm!¡± Zi Di nodded, loosening her grip on Zhenjin, not holding him as tightly, her purple eyes staring intently at the young man, without blinking. Their eyes met. Zi Di thought to herself: His pupils also look normal. Could it be that the beast-like eyes I saw before were just an illusion? While analyzing in her heart, the girl emotionally said, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you are a true Holy Temple Knight!¡± ¡°All thanks to your potions.¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°The situation was critical at the time, and the conditions for making potions were far too makeshift. Honestly, I was completely unsure, just giving it my all. I didn¡¯t anticipate such a miraculous effect! Maybe¡­¡± The substitute smiled, ¡°What do you want to ask? Don¡¯t hold back.¡± Zi Di was very clear: A huge flaw had now surfaced. The incident of resurrection could be attempted to be concealed. But the substitute¡¯s terrifying recovery ability completely contradicted Zhenjin¡¯s actual self. She guessed it might be the War Merchant¡¯s doing, but the substitute didn¡¯t know the War Merchant. If he started to doubt this aspect, he might suspect her instead. Thus, she had to use her eloquence to resolve this flaw in advance. Under Zi Di¡¯s deliberate guidance, the substitute¡¯s thought process was significantly influenced by her. ¡°Your guess may be possible, but I cannot answer you. Because my memory has only restored a few scenes.¡± ¡°Lord, how does it feel to drink water?¡± Zi Di asked with a face full of concern and anxiety. Finding that her guidance was successful, the clever Zi Di seized the opportunity to change the subject. ¡°There¡¯s no sense of pain, it seems just like normal.¡± The substitute replied. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear, but we still need to observe.¡± Zi Di cared deeply about the substitute¡¯s condition, and now, she could only rely on him. The substitute needed to urinate after drinking water. ¡°Lord, let me help you,¡± Zi Di said, paying close attention to the substitute. She was very adept at picking up on verbal and nonverbal cues. When she sensed a slight embarrassment from the young man, she understood. ¡°Lord, I am your fianc¨¦e, there¡¯s no need to feel embarrassed,¡± Zi Di urged, thinking to herself, ¡°I¡¯ve already seen it.¡± ¡°Eh? The size is not the same. Is it because of holding urine¡­¡± Zi Di helped the substitute successfully urinate, her cheeks still rising with cute blushes, a few strands of hair in front slightly lifting, as if her whole little head was steaming. ¡°Lord, so far, your injuries seem to have healed very well. You can drink water with peace of mind. But eating still requires caution,¡± Zi Di was happy about the substitute¡¯s health condition. She then observed the substitute¡¯s excrement and collected it for analysis. ¡°Lord, your body has recovered very well, to be more precise, it¡¯s extremely astonishing. Such physical prowess is not something a Silver Level person would possess.¡± Zi Di stared at Zhenjin, her purple eyes burning bright. In that moment, she suddenly realized: Even if her plan to scheme for the War Merchant¡¯s legacy failed, the young man before her was the War Merchant¡¯s proudest creation. Studying him in-depth could potentially lead to deductions of the War Merchant¡¯s alchemical success! Chapter 193 - 193: Section 193: Staying By His Side Is Dangerous Chapter 193: Section 193: Staying By His Side Is Dangerous Once the substitute boy¡¯s injuries had healed, the two left the cave and tried to escape once again. They discovered a change in the geomorphology. Because of this, the girl made pink marking medicine powder. After delving deep into the forest, Huang Zao pleaded for their help. After careful thought, Zi Di responded to the substitute, ¡°Sir, I suggest we save him.¡± Zi Di¡¯s analysis that followed was clear, focused, and well-founded. ... ¡°But to save him, we¡¯ll have to face at least a dozen Bronze Blade Spiders¡­¡± the substitute expressed difficulty. ¡°Sir, I already have a plan,¡± Zi Di said with a smile, ¡°Trust me; I would never do this if the risks outweighed the rewards.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. But you¡¯ve forgotten the most important thing,¡± the substitute said. Zi Di quickly restrained her smile and bowed her head solemnly, ¡°Please instruct me, sir.¡± ¡°I am a Holy Temple Knight, a Knight among knights. Helping the weak and saving the injured is my creed! Even in times of danger, I would never abandon a companion.¡± The substitute¡¯s emphatic words echoed in the peaceful woods. For a moment, Zi Di looked at the boy, taken aback. If Zhenjin himself had said these words, Zi Di would never have believed them, and she would have felt contempt. If the substitute had just awakened and said these words, Zi Di wouldn¡¯t have believed him either. But a few days earlier, Zi Di and the substitute had faced life and death together, through constant perils, where Zi Di saw the substitute step forward to protect her against the Fire Poison Bee Swarm, battled fiercely with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear for her sake, and struggled between life and death inside the cave. ¡°Maybe he truly means what he says. He is a Knight after all, and the spirit of knighthood is his creed; his rough memories have also reinforced his virtuous character.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then he is worthy of my trust!¡± Thinking this, Zi Di revealed a smile, ¡°Sir, I understand.¡± Utilizing Flammable Potions and Fire Resistance Potions, the substitute fought a great battle against the Blade Spider Group, only to discover that Huang Zao had deliberately concealed significant information about the Silver Level Blade Spiders. Huang Zao regained his freedom and, in his panic, ran away alone with Zi Di¡¯s dagger. Without the dagger to cut through the spider webs, the substitute was trapped. Zi Di was bound to the ground by spider webs, seething with anger and frustration, desperately struggling. ¡°Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!¡± In her desperation, Zi Di heard the substitute¡¯s roar of fury. Her body bound by spider webs, lying on the ground powerless, she could only strain to look up, then she saw the substitute¡¯s hands transform into the claws of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. He killed the unsuspecting Blade Spider. ¡°He¡¯s beastified! He¡¯s undergone beastification!!¡± Zi Di was both shocked and delighted. She wasn¡¯t surprised at all; the substitute was originally a beastification person modified by a War Merchant. The next moment, the bear claws of the substitute¡¯s mutation turned into carbon ash and scattered, reverting back to human hands. Zi Di¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, ¡°This kind of beastification can be reversed? It¡¯s not a one-time transformation! No wonder the War Merchant said the substitute was the proudest creation of his life.¡± ¡°We¡¯re saved¡­¡± Realizing she had escaped a life-threatening crisis, Zi Di suddenly relaxed. But immediately, her gaze became serious again, ¡°No, this isn¡¯t good!¡± She suddenly remembered, the substitute¡¯s memory was artificial; beastification was a huge discrepancy, and it conflicted greatly with his memories and sense of identity! Zi Di was even more concerned that this kind of beastification could stimulate the awakening of his true memories, making him realize that he had been deceived? Zi Di quickly lay back down, deciding to feign ignorance amidst the uncertainty. Having slain the leader of the Silver Spiders, the substitute felt immensely weak. He turned back to free Zi Di, allowing her to regain her freedom. ¡°Sir, have you awakened your fighting energy?!¡± Zi Di pretended to be extremely surprised. ¡°No. I used the spearhead to pierce through the spider web,¡± the substitute was in turmoil, thinking Zi Di hadn¡¯t seen it, and didn¡¯t think much about it, subconsciously hiding the secret of the beastification. Zi Di¡¯s heart sank, ¡°He¡¯s concealing it from me! Could it be that he¡¯s discovered the truth?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t panic too much.¡± ¡°Perhaps he hasn¡¯t discovered the flaw and is struggling to accept the fact that his body could undergo mutation.¡± ¡°I still need to pretend to be ignorant. If I rashly reveal the truth, it might provoke him, and he could very well act maliciously.¡± ¡°That damned Huang Zao has run off! We must find him and settle scores with him fiercely!¡± Zi Di said viciously, swiftly changing the subject. ¡°Wait, this is valuable. We must not lose it.¡± Zi Di took an interest in the corpse of the Silver Spider. The substitute¡¯s beastification and concealment intensified the sense of crisis in her heart. She had to seize every opportunity to strengthen herself. On one hand, she relied on the substitute to protect herself against the perilous environment of Mysterious Monster Island. On the other hand, she remained vigilant of the substitute, who might suddenly succumb to his animal instincts and pounce on her! Discovering his own mutation, the substitute was full of doubts. Along the way, his expression often revealed his inner turmoil and confusion. All of this Zi Di observed closely. ¡°With the situation as it is, the substitute doesn¡¯t know that I¡¯m aware. If he comes clean to me about his secret, seeking my help, that would be most advantageous to me.¡± ¡°Because if he comes clean to me, it means he still trusts me and hasn¡¯t discovered the truth.¡± ¡°If he continues to hide it, there are basically two possibilities. One, he hasn¡¯t discovered the flaw and is just in a stage of self-doubt. The other is that he has begun to suspect me, questioning his own identity.¡± Zi Di followed the substitute, observing his words and demeanor. With heavy thoughts weighing on the substitute¡¯s mind, she also felt great pressure. However, fortunately in her observation, she didn¡¯t notice the substitute subtly probing her or fishing for any information. This gave her some peace of mind. While drawing water, Zi Di and the substitute were surrounded by Lan Zao, Cang Xu, and the others. Contrary to the young girl¡¯s expectations, Cang Xu, Lan Zao, and Huang Zao took the initiative to pledge allegiance. On the surface, the girl expressed disgust with these people, but in her heart, she was filled with joy. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous to stay by the substitute¡¯s side alone.¡± ¡°He has already begun to beastify, and partial beastification might still preserve his sanity. If it¡¯s a complete beastification, he might attack anyone on sight.¡± ¡°The arrival of these people couldn¡¯t be better timed!¡± ¡°I need some people at my side. This way, if the substitute completely beastifies, I¡¯ll only be one of the targets. If the substitute maintains his sanity, even if he discovers a flaw in my identity and wants to trouble me, he might hesitate because of the presence of these others.¡± Watching the people kneeling on the ground and acknowledging the substitute¡¯s leadership, the young girl felt a moment of emotion: ¡°Although it¡¯s a ruse, the substitute, with his dual identity of Holy Temple Knight and Noble, easily became a leader. If it were me, it would be impossible to achieve this in such a short time. Sigh¡­ The time, effort, and cost it would take for me to get to this point would far exceed that of the substitute.¡± The substitute youth summoned each member of the team for a private talk. Zi Di began to see the substitute in a new light. ¡°It seems that despite losing all his memory, he still has certain leadership abilities. My previous worries were somewhat unnecessary. Could it be because of his original identity?¡± Zi Di started to become curious about the substitute¡¯s original identity. Because she knew that if it were Zhenjin, there was a high chance he wouldn¡¯t do this. Zhenjin¡¯s attitude towards these commoners was quite arrogant; he wouldn¡¯t lower himself to meet and converse with everyone. He would probably think that these people were fortunate to follow him. Inside the tent, the substitute, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others began discussing their next course of action. Cang Xu started to share his speculation, revealing a shocking guess¡ªthat the magic beasts on the island were artificial. The substitute was surprised because this was the first time he had heard such a claim. Zi Di was also surprised; she evaluated the old Scholar before her, feeling wary: How exactly did he come to know this secret? The subsequent explanation from Cang Xu led everyone to accept his conjecture. Zi Di breathed a sigh of relief; Cang Xu wasn¡¯t in the know, it was merely a deduction born of his extensive knowledge. Zi Di¡¯s mind was still preoccupied with the War Merchant¡¯s legacy. During the conversation, she deliberately steered people to explore the Central Tower. But it was not successful. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di was filled with disappointment, yet she was also helpless. She couldn¡¯t reveal the truth; even a hint could backfire, bringing disaster upon herself. Chapter 194 - 194: Section 194: No Longer Alone Chapter 194: Section 194: No Longer Alone The group hunted a flock of sheep and were poisoned by the Frost Element through eating the mutton. The symptoms of Cold Poison appeared in everyone, and Zi Di tried to save herself at the critical moment but failed. Reminded by Cang Xu, the group struggled and barely made their way back to where they had hunted the sheep, gradually recovering. With morale chaotic, a substitute young man stood up, ¡°The situation is not yet beyond repair, don¡¯t forget, we still have Miss Zi Di. She is not only a Mage but also a Pharmacist of extraordinary ability.¡± Zi Di had just taken a potion, but the incident where she fainted on the spot seemed to have been forgotten by the substitute. However, many who had witnessed this scene earlier spread the word during the return journey. ... Could she really do it? The substitute guaranteed forcefully, ¡°Before, we didn¡¯t know the cause of the poisoning, so it¡¯s normal to have a misdiagnosis. Using pharmaceuticals always requires the right treatment for the specific condition. Now that we know the source, it¡¯s a completely different matter! How could a mere flock of sheep trap us? Everyone, I still intend to lead you off this island. It¡¯s too early to give up now.¡± A surge of emotion emerged in Zi Di¡¯s heart. She had made mistakes¡ªshe had failed to detect the toxins in the mutton and mishandled the detox. Yet, even in such circumstances, the substitute still trusted her. That feeling of being trusted was genuinely wonderful. Gathered in the tent, the upper echelons were troubled by the poisoning. However, Zi Di had already grasped a spark of inspiration in her mind, using the pharmaceuticals onsite for an experiment and produced many small granules. She had uncovered the truth. Despite finding the reason, solving this challenge still depended solely on Zi Di. The others, including the substitute and Cang Xu, were of no help. Zi Di locked herself in the tent, facing the challenge alone. ¡°Zi Di, you can do this, keep going!¡± The girl with purple eyes took a deep breath and began to attempt. After numerous failures, Zi Di was soon drenched in sweat. Failure continued, and success seemed far away, the pressure inside her growing. If she couldn¡¯t solve this problem, they would be trapped here forever. Rejoining the main force or heading to the Alchemy Factory would remain just a wish. ¡°You must succeed! For my father¡¯s vengeance and the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce¡­ Zi Di, you must solve this problem!¡± Zi Di gritted her teeth and persisted. Struggling alone into the deep night, Zi Di¡¯s hand that reached toward the waist pouch suddenly paused. ¡°No more pharmaceutical ingredients!¡± It felt like stepping into thin air, falling from a cliff into an abyss. For a while, she stood like a statue, frozen on the spot. Without these crucial ingredients, it meant complete failure! Despair and dismay engulfed Zi Di¡¯s heart like a tsunami. She stumbled, nearly falling to the ground, barely holding back from crying out loud. ¡°Calm down! Calm down!¡± She told herself in her mind, but tears flowed silently in large drops. She knew panic wouldn¡¯t help her; she began to take continuous deep breaths. But deep breathing didn¡¯t work. Her thoughts were a mess, unable to think. At that moment, she smelled the scent of pharmaceuticals from the substitute. Back on the dock, for safety, she had secretly sprayed a certain scent pharmaceutical on the substitute. Only Zi Di, who had taken a specific drug, could smell this. As Zi Di smelled this aroma, her spirit gradually calmed. She knew that while she struggled alone, the substitute had been standing outside her tent, guarding her. Suddenly, she felt: she was not alone. In this dire situation, someone still stood with her, struggling together! ¡°He¡¯s helping me in his own way¡­ with all his might.¡± ¡°He¡¯s guarding me.¡± ¡°He still thought I didn¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°Though he is not a true knight, and though he might cause me trouble later, for now¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s really nice to have you by my side.¡± Zi Di¡¯s mood finally calmed, and she quietly wiped the tears from her cheeks. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°There¡¯s still hope!¡± ¡°Even though the key potion ingredients are used up, I can try using other ingredients as substitutes.¡± This was precious knowledge from the Barbarian scrolls. Zi Di, with no confidence and completely lacking experience, still found the courage to attempt it because of Lord Zhenjin. Another failure. Failure, and more failure. Continuous failures. Zi Di had lost count of her failures; she had become numb to the outcomes, so much so that when success finally arrived, she was still subconsciously ready to try once more. The next moment, Zi Di covered her mouth, looking at the liquid in the pharmaceutical bottle and shedding tears once again. She composed herself, tidied her appearance, and gently sniffed. The substitute was still there. Outside the tent, the sunlight brightened the east, and the morning glow filled the sky. Zi Di called out, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, are you still there?¡± ¡°I am,¡± Zhenjin immediately replied. ¡°Then please come in.¡± As he entered the tent, the various strange smells became more intense, all rushing into the substitute¡¯s nostrils. Yet the scent that came from him was tightly captured by Zi Di. Zi Di looked at the substitute, raising the glass bottle in her hand, ¡°Mission accomplished.¡± Inside the bottle was a deep blue liquid, resembling seawater. Its surface was calm, but beneath lay a tumultuous undercurrent. After Lan Zao and the substitute took the medicine, the substitute¡¯s face suddenly changed. Zi Di¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly approached with concern, ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± the substitute shook his head. ¡°He seems to have hidden something from me. Does my potion have some drawbacks for Beastification People?¡± Zi Di couldn¡¯t help but worry. She had considered the substitute¡¯s Beastification People physique, but the key was that she couldn¡¯t fathom the War Merchant¡¯s methods of modifying Beastification People. The War Merchant represented the peak of worldly alchemy, while Zi Di was just a minor Black Iron Level Mage. That night, as the substitute fell into a deep sleep, he received another memory from Zhenjin. In the morning, he excitedly found Zi Di and whispered to her, ¡°There¡¯s good news¡ªI¡¯ve regained some memory. I feel my combat abilities will greatly increase because of this.¡± A happy smile immediately appeared on Zi Di¡¯s face, ¡°Lord, things will keep getting better.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, I need to test this out. I will take my leave now,¡± the substitute said goodbye and left in high spirits. Watching his figure disappear behind the tent flap, Zi Di¡¯s smile quickly faded. Such behavior from the substitute indicated he did not suspect Zi Di. However, this trust, aside from making the girl relax, added many complex emotions. ¡°This memory is fake, I deceived him¡­¡± ¡°Before he sees through the truth, he trusts me so deeply, fighting to protect and accompany me¡­¡± ¡°If one day he discovers the truth, how will I face him?¡± ¡°Stop!¡± ¡°Zi Di, what are you thinking?¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a substitute! Just a tool. Before, perhaps your life was tied to his, but now the War Merchant is dead, and the contract no longer stands.¡± ¡°If one day he discovers this secret, then just execute him!¡± ¡°Remember, Zi Di, you need to be rational and focus on the bigger picture!¡± Chapter 195 - 195: Section 195: Because of You, I Started to Believe in Fairy Tales Again Chapter 195: Section 195: Because of You, I Started to Believe in Fairy Tales Again The scouting team members discovered the Flying Squirrel colony, and after deep consideration, the substitute decided to train archers to annihilate the colony, thus resolving the crisis of food shortage. ¡°The entire team is once again at the brink of survival!¡± ¡°We will only have hope if we¡¯re victorious. The substitute¡¯s prestige will greatly rise, the team can survive, and perhaps in the future, we may even find the Core.¡± Zi Di sacrificed her sleep and food, locking herself in her tent, hardly stepping outside. After several days, she finally developed the potions. This potion could deceive the Flying Squirrels¡¯ sense of smell. ... She handed the potion to the substitute, who was extremely surprised and hugged Zi Di excitedly. Zi Di¡¯s body stiffened; she had never been held so tightly in a man¡¯s embrace. Her usually clear and rational mind seemed to melt under the substitute¡¯s intense and charming scent. Then, she heard the substitute¡¯s praise, ¡°Zi Di, my fianc¨¦e, you always surprise me. Thank you for your support!¡± It was only after the substitute left that Zi Di¡¯s thoughts gradually returned to normal. ¡°You have been supporting me all along¡­¡± she watched his retreating figure and responded in her heart. When she was once again alone in the tent, Zi Di calmed down. She patted her still-flushed cheeks, reminding herself again, ¡°Wake up, Zi Di. He is just a substitute.¡± ¡°He has hidden the secret of his Beastification from you.¡± ¡°If he finds out the truth in the future, how will he treat you then?¡± The substitute¡¯s composed and persistent demeanor made Zi Di see him in a new light once again. ¡°Clearly a step away from falling off the cliff, yet he was still able to keep his composure. I definitely couldn¡¯t do this!¡± The hunt for the Flying Squirrel colony was filled with danger and many twists, but ultimately the Human Race team was victorious. The substitute performed exceptionally well, especially at the end; his arms thickened as he hurled a Dagger with great force, slaying the Black Iron Level leader of the Flying Squirrels in one decisive blow, with a display of formidable presence. Zi Di quietly admired the alchemy skill of the War Merchant, wondering, ¡°Could the substitute already be able to actively control his body and completely control partial Beastification?¡± ¡°I had previously found it strange how the substitute¡¯s Beastification ability conflicted with his disguise mission.¡± ¡°But now it seems that this partial Beastification ability can also be very covert. Especially combined with Fighting energy, making it hard for someone to notice.¡± The substitute¡¯s second Beastification sowed further doubts, and that night, he summoned Zi Di, once again indirectly inquiring about the situation at the time. ¡°What happened? Or does Lord Zhenjin feel that there is some kind of danger?¡± Zi Di asked. She very much hoped that the substitute would reveal the secret of his Beastification to her. To her disappointment, the substitute¡¯s response was simply, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just wanted to know. It¡¯s getting late, we¡¯ll set off tomorrow. You should go back and rest well.¡± The transportation caught everyone off guard. The sandstorm was like the scythe of the Death God, wanting to reap the lives of the entire team. In the critical moment, Zi Di immediately used the potions, melding them into the sands to excavate a large pit, swiftly creating an underground shelter. ¡°My substitute, where are you?¡± Zi Di spread her potions again, igniting a white flame in the ferocious winds and black night. The white fire, like a beacon, attracted the gathering of many people around. However, much to Zi Di¡¯s disappointment, she never saw the substitute. ¡°Get inside quickly, Lord Zhenjin will definitely come!¡± ¡°Miss Zi Di, you¡¯re in a dangerous spot, hurry and take shelter in the cellar.¡± As the people urged her, Zi Di could not hold on and retreated for the time being. The joy was short-lived; the temporary hole they had melted collapsed quickly but luckily, Zi Di had plenty of potions, and she began pouring them again, attempting to expand the space. Suddenly, the ground beneath everyone gave way, and they fell deeper. ¡°Is there actually a natural cave here?¡± ¡°We¡¯re saved!¡± Everyone took deep breaths, having been severely short of oxygen before. Cang Xu had a grave look on his face, ¡°This cave is not natural but is a traveling passage for beasts. The reason there is air should be that this passage leads directly to the surface.¡± Numerous beast tracks were quite evident in the cave. The people looked solemn. After a brief rest, the group cautiously began to explore. They encountered Green-Skinned Lizards. Cang Xu and the others were not unfamiliar with such beasts¡ªthey had encountered them before when they were stranded in the desert. After eliminating several Green-Skinned Lizards along the way, the people unexpectedly arrived at a unique cave. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon identification, they discovered it was the nursery chamber of the lizard colony, with a large number of lizard eggs stored. In addition, several mother lizards were guarding the eggs, also responsible for incubation. A fierce battle unfolded, Zi Di kept throwing potions, finally helping her companions achieve victory. They had wiped out all the female lizards, but their situation became even more dangerous as the commotion of the fight had drawn in an endless stream of robust male lizards. These lizards continued to assault the nursery, and the humans could only struggle to hold on through the narrow entrance of the nursery. Zi Di didn¡¯t have enough potions to melt another passage. Cang Xu, through dissection and other means, deduced that the lizard population was very large. There was no escape; to persist any longer would ultimately mean death. Zi Di was not willing to give up. Before this, her team had eradicated a group of Flying Squirrels, resolved the food crisis, and reinforced their authority with the substitute. Yet, within one night, they had fallen into this desperate situation. She tried to boost everyone¡¯s spirits, but to little effect. She then had a stroke of genius and scattered pink potions on the bodies of the lizards, ¡°If these injured lizards retreat and people on the surface see them, we might be able to get support!¡± This plan finally gave everyone a glimmer of hope as their morale steadied. ¡°Zi Di, you can¡¯t give up! There¡¯s still a chance.¡± Zi Di silently encouraged herself while actively looking for other ways out. After experimenting, she discovered that the lizard eggs were excellent ingredients for potions. With these, she concocted Acid Fog Potions that even the lizards struggled to withstand. Cang Xu surmised that the green-skinned lizards would go out to forage at dawn. Using these potions, Zi Di helped everyone break through, and after a harrowing escape, they made it back to the surface. However, they hadn¡¯t anticipated that the lizard group, having been heavily struck by a scorpion swarm while hunting, had returned to their den ahead of schedule. Zi Di and the others were encircled and chased, only managing to hold out on the top of a sand dune. Reliant on the Acid Fog Potions, they could barely keep up their defense. The lizards had them completely surrounded, waiting for Zi Di¡¯s potions to run out. Everyone was in despair, including Zi Di. Bai Ya said, ¡°Lord Zhenjin will surely appear and save us in time, leading us to escape. Just because he is a Holy Temple Knight.¡± Zi Di could only offer a bitter smile in her heart, especially missing the substitute since the start of the sandstorm. Now, she couldn¡¯t detect any scent of the substitute, and it was very possible that he had already perished in the storm of sand. Bai Ya¡¯s naive idea made her recall the fairy tales of her childhood. The tale of the princess, the demon, and the knight. The demon captured the princess, coercing her to marry him. But the little princess shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry you, you bad demon. My daddy and mommy will send a knight to rescue me.¡± Zi Di had long ceased to believe in such fairy tales. ¡°Fairy tales are just fairy tales, after all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid this will be my final resting place.¡± ¡°Until now, I don¡¯t even know where the central hub is.¡± ¡°Damn it, my father¡¯s vengeance, and the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce¡­¡± However, at that moment, Zi Di heard someone shouting, ¡°Come quick, look, is that a person over there?¡± That single voice immediately grabbed everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°There is someone.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t see clearly.¡± ¡°He¡¯s running towards us!¡± Zi Di froze, then began to stare intently. Cang Xu narrowed his eyes, ¡°There are green-skinned lizards all at the foot of the sand dune, yet this person keeps fighting his way over, clearly a man of great valor and audacity.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Lord Zhenjin, it has to be him,¡± Bai Ya shouted excitedly. As the distance closed, they were finally able to recognize the newcomer¡¯s face. Cheers erupted. ¡°It¡¯s him, indeed Lord Zhenjin!¡± In an instant, Zi Di¡¯s heart began to pound rapidly, intense emotion nearly bursting from her eyes as tears of excitement. She recalled her mother¡¯s words, ¡°My little princess, don¡¯t worry, you will have your knight, and he will protect you for your entire life.¡± ¡°My knight?¡± young Zi Di¡¯s eyes sparkled, ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Mommy isn¡¯t quite sure either. But one thing is for certain, he will appear in your life.¡± Now. He had appeared. Chapter 196 - 196: Section 196: You and I Are One Chapter 196: Section 196: You and I Are One The substitute struggled to break through the siege, climbed up the sand dune, and met up with everyone. The moment the substitute reached the top, an urge surged in Zi Di¡¯s heart, wanting to throw herself into his arms. But in the next moment, members of the exploration team crowded around the young substitute, each one of them overflowing with excitement. ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin!¡± Zi Di calmed down and was secretly shocked, ¡°What¡¯s happening to me?¡± ... Throughout her life, she had never had such a bold idea. The return of the substitute greatly boosted the morale of the exploration team, and the scorpion swarm that he deliberately led there was an even bigger surprise for everyone. With the chaos created by the scorpions, the substitute led everyone down the sand dune. Always charging at the forefront, the substitute bore the greatest pressure, as Zi Di, mixed among the team, looked at the substitute in the front, her mind involuntarily drawn to him. They had successfully broken out, but Bai Ya had fallen into a surrounding of lizards. The substitute was about to turn back to rescue him, but Cang Xu shouted, ¡°Sir, leave him be. If we don¡¯t move now, the lizards will close in again.¡± Zi Di felt the same way; she didn¡¯t want the substitute to fall into danger again either. Yet, for some reason, Zi Di didn¡¯t speak out to persuade him. Faced with a choice, the substitute decisively said, ¡°I¡¯ve said that I won¡¯t abandon anyone. Bai Ya will be no exception!¡± Seeing the substitute bravely charging back, Zi Di felt very complex emotions. She was worried for the substitute but also felt joy. The substitute returned with Bai Ya, and it all seemed as romantic as a story. The substitute had said he wouldn¡¯t give up on anyone. He had kept his promise. Nothing was more persuasive than actions. At that moment, Zi Di had a revelation, ¡°He has indeed been modified by the War Merchant, and has become one of the Beastification People. But he is still a knight, a true knight!¡± After escaping from the lizards, the exploration team was soon chased by the scorpions. Each time, it was the substitute who stepped forward, battling the leaders of the scorpions, and holding the line. ¡°Relying on his own Recovery Power, he can heal himself. But now, we can¡¯t shake off the scorpions. Sir, you have to keep fighting with the leaders of the scorpions, constantly exhausting your energy and physical strength. Each battle tears at your wounds, with no rest, and no chance to recover.¡± Zi Di healed the substitute, feeling immense heartache. It was the substitute who was fighting with all his might, using his life to protect everyone, to protect her. Zi Di realized that she had become a burden to the substitute. With the substitute¡¯s strength, he could have abandoned everyone and escaped alone. ¡°This can¡¯t go on, his physical condition is getting worse,¡± Zi Di increasingly felt desperate, unable to think of any way to change the situation. Watching the substitute confront the scorpion leaders over and over again, healing him each time, Zi Di could no longer treat the substitute as just a tool. Instead, she started feeling guilty. ¡°He is a true knight. And I¡¯ve been using him¡­¡± Zi Di told herself internally, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t deceive him. If I am to die, I will tell him the truth before I die!¡± Despite being the most burdened member of the team, the substitute continued to inspire others ceaselessly. ¡°As long as we are alive, there is much hope.¡± ¡°We must always maintain hope, not give up on ourselves, then we still have a chance and the possibility to survive until death truly arrives.¡± ¡°Relying solely on external help and change is not the act of the brave. More reliable is our own will to save ourselves.¡± Zi Di quietly observed him, ¡°He is the pillar of everyone, without him, the entire team would have surely collapsed by now. He is an excellent leader!¡± The group trekked through the scorching desert, enduring the scorpions and the harsh environment, with food and water becoming increasingly scarce. The situation became ever more difficult, and the injured Bai Ya passed out. On the brink of despair, everyone became restless and fearful, subconsciously turning their anger and panic into words, lashing out at Cang Xu. Cang Xu coldly pointed out that, at a critical moment, they could use the unconscious Bai Ya as food. Cang Xu¡¯s words terrified Zi Di so much that she trembled slightly. What frightened her wasn¡¯t that she agreed with Cang Xu¡¯s words, but the realization that, at the very end, this was the only way to survive! ¡°Am I supposed to eat¡­ flesh?¡± ¡°No, no!¡± ¡°By doing so, how am I any different from a wild beast?¡± ¡°But if we don¡¯t eat, the chance of survival is even slimmer¡­¡± ¡°Wait, if I unfortunately pass away, will my body be¡­ by others¡­¡± Cang Xu¡¯s words suddenly made Zi Di realize the terror of the future; at that moment, the girl shivered not from cold but from utter helplessness. She instinctively looked towards the substitute. The substitute frowned deeply, his expression stern, ¡°Cang Xu, retract your words. Bai Ya is not food; he is our companion. I will never allow the tragedy of cannibalism among companions to happen.¡± For a moment, the brilliance and warmth of humanity enveloped Zi Di again. The girl suddenly became determined, and she vowed in her heart, ¡°Even in death, I will not eat the flesh of a companion! Thank you, my Knight, for protecting me once again¡­¡± Persist, clench your teeth and persist. The group walked out of the desert and entered volcanic terrain. After the decisive battle with the scorpion swarm, only the substitute, Zi Di, Bai Ya, and Cang Xu were left, trapped in a cave. According to Zi Di¡¯s tests, scorpion meat was not edible, and the four of them had only two bags of water left. ¡°There¡¯s no way, I can¡¯t think of any solutions.¡± Zi Di broke down emotionally. The substitute comforted her, ¡°Low-level magic can¡¯t be used here, it¡¯s been too hard on you all along.¡± ¡°No, it is I who have dragged you down, Lord Zhenjin. If it weren¡¯t for my suggestion, we wouldn¡¯t have sneaked onto this ship. Nor would we have ended up on this island, encountering lizards and gun scorpions. You could have completely abandoned me and survived alone.¡± At this point, Zi Di suddenly realized something¡ª Her chance of survival was very slim, but it was different for the substitute. He could escape alone; he had the strength to do it! So, she pleaded, ¡°Sir, just go. Don¡¯t worry about me anymore! You can leave this place.¡± Throughout their journey, the girl no longer regarded the substitute as a tool, no longer saw him as one of the Beastification People. She recognized him, assured that the young man before her was a true Knight! It was her mistake. She had deceived him! Though the War Merchant was the main villain, and she had been forced, it was a desperate attempt she made when pursued by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf that had led her to awaken the substitute. Of course, the girl wanted the substitute to get rid of the scorpions and take her away from this island. But reality isn¡¯t a fairy tale. ¡°I don¡¯t want to drag you down anymore.¡± ¡°Death is my inevitable fate, why should I drag you down with me?¡± ¡°In all these events, you are the most innocent.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I lied to you!¡± The guilt in her heart made Zi Di open her mouth, feeling the urge to confess the whole truth. The substitute just smiled faintly, with a hint of indulgence, tucking a lock of hair that shaded her eyes behind her ear, ¡°You are my fianc¨¦e, and I am your Knight. It is my duty to protect you. I will keep you safe, until the end of my life.¡± At that moment, Zi Di felt her heart melt. Zhenjin finally made up his mind, ¡°I will leave at dawn. I will break out first and try to draw the gun scorpions¡¯ attention; take that moment to escape from here, each heading in different directions.¡± The escape plan was rudimentary, the chances of survival extremely slim, but what else could be done? ¡°At dawn, I will tell him the truth!¡± ¡°This night, should perhaps be the last night of my life, let me enjoy this last beautiful moment.¡± The girl had a small selfish wish. Lying in the arms of the substitute, Zi Di fell peacefully asleep. In the dead of night, Zi Di was awakened by Cang Xu¡¯s words. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She curled up in the substitute¡¯s embrace, not opening her eyes at once but quietly listening. Cang Xu earnestly persuaded the substitute to eat a good meal to increase the probability of survival, asking him to fulfill his last wish. But the substitute steadfastly refused. Zi Di opened her eyes and promised Cang Xu, ¡°If I get out, I will help you fulfill this last wish too.¡± Then, she took out several letters, ¡°Actually, I think, Bai Ya has also left his last wish.¡± She hoped the substitute would eat, to strengthen his physical ability and increase the chance of survival. But such persuasion was incredibly hard for her to utter. She wanted the substitute to become a beast, to break through the baseline, to save himself. Yet she also hoped he would always maintain the spirit and character of a Knight, and not fall from grace. In the end, the substitute still shook his head, ¡°I will not turn people into food!¡± His gaze shifted to Zi Di, tinged with a hint of apology. That look settled Zi Di¡¯s mind in an instant, dispelling all hesitations. She shook her head and smiled, ¡°Sir, we are one, whatever decision you make is also my decision.¡± Chapter 197 - 197: Section 197: Is it him? Chapter 197: Section 197: Is it him? The day had broken, and the substitute was the first to rush out of the cave. Soon after, Zi Di and Cang Xu escaped from the cave, the process smoother than imagined. This was because the substitute had attracted all the gun scorpions to him. Far away, the volcano was spewing massive amounts of red molten lava. The lava shot up very high, at least eight hundred meters by visual estimate. The dark smoke obscured half of the sky. The bright red lava reached its peak and began to splash downward. ... ¡°We¡¯re lucky we¡¯re still on the perimeter, let¡¯s hurry,¡± Cang Xu urged. Zi Di, however, slowed her pace, frequently turning to look back. ¡°How safe I am here correlates directly with how dangerous it is for him!¡± ¡°How is he doing now?¡± Reason told Zi Di that the substitute had likely fallen in battle. But her emotions tethered her steps, holding on to even a sliver of hope, she wanted to wait. Even thoughts like ¡°To see his body would let me bid him a final farewell and bring closure¡± surfaced in her mind. Just when the girl was about to despair completely, a figure appeared in her field of vision. This figure, Zi Di remembered all too well. So much so that at first, Zi Di almost doubted her own eyes, suspecting a hallucination. But quickly, she cried out in surprise. Her knight had returned, as splendid as the heroes in stories. ¡°He brought Bai Ya back, too,¡± Zi Di noted, her tone complex. ¡°This is what a Holy Temple Knight is!¡± Cang Xu exclaimed genuinely from the depths of his heart. When they reunited, Zi Di immediately tended to the substitute¡¯s wounds. During this, she saw new injuries the substitute had suffered from the gun scorpions and keenly felt that his spirit was completely different. ¡°Could it be that at the moment of life and death, he was stimulated and underwent beastification again?¡± ¡°That must be it.¡± ¡°He couldn¡¯t use fighting energy, only by undergoing beastification could he have overcome the swarm!¡± Though they had escaped the swarm, only the substitute, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and the unconscious Bai Ya remained in the exploration team. ¡°Could this be the center of Mysterious Monster Island?¡± ¡°Could the Alchemy Factory be here?¡± Zi Di had this speculation, but she hadn¡¯t planned on exploring this area. The environment here was too perilous, with the erupting volcano, the terrifying lava, and the Golden Magical Beast Molten Giant Turtle she had witnessed not long ago¡­ Also, she had no real reason to persuade everyone to delve deeper. She also couldn¡¯t be certain that the Alchemy Factory was hidden here. Although Cang Xu had tried to persuade the substitute to give up on the unconscious Bai Ya, the substitute preferred to shoulder the burden himself rather than abandon his companions. Substitute: ¡°I once said I would do everything possible to rescue everyone, not abandoning a single person. That¡¯s my promise and my duty.¡± ¡°Lord, your noble character makes the bright stars in the night sky pale in comparison!¡± Cang Xu exclaimed sincerely, ¡°You are truly a model among the Holy Temple Knights.¡± The substitute smiled bitterly with a shake of his head. Seeing this expression, Zi Di became even more certain in her heart: ¡°My guess must be the truth. He overcame the swarm by undergoing beastification, but this surely caused him distress and doubt.¡± ¡°A Holy Temple Knight¡¯s body should never undergo such mutations.¡± The substitute¡¯s troubles and doubts also saddened Zi Di. ¡°I should tell him the truth.¡± Last night, Zi Di had quietly made up her mind to reveal everything to the substitute at dawn. But when dawn came, she hesitated: ¡°If I tell him the truth, might it disrupt him? Could it leave him with conflicting and turbulent emotions? He had to lure away the swarm, his situation was more dangerous than ours!¡± Caught in hesitation, she missed the opportunity. ¡°I should tell him the truth! Even if he¡¯s not Lord Zhenjin, not a Holy Temple Knight, he was originally a knight. That¡¯s all I know of his original identity.¡± Zi Di resolved once more. With food severely scarce, the four returned to the desert, only holding a small lizard and a jumping rat in their hands. The substitute selflessly gave the precious meat to Zi Di and Cang Xu, while Bai Ya¡¯s condition worsened, remaining unconscious and developing a high fever. ¡°There¡¯s movement.¡± The substitute¡¯s face darkened slightly, ¡°You eat first, I¡¯ll stand guard and drive away or kill any possible wild beasts.¡± The substitute disappeared briefly and then hurried back. ¡°He seems a bit different,¡± Zi Di sharply noticed a change in the substitute. Zi Di and Cang Xu were holding back their skewers of meat, pushing them towards the substitute. ¡°Do you want me to break my oath? To tarnish the honor of my knighthood?¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s expression became very solemn. Zi Di and Cang Xu looked at Lord Zhenjin, feeling his whole being radiating a sacred light, both were emotionally shaken and remained silent. ¡°Burp.¡± Just then, the substitute couldn¡¯t help but let out a loud burp. Cang Xu, Zi Di: ??? Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di widened her eyes, thinking: ¡°What did I just hear?¡± ¡°A burp?¡± ¡°Is he full? What did he eat?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible. He¡¯s a knight; he wouldn¡¯t eat alone without us. Maybe it was just indigestion, not a burp.¡± ¡°But if he really did eat something, could it mean¡­ beastification?¡± Morning came, and the four set out again. Seeing the gold mica stone cluster again, the substitute left the team early and ventured deep into the cluster. Soon after, he returned successfully, sharing how he had dealt with the lizards in the cluster. Under his guidance, Zi Di and Cang Xu also arrived at the recent battlefield. Cang Xu couldn¡¯t help but praise continuously, while Zi Di quietly surveyed the battleground. Her gaze briefly hardened, focusing on the impact marks on the gold mica stones and the suspected scorpion tail-forged stone caves. In such a short time, the substitute¡¯s clean-up of the battlefield was actually limited. ¡°His recount didn¡¯t include a gun scorpion; could it be that he turned into a scorpion tail through beastification and defeated the lizard group?¡± Zi Di pondered. Her eyes swept around, then suddenly sharpened again, her heart raced, and her cheeks quickly heated up. She saw the hole in the trousers at the substitute¡¯s rear. The hole was vaguely visible because the substitute had let out the hem of his shirt, the motive to cover it up was very clear. ¡°All the clues add up!¡± ¡°Wait, he burped last night. If it was lizard meat, based on his character, he would definitely have brought it back to share. But he didn¡¯t¡­ He must have a hidden dilemma.¡± ¡°His food must be gold mica stone!¡± ¡°He can transform into a scorpion tail, and probably beastify even more. After beastifying, he can use gold mica stone as food.¡± ¡°But he can¡¯t share gold mica stone, because normal people can¡¯t eat that stuff.¡± Zi Di continued to ponder, recalling how the substitute had specially sought information on how gun scorpions digest food from Cang Xu before leaving last night. ¡°He was prepared in advance, which means, before he left, he knew he could beastify, turn into a gun scorpion, or part of a gun scorpion.¡± ¡°But he wasn¡¯t sure whether he could really eat gold mica stone. So, he asked Cang Xu.¡± ¡°That means, he is able to beastify at will now.¡± ¡°Perhaps because he has beastified many times, he¡¯s become adept at it. Or maybe the intense fight with the gun scorpion this time allowed him to break through and freely control his beastification ability!¡± Having guessed the substitute¡¯s secret, Zi Di¡¯s heart filled with tender emotions. ¡°This fool¡­¡± ¡°Would rather risk eating rocks himself, to give us the meat skewers.¡± ¡°He must not want to beastify, because he believes he is Lord Zhenjin, a Holy Temple Knight!¡± ¡°But he has no choice but to do so, compelled by circumstances, and to protect me¡­¡± At that moment, Zi Di felt an urge to tell the substitute the truth, to stand by his side, take his hand, and share his worries and woes. However, as this impulse reached her lips, Zi Di lost her courage. All she could do was gaze at the substitute with her purple crystal-like eyes and gently said, ¡°My lord, you don¡¯t have to take such risks in the future. Often, we can plan things out over a longer period.¡± The substitute did not know that the girl before him had already seen through his secret, he nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have it figured out. In fact, since we shook off the scorpion swarm, I¡¯ve been feeling refreshed. I feel as though I¡¯ve made a breakthrough, and yet, not quite. Now when I fight, my thoughts are clearer than before, I¡¯m more aware of my body¡¯s state, and I know what I can and cannot do.¡± He needed to lay some groundwork. He deliberately kept it vague, to create some impressions for those around him. In the future, when he used the Heart Core to defeat a threat, he wanted to ensure that others wouldn¡¯t find his increased strength bizarre and abrupt. Lizard meat had saved the four of them, provided them with enough food, and now they needed to replenish their water supply. According to Cang Xu¡¯s speculation, there had to be a large water source near the lizard swarm, likely an oasis. Soon, the group discovered the oasis and entered it. Here, they saw Lan Zao and Huang Zao. Huang Zao was already dead, his face pallid, his body battered, and the sight of blood and exposed bones was horrifying. Following them, Cang Xu and Zi Di suddenly stopped in their tracks. ¡°Ugh.¡± Caught off guard, Zi Di retched, nearly vomiting the gastric acid in her stomach. ¡°It¡¯s me¡­ it¡¯s me¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault he died, I killed him.¡± ¡°I killed Huang Zao, I killed my own brother.¡± ¡°I killed him, I killed my last relative in this world!¡± Lan Zao wept bitterly, and Zi Di also felt a fear towards the beast-like Lan Zao. By the campfire at night. Zi Di urged the substitute, ¡°We¡¯ve all seen Huang Zao¡¯s body. Lan Zao has admitted to his crime too. Such a cruel person, how can we keep him?¡± Yet, Cang Xu had a different opinion, causing a dispute with Zi Di. The substitute¡¯s expression struggled, clearly in difficulty. In the deep of the night, Zi Di heard faint prayers from her doppelganger. The long confession ended. A gentle night breeze brushed past the young knight¡¯s ears. Everything went as Zhenjin had expected¡ªthe gods did not respond. The young knight sighed sadly. Zi Di also sighed in her heart. The moment was perfect to tell the truth, but she lacked the courage, truly lacked the courage to speak. She was very afraid. Previously, she feared the substitute would get overstimulated, release his beastly nature, and harm her. But now, after enduring many hardships, she had lost count of how many times he had saved her. Even if his beastly nature led to killing her, it could only mean giving back the life he had saved. What she feared was how the substitute would see her, she feared seeing his utterly disappointed expression. ¡°If he isn¡¯t Zhenjin, then I¡¯m not his fianc¨¦e anymore¡­¡± Although she knew that the substitute was not her fianc¨¦, she wished he believed it was so. The sun rose, marking a new day. The substitute, Zi Di, and Cang Xu once again strived for survival. Zi Di constructed a small tent woven from palm leaves. She knelt on the ground, her upper body burrowing into the tent, it seemed she was adjusting the palm leaves inside. Her lower body remained outside, with her tan boots now visible beyond the magic robe due to her posture, and the robe clung to her buttocks delineating an alluring curve. The substitute was inadvertently drawn to her, watching for quite a while. ¡°He was just watching me!¡± Zi Di realized, her heart fluttering with shyness and joy. The substitute left again, and Zi Di continued setting up the tent, during which Bai Ya awoke. ¡°Are you awake?¡± ¡°Lord Zi Di, thank you¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. All the credit goes to Lord Zhenjin, he is the one who saved you. We had actually given up on you.¡± Zi Di told Bai Ya the details, with a touch of pride and a hint of boastfulness. A group of lizards came to draw water, and a swarm of Fat Ball Flying Fish appeared, causing a crisis. ¡°Run, back to camp. Staying here would burden me!¡± The substitute¡¯s expression changed slightly, and he yelled in a low voice. Cang Xu and Zi Di immediately turned and ran with all their might. The substitute killed some Fat Ball Flying Fish, then morphed into a gun scorpion, drawing away the remaining fish. ¡°Where is he?¡± Standing on a slope near the camp, Zi Di looked around, full of hope and concern. Suddenly, her gaze was inexplicably drawn to a white Silver Spear Scorpion. She watched the Silver Spear Scorpion as it plunged into the running group of lizards. The gun scorpion clearly attracted a huge swarm of fish, putting the lizards in trouble. ¡°Is it him? Is it him?¡± Strangely, in that moment, Zi Di recognized the true identity of the gun scorpion! Even though she had never imagined before that the substitute could completely transform into a gun scorpion. Zi Di was enthralled. In her eyes, the image of the gun scorpion gradually changed, transforming into the substitute; he was galloping on horseback, clad in white armor, wielding a cavalry lance, and maneuvering deftly on the battlefield. Chapter 198 - 198: Section 198: Its him indeed Chapter 198: Section 198: It¡¯s him indeed Watching the gun scorpion and the swarm of lizards rush out of the Oasis, Zi Di turned around and hurried back to the camp. After returning to camp, it wasn¡¯t long before the Fat Ball Flying Fish visited. Unfortunately, Zi Di was hit by a stinger. ¡°Am I going to die?¡± Zi Di hid in her tent, her entire body sweating from the mix of tension and fear. She knew no one could help her, only she could save herself! After being hit and taking a moment to recover, she quickly pulled out the stinger and rummaged through her leather bag. She poured out the potions rapidly, and soon, she discovered a Light Blue Medicine Liquid that had a strong alleviating effect on the severe poison. ... ¡°I¡¯m saved!¡± At that moment, Zi Di felt nothing but relief, grateful for her usual thorough preparations, having stocked a variety of Detoxification Potions. Once out of danger, Zi Di quickly pulled out more light blue potions and risked climbing out of her tent. ¡°Catch them all, this type of potion can relieve the toxicity of the stingers!¡± Zi Di threw the light blue potion to others, even Lan Zao got a bottle. However, just after throwing it to Lan Zao, she hesitated. She suddenly realized that this was her best opportunity to eliminate Lan Zao. Zi Di had no affection for him, who killed his younger brother, and was very vigilant and wary at heart. But the substitute didn¡¯t listen to her advice to get rid of Lan Zao and had always spared his life. ¡°If I don¡¯t save him, he¡¯s likely to die from the fish stinger!¡± After Zi Di entered her tent, she immediately began to regret it. She was too nervous and without thinking it through, she had subconsciously thrown the potion to Lan Zao. The substitute hadn¡¯t returned, but the Fat Ball Flying Fish that came to the camp were clearly increasing in number. Zi Di crouched in her tent, feeling more and more afraid. She couldn¡¯t see the flying fish, but she could hear the quacking noise they made, which was clearly getting louder and more frequent! ¡°If this continues, more and more flying fish will come. If I am hit by too many stingers, no amount of potions will cure the poison.¡± Just when the situation was becoming increasingly dangerous, Zi Di suddenly heard Lan Zao shouting. Then, she heard Lan Zao yelling and the sounds of his confrontation with the Fat Ball Flying Fish. Zi Di took a risk and lifted a corner of her tent and saw Lan Zao, looking almost deranged, running out of his tent to the center of the camp, throwing stones and fighting against the Fat Ball Flying Fish. To Zi Di¡¯s surprise, Lan Zao seemed to be able to pinpoint the position of the Fat Ball Flying Fish! Seeing this, she quickly threw her protective sword and knives to Lan Zao. Cang Xu, from another tent, made the same move. With weapons in hand, Lan Zao immediately steadied his ground and engaged in a fierce battle with the Fat Ball Flying Fish, drawing all their attention. Lan Zao¡¯s struggle bought precious time for Zi Di, Cang Xu, and the others, successfully delaying the fight until the substitute arrived for rescue. At that time, Zi Di was hit by a stinger once again. She couldn¡¯t help but cry out in shock. This was the fourth time. The Fat Ball Flying Fish detonated, sending stingers flying chaotically. The palm-leaf woven tent couldn¡¯t block all of the stingers. Zi Di immediately calmed down, about to pull out a light blue potion, when suddenly someone barged into her tent! Zi Di tensed up, only to find it was the substitute. Her heart was just about to settle down when she heard the substitute¡¯s concerned voice, ¡°Let me see!¡± The next moment, the substitute embraced Zi Di fiercely, tearing open a large rent in her apprentice cloak, exposing Zi Di¡¯s wound near her chest, right before the substitute¡¯s eyes. Zi Di: !!! She was stunned, frozen like a statue, and her motion to pull out the light blue potion halted. As she hesitated, the dark poison on her delicate skin spread at a visible rate. The substitute became very anxious and did not hesitate to yank out the stinger and then bent down to cover the wound with his lips, sucking forcefully! In an instant, Zi Di¡¯s pupils shrank sharply, the suction from the wound was so intense that it felt like a magical attack. At that moment, Zi Di even thought her spirit was about to be sucked out. The natural response to being attacked, combined with a young girl¡¯s shyness, made her subconsciously push against the substitute¡¯s chest. The substitute stood immovable. She felt his chest, as hard as a boulder. His arms seemed to be cast from iron, trapping the young girl firmly in his embrace. The intense male scent engulfed Zi Di completely like a tidal wave. She had never been treated this way before! Her whole body went limp and stiff, and her mind went blank, incapable of thought. She was extremely tense all over. Her toes clenched, and her small leather boots unconsciously rubbed against the ground of the tent. Lying flat, her eyes were fixed on the tent, its space so narrow that Zi Di felt herself getting hotter, breathing becoming more difficult. It felt like a century had passed, or it could have been just a few breaths. Finally, the substitute stopped the suction and released the young girl. His efforts were fruitful; the poison on Zi Di¡¯s wound was mostly sucked out and hadn¡¯t spread through her body. Suddenly, Zi Di felt as if she could breathe again, her body burning up, her head buzzing, she stammered, ¡°Sir, I have medicine. It can cure this poison.¡± She pulled out a small glass bottle from her bag, containing the light blue potion. ¡°` The jet-black poison encountered the Light Blue Medicine Liquid and immediately dissipated, the effect was very good. Substitute: ¡­ The young knight realized his own recklessness and looked somewhat embarrassed, coughing once, ¡°That¡¯s better. I¡¯ll go check on the others.¡± The substitute left. Zi Di suddenly felt the tent was empty and desolate, and then a tide of complex emotions surged from the depths of her heart. ¡°What did he just do to me?¡± ¡°Oh my God!¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t I resist?¡± ¡°No, no, I did resist! But I couldn¡¯t stop him¡­¡± ¡°How could he do that?!¡± ¡°No, he didn¡¯t know about the Light Blue Potion so he didn¡¯t intentionally come to violate me. He did it to save me¡­¡± For a moment, Zi Di¡¯s thoughts were in complete disarray, forgetting that the camp was still under attack by the Fat Ball Flying Fish. The substitute returned to provide support, killing the Fat Ball Flying Fish and successfully rescuing the camp. However, Lan Zao was severely injured and deeply poisoned. ¡°Lord, save me¡­¡± As Lan Zao neared death, he grabbed the substitute¡¯s pant leg, issuing one weak plea after another. The substitute asked Zi Di for assistance. Although Zi Di had previously persuaded the substitute to eliminate Lan Zao and regretted her own action of throwing the potion, she now sincerely set out to rescue him. ¡°Without Lan Zao¡¯s delay, we definitely wouldn¡¯t have lasted until the substitute returned.¡± ¡°From this perspective, he did save us once.¡± Zi Di went all out, preparing potions and, with Bai Ya bravely sucking the poison, ultimately pulled Lan Zao back from the brink. After recuperating for several days at the Oasis, the four of them left the Oasis and journeyed on, entering the forest. Due to the substitute¡¯s rash act of sucking the poison, an awkward layer was added between Zi Di and him. Their interactions clearly diminished, and even when their eyes did meet, they quickly turned away. Yet, each time she made eye contact with the substitute, Zi Di¡¯s heart raced. The substitute scouted ahead, while Zi Di¡¯s gaze involuntarily lingered on his figure, and often, under such a gaze, time flew by. What was once a grueling journey became rather insignificant in Zi Di¡¯s perception. Despite hardly speaking a few words to the substitute every day, it was in this very atmosphere that Zi Di felt sweetness! ¡°Maybe, just going on like this, as long as I¡¯m with him, it¡¯s very nice,¡± Zi Di thought with a sigh. The good times were short-lived. Deep in the forest, the substitute keenly discovered the battlefield where Zong Ge and the Magic Beast were fiercely fighting. Following the traces, they soon found the camp. ¡°What is this?!¡± Seeing the familiar camp, Zi Di¡¯s pupils shrank in an instant. It was in this camp that she and her previous guards had been ambushed by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, and in that moment of crisis, she had to open the wooden box, drag out the sleeping substitute, and make an emergency escape. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The camp must have been teleported there and was currently under siege by a horde of bat monkeys, the situation was dire. In the midst of cautious observation, Zhenjin, playing as Hei Juan, fled from the camp. The moment Zi Di saw him, it was as if she were struck by lightning from a clear sky. She hadn¡¯t expected to encounter her real fianc¨¦ so soon, in this place! She wasn¡¯t ready. Hei Juan took the opportunity to scramble on hands and knees, fleeing towards the forest outside the camp. Bronze bat monkeys screeched, furiously flapping their wings, pursuing Hei Juan. ¡°Is he going to die? He¡¯s going to die!¡± Watching her fianc¨¦ about to be killed by bat monkeys, Zi Di¡¯s heart pounded, her mouth went dry, and a mixture of fear and anticipation rose within her. Fate was so capricious. Her mother had died, her father had died, the War Merchant had died, and she had fallen in love with a substitute. Now, her fianc¨¦ was going to die. ¡°If Hei Juan dies, then he will be the only Zhenjin!¡± ¡°Deceiving the Empire will be difficult, but that¡¯s for the future to worry about.¡± ¡°He¡¯s going to die; it isn¡¯t by my hand that I¡¯m killing him, he¡¯s being killed by a Magic Beast.¡± Zi Di never envisioned an arranged marriage, never thought of marrying Zhenjin. Now as Zhenjin was about to die in front of her, she felt relief, a sense of release. But in the next moment! A gust of wind arose from behind her, a dart whistling sharply through the air, struck down the bat monkey, saving Zhenjin. Zi Di turned pale, looking back. Just as she had guessed, the person who saved Zhenjin¡­ Was the substitute. ¡°` Chapter 199 - 199: Section 199: Murdering the Fiancé Chapter 199: Section 199: Murdering the Fianc¨¦ The substitute saved Zhenjin, and then bravely rushed into the camp, defeating the bat monkey horde almost single-handedly and rescued everyone. The camp was safe, and the substitute was warmly welcomed by everyone, treated like a hero. But aside from the joy of victory, Zi Di¡¯s heart felt unusually heavy. The sudden appearance of Zhenjin increased her stress and threw her into a panic. She had originally planned to treat the substitute as a tool, to continue cooperating with the Hundred Needle Family if they could escape Mysterious Monster Island. But with the War Merchant dead, she had no ability to carry out the original plan. However, now, after so many adventures, Zi Di¡¯s thoughts about the substitute had undergone a radical change. ... Compared to Zhenjin, she genuinely wanted to consider the substitute¡¯s well-being. But after all, the substitute was just a substitute¡ªrelying on her, relying on the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce which was like a candle in the wind, relying on a substitute who didn¡¯t yet know the truth, how could they possibly withstand the Hundred Needle Family? ¡°I was so close to blowing my cover earlier,¡± Zi Di paced inside the tent, still feeling a trace of residual fear. Outside, everyone in the camp was cleaning up the battlefield, immersed in chaos. ¡°Just wait, he must be impatient by now, he¡¯ll come to me on his own. I need to stabilize him first!¡± Sure enough, validating Zi Di¡¯s guess, the tent was lifted, and Zhenjin bowed his body and quickly crawled in. Seeing the purple-eyed girl, Zhenjin showed an exaggerated smile, his attitude extremely enthusiastic, ¡°My dear Zi Di, you¡¯re unharmed, that¡¯s truly wonderful! I thought you had perished, I¡¯ve been in utter grief these past days.¡± Zhenjin stepped forward with open arms, wanting to embrace Zi Di. Zi Di¡¯s heart surged with disgust, and she immediately stepped back, pretending to be nervous as she looked around, ¡°My Lord, be careful, lest others see.¡± In reality, they were inside the tent, their view obscured, where no one could see them. Rejected, Zhenjin¡¯s face fell immediately. Zi Di hurriedly adopted an excited tone, explaining while deliberately flattering him, ¡°After the shipwreck, I and a few people were washed ashore on another beach of the island. My Lord, I have been trying to find you all this time. We¡¯re both not yet fated to die! I almost cried out in excitement when I saw you just now, but fortunately, I caught your advising glance and came to my senses.¡± Upon hearing Zi Di¡¯s words, Zhenjin¡¯s mood brightened, and he inquired about the substitute¡¯s strength. Zi Di shook her head, ¡°He is a Beastification Person, but the memory implantation isn¡¯t complete; I¡¯ve found he can partially beastify. As for having stronger combat abilities, I don¡¯t think there are much.¡± She concealed much, such as the substitute being able to transform completely into a Silver Spear Scorpion. Yet Zi Di went on to detail other events, inconsequential but sufficient to gain Zhenjin¡¯s trust. Zhenjin couldn¡¯t help but show disappointment, ¡°It seems, he¡¯s no match for Zong Ge.¡± Zi Di was about to ask who Zong Ge was when footsteps were heard outside the tent. ¡°Someone is coming.¡± Zi Di immediately tensed up, and quickly warned Zhenjin. Zhenjin had no choice but to end their brief exchange and quietly depart. Outside came Bai Ya¡¯s voice, ¡°Lady Zi Di, all the wounded have been gathered. Everyone is waiting for you to treat them.¡± Zi Di went to check on the wounded and saw Fat Tongue, who was unconscious. The girl felt joy and relief swell in her heart. This veteran of the Purple Vine Guild had followed Zi Di¡¯s father from early on, utterly loyal, and had always taken good care of Zi Di. However, when the shipwreck occurred, Zi Di had tried to find Fat Tongue but could not. The ship filled with water at an alarming rate, and Zi Di could only lead a group away quickly. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Zi Di contemplated what potions to prepare, Fat Tongue awoke and was extremely excited to see Zi Di again. After Zi Di explained, she took Fat Tongue to see the substitute. The substitute was in the camp, with many people around him, crowding him like stars around the moon. ¡°Fa-Fat Tongue pays his respects, my Lord,¡± the elderly man hurriedly greeted the substitute, his face full of smiles. Seeing this scene, Zi Di was momentarily stunned. She couldn¡¯t help but hope, ¡°If only he were really Zhenjin, how wonderful it would be!¡± ¡°Unfortunately, he¡¯s not¡­¡± In that moment, Zi Di actually wished the War Merchant was alive. Because only with him backing her, the plan to replace Zhenjin might have had a chance of success. The substitute inquired about Mu Ban and their experiences. Mu Ban told the substitute everything he knew as best he could. Zi Di¡¯s heart also settled. She found that she was not under suspicion, and although the Captain¡¯s body had been found, it turned out that Zong Ge had become the scapegoat instead. At the same time, she also learned about Zhenjin¡¯s behavior during this period. ¡°He¡¯s always been pretending to be Hei Juan, never coming forward.¡± ¡°He is truly a Holy Temple Knight, the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, an identity that could bring him support. But he has been so cowardly and timid, always in disguise.¡± ¡°It was the Half-Beast who upheld justice and protected a frail woman.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen him before; he was running away, abandoning his comrades who were still fighting in the camp, without any sense of responsibility.¡± Despite having encountered Zhenjin very early and recognizing his true nature, at this moment, Zi Di still felt hugely disappointed. And ironically ridiculous. ¡°The real Zhenjin is so cowardly, whereas the fake Zhenjin is a true, impeccable Knight!¡± ¡°If only the identities of the two could be switched, how wonderful that would be.¡± At this thought, an idea suddenly sprung into Zi Di¡¯s mind¡ªwhat if I killed Zhenjin? This thought rapidly expanded and spread through her mind. ¡°Zhenjin is now Hei Juan, and if he died, no one would know the truth. The substitute does not know this secret; he always believed he was Zhenjin. The War Merchant is dead too, and since I¡¯ve been on the island for this long without seeing any sign of spiked drills, their fate is likely grim! Perhaps, only I know this secret.¡± ¡°By killing him, this secret would be buried!¡± ¡°We¡¯re heading to the Wilderness Continent, far away from the Holy Bright Continent. We¡¯re probably too late to compete for the position of the White Sand City Lord, but actually, that¡¯s not so bad.¡± ¡°If one does not hold a high position, who would care to scrutinize the authenticity of a Holy Temple Knight?¡± ¡°And even if someone does verify it, it¡¯s much less stringent than verifying the identity of a city lord.¡± ¡°To disguise as a city lord, I would definitely need the help of a great power like the War Merchant. But to disguise as a knight, perhaps by purchasing some Magic Tools, I might also have a chance to bluff my way through?¡± Thinking this, Zi Di¡¯s heart trembled, and she felt a flicker of hesitation and fear. Zi Di wasn¡¯t unconditionally kind-hearted; her core was not fragile. During her childhood, she lived with her father, closely witnessing the commercial competition and strife. She watched her father¡¯s step-by-step success and also developed a resilient spirit. If not so, she would not have refused to marry into the Garden City Lord¡¯s family, decisively abandoning a princess-like life. After she started to fend for herself at the Magic Academy, she experienced the harshness of life, using all sorts of methods to compete with others for academy tasks, leveraging connections, gradually probing interests and human nature. ¡°No matter who the killer is, no matter what kind of immense power is behind them, I¡¯ll make them pay. I must avenge my father¡¯s death!¡± Her father¡¯s death reinforced her determination to resist the Empire¡¯s upper echelons and to overthrow those above her. Therefore, when she learned that the Captain of Kiss was her competitor¡¯s man, she didn¡¯t hesitate to deal a lethal blow. Now, even though Zhenjin was her fianc¨¦, this marriage arrangement was only because Zi Di was driven by circumstances and lured by benefits. There was no affection between her and Zhenjin; on the contrary, there was some disdain and disgust. When the War Merchant changed plans, asking Zi Di to cooperate in assassinating Zhenjin and replacing him with a substitute, Zi Di agreed immediately. Zi Di¡¯s hesitation and fear at this moment were due to her lack of confidence. ¡°There are many opportunities to eliminate Zhenjin, but truly replacing him is not easy!¡± With the War Merchant dead, Zi Di¡¯s capabilities were insufficient to deceive the Empire¡¯s higher-ups. If discovered, the consequences would be severe. Additionally, there was another reason. ¡°If the substitute realizes I am such a malicious woman, what would he think? How would he regard me?¡± ¡°He¡¯s always believed he is the Holy Temple Knight Zhenjin. If one day he finds out the truth, how would he deal with me? Would he still trust me? Understand my difficulties? Or would he seek revenge on me for deceiving him?¡± ¡°However, even if planning to murder Zhenjin, we must not rush.¡± ¡°To replace him, I need all of his memories; otherwise, it would be easy to slip up.¡± ¡°The Magic Device that creates Memory Crystals has sunk to the bottom of the sea with the shipwreck. And the completed crystals, due to disturbances during the casting process, have only been infused with a few memories.¡± After conversing with everyone for a while, the shipwright still had not returned. Sensing that the situation was amiss, the substitute set off immediately to meet the shipwright and his party. During the exchange, Zi Di learned about Zong Ge¡¯s strength, and this caused her great concern. ¡°Under normal circumstances, the substitute wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand a Half-Beast. But if he were to undergo Beastification, the problem would become unmanageable! I must do everything in my power to assist him.¡± Seeing the substitute returning the thin sword Silver Lightning to Zhenjin, Zi Di promptly persuaded him to keep the sword. She also successfully convinced the substitute to join their party. After successfully rescuing the shipwright and his party, Zi Di met squad leader Sanda again and also witnessed Zong Ge¡¯s capabilities. Zi Di tried but failed to sway Sanda¡¯s Mercenary Group and also attempted to recruit Zong Ge. Zong Ge was not simple; he saw through Zhenjin¡¯s fa?ade and rejected the offer. The substitute nearly came to blows with Zong Ge. Zi Di watched with trepidation. In the end, the substitute made the decision to accept Zong Ge and his party. Zi Di was full of worries about the substitute¡¯s decision, ¡°He is too full of the spirit of Knighthood. If this turns out to be inviting a wolf into the house, that would be terrible.¡± Chapter 200 - 200: Section 200: Reluctant to Leave Chapter 200: Section 200: Reluctant to Leave Zong Ge and the others were settled near the camp, and the substitute sought potions from Zi Di, frankly intending to give them to Zong Ge and the group. ¡°Is this appeasement strategy really effective? Once they recover, they will become more powerful. What if they turn against us?¡± ¡°Should I tamper with the potions?¡± Zi Di entertained this idea but never acted on it. ¡°From what I know of the substitute, he has a firm Knightly faith, but he is not stubborn. His acceptance of Lan Zao, Huang Zao, and others initially is proof of this.¡± ¡°Since he actively facilitated Zong Ge and others coming here, it shows he was confident in controlling the situation.¡± ... ¡°In fact, he has been different since we escaped the scorpion swarm.¡± ¡°Every night, he almost always stays up to watch, spending time alone. Is he getting used to his beastified form?¡± ¡°At the Oasis, he transformed into a gun scorpion and moved very fluently. Was that the result of practice, or did the War Merchant also infuse him with the gun scorpion¡¯s memory, which he trained into muscle memory and then erased?¡± In the end, Zi Di chose to trust the substitute and handed over the Healing Potion to him. ¡­ Under the pretext of needing to conduct research on potions, the substitute asked for most of the bat monkey corpses but actually only gave Zi Di a part of them. Zi Di keenly sensed this secret. ¡°He secretly kept many bat monkey corpses. Does it have anything to do with his beastification?¡± She experimented continuously and concocted a Smoke Potion effective against bat monkeys. ¡°This potion, when burned with fire, can produce smoke that disrupts the bat monkeys¡¯ sense of smell!¡± ¡°The deeper I delve into the Barbarian scrolls, the more profound they seem.¡± Although the use of low-level Magic and Fighting energy was prohibited on Mysterious Monster Island, Zi Di had been making progress. Since arriving on the island, various perilous situations forced her to exhaust all her efforts in studying the contents of the Barbarian scrolls. She faced a severe shortage of tools for potion making, and ingredients were often scarce. But to survive, she had to find ways to overcome these real-life challenges. Most of the time, her results were failures. However, through extensive practice, whether failures or successes, her understanding of the Barbarian scrolls grew more than tenfold. She was no longer limited to the potion formulas in the Barbarian scrolls but continually innovated, mastering many secrets of pharmacology beyond the formulas. Zi Di did not expect that she would need to use the Smoke Potion the very next day. Commanded by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, the bat monkey horde attacked the camp again. In the critical moment, the potion took effect, restraining the bat monkey horde¡¯s assault. Securing crucial time, the substitute, Zong Ge, and others returned to assist and defeated the beast horde. The substitute and Zong Ge ventured deep into the forest to pursue the enemy. Zong Ge returned later, but the substitute did not return for a long time. Lord Zhenjin again sneaked into Zi Di¡¯s tent, his face full of panic and anger. ¡°Bad news, Zong Ge has already returned, but the substitute is still missing!¡± ¡°Zong Ge was injured, but he brought back a Magic Beast corpse, like a giant python.¡± Zi Di¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She was worried but tried to stabilize Lord Zhenjin: ¡°I have confidence in the substitute; he is not weak and won¡¯t easily be killed by a Magic Beast.¡± ¡°But he might have been ambushed by Zong Ge.¡± Lord Zhenjin furrowed his brow, growing more frantic. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t die this time and returns safely, we can¡¯t let him act independently anymore!¡± ¡°Who does he think he is? To venture alone into the forest, such recklessness is foolish.¡± ¡°We need to make good use of him, letting him protect our safety and maximize his value.¡± Zi Di tried her best to hide her disdain internally; she could tell that Lord Zhenjin¡¯s anger stemmed more from fear. Yet when it came to coming up with solutions, Lord Zhenjin was incapable. Zi Di said, ¡°Honestly, right now, I just hope the substitute can come back safely; I would be immensely grateful.¡± Lord Zhenjin sighed again, ¡°Ah, that¡¯s what I thought, too.¡± Zi Di asked, ¡°If the substitute really was ambushed by Zong Ge, what should we do?¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s face turned pale as he sighed, ¡°That would be really bad.¡± ¡°We need to confirm this situation. We need to go and confront Zong Ge!¡± Zi Di saw that Lord Zhenjin was indecisive and could only speak her own mind. ¡°Go confront Zong Ge now?¡± Lord Zhenjin hesitated. Zi Di urged, ¡°If the substitute is dead, Zong Ge will definitely be against us. He¡¯s injured now, likely just buying time until his wounds heal, then he¡¯ll have a better chance at taking us down.¡± ¡°We must go and find out the real situation. If the substitute isn¡¯t dead but just in danger, we need to organize a rescue team immediately. Without the substitute, we simply can¡¯t withstand Zong Ge.¡± Lord Zhenjin clenched his teeth and nodded with difficulty, ¡°Then let¡¯s gather everyone and confront him together!¡± ¡°No,¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°If there are too many people, it just shows our weakness. Once a conflict arises, it will be hard to control. And even if we gather everyone, we still wouldn¡¯t match up to Zong Ge. This time, quality matters more than quantity.¡± Zi Di eventually chose Lan Zao, Hei Juan, and a few others, and took the initiative to find Zong Ge for a confrontation. Zong Ge admitted frankly, ¡°I didn¡¯t encounter Lord Zhenjin on my way. Not long after the pursuit started, I was blocked by a huge Magic Beast that looked like a python. It took a long battle to handle it.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re just not going to pursue the real culprit? You¡¯ve abandoned your comrades, Zong Ge,¡± Zi Di expressed firmly with an angry look, her heart filled with worry for the substitute. Zong Ge was cornered by her words and coldly snorted in displeasure. However, knowing his position was weak, he eventually handed over the Magic Beast¡¯s corpse to Zi Di and the others. The sun set in the evening. As evening passed, night fell. The waiting time was so lengthy, and Zi Di found herself in agony. ¡°What should I do if he died in the forest?¡± ¡°No, he won¡¯t die, absolutely not!¡± ¡°Calm down, Zi Di. Since he was confident in pursuing the beasts, his strengths must surely be able to deal with potential risks.¡± However, Zong Ge¡¯s injury and the returned corpse of the Crocodile Head Hammer Tail Boa told the young girl about the horrific dangers of this island. ¡°Oh my God, please protect him and let him return safely.¡± ¡°Great Lord of Light and Clarity, although he isn¡¯t a true Holy Temple Knight, he definitely possesses the unquestionable spirit of a Knight. Please cast your caring eyes upon him.¡± The girl prayed to the divine. She also secretly vowed, ¡°If he returns this time, I¡¯ll tell him the truth!¡± She began to question fate, inevitably reflecting on that one divination, ¡°Is this my fate? Is my fate destined to be without a Knight, doomed to a life of tragedy?¡± As she was lost in her chaotic thoughts, finally, good news arrived¡ªthe substitute had returned! Seeing the substitute again, Zi Di was nearly in tears. The returned corpse of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf left her trembling yet filled with pride. ¡°He has taken down another Evil Wolf!¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No wonder he returned so late.¡± Due to the seriousness, the substitute gathered everyone for a discussion as soon as he returned to the camp. Zi Di defended the substitute, ¡°No, Lord Zhenjin did the right thing. For such a long journey, how could he carry a heavy wolf corpse through the deep forest at night? Sir, you¡¯ve single-handedly eliminated a long-standing threat to our camp and did very well.¡± ¡°The most important thing is that you returned safely!¡± the girl added in her heart. The substitute looked at Zi Di¡¯s Purple Crystal-like beautiful eyes, smiled slightly, and reached out to hold Zi Di¡¯s hand laid on the table. Zi Di¡¯s cold hand was grasped, and she immediately felt a stream of warmth. Her anxious heart seemed to settle down in that instant. ¡°Oh no, Lord Zhenjin is right next to us!¡± Immediately, Zi Di realized the awkwardness and instinctively shrank her hand. But ultimately, she didn¡¯t pull her hand back, instead letting the substitute hold it. This warm and reliable feeling made her linger and reluctant to let go. Chapter 201 - 201: Section 201: Emotions Hard to Bear Chapter 201: Section 201: Emotions Hard to Bear Surrounded by the important information brought back by the substitute, the group discussed for quite a while how to deal with the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. After everyone had dispersed, Zhenjin once again silently slipped into Zi Di¡¯s tent. He was seething with anger, as during the meeting, the substitute had actually dared to hold his fianc¨¦e¡¯s hand in public. This infuriated Zhenjin, and upon seeing Zi Di again, he immediately demanded, ¡°Tell me the truth, my beautiful and adorable fianc¨¦e, the substitute hasn¡¯t touched you, has he?¡± Involuntarily, Zi Di¡¯s mind conjured the image of the substitute sucking poison from her body while they were at the Oasis. Yet, outwardly, the girl shook her head in denial and reminded Zhenjin that the most pressing issue at hand was the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. ... ¡°Of course that¡¯s something to worry about, but I also need to care for my fianc¨¦e! Especially when other men are holding my fianc¨¦e¡¯s hand right in front of me! I haven¡¯t even held your hand yet,¡± Zhenjin said as he reached out to take Zi Di¡¯s hand. Zi Di hadn¡¯t had time to think before her body instinctively reacted, swiftly retracting her hand, leaving Zhenjin to grasp at air. Just as Zhenjin was about to erupt with rage, the substitute¡¯s voice came from outside the tent: ¡°Zi Di, are you asleep?¡± Zi Di became instantly tense; what would the substitute think if he found another man hiding in her tent? She really did not want the substitute to misunderstand, even though in truth, it was she and Zhenjin who were engaged. Zi Di quickly opened her mouth and silently signaled to Zhenjin, who hastily hid in a dark corner of the tent. The substitute entered the tent and, seeing the anxious and jittery Zi Di, mistook her distress as being caused by the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. The substitute sighed and pulled Zi Di into his embrace. Zi Di¡¯s heart skipped a beat: ¡°Oh no, Zhenjin is still hiding here; he¡¯s sure to see this!¡± But ultimately, she did not resist or try to pull away. The warmth and security in the substitute¡¯s embrace felt even more profound than when he had held her hand before. In the substitute¡¯s embrace, Zi Di felt happiness. ¡°Are you scared?¡± the substitute asked softly, comforting her. ¡°With you here, Lord, I¡¯m not afraid,¡± Zi Di replied gently. In that moment, the girl pushed the thought of her betrothed, Zhenjin, who was still in the tent, to the back of her mind, willing to indulge in the happiness of the embrace. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll always be by your side. The first Blue Dog Fox Wolf died at my feet, and the second one too. The third, the fourth, no matter how many more there are, as long as I¡¯m here, I won¡¯t let them hurt you. I promise you that!¡± Zhenjin consoled. Zi Di looked up in Zhenjin¡¯s arms: ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I believe you.¡± But at that moment, Zi Di felt something unusually hard. Her heartbeat accelerated, and an intense bashfulness caused her body to tense up involuntarily. ¡°Oh, right. The main reason I came to find you was about some blood,¡± the substitute said to Zi Di with a smile. ¡°I need you to do it secretly.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone else until there are results.¡± Zi Di¡¯s whole body blushed, her heart pounding like a little rabbit, barely hearing: ¡°Lord, what¡­ what do you want to do?¡± A ¡°terrible¡± suspicion surfaced in her mind. ¡°Could it be that he wants to?¡± ¡°Good heavens!¡± ¡°He is a man who delved into the forest and went through life and death challenges to slay the Blue Dog Fox Wolf. He needs to calm his mind, and he indeed needs some¡­ well, release.¡± ¡°But, but, it¡¯s not¡­ I can¡¯t!¡± ¡°It¡¯s too¡­ too quick! I haven¡¯t had enough time to come to terms with it.¡± ¡°Wait! Zhenjin, he¡¯s still hiding in here.¡± ¡°If we really did this, he would surely be unable to restrain himself from jumping out. By then, in his anger, he¡¯d speak recklessly, exposing the secret. I must, I must prevent this from happening!¡± ¡°Lord, you have a nosebleed,¡± Zi Di said, seizing the opportunity to shift the subject and break the dangerous atmosphere in the tent. ¡°Uh.¡± The substitute also felt the blood trickling down, and was extremely embarrassed, ¡°Listen to me, Zi Di, it¡¯s not what you think.¡± After a conversation, the substitute finally clarified his true intentions. Zi Di let out a sigh of relief, though a sense of loss inevitably surfaced in her heart. After the substitute left, Zhenjin immediately leapt out and began to argue with Zi Di. ¡°How do you expect me to trust you?! Huh? You were just in front of me, throwing yourself into another man¡¯s arms!¡± Reminded by Zhenjin, Zi Di recalled once again the recent scene of being embraced by the substitute. ¡°` It seemed the warmth of the substitute still lingered on her body. The girl couldn¡¯t help but feel her heartbeat accelerate once again. But on the surface, she lowered her voice and deliberately intimidated Zhenjin, ¡°Keep it down, do you want him to hear us? He is of Silver Cultivation, his hearing is even more sensitive than ours.¡± Zhenjin was startled by her, immediately lowering his voice, feeling doubly humiliated. Seeing the frustration in Hei Juan¡¯s eyes, wanting to shout loudly and vent his anger yet not daring to, Zi Di felt a sense of disdain but also a thrill of revenge. She continued to intimidate Zhenjin, who was thoroughly scared into submission. Then, Zi Di¡¯s tone softened, and she exhausted all strategies to successfully appease him. Having dealt with Zhenjin, Zi Di sighed deeply, feeling utterly exhausted. ¡°How can I prevent this situation from happening again?¡± ¡°If this happens a few more times, I¡¯m afraid Zhenjin might just explode!¡± Reason told Zi Di to restrain her actions, but her emotions made it impossible for her to reject the substitute¡¯s every initiative. Zi Di was deeply troubled by this. The Demon Beast Army attacked the camp and were repelled. The camp was set ablaze, the raging fire lit the night sky, and thick smoke clouded Zi Di¡¯s sense of smell, preventing her from catching the scent of the substitute. Though she and the others safely escaped the battlefield, she felt isolated and extremely worried about the condition of the substitute. The substitute appeared, covered in blood. Zi Di¡¯s heart, initially relieved, tensed up once more. At the sight of the substitute, Zi Di knew his injuries were severe. Yet in such a state, the substitute still proposed pursuing and killing members of the Demon Beast Army. ¡°This is too dangerous!¡± Zi Di knew the substitute¡¯s suggestion was undoubtedly right, but her feelings compelled her to prevent him for the first time. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the substitute was unwavering, rallying everyone, eventually getting the response from Lan Zao, Zong Ge, and Sanda. Before leaving, the substitute embraced Zi Di once more. Zi Di once again pushed Zhenjin and the others to the back of her mind. She fiercely wished that time would stop at that moment! The situation was urgent, and the substitute resolutely departed. Zi Di was extremely worried, and to her dismay, Zhenjin quietly sought her out again. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you throwing yourself into his arms again. You understand what I mean!¡± Zhenjin was very angry. Zi Di made efforts to persuade and console him, soothing Zhenjin¡¯s feelings, but her unconcealable sorrow gave him an ominous feeling. ¡°What are you thinking about? My fianc¨¦e, are you worried about him? Worried about a substitute, a pawn?¡± Zi Di was furious, wishing she could retort loudly, ¡°He is not a pawn, he is a Knight, a true Knight! He¡¯s far superior to you, brave and with foresight, fearless of sacrifice, now risking his life for us!¡± Zi Di struggled to restrain her urge to vent her anger, managing to glare and hide the true feelings from her face. ¡°Lord! What¡¯s the matter with you? Is it wrong for me to worry about him? If something happens to him, all of our previous efforts will have been for nothing. Not to mention it would greatly affect our future¡ªafter all, he has Silver Cultivation, while you¡¯re still only Black Iron.¡± A wave of intense shame and annoyance surged in Zhenjin¡¯s heart, causing him to glare at Zi Di, ¡°I¡ªI will become a Silver Knight eventually!¡± In fact, Zi Di regretted her words as soon as she had spoken them. She realized she hadn¡¯t controlled her anger, using another more tactful language to mock Zhenjin. She quickly tried to fix things, ¡°Lord, your potential is plain for all to see, being a Golden Knight is definitely not your limit. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m just very nervous. If the substitute is lost, how will we ensure our safety? How will we escape from here?¡± Indeed, as she expected, once Zhenjin¡¯s attention was diverted to his own safety, he immediately lost the mood to argue with Zi Di. During the anxious waiting, time always seemed unbearably long. The triumphant return of the substitute and others brought immense joy to Zi Di. She couldn¡¯t help but rush out of the tent, running breathlessly to face the substitute. ¡°He¡¯s alive, thank goodness, he¡¯s back!¡± The girl was grateful to heaven, her longing and concerns nearly turning into tears. ¡°Lord!¡± She almost ran towards the substitute, ready to embrace him. But in an instant, she thought of Zhenjin. ¡°Zhenjin must be watching!¡± She could only clench her teeth and forcibly restrain herself, letting the turbulent emotions inside her flood against her inner walls unceasingly. ¡°` Chapter 202 - 202: Section 202: Compared to you, everyone else is unimportant. Chapter 202: Section 202: Compared to you, everyone else is unimportant. Zi Di quietly lifted the tent flap and crawled inside. The tent was tightly sealed, casting a dim darkness inside. The substitute lay there, having fallen into a deep slumber. Zi Di softly called out a few times, ¡°Sir,¡± but the substitute showed no reaction, sleeping soundly. Zi Di sighed in her heart, ¡°Last night, he fought intensely and risked venturing deep into the forest to chase down the remnants of the Demon Beast Army, utterly draining his physical and mental strength. He simply couldn¡¯t hold on, so as soon as he returned, he fell into a deep sleep. However, it¡¯s too reckless not to tend to his wounds.¡± Carefully, Zi Di approached the substitute, half-kneeling on the ground, her fingers trembling as she slowly reached for the hem of the substitute¡¯s clothes. ... By the time Zi Di began to undress the substitute, her movements had already stabilized. She continually encouraged herself internally, ¡°Zi Di, muster your courage, you can do this!¡± ¡°If he could risk his life to chase them down, can you not do even this?¡± ¡°After all, you have done this once before, in that cave where you encountered the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear.¡± ¡°Now it¡¯s not the first time!¡± ¡°But it must be done quickly, the longer the delay, the greater the possibility of being discovered.¡± ¡°Especially by Zhenjin, otherwise, the consequences are unpredictable!¡± Before long, Zi Di was covered in sweat, panting softly. The substitute was in his deepest sleep, his body incredibly heavy, making it very difficult for Zi Di to move him. As hard as it was, she also felt an inner happiness and excitement, and a thrill of secretly acting behind Zhenjin¡¯s back that even Zi Di might not have noticed. ¡°Wow?¡± After thoroughly inspecting the substitute¡¯s body, Zi Di was very surprised. The substitute had not a single injury on him, despite the bloody exterior that looked so alarming; in reality, his physical condition was exceptionally good. Zi Di blinked repeatedly, stunned on the spot. She suddenly recalled the night before, when the substitute had refused her treatment on the pretext of urgency, immediately rallying everyone and ultimately leading Zong Ge and others to pursue their foes. ¡°Could it be that he wasn¡¯t injured?¡± ¡°Indeed, according to what others said, he did not suffer any obvious injuries during his earlier encounters. Later, when the Camp was aflame, no one saw him fighting.¡± ¡°Could it be that after his transformation, his combat power was so strong that he remained unscathed? But that would defy common sense, so is that why he resorted to such a disguise?¡± ¡°Hmph, what a bitter deception for me!¡± Zi Di clenched her teeth and finally calmed down. Looking at the still soundly sleeping substitute, as adorable as a baby, Zi Di suddenly felt an impulse to bite his cheek. ¡°So, you are both brave and strategic.¡± ¡°You were always confident, that¡¯s why you pursued the Blue Dog Fox Wolf and the Demon Beast Army.¡± ¡°You called on others to join you, partly to dispel any suspicions about yourself, right? After all, if you had done this alone, it would have seemed very suspicious.¡± ¡°You made me worry so much, you bad guy!¡± Zi Di¡¯s fingers traced over the substitute¡¯s bare chest, her teeth biting her lip, until finally unable to resist, she leaned down and came close to the substitute¡¯s face. But in the end, she didn¡¯t bite him, instead lightly kissing him like a dragonfly skimming water. After completing the act, she felt like she was on fire. ¡°What¡¯s happening to me?!¡± She instinctively covered her cheeks, feeling her ears and nose emitting hot steam. Her heart crazily pounded, feelings of excitement and happiness overwhelmed her, causing her head to spin blissfully. It wasn¡¯t until she left the substitute¡¯s tent and felt the evening breeze that she gradually sobered up. ¡°Did I fasten his clothes properly?¡± Zi Di realized she had no memory of doing so, her emotions had been too tumultuous during that time. She wanted to check, but just then, someone approached the area. ¡°I must have fastened them.¡± Zi Di hesitated, feeling guilty like a thief, and quickly left with her head down. As night fell, a bonfire was lit. While dining, everyone enthusiastically discussed the substitute. The most talked about was no longer the Holy Temple Knight, but the Divine Favored Knight! Zi Di listened from the side, feeling strange. The substitute was clearly a Beastification Person, but he was being exaggerated into a Divine Favored Knight. This was absurd! Yet, Cang Xu¡¯s words, unless unaware of the truth, seemed quite logical to everyone. Zi Di felt both joy and worry. She was happy that the substitute was gaining more recognition and admiration from everyone. However, she worried that once the truth was exposed, the psychological gap for everyone would be even greater than before, making their reactions hard to predict. The substitute woke up and crawled out of the tent. Zi Di nervously shrank her head, but the substitute acted so naturally that she gradually calmed down, secretly guessing, ¡°It seems I did fasten his clothes after all, I just forgot. He probably didn¡¯t realize I had been there.¡± The substitute walked into the crowd and was warmly acclaimed by everyone. However, the substitute chose to go to Zong Ge, Sanda, and Lan Zao specifically, leading the cheers for their names. The crowd roared with excitement, echoing the substitute¡¯s enthusiasm. The atmosphere was as intense as the bonfire. Zi Di, standing amidst the crowd, watched the substitute who was energetically raising his arms and thought, ¡°He is a true knight, indeed an outstanding leader!¡± The next day, they dissected the Blue Dog Fox Wolf¡¯s corpse. After the dissection, the substitute took the wolf corpse in the name of a ritual offering. Zi Di¡¯s heart stirred, leading her to recall the substitute asking her for bear blood and secretly keeping the bat monkey¡¯s corpse, as well as asking Zong Ge and others for bear meat. ¡°Now it¡¯s the wolf corpse¡­ wait, could it be that the substitute only gains the corresponding beastification ability after consuming a part of a magic beast?¡± ¡°Is this growth or a stimulation? Does it stimulate an ability that he already had?¡± ¡°He is the War Merchant¡¯s proudest creation, and these man-made magical beasts are also made by the War Merchant. Perhaps the War Merchant concentrated all the beastification in him? And upon stimulation, it would trigger his abilities?¡± ¡°Back then, he fought a fierce battle with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, and though he died a brutal death without beastifying. However, when facing the Blade Spider, he could transform and unleash the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear¡¯s claws. Perhaps¡­ it was because I had infused him with bear blood in the cave?¡± ¡°He figured all this out. No wonder after leaving the cave, he frequently hinted and inquired about that situation.¡± Under the substitute¡¯s command, the exploration team left the forest and hurried to the beach where the main army was stationed. Along the way, they passed through many territories of beast groups. These Blade Spiders, Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, and others had mysteriously vanished. Most people in the team speculated that there must be a Commander of the Demon Beast Army consisting of Blue Dog Fox Wolves, which kept tailing them and integrating wild beast groups from the vicinity. Only Zi Di gradually guessed the truth. ¡°It was you, wasn¡¯t it, substitute?¡± ¡°If it had been the Demon Beast Army, the growing scale would have been noticeable, and our increased number of scouts would have detected some traces.¡± ¡°Every night, you went on night patrols alone. It was you who secretly cleared these obstacles, allowing us to gather spider-webs without harm. It was you who eliminated all the Monkey-tailed Brown Bears and secretly mined using the beastified bear claws.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve taken on too much, and the extent of your covert sacrifices exceeds everyone else¡¯s imagination! All of us benefited from you, yet the vast majority remain unaware!¡± Zi Di felt both heartache and resentment as well as admiration and pride for the substitute. Under the substitute¡¯s leadership, although the exploration team was under great pressure and the journey was arduous, they suffered few losses, and the overall journey was very smooth. They collected many resources along the way, gradually moving from the forest to the rainforest. Xi Suo switched his allegiance to the substitute and stopped troubling Zong Ge. Zong Ge also temporarily submitted. The entire exploration team was harmonious, as if they were one. Yet, Zi Di¡¯s inner worries never diminished and instead, piled up more and more over time. ¡°I am Zhenjin! He is a fake!!¡± Suddenly, from outside her tent, Zi Di heard Hei Juan shout while she was deep asleep. ¡°No!¡± Zi Di quickly got up and rushed out, only to see the substitute surrounded by people, tied to a cross, with large piles of dry wood already gathered around. ¡°Stop!¡± Zi Di shouted. But the next moment, Hei Juan cruelly smiled and threw the torch in his hand. The torch fell and immediately ignited the timber. The great fire blazed. The substitute shouted, urging Zi Di to run away. Zi Di instinctively ran into the fire, and the flames nearby suddenly extinguished. The crowd was stunned. Then, from Zi Di¡¯s shadow, frost spread out, and a broken body slowly rose. ¡°Father!¡± Zi Di was shocked. ¡°My¡­ daughter¡­ I¡¯m sorry, your father is here¡­ to protect you!¡± Zi Di¡¯s deceased father charged into the crowd. The crowd was enraged and terrified. Hei Juan pointed at Zi Di and screamed, ¡°Undead! You are an Undead Mage, quick, kill her, burn her!¡± Zi Di¡¯s father was quickly chopped down by the crowd and brutally dismembered. The flames surged up again, burning Zi Di, and set her robes and hair on fire. In despair, Zi Di still managed to run to the substitute¡¯s side. She embraced him, and the substitute continually apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not your Knight, I¡¯m sorry!¡± Then, the substitute transformed; he underwent beastification, sprouting a bear¡¯s head, bear claws, and bat wings. ¡°Hei Juan laughed loudly, ¡°Did you all see that? Do you believe me now? He is not a Divine Favored Knight; he¡¯s just a monster.¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s not!¡± Zi Di, angry and terrified, vehemently refuted. But the crowd roared, ¡°Burn him, burn him! He brought the beasts here.¡± ¡°Burn these two, both of them!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been deceived by both of them!¡± In the flames, the substitute wept, feeling utterly lost, ¡°So I really am a monster, not Zhenjin. Zi Di, why did you lie to me, why?¡± ¡°No! No!!¡± Zi Di suddenly woke up, sitting bolt upright. The tent was dimly lit; the camp was tranquil. ¡°Another similar nightmare¡­¡± Zi Di gasped for a while, her heartbeat gradually calming down. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t run away anymore! I should tell the substitute the whole truth.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Besides that, there¡¯s something else I need to do for him.¡± Zi Di pulled out a vial of potion from her bag. The potion was thick and pitch-black; if you looked closely during the shaking process, you could see a sinister red gleam within the black oil. She had obtained it from the War Merchant, and it was not just for the substitute. This vial of Beastification Potion was one of them. Seeing this vial, Zi Di hesitated again. She had hesitated many times before. But this time, she finally made up her mind, ¡°Compared to you, everyone else is unimportant, aren¡¯t they?¡± Chapter 203 - 203: Section 203: Im Not Your Princess Chapter 203: Section 203: I¡¯m Not Your Princess Zi Di knew the secret of the substitute and was worried and anxious about it. The difference between Beastification and a Divine Favored Knight was too vast. Once the secret was exposed, it would surely cause a sensation, and people¡¯s reactions were unpredictable. ¡°And there¡¯s Zhenjin involved. He knows the secret too!¡± It couldn¡¯t be denied, Zi Di felt immense pressure with Zhenjin¡¯s involvement. Keeping the secret, bearing such worries, made both the substitute and Zi Di extremely troubled. Finally, Zi Di made up her mind and used the Beastification Potion given to her by the War Merchant. ... Zi Di diluted the potion and secretly added it to the stored food and water. At first, when people consumed this food and water, they didn¡¯t notice anything unusual. But as they ate more, toxins began to accumulate in their bodies. Members of the party started falling ill. Initially, no one paid much attention. But as time went on, more and more people became sick, and their symptoms were all very similar, even the shipwright fell ill. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± The shipwright lay on the grass mattress, his face flushed red, his breath weak, his skin swollen, seeing everything blur. ¡°I am very sorry, lords, for the trouble caused,¡± the shipwright said weakly. ¡°Rest well, don¡¯t think too much. I am here, I won¡¯t give up on anyone,¡± the substitute comforted the shipwright as best he could. Then he and Zi Di, among others, slowly left the tent. ¡°How is it?¡± Hei Juan (Zhenjin) immediately asked, ¡°The shipwright is indispensable, what illness does he have?¡± Zi Di shook her head and sighed, ¡°How many times have I told you, I am just a pharmacist, specializing in perfumery, not a physician.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t find the cause of the illness.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not poisoning, nor is it magic erosion, it¡¯s just sickness.¡± ¡°If it was a common illness, I might have had some confidence. But this disease, likely related to the environment here, is beyond me.¡± Zong Ge said in a low voice, ¡°The disease has affected not only the shipwright but several others too. I suspect it¡¯s contagious.¡± People¡¯s expressions changed slightly. ¡°Contagious¡­¡± The substitute¡¯s expression grew solemn as he sighed inwardly. ¡°These sick people, although their symptoms vary in severity, they all share similarities. Do we abandon them?¡± Sanda asked the substitute. ¡°Abandon?¡± Hei Juan (Zhenjin) shook his head, ¡°Without the shipwright, how can we build ships?¡± ¡°I am terribly lacking tools,¡± Zi Di complained to the substitute, ¡°I can¡¯t use magic, my techniques in concocting potions are limited. Now all I can do is make some simple herbal medicine to alleviate their pain a bit.¡± Nobody suspected Zi Di. These signs of illness, were actually the effects of Beastification Potion coursing through their bodies, transforming them. Because individuals like the shipwright had relatively weaker constitutions, even though Zi Di had diluted the potion and they¡¯d taken it multiple times, their bodies were still somewhat unable to cope. However, outwardly at a loss, Zi Di wasn¡¯t worried at all. Everything was under her control. These days, she had concocted an antidote for the Beastification Potion. She planned to blend this antidote in other potions and give it to some of the people who were about to collapse, thus preserving their lives. As the outbreaks of the so-called contagious disease worsened, more people fell ill. Zong Ge, Hei Juan (Zhenjin), Cang Xu, and others began advocating for abandoning the sick, but the substitute always insisted on keeping and protecting these comrades. He even visited the sick daily, doing his best to encourage them. Only Zi Di supported the substitute, but outwardly she gently advised him: to avoid visiting the sick if possible, as it would be terrible if he caught the disease. The substitute did not heed her advice. The ¡°disease¡± subsided, in fact, the Beastification Potion was effective, and Zi Di timely stopped her plot. Among them, some individuals with strong constitutions negated the effects of the potion. Others, with weaker constitutions, were given the antidote by Zi Di in secret, which saved their lives. ¡°As long as I disperse this potion, it would trigger many people here to suddenly undergo Beastification.¡± ¡°However, after Beastification, these people will lose their sanity, go wildly berserk. After a while, they will explode and die on the spot.¡± ¡°I hope I never have to use this potion.¡± Zi Di didn¡¯t want to target these people; her actions were merely to cover for the substitute. Once the secret of the substitute¡¯s Beastification was exposed, she would use the potion, causing others to undergo Beastification, thus making the substitute appear innocent, and then subsequently shifting all the blame to the environmental factors of this island. ¡­ In the rainforest, the rain poured down. After setting up camp, Zi Di took advantage of the night and sneaked into the substitute¡¯s tent alone. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°My lord, this is the potion I¡¯ve made using toxic mushrooms as the main ingredient. The potion is mildly poisonous, boosting spirit, especially effective in warding off cold and enhancing flavors.¡± In fact, it was the antidote. Although the substitute had a very strong constitution, he too had consumed that food and water and had accumulated a good amount of Beastification Potion within him. The substitute had no doubts and brightened up, ¡°Can you produce more? Can it be promoted to everyone?¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°Only those with strong physical constitutions can ignore this toxicity. They must be at least of the Black Iron level of life.¡± ¡°Thank you, Zi Di,¡± the substitute said gently. Zi Di responded with a radiant smile. The entire plan proceeded very smoothly, and except for the girl, no one knew this secret. But there were unexpected events. Zhenjin confronted Zi Di, ¡°That night, someone saw you sneaking into the substitute¡¯s tent alone. What did you do?¡± Zi Di hurriedly explained. Zhenjin¡¯s gaze was scrutinizing, ¡°My fianc¨¦e, something is off about you!¡± Zhenjin shook his head, ¡°You just need to know that I am the real Zhenjin, that other one is just an impostor. When he is no longer useful, he will face death. This damned island is not the whole world. Remember, you are Zi Di, the chairman of Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, and also my fianc¨¦e!¡± Zi Di glared slightly, ¡°I know! Lord Zhenjin, what are you doubting about me?¡± ¡°Better watch yourself,¡± Zhenjin said coldly, quietly withdrawing. ¡°Have you noticed something? But I still need to spare your life¡­¡± A glimmer flashed in Zi Di¡¯s eyes. Zhenjin had also consumed food and water, but Zi Di had secretly used an antidote. ¡­ After regrouping with the main force and settling in a small valley, the substitute forcefully seized leadership and resolved the threat of the Underground Sand Worm, firmly consolidating his authority. The group discussed shipbuilding. Shipwright, ¡°The main issue is the nails. We need a lot of iron, and that¡¯s the biggest shortfall.¡± ¡°Our ore isn¡¯t sufficient?¡± the substitute felt puzzled; he had transformed into a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear many nights for additional mining. Most of the ore they had was mined by the substitute himself. Zi Di replied, ¡°We need to thank those Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, the quantity of ore is sufficient. But to extract iron from the ore, we are currently using a potion dissolution method. We are far from having enough of these potions.¡± She looked at the substitute, with a smile in her eyes, but the substitute didn¡¯t notice. ¡­ Zhenjin finally got his chance and witnessed the substitute¡¯s Beastification. Fleeing back to the valley in panic, he sought Zi Di¡¯s help, ¡°Now, only you can help me!¡± A chill ran through Zi Di¡¯s heart, ¡°Has the day finally come? Luckily, I had everything arranged. If it comes to it, some sacrifices must be made.¡± But outwardly, she stared at Zhenjin incredulously, ¡°Lord, how could you do such a thing?! It¡¯s too risky, completely unnecessary. Right now, we need to focus all our energy on escaping from here.¡± Zhenjin felt terrified, trying desperately to clear himself of any suspicions and dissolve the substitute¡¯s intention to remove him. He used the letter that documented the truth as a threat against Zi Di. Outwardly, Zi Di appeared threatened, settling Zhenjin down, but inwardly, she had already chosen to help him. Because she knew very well: exposing the secret would do more harm than good. Her Beastification Potion was just a remedy. Zhenjin, filled with panic, questioned Zi Di, ¡°You couldn¡¯t possibly have fallen for him, right?¡± Zi Di, feeling exposed, quickly denied, ¡°Lord, what are you thinking? How could I fall for him? A substitute? A person of Beastification?¡± This time, Zhenjin wasn¡¯t easily fooled. The terrifying emotion sharpened his mind more than usual. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s laughable, falling for a substitute, falling for a Beastification person¡­ It truly isn¡¯t wise, definitely not something a Guild Chairman should do.¡± ¡°But love¡­ that thing, it¡¯s really unpredictable.¡± ¡°When love clouds the mind, even the most rational person can become a hopeless fool!¡± ¡°How dangerous, Zi Di, your current behavior makes me feel you¡¯re very dangerous.¡± ¡°I hope you can see the reality clearly.¡± ¡°Even if you have fallen for him, it could only ever be a tragedy!¡± ¡°Just think, when he learns the whole truth, when he finds out he¡¯s not a Holy Temple Knight, just a lowly substitute, when he finds out the person he loves most, whom he thought was his fianc¨¦e, is actually the person who deceived him the most. How would he react? How would he view you?¡± These words struck Zi Di like an arrow, hitting deep inside her. She found herself momentarily breathless. At this moment, she realized: what she feared most was not the exposure of the substitute¡¯s secret, but worrying how the substitute would regard her once the truth was revealed. She knew, in the substitute¡¯s eyes, she was a perfect fianc¨¦e, understanding, genuinely caring, a great support. If the truth were exposed, how disappointed would the substitute be? How would she face him then? The substitute is a true Knight, but her? She was an accomplice in the War Merchant¡¯s conspiracy, Zhenjin was her disguise, the Captain was killed by her, she indirectly caused the shipwreck, the Beastification Potion was administered by her¡­ ¡°How would he view the real me?¡± This question weakened the girl enormously, blowing her courage away. ¡°You are a Knight, but in reality¡­ I am not your Princess.¡± Chapter 204 - 204: Section 204: Missed Opportunity Chapter 204: Section 204: Missed Opportunity Under Zi Di¡¯s cover, the substitute was deceived and still believed he hadn¡¯t been exposed. However, that night, the substitute was repeatedly woken up by his own nightmares. He realized¡ªeverything seemed unchanged. But in fact, he could never go back. The substitute felt depressed, yet he still had to pretend to be calm. It was this superficial calm that made Zi Di empathize even more, sensing the immense pressure and pain within the substitute. ¡°Perhaps, I shouldn¡¯t keep hiding it.¡± ¡°I should tell him everything.¡± ... ¡°No matter how he views me, he deserves to know the truth!¡± This thought frequently surfaced in Zi Di¡¯s mind, yet each time, she lacked the courage to truly act. She could not speak it out. ¡°Perhaps, I need the right moment.¡± On the night of Zi Di¡¯s birthday, to the girl¡¯s surprise, the substitute came to Zi Di¡¯s residence alone. He brought a bowl of Fire Poison Bee honey. ¡°Thank you,¡± Zi Di was very moved. ¡°Although there¡¯s no Rainbow Cake now, but I¡¯ve tasted it, and the honey is also very sweet,¡± said the substitute. Zi Di¡¯s face changed suddenly, ¡°Sir, you ate the honey? It¡¯s poisonous!¡± ¡°Ah? I, I don¡¯t feel poisoned.¡± ¡°It might be because you tasted too little. It contains Fire Poison Essence, if the dosage were increased, even a Gold-level would be harmed,¡± Zi Di quickly explained, her face immediately showing a guilty expression, ¡°It¡¯s my fault! I didn¡¯t tell you about the latest research findings. I remember, there aren¡¯t any beehives around the valley, sir, it¡¯s too dangerous for you to venture out alone, even with Smoke Medicine.¡± ¡°I am willing to take the risk for you!¡± burst out the substitute. Looking at the knight before her, Zi Di¡¯s heart raced, filled with a profound sense of being cherished. She stared deeply into Zhenjin¡¯s eyes and softly said, ¡°Thank you.¡± The substitute shook his head, his gaze falling upon the bowl of honey, somewhat deflated. Zi Di¡¯s eyes twinkled, suddenly saying, ¡°Thank you for the cake.¡± ¡°Cake?¡± ¡°Yes, such a big cake, made with non-poisonous honey, didn¡¯t you see it?¡± Zi Di released the substitute¡¯s hand, gestured with her hands in front of her chest, outlining the shape of a cake in the air. The substitute couldn¡¯t help but laugh, following Zi Di¡¯s lead, ¡°Oh, I did see it. The cake was very large indeed, and even had several layers, kind of like a Rainbow Cake.¡± ¡°No, it has only one layer,¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing like the Rainbow Cake. It¡­ It¡¯s sweeter than the Rainbow Cake!¡± The two began using their fingers to dip into the cake, feeding it to each other¡¯s mouths. ¡°So sweet!¡± ¡°Really delicious.¡± Breathing heavily, Zi Di¡¯s face flushed with a deep blush, as the two of them drew closer, with only a fist¡¯s distance between them. The atmosphere in the cave turned intimate. Zi Di cried out in her heart, ¡°Now, it¡¯s now!¡± ¡°Say it, say everything, tell him.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t hide it from him.¡± Love brought courage and impulsiveness, but just as she was about to speak, the substitute said, ¡°Zi Di, there¡¯s something¡­¡± Zi Di paused, immediately realizing what the substitute intended to say. ¡°My goodness! He¡¯s going to reveal his secret of Beastification!!¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, the happiness of being trusted so profoundly by the one she loved, swept over her like a tidal wave. She was acutely aware of the great risks and trust that the substitute had granted her by sharing his secret. At that moment, she realized this was the mature moment she had been desperately waiting for. Once the substitute spoke, she would follow his lead and tell him the whole truth! ¡°This is the moment, let us be honest with each other.¡± All of Zi Di¡¯s concerns were cast aside. However, the substitute had barely begun to speak when he was interrupted. Suddenly, noise and tumult erupted from outside the cave. ¡°He¡¯s gone mad!¡± ¡°Big Fool has gone mad!!¡± ¡°Quick, someone come, he¡¯s going to kill someone.¡± The substitute and Zi Di, their complexions drastically changed, immediately rushed out of the cave. The substitute quickly took control of the situation, preventing further damage. Still worried about the future, Zi Di said, ¡°I¡¯m not a physician, and according to the shipwright, although he has tried to treat the Big guy in the past, all the physicians were helpless. The shipwright even paid a lot to hire a Priest, who used Divine Arts on the Big guy.¡± ¡°We must consider this hidden danger. If the shipbuilding is nearly complete and Big guy suddenly goes mad, the losses would be unimaginable.¡± The substitute, after hearing this, remained silent. As they approached their residence, the two faced separation. ¡°Right, sir, earlier¡­ what did you want to tell me?¡± Zi Di asked expectantly. The substitute said, ¡°Nothing.¡± Watching his receding figure, Zi Di suddenly realized she had made a huge mistake. ¡°He saw himself in Big Fool.¡± ¡°I just suggested guarding against Big Fool, in his ears, isn¡¯t that like guarding against a Beastifiable him?¡± ¡°My god, Zi Di, you are so foolish, how could you make such a mistake?!¡± Overwhelmed with regret, Zi Di hastily stepped forward, wanting to catch up to the substitute. She wanted to rush over, boldly embrace him, and bravely reassure him, ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, I wasn¡¯t talking about you!¡± However, her steps gradually slowed and became heavier. The courage and impulsiveness she had felt earlier had dissipated. Various concerns once again obstructed her thoughts. Although they were so close, Zi Di felt as if there were countless mountains and vast chasms between her and the substitute. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± she could only apologize continuously in her heart. ¡°Now is not a good time, just wait a bit longer, surely a better opportunity will arise.¡± Zi Di withdrew. She continued to wait for the right moment. But what came was an earthquake. The situation deteriorated further, not just with the earthquake, but also erupting volcanoes, and the approaching Demon Beast Army. People built ships while fighting the countless Magic Beasts in the valley. Zhenjin again quietly found Zi Di. ¡°The situation is dire!¡± ¡°Perhaps I should reveal my identity to ensure they protect me more.¡± His face was filled with fear and concern. Zi Di tried to reassure, ¡°My lord, it¡¯s too risky to do this. Now that everyone recognizes the substitute, once they learn that he is not real but you are, it will certainly cause chaos and be hard to accept. Morale will drop, which will likely lead to the collapse of our front.¡± ¡°And about the substitute, he is quite a threat. If he learns that he has been deceived, how would he treat us? Would he kill to vent his anger?¡± The fear on Zhenjin¡¯s face deepened. Zi Di then changed her tone, ¡°Actually, our situation is still quite good; the new ship is nearly finished.¡± ¡°We hold the valley and its defenses, and we have crossbows. These past few days, I have often heard others praising you in private, my lord. Under your control, the Crossbow Cart has grievously wounded even Silver Level Magic Beasts.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I am, after all, of the bloodline of the Hundred Needle Family¡­¡± Zhenjin¡¯s expression gradually eased, ¡°I was too impulsive just now. Your analysis is very logical. I will continue to endure. We are the closest duo, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Of course, my lord!¡± Zi Di smiled. But in fact, Zi Di had always been looking for an opportunity to explain the truth to the substitute. However, not only was she busy, but the substitute was also occupied¡ªeither guarding the shipyard to prevent the Big guy from going mad or rushing to the front lines for emergency support. At night, the substitute would continue to patrol alone, fighting beast hordes in his beastified form. Bai Ya fell ill. But there were too many injured. Almost all healing depended on Zi Di alone, and her stress was immense. Zi Di hadn¡¯t prescribed the right medication, so although the potions she made could alleviate Bai Ya¡¯s symptoms, they could not cure him. Soon after, Bai Ya was on the verge of death, with a pale face, lying unconscious. Zi Di rushed to his treatment and discovered the faded writing on a piece of paper, which profoundly shocked her. ¡°Bai Ya used that bottle of ink!¡± She instantly understood Bai Ya¡¯s symptoms¡ªhe was an indirect victim of her plot against the captain. Bai Ya¡¯s letter felt like a needle suddenly piercing Zi Di¡¯s heart. She felt guilty towards Bai Ya and developed a sense of fear towards her fate. Fortunately, the substitute, Cang Xu, and others were unaware of this secret. ¡°My lord, please wait a moment.¡± As she was leaving, Zi Di stopped the substitute. Only the two of them remained in the corridor. ¡°My lord, please let me take care of these letters. After all, you are often at the forefront,¡± Zi Di said. ¡°Please take good care of them.¡± The substitute nodded and handed the letters to Zi Di without any suspicion. Holding Bai Ya¡¯s letter, Zi Di realized that there would always be traces of her actions. ¡°It¡¯s better to confess now than to be found out later!¡± Thinking this, Zi Di began, ¡°My lord, I¡­¡± But the substitute interrupted, ¡°There¡¯s no need to comfort me. Indeed, I am feeling very low right now, as my companions have fallen. But I don¡¯t have the power to save him; there are so many times when my abilities are simply limited¡­.¡± The substitute was immersed in self-doubt, and Bai Ya¡¯s condition had impacted him to some extent. Seeing the substitute like this, Zi Di, as the perpetrator, felt even more guilty. ¡°My lord!¡± she softly called and took a step forward, throwing herself into the substitute¡¯s arms. ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you are definitely qualified, no, an outstanding leader, and you are a knight, my¡­ knight. Please don¡¯t doubt yourself.¡± His soft embrace and her affirmations slightly alleviated the substitute¡¯s dejection. The young man raised his hand and stroked Zi Di¡¯s shoulders. Feeling the warmth of the substitute¡¯s embrace, Zi Di felt their heartbeats beginning to sync. At this moment, all her concerns seemed like the ice on a river in spring melting away, revealing a lively, flowing river. Zi Di clenched her teeth; at that instant, she finally regained her courage. But just as she was about to divulge the truth, the substitute¡¯s expression changed slightly¡ªhe detected an urgent situation at the front line through ultrasound. ¡°I have to go!¡± The substitute gently pushed Zi Di away. Interrupted once again, Zi Di felt the courage in her heart suddenly dissipate by a large measure. Disheartened and frustrated, she hated her own weakness while she could do nothing but release her arms. Her Purple Crystal eyes deeply gazed at the substitute as he turned and left, his figure disappearing around the corner. This was her best opportunity, and also her last one. But at that time, she thought there would still be good opportunities. She was too young, always subconsciously thinking there was plenty of time in the future and that life would get better and better. With the ship built, during a celebratory feast, the substitute silently left the crowd and sat with the big guy. An unprecedented earthquake occurred, small valleys collapsed, the Demon Beast Army attacked, and a fierce battle ensued. Zi Di had to use potions, causing many of her companions to undergo beastification in order to save the lives of the others. After the battle, everyone gathered to examine the bodies of their beastified companions. Zi Di intentionally led the conversation: ¡°Don¡¯t you think these Beastification People resemble those modified magic beasts?¡± ¡°I have no evidence; I¡¯m just speculating. The Island Master has set up a super-massive magic array, or some other kind of arrangement on this island. These arrangements force us to teleport randomly, creating a Magic Ban environment, and even control the weather. Besides these, perhaps it can subtly change various lives on the island, and the reason our companions beastified might be due to this.¡± She succeeded, and no one doubted her. But there was no joy in her heart. Especially when she saw the substitute bowing his head in prayer on the deck, his face heavy, barely masking his sorrow. Guilt and compassion overwhelmed her. ¡°People became beastified, and you could too. You must be worried, worried that one time you¡¯ll beastify, become savage, lose reason, and harm others.¡± ¡°You have always been full of doubts.¡± ¡°I can answer your doubts. But, but¡­¡± After the beastification incident, it was as if another mountainous barrier had formed between Zi Di and the substitute. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my fault you ended up like this¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all because of my mistake.¡± Zi Di wanted to comfort the substitute, but she was too timid and guilty to even take a step. She knew she had disguised herself well, at least for now, the substitute had not spotted any flaws. But she dared not approach. She loved him, but each act of love felt more like repeated harm. The ship was severely damaged, the earthquake occurred again, and everything fell into despair; it seemed that waiting for rescue was the only option. Looking at the cracked ground in front of her and the sudden wide river that had formed, Zi Di clenched her teeth and led the people to attack the Central Tower. The group was moved, but still hesitated. At this critical moment, the substitute cooperated with her again, ¡°Just now, the Holy Emperor imparted a revelation to me!¡± The substitute pointed at the river and made a decision. The team set off once more. First by swiftly moving boat, then they had to go ashore. With numerous obstacles, just as they were about to give up, unexpected support arrived. It was Jia Sha! They were still alive. Zi Di instructed Hei Juan not to reveal their identities lightly. But although Hei Juan agreed on the surface, due to concern for his own life, he still secretly explained everything he knew to Jia Sha. With Jia Sha¡¯s help, Zi Di and the others entered the Alchemy Factory, went through the workshop, the Molten Lava Battlefield, and entered into the Central Tower. The Tower Spirit¡¯s plea for help surprised her greatly, and without much hesitation, she stepped forward to fight Jia Sha. However, in the end, she still fell short of success. Chapter 205 - 205: Section 205: I am not Zhenjin Chapter 205: Section 205: I am not Zhenjin At the brink of defeat, Jia Sha caught a glimmer of spiritual insight in his mind and spotted Zi Di¡¯s vulnerability, allowing Zhenjin to finally see the true intent of Zi Di. ¡°To think that a lethal viper has been lurking by my side!¡± ¡°You damned woman, to think you would try to harm me!¡± Zhenjin was overwhelmed with shock and rage as he drew his Silver Lightning and moved to assassinate Zi Di. At that critical moment, Jia Sha cried out and spared Zi Di¡¯s life. ¡°My Divine Power is insufficient,¡± he said. ¡°On my own, I cannot seize control. But my spirit has been entwined with Zi Di¡¯s spiritual power. Her spirit has gained the Tower Spirit¡¯s recognition, and I am working hard to adjust my own spirit, posing as hers. Only in this way can I regain control over the teleportation rights and more.¡± ... ¡°Of course, it would be best if Miss Zi Di would comply willingly.¡± Zi Di was defiant and unyielding. Jia Sha¡¯s face contorted with a brutal grimace as he hissed, ¡°Torture her, torture her relentlessly!¡± Zhenjin kicked Zi Di over with a foot. His thin sword, Silver Lightning, struck again and again, thereafter piercing through Zi Di¡¯s hands and feet. Intense pain caused Zi Di to convulse throughout; blood flowed, quickly pooling into a bright red puddle. Skilled in martial techniques, Zhenjin was exceptionally adept at the art of torture. He had a considerable understanding of the human body, subjecting Zi Di to extreme pain without causing her death. Zi Di, disrupted by the severe pain, was no match for Jia Sha in their mental battle and was repeatedly defeated. Zhenjin continued to torment the girl before him, wishing he could flay her and extract her muscles. ¡°How dare you make a fool of me, deceive me!¡± ¡°Who do you think you are? A merchant¡¯s daughter. Marrying me was your great fortune, your incredible opportunity!¡± ¡°And you dared to fall in love with a substitute and abandon me?!¡± ¡°Ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha! As expected, scum is still scum, the lower class cannot rise above their station.¡± Zhenjin roared continuously. Zi Di was too weak to open her eyes. But she was still breathing. ¡°Beg for mercy, beg for it!¡± ¡°Just beg me once, and I will stab you one less time, ha-ha-ha!¡± However, Zi Di had no intention of surrendering from the beginning to the end. Even though she was too weak to resist and could only be slaughtered at will, even though she had become a bloodied figure of misery beyond recognition, she remained silent throughout, without a hint of compromise or pleading for mercy. This made Zhenjin angrier and caused Jia Sha to feel a certain unease. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Although the priest was swiftly seizing control, he still felt a spirit within Zi Di, hidden in a corner, resisting stubbornly. The cruelty of Zhenjin¡¯s torturing methods sent a chill through Jia Sha¡¯s own heart. ¡°With such injuries, she should have passed out by now.¡± ¡°No, to be precise, she has passed out. But why?¡± ¡°Why is there still a spirit that has not collapsed, even though she is in a comatose state?¡± ¡°What is she holding on to?¡± ¡°What exactly is she holding on to? Does she believe there¡¯s still hope?¡± Unease spread within the priest¡¯s heart as he rapidly surveyed the entire situation. In the fourth layer of the Central Tower, he had taken control of the situation; Zhenjin and the four Guardian Knights had gathered around him, while the great enemy Zi Di, who had almost cost him his life a short while ago, had been utterly defeated. On the third layer, lightning would strike erratically, with only the space near the Blood Core deemed safe. Zong Ge, Cang Xu, and others, following a reminder from Zi Di, were huddling around the Blood Core, afraid to move around chaotically, lest they be struck dead by lightning like the substitute. On the second layer, the first layer, and outside the tower, were a large number of man-made magical beasts, fighting and slaughtering each other in a bloody and chaotic scene. And far away, within the Molten Lava Battlefield, the sealed King of Flame Dragon was still far from escape. Jia Sha couldn¡¯t pinpoint the source of his unease. ¡°Could it be that success is within reach, and I¡¯ve become afraid of losing it?¡± Darkness. A deep and profound darkness. After a beastly roar, the young boy¡¯s consciousness began to gather bit by bit. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°What place is this?¡± ¡°Where am I?¡± As the boy¡¯s senses grew clearer, he started to question. The boundless darkness enveloped him, silent and without any response. The boy¡¯s hope dwindled as he inspected himself, but could not see his own being. The confusion within him grew ever more. ¡°So, who am I?¡± ¡°Who am I?¡± Accompanying this doubt, a scene suddenly attacked the boy¡¯s mind. By the river in the jungle. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A girl with purple eyes, full of urgency, said, ¡°You are Zhenjin, you are Baron Zhenjin. My heavens, sir, have you forgotten your own identity?¡± ¡°Zhenjin, am I Zhenjin? Why can I not remember anything?¡± The girl replied, ¡°Sir, we encountered a shipwreck a few days ago. The storm was fierce, the ship broke apart, and the survivors drifted to this island¡­¡± ¡­ By the night¡¯s campfire. Zi Di considered her words carefully before responding, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I actually don¡¯t know much about you.¡± ¡°But based on the rumors, you don¡¯t favor the company of women and prefer solitude. Even when faced with major events, you don¡¯t easily reveal your emotions of joy or anger.¡± ¡°Most of your time is spent in austere cultivation at the Holy Temple, with a serious demeanor, silent and reticent. Yet your clothing, food, shelter, and every move you make are elegant and composed, displaying a noble¡¯s grace.¡± ¡°Although you have few friends, you are willing to help others, especially defending the weak and aiding the poor. Therefore, Lord, your reputation among the lower classes has always been very good.¡± ¡°Furthermore, Lord, your sudden intervention and successful entry into the competition for the White Sand City Lordship seemed to surprise the other Holy Temple Knights greatly.¡± ¡­ In the stifling cave, The Holy Temple Knight¡¯s charge unto death! After the fierce fight, the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear died, leaving the young knight collapsed on the ground. ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± He looked at the giant bear carcass, emitting a weak laughter until his breath faded. ¡­ In the Spider Forest, Huang Zao cried for help. The young man and young woman discussed, ¡°What you said is not wrong. But you¡¯ve forgotten the most important point.¡± Zi Di quickly restrained her smile and earnestly lowered her head, ¡°Please enlighten me, Lord.¡± ¡°I am a Holy Temple Knight, the knight of knights. Assisting the weak and saving lives is my creed! Even in times of peril, I would never abandon my comrades.¡± The young man¡¯s resounding words echoed through the quiet forest. For a moment, Zi Di stared at the young man, puzzled, then broke into a smile, ¡°Lord, I understand now.¡± ¡­ Cang Xu took Lan Zao and Huang Zao to join willingly. Zhenjin looked around at everyone, standing as straight as a spear, his calm voice clearly reaching every ear. ¡°The radiance of the Holy Temple covers every inch of land. The Empire¡¯s flag protects every citizen of the Empire. Follow me, and I will lead you to survival.¡± ¡°Yes, Lord!¡± Everyone responded in unison, kneeling on the ground. ¡­ Lan Zao sincerely exclaimed, ¡°Master, your strength is truly formidable!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin, your talent astonishes everyone. Your courage and achievements will surely be widely acclaimed.¡± Cang Xu also said. ¡­ ¡°Lord, with you here, there is nothing to fear! You are a knight, a Holy Temple Knight! This time, it was you who saved us.¡± Bai Ya shouted excitedly, breaking the silence. ¡°Master, my brother and I will follow you to the death, no matter when or where, no matter if the sky falls or the earth crumbles.¡± Lan Zao also expressed his loyalty. ¡­ ¡°True to the Hundred Needle Bloodline! When it comes to precision, the Hundred Needle Bloodline is easily among the top five on the Holy Bright Continent. Lord Zhenjin, you are the hope of the Hundred Needle Family, and you will surely bring glory back to the entire family.¡± ¡­ The exploration team was running out of food, hanging by a thread. Only a successful hunt of the Flying Squirrel group promised a glimmer of hope. Before the battle. The young man shouted aloud, ¡°Today, if we defeat them, they will be our food. If we fail, we will be their food.¡± ¡°I, Zhenjin, as a Holy Temple Knight and the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, will stand with you. I will lead you through hardships, across dangers, to reap victory. Follow me, let us grasp glory!¡± ¡­ In the desert, the young man charged ahead, leading everyone to break through the lizard swarm. ¡°I said I wouldn¡¯t abandon anyone,¡± Zhenjin stated emphatically, ¡°and Bai Ya will not be an exception!¡± ¡°Lord!!¡± Bai Ya, in dire straits, felt a surge of emotion upon seeing Zhenjin coming to his rescue, his eyes filled with gratitude, admiration, and reverence. Taking Bai Ya along, Zhenjin turned back into the fray and successfully regrouped with the others. ¡°Let¡¯s leave this place with me.¡± Zhenjin spoke calmly, leading the charge once more. ¡°Yes, Lord!¡± The group echoed in unison, their morale skyrocketing. ¡­ Having escaped the scorpion swarm, the young man returned to the desert with just four people remaining. ¡°I once said that I would do my utmost to save everyone and would not give up on anyone. That is my promise and my responsibility.¡± The young man said to Zi Di and Cang Xu. ¡°Lord, your noble character makes even the brightest stars in the night sky dim in comparison!¡± Cang Xu sincerely extolled, ¡°You are the epitome among Holy Temple Knights.¡± ¡­ Upon awakening in the Oasis, Bai Ya¡¯s eyes reddened, and hot tears fell as he choked up, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, I know it was you who carried me all the way. You, a lofty Holy Temple Knight, risked your life for me, a humble nobody. And you even gave me your precious water, I was told all this by Lord Zi Di and Scholar Cang Xu.¡± ¡°Assisting the weak and saving the altruistic is the creed of the Holy Temple Knights.¡± The young man smiled. ¡­ ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you truly are remarkable! So young, yet you¡¯ve mastered the power of the spirit. Compared to the Windslash Sword Saint, you possess an even better bloodline. Among the Holy Temple Knights, you surely are the most unique. To meet you, to follow you, is my honor!¡± Bai Ya sincerely exclaimed. Cang Xu laughed heartily and affirmed, ¡°Lord Zhenjin¡¯s talent is exceptional, definitely promising a brighter future than the Windslash Sword Saint. But what I admire the most is your character, Lord Zhenjin. With you, the Hundred Needle Family can surely rise again.¡± ¡­ Upon first encountering Zong Ge, they confronted each other. The young man instantly gripped the hilt of his sword, his brows furrowed, his complexion stern, his gaze as piercing as ice, and he rebuked, ¡°Zong Ge, watch your words! You dare to disparage the divine! I carry the gaze of the Holy Emperor, a blessing from the deities. Divine Arts are a divine gift, not a show for proving one¡¯s identity. Apologize now, right away! Or you will face the wrath of a Holy Temple Knight!¡± ¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s go, back to the camp together.¡± The young man took the initiative to invite Zong Ge and the others. ¡°We¡¯re all in the same boat; we¡¯re all survivors of this shipwreck.¡± ¡°We come from many places; we have differences in status, but here, we are all victims stranded on an island seeking to escape.¡± ¡°Our goal is the same. We should stand united, and any suspicion, indifference, disdain, and opposition will make it harder for us to work together and decrease our chance of escape.¡± ¡°I am Lord Zhenjin of the Holy Temple Knights. Here, I promise all of you that I will treat everyone fairly and justly, regardless of where he comes from, his race, or his bloodline. I will also punish criminals severely, deal with the real culprits, and ensure that evil does not go unpunished. I will do my utmost, lead from the front, and guide us all in seeking hope for salvation!¡± ¡­ After the defense battle at the camp, the young knight pursued the fleeing Demon Beast Army alongside Zong Ge, Sanda, and Lan Zao. Half-Beast was taken aback by the young knight¡¯s form and after a long pause, spoke with a tone that mixed strangeness, helplessness, and a hint of anger, ¡°Hey, Zhenjin, could you be¡­ a Divine Favored Knight?¡± ¡°Divine Favored Knight?¡± The young knight raised his handsome eyebrows, ¡°Am I a Divine Favored Knight? Do I count as one? I¡¯m not quite sure myself.¡± ¡­ In the small valley, the young knight¡¯s group finally joined with the main force. Standing on the sublevel stairs, Lan Zao announced loudly, ¡°Let all listen keenly! Standing before you is my master¡ªLord Zhenjin. He is the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, the noble Divine Favored Knight of the Holy Temple, and destined to be the future City Lord of White Sand City on the Wilderness Continent!¡± The young knight proclaimed, ¡°Whether across mountains or oceans, through marshes or islands, my master¡¯s Holy Light shines upon everything. The Empire¡¯s banner will always flutter in the wind, standing tall and unyielding!¡± ¡°There is nothing that can stop my progress. I shall attain glory, and by following me, glory shall also be shared with you.¡± ¡°From this moment on, I am in charge here.¡± ¡°Does anyone object?¡± ¡­ During the construction of the new ship, the small valley suffered continuous attacks from the Demon Beast Army. The young knight spoke with a rising tone, ¡°There is a place for everyone on this ship, and no one will be left behind.¡± ¡°In other words, we are all in the same boat.¡± ¡°I know there are differences among us.¡± ¡°Differences of status, lineage, appearance, personalities.¡± ¡°But these differences should not be the reason for us to doubt, oppose each other, or engage in internal strife. We should unite closely, as only in this way can we maximize our chances of escape.¡± ¡°We are all¡­ one of us!¡± As expected, his impromptu speech won the cheers of the crowd. ¡­ The stunning blow to Bai Ya struck the young knight deeply. In the passage, Zi Di threw herself into Zhenjin¡¯s arms. ¡°My lord!¡± She wrapped her arms around Zhenjin¡¯s waist, hugging the young knight tightly, ¡°Lord Zhenjin, you are definitely qualified, no, an excellent leader. You are a Knight, my¡­ Knight, please don¡¯t doubt yourself.¡± ¡­ As the valley collapsed, new ships became unseaworthy, the earth split open during an earthquake, and swiftly formed new rivers. ¡°Just now, the Holy Emperor conveyed a revelation to me!¡± Zhenjin pointed at the river. The crowd was stunned again. ¡°Could it be that this river was created by the Holy Emperor?¡± ¡°No wonder not a single one of us perished.¡± ¡°The will of the gods is inscrutable!¡± ¡°Divine Favored Knight¡­¡± Cang Xu gave a deep bow to Zhenjin, full of admiration, ¡°This might just be the path of your heroism. My Lord Zhenjin!¡± Almost everyone present felt a tingle on their scalp. They felt as though they were witnessing history! This would be the epic of a hero! ¡­ In the darkness, the young knight¡¯s consciousness nearly took shape. ¡°So, I am Zhenjin.¡± ¡°I am a noble, a Knight, a hero!¡± Suddenly, the young knight¡¯s consciousness became violently confused again. After killing the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, he recuperated in the cave, his near-death experience leading him to pray and confess to the Holy Emperor, begging for mercy. There was no response. The exploration team was short of food, and hunting the Flying Squirrel ¡®swarm was too risky. The young knight felt lost and helpless, praying to the Holy Emperor. There was no response. While hunting the Flying Squirrel swarm, the young knight silently prayed before the battle. There was no response. Stranded in the desert, the young knight prayed helplessly to the Holy Emperor. There was no response. After rescuing Lan Zao in the Oasis, the young knight fell into self-doubt and prayed for help to the gods. There was no response. During the defense battle at the camp, the young knight deliberately prayed loudly, deceiving his companions. Because the gods still did not respond. The secret of his Beastification was almost exposed, the young knight prayed. Doubting himself, swayed by the power of the Blood Core, the young knight prayed. As the valley collapsed, his companions turned into beasts, trapped in a dire situation, the young knight prayed. There was no response. There was no response. There was no response! In the Spider Forest. ¡°What in the world is this?!¡± His hands mutated, and he killed the Blade Spider leader. When hunting the Flying Squirrel group. His arms bulged, and with a thrust of his dagger, he killed the Black Iron Flying Squirrel boss, ¡°How could there be a blood-red Demon Crystal in my heart?!¡± In a volcanic landscape. He killed the gun scorpion leader, crushing the rest of the scorpions, ¡°I¡¯ve grown a shell. And a tail. Right, I can actually control the Demon Crystal now!!¡± Outside a small valley. He slaughtered an entire Demon Beast Army on his own, the young knight fully transformed into a monster, brimming with triumph, ¡°Hahaha, even if more Demon Beast Armies come, what can they do to me?¡± ¡­ Under the enveloping rain at the training ground. Qing Kui stepped over the young knight¡¯s head, humiliating him willfully, then led a group of young knights away with strides. ¡°Strange, I feel very calm, as if I¡¯m a bystander.¡± This humiliating memory now resurfaced in his mind, but it didn¡¯t bring anger or hatred. ¡­ After battling the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, the young knight narrowly escaped death. Zi Di said happily, ¡°Lord, your body has recovered very well, or more precisely, it¡¯s astoundingly good. Such physical qualities are definitely not something someone at the Silver Level could have.¡± ¡­ Upon discovering a camp being attacked by a bat monkey group. ¡°Lord¡­ this camp seems to be one I established,¡± Zi Di said something surprising. ¡°Have you been here before?¡± The young knight was startled. Zi Di shook her head. ¡°I lead others deep into the rainforest and found you, Lord. You were unconscious and beyond waking. So, I decided to set up camp nearby, planning to provide on-the-spot treatment and heal you as soon as possible.¡± As she said this, Zi Di looked back at the camp and nodded to confirm, ¡°No mistake. I have a strong impression of this wooden hut and camp. For your safety, Lord, and for future treatment convenience, I wanted to settle here for a while, so building the hut took a lot of time, and it was made very sturdy.¡± Bai Ya was astonished, ¡°Then how did this camp get here¡­ Ah, I know, teleportation!¡± To relieve the camp, fend off the beast swarm, the young knight met with Mu Ban. ¡°Reporting to Lord Zhenjin, this is the Repeating Crossbow I designed.¡± ¡°What does this number eight mean?¡± Zhenjin pointed at the arrow case, ¡°Your eighth work?¡± Mu Ban shook his head, ¡°No, the wood used to make the Repeating Crossbow, I found it from this camp, it¡¯s premium quality. The number eight was already on it.¡± In the underground alchemy factory. In the square, there were large and small boxes. The large boxes were bigger than a Molten Giant Turtle, and the smallest were three meters long, two meters wide, and one meter high. The boxes looked like they were iron-made, but they were actually ironwood. The boxes, made of ironwood, had a coat of red paint, with various letters and numbers drawn on them. For example, Em-096, Sg-734, ID5D-VR-862, and so on. ¡­ Inside the Central Tower. The young knight felt a summons. ¡°What is this secret call, and why?¡± ¡°Why does this Central Tower look somewhat familiar to me?¡± ¡°Could it be that I¡¯ve been here before?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not likely, how could I have been here?¡± When he entered the third level, he discovered the second blood-red Demon Crystal. ¡°War Merchants have Heart Cores too!¡± ¡°Did he make this Heart Core?¡± ¡°He placed it on the third level; he must feel its value exceeds that of the Green Jade Gold Coffin, Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale!¡± ¡°But why is there such a strong attraction?¡± The Heart Core inside Zhenjin gave off a weird red light, flickering, as if it loudly reminded Zhenjin, ¡°Eat it! Eat it! Quickly absorb it!!¡± ¡­ Jia Sha sighed, ¡°Divine Artifacts shouldn¡¯t be abused like this, they are too important. The Tower Spirit is badly wounded and will never be my match. I¡¯m about to succeed. After the Teleportation Gate forms, we¡¯ll send these two Divine Artifacts out first.¡± The young knight flatly rejected this proposal: ¡°No, send people first, then the Divine Artifacts!¡± Jia Sha grew anxious inside and quickly yelled to the level below, ¡°Zhenjin! Push forward with all your might. I understand your concerns, but none of that matters! Rest assured, I am here, and I will purify everything for you.¡± The young knight hesitated for a moment, then clenched his teeth and charged forth. He rushed toward the staircase of the fourth level. ¡°Halt!¡± ¡°Zhenjin, what do you think you are doing?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t stop now, you¡¯ll bear the consequences!¡± The young knight turned a deaf ear, his speed increasing more and more. Crack, crack, crack! A series of lightning bolts struck down, hitting the young knight, killing him on the spot. ¡­ In the darkness, the consciousness of the young knight suddenly stabilized. He remembered everything. ¡°So, I am not Zhenjin¡­¡± In the next moment, he slowly, very slowly opened his eyes. Chapter 206 - 206: Section 206: When I Wake Up Again Chapter 206: Section 206: When I Wake Up Again Alchemy Factory, Central Tower, third floor. A group of people cautiously huddled near the mysteriously suspended blood-red Demon Core. Only in this place could they find temporary safety. Apart from this, lightning would often violently strike down without warning. The points from which the lightning appeared and struck were completely random. This was the result of the previous power struggle between Jia Sha, Zi Di, and the Tower Spirit for control of the weather, which ultimately spiraled out of control. The crowd was on edge, with some loudly calling out the names of Zi Di or Jia Sha, but there was no response. ¡°Damn it¡­¡± Zong Ge was in the midst of the crowd, frowning deeply. ... Even though he was not adept at strategizing, he also felt that the situation was very grim. ¡°Jia Sha and Zi Di¡¯s fight seems to have quieted down. Who won in the end? Why is there no more commotion?¡± ¡°Regardless of who won, would they really come to our rescue?¡± Zong Ge was worried about this, and many shared his concern, but they were trapped. To rush out was to risk being struck dead by lightning. And they dared not get too close to the Blood Core. When the substitute fell unconscious, someone had boldly tried to take the Blood Core. As they got closer, they were blasted by the bloodlight and turned into a heap of carbonized dust. ¡°What should we do now?¡± Zong Ge scanned his surroundings. The big guy remained unconscious. Cang Xu hung his head low. Sanda was lost in confusion. Lan Zao knelt next to the substitute¡¯s body, his gaze completely vacant. He had once dedicated himself to following the substitute, in hopes of using the substitute¡¯s glory and virtues to redeem himself for killing his own younger brother. However, the revelation of the substitute¡¯s identity made him realize that the person he had been following was nothing but a fake. This truth hit him hard, causing him to become even more dispirited. The rest maintained their silence, with somber expressions on everyone¡¯s face. Many sat on the ground in panic, holding their heads as if they had given up the struggle, simply waiting for an outcome from the fourth floor. It was at this moment that Zong Ge suddenly heard someone scream in horror. Zong Ge¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, almost believing he was hallucinating. He saw the substitute slowly sit up. ¡°He¡­ wasn¡¯t he dead?¡± ¡°He¡¯s alive again?!¡± ¡°Lord Zhenjin¡­¡± Lan Zao¡¯s mouth gaped open, being the closest to the substitute, he was utterly paralyzed. But immediately, someone disputed Lan Zao¡¯s address: ¡°No, he¡¯s not Zhenjin! He¡¯s just a substitute.¡± ¡°Are you¡­ are you a man, or an Undead?¡± The crowd was horrified, and those sitting on the ground quickly stood up. In an instant, everyone¡¯s gaze was focused on the young man. The young man sighed, half-kneeling on the ground, bracing himself on one knee as he slowly stood up. He looked around, meeting the gaze of those around him. In their eyes, he saw wariness, terror, confusion, anxiety, and many complicated emotions too complex to articulate. The young man sighed again, lamenting in his heart: ¡°This moment has finally come.¡± In the past, people worshipped him, respected him, adored him, willing to follow him, but now many regarded him with anxious suspicion. It was completely understandable. Because he was not Zhenjin, he had deceived everyone. Even his resurrection was seen by all as a sham! Just as Zi Di has regretted deeply, when Zhenjin revealed his identity, the intangible loss was immense. ¡°He¡¯s actually alive! He was clearly struck dead by lightning before. Could it have been feigned death? Could he be the hope that supports Zi Di?¡± Jia Sha¡¯s expression changed subtly. The situation on the third floor, of course, could not be hidden from him. With the substitute¡¯s resurrection, Jia Sha¡¯s unease immediately escalated, and he hastily informed Lord Zhenjin. Lord Zhenjin was also shocked, ¡°He can even resist lightning, what should we do if he charges at us?¡± ¡°Steady him! I¡¯m about to succeed, as soon as the Teleportation Gate forms, we¡¯ll leave with the Divine Artifact ¡®Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale¡¯. After we leave, there will be no residual mana to sustain a new Teleportation Gate, and these people are doomed!¡± Jia Sha sneered. ¡°Isn¡¯t there another mysterious Crystal Core on the third floor?¡± asked a Guardian Knight. Jia Sha shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s a pity, but there¡¯s no way, we have to abandon it. The lightning is striking randomly and chaotically, using up too much mana, we simply can¡¯t take that mysterious Demon Crystal with us.¡± Thus, under Jia Sha¡¯s manipulation, Lord Zhenjin¡¯s voice quickly conveyed below, ¡°Substitute! It¡¯s even better that you¡¯re alive, you are my man. Perhaps you still don¡¯t know your true identity, but in fact, I am Lord Zhenjin. As long as you continue to serve me, I swear on my noble¡¯s honor, I will forgive you, let you live, and give you the opportunity to achieve great things.¡± The substitute boy looked up at the fourth floor, his face tightening slightly, ¡°So, Zi Di has failed, and you¡¯re standing with Jia Sha?¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s heart jolted, his mouth agape, unable to understand how the substitute had grasped the situation on the fourth floor in an instant. He was just about to deny it, but by then the substitute spoke, ¡°If Zi Di were winning, she would speak for herself, not arrange for you to talk.¡± After pondering for a moment, the substitute continued, ¡°She can¡¯t even make a sound now; she¡¯s probably dead.¡± Lord Zhenjin looked at the girl lying in the pool of blood at his feet, about to refute the substitute¡¯s guess, when Jia Sha interjected, ¡°Her death is not far off. But she still has a chance to live, with your cooperation.¡± ¡°Cooperation?¡± The substitute boy laughed and raised an eyebrow, ¡°How do you want me to cooperate with you? Kill these people so that all the credit goes to you?¡± Everyone was startled, stirring slightly, many taking a step back, with more fear and wariness in their eyes. Of course, Jia Sha wasn¡¯t fooled; he laughed, ¡°You don¡¯t need to provoke, I am a priest, and I will do my utmost to take them all from here. I need your cooperation only to calm you down and let you see the situation clearly.¡± ¡°Zi Di has already passed out; only I remain to control the permissions and form the Teleportation Gate.¡± ¡°You have already lost, there¡¯s no need for other thoughts.¡± ¡°You are indeed guilty, but not to death; furthermore, the bigger guilt lies not with you, but with Zi Di. Essentially, you are just a pawn that has been deceived.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you harbor no resentment towards Zi Di.¡± ¡°She tricked you, made you work for her willingly. Though young, this woman is deep in understanding of the human heart, crafty and venomous, extremely dangerous.¡± ¡°She is the Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, and the Purple Vine has been swallowed by many nobles of the Empire; her resentment for the Empire, the fury for revenge has made her lose her mind. Playing with fire will inevitably lead to self-destruction.¡± ¡°If you choose to stand with her, to be our enemy, then you are opposing the Holy Temple Knights, as well as the Great Emperor of the Empire, which is very unwise.¡± ¡°Just now, with just one sentence from Lord Zhenjin, you guessed the situation on the fourth floor, proving you are a clever young man.¡± ¡°Do you remember the time you confessed to me?¡± ¡°Young man, I know you have a heart that yearns for kindness, a soul that longs for light.¡± ¡°You do carry sin, undeniable.¡± ¡°But the road to redemption is at your feet, if you choose to walk it, to take that step.¡± ¡°As a priest, I promise to redeem you. But the true redemption lies within you. This truth, you must know well.¡± The young man chuckled, ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re scared?¡± ¡°I return from death, and you can¡¯t tell my reality, so you want to steady me?¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Your control over the weather seems to be lost, if you could call down lightning, you would not hesitate even a bit, just like you killed me previously.¡± Jia Sha said sternly, ¡°Young man, you¡¯re overestimating yourself, don¡¯t let your cleverness lead to your own downfall! I struck you previously because you were charging to the fourth floor, clearly with ill intentions, a threat to us¡­¡± But before he could finish, the young man interrupted, ¡°So, you¡¯ve found you can¡¯t kill me, and now you want to temporarily steady me?¡± ¡°Divine Power not enough now? I suppose your own state is quite poor?¡± ¡°The Magic Beasts are no longer a threat, yet you haven¡¯t used Divine Arts against me, instead, you want to steady me. You¡¯re trying to buy time, to secretly open the Teleportation Gate, to escape with the Divine Artifact, right?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be worried about me following¡­ Could it be that there¡¯s not enough mana in the Mana Pool to open a second Teleportation Gate? After all, the lightning has been striking for so long, the already scarce mana must have been depleted considerably.¡± Hearing the young man¡¯s speculation, the surrounding crowd became agitated again. Jia Sha¡¯s face turned ashen, ¡°Young man, I am considering this for you. You want to charge up here, then do it, the lightning along the way might give you another taste of death. Even if it doesn¡¯t, arriving on the fourth floor would only be falling into a trap, receiving our ¡®warm welcome¡¯. But if you choose to believe me, to choose the path of redemption, you might gain a longer life and a brighter future.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± The young man sneered, ¡°You want me to believe you? How? Just before, you struck me dead. And even before that, you chose to send the Divine Artifact first instead of your comrades who have been with you all along.¡± ¡°I will make my way past, but it won¡¯t just be me alone.¡± After speaking, the young man looked towards the crowd around him. Everyone looked at him guardedly, with no sign of response. Chapter 207 - 207: Section 207: I am a monster!!! Chapter 207: Section 207: I am a monster!!! The substitute boy gazed at the crowd, ¡°The current situation doesn¡¯t need much explanation, actually, everyone is well aware at heart.¡± ¡°Holding on to impractical fantasies, hoping that Jia Sha and Zhenjin will come save you, is highly improbable.¡± The crowd remained on guard, but their eyes flickered, betraying a hint of hesitation. The boy¡¯s words had struck a chord. The time they had spent with Jia Sha was brief, and his behavior had become increasingly unreliable. Jia Sha¡¯s desire for the Divine Artifact was too intense, marking him as untrustworthy. But at that moment, laughter from Jia Sha echoed from the fourth floor, ¡°Hehehe, Substitute, you alone wanting to come up and get killed is one thing. But do you also want to delude them into dying with you? Your understanding of the situation is mere speculation, so you can¡¯t be certain. Are you trying to stir them up to share the risk with you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled, everyone! The lightning is chaotic and could take your lives. Even if you rush up here, do you really think you can kill me and Zhenjin? Killing a priest and a Holy Temple Knight? You are making enemies with the Empire. Even if you emerge victorious and survive, you will be wanted by the Holy Bright Empire, and you¡¯ll only be able to live a life of constant flight and fear. And if you¡¯re caught, await a punishment more cruel than hanging!¡± ... Jia Sha, of course, wouldn¡¯t sit idly by and let the boy rally the others. His words caused further hesitation among the crowd. The substitute boy then looked toward Zong Ge, in need of support, seeing as Zong Ge was clearly the most prestigious among them. But at the moment, the half-beast furrowed his brows tightly, offering no response. Zhenjin laughed boisterously, taunting, ¡°Substitute, you still think it¡¯s me? You¡¯re not a Holy Temple Knight, nor are, you a noble. With base blood flowing through your veins, what right do you have to lead them? You¡¯re just a substitute, a tool. And you fancy that you can summon a crowd and lead them against us? Has the recent lightning struck you dumb?¡± Zhenjin, imitating Jia Sha, mocked the boy before continuing to shout to the others: ¡°He just wants to use you. He can survive under the lightning, but can you? You can¡¯t be deceived again!¡± ¡°I swear on my noble honor, you all can be saved!¡± ¡°Trust me, I am a Holy Temple Knight, and he is just a substitute who has been deceiving you all along!!¡± The crowd began to stir. The substitute boy sighed in his heart. Zi Di had mentioned on the fourth floor that she had a perfectly clear understanding of the situation. When Zhenjin¡¯s identity was exposed, it was a tremendous loss. People would not trust Zhenjin, and they became even more wary of the substitute. Now, their gazes towards the substitute boy were shimmering with doubt, suspecting his ulterior motives. ¡°In the time we spent together, you have been deceiving us. Who are you really?¡± ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± Zong Ge finally spoke up, his eyebrows deeply furrowed, his voice low. The crowd quieted down, waiting for the boy¡¯s answer. Once, they had obeyed the boy, even with zeal, but now their faces showed only indifference and skepticism. The boy took a deep breath. He still bore the appearance of Zhenjin, blonde hair, blue eyes, and a handsome face. But he was in disarray, injured, with traces of blood, and having been struck by lightning, his clothes and skin bore many blackened spots. ¡°Jia Sha and Zhenjin weren¡¯t wrong,¡± the boy uttered his first sentence. The crowd almost thought they had misheard. But the boy repeated, ¡°They said nothing wrong.¡± He spoke in a low, slightly hoarse voice, but with a sincere demeanor: ¡°I¡¯m not Zhenjin.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a genius.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have noble blood.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a Holy Temple Knight.¡± ¡°I once had a beautiful woman by my side, who I thought was my fianc¨¦e. But she was not; essentially, she was a schemer.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your leader either. Because I¡¯m not qualified to lead you.¡± The crowd grew even quieter. Had the boy denied or skirted the matters, he would¡¯ve faced more doubt and wariness. But now, they started to listen to him seriously. The boy then revealed a bitter smile, ¡°Who am I? I¡¯ve asked myself this question repeatedly.¡± ¡°Yet, even now, I can¡¯t answer it for myself.¡± ¡°My original memories have been erased, the current memories are ones others have imbued in me, and they are still fragmented.¡± ¡°Everyone here knows their own name.¡± ¡°I am not like you, for I don¡¯t even know my own name.¡± The boy¡¯s sorrowful tone made everyone watch him intently. ¡°Even this appearance of mine belongs to someone else; I must have been altered and engineered by a War Merchant.¡± ¡°In fact, as you can see, I am a Beastification Person, at best a somewhat special Beastification Person.¡± Here, the substitute boy paused, taking a deep breath as if gathering courage. ¡°` ¡°I am a gun scorpion.¡± As he spoke, he stimulated the Demon Core in his heart, emitting a red light, and mutated into a hard, dark golden scorpion shell. In the desert night, the gun scorpion youth munched on gold mica stone, his heart leaping with joy, ¡°Delicious, delicious!¡± This mutation made everyone exclaim in shock, and most people took a big step back. ¡°I am an acid-liquid green lizard.¡± In the forest, the green lizard youth practiced flicking his tail. As a result, he got hurt, and the next day his tailbone and buttocks ached sorely. Suddenly, the youth sprouted a tail, and the people exclaimed in shock once more, many of them involuntarily stepping back. ¡°I am also a bat monkey.¡± The youth grew bat wings and the ears of a bat. That night, under the moonlight as gentle as water, the bat monkey youth heard countless beautiful sounds for the first time, feeling nature¡¯s profundity and its deeply moving beauty! The people were continuously scared, their exclamations getting quieter, more of them stood still, and very few retreated instinctively. ¡°I am a monkey-tailed brown bear.¡± The youth spread his hands wide, and the crowd saw the surge of red light appear and disappear, then the youth¡¯s hands turned into the sharp claws of a monkey-tailed brown bear. Many a late night, the brown bear youth huffed and puffed mining in the caves, ceaselessly diligent. The people did not retreat this time; fear and tension were much reduced, and a look of wonder began to show. Cang Xu looked at these bear claws and seemed to think of a certain question, falling deep into thought. ¡°I am a blade spider.¡± The youth mutated into blade-sharp edges. In the forest, the spider youth found himself in distress, ¡°It seems that even spider web-weaving needs practice!¡± ¡°My God. So this is the truth!¡± someone whispered, recognizing it as the blade the youth had increasingly used in fights with Demon Beasts. ¡°I am also a flying squirrel with the ability to give an electric shock.¡± Electric light danced around the blade-sharp edges the youth had mutated. To be able to produce electricity, he had trained hard for a long time, even capturing flying squirrels live and enduring electric shocks to find the knack for it. ¡°Yes, I am a wild beast, and even more, a monster,¡± the youth said with a heavy expression, feeling as if he were standing naked in the icy, snowy wilderness. Just as he thought, the looks people gave him were full of intense fear, aversion, and the desire to keep their distance. But their looks were also not what he expected, with emotions beyond fear, aversion, and avoidance, making many faces complex. No sound came from the fourth floor. For Jia Sha, it was also the first time witnessing such a transformation of the youth, and he was astonished. The monster youth continued, ¡°Although I am a wild beast, a monster, I wish to become a Knight, so I have always held myself to the standards of a Knight.¡± ¡°I want to be Divine Favored, so I have always prayed, yet the Holy Emperor has never responded to me.¡± ¡°I want to become a Noble, the sole heir to a great family. So I have always pushed myself to work hard to revive the family.¡± ¡°I want to become a leader, so I fight hard in the vanguard, committing myself fully to fairness.¡± ¡°How I wish that I was!¡± ¡°I almost believed I was.¡± ¡°But I am not.¡± ¡°The memories that surfaced in my mind are someone else¡¯s.¡± ¡°My name is someone else¡¯s.¡± ¡°My fianc¨¦e is someone else¡¯s.¡± ¡°From the moment I awoke on the island, I have been living a lie.¡± The youth gave a bitter smile, ¡°Do you know, when I first underwent Beastification, how shocked I was in my heart!¡± ¡°I suspected it was a Bloodline Awakening, and I also doubted whether I had accidentally taken a Transformation Potion.¡± ¡°As I gradually discovered that I could undergo Beastification even more, I was tormented.¡± ¡°Fear, doubt, wandering¡­ I asked myself, why have I become like this?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want Zi Di to worry, and I dared not speak the truth.¡± ¡°How I wish this were a nightmare, but these things are happening to me, truly and certainly. I want to forget, but I cannot forget, because the harsh environment always forces me to use this ability.¡± ¡°Gradually, I found that they are a part of my body, a part of me. To detest and evade them is to loathe and reject myself.¡± ¡°` ¡°I sympathize with the big guy, because in him, I saw myself.¡± ¡°When my companions went mad with beastification, I was most afraid. I was particularly terrified that one day, I would lose my sanity and lash out with animal ferocity, killing those around me.¡± The youth looked at Zong Ge and said candidly, ¡°Just now someone said I deceived you all, yes, I¡¯ve deceived you. If possible, I would deceive you for a lifetime. If possible, I would even deceive myself.¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to be a monster! I don¡¯t want to be a beastified person, a substitute, a tool! I don¡¯t want to be rejected, I don¡¯t want to be hated, I don¡¯t want to face discrimination.¡± All were visibly moved. The youth bowed his head, looked at his hands, and gave a bitter smile, ¡°Actually, there were many flaws along the way, but why did I only realize it now?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯d rather deceive myself.¡± ¡°I want to fool myself into thinking I¡¯m a noble knight, clad in fine armor, riding a towering white horse.¡± ¡°I want to fool myself into believing I¡¯m a noble, with my own castle, a summer estate. And a beautiful and wealthy fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°I want to fool myself into thinking that I have the care and favor of the deities, I want to prove I have steadfast faith.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve failed.¡± ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°I am nothing at all!¡± ¡°Now I can only tell myself: Hey, you fool, stop deceiving yourself. Cast away those ridiculous and pitiful delusions. You aren¡¯t! Face the reality, you¡¯re not even a normal person, you are a remodelled beastification person, a monster.¡± As he spoke, the youth¡¯s eyes clearly reddened. This was his true feelings spilling out. Everyone was silent. They all quietly watched the youth. The looks of guard on their faces vanished, and the wariness began to fade. ¡°Ha ha, you are quite self-aware, aren¡¯t you, substitute?¡± Zhenjin¡¯s mockery came from the fourth level. People immediately frowned, many displaying expressions of disgust. But then, the youth¡¯s tone suddenly heightened, the conversation taking a sharp turn, ¡°Although I am nothing, can¡¯t I even think about it?¡± ¡°I may not be, but can¡¯t I do it,¡± ¡°I may not be, but can¡¯t I try?¡± Hearts were stirred. ¡°Hmph, delusional.¡± Jia Sha was highly displeased, chiding, ¡°From the moment a person is born, their status and position are determined. You must recognize reality, stay in your place, to gain the happiness that belongs to you. Driven by greed and desire, coveting what isn¡¯t yours, will only lead to a bleak and tragic end. That is your greatest original sin. Holding such thoughts is the root of social unrest. How can you have the gall to utter such words? Admit to your wrongdoings now, and you may still find salvation and forgiveness!¡± People¡¯s brows furrowed deeper. Ignoring Jia Sha, the substitute continued, ¡°If I have the chance, I want to become a knight, I want to become a noble, I want to become a Divine Favored. All these things, I aspire to. Don¡¯t tell me, you don¡¯t!¡± The crowd was deeply shaken. ¡°If you all don¡¯t, then what are you doing in the Wilderness Continent?! Why make the arduous trek, crossing oceans, taking huge risks, to a place filled with the dangers of war?!¡± ¡°I am a monster, I am ostracized, but what about you? Have you never been rejected, never despised, never hated? Never been trampled by the powerful? Never been deceived by life? Never been tormented by your ideals, your dreams?!¡± The youth¡¯s rapid-fire questioning suddenly silenced the entire room. The youth took a deep breath, his tone softened, his gaze deep as he said, ¡°We are actually all the same kind of people.¡± ¡°We were born ordinary.¡± The youth looked at Bai Ya. Bai Ya¡¯s complexion flushed, her mood excited. ¡°We are rejected and despised by others.¡± The youth looked at the big guy. The big guy¡¯s eyelids trembled slightly. ¡°We have been betrayed by our kin.¡± The youth looked at Cang Xu. The old scholar squinted his eyes. ¡°We are always treated unfairly.¡± The youth looked at the Half-Beast. The Half-Beast¡¯s breathing became heavy. ¡°We have also committed sins, so severe that we can¡¯t even forgive ourselves.¡± The youth looked at Lan Zao. Ever since the youth had awoken and stood up, Lan Zao had been half-kneeling on the ground, now looking up at him. ¡°We are reviled, banished, wanted, mocked. So what?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we think about it?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we do it?¡± ¡°Reality has inflicted such pain upon us, life¡¯s so miserable that it¡¯s unbearable, only through action and aspiration can we improve.¡± The youth surveyed everyone before him. ¡°In fact, we have always been trying.¡± ¡°Cast away on this island together, we fought side by side. We hunted for food and water, we were poisoned. We struggled in the desert, pursued by herds of beasts, we repelled the Demon Beast Army¡¯s attacks on our camp, we trekked long distances, gathering supplies on the way, we built new ships in the small valleys, we set sail through the Alchemy Factory¡¯s difficult obstacles.¡± The youth paced before the crowd, recounting their experiences thus far. ¡°What are we doing this for?¡± The youth spread his arms wide, questioning again. ¡°We want to survive.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not enough!¡± ¡°Far from enough.¡± ¡°We want to live better!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always felt this way, I don¡¯t believe you don¡¯t want it too!¡± ¡°Shut up, shut up. You devil, you¡¯re seducing the people, you are so utterly rebellious. Your sins are too great, if you continue this way, you will have no redemption!¡± Jia Sha roared with rage at the youth¡¯s words. The youth just smiled slightly. ¡°A devil? Yes, I am!¡± He thumped his chest, boldly admitting. Then, pointing to the people in front of him, he declared forcefully, ¡°But I¡¯m not the only one. Every one of us is a devil, a beast!¡± ¡°We want to live, to live luxuriously, crave ample food and water, yearn for noble status and glory, covet Divine Artifacts, desire overwhelming merit. And so do you, my dear priest!¡± In an instant, Jia Sha¡¯s pupils shrank sharply. The youth shouted loudly, ¡°On this island, we¡¯re lost, we¡¯re destitute, we¡¯re hunted down like dead dogs. We collapse from exhaustion, all for the hope the new ship brings. Countless nights of relentless rain, we prayed together for a clear sky the next day.¡± He stomped his foot, pointing at the ground. ¡°This is the War Merchant¡¯s Mysterious Monster Island. It¡¯s not just man-made monsters here, but devils and beasts too.¡± ¡°It seems we have lost our way in life, but deep down, we always understand how we must move forward.¡± ¡°Gentlemen, listen to your inner voice!¡± the youth implored, beating his chest, ¡°What do you really want? To quietly await your death here? To surrender? To trust such a priest? To wag your tail like a dog, begging him for a chance to live? Then, he swallows all the merit, like the master eats all the meat, throwing the bones to the dogs for you to gnaw on?¡± ¡°Bones, the big guy doesn¡¯t eat bones, the big guy eats meat.¡± The big guy groggily opened his eyes, awakened by the noise, he saw the youth and the others, but he hadn¡¯t yet grasped the situation. ¡°I am not qualified to lead you. But I want each of you to listen carefully to your inner voice, what is it that you truly desire?¡± ¡°Is it to bow your heads and stop, or to rise up and rebel?¡± The crowd fell silent. But this silence was different from before. If one listened carefully, one could hear the pounding of hearts, the heavy breathing. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re still alive!¡± the big guy shouted in ecstasy, standing up quickly, but dizzy from the sudden movement, he faltered and half-knelt again. The substitute smiled at him, then looked back at the crowd. He didn¡¯t speak again. He was waiting. And then¡­ He got his answer! ¡°Master, no matter who you are, you have always been my master!¡± Lan Zao called out, standing up. ¡°My life was saved by you, so many times. I am willing to follow you, my lord,¡± Bai Ya declared loudly. ¡°You are more suited to the role of Knight and Noble than Zhenjin, I¡¯ve always believed this,¡± Cang Xu spoke leisurely, cleaning his glasses. ¡°You are a hero, our hero,¡± Mu Ban drew his Repeating Crossbow, prompting those beside him to shift a few steps away, instinctively distancing themselves. Zong Ge took a deep breath, stepped forward, and looked intently at the monster youth, solemnly saying, ¡°This is the most touching battlefront speech I have ever heard. Let us once again¡­ fight side by side.¡± The big guy stood up, Zong Ge approached, followed closely by Sanda. Lan Zao, Cang Xu, Bai Ya¡­ Everyone congregated. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regathered around the youth. And this time, The youth was no longer Zhenjin, no longer a Holy Temple Knight, no longer a Noble, no longer Divine Favored. He was¡­ a monster! Chapter 208 - 208: Section 208: Charge to Death! Chapter 208: Section 208: Charge to Death! Watching the crowd gathering around him, the young monster smiled. However, his form was terrifying at that moment, far removed from anything human. To call it a smile would be closer to a grimace. He let out a low growl, pointing up at the ceiling, ¡°The Empire¡¯s flag is planted up there, the glory of the Nobles envelopes it, and perhaps even the Divine has bestowed its favor upon it.¡± ¡°But up there lies our path to survival! The Treasure we seek! Charge with me!¡± The young monster roared, taking the lead out of the safe Domain and into the raging lightning. ¡°Charge!¡± The Half-Beast followed closely behind. ... ¡°Dad!¡± The Big guy took huge strides, starting to run, causing the ground to tremble slightly. ¡°Kill them!¡± Even more people shouted, surging forward. ¡°Damn it! They¡¯ve really been bewitched by the substitute, they¡¯re all charging here.¡± Jia Sha¡¯s face turned ashen, undoubtedly facing the worst scenario. Zhenjin could not see the third floor¡¯s scene, but he could hear the crowd¡¯s charge. Confirming with Jia Sha¡¯s words, he turned frantic and yelled, ¡°What are you doing? Are you rebelling? Do you want to be enemies with the Holy Temple Knights, with the priests of the Holy Emperor? Do you want to be wanted, to be executed? The lightning will strike you dead!¡± As if to prove his words, in the next moment, someone within the young monster¡¯s group was struck by lightning, dead on the spot! Yet, anticipating this, not a single person halted their charge, not even for a brief moment. In fact, their pace quickened even more. Screaming, shouting, at this moment they seemed more like a pack of wild beasts than humans! ¡°Why, why is it always like this?!¡± Jia Sha burst into a fit of angry shame. At that moment, it was as if he was back in the past. He saw a young guard attempting to elope with the daughter of the City Lord. He saw a mob resisting the Lord. ¡°You low-class people! Weeds, pests! Why can¡¯t you ever see reality?¡± ¡°Without me, you would have been devoured by the beasts long ago. I brought you here, into the Alchemy Factory! Is this how you repay my kindness?!¡± ¡°The strong rule the weak, the Upper-class rules over the Lower-class, yet you want to resist?¡± ¡°What can you possibly resist? You will all die, all of you!¡± As a response to his words, the chaotic lightning continued to ravage. Crack! Fat Tongue¡¯s eyelids trembled, only reacting after the lightning had struck. Just a few steps away from him, a muscular companion turned to char. Dead, with no chance for a struggle. Without the aid of Fighting energy, Magic, Divine Arts, no one could resist a strike of lightning. Even the substitute youth was no exception, let alone the others? ¡°Run, run!¡± Fat Tongue kept encouraging himself, while internally shouting, ¡°Chairman Zi Di, I¡¯m coming to avenge you!¡± Despite his efforts, his obesity caused him to slowly fall behind. But the last to remain wasn¡¯t him. The elderly Cang Xu strained to run but still ended up at the back. He watched helplessly as the distance between himself and the main group grew wider, panting and lamenting in his heart, ¡°How troublesome for an old man like me.¡± The companions of the young monster fell one by one to the lightning. At this moment, it wasn¡¯t about fighting strength, but pure luck. As such, this charge seemed all the more brutal. But no one turned back! Because their charge this time wasn¡¯t for glory, it was for survival. Not following behind some big shot, but for themselves. The lightning was like a baptism, a baptism of the soul. As they neared the staircase to the fourth floor, their faces revealed fierce, excited, fanatical, and ferocious emotions. The beast within is unpredictable. Hearing the footsteps of the crowd drawing nearer, Zhenjin panicked completely. ¡°Father! This is really bad now!¡± ¡°It seems the lightning hasn¡¯t killed most people. Most crucially, the substitute is still alive!¡± ¡°I told you, he¡¯s incredibly powerful, and terrifying! I saw with my own eyes how he slaughtered an entire troop of leopards, an entire troop!¡± ¡°That was slaughter, and it was easy for him, just a drop in the bucket!¡± ¡°Run, establish the Teleportation Gate, let¡¯s all leave together!¡± ¡°Shut up, you useless thing!¡± Jia Sha¡¯s face also twisted fiercely, filled with both rage and horror. But he was helpless. He still couldn¡¯t open the Teleportation Gate; if he could, he would have done it already! ¡°Just a little more, just a little.¡± ¡°These damn Sinners! I should never have had any expectations for them, I should not have saved them then, I should not have given them Divine Arts¡¯ enhancements and healing!¡± ¡°Guardian Knights, go down there, block the staircase to the fourth floor, they must not be allowed to come up.¡± ¡°I need time, just a little time!¡± The four Guardian Knights, however, hesitated unusually. Like Zhenjin had said, the young monster was mighty, but they too were made of flesh and blood. Moreover, the fourth floor was the central hub, unaffected by weather, but the third floor was prone to random lightning strikes. The stairs leading to the fourth floor were also under the jurisdiction of lightning. ¡°If we don¡¯t stop him, we all are doomed, definitely doomed!¡± Seeing the hesitant Guardian Knights, Zhenjin shouted urgently. ¡°Go, I won¡¯t let you die in vain!¡± Jia Sha also roared, simultaneously invoking his authority and lifting a crucial restriction. The four Guardian Knights were overjoyed, no longer hesitated, and together they blocked the stairway entrance to the fourth floor. Concerned about the lightning, they never set foot on the stairs. The monster youth was always at the forefront of the charge; he was the first to set foot on the stairs. Without any hesitation, he looked up and collided head-on with the four Guardian Knights. Bang! With a muffled sound, the monster youth was actually repelled and slammed forcefully onto the tiles of the third floor. ¡°Fighting energy!¡± The monster youth was seriously injured, his eyes blood-red as he quickly stood up. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, at this moment, all four Guardian Knights were radiating with the brilliance of fighting energy. They each had Black Iron Level strength, and four Black Iron Knights capable of wielding fighting energy formed an extremely solid defensive line. For a long time, low-level magic and fighting energy were forbidden on Mysterious Monster Island, and high-level Magic Tools could only exert minimal power. But now, Jia Sha had lifted the restriction on the fourth floor, allowing the four Guardian Knights to deploy their fighting energy. Fighting energy¡­ once the very thing the monster youth desperately sought after, as it could transform him qualitatively, aiding him in slaying man-made magical beasts beyond his level. And now, the enemy wielded fighting energy, while he turned into a monster that was suppressed by fighting energy. ¡°Black Iron fighting energy, Black Iron Level gear¡­¡± The monster youth caressed his scorpion armor which had been marked by slashes. His scorpion armor was Silver Level, but without the enhancement of fighting energy, it was still easily nicked. The monster youth snorted coldly and stood up again. At this stage, what else was there to think about? He charged again! Halfway up the stairs, his body surged with red light, and his head transformed into that of a green lizard. He opened his mouth and sprayed out a mass of Corrosive Acid Liquid. The acid was directed at the four Guardian Knights. ¡°Be careful!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the acid of a green lizard.¡± The Guardian Knights uttered a low cry, instantly recognizing the details of the youth¡¯s attack and swiftly raised their Shields. The Shields blocked all the acid; the liquid corroded the surface of the shields, emitting a sizzling noise and small plumes of white smoke emerged. The Shields remained steadfast. To completely corrode the Shields, the acid would need to be sprayed hundreds more times! There was no time to allow for that. After all, lightning was striking chaotically, and the stairs from the third to the fourth floor were also under the fierce assault of lightning. The monster youth continued his charge. He canceled his green lizard form, the red light flashed and vanished, and his head transformed into a bat monkey. The next moment, the bat monkey screamed, its powerful sound creating ripples visible to the naked eye in the air. The sound waves surged to the fourth floor, ravaging the eardrums of the Guardian Knights. But the Guardian Knights stood unshaken, their figures as solid as iron, not trembling in the least. Black Iron fighting energy! In a critical moment, they all used Black Iron fighting energy to protect their eardrums. The sound waves were ineffective against them, but instead, Zong Ge and the Big guy, who arrived later, were affected, each letting out a subdued groan, expressions twisted in pain. ¡°Damn it!¡± The monster youth was forced to cancel his bat monkey head. The sound waves were an area attack, at most the youth could enhance the sound waves in one direction, but he couldn¡¯t stop the spread of the sound to the surroundings. Continuing would only harm his own people. Both the acid and the sound waves were ineffective. But at this moment, the monster youth had once again rushed to the front of the Guardian Knights. He raised the Silver Spider Blade in his hand high, at the same time tightening his muscles, releasing electricity. The blade slashed down fiercely, sparks of electricity flashing on its edge! The four Guardian Knights coordinated tacitly, two holding Shields to block the Silver Spider Blade, while the other two thrust their Black Iron swords from either side toward the monster youth. As the Silver Spider Blade struck the Shield, the swords of the Guardian Knights also slashed the youth¡¯s scorpion shell. The youth bellowed, and with his other hand, he wielded another Silver Blade and brought it down hard. The Guardian Knights¡¯ Shield was tilted by the strike, the defensive line wavered, revealing a gap. The youth suddenly canceled the Silver Blades and his left hand swiftly transformed into a bear¡¯s paw. The bear paw glowed like red-hot iron, extremely hot, seizing the gap and jabbing towards the Guardian Knight in front! The Guardian Knight couldn¡¯t bring his Shield or sword back in time to defend and had no choice but to muster all his fighting energy, concentrating it in his abdomen. A black light of Black Iron instantly appeared on the surface of his abdomen. The youth¡¯s Silver Level bear paw stabbed into this black light but couldn¡¯t penetrate! However, the tremendous force meant the Guardian Knight couldn¡¯t neutralize it completely and was knocked back. The defensive line formed by the four Guardian Knights suddenly had a massive breach. The monster youth¡¯s eyes blazed, seizing the chance, ready to surge through the gap. But the other three Guardian Knights quickly pressed their swords and Shields onto the youth, pushing together. Meanwhile, the youth¡¯s legs mutated, taking on the form of the powerful thighs and hooves of a Strong Life White Rhinoceros, generating strong stomping force. Instantly, both sides were locked in a contest of strength. Chapter 209 - 209: Section 209: The Deepest Hidden Person Chapter 209: Section 209: The Deepest Hidden Person The youth was defeated! After resisting for two breaths, the youth was repelled again, tumbling down the staircase. The monster youth quickly stood up, looked up at the four Guardian Knights, and felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart. Unlike the first failure, the youth¡¯s second charge, having used all his strength, still ended in failure. ¡°This is the power of Fighting Energy!¡± The human body is far weaker than the beast¡¯s body, but with the protection of Fighting Energy, it can withstand the bear claws of the Silver Level, significantly enhancing the physical condition to withstand the monster youth¡¯s tremendous strength. ... The attacks here with sound waves, even under the protection of Fighting Energy, accomplished nothing. The four Guardian Knights were only at the Black Iron Level, possessing only Black Iron Fighting Energy. If it were Silver Level Fighting Energy, it would protect the whole body, infuse into weapons and armor, making them much more formidable. ¡°It seems that the fourth floor doesn¡¯t ban Fighting Energy, as long as we charge up, we can also have Fighting Energy!¡± Zong Ge hurried over, having witnessed the scene of the youth being knocked down. ¡°Exactly.¡± The monster youth took a deep breath and charged for the third time. This time, Zong Ge followed right behind him. Acid Liquid sprayed onto the shield, and as swords clashed, the youth was knocked down again under the Guardian Knights¡¯ tacit coordination and tight defense. Under the youth¡¯s massive shadow, Zong Ge continued to charge. But his full body armor was long gone, and fists could not match eight hands; after a round of fighting, he too had to retreat wounded. ¡°Dad, let me handle this!¡± The Big guy ran over with large strides, furious at seeing the monster youth fall to the ground. ¡°Be careful! Protect your vitals!¡± the monster youth¡¯s face changed as he quickly warned. But the Big Guy still held his head high, chest out, stepping onto the staircase with his fists thrusting forward, exposing his body. ¡°Seeking death!¡± The four Guardian Knights were furious, two of them launching deadly moves with their swords enhanced by Fighting Energy, aiming straight at the Big Guy¡¯s heart. The other two raised their shields to protect themselves, resisting the Big Guy¡¯s attacks. If the Fighting Energy-enhanced sword pierced his heart, the Big Guy would have undoubtedly died. At the critical moment, the monster youth rushed in, grabbed the Big Guy¡¯s clothes from behind, and yanked him back hard. Being pulled back abruptly, the knights¡¯ swords perilously pierced his chest, but did not damage his heart. The Big Guy rolled onto the ground, and the monster youth continued the attack. At the same time, a gleam appeared in Zong Ge¡¯s eyes, he leaped, stepping on the Big Guy¡¯s head, and jumped into the air, attacking the fourth floor. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± At the critical moment, the four Guardian Knights also displayed quick responses. Three of them dealt with the monster youth, while another intercepted the Half-Beast in mid-air. The youth and Zong Ge were repelled again! Fighting Energy provided too much of a boost to their combat abilities. The standoff continued, with companions gradually reaching the bottom of the staircase. They wanted to rush up, but were stopped by the monster youth: ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive!¡± These men, relying only on their flesh and blood, would only become Dead Souls under the swords of the four Guardian Knights, a sacrifice in vain, offering no help to the situation. ¡°Damn it!¡± Zong Ge¡¯s wounds continued to bleed, but he ignored them. His eyes glared furiously at the four Guardian Knights, his fighting spirit blazing, ¡°How can we break through?¡± If he could control Fighting Energy, he wouldn¡¯t even consider the four Guardian Knights a threat. Even without Fighting Energy, if it were a battle on flat ground, he had plenty of techniques to handle the onslaught of the four Guardian Knights. ¡°For one thing, the fourth floor doesn¡¯t ban Fighting Energy. On the other hand, their terrain is too advantageous!¡± Zong Ge analyzed in his mind. ¡°The staircase is very narrow, and the War Merchant, a Goblin, moves up and down the Central Tower with ample space for himself.¡± ¡°But for us of the Human Race, only one person can go up or down at a time, unable to squeeze two people simultaneously.¡± The staircase was indestructible, but overly narrow. Only one of the monstrous youths could charge at a time, unable to utilize their numerical advantage. Previously, they had relied on their tactical advantage to firmly defend against the fierce attacks of the beast horde. Now, they had to overcome this hurdle and ascend to the fourth floor. Crack! Lightning suddenly struck, hitting a companion squarely. The companion was instantly turned into charcoal, and the proximity of death moved everyone. They had to rush up, or else staying on the third floor would inevitably lead to their destruction by lightning! But charging one by one would only strengthen the enemy¡¯s military power. They were at their wits¡¯ end. A sense of despair arose in everyone¡¯s hearts. ¡°I have a plan!¡± Zong Ge suddenly spoke up at this moment, his eyes bright as he intently stared at the Big guy. ¡°What plan?¡± someone immediately asked. Zong Ge pointed at Big Fool, ¡°He¡¯s like a human catapult, let him throw us!¡± Everyone was stunned, the tactic was barbaric! But the monster youth was struck by the idea, ¡°Good plan!¡± Constrained by the staircase, they couldn¡¯t leverage their numerical advantage. But with this method, they could launch a simultaneous assault on the entrance of the staircase. The monster youth was the strongest among them, but under the siege of four Guardian Knights, he too was struggling. If someone could support him, even just to distract some attention and buy the monster youth time and space, it would be greatly beneficial! Big Fool would not listen to others but obeyed the youth¡¯s commands. ¡°Little endearing one, it¡¯s all on you now. Make sure to throw accurately!¡± the monster youth instructed. The Big guy took a deep breath, his chest thumping loudly, ¡°Dad, just watch me!¡± The monster youth charged up the staircase again. Zong Ge stepped forward proactively in front of the Big guy, ¡°Throw me first!¡± With a roar, the Big guy grabbed the Half-Beast and flung him directly. Splatch. The Half-Beast flew obliquely and slammed into the ceiling, then plummeted to the ground. ¡°Throw properly!¡± The Half-Beast, bruised and swollen, quickly got up, walked back to the Big guy, and said, ¡°Aim carefully!¡± The Big guy threw again. This time, it was accurate. In the middle of the staircase, the monster youth immediately launched a charge. He and Zong Ge, in perfect coordination, for the first time shook the Guardian Knights¡¯ formation. But before they could expand their victory, Zong Ge had already fallen. After all, he was thrown up, hanging midair with hardly any leverage. Zong Ge ran back in front of the Big guy again, his fighting spirit raging intensely, he bellowed, ¡°Keep throwing me, not just me, others too. We need to unleash a relentless assault, they won¡¯t be able to hold!¡± ¡°Stop them!¡± Jia Sha screamed, restless and anxious. In just a short time, Zong Ge had already found a way to turn the tide using his sharp battlefield insight. The four Guardian Knights also tried to stop them, with the safest course, of course, being to kill the Big guy directly. They immediately demonstrated their combat skills. The next moment, a sword light shot out. The big guy hurriedly dodged but only succeeded halfway, the sword light gashing his waist and blood spraying out. The big guy roared, his eyes turning bloodshot as he showed signs of insanity at the critical moment. ¡°Done for!¡± many thought with a thud in their hearts. ¡°Xiao Guai!¡± the monster youth¡¯s shout came. The big guy paused, miraculously regaining some clarity. He roared again, his movements visibly quickening as he grabbed Zong Ge, using him as a stone to hurl toward the enemy. Then, he grabbed others. One after another, his comrades flew into the air, charging toward the four Guardian Knights, forming a continuous assault. The monster youth, with all his might, tangled with the four Guardian Knights. For a while, the Guardian Knights were too busy to deal with the assault and had no leisure to handle the big guy. Finally, the monster youth swept horizontally, opening a gap. A comrade slipped through the gap and crashed into the fourth floor. However, before he could stand up, a stabbing sword pierced his heart. It was Zhenjin! Zhenjin had already killed the man, but his stabbing sword didn¡¯t stop, continuously inflicting wounds on the corpse. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m still here!¡± ¡°With me here, what are you so proud of? Did you think that rushing into the fourth floor meant everything was settled?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a Holy Temple Knight, Holy Temple Knight!¡± ¡°Ahahaha, dying by my hand is your honor.¡± ¡°Do you realize your reality now, scum? It would have been better to simply obey my orders from the start.¡± As Zhenjin mutilated the corpse, he roared wildly, venting his emotions. He laughed heartily, the tension and fear caused by the monster youth and others¡¯ charge dissipated, replaced by the ecstasy and pride of victory. At this moment, everyone was focused around the stairway. Hearing Zhenjin¡¯s screams, they became even more motivated to fight. ¡°Charge, keep charging!¡± Zong Ge roared repeatedly. The big guy grasped one comrade after another, continuously throwing them. ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t throw me.¡± Cang Xu was pushed by the crowd near the big guy. The big fool¡¯s eyes bloodshot, his throwing had become a mechanical action. He didn¡¯t hear Cang Xu¡¯s cry, just grabbed him and threw him. The old scholar was thin, so he flew faster. ¡°Oh no!¡± Seeing this, the monster youth quickly exerted force to save Cang Xu¡¯s life. But a Guardian Knight suddenly used a combat skill, repelling the youth. The old scholar screamed as he flew over the stairway, crashing into the swords of the Guardian Knights. ¡°Now!¡± Zong Ge had been waiting for the opportunity, he suddenly leaped forward. As the youth fell, he forcefully swung his arm, his palm striking the bottom of Zong Ge¡¯s feet. Zong Ge¡¯s speed surged, he attacked upward. At that moment, the four Guardian Knights were regrouping. The joint attack of Cang Xu and Zong Ge was very swift; the four Guardian Knights, caught off guard, could only block one. They unanimously attacked Zong Ge. Zong Ge bravely did not retreat. The swords chopped at him; the half-beast man¡¯s face showed resolve, he actually half-lifted his arms, using them as shields. Puchi. Blood splattered, Zong Ge¡¯s half-arm was instantly chopped off! But he seized this moment to head towards the fourth floor. ¡°As long as I set foot on the fourth floor, I can use fighting energy!¡± Zong Ge roared inwardly. ¡°Think not!¡± a Guardian Knight shouted, moving sideways with his shoulder, charging directly at Zong Ge. Zong Ge¡¯s eyes faltered, because of this Guardian Knight, his momentum halted, and he could only helplessly plummet downward. But as he fell, his remaining hand desperately grabbed the attacking Guardian Knight. Eventually, both of them crashed onto the staircase. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By the time the two rolled to the bottom, Zong Ge had already twisted the neck of the Guardian Knight to death in their tumbling fall. Meanwhile, Cang Xu, with a thud, fell onto the fourth floor¡¯s tiles. Zong Ge stood up, his body bathed in blood, oblivious to his severed arm, his eyes flaming as he looked up at the three Guardian Knights. The three Guardian Knights, as if seeing a bloodied lion, unconsciously took a small step back. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ve made it!¡± Jia Sha suddenly spoke. The next moment, the portals opened. ¡°Hahaha, priest, well done! We¡¯ve finally won, let these people stay here to die!¡± Zhenjin rejoiced. Simultaneously, he pounced toward the unarmed old scholar, his stabbing sword aimed at Cang Xu¡¯s heart. Seeing this, even the tough Zong Ge couldn¡¯t help but stumble. Everyone present, including the monster youth, showed faces of despair. Just as Cang Xu had stood up, a stabbing sword pierced directly through his heart. Zhenjin, face-to-face with Cang Xu, grinned hideously, ¡°Old fool, did you also dare to charge here? To rush here to die? Hahaha!¡± Zhenjin¡¯s eyes widened, wanting to savor Cang Xu¡¯s panic and helplessness in his final moments. However, there was none. Instead, a smile appeared on Cang Xu¡¯s face. Bang. The next moment, a surge of mana emerged from the fourth floor. Zhenjin, his face full of astonishment, was blown away by the mana. Jia Sha and the three Guardian Knights were all shocked. Cang Xu pulled out the stabbing sword that pierced his heart, his face calmly smiling, ¡°Finally, I can use magic.¡± From his heart flowed streams of blood. But the bleeding was too less! Cang Xu wiped his hand over the wound, the flesh at the injury twitching, forcibly stitching itself together. ¡°You, you, you¡­¡± Zhenjin struggled to get up, his face filled with terror. Jia Sha stared fixedly at Cang Xu, his face ashen, ¡°You¡¯re an Undead Mage!¡± The three Guardian Knights were at a loss for words, suddenly realizing they had made a grave mistake. This seemingly defenseless old scholar was the deepest hidden threat! A Black Iron Level Undead Mage!! Chapter 210 - 210: Section 210: Scammers and Monsters Chapter 210: Section 210: Scammers and Monsters Some people on the staircase, upon seeing Cang Xu display Undead Magic, also revealed looks of shock. During the initial days after landing on Mysterious Monster Island. There was a shortage of food, so the first officer gathered the first exploration team. Cang Xu volunteered. Someone sneered in secret, ¡°Does this old man have no self-awareness? Instead of cautiously staying at camp, he wants to delve into the rainforest, that¡¯s practically seeking death!¡± ¡­ ... The group was being chased by a swarm of scorpions, nearly exhausting all means of escape. Bai Ya was injured and unconscious; the group confronted Cang Xu. ¡°It¡¯s because we went to save you that Bai Ya got hurt!¡± Someone grabbed the old man¡¯s collar and lifted him. Cang Xu snorted coldly and swung his arm fiercely. With a slap, the exploration team member¡¯s hand was struck away. Caught off guard, the team member staggered back two steps. He looked at Cang Xu with a mix of surprise and suspicion, as the old man¡¯s strength seemed beyond his expectation. ¡­ In the cave, Cang Xu recounted his life to the substitute young man. ¡°I held a crucial position and initially no one believed in me. They thought I was weak, just a simple scholar, and could be easily assassinated. But in fact, I have held this position for over thirty years.¡± ¡°His name was Lan Tu, always daydreaming of becoming a knight. He was my most trusted assistant. The lord¡¯s third daughter lured him with love, eventually convincing this young man to betray. He reported me, claiming I was a dangerous criminal who had been hiding for years, always harboring sinister intentions towards the lord and his domain.¡± ¡°You can eat me, Lord Zhenjin!¡± ¡­ The crowd momentarily halted their charge, three Guardian Knights stared straight at Cang Xu. The Teleportation Gate emitted a blue glow. Jia Sha succeeded, yet he also failed. For Cang Xu was standing right before the Teleportation Gate. Zhenjin rose to his feet, his Dagger visibly trembling in his hand. Jia Sha¡¯s voice broke the eerie silence, ¡°Heh, didn¡¯t expect that the final winner would be you! Hmph, merely a Black Iron.¡± Frankly speaking, Cang Xu¡¯s life force wasn¡¯t particularly strong, just at the Black Iron Level. Among the Transcendents, he belonged to the lower tier. But in the current situation, both parties had depleted too much strength in their struggle, both were at their limits. Suddenly, Cang Xu revealed his Black Iron Level power, possessing the most abundant mana, such combat power instantly overturned the entire situation. Jia Sha sighed deeply, ¡°You¡¯ve won, congratulations, Cang Xu. You can now escort me, and Zhenjin, through the Teleportation Gate. In the future, even if you are temporarily trapped by the Empire¡¯s power, you can use us two as bargaining chips.¡± Zhenjin¡¯s complexion changed, and immediately he shouted, ¡°I am the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, I, I can pay a substantial ransom!¡± The people on the third level jumped with alarm, sensing trouble. The Teleportation Gate was already open. As for Cang Xu, he was already on the fourth level, no one could stop him now. He could simply pass through the Teleportation Gate and escape to freedom! Just moments before, everyone firmly believed that Cang Xu would not abandon his comrades. But as Cang Xu revealed himself to be an Undead Mage, everyone¡¯s confidence in him plummeted. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was an Undead Mage! Throughout the long-standing propaganda of the Empire and across various continents, Undead Mages were always depicted as extremely ruthless, murderous without humanity, dangerous criminals playing with souls. Now the center of everyone¡¯s focus, Cang Xu slightly smiled, slightly turning his body to look at Jia Sha, ¡°Worthy of being a priest from the Holy Divine Sect, even in this situation, you seek victory in defeat.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, you don¡¯t understand. Whether it¡¯s upper-class or lower-class, whether priest or criminal, all possess a human heart. Even me¡­ an Undead Mage, whose heart has been pierced through.¡± No sooner had he spoken, Cang Xu, disregarding the pale-faced Jia Sha, made his move again. He unleashed his Undead Magic, freezing the three Guardian Knights, turning their movements stiff. Seizing this opportunity, the monster youth shouted, barreling past the three knights, making his way officially to the fourth level! ¡°Well done, Cang Xu!¡± the youth laughed heartily. Cang Xu smiled at him. Thud. The next moment, the youth spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, excruciating pain forcing him to half-kneel on the ground. Cang Xu¡¯s expression changed. ¡°What have you done, Cang Xu?¡± Zong Ge rushed up, standing in front of the youth. Stepping onto the fourth level, he was no longer restricted, his body radiating with silver light. Silver Fighting Spirit! This half-beast was a Silver Level Transcendent. ¡°Wait, it¡¯s not Cang Xu, it¡¯s because of me,¡± the youth reached out to explain for Cang Xu. In a flash, the youth had understood the problem. ¡°It was my mutation that caused this!¡± ¡°My mutated bloodline comes from those transformed magical beasts. These beasts are all semi-finished products that can only survive in a Magic Ban environment.¡± ¡°Here on the fourth floor, there¡¯s no Magic Ban, and I am in a state of Composite Mutation. Such a life form is even less stable than those transformed beasts, and my body is heading towards collapse!¡± The youth tried to reduce the degree of his mutation. Indeed, the severe pain in his body quickly subsided. When he revealed his Lord Zhenjin appearance again, retaining only the scorpion shell, the severe pain finally eased enough to be temporarily bearable. He slowly stood up, his body shimmering with a silver glow. Just like Zong Ge, he too had awakened the Fighting Energy within him. For a moment, the youth felt incredibly emotional, he had been eagerly anticipating the Fighting Energy and only now, on the fourth-floor of the Central Tower, had he regained mastery of it. The three Guardian Knights retreated step by step, back to where Jia Sha was. The substitute youth and the half-beast, both Silver fighters, plus Cang Xu, the Black Iron Level Undead Mage, made it impossible for Jia Sha and Lord Zhenjin¡¯s side to turn the tide. The overall situation was settled! The rest quickly passed through the staircase, including the Big Guy, all ascended to the fourth floor of the Central Tower. ¡°Zi Di!¡± the youth called out softly. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer, or I¡¯ll stab her in the head!¡± Lord Zhenjin held Zi Di by the neck, pulling her to stand, while his other hand, holding a Stabbing Sword, pointed the tip right under Zi Di¡¯s chin. Zi Di was in a terrible state, covered in wounds, with blood soaking her apprentice Magic Robe. Her face was deathly pale, without a trace of blood color, her once bright and clear eyes that shined like purple crystals were now dull and lifeless. ¡°Let go of me, let go of our Chairman!¡± Fat Tongue roared, completely flustered. ¡°As long as you agree to spare me, I will release your beloved woman!¡± Lord Zhenjin stared intently at the substitute youth, half-threatening, half-pleading. But just then, his movements froze, as if he had fallen into icy snow, his entire spirit stiffened. ¡°Quick!¡± Cang Xu urged in a voice, it turned out he had secretly cast a Spell. Silent spellcasting! This Undead Mage had deep aptitude in casting skills. The substitute youth abruptly stomped, shooting toward Lord Zhenjin like an arrow released from a bow. Bang. The Silver Fighting Energy vanished in a flash. Lord Zhenjin spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body flew backward like a broken sack. The Stabbing Sword in his hand clattered to the floor tiles and slid a great distance away. The substitute youth took the opportunity to hold Zi Di in his arms, her severe injuries heavily weighing down his heart. He quickly unlatched the leather pouch around Zi Di¡¯s waist and pulled out healing potions. With trembling hands, the youth poured the potions onto Zi Di¡¯s wounds or forced them down her throat. But the potions were nowhere near enough. ¡°Chairman!!!¡± Fat Tongue also tried to run over but fell halfway, a complete mess. Perhaps sensing the warmth of the youth¡¯s embrace, Zi Di slowly opened her eyes. ¡°Zi Di!¡± the youth exclaimed with joy. Zi Di weakly smiled at the youth, struggling to speak, ¡°I¡­ knew you would come.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m late, I¡¯m so late,¡± the youth buried his head, crying, filled with self-reproach. ¡°No, I should be the one to say sorry. I¡­ should have said it sooner. I¡¯m not your princess, I¡¯m just¡­ a liar.¡± In her last moments, Zi Di finally gathered the courage to confess to the youth. Her heart was full of love and guilt. ¡°Forgive me, forgive me¡­¡± Zi Di gazed at the youth, trying to reach out to caress his cheek. However, darkness surged, completely engulfing her already dim vision. Her hand had only reached halfway when it fell limply. The youth shuddered with horror, hastily reaching out to hold the girl¡¯s hand. An icy coldness. Whether it was the girl¡¯s hand or the youth¡¯s heart. ¡°No, no, no¡­¡± the youth froze, murmuring, as tears streamed down his face. ¡°Don¡¯t sleep, don¡¯t sleep, Zi Di.¡± ¡°Quick, wake up, wake up and look at me.¡± The boy kept calling, but there was no response. The girl in his arms had already closed her eyes, no longer breathing. ¡°Quick, think of something.¡± ¡°There must be a way. There must be a way to save Zi Di!¡± ¡°Yes, the Demon Core in my heart. If I can make Zi Di mutate into the flesh of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros, she could be out of danger!¡± Then, the boy¡¯s attempt failed. Perhaps it was possible, but he had never practiced it and didn¡¯t know the key elements. The red light simply couldn¡¯t leave his body, let alone spread to Zi Di. ¡°Help me, someone please help me!¡± The boy shouted desperately, seeking help from his companions. Many of his companions turned away, unable to bear watching. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± Cang Xu ran over. Fat Tongue also arrived by Zi Di¡¯s side and, seeing her dead, his legs gave way and he fell to his knees, wailing inconsolably. Cang Xu quickly checked Zi Di¡¯s condition and shook his head: ¡°She¡¯s already dead.¡± ¡°But there must still be a way, right?¡± the boy asked, looking up at Cang Xu. Facing the boy¡¯s eyes, Cang Xu hesitantly nodded, ¡°Her physical body is dead, but perhaps there¡¯s still something I can do with her spirit.¡± ¡°I can try to transform her spirit into a ghost.¡± ¡°A ghost?!¡± Fat Tongue¡¯s eyes widened in terror. The boy¡¯s face also changed color. ¡°This is all I can do. Also, there¡¯s not much chance of success. Not every spirit can be transformed into a ghost, and what¡¯s more difficult is that Miss Zi Di¡¯s spirit has exhausted too much. Frankly, the chances of her becoming a ghost are very slim,¡± Cang Xu said truthfully. He left the choice to the subtitute boy. Was it to subject Zi Di¡¯s remains to the desecration of Undead Magic, chasing that slim possibility? Or let Zi Di rest in peace? In just a second, the boy made his decision: ¡°Then let¡¯s do that, Cang Xu, please try your best!¡± ¡°Of course, lord. I sincerely hope that my power can be of help to you,¡± Cang Xu said and began chanting, casting the Undead Magic. However, after the spell was cast on Zi Di, she showed no reaction. Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds, up to one minute, two minutes¡­ Cang Xu sighed, ¡°It failed.¡± Fat Tongue collapsed to the ground. The boy became as lifeless as stone, falling into the abyss of despair. Meanwhile, the battle led by Zong Ge was reaching its end. Three Guardian Knights were killed by him, Jia Sha, who had completely lost his divine power, was captured, and Lord Zhenjin, with no will to fight after being severely wounded by the boy, surrendered voluntarily. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, my father will pay a hefty sum to ransom me. You¡¯ll all become rich!¡± Lord Zhenjin cried. ¡°Ha ha ha,¡± Jia Sha just laughed, ¡°Even if you won, what then? You dare not kill me because I control the Teleportation Gate. Do you think you can go through the gate? Without my permission, you can¡¯t escape!¡± Everyone was stunned. ¡°He¡¯s right!¡± Lord Zhenjin quickly shouted, ¡°Not long ago, the Tower Spirit faltered, Zi Di and him fought with spirits for control. Zi Di died, Father Jia Sha succeeded, he is our only hope to get out of here!¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Zong Ge and others hesitated. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m also a Mage. Since you can erode the control here with your spirit, so can I,¡± Cang Xu interjected at that point. Hope started to emerge among the crowd but was quickly extinguished by Jia Sha, ¡°Indeed, you have the capability, but the key now is time! The Mana Pool¡¯s mana is almost depleted, the third lightning keeps striking, consuming your chances of escape. Ha ha ha, by the time you actually take over, gain control, the Mana Pool will be completely dry. Your best bet to escape is to cooperate with me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget about me, Father, don¡¯t forget about me!¡± Lord Zhenjin quickly reminded. ¡°Shut up!¡± Sanda slapped Lord Zhenjin to the ground. Lord Zhenjin¡¯s head hit the floor tiles, cracking the skin and blood flowed. Having learned his lesson, Lord Zhenjin wisely shut up. Zong Ge¡¯s face was as somber as water, the situation was more serious than he had anticipated: ¡°Can we all be teleported away? How many of us can still be transported? How can you prove what you say?¡± Jia Sha glanced at Cang Xu, who had already started using his mana to erode the control, ¡°Cang Xu can prove it, just by seizing a bit of control, his spirit can investigate the state of the Mana Pool.¡± Half a minute later, Cang Xu sighed deeply, ¡°He¡¯s right. There is very little mana left, only enough to send five people away.¡± The crowd was in an uproar. There were many people present, certainly more than five. Jia Sha laughed loudly, ¡°You all discuss amongst yourselves who should stay and who should go.¡± At that moment, many faces changed color, and the atmosphere shifted, suddenly becoming tense. ¡°Don¡¯t be swayed by this old man!¡± the voice of the substitute boy rang out. Everyone¡¯s gaze shifted towards him as he stood up, his face covered in blood and tears. Yet, his eyes remained resolute and clear, ¡°We go together, and if we cannot go, we die together!!¡± His straightforward declaration and unwavering expression brought relief to everyone¡¯s hearts. ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s how it should be!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll follow you, sir.¡± ¡°If we die, we die together, if we live, we live together!!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha, even if we die, being accompanied by such significant figures in death is a huge win.¡± The crowd shouted, all in agreement with the young man¡¯s words. ¡°These people are crazy, actually listening to a monster!¡± Lord Zhenjin¡¯s eyes widened in horror, filled with fear. He was slapped by Sanda before, and could only roar in his heart, not daring to speak out loud. Jia Sha¡¯s expression changed slightly, ¡°Are you sure? Are you sure you want to give up your last chance?¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± ¡°I advise everyone to calm down a bit.¡± ¡°Think about your wives, children, or parents, think about the missions and expectations you¡¯re carrying?¡± ¡°Although most of you will die, clearly a few could survive, so why give up?¡± ¡°Even the dead can entrust many things to those who live.¡± The priest¡¯s words, sharp as flying arrows, pierced everyone¡¯s hearts. ¡°Shut up, if it weren¡¯t for your greed for the Divine Artifact, we could have left a long time ago.¡± The substitute young man walked over, his face full of hatred. Jia Sha laughed, ¡°What¡¯s the point of saying that now?¡± ¡°You just want to see us have internal strife and kill each other. After all, the teleportation rights are controlled by you, whether we can escape or not depends on your whim.¡± As the young man spoke, he drew out a dagger. This was Zi Di¡¯s dagger, primarily used for collecting herbs and was made of special material. Previously in the Spider Forest, Zi Di had thrown this dagger, hoping to pass it to the substitute young man to help him escape. ¡°What are you tryi-argh!¡± Jia Sha¡¯s eyes bulged. The young man held the dagger and fiercely stabbed it into his abdomen. ¡°What am I doing? Of course, it¡¯s for revenge! Not just for Zi Di, but for all of our sakes.¡± At this moment, the young man¡¯s expression was terrifying, like the dark surface of molten lava, with raging magma ready to erupt and devour everything! Sensing the young man¡¯s intent to kill, Jia Sha finally stopped pretending. Who was Jia Sha? How could he compromise with these lowly, lower-class people? He just wanted to enjoy a wonderful show of mutual destruction before he died. At that moment, Cang Xu spoke up, ¡°Jia Sha is deceiving us. He is in extremely poor condition, having exhausted all his potential and life force. Without incredible achievements, and without at least Legendary-level Divine Healing, he will die soon.¡± Jia Sha shrugged his shoulders and laughed nonchalantly, ¡°Then let¡¯s die together.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t be that easy for you.¡± The substitute young man took a small step back, scanning the crowd with his eyes, ¡°Now, it¡¯s your turn to take revenge.¡± The crowd hesitated for a moment, then understood. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± A nearby comrade quickly approached Jia Sha, pulled out a dagger, and stabbed again. Jia Sha grunted, his eyes fiery. Then another comrade took over, stabbing once more. Before leaving, he spat on Jia Sha¡¯s face. The priest trembled with rage, ¡°You lowlife! Lowlife!!¡± One by one, the comrades continued, each stabbing the priest. The young man crossed his arms, supervising from the side. Finally, it was Bai Ya¡¯s turn. The young man trembled as he gripped the dagger, closed his eyes, and thrust forward. The dagger plunged into Jia Sha¡¯s body. As death approached, Jia Sha laughed wildly, ¡°Your crimes are unforgivable, you all must die, all of you. Even in death, you will not be redeemed by the gods, your souls will fall to Hell and the Abyss-argh!¡± A look of shock froze on his face. He stared ahead as if he saw some unimaginable sight. Instinctively, everyone followed his gaze. The next moment, they were all stunned. A ghost timidly floated out from Zi Di¡¯s corpse. ¡°Zi Di!¡± After the shock, the young man shouted with joy. Fat Tongue slapped Cang Xu¡¯s back, ¡°You did it, you succeeded!¡± Cang Xu stumbled, nearly falling over, his face filled with disbelief, ¡°Her fragmented spirit forming a ghost, the possibility was so slim. Unless¡­¡± Thinking of a possibility, Cang Xu took the initiative to ask, ¡°Miss Zi Di, did you ever practice Undead Magic?¡± Chapter 211 - 211: Section 211: Self-Detonation Chapter 211: Section 211: Self-Detonation ¡°What, what happened to me?¡± Zi Di looked at her body and limbs in shock, noticing they appeared semi-translucent and gray-black in color. On the ground lay her body, lifeless and pale from blood loss. ¡°So, have I become a ghost?¡± Zi Di realized in a daze. At that moment, Cang Xu¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Miss Zi Di, did you ever practice Undead Magic?¡± Zi Di paused slightly, then remembered her days at the Magic Academy. There was an admirer who had given her the forbidden knowledge¡ªa scroll of Soul-devouring Skill. Back then, she was driven nearly mad by her bleak prospects and despairing talent, so she had practiced the Soul-devouring Skill in desperation. ... However, she had never used it even once before she saw that admirer killed on the spot for practicing Undead Magic. Although Zi Di was also scrutinized, perhaps because she had practiced the Undead Magic for only a short period and her cultivation was shallow, she was not detected. Zi Di was tremendously shocked and learned a great lesson, never touching Undead Magic again. ¡°I never imagined that ultimately, it would be this Undead Magic that indirectly saved me.¡± Zi Di murmured to herself and nodded at Cang Xu. Cang Xu understood, ¡°I see.¡± He wasn¡¯t surprised that Zi Di could have had access to the knowledge of the Undead Mage. Undead Magic, being one of the major Magic Schools, was founded by You Can. When You Can first established it, he only taught a few apprentices. Undead Magic slowly developed in a concealed environment. Eventually, there came a day when the Undead School was exposed. Both mortals and gods were terrified! The Undead School naturally repelled people because it targeted life itself and touched upon the secrets of the soul¡ªa forbidden area for gods¡ªprompting immediate divine retribution. As a legendary figure, You Can was forced to hide and wander. He became the enemy of almost everyone, even the gods. As one means of resistance, You Can began to disseminate the knowledge of the Undead School widely, spreading it as much as he could. The Undead School had unique advantages, offering new hope to many people limited by their talents and cultivation abilities. In no time, Undead Mages were popping up frequently, proving impossible to suppress entirely. This greatly distracted the forces trying to suppress the movement while also allowing the truly elite among the Undead Mages to hide even better. ¡°Thank you, Cang Xu. I couldn¡¯t have gathered my spirit and transformed into a ghost on my own,¡± Zi Di expressed her gratitude, ¡°and thank you for killing Jia Sha. I had a contract with the Tower Spirit that required me to eliminate the priest to fulfill it.¡± With the contract fulfilled, Zi Di¡¯s spirit was no longer burdened, finally freeing her from the last shackles and converting her soul into a ghost. ¡°Zi Di.¡± The substitute boy approached the Ghost Girl, his expression complex. He slowly reached out his hand, but touched nothing. ¡°My lord¡­¡± The Ghost Girl Zi Di watched helplessly as her fingertips passed through the boy¡¯s palm, feeling empty and lost. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, their gazes remained locked, gazing deeply at each other. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Cang Xu coughed twice, unable to resist reminding them, ¡°The two of you, don¡¯t forget we¡¯re still in a perilous situation. We should think of a way to escape this island.¡± Reminded by Cang Xu, the young boy and girl quickly broke their engrossed gaze. Zi Di, with a serious expression, said, ¡°This is the Central Tower of the War Merchant¡¯s underground alchemy factory, the most critical place. I¡¯ll continue to erode the Tower Spirit and take over the authorities here. Can we find a way to escape? It¡¯s very likely we could find Elemental Crystals in the War Merchant¡¯s stores to replenish the Mana Pool. With enough Mana, we¡¯ll be able to teleport out of here.¡± Zong Ge walked over, his arm lost and the wound hastily bandaged, ¡°Actually, we have another option¡ªthat is the King of the Flame Dragon. If all else fails, we can negotiate with him. Forgoing some of our gains, we may receive his assistance.¡± ¡°This¡­ should be the last resort, right?¡± ¡°We did seriously offend him before.¡± ¡°He is a legendary Dragon King, does he even care about mere ants like us?¡± ¡°Perhaps, we could help him escape his confinement.¡± ¡°Without us, I see him escaping on his own.¡± ¡°Not to mention, if we want to negotiate with him, don¡¯t we at least need to deal with those Puppets first?¡± The group whispered among themselves. During the process of Jia Sha being tortured to death, the Teleportation Gate had disappeared. The third layer was still being chaotically struck by lightning, and the first and second layers were teeming with man-made magical beasts fighting each other. They could only find another way out. Zi Di began to reclaim authority again. The process was incredibly smooth and progressed rapidly. ¡°With no Jia Sha obstructing and the Tower Spirit seemingly gone, I¡¯ve encountered no obstacles!¡± Zi Di quickly gained all teleportation authorities, all weather control authorities, and more. She first stopped the lightning, then controlled the odor valves, taking control over the group of man-made magical beasts beneath the tower. Under the watchful eyes of the beasts, some of the group left the Central Tower while the substitute boy and several others stayed on the fourth layer to protect Zi Di as she continued to take over authorities. ¡°The Mana Pool is now under my control, but there¡¯s very little Mana left.¡± ¡°I¡¯m gaining control over the Alchemy Puppets.¡± ¡°There are many warehouses here, and they likely contain Elemental Crystals.¡± Good news kept coming from Zi Di. Those who had left the Central Tower, led by Zong Ge, split into several groups heading toward the warehouses potentially containing the Elemental Crystals. Along the way, despite encountering Alchemy Puppets and Magic Traps, Zi Di controlled them using her authorities. The groups advanced quickly, nearly unobstructed. Once in position, the metal doors of the warehouse opened on their own with a thunderous noise. ¡°This place is all ore.¡± ¡°This is a processed alchemical material, there is actually Aojin!¡± ¡°These parts seem to belong to an alchemy puppet. I see, these are components of an alchemy puppet.¡± ¡°Good news, I¡¯ve found several boxes of magic scrolls.¡± Among the magic scrolls, there were numerous healing scrolls, which were quickly sent back to the Central Tower. On the fourth floor of the Central Tower, the wounded used the scrolls for healing, Zong Ge¡¯s severed arm was temporarily reattached, but still bandaged as it couldn¡¯t be used immediately. Zi Di¡¯s body also received potent healing. Cang Xu slightly shook his head, ¡°No, her heart has entirely stopped beating, she has been dead for quite a while, conventional healing methods can only preserve the body perfectly.¡± ¡°Her organs have already begun to decay; we must encase her in ice to slow down the decay.¡± The magic scrolls contained the power of frost, and Cang Xu, being an Undead Mage, was also adept at handling corpses. Thus, Zi Di¡¯s body was encapsulated in ice, forming an ice coffin. Boom Boom¡­ Another earthquake occurred. ¡°Hurry up!¡± ¡°At this rate, the King of Flame Dragon might break free any moment.¡± ¡°We should monitor the Molten Lava Battlefield.¡± The exploration team grew more anxious, racing against time to continue exploring. Finally, they located their target. ¡°This must be the warehouse where the Elemental Crystals are stored!¡± However, to everyone¡¯s great disappointment, this warehouse had already been emptied. Along the way, a few Elemental Crystals were left on the ground. ¡°This passage leads directly to the Mana Pool, it seems the action of transferring Elemental Crystals to replenish the Mana Pool has already been executed by the Tower Spirit.¡± ¡°How are we going to escape without replenishing our Mana?¡± ¡°Keep looking!¡± ¡°Perhaps, in the War Merchant¡¯s inventory, there might be an Alchemy Airship or something.¡± Despite the setback, the group did not give up hope. Another door was opened by Zi Di using her access rights. This warehouse was almost completely filled with a semi-transparent white crystal pillar. Barely making out what it was, the group realized these white crystal pillars were not native ores but alchemical products. Zi Di was delighted at this discovery, ¡°This is the Tower Spirit. To be precise, it is the vessel that houses the Tower Spirit, like the relationship between a soul and a body.¡± Zi Di no longer wanted to stay on the fourth floor of the Central Tower. She had obtained all the access rights she could get, which she could use anywhere. Soon, she personally arrived at the location of the white crystal columns. ¡°There is a huge amount of databases and memory banks inside, containing the secrets of the War Merchant and this alchemy factory!¡± Zi Di said, beginning to invade with her spirit. The substitute boy was also suddenly excited; thinking of the Demon Core in his heart, he was sure these crystal columns must contain related information! ¡°I¡¯ve found the structure diagram of the alchemy factory, there are three Elemental Crystal warehouses in total.¡± ¡°Wait, this is a record sheet. The Elemental Crystals have all been consumed to replenish the Mana Pool.¡± Zi Di continually reported, causing the mood to swing between hope and despair. Sanda urged, ¡°Quick, see if there¡¯s an airship landing platform?¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°There¡¯s no such facility, wait, what¡¯s this?¡± ¡°I found the travel records of the War Merchant and his apprentice¡­¡± ¡°An Alchemy Ship!¡± ¡°There is an Alchemy Ship hidden on the island, which the War Merchant sometimes used to go out.¡± Zi Di¡¯s discovery made everyone cheer. They couldn¡¯t replenish the Mana Pool or find any Alchemy Airships, but an Alchemy Ship was enough to carry their hopes of escape. ¡°Warning, warning!¡± ¡°The Tower Spirit vessel is undergoing a spirit invasion, intruder detected, full access lost¡­¡± The voice of the Tower Spirit resounded again, making everyone extremely tense. But the voice of the Tower Spirit soon became intermittent, repeatedly self-checking, and found all the rights were in the hands of Zi Di. ¡°It seems the Tower Spirit really can¡¯t hold up,¡± the group just breathed a sigh of relief when they suddenly heard the voice of the Tower Spirit again. ¡°Unable to counterattack, self-destruct countdown initiated, data vault destruction countdown initiated.¡± The group was horrified. The towering, huge crystal pillars also started to disintegrate. On its surface, countless cracks rapidly spread, the originally solid crystal quickly decomposed, turning into puffs of dust that settled on the ground. ¡°The countdown has begun, this is the last self-destruct measure. Unless you are the War Merchant, no one can stop it!¡± Zi Di cried out. Chapter 212 - 212: Section 212: Beast Knight Chapter 212: Section 212: Beast Knight ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here fast!¡± someone cried, clutching their head. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, we still have some time,¡± Cang Xu remained calm throughout. Zi Di subconsciously took a deep breath, her eyes seemingly sparkling with the light of gold coins: ¡°Time is limited, we not only need to leave here alive, but we must also strive to gain the greatest benefit! In Warehouse 12, there¡¯s a Tower Spirit substitute, quick, bring it over. Hurry!¡± Everyone immediately sprang into action. The substitute for the Tower Spirit was a huge Crystal Ball, over a person tall. The Crystal Ball was pushed next to a crystal pillar where Zi Di, manipulating it, began the transfer of the Tower Spirit. ... By then, the crystal pillar had already disintegrated to half its original volume. The Tower Spirit was too weak to resist and was transferred into the Crystal Ball. Zi Di looked at the collapsing, emaciated pillar: ¡°The memory bank and the data bank, along with the Tower Spirit, only a third has been transferred, a third has disintegrated, and there¡¯s still one third left. Such a pity that we cannot preserve these highly valuable materials.¡± ¡°Can we check for the truth about Mysterious Monster Island?¡± Cang Xu asked. ¡°Of course,¡± Zi Di acted immediately, her spirit constantly probing the crystal pillar. Mysterious Monster Island was indeed the stronghold of the War Merchants, and it had suffered a sudden attack from the Blood Light Sanction Court squad. The War Merchants were caught off guard, they barely managed to seal the King of Flame Dragon, only to perish under a Legendary Weapon. The Holy Domain powerhouses from the Blood Light Sanction Court all perished as well. Both sides were nearly annihilated. ¡°The mysterious treasure on the third layer is called the Blood Core. The War Merchants used it in conjunction with the Green Jade Gold Coffin on the first layer to mass-produce man-made magical beasts,¡± Zi Di¡¯s words made the youth¡¯s heart skip a beat. Just as the substitute youth was about to ask Zi Di about his own true origins and such, upon hearing this, he immediately changed his mind, urgently asking: ¡°Is there more information about the Blood Core? How did the War Merchants create it? And how can it be controlled?¡± ¡°I¡¯m checking¡­¡± Zi Di furrowed her brows, focusing her spirit. But just then, with a loud bang, the crystal pillar completely shattered, turning into a pile of white dust that fell to the ground. Everyone was speechless. A few seconds later, Zi Di was the first to react: ¡°Quick, gather everything we can.¡± ¡°The raw materials still need refining, abandon them!¡± ¡°The components for the Alchemy Puppets are too cumbersome; don¡¯t take them either.¡± ¡°Remember the shipment plaza? That¡¯s where our needed munitions are!¡± ¡°The Blood Core and Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale are must-takes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget those boxes of Magic Scrolls and this Tower Spirit substitute.¡± ¡°Quick, quick, quick, get moving!¡± The ghost girl let out a piercing scream, directly taking the lead from the substitute youth, commanding everyone in an overwhelmingly assertive manner. Everyone moved swiftly. A vast amount of treasure was now collected together. Zong Ge frowned: ¡°Wait, don¡¯t forget the King of Flame Dragon. With the Alchemy Array destroyed by the self-destruction, it might break free, which would be disadvantageous for us; even if we have a ship, we won¡¯t get far.¡± Zi Di said, ¡°The self-destruction of the Alchemy Factory is extraordinary. It not only completely destroys the factory and Mysterious Monster Island but also induces space distortion, with effects like spatial exile. In other words, the ruins and slag, following the explosion, will be exiled through space, leaving nothing behind at the original site.¡± Zong Ge then asked: ¡°Can the explosion kill the King of Flame Dragon?¡± Zi Di furrowed her brows, hesitating: ¡°I don¡¯t know, after all, I was only a Black Iron in my lifetime.¡± ¡°Let me talk to it,¡± said the substitute youth, ¡°We¡¯ve killed a priest from the sect of the Holy Emperor and captured a noble heir. If we can negotiate successfully with it, perhaps it will let us go free of charge. But that means we will have to part with many spoils of war.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°If we could be pardoned, that would be best.¡± ¡°Yeah, who wants to be wanted by the Empire?¡± ¡°Sir, I will join you!¡± The substitute youth shook his head: ¡°No, I can go and come back quickly on my own. Most of the Alchemy Puppets in the Molten Lava Battlefield are directly under the War Merchants and can¡¯t be controlled with factory authority; it¡¯s very dangerous.¡± ¡°Zi Di, I need you to command these man-made magical beasts to buy me time and space to talk to the King of Flame Dragon.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Zi Di immediately responded. The substitute youth entered the Molten Lava Battlefield once again. Taking advantage of the chaos as the man-made magical beasts and Alchemy Puppets were entangled in battle, the youth hid in a secluded corner. Shielded by the huge rocks, he pulled out the second Blood Core from his chest. Such an important Divine Artifact was naturally guarded by him personally. A strong urge to absorb overwhelmed him, and without any prompt, he instinctively activated the Blood Core in his chest, which emitted a red light. The red light spread to the second Blood Core, which rapidly dissolved, becoming a mass of red light. The next moment, all the red light retracted. The two Blood Cores merged into one, and the Blood Core within Zhenjin¡¯s chest seemed to have grown slightly larger. The intense and unbearable feeling of absorption that had been tormenting the youth in secret also completely disappeared. ¡°Blood Core¡­¡± There was no time for the substitute youth to explore the new changes of the Blood Core, as the man-made magical beasts had gained the upper hand. The youth immediately appeared and ran to the edge of the Magma Pool. ¡°King of the Flame Dragon!¡± he yelled, opening negotiations with the King of the Flame Dragon. The negotiations did not go well. Upon seeing the youth¡¯s return, the King of the Flame Dragon instantly understood that the War Merchant was dead. Proud as it was, it did not wish to share the credit with these opportunistic little bugs. From its perspective, that was sensible. The Death of the War Merchant was caused by the powerful team from the Blood Light Sanction Court. The knight youth and his group had merely chanced upon the scene. Moreover, had the youth not been forced, he would not have come back to negotiate. ¡°You bunch of scum have no choice!¡± ¡°You wish to negotiate with me?¡± ¡°Ha ha ha, laughable! On what basis? On the basis of your current freedom?¡± ¡°Without my help, you will all die! Even if you don¡¯t help me escape, I can still break free from this Alchemy Array, and when that happens, you will face my wrath!¡± ¡°Now, I command you to open the Alchemy Array and allow yourselves to kneel and beg for mercy. Perhaps I¡¯ll be in a good mood and spare some of your lives. Ha ha ha.¡± The negotiation with the King of the Flame Dragon had utterly failed. The substitute youth was helpless and anxious. If he mishandled the situation and the self-destruction did not kill the King of the Flame Dragon, the latter would surely become the reaper for the exploration team! What should he do? The Blood Core sent out a longing impulse again. But this time, the desire was not as strong as before. A thought struck the youth: ¡°Perhaps, the Blood Core can¡­¡± Following the intuition in his mind, he began to use the Blood Core. The red light radiated, infiltrating the Alchemy Array and gradually spreading over the King of the Flame Dragon¡¯s massive Dragon Body. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Heh heh heh, you think you can harm me?¡± ¡°Pitiful insect, you cannot imagine the greatness of a Legend.¡± Over a minute later. ¡°No, no!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± ¡°You damned insect¡­ Alright, alright! I admit you¡¯re worthy of negotiating with me, let¡¯s have a proper talk.¡± The youth¡¯s face was cold: ¡°No, we don¡¯t need to negotiate anymore.¡± The red light completely enveloped the King of the Flame Dragon¡¯s body, swiftly eroding its flesh. The King of Flame Dragons roared in fury, casting endless curses upon the knight youth. Then, it vanished. It completely transformed into a huge red orb of light, along with a large amount of carbon dust. The carbon dust was rapidly swallowed by the abundant molten lava, while the red orb retracted and merged into the youth¡¯s heart, into the brand-new Blood Core. ¡°I¡­ I actually used this Blood Core to kill a Legend-level existence!¡± The youth was amazed by this outcome. Leaving behind a small number of man-made magical beasts and alchemy puppets still fighting, the youth hurried back to his companions. ¡°The negotiation failed,¡± he said. This outcome cast a shadow over everyone, yet it was not much of a surprise. ¡°Now, we just hope the self-destruct eliminated it.¡± ¡°Or at the very least, cast it into a different space!¡± The people did not know that the King of Flame Dragons had already died. The substitute youth opened his mouth, but ultimately sighed in his heart; in the end, he did not reveal the secret of the Blood Core. The group, carrying their treasure, squeezed into three subterranean railcars. The railcars sped off and soon after, they stopped at an underwater platform. Here, they saw the Alchemy Ship. It resembled a large blue-gold fish. ¡°It¡¯s called the Deep Sea Monster Fish!¡± Zi Di, having full access, effortlessly led everyone through the boarding passage and into the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Through the ship¡¯s surveillance equipment, the youth made a discovery: ¡°So, this place is actually the desert Oasis!¡± He remembered the fierce battles he had fought here, observing the presence of the Fat Ball Flying Fish through the green lizard¡¯s eyes, and also saw a terrifying heat source at the bottom of the lake. ¡°This heat source turned out to be the Deep Sea Monster Fish!¡± The Deep Sea Monster Fish continued to dive, escaping from Mysterious Monster Island through an underground river. Ten nautical miles away, the island self-destructed. The colossal explosion resounded through the heavens and earth, raising gigantic pillars of water. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon after, the space shattered, the seawater vanished, and the myriad of man-made magical beasts¡¯ disintegrated corpses, along with the island¡¯s ruins, were all dragged into the spatial black hole, exiled to a different space. Inside the Deep Sea Monster Fish, everyone watched with bated breath. Until space returned to normal and the sea calmed down, they did not see the King of Flame Dragons reappear. ¡°It seems it either died or was banished!¡± ¡°Woohoo! We survived.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fantastic, we succeeded!!¡± For a moment, the entire Deep Sea Monster Fish was inundated with wild joy. However, ghost Zi Di swayed unsteadily and floated down toward the floor. ¡°Zi Di, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± The youth was immensely anxious. ¡°She needs to rest immediately. It¡¯s like when a person is tired and needs sleep. After all, she¡¯s just a newly born ghost. Fortunately, her body is still intact, so she can rest and recuperate for a while,¡± Cang Xu said. Hearing Cang Xu¡¯s words, the youth finally relaxed. ¡°Zi Di, get some good rest. I have a lot to talk to you about.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± the ghost girl stroked the youth¡¯s face, but her hand passed right through. She returned to her body within the ice coffin and fell into a deep slumber. Several months later. A calm sea surface suddenly illuminated with an intense brightness. A vast Teleportation Array, covering dozens of meters, appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared. Three human race powerhouses hovered in mid-air, looking down at the sea surface. They were all dressed in bright red robes, adorned with iron gloves, Iron Boots, and iron masks. On the front and back of their blood-red robes, a platinum-colored nine-pointed star was depicted. They were from the Blood Light Sanction Court! ¡°Is this the place?¡± The leading powerhouse¡¯s Life Breath was impressively at the Legend-level. ¡°I¡¯m sure!¡± Another powerhouse, with a long black braid, exuded a Golden Level Life Breath, his male voice hoarse, ¡°He¡¯s been here; I can smell him, he definitely came here!¡± The leader nodded, ¡°Then let me take a good look.¡± In the next moment, he activated Divine Arts to retrospect time. This Divine Art could replay past sounds and images, directly conveying them to the core of the leader¡¯s heart. The leader suddenly trembled. This tremor was keenly perceived by the others, causing immediate astonishment in their hearts. They had never seen the leader so unsettled. The next moment, the Legend-level powerhouse spoke solemnly, ¡°The effect of the Divine Art is very poor; a powerful force is obstructing my further investigation.¡± ¡°I can barely hear some voices.¡± ¡°I heard the terrifying roars of beasts, heard a priest of the Holy Emperor chiding, heard a noble¡¯s surrender, heard the King of Flame Dragons¡¯ despair before death¡­¡± The other two powerhouses were greatly shocked, exclaiming in unison. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°My lord, what do you mean?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, our court¡¯s third team went missing here. There was once an island here¡ªMysterious Monster Island! This was a lair for War Merchants!!¡± Upon receiving the intelligence, the two powerhouses were once again in an uproar: ¡°The Alchemy Grandmaster War Merchant?!¡± ¡°There was a battle here, Mysterious Monster Island sank, and everyone died?¡± The leader wasn¡¯t quite sure about this; the Divine Art was nearing its end. He calmed himself and continued to listen. Soon, he heard a few fragmented, very vague conversations. ¡°We should leave¡­¡± ¡°As for the captain, I only acknowledge you.¡± ¡°No, to be precise, we all acknowledge you, my lord.¡± ¡°But I am just a beast¡­¡± ¡°No, no one thinks that. You led us; you are our acknowledged leader. You are a true knight!¡± The dialogue faded away as quickly as a dream. With a sigh, the leader knew there would be no more to gain; he let the Divine Art come to rest. ¡°Some survived, they likely got a lot of spoils, the legacy of the War Merchant!¡± said the leader. ¡°Who are they?¡± the two asked eagerly. The leader shook his head, expressing deep regret, ¡°I cannot be sure¡­ I can only confirm that a leader has emerged among them, and this leader has high prestige.¡± ¡°If even you cannot be certain, there¡¯s probably no one else in the Empire who can find out more,¡± the other two said, dejected. The leader snorted coldly, ¡°A dark mist may shroud for a moment, but it will eventually be pierced by light. These people cannot hide forever. One day they will be exposed.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s continue our mission; you go back and report this intelligence to the court.¡± ¡°Start a manhunt for these people!¡± ¡°Yes, my lord. May I ask, what¡¯s the codename for the wanted notice?¡± Since they didn¡¯t know the names, they would use code names. War Merchant was one such code name. After thinking for a moment, the leader said, ¡°Beast Knight.¡± (End of Volume One) Chapter 213 - 213: Section 1: Dragon-man Youth Chapter 213: Section 1: Dragon-man Youth Over the dense jungle canopy, suddenly a flock of colorful birds took flight. A sharp scimitar carved a gleaming path through the air, slicing the obstructing vines in two. Continually hacking with the scimitar, they finally cleaved a narrow pathway. Leading the way were two members of the Human Race, one wielding a scimitar, while the other grasped a broad-bladed battle axe in both hands. Behind them stretched a long line. Most of the group was of the Human Race, but there were also Beastmen, Half-Elves, Half-Beasts, and so on. ... Their equipment was not top-notch; many were clad only in cotton armor, not leather armor. A few carried crossbows and long guns. The majority, however, wielded melee weapons, with scimitars being the most common. Their appearances were far from neat, many were exceedingly scruffy with disheveled hair and a mouth full of yellow teeth. Some reeked so heavily, they seemed not to have bathed in ages. Many had missing body parts, lacking arms or legs, replaced with prosthetics. This was a band of pirates. The leader of the pirates was a Rat-man. His actual name was unknown; everyone simply called him Gray. His body resembled that of a human, with arms and legs, but his head was that of a rat¡¯s, and he was covered in rat fur. His hands were not human with five fingers, but rat-like with four. Unlike his subordinates, Gray was immaculately dressed in a knight¡¯s clothes, which were quite tidy, and he even had a delicate handkerchief tucked neatly into the pocket of his chest. His rat fur was gray, clearly well-maintained, both smooth and soft. Additionally, he bore not a hint of unpleasant body odor, but rather a scent of fragrance. He had sprayed on perfume. He strode in expertly crafted, thigh-high, black leather boots, and at his waist hung a Stabbing Sword. ¡°This damn weather! I hate this place¡­¡± the pirate leader, Gray, tugged at his collar. His collar was stylish, but because of this, it clung tightly around his neck. Walking through the hot and humid rainforest, Gray sweated profusely, his collar choking him, making him suffer immensely. After an intense mental struggle, he finally decided to unfasten the first button near his neck. Instantly, he exhaled a turbid breath, his breathing eased, and he felt much more comfortable. ¡°Captain, which way should we head next?¡± Not long after, the group halted their advance, and the vanguard who led the way ran back to inquire of Gray. The jungle vegetation was dense and obscured the sky, making it easy to lose one¡¯s way. So, every time they covered some distance, the pirates would stop to consult Gray. Gray cautiously reached for his collar. He had buttoned it back up again. Unbuttoning it, he revealed more of his neck and the thin black cord around it. Hanging from the cord was a small bone. The bone was pale; by its shape and size, it was likely a goblin¡¯s finger bone. Gray held the cord, letting the bone dangle. After a few breaths, the bone began to swing slowly and then, like a compass needle, gently pointed in a certain direction through the jungle. The bone¡¯s strong reaction filled Gray with delight and curiosity. What kind of treasure could so entice the finger bone? ¡°We must be close, keep heading in this direction!¡± Gray said with a hint of urgency in his voice. Hiss¡­ Hiss¡­ A multitude of snakes hissed, blocking the pirates¡¯ path, as assorted birds kept plunging down from the sky. At Gray¡¯s command, the pirates engaged in fierce combat. They were prepared, having brought plenty of Insect repellent, Snake Repelling Potions, Detoxification Potions, and more. The snakes and birds were in a frenzied state, seemingly fearless of death, as if they were determined to stop the group of pirates at all costs. Especially when the snake and bird Magic Beasts joined the fray, the pirates started to crumble. ¡°Captain, we can¡¯t hold them off!¡± ¡°These creatures are too strange; they¡¯re at least twice the size of normal ones.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± A pirate screamed as a bird Magic Beast pecked out one of his eyes. Gray let out an irritated snort, ¡°A bunch of useless fools, guess it¡¯s up to me to take action.¡± In the next instant, he activated his Fighting energy. The ends of his smooth and sleek gray fur suddenly blurred, and tiny wisps began to radiate from them, creating faint gray mists. Within the mists shimmered a silver luster. He was a Silver Level Fighting energy Cultivator! Combat Skill¡ªGray Mist Wave. In the next moment, accumulated gray mist burst forth from his body, violently spreading outwards and forming ripples of a gray mist wave. Wherever the gray mist wave passed, snakes and birds alike crashed to the ground, motionless, all life extinguished. Since there were no Silver Level Magic Beasts, and only a few Black Iron Level snake and bird Magic Beasts, the gray mist effortlessly swept them all away, granting Gray an easy victory. The pirates burst into cheers. Gray snorted again, self-satisfaction evident as he stroked his head. His use of the Combat Skill had shortened his rat fur somewhat. Gray, who always took great care of his appearance, was particularly concerned about this. From a rat¡¯s aesthetic standards, smooth and supple fur was the ultimate indicator of handsomeness. ¡°This month, I¡¯ve used my Combat Skills very frequently; better use them sparingly from now on. There¡¯s still a fortnight to go before the middle of next month.¡± Gray sighed inwardly. Rat-men would have accelerated blood flow during the full moon, and during the night their wounds would heal quickly, as would their fur growth. ¡°I do believe, however, that the treasure pointed to by the bone will make up for my losses.¡± Crossing the corpses that covered the ground, the figure clad in gray finally reached the central area and saw the true form of the treasure. There was very little treasure, just one item. It was a gold coffin that was three meters long and one meter eighty wide. The surface of the coffin was inlaid with bas-reliefs made of green jade, outlined in silver. The green jade and silver outlines depicted the elegant, winding bodies of snakes and their broad, magnificent wings. Inside the walls of the coffin were twelve murals outlined in black, depicting the styles of the ancients, with themes of deities, creation, worship, and the heavens, among other mythical content. After their initial surprise, the pirates all showed looks of disappointment. ¡°Captain, why is there only this one item?¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They had imagined a small mountain of gold and jewels. The figure in gray gave the coffin close scrutiny and also found it odd. He took out the bone pendant again, and this time the bone¡¯s reaction was extremely violent; the whole bone trembled with excitement, hurtling toward the gold coffin and pulling the rope into a taut, slanted line. ¡°Is this coffin what the bone is pointing to?¡± ¡°What in the world is this thing?¡± Although the figure in gray was dressed sharply, his knowledge was limited and he could not discern much, but he had great faith in the bone. He was convinced that this was the goal of his journey and that it was bound to be of immense value. ¡°My men, search the area to see if there¡¯s a lid for this coffin!¡± the figure in gray commanded. Before long, the pirates returned with nothing. The figure in gray nodded and then assigned six pirates to join forces in lifting the heavy coffin. The group made their way back along the same path they had come. The journey back was quite smooth. Half an hour later, they returned to the seaside. Their pirate ship was docked beside a pile of rocks. ¡°We¡¯re finally back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m soaked to the bone. The first thing I¡¯m doing once I get back on the ship is taking a hot bath.¡± Just as the figure in gray began to relax, several figures appeared on the pirate ship. ¡°Enemies!!¡± The pirates instantly became agitated and all drew their weapons. The figure in gray narrowed his eyes to slits. ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard.¡± The enemy leader was a youth. He had golden hair and eyes as clear and blue as the sky, smiling with pearly white teeth, handsome enough to earn even the figure in gray, a Rat-man, a moment of inner praise: This is a beautiful Human Race youth! ¡°All we want is this coffin. Put it down, and you can go. I swear on my¡­ er, my honor that we won¡¯t lay a hand on you,¡± said the beautiful youth in a loud voice. The pirates burst out laughing. The figure in gray laughed as well, stroking the soft and smooth fur on his head. ¡°Young Human Race boy, where did you come from? To dare covet what belongs to this great one, you really have a death wish.¡± ¡°He must be new! The kind that has just set out to sea.¡± ¡°Hahaha, there¡¯s been too many of these little guys popping up lately.¡± ¡°Yeah, kid, you¡¯re not fit to sit in the Pirate King¡¯s seat.¡± The pirates made a cacophony of noise, gradually relaxing as the life breath emanating from the handsome youth and his companions was weak, with only one of them being Black Iron Level, the rest merely Bronze. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m in a good mood today. Surrender now, work for us for three months, and we¡¯ll let you go,¡± the figure in gray waved his hand, having acquired a mysterious treasure, feeling quite a gain. As for this group of enemies, especially the youth who was too attractive, he felt no urge to kill. The youth leader looked astonished. One of the Half-Beastmen behind him snorted coldly, ¡°It seems Pearl Bubble has its pros and cons. Let¡¯s stop wasting time!¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± the youth leader nodded. In the next instant, the burly Half-Beastman leaped directly from the towering ship¡¯s side. He spurred his Fighting Energy, holding a Two-Handed Greatsword in one hand as he bravely charged into the crowd. His action immediately revealed his true Cultivation. ¡°Silver Level Peak?!¡± The figure in gray¡¯s pupils shrank sharply, and he quickly dodged to the side. The pirates fell into fear and panic, completely taken by surprise and utterly no match for the Half-Beastman. The Half-Beastman wreaked havoc among the pirates, unmatched and unstoppable, stirring up a storm of blood and violence. The pirates screamed, some retreating, others spurred by ferocity to attack even though they knew they were outmatched, only to die even quicker and more decisively. ¡°Damn it!¡± The figure in gray clenched his teeth, his body shuddering. Combat Skill¡ªGray Mist Sky! A few breaths later, the battlefield was enshrouded in a gray fog. The fog had no lethal power but was far from ordinary, severely limiting visibility and perception. The figure in gray melded perfectly with the gray mist, reappearing behind the youth leader. ¡°If we subdue him, it will make that Half-Beastman think twice!¡± The figure in gray held a Stabbing Sword, its tip lightly pressed against the youth leader¡¯s lower back. ¡°Don¡¯t move! Make one move, and I¡¯ll kill you. Order your men to stand down now!¡± The youth leader seemed overly confident and wasn¡¯t wearing any armor, which the figure in gray considered extremely fortunate. But in the next moment, the figure in gray felt an incredible chill. The youth leader chuckled lightly, then abruptly stepped back, bracing against the sharp tip of the Stabbing Sword and turned around boldly. The Stabbing Sword did not pierce his belly. Instead, it bent dramatically, then sparked as it sliced through the youth leader¡¯s clothing and scraped against his skin. ¡°Dragon Scale!¡± The figure in gray exclaimed in shock as he saw the large patch of crimson scales beneath the torn clothing. ¡°Ugh!¡± The figure in gray¡¯s neck was fiercely grabbed by the youth¡¯s hand. The youth¡¯s hand was firm as a rock, hard as steel, no longer human but transformed into a Dragon Claw. The Life Breath of the Silver Level spread everywhere. ¡°You¡¯re a Dragon-man?!¡± the figure in gray exclaimed in shock. Chapter 214 - 214: Section 2: Deep Sea Monster Fish Chapter 214: Section 2: Deep Sea Monster Fish ¡°Ah!¡± Jia Sha couldn¡¯t help but scream in agony, kneeling on the ground with a chunk of flesh sliced off his arm by a dagger. Lan Zao was the instigator; he handed the dagger to the person behind him, then left without expression. The person behind him was none other than Bai Ya. Bai Ya took the dagger, teeth clenched, and stood in front of Jia Sha. He looked down on Jia Sha, a scene he could hardly have imagined before¡ªJia Sha, priest to the Holy Emperor, a figure of high status, now kneeling before him, a commoner! Sometimes, reality proves to be more absurd than fantasy. ... Jia Sha was covered in wounds, bathed in blood, with nearly all the flesh carved from his body, revealing his stark white bones, yet stubbornly he didn¡¯t die! The torment of pain made Jia Sha spit out foam, his expression grotesquely twisted. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate, kid, do it,¡± Lan Zao hadn¡¯t gone far, standing by, urging Bai Ya on. Bai Ya clenched his teeth with effort, raising the dagger above his head. But his movement froze there; he hesitated, his arms trembling, the dagger in his tight grip shaking even more. Jia Sha, catching sight of this, suddenly burst into laughter. He was hairless, his life force nearly spent, his whole being extremely decrepit. Now, with his blood-stained face and wounds ripping open on his cheeks, he looked particularly fierce and horrifying. His exceedingly weak voice rasped, ¡°Hehehe, our young lad is scared! You should be scared, because you know if you kill me with this stab, you¡¯ll be committing a capital offense! You will become an enemy of the Empire, a foe to the Holy sect. Your sins are so grave, even killing you wouldn¡¯t be enough to settle them; only by exterminating your whole family can the Empire¡¯s wrath be slightly appeased!¡± ¡°Come on, do it, if you kill me you will be doomed! Hahahahaha!¡± Bai Ya¡¯s hesitation grew stronger, his whole body almost shaking. ¡°Shut up, you lunatic!¡± Lan Zao shouted in anger, ¡°It¡¯s because of you that we are trapped in this dire situation. Bai Ya, strike!¡± Bai Ya turned pale; he truly couldn¡¯t bring himself to act. Throughout his life, everyone had taught him never to offend the high and mighty, or the consequences would be severe. Now, he was supposed to kill Jia Sha! He could take risks and save Cang Xu from a swarm of lizards, risking his own life, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to kill Jia Sha. ¡°I can¡¯t do it¡­¡± Bai Ya quivered, his voice weak, almost on the verge of tears. Almost everyone had taken a shot at Jia Sha, and now countless eyes were focused on Bai Ya. Lan Zao grew anxious, wanting to step forward and assist but was stopped by Zong Ge, ¡°Let him do it himself. Only if he takes action himself can he be considered one of us.¡± ¡°Do it!¡± Lan Zao suddenly roared. Like struck by an electric shock, Bai Ya¡¯s body shook violently, and his arms plunged down involuntarily. The dagger buried itself deep into the right side of Jia Sha¡¯s neck, piercing his windpipe. Blood slowly bubbled out, and as Jia Sha coughed up blood, he laughed, ¡°You¡¯re finished, your entire family is finished. You sinners, you all must die! I¡¯m just leaving first; I¡¯ll wait for you, I¡¯ll wait for all of you, hehehe¡­¡± Bai Ya was beside himself; he loosened his grip on the hilt instinctively, shaking his head back and forth, stepping backward, then fell to the ground, buttocks first. Jia Sha¡¯s breathing gradually ceased, but his laughter eerily kept expanding. Bright red blood surged forth, more and more, gradually changing color¡ªfrom red to a deep blue. The blue blood instantly engulfed the entire fourth floor, sounding like the tide, roaring, and in an instant, Bai Ya was swept to the deepest depths of the sea. The next moment, Bai Ya woke up with a start. He gasped for breath, drenched in cold sweat, realizing, ¡°Another nightmare.¡± He covered his pale face, and after a long while, his breathing slowly steadied, but his mood had yet to calm. He glanced out the window. A huge round window, similar to glass material, one meter thick. Beyond the round window was a pitch-black sea. Bai Ya climbed down from the hammock. The hammock was tightly tied at both ends to two sturdy metal poles, and beneath it was a wooden box with Bai Ya¡¯s clothes on top. Bai Ya moved the clothes aside, opened the wooden box, and carefully took out ink, pen, and parchment. He half-knelt on the ground, writing a letter under the blue, strip-shaped magical glow on the ceiling. Dear Miss Xi Qiu, S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I have awakened once again aboard the Deep Sea Monster Fish. It has been five days since we escaped from Mysterious Monster Island on the Deep Sea Monster Fish. We are still searching for the Green Jade Gold Coffin. This Divine Artifact had previously been thrown into the Teleportation Gate, and only Jia Sha knew its exact location. Jia Sha is dead, killed by me. The pain I feel is immense! I am terrified. The words Jia Sha said to me in the dream, I know they are all true. I have committed murder, and not just of anyone, but a priest, a significant figure of the Empire! I didn¡¯t want to do it, but I had no choice, I really had no choice. Everyone else took their turn; if I hadn¡¯t, they would have abandoned me. Of course, I must admit, at the moment I struck, there was an excited thrill in my heart. But so many days have passed, and upon calming down, I am filled with regret and worry. I originally wanted to become a knight, to serve the Empire. But now, I have become a fugitive, wanted by the Empire. Fate¡­ has mocked me. Sometimes, I even feel desperate. The Empire is so mighty, and one day, I will be caught, bow my head, admit guilt, and submit to the law. I will be executed by hanging or beheading, and my family will suffer because of me. Please believe me, esteemed Miss Xi Qiu, I truly did not mean to kill Priest Jia Sha. Even if he abandoned us to escape for the sake of the Divine Artifact. Lord Zhenjin was not killed by us; he has been imprisoned on the Deep Sea Monster Fish. He is the hope of many of us! We hope to use him to negotiate with Clan Leader Fat Tongue. Through this once Great Noble of the South, and with the influence of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, we can reach the upper echelons of the Empire to exonerate ourselves. Everyone knows that opposing the Empire is foolish and hopeless. We are all humans, at least with the blood of the Human Race flowing in us. Without the Empire, where else could we go? All of this really is the mockery of fate. I believe that even the Boss did not truly wish to act against Priest Jia Sha. But there really was no other way. Without killing him, we could not have escaped. Thank you, Miss Xi Qiu. Writing to you, my mood can always quickly stabilize. And please forgive me, I cannot send these letters to you. I must keep them secret! At this point, Bai Ya stopped writing; he heard a loud disturbance. First came the sound of a metal door opening and closing, followed by the sound of rushing water. Bai Ya was very familiar with these sounds, and he immediately realized, ¡°The Boss has returned!¡± He hurriedly got up, took his sword, and walked out of the corner, entering the narrow passage made of metal. He crossed the passageway and just reached a metal door. The metal door swiftly opened, revealing a spacious hall inside, with some water stains still on the floor, and standing in the center were the Beast Knight youth and Zong Ge. ¡°Captain, Lord Zong Ge, you have finally retrieved the Green Jade Gold Coffin. That¡¯s great; Zi Di can be saved!¡± Bai Ya, seeing Zong Ge carrying the lavish coffin, was suddenly overjoyed. The two nodded to Bai Ya and left the entrance hall, passing through the passage, into the deeper parts of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. The Mana Pool, deliberately drained and wasted by Jia Sha, was almost completely depleted. It wasn¡¯t possible anymore to transport all the people, let alone take the Divine Artifact. But with the help of the Tower Spirit, they found this Alchemy Ship. It wasn¡¯t surprising, when you think about it. Since Mysterious Monster Island was not a Half-plane but hidden within the sea, it was quite normal to have a vessel ready for entry and exit. Soon after, in the Alchemy Room, the construction of the alchemy array around the Green Jade Gold Coffin was completed. The voice of the Tower Spirit sounded. ¡°Beginning the detection of the Alchemy Array, 10%, 20%¡­ 100%. The alchemy array is accurate.¡± ¡°Initiating mana transfer, countdown to alchemy array activation 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.¡± A mild humming noise spread out, and on the walls, floor, and ceiling of the Alchemy Room, patterns lit up, straight and curved. These patterns slowly extended, separating from the plane, consolidating in mid-air, forming a hollow spherical shape. Finally, the patterns converged on the Green Jade Gold Coffin at the very center. The light from the array became somewhat dazzling, and the Green Jade Gold Coffin began to tremble slightly. As the Deep Sea Monster Fish¡¯s mana was rapidly consumed, a green liquid began to brew within the coffin. Zi Di¡¯s body had been laid inside, and as the youth and Zong Ge, among others, watched, she was gradually submerged in the green liquid. After a while, the Alchemy Array came to a halt, the Green Jade Gold Coffin calmed, and some of the green liquid produced was absorbed by Zi Di¡¯s body, though much of it remained. Zi Di did not awaken. The result disappointed everyone. The substitute youth¡¯s gaze dulled. ¡°It was you¡­ you killed¡­ our Chairman!¡± Fat Tongue was the most agitated, unable to accept this fact, and he grabbed Cang Xu by the collar. Cang Xu coughed continuously from the constriction: ¡°Calm down, I¡¯ve said before, I did not have complete confidence.¡± ¡°Alright, let go. We all agreed to Cang Xu¡¯s proposal back then,¡± the youth sighed. Fat Tongue was still upset, but Lan Zao pulled him away, rescuing Cang Xu. Fat Tongue burst into tears. The youth reached out, caressing Zi Di¡¯s cheek, feeling the smoothness and warmth, ¡°The green liquid is effective; her physical injuries should be fully healed.¡± ¡°This green liquid is very diluted; our hastily prepared alchemy array couldn¡¯t fully harness the effects of the Green Jade Gold Coffin. Perhaps we should gather more Magic Material and construct a better Alchemy Array.¡± But Cang Xu shook his head: ¡°According to the Tower Spirit, even the War Merchant¡¯s alchemy array has no power of resurrection. I think the problem lies with Chairman Zi Di¡¯s spirit.¡± ¡°Spirit?¡± ¡°Yes. Chairman Zi Di had previously engaged Jia Sha on the fourth level, suffering great spiritual exhaustion¡­¡± Boom, boom, boom! Before Cang Xu could finish, a series of loud bangs interrupted him. The voice of the Tower Spirit became urgent, ¡°Warning! Warning! Three enemy ships have appeared to the southeast. The number and strength of the enemies are unknown.¡± ¡°To arms!¡± commanded the youth, and the people around him sprang into action. Chapter 215 - 215: Section 3: Pirate Throne Chapter 215: Section 3: Pirate Throne The knight youth, Zong Ge, and others swam out of the Grey Rat, rapidly rising to the surface. The closer they got to the surface, the more light there was, and the clearer their vision became. The booming sound of cannons was also clearer. Iron cannonballs mixed with broken wood and mutilated bodies, carrying a mass of bubbles, were frequently falling into the sea. From beneath the water, the knight youth and Zong Ge could clearly see the situation¡ªthree enemy ships were charging toward a grey pirate ship, but there was still some distance between them. During the charge, the three enemy ships continuously fired their cannons. The grey-clad substitute youth, subdued under the dragon-man form, had already been captured. His subordinates were also detained within the pirate ship¡¯s cabin. ... Therefore, the Grey Rat pirate ship was currently being bombarded passively. The knight youth and Zhang Ge were the first to emerge from the water and board the ship from the back of the pirate ship. Due to the ship¡¯s body blocking the view, the enemy probably couldn¡¯t see them. ¡°Zong Ge, go free those pirates. I¡¯ll go find the man in grey!¡± the knight youth said as he ran. Zong Ge nodded and quickly split from the youth at the staircase. The knight youth burst through a door and saw the man in grey. The man in grey was sitting on the bed, wearing Magic Ban shackles. These shackles, produced by the War Merchant¡¯s Alchemy Factory, securely restrained the Silver Level man in grey. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It seems your enemies are here; don¡¯t you want to say something?¡± the knight youth said. The man in grey laughed coldly, quickly stood up, and straightened his body, looking as though he had already shed his captive status: ¡°I can hear the horns. They are coming to rescue me.¡± The knight youth was taken aback, not expecting the man in grey¡¯s answer to be this: ¡°When did pirates start to become so loyal and righteous?¡± Raising his head with pride, the man in grey said, ¡°Ordinary pirates wouldn¡¯t, but I am a member of the Brother Pirate Guild, ranking forty-ninth among all the brothers!¡± The Brother Pirate Guild! The knight youth was instantly shaken. This pirate group was notorious worldwide and could be considered the largest in scale currently. Its leader, known as Firebeard, was a Legendary Level warrior. He was generous and highly loyal with an extremely strong charismatic allure, attracting many pirate captains. Firebeard had made them his sworn brothers and gradually formed a massive maritime power. ¡°Take me up to the deck; I just need to shout to make them stop,¡± the man in grey said. He didn¡¯t really want to start a battle. The knight youth hesitated for a moment, then nodded, grabbed the man in grey, and took him up to the deck. Zong Ge soon followed after, having freed all the imprisoned pirates. These pirates began to take control of the ship. Standing at the railing, the man in grey faced the sea breeze and carefully identified the flags of the three enemy ships. At this moment, it was evening. There were large patches of sunset clouds in the sky, the slight breeze making the sea shimmer with golden brilliance. The visibility was good. With a light chuckle, the man in grey turned to the knight youth behind him: ¡°It¡¯s Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady, they are both captains of the Brother Pirate Guild, ranked higher than me.¡± ¡°Golden Chin is at the peak of Silver Level, and the Sea Snake Lady is even a Silver Level Mage.¡± ¡°You might have the ability to fight, but why should you? Do you really want to become mortal enemies of the Brother Pirate Guild?¡± ¡°I, the man in grey, am a man of dignity. I was outmatched and accept my defeat fully; in the end, I was captured by you. I¡¯m willing to exchange treasures for my freedom, as well as for my ship and my crew.¡± He had said these words when he was captured. But at that time, the substitute youth was hurriedly taking the Green Jade Gold Coffin back and hadn¡¯t interrogated the man in grey. Thus, the substitute youth had only just found out that the man in grey was a member of the Brother Pirate Guild. The knight youth thought for a moment, then nodded and agreed to the man in grey¡¯s terms. If he had truly been a Holy Temple Knight, he might not have let go of this pirate leader. But now that the youth knew the truth, he no longer held himself to the strict doctrines of the Holy Temple Knights. ¡°Right now, the most important things are, first, to revive Zi Di, enabling the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce to take action. Second is to use the captive Zhenjin to contact the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needles. Combining these, we attempt to rid ourselves of the accusations.¡± The knight youth didn¡¯t want to become a wanted criminal of the Empire; killing Jia Sha was a matter of last resort. Although it was a capital crime, there was still a chance for redemption as Jia Sha was only a priest, not a bishop. ¡°We have inherited the legacy of the War Merchant, and we can offer a large part of it in exchange for the Empire¡¯s forgiveness.¡± Interest can sway the human heart; if it does not, it is often simply because the benefit is not enough. No one wants to be wanted by the Empire. In this world, the Holy Bright Empire is the most powerful, without a rival. ¡°Just take this step, and I will go search for the clues to ascertain my true identity.¡± It was not just the knight youth, Zi Di also needed to rejuvenate her Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, and the issue of Cang Xu being wanted by the Shata family could also be settled. He could righteously return and reconcile, reunite with his son. ¡°Everyone trusts me, electing me as their leader. I must be responsible for myself and for others!¡± ¡°For now¡­ better to avoid trouble,¡± the knight youth thought clearly. Getting covered in grey was just an accident; the substitute youth¡¯s main objective had already been achieved¡ªhe had reclaimed the Green Jade Gold Coffin. Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady were very strong, mainly because they had robust forces at their peak. They were backed by the Brother Pirate Group, this largest pirate group could even confront the Navy fleets of the Empire. Having received the youth¡¯s promise, a man in grey shouted out, ¡°Stop fighting, both of you Captains. It¡¯s me, a man in grey, and I am still alive. You arrived just in time; I¡¯ll definitely reward you richly later. But stop fighting for now!¡± However, the response he received was even more intense cannon fire. The man in grey was stunned, in disbelief. ¡°So, this is the Brother Pirate Group you mentioned?¡± Zong Ge couldn¡¯t help but scoff teasingly. Golden Chin¡¯s voice rang out: ¡°Man in grey, don¡¯t blame your brothers for being heartless. You know, the times are precarious. Just hand over the treasure, and we¡¯ll spare you.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± the man in grey yelled furiously, ¡°You two actually dare to strike at a brother in the alliance; aren¡¯t you afraid of the boss¡¯s punishment?¡± ¡°Hehehe,¡± the laugh of Sea Snake Lady came over, ¡°Now is the time for the three Great Legendary Pirates to vie for supremacy, to vie for the Pirate King¡¯s throne. The boss has been too busy to care about himself; even if he investigates later, at worst, we¡¯ll just offer up this treasure. If the boss truly becomes the seventh generation King of Pirates, ascending the divine throne, we will undoubtedly be indispensable!¡± ¡°Competing for the seventh generation King of Pirates¡¯ divine throne?!¡± The knight youth and Zong Ge exchanged looks, both seeing the shock in each other¡¯s eyes. During their struggle to survive on Mysterious Monster Island, such a significant event had occurred in the seas! King of Pirates was not just a honorary title¡ªit was a divine name, and a divine throne. Ascending to the King of Pirates¡¯ throne, even a mere mortal could possess the power of divinity. (Of course, this statement is somewhat exaggerated, existing only in theory, as historically there had never been such an instance.) Throughout history, pirate activities were rampant; when pirates¡¯ faith in the King of Pirates reached a certain level, it could converge into a divine throne. It turned out that a man in grey, Golden Chin, and others were desperately collecting treasure for this ritual. In the divine domain of the King of Pirates, powers including sailing, treasure hunting, plunder, theft, and naval battles were integrated. This ceremony was just beginning. At this stage, whoever collected more treasures could obtain more favor of divinity. Through a series of stages, whoever received more favor ultimately would become the seventh generation King of Pirates. As the struggle around the Pirate Throne escalated, a massive wave was stirred up in the world¡¯s seas. And just as the knight youth and his companions escaped from Mysterious Monster Island, they were swept into this huge wave. As three enemy warships closed in, the man in grey gritted his teeth and shouted again: ¡°You two also covet the Pirate Throne? We are only Silver Level; it isn¡¯t something we should aspire to. Out of all the Pirate Kings, the lowest cultivation of the sixth generation was also Gold Level. But not long after sitting on the divine throne, he was assassinated by a Legend. It shows that the divinity granted by the throne is not our true power!¡± Golden Chin laughed loudly: ¡°Of course, we know! We just want the treasure you got; don¡¯t even think about playing dumb, we won¡¯t let you get away with it. Don¡¯t you know, on the Holy Tablet in Pirate City, your name, a man in grey, is now ranked first!¡± A man in grey was stunned as he turned to look at the youth behind him: ¡°What exactly is in that coffin that thrust my rank to the first?!¡± The Holy Tablet displayed the rankings of pirates currently favored by divinity. ¡°Wait!¡± all of a sudden, the man in grey¡¯s eyes flashed brightly as he exclaimed, ¡°I was robbed, I¡¯ve already lost that coffin. Now my name must have fallen to a normal position!¡± ¡°Liar! You still want to fool us!¡± Golden Chin scoffed coldly. Sea Snake Lady sarcastically added, ¡°Man in grey, I heard you are an honorable man. Since your tricks have been seen through by us, trying more will not succeed. Before firing the cannon, I used magic to contact Pirate City, reconfirming the rankings. We all understand your reluctance. It really makes us force it, probably won¡¯t be so honorable for you then.¡± ¡°This can¡¯t be!!!¡± the man in grey screamed. He felt exceedingly wronged¡ªhaving been robbed and captured, his crew being imprisoned, even the Grey Rat falling into others¡¯ hands, yet why was his name still atop the Holy Tablet? This was no joking matter! If things went south, someone could really die. Now, he had become a target for all pirates, the crest of the wave¡¯s spray. Without clearing up this misunderstanding and without delivering the treasure, his fate was worrying! The man in grey was a pirate captain, of course not afraid to die. But dying like this seemed far too wronged. ¡°No, it¡¯s very likely.¡± The knight youth had a thought, looking at Zong Ge, who also turned to him. Both of them concurrently thought of a name¡ªPearl Bubble! Chapter 216 - 216: Section 4: Why Are There Still Two Silvers? Chapter 216: Section 4: Why Are There Still Two Silvers? The War Merchant¡¯s Alchemy Factory¡¯s Central Tower had four floors, and the first floor housed the Green Jade Gold Coffin, the second the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, and the third contained the second Blood Core. Jia Sha opened the Teleportation Gate for the first time, sending the Green Jade Gold Coffin to a deserted island close to Mysterious Monster Island. The Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, however, never had the chance to be sent out. After the War Merchant was killed, the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale fell into the hands of the knight youth and his companions. After escaping aboard the Deep Sea Monster Fish, they arranged an alchemy array as per the Tower Spirit¡¯s hint and opened the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale. Upon opening the large clamshell, dozens of pearls appeared. These pearls were multicolored and uniformly sized; from the outside, they looked like soap bubbles, completely transparent and seemingly empty on the inside with just a sphere of bubbles. But in reality, these pearls could be easily picked up by hand and felt very hard to the touch. ... These were the Pearl Bubbles. The reason the War Merchant¡¯s Mysterious Monster Island had been able to hide itself within the Main World¡¯s seas without being discovered by others was the reliance on this Divine Artifact. More precisely, by using the Pearl Bubbles to disguise themselves and confuse Divination, Prophecy, and other methods. With Mysterious Monster Island destroyed, the substitute youth and his companions immediately used several Pearl Bubbles to protect themselves. It was because of this that when Huang saw the youth and Zong Ge, he mistook them both for Black Iron Level. Now, the youth and Zong Ge once again witnessed the power of the Pearl Bubbles. Without the protection of the Pearl Bubbles, their names would have been put up on the pirate city¡¯s Holy Tablet, completely exposing themselves. However, it was Huang who ended up taking the blame for them. ¡°Quick, quick! You lot, get the ship moving!!¡± Amidst the rain of bombs, Huang urgently yelled; now was not the time for contemplation. ¡°Hehehe,¡± came a laughter from the enemy ship. The Sea Snake Lady was dressed in revealing brownish-red leather, and her wavy long hair hung down to her waist. In her left hand she held a sea snake¡¯s shed skin, and in her right hand a glass bottle filled with blue liquid. She had already begun chanting, and now her chants suddenly stopped. One tenth of the blue liquid in the glass bottle spurted out, merging into the snake¡¯s shed skin. The shed skin emitted a faint blue glow. With an upward flick of her left hand, the Sea Snake Lady tossed the shed skin into mid-air. The shed suddenly burst open and transformed into a snake-shaped stream of water, hurtling towards the Grey Rat. Water Magic¡ªCoiling Snake Water Arrow! The Water Arrow tore through the sky at high speed, and within a few breaths, it was directly above the Grey Rat. Guided by the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s spirit, it didn¡¯t directly attack Huang, the knight youth, or Zong Ge, nor did it strike at other pirates. Instead, it headed straight for the Grey Rat¡¯s sails. As it touched the sails, it drilled holes through them immediately. The ropes, barely entwined by it, instantly snapped. ¡°Damn it, let me go!¡± Huang saw this and his anger reached a boiling point. But in the next instant, the knight youth behind him pulled out an Alchemy Crossbow, firing three arrows in rapid succession. Two of the arrows forced the Coiling Snake Water Arrow to dodge left and right, and the third arrow struck it squarely, exploding the Water Arrow completely with a bang. The Sea Snake Lady huffed slightly, as the knight youth¡¯s Alchemy Arrow had obliterated the spirit she had attached to the Water Arrow. ¡°Nice archery!¡± Huang couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. Zong Ge¡¯s expression remained calm; he had seen such sights many times before. Huang immediately roared, urging the pirates to hasten their actions and get the Grey Rat moving. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the pirates worked furiously, and the Grey Rat began to drift forward slowly. ¡°Grey,¡± the Sea Snake Lady said with a chuckle, ¡°your subordinate has quite the skill with archery. When I kill him later and feed him to my little darling, it will surely be delighted.¡± In her eyes, since the knight youth and Zong Ge both exuded Black Iron Aura and stood behind Huang, she mistook them to be his capable followers. The Sea Snake Lady was somewhat annoyed. They were merely ¡°Black Iron,¡± yet they had broken her magic, making her, a Silver Level Mage, lose face. The key was that she had to admit, it would be foolish to continue using Coiling Snake Water Arrow. Her casting materials were much more expensive than the Alchemy Arrows, and once the Coiling Snake Water Arrow was damaged, she would also lose some of her spirit. Such an exchange was undoubtedly a loss-making business. Nonetheless, the Grey Rat had started moving slowly. ¡°You¡¯re not getting away!¡± the Sea Snake Lady gritted her teeth and pulled out a Magic Scroll from her bosom. The next moment, she unfurled the scroll and infused it with Magic Power. Wind Magic¡ªWindless Domain! The spell took immediate effect, and within hundreds of meters centered on the Grey Rat, not a breeze was to be found. The billowing sails of the Grey Rat hung limply. The slight speed they had achieved quickly diminished. The Magic Scroll turned to ashes, scattering down between the delicate fingers of the Sea Snake Lady. The Sea Snake Lady was heartbroken. She had spent a fortune to acquire that scroll. ¡°As long as I capture the treasure, all these investments will be worth it!¡± The Sea Snake Lady¡¯s eyes gleamed with determination, even more firmly intent on Grey¡¯s treasure. Golden Chin stood proudly at the prow, laughing loudly. He had intended to fire the cannons, using chain bombs to destroy the Grey Rat¡¯s masts and sails, but the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s move had cut the ground from under his feet, and Golden Chin immediately abandoned the idea of bombarding. After all, too powerful a barrage could destroy the treasure, and that would be a massive loss. ¡°Man the oars, charge up on them!¡± Golden Chin bellowed loudly. Golden Chin¡¯s ship was very large, with a distinctive bow. The bows of normal ships were like sharp knives, slicing through the sea with the wind, but the bow of Golden Chin¡¯s ship resembled a trapezoid. With a flat trapezoidal slope facing the sky. Upon their captain¡¯s command, thirty-six long oars extended from both sides of the ship¡¯s gunwales. Once the oars dipped into the water, they moved in unison. Thus, Golden Chin¡¯s ship surged directly into the Windless Domain. ¡°Fire the cannons, fire!!¡± Grey roared in panic, his expression very tense. The cannon fire from the Grey Rat instantly intensified, some cannons aimed at the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s two ships, most missing their mark. Some bombs landed on the Golden Chin, causing damage, but it was nothing serious. During this period, the enemy just stopped the bombardment altogether. The Golden Chin quickly closed the distance to the Grey Rat. A trace of despair flickered through Ashen¡¯s grey eyes. The Grey Rat was unable to navigate, merely like a passive archery target. Being unable to turn the ship, the Grey Rat¡¯s cannon fire also couldn¡¯t reach its strongest offensive. The situation was too passive! ¡°Golden Chin is best at boarding battles,¡± someone said. ¡°The Sea Snake Lady has only one ship, the other is her magic pet! It¡¯s a Silver Level magic beast sea snake, combined with the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s magic, forming the illusion of another ship. This is her most commonly used tactic.¡± ¡°Hurry, release me, a boarding fight is our only chance of victory!¡± Ashen urgently declared. Zong Ge¡¯s expression flickered with hesitation. If this was a play they were orchestrating together, releasing Ashen would leave Zong Ge and the knight youth surrounded by four Silver Level enemies. But the knight youth simply drew his thin sword, Silver Lightning, cutting open the magic ban shackles binding Ashen¡¯s hands and feet. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I am a knight of the Empire.¡± ¡°If we win this battle, you will earn the chance to atone for yourself.¡± ¡°Your sword is in the captain¡¯s quarters, perform well, and perhaps you can shed your pirate identity!¡± the knight youth said to Ashen. Ashen looked at the youth in surprise, nodded at him, and turned to rush towards the captain¡¯s quarters. ¡°This is somewhat risky,¡± Zong Ge said, watching the Golden Chin approaching nearer and nearer. ¡°I believe he is an honorable man,¡± the knight youth replied. The Golden Chin charged closer and closer, its vast hull like a towering wall, bringing a tremendous sense of oppression. Boom! Finally, it crashed viciously into the side of the Grey Rat. Because of the Grey Rat¡¯s unique trapezoidal bow structure, when it was hit, it momentarily lifted off the sea surface, almost capsizing when it fell back into the water. ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Lads, charge!!¡± ¡°Kill them all, seize the treasure!!¡± While the Grey Rat was still violently rocking on the sea surface, a horde of pirates surged out from the Golden Chin. Some threw grappling hooks, latching onto the side of the Grey Rat, forcibly pulling the two ships together. Then, plank after plank was laid out, forming temporary gangway bridges. Many pirates swung directly onto the deck of the Grey Rat using long ropes. The deck of the Grey Rat was already prepared for battle. Some used long-range crossbows to shoot, while others blocked at the side of the ship, hacking with bladed weapons. For a moment, the battlefield was a whirlwind of blades and blood, with screams, strange yells, cries for help, and the explosions of cannons and firearms all intertwined in chaos. ¡°Ashen, come out and fight me!¡± Golden Chin stood proudly at the prow, bellowing a challenge and not rushing onto the Grey Rat. Hiss¡ª! At this moment, the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s ship also pounced. The illusion was lifted, revealing its true form, just as Ashen had said, it was a giant magic beast sea snake. The magic beast sea snake wrapped its tens of meters long body around the Grey Rat, its thick and powerful body starting to squeeze viciously. The sides and deck of the Grey Rat emitted creaking moans, clearly struggling to withstand the serpent¡¯s crushing force. ¡°Sea Snake Lady, don¡¯t meddle!¡± Golden Chin called back angrily. The Sea Snake Lady smiled without a word, she stood on the actual pirate ship, not approaching the battlefield, but commanding her magic sea snake pet to act. ¡°Stop!¡± Ashen burst out from one of the gun ports at the side of the ship, leaping onto the sea snake¡¯s slippery body, and stabbed downward with his Sharp Sword. The magic beast sea snake immediately roared in pain, turning its huge head, which was as large as a carriage, to find Ashen. Ashen dodged left and right, his movements were incredibly agile, making the sea snake seem clumsy and unable to catch him no matter how many times it tried to strike. While dodging, Ashen continued to attack. His Stabbing Sword was infused with fighting energy, incredibly sharp, the sea snake¡¯s scales offered no protection. Seeing her magic pet under attack, the Sea Snake Lady urgently urged Golden Chin, ¡°How much longer are you going to wait?¡± Golden Chin laughed loudly, enjoying the spectacle. The Sea Snake Lady continued to shout, ¡°Hurry up, if others learn we¡¯re after this treasure, it¡¯ll be unpredictable.¡± Golden Chin¡¯s smiling face suddenly turned serious. ¡°Ashen, I am your true opponent!¡± In the moment he leaped, he used his fighting energy. This allowed the bulky and heavy him to jump high into the air and then dive down towards Ashen. Ashen had just avoided being devoured by the sea snake, and when he looked up, he saw the shadow overhead. ¡°Damn! No time to dodge,¡± Ashen¡¯s heart sank, only able to grit his teeth and brace to take Golden Chin¡¯s long-charged heavy blow. But at that moment, the knight youth and Zong Ge suddenly appeared at his side. ¡°Now is the moment!¡± The youth and Zong Ge attacked together, the Two-Handed Greatsword cleaving down like lightning while the thin sword Silver Lightning slashed through like a storm. Golden Chin was still sneering, thinking he was about to heavily wound Ashen, but the next moment his eyes nearly popped out. ¡°Why are there two more Silvers!?¡± Awkward! He was midair, unable to redirect his momentum, now like a fool, heading straight into the enemy¡¯s blades. Chapter 217 - 217: Section 5: Dragon Roar! Chapter 217: Section 5: Dragon Roar! Captain Golden Chin was suspended in mid-air, his life hanging by a thread! At the crucial moment, he roared furiously, bursting forth with his most formidable combat strength under the stimulation of death. Silver Fighting Spirit surged from his body, and just as the intelligence in gray had claimed, the silver aura carried a hint of gold¡ªGolden Chin was indeed at the peak of the Silver Level. He reached behind with both hands, violently pulling out the two overlapping shields strapped to his back. The Fighting energy crazily poured into the shields, causing them to suddenly burst forth with blinding brilliance! Clearly, his dual shields were also magic equipment. ... Had it been someone else, they might have fallen for this move, abandoning their attack and choosing to retreat. But neither the substitute youth nor Zong Ge were anything less than warriors of profound fighting heritage. They closed their eyes and continued their attack toward the position they remembered, their assault becoming even fiercer. The bright light erupting from his shields did not affect Golden Chin. Seeing the attack coming, he could only take a sharp breath, furiously bringing his two shields together in front of him, almost forming a giant shield. Clang! Zong Ge¡¯s Two-Handed Greatsword was the first to strike, splitting the nearly formed giant shield clean in half. A surge of tremendous strength flowed, leaving Golden Chin¡¯s defenses wide open. Grinding his teeth, his arm muscles burst forth and veins on his forehead bulged as he struggled to bring the shields together again. Time seemed to slow down at this moment, what was less than a breath felt like an eternity of tension, pain, and torment to Golden Chin. Life or death depended on whether he could overcome this moment. ¡°Come on, join together!¡± Golden Chin roared inwardly. With every ounce of strength, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets, he watched as the two shields began to ¡°slowly¡± join once more. Only the last gap remained. But at that moment, his pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints as he saw the tip of a thin sword, precisely entering through the tiny seam. It was the Silver Lightning thin sword in the hands of the knight youth. Silver Lightning aimed straight for the space between Golden Chin¡¯s eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯m finished!¡± Golden Chin fell utterly into despair. But in the next instant, a water rope made of condensed flow stretched out suddenly, wrapping around his thick waist and yanking him sharply. Originally falling, Golden Chin was pulled up by the water rope, tracing an arc in mid-air before landing safely on the deck. ¡°I¡¯m still alive!¡± Golden Chin couldn¡¯t believe it, his soul barely settled. He had nearly paid with his life for underestimating his enemies, but at the last moment, it was the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s magic that rescued him. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Golden Chin burst into laughter, the euphoria of survival inflating his will to fight. ¡°I was almost killed by you, now I¡¯ll properly teach you a lesson!¡± Golden Chin forcefully joined the dual shields, forming an extremely solid giant shield. The next moment, he spent a vast amount of Fighting energy, unleashing the Combat Skill¡ªShield Toppling Charge. Bang, bang, bang¡­ With his arms raised in front of him, holding up the giant shield, he charged toward the youth and Zong Ge like a miniature wall, his momentum fearsome. The youth immediately leaped, nimbly dodging to the side. Zong Ge, however, had a resolute look in his eyes. ¡°Bring it on!¡± he uttered in a low growl, no longer holding the sword with one hand but gripping the hilt with both hands, and charging boldly at Golden Chin instead of retreating. Bang! The two collided fiercely, erupting in a massive noise, and the clash of Fighting energy stirred up a miniature shockwave. The huge recoil forced both men back several steps. A look of shock crossed Golden Chin¡¯s face; the last exchange had been devoid of any trickery, and he had seen the glow of Zong Ge¡¯s Fighting energy. ¡°This Half-Beast is actually at the peak of the Silver too!¡± Zong Ge bit his teeth and slightly moved his shoulder, ¡°This guy¡¯s tough to deal with!¡± His arm had been broken before and, although reattached, it had not completely healed and was a lingering weakness. The full-force collision just now immediately made him feel pain in the old wound. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. As Golden Chin steadied himself, the knight youth¡¯s Alchemy Arrows shot directly at him. Golden Chin had no time to turn around, but he was battle-hardened, and immediately brought his left arm back into defense, driving a shield to protect his rear. The next moment, the Alchemy Arrowhead exploded. But whether it was Acid Liquid, flames, or frost, all were blocked by the shield and couldn¡¯t inflict more harm on Golden Chin. Golden Chin was blasted forward, his body toppling. Zong Ge sharply seized the opportunity and swiftly moved in for the kill! Combat Skill¡ªSpinning Sideways Slash. He switched back to holding the sword with one hand and slightly bent his body, using his heel as a pivot and stretching his arm out, he forcefully spun with the Two-Handed Greatsword in tow. Zong Ge rapidly rotated a full circle, the speed and power of the Two-Handed Greatsword reaching a certain limit, its blade gleaming with a silver luster, and fiercely slashing towards Golden Chin¡¯s waist. Golden Chin heard the whoosh of the wind and hastily lifted his right hand shield to protect his waist. Boom! The Two-Handed Greatsword harshly slammed into his shield and fiercely flung Golden Chin¡¯s right hand shield aside. Both men stepped back several paces. But this time, Zong Ge retreated less, while Golden Chin retreated further. Golden Chin had no time to regroup before the knight youth advanced towards his back, sword in hand. ¡°Damn!¡± Golden Chin¡¯s face lost its previous joy, now filled with solemnity. He struggled to block the youth¡¯s attack but was already at a disadvantage. The youth and Zong Ge worked together seamlessly, attacking in turns like a whirlwind and torrential rain. Golden Chin was alone, and despite his outstanding defense, as soon as he repelled Zong Ge¡¯s assault, the knight youth¡¯s attack arrived. Once he blocked the knight youth, Zong Ge attacked again. With each attack, Golden Chin had to use his full strength to defend. Since the first Shield Toppling Charge, he had had no chance to counterattack. After a few defenses, his Fighting energy quickly depleted, and his momentum greatly diminished. How could he have any momentum when always on the receiving end? At a critical moment, Sea Snake Lady¡¯s support came once again. Several pale blue Water Shields floated beside Golden Chin, constantly revolving around him. Each Water Shield was the size of a washbasin. Zong Ge¡¯s Two-Handed Greatsword chopped onto the Water Shield, often shattering it, but the sword¡¯s momentum was greatly spent, making it easy for Golden Chin to defend. The knight youth¡¯s Alchemy Arrows and thin sword had much of their force dissipated by the Water Shields. This finally stabilized Golden Chin¡¯s footing. But he was still outmatched! ¡°These two are too well-coordinated together, facing the two of them puts me under too much pressure. If I were clad in grey and had to join the battle, I¡¯d have to run.¡± Golden Chin helplessly acknowledged the situation. Fortunately, the one clad in grey had no leisure to deal with Golden Chin, as he had to grapple with the sea snake Magic Beast, restraining its offensive. If the sea snake were left to deal with Grey Rat, should the pirate ship be utterly destroyed, the consequences would be dire. Unless they had specific equipment or Combat Skills, a Silver-Level Transcendent could not tread upon the sea surface. After falling into the water, they had to be able to swim, or drowning was quite possible. Golden Chin¡¯s ship was known for its defense and was hard to capture. Without their pirate ship, defeat for the one clad in grey and his people was almost certain. Combat Skill¡ªGray Mist Strike. The one clad in grey once again used his signature Combat Skill, the gray mist surged, enveloping the massive serpent¡¯s head. The sea snake cried out in pain from the assault, spraying out a vast amount of green Acid Liquid. The Acid Liquid hit the sails first, immediately corroding large holes in them before falling to the deck. The deck hissed, emitting a pungent stench. Some of the unfortunate souls who got splashed by the Acid Liquid saw their flesh dissolve instantly, exposing white bones. The bones seemed to be unaffected by the Acid Liquid. Seeing this, the Sea Snake Lady on Sea Snake chuckled sinisterly and began to brew her magic. A dozen breaths later, the magic was ready. Spell¡ªAcid Liquid Water Element. The large pool of green Acid Liquid remaining on the deck suddenly stirred and from it, three Water Elements condensed. These Water Elementals were about two meters tall, with snake heads, human hands, and no legs. Their bodies and lower limbs resembled a pillar, the base of which, where they made contact with the deck, consisted of continuously flowing liquid. Acid Liquid Water Elementals launched an attack on the pirates of the Grey Rat. The pirates let out screams of agony, retreating step by step. Pirates were not a formal military force and prioritized light equipment, generally cotton armor or, at best, leather armor, with metal armor being a rarity. The acid very easily corroded flesh and blood, making it hard for the pirates to withstand the onslaught of the Acid Liquid Water Elementals. Noticing the turn in the battle, the knight youth immediately abandoned Golden Chin to come to the aid of the pirates on the Grey Rat. He had no wish to engage in close combat with these Acid Liquid Water Elementals, preferring to use his Alchemy Crossbow to eliminate them. Once the knight youth had withdrawn, Zong Ge, left alone, was immediately at a disadvantage against Golden Chin. The critical factor was that the Sea Snake Lady took a moment to assist Golden Chin. She cast a spell that summoned countless raindrops from the sky. The raindrops, swift as bullets, made no distinction between friend and foe, blanketing a swath of the deck. Zong Ge and Golden Chin were both showered in the bullet-like raindrops, the former¡¯s defenses not as strong as the latter¡¯s, and soon he was soaked in blood. ¡°This Half-Beast is quite skilled, but I have a Spellcaster on my side; we will win this way!¡± Golden Chin grew increasingly calm. As Zong Ge clashed with Golden Chin, both expended their Fighting energy intensely. Thus, Zong Ge preferred to sustain injuries rather than use his precious Fighting energy for unnecessary defenses. This courageous choice even earned Golden Chin¡¯s silent praise. ¡°This can¡¯t go on!¡± the knight youth felt his heart sink. If he chose to assist Zong Ge, it would do little to help the overall situation. It was evident that Golden Chin was a Shield Warrior, whose defensive power far exceeded his attack. ¡°The most dangerous is still the Sea Snake Lady; I must kill this Spellcaster first!¡± Since the start of the clash, the tide of battle had subtly been under the control of this Silver Level Mage. Had it not been for her intervention, Golden Chin would have died when he leapt into the air. Afterward, it was the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s repeated support that stabilized Golden Chin¡¯s position. The key was that she also supported the Sea Snake Magic Beast by using the acid to form Water Elementals that harmed the pirates. Her methods were varied, her tactical choices highly flexible, and she held the initiative. Boom! Another head-on collision took place. ¡°Troublesome,¡± Zong Ge muttered, looking at Golden Chin, who stood unwaveringly with his shields, a headache brewing. The injuries caused by the bullet raindrops looked terrifying, but they were secondary. The critical problem was that his once severed arm had gone numb. This was not a good sign at all! ¡°The most crucial one is that Mage!¡± Zong Ge glanced at the Sea Snake vessel and gritted his teeth. The Sea Snake Lady was very cunning, constantly hiding in her own pirate ship, never getting close to the battlefield, thus depriving Zong Ge of any opportunity to strike at her. ¡°The Captain has disappeared; he must be dealing with the Sea Snake Lady. Should I use the Deep Sea Monster Fish?¡± Just as he thought this, Zong Ge saw Golden Chin charging towards him. Zong Ge snorted coldly and charged forth with his sword, not showing a hint of retreat. ¡°That Silver Swordsman has disappeared!¡± On the pirate ship, the Sea Snake Lady furrowed her brow, acutely aware of this change. Having been through many battles, she immediately realized that the knight youth was likely planning an attack on her. Magic Spell¡ªWater Mirror. She cast the spell four successive times. Three Water Mirrors immediately materialized in front of the Sea Snake Lady. One of the attempts failed, causing her Spirit to shake. She hastily pulled out a potion and downed it in one go. The trauma to her Spirit was instantly suppressed. ¡°Where? Where?¡± Images of the surrounding sea surface and seabed emerged in the Water Mirror, but the Sea Snake Lady searched to no avail and didn¡¯t find a trace of anyone. Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, suddenly a person fell from the sky like a meteor, crashing heavily onto the deck. With a loud bang, a large hole was smashed through one layer of the deck. The Sea Snake Lady¡¯s body and mind trembled violently, ¡°This¡­this is too reckless! To actually use oneself as a bomb and be fired over!!¡± In the midst of combat, the Sea Snake Lady had already ceased cannon fire, but the other side of the Grey Rat continued to fire at the Sea Snake. Precisely because of this, the Sea Snake Lady subconsciously didn¡¯t consider these bombs. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To be exact, no sane person would ever imagine that there would be people willing to be shot out by the cannons! From the hole in the deck below came the sound of clashing weapons and the pirates¡¯ screams of agony. Shortly after, the knight youth charged out of the hole and leaped onto the first layer of the deck, only a dozen steps away from the Sea Snake Lady. Seeing the golden-haired youth covered in blood and black ash, the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s heart sank, ¡°This is a madman!¡± The knight youth charged straight towards her. ¡°Protect me!¡± the Sea Snake Lady shouted, and the surrounding pirates howled, trying to block the knight youth. Charge! The youth mobilized all his Fighting Energy, completely disregarding conservation, his Silver Lightning blade unmatched in sharpness, cutting a bloody path straight through. The Sea Snake Lady hesitated for a moment; she had a Windwalking Magic Scroll, but considering the youth¡¯s archery skills, she chose the more reliable Water Element Protection Magic instead. When the knight youth finally reached the Sea Snake Lady, he saw the Mage encased in a massive Water Ball. The thin sword, Silver Lightning, plunged into the Water Ball, its potency vastly diminished. The knight youth¡¯s expression changed instantly. The pale blue Water Ball was very substantial, and the thin sword, Silver Lightning, couldn¡¯t reach the Sea Snake Lady inside. Moreover, the swirling current inside the Water Ball severely affected his swordsmanship, and it took a significant effort not to be deflected off course. ¡°Give up. Whether it¡¯s your thin sword or Alchemy Arrows, they¡¯re all countered by my magic,¡± the Sea Snake Lady said with a victorious smile. ¡°Is that so?¡± the knight youth said expressionlessly, stepping back. The next moment, his head suddenly transformed, turning into a dragon¡¯s head. A strong surge of magical energy emerged from the knight youth. The Sea Snake Lady¡¯s complexion changed dramatically, ¡°No!¡±. The next moment. Roar! The knight youth let out a deafening Dragon Roar, the huge sonic waves crashing against the Water Ball, which vibrated intensely and then burst apart after two breaths. The magic was broken, the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s body swayed, blood spilling from her mouth and nose, and she felt dizzy and disoriented. A surge of magical energy appeared again around the knight youth. An invisible, terrifying presence emanated from him, instantly enveloping the entire Sea Snake. Dragon Power! The pirates who were still trying to surround him stiffened on the spot. Then, a steady patter of bodies falling echoed nonstop. Most fell onto the deck, foaming at the mouth and fainting. A few Black Iron Rank managed to kneel, desperately holding on. As for the Sea Snake Lady, already at her wits¡¯ end, succumbed to the Dragon Power and fell unconscious. The knight youth immediately approached, pulling out a Magic Ban shackle from his chest, and captured the Water Element Mage! Seeing this, Golden Chin was utterly astounded, ¡°So he is the strongest among the enemies!¡± Zong Ge was shocked, standing there wide-eyed and agape. The silver Sea Snake hissed, immediately abandoning the Grey Rat, and lunged at the knight youth. But everyone knew that the overall situation was already decided. Chapter 218 - 218: Section 6: 006 Chapter 218: Section 6: 006 Thump. Golden Chin fell onto the deck, completely unconscious. His defeat marked the end of the battle, as the stubborn enemy pirates lost their fighting spirit, threw down their weapons, and surrendered on their knees begging for mercy. The knight youth was gasping for breath. He had captured the Sea Snake Lady, defeated the returning Sea Snake Magic Beast, and riding the wave of victory, returned to the Grey Rat. Later, the youth and Zong Ge coordinated, using Dragon Roar to stun Golden Chin temporarily, allowing Zong Ge to seize the opportunity to knock him out. ¡°How should these people be handled?¡± Zong Ge asked, planting his Two-Handed Greatsword onto the deck, visibly exhausted, especially due to his previously severed arm which seemed to cause him greater pain. ... Ash, looking tense, jumped over from the mast. The ¡°these people¡± Zong Ge referred to included not only the Sea Snake Lady and Golden Chin but also Ash. After a moment¡¯s thought, the knight youth gave Ash a slight smile, ¡°Captain Ash, I hope you can command your men to take control of these three ships.¡± ¡°This battle, through your actions, you¡¯ve earned my trust. I am a knight of the Empire and I keep my promises. I hope you cherish this hard-earned trust and do not disappoint me.¡± ¡°I understand, sir,¡± Ash replied respectfully. The imposing demeanor of the knight youth greatly deterred him. Just then, a shout came from the captives, ¡°You¡¯re a knight of the Empire? Did I hear that right? I¡¯m also from the Empire. Help, help!¡± The youth, Zong Ge, and Ash turned to look and saw a young man with a clean face, kneeling on the deck trying to stand up. ¡°Stay down!¡± a pirate from the Grey Rat immediately kicked him back down. ¡°Let me go, let me go! I am from the Empire, I¡¯m an ally!¡± the young man cried out anxiously. ¡°He¡¯s not Golden Chin¡¯s captive; he¡¯s an enemy and has killed quite a few of our men,¡± Ash¡¯s eyes flashed coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, I have important intelligence. I need to speak privately, privately! Sir Knight, aren¡¯t you curious? Why would Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady team up to attack me?¡± The youth¡¯s eyes instantly flashed keenly upon hearing this, sensing there was more to the story. A moment later, inside the captain¡¯s quarters. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zong Ge was personally guarding the door. To save his life, the young man immediately divulged the secret, ¡°I am a spy of the Empire, I have no name, only a code number, 006. I am currently under the direct command of Navy Marshal Yan Tan.¡± ¡°This is not my original appearance, I used a high-level Transformation Potion.¡± ¡°My mission is to turn prominent pirates against each other and disrupt the selection of the King of Pirates!¡± ¡°Indeed, the Empire had discovered long ago about the reappearance of the pirate throne. The Empire would certainly not just watch, and has already started dealing with the pirates. I am part of the vanguard.¡± The knight youth could not help but raise an eyebrow, ¡°Do you have anything to prove your identity?¡± The young man smiled wryly, ¡°This was a covert operation; I wouldn¡¯t have any proof on me. But Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady, whom I¡¯ve successfully turned, can attest to my allegiance.¡± The knight youth nodded slightly. Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady were still unconscious, and this young man only came forward after hearing the youth reveal his identity as a knight while they were unconscious. To verify his story, they just needed to wake Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady and probe them indirectly. ¡°Go on, then,¡± the knight youth gestured with his hand, indicating for 006 to sit and speak. The good will shown by the youth let 006 breathe a bit easier. After sitting down, he said with a sincere tone, ¡°Sir Knight, currently the Empire is launching a campaign against the Beast Race. Our vanguard has already secured a foothold on the Wilderness Continent and built many fortresses. Not long ago, many Holy Temple Knights from the Holy Temple Knights have gone to serve as City Lords at the fortresses.¡± ¡°The Beast Race is actively mobilizing their tribes, aiming to form a coalition to annihilate our vanguard and destroy all the fortresses. The clouds of a great battle are growing darker.¡± ¡°We must transport a large army to the Wilderness Continent to have the strength to engage in a large-scale battle with the Beast Race,¡± said the leader. ¡°And the transportation will definitely take place by sea, using ships.¡± The knight youth nodded again. He knew: Although teleportation technology existed, the act of teleportation was actually very limited. The higher the level of life or demon energy of the object being teleported, the greater the consumption. The youth had struggled desperately around the Teleportation Gate at the core of the Alchemy Factory and was very familiar with its mysteries. 006 continued, ¡°If a new King of Pirates emerges, the pirates will all submit to Him. The previously separate and independent pirates would unite as one entity. If the King of Pirates wished to interfere with our transportation lines, it would significantly disrupt the Empire¡¯s strategy to conquer the Wilderness Continent.¡± Conquering across the sea was fraught with many difficulties. The Empire had to ensure the safety of its transportation lines. This maritime transportation line was not just for transporting troops but also supplies. The longer the war lasted, the longer the transportation line had to be maintained. The transportation line was a lifeline, as well as one of the critical pillars of the Empire¡¯s dominance. 006 sighed, ¡°Once the King of Pirates is born, given His Divinity and Divine Office, it¡¯s very likely that He will plunder the Empire¡¯s transportation lines.¡± ¡°And at present, we must also admit that the Empire does not have an official Sea God.¡± This isn¡¯t to say there are no divine offices, Divinities, or Divine Domains related to the sea. In fact, the God of Commerce has a Divine Domain related to navigation, and the Empire¡¯s Wind God also controls the divine power of the sea winds. What 006 meant by ¡°official Sea God¡± was the Main God Office. Only a deity of the ocean holding the Main God Office could be considered a true Sea God. Although the Holy Bright Empire had unified the Human Race continents, it was once a landlocked country. In terms of a Sea God, there has always been a deficit. In fact, the historical roots go back even further. The great Divine Office of the Sea God had always been controlled by foreign tribes. The Human Race, being land-based creatures, had always lacked competitiveness in this regard. 006 said, ¡°The three legendary pirates are trouble enough. Once a King of Pirates is born, it will pose a significant threat to the Empire¡¯s strategies. The Empire will not ignore this, so it has dispatched intelligence members, including myself, to secretly infiltrate and attempt to recruit pirates to our cause. Afterward, we will do our best to thwart the birth of the King of Pirates. Of course, if we could support one of our own to take the pirate throne, that would be perfect.¡± The youth understood, ¡°So that¡¯s why Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady had the audacity to defy the rules of the Brother Pirate Group and attack someone wearing grey.¡± 006 nodded, ¡°In fact, this attack was instigated by me. I just didn¡¯t expect your lordship to appear.¡± ¡°The Brother Pirate Group is the largest pirate group in the world and is the primary target of our secret mission.¡± ¡°In fact, despite its vast size, according to our scholars¡¯ analysis, they are actually the weakest.¡± ¡°This is because, historically, there have been no contractual restrictions among the main members of the Brother Pirate Group. The unity is entirely reliant on the charisma of their leader, Firebeard.¡± ¡°However, this charisma is very fragile under the military might of the Empire and sufficiently appealing incentives.¡± The knight youth nodded. Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady were indeed the best proof. ¡°After all, pirates are just a bunch of evil scoundrels driven solely by profit,¡± the knight youth sneered. 006 asked, ¡°My lord, since you are a knight of the Empire, why not take advantage of this rare opportunity to participate in the Empire¡¯s secret mission?¡± ¡°Can I, really?¡± the knight youth expressed with a hint of surprise. ¡°Of course!¡± 006 immediately replied, ¡°As long as you perform an action fitting of a pirate, we can gain the favor of the King of Pirate¡¯s Divinity. Our names might even make it onto the Holy Tablet. Just like the man in grey, he must have seized an extraordinary treasure, which is why his name suddenly topped the Holy Tablet!¡± 006 was clearly an intelligence elite. By voluntarily sharing this secret with the knight youth, he was not only trying to save his life but also trying to pull the knight youth to his side and make it part of his accomplishment. He appeared frank and sincere, but in reality, his words contained probing and provocation. However, to his disappointment, the knight youth¡¯s face remained expressionless, giving away no clues. Chapter 219 - 219: Section 7: Seeking Redemption Chapter 219: Section 7: Seeking Redemption 006 had not gleaned much from the knight youth, but the youth, on the other hand, had reaped a fair amount. At last, the youth ventured to ask 006, if he were to join and carry out the Empire¡¯s secret tasks, what benefits would there be? 006 immediately offered a response. There would indeed be benefits, and quite substantial ones at that. Moreover, the support one received would be determined based on the defector¡¯s cultivation, strength, and merit. There was a complete set of rules that was neither complicated nor comprehensive. This made the knight youth think of his experiences on Mysterious Monster Island. During that time, he had taken in Zong Ge and others and, upon discovering the threat of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, had started to subjugate the surrounding beast herds within the camp. Zi Di and Cang Xu, in order to counterbalance Zong Ge, had devised a list of material exchanges. The complete set of rules provided by 006 must have stemmed from scholars of the Empire. Compared to it, the exchange lists from Zi Di, Cang Xu, and the like seemed very crude. ... S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The knight youth then asked a few more questions and, finding that 006 had nothing new to say, he had Zong Ge take 006 away. But not to imprison him in the brig deep in the ship¡¯s hold, rather, choosing a separate cabin to keep him under house arrest. Sitting alone in the captain¡¯s room, the knight youth fell into deep contemplation. Honestly, he was somewhat at a loss now. On Mysterious Monster Island, he had absorbed the second Blood Core. The process had been very smooth. After opening the third layer of the protective arrangement, the knight youth held the Blood Core in his hand. In that moment, the desire to devour the Blood Core was so intense that he didn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s guidance and naturally stimulated the Blood Core within his heart, producing a demon energy red light. After the red light covered the Blood Core in his hand, the Blood Core quickly dissolved, flowing back along with the red light. The Blood Core in his heart absorbed the red light demon energy and immediately swelled in size. The patterns on its surface became more three-dimensional and profound, emitting a clear, translucent red glow. The knight youth realized at that moment that the War Merchant¡¯s Blood Core was obviously many times stronger than the one in his heart. His Blood Core was powerless against the Golden Level Python Vine, but after absorbing the War Merchant¡¯s Blood Core, it could now assail beings of Legendary Level. The King of Flame Dragon was proof of this practice. With the Legendary bloodline of the Flame Dragon, the knight youth was finally able to transform into a Dragon-man form, currently able to mutate Dragon Head, Dragon Claw, Dragon Scale, and Dragon Meat. The various Magic Beast bloodlines he had absorbed before were all modified; they had significant flaws in their bloodlines. Once he mutated under normal circumstances, they would cause the knight youth unbearable pain, his magic power unbalanced, and he would have no choice but to abandon them. Having lost the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear form, Acid Liquid Green Lizard form, Gun Scorpion form, and others, the knight youth¡¯s methods immediately became impoverished, no longer as rich as before. But the newly added Dragon-man form, sourced from a Legendary bloodline, was truly very powerful. Moreover, the knight youth felt no suppression and was able to perceive and use the Silver Fighting Spirit within his body, which caused his combat strength to surge by a great margin, far surpassing the peak state he had reached on Mysterious Monster Island. ¡°However, this level of strength is still not enough,¡± the knight youth thought to himself with a wry smile. He was under considerable pressure now, facing a manhunt from the Holy Bright Empire. The Holy Bright Empire was the world¡¯s first force, ruling over a complete continent and dominating all others. They were now invading the Wilderness Continent, and the barbaric Beastmen were in continual retreat, only able to watch helplessly as the Empire established castles across the Wilderness Continent. Deep down, the knight youth understood that relying on Pearl Rice was merely a temporary maintenance of a lingering existence. It was like a bomb with a burning fuse; once the fuse burned through, it would eventually explode. ¡°Even though I escaped from Mysterious Monster Island, isn¡¯t this world essentially a vast Mysterious Monster Island?¡± ¡°It¡¯s broader, vaster, more terrifying, more profound, more mysterious, and even more exceedingly complex.¡± ¡°Now, we seem to have been drawn into the vortex of the rivalry for the Pirate God¡¯s throne. One misstep, and we could be shattered to pieces.¡± The knight youth was a leader; his vision was not shortsighted. He could see the crisis. Of course, he also saw the opportunities within. So, the essence of his bewilderment was actually indecision. ¡°What should I choose? Where should I go?¡± Luckily, he was no longer alone; he had companions. The question should also be considered by them. Shortly thereafter. The knight youth and Zong Ge secretly returned to the Fish Monster. ¡°The situation is as follows.¡± The knight youth shared detailed intelligence with everyone. The youth trusted these people. Because they had all escaped death together, their bonds of loyalty ran deep. At the same time, they were all carrying serious criminal charges, like grasshoppers on a rope, bound to watch out for and rely on one another. Upon hearing this intelligence, everyone fell into thought, and for a time, the meeting room fell silent. ¡°What should we do next? Any thoughts, just say them,¡± the knight youth waited a moment before speaking. Bai Ya, without thinking twice, was the first to respond, ¡°No matter what we want to do, whether to continue to the Wilderness Continent or to return to the Holy Bright Empire, first of all, we should clear our names! We should contact the higher-ups of the Empire as soon as possible; being cooped up in the Fish Monster all the time isn¡¯t really working.¡± Being cooped up in the Fish Monster all the time, Bai Ya, as a young person, was already getting irritable. This feeling was actually quite common. Bai Ya had ventured to the Wilderness Continent with dreams of becoming a Knight and returning home in glory, to marry the girl he loved, Miss Xi Qiu. But fate had played a cruel joke on him, as he was forced to kill Jia Sha and bear the crime of murder. Of course, this was not what he wanted. Fat Tongue sighed, ¡°Alas, the sentiment, the situation here is very complicated, young man.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t recklessly get in touch with the Empire¡¯s upper echelons; that would be very, very foolish.¡± ¡°We have two Divine Artifacts in our possession, as well as the Tower Spirit, and most of the War Merchant¡¯s alchemy techniques. These things are too valuable. And our strength is too weak. Once exposed, it¡¯s easy to be directly targeted by the Empire¡¯s higher-ups, who would rob us instead of negotiating to clear our names.¡± Bai Ya was stunned, ¡°Then why don¡¯t we find someone from the higher-ups with a good reputation? Wouldn¡¯t that solve the problem?¡± Fat Tongue scoffed, ¡°Reputation? The items we hold are enough to make even the most reputable Nobles of the Empire cast aside their honor.¡± ¡°The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce was torn apart by several major forces of the Empire, those Nobles who usually pride themselves on their reputation.¡± ¡°I know all too well the true faces of these people.¡± These words resonated deeply with Sanda. Before he had fully committed himself to Zong Ge, he used to be a Mercenary and had suffered greatly in his dealings with the Nobles. Sanda agreed wholeheartedly, ¡°Kid, think about it. If you were a powerful person with significant influence, and you saw a child clutching gold in his hands, would you prefer to negotiate with the child for the gold, or simply take it by force?¡± Bai Ya fell silent. Fat Tongue continued, ¡°So, that¡¯s why we must wake up Zi Di, the Chairman. Only by waking her up can we have a way to contact the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family.¡± ¡°Only the Chairman Zi Di and the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family have met in person. Besides, Zi Di has an engagement with Zhenjin.¡± ¡°The Hundred Needle Family is a great Noble family of the south; although they¡¯ve fallen on hard times, they¡¯ve actually found their new position in the Empire as vanquished parties, aligning themselves with the faction of the Great Emperor and securing their footing.¡± ¡°Zhenjin is the only heir to the Hundred Needle Family, and this is no ordinary bargaining chip. The Hundred Needle Family has surrendered and been purged and punished by the Empire. The Great Emperor has clearly decreed that the Hundred Needle Family may have only one heir and that heir cannot be changed. This means if Zhenjin dies, there will be no new heir for the Hundred Needle Family. If the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family also dies, the family will be left without an heir and be overtaken by other Nobles.¡± ¡°The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family will certainly do everything possible to rescue Zhenjin. With his connections, we might have a chance to clear our names.¡± ¡°So, I believe that what¡¯s most important right now is to wake up our Chairman.¡± Fat Tongue¡¯s speech, of course, had its own self-interest. He was terrified that everyone would give up on Zi Di¡¯s treatment, so he emphasized her importance. However, everyone also agreed: Fat Tongue made sense. Relying on the Hundred Needle Family was a reliable option because the captive, Zhenjin, would force the Clan Leader to comply. Cang Xu shook his head and sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve done my best. In fact, we all have. We¡¯ve been searching the islands near Mysterious Monster Island non-stop these past few days and finally found the Green Jade Gold Coffin. We¡¯ve used most of our Magic Materials to build an Alchemy Array and have thoroughly healed Chairman Zi Di¡¯s body.¡± ¡°But she didn¡¯t wake up. The issue is not with the body, but with the soul.¡± ¡°Her soul is in a comatose state.¡± ¡°Perhaps, Divine Arts could awaken Chairman Zi Di.¡± Fat Tongue panicked, ¡°Then, then go find a Priest or a, a Father. Don¡¯t, don¡¯t forget, without Chairman Zi Di, none of us would have escaped from Mysterious Monster Island.¡± Sanda¡¯s face remained expressionless, ¡°We acknowledge this favor, and we won¡¯t forget. But the maritime disaster was also created by Chairman Zi Di. Without her, we wouldn¡¯t have ended up on Mysterious Monster Island, would we?¡± Fat Tongue clenched his teeth, ¡°My family¡¯s Chairman surely had, had her reasons.¡± Mu Ban interjected, ¡°Seeking help from a Priest is too risky. We might attract the attention of the divine. After the maritime disaster, a Holy Temple Knight and a priest from the Holy Bright sect went missing; the Empire will definitely send people to search and investigate. The Hundred Needle Family will marshal all their resources.¡± ¡°I believe that the search notices and rewards concerning these two individuals must be plastered all over the coastal cities. Any passing Captains and crew members must have heard something. We cannot afford to expose ourselves now.¡± Bai Ya expressed her doubts, ¡°Don¡¯t we have the Pearl Bubble? It¡¯s very powerful; it even deceived the Holy Tablet.¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale is a Divine Artifact, but we cannot fully harness its power. The true users of Divine Artifacts are the divine, not us Transcendents. We lack faith and the corresponding Divine Power; our use of this artifact is very superficial and crude. At the moment, we can only crush the Pearl Bubble to ward off Divination and Prophecy; we can¡¯t even change our own appearances. This is quite inconsistent with the description of this Divine Artifact.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more bad news on this matter.¡± ¡°Has anyone noticed that the Pearl Bubble within this giant shell is diminishing?¡± Lan Zao questioned, ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same? It¡¯s still a shell full of pearls.¡± During the initial use, everyone discovered that Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale could produce Pearl Bubble autonomously. Cang Xu sighed, ¡°Indeed, it is decreasing. The production rate of the new Pearl Bubble is getting slower and slower. If this trend continues, one day, our consumption rate will exceed the production rate. The consequences are self-evident; everyone understands.¡± ¡°The second level of the Alchemy Core houses an Alchemy Array specifically designed to utilize this Divine Artifact. Regrettably, the Tower Spirit no longer remembers the Alchemy Array Map.¡± Although they had retrieved the Tower Spirit along with them, it was very fragmented and closest to Zi Di. In fact, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to take a complete Tower Spirit with them. The knight youth frowned slightly and looked at Cang Xu, ¡°So, how long can we hold out?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s hard to estimate. It might be a long while or it might be brief. It depends on the consumption. For instance, now, we need to obfuscate the Holy Tablet and continue disguising ourselves, which clearly requires much more consumption.¡± At that, everyone¡¯s faces grew worried. Their current predicament was like running through an underground tunnel with a ferocious beast often unbeatable chasing after them. The dwindling Pearl Bubble signified that this underground tunnel was a dead end. Within the time before the beast could catch up to them, they had to find their redemption. Chapter 220 - 220: Section 8: Become a Pirate Chapter 220: Section 8: Become a Pirate They must clear their names! This was a consensus among everyone. No one was naive and arrogant enough to think that they could fight against the Empire. In their group, the strongest was only at the peak of silver, whereas the Empire, not to mention the high and mighty deities and legends, had hundreds in the Holy Domain, not to speak of the Golden Level Transcendents. Holy Temple Knights, Blood Light Sanction Court, various sects, Magic Academies, and guilds¡­ These were all forces that the Empire could mobilize. If the truth of Mysterious Monster Island were to be discovered in the future, they could only hope that the Empire would not pursue them. It was like ants walking at the feet of an adult, the adult disdaining to step on them. ... But this possibility was very low. Because once the secret was exposed, the Empire would know they possessed two Divine Artifacts and the War Merchant¡¯s alchemy technique. This was no ordinary ant, but an ant dragging a golden apple. The adult would be quite pleased to stop their step, bend over, and crush this little ant to pick the golden apple into their embrace. Just imagining being wanted by the Empire frightened everyone. Bai Ya expressed his concerns with a frown, ¡°I wonder if the death of the King of Flame Dragon will be attributed to us? After all, we didn¡¯t save it at the time and let it perish together with Mysterious Monster Island.¡± Mu Ban shook his head, ¡°We had to do it, otherwise we wouldn¡¯t be alive right now. Once the King of Flame Dragon had escaped from the Alchemy Array, none of us could have escaped; it would have slaughtered us all. We did negotiate with it, didn¡¯t we?¡± Lan Zao comforted him, ¡°The Empire probably won¡¯t know. We did not kill it ourselves, we used the Alchemy Array. That was the power of the War Merchant. So, as long as we don¡¯t speak of it, the Empire can¡¯t blame us for its death.¡± The knight youth fell silent. After executing Jia Sha, there had been a debate on how to deal with the King of Flame Dragon on the fourth level of the alchemy core. Because time was tight, the knight youth proposed negotiating. Thus, they all returned to the Molten Lava Battlefield. However, the negotiation with the King of Flame Dragon did not go smoothly. Upon seeing them return, the King immediately realized that the War Merchant had died. Proud as it was, it was unwilling to share any credit with these opportunistic bugs. From its perspective, this was reasonable. The death of the War Merchant was caused by a strong team from the Blood Light Sanction Court. The group of knight youths just happened to be there. Also, if it weren¡¯t for being compelled, these people wouldn¡¯t have come back to negotiate with it. ¡°You scum, you have no choice!¡± ¡°You want to negotiate with me?¡± ¡°Hahaha, ridiculous! On what basis? The freedom you have now?¡± ¡°Without my help, you will all die! Even if you don¡¯t help me escape, I can break free from this Alchemy Array, and then you will face my fury!¡± ¡°Now, I command you to open the Alchemy Array and allow yourselves to kneel and beg for mercy. Perhaps if I am in a good mood, I will spare some of your lives. Hahaha.¡± The negotiation with the King of Flame Dragon completely failed. In their desperate straits, the knight youth suddenly suggested that they could try using the Alchemy Array to kill the King of Flame Dragon. The reason the War Merchant hadn¡¯t acted was that he wanted to capture this legendary Magic Beast alive. The War Merchant was a goblin, inherently greedy. But the Alchemy Array actually possessed the power to annihilate the King of Flame Dragon. They had no choice but to try. Thus, under the red glow of the knight youth¡¯s Blood Core, the attitude of the King of Flame Dragon changed greatly before its death. ¡°No, no!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± ¡°You damn insect¡­ alright, alright! I admit you have the right to negotiate with me, we can have a proper talk.¡± But the red light covered its entire body, quickly dissolving it. The King of Flame Dragon roared in anger, hurling endless curses at the knight youth. Eventually, its bloodline essence was absorbed by the Blood Core, used by the youth. This process of annihilating the King of Flame Dragon was done behind the backs of everyone else. He concealed the fusion with the Blood Core, and continued to hide the terrifying power of the Blood Core. As for the new Dragon-man transformation after leaving the island¡­ He didn¡¯t explain, nor was there any need to explain. The youth remained silent, while Zong Ge hesitated. Because he had another channel, through which he could contact the high-ranking members of the Empire. That was his father! However, Zong Ge did not wish to do that. According to this method, the merit obtained by dedicating the Divine Artifact was not the honor he desired. He didn¡¯t even need to think to know how his brothers and sisters would judge him. He¡¯s just gotten lucky. Picked up a huge bargain. Murdered a priest from the Holy Sect, a deceitful little man who turned against his own companions¡­ The success that Zong Ge needed was definitely not this kind. He needed outstanding military achievements, a glory that would silence everyone, leaving no room for doubt or slander. Also, if he followed his father¡¯s path, he wasn¡¯t confident that those people would survive. He could probably save his own life, after all, he was his father¡¯s son. But what about the others? ¡°Would my father generously reward these people and help them shake off their crimes?¡± Zong Ge felt that hope was slim, knowing his father. Thus, the Half-Beast spoke, ¡°Gentlemen, I have a different idea.¡± ¡°Always thinking of shaking off crimes is rather negative.¡± ¡°Recall how we struggled for life and death on Mysterious Monster Island, how difficult it was.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t really intend to kill Jia Sha and the King of Flame Dragon. We were just pushed into a corner. Our choice turned out to be right, and we have our captain to thank for that. Otherwise, we would have been abandoned by Jia Sha, massacred by the King of Flame Dragon, or destroyed along with the island.¡± ¡°How the Empire¡¯s high-ranking individuals regard the ants beneath their feet is how they view us. Have you all forgotten the attitudes of Jia Sha and the King of Flame Dragon? These high and mighty beings will never recognize our efforts, nor will they listen to our side of the story.¡± ¡°We shouldn¡¯t give up our gains. Although we can only utilize a bit of these two Divine Artifacts, even this scant amount of power is so formidable. Are you all willing to just give them up?¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The crowd fell silent. Zong Ge¡¯s words had struck a chord. No one was willing to settle, but what could they do? ¡°Now, an opportunity lays before us,¡± Zong Ge said. The Substitute Youth raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are you referring to the position of Pirate God?¡± Zong Ge nodded, looking at them honestly, ¡°Using Pearl Bubble can only delay for a while, we will eventually be discovered.¡± ¡°I am very supportive of seeking redemption, because everyone knows that we have no possibility of resisting the Empire. Even if we escape temporarily, we would have to live incognito, constantly in fear and anxiety. Who would want such a life?¡± ¡°But seeking redemption is risky. The biggest reason is our lack of strength. Imagine, how would the Empire treat us if we were Legendary? The upper echelons would definitely try to recruit us, and if these Divine Artifacts were needed by them, they would opt to deal with us. In fact, they own many more artifacts than we do.¡± ¡°And what if we became gods? Became the King of Pirates, we could even negotiate and cooperate with the Empire to a certain extent!¡± Bai Ya widened her eyes, ¡°Become gods? Just us?¡± Sanda however nodded, supporting Zong Ge, ¡°In fact, the fourth-generation King of Pirates was just a Golden Level Transcendent.¡± Bai Ya, filled with curiosity, ¡°Is that so?¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°He was assassinated shortly after becoming the King of Pirates. Even as a god, the use of Divine Power varies from person to person.¡± Bai Ya, ¡°Uh.¡± Cang Xu, ¡°However, this is indeed a good idea. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needles is one path; we can also connect with the Empire¡¯s spies. We might not necessarily become the King of Pirates, to be honest, the likelihood is slim.¡± ¡°But we can use the Empire¡¯s support to strengthen ourselves as much as possible. The merit we gain will be an important bargaining chip for our redemption in the future and can demonstrate our loyalty to the Empire.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t show our faces now, there must be many investigating our whereabouts. Disguising ourselves as an island and wandering through the vast ocean will minimize our risk of exposure.¡± ¡°If redemption fails, at worst, we can continue to live as pirates. That will be our last resort!¡± Hearing Cang Xu¡¯s final words, Knight Youth, Zong Ge, Bai Ya, among others instinctively frowned. Nobody wanted to become pirates, but what Cang Xu said was right¡ªit was a way out. ¡°006 is a key figure. We need to keep him under control. We must have him follow us,¡± Mu Ban proposed. ¡°How should we deal with One in Gray?¡± Queshan posed the question. Cang Xu¡¯s gaze turned ice-cold, ¡°Kill him. He knows that his name is still at the top position on the Holy Tablet. The secret of the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale could be exposed because of him. We cannot afford such consequences.¡± Zong Ge stroked his chin, ¡°Golden Chin, Sea Snake Lady¡ªthose we can absorb.¡± Sanda nodded, his expression complex, ¡°We need people on the periphery.¡± ¡°As for loyalty, the Magic Contract can resolve this issue. Using 006, we can have the Empire provide,¡± Fat Tongue said. A single mind has limited wisdom, many minds bring strength. Power becomes authority. Each person contributed one sentence, deciding the fates of others. Chapter 221 - 221: Section 9: Rou Cang Chapter 221: Section 9: Rou Cang Ten days later. A gale lashed the sea as a basin-sized cannonball tore through the sky, emitting a sharp whistling sound, then grazed the hull of the Grey Rat and splashed into the water. Boom! A tremendous explosion resounded as the cannonball hit the sea, spurring a wave as tall as three men. Yihan Hui stood there, his face covered in cold sweat. His usually well-groomed, sleek gray fur was now sticky and clumped together. It was a close shave with that cannonball; otherwise, the Grey Rat would have been severely damaged. ... Boom boom boom¡­ The barrage from behind never ceased, with most of the cannonballs falling into the sea, creating columns of water. The Grey Rat navigated through these pillars of water. This ship was the apple of Yihan Hui¡¯s eye, into which he had invested his entire fortune. The Grey Rat had been transformed into a Black Iron Grade demon energy ship, best known for its short-burst acceleration and sharp turns. Under the direct steering of Yihan Hui, the Grey Rat had virtually become a slippery old mouse on the sea¡¯s surface, evading most of the bombarding cannonballs with ease. However, Yihan Hui felt increasing tension and pressure mounting in his heart. The pursuers behind him far surpassed his strength, bombarding relentlessly and with ease, like a cat playing with a mouse, in control of the entire situation. It was a warship like a huge whale. The entire body of the ship was at least three times the size of the Grey Rat, with a rounded bow resembling a giant whale floating on the sea surface. Unlike the Grey Rat and other pirate ships, this massive ship had no masts, with a three-story building in the center. It was a tower ship. On top of the tower ship, there was a huge bathtub. The water in the bathtub bubbled, clearly boiling hot. A man lay back in the tub, arms resting on the edges, leaning against the inside of the bathtub, with his eyes closed in repose. Behind him were two beautiful women, massaging his solid shoulders with all their might. The steaming water and their strenuous efforts made the women sweat profusely, causing their clothes to stick to their skin, accentuating their shapely figures. ¡°Harder, even harder,¡± the man soaking in the tub demanded. The two women gritted their teeth, trying to exert even more strength, but their efforts were in vain. The fact that they had persisted this far was already quite an accomplishment. ¡°Useless!¡± the man in the tub yelled angrily, and with a fling of his fat arms, he swept the two women aside with a gust of wind. The women screamed shrilly as they were hurled through the air in an arc and fell from the top of the high tower to the deck, nearly dying on impact. ¡°Captain!¡± The First Officer ran to the top of the tower and instantly knelt on the ground. The captain in the tub snorted coldly, cracking open his eyes slightly with displeasure, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say not to disturb me while I¡¯m taking a bath?¡± The First Officer¡¯s body shook violently, his voice trembling with fear, ¡°Captain, we have successfully encircled them. The Grey Rat will soon be captured!¡± ¡°Hmm? Very well,¡± the captain stood up, stepping out of the gigantic bathtub. Thump, thump¡­ He walked barefoot on the deck, each step resonating through the top of the tower. Amidst the steam, a pair of massive feet like millstones suddenly appeared. The First Officer bowed even lower. A huge shadow gradually enveloped him. ¡°This little mouse sure can run,¡± the captain stood before the First Officer, gazing into the distance and humming lightly. The First Officer quickly said, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your strategic planning, sir. You cleverly arranged the other ships to form an encirclement. Yihan Hui is both laughable and pitiable, actually imagining he could escape from your grasp.¡± ¡°Is that so? Why do I remember that our ships couldn¡¯t match the speed of the Grey Rat, and I got angry, so I sent messages for others to encircle from all directions?¡± the captain stroked his chin. The First Officer broke out in cold sweat. Just then, the lookout shouted, ¡°The Grey Rat has entered the area of Sea Stone Corner!¡± ¡°Oh? Entered the reef group, huh? Hmph, still trying to escape!¡± the captain became displeased instantly, ¡°Strange, why is there a large group of reefs here? Who planned this chase, so foolishly overlooking this reef area?¡± The First Officer was in a state of panic. This was clearly the Captain¡¯s plan, but even if the First Officer had ten times the courage, he wouldn¡¯t dare say a word at this moment. But the Captain wouldn¡¯t let it go, his face twisted with ferocity, his murderous intent chilling, ¡°Was the pursuit plan your doing?¡± The First Officer stuttered. Boom! The next moment, the Captain lifted his foot and stomped the First Officer straight into the flooring of the rooftop. The First Officer was of the Black Iron Grade in Cultivation, desperately summoning his Fighting Energy, but it was to no avail; he was directly crushed into a bloody pulp by the Captain. ¡°Where¡¯s the Second Officer?¡± the Captain roared. The Second Officer scrambled to the top deck, almost entirely falling onto the rooftop, ¡°Cap, Captain, I, I, I¡¯m here, at your summons!¡± ¡°Speak, who is behind this pursuit plan? Who put the Grey Rat right inside the reef group!¡± the Captain shouted angrily. The Second Officer wailed, ¡°Captain sir, all this was your plan.¡± ¡°Hmm?!¡± The Captain frowned immediately, his face clouded over, ¡°How do I not remember this?¡± ¡°Captain sir, you deal with countless matters every day, it¡¯s quite normal to forget such trivial things.¡± The Second Officer, feeling death looming, suddenly had a flash of inspiration and blurted out, ¡°Your plan was too perfect! Now the Grey Rat has no choice but to hide inside the reef group, allowing our men to surround the reefs with ease, they surely won¡¯t escape.¡± ¡°But how do we capture them?¡± the Captain frowned, ¡°My Bath Tub can¡¯t get in there!¡± The Second Officer quickly said, ¡°We can use small boats, lifeboats to get in. The Grey Rat might also be in trouble itself; when we arrive, it might have already run aground and be sinking.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± The Captain suddenly laughed out loud, his previous fury completely dissipated, as if everything had been an illusion. ¡°That¡¯s the plan! Lads, we¡¯re going to be covered in dust, but we¡¯re taking the treasure. I want my name, Rou Cang, to hang at the top of the Holy Tablet!¡± the Captain bellowed. ¡°Yes!!¡± the pirates in the ship roared back in response. The Grey Rat was indeed in a dire situation. ¡°Throw, throw out the water and food, and the cargo. We keep only the weapons and wound medicine!¡± Rou Cang roared continuously, his voice turning hoarse. Barrels that stored rum, that stored foodstuffs, were all thrown into the sea. One by one, crates filled with goods were tossed into the water. Without these things, the Grey Rat¡¯s waterline dropped rapidly, and the body of the ship rose, providing more possibility to prevent running aground. Rou Cang was extremely anxious. He well knew that even so, the Grey Rat was in grave danger and could run aground and wreck at any moment. Because this was the notorious Cape of Sea Stones. The reefs here were incredibly hard, jutting out from the sea. Their surfaces were not smooth and rounded, but jagged and strange, as if they were chiseled and cleaved by an axe, extremely sharp. Years of rising and falling tides had not worn down these reefs¡¯ edges. This was because the material of these reefs was very special, of high Grade, reaching the Holy Domain Level. But they were exceedingly difficult to mine; forcibly mining them was costly and not worth the effort. The bad news was that Rou Cang¡¯s pirate ship was only of the Black Iron Grade. But the good news was that the Bath Tub, Rou Cang¡¯s ship, was of a higher spec, a Silver Level demon energy ship. Now, intimidated by the notorious Cape of Sea Stones, Rou Cang¡¯s crew chose to stop the pirate ship and used small boats to enter here. ¡°Captain sir, their ships are here!¡± the lookout shouted. Rou Cang strained his eyes and saw the ships belonging to Rou Cang encompassing the Cape of Sea Stones from all directions. If the Grey Rat tried to escape, it would surely be entangled by these pirate ships, making the likelihood of a successful breakout extremely low. Rou Cang quickly averted his gaze. He wasn¡¯t worried about these pirate ships. Because they, too, had stopped outside the reef group. What he was most concerned about was Rou Cang. ¡°Sir, they¡¯ve launched the attack,¡± the lookout shouted again. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How many of them?¡± Rou Cang¡¯s heart tightened, and he quickly inquired. The lookout immediately replied, ¡°Many, at least a hundred pirates came down from the Bath Tub. Rou Cang is at the forefront. Besides, many small boats have rowed over from other pirate ships, filled with pirates ready for battle.¡± Rou Cang took a deep breath, forcing himself to command in as calm a tone as possible, ¡°No more advancing, anchor here. Use the cannons and blast fiercely, hold nothing back, fire all the bombs!¡± ¡°Yes!!¡± The pirates were cornered, but their morale remained high. Rou Cang always commanded great respect among his crew. Chapter 222 - 222: Section 10: Demon Energy Ship Battle Chapter 222: Section 10: Demon Energy Ship Battle ¡°` The Grey Rat¡¯s cannon ports on both sides of the ship were opened, each followed by a small cannon. Although the cannons equipped on the Grey Rat were not large, larger cannons natural are also heavier. Pirates had strict requirements for the load capacity of their ships, and if there were too many or too large cannons, the Grey Rat would carry too much weight, making it difficult to exert its specialty in short-distance acceleration and flexible maneuvering. The pirates began to assemble bombs. Each cannon was manned by at least four pirates. Two of them carried the bombs, the third stationed near the cannon port to stuff the bomb into the muzzle. Subsequently, the third pirate would join the fourth to push the cannon out. ... Each cannon had a pair of wheels for pushing. Many cannons were soon sticking out of their ports. The pirates placed the burning torches on the fuses, which quickly burned out. With a booming sound, the gunpowder at the rear of the cannon exploded, producing a strong thrust. Driven by this force, the bombs screamed as they flew out. From Rou Cang¡¯s side, a large number of pirates in small boats quickly approached the Grey Rat. ¡°Cannon fire!¡± a pirate saw the white smoke suddenly rising from the Grey Rat and yelled out a warning. Then, bombs came flying in. Some fell into the water, raising huge columns of water, some hit the rocks, only chipping off some fragments. Others fell on the small boats, smashing the unfortunate directly and splitting the boats in two, dropping the surviving pirates into the water. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The pirates who fell into the water all screamed miserably. Haishi Corner here is inhabited by countless man-eating fish. Because of the unique material of the rocks, which absorbs a large amount of salt, the water here is close to freshwater. Soon, the surface of the water was stained red with blood. Countless man-eating fish in the bloody waters, tail flipping, desperately tore at each other for the pirates¡¯ flesh, causing a flurry of splashes. The pirates were hit hard by the Grey Rat¡¯s bombs, evoking more ferocity, howling constantly, and rowing the small boats with even more force. Although surrounded by rocks, the pirates¡¯ boat-handling skills were not low, and the small boats, drawing less water, moved agilely among the rocks. The only exceptions were two boats. These two boats were a size larger than the usual lifeboats, each manned by four pirates of more robust build. They frantically rowed their oars, but the two boats moved slowly. The reason for this was Rou Cang. He stood on one of the small boats, his body over three meters tall. He was extremely obese, almost like a mountain of flesh. Wearing only a pirate coat and a white loincloth, his huge belly and layers of fat were fully exposed, grotesque and nauseating to look at. Rou Cang¡¯s enormous weight made it difficult for the small boats to bear, the gunwales nearly submerged by seawater. They were the first to set out, but soon, they fell to the very back. Eight pirates rowed with all their might, but could only watch as other pirates surpassed them. ¡°Too slow, haven¡¯t you eaten?!¡± Rou Cang was very dissatisfied. The eight pirates shivered all over and rowed even more frantically, finally managing to speed up a bit. Boom! Boom! Boom¡­ The cannons fired repeatedly, the recoil sending the cannons jerking backward after each shot. The pirates took the opportunity to clean the cannon ports, then reloaded the bombs. Initially, they used solid shots. After a while of bombardment, as the enemy pirates got closer, they switched to grapeshot. These bombs scattered after being fired, creating a shotgun-like effect. The change in bombs, and the closing distance, rapidly increased the hit rate of the cannons. Rou Cang¡¯s pirates suffered heavier losses, and their morale visibly weakened. Many small boats sank midway, the air above the rock formations filled with the smoke of gunpowder, and pieces of wood of various sizes floated on the sea. Meanwhile, the pirates¡¯ bodies swiftly became bones drifting with the current amid the man-eating fish¡¯s frenzy. ¡°Come on, keep pushing!¡± Rou Cang bellowed, his voice booming, echoing across the entire battlefield. His pirates instantly shivered, and the initially waning battle cries surged again. The spirit of an army lies with its leader, and as long as Rou Cang was present, the pirates¡¯ morale was assured, preventing them from directly collapsing after being bombarded. Grey watched Rou Cang from a distance, his heart growing increasingly heavy. He was a Silver Level Transcendent, while Rou Cang¡¯s life level reached the Golden Level! Rou Cang was not under the command of the three legendary pirates, but he had been rampaging across the seas for decades, his brutal fame enough to quiet crying children. Grey knew very well in his heart that if he fought directly against Rou Cang, he stood no chance of victory due to the huge gap in their strengths. ¡°But this time, I am not alone,¡± Grey thought, feeling fortunate. He saw three pirate ships appearing in the distant waters. It was the Golden Chin, the Sea Snake Lady, and the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s silver-sea-snake-disguised pirate ship. ¡°Lady Rou Cang, please show mercy!¡± the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s voice, carried by magic, reverberated through the entire battlefield, ¡°We mean no harm to you.¡± Then, Golden Chin¡¯s voice also transmitted, his tone firm, ¡°We are under Firebeard, members of the brotherhood of pirate groups! Rou Cang, do you want to start a war with the Firebeard Pirates?¡± The pirates on the small boats stirred. ¡°A bunch of kids.¡± Rou Cang sneered disdainfully, then shouted loudly, ¡°Continue the attack!¡± ¡°Ooh!!¡± the pirates responded. ¡°Our reinforcements have arrived!¡± Grey yelled on deck, bolstering his own forces¡¯ morale. The three pirate ships raced toward Haishi Corner, all very fast. Rou Cang¡¯s fleet began to split off a group of pirate ships attempting to intercept Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady. The distance between the two sides quickly closed, and they almost simultaneously opened fire. ¡°` Bang, bang, bang! Massive bombs soared through the air, landing around the enemy ships. ¡°The wind direction is not good! They have the wind in their favor,¡± the First Officer reported to the Sea Snake Lady. Sea Snake Lady clenched her teeth and pulled out a Magic Scroll from her bosom. After unfolding it, she channeled her mana and cast a Wind Element Spell. A violent wind suddenly picked up, inflating the sails of the Sea Snake and Golden Chin significantly. With the wind¡¯s aid, the range of the bombs also increased significantly. ¡°Let them see what we¡¯re capable of, lads, open the bow cannons!¡± Golden Chin chuckled and loudly ordered. ¡°Oy!¡± Soon, the unique trapezoid bow of the Golden Chin began to slowly descend. As part of the trapezoid ramp sank, three large cannons hidden inside were revealed. These three cannons were swiftly pushed forward by the pirates, their large nozzles extending long out of the bow, against the fierce wind and spray. ¡°Fire the cannons!!¡± At Golden Chin¡¯s command, bright rings of light suddenly flashed along the lengths of the three bow cannons. These light rings stacked from the rear to the tip of the cannon nozzles. Then, the hundred rings collapsed together, firing a specially designed bomb from the cannons. The bomb soared high into the sky before following a parabolic trajectory downwards, leaving behind three long trails of white smoke in the sky. ¡°It¡¯s Golden Chin¡¯s Cigar Cannon!¡± ¡°Quick, dodge!¡± ¡°It¡¯s too late¡­¡± A wave of chaos erupted among Rou Cang¡¯s pirates. The specialized bomb landed on the decks of three pirate ships and exploded violently. The blast created a strong gale that instantly flung several pirates through the air. One pirate ship was directly disabled, while the other two drastically slowed down due to heavy casualties and damage. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Golden Chin laughed triumphantly. His pirate ship was also a Black Iron Level demon energy ship, less agile and fast than the Grey Rat but much stronger in attack and defense. Especially these three Cigar Cannons, which were Silver Level alchemy cannons. Initially, when dealing with the Grey Rat, Golden Chin, concerned about the safety of the treasure, had not rashly used the cannons. Fearful that Firebeard would rehide the treasure, he had aimed to capture Firebeard alive. However, he ended up being foiled by the knight youth and Zong Ge. Golden Chin began to display his true strength, and as Sea Snake Lady continued casting spells, the duo quickly overpowered the pirate ships that tried to intercept them. Although Rou Cang was a powerful Gold Level warrior, he did not have any Silver Level commanders under his command. His elite forces, mainly of Bronze and Black Iron Levels, were primarily involved in attacking the Grey Rat. Those left on the pirate ships were generally weaker. This allowed Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady to dominate swiftly, and soon, they approached the nearby Sea Rock Point. ¡°What should we do, Lord Rou Cang?¡± the newly appointed First Officer asked, visibly worried. The timing of Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady¡¯s arrival was too perfect. Most of the Rou Cang Pirate Group¡¯s forces were in the midst of attacking the Grey Rat. Their situation was extremely awkward now. If they insisted on proceeding with their attack, it was highly likely that all their pirate ships would be sunk. By then, not to mention pirate elites, even Rou Cang himself would hardly be able to fight alone on the sea without his ship. Golden Fighting Spirit would not allow him to leap across the vast ocean, he too needed rest, food, and healing. ¡°Damn it!¡± Rou Cang¡¯s face twisted in rage, furious, ¡°You all go back, guard my Bathtub, I will take care of Firebeard myself.¡± ¡°Oy!¡± The pirates obeyed, turning their small boats around. Except for the two small boats under Rou Cang¡¯s feet which were laboriously carrying his hefty, enormous body, they continued advancing towards the Grey Rat. Cannons kept firing at him. The eight pirates on the small boat were left with their ears ringing, with water splashes rising and falling beside them again and again, soaking them repeatedly. Bombs continuously hit Rou Cang. Rou Cang¡¯s body was covered in fat, and the bombs embedded into his fat layers, only to be instantly bounced back. The rebounded bombs, now faster and more powerful, severely damaged the Grey Rat, leaving it splintered and riddled with holes. ¡°Cease fire!¡± Firebeard had no choice but to issue such an order. The bombing had to stop. Seeing this, Rou Cang burst into laughter, extremely pleased. But the next moment, dozens of alchemy crossbow arrows shot towards him. Rou Cang glared fiercely. He did not intend to directly withstand these crossbow arrows. They could explode, burn, release freezing frost, or carry deadly poison¡ªwithstanding them was too disadvantageous, consuming far more Fighting Energy than rebounding the bombs. The next moment, Golden Fighting Spirit surged from Rou Cang. The Fighting Energy propelled him to shoot into the sky. The two small boats he left behind, along with the eight pirates on them, panickedly screamed. Soon, they were overwhelmed by alchemy crossbow arrows, exploding into dust. ¡°Firebeard, come face your death!¡± Rou Cang adjusted his position midair, like a colossal Mammoth, diving toward the deck of the Grey Rat. Firebeard stood fearlessly, thin sword in hand, ready on the deck. As Rou Cang was about to land on the deck, suddenly two figures shot out from the shadows. One was a Half-Beast, the other a Human Race youth! Together with Firebeard, the three attacked Rou Cang who was unstable on his landing. Chapter 223 - 223: Section 11: 3vs1 Chapter 223: Section 11: 3vs1 Zong Ge and the knight youth had been lurking aboard the Grey Rat all along, patiently waiting for the right moment to strike. ¡°Goddamn ambush!¡± Rou Cang¡¯s eyebrows inverted in surprise as he was hit by the unexpected attack. His Golden Fighting Spirit burst forth, halting his charging body mid-air, the momentum of his elephantine assault abruptly stopping. Zong Ge and the knight youth¡¯s attack could not reach from afar, only the grey Combat Skill, Gray Mist Wave, rushed towards him. But the normally dense gray mist couldn¡¯t obscure Rou Cang¡¯s colossal frame. However, as the gray mist began to corrode Rou Cang¡¯s body, the Golden Level powerhouse shouted fiercely, unleashing the Combat Skill¡ªMeat Sea Waves! ... His body¡¯s fatty layers rolled tumultuously, rising and falling like tidal waves. After brewing for three seconds, his whole body suddenly shook violently, sending a powerful vibration from inside out in all directions, with him at the center. Zong Ge, the knight youth, and their ally in gray were all prepared, their Fighting energy surging around them. Yet as the wave hit, their expressions changed drastically, feeling the power of the wave weird and formidable. It not only battered against their Silver Fighting Spirit defenses but also drove their own muscles to compress against their bones and organs! Thud, thud, thud. All three spat blood at the same time, swept aside by the powerful surge. The one in gray crashed into the mast, while the knight youth and Zong Ge were stopped by the ship¡¯s rail, barely avoiding going overboard into the sea. With no further obstacles, Rou Cang slowly descended to the deck, as if a deity had come down to earth. At this moment, the grandeur of a Golden Level fighter was undeniable! Zong Ge and the knight youth¡¯s coordinated ambush might have plunged Golden Chin, a peak Silver Level Transcendent, into a deadly crisis, but it was cleverly and forcefully countered by Rou Cang. ¡°This guy can actually fly!¡± gasped the one in gray, catching his breath after being winded. When a Transcendent practices Fighting energy to reach the Silver Level, it can protect the body¡¯s torso. At the Golden Level, the Fighting energy can extend a distance away from the body. Upon reaching the Golden Level, a fighter¡¯s attack range and variety of attack methods increase significantly. However, not all Golden Fighters can fly. Only a select few Fighting energy scriptures and Combat Skills enable flight, which also includes distinctions like short-distance flight, long-distance flight, and hovering. ¡°So we have three little mice here, and you¡¯re unlucky to encounter me as my Fighting energy reaches its peak. Ha, ha, ha¡­¡± Rou Cang sneered, his eyes filled with a vicious killing intent. Combat Skill¡ªSword Blade Assault! Zong Ge¡¯s attack interrupted Rou Cang¡¯s sneering. Holding his Two-Handed Greatsword with both hands, he positioned the hilt at his right side, the entire blade pointing forward, perpendicular to Zong Ge¡¯s upright posture. The greatsword¡¯s tip aimed directly at Rou Cang. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After charging for five seconds, Zong Ge¡¯s Silver Fighting Spirit burst out. His entire body accelerated rapidly, fusing man and sword, charging like a knight storming forward, both formidable and valiant in his attack on Rou Cang. Closing the dozen or so steps quickly, Zong Ge gave his all, the tip of his greatsword even shimmering with a hint of golden luster. ¡°Good sword!¡± exclaimed the one in gray, unable to hold back his praise. He knew the power of this sword; if it were him, he would be cleaved in two, with no second outcome possible. However, Rou Cang neither dodged nor evaded but instead thrust out his massive belly. He seemed to use his belly as a shield to block Zong Ge¡¯s blade. Zong Ge¡¯s strong thrust hit Rou Cang, but his face turned pale in response. Although the greatsword¡¯s tip stabbed into Rou Cang¡¯s belly, it was repelled by the robust Golden Fighting Spirit. Furthermore, Rou Cang¡¯s belly flesh rippled back, creating waves around the sword¡¯s tip. The flesh wave dispersed Zong Ge¡¯s charging energy throughout Rou Cang¡¯s body, even causing his hair to stand on end. Zong Ge felt as if he thrust into a pliable dough, the sense of futility making him feel nauseous. Such a potent strike was so effortlessly neutralized by Rou Cang that Zong Ge immediately tried to retreat. But Rou Cang, battle-hardened, didn¡¯t miss this opportunity for attack. Combat Skill¡ªTiny Meat Palm Strike! Raising his left palm, Rou Cang¡¯s Golden Fighting Spirit surged, coalescing into a basin-sized golden palm. His body quivering slightly from receiving Zong Ge¡¯s attack, the dispersed energy spread throughout his body and surged back. Rou Cang¡¯s flesh undulated again like returning waves. This time, however, the force didn¡¯t gather at his belly but flowed into the golden palm formed by Fighting Spirit. The palm shot out rapidly, hitting Zong Ge square on. Zong Ge not only faced the blow from the Tiny Meat Palm Strike but also the might of his own Sword Blade Assault. He flew back like a bomb, spewing mouthfuls of blood, slamming hard against the ship¡¯s rail. With almost no pause, he burst through the ship¡¯s side and plunged into the sea with a splash. Zong Ge, at the pinnacle of the Silver Level, couldn¡¯t even withstand a single round of solo combat against Rou Cang. Rou Cang¡¯s combat ability far exceeded the intelligence the knight youth had obtained. The one in gray clenched his teeth and hurriedly activated his Combat Skill¡ªGray Mist Sky. Thus, the deck of the Grey Rat was shrouded in a cloud of gray, obscuring everyone¡¯s sight. This unique Combat Skill of the one in gray not only consumed his Fighting energy but also his hair. A Silver Level fighter, his hair was not trivial and could be considered Silver Level Magic Material. Because of this, the Gray Mist Sky Combat Skill had a unique effect; the gray mist was extraordinary. Any Silver Level life entering it would face severe limits in vision and perception. Of course, the one in gray was the exception. Using the gray mist as cover, he silently approached Rou Cang from behind and plunged his sword forward. His thin sword targeted Rou Cang¡¯s vast and plump behind. Rou Cang was oblivious. Just as the thin sword was about to strike, it seemed as if an invisible pressure had come prematurely, causing a slight indent in Rou Cang¡¯s buttock. Though the indentation was barely perceptible, Rou Cang was extremely sensitive. He turned around fiercely, his right fist hammering down hard. Dressed in gray, he felt a surge of alarm and hastily retreated to dodge. With a loud bang, Rou Cang¡¯s fist smashed into the deck, punching a hole straight through it. Dressed in gray, he continuously stepped back, the splintered wood grazing his face. In less than a breath, he had disappeared into the gray mist again, his Life Breath condensed to the extreme. Rou Cang once again lost sight of his target. Dressed in gray, cold sweat streamed down his face. In the skirmish that had just taken place, he had skirted the edge of death. To get close to Rou Cang, he hadn¡¯t used any Combat Skills, completely concealing his presence. Yet Rou Cang¡¯s sense of touch was also so sharp. Even though his vision was hindered by the gray mist, such tactile sensitivity allowed him to thwart any such assassination attempts. Combat Skill¡ªMeat Sea Waves! Rou Cang unleashed the Combat Skill again, the surge of energy stirring up, sweeping the gray mist off the ship. And just as his vision cleared, the image of the knight youth suddenly appeared on his left side. Combat Skill¡ªHundred Needle Wind! In an instant, countless sword shadows blossomed, Silver Fighting Spirit clinging to the sword tips, making the knight youth¡¯s attack even more sharp. Rou Cang roared lowly, he had just deployed a Combat Skill, and at the moment his Fighting Energy was waning, making it very difficult to use Combat Skills for defense. The knight youth seized this opportunity. Rou Cang could only muster his full strength to stir his Golden Fighting Spirit, covering his left arm. He raised his left arm upright, his plump arm forming a makeshift shield. If it had been an attack by Zong Ge, it would have been ineffective at this moment. But the thin sword Silver Lightning was no ordinary weapon, its sharp blade pierced through the Golden Fighting Spirit, drawing out strands of blood. Rou Cang shielded his face with his left arm, his right hand brewing a Combat Skill. Three breaths later, he deployed the Minor Meat Palm Strike again. But the knight youth was already prepared, dodging in advance and leaving the attack to strike nothingness. ¡°He¡¯s wounded!¡± Dressed in gray, his spirit soared. They had been in combat until now, and though it was only a few exchanges, it felt like an eternity. The battle power displayed by Rou Cang exceeded the rumors, putting immense pressure on Dressed in Gray and the other two. Regretfully, had he known it would come to this, he would not have set such a trap. ¡°Nice sword.¡± Rou Cang said, looking at his blood-soaked left arm, and grinned viciously once again. His body stirred a tidal wave of flesh once more, the flesh wave enveloping his left arm, and the punctured wounds on the arm swiftly closed and sealed. The blood stopped almost instantly. Then, the tightly closed wounds began to heal at a visible rate. Combat Skill¡ªMeat sprouts! The knight youth and Dressed in Gray witnessed this and couldn¡¯t help but pale. Rou Cang actually had a very rare healing Combat Skill! This meant, as long as he had Fighting Energy, he could fight nearly unscathed through the whole battle. This was quite a desperate realization. ¡°We can¡¯t let him heal smoothly!¡± the knight youth shouted lowly, charging out first. Dressed in Gray clenched his teeth and joined the battle from the other side. The two circled around Rou Cang, attacking continuously. Rou Cang stood his ground, parrying left and right, unmovable, completely dominating the battle. The offense by Dressed in Gray and the knight youth, surprisingly, couldn¡¯t stop Rou Cang¡¯s healing. Boom! In the midst of combat, Zong Ge suddenly burst through the hole in the deck, catching Rou Cang off guard. But Rou Cang endured the slash of the Two-Handed Greatsword, once more repelling Zong Ge. The three of them circled Rou Cang, attacking relentlessly. Rou Cang shifted slowly, each attack causing Dressed in Gray and the others to leap about, with someone frequently being sent flying. The Grey Rat was a Black Iron Level ship, but it couldn¡¯t withstand such fighting. Soon enough, all the masts had been broken, the deck was riddled with holes, and only half of the rudder remained. ¡°My ship!¡± Dressed in Gray¡¯s heart ached like a knife was being twisted in it. The situation grew increasingly perilous. The knight youth, gritting his teeth, boldly pulled out an Alchemy Crossbow and aimed a flurry of shots at Rou Cang¡¯s huge body. Initially, the knight youth had been somewhat concerned about damaging the Grey Rat, but now, he had to use all of his strength for any hope of overcoming the formidable foe before him. Rou Cang found it difficult to dodge; his body was enormous and heavy, and the distance between them was so close. Momentarily, the Alchemy Arrows hit him in waves, and Rou Cang could only rely on his Golden Fighting Spirit to endure. The knight youth kept on firing relentlessly. He was equipped with four Alchemy Crossbows, all products of War Merchant alchemy. The crossbows were matched with the arrows, upon firing, the crossbow bodies had a Fine Engraving Array that could draw new arrows to float up and automatically load and draw the string. For a time, the knight youth¡¯s arrows rained down like a monsoon, suppressing Rou Cang for the first time. Dressed in Gray watched, his eyelids twitching as the aftermath of the Alchemy Arrow explosions ravaged the Grey Rat again and again, feeling as if his heart was bleeding. Chapter 224 - 224: Section 12: Retreat Chapter 224: Section 12: Retreat Magic¡¯s strength was extremely formidable. He was originally a seasoned Gold fighter, and the strength he displayed in this battle far exceeded the public¡¯s perception of him. The knight youth, Zong Ge, and Grey Rat, fighting together, were easily suppressed by him. However, Magic was not without weaknesses. The most obvious one was that he wore no equipment. His fists and feet were his weapons, and he wore only a loin cloth over his body, having discarded the captain¡¯s jacket at the start of the combat. ... His current state of dress was close to bare. This was also intentional. Because his combat skill was very special, having clothes covering his body would actually hinder his performance. However, precisely because of this, he had no armor in the usual sense. Now, facing the barrage of crossbow arrows from the knight youth, Magic could only use the Golden Fighting Spirit to protect his body. But this was a great disadvantage. The knight youth¡¯s use of alchemy crossbow arrows drained a large amount of Magic¡¯s fighting energy. Generating fighting energy took time; although Magic had a vast quantity, it could not withstand such consumption. Once his fighting energy was depleted, even though his body was still very strong, he definitely couldn¡¯t beat the knight youth, Zong Ge, and Grey Rat, who still possessed fighting energy. Magic also realized this and so he soon braced himself against the barrage of crossbow arrows and resorted to his ultimate technique. Combat Skill ¡ª Meat Mountain Giant Transformation! The fighting energy within his body surged wildly, and after fifteen seconds, he drew a sharp breath as his fighting energy suddenly exploded inside him. Magic¡¯s body rapidly swelled, especially his belly, which ballooned like an inflated balloon, becoming immensely huge. He was already very tall, but now, empowered by the combat skill, he had become a giant. His feet planted on both sides of the gunwale, the Grey Rat¡¯s first deck immediately became several times narrower. Only a towering mainmast reaching up to the waist of the giant Magic was left. Zong Ge and the others were even shorter than Magic¡¯s knees. ¡°What kind of combat skill is this?!¡± Grey Rat exclaimed in shock, having never heard of Magic having such a technique. ¡°Little mice, you are very lucky, to be the first to witness this form of mine. Of course, you¡¯re also very unfortunate!¡± Giant Magic sneered, then suddenly slammed both palms onto his own belly. Combat Skill ¡ª Chaotic Skin Drum! The belly trembled violently, producing a terrifying boom that seemed to strike at the hearts of everyone present. Boom, boom, boom¡­ Giant Magic then continued to strike in succession. The sound waves, semi-transparent, swept across the battlefield. Zong Ge stumbled, his face deathly pale. Grey Rat knelt on the deck, covering his ears in excruciating pain. The knight youth¡¯s face also turned red, feeling his entire body¡¯s muscles involuntarily twitching and trembling uncontrollably under the effect of the drumming. Especially the heart. The heart beats because of the cardiac muscle. Now, the cardiac muscle too was affected by the drumming, beating erratically and adding a tremendous strain. A few breaths later, the knight youth¡¯s ears bled, and he felt dizzy and disoriented. Magic¡¯s combat skill was terrifying; once deployed, he immediately aimed to kill the knight youth and the other two! The three of them were all Silver Level fighters and were in such a state. The pirates on the Grey Rat fared even worse, with half of them being killed by the first sound of the drum. After three consecutive booms, the rest of the pirates were all dead. ¡°We can¡¯t keep this up!¡± The knight youth gritted his teeth, his spirit invoking the Blood Core, as demon energy surged forth. A flash of red light disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. The knight youth transformed into the Dragon-man youth, mutating into the Dragon Head, Dragon Scales, and Dragon Claws. But without the Dragon Heart. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s face was contorted in pain; he was still suffering from the merciless assault of the drumming. Roar! The Dragon-man youth, putting all his strength into it, unleashed a Dragon Roar. Disturbed by the Dragon Roar, Magic paused briefly. The drumming hesitated, and Grey Rat, Zong Ge, and the Dragon-man youth himself finally got a precious chance to catch their breath. Spell ¡ª Vortex Cage! In the next moment, sea water rose up, quickly enveloping Magic¡¯s legs. The blue water spun continuously, forming two vortexes, imprisoning Magic¡¯s legs. It was the Sea Snake Lady who had acted. ¡°Quick!¡± The Sea Snake Lady knelt on the Sea Snake, struggling to maintain the spell, her complexion rapidly turning pale. It turned out that Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady had joined forces to defeat Magic¡¯s pirate group, and were nearing the battlefield. But seeing the situation of the Dragon-man youth and others against Magic, they dared not venture deep into the reef cluster, already having decided to retreat. The Dragon-man youth snorted quietly. If Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady fought with full force, with the power of five, it wasn¡¯t impossible to defeat Magic. But since the two of them had such an attitude, they had no choice but to retreat. Immediately, the youth ran towards Grey Rat and Zong Ge, tucking them under his arms, and leaped away from the Grey Rat. Zong Ge was already unconscious. ¡°My ship!¡± Grey Rat was also disoriented, but the sight of leaving the Grey Rat shockingly snapped him back to clarity. ¡°There will be other chances!¡± The Dragon-man youth casually reassured him, carrying the two and continually leaping across the reefs, increasing their distance from Magic. Magic snorted coldly and broke free of the bonds of the Water Magic. ¡°Three little mice, where do you think you¡¯re escaping to?!¡± he bellowed, his voice echoing across the wilderness. Afterward, he slowly bent his knees and squatted, as his Golden Fighting Spirit surged forth, accumulating at his legs and feet. The next moment, Rou Cang¡¯s legs violently thrust downwards, and the Golden Fighting Spirit roared out, propelling his entire body to leap forward. The Grey Rat, struck by his terrifying ground thrusting force, abruptly sank before it quickly tilted, flipping over completely! The Dragon-man youth was hopping between the rock formations when he suddenly saw a shadow enveloping his vicinity. The shadow swiftly expanded. The Dragon-man youth looked up to see, and his dragon pupils instantly narrowed. Rou Cang, like a mountain peak, bore down on the three of them. His momentum was so fierce and grand that even Golden Chin found it hard to breathe upon witnessing this scene. The Dragon-man youth struggled to retreat, but dragging two others with him, the speed of escape was always just a bit too slow. Rou Cang revealed a sinister smile; he could already envision the Dragon-man youth being crushed flat by him. But at the next moment, suddenly a Water Rope emerged from the sea¡¯s surface, wrapped around the waist of the Dragon-man youth, then yanked with great force. The Dragon-man youth, by a whisker and with the help of the Water Rope, narrowly avoided Rou Cang¡¯s pounce. The helper was none other than the Sea Snake Lady. Previously, Golden Chin had been cornered by the knight youth, Zong Ge, and Grey, facing certain doom, and it was her magic that had allowed for his escape. Now, the three youths also enjoyed the same aid. Rou Cang hit nothing but air and landed on the rocks, causing towering waves to splash up. He roared in anger, unleashing a Combat Skill¡ªMeat Body Raft. Golden Fighting Spirit enveloped his entire body, though just a thin layer, it continued to circulate constantly. Rou Cang stepped directly on the sea surface, the water reaching only above his ankles, and he continued the chase after the three youths. The Dragon-man youth dodged left and right, his situation looking grim. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Giant Rou Cang¡¯s offensive was extremely ferocious; even his ordinary punches and kicks were comparable to the might of Silver Level Combat Skills. Thankfully, with the intermittent tugging from the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s Water Rope, the Dragon-man youth managed to keep their lives safe for the moment, despite two burdens. In the midst of the escape, Zong Ge finally came to his senses. ¡°Put me down; we should split up and run!¡± Zong Ge immediately said. ¡°No!¡± the Dragon-man youth refused, ¡°I can still hold on a little longer¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Rou Cang struck from behind with another Combat Skill¡ªMeat Spikes! Golden Fighting Spirit transformed into fine, needle-like spikes, like a torrential downpour, enveloping the three youths. The Golden Fighting Spirit condensed into needles, and as long as they pierced the skin, they would burrow into the flesh of the three. The muscles of the three youths were immediately altered, rapidly crystallizing into sharp spikes. With the slightest movement, the spikes caused intense pain. The key point was that the spikes kept growing, and if left unchecked, they would pierce their internal organs. Should it come to that, minor injuries could turn into severe, if not fatal, wounds. Zong Ge and Grey groaned in pain, and the Dragon-man youth also suffered from this Combat Skill. His body was wrapped in Dragon Scales, but they couldn¡¯t completely block the Golden Fighting Spirit. The Dragon-man youth staggered, involuntarily falling onto the rocks below. Rou Cang pursued relentlessly, right behind them, and this delay directly plunged the three youths into a desperate situation. ¡°Go!¡± In the nick of time, the two youths flared their arms and flung Zong Ge and Grey away. He himself used the resulting recoil to accelerate his fall into the water. Just as he hit the water, he kicked hard, changing his direction beneath the surface. Almost immediately after, Rou Cang¡¯s massive foot stomped down, nearly brushing the Dragon-man youth¡¯s leg, and struck empty space. The huge wave created instantaneously was an impact to the Dragon-man youth¡¯s delight, spurring him to desperately dive deeper. Rou Cang hesitated for a moment, choosing not to continue his pursuit of the Dragon-man youth, instead turning to attack the nearest Grey. Along the way, Rou Cang was again impeded by Water Magic but shattered it with a thunderous blow. Grey had just climbed onto a rock and could no longer evade, only to watch helplessly as Rou Cang executed another Combat Skill against him. Golden Fighting Spirit gathered into a gigantic palm and slammed toward the Rat-man. The Rat-man closed his eyes, resigning himself to fate, but in the next instant, he was involuntarily pulled away by Zong Ge. The two avoided the energy giant palm, which then crashed onto the rock, causing an explosion. The rock was only partly shattered, but the powerful blast that followed sent Zong Ge and Grey flying. Rou Cang relentlessly chased after them, but halfway through, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. To his left and ahead, the Dragon-man youth was already standing on a piece of rock. His dragon mouth was continuously opening and closing, speaking only in Dragonese. He was casting a spell! Dragonese Magic¡ªFiery Dragon Breath! Seconds later, the spell chant completed, the Dragon-man youth violently expelled a stream of scorching flame. The flame blast struck Rou Cang head-on, nearly engulfing him in fierce fire. Rou Cang uttered no sound, bathing in the flames, his form remaining unyielding. Seconds later, he executed a Combat Skill¡ªGiant Meat Backhand! The Golden Fighting Spirit condensed into a massive palm, charged at the Dragon-man youth with Dragon Flame burning atop it, now gathering all the flames from Rou Cang¡¯s body onto the giant palm. The Dragon-man youth could only attempt to dodge with all his might. After his intervention, both Zong Ge and Grey managed to board the Golden Chin. Before long, the Dragon-man youth, with the aid of the Water Rope, made it onto the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s ship. ¡°Retreat! Retreat quickly!¡± the Sea Snake Lady ordered in panic. By the time Rou Cang returned to the Bathtub, the Dragon-man youth and the others had already pulled away to a safe distance. With an unhappy snort, Rou Cang once again submerged into the bathtub on the top floor, giving up the chase. Chapter 225 - 225: Section 13: Long Fu and Lion Flag Chapter 225: Section 13: Long Fu and Lion Flag Holy Bright Continent. Big Military Port. The weather was clear and cloudless, the sky a pristine azure, free of any impurities. The sun shone upon the harbor¡¯s surface, casting a diamond-like dazzling luster. Numerous warships were docked at the pier, massive in size, uniform in design, sails all furled, with the naval flag atop the mast fluttering in the wind. The Big Military Port was not a trading port but a military port specially established by the Holy Bright Empire. To enter the bay, one must pass through a narrow cliff-lock gate. Huge gate doors flanked by towering sandstone cliffs, with a dense array of cannons placed upon them, and the specially constructed robust gates, once shut, could obstruct Golden Level demon energy ships. Here lay a location that was easy to defend but difficult to attack; the terrain itself was a natural shelter from the elements. Over a hundred years ago, the Holy Emperor himself issued an oracle, and the Empire spared no expense to construct the grand Big Military Port as it stood now. ... The port was not only the largest naval base but also housed the Empire¡¯s most prestigious Naval Military Academy. Duke Yan Tan was the person in charge of the Big Military Port and was also the principal of the Naval Military Academy. However, it was often not easy for his subordinates to find him, as was the case right now. After receiving the report from 006, intelligence personnel needed to consult higher authority. ¡°Earl, sir!¡± The intelligence officer bowed slightly. This was Yan Tan¡¯s study. But the man presiding here was not the Duke, but Earl Wei Sheng of the Empire. Wei Sheng was youthful in appearance, with short golden hair that was tough and sturdy, each strand standing erect like his own personality¡ªsharp and direct. His eyebrows were particularly striking. Long and thick golden eyebrows, connected at the center and extending diagonally upward to the brow ends and temples. Overall, his golden eyebrows resembled a large ¡°V.¡± The windows of the study were open, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of the sea as it drifted in and occasionally stirred the white gauze curtains. But the sea breeze couldn¡¯t ruffle Wei Sheng¡¯s hair; nor could it ease the troubled expression on his face. ¡°Damn it!¡± Wei Sheng cursed to himself. He was not sitting in the armchair behind the desk but on the sofa intended for receiving guests. Even the plush sofa couldn¡¯t induce a moment of laxity in the ambitious young man, evidenced by his ramrod straight posture. On the coffee table between the sofas, there was a chessboard. Wei Sheng¡¯s gaze was locked on the chessboard. In the chessboard, light and shadow shifted as armies formed by various races battled each other. It was indeed a War Game. A millennium ago, this magical game originated from the Holy Bright Duchy and had persisted until the Duchy became the Empire, uniting the whole Holy Bright Continent. The War Game had become the most popular noble game throughout the Empire. ¡°Still no good, why do I always lose to him?¡± Wei Sheng¡¯s lips were tightly pressed as he continually pondered how to break the deadlock in his mind. He had tried many methods, but in the end, he could only watch his Human Race Navy suffer defeat and retreat under the encirclement of pirates, leaving wreckage in their wake. ¡°Earl, sir?¡± The intelligence officer gently reminded again. Wei Sheng hmphed coldly, his gaze shifting unhappily from the chessboard to the intelligence officer, ¡°Speak, what¡¯s the matter?¡± The intelligence officer instantly tensed, not daring to meet Wei Sheng¡¯s gaze, quickly lowered his head and presented a report with both hands, ¡°This is the latest report from 006, their battle with Rou Cang has ended, and their casualties and losses are substantial, they are seeking supplies from our side.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Wei Sheng immediately remembered, approximately a week ago, 006 had sent information that there had been a drastic change on their end. They had encountered the Grey Rat on the sea, but suffered defeat and capture. The cause of their defeat was the sudden appearance of two Silver Level Transcendents. These two individuals, named Long Fu and Lion Flag, originally intended to go to the Wilderness Continent but the ship they were on encountered a disaster. Taking the opportunity to disembark on an island for treasure hunting, they sneakily infiltrated the Grey Rat, and their surprise attack succeeded, subduing Long Fu. Long Fu resisted to the end and did not submit. Facing attacks from Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady, and the external crisis, they had to compromise and fight together. Long Fu first attracted the main attention, deliberately showing weakness, greatly underestimating 006¡¯s force, and ultimately relying on the strong combat capabilities of Long Fu and Lion Flag to win. Although 006 was captured, upon hearing Long Fu¡¯s words on deck, they risked revealing their identities, successfully persuading Long Fu and Lion Flag to participate in the Empire¡¯s secret mission. Consequently, Long Fu had no choice but to also join forces with the Empire. And thus, 006 made a great contribution. It seemed that after two successful surprise attacks, Long Fu had acquired a taste for such tactics and so didn¡¯t want to reveal himself directly. After discussion, they decided to still outwardly follow Long Fu as the lead, using him as bait. Soon after, they lured Rou Cang. They had devised a battle plan, intending to use the Sea Stone Reef to set up a trap to deal with Rou Cang¡¯s pirate group. With the strength of their five Silver Level Transcendents, they should have been able to take down Rou Cang. After the naval strategists learned of this matter, they also made calculations based on the intelligence reports, concluding that this battle plan was very likely to succeed. Thus, the Navy, according to 006¡¯s request, urgently transported a batch of Magic Contract Scrolls using Swift Eagle. ¡°So you¡¯re saying they won?¡± Wei Sheng extended his hand. The intelligence officer hurriedly handed over the report to him and replied, ¡°No, sir. They were defeated.¡± Wei Sheng took the report, and upon hearing this outcome, lost the desire to read it. He placed the report beside the magic chessboard, his brow slightly furrowed, his gaze once again fixed on the chessboard, ¡°They didn¡¯t kill Rou Cang? According to their combat power, they actually had a good chance of winning. Do they think that just by putting up a bit of a fight, they can deceive the Empire¡¯s support?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the case, Earl. We have discussed this battle and have always believed that we can support the 006 line more strongly. Please, sir, take a look at the detailed battle report,¡± said the intelligence officer. Wei Sheng picked up the report again and quickly skimmed through it. His eyebrows raised slightly, revealing a hint of surprise. After a moment, he pondered, ¡°According to 006¡¯s report, Rou Cang¡¯s strength has surged, and he is now top-notch even among Gold Level fighters. It¡¯s normal to be unable to beat Rou Cang.¡± ¡°Although they were defeated, they managed to destroy more than a dozen of Rou Cang¡¯s pirate ships. The Rou Cang pirate group suffered heavy losses, and their fleet was reduced to only six ships. Indeed, they have achieved military merit.¡± ¡°The key point is, throughout the entire battle, only three Silvers engaged Rou Cang. Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady did not fully participate in eradicating Rou Cang, and they still have potential to be tapped. Hmm¡­ indeed worth supporting.¡± Wei Sheng acknowledged the intelligence officer¡¯s perspective. He suddenly asked, ¡°Have the identities of Long Fu and Lion Flag been clarified?¡± The intelligence officer was momentarily taken aback, shaking his head, ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Not yet clarified, or not yet investigated?¡± Wei Sheng pressed. The intelligence officer asserted, ¡°We have not investigated.¡± Wei Sheng hummed in acknowledgment, nodding, but did not criticize. Because not investigating was not considered a dereliction of duty. These secret missions had only recently begun when Yan Tan assigned Wei Sheng, commanding him to take full charge of the matter. Therefore, Wei Sheng knew very well: among the many covert operations, the 006 line was actually quite inconspicuous. Even now that they had reached five Silvers. You must know that other lines were in contact with Gold strongmen, Holy Domain fighters. The Empire¡¯s might was universally recognized, and coupled with the considerable rewards it offered for recruitment, pirates who were commonly driven by profit were more willing to utilize the resources of the Empire to aid their struggle for the Pirate Throne. Thus, the progress of other covert operations was significant. Had it not been for a name covered in gray suddenly rising to the first place on the Holy Tablet, Wei Sheng wouldn¡¯t have remembered the 006 line. The reason for the surge in the ranking of the person in gray had already been reported by 006¡ªit was because he had obtained the bone finger of the fourth-generation King of Pirates. There were too many covert lines to be responsible for, to track, and to monitor, and the manpower on Wei Sheng¡¯s side was actually very limited. It was not worth it to spend precious manpower to investigate two Silvers. But in Wei Sheng¡¯s heart, there was always an inexplicable feeling that investigating these two people was necessary. At this time, the intelligence officer asked, ¡°Earl, do we need to start investigating them?¡± Wei Sheng shook his head, ¡°No need.¡± There was no evidence to suggest that it was worthwhile to investigate these two. One was a Half-Beast mastering military Combat Skills. The other possessed Bai He¡¯s Fighting Energy¡ªhis ability to manifest as a Dragon-man was likely due to a mutation in his Bloodline. They had achieved Silver Level and traveled together, aiming for success on the Wilderness Continent. Such situations were common. In recent years, a large number of people had poured into the Wilderness Continent. Among them were Gold strongmen who had not achieved success, even exiled Holy Domain warriors, and many others harboring dark intentions and hiding their true identities. Long Fu and Lion Flag were not noteworthy. ¡°It¡¯s clear that they come from humble origins. Whether it¡¯s military Combat Skills or Bai He Fighting Energy, these are common things that have been widely disseminated.¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If they were given better equipment, Combat Skills, and Fighting Energy techniques, their strength would noticeably improve.¡± The Empire could even recruit pirates; what more of these two? With that thought in mind, Wei Sheng made a decision, ¡°Let¡¯s handle it this way, I approve. Let them head to New Moon Port for resupply.¡± ¡°Understood, sir.¡± The intelligence officer respectfully took his leave. Chapter 226 - 226: Section 14: The Seduction of the Sea Snake Lady Chapter 226: Section 14: The Seduction of the Sea Snake Lady The night was gentle. The moon hung high in the night sky, pouring down a cascade of light like water. The sea breeze blew gently, and waves crashed against the white beach in a deep and graceful murmur. This was a Nameless Island. The Big Chin and Sea Snake Lady ships were anchored nearby on the sea. The small island was unsuitable for sea ships to dock, and to prevent running aground, the two ships could only anchor near the island. ... A day¡¯s journey away from New Moon Port, the knight youth had ordered a halt here to rest for the night and replenish the fresh water and food that had dropped to the warning line. The pirates took several small boats to the island in the afternoon, scavenged for a while, and then returned to their ship. The knight youth, however, stayed behind. Amid the night, he activated his Blood Core, transforming into his Dragon-man form. He began to chant. The language was full of rises and falls, deep and powerful. It wasn¡¯t Universal Language, but Dragonese. Dragonese Magic¡ªFiery Dragon Breath. The next moment, the Dragon-man youth opened his mouth wide, and magic power surged out, transforming into a ball of flames inside his mouth. Then the fireball expanded rapidly, shooting out into an inverted cone that covered the white sands in front of the youth. The fire roasted the beach for several breaths. During this time, the youth tried to turn his head slightly, altering the direction in which the flames were spewing. After the Dragon Breath finished, the beach was scorched black, emitting a pungent, strange smell. The Dragon-man youth looked at the traces of his Dragon Breath on the sand and sighed, dissatisfied. Since fleeing Mysterious Monster Island, he had been continuously practicing his Dragon-man form. Without a doubt, it was his strongest power. The King of Flame Dragon¡¯s Bloodline reached a Legendary Level. Even if he combined all the absorption of the man-made magical beasts on the island previously, it couldn¡¯t compare to this Bloodline. Putting everything else aside, the memories that came with the Bloodline alone allowed the youth to master Dragonese Magic. He lept from being a magic idiot to a magic genius. Dragons do not need explicit learning as they grow. These top-of-the-food-chain beings are blessed with envious racial talents. They only need to eat, drink, and sleep to naturally comprehend various powers during their growth. The methods to use these powers were rooted in their Bloodline. And it was this that benefited the knight youth. ¡°Currently, I have mastered three spells: Dragon Roar, Dragon Power, and Fiery Dragon Breath,¡± the youth mused. ¡°The casting times for the first two are half a second and one second, respectively, but the third requires five seconds.¡± This was after extensive practice. When he first began, the spells took even longer to cast. The first two were already of immense practical value. Dragon Roar allowed the youth to damage magic or special life forms, often leaving the target stunned. Dragon Power was his best weapon against multiple opponents. As for Fiery Dragon Breath, with its longest casting time, it required seizing the proper moment for use in battle. That was its drawback. On the other hand, it possessed advantages that Dragon Roar and Dragon Power did not have. That is¡ªstrength! The power of Fiery Dragon Breath was immense, virtually unstoppable for Silver Level enemies. Even for those of the Golden Level, it often forced them on the defensive. If Rou Cang could resist, it was because he too was a formidable one among those at the Golden Level. ¡°But the Dragon Breath needs more practice.¡± ¡°If I could shorten the chanting time, that would be best. Next, I need to use it more flexibly.¡± The youth calculated in his heart. When he now breathed out Dragon Breath, he was too focused. During the process, his body had to stand stiffly in place. This was clearly a huge vulnerability. Additionally, once he chose a direction to breathe the fire, it was difficult to shift the direction during the process. As seen in the practice just now, any shift caused the Dragon Breath to become unstable, fluctuating in intensity and reducing its suppressive force. These were the aspects the youth needed to improve. ¡°You¡¯re practicing that the wrong way,¡± suddenly a voice came. In the half-empty space above, a graceful figure gradually became visible. It was the Sea Snake Lady. Tonight, she wasn¡¯t dressed in her leather attire but was wearing a blue dress instead. The round neckline was cut very low, revealing a deep valley between her snow-white chest, flanked by her long, wavy hair, becoming even more alluring. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s pupils slightly constricted. The invisibility of the Sea Snake Lady was remarkably subtle; had she not deliberately dispelled it, the Dragon-man youth would have been none the wiser. ¡°What is the wrong way?¡± the youth inquired. The Sea Snake Lady descended slowly, lightly landing on the ground, then sauntering towards the Dragon-man youth with a catlike gait. Her eyes were fixated on the youth, her curvaceous mature body fully radiating her feminine allure, almost like a kind of captivating magic. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s heartbeat quickened involuntarily. The Sea Snake Lady approached the Dragon-man youth, stopping only an arm¡¯s distance away, contentedly standing firm: ¡°Magic is different from Fighting energy.¡± ¡°Fighters use fighting energy, all of which comes from within themselves. Mages are different, though, when they cast magic, in addition to using some of their own mana, the majority of the mana consumption comes from the outside world.¡± The Dragon-man youth¡¯s face showed a thoughtful expression, ¡°Are you talking about spellcasting materials?¡± The Sea Snake Lady nodded, taking a slow half step forward, drawing even closer to the youth, ¡°Spellcasting materials provide us with tremendous convenience in casting spells. On one hand, these materials contain magic power. We utilize our spirit to leverage this magic power for our use, which can reduce the consumption of our own mana. On the other hand, the materials themselves contain specific magic structures, greatly saving our mental consumption and time when we construct the Magic Model.¡± The Dragon-man youth looked at the Sea Snake Lady, who was ever drawing nearer, and frowned, ¡°What you¡¯re describing are orthodox spells. My spells come from my Bloodline, which is different.¡± The Sea Snake Lady shook her head with a smile, ¡°In essence, they¡¯re the same.¡± ¡°Your Dragon Breath, though an innate magic, still consumes magic power and requires a Magic Model.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that this Magic Model is rooted in your Bloodline, so you do not need to construct it with additional mental effort.¡± ¡°However, my lord, with your current situation, the last thing you should be doing is practicing these talented magic.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By the time the Sea Snake Lady finished speaking, she and the Dragon-man youth were face to face, with almost no distance between them. The Dragon-man youth was puzzled, ¡°Why should I not practice them?¡± The Sea Snake Lady bit her lip, sizing up the Dragon-man youth¡¯s face, chest, lower abdomen, and even lower, provocatively. Her voice lowered, becoming lyrical and seductive, ¡°Because, my lord, your Dragon Bloodline is not yet stable. Although the Bloodline has awakened, its concentration is not sufficient.¡± ¡°Under normal circumstances, you should maintain the state you¡¯re in now. But you can¡¯t, as you revert to the Human Race¡¯s appearance in normal times.¡± ¡°Of course, my lord, your human appearance is also very handsome.¡± ¡°So, what you should really be doing now, my lord, is to take specific potions to stabilize and even deepen your Dragon Bloodline. Naturally, practicing a certain Fighting energy technique can also help you achieve the same goal.¡± ¡°Please, my lord, do not practice magic excessively. Because casting spells requires the consumption of magic power and the construction of a Magic Model. You do not possess magic power, nor do you need mental effort to build a model, so what you¡¯re consuming is the foundation of your Bloodline.¡± ¡°If your Bloodline was stable, you could cast at will, but it is not stable now, and casting too frequently could lead to the degeneration of your Bloodline ¡ª and worse, it might even disappear.¡± ¡°I believe you would not want to see that happen, my lord.¡± Having said this, the Sea Snake Lady pressed herself against the youth¡¯s body. Although the youth¡¯s chest was covered with Dragon Scales, he could still feel the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s astonishing bust size and the temptation of her softness. The youth stood rigid, his breathing inevitably becoming heavy. The Sea Snake Lady, her body pressed against the youth¡¯s stalwart form, leaned in slowly. She whispered seductively into his ear, ¡°My lord, the night is long and dreary. On this little island, there are only the two of us to disperse the loneliness. What we should be doing now is not practicing magic, right?¡± The youth only felt a searing flame rising from his lower abdomen, his entire mind buzzing, almost dizzy with the sensation. Instinct made him unconsciously raise his hand. His hand had turned into a rigid Dragon Claw. His Dragon Claw touched the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s back and then slid downward¡­ The rigid and terrifying Dragon Claw contrasted starkly against the body of the female Mage and pirate Captain, supple and resilient. But in the next moment, the youth pulled the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s waist away, ¡°Thank you for your advice, Sea Snake Lady, but I¡¯d rather be alone for a while,¡± the Dragon-man youth said coldly. The Sea Snake Lady seemed astonished for a moment, and then she smiled. Biting her lip, she gazed at the youth, her eyes exceedingly enticing, ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come for you again, my young and handsome lord.¡± Her body slowly floated up, then kept flying toward the Sea Snake ship far out on the sea, eventually disappearing from sight. The youth exhaled deeply. After this interruption by the Sea Snake Lady, he no longer had the heart to continue his arduous training. Ceasing to mobilize the Blood Core, he reverted to his human form. His face, identical to that of Zhenjin, was now filled with worry. The Sea Snake Lady¡¯s reminder was very reasonable, but the youth¡¯s true situation was not as she had thought. Whether it was transforming into a Dragon-man or casting spells, what he was exhausting was the demon energy accumulated in the Blood Core. The youth stood on the pristine beach, bathed in the moonlight, staring at his right hand. It seemed to still retain the warmth of the Sea Snake Lady. That delicate, slick touch was still reverberating in the youth¡¯s heart. ¡°This Bloodline brings me not just power.¡± Previously, the youth had already felt it. Tonight¡¯s encounter deepened those feelings. The King of Flame Dragon¡¯s Bloodline was influencing him. Dragon nature is lecherous. The youth found himself increasingly unable to resist the opposite sex, especially alluring ones like the Sea Snake Lady. He had a strong urge just moments ago, his hand even acting uncontrollably, touching the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s waist. But in the end, his will as a Knight triumphed over the instinctual urge. Apart from this influence, the youth found himself becoming more and more arrogant. He began to feel contempt when looking at lower beings, even the Human Race, developing a sense of disdain. This feeling of disdain seemed innate, similar to how humans view pigs and dogs. The youth managed a bitter smile while beginning to understand the King of Flame Dragon. The King of Flame Dragon was supremely arrogant, holding the youth and Zong Ge in utter contempt. It wasn¡¯t until the Blood Core showed the capacity to kill it that the Dragon had to change its attitude. ¡°I am a Knight, not some Dragon-man,¡± the youth looked up, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, silently admonishing himself. Chapter 227 - 227: Section 15: Mermaid Tavern Chapter 227: Section 15: Mermaid Tavern New Moon Port belonged to New Moon Town; it faced Feiyu Strait and was backed by Honeymoon Forest. Honeymoon Forest was the largest Elf-administered territory within the Holy Bright Empire, and the Elf King had surrendered to the Holy Emperor early on. The Holy Emperor then made it part of the Empire¡¯s Marquisate. Honeymoon Forest was rich in resources, the most famous of which was Moon Spring Water. Drinking this water could quickly replenish one¡¯s Magic Power. If one drank it over an extended period, it could also increase the upper limit of one¡¯s Magic Power reserves. The Elves living in the forest maintained large-scale trade with the Holy Bright Empire all year round. However, New Moon Town, despite being adjacent to this vast forest, didn¡¯t serve as a trade hub. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The town serving as the trade hub was Colorful Hill Town, located atop a mountain, into which the Empire had invested a great deal. Colorful Hill Town sat directly across the forest from New Moon Town. Colorful Hill Town boasted an air harbor famous throughout the Empire. Airships, hot air balloons, Griffins, and Sky Whales came and went all year round; especially in March and September, all sorts of flying mounts and devices circled and landed in the skies of Colorful Hill Town like flocks of birds. ... Compared to the more convenient and well-developed air routes of Colorful Hill Town, the sea lanes of New Moon Town were far less competitive. New Moon Town itself had no special products, but its development also depended on Honeymoon Forest. The difference was that New Moon Town relied not on trade, but on the annual Beast Tide from Honeymoon Forest. The Beast Tide was both a crisis and an opportunity. The Mercenary Guild and Thief Guild had established branches here, the Super Mercenary Corps had set up offices, and Hunting Groups were regular visitors. Mages and Scholars could be seen from time to time. The time before and after the Beast Tide was the busiest for New Moon Town. Mermaid Tavern was the largest and oldest tavern in New Moon Town. The reason it was the largest and oldest was that it was the only tavern in the entire town. Inside the tavern, it was noisy and brightly lit. The bartender was wiping glasses behind the bar. A male bard was singing on stage. The song had a lively rhythm and was imbued with a rich tropical flavor. At that moment, the door of the bar was suddenly pushed open. Four people looking travel-worn burst in and drew the attention of many. The leader was a Human Race man, robust with straw-yellow hair and emanating a deep and rich Bronze aura. Following him was a goblin, his face covered with a black cloth and a Longsword strapped to his back. After that came an old man with a face full of wrinkles and a corpulent figure, wearing huge spectacles. His black and white beard was well groomed. Lastly was a young man with an average appearance and seemingly a bit nervous. The four made their way through the tables and headed straight for the bar. The elder was the first to speak with a hoarse voice, starting off with a complaint, ¡°This damn mountain road.¡± Then he plopped down onto a high stool, tapped the bar¡¯s surface, and asked, ¡°What good drinks do you have here?¡± The bartender put down the glass he was wiping: ¡°Guest, our specialty here is Bronze Apple Wine. The ingredients come from a Bronze Apple Tree in the central city of Honeymoon Forest. You¡¯re surely aware of Copper Apples, Iron Apples, Silver Apples, and even Golden Apples, right?¡± The old man raised his eyebrows slightly, showing a hint of surprise. These apples were not ordinary, being Magic Plants that contained wondrous Magic Power. Consuming them over a long period could allow a Transcendent of the corresponding Level to increase their foundation and rapidly grow stronger. More importantly, when a Transcendent was at the Peak of their life but temporarily stuck in a bottleneck, unable to break through, they could choose to consume a higher-grade apple to help themselves achieve the breakthrough. These Magic Apples were the most precious trade items from Honeymoon Forest. As for Moon Spring Water, it was a Holy Object of the Elf Clan, never sold to the public. The old man smiled, ¡°Then give me a cup of Bronze Apple Wine. Everyone else, some beer.¡± ¡°One cup of Bronze Apple Wine for one Gold Coin. The total for the beers is eighteen copper coins,¡± the bartender said with a smile, sensing the ordinary Life Breath from the old man and advised, ¡°Old sir, try not to drink too much.¡± The old man directly took out two Gold Coins from his pocket, placed them on the bar, pressed down on the surface of the coins with two fingers, and then slowly pushed them toward the bartender: ¡°Tell me some news.¡± Thus, the bartender understood that the extra money was the old man¡¯s fee for information. ¡°If you are here to inquire about the Beast Tide, then I have to tell you, you have come too early.¡± ¡°No, no, no.¡± The old man shook his head, ¡°Tell me about the ships.¡± He lowered his voice slightly and added, ¡°the ships I¡¯m talking about aren¡¯t merchant ships or warships.¡± The bartender gave a brief flash of sharpness in his eyes and also lowered his voice, ¡°Then you are quite fortunate because these few days, there¡¯s a good opportunity. At least two ships will dock at the port for extensive supplies. Whether those two ships are hiring, I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Two ships? What kind are they?¡± the old man pressed on. ¡°They are a group. I¡¯m not fully aware of the specifics, but they¡¯re strong. The Captains of both ships are Silver Level masters. And it¡¯s said that among this pirate group, there are more than two Silver Level Transcendents!¡± The old man puzzled, ¡°Exactly which group is it? Two Captains? Is it a small alliance?¡± The bartender shook his head, ¡°That, I¡¯m not too sure.¡± The old man took out another Gold Coin. But the bartender refused to take it. This made the old man understand that it wasn¡¯t that the bartender didn¡¯t want the money, but that he knew no more than he had already told. Nevertheless, the old man still pushed the Gold Coin towards the bartender, ¡°I want to get on the ship, do you have any connections?¡± The bartender sighed, shaking his head, ¡°No connections. This is their first time docking. But I think you have a good chance. This group has been through a great battle, and although they were defeated, their opponents were Golden Fighters. It¡¯s said they lost a ship, and you can imagine the loss of personnel.¡± The old man looked at his three companions, and he instantly understood that the pirate group the bartender referred to was the group with the knight youth, Zong Ge, and the One in Grey. The old man was none other than Cang Xu. The other three were Lan Zao, Sanda, and Bai Ya. Although the knight youth had captured 006 and initially reached cooperation with the Empire, securing a Magic Contract, this time, they would personally head to the Empire¡¯s seaport to resupply. The knight youth certainly would not proceed straight there; what if the truth of Mysterious Monster Island were exposed? What if the Empire side wanted to lure and kill the pirates? Therefore, the knight youth ordered Cang Xu and the others to land first and scout the situation. Meanwhile, he personally led the fleet, anchoring at Nameless Island for resupply, to buy Cang Xu and the others time for reconnaissance. Cang Xu and his associates took the Deep Sea Monster Fish to New Moon Port ahead of the rest, slightly altering their appearances using various means, and headed to the Mermaid Tavern to gather information. There is a saying in the Empire that goes well¡ª¡±Wine can¡¯t invent anything, but it can shake out secrets.¡± Thus, taverns have always been excellent places to gather intelligence. Hearing news that their group was to resupply relieved much of Cang Xu¡¯s worries. Once news had spread, the Empire¡¯s likelihood of setting a trap to kill them diminished greatly. For the Empire, credibility was more important than luring and killing a few Silver Level pirates. From the information obtained from 006, Cang Xu was quite clear: the Holy Bright Empire had big plans for the pirate¡¯s seat of god. Therefore, the Empire would not abandon such significant plans merely to dispose of some Silver pirates. As for why the news got out? The answer was quite simple. The supply provision by the Empire would inevitably involve personnel and resource mobilization. And some of the supplies requested by the knight youth included particularly large items. These things could not be concealed. As long as people were involved, naturally, there would be information circulating. Of course, merely gathering information was far from enough; as part of their plan, Cang Xu and the others would also sneak to the docks at night. But now it wasn¡¯t late enough for that. Cang Xu and his associates still remained in the tavern, continuing to gather other intelligence while waiting for the right moment. The tavern¡¯s business was booming, constantly bringing new customers. The Mermaid Tavern was not large and soon became noisier and more crowded. Cang Xu and the others had left the bar and were sitting at a table in the corner. A tall, thin man with black hair bumped into Cang Xu. ¡°Sorry!¡± He gestured with his hand and immediately turned to leave. But suddenly, Sanda made a move, grabbing the man in an instant and with a fierce blow, knocked him to the ground. The man clutched his stomach, groaning in pain. Sanda casually pulled out a purse from the man¡¯s embrace and placed it on the table in front of Cang Xu. Seeing his own purse, Cang Xu¡¯s face showed a look of astonishment. ¡°Thief!¡± Bai Ya exclaimed. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this,¡± Lan Zao stood up, grabbed the man by the collar, dragged him all the way to the tavern door, then pushed the door open and threw the thief outside. Due to this disturbance, the raucous noise in the tavern subsided somewhat but quickly returned to its previous level. Cang Xu quietly listened in the corner. Many pieces of information often slipped through the conversations of these drinkers. He got what he had hoped for, information regarding their own group. After the mysterious disappearance of the Pig Kiss, the Holy Temple Knights, the Holy Sect, and the Hundred Needle Family had all sent people to search for a while. After the search proved fruitless, the rescue teams were disbanded, and the missing persons posters for Zhenjin, Jia Sha, and others had already been posted in coastal cities everywhere. The posters had their portraits and also indicated a handsome bounty. Cang Xu was not worried. This situation was within his expectations. Moreover, although Zhenjin and Jia Sha had made contact with those in grey early on, their appearances had also been altered to a certain extent and differed significantly from their original looks. Most importantly, the knight youth possessed Bai He¡¯s Fighting Energy. This type of Fighting Energy was quite common and not unique to the Hundred Needle Fighting Energy, making it difficult for people to make a connection between the two. ¡°What a fascinating story!¡± Bai Ya suddenly exclaimed. Cang Xu was taken aback. Bai Ya pointed to the bard on the tavern stage, ¡°Don¡¯t you think the story he¡¯s reciting is fascinating?¡± Cang Xu paused, his attention had been focused on the other customers¡¯ conversations, and he had neglected the music that had been present all along. The bard on stage strummed the lyra as another person accompanied him on the flute. The poetry he recited was in the classic format of a heroic epic, telling the tale of several heroes who discovered cultists and brought them to justice to protect the townspeople. Cang Xu initially thought little of it, but at the end of the poem, the bard, in a tone of praise, revealed the names of these heroes¡ªthey turned out to be the town¡¯s Mayor, Guard Captain, Church Priest, and even the owner of the Mermaid Tavern. ¡°So this really happened,¡± Bai Ya marveled. The surrounding customers were not surprised; they had heard this piece many times and were used to it. Cang Xu hurriedly lowered his head to conceal his emotion. He had heard more information about the cultists, and the end of the song revealed his evil Faith¡ªMei Lan! Chapter 228 - 228: Section 16: Kidnapping Cang Xu Chapter 228: Section 16: Kidnapping Cang Xu Mei Lan, the Sea God. Beloved deity of the Fishman. The tales of the mermaid are indeed His divine artifact. Yet it is known to all that not only Fishmen are His followers. Faith spreads. Any aquatic species might take up the faith in Mei Lan. Before He ascended to divine status, His true form was that of a mermaid. Hence, many from the mermaid clans also worship Him. ... Similarly, it is not odd for humans to worship this deity, especially in coastal areas where His faith spreads more easily. Historically, the Holy Bright Empire had no official Sea God. And Mei Lan was quite the orthodox Sea God. Believing in Him was very beneficial for His followers. It made sailing smoother and increased the fish catch. Sometimes fishing could yield large shells containing pearls or other rare fish species. The key point was, He was a god of the other races. The Holy Bright Empire had always fiercely oppressed such deities. Because faith is important, these unique resources are fiercely competed over by the deities. Faith is an incredibly powerful force. It relates to the secular; followers¡¯ donations bring in massive wealth, and the power of the sects can carve out armed factions. It also has cultural implications; the mutual understanding among believers surely surpasses that of ordinary people. The shared faith means shared values, particularly positive faith, which can greatly promote cooperation among humans. Lastly, it relates to the gods themselves. Gods are the most ancient beings in the world and often the most powerful forces. The secrets of the gods are not universally known, but generally, the more followers a god has, the stronger His power. Therefore, anyone worshipping deities like Mei Lan was labeled a cultist. Cultists often met tragic fates, and from the perspective of the empire, it was essential to make an example out of them! S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What an unexpected find!¡± Cang Xu was moved. He hadn¡¯t expected to stumble upon a lead on Mei Lan in the tavern. They were now faced with great difficulties, some of which were related to the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale. This divine artifact could produce Pearl Bubble, which everyone used to conceal themselves. However, the efficiency of the artifact was decreasing, meaning they soon wouldn¡¯t have any Pearl Bubble available. At that point, it would be hard to counter spells and divine arts including prophecy and surveillance, and they would quickly be exposed. If the Empire¡¯s forces were to pursue them, they would be doomed. ¡°If we could find such a cultist, through him find a way to enhance the artifact¡¯s productivity or use the Pearl Bubble more efficiently. This would be a great help to us!¡± Cang Xu pondered. Zi Di was deeply engrossed, making it very difficult to contact the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needles right now. Redemption, for the moment, seemed impossible. In such situations, the longer they dragged on, the greater their chances of redemption became. ¡°This cultist was unfortunately captured, perhaps due to carelessness or inadequate strength. The poem also speaks of his fate¡ªpublicly executed. But still, this is a valuable clue. Perhaps, there are others here with the same faith, not just this one man.¡± Thus, when the four of them left the tavern to start their operations late at night, Cang Xu spoke, ¡°Let¡¯s split up. Lan Zao, Sanda, go explore the docks and make sure this area is secure. Meanwhile, Bai Ya and I will check the cultist¡¯s residence.¡± Lan Zao nodded in agreement. Regarding Mei Lan and the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, this lead was indeed worth investigating further. However, Bai Ya hesitated, somewhat reluctant to be alone with Cang Xu. The young man harbored a faint fear of the old scholar. But Lan Zao and Sanda left directly. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Cang Xu urged. Bai Ya gritted his teeth and, with a hardened resolve, followed the old scholar. The cultist¡¯s dwelling was by the seaside, a crudely built small boathouse. The dilapidated wooden stairs and the leaky roof that had seen better days spoke of utter neglect. The old scholar asked Bai Ya to guard the door while he himself pushed open the entrance to explore inside. The boathouse was starkly bare and straightforward. Since the cultist¡¯s incident, many had visited this place. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± After looking around, the old scholar suddenly paused, his gaze lingering on the ground beneath him. This particular floorboard seemed a bit too loose. The old scholar bent down and, using the clear moonlight, groped around for a moment. Soon, he lifted the floorboard. It turned out to be specially made, a movable floorboard. But Cang Xu soon felt disappointed. Below the floorboard was calm sea water, nothing else. However, just as he was about to close the floorboard, he caught sight of a symbol out of the corner of his eye. At that moment, Cang Xu¡¯s pupils shrank. He was shocked because he was one of the few in this world who knew the special significance of this symbol! ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Just then, a gleaming dagger suddenly appeared at Cang Xu¡¯s throat. A humanoid shadow slowly emerged behind Cang Xu. It was a thief. ¡°I¡¯ve apprehended him!¡± the thief shouted. Clearly, he had accomplices. The next moment, the door was kicked open. Another thief, escorting Bai Ya, entered the room. Though restrained, Bai Ya struggled fiercely without giving in. The fighting energy surged into Bai Ya¡¯s body, causing him to scream in agony; his strength quickly drained, nearly collapsing to the ground. ¡°Be smart, kid. Keep it up, and I¡¯ll kill you!¡± warned the thief behind him. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± Recognizing the thief behind Bai Ya by the moonlight, Cang Xu realized it was the same man who had successfully stolen his purse in the tavern. Indeed, even though this thief had failed in the theft and was thrown out of the tavern, he had not given up. He was a member of the Thief Guild, and having found assistance, he had been watching Cang Xu and the others all along. ¡°They were just two bronze-level thieves; they originally had no chance, but the benefits of pursuing further soon became evident¡ªthe four, led by Cang Xu, had split up.¡± ¡°The strongest, Sanda and Lan Zao, had left far away, while the weakest, Cang Xu and Bai Ya, took another path.¡± ¡°In the eyes of the two thieves, this strategy of splitting up was foolish, but it also made them very happy.¡± ¡°They stealthily followed, watching Cang Xu enter a small boat dock. Seeing no one else around, they immediately made their move.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, opportunities always favor those who do not give up,¡± one thief said as he restrained Bai Ya, looking towards Cang Xu with great self-satisfaction. Cang Xu shook his head and sighed, ¡°Don¡¯t harm us. What do you want? I can give you money.¡± The thief in front of the old scholar immediately laughed, ¡°See, I told you this was a fat sheep!¡± The next moment, Cang Xu heard the thief behind him reply, ¡°He who can afford to drink bronze apple wine must naturally be a fat sheep.¡± ¡°Speaking of which,¡± Cang Xu changed his tone, ¡°you¡¯ve kidnapped us, aren¡¯t you afraid of our people giving you trouble? Do you even know who we are?¡± The thief holding Bai Ya laughed, ¡°You are certainly not a mercenary group. But that goblin, he might have been a mercenary. People are different, although mixed together, in my eyes, all your backgrounds are clear.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, you must have some noble backing you. You¡¯re a noble¡¯s lapdog!¡± ¡°As for this young man, he¡¯s just purely a rookie, too inexperienced.¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°Your guess is actually quite good.¡± The thief grew even more proud, continuing, ¡°I¡¯ve been in New Moon Town for many years, and in these recent two or three years, New Moon Port has gradually changed. It seems unchanged on the surface, but actually, I know some forces have secretly reached out here.¡± ¡°Your backing noble probably wants to smuggle.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why he values this place, wanting to seek huge profits through a sea route.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯ve built a dock and secretly dispatched men among the pirates to build a network.¡± ¡°No, the power behind you isn¡¯t necessarily the Human Race. Heh, it might be the elves from Honeymoon Forest. I¡¯ve long heard rumors that the Elf King of Honeymoon wants to return to the Elf Holy Hall, although the trade with the Empire grows bigger, the status of Honeymoon Forest has been declining year by year.¡± Cang Xu could only laugh in silence. This thief in front of him did have quite the imagination. It was not strange for the thief to know that Cang Xu¡¯s group wanted to infiltrate the pirate group. Cang Xu asking a bartender for information about others and the bartender, likewise, selling his information to others. This was the business of intelligence. The thief had a keen eye and to some extent, he figured out the details of Cang Xu, Bai Ya, Sanda, and the others. But he didn¡¯t know that in fact, it was the Imperial Navy secretly investing in the construction of New Moon Port. The Imperial side aimed to turn this into a qualified secret supply port, convenient for espionage missions. What the thief said about ¡°New Moon Port gradually becoming different in the last two or three years¡± indicated that the Imperial plan to advance the secret port construction had already started two or three years ago. The competition for the Pirate King¡¯s throne began this year, but the wise men of the Empire had long heard or foresaw this situation occurring, and had prepared a plan in advance. The Holy Bright Empire wasn¡¯t the world¡¯s leading power solely because of its strong muscles, but also because of its intelligent brains and far-sighted vision. Although the thief¡¯s speculation was wrong, the logic was internally consistent. It¡¯s just a pity he belonged to the lower ranks¡ªif he was a bit higher in status, receiving more secretive information, he should have guessed the correct answer. ¡°How many gold coins do you want? I¡¯ll cooperate with you. I hope you release me soon because I have important tasks assigned to me,¡± Cang Xu sighed, ¡°Compared to the loss of this money, the consequence of delaying the mission from above is far more severe. Moreover, I have to warn you two, after receiving the ransom, please leave this town as soon as possible and try not to come back.¡± ¡°Because once I regain my freedom, I will inevitably use manpower and resources to hunt you down. Of course, I don¡¯t really wish to harm you two, but my status dictates that I can¡¯t bring disgrace to the noble backing me. Please cooperate with me and don¡¯t make it too difficult for me.¡± ¡°Hehehe,¡± the thief, with a mocking expression, said, ¡°I know, the honor of nobility!¡± ¡°Tell me, how much ransom do you want? If you can¡¯t write, I can help you write the ransom note,¡± said Cang Xu. The two thieves looked at each other, not expecting Cang Xu to be so compliant. One of them tentatively said, ¡°Then, a hundred gold coins?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Cang Xu immediately nodded in agreement. Seeing his straightforwardness, the two thieves instantly regretted it: ¡°No, two hundred gold coins.¡± Cang Xu nodded. ¡°Three hundred gold coins, no, five hundred gold coins!¡± the thief reneged again. Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°Five hundred gold coins is too little. How about a thousand gold coins instead?¡± The eyes of the two thieves gleamed. ¡°But the problem is, can you actually afford this thousand gold coins?¡± Cang Xu smiled. The two thieves suddenly changed color. The mocking tone in Cang Xu¡¯s laughter was just too intense. ¡°You old thing, I¡¯ll let you suffer.¡± The thief holding Cang Xu flicked his dagger. The next moment, the dagger stabbed into Cang Xu¡¯s cheek, slicing a long wound across his face. But no blood flowed from the wound. Moreover, from the cuts, it was evident that Cang Xu¡¯s inner flesh was a shocking white, devoid of any vitality. ¡°What are you?!¡± The two thieves were horrified. Cang Xu smiled, reaching out to touch his own cheek. He pressed the sliced open flesh back into place with his fingers. Then, the other three watched as the wound on Cang Xu¡¯s face rapidly healed. The two thieves realized something was amiss and wanted to pull back to increase their distance from Cang Xu. But at that moment, they realized they were immobilized. An indescribable coldness froze their souls. ¡°You, you, you!¡± ¡°Spare us, spare us!¡± Their faces contorted, desperately begging for mercy. But Cang Xu began to chant. After a dozen breaths, he cast his spell, forcibly extracting the souls of the two thieves; their bodies fell to the floor. Chapter 229 - 229: Section 17: Digging Up Corpses at Midnight Chapter 229: Section 17: Digging Up Corpses at Midnight In the dark, decrepit dock, moonlight seeped through the cracks. The gaunt old scholar before them now showed eyes cold as frost, as the souls of the two thieves continuously begged for mercy before him. Bai Ya, now unshackled, regained his freedom. He fell to the ground, feeling an unforgettable sensation from just a moment ago. The souls of the thieves flew past his ear, brushing against much of his body, bringing with them a chilling coldness. ¡°Please, spare us!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, don¡¯t kill me. I have money, I¡¯ll give you all my savings.¡± ... The souls writhed and wailed continuously. The scene suddenly shifted. Undead Mage! The rot of darkness, the mystery of death, chilling and brutal, toying with the dead, manipulating souls¡­ Undead Mages had always been shunned by the orthodox, universally hunted. Within the Holy Bright Empire, the efforts to kill Undead Mages were even more severe. Discovery led to vigorous warrants for their murder, without ever showing leniency. Bai Ya uncontrollably started shivering. Throughout his life, he had heard many terrifying stories. And the protagonists of these stories were often Undead Mages. Although he had already known about Cang Xu¡¯s identity, the eerie and terrifying scene of Cang Xu interrogating souls now aroused an endless fear in Bai Ya¡¯s heart. Cang Xu inquired about matters concerning the cultists. Thieves always had good information. One spirit of a thief spoke hastily, ¡°The Mayor led a large force and surrounded this little dock. After the City Defense Army burst in, they saw the cultist flipping open the floorboard trying to escape underwater. The priest and the commander of the City Defense Army took action together and subdued him.¡± Another spirit of a thief quickly added, ¡°After the cultist was captured, the Mayor and others discussed, and decided to hang him publicly in the afternoon a week later.¡± ¡°The Mayor, the priest, and the commanders of the City Defense Army, for the sake of political achievements and glory, highly publicized the event and even hired bards to compose a song. Every evening, in the Mermaid¡¯s Bar, it¡¯s sung at least once.¡± ¡°In fact, the actual capture went very smoothly, nothing like the complexities in the song.¡± Cang Xu narrowed his eyes; he found it very strange. The symbol under the floorboard was clearly etched deliberately; with such a sign, how could someone be caught so easily? ¡°Where is his body?¡± Cang Xu asked. ¡°He was hanged, and then left hanging on the noose for a week. Finally, he was buried in the Burial Mound behind the village,¡± the thief¡¯s spirit knew everything. Cang Xu fell silent. His gaze shifted back to the wooden floorboard that could be lifted. He now felt this piece of wood was very strange. If this cultist was the person Cang Xu thought he was in his mind, he would not have been captured and hanged so easily. Also, this wood floorboard was completely unnecessary. ¡°No, this might be a disguise!¡± A sudden insight flashed in Cang Xu¡¯s mind, giving him a new perspective. ¡°How was the identity of this cultist exposed?¡± Cang Xu asked again. This time, both spirits of the thieves shook their heads. They only knew it was some rumors. The priest of the church first received a tip, noting the cultist¡¯s strange behavior. Then the priest found the Mayor, who dispatched City Guards to investigate and confirm the evil faith of the cultist. Cang Xu nodded and started singing again. The two spirits of the thieves immediately writhed in agony, screaming shrilly, tumbling wildly in midair. After a dozen breaths, one of the spirits suddenly burst apart, while the other stabilized. Its previously translucent human form transformed into a deep blue color. The human features remained quite distinct, but after the transformation, his face became very vague, leaving only a mouth and two eye sockets, with the nose and ears completely vanishing. Undead Magic¡ªGhost Creation! S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This spell used the living soul as material to create a ghost. Obviously, the spell had a certain success rate, like now: Of the two souls, only one transformed into a ghost. After the transformation into a thief ghost, many things were lost, not just the human appearance; he no longer begged for mercy but floated silently in mid-air, waiting for his master¡ªCang Xu¡¯s next instruction. ¡°Float down, check the underwater situation nearby,¡± Cang Xu commanded, and the ghost drifted gently, directly passing through the dock¡¯s wooden floorboard, quickly merging into the water. ¡°Young man, I hope you can keep watch for me again, can you?¡± Cang Xu said to Bai Ya with a smile. Bai Ya was momentarily stunned, then quickly nodded, hurriedly ran out, and stood guard outside. Cang Xu sang again, this time pulling out a pitch-black bone. After he finished chanting, the pitch-black bone also disintegrated into dust and completely scattered. With the help of casting materials, Cang Xu successfully cast another Undead spell¡ªGhost Eye. When he opened his eyes, they were pitch black. The situation underwater appeared directly in his mind as he meticulously searched the seabed while using his spirit to control the ghost. A discovery! Soon after, he noticed an Array hidden at the seabed, cloaking an entrance. Due to its location underwater, the entrance resembled a circular valve. ¡°It¡¯s highly likely that there¡¯s an underground lab below this valve!¡± Cang Xu estimated internally. Then, he manipulated the ghost, cautiously probing for a while. The Array only had a function of disguising and isolating, with no counterattacks or traps. As it was protected by magic power, the thief ghost couldn¡¯t utilize its own advantage to penetrate directly. Cang Xu didn¡¯t rashly attempt. He thought for a moment, and for now, decided to give up on breaking through the Array and the valve. Bai Ya circled around the small dock, patrolling the sandy beach. The moonlit beach should have been beautiful, but the young man, having just witnessed the Undead Mage killing two thieves and extracting their souls to produce a ghost, had no mood to appreciate the scenery. He looked up at the moon, feeling bewildered. ¡°I wanted to be a knight. Why am I here? Am I an accomplice to an Undead Mage? In those stories and poems, I¡¯m the villain after all.¡± Bai Ya was deeply troubled. He wanted to become a knight, not a wicked Undead Mage¡¯s evil henchman. Creak. A sound echoed as Cang Xu pushed open the door, walking out of the small boathouse. Bai Ya hurried forward to meet him, but soon his steps hesitated slightly. Behind Cang Xu floated the ghost of the thief. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Cang Xu said indifferently. Bai Ya obediently followed, but subconsciously always maintained a distance from Cang Xu. The young man originally thought they were going to meet up with Sanda and Lan Zao, but the road they were on was obviously wrong. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Bai Ya asked anxiously. ¡°Heh heh, to a more important place, to verify a guess of mine,¡± Cang Xu smiled. If one didn¡¯t know Cang Xu was an Undead Mage, that smile would seem very natural. But at this moment, Bai Ya always felt Cang Xu¡¯s smile carried a chilling coldness, profoundly unsettling. The young man had mixed feelings about Cang Xu. On one hand, he had saved Cang Xu¡¯s life. If it wasn¡¯t for Bai Ya¡¯s intervention, Cang Xu would have been eaten by a green lizard. On the other hand, after Bai Ya had passed out, Cang Xu had suggested using Bai Ya¡¯s flesh as food. Knowing this afterward, despite understanding, naturally made Bai Ya feel disgusted. Moreover, Cang Xu had taught Bai Ya many times, and his knowledge deeply impressed the young man. Lastly, when Cang Xu revealed his identity as an Undead Mage on Mysterious Monster Island, Bai Ya became even more fearful of him. With the ghost leading the way, the two quickly arrived at the Burial Mound behind the mountain. Looking at the haphazard tombstones and overgrown weeds, with the night wind whistling, Bai Ya was surprisingly calm. He wasn¡¯t worried about any ghosts coming to trouble him. ¡°I do have an Undead Mage by my side,¡± at this moment, Bai Ya felt a subtle sense of safety because of Cang Xu. The ghost floated around for a while and then slowly stopped at a spot. It pointed towards the ground below it and made a wailing sound. Cang Xu turned to Bai Ya, ¡°Young man, there¡¯s something here that needs your effort.¡± Soon, Bai Ya found a piece of dead wood, which he split into a rough wooden shovel. With the wooden shovel in hand, he began to dig. ¡°What am I doing?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m digging up a corpse!¡± ¡°How did it all come to this?¡± ¡°I wanted to be a knight, not an accomplice to an Undead Mage.¡± As the soil gradually turned over, Bai Ya suddenly got startled, nearly falling back to the ground. He discovered a corpse buried in the dirt. ¡°Well done, young man, take it out carefully. Don¡¯t be too rough,¡± Cang Xu said. Bai Ya held his breath, the corpse was too stinky, its flesh half-rotten with bones exposed in some areas, and other areas still clad in decomposed flesh with white maggots wriggling inside. Struggling with fear and disgust, Bai Ya used all his strength to dig out the corpse. But Cang Xu crouched down, showing no aversion, examining the male corpse. His actions were very skilled, and what scared Bai Ya even more was Cang Xu¡¯s attitude. He treated the male corpse no differently than he did the bodies of wild animals. On Mysterious Monster Island, Bai Ya had seen Cang Xu dissect the bodies of man-made magical beasts more than once. Beneath his calm gaze was hidden curiosity and a peculiar pleasure from satisfying that curiosity through practice. ¡°Young man, do you know? Even though a person is dead, often their body can tell us many secrets,¡± Cang Xu sounded quite pleased. Bai Ya was puzzled, ¡°Sir, why didn¡¯t we just use that spell just now? If we summoned this dead man¡¯s spirit, we could ask everything.¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°After death, a spirit¡¯s existence has a time limit. This not only constraints Resurrection Divine Skill but also limits Undead Magic. He has been dead for too long; his spirit has dissipated. But because of this, it indeed explains some problems.¡± ¡°What problems?¡± ¡°The deceased isn¡¯t really the cultist.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°He found a poor soul to die in his stead.¡± Saying this, Cang Xu stood up straight, stretched out his foot and gently hooked the corpse, flipping it over to lie face down. Then, Cang Xu took out a pouch from his bosom, sprinkling some powder. He muttered under his breath, spirit manipulating the magic power within the powder, causing the air to subtly ripple. The powder fell onto the corpse, quickly raising spark-like illusions. The illusions shifted constantly, resembling the tentacles of blue seawater and slightly glimpsing fish scales. ¡°These are probably the Divine Arts of the Mei Lan God,¡± Cang Xu smiled again, ¡°Now please bury him back.¡± ¡°Ah? Bury again?¡± ¡°Respect for the dead, let¡¯s bury him for peace,¡± sighed Cang Xu. Bai Ya couldn¡¯t help but mutter in his heart, ¡°It¡¯s clearly because of you that we are here digging up corpses.¡± Fortunately, after the reburial, Cang Xu led Bai Ya back to the town. The two of them successfully met up with Lan Zao and Sanda. ¡°We¡¯ve checked everything; there¡¯s no problem at the docks. We found many supplies, including the items we mentioned. The Empire is sincere; it¡¯s not a trap,¡± Sanda said. Cang Xu nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve also made significant findings here. If the truth is as I¡¯ve guessed, perhaps we can resolve the issue of the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale!¡± Chapter 230 - 230: Section 18: Greedy Divine Bone Chapter 230: Section 18: Greedy Divine Bone The sky was as blue as the sea, the breeze was light, and the sun shined on the ocean surface, creating a glimmering effect. The Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady were docked at the pier, and the knight youth led his people slowly down the wooden staircase. A receptionist was already waiting on the dock and immediately stepped forward to greet them. ¡°Captain Long Fu, esteemed heroes of the sea, please follow me,¡± the receptionist slightly bowed, his attitude neither servile nor overbearing. Since New Moon Town had been designated as the port for the secret mission, the dock had been under Imperial control. At that moment, aside from the Empire¡¯s personnel, only the knight youth and his companions were present. The knight youth walked at the forefront, closely followed by Zong Ge, who was disguised as Lion Flag, and 006, followed then by Grey, Golden Chin, and the Sea Snake Lady. These latter three surveyed their surroundings with a vigilant gaze. ... Although they had accepted the Empire¡¯s spy mission, it was their first time coming to the Empire¡¯s secret port. Naturally, they were somewhat nervous; after all, at sea, they could sail freely, but being in the port made them easy targets for an ambush. Compared to them, the knight youth¡¯s gaze was calm and Zong Ge looked around boldly, showing the demeanor of someone daring and skilled. The receptionist accompanied the knight youth, his gaze sharp, capturing every nuance of the group¡¯s demeanor. ¡°It seems that the information from Long Fu is accurate; he must be an Imperial Knight. He and his companions possess a natural trust in the Empire.¡± ¡°As for the other three, they were indeed seasoned pirates accustomed to the sea.¡± The receptionist led them into the shipyard. This shipyard was no small facility like the ones Cang Xu used to investigate cultists. It was massive, not only fully equipped but also included alchemy tools, indicating that the personnel involved in shipbuilding were at least Transcendents of the Black Iron Level since ordinary people couldn¡¯t handle alchemy items. ¡°This shipyard, when operating at full capacity, can produce at least two warships of Black Iron Level each year. One and a half years is needed to build a Bronze Level warship. If it was a standard warship, then even more could be constructed.¡± ¡°Of course, the shipyard in New Moon Port isn¡¯t responsible for building ships but for repairing and enhancing the ships¡¯ performance for you, lords.¡± ¡°Ports like New Moon Port, with such shipyards, have been established by the Empire across thirty locations, spread across the Holy Bright Continent and various islands at sea. There will be even more in the future.¡± The receptionist spoke with pride, himself being of the Bronze Level, and his words displayed the considerable power of the Empire. The shipyard was not empty; a ship was moored inside. It was a large three-masted sailing ship, its body wide with extended fore and stern castles. The ship was 80 meters long, 36 meters wide, and 15 meters high. It had three decks, 24 cannons, and could carry around 500 sailors. This of course was not the full capacity, as it also took into account consumption of food and other aspects of a long voyage. This ship was even larger than the Pig Kiss, which was 76 meters long, a commercial trading vessel capable of ocean voyages between two continents, nearly reaching the top tier. They really couldn¡¯t be compared simply because the Pig Kiss was for commercial use, while this sail ship was a warship! Just one round of cannon fire could be enough to sink the Pig Kiss. The emergency lifeboats made by everyone on Mysterious Monster Island were even less comparable. The knight youth and others showed no surprise upon seeing this ship. In fact, acquiring this ship was one of his goals for this mission. They had successfully destroyed a large number of ships from Rou Cang¡¯s pirate group, showing significant achievements. Though they had retreated after a setback in their clash with Rou Cang, the knight youth and his group had demonstrated their potential and value. The Empire decided to increase its support, and this ship was a testament to the Empire¡¯s sincerity and a specific request from the knight youth. He needed a ship to serve as his flagship. He did possess the Deep Sea Monster Fish, but since that ship was acquired through War Merchants, it was better to keep it concealed if possible. This could reduce the likelihood of information leaks and allow him to use it as an unexpected asset, a hidden card. As a leader, the youth naturally hoped to have as many such cards in hand as possible. So up to now, Grey, Golden Chin, and the Sea Snake Lady were unaware of the existence of the Monster Fish. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at the ship first,¡± the knight youth suggested. The receptionist immediately smiled, ¡°This way, please.¡± He led everyone onto the ship for a thorough tour. The warship was fully equipped, including a chart room with sea charts and sextants, sailor cabins with single and double beds, a kitchen specifically for cooking and a spacious dining room adjacent to it. Since it was a warship, there were few cargo holds, but the ammunition and food storage were substantial. There were a medical room, a carpentry maintenance room. It had an energy chamber equipped with a demon energy furnace, the heart of the warship, meaning that even in still wind, the warship could still move rapidly using demon energy. Besides, there was an alchemy room, a meditation room, a combat training room, and even a prayer room. Generally speaking, pirate ships do not have prayer rooms. National warships do, as they are designated for priests and fathers. The captain¡¯s quarters are located at the stern of the ship, offering the best views and the most spacious area. The wide brownish-red ship¡¯s wheel and the mast, still exuding the smell of paint, along with the pristine sails, all confirmed that this new ship had just been launched and was at its peak condition. The entire ship was made of top-grade oak, but the surface of the hull also exhibited a metallic sheen. This was a metal coating, an alchemy technique that had emerged only in the last hundred years, capable of greatly enhancing the toughness of the treated object. This wasn¡¯t the expertise of war merchants, who specialize more in life alchemy and creating armaments. The concept of alchemy is actually quite broad, with many subdivisions. Indeed, a war merchant is an alchemy grandmaster, but he is not the only one. Lastly, everyone toured the gun deck. The ropes for the gun ports were crafted from fine iron, but the gun deck itself was empty. The tour concluded. Zong Ge, trying to conceal his pleasure, although skilled in land warfare, recognized the quality of this warship. One dressed in gray displayed a melancholic expression, the sight of the new warship reminding him of his own Grey Rat. The knight youth was both satisfied and unsatisfied. He was satisfied because the warship exceeded the specifications he had requested, being of the Black Iron Level powered by demon energy. He was unsatisfied because the warship was still incomplete. The most notable absence was the cannons¡ªnot a single one was equipped. Even the sails, only one set was on the main mast. Besides that, food, water, liquor, and ordinary sailor¡¯s sleeping bags all needed his supplementation. Leaving the warship, everyone returned to the dock. The receptionist had prepared tea and refreshments in the workroom, serving everyone while also handing the Magic Contract to the knight youth. This was the youth¡¯s first supply stop, of significant importance. The content of the Magic Contract was an agreement, specifying the cooperative relationship between the parties, as well as their duties, including the consequences of breach. After reviewing the contract, the youth handed it to others to inspect. After examining it, the youth nodded to the receptionist, ¡°The contract is fine.¡± ¡°Captain Long Fu, esteemed gentlemen, before signing this contract, please wait a moment as I need to verify some information with the relevant personnel,¡± the receptionist said with a gentle smile. Captain nodding, 006 took the opportunity to communicate with the receptionist. The receptionist needed to confirm 006¡¯s status, whether there were any threats or coercion, or any previously undisclosed circumstances? The youth was not worried about this. Deep Sea Monster Fish, Cang Xu, and others, 006 was unaware of. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the experience on Mysterious Monster Island, the youth had become more cautious and prudent in his actions. Whether it was a confrontation with Golden Chin, Sea Snake Lady, or a struggle with Rou Cang, he always kept the Monster Fish concealed. As expected, under the influence of the Magic Tools, the receptionist confirmed that 006 possessed a free and complete will. ¡°I apologize for making you wait,¡± the receptionist said sincerely, although the wait had not been long, ¡°Lastly, there is one item that needs verification. It involves the Divinity pointed bone in the intelligence report. May I personally identify it?¡± The youth nodded, slightly turned his head, and signaled to the one in gray. The one in gray then loosened the collar of his clothes, pulled out a necklace, took it off in front of everyone, and handed it to the receptionist. The receptionist was well prepared, or rather the Empire was well prepared. He took out an identification scroll, which soon flashed with a brilliance like white gold. The identification scroll was of high specification and not cheap; it successfully identified on the first attempt. However, the receptionist did not stop there. He used another scroll of the same specification to confirm the previous identification. Holding the white bone in his hands, the receptionist couldn¡¯t help but admire, ¡°To some extent, it¡¯s already a demi-divine artifact! The bone of the fourth-generation Pirate King, I must say, your luck is truly amazing. It will be highly useful.¡± The knight youth uttered an ¡°oh,¡± and deliberately asked, ¡°Could you explain in detail?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the receptionist nodded. ¡°So far, there have been six generations of Pirate Kings. The first three were Barbarians, an era dominated by pirates, whose existence troubled all the Nobles, even terrifying them. Today¡¯s scholars refer to this as the Barbarian Dragon Era.¡± ¡°The Barbarian Dragon Era ended due to the fracture of the pact between Barbarians and the Dragon Clan, leading to a joint suppression of pirate activities by the nobles of all continents. It wasn¡¯t until hundreds of years later that piracy resurged, giving rise to a new Pirate King.¡± ¡°The fourth generation Pirate King emerged, but he was not a Barbarian, instead, he was a goblin Thief.¡± ¡°Relying on what seemed to be an inherent devious talent and just the right amount of luck, he preemptively took the pirate throne. However, his strength was very low, only at the Golden Level. Therefore, he was later betrayed by other entities and lost his life.¡± ¡°However, how could a goblin who managed to steal the pirate throne be ordinary? He was not just a common Gold Thief; he possessed Divinity!¡± ¡°His Bloodline was extremely high-end, at the level of gods. During his growth, he gradually condensed greed Divinity. Any action that satisfied his greediness aided the growth of this Divinity. And the growth of Divinity made him even more greedy. This insatiable greed is why he risked so much to claim the pirate throne.¡± ¡°After his death, his greed Divinity settled in his bones. As spoils of war, his bones were divided and scattered to different corners of the world.¡± ¡°Normally, as long as intelligent beings obtained these Bone Fragments, the embedded greed Divinity would act. These Bone Fragments would point the user towards the location of what they desired most deep within their hearts.¡± ¡°No wonder the name of the one in gray rose to the first position on the Holy Tablet. Of course, he isn¡¯t anymore.¡± Chapter 231 - 231: Section 19: Empire Inventory Chapter 231: Section 19: Empire Inventory ¡°In truth, the Greedy Divine Bone had long been confiscated by the knight youth. However, upon arriving at New Moon Port, the youth returned the small Divine Bone to Ashen One ahead of time. This was to conceal the existence of the Pearl Bubble. According to the rules of the Holy Tablet and pirate divinity, if the knight youth had snatched the Divine Bone from Ashen One, this act would comply with the pirates¡¯ plundering behavior, and the youth¡¯s name would be honored on the Holy Tablet. But on the Holy Tablet, it was always Ashen One¡¯s name. To this, the knight youth explained to 006 and the Empire that although he had defeated Ashen One, he had not taken his treasure but instead wanted to recruit the Beastman as a subordinate. The Empire was deceived and did not yet discover the true facts. ... The knight youth also used this to keep the Green Jade Gold Coffin a secret. Currently, only Ashen One knew this secret. ¡°Has Ashen One¡¯s ranking been squeezed out? Who did it?¡± the knight youth asked, curious. But the receptionist shook his head, ¡°It was the Holy Daughter Qing Yu of the Beast Race, who severed the arm of our monk Tuoyin and stole the legendary gauntlets Sunrise. Because the battle took place in a seaside city, her name was listed on the Holy Tablet.¡± The knight youth thought it was some legendary pirate who had acted, and was surprised it was someone else. However, both Qing Yu and Tuoyin were well-known powers of the Holy Domain, and the youth had long heard of their feud. Compared to this information, the youth was more concerned about another question¡ªwhy could the Holy Daughter Qing Yu take the first spot and squeeze out Ashen One? The legendary gauntlets Sunrise¡­ their value was clearly not comparable to the Divine Artifact, the Green Jade Gold Coffin. ¡°Could it be that there¡¯s a plundering element to this, and her actions, compared to Ashen One¡¯s mere treasure hunting, align more with a pirate¡¯s deeds? Thus, does the Pirate King¡¯s divinity favor her more than Ashen One?¡± This was just a guess; the knight youth was not yet able to obtain an answer. The practicality of the Pearl Bubble made the inner details quite complicated. The Holy Tablet was certainly also a Divine Artifact, and how it compared in strength with the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, the knight youth couldn¡¯t estimate. The situation now was that the knight youth had snatched both the Green Jade Gold Coffin and the Greedy Divine Bone from Ashen One. Under normal circumstances, his name should have replaced Ashen One, ranking first on the Holy Tablet. However, because of the Pearl Bubble, he had deceived the Holy Tablet, resulting in Ashen One still being at the forefront. So the question arose¡ªdoes ¡°Ashen One¡± on the Holy Tablet refer to the person himself or to the knight youth? The extent to which the Pearl Bubble could disguise was unclear to anyone. This was an issue the knight youth needed to explore very cautiously. Because even a slight carelessness could expose himself. ¡°Inspection complete, property returned to its original owner,¡± the receptionist said, storing away the used identification scroll and returning the Greedy Divine Bone to the knight youth. The knight youth then gestured for Ashen One to put it away. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Next, it was time to sign the official contract. Before, the knight youth had used 006 to have the Empire send through Swift Eagle a Magic Contract Scroll, merely to confirm his and the subordination of Ashen One, Golden Chin, and Sea Snake Lady. Now that this contract was signed, they were truly recognized by the Empire and became one of the members tasked with executing the Empire¡¯s spy missions. The content of the contract was concise and clear, with not many restrictions on the knight youth and others¡ªin fact, the conditions were very lenient. The Empire side, wanting to attract pirates to join them, naturally couldn¡¯t impose too many restrictions. Once confirmed there were no issues, the knight youth and the others all signed the contract with the same content. After this step, the receptionist¡¯s attitude became even more enthusiastic. He took out a scroll, presented it with both hands, and handed it to the knight youth.¡± This is an alchemy scroll, utilizing an alchemy technique known as ¡°Endless Paper,¡± usable by any Transcendent. Mages infuse mana, Priests infuse divine power, while fighters can channel fighting energy. ¡°Just like this¡­¡± the receptionist explained as he demonstrated the use of the scroll in front of everyone. Under the influence of his Black Iron Level fighting energy, a series of text and numbers continuously emerged on the surface of the scroll. ¡°According to the contract we just signed, Captain Long Fu, you possess Black Iron Level authority. This authority allows you to enjoy certain discounts when purchasing Bronze Level supplies and enables you to buy most Black Iron Level items as well as a few Silver Level items.¡± ¡°The specifics are all here on the scroll. We simply need to focus our spirits to access more content.¡± Everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on the scroll. As expected, the content of the scroll continuously appeared as the receptionist shifted his spirit. ¡°Eh? It seems that the items listed here cannot be purchased solely with currency?¡± queried the Sea Snake Lady. ¡°Yes,¡± nodded the receptionist. ¡°To purchase the items listed here, there are two types of currency required. One is the regular currency that is commonly in circulation, and the other is contribution. Some very important items must be acquired through contributions.¡± ¡°Contributions are the conversion of your honors and achievements, calculated and discussed by scholars to determine the specific numerical results.¡± ¡°Sometimes, the Empire issues certain targeted missions. Completing these missions could earn you a significant amount of contribution.¡± Golden Chin crossed his arms and then asked, ¡°If we have loot from our raids, would you purchase it?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± replied the receptionist. ¡°We generally buy it at market price. If the materials are rare, we shall also offer a higher price. The specifics are all detailed in the alchemy scroll.¡± Golden Chin nodded slightly, very pleased with this arrangement. Being offered market price was already quite exceptional. Because the booty pirates plundered was often sold below market value. ¡°May I try it?¡± the knight youth asked after observing for a while, extending his hand toward the receptionist. ¡°Of course,¡± the receptionist handed the scroll to the young man. As the knight youth channeled his fighting energy, he found that part of his spirit also engaged with the scroll. When he wanted to see the subsequent content, the original text on the scroll quickly faded, and new text and numbers appeared. The content within the scroll was plentiful and extremely complex, with an array of items listed. The first part was about intelligence. The Empire provided substantial support in intelligence to pirates who have surrendered. Whether it was about islands, ships, or powerful entities at sea, or even treasure maps¡ªall were included. The knight youth was well aware of the importance of intelligence. Not to mention Rou Cang. If he had known Rou Cang¡¯s real strength in advance, he would have made a more adequate response plan. Senior pirate groups actually had informants spread across all major ports and even on supply islands along the routes. By relying on these informants, pirates gathered intelligence that allowed them to accurately block other vessels. Of course, the knight youth didn¡¯t have any. If he were to engage in a pirate raid, he would likely just patrol the trade routes, hoping his luck would bring him to a merchant ship. ¡°Intelligence provided by the Empire will compensate for my biggest shortcoming!¡± Of course, the intelligence provided by the Empire was selective, with a strong implicit bias, and this intelligence was not free of charge¡ªit required purchasing with money. Some particularly important pieces of intelligence would also cost contributions. Chapter 232 - 232: Section 20: The Poor Me Chapter 232: Section 20: The Poor Me Part two covers navigational equipment. Ships are included within this category. The warship requested by the knight youth is one of the three Silver Level ship models available. The three ships differ in performance: one is balanced, one is more defensive, and one is faster. The ship requested by the knight youth belongs to the first type¡ªbalanced. In addition to the ships, there are other navigational devices from the Age of Great Voyages. ... These include a Black Iron Level alchemy sextant, a nautical chart with movable patterns, a huge water bucket that can hold a hundred kilograms of water at a time, sails woven from bird feathers using alchemical grades, and a rudder that can self-repair minor damages¡­ Although the ship the knight youth reserved also has sea charts, sextants, rudders, etc., they are mere giveaways and are of quite ordinary quality. Moreover, some items are incomplete. As the receptionist mentioned, these equipment pieces come in ordinary quality, bronze quality, black iron quality, and a few in silver quality. This encompasses nearly all aspects encountered in navigation. Choosing what to buy requires skill. The hull of the ship reserved by the knight youth reached Black Iron Level. Some of these devices need to be mounted on the ship, which considers the foundation of the hull. Normally, a Black Iron Level demon energy ship can carry Silver Level and even Gold Level equipment. Holy Domain Level and Legendary Level are not possible. This is because it involves aspects of demon energy supply and power support. Demon energy ships have mana pools and demon energy furnaces. If the equipment is too advanced for the ship¡¯s grade, its power is difficult to utilize, and such equipment places a huge burden on the hull. What the knight youth most wanted were canons. There are many types of canons, including curved fire guns, cannons, and mortars. There are also special canons such as the Revenge Burning Cannon, which can shoot flames, the Three-barreled Revolver Cannons, which can fire continuously, and the Brilliance Healing Cannon that can heal our members. After all, there is not a single canon on the new ship; all the gunports and gun mounts are as good as non-existent. The youth¡¯s attention lingered on various introductions to the different canons. ¡°I have a total of 24 gun positions. Let me calculate¡­¡± The final total cost made the youth¡¯s heart sink slightly. Inclusive of all the money he had on hand, he could not afford enough canons. Ordinary canons were ruled out by the youth, Black Iron Quality alchemy canons were too expensive, but even if the youth wanted to buy bronze-level canons, the price multiplied by 24 made it unaffordable for him. As for Silver Level canons, the youth didn¡¯t even consider them, as they would consume Empire Contribution. Currently, the knight youth had very little Empire Contribution. After all, he only battled with Rou Cang and had been defeated. The knight youth continued to read. The third part of the scroll content was about Fighting Energy techniques. The youth immediately noticed the Bai He Fighting Energy. There was a brief introduction behind the Fighting Energy¡ªit was a Fighting Energy technique created by Bai He, a fighter who was of common origin. It is the most universally suitable Fighting Energy technique, at a Silver Level. It is more effective when practiced in water currents. After the youth escaped Mysterious Monster Island, without the Magic Prohibition Ring, he quickly sensed the Fighting Energy contained within his body. Upon identification, he realized it was Bai He Fighting Energy. Bai He Fighting Energy is widely spread because its creator, Bai He, came from a humble background. After he became a Silver Knight in his later years, moved by the hardships of cultivation, he uniquely created this Fighting Energy technique. Although it is a Silver Level, he did not pass it down only to his offspring but spread it widely. This left the knight youth somewhat disappointed¡ªhe had hoped to find some clues from the Fighting Energy, which he could use to clarify his true identity. Many Fighting Energy types themselves indicate the user¡¯s identity. For instance, Hund Needle Fighting Energy¡ªif someone possesses this type of Fighting Energy, they are almost certainly a member of the Hundred Needle Family. It must be acknowledged that Bai He Fighting Energy is not outstanding among all the Silver Level Fighting Energy techniques. More accurately, it is quite mediocre. It has no outstanding strengths, of course, no evident weaknesses either. The reason it is rated as Silver Level is that indeed someone has used it to reach the Silver Level. ¡°I certainly need a new Fighting Energy technique,¡± the knight youth knew that this was his weak point and needed improvement. Because Bai He Fighting Energy does not match well with the Flame Dragon Bloodline. When he mutated into a dragon-man, activating Bai He Fighting Energy would cause internal loss¡ªnot only the loss of Fighting Energy but also interference when he used Combat Skills. The demon energy maintaining the dragon-man form from the Blood Core would also see increased consumption. There is a deep connection between bloodlines and Fighting Energy techniques. Fighting Energy techniques are tailored to the user. For example, Hundred Needle Fighting Energy can only really exert its effect when members of the Hundred Needle Family practice it because they all possess the bloodline of the Golden Bee Queen. The knight youth looked closely, finding the scroll recorded quite a few Fighting Energy techniques that matched with dragon veins. For instance, Dragon Movement Fighting Energy matches well with the Wind Giant Dragon Bloodline. The youth¡¯s gaze quickly focused on one of the Fighting Energy techniques. This Fighting Energy was called Blast, also at the Silver Level, complementing the Flame Dragon Bloodline. Its advantage is that when using Fighting Energy, it can exceed the normal burst of energy. However, the disadvantage is that it is not durable and easily depletes. Purchasing this Fighting Energy technique would also come with a Combat Skill¡ªFlame Burst. This Combat Skill is quite famous and immensely powerful. This Fighting Energy technique is almost the most expensive among them. The youth found that purchasing this Fighting Energy technique would consume most of his funds and Empire Contribution. It would be difficult to buy other materials. The youth continued to browse. After the Fighting Energy techniques, the fourth part of the content was about meditation methods. Mages acquire mana and enhance their spiritual power through meditation. An effective meditation technique can significantly improve a mage¡¯s cultivation efficiency. Following meditation techniques, there are sections about the experiences of divine service, the creed of devotion, ritual guidelines, and the interpretations of certain divine doctrines tailored for druids, such as the book ¡°Natural Origin.¡± The sixth section deals with Combat Skills. There is a myriad of Combat Skills available. Although the Fighting Energy section also includes Combat Skills, they are part of the Fighting Energy itself; now, these Combat Skills are popularized and quite versatile. Essentially, regardless of the type of Fighting Energy, these Combat Skills can be applied; to see their specific effects, one must look closely. In terms of Combat Skills, the knight youth is also lacking. He has mastered only two¡ªHundred Needle Burst and Needle Explosion Roar. In terms of quantity, not only does he fall short of Zong Ge, but most Black Iron Fighters also have at least three Combat Skills. The knight youth soon took a liking to one particular Combat Skill¡ªSilver Wings. Using this Combat Skill, he could fly! What troubled him was that, although Silver Wings was not expensive, it required a considerable amount of Empire contribution. According to the youth¡¯s current contributions, he did not qualify to purchase it. ¡°According to the introduction of the Combat Skill, Silver Wings consumes a large amount of Fighting Energy. If I use it in combination with Blast Fighting Energy, the duration of combat might be very short. The two do not complement each other well.¡± Setting aside this worry, the knight youth continued to browse. After Combat Skills, came Spells. And following Spells, there were no Divine Arts. Divine Arts are bestowed by deities and do not need to be learned. The eighth section of the scroll covers equipment. This section includes a vast array of offensive and defensive equipment in both type and quantity. ¡°Currently, I have the thin sword Silver Lightning, but I may eventually have to return it to the Hundred Needle Family.¡± ¡°As for Protective Equipment, I could use the Dragon Scales for now.¡± What captivated the young knight was the sets of armor. Shoulder guards, chest plates, masks, greatswords¡ªif worn together, the Magic Arrays or alchemy techniques could form a synergy, enhancing defensive and offensive effects, or even provide special functionalities like reducing armor weight, invisibility, or flight. Following the sets of armor are the potions. There are various specific treatments for contagious diseases, which well-equipped ships usually carry during voyages. The youth also saw a Bloodline Stabilizer. To the common eye, he needed this potion. He had also planned to buy one. But instead of using it, it would serve to deceive others. ¡°However, this price¡­¡± the youth felt a bit distressed. After potions, came Magic Pets. Various Magic Beasts and Magic Plants attracted the youth¡¯s interest. The Blood Core could absorb these bloodlines for his use. It was this ability that had enabled him to survive on Mysterious Monster Island up until now. ¡°Perhaps I should set it aside for now.¡± It is worth mentioning that in this section, the youth also discovered humans, elves, dwarfs, and goblins. These intelligent beings could be turned into pets, or rather, slaves. Slave trading is one of the most flourishing and largest scales of trade in the Holy Bright Empire. The penultimate section concerns Magic Scrolls. For instance, the Enslavement Scroll, which is used for Magic Pets. Previously, the knight youth had used this type of Contract Scroll during encounters with Gray, Golden Chin, and the Sea Snake Lady. The final content includes various materials. Materials for spells, wood for ship repairs, alchemy raw materials, food and water for Transcendents, various grades of Beast Meat and honey. As he closed the scroll, the knight youth felt deeply moved. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Empire¡¯s strength was impressively formidable. ¡°I need to consider this carefully,¡± the youth said to the attendant. The attendant smiled, ¡°That is a wise decision. This scroll is now yours, and since I am always stationed at New Moon Port, you can come and find me anytime, Captain.¡± The youth nodded and left the dock. After dispersing the crowd, he wandered around New Moon Town and secretly met with Cang Xu and Lan Zao. Cang Xu was aware of the youth¡¯s situation and understood his predicaments. He suggested, ¡°The secret chamber on the ocean floor might contain treasures of substantial value. But to unlock it, we need a high-quality Unsealing Scroll.¡± ¡°An Unsealing Scroll?¡± the youth reopened the Empire¡¯s inventory and indeed found the Unsealing Scroll, but its high price made his heart sink. If he bought the scroll, he feared he would not even be able to gather ten cannons. Cang Xu had explored before, and the defenses of the underwater chamber were rigorous. Moreover, with no Thief among them, using an Unsealing Scroll might not bypass the defenses. Would it be too risky to gamble on? Chapter 233 - 233: Section 21: Huge Profit! Chapter 233: Section 21: Huge Profit! The knight youth, Zong Ge, Cang Xu, and others arrived at the small boat dock. The floor of the small boat dock was lifted, Bai Ya and Sanda were left on top, while the others dove into the water. The daylight made the sea water sweep away the gloomy and eerie atmosphere of the night. Although it was obscured by the boat dock, the sunlight reflected on the long coastline, penetrating to the seabed. At first, the knight youth felt a chill as he entered the water. But soon, he adapted and even found the water bright and warm. Due to the refraction of light, the starfish, shells, seaweed, rocks, and valleys at the bottom of the sea were tinged with a rainbow hue, incomparably beautiful. The youth and Zong Ge could swim, but Lan Zao had the best water nature. Originally a fisherman by trade, he now swam in the sea, agile as a fish. ... But no matter how good his water nature was, it could not compare to Cang Xu. That was because Cang Xu¡¯s body had been altered using the secret methods of the undead. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While the others occasionally let out bubbles of air, needing to surface for breath after some time, Cang Xu did not. He didn¡¯t even need to breathe. The living conditions on Mysterious Monster Island were exceptionally harsh, and many people had died. That the elderly Cang Xu had survived was largely due to his altered body. The water wasn¡¯t deep, and soon everyone had reached the seabed. Above their heads was the dilapidated small boat dock. Because the dock provided shade, this particular area of the seabed was noticeably darker than the surrounding areas. Cang Xu pointed not far ahead, signaling the valve entrance to the underground chamber. But the knight youth, Zong Ge, and the others couldn¡¯t see anything out of the ordinary, just a stretch of sea sand. The group was well-positioned, surrounding the valve. Cang Xu took out an Unsealing Scroll from his bosom. The knight youth had exhausted his capital, fully exchanging for three such scrolls. These scrolls were expensive, nearly depleting the youth¡¯s savings. After Cang Xu provided the information, the youth reflected deeply before deciding to gamble. Why not gamble? They were not on Mysterious Monster Island, there were no Pearl Bubbles to protect them, and their situation was not dangerous. Even if they lost the bet, their lives were not at risk. As for the loss of capital, it could be earned back! However, as soon as Cang Xu unfolded the Unsealing Scroll and began to infuse it with magic power, even the knight youth, who was usually calm, felt his heart rate slightly accelerate. Zong Ge and Lan Zao were both visibly tense. The Array carved on the Unsealing Scroll lit up with a gray-white light, which then quickly expanded and floated out from the scroll. The scroll, originally dense with writing and bearing the Array of a circle intersecting with a pentagram in the middle, now turned blank. Cang Xu carefully controlled the ball of gray-white light, slowly bringing it closer to where the valve was. Soon, the ordinary sea sand started to radiate a purplish-black halo. The closer the gray-white ball of light got, the more pronounced the purplish-black halo became, ultimately forming a swirling mass of light and shadow that enveloped the valve entrance. The gray-white finally made contact with the purplish-black. The purplish-black shadows dissipated like snow in the sunlight, visibly melting away at a rapid pace. Of course, the gray-white light was also being consumed. After a dozen breaths, the gray-white light had vanished, and the purplish-black shadow had lost quite a bit, with a black smoke rising from the shadow, rapidly replenishing it. ¡°This isn¡¯t good, the defense magic array can still replenish itself,¡± everyone thought to themselves as they saw this scene, their hearts sinking slightly. Lan Zao didn¡¯t continue to watch; he was the first to surface for air. Although his water nature was formidable, the youth and Zong Ge were stronger, their superior physical constitution allowing them to hold their breath for a longer period. When Lan Zao returned to the seabed, Cang Xu had already unfolded the second Unsealing Scroll. The gray-white light form reappeared, not giving the defense magic array more time to replenish, and descended once again. This time, the descent was noticeably more resolute and forceful. The Unsealing Scroll, worthy of the Silver Level, justified its lofty price with its potency; the purplish-black shadow completely vanished. However, another layer of dark-golden halo surfaced. Clearly, this was another defense magic array. But the gray-white light had shrunk considerably, fading away completely after whittling down the dark-gold halo to the extreme. Cang Xu unfolded the third Unsealing Scroll. Lan Zao felt breathless again. This wasn¡¯t because the time for holding his breath had come, but rather due to tension. He knew that the knight youth had nearly exhausted his capital, having exchanged for three Unsealing Scrolls. In just a moment¡¯s time, they were down to the last one. And how many layers of defense magic arrays there were guarding this underwater chamber, nobody knew. The third Unsealing Scroll was used up. The grey and white globes of light had nearly disappeared, yet the golden halo persisted until the last moment. Although the halo was faint, it stayed stubbornly. ¡°We failed!¡± The knight youth, Lan Zao, and Zong Ge felt a slight sinking in their hearts. However, Cang Xu remained calm. His face showed a pensive expression. Just as he unfolded the third scroll, he had almost convinced himself that the defense magic array on this level would definitely be worn down. But unexpectedly, it held on until the end. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°The Unsealing Scroll should be able to dissipate most arrays unless¡­¡± A bolt of lightning seemed to flash through Cang Xu¡¯s mind. ¡°Unless the person had added other measures to the array that the Unsealing Scroll couldn¡¯t counteract!¡± So, what could those measures be? Undead Magic was the first thing that came to Cang Xu¡¯s mind. Undead Magic hadn¡¯t been founded for long, so it seemed mysterious, inscrutable, and difficult to counter. Cang Xu then proceeded to activate Undead Magic, testing the defense magic array. He failed. But soon, he began a new attempt. As a Mage of Undead Magic at the Black Iron Level, Cang Xu was not skilled in arrays. So, his attempts were just that¡ªtries, without any real confidence in his heart. Just as he was beginning to despair, he released a ghost that easily penetrated the magic array and directly entered the underground chamber! ¡°Indeed, my previous guess was correct!¡± Cang Xu¡¯s spirits were greatly lifted, and he hurriedly commanded the ghost to start dismantling the array. Suddenly, the ghost managed to destroy the array from inside quite smoothly. ¡°We¡¯ve succeeded!¡± ¡°Well done, Cang Xu!¡± These words of praise were only temporarily held in the hearts of others. Cang Xu gestured for Zong Ge to open the valve. With the array obstruction gone, Zong Ge surfaced for a breath of air and then dived down again. He brushed away the sand, revealing a bronze valve. There was no handle on the valve. As Zong Ge was at a loss, Cang Xu took out a spade. No one was surprised; they all knew that the old scholar had sewn a Spatial Bag onto himself. Zong Ge inserted the spade into the gap of the valve and, using both hands and feet, began to pry the valve open slowly with all his might. Inside the valve, the array was still operational, isolating the water and preventing backflow. After Cang Xu indicated it was safe, Zong Ge was the first to enter the underground chamber, followed by everyone else, one by one. The underground chamber was well lit, the light coming from the walls. A type of paint that could emit a soft glow coated the surface of the walls. The combined glow stayed constant, illuminating the chamber at all times. This light was gentle and not harsh on the eyes. The walls of the chamber seemed to be made of bronze as well, with no right angles between them but rather a rounded design. This design was likely meant to maximize the interior space. As the group first entered, the surrounding walls enclosed them like a well. The walls had colorful dots of light that would appear and disappear intermittently. If they were enemies, these dots would shoot out spell rays to slaughter the intruders. But, because the ghost had damaged it from the inside, this final defense mechanism was not activated. After drifting down for a while, they arrived at a relatively large room. The room had round walls too, with a ring-shaped table in the center, which was made up of four tables put together. Various instruments were placed on the table, including a huge Magic Book as tall as half a person, a set of flasks and crucibles for alchemy, a Crystal Ball, and a white skull. Bookshelves leaned against the walls. The shelves linked together, blocking the walls and forming an inner wall of shelves. The shelves were densely packed with books. Zong Ge glanced around and saw some of the titles: History of Magic, Theories of Magic, Common Transformation Potion Making (Volumes I, II, III), Hell Dictionary, Dragonese Magic Encyclopedia, Undead Diary, Nine-Year Magic Exam Mock Test Papers, Holy Enlightenment Teachings Analysis, The Legend of Mei Lan¡­ The Half-Beast relaxed at this sight. He knew they had won the bet. Just these Magic Books alone were a windfall! Chapter 234 - 234: Section 22: Toad Safe Chapter 234: Section 22: Toad Safe Knowledge is expensive. And knowledge about power? Even more so. Everyone floated down to the floor. Zong Ge spoke up, ¡°So, are we saying that this person was a Mage?¡± ¡°To be precise, an Undead Mage,¡± Cang Xu¡¯s words immediately drew everyone¡¯s attention. Cang Xu walked over to the circular desk. Before him was that gigantic Magic Book. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Compared to the other books on the shelves, this Magic Book stood half a person tall, at least as wide as an adult¡¯s forearm. If opened, it would naturally be wider. As soon as Cang Xu saw the Magic Book, his gaze was captivated by it. The book was as thick as a fist, with a pitch-black cover. The edges, the spine, and the pages were all made of bone¡ªpale and penetrating to look at. The entire book constantly radiated a sinister chill. After carefully observing and pacing around the Magic Book, ensuring there were no traps, Cang Xu gently caressed the cover with his hand and slowly opened it. Though the Magic Book was thick, each page was made out of white bone and fairly thick, so there were not that many pages when counted. Each page essentially documented one Undead Spell. Some spells were represented by text, others by Arrays. The scripts were diverse¡ªincluding Elf Jade, Dragonese, Universal Language, and so on. The Arrays also varied greatly, with pentagrams, hexagrams, crescent moons, and sun shapes¡­ Cang Xu was deeply entranced, and his breathing became noticeably lighter for a moment. Even though the other three had lived and fought alongside him, they felt a chill watching him so absorbed. Cang Xu appeared to be a living person, still breathing, but in reality he did not need to breathe¡ªit was merely to avoid seeming out of the ordinary. This is what it meant to be an Undead Mage. They toyed with spirits, mocked life, and challenged death. ¡°How is it?¡± the knight youth broke the silence. Cang Xu snapped out of his trance, gave the Magic Book a deep look, then closed it, his voice laden with emotion, ¡°Invaluable!¡± This was a Silver Level Magic item, recording many spells. Just by channeling enough Magic Power, one could cast them, skipping the step of a Mage having to construct the Magic Model with their spirit, which was incredibly quick and convenient. Of course, it required maintenance. Using it excessively could lead to the pages, even the entire book, disintegrating. During its crafting, many casting materials were mixed in. When casting spells with this book, it would covertly consume those materials. ¡°Just this book alone, and ten Silver Level Unsealing Scrolls couldn¡¯t match it,¡± Cang Xu made a comparison. Aside from the Magic Book, the cluttered circular desk was full of magical items. Among the few people, only Cang Xu was knowledgeable and scholarly, but even he couldn¡¯t appraise everything on the spot. A rough estimate of the value of the items they could identify already exceeded the value of the Unsealing Scrolls by tenfold. And this didn¡¯t even include the black leather bone Magic Book or all the books mounted against the wall. Cang Xu took a scroll pinned in a pen holder. He spread it out on the desk and, after scrutinizing it for a moment, joyfully announced, ¡°This must be the Sea Chart we were looking for.¡± The waves, islands, and ships on the Sea Chart were all slowly moving. It was an active sea chart. The knight youth, with delight, said, ¡°It seems I no longer need to buy a new active sea chart, we already have one.¡± Lan Zao shook his head, ¡°My Lord, this map is too small, the range it describes isn¡¯t comparable to a standard Sea Chart.¡± Cang Xu laughed softly, ¡°And what about this?¡± No sooner had he spoken than he began to manipulate the active sea chart with his spirit and Magic Power. The content of the Sea Chart immediately shrank, and the sea area it displayed suddenly became vast. Lan Zao exclaimed, ¡°It includes the entire Night Spirit Sea Domain; the value of this Sea Chart is very high!¡± The Night Spirit Sea Domain was precisely where they were at the moment. Cang Xu manipulated the map, quickly zooming in again: ¡°These places have been deliberately marked; they should be our next exploration targets. These locations are likely where the Main Temples of the Mei Lan Gods are hidden.¡± They searched the entire floor, then descended the spiral staircase to the next level. The lower level was clearly a storage room. Inside there were three rows of shelves, stocked with various materials. Most were casting materials, including skeletons from various species, seaweed resembling human hair, and still-moving eyeballs. The preservation of these casting materials was evidently done with care. For instance, the moving eyeballs were soaked in thick green liquid inside glass jars. ¡°Look, these treasures must have been salvaged from the sea,¡± Lan Zao remarked. On one of the shelves, a pile of treasures was carelessly scattered. There were copious Gold Coins, silver coins, copper coins, as well as gold and silver jewelry, crystal cups, and more. Cang Xu speculated, ¡°This Undead Mage must have had ghosts to command. For them to explore the seabed and discover sunken treasures wouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡± ¡°However, judging by this, the treasures weren¡¯t closely guarded by the owner of this secret chamber. There must be even more valuable treasures!¡± Everyone continued searching until finally, in a corner, they found a metal toad squatting. ¡°This is a toad safe!¡± Cang Xu was stunned for a moment, then said. This was an alchemy device, a spatial appliance in which the most valuable items were placed. Nobles and great merchants often used it. ¡°To open it, it seems like we need a passphrase, right?¡± Lan Zao had heard about this device. Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°Not just a passphrase, but also bloodline, voice, appearance, fighting energy, or magic power, and so on. A series of recognition steps must be passed before the toad safe can be opened.¡± This was a high-grade treasure box. It wasn¡¯t an inanimate object; one of the materials used in its making was the soul of an intelligent lifeform! Lan Zao was full of regret, ¡°The most valuable treasures must be inside, but unfortunately, we¡¯ve used up all our unsealing scrolls.¡± ¡°Unsealing scrolls can¡¯t solve this problem,¡± Zong Ge shook his head, ¡°It seems we can only think of a way later.¡± ¡°Ha ha, that¡¯s not necessarily true,¡± Cang Xu laughed, shaking his head, ¡°Don¡¯t forget we have this.¡± He took out a pearl from his chest. This was no ordinary pearl; it was a Pearl Bubble! A peculiar item produced by the Divine Artifact, Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale. Every member who escaped from Mysterious Monster Island carried at least one Pearl Bubble with them to replenish at any time, in case of emergencies. Cang Xu was about to crush it, but then he stopped. He turned to look at the knight youth, ¡°My Captain, it¡¯s better if you do it.¡± The knight youth shrugged his shoulders; he was indifferent, but if Cang Xu was actively avoiding suspicion, it would be even more inappropriate for him to refuse this kindness. He walked up to the toad safe, crushed the Pearl Bubble he had on him, and applied it to himself. Then he channeled his fighting energy into the metal toad that was half the height of a man. The metal toad came to life; it opened its swollen eyes and shot out two beams of light. The light shone on the knight youth, scanning him up and down twice. Then the metal toad extended its tongue, which had a sharp spike on it. The knight youth lightly touched his finger to the spike, creating a wound, and blood dripped down. The toad retracted its tongue, closed its mouth, and also closed its eyes. After croaking twice, it immediately opened its eyes again. But this time, its eyeballs didn¡¯t emit any light. ¡°Passphrase,¡± it said. The knight youth had no idea what the passphrase was. He shrugged his shoulders and said casually, ¡°You¡¯re a good toad.¡± Under the guise of the Pearl Bubble, the metal toad heard the correct passphrase, ¡°Welcome to use this again, master.¡± It released all restrictions, and instantly, the knight youth, linked by spirit, was clearly aware of everything stored inside. There were no lack of treasures inside. There was a Bone Wand, about one meter four in length, Silver Level equipment. Also, there was a Magic Robe, although patched and originally grey now turning white, it was still a Silver Level Magic Robe. There was money. But it was not Gold Coins; it was Purple Crystal Coins. This small handful of Purplegold Coins was enough to buy three ships the youth had reserved! The most numerous were not the Purple Crystal Coins, but a kind of black crystal. These crystals were of varying lengths and sizes, all rod-shaped. They were deep and dark, emitting an indescribable chill, and their aura was inconsistent, ranging from Bronze, Black Iron to Silver. ¡°What is this?¡± the knight youth puzzled, and with a thought, the toad safe spat out a piece of the black crystal. ¡°Soul Crystals!¡± Cang Xu suddenly exclaimed, his mind and body shaking. The other three turned pale at once. They had all heard about the cruel rumors concerning Soul Crystals. ¡°There are at least a thousand Soul Crystals in here,¡± the knight youth said, his face slightly pale. This indicated that the master of the underground chamber was an executioner, having committed a massive slaughter. Because Soul Crystals were made from souls. Cang Xu frowned, ¡°So many Soul Crystals?¡± He sensed something odd. ¡°Quick, see if there are any scrolls or books inside?¡± the old Scholar asked eagerly, his voice trembling. Indeed there were two books. The knight youth took them out. The first was a diary, with a multitude of research content and a few personal life experiences. The second was Alchemy notes, detailing the method and experience of making Soul Crystals. ¡°We¡¯ve really hit the jackpot!¡± Cang Xu clenched the alchemy notes tightly in both hands, usually calm and composed, now he couldn¡¯t help but get excited. Chapter 235 - 235: Section 23: This time, we won the bet Chapter 235: Section 23: This time, we won the bet Soul Crystals were not ordinary crystals but the essence of a soul. They emerged alongside the creation of Undead Magic. Undead Mages utilized Undead Magic, slaughtering lives of various races, extracting their souls, crushing, pressing, purifying them until they obtained Soul Crystals of varying sizes and qualities. The greatest use of a Soul Crystal was to enhance the user¡¯s spiritual power. Spiritual power was an extremely important attribute. Whether it was a Mage, a fighter, or a Divine Officer, the stronger the spiritual power, the better. ... With strong spiritual power, a Mage could swiftly mobilize Magic Power when using spells, construct Magic Models faster, and employ more complex spells. Fighters and Divine Officers enjoyed the same benefits. Therefore, when Soul Crystals hit the market, they were widely acclaimed. Even though everyone knew they originated from Undead Mages and were produced through inhumane methods. The effect of Soul Crystals was just too powerful. The market price of Soul Crystals had also been climbing, and even now, it was still on an upward trend. Now, the knight youth and his party had not only obtained a large amount of Soul Crystals, but more importantly, they had gained the method to produce them. For most people, this production method was actually useless. Because it involved the use of Undead Magic. But among the youth¡¯s group was an Undead Mage named Cang Xu! With these things, they could continue to produce Soul Crystals without end. It was a gold mine, an almost inexhaustible gold mine! No wonder the usually calm Cang Xu was so excited about this. This also explained why the owner of this place, that cultist, was so astoundingly rich. Because this was his Soul Crystal manufacturing site, and the sale of Soul Crystals gave him a steady income. The knight youth continued his investigation. There were also several cases of apple wine in the toad safe. All of them were bronze apple wines. They were considered a specialty of the Elf Clan from Honeymoon Forest. Lastly, there was a metal badge. The badge was the size of a pin, radiating a dim silver-white luster. It was shaped like the letter U with an added vertical line in the middle, resembling a simplified fork. The knight youth took out the badge, ¡°Is this the symbol of that mysterious organization of the Desecration Priest you mentioned?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cang Xu nodded. Last night, when he saw this symbol under the floorboards, he immediately realized the true identity of the cultist. From the Mage¡¯s equipment and various spellcasting materials found in the toad safe, it was inferred that this cultist was a Silver Level Undead Mage. Moreover, he was also a Desecration Priest. The two were not in conflict; in fact, they were closely linked. You Can, the creator of Undead Magic, was a Desecration Priest. By stealing Divine Power and spying on the secrets of a deity, he garnered the mysteries between life and death and ultimately created Undead Magic. Undead studied the secrets of the soul, playing with life and death. But in truth, the gods had long been engaging in such acts. The souls of devout Believers were taken by the gods into the Divine Country after death. Some Believer¡¯s souls were even turned into Heroic Spirits, while others became Angels, Devils, Demons, and so on. After interrogating the Thieves¡¯ souls, Cang Xu immediately realized: the capture of the cultist was intentional. Why did he allow himself to be caught and face death willingly? Cang Xu then guessed: It wasn¡¯t that he was seeking death but rather to attract other cultists! Sure enough, the corpses found in the Burial Mound confirmed he was not the cultist himself. Moreover, the bodies bore many traces of Divine Arts. Thus, the truth began to emerge in Cang Xu¡¯s mind¡ª This Undead Mage discovered that followers of the deity Mei Lan were hiding near New Moon Town. So he staged a play, disguised himself as a believer of Mei Lan. He deliberately exposed himself and got caught, earning the help of other Believers to escape. These cultists used Divine Arts to give the Undead Mage a scapegoat, allowing him to escape undetected. Most of the townsfolk believed the Undead Mage was already dead. But in reality, the Undead Mage was still alive and had achieved his conspiracy. He successfully dispelled the doubts of the other cultists and infiltrated their ranks. As for why he infiltrated them? Clearly, this Undead Mage, emulating You Can, sought to steal Divine Power or peek at the secrets of Mei Lan. The state of the deity Mei Lan was dire, though not fallen, but perpetually asleep. Since the Undead Mage went to great lengths to infiltrate among the followers of Mei Lan, he must have been somewhat confident in his actions. As for where this Silver Level Mage was now? The scapegoat¡¯s body had hinted he was not on the island, and the Sea Charts seen on the previous floor suggested he had left with those cultists. His likely destination was the Main Temple of Mei Lan! Indeed, in subsequent diary entries, the Undead Mage vaguely recorded parts of his sacrilegious plan. It was also for this reason that the Undead Mage stored his equipment and treasures in this underwater secret chamber. Perhaps, the Eastern phrase ¡°from adversity comes prosperity¡± does exist. After the disaster on Mysterious Monster Island, the knight youth and his group began to experience a stroke of good luck. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start moving. We need to be as discreet as possible. Don¡¯t land, go directly from underwater and transport everything into the Deep Sea Monster Fish,¡± the knight youth commanded. The Deep Sea Monster Fish could definitely not approach the small boat dock, it was easy to run aground. Using magic among other methods, the group took several trips to finally empty the underground chamber. Looking back at the chamber, it resembled a bronze-supported wine bottle. The bottle had two levels, the lower level primarily served as a storage room, and the upper level as a workshop, with a passage on top, like the slender neck of a wine bottle. The chamber had three layers of defensive measures in total. The first layer could self-repair, the second layer was mingled with the power of the Undead and could not be restrained even by Unsealing Scrolls. The third layer was the bottleneck¡¯s magic rays that could wipe out the enemies that forcefully entered. Unfortunately, it had been sabotaged from the inside by ghosts. In most cases, these defenses were already very tight. But the knight youth was willing to invest, spending all his family¡¯s provisions in exchange for Unsealing Scrolls. With the powerful aid of Cang Xu, these defensive measures were resolved in just the right way. The youth¡¯s investment was not small, yet his gains were immense. After taking inventory aboard the Monster Fish, the immediate cashable assets from this haul were more than forty times the initial investment. In the case of Soul Crystals, it was impossible to give an accurate value because they were a continuous goldmine! The knight youth and his group had won their gamble! After completing the inventory, the crew discussed their next steps aboard the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Most of the treasures could be sold to the Empire, then used to purchase supplies. The books should first be copied before deciding whether to sell them. The Empire probably wouldn¡¯t offer high prices for these books unless some were particularly special. No matter, if they couldn¡¯t be sold here, there would be a market in other ports or markets. Soul Crystals absolutely could not be sold. More precisely, they should not be sold to the Empire. Because anything related to the Undead might attract the Empire¡¯s investigation. Soul Crystals were even more likely to do so. To sell these Soul Crystals, the knight youth and his people could completely turn to the Black Market. In fact, these Soul Crystals could also be metabolized internally. As for the Silver Level equipment of the Undead Mage, it would be best not to handle such transactions at New Moon Port. There was no need to take that risk. ¡°I strongly suggest that Captain purchase a Peace Angel figurehead,¡± Lan Zao said after seeing the list, immediately offering his suggestion. ¡°A Peace Angel figurehead can effectively weaken storms, even tsunamis. It¡¯s very practical! The Captain of the Pig Kiss had always wanted such a figurehead, but it was too expensive,¡± Lan Zao added. Indeed it was expensive, but worth the price. Then buy it! ¡°We need a lot of Magic Beast meat. It¡¯s been a long time, we¡¯ve had no such replenishments since Mysterious Monster Island,¡± Zong Ge said. This suggestion was very pertinent, and the knight youth adopted it immediately. He had also planned this. The better the quality of the Magic Beast meat, the more it would help fighters maintain their strength, nourish their bodies, and improve their training efficiency. Mu Ban said, ¡°I need a complete set of ship repair tools and some books on shipbuilding.¡± The shipwright had died on Mysterious Monster Island. As one of their own, Mu Ban had to take on more responsibility. Without hesitation, the knight youth agreed to his request. Fat Tongue stuttered, ¡°What about, about our Chairman? Isn¡¯t, isn¡¯t there anything to wake her up?¡± Unfortunately, there was nothing. The knight youth¡¯s authority was still too low; a treasure like Resurrection Scroll would likely require Golden Level permission to access. In fact, Zi Di¡¯s condition was very special, and no one knew what could actually cure her illness. Lan Zao wanted a scimitar. The Big Guy let the knight youth decide for him, choosing a set of Fighting Energy manuals and leather armor. Sanda chose Magic Boots that allowed Swift Movement for a period of time. Bai Ya, Queshan, and others all made their own choices. Lastly, Fat Tongue suggested, ¡°We also, also need a type of Contract Scroll. It, it can keep the matters of Mysterious Monster Island confidential. If anyone, anyone divulges secrets, they will be severely punished, even with death.¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions changed. Zong Ge frowned; obviously, Fat Tongue did not trust others. Cang Xu praised, ¡°Indeed we need this. Things are different now compared to when we were on Mysterious Monster Island. Can we ensure that others can resist temptation and not betray us?¡± ¡°Think about it,¡± Cang Xu pointed to the Empire¡¯s list, ¡°The Empire is offering all of this to lure pirates from all over the seas. Would they skimp on some wealth to tempt our people?¡± The rest fell silent, casting their eyes towards the knight youth. The knight youth fell into deep thought, ¡°I¡¯ll consider it.¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The topic was temporarily put aside as they continued discussing the procurement of supplies. The largest expenditure in the end was on alchemy tools. Cang Xu suggested purchasing a batch of alchemy tools to increase the production of Soul Crystals. Together with the various fundamental equipment needed for the new ship, such as cannons and sails, this meant that the newly acquired wealth would be mostly spent in no time. The knight youth did not mind at all, because this spending was exchanged for a surge in his crew¡¯s strength. Moreover, there would be a continuous output of Soul Crystals in the future. As long as there were no accidents, the cash flow would not break. Chapter 236 - 236: Section 24: Xu Ma: Come Follow Me Chapter 236: Section 24: Xu Ma: Come Follow Me After the group had discussed and agreed upon their needs, the knight youth once again found the receptionist. ¡°Okay, Magic Beast Meat of the fire crow, Magic Beast Meat of the Steel Rhinoceros, Bloodline Stabilizing Potion, Blast Fighting Spirit, 24 Bronze Level cannons, 30 Secret Contracts¡­¡± The receptionist bowed his head and earnestly recorded the knight youth¡¯s requirements. After a short while, he looked up with a smile, ¡°It will take at least two more days for the cannons to be transported here. During this time, I think you can use it to recruit sailors.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I plan to do,¡± nodded the knight youth. ¡°Are you sure you want to use this symbol on the sails and flags?¡± the receptionist asked with a strange expression on his face. ¡°Of course,¡± the knight youth sighed, ¡°You know, I am a knight, a knight of the Empire.¡± ... ¡°I understand,¡± the receptionist nodded. After sending off the knight youth and Zong Ge, he looked down at the list he had just made. ¡°Including the Unsealing Scrolls bought earlier, these people seem to be a bit wealthier than I thought.¡± ¡°The only strange thing is that they bought so many Secret Contracts.¡± ¡°Hehe. They¡¯re probably turning to piracy and yet they¡¯re still quite conflicted about it. This can be seen from their flag. According to their plan, they should be heading to the Wilderness Continent to strive for military achievements in exchange for fiefs. Yet, they don¡¯t want to give up this opportunity.¡± The receptionist thought he had grasped the true thoughts of the knight youth and shook his head with a smile. In his mind, he dismissed the matter, ¡°Only knights who have risen from the common folk would be so conflicted. In fact, any noble, no matter how destitute, would know the rule of victory and defeat, and would not have such psychological barriers.¡± He didn¡¯t know that the funds the knight youth used to purchase supplies this time were less than a quarter of his total capital. Although everyone had agreed on the purchases, they wouldn¡¯t buy everything at once. It would be too easy to arouse the receptionist¡¯s suspicions. The work of recruiting crew members was being carried out in succession. People hidden within the Deep Sea Monster Fish would quietly go ashore and then, posing as sailors, become part of the pirate crew under the knight youth¡¯s command. This, too, was a carefully considered plan. These days, being concealed within the Monster Fish had made many restless. They needed to see the daylight again. And the knight youth needed the backbone to build up his power. Recruiting all outsiders was not safe or reassuring. With this layer of operations, their identities were concealed, allowing them to actively reappear in front of the world. Two days later. The new ship was quietly moored at the dock. A group of newly recruited sailors lined up, one by one stepping up the gangway to the deck. Zong Ge stood by the ship¡¯s side, arms folded, seriously inspecting these men. ¡°Captain, sir,¡± a long-bearded, sallow-faced man from the Eastern Empire, bowed and nodded to Zong Ge. Zong Ge showed no expression, ¡°I¡¯m the First Officer, not the Captain. Name?¡± ¡°Xu Ma.¡± The middle-aged Eastern man chuckled, bowing and bending low. He was tall and thin, even taller than Zong Ge, but he was bending so much now, nearly kneeling on the deck. Zong Ge glanced up and down at him, ¡°I hear you are a Thief? Bronze Level?¡± ¡°Hehe, just pilfering, just pilfering, nothing compared to your big deals,¡± Xu Ma quickly replied. ¡°Keep your hands to yourself, and don¡¯t let me catch you doing anything improper on this ship.¡± ¡°Of course, you can count on me.¡± ¡°Stand over there,¡± Zong Ge gestured slightly with his head. ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Xu Ma responded obediently, showing his docility. Next, three fishermen came aboard together. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Zong Ge inquired. ¡°Big Head.¡± ¡°Salty Fish.¡± ¡°Feather.¡± ¡°All from New Moon Town?¡± Zong Ge asked. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the three men replied humbly. Zong Ge scanned the three, his gaze suddenly pausing and lingering on Big Head¡¯s knuckles. Zong Ge snorted coldly, and Big Head¡¯s heart trembled, realizing that his past identity as a pirate had been discovered. ¡°It seems you know what business this ship is in. Go stand over there,¡± Zong Ge pointed with his chin. Intimidated by the Half-Beast¡¯s Silver Level presence, the three men lowered their heads and moved away. Mu Ban climbed onto the deck, carrying a simple set of carpenter¡¯s tools on his back. Zong Ge pretended it was the first time he saw Mu Ban, looking him over, ¡°Do you do woodcraft?¡± In fact, Mu Ban had used a Transformation Potion, altering his appearance quite significantly, and indeed needed a fresh once-over. ¡°A bit,¡± Mu Ban quickly answered. ¡°Then go stay in the woodcrafter¡¯s maintenance area.¡± ¡°Okay, sir.¡± Mu Ban took his place among the other sailors, his special treatment immediately drawing envious glances from those around him. At that moment, the sailors suddenly became noisy. A little giant strode toward the new ship, his imposing stature and the repulsive appearance causing many to become disturbed and panicked. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± shouted Zong Ge. The little giant growled at Zong Ge, ¡°You taking me in?¡± Zong Ge hesitated for a moment, ¡°Wait, I need to check with the Captain.¡± The Half-Beast made a show of entering the Captain¡¯s cabin in the ship¡¯s stern, and then returned to the deck shortly after, gesturing to the little giant, ¡°Come aboard.¡± The little giant was overjoyed, laughing loudly, ¡°Hahaha!¡± Amid the wary looks of the sailors, he too boarded the deck. ¡°Move!¡± he bellowed, driving the sailors away and occupying a section of the deck for himself before sitting down heavily, leaning against the ship¡¯s side and closing his eyes. ¡°Well played,¡± observed the knight youth from inside the ship¡¯s stern, taking in the scene. The little giant was none other than Big Guy. He had also used a transformation potion to change the color of his hair, and he even affixed a fake copper horn to his forehead. To distinguish him from his previous identity aboard the Pig Kiss, Fat Tongue personally instructed him on how to perform. After training no less than a hundred times, he finally achieved such a result¡ªit was worth the effort. Bai Ya went up to the deck, where he was very average and drew no attention. Fat Tongue also joined in, posing as a robust chef. More and more people gathered on the deck. The sailors whispered among themselves, with Xu Ma being the most active. He chatted everywhere. He noticed Bai Ya¡¯s discomfort, ¡°Young man, is this your first time on a pirate ship?¡± Bai Ya¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Ah? Yes, it is.¡± ¡°Heh heh, stick with me, I¡¯ve got your back,¡± Xu Ma had already begun forming alliances. ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°What ¡®ah¡¯? Just by looking at you, I can tell it¡¯s your first time aboard, you don¡¯t know the ropes,¡± Xu Ma raised his head, ¡°Just fighting and killing won¡¯t get you far on a pirate ship. You have to find your place, make the right connections. Alone, you¡¯re easy prey. Look at those guys over there.¡± Bai Ya shifted his gaze, listening to Xu Ma¡¯s lowered voice, ¡°The one in charge over there is named Big Head, the sullen-faced one is called Salted Fish, and the one with hair like a bird¡¯s nest is called Chicken Feather. Those three standing together, whispering privately and wearing similar clothes, it¡¯s obvious they¡¯re in cahoots. They are the fishermen here. Look at Big Head, with calluses on his knuckles¡ªit¡¯s a sign of knife use. He¡¯s unflappable and his gaze doesn¡¯t wander like the others; he¡¯s constantly surveying the masts and cannon ports, very pleased with this large ship. He must be a seasoned pirate.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Bai Ya was somewhat skeptical. Xu Ma glared at Bai Ya, ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Go ask them yourself.¡± Driven by curiosity, Bai Ya quietly inquired. Big Head just snorted without hiding anything. The other two, basking in reflected glory, seemed to establish a psychological advantage due to Bai Ya¡¯s approach, no longer as nervous as before. Bai Ya returned to Xu Ma, expressing admiration, ¡°Predecessor, you have sharp eyes.¡± Xu Ma scoffed, ¡°I¡¯m telling you this because I worry about you getting bullied. Everyone knows what this ship is for. I ask you, when it comes time to divide the spoils, can you outwit these old pirates?¡± Bai Ya shook his head. ¡°And even if they weren¡¯t pirates, could you take on the three of them alone?¡± Bai Ya shook his head again. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Xu Ma patted Bai Ya¡¯s shoulder and sighed, ¡°I can tell you¡¯re an outsider, and so am I. We should stick together even more, so that we won¡¯t be bullied on this ship and can vie for more loot, right?¡± Bai Ya nodded repeatedly, but inside he sighed: he had no desire to be a pirate at all. Xu Ma was very satisfied. Having been a thief for many years, his insight was sharp, and he picked out Bai Ya, a ¡°good seedling¡±, from the crowd, ¡°Stick with me, you won¡¯t be treated poorly. This ship isn¡¯t bad, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Bai Ya hesitated, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I guess?¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Xu Ma glared, ¡°Youngster, you lack experience. This is a Black Iron Level demon energy ship, and it¡¯s a new one! The captain is a Silver Level Dragon Vein fighter, and the first officer is Silver Level too. When they eat meat, we will drink soup.¡± ¡°Of course, there are many stronger ones, like those of Gold Level fighters. But could we board their ships?¡± ¡°Your first boarding, and it¡¯s such a fine ship. Catching up with two Silver fighters forming the core crew ¨C such an opportunity might not come a second time in your life!¡± ¡°So, don¡ät go in with the mindset of making a quick buck, work well with them.¡± Bai Ya looked strangely at Xu Ma. He had not expected to be taught by a newbie, to be loyal to the leaders, to be a good pirate. Bai Ya wouldn¡¯t reveal the truth. All these old hands had mixed in with new faces, pretending not to recognize each other and planning a slow promotion. Xu Ma sighed, ¡°You¡¯re really too young, kid. You don¡¯t know how precious such an opportunity is! Sigh¡­¡± The middle-aged man with a yellow complexion spoke with a melancholy tone, as though recalling the first half of his life, ¡°People like us, without good parents, without bloodline, without talent, without wealth, we¡¯re basically set for life.¡± ¡°So when such an opportunity arises, you must seize it! Seize it tightly!! Otherwise, how will you stand out?¡± ¡°You are lucky to board this ship and to meet me.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Bai Ya was more bewildered. ¡°Let me show you, kid, watch closely.¡± Xu Ma, in his quest to win over this little brother, began his act. He approached Mu Ban with an exuberant greeting. Mu Ban gave Bai Ya a covert glance, as if to say, ¡°What¡¯s with this guy?¡± Bai Ya blinked, signaling, ¡°That¡¯s just how he is.¡± Mu Ban, taking a cue from Bai Ya, humored Xu Ma with a few words. Xu Ma returned, looking smug, ¡°I¡¯ve got the ship¡¯s woodcrafter wrapped around my finger.¡± ¡°Handled him?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Xu Ma patted Bai Ya¡¯s shoulder, ¡°We need to make good connections with certain people so that our lives on the ship can be better than others. Don¡¯t look at me as just a Bronze, and he¡¯s just an ordinary man. He¡¯s actually very valuable, because he¡¯s a woodcrafter! Even new ships break. Woodcrafters repair ships; they¡¯re indispensable. He gets to sleep in his own workshop, while you can only sleep in a hammock. Do you grasp that?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Bai Ya could only nod. ¡°That chef too, we need to be on good terms with him. I remember he¡¯s called Big Fatty,¡± Xu Ma whispered. He was earnest. Listening carefully to the conversations between Zong Ge and everyone else, gathering all kinds of information. ¡°Watch closely,¡± Xu Ma went into action again. ¡°Hey, Big Fatty brother.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Xu Ma, heh heh.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ please look out for me in the future.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Xu Ma returned, somewhat dissatisfied, telling Bai Ya, ¡°Just an ordinary guy, and yet so damn arrogant.¡± Bai Ya inwardly defended Fat Tongue: He wasn¡¯t being arrogant; he stuttered. To avoid revealing this obvious trait, he had to speak as little as possible. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Ma continued, ¡°So, see, a Bronze level expert like myself, humbling myself even before ordinary folk. In the future on this ship, they¡¯ll all respect me.¡± ¡°Respect isn¡¯t something you give to yourself; it¡¯s given by others. Some people mix well, others don¡¯t, and that¡¯s why.¡± ¡°Kid, following me, you won¡¯t be at a loss.¡± Bai Ya: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 237 - 237: Section 25: Justice Pirate Group Chapter 237: Section 25: Justice Pirate Group Despite New Moon Port being just a small port, under the knight youth¡¯s slight salary increase call, recruiting sailors was not difficult. After all, most of the sailors were ordinary people. Special talents, however, would be offered higher pay, such as woodcrafters, cooks, and the like. A goblin stepped onto the deck. The sailors on the deck cast disdainful and wary glances at him. The Human Race generally looked down on races like the goblins. But this particular goblin exuded an aura of Black Iron Level, a strength that made everyone wary. ... Sanda arrived. He wrapped his forehead with a black headscarf, holding his head high whilst looking at Zong Ge with a defiant air. Zong Ge, expressionless, asked for his name and then allowed him to pass. Sanda moved closer to the sailors, who naturally stepped back a few feet, creating a small clearing. Sanda stood in the middle of the clearing, clearly isolated from the others due to racial reasons. Xu Ma quietly warned Bai Ya, ¡°Be careful with this guy! Don¡¯t get too close to him easily.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Bai Ya was puzzled. In his mind, Sanda was a pretty decent person. Xu Ma glared, ¡°Do I really need to explain? He¡¯s a goblin; this race is notorious for being despicable and shameless! And he¡¯s a Black Iron Level fighter, even more dangerous. Our captain really does seem to recruit anyone, the Half-Giant, the goblin. But thinking about it, that¡¯s not surprising. Our first officer is a Half-Beast, which proves our captain is incredibly strong, confident enough to overpower everyone else.¡± Bai Ya shook his head slightly in his heart; he knew Sanda, a man very much true to his word, his character utterly incompatible with being despicable and shameless. However, he quite agreed with Xu Ma¡¯s latter evaluation. ¡°The leader is definitely the strongest!¡± The thought of the knight youth filled Bai Ya with a sense of admiration and respect. Soon, Lan Zao boarded the ship. His Bronze Level strength also attracted quite some attention. Of course, he couldn¡¯t overshadow the Big guy and Sanda. ¡°This one¡¯s an old sailor,¡± decreed Xu Ma immediately. His keen eye often allowed him to determine a man¡¯s background with just a few glances. ¡°He is perhaps someone we could court,¡± Xu Ma told Bai Ya, his tone somewhat apprehensive. Seeing Bai Ya¡¯s confused expression, Xu Ma explained, ¡°If we want to fare well here, we need to form alliances. Goblins, Half-Giants are different races, the first officer is too high-ranking to care about us. Someone like him is perfect, he has strength, but not too much, and crucially, he¡¯s part of the Human Race, so keep a respectful attitude when greeting him.¡± The long line of sailors on the dock gradually dwindled. Ultimately, the knight youth planned to recruit 300 people, but had currently enlisted 279. When Zong Ge ordered the gangplank to be retracted, a figure floated down from the sky, ¡°Wait!¡± The sailors immediately stirred. ¡°A Mage!¡± Xu Ma was also taken aback. It was Cang Xu who had arrived. He had disguised his appearance yet still presented as an elderly man. As for his strength, he didn¡¯t hide it, emitting a Black Iron Level aura. ¡°May I board the ship?¡± the Mage asked. Zong Ge¡¯s face was grave, ¡°Please follow me to see the Captain.¡± Under the watchful eyes of all, the two entered the captain¡¯s quarters. ¡°A Black Iron Level Mage!¡± ¡°If he joins us, that would be wonderful.¡± The sailors eagerly whispered among themselves, everyone wanting their group to become stronger. Belonging to the same life category, Mages were more popular than fighters. This wasn¡¯t because Mages were necessarily stronger than fighters, but because Mages had a richer array of methods. Soon after, the door to the captain¡¯s quarters opened. The knight youth, striding forward, officially appeared before everyone. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His appearance had drastically changed, with a dragon head and a human body, his exposed skin all dragon scales. Bai Ya heard many sailors around him gasp lightly, clearly shocked by the captain¡¯s appearance. ¡°Rest assured, our captain is a noble man, not at all as fierce as he looks,¡± Bai Ya reassured himself internally. The disturbance among the sailors soon calmed down. This was because during the recruitment of these sailors, the knight youth¡¯s Dragon-man bloodline had been publicized. The captain¡¯s quarters were located in the ship¡¯s stern and were above the first deck. The Dragon-man youth stood at the forefront, followed by Zong Ge, Cang Xu, and someone in grey. The Dragon-man youth stopped walking, lifted his right foot, and stepped onto the railing. He leaned slightly forward, his arm resting on his right knee. He didn¡¯t speak but instead surveyed the sailors on the deck with his gaze. The deck was crowded with sailors, many of whom could only climb up the masts or stand on the ship¡¯s sides. The sailors, feeling his authority through his eyes, closed their mouths voluntarily and held their breaths. The deck fell silent, with only the sound of the sea gently slapping against the hull and the calls of seagulls. ¡°Lads,¡± the Dragon-man youth finally spoke, his voice booming, thanks to his throat also being in a mutated state. ¡°I am your captain ¡ª Long Fu!¡± Without turning around or looking back, he raised his thumb and pointed behind him: ¡°He is your First Officer ¡ª Lion Flag.¡± ¡°Our recently boarded third officer ¡ª Old Zhong.¡± ¡°And our ally who will be staying on our ship for a while ¡ª someone in grey.¡± ¡°Once you¡¯re on my ship, you¡¯re all my people. Follow me, obey me, and I can make you rich and prosperous!¡± ¡°Disobey? Heh.¡± The Dragon-man youth revealed a fierce grin, making the sailors¡¯ hearts skip a beat. ¡°Listen well, lads.¡± ¡°My goal is to become the King of Pirates, to rule over the pirate city and ascend the throne of the God of Pirates!¡± ¡°We will roam the seven seas, dominate the world. One day, our fame will spread across the world, striking fear into our enemies and earning admiration from our allies. One day, our wealth will make kings jealous. One day, our story will become a legend of the sea!¡± ¡°We are the Justice Pirate Group!¡± The Dragon-man youth shouted loudly. The fluttering flag and the dropping mainsail both bore the pirate group¡¯s emblem. On the dark flag was a skull of a cyclops giant. Written within the eye socket of the skull was the word ¡°Justice.¡± ¡°Justice Pirate Group?¡± The sailors were somewhat baffled, and many couldn¡¯t hide the bewildered expressions on their faces. ¡°Yes!¡± the Dragon-man youth exclaimed lowly, ¡°My words are the truth, my actions are just. Because the victor is always just, and because our prey are not those merchant ships, but other pirates!¡± ¡°We will defeat them, terrify them, and recruit those who submit to us. We will let our fleet cover the seas! I will make the enemy¡¯s bones build stairs for me to ascend the throne of the Pirate King!¡± The sailors were astounded. The Dragon-man captain before them was so arrogant and boisterous! A pirate hunter of pirates? ¡°Truly worthy of being the captain!¡± Bai Ya¡¯s eyes sparkled. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s target being other pirates suited Bai Ya¡¯s taste perfectly. Beside him, Xu Ma was unsettled, secretly wondering, ¡°Did I¡­ board the wrong ship?¡± He just wanted to plunder for wealth, but this Dragon-man captain was ambitiously targeting other pirates. Clearly, fierce battles were inevitable. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just bluffing? Besides, he didn¡¯t explicitly say we wouldn¡¯t rob those merchant ships, did he?¡± Xu Ma hesitated. ¡°Now, hoist the sails! Set sail!¡± the Dragon-man youth concluded his speech. After a moment of shock, the sailors, under the direction of Zong Ge and others, were assigned tasks and began bustling about. The pirate ship named Justice slowly sailed away from New Moon Port. Chapter 238 - 238: Section 26: I am an Undead Mage Chapter 238: Section 26: I am an Undead Mage Justice sliced through the sea surface, and the Dragon-man youth could see, through the glass window of the captain¡¯s cabin, the twin wakes of the ship¡¯s hull reconverging behind the stern. The sky was vast, the sea was wide, and the sunlight was brilliantly shining. ¡°Thump thump thump.¡± After a series of knocks, Zong Ge¡¯s voice came through: ¡°Captain Long Fu, may I speak with you alone?¡± It had been agreed among everyone: on the ship, they would refer to each other only by aliases. ¡°Please come in, my First Officer,¡± the knight youth smiled. ... As such, Zong Ge entered the captain¡¯s cabin and casually closed the door behind him. The knight youth sat behind the desk; he still bore his human form. After all, maintaining the Dragon-man shape required the constant expenditure of demon energy. Thus, since setting sail, the youth tried to stay in the captain¡¯s cabin as much as possible, not venturing out to inspect the ship without good reason. Zong Ge had a grave expression as he took out an alchemy tool from his chest and placed it on the desk. It was a sound collection box, capable of containing the sounds within a certain range, preventing their spread. Considering the need to keep Mysterious Monster Island a secret and facilitate their disguise, the youth had included a large number of sound collection boxes in the first batch of materials they had exchanged. Each member from Mysterious Monster Island had one. ¡°I want to talk to you about Cang Xu,¡± Zong Ge said. ¡°Don¡¯t you think we¡¯ve given him too much?¡± The materials related to the Undead Mage, which they had found in the underwater secret chamber, had largely not been sold to the Empire. These included the Silver Level Magic Robe, the Magic Wand, and most critically, the Undead Magic Book. The knight youth raised his eyebrows slightly: ¡°Hmm, the lead was found by Cang Xu. Without him, how could we possibly have found the underwater chamber? Also, it was with his help that we managed to enter it. His contributions are undeniable!¡± ¡°Furthermore, these treasures are not easy to sell due to their great risks. They happen to suit Cang Xu¡¯s needs. At least for now, he¡¯s the only Mage in our team; enhancing his strength as much as possible benefits us all, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Zi Di still lay in a deep, unwaking slumber, and the knight youth did not count the Sea Snake Lady among his calculations. The Sea Snake Lady was not one of their own. Zong Ge stared intently at the knight youth, slightly shaking his head: ¡°What you say makes sense, but remember, the Unsealing Scrolls that opened the chamber were exchanged by us. And the materials used for the exchange can be considered our joint property. Without those scrolls, Cang Xu could never have entered the chamber by himself. The scrolls were the main reason for breaking the defense magic array!¡± The knight youth¡¯s face showed a tinge of confusion. ¡°Could it be that Zong Ge feels the distribution was uneven? That he should have received more?¡± This was unexpected to the youth. But he immediately dismissed the thought: ¡°No, the man before me does not have such a character.¡± The youth understood the Half-Beast well. In fact, they had been through life and death together and fought side by side, their mutual understanding deepening over time. ¡°So, you think he¡¯s become too powerful?¡± the youth suggested. Zong Ge¡¯s expression softened; speaking with someone clever saved effort. He said candidly: ¡°Yes, even though Cang Xu is just at the Black Iron Level, he¡¯s a Mage. Mages have many more methods at their disposal than we do.¡± ¡°The most important point is that he is an Undead Mage!¡± ¡°Bai Ya has told me before; he must have told you earlier, right?¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The knight youth nodded. Bai Ya had detailed the entirety of his and Cang Xu¡¯s foray into the small boat dock that night quite early on. Zong Ge let out a deep breath: ¡°The Thief once slashed Cang Xu¡¯s face, but he merely caressed the wound and it healed. Not a single drop of blood flowed.¡± ¡°I suspect he¡¯s no longer among the living. When we were breaking the defense magic array underwater, we all needed to breathe, but he did not. His breathing is a fabricated illusion!¡± ¡°I know he¡¯s one of us; he has gone through life and death with us. But we can¡¯t trust him too much. After all, he¡¯s very different from us. We¡¯ve always regarded him with the perspective of the living. We must admit he¡¯s special.¡± ¡°He¡¯s too calm, no, he¡¯s indifferent, without any emotion. You¡¯ve seen how he dissects those Magic Beast corpses.¡± The knight youth shook his head: ¡°No, I disagree with that, Zong Ge. He¡¯s a Scholar, which is why he¡¯s usually so rational. During dissections, he¡¯s curious, with a desire to explore the unknown. He has emotions; he has a son, I remember, I¡¯ve told you.¡± Zong Ge nodded: ¡°I know. But his tale comes from his mouth only; perhaps it too is a lie.¡± The knight youth pondered for a moment before answering: ¡°Back when we were trapped in the cave and surrounded by the gun scorpions, with only a sliver of hope for escape, there was no need for him to deceive me in that regard. In fact, thinking back, he didn¡¯t lie. He told me clearly that he was wanted by the law. The reason for being wanted was that his son thought he was an Undead Mage.¡± ¡°Furthermore, think back to the final moments on the top floor of the Central Tower. If he wanted to conceal his identity, there was no need to expose himself, right? He could have continued the pretense, claiming to be a mere Mage, without needing to treat Zi Di.¡± Zong Ge remained steadfast: ¡°Perhaps that¡¯s exactly where his cleverness lies. After all, we were pressed for time then.¡± ¡°Zong Ge,¡± the knight youth stood up, walked around the desk to the Half-Beast, and patted his shoulder, ¡°I admit, he has kept things back on these matters, but think about it, if you were in his shoes, wouldn¡¯t you do the same? Thus, all of it is forgivable.¡± ¡°Everyone has secrets; he¡¯s no different, and don¡¯t you have any?¡± The knight youth smiled slightly: ¡°I have secrets too. On Mysterious Monster Island, I also hid many things from you all, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°You¡¯re different,¡± Zong Ge sighed, unconvinced by the knight youth, resigned to his own inability. But this outcome was not unexpected to him. ¡°Anyway, as the First Officer, I needed to remind you of this. Afterwards, I¡¯ll also keep an eye on Cang Xu,¡± the Half-Beast affirmed with determination. ¡°Alright then,¡± the knight youth responded with a reluctant smile. Zong Ge immediately left. The youth half-sat at the edge of the desk, looking at the closed door, his thoughts drifting back to Mysterious Monster Island. Zi Di lay on the ground, covered in wounds, motionless. ¡°Damn it!¡± The knight youth clenched his teeth, feeling the desperation growing inside. He tried to activate the Blood Core in his heart, infusing Zi Di with demon energy, in an attempt to cause her flesh to mutate into that of a Strong Life White Rhinoceros and save her life. But he failed. ¡°Wait, I still have one more method!¡± Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck the knight youth, and he thought of another healing approach he possessed. The next moment, he mutated into the head of a bat monkey, covered one nostril with his hand, and emitted an ultrasound wave. The ultrasound enveloped Zi Di, quickly taking effect, and the numerous wounds on her body stopped bleeding. However, Zi Di¡¯s eyes remained tightly shut, and she could not be awakened. Cang Xu climbed to the top level, gasping for breath. He was one of the last few to arrive, along with Fat Tongue. ¡°No, no! Chairman, Chairman!¡± Fat Tongue threw himself beside Zi Di. Zhenjin surrendered, and Jia Sha was subdued. However, the Teleportation Array could not be activated as the Mana Pool was nearly depleted. Zi Di was the key person for their escape, yet she remained unconscious. Cang Xu came over to the knight youth and, after a moment of contemplation, said, ¡°I think I might have a way.¡± ¡°What way? Tell us quickly!¡± Fat Tongue¡¯s cheeks were streaked with tears, and he immediately looked up and roared. Cang Xu sighed, ¡°To save her, we have to kill her first.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± the youth furrowed his brows. ¡°Although the knight has stabilized her physical injuries, she remains unconscious because her spirit has suffered massive damage. Chairman Zi Di and Jia Sha must have dueled for authority on the spiritual level, exhausting her to the extent that her own soul has begun to dissipate. My method involves condensing her soul and transforming it into a ghost. But if we do that, she¡¯ll be dead.¡± ¡°Transform into a ghost? Can you really do that?¡± the youth pressed. ¡°I can,¡± Cang Xu gritted his teeth, ¡°because I am not only a Scholar but also an Undead Mage.¡± Everyone around was stunned. ¡°What?¡± someone asked, not hearing clearly. So, Cang Xu repeated, ¡°I am an Undead Mage.¡± People¡¯s eyes widened, many instinctively stepping back to distance themselves from Cang Xu. ¡°You¡¯re an Undead Mage?!¡± Almost everyone found it hard to believe and showed looks of terror. Cang Xu stood tall and slowly emitted a Black Iron Level Life Breath, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this is the only way I know.¡± ¡°Heretic! Heretic!!¡± Jia Sha scolded, ¡°You all are heretics!¡± The Knight youth scanned Jia Sha with a glance, knowing that there were only two people present who could heal Zi Di: Cang Xu, and Jia Sha himself. But could they expect Jia Sha to lend a hand? ¡°Then start,¡± the youth told Cang Xu. ¡°Wait, wait! The Chairman is still alive, she still has a faint breath!!¡± Fat Tongue hesitated, subconsciously trying to stop him. But Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°Her soul is dissipating. If we delay any further, we¡¯ll even lose the chance to transform her into a ghost.¡± ¡°Fat older brother, calm down. Cang Xu, please proceed immediately!¡± the youth made up his mind. Consequently, after preparing, Cang Xu successfully cast the Undead Magic spell. The old Scholar¡¯s expression changed slightly, ¡°She also learned some Undead Magic¡­ This is bad.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Fat Tongue immediately asked with concern. But by this time, Zi Di had slowly opened her eyes. She was extremely weak and still disoriented after her vision cleared. The knight youth was kneeling on the ground, holding her upper body. The girl¡¯s gaze fell upon the knight youth and she managed a feeble smile, ¡°Sir, you have a nosebleed¡­¡± The knight youth was startled for a moment; he had many things to say and many questions to ask her. But at this moment, those words dissipated in his mind, and he offered a smile back to her, ¡°I¡¯m not very skilled at healing.¡± ¡°Chairman, you¡¯re awake!!¡± Fat Tongue was ecstatic. Zi Di saw Fat Tongue, as well as the rest of the people, and also noticed Jia Sha being subdued and Zhenjin surrendering. All of her memories came back to her. The next moment, her expression became incredibly complex, filled with surprise, guilt, anxiety, and anticipation. She turned her gaze again to the youth holding her. She had many things to say and countless questions to ask. But as she opened her mouth, no words came out. Chapter 239 - 239: Section 27: Lets Chop Them Down Chapter 239: Section 27: Let¡¯s Chop Them Down Justice, fighting training room. Bang bang bang¡­ The Dragon-man youth raised his fists and kept punching the sandbag in front of him. At this moment, his upper body was bare, his broad and strong chest covered with red dragon scales. His hands had also turned into dragon claws, which he now clenched into fists, causing the sandbag to shake violently. Puff. Suddenly, he punched a hole in the sandbag, and the sandy filling poured out, as fine as rice flour. ... The Dragon-man youth sighed and stopped his movements. He looked at the sand powder flowing to the floor, mobilized the Blood Core in his heart with his spirit. A red light surged and then transformed into a flow of light, flowing back into the Blood Core. And he transformed back into a human form. The fighting training room here was equipped with an Array, and the walls were made of Black Iron Level materials. No matter how loud the room got, the sound couldn¡¯t escape. Moreover, there was natural light that mimicked sunlight and the air was continuously refreshed, quietly drawing in fresh air from outside to replenish what was consumed by fighters training here. ¡°After setting sail, this is the third day. The sandbags are almost used up,¡± the Dragon-man youth shook his head. The sandbags he specifically purchased were not ordinary ¨C they were of Black Iron quality. The sand inside, originally Black Iron Level, had been processed through alchemy techniques, absorbing external impact force and dissipating the energy quickly across each grain of sand. If a Black Iron Level fighter were to train with it, it would be durable. However, under the Dragon-man youth¡¯s onslaught, three had already been rendered useless in three days, leaving only the last sandbag. The sand in each worn-out sandbag had been turned into fine powder by the youth¡¯s punching power. ¡°Now my Bai He Fighting Energy has surpassed half and has transformed into Blast Fighting Energy,¡± the Dragon-man youth checked himself, quite pleased with the cultivation results over the past three days. Although Bai He Fighting Energy was at Silver Level, its power wasn¡¯t outstanding. Its greatest advantage was its wide applicability. Also, its creator didn¡¯t profit from it, which was why it had become the most widely spread Fighting Energy in the world. Blast Fighting Energy was more suitable for the youth in his Dragon-man state. The method of training Fighting Energy differed from those of a Mage¡¯s meditation or a Priest¡¯s prayers. For instance, the method to cultivate Bai He Fighting Energy involved swimming in a river, while to train Blast Fighting Energy, it was boxing. During boxing, the youth triggered his internal Fighting Energy in a certain manner with his spirit, tapping into his physical potential. Zong Ge cultivated Fighting Energy mainly by sword swinging. Generally, training Fighting Energy involved physical activity. However, the youth had heard that some Fighting Energy from the Eastern Empire resembled a Mage¡¯s meditation, known as sitting meditation. Wiping his body with a dry towel, the youth put on his captain¡¯s uniform. Before opening the door, he used the Blood Core again and mutated into his Dragon-man form. This was to hide his true identity. There were many newly recruited sailors on Justice, but importantly, the youth was deceiving the Empire. To cover up his identity, he had also chosen an expensive Bloodline Stabilizer among the first batch of supplies purchased. Of course, he had not used it, but to pretend that he had, he needed to maintain his Dragon-man form in public at all times. Cang Xu and Zong Ge knew his secret. But this was actually the knight youth¡¯s second layer of disguise. They only knew that the youth was a Beastification Person and were unaware of the Blood Core¡¯s function. The person most likely to understand the secret of the Blood Core was Zi Di. How much Zi Di knew, the youth also did not know. After being awakened by Cang Xu¡¯s methods, Zi Di communicated with the Tower Spirit, helping everyone to escape. The entire process had been very urgent. By the time they reached the Deep Sea Monster Fish, Zi Di had fallen into a deep sleep, preventing any communication with the youth. The Dragon-man youth entered the dining hall. It was now lunchtime. His arrival immediately captured the attention of everyone in the restaurant. However, no one took the initiative to salute¡ªthe authority of a pirate captain was not demonstrated in this manner. Amid the mix of awe and curiosity in the onlookers¡¯ eyes, the Dragon-man youth sat opposite Zong Ge. The chef, Fat Tongue, personally brought the roasted Magic Beast Meat to the Dragon-man youth. There was a lot of meat, served in a basin brimming with it. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Dragon-man youth began eating heartily. This was Fire Raven Magic Beast Meat. The youth found it satisfactory as he chewed, the meat being tough and chewy. Seasoned with pepper among other spices, it was fragrant. After swallowing the Magic Beast Meat, the youth felt as though streams of heat were gradually radiating from his stomach, replenishing his hollow belly, filling his weary chest, and soothing his sore arms. Cultivating Fighting Energy was about unleashing the body¡¯s power. Without eating, it was tough to enhance Fighting Energy¡ªa severe case could even lead to injuries, draining and deadly. The Fire Raven Magic Beast Meat the Dragon-man youth was eating contained rich Fire Element, nurturing his body, and corresponding well with Blast Fighting Energy. Unfortunately, this Fire Raven Magic Beast Meat was only Black Iron Level. It was not truly suitable for a youth at Silver Level. The youth chose to buy these because, firstly, it was relatively cheap and purchasing from the Empire wouldn¡¯t attract suspicion. Secondly, he could still make use of it for now. During this phase, his goal was to transform his Bai He Fighting Energy into Blast Fighting Energy. As he already had a foundation, it wasn¡¯t purely about converting physical power into Fighting Energy, so the burden on his body was smaller. The Magic Beast Meat that Zong Ge was eating, Steel Rhinoceros Meat, was Silver Level. However, the meat was incredibly tough, its color resembling that of iron bars. Zong Ge had to use Fighting Energy to assist both his teeth in chewing and his stomach in digesting. ¡°You have quite the teeth, Captain Long Fu,¡± Zong Ge watched the youth¡¯s sharp dragon teeth and teased with a tone of envy. The dragon-man youth smiled and swallowed the mouthful of meat, ¡°You can use the training room this afternoon.¡± The Justice had only one combat training room, and training inside the room was of course more efficient than outside. After discussing with the half-beast, they had decided to alternate days for each person¡¯s use. But today, the dragon-man youth had used only the morning. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zong Ge was puzzled. The youth sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve ruined another sandbag, I need to take it easy. From now on, half a day will be enough for me.¡± Zong Ge nodded, ¡°You should buy a Silver Level sandbag. The red bean sandbags on the list look just right.¡± These sandbags were filled with crimson flame beans of the Silver Level. The beans, slightly larger than gravel, could absorb a certain amount of fire element fighting energy, making them most suitable for the dragon-man youth practicing Blast Fighting Spirit. The dragon-man youth nodded, about to speak, when suddenly the dining hall door was violently pushed open. A sailor shouted at the door, ¡°Captain Long Fu, a ship has been spotted ahead!¡± The dining hall instantly became noisy. After so many days of sailing, they had finally seen a ship. ¡°What ship?¡± The dragon-man youth stood up. He wasn¡¯t surprised, as the Justice had already been navigating the Amber Route since yesterday. This was a well-known trade route, and merchant ships on this route often carried large amounts of amber. ¡°The distance is too far, it¡¯s not very clear yet,¡± the sailor said. The dragon-man youth sat back down and continued his lunch, ordering, ¡°Try to get closer to it first. Let me know when you see it clearly.¡± ¡°Yes, Captain!¡± The sailor ran out. Soon after, he returned, ¡°Lord Long Fu, it¡¯s a pirate ship. Their water lines are very shallow.¡± Everyone was immediately disappointed. Pirates rarely attacked other pirates, as it was not worth the risk. Attacking weaker merchant ships was more likely successful, with less loss of life. But this situation was not absolute. If pirates found that an opponent had just been through a bloody battle and the loot filled the ship¡¯s hold, they would certainly attack. However, according to the sailor¡¯s information, the pirate ship had very shallow water lines, indicating it didn¡¯t have much plundered treasure. But everyone heard the dragon-man youth bursting out laughing. ¡°Hahaha, did you hear that, my lads, our prey has appeared!¡± ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± ¡°Get moving!¡± ¡°Grab your weapons, overturn them, and take their ship!!¡± The sailors erupted, flooding out of the dining hall like a tidal wave, heading to their designated stations. Over these three days of sailing, each sailor had been assigned specific tasks. Zong Ge put down the plate of magic beast meat, wiped his mouth, and stood up. The dragon-man youth picked up his plate, eating as he headed towards the deck. At the lookout tower on the main mast, Xu Ma breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the sailors emerging en masse and hearing the passing commands of the captain, he knew a battle was imminent. ¡°There¡¯s nothing worth robbing here.¡± ¡°Captain Long Fu seems like a battle maniac!¡± The dragon-man youth didn¡¯t steer the wheel; a professional sailor was in charge. He held his plate, walking all the way to the bow spar, stepping one foot on the gunwale, looking far ahead. The pirate ship he targeted was actually quite far from the Justice. But under the dragon¡¯s gaze, the youth clearly saw every detail on the ship. It was primarily manned by humans, the crew busily scurrying around. From their attire, and the missing limbs, it was clearly a pirate ship. What disappointed the youth was the ship¡¯s ordinariness. The ship had two masts, much smaller than the Justice, with only twelve cannon positions, five on each side. The remaining two positioned at the bow and stern. The cannons were also ordinary. The ship indeed had very shallow water lines. ¡°But this kind of opponent is also good.¡± ¡°I need a battle to test the power of the Justice, let the newly recruited sailors experience a fight to see their mettle, strengthen internal unity, and also let them get a taste of victory.¡± The dragon-man youth didn¡¯t care whether the pirate ship carried treasure. He had plenty of capital, obtained from the secret undersea chambers. If he could sell them in one go to the Empire, he would have done so long ago. By capturing this ship, he could claim he had obtained many casting materials from it, giving him a reason to dispose of these materials without arousing suspicion from the Empire. ¡°My lads!¡± ¡°Full sail, we¡¯re going after them, to overturn them!!¡± Following the dragon-man youth¡¯s command, the speed of the Justice surged, rushing toward the pirate ship ahead. Chapter 240 - 240: Section 28: Captain of the Little Bird Chapter 240: Section 28: Captain of the Little Bird ¡°` Aboard the Little Bird, chaos reigned. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°` ¡°Captain, our distance is rapidly closing in!¡± the First Officer reported. ¡°Damn it, they¡¯re still on our tail,¡± the captain of the Little Bird stood at the stern, clenching his teeth in frustration. He held a monocular up to his eye, observing the situation aboard the Justice through the lens. He did not have the impressive eyesight of the Dragon-man youth. ... The lens focused on the flag of the Justice. At a glance, the captain of the Little Bird recognized it as a pirate flag. But he had never seen this pirate flag before: ¡°A one-eyed giant skull¡­ with the word ¡®justice¡¯ in the eye socket¡­ What is that? Since when do pirates brand themselves as just?¡± The captain of the Little Bird shifted his gaze from the pirate flag down to the Justice. The more he observed, the paler his complexion became, the more his mouth dried up, and the more his tongue parched. The First Officer also held a monocular, and as the Justice drew closer, his view became clearer. Worry filled the First Officer¡¯s voice: ¡°They¡¯re in the windward position. Their ship is much larger than ours, and they must have many men on board. If we were to engage in boarding combat, we would stand no chance at all.¡± ¡°Look at that ship!¡± ¡°The bow is sharp, the lines of the hull are sleek. The bottom is narrow, the top is wide, it draws more water, and it¡¯s faster, this is the Empire¡¯s new ship design of recent years.¡± Compared to the Justice, the Little Bird was like a chubby child in front of an adult. After speaking, the First Officer¡¯s complexion turned pale: ¡°Captain, perhaps we should consider surrendering?¡± The captain of the Little Bird darkened in expression and glared harshly at the First Officer: ¡°Surrender? This is my ship!¡± Others could surrender and possibly be taken in by the adversary, since they were pirates too. But not him. The ship was his private property, and if he surrendered, he stood to lose the most. At the same time, if he surrendered without a fight, how would he ever mix in the high seas again? All pirates would mock him, thinking of him as a coward. For the captain of the Little Bird, he was no Knight¡ªhonor was effectively worthless to him! Yet, he had to admit that the title of coward was extremely negative. Once known as a coward, it would invite a lot of trouble; many pirates would despise him and mistreat him easily on account of it. Life afterward would be very hard for him! ¡°The adversary indeed holds a significant advantage, but don¡¯t forget, we also purchased those cannons. Get the stern cannon ready, I¡¯ll fire it myself!¡± the captain of the Little Bird commanded in a low voice. ¡°Yes!¡± The First Officer responded, immediately running off to make arrangements. Soon, a Bronze Level stern cannon was pushed next to the captain of the Little Bird. A wooden box was opened, revealing the Black Iron Level Bombs inside. These were Eagle Soaring Bombs, alchemical creations, designed to fly farther than normal cannonballs. The captain of the Little Bird knelt on the ground, facing southeast, clutching a pendant necklace in his hand as he whispered a prayer: ¡°Goddess of Luck, I praise you, you are our deity, in whom everything is possible when it seems not. To the hopeless, you grant opportunity; to the weary, you give strength; all who wait upon you shall renew their strength. I beseech your power to pour into my body, allow me to be exceptionally fortunate, and let my cannonball strike the enemy at their most lethal spot.¡± After the prayer, he exhaled a murky breath, nervously released his grip, and looked at the pendant of his necklace with hopeful eyes. The next moment, evident joy appeared on his face. His pendant was not ordinary; it was a Luck Holy Rune sought from the Luck Temple! Now, as his prayers went forth, the Divine Talisman emitted a faint seven-colored brilliance. ¡°It worked!¡± Before he could even cheer, the pirates around him, having seen the pendant, had already started to shout. The morale soared in an instant. ¡°Hurry, Captain, fire a shot!¡± ¡°Shoot quick, Captain.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all on your cannon shot now.¡± The captain of the Little Bird snorted: ¡°Shut up.¡± Then, he personally lifted the Eagle Soaring Bomb with both hands and stuffed it into the cannon barrel. As he did so, the seven-colored glow from the pendant spread to the cannonball, giving it a thin halo of seven colors. He then used a ramrod to tamp down on the contents of the cannon, packing the bomb and the gunpowder as tightly as possible. Subsequently, he moved behind the cannon, caressing its smooth, rounded aft end lovingly with both hands. ¡°My precious darling, come, roar for me, shriek for me, let us blast them with one good shot!¡± The captain of the Little Bird uttered decisively as he continued to stroke, and a seven-colored brilliance also painted the surface of the cannon. Then, he took a deep breath, stood up tall and proud, and channeled his Black Iron Level Fighting Energy into the cannon. ¡°Fire!!¡± With a roar, he pulled hard on the firing lanyard. The enormous firing pin struck, causing sparks to fly, instantly igniting the gunpowder. Boom! The Eagle Soaring Bomb shot forth, and the Bronze Cannon recoiled violently backward from the force, slamming into the captain of the Little Bird¡¯s stomach. At the moment the cannon fired, the captain¡¯s internal Fighting Energy drained substantially, a powerful feeling of emptiness spreading through his entire being. The recoil of the cannon butt crashed into him, knocking him to the ground. ¡°Captain!¡± The surrounding pirates rushed to his aid, helping him up. He was gasping for air, dizzy, but hope kept him from collapsing. ¡°Quick, don¡¯t block me, let me see the result of my shot.¡± At his words, the pirates dispersed, opening up a large space. The Eagle Soaring Bomb, carrying the hopes of the captain and the entire crew of the pirate ship, shot through the air. It pierced the atmosphere, emitting a sharp sound like the cry of an eagle, accompanied by a trail of seven-colored light forming a faint, ethereal, colorful tail. ¡°Hm?¡± The Dragon-man youth at the forefront of the Justice was slightly taken aback by the approaching bomb. The range of the Eagle Soaring Bomb was somewhat beyond his expectations. ¡°Get down!!¡± The crew members around him shouted, promptly throwing themselves to the deck. However, the Dragon-man youth pulled out a specially made Alchemy Crossbow from his chest and gently triggered it, releasing an arrow. The trajectory of the Eagle Soaring Bomb was straight, and with his exceptional archery, the Dragon-man youth was certain he could intercept the projectile the moment the arrow left the crossbow. And indeed it seemed likely. But just as the arrow was about to strike the Eagle Soaring Bomb, it suddenly exploded. The Dragon-man youth was taken aback. The Alchemy Arrow had turned out to be a defective product, yet not an obviously defective one. After flying a distance, it disintegrated. The Eagle Soaring Bomb, affected by the explosion, quickly veered off course. It was supposed to pierce through the sail and land in the sea behind the Justice, but now its trajectory had shifted downward, aiming directly for the Justice¡¯s Main Mast! ¡°Damn,¡± Zong Ge felt a sinking feeling as he witnessed this. The Justice was a Black Iron Level demon energy ship, and the Eagle Soaring Bomb was of the same level. If it hit the Main Mast, it was very likely to break it. Even if it didn¡¯t, the mast would still be heavily damaged. At that point, they wouldn¡¯t be able to keep the sails up. The sails, when filled with wind, exerted force that propelled the ship forward, and continuing to hoist the sails would break the Main Mast. Whether they hoisted the sails or not, the Justice¡¯s speed would be severely impacted. The Little Bird¡¯s chances of escaping would significantly increase! At this critical moment, the Dragon-man youth snorted coldly, turning his head and shifting his stance. At the same time, he extended his left hand with Dragon Claw open, palm facing forward. In the next instant, the Dragon-man youth fiercely activated his Fighting energy. Fighting energy burst forth from the palm of his left Dragon Claw. He had two types of Fighting energy within him. The Bai He Fighting energy was rather ordinary, but the Blast Fighting Spirit was explosive in nature. The Dragon-man youth was now using the Blast Fighting Spirit! With a bang, the Fighting energy exploded in front of his left Dragon Claw. The explosion gave him a powerful push, and combined with his forceful stamping of the feet, it allowed him to move from a standstill with such swift acceleration that he left an afterimage in his original spot. The Dragon-man youth dashed to the Main Mast like lightning, with the Eagle Soaring Bomb nearly reaching him in the next second. The youth made a fist with his right claw, aimed at the Bomb, and struck it with might. The Eagle Soaring Bomb, following the explosion of the Alchemy Arrow, had already lost its colorful halo and was directly knocked away by the youth. ¡°Silver Fighter!¡± the pirates aboard the Little Bird exclaimed in unison upon seeing the gleaming Fighting energy on the Dragon-man youth. The Captain of the Little Bird went limp and collapsed to the ground, utterly drained of strength. His hope for the Eagle Soaring Bomb had come to naught, and facing the Dragon-man youth¡¯s Silver Level Fighting energy and the success in intercepting the Bomb had plunged him into despair. ¡°Captain, blast ¡¯em one more time!¡± a pirate urged frantically. The Little Bird¡¯s Captain gave a wry smile, the colorful light from the necklace on his chest fading away completely. ¡°That last shot, I put all my strength and energy into it, I can¡¯t go on,¡± the Little Bird¡¯s Captain said with a wry smile. ¡°What do you mean, Captain, you¡¯re done after just one shot?¡± ¡°Hurry, fire again!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re a man, keep shooting, Captain!¡± The pirates were beginning to panic. A Captain personally firing the cannon was their most powerful weapon. But this weapon had failed to produce any results. The Justice was closing in. ¡°Bear off to the side, full port!¡± the Dragon-man youth bellowed. The Justice gave up chasing the rear of the Little Bird, choosing not to ram straight into it but instead turned the ship¡¯s side, positioning the starboard side toward the Little Bird. ¡°Starboard cannon, ready to fire!¡± the Dragon-man youth shouted again. His voice was so loud, it directly reached below deck. Normally, such an order from the Captain would require a relay officer. The pirates on the cannon deck were already at their battle stations, and upon hearing the Captain¡¯s command, they all ran to the starboard side. They operated the cannons in groups of four. Bai Ya was among them. His heart pounding wildly, he pushed the chain with all his might. The chain, moving rapidly through the pulley, opened the gun port. Other pirates exerted force to push the Bronze Cannons out. Most of each cannon¡¯s body was still on the deck, but the muzzle tips were already protruding from the ship¡¯s body. The Justice had 24 cannon positions, without any at the bow or stern, with 12 on each of the port and starboard sides. The 12 cannons poked their heads out, the gleam of Bronze, and the dark muzzles were clear for the Little Bird¡¯s pirates to see. So, in the next moment, hisses of sharp intakes of breath could be heard on the deck of the Little Bird. A chilling dread spread through everyone¡¯s hearts. ¡°My God!¡± ¡°They¡¯re all Bronze Level Alchemy Cannons!!¡± The Little Bird also had Bronze Level Alchemy Cannons, but only two, one each on the fore and aft decks. ¡°Captain, what do we do?¡± the First Officer asked his Captain urgently. The Captain of the Little Bird stared blankly ahead, frozen. ¡°Fire¡ªat will!¡± the Dragon-man youth roared. Bang, bang, bang¡­ The pirates of the Justice pulled the ropes, the sparks from the firing pins ignited the gunpowder, and Bombs were continuously fired. Clouds of smoke quickly rose from the starboard side of the Justice. ¡°Get down¡ª!¡± the Little Bird¡¯s First Officer shouted. The pirates instantly hit the deck. The Dragon-man youth, with a slight smile on his face, looked off into the distance at the Little Bird. The sound of the 12 cannons firing stirred him deeply. ¡°This is the spirit of a sea-faring man!¡± However, the next second, the smile on the Dragon-man youth¡¯s face froze. The 12 Bombs flew over the Little Bird into the sea behind, creating 12 columns of water. They all missed. Embarrassing! On the Little Bird, the First Officer scrambled up to the Captain¡¯s side: ¡°Captain, the first round was clearly a warning shot. Make a decision, quick!¡± The Captain of the Little Bird was jolted awake, and with a start, he yelled, ¡°Raise the white flag, fast, raise the white flag, we surrender!¡± Chapter 241 - 241: Section 29: The Fundamental Root of All Wars Chapter 241: Section 29: The Fundamental Root of All Wars After a round of cannon fire, the Little Bird remained unscathed. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s face darkened as he issued another order. Sailors steered and pulled ropes as needed, the Justice turned around and sailed in a zigzag pattern, this time facing the Little Bird with its left side. ¡°Prepare the cannon on the port side,¡± shouted the Dragon-man youth, his voice clearly carrying. Pirates on the cannon deck moved from the right side to the left. Bai Ya and eleven other pirates strenuously pulled open the gun ports while others laboriously pushed the cannon out. The cannon deck was unbearably hot and reeked of gunpowder. In just a short while, Bai Ya was drenched in sweat. ... Feeling uneasy, he perked up his ears and listened for the command to fire. However, the expected command to fire never came. ¡°Look, the enemy is surrendering!¡± Suddenly, a pirate shouted out, his voice loud. Many leaned over the gun ports to look and then burst into cheers. ¡°Hurrah!¡± ¡°We won!!¡± ¡°The guys over there are cowards, ahahaha.¡± Most of the pirates clustered around the gun ports dispersed, celebrating with dancing. Bai Ya saw a gap and also squeezed through to see. Indeed, he saw the Little Bird flying a white flag, its speed gradually decreasing to zero, helplessly stationed on the water. ¡°Did we win?¡± Bai Ya blinked in surprise. After a few breaths, he embraced the reality, joy clearly written on his face, his heart completely relaxed. Only when he relaxed did he feel the pain in his body. Firstly, his palms. His hands had gripped the harsh iron ropes, and now, from exerting all his strength earlier, they were burning with pain. And his arms were extremely sore. Lastly, he felt the crowdedness of the cannon deck and wished he could immediately run to the first deck to enjoy the sea breeze. ¡°Reef the main sail, slow down!¡± commanded the Dragon-man captain. Zong Ge added, ¡°Don¡¯t be careless, watch for the enemy¡¯s tricks!¡± Bai Ya tensed up immediately, and the other pirates, hearing this, stopped their cheering and returned to their posts. The Justice carefully approached the Little Bird until both ships were closely linked by hooks and boarding ramps. Only then did the Dragon-man youth relax. He continued to command from the Justice, while Zong Ge led a group of elite pirates onto the Little Bird. The Captain of the Little Bird led the way by kneeling on the ground, surrendering very sincerely. ¡°A second-rate Silver fighter?¡± When he sensed Zong Ge¡¯s Silver aura, he felt even more relieved about his decision. The Little Bird was considerably shorter than the Justice. The Dragon-man youth stood on the forecastle, looking down at the Little Bird being taken over by his crew, feeling a sense of dullness. He had wanted to use the Little Bird to train his crew¡¯s cannon firing skills, but after just one round of firing, the opponents had cowered. The pirates of the Little Bird were rounded up, all bound and kneeling on the deck. Once it was confirmed that nobody was missing, the Dragon-man youth grandly moved, amid his crew¡¯s cheers and the enemy¡¯s awe-struck gazes, and leisurely stepped onto the first deck of the Little Bird. ¡°Which bastard fired at me just now?¡± the Dragon-man youth deliberately asked in a coarse tone. ¡°It was me, sir,¡± the Captain of the Little Bird immediately tensed up, gritting his teeth as he answered. ¡°Good, sign this, and from today onwards, you are my main gunner,¡± the Dragon-man youth walked up to the Captain of the Little Bird, casually tossing a contract scroll. Seeing the scroll roll onto the deck, the Captain of the Little Bird quickly picked it up to examine. Initially, he went through it begrudgingly, but after looking through it, he was surprised. The conditions on the scroll were much more generous than he had expected. ¡°This is the result of your knowing the times and surrendering on your own,¡± the Dragon-man youth explained at the right moment. ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± the Captain of the Little Bird hastily bowed his head, then channeled his Fighting energy and signed his name with his own blood. The contract was immediately established. It must be said, such Magic Contracts were convenient. The Dragon-man youth absorbed all these pirates. Of course, after careful examination, they were disbanded and reorganized. Zong Ge led the Little Bird. The Dragon-man youth personally appointed a Half-Beast as the squadron leader. The expansion of the Justice Pirate Group had begun its first step! ¡°Do good work, and one day, you too might become one of my officers!¡± The voice of the Dragon-man youth inspired the pirates, causing their eyes to light up. The Little Bird had hardly any damage, thanks to the rapid decision to surrender by the original captain. The original captain¡¯s name was lengthy and awkward, so everyone simply referred to him by his nickname¡ªLittle Bird. As a Black Iron Level fighter, his cultivation belonged to the lower echelons of captaincy. It was difficult for a bronze level captain to maintain control over the scene among ships that sailed the seven seas. Nightfall. The sea breeze was gentle, blowing through the windows. The captain¡¯s cabin was brightly lit. Dinner had already been eaten, and the Dragon-man youth sat at the desk, both feeling the breeze and flipping through the logbook of the Justice. Today¡¯s record included this minor battle. The Dragon-man youth closed the logbook, leaned back in the leather chair, and began to close his eyes and ponder, summarizing the experience of this battle. ¡°Sea battles and land battles are quite different.¡± ¡°Firstly, securing the upper wind is very important. We did well on this point. With the upper wind, our shells could be fired further than in calm or headwind conditions. This is the advantage of terrain. Just like shooting from a higher mountain in a land battle. Battling against the wind is like attacking from below, which is very disadvantageous.¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Secondly, the quality of the equipment greatly affects the outcome of the battle. Our ability to secure a quick and decisive victory is due to the superior class, tonnage, gun positions, and the grade of the cannons of Justice surpassing those of Little Bird. The most threatening strike from Little Bird was the Eagle Soaring Bomb, as it was a Black Iron Level bomb.¡± Of course, with Little Bird¡¯s surrender, these bombs had also become the spoils of war for the Dragon-man youth. ¡°Lastly, the most influential factor in the outcome of the battle was the people! The enemy¡¯s Eagle Soaring Bomb was launched by Little Bird himself. The person intercepting the bomb was me. If I had not intercepted it and allowed the main mast to be damaged, Little Bird might have escaped.¡± Justice was a Black Iron Level Magic Energy ship, but it was bulky and easily damaged. In comparison, a Black Iron Level fighter was much more agile, making it easy to switch between offense and defense. Taking Little Bird as an example, he was a Black Iron Fighter. If the youth¡¯s side lacked a Black Iron Level fighter and only had a Black Iron Level Magic Energy ship, Little Bird might have swum across the sea and led a group to board and attack. Even without hand-to-hand combat, Little Bird firing cannons could have threatened Justice. The youth couldn¡¯t help but recall the battle with Rou Cang. A Gold Level fighter like Rou Cang, with his power alone, could dominate the battlefield, regardless of how many pirates had been destroyed by the previous fleets under the names Shewoman and Big Chin. The outcome of Rou Cang¡¯s battle with the youth, Zong Ge, and the grey-clad fighter decided the result of the confrontation. Thus, the Dragon-man youth had a profound realization: ¡°Whether it¡¯s land battle or sea battle, all wars fundamentally boil down to a competition between people.¡± Therefore, if one possesses resources, the priority should be to invest in people first, and then in external things, such as equipment or ships. True power should be vested within oneself for the greatest benefit. With the same resources, training a fighter to Black Iron Level or possessing a Black Iron Level Magic Energy ship for an ordinary person, the former is certainly the better choice. It¡¯s like the fourth King of Pirates who seized the Pirate¡¯s Divine Seat; because the divine power was not truly his own, or rather, not fully converted for his use, he was assassinated. But this matter is not generalizable in practice. Because people have limits. Almost everyone¡¯s aptitude is fixed, whether good or bad. Therefore, all cultivators have their own ceilings. However, when the investment of resources approaches the limit of one¡¯s bloodline and talent, the increase in cultivation becomes minimal, and the return on investment becomes lower. At that time, investing in external things becomes the better choice. ¡°It¡¯s unavoidable.¡± ¡°Just like the members of the Hundred Needle Family, unless there¡¯s an accident, their ultimate strength and potential are destined to be legendary from birth, no matter how hard they try. This is actually quite an enviable fate, as most people in the world can only be ordinary mortals.¡± ¡°But I am different!¡± ¡°I have the Blood Core.¡± The more he cultivated, the more the youth felt the terrifying power of the Blood Core. The Blood Core could absorb the essence of external lifeforms and graft their bloodline onto his own. This meant that the youth¡¯s talent and potential were variable, almost limitless! Why had the youth¡¯s cultivation of the Blast Fighting Spirit advanced so rapidly in these past few days? The foundation of Bai He¡¯s Fighting Spirit was only a secondary reason; the real reason was that he possessed the legendary bloodline of the King of the Flame Dragon! As long as he had this bloodline, even if the youth started his cultivation of Fighting Spirit from scratch, he could make rapid progress, advancing at an incredible rate. Under other equal circumstances, as long as others had a weaker bloodline than his, his cultivation efficiency would be ten, a hundred, or even a thousand times higher than theirs. This was not an exaggeration. Many geniuses became Gold Level fighters at a young age. While ordinary people could never reach the state of being Extraordinary in their lifetimes. ¡°Perhaps, this is the correct way to use the Blood Core?¡± A spark of inspiration flashed through the youth¡¯s mind. He had roamed around Mysterious Monster Island, collecting and transforming Magical Beasts, absorbing bloodlines, resulting in various mutations. Now, he could repeat this process, absorbing various stable life forms that could harmonize his own Magic Power naturally. Yet in reality, low-level Magical Beasts could only offer him some peculiar skills at most. The most beneficial use, it appeared, was in his current approach. Absorbing high-quality bloodlines and then undertaking Extraordinary Cultivation to grow rapidly. After all, his essence was human. Transforming into other forms necessitated a lot of practice for the youth to possibly master their use, which would consume a massive amount of his time and energy. Maintaining a humanoid form, the life form the youth was most familiar with, required no reacclimation. Moreover, both Fighting Spirit and Mana had high growth potentials. The variety of Combat Skills and Spells was vast, a tremendous wealth. While the innate magic of legendary Magical Beasts was convenient and quick, it could be counted on one¡¯s fingers. ¡°And randomly using the Blood Core to manifest various mutations is far too conspicuous.¡± ¡°It would certainly draw suspicion and scrutiny, possibly endangering others and revealing the identity of the Beastification People, as well as the secrets of Mysterious Monster Island.¡± Originally, the youth¡¯s desire to capture the bloodlines of natural Magical Beasts had been strong, but now it had somewhat diminished. Chapter 242 - 242: Section 30: Bai Yas Knight Dream Chapter 242: Section 30: Bai Ya¡¯s Knight Dream ¡°Are you sure you want to board the Little Bird?¡± Sanda looked at Xu Ma with a puzzled expression, seeking confirmation again. ¡°Of course, of course. Please make it convenient, sir.¡± In a corner, Xu Ma bowed deeply, his face wearing a flattering smile. ¡°Hehehe.¡± Seeing no one around, he took out a silver coin from his pocket and directly handed it to Sanda. Sanda pushed back slightly, but Xu Ma was surprisingly strong and could only accept it. The goblin stared at the silver coin in his hand and said with a strange expression, ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll recruit you to the Little Bird.¡± ¡°Wait, sir, not just me, there¡¯s one more. To be precise, two people,¡± Xu Ma said. ... ¡°One coin and you want to settle two matters?¡± Sanda deliberately made it difficult. ¡°He¡¯s just an ordinary sailor, sir. Just consider him an extra,¡± Xu Ma smiled ingratiatingly again, bowing even lower, almost able to look the goblin in the eye. This made Sanda admire the flexibility of the Bronze Thief¡¯s body. ¡°Forget it,¡± Sanda shook his head, ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°Hei Ya (Bai Ya).¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sanda was surprised internally, a hint of alertness arising, but he kept a calm exterior and probed, ¡°Who is he to you? A fellow villager? Worth your care?¡± ¡°Pfft! He¡¯s a newcomer, doesn¡¯t know much. I just taught him a few things, he¡¯s like my younger brother,¡± Xu Ma said. Sanda¡¯s thoughts churned, probing again, ¡°Has he agreed?¡± ¡°Of course, he has agreed,¡± Xu Ma gave Sanda a thumbs up, ¡°To be able to board Captain Lion Flag¡¯s ship and receive your care, sir, is a great thing.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Sanda chuckled twice at Xu Ma. He naturally knew that Bai Ya¡¯s alias now was Hei Ya. From Xu Ma¡¯s words, it appeared Bai Ya was unaware. Although Bai Ya was just an ordinary person, having shared life and death experiences on Mysterious Monster Island, Sanda took the matter to heart. ¡°If you want me to take more care of you in the future, it will depend on your contributions later. Let¡¯s leave it at that for now.¡± Sanda patted Xu Ma on the shoulder, pretending to agree, preparing to secretly inquire Bai Ya first. Xu Ma was overjoyed, ¡°Sir, just watch my performance from now on. Oh, take care, sir!¡± The night wind breezed gently. On the deck. Lan Zao was instructing Bai Ya on the cultivation of Fighting energy. ¡°Cultivating Fighting energy is all about activity. Fighting energy is about excavating power from within the body, unlike magic which draws elements from outside.¡± ¡°What is the Fighting energy mantra? It guides us on how to move our bodies, how during the movement Fighting energy is generated, and then how to manipulate it.¡± ¡°The Fighting energy you and I cultivate is the same. It requires the activity of our muscles, similar to swinging a rope.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just a beginner, it¡¯s normal not to find the sensation of these muscle movements. Let me teach you a method, that¡¯s how I succeeded initially.¡± While saying this, Lan Zao fetched a loop of rope from a corner. This was a spare rope for pulling sails, thick and long. Lan Zao spread out the rope, wrapped it around the Main Mast, and then grasped both ends in his hands. ¡°Watch closely!¡± Lan Zao stood with legs apart, squatting slightly, arms extended forward, continuously powering the long rope in his hands. The rope, under his swing, formed waves that traveled to where the Main Mast and the rope tangled and disappeared without a trace. Bai Ya stared intently at Lan Zao, not blinking, extremely serious. After coming out from Mysterious Monster Island, Lan Zao had taken the initiative to find Bai Ya to teach him his Fighting energy mantra. Bai Ya had been learning for many days but had seen little success. ¡°Alright, your turn to try,¡± Lan Zao demonstrated for a while and then stopped. Bai Ya nodded, stood where Lan Zao had been, and mimicked his actions, swinging the long rope while activating the Fighting energy mantra. He quickly showed a joyful expression. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is!¡± he found the knack. After swinging the long rope, the feedback force helped Bai Ya break through that layer of barrier, understanding that his arm muscles should move just like the rope. His arms quickly warmed up, and traces of fine Fighting energy were produced. But soon after, the Fighting energy spread to other parts of his body, the already scarce energy dispersed, nearly vanishing. But Bai Ya was very happy; normally, to achieve this effect, he would need to practice for an hour or two. But now, he did it in just a matter of breaths. ¡°Master Lan Zao, thank you so much! Your trick is really great,¡± Bai Ya was extremely excited. Lan Zao laughed heartily and patted Bai Ya on the shoulder, ¡°My life was saved by you; saying thanks is too formal.¡± Seeing Bai Ya always reminded him of another figure¡ªHuang Zao¡ªhis own younger brother. Just as he was about to encourage a few words, suddenly, footsteps approached. Lan Zao and Bai Ya immediately became alert, slightly distancing themselves. The two were taking advantage of the night when no one else was on deck to conduct the training. Of course, even if someone came upon them, at most, it would just raise some curiosity about how close their relationship was and would not be considered a flaw. Sanda immediately appeared before the two, ¡°I¡¯m not interrupting you, am I?¡± Bai Ya quickly shook his head, and Lan Zao smiled, indicating that he was not. Both of them relaxed. Although Sanda was a goblin, he had experienced the Mysterious Monster Island, and the trio considered each other as insiders. Sometimes, Lan Zao and Bai Ya would subconsciously overlook Sanda¡¯s racial identity as a goblin. Such an attitude was genuine and irreplaceable. It also gave Sanda a rare feeling of warmth from a group that accepted him. Sanda succinctly repeated Xu Ma¡¯s request. Bai Ya was surprised, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Xu Ma to be a good person.¡± ¡°Good person?¡± Sanda shook his head, ¡°He¡¯s just bullying the weak and fearing the strong. He¡¯s afraid. Staying on the Justice, he would be in danger if a battle broke out. But the Little Bird is just an ordinary ship. In a fight, the enemy¡¯s firepower would be focused on the Justice. Moreover, without a captain and Mage on the Little Bird, there are fewer strong figures above him, which would let him maneuver better.¡± Sanda had once been the leader of a Mercenary Group and had seen many such people; he could tell Xu Ma¡¯s thoughts at a glance. ¡°Even so, he¡¯s still looking out for my interests,¡± Bai Ya still felt somewhat grateful to Xu Ma. Lan Zao coughed, ¡°You¡¯re just an addition to him; he treats you as a subordinate. Having people rely on him is naturally advantageous rather than being alone. Be careful not to be used and then count money for others.¡± ¡°No, I won¡¯t be, esteemed sirs, I¡¯m an adult too!¡± Bai Ya retorted, his eyes wide. Lan Zao laughed heartily. Sanda then asked, ¡°What do you think then? To tell the truth, Lord Zong Ge has already shared with me the training and combat plans for the Little Bird. He plans to train a formidable force using military methods. If you join the Little Bird, you¡¯ll experience tough training normally and higher frequency of sea battles in the future.¡± Lan Zao¡¯s expression grew serious, ¡°Can pirates really be trained into a military force?¡± Sanda didn¡¯t respond to this doubt. Having followed Zong Ge, Sanda would give his opinions and warnings on every plan, but as long as Zong Ge decided to proceed, Sanda was always the most supportive! Bai Ya fell silent for a while, then clenched his lips and nodded gravely, ¡°I want to join the Little Bird!¡± Lan Zao¡¯s expression changed slightly, ¡°The Justice is actually safer. We can talk to Fat Tongue or Mu Ban and have you assigned to do odd jobs with them.¡± ¡°But I want to become a knight!¡± Bai Ya clenched his fists, ¡°If I avoid battles like this, how can I make any achievements?¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t achieve, I won¡¯t have the resources to help myself cultivate.¡± ¡°I also want to eat Magic Beast Meat!¡± With Bai Ya determined, Lan Zao didn¡¯t try to dissuade him further. Leaving Bai Ya to continue practicing near the Main Mast, Lan Zao and Sanda patrolled the deck, eventually reaching the forward superstructure. They heard snoring. It was the sound of the Big guy sleeping. ¡°Master Sanda, please take care of Bai Ya, as his strength is limited,¡± Lan Zao requested. Sanda smiled, ¡°He¡¯s one of us. You don¡¯t even have to ask; I would do so anyways. But¡­ it seems like this young man has really caught your eye?¡± Sanda, a Black Iron Level, held a significant respect for the Bronze Level Lan Zao. Because during a pursuit battle on the Mysterious Monster Island, it was only the knight youth, Zong Ge, Sanda, and Lan Zao who stood up, willing to take risks to hunt down the Demon Beast Army. The steadfast attitude of Lan Zao following the knight youth resonated deeply with Sanda, a follower of Zong Ge. Lan Zao heaved a sigh, ¡°You know he once saved me? He¡¯s like a brother to me.¡± He wasn¡¯t aware of Lan Zao¡¯s guilt towards Huang Zao, only knowing that Huang Zao faced danger on the Mysterious Monster Island while Lan Zao was right beside him. Sanda guessed in his heart: Perhaps seeing his own brother¡¯s death made this man transfer his brotherly love to Bai Ya. Lan Zao turned, looking towards Bai Ya. From this position, his view was obstructed, but he could hear the sound of a rope whipping through the air. A look of contentment crossed his face, ¡°Compared to Huang Zao, Bai Ya is much smarter. When I taught Huang Zao this cultivation trick, he took three days to learn it. Plus, Bai Ya is diligent and trains very hard.¡± ¡°But he lacks innate talent,¡± Sanda stated calmly. Lan Zao¡¯s expression fell, and with a pained look, he helplessly admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± Sanda knew that Lan Zao had taught Bai Ya Fighting Energy quite early on. But even after many days of cultivation, Bai Ya¡¯s progress was minimal. Sanda saw through this immediately, knowing Bai Ya had very ordinary aptitude. ¡°For someone ordinary like him, with no Bloodline, no matter how hard he works, even if he practices without sleeping, the efficiency of cultivation is too low. He might never break through and reach Bronze Level in his lifetime. His dream of becoming a knight might just remain a dream,¡± Sanda declared. A knight needs to be a Transcendent, at least of Bronze Level Cultivation. Ordinary people could only serve as Cavalry. ¡°But he doesn¡¯t know that yet,¡± Lan Zao slowly shook his head, ¡°I hope, sir, that you do not tell him about this situation prematurely.¡± ¡°Rest assured. I understand,¡± Sanda looked up at the deep night sky, letting out a long sigh, ¡°Though I¡¯m a Black Iron, in some ways, I am just like Bai Ya.¡± Every life form has its limits. Bloodline defines those limits. Chapter 243 - 243: Section 31: The New Captain Zong Ge of the Little Bird Chapter 243: Section 31: The New Captain Zong Ge of the Little Bird The deck of the Little Bird was crowded with sailors. ¡°Excuse me, could you please make way?¡± Bai Ya cleared a path ahead for Xu Ma behind her. There were many people, and it was a struggle for Bai Ya to clear the way. Occasionally, someone would turn back to glare at Bai Ya or even swear at her, but upon seeing the Bronze Level Xu Ma, the ordinary pirates would quiet down and actively make way for a small path. Thus, Bai Ya and Xu Ma were able to slowly make their way through the crowd. Just as Bai Ya was about to squeeze through to the very front, Xu Ma grabbed onto her clothes. ... Xu Ma said, ¡°Don¡¯t stand out so much, right here is good enough. We can see clearly without standing in the first row.¡± Zong Ge took confident, robust strides and, after a dozen steps, stood on the slanted mast at the bow of the Little Bird. ¡°I am Lion Flag.¡± ¡°I was once the First Officer on the Justice, and now I am the Captain of the Little Bird.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are or where you come from, now that you are on my ship, you will follow my orders!¡± Zong Ge pointed at Sanda, ¡°He¡¯s our First Officer.¡± Hearing this appointment, Bai Ya was not surprised. But for many outsiders, it was quite unexpected. Although Sanda was of Black Iron Cultivation, he was, after all, a goblin. Usually, on a ship dominated by the Human Race, a Black Iron goblin like Sanda would be considered equal in status to a Bronze Human. People¡¯s views of the goblin race were very negative. The sailors, thinking about having to follow a goblin¡¯s commands in the future, couldn¡¯t help but feel a slight stir of unrest. Xu Ma was surprised as well, but more than an ordinary person, he was excited. Standing behind Bai Ya, he chuckled, ¡°You should thank me. I brought you to a good place.¡± ¡°What do you mean, senior?¡± Bai Ya turned her head to ask. Xu Ma showed a meaningful smile and did not answer. He didn¡¯t want to tell Bai Ya the secret of him bribing Sanda. Keeping a sense of mystery about himself was helpful in maintaining his authority over his junior. Then the next moment, Zong Ge began his inaugural speech. ¡°You don¡¯t know me.¡± ¡°Me, I love war!¡± Xu Ma: ??? Zong Ge continued, ¡°I love annihilative battles, I love to see the enemy completely exterminated before my army.¡± ¡°I love cavalry combat, I revel in the clash of two cavalry forces, blade meeting flesh, men and horses overturned, where the victor is king.¡± ¡°I love ambushes. When I see the enemy walk into an ambush I carefully set up without any clue and we launch the attack, their panicking faces bring me endless joy.¡± Xu Ma: ¡­ The Bronze Thief subconsciously clutched his chest, what was this ominous feeling? Zong Ge¡¯s voice grew higher, ¡°Now, I¡¯ve started to like cannon battles. I¡¯ve fallen in love with the roaring blasts of cannons; I enjoy the wonderful smell of gunpowder, even more delicious than cigars. I look forward to cannonballs striking enemy ships, watching their decks and gunwales shattered by bombs, their masts swiftly collapsing, seeing their sailors blown to pieces¡ªI feel my blood boiling with excitement.¡± ¡°And my favorite is boarding combat. When I wield my sword and board the enemy ship, when I cut down one enemy after the other blocking my way, my blade slicing through their throats, piercing their hearts, watching their hot blood splatter everywhere, hearing their enraged roars or screams as they die. Ah! What splendid sounds!¡± Xu Ma: !!! He looked at Zong Ge showing an expression of enjoyment and couldn¡¯t help but turn pale, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. ¡°He¡¯s even more violent than Captain Long Fu!¡± ¡°He¡¯s a war maniac.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Ma finally realized that the decision he had made was far from as correct as he had previously imagined. Zong Ge¡¯s expression changed, ¡°And what I hate the most is weakness. Weakness that lets enemies cut you down and trample you, trembling with fear while holding swords¡ªI don¡¯t allow such weakness! Anyone who thinks of fleeing or slacking off will find a fair end by my blade entering white and exiting red!¡± Xu Ma¡¯s mouth hung open, and he was left speechless. ¡°Follow me!¡± Zong Ge raised his arm. ¡°I will lead at the front, guiding you all to slaughter every enemy, to capture every sea vessel!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s build monumental deeds upon the seas!!¡± Hurrah! Inspired by the passionate speech, the sailors raised their arms and cheered loudly. Xu Ma raised his arm too, his shout weak and lacking energy. On the Justice, the knight youth was in the captain¡¯s cabin, gazing through the open window into the distance. Many sailors also gathered on the first deck, watching the commotion on the Little Bird. A knock accompanied by Cang Xu¡¯s voice sounded, ¡°Lord Long Fu, do you have a moment? Old Zhong requests to see you.¡± With the youth¡¯s permission, Cang Xu pushed the door open and then turned to gently close it again. The knight youth had already activated the alchemy tool, the sound collection box, ensuring that the conversation that followed was confined to this room. ¡°Lord, I have found a method for absorbing Soul Crystals,¡± Cang Xu brought good news. Direct absorption of Soul Crystals was highly inefficient and a tremendous waste of resources. Moreover, not everyone possessed the ability to absorb Soul Crystals. Hence, since obtaining a massive amount of Soul Crystals, Cang Xu, carrying the hopes of everyone, began researching how to absorb them more efficiently. After many days, Cang Xu finally achieved gratifying results. ¡°This is an Alchemy Array for Soul Crystal absorption,¡± Cang Xu handed a scroll to the youth. The scroll depicted a rather complex Array Map; its lines intertwining and weaving, causing the youth to feel dizzy looking at it. ¡°I¡¯ve studied the books obtained from the underwater chamber, combining them with the works of an Alchemist from Mysterious Monster Island. After a few failures, this Array can now benefit even ordinary people.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve personally tried it, and the enhancement to the Spirit was significant.¡± The knight youth nodded, not sparing praise, ¡°Very good, Old Scholar, you¡¯ve never disappointed. Tonight, we will be docking on the island to rest. Gather everyone; let us all taste the Soul Crystals.¡± Cang Xu hesitated for a moment before responding, ¡°Lord, are you really planning to let everyone consume the Soul Crystals?¡± The knight youth nodded, ¡°Of course, we are all part of the same crew, having escaped together from Mysterious Monster Island, we share a common secret. These Soul Crystals were obtained at the cost of using Unsealing Scrolls. And those scrolls were exchanged for our communal property. Soul Crystals¡­ such good things should be shared by everyone.¡± ¡°Lord, I admire your fairness and generosity. However¡­ Please forgive my impudence,¡± Cang Xu bowed slightly. ¡°Speak. There¡¯s no need for reservations.¡± ¡°Firstly, many among us are ordinary people. Investing such precious resources as Soul Crystals into them would be a tremendous waste. Their Bloodlines limit their future achievements, no matter how many they use, they will remain nothing more than spirited ordinary people.¡± ¡°Secondly, we could let them choose for themselves. We could promote trading, allowing ordinary people to sell their share of the Soul Crystals to the Transcendents. That way, ordinary people could obtain money they can use, while the Transcendents would advance further. The strength of the entire team would improve significantly. We¡¯d be more assured in battle and gain more spoils, creating a more beneficial positive cycle.¡± ¡°Finally¡­¡± ¡°Lord,¡± Cang Xu stepped forward, approaching the desk, turning slightly to indicate the Little Bird outside the window with his gaze. Although the noise from the Little Bird had diminished quite a bit, it continued to reach them. With gravity etched on his face, Cang Xu said, ¡°I have always believed it most prudent for the strongest member in our team to be you, Lord. Zong Ge¡­ his strength is somewhat formidable.¡± The youth raised an eyebrow, ¡°You suspect him?¡± Cang Xu shook his head slightly, ¡°It¡¯s less suspicion than it is apprehension.¡± ¡°He is a fighter at the peak of Silver, after all.¡± ¡°If he were to suddenly turn hostile at close range, I wouldn¡¯t even be able to cast a single magic spell before he swiftly cuts me down.¡± ¡°His Fighting energy cultivation is already the strongest, and now he has the Little Bird¡­¡± ¡°Lord, don¡¯t forget, he has always wanted to seize leadership on Mysterious Monster Island. Only the prohibition of magic and Fighting energy on the island severely limited his strength. But now, here in the vast ocean, he can freely exercise his Cultivation.¡± The knight youth¡¯s gaze drifted momentarily. After the Little Bird was seized, right where Cang Xu stood now, Zong Ge presented the youth with a summary of his analysis of the naval battle. Zong Ge believed that their side needed better equipment and, most importantly, a significant amount of rigorous training. The battle of the Little Bird clearly showed that many sailors aboard the Justice lacked sufficient skills in sail handling and cannon firing. Zong Ge found this intolerable. Zong Ge also believed that the higher-ups lacked the ability to command naval battles ¨C an issue not evident with the current small number of ships, but it would become glaring once the fleet expanded. That included himself. What Zong Ge said was true and insightful; the youth fully acknowledged it. In fact, the two shared a hero¡¯s understanding. Thus, the youth entrusted the Little Bird to Zong Ge, hoping he would be able to make the most of it. While the youth remained the Commander of the Justice. Both had ample space to fully exercise their abilities and learn from each other¡¯s strengths. This was precisely why the youth had initially designated Zong Ge. But today, after Cang Xu¡¯s words, the youth suddenly realized something ¨C there was a growing rift among the companions. Cang Xu was wary of Zong Ge, and Zong Ge was on guard against Cang Xu. Just days prior, Zong Ge had also warned the youth to be cautious of Cang Xu. Each had their own reasons, which were quite sufficient. ¡°As a leader, what should I do?¡± the youth furrowed his brows in thought. However, even after Cang Xu had taken his leave, he still hadn¡¯t found an answer. The troubled knight youth pulled open a drawer in the desk, inside were a bunch of scrolls. These were all secrecy scrolls. Although he had exchanged for these scrolls before, the youth had been hesitant about whether to use them. Cang Xu¡¯s visit today made up the youth¡¯s mind. The secrecy scrolls must be used! Never underestimate or overestimate people. For the sake of the whole team, he had to increase the difficulty and cost of betrayal among the members. Chapter 244 - 244: Section 32: Kid, Youre Just an Ordinary Person Chapter 244: Section 32: Kid, You¡¯re Just an Ordinary Person Azure seas and blue skies, the weather was pleasant and sunny. Bai Ya stood on the deck of the Little Bird, surrounded by many sailors like himself. Zong Ge stood in front of everyone, ¡°Today, we will train in the use of weapons.¡± In front of him lay a pile of weapons, including axes and scimitars. The pirates on the deck were all too familiar with these weapons because they had been crafting them for the past few days. The weapons were all made of wood. ... Zong Ge had specifically hired Mu Ban to teach these pirates how to carve weapons out of wooden blocks. ¡°There are many types of weapons,¡± Zong Ge stretched out his foot and lightly hooked a wooden dagger out of the pile. He grabbed the wooden dagger and made a thrusting motion, ¡°Daggers are the most convenient for surprise attacks, best suited for combat in the narrow confines of a ship¡¯s cabin.¡± He tossed aside the dagger, picked up a simple axe, ¡°Boarding axe. We often use these to cut ropework and nets, and of course, it can chop off an enemy¡¯s grappling hooks. Often, this weapon can also help us climb aboard the ship and pry open cabin doors.¡± He discarded the wood axe and took up a wooden knife, ¡°Sailor¡¯s knife! This is our primary weapon, a bit shorter than the usual swords. It allows for close-combat on the ship. We use it to hack. Sometimes we hack at our enemies, other times it¡¯s our dinner knife to cut food.¡± ¡°Besides that, there are short swords, grappling hooks, firearms, cannons¡­¡± Zong Ge introduced them one by one. Short swords were often used for stabbing and blocking, requiring skill to use. Their chopping effect wasn¡¯t as good as the sailor¡¯s knife. The use of grappling hooks was simple. You just threw them to hook onto the enemy ship¡¯s railings. With a few practice throws, one could see results. Firearms were expensive and not everyone could be equipped with one. Furthermore, they were simple to use, so Zong Ge didn¡¯t plan on training with them. As for cannons, that was another focus. To be an excellent pirate actually required mastering many things. Not just managing sails and such work, most pirates had to master the use of both cold and fire weapons. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll teach you the most basic movements,¡± Zong Ge began to demonstrate. Daggers, boarding axes, sailor¡¯s knives, short swords, grappling hooks, he used each one in turn. Zong Ge was very practiced at this instructor role. He then distributed wooden practice weapons, nearly everyone got a set. They began with a uniform practice, and then Zong Ge ordered people to set up rows of human-shaped wooden targets to start group practice. Zong Ge corrected their movements while observing the skilled fighters. Some stood out, and Zong Ge quietly took note of them. ¡°This is so boring,¡± Xu Ma flourished the wooden dagger in his hand. As a thief, he was most skilled with such small weapons. Of course, he was also better with axes, short swords, and so forth than the average person. ¡°Hey, young man, you¡¯re working hard,¡± Xu Ma saw Bai Ya beside him, his face earnestly training, already sweating profusely, and clicked his tongue in praise. Under the scorching sun, Bai Ya¡¯s eyes were bright, his sweat shimmering, reflecting the sunlight and the vibrancy of youth. His motivation to practice was immense. On one hand, it was because he was inspired by the love of the noble lady Xi Qiu, striving hard to become a knight. On the other hand, the life-and-death experiences on Mysterious Monster Island had instilled in him a tremendous yearning for strength. However, Zong Ge¡¯s gaze swept over Bai Ya without the slightest pause. Bai Ya wasn¡¯t lacking in courage; on Mysterious Monster Island, he had fought on the front lines against terrifying Transformed Magical Beasts. What he lacked wasn¡¯t practice. On Mysterious Monster Island, he had already started practicing with weapons. What he lacked was bloodline. The tedious training continued for three hours, and the pirates gradually grew from impatient to irritable. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand what¡¯s the point of doing such simple training!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already known how to use a scimitar.¡± ¡°The Lion Flag Captain couldn¡¯t have forgotten that it¡¯s mealtime, could he?¡± Pirates, strictly supervised and famished, harbored grievances yet, in light of the silver¡¯s intimidation, they could only grit their teeth and train bitterly. ¡°Alright, time to eat,¡± Zong Ge¡¯s words, like light piercing through darkness, rescued the pirates engaged in training. Zong Ge¡¯s expression didn¡¯t look too good. He had intentionally delayed mealtime, choosing the most tedious exercises to test the psychological limits of the pirates. The low quality of the recruits made Zong Ge realize yet again: he wasn¡¯t in a military camp, but leading a motley crew of pirates. Among these men was a mix of seasoned sailors, cunning old pirates, and even those who were setting sail for the first time. During the meal, Zong Ge announced that they would engage in combat practice in the afternoon. The news struck a chord with the pirates, who had already had their fill of the morning¡¯s tedious training. Some were contemplative. Xu Ma chuckled to himself, guessing this was a selection process. Bai Ya was somewhat nervous; as a mountain hunter, he had killed many beasts. On Mysterious Monster Island, he had also killed no small number of magic beasts. But he had never fought another person. More precisely, during his time at New Moon Port, he had been kidnapped by thieves and taken hostage. There were rewards and punishments for the combat training. The victors would get to eat magic beast meat, while the losers had to scrub the deck or stand watch at night. ¡°If I can eat magic beast meat, I can surely cultivate my fighting energy faster and better!¡± With such fervent anticipation, Bai Ya asked Xu Ma for advice, ¡°Senior, what should I pay attention to when fighting against someone?¡± Xu Ma had observed him and generously offered advice, ¡°You handle your weapon expertly, but you lack variation, your moves are too direct. An experienced fighter could easily see through them.¡± Bai Ya¡¯s previous adversaries were beasts and magic beasts, creatures of limited intelligence, but men were different. ¡°So, what should I do?¡± Bai Ya continued to seek guidance. Xu Ma patted him on the shoulder, ¡°It depends on your wit. This needs more practice, actual combat practice. With more practice, you¡¯ll improve.¡± ¡°But I really want to eat magic beast meat,¡± Bai Ya clenched his fists. ¡°Hehe, then I¡¯ll teach you a few moves that you can use right away,¡± Xu Ma decided to take the young brother under his wing. In his eyes, Bai Ya was one of his own. The more victories Bai Ya achieved, the greater his own prestige would grow. Opponents were chosen by drawing lots. Bai Ya¡¯s first opponent was an old fisherman. He was lean and wrinkled, with grizzled whiskers. Bai Ya was nervous; the old fisherman was even more so. ¡°Just go up and chop straight at him,¡± Xu Ma loudly reminded. Bai Ya charged forward, double-handedly raised his sword above his head, and swung three powerful chops. The old fisherman struggled to defend, overwhelmed and retreating step by step. By the third chop, he could not resist any longer, and Bai Ya knocked his wooden sword flying. Bai Ya quickly tried to pull back, but it wasn¡¯t that easy; the heavy wooden sword struck the old fisherman¡¯s arm. The old fisherman cried out in pain and fell onto the deck. ¡°Sorry!¡± Bai Ya rushed to help him up, his face full of remorse. The old fisherman pushed away his hand, glaring resentfully, and with gritted teeth, got up on his own. Bai Ya¡¯s second opponent was a middle-aged man. His hair was a nest of chaos, and his name was Chicken Feather. Chicken Feather, Big Head, and Salty Fish were all part of a group. Before the fight, they spoke in hushed tones, occasionally sizing Bai Ya up. Xu Ma was also by Bai Ya¡¯s side, strategizing for him, ¡°Your current opponent is stronger than you. Although like you, he¡¯s just an ordinary man, he has also cultivated fighting energy, and his level of cultivation is much higher than yours.¡± Bai Ya quickly asked, ¡°So what should I do?¡± ¡°Hehe,¡± Xu Ma shrugged, ¡°As long as the opponent isn¡¯t at Bronze Level, the difference in fighting energy cultivation can be overcome. You can¡¯t meet him head-on; you¡¯ll have to use some tricks. After all, all weapons are fair game! You can do this¡­¡± Xu Ma muttered to himself, and Bai Ya nodded repeatedly. Soon, the two were engaged in combat. With a loud shout, Bai Ya raised his sailor¡¯s scimitar high and pounced toward Ji Mao. Ji Mao sneered coldly, fearless, and thrusted his blade straight forward. Just as they were about to collide, Bai Ya suddenly flung his wooden sailor¡¯s sword. Ji Mao was shocked, and instinctively rushed to dodge, using his wooden blade to knock away Bai Ya¡¯s thrown sword. At that moment, Bai Ya, holding a wooden dagger and crouching low, charged directly into Ji Mao¡¯s arms. Ji Mao was knocked to the ground by Bai Ya, trying to turn over, but Bai Ya¡¯s wooden dagger was already pressed against his neck. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re playing dirty!¡± Ji Mao complained bitterly, glaring fiercely at Bai Ya. Bai Ya grinned: ¡°You lost.¡± ¡°Hmph, just you wait!¡± Ji Mao pushed Bai Ya away and scrambled up. He was more skilled than Bai Ya, but had been caught off guard by Bai Ya¡¯s surprise attack. Of course, this also exposed his lack of real combat experience. Bai Ya returned victorious, very thankful to Xu Ma. According to the current rankings, he needed only to defeat one more opponent to get to eat Magic Beast Meat. However, when his opponent appeared, Xu Ma¡¯s face fell: ¡°Just give up.¡± His opponent was known as Black Hand. This wasn¡¯t his real name but a nickname. Because his hands, no matter how much he washed them, were always grimy and pitch-black. It was a characteristic of a miner who excavated the core of coal ore. Many suspected Black Hand was a slave miner who had escaped from the mines. The taciturn Black Hand had the strength of Bronze Level, and it was not rare for slaves to be a Transcendent. Among the Gladiator slaves in the arena, there were even Golden Level Transcendents. ¡°Is there really no chance of victory?¡± Bai Ya couldn¡¯t accept it. Xu Ma shook his head: ¡°You are just an ordinary person, while he is a Bronze fighter. The gap in strength is too large, not something tricks can resolve.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early to give up?¡± Bai Ya still wanted to try. Xu Ma shook his head and scoffed: ¡°Young man!¡± Bai Ya went up and, sure enough, got a beating, helplessly losing, and watched regretfully as the Magic Beast Meat slipped away from him. When the combat training ended, Zong Ge commanded Sanda to oversee the distribution of the Magic Beast Meat. Xu Ma, albeit cunning and tricky, still had enough merit and was one of the winners. Zong Ge immediately promoted these victors to junior leaders on the spot and announced that such live combat training would be a regular event, with the reward and punishment system unchanged. As night fell, the grueling day of training ended. The pirates, some with bruised noses and swollen faces, some with their bodies sore all over, no longer gathered on the deck. In the sailors¡¯ quarters, Bai Ya sat on his own hammock, enviously watching Xu Ma lying on the hammock beside him, the latter staring blankly at a piece of Magic Beast Meat in his hand. Xu Ma smiled upon noticing Bai Ya¡¯s gaze: ¡°Kid, this is good stuff, and I won¡¯t let you have it.¡± Bai Ya nodded and smiled: ¡°Senior, I didn¡¯t have such expectations. Besides, Magic Beast Meat that one earns for oneself is more satisfying. Didn¡¯t Captain Lion Flag say? There will be more of these combat training sessions in the future.¡± But Xu Ma shook his head: ¡°Kid, you¡¯re too optimistic. Captain Lion Flag is no fool. Look at today¡¯s winners; they are mostly Bronze Level. Future winners will also be them. The number of winners is very cunningly set. You might think you were just unlucky today, but it is quite normal. You will always face opponents of the Bronze Level.¡± ¡°So, don¡¯t think you¡¯re just one step away from victory. That step is actually huge. It¡¯s not as simple as you think.¡± Bai Ya was stunned, then became worried: ¡°What should I do then?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple, become Bronze Level, and you¡¯ll have a good shot!¡± Xu Ma took a bite of Magic Beast Meat, mumbling through his mouthful. Bai Ya was stunned again, ¡°If I want to rapidly become a Bronze fighter, I have to start by eating Magic Beast Meat, right?¡± The predicament before him was a dead end for Bai Ya. Xu Ma hesitated for a moment, ¡°Do you have money? If you have money, I¡¯ll sell you this piece of Magic Beast Meat.¡± Bai Ya shook his head. Xu Ma sighed, ¡°I knew you were a poor kid. Then you can only do what I did before, painstakingly practice your Fighting energy and endure for a while, to break through to the Bronze Level.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Xu Ma asked again, ¡°What kind of Fighting energy do you practice?¡± ¡°Bai He Fighting energy.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s quite good. Much better than what I started with. How do you fare during your cultivation; how much Fighting energy can you produce?¡± Xu Ma continued to ask, ¡°If it¡¯s inconvenient to say, never mind.¡± Bai Ya told Xu Ma the truth; the Fighting energy he produced was slight and wispy, spreading through his body like dissipating light. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Then you¡¯re done,¡± Xu Ma shrugged, ¡°Don¡¯t ever expect to break through to the Bronze Level in this lifetime.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Xu Ma glanced at him and continued to put the Magic Beast Meat into his mouth, ¡°Your talent is too average, to the point where one might say you have no talent for cultivation at all. The Fighting energy technique I practiced was much worse than yours, but each time I produced Fighting energy, it was at least as thick as a strand of hair. Yours doesn¡¯t even come close to a strand of hair; it¡¯s obvious there¡¯s no hope.¡± Bai Ya blinked repeatedly, unable to believe it. Xu Ma continued, ¡°Do you know when I broke through to the Bronze Level? At thirty-two.¡± ¡°Ah, this is my life. There¡¯s no hope for reaching the Black Iron Level!¡± ¡°Even a better Fighting energy technique would be useless.¡± ¡°Because Fighting energy techniques are paired with Bloodlines. Bloodlines are the key!¡± ¡°You¡¯re just an ordinary person.¡± Bai Ya¡¯s mouth hung slightly open, his face turned pale, dry-mouthed, and despondent. Xu Ma felt somewhat sorry for him and consoled, ¡°This is reality, you¡­ It¡¯s better to know it sooner. There are many, many people in the same situation as you, all over the world. Most of the people on our ship are ordinary folks. There¡¯s nothing to be disappointed about.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Bai Ya¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed; he felt too panicked to speak properly. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± Xu Ma sighed deeply, finally finishing the entire piece of Magic Beast Meat, ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the Justice.¡± ¡°Pirates who endure rigorous training and distribute Magic Beast Meat? That¡¯s not something a normal pirate captain would do. Our captain of the Lion Flag, he¡¯s quite ambitious.¡± ¡°If you continue to stay here, the future won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°To tell you the truth, my desire to come aboard was just to cling onto a powerful patron, have some soup, make a small fortune. I didn¡¯t want to always be fighting and killing; the risk is too great.¡± ¡°Bringing you here was a mistake,¡± Xu Ma looked at Bai Ya. Bai Ya¡¯s eyes lost focus; he didn¡¯t hear a word of what Xu Ma said. ¡°Hey, are you listening to me?¡± Bai Ya snapped out of it, like a prisoner who had received a death sentence, clutching at straws, he asked, ¡°Senior, is there really no other way?¡± ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± Xu Ma sighed again and spread his hands, ¡°What can be done? If there were a way, there wouldn¡¯t be so many ordinary people in the world.¡± ¡°You know, there are rabbits and cheetahs on the savannah.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same with people. The moment you are born, it¡¯s decided whether you¡¯re a rabbit or a cheetah.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think people look more or less the same; the differences between individuals can be much greater than between rabbits and cheetahs.¡± ¡°Kid, you¡¯re just an ordinary person. Don¡¯t think too much about it.¡± Bai Ya didn¡¯t say a word; he felt incredibly weak. This level of weakness was unprecedented! Even those close encounters with death on Mysterious Monster Island never left him feeling so weak, so unwell. Chapter 245 - 245: Section 33: Bloodline Mutation Chapter 245: Section 33: Bloodline Mutation ¡°998, 999, 1000!¡± Bai Ya counted silently with each chop of the wooden sword in his hand, Under the scorching sun, the deck baked a crew of pirates, each drenched in sweat. ¡°Finally finished!¡± After swinging 1000 times, Bai Ya immediately dropped the wooden sword, turned, and ran to the ship¡¯s railing, then with a plop plunged into the sea. The instant he hit the water, the abrupt change from hot to cold made his body shiver violently. But the young man remembered the training content and gritted his teeth to surface, took a deep breath, and started swimming around the Little Bird with all his might. ¡°Faster, faster, faster!¡± Sanda¡¯s urging voice came from above the railing. ... The other pirates were tossing wooden crates, barrels, and the like overboard, following Zong Ge¡¯s rule that the more pirates hit by objects in the water, the higher their training score would be. Bai Ya had to breathe and also dodge the relentless barrage of falling barrels. Luckily, he wasn¡¯t alone; many pirates before and after him shared the burden of the onslaught. Bai Ya quickly found a rhythm. To dodge the falling debris, he had to time it right. He needed to dive deep enough to use the water surface to weaken the impact of the barrels and other objects. But not too deep because he still had to breathe and compete with the other pirates in swimming speed. This tested his observation, control over his physical abilities, and maintaining calm in the chaos. After a tough round swimming around the Little Bird, Bai Ya completed the underwater training. He had to climb up a rope to get back on the deck of the Little Bird. By the time his hands grasped the rope, his arms were so sore and swollen, and he was gasping for air as his whole body trembled slightly. Pulling on the dangling rope, he hoisted his upper body out of the water. The young man took the opportunity to look around and saw some had already climbed onto the deck, while others were halfway up. ¡°I¡¯m falling behind! I must catch up to them.¡± Bai Ya started to grow anxious and immediately began to climb. But the next moment, his arms gave out, and he slid back into the sea. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m drained,¡± Bai Ya¡¯s heart sank. In the end, he managed to climb onto the deck, but it took far longer than he had imagined; he was one of the last few. Bai Ya had been a mountain hunter, and climbing was one of his strengths, but swimming was not. During the swim, he had used up too much energy and had also been hit a few times. Once, the pain was so intense he almost passed out on the spot. Overwhelmed by frustration and a sense of failure, Bai Ya collapsed on the deck, momentarily unable to get up. Xu Ma walked over and reached out to pull Bai Ya to his feet. Bai Ya looked at the successful ones and, after mentally comparing himself, couldn¡¯t help but shake his head in dejection. This competitive training starkly revealed the gap between individuals. Even the old men at the Bronze Level had far greater physical conditioning than he did. Even if he were proficient in swimming, he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against them. And the remaining ordinary folks actually had much stronger Fighting energy cultivation than Bai Ya; they just hadn¡¯t undergone the qualitative change to reach the Bronze Level. ¡°If only I could become a Bronze,¡± he thought. ¡°Is everything Xu Ma said absolutely correct?¡± ¡°Do I really have no hope?¡± Despite his discontent, Bai Ya still held onto hope. The morning was for training hand-to-hand combat on boarding, and the afternoon was for cannon shooting training. On the crowded cannon deck, Zong Ge, with a stopwatch in hand, kept barking orders. Bai Ya and the other pirates moved back and forth from one side of the ship to the other, positioning cannons, loading gunpowder, placing bombs, and pulling ropes to fire. But Zong Ge was still unsatisfied. The Half-Beast roared, ¡°Your speed is too slow, too slow! The next training session, you must reduce the time for a round of cannon fire to within two minutes!¡± Night fell. The pirates ate their dinner, clanging their wooden spoons against bowls. ¡°Training, training, all day long it¡¯s training!¡± ¡°I almost think I joined a military barracks, one of those elite Imperial regular armies.¡± ¡°When will we finally have a chance to make a score?¡± ¡°After making a score, I¡¯m leaving this ship! This place is not for humans.¡± ¡°Kid, move aside, don¡¯t you see this is where I sit?¡± A Bronze Level petty officer roughly shoved Bai Ya. Bai Ya stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. With Xu Ma not around, Bai Ya didn¡¯t want to start trouble and silently moved away. Zong Ge had already boarded the Justice. In the captain¡¯s quarters. He and the knight youth sat around the desk, both fixing their gaze on the stack of Sea Charts spread out on the table. ¡°How are the training effects?¡± The knight youth asked, keeping his eyes on the Sea Charts. ¡°The cannon firing training has improved nicely, but there is still much room for progress. As for boarding combat¡­¡± Zong Ge shook his head in dissatisfaction, ¡°These recruits are not of high quality.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a barracks, after all,¡± the knight youth said, smiling in reminder. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He knew on Mysterious Monster Island that Zong Ge was an ex-soldier. The Half-Beast nodded: ¡°Indeed. How many days has it been? These men are already growing restless; although I¡¯ve kept them suppressed, their anger is mounting. They need a good outlet.¡± The knight youth sighed: ¡°I know. According to the intelligence, we should have seen the Rapids by yesterday.¡± The Rapids pirate ship was the young man¡¯s targeted prey. The intelligence came from the Empire¡¯s sources and should have been reliable. But when they arrived in this sea region, they found no sign of the Rapids. That was a possibility. Because although the Rapids often pillaged passing merchant ships here, it was constantly moving; at times, it might chase a merchant ship or for other reasons stray far from this region. The knight youth traced an arc on the sea chart with his finger, ¡°Tomorrow our course will be like this.¡± The end of the arc, where the knight youth¡¯s finger paused, was a small island. ¡°If we don¡¯t encounter the Rapids, we¡¯ll rest on this island. The Empire¡¯s sea chart marks it as having an ample supply of food and fresh water,¡± the knight youth said. Zong Ge nodded. He was an excellent commander and understood that the morale of his subordinates indeed needed some easing. Forcing them too hard could incite rebellion and chaos, which would be troublesome. Such a large ship couldn¡¯t be handled by Zong Ge alone. The next day, there was still no sign of the Rapids. The Justice and Little Bird sailed for a day, docking at Nameless Island at dusk. The knight youth arranged for some people to stay on the two ships, then led the majority to spend the night on the island. Pirates, long confined within the cramped confines of the ships, cheered exuberantly as they set foot on land. The knight youth divided the people into many teams, pointed out their directions, and instructed them to explore the island as much as possible, agreeing to set sail the next afternoon. And in the dead of night, everyone who had escaped from Mysterious Monster Island secretly gathered in a valley. ¡°Summoning everyone here, there are three main issues. The first is the secret contract,¡± said the knight youth, raising his hand to show the scroll in it. ¡°I believe that by using the ¡®Secret Scrolls¡¯, we can trust each other more. These have all been purchased from the Empire, and now they¡¯ll supervise each other and use up their scrolls together. If anyone has objections, now is the time to raise them.¡± The crowd exchanged glances and then shook their heads one by one, expressing approval of their leader¡¯s decision. The glow of the secret scrolls began to flicker. Ordinary people have difficulty using secret scrolls on their own, but with help from others, everyone made use of their scrolls. The atmosphere seemed to become more harmonious. ¡°The second matter¡ªdistributing pearls,¡± the knight youth signaled to Cang Xu. Cang Xu stepped aside and took out a bag filled with Pearl Bubbles. For each person who came forward, he distributed several pearls to them. During the distribution, the knight youth continued, ¡°The production of Pearl Bubbles is dwindling and won¡¯t last forever. From the current situation, we have about a month left before they run out.¡± The faces of the crowd turned grave. They were already aware of this situation. ¡°Didn¡¯t we discover the temple of Mei Lan?¡± someone spoke up. The knight youth nodded, ¡°To this point, we need to thank Mr. Cang Xu. Because of him, we found clues to the temple of Mei Lan. Perhaps in this temple, we can find a way to replenish the Divine Power for the ¡®Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale¡¯ Divine Artifact.¡± ¡°So, our next target is the temple of Mei Lan!¡± ¡°Of course, before that, we need to spend all our funds and arm ourselves to the best of our ability to upgrade our combat power.¡± ¡°Does anyone have other suggestions?¡± The crowd expressed their agreement. Fat Tongue then added, ¡°We also need to hurry and wake up, my clan¡¯s Chairman. Only then, can we reach out to the Clan Leader of Hundred Needles.¡± The knight youth nodded at him, ¡°Trust me, I haven¡¯t forgotten this and will do everything in my power to awaken Zi Di. We wouldn¡¯t have been able to escape Mysterious Monster Island at the last minute without Zi Di¡¯s help.¡± Fat Tongue was reassured and fell silent. The rest remained quiet. Everyone had complex feelings toward Zi Di. On one hand, she was responsible for the shipwreck. On the other, she had rescued them on Mysterious Monster Island. And importantly, Zi Di had a close relationship with the youth leader¡­ ¡°The third matter is good news. Cang Xu, go ahead and tell them,¡± the knight youth said with a smile. Cang Xu, with an indifferent expression, calmly announced the exciting news that they could use the Alchemy Array to help their own people assimilate Soul Crystals. The crowd became agitated. ¡°What exactly is a Soul Crystal? How can it help us?¡± Bai Ya asked Lan Zao beside him. Lan Zao shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure, but it seems like something that can enhance our spiritual power.¡± Cang Xu continued with the talk about trading Soul Crystals. Soul Crystals were precious, and it was wasteful for ordinary people to use them to enhance their spirituality. It made more sense for Transcendents to use them, which could better help the team improve their overall power. And ordinary people could trade with Transcendents, exchanging their right to use Soul Crystals for things they wanted. This proposal received almost unanimous approval. Only Bai Ya felt a surge of resentment. With both Beast Meat and Soul Crystals, as an ordinary person, he felt discriminated against. But then he brightened up, saying to Lan Zao, ¡°Can I sell my Soul Crystals to you in exchange for Beast Meat?¡± Lan Zao glanced at him and hesitated before saying, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s possible. But you¡¯ll have to eat the Beast Meat in moderation, not too much. Your foundations are a bit weak, and overeating could actually harm you.¡± ¡°Sir, if I continue to eat Beast Meat, can I break through to the Bronze Level?¡± Bai Ya asked nervously. Lan Zao was taken aback for a moment and then realized Bai Ya had come to know the harsh truth about his own potential. He didn¡¯t want to lie to Bai Ya but also didn¡¯t want to crush his hopes. Seeing Lan Zao¡¯s silence, Bai Ya¡¯s expression quickly dimmed. ¡°Do I really have no hope?¡± ¡°You do,¡± Lan Zao patted his shoulder, forcing a smile. ¡°Have you heard of a Bloodline breakthrough? Even the offspring of Nobles often have weak Bloodlines, and it¡¯s possible for their descendants to suddenly experience a Bloodline breakthrough, gaining strong Bloodlines.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m just an ordinary hunter.¡± ¡°Who knows. Nobles have many illegitimate children. Maybe even your parents or grandparents don¡¯t know. This happens often with those who experience Bloodline breakthroughs.¡± ¡°Bloodline breakthrough¡­¡± Bai Ya murmured the words to himself, etching the term into the deepest recesses of his heart. Chapter 246 - 246: Section 34: The Great Divide between People Chapter 246: Section 34: The Great Divide between People The night was deep. In the valleys of the small island, Cang Xu climbed up from the ground. ¡°Alas, my arms and legs aren¡¯t what they used to be,¡± the old scholar pounded his own waist with his fists. Seeing this, Bai Ya couldn¡¯t help but recall the scene at the New Moon Port shipyard where Cang Xu smoothed over his facial wounds and they healed immediately. ¡°Could it be that Master Cang Xu, an Undead Mage whose body has been transformed by Undead Magic, also gets tired?¡± Bai Ya questioned in his heart. Zong Ge stood by with his arms crossed, watching coldly. ... After Cang Xu¡¯s long hour of inscribing and arranging, the ground of the valley and the surrounding mountain walls were now covered in dense patterns. The lines were thick and thin, some straight as swords, some winding like vines. Cang Xu¡¯s eyebrows knitted slightly, he focused on checking it one last time. After making sure everything was correct, he began to infuse his own Magic Power into the temporary Alchemy Array. As more and more Magic Power was sent into it, the lines gradually lit up. Soon, the entire Alchemy Array was illuminated. The glow slowly converged, forming a huge white light sphere at the center of the Array. ¡°It¡¯s a success!¡± Seeing the light sphere stabilize, a smile crept across Cang Xu¡¯s face. The order had already been decided. Sanda held a Soul Crystal and walked into the center of the white light sphere under everyone¡¯s gaze. The glow had no effect on Sanda, but the Soul Crystal in the goblin¡¯s hands quickly dissipated in the white light, turning into pitch-black smoke, which in turn transformed the white light sphere into a black one. Whorls formed within the black sphere, and as the flow continued, it made a whistling sound. After a dozen breaths or so, the black sphere turned back into a white light sphere. The goblin, Sanda, walked out of the light sphere looking spirited. Someone asked aloud, ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Fantastic!¡± Sanda smiled. Following him was Lan Zao. After walking out, he too felt rejuvenated, his fatigue swept away, he sincerely praised, ¡°There¡¯s a reason the Soul Crystal is so renowned.¡± But Cang Xu reminded them, ¡°This is only an illusion. Your spirit has indeed surged tremendously, but your physical exhaustion remains, do not be careless.¡± Zong Ge was the seventh in line. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The knight youth was the tenth. After consuming a Soul Crystal, he felt clearheaded and experienced an immense sense of relaxation. Cang Xu said, ¡°Sir, you have signed many contracts recently. There are Magic Covenants, secret contracts, all of which impose constraints and burdens on both your body and soul.¡± Clearly, the enhancement in spiritual power was easing this burden. Contracts of lower Levels have a hard time binding those whose life ranks are higher. As for why it was a covenant, instead of something like a Slave Contract. It was because Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady, although captured by the group with the knight youth, had first surrendered to the Empire. The youths, too, relying on the Empire, could not rightfully execute them. Furthermore, they were members of Firebeard¡¯s pirate group. Whether killing them or enslaving them, it would make Firebeard¡¯s pirate group an enemy. It was not worth the loss. Lastly, the youth had to consider the factor of the Holy Tablet. Bai Ya was among the last few in line. Lan Zao comforted him by saying there was still hope for a Bloodline transformation. But such hope was very slim. Bai Ya harbored a frustration deep within his heart that he could hardly articulate, and he did not give up his right to use the Soul Crystal. ¡°Perhaps the improvement in spiritual power could help my Cultivation,¡± harboring this lucky thought, Bai Ya sneaked to a corner to start his Fighting energy training. There were no ropes here to swing for him, but he had mastered the knack of muscle movement, swinging his arms could as well achieve high Cultivation efficiency. The improvement in spiritual power was indeed significant. He sensed the generation of Fighting energy more clearly than ever before. Fighting energy emerged in thin threads, on the threshold between existence and nonexistence, slowly produced and then rapidly dissipating in the act of spreading. Bai Ya: ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, the Soul Crystal brought no aid to the training of Fighting energy. Instead, the increase in spiritual power allowed Bai Ya to see even more clearly the harsh truth of his talent. After a while of Cultivation, the frustration and discouragement in Bai Ya¡¯s chest made it difficult for him to maintain self-control. He clenched his fists and looked up at the profound night sky. He felt a strong urge to shout and roar at the Cang Qiong, at the gods. But in the end, he bit his teeth tightly together and forcefully endured. The young man knew that Lan Zao was watching all of his every move. Lan Zao sighed and did not come forward to comfort him. For he knew that comfort was futile. Bai Ya needed to accept this harsh reality. Lan Zao even felt that his earlier consolation about Bloodline transformation had made Bai Ya¡¯s pain worse. Because it gave Bai Ya hope. And hope, while it leads to longing, also leads to pain. ¡°He needs to face reality alone.¡± Ultimately, Lan Zao silently departed. He also began training. Unlike Bai Ya, he had a Bronze Level talent. Within him, Fighting energy was produced constantly. Both the speed and scale at which it was generated were much greater than Bai Ya¡¯s. Fighting energy enveloped him like mist. However, Lan Zao sighed inwardly. Just as Bai Ya hoped to become a Bronze fighter, Lan Zao longed to reach the Black Iron Level for many years. An unreachable dream! No matter how hard he tried, exhausting all methods, there was no sign of success. Not even a trace. Bloodline created chasms between one person and another. But Lan Zao was long accustomed to it. The emotional journey that Bai Ya was going through was one that he had once trode, and it was the same for countless Transcendents throughout history. In the darkness, he sat cross-legged on the ground. Surrounding him was the dense rainforest of the sea island. A portion of the pirates led by Lan Zao was sleeping around the campfire, while others were scattered around, taking on the role of sentries. Lan Zao was Cultivating Fighting energy. Although his lower body remained still, his hands were continuously moving. Sometimes he would put his fingers together like a sword, at other times his hands shaped like claws, and sometimes he would jab one finger into the center of the other hand¡¯s fist and repeatedly thrust in and out. This was the method of Cultivating the Fighting energy of the Grey Mist. He had Silver Level Bloodline, hence the generation of Fighting energy was quite the spectacle. Streams of Fighting energy originated from the tips of his fingers, then converged into his palms, flowing through his arms like rivulets of water. The continuous, unending current seeped deep into his body. The night waned, and dawn approached. Lan Zao slowly opened his eyes. He felt fatigue. The Cultivation of Fighting energy was a painstaking process that excavated strength from one¡¯s body, which made it very easy to tire. If he kept Cultivating without rest, Lan Zao¡¯s limit was one day and one night. He was far from reaching his limit now. Because they were in the wild, it was not a good environment for Cultivation. Lan Zao needed to maintain his condition and could not push himself to the limit. Just like Zong Ge, who trained the pirates on Little Bird without exerting his full effort, he needed to keep a certain state to be ready for unexpected battles. But this was not the main reason Lan Zao stopped Cultivating. ¡°Grey Rat¡­¡± He had been keeping the sunken flagship in his thoughts. That ship had special significance to him. He needed to salvage the Grey Rat and repair it. But this was a dangerous undertaking. There would surely be people from Rou Cang watching the place where Grey Rat sank. Lan Zao needed a good opportunity and the help of others. The knight youth was the one he sought help from, and the latter also made a request¡ªrequiring his performance. ¡°Merit!¡± Lan Zao understood it as such. ¡°Get up, no more sleeping. We need to explore the entire island as soon as possible.¡± Lan Zao woke all the pirates he led. The pirates, who hadn¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep, grumbled. ¡°No way, it¡¯s just barely dawn.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Captain Long Fu say we¡¯re not setting sail until the afternoon?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve gathered a lot of food and water; it¡¯s enough for a check-in, Lord Lan Zao.¡± Lan Zao shook his head; he wanted to explore the entire island and map it. Although this merit was small, many a little makes a mickle. He was aware that although he had signed an alliance with Long Fu, the relationship between them was not equal; there was a hierarchy. Lan Zao, with his Silver Level Cultivation and long standing as a pirate with a small reputation. The pirates were reluctant, but they dared not defy his orders. Soon, they set off again. The sky grew brighter, which facilitated their exploration even further. Just as the sun rose from the sea, Lan Zao and his men crossed the entire islet and reached the other side. The waves churned ceaselessly, and suddenly, a group of pirates emerged from the rocky shore. Both parties were startled upon seeing each other. Lan Zao quickly sized up the situation and his gaze landed on the small leader of the opposing pirates, a Bronze Level fighter with a scimitar at his waist. The opposing side was also assessing Lan Zao. ¡°Beastman?¡± The characteristics of a Rat-man like Lan Zao were very distinct. ¡°Noble?¡± Lan Zao¡¯s attire was refined, his accessories exquisite, and his posture erect¡ªespecially notable was his tightly fastened collar, giving an impression of meticulousness. ¡°Silver Level?!¡± Lan Zao¡¯s aura made the opposing pirates¡¯ hearts leap. ¡°Wait, you are¡­¡± The Bronze Level little leader hesitated for a moment, as he realized Lan Zao¡¯s identity. But the next moment, Lan Zao brazenly attacked! He charged forward, wielding his thin sword, swiftly piercing through the opposing group. The thin sword flashed a few times in the crowd, like silver lightning sprung from thin air. By the time the pirates of Justice came to their senses, Lan Zao had already stopped at the rear of their ranks. The Bronze Level little leader¡¯s eyes bulged, clutching at his neck, but the blood still gushed unrestrained, spurting from between his fingers. The pirates behind him fell to the ground one by one, never to rise again. The little leader too collapsed on the cold, damp rocks, his face before death filled with fear and shock. Lan Zao¡¯s incisive swordsmanship also sent tremors through the pirates of Justice. They were about to cheer when Lan Zao silenced them, ¡°Shut your mouths, you fools! Do you want the enemies to discover us?¡± ¡°Yes, they¡¯re all pirates!¡± An old pirate, looking at the bodies on the ground, asserted. ¡°Who do they belong to?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like they¡¯re merchant ships, why provoke our own kind for no reason?¡± Chapter 247 - 247: Section 35: Captain, I am yours now! Chapter 247: Section 35: Captain, I am yours now! Pirates are greedy creatures, risking their lives for ill-gotten wealth. Between pirates, as long as there are no conflicts of interest, they usually don¡¯t trouble each other too much. Previously, one dressed in grey would have chosen to negotiate, to coexist peacefully as much as possible. But not anymore. ¡°Long Fu¡­ is a knight of the Empire,¡± the knight youth personally told the one dressed in grey. ¡°He despises pirates and wants to make his mark on the Wilderness Continent. But a secret mission from the Empire showed him a different path.¡± ¡°He named this group the Justice Pirate Group, clearly a knight¡¯s mentality. That¡¯s why he targets pirates everywhere, seeking to combat them. His command under the Lion Flag clearly uses regular military training methods to train the sailors on the Little Bird.¡± ... ¡°And these people are likely from the Rapids.¡± The one dressed in grey was of Silver Level and had once been a captain; the knight youth didn¡¯t conceal the combat target from him. However, the Justice never encountered the Rapids. ¡°The captain of the Rapids, a Silver Fighter named Di Lou, has two subordinates of Black Iron Level. They¡¯ve also come to this island to rest. They just happen to be on the opposite side from our landing point.¡± With this guess, the one dressed in grey led the pirates, bending over as they moved through the reefs. Soon, they saw a pirate ship moored by the sea. The pirate flag fluttered in the wind¡ªit was the Rapids! ¡°Who goes there?!¡± A pirate from the Rapids¡¯ watchtower spotted the one dressed in grey and his group. ¡°We¡¯ve been spotted!¡± The pirates from the Justice were somewhat panicked. ¡°What¡¯s there to fear! Fire a signal flare, and let¡¯s charge!¡± The one dressed in grey swiftly stood up and loudly ordered. The pirates hesitated, ¡°But we are too few in number.¡± The one dressed in grey snorted coldly, ¡°They are stopped for supplies; they must have sent many people out. How many could be left on the ship?¡± ¡°Open your eyes and look! Their ship sits deep in the water; they must have seized a great deal.¡± ¡°Kill them all, take the ship, it¡¯ll all be ours!¡± The pirates¡¯ eyes suddenly burned with fervor. From the time they had sailed to now, there had only been one battle, and it was with the nascent pirate ship, Little Bird. They hadn¡¯t seen a single merchant ship and were already extremely frustrated. Inspired by the one dressed in grey, the pirates suddenly howled. ¡°Charge with me!¡± The one dressed in grey led the way courageously, with the pirates closely following. ¡°Quick, quick, fire the signal flare, the Rapids are in danger, we¡¯re being ambushed!¡± The lookout, seeing this scene, cried out in panic. Just as the one dressed in grey had guessed, the Rapids was indeed very vulnerable at the moment. Captain Di Lou was not on board, only the Black Iron Level first officer remained. The sun rose from the sea, heralding the start of this pirate ambush. Two signal flares successively soared into the sky. Both groups of pirates quickly noticed them. According to the plan, the pirates from the Justice immediately understood that the target was sighted. The knight youth and others quickly received this urgent report. Zong Ge immediately said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the Rapids to be docked at this small island too, we must head into battle immediately!¡± The youth nodded. The two signal flares, fired in rapid succession, indicated that both friends and foes had revealed their presence. The overall strength of the Rapids was not strong; this battle held a good chance of victory. Without delay, an elite force burst forth from the valley. ¡°We¡¯ll go ahead!¡± The knight youth and Zong Ge hurried ahead, quickly distancing themselves from the others. Zong Ge activated his Fighting Energy, which enveloped his lower limbs and feet, a military Combat Skill¡ªRapid March. The knight youth did not possess such a Combat Skill, but his speed was unexpectedly not slow, almost keeping pace with Zong Ge. At that moment, the knight youth had already transformed all his original Bai He Fighting Energy into Blast Fighting Energy. In his dragon-man form, with each forward movement, he would use Fighting Energy at the soles of his feet or on his back to burst forth, creating a strong propulsive force. Thus, in a series of booming blasts, he charged through the dense rainforest like a bomb, his presence overwhelming. By the time they reached the seaside, the battle was intense. The one dressed in grey stood on the deck, locked in fierce combat with Rapids Captain Di Lou. The Black Iron Level first officer had already fallen to one side, dead, a fatal wound on his neck clearly the work of the one dressed in grey. This wounded Rat-man was now engaged with Di Lou and the second officer. The second officer was the remaining Black Iron Fighter. Di Lou, on par in cultivation with the one dressed in grey. ¡°This Rat-man is quite something,¡± Zong Ge praised. He had abundant combat experience, instantly deducing the earlier battle situation. The one dressed in grey must have been the first to break through to the ship, quickly killing the first officer, with Di Lou arriving later, left with no choice but to engage in battle with him. If Di Lou had originally been on the ship, with such defensive power, the one dressed in grey might not have managed to board the Rapids at all. The one dressed in grey seized the moment of opportunity, his actions swift and decisive, earning Zong Ge¡¯s newfound respect. ¡°Enemy reinforcements are appearing!¡± ¡°Two, two Silver Fighters, this is bad, Captain Di Lou!¡± With the youth and Zong Ge appearing together, standing on the rocks, the sight plunged the Rapids¡¯ pirates into disarray, severely demoralizing them. Di Lou¡¯s face turned ashen, his fighting spirit greatly diminished, and he decided to compromise, ¡°One dressed in grey, stop! I¡¯ll give you half of what¡¯s on my ship, I admit defeat.¡± ¡°Half? That¡¯s not enough!¡± The one dressed in grey pretended to negotiate while intensifying his attack. Di Lou blocked and retreated repeatedly, ¡°Then, I¡¯ll give you three-quarters!¡± The one dressed in grey countered, ¡°Not enough!¡± The Stabbing Sword moved incredibly fast, tracing sword shadows in the air. Di Lou barely dodged, a sword mark appearing on his face, blood quickly oozing out. ¡°Don¡¯t push people too far!¡± Di Lou¡¯s face turned ashen as he pulled out a short flute from his chest, quickly playing it. Under the influence of the flute¡¯s sound, the one dressed in grey¡¯s sword moves suddenly became disordered. A strong urge to pee arose, causing a filthy-looking face to become even uglier. ¡°Here it comes, Di Lou¡¯s signature move: Spell¡ªurine flow song!¡± Zong Ge¡¯s eyes brightened as he murmured. While it may seem that Di Lou was just fencing with a filthy-looking fellow, he was actually a spellcaster. More precisely, he was a bard. Spellcasters aren¡¯t detached from close combat, many famous spellcasters possess decent melee and fighting abilities. Di Lou was a Silver Level bard, who had created a unique spell¡ª¡±urine flow song,¡± that greatly disturbed the enemy, causing them to be increasingly troubled by the urge to urinate, thus weakening their offensive. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Di Lou had repeatedly escaped from formidable enemies by relying on this unique spell. Often, when the Rapids faced insurmountable foes at sea, Di Lou would use this spell to make the enemy sailors frequently relieve themselves, thereby significantly slowing down the enemy ships and earning Di Lou time to escape. ¡°Captain, I can¡¯t hold it anymore!¡± The pirates of the Rapids began taking off their trousers and started peeing over the ship¡¯s side. The urine flow song was a pervasive spell that did not differentiate between friend and foe. This was why Di Lou hadn¡¯t used it earlier. ¡°Don¡¯t pee on the mast, you idiots,¡± Di Lou¡¯s first officer shouted. But soon, he too turned pale, unable to endure any longer. He also hurried to the side, spurting his urine. Pirates weren¡¯t particularly averse to wetting their trousers, especially during fierce battles. However, the urine flow song was no simple matter; it essentially triggered disorder in the target¡¯s fighting energy and demon energy, particularly affecting the bladder and urethra. These stimulated areas made urination inevitable. After peeing, these pirates felt much relieved. Urinating indeed temporarily reduced the impact of the spell. But a filthy-looking man couldn¡¯t! ¡°Damn it, this guy¡­¡± The filthy-looking man, receiving particular attention from the song, now had a face blue with strain. He was extremely uncomfortable. Moreover, as a person mindful of appearances, even if killed, he would never indulge in public urination. Fortunately, at this moment, Zong Ge and the knight youth finally arrived and forcefully boarded the terribly stinky deck of the Rapids. Spell¡ªDragon Roar! While Zong Ge engaged Di Lou, the knight youth unleashed a dragon¡¯s roar. This innate magic targeted only one individual, not a group. Under the spell¡¯s attack, an intense dizziness struck Di Lou, making him pause and reveal a huge vulnerability. Zong Ge and the knight youth worked perfectly together, seizing their chance. When Di Lou recovered, he despairingly found a Half-Beast¡¯s two-handed greatsword poised over his neck. ¡°I surrender!¡± Di Lou dejectedly declared. ¡°You¡¯re quite resourceful. I¡¯ll give you a choice¡ªjoin us,¡± the Dragon-man youth immediately extended an invitation. Bards and mages differ, and bards often excel in using magic to boost morale. Compared to the urine flow song, the Dragon-man youth valued this more. ¡°Is he the one?¡± The filthy-looking man sheathed his stabbing sword, displaying disdain upon hearing the invitation from the young captain. ¡°You better go pee,¡± Zong Ge advised the iron-faced, filthy-looking man kindly. The filthy-looking man pursed his lips, his posture rigid, and remained motionless. Di Lou clenched his teeth in silence, overwhelmed by the circumstances but unwilling to submit to others. Being a captain had been much more liberating than being someone¡¯s subordinate. And Di Lou was not reconciled to his defeat. Under normal circumstances, had he encountered a strong enemy at sea, with the aid of the Rapids and the urine flow song, he might have escaped. Yet, this battle found him captured during resupply. The Rapids¡¯ strengths were not utilized, and his first officer was swiftly killed by an assault from the filthy-looking man. Subsequently, the knight youth and the Half-Beast rapidly reinforced and wrested control of the Rapids from Di Lou. Seeing Di Lou¡¯s hesitation, Zong Ge sneered, aligning with the knight youth, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to join, then die!¡± Di Lou¡¯s heart skipped, hastily pleading, ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t, don¡¯t! I¡¯ll join, isn¡¯t that enough?¡± ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll need to restock on contract scrolls for this trip,¡± the knight youth thought to himself. But at that moment, Cang Xu and others arrived. Seeing it was Di Lou, the old scholar suggested to the knight youth, ¡°Better turn him in; his bounty is worth ten thousand gold coins!¡± ¡°That much?¡± Both the knight youth and Zong Ge were surprised. ¡°Humph, I¡¯m not just any bard,¡± Di Lou chuckled, lifting his head slightly with a hint of pride. ¡°Indeed very different,¡± the filthy-looking man thought of the urine flow song, the disdain on his face deepening. ¡°Hey, are you really not going to pee? Enduring the pain is not good for your urethra, be careful of developing complications,¡± Di Lou taunted the filthy-looking man. The filthy-looking man huffed, his face growing even uglier. ¡°Then let¡¯s turn him in,¡± the knight youth suddenly suggested. ¡°Huh?¡± Di Lou was shocked, wasn¡¯t he just recruited? ¡°Indeed, ten thousand gold coins,¡± Zong Ge nodded. ¡°Wait, wait. I¡¯m Silver Level! And a spellcaster!¡± Di Lou became frantic. Being handed over meant possible public execution or, at best, incarceration¡­ Chapter 248 - 248: Section 36: Return to Hong Kong for Supplies Chapter 248: Section 36: Return to Hong Kong for Supplies The blazing sun hung high in the sky. The sea breeze billowed the sails, swelling them full as the three ships sliced through the ocean surface, swiftly approaching New Moon Port. The lighthouse, noticing this progression, immediately issued a report¡ªJustice was returning! ¡°It¡¯s about time,¡± the Empire¡¯s receptionist muttered as he received the news and walked out of the shipyard, standing on the dock and lifting his binoculars to gaze into the distance. The arrival of Justice did not surprise him because the knight youth had made an appointment with him in advance. This was a necessary procedure. ... Since this was spy work, secrecy had to be maintained. Generally, communication was one-on-one. Only after prior discussion and obtaining permission could Justice receive supplies at the secret port. This way, it was unlikely for the other lines of the Empire¡¯s spies to run into each other. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The knight youth was unaware of which pirate the Empire side was attempting to woo or turn¡ªGolden Chin, Sea Snake Lady were special cases. Through the binoculars, the sea lay unobstructed at his view. Justice was the most eye-catching. It was a three-masted tall ship, broad in structure with protruding forecastles and sterncastles¡ªand no figurehead yet. The ship was 80 meters long, 36 meters wide, and 15 meters high. With three decks and 24 cannon ports, it could carry around 500 people. Its broad top and pointed bottom made the ship streamlined, one of the Holy Bright Empire¡¯s latest models. ¡°The hull is quite new, and there are no obvious scars,¡± the receptionist thought to himself, ¡°It seems the battles Captain Long Fu fought were quite easy indeed.¡± He was very familiar with Justice, but Rapids beside it seemed unfamiliar. ¡°Rapids¡­¡± the receptionist murmured to himself; he had heard of this pirate ship before. It was a Bronze Level pirate ship. For Di Lou, a Silver Level bard, to own a Bronze Level demon energy ship instead of a Black Iron Level was actually common in the Seven Seas. Not all pirates had powerful backers. Even those with backers didn¡¯t necessarily have the capability or technology to build a Black Iron Level demon energy ship. The fact that the knight youth could easily own a Black Iron Level ship like Justice was a testament to the immense advantage of the Empire. It was also for this reason that a man in gray could breakthrough from Bronze, and decimate the former First Officer aboard Rapids. If Rapids had been of Black Iron Level, its defensive power would have been different. Rapids had two masts and a single deck. On the sea, it performed very briskly. Though the design was old, it was favored by most pirates because these ships were fast, making it easy to chase down cumbersome merchant vessels. Facing the Navy or other well-armed ships, they often managed to escape. At the stern of Rapids, there were specifically designed twin large water holes¡ªa Magic Device that in crucial moments could jet out intense streams of water. The forceful collision of the water streams would drastically increase Rapids¡¯ speed. ¡°Rapids has many areas that could be enhanced. Perhaps it could be upgraded to Black Iron Level,¡± the receptionist assessed steadily in his mind. The damages on Rapids weren¡¯t noticeable either. In fact, it was more the pirate Captain Di Lou of this ship who was famously known. Di Lou¡¯s urine flow song was notoriously stinky, and those affected by it were left with an unforgettable impression. To the right of Justice was Little Bird. It also had two masts but was much smaller than Justice, and even smaller than Rapids. However, it did have many cannon ports¡ªtwelve in total, five on each side of the ship, with the remaining two split between the bow and the stern. But the cannons were mostly standard. ¡°This is a normal ship. It could be modified, fitted with a portion of armaments, Magic Equipment. Generally, there isn¡¯t much potential to tap into.¡± ¡°Long Fu¡¯s group is really lucky. It¡¯s only been a couple of weeks.¡± The receptionist reflected internally. He still clearly remembered the day Justice had set sail. When they departed, Long Fu and his people had only Justice. Now, in less than half a month, they had returned with three ships. The receptionist was aware of many details about the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s sea voyage. Agent 006 was no longer on Justice, but relevant information was proactively conveyed to him by the knight youth and Zong Ge using Swift Eagle, as per their agreement signed at the beginning. Therefore, the receptionist was aware of much of the inside information regarding Justice, Little Bird, and Rapids. Taking over Little Bird was forced by Long Fu coercing Little Bird to surrender. With Justice¡¯s imposing strength, the likelihood of surrender was inherently high. But it was fairly rare for captains like the one from Little Bird to surrender so neatly. As for taking over Rapids, it truly was lucky timing¡ªthey happened upon Rapids while it was resupplying. The man in gray decisively raided, with timely reinforcements from Long Fu and the Lion Flag crew, they finally succeeded. Rapids didn¡¯t even get a chance to utilize its advantages. The receptionist knew, had they actually encountered one another at sea, Justice might not have been able to capture Rapids. When three ships docked together at the port, sailors had already gathered on the deck, clutching the generous wages they¡¯d just received, and descended en masse via the gangway. Of course, the knight youth had also left enough hands to watch over the ships. As the crowd thinned, the knight youth and others began to disembark from the ships one after another. The receptionist stood on the dock, his pupils slightly constricted as he saw the senior members of the Justice Pirate Group. The knight youth had already transformed into his Dragon-man form, part-human, part-dragon, exuding majesty. ¡°Did he use the Bloodline Stabilizer to finally stabilize the Flame Dragon Bloodline?¡± the receptionist pondered. With this, Captain Long Fu¡¯s power had increased, and he possessed more potential now. He then glanced at Zong Ge, who moved with the crisp aura of the military. The receptionist also acutely noticed that Zong Ge had disembarked from the Little Bird. It seemed Captain Long Fu greatly trusted Zong Ge, having sent him on an assignment. Zong Ge was at the peak of Silver Level, nearing Gold. Captain Long Fu was only Silver Level, his ability slightly inferior to his subordinate¡¯s¡ªa rare situation. However, Zong Ge was loyal to Captain Long Fu, and Captain Long Fu trusted Zong Ge. Their relationship made the receptionist somewhat envious. He knew that in many groups, once a member¡¯s power surpassed the leader¡¯s, their ambition often grew, leading them to venture out on their own. If they stayed, they were often met with the leader¡¯s suspicion and suppression. This was the normal scenario. The receptionist¡¯s gaze then shifted to a figure dressed in gray. This somewhat famous Beastman captain, clad in a refined suit, stood straight and silent behind the Dragon-man youth. ¡°A figure in gray was initially a member of Firebeard¡¯s pirate group, yet he still follows Captain Long Fu,¡± the receptionist thought. ¡°Could it be that Captain Long Fu possesses a leadership charm, gradually conquering A figure in gray?¡± The receptionist also noticed Cang Xu. ¡°Is he the wild mage known as Old Zhong?¡± Cang Xu had caused quite a stir when he first appeared as a Mage. ¡°To have enlisted such a mage from the beginning of the voyage, Captain Long Fu is really lucky!¡± ¡°I heard that a Black Iron Level goblin knife-handler also joined at that time. Goblins are untrustworthy; I wonder if Captain Long Fu has signed a contract with him?¡± Lastly, the receptionist¡¯s gaze rested on the Little Bird and Di Lou, who were each carrying two large boxes. ¡°Little Bird, though only at Black Iron Level, had been a captain with extensive experience. Supposedly, he is also a master of artillery skills.¡± ¡°Di Lou¡­¡± The receptionist, seeing Di Lou¡¯s bruised and swollen unfortunate appearance, couldn¡¯t help but smirk a little. Di Lou was a wanted criminal, with a bounty of ten thousand Gold Coins. However, now that he had joined the Justice Pirate Group, he was one of the Empire¡¯s men. ¡°Welcome, welcome! Seeing all of you lords again, each of you seems even more eminent than before,¡± the receptionist suppressed his overflowing thoughts, stepped forward, and greeted knight youth and the others with a beaming smile. He then led everyone into the reception room. Milk tea and pastries were already prepared. The Dragon-man youth showed no interest in eating. ¡°Let¡¯s proceed with business first. Let¡¯s check these boxes that are to be sold to the Empire.¡± The receptionist called over two Scholars who immediately started valuating. The Treasure Boxes were opened, revealing full loads of riches and spellcasting materials. The two Scholars were slightly amazed. ¡°There are many more goods in the Rapids¡¯ hold, all to be sold to you,¡± the Dragon-man youth added. After valuating the two large boxes, the Scholars went to inspect the ship¡¯s hold. They worked efficiently and soon came up with a result. ¡°Captain Long Fu, this time your gains are quite substantial,¡± the receptionist exclaimed sincerely after seeing the valuation results. He knew that often, pirates paid a terrible price to plunder merchant ships, and even with massive amounts of goods, the net profit might not exceed this yield by the Dragon-man youth. Little Bird and Di Lou were somewhat surprised by this outcome. They looked at each other instinctively, their eyes filled with sympathy and commiseration. Ironically, both of these men were victims of the Justice Pirate Group, unfortunate children who had been robbed. But they did not know that the greatest victim was not themselves, but the Undead Mage who owned the undersea chamber. The wealth obtained from the undersea chamber was enormously valuable. The knight youth and others, to avoid suspicion, had only taken out a portion of it last time. This time, they included a part of those goods to sell to the Empire. The remaining portion was planned to be sold during a third resupply to the Empire. Even after this third resupply, they would still retain some of the loot. However, these goods were of a sensitive nature, and the knight youth and his group did not intend to sell them to the Empire. The Black Market was their ideal place to offload these items. As for the Empire¡¯s valuation result, the Dragon-man youth and others did not object. Already on the ship, mainly Fat Tongue and Cang Xu had conducted a thorough evaluation of the goods to be sold this time. Now, the valuation results they received were even higher than their private assessment. This also hinted at a bit of the majestic aura of the Holy Bright Empire. ¡°Such high valuation, honestly, is somewhat beyond my expectations. Captain Long Fu, I suggest you use these to exchange for Silver Level privileges. With that, you would be able to purchase most of the Silver Level resources. After all, the Silver Level is no longer in the minority in your pirate group,¡± the receptionist suggested. Chapter 249 - 249: Section 37: Empire Mission Chapter 249: Section 37: Empire Mission The knight youth was Silver Level, Zong Ge was at the peak of Silver Level, and both Yi Shen and Di Lou were as well. Three ships had four Silver Levels, including Black Iron Level individuals like Sanda, Cang Xu, and Little Bird. The strength of the Justice Pirate Group indeed was remarkably vast. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. Not long ago, Golden Chin came back for supplies. He left behind a portion of the goods, which belong to you, Captain Long Fu,¡± the receptionist added. Initially, the knight youth defeated and captured Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady, and thereafter he joined the Empire and signed an alliance with them. The alliance stipulated that Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady maintained their freedom of movement, but they had to respond to the knight youth¡¯s call unconditionally twice a year, and one-third of their earnings over the next three years had to be contributed to the knight youth and others. To prevent any loopholes, this tribute also had a stipulated minimum value. ... To motivate Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady, there was also a maximum limit to the tribute. If this limit was exceeded, the tribute would automatically end, and the three-year agreement would terminate. Including the goods contributed by Golden Chin, the knight youth¡¯s bargaining chips suddenly increased significantly and became quite substantial. Moved by the receptionist¡¯s proposal, the Dragon-man youth couldn¡¯t help but feel tempted. But he clearly remembered the cost of upgrading the permissions and revealed a puzzled expression, ¡°To upgrade to Silver permissions, my Gold Coins are sufficient. But the Empire¡¯s contribution¡­¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The receptionist smiled and said, ¡°The contribution to the Empire is also sufficient. Captain Long Fu, during this sailing, you experienced two victories, and your record is commendable. Our side has already calculated your contribution for this voyage.¡± Seeing the specific contribution estimate, the Dragon-man youth felt a slight joy. This result was more than he had originally anticipated. The receptionist continued, ¡°Your triumphant return this time had minimal consumption, even including the resources consumed for food and freshwater. The damage to the ships was minor, especially the Justice, which was negligible. In fact, items like the Bronze Cannons can still be used for a while.¡± Previously, the Dragon-man youth was never satisfied with the equipment on the Justice. He wanted better equipment. Like cannons. But in reality, these Bronze Cannons already possessed sufficient competitiveness in naval clashes. This conclusion could be drawn by comparing them to the Rapids and Little Bird. As for Golden Level adversaries, such as Rou Cang, even Silver Level cannons wouldn¡¯t make a difference. Yet, in the end, the Dragon-man youth still shook his head and suppressed the urge to upgrade his permissions. If he upgraded his permissions, then his capital would be almost depleted, unable to exchange for sufficient resources and impeding the enhancement of his side¡¯s strength. To an outsider like the receptionist, upgrading permissions seemed indeed a wise move. But in reality, the situation for the Dragon-man youth and others was dire. They needed to seize the time and could not afford to be relaxed or leisurely. They relied on the Pearl Bubble to temporarily conceal themselves, hoping to forego some benefits to gain understanding from the Empire. At this stage, they already faced challenging trials. They needed to find the Mei Lan temple to see if they could replenish Divine Power for the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, thereby delaying their discovery. From the current intelligence, their enemies included a Silver Level Undead Mage, who was also a Desecration Priest. Additionally, there were cultists of Mei Lan, and it was impossible to estimate the defensive forces of Mei Lan temple itself¡ªwho knows what was actually inside. Thus, enhancing their own strength as much as possible to cope with the upcoming challenges was the wisest choice. The receptionist was slightly disappointed with the Dragon-man youth¡¯s decision. Upgrading permissions also demonstrated the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s loyalty and trust toward the Empire. The receptionist had no right to stop the Dragon-man youth¡¯s actions; he could at most offer some advice. He handed the youth a scroll. This was the Empire¡¯s list, employing the alchemy technique of endless paper. ¡°This is the current exchange price,¡± the receptionist said. The Dragon-man youth carefully reviewed it, noticing that although the prices had fluctuated slightly, they were overall stable. Notably, there were about a dozen items added or removed from the list since last time. ¡°We need cannons, an estimate of four Silver Level alchemy cannons.¡± ¡°The Justice needs a figurehead of the Peace Angel.¡± ¡°Magic Beast Meat¡­ this one, this one, and this one.¡± ¡°Right, the cabins of the Justice need remodeling. The combat training rooms are too few; we need three training combat rooms.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take three crates of Underwater Breathing Potions, one crate of Healing Potions, thirty of Magic Power Supplement Potions, and Spirit Stabilizers each.¡± ¡°As for Magic Scrolls, including Wind Blast, Windless Domain, Freshwater Creation, Air Creation, etc., all need to be procured.¡± ¡°Oh, and also Contract Scrolls that allow temporary additions or modifications.¡± The Dragon-man youth blurted out. The first time he checked the Empire¡¯s list, he was slow. This time, however, he was decisive and outspoken. In fact, on the journey back to port, he and Zong Ge, Cang Xu, and others had already discussed multiple times and had already thought through their needs. They also had an imperial list at hand. Whenever they had free time, the knight youth, Zong Ge, Cang Xu, and others would study the contents of the list. Of course, this content was outdated, and as time passed, the gap with actual situations would only widen. This time, upon returning to port for supplies, they were to return the imperial list to the receptionist and exchange it for the latest one. The knight youth then discussed with Cang Xu, Zong Ge, and others, and produced another list for exchanging resources. Previously, the youth had blurted out the confirmed items. Now, the new list was due to changes in information; after discussion, they made temporary changes and adjustments. This included sandbags for the knight youth¡¯s cultivation of Fighting energy. The previous sandbags had all been destroyed, and now the new red bean sandbags he was buying were the most suitable ones, expected to last a long time. Zong Ge requested books on naval combat tactics. Cang Xu needed various alchemy materials. The receptionist confirmed these items and completed most of the transactions on the spot. ¡°Captain Long Fu¡¯s group is indeed ambitious. The wealth they plundered hasn¡¯t even warmed up yet, and it¡¯s all been spent generously. The key is that all this capital is used to enhance strength, with not a bit wasted on pleasure.¡± The receptionist couldn¡¯t help but think of the previous batch of pirates he had catered to. ¡°Although Kou Zhao is a Gold Level pirate, he sold the stolen goods for gold coins and stored them. The salary he gives to his subordinates is also quite meager. With this spirit, he can¡¯t compare to Long Fu.¡± ¡°In time, this group could become pirates surpassing Kou Zhao, becoming renowned. As long as one of them is promoted to a Gold Level fighter!¡± The receptionist was in the dark. Now the knight youth and his companions had their minds filled with thoughts of disguising, escaping guilt, and seeking redemption. They had neither the time nor the mood for pleasures. Looking at the newest imperial list, the youth couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Too many good things! He had to force himself to resist these temptations. For instance, the Combat Skill called Dragon Claw Strike he discovered this time was extremely suitable for him. Zong Ge had just strongly hoped to exchange for some war slaves. These slaves were physically robust and tactically proficient, inherently geared for warfare. With these war slaves as the core, and the varied pirates as support, Zong Ge could outline a formidable iron army in reality. But there was no money. Gold coins were easy to discuss, but empire contributions were key. Especially the quality items, they almost all required empire contributions. This was clearly a conspiracy of the Holy Bright Empire setting up spy missions, blatantly laid out there. With limited capital, the knight youth and his group had to think deeply and make the right choices to maximize their strengths. The receptionist, perceptible to expressions, saw the Dragon-man youth reluctantly roll up the scroll, and he smiled inwardly, familiar with this demeanor. The receptionist then spoke up, ¡°Captain Long Fu, there is a mission available now that I highly recommend. Because if you can complete it, you will earn a lot of empire contributions.¡± Empire spy mission¡ªKill the pirate Captain Silver Hook! ¡°Three days ago, this group audaciously robbed a military supply ship near Stinky Bay. The ship was carrying a large amount of military rations and over a dozen boxes of munitions, one of which contained three hundred low-level Fireball Technique Magic Scrolls,¡± the receptionist explained. The reward for this mission was indeed substantial. Just the empire contributions alone were a large sum, far exceeding the total empire contributions previously spent by the Justice Pirate Group. If they secured this income, the Justice Pirate Group, not short on gold coins, could not only elevate permissions but also save a great amount of capital the next time. Seeing the Dragon-man youth seemed tempted, the receptionist continued, ¡°Currently, Silver Hook and his group possess 12 pirate ships, including 1 Black Iron Level, 3 Bronze Level. There are 4 Silver Level, including 3 fighters, with Silver Hook himself at the Silver Peak. Additionally, there is a Silver Level Wind Mage.¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth noting that this group of thieves is very well-equipped. They are generally armed with Bronze Level cannons, totaling over 120. There are 4 Silver Level cannons.¡± ¡°They have a crew of flying hook pirates, roughly 20 men, each with at least Bronze Level Cultivation. The small leaders are all Black Iron Level fighters. They cultivate Fighting energy similar to Silver Hook, and are very adept with flying hook weapons.¡± ¡°If Captain Long Fu takes on this mission, I recommend you contact Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady to join forces, sharing the risk.¡± The Dragon-man youth couldn¡¯t help but be astonished; Silver Hook Pirates were very powerful. Although the pirate captain was only Silver Level, whether it was the ships, cannons, elite pirates¡¯ numbers, or size, it all far surpassed the Justice Pirate Group. The Justice Pirate Group currently had four Silver Fighters, which was the biggest advantage of the Justice Pirate Group. But Silver Hook Pirates had caught up and even had a slight edge because one of them was a Mage. Just on paper, the Justice Pirate Group was no match. As the receptionist said, they needed to join forces with Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady. Anyway, the knight youth had the power to force them to join. This probably was also within the calculations of the receptionist. After all, the content of the covenant at that time, the knight youth did not hide. Chapter 250 - 250: Section 38: The Empires Interests and Our Interests Chapter 250: Section 38: The Empire¡¯s Interests and Our Interests ¡°The risk is great,¡± the youth hesitated, ¡°but the reward won¡¯t be small either.¡± If they had Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady on their side, they would hold an advantage in terms of strength. With the help of intelligence and other advantages, a surprise assault could very well seize the chance of taking down the Silver Hook Pirates. Of course, when estimating the comparison of strengths between the two sides, the knight youth didn¡¯t forget about the Deep Sea Monster Fish. It was his trump card, extremely powerful! ¡°What do you all think?¡± After pondering for a moment, the knight youth turned his gaze to the others. As a leader, he possessed a very precious quality ¨C he was adept at listening to the opinions of others. Before Cang Xu and Zong Ge could speak, the little bird blurted out impatiently, ¡°Don¡¯t do it!¡± ... ¡°Silver Hook isn¡¯t terrifying.¡± ¡°What¡¯s terrifying is his brother, Golden Hook.¡± ¡°They are blood brothers, known together as the Golden Silver Brothers.¡± ¡°They occupy Golden Silver Island, where the brother Golden Hook stays on the island all year round, guarding it and organizing a large number of slaves to mine for gold and silver from the mines. The younger brother, Silver Hook, leads the pirate group to loot everywhere.¡± ¡°Because they are backed by gold and silver mines, their forces are strong. They own no less than 50 pirate ships, all exceptionally well-equipped.¡± ¡°They also have a Silver Level demon energy ship!¡± The receptionist smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Golden Hook.¡± ¡°According to secret reports from the Empire, several years ago, he attempted to break through the Golden Level and reach Sanctity by purchasing potions in the Black Market.¡± ¡°Clearly, he wasn¡¯t successful. These years, he has been holed up on Golden Silver Island, appearing in public infrequently.¡± ¡°According to estimates by scholars of the Empire: this time, Silver Hook¡¯s robbery of the military supply ship is likely a ploy to kidnap a bishop of the Life Sect onboard. Perhaps they mean to force the bishop to heal his brother¡¯s injuries.¡± ¡°Fortunately, due to some accident, the bishop did not board the military supply ship as planned.¡± The Dragon-man youth showed interest again, but he still didn¡¯t make a decision, ¡°We need to discuss this.¡± ¡°Please do,¡± the receptionist smiled, ¡°Just a suggestion. The Empire will not get involved in your action; everything is up to you, Captain Long Fu.¡± He emphasized the word ¡°yourself¡± very clearly, with a heavier tone. The Dragon-man youth showed a troubled expression, ¡°Is there any other information you can provide? For example, how large was the robbed military supply ship, or what exactly is the condition of Golden Hook¡¯s health?¡± The receptionist shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Captain Long Fu. I¡¯ve already told you quite a lot, the detailed intelligence will only be available once you accept the mission. Please try to understand.¡± ¡°Of course, of course. I was being presumptuous,¡± the Dragon-man youth apologized quickly, ¡°We¡¯ll go back and have a thorough discussion.¡± With that said, the youth stood up. The receptionist made a few attempts to make them stay, but the Justice Pirate Group was in a hurry and did not waste time on tea and pastries prepared in the reception room. On the way back, both the little bird and Di Lou had furrowed brows, full of worry. Back in the cabin, the Dragon-man youth pulled out a sound collection box, ensuring their conversation stayed within the captain¡¯s quarters. ¡°What do you think?¡± the youth asked with a smile. ¡°We can¡¯t accept, Captain,¡± the little bird and Di Lou said in unison. The Dragon-man youth pondered silently, turning to look at the others. Seeing the youth looking at him, Grey Pelt said, ¡°Even if the Empire¡¯s intelligence isn¡¯t wrong and Golden Hook is indeed injured, he¡¯s still at the Golden Level. The Empire hasn¡¯t made a big move against Golden Silver Island either. If we go after Silver Hook and his gang, we¡¯d be offending two Golden Level powers at once. It¡¯s not wise.¡± Grey Pelt¡¯s words made the little bird and Di Lou sigh in relief, looking at the former Rat-man captain with admiration. Zong Ge then stretched out his hand and pulled out a sea chart from the desk¡¯s pen holder. He spread it out on the table and moved his index finger to the location of Golden Silver Island. ¡°Look, the location of Golden Silver Island is very delicate.¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost right in the middle between Holy Bright Continent and Wilderness Continent.¡± ¡°Above it is the Coconut Wine Route, and below is the Amber Route. If the Empire launches a full-scale attack on Wilderness Continent in the future, the transport lines will certainly include these two major routes.¡± ¡°Although Golden Silver Island has gold and silver mines, after so many years of mining, their output has already dwindled to a very meager amount.¡± ¡°From the Empire¡¯s perspective, Golden Silver Island itself is far more important than the gold and silver mines, or the Golden Silver Brothers!¡± Zong Ge spoke eloquently. Grey Pelt, the little bird, and Di Lou all looked at him with sincere admiration. They suddenly realized that the Half-Beast in front of them wasn¡¯t just a person of great personal strength but also held an excellent eye for tactics and strategy. ¡°How did Captain Long Fu manage to do it? To have such an excellent talent willing to follow under him?¡± ¡°Cang Xu chuckled, ¡°Perhaps we can guess like this.¡± ¡°The Empire has long wanted to control Golden Silver Island. Now they have finally begun to act. They deliberately sent the military supply ship into the eyes of the Silver Hook Pirates, releasing a rumor that a bishop of the Life Sect was on board, triggering Silver Hook Pirates¡¯ raid.¡± ¡°In doing so, the Empire now has a pretext. They call upon the pirates to act against Silver Hook¡¯s gang under the guise of a secret spy mission.¡± ¡°The situation is developing smoothly,¡± he mused, ¡°and will result in numerous pirates surrounding the assault on Gold and Silver Island.¡± ¡°If the pirates succeed in taking the island, the Empire will be in covert control of Gold and Silver Island without wasting a single soldier. At the same time, they will not have left any moral flaws, nor will they have made a significant commotion that could alert or alienate the pirates across the seven seas.¡± ¡°Yet, at the same time, the Empire also shows its strength. On the one hand, it creates division among the pirates assailing Gold and Silver Island and others, bringing them onto the Empire¡¯s chariot of battle. On the other hand, it lets other pirates know just how many have sided with the Empire, which will make the implementation of subsequent spy missions all the smoother.¡± Little Bird and Di Lou were both stunned. A Man in Grey seemed to be deep in thought. Cang Xu¡¯s eyes twinkled with a cold light as he continued, ¡°If we dare speculate a bit more boldly, perhaps the potions Golden Hook had bought on the Black Market had a problem.¡± ¡°The Empire put out rumors that a bishop from the Life Sect was on a military supply ship. That was a huge lure. The Gold and Silver brothers had a deep bond, and Golden Hook had been injured for many years with little improvement in treatment. The bishop of the Life Sect was one of the few remaining hopes.¡± ¡°Recently, with the emergence of the pirate throne, pirate activities in the seven seas have become increasingly rampant. However, no pirate has seized a military supply ship from the Holy Bright Empire.¡± ¡°But Silver Hook did just that.¡± ¡°If this was false information purposefully released by the Empire, then the Empire¡¯s intelligence department has clearly achieved a perfect act of espionage. Golden Hook¡¯s injuries must be quite serious.¡± Little Bird and Di Lou listened wide-mouthed, feeling like a window had opened, revealing a new world to them. Cang Xu gave a self-deprecating smile, ¡°All this is just my speculation. It¡¯s also based on the information leaked by the receptionist, wildly guessed.¡± ¡°Captain, we owe you for that.¡± ¡°Without the captain piquing the receptionist¡¯s appetite, there wouldn¡¯t have been so many slip-ups.¡± The Dragon-man youth smiled slightly. Indeed, this was the case. The receptionist thought the Dragon-man youth was interested in the mission, but in reality, it was merely the Dragon-man youth making him believe so. Little Bird and Di Lou, having heard this, widened their eyes and looked at the Dragon-man youth anew. They finally understood that the three core members of the Justice Pirate Group had been acting all along, stimulating the receptionist into willingly revealing more information. How ridiculous they were to think that the Dragon-man youth and his group, having just started sailing, were unaware of the actual situation of the Gold and Silver brothers. In fact, in the past dozen days of sailing, knight youth, Zong Ge, and others had been cramming information on pirates across the seven seas. ¡°Sneaky!¡± Little Bird thought as he looked at the smiling Dragon-man youth, the word flashing in his mind. ¡°Crafty!¡± Di Lou silently cursed; he had been worrying for nothing. Then Little Bird spoke in praise, ¡°So that¡¯s it. Captain, you truly are wise and mighty!¡± ¡°I¡¯m convinced,¡± Di Lou raised his thumb towards the Dragon-man youth and the others. They were now aboard the ship of the Justice Pirate Group. The Magic Contract had been exchanged; next, it was for the Dragon-man youth to sign the contract with the two of them. However, after this incident, Di Lou and Little Bird gained much more confidence in their newly joined collective. The Dragon-man youth pointed to the Sea Chart, ¡°Our next target is here.¡± ¡°Magnetic Island?¡± Little Bird was surprised. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°We have the Greedy Divine Bone. This time, we¡¯ve also purchased a batch of Treasure Maps from the Empire, obtaining a lot of information on treasures. Digging up treasures can also earn us the favor of pirate divinity, thus serving the Empire¡¯s purpose of disrupting the selection of the King of Pirates. It counts as making a contribution,¡± the Dragon-man youth said. Speaking of which, the name of A Man in Grey had already dropped out of the top five on the Holy Tablet. In their quest for Divinity¡¯s favor, pirate activities became more frequent and rampant. Perhaps the valuables they plundered could not compare in worth to the Divine Artifact, the Green Jade Gold Coffin. But the very act of murder, arson, and plunder is more in line with pirate divinity, so receiving greater favor is not strange. Finally, the Dragon-man youth solemnly advised Little Bird, A Man in Grey, and Di Lou, ¡°Although we have accepted the Empire¡¯s spy mission, we remain free. There is a distinction between the Empire¡¯s interests and our own. Like this mission to subdue Silver Hook, there¡¯s no need to be a pawn for the Empire¡¯s vanguard.¡± Di Lou and Little Bird¡¯s eyes shone. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s words were very much to their liking. Through this event, they believed they understood Captain Long Fu all the better. ¡°Alright, as planned, we will set sail the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°In the meantime, you are free to do as you please and relax.¡± The youth waved his hand, and everyone filed out of the captain¡¯s cabin. As the door closed, blocking the Dragon-man youth¡¯s view, the conversations of Little Bird and Di Lou could still be heard. ¡°Is there anywhere in New Moon Port where we can find some fun?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, this is a minor port, nothing conspicuous. It¡¯s my first time here.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a tavern in town called Mermaid Tavern,¡± Zong Ge said. ¡°Ah, then let¡¯s head there tonight.¡± Laughter tinged with excitement filled the voices of Little Bird and Di Lou. Chapter 251 - 251: Section 39: Teaching My Son Combat Skills Chapter 251: Section 39: Teaching My Son Combat Skills The night breeze blew gently, and stars dotted the sky. In a secluded corner of New Moon Town¡¯s back mountain, a dazzling red light suddenly erupted from the thick darkness. The intense heat of Dragon Flame blazed fervently, and the temperature of the air soared terrifyingly fast. Innate Magic¡ªIntense Dragon Breath! The Dragon-man youth opened his mouth, maintaining the innate magic present in his King of Flame Dragon bloodline, while laboriously turning his neck. As he turned his head, the Intense Dragon Breath swept across, tracing a line through the air. ... The youth ceased the spell, and before him lay a large swath of charred rock. ¡°It still needs improvement!¡± ¡°Although I¡¯ve only practiced a limited amount, I can now slightly divert the direction while breathing fire. However, the speed of turning is far too slow; it has no practical value in real combat.¡± The knight youth had been relentlessly honing his skills. Although his practice with Dragon Breath was minimal, the progress made was not inconsiderable. Before, he could hardly turn his head while breathing fire. Any shift would destabilize the Dragon Breath, making it fluctuate in intensity. Now he had overcome that difficulty, stabilizing the Dragon Breath, but the speed at which he turned his head was too slow and needed significant improvement. ¡°Next, I need to improve the turning speed.¡± ¡°After that, the goal is to try moving my feet while breathing fire.¡± At the moment, once he started breathing fire, he could only stand still, becoming a live target. The youth had a clear training plan in mind. He knew he had to overcome these challenges. Combat Skill required diligent study and practice. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re so awesome!¡± exclaimed the Big guy, interrupting the Dragon-man youth¡¯s contemplation. The Dragon-man youth smiled slightly. This time he was not practicing alone; he had specifically taken the Big guy with him. ¡°How about it? Are you scared?¡± the Dragon-man youth asked with concern. Dragon Breath was his strongest attack to date, one which most silver-level fighters could hardly withstand. Even at the Golden Level, they would have to tread carefully. The Big guy shook his head: ¡°Dad and I are the same, not afraid.¡± The Dragon-man youth laughed heartily. In the presence of the Big guy, he could relax completely. Perhaps it was because of the Big guy¡¯s limited intelligence and sincere heart, or maybe it was for some other reason. ¡°How are you doing with the Fighting energy technique I¡¯ve recently had you practice?¡± ¡°Come, let me check.¡± The Dragon-man youth approached the Big guy. The Big guy was sitting cross-legged on the ground, still disheveled, with a grin revealing his yellow teeth, looking frightful. However, unlike on Mysterious Monster Island, he was now dressed in leather armor. Although the leather armor was crude, it protected his vital areas like the heart and waist, lending the Big guy a hint of martial dignity. As for the horn on his head, it was deliberately styled as a disguise to conceal the Big guy¡¯s true identity. Upon hearing that ¡®dad¡¯ was going to check his Cultivation, the Big guy became visibly nervous. His smile vanished as he bent and bowed, bringing his large head close to the Dragon-man youth. He had immense trust in the Dragon-man youth. The youth chided him with a smile and a pat on his head: ¡°Just extend your arm to me.¡± So the Big guy straightened up and extended his arm. The Dragon-man youth grasped his wrist, slowly channeling Fighting energy into his body, while his spirit naturally spread throughout the Big guy¡¯s physique. Soon, he detected a substantial reserve of Fighting energy hidden within the Big guy. ¡°Huh?¡± The Dragon-man youth was taken aback. The extent of Fighting energy within the Big guy surpassed his expectations. ¡°Have you practiced this before?¡± the youth couldn¡¯t help asking. The Big guy shook his head: ¡°Dad didn¡¯t let me practice.¡± Clearly, ¡®dad¡¯ here referred to the old shipwright. The Dragon-man youth took another good look at the Big guy. He had not expected the Big guy to have such excellent talent! After receiving the Fighting energy technique, the Big guy learned how to train under the personal guidance of the youth. In just over a dozen days, his reservoir of Fighting energy had accumulated profoundly, nearly reaching the Bronze Level. ¡°If the old shipwright knew about the Big guy¡¯s talent, would he have given him the Fighting energy technique to cultivate?¡± The Dragon-man youth¡¯s thoughts wandered. Immediately after, he shook his head. The old shipwright was just an ordinary person and couldn¡¯t instruct the Big guy in Cultivation. More importantly, he was very afraid that the Big guy would cause trouble, often teaching him to endure and to only call for him to back up the Big guy when bullied. Even if the old shipwright had entertained the idea of the Big guy practicing, the other members of Pig Kiss wouldn¡¯t have allowed it. Even with exceptional talent, the Big guy¡¯s intelligence was inadequate, and he had fits of madness! ¡°Dad, I will definitely practice diligently. Don¡¯t be angry, okay?¡± The Big guy, seeing the youth¡¯s shaking head, suddenly became scared. The Dragon-man youth quickly reassured him: ¡°You¡¯ve been practicing very well; dad is very pleased. You¡¯re really great! You have true talent!¡± ¡°Really? Heh heh heh.¡± The Big guy grinned foolishly, scratching his head embarrassedly. The youth suddenly thought of the Big guy¡¯s Fighting energy technique. The Big Guy practiced a Combat Skill called the Heartless Sleeping Form. It was a skill the Dragon-man youth specially selected and exchanged for him from the Empire¡¯s inventory. This Combat Skill had a major flaw: the accumulation of Fighting Energy was extremely slow. However, its advantage was quite prominent, which was that the method of practicing this Combat Skill was very simple and convenient. Considering the Big Guy¡¯s limited intelligence, the Dragon-man youth deliberately chose the simplest Combat Skill. Even so, it took him great effort and a total of three consecutive days to teach the Big Guy. Whereas a normal person could get started in a minute or two. ¡°The Heartless Sleeping Form accumulates Fighting Energy very slowly, but the Big Guy has achieved such results. How good must his talent be?¡± ¡°No, perhaps it¡¯s because his simplicity suits the requirements of the Heartless Sleeping Form.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Dragon-man youth remembered that the Heartless Sleeping Form emphasized repeatedly that the fighter practicing this Combat Skill needed to maintain a clear and devoid mind, free of any stray thoughts. This was something very difficult for normal people to achieve. Therefore, during the practice of the Heartless Sleeping Form, drowsiness would gradually set in, helping the practitioner fall asleep. While asleep, the fighter¡¯s internal Fighting Energy would still circulate for a period. Because of deep sleep, which came without stray thoughts, one would reach a state of clarity. Thus, since coming aboard the ship, the Big Guy spent most of the time in a deep sleep in the forward superstructure¡¯s cabin. His snoring was so loud that the pirates secretly referred to him as the Sleeping Guy. ¡°Train hard, kid! Use all your time for Cultivation. Once you become a Bronze fighter, I will give you a gift!¡± The Dragon-man youth patted the Big Guy¡¯s shoulder, very pleased. The difference in value between ordinary people and Transcendents was immense. Once the Big Guy became a Transcendent, the youth had even more reason to keep him on the Justice, without causing suspicion because of the Big Guy¡¯s excessive eating. Even if the Big Guy weren¡¯t with the youth in the future, his strength would allow him to avoid being bullied. The Big Guy was most loyal to the Dragon-man youth. This was a point that neither Zi Di, Cang Xu, Zong Ge, nor Lan Zao could compare with. ¡°Dad, I can help you with work,¡± the Big Guy expressed some dissatisfaction. In fact, just after coming on board the Justice, the Big Guy was constantly anxious because he spent his days eating, drinking, sleeping, and relieving himself¡ªa stark difference from the backbreaking life he had endured aboard the Pig Kiss. The Big Guy had also been taught by his adoptive father, the old shipwright, that he needed to contribute and have value for the group to accept him. Apart from worry and fear, the Big Guy wanted to help the Dragon-man youth. His willingness was utterly sincere. ¡°After you become a Bronze fighter, I¡¯ll let you get involved with more activities. Remember, the stronger you are, the more you can help me.¡± ¡°Okay, now I will teach you how to use Combat Skills.¡± ¡°Just having Fighting Energy isn¡¯t enough; you also need Combat Skills to have the ability to fight in real combat.¡± The Dragon-man youth thoughtfully chose three Combat Skills for the Big Guy. The first one was called Sweeping Through the Army, which used a wooden stick or arm to sweep across an area. The second Combat Skill was named Earthshaking Strike, which involved using fists or feet or weapons like clubs to slam onto the ground forcefully, causing a violent tremor and possibly stunning the enemy. The third Combat Skill was the Barbaric Bull Charge, where the fighter would sprint rapidly to ram the target with their body. These three Combat Skills all shared one distinct commonality¡ªsimplicity! They were very simple! The youth began to meticulously teach the Big Guy. Combat Skill¡ªSweeping Through the Army! The Big Guy swung the wooden stick, which flew out of his hands, and he spun around, falling headfirst to the ground. Combat Skill execution failed. Combat Skill¡ªEarthshaking Strike! The Big Guy slammed the front end of the wooden stick hard onto the ground. Pff. The ground did not crack, not even a shallow pit formed, and the Big Guy himself spat out a large mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot. A misdirection in the flow of Fighting Energy caused him severe injury. The Dragon-man youth was startled and quickly used a Healing Potion to revive the Big Guy. After resting for a while, the Big Guy regained his energy. The Healing Potion, coupled with the Big Guy¡¯s robust natural recovery ability, allowed him to be active again. Combat Skill¡ªBarbaric Bull Charge. The Big Guy charged a few steps forward, then, as Fighting Energy went awry, he tripped over his own feet and fell, scraping out a long mark on the ground due to his immense inertia. The Dragon-man youth crossed his arms over his chest and clutched his head with his right claw. The Big Guy¡¯s intelligence was worrisome; even such simple Combat Skills were hard for him to grasp. ¡°For him, even the Heartless Sleeping Form took three days just to get started. These Combat Skills are much more complex.¡± ¡°Can he master one in a month?¡± The Dragon-man youth estimated the time and felt very uncertain. The Big Guy was too big and lacked a practice area. Although the Justice was set to be retrofitted with three combat training rooms, none of them were suitable for the Big Guy. As the first rays of Sunrise appeared on the horizon, the Big Guy still had not made any progress with the Combat Skills. His entire appearance was bruised and swollen, as if he had been violently abused. And the natural hills that originally presented a picturesque scenery now revealed a terribly disheveled state under the gradually brightening light. A thought suddenly struck the Dragon-man youth; even if the Big Guy couldn¡¯t master the Combat Skills, his sheer size and natural strength alone were formidable. The Big Guy was endowed with a Giant Bloodline, and a giant¡¯s physical attributes far exceeded those of the Human Race. And once he became a Transcendent in the future and learned Combat Skills, how tremendous would the increase in his combat power be? And given his current progress, his talent most certainly wouldn¡¯t be confined to the Bronze or Black Iron levels¡­ Watching the rising Sunrise, the Dragon-man youth felt his anticipation growing more and more. Chapter 252 - 252: Section 40: Son, You Must Be Kind Chapter 252: Section 40: Son, You Must Be Kind The next night, the Dragon-man youth once again brought the Big guy to the back mountain for training. ¡°Watch closely! I¡¯m going to attack,¡± the Dragon-man youth intentionally slowed down his speed, charging at the Big guy. Seeing the youth coming at him aggressively, the Big guy let out a ¡°wow¡± and then squatted down on the spot, hugging his head with both hands and trying to curl into a ball as much as possible. The Dragon-man youth was dumbfounded. He slowed his pace, shifting from running to walking until he reached the front of the Big guy and gently patted him on the head: ¡°C¡¯mon, put up a defense.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Dad, I¡­ I forgot¡­¡± the Big guy lifted his head, looking very ashamed. ... Dragon-man youth: ¡­ He had taught the Big guy Combat Skills the previous night and was deeply frustrated. The Big guy¡¯s stupidity was far below the youth¡¯s expectations. If he could master Combat Skills, the Big guy would have a certain ability to protect himself. But as that path seemed impossible, the Dragon-man youth decided after some thought to start with the basics. The Big guy had no combat foundation at all, and even lacked the consciousness to fight. ¡°On Mysterious Monster Island, the Big guy did pretty well.¡± Watching the Big guy instinctively squat down and give up resistance, the Dragon-man youth was somewhat puzzled. ¡°Could it be that the dire situation on Mysterious Monster Island triggered the Big guy¡¯s potential for survival? And because he had to protect the old shipwright, he would rather risk his life than feel fear.¡± ¡°But now, in this environment without a threat to his life, has the Big guy reverted to his original nature from aboard the Pig Kiss?¡± The Dragon-man youth kept guessing. ¡°It looks like I need to take another step back. First, I need to foster his courage and the consciousness to fight!¡± So, the Dragon-man youth commanded the Big guy: ¡°Get up, kid. You can¡¯t go on like this. First, get a feel for combat. Come on, hit me.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The Big guy¡¯s eyes widened, suspecting he had heard wrong. ¡°Hit me!¡± the Dragon-man youth patted his chest, as his Dragon Claws and Dragon Scales collided, making a loud noise. The Big guy hesitated. ¡°Quickly!¡± the Dragon-man youth grew impatient. Then, the Big guy balled up his fist and cautiously tapped the Dragon-man youth¡¯s chest. Dragon-man youth: ¡­ ¡°A mosquito bite packs more punch than you,¡± the youth shook his head and sighed, ¡°Your punch should be quick and your force should be fierce. I¡¯m pretty strong, I¡¯m not afraid of pain. Come on, experience the feeling of pounding your enemy with your fists.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re Dad, not the enemy.¡± ¡°Less talk, punch!¡± So, the Big guy took aim at the youth¡¯s chest and swung his fist. It was a powerful move, but just before hitting the youth, the Big guy pulled his punch, drastically reducing its speed. In the end, the Big guy¡¯s fist still only lightly tapped the youth, who didn¡¯t even flinch. Dragon-man youth: ¡­ The Big guy¡¯s eyes went red, and he was on the verge of crying: ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t want to hit Dad!¡± The Dragon-man youth then realized his lofty and inviolable position in the Big guy¡¯s heart. Forcing the Big guy to attack him was a great harm to the Big guy¡¯s young and innocent spirit. ¡°It¡¯s my fault, I shouldn¡¯t have forced you,¡± the Dragon-man youth sighed and beckoned, ¡°Come squat down.¡± The Big guy squatted. The Dragon-man youth rubbed the Big guy¡¯s thick hair with his Dragon Claw. Comforted, the Big guy¡¯s childish heart was hugely satisfied, and his anxious fears quickly settled down. From the youth¡¯s head-patting gesture, he felt love and safety. But the next moment, the Dragon-man youth¡¯s voice came: ¡°Next, let¡¯s have Dad hit you!¡± Big guy: ¡°Ah?!¡± The Dragon-man youth took another step back. Since the Big guy couldn¡¯t attack, he would resort to dodging and being hit. In the process of dodging and taking hits, he could also get a feel for combat. ¡°This is sidestepping.¡± ¡°This is how you do a front and back leap.¡± ¡°Whatever movement we¡¯re going to make, our bodies should crouch slightly, keeping our knees bent. This way, it¡¯s easier for us to generate power!¡± The Dragon-man youth carefully taught the Big guy the most basic movements. But the Big guy scratched his head, unable to remember any of it. The Dragon-man youth could only sigh: ¡°Follow me.¡± The Big guy did have the ability to imitate. In the darkness, the youth performed a move, agile and powerful. The Big guy mimicked him, performing the same action, looking clumsy but honest. Even though it was dark, the Dragon-man youth had a clear field of vision, and Half-Giants could see as well. The Dragon-man youth guided patiently, and he gradually found that, compared to criticizing the Big guy, encouraging him made him perform better. ¡°You¡¯re doing great.¡± ¡°Keep it up.¡± ¡°Hmm, this one is better than the last.¡± Flushed with continuous praise, the Big guy¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement, and he became increasingly enthusiastic. He seemed to have a natural talent for dodging rather than defending. ¡°Next, I¡¯m going to attack you. You use the stance you just learned to dodge, understand?¡± the Dragon-man youth proceeded with the next phase of training. ¡°Okay!¡± the Big guy looked serious and tense. The Dragon-man youth threw slow punches, the Big guy instinctively stepped back but then remembered the movements he just learned and jumped back, dodging the attack. ¡°Very good!¡± ¡°Well done!¡± ¡°Dodge just like that, hmm, you¡¯re better than I thought!¡± With the youth¡¯s continuous praise, the Big guy kept improving his performance. Seeing the Big guy all sweaty and completely immersed in training, the youth couldn¡¯t help but recall his days on Mysterious Monster Island. He clearly remembered, during a camp defense battle, the Big guy armed with a club joined the fight. The result was that he got his belly pierced by the horn of a Strong Life White Rhinoceros and was too badly hurt to continue fighting. Under the Magic Ban conditions, the Big guy¡¯s physical strength was far above average, and he could have performed even better. However, in the beginning, he was easily defeated by Zong Ge. Later on, he became a laborer for shipbuilding, only able to offer his brute strength. His ferocity wasn¡¯t his nature but rather a response to protect the old shipwright, in a state of stress caused by a threat to life, or following the old shipwright¡¯s orders to focus on protecting the newly built ship. ¡°Alright! Next, I¡¯ll put in more fierce power. Be careful, if you get hit, it¡¯s going to hurt!¡± the Dragon-man youth saw the Big guy was doing really well and shouted, increasing the difficulty of training. Swoosh. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s fist whipped up a gust of wind. The Big guy was intimidated by the youth¡¯s punching force and became scared. Once again, he squatted down, hugged his head, and curled into a ball. The Dragon-man youth held back his punch, looking at the Big guy helplessly. The Big guy was just an ordinary person. Faced with battle, he was filled with dread. Yet, if provoked, he could become extremely impulsive. The punch he imagined never actually hit him, and the Big guy lifted his head cautiously, only to see the Dragon-man youth¡¯s expression. He said, feeling downhearted and nervous, ¡°Dad, I¡­ I¡¯ve let you down.¡± As dawn was breaking, the Dragon-man youth let out a heavy sigh and gently patted the Big guy¡¯s head, ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re actually very brave.¡± ¡°I still remember very clearly how you acted on the island.¡± The Big guy lowered his head, enjoying the youth¡¯s touch and said earnestly, ¡°Sometimes I¡¯m scared, sometimes I forget to be scared.¡± The Dragon-man youth withdrew his hand, ¡°You have the potential to become a powerful warrior. You have a strong enough build, good talent, it¡¯s just that you lack confidence for now.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s okay, confidence can be built.¡± ¡°Even if I don¡¯t train you, as your strength grows, you¡¯ll find that the people and objects around you become weaker and weaker, so weak that a casual slap from you could send them flying. With just a pinch of your fingers, you could easily crush hard stones.¡± ¡°Your confidence will grow stronger.¡± ¡°But you know, Little Darling,¡± the Dragon-man youth said, pausing for a moment. The Big guy jolted and, hearing his dad call his pet name, immediately sharpened his focus and listened intently. The Dragon-man youth swept his gaze over the surrounding disarray; even the Big guy¡¯s mere dodging and rolling had caused massive damage to the nearby vegetation. The youth spoke deeply and earnestly, ¡°If all goes well, your strength will continue to grow. It will help you, but at times, it might also ensnare you.¡± ¡°Hold on to your original heart, to the kindness within you.¡± ¡°When facing the weak, try to be kind. Don¡¯t misuse your strength, don¡¯t let bullying the weak become a habit.¡± ¡°Remember, you were once weak as well, you¡¯ve also been bullied.¡± ¡°You can seek revenge for wrongs that have been committed against you, but when it comes to the innocent, I hope you¡¯ll endeavor to be kind. You can help others, using your strength to help them through tough times. You may not receive tangible material rewards, but trust me, the joy you get from helping others will make you genuinely happy.¡± The Big guy was a bit confused: ¡°Like what you do, Dad?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± the Dragon-man youth smiled. He continued, ¡°Like how you protected the ship without regard for your own life; for this, everyone is truly grateful to you.¡± Mentioning others, the Big guy¡¯s face immediately revealed a hint of fear. The Dragon-man youth sighed, thinking to himself: It won¡¯t do for the Big guy to continue being so solitary. He needed to guide him to truly integrate into the group. Thereupon, the Dragon-man youth said, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, everyone is actually very nice.¡± ¡°Like Dad?¡± the Big guy asked. ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t be fooled by their fierce appearance at times; they all have their own difficulties. They all have kindness in their hearts, and we need to understand each other,¡± the Dragon-man youth patiently explained. ¡°But, some of them have beaten me up!¡± the Big guy pouted. The youth knew he was talking about Zong Ge. The youth chose his words carefully, ¡°Sometimes actions don¡¯t reflect what¡¯s in the heart. Besides, hasn¡¯t he become our companion now? In every battle, he¡¯s at the forefront, always protecting those behind, isn¡¯t he?¡± The Big guy shook his head, not understanding. The Dragon-man youth felt a headache coming on, and he thought for a moment, trying to gently guide the Big guy with words he could understand: ¡°Actually, many times, even though we might seem fierce, deep down we really care about others.¡± ¡°Like when I used to hit you on the island, it was to stop you from going crazy, for your own good, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same with Zong Ge.¡± The Big guy shook his head then nodded, clearly his thoughts were somewhat muddled. ¡°Let¡¯s tidy up, and we¡¯ll leave,¡± the Dragon-man youth said, feeling exhausted. The big guy took the initiative, ¡°Dad, are we coming back tomorrow?¡± He cherished the moments he spent alone with the dragon-man youth. Although the training was tough and exhausting, he felt happy and blessed. The youth¡¯s reply disappointed him, ¡°No, we are setting sail again tomorrow.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the big guy lowered his head, ¡°then I¡¯ll just stay in the cabin and continue cultivating my fighting energy.¡± ¡°Mhm, become a bronze fighter as soon as possible. By then, you can help everyone more,¡± the dragon-man youth patted the big guy, encouraging him. However, problems arose on the day they were supposed to set sail. Not many pirates returned. Many of them had directly left. On the deck of the Justice, the core members gathered. Among them, Zong Ge¡¯s expression was particularly grim. Less than half of his Little Bird¡¯s crew had returned; clearly, the grueling training had intimidated the pirates, who were unwilling to return to the Justice Pirate Group and suffer again. ¡°It seems we have to recruit new hands,¡± the dragon-man youth frowned slightly, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Hmph, they are all deserters. According to military rules, they should be executed, to set an example!¡± Zong Ge snorted coldly. The big guy was startled and slightly shifted his steps, distancing himself from the half-beast who was full of murderous intent. The dragon-man youth keenly noticed this, ¡°Yes, the Lion Flag considers everyone. Indeed, if there are deserters on the battlefield, it would endanger us all. So, being strict with everyone normally and helping them understand the consequences of desertion is caring for and loving everyone.¡± ¡°What should we do now, Captain?¡± Little Bird addressed the dragon-man youth, her tone very natural. ¡°We need to recruit more people. Forget New Moon Port, it¡¯s too boring. There are too few people here, let¡¯s head to other ports,¡± Di Lou was clearly disappointed with New Moon Port and the Mermaid Tavern. Cang Xu spoke indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s true we need more hands, but the root problem hasn¡¯t been solved. Even if we recruit more people, as long as we dock for supplies, today¡¯s situation will happen again.¡± Zong Ge and Sanda both furrowed their brows. Cang Xu¡¯s words were a veiled criticism towards Zong Ge. One in grey said, ¡°Pirates are pirates, training them too much, imposing strict military discipline on them, will cause resentment. Once they get the chance, this resentment will cause us trouble.¡± As an experienced pirate ship captain, One in Grey disagreed with Zong Ge¡¯s tactics as well. ¡°How do other pirate captains keep their subordinates in line?¡± the dragon-man youth inquired. ¡°Well, we could learn from our enemy¡ªRou Cang,¡± Di Lou mused, ¡°Rou Cang is extremely brutal, and his pirates dare not leave him rashly for fear of being hunted down. Those pirates who left us underestimated us too much. Let¡¯s execute a few, then others will know to fear, and some will rush back. Those who stay on the ship won¡¯t dare leave easily either.¡± The big guy quietly stepped back again, distancing himself from Di Lou, and looked toward his dad with a puzzled gaze. The dragon-man youth shook his head firmly, ¡°That¡¯s not good, it¡¯s precisely because of this that Rou Cang is our enemy.¡± Little Bird then suggested, ¡°Perhaps we can emulate Kou Zhao. He too is a Golden Level pirate captain, and often deducts his subordinates¡¯ salaries for various reasons. He usually withholds three months of their salaries, delaying the payment. In this way, the pirates thinking of leaving privately would lose a substantial amount of money. There are many advantages to this, sometimes when a pirate dies in battle, Captain Kou Zhao could pocket the deceased¡¯s salary, haha.¡± The big guy froze, looking again toward the dragon-man youth. The dragon-man youth shook his head, speaking with principled resolve, ¡°That is unfair and unethical. As captain and as someone strong, being more tolerant is better.¡± ¡°I could use magic, and cast a curse on all the sailors,¡± Cang Xu suggested. The big guy was shocked. The dragon-man youth¡¯s throat went dry, and he began to get a headache. Di Lou was about to speak; he seemed to have thought of a good solution. The dragon-man youth quickly raised his hand to stop him, ¡°Enough, I¡¯ve made my decision. Increase the salaries, any sailor who joins the Justice will be paid one and a half times the going rate.¡± ¡°No need to discuss this further.¡± ¡°Set sail, let¡¯s go!¡± Chapter 253 - 253: Section 41: Landing on Magnetic Island Chapter 253: Section 41: Landing on Magnetic Island The horizon gradually began to brim with masses of dark shadow. ¡°I see it!¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The Magnetic Island Group spotted!¡± The lookout¡¯s cry echoed throughout the Justice. The Justice, the Little Bird, and the Rapids had been sailing from New Moon Port for a week now. En route, they had made a stop at Bagen Port where they recruited over two hundred sailors, fully replenishing their crew. The Dragon-man youth pushed open the captain¡¯s cabin door and stood by the railing, his gaze piercing into the distance. ... Simultaneously, Zong Ge aboard the Little Bird and a figure clad in grey on the Rapids raised their monocular telescopes. As the distance closed, the Magnetic Island Group loomed into clearer view. It was a desolate place, covered in pitch-black rocks with scarcely any vegetation. The terrain on the islands was steep and rugged, with strangely shaped peaks and hills, and the air significantly hotter than at sea. In the armory, various weapons including sailors¡¯ knives clanged and rattled. The Magnetic Island Group, as the name implied, was constantly emanating a strong magnetic force. Most metals were greatly affected. About three thousand years ago, a golden galleon had gotten stranded here. The owner of the golden galleon was an Elf Clan¡¯s magnate merchant, surely among the world¡¯s top three in wealth at that time. The merchant dealt in high-interest loans and resorted to martial oppression against those who couldn¡¯t pay their debts. The fifth-generation Pirate King, who descended from Elf Nobles, had been crippled by a massive debt to this magnate merchant. Captured and enslaved, his family¡¯s assets were devoured by the magnate. The youthful fifth-generation King of Pirates escaped his shackles with courage and luck. Cast adrift, he became a pirate. When he came of age, he stood out and became a pirate captain. He started his revenge by continually plundering the magnate merchant¡¯s fleet. The magnate merchant, indulging in extravagant pleasures, had built seven cruise ships made of silver, gold, agate, pearl, jadeite, diamond, and crystal. Each ship was a match for the most lavish Noble estates, complete with every imaginable pleasure. The fifth-generation Pirate King enriched himself at his enemy¡¯s expense, growing stronger with each plunder. The magnate merchant counterattacked, but the fifth was cunning and plotted with great care. During one encounter, the fifth feigned defeat and fled to the Magnetic Island Group. The pursuing gold cruise ship was weakened by the magnetic forces. Seizing the opportunity, the fifth launched a fierce attack and sank the gold ship among the Magnetic Islands. The gold cruise ship, fundamentally constructed of gold, couldn¡¯t be salvaged by the Pirate King due to the magnate¡¯s arriving fleet, leaving him with no time for the task. When he returned later, the gold ship had vanished without a trace. It was speculated by the world that the galleon, nearly made of gold, had been pulled deep into the Magnetic Islands by the magnetic forces. Thus, generation after generation flocked here, hoping to find the golden galleon. However, to this day, no one has discovered this vast treasure. More than a thousand years after the sinking of the gold ship, the Magnetic Islands became the battlefield for a life-and-death struggle between two legendary warriors. The combatants were one from the Barbarians, the fallen Druid Liao Ye, and another from the Beast Race, then the High Priest Hao Song. The two were evenly matched and ultimately both died here. According to rumors, they each left behind their legacies. Before dying, they made a pact to use their legacies to train exceptional successors, who would then duel to determine the true victor. After this battle, the Magnetic Island Group became a frequented hotspot again, attracting Transcendents annually who hoped to inherit the legendary legacies. These are the two most valuable treasures known regarding the Magnetic Island Group, but there were numerous other pieces of information varying in the value of the treasures involved. The Dragon-man youth, this time in New Moon Port, had exchanged some of this treasure information. The three ships gradually approached the Magnetic Island Group. Still at some distance from the shoreline, the three pirate ships halted progress. Although wood was the main material of the pirate ships, they also contained metal nails and other items. Getting too close could cause damage. ¡°Final check on the gear, don¡¯t bring any metal objects!¡± The Dragon-man youth and others boarded the landing boat, joined by figures such as a man in grey, Cang Xu, Big Guy, Di Lou, Sanda, Lan Zao, and Little Bird. Zong Ge remained aboard, in command of the overall situation. The landing boat quickly reached shore, and the crew of the Justice Pirate Group officially set foot on this extraordinary land. Stepping on the glossy black magnetic stones, everyone immediately felt heat transferring up from the soles of their feet. After a brief stop on the coastline to acclimate, the group began to move deeper into the islands. The journey was initially tranquil, but it wasn¡¯t long before they received a ¡°welcome¡±. Bang. A black rock suddenly shot towards the group. Little Bird and Sanda, scouting ahead, hastily dodged. Following were a series of bangs, as numerous black rocks, like cannon bombs, were hurled at them. The Big Guy lifted a giant wooden shield and knelt in front of Captain Dragon-man, blocking three black rock bombs. ¡°Don¡¯t panic,¡± ordered the Dragon-man youth sternly, ¡°Old Zhong!¡± Cang Xu immediately channeled his Mana, tore open a Magic Scroll, and with mental manipulation, created a semi-transparent barrier. The black rocks striking the shield were all repelled; although the shield was thin, it only rippled without breaking, appearing quite sturdy. Seeing the invaders hold their ground, the native inhabitants of the Magnetic Island Group began to emerge. They were humanoid in shape but made of earthen and stone constructs, varying greatly in size. ¡°Earth Element!¡± ¡°And Earth Element mutations¡ªthe Magnetic Earth Element!¡± the pirates whispered among themselves. The Earth Elements were brownish-yellow, while the Magnetic Earth Elements were dark gray. They possessed the ability to manipulate soil and rocks. With palms open, they bent down and directly dug out chunks of black stone, then stood proudly, flinging the stones with a vigorous swing of their arms. The stone bombs had no effect, so the largest among the Earth Elements began to cast magic. Earth Magic¡ªEarth Spike Technique! However, no Earth Spikes materialized. Cang Xu tore open another scroll, reinforcing the ground beneath everyone¡¯s feet. But defense alone could not bring victory, so the old scholar shouted, ¡°Attack quickly!¡± The Dragon-man youth, Little Bird, and One in Gray had already rushed out of the protective shield. They were each wielding Alchemy Crossbows. In the next moment, Alchemy Arrows struck the Earth Element group, erupting with bursts of thunder, as well as splashes of water and flames. When the dust cleared, the first wave of probing attacks had yielded results. The Dragon-man youth found that the usually powerful Thunder Element Alchemy Arrows had almost no effect, and the potency of Water and Fire Element Arrows was reduced by about half. The youth was not surprised; this had been within his expectations. Earth Elements had outstanding defense, being best at defending against Thunder Element spells, with the power of other spells directed at them nearly halved. The defensive advantage of the Earth Elements was not limited to spell resistance; they also excelled at withstanding hard strikes from swords and the like. The Dragon-man youth then personally charged into the enemy ranks, lashing out with his Dragon Claws. He was a Silver Fighter, but even killing the Black Iron Level Earth Elements proved difficult. It often took ten claw strikes to down one Black Iron Level Earth Element. The Earth Elements themselves also cast some innate magic. In addition to throwing stones and Earth Spikes, there was the bothersome Slowing Technique. The Dragon-man youth was hit by the Slowing Technique, greatly reducing his movement and attack speeds, which plummeted his slaughtering efficiency. The weak were overpowered by the strong. The Earth Elements were numerous, but their highest level was only Black Iron, and there were only three of them. However, it still took the group a full half hour to completely clear out these Earth Elements. And that was after using a large number of Alchemy Arrows. When the fight was over, there were no casualties, but Little Bird, One in Gray, and the others looked somewhat pale. ¡°This won¡¯t do, Captain Long Fu.¡± ¡°Indeed, no wonder the Magnetic Island Group isn¡¯t a popular spot for treasure exploration.¡± The Dragon-man youth nodded slightly, knowing that Little Bird and One in Gray were talking about the cost issue. Alchemy Arrows were expensive, and the consumption in this battle was too high. Although there were also spoils of war. After being killed, the Earth Elements had a certain chance to condense Earth Element Essence from their remains. This was a common casting material for Earth Magic spells and also a frequent ingredient in alchemy; its market price was quite low. Beyond the essence, the Magnetic Earth Elements could consolidate some magnetic stones. The price of these magnetic stones was slightly higher than that of the Earth Element Essence but still very limited. The input was not proportional to the output. Nevertheless, the Dragon-man youth was resolute: ¡°Keep moving forward and do not fear consumption. Alchemy Arrows are meant for combat.¡± Since the boss had spoken, One in Gray, Little Bird, and the others could only follow orders. After all, they weren¡¯t the ones paying for the Alchemy Arrows. After three battles, the exploration of the small Magnetic Island they had landed on was complete. The Dragon-man youth was about to board a boat to the next island when he quickly discovered it was unnecessary. The Magnetic Island he stood on was drawing closer to another. Soon after, the two islands collided with a bang, temporarily merging into a larger landmass. This was a peculiar feature of the Magnetic Island Group. These islands were all mobile, repelling and attracting each other through magnetic force. Thus, mapping the Magnetic Island Group¡¯s topography was extremely difficult, as the terrain was constantly changing. In the span of a week, the landscape could undergo drastic transformations. The Justice Pirate Group set foot on new land and cleared two more groups of Earth Elements, gaining some Earth Element Essence and magnetic stones of various sizes. Such exploration continued until evening. Little Bird, secretly calculating the cost, felt a heavy weight in his heart. The gains were too meager; it was a severe loss. Under normal circumstances, the group could use metal weapons to attack the Earth Elements. Although still inefficient, the cost would at least be bearable. But on the Magnetic Island Group, fighters hardly used their equipment, significantly reducing their regular attack capabilities. For the sake of efficiency, resorting to Alchemy Arrows was quite costly. Little Bird, One in Gray, and Di Lou couldn¡¯t help but admire the Dragon-man youth internally; the captain remained unfazed throughout. ¡°My lord, there¡¯s a discovery!¡± Towards evening, a pirate scout brought different news. The exhausted group¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. Chapter 254 - 254: Section 42: Son, go ahead! Chapter 254: Section 42: Son, go ahead! ¡°We found a survivor up ahead!¡± Soon after, the crowd gathered around the survivor. The survivor had already passed out. He was a skinny old man, his face full of deep wrinkles, with sunken eyes and prominent cheekbones. His sparse hair was grizzled, like a flickering candle in the wind. Grey stepped forward cautiously to examine him, ¡°He¡¯s a regular person, with no injuries, but he¡¯s in poor condition. He probably passed out from hunger.¡± Since he wasn¡¯t a Transcendent, the crowd somewhat relaxed. ... However, Cang Xu remained skeptical, ¡°There are no ports or fishing villages near the Magnetic Island. How did a regular person get here? This place isn¡¯t safe.¡± ¡°Continue searching nearby. Next, let¡¯s wake this old man up,¡± the Dragon-man youth ordered. The crowd carried Healing Potions with them. Little Bird stepped forward, pried open the old man¡¯s mouth, and poured down a small red Healing Potion. The old man¡¯s eyes remained closed, and he did not wake up. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, certain monks in the Eastern Empire practice a very delicate and subtle way of controlling their Fighting Energy. If we had that kind of energy, we could help this old man quickly absorb the nutrients from the potion and wake up,¡± Little Bird said regretfully. The assembled pirates could only wait. The Fighting Energy of Grey, combined with his Rat-man Bloodline, caused injury when transferred into a Human Race body. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s Blast Fighting Energy was bursting by nature, precision and subtlety were where this energy was weakest. In fact, even his prior Bai He Fighting Energy couldn¡¯t achieve such a delicate manipulation. As for Di Lou, he was a Spellcaster. Like Cang Xu, they both had to maintain their condition to deal with emergencies. Spells were much more flexible and widely applicable than Fighting Energy. ¡°Sir, we found a boat! It must be the survivor¡¯s dinghy.¡± Everyone rushed over and saw a damaged lifeboat. Most of its body had disappeared, leaving only the bow. ¡°This old man is really lucky to have made it to the Magnetic Island. He might be a survivor of a shipwreck.¡± ¡°I think he¡¯s rather unlucky. He barely escaped with his life, making it to land, only to end up in the Magnetic Islands!¡± When night had completely fallen, and the temporary camp had just been set up, pirates reported to the Dragon-man youth¡ªthe old man had woken up. ¡°I originally was a fisherman from White Wings Port. The nobles¡¯ excessive taxes were unbearable, so I joined a pirate ship to earn a living. Then, a bigger pirate group attacked us and defeated our fleet. I was near the lifeboat when the ship sunk, and I desperately climbed aboard.¡± ¡°Ah, who had time to grab food and water in an escape? Then a storm hit, and few sailors on the small boat remained. Later, we encountered sharks¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even remember how I got ashore. I just remember passing out from hunger on the boat.¡± ¡°Thank you for saving my life, but I¡­,¡± the old man spread his hands with a sorrowful expression, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t repay you anything.¡± ¡°Saving you wasn¡¯t for the sake of a reward,¡± the Dragon-man youth shook his head. ¡°Haha, old man, consider yourself lucky to have encountered our Justice Pirate Group,¡± Little Bird laughed heartily. ¡°Justice¡­ Pirate Group?¡± The old man was baffled, how could these two polar opposite words be linked together? ¡°What was the name of the pirate group you joined? And who attacked you?¡± Cang Xu asked. The old man¡¯s answer startled everyone. The pirate group he joined was inconsequential, but the attackers were the Silver Hook Pirates! ¡°How are Silver Hook¡¯s people around here?¡± the crowd exchanged confused looks. A Sea Chart of the Night Spirit Sea Domain simultaneously emerged in everyone¡¯s mind. The latest news they got was that Silver Hook¡¯s people had attacked an Empire supply ship. Although the exact location of the robbery was unknown, the closest point on the route to the Magnetic Island was still a considerable distance away. ¡°Those people are really audacious, aren¡¯t they? Robbing an Empire supply ship and daring to wander around out here!¡± ¡°If we aren¡¯t looking for them, and they come to us instead. What do we do?¡± ¡°Could their target also be the Magnetic Island?¡± The leaders were all somewhat astonished. Silver Hook Pirates¡¯ power exceeded that of the Justice Pirate Group. Entangling with them was unwise. The Dragon-man youth furrowed his brow. His true purpose here was not to search for treasures on the Magnetic Island, but to verify if this location hid the temple of Mei Lan, the mermaid god. Since Mei Lan¡¯s original form was a mermaid, Her temples are rarely built on land; most are under the sea. Currently, the state of this foreign Sea God was dire, with very few of Her temples left around. However, Her Main Temple remained hidden, with no news of it being found or destroyed. It was almost certain that Her Main Temple was somewhere underwater. The Sea Chart obtained from the underwater secret chamber by the Dragon-man youth also confirmed this guess. A cunning Desecration Priest was also targeting Mei Lan, having researched for a long time and marked several major suspect locations on the active sea chart. He had already infiltrated among the Mei Lan Believers, and might already be at the Mei Lan temple. To replenish the Divinity of the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, the Dragon-man youth and his team had to find the Mei Lan temple quickly. If they couldn¡¯t hitch a ride with the Pagans, they would have to probe each location. After some research, the group determined Magnetic Island was the most worthwhile suspect location to explore. The target of Silver Hook¡¯s group might not necessarily be Magnetic Island. Even if it was, they might not necessarily have a conflict with them. After all, the terrain of Magnetic Island was ever-changing and incredibly complex. Falling back, the Dragon-man youth considered the worst-case scenario¡ªthey would clash with Silver Hook Pirates. ¡°Even if we can¡¯t defeat them, we can still manage to escape.¡± After pondering for a moment, the Dragon-man Captain gave the order: ¡°Inform Zong Ge of this important intelligence and tell him to be more vigilant. The exploration team will continue exploring the island, and to save time, an elite squad will explore overnight.¡± ¡°One night should be enough to confirm whether the Main Temple of Mei Lan¡¯s Divinity is hidden here,¡± the Dragon-man youth said, not confident in himself but confident in the Deep Sea Monster Fish and Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale. Although the Deep Sea Monster Fish was an Alchemy Ship created by an Alchemy Grandmaster, its alchemy technology was extremely advanced, allowing it to freely explore under the Magnetic Islands. With Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale at its core, an Array for detection had been set up inside the Monster Fish. As soon as it approached Mei Lan¡¯s temple, the Array would react. That very night, the Dragon-man youth, Cang Xu, Big guy, and others continued to venture out to explore, while Little Bird and Di Lou stayed behind to guard the temporary camp, and the man in grey returned to the pirate ship to help Zong Ge mainly prevent threats from the Silver Hook. Cang Xu took out the greed Divine Finger. The Divine Finger, hanging from a rope, trembled and turned directions tremulously. Following this direction, the elite squad gradually moved away from the temporary camp. Before long, they found a gathering place of Earth Element creatures. The limitation of the greed Divine Finger was precisely this. The bone contained greed Divinity, but like Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, everyone could only use it rudely. Being overly greedy, the Divine Bone would point towards anything of value. It naturally included Earth Elements containing essence or magnetic stones within its range of direction. However, it still provided significant help to the exploration team. At least, it allowed the team to save a lot of time and energy by directly finding the Earth Element colonies. ¡°Don¡¯t rush to eradicate them. Can you attract one over? Let our Giant get some practice,¡± the Dragon-man youth said. Being surrounded by their own, he was less concerned. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those close by also knew the real purpose of this trip; if they could find treasures using the greed Divine Bones, that would be ideal. It was normal not to find anything. The authenticity of these treasure rumors was hard to distinguish. Even if they were real, the fact that no one had discovered them after being buried so long showed their difficulty. Although the team had the greed Divine Bones, and despite it being praised as a ¡°Demigod Artifact,¡± it was still just a piece of Divine Material. The fourth-generation Pirate King was assassinated and killed, his Divine Bones scattered around the world throughout the long history. A mere divine finger bone was nothing significant. It¡¯s very possible that a long, long time ago, someone used other parts of the greed Divine Bones to come to the Magnetic Islands in search. ¡°Let me handle this,¡± Cang Xu personally cast a Spell and successfully attracted an Earth Element. The Earth Element left the colony, and upon seeing everyone, it immediately launched an attack. ¡°Go, remember the dodging moves I taught you, this is an extremely rare opportunity for real combat,¡± encouraged the Dragon-man youth to Big guy. Big guy nervously stepped forward, and although he was larger, his presence was evidently weaker than the Earth Element. The Earth Element, with its human form, had outstanding defense but was not very powerful in attack. And it moved slowly. Big guy exchanged blows with it. At first, he took a few punches, but soon he adapted, dodging more and more agilely and even managing to parry occasionally. ¡°Speaking of which, Big guy hardly had any chance to fight alone on Mysterious Monster Island.¡± ¡°He¡¯s got a good physique, though just an ordinary person, his physical condition is comparable to a Silver Fighter. Training him would be very beneficial for us.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget his madness.¡± ¡°Haha, we still have our Captain, don¡¯t we!¡± Conversations like this reminded everyone of the days on Mysterious Monster Island, and smiles appeared on their faces. Back then, the knight youth was specifically guarding the ship-building site; whenever Big guy fell ill, the youth would promptly knock him out. Eventually, the youth got so adept at it that often, at the slightest sign, Big guy would be knocked unconscious, rendering him completely incapable of resistance. Many people ended up feeling somewhat sympathetic towards Big guy in the end. Practical combat made Big guy improve rapidly; the Earth Element was quite a suitable opponent for him. Encouraged continuously by his father, Big guy fought more and more bravely. Sensing danger, the Earth Element finally gave up fighting alone and let out a roar, alarming the entire colony. A large number of Earth Elements charged over. Just as the Dragon-man youth was about to take action, Cang Xu volunteered, ¡°Let me handle this.¡± Undead Magic¡ªChilling Spirit Technique! After brewing the Spell, it was successfully cast. Translucent gray ripples spread outwards in waves. The Earth Elements struck by this Spell suddenly stalled in their momentum, their bodies flailing wildly. After about ten breaths, their forms collapsed and dispersed into heaps of stones and dirt. Everyone was astonished. The killing efficiency of the Undead Magic was so high! ¡°Undead Magic targets living beings because all living things have souls. Earth Elements are no exception,¡± Cang Xu explained briefly. The enemies were unimaginably strong, and the Earth Elements lucky enough to survive hastily retreated. Chapter 255 - 255: Section 43: The Care and Assistance of the Big Guy Chapter 255: Section 43: The Care and Assistance of the Big Guy ¡°Is this Undead Magic?¡± the Dragon-man youth¡¯s pupils contracted as he watched the Earth Elements disintegrate. The Undead Mage was so powerful and eerie; no wonder Cang Xu, despite being only at the Black Iron Level, was so cautiously feared by Zong Ge. ¡°Chase after them!¡± the Dragon-man youth quickly steadied his emotions and shouted. The Big guy roared and took the lead. The Earth Elements scattered in all directions. Given the darkness of the night and the fact that the bloody Earth Elements burrowed into holes, the Big guy couldn¡¯t catch up. ... ¡°Cang Xu.¡± The Dragon-man youth turned his head. The old Scholar nodded and took out the Greedy Divine Bone. The Divine Bone quivered, pointing in one direction. ¡°Eh?¡± The Dragon-man youth was surprised. Clearly, the majority of Earth Elements fled in that direction, but now the Divine Bone pointed to a lone Earth Element. Without hesitation, the Dragon-man youth immediately led the team to pursue the isolated Earth Element. This ordinary-looking Earth Element, which had shown no abnormal behavior, revealed an exceptional trait once the team caught up and surrounded it. It was more agile than its peers, full of spirit, and its Recovery Power and defensive power far exceeded those of the same level. The team could sense a sense of ¡°cunning¡± from this Earth Element! But no matter what, this Earth Element was still at the Bronze Level. The Dragon-man youth left the special Earth Element to the Big guy to handle. The Big guy was not yet a Transcendent, but he nevertheless fought the Earth Element to a standstill, neither gaining the upper hand. Of course, mostly the Big guy dodged, while the Earth Element attacked. Whenever the Earth Element tried to escape, the Dragon-man youth and Cang Xu would step in to intercept it for the Big guy. The more agile Earth Element at the same level brought greater combat pressure to the Big guy. However, it was precisely because of this that the Big guy¡¯s dodging became even more skilled. As this actual combat training continued for a moment, Cang Xu¡¯s face showed a slight Mutation. ¡°This half-giant Mixed-blood actually has a very decent talent for combat!¡± Cang Xu recognized. He could clearly feel that the Big guy¡¯s improvement was tremendous and rapid. The Dragon-man youth was also pleased in his heart. He had found the best method to train the Big guy. The Big guy¡¯s intelligence was not high, but his physical fitness was actually very strong. In actual combat, whenever the Big guy was hit or injured, his body would remember the lesson. The next time he encountered a similar situation, he would have a different response than the last. And these responses were not the result of the Big guy¡¯s thinking but his body¡¯s instinct. Although often the results of the body¡¯s instinctual responses were not ideal, the Dragon-man youth believed that as long as actual combat training was sufficient, the body¡¯s instinctual performance would continually be corrected, eventually resulting in combat skills and methods that best adapted to the battlefield and matched the Big guy. The Big guy became more and more excited. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His excitement came from two things: one was that the Earth Element was hitting him less and less, and the other was that the Dragon-man youth kept encouraging him, constantly praising him. The Earth Element became increasingly anxious and desperate, sensing its end. It didn¡¯t understand why these enemies didn¡¯t chase the main force but targeted it instead! With despair and resentment, it suddenly abandoned the Big guy and charged at the Dragon-man youth, who was clearly the leader. ¡°Dad!¡± the Big guy shouted in alarm. As the Earth Element lunged at the Dragon-man youth, it directly provoked the Big guy¡¯s rage, causing the half-giant to become furious in an instant. He abandoned his previous dodging stance and charged at the Earth Element with frenzied aggressiveness. The Earth Element, with its back to him and keen on taking the Dragon-man youth down with it before dying, did not anticipate that the constantly dodging half-giant would suddenly transform into a person of valiant and crazed vigor, startling the Earth Element. Bang. The Big guy forcefully tackled the Earth Element to the ground, the two massive bodies colliding on the Magnetic Island¡¯s hard surface. Then, the Big guy and the Earth Element engaged in a fierce brawl. The Earth Element¡¯s body was tough, and the Big guy was unarmed but wearing armor. ¡°You want to hurt Daddy! I won¡¯t allow it, never allow it!¡± ¡°Die!¡± ¡°Big guy will smash you to pieces!¡± The Big guy¡¯s voice boomed like thunder, completely disregarding punches from the tough Earth Element landing on him. He entered a state of absolute fury, his punches raining down on the Earth Element like a torrential downpour. The intense fight lasted for more than a dozen breaths before the Big guy, bruised and bloody, gasping for air, stopped his fists. The Earth Element beneath him had crumbled into piles of rubble. Amongst the stones, there was a clump of clay emitting an extraordinary aura. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re not hurt, are you?¡± The Big guy, realizing the Earth Element was dead, suddenly snapped to his senses, stood up, and ran to the Dragon-man youth¡¯s side. Looking at the Big guy¡¯s worried and tense face, a strong surge of warmth filled the Dragon-man youth¡¯s heart. He patted the Big guy¡¯s leg and comforted him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see that Daddy is standing here, all well? It¡¯s all thanks to you protecting Daddy.¡± The Big guy immediately grinned a silly, happy smile. Cang Xu examined the unusual clump of clay: ¡°This is Rubber Clay, a Golden Level Alchemy Material, which can be sculpted into the external shape of most objects.¡± So, that explained the issue with the Greedy Divine Bone¡¯s direction. This bone of Divinity was still quite useful. However, the Rubber Clay was the biggest gain of the night. The Magnetic Island was vast and plentiful in islands, and with the Dragon-man youth focused on training the Big guy, they managed to clear three Earth Element settlements by dawn, obtaining some Earth Element essences and magnetic stones. At dawn, the Dragon-man youth led his team directly back to the Justice. The camp left on the Magnetic Island was also dismantled. By noon, news came from the Deep Sea Monster Fish ¡ª they hadn¡¯t found any traces of the Mei Lan temple. Thus, the Dragon-man youth, without hesitation, set sail again, the small fleet of three ships heading straight for the second suspect location. The next day. ¡°Old man, hustle up and get to work!¡± ¡°Joining our Justice Pirate Group isn¡¯t such an easy task.¡± ¡°Clean this entire deck and only then can you have your meal today, got it?¡± Waffle, his brows knitted in distress, retorted, ¡°But cleaning this deck is your job.¡± Smack. The whip struck Waffle soundly, knocking the old man to the ground. ¡°Just wipe when you¡¯re told to wipe, what¡¯s with all the nonsense!¡± ¡°Do you still want to hang around on the Justice or not?!¡± Several pirates shouted rowdily. Bang. Just then, the door to the forward superstructure burst open. The big guy, his face twisted in a savage grimace, stooped as he stepped out of the door, snarling, ¡°Who¡¯s disturbing my sleep?¡± The few ordinary pirates, who had been so imposing moments before, suddenly became terrified, shaking their heads in denial that it was their fault, then all pointed their fingers at Waffle. ¡°It¡¯s you!!¡± ¡°How dare you wake me up!¡± The big guy brutally advanced on Waffle. The old man kept backing away, quickly retreating to the side of the ship. Without hesitation, the big guy reached out, seized the old man¡¯s legs, then turned and dragged him back. ¡°Let me go, let me go!¡± ¡°Help, help¡­.¡± Waffle cried out desperately, struggling with all his might, but his old and frail body was no match for the big guy, who hauled him into the forward superstructure. ¡°It¡¯s over, I think someone is going to die!¡± ¡°Quick, let¡¯s get out of here, it¡¯s got nothing to do with us.¡± ¡°Right, right, we didn¡¯t see anything!!¡± As the pirates watched the big guy slam the door shut, they were all terrified and fled in panic. As the door shut heavily, darkness fell before Waffle¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, please, spare me!¡± The old man¡¯s face was etched with terror as he shouted hoarsely. ¡°Shut up, or I¡¯ll eat you!¡± The big guy glared at the old man. The old man instantly fell silent. The big guy exhaled a heavy breath and crawled back onto his bed. His bed was a round patch of fur laid directly on the floor, quite comfortable. Lying down with his back to the old man Waffle, the big guy¡¯s ferocious expression immediately collapsed, replaced by worry and conflict. ¡°Was my performance just now okay?¡± ¡°Did I reveal any flaws?¡± The fierce display was all instructed and entrusted to the big guy by the Dragon-man youth, Cang Xu, and others. The act just now had exhausted all of the big guy¡¯s effort. He had been cultivating his Fighting energy, and hearing the commotion outside, he knew Waffle was being bullied. This made the big guy immediately recall how he too had suffered similar oppression, filling him with sympathy for Waffle. Therefore, he ran out and took Waffle into his own cabin. But now, he regretted it. ¡°What should I do next?¡± ¡°Dad never taught me what to do!¡± ¡°What to do, what to do?¡± The big guy had instinctively dragged Waffle into his room because when he was bullied on the Pig Kiss, the old shipwright had also pulled him into the cabin to avoid conflicts. The big guy was simply acting on impulse. As the big guy was in turmoil, he suddenly heard some noise behind him, he turned around and saw Waffle tiptoeing towards the door, gently trying to open it. The big guy¡¯s eyebrows shot up in alarm, a surge of concern welling up inside him, ¡°How can you just leave?¡± ¡°If those people continue to bully you, I won¡¯t be able to help you.¡± But he knew he couldn¡¯t let these words escape his lips, and for the sake of keeping up his disguise, he shouldn¡¯t. So, he slammed his fist on the floor and roared, ¡°Stop right there! If you run out, I¡¯ll break your legs.¡± Waffle trembled violently all over, and immediately stood still. He quickly pleaded for mercy, ¡°Please let me go, sir, I was wrong, I really was. I shouldn¡¯t have disturbed your sleep.¡± The big guy frowned immediately. He knew it was the other pirates¡¯ fault. So, the big guy shouted again, ¡°Shut up! Speak again, and I¡¯ll beat you to a pulp.¡± The old man immediately clammed up, not making a sound. The big guy was quite pleased, his heart calming a little, even feeling a bit of joy and delight. ¡°This must be what caring for and protecting others feels like.¡± ¡°Dad was right; this feeling is wonderful!¡± ¡°I can help others too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just so great.¡± A flush of red bloomed on each of the big guy¡¯s cheeks. He gazed dizzily at the old man before him and then noticed the injuries on his body. The big guy smiled, thinking, ¡°I have the Healing Potion dad gave me, and I can help him a bit more.¡± His appearance was too dreadful, his hair disheveled, his mouth full of yellow teeth, his massive physique, his eyes shining brightly, and amidst his crude and simple exterior, there was a hint of crazed demeanor. Waffle shivered uncontrollably, seemingly about to faint at any second, which would hardly have been surprising. Chapter 256 - 256: Section 44: Divine Bloodline?! Chapter 256: Section 44: Divine Bloodline?! ¡°What is this?¡± In the dim cabin, the old man Waffle was stunned. The big guy pulled out a bottle of potion from his bosom and placed it on the floor at his feet. It was clearly a Healing Potion, the liquid appearing a faint red within the glass bottle. ¡°Drink!¡± The big guy pounded the floor with his fist, causing the potion to shake violently in the bottle. ¡°Could it be poison?¡± The big guy¡¯s fierce demeanor made Waffle involuntarily begin to imagine the worst. The big guy glared at him. ... Waffle gritted his teeth, picked up the potion, opened the bottle cap, and ended up drinking all of the liquid. Once the potion entered his stomach, it immediately transformed into a strong warm current. The warmth quickly spread throughout his body, and his wounds began to heal instantly. ¡°It really is a Healing Potion!¡± Waffle felt surprised. Generally speaking, such expensive Healing Potions were meant for the Transcendents. The kind of injuries he had were not serious, and for ordinary people, they would usually heal on their own, making the use of a Healing Potion quite wasteful. ¡°Perhaps he wants to heal me first, then torture me? Uh¡­¡± Waffle was taken aback. Because he saw the big guy simply lie down on the bed and fall asleep! Soon, his loud snoring filled the cabin. Waffle stood there dumbfounded, then his brows slightly furrowed. Before long, the big guy opened his eyes. He sleepily scratched his messy, disheveled hair, then heard Waffle¡¯s stomach rumble with hunger. The big guy, reminded by the sound, immediately reached out and touched his own belly. ¡°It¡¯s time to eat something,¡± the big guy said in a low voice. He tried to get up, but his limbs were weak and he fell back onto the bed. ¡°Big guy¡­ so hungry!¡± The big guy mumbled to himself foolishly. In his memory, there were indeed many painful experiences of being incapacitated by hunger that he could never forget. ¡°You, go eat, then bring back food for me!¡± the big guy glared at Waffle. Waffle nodded, turned quickly, pushed the door open, and ran to the ship¡¯s dining hall. ¡°He¡¯s actually not dead?¡± Seeing Waffle rush in hurriedly, the few pirates who had bullied him were quite surprised. However, instead of eating, Waffle¡¯s gaze swept across the dining hall, quickly landing on the Dragon-man youth. He took the initiative to approach: ¡°Captain, the little giant¡¯s condition doesn¡¯t seem right!¡± Hearing this news, the Dragon-man youth was astonished, then immediately stood up and went to the forecastle. ¡°Dad¡­ Captain, why did you come?¡± The big guy lay on the bed, looking very weak. His eyelids were swollen, allowing only a sliver to open. His face was flushed, and the skin exposed was blotchy with red patches. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s heart sank as he placed his palm on the big guy¡¯s forehead. Burning hot! The big guy was feverish, like a freshly cooked lobster. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The Dragon-man youth continued to examine and found that the fighting energy inside the big guy was also in disarray. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, finding the situation quite odd. The big guy possessed the Giant Bloodline, with a very powerful Recovery Power. But now, he still bore injuries. These were the injuries he sustained during real combat training with an Earth Element on the Magnetic Island. Under normal circumstances, these injuries would have been completely healed in half a day. Yet, so much time had passed, and not only did the injuries still exist, they seemed to be getting worse! ¡°Could it be poisoning?¡± ¡°Unlikely! Previously, on the Magnetic Island, the big guy was always within my sight,¡± the Dragon-man youth thought. The Dragon-man youth cast an inquiring gaze toward Cang Xu who had arrived behind him. Cang Xu, being a Mage, did not disappoint the youth¡¯s expectation and conducted an examination, pondering, ¡°It should be a Bloodline Mutation.¡± Bloodline Mutation?! The Dragon-man youth was startled. During the course of their lives, there was a certain chance for living beings to undergo Bloodline Mutations. A dormant higher-grade Bloodline inside a living being might suddenly increase in concentration, manifesting violently. Because this was so sudden and intense, it often caused disarray in the state of the living being. A Bloodline Mutation had occurred in the big guy? This indicated that his parents or ancestors possessed a high-grade Bloodline. This kind of high-grade Bloodline, like a seed passed down through offspring, continued to spread. In the big guy, due to various complex and unpredictable factors, the seed had sprouted, and the high-grade Bloodline dormant deep within him had burst forth. ¡°Little dear, don¡¯t be nervous, this is a good thing,¡± the Dragon-man youth comforted. The big guy looked at the Dragon-man youth, opened his mouth to say something, but soon after, he passed out. ¡°Sir, I need a blood test to confirm my hypothesis,¡± Cang Xu said. Without permission from the Dragon-man youth, he would not act rashly. ¡°Quickly!¡± the Dragon-man youth said. Immediately, Cang Xu successfully drew blood and hurried back to the Justice¡¯s Alchemy Room. Thanks to the previous two transactions with the Empire, the alchemy room of the Justice was equipped with many alchemy tools. Cang Xu was originally unfamiliar with manipulating these alchemy tools, but recently he had been studying the use of soul crystals and, with the aid of Tower Spirit and notes from the War Merchant, he had now become something of an alchemist himself. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After drawing and testing blood, Cang Xu returned to the fore deck with the results. ¡°My lord,¡± the old scholar reported hastily to the dragon-man youth, ¡°it is indeed a bloodline mutation!¡± ¡°The bloodline that Big Guy has mutated is that of the Earth Giant,¡± lamented the old scholar. ¡°Earth Giant?¡± the dragon-man youth wondered. The old scholar said, ¡°Nowadays, this type of bloodline is extremely rare, almost extinct. However, you should know, my lord. There was a powerful being in history who possessed this bloodline, and his name was Tai Hao.¡± ¡°Tai Hao!¡± The dragon-man youth was profoundly shaken. This name resonated with him like thunder. Tai Hao. He was an ancient powerhouse, on par with legends. At a time when the human race, elves, and dwarfs were but ignorant and weak tribes, giants and dragons ruled the world. Tai Hao was one of the strongest among the giants. To be precise, he was a deity among giants! According to historical records, giants and dragons waged war to defeat each other, each aspiring to be the sole dominant power. Tai Hao had slain countless. Many legendary giants fell by his hand, equating to no less than five divine dragons that died at his hands. In the final battle, he was treacherously ambushed, greatly diminishing his strength. Still, even under siege, he managed to take down a Main God-level Divine Dragon before his death. After his mutual destruction, his divine body plummeted into the vast ocean. His majestic divine power and robust physique transformed into a vast continent. This continent was named after Tai Hao. In the endless eras that followed, the Continent of Tai Hao continued to split apart, its fragments colliding, merging, and separating with other continents. According to the scholars¡¯ estimates, most of the current Frost Continent originated from the Continent of Tai Hao. ¡°Big Guy actually carries the bloodline of Tai Hao?¡± ¡°This is¡­ a Divine Bloodline!¡± The dragon-man youth was astounded. Cang Xu was full of emotion: ¡°The chances of a mistake are very low. This bloodline must have been passed down through many generations until it finally mutated in him.¡± Bloodline¡ªDivine Level! The implications contained herein were extraordinary. Big Guy might well cultivate into a deity! Cang Xu sighed deeply: ¡°Who would have thought? Among all the survivors from Mysterious Monster Island, this ugly half-giant is actually the most talented! Such is the unpredictability of fate, it inspires awe and a love-hate sentiment.¡± The dragon-man youth contemplated, ¡°So, there is a reason behind Big Guy¡¯s madness.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Cang Xu nodded. ¡°It looks like his madness was due to the bloodline mutation.¡± ¡°For the growth of the Earth Giant¡¯s bloodline, Earth Elements are the most fundamental nourishment.¡± ¡°But since his childhood, Big Guy was abandoned on the Pig Kiss, spending most of his life on the surface of the sea, enveloped by dense Water Elements.¡± ¡°Big Guy continued to grow, the Earth Giant bloodline slowly absorbing the scant Earth Elements, accumulating without end.¡± ¡°When he reached Mysterious Monster Island, stepping on solid ground for an extended period, the absorption of Earth Elements greatly increased.¡± ¡°My lord, do you remember when he went mad?¡± The dragon-man youth nodded: ¡°During the volcano eruption.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Cang Xu agreed. ¡°The volcano erupted because the King of Flame Dragons sought to break free, causing a turmoil of Earth Elements and Fire Elements.¡± ¡°The Divine Level of the Earth Giant¡¯s bloodline is extraordinary; it allowed Big Guy to sense the movement of the Earth Vein. Meanwhile, it secretly absorbed Earth Elements frantically, driving Big Guy mad.¡± ¡°Lan Zao once said that when Big Guy went mad, he might precisely predict violent storms. On the island, after his madness, earthquakes often occurred.¡± ¡°This is actually just a manifestation. Before the onset of violent storms and earthquakes, the concentration of Earth Elements undergoes drastic changes. The Divine Bloodline also let Big Guy instinctively feel the threat to his life.¡± ¡°As for this time, we had landed on the Magnetic Islands.¡± ¡°Big Guy had never before clashed with Earth Elements from such close proximity.¡± ¡°I even suspect that many of the dead bodies of Earth Elements could have congealed into essence, but it was covertly absorbed by Big Guy¡¯s Divine Bloodline.¡± ¡°Finally, after leaving the island and boarding the ship, Big Guy¡¯s bloodline finally received enough nourishment and truly began to mutate!¡± The dragon-man youth narrowed his eyes: ¡°So, the Bloodline Stabilizer is effective for him!¡± His transformation into a dragon-man form was merely caused by the Blood Core within his heart, but he falsely claimed it was due to a bloodline mutation. To deepen this guise, the dragon-man youth had not hesitated to spend a great deal of money, exchanging with the Empire for a Silver Level Bloodline Stabilizer. A Bloodline Stabilizer was specifically for bloodline mutations. But it was Big Guy who truly underwent a bloodline mutation! The dragon-man youth¡¯s Bloodline Stabilizer had remained in his hand until now, and, without hesitation, he took it out, opened Big Guy¡¯s mouth, and poured all of the potion within. A few breaths later, Big Guy¡¯s originally labored breathing immediately steadied. His burning body temperature was also rapidly dropping. Chapter 257 - 257: Section 45: Crisis of Life Chapter 257: Section 45: Crisis of Life Seeing that the big guy¡¯s condition had stabilized, the Dragon-man youth let out a sigh of relief. But at the next moment, the big guy¡¯s aura changed abruptly! Before the Dragon-man youth¡¯s eyes, the big guy¡¯s Cultivation broke through to the Bronze Level, officially casting off his ordinary human status and leaping forward to become a Transcendent! The Dragon-man youth and Cang Xu were both shocked and puzzled. ¡°The big guy was already close to Bronze. Now his Divine Bloodline has come into play, allowing him to take the final step. Not good!¡± The Dragon-man youth¡¯s complexion changed. The recently stabilized big guy¡¯s condition deteriorated once again. ... The little giant¡¯s breath once again became difficult, and his eyebrows were tightly furrowed in his coma, as if he were having a terrible nightmare. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± the Dragon-man youth asked Cang Xu. Cang Xu took a deep breath, ¡°This is the Divine Bloodline! It¡¯s too high-end. The Bloodline Stabilizer you provided is just at the Silver Level; it¡¯s hard to have an effect.¡± The Dragon-man youth shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s not right! At the time he took the potion, he was just an ordinary person. Even now, he¡¯s merely a Bronze-level fighter. How can a Silver Level potion have no effect?¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°Bloodline transformations vary from person to person. Captain, the reason why the Silver Potion was suitable for you is that your own condition was very stable, with a solid foundation of Fighting energy. But for someone like the big guy, this sudden change is too intense. Think about it, he spent most of his life at sea, where his giant Bloodline was constantly suppressed. Now that it has burst forth suddenly, it¡¯s like a floodgate has been opened. From what we see now, a Silver Level Bloodline Stabilizer has no chance at containing it. Even a Gold Level potion is doubtful, while a Holy Domain Level potion might stand a chance. Even the top-level potions might be possible.¡± The Dragon-man youth was silent. How could he obtain such high-end potions? In fact, even accessing Gold Level Bloodline Stabilizers was a distant prospect. The most hopeful path lay with the Empire, elevating his permissions to the Silver Level, which might allow for the exchange of some Gold Level resources. As for potions higher than the Gold Level¡­ that was too distant a dream. The Dragon-man youth looked at the little giant, whose breathing was growing increasingly difficult, and anxiously asked, ¡°Is there no other way?¡± Cang Xu affirmed, ¡°Of course, there is. We can use Divine Arts or Spells for treatment. The life-threatening aspect of a Bloodline breakthrough is essentially due to the high-grade Bloodline¡¯s intense remodeling of a lower life form, which can severely impact a previously stable life form and lead to collapse.¡± ¡°If we lack treatment, the big guy will surely be shattered to pieces by the Divine Bloodline. However, if we can maintain steady and effective treatment during this process, it should be possible to help him through this crisis.¡± The big guy wasn¡¯t pure-blooded but a Mixed-blood of humans and giants. If he were a pure-blooded earth giant, his growth would be extremely slow, but from a young age, his life structure would be very stable, allowing for smooth development. As a Mixed-blood, the big guy possessed both the earth giant and Human Race Bloodlines. Externally, he had a physique weaker than a normal giant¡¯s but far surpassing that of the average human. This also applied to his physical condition and recovery ability. Previously, the two Bloodlines within the big guy coexisted relatively stably. Occasional conflicts caused him to go mad. But now, with the Divine Bloodline¡¯s complete transformation, it was forcefully impacting the big guy¡¯s human Bloodline. The overly dominant blood of the earth giant meant his original form was no longer suitable. It was as if the big guy was initially a simple wooden house, while the Divine Bloodline needed a castle. Currently, the wooden house was on the brink of destruction, with no sight of the castle. Leaving the Bloodline transformation to continue would result in the complete destruction of the wooden house, including its foundation, with no chance of successfully building the castle. If, however, the process was accompanied by ample healing, it would be like a strong external force protecting the entire wooden house, patching it up continuously, allowing the house and its foundation to endure until it eventually expanded into a castle. The big guy¡¯s life was in danger! If his emergent Bloodline had been of a lower grade, it might have been easy to manage, and he might have been able to withstand it on his own. But the earth giant¡¯s Bloodline was too high-grade, and it had ironically become a death warrant for the big guy. ¡°What do we do?¡± the Dragon-man youth was at a loss. Although Cang Xu had mentioned using treatment methods could help the big guy, the youth knew it was extremely difficult. This was evident from the case of the Bloodline Stabilizer. Only treatment methods above the Gold Level could truly aid the big guy. ¡°Is there any chance your Undead Magic could work?¡± the Dragon-man youth asked in desperation. Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°Regrettably, my Captain, I am powerless in this respect. In fact, even if there were a way, I am only at the Black Iron Level. I simply can¡¯t perform higher-level magic!¡± ¡°Then how can we find a Mage who can help the big guy?¡± ¡°No, more than a Mage, it would be more appropriate to seek clergy.¡± ¡°But!¡± ¡°Contacting these people carries immense risks. Divine Arts come from deities, and helping the big guy would expose all of us, as well as the true nature of Mysterious Monster Island, to the gods.¡± The Dragon-man youth couldn¡¯t help but feel flustered. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°First, use the Healing Potion to stabilize the big guy¡¯s body. I will inquire with the Tower Spirit!¡± he finally decided. Cang Xu nodded and followed the Captain¡¯s orders. Soon after, when the old Scholar clandestinely dived to board the ¡°Little Bird,¡± he took the initiative to board the ¡°Justice.¡± ¡°You seem to have the leisure to come here for amusement?¡± Zong Ge, Captain of the ¡°Little Bird,¡± received Cang Xu. Cang Xu was solemn, ¡°There is a matter of great urgency that I must discuss with you. It involves our survival.¡± Cang Xu then detailed the big guy¡¯s situation to Zong Ge. Zong Ge was momentarily taken aback, then after processing, he sighed with emotion, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a thing to happen.¡± Cang Xu sighed, ¡°Given our Captain¡¯s nature, he will surely not give up on the big guy. We all know the Tower Spirit¡¯s condition is severely impaired, and she truly listens to Zi Di, who has the authority. If the Captain can inquire about a suitable method through her, that would be ideal. But the chance is very slim.¡± ¡°Mages are hard to come to, let alone those proficient in healing.¡± ¡°In the end, the Captain may very well resort to Divine Healing. However, this action carries tremendous risks. If even a slight clue is exposed, all our painstaking disguises and efforts, our achievements, will come to nothing, and we could end up imprisoned, facing secret execution or even public execution.¡± Zong Ge¡¯s brows furrowed, ¡°Then what¡¯s your thought?¡± Cang Xu lamented, ¡°Of course, I also hope the Big guy will recover. However, life will never change just because of our hopes.¡± ¡°The Big guy¡­ is basically beyond help. Because time is too tight, and we simply don¡¯t have high-end connections, it¡¯s very difficult to treat him in time. We have control over two Divine Artifacts, which can be used as bargaining chips. But as analyzed before, it¡¯s too risky! We are likely to be attacked and looted for exposing these treasures.¡± ¡°We need to join forces, Zong Ge.¡± Zong Ge fell silent. He was wary of Cang Xu and also secretly guarding against him. However, he had to admit that the Undead Mage made a very strong argument. Mercy does not lead an army! Use a local sacrifice for the overall victory. This was knowledge Zong Ge, as a commander, had long since understood. In the Half-Beast¡¯s mind, thoughts bubbled over: ¡°If we leave the Captain to his own devices, I fear it will end just as Cang Xu has said.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± ¡°Is the Undead Mage really thinking of the big picture?¡± ¡°Does he have no selfish intentions? No plans to use this opportunity for his own gain? No schemes of using me as a pawn?¡± Zong Ge¡¯s wariness towards Cang Xu intensified, but he kept a calm exterior, his expression betraying nothing. Finally, he nodded slightly, looked at Cang Xu, and tentatively asked, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Cang Xu obviously relaxed, ¡°On this matter, we need to reach a consensus. As for how to do it¡­ rest assured, the Captain is my lifesaver, I would never harm him! I think the first step is to spread the news.¡± Zong Ge¡¯s eyes suddenly sparkled with brilliance. This was indeed a good method! Different measures should be used against different people. Using mean methods against a despicable person would make them wary. Responding to brutality with brutality often earned respect. As for the Dragon-man Captain, use an Eastern Empire proverb ¨C Confound the noble with fairness. With Zong Ge¡¯s tacit permission, the news about the Big guy spread rapidly among the survivors of Mysterious Monster Island. Bloodline mutation, promotion to Bronze while unconscious, dying¡­ These startling words combined left everyone who heard them speechless. The deserted aft deck of the ship. Bai Ya clutched two thick ropes tightly in his hands. He kept swinging and releasing the ropes, diligently training his Fighting energy. His back soaked with sweat, he panted heavily, constantly checking his own condition. ¡°After long and arduous training, the Fighting energy produced was always barely noticeable.¡± ¡°If only I had the talent of Senior Xu Ma, just a few minutes of cultivation would yield more than a whole day of my hard effort!¡± ¡°Bloodline¡­ Bloodline¡­¡± The more Bai Ya understood about cultivation, the more dejected and despondent he became. Cultivation is not about effort alone. The majority of people can only be ordinary for their entire lives, while some are born with a Bloodline that destines them for greatness from birth. ¡°Bloodline mutation¡­ can I really experience a Bloodline mutation?¡± This was the only hope in Bai Ya¡¯s heart. But after speaking with Xu Ma, he only then understood how low the probability of a Bloodline mutation was! Even if his ancestors, the source of his Bloodline, were extraordinary, and there were seeds of mutation hidden within him, it was very likely that at life¡¯s end, these seeds would still remain hidden. Just then, a loud noise and cries of alarm rose from the Justice. Bai Ya stopped his cultivation and went to the railing of the Little Bird to look, only to see the Big guy disheveled and bellowing, rampaging across the deck of the Justice, repeatedly striking the mast. ¡°The Big guy is going crazy again!¡± Bai Ya was anxious. ¡°Bai Ya, you¡¯re here,¡± a survivor from Mysterious Monster Island approached him, ¡°I have news to tell you.¡± Hearing the news, Bai Ya¡¯s eyes grew wide: ¡°He, the Big guy¡­ has had a Bloodline mutation?!¡± Shock coursed through him. Then came joy, pleased for his companion¡¯s opportunity. He felt envy, something he had long yearned for, such an unlikely event happening right beside him! He felt despair; a Bloodline mutation, why hadn¡¯t it happened to him? He also sympathized with the Big guy, too high-grade a Bloodline mutation turned into a Curse, and the Big guy was going to die! A whirlwind of complex emotions spread through his heart, leaving the young man standing motionless at the railing. ¡°This is a new opportunity,¡± Cang Xu whispered from a corner, watching the frenzied Big guy, his eyes emitting a cold light. Chapter 258 - 258: Section 46: All Right-Handed Chapter 258: Section 46: All Right-Handed On the deck of the Justice, the big guy charged recklessly, sending pirates who couldn¡¯t dodge in time flying. The pirates screamed in terror and scattered in chaos across the deck. Clearly delirious, the big guy soon mistook the main mast of the Justice as his greatest enemy and charged at it. The Justice was a Black Iron Level demon energy ship, and when the big guy struck the main mast fiercely, it only bent slightly before rebounding with greater force. The big guy was thrown back several steps and then sat down heavily on the ground. Angered and embarrassed, he quickly got up, his face twisted and eyes bloodshot, and charged at the main mast again. ... Meanwhile, his Bronze aura continued to rise. Roar! Innate magic ¨C Dragon Roar. The next moment, the Dragon-man youth rushed back. With a mighty roar, his draconic sound majestic, he stunned the big guy on the spot. Then, with a light leap, the Dragon-man youth jumped behind the big guy. With a gentle slice of his Dragon Claw, he knocked the big guy unconscious. The big guy crashed to the ground, eyes rolled back and white foam spilling from his mouth. The pirates cheered, ¡°We¡¯re saved!¡± ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± many bewildered. ¡°Why do I feel like this monster has gotten a bit bigger?¡± someone wondered. ¡°He definitely has,¡± the Dragon-man youth gazed at the big guy at his feet and thought to himself. Not only had the big guy suddenly grown taller by a head, but all the muscles in his body were also swollen red. Even unconscious, he was still trembling slightly in a seizure-like manner. His condition was getting worse. A Divine Bloodline mutation was rapidly driving his life form toward a disastrous cliff. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Continue working! Chain him up and lock him in the original cabin,¡± ordered the Dragon-man youth. ¡°Is this what a bloodline mutation is? No cultivation needed, directly breaking through to Bronze Level, and the aura is still growing!¡± Bai Ya stood on the rail of the Little Bird, looking far away at the big guy who was being dragged into the bow deck, his expression complex. He had striven so hard, aiming to achieve a goal that still seemed far away, the hope dim. But here, the big guy, even in his unconscious state, was promoted casually, and if he survived, it was merely a starting point, not the end. ¡°Our Captain seems reluctant to give up on the big guy!¡± ¡°Of course, on the island, the big guy recognized the Captain as his father.¡± ¡°Sigh, the big guy¡¯s condition is very bad, he¡¯s probably going to die.¡± Survivors from Mysterious Monster Island communicated quietly amongst themselves. Meanwhile, other pirates were also discussing fervently. ¡°Strange, why didn¡¯t Captain Long Fu just kill him?¡± ¡°He hurt many of us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s terrifying. He just went crazy. Some even died on the spot.¡± ¡°He also attacked the main mast! That¡¯s the most unforgivable crime.¡± The big guy¡¯s sudden frenzy exposed him, putting him at the accusing end of nearly everyone. Cang Xu subtly fanned the flames in the shadows. Soon, public opinion surged! ¡°Kill him! He must pay with his life.¡± ¡°He¡¯s too dreadful, not part of the Human Race at all.¡± ¡°Think about it, from the moment he got on the ship, he just hid in the bow deck and slept. He didn¡¯t work at all, contributing nothing to the pirate group!¡± ¡°He even wanted to eat people¡­that one, Waffle, almost got eaten.¡± The pirates¡¯ discussions became more and more outrageous, further demonizing and monsterizing the big guy. To prove their point, several fierce-looking pirates even surrounded Waffle, coercing the old man to testify. Threatened and warned, Waffle trembled, wanting to retort. But before he could speak, a pirate beside him, unable to wait, declared, ¡°Look at this poor old man, he¡¯s already too scared to speak.¡± ¡°I think we shouldn¡¯t press this old man any further.¡± ¡°Yes, otherwise, what¡¯s the difference between us and that monster?¡± Everyone accepted this as the truth. People denounced the big guy¡¯s misdeeds and agreed that he should be executed swiftly. The Dragon-man youth sensed the tumultuous public opinion. He swiftly came out of the bow deck and gathered almost all the pirates on the deck. At the same time, the Little Bird and the Rapids moored alongside the Justice, the three ships temporarily anchored at sea. ¡°Listen to me!¡± the Dragon-man youth bellowed, his voice resounding clearly across the three pirate ships. ¡°This half-giant is my crew member, my subordinate.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a fortunate person, as well as a pitiable one. He underwent a bloodline mutation that also put his life at risk. He was driven mad by the torment; it wasn¡¯t his intention.¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t help him now, he¡¯s finished! There¡¯s no need for us to lay a hand on him.¡± ¡°But I will not kill him, nor will I watch him die; I will intervene to help him!¡± The crew stirred. ¡°Why?¡± The Dragon-man youth answered his own question, ¡°Because we are the Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°Look at the pirate flag flying above us!¡± ¡°Justice!¡± ¡°Yes, who else would put the word justice on a pirate flag?¡± ¡°We differ from most other pirates; from our very first voyage, I stated¡ªour targets are not merchant ships, but pirate ships.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what other captains do.¡± ¡°But on my ship, I don¡¯t care if you are of the Human Race, a goblin, or even a giant and human mixed-blood, I treat everyone the same.¡± ¡°Because any life, any life at all, deserves our serious attention!!¡± The pirates quieted down, and Waffle, hearing this, was greatly shaken. ¡°As long as you board my ship and acknowledge me as your captain, I will protect you. My sword will not easily turn against our own.¡± ¡°Think about it, everyone, if one day you also experienced the same situation as he did, if your own blood also underwent a sudden mutation. If you went mad because of it and hurt your companions, what would you desire? To be killed, or to be helped?¡± ¡°However, I know that this big guy has hurt quite a few people, even killed a few.¡± ¡°So, we must help him, we can¡¯t let him die so easily!¡± ¡°If he survives, he might become a Bronze Fighter, even possibly a Black Iron Fighter¡­ He needs to atone, to charge into battle on the front lines. He needs to make contributions to us, to compensate for our losses. He needs to earn money, the money earned to provide for the families of those who were sacrificed.¡± ¡°This way, we benefit more, don¡¯t we?¡± The pirates nodded in agreement, Captain Long Fu¡¯s reasoning was sound. But they were still worried. The Dragon-man youth knew their concerns and immediately announced, ¡°Next, I will personally take charge at the bow castle, looking after this guy. There¡¯s no need to worry about him going mad again, with me here, what is there to fear?¡± ¡°Ooh!!¡± The pirates cheered, raising their arms. ¡°The captain is right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Captain Long Fu for you!¡± ¡°He¡¯s too righteous, just like Firebeard.¡± Waffle looked at the standing Dragon-man youth from a different perspective. Many new companions on the pirate ships thought the same as he did at that moment¡ªthis was no ordinary pirate captain! ¡°A speech that pulls us back from the brink,¡± Cang Xu chuckled helplessly in the shadows, ¡°It seems, I¡¯ve slightly underestimated your leadership abilities, my captain.¡± In the bow castle, the Dragon-man youth was alone with the big guy. The big guy¡¯s breathing became more rapid; his breath was strong yet revealed his weakness. The Dragon-man youth began to administer potions to the big guy. Bottles after bottles of Healing Potions. Under the effect of the potions, the big guy¡¯s terrible condition visibly eased. To put it in perspective, he was initially rushing towards a cliff, but now he had shifted to walking. The potions could buy him some time, but they couldn¡¯t truly solve the problem. Falling off the cliff was still the predominant trend. As time passed, a situation that made the Dragon-man youth even more anxious occurred. He found that the effects of the Healing Potions were gradually weakening. Initially, a Bronze Level potion sufficed, but gradually, it took Black Iron Level potions to achieve the same effect. The Dragon-man youth secretly went back to the Deep Sea Monster Fish. However, the Tower Spirit did not respond to his calls and requests at all. Zi Di was the only one with authority; although the youth had been transformed, he had no authority with the Tower Spirit. The only consolation for the Dragon-man youth was that he had many Healing Potions in his hands, including those of the Gold Level and even Holy Medicine. These all came from the War Merchant. Although this legendary alchemist was not skilled in potion-making and had engaged in a life-and-death battle with a strong team from the Blood Light Sanction Court, some inventory still remained. The Dragon-man youth ordered Cang Xu to bring some Gold Level Healing Potions from the Monster Fish. ¡°Captain Long Fu, our ship is on its way to White Wings Port, and so far, everything is smooth,¡± Cang Xu reported. ¡°Very well,¡± the Dragon-man youth took the Healing Potions but kept his eyes on the unconscious big guy, ¡°White Wings Port has a Life Temple; it houses the nearest bishop from the Life Sect to us. He can help the big guy.¡± ¡°Before seeking help, I¡¯ll use the device that creates Memory Crystals, causing both me and the big guy to lose our memories and forge a set of memories.¡± The Dragon-man youth revealed his plan. Cang Xu looked troubled, ¡°It¡¯s still very risky. First, that memory device is not stable or reliable. Second, forging memories requires extremely sophisticated alchemy techniques, which we simply do not possess. Lastly, even if the memory forging is successful, wouldn¡¯t the gods detect it? Maybe not previously, but now, the technology of the Memory Crystals is known to the gods, and they must be on guard. Taking the big guy with you is very likely walking into a trap.¡± The Dragon-man youth shook his head and waved his hand, ¡°I have already made my decision, go ahead and execute it.¡± Cang Xu sighed deeply and withdrew. After stepping down, he immediately sought cooperation from Zong Ge, and during the night, when they anchored near a Deserted Island, he secretly gathered the survivors from Mysterious Monster Island. ¡°The thing I was most worried about has still happened,¡± Cang Xu narrated the Dragon-man youth¡¯s decision to the people, ¡°He is a good leader, which is why we adore and respect him. However, it can¡¯t be denied that this is also his flaw.¡± ¡°He is risking his life to save a fool, a mixed-blood monster.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s very possible that all of us are exposed to great risk because of this.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s vote.¡± ¡°Those who disagree with the captain¡¯s actions, raise your right hand. Those who agree, raise your left hand.¡± ¡°We need to let the captain know our minds. I still trust him, believe in him; he is a wise leader with high morals. Now, he needs our help to get past this moral hurdle.¡± Before Cang Xu finished speaking, he raised his right hand, clearly expressing his stance. Some people quickly raised their hands. Others were hesitant. Bai Ya was one of them. ¡°The big guy¡­ after all, he¡¯s our companion.¡± ¡°Now, do we just stand by and watch?¡± ¡°The captain was right in his speech today. If it happened to me, I would prefer to be helped and saved.¡± ¡°Bloodline mutation¡­¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t it happen to me?¡± Bai Ya struggled to make up his mind. At that moment, he heard someone beside him urging, ¡°Bai Ya, hurry up and raise your hand, we¡¯re just waiting on you.¡± Bai Ya suddenly shuddered. ¡°No matter what, I still support the captain. I can¡¯t bring myself to harm our own people.¡± Bai Ya quickly raised his hand. Then, the next moment, he froze, a look of fear shot through his eyes. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°The hand I raised¡­ was the right hand?!¡± Bai Ya couldn¡¯t believe it, momentarily at a loss for what to do. Cang Xu¡¯s indifferent and cold voice soon sounded, ¡°All right hands¡­ Very well.¡± Chapter 259 - 259: Section 47: One Vote Short Chapter 259: Section 47: One Vote Short The forecastle was stiflingly hot. The main source of the heat was the Big guy. He lay unconscious on the bed, his breathing becoming more and more labored. The Dragon-man youth sat cross-legged in front of him, occasionally pouring a dose of Healing Potion into him. The Grade of the Healing Potion had already been raised to the Golden Level! ¡°Captain Long Fu,¡± Cang Xu¡¯s voice came from outside the door at this moment. ... ¡°Come in,¡± said the Dragon-man youth. Then, Cang Xu, Fat Tongue, Bai Ya, Lan Zao, and others filed into the cabin. Their eyes were involuntarily drawn to the Big guy first; Bai Ya let out a low exclamation, as the Big guy¡¯s body had swelled to nearly double its size. His entire body was bloody and battered, his skin cracking and his blood flowing freely, his life hanging by a thread thanks to the Healing Potion. ¡°Are you here to persuade me?¡± the Dragon-man youth spoke lightly. ¡°Captain, you are still as wise and benevolent as ever,¡± Cang Xu sighed. ¡°We indeed came to persuade you. But more precisely, to help you.¡± ¡°Not only is the Big guy in crisis, but you are too, our leader.¡± ¡°At this moment, you, too, are in a kind of predicament.¡± The Dragon-man youth turned slightly, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cang Xu earnestly said, ¡°You are our leader, excellent and truly deserving. You treat people fairly from the depths of your heart, without a shred of pretense.¡± ¡°You want to care for each one of us and bravely shoulder the leader¡¯s responsibilities.¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°However, everyone¡¯s strength has limits.¡± ¡°And so do you, sir.¡± ¡°The Big guy is in dire straits, and you want to save him. Haven¡¯t you noticed that you¡¯re also being dragged into dire straits?¡± ¡°Appealing to Divine Arts is so risky it¡¯s nearly a trap, but your noble nature makes you disregard these dangers.¡± ¡°Nobility is the epitaph of the noble; despicability is the passport of the despicable.¡± ¡°Before we came, we secretly gathered all our own people. We held a vote, consulting everyone¡¯s opinions,¡± Cang Xu continued, looking towards Zong Ge. Zong Ge spoke seriously, revealing the results of the vote: ¡°No one supports your plan, Captain.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± The Dragon-man youth hung his head, his expression one of disappointment and helplessness. ¡°Master!¡± Lan Zao spoke up, ¡°If you want to take risks and insist on going to the temple, then I will certainly follow you, even death. But please, do not do this! Your life is more precious than mine, more than the Big guy¡¯s, more than everyone¡¯s!¡± With that, Lan Zao fell to his knees on the floor, his face full of pleading. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s heart stirred. Fat Tongue also urged, ¡°Sir, everyone knows the Chairman¡¯s feelings toward you. Have you not noticed at all?¡± ¡°If you insist on risking it all and die here, what will Zi Di do? She¡¯s still waiting for you to rescue her.¡± ¡°Even if in the future, Zi Di by chance wakes up and hears that you were executed by the gods, how heartbroken she will be.¡± ¡°Please consider the feelings of others.¡± ¡°The Big guy is no relation to you; he¡¯s only a half-breed with quite limited Intelligence.¡± The Dragon-man youth remained silent. Finally, Zong Ge said, ¡°You are a leader. A leader can be compassionate, but must also consider the bigger picture.¡± ¡°You formed the Justice Pirate Group, and we all act around you. If we lose you, do you know what will happen to us?¡± ¡°Who will follow the orders of me¡ªa Half-Beast?¡± ¡°Who will truly trust Cang Xu¡ªa Undead Mage?¡± ¡°You are much more important than you think! The Justice Pirate Group can do without the rest of us, but we cannot do without you.¡± ¡°If you, for one Big guy, disregard everyone else, is that what a leader should do?¡± The Dragon-man youth shook his head slightly, his tone low, ¡°My friends, I am not as great as you say.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t want to watch the Big guy die like this.¡± ¡°I am a Beastification Person, even to say, a Magic Beast shaped by a War Merchant. And all his life, he, too, has been a monster not accepted by those around him, suffering exclusion and suspicion whether aboard the Pig Kiss or on Mysterious Monster Island.¡± ¡°So, when I look at him, in some ways, it¡¯s like looking at myself.¡± ¡°In fact, my friends, I don¡¯t want you to give up on him, especially I don¡¯t want to see this happen.¡± ¡°If you were the Big guy, would you long for your comrades to abandon you, or to help you?¡± ¡°Should we abandon him? According to your analysis, it seems so. But I have a different thought.¡± ¡°We have Half-Beasts among us, goblins, Undead Mages, giants, and hybrids of the Human Race, and people like me who have undergone Beastification. How can we trust each other and rely on one another for support?¡± Cang Xu and Zong Ge couldn¡¯t help but show a slight change in their expressions. ¡°What does the Justice Pirate Group need the most? Is it Pearl Bubble? Is it time?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°It¡¯s our mutual trust.¡± ¡°How are we different from the Big guy? We all have our unique characteristics, and we are ostracized by society. If we abandon the Big guy today, which is indeed the easiest action to take, then what confidence do we have in the future to ensure that others won¡¯t abandon us?¡± ¡°The Big guy¡­ though he is unsightly and not very intelligent, his character is more noble than mine.¡± ¡°He is willing to use his life to protect his loved ones, and because of a single word from the old shipwright, he risked his life to protect our newly built ship.¡± ¡°He trusts me, relies on me, and sees me as his last kin, the only support in this world.¡± ¡°He never builds his happiness on the suffering of others.¡± ¡°He has never lied or deceived us. I am not his equal in this respect because I have also hidden many things from you.¡± ¡°Is such a person not worth saving?¡± ¡°He is the most worthy of salvation among us! Because he has a heart as pure as gold.¡± ¡°We have all committed grave sins, and we all long for redemption. But if we don¡¯t save him, our comrade, what right do we have to seek redemption for ourselves?!¡± The cabin fell silent, and in the face of the Dragon-man youth¡¯s rhetorical questions, everyone was left speechless. The Dragon-man youth continued: ¡°Though the Big guy is unconscious, he must be certain that I can help him! Just as he has always wished to help me.¡± ¡°I am willing to take the risk.¡± ¡°Not just for him, but for all of us.¡± ¡°I hope to practice my knightly creed through my actions!¡± After a while, Cang Xu sighed deeply: ¡°Sir, I have seen the banner of a knight flying high behind you. You are seeing further than we are.¡± ¡°We have no more reasons to stop you.¡± ¡°On the contrary, you have convinced me, please let me use a small spell to stimulate the Big guy¡¯s spirit, to awaken him. Keeping him conscious will allow him to circulate his Fighting energy, further stabilizing his injuries.¡± The Dragon-man youth expressed some doubt: ¡°There won¡¯t be any side effects, right?¡± ¡°Rest assured, sir. This is not Undead Magic. Even if the bishops of the Life Sect detect something amiss, they won¡¯t consider the Big guy evil.¡± The Dragon-man youth had no more doubts. After Cang Xu cast the spell, the Big guy soon regained consciousness, though he was still somewhat confused. Cang Xu¡¯s attitude had changed since before, treating the Big guy with warm care. Not long after, everyone left the bow deck, leaving only the Dragon-man youth and the Big guy. Fat Tongue sighed: ¡°Are we just going to watch as the Captain goes off to his death?¡± Bai Ya: ¡°But I think what the Captain said makes a lot of sense!¡± Cang Xu smiled slightly, looking towards Lan Zao: ¡°Would you give your life for your master?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Lan Zao replied without hesitation. Cang Xu asked again: ¡°Then, do you think the Big guy would?¡± After pondering for a moment, Lan Zao nodded affirmatively. Cang Xu¡¯s expression turned impassive: ¡°We all heard the Captain¡¯s heartfelt words, and we all felt his spirit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± ¡°I think our vote wasn¡¯t comprehensive.¡± ¡°We are missing one person.¡± Zong Ge¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise: ¡°Are you referring to the Big guy?¡± Cang Xu nodded and said to Lan Zao: ¡°The Captain won¡¯t be able to guard the Big guy all the time, and I have already woken him. His consciousness will become clearer and clearer.¡± ¡°You are the right person to go, you tell the Big guy everything.¡± ¡°Let him cast his own vote.¡± ¡°This?!¡± Lan Zao was shocked. ¡°To avoid any unnecessary complications, I¡¯m entrusting this to you.¡± As he spoke, Cang Xu handed a Dagger to Lan Zao. Lan Zao¡¯s expression struggled for a moment. Then. He took the Dagger. Chapter 260 - 260: Section 48: I Still Want to See Dad One Last Time Chapter 260: Section 48: I Still Want to See Dad One Last Time ¡°Knock, knock, knock. Sir, Lan Zao seeks an audience,¡± came the voice of Lan Zao from outside the door. After receiving permission from the Dragon-man youth, Lan Zao respectfully and solemnly pushed open the door of the cabin and entered, ¡°Captain Long Fu, you have been here for quite a long time. You need to eat something, let me take your place.¡± The Dragon-man youth hesitated slightly. The Big guy had already awakened, ¡°Dad, eat something, otherwise you will be hungry.¡± The Dragon-man youth couldn¡¯t help but smile. Cang Xu¡¯s unique skills were proving effective, and the Big guy was becoming more alert. With the encouragement and comfort of the youth, the Big guy¡¯s current mental state was very stable. ¡°Then let Lan Zao accompany you for a while, is that okay? He is someone dad trusts,¡± said the Dragon-man youth. ... The Big guy hesitated for a moment but then nodded his head. The Dragon-man youth pushed open the cabin door and temporarily left the Big guy¡¯s side. He wasn¡¯t going to eat, but Lan Zao¡¯s words reminded him of his need to fulfill his responsibility as the captain, inspecting the pirates¡¯ work. He had rashly changed course for the sake of the Big guy, and now he needed to stabilize morale. Left alone with Lan Zao, the Big guy suddenly became nervous. Lan Zao clenched his teeth and suddenly spoke, his first words making the Big guy shudder. Shortly after, the reality Lan Zao disclosed dumbfounded the Big guy. ¡°Dad, Dad¡­ is he going to die for me?!¡± the Big guy was struck with shock. ¡°He might die,¡± Lan Zao candidly said, ¡°To save you, we need to call upon a bishop-level clergyman. This will expose us all under the watchful eyes of the gods.¡± ¡°Wuwuwu¡­¡± the Big guy struggled to control himself, clenching his lower lip tightly with his teeth, but still let out a sob. ¡°Am I going to die?¡± ¡°Will I not see dad anymore?¡± Lan Zao closed his eyes, then opened them again, his pupils reddening, ¡°Yes. If you die, you will not see your master again. Now the master insists on saving you, and others disagree. His obstinate course of action could likely lead to his death because of you.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want dad to die! Dying¡ªbad.¡± The Big guy hastily shook his head, bursting into tears. ¡°Keep it down. Do you want the master to discover you? He has always wanted to keep the truth from you,¡± Lan Zao immediately advised. The Big guy hastily suppressed his cries, using his swollen, chubby arms to continually wipe his tears. Lan Zao licked his dry lips; speaking had never felt so difficult at this moment. But ultimately, he spoke out, ¡°Now, the only one who can save the master and everyone is you, Big guy.¡± Lan Zao pulled out a Dagger and handed it to the Big guy, ¡°Only if you die earlier, will master accept the reality and will not risk heading to the temple again!¡± The Big guy was stunned, staring at the Dagger in Lan Zao¡¯s hand. After a few breaths, he looked at Lan Zao, ¡°Are you¡­ telling the truth?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Lan Zao said with absolute certainty, ¡°If possible, I would also sacrifice my own life for the master. But now, you are the only choice.¡± The Big guy cried again, tears streaming: ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, all my fault! If it weren¡¯t for my sudden bloodline mutation, dad wouldn¡¯t have taken such a risk¡­ Wuwuwu.¡± As he sobbed, he took the dagger. He positioned the tip of the dagger towards his own heart. The Big guy was in very poor physical condition; without Cang Xu¡¯s spell, he would have remained unconscious. His body was also on the verge of collapse, the original recovery capability completely lost. A dagger stab to the heart would kill him on the spot due to such damage. However, holding the dagger backwards he couldn¡¯t bring himself to thrust it. ¡°Can I see dad one more time?¡± the Big guy pleaded with Lan Zao. It was as if Lan Zao had been stabbed in the heart first. He endured the grief, constantly remembering Cang Xu¡¯s words. He shook his head, cruelly and coldly almost disbelieving it was his own demeanor: ¡°No, Big guy, I understand how you feel, but you can¡¯t. For everyone, and even more for the master¡­ you have to understand!¡± The Big guy wailed softly, tears flowing copiously. He could never have imagined that just a moment ago, his dad was gently encouraging him to persevere, and now he had to say goodbye to him. A separation between life and death! Yet, Lan Zao¡¯s reasoning convinced him. He didn¡¯t want his dad to suffer because of him. He didn¡¯t want the Dragon-man youth to risk his life for him! The cries of the Big guy suddenly stopped; he bit his teeth hard, closed his eyes tightly, but his face was filled with a resolute glow. The next moment, his arms swiftly contracted inward, driving the dagger towards his heart! Thud. A soft sound. Blood streamed continuously. The Big guy¡¯s body violently trembled, the anticipated intense pain did not come, he opened his eyes, immediately showing a look of bewilderment. At the critical moment, it was Lan Zao who had reached out and tightly grasped the dagger. Warm blood splattered from his hand and continued to flow down. ¡°You can see the master one more time. But please do not mention what just happened, understand?¡± Lan Zao¡¯s voice was strained. At the critical moment, he had softened. A surge of impulse in his heart had caused him to intercept the fatal dagger, disregarding Cang Xu¡¯s admonition. A massive surprise suddenly struck the Big guy. Big guy frantically nodded, tears streaming down his face again. This time, they were tears of joy. The Dragon-man youth inspected the Justice, calmed the pirates, and returned to the bow deck. ¡°The master is coming back, do you remember what I told you? Hold steady!¡± Lan Zao gave his last reminder to the big guy. Big guy nodded fiercely, ¡°I remember it all. First, the expression should be natural. Second, the tone should be calm. Third, the movements should be steady.¡± A dozen breaths later, the cabin door swung open, and the Dragon-man youth walked in. ¡°¡­¡± The big guy was silent, stiff as a rock, staring intently at the Dragon-man youth. The Dragon-man youth, finding it peculiar, smiled and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Daddy!!¡± Big guy suddenly shouted, lunging towards the Dragon-man youth for a hug. Lan Zao glared at him fiercely. Big guy froze in place, realizing he had gotten too excited, and quickly stopped his motion to embrace the Dragon-man youth. His arms were halfway stretched out, already beginning to rise. Now, suddenly stopping forcedly, his posture became unstable, and he toppled to the floor. ¡°That hurts.¡± Big guy couldn¡¯t help but groan. His physical condition was so poor that he couldn¡¯t even withstand that minor impact. The Dragon-man youth quickly walked over to him and helped him back to the bed, ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited. Daddy is here. You will get better.¡± ¡°Just hold on for one more day, and we will reach White Wings Port.¡± ¡°Once there, your daddy will ask someone to help you get through this tough time.¡± ¡°Daddy also hopes you can become strong in the future to help daddy.¡± According to the course, the Justice was indeed only a day¡¯s journey from White Wings Port. However, even if the Dragon-man youth entered White Wings Port, it would still take time to locate the bishop of the Life Sect and time to persuade him to help. The actual time spent would definitely be longer than a day, which also includes the possibility of using force if verbal persuasion fails. Looking at the youth so close at hand, Big guy bit his lip, producing a whimpering sound. Lan Zao stepped forward and glared at him fiercely again. Big guy, getting the hint, quickly covered his mouth tightly. But the tears couldn¡¯t be stopped from flowing down. He hurriedly covered his eyes too. Lan Zao: ¡­ The Dragon-man youth gently brushed away Big guy¡¯s hands, ¡°Does it hurt too much? Hang in there, Daddy will help you.¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Big guy was momentarily stunned, then quickly nodded. ¡°Daddy.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Daddy will be alright too.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The Dragon-man youth patted Big guy¡¯s head. Big guy squinted his eyes, basking in the happiness. But in the next moment, the youth¡¯s dragon claw suddenly struck. Big guy¡¯s neck was hit, that familiar sensation¡­ Big guy fell into unconsciousness. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s expression turned grim, and he turned to look at Lan Zao, ¡°Does he know all the facts?¡± Lan Zao immediately knelt on the ground, bowing his head honestly, ¡°Yes. I told him!¡± The Dragon-man youth snorted coldly, just about to speak, when suddenly an alert from the lookout came from outside. ¡°Pirate ship spotted!¡± ¡°Many ships!¡± ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s Silver Hook.¡± ¡°Silver Hook Pirates spotted ahead!!¡± The Dragon-man youth¡¯s heart sank heavily, ¡°At this time¡­¡± He quickly ordered the fleet to avoid. ¡°Can¡¯t evade, the enemy has spotted us and is heading towards us!¡± the helmsman reported. With no other choice, the Dragon-man youth had to take Lan Zao, come out of the cabin, and onto the deck to face the Silver Hook Pirates directly. Chapter 261 - 261: Section 49: The Ignorant New Pirate Chapter 261: Section 49: The Ignorant New Pirate The sea wind howled, the waves surged. The Silver Hook led more than a dozen pirate ships, rapidly closing in on the Justice. Gulp. Many pirates aboard the Justice were swallowing hard, feeling chills in their hearts. The approaching fleet was menacing. Just by looking at the number of ships, one could clearly see the disparity in strength. ... S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Justice Pirate Group only had three ships, including one ordinary vessel. Silver Hook, however, commanded sixteen pirate ships, with as many as six being of demon energy level. The Silver Hook itself was a Black Iron level demon energy ship, the same as the Justice. ¡°Silver Hook¡­ what exactly does he want?¡± ¡°Could it be a battle?¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be. Our ships have shallow drafts, and we¡¯ve just been refurbished, with no signs of battle. That shows we haven¡¯t robbed anything.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all pirates, normally, Silver Hook wouldn¡¯t attack us.¡± ¡°But why are they charging at us?¡± ¡°More than that, I¡¯m worried about our Captain Long Fu. Didn¡¯t he say we treat other pirates as hunting targets?¡± The pirates aboard the Justice had low morale and were reluctant to engage in battle. The Dragon-man youth was also reluctant to fight. His main concern now was to rescue Big guy. Time was extremely critical, he had to race against the clock. A delay of just a few minutes might mean watching Big guy die! ¡°Justice¡­ Pirate Group?¡± Silver Hook lifted his binoculars, seeing clearly the pirate flag on the Justice, he scoffed coldly, ¡°Ridiculous, since when can pirates claim to be just?¡± His first officer, standing by his side, also looked at the Justice Pirate Group, scoffing disdainfully, ¡°Ever since the pirate throne emerged, everywhere novices become pirates. Really, any Tom, Dick, or Harry can pop up!¡± ¡°The ship is not bad¡­ go ahead as usual.¡± Silver Hook took a look and lost interest. He put away his binoculars and turned to walk back to his captain¡¯s cabin. The first officer then took his place, bellowing, ¡°Justice Pirate Group, we are the Silver Hook Pirates! We now command you to stop immediately and submit to our inspection. If you comply obediently, perhaps you can keep your lives.¡± As the first officer finished speaking, the Silver Hook pirate ships opened their cannon ports, revealing tightly packed cannons. With over a hundred cannons, many of them Bronze Level alchemy cannons, one could only imagine the fierce firepower once they fired! ¡°Inspection?¡± The Dragon-man youth immediately responded, ¡°Anyone can see, we haven¡¯t even started business! Trying to trick us into stopping and surrendering? A great group like Silver Hook, so arrogant? You really think everyone else is a fool?¡± The first officer¡¯s expression turned stern, ¡°I¡¯ve given you a chance, believe it or not. Before you, we¡¯ve already inspected five or six groups of ships. This is your last warning, if you don¡¯t stop, we will open fire!¡± The Dragon-man youth laughed heartily, ¡°It seems there really are fools who listened to you, so, you¡¯ve added a few ships? The sea is vast, since we¡¯ve encountered each other, let¡¯s battle then!¡± With that, the Dragon-man youth immediately ordered, and the three ships of the Justice Pirate Group opened their cannon doors, extending cannons of various sizes. The first officer was taken aback and then flew into a rage. This tiny pirate group dared to prefer death to submission; he would let them experience the terror of the cannons! However, the next moment, not just the first officer, but even Silver Hook, who had turned back to the captain¡¯s cabin, was deeply shaken. Because Zhenjin and others were all invigorating their fighting energy, revealing their true Life Breath. A Silver Level Dragon-man youth. A Silver Level Half-Beast Zong Ge. A Silver Level Rat-man Swordsman dressed in gray. A Silver Level bard Di Lou. A mere three ships, and this small Justice Pirate Group actually had four Silver Fighters! The Silver Hook Pirates also had only four Silver Level Transcendents. Sensing Life Breath had a certain range. At this point, the Justice Pirate Group slightly changed their course, veering off at an angle to the front, while the opposing Silver Hook Pirates made every effort to block. The distance between the two was long, and though closing rapidly, the sensing was not clear. Now, the Dragon-man youth was the first to invigorate his fighting energy, letting his Life Breath surge, and immediately, the attitude of the people from Silver Hook changed drastically. ¡°Justice Pirate Group!¡± Silver Hook returned to his original place and spoke personally, ¡°I acknowledge your strength. Stop your ship! Submit to our inspection, by doing so, you can gain a powerful friend. Otherwise, I, Silver Hook, will annihilate you right now.¡± Silver Hook swept away his previously disdainful attitude and became very cautious, yet he still remained tough. By his side were four Silver Level Transcendents, one of whom was a Mage. Moreover, his pirate ships far outnumbered those of the Justice Pirate Group, clearly giving him the upper hand in strength. The Dragon-man youth furrowed his brows. ¡°Lord Long Fu, starting a war with Silver Hook is unwise,¡± the little bird couldn¡¯t help but advise. ¡°The enemy is strong, we are weak,¡± Zong Ge said succinctly. ¡°Pirates do not rashly engage in battle. Silver Hook also fears us, worried that a war would result in heavy losses for him. Indeed, they are an established pirate group, and bowing down is not a shameful thing,¡± Di Lou spoke. Cang Xu whispered to the Dragon-man youth, ¡°Big guy is in a very bad condition; we need to buy some time. Fighting them right now would not be good. If they want to inspect, then let them inspect. Indeed, there isn¡¯t anything valuable on our ship.¡± The Dragon-man youth nodded and responded to Silver Hook, ¡°If you don¡¯t trust us, then send someone to inspect the ship!¡± Silver Hook¡¯s face darkened, ¡°No! You must stop the ship first.¡± The members of the Justice Pirate Group all subtly changed their expressions. The Dragon-man youth sneered, ¡°I¡¯ve drawn you out; you indeed intended to trick me! Boys, Silver Hook wants to plot against us; his aim from the start was to destroy us. Turn the rudder, sail at full speed. If we can¡¯t shake them off, then it will be a fight to the death!¡± ¡°Oh!!¡± Pirates from all three ships shouted in response to the captain¡¯s command. ¡°Damn!¡± Silver Hook clenched his teeth, ¡°Chase them down, don¡¯t let any ship get away.¡± The First Officer, however, looked deeply worried, ¡°Sir, if I¡¯m not mistaken, that¡¯s the Rapids. Di Lou has joined the Justice Pirate Group. With our position and speed, even if we catch up to them, we¡¯ll be very close to the Empire¡¯s coastline. Also, catching the Rapids¡­ will be difficult.¡± Silver Hook furrowed his brows and shouted angrily at the First Officer, ¡°Then tell me what to do?!¡± The First Officer lowered his brow and had no good solution. Just then, a voice came through, ¡°Let me handle it.¡± A look of surprise instantly spread across the First Officer¡¯s face. Silver Hook was astonished, ¡°Big brother, you should be resting¡­¡± The person who appeared was Golden Hook. A Golden Level fighter! ¡°Everyone in the Justice Pirate Group, listen well, I am Golden Hook. We¡¯re all pirates, so if you give up half of your loot, I will let you go,¡± Golden Hook¡¯s voice was low but clearly enveloped the entire sea. ¡°Golden Hook?!¡± The members of the Justice Pirate Group were utterly shocked. Wasn¡¯t this Golden Level powerhouse always stationed on Jin-Yin Island? How could he be on Silver Hook¡¯s ship? ¡°This is bad!¡± ¡°A Golden Fighter, we¡¯re doomed.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to offend the prestige of the Gold and Silver brothers; there¡¯s a saying in the Eastern Empire¡ªA true man can bend and stretch!¡± The Dragon-man youth¡¯s expression was grave, ¡°Golden Hook! Can¡¯t you see our waterline? We truly have no loot.¡± Golden Hook coldly chuckled, ¡°Many times, the value of goods is not reflected in their weight, right? Stop sailing, stop the ship and accept inspection. You have a certain level of power and can loot in these seas. But every time you encounter us, you must surrender half your goods¡ªthat¡¯s the rule!¡± The Dragon-man youth paused, ¡°Then we welcome you to come on board and inspect.¡± ¡°But to ask us to stop the ship?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°We have come to this place in rapid sailing because we have more urgent matters to attend to.¡± Golden Hook narrowed his eyes, the resolve of the Dragon-man youth stirring a murderous intent within him, ¡°I give you the last few seconds to consider. 3, 2¡­¡± Golden Hook hadn¡¯t reached 1 when he heard the Dragon-man youth sharply command, ¡°Fire the cannons!¡± Boom, boom, boom¡­ White smoke rose from all three ships of the Justice Pirate Group simultaneously. Then, cannonballs formed a sparse barrage, directly covering the pirate ship of the Gold and Silver brothers. The pirates let out cries of sudden pain, as the struck ships splintered wood in all directions. The Gold and Silver brothers both froze for a moment, then were consumed with rage. This damned new pirate group, daring to attack first! Utterly reckless! Chapter 262 - 262: Section 50: Long-range Engagements Chapter 262: Section 50: Long-range Engagements ¡°Fire, fire, everyone fire!¡± Silver Hook shouted furiously. After withstanding a round of artillery fire from the Justice Pirate Group, the Gold and Silver brothers and their crew quickly counterattacked. Sixteen pirate ships slightly turned their helms to align their broadsides with the Justice Pirate Group, while the bow cannons continuously rotated their positions. Bang bang bang¡­ A series of white smoke rose, and hundreds of bombs flew into the air one after another. The bombs pierced the air, whistling together like a torrential downpour toward the Justice Pirate Group. ... ¡°Dodge the gunfire!¡± The pirates of the Justice Pirate Group quickly sought cover, doing their best to dodge. Boom, boom, boom. Most of the bombs exploded in the water, causing towering pillars of water. A few bombs hit the hull. Some created holes in the ship¡¯s sides, others landed on the deck and exploded with a loud noise, sending shards flying everywhere. Some even exploded in mid-air, turning into a lethal rain, corroding the sails as they fell. The unfortunate pirates were either blown into pieces on the spot, screamed in agony from the acid rain, or fell into the sea with slim chances of survival. On the Little Bird. Bai Ya¡¯s ears buzzed. He shook his head vigorously, finally managing to stand up from a pile of wooden debris at his cannon station. Looking closely, Bai Ya saw that the cannon he operated had been deformed by a solid bomb and could no longer be used. Of the few pirates he worked with, only one survived. Blood and flesh scattered everywhere, the pungent smell of gunpowder, and a faint pain on his cheek. Bai Ya steadied his staggered form, trying to touch his own cheek with his hand. ¡°Hisss!¡± He gasped as the pain suddenly intensified. He cautiously felt with his hand and finally, in agony, pulled out a piece of wood slightly smaller than his pinky from just below his cheekbone. After removing the splinter, Bai Ya quickly pulled out some wound medicine from his chest. With trembling hands, he held a small amount of the medicine powder and then applied it to the wound on his cheek. Though ordinary, the Empire¡¯s wound medicine was very effective¡ªBai Ya¡¯s cheek stopped bleeding at once. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After some time, Bai Ya¡¯s hearing gradually returned. The buzzing sound subsided, and he heard the surrounding screams and pirates shouting, ¡°Get up, stand up, load the bombs, retaliate! Retaliate!¡± Bai Ya gritted his teeth and quickly dragged his body to the nearest cannon station. This station had lost its pirate operators; the others were urgently loading bombs. Bai Ya immediately filled in the gap. A similar scene was happening continuously on all three ships of the Justice Pirate Group. The Gold and Silver Brothers¡¯ fleet, larger and with far more cannons, put the Justice Pirate Group in a severe disadvantage just after one round of exchange. However, the Gold and Silver Pirate Group was even more anxious. The three ships of the Justice Pirate Group still maintained their speed, and the wind direction was favorable for the Dragon-man youth and his team. If this continued, the two sides would drift apart, and the Gold and Silver Pirate Group could only watch helplessly as the Justice Pirate Group escaped. At the critical moment, the only Silver Mage of the Gold and Silver Pirate Group took action. Wind Magic¡ªGale! After accumulating energy for a moment, the Silver Mage successfully cast the spell. The favorable wind of the Justice Pirate Group suddenly reversed, and the speeds of their three ships plummeted to the bottom. In contrast, half of the Gold and Silver Pirate Fleet caught the tailwind and their speed surged. ¡°Well done!¡± Silver Hook rejoiced. The Silver Mage smirked, fully focused on maintaining the gale as his mana quickly depleted. ¡°We must eliminate the enemy Mage!¡± Zong Ge said with a grave face. In warfare, it was common knowledge to prioritize removing the opposing Transcendent Magic System. The Mage had far more tactics than a fighter, and what was more terrifying was that the opposing Mage had achieved a Silver Level, posing a significantly high threat to the Justice Pirate Group. However! Golden Hook showed no signs of making a move. He simply stayed aboard the Silver Hook, guarding the Silver Mage, adopting a stance of waiting for the enemy to fall into the trap. If he had led the charge, the Dragon-man youth and his crew might have had an opportunity, but now, with this defensive posture, the Justice Pirate Group saw no chance at all! Another round of cannon fire ensued. Although the cannons of the Justice Pirate Group were sharp, with an average higher Level than those of the Gold and Silver Pirate Group, the latter had many ordinary cannons and some outdated firing mechanisms. But the sheer number of cannons in the Gold and Silver Pirate Group was overwhelming. The quantity had caused a qualitative change. The Justice Pirate Group was gradually getting overwhelmed. The Justice, a Black Iron Level magic vessel, had solid defense and was still in a good state. But both the Rapids and the Little Bird were in dire situations, especially the Little Bird, which was only a normal ship. Its surface was riddled with holes, and it was leaking inside. The Dragon-man youth urgently ordered a change in formation, positioning the Justice at the forefront while the Rapids and the Little Bird moved sideways. Consequently, the Justice faced increasing pressure. As the distance between the two sides closed, more bombs landed on the deck. The Dragon-man youth and One in Grey defended with all their might, but more and more bombs slipped through. Cannons boomed on the deck of the Little Bird as she fiercely pulled the rope, launching a cannonball. The cannonball whistled through the air and struck the enemy ship¡¯s mast, breaking it instantly and causing chaos among the enemy. ¡°Well done, girl!¡± shouted Little Bird excitedly as she slapped the cannon¡¯s backside. The Dragon-man youth had previously replenished the supplies, acquiring four Silver Level cannons from the Empire, all operated by Little Bird. Her artillery skills were the highest within the Justice Pirate Group, and since the battle began, Little Bird¡¯s achievements had been remarkable. ¡°Captain, we¡¯re all set here!¡± cried the pirates. Their gazes at Little Bird were filled with increasing admiration. During the onslaught of the enemy¡¯s cannon fire, Little Bird had become the pillar of morale for the pirates. Every cannonball she fired inflicted significant damage on the enemy, greatly stabilizing the spirits of her crew. Little Bird hurried over. ¡°This feels amazing!¡± She was visibly thrilled, thoroughly enjoying the pirates¡¯ admiring looks. ¡°The only pity is that I can only operate two cannons. If I could keep firing all four Silver Cannons continuously, that would feel incredible!¡± The four Silver Cannons were positioned along both sides of the ship. Since only one side faced the enemy, the cannons on the other side remained idle. With excitement, Little Bird moved to another cannon station. He caressed the cannon¡¯s breech lovingly and adjusted the direction of the cannon¡¯s muzzle. He only had a Black Iron Level Cultivation, while the cannons he operated were of the Silver Level, but it didn¡¯t matter; there was no need for Little Bird to channel his Fighting Energy. The mana reserves in the ¡®Justice¡¯ Mana Pool were high, and once Little Bird finished the adjustments, the mana was immediately transferred to the cannons. However, just as Little Bird was about to fire, his heart suddenly clenched, a violent throb altering his expression. ¡°Take cover!¡± Little Bird, with his extensive combat experience, immediately recognized this palpitation and, with a roll, dove behind the pillars between the cannons. The next second, an ordinary-looking cold arrow mixed with a rain of cannonballs shot into his position. Boom! The arrow exploded, releasing a burst of silver Fighting Energy, killing all the pirates at that cannon station. The Silver Level cannon there was destroyed on the spot. Little Bird narrowly escaped death, and after the fear came anger. ¡°Damn it, someone¡¯s targeting me!¡± he roared, standing up abruptly, chest puffed out. But as he reached the heavily damaged cannon station, he immediately dropped to the ground, sneakily peeking out with a sly look. The enemy ship was teeming with figures, making it impossible for Little Bird to spot the archer. ¡°No matter, it must have been a Silver Fighter who did this! I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± He knelt on the ground, concealing his body, and then pulled out a Luck Holy Rune to start praying. On the ocean, the distance between the Justice Pirate Group and the Gold and Silver Brothers was rapidly closing. The former was veering northwest, while the latter approached from the northeast. The Silver Mage continued to maintain the Gale, guarded closely by the Gold and Silver Brothers themselves. Magic Scroll¡ªWindless Domain! Inside the Captain¡¯s cabin of the ¡®Justice¡¯, Cang Xu, having prepared for a long time, finally managed to cast this Wind Magic. He was an Undead Mage, and acting alone, his Undead Magic could cause morale to plummet among friends and foes alike, revealing his identity. But using the Magic Scroll, he could cast spells across different magic systems. Unlike the Wind Element Silver Mage on the opposing side, using the Magic Scroll cost Cang Xu more Mana, took longer, and had a weaker effect. After all, Cang Xu¡¯s Mana was not of the Wind Attribute. The Windless Domain enveloped a large area, covering the three ships of the Justice Pirate Group. This spell had once been used by the Sea Snake Lady against the Dragon-man youth and his allies, but now it was helping them. The gale swept in, and upon entering the Windless Domain, its force significantly diminished. The three ships of the Justice Pirate Group felt as if they had shed a great burden and their speed improved considerably. Cang Xu was panting heavily. This was a Silver Level Magic Scroll, and the demand for Mana was heavy for someone of the Black Iron Level. The scroll in Cang Xu¡¯s hands gradually turned to ash as he took every second to recuperate. He pulled out a Magic Potion, downing the pale blue liquid in one gulp. As the potion took effect, the Mana within his body began to rapidly replenish. The emergence of the Windless Domain astonished the Gold and Silver Brothers. ¡°They have a Mage too!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s just Black Iron Level.¡± ¡°Even though he used a Silver Level scroll, he¡¯s still no match for us.¡± The Mage among the members of the Gold and Silver Pirate Group was a Wind Element Silver Mage, using his strongest Wind Magic, which was very powerful. Just using a Silver Scroll by Black Iron Level Cang Xu was not enough to counter it. But the members of the Gold and Silver Pirate Group didn¡¯t revel in their advantage for long, as the next moment, the bow of the ¡®Justice¡¯ lit up with a faint glow. The bow figure was an Angel, his expression solemn, fists clenched at his chest, head bowed in prayer. His wide wings nearly enveloped his whole body, conveying a strong sense of security. It was indeed the Dragon-man youth who had taken Lan Zao¡¯s advice and, during their recent respite, purchased the Peace Angel figurehead from the Empire! The function of this figurehead was to quell storms and bring serenity. It, too, was a Silver Level Magic Tool! Chapter 263 - 263: Section 51: Fishing Ship Hook Chapter 263: Section 51: Fishing Ship Hook The Justice¡¯s mana pool constantly infused demon energy, and the soft glow at the bow covered a vast expanse of sea, extending even beyond the Windless Domain. With that, the gale blowing head-on was rendered completely ineffective. ¡°Destroy it!¡± shouted the Silver Mage, who maintained the spell, his tone frantic and distressed. ¡°Let me handle it,¡± a one-eyed archer on another ship called out loudly in response. This was a young man, his sharp, elongated ears betraying his identity¡ªan elf. He drew his bow, his Silver Level aura brimming unchecked. ... Fighting energy was crazily infused. The next moment, he gently released his hand, and the arrow shot forth, tracing a brilliant silver arc through the air. The silver arc headed almost straight for the Peace Angel statue. The Dragon-man youth snorted coldly, unleashing his innate magical Dragon Roar, targeting the arrow. However, when the silver arc met the Dragon Roar, it violently exploded, the silver light dissipating greatly, revealing the hazy form of the arrow itself. The arrow still sped towards the Peace Angel statue. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s color changed significantly; at the crucial moment, a figure cloaked in grey sprang into action. Combat Skill¡ªShocking Grey! In the next moment, the grey shadow of a Stabbing Sword flew out, striking the faint silver arrow directly. Just as the figure in grey showed a self-satisfied expression, suddenly, the arrow disintegrated. Countless fine needles poured down like rain, indiscriminately shooting in all directions. The figure in grey hastily retreated, rolling across the deck to dodge. After the rain of needles passed, the figure in grey stood up in a disheveled state. Many slender needles were stuck in his body, and the fighting energy inside him fell into chaos. The figure in grey hurriedly pulled the needles from his body and began forcefully suppressing the fighting energy that threatened to burst out uncontrollably. For a short time, he would be unable to join the battle! The Dragon-man youth, Zong Ge, and Cang Xu all showed a change in complexion. Not only was there a Silver Mage among the opponents, but one of the Silver Fighters was also an expert with the bow. The previous shot was clearly a powerful combat technique. At the same time, it was assisted by Silver Level alchemy arrows, revealing formidable attacking prowess! Although the Justice Pirate Group managed to temporarily protect the Peace Angel statue, it resulted in the figure in grey being temporarily incapacitated, a costly sacrifice indeed. ¡°What a pity!¡± In the Gold and Silver Pirate Group, the young-looking one-eyed elf archer let his bow drop powerlessly. The arrow he had just shot had also drained much of his fighting energy and mental strength, leaving him in a weakened state. Boom! It was at this time that a Silver Level bomb shot out from the Justice. The bomb was enveloped in a rainbow glow, heading straight for the one-eyed elf. An alarm sounded in the one-eyed elf¡¯s mind, but his stubborn nature would not allow him to dodge; instead, he laughed coldly, struggling to lift his bow and arrow again. However, just as he was about to shoot to intercept, a Silver Fighter on another ship had already made a move, deflecting the bomb. The one-eyed elf watched as the bomb changed course dramatically and let out a sigh of relief, putting down his bow and arrow again. But in the next moment, a solid bomb from his allies¡¯ pirate ship accidentally hit the enemy¡¯s Silver Level bomb. Once again, the bomb¡¯s direction changed drastically. The one-eyed elf tensed up body and soul and raised his bow again. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But he soon realized that the enemy bomb had whizzed past the left side of his flagship and penetrated into the gun position of another pirate ship. The one-eyed elf put down his bow. Boom! The explosion¡¯s force was astonishingly powerful. A colossal wave was stirred up by the blast, severely tilting the one-eyed elf¡¯s flagship. The one-eyed elf looked up at the sky as the waves covered the sky, nearly blocking out all light! Seawater smashed onto the deck of the one-eyed elf¡¯s flagship, thoroughly drenching him and the other pirates on deck. However, none of them minded this. Pirates who made their living at sea were long accustomed to being soaked. Yet, after the wave passed, and their sight cleared, the pirates began to scream manically. ¡°Turn the helm! Turn the helm!¡± ¡°Quickly dodge, dodge!!¡± ¡°Did it hit the gunpowder store? Damn it!¡± The pirate ship hit by the Silver bomb burned fiercely, emitting thick smoke, and completely lost control. As it started to sink, it rushed toward the one-eyed elf¡¯s flagship. The one-eyed elf¡¯s flagship had no time to evade and watched helplessly as it was struck by its own pirate ship. The colliding pirate ship¡¯s main mast fell over, crashing onto the deck of the one-eyed elf¡¯s flagship and nearly hitting the one-eyed elf himself! The one-eyed elf held up his bow and arrow in vain, rendered speechless. Now, the speed of his pirate ship greatly reduced, he was swiftly left behind by the other swiftly sailing ships. On board the Justice, Little Bird punched the deck with resentment. The previous successful shot had come from his own hand. Now, he was completely exhausted, his Black Iron fighting energy nearly depleted, and his Luck Holy Rune dim and lightless. To bless the bomb with the Luck Divine Arts, Little Bird had to use his own fighting energy as the medium. He was no longer able to fight. Killing a Silver Level warrior still proved too taxing for him. The One-eyed Elf was not an ordinary Silver Level fighter, and other Silver Level warriors had intervened along the way. For the little bird to strike down an enemy ship and even hamper the One-eyed Elf¡¯s flagship was already a remarkable achievement! On the sea, the Gold and Silver Pirate Group was closing in on the Dragon-man youth and his companions. Clearly, the Gold and Silver Pirate Group wanted to engage in a boarding battle, intending to fully stop the Justice Pirate Group. Knowing the strength of their enemy, the Justice Pirate Group had been contemplating retreat since the onset of the battle. All their cannon fire and spells were in service of slowing down the enemy pursuit. The Gold and Silver Pirate Group lost two of their pirate ships, which had collided. The remaining fourteen vessels plunged into the domain affected by the Peace Angel. They then entered the Windless Domain. The speed of the Gold and Silver Pirate Group dramatically decreased. They needed to dispel the Windless Domain. However, their Silver Mage was in a somewhat awkward position. He had to maintain the Gale spell at all times, which was mentally exhausting, and casting another spell simultaneously proved too difficult, beyond his capabilities. If he halted the Gale spell, the Justice Pirate Group would no longer be affected by the headwind and their speed would soar, eluding the Gold and Silver brethren. On the Justice, Cang Xu was ready, not needing to maintain the Windless Domain. ¡°We can shake them off!¡± Zong Ge clenched his fists quietly, hoping for the best as things stood. At that critical moment, Golden Hook took a deep breath and stepped forward. ¡°Brother!¡± shouted Silver Hook. Golden Fighting Spirit surged from Golden Hook¡¯s body. He slowly reached back, grasping the weapon on his back ¨C a Green Bamboo Fishing Rod. In the next instant, he swung his right arm to his chest, slicing down sharply with the bamboo rod, and at the same time, the fishing line shot out, endlessly extending as if boundless. The hook, infused with Golden Fighting Spirit, rapidly expanded. Cang Xu and the Dragon-man youth struck out to intercept. But the Golden Hook pierced through all obstacles forcefully. With a crisp metallic ring, it hooked onto the base of the mainmast of the Justice. Combat Skill ¨C Fishing Ship Hook! Golden Hook stood firm and unyielding as a mountain, gripping the rod with both hands, his arm muscles bulging, swelling significantly in an instant. He shouted lowly, yanking the fishing rod behind him. The Justice was struck by an unimaginable force, its speed plummeting, and the entire ship tilted in the direction of the fishing line. The Dragon-man youth, Cang Xu, and others struck furiously at the hook and the line, but the Golden Fighting Spirit withstood all attacks. ¡°This is a Holy Domain Level weapon!¡± the Dragon-man youth realized gravely. A Holy Artifact combined with Golden Fighting Spirit meant that the Dragon-man youth and his group could do nothing against it. They could only watch helplessly as the Justice¡¯s speed was severely slowed, while the Silver Hook approached swiftly along the fishing line. The morale of the pirates aboard the Justice plummeted, a chill arising from the depths of their hearts. ¡°Damn it! Golden Hook has made his move.¡± ¡°We¡¯re done for!¡± ¡°I feel like a fish on the hook, utterly hopeless of escape!¡± Golden Hook truly lived up to his Gold Level status, his movements extraordinary. He completely thwarted the escape plans of the Dragon-man youth and his companions. They could only watch as the Silver Hook broke away from the fleet, hurtling through the waves and crashing towards the Justice. The distance narrowed. Both parties could now clearly see one another¡¯s faces without the need for telescopes. ¡°Flying Hook Squad, move out!¡± ordered Silver Hook, seizing the opportunity. A team of over twenty elite fighters appeared, their waists wrapped with ropes, the ends equipped with hooks. This was the infamous Flying Hook Squad of the Gold and Silver brethren. Upon Silver Hook¡¯s command, the Flying Hook Squad let out a unified battle cry as they removed the hooks from their waists, spinning them at their sides. Then, with a flick of their fingers, over twenty hooks soared into the air. The ropes extended in midair, stretching a distance of several hundred meters and directly hooked onto the Justice. Some hooks latched onto the gunwale, others wound around the masts, while some clung to the windows. ¡°We¡¯ve got them!¡± ¡°The enemy can¡¯t escape anymore!!¡± ¡°All together now, pull.¡± The pirates from the Gold and Silver gang snapped awake. ¡°Oh ho ho, pull! Wo hey ho, pull again!¡± Accompanied by thunderous chants, the Flying Hook Squad pulled in unison, binding the two ships tightly together. Seeing this, Golden Hook ceased his Combat Skill. The fishing line, agile as a snake, quickly retracted. The pirates on the Justice tried ineffectively to destroy the Flying Hook Squad¡¯s ropes. They discovered that these hooks were firmly embedded in the ship¡¯s structure, with the hooks¡¯ grasp on the Justice reinforced as the Fighting energy flowed and adjusted, ensuring an iron-tight grip. The Dragon-man youth noticed something subtle: ¡°Their breathing is completely in sync, their use of Fighting energy as if by one person. This is a Combined Attack Skill!¡± The Flying Hook Squad, with over 20 members at least at Bronze Level, and their leader at Black Iron Level, displayed a Combined Attack Skill, moving as one being. To confront them meant facing all twenty-plus fighters at once. ¡°Lord Long Fu, what do we do?¡± The pirates were panic-stricken, all turning their pleading gazes toward the Dragon-man youth. Under the watchful eye of all, the Dragon-man youth gave an order that seemed beyond belief. He ordered the Rapids to break away from the fleet immediately and head for White Wings Port directly. Until new orders were received, their primary mission was to escape the battlefield by all means, for it would be their greatest contribution to the battle! ¡°What?!¡± Not only were the other pirates shocked, so was Di Lou, the Captain of the Rapids, himself. Chapter 264 - 264: Section 52: Boarding and Slaughter Chapter 264: Section 52: Boarding and Slaughter ¡°Do as I say!¡± The Dragon-man youth¡¯s expression was cold and indifferent as he bellowed at Di Lou before turning to command the pirates of the Justice, ¡°Men! Steer the ship, full speed ahead, target the Silver Hook! Let¡¯s ram them to death!!¡± ¡°Lord Long Fu?!¡± The pirates were stunned. But those pirates who occupied key positions, mostly their own people from Mysterious Monster Island, hesitated for a moment before choosing to follow the Dragon-man youth¡¯s command. So, the Justice suddenly changed course and headed straight for the Silver Hook. All the pirates aboard the Silver Hook were bewildered! They had never seen such a fierce opponent who would actually choose to ram into them! ... At that moment, the young Dragon-man¡¯s boldness overwhelmed them. They panicked. ¡°Quick, quick, stop!¡± Silver Hook hurriedly ordered. The Flying Hook squad quickly withdrew; if they continued to pull hard, they would only help the enemy ship ram into them with greater force. They had never encountered such a situation before! Most of the time, enemy ships would flee in terror, and after being captured by the Flying Hook, many ships¡¯ crews would collapse in morale, with many surrendering on the spot. There were also enemy ships that would fight to the death after realizing they were hooked and couldn¡¯t escape. But the Justice was different. This was a Black Iron Level demon energy ship! If it actually rammed them, the Silver Hook would surely be dragged down with it. ¡°Brother!¡± Silver Hook looked at his older brother. Golden Hook¡¯s face remained calm, his expression thoughtful. After a few seconds, he issued an order. Half of the Golden Silver Pirate Group¡¯s ships, including the Silver Hook, were to deal with the Justice and the Little Bird. The other half of the faster pirate ships, led by Golden Hook himself, would pursue the Rapids. ¡°The other ship is fleeing at full speed¡ªthey must be hiding treasures! Catch it, it is a cunning prey!¡± Golden Hook¡¯s voice spread throughout the fleet. ¡°Oh!!¡± The pirates responded in unison and chased after them, full of aggressive momentum. Seeing Golden Hook personally taking action and dispatching such a large force, the entire Justice Pirate Group was filled with shock and suspicion. Cang Xu and Zong Ge showed a pensive look. Di Lou began to flee. Although he couldn¡¯t understand the purpose of the command issued by the Dragon-man youth, the bard felt somewhat secretly pleased. After all, he had signed a contract with the Dragon-man youth and could not afford to back down at this juncture. ¡°Who would have thought that Lord Long Fu would issue such a command!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Eh!¡± Di Lou¡¯s inner glee didn¡¯t last long before his eyes nearly bulged out. ¡°Oh my God!!¡± He saw Golden Hook leading his men, abandoning the Justice, and pouncing with half of the pirates directly towards him. Di Lou¡¯s face was filled with horror. ¡°Why, why are you coming after me?¡± ¡°Do you have a grudge against me that¡¯s as deep as a blood feud?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t come after me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a minor character!¡± ¡°Lord Long Fu is my captain! Why are you targeting me?¡± Di Lou howled helplessly in his mind. Then, he heard Golden Hook¡¯s shout to his men. Di Lou shivered: ¡°Hm?! Could there really be some treasure hidden on my ship? Is that why Captain Long Fu issued such a command?¡± ¡°Captain Long Fu has set me up!¡± Di Lou felt immense pressure. He was essentially resisting a Golden Level powerhouse and half of the enemy fleet on his own. Di Lou became so anxious his face turned pale as he pulled the helmsman away and took over the steering himself. ¡°Activate the Rapids device!¡± he immediately ordered loudly. There was magical equipment on the Rapids that could trigger rapid water currents to propel the ship and speed up its navigation. Using it now, their speed surged instantly. ¡°You can¡¯t escape.¡± Golden Hook sneered, leading his fleet in pursuit with an air of unrelenting resolve. The battlefield was thus split in two. On the other side, the Justice was speeding toward a collision with the Silver Hook. If the collision did happen, the Justice¡¯s newly purchased Peace Angel figurehead would surely be shattered, and both ships¡¯ bows were likely to be destroyed. The outcome waiting for them would be to sink on the spot! ¡°Stop it, Mage, stop it now!¡± Silver Hook ordered urgently. He didn¡¯t want to see his flagship dragged down by the enemy. It wasn¡¯t that he lacked the courage to fight desperately, but rather his side held a great advantage. There was no need for them to be desperate when the enemy was. The Silver Mage had been previously maintaining the Gale to restrict the Rapids¡¯ speed from afar. Receiving Silver Hook¡¯s order, the Mage had to cease that spell and pulled out a magic scroll from his chest. Magic Scroll¡ªExtreme Cold Ice Seal! Chilling air furiously surged, spreading across the sea between the two ships. Crackling¡­ The seawater was flowing one second, and in the next, it had frozen into ice. The cold air spread rapidly, transforming the nearby sea into a temporary glacier. Both the Justice and the Silver Hook were covered with silver frost. The Justice, although it had been charging fiercely, was now hindered by the ice seal, and its speed rapidly decreased, eventually stopping on the ice surface, still a dozen steps away from the Silver Hook. ¡°Charge with me!¡± roared the Dragon-man youth, leaping up and landing directly onto the deck of the Silver Hook. Yi Shen regained his composure and followed closely behind. Behind them, Lan Zao and others set up boarding planks, forming a temporary bridge, and stormed toward the Silver Hook in groups. ¡°Sanda, you¡¯re in charge of the Little Bird. The rest of you, come with me!¡± Zong Ge issued the orders, jumping from the deck of the Little Bird onto the ice. ¡°My lord!¡± Sanda wanted to follow Zong Ge but was sternly stopped by his glare. ¡°No way, are we really going to board the Silver Hook?¡± Xu Ma was terrified. It was much better to stay on the Little Bird, where there was a chance to escape. Now, rushing towards the enemy ship, there was no way out unless they occupied it! But there was no choice. Xu Ma knew that if he tried to flee, the moment he revealed his intentions, Zong Ge¡¯s two-handed greatsword would be greeting his neck. ¡°Curse you, Captain Lion Flag! My god, please let me survive this battle,¡± Xu Ma lamented, following Zong Ge and charging toward the Silver Hook. With a thundering roar, the Dragon-man youth jumped onto the Silver Hook. The deck of the Silver Hook was extremely crowded. The Dragon-man youth had barely steadied his feet when four Transcendents attacked him simultaneously. The Dragon-man snorted out a breath of hot air and swept his claws across his front. Screams of agony arose the next moment as the Transcendents were sent flying backward, some falling to the deck, others knocking down fellow pirates. Black Iron Level pirates were lucky to survive, their abdomens nearly slashed through by the Dragon Claw; Bronze Level ones died on the spot. Their attacks also struck the Dragon-man youth, but they were all repelled by Dragon Scales. Legend-infused Dragon Scales, although limited by the youth¡¯s cultivation and only at the Silver Level, were still not something these Transcendents could penetrate. Relying on the Dragon Scales, the youth charged wildly across the deck of the Silver Hook. He boldly attacked the long-famed Flying Hook squad. The leaders of the Flying Hook squad stepped forward to defend. The hooks flew in all directions, trying to catch the Dragon-man youth. The Dragon-man youth suddenly ducked down, running almost on all fours. Boom! Boom! Boom! His Dragon Claws and feet stamped hard on the deck, with his Blast Fighting Spirit erupting at intervals, causing a series of miniature explosions. The explosions propelled his body, sending him zigzagging straight ahead like a cannonball. The hooks couldn¡¯t even catch his shadow and instead snagged on other pirates. The Dragon-man youth sent obstructing pirates flying; ordinary pirates, no matter how strong, were instantly killed by his charge. After several movements, the Dragon-man youth stepped on the gunwale, skimming the deck almost like a voracious dragon diving, and killed his way to the rear of the Flying Hook squad. Bronze Level elite Flying Hook members fought desperately to resist. The Dragon-man youth swung his Dragon Claw, imbued with combat energy, with a fiercely sharp attack. The Dragon Claw sliced through the chests of the Flying Hook Pirates as easily as if cutting through butter with a hot knife. With another powerful grip, the youth crushed a pirate¡¯s head, splashing warm brain matter and blood across his own face. ¡°Stop it!¡± A Black Iron Level leader hurriedly fought his way back to intervene. The Dragon-man youth turned to fight once more. After a round of combat, the leaders were thrown away, one Black Iron Hook leader landing permanently on the deck. ¡°Come and fight me!¡± A Silver Fighter wielding a sailor¡¯s scimitar leaped from a nearby pirate ship, attempting to halt the Dragon-man youth¡¯s slaughter. ¡°Your opponent is me!¡± Yi Shen stepped forward, blocking the man with his Stabbing Sword. ¡°I want you dead!¡± Silver Hook, seeing his carefully trained Flying Hook squad slaughtered in such a manner, was red-eyed with rage and charged over with a biting murderous intent. His weapon, also a fishing rod, radiated a bronze hue¡ªit was a Golden Level weapon. The fishing rod, like a long spear, aimed a direct stab at the face of the Dragon-man youth. The youth bent his knees, crouching slightly, and a burst of combat energy exploded from the soles of his feet, propelling his body backward quickly, widening the gap between him and Silver Hook. Silver Hook pursued relentlessly. The Dragon-man youth had no intention to engage him, retreating as he fought. The subordinates of Silver Hook shouted wildly, wanting to help their Captain intercept the Dragon-man youth. For those blind fools, the Dragon-man youth satisfied their wish for death. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Silver Hook couldn¡¯t believe that this ferocious-looking Dragon-man youth could be so cunning, and shouted in frustration, ¡°Have the guts to fight me!¡± Since boarding the Silver Hook, the Dragon-man youth had been sweeping through Silver Hook¡¯s mid- and lower-level elite with his lightning-fast methods, achieving remarkable results. Glancing back, he saw his own elites flooding onto the deck of the Silver Hook. Due to his slaughter, they had easily secured their footing, and he turned and charged at Silver Hook. Silver Hook was caught off guard by the Dragon-man youth¡¯s sudden ferocity and hastily responded, falling at a disadvantage for a moment. Combat Skill¡ªShark Entanglement! Silver Hook¡¯s heart thundered with rage, and he suddenly unleashed a surge of intense fighting energy. The energy flowed along his fishing rod weapon, spurting out from the tip, forming dozens of pale silver fishing lines. The Dragon-man youth dodged some of them, but there were too many lines, and some still wrapped around his body, the restraining force swiftly intensifying. The Dragon-man youth immediately felt his movements hindered, severely affected by the fighting energy-formed fishing lines, his actions distorted, beginning to falter in both offense and defense. Silver Hook¡¯s Combat Skill was quite unique, with the effect of controlling the enemy. Had it been an ordinary Silver Fighter, they would likely be extremely impeded and facing imminent defeat. The Dragon-man youth, however, relied on his Blood Core Mutation, his physical condition far surpassing an ordinary Silver Fighter, almost like a humanoid Dragon Beast. ¡°Is the constitution of Dragon-men all this strong?!¡± Silver Hook gritted his teeth privately, still feeling as though he¡¯d hooked a whale, despite going all out, there was a constant risk of being led around or the prey escaping his grasp. Chapter 265 - 265: Section 53: Slaughter Chapter 265: Section 53: Slaughter Combat Skill¡ªShocking Grey! A surge of grey fighting energy burst forth, and he swung his Stabbing Sword fluidly, creating a sharp, grey sword mark. His opponent, wielding a pirate scimitar, also executed a combat skill. Boom! The blade light and the sword mark collided and exploded against each other, unleashing a powerful shockwave. The shockwave sent Shocking Grey and the Silver Fighter flying, and some unfortunate pirates nearby were instantly slain by the residual force of the combat skills. ... The sails of the Silver Hook, being close by, were torn apart by the explosive force of the combat skills, and then the blast winds tore through them. The Silver Hook, just like the Justice, was a vessel of the Human Race with Black Iron Level demon energy. However, this level was still insufficient to withstand the life-or-death struggle of Silver level combatants. More terrifying was the fact that there were more than just Shocking Grey and the Silver Fighter clashing aboard the Silver Hook. Silver Hook felt immense pain in his heart as he watched the scene unfold, greatly regretting his decisions. If only he had acted first to shift the battlefield to the Justice, he wouldn¡¯t have let the enemy seize the initiative, causing him great discomfort. At this moment, he poured all his fighting energy into maintaining the thin strands of his fishing line. The fishing line wrapped around the body of the Dragon-man youth. The Dragon-man youth thrashed about, vigorously summoning his fighting energy. The explosive nature of his Blast Fighting Spirit was of great assistance. The fishing line binding him was continuously breaking. But simultaneously, Silver Hook kept increasing the threads of fishing line, rewrapping them around the Dragon-man youth. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s fighting energy and immense strength weighed heavily on Silver Hook¡¯s mind: ¡°This guy¡¯s strength is incredible. His Dragon lineage must be extraordinary! And here I am, using a Gold level weapon!¡± Silver Hook¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, his expression growing grim. The fight had now confirmed that the Dragon-man youth before him was exceptionally powerful. Although his Cultivation had not reached the Silver Peak, his combat power had indeed reached the peak of Silver. The main reason must be that his bloodline was remarkable, which resulted in an unbelievably high overall quality in the Dragon-man youth, especially in terms of strength, endurance, and recovery power. ¡°This is going too slowly!¡± the Dragon-man youth thought discontentedly. His fight with Silver Hook was progressing well. However, the Dragon-man youth was a leader, and his mind was on the overall battle. Now, Golden Hook and others were temporarily lured away by Di Lou¡¯s strategy. This was the opportunity the Dragon-man youth had gambled on! He had to grasp this opportunity to ensure a local advantage. Only with a significant advantage could he face the returning Gold combatants in a moment¡¯s time. A fierce intensity suddenly flashed across the young Dragon Head. Boom! The next moment, his entire body exploded. The explosion was so loud that others on the deck of the Silver Hook couldn¡¯t help but glance over. As the smoke cleared, the Dragon-man youth was covered in wounds, with blood splattering on the deck around him. Many areas of his Dragon Scales were severely damaged, revealing patches of blurred flesh. The Dragon-man youth exhaled a murky breath, shook his head slightly, and his neck made a crackling sound. ¡°This feels much better. Hehehe.¡± He cracked a smile, revealing sharp, gleaming white Dragon teeth. The fishing lines on his body had completely vanished. ¡°He¡¯s insane!¡± Silver Hook¡¯s pupils shrank as he witnessed this. ¡°To escape my control, he actually blew himself up!¡± At that moment, a shadow flickered through Silver Hook¡¯s mind. He thought of Ya Wu. That pirate from decades ago, who, with Silver Cultivation, challenged various Gold combatants. The violent way the Dragon-man youth broke free from his bonds reminded Silver Hook of him. Silver Hook¡¯s spirit immediately weakened. The young Dragon man¡¯s eyes flickered sharply, noticing his opponent¡¯s morale dropping. Boom! He fiercely blasted the deck beneath him, creating a hole, and shot towards Silver Hook like a bomb. Silver Hook clenched his teeth, the Dragon-man youth¡¯s imposing presence alarming him! ¡°It seems you are all the same, crazy and aggressive! But, I too have reasons I cannot back down!¡± Silver Hook mustered his courage; instead of avoiding, he braced himself to meet the Dragon-man youth head-on. Boom, boom, boom¡­ The two clashed again, exchanging blows, a fierce struggle ensuing. The Dragon-man youth attacked fiercely, bloodthirsty and aggressive, attacking in place of defending, often allowing the enemy¡¯s hits to land on him just to strike Silver Hook. Silver Hook, repeatedly hit, was soon bruised and swollen. Dragon Claws tore through his leather armor in multiple places; Dragon Fists left his bones aching. ¡°This guy¡¯s too strong! Someone of the same level from the Human Race can¡¯t match his strength.¡± Silver Hook quickly retreated, desperately defending, barely managing to withstand the Dragon-man youth¡¯s tempestuous onslaught. Gradually, Silver Hook steadied his footing and began to turn the situation around. This was not surprising. Silver Hook¡¯s weapon was of Gold Level, not a regular sword or knife, but a rare fishing rod. His entire suit of leather armor was of Silver Level. He also had a wealth of combat skills, some quite unique. The Dragon-man youth, however, had few combat skills to use. His Blast Fighting Energy secret included a Flame Burst Technique, but he hadn¡¯t had time to master it. He did have some innate magic, such as Dragon Power, Dragon Roar, and Scorching Dragon Breath. However, in such a fast-paced situation of attack and defense, he could barely use Dragon Breath; Silver Hook wouldn¡¯t give him the chance. Silver Hook also wore magical accessories, which made Dragon Roar and Dragon Power almost ineffective. In fact, the Dragon-man youth tried his best not to use Dragon Power, since the deck of the Silver Hook was already a chaotic battlefield with friends and foes intermingled, making it hard to distinguish between them. After another short fight, Silver Hook gained the upper hand. A fishing line, transparent and extremely sharp, suddenly flashed by. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he violently leaned backward, trying his best to dodge. However, the fishing line still cut him, slicing off a piece of flesh from his right shoulder. Due to his previous self-detonation, the youth was not fully covered in Dragon Scales, and his defense was not at its peak. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Silver Hook laughed heartily, ¡°Do you know what this combat skill is called? It¡¯s called ¡®De-scaling,¡¯ and it suits you well!¡± Silver Hook¡¯s previously diminished aura returned. He had discovered the best tactic to deal with the Dragon-man youth, which was to maintain a certain distance. His fishing rod was a long weapon, and combined with the fishing line, it had a very large attack range. Most crucially, the Dragon-man youth had a weakness. The youth lacked long-range combat skills. Severely lacked! Therefore, at mid-range, the Dragon-man youth¡¯s attacks were weak, while Silver Hook was in an absolute position of advantage. The youth coldly snorted in his heart. He had discovered this weakness long ago, which was why he had previously taken an interest in the Dragon Claw Strike combat skill. The Dragon-man youth charged fiercely towards Silver Hook, who hastily retreated, doing his best to maintain the distance between them. Although the deck of the Silver Hook was crowded, his fishing line could hook onto crossbars, helping him fly around. He also had Flying Combat Techniques, and his long weapon allowed him to keep attacking the Dragon-man youth. Silver Hook demonstrated a cunning nature, and as ferocious as the Dragon-man youth was, if he couldn¡¯t get close, he would hardly threaten Silver Hook. The Dragon-man youth charged at Silver Hook again. Silver Hook swung his fishing line, hooked onto the Main Mast, and his body elegantly swung over, easily dodging the Dragon-man youth¡¯s attack. ¡°Ha ha ha, useless! Ha ha ha¡­ugh!¡± Silver Hook laughed arrogantly, but the next moment, it was like someone suddenly choked a duck, and his laughter abruptly stopped. Because he saw the Dragon-man youth suddenly turn around and charge towards the Silver Mage! Ever since the Silver Mage had cast Ice Magic, he had been hiding in the captain¡¯s cabin at the ship¡¯s stern, using spells to search for Cang Xu. ¡°I¡¯ve finally found you!¡± the Silver Mage coldly laughed while maintaining a scouting spell, and then gently touched the emerald ring on his right thumb three times with his fingertip. The next moment, the emerald ring emitted a brilliant green glow. As the green light faded, an elusive Wind Elemental appeared in front of the Silver Mage. This Wind Elemental was no ordinary one; it resembled a five or six-year-old child, with agile yet cold eyes. This was a carefully cultivated Wind Elemental Magic Pet by the Silver Mage, whom he had cultivated into a sharp assassin through special methods. ¡°Go, kill this man!¡± the Silver Mage ordered the Wind Elemental assassin in his mind. Although the Wind Elemental assassin was only at the Black Iron Level, it had a great advantage over other mages of the same Black Iron Level. The Silver Mage was very confident in this, as he had successfully assassinated many Bronze and Black Iron Level mages with the Wind Elemental assassin. The Wind Elemental assassin nodded to its master and gradually became invisible. It was about to leave when, boom! A red figure, like a bomb, directly shattered the captain¡¯s cabin. Amid countless broken planks and wood chips, the Dragon-man youth arrived in front of the Silver Mage. The Silver Mage was terrified, screaming internally, ¡°Silver Hook, what are you doing?!¡± Silver Hook was furious, fiercely pursuing the Dragon-man youth. He was desperate to maintain his distance from the youth, and when the Dragon-man youth suddenly changed his attack target, Silver Hook was caught off guard and could only frantically chase. Shriek! The Wind Elemental assassin emitted a sharp cry and counterattacked the Dragon-man youth. The Magic Contract dictated that it must protect its master. The Dragon-man youth, with both eyes fixed on the Silver Mage, swung his claw, and the Wind Elemental assassin was swept away by the Dragon Claw, directly cut into several pieces. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Silver Mage¡¯s face turned pale, he was only a few steps away from the Dragon-man youth, already feeling the intense blood and heat radiating from him. Bang! The Dragon Claw struck towards the Silver Mage but was blocked by a spherical shield. A defensive mechanism inherent in the Silver Mage¡¯s Magic Robe had been activated. Delayed by this, Silver Hook raised his fishing rod and fiercely stabbed at the Dragon-man youth¡¯s back. The Dragon-man youth was prepared and suddenly opened his mouth. Innate Magic¡ªDragon Roar! The Silver Mage hesitated, and the spherical shield abruptly shattered. The Dragon Claw fiercely plunged into the Silver Mage¡¯s head. Simultaneously, the fishing rod, like a long spear, stabbed into the Dragon-man youth¡¯s back, aiming for his heart. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s heart had not transformed into a Dragon Heart; in fact, even a Dragon Heart would collapse if pierced by a Golden Level fishing rod. At the critical moment, the Dragon-man youth forcibly twisted his body. The fishing rod was deflected, brushing past the youth¡¯s heart, piercing through his body, and emerging from the front of his chest. And with the time bought by risking his life, the Dragon-man youth¡¯s Dragon Claw plunged into the Silver Mage¡¯s head. Killing the mage swiftly! Chapter 266 - 266: Section 54: Support that Changed the Situation Chapter 266: Section 54: Support that Changed the Situation ¡°No!¡± Seeing the Dragon-man youth deliver a fatal strike to his own Silver Mage, Silver Hook let out a thunderous roar. He frantically infused fighting energy into his fishing rod. The fighting energy passed through the rod, about to gush out near the heart of the Dragon-man youth. Innate magic¡ªDragon Power! At the brink of life and death, the Dragon-man youth had no time to consider much else and released an indiscriminate attack. In the next moment, the pressure of the Dragon Power weighed down, the majesty from his bloodline origins intimidating Silver Hook. ... But it was only for an instant. The necklace around Silver Hook¡¯s neck flashed with a brilliant light, allowing him to quickly recover. ¡°It¡¯s too late!¡± A flash of intuition streaked through the mind of the Dragon-man youth. Still, he tried his best to save himself, swinging his arms and legs backward and explosively ejecting Blast Fighting Spirit. Four blasts drove his body forward. In front of him was the Silver Mage, whose head had been pierced and who was about to topple backward. Pfft. The next moment, he crashed right through the Mage¡¯s body. The Mage¡¯s body reverted back to a pile of earthy yellow mud. Astonishment simultaneously surged in the hearts of the Dragon-man youth and Silver Hook. The frantic infusion of fighting energy from Silver Hook also paused. The Dragon-man youth finally lunged far enough to pull the fishing rod from his chest. For a moment, the youth¡¯s emotions were incredibly complex. He had exerted all his strength, staking his life, to kill the opposing Silver Mage. Yet, what he had killed was only a mud puppet. His battle plan had failed. But it was this unexpected event that caused Silver Hook to be momentarily stunned by the Dragon Power, after which he continued to be taken aback. Thus, the Dragon-man youth seized this opening and escaped with his life. ¡°My mud puppet substitute¡­¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, in the lower cabin of the Silver Hook, the Silver Mage retched and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. The destruction of his maintained substitute had caused him a degree of spell backlash. Yet, he was filled with relief. ¡°It was worth the tremendous cost to cast this spell and equip the substitute with a large number of Mana Crystals!¡± ¡°Indeed, aside from myself, no one else is trustworthy!¡± The Silver Mage had secretly cast this spell, keeping even the Gold and Silver brothers in the dark. To make it more convincing, he even placed his own Magic Ring on the mud puppet¡¯s finger. ¡°Cough cough!¡± The Silver Mage coughed painfully twice, spat out a mouthful of bloody sputum, and then took out two different Healing Potions from his breast. One potion was light red, healing the internal injuries of his body. The other was light white, stabilizing his spirit that had suffered from the spell backlash. After taking the potions, his condition quickly stabilized. He took a deep breath and felt a sense of loss: ¡°The destruction of the mud puppet substitute is regrettable, but what¡¯s worse is that the elemental assassin was killed!¡± These two losses were too great. Especially the latter. He was still a Magic Apprentice when he began nurturing that Wind element. He had invested a lot of resources into it, gradually shaping it into a Mage Killer. Little did he expect it to perish in this battle! In fact, it was highly likely for the Wind element to survive being swept by a Dragon Claw. Unfortunately, it hit that slim chance¡ªthe Demon Crystal sustaining it was struck and shattered. It had to be said, the Dragon-man youth was extremely lucky. A random, ordinary sweep had killed a Wind element. If that Wind element assassin had survived, it would have been quite troublesome. ¡°I will kill you all and recoup my losses!¡± the Silver Mage gritted his teeth and reached into his pocket, pulling out a Holy Emblem. This was the Holy Emblem of the God of Concealment, engraved with the Holy Runes of the God of Concealment. The Silver Mage crushed the Holy Emblem, and his already highly-contained aura completely disappeared. Having completed this step, he then began to cast magic again. Normally, casting a spell would cause Mana fluctuations. The stronger the spell, the larger the fluctuation. However, under the protection of the Concealment Holy Emblem, the Silver Mage¡¯s spell fluctuation was completely contained, with not the slightest leakage. Spell¡ªSummoning Wind element! Out of nowhere, three Wind elements appeared above the Justice, their upper bodies humanoid while their lower halves were swirling tornadoes. The three Wind elements dived down, charging directly into the Captain¡¯s quarters at the ship¡¯s stern of the Justice. The Silver Mage, looking for revenge, still didn¡¯t target the Dragon-man youth, even though the latter had killed both his Wind element assassin and Mud substitute, causing the Mage heavy losses. The Silver Mage¡¯s first target was still Cang Xu. In combat, priority should be given to eliminating Mage Transcendents! However, the three Wind elements didn¡¯t find Cang Xu in the Captain¡¯s quarters; Cang Xu had already moved. ¡°Things are looking grim!¡± Zong Ge led Xu Ma and the others, jumping down from the Little Bird and running across the frozen sea surface toward the Silver Hook. The Dragon-man youth crashed into the stern of the Silver Hook, with the Half-Beast unable to witness his battle with Silver Hook. But the Half-Beast sensed the Dragon-man youth¡¯s Dragon Power, followed by the sight of three enemy Wind elements appearing above the Justice. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t unleash his Dragon Power that doesn¡¯t distinguish friend from foe unless absolutely necessary.¡± ¡°He wanted to kill the Silver Mage, but clearly failed. Not only did he unleash his Dragon Power, but the Silver Mage isn¡¯t dead. Those three new Wind elements are the proof!¡± Zong Ge¡¯s expression was serious. He sensed how critical the battle situation was at that moment. The Dragon-man youth took a great risk but failed to eliminate the Silver Mage. The Mage was hiding somewhere, secretly casting spells. ¡°Silver Level Mages are too threatening with too many tricks.¡± Zong Ge saw the Dragon-man youth and Silver Hook burst out of the ship¡¯s stern and engage in combat on the deck, ¡°He is being pinned down, now it¡¯s all up to me!¡± As Zong Ge thought this, his steps suddenly halted, and he forcefully stopped himself. Almost simultaneously, an arrow grazed his nose and shot toward the distant ice. Boom! The arrow exploded, scattering countless ice shards. Zong Ge¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he fiercely turned to look at the shooter. It was a One-eyed Elf, unquestionably emanating a Silver Level aura. Previously, Little Bird¡¯s full-powered shot had caused the One-eyed Elf¡¯s flagship to temporarily run aground on the sea surface. The One-eyed Elf had been left behind. When the Silver Hook and the Justice were both frozen, stopped on the sea, the One-eyed Elf decisively abandoned his flagship and boarded a small boat, swiftly coming to support. He couldn¡¯t lay hands on the Dragon-man youth, Ashen One, and the others. Because they were fighting on the deck of the Silver Hook, with friend and foe tangled together, the One-eyed Elf had to consider the safety of his own people. But as Zong Ge and his men were charging forward, the One-eyed Elf took a glance at the battlefield and then focused his firepower on them. ¡°With me here, you won¡¯t make it onto the ship!¡± the One-eyed Elf lightly leapt from the small boat and stepped onto the ice. Zong Ge snorted coldly and charged again towards the Silver Hook. The decisions of the Half-Beast didn¡¯t surprise the One-eyed Elf, who took a deep breath and drew his longbow. Combat Skill¡ªGuiding Arrow. Combat Skill¡ªArrow Light. Combat Skill¡ªSplitting Arrow. The One-eyed Elf suddenly employed three combat skills simultaneously. He nocked an arrow, but instead of firing, it continuously split into faint yellow lights resembling arrows. The lights shot out with a whooshing sound, forming a rain of arrows in the blink of an eye. Each light arrow danced like an agile fish through the air, making curves as they specifically targeted Zong Ge. Faced with such an onslaught, Zong Ge couldn¡¯t help but feel a tremor in his heart. He instantly abandoned the idea of attacking the Silver Hook and raised his two-handed greatsword in front of him, bracing for battle. Boom, boom, boom! The arrows struck him, exploding on impact. After fiercely resisting for a while, Zong Ge burst forth from the ice dust and smoke, sprinting across the ice. He charged straight for the One-eyed Elf. The One-eyed Elf had used three combat skills in a row, his Fighting energy was rapidly depleting, and he stood rooted to the spot, unable to move. But the Arrow Lights were extremely agile¡ªdancing in the air like a school of fish, they actively tracked the Half-Beast. Forced to adapt, Zong Ge could only meander through, trying an S-shaped route to get close to the One-eyed Elf. As Zong Ge approached, a surge of pressure filled the heart of the One-eyed Elf. Zong Ge¡¯s momentum was fierce, and the faint golden Silver Fighting Spirit shone, highlighting his Silver Level Peak cultivation. Zong Ge¡¯s huge and sharp two-handed greatsword was something the One-eyed Elf wanted to avoid at all costs. When Zong Ge closed in to a certain distance, the One-eyed Elf finally stopped his three combat skills, put away his longbow, and began to leap backwards repeatedly. Originally positioned at the edge of the ice, he leapt into the normal seawater with his retreat. Unexpectedly, he barely touched the water, only causing ripples to spread outwards. He moved as if on solid ground, able to walk freely on the water¡¯s surface. Sensing something was wrong, Zong Ge hastily executed his combat skill. A huge sword light slashed down from mid-air, spanning over ten meters, but it missed its mark and only stirred up a great wave. Zong Ge didn¡¯t have a combat skill for treading water. ¡°This guy¡­¡± the Half-Beast growled through clenched teeth, feeling helplessly frustrated. The One-eyed Elf was cunning, having the ability to walk on water but deliberately coming over in a small boat initially, causing Zong Ge to make a psychological misjudgment. Now, by displaying this ability suddenly, Zong Ge was put in an awkward situation. If the Half-Beast pursued, he would have difficulties establishing dominance on the normal sea surface. If he turned and headed for the Silver Hook, the One-eyed Elf would undoubtedly continue to harry him, and stand back on the ice. Whether he had other tactics up his sleeve, Zong Ge didn¡¯t know. But the Half-Beast understood that as long as the One-eyed Elf resorted to those three combat skills again, he wouldn¡¯t be able to make it onto the Silver Hook. ¡°Damn it¡­¡± Faced with a crafty opponent, Zong Ge felt a stifling sense of impotence. What made him even more anxious was that the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s Dragon-man youth was being tied down by Silver Hook, and he also couldn¡¯t break through¡ªhow then would they deal with the Silver Mage? While the One-eyed Elf focused on entangling Zong Ge, the pirates led by Zong Ge managed to successfully board the Silver Hook. Because the deck was already in chaos and unable to organize a defense, the pirates from the Little Bird easily clung onto the Silver Hook¡¯s side and clambered up onto the deck. ¡°Damn it, I still climbed up,¡± Xu Ma was in tears inside. He was swept up in the current of people. Originally, when Zong Ge was held up, entangled with the One-eyed Elf, Xu Ma felt a bit of schadenfreude. But with the pirates around him howling and pressing the attack towards the Silver Hook, Xu Ma dared not flee in front of everyone, only able to continue the charge. However, he gradually fell to the back of the group. But his ascent was rather smooth, and he still stood on the deck of the Silver Hook. ¡°Kill them!¡± ¡°Die!¡± ¡°Help, help me¡­¡± The pirates fought and tangled before Xu Ma¡¯s eyes, some howling, some begging for life at the brink of death. Xu Ma retained eighty percent of his strength, only using twenty percent against the enemy. He leaned against the ship¡¯s railing, ensuring he could retreat whenever he wished. Pirates from Silver Hook¡¯s side lunged at him, and he mainly dodged, letting his own comrades exert more effort. In the tense battle, no one noticed he was slacking. However, the good times didn¡¯t last long, as more and more enemies found him. ¡°This Bronze fighter seems weak!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get rid of this easy one first, then deal with the troublesome ones.¡± Xu Ma: ¡°¡­¡± He erupted in anger, showing his true strength and cleanly decapitated two ordinary pirates, effectively repelling a Bronze fighter¡¯s assault. ¡°This guy is pretty strong, someone give me a hand!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take down this tough one, leave the easier ones for later.¡± Xu Ma: ¡°¡­¡± On the deck of the Silver Hook, the situation for the Justice Pirate Group grew more desperate. Because Silver Hook¡¯s other pirate ships were docked on the ice, continually delivering pirates as reinforcements. The gap in the number of forces between the two sides was immense! Finally, Black Iron Level mana fluctuations appeared on the Justice. Cang Xu had to take action. The Dragon-man youth led away a ship of elites, and three Wind Elementals wreaked havoc on the deck, their destruction increasing by the minute. The Silver Mage stayed hidden and inconspicuous, a cold smirk forming on his lips as he cast his spell, targeting Cang Xu. Cang Xu restrained himself, not using Undead Magic but instead battling with Magic Scrolls. He quickly fell into a disadvantage, chased by the Wind Elementals inside the ship. The ice broke in more places, and Zong Ge still struggled to break through the One-eyed Elf¡¯s defense. ¡°Time is limited, it looks like I have to¡ªhuh?¡± The Half-Beast suddenly concentrated his gaze, looking towards the horizon where sea and sky met. The One-eyed Elf also quickly detected the anomaly, turning to see the distant ships. As they were at a stalemate, new ships suddenly appeared. ¡°Hahaha, our reinforcements have arrived,¡± Silver Hook laughed heartily. But his laughter stopped abruptly. Among the three approaching pirate ships, two looked strikingly similar, like twins. The third ship had a strange appearance; its bow was a trapezoid. At this moment, the upper half of the bow rose to reveal gun ports. Three cigar cannons protruded out. Golden Chin shouted from the front of the ship: ¡°Captain Long Fu, we¡¯re here!¡± Chapter 267 - 267: Section 55: Twin Meteorites of Silver Chapter 267: Section 55: Twin Meteorites of Silver ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°It¡¯s our reinforcements!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady, Captain Long Fu¡¯s allies. Hold on, everyone, there¡¯s hope!!¡± The addition of three pirate ships greatly boosted the morale of the Justice Pirate Group. On the other hand, the members of the Silver Hook Pirates showed signs of agitation. Silver Hook himself had an iron-blue complexion, ¡°How could this be¡­¡± ... The One-eyed Elf, who could see further, quickly noticed: all three of the incoming ships bore fresh scars. A feeling of ill omen surged in his heart. Sure enough, the next moment, Golden Chin held up a severed head and roared, ¡°Captain Silver Hook, if you were waiting for the fleet that was sending you supplies, you don¡¯t need to wait any longer. Hahaha!¡± Hearing this news, the ranks of the Silver Hook Pirates were visibly disturbed. The Golden and Silver brothers had been lingering in these waters for many days, relying on periodic supplies from Gold and Silver Island due to their large numbers. So when pirate ship silhouettes appeared on the horizon, Silver Hook subconsciously thought they were his supply fleet. In fact, their supply was scheduled for that very day. ¡°Damn it! Our supply fleet has been wiped out, how could they know? Could it be that this Justice Pirate Group was bait and we¡¯ve fallen into a trap?¡± A storm of doubt and alarm raced through Silver Hook¡¯s mind. ¡°My brother has been hiding below decks the whole time, only I knew of him.¡± ¡°If I had led the team alone, I would have completely fallen for this trap.¡± ¡°It seems that this Dragon-man youth is very cunning!¡± Silver Hook stared daggers at the Dragon-man youth, who suddenly became a much more significant threat to him. ¡°Did the Captain seek reinforcements from these two? When did this happen? Could it be at Magnetic Island?¡± Zong Ge felt a surge of exhilaration. The appearance of this reinforcement army fully showcased the Dragon-man youth¡¯s military talent! Zong Ge¡¯s speculation was correct. At Magnetic Island, the Justice Pirate Group had unexpectedly rescued an old sailor who informed them that the Silver Hook Pirates were nearby. After obtaining this intelligence, the Dragon-man youth contemplated for a long time and discreetly contacted Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady. Now, his caution had paid off abundantly. The Big Chin and the Snake Lady, along with a Silver Level sea snake disguised as the Sea Snake Lady, quickly entered the fray. Most of the Silver Hook Pirates¡¯ ships were near the ice. The majority were docked by the ice, while a few chased the Little Bird on the open sea. Golden Chin and the others arrived downwind; some of the Silver Hook Pirates hurried back to their ships, while others hesitated or counterattacked in panic. The lack of unified command plunged them into chaos. Golden Chin and company, of course, didn¡¯t give their enemies time to fully respond. The distance closed rapidly, and soon both sides were within range of cannon fire. Boom, boom, boom¡­ After several rounds of cannon fire, both sides sustained damage. The Silver Level Magic Beast sea snake cried out in pain, shedding its disguise and diving into the sea to launch a surprise attack from below. Big Chin¡¯s powerful cigar cannons were highly impressive, significantly damaging several enemy pirate ships, temporarily paralyzing them. As the distance closed once more, Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady made their moves, starting a massacre on the pirates aboard the enemy ships. Aboard Silver Hook¡¯s pirate ship, including himself, there were only four Silver Level powerhouses. With the reinforcements from Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady, the number of Silver Level powerhouses in the Justice Pirate Group had surged to six, outnumbering those in the Silver Hook Pirates. Just as the Dragon-man youth had realized after a tough fight with Rou Cang and made a safe retreat, the ultimate factor in war is people! Lacking in high-level combatants, Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady were virtually unopposed. Silver Hook¡¯s subordinates were fiercely loyal, with hardly any deserters, but no matter how solid the defenses or how many pirates crowded the decks, they were easily overrun by Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady. Especially the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s Silver Level magic, often resulting in swathes of death and injury when cast. Listening to the screams of his crew and watching his own pirate ships lose the ability to resist, floating aimlessly on the sea, Silver Hook was beyond furious. How many years had it been! The Silver Hook Pirates had never before suffered such losses, as they usually played the role of the hunter. But now, they had become prey in the mouths of others. ¡°You¡¯re all going to die! All of you! Once my brother comes back, not one of you will escape!¡± Silver Hook shrieked. ¡°The Sea Snake Lady has located the opposite Silver Mage, Golden Chin, don¡¯t get entangled. Come here, let¡¯s kill Silver Hook first!¡± The Dragon-man youth yelled authoritatively, urging them on with a commanding tone. Both Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady showed signs of displeasure at this, but there was nothing they could do about it; after all, they had been captured by the Dragon-man youth before and had signed a contract. Additionally, they both were imperial undercover agents. Instantly, Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady plunged into the center of the battlefield. The arrival of the two Silver Level combatants suddenly turned the tide for the Justice Pirate Group. ¡°This is bad!¡± The Silver Mage inside the cabin of the Silver Hook immediately looked pale. He sensed the fluctuations of the Water Mirror magic, ¡°If this continues, it¡¯s only a matter of time before I¡¯m discovered. Why hasn¡¯t Golden Hook arrived yet?¡± In truth, Golden Hook hadn¡¯t been chasing the Rapids for long. But with the rapidly shifting state of the battle and immense psychological pressure, the Silver Mage felt as if each second was an eternity. Di Lou had long been feeling each second as an eternity. Being personally pursued by Golden Hook and still having half of their forces behind, Di Lou already felt tremendous pressure, as if an invisible mountain loomed over his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m just a little Silver! Why do you hold me in such high esteem?!¡± Di Lou could only silently weep tears of bitterness in his heart at Golden Hook¡¯s ¡°appreciation.¡± At the moment, he was maneuvering the ship¡¯s wheel while playing the short flute. The flute¡¯s clear and melodious sounds, when combined with his special combat skills, had a powerful diuretic effect. It was the bard Di Lou¡¯s famous move¡ªthe ¡°urine flow song.¡± Golden Hook¡¯s face looked awful. The sound of the ¡°urine flow song¡± in his ears kept inducing a strong urge to urinate. But as a Golden Level fighter, he was still able to resist the song. Others were not so lucky. Many pirates had already started to urinate in public. At first, most chose to stand at the ship¡¯s gunwale to urinate, but soon, these men toppled into the sea. The urge to urinate produced by the song was only surface-level; what was truly terrifying was how the song disturbed the fighting energy and mana within the listener¡¯s body, causing chaos. The areas of the body most affected by this chaos were the bladder and urethra. When urinating, the pirates¡¯ fighting energy became disordered, causing internal injuries. Some felt dizzy and disoriented, compounded by the rapid sailing and waves crashing against the ship, so it wasn¡¯t strange for the pirates to fall into the sea. Seeing their comrades plopping into the water one after another, the other pirates began to urinate away from the gunwale. Soon enough, a stench of urine wafted across pirate ships within the range of the song. The Rapids was no exception. The ¡°urine flow song¡± did not discriminate between friend or foe. But fortunately, as Di Lou¡¯s subordinates, they were much more used to it than Golden Hook¡¯s men. They managed the ships while naturally¡­wetting their own pants. Each almost had a pair of earplugs in hand, and if they were lost in the chaos, they would replace them with spares. Determined to survive, Di Lou desperately performed the ¡°urine flow song,¡± pushing the power of his signature move to the highest peak he had ever reached. Golden Hook was indeed not much affected, but others were not so fortunate. Golden Hook had no hand in steering the ships. Even if he could help, his assistance would be limited with only him. Therefore, Golden Hook¡¯s pirate ship continued to follow behind the Rapids. During the pursuit, Golden Hook did not hold back from attacking. However, even though the Fishing Ship Hook Combat Skill had a wide range, it failed to hit the Rapids. First, the Rapids had magic devices and, combined with Di Lou¡¯s skilled steering, was able to change course flexibly. Second, the Fishing Ship Hook Combat Skill was not very fast, affording Di Lou enough time to evade. Although Golden Hook was chasing the Rapids, he maintained his insight into the overall battle situation. Reinforcements from Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady made him frown slightly. The resistance and strength of the Justice Pirate Group repeatedly surprised him. He finally stopped holding back and took real action! Golden Fighting Spirit surged through him as he used his Flying Combat Technique once again, soaring over the sea and into the sky, then plunging violently towards the Rapids. The Rapids could only move laterally on the water¡¯s surface, while Golden Hook, with his aerial advantage, was more agile. Boom! Golden Hook successfully landed on the deck of the Rapids, fighting alone. Di Lou shouted, leading the pirates in their assault on him. Golden Hook casually repelled Di Lou, snorting coldly at the approaching pirates from all sides: ¡°No matter how many of you there are, it¡¯s futile!¡± The next moment, his Golden Fighting Spirit burst forth, and his combat skills were displayed. In an instant, he nearly cleared the deck of the Rapids. The deck, once crowded with personnel, was now left with only Di Lou. The ship¡¯s masts, sails, rigging, and more were shattered by the impact of the fighting energy, breaking countless pieces and flying overboard. The entire Rapids was left as though a hurricane had passed through, swept completely clean. Di Lou gritted his teeth and leapt back, jumping into the water. Golden Hook was a beat too slow, and by the time he reacted, Di Lou had already plunged in. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Golden Hook snorted coldly and unleashed a new combat skill. Combat Skill¡ªLife-hook! He swung his fishing rod, the line shot out, and the hook quickly caught up with Di Lou, who was desperately swimming underwater. The hook glinted with a faint light and gently hooked the back of Di Lou¡¯s head. The next moment, Di Lou¡¯s body lost all strength, going limp as his power suddenly vanished. His eyes rolled back, and without a wound on the back of his head, he was already dead! Having killed Di Lou, Golden Hook flew back to his own pirate ship, leading his team to reinforce the main battlefield. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± A scream made Golden Hook, who had just arrived at the battlefield, grimace. He recognized it as the dying wail of his own Silver Mage. With an advantage in the number of powerful allies, the Dragon-man youth and Zong Ge, assisted by the Sea Snake Lady, managed to find the enemy¡¯s mage and finally eliminated them¡ªjust before Golden Hook could come to their aid. ¡°Very well, Justice Pirate Group, you will now suffer the most cruel and terrifying punishment of your lives!¡± Golden Hook¡¯s face turned cold, his body wrapped in Golden Fighting Spirit, as if it were the boiling intent to kill in his chest. Zong Ge, Golden Chin, and others all had serious expressions. Silver Hook let out a sigh of relief. The Dragon-man youth suddenly burst into laughter: ¡°Haha! Golden Hook, we¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time. You¡¯ve come back just in time to die!¡± The situation had reached its most critical point, but the young Captain showed extraordinary confidence. Where did his confidence come from in the face of a Golden Level powerhouse? Chapter 268 - 268: Section 56: I Want to Escape Chapter 268: Section 56: I Want to Escape The Justice Pirate Group was invigorated. Whether Captain Long Fu was bluffing or truly had a trump card, facing a Gold opponent with such high spirits was enough to inspire others. The military texts of the Eastern Empire had a saying¡ªThe general is the backbone of the army! The Dragon-man youth took a deep breath, and his Blast Fighting Spirit surged again, forming an explosion that propelled him forward in a charge against Golden Hook. Fearless! Golden Hook¡¯s eyebrows lifted as he saw the Dragon-man youth¡¯s attacking posture, and he laughed in spite of his anger. ... Combat Skill¡ªBrewing Fist. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s pupils shrunk sharply. In an instant, Golden Hook¡¯s fist disappeared from the youth¡¯s field of view. The next moment, the Dragon-man youth was struck by a powerful force in the chest, sent flying backward at a faster speed than before, and crashed into the main mast of the Silver Hook with a loud thud. The mast groaned, nearly breaking from the impact. The members of the Justice Pirate Group all held their breath at once. On the other hand, the pirates on Silver Hook¡¯s side cheered. This was the majesty of a Gold-level fighter! But the Dragon-man youth quickly stood up straight, regrouped, and charged toward Golden Hook again! Golden Hook¡¯s eyelids twitched, surprised. His previously used Combat Skill seemed improvised, but he had actually been building up power during his hurried return. ¡°This Brewing Fist is a marvelous Combat Skill I learned from a Panda-man tribe in the southern parts of the Empire. The longer I charge it, the more powerful it becomes, to the point it could even harm myself.¡± ¡°Most Silver Fighters would not be able to stand up after being hit by that punch I just threw.¡± ¡°This guy¡­ he clearly doesn¡¯t have the Cultivation of a peak Silver Level¡­¡± Golden Hook was acutely aware of the power of his move, but the physical prowess of the Dragon-man youth astonished him. Golden Hook had clashed with Dragon-folk before, but this Dragon-man youth before him was very different from those he had previously encountered. The Dragon-man youth kept charging and being repelled. Golden Hook stood his ground, tall and upright like the highest peak. No matter how the Dragon-man youth attacked, he remained immovable. In contrast, the Dragon-man youth¡¯s injuries grew worse, his breathing more labored, blood soaking his body. The clash between the two commanded the battlefield¡¯s attention. Their duel could even decide the outcome of this great battle. Golden Hook appeared nonchalant, but inside, the shock grew. His keen eyes focused on the wounds of the Dragon-man youth. He discovered that the Dragon-man youth¡¯s injuries were rapidly healing. ¡°What kind of Bloodline is this?¡± Silver Hook, seeing the Dragon-man youth repeatedly rise after being beaten down, felt his wariness intensify, ¡°Just before, I stabbed right through this guy¡¯s chest and back, and yet under my brother¡¯s attacks, he is still so fierce!¡± ¡°It¡¯s my turn!¡± Golden Hook suddenly lowered his voice, abandoned defense for offense. Combat Skill¡ªNew Moon Hook! He swung his fishing rod, his Fighting energy concentrated at the end of the line, turning into a massive curved hook. The Fighting energy hook was extremely sharp, cutting pirates at the waist, severing the mizzen mast effortlessly, and slicing through sturdy sails like they were nothing! The Dragon-man youth retreated again and again. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His Dragon Scales could not withstand such an onslaught. At the crucial moment, Zong Ge and a gray figure used their Combat Skills to come to the captain¡¯s aid. The three of them fought fiercely against Golden Hook, sharing the pressure and successfully holding their ground. Meanwhile, Silver Hook, the One-eyed Elf, and the Silver Fighter who wielded a sword, needless to say, weren¡¯t going to sit around awaiting their fate, continuously engaging in battle. Some tried to attack the Sea Snake Lady; others continued to tie down Zong Ge and his companions. Golden Hook¡¯s reinforcements did not bring a decisive end to the battle. The battlefield remained at a stalemate. Both sides engaged in unending combat. Silver Hook, unfortunately, became the main battlefield, with the ship creaking constantly. The fighters of Silver Level and above were undoubtedly the shining stars on the battlefield, forcing Bronze fighters like Xu Ma to be exceedingly cautious. Xu Ma was already disheveled with his face covered in dirt, as he awkwardly tumbled on the deck and hid behind two barrels. Xu Ma gasped with difficulty, ¡°I can¡¯t keep fighting! I used to think that Lion Flag was crazy about battles, but Captain Long Fu is even worse! He¡¯s a madman to dare strike at Golden Hook!¡± This Bronze Thief was terrified and pessimistic about the Dragon-man youth¡¯s chances. ¡°Even if they eventually win, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t live long enough to see it.¡± ¡°Getting caught up and rushing up to the deck was simply preposterous!¡± ¡°Now, no one will notice me¡ªI need to retreat quickly.¡± Bang. A gunshot rang. A Bronze pirate tossed aside his flintlock short-barreled firearm and took large strides toward Xu Ma. ¡°So you were here!¡± the Bronze pirate bellowed furiously. The taste in Xu Ma¡¯s mouth was bitter; he didn¡¯t know why this Bronze powerhouse had targeted him specifically. ¡°But this is also an opportunity!¡± Xu Ma parried a few blows and took a cruel hit, then tumbled over the ship¡¯s side, falling onto the ice below. The Bronze pirate immediately clung to the side of the ship and looked down to see Xu Ma¡¯s ¡°corpse¡± in a pool of blood. ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s because you, kid, resemble a rival of mine from my younger days,¡± declared the bronze pirate, full of triumph. He turned and went back to the fray. Xu Ma stealthily cracked one eye open and saw clearly that the bronze pirate had left. ¡°Good!¡± His spirits lifted, he immediately turned over and stood up, then clutching his abdomen, he feigned serious injury and retreated rapidly, distancing himself from the Silver Hook. His departure went unnoticed. The Silver Fighters on board the Silver Hook along with Golden Hook were embroiled in intense combat, too engrossed to pay attention to anything else. Combat Skill¡ªGreat Swordsman¡¯s Blaze! Zong Ge growled, invigorated his arms, and unleashed a sword light as tall as a man, making a horizontal cut toward Silver Hook. Silver Hook kept dodging, but the sword light pursued him even more fiercely. Fortunately, by continuously back-pedaling, he bought himself some crucial time and was able to execute his Combat Skill. Combat Skill¡ªTurn Hook. A fishing line twirled in front of him, forming a semi-transparent, silver-white fishhook. The sword light collided with the fishhook and was deflected, sliding off at an angle and zipping past the Silver Hook. ¡°What¡¯s that noise?¡± Xu Ma¡¯s ears twitched, and he quickly turned back, only to see the Great Swordsman¡¯s Blaze heading straight for him. Xu Ma dodged in a hurry. Boom! The sword light exploded, shattering a large expanse of the icy surface. Although Xu Ma wasn¡¯t hit directly, the shockwave still affected him, flinging him through the air like a sack, and he began to vomit blood before he even landed. Thud. Xu Ma crashed onto the hard ice and slid a distance. His head was spinning, every part of his body ached, but inside he felt lucky: ¡°Thank goodness I ran. If I had been on board, it would have been even worse.¡± ¡°How could I have joined that fight?¡± ¡°I would have been courting death!¡± Xu Ma stood up and continued to run on the ice. But this time, he didn¡¯t need to pretend to be injured because he really was hurt. Combat Skill¡ªGray Mist Wave! One dressed in gray shook his Stabbing Sword, shortening his fur suddenly, and burst forth a cloud of gray mist. The mist formed a fan shape and pushed straight forward. The Silver Fighter facing the one in gray was already severely wounded and now knelt on the ground, unable to muster his Combat Skill to fight back. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed his necklace and ripped it off forcefully. The necklace was threaded with countless small metal pieces. Once freed from the string, these metal shards expanded to form numerous small shields. The shields spun rapidly, annihilating the approaching gray mist. The one in gray wanted to continue the attack, but he was held back by an arrow from the One-eyed Elf. The Silver Fighter was about to breathe a sigh of relief when Golden Chin came charging, bearing a giant shield. Bang. The Silver Fighter was sent flying, and the delicate Flying Shields around him scattered in all directions. One of them flew out far and bounced a few times on the icy surface, landing near Xu Ma¡¯s feet. ¡°What¡¯s this? Looks like some Alchemy Item,¡± Xu Ma wondered, just as the small shield shakily levitated and then started spinning rapidly. With only Xu Ma nearby, the small shield charged straight at him. Xu Ma was terrified, frantically moving his legs to escape the shield. Sometimes the small shield was repelled by Xu Ma¡¯s Dagger or Combat Skill, and sometimes it caught up to him, slashing wounds across the bronze pirate¡¯s body. While running, Xu Ma bled profusely, his heart filled with misery. Finally, he grew fierce and, with all his might, destroyed the relentlessly pursuing small Flying Shield. ¡°Damn, losing too much blood,¡± Xu Ma felt his vision darkening. ¡°I have to leave quickly, the farther from the battlefield the better!¡± Xu Ma bit his lip, moving ever closer to the Little Bird. He did not choose the Justice because that ship was Captain Long Fu¡¯s flagship, and he could not simply sail it away. Moreover, both the Justice and the Silver Hook were currently trapped in ice and immobile. ¡°Keep going, I¡¯m almost there!¡± Seeing himself drawing nearer to the Little Bird, Xu Ma¡¯s eyes shone with hope. But in the next moment, the Little Bird crashed into the ice. Numerous pirates rushed down from the Little Bird. ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Support the Captain!¡± ¡°Kill one to break even, kill two to make a profit!¡± Xu Ma was shocked! ¡°These idiots,¡± he cursed inwardly. The crowd surged forward, with many pirates brushing past him. Bai Ya was among them and noticed Xu Ma: ¡°Senior, you¡¯re seriously injured! Don¡¯t go to the Little Bird; it¡¯s about to sink. We¡¯ve all come down from it!¡± Xu Ma: ?! The expression on the bronze pirate¡¯s face as he clenched his teeth was a spectacle, filled with anger, hatred, unwillingness, despair, and more¡ªtoo complex to describe. Chapter 269 - 269: Section 57: Brothers Combined Attack Chapter 269: Section 57: Brothers Combined Attack The Little Bird, as an ordinary vessel, had already performed a minor miracle by sustaining itself this long in the naval battle. Now, it was sinking. The pirates aboard the Little Bird were shouting loudly, brandishing knives and Firearms in their hands as they flocked under the leadership of Sanda of the goblins toward the Silver Hook. Within the surging crowd stood Xu Ma and Bai Ya. ¡°Senior, you should focus on healing,¡± said Bai Ya, handing over his wound medicine to Xu Ma before preparing to join the main force charging into the forefront. But the next moment, Xu Ma snapped back to reality and grabbed Bai Ya¡¯s arm, ¡°Don¡¯t follow them. Let¡¯s go back up to the Justice.¡± ... ¡°No!¡± Bai Ya¡¯s face was resolute, ¡°I want to fight!¡± Xu Ma said with a headache, ¡°You¡¯re not even Bronze Level. Going there is asking for death! Are you as strong as me? Look at these injuries on me.¡± Yet Bai Ya¡¯s gaze remained steadfast. Xu Ma changed his approach, ¡°If you want to achieve merit and help comrades, there¡¯s no need for a pointless sacrifice. Trust me, let¡¯s go to the Justice!¡± ¡°Look, the Little Bird is sinking now, the Rapids has fled, and all we have left is the Justice. There are enemies on the Justice too. We need to help our comrades as much as possible, which requires a broader view,¡± Xu Ma explained. ¡°With our fighting ability, our contribution on the Silver Hook would be very limited. But it¡¯s different on the Justice. Do you understand?¡± Bai Ya was persuaded by this reasoning, ¡°As expected of you, senior!¡± Xu Ma attempted a smile but winced as it aggravated his wounds, sighing in pain before he said, pulling Bai Ya along, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get back up to the Justice!¡± ¡°Time to die,¡± Golden Hook swung the fishing rod in his hand. Golden Fighting Skill erupted, aiming straight for Zong Ge¡¯s life. ¡°Danger!¡± The Dragon-man youth shouted out just in time to put himself in front of Zong Ge. Boom! The Dragon-man youth took a heavy hit, and his body was blasted off the deck, shooting backwards like a bomb. He flew through countless pirates before crashing into the stern of the Silver Hook, almost piercing through the entire Captain¡¯s cabin, and then plummeting into the sea from the stern of the ship. At the critical moment, the Dragon-man youth, acting on instinct, was fortunate enough to grab the railings of the stern¡¯s balcony. He strained his arms, pulling his body up to the stern gallery with difficulty. The intense pain left him unable to stand. For the time being, he could only kneel on the wooden planks, his body curled up, vomiting blood continuously. With his head bowed and eyes vacant, for a moment he saw only darkness, almost believing that he was going to die! He had lost all perception of time. The few breaths he took felt as lengthy as years. Huff! Huff! Huff! The dragon-man youth¡¯s breaths, like bellows of life desperately fighting against the edge of a cliff, slowly brought his consciousness back. ¡°The battle! The battle is still going on!¡± His memory also revived. The Dragon-man youth hurriedly stood up, staggering and nearly falling again. He held onto the doorframe leading to the balcony from the captain¡¯s chamber and looked down at his chest. His chest had caved in to a frightening degree, countless ribs broken, his heart still beating with difficulty. Looking over his body, there was hardly a spot left intact. Nearly all his dragon scales were shattered. The Dragon-man youth could transform into a Dragon-man form through his Blood Core, growing dragon scales all over his body. Fundamentally, this was a transformation of life form. Injured in this form, when he reverted back to the Human Race form, his injuries would still remain, and due to the Human Race¡¯s weaker physique compared to the Dragon-man form, his life could be in even greater danger. On the other hand, he couldn¡¯t use the Blood Core to heal because even if he reverted to human form before transforming back into the Dragon-man form, the injuries on his body would not lessen in the slightest. The Dragon-man youth pulled out a potion from a pocket near his waist. It was a Healing Potion, the liquid bright red and emitting a faint glow. The youth downed the Healing Potion in one go, the greatest advantage of a Magic Potion being its rapid effects. A few breaths later, the Dragon-man youth regained his mobility, and after a few more, the injuries on his chest quickly healed, though a slight indentation remained. With a shout, the Dragon-man youth charged back into the fray. ¡°Captain!¡± Seeing the Dragon-man youth rejoin the battle, everyone felt a surge of certainty in their hearts. ¡°You¡¯re still alive!¡± Golden Hook said with a grave look in his eyes. The Dragon-man youth, directly hit by his Golden Fighting Skill, was now back and as vigorous as ever in just a moment. This level of defensive power and recovery ability surprised Golden Hook once again. Ever since the clash began, it was primarily the Dragon-man youth who actively bore the brunt of Golden Hook¡¯s offensive. The youth was truly fighting a battle to the death! ¡°Hmph, I want to see how many moves you can withstand!¡± Golden Hook once again unleashed his combat skill with explosive force. The Dragon-man youth, fearless, sought him out immediately. Thump. Suddenly, Golden Hook¡¯s momentum dissipated, his combat skill ceased, and he stepped back, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. This mutation startled everyone. Because nobody had just attacked Golden Hook. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Sea Snake Lady almost thought she was seeing things. Zong Ge and others with ash-stained bodies, however, had a burst of sharpness in their eyes. ¡°The intelligence provided by the Empire was indeed correct!¡± ¡°Golden Hook suffered a hidden injury from a failed attempt to reach the Holy Domain level in his early years, he just hid it very well.¡± ¡°Think about it, if he were in full health, he should have made his move earlier, right? But at the onset of the battle, he constantly guarded the Silver Hook, seemingly to protect his side¡¯s Mage, but actually it was because he had a huge internal problem.¡± Golden Hook¡¯s bloodletting gave the Justice Pirate Group a significant morale boost. ¡°Brother!¡± Silver Hook hurried to Golden Hook¡¯s side, his face full of concern. He knew the inside story; Golden Hook¡¯s injury was severe. And they had just encountered the Justice Pirate Group. If it were an ordinary pirate group, it would have been fine, but this pirate group consisted of many freaks. Half-Beasts, Rat-men, and most crucially, that Dragon-man. Not at Silver Peak, nor equipped with Gold Level Protective Equipment, yet he could withstand Golden Hook¡¯s Gold Level combat skills face-to-face numerous times! If he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, Silver Hook would never have believed it. ¡°Brother, let me share some of the burden,¡± said Silver Hook, supporting Golden Hook. Golden Hook nodded and sighed, ¡°That might be good. After this battle, I won¡¯t be able to keep my injury secret anymore. Let¡¯s exterminate these troublemakers and vent the hatred in my heart!¡± Golden Hook, though injured, spoke with undeniable determination, his killing intent boiling over. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Be careful!¡± A sudden alarm rang in the heart of the Dragon-man youth. The next moment, Golden Hook and Silver Hook stood side by side, each placing a hand on the other¡¯s shoulder. Combined Attack Skill¡ªHeart Hook! Fighting energy surged within the brothers, surprisingly blending into one, and poured into their fishing rods simultaneously. They flicked their rods and the fishing line spiraled, casting clumps of fighting energy from the end of the line. These clumps of fighting energy took the shape of fish hooks, extremely agile, darting toward the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s members like swimming fish. The members cautiously defended themselves and discovered that these clumps of fighting energy were extremely flexible, able to freely change speed and direction in mid-air. Once hit by a fish hook, it transformed into a sharp, cunning blast of fighting energy that would penetrate the body and strike directly at the heart, delivering a fatal blow. For a moment, the formation of the group was thrown into chaos, and they were completely disheveled. Even the Dragon-man youth was no exception. His mutation was not complete. In fact, he absorbed the bloodline of the King of Flame Dragon, and if he were to mutate completely, he would transform into a Flame Dragon. Just as before, when he absorbed the bloodline of the gun scorpion, once the bloodline fully accumulated, he could transform into a gun scorpion. The heart of the Dragon-man youth was not a Dragon Heart. Blast Fighting Spirit roared in his palm, but he still got hit by a few fish hook fighting energies. The face of the Dragon-man youth turned grave as he maneuvered his fighting energy to fend off the internal attacks, while simultaneously dealing with the barrage of fish hook fighting energy outside. Golden Hook and Silver Hook stood firmly on the deck, standing in place, continuing to swing their fishing rods. With each swing, they could cast more than a dozen fish hook fighting energies, producing them much faster than they were being used up. Magic Scroll¡ªDemon-devouring Hummingbird! On the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s ship, seeing the bad turn of events, she quickly tore open a Summoning Scroll. The scroll activated, summoning a large flock of Magic Beast hummingbirds. ¡°Go after those flying fish hooks,¡± communicated Sea Snake Lady to the flock of hummingbirds. The hummingbirds buzzed and quickly reached the airspace above the Silver Hook. They were incredibly fast, each targeting the fish hooks to attack. Fish hooks were but inanimate objects, however agile, they relied on Golden Hook and Silver Hook¡¯s distant spirit control. In contrast, the Demon-devouring Hummingbird, by nature, was highly sensitive to magic-powered targets and had powerful hunting capabilities. The fish hooks were quickly snatched and pecked one by one by the hummingbirds, and after being smashed, the scattered fighting energy became fodder for the hummingbirds. Chapter 270 - 270: Section 58: The Death of the Big Guy Chapter 270: Section 58: The Death of the Big Guy Seeing their prized Combat Skill, Heart Hook, broken in such a manner, Golden Hook and Silver Hook both let out a cold huff simultaneously. The two brothers unleashed their Combined Attack Skill once more. With Silver Hook sharing the burden, Golden Hook was able to act more freely, displaying even greater combat prowess. Their Combat Skills were not only powerful but also had many unique and cunning aspects. If the Justice Pirate Group had only the Silver Fighter, they would have struggled greatly, and may very well have been defeated. But among them was the Sea Snake Lady. ... This Silver Mage displayed a wealth of tactics, repeatedly helping their own Silver Fighter fend off the fierce attacks of Golden Hook and Silver Hook. ¡°Damn it, take out that Mage!¡± Golden Hook ordered loudly, his brows deeply furrowed. The One-eyed Elf received the command and immediately disengaged from the Silver Hook, stepping on the water with the tips of his feet and heading towards the Sea Snake Lady¡¯s ship. With him gone, the Dragon-man youth and the others immediately seized the chance to go on the offensive. Combat Skills were continually deployed, targeting the Golden and Silver brothers. Golden Hook and Silver Hook were not just capable of standing still; they could also separate. However, when doing so, they had to use each other¡¯s fishing lines to wrap around each other¡¯s bodies, maintaining the constant integration of their Fighting Energy. The Sea Snake Lady¡¯s ship began to distance itself from the Silver Hook, but its speed was no match for the One-eyed Elf. Go to ????????????????????.co The Sea Snake Lady had no choice but to temporarily suspend her assistance on the front lines, casting Spells like Water Arrow to intercept the Elf. The One-eyed Elf responded by continuously firing back with Alchemy Arrows. For a while, neither side could gain the upper hand. ¡°That One-eyed Elf is not simple; I¡¯m worried about the Sea Snake Lady,¡± Zong Ge whispered to the Dragon-man youth after fighting side by side. The Half-Beast had crossed blades with the One-eyed Elf many times and had a certain understanding of his strength. ¡°Then let¡¯s hurry up and finish them off!¡± the Dragon-man youth gritted his teeth, ¡°Cover me!¡± The Dragon-man youth fought desperately, risking his life with every charge. Although each of his attacks was countered, his frenzied combat style exposed many flaws in the Golden and Silver brothers, which were often exploited by his companions. Golden Hook and Silver Hook sustained continuous injuries. While none were serious, they added up over time. Bang! The Dragon-man youth was violently struck by the fishing rod, crashing through the deck and falling into the second layer of the Silver Hook. By now, the Silver Hook was riddled with holes and the deck was shattered. However, the Dragon-man youth didn¡¯t rush to climb back to the upper layer; instead, he stood his ground, puffing up his cheeks. Talented Magic¡ªScorching Dragon Breath! Sensing the spell¡¯s energy, the Silver Fighter wielding a blade immediately rushed over to intervene but was blocked by Golden Chin with his shield. The Golden and Silver brothers grinned viciously; at this point, the Dragon-man youth had become a live target. Combined Attack Skill¡ªNew Moon Hook! A huge, crescent moon-shaped fish hook slashed down mercilessly. The Dragon-man youth didn¡¯t move. If struck, he would be split in two on the spot. ¡°This madman, heh!¡± Zong Ge also grinned, his fighting spirit boiling to extreme heights in that instant. The Dragon-man youth was taking an enormous risk, practically entrusting his life to his companions! The Half-Beast felt the youth¡¯s trust and, lifting his head, positioned himself in front of the young man. Great sword across! Defensive Fighting Skills were deployed. New Moon Hook struck Zong Ge, quickly turning from a downward slash to a Horizontal Cut. ¡°Not good!¡± Zong Ge¡¯s face changed dramatically. ¡°I¡¯ve got this,¡± growled Yishen at the critical moment, his body quivering, and every hair detaching from his body. Countless Fighting Energy-filled hairs blended together to form another Rat-man, strikingly similar to Yishen. Combat Skill¡ªGray Rat-man! The Gray Rat-man dashed towards the Dragon-man youth, ready to self-destruct to block the Curved Moon Hook. The Dragon-man youth opened his mouth and raised his head to spit out a huge gout of Dragon Breath. His Dragon Breath hit the Golden and Silver brothers dead on. Golden Hook¡¯s expression changed. Combat Skill¡ªSun Ring Hook. He spun his fishing rod over his head, and a golden, glittering ring appeared in an instant. The huge ring circled around the Golden and Silver brothers, firmly blocking the Dragon Breath. Silver Hook¡¯s face drastically changed, sensing a sudden drop in Golden Hook¡¯s energy: ¡°Brother!¡± Golden Hook was now pale, with not a trace of color, and his upright posture now hunched. Golden Hook let out a sigh: ¡°I¡¯ve reached my limit, brother.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s retreat!¡± Silver Hook quickly said. Golden Hook gave a wry smile and shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ll see you off. Remember, don¡¯t go back to the Gold and Silver Island.¡± ¡°No, brother¡­¡± Silver Hook¡¯s heart and body shook violently. But in the next moment, the Sun Ring Hook suddenly collapsed, and the surging Scorching Dragon Breath came at them. Golden Hook abruptly turned sideways, facing Silver Hook, using his back to shield his brother from the Dragon Breath. His Golden Fighting Spirit was weak and nearly instantaneously, his back was charred, emitting a strong burnt smell. ¡°Little brat,¡± Golden Hook grinned through the pain, but he smiled. He placed a hand on Silver Hook¡¯s head and then vigorously ruffled Silver Hook¡¯s hair. This most familiar and warm gesture left the anxious Silver Hook stunned for a moment. In the rising firelight, Golden Hook grinned: ¡°Take my share and live well, brother!¡± Having said that, he shoved his fishing rod into Silver Hook¡¯s hands while snatching Silver Hook¡¯s rod. Combat Skill¡ªBroken Line and Hook! In an instant, the fishing line completely bound Silver Hook. Exerting all the remaining Fighting Energy and strength in his body, Golden Hook gave a forceful toss. Silver Hook, like a shooting star, flew high into the sky, tears streaming down as he shouted, ¡°Brother¡ª!¡± He could only watch helplessly as the ¡°Silver Hook¡± and ¡°Justice,¡± along with the entire battlefield, rapidly shrank. The fishing line extended and extended in mid-air until it finally reached its limit. After becoming as thin as it possibly could, it snapped with a ¡°pop.¡± Instead, the ¡°Silver Hook¡± increased its speed, swiftly streaking across the sky and vanishing from sight. Seeing his brother escape, ¡°Golden Chin¡± smiled and, after propping the end of the fishing rod on the deck, remained motionless. The searing ¡°Dragon Breath¡± engulfed him in an instant. ¡°Captain!¡± ¡°Golden Chin?!¡± The Dragon Breath dissipated. ¡°Golden Chin¡± had turned into a pile of charred human flesh, his ¡°Life Breath¡± completely extinguished, yet he still stood without falling. The battlefield paused for a moment before the ¡°Justice Pirate Group¡± erupted into earth-shattering cheers. The men of ¡°Golden and Silver Hooks¡± were as devastated as mourning widows, their morale instantly collapsing. One sword clattered to the ground, followed by a second, a third¡­ Almost no one resisted any longer. Everyone knew the tide had turned. Even the ¡°Silver Fighter¡± wielding blades accepted this. Amidst countless gazes, the ¡°Dragon-man youth¡± once again stepped onto the first level of the deck. ¡°Oho! Long Fu, Long Fu!!¡± The pirates raised their arms, hoisting swords aloft, continuously cheering. ¡°Did we win? Did we take down a ¡®Golden Fighter¡¯?¡± a small bird on the ¡°Justice¡± still couldn¡¯t quite believe it. ¡°Yes, we did it!¡± ¡°Zong Ge¡± joined the ¡°Dragon-man youth,¡± glanced at the shattered greatsword and tossed it aside. Victory! It was so sweet and so joyous. The ¡°Dragon-man youth¡± took a deep breath, about to let out a triumphant howl. Cang Xu secretly whispered to him, ¡°Captain, the ¡®Big guy¡¯¡­ is dead.¡± The ¡°Dragon-man youth¡¯s¡± countenance instantly changed. The joy and sense of achievement that had filled his chest dissipated greatly. The youth immediately entrusted the clearing of the battlefield to ¡°Zong Ge¡± and returned alone to the forecastle of the ¡°Justice.¡± The ¡°Big guy¡± was dead. His entire skin and flesh had cracked, his blood turning a yellow-brown color, very thick, forming a pool beneath him. His face was in agony, his eyes wide open, staring at the cabin door. It seemed he wanted to see the ¡°Dragon-man youth¡± enter. ¡°No, no¡­¡± the ¡°Dragon-man youth¡± murmured, his heart quickly covered by an intense sadness upon seeing the ¡°Big guy¡¯s¡± body. ¡°Get out of here!¡± In the jungle, the ¡°Big guy¡± protected the ¡°old shipwright¡± with his body, resisting ¡°Zong Ge.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just like me.¡± Under the setting sun, the ¡°Big guy¡± moved to sit beside the youth. Amid the surging ¡°Beast Tide,¡± the ¡°Big guy¡± pushed the new ship on his own: ¡°Dad, for the first time, I¡¯m not listening to you!¡± On the hill behind ¡°New Moon Town,¡± the ¡°Big guy¡± looked up in admiration and affection at the ¡°Dragon-man youth¡± showcasing his ¡°Combat Skill¡±: ¡°Dad, you¡¯re so amazing!¡± ¡­ Scene after scene flashed back in the ¡°Dragon-man youth¡¯s¡± mind. The ¡°Big guy,¡± once so full of ¡°life force,¡± now lay breathless. The ¡°Dragon-man youth¡± knelt helplessly on the ground. How many times he had faced the terrifying attacks of ¡°Golden Hook,¡± he had stubbornly stood upright, rising again and again. But this time, he felt so weak, so helpless. Tears silently slid down his cheeks. But his ¡°Blood Core¡± was throbbing with a devouring desire. Although the ¡°Big guy¡± was dead, his ¡°Bloodline¡± had undergone a transformation just before death. This was a ¡°Divine Level Bloodline¡±! Far superior even to the ¡°Legendary¡± ¡°King of Flame Dragon.¡± ¡°Eat him, eat him!¡± At this moment, the ¡°Dragon-man youth¡± seemingly heard the blood core¡¯s insatiable craving. ¡°Dragon Claw¡± markings were deeply etched onto the deck. The ¡°Dragon-man youth¡¯s¡± eyes were red, his jaw clenched. The desire of the blood core filled him with anger and regret. The object of his fury was none other than himself! ¡°Why? Why am I so weak?¡± ¡°If only I were stronger, I could¡¯ve saved you. I could¡¯ve easily defeated ¡®Golden Hook,¡¯ without so much loss.¡± ¡°I should have taken the risk!¡± ¡°I should¡¯ve tried to absorb your bloodline with the blood core. It would have lowered the bloodline¡¯s quality, but maybe it could have saved your life. I should¡¯ve gambled.¡± In reality, the youth was uncertain about this. The blood core was extremely dominant, once utilized, it would completely suck the life out of the target, leaving nothing but a handful of ash behind. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since the ¡°Big guy¡¯s¡± incident, the ¡°Dragon-man youth¡± had tried using only a small part of the blood core¡¯s power. The ¡°Justice¡± had several live ducks and chickens stored. The youth practiced with these, but every attempt failed. Fortunately, the ¡°Big guy¡± could hang on to life with ¡°Healing Potions,¡± and going to ¡°White Wings Port¡± for help from the bishop seemed the most likely solution. But on their way, they encountered the ¡°Silver Hook Pirates.¡± While the ¡°Dragon-man youth¡± fought desperately, the ¡°Big guy¡± died. The youth¡¯s heart was filled with endless grief. Although his time spent with the ¡°Big guy¡± was not long, the latter had entered his heart. The ¡°Big guy¡± unreservedly relied on him, and at the same time, became a part of the youth¡¯s shadow. ¡°Captain, you needn¡¯t grieve too deeply. I can save him.¡± Just then, a voice came from a corner of the cabin. Subsequently, an elder revealed himself. The ¡°Dragon-man youth¡± revealed a look of astonishment, focusing his gaze¡ª It was the old man rescued by the ¡°Justice Pirate Group¡± on the ¡°Magnetic Island.¡± Chapter 271 - 271: Section 59: Resurrection Divine Skill Chapter 271: Section 59: Resurrection Divine Skill The Dragon-man youth cast a peculiar glance at the old man and asked directly, ¡°Who are you?¡± The elder¡¯s voice was steady as he introduced himself, ¡°I am a servant of the God of Life, Waffle is my alias; my real name is Hao Fu. I am a bishop of the White Wings Port¡¯s Life Temple. The Gold and Silver brothers attacked the ship I was on. They have been frantically searching this stretch of the sea to find me.¡± The Dragon-man youth immediately narrowed his eyes. Memories flashed through his mind. In New Moon Port. An Imperial receptionist told him, ¡°Captain Long Fu, there is a mission available that I highly recommend. If you can complete it, the Empire will reward you handsomely.¡± ... ¡°Three days ago, these people audaciously robbed a military supply ship near Stinky Bay. The ship carried a large amount of military provisions and over a dozen boxes of munitions, one of which contained three hundred low-level Fireball Technique magic scrolls.¡± ¡°According to secret reports from the Empire, years ago, Golden Hook had bought potions in the Black Market, attempting to break through to the Holy Domain and reach the Golden Level.¡± ¡°Clearly, he didn¡¯t succeed. Over the years, he has stayed secluded on Gold and Silver Island, appearing in public very rarely.¡± ¡°The scholars of the Empire speculate that this time, Silver Hook robbing the military supply ship was likely aiming to kidnap a bishop from the Life Sect, perhaps to force the bishop to heal his brother.¡± ¡°Fortunately, the bishop, due to some accidents, didn¡¯t board the supply ship as planned.¡± In the Magnetic Islands. The old man in front of him was woken up by the Justice Pirate Group and others,¡± I was originally a fisherman at White Wings Port, struggling to survive under the heavy tithes and taxes of the nobility, so I joined a pirate ship to make ends meet. Unfortunately, we ran into bigger pirates who defeated our flotilla. I was near the lifeboat when our ships sank and desperately climbed aboard it.¡± Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°What was the name of the pirate group you joined? And who attacked you?¡± Cang Xu inquired. The old man¡¯s reply shocked everyone. His pirate group was not worth mentioning, but the attackers were indeed from the Silver Hook¡¯s crew! ¡°Why would Silver Hook¡¯s group be around here?¡± ¡°These people are incredibly audacious, robbing the Empire¡¯s military supply ship and still daring to roam around!¡± ¡°Could their target be the Magnetic Islands?¡± Not long ago, in this very battlefield at sea. The First Officer on Silver Hook shouted, ¡°Justice Pirate Group, we are the Silver Hook Pirates! We command you to stop immediately and submit to our inspection. If you comply, you may yet keep your lives.¡± Following that was Silver Hook, ¡°Justice Pirate Group! I acknowledge your strength. Stop your ship! Submit to our inspection, and in doing so, you may gain a powerful ally. Otherwise, I, Silver Hook, will obliterate you right now.¡± Finally, it was Golden Hook, ¡°All of Justice Pirate Group, listen up. I am Golden Hook. We¡¯re all pirates here. If you give us half of your loot, I will let you go.¡± The Dragon-man youth clenched his fist slightly, a flash of understanding in his eyes, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± ¡°That is indeed the case,¡± the old man, no, more precisely, Bishop Hao Fu of the Life Sect, said, ¡°It was you who saved my life and killed Golden Hook, defeating the main force of the Gold and Silver Pirates. I am willing to resurrect Big guy and others as a token of my gratitude for saving my life. But please prepare quickly, as I believe Captain Long Fu you know that resurrection is time-limited. We must act before the spirits of the deceased dissipate.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± the Dragon-man youth replied joyfully, nodding immediately. Moments later. Under the command of Captain Long Fu, the bodies of the Justice Pirate Group were gathered on the deck of the Justice. Hao Fu knelt with his head bowed and hands clasped in front of his chest. He prayed, ¡°Great God of Life, my Lord. You are the master of life, cherished by all living. You have provided me with healing and redemption. Now, I, a humble one, beseech your mercy to let your mighty power of resurrection also be with these people. Let them live again in this world, under Your watchful eyes, in Your word, Your glory, Your loving grace.¡± As he prayed, Hao Fu¡¯s aura became increasingly majestic and vast. He rapidly ascended from a normal person to Bronze Level, Black Iron, Silver, and finally Golden! The pirates were dumbfounded, especially those who had once bullied him, now terrified. The senior members of the Justice Pirate Group also stared intently. ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe that a bishop of the Life Sect was actually on our ship.¡± ¡°Good deeds do pay off, we saved him in the Magnetic Islands,¡± Bai Ya exclaimed, then asked curiously, ¡°But why was he at the Magnetic Islands?¡± Cang Xu smiled slightly, ¡°If you recall the information we got in New Moon Port, it¡¯s not hard to figure out.¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai Ya paused, then realized, ¡°So you mean the bishop was actually on the supply ship at that time.¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°That should be the case. Golden Hook was severely injured, desperate enough to attack the supply ship to seek the bishop¡¯s help in healing.¡± ¡°At that time, the bishop had his ways. In the vast sea, he managed to escape using a lifeboat.¡± ¡°Feel his aura now, though he¡¯s at Golden Level, he¡¯s obviously weakened and gravely injured.¡± ¡°The Gold and Silver brothers, failing to capture the bishop, frantically searched this area.¡± ¡°The Empire likely received much more information than us, quickly deducing that the Gold and Silver brothers hadn¡¯t succeeded. But to aid the bishop¡¯s escape, they released false information, mobilizing the Navy on one hand and recruiting various pirates to muddle the waters.¡± ¡°We were kept in the dark before, so we were unaware of the bishop¡¯s disappearance.¡± ¡°As for the Gold and Silver brothers, they also relished the Empire¡¯s concealment. Their previous attempts to search our ship were merely a pretense for plunder.¡± Bai Ya struck her palm with her fist, excitedly exclaiming, ¡°That¡¯s why, when Captain Long Fu ordered Rapids to flee, Golden Hook got so anxious. He even pursued personally, taking half the crew with him.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zong Ge nodded, his eyes sparkling with admiration, ¡°It was a brilliant command that kept Golden Hook away from the frontline for a long time. If Golden Hook were stationed on the Silver Hook, our victory would have come at a terrible cost.¡± The secretive conversation among the crowd suddenly ceased. Everyone¡¯s attention was drawn away. Suddenly, a dazzling radiance burst forth in the sky, the brilliance emerald green like jade, quickly enveloping the entire battlefield. Clusters of jade light coalesced, varying in size, and infused into each corpse. The next moment, exclamations arose. For the eyes of the gathered witnessed, the wounds on these bodies rapidly healed, even severed arms regenerating quickly. The higher the Life Level of a corpse before death and the more severe the injuries, the more and larger the jade light clusters it absorbed. Although the Big guy was just of the Bronze Level, he absorbed the most light clusters. Soon, all the bodies lying on the deck had fully recovered. Bishop Hao Fu slowly stood up, arms flung wide open, looking up as if to embrace the sky. Divine Arts¡ªGreat Resurrection Technique. Boom! Brilliant golden light burst forth from his entire body, shooting into the sky like a pillar of gold. The green radiance that spread across the battlefield converged into the golden column. The light from the column grew increasingly intense, forcing people to close their eyes. The column was blazing bright, like the sun. Yet, the light wasn¡¯t scorching but incredibly gentle instead. Under this infinite illumination, the bodies began to react; some twitched, some fingers trembled, some began breathing again, and some simply opened their eyes. Several breaths later, the brilliance dissipated. Bishop Hao Fu was very pale, his body shaking, weakly kneeling on the ground. Meanwhile, the former corpses sat or stood up one by one. ¡°What happened to me?¡± ¡°Is this¡­ Heaven?¡± ¡°I was certainly dead¡­ but this feels like being alive again. Hey, you died too?¡± ¡°What was the result of the battle with the Golden and Silver Brothers?¡± The previously fallen pirates were bewildered. ¡°You have all been resurrected,¡± the Dragon-man youth announced loudly, ¡°We won; Golden Hook has fallen. Thank Bishop Hao Fu, it was his Resurrection Divine Skill that has brought you back to life.¡± Cheers, thanks, crying, and excited curses filled the air. ¡°Dad¡­¡± the Big guy sat on the deck still looking dazed. The Dragon-man youth came over, smiling, patting his shoulder. Now, the Big guy¡¯s life aura was very stable. He had survived; he truly possessed a Divine Bloodline now! ¡°How did I die? Didn¡¯t I escape into the sea?¡± Di Lou quickly checked over his body, ¡°Right, it seems I was hit by Golden Hook¡¯s move. Was I just killed like that?¡± Di Lou inhaled sharply, filled with relief, ¡°Lucky for me this time, saving the life of the bishop of the Life Sect!¡± ¡°Bishop, I wish to convert!¡± Di Lou cried out loud, ¡°I am willing to serve the God of Life!¡± Immediately, many pirates echoed Di Lou, some were the recently deceased, others had witnessed the miracle with their own eyes, they all began to convert to the God of Life. ¡°Everyone back off, the bishop needs to rest,¡± the Dragon-man youth temporarily halted the crowd gathering around Hao Fu. At this moment, Hao Fu¡¯s hair was completely white, his face full of wrinkles, his entire body radiating intense fatigue. ¡°Captain Long Fu, I hope you can escort me back,¡± pleaded Hao Fu. The Dragon-man youth nodded without hesitation, ¡°Of course, I will personally escort you.¡± He then turned and ordered Zong Ge and the others, ¡°Lads, quickly clean up the battlefield, and then we head to White Wings Port!¡± ¡°Oh!!!¡± The crowd responded enthusiastically with cheers. The Little Bird had sunk, the Justice peppered with holes, the Rapids almost entirely empty. Yet the size of the Justice Pirate Group had suddenly swelled several times. The badly damaged Silver Hook joined them. Along with eight other pirate ships. Many enemy pirate members turned into prisoners, including two Silver Fighters, one a swordsman, the other the One-eyed Elf. Chapter 272 - 272: Section 60: Captain Long Fu, You Stand Out from the Crowd Chapter 272: Section 60: Captain Long Fu, You Stand Out from the Crowd Late at night. The survivors of Mysterious Monster Island gathered secretly to discuss. Mu Ban¡¯s face was full of worry, ¡°Do we really have to go to the Life Temple? It¡¯s quite risky!¡± Sanda shook his head slightly, ¡°But if we refuse Bishop Hao Fu, what reason can we use? Wouldn¡¯t that immediately arouse suspicion?¡± ¡°No, not really, after all, we¡¯re pirates.¡± Fat Tongue interjected. Cang Xu¡¯s expression remained serene, ¡°Hao Fu, in his own severely wounded state, used the Great Resurrection Technique to revive many of us. This act has profound implications and also shows his sincerity. The captain made the right decision to agree on the spot.¡± ... ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Zong Ge agreed with Cang Xu¡¯s view, ¡°The Hundred Needle Family was our choice. And this bishop from the Life Sect¡­ at the moment, he seems like a good choice, too.¡± Bai Ya¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Are we going to tell him our secret from Mysterious Monster Island?¡± The Dragon-man youth shook his head, ¡°No, now is not the time. But I can sense that Bishop Hao Fu harbors good feelings towards us. Moreover, he can continue to hide, can he not? Even if we see through his disguise, there¡¯s no need for him to use the Great Resurrection Technique to repay us, right?¡± Fat Tongue asked, ¡°Then, can we have him rescue my family¡¯s chairman?¡± A hint of sorrow flashed in the Dragon-man youth¡¯s eyes as he shook his head slightly. Cang Xu spoke candidly, ¡°Chairman Zi Di and the Big Guy have different situations. Chairman Zi Di¡¯s soul clearly bears traces of Undead Magic, and if Divine Arts were used to save her, it could very likely attract the attention of the gods.¡± With that, the old Scholar took out a Pearl Bubble. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°Everyone, this is the Pearl Bubble we secretly placed on the Big Guy before the resurrection.¡± ¡°After the resurrection, I counted them, and not a single Pearl Bubble was missing.¡± ¡°To some extent, this indicates that the God of Life did not cast Their gaze upon us during the resurrection process. Hence, the Pearl Bubbles showed no signs of consumption.¡± Not every use of Divine Arts attracts the attention of the gods. The nature of Divine Arts is that clergy borrow Divine Power. For the gods, it is difficult for Them to respond to every prayer or monitor every utilization of Divine Power. Generally, Their gaze is only cast during major ceremonies or on key individuals and significant events. Golden Hook exploited this loophole by capturing Hao Fu, trying to force him to use his Divine Arts for healing. Cang Xu continued, ¡°We must admit that contacting Hao Fu and entering the Life Temple is risky. But the possibility of attracting the attention of the gods is small, and even if the gods do cast Their gaze upon us, the chance to uncover our secret on Mysterious Monster Island is even smaller.¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth taking the gamble.¡± ¡°We stand a great chance of winning, and if we do, we will gain the friendship of a bishop-level person.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s stance was clear, showing support for the Dragon-man youth. ¡°I agree with Cang Xu¡¯s opinion,¡± Zong Ge stated succinctly. As usual, no one objected to the Dragon-man youth¡¯s decision. The Dragon-man youth nodded, ¡°This matter concerns the lives of everyone present, so I gathered you all to discuss. Since this is the outcome, let¡¯s proceed. Good luck to us!¡± ¡°Good luck!¡± everyone responded in unison. The following day. White Wings Port welcomed ten ships. ¡°My god, so many demon energy ships came at once!¡± ¡°Judging by the state of these ships, there must have been an extremely fierce battle.¡± ¡°Who exactly are these people?¡± The port buzzed with the arrival of the Justice Pirate Group. The pirate flag of the Justice Pirate Group had already been stowed away. Many people could guess the identities of these ships and sailors. But since the Empire¡¯s officials had opened the port, it proved that these pirates were also tradable. That was enough. Although White Wings Port was not an Imperial secret port, welcoming pirates and providing supplies had become an almost openly acknowledged unspoken rule among the major ports. Unless pirates were utterly vile and unacceptable to the Empire, ports would choose to repel pirate ships with cannon fire. Of course, even when pirates entered a port, such resupplying carried risks. Historically, there have been cases where the Imperial Navy laid traps on land to arrest and capture pirates. The Life Temple was grand, constructed entirely of obsidian, surrounded by lush woods filled with birds and fragrant flowers, resembling a garden. The Dragon-man youth fulfilled his promise, personally escorting Hao Fu back here. ¡°Bishop, you¡¯ve finally returned!¡± Several high-ranking temple officials had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Hao Fu again, their faces beamed with joy; the news of Golden Hook successfully hijacking the supply ships had thrown them into disarray. Now that Hao Fu was back, they had found their pillar of support. ¡°Thanks to Captain Long Fu, he saved me, and also defeated the Gold and Silver brothers. Golden Hook has died by Captain Long Fu¡¯s hand,¡± Hao Fu introduced. The high-ranking officials of the temple cast surprised glances at the Dragon-man youth. They could sense it very clearly, the Dragon-man youth was of Silver aura, not even at the peak of Silver. Yet he had slain a Gold warrior with his Silver Cultivation. This feat was indeed rare! ¡°Killing Golden Hook was not solely my own doing; my subordinates also fought to the death. Without them, and given that Golden Hook was already injured, it was merely a stroke of luck that I could win,¡± the Dragon-man youth explained with a smile. The crowd expressed their admiration and gratitude in chorus. They arranged for the Dragon-man youth to be hospitably treated in the guest room. Di Lou and the others who had come along with the Dragon-man youth were also properly accommodated. These people had all converted to the worship of the God of Life due to the Great Resurrection Technique. The guest hall was situated inside the greenhouse of the temple. Surrounded by huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows, one could see the dense greenery, bright flowers, and colorful parrots and golden-haired little monkeys within the greenhouse with utmost clarity. The Dragon-man youth sat on the sofa, with delicate pastries and precious tea placed on the ivory-white tea table. A stout nanny dressed as a nun stood by his side. The youth casually chatted with the stout nanny for a few sentences, to which the nanny expressed her deepest gratitude. It was evident that Bishop Hao Fu possessed a charismatic leadership, endearing him to everyone at the temple. ¡°Captain Long Fu, I apologize for having kept you waiting,¡± Bishop Hao Fu reappeared before the Dragon-man youth after a short while. He had changed into a pure white bishop¡¯s robe and revealed his true, amiable yet dignified face. Bishop Hao Fu sat across from the Dragon-man youth and once again expressed his gratitude for the youth¡¯s lifesaving grace. The Dragon-man youth also sincerely thanked Hao Fu for resurrecting the pirates. After exchanging a few courteous words and sipping some tea, Hao Fu asked the stout nanny to leave, leaving just him and the Dragon-man youth alone. Bishop Hao Fu slightly restrained his smile and, with a serious tone, asked, ¡°Forgive my boldness, but may I inquire, Captain Long Fu, how do you view the various races that exist in the world?¡± The Dragon-man youth realized that the bishop had come to the crux of the conversation and sat up straight, pondering carefully before replying, ¡°I have always believed that every form of life has the right to exist in this world.¡± Hao Fu¡¯s expression grew more solemn, ¡°Be they Elves or Beastmen?¡± The Dragon-man youth nodded. Hao Fu pressed further, ¡°Even Demons and Devils?¡± The Dragon-man youth nodded again. Hao Fu questioned further, ¡°Yet Demons and Devils are so malevolent¡­ When the Empire wages its campaign across the Wilderness Continent, the Beastmen are the Empire¡¯s greatest enemy. Are you opposed to the Empire¡¯s campaign, Captain Long Fu?¡± The Dragon-man youth shook his head, ¡°What is justice? What is evil?¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually very hard to judge these things,¡± he continued. ¡°If a powerful Beastman slays many of the Human Race, he becomes a hero to the Beast Race. To the Beastmen, he is undoubtedly just. But to us, he is certainly extremely evil.¡± ¡°Every life has the right to exist, yet lives differ among themselves, some strong, some weak.¡± ¡°The strong feed on meat, the weak graze on grass, just as tigers and leopards do with rabbits and deer.¡± ¡°I am not opposed to the Empire¡¯s campaign; on the contrary, I quite agree with it.¡± ¡°It is a contest of strength, and only by determining who is stronger can both the Human Race and the Beast Race truly understand themselves and reality, leading to a better coexistence in the future.¡± ¡°I believe that the Holy Emperor didn¡¯t promote this national policy of marching across the Wilderness Continent with the intention of exterminating all the Beastmen, right?¡± ¡°Hahaha,¡± Bishop Hao Fu suddenly burst into laughter, clapping his hands, ¡°Captain Long Fu, you truly are unique!¡± ¡°After boarding your flagship, I could immediately sense this.¡± ¡°In your Justice Pirate Group, there are Half-Beasts, goblins, Rat-men, and even half-giants¡­¡± ¡°Indeed, pirates come from diverse backgrounds, but your pirate group is different. Different races not only coexist but also treat each other equally.¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Such a situation is so rare that I would hardly believe it if I hadn¡¯t experienced it myself.¡± ¡°Just now, hearing your words, Captain Long Fu, I realized it is all because of you.¡± The Dragon-man youth thought to himself: The bishop holds me in too high regard, their mutual cooperation owed more to the life-and-death adventures on Mysterious Monster Island, watching over each other. Coupled with the shared burden of the Empire¡¯s crimes, they had become a tight-knit group, huddling together for warmth. Bishop Hao Fu sighed and continued, ¡°Life is precious, vibrant, and full of potential. Every life deserves respect, no matter how strong or weak, for they all have their reasons for existence. Such is the doctrine of our Life Sect.¡± ¡°Captain Long Fu, do you know why I am willing to use the Great Resurrection Technique?¡± ¡°Because on the ship, I received care from Big guy, whose demeanor was fierce, but how could I not sense the kindness in his actions?¡± ¡°And also because I saw your intense grief over Big guy¡¯s death.¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s Big guy, you, or anyone else, your respect for life transcends race, which has deeply moved me.¡± ¡°Captain Long Fu, have you considered worshipping the God of Life?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± the Dragon-man youth lowered his head to ponder for a long while before he finally shook his head with a wry smile, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but please forgive me for not having the desire to convert at this time.¡± ¡°Hehehe, please don¡¯t rush to refuse,¡± Bishop Hao Fu waved his hand, ¡°I haven¡¯t mentioned my conditions yet.¡± ¡°If you and Big guy would convert to the worship of the God of Life, you could attain the position of Guardian Knights.¡± ¡°At the same time, you would receive various conveniences. Please look at this list.¡± The Dragon-man youth took the list and, after reading it, couldn¡¯t help but change his expression, ¡°Bishop Hao Fu, to enlist our services with such a hefty cost, what is it for? You¡¯ve already repaid your debt of life.¡± Hao Fu smiled, ¡°I believe that any sect would intend to recruit the possessors of Legendary and Divine Bloodlines.¡± Chapter 273 - 273: Section 61: Join Us, Long Fu Chapter 273: Section 61: Join Us, Long Fu ¡°Bishop, can you detect the bloodline level of other life forms?¡± the Dragon-man youth raised his eyebrows. Hao Fu nodded. ¡°This is precisely the domain our Life Sect excels in. I carry the Divine Grace on me; the God of Life bestowed upon me a constant Bloodline Grade Detection Divine Skill. As long as it is within a certain range, any living being whose life level does not exceed mine, I can see through their bloodline grade.¡± The Dragon-man youth pressed on, ¡°May I ask, how common is a situation like yours?¡± ¡°Of course not common, to be more precise, it¡¯s quite rare.¡± Hao Fu smiled. The Dragon-man youth couldn¡¯t help but sigh. The Divine Domain and Divine Authority of the God of Life are all linked to ¡°life,¡± and the Dragon-man youth had long heard about the Bloodline Grade Detection Divine Skill. It just hadn¡¯t occurred to him that Bishop Hao Fu had been blessed by the gods with this constant Divine Skill. ... His sigh was more for the Pearl Bubble. Both he and the big guy were secretly carrying the Pearl Bubble, yet they could not hide the secret of their bloodline grade. The youth now speculated that, on one hand, this might be because the Bloodline Grade Detection Divine Skill on Hao Fu was personally cast by the God of Life and fixed upon the bishop, with extremely powerful might. On the other hand, it was also because, although the Pearl Bubble was a product of the Divine Artifact, the Justice Pirate Group could only use it passively and shallowly, unable to truly unleash its power. The more the Dragon-man youth interacted with Hao Fu, the less confident he became about the Pearl Bubble he carried. ¡°What exactly has Hao Fu witnessed on the Justice?¡± ¡°During the resurrection process, did the God of Life really not notice?¡± ¡°Have our secrets truly remained undetected?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Gods are inscrutable, their mighty power vast like the sea of smoke. Gods, omnipotent! The exposure of the bloodline grade secret was unexpected to the youth. But as he now calmed down to think, this might not necessarily be a bad thing. Divine Level and Legendary Bloodlines, allowing Bishop Hao Fu to think highly of them, offering an olive branch proactively. ¡°Become a Guardian Knight of the Life Sect?¡± ¡°This seems like an opportunity.¡± The Dragon-man youth started to furrow his brows in thought: ¡°If both the big guy and I became Guardian Knights, then by leveraging Hao Fu¡¯s connection, by revealing the secrets of Mysterious Monster Island, by contributing a part of the gains upwards, could we absolve ourselves of our crimes?¡± The youth analyzed for a moment in his heart and felt that this possibility existed. But he could not agree! Divine and Legendary Bloodlines were no small matters; the Life Sect would save them for this reason alone. Even if contributing the Green Jade Gold Coffin and Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale could absolve them of their crimes, it would be worth it. But the Blood Core¡­ The Dragon-man youth¡¯s bloodline was not of Legendary Grade; the truth was he had absorbed the bloodline of the King of Flame Dragon. The Blood Core could transform life, seizing the bloodline of other external beings; this secret was far too significant! If the Blood Core, like the other two Divine Artifacts, could not be truly used by non-divine beings, then that was somewhat of a relief. The terrifying part was that the youth could directly use it to eliminate the Legendary King of Flame Dragon, forcefully seizing the essence of the latter¡¯s bloodline. The youth had a strong intuition in his heart: The Blood Core could not be exposed; once it was, the impact would be immense. Would the Life Sect tolerate a Guardian Knight possessing it? They would not! The Blood Core could absorb external bloodlines, which contained such exquisite secrets of life! Once exposed, the God of Life Himself would take action to seize it. The Blood Core resided within the youth¡¯s heart. What would be the consequences if the two were to be separated? Apart from this reason, the youth also felt a repulsion towards the idea of believing in other gods. This might have something to do with his previous time on Mysterious Monster Island, where he had always mistakenly thought he was a Holy Temple Knight, frequently praying to the Holy Emperor. Seeing Captain Long Fu deep in thought and not responding directly for a long time, Bishop Hao Fu laughed and spoke again: ¡°Captain Long Fu, do you think your pirate group can exist for a long time?¡± ¡°The free and unrestrained pirate life is impossible in the future.¡± ¡°The reason is simple, the God of Pirates¡¯ throne has emerged.¡± ¡°The struggle for the title of King of Pirates, whether the empire wins or some other existence does. As soon as the new Pirate King ascends to godhood, He will surely gather His followers, summoning all pirates to form a Pirate Coalition.¡± ¡°All the Pirate Kings of the past have done so.¡± ¡°What will happen to your Justice Pirate Group then? If you don¡¯t disband and go ashore, then the only option is to join and become part of the Pirate Coalition. Then, you will also have to offer your faith to the God of Pirates.¡± ¡°The God of Pirates is but a new god, with a very weak foundation, completely incomparable to my Lord. Captain Long Fu, do you agree with my view?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The Dragon-man youth nodded. Whether it¡¯s the years of becoming a god, Divine Authority, Divine Domain, the number of Believers, or the size of the sect, how could the God of Pirates be mentioned in the same breath as the God of Life? Hao Fu said, ¡°The crisis of your group is not just external, but also internal.¡± ¡°` ¡°Your group includes Half-Beasts, Half-Giants, Goblins, Rat-men, and so on. While they can coexist harmoniously now, what about the future?¡± ¡°Discrimination between races, disparities in Bloodlines, and differences in customs and beliefs will all turn into deep rifts within their hearts.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that there haven¡¯t been pirate groups that have recruited members of other races, but these groups never last long. As far as I know, the Justice Pirate Group has just been established, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°The atmosphere of your group is quite amicable, largely because of your broad-mindedness, Captain Long Fu, as well as your correct recognition of life.¡± ¡°But these recognitions are not shared by everyone.¡± ¡°If both the Captain and the Big guy join the Life Sect and become Guardian Knights, and you spread the teachings to other members of the pirate group¡­¡± ¡°Then I believe that, as time goes by, the deep faith in our Lord will take root in everyone¡¯s heart, and every member of the pirate group will treat their companions with the right attitude.¡± ¡°In this way, the Justice Pirate Group will surely exist for a long time!¡± The Dragon-man youth looked at Hao Fu, who spoke eloquently, and felt a sinking feeling. Bishop Hao Fu¡¯s ambitions were great; he wanted not only to recruit the Dragon-man youth and the Big guy, but also to use faith to turn the entire Justice Pirate Group to his advantage. Perhaps this misfortune at sea had made him very eager to have his own naval power. ¡°What kind of reason should I find to reject him while not arousing suspicion?¡± the Dragon-man youth brooded secretly. Hao Fu continued, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about you and the Big guy.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Both of you have tremendous potential, with achievements in the future that are immeasurable!¡± ¡°However, Captain Long Fu, you are currently only a Silver Fighter, and the Big guy is merely Bronze. There are too many risks and too many unexpected events on the path of growth.¡± ¡°Under normal circumstances, those with Divine Bloodlines and Legendary Bloodlines are heavily protected by major powers, fully nurtured, and kept safe during vulnerable periods. Only when personal strength reaches a certain level will the protection gradually be relaxed. Even so, assassination attempts are still rampant, and it¡¯s not rare to see strong seedlings die prematurely.¡± ¡°Once the secret of your Bloodline Grade is exposed, what will your enemies do, Captain?¡± ¡°By joining the Life Sect, both of you can cultivate in peace, without the need to traverse the vast ocean with great risk.¡± ¡°From what I have seen, if Captain Long Fu cannot let go of his foundation, he can entrust the pirate group to his second-in-command, Lion Flag.¡± ¡°Lion Flag has reached the peak of Silver-level Cultivation, only a thin line away from the Golden Level.¡± ¡°If he truly becomes a Golden Fighter while you remain Silver, it would be quite awkward.¡± ¡°No Gold would be content under the command of a Silver. By then, even if Lion Flag does not challenge your leadership, he will likely strike out on his own.¡± ¡°This scenario is quite possible.¡± ¡°Because, Captain Long Fu, your Bloodline is related to the Flame Dragon. Dragon species grow slowly and live long. Dragon Bloodlines have the same characteristics.¡± ¡°Your Dragon Blood gives you extraordinary physical qualities. I witnessed the great battle between you and Golden Hook, Captain, your bravery and majesty deeply imprinted in my heart.¡± ¡°You must have fully realized the benefits of the Dragon Blood, but, I must remind you that everything has its pros and cons. The disadvantage of the Dragon Blood is its slow growth. You need a massive amount of resources to maintain and advance your Cultivation.¡± ¡°Rabbits and deer eat grass, while lions and wolves eat meat, which is why they stand above rabbits and deer.¡± ¡°Even though they all eat grass and leaves, an elephant eats much more than rabbits and deer. Therefore, it¡¯s understandable that an elephant¡¯s size is also much larger.¡± ¡°As a pirate, through one plunder after another, can you meet the demands of your Cultivation, Captain Long Fu?¡± Bishop Hao Fu, with an expression of regret, shook his head. ¡°Moreover, there is a great risk in plundering at sea. Didn¡¯t Golden Hook fall at your hands, Captain?¡± ¡°Even if the Justice Pirate Group plunders successfully again and again, and you can continue your Cultivation smoothly, what about the Big guy?¡± ¡°His Divine Bloodline must be of the Earth Giant, which requires even more resources than you do, Captain, and an even longer growth period.¡± ¡°Moreover, the sea is not conducive to the growth of an Earth Giant Bloodline; the most suitable place for the Big guy should be on land. When he realizes this, will he still be at ease continuing with the Justice Pirate Group?¡± ¡°But if both of you join the Life Sect, we can provide sufficient resources for Cultivation. From another perspective, this can also be seen as a business investment; I strongly hope for a win-win scenario.¡± Hao Fu said this with parched lips. To his satisfaction, the expression of the Dragon-man youth was wavering. But after a few breaths, the youth took a deep breath and shook his head, ¡°Bishop¡¯s sincerity is full, I can feel it. However, to be frank, our true identities are not pirates.¡± Hao Fu was surprised, ¡°Not pirates?¡± He had already arranged for people to investigate this Justice Pirate Group when he was sending messages to the temple aboard the Justice. But the time was too short, and nothing substantial had been uncovered yet. The next moment, the Dragon-man youth spread his hands, his eyes brimming with sincerity, ¡°I originally wanted to make my mark on the Wilderness Continent, but by a twist of fate, I accepted the empire¡¯s spy mission, became a pirate, and formed a pirate group.¡± Hao Fu¡¯s eyes widened slightly, ¡°An empire¡¯s spy?¡± The Dragon-man youth sighed, ¡°The empire is at war with the Beastmen, and many have gone to the Wilderness Continent, seeking to carve out their own foundations. I am no exception.¡± ¡°Why did I name it the Justice Pirate Group? I wanted to train these people as my house servants.¡± ¡°I want to become a Knight, to have my own castle and territory.¡± ¡°So, Bishop, perhaps we can change our partnership?¡± ¡°I promise, the Life Sect will be the first sect to enter my territory, the standing of the bishop¡¯s sect will remain unshaken! I hope your church can support us, help us control the pirate group, and provide a series of resources. When necessary, we will do our utmost to aid your sect, of course, primarily to aid you, Bishop.¡± Hao Fu: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°` Chapter 274 - 274: Section 62: Demon Blood Greatsword Chapter 274: Section 62: Demon Blood Greatsword White Wings Port. Zong Ge entered a weapon store. This was the largest weapon store in White Wings Port, massive and luxuriously decorated. Zong Ge felt as if he had entered a noble¡¯s manor. The moment he stepped into the hall, a receptionist quickly approached him, friendly in demeanor, ¡°Sir, what would you like to purchase? I can provide some guidance.¡± Although Zong Ge was a half-orc, his Silver Level aura was quite apparent. His tall stature and distinctive appearance made him stand out, even in a crowded hall. ... ¡°Two-handed greatsword, and full-body armor,¡± Zong Ge responded succinctly. In his battle with Golden Hook, his two-handed greatsword was destroyed. Although he had spare weapons, they were only makeshift. His original full-body armor had been battered on Mysterious Monster Island, and after the previous tough battle, it was completely ruined. White Wings Port was a large port, with far more comprehensive and advanced facilities than New Moon Port. While the Dragon-man youth, Di Lou, and others headed to the Life Temple, Zong Ge wanted to see if there were suitable weapons and equipment for him. ¡°Sir, right this way,¡± the receptionist nodded continuously, leading the way. He guided Zong Ge to the second floor. Upon reaching the second floor, the half-orc saw a suit of full-body armor in a display case made of crystal. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?????????????????.co It shimmered with a metallic brilliance, its lines smooth, joints finely crafted, and it even came with a silk cape¡ªextremely luxurious. Golden Level armor! The half-orc nodded slightly, thinking that it was no wonder this was the largest weapon store in White Wings Port. He glanced at the armor and passed by without a second look. He needed Silver Level protective gear, Golden Armor was a bit too premature for him. Just like how goblin War Merchants couldn¡¯t fully exert the power of a Divine Artifact, Silver Fighters couldn¡¯t fully exploit the power of Golden Level full-body armor. Moreover, the Golden Level armor clearly did not fit the half-orc¡¯s physique. This area was evidently the protective gear section of the weapon store. Inside, there were full-body armor, half-body armor, arm guards, leg guards, footwear, helmets, shoulder guards, breastplates, skirt armor, and more. The materials included common iron and steel as well as special woods like Jade Bamboo and Wax Poplar, and monster materials like Beast Bones and snake scales. The receptionist in charge of the protective gear was sharp-eyed; he immediately noticed the extraordinariness of the short spears on Zong Ge¡¯s back and began recommending expensive protective gear. You get what you pay for. Indeed, these expensive pieces of protective gear were of excellent quality. Zong Ge took a liking to three sets but did not hurry to make a purchase, ¡°Let¡¯s look at the two-handed greatswords next.¡± Thus, he proceeded to the third floor, to the close-combat weapons section. After reviewing nearly all the two-handed greatswords, Zong Ge always felt they left something to be desired. His previously used greatsword was military-issued, rugged, simple, and durable. The two-handed greatswords here were either too long, too thin, or too light. The closest to his ideal was a Golden Level two-handed greatsword. Although it was expensive, Zong Ge was quite wealthy and could afford it. This was because Zong Ge and his group had defeated and plundered the Silver Hook Pirates, gaining a considerable amount of goods. Before leaving the ship, the pirates had divided the loot. ¡°I would like to try this sword first,¡± Zong Ge said. ¡°Of course.¡± The receptionist led him to the shooting range behind the building. Aside from archery targets, there were also humanoid melee targets specifically provided for customers to test weapons. Zong Ge held the sword grip with both hands and took a big step forward, executing a Combat Skill. A blade¡¯s shadow appeared in the next moment, carrying a hint of golden luster, and directly split the humanoid target in two. ¡°Silver Peak!¡± An elf, who happened to see this, couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. He could tell, despite Zong Ge¡¯s young age, he possessed a Silver Peak Cultivation. The likelihood of the half-orc becoming a Golden Fighter in the future was quite high. The elf approached the half-orc directly and spoke bluntly, ¡°This sword is not suited for you, warrior.¡± Seeing the elf, the receptionist hurriedly addressed him as ¡®boss.¡¯ The elf smiled, ¡°I am the owner of this weapon store, you can call me Huang.¡± Huang pointed to the two-handed greatsword in Zong Ge¡¯s hands, ¡°This ¡®Angel¡¯s Wings¡¯ is a magic greatsword I created using feathers from an angel, combined with various alchemy techniques.¡± ¡°It possesses several magic properties, as I believe others have already informed you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s well-crafted but not suited for you.¡± Zong Ge nodded, ¡°So, you have a better weapon?¡± Huang nodded, ¡°Of course. I have a treasure of the shop here, a Magic Piercing Sword named ¡®White Feather,¡¯ which I spent three years forging. It¡¯s a Holy Domain Level weapon.¡± ¡°You must know the origin of White Wings Port, right?¡± Zong Ge nodded. The original name of White Wings Port wasn¡¯t this. Hundreds of years ago, the port was nearly lost to a devil attack. At the critical moment, a Holy Angel appeared and killed the attacking Devil Lord. The Holy Angel fought valiantly, sacrificing his life to take down the Devil Lord and save the port. The port was renamed White Wings Port, in honor of that unnamed Holy Angel. The elf, Huang, continued, ¡°The main material of this treasure of my shop is the wing bone of the Holy Angel.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like using piercing swords,¡± Zong Ge said. Huang smiled, ¡°That¡¯s why, though I have better weapons in my shop, none are more suitable for you. I suggest that you visit a weapons shop named Copper Furnace. Perhaps their weapons would suit you.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zong Ge looked at the elf in surprise. Typical merchants would try their best to sell their products, but this elf was different. Huang continued, ¡°The owner of the Copper Furnace weapons shop is a dwarf named Da Kang Copper Beard. He is quite peculiar and might not agree to meet you or sell you that two-handed greatsword. But you are in luck, warrior.¡± ¡°Da Kang has been having trouble with the wine he brews and now urgently needs bronze apple wine as an additive.¡± ¡°I smell that wine on you.¡± ¡°If you have such wine, perhaps you could give it a try.¡± Zong Ge¡¯s nostrils twitched. Indeed, he carried the scent of wine. On the victorious return journey, to celebrate their victory, the Justice Pirate Group held a banquet aboard the ship. Zong Ge drank quite a bit of the bronze apple wine they had excavated from an underwater chamber. The half-beast expressed his thanks to the elf, Huang, and promptly left the weapon shop. Following Huang¡¯s directions, Zong Ge made some effort to locate a small, dilapidated shop at the end of an alley. The shop was closed. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zong Ge knocked on the door without a response, then shouted, ¡°I have lots of bronze apple wine!¡± Upon hearing his shout, the shop door opened, revealing a disheveled big head. It was the dwarf, Da Kang Copper Beard. ¡°What did you just yell?¡± Da Kang stared intently at Zong Ge. Zong Ge recounted his experience at Huang¡¯s weapon shop. ¡°Do you really have a lot of bronze apple wine?¡± Da Kang asked, first with surprise then frowning, ¡°Can you sell it to me?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to see that two-handed greatsword first,¡± Zong Ge said. Da Kang nodded, ¡°Of course, you can try it. You¡¯re strong, but that is a Gold Level greatsword. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to sell it to you, this greatsword was made by my teacher. It has killed many people¡­ it¡¯s dangerous.¡± Zong Ge became even more interested by these words. Da Kang led the half-beast inside the shop. Moments later, Zong Ge saw the two-handed greatsword. It was about 1.8 meters long, the tip wasn¡¯t blunt as usual but sharp like a bird¡¯s beak. The blade was dark red, and the hilt black, its surface uneven, marked with numerous fine grooves. Those grooves, like fingerprints, extended from the hilt along the blade all the way to the tip. Upon first glance, Zong Ge could feel some intense negative energy contained within the greatsword. Da Kang timely explained, ¡°This sword is called Demon Blood. It¡¯s crafted from the horns, heart, and blood of a Devil Lord by my teacher himself.¡± ¡°It is a flawed item.¡± ¡°My teacher originally planned to craft a Holy Domain Level greatsword, but sadly he failed.¡± ¡°I was less than a hundred years old at that time, had the fortune to assist in its forging and witnessed the failed event.¡± ¡°The Devil Lord was annihilated along with the Holy Angel, but his dissatisfaction, resentment, and desire for destruction were condensed into his blood, heart, and every part of his body.¡± ¡°At the critical moment of forging, these resentments and destructive wills erupted violently, severely disrupting my teacher. The originally Holy Domain Level sword embryo suddenly fell to the Gold Level.¡± As the dwarf spoke, when he noticed Zong Ge reaching out to grab the hilt, he quickly warned, ¡°Be careful! This sword is choosy. If it¡¯s dissatisfied, it will absorb and consume the sword master¡¯s blood. So, you need to envelop your hand with fighting energy.¡± ¡°It also contains the Devil Lord¡¯s strong will for destruction. Each time the sword master draws the sword from its sheath, it demands destruction and killing to certain standards before it¡¯s satisfied. If it¡¯s unsatisfied, it will attack its own master. Many sword masters have been driven mad by this spiritual onslaught, turning into killers, and some have even committed suicide.¡± ¡°It¡¯s that troublesome?¡± the half-beast frowned and grabbed the hilt with his large hand. ¡°Cover your hand with fighting energy!¡± the dwarf exclaimed. However, the half-beast did not do so: ¡°It¡¯s better to grip the handle directly, it¡¯s difficult to grasp the subtleties of sword skills through a layer of fighting energy. Just let it suck.¡± Yet, the Demon Blood Greatsword remained calm in Zong Ge¡¯s hands, without any signs of restlessness or backlash. ¡°This?!¡± The dwarf almost doubted if he had grabbed the wrong sword. Clang. With a crisp sound, Zong Ge drew the Demon Blood Greatsword from its sheath. Whoosh! With a casual wave, he immediately created a sword wind that cleared the surrounding clutter, blowing the disheveled dwarf¡¯s hair wildly back. The half-beast¡¯s brow relaxed, revealing a look of delight, and he blurted out, ¡°Good sword!¡± The dwarf slightly opened his mouth, stunned. Then, Zong Ge infused his fighting energy into the sword. The fighting energy filled the blade, and the entire Demon Blood Greatsword emitted a strong aura¡ªcraving for killing, craving for destruction, craving for annihilation, craving for war! ¡°Good sword¡­¡± Zong Ge praised again, and for a moment, his eyes slightly lost focus. The dwarf stood, staring at him in amazement: ¡°I have never seen the Demon Blood Greatsword so submissive in someone¡¯s hands before. Take it! From now on, it¡¯s yours.¡± Chapter 275 - 275: Section 63: Attacking Treasure Island Chapter 275: Section 63: Attacking Treasure Island For Zong Ge, the Demon Blood Greatsword was a rather unexpected and delightful find. The Dwarf didn¡¯t plan to charge Zong Ge any fees, he wanted to give the greatsword directly to the Half-Beast, ¡°The Demon Blood Greatsword has chosen you. For casters like us, it¡¯s a joy to see. Perhaps in this world, there is no one more suitable than you. That¡¯s destiny. My only request is that you treat it well, maintain it properly, and let it shine with its own glory.¡± ¡°Of course, don¡¯t forget about my bronze apple wine!¡± The Half-Beast expressed his gratitude, firmly memorizing the Dwarf¡¯s appearance and name, accepting this goodwill. Since he hadn¡¯t spent money on the weapon, Zong Ge returned to the weapon shop and selected a set of Silver Level full armor, a lining made of Silver Level dragon silk cotton. Clad in the Silver Level armor, and wielding the Golden Level Demon Blood Greatsword, Zong Ge returned to the Justice. ... His savings were nearly drained, but he was in high spirits. The Dragon-man youth had already returned. Seeing that the Captain had safely returned, Zong Ge let out a sigh of relief. What surprised the Half-Beast even more was that the Dragon-man youth had not only disguised himself successfully but also brought back many supplies. After dinner, the youth gathered the senior members aboard the Deep Sea Monster Fish. As they were at White Wings Port, for safety, the group did not hesitate to secretly discuss things underwater. ¡°The general situation is as follows,¡± the Dragon-man youth succinctly narrated his experiences at the Life Temple to everyone. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co The others breathed a sigh of relief and began to converse with each other. ¡°It seems we¡¯ve successfully deceived Bishop Hao Fu.¡± ¡°Our secrets on Mysterious Monster Island remain unrevealed!¡± ¡°The Captain has never let us down, and this time we even secured Hao Fu¡¯s support.¡± ¡°Do you think he could be our channel for redemption?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early to discuss that?¡± After a while of talking, the Dragon-man youth pressed his hand lightly, and everyone ceased their discussions. The youth then signaled to Cang Xu with a look. Cang Xu coughed lightly, ¡°The losses and gains from the battle with the Gold and Silver Brothers have been tallied¡­¡± He began his reporting. Zi Di was unconscious, and Cang Xu had become the chief administrator and accountant for the Justice Pirate Group. Already adept from years of serving Nobles and being a Noble Housekeeper, he was outstandingly capable in these roles. Overall, despite the fierce battle with the Gold and Silver Brothers, the losses for the Justice Pirate Group were minimal, while the gains were substantial. The main reason for that was Bishop Hao Fu performing the Great Resurrection Technique. The greatest loss for the Justice Pirate Group was the sinking of the Little Bird. However, the Little Bird was just a common ship, and if it sank, so be it, as the cost of salvaging it was much higher than purchasing a similar vessel. In comparison, the Grey Rat, as a demon energy ship, was worth the effort of salvage. Apart from that, the notable expenses were the bombs. However, those items were in ample supply as the young group had captured many on Mysterious Monster Island. After Cang Xu finished his report, he mentioned recent developments, ¡°The enemy ships we towed from the battlefield all can be used but generally need repairs, especially the Silver Hook!¡± ¡°We need a large increase in manpower, luckily the scale of White Wings Port is much larger than New Moon Port, and our current recruitment of sailors is progressing very smoothly.¡± ¡°But ship repairs will take a significant amount of time. Even if we pay extra, after conversing with Lan Zao and the dock workers, we will still need to wait a week before the repairs are completed.¡± ¡°What should we do with the captives we¡¯ve brought back?¡± This question was of significant importance. The Dragon-man youth looked at Cang Xu, ¡°What do you think would be the best way to handle this?¡± As the youth had expected, Cang Xu already had a plan in mind, ¡°The One-eyed Elf has high combat power and is not very loyal to the Gold and Silver Brothers. I suggest we recruit him and bind him with a Magic Contract.¡± ¡°As for the other, the Silver Fighter, he is a close confidant and staunch supporter of the Gold and Silver Brothers. Moreover, he has many bounties on his head, fetching a high price. If we hand him over to the Empire, we might even earn a modest contribution from them.¡± The Dragon-man youth nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s handle it that way.¡± It was perfect timing that he had received funding from Bishop Hao Fu, which included several Contract Scrolls. Cang Xu then asked, ¡°What about the other pirates? How should we deal with them?¡± The Dragon-man youth pondered for a moment, ¡°If they wish to join us, we could consider absorbing them. These veteran pirates have commendable fighting skills. For those who don¡¯t want to join, we¡¯ll let them ransom themselves. They could use money or some valuable intelligence.¡± ¡°What if they can¡¯t ransom themselves?¡± Cang Xu asked again. The Dragon-man youth showed a hint of difficulty. Zong Ge suggested, ¡°Some might have bounties on them, and we could exchange them for the reward. If there are no bounties, then let¡¯s sell them as slaves¡ªit¡¯s still some money after all.¡± Cang Xu looked at the Dragon-man youth, waiting for his decision. The expression on the Dragon-man youth¡¯s face was conflicted, but he ultimately nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s proceed as such.¡± He had always been reluctant about slave trading, but he couldn¡¯t really sympathize with these pirate captives who were enemies not long ago. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Justice Pirate Group only docked at White Wings Port for three days before hastening onward. White Wings Port had a Life Temple, a City Guard, and a medium-sized army camp just outside the city. Bearing the secret of Mysterious Monster Island, the Dragon-man and his companions inevitably felt nervous. Furthermore, they had another reason they needed to depart swiftly¡ªGold and Silver Island. This island was the base and stronghold of the Gold and Silver Brothers, known for its rich gold and silver mines. Now, with Golden Hook deceased and the main force of the Silver Hook Pirates eliminated, the defenses of Gold and Silver Island were at an all-time low. Although Silver Hook had escaped, even if he gathered all remaining forces, he was no match for the Justice Pirate Group. Thus, the Justice Pirate Group needed to set sail quickly to conquer this island and maximize the benefits of their previous battles. According to Cang Xu and the others¡¯ speculation, Gold and Silver Island probably held a considerable amount of gold and silver ore, ample weaponry, and, most crucially, Golden Hook¡¯s flagship¡ªthe Golden Hook. That was a Silver Level demon energy ship! To avoid revealing the vulnerability of his headquarters, Golden Hook had opted not to deploy the Golden Hook. After sailing hundreds of nautical miles with ten pirate ships, the Justice Pirate Group split into two groups. One group, led by the Dragon-man youth and Zong Ge with five ships, headed for Gold and Silver Island. The second group, led by Cang Xu and Lan Zao, manned the Golden Hook among their five ships and headed for New Moon Port. Unfortunately, these pirate ships had sustained battle damage. Repairing them in White Wings Port would take too much time and cost more, and the service couldn¡¯t compare to that of the Empire¡¯s secret ports. Therefore, the five ships with the most severe damage, including the Golden Hook, headed for the nearest secret port¡ªNew Moon Port. The remaining main force raced against time toward Gold and Silver Island. Time was of the essence. The longer they delayed, the more widely the news of the Gold and Silver Brothers¡¯ defeat would spread, and the more forces would covet Gold and Silver Island. However, on the night several days later, when they arrived at Gold and Silver Island, they beheld a scene of soaring flames and ongoing fierce battles. Some pirates had already beaten them to it! Chapter 276 - 276: Section 64: Melee on Treasure Island Chapter 276: Section 64: Melee on Treasure Island ¡°Damn it.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve stolen our stuff.¡± ¡°Treasure Island is our spoils of war!¡± ¡°What are we waiting for, let¡¯s storm in.¡± The pirates of the Justice Pirate Group clamored impatiently. They had fought hard to eliminate the Silver Hook Pirates and had killed Golden Hook. In their eyes, Treasure Island should have been theirs to claim. Now, seeing these pirates slaughtering and looting on the island, they immediately felt their property was under threat. ... ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be.¡± Di Lou frowned, ¡°We¡¯ve eliminated the Silver Hook Pirates, and these days, we¡¯ve fully guarded this secret. Bishop Hao Fu also promised us to temporarily keep our victory a secret. Why would these pirates know that Treasure Island is now unguarded?¡± Zong Ge then suggested, ¡°This might actually be good. Let these pirates destroy the island¡¯s defenses, and we¡¯ll first attack their ships. No matter the outcome of the war on the island, as long as we destroy their vessels and surround this island, they¡¯ll be like sitting ducks.¡± Zong Ge was an excellent commander, and many were intrigued by his suggestion, readily agreeing. However, the Dragon-man youth wore an expression of doubt, ¡°Signal the flag, let¡¯s circle the island, and see which pirate groups are seizing our treasure.¡± The Justice Pirate Group immediately set sail around the island. On the eastern side of the island, they spotted eight or nine anchored pirate ships. More than half were demon energy ships. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co The main ship among them was wide and tall, its hull painted a large swath of pink, with the bow and stern rising high. The sails were pure white. Above the ship, there was always a cloud floating, emitting a faint glow. Di Lou¡¯s face changed, ¡°That¡¯s the Cradle!¡± The Cradle was famous throughout the seven seas, its captain was a Golden Level powerhouse named Nai Le. He had once been a mighty Angel but was cursed by a strange spell, confining both his age and intelligence to the stage of a young child. Yet, even as a young angel, his life order was of Gold. ¡°There are no Golden Level presences on board,¡± Zong Ge snorted coldly, ¡°We can try to attack.¡± ¡°No,¡± Di Lou hurriedly stopped him, ¡°See those clouds? They are actually two elemental beings, one is a Wind Element, the other a Water Element, both of Silver Level strength.¡± ¡°And there¡¯s that mermaid lady on the deck.¡± ¡°She¡¯s the First Officer of the Cradle, a very powerful bard. If I were to battle with her, I wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Everyone looked and saw the mermaid levitating in the air, her dreamy pink fluffy long hair flowing. Smilingly, she waved at the people on the Justice, greeting them very calmly. ¡°So beautiful.¡± ¡°Truly lovely.¡± Many pirates exclaimed in admiration. ¡°Let¡¯s keep looking,¡± commanded the Dragon-man youth indifferently. Thus, the five ships of the Justice Pirate Group continued to circumnavigate the island. On the north side of Treasure Island, they encountered another group of pirates. These pirates didn¡¯t have ships but instead used Sea Toads as navigational vessels. The Sea Toads were huge, the largest one a third bigger than the vessels of the Justice Pirate Group, likely the flagship of this pirate band. Some Sea Toads lay on the beach resting, others frolicked in the shallows, completely at ease. Di Lou¡¯s face changed again, ¡°This must be the Poison Toad Pirate Group. They are all Frogmen and quite troublesome to deal with because they are proficient swimmers and can breathe underwater. Their flagship is a Sea Toad that can submerge to the ocean floor and directly attack the bottoms of our ships.¡± ¡°The squad leader of this pirate group is called Spotted Poison, a Golden Level Frogman gunner.¡± Zong Ge¡¯s face tensed. As an adversary, the Poison Toad Pirate Group was a difficult challenge. The Justice Pirate Group had little experience dealing with enemies in the water, and what¡¯s more, their weapons and ships were ill-equipped to fend off attacks from below. The arrival of the Justice Pirate Group caught the attention of the Poison Toad Pirate Group. Some Sea Toads settled on the coast, on high alert. Several Toads swallowed Frogman Pirates whole and submerged into the ocean. ¡°Continue sailing,¡± ordered the Dragon-man youth. The Justice Pirate Group quickly moved away from that stretch of coastline. The Toads that had dived just moments before resurfaced, opening their mouths and regurgitating the numerous Frogman Pirates. The Frogman Pirates threw themselves into a frenzy on the sand, screeching and celebrating even more boisterously as the Justice Pirate Group retreated. The Justice Pirate Group sailed to the west side of Treasure Island. This time, they saw only one pirate ship. But the ship was enormous, it would take three Justices put together to barely match its size. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sails of the pirate ship were bizarre, actually knitted from wool. And the pirates on deck were all massive, giants from the Giant Race! ¡°The Woolly!¡± Di Lou covered his forehead. ¡°Oh, a bunch of little rascals have come,¡± boomed a voice from the deck of the Woolly. The voice came from an old granny sitting in a huge rocking chair. The old granny had sagging muscles, a face full of wrinkles, and the appearance of dim vision. Her figure was also massive, clearly that of a giant. No one dared to underestimate her. Because she radiated a strong aura of Gold. This was none other than the Captain of the Woolen Yarn¡ªGranny Coarse! Granny Coarse was holding a long knitting needle, busy knitting a brownish-yellow sweater. ¡°Let¡¯s retreat,¡± the Dragon-man youth ordered. Granny Coarse was not a fighter, but a witch of the giant race. She had a physique comparable to that of the Gold fighters, but her methods were far more diverse and cunning. The Justice Pirate Group continued to sail. Finally, south of Gold and Silver Island, they discovered seven pirate ships. The pirate flag bore a white skull with a bright red slash drawn across it. Di Lou sighed, his voice filled with bitterness, ¡°The Red Slash Pirate Group! Their captain, Xie Ba, is also of the Golden Level, and every member of this pirate group has a red slash across their face.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t just for show¡ªit¡¯s a Totem that grants them temporary substitute power.¡± ¡°The more they kill, the more power they draw from the Totem.¡± ¡°The Red Slash Pirate Group is extremely belligerent, utterly mad, and their bloodthirsty name is known across the seven seas. Sometimes, even Holy Domain Level forces don¡¯t want to provoke them.¡± After circling around Gold and Silver Island, the Justice Pirate Group fell into silence. It appeared that four pirate groups were currently invading Gold and Silver Island, all of consistent Golden Level. Each pirate leader was a renowned powerhouse. Let alone that the Justice Pirate Group only had half their ships here, even with their full fleet, they might not be a match for even one of these four pirate groups. Though it was well-known that Golden Hook had died at the hands of the Dragon-man youth, everyone was aware that they took advantage of Golden Hook¡¯s injury. To truly face a Golden Level powerhouse, their strength was still not quite up to par. Of course, to say that they couldn¡¯t fight wouldn¡¯t be right. Against any one of these four pirate groups, the Justice Pirate Group did have the potential and hope for victory. But the price they would have to pay would undoubtedly be heavy. And at this moment, there wasn¡¯t a second Bishop Hao Fu to perform the Great Resurrection Technique for the pirates. ¡°Captain Long Fu, what should we do next?¡± someone asked, looking pained and worried. The Dragon-man youth remained silent; he was actually recalling the farewell with Bishop Hao Fu. Bishop Hao Fu inquired why the Dragon-man youth was in such a rush to leave, and the youth shared his plan to attack the great Gold and Silver Island. Of course, Bishop Hao Fu gave the youth a deep look. ¡°Though Gold and Silver Island is not far away, the sea can sometimes bring swift and abrupt waves. Even on a calm sea surface, there could be whirlpools where currents meet.¡± Thinking back now, the Dragon-man youth suddenly realized the profound meaning hidden in Bishop Hao Fu¡¯s words. Boom! Suddenly, a pillar of light burst forth from Gold and Silver Island. The column broke through the night, shooting straight into the clouds, brilliant and dazzling with golden light. The source of the light was a massive heart. ¡°The Ore Heart!¡± ¡°Such a huge column of light¡ªthis must be a Holy Domain Level Ore Mother!¡± ¡°No wonder Gold and Silver Island has such abundant gold and silver ores¡ªit was because of this.¡± ¡°With it, there would be a continuous supply of gold and silver ore.¡± The Justice Pirate Group became restless. They cried out and roared with anger. To many of them, this thing should belong to them. And with the emergence of the Gold and Silver Ore Mother, the central area of the island also erupted with the fluctuations of a fierce battle among powerhouses. Three Golden Level powerhouses fought fiercely over the Ore Heart. Soon after, Granny Coarse laughed wickedly and floated into the air, flying toward the center of the island and plunging into the fray. ¡°They¡¯ve started fighting!¡± ¡°We still have a chance.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have them fight until they are all severely injured, then we¡¯ll snatch away the Ore Heart.¡± ¡°Right, and there¡¯s the Golden Hook as well!¡± The pirates¡¯ eyes shimmered with excitement, thrilled at the opportunity. Chapter 277 - 277: Section 65: Cannon Mountain Number Chapter 277: Section 65: Cannon Mountain Number Emotions surged as the clash between the four Golden Level powerhouses gave many in the Justice Pirate Group the hope of taking advantage of the chaos. But no matter how strongly they felt, everything still depended on the decision of the Dragon-man youth. He was the Captain, and his word was law. Countless eyes eagerly watched the Dragon-man youth. His sharp Dragon Claw gently caressed the ship¡¯s side while he gazed somberly ahead and uttered a single word, ¡°Withdraw.¡± Thus, the Justice Pirate Group started to turn the helm, steering away from the Gold and Silver Island. ... The four major Golden Level pirate groups naturally had members remaining on the island. Seeing the Justice Pirate Group leave, they finally let their guard down. After sailing almost a hundred nautical miles, Zong Ge approached the Dragon-man youth, ¡°Captain, this distance should be enough. Any further and seizing the opportunity to strike at Gold and Silver Island wouldn¡¯t be appropriate.¡± But the Dragon-man youth shook his head, ¡°No, abandon Gold and Silver Island, we¡¯re leaving this place.¡± Zong Ge was taken aback for a moment, his mouth opened, but he ultimately did not voice any objections. The Captain¡¯s authority was significant. Especially after defeating the Silver Hook Pirates and personally incinerating Golden Hook with dragon fire on the battlefield, the Dragon-man youth¡¯s prestige had soared by leaps and bounds. The five pirate ships sailed swiftly; to the pirates¡¯ great regret, Gold and Silver Island was completely swallowed by the night. And hundreds of nautical miles away. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co A ship as massive as an island sat motionless upon the sea. The ship resembled a disk, atop which stood an Iron-made hill. Enclosed within the giant ship, in the central control hall, a middle-aged man was slurping noodles. Slurp, slurp¡­ The man devoured the noodles, nearly swallowing them without chewing. The man sported a sleek black pompadour that shined with grease. Beneath the hair was a yellow face. His most prominent feature was his big red nose. The man sat cross-legged in a large leather chair, holding a bowl and happily indulging in his steaming hot oily noodles. Just then, a mechanical voice sounded, ¡°Five sailing ships detected leaving the trap zone. Estimated full disengagement in three minutes.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The man paused mid-bite, noodles dangling from his mouth, and immediately communicated via telepathy, ¡°Ship spirit, show me the footage.¡± The next moment, a rectangular screen floated in front of the man. On the screen, the five ships with their pirate flags fluttering high were indeed the Justice Pirate Group! ¡°Justice¡­ The Justice Pirate Group? So it¡¯s them,¡± the middle-aged man focused his eyes, reading the characters on the flags. He tilted back his head, swallowing the noodles in his mouth in one go. His bowl was now empty. ¡°Interesting!¡± ¡°After annihilating the Silver Hook Pirates, they made an urgent repair and then came to attack Gold and Silver Island?¡± ¡°These guys, didn¡¯t they kill Golden Hook? And now they¡¯re fleeing so fast!¡± The middle-aged man stared at the image in front of him and sighed, ¡°I really want to make a move and wipe out all these brats who messed with my plans in one fell swoop.¡± ¡°Captain, impatience can upset a great strategy,¡± the First Officer said, approaching the middle-aged man. The First Officer was very tall, but also more corpulent. His black and white fur was interspersed across his body, with eyes surrounded by dark circles¡ªhe was a Panda-man. He didn¡¯t come empty-handed, as he held a bowl of noodles in his hand. He also wore a towering chef¡¯s hat¡ªhis role on the ship wasn¡¯t just as First Officer but also as a highly skilled chef. The middle-aged Captain took the bowl, took a slurp, and turned his gaze back to the screen. ¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± the Captain said, ¡°The Mind Control Tower I just assembled seems to have no effect on these young folks. Look, those four Golden Pirates were all ensnared, but these guys are unaffected. With that speed, if we don¡¯t act now, we¡¯ll have to let them go.¡± The Panda-man First Officer grinned, ¡°To avoid leaving a heavy trail, the Mind Control Tower has been operating at low power. These people have just arrived; the other four Golden Pirates have been immersed far longer. It¡¯s not unusual for this to happen. They¡¯re just a group of silvers who fortunately killed Golden Hook, who was already wounded. Acting against them now would surely attract attention. At that point, the four Golden Pirates will most likely join forces on the spot.¡± The Captain sighed, ¡°Well, for the sake of landing the four big fish, let¡¯s let this small fish go.¡± Boom! A haggard hag fell from the sky like a meteor, slamming into the ground. The ground shook violently a few times, and as the dust settled, the ragged old woman¡¯s enormous figure stood erect in the middle of a massive crater. Xie Ba huffed coldly, unleashing a Combat Skill, and produced a black Light Blade. The Spotted Poison Frog let out a shout, its hands fluttering so rapidly they created a series of afterimages. In just a few breaths, it hurled over a hundred spears. Both the Light Blade and the spears struck the rough old lady, but she remained unhurt. As the dust settled, everyone saw that the rough old lady was now clad in a thick sweater. This was her famous Defensive Fighting Skills! The rough old lady sneered, opened her mouth, and spat out a dozen teeth. The teeth streaked through the air, moving with agility, and lunged at the other three. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xie Ba and the Spotted Poison Frog dodged swiftly, while Nai Le furrowed his brows tightly, sucking on a pacifier and stubbornly blocking the attack. ¡°I¡¯m angry! I¡¯m going to spank you!¡± Nai Le cried out in a baby voice. But the next moment, his attack came to a slight halt. Not just him, the other three also froze in their movements, looking up at the night sky. From the night sky came the whistling sound of a grand ¡°Meteor Shower¡± suddenly falling down. It was bombs! A barrage of bombs. The bombs plummeted down, directly covering the heart of the island¡¯s battlefield. Furthermore, any place where pirates gathered was baptized with artillery fire. Boom, boom, boom¡­ In an instant, the thunderous boom of artillery fire roared like thunder. Even the Justice Pirate Group, who had withdrawn to a distance, heard the noise and saw flashes of light at sea. ¡°There are others!¡± ¡°This artillery fire is fierce¡­¡± ¡°Damn it, let¡¯s kill this troublemaker first, then we can fight!¡± The Spotted Poison Frog, the rough old lady, and the others were extremely angry. They were unharmed, but their subordinates suffered heavy casualties amidst the bombardment. The one firing the bombs was the mysterious disc-shaped ship. The ship spirit was reporting, ¡°Bomb launch complete, now proceeding with deployment.¡± ¡°Mechanical Golem Team One assembled completely, checking and opening the deployment wells.¡± ¡°All deployment wells open.¡± ¡°Beginning drop countdown.¡± ¡°3, 2, 1, deploy!¡± Thump, thump, thump. One after another, the coffin-like bombs soared into the sky, quickly reaching the airspace above Gold and Silver Island. Then, these rectangular bombs began to fall. Some disintegrated in mid-air, while others continued to crash onto the ground. Out of the coffin bombs stepped a horde of mechanical golems. These golems were all two meters tall, with glittering blue electric eyes and heavily armored, resembling small giants. The golems¡¯ defenses were outstanding as they began to attack the pirates on the island. ¡°Imperial mechanical golems!¡± ¡°So many¡­ The ambush must be that Cannon Mountain ship.¡± ¡°Damn, how could they be here?¡± All four Golden Pirates were considering retreat. But at that moment, a middle-aged man, standing atop a coffin bomb, flew above their heads. Looking down at them, he laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t you all run away now!¡± ¡°Shiny face!¡± ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s the Imperial Navy Vice Admiral.¡± ¡°Retreat quickly.¡± The four pirates¡¯ faces changed dramatically, and they turned and ran wildly. Shiny Face chuckled disdainfully, ¡°Think you can still run away now?¡± The next moment, an aura of the Holy Domain Level emanated from his body. Chapter 278 - 278: Section 66: Kings Land Fighting Energy Technique Chapter 278: Section 66: King¡¯s Land Fighting Energy Technique Justice, in the bow¡¯s cabin. ¡°Left, a bit more to the left.¡± ¡°Slow down, don¡¯t rush, my son.¡± ¡°Good, just maintain that, and cycle it through once.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Daddy¡¯s here.¡± The Dragon-man youth kept speaking gently, reminding and guiding the Big guy in his cultivation of fighting energy techniques. ... This was not the first time the Dragon-man youth had guided the cultivation process. Ever since leaving White Wings Port, almost every day, the Dragon-man youth had taken time out of his schedule to teach the Big guy. The Combat Skill the Big guy was cultivating was named King Earth Technique, which had a very high hierarchy, capable of taking an ordinary person from Bronze to God level. Naturally, the King Earth Technique was obtained from Hao Fu. Hao Fu, worthy of being a bishop in charge of a territory, had relatively high authority within the sect. When he failed to recruit the Dragon-man youth, he chose to continue collaborating with him. In anyone¡¯s eyes: a divine-grade Bloodline, a Legendary-grade Bloodline, the future was bright and promising. It was indeed worth the investment. Hao Fu was not embarrassed by his recruitment failure. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 For one, it was because of a life-saving favor. Secondly, as a bishop, Hao Fu was certainly not the kind of person who would get discouraged by a single failure. The King Earth Technique was one of his sponsorships. The biggest reason the Dragon-man youth chose this fighting energy technique was its simplicity! The circulation route for the fighting energy of the King Earth Technique was very simple, embodying a wisdom that seemed foolish and an archaic simplicity. The Dragon-man youth well understood that with the Big guy¡¯s intellect, it immediately ruled out the vast majority of fighting energy techniques in the world. The King Earth Technique was the most concise fighting energy technique known to the Dragon-man youth. Or to put it more dramatically, one of the simplest fighting energy techniques in the world. However, even so, the Dragon-man youth had to teach him hand-to-hand, and it had taken the Big guy over seven days to finally complete three cycles of fighting energy circulation on his own today. He had truly mastered the method of cultivating this fighting energy technique. ¡°Very good¡­ very good!¡± The Dragon-man youth wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead, relieved to see the Big guy finally reaching this step. The son was too dumb! Too difficult to teach. But fortunately, the Big guy was very obedient and listened well to him. With the Dragon-man youth¡¯s full patience and constant encouragement, he finally did it. ¡°Truly a good son of Daddy¡¯s.¡± The Dragon-man youth patted the Big guy¡¯s head. The Big guy chuckled goofily, thoroughly enjoying such a reward. He was very excited, ¡°Daddy, I can help you beat up the bad guys now!¡± The Dragon-man youth smiled slightly and took out a piece of Earth Element essence: ¡°Right now, you are only at the Bronze Level of fighters, you need to be stronger. Here, eat this.¡± The Big guy was stunned; you couldn¡¯t eat this thing. But he trusted the Dragon-man youth completely and picked up the Earth Element essence to put into his mouth. The Dragon-man youth quickly reached out to stop him: ¡°Not like that.¡± ¡°Use your fighting energy, the circulation method I just taught you.¡± ¡°Hold this piece of Earth Element essence in your hand.¡± Following the Dragon-man youth¡¯s instructions, the Big guy cycled his fighting energy, circulating it continuously. The fighting energy gradually emitted from his palms, infusing into the Earth Element essence. The Earth Element essence slowly dissolved in the Big guy¡¯s palm, turning into a mix of flowing water and light, which, under the guidance of the King Earth fighting energy, permeated into the Big guy¡¯s body. Part of the mixture fully integrated with the fighting energy, adding a new Bronze fighting energy to the Big guy, while the rest turned into nutrients, completely absorbed by his body. ¡°Not bad at all.¡± After the Big guy ¡°ate¡± the Earth Element essence, the Dragon-man youth checked his body again, and found no problems. ¡°You shall cultivate like this from now on, understand?¡± The Big guy nodded repeatedly: ¡°Daddy, I remember!¡± The cultivation process of the King Earth Technique was that simple, its speed could be fast and also slow. Because this kind of fighting energy heavily relied on external resource supplementation. The usual fighting energy, like the Dragon-man youth¡¯s Blast Fighting energy, required him to, through specific training movements, stimulate the emergence of new fighting energy from within the body. But the King Earth Technique, in addition to the natural growth and replenishment of fighting energy from the body itself, could also directly improve by utilizing external Earth Element resources. As long as there were enough Earth Element resources, the big guy¡¯s cultivation speed would be very fast. However, Earth Element resources weren¡¯t just about quantity, and more didn¡¯t necessarily mean better. Currently, the big guy was at the Bronze Level and ¡°eating¡± Bronze Level Earth Element resources was sufficient. That was all he could absorb. In the hands of the Dragon-man youth, there was some Gold Level rubbery earth, but at this time it was of no use to the big guy; he simply couldn¡¯t absorb it. ¡°From Bishop Hao Fu, we¡¯ve received a large amount of Bronze Level Earth Element resources, enough to last the big guy quite a while,¡± he said. ¡°But for King Earth Technique, he only gave us a small portion.¡± ¡°Anyway, the big guy¡¯s training has finally gotten on the right track,¡± he said. With a sense of relief, the Dragon-man youth left the bow tower, descended to the first deck, and entered the training room. He began his own cultivation. Facing the hanging giant sandbag, the Dragon-man youth executed a Combat Skill. Combat Skill¡ªDragon Claw Strike! He stirred up his fighting energy, swung his claw, and instantly a small portion of Fighting Energy was consumed, turning into four reddish-brown claw marks. The claw marks, like knives, slashed onto the sandbag. Immediately, four indentations appeared on the surface of the sandbag, which was sent fluttering back slightly. But quickly, the sandbag swung back to its original position, and the indentations vanished. This was a red bean sandbag that the youth had traded for last time from the Empire, graded at the Silver Level. Its filling was made of Silver Level flame-red beans, refined through alchemy, making the sandbag a seamless whole. When the Dragon Claw Strike hit it, the force was immediately dispersed into each of the flame-red beans, getting absorbed by them. If it were the old sandbag, it would have already been destroyed by the Combat Skill, but this red bean sandbag could withstand it. ¡°This Combat Skill has been mastered, but it requires much more practice to reduce the time needed for preparation as much as possible.¡± During this time, aside from the Dragon Claw Strike, the Dragon-man youth also mastered Flame Burst and successfully executed it several times. Combat Skill Flame Burst was extremely powerful, but it had one major drawback¡ªeach execution would consume nearly all of the youth¡¯s Blast Fighting Spirit. The Dragon-man youth tried to control it, attempting to use only a portion of his fighting energy to prepare for the Flame Burst each time. But he never succeeded. Once the Combat Skill was ready, all the fighting energy would be completely drawn out and then burst forth in a huge outpouring. The Dragon-man youth focused on practicing the Dragon Claw Strike. After all, there was little progress with the Flame Burst Technique for the time being, and its tactical position overlapped somewhat with the fiery Dragon Breath. Both were decisive finishing moves, powerful, but with significant drawbacks. Using them in actual combat required the right opportunity. Having mastered and improved the fiery Dragon Breath, the Dragon-man youth¡¯s need for the Flame Burst Technique wasn¡¯t high. Instead, the Dragon Claw Strike Combat Skill filled the gap of long-range Combat Skills for the Dragon-man youth. Although its power was far less than Flame Burst¡¯s, it could be used frequently and had very high flexibility. Investing time and energy in this Combat Skill would yield much greater results than the Flame Burst. Of course, this Dragon Claw Strike Combat Skill was also funded by Bishop Hao Fu. After three days at sea, Cang Xu led the Silver Hook and six other ships to join up with the Justice. The Empire¡¯s secret harbor was indeed powerful, swiftly repairing all the ships that had suffered significant battle damage, including the Silver Hook. Moreover, following Mu Ban¡¯s suggestions, Cang Xu added many new components to the ships. Among them, the Silver Hook was armed with a Golden Cannon. This cannon, of course, was not traded from the Empire. The contribution the Justice Pirate Group received from defeating the Gold and Silver brothers was mostly used for the promotion of privileges. The source of the Golden Cannon was Mysterious Monster Island. Because of the victory over the Gold and Silver brothers, and the subsequent connection with Bishop Hao Fu, the Justice Pirate Group took the opportunity to publicly display this Golden Cannon. In addition to this, Cang Xu had purchased a new ship from the Empire. The new ship was also powered by demon energy, but it was only at the Bronze Level. It had many cabins, and its combat power was extremely low; it was a classic supply ship. The Justice Pirate Group now had a total of ten warships, with more than a thousand sailors and crew members. Supply had become a burden. Adding a supply ship was just what was needed. After sailing for another three days, they arrived at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye. This was the second most suspicious place on the map obtained from the island chambers. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Previously at the Magnetic Islands, they hadn¡¯t discovered the temple of the Mei Lan god. After experiencing the big guy¡¯s life-and-death crisis and defeating the Gold and Silver brotherhood, they had come here, hoping to make a discovery. Chapter 279 - 279: Section 67: Aspiring to Become a Desecration Priest Chapter 279: Section 67: Aspiring to Become a Desecration Priest Cang Xu slowly opened his eyes. Before him was the cabin of the Justice. A slight turn of his gaze to the mechanical clock hanging on the wall, Cang Xu¡¯s expression remained calm. Meditation had ended. Each day began on schedule and ended punctually. An Undead Mage, too, was a Mage, growing their own mana through meditation. ... Unlike fighters, Mages primarily absorbed external elements in their practice while fighters generated Fighting energy through their bodies. From this point of view, the Earth Element Fighting energy technique practiced by the Big guy had some similarities with Mage¡¯s meditation, as it could also absorb external elements. However, the element it absorbed was limited to Earth resources. ¡°All mana restored, mana capacity has increased by 0.1%.¡± Cang Xu estimated. A Mage naturally harbored mana within themselves, and the higher the mana capacity, the better. ¡°Since adopting the new meditation technique till now, the increase in capacity has become negligible.¡± Cang Xu sighed inwardly. The meditation technique he was now using had been acquired from the secret chamber at the bottom of the sea. The Justice Pirate Group were the ones who excavated the secret chamber, and the greatest beneficiary wasn¡¯t anyone else but Cang Xu. This meditation technique was far superior to the one Cang Xu had previously practiced. So, after he switched, every meditation session ended with an increase in his mana capacity. However, as the number of meditation sessions increased, the incremental gains in mana capacity got smaller and smaller. This time, an increase of 0.1% was actually the cumulative result of the past several weeks. For more than twenty days before that, Cang Xu¡¯s mana capacity hadn¡¯t budged in the slightest. Although Undead Mages used different elements than mainstream Mages, as Transcendents, they were still bound by their bloodlines. Cang Xu¡¯s talent was very ordinary, and without surprises, Black Iron Level was his lifetime peak achievement. ¡°Hm? The ship is slowing down.¡± Cang Xu sharply sensed the change in the Justice¡¯s speed. At the same time, he heard increasingly noisy water sounds. He raised the curtain, looked through the round glass window. A vast whirlpool dominated the sea surface, blocking the path of the Justice Pirate Group. ¡°We¡¯ve reached the Sky Pillar Sea Eye,¡± Cang Xu exclaimed. The radius of this Sea Eye was fifteen sea miles. It was fine at the outskirts of the whirlpool, but once one entered deeper into the Sea Eye, even Golden Level demon energy ships would be mercilessly swallowed by it. Through the window alone, Cang Xu could feel the abundant Water Element emanating from outside the ship. ¡°I hope we can discover the temple of the God Mei Lan here.¡± Cang Xu thought of the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, whose Divine Artifact¡¯s output of Pearl Bubble had been decreasing. It hadn¡¯t kept up with everyone¡¯s usage and consumption rate, and currently, the stockpile of Pearl Bubbles was down to only about a dozen. Cang Xu was very clear about the current predicament of the Justice Pirate Group. They had killed Golden Hook and revived the Big guy, but this had only made the situation of the Justice Pirate Group even more precarious. ¡°Bishop Hao Fu discovered the Big guy and Captain¡¯s talents, and although his recruitment was unsuccessful, he turned to sponsorship instead. But from the way he sponsors us, it¡¯s clear he hasn¡¯t given up on trying to recruit us.¡± ¡°The attention focused on the Justice Pirate Group is increasing.¡± ¡°Once the news of Golden Hook¡¯s death at the hands of the Captain spreads wide, the consumption of Pearl Bubbles will only intensify.¡± The distance between the Justice Pirate Group and the precipice was rapidly shrinking. Thump thump thump. A knock came from outside the cabin door. Cang Xu knew that his breakfast had arrived. As the only Black Iron Level Mage, he enjoyed a number of privileges. For instance, his breakfast was delivered directly to his door at a fixed time by a dedicated person. Cang Xu¡¯s body, although transformed through Undead Magic, still needed to consume some food to maintain bodily functions. Of course, he consumed much less than an average person. The breakfast before him was enough for his normal daily consumption. The breakfast was sumptuous, and Cang Xu read his notes while eating. If these notes were to fall into the outside world, they would certainly cause an uproar. Because these were the Alchemy notes of the War Merchant! But Cang Xu frowned as he read. ¡°Sigh, I have no talent in alchemy; I¡¯m not even half an Alchemist.¡± The War Merchant¡¯s Alchemy notes were too profound for him. Yet he had to read them. It was thanks to these Alchemy notes that he had been able to rig up the Array for Soul Crystals. After breakfast, Cang Xu found himself with a throbbing headache. He set aside the War Merchant¡¯s alchemy notes. Then, he opened another set of notes. This time, his brows relaxed and his eyes revealed a sense of pleasure. The notes were his own, the latest manuscript of his ¡°Evolution Theory.¡± ¡°So far, I have combined all records of life alchemy from the War Merchant¡¯s alchemy notes. The War Merchant truly lives up to his name¡ªhe has given me great inspiration.¡± ¡°However, ¡®Evolution Theory¡¯ is still far from complete.¡± ¡°The Life Sect is also continuously refining their work, with their focus on plants. Whether it¡¯s hybrid rice or succulent grapes, both are products of their Divine Arts.¡± ¡°If I could get my hands on this part of their research, ¡®Evolution Theory¡¯ would undoubtedly become more perfected.¡± ¡°Perhaps I could try through Bishop Hao Fu¡¯s connections?¡± The old scholar wasn¡¯t passionate about alchemy. And his interest in Undead Mages was just as lacking. What truly interested him was the research and transformation of life. To him, Undead Magic was merely a capability and a tool. After briefly reviewing his own manuscript and making the necessary preparations, Cang Xu once again began tackling the War Merchant¡¯s alchemy notes. He discovered a section in the notes that detailed the analysis and records of the Memory Crystal Manufacturing Device, a technique he was currently very keen to master. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Justice Pirate Group had one such device. After the youth and his companions left Mysterious Monster Island, they salvaged it from the ocean floor aboard the Deep Sea Monster Fish. The device was originally given by the War Merchant to Zi Di, who used it to extract Zhenjin¡¯s memories, eventually forming a Memory Crystal that was implanted into the young man¡¯s body. But due to the Pig Kiss facing a sea disaster, the Memory Crystal Manufacturing Device had once sunk to the depths of the ocean. The technique of Memory Crystal was developed by the Ancestor of the Undead, You Can. The fact that the War Merchant could also manufacture it took Cang Xu by surprise. Cang Xu was very keen on mastering this technique. Because he also wanted to become a Desecration Priest. Desecration Priests emptied their own memories and created a set of False Memories, perfectly disguising themselves as devotees of deities, in order to steal Divine Power and secrets. You Can initially used his status as a Desecration Priest to steal secrets of gods and spirits, thus founding the school of Undead. ¡°If I could become a qualified Desecration Priest, I could disguise myself as a devotee of the deity Mei Lan and indirectly gain control over Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale.¡± How to become a Desecration Priest, how to deceive gods, and so on¡ªCang Xu knew it very well. This wasn¡¯t knowledge he had originally possessed, but rather from a secret chamber on the ocean floor. The owner of that secret chamber was a Desecration Priest as well as an Undead Mage. His notes had been perused by Cang Xu many times over, the content almost memorized by heart. Engrossed in his research, the Mage found time flying by quickly. When the Dragon-man youth¡¯s summon interrupted Cang Xu¡¯s train of thought, the old scholar emerged from the cabin only to discover that evening had arrived. The Justice Pirate Group was drifting slowly around the outskirts of the Sea Eye. Cang Xu entered the Captain¡¯s quarters. The Dragon-man youth handed him a piece of cloth. This cloth was covered with written words, forming a long segment of intelligence. Cang Xu swiftly glanced over it and his face immediately showed a look of surprise. The intelligence spoke of Silver Island. A Holy Domain Level admiral, shiny-faced and victorious, had defeated and captured Nai Le, the Rough Granny, and Spotted Poison, three of the Black Iron Level pirates, and had crushed their pirate groups. As for Xie Ba¡­ He was the key figure in the battle at Silver Island. He suddenly betrayed the others at a critical moment, striking against the three Golden pirates. Had it not been for his treachery, at least one or two of the Golden pirate leaders might have escaped. Although they were no match for shiny-faced in a fight, there was still a good chance of escape if they had fled with all their might. After the battle, Xie Ba even revealed his identity¡ªthat he had long joined the empire¡¯s spies, allying with the Imperial Navy! ¡°With this development, our risk has increased. If other pirates discover our spy identity, it could be disadvantageous for us,¡± Cang Xu analyzed. The Dragon-man youth nodded slightly, ¡°This might well be the empire¡¯s intention. Xie Ba revealing his spy identity could be directed by the Empire, intended to sow distrust among the pirates. Lately, the conflicts between pirates over Divinity have become very frequent and intense.¡± Cang Xu agreed with the Dragon-man youth¡¯s analysis, putting down the cloth and asking, ¡°Captain, have you summoned me for something specific?¡± The Dragon-man youth then said, ¡°We have discovered some Fishman villages below the Sea Eye, and we need you to go and investigate, employ some methods to gather some intelligence.¡± ¡°Understood, I will set off immediately.¡± Cang Xu immediately understood that the Dragon-man youth wanted him to use Undead Techniques to stealthily investigate and secretly gather intelligence. Chapter 280 - 280: Section 68: The Sea God Temple is right here Chapter 280: Section 68: The Sea God Temple is right here Cang Xu quietly dived into the sea. This was a secret mission, and before setting off, Cang Xu ensured that nobody was watching him. Nevertheless, he still put on a show by casting an Underwater Breathing Spell, despite not actually needing to breathe. The sea water was cold, and the deeper he descended, the lower the visibility became. The Fishman village that Cang Xu needed to scout was located deep on the ocean floor, a considerable distance away. He dived deeper and deeper. ... Once reaching a certain depth, Cang Xu shook his Magic Robe. The next moment, several ghosts emerged from the wide sleeves of his robe. The ghosts disregarded the sea water and swiftly roamed, lowering the temperature of the water wherever they went. The ghosts were positioned around Cang Xu forming a thin line of alert and defense. The sea was not safe; nobody knew what kind of fierce sea beasts were lurking. Actually, Cang Xu didn¡¯t expect these ghosts to provide much protection, as they were just ordinary ghosts after all. He truly relied on himself. Of course, as a Black Iron Level Mage, even an Undead Mage, his cultivation was indeed low. What really gave him confidence was his luxurious gear¡ªSilver Level magic books, Magic Robes, Magic Wands, and an abundance of various kinds of Magic Scrolls. Among these, many of the scrolls were Instant Scrolls. After swimming a certain distance, Cang Xu would cast a Reconnaissance Magic to check his surroundings. In such deep water where darkness prevailed, only by using magic could he navigate properly. Normally, anyone in such dark and quiet surroundings would feel fear and tension, but not Cang Xu. This was what he was most satisfied with in his cultivation of Undead Magic¡ªhe could always maintain his calm, or rather, his indifference. After casting a spell to resist water pressure for the sixth time, a light quietly appeared in front of Cang Xu. He continuously approached, and the brilliance gradually expanded in his view, stretching out continuously. It was a coral bed, emitting a faint glow in the dark seabed. Inside the coral, there was a village where the silhouettes of Fishmen, clearly active, could be seen. Cang Xu, as a Scholar, also had certain knowledge of Fishmen; he knew that Fishmen were divided into several types depending on their habitat. The most common were the Shallow Fishmen. However, those living here were obviously Deep Sea Fishmen. The old Scholar cautiously approached the Fishman village, this time no longer using his previous Reconnaissance Magic. He had to conceal his magical fluctuations. After approaching an ideal distance, Cang Xu directed the ghosts to sneak into the village. He again cast a spell, linking his vision with the ghosts, what the ghosts saw was reflected in his mind. Thus, five or six images were simultaneously ¡°seen¡± by Cang Xu. Such a field of vision was not user-friendly for novices, easily leading to mental exhaustion, light nausea, or even trauma. Cang Xu had practiced it countless times. Due to the limitations of his bloodline, his talent was insufficient, preventing him from using his energy and time to increase his Life Level; he could only practice spells. Cang Xu began to ¡°closely¡± observe these Fishmen. The main body of the Fishmen was that of a fish, but with arms and legs. Fishmen generally had no necks, with their large fish heads directly connected to their bodies. Compared to fish, their tails had degenerated, but their fins still existed, proudly standing upright on their backs, extending to the tail. Their scales were multicolored, but mainly blue, green, and yellow. The Fishmen were working in the village, while the young Fishmen were playing. The village was not large. The houses were made from local materials, or more precisely, rooms were dug out of the glowing coral. Clearly, the level of civilization among the Fishmen was quite low. This was evident from the tools they used¡ªstone hammers, fishbone-modified harpoons, seaweed wove fishing nets, and so forth. Iron tools were rare to see. Using five or six ghosts, Cang Xu scouted in front and behind the village before discovering three iron tools. And these iron tools all had thick rust on their surface. Apart from that, there was one Magic Device¡ªa Fishman Totem Pillar. The Totem Pillar was located in the center of the village, extremely dilapidated, nearly at the level of destruction. Seeing this scene, Cang Xu instantly breathed a sigh of relief. The dilapidated state of the Totem Pillar indicated that there were no Fishman Shamans living here. Fishmen had no Mages; historically, there had been no records of Fishman Mages, but Fishmen did have Shamans. One of the ghosts entered the village chief¡¯s house and found the strongest Fishman in the village. This was an old Fishman whose knife suggested he was a fighter. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The old Fishman was clearly very old and moved slowly, exuding a Black Iron Aura. The ghost moved into the house, undetected by the old Fishman, who continued with his activities¡ªhe was drinking a potion. Seeing him drink the potion made Cang Xu¡¯s pupils constrict. The old Fishman was consuming a Magic Potion. Given the state of this village, it was impossible for such a high-quality product to be produced here. ¡°This is just the outer periphery of the Sea Eye.¡± ¡°Just around here, there¡¯s more than one fishing village.¡± ¡°Inside the Sea Eye, there should be larger fishing villages, even towns. Most likely, there are Fishman Shamans present.¡± ¡°But to produce this kind of magic potion¡­¡± Cang Xu sank into deep thought. The potion the old fishman drank was not the barbarian herbal medicine Zi Di had formulated on Mysterious Monster Island. The potion contained magic power and was a qualified magic potion. To manufacture this potion, a certain level of alchemy and corresponding pharmaceutical facilities such as crucibles were necessary. ¡°If the Fishmen can produce this potion themselves, it means there is a large city within the inner rim of the Sea Eye. It¡¯s inhabited not just by Fishmen, but likely other intelligent races as well, such as mermaids and Nagas.¡± The Fishmen had no mages, at most a shaman. But races like mermaids and Nagas, especially mermaids, produced many mages. The Justice Pirate Group could handle a Fishman village, but if there was an undersea city, they would definitely not be a match. In fact, handling a Fishman village was already difficult. After all, the Human Race could not breathe underwater, and the young crew was relatively lacking in underwater combat equipment. Cang Xu¡¯s speculation led him to abandon the idea of attacking the village forcefully. Alone, he could annihilate the entire Fishman village. The old Fishman of the Black Iron Level could likely fall victim to his schemes and be the first to lose his life. Cang Xu decided to secretly capture some Fishmen for interrogation, keeping it as discrete as possible. He lay in ambush outside the village, using ghosts for reconnaissance. After a while, his mana was running low. Though he didn¡¯t need the Underwater Breathing Spell, he needed a spell to resist the pressure of the sea. Cang Xu calmly drank a light blue potion, quickly replenishing his mana. He patiently waited and finally seized an opportunity. A group of Fishmen swam out of the village. This group was clearly hunters. After the hunting Fishmen had left the village by some distance, Cang Xu immediately used ghosts to lure a nearby group of sharks. The Fishmen and the sharks started fighting, soon scattering and desperately fleeing. Cang Xu targeted the Hunting Captain, quickly striking as he saw him isolated and unaccompanied. Undead Magic¡ªBone Spear. A bone spear made of white bones suddenly coalesced and shot through the water. The Fishman captain sensed the spell and dodged, but Cang Xu had fully anticipated his movements, so the bone spear hit the Fishman, piercing directly under his arm. The entire bone spear impaled the Fishman. With the Fishman Hunting Captain severely wounded, he screamed and threw the spear in his hand with all his might. The spear accurately hit Cang Xu. Cang Xu had no time to use defensive magic, he could only mentally manipulate his robe. The silver robe immediately emitted a faint glow, forming an invisible barrier that deflected the spear. Several ghosts swooped down on the Fishman captain. The Fishman captain clenched his fists against the ghosts, but the damage was minimal. He was only of the Bronze Level, his Fighting energy couldn¡¯t extend outward, making it hard to harm the ghosts. The ghosts disrupted the Fishman, allowing Cang Xu to successfully cast another spell. Undead Magic¡ªBone Prison Technique! The bone spear that had pierced the Fishman¡¯s body sprouted like a seed, quickly growing many branches. The branches bound the Fishman¡¯s body and limbs, then clamped tightly together, forming a dense bone cage. This scene, if seen by an expert, might have elicited a gasp. Because Cang Xu used a skill combination with spells. This was not something an ordinary mage could master. This showed that Cang Xu¡¯s combat cultivation was also exceptional. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have nearly handled the elementals on the Justice by himself during the Silver Brothers¡¯ sea battle. Cang Xu successfully captured the Fishman alive. Trapped in the bone cage and unable to move, when the Fishman saw Cang Xu appear, he immediately opened his mouth wide and uttered an angry sound: ¡°garll, walgaaaa, mwgama, aaaaa¡­¡± Fishmen had their own language, and Cang Xu, not being a linguist, understood none of it. But the Fishman captain¡¯s subsequent aaaa¡­ Cang Xu understood the meaning. Those were all the Fishman¡¯s screams. As Cang Xu stepped onto the bone prison, several white bone spikes growing on the bone prison extended continuously, piercing through the Fishman¡¯s scales and deeply into his flesh, causing intense agony. The Fishman captain was tortured for a short time, showing no intention of surrendering. Worried that other Fishmen might come looking, Cang Xu immediately employed a method to extract his spirit. The old scholar was lucky; he successfully turned the Fishman¡¯s spirit into a ghost. He continued to question the ghost. The Fishman ghost still spoke Fishman language, but this time, Cang Xu ¡°understood¡± him. Because they had a spirit link, he directly understood the ghost¡¯s meaning, thus successfully obtaining intelligence. This intelligence both shocked and delighted him. He hurriedly sneaked back to the Justice to report to the Dragon-man youth. ¡°In the inner and outer perimeter of the Sea Eye, there are a large number of Fishman villages, towns, and even cities.¡± ¡°Every so often, the Sea Eye¡¯s center spouts a fountain, the sea fountain shooting straight into the sky. During this time, Divine Envoys often descend from the sky to preach in the Fishman settlements.¡± ¡°And about a dozen days ago, a group of people from overseas entered the Fishman territory. These people wore hooded robes, their faces not visible, but were personally guided by the Fishman Shaman. Their initial arrival was at this village, and they even left some potions as a gesture of goodwill.¡± ¡°I believe the temple of the Mei Lan God must be hidden within this Sea Eye!¡± Cang Xu disclosed his judgment to the Dragon-man youth. Chapter 281 - 281: Section 69: I am a Fishman Chapter 281: Section 69: I am a Fishman Cang Xu surmised that the Sea God¡¯s temple was within this Sea Eye. To this, the Dragon-man youth expressed doubt, ¡°According to the information you¡¯ve obtained, although this group of Fishmen has a faith, what they believe in are gods like the Calm Pier God, Wave Churning God, Water Flower God, Fish God, and so on¡ªthere¡¯s no mention of Mei Lan God.¡± Cang Xu offered a slight smile, ¡°Captain, you may not be quite familiar with this matter. Deities often have more than one identity, including others. It¡¯s very possible Mei Lan God also has other divine names, such as Calm Pier God or Fish God.¡± ¡°There are two main reasons why deities have multiple divine names.¡± ¡°The first reason is that deities need an escape route. Take Mei Lan God, for instance, who has fallen into a deep slumber and is very weak. To recover Divine Power, He must rely on believers, but His sect is almost destroyed. What to do? At this time, if He has another identity, such as that of Fish God, then the believers of the Fish God would greatly aid His recovery. And if His enemies are unaware of this, they won¡¯t be able to strike against Him.¡± ¡°The second reason is to emerge victorious in Divine Struggles. If a deity defeats another, killing them, they can seize the other¡¯s Divine Office, Divine Name, Divine Authority, Divine Domain. Turn the pages of history and you¡¯ll see many sects suddenly merging, which is one of the consequences of Divine Struggles. There are also gods who, despite victory and acquiring a new Divine Name and Divine Office, deliberately set it aside as a second identity, not incorporating it into their own Divinity.¡± Cang Xu continued, ¡°Over the past few years, every so often, Divine Envoys have descended from the sky to preach. Although the divine names they propagate do not include Mei Lan God, it does not mean He isn¡¯t the beneficiary behind the scenes.¡± ... ¡°The frequency of these Divine Envoys¡¯ appearances is quite high, and they always appear when the Sea Eye emits a fountain-like waterspout. This is very peculiar.¡± ¡°Even though the Divine Envoys come from the sky, I believe that the temple must not be up there.¡± ¡°If it were high up, it should have been discovered long ago by other entities or powers due to its visibility from the air.¡± ¡°I believe there is a Half-plane here. Normally, the Half-plane is concealed by the Sea Eye¡¯s mighty whirlpool and surging tides. Whenever the Sea Eye releases a fountain, the Half-plane shows a hint of itself, making it easier to communicate with the outside world. There might even be natural passages. These Divine Envoys probably come through such a passage.¡± ¡°They need to preach and the more followers they develop, the more it benefits the deity¡¯s recovery.¡± The Dragon-man youth nodded and then shook his head, ¡°Your words are logical, but they are still your conjecture without evidence.¡± ¡°In fact, I have some,¡± said Cang Xu with a silent smile, ¡°The scene of the Fishman village chief drinking the potion was witnessed by me, and I happen to recognize that pharmaceutical bottle.¡± ¡°The bottle is made of a pale yellow glass with a fine mouth and long neck.¡± ¡°This type of pharmaceutical bottle is quite common along the Empire¡¯s coast, and New Moon Town is precisely in this area.¡± ¡°The owner of the seabed chamber is very likely one of the followers of the Evil God from New Moon Town who came to this Sea Eye.¡± ¡°Due to shared faith, the Evil God¡¯s followers have helped these Fishmen, leaving behind potions.¡± A glint sparkled in the eyes of the Dragon-man youth. If this were the case, Cang Xu¡¯s conjecture would very likely be the truth. The potion bottle as evidence seemed slim, but actually, in the vast ocean, the chance of coincidentally seeing such a bottle at a specific time and place was very minute. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so knowledgeable about potion bottles,¡± said the Dragon-man youth. Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°I learned about it during idle talk with Fat Tongue. Although he is a mere commoner, he is one of the elders of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, very sensitive to business-related matters and well-informed.¡± After the old Scholar left, the Dragon-man youth fell into deep thought. ¡°What to do next?¡± After this conversation, the Dragon-man youth also tended toward Cang Xu¡¯s speculation. Therefore, how to proceed next required deep and careful consideration. For the enemy he currently faced was unprecedentedly strong. Let alone others, just what he knew included the seabed chamber¡¯s owner¡ªa Silver Level Mage. Not only was he a Mage, but also an Undead Mage. In addition to him, there were also the Evil God¡¯s followers. All these followers wielded more or less Divine Arts! Whether it was Jia Sha on Mysterious Monster Island or Hao Fu, they had all given the Justice Pirate Group a full measure of the omnipotence and might of Divine Arts. And this was the Main Temple. The scale of the Evil God¡¯s followers must be large, and there must be individuals of at least bishop level, even Archbishop! If these were set aside, the vast number of Fishmen deep within the Sea Eye would also be a formidable barrier for the Dragon-man youth. For the Justice Pirate Group to launch an all-out attack on these Fishmen would inevitably fail. Even attacking would be unlikely. The Justice Pirate Group owned eleven pirate ships, all powered by demon energy, but they could only drift on the sea¡¯s surface and were incapable of submarine warfare. This time, the dragon-man youth could truly rely only on the Deep Sea Monster Fish. ¡°Even with the Deep Sea Monster Fish, a direct assault would be extremely unwise,¡± he mused. ¡°It would be best to infiltrate. The Deep Sea Monster Fish cannot afford to be exposed carelessly, we can arrange for it to stand by outside!¡± The owner of the undersea chamber, that Undead Mage, had provided the dragon-man youth with an excellent example. And what gave the youth even more confidence was the Pearl Bubble. Using the Divine Artifact of the Mei Lan God to contend with His followers, this plan was quite good. It exploited the slumber of the deity. ¡°Before the real action, I need more information!¡± Cang Xu was no longer suitable for gathering intelligence. After all, he was only of Black Iron Level, too likely to be exposed when delving into the Sea Eye, and it was also very dangerous. This time, the dragon-man youth decided to take action personally! He quietly left the Justice, continuously diving deeper into the sea. The sea was pitch-black, yet his dragon eyes could still barely make out some things. The tough dragon scales protected the youth, completely withstanding the increasing water pressure. Not all dragon-kin could breathe underwater, but the youth¡¯s bloodline reached legendary status. Legend has it that the King of Flame Dragon could even swim in lava and breathe freely. Soon after, the dragon-man youth easily arrived outside the Fishman village that Cang Xu had investigated. Due to Cang Xu¡¯s previous actions, the Fishman village was teeming with life, large groups of Fishmen congregating, defeating the shark schools, and even catching several in the process. Seeing the Fishmen gather in such numbers, making it difficult to strike, the dragon-man youth immediately shifted his target. After swimming for a short while, he arrived at another village. After waiting quietly, he found a small patrol squad of Fishmen. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The squad consisted of three Fishmen. The dragon-man youth suddenly burst from the coral, clawing out the heart of one Fishman in a single strike. The remaining two Fishmen, furious and alarmed, jabbed their spears at the youth. Both spears broke upon striking the dragon scales. Seeing this, the remaining Fishmen were filled with horror. They threw away their broken spears and turned to flee, continuously shouting, ¡°glraaa, wmllaa, mgwal!¡± The dragon-man youth did not pursue them but casually waved his hand. Combat Skill¡ªDragon Claw Strike. Four claw marks swiftly hit the two Fishmen, cutting them into several pieces. The current was violently disturbed, sand stirred up, and a great amount of blood mixed with viscera quickly spread throughout the sea. Of course, the dragon-man youth wouldn¡¯t let it be. If the blood spread, it would surely attract many Fishmen with keen senses of smell and taste. Blood Core! With a thought from the dragon-man youth, a flash of blood erupted, rapidly expanding and then suddenly contracting back. The pieces of Fishmen corpses, fragments of viscera, and spreading blood were all completely erased, transformed into essence of the bloodline, and funnelled into the depths of the Blood Core. The dragon-man youth closed his eyes to sense for a few breaths, and then he began to transform. The next moment, a Fishman youth made his appearance! Chapter 282 - 282: Section 70: I Have a Huge Fish Head Chapter 282: Section 70: I Have a Huge Fish Head In the deep sea, the radiance emitted by the coral lightly danced across the youth¡¯s cheeks. The Fishman youth looked at his own hands. His palms were no longer the hard and fearsome Dragon Claws, but the hands of a Fishman, including the thumbs, with only three fingers each. Between the fingers was a layer of tough membrane, effectively his fish fins. The youth tried waving his palms, the fins slicing through the water, resulting in a stronger counterforce. His field of vision had also changed. ... The underwater world had become much brighter. After all, the Flame Dragon lived on land, and while its eyes could see underwater, they couldn¡¯t compare to the eyes of a Fishman. Deep Sea Fishman were forced by their environment to evolve eyes that could more actively absorb light. To achieve this, the eyes of a Fishman were very large. During his Dragon-man form, his Dragon eyes were about the size of normal Human Race eyes. But Fish eyes were different; at this moment, each of the youth¡¯s eyes were as big as plates. A pair of eyes occupied the left and right sides, so large that they almost filled up the youth¡¯s now enormous fish head. Such massive eyes drastically expanded the youth¡¯s field of vision by several times. Without turning his head, the Fishman youth could see the sights to the left and right behind him. Only directly behind his body was out of view. The youth took a deep breath. The fish gills on both sides of his head opened suddenly, sucking in a large amount of seawater, converting it into abundant oxygen. The youth then looked at his fish scales; under the shining light of the corals, his scales were a pale blue. This color of his scales was exactly that of the few Fishman he had previously slain and absorbed. ¡°The strength is much less than in Dragon-man form.¡± ¡°The Recovery Power and endurance are far from comparable.¡± ¡°The defensive power is almost negligible.¡± ¡°But¡­ I¡¯m more adapted to the underwater environment than before, and I seem a tad more agile.¡± The boost in agility was minuscule. The Fishman Form was greatly suited for the deep sea, but the King of Flame Dragon¡¯s Bloodline was of Legendary Grade, extremely excellent in all aspects. The youth began to attempt various trials. Moments later, he had a deeper understanding. He still had Silver Cultivation at this moment, but his combat power had plummeted, and the drop was substantial! He could no longer use any of the talented magic inherent to the King of Flame Dragon Bloodline, and the power of the Combat Skill Dragon Claw Strike had significantly decreased. The Blast Fighting Energy could still be used, but its overall performance had been discounted. Especially in terms of recovery abilities. Generally, even if a Cultivator of Fighting energy didn¡¯t practice actively, their body would automatically generate new Fighting energy. Unless under special circumstances, the phenomenon of natural replenishment continued inside a fighter. Previously, when the youth fought with the Golden Silver brothers, he was continuously using Blast Fighting Spirit throughout the entire battle. Although the consumption of Fighting energy was extremely intense, the compatibility between the Flame Dragon Bloodline and the Blast Fighting Spirit was so high that it restored very quickly. Therefore, from beginning to end, the youth never lacked Fighting energy. Switching to the Fishman Form, that advantage was gone. The compatibility between the Fishman Bloodline and Blast Fighting Spirit was very low, and the natural recovery speed of the Blast Fighting Spirit plummeted. ¡°I simply can¡¯t sustain a prolonged battle now.¡± ¡°This Bloodline is only of Bronze Grade, I shouldn¡¯t expect too much.¡± The Fishman youth looked at his lower body¡ªit was still the same as before, not transformed into the biological structure of a Fishman. The mere three Fishman Life Essences he had just absorbed weren¡¯t enough for him to undergo a complete Mutation. ¡°I still need to absorb more and better Bloodlines.¡± The youth transformed back into his Dragon-man form and continued to ambush. His Cultivation was of Silver Level, and most of the Fishman hunting parties he went out to hunt were average Fishmen, with the leaders generally being of Bronze Grade. There was a huge disparity in levels of life. The youth, having mutated into a Dragon-man and possessing Flame Dragon Blood, greatly enhanced his physical qualities. With this body, the youth had previously proved capable of resisting several attacks from the Golden Hook¡¯s Gold Level Combat Skills. These Fishmen stood no chance against him. After a while, the young boy had gathered enough bloodlines and transformed into a complete Fishman. Having reached that stage, he officially began to hunt in the form of a Fishman. Old Fishman Rot Tail was familiarizing a newcomer who had just joined the patrol team with the patrol route when suddenly an unfamiliar Fishman popped up in front. The stranger had a slender figure, covered in light blue scales, and brandished a trident in the middle of the path. ¡°Wagula!¡± Old Fishman Rot Tail bellowed. The strange blue-scale Fishman pointed first at himself, then at Old Fishman, and finally hefted his trident in a challenging gesture. ¡°Gmal, wmmrra, wmlaa!¡± Old Fishman¡¯s eyes bulged in response. The blue-scale stranger simply repeated his previous actions. The new member of the patrol team then chimed in, ¡°Rgmma, gwwla, mmawrl.¡± Old Fishman paused for a moment, then became very angry. He patted his new companion on the shoulder, signaling for him to watch his combat performance closely, then drew his iron blade and strode boldly toward the blue-scale Fishman. The blue-scale Fishman grinned, understanding that Old Fishman had accepted the challenge, and with a forceful push of his legs and a sweep of his palms, he surged forward at great speed, charging at Old Fishman Rot Tail. Old Fishman was startled and hastily moved to the side, avoiding the charge. The blue-scale Fishman had noticed Old Fishman¡¯s move early on and adjusted his posture while speeding along. But to everyone¡¯s surprise, the blue-scale Fishman stumbled, his direction of attack completely changed, and he tumbled a few times before his large fish head buried itself into the sandy seabed. Old Fishman and the newcomer were in shock. They couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. Originally, when the unfamiliar blue-scale Fishman had challenged them, they thought he was a formidable Fishman fighter. But unexpectedly, the fellow couldn¡¯t even master the most basic swimming skills! Is this guy for real? The Fishman youth awkwardly pulled his big head out of the sand. He was none other than our Captain Long Fu. He wasn¡¯t good at swimming. While the Fishman¡¯s physical structure was similar to a human¡¯s, there were many differences. For instance, a Fishman¡¯s head was larger and heavier than a human¡¯s. Just now, the youth had charged with great momentum, but he had lost his balance while trying to adjust his position and ended up face-planting. But the young boy was not discouraged; instead, his fighting spirit grew stronger. He took a deep breath of seawater through his gills and, brandishing his trident, charged at Old Fishman again. Old Fishman held his head high, waving his scimitar to engage with the boy. With only a smattering of Fighting energy and the aid of Pearl Bubble, the boy was just an ordinary Bronze Level Fishman fighter. Soon after the official confrontation began, the Fishman youth quickly found himself at a disadvantage. Old Fishman laughed heartily, while the newcomer shook his head in disbelief, having thought he would witness an exciting battle, only to find this challenger so clumsy. However, as the fight continued, Old Fishman¡¯s laughter dwindled and the new Fishman began to sense something was amiss. The youth had strong combat skills; he was just not used to this life form yet. Actual combat was where he could improve the most. Not much later, he was trading blows with Old Fishman. A little while after, the Fishman youth gained the upper hand over Old Fishman. Old Fishman began to suffer injuries, and the newcomer cried out, joining the fray to make it two against one. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The youth was pleased rather than alarmed, as this would further hone his combat abilities. As a result, the previous fighting scenario played out again. After the boy had adapted, he overpowered both Old Fishman and the newcomer. Old Fishman, now covered in cuts and bruises, howled and suddenly turned to flee without regard for the newbie. The new Fishman, caught between shock and anger, exposed an opening and was stabbed to death by the youth¡¯s trident. Afterward, the youth caught up with Old Fishman and finished him off with the trident as well. The Blood Core was employed once again, and the young man assimilated another Bloodline. ¡°Huh, this Bloodline comes from Old Fishman. It¡¯s a bit higher-end than the ones I¡¯ve got; it¡¯s reached the Black Iron Level.¡± Chapter 283 - 283: Section 71: Saliva Fish Chapter 283: Section 71: Saliva Fish The youth named the bloodline he had previously collected the Blue Scale Bloodline. The peak of this bloodline was only Bronze. After slaying the old Fishman and collecting his bloodline, he named it Brown Scale. The grade of this bloodline reached Black Iron, which meant that a Fishman with a complete bloodline could potentially cultivate to the Black Iron level. However, any progress beyond that was basically hopeless. The Fishman youth was elated in his heart. Of course, the higher the Fishman bloodline, the better. Since his current cultivation was at the Silver level, there was a significant flaw in disguising himself as a Blue Scale Fishman¡ª Once he used the Silver Fighting Spirit, it would expose his disguise. ... It was like a person who did not have wings suddenly being able to fly. The old Fishman Zong Ge and his new companion hadn¡¯t seen through the Fishman youth¡¯s disguise because the latter carried Pearl Bubble with him. But Pearl Bubble couldn¡¯t unleash its full power, and the Justice Pirate Group had a very crude and superficial application of it. Therefore, as soon as the youth used the Silver Fighting Spirit and revealed its characteristic traits, it would shock and raise doubts among other Fishman. ¡°Decided, from now on, I should mainly collect the Brown Scale Bloodline and still need to train and enhance the Fishman form¡¯s fighting prowess,¡± the youth thought to himself as he turned and headed back. It was about time; he should head back to the ship. If he went missing for too long, it would cause unease throughout the Justice Pirate Group. Lan Zao stood by the ship¡¯s rail, staring intently at the seawater. A group of pirates gathered next to him, among them was Bai Ya, and all instinctively held their breath, some looking at the sea¡¯s surface, others watching Lan Zao. Lan Zao held a net in his hands. The net emanated a Bronze-level aura; it was an alchemy item¡ªthe Elastic Black Silk Fishing Net. ¡°Here it comes,¡± Lan Zao said, eyes gleaming as he watched the turbulent water below the ship. In an instant, he vibrated his arm and threw the net. The net fell, rapidly expanding mid-air. By the time it reached sea level, it had encompassed an area ten times its size. As the net entered the water, it quickly sank and then fiercely contracted, resembling an open hand capturing many fish. The end of the net drew together like a closing fist. ¡°Pull!¡± Lan Zao bellowed, using all his strength to haul the net back. The pirates by his side exerted themselves, forming a long line pulling a rope like a tug of war. The net was very heavy, but with everyone¡¯s combined efforts, it swiftly left the water. Excitement bubbled among the pirates by the rail. ¡°Another big haul!¡± ¡°I think this catch is the largest.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s all put in more effort!¡± Bulging with fish, the net resembled a wagon, quite heavy, yet still, the pirates managed to tug it up onto the deck amidst their collective chants. Lan Zao flicked his palm, and the Elastic Black Silk Fishing Net fully retracted. The net returned to its pre-cast state in a few breaths¡¯ time. Free from the net¡¯s constriction, the pile of fish scattered. There was a lively frenzy of fish jumping about the deck. ¡°Captain Lan Zao, you really have a knack for this!¡± someone praised loudly. Lan Zao laughed heartily. Being originally a fisherman, net casting was the skill he had relied on for half his life; naturally, he was very skilled at it. The pirates began picking up the fish and placing them into large wooden barrels prepared earlier. There were a plethora of fish in quantity and variety: Tuna, Salmon, Cod, Sakamushi, Red Stingray, Belt fish, Sea Eel, Sea Bream, and more. ¡°Look, Saliva Fish!¡± a pirate suddenly shouted, lifting a fish from his catch. This fish was clearly fatty and had large scales. Struggling in the pirate¡¯s grasp, its efforts were feeble, giving it a slow, dopey appearance. Bai Ya didn¡¯t recognize this type of fish, but hearing the other pirates¡¯ excited shouts, he grew curious and asked around. ¡°This fish may seem to have an ordinary aura, but that¡¯s just a disguise. Once cooked, the fish¡¯s flesh emits Bronze or Black Iron-level aura. Not only is it a Magic Beast Meat, but it¡¯s also delicious. It¡¯s said that just smelling the aroma of the meat makes one salivate uncontrollably,¡± Lan Zao explained with a smile. ¡°So that¡¯s it,¡± Bai Ya realized, understanding why Saliva Fish was so valuable since most sea fish were ordinary, unlike this one. Bai Ya continued to collect fish. But it wasn¡¯t long before he heard Lan Zao¡¯s soft warning, ¡°Be careful!¡± Then, he was yanked aside by Lan Zao. Lan Zao had pulled with such force that Bai Ya landed heavily on the deck and slid backward a considerable distance. ¡°What the¡­¡± Bai Ya came to his senses, his bewildered look turning into one of terror. He saw a Water Elemental emerge from the pile of fish. Had Lan Zao not pulled him, Bai Ya would have been either dead or severely injured. Bai Ya shivered with fear. The Water Elemental emitted a Bronze aura and was slightly taller than an adult. It attempted an ambush attack but, failing to kill Bai Ya, it abandoned that target and turned to confront Lan Zao. Lan Zao, wielding a scimitar, sparred with the Water Elemental. The other pirates encircled the scene; after their initial shock, they began to jeer. ¡°Come on, Captain Lan Zao, finish it off!¡± ¡°Chop off its head!¡± ¡°Target its lower half, lower half, bet on how many rounds Captain Lan Zao will take to defeat this Water Elemental.¡± ¡°Are you trying to get yourself killed? Have you forgotten our group¡¯s rules? Gambling is forbidden!¡± In fact, not just the Justice Pirate Group, but the majority of pirate groups had this prohibition against gambling. Bai Ya watched nervously from among the crowd. Lan Zao focused intently, now advancing, now retreating. The Water Element¡¯s intelligence was no match for him, and after being toyed with a few times, it began to shoot Water Arrows. Water Arrows came one after another, but none hit Lan Zao. Instead, it was an unlucky spectator who didn¡¯t dodge in time and got hit. However, his injuries were not severe, and he still chose to continue watching the battle. ¡°Five Water Arrows¡­ it shouldn¡¯t be able to shoot any more of those,¡± Lan Zao muttered while dodging. When he saw that the Water Element¡¯s state had visibly weakened, he launched his real attack. His scimitar struck the body of the Water Element, but the damage wasn¡¯t significant. But as Lan Zao landed hits repeatedly, the injuries accumulated, and eventually, the Water Element collapsed. The Water Element died, its body dissolving into a puddle which splashed across the deck. In the middle of the water pool was a light blue, glass-like core of the Water Element. Lan Zao, panting, picked up his spoils and won another round of cheers from the pirates. The Dragon-man youth, who had just sneaked back on board, saw this scene and smiled slightly. There were plenty of alchemy items like the Elastic Black Silk Fishing Net. When Cang Xu led half of the ships to New Moon Port to resupply and rest, they exchanged for many with the Empire. This was a decision made by the youth after discussions with Cang Xu, Zong Ge, and others. To save time and find the temple of Mei Lan as quickly as possible, the Justice Pirate Group might need to drift on the sea for a long time. Hence, they needed some methods to reduce the pressure of resupplying. Now, it appeared that the Elastic Black Silk Fishing Net was quite effective. Of course, this also had a lot to do with the environment. In most seas, the catch from casting nets was very small, almost tending towards zero. The real catches were generally at natural fishing grounds formed at the confluence of ocean currents. This place wasn¡¯t a fishing ground, but it was the Sky Pillar Sea Eye. The swirling torrent brought rich nutrients, attracting massive schools of fish to gather. The abundant Water Elements made this place teeming with Magic Beasts. The Justice Pirate Group was currently on the outer edge of the Sea Eye, so they didn¡¯t encounter many Magic Beasts. Come dinner time, everyone gathered in the dining hall. In everyone¡¯s meal were a few extra fish, while the amount of other meats was reduced a little. Di Lou stood at the main seat of the long table. He stood up, ¡°Alright, my brethren, let us begin our prayers.¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He clasped his hands, bowed his head, and closed his eyes, loudly praying. The other pirates at the table also clasped their hands and prayed in unison. They prayed to the God of Life, expressing thanks for the food bestowed by the deities and showing their reverence for the God of Life. After the Great Resurrection Technique, most pirates in the Justice Pirate Group had become followers of the God of Life. Di Lou appeared to be the most devout among them. Lan Zao was also silently praying. He prayed to the Goddess of Fishnets. Legend had it that this goddess didn¡¯t wear ordinary clothes but was draped in fishnets that could cover both heaven and earth. Unlike Di Lou, Lan Zao¡¯s faith was eclectic, worshipping many deities. The Goddess of Fishnets was just one among them. Lan Zao didn¡¯t often pray to her, but today, he felt a great sense of gratitude from the great catch with the Elastic Black Silk Fishing Net, and he quietly offered his silent prayer to the goddess alone, expressing his thanks. The Goddess of Fishnets had few followers and no dedicated missionary organization, let alone a temple. Compared to Di Lou, who was devoted solely to the God of Life, Lan Zao¡¯s situation was more common. Most people worshipped multiple deities at once. During travels, they would worship the Travel God, and during childbirth, offerings were made to the Fertility God. Hence, most people were general believers. The Dragon-man youth also pretended to pray. Since Mysterious Monster Island, he had become a Non-believer. Non-believers were extremely rare. In a world filled with faith, non-believers often faced ostracism and misunderstanding by others. Common belief held that life is short, and after death, souls are afraid of destruction and seek a peaceful dwelling. The Divine Country is considered the best final resting place for souls. The youth wasn¡¯t steadfastly committed to the path of a Non-believer; he was just in a period of changing faith and felt quite lost. ¡°If someone truly ascends the pirate throne, then people here will probably believe more in the God of Pirates,¡± Cang Xu concluded his prayer. Although he was a Mage, he also had faith. He worshipped one of the gods of death, the Ghost Lord. Magic and faith did not conflict. Zong Ge worshipped the God of War, who was also the God of War. He, Cang Xu, and the youth sat at one table. The Half-beast suggested to the Dragon-man youth, ¡°If someone becomes the God of Pirates, I suggest that the majority of the pirate group switch their faith. That way, we could gain the support of the pirate city and send priests or pastors. Or perhaps someone from within us could be promoted to become a pastor.¡± The power of Divine Arts was tremendous. Large-scale wars could lack Magic, but they couldn¡¯t be without Divine Arts. The Dragon-man youth put a piece of Fishman into his mouth, pensive. The issue of faith required attention. Many sects of believers were naturally opposed, which could be a significant internal threat for a collective organization. And if everyone in the organization worshipped the same deity, there were also significant hidden worries. It could lead to the leader being subordinate to the deity, losing control over the organization. ¡°Hm? This fish tastes good.¡± The Dragon-man youth, still chewing subconsciously, was startled and blurted out praise, ¡°Is this the Saliva Fish?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°It¡¯s a pity we don¡¯t have a great chef. This ingredient is of upper-middle quality; a culinary creation perfectly balanced with Magic Power could greatly assist us Transcendents.¡± ¡°Right now, this fish meat is a huge failure. Its inherent Magic Power has almost entirely dissipated, and the taste leaves much to be desired,¡± Cang Xu shook his head, his and Zong Ge¡¯s dinner also included Saliva Fish. ¡°Therefore, in this regard, I do envy the Fishmen. They can eat Saliva Fish raw and fully absorb the Magic Power within the fish to strengthen themselves. Unlike us from the Human Race, who need to process the ingredients and can only eat cooked food,¡± Zong Ge interjected. Hearing this, the Dragon-man youth paused slightly. ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Chapter 284 - 284: Section 72: Ah, the Fishing Net Goddess! Chapter 284: Section 72: Ah, the Fishing Net Goddess! The shimmering glow of corals rippled around the fishman youth at the bottom of the sea. The youth sat on a rock, holding an elephant clam in his hands. The clam exuded a Bronze aura, and its shell was covered with sharp spikes. The youth skillfully held the clamshell, ensuring that his fingers were not pricked. Then, with force, he smashed the clamshell onto the stone beneath him. After several blows, the clamshell cracked open, revealing the clam meat inside. The youth opened his fish mouth, showing a mouthful of sharp teeth, and tore into it. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... The clam meat was fresh, tender, and delicious, practically melting in his mouth. His fishman body quickly digested it, and a great amount of magic energy filled him. ¡°Indeed, fishmen have an advantage in eating seafood raw. Their digestive organs differ from humans¡¯, and they absorb demon energy from aquatic products more efficiently than humans do.¡± A few days ago, an offhand comment from Zong Ge had opened a window for the fishman youth. He tried eating seafood raw and reaped significant benefits. It wasn¡¯t just the Saliva Fish; other foods from the sea were the same. The Human Race evolved to the present, where eating cooked food is much more suitable for human biology than raw food. The fishman youth consulted Cang Xu about this, and the old scholar told him: A very long time ago, the Human Race also ate raw meat. However, because they learned how to use fire from Elves and Dwarfs, the Human Race began to roast their food. By doing so, they could effectively kill a large number of bacteria and viruses in raw food. As a result, the illness rate of the Human Race drastically decreased, and their population rapidly expanded. Evolved to this day, the Human Race is the most populous among all races. But this also led to the modern Human Race¡¯s digestive system having difficulty adapting to raw food. Fishmen are different; they are amphibians, having lived in water for a long time. This is true even for freshwater fishmen. Although these fishmen can come ashore, they spend most of their time soaked in water. Air is too dry for them, and being on land makes them uncomfortable. Because they live in water for such long periods, fishmen rarely use fire, retaining the habit of eating their food raw. Although their numbers have not increased as a result, after eons of evolution, their bodies are more resistant to germs, better at deriving nutrients from raw food, and their absorption is more efficient. A brand-new path of cultivation unfolded before the youth¡¯s eyes. ¡°I can eat seafood raw in my Fishman Form to obtain more efficient absorption. Then, I can change forms, becoming a Dragon-man, and carry on with my cultivation.¡± Alas, the bloodline of the King of Flame Dragon was incomplete. If the youth had mutated into a complete dragon, he could also eat other Magic Beasts raw directly. The fishman¡¯s digestive system was extremely developed and soon, the youth felt his stomach swelling. The amount of food wasn¡¯t much, but its Grade reached the Bronze Level, which was highly nourishing for his fishman physique. The fishman youth quickly stood up, activated his Blast Fighting Spirit, positioned himself in a horse stance, and continuously swung his fists forward. Although every punch was thrown into empty water, he still created raging currents at the bottom of the sea. Following the cultivation method of Blast Fighting Spirit, he transformed the nutrients within his body into brand-new fighting energy. A merchant caravan slowly swam by. Leading them was a fishman knight in full armor, seated atop a sea toad. The fishman knight was the first to spot the punching youth and raised an arm backward, signaling the trailing caravan to gradually come to a stop. The cultivating scene of the fishman youth caught the eyes of many others. The leading fishman knight watched with interest for a while, then called out, ¡°mwagl, ggwall, walmm?¡± The fishman youth heard the voice but did not cease his cultivation. He continued to punch in silence. Seeing that the youth ignored him, a flash of anger crossed the fishman knight¡¯s face. The other fishmen beside him began to chastise. ¡°What a pity, the nutrition from the elephant clam is abundant, but the Blast Fighting Spirit successfully transformed is not much.¡± Blast Fighting Spirit is of the flame attribute, while the nutrients in the clam are suitable for producing water-attribute fighting energy. The youth probably digested the nutrients from the clam, then he pulled up the harpoon weapon planted at his feet, and crooked a finger toward the fishman knight. The merchant fishmen were stunned in that instant, and the fishman knight roared, ¡°mamgrl! malw, lgmal, wawaaaaaaa!¡± Out of pride, the fishman knight did not personally enter the fray but gestured, calling forth two Bronze Fishmen. They were Blue Scales. The fishman youth was quite familiar with this bloodline of fishmen, after all, he had killed quite a few of them. The two Blue Scale fishmen grunted loudly and pounced at the youth. The youth chuckled contemptuously, not dodging or avoiding, gripping his harpoon, he charged head-on. Both sides swiftly closed in on each other. The youth suddenly hurled his harpoon forward. The two fishmen dodged left and right, successfully evading. The harpoon lodged between them. The fishman youth rushed toward the harpoon, while the two fishmen took the opportunity to launch a pincer attack on the youth. The youth twisted his body to the side, kicking the harpoon with his foot, while his arm followed through with force, lifting the harpoon. With that lift, abundant mud and sand were sent flying in all directions, suddenly obscuring the view of one of the fishmen. Throughout these days, the fishman youth had made rapid progress. In his Fishman Form, engaging in underwater combat was now something he managed with ease. He had a profound base in combat, using the environment to his advantage was simply second nature to him during a battle. The fishman youth dove into the muddy cloud, making the other fishman miss his attack. The fishman whose vision was obscured by the mud was retreating, when unexpectedly, the fishman youth burst out from within. The fishman youth thrust his harpoon fiercely. The fishman opponent twisted his body crazily, limbs propelling through the water, accelerating speedily. If this had been the youth¡¯s first underwater battle, he would have surely let his opponent escape. But now, the youth was well-versed in fishman anatomy, and by observing his opponent¡¯s movements, he knew where he would be next. Thus, with a flick of his wrist, the harpoon changed direction, just in time to stab the evading fishman. It was almost as if the fishman had deliberately run into the harpoon in his hand. The youth skewered the fishman to death with a single thrust, and at that moment, the other fishman broke through the mud to launch a sneak attack at his back. The youth didn¡¯t turn to fight, instead stepping forward, moving past the body of the fishman he had just killed. He raised his arm and flung it backwards in a sweeping motion, hurling the Fishman corpse at the enemy. The pursuing Fishman was smashed by the body, its speed reduced, exclaiming angrily, ¡°tamd!¡± As it just cleared away the corpse, a harpoon filled its field of vision. Pu chi. A soft sound¡ªthe youth¡¯s harpoon directly penetrated the Blue Scale Fishman¡¯s skull. Another one dead. The Fishmen roared furiously, overwhelmed by rage. Seeing two of his subordinates killed right before his eyes, the Fishman Knight bellowed a few times and charged toward the Fishman youth himself. He was of the Black Iron Level of Cultivation, and his mount, the Sea Toad, possessed the aura of the Bronze Level. The Fishman youth engaged with him, quickly becoming entangled in a bitter struggle. The Fishman Knight wielded a long spear and bore down from his elevated position while the Sea Toad charged recklessly. The youth restrained his Fighting energy, only displaying Bronze Level capabilities. He continuously retreated, drawing into the coral, using the terrain to move and dodge deftly. The environment within the coral was complex, but the Fishman youth, honed by recent training, weaved in and out of the coral caves and deftly utilized corners to obscure the Fishman Knight¡¯s vision, causing him to lose target temporarily. The more the Fishman Knight fought, the more frustrated he became, frequently unleashing Combat Skills. The coral suffered as a result, shattered into pieces by the Fishman Knight, with mud and countless coral fragments spreading in all directions. Amidst the mud and sand, the Fishman youth continued to agilely dodge, evading attack after attack. He was naturally gifted with the ability to judge position by sound, and in the sea, he could sense the incoming attacks even better through the flow of water. ¡°Although Fishman scales are much weaker in defense compared to Dragon Scales, they have one advantage¡ªthey can sense changes in the water flow more keenly.¡± ¡°Though Fishmen are far inferior to the Dragon Clan, each species has its specific advantages. Sometimes, being at a disadvantage is also a kind of advantage.¡± Fresh insights began to emerge within the youth¡¯s heart. He appeared to struggle, as if a moment¡¯s delay could lead to his death on the spot, but in reality, he was composed. He was intentionally delaying, to probe the Fishman Knight¡¯s capabilities. After all, this was his first encounter with such well-equipped Fishmen. After fighting a while longer, the Fishman youth concluded that the Knight¡¯s range was limited to the Combat Skills he repeated. The Fishman Knight had only three Combat Skills: a sweeping and stabbing with the cavalry lance, and a coordinated charging move with his mount¡ªall quite ordinary. Suddenly, the youth transformed into his Dragon-man Form, revealing his Silver Cultivation and instantly killing the Fishman Knight and his mount with a single blow. He then attacked the Fishman trade caravan, setting off a storm of blood and flesh. Caught off guard, the Fishmen screamed continuously, desperately fleeing. But it was already too late. In a short while, the entire Fishman trade caravan lay dead. The youth began to clean the battlefield. Upon inspecting the body of the Fishman Knight, he unexpectedly found that the armor was not normal¡ªit was actually Fishman bones grown on the exterior. Exoskeleton. The red light from the Blood Core spread and then drew back in. The demon energy within the Blood Core had increased significantly, and new Bloodlines were many. Of course, the Fishman Knight was of the most interest to the youth. ¡°To think it¡¯s a Silver Level Bloodline?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ for now, I¡¯ll call you the Steel Bone Knight Bloodline.¡± The Fishman Knight¡¯s exoskeleton was ultra-hard, comparable to steel¡ªthe youth had confirmed this during their clash. The youth had found a Bloodline suitable for himself, a match for his Silver Fighting Spirit. The youth¡¯s haul was substantial. Apart from the Bloodlines, there were many high-quality pearls, Water Element essences, Luminous Pearls, and seaweed reaching Silver Level in the caravan¡¯s cargo. ¡°How should I carry all these back?¡± the Fishman youth found himself in a dilemma. He did not have portable spatial storage equipment with him. Such a thing was very rare. Generally speaking, spatial storage equipment that one could carry was also quite limited in space. Ultimately, the Fishman youth could only choose a part to take back, burying the rest on the spot further away. After handling everything, the Fishman youth dragged four large Treasure Boxes, struggling toward the fleet¡¯s location. As he approached the surface, he found himself in a quandary again. It was relatively easy to sneak back into the Captain¡¯s cabin alone, but with four large boxes, each big enough to fit two adults, it was much trickier. However, as the youth was pondering, a fishing net was suddenly dropped from below the surface. The youth smiled faintly. Moments later, he stealthily returned to the Captain¡¯s quarters alone. Suddenly, there was an uproar on deck. ¡°Lan Zao, you¡¯re amazing!¡± ¡°You caught four treasure chests!¡± ¡°My god, come take a look, these are all top-quality pearls!¡± ¡°Silver, Silver Level seaweed, likely spell-casting materials.¡± Lan Zao was shocked, ¡°I caught all these?¡± ¡°Miracle!¡± ¡°Thanks to the divine, thanks to the Goddess!¡± In an instant, his faith in the Goddess of Fishing Nets greatly deepened. Chapter 285 - 285: Section 73: Deep Sea Hydra Chapter 285: Section 73: Deep Sea Hydra Sky Pillar Sea Eye. The waters were turbulent, with the sounds of battle thundering across the sea surface. The Justice Pirate Group was engaged in combat. Some pirates occupied the deck, shooting with bows and firearms. Others defended the ship¡¯s railings, wielding sailor knives or boarding axes, chopping at any Fishman trying to climb aboard. ¡°grall! gural!¡± ¡°wamm!¡± ... Numerous Fishmen shrieked and emerged from beneath the waters, scrambling to cling onto the ship¡¯s body. Some rushed towards the deck, while others dived directly into the windows of the cannon positions. Bai Ya, exerting his full strength, moved a barrel and smashed it downwards. The barrel rolled, smashing at least seven or eight Fishmen clinging onto the hull back into the sea. ¡°Well done!¡± the pirate defending that section of the ship¡¯s railings praised loudly, as Bai Ya¡¯s attack resolved his urgent problem. ¡°Be careful.¡± The next moment, Xu Ma suddenly pulled Bai Ya. Bai Ya fell backward, narrowly dodging a blow dart. The Fishmen also had ranged attacks; a group of blow dart Fishmen stayed hidden at a distance, occasionally emerging to shoot their darts. Seeing the dart stuck in the mast, its length as thick as a finger and smeared with a strange green poison, Bai Ya felt a terrifying chill and hastily thanked Xu Ma. Xu Ma shook his head and sighed, ¡°I told you not to show off too much. You¡¯ve knocked down quite a few Fishmen with that barrel, haven¡¯t you?¡± Bai Ya scratched his head. He had unexpectedly discovered that such high-ground attacks could easily cause greater casualties. He had quite a knack for hurling barrels. He had Zong Ge to thank for the military training. The training involved half of the pirates swimming around the ship while the other half, standing by the railings, tried to hit them with barrels. Xu Ma sighed, ¡°All you think about is winning honors; don¡¯t you know the leading goose gets shot? You¡¯d better stick by me.¡± Bai Ya felt his arms numb and his mind unsettled. He was eager to continue fighting but knew he was reaching his physical limits and had already become a target for the dart Fishmen. Continuing the fight would make it easy for him to get shot down. ¡°My physical strength is too little, merely that of an ordinary person¡­¡± ¡°If only my bloodline were better, even just a little better, allowing me to have Bronze-level Fighting Energy, I could continue to achieve great deeds!¡± Bai Ya was full of regret and helplessness. He enviously glanced towards Justice. On board the Justice, one figure was particularly noticeable¡ªthe Big Guy. The Big Guy, clad in heavy armor, stood at the railing, continuously swinging the Wolf Fang Club in his hands. His movements resembled sweeping; the Wolf Fang Club swept across, sending the unlucky Fishmen flying off, some of them getting crushed against the ship¡¯s hull into a heap of broken flesh. The Big Guy had already achieved Bronze Cultivation. His Fighting Energy flowed, enhancing his strength and endurance. He was handling the workload of more than a dozen people, staunchly defending a section of the railing; no one dared approach, whether Fishman or pirate. ¡°Truly a Divine Bloodline.¡± The Dragon-man youth stood outside the captain¡¯s quarters on the corridor, his hand resting on the rail, watching the Big Guy. He was always closely monitoring the Big Guy¡¯s condition. The bloodline of the Earth Giant displayed its dominant aspect, suppressing and squeezing the Human Race bloodline in the Big Guy, gradually transforming him into a pure Earth Giant. The Divine Bloodline gave the Big Guy a tremendous enhancement, increasing his strength to eight times what it had been! The Big Guy¡¯s body was also rapidly developing; he was quickly getting taller, but his chest, back, and limbs were also becoming more robust. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the Big Guy has low intelligence; even learning simple Earth-centric Fighting Mantras took a lot of effort.¡± ¡°If he were to learn Combat Skills¡­¡± The Dragon-man youth shook his head silently. It was difficult for the Big Guy to learn Combat Skills. It wasn¡¯t that the youth lacked the patience to teach and impart Combat Skills to the Big Guy, but he was more concerned about his safety. If a Combat Skill failed, it would backlash against the fighter. If the Big Guy were to learn Combat Skills, he would inevitably be riddled with injuries, potentially embarking on a suicidal journey. ¡°Even without Combat Skills, as long as the Big Guy is equipped with armor and heavy weapons, he cannot be overlooked on the battlefield!¡± Currently, all the Big Guy¡¯s equipment was sponsored by Bishop Hao Fu. Bronze-level full body armor. Bronze-level Wolf Fang Club. His combat power had already surpassed that of Black Iron. The body quality of an Earth Giant juvenile had comprehensively surpassed most Silver-level Human Race fighters! The Wolf Fang Club struck the ship¡¯s body, causing the Big Guy to pause in his movements momentarily. He turned and glanced at the Dragon-man youth, thus getting distracted. Fortunately, Justice¡¯s hull utilized a metallic coating alchemy technique, immune to such light impacts. When the Big Guy saw the Dragon-man youth smiling at him encouragingly and appreciatively, he grinned happily for a moment and then continued to ¡°sweep.¡± ¡°This big fellow¡­¡± the youth sighed helplessly in his heart, ¡°He still needs to deepen his understanding of combat.¡± The Big Guy not only frequently got distracted on the battlefield, but sometimes, his large movements would even sweep the nearby pirates away. The Dragon-man youth shifted his gaze, his dragon pupils focusing on the nearby Silver Hook. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Silver Hook was also a Black Iron-level demon energy ship, captained by Zong Ge. Zong Ge stationed himself at the ship¡¯s bow, facing the strongest opponent of this battle¡ªa deep sea four-headed serpent. This was a sea beast with immense size, even larger than the Silver Hook. It exuded a strong Silver aura; its heads were as large as carriages, and three of them spread in three directions, simultaneously striking at Zong Ge. However, midway through the attack, two of the heads encountered heavy resistance. The attacker was a newly joined member of the Justice Pirate Group, a Silver-level Archer¡ªthe One-eyed Elf! Rushing towards Zong Ge, only one head remained. Zong Ge sneered suddenly drawing his Two-Handed Greatsword. Deploying a Combat Skill, his greatsword cleaved downward, instantly generating a solid blood-red blade shadow. The blade shadow struck the serpent¡¯s head squarely, tearing through the tough Snake Skin and splitting the solid snake bone. Snake blood and brain matter sprayed wildly. The remaining three snake heads let out sharp wails together. The snake head that Zong Ge had struck was now sliced partly off, and the snake¡¯s body below it thrashed wildly on the deck, flinging many pirates overboard. Zong Ge stood proudly in place, looking down appreciatively at the greatsword in his hand. This greatsword was none other than the Demon Blood! It was 1.8 meters long, with a tip as sharp as a bird¡¯s beak, and the entire blade was a dark red color. The hilt was pitch-black, with grooves that resembled palm lines spreading from the hilt along the blade, ultimately converging at the tip. Some snake blood splashed onto the blade. The grooves in the blade burst forth with suction, quickly absorbing the blood. It was like a person in the desert, long deprived of water, suddenly finding a source of drink! The blade trembled excitedly, as if shouting to Zong Ge: ¡°More, more!¡± ¡°Kill, keep killing, don¡¯t stop!¡± Zong Ge snorted coldly, gripping the greatsword and sprinting a few steps before leaping fiercely onto the hydra. He swung the greatsword about, stabbing holes and spilling blood everywhere on the hydra¡¯s body. The Demon Blood Greatsword, saturated with snake blood, grew even sharper. After a struggle, the hydra sustained severe injuries. ¡°Truly worthy of being a Gold Level weapon,¡± the Dragon-man youth remarked to himself. He had long known about Zong Ge acquiring the Demon Blood Greatsword and was quite happy for the Half-Beast. Zong Ge¡¯s commanding presence greatly boosted the pirates¡¯ morale. Injured, the hydra submerged into the sea. The underwater environment was complex, and since Half-Beasts weren¡¯t adept at underwater combat, he chose not to pursue but returned to the deck of the Silver Hook. Having one of its heads gruesomely killed and bleeding profusely, the hydra was incredibly furious. It didn¡¯t flee but chose to attack from under the water. But the pirates of the Justice Pirate Group were well-prepared. The Silver Hook was even better prepared. For during this time, Zong Ge had been running military trainings, focusing on how to respond to underwater attacks. ¡°Release the float bombs!¡± Sanda, the first officer of the Silver Hook, immediately gave the order. Consequently, numerous specially designed barrels were pushed into the sea. These barrels slowly sank. When the hydra surged upwards, it collided with the barrels, setting off the explosions. Boom, boom, boom¡­ Explosions resounded non-stop, causing waves to crash upon the sea surface. The hydra was dazed by the blasts, its injuries compounded. ¡°Deploy the barbed fishing nets!¡± Sanda ordered again. The next moment, several alchemically-enhanced fishing nets were cast down. Attached to each knot of these nets were sharp blades. Once in the water, the blades automatically sought the enemy, covering the hydra¡¯s body. The blades dug deeply into the hydra, which felt itself trapped and thrashed about trying to escape, but the nets only tangled tighter, and the blades drove deeper. These military supplies had been recently obtained by Cang Xu in exchange from the Empire. Because they were searching for the Mei Lan temple, the Justice Pirate Group had already considered scenarios involving underwater enemies. Exhausted, the hydra finally tore through the numerous nets and, pierced by many blades, burrowed deeper into the ocean. It abandoned the fight and began to flee. ¡°Watch this!¡± Lan Zao had been waiting for his chance and suddenly threw something. The Elastic Black Silk Fishing Net! It must be said that Lan Zao had a knack for net-throwing; he actually managed to catch the multiple-headed hydra. However, it only delayed the inevitable. The Elastic Black Silk Fishing Net was soon torn apart by the hydra. By then, the Dragon-man youth and Zong Ge had already dived in and caught up with the hydra. Together, they quickly killed it. When the corpse of the hydra was pulled up onto the deck of the Justice by the two, the Fishmen¡¯s morale utterly collapsed, and they fled in all directions. The pirates pursued them for a while with bows, firearms, and cannons until the battlefield returned to calm. Silence lasted but a few breaths before the entire Justice Pirate Group erupted into cheers. It was a cheer of victory. The Dragon-man youth ordered the cleaning of the battlefield. Soon after, Cang Xu came to the captain¡¯s quarters to report the victorious outcome. It was a great victory. The Justice Pirate Group had minimal losses, while the Fishmen suffered heavily, and the hydra was the biggest prize. The Dragon-man youth was not surprised at all. In fact, this battle had been under his control from start to finish. The Deep Sea Monster Fish had scouted the enemy here, and the Justice Pirate Group had purposely moved in, provoking the hydra¡¯s retaliation. But it was just a Silver Level Magic Beast, no match for the Justice Pirate Group. ¡°Next, we will continue to delve deeper into the Sea Eye.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll actively seek indigenous creatures to train our troops through combat,¡± the Dragon-man youth declared. ¡°Captain, we¡¯ve also captured some Fishmen,¡± Cang Xu reported. ¡°I need some subjects to help me with research on crafting the Memory Crystals.¡± The Dragon-man youth nodded: ¡°The Fishmen I¡¯ve selected, regardless of whether they live or die, should first be sent to the Monster Fish. The rest are yours to deal with.¡± After their conversation, Fat Tongue reported, ¡°Sir, the victory celebration is ready.¡± The Dragon-man youth and Cang Xu then went to the cafeteria, where the atmosphere was electric. Dinner was enhanced with lots of snake meat, as well as limbs from the Fishmen. Before eating, the pirates each said their prayers. Di Lou and others were the loudest, and Lan Zao also began to pray enthusiastically. He earnestly praised the Goddess of the Nets, for in this battle, he had successfully delayed the hydra with his nets, contributing significantly to their victory. Chapter 286 - 286: Section 74: Far from Enough Chapter 286: Section 74: Far from Enough A Fishman youth slowly opened his eyes. ¡°wm¡­ ma?¡± The Fishman¡¯s vision was blurry, his breath weak, and his life hanging by a thread. He saw a vast expanse of white light. His call received no response, but he heard the occasional clashing of metal. The crisp sounds reminded him of clashing swords, jolting him into remembrance. He remembered¡ªhe was fighting before he passed out! His goal was to board that huge Human Race warship, but unexpectedly, as he was climbing, he looked up and saw a giant! ... In the giant¡¯s hand was a Wolf Fang Club, sweeping towards him. Pain and darkness struck simultaneously; he faintly heard the sound of his bones breaking and then the sound of himself falling into the water. After that, he knew nothing. ¡°gwall?¡± The Fishman spoke again. His vision gradually cleared. The blinding white light before him slowly lessened, and he realized he was in a room. The room was peculiar, with metal walls and ceiling. He also found himself bound to an equally metallic, cold long table. The Fishman wondered if he had been captured by the Human Race and was now inside that large ship? ¡°wmgm! wmgm!¡± He struggled and shouted loudly. ¡°Stop shouting, your fate is already sealed,¡± a cold voice came from above the Fishman. The Fishman was startled; he couldn¡¯t understand the meaning of the words, but he recognized it as the language of the Human Race. Because he was lying flat, he looked up towards the source of the voice, attempting to find its owner. And he succeeded. He saw an elderly member of the Human Race, wearing glasses, with white, bushy facial hair, and hands with strong, powerful fingers, holding two daggers. To call them daggers was not quite accurate; they were more like dinner knives. The Fishman shivered, crying out in horror, for he saw the elderly Human aiming the two metallic knives toward him! The Fishman struggled frantically, unleashing unexpected strength. But it was no use! He was securely bound and could barely move. The elderly Human slowly and forcefully drove the metallic knives into the Fishman¡¯s flesh. The Fishman immediately felt the chill of the metal, sending a shiver deep into his soul. Then he saw the elderly Human slowly slicing open his arm. The blades of the metallic knives were sharper than he ever imagined, sharper than any weapon he had ever seen in his life! The Human elder cut a straight, fine line, creating a long wound. Then he opened the wound to reveal tendons, blood vessels, subcutaneous fat, and more. ¡°Oh ho,¡± the elderly Human expressed in admiration, his eyes revealing a faint joy that his curiosity was satisfied. He bent down and brought his glasses close to the wound, inspecting it carefully. After examining for a while, the elder was not satisfied, put down the metallic knives, and picked up a pair of metal hooks. With a metal hook in each hand, he lifted the wound and delved into the tendons to flip them open for examination. He handled it delicately and with care, as if examining a fragile, easily damaged ancient book. After inspecting one area, he moved to another position to continue his examination. After examining the forearm, the elderly Human put down his metallic tools, walked over to another table, and began recording notes diligently. From the Fishman¡¯s perspective, he couldn¡¯t see what the elder was writing, only the feather pen moving across the paper. Seeming to have finished recording, the elderly Human returned to the Fishman¡¯s side, picking up the metallic knives and hooks again. ¡°wwaga! lwamlwam!!¡± the Fishman roared at the elder. The elder turned a deaf ear, his expression extremely calm. This calmness further deepened the Fishman¡¯s fear by several folds! Then, the Fishman could only watch helplessly as his body was cut and scarred by the elder. The Human elder studied his arms, chest, and thighs, not even sparing the areas near his thighs. After studying each area, he recorded everything. The Fishman yelled and screamed; he felt his right arm and left leg could no longer exert strength. It was because the elder had severed key tendons. Suddenly, the elder pulled out a metal rod and placed it into the Fishman¡¯s mouth, which opened wide during his shouting. The Fishman¡¯s mouth was instantly stuck open, unable to close. The elder then switched to a pair of thin, handle-like metallic tools and began to examine the construction inside the Fishman¡¯s mouth. The Fishman clenched his fists tightly and kept kicking; first, he felt something like cotton, soft and moving around his mouth. Then he felt a small knife slice off a small piece of his tongue. The tongue was injured, and blood flowed incessantly. The elderly Human immediately stopped the bleeding. Then, astonishingly, he took out a small saw and began to saw the Fishman¡¯s teeth! ¡°` Finally, as if unsatisfied, he picked up a small hammer and small pliers and bloodily pulled out several of the Fishman¡¯s teeth. The Fishman¡¯s cries became unintelligible. Intense pain relentlessly transmitted from his arms, chest, and mouth, tormenting him to the brink of insanity. Having recorded for a while, the Human Race elder returned, altering his precise movements to be more bold and decisive. He completely opened up the Fishman¡¯s belly, exposing his heart, stomach, intestines, and more to the air. The eyes of the Human Race elder seemed to gleam as he continuously observed the arrangement of the Fishman¡¯s internal organs, occasionally reaching in to prod the stomach or pull on the intestines. The Fishman broke down, emitting woeful crying sounds as tears streamed down, remaining utterly motionless. The Human Race elder, as if deaf, continued to be engrossed in his research. Not long after, he finally looked up and picked up a metal tool resembling a shovel. The Fishman had already been numbed; however, when he saw the elder¡¯s metal mini shovel drawing closer to his eyeballs, he jolted like he was electrified, struggling madly once again. But it was no use, he couldn¡¯t move at all. He cried out to his gods, howling unclearly, but still, the intense pain eventually arrived. He saw the color of blood red, followed by utter darkness. The excruciating pain of losing his eyes made him pass out again, prompting the Human Race elder to quickly fetch a potion and pour it into the Fishman¡¯s mouth. The Fishman was instantly revived. He now desperately wished for death, but death would not come! He was completely broken. Blood and tears continuously flowed from his empty eye sockets, his entire body slumping on the metal table, looking even more like a corpse than a dead body. The Human Race elder was none other than Cang Xu. He studied the structure of the Fishman¡¯s eyes, clicking his tongue in admiration, ¡°The Fishman¡¯s pupils dilate and focus to a degree tenfold that of the Human Race. In the sparse light of the seabed, their pupils fully enlarge to capture every glint of light. Once at the surface, their pupils rapidly constrict to adapt to the sunlight.¡± ¡°If I could devise a spell, or potion, that causes the Fishman¡¯s pupils to uncontrollably dilate to their fullest, their eyes would be rendered blind by bright light without our need for slaughter.¡± Cang Xu diligently recorded his findings. His heart filled with joy. Dissecting the Fishman brought him one tiny step closer to completing his scholarly manuscript. Suddenly, he had a realization, shifting his gaze onto the body of the Fishman. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, the Fishman finally died. Cang Xu immediately checked his pocket watch, noting the time, thereby gaining precise data of the Fishman¡¯s physical and mental endurance limits. After recording the data, Cang Xu hurriedly utilized the Undead Magic ghost creation. This kind of spell had a chance of failure. This time, he failed. Cang Xu was unconcerned. He discarded the Fishman¡¯s corpse and brought another sedated Fishman captive, securely binding him to the bloodstained metal table. Cang Xu began the dissection again. He was highly diligent. Beneath his expressionless face was a curiosity for the unknown and a thirst for knowledge. He possessed the inner drive of a top-tier mage. If not for the limitations of his bloodline, his achievements wouldn¡¯t have stalled at the Black Iron Level. One by one, Fishman captives were placed on the metal table, then turned into corpses. For some corpses, which held little value, Cang Xu used them to practice his Undead spells. Sometimes, when the ghost creation was successful, Cang Xu would interrogate them to gather some intelligence. For some corpses, where the spirit was of higher quality, Cang Xu would transform them into Soul Crystals. Some Fishmen were used by him to forcefully extract memories, attempting to create Memory Crystals. When the last Fishman captive perished, Cang Xu lamented with dissatisfaction, ¡°The samples are not enough, far from enough.¡± ¡°There are some more with the Captain, perhaps I can discuss this with him?¡± As he focused intensely on dissecting the Fishmen, somewhere beneath the sea, a red light suddenly appeared. All Fishmen were transformed by the Blood Core. The Fishman youth closed his eyes, sensing for a moment, then sighed, ¡°The Brown Scaled Bloodline has increased considerably, yet it¡¯s still not complete.¡± He could now transform into a complete Blue Scaled Fishman, but this bloodline was only of Bronze Grade. The Brown Scaled Bloodline was of Black Iron, but not the ideal target. But the Justice Pirate Group had eradicated a Fishman Tribe and still couldn¡¯t collect the complete Brown Scaled Bloodline. ¡°Although the Fishmen are numerous, the proportion of Transcendents is very low, far lesser than the Human Race.¡± ¡°Among all major races, the Dragon Clan has the highest ratio of Transcendents. But the total population of the Dragon Clan is still far less than the Human Race.¡± ¡°This might be one of the reasons why the Human Race has become the dominant power in today¡¯s world.¡± The youth had slain a considerable number of Fishmen, yet had not collected the complete Black Iron Bloodline. ¡°Not enough, still not enough,¡± the youth shook his head. ¡°` Chapter 287 - 287: Section 75: The Deep Blue Fishman Sage Chapter 287: Section 75: The Deep Blue Fishman Sage The Justice Pirate Group continued to delve deeper into the Sky Pillar Sea Eye. The Dragon-man youth deliberately slowed down the pace of the exploration, frequently using the natives living in the Sea Eye as training for his troops. On the other hand, he also stealthily acted alone, diving to the seabed to target the Brown Scale Fishman. In fact, the most suitable for him was the Steel Bone Knight bloodline. This bloodline¡¯s grade reached the Silver Level, which perfectly matched his cultivation. But after a successful first encounter, the youth rarely came across such bloodlines. If collecting the complete Brown Scale Fishman bloodline at the Black Iron Level was this difficult, one could imagine the challenge of collecting the Steel Bone Knight¡¯s bloodline. ... ¡°Let¡¯s first collect the complete Brown Scale bloodline.¡± With this plan, the youth dived into the sea once again. A Fishman Town was nestled among the coral. Now, the Justice Pirate Group was already at the central part of the Sea Eye. Each time the Dragon-man youth dived, he would go even deeper than before. The figures of Fishmen began to appear more frequently, and large Fishman settlements unfolded before the youth¡¯s eyes. Lurking on the outskirts of the town, the youth could sense many Bronzes and Black Irons in the town. ¡°Should I launch a strong attack here?¡± ¡°Given my Dragon-man form and Silver Cultivation, conquering this Fishman underwater town wouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± The youth worried that such an action would alarm other mermaid settlements. The closer one approached the center of the Sea Eye, the closer the Fishman Towns were to each other. If it caused a stir, that would be bad. But without killing more Fishmen, when could the youth collect the complete Brown Scale bloodline? As the youth hesitated, he noticed a group of Fishmen emerging from the town. There were about 20 Fishmen, with the majority being ordinary Fishmen, four being Bronze Fishman fighters, one Black Iron Level Brown Scale Fishman, and one Bronze Level Fishman Spellcaster. What drew the youth¡¯s attention was not the Black Iron Fishman fighter, but rather the Spellcaster in the center of the group. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Until now, this was the first time the Fishman youth had seen a Spellcaster among the Fishman race. He observed carefully and saw that the Fishman Spellcaster had deep Blue Scales. He sat on a chair with his eyes closed, in meditation. The back of the chair was a large seashell, and from the front and back of the chair, two long poles extended. Each pole was carried on the shoulders of four Fishmen. This Fishman Spellcaster had an imposing presence, with all limbs intact, yet rather than swimming by himself, he sat on the chair and was carried by others. And that Black Iron Brown Scale Fishman swam at the very front of the group, leading the way. ¡°Within the Fishman race, the proportion of Transcendents was far lower than that of the Human Race. Fighters were few, and Fishmen with the aptitude for Spellcasting were even fewer. Hence, they held such status.¡± ¡°A Bronze Level Spellcaster can command a Black Iron fighter.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s also possible that the Spellcaster has a strong backing, able to control a Brown Scale Fishman with higher Cultivation through influence alone.¡± The Fishman youth quietly observed, not rushing to make his move. On one hand, the group of Fishmen had not long departed, and they were still relatively close to the town. On the other hand, the youth wanted to get a clearer picture of the rare Fishman Spellcaster¡¯s true abilities. ¡°Is he a Fishman Mage, a Shaman, or perhaps a bard?¡± These three were all Spellcasting professions, yet they had their differences. The youth patiently followed the Fishman group, watching for a long time, but did not witness the Spellcaster take any action. Even when the youth deliberately attracted a swarm of sharks during the journey, endangering the group, he still didn¡¯t see the Fishman Spellcaster make a move. Instead, it became clear that the Brown Scale Fishman was not weak, commanding at least two sharp Combat Skills. Seeing the group approaching another Fishman Sea Town, the youth decided it was time to act. He resorted to his old tactics, boldly blocking the group¡¯s path, pointing at the Brown Scale Fishman as a challenge. The Fishman team was in an uproar, and the Fishman Spellcaster no longer kept his eyes closed to meditate, but slowly opened them. He observed the Blue Scale Fishman youth, calling out several times, but he received no response from the youth. The youth didn¡¯t understand any Fishman Language at all. The Fishman Spellcaster then slightly waved his hand, signifying for the Brown Scale Fishman to go into combat. In his view, a Brown Scale Fishman of the Black Iron Level should be able to deal with this audacious Bronze Fishman. But little did he expect, within a few exchanges, the Fishman youth had understood his opponent and charged at the Fishman Spellcaster. The Fishman team was thrown into chaos in an instant. The Fishman Spellcaster sprung up from the chair with a swish, darting a good distance away in the blink of an eye. The other four Bronze Fishmen were yelling as they confronted the youth, surrounding him in a circle, attacking continuously. The youth held a fish spear in one hand and a scimitar in the other, using both weapons together with exceptional combat skills. Before long, the youth had disposed of these few Bronze Fishmen, and once again lunged at the Fishman Spellcaster. The Fishman was casting a spell, standing in place, unable to move. The rest of the ordinary Fishmen fearlessly attacked the youth, using their lives to stall the youth¡¯s advance. They bought only a limited amount of time with their sacrifices. The Fishman Spellcaster took the opportunity to successfully cast a spell¡ªa Teleportation Gate! A blue oval light formation appeared at the bottom of the sea, with the other side of the light formation connecting to another mysterious place. The youth was on full alert. Soon, he saw a Brown Scale Fishman emerge from the Teleportation Gate. The Fishman Spellcaster, while maintaining the Teleportation Gate, continued to call out to the second Brown Scale Fishman. The Brown Scale Fishman weighed the iron hammer in his hand and with a fierce smile, pounced toward the youth. Down he went. The Fishman Spellcaster was shocked. Two more Fishmen walked out from the Teleportation Gate. Their scales were similar in color, and both wielded scimitars, one Black Iron, and one Bronze. They howled as they charged at the youth. They too went down. The Fishman youth looked at the Fishman Spellcaster with a look of surprise; the latter kept maintaining the Teleportation Gate, without any other movements¡ªit seemed that keeping this Teleportation Gate was the limit of his ability. ¡°This turns out to be a good opportunity.¡± Intentionally, the Fishman youth did not bother the Fishman Spellcaster, just waited for the latter¡¯s Fishman reinforcements to come one by one. Then he confronted each one. Several Fishman Transcendents fell at the hands of the youth in turn. The Fishman Spellcaster was terrified. On the one hand, he was daunted by the combat power of the youth; on the other hand, the youth¡¯s eyes, always sparkling as they focused on him, sent shivers down his spine. The youth kept fighting until the Fishman Spellcaster could no longer maintain the Teleportation Gate. ¡°Finally gathered enough Brown Scale Fishman Bloodline.¡± ¡°What kind of Spellcaster is this? You¡¯re too much of a help to me.¡± With great gratitude, the Fishman youth killed the Fishman Spellcaster, granting this pitiful Fishman a great release. In the end, the youth used the Blood Core to transform all the Fishmen into Bloodline. He temporarily named this Fishman Spellcaster¡¯s Bloodline as Deep Blue Wise One Bloodline. This thin and incomplete Bloodline gave the youth another surprise. ¡°This Bloodline contains genetic information¡­ is it the language of the Fishmen?!¡± Chapter 288 - 288: Section 76: The Traitor Among the Fishmen! Chapter 288: Section 76: The Traitor Among the Fishmen! The new Deep Blue Wise One Bloodline the Fishman youth had acquired was only of Bronze Level, and not of a high grade. Fishmen with this type of bloodline were completely incompetent in cultivating fighting energy and as spellcasters, their achievements would be limited to Bronze Level for life. In most cases, bloodline defined one¡¯s talent and aptitude for cultivation. Some bloodlines were extremely proficient in cultivating fighting energy, like the Martial Sect Bloodline of the Holy Bright Empire. Others excelled in the realms of magic or Divine Arts, like the Angel Bloodline. There were also some that encapsulated multiple categories, such as the Flame Dragon King Bloodline absorbed by the youth. Transcendents with this complete bloodline found it easier to make accomplishments in both the domains of fighting energy and magic. The Deep Blue Wise One Bloodline was not only of low grade but also very incomplete. If a complete bloodline represented 100%, then currently, the Blood Core contained only 3%. ... With this part of the bloodline, the Fishman youth could at best transform a few scales. But none of this hindered the immense surprise and joy in the youth¡¯s heart. Because it was this part of the bloodline that granted him the Fishman language. The value of something was determined by demand. Now these minute portions of the Deep Blue Wise One Bloodline, fulfilling the youth¡¯s desires, were of immense value! If a Silver Level weapon were placed before the youth, he would rather choose the Fishman language. That was what he was most in need of. Racial languages could also be inherited and embedded in a racial bloodline. The legendary Mengyi of the Dragon Clan had initially been a stolen dragon egg that had been lost. When Mengyi hatched, she had to survive alone. Relying on the magic and knowledge inherent in her bloodline, Mengyi thrived, overcoming hardships. Even without her parents or other Dragons to guide her, she could still speak fluent Dragonese. By the time she reached puberty, she was discovered by a Black Iron giant dragon underground, and they could easily communicate using Dragonese. Indeed, many Dragon spells required chanting in Dragonese. The youth¡¯s fiery Dragon Breath was one such. The youth once again silently thanked this Deep Blue Fishman Sage in his heart. He manipulated his Heart Core, causing a mutation. Checking himself, he had fully transformed into a Brown Scale Fishman. Compared to the previous Blue Scale Fishmen, Brown Scale Fishmen were taller, and their arms and legs had visibly more muscles. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Brown Scale Fishman had a slightly wider field of vision too. For Blue Scale Fishmen, advancing to Transcendent was very difficult, and even if successful, they were confined to Bronze Level for life. It was relatively easier for Brown Scale Fishmen to break through to Transcendent, and after reaching Bronze, they could advance further to Black Iron Level. Almost all Brown Scale Fishmen the youth encountered were of Black Iron Level. This indicated that moving from Bronze to Black Iron was relatively easy for this bloodline. Blue Scale Fishmen typically used tridents, while Brown Scale Fishmen more commonly wielded scimitars. On the chest of the Brown Scale Fishman youth were a few Deep Blue scales. This indicated that he had also used the Deep Blue Fishman Sage Bloodline for the mutation. This mutation enabled him to instantly understand the Fishman language. ¡°Great, with this form, I can blend into Fishman villages.¡± ¡°But there are still things to be cautious about.¡± ¡°The first thing is that the Brown Scale Bloodline is only of Black Iron Level, if my Silver Fighting Spirit traits show, it would give me away.¡± ¡°The second point is my lack of combat skills. If I control it myself, maintaining the disguise while fighting other Brown Scale Fishmen, I might not be a match for them.¡± The Steel Bone Knight bloodline was still the one that could fully exploit the youth¡¯s cultivation. But such Fishman Knights were too rare! The youth was able to quickly gather a complete Brown Scale Bloodline thanks to the fortunate contribution of that Deep Blue Fishman Sage, mixed with some luck. Collecting a full Steel Bone Bloodline in a short time was nearly impossible, the youth knew. ¡°One last thing, I need time.¡± Mixing into Fishman settlements wasn¡¯t like the previous ambushes; he needed more time. ¡°What kind of reason should I find to tell Zong Ge and Cang Xu?¡± The Fishman youth started to ascend, swimming towards the fleet. As he was about to reach the Justice, he discovered the Justice Pirate Group was engaged in battle. Numerous Fishmen were rushing towards the ten pirate ships on the sea surface, their morale very high. Commanding them was a giant. The giant had blue skin, was bald, and his beard, as dense as seaweed, spread from his ears to his chin, draping to his chest. His giant eyes glared, each roar like a howling wind. Almost naked, his upper body was draped with a fishing net, tied with shells serving as armor. The craftsmanship was rather crude. Around his waist was a yellowed canvas. Most notably, in his hands, he held a special weapon¡ªa massive anchor. A Sea Giant! The Fishman youth observed the battle from below the sea, feeling both surprised and unsurprised. He was aware of the Sea Giants. The Deep Sea Monster Fish provided him with lots of information daily. But this was not the territory of the Sea Giant. ¡°He must have taken the initiative to lead the Fishmen to attack my fleet,¡± the youth analyzed swiftly in his mind. The Sea Giant could command the Fishman Clan, in fact, Fishmen liked attaching themselves to Sea Giants. Just like on land, goblin tribes often served as vassals to the Dragon Clan. In the sea, Fishmen were somewhat akin to goblins on land. Like before, the Deep Sea Four-headed Serpent had led a large number of Fishmen to confront the Justice Pirate Group. Those Fishmen were vassals of the Four-headed Serpent. However, compared to the Four-headed Serpent, the Sea Giant was undoubtedly more intelligent. The Justice Pirate Group had initially intruded into the Four-headed Serpent¡¯s territory, thus inciting the attack. The Sea Giant, on the other hand, understood the value of striking first. Combat Skill¡ªSword Blade Assault! Zong Ge, wielding the Demon Blood Greatsword, sprinted across the deck and leapt into the air, his trajectory almost a straight line towards the chest of the Sea Giant. On the Sea Giant¡¯s shoulder stood a Black Iron Level Fishman Shaman, who released a Lightning Chain at the Half-Beast. Zong Ge was struck by an electric shock, his body convulsed violently, and his combat skill was forcibly terminated, causing him to fall from midair towards the sea surface. Whoosh! A sudden gust of wind arose. The Sea Giant, seizing the moment, swung his anchor. The massive anchor whirled around with terrifying momentum, and it was about to smash into Zong Ge. Just then, a Rat-man, cloaked in gray, deployed a combat skill that struck the anchor. The anchor¡¯s path slightly altered, brushing past Zong Ge. Seizing the opportunity, Zong Ge swung his two-handed greatsword, struck the anchor, and used the recoil to retreat back onto the deck of the Silver Hook. He was at the peak of Silver Level, possessing the strongest aura within the Justice Pirate Group. This caused most enemies to assume he was the leader, concentrating all their firepower on him. The Sea Giant was of Silver Level Cultivation and was similarly at the peak. More crucially, he had a massive physique. The bloodline of the giant race endowed him with formidable strength, endurance, and recovery power. In terms of physical qualities alone, the Sea Giant was superior to Zong Ge. Combined with Silver Level Fighting Spirit, the Sea Giant still managed to overpower the Half-Beast. Only by joining forces could Zong Ge and the gray-clad Rat-man manage to fight the Sea Giant to a standstill, temporarily holding the line. The Sea Giant¡¯s shoulder still hosted a Black Iron Level Fishman Shaman, intermittently casting spells to support the entire battlefield. That Lightning Chain had just caused Zong Ge to lose a hard-won opportunity for advantage. Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady were not here. Post-battle with the Gold and Silver brothers, they had separated from the youth. Cang Xu, a Mage of equal rank, had been dealing with the Fishman Shaman. But without using Undead Magic, Cang Xu struggled to unleash his true strength. He was using Magic Scrolls. To conceal this fact, he had to remain as invisible as possible, feigning casting actions. ¡°3, 2, 1, fire!¡± On board the Justice, the bird commanded the pirates. Smoke rose from one side of the ship, and bombs rained down like showers, tracing parabolas in the sky before enveloping the Sea Giant. The Sea Giant promptly raised the anchor to shield the Fishman Shaman on his shoulder, taking numerous hits himself. Bombarded by the salvo, the Sea Giant couldn¡¯t lift his head and roared in pain. Several Silver Level bombs were mixed among the others, and at the Fishman Shaman¡¯s warning, the Sea Giant suddenly dived, plunging into the water. The bombs hit the water, blasting sprays of water upward. The bird could only reluctantly cease fire as the sea water obscured his target. ¡°Accelerate, turn the helm to the left!¡± Lan Zao felt a bad premonition and shouted loudly on board the Justice. His premonition was correct. Due to the recent cannonade, the Sea Giant had shifted his focus from Zong Ge to the Justice as his primary target. He emitted a long call from within the water. Simultaneously, the Fishman Shaman on his shoulder was frantically waving and shouting, as if dancing. The sea water was teeming with Fishmen who, hearing their calls, promptly swam over. The Fishmen climbed onto the Sea Giant like ants, forming several layers of armor made of Fishmen all over his body, instantly making him appear even more massive. He paddled with his limbs, stepping on currents, and approached the underside of the Justice with proficient swimming skills. Bai Ya, standing at the bulwark, suddenly saw a dark shadow surge from the seabed and yelled at once, ¡°Enemy attack, enemy attack!¡± But it was already too late. With a boom, towering waves rose. From within the waves, the Sea Giant emerged. He grabbed the bulwark with both hands, and his feet hit the hull, ready to climb onto the deck of the Justice. The Big Guy shouted, swinging the Wolf Fang Club, fiercely smashing it onto the Sea Giant¡¯s head that protruded above the bulwark. The Sea Giant extended his arms, sweeping across the deck, and the Big Guy was violently thrown back, the Wolf Fang Club slipping from his hand. The Fishman Shaman laughed loudly, pointing a finger. Fishmen on the Sea Giant¡¯s body jumped onto the deck of the Justice like fleas, engaging in full combat with the pirates. ¡°Damn it!¡± Gray-clad Rat-man and Zong Ge hurried to assist. Just then, the Fishman Shaman¡¯s body jerked, his head falling from his neck. The one who killed him was a Brown Scale Fishman beside him. This Brown Scale Fishman suddenly erupted with Silver Fighting Spirit and, with a blood-stained scimitar, viciously stabbed into the Sea Giant¡¯s neck beside him. The Sea Giant: ?!!! He was dumbfounded by this scene. It was only when the Brown Scale Fishman pulled out the scimitar, causing the wound to gush blood, that the Sea Giant realized what happened. Enraged to the extreme, regardless of others, he swung the anchor fiercely at the Brown Scale Fishman. The Brown Scale Fishman scoffed with disdain, leaped gracefully, plunging into the water, causing only a small splash. Just as the Sea Giant was about to pursue, magic from Cang Xu, combat skills from Zong Ge, and the gray-clad Rat-man all struck simultaneously. Blood spattered wildly from the massive body of the Sea Giant! This was the crucial turning point of the battle. Moments later, the Sea Giant looked up and howled, carrying resentment and anger, dying from severe wounds on the battlefield. Chapter 289 - 289: Section 77: Infiltrating the Fishman Village Chapter 289: Section 77: Infiltrating the Fishman Village Justice, Captain¡¯s quarters. Cang Xu, holding a list, reported slowly, ¡°In this battle, our side suffered twelve deaths and sixty-five injuries.¡± ¡°The sails were damaged, seventeen in total, and the masts and hull that need repairing are estimated to require four days.¡± ¡°Three Bronze Level cannons were destroyed, over a hundred Bronze Level cannonballs were used, and twelve Silver Level cannonballs.¡± ¡­ The youth sat behind the desk, quietly listening throughout. ... Compared to the previous battles, the consumption of cannonballs had increased significantly. The main reason was that the Sea Giants, with their enormous bodies and slow movement, were very obvious targets. In this battle, these cannons indeed made a considerable contribution. Many cannonballs were lost, but they also played their roles effectively. After Cang Xu finished reporting the losses, he spoke about the complete tally of spoils from the battle. The Justice Pirate Group had reaped a substantial reward from this battle. The corpse of a Silver Level Sea Giant was their largest gain. The youth did not use the Blood Core to absorb it, although the Sea Giant¡¯s Bloodline fit the criteria the youth was looking for. Firstly, the body was salvaged on the spot, making it inappropriate for the youth to act alone. Secondly, everyone saw it happen, and even if the youth later ordered it to be absorbed secretly, it would raise suspicions. Thirdly, even if the youth absorbed it, it would only be a fragment of a Silver Bloodline, not enough to give the youth any significant enhancement. The gains were far less than the risks, so the youth was unwilling to take that risk. Apart from the Sea Giant¡¯s corpse, the piles of Fishman corpses and Fishman prisoners also provided Cang Xu with a large number of experimental subjects and materials for manufacturing Soul Crystals. There were also some benefits that weren¡¯t apparent. For example, the combat experience gained by the pirates from this battle. According to Zong Ge¡¯s words, the training effect from actual combat was tremendous, and the entire pirate group was becoming increasingly elite. Moreover, to prepare for exploring the Sea God¡¯s temple, some Underwater Breathing Potions were specially used in this battle, allowing some Transcendent Level pirates to enter the water and fight the Fishmen. ¡°The gains far outweigh the losses, but it¡¯s not advisable for the pirate group to continue deeper into the Sea Eye,¡± the youth told Cang Xu. Cang Xu nodded, agreeing with the youth¡¯s assessment. He thought the same. In fact, not only him, but Zong Ge and Ashen-one also thought likewise. According to current intelligence, there are stronger indigenous forces in the Sea Eye. The fleet would need to deal with even more powerful enemies as they ventured further. In the recent combat, facing a Silver Level Sea Giant required Zong Ge and Ashen-one to join forces. Facing more powerful indigenous forces would expose the Justice Pirate Group to greater risks, especially since these indigenous leaders were becoming more intelligent, which was a major concern for the higher-ups of the Justice Pirate Group. Because with intelligence comes the ability to strategize and possibly ally with each other. ¡°How much longer can our supplies last?¡± the youth asked again. Cang Xu immediately answered, ¡°By conservative estimates, at least one hundred twenty-seven days.¡± This was a very accurate figure, as after their experience on Mysterious Monster Island, Cang Xu had placed great importance on supplies, recalculating them every one or two days. ¡°In fact,¡± Cang Xu said with a smile, ¡°we might be able to last even longer. On one hand, we will reduce personnel. On the other, we can fish locally.¡± ¡°The Sea Eye area is rich in resources, and there are many sea fish. Lan Zao has been showboating lately; he could catch enough to feed half of the pirate crew for three meals with one net.¡± ¡°How are the modifications to the ship coming along?¡± the youth asked again. Faced with this question, Cang Xu finally showed a troubled expression, a departure from his previous calm demeanor. In preparation for the expedition to the Sea God¡¯s temple, the upper echelons of the Justice Pirate Group decided to modify all the ships to better resist water pressure and to be able to dive and resurface for short periods. Cang Xu said gravely, ¡°Excluding the supply ships, five ships have been modified at New Moon Port with a series of inlet and outlet water devices. During the voyage, I¡¯ve been installing purchased devices on other sea ships. Currently, two ships remain unmodified.¡± ¡°But after this step, we still need to coat five other ships with a layer of crystal veneer.¡± ¡°This veneer can cover the surface of a ship, helping it resist water pressure. It was very popular once, but in recent years, it has been supplanted by the Empire¡¯s metal coating alchemy technology, which is why it isn¡¯t much used nowadays.¡± Only the Empire mastered this metal coating alchemy technology. Cang Xu could not master this technology. ¡°I¡¯m just an Undead Mage, at the Black Iron Level,¡± Cang Xu sighed to the captain before him, ¡°Recently, while I¡¯ve been researching Memory Crystals, it¡¯s become more and more evident that we need to hire a trustworthy Alchemist.¡± In the Justice Pirate Group, the busiest was not the Dragon-man youth or Zong Ge, but Cang Xu. This elderly man had to manage and report on the entire pirate group¡¯s affairs, secretly research Memory Crystals, and also create Soul Crystals. Besides this, he had to maintain his daily Mage practice, such as meditation and practicing spells. For writing ¡®Evolution Theory,¡¯ he could only squeeze in a little time each day. ¡°Fortunately, my body has been modified using Undead Magic, so I only need one or two hours of sleep each day.¡± ¡°Not to exaggerate, but joining the pirate group was the busiest time of my life. Sometimes, I couldn¡¯t even rest for several days.¡± The youth quickly spoke to reassure the old scholar in front of him. Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m not complaining to you or trying to take credit. It¡¯s just very difficult to make any new progress with the Memory Crystals.¡± ¡°To be honest, being able to reproduce the use of the Soul Crystal array already feels like a great achievement to me.¡± ¡°In the field of alchemy, my meager Mage talent offers very little help.¡± Currently, the Justice Pirate Group had an alchemy device for making Memory Crystals. It was the one Zi Di had once used for Zhenjin. However, no matter how Cang Xu tried, he could not use this device to forcibly extract memories from his targets. Cang Xu experimented on quite a few Fishmen. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Out of a hundred Fishmen, only a few succeeded. But the memories contained in the created Memory Crystals were incredibly fragmented and disjointed, rendering them utterly useless. And the fate of those Fishmen who were forcibly extracted was very bleak¡ªthey either went mad or died from brain explosions. In summary, this Memory Crystal Manufacturing Device could only allow users with a subjective will to successfully and safely produce valuable Memory Crystals. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, sir,¡± Cang Xu said apologetically. ¡°We can¡¯t use this method to torture out the Fishman Language, the Fighting Enegies and Combat Skills used by Fishmen, or the intelligence about the Fishman forces in the Sea Eye.¡± ¡°No need, I already know how to speak the Fishman Language,¡± the youth kept this remark to himself and outwardly sighed along with Cang Xu. ¡°There¡¯s too much missing information.¡± ¡°I think instead of an Alchemist, we need a powerful Thief who can bring in abundant information.¡± ¡°Just now in the battle, there was actually a traitor among the Fishmen!¡± ¡°Without the sneak attack from that brown-scaled Fishman, we couldn¡¯t have won so easily. Unfortunately, we didn¡¯t capture that brown-scaled Fishman.¡± ¡°This shows that the powers within the Sky Pillar Sea Eye are complex and fraught with many contradictions. As outsiders, if we had reliable and sufficient information, we could navigate well among these forces.¡± ¡°What a pity,¡± the youth sighed. ¡°Yes. Everything happened too quickly,¡± Cang Xu lamented. The youth continued, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll just have to board the Deep Sea Monster Fish alone and explore the depths of the sea.¡± ¡°Captain, isn¡¯t that a bit risky? You should at least bring one or two Transcendent Silvers with you¡­¡± Cang Xu was interrupted by the youth before he could finish. ¡°It¡¯s not necessary to waste valuable military resources. Even if they came to help me, their aid would be limited at the bottom of the sea.¡± ¡°The Deep Sea Monster Fish and Tower Spirit are my greatest allies.¡± ¡°You consume these Fishman captives quickly in the coming days and produce Soul Crystals. I¡¯ll need the ship soon; the time for the Sky Pillar to rise is not far off.¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°Understood, sir.¡± The youth kept the secret that the brown-scaled Fishman was actually an disguised operative of his own. He could have justified it to others using the pretext of Beastification People. But there was no need. To do so would be superfluous. Days later, the youth left the fleet in the care of Cang Xu and Zong Ge, announcing that he was going into seclusion to cultivate. In reality, he boarded the Deep Sea Monster Fish and plunged into the Sea Eye. In a sea trench, he hid the Deep Sea Monster Fish well and transformed himself into a Fishman, swimming out alone. As planned, he ¡°accidentally¡± encountered a Fishman merchant caravan that had been scouted by the Deep Sea Monster Fish. The youth blocked the caravan¡¯s path. The caravan leader was also a brown-scaled Fishman, clearly very old, with dull eyes. The old brown-scaled Fishman was visibly stunned upon seeing the youth: ¡°gralwm, wallral, mwalrl?¡± (Young fellow of the Fishman Race, what is your name? Impressive, did you kill these iron-skin batfish?) Two Black Iron-level batfish lay beside the Fishman youth. This was the introductory scenario the youth had crafted for himself. ¡°wmgrlll, mmmwagrl. (Of course, I killed them. My name is Bobo.)¡± The youth calmly replied while twirling the Black Iron-level scimitar in his hand, flaunting a few impressive moves. The old Fishman¡¯s pupils contracted, he opened his mouth wide, showing his decayed teeth, and laughed heartily, ¡°mlwwl, wwmmgrrr. wglmaima? (Brother Bobo, to be so remarkable at such a young age is really pleasing. Are you selling your prey?)¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, the Fishman youth agreed to sell the two iron-skin batfish corpses to the old Fishman. He took the opportunity to ask the old Fishman where they were heading. Upon learning the name of a Fishman Town, the youth tilted his head thoughtfully and naturally said he was a bit tired from his arduous cultivation and decided to simply follow the old Fishman and his group to the Fishman village. After hesitating for a moment, the old Fishman nodded and agreed to the youth¡¯s request. Chapter 290 - 290: Section 78: Pickled Fishman Comes to Challenge Chapter 290: Section 78: Pickled Fishman Comes to Challenge The Fishman youth finally managed to infiltrate the Fishman Town through the merchant caravan. He appeared calm on the surface, but was carefully observing his surroundings with the large eyes typical of Fishmen. Although there were many Fishmen in the town, the facilities were quite rudimentary. The houses where the Fishmen lived were mostly small caves carved out of rock or natural gaps in coral formations. The roofs and windows of these houses were made of seashells of various sizes. The structures were typically held together by seaweed bindings. There were also some large underwater caves where many common Fishmen lived together. ... Overall, the craftsmanship of the buildings was rough, only slightly better than that of primitive tribes. Despite its primitive appearance, from a military perspective, these were sturdy and durable defensive structures. Combat in water, being between land and air battles, created a complex fighting environment. Enemies could swim and linger overhead for long periods. Thus, attacks could come from all directions, including from above and below. In such an environment, the stone caves provided comprehensive protection for the Fishmen. The passages between caves were often narrow and slippery with complex terrain. Only the Fishmen who had lived there long-term were familiar with the layout. Additionally, Fishmen¡¯s fingers and toes had adhesive abilities, and they were skilled swimmers, allowing them to move quickly through the passages. In such battles, the Fishmen had significant geographical advantages. Each Fishman Town was quite defensible and hard to attack. ¡°The Justice Pirate Group has thousands of members, but they wouldn¡¯t think of attacking an underwater Fishman Town like this. The population here is about the same as the size of the pirate group. Most pirates are ordinary people, incapable of reaching the depths of the sea. The water pressure alone would kill them.¡± ¡°Even if magic were used to counteract the water pressure and temporarily grant the pirates the ability to breathe underwater, these ordinary pirates would struggle to fight effectively in a watery environment.¡± ¡°Doing so would not only lead to the sacrifice of pirates but also waste the precious mana of our own mages.¡± The youth remembered discussing this issue with Zong Ge¡ªhow to effectively take down a Fishman village underwater. Zong Ge¡¯s suggestion was a precision strike. Send an elite team of Bronze, Black Iron, and Silver-level Transcendents, temporarily endowed with the ability to fight underwater through magic, and quickly break through Fishman defenses, swiftly decapitating the Fishman leaders to cause morale to collapse, and then chase down the fleeing Fishmen. Zong Ge also highlighted several points to be particularly cautious about. First, hide your troops well before the raid. If the Fishmen get wind of it and move beforehand, that would be problematic. The Human Race wouldn¡¯t be able to catch up to them. They couldn¡¯t swim as well as the Fishmen in the water, a natural difference between the species. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the Fishmen simply fled, the cost invested in the war would be almost impossible to recover. The Fishman villages were rudimentary, with little of value. If the Fishmen were to lead on the Human forces and then stop, drawing them further in, that could be even more hazardous. The spells on the Human Transcendents were time-limited, and if the Fishmen attacked when those spells were close to expiring, the Human forces would find themselves in a precarious situation. Second, if the Fishmen didn¡¯t manage to flee and chose to fight stubbornly, the Human forces should avoid engaging them if their initial attempt to cut off the head failed. This way, the Human forces would lose Transcendents while the Fishmen would largely lose only commoners. Such a trade-off in forces, unless it yielded a significant tactical or strategic advantage, would be a loss. A direct assault on the Fishmen¡¯s underwater settlements by the Justice Pirate Group was nearly impractical. The risk of warfare was too great! Thus, after entering the village and observing for a while, the Fishman youth was even more relieved that he possessed a Blood Core, enabling him to mutate and disguise as a Fishman. ¡°Also, thanks to that Fishman Sage, without his bloodline, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to understand the Fishman language.¡± ¡°What a good Fishman.¡± As the caravan entered the town, the commotion drew more and more Fishmen out of their dwellings to scrutinize these visiting Fishmen. ¡°Welcome home.¡± Soon after, the Fishmen naturally parted, allowing an elderly Fishman Shaman to step forward. She held a cane, her back was stooped, and her fish whiskers were numerous and drooping. At first glance, the Fishman youth thought she was an old Fishman grandfather, but when she spoke in a female voice, he realized her gender. Indeed, Fishmen¡¯s gender characteristics were not obvious. Though there were males and females, it was difficult for outsiders to distinguish. The Fishman youth felt the same. ¡°Stand properly!¡± the caravan leader, an old Fishman, roared. The caravan members gathered together. The old Fishman was among them. The old Fishman Shaman began to chant, casting a spell that caused a brilliant light to fill the water. A blood-like radiance shone on all the members of the caravan until the light gradually faded without any unusual occurrences. This was clearly a form of reconnaissance. Seeing this result, the old Fishman Shaman breathed a sigh of relief and again said, ¡°Welcome home, children; you¡¯ve had a hard journey.¡± The Fishman youth relaxed slightly. The caravan leader, the old Fishman, also breathed a sigh of relief; he had been particularly watching the Fishman youth and now patted his shoulder, ¡°You¡¯re not from the Swordfin Tribe; we can all rest easy now.¡± The Fishman youth shrugged. ¡°I told you, I¡¯m just a wanderer and a hunter.¡± The old Fishman said, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you and I share the same brown scales, I wouldn¡¯t have brought you along. But this is still not safe. The Swordfin Tribe is our adversary and has previously sent spies into our town.¡± Fishmen were a wise species, and the words of the caravan leader, the old Fishman, showed that there were conflicts among them. They valued intelligence in their competition and employed spy tactics. This made the Fishman youth think of when he had voluntarily asked to join the merchant caravan. The old Fishman leader of the caravan indeed hesitated for a moment. Then, the youth continued to clarify, ¡°I just want to find a safe environment to rest for a few days, and then I¡¯ll leave.¡± As soon as he said this, it relaxed the other Fishmen a bit. But it gave the old Fishman of the caravan a new idea. He led the youth, arranged his living quarters, and then secretly called his own disciple. His disciple was a Green-scaled Fishman with a pair of big yellow eyes. ¡°Pickled Fishman,¡± the old caravan Fishman slapped his disciple¡¯s sturdy back, ¡°I have a task for you, go challenge that newcomer.¡± Pickled Fishman showed great respect to the old Fishman, ¡°Understood, Master! How much should I teach him a lesson?¡± The old Fishman said sternly, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to bully the outsider, just test his strength. If his strength is weaker, then you restrain yourself.¡± ¡°Oh, I understand, Master.¡± The old Fishman looked at his naive disciple, still a bit worried, and cautioned, ¡°Be careful of his scimitar, capable of wiping out two Ironskin Batfish at once, he¡¯s not easy to deal with.¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± Pickled Fishman always fully executed his master¡¯s orders. So, he found the Fishman youth immediately. ¡°You want to challenge me?¡± The Fishman youth sized up the Green-scaled Yellow-eyed Fishman in front of him. Compared to other Fishmen, he was noticeably more muscular and taller, the muscles on his limbs were more prominent. He was also of Black Iron Level. ¡°I heard your scimitar is formidable. I am the only disciple of my master, inheritor of my master¡¯s scimitar skills, no other Fishman fighters in town can match me. So this time, I¡¯m formally challenging you. Do you dare accept?¡± Pickled Fishman shouted, his voice deliberately loud, immediately drawing the attention of other Fishmen. ¡°Of course,¡± the Fishman youth agreed immediately. This probing was within his expectations. Fishmen had backward living conditions, lived underwater, and faced many predator threats, so they were all very martial. Without being martial, it was impossible to survive. Pickled Fishman challenging the fellow Black Iron Level newcomer wasn¡¯t wrong at all. In fact, if he didn¡¯t challenge him, other Fishmen were already eager to try. However, Pickled Fishman was recognized as the strongest among the young adult Fishmen. As soon as the news of his formal challenge to the newcomer spread, other Fishmen all chose to be spectators. That afternoon, the location for the duel between the Fishman youth and Pickled Fishman was already surrounded by Fishmen early on. The youth arrived on time, and the observing Fishmen all stared at him, opening a pathway for him. ¡°Is that him?¡± ¡°So young and already at Black Iron? Just as the rumors said, a genius like Pickled Fishman!¡± ¡°Pickled Fishman has the Bloodline of the Man Yu tribe, but he looks to be Brown-scaled. How could someone so young reach Black Iron?¡± The Fishmen were discussing curiously. When the Fishman youth walked through the crowd to the center of the venue, awaiting Pickled Fishman stood up, picked up a scimitar from the ground, and held it tightly in his hand. He used two scimitars, in the dual wielding style. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll let you attack first!¡± Pickled Fishman grinned fiercely, deliberately clashing the two scimitars together, producing a loud clanging noise. The Fishman youth flipped his wrist, twirling the scimitar into dazzling patterns, provoking exclamations from the other Fishmen. Pickled Fishman, dissatisfied, snorted coldly, ¡°All flash and no substance.¡± Still, he watched the youth¡¯s scimitar with a very grave look. Because the youth¡¯s scimitar quality had reached Black Iron, such weapons were rare in the Fishman settlements. The old Brown-scaled Fishman leader of the caravan was also at Black Iron, had struggled for a lifetime, yet only had two Bronze Level scimitars. Pickled Fishman himself only had ordinary scimitars, and the pair of Bronze scimitars he now held was specifically lent to him by his master, old Brown-scaled. His master cherished this pair of Bronze scimitars very much, so it was the first time Pickled Fishman used them openly. Pickled Fishman was both excited and nervous, ¡°I wonder if Master¡¯s treasures can withstand the opponent¡¯s Black Iron scimitar?¡± The Fishman youth, twirling his scimitar, slowly approached Pickled Fishman. Pickled Fishman was very cautious, holding the scimitars in front of his chest, bending forward, and constantly shifting his stance. Suddenly! The Fishman youth lunged forward. The surrounding Fishmen, thinking the two sides would tussle for a while, were surprised by the sudden attack and exclaimed. Amid the exclamations, the Fishman youth reached Pickled Fishman in the blink of an eye. Pickled Fishman, always prepared, calmly raised his dual scimitars, intending to block the youth¡¯s direct chop. But the youth suddenly changed his move, hurling his scimitar as if it were a throwing knife, forcefully flinging it. Pickled Fishman was astounded, ¡°Such a good weapon, and you just throw it?!¡± Chapter 291 - 291: Section 79: Hooked Chapter 291: Section 79: Hooked This strike caught him completely off guard, and he was stunned for a moment before he quickly crossed his blades to block, sending the Black Iron Scimitar flying. ¡°Excellent, he has lost his weapon!¡± Just as Suanzao was about to rejoice, the Fishman youth had already seized the opportunity he had created! He threw himself directly into Suanzao¡¯s arms. Suanzao suddenly felt a severe pain in his chest, as if a tiger shark had crashed into him. He couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth, and bubbles gurgled up profusely. ¡°Such strength?!¡± Suanzao¡¯s heart trembled. ... It was very rare for a brown-scale Fishman to unleash such a powerful impact. Suanzao had also often practiced combat with his master, and in his recollection, his master had never possessed such strength. ¡°If I were knocked down directly, wouldn¡¯t that be completely humiliating!¡± Suanzao hurriedly braced his chest and planted his legs firmly on the seafloor, retreating three or four steps but resolutely standing his ground against the collision. While retreating, he forcefully struck down with his arms, attempting to smash the back of the Fishman youth with the hilt of his blade. Because his master had cautioned him, he only used the hilt and did not reverse the blade. At the same time, his target was not the Fishman youth¡¯s eyes but his back. ¡°Fall for me!¡± Suanzao roared. Although he had held back, he was confident that if his strike hit the opponent, the latter would surely fall to the ground and not be able to get up. But the Fishman youth didn¡¯t even look, and directly raised his hands to block Suanzao¡¯s elbows. The move was incredibly skillful. If the youth had tried to block Suanzao¡¯s forearms, he would have faced an immense force, and given the strength of the brown-scale Fishman, it was likely that he would have failed to hold it off. If the youth blocked the arms above the elbows, it would have been easier, according to the principle of leverage, the force to bear would be much less, making a successful parry more likely. But it was of no use. Because as soon as Suanzao moved his elbows, his forearms would still drive the Bronze Scimitars, hammering fiercely into the Fishman youth¡¯s body. Therefore, when the Fishman youth blocked Suanzao¡¯s elbows, it immediately caused Suanzao to be dumbfounded, unable to exert any force, and the faces of many warriors among the spectating Fishmen also changed slightly. Laymen watch the excitement; connoisseurs discern the subtleties. Though it was a minor movement, it allowed the strong Fishmen present to perceive that the Fishman youth was quite skilled. After propping up Suanzao¡¯s elbows, the Fishman youth took the momentum to counterattack, his palms flipping to tightly grip the opponent¡¯s elbows. Suanzao clenched his teeth, furious in his heart: ¡°You¡¯re challenging me to a test of strength?¡± Just as he was about to exert all his strength to overpower the youth, the Fishman youth suddenly kicked off the ground, his fish head savagely striking Suanzao¡¯s chin. Suanzao was knocked backward, his head spinning and vision blurring. Pain radiated from his chin, but Suanzao bit down hard, not making a sound. ¡°To cry out in pain, wouldn¡¯t that be utterly face-losing?¡± The rage in Suanzao¡¯s heart grew: ¡°Damn it, so painful, I must repay you!¡± But in the next moment, the Fishman youth followed through with an upward kick. Bang! The strike hit right in the middle of Suanzao¡¯s crotch. ¡°I¡­ Ah!¡± Suanzao instantly felt a violent shock both in body and mind, his rage drowned by the intense agony as he couldn¡¯t help but cry out in pain. For a moment, Suanzao forgot to resist, his body instinctively retreating backwards. But he had forgotten that his elbows were firmly in the grip of the youth. The Fishman youth clung to Suanzao¡¯s elbows, his legs whirling like windmills, repeatedly driving his shins or knees into Suanzao¡¯s groin. Bang! Bang! Bang! The terrifying rapid strikes made a sound that sent shivers down the spine of every male Fishman. In a very short time, Suanzao went from crying out in pain to screaming, and then from screaming to whining pitifully. Suanzao collapsed on the ground miserably. The Fishman youth did not let up and stomped on him several times with his feet. Suanzao curled up like a lobster, clutching his crotch tightly, his mouth continuously hissing in pain as he inhaled seawater. ¡°I win!¡± The Fishman youth raised his arm, shouting victoriously, then panting heavily after the intense exertion. The whole place was deathly quiet, except for the sound of the youth¡¯s proclamation of victory. The youth walked towards his scimitar, which was stuck in the sandy seabed. He retrieved it effortlessly. The Fishmen close to the Black Iron Scimitar decisively stepped back, cautiously distancing themselves from the Fishman youth. Many male Fishmen felt a chilling breeze beneath their crotches, as if a cold stream had suddenly shot between their legs. The Fishman youth, holding the scimitar, returned in front of Suanzao and, with a flick of his wrist, spun the blade in several flourishes. Watching these blade tricks, Suanzao felt wronged to the core, infuriated beyond words. He remembered his master¡¯s words of caution¡ª¡±Be wary of his scimitar.¡± ¡°Despicable!¡± Suanzao lay on the ground, grinding his teeth in resentment. The next moment, the Fishman youth walked past him lying on the ground and bent down to pick up Suanzao¡¯s pair of Bronze Scimitars. ¡°What are you doing!?¡± Suanzao shrieked, panicking as he saw the scimitars fall into the youth¡¯s hands. He wanted to get up, but the pain in his crotch was unbearable, and even the skin beneath the thick scales turned noticeably pale. Despite his best efforts, Suancai couldn¡¯t stand up; the pain in his crotch pierced through to his core. The youth easily picked up two Bronze scimitars and loudly declared, ¡°These are my spoils of war.¡± ¡°Put them down! This is a duel between warriors; you¡¯re robbing me!¡± shouted Suancai. ¡°You challenged me, and I spared your life. Taking your weapons is already showing you mercy. Do you not value your life?¡± the Fishman youth sneered, the cold and ruthless intent to kill immediately emanating from him. The Fishmen were agitated by the killing intent and began to shout. ¡°Foreigner, you¡¯re too arrogant!¡± ¡°Daring to kill in our town, you¡¯re practically asking for death.¡± ¡°This is a duel between warriors. Just now, Suancai was obviously holding back; he just used the hilt to hit your back. (Even though he missed¡­)¡± ¡°Shut up, all of you!¡± The Fishman youth shouted back, tall and unafraid, full of wildness. He certainly had the capital to be fearless. Having Silver Fighting Spirit and a Dragon-man Form. Relying on Dragon Scale¡¯s defensive power, he could even fend off Golden Level Combat Skills, and fighting his way out through the encirclement of these Fishmen was not a problem at all. The only somewhat troublesome issue was the town¡¯s only Silver Level Fishman Shaman. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, the Fishman youth had another trump card¡ªthe Deep Sea Monster Fish was lurking nearby, ready to come to his aid at any moment. ¡°Everyone, calm down!¡± The caravan leader, Elder Brown Scale, finally couldn¡¯t sit still. He had sent Suancai to challenge the newcomer, just to gauge his strength for potential recruitment. He did not wish conflict to arise from this. After this battle, Elder Brown Scale grew even fonder of the newcomer and his desire to recruit him grew stronger. Immediately, he stepped forward, gently waved his hand, and calmed the emotionally charged onlooking Fishmen, showing his prestige in the town. Then, Elder Brown Scale turned to face the Fishman youth and said with a smile, ¡°Suancai is my apprentice. He was outmatched and defeated by you. There¡¯s nothing inappropriate about you taking these two scimitars as spoils of war. If you like them, take them.¡± ¡°Master?!¡± Suancai exclaimed in shock, momentarily forgetting the excruciating pain, ¡°Those two scimitars are your treasured possessions.¡± ¡°Indeed, they are my treasures, but unfortunately, you lost. And the opponent clearly held back,¡± Elder Brown Scale said with a purposeful sigh. ¡°Master¡­¡± Suancai¡¯s eyes filled with blood, and he seemed on the verge of tears, ¡°I swear I¡¯ll repay you with two brand new Bronze scimitars. No, Black Iron¡ªI¡¯ll definitely get you two Black Iron Level scimitars!¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± The Fishman youth purposely pouted, trying to look smug and triumphant. Fortunately, he had spent more time lately in his Mutated Fishman Form, or else making such an expression would have been difficult. His appearance immediately filled the surrounding Fishmen with revulsion, and they longed to give the youth¡ªa foreigner¡ªa thorough beating. Suancai, in particular, was gnashing his teeth in hatred. But Elder Brown Scale pointed at the Fishman youth and intentionally shook his head, ¡°Almost? No, you¡¯re far from it.¡± ¡°Hey, what do you mean by that? You still can¡¯t accept it, can you?¡± the youth intentionally complained. Seeing the youth take the bait, Elder Brown Scale chuckled, ¡°You practice the Single Blade Style, don¡¯t you? Are you really skilled with dual blades? You now have three blades, can you handle them all?¡± The youth pouted, ¡°I can¡¯t handle them all; moreover, I am used to using just one blade. But I can sell them for money. Do you want to buy them? Just say so. If the price is right, I¡¯ll sell them to you on the spot.¡± Suancai¡¯s eyes turned dark with anger. These were clearly his master¡¯s scimitars, and now his master had to buy them. How detestable this newcomer was! Elder Brown Scale nodded without hesitation: ¡°I will buy them. But, I won¡¯t pay you with money.¡± ¡°Are you making fun of me?¡± ¡°Of course not. What I¡¯ll give you is worth more than money. Like my swordsmanship or Combat Skills,¡± Elder Brown Scale said astonishingly. He stared at the youth with a piercing gaze, ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, you¡¯ve never properly learned how to use a blade, nor do you have any Combat Skills.¡± Suancai¡¯s heart stirred, greatly agreeing with this guess: ¡°Definitely not. If he had, would he be able to throw the blade like that?¡± The Fishman youth pouted with an air of ¡°although you guessed right, I¡¯ll die before admitting it, and I¡¯ll still be stubborn¡±: ¡°Humph, of course I have Combat Skills. I didn¡¯t use them because I¡¯m afraid of causing a fatality. If I really had used them, you would be preparing your apprentice¡¯s funeral.¡± Suancai felt as if a throwing knife had pierced his heart. Elder Brown Scale laughed heartily, not contesting the Fishman youth¡¯s words: ¡°I can teach you how to use a blade and impart Combat Skills to you. I¡¯ll use these in exchange for the pair of Bronze scimitars; what do you say?¡± ¡°Master!!¡± Suancai cried out. The other Fishmen present were also shocked; they all understood that Elder Brown Scale held the newcomer in high esteem and wished to promote him. ¡°Let me think about it,¡± the youth said, feigning hesitation. Suancai felt like he was going to cough up blood. ¡°Back in the day, to learn as an apprentice, I went through so much suffering. With great effort, risking my life, I dug up a large pearl to present as a tribute. I knelt in front of the door for three days and three nights, only then touching the master¡¯s heart. And now, faced with such a good opportunity, you still need to think about it?!¡± ¡°Hey, you might be intentionally teaching me the wrong thing to harm me, right? After all, he is your apprentice, and these are your scimitars,¡± the Fishman youth started to make a fuss. ¡°How dare you slander my master! You¡­¡± Suancai¡¯s eyes bulged with anger, filled with blood vessels. He wished he could tear the Fishman youth to pieces. Elder Brown Scale put out his hand to stop Suancai¡¯s outburst. The youth¡¯s skepticism made him think even more that this wild Wandering Fishman had no guile in him. He smiled and said, ¡°Indeed, he is my apprentice, and these originally were my scimitars. But I won¡¯t teach you wrong. I look forward to both of you fighting a real battle someday. With brilliant swordsmanship, and marvelous Combat Skills. Don¡¯t you want that?¡± The Fishman youth was taken aback, showing a look of yearning. ¡°Heh, the kid took the bait,¡± Elder Brown Scale keenly noticed the nuance in the youth¡¯s expression, feeling delighted. Seeing Elder Brown Scale¡¯s slightly upward-curving mouth, the Fishman youth also felt delighted: ¡°Heh, the old fellow took the bait.¡± Chapter 292 - 292: Section 80: Am I very stupid? Chapter 292: Section 80: Am I very stupid? The light from the coral rippled across the sea floor, illuminating the path ahead. The leader of the trading caravan, Old Brown Scale, was walking side by side with the Mayor¡¯s wife, the Fishman Shaman. ¡°Two days have passed; how has Benbo been faring?¡± The Fishman Shaman with a full beard of fish whiskers, hunched back, and bowed spine, leaned on her walking stick and asked as they moved forward. ¡°Oh, he¡¯s recently been cultivating the Red Scale Frenzy,¡± Old Brown Scale chuckled. The Fishman Shaman¡¯s wife looked at Old Brown Scale in surprise, ¡°You actually passed on your treasured Combat Skill to him so easily?¡± ¡°I think that originally, after tutoring Suancai for six years, you finally taught him this technique. And before that, you set a challenging test.¡± ... ¡°Suancai endured many hardships to complete the test. He sustained serious injuries multiple times and returned. I had to intervene and heal him just to save his life.¡± Old Brown Scale nodded, ¡°This Dao technique is very precious; how else to make Suancai appreciate it without setting a challenge?¡± ¡°Of course, the main reason is that the technique itself has significant flaws.¡± ¡°It originated from a Fire Element elder. He was a Fire Element Druid who adventured across the world. On one occasion, he had an accident exploring an undersea volcano and was unexpectedly rescued by my ancestors.¡± ¡°To repay the life-saving grace of my ancestors, this Druid passed on his Dao technique.¡± ¡°Of course, this Dao technique is suitable for the Fire Element and not for us Fishmen.¡± ¡°My family has cultivated this Dao technique generation after generation, slowly refining it, and that is how I acquired the Red Scale Frenzy I now possess.¡± ¡°Despite the Fishmen¡¯s many generations of refinement, the Red Scale Frenzy still has significant drawbacks.¡± ¡°If it is maintained for too long, the user¡¯s body temperature will rapidly rise. If they don¡¯t stop in time and insist on continuing, their blood will boil, and this technique will cook them alive; by then, all of their scales will be seared red.¡± ¡°And in the later stages of wielding this technique, the user¡¯s muscles, bones, and brain will be affected by the heat, causing our movements to severely warp. Even though you intend to slash straight with your Dao, your actual attack path becomes highly distorted.¡± ¡°Because of these two points, it¡¯s hence called the Red Scale Frenzy.¡± Having heard Old Brown Scale¡¯s detailed and frank explanation, the Fishman Shaman had an epiphany, ¡°No wonder you set such a test for Suancai. You also wanted to use the test to enhance Suancai¡¯s abilities, allowing him to have the strength to overcome the drawbacks of the Red Scale Frenzy.¡± Old Brown Scale laughed heartily, ¡°Yes, cultivating this technique is highly difficult.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°For Benbo to master it proficiently, he would need at least a couple of months. I remember it took me a month and a half.¡± ¡°Currently, he is doing the foundational exercises, slashing at undersea rocks with his Dao.¡± ¡°In fact, this practice will run through the entire cultivation of the technique. Even I, after a period of time, will slash at rocks for a while to maintain my standard.¡± ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± Many rocks appeared ahead, submerged underwater. Most rocks were predominantly yellow, with the occasional white rocks interspersed. This was a stone field not far from the Fishman village. For Fishmen, it was an essential resource site since their everyday tools were mostly stone. Even their weapons and equipment were primarily stony in nature. The lighting within the rock field was dim, with not many light-emitting corals around. The current was gentle, with few swift undercurrents. The Fishman Shaman and Old Brown Scale walked into the stone field. With her old and dim eyes, the Fishman Shaman noticed two sets of footprints on the ground: ¡°Is Suancai here too?¡± Old Brown Scale smiled, ¡°I had Suancai come here specially to demonstrate the Red Scale Frenzy¡¯s Dao technique to Benbo, but I instructed Suancai not to provide any further guidance.¡± The Fishman Shaman paused slightly then let out a light chuckle, ¡°That¡¯s so like you, Old Brown Scale.¡± She quickly understood the ingenuity of his approach. On one hand, it was to show Benbo the tremendous power of a mastered Red Scale Frenzy Dao technique, strongly enticing him to continue his studies. Secondly, during Benbo¡¯s practice, displaying a more powerful attack effect would create a stark contrast with Suancai. With contrast comes disparity, compelling Benbo to humble himself and seek guidance from Old Brown Scale. Thirdly, hadn¡¯t Benbo just challenged and defeated Suancai? By showing his strength, Suancai would humble Benbo, quelling his victor¡¯s arrogance and making it easier for Suancai to manage him in the future. Receiving praise from the Fishman Shaman, Old Brown Scale sighed deeply, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m getting old. I hope to do more for our town while I¡¯m still alive. If Benbo stays in town, our town will have one more Black Iron Fighter.¡± ¡°He has also learned my Combat Skill. In the future, when Suancai inherits my mantle and position, he could serve as Suancai¡¯s deputy, helping to share the burden.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s a pity, neither of them possesses the right Bloodline; at best, they¡¯re Black Iron. If back then our town had a Silver Level Fighter, we wouldn¡¯t have been overrun by Dao Fin Town¡­¡± ¡°Let it be, there¡¯s no need to bring up the past,¡± the Fishman Shaman sighed softly, interrupting Old Brown Scale¡¯s words. They pushed deeper into the stone field. A stone marked with several Dao Hen caught their eyes. They paused to look. Old Brown Scale laughed, ¡°This must be Benbo¡¯s work. Look, there are only five Dao Hen on the rock.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t make a sixth cut; he feels the difficulty of this Dao technique for the first time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard for beginners to maintain Red Scale Frenzy since it requires divided attention. On one hand, maintaining the circulation of Fighting Energy, and on the other, controlling their Dao¡¯s trajectory. The route for Fighting Energy circulation is complicated and needs a vast amount of practice, training it until it becomes instinctive, only then can the Red Scale Frenzy be sustained for a long time.¡± Old Brown Scale¡¯s voice carried a hint of pride. Caressing the stone surface¡¯s Dao Hen, he reminisced, ¡°I remember when I first learned, driven by determination, I fought tiredness for three days and nights to finally leave more than ten consecutive Dao Hen on a rock.¡± The two continued on their way. The stones marked with Dao Hen were the best guideposts. After going through over a dozen stones like this, Old Brown Scale¡¯s face changed, and he let out a ¡°Hmm.¡± The Fishman Elder Shaman fixed his gaze and saw that the cuts on the stone had broken through ten, ascending directly to fifteen. Old Brown Scale felt somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Haha, it seems that this runner indeed has talent.¡± ¡°My judgment is always accurate.¡± ¡°I¡¯m very relieved that he has entered the elementary stage so quickly.¡± ¡°However, the difficult part is still to come.¡± ¡°To truly master it, each strike must split the stone apart.¡± ¡°Back then, it took me a full seven days to reach this step. But that achievement was already very good, and my father praised me vehemently.¡± ¡°Running only leaves marks; there¡¯s still a long way to go.¡± Old Brown Scale shook his head. As they walked a little further, Old Brown Scale¡¯s complexion clearly changed again. He discovered boulders that had been split open. Pieces of rock, clearly cleaved by a blade, lay scattered about the base of the boulder. ¡°What is this?!¡± Old Brown Scale examined in astonishment, deducing the blade wielder¡¯s trajectory from the chopped side of the rubble. It was clearly not the work of an amateur; the trajectory of the blade matched the previous marks. Could it be that Runner had managed to split the stones? ¡°My gods, how long has it been!¡± Old Brown Scale marveled in his heart. The Fishman Elder Shaman smiled at him: ¡°That must be Runner¡¯s work, right? There¡¯s still a large part of this stone unsplit. I know that Sauerkraut can chop an entire boulder into pieces.¡± Old Brown Scale coughed twice: ¡°Not bad, not bad, Runner has somewhat surprised me.¡± ¡°He has mastered this Combat Skill faster than I did.¡± ¡°However, that¡¯s not a big deal. He still hasn¡¯t broken the record of my grandfather¡¯s grandfather.¡± Old Brown Scale struggled to maintain the dignity of his predecessors. He laughed, pointing at the partly split stone: ¡°He didn¡¯t continue chopping, surely because he couldn¡¯t control it any longer. You see, the power of the last few strikes increased, but the direction drifted, which indicates that Runner couldn¡¯t control it.¡± ¡°Although he has initially grasped this Combat Skill, he has also encountered the greatest difficulty in Cultivation of this skill.¡± ¡°Hahaha, even though I wasn¡¯t here at the time, I can imagine the young lad frowning in deep thought.¡± ¡°Next, he¡¯ll inevitably seek Sauerkraut¡¯s guidance.¡± ¡°Sauerkraut will demonstrate what it really means to master the Red Scale Frenzied Blade skill.¡± ¡°He will feel the gap. At the same time, he¡¯ll be very fortunate, glad that he managed to launch a successful attack early on, not allowing Sauerkraut to fully exhibit his skills.¡± The two old Fishmen continued on their way. Along the path, they discovered more and more stone fragments. Old Brown Scale stopped in his tracks, pointing at a stone: ¡°Haha, this was chopped by Sauerkraut. I¡¯m very familiar with his blade trajectory; I can tell at a glance.¡± ¡°The one next to it must be Runner¡¯s work, the difference is clear.¡± The Elder Shaman nodded in agreement. The boulder chopped by Sauerkraut was reduced to a stool-sized base. The stone Runner chopped still had over half remaining. They walked a few more steps. The pair discovered a second set of split boulders. It was immediately obvious who had chopped them. Old Brown Scale laughed: ¡°Fish can¡¯t get off the hook, they¡¯re in a contest. I know Runner well, stubborn and wild. Having lost once, he surely can¡¯t be content; he would definitely drag Sauerkraut into a second and a third challenge.¡± ¡°He will lose miserably.¡± ¡°He will clearly recognize the strength of Sauerkraut!¡± Sure enough, the subsequent pairs of boulders bore the most direct evidence, confirming Old Brown Scale¡¯s guess. Because they needed to select suitably massive stones for the challenge, Runner and Sauerkraut didn¡¯t stay in one place but kept moving further in. The two old Fishmen followed their footsteps, moving forward. Each time, it was Runner who lost the contest. But Old Brown Scale¡¯s expression gradually changed. He realized that the gap between the two was narrowing. And the rate at which it was closing was accelerating! This discovery shocked him! Without question, Runner¡¯s rate of improvement had exceeded all records known to him. Finally, they met Sauerkraut. Amidst a pile of rubble, Sauerkraut stood still as if he were a stone statue. Not until Old Brown Scale called his name three times did Sauerkraut react with a dazed ¡°Ah¡±. He looked at Old Brown Scale with a lost soul: ¡°Master, am I¡­ am I very stupid?¡± Chapter 293 - 293: Section 81: Learn Combat Skill Again Chapter 293: Section 81: Learn Combat Skill Again Just now, Fishman Sauerkraut personally witnessed how the person had progressed from being a neophyte to becoming thoroughly proficient and then to making rapid strides until eventually keeping pace with him and even slightly surpassing him. Such a degree of progress powerfully shocked Sauerkraut¡¯s worldview. His originally firm and stable stance had now begun to falter. Seeing his plans yield the exact opposite results, the old Brown Scale felt both shocked and helpless as he quickly patted his favorite disciple on the shoulder, ¡°You are certainly not stupid!¡± In his mind, he added, ¡°If you¡¯re stupid, then wouldn¡¯t that make me the stupid of the stupids?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on here then? Master, do you believe this? This is something a Fishman achieved in one day¡­ no, half a day, no, that¡¯s not right. Less than half a day,¡± Sauerkraut said while pointing to the rubble on the ground, his voice slightly trembling. ... ¡°How would I know what exactly is going on! This is unbelievable!¡± Brown Scale silently exclaimed in his mind, but outwardly he maintained his composure and asked, ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just special. Where is he now?¡± ¡°Ahead. He should still be practicing splitting stones,¡± Sauerkraut mechanically replied. ¡°He¡¯s been chopping so much, his body temperature must be very high, boiling with heat. We need to hurry over!¡± Brown Scale analyzed deliberately. The old Fishman Shaman immediately understood his implication. Brown Scale had invited her, the Mayor, to help train in the Red Scale Chaotic Blade Skill. The Shaman¡¯s spells could quickly reduce body temperature and also heal the internal injuries from training. The potential of Fishmen couldn¡¯t be compared with that of the Human Race. Black Iron was not rare among humans, but among the Fishman Clan, the number of Black Iron Level Transcendents was few and received more attention. The old Shaman was a Silver Level Spellcaster, and helping in the training was also a process of bestowing grace. This would be a bargaining chip for recruiting him in the future. As they traveled, the talent displayed by the person had far exceeded the expectations of both old Fishmen. This intensified their desire to recruit him. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± the old Shaman said and immediately set off. Brown Scale also left Sauerkraut behind on the spot. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hey, wait for me, elders,¡± Sauerkraut realized after a moment and quickly swam a few strokes to catch up with the elders, then shifted his stance, stepping on the seabed, changing from swimming to walking. After walking a short distance, the three of them found the person. The Fishman youth was swinging a pair of Bronze Level scimitars that he had obtained not many days ago. The scimitar swiftly chopped, splitting a stone with each stroke. Due to maintaining Red Scale¡¯s chaotic blade technique for a long time, the young Fishman¡¯s scales were faintly glowing red. ¡°Stop, cease chopping!¡± Brown Scale quickly shouted, reaching the side of the person, ¡°You¡¯ll hurt yourself like this. Haven¡¯t I already warned you? You can¡¯t practice this blade skill recklessly; you need to rest more and take care of your body.¡± Brown Scale was genuinely concerned, yet also secretly alarmed. He thought of his own younger days and couldn¡¯t help questioning, ¡°Did I have the perseverance to practice blade skills like him when I was young?¡± Absolutely not. He was well aware of the pain a Fishman could feel when using Red Scale¡¯s chaotic dance to the point where scales glowed red. ¡°This boy¡¯s willpower is also so strong, almost as if made of steel!¡± Seeing Brown Scale stop him, the Fishman youth could only cease his practice. He felt somewhat disappointed. After surpassing Sauerkraut, he had wanted to test his body¡¯s limits, but Brown Scale stopped him. He wasn¡¯t worried about the damage. Fishmen might have poor recovery power, but Dragon-men could excel. He could completely mutate into a Dragon-man form to accelerate his injury¡¯s recovery speed. Even if that didn¡¯t work, there were plenty of Healing Potions on the Justice as well as his exceptional healing means¡ªthe Green Jade Gold Coffin. ¡°Sir, please lend a hand to help this ignorant junior,¡± Brown Scale requested the old Shaman. The old Shaman smiled at the Fishman youth, ¡°Child, you have plenty of time in your life, no need to rush. Relax a bit and let me heal you.¡± Saying so, the old Shaman quietly chanted a few lines and successfully cast the spell. The spell worked swiftly. The Fishman youth quickly felt his body temperature drop rapidly back to normal, while blood infused with Life Energy flowed through his veins, silently healing every internal injury in his body. ¡°What kind of spell is this?¡± the Fishman youth revealed a suitably surprised expression. ¡°This is a type of Blood Magic called Blood Healing Technique,¡± the old Shaman replied and then asked, ¡°Do you feel better?¡± ¡°I feel great! With this spell, I could go without sleep and spend the entire day practicing blade skills!¡± the Fishman youth clutched his fists and exclaimed excitedly. Blood Magic was relatively rare. Generally, it was mastered by the Blood Elves, the Blood Clan (Vampires), and some clergy of the Evil God sects. The youth had not expected that the old Fishman Shaman also had this skill. But he soon recalled that when they had entered the Fishman village, the old Fishman Shaman had used a spell to check if there were any spies in the merchant convoy and had also determined that he and the Knife Fin tribe were not associated. ¡°That previous spell, it should have been a Blood Magic too.¡± ¡°You, this guy¡­¡± Sauerkraut¡¯s eyes went wide as he observed the pile of rubble at the feet of the Fishman youth, ¡°you¡¯ve already surpassed me. What exactly are you?¡± ¡°I say, Old Brown Scale, although this blade technique of yours isn¡¯t hard, it still needs improvement.¡± The Fishman youth¡¯s words were somewhat provocative. ¡°No, this blade technique is not at all easy. You are progressing so fast, there is only one explanation¡ªperhaps your bloodline is not simple,¡± Old Brown Scale said earnestly. The old Shaman nodded, quite agreeing with Old Brown Scale¡¯s speculation, asking the Fishman youth, ¡°Have you tested your bloodline?¡± The two elder Fishmen suspected something about the Fishman youth¡¯s bloodline. But if tested now, it would likely only reveal the Black Iron Bloodline of the Brown Scaled Fishmen and a very small portion of Bronze Bloodline of the Deep Blue Wise Ones. The Fishman youth¡¯s excessively fast progress stemmed from his human intelligence and the robust base of a warrior. For Fishmen, the Red Scale Helical Blade technique was challenging, but the complexity and refinement of human Combat Skill often far exceeded it. The current situation for the Fishman youth was like a senior student learning junior-grade knowledge in college. Standing at a high point and looking down while learning, the challenges that troubled the Fishmen were merely minor annoyances to him. Seeing the two old Fishmen doubting his bloodline, the Fishman youth did not refute them; in some ways, this doubt was a good thing. He immediately shook his head and spread his hands, ¡°Where would I have had the chance to check my bloodline?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± The old Shaman recalled the identity of a wandering bounty hunter, ¡°The technology to detect bloodline has always been in the hands of the three Upper Tribes. Our village only selects a few people each year to send to the center of the Sea Eye for bloodline testing. I suggest you check your bloodline, you might discover something.¡± The Fishman youth replied, ¡°I would like to, but I don¡¯t know any Fishmen from the three Upper Tribes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you when there¡¯s a chance,¡± Old Brown Scale said with a smile. The Fishman youth¡¯s astounding talent rapidly changed Old Brown Scale¡¯s attitude. Before, he thought the Fishman youth was haughty, unacquainted with manners, and wildly natural (in reality, it was the youth¡¯s first time interacting with other Fishmen in his Fishman identity, not knowing the subtleties of interaction), and hard to like, very much needing guidance. Now, Old Brown Scale felt that such an attitude from the Fishman youth was very normal. A genius of the Fishman clan should indeed carry such an air! The Fishman youth held his head high, rotated his wrists, practiced blade flourishes, and lazily urged Old Brown Scale, ¡°I¡¯ve roughly learned the Red Scale Helical Blade, teach me another Combat Skill. After you¡¯ve taught me, I¡¯ll return these two scimitars to you.¡± ¡°You want to learn a second Combat Skill now?¡± Old Brown Scale laughed, ¡°Seaweed sometimes tastes great, but if you stuff too much in your mouth, it¡¯s hard to chew.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my affair. Stop dawdling, teach me another one.¡± The Fishman youth was insistent on learning. As they had agreed, one bronze scimitar in exchange for one Combat Skill. The Fishman youth needed Combat Skills. Urgently. His previous Combat Skills, like Dragon Claw Strike, Flame Burst, and others, were intended for use in his Dragon-man form. Using them in Fishman Form wasn¡¯t impossible, but their power would be greatly reduced, and they could also harm himself. Like the Red Scale Helical Blade technique, it was also modified from the original version through generations to gradually suit Fishmen. The youth, although possessing many Fishman Bloodlines, could not acquire Fishman Combat Skills through the Blood Core. Old Brown Scale¡¯s intention to recruit the youth was well known to him, though he pretended to be unaware. Old Brown Scale¡¯s suggestion to exchange two bronze scimitars for Combat Skills was just what the youth wanted. ¡°I need to learn two Combat Skills quickly to enhance my strength in Fishman state.¡± ¡°Then find an opportunity to reach the deepest part of the Sea Eye and explore the condition of the Half-plane.¡± The youth knew he had to hurry. According to the pattern, the day of the Sea Eye¡¯s eruption was drawing near. He needed to acquire information quickly and then return in time to take charge at the Justice Pirate Group. Old Brown Scale pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I have three Combat Skills here, one is called Wave Stepping, one is called Helical Blade, and the last one is called Tough Scales.¡± ¡°Watch carefully, I¡¯ll demonstrate them all.¡± Old Brown Scale demonstrated the three Combat Skills in succession. Using the Wave Stepping Combat Skill, a strong driving force could be created under the Fishman¡¯s feet, helping them move swiftly. Helical Blade was a technique for throwing the scimitar, serving as an enhancement for long-range combat capability. If successful, the thrown scimitar wouldn¡¯t need to be retrieved by the user; it would fly back by itself. Sometimes, it could even utilize currents to change the trajectory of the blade. Tough Scales was the most straightforward Combat Skill, a defensive method. After its use, it would make the Fishman¡¯s scales tougher, effectively reducing damage. However, for the youth, this Combat Skill had a significant flaw. That is, it would reveal the quality of the Fighting energy. For example, after Old Brown Scale used it, his entire body scales shone with the color of Black Iron. If the youth used it, it would be of a silver hue, exposing his secret as a Silver Fighter instantly. Chapter 294 - 294: Section 82: Hustle—A Genius Among Fishmen! Chapter 294: Section 82: Hustle¡ªA Genius Among Fishmen! Without giving it much thought, the Fishman youth made his decision, ¡°I want to learn Wave Stepping.¡± It wasn¡¯t a difficult choice. Ironscale had its drawbacks, and the Helical Blade was just icing on the cake; with Wave Stepping, the youth¡¯s agility would greatly improve, allowing him to come and go as he pleased in many battles. While it wasn¡¯t an offensive or defensive Combat Skill, it could still greatly enhance the youth¡¯s combat abilities. Old Brown Scale¡¯s eyes slightly brightened, ¡°Wise choice, I will teach you the route for channeling your Fighting energy, which is rather complex.¡± The routing itself wasn¡¯t complex, but given the intelligence of Fishmen, the youth was able to grasp it with ease. After trying a few times and experiencing several failures, water surged under the Fishman youth¡¯s feet, and in a sudden burst, he propelled himself just above Old Brown Scale¡¯s head. ... Old Brown Scale was stunned. ¡°Is, is that it? You¡¯ve learned it?¡± Pickled Mustard opened his mouth wide in shock; it had taken him two whole years to learn this Combat Skill, a full two years! The old Fishman Shaman was also deeply moved, her gaze fixed on the youth, ¡°Could you have the bloodline of a Spellcaster? I am aware of the Wave Stepping Combat Skill; the route for channeling it is complex, comparable to some Basic Magic. Your spirit is exceptional, and your understanding is very strong¡ªwho were your parents? What kind of bloodline do you have?¡± Therefore, the Fishman youth¡¯s expression dimmed as he recounted his tragic past of losing both parents. ¡°My mom raised me after my dad fell in battle against a terrifying sea beast during the great migration. After she taught me how to survive on my own, she fell ill and passed away.¡± ¡°Sky Pillar Sea Eye wasn¡¯t truly my home.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. I can relate; I¡¯m an orphan too. It was my master who raised me,¡± said Pickled Mustard. Old Brown Scale was like a foster father to him, and it was for this reason, with a lack of a suitable bloodline successor, that Old Brown Scale considered him as a potential heir. The Fishman youth glanced at Pickled Mustard, not expecting his fabricated excuse to dissolve most of the hostility from the latter, eliciting a sense of pity for their shared affliction. ¡°Child, you can absolutely consider this place your home,¡± the old Fishman Shaman said soothingly. The Fishman youth shook his head, ¡°No, I prefer being by myself in the wild rather than living with other Fishmen.¡± Old Brown Scale and the old Shaman exchanged glances, the former smiling, ¡°Since that¡¯s how you feel, we won¡¯t insist on keeping you. However, before you leave, you two must have another fight, don¡¯t forget.¡± Pickled Mustard¡¯s fighting spirit surged, ¡°This time I won¡¯t be careless; I¡¯ll use my true power.¡± The Fishman youth snorted contemptuously, pride of a natural talent in his tone, ¡°Do you think you still stand a chance after I¡¯ve learned these two Combat Skills?¡± Old Brown Scale laughed heartily, saying to the Fishman youth, ¡°If you win again this time, I will teach you another Combat Skill.¡± The Fishman youth shook his head in rebuttal, ¡°No, I will take those two Bronze scimitars, and you¡¯ll have to teach me two!¡± Old Brown Scale said, ¡°If we are going to fight, we won¡¯t take advantage of you. We¡¯ll give you a week to practice the Combat Skills.¡± The Fishman youth shook his head again, ¡°No need, the day after tomorrow is fine.¡± He didn¡¯t want to stay here any longer; a week was too long. The youth¡¯s pride deeply irritated Pickled Mustard, who glared at him, ¡°A day is enough for you to practice? Boating, you¡¯re underestimating me too much. I will make you taste defeat in the duel the day after tomorrow!¡± The news of the upcoming duel between the two spread. The Fishmen of the town were all looking forward to it. It was the general belief among the Fishmen that Pickled Mustard had not shown his real strength in the first fight. But on the day after tomorrow, everyone¡¯s anticipation was interrupted by unexpected visitors. The leader of the Fishmen, tall and powerful, had a physique more than twice the size of Old Brown Scale¡¯s. He held a long-handled great scimitar, his fish head massive, his body clad in a layer of steel battle armor that radiated a faint magical glow. ¡°I am Man Ying,¡± the Fishman¡¯s voice was hoarse, his silver aura strong and robust, ¡°I am here to summon Fishmen to campaign against the lobstermen of the Suction Trench.¡± The Fishmen of the town gathered together, saluting Fishman Man Ying in unison. Even the town elder Shaman was no exception. Although Man Ying cultivated fighting energy, within the Fishman Tribe, the magic profession held a higher status. But Man Ying¡¯s position was even higher; his backing power, the Barbarian Fish Clan, was one of the three superior tribes within the Sky Pillar Sea Eye. This Fishman village town was one that had aligned with the Barbarian Fish Clan, receiving its protection and offering tributes on schedule. The old Shaman inquired, ¡°How many Fishmen do you need?¡± Old Brown Scale was very worried. The lobstermen in the Suction Trench were sizable in number, even a victory would result in heavy Fishmen casualties. It was quite possible the town would be nearly emptied, effectively ruined. The old Shaman shared the same concerns. However, unexpectedly, Man Ying said, ¡°Not many are needed, what I require are Extraordinary warriors to execute a surprise beheading strike. Helical Blade Town contributed two Black Irons and seven Bronzes. You should provide the same scale of force. Of course, I would be very welcoming if the elder Shaman personally joined the fight.¡± Before the Shaman could speak, Old Brown Scale interjected, ¡°I¡¯ll go! Mayor, you are struggling with a serious illness. It would be best for you to stay and recuperate in town.¡± Of course, the old Shaman wasn¡¯t sick, but he cooperated by coughing twice, making an excuse, ¡°Such bad luck¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Man Ying interrupted with a raised hand, ¡°All right, I know, you¡¯re guarding against Helical Blade Town. After all, their Mayor isn¡¯t participating in the battle either.¡± ¡°Enough, no more talk. I still need to go and summon more from Stone Skin Town. Call out your warriors quickly.¡± The old Shaman then used a spell to summon the Extraordinary warriors of the town. ¡°Master, let me fight in your place this time,¡± Pickle said to Old Brown Scale. Instantly, Old Brown Scale scolded, ¡°Nonsense, you haven¡¯t mastered your combat skills yet. What are you going to do? Get yourself killed?¡± The Fishmen from Helical Blade Town suddenly spoke up, ¡°Lord Man Ying, I know of this Pickle, personally trained by Old Brown Scale, and he is very strong. By comparison, Old Brown Scale is already old and weakened.¡± ¡°Oh? Then you shall replace your master in the battle,¡± Man Ying glanced over and casually gave the order, an attitude leaving no room for objection. Old Brown Scale¡¯s face immediately changed color. It wouldn¡¯t matter if he died in battle, being of such an old age, but Pickle was young, Pickle was the future hope of the town. However, since Man Ying had spoken, Old Brown Scale could only nod in agreement. The Fishmen from Helical Blade Town immediately revealed a triumphant smile. ¡°I will also join,¡± at this moment, the Fishman youth stepped out from the crowd, volunteering to participate. Seeing that he too was Black Iron, the Fishmen from Helical Blade Town were filled with surprise and suspicion¡ª who was this unknown warrior? Why was there no information about him? As a Black Iron, he was already the backbone of the Fishman village. It made no sense for an enemy town to have fostered a Black Iron Level fighter without their side having any information. This Black Iron Fishman seemed to have suddenly emerged from the mud and sand. Seeing the Fishman youth step forward, the old Shaman and Old Brown Scale both looked at him with grateful and approving eyes. ¡°Good brother!¡± Pickle was overjoyed, punching the Fishman youth¡¯s chest in excitement. In fact, the Fishman youth had his own plans. His primary purpose for this trip was to gather intelligence. Therefore, Man Ying was a more suitable target than the old Shaman and old Brown Scale; he needed to get close to Man Ying. ¡°You!¡± the Fishman youth, holding a Black Iron Scimitar in his hand, pointed at a Fishman from Harpoon Town, ¡°You had quite a lot to say just now. Come and fight me!¡± The youth openly issued a challenge. Everyone was shocked. After they recovered, old Brown Scale let out a low shout, anxiously saying, ¡°Bonpo, don¡¯t be reckless!¡± The Fishman from Harpoon Town who had been intentionally provoked by the youth showed an angry and offended expression. He bared his teeth and through gritted teeth said, ¡°Very well, daring to challenge Sword Scar, allow me to teach you a lesson.¡± The old Shaman looked at Man Ying with pleading eyes, ¡°Sir, you are about to embark on a campaign¡­¡± But Man Ying snorted coldly, interrupting the Shaman again, ¡°No matter, let them fight. I also want to understand the true combat strength of my subordinates. At the same time, I¡¯m curious to see what kind of courage lets this young Fishman challenge a renowned expert.¡± Fishman Sword Scar was second only to the Harpoon Town Mayor in skill. He was long notorious, with a fierce reputation. In the eyes of Man Ying and the others, the Fishman youth was audaciously courageous to provoke him! The fight quickly began, surrounded by the watching Fishmen. Sword Scar ran his palm over the fin on his forearm, revealing a sinister smile, and did not take the initiative to attack. He had obvious features of the Sword Fin bloodline¡ªfins on the outer side of his forearms and calves, as well as the whole fish head and back, which were erect and dark silvery, with razor-sharp edges. Compared to a normal Fishman, the physique of Sword Fin Fishmen was more slim and slender. Sword Scar was at least two heads taller than the Fishman youth. The Fishman youth twisted his wrist, and his Black Iron Scimitar flurried into a series of blade flowers. Then he directly employed the combat skill Red Scale Frenzy. In the next moment, the Fishman youth pounced toward Sword Scar. Sword Scar had no weapon in his hands, but the pair of sword fins on the outside of his forearms was his natural weapon. He raised his arms, and his sword fins collided with the Black Iron Scimitar, sparking a cascade of sparks. Sword Scar possessed Black Iron Level power, and the quality of his sword fins had also reached Black Iron, showing no fear of clashing with the youth¡¯s Black Iron Scimitar. Seeing his attack obstructed, the youth was not discouraged, but his offensive grew even fiercer. The scimitar continued to chop rapidly, stirring the water into a frenzy. Sword Scar was relaxed and composed, stepping back and then advancing with ease, while waiting for a chance to move as he fended off the youth¡¯s fierce attacks. Pickled Mustard cheered loudly as he saw the youth gaining the upper hand. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Fishmen from the town were also waving flags and cheering for Bonpo. ¡°No good!¡± old Brown Scale, on the other hand, showed a look of concern. So did the Shaman. The rest of the Sword Fin Fishmen, some with folded arms watching and some laughing coldly, were confident in Sword Scar. Old Brown Scale grew increasingly worried, ¡°Bonpo is too reckless, he¡¯s using his full strength right from the start. I know this Sword Scar guy very well, he¡¯s planning to ambush Bonpo! Since the fight began, he¡¯s never taken the initiative to attack, always conserving his energy. While Bonpo recklessly assaults, his physical strength will deplete quickly. Once his stamina falters even slightly and he reveals an opening, that will be the moment for Sword Scar to counterattack!¡± ¡°Sword Scar¡¯s true attack will be incredibly fast. Bonpo must be facing the Sword Fin Fishmen for the first time and might find it difficult to adapt to their speed. He could end up being ripped open by the sword fins!¡± But anxiety was of no use. Old Brown Scale and the Shaman had both lost control of the situation. As old Brown Scale had predicted, after a protracted offense, the Fishman youth¡¯s strength waned, and the speed of his blade gradually declined. Sword Scar smirked and suddenly attacked! ¡°Be careful!!¡± old Brown Scale exclaimed. But Sword Scar¡¯s forearm harshly thrust forward towards the Fishman youth, his rigid sword fin on the verge of slicing into the youth¡¯s chest. Combat Skill¡ªWave Stepping! In the next moment, a strong current suddenly surged beneath the Fishman youth¡¯s feet, pushing him several steps away. Sword Scar¡¯s strike hit empty space. He glared at the youth, very surprised. ¡°Huh?¡± Man Ying also seemed a bit astonished. The youth quickly retreated to a safe distance, then once again fiercely stomped on the seabed, using Wave Stepping once more to propel himself toward Sword Scar. The ferocious scimitar assault resumed. This time, Sword Scar was pushed into a disadvantage again. But he no longer maintained his composure and appeared to be in a very awkward position. The accompanying Sword Fin Fishmen were no longer calm, looking in surprise at the struggling figure of the youth. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Am I seeing this right?¡± ¡°This Bronze Scale Fishman is actually using two combat skills at once?!¡± Old Brown Scale and the Shaman were both thrilled with delight. Pickled Mustard revealed admiration; he had also cultivated Red Scale Frenzy and Wave Stepping, and he knew very well how difficult it was to use these two combat skills simultaneously! Even old Brown Scale was unable to do so. But the Fishman youth had managed this feat! ¡°His bloodline must be extraordinary! He is a genius!¡± the thoughts in the Shaman¡¯s heart were also echoed by the Fishmen spectating the battle. Chapter 295 - 295: Section 83: Sucking Nest Trench Chapter 295: Section 83: Sucking Nest Trench Using multiple Combat Skills at the same time is no simple feat, requiring at least two conditions to be met. The first condition is that the energy pathways of the Combat Skills don¡¯t conflict with each other. The second depends on whether the user can multitask, distributing their energy to carry out multiple intricate operations simultaneously. The Redscale Chaos Blade Skill is inherently complex; old Brownscale can¡¯t use any other Combat Skills when employing it. Yet the Fishman youth could also use the Wave Stepping Combat Skill at the same time. When both Combat Skills were unleashed together, it appeared as effortlessly simple as drinking water. The surrounding Fishmen were all astonished by the youth¡¯s ¡°talent.¡± ... The oppressive power of the Redscale Chaos Blade Skill was terrifying enough, and combined with the mobility of Wave Stepping, it suddenly caused the Fishman youth¡¯s combat strength to surge. Sword Scar became increasingly frustrated as the fight went on, with the youth firmly seizing the initiative. The other Swordfin Fishmen all wore looks of tension and worry. After battling for a moment longer, just as it seemed Sword Scar was about to fall, Man Ying suddenly spoke up, ¡°Stop the fight, this duel is over. Sword Scar is defeated, the victor is you. What is your name?¡± ¡°Bubble.¡± The Fishman youth retreated and sheathed his blade, replying with composure. Cheers erupted from the surrounding Fishmen. Man Ying nodded at the youth, a look of appreciation spreading across his face. Sword Scar looked incredibly sour, glaring at the Fishman youth as he accused, ¡°Where do you come from? Lord Man Ying, this guy¡¯s origins are unclear, he could be a spy from the White-Eye or Poison Arrow Family.¡± ¡°Shut up! He¡¯s my nephew and only recently joined our town; how could he possibly be a spy?¡± old Brownscale immediately shouted. Pickled Vegetable added at once, ¡°You lost, just accept it, why are you still making excuses?¡± The Fishman youth glanced at the master and disciple, not denying Brownscale¡¯s claim of kinship. This was to his benefit, as it would make Man Ying more at ease about his background. The Swordfin Fishmen didn¡¯t press the issue too much. They had already guessed as much. After all, the Fishman youth and old Brownscale both bore Brownscale lineage and had learned the signature Redscale Chaos Blade Skill, which was old Brownscale¡¯s hidden ace in the hole. The Fishman youth laughed heartily, ¡°Swordfin Town is nothing much after all.¡± He carried the air of a proud young victor. He raised his arms high, walking along the edge of the duel field, surrounded by the cheering Fishmen. The shouting from the Fishmen grew even louder. Some Swordfin Fishmen were visibly vexed, while others had dark expressions. ¡°Look on the bright side. This is actually a good thing; we¡¯ve forced out an unexpected opponent. If it weren¡¯t for coming with Lord Man Ying, we might still be in the dark. Now that Bubble has revealed himself, we will be on guard against him. Although he¡¯s Black Iron, the addition of one Black Iron to the opposition doesn¡¯t affect the overall balance of power between us,¡± Fishmen comforted Sword Scar. Sword Scar nodded slowly, his voice low and laden with a murderous intent, ¡°This kid¡¯s too arrogant. He won¡¯t last long.¡± The victorious Fishman youth joined Man Ying¡¯s team alongside Pickled Vegetable and other Fishmen in a high-profile manner. Man Ying rested in the town while the old Shaman ordered the Fishmen to prepare lunch. Taking advantage of this time, old Brownscale pulled the Fishman youth aside in a corner, ¡°The geography of Suction Gully is complicated, be careful. You¡¯ve offended the Swordfin Fishmen, and they¡¯ll take their chances to strike at you.¡± ¡°I will teach you that Defensive Combat Skill. You are a talent among our Brownscale Fishmen, you¡¯ll learn it easily.¡± Thus, the Fishman youth acquired the Steelscale Combat Skill. ¡°This time, I thank you,¡± old Brownscale said, after teaching the skill, expressing his gratitude to the Fishman youth. The youth waved his hand nonchalantly, ¡°I just couldn¡¯t stand them.¡± Brownscale lowered his voice further, ¡°We¡¯ll keep your background a secret. Just pretend you¡¯re my nephew and don¡¯t casually expose your past as a Wandering Fishman. Man Ying is a person of high station, and these Upper-class folks don¡¯t really trust outsiders.¡± ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll remember that,¡± the Fishman youth nodded. Both he and old Brownscale were pleased. The Fishman youth had gained an appropriate identity and background, while old Brownscale had tightly interwoven the youth¡¯s fate with his own and that of the town. From this perspective, old Brownscale felt an unprecedented sense of gratitude towards the Swordfin Fishmen who had assisted them. After lunch, the team left town and continued on their journey. The space between Fishman villages and towns wasn¡¯t safe, and at any moment, something unexpected could happen. But that evening, as they arrived at the third town, they were only ambushed by two shark packs. These foolhardy sharks ended up as spoil of war for the cadre of elite Fishmen. In this town, Man Ying successfully recruited a group of Fishman Transcendents. Most of these Fishmen were descendants of Steel Bone Knights, each with their own mounts. The common mounts were sea toads, in addition to the rare crabs and turtles. These sea beasts were also Magic Beasts, the majority Bronze Level, but there were also two or three Black Irons. The team rested in Knight Sea Town for a night, and early the next morning after breakfast, they set off. It took two days and one night for the team to reach the outskirts of Suction Gully. ¡°Do you see these small holes?¡± Pickled Vegetable pointed at the black holes on the cliffs of the gully, speaking to the Fishman youth. Such small black holes were common, found throughout the entire gully. Seeing the youth nod, Sour Pickle seriously cautioned, ¡°Stay away from these caves, some are interconnected and sometimes they emit a terrifying suction force that draws in everything nearby into the holes.¡± ¡°The suction is scary, not just for us Black Iron Fighters, but even those at the Silver Level could be in trouble.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re lucky enough, maybe you could crawl out of the hole.¡± ¡°Eight or nine out of ten Fishmen sucked in won¡¯t come back.¡± ¡°Who knows what¡¯s inside!¡± The Suction Nest Trench was truly a dangerous place. Aside from the perilous terrain, a large Lobsterfolk tribe also dwelled here. Under Man Ying¡¯s command, the team ventured deep into the Suction Nest Trench. Before long, one of the Fishman scouts swimming ahead returned to report the sighting of a Lobsterfolk and requested instructions. ¡°Kill it directly,¡± Man Ying said, seething with murderous intent. The Fishman youth travelled with the main force for a while before he came across the body of a Lobsterfolk. This Lobsterfolk had a brownish-red shell, about 3 meters in length and 2 meters tall. Its shell was mottled, indicating it was very old. The seabed scallops discarded next to the body of the Lobsterfolk suggested that this elderly creature had ventured out alone in search of food. Lobsterfolk¡¯s primary diet consisted of the flesh inside shells. Of course, they also hunted at times, and any fish, including Fishmen, were their food. Likewise, Fishmen also ate Lobsterfolk. In fact, on land, Lobsterfolk meat was commonly regarded as a delicacy by all races. The Fishman youth examined the body, his keen eyes spotting the fatal wound on the head. It was a clear cut, lodged in the crevice between shells. ¡°The attacker must have been a Sword Fin Fishman. Both his swimming speed and the speed of his strike were very fast,¡± the image of a previous scene flashed through the Fishman youth¡¯s mind. An elderly Lobsterfolk was using its pincers to pry open a shell, attempting to extract the flesh within. The Sword Fin Fishman scout approached silently, and when within a certain distance, he suddenly swam violently towards the target. By the time the Lobsterfolk reacted, the Sword Fin Fishman scout had brushed past him like a sharp arrow. The Lobsterfolk paused, a blue stream of blood spurting from the knife wound in his head. The next moment, his massive body toppled with a crash. Their Bloodlines were different; Sword Fin Fishmen had a more elongated body, and their swimming speed could outpace Brown Scale Fishmen without the use of Combat Skills. The Fishman youth approached the Lobsterfolk¡¯s corpse and tried to cut through the shell with his Black Iron Scimitar. Quickly, he managed to crack the Lobsterfolk¡¯s shell, but it was a lot more effort than he had expected. ¡°This is a Bronze Level Lobsterfolk, the shell is this tough. In real combat, it¡¯s better to aim for the gaps between shells,¡± the youth silently told himself. ¡°Lord Man Ying, should we destroy this Lobsterfolk¡¯s body?¡± a Fishman asked. ¡°No need! Let it spread the scent of death. I¡¯d love to see the expressions of panic and terror on the Lobsterfolk¡¯s faces, hahaha, let¡¯s move on!¡± Man Ying gestured grandly and continued to lead the team forward unbowed. His careless offensive stance soon alerted the Lobsterfolk, and more and more of them appeared on their path. Shh! With a light sound, the Fishman youth¡¯s Black Iron Scimitar sliced off a Lobsterfolk¡¯s shell and killed him instantly. But the next moment, three huge Lobsterfolk pincers attacked from three directions. The Fishman youth promptly used Wave Stepping to retreat. However, there were also Lobsterfolk behind him. Fortunately, at the moment of impact, the youth activated his Blood Core, turning the scales on his back into Dragon Scales, significantly enhancing his defensive power. The Lobsterfolk was knocked back, and the youth retransformed his scales back into Fishman form. To this day, his ability to manipulate his Blood Core had risen to a high level. The Lobsterfolk knocked back by the youth turned over, ready to strike at his back, but Sour Pickle charged over at that moment, stabbing the Lobsterfolk¡¯s heart with a scimitar, successfully extricating the youth from danger. The Fishman youth and Sour Pickle fought side by side. Looking around, red Lobsterfolk shells were everywhere. The Lobsterfolk were much larger than the Fishmen and far outnumbered them. However, most Lobsterfolk were ordinary creatures, with even fewer Transcendents compared to the Fishmen. Having withstood the initial onslaught with the combined strength of the Fishman Transcendents, these Lobsterfolk began to be slaughtered one by one. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In this battle, Man Ying took action for the first time, revealing the aura of the Silver Level. ¡°There are at least three Silver Fighters among these Lobsterfolk, and a Lobsterfolk Shaman at the Black Iron Level. Our team¡¯s strength has been completely exposed now, and we¡¯re likely to face the Lobsterfolk¡¯s main force next,¡± Sword Scar said, deeply concerned. There were still too few in their team, and this was Lobsterfolk territory. If they had a group of ordinary Fishmen to aid them in combat, Sword Scar would feel much more confident. Chapter 296 - 296: Section 84: Fire Gun Dragon Kiss Chapter 296: Section 84: Fire Gun Dragon Kiss Since delving into the trench, they had faced over a dozen battles. The scale of the battles grew larger, and their intensity increased by the day, with an increasing number of Fishmen casualties. Man Ying snorted coldly, looking at Sword Scar with dissatisfaction, ¡°Are you scared?¡± Sword Scar hurriedly explained, ¡°I¡¯m willing to go through fire and water for the Man Yu tribe! My lord, I am just worried about your safety.¡± Man Ying sneered, ¡°We should stop here, the frontal assault can end now. Follow me.¡± Suddenly, Man Ying changed the team¡¯s heading, and after turning several bends, the Fishmen arrived at a corner of the trench. ¡°This suction cave can take us directly to the lobsters¡¯ lair,¡± Man Ying pointed to a black hole in the corner of the trench, finally revealing his plan, ¡°We will go in together, strike directly at their lair, and snatch the pearls from their storage. Remember, the more pearls we seize, the greater our merit, and the more generous the rewards for each of you! These pearls are offerings to the Sea God. So, the rewards will not disappoint you, understand?¡± ... The Fishmen responded in unison, their spirits lifted significantly with restored morale. Man Ying, decisive and resolute, was the first to dive into the suction cave. The rest of the Fishmen quickly followed, with not a single one deserting. Their current location was deep within the trench¡¯s belly, where it was exceedingly difficult to break out safely on one¡¯s own. This was why Man Ying felt confident that the other Fishmen would follow him on this risky venture. ¡°So Lord Man Ying had a plan all along, but diving into the suction cave¡­ That¡¯s insane!¡± Pickled Vegetable shook his head continuously. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± urged the Fishman youth with a push. As Pickled Vegetable entered the suction cave, he was whooshed away to the depths in an instant. The Fishman youth also dived into the suction cave right behind him. The suction cave reacted quickly, the surrounding currents turning turbulent, propelling the Fishman youth like a bomb, speeding through the narrow, dark passageway. The time spent inside the suction cave was much less than anticipated. Soon, the youth was ejected, nearly smashing headfirst into the seabed¡¯s sediment. With his combat training, he forced his body to twist, planting his feet firmly into the ground, barely stabilizing himself. This move earned Man Ying¡¯s slight nod of approval, not sparing his praise, ¡°Wave Stepping, not bad.¡± Most Fishmen ejected from the suction cave would fall into the seafloor sediment, getting battered and in severe pain. The passages within the sea trench¡¯s rocks were passable, but many of them were far from smooth. Bumps and knocks were inevitable during the journey. The Fishman youth, too, was sore all over, suffering many minor injuries, with many of his scales scraped off. He suddenly understood why Man Ying had insisted on forming a team of Transcendents. Ordinary Fishmen would not survive the violent journey through the suction cave and could easily be killed by the impact. Only Transcendents, by activating their Fighting energy and strengthening their defenses, could survive. The Fishman youth waited a moment more until the team was complete again. ¡°If we want to go back, we¡¯ll have to go through the suction cave too. But not this one, remember to follow me closely, understood?¡± Man Ying growled. With their only escape route in his hands, all Fishmen had to unleash a fierce fighting spirit. A Scout brought back good news¡ªthe previous commotion caused by the Fishman troop in the trench meant nearly all the lobstermen had gone out to fight, leaving only a small group behind, with no Silver Level presence detected. Man Ying was overjoyed. The lobstermen tribe had more than one at Silver Level, but this time his luck was good; they had all gone away. ¡°Charge with me!¡± Man Ying roared, long-handled blade in hand, leading the charge at the forefront. Then, the Fishmen shouted together and rushed toward the lobstermen¡¯s lair¡ªa vast cave. The lobstermen inside the lair scrambled to battle. But this garrison was thinly spread with low Cultivation, composed entirely of the old, weak, sick, and disabled. They were quickly overwhelmed by the Fishmen. Man Ying led the team deep into the cave, where the lobstermen had dug many small holes to serve as rooms. The large number of Fishmen split up and began searching each one. They soon discovered one of the lobstermen¡¯s storerooms filled with a vast number of pearls. Many were of high Grade, and the Fishman youth even spotted a Gold Grade Wine Pearl. ¡°Quick, quick! Take all these pearls!¡± Man Ying urged. The Fishmen moved hastily, all too aware that their time was limited. Once the lobstermen¡¯s main forces returned, their exit would be much more difficult. The lobstermen¡¯s treasury was rich. Most of the treasures were pearls. They had many more pearls than the Fishmen, one main reason being that lobstermen¡¯s staple food was clams. Not so for Fishmen. The lobstermen, prying open giant clamshells at the seafloor to slurp the tender clam meat, would often discover high-quality pearls. Since lobstermen rarely traded with the outside world, their pearl reserves naturally grew over time. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Apart from pearls, the storeroom also contained seaweed and other food reserves. There was a small quantity of potions and ingredients, indicating that the lobstermen¡¯s Shaman had the ability to concoct a few types of potions. There were also various miscellaneous items. Among these items were some magic ores found at the seafloor, figureheads from sunken ships, and weapons and armor seized from enemies after victorious battles. ¡°Ah?¡± The Fishman youth¡¯s eyes lit up as he pulled a firearm from a pile of miscellaneous items in a hole. It was a Short-barreled Firearm. The bore of the firearm was large, seemingly made of red copper, with a robust style. The grip and trigger made from red crystal added a fervent touch to the firearm. ¡°Could it be¡­ Dragon¡¯s Kiss?¡± The Fishman youth thought of a famous firearm. This well-known firearm, named Dragon¡¯s Kiss, was of Legendary Level, and its appearance closely matched the one the Fishman youth had just found. ¡°Has the Dragon¡¯s Kiss disappeared for many years, and this is where it fell?¡± No answer. For now, one couldn¡¯t confirm those suspicions. The Fishman youth directly fastened the Fire Gun to his own belt. ¡°Hurry, hurry, hurry!¡± Man Ying began to assemble the team. Fishmen swam out from various small caves, many holding pearls, some even carrying Treasure Boxes. Some held spears, sailor knives, and other weapons in their hands. Therefore, even though the youth had a short-barreled Firearm with an inscrutable aura at his waist, he still went unnoticed in the team. Man Ying tacitly allowed the Fishmen to pilfer along the way; his main objective for this expedition was the pearls. The pearls scavenged by the Fishmen could pile up into a small mound half the height of a person. Some of the pearls were extremely large, like washbasins. The pristine and lustrous pearls were stashed into several large chests, and the Fishmen began to retreat carrying them. During the retreat, the Fishman team encountered the main force of the lobster folk who were rushing back to reinforce. ¡°We must leave someone behind to cover our retreat!¡± Sword Scar whispered to Man Ying, ¡°I think the people from Wave Stepping would be very suitable for this.¡± Man Ying snorted coldly and selected a number of Fishmen from Knight Sea Town, Brown Scales Sea Town, and Sword Fin Sea Town to stay behind and cover the retreat. ¡°Get the pearls out of the Sea Eye, we will come back to support you. Hold on! There¡¯s absolutely no way to escape here,¡± Man Ying tossed out those words and turned to leave. The Fishmen who were called upon took up their post with a resolve to die, standing their ground at the original site. They resisted the furious onslaught of the crustacean enemy, desperately buying time for Man Ying and the others with their lives. The Fishman youth was not called upon but followed close behind Man Ying. Likewise for Suan Cai (Pickled Mustard). It wasn¡¯t luck that spared them, but a deliberate choice by Man Ying. Man Ying knew that the Fishman youth, Pickled Mustard, and Old Brown Scales had a deep connection. If he intentionally sacrificed these two, it would inevitably cause strong discontent among the high ranks of Brown Scales Sea Town, which wouldn¡¯t benefit the rule of the Man Yu tribe. Following Man Ying, the Fishman youth found the correct Sea Eye. Man Ying left several Fishmen behind to inform the rearguard and took the lead himself, diving into the Sea Eye with the most valuable chest of pearls. Soon after, the Fishman youth also carried a small box of pearls through the tunnel in the rock wall to the other side. Man Ying was busy organizing his team and waiting. Moments later, instead of the rearguard Fishmen joining them, a searching squad of lobster folk arrived. ¡°Damn it!¡± Man Ying¡¯s expression changed; he spotted a Silver Level lobster among this search party. Man Ying stood his ground, struggling fiercely against the Silver Level crustacean fighter. The other Fishmen gave way, clearing out the central space for the two Silver leaders, each finding other lobster people to battle against. To speak frankly, Man Ying was strong in combat, his Combat Skills continuously employed, keeping the enemy lobster leader firmly at a disadvantage. But Man Ying grew more and more anxious as he fought. The lobster had a sturdy shell, knowing it could not defeat Man Ying by itself; it almost gave up on attacking and purely defended. It was trying to buy time! And Man Ying had no way of defeating it quickly. ¡°Sword Scar, come help me!¡± Man Ying roared. He had a Combat Skill that required charging, needing a bit of time. But the lobster leader entangled him relentlessly, not giving him the time to charge. Sword Scar, despite his reluctance, charged into the fray. The lobster leader roared and directly sent Sword Scar flying. Man Ying then ordered a Steel Bone Fishman Knight to go and hold him off. The unfortunate Fishman Knight was snipped into two by the lobster, dying instantly on the spot. The Fishman Knights had lost their mounts. Their mounts, due to their large size, stayed on the first side when they passed through the Sea Eye as they couldn¡¯t fit through. At a critical moment, the Fishman youth suddenly charged forward on his own initiative. When the lobster leader attacked him, the Fishman youth simultaneously employed the Combat Skills Red Scales Chaos Dance and Wave Stepping. His body darted around chaotically; the lobster leader repeatedly failed to hit him. Red Scales Chaos Dance allowed the Fishman youth, without fully exerting Silver Fighting Spirit, to directly resist the Silver offensive. Wave Stepping greatly enhanced the Fishman youth¡¯s mobility. Now it was the lobster leader¡¯s turn to become utterly vexed. The Fishman youth was like a fly, buzzing around him in circles, annoyingly elusive! ¡°Good job, Duo Yu! When we return, you¡¯ll be handsomely rewarded,¡± Man Ying bellowed. At last, he got his chance, raised his long-handled greatsword, and swung it down vertically. The surface of the greatsword shimmered with Silver light, becoming incredibly sharp. The lobster put up a full resistance, its claws were directly severed, followed by its entire upper body being split in two, leaving only the intact tail portion of its bottom half. Man Ying had killed his opponent, exhaled a foul breath, and without rest, immediately turned to attack the other lobster folk. As a result, the lobster people¡¯s squad collapsed and was quickly slaughtered to the last. ¡°Go, go, go!¡± Not waiting for the rest of the Fishmen, Man Ying quickly led the team to hurriedly flee from the Sea Eye trench. The main force of lobster folk that arrived shortly afterward missed them by only a bit. Days later, the Fishman youth, along with Man Ying and others, arrived at Sea Eye City. Chapter 297 - 297: Section 85: Fish Gods Test Chapter 297: Section 85: Fish God¡¯s Test Due to some circumstances, the Fishman youth successfully explored the central area of the Sky Pillar Sea Eye. Beneath the sea here silently stood an undersea city. Sea Eye City. At a glance, the three most conspicuous buildings in Sea Eye City belonged to the Man Yu Tribe, the White-eyed Tribe, and the Poison Arrow Tribe, their strongholds. These strongholds were built from underwater rocks, coral, and similar materials, resembling three hills. However, the surfaces of these ¡°hills¡± were full of holes and were rough, not at all aesthetically pleasing. ... This was the home of the Fishmen, a heavily fortified stronghold. The Fishman youth could tell at a glance that these three strongholds were easy to defend but difficult to attack. The terrain inside must be extremely complicated while also being rigged with numerous traps and ambushes. Between these three strongholds was an elliptical divine temple. The temple was roofless, resembling an arena. Compared to the three tribal fortresses, the temple was less tall but was the most important building in Sea Eye City. At the very center was the divine temple, surrounded by the three strongholds. Beyond the tribal strongholds were numerous low stone houses, sheds, and caves. These stone houses, sheds, and caves were inhabited by the lower and middle-class Fishmen of the city. They made up the majority of Sea Eye City¡¯s population. The Fishman youth merely glanced from a high position a few times before swimming down to the ocean floor. As the only city and the center for politics, military, and economy, Sea Eye City had the most stringent defenses. Around the city, Fishmen patrolled on sea beasts at all times. If the Fishman youth lingered too high or observed the city for too long, the patrol teams would come to trouble him, and he might even be arrested. Sea Eye City had three main gates, each controlled by one of the tribes. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Blending into Man Ying¡¯s group, the youth first passed through densely packed stone houses and sheds before reaching the gate. Many Fishmen guards were stationed at the gate, among them a Fishman Shaman. A Black-Iron Level Fishman Shaman greeted Man Ying, then began casting spells, checking everyone in the group. After casting three different reconnaissance spells, the shaman finally let them pass. The Fishman youth then truly stepped into the inner city of Sea Eye City. The architecture here was noticeably more upscale than outside, even the stone houses were uniform in appearance. The roads sketched out between the houses were clearly planned, with even some greenery planned, intentionally planting some corals used as streetlamps, and swaying beautiful dark green seaweed. In some areas, there stood buildings with particularly unique appearances: arenas, breeding farms, sea beast enclosures, among others. Man Ying assigned Sword Scar, Sauerkraut, and the Fishman youth among others to some stone houses: ¡°You guys stay here for now, I¡¯ll send someone to take you to the celebration banquet tonight.¡± The stone house assigned to the youth was sizeable, accurately speaking, it was a villa. In front of the villa was a small garden, and behind it was a specially planted patch of giant underwater bamboo. The stone villa had many rooms, divided into two floors. The rooms were fully equipped, with lots of totems, seaweed weavings, and so on, displaying Fishman customs and culture. Notably, a shrine was set up in the hall, housing a beautifully carved statue of a fish god. Clearly, it was the Fish God. After checking around, the youth temporarily found no means of surveillance. He then pretended to casually check the Pearl Bubble inside his bag. These Pearl Bubbles were mixed among many beautiful little pearls, making them hard to distinguish. The Fishman youth found that one Pearl Bubble had noticeably shrunk quite a bit, probably consumed while passing through the gate¡¯s spell check not long ago. His infiltration into the Fishman settlement had naturally been well-prepared. He had brought many Pearl Bubbles, almost depleting the stock in the shell. Pearl Bubble was useful, but the output of ¡°Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale¡± had been decreasing. ¡°If we don¡¯t get a divine power boost this time, we are not far from our secret getting exposed and the Empire starting a manhunt,¡± The youth pondered over an unexpected find from the lobsterman¡¯s lair¡ªa Fire Gun presumed to be Dragon¡¯s Kiss. The Fire Gun had an ornate yet rugged exterior, with a subtle aura, making it seem like an ordinary item. If the youth hadn¡¯t noticed its unique shape, he might have overlooked it. After all, based on its aura, it was entirely unattractive. The youth tried to infuse it with Fighting energy, but he couldn¡¯t activate it. Its trigger seemed fixed, and no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°Could it really just be a piece of art?¡± After trying several methods, the Fishman youth still made no progress and began to doubt his initial judgment. During that time, someone knocked on the door of the stone house. The youth opened the door. The visitor was not a messenger from the Man Yu Tribe but Sauerkraut. Sauerkraut was also allocated a stone house, but he couldn¡¯t stand being alone. Feeling bored, he directly sought out his neighbor, the Fishman youth. ¡°What do you think the Man Yu Tribe will reward us with this time?¡± Sauerkraut was hopeful, ¡°It would be great if they could grant us a trial by the Fish God.¡± ¡°A divine trial?¡± Suddenly, an idea struck the Fishman youth, and he couldn¡¯t help but speculate secretly, ¡°Could it be related to the Half-plane?¡± Cang Xu had once speculated that there was a Half-plane here. It was very likely that the divine temple of the deity Mei Lan was within the Half-plane. Cang Xu had also obtained critical intelligence: whenever the Sea Eye¡¯s center spouted the Sky Spring, a Divine Envoy would descend from the heavens to the Fishman settlement to preach. The divine trials were supposed to be common knowledge, and the Fishman youth felt it inconvenient to ask directly, so he exclaimed, ¡°Yes, I also wish I had the qualifications to participate in the Fish God¡¯s trial.¡± Sour Pickle¡¯s eyes lit up, his face full of longing, ¡°If we can pass the trial successfully, our strength will definitely increase greatly. What do you think, if we combine our merits, could we ask Lord Man Ying for a chance to participate in the trial?¡± ¡°I think we could give it a try.¡± The Fishman youth encouraged Sour Pickle and fished for information in the process. Sour Pickle was straightforward and harbored no suspicions against the Fishman youth, who quickly extracted critical information from him. The Fishman youth then learned: whenever the Sea Eye erupted with a column-like sea spring, the Fishmen knew roughly when the Divine Envoy would arrive. They not only welcomed the Divine Envoy, receiving his preachings but also held large festivals and organized a group of elite Fishmen to burst directly into the Sky Pillar Sea Spring and enter the Half-plane to undergo the Fish God¡¯s trial. The main faith of the Fishmen in the Sea Eye was the Fish God. In mythological stories, the Fishmen believed their earliest ancestors were mere fish, flowing at the very downstream of the River of Life. The Fish God led a small group of fish upstream. Through trials and hardships, the fish that followed Him without quitting swam to the midstream and transformed into Fishmen. It could be said that without the Fish God¡¯s guidance, there would be no Fishmen today. Each eruption of the Sky Pillar Sea Spring was a trial of the Fish God. Those Fishmen who had undergone such trials had died or been injured, but more had greatly advanced in strength. The warriors among the Fishmen, or any Fishman with ambitious dreams, all wished to participate in the Fish God¡¯s trial. ¡°The Fish God¡¯s trial might just be conducted within the Half-plane,¡± speculated the youth. He chatted idly with Sour Pickle for a while until Man Ying¡¯s envoy came to inform them. Then, under the guidance of the envoy, the youth, Sour Pickle, and Sword Scar along with other worthies were led into Man Yu¡¯s fortress lair. As the Fishman youth had surmised, the fortress¡¯s corridors were interconnected and tortuously complex. After several twists and turns, the Fishman youth and others were led into a dining hall. Many stone benches and tables were arranged here, and the young people took their seats one by one. After a little wait, Man Ying appeared before them again, taking his seat at the head and announcing the start of the banquet. The food was delicious. It mainly consisted of various types of sashimi. There was also a type of octopus tentacle that had been sliced open, dipped in a kind of mud sauce which tasted quite good and left a deep impression on the Fishman youth. There was also alcohol at the banquet. The drink was a very common rum, but for the Fishmen, it was already a rare item. The bottles were specially made, resembling squeezable water pouches, with nipples at the openings; the Fishmen held the nipples in their mouths, then squeezed the pouches, pushing the liquor into their mouths. Man Ying had also invited female Fishmen to dance. These female Fishmen were not slender; all possessed well-developed limbs and robust physiques. They danced a war dance, continually shouting and howling, displaying the fierce customs of the Fishmen. Man Ying, Sword Scar, and others watched with relish; Sour Pickle was even swallowing his saliva. The youth couldn¡¯t appreciate such a form of the opposite sex at all. Especially to him, these female Fishmen from the Man Yu Tribe had huge fish heads and appeared more brutish and rough compared to the usual brown-scaled Fishmen. Among those present, the ones that most conformed to the youth¡¯s aesthetic were instead the cut fin Fishmen. Sword Scar, while squeezing alcohol to drink, stared at the Fishman youth with hostility, completely unaware that in the youth¡¯s eyes, he was the most beautiful Fishman. Sour Pickle might have drunk too much, as he started to murmur in the youth¡¯s ear, ¡°If we could get a Man Yu woman to be our wife, then we would be part of the Man Yu Tribe.¡± ¡°Do you know? My bloodline has Man Yu Tribe ancestry.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s a pity I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m supposed to take my master¡¯s place and stay in Brown Scales Town in the future.¡± ¡°But you can, Rush!¡± Sour Pickle left his seat and directly sat next to the youth, placing his hand on the youth¡¯s shoulder in a very amiable manner. The youth slightly turned his head, staring at the large eyes of Sour Pickle, ¡°Your master has taught me so much Combat Skill just to keep me in town. If I listened to you and left, wouldn¡¯t your master be mad at you?¡± Sour Pickle patted the youth¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Hehe, let the old man be mad then. Staying in town or staying in the city, clearly the second option is better for you. After we go back tonight, I¡¯ll pass the Helical Blade Combat Skill to you.¡± After the harrowing battle at Suction Pit Trench, the relationship between Sour Pickle and the youth had grown much closer. The youth was silent for a moment. In this moment, he sensed Sour Pickle¡¯s good intentions. He also sensed Sour Pickle¡¯s longing. He longed for Sea Eye City, longed to win a Man Yu woman as a wife, for life here was more thrilling, the opportunities broader. But he couldn¡¯t. He could only project this longing onto Rush. Chapter 298 - 298: Section 86: Sea Loach Chapter 298: Section 86: Sea Loach Several days later. ¡°Alright, you can leave it here,¡± Pickled Fishman said to the Fishman youth at the city gates. On the night the banquet ended, Pickled had taught the Helical Blade Combat Skill to the Fishman youth. After learning it, the youth had sparred with Pickled and naturally had won. Pickled cast a longing glance at the gates of Sea Eye City, sighed, and said quietly to the Fishman youth, ¡°I still lost to you. I really don¡¯t understand what¡¯s in your head that you learn those Combat Skills so fast, haha!¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve stayed here!¡± ... ¡°Try testing your Bloodline when you have the chance, I think it will be a surprise, perhaps even a big one.¡± ¡°By the next time we meet, you¡¯ll probably be a different person altogether.¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± The youth remained standing near the city gate, watching Pickled and his companions walk away until they were completely obscured by the stone houses. Almost all the Fishmen from Brown Scale Sea Town chose to leave Sea Eye City. Except for the Fishman youth. The youth needed to gather more intelligence, and he had expressed his intention to join Man Ying the day after the banquet ended. Man Ying, of course, accepted. After all, the Fishman youth was a Black Iron Level powerhouse. Even within Sea Eye City, Fishmen of the Silver Level were single-digit in number, and those of the Black Iron Level were genuine mainstays of power. Moreover, from start to finish, Man Ying had a rather deep impression of the Fishman youth, so the youth officially became a member of the Man Yu Tribe, and his residence was no longer among the stone houses, but he moved into the Man Yu Fortress. ¡°Heh, leaving this place is wise. What use is there for you to stay?¡± Sword Scar approached the Fishman youth, disdain clear in his expression. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was also there to see off the others. A portion of the Fishmen from Swordfin Town also chose to leave today. But he had stayed. ¡°Look at this!¡± Sword Scar pointed at his forehead, where there had previously been nothing, but now a new Divine Arts imprint had appeared. ¡°See it? This is the certification of eligibility for the Fish God¡¯s trial. I stayed to participate in the trial. So what if you¡¯ve joined the Man Yu Tribe? What can you do about it?¡± ¡°Outsiders will always just be outsiders.¡± ¡°No matter how hard you try, you¡¯re just Brown Scale. You¡¯re not even as good as Pickled, at least he still has a trace of Man Yu Bloodline in him.¡± ¡°Even if Lord Man Ying thinks highly of you, you¡¯re just an enforcer. To truly be accepted by the higher-ups of the Man Yu, haha, don¡¯t kid yourself!¡± The Fishman youth remained silent. No matter how Sword Scar mocked him, he remained undisturbed, as the former did not know the youth¡¯s true identity and intentions. The youth was actually more curious about how Sword Scar got his Divine Arts imprint. Noticing the youth¡¯s gaze fixated on the imprint on his forehead, Sword Scar smirked proudly, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. You can¡¯t afford those tributes, pauper.¡± ¡°See this Sea Loach?¡± As Sword Scar spoke, he nudged the seabed with his foot, and a loach immediately darted out from the sand. This type of Sea Loach was dull and grey, very common, just like cats or dogs in a Human Race city. Sea Loaches usually burrowed in the shallow layers of sea sand; now that it had been disturbed, it tried to flee. But Sword Scar¡¯s foot was quicker, pinning it down directly. The Sea Loach struggled under Sword Scar¡¯s foot, and he sneered at the Fishman youth, ¡°Look, you¡¯re just like this loach. Get it?¡± ¡°Brown Scale Bloodline? Black Iron is your limit.¡± ¡°But Swordfin Bloodline is different; we have Silver Level Bloodline!¡± ¡°When I pass the Fish God¡¯s trial, I¡¯ll come to settle the score with you.¡± ¡°Pickled, the humiliation you once brought upon me, I¡¯ll make you repay it a hundredfold. Just you wait!¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯ll wait,¡± the Fishman youth said with a pitiful look at Sword Scar, then turned and walked away. What Sword Scar said wasn¡¯t false. The Swordfin Bloodline really was superior to the Brown Scale Bloodline; otherwise, Swordfin Town would not have suppressed Brown Scale Sea Town for so long. Watching the Fishman youth walk away on his own, Sword Scar laughed smugly, about to leave when a group of Fishmen approached him. ¡°Sword Scar? Finally found you,¡± the leading Fishman had tragic green scales, with purplish pupils in his eyes. These were the distinguishing features of a Poison Arrow Fishman. The Poison Arrow Tribe and the Man Yu Tribe held comparable status, with Gold-Level Bloodlines. Sword Scar¡¯s morale instantly plummeted to the bottom, ¡°Who are you? What do you want? I¡¯m from the Man Yu Tribe!¡± ¡°Hehehe, just now you bullied a Brown Scale, you were so arrogant, weren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not here to trouble you. It¡¯s just a duel I¡¯m after. How about it, do you dare to have a fair fight with me, warrior to warrior?¡± the leader of the Poison Arrow Fishmen taunted. Sword Scar¡¯s face turned very ugly, he gritted his teeth, and ultimately shook his head with difficulty, ¡°Before the Fish God¡¯s trial, I accept no challenges.¡± As a result, the Poison Arrow Fishmen began to jeer, teasing Sword Scar with sarcastic remarks and labeling him a coward and spineless. There were already many Fishmen at the city gates, and as they heard the clamor and mockery of the Poison Arrow Fishmen, onlookers turned their gazes toward the commotion. Many Fishmen from the Man Yu Tribe were very angry, some waving their fists and shouting loudly, ¡°That Swordfin Fishman, are you a coward? Are you so afraid that you allow your tribe to be insulted without accepting a challenge?!¡± Sword Scar clenched his teeth in fury. The actions and words of the Poison Arrow Fishmen were extremely humiliating to the martially inclined Fishmen. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a Sea Loach, you know?¡± ¡°Only capable of hiding in the mud and sand, even a Fishman baby has more courage than you!¡± ¡°Swordfin Tribe, huh, nothing special!¡± Amidst these taunts, Sword Scar bowed his head in escape and hurried away from the city gate. Not far away, the Fishman youth watched the humiliating scene engulfing Sword Scar. Yet he didn¡¯t feel the slightest pleasure or happiness, rather a sense of bleakness. Because he thought of Suancai. The kindness expressed by Suancai made the Fishman youth understand that he was regarded as a friend. Sword Scar looked down on Suancai and their weary travels, and was in turn despised by the Poison Arrow Fishmen. Just as people once looked down upon Big Guy and Goblin Sanda. Bloodline divides the lives of different races into levels of superiority and inferiority. The gaps between different bloodlines are hard to bridge. What difference is there between Suancai¡¯s longing and envy and that of Bai Ya? At that moment, the Fishman youth suddenly admired the War Merchant. This legendary Alchemist Grandmaster had obtained a Blood Core and instead of greedily enjoying it himself, he researched and experimented, attempting to apply the Blood Core in a broader domain to help more entities. ¡°Too bad I¡¯m only a Knight, not an Alchemist.¡± The Fishman youth sighed inwardly. What exactly is a Blood Core? The youth had only managed to discover its function. In reality, he still couldn¡¯t manipulate it intricately. Big Guy had died due to bloodline conflict, so the youth didn¡¯t dare to risk using the Blood Core. The Blood Core was even more unreasonable than that suspicious Fire Gun resembling Dragon¡¯s Kiss; it revealed no aura at all, so the youth was unable to judge its grade. The youth took away Tower Spirit and also many, many records of the War Merchant¡¯s experiments with the Blood Core. Using the methods researched by the War Merchant, the youth could forcibly infuse a certain bloodline from the Blood Core into another life form. However, myriad flaws remained unresolved. After receiving a bloodline, life forms basically experienced bloodline conflict, which had very severe consequences, almost certainly ending in death. Out of the few survivors from the limited cases, the subjects were paralyzed, lost their senses, suffered continuous seizures, enduring a fate worse than death. The War Merchant¡¯s latest progress was in man-made magical beasts. Starting from embryos, he infused bloodlines and ultimately created Magic Beasts such as gun scorpions and Blade Spiders. Although these Magic Beasts could survive, they still had significant drawbacks. They couldn¡¯t regulate their Magic Power on their own. Without balanced Magic Power, they couldn¡¯t form Demon Crystals. Once they were out of a Magic Prohibition Ring environment, they would suffer from the backlash of chaotic magic within their bodies, and would ultimately die. Sometimes, severe internal magic conflicts even triggered explosions. ¡°Let¡¯s not think about these things.¡± The youth gathered his emotions, looked around, and had already entered the marketplace within the city. Fishmen traders were selling various items here, and most of them were food¡ªfish, shellfish, crabs, lobsters, octopuses, seaweed, kelp, and so on. Based on what the Fishman youth had learned over these days, there were three major markets in Sea Eye City. This one mainly sold living necessities. There was also a more upscale market that sold Transcendent equipment as well as Combat Skills and Fighting energy techniques, among others. Fishmen conducted their trade mostly with shell money. Often, they also bartered goods. Of course, Gold Coins, Silver Coins, and Copper Coins, which were used by major races like the Human Race, Elf Clan, Dwarves, Beast Race, and so on, were also somewhat used in the Fishman markets. These currencies were typically involved in more high-end trade. The Fishman youth had a handful of shell money, which was a reward from Man Ying for his excellent performance in the Voracious Shoal Trench. He looked around and sometimes stopped at a stall to inquire about prices. ¡°Take a look at this rubber sea cucumber, black, thick, and solid! I¡¯ll sell you one for merely three large shell coins. It¡¯s especially suitable for a Black Iron Fighter like yourself. They¡¯re easy to eat. You just need to peel the skin right off, and inside, the meat is very tender.¡± Shell money consisted of large and small denominations; the large coins were quite valuable. ¡°How much for this green turban snail?¡± ¡°Three for a large coin.¡± ¡°What about the Sea Loach?¡± ¡°Are you sure, sir? Ten small coins, and I¡¯ll give you a whole basket!¡± Dinner was sumptuous. Sword Scar peeled the rubber sea cucumber and shoved it into his mouth. He chewed it viciously several times and, before completely breaking it down, swallowed it. ¡°Hmph, they want to anger me so that I lose my life in a duel, to seize my Divine Arts imprint. No way!¡± With a thump, Sword Scar¡¯s fist slammed onto the table. ¡°Poison Arrow Tribe, I¡¯ll remember today¡¯s humiliation!¡± ¡°When I pass the Fish God¡¯s trial and become a Silver Fighter, I¡¯ll take care of that runner first.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll deal with you lot!¡± ¡°One at a time, no rush.¡± Sword Scar took out another rubber sea cucumber, venting his anger through his appetite, oblivious that an unassuming Sea Loach had emerged from the sea bed¡¯s mud and come up behind him. The next moment, a flash of red light appeared, and the Dragon-man youth revealed himself! Puff! Sharp Dragon Claws suddenly pierced Sword Scar¡¯s body, directly crushing his heart. Chapter 299 - 299: Section 87: Successive Homicides Chapter 299: Section 87: Successive Homicides Thump, thump, thump! Violent knocking echoed at the door. ¡°Open the door, quick!¡± ¡°Runbao, open the door!¡± A large group of Fishmen were blocking the entrance. The Fishman youth opened the door, and the Fishman fighters unceremoniously surged into the room, leaving a few standing guard outside in an encircling stance. ... ¡°What do you want?¡± the Fishman youth asked, his complexion looking awful. ¡°Lord Man Ying?¡± The Fishman youth suddenly spoke again, shock evident in his voice. Man Ying was the last to enter the youth¡¯s dwelling, his gaze fixed on the youth, his expression grave, his voice heavy. ¡°Sword Scar is dead.¡± The Fishman youth was first taken aback, then uttered in disbelief, ¡°What? He¡¯s dead?¡± Man Ying stared intently at the Fishman youth. The next moment, he noticed a flicker of joy flash across Runbao¡¯s face before it quickly disappeared. Then, realizing something, the Fishman youth¡¯s complexion grew even worse. ¡°Lord, it wasn¡¯t me. I¡¯ve only just pledged allegiance to you, how could I kill a colleague?¡± ¡°The guards at the city gate saw Sword Scar humiliating you, and you stormed off,¡± Man Ying said. ¡°And I too know that there was bad blood between you and him. Plus, he directly threatened you, saying he¡¯d settle the score with you after the Fish God trial.¡± The Fishman youth was stunned for a moment, then hastily nodded, stuttering his defense. ¡°Yes, that did happen. But, but I wouldn¡¯t go so far as to do that.¡± ¡°How did he die?¡± ¡°He was a Black Iron; there must be traces left at the scene!¡± The Fishman youth looked desperate to prove his innocence. Man Ying snorted coldly, which was precisely why they were suspicious. Sword Scar had died, his death shrouded in mystery, highly peculiar. The scene was immaculately clean; no signs of a struggle, not even a fragment of Sword Scar¡¯s body remained. If it weren¡¯t for the Divine Temple informing them of the transfer of the Divine Arts imprint, everyone would still think Sword Scar had mysteriously vanished! A Fishman Shaman stepped forward from behind Man Ying, his eyes somber as he stared at Runbao, explaining, ¡°Not long ago, Sword Scar made a generous offering of swordfish fins to our clan, relics reserved specifically from past swordfish Fishman warriors. Among them were even seven Silver Level swordfish fins.¡± ¡°So, I granted him the qualification to partake in the Fish God trial. That¡¯s the imprint.¡± ¡°But that imprint has now transferred, to someone else.¡± ¡°Sword Scar would not give up the imprint; in fact, he couldn¡¯t transfer the imprint willingly. The only possibility for the transfer is that he was killed.¡± ¡°The person who now possesses the imprint is the murderer!¡± The Fishman youth immediately responded, ¡°Then check me, quick, there must be a way to see if I have the imprint.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Man Ying replied, ¡°That¡¯s the very reason we¡¯re here. Do not resist.¡± ¡°How could I dare to resist in the presence of a lord? Besides, I didn¡¯t do this!¡± the Fishman youth said, spreading his hands, puffing up his chest, eager in his gestures. The Fishman Shaman frowned as he cast his spell. Everyone stared fixedly at Runbao¡¯s forehead. No reaction. To rule out any mishap, the Fishman Shaman tried several more times, all with the same result. Seeing this, the other Fishmen silently relaxed. The Fishman youth exclaimed, ¡°How about that? I¡¯m innocent! I didn¡¯t kill Sword Scar.¡± ¡°Your suspicion is temporarily lifted,¡± Man Ying patted the youth¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But don¡¯t leave the city these next days; further investigation will follow.¡± ¡°Understood, Lord. Please feel free to investigate me! But I¡¯m not the murderer. There¡¯s no use in investigating me,¡± the Fishman youth cried. ¡°Right.¡± ¡°I remember now.¡± ¡°Sword Scar also had a conflict with other Fishmen at the city gate. They were a group from the Poison Arrow Tribe, seemingly there specifically to trouble Sword Scar.¡± ¡°Perhaps they¡­¡± ¡°Without evidence, do not speculate needlessly. I don¡¯t want you to speak of this anymore, understood?¡± Man Ying cut the youth off directly. ¡°Understood, Lord Man Ying.¡± The youth nodded in haste. Man Ying gestured, leading the team to hastily depart. ¡°If it were him, it would¡¯ve been simpler,¡± the Fishman Shaman said with regret. Man Ying shook his head. ¡°Even before we came, I felt the chances were minimal.¡± ¡°Shall we investigate the Poison Arrow Tribe next?¡± the Fishman Shaman asked uneasily. Man Ying sighed deeply. ¡°I feel their involvement is even less likely. Would Runbao, a newcomer, not know the gravity? Which of the three great clans does not know the rules?¡± ¡°The one troubling Sword Scar was the guy named Du Liu. Although he has a strong bloodline, he¡¯s too young and thus was not chosen by the Poison Arrow Tribe to participate in this Fish God trial. He¡¯s the grandson of the contemporary Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow Tribe. If we were to forcefully investigate him, it might cause friction with the Poison Arrow Tribe,¡± the Fishman Shaman worriedly expressed. Man Ying gritted his teeth. ¡°But we have to investigate; Sword Scar was my man. Now he¡¯s dead, not even a single scale to be found, missing right within our Barbarian Fish Fortress. How would it look if I didn¡¯t investigate?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just about my reputation, it¡¯s about the face of the Barbarian Fish Clan! To dare to strike within the Barbarian Fish Fortress¡­¡± ¡°We must find the audacious killer as soon as possible!¡± With a sigh, the Fishman Shaman lamented, ¡°Ah, if only we could just grab any Fishman to give an explanation. That fellow Bubo would have been a fine choice. Sadly, he does not bear the Divine Arts imprint. Now that we¡¯ve lost the imprint in our possession, the great lords will surely hold us accountable if we can¡¯t retrieve it.¡± Just as Sword Scar had once mocked the Fishman youth, as a brown-scaled Black Iron Fishman, outsiders seeking to join would never squeeze into the inner circle of the Barbarian Fish Clan. Had the Fishman youth not been disqualified, he would have been sold by Man Ying and others as a sacrificial victim by now. The death of Sword Scar had caused a big stir. In just one night, a storm had swept through the city. The deeply troubled Man Ying and his companions, after discussion, had no choice but to proceed to the Poison Arrow Tribe with determination. Inside the Poison Arrow Fortress. ¡°Tell me, did you kill Sword Scar or not!¡± The Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow banged the table and pressed Du Liu for answers. Du Liu, the grandson usually most favored by his grandfather, pleaded with a wronged expression, ¡°Grandpa, how could I dare to kill anyone? At most, I¡¯d only challenge him. I¡¯m not ignorant of the rules!¡± ¡°Tell me the truth; I want to hear the truth!¡± ¡°I am telling the truth!¡± The Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow softened his tone slightly, ¡°You must not hide even a trace. Grandson, this matter has gotten serious. If it was indeed you who killed, your grandfather would secretly cover for you. But you must tell the truth!¡± ¡°Grandpa, I definitely didn¡¯t kill anyone. Can¡¯t you just check the Divine Arts imprint? You could simply check me.¡± The Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow looked at his grandson Du Liu intently, ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t quite believe that you¡¯re the killer.¡± ¡°Grandpa, you watched over me as I grew up. No, I mean, you watched me grow up. I¡¯ve always been good,¡± Du Liu protested. ¡°Good, my ass! The reason I don¡¯t believe you took action is that you¡¯re not strong enough. You¡¯re only at Black Iron level, as was Sword Scar, but he was a renowned fighter. You couldn¡¯t kill him so cleanly, especially not inside the Barbarian Fish Fortress.¡± ¡°Grandpa, listen to how you¡¯re talking!¡± While the grandfather and grandson were discussing, a Fishman guard came to report that the investigation team from the Barbarian Fish Clan had arrived. ¡°Hmph, these useless Barbarians, someone¡¯s been killed right in their den, and they still have the audacity to come investigate us!¡± The Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow was very dissatisfied but still ordered the gate to be opened. ¡°Quick, let them all in,¡± called Du Liu eagerly, hoping to clear himself of suspicion quickly. The investigation naturally pointed to Du Liu not being the killer. Man Ying frowned with worry, but also breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that Du Liu wasn¡¯t the killer. This meant that the Barbarian Fish Clan and the Poison Arrow Tribe wouldn¡¯t escalate their conflict any further. However, just as Man Ying and the others were about to leave the Poison Arrow Fortress, they were stopped by the Fishmen of the Poison Arrow Tribe. ¡°You can¡¯t leave!¡± ¡°We only came to investigate; is there really a need for such hostility?¡± ¡°Hostility! Our tribesman is missing, the imprint has moved. And it just so happens during your visit! One of you must be the killer!¡± The Poison Arrow Fishmen were incensed. ¡°What?!¡± Man Ying and the Shaman beside him exchanged glances, both pale with shock. Knowing the gravity of the situation, Man Ying did not resist and immediately ordered his men to lay down their arms and cooperate fully with the investigation. Wave after wave of Spell probing revealed that Man Ying and his companions were all innocent. ¡°Members of the Barbarian Fish Clan, I ask that you stay here for the night. Perhaps the Spell can¡¯t trigger the imprint, and that might be the killer¡¯s trick. This time, I will personally invite a priest from the Divine Temple for inspection,¡± the Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow Tribe declared. Man Ying was very straightforward, ¡°We will stay, but please inform my fellow tribesmen. Also, may I have permission to see the crime scene?¡± The Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow Tribe responded indifferently, ¡°You can see it, but only after the Divine Arts inspection.¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Man Ying immediately expressed his understanding. The Fish God¡¯s priest arrived, and the Divine Arts inspection yielded no results. Man Ying and the others then viewed the crime scene, also with no findings. ¡°It¡¯s the same again, not a single trace left behind.¡± ¡°I even doubt if this is the actual crime scene! After all, the victim only disappeared, and this was merely the last place he was seen.¡± Man Ying discussed with the Fishmen of the Poison Arrow Tribe at length, but there was no progress. Man Ying wished to leave, but the Poison Arrow Tribe would not allow it. This frustrated Man Ying even more, as he had initially come to investigate Du Liu, but now his group was being detained. The Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow Tribe didn¡¯t want to trouble Man Ying unnecessarily; he was waiting for the Clan Leader of the Barbarian Fish to come in person for the release, to conduct a secret discussion with the leader of the other clans. The Clan Leader of the Barbarian Fish understood the implication but did not set off. The Poison Arrow Tribe soon received a message that shocked them¡ªanother murder had occurred! This time, the deceased was a Fishman of the Barbarian Fish Clan itself! Two Black Iron Fishmen dead in one day, with the same modus operandi, the imprint gone, and the killer leaving no trace. The news could not be contained; all of Sea Eye City was stunned. Who was the killer? What method was used? And why could neither Spells nor Divine Arts detect anything? Chapter 300 - 300: Section 88: One Man Disturbs the City Chapter 300: Section 88: One Man Disturbs the City ¡°The Devil, it must have been the work of the Devil,¡± ¡°It¡¯s the spirits of those who died unjustly in the past, seeking revenge!¡± ¡°There must be a deepening conflict between the three Upper Tribes, secretly assassinating each other.¡± All sorts of conjectures and rumors abounded in Sea Eye City, leaving its citizens anxious and unsettled. The deceased belonged either to the Barbarian Fish Clan or the Poison Arrow Tribe. Why were there no victims from the White-eyed Tribe? ... Naturally, more and more citizens of Sea Eye City were paying attention to this question. The White-eyed Tribe hadn¡¯t lost a single member, which made them highly suspect. However, the White-eyed Tribe didn¡¯t come forward to clarify, and the Clan Leader of the White-eyed Tribe seemed almost indifferent, his only reaction delayed¡ªurging the other two clan leaders to explain the situation and clear the White-eyed Tribe¡¯s name. The Clan Leader of the White-eyed Tribe disdained to explain himself, and instead demanded others to do so, showing a very domineering attitude. There was no choice, as the past Clan Leader of the White-eyed Tribe was still alive¡ªher name was Fu Bai, a Golden Level Fishman Shaman. She was the only Golden Level Fishman in Sea Eye City, and she was a Magic Profession! This was the foundation of the White-eyed Tribe¡¯s confidence. The Poison Arrow Tribe¡¯s leader was the first to publicly state, ¡°Currently there is no evidence pointing to the murderer, please refrain from wild guesses.¡± The Clan Leader of the Barbarian Fish Clan flatteringly said, ¡°Perhaps it is precisely because Lady Fu Bai is in charge of the tribal fortress that the murderer dares not commit the crime within the White-eyed Tribe.¡± Man Ying secretly entered the fortress lair of the White-eyed Tribe alone. He was received by Xia Bai. Man Ying said with a wry smile, ¡°Xia Bai, my friend. I¡¯ve come to you for help.¡± Xia Bai teased him, ¡°You look like you¡¯ve lost a layer.¡± Xia Bai was a female Fishman with very distinct traits of the White-eyed Tribe. Her pairs of fish eyes were white, but not pure white, tainted with a layer of gray, like a cloud-covered flaw deep within her eyes. Man Ying had known Xia Bai for a long time, both being close in age and growing up together. As a child, Xia Bai¡¯s eyes were no different from those of a normal Fishman. But as she grew older, her eyes became whiter and her vision weaker. Man Ying knew: once the gray cloud in Xia Bai¡¯s eyes vanished completely, Xia Bai would be totally blind, her eyes becoming nothing more than a decoration. At that time, Man Ying would be happy for Xia Bai. Such a condition was the dream of every White-eyed Fishman. Only those with a rich bloodline to a certain extent would become totally blind. At that time, the Fish Pearl in front of Xia Bai¡¯s forehead would become transparent and much more powerful. Between the brows of the White-eyed Fishmen grew a tentacle, at the end of which hung a Fish Pearl. At birth, the Fish Pearl was milky white, but over time the white within the pearl gradually dissipated, becoming transparent. It was only when the eyes of the White-eyed Fishman turned completely white, becoming blind, that their Fish Pearl would be fully transparent, transforming into a natural Magic Tool. At this stage, a White-eyed Fishman¡¯s spirit would reach the peak of their life, an invisible spiritual power permanently encircling their body, replacing their eyes to perceive the outside world. This was the Bloodline of the White-eyed Tribe. A Golden Level Magic System bloodline, extremely powerful. Of course, as the other two Upper Tribes, both the Poison Arrow and Barbarian Fish Bloodlines had also reached the Golden Level. However, as of now, they did not have any living Golden Level fighters. In the past history of both clans, there indeed had been Fishmen who achieved the Golden Level. Compared to the Human Race, the number of Golden Level warriors that emerged among the Fishmen was very few, and magical Golden Level Fishmen were even rarer. White-eyed Tribe members naturally carried with them an ever-growing Magic Crystal Ball; the Barbarian Fish Clan granted a strong physique and endurance, and the Poison Arrow Bloodline would continuously grow Poison Stingers, with an internal Space Bag to store these stingers. ¡°These past two days have been utterly miserable for me,¡± Man Ying sighed. ¡°Hurry and help me out.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Xia Bai smiled. ¡°I can help you, as long as you can pay the price.¡± The Fishwoman stated her price immediately. Man Ying was taken aback: ¡°Your price is getting steeper and steeper. Last time, two-thirds of the pearls that I painstakingly seized from the Suction Trenches went to you.¡± ¡°That was our cooperation. Without my Prophecy, could you have found the path to ambush the crayfish¡¯s lair? You know the Suction Trenches are interconnected, and their currents constantly change. You must enter the right Suction Trench at the specific time to emerge in the desired location.¡± ¡°Once the time passes, the currents change, and the same Suction Trench could take you dozens of miles away or even trap you inside.¡± ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Man Ying raised his hand. ¡°You make sense. Give me another Prophecy. I agree to your price.¡± ¡°You understand, then,¡± Xia Bai said and began chanting. As she chanted, the Fish Pearl at the end of her fish whisker started to glow brightly. The glow became more intense, but a troubled expression appeared on Xia Bai¡¯s face. After a long while, the Fish Pearl lost all its shine, returning to its nearly transparent original state. Xia Bai seemed dispirited: ¡°I can¡¯t believe I didn¡¯t get any Prophecy!¡± In the bloodline of the White-eyed Tribe, the magic of Prophecy was inherent, a natural talent they were born with. Xia Bai was also a highly talented individual, but this time, she had failed. Failed utterly. ¡°My Prophecy was interfered with.¡± ¡°The other party is not simple, likely a Mage or Shaman themselves, or they might be carrying magical equipment specifically designed to guard against Prophecy,¡± Xia Bai analyzed. ¡°Not even you can do it? Who could manage that?¡± Man Ying was surprised; he had always considered seeking help from Xia Bai as his trump card, but this time it was ineffective. Xia Bai carried a hint of pride: ¡°Inside the entire Sea Eye City, apart from our tribe¡¯s current Clan Leader and the previous one, basically no other Fishman has the power to guard against my predictions.¡± At this point, Xia Bai¡¯s expression shifted slightly: ¡°Do you suspect our tribe?¡± ¡°No, how could I ever think that?¡± Man Ying denied quickly, but his tone changed in the next breath, ¡°I do not think so because I trust you the most. But what the other Fishmen think, I have no idea.¡± Xia Bai¡¯s face turned sour. She felt the pressure. As long as the real culprit wasn¡¯t caught, the White-eyed Tribe would have to bear the suspicion. Even if the other two Clan Leaders clarified, the situation remained the same. Sea Eye City was vast, yet small. The White-eyed Tribe had no casualties, but living in Sea Eye City, they could not remain untouched by the situation. The murderer was still killing! Overnight, three tribes discovered two more people missing, their Divine Marks transferred. Unlike before, this time there was a victim from the White-eyed Tribe. The White-eyed Tribe¡¯s Clan Leader, who had remained calm, was now furious and immediately invited the other two Clan Leaders for an urgent discussion. ¡°The murderer is merciless and audacious!¡± ¡°Once caught, I swear to flay him, gut him, and feed his organs to my mount.¡± ¡°Key is, how exactly did he commit the murder?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t figure it out with the methods we have.¡± ¡°In my opinion, we still need to ask Lord Fu Bai to take action.¡± But the current Clan Leader of the White-eyed Tribe shook his head, expressing his difficulties: ¡°Our former clan leader is old and shouldn¡¯t take action.¡± The White-eyed Tribe had their own hardships. Indeed, the health of the former Clan Leader Fu Bai was not good, and every time she took action, it would significantly shorten her limited lifespan. At this point, she was no longer living for herself. The longer she lived, the more advantages the White-eyed Tribe would have, suppressing the other two Fishman Tribes. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just to find the real culprit, but to reduce Fu Bai¡¯s lifespan, was obviously a losing deal for the White-eyed Tribe and not worth it. The Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow Tribe snorted coldly, and the Clan Leader of the Barbarian Fish Clan was also very dissatisfied. However, they had no way to force Fu Bai into action. ¡°Such a terrible incident has never happened in Sea Eye City before!¡± The Clan Leader of the White-eyed Tribe apologized with consolation, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not a big deal if we can¡¯t catch the real culprit for now. The murderer is gathering these Divine Marks, definitely aiming to take part in the Fish God¡¯s trial. When the Sky Pillar rises, are we afraid he won¡¯t show up?¡± Confirming that Fu Bai would not help, the Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow Tribe proposed a secondary plan: ¡°Then gather all the Fishmen with Divine Marks and protect them collectively.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The Clan Leader of the Barbarian Fish Clan hesitated. The Fishmen qualified for the ritual were almost all of Black Iron Level. These individuals were strong; to concentrate on protecting them just because they were afraid of being murdered¡­ What about the dignity of the strong? If these Fishmen were protected in times of danger, who would protect the three tribes, the more vulnerable masses? Would the three Upper Tribes still have the face to control Sea Eye City in the future? The Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow Tribe laughed and said, ¡°We can announce externally that it¡¯s for cooperative training in response to this Fish God¡¯s trial by the three tribes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a method, but we have other opportunities,¡± said the Clan Leader of the White-eyed Tribe, ¡°We can fish.¡± The eyes of the Clan Leader of the Barbarian Fish Clan lit up: ¡°You mean, use a Fishman as bait to lure the murderer into an attack?¡± The Clan Leader of the White-eyed Tribe nodded with a smile. The next day. The Fishman youth, transformed into a Sea Loach, slowly approached his target. The youth held a Pearl Bubble in his mouth. It was precisely because of its cover that the youth hadn¡¯t been discovered by Spells or Divine Arts. ¡°Hmm?¡± The target was obviously cautious, noticing the approaching Sea Loach. The Sea Loach youth, like a startled cat or dog, darted out at once, leaving the target behind. ¡°An ambush!¡± In that moment when the youth was about to attack, a sudden premonition of danger arose in his mind. He trusted this intuition greatly; it had proven miraculous on Mysterious Monster Island. ¡°With the risk increasing for targeting Fishmen with Divine Marks, it¡¯s better to switch targets!¡± The youth moved again. Since the three big tribes had set traps, using individual Fishmen with Divine Marks as bait, attention would inevitably be focused on them. Instead, other Black Iron Fishmen out and about would have much weaker defensive forces. The three big tribes waited in vain for half a day, not for the murderer to take the bait, but instead, they received news of other Black Iron Fishmen¡¯s deaths. The three tribes were shocked and furious. ¡°How did he see through these traps?¡± ¡°Could there be a traitor among us?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t guess wildly, that¡¯s what the murderer wants!¡± ¡°This time the dead Fishman didn¡¯t have a Divine Mark. Could it be his target is not just the Divine Marks?¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, if he really wanted the qualification, he only needed to kill one. There was no need to kill so many.¡± The three tribes¡¯ plan failed, leaving them both angry and bewildered. They could only follow the plan of the Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow Tribe, gathering almost all the Fishmen with Divine Marks for protection, and announcing it as training. The actions of the Fishman youth did not cease. His real goal was to weaken the power of the Fishmen in Sea Eye City as much as possible. For the Justice Pirate Group was bound to break into the Half-plane in the near future, and then these Fishmen would all become enemies. According to the youth¡¯s speculation, the Fishmen with Divine Marks should all enter the Half-plane, so he targeted them first. But now, with these Fishmen under collective protection, the youth couldn¡¯t attack them and had to switch targets. There were plenty of Black Iron Fishmen in Sea Eye City; only a few were qualified for the Fish God¡¯s trial. After the youth had killed several such Black Iron Fishmen, Sea Eye City implemented the strictest of patrols, and the number of patrol teams increased greatly. The Black Iron Fishmen no longer moved about alone; whatever they did, they were accompanied by at least one Fishman of the same Level. These Fishmen were also difficult to attack, so the youth switched his target again, attacking important facilities within Sea Eye City. Thus, many grain stores, warehouses, and so on, were destroyed by the youth. The order of Sea Eye City was severely disrupted, becoming increasingly chaotic. Ordinary Fishmen were no match for the youth. Numerous Fishmen expressed the need for their strong kin to take control of the situation. Black Iron Fishmen, being the core strength of Sea Eye City¡¯s operations and the majority of its middle and upper management. Without them, many Fishmen didn¡¯t know what to do or how to cooperate. The three Upper Tribes could not just watch, and they had to cancel the ¡°training¡± and deploy the Black Iron Fishmen. In doing so, the Fishman youth created the conditions for his own actions. Although it became much harder to attack, he still relied on his keen warrior intuition, Silver Level strength, the marvelous Mutation of the Blood Core, and the reliable Pearl Bubble, killing one target after another. The number of Divine Marks on the Fishman youth¡¯s body accumulated more and more, unnoticed by anyone. The three big clans were at their wits¡¯ end, and the Five-headed One was furious. In its perception, one or two Divine Marks disappeared every day. Over time, half of the Divine Marks continued to disappear! A team of Fishman Priests was dispatched to question the Clan Leaders of the three tribes, expressing the fury of the Five-headed One. ¡°This moment has still come!¡± the Clan Leader of the Poison Arrow Tribe said with a wry smile. ¡°It¡¯s almost time for the Sky Pillar to rise, but the number of our clan members participating in the Divine Trial is much less. We need more Divine Marks to select more Fishmen,¡± said the Clan Leader of the Barbarian Fish Clan. The Clan Leader of the White-eyed Tribe also sighed, ¡°Without finding the murderer, we can only ask the Five-headed One for help. It can offer more marks. But this will inevitably be very costly.¡± The greed and savagery of the Five-headed One were well known to all three tribes. But there was no other way, the three tribes had to empty their treasuries, satisfy the Five-headed One, and exchange for a sufficient number of Divine Marks. The decision of the three Clan Leaders quickly affected the Fishman youth. Man Ying personally found him and asked face-to-face, ¡°Do you want to qualify for the Fish God¡¯s trial?¡± Chapter 301 - 301: Section 89: Let me make a big fuss! Chapter 301: Section 89: Let me make a big fuss! Facing Man Ying¡¯s inquiry, the Fishman youth thought to himself, ¡°I have so many of these imprints on me, I¡¯ve gotten too lazy to count them.¡± But on the surface, the youth still showed excitement, ¡°Of course I want to!¡± Man Ying nodded, ¡°I see potential in you, but you know, although you¡¯re Black Iron and your cultivation is sufficient, you¡¯ve only just joined the Man Yu Tribe, your experience is too shallow.¡± The youth hurriedly asked, ¡°Then what should I do?¡± Man Ying smiled and hinted, ¡°You should know what Sword Scar did when he started.¡± The youth¡¯s face suddenly showed difficulty, ¡°I don¡¯t have enough wealth¡­¡± ... Man Ying laughed, ¡°Perhaps you could ask for help from your relatives and friends. You need to know that this opportunity is rare, this year an anomaly occurred.¡± The youth hesitated. ¡°Think about it,¡± Man Ying patted his shoulder and walked away. Watching his departing back, the Fishman youth pondered, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then the news must be true. Unable to trace me, the tribes had no choice but to repurchase them from the five-headed elder.¡± ¡°It seems the tribes paid a hefty price; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have set their sights on a newcomer like me. The treasuries of the tribes were nearly emptied, plunging the upper echelons into panic, scheming to extract resources from every channel to refill their coffers. Black Iron Fishmen were strong and often had their personal wealth. The tribes unilaterally began charging fees, on one hand promoting more to join the Fish God¡¯s trials to fill the vacancies, and on the other hand replenishing the treasury, it was killing two birds with one stone. The perpetrator of it all¡ªthe Fishman youth then contemplated, ¡°Perhaps, it¡¯s time to probe the innermost Divine Temple.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Fishman youth certainly wouldn¡¯t spend resources to buy Divine Arts imprints from Man Ying. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t afford it, but once he publicly obtained the Divine Arts imprints, if a spell checked him, the imprints wouldn¡¯t reveal themselves either. With that, the youth would have exposed his secret ability to conceal the Divine Arts imprints, and his identity as the culprit would be clear as day. Pearl Bubble was a fine thing, but the method used by the Justice Pirate Group was too rudimentary, far from being adaptable enough. Although the youth decided to explore the Divine Temple, there had never been a good opportunity. The strategy that Black Iron Fishmen should at least work in pairs made it very inconvenient for him to move. It wasn¡¯t until three days later that the Fishman youth found an opportunity to act alone at night. He transformed into a Sea Loach, clinging to the seabed mud, and headed straight for the Divine Temple; even if he encountered other Fishmen along the way, he would still avoid them to one side, displaying a very natural panicked demeanor. Once the Fishmen moved away, he continued on his journey. And so, he arrived smoothly at the front of the Divine Temple. The Divine Temple was located at the very center of Sea Eye City, resembling an oval amphitheater. It was supported by over a hundred pillars, the surfaces of these massive columns covered with heavy moss, some entwined with seaweed. There were no guards around the Divine Temple, but instead, a constant spell was detecting everything. As soon as hostility was detected, an alarm would be triggered immediately. With Pearl Bubble in his mouth, the Sea Loach youth successfully passed through the columns and entered the Divine Temple. There were many rooms inside the Divine Temple. The youth was cautious and did not randomly explore these rooms. Because it was normal for a Sea Loach to wander the streets, but it would be strange to barge into rooms. It was like stray cats and dogs, who might rove the streets, but rarely trespassed into a person¡¯s home. Besides this reason, the youth also knew that there were many Cultists in those rooms right now. About a month before the Sky Pillar rose, believers from other lands would start arriving for pilgrimage. The five-headed elder would welcome them, allocating rooms in the Divine Temple to these Cultists. These people came from various races, including the Human Race, Naga, Dwarf, Elf, and even Lobster-man, among others. As long as they worshiped the Fish God, they would be treated well. But when the Sky Pillar rose, these Cultists would face it in prayer. They often prayed for more than ten days in a row, close to without sleep. If they were lucky enough, or rather, devoted enough, they might even receive the deity¡¯s blessing. These Cultists could be drawn into the Sky Pillar, with a chance to enter a Half-plane. Most Cultists never returned, while the few who did came back greatly rewarded. Some advanced in cultivation, some regained their youth, some healed from injuries, some acquired rare Combat Skills, and some brought back valuable treasures. These Cultists, able to feel the pilgrimage deep under the sea, had a certain strength, and their faith had reached at least the Devout Level. Thus, the Cultists mastered various Divine Arts to some extent. Some Divine Arts were powerful; some were cunning and tricky. The youth didn¡¯t want to provoke these troubles. For enemies of the same level, he would rather face a fighter than Spellcasters. Because fighters were straightforward, easier to anticipate. Law Enforcers had myriad cunning ways, a single slip could spell disaster. So, when he was assassinating the owners of the Divine Arts imprints, he prioritized targeting the Man Yu and Poison Arrow Tribe, putting the spell¡¯s white-eyed Fishmen last. The youth certainly had not forgotten about that secret chamber beneath the sea. Thus, he also knew that among these Cultists, there was an Undead Mage cum Desecration Priest hidden. His previous assassinations of members of the three tribes had another purpose: to cast suspicion of the murder on these Cultists. Unfortunately, he had not succeeded. These Cultists were very disciplined; once they had moved into the rooms of the Divine Temple, they practically never left. The Sea Loach youth was also trying to incite conflict among the three tribes; if the tribes started fighting among themselves, he could take advantage of the chaos. If things went well, he might severely weaken these enemies without fighting a single soldier. But he still hadn¡¯t succeeded. The three tribes cooperated closely and were always on guard against any attempts at provocation, maintaining a firm relationship. The youth thus discovered that the Fishmen of Sea Eye City were very different from those outside the Sea Eye; their intelligence levels were much higher. Perhaps this was the benefit of worshiping a deity. The Sea Loach youth made his way through the corridor to the central open space of the Divine Temple. The first thing he saw on the open ground was an enormous creature lying prone. It was a sea beast with a physique akin to a giant dragon. It had five serpent heads, a body like a dragon¡¯s, with a pair of front claws, a pair of back claws, and a thick tail that was at least 2 meters long. Its entire body was a deep green, covered with thick, tight snakescales. At this moment, it lay atop a hoard of treasure, snoring and emitting a strong aura of gold. This was a Golden Level sea beast! The youth was not surprised; these days, he had gathered enough intelligence about this so-called ¡°Five-Headed Lord.¡± Its core identity was not that of a Golden Level five-headed serpent but rather the offspring of a Holy Beast. Its mother was the Holy Beast of the Fish God. It used to reside in the Divine Temple, but for the recent decades, it lived in the Half-plane, delegating one of its offspring, the most powerful five-headed serpent, to be stationed at the temple. The five-headed serpent could communicate with the mother serpent and obtain Divine Arts imprints, which gave it an extraordinary status. But unlike its mother, this five-headed Golden sea beast was extremely greedy, collecting any valuable items it liked. Previously, during the Holy Beast¡¯s tenure, the Divine Arts imprints were distributed for free. However, when the five-headed serpent took over, it seized the opportunity to accumulate wealth and started the trade of selling imprints. It is commonly said that dragons love collecting treasure. But now, seeing the temple¡¯s yard filled with mountains of treasure, the youth understood: even without the bloodline of a dragon, sufficient greed would lead to an unhealthy obsession and coveting of wealth. To be honest, the youth had never seen so much treasure. Pearls, Gold Coins, silver coins, shell money, etc., were piled up like mounds, one after another. Crystals emitted a brilliant iridescence, and cups, horseshoes, lamps, hunting rifles, and a variety of ancient antiques were dazzling to behold, with Magic Tools scattered within them. The majority of the items were raw materials. Lobster-man shells, aquatic plants, undersea ores, etc., each emitted an aura from Bronze Level to Silver Level. The resources available under the sea were actually quite abundant. Although the Fishman Tribes were not highly civilized and lacked powerful individuals, their ability to breathe and live under the sea was an enormous advantage that the Human Race, Elves, and Dwarfs could not compare to. Bringing out just one-tenth, no, one percent of the raw materials would be enough to cause a sensation in the Human Race¡¯s markets. The youth also discovered many barrels of alcohol. Each of these half-person-tall wooden barrels was made from quality wood with a unique sealing process. They were all filled with high-grade alcohol. At least Black Iron Level, many reached Silver Level, and some bottles even possessed a Gold Level aura. Some of the barrels had come apart. Broken wooden staves from the barrels still retained a strong scent of alcohol. The five-headed sea snake had clearly drunk a lot of alcohol; with its ability to control water, drinking under the sea was extremely convenient. Man Ying once hosted a celebration banquet, rewarding tireless contributors like Preserved Mustard Greens, with the most ordinary rum being served at the event. Now, the youth discovered that the Fishman Tribe still possessed fine liquor, of quite high quality. It was just that he wasn¡¯t qualified enough to have Man Ying bring out better alcohol to entertain him. ¡°A bottle of rum, if sold in Sea Eye City, would cost at least three times more than on land! And it is priceless.¡± ¡°The alcoholic drinks here are all luxury goods.¡± ¡°This time, to appease the five-headed serpent and exchange for more Divine Arts imprints, the three major tribes might well empty their wine cellars.¡± The youth suddenly had an idea. He didn¡¯t intend to take these treasures away. That was too risky. Perhaps there were tracking-type Divine Arts left among these treasures. The youth thought, what would be the five-headed serpent¡¯s reaction if he destroyed these treasures? And what would the three major tribes do? ¡°The five-headed serpent will surely suffer heavy losses and becomes furiously enraged, continuing to extort the three major tribes!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a sea beast; its intelligence is not high.¡± ¡°The three major tribes are already severely injured, shamelessly selling Divine Arts imprints in secret. If they are extorted again, they might truly end up penniless and bankrupt.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that!¡± Destroying these treasures was not difficult. Because many of them were Magic Tools. Those fine wines, fundamentally speaking, were Magic Potions. Whether Magic Tools or potions, they all contained Magic Power, only that due to unique crafting, their inherent magic was balanced and stable. But if this balance was disrupted from the outside, the magic would become chaotic. Chaotic Magic Power, if not suppressed promptly, would clash violently, very likely causing an explosion! The youth cautiously approached the five-headed serpent, making sure it was completely intoxicated, then decided to take a risk. He transformed back into Fishman Form, but this time, instead of mutating into a brown-scaled variant, he became a Man Yu. Recently, he had slain many Man Yu and had already gathered that Bloodline. The Poison Arrow Bloodline was almost complete, as well. He had also made one-third progress with the White-Eyeball Fishman Bloodline. The Man Yu youth was very strong. He moved silently, stealthily transporting barrels of rum, along with a large quantity of Fire Element Ore. He tried to place all these items as close to the five-headed serpent as possible. After busying himself for a while, he finally arranged everything properly. Around the five-headed serpent, a low wall was almost formed, surrounding it at the center. During this, the youth made some noise, but the five-headed serpent slept soundly, completely unaware. The youth began to withdraw, reaching a stone pillar where he once again mutated into a Dragon-man form. ¡°Time to make a big scene!¡± The youth was both nervous and excited, holding his breath, he began to build up strength. In the span of a few breaths, between his loosely clenched Dragon Claws, a ball of flame light began to brew. The golden-red flame was splendid and unmatched. The five-headed serpent still hadn¡¯t reacted, but the youth could sense movement coming from the rooms around the Divine Temple. The aura of Combat Skill was intense; it was inevitable he¡¯d be exposed once he used it. ¡°Have a taste of this!¡± The youth thrust forward his Dragon Claw, and the flame light shot out instantly, like a fiery meteor, illuminating the entire Divine Temple square and fiercely crashing into the treasures beside the five-headed serpent. Combat Skill¡ªFlame Burst! Boom! It was like a thunderous explosion. ¡°` This was the explosion of Flame Burst. Then, Boom! The explosion of Flame Burst destroyed the majority of the magic tools, the magic power became extremely chaotically intertwined, immediately triggering a chain of explosions. ¡°Retreat!¡± The youth fired a Flame Burst, then immediately shape-shifted, turning into a Sea Loach and dashed out of the Divine Temple. Cultists of the Evil God cried out in alarm. The lucky ones hit the walls and ran, while the unlucky stayed behind to keep the five-headed snake company, getting caught up in the explosion. ¡°Aow¡ªroar!¡± The five-headed snake, which had been in a deep sleep, never expected an explosion to occur right beside it. It was in the very center of the explosion, bearing the brunt of its deadly force. Intense pain struck, and the five-headed snake instinctively howled in agony towards the heavens. Boom! The chain of explosions continued, though with much less intensity. The five-headed snake vented its pain through its howls; seconds later, it realized, ¡°I¡¯ve been attacked!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the enemy?¡± The youth had already run out of the Divine Temple, very smoothly. He had long planned his escape route. Then, with a crash and a rumble, the Divine Temple¡ªcollapsed! Those cultists who hadn¡¯t managed to flee were first hit by the blasts and then were crushed under the falling stonework, making it difficult to account for the dead and wounded. For a moment, the five-headed snake was stunned. Then, with a jolt, all five of its heads looked down, its vertical pupils dilating in a frantic search for its treasure. Countless coins melted from the high temperature into a single mass. Those precious antiques turned into numerous fragments. The magic tools suffered the most damage, the scent of fine wine spread throughout, mingled with the odor of the scorched flesh from the five-headed snake¡¯s own body. ¡°Aow¡ªroar!¡± The next moment, the five-headed snake was furious, enraged! Gone, all gone. My treasures, my wine! ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Which despicable, shameless wretch dares to do this?¡± ¡°Come out, I will tear you to pieces!!¡± The youth, hearing the five-headed snake¡¯s furious roars, suddenly felt a shock in his heart, burrowed into the seabed¡¯s mud and sand, took the opportunity to roll away, dodging a Fishman Patrol Team that had heard the commotion and hurried over. ¡°My God, what have I seen, the Central Divine Temple has collapsed!¡± ¡°Darn, this time the culprit didn¡¯t just kill people, he tore down the temple!!¡± ¡°Calm down, Great Five-Headed One!¡± More and more Fishmen rushed over, unable to afford their shock and anger they attempted to console the five-headed snake first. ¡°That murderer? Have you still not caught him? Useless trash, what use are you?!¡± After saying this, one of the five-headed snake¡¯s huge heads opened its mouth wide and directly swallowed a Fishman! ¡°Great One?!¡± The Fishmen screamed in shock. ¡°My treasures are gone, and you are all guilty! You all deserve to die!¡± The five-headed snake hissed, as one of its heads rose up, spewing out a stream of purple venom. The venom rapidly spread along the seabed, poisoning any Fishman contaminated by it on the spot. The cultists of the Evil God wildly fled from the temple. Bang, bang, bang. The five-headed snake took large strides, also leaving the ruins of the temple, charging into a nearby stone building. Its massive body knocked down numerous houses. Its fearsome claws left deep impressions in the ground. The eyes of the five-headed snake were a stark red, its rage had peaked, and it had lost all reason! (ps: The updates of this book are normally once a day, but this month I took several leaves of absence, hence I¡¯ll be posting additional chapters at the end of the month to fill in the gaps. The extra chapters later on are my way of apologizing: the updates have been unstable, sorry about that! The instability mainly stems from me working on revising the first volume in November, adjusting the pace within. At the same time, I adjusted the outline and details; many things were connected in complex ways, which was very brain-consuming. Mid-month, you should be able to see the revised first volume, which I believe will have a more comfortable pacing and also significant content additions. Stay tuned.) ¡°` Chapter 302 - 302: Section 90: Feng Yao Chapter 302: Section 90: Feng Yao S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If I¡¯d known it would be like this, I would have gone straight to the Divine Temple.¡± The effect turned out to be far beyond the youth¡¯s expectations. The youth, elated, swam swiftly back to his original location and mutated back into the brown-scaled hustler. Soon, he received a conscription command and rushed to the battlefield alongside Man Ying. The three clan leaders had already rushed over and were shouting at the five-headed serpent, attempting to communicate and wake its consciousness. No use! ... The five-headed serpent itself was a sea beast, with limited intelligence, a greedy nature, and ferocity. Before the youth¡¯s stealthy maneuver, it had also drunk wine, muddling its brain even further. Now, it had been ambushed, its body was injured, and the intense pain continuously drove it into a frenzy. ¡°What on earth is happening?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the murderer who did it, he triggered the explosion, hoping to blow up our esteemed five-headed one!¡± ¡°So vicious, so malicious, the murderer wants to destroy Sea Eye City!¡± The three clan leaders trembled with rage, utterly furious. Bang, bang, bang. The five-headed serpent took large strides, charging through the city, crushing many stone houses under its weight as if they were brittle toys collapsing swiftly. Its maws wide open, some spewed venom, others flashed with lightning, while yet another revealed ferocious steel teeth. ¡°Honored five-headed one, please calm down!¡± A follower of the Evil God cast divine light, illuminating the five-headed serpent. The next moment, the serpent¡¯s massive tail swept through, slamming the follower to his death, his body flying far away. Blocks of houses collapsed, a large amount of dust and sand rose, obscuring Sea Eye City behind the five-headed serpent. Combat Skill¡ªBarbaric Charge! The Barbarian Fish Clan leader donned Heavy Armor and rammed headlong into the five-headed serpent¡¯s body. The serpent took a small step back, then one of its steel-jawed heads descended from above, snapping shut and producing sparks even underwater. At the critical juncture, the leader of the Barbarian Fish Clan was pulled away by the current. The one casting the spell was the leader of the Silver Hook Clan. Meanwhile, the leader of the Poison Arrow Tribe circled outside, continuously opening his mouth and shooting poisonous arrows. The arrows struck the five-headed serpent and looked like toothpicks sticking out of its body. The serpent, facing resistance, became angrier and set its main target on the three clan leaders. The clan leaders were only of the Silver Level and were quickly at a disadvantage against the Gold Level, angry sea beast, growing more disheveled. The Fishman youth followed behind Man Ying, standing in the distance, watching the battle silently in astonishment. Despite suffering such a violent explosion and serious injuries that caused unstoppable bleeding, the five-headed serpent could still fight so aggressively. ¡°The mother of this five-headed serpent is a Holy Beast, its bloodline is extraordinary. Whether it be defensive power, Recovery Power, or endurance, all are incredibly formidable.¡± The stronger the five-headed serpent was, the more destruction it caused, and the happier the youth¡¯s heart grew. ¡°All three clan leaders are of the Silver Level, unable to match the Gold Level five-headed serpent. They are clearly restricted, bound by the serpent¡¯s status and backing, unable to truly harm it.¡± The youth, as the instigator, felt suffocated on behalf of the three clan leaders. Crack! A lightning bolt struck towards the Poison Arrow clan leader. The Poison Arrow clan leader was on guard, immediately swimming to the side. But who could have anticipated the lightning suddenly changed direction, following him and hitting him squarely. The Barbarian Fish and Silver Hook clan leaders hurried to help but found the other four heads of the serpent lunging at them. They could only retreat, leaving the Poison Arrow clan leader behind. The Poison Arrow clan leader, hit by the electric shock, paralyzed, helplessly watched a gaping maw swallow him whole. This scene immediately triggered screams of horror from the Fishmen. ¡°Save the Clan Leader!¡± The Fishmen from the Poison Arrow Tribe bravely stepped forward, charging at the five-headed serpent. The five-headed serpent spat three streams of venom in quick succession, poisoning hundreds of oncoming Fishmen of the Poison Arrow Tribe on the spot. ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly!¡± The Silver Hook Clan Leader roared, trying desperately to take command of the situation. However, after losing the leader of the Poison Arrow Tribe, the two remaining Silver Level Transcendents were even less of a match for the five-headed serpent. ¡°Could it be that today is the day Sea Eye City falls?¡± Man Ying murmured to himself, his gaze lost upon the battlefield. Even he had lost the will to fight, much less the other Fishmen. ¡°` If it had been a Golden Level Fishman, perhaps the destruction wouldn¡¯t have reached this magnitude. The Silver Transcendent was not dealing with a Golden Level powerhouse, the Dragon-man youth had defeated the Golden Hook brothers. ¡°` ¡°` The critical issue was that the creature destroying Sea Eye City was a five-headed snake. ¡°` ¡°` Such a Gold Level sea beast was massive in size and particularly good at using its strength to oppress the weaker, causing wanton destruction. ¡°` ¡°` As Sea Eye City was on the brink of ruin, a spell suddenly descended from nowhere, turning the water into a tight magical binding that ensnared the five-headed snake. ¡°` ¡°` A Gold Level Fishman Shaman had floated up above Sea Eye City. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°It¡¯s Lady Fu Bai!¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Lord Five-Head is being controlled!¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Truly worthy of being Lady Fu Bai, the only Golden Level Spellcaster in Sea Eye City for over a century.¡± ¡°` ¡°` The Fishmen were thrilled and their morale surged. ¡°` ¡°` However, the face of the elder Fishman Shaman Fu Bai grew progressively more pained, and her body trembled slightly. ¡°` ¡°` Her condition was really deteriorating; each time she fought, she burned up her already scarce lifespan. ¡°` ¡°` But at this moment, she had no choice but to fight. ¡°` ¡°` Sea Eye City was not just the foundation¡ªit was her home! ¡°` ¡°` The five-headed snake roared furiously, struggling madly, but was still bound in place, unable to move. ¡°` ¡°` Countless gazes of reverence, shock, and adoration focused on Fu Bai. ¡°` ¡°` Compared to the five-headed snake, Fu Bai¡¯s body seemed incredibly small, but it was this small body that unleashed a powerful spell to subdue the five-headed snake. ¡°` ¡°` The current Clan Leader of the White-Eyed Clan immediately swam to Fu Bai¡¯s side to act as her guard. ¡°` ¡°` Fu Bai transmitted to him and the Barbarian Fish Clan Leader simultaneously, ¡°I can only hold on for ten minutes.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Both clan leaders¡¯ faces changed dramatically. ¡°` ¡°` Ten minutes? ¡°` ¡°` That was far too short a time. ¡°` ¡°` According to their understanding of the five-headed snake, it wouldn¡¯t calm down without causing trouble for at least half a day. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Let¡¯s ask those Divine Officers to help; they share the same faith as us.¡± ¡°` ¡°` After quickly consulting, the two clan leaders issued their orders. ¡°` ¡°` Surviving followers of the Evil God immediately began casting various Divine Arts, landing them on the five-headed snake, but to little effect. ¡°` ¡°` Time mercilessly ticked away, second by second. ¡°` ¡°` Fu Bai transmitted again, ¡°There¡¯s only one choice now, release that person and let him subdue the five-headed snake!¡± ¡°` ¡°` The faces of the two clan leaders changed once more. ¡°` ¡°` Barbarian Fish scoffed, ¡°Shall we ask that blasphemer for help?¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°This is our only chance. If he doesn¡¯t help, we will have to abandon Sea Eye City,¡± Fu Bai said. ¡°` ¡°` Barbarian Fish fell silent, unable to argue. ¡°` ¡°` After a few breaths, his face turned the color of iron, but he agreed. ¡°` ¡°` The leader of the White-Eyed Clan naturally followed Fu Bai¡¯s plan, while the Poison Arrow Tribe, now led by an acting Clan Leader, also consented. ¡°` ¡°` Once all three clans had agreed, Xia Bai was tasked with the duty and swiftly swam away, heading back to the depths of her own family¡¯s fortress, into a secret prison. ¡°` ¡°` The prison was affected by a spell that had expelled all water, filling it with breathable air. ¡°` ¡°` She moved through the prison with ease, arriving to see a Human Race youth lying on the ground, fast asleep. ¡°` ¡°` Scattered around the youth were empty wine jars, and both his wrists and ankles were bound by Magic Restriction Bracelets. From each bracelet extended iron chains embedded into the surrounding walls. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Lord Feng Yao! Wake up, come on, wake up!¡± Xia Bai shook the youth¡¯s body, trying to stay gentle in both tone and action, despite her anxiety. ¡°` ¡°` The youth woke to reveal an exceedingly handsome face, his blurry, drunken eyes barely opening to show a star-like brilliance, ¡°Ah, my beautiful Goddess, my beloved¡­¡± ¡°` ¡°` Xia Bai felt a flush on her fishy face, ¡°Lord Feng Yao, I am not a Goddess, look carefully, I am Xia Bai!¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Oh, Miss Xia Bai, is that you? What, you want to hear more stories about the Holy Bright Continent?¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°No, not this time. I need your help. There¡¯s been a huge explosion, the Divine Temple has collapsed, and Lord Five-Head has gone berserk. Right now, my great-grandmother has Lord Five-Head under control, but it¡¯s only temporary. We, the three clans, have agreed to set you free, but please, intervene and bring Lord Five-Head to his senses!¡± Xia Bai spoke quickly, explaining the situation in a hurry. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Oh? Something like that happened? Interesting! But I kind of don¡¯t feel like leaving.¡± Feng Yao said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s quite nice here, there¡¯s wine every day, and I get to enjoy the charming delicacies of the Fishman race. Most importantly, this is the closest I¡¯ve been to my Goddess.¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Lord! If Sea Eye City falls, the Goddess you adore is sure to be angry.¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Ah, indeed that¡¯s true. Then I must act. Where¡¯s my instrument?¡± ¡°` ¡°` ¡°Just get to the battlefield. Once you¡¯re there, your instrument will surely be delivered on time.¡± Saying so, Xia Bai used her spellcasting to unlock the shackles on the Human Race youth Feng Yao. ¡°` ¡°` Feng Yao regained his freedom, flicking his long hair with nostalgia, taking one last glance at the prison, and then left with a chuckling Xia Bai. ¡°` Chapter 303 - 303: Section 91: Leave to Further Develop Strength Chapter 303: Section 91: Leave to Further Develop Strength Blue lightning struck chaotically, shattering stone houses into dust beneath its flash. Electric currents spread across the seabed. Despite the seawater being full of impurities, any Fishmen or followers of the Evil God who couldn¡¯t escape in time suffered the consequences. Some were cooked by the electricity, turning into roasted Fishmen, while others were temporarily paralyzed, helplessly watching as the massive serpent¡¯s body rolled over them. The five-headed snake was still bound in place, but one of its heads managed to struggle free, its mouth wide open, continuously spraying lightning and thunder plasma. Fu Bai, who had bound it, trembled more and more violently. ... She had initially estimated that she could restrain the five-headed snake for ten minutes, but the snake¡¯s madness and strength significantly reduced that time. Blood trickled from the corners of Fu Bai¡¯s eyes, and the Fish Pearl on her forehead showed almost imperceptible cracks. The previous Clan Leader of the White Pearl tribe¡¯s breath began to plummet rapidly. The five-headed snake roared, freeing another head. This head, full of steel teeth, lunged forward in fury. With a snap, the five-headed snake missed Fu Bai. Although she couldn¡¯t move, she had intentionally maintained the maximum spell-casting distance from the five-headed snake. Bound in place, even if it stretched its neck, it couldn¡¯t reach Fu Bai. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Lord Fu Bai!¡± ¡°That was close!¡± The surrounding Fishmen exclaimed, as Fu Bai¡¯s safety was crucial for the survival of Sea Eye City. ¡°What a pity¡­¡± lamented a Fishman youth. If Fu Bai were killed, Sea Eye City would fall to ruins today. This would have been the best outcome for the Justice Pirate Group. The next moment, another mutation occurred. The five-headed snake¡¯s steel toothed head swung wildly, its thick neck creating illusions as it moved. Then, amid the terrified screams of the crowd, the steel-toothed head, along with one neck, detached from the body of the five-headed snake and shot forward. This was the innate talent of the five-headed snake, a bizarre magic-like ability akin to flesh separation! Suddenly, the five-headed snake became a four-headed snake, its Gold aura plummeting, but it was still bound in place. However, the detached steel-toothed head, like a dark green kelp, swam fiercely, aiming directly at Fu Bai. ¡°Block it!¡± ¡°Protect Lord Fu Bai!¡± The Fishmen shouted in panic, their hearts jumping to their throats. The leader of the Barbarian Fish Clan was the first to step forward. He summoned all his Fighting Energy and positioned himself in front of the steel toothed clone: ¡°Bring it on! Five Heads Lord, this is just one of your clones with only Silver aura. There¡¯s no reason I couldn¡¯t block it!¡± Bang. The Barbarian Fish Clan leader, despite his full effort, was sent flying like a ball. Though downgraded to Silver Level, the terrifying physical constitution of the steel-toothed clone still overpowered the clan leader. Though their Cultivation was the same, the differences in their race and bloodline resulted in vastly different combat strengths. However, the clan leader¡¯s effort wasn¡¯t in vain; after he was knocked away, the speed of the steel-toothed clone drastically reduced and its momentum halved. The current Clan Leader of the White Pearl tribe quickly seized this opportunity, activating his Spell. Ripples continuously formed around the steel-toothed clone, greatly disturbing its advance while also interfering with the Magic Power circulation within its body. The steel-toothed clone roared, momentarily hindered but eventually broke through the layers of magical ripples. It violently thrashed its tail, creating a rapid current. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Forced, the Clan Leader of the White Pearl tribe immediately suffered backlash and was about to dodge when the current harshly hit him. The White Pearl Clan Leader was flung away, smashing through several stone houses along the way and plowing a long trench across the seabed before coming to a stop. Blood from the White Pearl Clan Leader trailed along his path. With darkened eyes, he was unable to get up for a moment. With the last obstacle gone, the steel-toothed clone finally reached Fu Bai. ¡°Sea Eye City is finished!¡± countless Fishmen held their heads, faces filled with shock and panic. ¡°Sea Eye City is finished,¡± rejoiced the Fishman youth in his heart. But at that moment, a blue glow like a blooming flower suddenly exploded in front of the steel-toothed clone. The steel-toothed clone dove headfirst into the blue light, just about to break through. Then music sounded, and the blue light sharply contracted, forming a spherical cage, entrapping the steel-toothed clone inside. The steel-toothed clone struggled furiously, twisting its massive body and severely deforming the blue spherical cage as if it were an almost bursting balloon. The music continued relentlessly and grew louder, steadily reinforcing the blue light sphere until it finally stabilized. Amid widespred attention, a young man of the Human Race and Xia Bai came forward above Sea Eye City. Countless question marks arose in the minds of the Fishmen, but seeing Xia Bai, a talented Fishman standing beside the Human Race youth, who was the one who had trapped the steel-toothed clone, the Fishmen of Sea Eye City recognized this man as an ally. ¡°Could he also be a member of the followers of the Evil God?¡± ¡°Golden Level bard!¡± ¡°Holy Domain Level instrument!¡± The long-haired youth cradled a miniature harp in his arms, his slender fingers elegantly strumming the strings, as the steel-tooth clone struggled with diminishing strength. The Fishman youth¡¯s pupils shrank; he was also curious about this sudden appearance of a Human Race youth. Moreover, he keenly noticed something unusual about the aura of the Human Race youth, ¡°Though it¡¯s a Golden Level aura, it¡¯s more robust than peak Gold. How could that be?¡± ¡°Is it him?!¡± Man Ying was shocked; the existence of the Human Race youth was a significant secret among the upper echelons of the three clans, but Man Ying was privy to it. ¡°You finally arrived¡­ be careful.¡± The former Clan Leader Fu Bai was at her last gasp; after warning the Human Race youth, she completely withdrew her spell. Without the restraint of the spell, the five-headed snake finally broke free. The four massive heads roared skyward, and in place, it employed Magic-like abilities again, its entire body thoroughly disintegrating. A few breaths later, it split into four giant snakes. The giant snakes all attacked the Human Race youth. ¡°Stop them!¡± the Barbarian Fish Clan Leader roared, ¡°Everyone, attack!¡± He charged forward first and collided with one of the giant snakes, evenly matched. After separating, the four giant snakes, like the steel-tooth clone, were all Silver Level. Upon receiving the order from the Barbarian Fish Clan Leader, Man Ying finally made his move. He had been holding back from joining the battle because of instructions from the Barbarian Fish Clan Leader to observe from the sidelines. First, the strongest equipment within the Barbarian Fish tribe was on the Clan Leader, making it difficult for Man Ying to deal with the five-headed snake. Second, Man Ying¡¯s presence was crucial, being the hope of the next generation for the Barbarian Fish tribe and bearing the prosperity or decline of the entire tribe. While the Clan Leader fought perilously, Man Ying had to preserve himself for the greater good of the tribe. Rushing to the front line, Man Ying remained cautious, his usual bravado and ferocity gone. He had no choice, as his physical prowess far exceeded the other Fishmen, but compared to the Silver Level snake clones, he was at the bottom. Man Ying could only do his best to cause interference. Three of the sea snake clones were tied up, leaving only one to attack the Human Race youth. The Human Race youth calmly used magic to block it. The sea snake clone¡¯s effort to break through was ineffective and grew increasingly enraged, furiously spewing lightning, poison, and frost. These large-scale attacks ravaged the entire Sea Eye City, causing Fishmen civilians to flee in all directions, resulting in heavy casualties. Sea Eye City was in chaos. The Clan Leader of the White Eye Pearl was fully engaged in restraining a sea snake clone when suddenly an attack came from behind. Caught off guard, the White Eye Pearl Clan Leader was fatally struck by the attacker! The combat skill fluctuations of the Fishman youth could not be hidden from others, and the dying screams of the White Eye Pearl Clan Leader attracted the attention of many Fishmen. ¡°Murderer! The murderer has appeared!¡± ¡°He killed the White Eye Pearl Clan Leader, oh my Fish God, the White Eye Pearl Clan Leader is dead!¡± ¡°Catch him, kill him!¡± ¡°How could it be? He is a Barbarian Fishman.¡± Before the youth took action, he had quietly transformed into another kind of Fishman form, becoming a Barbarian Fishman. This way, his burst of Silver Fighting Spirit didn¡¯t seem abrupt. The White Eye Pearl Clan Leader was a Magic Silver, a significant figure; with his death, the Fishmen¡¯s situation was on the verge of collapsing. After rampaging, the four sea snake clones charged again at the Human Race youth. ¡°It¡¯s time to leave.¡± The Fishman youth swam with all his might; he was already near the city gate, and in a flash, he escaped from Sea Eye City. ¡°Don¡¯t let him escape!¡± he heard many Fishmen howling. ¡°Barbarian Fish tribe, you owe an explanation to the entire Sea Eye City!¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t one of our people. It¡¯s likely an outsider.¡± ¡°Catch him, and all truths will be revealed!¡± But how to catch him? The five-headed snake was still causing chaos. Should they catch the murderer or suppress the five-headed snake to protect Sea Eye City? The Fishmen were caught in a dilemma. In the end, it was Fu Bai who yelled, ¡°Stop chasing; this deep-seated vendetta will someday be avenged. But now, if we don¡¯t protect our homeland, what future is there?¡± Angered and frustrated, the Fishmen once again focused their firepower on those four sea snake clones. Rumbling¡­ Electricity glittered, and poison spread. Sea Eye City seemed to groan amidst the fierce battle. While the instigator had already made his escape. Chapter 304 - 304: Section 92: Underwater Pursuit Chapter 304: Section 92: Underwater Pursuit In the deep sea. The Fishman youth was diving with all his might. The Sea Eye City behind him grew increasingly smaller, and ahead lay vast swathes of darkness. Inhabitants of the Fishman settlement areas had plenty of glow coral, but in most of the ocean¡¯s depths, it was pitch-black, devoid of any light. ¡°It seems they have chosen not to pursue me,¡± the young Barbarian Fishman sighed with slight relief. This outcome was within his expectations. ... His actions were not rash but contemplated deeply. Firstly, the battle situation in Sea Eye City was tense, as the unexpected intervention of a second Golden Level warrior gave the Fishmen a slight edge. Under these circumstances, if the Fishman youth did not act, he would inevitably watch the Fishmen secure victory and let the situation stabilize. This was something the youth did not wish to see. Because it was impossible for him to stay in Sea Eye City to continue the assassination attempts. For one, there were fewer valuable assassination targets left. He had already killed many, and during the rampage of the five-headed sea snake in Sea Eye City, many had perished. Secondly, there wasn¡¯t much time left for him. The Sky Pillar Sea Eye was about to erupt again, and he needed to return to the Justice Pirate Group to take charge. Therefore, he needed to strike publicly, to kill a strong member among the Fishmen to weaken them, to change the tide. Next, he carefully selected his target from many options and settled on the Clan Leader of the White-eyed Tribe. This choice was logical. The two Golden Level warriors were too risky for the youth to consider assassinating. Having fought with Rou Cang and Golden Hook, with one win and one loss, the youth understood the power of a Golden Transcendent. Don¡¯t think that Fu Bai was weak; an attempt on her life would surely not succeed with one strike, and it might even result in her detaining him. And as for the Human Race youth who was in good shape and possessed an unusually robust aura, that was even less likely. ¡°Acting publicly like this, I probably won¡¯t have a second chance to strike,¡± holding this belief, the youth did not want to waste his last opportunity by randomly killing one or two Black Iron, which would be an imprudent use of his chance. Man Ying might have been Silver Level, but his strength among all the Silver Level Fishmen was the least. Xia Bai was the rising star of the White-eyed Tribe and had potential, but she was only a prospect for tomorrow, not today. After weighing his options carefully, the youth finally decided to target the Clan Leader of the White-eyed Tribe. He was a Silver Level Fishman and, furthermore, part of the Magic System. Should the Clan Leader survive, and if the Justice Pirate Group were to charge towards the Sky Pillar, he would certainly pose a considerable threat. Another point was that at that time, the Clan Leader had been relatively far from the other Fishmen and closest to Cheng Men. So, the youth made his move. Attacking a spellcaster of equal Cultivation came with risks. But the rewards far outweighed the risks, making it a gamble worth taking. The actual assassination went smoothly. The Clan Leader¡¯s attention was occupied by the sea snake¡¯s distraction; perhaps he had never anticipated that a lurking killer would have the audacity to publicly attempt an assassination. After the successful assassination, the youth immediately fled, leaving behind the body without so much as a glance at his magic equipment. The body contained the bloodline of a Silver Level Magic System Fishman, which the youth also discarded. He wouldn¡¯t recklessly use a Blood Core. The secret of the Blood Core must not be exposed! In situations of any risk that might reveal the secret of the Blood Core, he would not utilize it. He hoped his killing of the White-eyed Tribe Clan Leader would result in a substantial loss for the Fishmen, leading to their defeat by the five-headed sea beast, with Sea Eye City perishing as a consequence. That would be the best outcome. However, he also knew this possibility was small. After all, even though the five-headed serpent was a Golden Level sea beast, it was irrational in its fury. Moreover, it had split into five Silver Level entities upon departure, which was quite a foolish move. Conversely, among the Fishmen, Fu Bai still had the strength to force an attack, and that Human Race youth had some enigmatic qualities. Holding a Holy Domain Level harp, he must have a significant background. ¡°Once I get back to the ship, maybe I can contact the Empire to check on his identity,¡± the youth mused, confident in the Empire¡¯s intelligence capabilities. Surroundings plunged into complete darkness. All was silent. The water was cold, typically warmer in Sea Eye City compared to the Dark Sea Domain. Nonetheless, in his Barbarian Fishman form, the youth was well-adapted. His state of mind gradually calmed. He was almost back to the Justice. Suddenly, a ripple of magic came from behind. The Fishman youth looked back and was momentarily stunned. There were followers behind him; it was that Human Race youth! ¡°Damn, how did he catch up?¡± The Fishman youth immediately quickened his pace. The Human Race youth chased relentlessly, also using magic to send a telepathic message: ¡°You can¡¯t escape; stop and face your death!¡± The Fishman youth swam faster. Soon, he realized that even at his top speed, he couldn¡¯t outpace the Human Race youth¡¯s pursuit. ¡°It¡¯s a matter of endurance; I¡¯ll be the final victor. But this guy is a Golden, using Mana to chase after me. In about five minutes, he¡¯ll catch up to me.¡± ¡°How strange, how did he track me down?¡± ¡°I even had the Pearl Bubble for cover.¡± The Fishman youth quickly assessed the strength of both enemies and allies. His condition was intact, but his cultivation was only at the Silver Level. The opponent was a Gold powerhouse, who had expended some energy dealing with the five-headed sea snake, but also had a Holy Musical Instrument. What the youth dreaded most was the aura of the Human Race youngster; his presence was incredibly imposing. ¡°Did he leave Sea Eye City? Could it be that the five-headed snake was quickly suppressed?¡± The gap between the enemies and himself was still quite obvious. Dealing with Golden Hook wasn¡¯t just the youth¡¯s effort alone. Moreover, Golden Hook was wounded at the time. But unless absolutely necessary, the youth was reluctant to rely on his companions¡¯ strength. Because by doing so, it would expose the secret of his transformation into a Fishman. Hence, increasing the possibility of the Blood Core being exposed. ¡°How much energy did he just expend in battle? If possible¡­ it¡¯s best to take him out directly!¡± With that thought, the Fishman youth gritted his teeth and turned to confront the Human Race youngster. With a single breath, he shot several fish spines from his mouth. The tips of these spines were dark purple, signifying deadly poison. The Human Race youth¡¯s pupils contracted as he swiftly dodged, ¡°What¡¯s this? Are you a Barbarian Fishman or a Poison Arrow Fishman?¡± The Human Race youth was astonished. The youth looked like a Barbarian Fishman, but the poison spines he shot were characteristic of the Poison Arrow Fishman¡¯s craft. The youth had killed quite a few Poison Arrow Fishmen, and although he couldn¡¯t completely transform, the most refined part of their physiology could now mutate. At this moment, the youth not only had the Barbarian Fishman¡¯s robust physique but also the Poison Arrow Fishman¡¯s Space Bag, as well as their ability to shoot toxic spines. This kind of poison would usually incapacitate a Silver Level Transcendent, leaving them gravely injured and on the brink of death. However, the Human Race youngster was agile, more so than the Fishman, and managed to dodge all the poisonous spines. The Fishman youth seized the opportunity to dive deep, swimming straight into a dark, deep sea trench. The Human Race youngster inwardly cursed, knowing the complex terrain and darkness of the trench would greatly hinder his pursuit. He plunged in without hesitation. In the very next instant, the Barbarian Fishman youth, who had been lying in ambush and had not fled, burst out. His Black Iron Scimitar struck fiercely, impossibly fast. Combat Skill¡ªCrimson Scale Frenzy! The Human Race youngster had no time for casting spells; in the heat of the moment, he could only fend off with his lyre. The Black Iron Scimitar clanged against the lyre, releasing a bright white glow of rippling luminescence. The miniature lyre was a Holy Domain Level instrument, made of high-grade materials, and it fully blocked the edge of the Barbarian Fishman youth¡¯s blade. Unperturbed, the Barbarian Fishman youth continued his onslaught. The scimitar danced faster, its blade casting shadows and shimmering with the luster of Silver Fighting Spirit. ¡°What a fierce blade!¡± thought the Human Race youngster, shaken. The combination of the Barbarian Fishman youth¡¯s combat skills and the Silver Fighting Spirit left him powerless to retaliate for the time being. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, the miniature lyre wasn¡¯t a conventional weapon or armor, just so small that a palm could lift it. The blade¡¯s shadow swept past the lyre and landed on the Human Race youngster¡¯s body. His body quickly accumulated wounds, blood diffusing rapidly through the seawater. Boom! The beleaguered Human Race youngster finally unleashed a spell. An invisible force radiated from him, expanding in all directions. It was so powerful that the Barbarian Fishman youth couldn¡¯t withstand it and was forcibly pushed away. Panting heavily, the Human Race youngster was covered in blade wounds, looking utterly disheveled. He glared furiously at the youth, ¡°Well done! I subdued the five-headed snake without much trouble, but you¡¯ve caused me so much harm. You¡¯re far more dangerous than that foolish snake. Now, die.¡± He cradled the lyre in one hand, while his fingers stroked the strings rhythmically with the other. The spell erupted with the music, and the Barbarian Fishman youth retreated without hesitation. One spell after another exploded around him. Yet the Barbarian Fishman youth was incredibly shrewd, zipping through the trench in all directions, once again increasing the distance between them. ¡°This Fishman is so cunning!¡± The Human Race youngster was startled, thinking the Fishmen of Sea Eye City to be the apex of intelligence in this world. He hadn¡¯t expected this unidentified Fishman, likely an outsider, to be so slippery. From the outset, when he realized he was being tracked, the Fishman youth promptly retreated. After entering the trench, he feigned evasion and lay in ambush for a sneak attack. The melee brought significant results, but he didn¡¯t linger in combat, choosing instead to make a strategic retreat. Even under the bombardment of spells, he remained composed, demonstrating remarkable insight that left the Human Race youngster astounded. He sustained minimal injury and took the opportunity to put distance between them. The Human Race youngster¡¯s ability to cast spells would be compromised if he stopped to attack. If he pursued, the potency of his spells would be reduced. While he could cast spells on the move, his abilities were limited underwater. He had to constantly maintain two spells, one against the pressure of the sea, the other to ensure he could breathe. As such, his spirit and mana were in constant drain, and moving was not just swimming but an additional spell. With the challenge of sustaining three spells simultaneously, the difficulty of casting spells while moving was infinitely greater underwater than on land. Chapter 305 - 305: Section 93: Divine Favored Chapter 305: Section 93: Divine Favored ¡°I greatly underestimated this murderer¡ªit¡¯s going to be a tough battle! It seems the Divine Arts imprint isn¡¯t easy to obtain,¡± the Human Race youth realized the reality and became fully serious, continuing his chase to kill the Fishman youth. Once he moved at high speed, his velocity far exceeded that of the Fishman youth, and the distance between them quickly narrowed. The youth turned again to fight. The Human Race youth was mentally prepared and immediately stopped pursuing, retreating calmly to increase the distance between himself and the Fishman youth. The Fishman youth lacked the advantage of the earlier sneak attack, and his actions were always visible to the Human Race youth. The youth¡¯s attempt to engage in close combat was difficult to achieve. However, the fact that a Golden Level powerhouse took the initiative to retreat, even just this point alone, was enough for the silver-Grade youth to be proud of himself. ... The tide of battle was changing. The Fishman youth turned to sprint forward, aiming to reach the Human Race youth, but the latter was faster, constantly retreating, keeping a growing distance between them. The situation was very unfavorable for the Fishman youth; the Human Race youth was a Spellcaster, and maintaining a distance gave him a clear advantage. Zing, zing, zing¡­ The Human Race youth plucked the strings of his instrument, and with every three vibrations, at least one sound blade was released. The sound blade ripped through the water, forming translucent phantoms. The Fishman youth had already experienced the sharpness of these sound blades and chose not to meet them head-on, dodging left and right. Consequently, his attempts to approach the Human Race youth were further thwarted, as dodging consumed a great deal of time and physical energy. The Human Race youth¡¯s mouth curled into a smile; the battle was completely falling into his rhythm. He began to play a tune, rather than simply plucking the strings. The music was melodious and slow, and after the prelude, the effects of the Spell took hold. The movements of the Fishman youth were slowed by the Spell. This was a melody capable of making the target¡¯s movements sluggish! At this moment, the Fishman youth still hadn¡¯t reached the Human Race youth. His only option was to resort to the old tactic, opening his mouth to spit out a series of poisonous spines. Nevertheless, the spines were also affected by the tune, moving at least thirty percent slower than before. Desperate, the Fishman youth spurred his Fighting energy, causing his scales to shimmer with a faint silver light. He managed to reduce some of the Spell¡¯s effects, gaining a slight boost in speed, but it was still far from the overwhelming speed he had before. The Human Race youth easily avoided all of the incoming poisonous spines. Because the Fishman youth summoned all his Fighting energy to offset some of the Spell¡¯s effects, the poisonous spines did not, and their flight speed gradually became painfully slow. ¡°What a pity, although I¡¯ve absorbed quite a bit of Fishman Blood with the Poison Arrow ability, I haven¡¯t mastered any associated Combat Skills.¡± ¡°Otherwise, with the enhancement of those Combat Skills, these spines would be much more threatening!¡± Combat Skills of the Poison Arrow Fishman could make the poisonous spines fly faster or twist in flight, and even create several arrow images to confuse the enemy. The Fishman youth¡¯s face was grave as he suddenly turned and fled. He was running away again. The Human Race youth couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily. If the first encounter had the Fishman youth relying on a sneak attack, catching the Human Race youth off guard and making him quite embarrassed, then in the second encounter, the Fishman youth was thoroughly defeated, with the Human Race youth firmly taking the initiative. The only consolation was that the Fishman youth still preserved his condition, not having suffered too much injury. If the enemy advances, I retreat; if the enemy retreats, I advance. The Human Race youth firmly grasped the essence of hit-and-run combat and continued to chase the Fishman youth. The Fishman youth, under the influence of the Spell, found his condition worsening, his speed ever decreasing. The Human youth grew increasingly composed as he pursued, casting a variety of spells in rapid succession. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The Barbarous Fish youth looked back and spat out Poison Stingers, but the Human youth either dodged them all or easily blocked them with his spells. ¡°Your Poison Stingers sure are plentiful; could you possibly be a hybrid of a Barbarous Fish and Poison Arrow Fishman?¡± ¡°How odd!¡± ¡°These two Bloodline Grades are equal, yet you seem to suffer no Bloodline Conflict?¡± ¡°Could it be that the Fighting energy you cultivate can balance these two bloodlines?¡± ¡°I¡¯m becoming more and more interested in you.¡± The Human youth was so composed that he began talking, using language to assault his opponent¡¯s morale. It seemed the Barbarous Fish youth¡¯s long-range tactic was merely the use of Poison Arrows, a rather one-dimensional approach, in contrast to the rich variety of spells at the Human youth¡¯s disposal. The chase continued for a while longer. The speed of the Barbarous Fish youth slowed to half that of his peak, his body covered in wounds. Even so, the Human youth did not close in, still maintaining a cautious distance. That way, even if the Barbarous Fish youth feigned weakness, hoping to make the Human youth careless and close the gap for a counter-attack, it would be impossible to execute. The Human youth¡¯s hand caressed the strings of his instrument and played a few notes, then suddenly he began to sing. ¡°Dark currents surge, the path ahead remains untoppled.¡± ¡°In the deep sea, oh Barbarous Fish, advance or retreat, charge left and surge right.¡± ¡°Leap forward, crawl low, amid the raging aura, lies the ambush.¡± ¡°He raises his hands, his legs firm.¡± ¡°Quietly shut your mouth and enter the cage.¡± ¡°And be bound within.¡± With a light melody, the Human youth finished singing, and the Barbarous Fish youth was under control. A semi-transparent cage appeared around him, his hands and feet bound to it, completely losing his freedom. Even his fish mouth was pressured shut, unable to open and thus unable to shoot out any barbs. ¡°This guy!!¡± The Bardarous Fish youth was extremely shocked within. Because just a moment ago, he witnessed the Human youth create a spell on the spot and used it to bind and control him. The repair of Combat Skills and cultivation of Fighting energy manuals required continuous adjustment over generations. The perfection of spells needed the Mages to cautiously innovate little by little. Unlike fighters and Mages, bards and War Song Shamans can create their own songs. These songs often possess a wide range of amazing powers. However, bards or War Song Shamans capable of creating their own songs were exceedingly rare. Such individuals have been quite uncommon throughout history. The most famous among them was the Cat King of the Beast Race. But now, the Barbarous Fish youth had seen one. This Human youth was truly exceptionally talented! ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± said the Human youth, having taken complete control of the Barbarous Fish youth, a smile on his lips. Even with victory in hand, he always maintained a safe distance from the Barbarous Fish youth, leaving no chance for a sudden counterattack. His little finger lightly touched the innermost string of his instrument, ready to deliver the final fatal blow to the Barbarous Fish youth with just a slight pluck. Just then, a mutation suddenly occurred! Two deep blue light pillars shot up from the dark depths of the sea trench, instantly illuminating the Human Race youth. The Human Race youth¡¯s pupils shrank to pinpoints, a look of horror frozen on his face. He was pinned down by the blue light pillars, unable to move. His little finger was already on the string, but even a slight pluck, such a tiny movement, was impossible to execute! ¡°An ambush! Is this a trap?¡± ¡°Golden Level?!¡± The Human Race youth had thought he was being cautious enough, but he had still fallen for it. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Boom! The next moment, he heard the roar of a giant cannon. Unable to turn his head, he saw from the corner of his eye a terrifying electrical current streaking toward him. A premonition of death filled his chest. He knew he was done for! The thick current, like a giant python, struck the Human Race youth almost instantly, with blinding electrical light exploding in all directions. Deep Sea Monster Fish¡ªarc gun¡ªPython Flow Bomb. Golden Level demon energy ship! Golden Level cannon! Golden Level bombs! Already in ambush, ready to strike. During the chase, the Man Yu youth had not communicated with the Deep Sea Monster Fish because this tactic had been designed in advance. Since the youth was out scouting the enemy, of course, he had various plans for different crises. The Deep Sea Monster Fish had strong concealment abilities and had been lurking here all along. Once it detected that Man Yu youth was under siege and in mortal danger, it would fire its cannons. It was precisely the presence of the Deep Sea Monster Fish that gave the Man Yu youth the confidence to engage with a Golden Level opponent at the sea bottom. Throughout the entire time, he never transformed into his Dragon-man form nor fled as a Sea Loach. Whether it was the first surprise counterattack or the second futile resistance, it was all part of his strategy. When the Human Race youth thought he had the upper hand, in reality, he had already fallen into the Man Yu youth¡¯s meticulously laid death trap. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± the Man Yu youth regained his freedom. The spell that bound him had dissipated. The horrifying current would continue to surge. With such intensity, even Rou Cang would not escape death, let alone Golden Hook. The Deep Sea Monster Fish, tied to Mysterious Monster Island, was not used lightly by the youth unless absolutely necessary. In fact, during the battle with Golden Hook, it almost came into play. Yet, the Human Race youth was still alive! He was shining with a layer of Divine Light. Although the Divine Light was faint, it firmly resisted the terrifying external attack of the electrical current. The next moment, Divine Power surged, and the Divine Light violently expanded, repelling the current completely. ¡°This Divine Power¡­ is from the Love God!¡± the Human Race youth, realizing with shock, displayed anger on his face. ¡°What?!¡± The Man Yu youth saw the current dissipate, and the Human Race youth unharmed, shocked beyond belief, ¡°A Divine Favored?¡± The Human Race youth had the blessing of a deity. At the brink of death, the Divine Blessing revealed its power, protecting him. How could they possibly fight now?! ¡°As long as the Divine Favored remains unbroken, the opponent has an undying body!¡± The Man Yu youth, without any will to fight, retreated swiftly. He didn¡¯t rendezvous with the Deep Sea Monster Fish; its speed wasn¡¯t fast, comparable to that of the Justice. If revealed, it would be attacked by the Human Race youth. The Deep Sea Monster Fish, vast in size, was far less agile than a Golden Level Transcendent; if it fought head-on, it would certainly be at a disadvantage. ¡°Love God, you damned wretch!¡± the Human Race youth cursed at Love God, then locked his gaze on the Man Yu youth, ¡°Well done, Man Yu, you¡¯ve succeeded in angering me!¡± The Human Race youth charged at the Man Yu youth once again. Hearing the Human Race youth¡¯s words, suspicion arose in the heart of the Man Yu youth, ¡°Has the Love God blessed and protected him? Why does he show such an attitude toward the Love God? It¡¯s like a sea of hatred! Wait a second¡­¡± A flash of inspiration crossed the Man Yu youth¡¯s mind. He immediately changed his retreat plan, no longer diving deeper into the trench but rushing towards the sea surface. The Human Race youth began to close the distance. Combat Skill¡ªWave Stepping! The Man Yu youth¡¯s feet ejected streams of water, propelling him in quick bursts up towards the surface. The Human Race youth was taken aback! This Fishman obviously had a Combat Skill that could increase speed, yet he had never used it! All his previous actions were an intentional act!! Was this still a Fishman? Too sly and cunning! The rage of the Human Race youth soared, persistently in pursuit. However, the distance between them did not close as effortlessly as before. Meanwhile, the Human Race youth was also wary of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. It was wise of the youth not to engage the Deep Sea Monster Fish in battle; its absence could exert a more significant restraining effect. The light grew brighter, with both parties ascending rapidly towards the surface. The Man Yu youth activated his Blood Core, mutating into a Dragon-man form. This spectacle took the Human Race youth by surprise again, ¡°What in the world are you? Eh, is there a fleet up there?¡± Plop. With a surge of water, the Dragon-man youth leaped out, landing on the deck of the Justice. The pirates aboard the Justice had long been prepared. The Magic Devices used for reconnaissance had already tracked the seabed pursuit, and Zong Ge and Cang Xu immediately stood beside the Dragon-man youth. ¡°Be careful, the opponent is a Golden Level bard!¡± said the Dragon-man youth. The next moment, the Human Race youth broke through the sea surface, rising soaringly into the air, suspended high above, overlooking the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s fleet. ¡°Justice¡­ Pirate Group?¡± The Human Race youth squinted, about to twang the strings when he suddenly noticed a figure on the deck. His movement abruptly halted, ¡°Dressed in gray?¡± The figure in gray looked up and saw the Human Race youth, also exclaiming, ¡°Third in command?!¡± Chapter 306 - 306: Section 94: Turn Enemies into Friends Chapter 306: Section 94: Turn Enemies into Friends Firebeard Pirates¡¯ third-in-command, Feng Yao. A Holy Domain Level bard, universally recognized for his exceptional talent. He was once acclaimed as the genius most likely to ascend to legend in his era. It was precisely his dazzling talent that caught the Love God¡¯s attention. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Love God expressed her feelings to Feng Yao. However, Feng Yao rejected the Love God¡¯s advances. Angered, the Love God placed a curse on him. ... This is the infamous Curse of the Love God. ¡°Handsome man, can you really be so cruel?¡± ¡°I curse you, cruel one! You will fall in love with a woman you can never have, and you will be whipped by your desire. You¡¯ll wholeheartedly pursue her, only to be rejected time and again.¡± ¡°When you are rejected, you will feel the pain I am feeling now, the grief and agony in my heart.¡± ¡°You will be rejected once, twice, thrice¡­ endlessly. Your suffering will never cease!¡± Due to the curse, Feng Yao became one of the most charming pirates on the seas. He would always fall for those he shouldn¡¯t, like a queen, the wife of a legendary powerhouse, or a ferocious female pirate, and others. Blinded by love, he would recklessly pursue them, facing repeated setbacks, affecting not just his soul but also his body. He was injured time and time again, finding himself at keerocks-bottom. If it weren¡¯t for Firebeard¡¯s timely intervention, shielding him, he would have died. Feng Yao sank into deep guilt and self-reflection; not wanting to involve his pirate comrades, he voluntarily left the Firebeard Pirates, acting alone. Onboard Justice, a banquet was underway. Dressed in gray, he poured Feng Yao some fine wine, ¡°Third-in-command, aren¡¯t you a Holy Domain Level?¡± Feng Yao downed his full glass of wine, ¡°Alas, I entered the Half-plane within the Sea Eye, professed my love to Mei Lan, but was rejected. I was sealed, and my power dropped to Golden Level.¡± The others exchanged puzzled looks. Professing love to a goddess? This bard is really audacious. ¡°Wait, Mei Lan?¡± Cang Xu frowned, asking deliberately. Feng Yao honestly explained, ¡°When the Sky Pillar Sea Eye erupts, the hidden Half-plane opens slightly, connecting with the Main World. That¡¯s where Mei Lan¡¯s Main Temple is, and I have been inside.¡± ¡°I was unlucky in love, sealed by Mei Lan, and then injured by a Holy Beast.¡± ¡°But the Goddess didn¡¯t execute me; instead, she stopped the Holy Beast from killing me when it attempted to.¡± ¡°I was severely injured and was saved by Fishmen. They thought I was a blasphemer, but oddly Mei Lan hadn¡¯t killed me, so they imprisoned me.¡± ¡°Their attitude towards me was complex; on one hand, because Mei Lan¡¯s attitude towards me was unclear, and on the other, because I was the third-in-command of the Firebeard Pirates, they didn¡¯t want to provoke Firebeard.¡± ¡°As for Mei Lan¡­ Her identity is manifold, such as the Still Waters Goddess, Fish Goddess, Surf Goddess, and so on.¡± ¡°Then why are you here to kill our Captain?¡± Lan Zao demanded. Although he was only Bronze, he fervently worshiped and admired the Dragon-man youth, which is why he spoke harshly and looked fierce toward Feng Yao. Feng Yao stared deeply at the Dragon-man youth. ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding!¡± he said with a bitter smile, ¡°when Captain Long Fu caused a huge commotion in Sea Eye City, I didn¡¯t know his true identity and thought he was a Fishman.¡± ¡°The reason I wanted to pursue him was that I had received promises from the three Upper Tribes that would allow me to inherit the Divine Arts imprint from Captain Long Fu¡¯s body. With the qualification to participate in the Fish God¡¯s trial, I could smoothly re-enter the Half-plane.¡± ¡°Cough cough.¡± The Dragon-man youth coughed twice and explained, ¡°After I dived into the sea, I turned myself into a Fishman and then sneaked into Sea Eye City to scout out the enemy.¡± ¡°So, the captain can transform into a Fishman?¡± The experience on Mysterious Monster Island made Lan Zao and the others understand the secret of the youth as a Beastification People. Feng Yao gazed deeply at the Dragon-man youth: ¡°This is no simple scouting mission you undertook; you turned Sea Eye City upside down. At least twenty Black Iron Fishmen died at your hands, along with a Silver Level Spellcaster. You triggered a massive explosion, bombed the most important temple in Sea Eye City, enraged the hydra, causing countless losses of lives and properties, and almost destroyed Sea Eye City.¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a thing?!¡± ¡°Captain, what exactly did you do?¡± Everyone was extremely surprised. The Dragon-man youth coughed again: ¡°I considered the future scenarios, where Sky Pillar Sea Eye erupts and our Justice Pirate Group would inevitably clash with the forces of Sea Eye City. If possible, of course I would try to weaken the enemy¡¯s power. Unfortunately, if it weren¡¯t for your intervention with the hydra, Sea Eye City would have been ruined.¡± Feng Yao laughed heartily: ¡°Honestly, although I was under house arrest, I lived quite comfortably in jail. There was fine food and wine all day, and most importantly, I was near my goddess, which made me willing.¡± ¡°Therefore, when the Fishmen asked for my help, I didn¡¯t really want the goddess to be sad because of too many losses among the believers. After all, Mei Lan¡¯s condition isn¡¯t good; She has been in slumber, needing these believers to provide Faith and empower Her.¡± ¡°So, which side are you on now?¡± Cang Xu asked coldly, staring at Feng Yao. Feng Yao shrugged: ¡°I have the Love God¡¯s curse and also His blessing. Of course, I only found out about the latter recently, thanks to your captain¡¯s blessing.¡± ¡°I understand, I pursue Mei Lan because of the Love God¡¯s curse, but you might not understand that at this moment, I¡¯m truly willing and want to think of Mei Lan and help her.¡± ¡°I stand on Mei Lan¡¯s side.¡± ¡°Also, I stand on your side.¡± ¡°I am a person, and we are all Human Race.¡± ¡°One in Gray, Golden Chin, and the Sea Snake Lady are allies of the Justice Pirate Group, and naturally, so am I. I also want to thank you for helping my brothers and sisters.¡± Although Feng Yao stated it clearly, his stance remained complex. He was still unaware of the dealings of One in Gray, Golden Chin, and Sea Snake Lady quietly switching their allegiance to the Empire. The Dragon-man youth shifted the conversation: ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the Half-plane; we came here because I sneaked into Sea Eye City to scout the enemy, intending to enter it and search for treasures.¡± Feng Yao laughed again: ¡°So you¡¯re saying you also got clues about the treasure and that¡¯s why you came here?¡± ¡°Our original intention is the same.¡± ¡°But when I saw Mei Lan, I was completely attracted to Her; it was love at first sight for me!¡± One in Gray couldn¡¯t help but cough: ¡°Third in command, that¡¯s quite a lot of times you¡¯ve fallen in love at first sight.¡± Clue about the treasure? Dragon-man youth, Zong Ge, and Cang Xu focused on another critical point, all frowning slightly. The Dragon-man youth immediately asked another key question: ¡°How did you manage to track me down?¡± Chapter 307 - 307: Section 95: Extreme Risk Chapter 307: Section 95: Extreme Risk Feng Yao¡¯s expression became slightly solemn, ¡°This is the power of the Love God.¡± ¡°His curse is not simple; it will guide me.¡± ¡°I fell in love with the Charming Blue God, but I was expelled by Him and confined by the Fishmen. After suppressing the five-headed snake, the Love God¡¯s curse guided me to track you down.¡± ¡°I understand the meaning of the guidance, Captain Long Fu. You have eliminated so many Fishman elites and bear a large number of Divine Arts imprints.¡± ¡°If I take care of you, I can obtain these imprints and once again enter the Half-plane to meet the Charming Blue God.¡± Upon saying this, Feng Yao deeply sighed, ¡°I deeply hate the Love God and know that this is a curse. But the power of the gods is so immense. I know full well that I am being toyed with by the Love God, and I also know that such pursuit will inevitably end in failure.¡± ... ¡°Yet, every time, every single time, I can¡¯t help but follow the guidance to exert all my strength.¡± Seeing the once Holy Domain Level powerhouse, a historic genius bard express such helpless, bleak emotions, the crowd felt even more wary of the gods. The Dragon-man youth seemed thoughtful. He pondered in secret, ¡°Perhaps Feng Yao has misunderstood. The Love God¡¯s curse guides him not because of the Divine Arts imprints on me, but because of Pearl Bubble.¡± Pearl Bubble originates from the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, and this Divine Artifact is the only Divine Artifact of the Charming Blue God¡¯s Divine Power. If Feng Yao knew this secret, he would definitely seize the artifact to please the Charming Blue God. But he was completely distracted by the Divine Arts imprints and was unaware that the Justice Pirate Group possessed this artifact. The Dragon-man youth fully understood the situation. Pearl Bubble did not guard against the power of the Love God. Because the Love God is far more powerful than the Charming Blue God! The strength of gods is actually closely related to their Divine Office. Love ¡ª is a very broad concept, including familial love, friendship, romance, philanthropy, indulgence, benevolence, compassion, and care, among others. Of course, the Human Race¡¯s Love God leans more towards romantic love. Every living being experiences love. The Divine Office of the Charming Blue God involves deception and disguise, which conceptually is much narrower in scope than ¡°love¡± and tends to be negative. Such a negatively skewed concept makes it difficult to gain popularity, presenting a natural disadvantage in the development of Believers. Let¡¯s not forget that the Charming Blue God is also a deity of another race. An even more fatal factor is that in the realm of deception and disguise, there are Gods of Theft, Plunder, War, and so on. With these powerful gods present, a latecomer like the Charming Blue God had no room for growth. Apart from the reasons for the variation in gods¡¯ powers, there was another factor. That was the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s usage of Pearl Bubble, which was too rudimentary and superficial. If there were a priest or priest authorized by the Charming Blue God to use this Divine Artifact, Pearl Bubble would undoubtedly display the true power of its artifact class, unlike its current underwhelming performance. The Dragon-man youth pondered for a moment, ¡°Is there a way to transfer the Divine Arts imprints to you?¡± Feng Yao shook his head, displaying a helpless look, ¡°Unless a priest of the Charming Blue Divine Sect or someone of a higher Divine Office intervenes, there¡¯s no way.¡± ¡°However, even without the Divine Arts imprints, we still have a chance of entering the Half-plane.¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°To my knowledge, there are at least three methods of entering the Half-plane.¡± Feng Yao began to explain his information to everyone. The first method of entry is through the Divine Arts imprints. With the Divine Arts imprints, one can be directly drawn into the Half-plane during the eruption of the Sky Pillar Sea Eye to participate in the Fish God¡¯s trial. This method is a hundred percent certain and the safest of all. ¡°` The second method was to learn from the followers of the Evil God. Like those who used to dwell in the temple, they would hold prayers or conduct ceremonies when the Sky Pillar rose. If they gained the favor of the Gods, perhaps they would be pulled into the Half-plane. This method was unreliable and basically had no pattern. Sometimes during an eruption, it could attract fifty to sixty believers, but sometimes not even one. The third method, and the most straightforward one, was a frontal breakthrough. Feng Yao slowly explained, ¡°The eruption of the Sky Pillar Sea Eye has three stages. The first stage is the ascent, where the fountain rises from low to high. The second stage is the maintenance stage, where the giant fountain maintains at a certain height. The third stage is the descent, where the fountain falls from high to low, slowly descending until it disappears.¡± ¡°In the second stage, the Half-plane will connect with the Main World, forming a huge fissure through which ships can pass.¡± ¡°Through this fissure, we would be able to reach the Half-plane.¡± ¡°However, this route is also the most dangerous.¡± ¡°Every time this happens, the Holy Beast of the Charming Blue Divine Sect personally guards the fissure, blocking the entrance within the Half-plane.¡± ¡°When I originally broke through, it also took a lot of effort.¡± The pirates of the Justice Pirate Group instantly turned pale. Holy Beast! As the name implies, it is a Magic Beast of Holy Domain Level. According to the information from Sea Eye City, it should be the mother of the five-headed snake, Holy Domain Level six-headed snake. The six-headed snake not only has one offspring, the Justice Pirate Group is up against the deep-sea multi-headed serpent clan. In fact, just the single six-headed snake could annihilate the entire Justice Pirate Group. The risks were very great. If possible, the Dragon-man youth would never take such a risk. But there was no choice! Without the cover of Pearl Bubble, they were doomed. So, even if the risks were great, the Justice Pirate Group had to give it a try. The Dragon-man youth continued to ask Feng Yao for information about the interior of the Half-plane. It must be said, they were lucky to get information from Feng Yao in time. According to Feng Yao¡¯s description, the space within the Half-plane was not large; the most prominent structure was the Charming Blue Divine Temple. This temple was incredibly vast and majestic, like a mountain, standing in the midst of the sea. The Charming Blue Divine Temple was thus divided into two parts. Above the water surface was the Temple above the water, and the part of the temple that was below the water level was the Underwater Temple. The two sections of the temple did not interconnect; to enter, one had to pass through the various absorption holes deep within the temple. ¡°If we have the Divine Arts imprint, we would be directly transported to the core area of the Underwater Temple.¡± ¡°If we force our way through, we need to enter the absorption holes and try our luck; if we¡¯re lucky, we could enter the Underwater Temple. If not, we¡¯d still be wandering in the Temple above the water.¡± ¡°There¡¯s another problem,¡± Zong Ge inquired, ¡°How should we leave the Half-plane?¡± Feng Yao shook his head, ¡°I was directly expelled by the Charming Blue Goddess, but logically speaking, to leave we would have to return the same way we came.¡± ¡°And time is of the essence.¡± ¡°Once the Sky Pillar fountain enters the third stage, the passage to and from the outside world and the Half-plane would disappear.¡± ¡°Everyone would be trapped in the Half-plane, like fish in a barrel.¡± For a moment, the high ranks of the Justice Pirate Group all had very solemn expressions. ¡°` Chapter 308 - 308: Section 96: Preparation Chapter 308: Section 96: Preparation The Mei Lan Temple was not an easy place to breach. It could be said to be extremely difficult! After all, it was the Main Temple of a deity, fortified with very strict defenses. According to Feng Yao¡¯s intelligence, the Main Temple was home not only to the Holy Beast but also to a large number of clergy and temple guards. The clergy of the Mei Lan deity specialized in deception and disguise, having multiple identities, so the believers within the Main Temple also came from a wide range of sources, not only Fishmen but also Naga, mermaids, Sea Elves, and so on. Although the Justice Pirate Group had been rapidly developing since its inception, expanding forcefully, and growing at an astonishing rate, surpassing a thousand members, with several Silver Level powerhouses serving as senior members, having defeated the Gold and Silver Hook brothers, the Justice Pirate Group had already made a bit of a name for itself in the Night Spirit Sea Domain. ... But compared to the stationary forces of the Mei Lan deity¡¯s Main Temple, they still seemed like a small arm and leg. Fortunately, having reached a temporary alliance with Feng Yao, the Justice Pirate Group now temporarily had a Golden Level powerhouse. The concern was that this bard¡¯s stance was very unclear. It was very possible that upon reaching the depths of the temple, he would be turned against them by the Mei Lan deity. Was he a powerful arm of support, or a delayed exploding bomb? It was hard to say. But the Justice Pirate Group had already been driven to the edge of the cliff, with the stock of Pearl Bubble nearing depletion. They had no choice but to make the plunge. The day of the Sky Pillar Sea Eye eruption drew closer and closer, and everyone was preparing with all their might. At the heart of the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, a Frozen Land Whale was being besieged by the Justice Pirate Group. The scene was like ten hyenas encircling a giant elephant. The immense Frozen Land Whale let out a long whale call, and the seawater around it seemed to heed its invitation, swelling up into a huge wave. The enormous waves slammed against the ten warships of the Justice Pirate Group. Each warship tilted before steadfastly resisting the pressure. The waves carried a powerful slap, but to little effect. Witnessing this scene, Cang Xu felt a wave of relief. Most of the pirate ships had been reinforced with a layer of crystal gel, personally applied by Cang Xu himself. The crystal gel coating the hull was a once-popular alchemy technique that significantly improved the ship¡¯s resistance to water pressure. The hulls of the Justice Pirate Group became much more resilient. Of course, not all ships were covered with a layer of crystal gel. The Justice was an exception. This was because the Justice itself was the latest ship model of the Empire, crafted with metal coating alchemy technology, superior to the crystal gel. Splash, splash, splash¡­ The huge waves attacked in endless succession. Although the Justice Pirate Group could resist the exclusion of the massive waves, the bombs fired were weakened by the layers of waves. The ships, trying to approach the Frozen Land Whale, were also repelled by the massive waves. The Frozen Land Whale¡¯s Magic Crystal grew above its forehead, clear and translucent, like a deep blue crystal mirror, exposed on the outside. At this moment, the Magic Crystal shone brightly, consuming the vast Magic Power to maintain this Talent Ability that came naturally. Zong Ge, the Half-Beast, commanded this naval battle. Usually, the Dragon-man youth delegated authority to him. Because Zong Ge¡¯s command on the battlefield far exceeded that of the youth. Seeing the unending waves, Zong Ge decisively ordered, ¡°All combat ships, submerge into the sea!¡± The command was instantly transmitted across all ships through the Magic Device, followed by flags signaling the same message. So, cries of ¡°Prepare to submerge!¡± erupted from each pirate ship. On the decks, pirates moved swiftly, personnel hustled, and all unrelated individuals entered the cabins. Those who remained were mostly Transcendents. These individuals skillfully pulled out potions and drank them in one gulp. Magic Potion¡ªUnderwater Breathing! The helmsman pulled the lever, simultaneously bellowing, ¡°Begin flooding!¡± The ship¡¯s bottom and cabin lit up with magic¡¯s glow, the hull turning transparent, the previously tight boards dissolving into nothingness as copious amounts of seawater were sucked into the ballast tanks. The pirate ships rapidly sank. Soon, the water level rose above the decks. Pirates lingering on the decks swiftly tied themselves around the waist with ropes and widened their eyes as they entered the water. The Underwater Breathing Potions took effect, and they breathed freely underwater. Almost simultaneously with the submarines¡¯ descent, Fishmen warriors came swarming, shouting as they charged. Pirates wielding various weapons, scimitars and Stabbing Swords, and the like, engaged in combat with the Fishmen. Cannon ports opened, one by one, cannons were pushed out. The surging seawater, however, was powerless against these cannons, as they too were coated with a thick layer of crystal gel. Even between the cannons and the muzzle was a layer of gel, sealing out the water. The gunners had been ready for a while, and upon hearing the command, they opened fire. Magic Power from the Mana Pool was channeled into these Bronze Cannons, Black Iron Cannons, and Silver Cannons. Boom, boom, boom! Cannons fired, stirring up terrifying swirls. Various shrapnel shells exploded in the water, and Fishmen screamed amidst the plasma; scattering iron spikes shot them dead, leaving them resembling hedgehogs. Within a few breaths, the space between the pirate ships was almost completely emptied of Fishmen and sea beasts. Only a small portion on the decks still put up a stubborn resistance. Zong Ge ordered again, aiming the cannon muzzles at the frozen land whale. The frozen land whale stopped its Talent Ability and dived into the sea to engage the Justice Pirate Group. Soon, the Silver Level sea beast was hit by numerous bombs, becoming scarred and battered. Zong Ge, through the Magic Device, watched the battle situation with rapt attention. A glimmer of sharpness flashed in his eyes, ¡°Order, switch all Silver Cannons to Drill Gun Bullets!¡± The Drill Gun Bullets, shaped like long spears with spiraled heads, once fired, would spin rapidly, drilling through the water and deeply embedding into the body of the frozen land whale. After that, the whale¡¯s blood would spray out continuously along the hollow gun barrel. Thus, the frozen land whale gradually fell into a disadvantage. Feng Yao watched the battle from aboard the Justice. The endless variety of ammunition used by the Justice Pirate Group surprised him. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Never thought that half-beast could actually have such command talent, under his direction, the ten pirate ships move in and out with rationale, cooperating with each other. The encirclement they formed seems fragile, but in reality, it¡¯s very tough, firmly trapping the frozen land whale.¡± ¡°His aura is very close to Golden Level now. Once he gains promotion, he might give Captain Long Fu a headache.¡± ¡°Hehe, the battle is decided.¡± The frozen land whale seemed to sense its end, launching its final counterattack. Ice cones rained down like a torrential downpour from it as the center, indiscriminately striking in all directions. The first to suffer were its vassal Fishmen. Then, numerous ice cones pierced through the crystal film glue and shot into the ship¡¯s hull. With great force, the ice cones pierced even the Justice, which was coated with metal. At the cannon position, Bai Ya was bent over, lifting a bomb, intending to load it into the cannon muzzle when an ice cone came hurtling, nearly piercing his head. The crystal film glue broke, and seawater rushed in. But Bai Ya remained unflustered, having long drunk an Underwater Breathing Potion. However, the next moment, a Fishman Warrior suddenly squeezed through the breach in the crystal film glue and into the ship. His trident aimed directly at Bai Ya¡¯s face. Bai Ya¡¯s pupils constricted sharply. Death loomed suddenly, leaving him powerless to resist! The trident came to a halt a finger¡¯s width from Bai Ya¡¯s eyes, and the Fishman in front of him also showed a look of terror. The next moment, the Fishman was yanked away with a swoosh. There was a crisp crack, and the Bronze Level Fishman Warrior was bent backward, breaking and dying on the spot. ¡°Ow! Gurgling, gurgling, gurgling¡­¡± Bai Ya heard the roar of the Big Guy again, but the roar cut off abruptly, followed by the sounds of him being flooded with seawater. ¡°It was him who saved me!¡± Bai Ya instantly realized who his savior was. This was just a corner of the battlefield. The real decisive battle had already begun. The gaze of Cang Xu, Zong Ge, and Feng Yao, among others, was fixed on the Fishman youth. Now that his secret of mutating into a Fishman was exposed, the youth brazenly transformed in public, and in the form of a Fishman, killed his way to the front of the frozen land whale. Holding dual blades, he exhibited the Red Scales Chaotic Dance. With his Wave Stepping technique, he moved with extraordinary agility. The low-intelligence, massive-bodied frozen land whale was butchered by the swirling blades, howling continuously. ¡°So it turns out that Captain Long Fu¡¯s real identity isn¡¯t that of a Dragon-man.¡± ¡°He¡¯s actually a Druid, and the Dragon-man is just one of his many transformation forms.¡± ¡°With his combined talents in magic and martial arts, no wonder the Lion Flag has submitted to him!¡± Under the youth¡¯s secret arrangements, ¡°answers¡± and ¡°truths¡± spread rapidly among the pirates. Feng Yao¡¯s gaze lingered on the Fishman youth, having profoundly experienced the fierceness of the youth¡¯s blade skills. ¡°But that Golden Level sea beast never showed up.¡± Feng Yao harbored a grudge against the mysterious sea beast that almost killed him. Yet, during his days with the Justice Pirate Group, he couldn¡¯t find any information on the sea beast. He understood that this was probably Captain Long Fu¡¯s hidden ace. ¡°This guy is very cunning indeed.¡± ¡°The Druid identity, has only now truly been exposed.¡± ¡°No, maybe he¡¯s not a Druid at all. His ability to transform into two different forms could also be due to flesh-and-blood magic or an Evil God¡¯s blessing.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± A thrill of horror suddenly surged in Feng Yao¡¯s heart. The next moment, he saw the Fishman youth suddenly revert back to his Dragon-man form, then draw a gun from his waist. With the gun aimed at the frozen land whale beneath the youth¡¯s feet, he promptly pulled the trigger. Roar!!! The phantom of a Fire Dragon flashed and was gone in an instant, while its roaring filled the entire battlefield. A bullet, condensed from Fire Element, shot fiercely into the brain case of the frozen land whale, and then, with a boom, it exploded. Most of the frozen land whale¡¯s head was blown away, with blood gushing wildly, instantly drowning out the youth¡¯s figure. ¡°What sort of weapon is that? Just now, did I feel a hint of a Legendary Level presence?¡± Feng Yao¡¯s expression changed, his heart greatly shaken. Chapter 309 - 309: Section 97: Me, Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts Chapter 309: Section 97: Me, Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts Whir, whir, whir¡­ The tidal waves surged, creating huge vortices on the ocean surface. Visibly, the water within the area of the Sky Pillar Sea Eye flowed faster and faster. The closer to the center of the Sea Eye, the more turbulent the current became, and it dipped downwards like a funnel. Usually, this funnel was not very noticeable, but now the center of the Sea Eye was at least five to six hundred meters lower than the normal sea level. To avoid being swept into the surging waves, many marine creatures had started migrating outward a week earlier, forming a brief Beast Tide. ... The Justice Pirate Group had encountered a frozen land whale three days ago, which was part of this Beast Tide. Now, the ten pirate ships and one supply ship of the Justice Pirate Group were all stationed at the outermost periphery of the Sea Eye. Today was the day the Sky Pillar would rise! The Dragon-man youth, the Half-Beast Zong Ge, Cang Xu, clad in gray, Feng Yao, and others stood on the deck or hovered in the air, gazing into the distance. The Sea Eye had receded to its limit, like a bowstring fully drawn or a tightly coiled spring suddenly released. Boom, boom, boom! With a tremendous roar, a surge of water shot up from the very center of the Sea Eye. The water surged tremendously, a massive scale resembling a white hill emerging from the sea. It rose higher and higher, and within a few breaths, it had reached dozens of meters in height. After five or six minutes, the water column had risen to a height of three to four hundred meters, but owing to its large radius, it still gave a robust and solid impression. On the pirate ships, many marveled in amazement. ¡°The Sky Pillar Sea Eye has finally erupted,¡± the youth withdrew his gaze. In the days to come, the water column would continue to rise. Though its pace would slow down, it was still expected to exceed two thousand meters in height by tonight! According to Feng Yao¡¯s information, this was just the first stage of the Sky Pillar Sea Eye¡¯s eruption; only in the second stage would they be able to enter the Half-plane. The Dragon-man youth went to the combat room, securely closed the door, activated the Magic Device, and then sat cross-legged on the floor. He did not train in Fighting energy but instead began to meditate. Meditation was a pathway for Mages to cultivate. The meditative technique the youth practiced at this moment was a common one obtained from Cang Xu. As a Mage, Cang Xu had not only gathered the Undead School¡¯s methods of meditation but also collected many others from different schools. This was his third time cultivating through this method. A qualitative change was triggered by quantitative change ¡ª a subtle transformation occurred within the youth¡¯s body ¡ª the Mana Pool had finally opened. The youth¡¯s eyes closed, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted. At this moment, a faint joy spread through his heart. Thus, his Mage cultivation could be considered to have started; he now possessed his own Mana Pool. Of course, this Mana Pool¡¯s capacity was very small. Although he was of the Silver Level, his Mage cultivation had just begun. The next step was to accumulate Mana. His spirit spread out, filling the entire combat training room, capturing the Fire Element within the space. With his spirit¡¯s guidance, the Fire Element slowly entered his body, and bit by bit, like fireflies, gathered in the Mana Pool. Little by little, a thin layer of Fire Element Mana formed in his Mana Pool. This was related to both his King of Flame Dragon Bloodline and the fact that his meditation technique was of the Fire Element. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s aura gradually changed. On the foundation of Fighting energy, a hint of Mana aura was added. As time passed, this wisp of Mana aura became more evident until it reached its peak. ¡°The Mana Pool is filled,¡± the Dragon-man youth slowly opened his eyes, ending his meditation. Even though the youth had primarily trained in Fighting energy before, his attempts told him that his speed of Mana accumulation was quite rapid. ¡°The meditation technique is very common, and the cultivation environment is poor. Mainly, it is because of the King of Flame Dragon Bloodline¡­¡± The youth needed to gather Fire Element to convert into Mana, but the vast sea was filled with Water Element, making Fire Element relatively rare. This place was a combat training room, not a meditation cultivation room. Although there was a Magic Device, it only shielded internal noise. Generally, when Mages meditate, they actively adjust the external environment. The higher the concentration of corresponding elements in the external environment, the more beneficial the cultivation. Therefore, many times Mages would use Element Crystals and set up Arrays to actively increase the concentration of elements in the surrounding environment. A Mage¡¯s efficiency in a Mage Tower is more than ten times that without a tower. The King of Flame Dragon Bloodline, truly a Legendary Level Bloodline, holds tremendous potential for training both Fighting energy and magic. ¡°Actually, the Blood Core¡¯s records of the Flame Dragon royal bloodline are incomplete; it¡¯s only a fragmented state.¡± In this world, talent is the primary factor for cultivation. Even Divine Officers are no exception. Those who can carry more Divine Power are those with superior aptitude. In fact, the Dragon-man youth had some expectations for his prospects in magic cultivation, but it was only now that he began practicing both magic and martial arts. Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts sounds impressive, but it actually entails significant challenges. For instance, balancing Fighting energy and Mana, allowing them to coexist harmoniously. Also, managing energy and time, determining how to allocate resources to both training aspects. If possible, the Dragon-man youth did not want to cultivate magic. Because he knew his time, energy, and resources were limited, and the external environment was unfriendly; cultivating magic was not as effective as focusing solely on fighting energy. But due to the circumstances, he had to start practicing magic. The main reason was to protect the Blood Core. Being mistaken for a Druid was a situation the youth wanted. After all, Druid is part of the magic system and it was impossible to explain the absence of mana fluctuations. Moreover, looking at the bigger picture, dual cultivation of magic and combat skills would best utilize the advantages of the Blood Core. Another reason was the Fire Gun Dragon¡¯s Kiss. This Firearm had been verified by Cang Xu and Fat Tongue among others and confirmed to be authentic! A Legendary Level short-barreled firearm. This made Fat Tongue deeply admire the youth. Legendary weapons were extremely rare and he could not believe the youth had casually stumbled upon one. Truth be told, during the youth¡¯s exploration of the ocean floor, this Firearm was his greatest find. But the Dragon¡¯s Kiss Firearm was not without damage. All equipment required maintenance, and Legendary weapons sometimes demanded even more stringent and costly care. Currently, the Dragon¡¯s Kiss Firearm could only exert a Golden Level attack. The Dragon-man youth had already specially tried this against the frozen continent whale. Every legendary piece of equipment has its own legendary story. The Dragon¡¯s Kiss was no exception. This famous firearm was created at the end of the Barbarian Dragon Era when Barbarians were the most dominant rulers in the world. Barbarians rode the Dragon Clan, ruling supreme and suffocating other races. Barbarian warships ravaged every continent¡¯s coastline, bringing severe damage to all races, unstoppable by anyone. The original Pirate Throne was forged by the Barbarians. At the end of the Barbarian Dragon Era, the conflict between the Barbarians and the Dragon Clan was irreconcilable, and their alliance was shattered. Blood Ash, a legendary Barbarian hero, was a hybrid of both races. His father was a Barbarian, his mother a Dragon, both holding high positions. But at his birthday party, the Dragon Clan schemed and assassinated many of the Barbarian dignitaries in attendance. His father was powerful in combat, but his mother used him as a hostage, blackmailing his father. To protect him, his father was severely injured and on the brink of death. At the crisis point, the Barbarians fiercely guarded him and broke out from the encirclement. Blood Ash escaped with his life, and the few surviving Barbarians returned to their tribe, while his father died of his severe injuries in his arms. Blood Ash was devastated. He cremated his father, combined his ashes with blood, and covered himself with it. Blood Ash vowed revenge from then on. He was exceptionally talented and with great support from the Barbarians, he did not disappoint, growing into a powerful Transcendent, proficient in both magic and martial arts. He slaughtered many strong members of the Dragon Clan, who then had to set traps and resort to cunning schemes. His mother, pretending to be a fugitive from the Dragon Clan and pursued by her own kind, told Blood Ash that his father¡¯s death was all a deception rooted in deep misunderstanding. Feeling the bond of kinship and deceived by well-crafted evidence, Blood Ash chose to believe temporarily and sought to investigate, only to fall into a trap set by the Dragon Clan. The Barbarians dispatched their strong warriors immediately for a rescue, and Blood Ash was saved. Blood Ash¡¯s mentor perished. Overcome by sorrow and regret, Blood Ash personally executed his mother and took her Dragon Body to the Dwarf tribe. The Dwarf king personally crafted the Fire Gun Dragon¡¯s Kiss from the Dragon Corpse. This firearm was reserved for use only by those with Barbarian or Dragon Blood. For Barbarians, it had no drawbacks but required the consumption of Fire Element Crystals and fighting energy. For the Dragon Clan, aside from consuming their own fighting energy or mana, it also reduced the concentration of their Dragon Blood. Throughout his life, Blood Ash detested the Dragon Blood within him and sought to remove it. But to remove a bloodline is incredibly challenging, so the Dwarf king gathered all the skilled craftsmen of his tribe to conceive the design schematics of the Fire Gun Dragon¡¯s Kiss. After acquiring the Dragon¡¯s Kiss, Blood Ash wreaked havoc everywhere. On the brutal battlefield, he gradually transformed himself into a pure Barbarian. Eventually, he became a renowned hero in the history of the Barbarians. And the Dragon¡¯s Kiss became one of his signatures. The Dragon-man youth examined the Fire Gun Dragon¡¯s Kiss in his hands: ¡°Overall, this Firearm has many usage limitations. But for me, consuming Dragon Blood is not an issue.¡± He had already tested it. When used in his Dragon-man state, this Firearm indeed caused a significant decrease in the concentration of his internal Dragon Blood. However, once he activated the Blood Core again, he could quickly return to his previous peak! ¡°If this adventure succeeds, I really need to recruit an Alchemist next.¡± ¡°Without a seasoned Alchemist, my Dragon¡¯s Kiss will not be repairable.¡± He was thinking too far ahead and quickly reined in his rampant thoughts. For now, the priority still lay with the Mei Lan Temple. Chapter 310 - 310: Section 98: Desecration Priest Cang Xu Chapter 310: Section 98: Desecration Priest Cang Xu sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡­ who am I?¡± The Fishman with brown scales opened his eyes. Before him was a ceiling made of metal. He looked around and found himself lying on a thin metal bed. Other than that, there was nothing else in the room. ¡°Where on earth is this?¡± ¡°Who am I?¡± When the brown-scaled Fishman delved into this question, he couldn¡¯t help but hold his head with both hands, feeling a soul-deep, intense agony. ... ¡°I¡­ I remember now!¡± ¡°My name is Hehehe.¡± ¡°The reason why it¡¯s this name is that when I laugh, I make a ¡®hehehe¡¯ sound.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, I am the black-scaled Fishman Hehehe.¡± ¡°But why?!¡± ¡°Why are my fish scales brown?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not right!¡± ¡°None of this is right!¡± Bang. A soft sound rang out, the brain of the brown-scaled Fishman exploded in a minor burst. In an instant, the fishman¡¯s brains and blood covered the floor, walls, and ceiling of the metal room. ¡°Subject No. 213 is a failure,¡± Cang Xu said, his voice cold and expressionless. He was standing just on the other side of the wall, using a spell to see through it, observing the state of the Fishman and witnessed the entire process of his self-explosion. Cang Xu wasn¡¯t discouraged in the slightest, instead, he searched for the cause of the experiment¡¯s failure. He channeled mana, activating the prepared Undead Array, absorbing the Fishman¡¯s soul into the space of the Array. The Fishman¡¯s soul emitted a dreadful wail before vanishing into nothingness. Cang Xu, however, obtained a wealth of memory images, most importantly the memories from just before the Fishman¡¯s death. He found the reason. ¡°In the memories I infused into him, his identity was that of the brown-scaled Fishman Gagaga, but he recalled his name being Hehehe, and also believed himself to be a black-scaled Fishman.¡± ¡°But Hehehe wasn¡¯t his original name at all.¡± Cang Xu turned around and walked over to a metal workbench, opening the box on top. Once this metal box was opened, its mechanical structure would change, forming a three-tiered step arrangement. On these three tiers, hundreds of Memory Crystals were neatly arranged. Cang Xu casually picked out the Memory Crystal of the subject. He took the Memory Crystal, walked a few steps to the side, and faced a Magic Device that was taller than a person. It was a Memory Crystal Manufacturing Device. Cang Xu inserted the Memory Crystal into a slot in the Magic Device and channeled mana into it. The Memory Crystal Device began to flicker with light, conjuring up a blur of light and shadows. Within them flickered the life memories of the Fishman subject. The memories rapidly played back, and Cang Xu found the origin of ¡°Hehehe.¡± Turns out, during his childhood, this Fishman had encountered and was saved by a Fishman with powerful black scales. He did not know the other¡¯s name, but the peculiar laughter of his savior left a lasting impression on him. ¡°Perhaps subconsciously, he wanted to become a Fishman like his life-saving benefactor.¡± At this moment, footsteps came from outside the door. Cang Xu immediately recognized it was the youth, and he opened the door proactively. ¡°Old Scholar, I heard you have made some encouraging progress?¡± the youth asked with a smile. Now in human form, he didn¡¯t need to expend demon energy to maintain his mutation in the absence of outsiders on the Deep Sea Monster Fish. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Cang Xu bowed slightly, ¡°My research on Memory Crystals has born fruit, of course, this is also thanks to the Magic Book seized from the secret chamber at the bottom of the sea.¡± The youth¡¯s eyes gleamed, ¡°Does this mean you can become a Desecration Priest now?¡± If within the Justice Pirate Group there was a Desecration Priest, then the chances of stealing Divine Power would be much greater. ¡°Theoretically, I¡¯ve thoroughly researched it, and now only a crucial experiment is missing,¡± said Cang Xu, ¡°This is exactly why I invited my lord to preside over this experiment, for I am the subject.¡± The youth¡¯s expression changed slightly: ¡°Why take the field yourself?¡± ¡°It¡¯s indeed somewhat risky,¡± Cang Xu sighed, ¡°But we have no choice. First, among the survivors from Mysterious Monster Island, there is no one else suitable other than me. Choosing someone beyond the survivors would be troublesome. Second, I need to experience it personally to grasp the key point. Third, forcibly using others for the trial, I¡¯ve done many times already, all failed.¡± The extraction of the Memory Crystal required the cooperation of the subject. If an external force tried to forcibly extract it, failure was likely, and even if the process were successful, the memories obtained would be disordered or shattered beyond repair. ¡°This is my primary memory, please safeguard it well,¡± Cang Xu said as he approached another metal box, opened it, and took out a Memory Crystal that was carefully stored within. ¡°I will go into the room next door and attempt to become a Desecration Priest.¡± ¡°First, I¡¯ll manipulate the Memory Crystal Device to store all my memories in a single Memory Crystal. This way, my memories will be erased. After that, I will fall into a deep sleep. Please then instill into me another set of memories.¡± At this point, Cang Xu took another Memory Crystal from the metal box. ¡°The memories stored in this crystal are about the faithful believers of the Fish God. I¡¯ve modified them to be very coherent, with no errors.¡± ¡°Afterward, please isolate me and monitor my condition through the Magic Device.¡± ¡°If I clutch my head in unbearable pain, please intervene in a timely manner and knock me unconscious.¡± ¡°However, the likelihood of that scenario is quite small. If the experiment is successful, it means I will have completely become a believer of the Fish God, with absolutely no doubts about myself and my memories.¡± ¡°Three hours after I wake up, if I seem stable, activate the Magic Device to knock me unconscious again. Then, using the Memory Crystal you hold, transplant those memories back into me.¡± The youth listened intently to Cang Xu¡¯s instructions, committing them to heart. He repeated them several times, receiving Cang Xu¡¯s correct confirmation each time. Then, the two sprang into action. Cang Xu opened the door to the adjacent cabin, where the sight of bloodstains and mutilated Fishman corpses caused the youth to flinch slightly. Cang Xu pointed to the Fishman corpses and explained, ¡°This is why I must erase all my memories.¡± ¡°When it comes to memory modification, the techniques are extremely delicate, and my understanding of them is very limited.¡± ¡°Sometimes, even when all memories related to identity have been erased, the subjects still refuse to accept the new identity that is instilled into them. Self-awareness can undergo uncontrollable and unimaginable deviations for a variety of reasons.¡± ¡°If the experiment fails and something unexpected happens¡­¡± Cang Xu hesitated for a moment: ¡°If possible, please pass my cultivation notes to that person.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± the youth nodded. The experiment began. Following the steps outlined by Cang Xu, the youth executed them strictly and methodically. Cang Xu, newly implanted with memories, slowly came to consciousness. ¡°Who¡­ am I?¡± ¡°I am¡­ I am Yigu.¡± ¡°I am a Mage, of the Black Iron Level, but I worship the God of Fish.¡± ¡°Yes, I am a cultist, imprisoned. Who the enemy is, I have no idea. I was ambushed!¡± The youth calmly observed as Cang Xu struggled to free himself but failed to unlock the Magic Ban shackles on him. The Magic Ban shackles, produced by the War Merchant, were of decent quality. After hundreds of attempts by Cang Xu, all unsuccessful, his emotions collapsed, and he began to pray to the Fish God time and again. Three hours later, the youth knocked out Cang Xu and transferred back his original memories. Cang Xu awoke once more. ¡°Sir, it was a success!¡± Even after being altered by the Undead Magic, he couldn¡¯t hide his excitement. ¡°I have a doubt,¡± the youth said, furrowing his brow. ¡°The Silver Mage from New Moon Town, how did he become a Desecration Priest? If we use the same method as we did, how could he recover his true identity afterward?¡± Cang Xu replied, ¡°There might be two scenarios. First, he might not be alone and had an accomplice. However, I¡¯m more inclined toward the second possibility ¨C he had set up a specific awakening mechanism. He likely modified a Memory Crystal to act as a personal item. Upon meeting a certain condition, this item would activate and instill memories into him.¡± The youth pondered further, ¡°So, is it possible that we could remove him before he reawakens to his true identity?¡± ¡°There is such a possibility. But how shall we find him?¡± asked Cang Xu. ¡°It¡¯s simple. When he infiltrated the cultists, his identity was that of an ordinary person. If we find a Silver Mage among the cultists, it is likely him.¡± However, Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°That Undead Mage has hidden his true Cultivation, and whatever method he used, we do not know. But since he is confident enough to desecrate Mei Lan, it proves he is very confident in his disguise. It¡¯s very likely we won¡¯t be able to detect him.¡± ¡°You make a sound analysis,¡± the youth nodded with a sigh of resignation. This was an unstable factor. During the commotion in Sea Eye City, the Fishman youth had considered targeting the Undead Mage but had never managed to pinpoint him. ¡°Let¡¯s hope he doesn¡¯t become an obstruction during our temple journey.¡± As the youth was pondering, the Tower Spirit¡¯s warning suddenly rang out. Something was amiss at sea! Transforming into a Dragon-man, the youth, together with Cang Xu, dived back to the Justice. The Justice Pirate Group was involved in a tense stand-off with a troop of Sea Giants. The leader of the Sea Giants was of the Golden Level, and there were no fewer than six Silver Level Sea Giants in their ranks! Chapter 311 - 311: Section 99: I was too emotionally invested at the time! Chapter 311: Section 99: I was too emotionally invested at the time! On the sea surface, the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s ten warships and one supply ship were in a distant standoff with a small troop of Sea Giants. The youth climbed onto the ship¡¯s rail to look into the distance and immediately frowned. Sea Giants were massive and physically superior to the Human Race, often a Bronze Level Sea Giant alone could easily capsize a sea fan sailing ship. The Justice Pirate Group had also eradicated Sea Giants before. The previous Sea Giant threat comprised only one individual, and it already posed a considerable challenge for the entire Justice Pirate Group. Now, there were not only a total of seven Sea Giants, but also their strength was formidable, six of Silver Level and one of Golden Level! If a fight really broke out, the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s warships could only engage from a distance; once a Sea Giant got close, the ships would be easily torn apart. Only a few ships like the ¡°Justice¡± with a metal coating could withstand an attack for a short while. ... What also put pressure on the youth was the clearly superior equipment of these Sea Giants. The Sea Giant he had previously slain was nearly naked, draped in a fishing net on its upper body with shells tied to it, serving as rudimentary armor. He wore a yellowed sailcloth around his waist. Even his weapon was just a picked-up ship anchor. But this group of Sea Giants was evidently different; first of all, they were draped in huge Frozen Land Whale skins, which were top-notch armor materials by themselves. The whale skins they wore had obviously been treated magically, not only fitted over their heads but also draped over their shoulders and covering the upper part of their backs. The leading Golden Level Sea Giant was wearing a pair of huge metal gauntlets, and the female Sea Giant at the Silver Level, likely a Vice Leader lying on a huge chest, held a star-shaped pendant as big as a ship¡¯s helm. That was a Magic Pendant, exuding an aura of Silver Level. It was clearly a spellcasting tool. The other Silver Level Sea Giants were also armed with weapons, some with knives, some with harpoons, and even those with ship anchors were of Black Iron grade weapons. ¡°Who are they? Where do they come from?¡± the Dragon-man youth asked. Lan Zao¡¯s expression was grave, ¡°They claim to be from the Flowing Food tribe. The one leading them is named Fist Ba, and his sister, standing to his right, is named Xiong Xing. These people are primarily here to cause trouble for Master Feng Yao.¡± The Dragon-man youth lightly raised an eyebrow, using his gaze to ask Feng Yao beside him. Feng Yao sighed, ¡°I once pursued Xiong Xing.¡± Everyone stared wide-eyed, once again critically examining the female Sea Giant standing tall and erect, her body green, with large nostrils and a chest like a hillock. ¡°A curse from the Love God?¡± the Dragon-man youth questioned. Feng Yao, too, widened his eyes, ¡°What else?¡± Cang Xu frowned, ¡°Even if you pursued her, why does it seem like there¡¯s such deep hatred?¡± Feng Yao sighed again and explained, ¡°As a suitor, I approached Xiong Xing. At that time, I was of Holy Domain Level and was entertained with a banquet by the clan elder of the Flowing Food tribe. Xiong Xing already had someone in her heart, but I didn¡¯t know. The Flowing Food tribe¡¯s Sea Giants kept that information from me and hosted me generously.¡± ¡°In pursuit of Xiong Xing, I did a lot for them. I eliminated Holy Domain Level Sea Monsters for them, drove away dangerous shark packs, and helped establish trade relations with Human Race merchants.¡± After all, Feng Yao was of Holy Domain Level, and only the clan elder in the Flowing Food tribe matched that. Feng Yao¡¯s value for exploitation was immense. ¡°But no matter how much I did, Xiong Xing always kept me at arm¡¯s length, merely going through the motions. I knew she and the other Sea Giants of the Flowing Food tribe wanted to use me. But my heart was filled with longing for love, and I was willing to give selflessly. I hoped that one day she would see my devotion and change her heart.¡± ¡°My love for her deepened uncontrollably, but I still had a clear mind that kept telling me the harsh truth. Nevertheless, I continued to work for the Flowing Food tribe, and being able to catch a glimpse of Xiong Xing each day satisfied me greatly.¡± ¡°One day, I followed the guidance of a curse from the Love God and snuck into a hidden trench at sea. There, I accidentally found Xiong Xing secretly meeting with a Sea Giant.¡± ¡°I had no idea she had a beloved. I was furious and struck out in anger. Xiong Xing and her lover fought back against me together. Seeing this infuriated me even more, and in a fit of rage, I accidentally killed her lover.¡± ¡°The Sea Giant I killed was a clan leader of the Grazing Grass tribe. The Grazing Grass tribe had always been closely allied with the Flowing Food tribe, the clan leaders being staunch allies and both of Holy Domain Level.¡± ¡°With his son killed, the Grazing Grass clan leader personally took action and sought vengeance. Naturally, the Flowing Food tribe did not side with me, but chose to band together with their kinsmen from the Grazing Grass tribe.¡± ¡°I was defeated and fled in disgrace. For a while, I led a life worse than death, taking risks daily to go near the Flowing Food tribe, just for a distant glimpse of Xiong Xing.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what happened!¡± the Dragon-man youth and the others realized. Meanwhile, among the Sea Giants. ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve spotted our enemy, it¡¯s that Feng Yao!¡± Xiong Xing glared at the ¡°Justice,¡± her eyes nearly spitting fire, ¡°He seems injured, exhibiting only the aura of a Gold Level.¡± Fist Ba shook his head, speaking in a low tone, ¡°Don¡¯t create unnecessary complications, our visit this time is to seek the aid of the Fish God behind Sea Eye City. We need to enter the Half-Plane.¡± Xiong Xing reluctantly said, ¡°These humans must be up to no good, killing them would also show good faith to Sea Eye City, to the Fish God.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Fist Ba frowned, ¡°Calm down, Xiong Xing! Don¡¯t let the tide of anger overwhelm your heart. This group isn¡¯t easy to deal with. Is Feng Yao really injured? Back then, he could escape unscathed even after being ambushed by Father and the Grazing Grass clan leader. Maybe, he¡¯s just feigning his current state to lure us into a trap set by these pirate ships.¡± ¡°Humans are too cunning.¡± ¡°Even if his hand is actually injured, there are at least four of Silver Level on those ships. This doesn¡¯t even account for their strange and exotic weapons and armor. If we engage in battle, we are certain to suffer casualties. We are the backbone of our tribe, if we suffer too many losses, what will become of our tribe?¡± Xiong Xing clenched her teeth strongly, ¡°You¡¯re right, brother.¡± After a standoff, the Sea Giants did not attack but instead retreated, distancing themselves from the Justice Pirate Group. The Dragon-man youth and others also breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°It seems our opposition has its own concerns.¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Several days later. The Justice Pirate Group faced off tensely against a huge tree ship. The pirates¡¯ flag on the tree ship fluttered high in the air, featuring a skull carved from a tree trunk in the center. ¡°The opposing side is the Mother Tree Pirate Group! All are Tree Men, and the captain is a Holy Domain-Level Chinese parasol Tree Man known as Auntie. The entire tree ship is actually the body of Auntie the parasol Tree Man,¡± Cang Xu said with a grave tone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Auntie the Mother Tree Pirate Group¡¯s captain has been dormant for a long time and rarely awakens,¡± Feng Yao spoke desolately, his expression complex. On the side of the opposite tree ship, a Tree Man stood watching over here, with an equally complex expression: ¡°Feng Yao, I never thought I¡¯d finally find you, the faithless one!¡± The Dragon-man youth and the others instantly glared at Feng Yao. Feng Yao shook his head with a sigh, his voice bitter: ¡°Because of the Love God¡¯s Curse, I fell in love with a tree.¡± Everyone: ¡°?!¡± ¡°This is workable?¡± Bai Ya exclaimed in amazement. Feng Yao let out a long sigh towards the heavens: ¡°I was too naive back then. I thought that a mere tree, so unremarkable, would surely accept my love.¡± ¡°I thought the Love God¡¯s Curse would end because of it.¡± ¡°I spent my days and nights with the tree, ridding it of insects daily, pruning its branches, collecting Magic Beast dung from all around to fertilize it.¡± ¡°I watched it grow strong, sprouting new shoots in spring, flourishing with leaves in the summer, shedding leaves in the fall and winter, and in the winter¡­¡± ¡°Alright. Can you get to the point?¡± the Dragon-man youth interrupted impatiently. ¡°Cough cough, sorry, I am a bard after all,¡± Feng Yao continued, ¡°One day, I met a Druid.¡± ¡°He was a Tree Man, and he was moved by how I devoted myself to caring for a tree. He suggested turning this tree into a Tree Man, giving it sentience. He couldn¡¯t bear to see lovers unable to be together.¡± ¡°I was overjoyed, and without a second thought, I agreed.¡± ¡°And so, the tree transformed into Hua Ya, who is now the Vice Captain of the Mother Tree Pirate Group.¡± Everyone suddenly understood, but new questions arose: ¡°Does that mean Hua Ya rejected you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Feng Yao shook his head, ¡°Her life changed fundamentally, and after becoming a Tree Man, guided by the Druid Master, she accepted me. She had memories; she knew someone had always been taking care of her. But she didn¡¯t know it was me, because all this time, she was just a tree without eyes, unable to see my face.¡± ¡°Every life has feelings!¡± ¡°Even after so many years, I still remember that moment.¡± ¡°I was extremely apprehensive, nervous, and terrified. I nearly thought she would reject me. Due to the Love God¡¯s Curse, I had suffered countless heartless rejections.¡± ¡°But this time was different.¡± ¡°She said to me, ¡®I don¡¯t know if what he (the Druid Master) says is true, but I have my own way to confirm.¡¯ Then, she reached out her branches, drew my hand in, and pressed the palm of my hand against her trunk.¡± ¡°Then, she smiled: ¡®This feeling, this warm sensation¡­ yes, my lover, thank you for caring for me. You love me, and I¡­ also love you!''¡± ¡°At that moment, I was moved to tears.¡± ¡°An immense happiness surged through my soul, I almost wanted to kneel on the ground and roar to the skies!¡± ¡°But the next moment, my tears stopped.¡± ¡°The Love God¡¯s Curse was triggered, and it wouldn¡¯t let me love her anymore.¡± ¡°In an instant, I lost all my love for Hua Ya!¡± ¡°Thinking about it, it makes sense. Who would fall in love with a tree?¡± Everyone fell silent. Many turned to look at the despondent Feng Yao, eyes filled with sympathy. ¡°Feng Yao, come here!¡± Hua Ya, the Tree Man on the tree ship, shouted, ¡°Explain yourself, why did you leave me?!¡± ¡°We used to be so sweet!¡± ¡°When I was still a tree, regardless of the seasons, you would embrace me, continuously kissing, rubbing, and thrusting against me. Even in winter, without exception.¡± ¡°You ravaged me but then left me! Today, I will make you pay!!¡± Everyone¡¯s gaze fixed on Feng Yao once again, piercingly. Feng Yao¡¯s face flushed red: ¡°Back then, I was just too, too deeply in love¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s still more to this story!¡± Bai Ya exclaimed once again, as if a window to life had been opened for him. Chapter 312 - 312: Section 100: Breaking into the Half-plane Chapter 312: Section 100: Breaking into the Half-plane ¡°Unfaithful man, I¡¯m coming for you!¡± Hua Ya yelled as the tree ship beneath her feet slowly moved into action and charged toward the side of the Justice Pirate Group. The members of the Justice Pirate Group became visibly restless. The Mother Tree Pirate Group was renowned, boasting Holy Domain Level combat power, which made the Justice Pirate Group seem like a little brother in comparison. ¡°Firebeard¡¯s third-in-command, this is the romantic debt you owe,¡± Zong Ge said to Feng Yao without any politeness. Feng Yao¡¯s face twisted with embarrassment as he was about to speak. At that moment, the Dragon-man youth placed his hand on Feng Yao¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you are now an ally of my Justice Pirate Group, and we won¡¯t just stand by and watch.¡± ... Feng Yao spoke with a heavy tone and shook his head, ¡°If my strength were still intact, I wouldn¡¯t be afraid of them. But now I¡¯m only at Golden Level, I will go find Hua Ya and explain everything clearly. I believe she won¡¯t kill me, and you all can go.¡± ¡°Third-in-command!¡± someone clad in grey cried out. Feng Yao smiled, ¡°This is my own choice, it doesn¡¯t count as you breaking the alliance.¡± At the critical moment, he showed his sense of responsibility. ¡°We haven¡¯t reached that point yet,¡± the Dragon-man youth said with a smile. Feng Yao was currently the only Golden Level powerhouse he could rely on, and furthermore, he was part of the Magic System. He wasn¡¯t quite willing to give up on him. Besides, if they couldn¡¯t win, they could always retreat. Immediately, the Dragon-man youth ordered a full-speed retreat for everyone. The Tree Men on the tree ship glared, and Hua Ya¡¯s shouts continued, ¡°Don¡¯t run!¡± ¡°Are you going to run again? Other than running, what else can you do?¡± ¡°Unfaithful man, stand right there!¡± ¡°Get back here!¡± The other Tree Men on the tree ship were also furious and wanted to avenge Hua Ya and give Feng Yao a lesson he would never forget. But the tree ship was very slow. The distance between the Justice Pirate Group and them grew more considerable by the moment. Unless the Mother Tree Pirate Group¡¯s squad leader, Auntie Menstruation, awakened¡ªsince the tree ship was her body¡ªthey would be able to burst with incredible speed and quickly catch up to the Justice Pirate Group. But Auntie Menstruation was in a deep sleep most of the time, only waking when faced with tremendous danger. So the tree ship could only watch helplessly as the Justice Pirate Group sailed further away. ¡°I refuse to believe that I can¡¯t catch you even if it takes my whole life!¡± Hua Ya waved her branch-like arms, cursing vehemently. Days passed, and the Sky Pillar continued to rise, approaching its peak. The Sky Pillar Sea Eye Fountain stabilized, but the situation in this sea area became increasingly complicated. After the Sea Giant squad and the Mother Tree Pirate Group, many more powers and gangs arrived. Under the youth¡¯s command, the Justice Pirate Group temporarily retreated to the edge of the Sea Eye, waiting for an opportunity. The youth had mixed feelings about this. He was anxious about the complexity of the situation; Feng Yao was a magnet for enmity, and the Justice Pirate Group was not particularly strong in this mix. He was pleased because many powers, lured by the treasure, had arrived, each looking to break into the Half-plane. This meant that the Justice Pirate Group didn¡¯t have to face the Holy Beast and the heavily guarded Mei Lan temple alone. During the wait, Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady¡¯s fleet successfully rendezvoused with the Dragon-man youth. Earlier, when the youth had commanded the Justice Pirate Group to act alone, it was meant to keep his secrets hidden as much as possible. But after receiving intelligence and realizing their strength was weak, he called Golden Chin and Sea Snake Lady to join them and make every effort to enhance their collective power. Their arrival increased the number of Silver Level powerhouses on the side of the Justice Pirate Group to eight, including the Silver Level Magic Beast sea snake. It¡¯s worth mentioning that the Big guy, practicing the Earth Fighting energy technique, had naturally progressed to Black Iron Level after sufficient accumulation. Finally, the day the youth had anxiously awaited arrived. The Sky Pillar towered into the clouds with turbulent, surging tides, and mist filled the high skies, obscuring the sun. The Sky Pillar¡¯s eruption officially entered the second phase, creating a stable connection between the Half-plane and the outside world, allowing entry and exit. Standing at the rail, he could vaguely see the silhouette of a temple from the Half-plane through the massive white fountain. Feng Yao¡¯s eyes shone with anticipation, ¡°My Goddess, I¡¯m coming for you, I¡¯ll see you again!¡± He couldn¡¯t wait and said, ¡°If we charge in directly, we can enter the Half-plane.¡± But the next moment, a mountainous beast¡¯s shadow blocked the view of the temple. With six snake heads, it issued a serpent¡¯s cry so loud it couldn¡¯t be drowned out by the roaring of the Sky Pillar Sea Eye. The Six-headed Snake! Mei Lan Temple¡¯s Holy Beast was blocking the way. For a moment, the many groups that were restless became subdued, each looking at one another, waiting hopefully for someone else to take the lead. After a brief wait, one faction made its move. It was the team of Sea Giants. The Sea Giants swam toward the Sky Pillar, their leader, Punch Fist, rising out of the ocean surface. The six-headed sea snake could also see the Sea Giants through the Sky Pillar and immediately its hissing intensified, a clear warning. Punch Fist bowed slightly to the six-headed sea snake and, after making a polite gesture, he took out a massive conch from his bosom. ¡°Holy Beast, I come bearing the totem, to worship the great Fish God, seeking aid. Please clear the path and allow me to proceed,¡± Punch Fist said. The six heads of the sea snake drew closer, eyeing the Sea Giants through the curtain of water for a while, then raised their necks high, looking down upon the team of Sea Giants, and issued a hissing sound. On hearing the snake¡¯s hiss, all the Sea Giants¡¯s faces lit up with joy. The Holy Beast recognized the token and moved slightly to the side, clearing the way. Under the watchful eyes of many, the Sea Giants passed through the Sky Pillar¡¯s waterfall and entered the Half-plane. They were quickly obscured by the six-headed sea snake. ¡°These Sea Giants actually have a token?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve gone in, let¡¯s set off too!¡± ¡°Yes, our Mother Tree Pirate Group has no need to fear a Magic Beast, even if it is of the Holy Domain Level.¡± Many Tree Men aboard the tree ship became agitated, wanting to depart immediately. Hua Ya shook her head, ¡°No, let our squad leader get some more rest. She just fell asleep not long ago and waking her now would make her very irritable. We don¡¯t need to be in such a hurry; those Barbarians won¡¯t be able to hold back. They always lack patience.¡± Hua Ya placed her hopes on the Barbarian tribe. The Barbarians¡¯ ship had appeared after the Mother Tree Pirate Group. They had but one ship, which was about as wide as the Justice but at least twice as long. Although the ship had sails, its primary propulsion was not these but oars. These oars were long, densely packed, and extended from both sides of the ship into the water. The arrangement of the oars had two levels, indicating that both the Bottom Deck and Mid Deck were filled with rowers. At both the bow and the stern were Dragon Head statues, a tradition of the Barbarians and a feature of their vessels. After a brief pause, the Barbarian ship indeed began to move. Hundreds of oars moved in unison, rowing slowly, and a Barbarian Big Guy, bare-chested and solidly muscled, stood at the bow. His features were square, his expression resolute, radiating an unmistakably Holy Domain aura! The Barbarian sea ship gained speed, surging toward the Sky Pillar with a forceful attitude. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Holy Beast hissed again, issuing a stern warning. The Barbarian Big Guy snorted, ¡°I carry a divine mission. Let me pass.¡± The six-headed sea snake shifted its coils, completely blocking the passage. The Barbarian Big Guy snorted once more and abruptly sprang from the Dragon Head ship, launching himself into the Half-plane like a Bomb. Boom, boom, boom! He and the Holy Beast commenced their clash, unleashing deafening explosions. Fighting energy burst forth, with thunder and venom scattering everywhere, the terrifying force making the watching crowd involuntarily shiver with cold. The six-headed sea snake hissed again, but this time it was filled with pain. Everyone was shocked; the battle had lasted only a few minutes, and yet the six-headed sea snake was already at a disadvantage. The Barbarian Big Guy was incredibly dominant, displaying extraordinary combat prowess. The six-headed sea snake opened its maws wide, spewing venom, thunder, torrents, flames, and more from its six heads, fighting with all its might. The Barbarian Big Guy roared, activating his Holy Domain; instantly, snow and ice whirled, Hail the size of fists, and thousands upon thousands of them enveloped the six-headed sea snake. The six-headed sea snake, covered in wounds, turned tail and fled! The Barbarian Big Guy pursued the victory, his killing intent chilling. Under the wide-eyed gaze of the onlookers, both the Barbarian Big Guy and the six-headed sea snake disappeared into the temple. ¡°What kind of people are these Barbarians?¡± ¡°That Holy Domain warrior is impressive, his identity must be no simple matter.¡± ¡°Hurry, go in! The Holy Beast has been driven away, the way forward is now unobstructed!¡± The crowd was greatly excited, moving out one after another. Wary of each other, they entered the Sky Pillar¡¯s waterfall in batches and were unexpectedly orderly. The Justice Pirate Group waited until the Mother Tree Pirate Group had gone in before officially setting off. The youth ordered the supply ship to stay outside, taking the remaining ten warships, along with the hidden Deep Sea Monster Fish, crashing into the Sky Pillar and into the Half-plane. Chapter 313 - 313: Section 101: Temple Murals Chapter 313: Section 101: Temple Murals ¡°Surprisingly, all ten ships made it inside,¡± the Dragon-man youth exhaled a murky breath. The start was unexpectedly smooth; initially, he had thought that a fierce battle, possibly costing them several ships, was likely. After entering the Half-plane, it was followed by the roaring sound of the Sky Pillar Sea Eye erupting. But before them lay a tranquil and peaceful scene, not a single gust of wind, the azure water smooth as a mirror. There were no other buildings, just a temple as large as a mountain that captured everyone¡¯s attention. As Feng Yao had said, this deep blue temple was entirely constructed from a mysterious metal, its lines straight and rigid. It stood on the surface of the sea, displaying its solemn majesty. Boom, boom, boom! ... Sounds of booming from within the temple mingled with the hissing of a six-headed snake were heard, clearly indicating that the Barbarian Holy Domain had chased the six-headed snake into the temple and was still in combat. A chill ran through everyone¡¯s hearts. This Barbarian man was truly ferocious. The drums of war blared from the Barbarian¡¯s warship, accompanied by the distant sound of bugles, their morale sky-high! Whether it was the Justice Pirate Group or the Mother Tree and other pirate groups, all had benefited from these Barbarians. Who were these people exactly? No one knew. On the Barbarians¡¯ ships, there were neither flags nor symbols. Their actions were quite ostentatious, but there was no sign of wanting to reveal their identities. The Dragon-man youth couldn¡¯t help but recall the Barbarian man¡¯s shouting earlier; he was on a divine mission, could it be¡­ a Divine Envoy? Thinking this, the Dragon-man youth realized why the Barbarian man was so arrogant and filled with confidence. Though the Mei Lan deity was in poor condition, trapped in slumber, this was still His Main Temple. Once He awakened or manifested in any form, He could annihilate everyone who invaded the Half-plane. If the Holy Beast were to be mortally wounded, it might also awaken the furious Mei Lan deity. But the Barbarian man did not fear, perhaps because as a Divine Envoy, he was also under the watch of the Barbarian deities, ready to provide support at any moment. After all, this was a Half-plane, not a Divine Country. In a Divine Country, other deities¡¯ Divine Powers and even gazes could not penetrate. The Barbarian warship stormed into the temple. Other groups followed close behind. Each maintained a respectful distance, wary of trespassing on others¡¯ territories. Even the Mother Tree pirate group, which harbored great hatred for the Justice Pirate Group, did the same. Here, the primary focus was to unearth treasured relics; grudges and animosities were set aside for the moment. The Justice Pirate Group also rushed into the temple. The temple doors were wide open, no tiles on the floor, just a jade-like water surface. The ten warships of the Justice Pirate Group glided over the water, the ripples and waves swiftly subsiding, leaving the water ten steps from the ship calm. There was no impediment at the entrance of the temple. The Justice Pirate Group still remained in perfect condition. Feng Yao said, ¡°I remember that the last time I was here, there were a fair number of guards.¡± Cang Xu replied, ¡°Perhaps they were conveniently killed by that Barbarian Holiness, or they saw the overwhelming enemy force and chose to retreat into the Underwater Temple.¡± The Mei Lan Temple was split into both underwater and above water sections; the underwater part was the core. Zong Ge frowned, ¡°If it were me, I would definitely choose to abandon defense here, consolidate my forces, focus on defending the Underwater Temple, and fully leverage the racial advantages and conveniences of our side.¡± ¡°This means, we might face tremendous resistance moving forward.¡± The Dragon-man youth sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s continue forward; right now, we can only take one step at a time. On the brighter side, at least there are other pirate groups to share the firepower.¡± Entering the temple¡¯s main entrance, they arrived in a large hall. The hall was very spacious; the ten pirate ships of the Justice Pirate Group seemed like ants on a plate. Magic light shimmered here, providing everyone with a clear view. ¡°How odd, where did those pirates who entered before us go?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too quiet here, eerily quiet.¡± ¡°Look quickly, there are huge murals on the wall!¡± Everyone cast their glances, indeed seeing many murals. These murals were enormous, created with engraving techniques, with smooth and elegantly flowing lines. The main character depicted was a mermaid. Mermaids and Fishmen are two different species. Simply put, mermaids have human torsos and fish tails, whereas Fishmen are fishes that have grown limbs. In the first mural, a female mermaid was curled up with her lower body, her arms outstretched like wings, palms facing upwards. Her face was extremely beautiful, her eyes tightly closed, with a radiant glow shimmering between her eyebrows, absorbing the surrounding elements; clearly, she was meditating. ¡°That¡¯s the Mei Lan Goddess!¡± Feng Yao said excitedly. The pirate ships quietly glided forward inside the hall, gradually revealing Ivanka¡¯s mural. In the painting, the Mei Lan Goddess held a Magic Wand, standing proudly among rolling waves, her figure graceful and elegant. Her enemy, a monstrous octopus, was sinking into the waves, wounded all over, its blood reddening the surrounding sea. This depicted the scene where Mei Lan, the Goddess, annihilated the Sea Monster. Next, there were the third, fourth, fifth paintings¡­ Some depicted the Goddess leading her followers to fill ocean trenches, some showed her commanding an army that fiercely defeated the enemy, and another showed the Goddess cradling a mermaid baby, surrounded by cheering crowds. By the eighth painting, Mei Lan ascended into the starry skies, surrounded by twinkling stars, while countless believers knelt on the earth below. Many, upon seeing this, suddenly understood. These paintings depicted the illustrious life achievements of the Goddess Mei Lan. By the twelfth painting, Mei Lan stood opposed by many deities. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was only accompanied by three deities, while across from her stood more than a dozen divine beings, a formidable array. Above the heads of these deities, an eye burst forth with infinite light¡ªthis was the Holy Emblem of the Holy Bright sect, representing its master¡ªthe Holy Emperor! The two sides confronted each other, giving off a palpable sense of tension that was immediately perceptible. The next three paintings described the battle between Mei Lan and the Holy Bright Empire. Though no divine war erupted, the skirmishes between the followers and armies were brutally fierce. Although Mei Lan¡¯s side often lost more than it won, whenever the battles took place underwater, they often had a clear advantage in terms of terrain and defense. In the seventeenth painting, a witch was depicted with only her head and lower legs visible, holding a large pharmaceutical bottle with a round bottom and long neck. She tipped the bottle slightly to pour out a stream of purple potion. This potion flowed into the seawater causing surrounding mermaids, Fishmen, and Naga to clutch their throats, their eyes rolling back in agony. ¡°Poison Witch?¡± Cang Xu¡¯s pupils shrank as he recognized the witch in the painting. ¡°It must be her,¡± Feng Yao nodded in agreement. Like the War Merchant, the Poison Witch was also an Alchemy Grandmaster, specializing in the creation of deadly potions. She was a confidante of the Holy Emperor, existing at a Legendary Level of life. In the eighteenth painting, believers knelt praying under the statue of Mei Lan, surrounded by a multitude of bodies killed by the toxins. However, the number of praying believers was rather scant. The statue itself had tears streaming down. In the nineteenth painting, Mei Lan used her Divine Power with a benevolent expression to heal her believers. The believers were jubilant, many appearing to have recovered, and some corpses even resurrected. But behind Mei Lan, a Thief with a Dagger was stealthily approaching; the Dagger was about to plunge into Mei Lan¡¯s back, yet she was completely unaware. Following this, the twentieth painting depicted the Dagger penetrating Mei Lan¡¯s divine body, Mei Lan falling to the ground, but from her body emerged many duplicates. These duplicates were enveloped in spherical haloes, each looking different, like meteors scattering and flying away. ¡°Silent God, Wave God, Water Flower God, Fish God¡­¡± Everyone identified these duplicates one by one. ¡°Wait, is that¡­ the Net Goddess?!¡± Lan Zao exclaimed in shock. From these duplicates, he identified the deity he worshipped. It turned out the Net Goddess was also a duplicate of Mei Lan. The twenty-first painting, the last painting, depicted an inner chamber. The chamber was circular, with Mei Lan¡¯s body lying in suspended sleep on a large shell-shaped bed at the very center. On the surrounding walls, niches held many statues. These were the Silent God, Wave God, Water Flower God, Fish God, Net Goddess, and others. These statues each emitted either a strong or a weak light, the beams shining on Mei Lan¡¯s body, seemingly healing her. The Dragon-man youth observed the mural closely: ¡°The chamber has rippling waters, it must be in the Underwater Temple.¡± Feng Yao covered his heart, tears streaming down: ¡°Seeing these paintings a second time, my heart aches even more. My Goddess, let me come and save you!¡± ¡°What should we do next?¡± Cang Xu asked. No more paintings followed but a wall. The great hall had no exit; ten pirate ships were trapped here unless they could go back through the main temple doors. ¡°There must be a way, otherwise where did all those pirates who came before us go?¡± Lan Zao suggested. Feng Yao nodded, ¡°There is a Magic Array here, once activated, a suction vortex will form in front of this wall. Entering the vortex will take us into the Underwater Temple.¡± This information was crucial, but Feng Yao had concealed it and never mentioned it before. Feng Yao looked solemnly at the Dragon-man youth: ¡°Captain Long Fu, I would like to propose a new covenant to you.¡± ¡°What are the terms? Let¡¯s hear them,¡± the Dragon-man youth smiled. Cang Xu¡¯s face remained expressionless. Zong Ge scoffed. Feng Yao gave a bitter smile: ¡°I hope that after you enter the Underwater Temple, you refrain from actions that may endanger Mei Lan¡¯s existence.¡± The Dragon-man youth shook his head, his expression serious: ¡°I can¡¯t promise that. We¡¯re pirates, here to plunder treasures. The Temple guards will not let us pass. Whether it¡¯s looting or battling these guards, it¡¯s all endangering Mei Lan.¡± Zong Ge stared at Feng Yao: ¡°Since those pirate groups before us managed to get in, activating this Magic Array can¡¯t be that difficult. We might not even need you.¡± ¡°One with Gray¡± also voiced out, his face tense: ¡°Third in command!¡± ¡°I know,¡± Feng Yao waved his hand at ¡°One with Gray¡±, ¡°I¡¯m also a pirate, I perfectly understand everyone¡¯s viewpoint. Well, let¡¯s revise the covenant to ¡®not intentionally harm Mei Lan¡¯s main body or her duplicates.¡¯ As for the temple¡¯s treasures or those guards, handle them as you see fit.¡± The Dragon-man youth, along with Cang Xu and Zong Ge, looked at each other, not agreeing immediately, but said, ¡°We need to discuss this.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± After discussing in the captain¡¯s quarters, they decided to accept Feng Yao¡¯s new covenant, and both parties swiftly used the Contract Scroll. ¡°Thank you all for understanding,¡± Feng Yao sighed with relief, channeling his Mana to activate the Magic Array. The previously smooth surface of the water suddenly formed a vortex. The ships of the Justice Pirate Group had already prepared for submergence, plunging into the vortex one by one. Once inside the vortex, the Dragon-man youth¡¯s body suddenly emitted multiple Divine Arts imprints. Whoosh. The lights burst suddenly, and the Dragon-man youth disappeared from the spot. Chapter 314 - 314: Section 102: Underwater Confrontation Chapter 314: Section 102: Underwater Confrontation Underwater Temple. Wave Hall. Nearly the entire Divine Guard Army of Mei Lan Temple had gathered here. With a flash of light, the youth was teleported into the hall. ¡°This is?!¡± The youth¡¯s heart trembled. He discovered that he was surrounded by enemies! Fishmen were the majority, but there were also Naga, lobster people, mermaids, Sea Elves, and other races. Upon entering the suction chamber, the Divine Arts imprint on the youth¡¯s body emitted a glow, reacting with the Magic Array. ... However, this mutation had not taken the youth by surprise. According to the intelligence provided by Feng Yao, Fishmen who possessed Divine Arts imprints would be teleported into the Underwater Temple. The young Captain had been on guard ever since he intruded into the Sky Pillar water curtain. Thus, as soon as the teleportation occurred, he changed form, transforming from Dragon-man into Fishman. But what he hadn¡¯t expected was, ¡°I seem to have been teleported into the main base of the City Guard.¡± There were about five to six hundred people here, nearly all of them Transcendents. Bronze Level and Black Iron Level were the majority, with at least twenty exuding a Silver aura. In fact, there were three Golden Level powerhouses, all adorned with the badges of the City Guard. They should be Commanders. What most captivated the Fishman youth¡¯s gaze, however, was the Mei Lan High Priest standing on the highest platform, her back to the majority of the people. Judging solely from her silhouette, she was a female Naga. With a serpent-like tail, a slender waist, and greenish scales, she had four arms and orange-yellow fin-like antennas on her forehead. Holy Domain! The Mei Lan High Priest was a Holy Domain Level Divine Officer. ¡°Another one arrives. Hey, it¡¯s a brother from our Fishman race.¡± As the Fishman youth was cautiously observing, a Fishman beside him patted his shoulder and took the initiative to greet him. ¡°Where do you come from? What¡¯s your name?¡± The Fishman who greeted him had an overly familiar demeanor. The Fishman youth glanced over at him, evaluating this Fishman. He noticed that he was short and stout, with sharp fangs and teeth, and a bright red tongue that protruded as he spoke. The most distinct feature was a pair of red eyes. This was the Fishman youth¡¯s first encounter with the Fishman Bloodline. The red-eyed Fishman carried a Black Iron Level aura, while the youth pretended to be a brown-scaled Fishman, also of Black Iron Level. The youth could now mutate into the complete forms of brown-scaled Fishman, Deep Blue Wise Fishman, and Barbarian Fishman, but he did not choose the strongest form of Barbarian Fishman. This was because, during his time in Sea Eye City, he had used this form to kill the Clan Leader of the white-eyed tribe. As for his original identity, it could easily have met a tragic end during the five-headed serpent uprising. His current visage as a brown-scaled Fishman was not the same as before, as he had used other Fishman Bloodlines. ¡°Cut-Scale Tribe, Yaba.¡± The Fishman youth casually concocted a couple of names, which didn¡¯t matter since Fishmen are scattered everywhere ¡ª not just under the sea, but along coastlines, riverbanks, marshes, and so on. The red-eyed Fishman cheerfully gave a thumbs-up and pointed to himself: ¡°Me, Red Boil, from the Red Star Tribe. Hehe.¡± The Fishman youth nodded at him, continuing to play along while he kept observing. As he conversed with Red Boil, another flash of light in the hall signalled the teleportation of two or three more Transcendents. Those teleported were not only Fishmen but also Naga, mermaids, and even lobster people. Those who possessed Divine Arts imprints were chosen by the Mei Lan God and were considered lucky enough to participate in the trial; however, it wasn¡¯t just Fishmen. For Mei Lan God took on many guises. Among them, the majority of Fishmen worshipped the Fish God, hence the issuance of Divine Arts imprints in the name of the Fish God, which the Fishmen referred to as the Fish God¡¯s trial. Most lobster people worshipped the Wave-Hitting God, whose avatar took the form of a lobster person; thus, the teleported lobster people believed it to be the trial of the Wave-Hitting God. Still Spirits, the Nets Goddess, and others all had a similar situation. Of course, among all the avatars of the gods, the Fish God¡¯s faith was the most widespread, with the majority of the Transcendents being followers of the Fish God. After all, for most underwater species, fish made up the bulk of their diet. Believers thought that worshipping the Fish God allowed them to consume fish flesh without sin, sparing them from being punished in Hell after death for their sins. The Fishman youth was already privy to this information during his time in Sea Eye City, so he was not surprised. On the side of the Justice Pirate Group, the youth had made arrangements before departure, and people like Zong Ge and Cang Xu were very reliable. After waiting for about fifteen minutes, the Mei Lan High Priest, who had been casting spells continuously, finally succeeded. In front of everyone, the water light transformed and manifested different scenes. Among these animated water light images, there were Barbarians, Tree Men, and of course, the Justice Pirate Group. ¡°Chosen warriors, you have come to participate in the divine trial, so knock down all the invading enemies,¡± the High Priest turned around, facing everyone, and shouted. ¡°Whoa!!¡± sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The believers crowded in the hall shouted in unison. ¡°Fishmen, follow me,¡± called the Fishman Commander of the Divine Guard Army. ¡°Naga, follow me,¡± rasped the Naga Commander. ¡°Everyone else, come to my side,¡± beckoned the Sea Elf. The believers split into three groups, gathering around their respective Golden Level Commanders. Soon after, the Wave Hall churned with swirling currents as the walls opened up to reveal three holes, which were indeed suction chambers. ¡°Follow them, and perhaps I can join up with the others,¡± thought the Fishman youth, blending inconspicuously among the Fishmen. He proceeded with the crowd into the suction chamber. This experience was not his first; he was well-practiced. Emerging from another suction chamber opening, they were confronted by the enemy. Not the Justice Pirate Group, nor the Mother Tree Pirate Group. ¡°` This was an alliance of pirate groups. Among all the parties that rushed to the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, they had the most members. Their temporary Alliance Hierarch was Shi Na, a Golden Level Magician. ¡°Charge, kill them!¡± The Fishman Commander didn¡¯t arrange any tactics, but directly rushed to the front line. In fact, the Fishmen came from all over the world and were not familiar with each other, which made arranging tactics quite difficult. With the Commander so brave, the Fishmen were inspired and fearlessly attacked the more than thirty pirate ships. ¡°Hey, brother, take good care of me,¡± the red-eyed Fishman proactively swam next to the Fishman youth. The Fishman youth nodded; he wasn¡¯t too keen on slaughtering the Human Race and only planned to show the combat power of a Black Iron Level. He chose an ordinary pirate ship and charged at it. This pirate ship did not have a metal coating, but rather used a crystal layer, and the layer was much thinner than that of the Justice Pirate Group. Fishmen had already boarded the pirate ship, and most of them were struggling with the crystal layer. The pirates hid behind the crystal layer, continuously firing. They shot harpoons with huge crossbows; if hit, the Fishmen were either severely injured or killed instantly. ¡°Follow me, I know where their weak point is,¡± the red-eyed Fishman called to the Fishman youth. The Fishman youth followed him to the underside of the ship, and to the youth¡¯s amazement, the red-eyed Fishman precisely struck the weak spot in the crystal layer with a fork, then waved the harpoon, easily slicing open the layer. ¡°How did you do that?¡± the Fishman youth asked curiously. Such weaknesses are hard to find unless one is familiar with the crystal layer. Cang Xu could do it, but the Fishman youth could not. The red-eyed Fishman boasted proudly, ¡°I¡¯ve overturned quite a few pirate ships like this. Can¡¯t help it; our tribe is often harassed by pirates.¡± With the crystal layer¡¯s weak point breached, a chain reaction occurred: the tear grew larger and larger until it became a gaping rupture. Without the protection of the crystal layer, the heavy water pressure immediately compressed the hull, deforming the pirate ship. Many pirates were overwhelmed by the water pressure and died on the spot, spitting blood. The Fishmen howled and swarmed in, slaughtering the pirates aboard the ship. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± In the midst of the killing, the Fishman youth suddenly pulled Red Ba. Red Ba, excited by the killing and disturbed by the Fishman youth, responded with slight anger, ¡°The more we kill, the more we can cleanse with the Fish God¡¯s Holy Water, brother!¡± But the Fishman youth didn¡¯t linger and withdrew immediately. Red Ba was stunned for a moment, then clenched his teeth and chose to follow. The two Fishmen had just left the conquered pirate ship when a meteorite struck their path. Boom! With a loud bang, the water surged explosively, and the entire pirate ship was shattered into countless pieces. The Fishmen inside and the few surviving pirates died tragically on the spot. ¡°Good brother, thanks!¡± the red-eyed Fishman said in astonishment, ¡°How did you know?¡± The Fishman youth replied perfunctorily, ¡°I¡¯m a mixed-blood,¡± while looking in the direction from which the meteorite had been fired¡ªa massive Silver Level demon energy ship, the Catapult. The captain of the Catapult was the Golden Mage, Shi Na. Then, the youth saw the Fishman Commander charge onto the Catapult. The Fishmen vanguards had broken through the defense and attacked the pirate Commanders. ¡°Fishmen have too great an advantage fighting in water. They can launch attacks from above, below, left, and right.¡± ¡°The Human Race pirates are still more accustomed to fighting at sea.¡± Seeing this, the youth was somewhat worried about his own Justice Pirate Group and unaware of their current situation. At this moment, in another underwater battlefield. ¡°Charge, engage the enemy!¡± Zong Ge, stationed on the Silver Hook, shouted. The Silver Hook faced off against the Sea Elf Great Commander, and the enemy¡¯s offensive was immediately hindered. Cang Xu, aboard the Justice, saw this scene, and while giving orders to adjust the formation, said to Feng Yao, ¡°Lion Flag is only at the Silver Level; he can¡¯t hold out for long.¡± Feng Yao nodded, his fingers gently touching the strings of his instrument. Immediately, the sound of music spread out and landed on Zong Ge. Zong Ge suddenly swelled in size, his body hair stood on end, his eyes blazed with light, and surges of power emanated from his entire body. He had already used an Underwater Breathing Potion, and now holding the Demon Blood Greatsword, he charged out of the Silver Hook and confronted the Sea Elf Commander. The Sea Elf Commander defended against the Demon Blood Greatsword with dual swords. Clang. With a deafening clash, the two recoiled from the collision, finding themselves in a stalemate! The Sea Elf Commander¡¯s expression was as still as still water. ¡°Interesting,¡± Zong Ge licked his lips excitedly. Feng Yao, as a bard, excelled at bestowing enhancement spells on allies. With his involvement, Zong Ge felt like he had the combat power of a Golden Level! ¡°` Chapter 315 - 315: Section 103: Blood Core Upheaval Chapter 315: Section 103: Blood Core Upheaval The Justice Pirate Group was being besieged. Cannons fired incessantly from the pirate ships, weaving a sparse web of fire. Unlucky wretches hit by bombs, the weak died on the spot, the mediocre could barely hang on to a breath, and the powerful could directly knock the bombs away. Several lobstermen, relying on their thick shells, charged right through the fire net and onto the deck of a pirate ship. On the deck, pirates of the Extraordinary Level had long been ready for battle, and the two sides immediately engaged in fierce combat. Water Magic¡ªSerpentine Water Arrow! A Silver Level Sea Elf cast a spell, conjuring a serpentine water arrow. ... The water arrow shot forth, piercing through the crystalline glue, and drilled into the gunners¡¯ positions inside the ship¡¯s hull. The pirates at the guns were taken completely by surprise and one by one met with disaster. The serpentine water arrow meandered and swam, boring through many gunners¡¯ heads, directly silencing one side of the pirate ship¡¯s guns. Meanwhile, on a nearby pirate ship, Xu Ma agilely leaped across the crossbar, evading a male mermaid¡¯s long spear thrust. ¡°Come and support me!¡± Xu Ma yelled, using obstacles like sails and masts to buy time. The two bronze pirates that came to support him soon fell at the hands of the mermaid spearmen. ¡°You can¡¯t escape!¡± The male mermaid, a Black Iron, was very strong in combat. But in the next moment, his expression froze as he saw a group of pirates pour out of the ship¡¯s cabin, each armed with alchemy crossbows. The crossbows fired in unison, their arrows gleaming with various colors. The mermaid spearmen let out a strange cry, attempting to dodge but still too late, and was turned into a hedgehog, dying miserably on the spot. ¡°That¡¯ll teach you to chase me!¡± Xu Ma unconsciously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and after making this gesture, he belatedly realized he was in the water. Inside Captain¡¯s quarters of the Justice, Cang Xu had been watching the battlefield. Whether it was the Sea Elf¡¯s magical massacre or pirate crossbowmen hunting the mermaid spearmen, it was all under his watchful eye. ¡°Underwater, Water Magic is greatly enhanced.¡± ¡°Human Race is quite constrained here in combat, with generally diminished battle power compared to land, even after extensive prior training.¡± ¡°However, every ship has its crossbow squad, and from what we can see, they¡¯re doing quite well.¡± Cang Xu was in a state of tension. He wasn¡¯t good at commanding battles. The one truly skilled in this area, Zong Ge, had already rushed to the front lines. Cang Xu¡¯s gaze immediately shifted to the Half-Beast. He knew: Zong Ge wasn¡¯t one to ignore the bigger picture. The Half-Beast possessed a talent for leadership, and had he not charged forward just now, the formation of the Justice Pirate Group would have been directly breached by the enemy. Not just Cang Xu¡¯s attention, Feng Yao was also closely following the battle performance of both Zong Ge and the Sea Elf Commander. The outcome of their battle was crucial to the larger conflict. Zong Ge charged ferociously, his Demon Blood Greatsword gleamed with a red aura, slashing with a powerful force. The Sea Elf Commander, a Dual Cultivator of Magic and Martial Arts, emanated both Fighting Energy and Spell fluctuations. He wielded his Magic Wand, employing stick fighting techniques while adopting a defensive stance. Zong Ge¡¯s aggressive onslaught failed to break through the Sea Elf¡¯s defense. But the Sea Elf¡¯s incantation had already come to an end. Water Magic¡ªGlue Technique! Zong Ge, fighting at close quarters, was too close and was instantly hit by the spell. He immediately felt his movements grow sluggish, as if his limbs, fingers, and greatsword were covered with sticky cobwebs, requiring much more effort to maintain the original speed, strength, and precision of his actions. The Sea Elf began to chant again. Zong Ge¡¯s heart sank, knowing this was a sign of impending defeat. He could still just barely hold the foe at bay, but once the second spell was successfully cast, his situation would deteriorate rapidly. He might even be defeated outright. Sea Elves were also a race of Elves but lived in the sea, naturally possessing the ability to breathe underwater. No matter male or female, they had long, beautiful figures and faces, though they lacked the Elves¡¯ signature pointed ears, replaced instead with fin-like ears. The ears were wide, and their gills were concealed behind them. Elves had long lifespans, and so did the Sea Elves. The Sea Elf Commander that Zong Ge faced was clearly of advanced age, having cultivated Fighting Energy and Magic over the long years. Though limited by talent and potential, only raising his life rank to the Gold Level, he had thoroughly researched both Fighting Energy and Magic domains. Feng Yao could cast spells while moving, but the Sea Elf Commander was even more powerful, handling Zong Ge¡¯s relentless and continuous assaults in battle while simultaneously casting spells! However, at that moment, singing echoed once more from the Justice. Feng Yao took action again. This time, he went all out. He didn¡¯t just play the harp; he was also singing praises. Zong Ge received no buffs, but elsewhere on the battlefield, Aeshen, Chou, Golden Chin, and Sea Snake Lady all received enhancements as their power surged, closing in on Gold Level strength. These four were already Silver Level powerhouses, and with the Bard Feng Yao¡¯s support, their battle power skyrocketed instantly to Gold Level. Combat Skill¡ªGray Mist Wave! At the end of Aeshen¡¯s gray fur, strands began to dissipate, transforming into wisps of gray mist. The mist mingled with a glint of Silver Fighting Spirit. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Within one breath¡¯s time, the mist accumulated and then violently spread forward, creating an inverted conical ripple. Wherever the ripple passed, enemies died in droves, leaving the space in front of Aeshen empty. ¡°The power of the Combat Skill has increased at least threefold, and it consumes much less fur,¡± Aeshen said excitedly, stroking his head. He excitedly said to his sidekick, Di Lou, ¡°Look, that¡¯s the power of a bard.¡± Di Lou: ¡°¡­¡± Gray, Golden Chin, and Sea Snake Lady fought fiercely, successfully stifling the enemy¡¯s encirclement. The Justice Pirate Group¡¯s gunfire never ceased since the battle began. The Sea Elf Commander was furious, for he realized the enemy was rallying for a counterattack. If the battle continued to develop in this way, his squad would suffer a heavy loss. ¡°You have successfully angered me, good, now, let me show you my true strength!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Oh, many-headed god, please manifest your divine might and let me obliterate these divine enemies!¡± The Sea Elf lifted his head and shouted, and instantly, a radiant splendor of Divine Power burst forth from his body. In the blinding light, the Sea Elf Commander split into two, then four, and four into eight. In an instant, there were seven more Sea Elf Commanders on the battlefield. The presence of eight Golden Level powerhouses intimidated the entire battlefield. The pirates of the Justice Pirate Group found themselves holding their breath. ¡°There was no need for incantation, he just split his form!¡± ¡°Eight at the Golden Level, how do we fight this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic, they are just clones!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, of the eight Sea Elf Commanders, seven are false, and one is real, just find the real one.¡± ¡°Kill those clones, the fake Sea Elf Commanders are far weaker than the real one, they are more fragile!¡± However, in the ensuing fight, the eight Sea Elf Commanders showed no weakness; each clone fought just as fiercely, defended equally, and forced the Justice Pirate Group to retreat step by step. A pirate ship failed to retreat successfully and was directly destroyed by one of the Sea Elf Commanders. Zong Ge, Golden Chin, and others fought hard, barely managing to delay the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s onslaught. Golden Chin, Sea Snake Lady, and others sustained continuous injuries. Although they were enhanced by Feng Yao¡¯s magic, they could only be considered Quasi-Gold Battle Power, with only Zong Ge on par with the Sea Elf Commander. ¡°Do you think this is just any place? This is the temple of my lord! Here, we are unbeatable!¡± all eight Sea Elf Commanders shouted in unison. They began to join forces, and under their united front, the defense line of the Justice Pirate Group was greatly stressed and quickly collapsed. ¡°Such a Divine Arts boost is too exaggerated!¡± Feng Yao¡¯s expression was extremely grim. The eight Sea Elf Commanders pressed their advantage; Feng Yao had to engage in the fight personally, still unable to change the overall situation. The forces of the Justice Pirate Group couldn¡¯t hold their ground and began to rout. On another front, just like the Sea Elf Commander, the Fishman Commander also demonstrated tremendous divine might. He received a Divine Arts blessing and was enveloped in a layer of dark green light. Magic Runes flickered in and out of view within the light, shielding the Fishman Commander from the onslaught of magic. The Fishman Commander was in a state of magical immunity! ¡°Damn it!¡± a Golden Mage on the Catapult cursed through clenched teeth, as his spells were helpless against the immunity shield, forcing him to resort to summoning spells, which he was not proficient in. One by one, Stone Puppets attempted to halt the Fishman Commander. The Fishman Commander surged with Fighting Energy, his body swelling slightly, as he rampaged across the deck of the Catapult, shattering the stone puppets into heaps of rubble. ¡°This Divine Arts power is too strong!¡± A Fishman youth skulked in the corner of the battlefield, secretly astonished. He had never seen such long-lasting magic immunity, and despite being attacked by magic, the shield remained rigid, showing no sign of weakening or fading. With the Golden Mage severely restrained, he could only watch helplessly as the Fishman Commander took apart a large portion of his flagship, the Catapult. The Golden Mage had no choice but to abandon ship and flee. Naturally, the Fishman Commander refused to let him escape and pursued him relentlessly. The Golden Mage was quite fast; he plunged into a small whirlpool, abandoning his subordinates and allies completely and leaving the battlefield. The Commander¡¯s flight caused the pirate¡¯s morale to plummet and military discipline to collapse. The Fishmen took the opportunity to slaughter widely, sparing no one, not even those who surrendered. The Fishman youth emerged victoriously but lacked enthusiasm. He had long estimated the Fishman Commander¡¯s Golden Level strength, but the power of the Divine Arts was unexpectedly strong and long-lasting; it could be said that this Divine Arts sealed the victory. After annihilating all the pirates, the Fishman Commander led his troops back in triumph. Upon returning, the Fishman youth noticed the contingent led by the Naga Commander had returned some time ago. They were the second victorious army to return. The miscellaneous forces under the Sea Elf Commander hadn¡¯t come back yet. ¡°Well done, you have proved yourselves. Although the trial hasn¡¯t stopped, you can now receive some of the rewards you deserve,¡± the High Priest said with a smile, ¡°Take all of these brave warriors of my lord to the Holy Pool, to be drenched and baptized with Holy Water.¡± ¡°Oh!!¡± The Fishmen cheered loudly. The Fishman youth, curious, mingled with the crowd as they left the Wave Hall. Passing through a long, dark underwater corridor, they arrived at a large hall with air. In the center of the hall was a circular pool, with a column of water pouring down from the ceiling. The water column wasn¡¯t thick, and the flow wasn¡¯t swift, but it radiated a faint white light. This was the Holy Pool and Holy Water. A Priest explained to everyone, ¡°Next, according to your individual battle achievements, you will enter the Holy Pool in batches to be baptized.¡± The Fishman youth wore a look of excitement but felt a great tumult inside: ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± A strong desire emanated from his Blood Core within. Devour! Devour it! Chapter 316 - 316: Section 104: Accidentally Became the Divine Son (Part 1) Chapter 316: Section 104: Accidentally Became the Divine Son (Part 1) ¡°How could this be?¡± This intense feeling made the Fishman youth feel as if he had returned to the alchemy core of Mysterious Monster Island at this moment. There, he had encountered the second Blood Core, and it felt the same. ¡°Could there be a third Blood Core here?¡± the Fishman youth thought for a moment. But immediately, he shook his head secretly, ¡°No, Blood Cores are supposed to be created by the War Merchant, and the success rate is extremely low, with the manufacturing method still being explored. Mysterious Monster Island should be the incubator for Blood Cores. I own one, and that itself was a stroke of sheer luck. This is Mei Lan¡¯s temple, how could there be a third Blood Core here?¡± Blood Cores are very peculiar. Generally speaking, whether it¡¯s any magic or alchemy tool, they each have their own aura, basically fixed at a certain level. ... But Blood Cores can grow, much like a peculiar lifeform, capable of enhancing itself like a person. However, weapons with growth potential are not limited to Blood Cores alone. The famous Divine Bow Suqiu, the main weapon of one of the Elf Main Gods, the Bow God. When the Bow God was still a mortal, he accidentally obtained a branch of the World Tree and, through a series of methods including luck and opportunity, forged it into the Divine Bow. Of course, initially, this bow was not a Divine Artifact, starting at the Silver Level. But it had the capacity to grow, and by planting it in the ground, it could absorb elements such as water, soil, wind, and thunder, like a tree, slowly growing. Eventually, it grew into a Divine Artifact! The specifics of the Blood Core have certain differences from the Divine Bow Suqiu. The growth mode of the Blood Core is to devour other Blood Cores, a nature more bizarre and domineering. From the youth¡¯s personal experience, it was possible for smaller Cores to devour larger ones. ¡°If we measure Blood Cores using normal levels, mine should be at the Legendary level, given that it forcefully absorbed the King of Flame Dragon.¡± ¡°Could it be that the Holy Water also contains Legendary level Blood? Is that why the Blood Core feels this urge to devour?¡± While the Fishman youth kept guessing, the first group of Fishmen had already entered the Holy Pool. Among this group of Fishmen was the youth¡¯s acquaintance¡ªXia Bai from the White-eyed Tribe, Du Liu from the Poison Arrow Tribe. The water level in the Holy Pool wasn¡¯t high, only reaching the Fishmen¡¯s knees. In the center of the Holy Pool, a statue of the Fish God stood tall. The Fishmen, with either pious or fanatic expressions, gathered around the statue of the Fish God. Holy Water began to spout from the upward-facing fish mouth of the Fish God statue. The Holy Water quickly formed a fountain, evenly sprinkling around, creating a curtain of water. The first group of Fishmen bathed in the Holy Water, being rinsed by it. In just a few breaths, some Fishmen seemed unable to withstand the impact of the Holy Water, changing from standing to kneeling. After a dozen more breaths, some Fishmen screamed, and all the Fishmen were kneeling in the Holy Pool. The washing of the Holy Water seemed to bring intense pain, causing these Fishmen to either scream or grit their teeth, their bodies constantly shuddering. After two or three minutes, some Fishmen finally couldn¡¯t bear it and reluctantly retreated, leaving the spray of the Holy Water. But he didn¡¯t leave the Holy Pool directly, instead, he continued to linger in the pool, always gritting his teeth and enduring. The Fishman youth watched in quiet amazement. Although the flow of the Holy Water was gentle, those leaving had injuries on their bodies, with basically incomplete fish scales, and many scales were washed away, creating large patches of bloody wounds. As time passed, the Fishmen all left their original positions to avoid the direct washing of the Holy Water. Clinching their teeth, they used all their might to extend their time in the Holy Pool. The longer they stayed, the more admiring glances they received from other Fishmen. The youth kept observing silently, keenly noticing: Although the Holy Water was all transparent, it emitted a white light. The Holy Water spouting from the fish mouth of the Fish God statue had the strongest white light. But after washing over the Fishmen, the white light significantly weakened. The closer to the edge of the Holy Pool, the weaker the white light emitted from the Holy Water became. Eventually, all the Fishmen from the first batch successively left the Holy Pool. A Divine Officer immediately performed Divine Arts to treat them. Fishman Du Liu healed, holding his head high, his scales becoming deeper in color, the space in his Poison Sack directly expanding twofold, and the physical traits of the Poison Arrow Fishman Bloodline becoming more pronounced. The youth became suspicious again, ¡°Could it be that the Holy Water can enhance the concentration of Fishman Bloodlines?!¡± If the changes in Du Liu were just his speculation, then the changes in Xia Bai were evidence. Xia Bai¡¯s eyes were completely blind, but the Fish Pearl on her forehead had become completely transparent. She continuously emitted a strong fluctuation, which was the aura of the Silver Level! After being washed by the Holy Water, not only did her Bloodline concentration increase, but her Cultivation also broke through from the original Black Iron Level to the Silver Level. ¡°Amazing, these two Fishmen are strong, especially the female prophet from the White-eyed Tribe,¡± Hong Bao said, standing next to the Fishman youth, in admiration. Fishmen from the Silver Level, naturally attracted the most attention. ¡°Who are they?¡± the Fishman youth asked knowingly. Hong Bao, who had clearly gathered a lot of information, replied directly, ¡°One is called Du Liu, the other is called Xia Bai, both are future leaders of Sea Eye City. We wild Fishmen can¡¯t really talk to them unless we perform excellently in the Holy Pool, prompting them to recruit us!¡± The status of Sea Eye City was high, and whether it was in the past with Suan Cai, or now with Hong Bao, both harbored admiration for it. Hong Bao then continued, looking at the Holy Pool with burning eyes, ¡°This is the gift from the Fish God. In our lives, this might be our only chance.¡± ¡°Besides increasing my Cultivation, I hope even more to increase my Bloodline concentration.¡± ¡°Listen to me, brother, endure as much as you can. The longer you stay in the Holy Pool, the greater the benefits you will receive!¡± The Fishman youth nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± Batch by batch, Fishmen descended into the Holy Pool, each achieving various degrees of enhancement. Yet, the most eye-catching was Xia Bai, who after all possessed a Gold-level magical Bloodline. Three or four others performed on par with Du Liu. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± Hong Bao patted the youth¡¯s shoulder, having more accomplishments than the youth, and was the first to enter the Holy Pool. ¡°Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!¡± Under the onslaught of the Holy Water, Hong Bao continuously screamed in agony. His cries drew sidelong glances from the Fishmen. This was the most distressing scream they had heard. Hong Bao performed quite well. Although his screams were the most dreadful, his willpower was extremely strong; he lasted the longest among the Fishmen of his batch. When he staggeringly walked out of the Holy Pool, he immediately received healing from Divine Arts. He regained his vigor and let out a low roar, surprisingly casting the Bloodthirst Technique. Under the Bloodthirst Technique, his muscles bulged, and both his strength and speed surged dramatically! The Red-eyed Fishman Bloodline was of the Silver Level, and the Bloodthirst Technique was its unique talented magic, but it was incredibly effective. Although Hong Bao practiced Fighting Energy, he could rely on his Bloodline to cast this spell. It was like when the Dragon-man youth had not yet opened his Mana Pool but could cast spells like Dragon Breath and Dragon Power. Xia Bai and Du Liu, seeing Hong Bao¡¯s performance, discussed it between themselves. ¡°That Red-eyed Fishman is good.¡± ¡°Yes, the Bloodthirst Technique is a very superior spell. Let¡¯s go and recruit him.¡± Sea Eye City had suffered significant losses due to the Fishman youth¡¯s meddling, both materially and in terms of talent, and it was in desperate need of fresh blood. ¡°Speaking of which, could one of these Fishmen here be the perpetrator who caused a major disturbance in Sea Eye City?¡± ¡°That¡¯s unlikely. I¡¯ve looked through all the Fishmen of the Barbarian Fish Clan and haven¡¯t found anyone with a similar appearance. We¡¯ve also informed the temple Priests about this, and they should be able to identify him.¡± ¡°Sigh, that perpetrator killed so many people and carries numerous Divine Arts imprints. I just fear he is also a devout Believer, and the Priests, even if they recognize him, might not severely punish him.¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That can¡¯t be right, can it? The losses in Sea Eye City were huge, and he even framed Lord Wutou, who is a direct descendant of the Holy Beast Lord.¡± Xia Bai and Du Liu exchanged thoughts and then actively approached Hong Bao. Hong Bao had returned to the Fishman youth. ¡°Ha ha ha,¡± he laughed heartily, filled with pride. The gains far exceeded his expectations, and he couldn¡¯t help but boast, ¡°I never expected I would unearth the talented magic of the Red-eyed Bloodline. This is fantastic!¡± ¡°Somebody¡¯s coming to see you,¡± the Fishman youth said, slightly lifting his head to Hong Bao. Xia Bai and Du Liu arrived together, smiles on their faces. They glanced at the Fishman youth, completely unaware that the perpetrator they detested so vehemently was standing boldly right before them. Their attention quickly shifted to Hong Bao as they formally extended recruitment offers on behalf of their respective clans. ¡°Thank you both for your appreciation, but this is a significant matter, and I need more time to think it over,¡± Hong Bao said, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. ¡°Of course,¡± Xia Bai and Du Liu courteously took their leave, displaying great decorum. ¡°Sea Eye City¡­¡± Hong Bao grabbed the arm of the Fishman youth, ¡°I¡¯m heading for the peak of my life!¡± ¡°Congratulations!¡± the Fishman youth smiled, ¡°But what about your clan?¡± ¡°Without me, my people can still live and develop. Indeed, once I establish myself in Sea Eye City, I can give back to my clan!¡± Hong Bao was very excited. Soon, it was the Fishman youth¡¯s turn. ¡°It¡¯s your turn, brother. Go for it! Make sure you endure; look at me, the longer you hold on, the stronger you become. A bright tomorrow awaits you!¡± Hong Bao cheered the Fishman youth on. The Fishman youth nodded, stepping cautiously with a group of Fishmen into the Holy Pool. The desire to devour within his Blood Core grew stronger. Quickly, the Fish God¡¯s fountain activated, and the Holy Water emanating dense white light washed over the Fishman youth. Pain ensued promptly. The Fishman youth keenly noticed the white-light-emitting Holy Water seeping into his body, and then into his bloodline, fundamentally altering his physique. This transformation was very intense, thus painful. The Fishman youth clenched his teeth and endured; his strong willpower and spirit kept him going temporarily without screaming out. The Blood Core within him started to tremble slightly. ¡°It seems that this Holy Water can be regarded as a very high-grade Life Essence, even exciting the Blood Core.¡± ¡°Give it a try. Just a little bit¡­¡± Chapter 317 - 317: Section 105: Accidentally Became the Divine Son! (Part 2) Chapter 317: Section 105: Accidentally Became the Divine Son! (Part 2) The Fishman youth quietly and cautiously activated his Blood Core. The Blood Core suddenly burst into a red glow! Like a hungry tiger released from its cage, the red light quickly spread throughout the youth¡¯s body, sweeping away all the Holy Water that had infiltrated his body. The youth had almost no time to react before the Holy Water that had seeped into him was completely absorbed by the red glow. ¡°So fierce?¡± the youth silently exclaimed in surprise, instinctively feeling uneasy, and he quickly controlled the Blood Core. He took control of the Blood Core and successfully contained the blood light within his body, preventing it from spilling out. ... Although the youth was still not at the level of fine control over the Blood Core, and couldn¡¯t save the Big guy who was suffering from Bloodline Conflict at that moment, he had still made considerable progress since his time on Mysterious Monster Island. After all, this was his greatest trump card, and he had been secretly practicing. The Holy Water that had seeped in was completely devoured by the red light, and the Fishman youth¡¯s pain vanished entirely. The force of the water flow itself was very small, merely like a small fountain. What was truly unbearable was the Holy Water permeating the interior of the Fishman to transform him. Thus, the Blood Core eradicated the Fishman youth¡¯s agony right at the root. The Fishman youth stood erect. ¡°This brother of mine is tough! Great perseverance. To endure the Holy Water without a peep, unmoving, not even bowing his head,¡± Hong Bao, who had been paying close attention to the Fishman youth, watched this scene and immediately felt admiration. The Fishman beside the youth began to groan continuously, some even started to cry out in low agony. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? The youth noticed this and, although he was without pain, began to groan as well. ¡°I need to keep a low profile, can¡¯t stand out too much,¡± the youth reminded himself. Performing exceptionally well to the point of abnormality would definitely attract scrutiny. Activating the Blood Core quietly in the Holy Water pool was risky, but the strong urge conveyed by the Blood Core indicated the benefits were certainly substantial. Moreover, the Fishman youth had some confidence in himself. Even if he were subject to scrutiny, he had Pearl Bubble on him. Currently, all the Pearl Bubbles were concentrated on his body, a preparation made prior to the Justice Pirate Group entering the Half-plane. The Fishman youth continued to groan and persist. He strictly controlled the Blood Core, which always seemed ready to surge forth, eager to swallow all the Holy Water. The youth could clearly feel the difficulty of maintaining control increasing. It was like a novice riding a wild horse; the slightest inattention could result in a complete toss. The other Fishman who had entered the Holy Water pool with him began to fall to their knees. The youth kept groaning while vigilantly observing his surroundings. Seeing this, he also began to let his body quiver slightly. ¡°Well done, brother! You can do this, hold out for the longest time, you must do your utmost!¡± came the encouraging voice of Hong Bao, earnest and warm. Not just him, the other Fishman were also watching the youth. Among this batch, it was the Fishman youth who was performing the best, most resilient. This was the result the Fishman youth intentionally controlled for. While slightly better than others, he wasn¡¯t so outstanding as to be glaring. This way, he had an excuse to extend the time slightly, allowing the Blood Core to absorb a bit more Holy Water. The Holy Water that caused the Blood Core to have such a strong urge to devour must certainly be something valuable! Before long, the Fishman began to howl miserably, most of them falling to their knees or fully kneeling, supporting themselves with their hands on the bottom of the Holy Water pool, some even lying flat, baring their teeth and enduring the comprehensive scouring of the Holy Water. Only the Fishman youth was still standing. ¡°Who is this, so resilient!¡± More and more Fishman started to focus their attention on the Fishman youth. ¡°It¡¯s enough, I can kneel down too,¡± the youth thought, having been watching his surroundings, not wanting to be too conspicuous. But the next moment, the youth¡¯s heart lurched. He realized he couldn¡¯t move at all. ¡°How could this be?!¡± Most of his attention was focused on controlling the Blood Core, and he had paid less attention to checking his own condition. After entering the Holy Water pool, he went to the center and stayed motionless, so it was difficult to notice this condition. ¡°The Holy Water keeps washing over me, permeating every part, nearly sweeping me away.¡± ¡°And the light from the Blood Core is also filling my body, both attracting each other, leaving me unable to move!¡± After inspecting himself with his spirit, the youth immediately understood the reason¡ªboth the Blood Core and the Holy Water together had immobilized him. The youth¡¯s mind became calm. Once the cause was known, the solution seemed simple: just stop the Blood Core. The next moment, he was about to shut off the Blood Core, recalling all the blood light. However, the youth¡¯s heart lurched again. He discovered that the Blood Core inside him had gone out of control! ¡°How can this be?¡± Even when absorbing the King of Flame Dragon, the youth could stop the Blood Core at any time. ¡°Why not here?¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± The youth couldn¡¯t help but break out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, the constant flushing of Holy Water concealed this flaw. This turn of events was beyond his imagination, something he had never encountered before! The Blood Core had always been well-behaved and obedient. But at this moment, the youth simply couldn¡¯t stop. Crucially, the Fishman youth was still enduring the cleanse of Holy Water under public scrutiny. Watching his proudly standing figure, many Fishmen were deeply moved. ¡°Who is this Fishman brother?¡± ¡°Strange, he¡¯s just a brown-scaled one, yet he can hold on for so long!¡± ¡°Humph, my brother¡¯s Bloodline isn¡¯t just brown scales, he has another Bloodline!¡± Hong Bao declared loudly, with head held high. ¡°So, that¡¯s how it is.¡± Many Fishmen nodded slightly in understanding. The Fishman youth was beginning to panic and feel nervous. The Bloodlight was frantically absorbing the Holy Water, and had he not suppressed it with all his might, it would have erupted outward. No matter how the youth tried to mobilize the Blood Core with his spirit, the Blood Core remained indifferent, hell-bent on gorging itself. Du Liu clicked his tongue and stared at the youth¡¯s back with admiring eyes: ¡°He is a warrior.¡± Xia Bai nodded in total agreement: ¡°He doesn¡¯t even stumble one bit!¡± The two exchanged glances, both harboring the thought of recruitment. If they knew that the Fishman they were admiring was the same one who caused chaos in Sea Eye City, who knows what they would think. In fact, the Fishman youth really wanted to shake his body, but he couldn¡¯t! ¡°Ah ah ah ah¡ª!¡± He had no choice but to scream in agony. Hong Bao¡¯s face changed: ¡°Brother, come on, you can do it! Hang in there!¡± After a while, those Fishmen who had entered the Holy Water with the youth had already begun to exit one after another, unable to hold on any longer. More or less, they all had some improvement. Looking back at the youth¡¯s silhouette, these Fishmen all showed expressions of admiration. ¡°He¡¯s been holding on for so long, and only now has he started to scream.¡± ¡°Who is he? To have such tremendous potential?¡± The Fishman youth was on tenterhooks, aware of his own predicament. On one hand, he was desperately trying to stop the Blood Core; on the other, he was screaming hoarsely, attempting to make his cries sound even more pitiful. Many Fishmen were touched by his screams. ¡°We all understand the intense pain of being cleansed by Holy Water. This Fishman has held on for so long, and still screams so powerfully, he truly is remarkable.¡± ¡°Look at him, standing tall and straight as a lance, never kneeling, he has the spirit of pride!¡± Even the Divine Officers by the Holy Water pool started to praise him. Such a performance from the Fishman youth was rare indeed! ¡°What to do?!¡± The Fishman youth heard the surrounding praise and felt a whirlwind of emotions. Continuously screaming wasn¡¯t a solution either. ¡°Stop for me, stop!¡± The Fishman youth never ceased his attempts to control the Blood Core. The Blood Core gave no response. It was too starved; every drop of the infiltrating Holy Water was not to be spared. The outside Holy Water wanted to flush, instill, and permeate, while the inside Bloodlight desired to sweep up and engulf ¨C the combined forces pinned the youth firmly in place, without a hint of wavering. Moments later, the surrounding Fishmen began to show expressions of shock. ¡°Incredible!¡± a cry of admiration startled everyone, and the Fishmen bowed in respect. It was Mei Lan, the High Priest, who had received the news and came directly. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was from the Holy Domain, a four-armed Naga. At this moment, she was intently focusing on the Fishman youth, her face a mixture of inquiry, excitement, and thrill. What was happening to the Fishman youth was unprecedented! ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± someone asked the High Priest. The High Priest smiled; although it was also her first time seeing this, she appeared nonchalant: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s his Bloodline far surpassing the ordinary, so he keeps absorbing the Holy Water. The Bloodline hidden within him is awakening.¡± The Fishmen were astounded, each beginning to speculate about the Bloodline the youth was awakening. Fishman youth: ¡°¡­¡± After a while, the youth was still screaming miserably, and his body remained rigid. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°There¡¯s still no change in his body surface, isn¡¯t his bloodline awakening?¡± The Fishmen were bewildered. The High Priest wore a smile, and even though she was also perplexed, she appeared to have everything under control, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. His bloodline far surpasses the ordinary, which is why the awakening process is so slow. But there will definitely be changes.¡± The Fishman youth: ¡°¡­¡± He desperately tried to activate his Blood Core, and perhaps because he had been trying for so long, he finally made some progress. Although he couldn¡¯t stop the Blood Core immediately, he managed to make the Blood Core retract some of the blood light. As the blood light retracted back into the core, an incomplete bloodline pattern emerged within the Blood Core. The youth was profoundly shaken. He didn¡¯t know exactly which bloodline it was but was able to sense its Bloodline Grade. The grade of this incomplete bloodline was astonishingly at the Divine Level. A Divine Level Fishman Bloodline! The youth was a bit dazed. ¡°My Blood Core can absorb a Divine Level bloodline?¡± ¡°Wait a second, after absorbing the King of Flame Dragon, it only showed that I could take on Legendary creatures. This certainly does not mean that Legendary is the limit.¡± ¡°Moreover, this is not a Divine Level creature but Holy Water. Clearly, it¡¯s a product refined by Mei Lan. Since it can be absorbed by all the Fishmen, perhaps its difficulty was reduced. So the Blood Core can absorb it?¡± For a moment, various conjectures sprung up in the youth¡¯s mind. With the additional incomplete bloodline, the youth managed to calm his heart somewhat. He immediately attempted the Mutation. The Blood Core was still out of control, using the blood light emitted to devour the Holy Water. This was the most challenging Mutation the youth had ever faced. But fortunately, he succeeded. His bodily features began to change. These changes were slow, but as soon as they occurred, they instantly caused Mei Lan, the High Priest, to exclaim in shock, ¡°This is¡ª?!¡± The other Fishmen did not have such keen insight. Seeing Mei Lan, the High Priest, lose composure, they all instinctively held their breath, quietly awaiting the High Priest to reveal the answer. The next moment, the High Priest did not disappoint; with a trembling voice, she declared, ¡°Shark Blue, this is the Divine Level Shark Blue Bloodline!¡± Boom! The Fishmen erupted into a commotion. Among the Fishmen, there had been deities; naturally, there were Divine Bloodlines. But the Fishman Race couldn¡¯t compare with the Human Race, Dwarves, or Elves in general aptitude. The output of Transcendents was low, and the Magic System was even more precious, making the rarity of Divine Bloodlines downright terrifying. ¡°Divine, Divine Level?!¡± Hong Bao¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Brother, you¡¯re too awesome!¡± Xia Bai and Du Liu immediately dismissed the idea of recruiting the Fishman youth, changing their stance to one of allegiance. How could they align themselves with him? Under the Blood Core Mutation, the youth¡¯s body stretched taller, becoming more erect and elongated. Fishmen tails mostly degenerated, but his began to grow. Countless eyes sparkled, all fixed on the Fishman youth¡¯s body. The fervor in those eyes seemed to raise the temperature of the Holy Water slightly. The youth knew he was being grilled over an open fire. It seemed glorious, but dangers lurked everywhere! But there was nothing he could do. He could only undergo Mutation, pretending that everything was normal. ¡°Stop now, please stop,¡± the youth tried with the Blood Core but encountered a bottleneck; he could only undergo Mutation and was not able to completely stop the Blood Core. However, it seemed as though his wishes were heard, as the flow of Holy Water from the divine statue gradually lessened. ¡°The Holy Water is almost depleted,¡± one Priest said, his face full of astonishment, ¡°So much Holy Water washing over him, I¡¯ve never seen anything like this.¡± ¡°No, we cannot let the Holy Water stop!¡± Mei Lan, the High Priest, suddenly said, ¡°Summon all Believers and Priests to come and pray, to help the divine statue quickly produce more Holy Water.¡± The High Priest¡¯s order was swiftly carried out as a multitude of Divine Officers flooded in, surrounding the Holy Water pool. They kneeled and prayed, their voices resounding across the fields. The Holy Water surged once again. The youth: ¡­ He could only continue to absorb and then let out agonizing cries. His voice was hoarse from all the screaming. ¡°` ¡°He can still shout, that¡¯s impressive.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so terrifying, such willpower!¡± ¡°He truly deserves to have Divine Blood.¡± Praise was unending. The more Holy Water absorbed, the greater the degree of mutation. The scales on the Fishman youth¡¯s body began to transform, from ordinary flat fish scales into the rough, raised Shield Scales of a shark. These Shield Scales, far denser than ordinary fish scales, overlapped layer upon layer, covering the Fishman youth¡¯s entire body. The Fishman youth completely grew a shark-like tail. His limbs became sturdy and powerful. His hands too were covered in Shield Scales, as if he had donned a pair of gloves. The Holy Water once again became scarce. Mei Lan, the High Priest, stared intently at the Fishman youth, ¡°He can still shout, he still has the strength, but the Holy Water is too little. No, we cannot stop!¡± Mei Lan the High Priest leaned over, plunging her arms into the pool, a surge of Divine Power streaming from her body, all of it flowing into the Holy Water pool. The previously sparse Holy Water once again became turbulent. The youth: ?! With the full support from a being of the Holy Domain, the Holy Water gushed out violently this time, almost like a miniature waterfall. This greatly stimulated the Blood Core. A surge of red light swelled, almost spilling out of the youth¡¯s body. At this critical moment, the youth could only brace himself and, opening his mouth wide, tilted back his head¡ªI¡¯ll drink! Gulp, gulp! He swallowed the Holy Water in large gulps. All Fishmen onlookers were so shocked their bodies went numb. ¡°He, he¡¯s actually drinking Holy Water direct!¡± ¡°Oh my God!¡± ¡°He¡¯s so brave, so incredibly brave!!¡± While unorthodox, the Fishman youth¡¯s actions saved him. Large amounts of Holy Water entered his stomach, greatly satisfying the Blood Core. The Bloodlight swiftly transformed the Holy Water, rapidly increasing the Divine Bloodline Concentration within the Blood Core. The Fishman youth continued to mutate. He shot up to a height of two meters, his form growing tall and imposing, with a shark tail that was at least one and a half meters long, its lines smooth and graceful. His Shield Scales extended into his mouth, turning into layers of sharp teeth. Inside the cavernous maw of the Fishman youth, there were three layers of jagged, razor-sharp teeth. Uneven and incredibly sharp, they sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. But it was not yet the complete form. Plunk. Mei Lan, the High Priest, collapsed into the water; she was drained and couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. Without her effort, the Holy Water instantly became thin and weak once more. Soon after, the Holy Water finally stopped surging. With no Holy Water to entice it, the Blood Core was somewhat satisfied and no longer had the intense devouring impulse from before, being reined in by the youth once again. ¡°Finally, finally¡­¡± The Fishman youth exhaled a breath of foul air, moving his limbs. He turned around and saw all the surrounding Fishmen had knelt on the ground. ¡°Divine Son¡­¡± a Fishman murmured. ¡°Divine Son.¡± a Fishman¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. ¡°Divine Son! Divine Son!!¡± More Fishmen started calling out loudly and feverishly. The Fishman youth looked at the Fishmen kneeling on the ground, then turned to Mei Lan, the High Priest. The High Priest, her face deathly pale, showed a look of profound relief, nodding slowly towards the Fishman youth. The Fishman youth was speechless. How did this happen? He had accidentally become the Divine Son of the Fishman tribe! ¡°` Chapter 318 - 318: Section 106: Cold Sky Splitter Chapter 318: Section 106: Cold Sky Splitter ¡°Divine Son! Divine Son!¡± cheers filled the entire underwater hall. The appearance of a Divine Bloodline was no small matter, for it meant that the owner of the bloodline possessed the potential to become a deity. Once a new god ascended, the entire world¡¯s pattern would be influenced. Not to mention the distant, look at the Pirate Throne¡ªit was enough. The universally acknowledged strongest nation, the Holy Bright Empire, also had to pay attention to the Pirate Throne, worrying about the colossal interference of the God of Pirates. Of course, there was a science to Divine Bloodlines, with their specific value largely depending on the bloodline concentration. There were distinctions between Divine Sons. ... If the concentration of the Divine Bloodline was low, the achievements of a Divine Son would also be very limited. If the concentration was sufficient, without resources, growth wouldn¡¯t be possible. Among the Human Race, there were quite a few Divine Sons, and the competition between them was extremely fierce. The Fishman Clan¡¯s potential was incomparable to that of the Human Race. Among humans, Divine Sons competed intensely for resources, but in the Fishman Clan, even the Magic System was rare, let alone Divine Bloodlines. Therefore, once a Fishman with a Divine Bloodline appeared, it would attract extreme attention. This was also why Mei Lan, as a High Priest of the Holy Domain, was willing to sacrifice herself to aid the Fishman youth. ¡°Currently, the Blood Core stores a bloodline concentration of 38% from Shark Qing, which is 3% more than the Legendary Bloodline of the King of Flame Dragon,¡± the youth secretly investigated. Holy Water was extremely effective. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 The current situation exceeded his expectations. Although he had exerted all his effort to keep the Blood Core hidden, he knew very well that he was still not out of danger, and rigorous verification was sure to follow. Honestly, he regretted it. If he had known this would be the outcome, he wouldn¡¯t have boldly tried. Although a Divine Bloodline was favorable, possessing the Blood Core meant the youth had a vast potential future; there was no need for such risky behavior. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Identities like the Scalping Tribe, Ya Bai; these identities would not withstand verification. They were merely hasty claims made by the Fishman youth, easily seen through. Of course, he could also falsely claim that he was disguising himself, not wanting to reveal his true identity to others. But one must have some origin. Sadly, the youth had none. Should there be an actual investigation, Fishmen would realize that the owner of this Divine Bloodline had appeared out of nowhere. He had no hometown, and even if he were a wanderer, he surely would have had a journey, a path traveled, experiences along the way. Where one treads, traces remain. But he had none. Because he hadn¡¯t traveled anywhere. He was susceptible to verification. Since the Divine Son had been identified, the Fishmen would undoubtedly spare no effort to cultivate him. Beforehand, verification was inevitable, and it would certainly be very strict. If the verification failed and the youth invariably couldn¡¯t clarify, what then? Awaiting the youth would be either a prison or a slaughterhouse! ¡°Do the six Pearl Bubbles on me suffice to protect me, to withstand the detection of Divine Arts and Spells?¡± Worry inevitably arose in the youth¡¯s heart. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to bring more; this was already the limit. With only ten Pearl Bubbles remaining, six were on the youth, and the rest were allotted to the Deep Sea Monster Fish. The verification of the youth¡¯s identity and origin would be lengthy and frequent, and they wouldn¡¯t rest without results. Six Pearl Bubbles definitely wouldn¡¯t hold up. The key question was how many waves of Divine Arts and Spells they could withstand, which also related to how long the youth could hide in Mei Lan¡¯s Main Temple. In the midst of many eager, frenzied, reverent, and curious gazes, the youth slowly emerged from the Holy Water pool. Mei Lan, the High Priest, smiled as she immediately put her arm around the youth¡¯s shoulder and without much ado, performed a probing Divine Art. The Pearl Bubble began to take effect. ¡°What incredible Recovery Power, it¡¯s hard to tell that you¡¯ve just undergone the wash of the Holy Water.¡± Mei Lan, the High Priest, eyes gleamed, ¡°Newborn Divine Son, may I ask for your name?¡± The Fishman youth felt a headache coming on¡ªhe couldn¡¯t find a credible identity on short notice and could only answer, ¡°My name is Ya Bai, from the Scalping Tribe.¡± ¡°The Scalping Tribe, where is that?¡± Mei Lan, the High Priest, asked again. The Fishman youth had no choice but to tough it out and continue his lie. After a few exchanges, he began to feel overwhelmed. Yet, Mei Lan, the High Priest, was far from satisfied and seemed keen on stripping him of all his information. But just then, a Mutation suddenly occurred. With a swoosh, half a claw appeared out of nowhere. Then, the claw ripped up and down, pulled left and right, tearing open a spatial channel directly. This temporary spatial channel was very unstable, filled with violent currents in the pitch-dark corridor. But there was one figure, solid as a rock, taking firm steps, walking out from the channel. ¡°Oh? Quite a lot of Fishmen here. It seems like an important place in the temple,¡± said the speaker as he fully entered the Holy Water hall. He was a Barbarian, tall and imposing. He wore a crow mask, covering the upper half of his face, the eyes that were showing were extremely sharp; his beard was grizzled and his temples frosted. His black hair was tied into a high ponytail. His aura was extremely powerful ¡ª Legendary! His right hand was empty, but his left hand wore a claw glove, which had torn the space. Astonishingly, the claw glove was also of Legendary level! ¡°Cold Sky Splitter, the Legendary Barbarian, Zhao Ya!¡± Mei Lan, the High Priest, spoke with difficulty, her face ashen. ¡°Correct, it is indeed I,¡± Zhao Ya nodded, ¡°to die by my hand is also an honor for you.¡± As soon as his words fell, he made his move! Combat Skill¡ªFrost Palm! He struck out with his right palm, the movement leisurely yet slow. Yet, as he moved, a fierce cold wind suddenly blew through the entire hall. The cold wind swept up the seawater, instantly freezing it. The Fishmen inside the hall didn¡¯t even have time to react before they were encased in huge blocks of ice, their fish faces filled with shock and terror. Mei Lan, the High Priest, used all her strength to resist; she maintained the Holy Domain, which also protected the Fishman youth. But soon, ice started to form inside her Holy Domain, and frost began to touch the High Priest¡¯s eyebrows as well. Cold, cold, cold! An icy chill enveloped the whole body of the Fishman youth. He was in his Shark Green Fishman form, usually very adaptable to cold seawater, but in this chill, he found himself unable to withstand it. For this coldness was not limited to materials and elements; it had begun to ascend into concepts. Once the concept of frost was completely extracted, it would signify Zhao Ya¡¯s advance to the Divine Level. ¡°No wonder he is a famously Legendary warrior, I can¡¯t hold on any longer!¡± Mei Lan, the High Priest, said with a bitter smile to the Fishman youth, ¡°It¡¯s such a pity, we just witnessed the emergence of the Divine Son, the revival of our sect was in sight¡­¡± Because she had just exerted her full power to aid the Fishman youth, Mei Lan, the High Priest¡¯s condition was weakened. Now facing a Legendary-level enemy, she could only hold on for a few more moments. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that there was a Legendary hiding on the Barbarian¡¯s ship. This is a desperate situation!¡± despair rose in the Fishman youth¡¯s heart. He couldn¡¯t find any means to escape. Though he could transform into his Shark Green Fishman form and thereby utilize his Silver Fighting Energy for the first time officially. But compared to the formidable Zhao Ya in front of him, he was far too weak. Chapter 319 - 319: Section 107: The Great Dispersion Chapter 319: Section 107: The Great Dispersion Boom! The Golden Fighting Spirit burst forth within the pirate ship, directly shattering the vessel. Raging currents mixed with broken planks and cannon debris sprayed in all directions. The figure of the Sea Elf Commander burst out from the wreckage of the pirate ship. ¡°Another one!¡± Cang Xu, situated in the Captain¡¯s quarters of the Justice, watched the scene, feeling as though a mountain weighed upon his heart. The Sea Elf Commander himself was of Golden Level, not only versed in both fighting energy and magic but also a clergy member. What was more, he actually had a Clone Divine Skill that transformed him into eight, eight complete Golden Levels. ... Whether it was Cang Xu or Feng Yao and the like, they had never heard of such Divine Arts in the world! Clone Techniques were not uncommon, but the clone illusions were often very fragile and their attacking power lagged behind that of the original body. But these weaknesses were not at all apparent in the Sea Elf Commander! Even with Feng Yao¡¯s poetic enhancements, only Zong Ge among the Silver Level Transcendents in the Justice Pirate Group could directly confront one of the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clones. Feng Yao himself could withstand one. But the remaining six were difficult for the Justice Pirate Group to contend with. Reluctantly, they had no choice but to retreat. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The clones of the Sea Elf Commander were unstoppable, and the Divine Guard Army that he led also took advantage of the situation to press the attack. During the escape, one pirate ship after another from the Justice Pirate Group succumbed to the depths. Aboard the Justice, Xiao Niao knelt behind the Golden Cannon. His hands tightly grasped the pendant of his necklace, the Holy Rune of the Goddess of Luck. Xiao Niao prayed with all his might, but within the temple, he distinctly felt as if there were a barrier between himself and the deity. After the prayer, he let go of his hands and hurried to check the Holy Rune. Disappointment swiftly surfaced on his face. Only a thin layer of rainbow brilliance shimmered on the Holy Rune. ¡°Although I have successfully prayed, in this temple, the involvement of the Goddess of Luck¡¯s Divine Power is greatly reduced.¡± Xiao Niao gritted his teeth, bracing himself to operate the Golden Cannon. A rainbow glimmer wound around the barrel of the cannon, which became incredibly faint once spread thin, barely perceptible. Xiao Niao continued to pour his fighting energy into the Golden Cannon. Being of Black Iron Level, he struggled greatly to use the Golden Cannon. Soon his fighting energy was expended, but the Golden Cannon was far from being fully charged. Xiao Niao quickly took out a potion, tilted back his head, and gulped it down. The potion was extremely effective, and new fighting energy surged from every part of his body. He funneled all this energy into the Golden Cannon, but the rate of accumulation was still very slow. Finally, after yet another pirate ship had been destroyed, Xiao Niao was at last able to fire a shot. Elf Archer Qiu, Black Iron Mage Cang Xu, and one covered in dust actively coordinated with him, preventing a Sea Elf Commander clone from retreating in time. Boom! The Golden Cannon fired. A bolt of lightning, like the sharpest gun spear, directly pierced through the clone of the Sea Elf Commander. The clone roared in fury but ultimately dissipated slowly amid the electrical light. However, the destruction of the clone enraged the other Sea Elf clones, who redirected their firepower to target the Justice squarely. Spell¡ªGlue Technique. Spell¡ªWater Python Kill. Spell¡ªIce Damage. Under the relentless assault of spells, the Justice¡¯s speed slowed considerably, then wrapped tightly by python-like currents. Finally, as the frost spread, the metal coating, deck, and hull all became hard and brittle, lacking resilience. Crack crack¡­ The python-like currents intensified, rending the Justice into three pieces. Some of the crew were crushed on the spot, while others were fortunate enough to escape. Seven Sea Elf clones remained, each one both a mage and a fighter, as well as clergy. Just as they were about to finish off the crew of the Justice, the Silver Hook arrived just in time. Zong Ge was already gravely wounded, standing proudly at the prow, wielding the Demon Blood Greatsword, ¡°Quick, retreat! I¡¯ll cover your escape!¡± The Sea Elf clones sneered, easily circling around the Silver Hook, continuing their pursuit. Two of them stayed behind to deal specifically with Zong Ge. ¡°Thinking of covering the rear? It¡¯s a commendable act of courage, but utterly foolish!¡± ¡°If you ran now, perhaps you could drag out your miserable life a little longer. But to choose to stand your ground is to seek death. Allow me to oblige you!¡± Two Golden clones of the Sea Elf Commander launched their assault on Zong Ge. They were of one source, their coordination was flawless; after all, one knew oneself best. Boom. Zong Ge crashed through the deck, flung inside the Silver Hook with his chest caved in, an unknown number of ribs broken. ¡°Time to die!¡± The Sea Elf Commander clone dove into the cabin, raising the sharp blade high before brutally slashing down. Combat Skill¡ªFierce Stab. A dazzling brilliance shone from the sharp blade, pressuring Zong Ge into squinting reflexively. The Half-Beast felt a chill throughout his body, knowing he was too late to dodge, and if he could not withstand this attack head-on, his life would end here. But how could mere Silver Fighting Spirit withstand a Golden level Combat Skill? The next moment, the sharp blade pierced through the Half-Beast¡¯s chest! S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The wreckage of the Justice continued to sink. The crew scattered in escape. ¡°Don¡¯t get on the other ships!¡± Amidst the turbulent waters, Xu Ma grabbed Bai Ya, ¡°Those are what will attract the enemy¡¯s fire the most. We¡¯ll retreat through the suction pools!¡± Xu Ma was quite experienced when it came to retreats. Bai Ya, momentarily stunned, also found the idea sensible and fled with him. They quickly arrived near the suction pools. The suction pools were located at the rear of the battlefield, already scouted by the Justice Pirate Group; some were massive, others narrow. Cang Xu had already arrived there before Xu Ma and Bai Ya. He was fully armed, draped in a Silver Level Magic Robe, holding a silver Magic Wand. Only the Magic Book was not currently out¡ªit couldn¡¯t be helped, the image of the Undead Mage crafted from bone was too conspicuous. Watching the continuous defeat of the Justice Pirate Group, with its members dying or seriously wounded under the pursuit of the Divine Guard Army, Cang Xu¡¯s expression turned icy cold. The long-absent feelings of anger and hatred swirled in his heart. Yet he remained calm, refraining from acting rashly. Though he could employ the Undead Magic Book to cast Silver Level Undead magic, it would definitely not be as powerful as that of a true Silver Mage. At the same time, even if he could cast it, it would be of little help to the situation¡ªfutile. He took out a number of Magic Scrolls from his chest, casting the Spells recorded within, helping the key members of the pirate group to escape to this location. ¡°Zong Ge¡­¡± A moment later, Cang Xu gazed at the sinking Silver Hook from afar, his mood very heavy. He did not see Zong Ge amongst those who escaped; however, most of the other key members had successfully made it. The Sea Elf Commander clone followed closely. There was no time left to linger; Cang Xu was the first to plunge into a suction pool, leaving the battlefield behind. Bai Ya, Xu Ma, and the others promptly followed suit. Moments later, Cang Xu found himself alone in a strange underwater corridor. Apart from him, there was no one else from the Justice. ¡°Even if it¡¯s the same suction pool, the changes in the water currents can alter its exit point,¡± Cang Xu sighed, aware of these mysteries of the suction pools. Just upon entering the Underwater Temple, the Captain had been teleported away. Now, the entire fleet had suffered a severe blow, and it was uncertain how many would survive. The members of the Justice Pirate Group were forced to escape separately, making it easy for them to be picked off one by one. After all, they were in enemy territory. ¡°Sigh! It¡¯s best to quickly regroup with the others, but the question is¡ªhow?¡± At that moment, the suction pool spewed forth again, and a Sea Elf Commander clone had pursued him to this spot. ¡°Human Mage, a mere Black Iron, to die at my hands is an honor for you,¡± the Sea Elf Commander clone sneered at Cang Xu. In that instant, Cang Xu felt like he had plummeted into an ice cave. Chapter 320 - 320: Section 108: Cang Xu: One of Us! Chapter 320: Section 108: Cang Xu: One of Us! A cold light flashed! The Sea Elf Commander ruthlessly struck towards Cang Xu. Cang Xu stood still, motionless, and was chopped in two by the blade. But the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone uttered a cry, ¡°Mirror Image Technique? When did he cast that?¡± The real Cang Xu was nowhere to be seen; what he had killed was just an illusion. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Sea Elf Commander snorted coldly and immediately cast a spell. A surging ring of light emanated from him, fiercely expanding outward. ... The hidden Cang Xu, who was drifting, was swept up by the ring of light, tripped forward, and materialized. The Sea Elf Commander noticed Cang Xu, who had already escaped a hundred steps away, but did not pursue. Instead, he cast another spell. Five Magic Missiles, glowing with splendid blue and purple luminescence, pierced through the water, shooting towards Cang Xu. Cang Xu hastily pulled out a Magic Scroll from his bosom, tore it open, and transformed it into a halo that enveloped his entire body. Then, leaning against a wall for support, he barely dodged two Magic Missiles but was hit by the remaining three. Cang Xu was struck as if by three punches to the back, the halo on his body fading almost to imperceptibility. The Magic Missile, a low-end and easy-to-learn spell, required all of Cang Xu¡¯s power to defend against when used by a Golden Level powerhouse. Having blocked the Magic Missiles, Cang Xu felt no joy but instead a sense of alarm ringing in his heart. ¡°This is just his way of constraining me!¡± Cang Xu did not turn his head, hurriedly pulled out another scroll, and tore it nearly instantaneously. In the next moment, his speed increased drastically, and he surged forward like a fish. Almost simultaneously, the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone pounced towards him. A hundred steps were nothing to him. But he pounced on empty air. ¡°Hmph, quite slippery,¡± the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone continued the chase. But Cang Xu¡¯s wealth had taken him by surprise. Generally, casting magic took time. Magic Scrolls, however, allowed for instant casting. It was through these scrolls that Cang Xu repeatedly seized crucial seconds in life-or-death moments, causing the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone¡¯s attacks to miss again and again. Thus, they continued this chase and escape for a moment until Cang Xu collided with a troop of the Divine Guard Army. Constrained, he was finally caught up by the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone. ¡°Where else do you think you can run, little rat? Die!¡± The Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone, now furious, struck Cang Xu down mercilessly. Cang Xu¡¯s face went pale; he knew his death was certain, but he still wanted to resist. Undead Magic¡ªFlying Bone Shield! He finally used a technique unique to him; several basin-sized bone shields spun out, circling and flying around him. The white bone shields blocked the Divine Guard Army¡¯s attacks, but in front of the Sea Elf Commander, they were as fragile as paper and were quickly destroyed. ¡°An Undead Mage! Must be killed!¡± Cang Xu snorted coldly, his heart filled with resolve. ¡°Even in death, you won¡¯t have it easy!¡± Undead Magic¡ªCorpse Explosion Technique! There were no corpses around; shockingly, the target of the spell was Cang Xu himself. Cang Xu¡¯s body, altered by Undead Magic¡ªhalf-human, half-corpse¡ªwas a viable target for the Corpse Explosion Technique. However, just as Cang Xu was trying to drag his powerful enemy down with him, suddenly someone from the Divine Guard Army rushed forward and slapped his shoulder. The Corpse Explosion Technique that Cang Xu was about to release abruptly stopped. Cang Xu groaned, his vision darkening, nearly collapsing. Amid his shock, he saw the ¡°Divine Guard Army¡± member confronting the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone. Boom! The two sides engaged, water surging wildly, equally matched. ¡°Who are you?¡± the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone demanded harshly. ¡°City Guard,¡± revealing the disguise with a smile, ¡°I am also an Undead Mage.¡± Cang Xu was taken aback and greatly surprised. This Undead Mage who had revealed himself possessed Golden Level cultivation, but his appearance was clearly that of the master of the underwater chamber. Why did Cang Xu know what the master of the underwater chamber looked like? It was simple. Inside the toad safety box, there were records of the master of the underwater chamber¡¯s appearance, voice, blood type, etc., as evidence for verification in the unlocking steps. ¡°Clearly at Silver Level, he managed to get promoted to Golden Level in the temple?¡± Cang Xu guessed in his heart. If it hadn¡¯t been for Cang Xu needing to use the Corpse Explosion Technique, threatening everyone, this Undead Mage might have continued hiding. The Undead Mage and the Sea Elf Commander faced off against each other. ¡°Kill!¡± The remaining Divine Guard Army, upon discovering a traitor among them, rushed towards the Undead Mage from all sides. The Undead Mage snorted coldly, merely snapping his fingers. The Divine Guard Army soldiers charging at him abruptly paused, their bones sprouting spikes; spikes violently burst out, turning the soldiers into hedgehogs, all were killed. During the period of his disguise, he had already secretly cast a spell. Now he only needed to cast a specific wave of magic to trigger this Undead Magic. After the death of the Divine Guard Army, blue soul fires sprang from their pupils, summoned by the Undead Mage, and they rushed towards the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone. He seized the opportunity to turn around, his finger pointing at Cang Xu, his killing intent fierce. When strong foes clashed, the first step was to clear the field. He certainly didn¡¯t want himself and the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone to both be injured, only for outsiders to reap the benefits. Cang Xu, being pointed at by the Undead Mage, instantly felt his heart pounding. At the life-or-death moment, a brilliant idea struck, and he pulled out an object, shouting, ¡°Own men!¡± The Undead Mage¡¯s pupils narrowed and indeed he held back. Cang Xu gasped for air, feeling mixed emotions from retrieving his life, a combination of relief, fear, and lingering horror. In that critical moment, he had shown the Undead Mage what he had seized from the underwater chamber ¡ª that badge. The badge contained a special power, making it extremely difficult to fake. The Undead Mage believed it. He was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed, and he quickly turned to confront an enemy. The Sea Elf Commander, proficient in magic, fighting energy, and divine arts, seeing his opponent was a Mage, naturally played to his own close-combat strengths. The Undead Mage couldn¡¯t cast spells in time, directly extending his left little finger. His little finger¡¯s bone exploded, instantly casting, summoning the Flying Bone Shield. Bone shields flew, each one twice the size of Cang Xu¡¯s, a total of six bone shields, blocking the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone. The body of the Sea Elf Commander twisted, striking at the shields, suddenly stepping diagonally, powerfully kicking off the wall, bypassing the Undead Mage, and charging straight at Cang Xu. In a clash of the strong, he aimed to kill Cang Xu first, doing everything to eliminate risks and uncertainties. The Undead Mage quickly cast a spell. The walls, ceiling, and floor of the corridor suddenly sprouted countless bone arms, snapping as they reached out and grabbed the Sea Elf Commander. Cang Xu quickly retreated; had it not been for the Undead Mage¡¯s assistance, he might have been beheaded by his enemy by then. Hundreds of bone arms grasped the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone. The latter struggled constantly, pumping fighting energy, his body also radiating with divine light. The Undead Mage maintained the spell, his expression growing increasingly strained. ¡°Brother, catch.¡± The next moment, Cang Xu tossed the silver Magic Wand he held to the Undead Mage. The Undead Mage took it and used it, immediately enhancing the effect of his mana, pulling back the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone who was about to break free. ¡°Great wand! I also made one exactly like it, just didn¡¯t bring it with me,¡± the Undead Mage remarked in admiration. Chapter 321 - 321: Section 109: Hello Cang Xu, Nice Taste Chapter 321: Section 109: Hello Cang Xu, Nice Taste The Sea Elf Commander¡¯s blade pierced Zong Ge¡¯s left chest and then smoothly penetrated through his back. A long section of the blade emerged from Zong Ge¡¯s left back! But Zong Ge did not die. A hint of surprise appeared on the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s duplicate face, ¡°Lion Heart?¡± He had diligently practiced martial arts, and at his level, the blade could be considered a part of his body, he sensed from the process of the blade piercing through that he hadn¡¯t punctured the Half-Beast¡¯s heart. The Sea Elf Commander¡¯s guess was not wrong. ... Zong Ge was a mix of Beastman and Human Race, his appearance was between that of a Lion-man and a Human, and his internal structure also differed from that of normal humans. The heart of a normal person is located in the left chest, but Zong Ge¡¯s heart was located dead center, right in front of the spine, in the upper middle part of the ribcage. Thus, the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s lethal strike missed its mark. But this did not mean Zong Ge was out of danger. For when the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s duplicate noticed this, he immediately infused Fighting energy into the blade. Golden Level Fighting energy could leave the body, and just by passing through the blade, it could burst inside the Half-Beast¡¯s body, his heart, lungs, etc., would all be instantly shredded by the Golden Fighting Spirit. Zong Ge realized this too, he tried to pull away, but in his haste, he struggled to escape. The blade pinned him and the ship¡¯s hull together. And the explosion of Fighting energy occurred in the next instant. With no other choice, the cornered Half-Beast could only muster all his energy, concentrating it near the wound created by the blade, desperately blocking the blade. ¡°You, merely at Silver Level, how could you resist Golden Fighting Spirit?¡± the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s duplicate sneered, ¡°Die!¡± Golden Fighting Spirit exploded instantly. No matter how much Silver Fighting Energy was accumulated, it was torn apart, penetrated, and expelled by the Golden Fighting Spirit. There was a qualitative difference between them. Golden Fighting Spirit broke through Zong Ge¡¯s Silver Fighting Spirit¡¯s defenses, rushing towards his heart like a torrential beast. ¡°Ah ah ah ah ah¡ª!¡± The Half-Beast howled. His eyes were blood-red, his hair wildly fluttered. ¡°No!¡± he roared in his heart as well. ¡°My life must not end here.¡± ¡°I still carry my father¡¯s expectations!¡± ¡°I have yet to truly make my mark!!¡± ¡°How can I die here!?¡± Amidst an all-out desperation of body and spirit, a transformation occurred. The burst of Golden Fighting Spirit from the Sea Elf Commander abruptly halted, actually blocked by Zong Ge¡¯s own Fighting Spirit. The Sea Elf Commander¡¯s duplicate was shaken. For he sensed a change in Zong Ge¡¯s aura. At that moment, Zong Ge¡¯s aura leaped from Silver Level, breaking free from restraints, and officially ascended to Golden Level! Zong Ge had already been at the peak of Silver Level, with just one step away from Golden Level. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After passing through Mysterious Monster Island, and while disguised as a pirate aboard the Justice, he continuously fought and steadily accumulated power. Finally, at this moment, responding to his call, his life¡¯s level broke through mid-battle, achieving Gold! Golden Fighting Spirit naturally had a qualitative uplift compared to Silver. Taking advantage of the shock to the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s spirit, Zong Ge fiercely recoiled, smashing the ship¡¯s hull with the back of his head, his figure burst back, pulling the opposing blade from his left chest. The Half-Beast finally escaped! ¡°Breaking through upon death, truly spectacular, like something out of a legend, hehehe.¡± The Sea Elf Commander¡¯s duplicate laughed a bit, his mood stabilizing once again. ¡°How old are you? Already at Golden Level.¡± ¡°Your bloodline is not simple, you are a rare genius.¡± ¡°But too bad, today you are doomed to die here, by my hands.¡± The Sea Elf Commander was utterly confident. His assessment of the battle was flawless. Although Zong Ge advanced to Golden Level, his Fighting Spirit had already been largely depleted. Putting aside that fact, Zong Ge was severely wounded, blood streaming from his left chest, and the burst of Fighting Spirit from the Sea Elf Commander had caused him extensive internal injuries. In contrast, on the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s side, there were two solid Golden duplicates, both in good condition, no injuries, and most of their Fighting Spirit, Mana, and even Divine Power remained. The Sea Elf Commander held an absolute advantage! Zong Ge also knew this. ¡°Then bring it on.¡± His hands tightened around the hilt, raising the Demon Blood Greatsword. ¡°Hehe.¡± The Sea Elf Commander¡¯s two duplicates chuckled together, coordinating their attack. Zong Ge shielded himself from both sides, continuously sustaining injuries, his blood nearly dyeing the surrounding waters red. The Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clones not only possessed outstanding strength, but their coordination also left no openings. Zong Ge saw no hope. He had already surpassed his physical limits, and it wouldn¡¯t have been surprising if he collapsed and died the next moment. His eyes were already dim, and his mind was half unconscious, unable to think properly. The only reason he was still holding on was purely because of his body¡¯s subconscious counterattacks. His battle instincts, honed through diligent training, had become ingrained in his bones and flesh. Driven by an overwhelming instinct to survive, Zong Ge was astonishingly persistent, even to himself. ¡°These guys¡­¡± The two clones of the Sea Elf Commander observed him with surprise. ¡°There¡¯s clearly no hope left, yet he still persists!¡± ¡°Remarkable, this is the first time in my life I¡¯ve seen such a fighter, determined even in the face of death. Although he¡¯s just a half-breed, his will to fight is indeed moving.¡± The clones of the Sea Elf Commander couldn¡¯t help but show respect and admiration in their gaze. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°State your name.¡± ¡°Today¡¯s battle is an honor for both of us.¡± The Sea Elf Commander asked with a solemn face. But Zong Ge floated in the water, seeming not to hear. Seeing his vacant eyes, the Sea Elf Commander understood, ¡°He¡¯s truly at his breaking point now, he can¡¯t even hear me clearly. Respectable and admirable. Let¡¯s give him the final blow.¡± Just as the two clones were about to perform a spell, their movements halted slightly. ¡°There¡¯s an issue with one of the clones. Hmm, I didn¡¯t expect a Golden Level Undead Mage to have sneaked in.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go assist, finish him off and meet with us!¡± After this brief exchange, the two clones quickly split their forces. In the underwater corridor. The Undead Mage had taken control of the situation. The clone of the Sea Elf Commander was trapped by countless skeletal hands, desperately trying to break free but consistently suppressed. Undead Magic is known for its bizarre and malevolent nature, and since this school of magic is newer, the clone of the Sea Elf Commander struggled to find a way to properly break through. As time dragged on, his efforts to break free became increasingly difficult. ¡°Senior Brother, thank you for saving me. I owe you this favor, and I hope you¡¯ll give me a chance to repay it,¡± Cang Xu said earnestly, ¡°You can call me Old Zhong, Senior Brother. What¡¯s your esteemed name?¡± ¡°Just call me Ship Ghost, that¡¯s my alias,¡± the Golden Level Undead Mage maintained his magic while nodding and smiling at Cang Xu. He didn¡¯t doubt Cang Xu. The badge wasn¡¯t fake. Apart from his master¡¯s personal creation, even an Alchemy Grandmaster would find it hard to forge. The silver Magic Wand in his hands further proved Cang Xu was one of their own. Because the method to make such a Magic Wand was taught by their master, and Ship Ghost himself had made them before, he was very familiar with it. ¡°Junior Brother Old Zhong, why are you here?¡± the Undead Mage known as Ship Ghost asked. ¡°Senior Brother, I heard that the deity Mei Lan was in an unbreakable slumber, so I came to steal some Divine Power to seek further advancement,¡± Cang Xu replied. Ship Ghost laughed heartily, looking Cang Xu up and down, ¡°Your idea is similar to mine, but you¡¯re much bolder than I was. Three years ago, I was a Silver Mage, and it took me a long time to disguise myself as a believer and infiltrate this place. As a Desecration Priest, I stole Divine Power and secretly improved until I reached my current level of cultivation.¡± ¡°Three years ago?¡± Cang Xu was startled as he was about to speak, when an astonishing aura was transmitted from the far end of the corridor. The owner of the aura was rapidly approaching them. Cang Xu and Ship Ghost both turned pale. They were all too familiar with this aura. Trapped within the cage of skeletal hands, the clone of the Sea Elf Commander laughed heartily, ¡°My support has arrived, I assure you, you¡¯re in for a memorable lesson.¡± ¡°Damn!¡± Ship Ghost gritted his teeth, ¡°Even as a Golden Level, it¡¯s somewhat forced to kill an enemy of the same level quickly.¡± The battle situation took a drastic turn. Ship Ghost knew he couldn¡¯t maintain his magic and fight an equal adversary at the same time. ¡°If only I had my Magic Robe with me. I specifically enchanted it to instantly cast Bone Wall,¡± sighed Ship Ghost, then asked Cang Xu, ¡°Can you use Bone Wall?¡± Before Cang Xu could answer, he shook his head, ¡°No, even if you can cast it and succeed, it won¡¯t coordinate with me. Only if I cast both Bone Wall and Skeletal Cage simultaneously can I merge these two spells into a Bone Tomb and temporarily trap a powerful enemy.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Cang Xu pulled off his Magic Robe and tossed it to Ship Ghost. ¡°Senior Brother, put this on, my robe also has Instant Cast for Bone Wall!¡± ¡°What?¡± Ship Ghost was stunned. Cang Xu quickly put on his own robe and then rushed to help Ship Ghost slip into the robe. Both the robe and the wand bore Cang Xu¡¯s spirit imprint, but Cang Xu had already communicated and made adjustments so that Ship Ghost could use them right away. ¡°You chose Bone Wall when making your robe too? Good taste!¡± Ship Ghost exclaimed with joy. Chapter 322 - 322: Section 110: Truth Divine Pupil Chapter 322: Section 110: Truth Divine Pupil Coldness spread from the depths of his heart. The Fishman youth gazed at the distant Cold Sky Splitter, his heart filled with bitterness. The adversary was a Legendary strong adversary, whose fame was not limited to the Frost Continent but was widespread throughout the world. The gap between him and the adversary was too great; he was only Silver at the moment. Above Silver was Gold, and above Gold was the Holy Domain. But even the Holymei Lan High Priest, who was at the Holy Domain Level, could now barely maintain the Holy Domain. ... Her Holy Domain was rapidly shrinking and wilting before the harsh cold assault, at a rate visible to the naked eye. Once the Holy Domain shrank to its limit, the unprotected High Priest and the Fishman youth would face nothing but a frozen death. However, just as the two were caught in an inescapable situation, an accident occurred. Behind them, the statue of the Fish God suddenly burst into dazzling Divine Light. The Divine Light enveloped the entire temple, and wherever it reached, the Fishmen who had been frozen solid began to recover, the ice on their bodies dissipated, and they all regained their freedom. And under the injection of the Divine Light, the High Priest¡¯s Holy Domain rapidly expanded, surpassing her lifetime peak in just a few breaths. ¡°Welcome, my Lord!¡± the High Priest became extremely excited and fervent, kneeling directly on the ground. The majestic Divine Light quickly condensed and transformed into a figure of a Fishman. The Fishman had a Blue Gemstone embedded on its forehead; its scales shimmered like crystal, it stood tall with full lips, and its muscles were strong yet smoothly contoured. Upon the appearance of the Fish God¡¯s incarnation, he captured the attention of the entire audience. The Fishmen were worshipful and fervent, while the Cold Sky Splitter Zhao Ya was solemn and heavy-hearted. The Fish God¡¯s incarnation stepped down leisurely, paused slightly in front of the High Priest, extended his large palm, and gently caressed her hair. Then, he turned his gaze towards the Fishman youth. The Fishman youth¡¯s heart skipped a beat. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the incarnation simply smiled at him and gave a slight nod before striding past him towards Zhao Ya. When Zhao Ya saw the Fish God¡¯s incarnation approaching him, the pressure in his spirit skyrocketed. Still a few hundred steps apart, Zhao Ya could no longer contain himself and let out a low growl, launching an attack. The Fish God¡¯s incarnation easily countered, while simultaneously throwing his arm backward, flinging out a spread of Divine Light. The Divine Light quickly dissipated, and everyone, including the Fishman youth and the High Priest, all the Fishmen and Divine Officers, were teleported back to the Wave Hall. After doing this, the Fish God¡¯s incarnation continued his advance towards Zhao Ya. Zhao Ya growled and pushed forward with both palms. Combat Skill¡ªFrost Palm! The previously used Combat Skill was executed again, but this time, the Cold Sky Splitter was going all in! A crazy chill filled the hall in an instant; the ice and snow surged wildly. The seawater in the hall froze in a moment, firmly encasing both Zhao Ya and the Fish God¡¯s incarnation. Zhao Ya exerted all his strength, not even sparing himself, and got frozen as well. His Fighting energy rapidly depleted, as he maintained the Frost Palm Combat Skill, attempting to halt the advance of the Fish God¡¯s incarnation. But it wasn¡¯t successful. A thin layer of Divine Light shrouded the Fish God¡¯s incarnation, who did not stop his steps. As He moved through the ice blocks, the ice dissolved, reverting back into flowing seawater. Zhao Ya¡¯s pupils contracted, and he gritted his teeth to use another move. Combat Skill¡ªCold Battle Axe! He stopped the Frost Palm, rubbing his hands together, as Fighting energy surged and spun within his palms, eventually forming an axe blade. He continued to compound his Fighting energy. The blade spun between his palms, fast and growing larger with every turn. Three breaths later, the axe blade shot out. It effortlessly cleaved all the frigid ice that barred its path, spinning towards the Fish God¡¯s incarnation¡¯s face in the blink of an eye. The incarnation of the Fish God didn¡¯t dodge or avoid, merely lifted its eyes and opened its mouth, actually swallowing the powerfully shot Combat Skill whole. The Frost Axe entered its body and suddenly exploded. But the Fish God¡¯s incarnation¡¯s belly only swelled slightly before settling down again. ¡°How, how is this possible?!¡± Zhao Ya witnessed this scene and completely lost his composure. He was very confident in his own strength. He had battled incarnations of the divine and even had combat experience with the deities themselves. Whether it was the Frost Palm or the Frost Axe, both were his outstanding offensive methods. ¡°Even the Holy Emperor¡¯s incarnation would have to resist my attacks, but Mei Lan¡¯s incarnation is so nonchalant. How could It possibly be on par with the Holy Emperor?¡± Zhao Ya suddenly had a thought, recalling the Barbarian elder¡¯s admonition before he set out. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± He struggled to pull out a gemstone from within his chest. And at that moment, the Fish God¡¯s incarnation had already approached Zhao Ya. It slowly extended its hand, reaching for Zhao Ya¡¯s heart. Zhao Ya had no doubt that once the Fish God¡¯s incarnation touched him, his heart would be ripped out! At this critical moment, Zhao Ya did not choose to use his most trusted defensive methods but instead channeled his fighting energy and spirit into the Blue Gemstone in his hand. The gemstone he pulled out was extraordinary, shimmering with a starlight reflecting off the ocean, radiating a cold sharpness. This Blue Gemstone had been personally given to him by the Barbarian elder before he set out and had instructed him to use it at the most crucial moment. Zhao Ya had studied this Blue Gemstone for a long time, but no matter what method he used, the gemstone showed no response, as if it were truly just an ordinary gemstone. If the Barbarian elder hadn¡¯t given it to him with such solemnity, he might have thrown it away as trash long ago. But in this moment, as he took it out, he knew he had bet correctly! The Blue Gemstone emitted strands of Divine Light, a divine-being level aura emerging from it. Within the crystal-clear Blue Gemstone, an eye gradually appeared. This eye, outlined in fluid and graceful gold lines, radiated the sharpest and most ruthless of glares. ¡°Gold Divine Pupil, Divine Eye of the deity!¡± That moment, Zhao Ya was more shocked than overjoyed. He had never imagined that a divine eye was sealed within the Blue Gemstone. The Gold Divine Eye burst forth with Divine Light, illuminating the surroundings. Zhao Ya¡¯s frozen ice turned into terrifying cold air, and the sea, along with the temple, began to vanish. The steps of the Fish God¡¯s incarnation came to a halt for the first time, and moreover, It started to retreat! ¡°It¡¯s afraid!¡± Zhao Ya¡¯s heart pounded with shock; this situation still defied his expectations. By all logic, as an incarnation of a deity, It should have had the upper hand. After all, Zhao Ya was only holding a deity¡¯s eye. Yet the Fish God¡¯s incarnation withdrew nonetheless. ¡°Strange!¡± Zhao Ya was full of confusion, but this did not prevent him from pressing the advantage. He lifted the Blue Gemstone high and began to charge towards the Fish God¡¯s incarnation. What shocked him profoundly then occurred. Whatever place was illuminated by the Divine Pupil turned to nothingness. The magnificent temple, the ornate pool of Holy Water, and even the Fish God¡¯s incarnation itself, all became so. The Fish God¡¯s incarnation retreated faster and faster. But Its presence seemed to anger the Divine Eye within the Blue Gemstone. Suddenly, the Divine Eye shot out a beam of Divine Light, hitting the Fish God¡¯s incarnation square in the back. The Fish God¡¯s incarnation immediately dispersed, as if it were merely a play of light and shadow, never actually existing. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± Zhao Ya was a long-renowned Legend-level powerhouse with extensive knowledge and experience, and he slowly formed a hypothesis. ¡°Could this be the God of Truth¡¯s eye?!¡± Chapter 323 - 323: Section 111: Fortunate Survival Chapter 323: Section 111: Fortunate Survival The God of Truth was originally a deity of the Human Race, but because of rebellion, he angered the Holy Emperor. The God of Truth fell into a trap and was lured out of the Divine Country. The Holy Emperor took action himself! It was said that the battle was so fierce that the heavens shattered and the vast ocean overturned. A corner of the Holy Bright Continent completely vanished, and the nearby highlands became a low-lying swamp. As the God of Truth faced his imminent downfall, he gouged out his own eyes and then, with reckless abandon, threw himself at the Holy Emperor. ... Although the Holy Emperor thoroughly killed the God of Truth, he missed the opportunity to capture the God of Truth¡¯s eyes as they transformed into shooting stars and flew away. The war is described in detail in the dogma of the Holy sects. Post-war, many bards, composers, and musicians also created many works in praise of the Holy Emperor¡¯s might and the regret of the God of Truth¡¯s fall. ¡°Unexpectedly, they are the pupils of the God of Truth!¡± ¡°Ever since the fall of the God of Truth, the Holy Emperor has been sending people around the world to collect these eyes.¡± ¡°And now, unexpectedly, one of them is in my hand.¡± As to how the Barbarian elder came to possess it, the Cold Sky Splitter, Zhao Ya, had no idea. ¡°It is said¡­ that the Truth Divine Pupil can discern the ultimate truth and see through all falsehoods.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I understand the real nature of the Mei Lan temple.¡± Zhao Ya¡¯s eyes shone with brilliance as he lifted the Truth Divine Pupil high. From the pupil burst forth Divine Light that shone in all directions. Under that light, the magnificent temple began to crumble, like an illusion slowly fading away. Boom¡­ As Divine Light continuously shone, the damaged temple began to tremble, making a deep rumbling noise. The vibrations had not yet reached the corridor of the Underwater Temple. The Golden Level Undead Mage, ship ghost, was panting heavily. He was dressed in a Silver Level Magic Robe and held a Silver Level Magic Wand in his hand, its tip pointed at a tomb. Entirely made of bones, the tomb had almost completely shut. Through the final gap, Huang could see the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone¡¯s face filled with unwillingness and rage. Click. A soft noise sounded, and the mound of bones finally closed completely, utterly suppressing a Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone! Undead Magic¡ªBone Tomb Technique! This was created by fusing two Undead Magics: Bone Wall and Bone Hand Cage. Huang witnessed the entire casting process and silently praised, ¡°Ship ghost¡¯s talent is stunning, his casting skills are superb¡ªit¡¯s beyond me.¡± ¡°But being noticed and taken as an apprentice by that person and being granted a badge, his talent certainly can¡¯t be lacking!¡± Once ship ghost solidified the Bone Tomb for a moment and confirmed the suppression was a success, he exhaled a breath of stale air and said to Huang with a smile, ¡°Thank you for lending me your Magic Wand and Robe.¡± After this battle, he felt greatly favorable towards Huang. Not only was he one of their own, but Huang had also lent his equipment without hesitation, showing decisiveness and trust. The Undead Mage, ship ghost, had always cultivated alone, and although he knew his mentor had other apprentices, he had never made contact or even connection with anyone else. Huang was the first ¡°own people¡± he had met. One whose tastes were very similar to his own. Huang smiled at ship ghost, ¡°Brother, keep using these items. They can play a much bigger role in your hands than in mine.¡± Ship ghost nodded, ¡°Alright. Follow me next, I will protect you. Our identities have been exposed already, and this is the Mei Lan Temple¡ªnot a place to linger. We must retreat quickly!¡± Huang frowned slightly, ¡°I still have some companions¡­¡± Ship ghost shook his head, ¡°There¡¯s no time to save them, let¡¯s escape first!¡± ¡°Where do you think you are escaping to?¡± A stern shout suddenly came. Both Undead Mages turned to look and their faces immediately changed drastically. Before dealing with Zong Ge, one of the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clones had already rushed over to provide support. ¡°Step back!¡± commanded the ship ghost, stepping forward to engage in combat. Cang Xu complied like water flowing downhill, steadily retreating far back to observe the battle from a distance. The ship ghost and the second Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone clashed. Both sides were equally matched, and for a moment, they were locked in a standoff. The Sea Elf Commander practiced magic, fighting energy, and divine arts in unison, with a rich array of unpredictable tactics. The ship ghost, having acquired two new pieces of equipment, no longer had any weaknesses, and the Undead Mage¡¯s unique and strange abilities often caught opponents off-guard. Cang Xu watched the battle closely, with absolutely no intention of intervening. As a mere Black Iron Level, rash involvement might attract the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone to attack him, which would be a very costly mistake. After all, the ship ghost¡¯s rescue might not always come in time. Cang Xu also had no intention of lending his magic book to the ship ghost. Silver Level robes and staffs were standard issue, and the person who recruited apprentices would teach them the same manufacturing methods. But magic books were different. The number of pages in a magic book and the spells each page contained were determined by the mage who created it. Therefore, while he could lend robes and staffs to the ship ghost, lending the magic book would instantly raise the latter¡¯s suspicion and doubt. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This will probably be a long-term battle!¡± Cang Xu thought to himself as he watched. He clearly remembered the ship ghost letting slip a key piece of information just now¡ªhe had been a Silver Mage three years ago. ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°The timing doesn¡¯t add up.¡± The various items rummaged from the underwater chamber proved that the ship ghost, when he disguised himself as a cultist and left, was definitely at the Silver Level. The identity of the ship ghost was also certain. His appearance, build, and so on all matched the information in the toad safe. ¡°Three years¡­ there¡¯s no need for the ship ghost to lie to me about this.¡± ¡°Why would it be three years?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been two or three months.¡± ¡°Something is wrong!¡± Just then, the vibrations from the temple reached him. The underwater corridor shook continuously, like an earthquake. The trembling quickly intensified, giving Cang Xu the sense that it was about to collapse. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Both the fighting Undead Mage ship ghost and the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone were taken by surprise. Their offensive slowed. The next moment, the Undead Mage¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment as he saw the Sea Elf clone gradually dissipating, like mist or foam! ¡°What in the world happened?¡± The Undead Mage suddenly turned his head to look at the Bone Tomb he had constructed. He could feel that the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone sealed inside had also vanished. ¡°Could it be that the time limit of the clone¡¯s divine art had been reached?¡± Cang Xu hurried back to the ship ghost¡¯s side. The ship ghost suddenly gasped, exclaiming in shock. He looked at his own body in utter amazement as his aura rapidly changed, falling from the Gold Level to the Silver Level! Meanwhile, on another battlefield. Zong Ge¡¯s injuries were severe, and he was unconscious. ¡°Struggling is futile, you¡¯ll eventually die by my hand,¡± the Sea Elf clone said to Zong Ge as he beheaded him with his blade. The moment the blade touched Zong Ge¡¯s neck, it began to fade, and eventually, like the Sea Elf Commander¡¯s clone, it quietly vanished without a trace. Chapter 324 - 324: Section 112: The Truth about Mei Lan Temple Chapter 324: Section 112: The Truth about Mei Lan Temple Through teleportation, the dragon-man youth returned to the Wave Hall. Rumble rumble¡­ Soon, the temple began to tremble violently. The High Priest¡¯s complexion changed drastically, and she immediately cast a spell. An illusory image, like a small dressing mirror, hovered in the palm of her hand. She was remotely observing the battle and witnessed the moment the incarnation of the Fish God dissipated. ¡°This is the ¡®Truth Divine Pupil¡¯!¡± High Priest Mei Lan¡¯s face turned deathly pale. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± standing beside the High Priest was the fishman youth, who was also very puzzled by this scene. High Priest Mei Lan cast a glance at the surviving fishmen in the hall and whispered to the fishman youth, ¡°It¡¯s time to tell you the truth, but before that¡­¡± She paused, turned to face the fishmen, and loudly beckoned them to gather together, then she cast divine arts. The Divine Arts took the form of water rings that encircled all the fishmen, constantly emanating divine light that gradually removed the horrific frostbite from their bodies. ¡°There are powerful enemies attacking the temple, but our lord¡¯s incarnation will surely bring death to any offender.¡± ¡°However, the temple can¡¯t withstand this kind of battle, and soon, there will be many places collapsing.¡± ¡°This place is temporarily safe. Heal your wounds here, and when the time is right, I will teleport you to the most central part of the temple.¡± After saying these words, High Priest Mei Lan took the initiative to grab the hand of the fishman youth, ¡°Divine Son, your safety is of greater importance, we shall depart first.¡± Leaving some clergy behind to maintain the water rings, the High Priest immediately used divine arts to teleport herself and the fishman youth, both vanishing from their original spot. When they reappeared, they had arrived at a lavishly decorated underwater corridor. ¡°The core area of the temple isolates all teleportation; we have to walk from here. Time is of the essence, so let¡¯s talk as we swim,¡± the High Priest released his hand with a sigh and swam forward. The fishman youth swam alongside her, his demeanor calm. The High Priest began slowly revealing the true nature of the temple to him. After hearing her words, the fishman youth¡¯s expression was agitated, ¡°Are you saying that this temple is fake? Even the half-plane is fake?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then you¡­¡± ¡°I, of course, am real. However, some among the Divine Guard Army are mere illusions. There are both real and fake individuals here,¡± the High Priest answered with a smile. The fishman youth fell silent, his heart filled with astonishment. The High Priest shared with him the truth about this place. Originally, after the Goddess Mei Lan was severely injured, it was difficult for her to return to the Divine Country for recuperation. The deities of the Holy Bright Empire were continuously searching for Her whereabouts. As soon as she showed any sign of presence, she would be detected by the Holy Emperor. The deities of the Empire would immediately mobilize and try to kill Her. The chances of seeking refuge in the Divine Country were next to nil. With no other choice, the Goddess Mei Lan could only select a nearby sea area to hide. She chose the Sky Pillar Sea Eye. This place was rarely visited, a perilous land, and the closer one got to the Sea Eye, the more formidable the sea beasts became. The abundant Water Element here was also very conducive to the recovery of Goddess Mei Lan. At the same time, the numerous fishmen in the Sea Eye City would be Her followers, providing Her with faith to help Her extract divine power. ¡°Please wait, High Priestess,¡± after pondering for a moment the fishman youth detected a contradiction, ¡°If I were the Holy Emperor, having seriously injured my lord and not seeing my lord flee to the Divine Country, I would intensify the search in the vicinity of the battlefield. Without finding the target, I would not give up.¡± High Priest Mei Lan nodded, ¡°You are correct, very good, indeed worthy of being the Divine Son, and quite different from the other fishmen.¡± She continued, ¡°That is because our lord deceived all the deities on the Empire¡¯s side.¡± A bolt of lightning shot through the mind of the Fishman youth: Mei Lan, the God of Deception, the God of Disguise! ¡°The gods of the Holy Bright Empire were influenced by our Lord¡¯s Divine Arts, believing that our Lord had been too severely wounded and had died,¡± said the High Priest of Mei Lan. Yet the Fishman youth shook his head again, ¡°If I were the Holy Emperor, I would insist on seeing the body alive or confirm death through the corpse. I wouldn¡¯t just give up because of a mere belief. At the very least, I would dispatch a force to search the vicinity of the battlefield persistently.¡± The High Priest of Mei Lan continued to explain, ¡°The contest between gods is not merely a matter of strength, but also of the differences in Divinity and Divine Authority. Besides, our Lord did not completely deceive them; He truly was grievously injured, on the brink of extinction!¡± ¡°So, after deceiving the gods of the Holy Bright Empire, our Lord immediately deceived Himself.¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Fishman youth was stunned, ¡°Deceived Himself?¡± The High Priest of Mei Lan sighed, ¡°Our Lord¡¯s injuries were too grave. Why do you think the gods of the Holy Bright Empire believed our Lord would die? It¡¯s because they knew very well, the injuries they caused to our Lord were extremely severe! Apart from a select few gods, there were no other outcomes but death for them.¡± ¡°But our Lord¡¯s Divinity is exquisite; apart from deceiving others, He could also deceive Himself.¡± ¡°At death¡¯s door, our Lord deceived Himself, believing that the battle that had occurred in reality was just a nightmare, and that the blows He had received and the wounds He bore were all illusory.¡± ¡°Only by doing so could our Lord barely maintain His existence.¡± ¡°But in doing so, our Lord had to unleash His Divine Domain and constantly consume Divine Power to sustain the Divine Domain.¡± ¡°We are now situated within the Deceptive Divine Domain.¡± The Fishman youth¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°So, the temples within the Deceptive Divine Domain are but the dreamlike illusions of our Lord?¡± The High Priest of Mei Lan shook his head, ¡°The temples, the Half-plane, they are not our Lord¡¯s conception, but ours.¡± ¡°Any life that enters the Deceptive Divine Domain will be self-deceived, and all that is seen and heard will be the entrants¡¯ own knowledge and thoughts.¡± The Fishman youth protested, ¡°I have never fantasized about the Temple of Mei Lan.¡± ¡°It was all intentionally led by us,¡± the High Priest of Mei Lan replied with a wry smile. ¡°If we let entrants deceive themselves, their experiences would differ drastically. Once they leave the Deceptive Divine Domain and compare notes, the discrepancies would be glaring.¡± ¡°To prevent this, we deliberately spread rumors and conjecture, concocting the illusion of a Half-plane and a temple.¡± ¡°In fact, the hypothesis about the existence of a Half-plane within the Sea Eye is easy to conjecture, isn¡¯t it?¡± The Fishman youth nodded in agreement. At that moment, he thought of Cang Xu. When Cang Xu returned, wasn¡¯t that what he had guessed? Little did he know the truth was such. The Fishman youth, or rather the entire Justice Pirate Group, had been misled by Cang Xu. Of course, even without Cang Xu¡¯s misguidance, the Justice Pirate Group would probably have come to the same conclusion. Whether it was someone else proposing this hypothesis or later encountering Feng Yao, they would have made the same guess. And once this idea took hold, upon entering the Deceptive Divine Domain, they would be deceived by the same lie and illusion. The High Priest of Mei Lan continued, ¡°You should know about the selection for the Pirate Throne?¡± ¡°Whoever can perform acts befitting a pirate will be favored by the pirate divinity, allowing the one with the strongest Divinity in the end to ascend the throne, rising to the life tier of gods.¡± ¡°This is essentially an act of worship. The more frequently one performs such acts, the more Faith is given to the pirate Divinity, and the greater the increase in Divinity.¡± ¡°Similarly, the more people are deceived, and the stronger they are, the greater the help to our Lord.¡± It was then that the Fishman youth truly had a moment of realization. Mei Lan was in dire straits, only able to deceive Himself to heal, clinging to life. But as a result, the Divine Domain was unleashed and could no longer be reined in. This loophole was exploited by the Divine Guard Army, creating an enormous scam. Yet the assault of the Barbarian Legend, and crucially the Truth Divine Pupil in his hands, completely destabilized the Deceptive Divine Domain. All of these led to the current predicament. Mei Lan was in imminent danger. Chapter 325 - 325: Section 113: Am I the Child of Prophecy? Chapter 325: Section 113: Am I the Child of Prophecy? Rumble¡­ The temple was collapsing even more, and even within the underwater corridor near the core, huge stones were falling. The Fishman youth and Mei Lan, the High Priest, had no choice but to dodge these falling objects while moving forward. ¡°High Priest, what should we do now?¡± the youth asked the High Priest. The High Priest comforted the Fishman youth, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we have long prepared for this.¡± The Fishman youth¡¯s heart steadied slightly. Indeed. Even if the Charming Blue God¡¯s true form had fallen into a coma, His followers would have considered such a scenario. After all, as the Charming Blue Divine Sect expanded autonomously within its Divine Domain, rumors and hearsay about the Sky Pillar Sea Eye would only increase. It was certain that the Charming Blue God¡¯s side would be prepared for ¡°the day when the Empire¡¯s gods laid siege.¡± Compared to that situation, the current attack by the Barbarian legend seemed less severe. But to the youth¡¯s surprise, the High Priest then said, ¡°The most powerful person in the Divine Guard Army is me. I will impersonate our lord using His divine throne to resist the Barbarian legend. Next, Divine Son, you will need to take the divine form and quietly evacuate from here.¡± Fishman youth: ?! This was the so-called contingency plan? ¡°But wait¡­¡± The Fishman youth¡¯s thoughts raced, considering that if they were besieged by the Empire¡¯s gods, although the Charming Blue Divine Sect was powerful, it was only so in comparison to entities like the Justice Pirate Group. Against the Empire¡¯s gods, the Charming Blue Divine Sect was no match. Therefore, retreat was the only option. The Fishman youth¡¯s mind stirred again: ¡°Are you saying we¡¯re going to fake death and escape again?¡± The High Priest looked at the youth with even more admiration in her eyes, ¡°Divine Son, you guessed correctly. My mission is to sacrifice myself for our lord, as foretold by the Prophecy.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, High Priest, do you really trust me that much?¡± The Fishman youth felt very strange. He came here to steal divine power. The rough plan was to capture a few Divine Officers and followers of the Charming Blue God and steal their divine power to replenish the ¡®Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale.¡¯ Of course, there was a further plan. That was to create an opportunity to make Cang Xu become a Desecration Priest. In this way, they could steal the Charming Blue God¡¯s divine power for a long time. In other words, the Justice Pirate Group was the enemy of the Charming Blue Divine Sect. But due to the mutation of the Blood Core, the disguise using Pearl Bubble, and a series of fortunate accidents, the Fishman youth had infiltrated the enemy ranks and even its upper echelons. The Fishman youth received high expectations and generosity from the High Priest. Normally speaking, even if the bloodline concentration was sufficient, it would not warrant such trust from a sect¡¯s High Priest in a stranger Fishman. Confronted with the youth¡¯s confusion, the High Priest laughed heartily, ¡°Everything is within the Prophecy. Look!¡± The High Priest pointed ahead. Directly ahead was the most central part of the temple. There stood a grand gate. On the facade of the gate was a huge mural. The style of the mural was like those the Justice Pirate Group had seen in other temple murals. The main subject of the mural was a massive throne like an open clamshell. A Naga female with a face full of piety was walking towards the clamshell. And in a corner, a Fishman holding the Charming Blue Goddess was quickly moving away from the clamshell throne. The enemies were depicted as vague shadows of light, all attracted to the throne and the Naga female, with none noticing the Fishman and the Charming Blue Goddess escaping. The High Priest spoke again, ¡°This is the content of the Prophecy, and it is true to life. The Prophecy states that a Divine Son will emerge to lead our lord out of danger. The Fishman in the mural is you, you are the Child of Prophecy!¡± The Fishman youth was greatly shaken. He couldn¡¯t help thinking, ¡°Could all my actions have been foreseen by the gods?¡± Gods are omnipotent! The Charming Blue God¡¯s main Divine Power was deception and disguise, but the Prophecy was also within His scope of abilities. But soon enough, the youth calmed down. ¡°No, the Fishman image in the mural is also very vague and does not resemble me.¡± ¡°Also, the Fishman image only has typical Fishman features; even the Divine Bloodline is unclear.¡± ¡°So, the Fishman in the painting may not be me.¡± ¡°This can actually be inferred.¡± ¡°With the presence of Holy Water and the trials of the Fish God, even if the potential of the Fishman Race is low, there should still be a Fishman emerging with a Divine Bloodline.¡± ¡°After all, the concentration of the Divine Bloodline was not detailed in the Prophecy.¡± ¡°As for why the High Priest sacrificially attracts the enemies for the Charming Blue God¡­ Perhaps after the Prophecy appeared, the Charming Blue Divine Sect specifically chose the Naga females as High Priests?¡± ¡°And it might not necessarily be the High Priest. From what I¡¯ve seen, many of the Divine Officers are Naga females.¡± The Fishman youth reasoned within his heart. Nevertheless, his state of mind was still disrupted by the Prophecy. He and the High Priest arrived at the gate. The High Priest¡¯s body sparkled with the light of Divine Power as she pushed the grand doors open forcefully. The gate seemed very heavy, slowly opening just a crack wide enough for one person to enter or exit. After the two entered, the High Priest immediately closed the gate again. ¡°This is the most core area of the Underwater Temple,¡± the Fishman youth quickly surveyed his surroundings. There were three huge pillars here, carved and polished from deep blue stone. In the center of the pillars, there was a massive seashell. The shell was the color of silver, shut tight, and not yet open. ¡°Is the Charming Blue Goddess slumbering inside here?¡± The thought made the Fishman youth¡¯s heart pound uncontrollably. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Honestly, this was totally unexpected. He had never thought he¡¯d come face-to-face with a deity! Stealing a bit of Divine Power to replenish the Divine Artifact was sufficient. That was the common understanding among all survivors. ¡°My Lord!¡± The High Priest approached the seashell and immediately knelt down. Her body flickered with Divine Light, and the seashell also shone, reflecting the light from one another. The Fishman youth was about to feign kneeling when, at that moment, the seashell began to slowly open. Instantly, the overwhelming divine presence, like an invisible tsunami, flooded the minds of both the youth and the High Priest. Tears streamed down the High Priest¡¯s face, and her Divine Power was swiftly replenished. The Fishman youth¡¯s body also began to glow as if he had received the goddess¡¯s approval. ¡°The Pearl Bubble is rapidly depleting!¡± The Fishman youth, who had pressed the Pearl Bubble under his tongue, immediately noticed this and grew tense. What would his fate be if the Pearl Bubble was completely consumed? With such profound divine presence, the youth immediately realized: even a grievously wounded Charming Blue Goddess was not something he could confront! ¡°Let alone lifting a finger, perhaps even a gentle breath from the goddess could obliterate me instantly, right?¡± The Fishman youth deeply perceived the gap between himself and the divine. He forced himself to remain calm and looked inside the shell. The next moment, his heart skipped a beat as he saw the appearance of the goddess. The Charming Blue Goddess was a mermaid, with long blue hair cascading down to her waist, rippling like waves. Although her eyes were closed, her features were exquisitely beautiful, stirring the soul irresistibly. She wore a sheer, transparent pink veil that accentuated her fair skin. Her beautiful clavicles were faintly visible beneath the thin fabric. Her breasts stood high, wrapped in a gold shell-shaped bra, creating a deep cleavage. At her waist, her figure dramatically tapered, accentuating her slender, enticing midsection. Below that, it was like mountainous terrain rising proudly. Her lower half consisted of a long, graceful fishtail, with platinum scales overlapping, shimmering with a rainbow of halos, a feast for the eyes. She was slumbering, yet her breathing was uneven. Accompanied by the rumbling collapse of the temple, her brows furrowed slightly, involuntarily eliciting sympathy, a strong impulse to smooth her worries at any cost welling up within. The Fishman youth began to breathe a little faster, a mix of oppressive reverence and a strong longing rising in his heart. The High Priest slowly rose to her feet: ¡°Even in slumber, my lord senses the danger lurking. We can¡¯t allow my lord to awaken; although the injuries have improved over the years, they are still very severe. Once awakened, my lord would have to face reality. Despite having the strength to retaliate after awakening, the outcome would undoubtedly be destruction!¡± ¡°Divine Son, everything now rests on your shoulders.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± The responsibility entrusted to the Fishman youth left him somewhat lost for words. Boom! Just then, a loud noise echoed as the mural door was suddenly forced open slightly. ¡°This is the place!¡± The voice of Cold Sky Splitter Zhao Ya followed immediately. He held the Truth Divine Pupil, aimed at the mural door. Unlike other parts of the temple, this mural door clearly had stronger resistance. ¡°No good! They¡¯ve found this place so quickly,¡± the High Priest¡¯s complexion changed drastically, her nerves obviously rattled, ¡°What to do now? There¡¯s only one exit from this place, but it¡¯s been blocked.¡± Fishman youth: ?! ¡°Let me handle this!¡± Another robust voice came through. The Fishman youth instantly recognized it as the voice of the Divine Domain barbarian who had stood at the prow of the Barbarian Warship. The six-headed serpent, the Holy Beast of the Charming Blue Divine Sect, had been repelled by this mighty warrior. Boom! Another loud noise and the gap in the door widened suddenly, now as wide as a grindstone. The Fishman youth and the High Priest immediately saw the Divine Domain Barbarian outside the door. He was grinning from ear to ear, rubbing his hands together: ¡°Tough door!¡± Then, the barbarian looked into the door again, muttering, ¡°Why all the mist? Can¡¯t see a thing.¡± The faces of the Fishman youth and the High Priest finally relaxed a bit. But the next moment, Zhao Ya stepped in front of the Barbarian, ¡°Man Zhuang, step aside, let me do this.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± So the Barbarian warrior was called Man Zhuang, and he showed great respect towards the legendary fighter. Zhao Ya raised the Truth Divine Pupil in his hand, its Divine Light shining through the crack in the door. The hearts of the Fishman youth and the High Priest tightened once more. Chapter 326 - 326: Section 114: You truly live up to the name Divine Son! Chapter 326: Section 114: You truly live up to the name Divine Son! The Truth Divine Pupil¡¯s Light of Truth, piercing through the crack of the door, shot inside. It didn¡¯t sweep over the body of the Blue God Mei Lan but was instead precisely blocked by a blue stone pillar. ¡°How come there¡¯s no movement?¡± Man Zhuang stared with wide eyes, straining to look over, even though the Fishman youth and High Priest were right in front of him, he simply couldn¡¯t see them, ¡°Does even the Divine Pupil not work?¡± The Fishman youth and High Priest¡¯s expressions eased slightly, but they still looked very troubled. For the pillar illuminated by the Divine Pupil¡¯s gaze was like snow encountering sunlight, gradually melting away. The true form of the Blue God Mei Lan furrowed its beautiful brows more deeply. The Divine Power it unconsciously emitted became increasingly turbulent. The vast divine might made the Fishman youth¡¯s heart palpitate. This wasn¡¯t because the youth lacked courage, but rather because low-level beings naturally produce such emotions when faced with the presence of high-level beings. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the cover of Pearl Bubble, I¡¯m afraid I would be torn apart by the Divine Power immediately!¡± This small courtyard room was filled with terrifying Divine Power. Even the High Priest could barely withstand it, immersed in the Divine Power, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold snort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, since it¡¯s the Divine Pupil that the elder specially gave to me, it must be effective,¡± Zhao Ya showed immense patience. Compared to the Divine Pupil, he trusted the Barbarian elder even more. Even though they couldn¡¯t see any movement from outside the door, the gaze of the Truth Divine Pupil continued to shine. Inside the courtyard room, Divine Power surged, forming a vortex. At the center of the vortex, Divine Power kept compressing and recompressing, eventually converging into a divine incarnation. ¡°My lord!¡± The High Priest immediately knelt to pay respects. However, the divine incarnation wasn¡¯t a Fishman form, but a Naga, who rushed straight out the door. Man Zhuang let out a cry of surprise instantaneously. ¡°You back off,¡± Zhao Ya stepped forward. Although Man Zhuang was a noble Holy Domain, he didn¡¯t dare to contend with a divine incarnation and immediately complied, bursting out of the room. Zhao Ya engaged with the divine incarnation once again. Boom! Boom! Boom! As soon as they clashed, the battle reached an intense phase. The divine incarnation had six arms, its martial arts were supreme, spells cast frequently, and the attacks extremely magnificent. Zhao Ya held the Divine Pupil in one hand, the Divine Light shone upon himself. No matter how powerful the incarnation¡¯s attacks, their might drastically plummeted upon reaching him. Relying on the Divine Pupil, Zhao Ya easily stood invincible, calmly launching counterattacks on that basis. For a while, the two sides fought fiercely, the sound reverberating everywhere and the energy shaking the fields. The divine incarnation grew weaker as the battle raged, while Zhao Ya maintained his full condition. Zhao Ya began to counterattack. Every time he saw a chance, he would turn his wrist, directing the gaze of the Divine Pupil onto the incarnation. The Naga incarnation, unlike the previous Fishman incarnation, could better withstand the gaze of the Divine Pupil. However, the more it was subjected to the glare, the weaker its fighting strength became. In the courtyard room behind the door, the mostly depleted Divine Power was replenished, again solidifying into a second divine incarnation. This divine incarnation took the form of a Sea Elf. The Sea Elf also charged out of the door to join the battle. While the Naga incarnation returned to the inside of the door, quickly replenishing Divine Power, its once faint body once again filling out. The Divine Power that filled the courtyard room was once more greatly depleted. Once replenished, the Naga incarnation charged out again. Zhao Ya, standing against two, relied on the protection of the Divine Pupil to hold his ground firmly. ¡°They aren¡¯t real incarnations, they are just fabrications to deceive within the Divine Domain! Master, Mei Lan has reached the end of his road,¡± Man Zhuang, who was watching from a distance, discerned the subtleties and excitedly shouted. Zhao Ya nodded his head, spirits high and full of fighting intent. The battle had lasted so long, and there were always only two incarnations. Meanwhile, the incarnations kept returning to the inside of the door to replenish Divine Power, clearly revealing the limits of Mei Lan. ¡°What do we do?¡± the Fishman youth asked. The High Priest shook his head, his face fearless, ready to sacrifice, ¡°The last road has been blocked, we can only hope that my lord¡¯s incarnations can temporarily fend off the strong enemy, buying crucial time for you to escape.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Prophecy has already stated that you will definitely save my lord from this dire crisis.¡± ¡°For you are the Child of Prophecy.¡± The Fishman youth: ¡­ To be honest, he was very panicked right now! The High Priest had enormous faith in Mei Lan, but the youth was not a Believer, not in the slightest. Although Legendary beings are a notch weaker than the gods, in history, there have been Legends who have toppled gods. Moreover, Mei Lan at the moment was in terrible shape. ¡°What to do?¡± the Fishman youth urgently pondered. It was obvious that the High Priest was powerless, and Mei Lan had reached his limits. The two powerful Barbarians firmly blocked the doorway, showing no signs of being driven back. ¡°Justice Pirate Group¡­ Sea Giants¡­ Mother Tree Pirate Group¡­¡± The youth couldn¡¯t imagine any external force able to break the current predicament. The battle continued. The temple kept collapsing. Through the crack of the door, the youth gradually saw other figures. The clash between god avatars and barbarian legends was too great, and with most of the temple in ruins, more and more people were discovering this place. The youth saw the group of Sea Giants, the ships of the Mother Tree pirate group, and also saw Feng Yao, clad in grey, and others. These people dared not approach, as the reverberations from the battle between the barbarian warriors and god avatars were too much for them to withstand. Even if they wanted to interfere, let¡¯s not forget about the barbarian giant, Man Zhuang. While this Holy Domain lacked the strength to meddle in the conflict between the Legend and the god avatar, he was more than capable of guarding the battlefield and preventing others. The Naga avatar, with its somewhat hidden and illusory form, returned inside the door to restock. But this time, the Divine Power finally gave out. The avatar had depleted all the Divine Power and still hadn¡¯t managed to recover to peak condition. After charging back out, the Divine Power in the living chamber was only rising slowly, no longer the turbulent and overflowing force it was before. The High Priest¡¯s complexion kept changing, weighed down with gravity. ¡°We¡¯re going to make it, lord!¡± Man Zhuang excitedly proclaimed when he saw the Naga avatar rush out. The other onlookers also sensed something amiss and grew restless. Especially Feng Yao, who seemed very anxious and worried. Not long after the Naga avatar charged out, the Sea Elf avatar rushed back inside the door to replenish Divine Power. But this time, the level of recovery fell far short of the peak state, even though the paltry Divine Power in the living chamber had all been channeled into it. ¡°Wait!¡± the Fishman youth suddenly swam over. Under the astounded gaze of the High Priest, he slapped his chest hard, violently spitting out a mouthful of blood. The blood sprayed directly onto the Sea Elf avatar, which suddenly regained its peak state! No, it was more than that. It underwent some sort of qualitative change, looking even more lifelike than before. The Sea Elf avatar paused in astonishment, nodded at the frenetic Fishman youth, and smiled appreciatively before immediately returning to the battlefield. ¡°Divine Son, you¡­¡± The High Priest was stupefied. The Fishman youth boldly said, ¡°I was just trying something reckless, High Priest. I guessed that my Divine Blood might help our lord! It turns out, I guessed right!¡± It took the High Priest a long while to close her gaping mouth. Although she didn¡¯t understand, it didn¡¯t stop her from admiring him, ¡°You truly are worthy of being the Child of Prophecy.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Fishman youth managed to fool the High Priest and immediately cast his gaze outside the door. Zhao Ya was clashing with two god avatars. He seized another opportunity and immediately used the Truth Divine Pupil, shining its light on the Sea Elf avatar. Previously, the Sea Elf avatar would have dodged, not withstanding the gaze of the Truth Divine Pupil, but this time its reaction was completely different! It charged vehemently forward, staring into the Divine Light and striking Zhao Ya¡¯s chest with heavy fists. Bang! Zhao Ya flew backward like a bomb. Everyone clamored. Man Zhuang exclaimed, ¡°Lord!¡± ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± gasping for breath, Zhao Ya managed to roll over and try to stabilize himself. At that moment, the Sea Elf avatar stopped in its tracks and cast a Spell. The Spell, like deep blue tide, surged tumultuously toward Zhao Ya. Familiar with the Spell, Zhao Ya immediately raised the Truth Divine Pupil, flipping his wrist to let the Divine Light shine on himself. Boom, boom, boom¡­ The tide spread, swiftly engulfing Zhao Ya. Zhao Ya gurgled, struggling like a drowning man, mercilessly battered by the Spell! He barely managed to break free from the inundation, his face a mix of shock and perplexity, unable to grasp why the Truth Divine Pupil suddenly became so weak! The High Priest couldn¡¯t understand either, but it didn¡¯t prevent her from admiring the Fishman youth, ¡°You truly are the Divine Son, and the Prophecy is indeed accurate.¡± The Fishman youth breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, thinking, ¡°It really works!¡± His blood was just a diversion, a result of using the Blood Core Mutation. Although it appeared to be Shark Blue Blood, it would become ineffective shortly after separating from his body. The real secret was a particle of Pearl Bubble hidden in the blood. The Pearl Bubble could be used to disguise oneself. It originated from the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, which in turn was actually the main Divine Artifact of the Mei Lan God! One could say that the Mei Lan God¡¯s Divine Power avatar had received assistance from the Divine Artifact, naturally boosting its strength and undergoing a transformation. Before, the two god avatars needed to work together to hold off Zhao Ya. But now, just the Sea Elf avatar alone was enough to put Zhao Ya at a disadvantage. Still, the Light of Truth Divine Pupil continued to restrain the god avatars, allowing Zhao Ya to hold on with difficulty. The Naga avatar, before its condition could plummet, took the initiative to return inside the door. This time, while absorbing Divine Power, it approached the Fishman youth. The youth¡¯s heart pounded. ¡°Divine Son!¡± the High Priest called out deeply, her face full of earnest hope. With no alternative, the Fishman youth could only repeat his strategy, mustering his courage to spurt blood at the Naga avatar. Benefitting from the Pearl Bubble, the Naga avatar also transformed in an instant, drawing in all the sparse Divine Power from the living chamber, and charged majestically back into the fray. ¡°I¡­¡± Zhao Ya couldn¡¯t fathom how the Naga avatar had suddenly become so fierce. He found himself in a difficult situation, relentlessly battered by the two god avatars, his predicament dangerously unstable! Chapter 327 - 327: Section 115: Brute Force Berserk Chapter 327: Section 115: Brute Force Berserk ¡°Mei Lan, being a Goddess, ended up giving Zhao Ya a sound beating!¡± ¡°Not just a sound beating, if Zhao Ya doesn¡¯t retreat now, I fear he might lose his life here.¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± The spectators exchanged views, each with differing attitudes. The Sea Giants were overjoyed, as they had originally come to seek the help of the Fish God. Feng Yao put aside his worries, his face bright with pride, ¡°Worthy indeed of my most beloved Goddess!¡± Members of the Mother Tree Pirate Group, however, wore faces of worry and indecision. Members of the Justice Pirate Group mostly felt the same. Regardless of which side had the advantage, it was detrimental to them. The best scenario would be mutual injury; only then could they fish in troubled waters. ¡°Lord¡­ we are going to be defeated!¡± Man Zhuang widened his eyes, unable to believe that just a moment ago, they had held a clear advantage. ¡°Lord Man Zhuang, let us charge and draw fire for Lord Zhao Ya!¡± many Barbarians within the Barbarian Warship shouted, volunteering for the task. These Barbarians, although all Transcendents, did not even reach the Golden Level, the highest being merely silver. Yet the nature of the Barbarians was incredibly obstinate and imperious. Even knowing their strength was weak, like ants before a deity, they still volunteered to charge without any regard for their lives. Barbarians were very brave and skilled in battle. In their belief, Barbarians who died in battle would be rewarded by the deities, and their spirits would ascend to the Heroic Spirit Hall. ¡°I have already charged once, even if I got out the door crack, there was no way to really reach the giant door,¡± Man Zhuang shook his head. He continued, ¡°If you charge, it¡¯s akin to seeking death, but I can give it a try!¡± ¡°Lord Man Zhuang! We are not afraid of death!!¡± the Barbarians roared. ¡°I know, but dying in vain only proves stupidity,¡± Man Zhuang¡¯s eyes sparkled with a sharp light, ¡°In this moment, I¡¯ve finally understood why the great elder of the Barbarians instructed me especially before departing.¡± ¡°I also realized why he chose me among so many from the Holy Domain.¡± What exactly had the great elder of the Barbarians instructed? Just one sentence¡ª ¡°At the most critical moment, pray to the Barbarian God.¡± Among the deities of the Barbarians, Man Zhuang happened to be a fanatic of the Barbarian God! Feeling inspired, Man Zhuang immediately knelt on the ground, facing toward the mural door. He began to pray loudly, ¡°Barbarian God, my lord, my deity, my faith, my supreme! I offer my body to You, my life to You. Oh God, let Your endless, mighty divine power manifest in this world!¡± At his final words, he shouted out, his booming voice echoing across the battlefield. Everyone showed shock on their faces. Because Man Zhuang¡¯s prayer was answered by the deity, his final words clearly carried divine power! Subsequently, Man Zhuang changed from his kneeling posture. An immense, invisible force lifted him into the air. His eyes rolled back, losing his own consciousness. At the same time, a terrifying divine power filled every part of his body, causing his body to rapidly expand, growing twice as large as before! His muscles bulged, like blocks of rock pieced together. His clothes burst, except for a torn short cloth covering his groin. His hair stood on end, and each strand swelled hundreds of times, flickering with white, electric-like divine light. Divine Arts¡ªBerserk Might! Howling. Man Zhuang roared, his teeth growing wildly, becoming sharp like the fangs of a beast. Boom. He stomped and suddenly vanished from the spot. When he reappeared, he was already behind the Naga incarnation. The Naga incarnation swiftly turned. But it was too late. Boom! Man Zhuang¡¯s punch sent the Naga incarnation flying. The Naga incarnation flew out, its form becoming significantly more ethereal, and both arms that tried to block Man Zhuang¡¯s punch were directly broken. The Sea Elf incarnation saw the danger and quickly came to support. Man Zhuang disappeared again. The speed was so fast, it completely surpassed the range human eyes could capture! Boom. With a loud boom, when he reappeared, he had knocked the Sea Elf incarnation flying and was now hanging in the air where the Sea Elf incarnation had just been. ¡°This guy¡­ the elder¡¯s plan really was immensely wise!¡± Zhao Ya exclaimed, overwhelmed with surprise and joy. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fueled by Divine Power, Man Zhuang¡¯s combat strength at the Holy Domain Level had surged, reaching Legendary Level! His combat prowess had even surpassed that of Zhao Ya. The magnitude of this amplification was truly enormous and shocking. ¡°Barbarian God! The rumors are true¡­ the Barbarians have indeed birthed a Main God!¡± the High Priest exclaimed in shock. The other spectators were also so stunned by this scene that they lost their ability to speak. ¡°Ah! Ah! Ah!¡± Man Zhuang, relentless in his advantage, bellowed as he charged towards the mural door. Bang! Bang! Bang! He swung his massive fists, stubbornly hammering the door relentlessly. Protected by Divine Power, the mural door struggled to withstand the barbarian¡¯s blows. Under the continuous barrage of punches, the door shook, and the crack gradually widened. Originally only as wide as a grinding stone, it was now wide enough for a person to pass through. The two divine incarnations retaliated, their Combat Skills, Spells, and Divine Arts weaving into a magnificent and overwhelming onslaught, sweeping over Man Zhuang like a tide. But Man Zhuang was ferociously brutal, radiating divine majesty as he resisted the barrage of attacks, spitting blood while he continued smashing the door. Seeing that the situation was turning against them, the two Divine Arts of Mei Lan could only approach and engage Man Zhuang in close combat. It was then that Man Zhuang turned and launched an attack, quickly sending the two incarnations flying again after a few exchanges. Everyone watched in utter shock. No one had expected the battle to unfold like this. The assumed protagonists were the divine incarnations and Cold Sky Splitter Zhao Ya, but it turned out that Man Zhuang stole the show. He was merely a Holy Domain. No, more accurately, it was the Barbarian God who had given Man Zhuang tremendous support that stole the show! Seeing Man Zhuang dominating, Zhao Ya was both shocked and delighted, and he quickly shouted, ¡°Man Zhuang, let¡¯s kill these two divine incarnations together first!¡± Man Zhuang roared, ¡°Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!¡± Continuously roaring, he incessantly hammered at the mural door, seemingly oblivious to Zhao Ya¡¯s words. The divine incarnations regrouped their forces and struck back at Man Zhuang with relentless fury. ¡°Damn¡­ is this the Berserk state?¡± Zhao Ya¡¯s expression was somber. He understood why Man Zhuang was ignoring him. Berserk is a Talent Ability inherent in the Barbarian bloodline. Once the Bloodline Concentration is sufficient and this ability is awakened, it can immensely enhance a Barbarian¡¯s overall abilities. But it has an undeniable flaw. That is, once a Barbarian falls into Berserk, they lose their reasoning and go mad. ¡°Man Zhuang might be powerful, but he lacks rationality. Even though he has been blessed with Divine Arts and infused with Divine Power, his body won¡¯t hold up under such relentless bombardment. Even the mightiest Barbarian God cannot withstand without a robust body as a foundation for such immense Divine Power!¡± Zhao Ya recognized this, and with no other choice, he decided to assist Man Zhuang. He continuously struck out, attacking the two divine incarnations and doing his utmost to disrupt and weaken their onslaught. Seeing their far superior attacks significantly weakened by Zhao Ya¡¯s efforts, the two divine incarnates of Mei Lan could only engage again in close combat. After all, there were two of them; even if Zhao Ya intercepted one, the other could continue attacking Man Zhuang. Man Zhuang kept roaring, ignoring the divine incarnation right in front of him and focusing solely on hammering the door, leaving Zhao Ya extremely frustrated. Zhao Ya had no choice but to wield the Truth Divine Pupil and join the close combat, moving closer to Man Zhuang. However, after Man Zhuang hammered at the door for a while and saw the intense battle unfolding beside him, which seemed too noisy, he immediately turned around. He temporarily abandoned the door and launched an attack on the annoying guys behind him. His divine might was supreme, his punching power absolutely earth-shattering, and with each punch, he sent the two divine incarnations flying. ¡°Well done!¡± Zhao Ya exclaimed joyfully. Bang! The next moment, Man Zhuang¡¯s Iron Fist also smashed into Zhao Ya¡¯s face. Because the fist was so large, it covered most of Zhao Ya¡¯s face. Thejoy on Zhao Ya¡¯s face suddenly froze. Zhao Ya flew out like a shooting star. ¡°I¡­¡± Zhao Ya stood up again, immensely frustrated. Berserk made the Barbarian lose rationality, and the side effect of the Barbarian Strength Berserk Divine Art was even more astonishing, causing Man Zhuang to completely lose the ability to differentiate friend from foe. Zhao Ya was hit so hard that his nose bled, his nasal bone broke instantly, his eye sockets filled with blood, and his face turned purple and blue. Cold Sky Splitter Zhao Ya, now with a bruised and battered face, looked utterly disheveled! But he couldn¡¯t blame Man Zhuang¡ªfor the sake of the great mission he carried, for the sake of the larger goal, he had to keep helping Man Zhuang with all his might. (ps: At the end of this month, we¡¯re holding a clan meeting and my grandmother¡¯s 80th birthday celebration, so I¡¯m quite busy. I¡¯ll try to make up some updates, and how much I¡¯m missing, everyone please help me count and leave a message in the comments. If I can¡¯t make up for it this month, it will be postponed to next month.) Chapter 328 - 328: Section 116: Freeze the Young to Death? Chapter 328: Section 116: Freeze the Young to Death? Zhao Ya had suffered a harsh setback and no longer planned to approach Man Zhuang. Nor did he intend to intercept and disrupt the two divine avatars. Instead, he raised his Truth Divine Pupil high, pouring his fighting energy into it, in place of the depleted Divine Power. The Truth Divine Pupil was thus driven with full force, and the Divine Light radiated without end. Zhao Ya changed his tactics, shifting from defense to offense, allowing the Divine Light to continuously strike the mural door. It had to be said, his move was extremely wise. Man Zhuang¡¯s attack, though fierce, was not very efficient. As for the Divine Light, while it was effective against deceit in the Divine Domain, it wasn¡¯t on a large scale. Now, with the Divine Light leading like a sharp needle, it pierced through the defenses of Divine Power. After that, came the onslaught from Man Zhuang, expanding their success, tearing the breach even wider. Together, their combined attack sharply increased in effectiveness. The gap in the mural door quickly widened. ¡°Divine Son!¡± High Priest Mei Lan looked pleadingly towards the Fishman youth. The Fishman youth, driven into a corner, could only continuously beat his chest, coughing up fresh blood. The divine avatars returned behind the door to replenish, not only with Divine Power but also with the spent Pearl Bubble. The quantity of Pearl Bubble hidden in the Fishman youth¡¯s mouth sharply decreased. Yet, even as he gave his all to support the two divine avatars, he could hardly change the tide of battle. The door gaped open wide enough, not just for one person, but for two elephants to walk through side by side. However, the power of the Mei Lan Divine Domain hadn¡¯t been completely shattered. Those outside could only see a hazy mist of water, unable to discern the Fishman youth and priests with their eyes wide open. Just a little more and the door would be fully open. Neither the Fishman youth nor the High Priest fell into despair. Because this fierce war of attrition not only wore them out but also pushed the Barbarians to their limit. The Cold Sky Splitter fared better, but the most threatening, Man Zhuang, was covered in wounds and bloodied. His body was filled with boundless Divine Power, but it was like a torn sack, leaking from everywhere, making it difficult to bring his true combat ability to bear. Huff, huff! Man Zhuang gasped for breath, his roars evidently much weaker. His movements had also slowed, previously his punches were so fast that they cast shadows, and the wind from them howled. But now, his fists were visibly slow and heavy. One punch, two punches¡­ It was apparent to everyone that Man Zhuang was struggling to throw his fist. ¡°This Barbarian is reaching his limit!¡± This thought crossed almost everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°Just a bit more and the Divine Gate will be completely blown open!¡± Zhao Ya¡¯s gaze intensified. After a long fight, the two divine avatars were still full of vigor, thanks largely to the constant contribution of Pearl Bubble by the Fishman youth. Zhao Ya¡¯s attention was focused on Man Zhuang. Once Man Zhuang reached his limit, he would lose strength and fall into a severe state of weakness. Zhao Ya wanted to save Man Zhuang, who was not only significant to the Barbarian Holy Domain but also a fanatic of the Barbarian God. The latter reason was even more essential. Sure, the Barbarians had more than one with a Holy Domain, but Man Zhuang was the believer with the highest degree of faith in the Barbarian God among the Barbarian warriors. But saving Man Zhuang was challenging. Even for a Legend like Zhao Ya. Because Zhao Ya had to act at the right moment, during which he was certain to face strong opposition from the two divine avatars. And he could not act too early. If he acted prematurely and got too close to Man Zhuang, he might be treated as an enemy by the berserking Barbarian. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I must seize the moment!¡± Zhao Ya continued to fight while consciously starting to rein in his offensive moves. He had to conserve strength to make an explosive move. The situation of Man Zhuang and Zhao Ya¡¯s intentions were all too clear to the Fishman youth and the High Priest. Naturally, the two divine avatars were also well aware. Worried about Man Zhuang¡¯s potential death, the two divine avatars also began to hold back, not attacking at full strength, leaving some reserve. For a time, the intensity of the battle between both sides dramatically dropped, but the mental struggle behind the scenes escalated. As both sides calculated their own positions, Man Zhuang suddenly stopped attacking and drew back his fists. He abruptly turned his head, his white-rolled eyes fixed on Zhao Ya. The next moment, he charged fiercely at Zhao Ya. ¡°You, what are you doing?!¡± Zhao Ya was startled, sensing the full malice from the other. Zhao Ya immediately retreated. The situation was unclear! He began to suspect whether Man Zhuang, given his deteriorating state, had been deceived by the Mei Lan God, as Man Zhuang had always been in a state of frenzy. Zhao Ya tried to distance himself to eliminate Man Zhuang¡¯s hostility toward him. After all, in terms of distance, the two divine avatars were closer to Man Zhuang. But Man Zhuang firmly locked on to Zhao Ya, roaring incessantly with a relentless attitude. Zhao Ya was speechless to the extreme. The ones to stop Man Zhuang were the two divine avatars. They were more concerned that Man Zhuang¡¯s action might be a feint. Indeed, there were a select few Barbarians with exceptional talent who could remain lucid while in a frenzy. If it was a feint, then allowing Man Zhuang and Zhao Ya to join forces would be highly disadvantageous for the Mei Lan God¡¯s side. As Man Zhuang was a key figure affecting the battle, for safety¡¯s sake, they needed to eliminate him first! Thus, the two divine avatars exerted their full strength and brutally struck Man Zhuang. ¡°Ah, ah, ah, ah!¡± Man Zhuang howled in pain, stubbornly weathering the heavy assault and charged in front of Zhao Ya. ¡°I¡­¡± Zhao Ya was incredibly frustrated, left with no choice but to defend. The spectators were dumbfounded. What was happening? The two Barbarians had started fighting each other. Seeing this scene, the faction of Mei Lan was naturally overjoyed. The two avatar deities unleashed Magic and Divine Arts one after another, moves piling upon moves, enveloping the two Barbarians. Zhao Ya could only parry Man Zhuang while resisting the onslaught of the avatar deities, and often he had to help Man Zhuang defend as well. Fortunately, he had the Truth Divine Pupil in hand. Under the illumination of the Truth Divine Light, he was able to reduce a lot of the offensive pressure. ¡°Wait a minute, could it be that his target isn¡¯t me, but¡­¡± After a dozen exchanges, Zhao Ya¡¯s eyes gleamed as he began to see the pattern. Initially hesitant, Zhao Ya thought of how Man Zhuang, who now had the Barbarian God¡¯s Divine Power coursing through him, would surely draw the attention of the Barbarian God to this place. ¡°It¡¯s a gamble! If you want this, I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± Suddenly, Zhao Ya let go and threw the Truth Divine Pupil to Man Zhuang. Man Zhuang caught the Divine Pupil and instantly halted his attack on Zhao Ya. He turned and charged again at the mural gate, his body covered in blood, but his momentum grew stronger, like a blood-soaked berserk Dragon. ¡°Stop him!¡± the High Priest Mei Lan cried out in alarm. The two avatar deities acted faster than her command, simultaneously intercepting Man Zhuang¡¯s path. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± Man Zhuang roared, his voice thunderous. He clenched the Divine Pupil tightly in the palm of his right fist, swinging his right fist without regard for defense, attacking the avatar deities directly. Targeting the critical points of his enemies, the avatar deities could no longer use ranged attacks to stop him; they had to engage in close-quarters combat with gritted teeth. Boom! Boom! A few exchanges later, two thunderous booms resounded, and Man Zhuang had astonishingly obliterated both avatar deities! ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± The High Priest was despondent, feeling all was lost. ¡°In the end, it¡¯s still a victory for the Barbarians.¡± The watchers had mixed emotions. The Barbarians, however, let out deafening cheers. ¡°Who would have thought that on this expedition, I¡¯d accomplish the feat of slaying gods!¡± Zhao Ya¡¯s heart surged with passion, fighting spirit soaring. He had bet correctly! Man Zhuang, with the Divine Pupil in hand and under the cover of the Truth Divine Light on his fist, had his attack power surge and successfully destroyed both avatar deities. ¡°Ah ah ah ah!¡± Man Zhuang¡¯s eyes rolled back white as he continued to roar. ¡°This guy, seems there¡¯s still strength in him. I underestimated him a bit,¡± Zhao Ya smiled to himself, thinking, ¡°Alright, just charge through like that.¡± Now with the Truth Divine Pupil in Man Zhuang¡¯s hand, he was the more suitable one to completely blast open the Divine Gate. If Zhao Ya tried himself, it would be a strenuous and thankless task with low efficiency. ¡°Ah ah ah ah!¡± Man Zhuang kept roaring. Zhao Ya: ¡­ ¡°Ah ah ah ah!¡± Man Zhuang began to pound his chest like a great ape. Pluh, pluh. He spat blood while hammering his chest. Zhao Ya: ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Enough, stop hammering.¡± ¡°Hurry up and attack, Lord Man Zhuang.¡± ¡°Lord Man Zhuang, you need to charge!¡± The Barbarians, anxious, began to voice their concerns. After pounding for a while and vomiting several liters of blood, Man Zhuang finally felt satisfied. He directed his white-rolled eyes toward the Divine Gate, lowered his head, and like a raging bull, he began his charge. Boom! With a loud noise, the Divine Gate was completely burst open. Everyone cried out in shock. What was once obscured by mist became clear, and everyone outside could now see the Fishman youth, the High Priest, and the great shell throne. As for the true body of Mei Lan, still trapped within the shell, had yet to be revealed. Seemingly aware that it was on the brink of life and death, the slumbering Mei Lan¡¯s brows furrowed even deeper. Another surge of Divine Power erupted, instantly condensing into another avatar deity. This time it was a Fishman avatar. But this avatar was nothing compared to the previous two, obviously conjured in haste, its figure blurred, almost ethereal. And after expending this Divine Power, the complexion of Mei Lan¡¯s true body noticeably paled. ¡°Divine Son!¡± The High Priest looked expectantly toward the Fishman youth. The youth gritted his teeth and spit out a drop of fresh blood, offering one of the few remaining Pearl Bubbles to the divine avatar. The avatar received the essence and immediately solidified, producing a strong and fierce aura. It charged at Man Zhuang, locking into a deathly struggle; their fists met flesh, causing water waves to surge and flames of battle to skyrocket. Zhao Ya snorted coldly and immediately moved to kill. Combat Skill¡ªCold Sky Splitter! His entire body surged with Fighting Energy, and the Fighting Energy, like water, spawned numerous icy birds. A large flock of icy birds circled around the divine avatar and Man Zhuang, heading straight for the giant shell throne. Mei Lan, the High Priest, once again unleashed the Holy Domain, putting up a strong defense. The icy birds flew into the Holy Domain, each being obliterated by the Holy Domain, but they still transformed into a piercing cold that spread and penetrated everywhere. Soon, the High Priest Mei Lan was shivering from the cold, ice crystals forming between her brows. With all the icy birds annihilated, she neared her limit; her entire body turned a frosty purple. Suddenly, the residual cold unwittingly condensed again, creating a dozen more birds that flew out from between the three pillars, scouting for enemies. This turn of events was truly sudden and unexpected. The Fishman youth reacted quickly, but when he tried to retreat, his movements stiffened. Though the icy birds were still a dozen steps away, the cold they emitted had already begun to freeze him. This level of cold was not of the elemental sort but instead transcended materiality, reaching the conceptual level. Even though the surrounding temperature hadn¡¯t changed, the Fishman youth felt an endless chill. At that moment, he was like a newborn left in the frigid tundra. Before the icy birds could physically reach him, the Fishman youth was already close to being frozen to death! Chapter 329 - 329: Section 116: Huh?! Chapter 329: Section 116: Huh?! The gap between the Silver Level and Legendary was just too vast. The combat skill of the cold snap birds was only of a probing nature. Hundreds of fighting energy cold birds were weakened by the Divine Domain and then almost all were instantly taken down by the High Priest¡¯s Holy Domain. But this combat skill was very cunning; it managed to reignite from death. Only one cold bird dove at the Fishman youth. The youth hadn¡¯t even truly come into contact with the fighting energy cold bird before he was nearly killed. In a critical moment, the High Priest threw herself forward, standing in front of the youth! She too was at the end of her tether, but used her own body as a shield, blocking the deadly fighting energy cold bird. The fighting energy surged into her body, immediately freezing her internal organs to death, her blood congealing. ¡°High Priest!¡± the Fishman youth exclaimed. The High Priest had suffered a fatal blow and collapsed directly. The Fishman youth hurriedly supported her. ¡°Quick, take our Lord away from here¡­¡± The High Priest¡¯s eyes were lifeless, her tone extremely weak. Her eyes flashed a cold light, then quickly solidified into ice. Almost in the next moment, her eye sockets were filled with solid ice, her eyeballs directly destroyed by the freeze. The Fishman youth gritted his teeth. At this moment, his mind was tumultuous, his emotions extremely complex! He knew that he and this Mei Lan High Priest were enemies. But a series of events had unfolded through a bizarre twist of fate. The youth remembered his identity, deeply dreaded the High Priest, and remained on guard at all times. But when the High Priest preferred to sacrifice herself to protect him, the Fishman youth¡¯s heart became somewhat disarrayed. ¡°High Priest¡­¡± The Fishman youth slowly laid the High Priest down on the ground. He had to withdraw his hands to avoid touching the High Priest¡¯s body. Because the surface of the High Priest¡¯s body also began to show a layer of white frost. The frost spread rapidly before one¡¯s eyes, accumulating and solidifying into ice, enveloping her arms, the tips of her hair, her snake tail. Soon after, the ice encased her in the floor tiles. Boom, boom, boom¡­ A series of explosions rang out, and the god incarnation came to aid at a critical moment, momentarily repelling Man Zhuang and was now doing his utmost to intercept Zhao Ya. Thanks to the suppression of the Divine Domain, although they were fighting with all their might, the residual effects had been suppressed to the extreme. ¡°Ah ah ah ah!¡± Man Zhuang roared, charging forward again. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Zhao Ya laughed heartily, unleashing a combat skill he had been cultivating for a long time, forming chains that bound him and the god incarnation together. The god incarnation became incredibly anxious but was restrained, only able to watch as Man Zhuang rushed towards Mei Lan¡¯s true form. Mei Lan¡¯s brows almost knitted into a knot. The exquisite mermaid seemed to be trapped in a nightmare, with a haggard expression that was immensely pitiable. ¡°Cough.¡± She suddenly let out a light cough. Instantly, a powerful surge of Divine Power spread out violently. The divine wave swept over the Fishman youth and the High Priest, seemingly intangible. But when it hit Man Zhuang, it was solid to the core. Man Zhuang was like an ordinary person who had been struck head-on by a charging elephant. He vomited blood, his body uncontrollably flung backward. Enraged, he bellowed furiously and struck out in retreat, ruthlessly hurling the Truth Divine Pupil. The Truth Divine Pupil, like a shooting star, drew a brilliant trail of light through the waves, easily breaking through the Divine Power surge, and struck directly at Mei Lan¡¯s true form. Mei Lan was illuminated by the Light of Truth on her face, her dense eyelashes trembling slightly, showing signs of waking up! The Fishman youth glared, his heart¡¯s alarm bells ringing violently at this moment. Once Mei Lan is awakened, She would likely immediately discern the youth¡¯s reality. ¡°No¡ª!¡± Although the High Priest was blind, she still retained her keen perception of the outside world. At this moment, she let out a scream of despair. Because she was very clear that once Mei Lan is awakened, no matter how many times She could act before death, Her ending would be a fall. ¡°We won!¡± Zhao Ya couldn¡¯t help but clench his fists, elated. The other spectators couldn¡¯t help but focus their attention on the small Truth Divine Pupil. Without a doubt, this was fatal to Mei Lan! Watching the Truth Divine Pupil shooting toward her, the Fishman youth¡¯s pupils constricted, nearly falling into despair as well. ¡°Damn it, is everything going to end here?¡± He was unwilling to accept this. He had too many things left undone! He needed to lead everyone together, to atone and be redeemed. He also had to wake up Zi Di. He further had to search for his own origins, to find his missing memories. The distance between the Truth Divine Pupil and Mei Lan¡¯s true form closed rapidly. The Truth Divine Light shined on Mei Lan¡¯s form, causing the Goddess¡¯s complexion to grow even paler, her brow furrowed in a show of pain. Perhaps in the next moment, She would wake up! Subconsciously, the Fishman youth stood in front of the shell throne, using his body to shield Mei Lan from the Truth Divine Light. The Divine Light shone on him, and the youth immediately felt the Pearl Bubble in his mouth rapidly depleting. He had never seen the Pearl Bubble get consumed so intensely! After a few breaths, only three Pearl Bubbles remained. The Truth Divine Pupil finally shot towards the Shell Throne. ¡°No¡ª!¡± Mei Lan, the High Priest, sensing this, tried to leap up and use her body as a shield to protect her faith. But she was nearly entirely frozen to the floor tiles. The force of her attempts to break free caused tiny cracks to form on the ice covering her body. She remained fixed to the ground, unsuccessful. Only the Fishman youth was left. He could not let Mei Lan awaken! Once awakened, the Pearl Bubbles could no longer deceive Mei Lan¡¯s true form. In fact, deceiving the divine embodiment of a deity was very difficult. After all, Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale was originally Mei Lan¡¯s Divine Artifact. The reason the Fishman youth had managed to come this far was partly because Mei Lan¡¯s divine embodiment was merely a fake product of the Divine Domain combined with Divine Power, not a true divine embodiment. On the other hand, the immense external pressure brought by the Barbarian powerhouses caused Mei Lan, the High Priests, and others to focus their primary attention on dealing with the Barbarians, sparing no time or energy to scrutinize and examine the Fishman youth. What would happen if Mei Lan awoke and realized the Fishman youth was a fraud, full of rage? And after Mei Lan awoke, if her injuries were too severe to recover from, she would perish. Even if the Fishman youth miraculously survived, with Mei Lan dead, her Divine Power would vanish at the source. What would happen to Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale then? Thus, the Fishman youth had to block the Truth Divine Pupil! Lacking strength, lacking means, he still had to brace himself and block it! And so, with the Divine Pupil shooting towards him, the youth extended his palm. Snap. A soft noise. He successfully caught the Divine Pupil and gripped it tightly in his hand. The light of the Divine Pupil then extinguished. The Fishman youth¡­ just like that, got hold of the Truth Divine Pupil. For a moment, everyone¡¯s movement stiffened like stone, their expressions blank. ¡°No¡ªuh!¡± Mei Lan, the High Priest¡¯s scream came to an abrupt halt. The whole chaotic and noisy battlefield fell into a deathly silence. Everyone¡¯s gaze was dumbfoundedly fixed on the Fishman youth, looking at the Truth Divine Pupil in his hand. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Huh?!¡± On the Mother Tree pirate ship, Hua Ya let out a cry of shock, tearing through the silence on the battlefield. Boom! An uproar spread among the crowd of onlookers. ¡°How could this be!?¡± The Sea Giant leader couldn¡¯t help but vigorously rub his eyes, doubting what he had seen. ¡°Beautifully done!¡± Feng Yao loudly praised, his heart almost leaping out of his throat a moment ago. ¡°Could this still be an illusion, and we are all being deceived by the Mei Lan deity?¡± Hua Ya was at a loss. A huge crisis seemed to be resolved just like that. The reality and the discrepancy from expectations left everyone struggling to accept it. ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± Filled with such amazement and doubt, more and more gazes turned to Man Zhuang. Thud. Man Zhuang¡¯s eyes closed as he collapsed to the ground. The Divine Power of the Barbarian God rapidly dissipated, and his body, which had swelled to more than double its size, gradually returned to normal. He had passed out completely. Everyone: ¡­ ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have expected anything from this idiot!¡± Zhao Ya cursed inwardly and hurried over to snatch Man Zhuang away. Man Zhuang was severely injured, with some wounds bleeding uncontrollably and others deep enough to show bone. Without the support of Divine Power, his condition was very grim, as his Life Breath sharply plummeted. With such an outcome, Zhao Ya couldn¡¯t really blame Man Zhuang. He boarded the Barbarian warship and handed Man Zhuang over to the warriors aboard: ¡°Take good care of him.¡± ¡°Lord Man Zhuang¡­¡± A Barbarian Witch Doctor immediately took over Man Zhuang. People began to understand. ¡°Man Zhuang had already reached his limit earlier, but he kept forcing himself because of the Berserk state.¡± ¡°So, the throwing of the Truth Divine Pupil he did earlier, although it seemed mighty, actually had very little strength, like the last arrow.¡± ¡°No, I think that the last throw of the Truth Divine Pupil was actually very powerful, but during its flight, it was strongly countered by Mei Lan¡¯s Divine Domain, suffering a great reduction in strength.¡± While the crowd was abuzz with discussion, the Fishman youth was also examining the Truth Divine Pupil in his hand. This was an eye of the God of Truth, filled with Divinity and laws. It was of the same quality as the greedy phalanges, both being Demi-divine Artifacts. Because of the Divine Authority and Divinity, it was incredibly powerful, highly effective against Mei Lan who specialized in deception and disguise. But Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale was a Divine Artifact, surpassing the Truth Divine Pupil by half a rank. Therefore, after the Fishman youth used the Pearl Bubble against the divine embodiment, the effect was immediate and significant, greatly weakening the gaze of the Divine Pupil. ¡°But how did I end up with the Truth Divine Pupil?¡± The Fishman youth was filled with shock, joy, and many weird emotions. He had not harbored any hope, but he had succeeded, smoothly holding his ground. This ease and smoothness were far beyond expectation. It was as though it had been deliberately passed to him. ¡°No, at that moment just now, did I seem to hear a¡­ beastly roar?¡± The youth quickly discarded this stray thought and concentrated all his attention, staring intently at the Barbarian side. He knew that even though he had unexpectedly obtained the Truth Divine Pupil, it was just a narrow escape; the situation was still under the Barbarians¡¯ control. Chapter 330 - 330: Section 117: Escaping with the Goddess Chapter 330: Section 117: Escaping with the Goddess Cold Sky Splitter Zhao Ya had settled Man Zhuang of the Barbarian Holy Domain, but he did not immediately launch an attack. His gaze first swept over the half-destroyed avatar of a deity, paused on the body of High Priest Mei Lan who struggled despite being frozen in a block of ice. Finally, he set his eyes on the Fishman youth. Zhao Ya felt conflicted. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for this little Fishman, Man Zhuang¡¯s final strike would have succeeded!¡± ¡°Yet it was this unremarkable chap who truly intercepted the Truth Divine Pupil¡­¡± Ever since Zhao Ya had noticed the Fishman youth, he had never taken him seriously. He was a legendary figure, while the other was merely a mere Silver. Yet, it was this insignificant creature that blocked Man Zhuang¡¯s final strike, turning the Barbarian¡¯s victory into nothing but a bubble. ¡°Young Fishman, that is something you shouldn¡¯t have taken. Hand it back, and I, Cold Sky Splitter, assure your life on my honor,¡± Zhao Ya suddenly spoke to the Fishman youth, commanding in a low tone. The Fishman youth sighed in his heart. He never intended to oppose a legendary Barbarian, but given the circumstances, he was already caught in a vortex, unable to freely choose. He was about to refuse. ¡°Don¡¯t give it to him!¡± a voice suddenly interrupted. Everyone turned towards the noise and saw Feng Yao. This bard from the Human Race was deeply worried about Goddess Mei Lan and had preemptively answered for the Fishman youth. Cold Sky Splitter¡¯s gaze turned icy as he glanced at Feng Yao and warned, ¡°Third in command of the Firebeard Pirates, watch your attitude!¡± Feng Yao was about to speak when suddenly, Mei Lan¡¯s Divine Domain began to contract, and the aura of the goddess Mei Lan noticeably started to weaken, while the shell throne rapidly dimmed. Deep within the soft collapse of the shell, the deity Mei Lan slowly rose about twenty centimeters, completely hovering in mid-air. Everyone¡¯s eyes went wide! Their previous line of sight had been blocked by the shell and they couldn¡¯t see the true form of Goddess Mei Lan. Now that they saw her, they were utterly shaken by the stunning beauty of the Goddess. ¡°My God, she¡¯s so beautiful.¡± ¡°Are all deities this beautiful? No matter the language of any race, words seem too meager to describe Her beauty.¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Gulp¡­¡± Someone swallowed, while Feng Yao¡¯s eyes were almost filled with pink hearts. A thin layer of rainbow halo enveloped the deity¡¯s body. The rainbow brilliance shone on High Priest Mei Lan, immediately melting the thick frost over her body. The High Priest regained her freedom, with a face pale from devotion. She first deeply bowed to Mei Lan, then turned to face the Fishman youth, ¡°Divine Son, the time has come. Remember what I told you earlier, I entrust everything to you from now on!¡± With that, the High Priest threw herself onto the shell throne. ¡°Ahh¡ª!¡± She let out a scream of utmost agony. The throne was not meant for mortals to touch. Even though the High Priest¡¯s life had reached the Holy Domain Level, it was still far from enough. The surface of Mei Lan¡¯s body began to show a network of blood. Yet, despite her body¡¯s catastrophic disintegration, she still forcefully climbed onto the shell throne, crawling inside, and took the place of Mei Lan¡¯s original form. ¡°Quick, take our Lord¡­ hurry,¡± the High Priest¡¯s eyes were already frozen dead, tears of blood streaming from her eye sockets. The Fishman youth looked at the High Priest, then glanced at the Barbarian powerhouse opposite, clenched his teeth hard, stretched out his arms, and embraced Mei Lan. He then abruptly withdrew, taking Mei Lan completely away from above the shell throne. Holding Goddess Mei Lan like a princess in his arms, the Fishman youth couldn¡¯t help but be emotionally stirred. This charm was intensely strong, making the Fishman youth¡¯s heart thump wildly and his lips dry. Meanwhile, his chest, arms, and hands felt wave after wave of intense, dream-like wonderful touch from contacting Mei Lan¡¯s body, soft and delicate, her skin so white as if it could ooze water¡­ All this made the youth momentarily distracted. Seeing his lapse, Zhao Ya let out a low shout, and swiftly stepped forward, his whole being lightning-fast, shooting towards them. ¡°Think again!¡± the High Priest, relying on the shell throne, erupted a wave of Divine Power that instantly nullified Zhao Ya¡¯s charge. Then, the next moment, countless beams of light soared upward. The High Priest transported all the Fishman initiates, followers of Mei Lan, and clergy she had previously saved. ¡°Cover the Divine Son and retreat!¡± The High Priest invoked Divine Arts, immediately conveying precise battle situation information to everyone. People, due to their faith, race, and other reasons, resoundingly agreed and fled in all directions. In the eyes of the Fishman youth, these people remained unchanged. However, to outsiders like Zhao Ya, these people all transformed into the Fishman youth, holding Mei Lan the Goddess, and escaping all around, fully retreating. ¡°Humph, small trick!¡± Zhao Ya sneered and was about to deploy a wide-range Combat Skill to reveal the illusions. The High Priest once again manipulated the Shell Divine Seat, bursting forth Divine Power, aiding the divine incarnation. The divine incarnation regrouped and charged toward Zhao Ya. Zhao Ya could only deal with the divine incarnation, and after a few moves, he repelled it. ¡°Little fishman, you have made a wrong choice,¡± Zhao Ya growled, and the next moment, he unleashed a tremendous move. Combat Skill¡ªFrost Ice Forest! An unprecedented chill erupted from Zhao Ya¡¯s body, quickly engulfing the surroundings. Beneath the teleported Fishmen¡¯s feet, suddenly, patches of light appeared. From within these patches, huge frost trees violently grew. The trees impaled each Fishman one by one, staining the battlefield with their blood, turning into corpses strung up on the branches, and the Fishmen in death reverted to their true forms. In an instant, trees after trees of frost giant forest grew, forming a forest of carnage. ¡°You can¡¯t escape¡­¡± Accompanied by Zhao Ya¡¯s cold laughter, the terrifying ice forest rapidly expanded. The Fishman youth¡¯s face was as still as water; he was indeed intercepted. But at that moment, the sound of a harp rang out, Feng Yao fully exerted his Spell, helping the Fishman youth withstand the spread of the ice forest. Amid the resonating sound waves, many ice trees violently shattered. Many Fishmen benefitted and continued to flee, including the Fishman youth. ¡°Feng Yao, how dare you!¡± Zhao Ya glared. Feng Yao shouted loudly, ¡°For my love, I am willing to sacrifice everything!¡± ¡°Heartbreaker!¡± Hua Ya¡¯s expression changed upon hearing this. Zhao Ya thought quickly, and immediately ice trees erupted from beneath Feng Yao¡¯s feet. Feng Yao leapt back repeatedly, and a dozen ice trees grew like assaulting long spears, missing him by mere inches. Suddenly, Feng Yao¡¯s expression changed drastically. Forced to leap back repeatedly, he suddenly realized he had ended up among a cluster of ice trees. It was Zhao Ya¡¯s trap! The next moment, the ice trees grew transparent icy branches, freezing together, forming a massive Ice Prison. ¡°Just stay in there nicely for me!¡± In the end, Zhao Ya held back and didn¡¯t kill Feng Yao. Feng Yao had lost his Holy Domain Level strength, making Zhao Ya confident in handling him. But to really kill Feng Yao, Zhao Ya would have to face Firebeard¡¯s retaliation and the protection of the Love God. He didn¡¯t want to provoke these troubles. He wasn¡¯t someone who feared trouble¡ªas Barbarians didn¡¯t fear trouble¡ªhe just wanted to first take care of the most important matters¡ª Kill the Fishman youth, retrieve the Truth Divine Pupil, and either capture or eliminate Mei Lan the Goddess! ¡°Damn it!¡± Feng Yao roared, continuously deploying Spells, bombarding the ice outside the Ice Prison. The Ice Prison was exceedingly sturdy. Feng Yao could only watch helplessly as the Fishman youth once again fell into peril. ¡°My goddess!¡± Feng Yao cried out, filled with worry. The Fishman youth incredibly dodged the assault of a frost giant tree, this narrow escape from death making him realize two things. First, Feng Yao seemed to be able to see through that he was the real body! Second, he had barely dodged this one tree; if nothing unexpected happened, he would end up like the other Fishmen, killed on the spot by a frost giant tree. Zhao Ya couldn¡¯t distinguish which one was the real body, but fortunately, there weren¡¯t many Fishmen left who were escaping. Zhao Ya clapped his hands fiercely in front of his chest and again unleashed a further variation of the Combat Skill. The branches and leaves of the frost giant tree exploded violently, forming billions of deadly attacks. ¡°No!¡± Feng Yao screamed, his heart tightening fiercely as he saw the Fishman youth and Mei Lan the Goddess overwhelmed by countless sharp, cold branches and leaves. Chapter 331 - 331: Section 118: Cang Xu: Kill the Fishman Divine Son Chapter 331: Section 118: Cang Xu: Kill the Fishman Divine Son The Legendary fighter Zhao Ya¡¯s Combat Skill exploded forth, and for a moment, the Fishman youth thought he was surely dead. However, quickly, his gaze steadied, and he saw that he remained unharmed. Surrounding him were countless branches and leaves formed from ice, colliding, shooting, cutting, and puncturing. Whether to the left, the right, up, or down, the Fishman youth seemed to be placed in a world of ice, the dazzling cold light and the tinkling sound of shattering ice combined to form a spectacular yet terrifying image. The Fishman youth couldn¡¯t help but breathe deeply. This was not the first time he had felt death! He had survived not because of himself, but because of the Charming Blue Divine being he held in his arms. The Charming Blue Divine¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed as if caught in a nightmare, the radiance emanating from her divine form piercing through with a rainbow hue. Although the halo was very faint, it still enveloped the Fishman youth, temporarily protecting his life. ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhao Ya sensed this and immediately glared, focusing his attack on the Charming Blue Divine¡¯s physical form. The power of the attack surged once more. The Fishman youth¡¯s heart jumped violently. Although he was protected by the halo, the pressure around increased so drastically that he couldn¡¯t breathe freely. He hastily shouted, ¡°My Lord, protect me!¡± The next moment, he raised the Goddess Mei Lan above his head. The Goddess¡¯s frown deepened, the external stimulation grew greater, and the rainbow halo she emitted thickened slightly. The Fishman youth immediately felt the pressure drop sharply. Zhao Ya frowned, just as he was about to take action himself. However, at that moment, a divine incarnation assaulted him again. The two sides engaged in fierce combat once more. Zhao Ya was unable to continue controlling the previous Combat Skill and had to focus his attention on the divine incarnation. Sensing the threat to its physical form, the divine incarnation fought like mad, launching a ferocious assault on Zhao Ya. With the previous terrifying offensive dissipating, the Fishman youth¡¯s vision cleared, and he quickly continued to retreat. Zhao Ya could only adopt a more defensive stance for the time being and, sensing the Fishman youth moving again, he deliberately broke off his own left little finger and tossed it out. Combat Skill¡ªFlesh and Blood Ice Sculpture! Zhao Ya¡¯s little finger crazily absorbed the surrounding icy Fighting energy, then exploded with a bang, forming a cloud of extreme cold blood-fog. From within the blood-fog, a figure emerged. His build and appearance were very similar to Zhao Ya himself; the only difference was his particularly rigid demeanor. Seeing Zhao Ya¡¯s Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture, the divine incarnation immediately changed direction, aiming to eliminate this special clone. But Zhao Ya was prepared and pounced, tangling with the divine clone. The divine clone¡¯s plan failed, and it could only watch helplessly as the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture chased after the Fishman youth. The Fishman youth¡¯s heart jumped fiercely, knowing that escaping alone would most likely lead to a bad end. His gaze swept around, and suddenly, his eyes lit up as he deliberately charged towards a group of Sea Giants. This group of Sea Giants came from the Yan Shi tribe, led by a pair of siblings. The brother was named Quan Ba, and the sister Xiong Xing. They came here seeking help from the Fish God. They had never expected that the Fish God was merely one of Mei Lan¡¯s avatars, and all the information about the Half-plane and the temple was false. ¡°Brother, what do we do?!¡± Seeing the Fishman youth nearing her group, Xiong Xing was anxious and at a loss. Quan Ba too felt his head swell. The situation at hand allowed no room for thinking, and he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Help! This is the friendship of a deity!¡± The other Sea Giants heard the command and immediately made their move, assisting the Fishman youth in fending off the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture behind him. The Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture was an extension of Zhao Ya¡¯s power; though it wasn¡¯t at the Legendary Level, it still possessed the strength of the Holy Domain. Even the strongest among the Sea Giants was merely a Gold Level fighter, Fist Bar, nowhere near a match for the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture. But the Sea Giants fought to the death, refusing to retreat. With their superior physical abilities that surpassed the Barbarians, they still managed to buy the Fishman youth a tiny bit of time with their lives. Though this time was incredibly brief, it was also crucial. With this time, the Fishman youth had increased the distance between himself and the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture. The Sea Giants paid a heavy price for this. Zhao Ya snorted coldly and quickly scanned the battlefield. The Barbarian ships were suffering from the frenzied assault of Fishmen, Charming Blue Divine Sect adherents, and so on. Man Zhuang was receiving treatment in the cabin; the Barbarians couldn¡¯t extract themselves from the situation for the time being. Ironically, Zhao Ya was to blame for all of this. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Ya¡¯s previous offensive had been so fierce that the Fishmen and Divine Officers transferred by the High Priest assumed the surroundings of the Barbarian Warship were safe and had swarmed over there. While Zhao Ya was dealing with the attacks from the Divine incarnation and the High Priest, he shouted out, ¡°What are you members of the Human Race waiting for? Chase after him! Whoever blocks Charming Blue¡¯s escape will earn my friendship, Zhao Ya. Those who don¡¯t block Him are my enemies and will be the first ones I eliminate!¡± There had been many spectators before. Aside from the Justice Pirate Group, the Mother Tree Pirate Group, and a squad of Sea Giants, there were also a large number of Human Race pirates. These people, buoyed by Man Zhuang driving away the Holy Beast, the Six-Headed Hydra, had plunged into the water screen and entered the ¡°Half-plane¡±. Although they¡¯d suffered great losses, many remnants remained. Zhao Ya¡¯s threat had dashed the hopes of those who were intending to continue watching. The crowd was hesitant. Both sides were formidable; Charming Blue seemed at a disadvantage, but after all, He was a deity, even a single leg hair of His was thicker than their thighs. Of course, that was just a metaphor. The skin of Charming Blue was very smooth and He didn¡¯t even have legs. Pfft! Zhao Ya suddenly made his move, preferring to take a fierce attack from the Divine incarnation head-on, while swinging the clawed gauntlet on his hand over a distance of a thousand meters, directly killing more than a dozen people. His expression was extremely cold, his entire being exuding a bone-chilling intent to kill. The crowd was terrified, spurred into action, and hurried to make their move. ¡°First Officer Hua Ya, what should we do?¡± the Tree Men asked, their voices anxious. Even if Mother Tree¡¯s great-aunt awakened, she wouldn¡¯t be a match for the Cold Sky Splitter. Hua Ya snorted coldly, without hesitation, and pointed at Charming Blue, ¡°Go after him, kill Him!¡± Thus, the Mother Tree Pirate ship took the lead, charging towards the Fishman youth. The Mother Tree Flagship was not fast, but Hua Ya and the other Tree Men casting various spells from the bow managed to severely hinder the Fishman youth¡¯s retreat. ¡°The First Officer is still unconscious. What should we do, Lord Old Zhong?¡± the members of the Justice Pirate Group were also somewhat lost. Cang Xu waved his hand: ¡°Wait a moment.¡± He turned to communicate with the ship ghost, muttering for a while, and then he announced loudly, ¡°Chase him, kill that Fishman Divine Son!¡± Seeing the Divine Son in peril, many Fishmen, Nagas, mermaids, and others who had been attacking the Barbarian Warship also moved to join forces, supporting the Divine Son and blocking the others. The scene became extremely chaotic in an instant. The Fishman youth was weary. It was one thing for others to target him, but why was the Justice Pirate Group also opposing him? On the other hand, the Sea Giants, whom he had earlier thought to be trouble and formidable enemies, were now sacrificing their lives to guard him. Fist Bar and Xiong Xing were like personal guards, loyal and valiant, spilling their blood in battle, steadfastly protecting his rear. ¡°If I were to transform into a Dragon-man form at this moment, what would happen?¡± Chapter 332 - 332: Section 119: The Third Blood Core! Chapter 332: Section 119: The Third Blood Core! The Fishman youth felt an impulsive desire to reveal his identity to Cang Xu and the others, but as soon as he glanced at the slumbering Charming Blue Goddess in his arms, he instantly sobered up. His greatest danger, apart from the Barbarian powerhouses, was actually the Charming Blue God he was holding. Her condition was extremely poor, having fallen into a deep sleep. If the youth disclosed his identity, he would likely enrage the Charming Blue God. Once She awakened, with the flick of a finger, She could completely erase him from existence. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In that case, then¡­¡± Biting his teeth, the Fishman youth, while holding the Charming Blue God, suddenly changed direction, charging toward the side of the Justice Pirate Group. ¡°They¡¯re coming over!¡± Cang Xu¡¯s face changed immediately. ... Ship ghost snorted coldly and slightly lifted the silver scepter, ready for battle. The Fishman youth suddenly let out a huge roar, shouting in the Universal Language, ¡°Anyone who doesn¡¯t want to die, get out of my way!¡± No member of the Justice Pirate Group retreated. Once again, the Fishman youth shouted, ¡°Then take this¡ª-Spin-Scale Cang Xu!¡± With those words, Silver Fighting Spirit surged through his body. But immediately, the Fighting Energy collapsed, and he violently coughed up a mouthful of blood. ¡°Good, his Combat Skill failed!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid; this Fishman Divine Son is just a grievously wounded Silver fighter.¡± The side of the Justice Pirate Group was greatly encouraged. Xiong Xing was full of concern, ¡°Fishman Divine Son, please be very careful!¡± The female Sea Giant proactively moved to block in front of the Fishman youth, offering her full protection. But Cang Xu¡¯s pupils sharply constricted, with a flash of brilliance fleeting past. He heard his name. The name Cang Xu was only known by the survivors on Mysterious Monster Island. ¡°Could it be, this Fishman Divine Son is¡­¡± Cang Xu became fraught with astonishment and uncertainty. Just then, the situation changed once again. Cold Sky Splitter Zhao Ya repelled an incarnation of a deity, looked toward the Fishman youth and the true body of Charming Blue God, and used another Combat Skill. In an instant, countless cold currents like ferocious snow-white giant serpents rushed towards the Fishman youth. At the rear of the group, tasked with providing the rearguard, the Sea Giant used all her might to defend. But to no avail. The extreme cold serpentine currents pierced through the body of the Sea Giant, killing her on the spot. ¡°Brother!¡± Xiong Xing exclaimed. ¡°Retreat quickly!¡± Qu Ba, horrified, chose to save his own life in this critical moment. He grabbed his sister Xiong Xing and swiftly swam away using a Combat Skill, abandoning the Fishman youth and the Charming Blue God. The Fishman youth looked back, seeing he was about to be hit by the serpentine currents, feeling utterly helpless in his heart. Relying solely on his own strength, he had no hope of defending successfully. ¡°No!!¡± Feng Yao was trapped but could see the battlefield clearly and let out a heart-wrenching cry of agony. ¡°My Lord!!¡± The High Priest inside the Shell Throne also panicked. At a dead end, the Fishman youth simply turned around, facing the cold current head-on, and knelt down, lifting the Goddess in his arms high. ¡°My Lord, please exercise Thy divine power!¡± Rumble¡­ The next moment, the cold current swept in, quickly enveloping both the youth and the true body of Charming Blue God. At the crucial moment, the Seven-Colored Divine Light from Charming Blue God formed a halo, protecting the youth and Herself, fending off the cold current with great difficulty. High Priest: ¡­ Feng Yao: ¡­ The Fishman youth exhaled a turbid breath, still somewhat shaken. He had gambled right once more; Charming Blue God was still a deity, with profound depth. Even so, facing the legendary Combat Skill, She managed to hold Her ground. Crack, crack¡­ ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡± The Fishman youth followed the noise, and his recently calmed heart abruptly clenched again. He saw cracks rapidly expanding and spreading everywhere on the thin layer of Seven-Colored halo, which soon formed a web-like pattern. ¡°Once the Divine Light breaks, although the body of Charming Blue God might resist for a while, I¡¯ll definitely be frozen to death!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a gamble!¡± A ruthless look flashed in the youth¡¯s eyes as he spat out a Pearl Bubble. With that expulsion, only the last Pearl Bubble remained in the youth¡¯s mouth. Cang Xu¡¯s eyes sparkled! He saw it¡ªthe Pearl Bubble! Then the identity of the Fishman Divine Son in front of him could essentially be confirmed¡ªthe Captain Long Fu! ¡°How amazing¡­¡± Cang Xu, despite knowing the secret of the ¡°Beastification People¡± transformation, praised the youth¡¯s feats, ¡°Changing life forms is one thing, but blending in to become a Divine Son and being protected by a bunch of devotees from the Charming Blue Divine Sect¡­¡± The Pearl Bubble fell onto Charming Blue God¡¯s radiant chest and quickly dematerialized, turning from a solid to a bubble, and then with a pop, vanished into nothingness. The power of the Pearl Bubble absorbed by the true body of Charming Blue God made the surrounding Seven-Colored halo immediately more solid. The web-like cracks rapidly disappeared, and the youth could even feel the halo was tougher than initially by a few degrees. The Fishman youth¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he stared intently at Charming Blue God¡¯s unparalleled beauty. When he saw Charming Blue God¡¯s brows relax a bit, yet without any sign of awakening, he finally put down the great weight in his heart. Giving the Pearl Bubble to the true body of Charming Blue God was very dangerous. The Fishman youth had no way of judging whether this act would wake Charming Blue God. He had confidence in deceiving the false deity incarnation, but he would never expect to be able to trick the true deity. Fortunately, Charming Blue God did not awaken. Looking up again, the youth saw that Cang Xu was blankly staring at him. His heart immediately thrilled, ¡°Very well, Cang Xu, it looks like you¡¯ve finally confirmed my identity!¡± So the next moment, the Fishman youth, holding Mei Lan, charged toward Cang Xu¡¯s vicinity. He didn¡¯t charge directly at Cang Xu, but rather chose an open space not far from Cang Xu as his breakthrough point. ¡°Quick, Senior Brother, we must intercept him!¡± Cang Xu shouted, taking the initiative to rush toward the empty space, making an obvious interception movement. ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive¡­¡± Ship Ghost¡¯s expression changed slightly; compared to the Barbarians and the Charming Blue Divine Sect, their strength was much weaker, clearly not a good time. But Cang Xu was quicker, and seeing him throw himself forward, Ship Ghost could only sigh inwardly and immediately follow. Without the help of the Sea Giant, Zhao Ya¡¯s Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture caught up with the Fishman youth once again. ¡°Senior Brother, you hold off the ice sculpture while I seize the Goddess!¡± Cang Xu shouted again. Zhao Ya¡¯s eyes widened, his heart shocked. He had thought that Cang Xu just wanted to cooperate with the Barbarians, never expecting his real appetite to be so large! ¡°Junior Brother, don¡¯t let greed cloud your judgment, this is not something we can covet,¡± Ship Ghost firmly refused. But the next moment, his Magic Wand quivered slightly, shooting out a Bone Spear that struck the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture. Ship Ghost: ??!! The Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture, with limited awareness, immediately saw Ship Ghost as an enemy. Ship Ghost quickly retreated, but to no avail. His Magic Robe restricted his movements. ¡°Junior Brother?!¡± Ship Ghost was both shocked and angry, yet he could do nothing to settle the score with Cang Xu because the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture was already pouncing on him. Boom boom boom! The confrontation had just begun and instantly escalated into an intense phase. Ship Ghost fought with all his might, using all his strength to contend. But after a few breaths, his chest was pierced by the arm of the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture. At his last moments, Ship Ghost suddenly embraced the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture within arm¡¯s reach. Boom! The next instant, he self-destructed, his Silver Scepter and Magic Robe collapsing entirely, adding several times more power to the explosion. Within the blast, the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture lunged out once more, suffering only a minor injury. It charged at the Fishman youth again. Cang Xu pulled out the Undead Magic Book and, regardless of the drain on his power, quickly tore out the pages, unleashing wave after wave of Undead Magic. But the spells hit the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture without slowing its stride. Just as the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture was about to catch up, suddenly, a powerful stream of Gold electricity, like a dragon or a python, shot out from the turbulent chaotic waves, striking the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture dead center. Only then was the momentum of the Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture halted. The next moment, a bizarre fish-like sea beast burst out from the raging torrents. It was the Deep Sea Monster Fish! ¡°Holy Beast!¡± The followers of the Charming Blue Divine Sect exclaimed. The Deep Sea Monster Fish opened its mouth, swallowed both the Fishman youth and Mei Lan, then turned and fled. ¡°You won¡¯t escape!¡± Zhao Ya saw this scene and was both anxious and furious. He bellowed, enduring the unified assault of the Divine Son and the High Priest, and unleashed his strongest technique. Combat Skill¡ªSubspace Cold Shadow! In an instant, the entire battlefield was encompassed. The Deep Sea Monster Fish, only ten-some meters away, was still enveloped by the Combat Skill. The Divine Son, High Priest, all were affected. In an instant, the waves vanished, and there was nothing but emptiness around. Each person was isolated, trapped in their own separate subspace. They looked at each other, seeing only vague, distorted figures. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Zhao Ya coughed out more than a dozen mouthfuls of blood; his breath plummeted, and his complexion paled. To execute this move came with a huge cost, and if used too often, even he could not bear it. Zhao Ya, no matter how strong, also had limits. A forbidden technique among Combat Skills like Subspace Cold Shadow could be used only a very limited number of times in his life. After gasping for a long while, Zhao Ya finally stopped coughing, but he was unable to move for a short time and could only sit cross-legged in the void. Fortunately, all the enemies had been trapped by him. ¡°Mei Lan¡­¡± He sneered, his figure piercing through to the same subspace where the Deep Sea Monster Fish was, immediately transforming into a figure of Cold Shadow. Over twelve meters tall, the Cold Shadow giant, resembling a sea giant, radiated rolling cold air, and attacked the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Bang bang bang! The Cold Shadow giant punched continuously; the Deep Sea Monster Fish could not dodge and was battered, dented, and shaking uncontrollably. Inside the Deep Sea Monster Fish, the Fishman youth was unsteady, almost dropping Mei Lan. He kneeled on the ground, barely stabilizing himself when the vessel shook violently once again. Caught off guard, the Fishman lad plunged headfirst into Mei Lan¡¯s bosom. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± In addition to the soft and slippery feeling, the Fishman youth also noticed a hard object. At once, his eyes bulged, his face full of shock. In that instant, he thought he was dreaming or had fallen into a deceptive Divine Domain. Because he saw a blood-red Crystal Stone slip from the ample bosom of Mei Lan ¡ª The Blood Core! ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± ¡°On Mei Lan, there was hidden¡­ a third Blood Core?!¡± Chapter 333 - 333: Section 120: The Truth Chapter 333: Section 120: The Truth At this moment, the Fishman youth was in a state of intense shock. He had never imagined that he would obtain the third Blood Core here, from the body of Mei Lan. ¡°Blood Cores are supposed to be developed by War Merchants, so why would Mei Lan have one?¡± According to what the youth knew so far, even though the War Merchant, as an Alchemy Grandmaster, had developed Blood Cores, he hadn¡¯t fully mastered the method of making them. His method was to use the entire Mysterious Monster Island as a breeding ground, continuously transporting man-made magical beasts to fight each other in order to create Blood Cores. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The first Blood Core I possess was created through this method.¡± ¡°At that time, I fought to the death against the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear, and thanks to Zi Di¡¯s medicine, along with many other factors, this Blood Core was formed.¡± ... ¡°The second Blood Core I saw was in the underground alchemy factory, inside the Central Tower. War Merchant used this Blood Core to mass-produce man-made magical beasts.¡± ¡°I had never thought that I would encounter the third Blood Core¡­ yet it unexpectedly appeared in front of me.¡± ¡°Wait a second, could I have fallen into Mei Lan¡¯s Deception Domain again, creating an illusion?¡± The pupil of the Fishman youth shrank slightly; even though the actual touch of the Blood Core in his hand was real, he still didn¡¯t dare to be sure. Fortunately, he now had a way to discern the truth from the fake. Right away, he put Mei Lan aside and took out the Truth Divine Pupil. The youth injected Fighting energy into the Truth Divine Pupil. The Truth Divine Pupil immediately emitted a faint glow. This was a Demigod-level Divine Artifact, and the best way to use it was by infusing Divine Power, most suitably the Truth Divine Power. Without Divine Power, both Fighting energy and Mana could be used, but they would consume more and the effects would be diminished. The Fishman youth had no choice; although he had already opened his own Mana Pool, his Mana was very thin. He could only replace it with Fighting energy for now. Silver Level Fighting energy was completely incomparable to Zhao Ya¡¯s Legendary Level Fighting energy, or Man Zhuang¡¯s Holy Domain Fighting energy. The Fishman youth nearly exhausted most of the Fighting energy in his body, which finally allowed the gaze of the Truth Divine Pupil to shine upon the Blood Core. The Blood Core remained brilliant and unaffected. ¡°It¡¯s real!¡± A sharp glint shot out of the youth¡¯s eyes. His internal Blood Core had long conveyed to him a strong desire to devour. ¡°Wait, could it be¡­ The reason I bathed in the Holy Spring was not because of Mei Lan¡¯s Deception Domain, but because of the function of the Blood Core? It allowed me and the other Fishmen to benefit and gain Bloodline enhancements?¡± A thought flashed through the youth¡¯s mind, prompting a conjecture. If it was deception, an illusion, then the Fishmen should have reverted to their original form after leaving the coverage area of the Divine Domain in the trials before. But in reality, that didn¡¯t happen. Instead, the belief that one could greatly benefit from the trials of the Fish God became more and more accepted by the public. ¡°The method to verify this guess is simple¡­¡± The youth immediately used the Blood Core, producing a red light. The red light flowed out of his body, covering the surface of the third Blood Core. The latter quickly turned into a mass of red light, merging with the previous one, indistinguishable from each other. The youth withdrew the red light, and the Blood Core officially became one! Then he used his spirit to probe¡­ ¡°Just as I thought!¡± The Fishman youth confirmed his previous conjecture. Contained within the third Blood Core was a large amount of Fishman Bloodline, including the three Divine Level Fishman Bloodlines such as the Shark Blue Bloodline. Besides those, the White Eye Bloodline, the Man Yu Bloodline, and the Poison Arrow Fishman Bloodline were all present. The Fishman youth gently touched his chest while memories swiftly flashed through his mind. The second layer of the alchemy central, with the Array centered around the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale. In Sea Eye City, where he gathered intelligence: Mysterious Holy Beasts¡­ the azure giant fish¡­ The Fishman youth already felt the truth was near, even closer. It was just behind a paper-thin barrier, and he was nearly able to touch the truth. Boom! A thunderous roar, accompanied by the violent shaking of the Deep Sea Monster Fish, interrupted the youth¡¯s train of thought, pulling him back to reality. Zhao Ya¡¯s Subspace Cold Shadow giant was still attacking the Deep Sea Monster Fish relentlessly. The Fishman youth quickly picked up Mei Lan and ran to the captain¡¯s room. ¡°Tower Spirit, counterattack!¡± The Fishman youth shouted lowly. ¡°Received order,¡± the Tower Spirit¡¯s monotonous voice rang out. The next moment, the exterior of the Deep Sea Monster Fish underwent violent transformation, as huge fish bones, like enormous steel long spears, swiftly extended and plunged deeply into the body of the Subspace Cold Shadow giant. But the Subspace Cold Shadow giant was not harmed and instead swung its sharp claws, tearing open the belly of the Deep Sea Monster Fish to form several massive wounds. The Tower Spirit emitted an alarm, controlling the Deep Sea Monster Fish to quickly retract its fish bones, before numerous small holes opened up on the fish¡¯s surface. Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­ The next moment, a torrent of Alchemy Arrows sprayed out from the countless small openings. The arrows shot out in every direction, like a colorful, torrential rain, with overwhelming momentum. The Subspace Cold Shadow giant bore the brunt of it, being struck by a multitude of arrows, while also enduring the scorching of flames, the scouring of water currents, the battering of thunder, the corrosion of poison gas, and more. This counterattack was very effective. The Subspace Cold Shadow giant ceased its attack and retreated repeatedly, for the first time curling its body to minimize the range it was being hit. ¡°Tower Spirit, find an exit, full retreat!¡± the Fishman youth issued another command. The Deep Sea Monster Fish swiftly went into action but found itself trapped in a small Subspace, its walls extremely tough. The Tower Spirit activated Gold Level cannons, utilizing Gold Level Bombs, only managing to blast out a spiderweb of cracks on the Subspace Barrier. On the other side, the Subspace Cold Shadow giant regained its composure and charged again. The Deep Sea Monster Fish was forced into an entangled battle. After several exchanges, new wounds and dents shaped like fist marks were added to the Deep Sea Monster Fish, while the Subspace Cold Shadow giant was once again driven back by the sky-full of arrows. Seizing an opportunity, the Deep Sea Monster Fish bombarded the Subspace Barrier again with no significant effect. ¡°What do we do?¡± Inside the cabin, the Fishman youth was at a loss. The aura of the Subspace Cold Shadow giant reached the Holy Domain Level, beyond what he could handle. ¡°Should I use the Divine Light of Mei Lan?¡± The Fishman youth had a very bold idea in his heart, to hold onto the Divine Light of Mei Lan, dive into the Subspace Cold Shadow giant, and use the Divine Light to wreak havoc within. ¡°This is far too risky!¡± As the Fishman youth hesitated, a turning point arrived. Two of the Subspace Barriers shattered, linking three Subspaces together. The entities that breached the barriers were the incarnations of deities and the High Priest. Again, the High Priest on the Shell Divine Seat joined forces with the deity incarnation to launch a ferocious attack on Zhao Ya. Zhao Ya, hindered in movement, but surrounded by over a dozen Subspace Cold Shadows, big and small, fended off the incarnations and the High Priest, holding his ground. Meanwhile, he focused his primary efforts on the Subspace Cold Shadow giant. The frame of the Subspace Cold Shadow giant shrank, its power became incredibly dense, and its combat strength escalated significantly on its original basis. The situation for the Deep Sea Monster Fish grew increasingly dangerous and difficult. Its exterior had numerous deep gashes, deep enough to see the cabin inside from the outside. In the heat of battle, a ghost quickly slipped through a tear, thus entering the Deep Sea Monster Fish. ¡°I¡¯m in; I finally made it in,¡± the ghost was the ship ghost. Previously, he had been schemed against by Cang Xu, left only to clutch onto a Flesh and Blood Ice Sculpture and explosively sacrifice himself. But this, in fact, was his secret method for a desperate comeback from the brink of death! ¡°Old Zhong¡­ my ¡®dear¡¯ ¡®junior brother,¡¯ you¡¯ve deceived me so cruelly¡­¡± ¡°That Magic Book was clearly mine! The Magic Wand, Magic Robe, and that badge should have been my possessions too!¡± ¡°Very good, I will surely have my revenge.¡± ¡°I may have lost my body, but as long as my spirit remains, there¡¯s a chance for vengeance!¡± The ship ghost¡¯s spirit was difficult to detect, and after being betrayed by Cang Xu, he instantly saw Cang Xu madly tearing the Magic Book, employing various Undead Magic Spells. The Magic Book¡¯s features were so distinctive that he recognized it instantly as his own Magic Book. All truths were laid bare! The ship ghost¡¯s heart was filled with overwhelming hatred, but he also knew: now was not the time for revenge, being extremely weak, he needed to recuperate. He wanted to exit the battlefield but then the Deep Sea Monster Fish suddenly appeared. Following that, Zhao Ya deployed the Combat Skill Subspace Cold Shadow, entrapping both him and the Deep Sea Monster Fish in the same Subspace. Initially, the ship ghost had hidden far away, daring not to endure too much residual combat effects. But as the Deep Sea Monster Fish took more severe damage, he sensed the presence of the Soul Crystal. ¡°Soul Crystal! With the absorption of the Soul Crystal, I could quickly consolidate my spirit, regaining many abilities.¡± The ship ghost knew he could not sit idly by, so he took a gamble and really infiltrated the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Chapter 334 - 334: Section 121: What is the Divine Son Doing to His Goddess?! Chapter 334: Section 121: What is the Divine Son Doing to His Goddess?! The ship ghost floated swiftly forward through the cabin of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. All the cabin doors of the Deep Sea Monster Fish were tightly shut, but this did not hinder the ship ghost. ¡°Who would have thought this big fish turned out to be an Alchemy Ship!¡± ¡°The creator is incredibly skilled, the alchemy techniques are top-notch!¡± ¡°What a pity that even the imperial capital struggles to defend against Undead Magic, haha.¡± The ship ghost specialized in Undead Magic, doubled as a Desecration Priest, and also dabbled in alchemy. His greatest skill was crafting Soul Crystals, which he sold to satisfy his extensive need for resources for his own training. ... With his limited alchemy knowledge, he could sense the high-end nature of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. While shaking inside, he felt extremely fortunate and proud. Undead Magic, a newly emerging discipline, was hard to defend against with conventional means. The Deep Sea Monster Fish, despite being made by a War Merchant, lacked understanding of Undead Magic, thus allowing the ghost ship ghost to stealthily infiltrate without detection. This way, the ghost ship infiltrated deeper. ¡°We¡¯re close, getting closer, I can feel it¡­ there are several Soul Crystals hidden inside.¡± The ship ghost reached a cabin door. But this time, when he tried to pass through the door, he failed. ¡°Eh?¡± The ship ghost immediately began to look for another route, but to his disappointment, not only was the door well-defended, but the walls of the entire cabin were enveloped in powerful forces. ¡°This is power emanating from an Array¡­¡± the ship ghost studied for a while and became disheartened. ¡°It¡¯s not specifically targeted at me, but the level of this Array is very high. With my current strength, I simply cannot break through!¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± The ship ghost passed through other cabins, searching for vulnerabilities, but unfortunately found none. ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°The Soul Crystals are right here, but I¡¯m stuck at the final hurdle.¡± The ship ghost was infuriated. In the coveted cabin, the Array continued to operate, with the Green Jade Gold Coffin quietly positioned at its center. Inside the coffin, a beautiful young girl, Zi Di, lay in slumber. After some time, the ship ghost finally gave up. ¡°Forcing my way through won¡¯t work.¡± ¡°It seems I need to find the control valve that operates this cabin door.¡± ¡°Captain¡¯s quarters¡­¡± ¡°It must be in the Captain¡¯s quarters!¡± ¡°I must go there, risk another adventure¡­¡± The ship ghost began to search for the location of the Captain¡¯s room. He knew there were definitely people in the Captain¡¯s room, but there was no choice, he was worried that the Alchemy Ship couldn¡¯t hold out. Even with the Tower Spirit in control, the Deep Sea Monster Fish clearly couldn¡¯t withstand the Cold Shadow Giant. After all, the latter was at the Holy Domain Level. If it weren¡¯t for the Divine Incarnation and the High Priest heavily restraining Zhao Ya¡¯s physical form, the combat power of the Cold Shadow Giant would be even stronger. The Deep Sea Monster Fish tried its best to move around, using long-range attacks against the Cold Shadow Giant. If it came to close combat, the advantage of the Cold Shadow Giant was enormous, as evidenced by the breaks and dents on the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Zhao Ya furrowed his brows, the Cold Shadow Giant roared, and suddenly underwent a dramatic transformation. His arms stretched out fiercely, like a python shooting forth, wrapping around the unsuspecting Deep Sea Monster Fish. The Deep Sea Monster Fish struggled violently and easily broke free from the Cold Shadow Python. But in reality, this was exactly what the Cold Shadow Giant intended to do. The Cold Shadow Python shattered into over a dozen segments, each quickly transformed into individual Cold Shadow Claw Beasts. These humanoid Claw Beasts, running swiftly on all fours, were agile. Their hands and feet could morph into sharp, robust claws, making their attacks fierce. These dozen or so Cold Shadow Claw Beasts, through the breaches on the Deep Sea Monster Fish, drilled into the cabins, and began breaking through everywhere. At the same time, the significantly smaller Cold Shadow Giant continued to charge at the Deep Sea Monster Fish. For a moment, the Deep Sea Monster Fish found itself in a dire situation, only able to retreat steadily! Through several layers of Subspace Barriers, the Divine Incarnation vaguely saw this scene, extremely anxious, and immediately intensified the assault to its maximum, bombarding Zhao Ya¡¯s physical form with various Divine Arts, Spells, and Combat Skills. The High Priest lay down within the shell-shaped divine seat, her lower body already vanished, her waist and abdomen also gradually dissipating. This was the price of forcibly ascending to the divine seat. She collaborated with the Divine Incarnation, disregarding her own injuries, causing significant trouble for Zhao Ya. Zhao Ya sat cross-legged in Subspace, directing the lesser Cold Shadows around him, holding the fort. The longer the defense, the greater the loss; he sustained several bombardments. His injuries multiplied, his complexion turned a golden purple tone, with blood continuously flowing from the corners of his mouth, nostrils, and ears. Yet he chuckled lightly, his fighting spirit unyielding, ¡°The ultimate victor of this battle will be me!¡± Zhao Ya became increasingly confident as the battle progressed. Both parties were actually engaging in attacking where the enemy must rescue. However, the difference lay in the fact that this Subspace was temporarily created by him, giving him a substantial geographical advantage. Zhao Ya was actively employing the tactic of attacking where the enemy must rescue, specifically targeting Mei Lan¡¯s true form. But the Divine Incarnation and the High Priest were passively employing this tactic as they and the Fishman youth were far apart, separated by many Subspace Barriers. The structure of this Subspace was like a beehive. Zhao Ya, the Divine Incarnation, and the High Priest were all at the top, while the Cold Shadow Giant and the Deep Sea Monster Fish were at the bottom. Inside the Deep Sea Monster Fish, the Fishman youth was already facing a Cold Shadow Claw Beast. He had no choice, he had to come forward to fight, and he couldn¡¯t watch these clawed monsters damage the Deep Sea Monster Fish from within. But the combat skills of the Fishman youth inflicted very limited damage on the clawed monsters. And the Fishman youth could only mainly dodge the attacks of the clawed monsters. Each Cold Shadow Clawed Monster possessed Golden Level strength, and dealing with one was already a struggle for the Fishman youth. Now with more than a dozen clawed monsters breaching the Deep Sea Monster Fish, the disparity in combat power was too great. However, fortunately, there were some defensive measures within the Deep Sea Monster Fish. With these defensive measures, for the time being, the Cold Shadow Clawed Monsters couldn¡¯t reach the vital and core parts. But this was only temporary. The Deep Sea Monster Fish, although also at the Golden Level, was ultimately still an inanimate object. When the War Merchant originally created it, he hadn¡¯t focused on internal defenses. With legends like the War Merchant on this ship, who needed internal defenses? ¡°No choice, everything now relies on you, my lord!¡± The Fishman youth, driven to desperation, had to risk using the true body of Mei Lan he harbored. The Cold Shadow Clawed Monster attacked. This time, the Fishman youth did not dodge but instead charged in the opposite direction. In the moment of clashing, the Fishman youth bravely¡­ raised the Goddess Mei Lan in his hands. He used the Goddess Mei Lan as a shield. The claws of the Cold Shadow struck the divine body of the goddess but only sparked a faint ripple of rainbow light. The Fishman youth was unharmed, whereas the clawed monster withdrew its claws tremblingly. Its claws, originally ferocious and robust, had, upon the rebound of divine light, half completely vanished. Normally, a combat specialty of the Cold Shadow Clawed Monsters was to rapidly regenerate bodily losses. The cost was its own volume of shadow essence, which externally appeared as a reduction in size. However now, despite its efforts, the half-claw lost to the shock of divine light couldn¡¯t be regenerated. ¡°Good job, indeed worthy of my lord Mei Lan!¡± The Fishman youth¡¯s eyes glittered, and he became excited. He hadn¡¯t noticed that, at the moment of the claws striking the true body of the Goddess Mei Lan, the goddess grimaced severely. ¡°Although I am only Silver, unable to fight against the Golden Level monsters before me, in my hands lies a Goddess!¡± The Fishman youth saw hope in this desperate situation. He began his counterattack! As the clawed monster pounced, he easily blocked any assault using the goddess as a shield. ¡°What¡¯s going on with this guy?!¡± The ship ghost, attracted by the noise of the fierce battle, saw this and was dumbfounded. ¡°Isn¡¯t he a Divine Son?¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What is he doing to his goddess?!¡± Unbelievable! ¡°He is actually using the Goddess Mei Lan as a weapon!!!¡± The ship ghost was as if he had seen a ghost. ¡°Sinful to the heavens!¡± ¡°A massive betrayal!!!¡± ¡°Desecration, this is a great desecration to the deity!¡± ¡°How dare you?¡± ¡°Are you still a Divine Son?!¡± ¡°If the Fishmen outside see this, they¡¯ll tear you apart first!¡± The ship ghost was horrified; he was proud of being a part-time Desecration Priest, but at this moment, his pride shrunk to an all-time low. Because he had witnessed a man audaciously using a deity as a weapon! The Fishman youth didn¡¯t notice the ghost Ship Ghost; indeed, on the battlefield, neither did Zhao Ya notice the latter¡¯s presence. Because he was inside the Deep Sea Monster Fish and unseen by outsiders, the Fishman youth was unrestrained and grew increasingly fierce in the fight. The combat ability of the Cold Shadow Clawed Monster was mighty, but it lacked intelligence, following beast-like combat instincts instead. The attacks of the clawed monster on the goddess¡¯s body soon disabled it, without the ability to rapidly recover. Seizing the opportunity, the Fishman youth grabbed Mei Lan¡¯s fish tail with one hand and blocked her waist with the other, using the goddess¡¯s beautiful face like a long spear, stabbing fiercely at the clawed monster. The clawed monster was pierced through directly. It was a deadly strike! It screamed in agony and dissipated into nothingness. After achieving victory, the youth burst out laughing, unaware that at the moment the clawed monster was pierced, the goddess¡¯s corner of the eye twitched, showing a frown. The ship ghost, watching from the sidelines, noticed this subtle anomaly. ¡°This guy is playing with fire!¡± ¡°How easily can a deity be manipulated?¡± ¡°Though the Goddess Mei Lan is in poor shape, fallen into slumber, with such frequent stimulation, she will surely awaken quickly.¡± ¡°That slight change in expression was the clearest sign!¡± ¡°Finished! Finished!¡± ¡°Once the goddess awakens, the entirety of the seas might become a graveyard. I must withdraw before the goddess awakens and leave this place!¡± But to leave, the current state of the ship ghost was clearly inadequate. He needed to absorb a Soul Crystal first to stabilize his soul. ¡°Captain¡¯s cabin, captain¡¯s cabin¡­¡± The ship ghost mentally repeated, swiftly withdrawing, leaving behind the unforgettable Fishman youth, and began to focus on finding his own escape route. Chapter 335 - 335: Section 122: The Ship Ghosts Self-Rescue Chapter 335: Section 122: The Ship Ghost¡¯s Self-Rescue Three chill shadow claw monsters surrounded the Fishman youth. They let out simultaneous screeches, lunging at the youth from three different directions. Besieged, the youth just laughed coldly, undaunted. With one hand, he let go of Mei Lan¡¯s waist, tightly grasping the fishtail with both hands. He spun on the spot, using his feet as a pivot, and flung his arms out wide, swinging Mei Lan around with a whooshing sound, forming a large circle. Mei Lan¡¯s long hair was slung out to the forefront, and the seven-colored Divine Light from her body formed a huge light ring. Three Golden Level chill shadow claw monsters that brushed against the light ring were immediately knocked away without any suspense. ... The youth shifted his stance slightly, moving the light ring slowly and relentlessly pursuing the attack, cornering two chill shadow claw monsters against a wall and literally spinning them to death. The last claw monster tried to counterattack, leaping towards the youth¡¯s back. He moved swiftly upon hearing the sound, stepping forward to dodge the monster¡¯s lunge. Then, he spun in mid-air and yanked the fishtail, smashing Mei Lan down like a hammer. Mei Lan¡¯s back of the head hit the claw monster, killing it instantly. Then it smashed onto the hard metallic floor, creating a head-shaped deep pit. A twitch ran through the corner of Mei Lan¡¯s eye. Her upper body was almost embedded in the floor tiles, and hair spread out in all directions, resembling a mop. The Fishman youth quickly retracted Mei Lan and held her in his arms, ¡°Tower Spirit, where are there more intruders?¡± The Tower Spirit promptly replied, directing the youth. Holding Mei Lan with renewed confidence, the youth took the offensive. Relying on his divine body, he slaughtered the chill shadow claw monsters that had invaded the Deep Sea Monster Fish one by one. The youth was fierce and formidable, yet also feeling an anxious restlessness, ¡°I only have one last Pearl Bubble left, I must finish the battle quickly before it runs out. It¡¯s very likely that once the Pearl Bubble completely disappears, I won¡¯t be able to use the divine body like this.¡± According to the Fishman youth¡¯s analysis, the reasons he could touch Mei Lan without being harmed by the divine body were because of the Blood Core Mutation that altered his life form and due to the Faith Disguise of the Pearl Bubble. Both were crucial; lacking either, he wouldn¡¯t be recognized by the Goddess Mei Lan. Bang! The Deep Sea Monster Fish shook violently and couldn¡¯t move. Its fish mouth and tail were grasped by the chill shadow giant¡¯s hands. The chill shadow giant let out a thunderous roar as if to say, ¡°Finally caught you!¡± He tilted his head back, then used his forehead as a Siege Hammer, viciously ramming into one side of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Boom! The Deep Sea Monster Fish was solidly hit, shards of metal flew everywhere, and the sturdy alchemy frame buckled under the headbutt of the chill shadow giant, completely deforming. The chill shadow giant¡¯s entire face was smashed into the middle part of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. At this critical moment, the Fishman youth holding Mei Lan rushed over. The chill shadow giant opened its massive jaw and bit at the Fishman youth. ¡°My lord, it¡¯s up to you!¡± The youth felt the terrifying aura of the Holy Domain and promptly erected the Goddess in front of him. The Goddess acted like a pole, her head blocking the chill shadow giant¡¯s upper jaw, her tail propping up the lower jaw. ¡°Huff! Huff¡­¡± The Fishman youth gasped for air, his heart pounding, everything was too thrilling. The chill shadow giant couldn¡¯t bite down. Mei Lan might appear delicate in her divine form, but she was indestructible with Divine Light enveloping her. The chill shadow giant¡¯s mouth began to melt violently upon contact with the Divine Light. It roared again, bursting forth with a surge of pitch-black chill from its throat. Wuuu¡­ The billowing chill rolled out, as black as smoke, freezing everything. The Fishman youth was only silver, and if he fought alone in this black chill, he wouldn¡¯t last even a second. But his body was close to the Goddess, safe and unharmed thanks to the Divine Light. ¡°Truly worthy of being Mei Lan!¡± Suddenly, the youth¡¯s eyes widened. He noticed that the Divine Light on the goddess was rapidly fading. ¡°This is it!¡± The ship ghost was overjoyed, passing through the door and arriving in the captain¡¯s quarters. ¡°This is the captain¡¯s quarters, if I find that key control valve, I could¡­¡± The ship ghost was presented with numerous buttons of different colors and many control switches that moved up and down. ¡°Damn it¡­ which one is it?!¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, let¡¯s try this out!¡± The ship ghost knew time was of the essence, and to a certain extent, he understood the situation even more keenly than the Fishman youth. He knew Mei Lan might awaken at any moment, possibly the next. But for him to escape this place was incredibly difficult. The first step was to absorb the Soul Crystal to increase his own strength. The ship ghost tried pressing a few buttons. Only then did he reveal a trace of his presence. But he quickly froze in shock. As the ship ghost pressed the buttons, there was only one response; he heard the voice of the Tower Spirit: ¡°Detection of fish-shaped stern dismantling button activated, malfunction found, malfunction found, troubleshooting has been arranged at the end of the queue.¡± The ship ghost realized the situation, clasped his head with both hands, and roared in his mind, ¡°Why?!¡± ¡°Why does this alchemy ship still have a ship spirit?!¡± It wasn¡¯t actually a ship spirit but a Tower Spirit, the Central Tower spirit from the War Merchant¡¯s Alchemy Factory, which the youth had transferred over. Of course, the ship ghost was unaware of this precedent, but that did not stop him from realizing: the alchemy ship was under the control of a ship spirit, without the proper authority, he couldn¡¯t bypass the ship spirit to control the ship. ¡°Calm down! Calm down!¡± ¡°I still have the strength for one more strike, as long as I eliminate the ship spirit, I¡¯ll be able to control these valves and buttons.¡± The ghostly ship ghost forced himself to calm down as he began searching for the Tower Spirit¡¯s vessel throughout the Captain¡¯s cabin. He couldn¡¯t find it! A very ominous premonition arose in the ship ghost¡¯s heart, ¡°Could it be that the Tower Spirit¡¯s vessel is hidden inside that chamber?¡± To enter that mysterious chamber, he needed to open the door. To open the door, he had to press the valves. And to press the valves, he needed to eliminate the Tower Spirit. To eliminate the Tower Spirit, he had to find the vessel, to deal a fatal blow. But the vessel might very well be inside the mysterious chamber. ¡°Damn it¡­ I¡¯m going to be pissed to death!¡± Although he had already died. He found himself trapped in a vicious cycle. ¡°Am I doomed today?!¡± After trying for a long time, the rage in the ghostly ship ghost¡¯s heart gradually subsided, replaced by panic and despair. Boom! Another tremor. The ghostly ship ghost floated in mid-air, yet motionless. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ever since he had entered the Captain¡¯s cabin, such tremors had been occurring continuously, and the Tower Spirit kept reporting damages from various parts of the ship, which he had grown accustomed to. ¡°Wait, what did I just hear?¡± The ship ghost suddenly snapped to attention. ¡°The hull of the first Core Cabin has been breached?¡± ¡°Could it be that cabin?¡± Clinging to this single hope, the ghostly ship ghost immediately darted out of the Captain¡¯s cabin, through the corridor, and quickly arrived at the first Core Cabin. ¡°Hahaha!¡± He found the first Core Cabin, exactly the one he wanted to sneak into, and it was already damaged, forming a large hole. ¡°There¡¯s still hope, I still have a chance to escape from here!¡± Just as the ship ghost was about to crawl into the cabin, with a loud bang, the Fishman youth holding the Goddess crashed into it first. Two Golden Level Cold Shadow Claw monsters, closely followed and entered the fray. The Fishman youth kept retreating, using the Mei Lan Goddess as a shield to fend off the formidable enemies. The ghostly ship ghost looked on for a moment, and panic struck him even harder. He noticed that the layer of Seven-Colored Divine Light on the surface of the Mei Lan Goddess¡¯s divine body had dimmed significantly. The defense of the divine body was rapidly weakening. And the Goddess was starting to get injured in the fierce battle! Her forehead, due to being used as a spearhead too many times, was already bruised. Her cheeks were also somewhat swollen. The fair and delicate waist even started to redden. The Goddess¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, and the corners of her eyes stood upright, revealing a surge of anger! The ship ghost was terrified, and he wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the Goddess woke up the next moment. ¡°This Fishman is too brazen, too terrifying!¡± The ship ghost felt as though he were walking a tightrope at the edge of a cliff. ¡°I must act in the blink of an eye!!¡± The ship ghost rushed into the cabin as well. A shock of astonishment hit him once again. He saw the still-maintained magnificent Array and even the core Divine Artifact within it. A Gold Coffin with sides inlaid with Green Jade carvings, outlined with silver. The reliefs depicted elegantly undulating serpent bodies and magnificent, broad wings. ¡°Could this be the Green Jade Gold Coffin? The Divine Artifact of the Feathered Snake?¡± Such artifacts were extremely rare, and with the ship ghost¡¯s knowledge, he immediately recognized it. ¡°There is actually a Divine Artifact hidden here!! What exactly is the background of this Fishman Divine Son? Could it truly be an arrangement of the Mei Lan Goddess?¡± For a while, the ship ghost was filled with confusion. Why would ¡°junior brother¡± help this Fishman youth? How did they discover his deep sea chamber and take out all of his treasures in one go? And this Fishman was also very strange, although recognized as the Divine Son, his attitude towards the Mei Lan Goddess was surely more sacrilegious than that of a Desecration Priest! Thump thump thump¡­ In the ongoing battle, the Fishman youth, holding the Mei Lan Goddess, continued to retreat. Although the youth had killed one of the Cold Shadow Claw monsters, another one joined, still maintaining the number at two. It would have been fine elsewhere, but here, the youth had to protect Zi Di within the Green Jade Gold Coffin at all costs, which somewhat restricted him and forced him to adopt a rigid defensive stance, falling into a disadvantage. ¡°Tower Spirit, shut down the Array!¡± the youth roared. The Array immediately shut down, and soon, the youth retreated to the edge of the Array. His fight with the Cold Shadow Claw monsters affected the Array, causing a large portion of its edge to be destroyed. Luckily, he shut down the Array beforehand; otherwise, a functioning Array damaged could lead to Magic Power chaos, causing the Array to collapse or even explode, which would inflict even greater harm on the youth. ¡°Good opportunity!¡± Without the Array in the way, the ghostly ship ghost immediately shot in, flying above the Green Jade Gold Coffin. In the next moment, he saw the slumbering Zi Di and also the twelve frescoes depicted with black lines on the inner walls of the coffin. The frescoes illustrated the various tales of the Feathered Snake God. The ship ghost was certain about the Green Jade Gold Coffin, and at the same time, he was overjoyed: ¡°How could there be so many Soul Crystals?¡± Chapter 336 - 336: Section 123: Feathered Snake Spirit?! Chapter 336: Section 123: Feathered Snake Spirit?! The ship ghost discovered a massive amount of Soul Crystals, almost entirely covering Zi Di¡¯s layer, resembling a rich array of burial offerings. Although he had sensed the presence of Soul Crystals before, they were separated by many layers. The first layer was the Green Jade Gold Coffin itself, the second layer was an Array, and the third layer was the core cabin. Thus, the ship ghost initially thought there were only a few Soul Crystals; he never expected their actual number to be so substantial! ¡°As long as I absorb these Soul Crystals, I can fully recover and regain Silver Level combat power.¡± ¡°I am saved!¡± The ship ghost plunged into the coffin and began absorbing the Soul Crystals voraciously. ... During this process, he did not show himself. The Fishman youth was engaged in intense combat and completely unaware that the Soul Crystals inside the coffin were rapidly depleting. The Tower Spirit had deactivated the Array and also did not detect this anomaly. The ship ghost¡¯s strength began to recover swiftly. However, a dozen seconds later, the Fishman youth was thrown back, slamming into the Green Jade Gold Coffin and spitting out a large mouthful of fresh blood. The Divine Light on Mei Lan had dimmed more than before, weakening as it contended with the cold shadow claw monster. The youth fought with difficulty, his strong willpower supporting him up to his limits. A cold shadow claw monster silently approached another layer of the Green Jade Gold Coffin, stealthily leaped, and was about to claw open the youth¡¯s head. The Fishman youth felt dizzy and did not notice the fatal attack. ¡°Damn it!¡± The ship ghost specter had been closely observing the situation. He couldn¡¯t let the Fishman youth be defeated; if the latter died, the Goddess Mei Lan might awaken immediately, which would be a disaster for the ship ghost. The ship ghost had no choice but to act. Reluctantly parting from the Soul Crystals, his entire spectral body pounced into the cold shadow claw monster. The cold shadow claw monster was immediately affected, a wild force of Undead wreaking havoc inside it, slowing its movements instantly. He bought critical time; the Fishman youth finally reacted, performed a forward roll to dodge the claw aimed at the back of his head, and got back up to continue fighting. The ship ghost specter floated out again. ¡°I can¡¯t hold on any longer¡­¡± To stop the cold shadow claw monster, he had made an extreme effort. Though adversarial with the Fishman youth, the situation forced him to fight desperately! The cold shadow claw monster was of the Golden Level, and the ship ghost, once Silver Level, had weakened after death. Despite absorbing some Soul Crystals, he was still no match for the cold shadow claw monster. Had the cold shadow claw monster not been bent solely on killing the Fishman youth and lacked intelligence, the ship ghost specter would certainly have been targeted by the cold energy within it and obliterated. The ship ghost¡¯s condition was extremely dire; he could hardly maintain his form, looking like a dissipating flame. Seeing the Fishman youth entangled again with the cold shadow claw monster, he immediately plunged back into the Green Jade Gold Coffin. However, this time, after absorbing a bit of the Soul Crystals, he quickly stopped automatically. ¡°It¡¯s not working!¡± ¡°My current state is too weak; the power of the Soul Crystals exceeds my capacity to withstand and consume.¡± In the terms of herbalists, it was a case of being too weak to benefit from nourishment. But at this time, although the ship ghost felt downhearted, he was not panicked. He had anticipated this situation and had a contingency plan prepared. That was to enter the body of the girl in front of him, Zi Di, devour her soul, and take over! ¡°My soul, having been trained in Undead Magic, is much stronger than a Black Iron Mage.¡± ¡°Even now very weak, I can still use my soul¡¯s devouring instinct to consume her.¡± ¡°Hehehe, being placed here by the Fishman Divine Son, this girl must be very important to him!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll start by killing your most important person as a ¡®thank you¡¯ to you.¡± With overwhelming murderous intent, the spectral ship ghost quickly sank into Zi Di. The next moment, he immersed himself into a deep and dark space. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Is this the Realm of the Soul?¡± ¡°A Black Iron Mage can construct a Realm of the Soul?¡± ¡°I see!¡± The ship ghost¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up as he spotted Zi Di¡¯s soul. The girl¡¯s soul was curled up, with her eyes closed tightly. She was sleeping but showed a face filled with confusion, fear, and despair, appearing utterly vulnerable like an infant. The ship ghost burst into laughter, diving down, about to devour Zi Di¡¯s soul. But the next moment, he experienced an intense chill down his spine! ¡°Strange¡­ Her Realm of the Soul is too vast, and¡­ there seems to be another presence here!¡± He suddenly looked up. In the next instant, the ship ghost was horrified almost to the point of losing his form! He saw an immense green snake. The snake¡¯s body was so huge, with the spectral ship ghost compared to it, he was like an ant gazing up at a blue whale! The green snake was colossal and emitted a divine aura, boundless and commanding. The ship ghost, as if completely frozen, stuttered, ¡°Feathered, Feathered Snake God?!¡± The Fishman youth was severely injured. Despite having the Goddess Mei Lan as a weapon and armor, he was merely Silver Level and thus suffered many wounds in combat. His wounds had turned a frosty blue-purple, with cold seeping from them into his limbs, slowing his movements even more. His physical ability had completely drained, and he was merely persisting on willpower. Squelch. A soft sound, as a disfigured cold shadow claw monster viciously plunged its claw into the Fishman youth¡¯s waist. The Fishman youth immediately knelt, the cold surging within him, preventing him from standing. ¡°Damn it!¡± Just as the young Fishman thought he was going to die, the chilling claw monster suddenly dissipated. Not just that, even the chilling giant that had been tormenting the Deep Sea Monster Fish vanished like the wind. Crack, crack¡­ A massive amount of spatial walls cracked, deepened immediately and collapsed one after another. Zhao Ya was spitting blood incessantly. He had reached his limit. In fact, he had been enduring a bombardment from the incarnation of the divine and the High Priest all along. He originally intended to directly target the Goddess Mei Lan, while using himself to restrain the divine incarnation and the High Priest, but he never expected the Fishman youth to hold out for so long! Zhao Ya had invested most of his energy in dealing with the Deep Sea Monster Fish, but to no avail! Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡­ Accompanied by the rupture of the spatial walls, massive amounts of seawater rushed in. In just a few breaths, the small holes in the spatial walls were blown into even larger gaps. ¡°We¡¯re saved!¡± ¡°Quick, get out!!¡± The trapped Fishmen and pirates were overjoyed; some sprinted toward the ruptured spatial walls, others rushed to their own ships. The Divine Officers of the Charming Blue Divine Sect, the devout Believers, and members of the Justice Pirate Group, led by Cang Xu, approached the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Through the huge hole in the belly of the Deep Sea Monster Fish, the collapsed Fishman youth saw the changes on the battlefield. He felt extremely relieved. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had been a close call just moments before. Had it been a few seconds later, he would have faced death. ¡°Tower Spirit, quickly repair the breach in the hull and assist the crew of this ship.¡± After issuing this hurried command, the Fishman youth heard a soft ¡°hm.¡± It was as if he had been struck by an electric shock; his heart nearly leapt out of his throat. That pained moan had come from Goddess Mei Lan. When the youth looked at the Goddess again, he immediately noticed numerous abrasions and wear on her body. Her brow was furrowed, her eyelashes trembling¡ªshe seemed about to awaken! ¡°No, she must not awake.¡± ¡°But¡­ what to do?!¡± The youth couldn¡¯t help but panic at this moment. He didn¡¯t have a High Priest by his side to soothe the Goddess, and he himself was just an impostor as a Divine Son. Suddenly, a glimmer of an idea flashed through the youth¡¯s mind. ¡°Put the Goddess into the Green Jade Gold Coffin to repair her divine body.¡± Though he had no assurance, the situation was urgent and he had to act regardless. ¡°I¡¯m doomed!¡± the ship ghost mourned in his heart. In Zi Di¡¯s Spiritual Space, the ship ghost looked up at the Feathered Snake God¡¯s vast divine spirit, which loomed large overhead, giving him a strong sense of shock and suffocation. It took a while for the ship ghost to come to grips with the situation, seeing the Feathered Snake God¡¯s silent, dull-eyed divine spirit. His practice involved the Undead sect, and he was also a Desecration Priest, profoundly skilled with spirits. He quickly grasped the sequence of events. ¡°This girl¡¯s spirit has suffered severe damage; there are signs of her being forcibly awakened by Undead Magic, likely the doing of a fellow apprentice of mine.¡± ¡°To save the girl¡¯s spirit, she was placed in the Green Jade Gold Coffin to absorb a Soul Crystal and recover her spirit.¡± ¡°However, they failed to realize that the divine spirit of the Feathered Snake was also hidden inside the Green Jade Gold Coffin!¡± ¡°The Soul Crystal was largely expended, seemingly absorbed by the girl¡¯s spirit, but in actuality, it was intercepted by the Feathered Snake God.¡± ¡°The Green Jade Gold Coffin¡­ it¡¯s rumored that the Feathered Snake God could resurrect in this coffin.¡± The ship ghost gradually calmed down, thinking more and more. ¡°The divine spirit of the Feathered Snake God isn¡¯t complete; it¡¯s missing a pair of wings, currently only a serpent body exists.¡± ¡°Perhaps, the coffin contains its wings!¡± ¡°According to the Feathered Snake God¡¯s plan, Its divine spirit is hidden in the coffin, continually receiving faith to form divine power, slowly recuperating.¡± ¡°But the Charming Blue Divine Sect was struck so hard, It received very little faith.¡± ¡°Soul Crystals are very beneficial to It; It thus created a Spiritual Space, hiding in the girl¡¯s Spiritual Space, intercepting Soul Crystals to continuously recover itself!¡± When Feathered Snake God was healthy, there was no Undead sect. You Can stole the secrets of the divine, studied the Soul Skill, and ultimately created the Undead sect. Soul Crystals, a specialty of the Undead sect, are effectively potent for the Feathered Snake God¡¯s divine spirit, not surprisingly. ¡°That Fishman intended to save this girl by setting up a Soul Crystal absorption Array, targeted only at the girl.¡± ¡°So, the divine spirit of the Feathered Snake had to create a Spiritual Space and hide in it to benefit from the Array!¡± The ship ghost felt overwhelmed! Self-rescue was too difficult. He got stuck again. He had to devour the girl¡¯s spirit, which would certainly awaken the Feathered Snake God¡¯s divine spirit. The divine spirit wouldn¡¯t let him do so, as preserving the girl¡¯s spirit was key to its covert recuperation! ¡°What exactly is this group up to, not enough with provoking one god, they provoke a second one! Are they courting death?!¡± The ship ghost was utterly speechless at the Fishman youth and Cang Xu¡¯s group. ¡°This is too hard!¡± Right now, the ship ghost wanted to leave, but couldn¡¯t. His state was too weak. ¡°Had I known this, why did I block that chilling claw monster? Let that Fishman die, just hurry up and die!¡± With a chest full of grief and despair, the ship ghost exited Zi Di¡¯s Spiritual Space and observed the external battle situation once more. ¡°Oh my God!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t do it!¡± The next moment, he screamed. But unfortunately, his current state of existence meant the Fishman youth couldn¡¯t hear him. The Fishman youth took Zi Di out of the coffin, then placed Goddess Mei Lan inside. ¡°It¡¯s over!!¡± The ship ghost¡¯s vision darkened, his unstable ghostly body about to collapse. Chapter 337 - 337: Section 124: Zi Di Awakens (Part 1) Chapter 337: Section 124: Zi Di Awakens (Part 1) The Fishman youth knew nothing about the Feathered Snake spirit. After placing the Mei Lan Goddess in the Green Jade Gold Coffin, he gave the command, ¡°Tower Spirit, activate the Jade Liquid Array.¡± The scene of healing Zi Di reoccurred, with mana rapidly depleting from the mana pool of the Deep Sea Monster Fish, sketching a three-dimensional Alchemy Array in mid-air. The Array radiated light, brilliantly dazzling. At the heart of the Array naturally lay the Green Jade Gold Coffin, and swiftly, a layer of green jade liquid materialized within the coffining. The jade liquid rose swiftly, multiplying continually until it covered the Mei Lan Goddess. ... Mei Lan¡¯s previously furrowed brow gradually smoothed out, and her scratches and bruises also dissipated quickly under the effect of the jade liquid. Having received treatment, her eyelashes no longer trembled slightly as before, and her breath also calmed and steadied. Seeing this, the Fishman youth exhaled a breath of turbid air and relaxed slightly, ¡°Good, my attempt has been successful!¡± At the moment the Fishman placed Mei Lan into the coffin, the ship ghost was cold all over, at a complete loss. But after a few breaths, the ghost had not heard the roar of a deity, ¡°Eh?¡± He bravely lifted his eyes and saw that the expression of the Mei Lan Goddess within the coffin seemed relieved. ¡°This Array is quite powerful! It can use the Green Jade Gold Coffin without relying on divine power. Of course, it can¡¯t fully harness the power of this Divine Artifact.¡± The ghost sincerely admired, and just then, the coffin began to shake, and at the same time, the expression of Mei Lan shifted from relaxation to tension and anger. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± the ship ghost¡¯s heart quivered fiercely. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The Fishman youth was also very puzzled, ¡°Tower Spirit?¡± The Tower Spirit gave no response. The Fishman youth was not surprised; the Tower Spirit had been damaged quite a bit since moving from Mysterious Monster Island and worked sporadically. Moreover, the youth¡¯s access was very limited. The coffin shook violently, the shaking amplitude increasing. The Fishman youth instinctively braced the coffin with his hands, uncertain, ¡°Could it be that the Alchemy Array has been damaged somehow?¡± The ghost fell into endless fear, ¡°It¡¯s awakening, coming out, coming out!¡± The Mei Lan Goddess was about to awaken! What was more terrifying, a second divine soul might emerge from the body of the girl separated from the coffin. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± ¡°I¡¯m doomed!!¡± When the ghost was resigned, the shaking of the coffin suddenly stopped and once again became calm. The ghost: ¡­ The Fishman youth breathed a sigh of relief, although he hadn¡¯t identified the cause, the current sign was clearly a good one. The form of the ghost dissipated a bit more. This was too torturous! No, too torturous for a ghost. The ghost was full of resentment in his heart¡ªalways in limbo, if death was coming, at least let it be quick. But the Green Jade Gold Coffin did indeed calm down. ¡°Strange, so strange¡­¡± ¡°Mei Lan has not awakened, and the Feathered Snake spirit has not appeared?¡± The ghost glanced at the Green Jade Gold Coffin and then turned his attention to the girl, Zi Di. Both were completely still. A thought struck like lightning through the ghost¡¯s mind. He shivered all over, entertaining a possibility, ¡°Could it be¡­¡± ¡°The Feathered Snake spirit didn¡¯t stay in the girl¡¯s Spiritual Space but remained hidden in the Green Jade Gold Coffin?¡± ¡°This Fishman Divine Son putting Mei Lan in the coffin caused a confrontation between the Feathered Snake soul and the Mei Lan soul?¡± ¡°And after these two divine souls competed, they found each other difficult to deal with and entered into a standoff?¡± The more the ghost pondered, the higher the possibility seemed. Thinking about it, Zi Di was just at Black Iron Level, and even if her Spiritual Space was vast, it wasn¡¯t safe for a divine spirit to hide in. Only tucked away within a Divine Artifact would be secretive and stable. ¡°The Feathered Snake God had long perished, and the Mei Lan God was almost in the same state, the strengths of their souls being very close. Precisely because of this, they ended up in a standoff. The violent shaking and quick stabilization of the Green Jade Gold Coffin just now were due to this reason!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After understanding, the ghost almost broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°That was too close!¡± ¡°This Fishman really stepped in luck, unwittingly neutralizing the great risks of these two deities.¡± ¡°Wait, in that case, doesn¡¯t that mean the girl is¡­¡± The ghost became excited. He thought hard and finally grasped the key issue. No choice, his current state was too poor, he couldn¡¯t even keep his form stable, like a candle flickering in the wind. Even prolonged thinking could hasten his demise. He was weakened to the extreme, verging on unconsciousness. The Soul Crystal was unusable, he could only devour the spirits of others to overcome this life-and-death threshold. The ship ghost no longer hesitated and floated tremblingly into the girl¡¯s body, entering once again into her Realm of the Soul. Soon, the ghostly ship ghost again found the girl¡¯s soul, still curled up and sleeping soundly. ¡°The Feathered Snake God¡¯s soul really isn¡¯t here¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m about to give out¡­¡± The ship ghost felt he was nearly losing consciousness. He mustered all his strength and slowly floated up to the edge of the girl¡¯s soul, now nothing more than a ghostly core resembling a wisp of breath. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter, as long as I touch this soul, even if I pass out next, I can consume it by instinct!¡± ¡°This is the beauty of practicing Undead Magic, haha!¡± ¡°What¡¯s even better is that this girl has been comatose all along, so when I devour her soul, I¡¯ll surely go undetected.¡± ¡°No, Old Zhong might notice¡­ if he enters this Spiritual Space¡­¡± ¡°But in my current state, alas, there is no other way, I can only take a gamble.¡± ¡°Ah, such a delectable soul¡­¡± With a gentle sigh, the ghostly ship ghost officially made contact with the girl Zi Di¡¯s soul. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± In the next moment, the ship ghost screamed in agony. ¡°How can this be?!¡± He discovered to his utter horror that instead of consuming the girl, he was being consumed by her. ¡°This familiar aura fluctuation, and this instinct¡­¡± ¡°She, she¡¯s also practiced Undead Magic!!¡± ¡°No, no!¡± ¡°Undead Mages are hunted by almost all forces, they are not tolerated by the world. How could she happen to have practiced this spell?!¡± ¡°I so hate this, I can¡¯t accept it!¡± ¡°I just can¡¯t accept it!!¡± Amidst his agonizing cries, the ghostly ship ghost was completely devoured by the girl¡¯s soul, vanishing into obscurity. In the end, his own path to salvation brought him the true fatal blow! Zi Di¡¯s eyelids twitched slightly. The Fishman youth caught his breath for a long while, recovering his strength. He was unaware that on the level of the soul, a heart-pounding struggle had taken place. After temporarily settling Mei Lan¡¯s godhood, the Fishman youth immediately helped the Tower Spirit repair the breach in the Deep Sea Monster Fish. The Deep Sea Monster Fish was equipped with Alchemy Puppets for repairs. Although the hole was large, emergency repairs had managed to patch it up roughly. The sea had flooded the space, but the Deep Sea Monster Fish was not leaking. However, the repaired area had very weak defensive power and needed focused protection. The Fishman youth returned to the Captain¡¯s Cabin and began operating the Alchemy Ship to rescue others scattered about. This subspace continued to collapse, making it quite easy for the youth to bring Cang Xu, Zong Ge, and others back on board. On another front, the showdown between Zhao Ya and the incarnate deity and the High Priest was reaching its climax. Under Zhao Ya¡¯s aggressive offense, the High Priest was utterly vanquished, leaving behind nothing but an empty shell of a divine throne. And facing the High Priest¡¯s last-ditch counterattack, Zhao Ya paid a heavy toll. Seizing the moment, the divine incarnation struck at the spatial wall, forcibly opening a crack in front of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. ¡°He¡¯s helping us! Let¡¯s get out of here!¡± Cang Xu, seeing this, immediately suggested to the Fishman youth. Taking a deep breath, the Fishman youth steered the Monster Fish out of the immense rupture, narrowly brushing past the divine incarnation. A multitude of Fishman, pirates, Naga, and others also took advantage of this opening, braving the violent currents to escape outside. Seeing the Deep Sea Monster Fish departing, Zhao Ya, despite being exhausted, attacked the divine incarnation once more. The divine incarnation could only abandon the opening and engage in fierce combat with Zhao Ya. Without the divine incarnation¡¯s support, the sole exit to the outside world began to shrink rapidly until it sealed completely. Such a high-level battle was not something the Justice Pirate Group could directly interfere with. Upon leaving the subspace, the Deep Sea Monster Fish plunged into the boundless sea. Under the Fishman youth¡¯s orders, the Alchemy Submarine went full throttle, activating its maximum speed, to quickly leave the deep sea area. ¡°We made it out!¡± the members of the Justice Pirate Group cheered. The Dragon-man youth returned to the Core Cabin to check on the situation. Seeing the Mei Lan Goddess in the coffin, he had a complicated expression: ¡°The Pearl Bubble has been completely exhausted.¡± ¡°The Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale hasn¡¯t received a replenishment of Divine Power, but this shouldn¡¯t be considered a failure.¡± ¡°Because we¡¯ve brought back the Mei Lan Goddess directly¡­¡± Seeing the Goddess¡¯s body unharmed, the Dragon-man youth reached into the coffin, intending to lift her out to replace her with Zi Di. ¡°Don¡¯t do that!¡± a voice suddenly rang out. Startled, then overjoyed, the youth exclaimed, ¡°Zi Di, you¡¯re awake!¡± Chapter 338 03-25 - 338: Section 125: Zi Di Awakens (Part 2) Chapter 338: Section 125: Zi Di Awakens (Part 2) Since the incident on Mysterious Monster Island, Zi Di had been in a deep slumber, unresponsive. To awaken Zi Di, the young man led the survivors in a determined effort to retrieve the Green Jade Gold Coffin. Aboard the Deep Sea Monster Fish, they successfully arranged the Jade Liquid Magic Array using the Green Jade Gold Coffin as the core. However, even with the Jade Liquid mending her bodily wounds, there was no sign of Zi Di waking up, and the young man was perplexed and at a loss. But he never gave up on awakening Zi Di. He joined the Empire as a pirate, partly with the intention of using Empire channels to exchange for rare items that might awaken the girl. Even when facing the bishop of the Life Sect, the young man contemplated seeking assistance. But Zi Di awakening at this time was beyond the young man¡¯s expectations. ¡°My lord,¡± Zi Di called out softly to the young man, staggering, bracing herself against the wall to stand somewhat steadily. Having just woken up, her face was pale, her brow furrowed, and her condition seemed dire, yet she stressed, ¡°Never take Mei Lan, the Goddess, out of the Green Jade Gold Coffin!¡± ¡°Zi Di,¡± the young man immediately set the Goddess Mei Lan aside, hurried forward, and took hold of the girl¡¯s arm. Staring into the girl¡¯s purple crystal-like eyes, the young man asked with concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? How can I help you?¡± But Zi Di merely groaned and collapsed into the young man¡¯s arms, unable to support herself. Her eyes lost focus, as countless memories flashed frantically through her mind. These were the memories of the ship ghost from its life before. It turned out that Zi Di had practiced Undead Magic and her spirit naturally possessed the instinct to devour other spirits. The state of the ghostly ship ghost was terrible, and upon contact with her spirit, not only did it fail to devour the girl¡¯s spirit, but it was instead devoured by her spirit. The reason Zi Di remained unconscious was due to a spiritual injury. Treating and resting with a Soul Crystal was indeed the correct approach. However, the Feathered Snake spirit inside the Green Jade Gold Coffin interfered, siphoning off almost all of the Soul Crystal¡¯s power, causing Zi Di to remain comatose. But after devouring the soul of the ghostly ship ghost, Zi Di¡¯s spirit suddenly received a tremendous boost and she immediately woke up. However, soul-devouring was not the same as a Soul Crystal. A Soul Crystal is a refined and purified crystal of a soul, very exquisite and pure. Soul-devouring not only brought a sudden increase in spiritual foundation but also a torrent of memories. These memories, like waves of continuous tides, washed over the girl¡¯s heart. Before long, Zi Di lapsed into unconsciousness again. After a long time, she slowly came to. ¡°You¡¯re awake! Zi Di,¡± said the young man, joyously watching over her. Upon seeing the young man, Zi Di immediately felt a surge of intense safety and warmth. Beside the young man stood Cang Xu. Cang Xu smiled at her, ¡°Who would have thought that the ship ghost would transform into a ghost and, by a twist of fate, became the catalyst for Miss Zi Di¡¯s awakening.¡± ¡°At the time on the battlefield, when he chose to self-destruct, I had my doubts, and even used Undead Magic to investigate. Unfortunately, the situation was too urgent for a thorough investigation.¡± ¡°Now it seems, the ship ghost¡¯s understanding of Undead Magic far exceeds my own.¡± Zi Di nodded to him. It was Cang Xu who revealed his identity during the final moments on Mysterious Monster Island and used Undead Magic to assist her, allowing everyone to be saved. Her enchanting eyes turned to the young man, slowly disclosing the grave risks within the Green Jade Gold Coffin and the Goddess Mei Lan. After hearing this, both the young man and the Undead Mage broke into a cold sweat. ¡°I had no idea how perilous the situation was behind the scenes!¡± exclaimed the young man. ¡°We are incredibly lucky; there was a standoff between the two deities. Otherwise, any one of them could have spelled certain death for us,¡± Cang Xu said, visibly shaken. The core cabin gradually fell into silence. The faces of the three were not looking good. These two divine beings were right beside them, like two bombs, ready to explode at any moment. Once they did, there would be no escape. The gap in strength between them was just too great! ¡°Our troubles have grown even larger,¡± the youth sighed, breaking the silence. Frankly, he had never wanted to bring back a goddess. But as circumstances unfolded in such a way, he could only go with the flow, which led to this situation. The youth did not regret it; simply by the awakening of Zi Di, he would never feel regret. He just felt an immense headache because he did not know how to handle the issue. Cang Xu also sighed, ¡°Our situation is very bad! First, we have completely run out of Pearl Bubble, and we can¡¯t defend against others¡¯ Divination and predictive spells. Second, the commotion caused by Sea Eye City this time will definitely provoke a fierce reaction from various forces, and we will become a target for major powers. Lastly, concerning the divine beings¡­ they are completely beyond our capacity.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Zi Di said with a worried look on her face, ¡°We are powerless to eradicate Them. For now, it seems we can only leave things be and let Them continue their standoff.¡± The youth had a thought, ¡°Could my Blood Core be effective against divine beings?¡± He had absorbed a Blood Core on Mysterious Monster Island, which allowed him to devour the Legendary King of Flame Dragon. Now, he had found another Blood Core within the chest of Mei Lan¡¯s God and absorbed it. Logically, with the Blood Core now stronger, could it be used against divine beings? Immediately, the youth suppressed this speculation in his heart. ¡°When I initially absorbed the King of Flame Dragon, it was because it was trapped and immobilized by the War Merchant¡¯s Alchemy Array. Otherwise, I would have been killed by the King of Flame Dragon right at the start of the absorption. And now, these two divine beings are not immobile.¡± ¡°Moreover, even if the Blood Core in my heart could be effective against divine beings, I cannot kill Mei Lan¡¯s God.¡± Once Mei Lan¡¯s God fell completely, who else could provide Divine Power for Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale? ¡°As for the soul of the Feathered Snake¡­ after all, it is a spirit; can my Blood Core absorb it?¡± The youth was highly skeptical about this. If he kept Mei Lan¡¯s God, then he had to keep the soul of the Feathered Snake. Because only with both gods in a stand-off could he maintain the current situation. Leaving just one would be asking for death. As he pondered, Lan Zao¡¯s voice came from outside the cabin door, ¡°Captain, we¡¯ve just discovered a group of Fishmen pursuing us.¡± ¡°Fishmen?¡± The youth frowned slightly, ¡°I¡¯ll go check out the situation.¡± The three left the core cabin together. Arriving in the captain¡¯s room, they received more intelligence from the Tower Spirit. ¡°Most are Fishmen from Sea Eye City¡­¡± the youth sighed inwardly. Cang Xu coldly suggested, ¡°Ignorant fools, just kill them all. They¡¯re desperately chasing us for Mei Lan¡¯s God.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± the youth shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s better if we just shake them off. After all, they are believers of Mei Lan¡¯s God, and our goddess needs Faith.¡± Cang Xu nodded, accepting the reasoning. A god requires Faith; the more Faith, the stronger the Divine Power. The Justice Pirate Group needed Mei Lan¡¯s Divine Power. Shortly after leaving the Sky Pillar of Sea Eye, the Justice Pirate Group had suffered heavy casualties and were utterly exhausted, yet everyone was on high alert. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Pearl Bubble had been completely exhausted. The situation had become very tense. Cang Xu suggested directly, ¡°Captain, according to our maximum sailing speed, the nearest Imperial Harbor is only a three-day journey from us. I strongly recommend that we rest and recover!¡± ¡°Imperial Harbor?¡± Zi Di was slightly surprised. Chapter 339 03-25 - 339: Section 126: Captains Inspection Chapter 339: Section 126: Captain¡¯s Inspection Zi Di had been in deep slumber for quite some time and was oblivious to many matters. She was well aware: after surviving the ordeal on Mysterious Monster Island, they were no longer welcome in the Empire. She was naturally astonished upon hearing that they were to enter the Empire¡¯s secret harbor for supplies. Instantly, the youth informed Zi Di of the major and minor incidents that had occurred. After hearing a few words, Zi Di was visibly moved. Cang Xu advised, ¡°Captain, we should continue this conversation as we move. You haven¡¯t made a public appearance in a long time.¡± ¡°Yes, I should inspect. It¡¯s my duty as captain!¡± the youth accepted Cang Xu¡¯s good suggestion and then looked at Zi Di, ¡°And let you see our current crew members.¡± ¡°That would be advisable,¡± Zi Di nodded, pondering, ¡°but perhaps I should stay disguised.¡± After all, Zi Di was the Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, a role with extensive ties. If her identity were revealed, the remaining Purple Vine Guild would undoubtedly suffer a fatal blow. Shortly thereafter, the trio left the Core Cabin. The damaged section of the Core Cabin had been repaired. ¡°This cabin, no, this entire area must be heavily guarded and off-limits to others,¡± the youth said gravely. Zi Di had already donned a mask, ¡°No amount of increased defense would be excessive. However, I suggest minimizing live guards. We should utilize the Tower Spirit to create some Alchemy Puppets. I know that War Merchants have a vast collection of puppet blueprints, many of which are high-end. I also remember that we took a valuable batch of Alchemy Materials from Mysterious Monster Island, all of which are high-end.¡± Zi Di¡¯s words brightened the spirits of the other two. The girl had greater authority than the youth, especially in communicating with the Tower Spirit in the Alchemy Central Tower where she learned of many treasures stored in the spirit¡¯s memory. The youth was unaware of these. Cang Xu nodded in agreement, ¡°That¡¯s a good plan. It¡¯s hard to ensure the loyalty of living guards, and the secrets here must be tightly kept. Do you have Golden Level puppet blueprints?¡± Zi Di replied, ¡°Of course, in fact, we have more than ten Holy Domain Level puppet blueprints. But for now, it¡¯s better to focus on crafting Silver Level and Golden Level puppets.¡± The youth frowned, ¡°The combination of the Tower Spirit and Alchemy Puppets with the sturdy cabin and narrow passageways would indeed form a formidable and tight defense. We can be self-sufficient in terms of materials for creating Alchemy Puppets, but who could manufacture them?¡± Via the Empire was evidently not an option. Cang Xu and Zi Di were only of Black Iron Level; though they had dabbled in alchemy, the former specialized in Soul Crystal creation while the latter in potions. Their life tiers were relatively low, making the possibility of producing Silver Level or Golden Level Alchemy Puppets nearly zero. Cang Xu said, ¡°As I know, on the Molten Lava Continent, there are Dwarves and Goblins who are experts in puppet creation.¡± Zi Di then said, ¡°Holy Bright Continent has many alchemists, and the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce has contact details for many of them. But it won¡¯t be easy to persuade them. Wait¡­ perhaps, he could do it¡­¡± Zi Di mentioned the name of an alchemist called Fu Jiu, who was severely injured and no longer prominent. Once famous, he now lived in poverty. ¡°We have the green fluid produced from the Green Jade Gold Coffin and Soul Crystals, which have powerful healing abilities for both body and soul.¡± Zi Di pondered, ¡°Perhaps we could use this point to recruit him.¡± ¡°We could try that in the future,¡± the youth nodded. They indeed needed an Alchemist. Actually, Cang Xu had mentioned this suggestion to the youth quite early on. The youth first arrived at the belly of the ship. This area had once been hit, creating a massive hole, but it had now been repaired. There were three Alchemy Puppets reinforcing the area. One of their arms lifted a steel beam while the other was a gun barrel. Alchemy Arrays were engraved on both the inside and outside of the gun barrels, which, upon activation, consumed the Mana inside the Alchemy Puppets to produce a crimson scorching ray. The ray moved smoothly left to right and up and down, quickly welding several steel bars back to their original places, reinforcing them once more. Droplets of seawater still seeped in through gaps around the edge of the hole. Deep Sea Monster Fish was traveling at its maximum speed underwater. The high water pressure made some water infiltration normal. ¡°The battle at Sea Eye damaged the defense arrays on the exterior of Deep Sea Monster Fish. It is estimated that the fastest we can repair the Magic Shield will be in at least five more days,¡± said Cang Xu with worry, ¡°This is our weakest point.¡± To repair these arrays, a lot of Magic Material was required. Moreover, it was necessary to replenish large amounts of steel, wood, screws, and more. To repair the large hole, these standard reserves had almost been depleted. ¡°If we had time, we would need to dismantle and rebuild this section,¡± Zi Di observed for a moment, her brows furrowing, ¡°This piece is just an emergency measure and structurally unstable.¡± Cang Xu shrugged, ¡°No choice, we¡¯re short on hard copper and had to temporarily substitute steel as the main structural material.¡± Upon saying this, Cang Xu looked towards the Fishman youth, ¡°Also, Deep Sea Monster Fish¡¯s Mana Pool has sounded an alarm.¡± ¡°We need a large number of elemental crystals to transform mana and to increase our mana reserves.¡± Fighting the Chill Shadow Giant had drained most of their mana. Operating the alchemy puppets for repairs, as well as during the repair process itself, also consumed mana. In fact, since leaving Mysterious Monster Island, the mana pool aboard the Deep Sea Monster Fish had been replenished only a handful of times. Zi Di and Cang Xu were unable to manually infuse mana. They were only at the Black Iron Level, with too little mana. Not to mention the Fishman youth who had just embarked on the path of magic cultivation. Elemental crystals contained pure elements that could be transformed into mana. The Deep Sea Monster Fish had an excellent performance transformation device on board. It had survived the battle and was quite well preserved. Compared to it, many other devices had not been so fortunate. The trio then moved to a few cabins where the injured were gathered. ¡°Captain?¡± ¡°Long Fu¡­ sir¡­¡± Seeing the Fishman youth, the members of the Justice Pirate Group hesitated. In the presence of everyone, the youth activated his Blood Core, transforming from his Fishman Form into a Dragon-man Form. Suddenly, the gaze of the injured changed, and they all visibly relaxed. On the battlefield, many had seen the Fishman youth carrying Mei Lan as he rushed into the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Cang Xu had already disclosed the identity of the Fishman youth to these people beforehand, preparing them psychologically. ¡°Take good care of your injuries; our voyage ahead will not be smooth,¡± the Dragon-man youth said, not elaborating on his abilities as there was no need for explanation. But maintaining this mystery made others perceive him as more powerful. This was very beneficial for the stability of the pirate group. Members of the pirate group deeply respected the Dragon-man Captain, and they were also curious about the strange Mage who had recently appeared beside their captain. Some of the elders who had survived from Mysterious Monster Island quietly recognized Zi Di¡¯s identity but did not publicize it. ¡°Our healing scrolls and potions¡ªit¡¯s all been used up, but some of the injured have severe injuries like amputations.¡± ¡°Regeneration of limbs is a Golden Level Divine Art.¡± ¡°But fortunately, the condition of these people is mostly stable,¡± Cang Xu reported. With a mournful tone, the Dragon-man youth softly sighed, ¡°Our losses this time are grievous.¡± Indeed. The Justice Pirate Group had been decimated, with scarcely one in ten surviving. Originally with ten pirate ships, nearly all were destroyed, with only the Deep Sea Monster Fish managing to escape. At the end of their visit to the injured, the trio met with Zong Ge. Sanda was guarding him. ¡°Golden Level?¡± Zi Di exclaimed in surprise, sensing Zong Ge¡¯s weak aura. Cang Xu shook his head gravely, ¡°His condition is the most serious!¡± After checking, the Dragon-man youth¡¯s expression also turned serious, ¡°It¡¯s a Bloodline Conflict, indeed¡­¡± Zong Ge was a Half-Beast, and currently, two types of bloodlines within him were in conflict. One was the Human Race bloodline, and the other was the Beast Race bloodline, both of which were of quite high grades. This caused the conflict to be more intense and irreconcilable. Cang Xu said solemnly, ¡°Zong Ge must have faced a life-threatening crisis during the battle, leading to a Bloodline Awakening and thus instant advancement to the Golden Level.¡± ¡°His newly awakened Beast Race bloodline is fiercely resisting the more concentrated Human Race bloodline.¡± ¡°His situation is a hundred times more dangerous than that of the Big guy!¡± The Big guy¡¯s Human Race bloodline was very ordinary and could easily be overthrown by the awakened Giant Bloodline. However, although the Human Race bloodline in the Half-Beast was lower, its concentration was higher, while the newly awakened Beast Race bloodline, although higher in grade, had a lower concentration. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Both were at a stalemate, using the Half-Beast¡¯s body as a battlefield for their struggle and slaughter. Tricky. Very tricky. The youth, Cang Xu, and Zi Di were, for the time being, unable to find a solution. Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 340 03-25 - 340: Section 127: Fighting Side by Side Chapter 340: Section 127: Fighting Side by Side The three of them left the cabin where Zong Ge was being housed. ¡°There¡¯s some good news,¡± Cang Xu received a report from his subordinates, ¡°the Empire has responded, and they agree to let us go to Knife Harbor to rest and resupply.¡± The Fishman youth nodded. To go to the Empire¡¯s secret port for rest and resupply was not a matter of just showing up. Since they were pirates, and it was a secret mission, every resupply attempt had to be kept as confidential as possible. It was arranged by the Empire to minimize contact between pirates secretly recruited by the Empire. ¡°Have our requests been put to the Empire, and how did they respond?¡± the youth asked. Cang Xu replied, ¡°We don¡¯t have much credit left for our contributions, this time we need to first hand over some supplies from the ship in exchange for the supplies we need. As for our specific resupply requests, the Empire is urgently coordinating them and has promised to fulfill the vast majority at least.¡± The youth nodded again. This piece of good news slightly eased his heavy heart. Knife Harbor is the closest Sea Town to the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, and it does not belong to the Holy Bright Continent but is located on Knife Mountain Island. Knife Mountain Island, isolated out at sea, has been secretly controlled by the Empire. The entire island has two seaports, one of which is the port in Knife Harbor, secretly constructed two or three years ago, mainly to coordinate with the Empire¡¯s spy missions. If other pirate groups are already resupplying in Knife Harbor, it would be troublesome. The Justice Pirate Group might be scheduled five or six days later before being allowed to enter the harbor for resupply. According to the youth and Cang Xu¡¯s estimation, in five or six days, the events that happened in the Sky Pillar Sea Eye would have completely spread. Three days is not enough for the news to be known by all the major powers. In their last inspection, the three saw Zhenjin again. Zhenjin was hidden in a metal coffin, which was embedded in the wall, its surface as smooth as a brick. Only by activating a specific alchemy device would the metal coffin slowly extend from the wall. Zhenjin still resembled Hei Juan, but his true identity had long been exposed. This sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family now lay with his eyes tightly shut, motionless, his breath so faint it was barely perceptible. With each breath, there was almost no rise and fall of the chest. He was now in deep slumber. This slumber concerned not only the body but also the soul. It was a state of imprisonment only made possible through the use of an alchemy device from the Deep Sea Monster Fish and Cang Xu¡¯s Undead Magic. Seeing Zhenjin, the faces of the youth, the young girl, and Cang Xu were somewhat complicated. ¡°We are fortunate that the battle at the Sea Eye did not harm his life,¡± the Fishman youth remarked. He had no fondness for Zhenjin, but that didn¡¯t interfere with Zhenjin¡¯s own value. The entire Justice Pirate Group needed to use Zhenjin to help them negotiate with the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family and make contact with the upper echelons of the Empire, in order to absolve themselves of wrongdoing. ¡°There¡¯s a contact point for the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce on Knife Mountain Island. Once there, I will use this channel to contact the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family. It¡¯s just¡­ I am now not very confident in this channel,¡± Zi Di sighed. The faces of the youth and Cang Xu both darkened. After leaving Mysterious Monster Island, they had two Divine Artifacts in their possession and had to kill Jia Sha and the King of Flame Dragon. Thus, the original plan was to contact the higher-ups, surrender the spoils of war, and help themselves be absolved of any crimes. But now, they were involved not only with two Divine Artifacts but also two gods. Among them, the Goddess Mei Lan was an enemy of the gods of the Empire. Although unintentional, the trouble they had caused had grown far more significant. Could a Golden Level Viscount, a Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family who was being suppressed to the point of breathlessness, truly help them absolve their crimes? ¡°Regardless, the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family will certainly not give up on his only family heir,¡± Cang Xu said indifferently. ¡°Let¡¯s try our best,¡± the Fishman youth sighed, ¡°The most urgent matter at hand is to head to Knife Harbor for rest and resupply. Let¡¯s hope for smooth sailing.¡± The Justice Pirate Group was now in a dire situation. They needed to replenish a large amount of supplies, some alchemy materials, and some potions and scrolls. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They had many wounded who required further treatment. Zi Di also needed to contact the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family. The Deep Sea Monster Fish was stealthily speeding through the sea. They had completely thrown off the pursuit of the Fishmen from Sea Eye City, taking Mei Lan and making a mad dash for it. Soon, those Fishmen would likely have to flee as well. The uproar caused this time at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye was too significant, involving the gods, so all the major powers would surely intervene. However, intelligence took time to spread, and the location of the Sky Pillar Sea Eye was quite remote; it would take some time before any of the major powers could respond. The inspection by the Fishman youth had stabilized morale, and the mana reserves in the Deep Sea Monster Fish¡¯s mana pool were more than sufficient for the journey to Knife Harbor. But on the second day after leaving the Sea Eye¡¯s Sky Pillar, Deep Sea Monster Fish encountered a problem. The alchemy array that produced air had broken. And this wasn¡¯t a job that alchemy puppets could handle. It required manual labor, an alchemist to use a special hook line pen and infiltration liquids to trace and repair specific parts of the array. Even with Cang Xu and Zi Di working together, repairing would take a week. Given no other choice, the Deep Sea Monster Fish now had to surface periodically for extensive air exchanges. This undoubtedly slowed down the speed of the Justice Pirate Group. But fortunately, by the second night, they had entered the ocean currents. Ocean currents flow in fixed directions, and with their aid, the Deep Sea Monster Fish¡¯s speed increased while mana consumption decreased. It was because of the currents that Cang Xu was confident they could reach Knife Harbor within three days. But it wasn¡¯t just the Justice Pirate Group reaping the benefits of the ocean currents. The currents often formed fixed maritime routes. By the third day, ships began to appear above the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Some were trade ships, some were Navy warships, and others were pirate ships. The increasing number of vessels also posed a problem for the Justice Pirate Group. They needed to exchange air, and every time Deep Sea Monster Fish surfaced, there was a risk of exposure. Luckily, the magic devices on board the Deep Sea Monster Fish were powerful and had a wide detection range, allowing them to evade nearby ships each time they needed to surface, going unnoticed by others. As they were nearing Knife Mountain Island, Tower Spirit relayed intelligence to the Fishman youth: a nautical battle was unfolding three nautical miles away. Three trade ships were under attack from a pirate group, and the situation was dire. The trade ships¡¯ captain was frantically sending out distress signals through a magic device. ¡°Perfect, we need a ship to act as a diversion,¡± the youth immediately ordered, and Deep Sea Monster Fish slightly altered its course. By the time they arrived at the battle scene, the fight had already ended. One of the three trade ships was sinking, while the other two were being commandeered by the pirates. The Fishman youth dived into the water from below and then suddenly leaped out, landing on the deck. ¡°Enemy attack!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic, it¡¯s just a single Fishman!¡± ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s a Silver Level Fishman; help me¡ªargh.¡± The Fishman youth unleashed a whirlwind of blood and carnage on the deck. ¡°Stop, you cursed Fishman, let me take you on!¡± The pirate captain swung across to the Fishman youth on a rope. Holding a scimitar, with his chest of long black hair bared and murder in his eyes, he sneered, ¡°I¡¯ll slice you into sashimi with my blade.¡± Whoosh. The next moment, a fireball came hurtling towards them. The pirate captain hurriedly invoked his Silver Fighting Spirit, retreating and defending amidst the explosion. The fireball exploded, leaving the pirate captain with a soot-blackened face, livid with rage, ¡°Damn it, there¡¯s a mage too, find him!¡± The spell¡¯s residual energy lingered, but by the time the First Officer led the pirates to the casting location, Zi Di had already made her departure. She hid behind a stack of barrels on the aft deck, looking at her hands in disbelief, ¡°Just now¡­ how did I do that? It was like an Instant Cast!¡± Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 341 03-25 - 341: Section 128: Entering Port Chapter 341: Section 128: Entering Port Casting a spell requires the spellcaster¡¯s spirit to construct a magic model. Once the magic model is built, combined with mana, the spell can be cast. The construction of the magic model is basically done within the spellcaster¡¯s spiritual space. The principle of casting spells is simple, but there are many subtleties in actual practice. For example, mages chant, inscribe arrays, use hand gestures, and even dance to cast spells, and most mages use casting materials, including scrolls. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Using casting materials primarily helps the spellcaster build the magic model more quickly. With magic scrolls, the magic model is already inscribed on the scroll. Thus, when a mage uses a scroll, they can skip the model construction process, making the spell casting speed very fast, close to instant cast. Zi Di¡¯s recent Small Fireball Spell was also near instant cast. Looking at her hands, she quickly understood, ¡°The speed at which I construct the Small Fireball Spell model is fast, mainly because my spirit has hugely increased!¡± Zi Di devoured the soul of a ship ghost. The ship ghost was a Silver Level Undead Mage, whose soul had been trained in Undead Magic and had absorbed a large number of soul crystals. Zi Di was only at the Black Iron Level, but after absorbing the Silver Level soul of the ship ghost, she greatly benefited and essentially advanced. ¡°And my spiritual space is now very stable and vast. The magic model of the Small Fireball Spell doesn¡¯t even fill one ten-thousandth of my spiritual space.¡± Zi Di¡¯s spiritual space was even more awe-inspiring! This was because the Feathered Snake spirit actively helped her build it. Originally, Cang Xu set up a soul crystal-absorbing array for the young girl, targeting only Zi Di¡¯s soul. To hide and infiltrate, the Feathered Snake spirit didn¡¯t touch the girl¡¯s soul but lurked within her, intercepting the power from the soul crystals midway. But the girl¡¯s original spiritual space was very narrow and fragile, incapable of bearing the Feathered Snake spirit. Only after the Feathered Snake spirit personally renovated it could it lurk in the girl¡¯s spiritual space. That is to say, Zi Di¡¯s spiritual space was constructed by a deity¡¯s own hands. ¡°My spiritual space now could even bear a Divine Level magic model!¡± Zi Di had a revelation. Of course, she absolutely couldn¡¯t cast Divine Level spells. The first reason was that she definitely lacked enough mana, and the second was that her spirit wasn¡¯t strong enough to construct and sustain a Divine Level magic model. Currently, Zi Di¡¯s spiritual power had reached the Silver Level, and the spiritual power of the Silver Level was still far from the standard required for Divine Level spells. ¡°Even so, my combat strength has been greatly enhanced!¡± Zi Di had a premonition of her own condition during her pre-battle preparations and had thus mentally prepared herself. Now, in actual combat, she was still greatly surprised. The pirates continued their search and soon approached Zi Di¡¯s hiding place. Zi Di cast spells again. Spell¡ªOily Technique! Spell¡ªFlame Hand! The deck was immediately slick with grease, and as the pirates slipped and fell, the Flame Hand then pounced on the greasy deck, igniting a swath of flames. Pirates trapped within the flames screamed tragically, many of them jumping off the ship to use the sea water to extinguish the fires. ¡°If it were the old me, I would need to chant and use casting materials. To cast two spells, it would take at least twenty seconds.¡± ¡°But now, it¡¯s just a few breaths!¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes sparkled with brilliance. ¡°I found the Mage, she¡¯s behind the barrels!¡± ¡°Charge with me, kill her!!¡± Zi Di cast spells again, fully exposing her position, attracting a second wave of pirate attacks. Zi Di smiled slightly, using the barrels as cover while casting another spell. This time, she began to chant. Several seconds later, she successfully cast the spell. Fire Magic¡ªSummon Fire Element! A man-high Fire Element was born within the flames on the deck, then charged at the approaching pirates. The pirates used firearms or bows to attack the Fire Element, no longer able to focus on Zi Di. But as the fire grew bigger and the air temperature rose sharply, Zi Di had to shift her target. She had just moved away from the barrels when suddenly an arrow shot towards her, landing five steps away from her position. A Stealth Thief lay dead on the ground, struck by the arrow. Zi Di was stunned for a moment before looking towards the source of the arrow. Standing high up on the mast was an Elf Archer¡ªit was Kan Qiao. Kan Qiao¡¯s intervention immediately caught the attention of the enemy pirates. Discovering that he was a Silver Level archer, the pirate leader¡¯s face paled. In a short time, three mysterious opponents had appeared¡ªone was a Silver Level Fishman fighter, one was a Black Iron Mage with a mask, and the last was a Silver Level Elf Archer. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± the pirate Captain demanded. The Fishman youth had no interest in satisfying the pirate Captain¡¯s curiosity. He continued his swift onslaught, overwhelming the pirate Captain with his bare hands. In his shark Fishman form, his swimming speed through the water was extraordinarily fast. Now in the air, his speed increased even more, far exceeding that of his Dragon-man form. After a dozen exchanges of offense and defense, the pirate Captain was covered in wounds, bathed in blood, completely overpowered by the Fishman youth. But for the time being, the Fishman youth also hadn¡¯t managed to defeat him. ¡°This form is actually stronger than the Dragon-man form, and has more potential!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity it lacks supporting fighting energy secrets and combat skills.¡± The Fishman youth was so fast that he almost turned into a blur of black shadows, encircling the pirate Captain from all sides. The pirate Captain was hit by another strike, his right shoulder torn open with a twenty-centimeter-long bloody gash. ¡°Surrender! I¡­ I surrender,¡± the pirate Captain yelled. Upon hearing this, the Fishman youth slowed his assault. However, the pirate Captain took advantage of this moment to suddenly pull out a bottle of liquor from his chest and tipped it back, gulping it down. As the liquor entered his mouth, it rapidly spread throughout his body. After coming into contact with the pirate Captain¡¯s Silver Fighting Spirit, the liquor fiercely ignited, forming a dazzling silver flame. This silver flame first burned within the pirate Captain¡¯s body, then radiated outwards, burning the man into a fiery figure. ¡°It¡¯s Panda-man Fire Spirit Wine! Be careful, it¡¯s a special magic potion that can burn fighting energy, boosting combat power by at least twice!¡± Zi Di¡¯s pupils shrank as she recognized the details, and she quickly spoke out to warn. The pirate Captain¡¯s fighting spirit spread to the sailor¡¯s scimitar in his hand, which immediately also became enveloped in a silver flame, transforming into a magic weapon in the blink of an eye. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The pirate Captain laughed loudly. ¡°Prepare to die!¡± Then he began his counterattack. The Fishman youth snorted coldly, and with a flash of blood-red light, he reverted from Fishman form back to the Dragon-man. Flame Dragon bloodline talented magic¡ªscorching Dragon Breath! The Dragon-man youth opened his mouth and breathed out a mighty blast of flames. The pirate Captain was utterly shocked and got hit by the Dragon-man youth¡¯s fire. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± He let out a scream of great agony and retreated explosively. The Dragon-man youth walked forward calmly, turning his head simultaneously to adjust the direction of the Dragon Breath, ensuring it constantly enveloped the pirate Captain. After just over three seconds, the pirate Captain was reduced to a pile of ashes. Zi Di was stunned. Her combat power had seen an astonishing increase, but compared to that, the Dragon-man youth¡¯s enhancement was even more exaggerated! The youth had never stopped his arduous training, not wasting a single second even during their voyage. Initially, when he used this Dragon Breath talented magic, he needed to chant in Dragonese for several seconds, stationary while breathing fire, unable to even turn his head. However, after continual practice, he could now walk and turn his head at will, albeit slowly. The omission of the Dragonese chant was also due to a significant increase in his spiritual power. The Soul Crystal was not only used by Zi Di; he frequently used it as well, depleting many. His soul essence had improved substantially, and with it, his spiritual power also rose a great deal. With the enemy leader dead, the pirates¡¯ morale plummeted. The Dragon-man youth pressed his attack, while Di Lou, Qiu, Sanda, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others launched their attacks. After eliminating a group of stubborn elements, they successfully subdued the battlefield. The remaining enemy pirates lost their will to fight, kneeling and begging for mercy en masse. Following that, the youth gave orders. A batch of pirates swam out from the Deep Sea Monster Fish, forming the core, and extensively absorbed the pirate prisoners, taking over a total of seven ships, including pirate and merchant vessels. Among them was one Black Iron demon energy ship, and two Bronze demon energy ships. The Dragon-man youth led Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others, sailing these ships toward Spearhead Town. As for the Deep Sea Monster Fish, it remained submerged and stealthily followed. Shortly after they left, the battlefield littered with barrels, wood splinters, and bodies, was visited by a Navy force. ¡°Sir, we are too late!¡± The First Officer said solemnly. ¡°Immediately organize a search and rescue to see if there are any survivors,¡± the Navy leader said with a steely face, scanning the surrounding area with piercing eyes. He had an angular face and a burly figure, draped in a white Navy cape, with a Gold aura subtly present. Soon, the Navy subordinates reported: no survivors had been found, but various traces indicated that the looted party was the Copper Seagull convoy. The battle had not ended long ago, so the pirates should be in the nearby waters. ¡°We are near Dao Mountain Island. These pirates are very bold! Send orders to release the Sea Dog squad to search for the pirates; we need to ensure these damned scum face strict punishment,¡± the Navy leader gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with rage. However, the First Officer was very calm: ¡°General Kan Qiao, our first priority should still be repairing the ships. We cannot continue sailing for much longer. These pirates, daring enough to strike near Dao Mountain Island, must have something to rely on. The time and cost to catch up with them or to deal with them are hard to estimate.¡± ¡°No, listen to me, I¡¯m the Vice Admiral! I want these scum dead!!¡± General Kan Qiao roared out, refusing to heed advice. But the First Officer was undaunted. ¡°Vice Admiral, please be calm. I understand your feelings; your parents died in such a scene. But you also know that our naval fleet is at the end of its strength and can hardly fight any longer.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t even sail to a regular Navy port for repairs; we can only temporarily rely on a secret military port for supplies.¡± ¡°If you insist on going it alone, of course, I will support you fully, but afterwards, I will certainly report up the chain about your unwarranted military orders!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± General Kan Qiao¡¯s face was dark as water. The First Officer met his gaze fearlessly. The atmosphere was tense, and everyone else dared not even breathe loudly. In the end, General Kan Qiao fiercely punched the ship¡¯s side: ¡°Continue sailing, and go to Spearhead Town for supplies!¡± Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 342 - 342: Section 129: Ship Spirit Repair Alchemy Scroll Chapter 342: Section 129: Ship Spirit Repair Alchemy Scroll Knife Mountain Island¡¯s name was very apt, as the entire island was a wall-like mountain peak, with the majority of its inhabitants living at the foot of the mountain. The peak looked like a giant knife cleaved into the sea. Almost all around Knife Mountain Island were cliffs, except for two shallow beaches that could serve as harbors. Knife Harbor was one of them, much smaller than the other harbor. However, it was just right for secret resupplying. The sky was azure, and clouds drifted leisurely as several dilapidated ships of the Justice Pirate Group surged into the harbor and docked smoothly. The receptionist at Knife Harbor had been standing and waiting for a while, and his face showed a hint of puzzlement when he saw a Dragon-man youth leading some subordinates off the ship. The crew was roughly the same, but the ships of the Justice Pirate Group did not match the records. The flagship of the Justice Pirate Group was supposed to be a Silver Level demon energy ship, one of the latest models deployed by the empire. But most of the ships before him were ordinary, and the few demon energy ships were at most Black Iron Level. And clearly, these ships had just encountered battle. After staring a few more seconds, the receptionist¡¯s eyes widened as he recognized the ships, ¡°They seem to be from the Copper Seagull Trading Group and Fast Blade Pirate Group¡­¡± ¡°Captain Long Fu,¡± the receptionist greeted as he approached, ¡°these ships¡­¡± The Dragon-man youth glanced at him, gestured backward, and Lan Zao immediately placed the sack he was carrying on the ground, opened it, and revealed a human head inside. ¡°Before coming here, we found a group of pirates who had slaughtered a trading group. Please count them, and tally our contribution to the empire,¡± said the Dragon-man youth. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The receptionist stared agape at the heads in the sack, swallowed hard, and then looked at the Dragon-man youth with a bitter expression, ¡°Lords of the Justice Pirate Group, to tell the truth, the Fast Blade Pirate Group has the same status as you.¡± ¡°Oh? Were they also secretly recruited pirates?¡± the Dragon-man youth asked, slightly startled. ¡°Yes,¡± nodded the receptionist. Zi Di, wearing a mask, asked sternly, ¡°Strange, how can you allow recruited pirates to rob merchant ships of the empire?¡± The receptionist sighed, ¡°It¡¯s a necessity.¡± ¡°For the empire, disrupting the Pirate Throne is the main concern. Everything else is minor detail that can be abandoned.¡± ¡°This is military strategy!¡± ¡°If we prohibit them from targeting the empire¡¯s merchant ships, then the behavioral patterns of the pirates who join us would become too obvious and easily detected.¡± ¡°Moreover, if such regulations were designed, it would be difficult to recruit enough pirates to disrupt the selection for the Pirate Throne.¡± ¡°These are not the main points.¡± Cang Xu, standing nearby, asked, ¡°By killing them, we still contributed, right?¡± The receptionist nodded, ¡°Of course. The identities of the pirates we recruit are confidential, and they are not aware of each other. So, by killing the Fast Blade Pirate Group, it will count as a normal merit.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and talk,¡± urged the Dragon-man youth. ¡°Yes, yes, lords, please follow me this way,¡± the receptionist led them toward the shipyard. Lan Zao handed over the sack to a member of the empire¡¯s spies in the shipyard, along with several large boxes of various resources. Most of these resources were obtained from Mysterious Monster Island, and a small part was from after the pirate group was formed. Cang Xu, Zi Di, Fat Tongue, and others, after much deliberation and making choices, tried to sell what they temporarily didn¡¯t need in exchange for urgently required materials. The receptionist knew of this, glanced over the open boxes, and still felt surprised, ¡°Your group has really made a huge gain during this period!¡± There wasn¡¯t a single Soul Crystal among the items, and many high-end alchemy resources obtained from Mysterious Monster Island were only included a little. ¡°I¡¯ve also brought some ships to sell this time,¡± the Dragon-man youth said, ¡°Where¡¯s the list?¡± The receptionist hurriedly handed him a scroll. Zi Di, curious and probing, examined the scroll. Using this scroll again was routine for either the Dragon-man youth or Cang Xu. The scroll obviously listed the latest exchange items. Cang Xu was the second to read it, and after finishing, he exhaled a breath of relief, ¡°Not bad.¡± The content list held by the Justice Pirate Group was from the previous period, and comparing it to the latest exchange list, there were definitely changes. However, the extent of these changes was minor and did not much affect the plans of the younger ones; only minor modifications were needed. ¡°Let me take a look,¡± Zi Di was the third to take the scroll. Being a mage, handling it was effortless. The Dragon-man youth, Cang Xu, and others discussed for a moment and finalized the exchange content. ¡°Wait, what is this scroll?¡± Zi Di suddenly spoke up. The receptionist immediately explained, ¡°Just as described, it is an alchemy scroll used for repairing the ship spirit.¡± ¡°Introduction is but this one sentence, what exactly are its effects, and how many have exchanged for it?¡± Zi Di pressed. The receptionist showed a hint of confusion, ¡°Has your group already created a ship spirit on board?¡± There was no ship spirit, but there was a Tower Spirit. The Dragon-man youth and Cang Xu exchanged glances, both discerning Zi Di¡¯s intention. The Dragon-man youth nodded, ¡°A bit of treasure hunting gain, it¡¯s an incomplete ship spirit that only responds to our call sporadically.¡± The receptionist paused, ¡°Your group is really lucky, even if it¡¯s an incomplete ship spirit, it¡¯s still a ship spirit.¡± Ships possessing ship spirits are rare. Their numbers are much fewer than those of Gold Level demon energy ships. Among these, most ship spirits are artificially created. This high-end alchemy technology originated from Tower Spirit manufacturing techniques but is more suitable for use in demon energy ships. The receptionist noted this information mentally and replied to the Dragon-man youth, ¡°I¡¯m not very clear about the specific effects of this batch of scrolls. In fact, even if it¡¯s the same scroll, the effects vary depending on different ship spirits.¡± ¡°To properly repair a ship spirit, I strongly recommend that your group upgrade its privileges. The Justice Pirate Group could further increase its access level, and then you could officially invite advanced craftsmen from the Empire to intervene.¡± Alchemy scrolls are like potions, high-grade Alchemists are like doctors. The illness of a damaged ship spirit, of course, is best treated with a tailored approach rather than a universal remedy like the alchemy scrolls. The Dragon-man youth shook his head slightly, ¡°According to our plan, we¡¯ll upgrade our privileges next time. But back to these scrolls, is there any other information?¡± After taking the hefty money pouch, the receptionist smiled slightly, ¡°I¡¯m not too clear about the exact effects of these alchemy scrolls, but I do know who made them.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± But the receptionist continued to smile without answering. Realizing the situation, Cang Xu immediately took out a smaller pouch from his embrace and handed it directly to the receptionist. The receptionist blatantly accepted it and even weighed it before satisfactorily tucking it back into his bosom, ¡°Tuck. From the Steel Pound family.¡± The Dragon-man youth frowned slightly. Tuck? An unfamiliar name. But he knew about the Steel Pound family. They were among the Empire¡¯s top families, the current family head being the Grand Duke Steel Armor, with strength equivalent to the Holy Emperor¡ª a living deity! Cang Xu¡¯s pupils contracted slightly. In a low murmur, Zi Di said, ¡°If it is him¡­¡± Cang Xu, seeing the confusion on the Dragon-man youth¡¯s face, took the initiative to explain, ¡°Captain, Tuck is a genius with highly concentrated Steel Pound bloodline, a Holy Domain Level Alchemist! He¡¯s still young, only forty-five years old. His specialty is creating Tower Spirits and ship spirits.¡± ¡°Since this Ship Spirit Repair Scroll comes from him, we can only expect great effects!¡± The receptionist laughed and continued, ¡°There are likely many with the same thoughts as you. Initially, there were twenty of these scrolls, now only six remain.¡± Zi Di looked at the Dragon-man youth, ¡°Captain, I suggest we purchase one of these scrolls!¡± The Dragon-man youth, already tempted, thought for a moment and nodded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that.¡± Consequently, the previous exchange plan had to undergo significant changes. A scroll for repairing ship spirits was the largest expenditure. According to the situation of the Justice Pirate Group, they could only afford one. After a brief discussion, they finally settled on a new exchange plan. Ship Spirit Repair Scroll remained the largest expense, followed by a small amount of alchemy materials covering low, mid, and high grades, a lot of traditional materials, some standard combat consumables such as potions, scrolls, bombs, arrows, etc. Lastly, there were also some cultivation materials, such as the Earth Element resources needed by Big guy. After receiving the plan, the receptionist confirmed it and then stated that two-thirds of the exchange content could be completed on the spot. But the remaining one-third would take three days. ¡°Then we¡¯ll wait three days,¡± nodded the Dragon-man youth, his brow secretly furrowing. Three days was a bit long; the longer the time dragged on, the greater the likelihood of exposure. Don¡¯t forget, they already lacked Pearl Bubble. Nevertheless, waiting was necessary as repairs indeed required time. During this period, using the coastline to secretly and thoroughly repair the Deep Sea Monster Fish was essential. ¡°With these materials, it would only take a day and night to fully repair the Deep Sea Monster Fish. After that, we¡¯ll assess the situation,¡± the Dragon-man youth had a plan set, ready to make an escape as soon as the Deep Sea Monster Fish was repaired. ¡°You are indeed here!¡± Just then, a squad of the Navy suddenly burst into the shipyard. ¡°Pirates, huh!¡± The leading Navy vice admiral, wielding a long-handled great sword, glared at the youth and others,¡±Seize them all!¡± Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 343 - 343: Section 130: Unexpected Conflict and Gains Chapter 343: Section 130: Unexpected Conflict and Gains ¡°Navy?!¡± As the Navy poured in, the members of the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s expressions changed, and they all rose from their seats. The Navy vice admiral in the lead shouted, ¡°I am General Kan Qiao of the Imperial Navy. You pirates are lawless! Despite becoming spies for the Empire, you still attack the Empire¡¯s trade ships! Today, I must ensure you receive the punishment you deserve.¡± ¡°Please stay calm, General Kan Qiao. This is not the place for fighting,¡± the receptionist said, his face greatly changing as he hurriedly rushed out the door and stood in the doorway. The receptionist was extremely nervous. If the two groups really started fighting, regardless of the outcome, as one of the main persons in charge here, he would definitely be held accountable. ¡°Navy vice admiral, you are mistaken. I, Captain Long Fu of the Justice Pirate Group, have never attacked the Empire¡¯s trade ships. In fact, it¡¯s the exact opposite; we¡¯ve eliminated the real culprits, the Fast Blade Pirate Group,¡± the Dragon-man youth explained gravely. ¡°Hmph, that¡¯s just your side of the story. I¡¯m not so easily fooled,¡± General Kan Qiao sneered. The Navy quickly closed in. ¡°Damn it!¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Should we take action, Captain?¡± ¡°The opponent may have one Gold, but there is only one Transcendent at the Silver Level.¡± The core members of the Justice Pirate Group remained calm and composed. Having personally participated in the battle at Sea Eye and witnessing the fierce combat between divine incarnations and legendary fighters from close quarters, they were now facing an enemy of the Gold Level without panic, their fighting spirit still high. The Dragon-man youth shook his head slightly, ¡°Stay calm.¡± Cang Xu directed his gaze at the receptionist, ¡°Empire¡¯s receptionist, this is a secret dockyard. Is this the sincerity of the Empire?¡± ¡°We have pledged allegiance to the Empire, yet we are arrested by the Navy in an Empire port. If this news gets out, which pirate would ever trust and pledge allegiance to the Empire again?¡± The receptionist, though only a Black Iron, showed no fear, his face as stern as iron as he angrily questioned General Kan Qiao, ¡°General Kan Qiao, do you understand the consequences of your actions? Your impulsive behavior could potentially disrupt the great plans of the Empire! Can you bear such a responsibility?¡± ¡°Your concerns are easily addressed. If I deal with these pirates, naturally, there won¡¯t be any news to spread. I will look after the wider interests of the Empire, and the justice of the Navy is mine to enforce!¡± Saying so, General Kan Qiao grasped his long-handled great sword, his body swirling with Golden Fighting Spirit. ¡°General Kan Qiao, you are perhaps too confident,¡± the Dragon-man youth scoffed coldly and immediately activated his Silver Fighting Spirit, ordering his companions, ¡°Prepare to break through!¡± The next moment, Di Lou and Yan Tan activated their Silver Fighting Spirit. Cang Xu and Zi Di floated into the air. General Kan Qiao¡¯s pupils involuntarily narrowed. Three Silvers! Especially that Dragon-man captain; he clearly looked like someone who could fight above his level. What worried Kan Qiao even more was that although the opposing pirate group had fewer numbers, the ratio of spellcasters was very high. Di Lou was a Silver Level bard, Cang Xu and Zi Di, although only Black Iron, were both Mages. Spellcasters had far more means at their disposal than fighters. Even as a Gold Level, Kan Qiao could not guarantee a swift victory in the upcoming battle. It was far too easy for spellcasters to send messages out. A twinge of regret began to grow in General Kan Qiao¡¯s heart. He had underestimated the strength of the Justice Pirate Group. The traces left behind on the battlefield revealed the strength of the Fast Blade Pirate Group. When the Fishman youth and others took action, the advantages of the Justice Pirate Group were very clear, and the Fast Blade Pirate Group was quickly defeated, most of them taken prisoner. Moreover, the ship, which was the battlefield, had also been sailed away, leaving little trace behind. ¡°General Kan Qiao, this is the Empire¡¯s secret port, not a Navy port!¡± another receptionist rushed into the dock. He pleaded bitterly with General Kan Qiao, ¡°Initially, the Imperial Navy was not supposed to rest here. General Kan Qiao, I agreed to host your fleet only because of your family, which I respected. I was classmates with your uncle; please don¡¯t put me in a difficult position.¡± Kan Qiao looked at the man and immediately frowned. But the Navy continued to press toward the Dragon-man youth and others. Seeing the hesitation in General Kan Qiao¡¯s expression, the Dragon-man youth spoke again, ¡°Kan Qiao, I was once a knight of the Empire too! I had plans to make my mark on the Wilderness Continent.¡± ¡°But after the shipwreck and encountering an Imperial spy, we formed the Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°At the beginning of the formation, I announced that the target of the Justice Pirate Group is not any merchant ship, but other pirates.¡± ¡°Even now, my group has adhered to this principle, never seizing or robbing any merchant ship!¡± ¡°Your justice cannot punish me.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± General Kan Qiao¡¯s expression changed as he focused on the Dragon-man youth standing with his chest puffed out. ¡°I can testify!¡± The Dragon-man youth¡¯s receptionist suddenly raised his hand and responded loudly, ¡°The Empire¡¯s intelligence has indeed recorded the situation of the Justice Pirate Group as Captain Long Fu said¡ªit is indeed unlike any other pirate group!¡± Another receptionist also nodded repeatedly, ¡°I also know about the Justice Pirate Group. This group possesses the Greedy Divine Bone and recently exchanged the Treasure Map with the Empire, heading to the Sky Pillar region to search for treasures. There has never been any intelligence suggesting that this pirate group has robbed any merchant ships.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± General Kan Qiao seemed to relax, his face showing more hesitation as his sword drooped to the ground. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, you can use the Lie Detection Scroll right here. I do not wish to clash with the Imperial Navy, and I would rather prove my innocence!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that first!¡± Kan Qiao stared fixedly at the Dragon-man youth, gesturing with his hand and halting the navy on the spot. His control over his subordinates was extremely high, completely obeying his commands. Immediately, the receptionist brought out the Lie Detection Scroll. Facing the Lie Detection Scroll, the Dragon-man youth repeated his earlier statement. The scroll showed no reaction, verifying the truth of the Dragon-man youth¡¯s statement. The Dragon-man youth then explained to the scroll about their eradication of the Fast Blade Pirate Group. The power of the scroll continued, and no lies were detected. ¡°The Justice Pirate Group¡­ interesting,¡± Vice Admiral Kan Qiao¡¯s expression softened, but he still harbored doubts, ¡°As far as I know, the Lie Detection Scrolls are not infallible. There are many ways to act freely under this scroll.¡± ¡°Hmph! Kan Qiao, you better understand.¡± The Dragon-man youth was displeased, ¡°My proving my innocence isn¡¯t out of fear of you, nor is it because we have no chance of breaking through.¡± ¡°I do this only to avoid needless confrontation between justices.¡± ¡°Of course, I also do not wish for my subordinates to suffer unnecessary losses.¡± ¡°I have already shown my sincerity; keep your suspicions to yourself!¡± ¡°General Kan Qiao!¡± Both receptionists spoke in unison, turning towards Kan Qiao. Kan Qiao was silent for a moment and then snorted coldly, ¡°Withdraw the troops!¡± He turned to leave the way he had come and took one deep look at the Dragon-man youth before departing, ¡°The Justice Pirate Group, I¡¯ll be watching you. If I find I¡¯ve been deceived, well¡­¡± The members of the Justice Pirate Group glared at the departing navy. Seeing a major conflict dissipate into nothing, the two receptionists heaved a sigh of relief, though their expressions remained grim. ¡°Next time, I definitely won¡¯t let the navy dock for repairs!¡± The second receptionist came over, full of regret. The first receptionist patted his shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself. Now, the entire spy network is directly administered by Marshal Yan Tan. The Kan Qiao Fleet¡¯s situation is really poor; they needed to repair quickly, and this is the only military harbor. We all face difficulties.¡± Consoled, the receptionist looked at the youth and the others with an apologetic look, ¡°I am truly sorry for affecting everyone. To express our apologies, we can discuss the specifics of the material exchange again. I will give you the best discount possible!¡± And the second receptionist added, ¡°I will donate all of my personal Imperial contributions under my name to all of you as this occasion¡¯s compensation. Please accept it on behalf of your group.¡± This sudden crisis was temporarily resolved, and they even gained some unexpected benefits. Immediately, the Justice Pirate Group renegotiated the exchange terms, acquiring even more materials. In this way, not only could the Justice Pirate Group repair the Deep Sea Monster Fish, but they also secured a better reserve of materials than initially anticipated. Back on the warship, Vice Admiral Kan Qiao called out, ¡°Sea Dog Captain.¡± ¡°Vice Admiral, sir!¡± A beastman with a dog¡¯s head and dressed in a navy uniform immediately stepped forward to take orders. ¡°Send your men to thoroughly follow and investigate the Justice Pirate Group; do your best to uncover all their details!¡± Kan Qiao ordered emotionlessly. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The Sea Dog Captain gave a military salute and quickly withdrew. Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 344 - 344: Section 131: Repairing Tower Spirit Chapter 344: Section 131: Repairing Tower Spirit Deep Sea Monster Fish, Core Cabin. The Dragon-man youth solemnly handed a scroll he held into Zi Di¡¯s hands. This scroll was none other than the Ship Spirit Repair Alchemy Scroll. Zi Di untied the elegant thin rope and slowly unfolded the scroll. The leather of the scroll was not the usual sheepskin but a more delicate deerskin. The axis of the scroll was some kind of alloy, silver-white in color, but with straight, fine black engravings on the surface, intersecting each other to form squares and rectangles. The creator of the scroll, Tuck, was ingenious with his thoughts. The secret was contained within the alloy axis. The axis and the scroll were integral to each other; only together did they make a complete Ship Spirit Repair Scroll. This greatly increased the difficulty for those who intended to replicate it. The scroll emanated a strong aura of Gold. Indeed, it was a Golden Level Magic Tool, and it was also a single-use consumable. Only the Dragon-man youth, Zi Di, and Cang Xu were present in the Core Cabin. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After completely unfolding the scroll, Zi Di began to pour her spirit into it. After discussing, the scroll was entrusted to Zi Di for use. There were two reasons. One was that Zi Di had devoured the soul of the ship ghost, raising her spirit to the Silver Level and causing her spiritual power to surge. The second reason was that Zi Di herself had privileges with the Tower Spirit. Once her spirit was engaged, Zi Di quickly mastered the scroll. Then, she began to infuse her own mana into it. At this step, the difficulty increased significantly compared to the first. Because a Black Iron Level Mage relying solely on their own mana to activate a Gold Level scroll was quite a stretch. Especially since this scroll demanded even more mana! Zi Di quickly depleted more than half of her own mana, but the scroll in her hand did not emit even a hint of light; there was practically no response. The young girl¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°This is a bit troublesome, the scroll demands a lot of mana.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we have plenty of time,¡± comforted the Dragon-man youth. Zi Di nodded, deliberately slowed down the output of her mana, and slightly opened her mouth. The Dragon-man youth then took out a potion, removed the stopper, and poured the liquid into Zi Di¡¯s mouth. Zi Di swallowed it, and the potion quickly replenished her mana. Thus, the young girl employed mana potions while infusing the scroll, and her scroll began to emit a faint glow. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that in the Deep Sea Monster Fish, there is no Array Map case. Otherwise, we could directly use the mana of the Deep Sea Monster Fish; there would be no need for such trouble,¡± Cang Xu regretfully said. The Array Map case is a type of Magic Device, specifically for releasing magic scrolls. Many castles, Mage Towers, as well as energy ships and airships, have such devices. Once activated, the Array Map case directly consumes the mana reserves from the Mana Pool, eliminating the need for manual infusion of mana. Although the Deep Sea Monster Fish was a Golden Level energy ship, it did not have an Array Map case. Because the War Merchant, being a Legendary Mage, did not need such a thing. As time passed, the Ship Spirit Repair Scroll emitted an increasingly strong golden glow, while Zi Di turned pale and her figure began to waver. In a short period of time, she had consumed more than a dozen vials of Mana Potion, showing signs of being unable to endure. ¡°Let us lend you a hand,¡± said the Dragon-man youth upon noticing this. Zi Di nodded. Thus, the Dragon-man youth and Cang Xu both placed their hands on the axis or the surface of the scroll, and began to infuse their own mana into it. The Dragon-man youth had just begun his training in magic; although he had mana, it was quickly exhausted. He immediately began to consume Mana Potion. Moments later, Cang Xu also had to take a potion. There were three sources of mana in the scroll, but since Zi Di¡¯s mana was the most abundant, they maintained a stable state. With the full cooperation of the Dragon-man youth and Cang Xu, half an hour after they had unfolded the scroll, their combined mana finally met the usage standard of the scroll. The scroll quickly burned into ashes and transformed into a golden orb of light. The orb was half a person tall, enclosing a scroll¡¯s alloy shaft within. In the golden light, the alloy shaft swiftly decomposed into countless alchemy symbols, intricate and ever-changing, dazzling to behold. Zi Di controlled the golden orb with her spiritual power, letting it slowly float toward the Crystal Ball. The Crystal Ball was as big as a millstone, semi-transparent and seemed to contain a mass of cloud mist¡ªit was the carrier of the Tower Spirit. The golden orb quickly merged into the Crystal Ball, starting to repair the Tower Spirit. The Crystal Ball was enveloped in golden light. About ten minutes later, the golden light gradually weakened until it completely vanished. The Crystal Ball remained unchanged, still appearing as the semi-transparent cloud mist it was before. However, shortly after, the voice of the Tower Spirit suddenly rang out, ¡°Authority detected¡­ Miss Zi Di, hello.¡± The three youths exchanged glances, each showing some joy. The voice of the Tower Spirit sounded different than before¡ªit was no longer as stiff and weak as when it first arrived on the ship. Zi Di spoke, ¡°Tower Spirit, begin self-diagnosis.¡± Previously, the Tower Spirit was unable to perform a self-diagnosis. But now, after using the scroll, the Tower Spirit immediately responded, ¡°Starting self-diagnosis estimation. Estimated time for self-diagnosis is 85 seconds. Confirm self-diagnosis?¡± ¡°Please proceed with the self-diagnosis,¡± confirmed Zi Di. ¡°Self-diagnosis countdown, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Self-diagnosis starting.¡± The three youths patiently waited for a bit over a minute. The Tower Spirit replied, ¡°Detected component loss¡­ Found memory bank loss¡­ Detected the Deep Sea Monster Fish¡­ Self-diagnosis complete. Overall assessment: current status 32%. Advised to repair soon, recommended components as follows¡­¡± The Tower Spirit continued listing various alchemy equipment names, and Zi Di hadn¡¯t interrupted, it would have continued. ¡°Stop there, Tower Spirit,¡± Zi Di thought for a moment, then inquired, ¡°I want to know, how much did that alchemy scroll just now help you recover?¡± Tower Spirit: ¡°Checking records¡­ Before scroll use, 17%, after scroll use, 32%. Another use of the same type of scroll is estimated to reach 40%.¡± From 17% to 32%, the alchemy scroll directly repaired the Tower Spirit by 15%. However, using it again would only result in an increase of 8%, reaching an estimated 40%. Zi Di then asked, ¡°What about using this type of scroll a third time? How much can you repair then?¡± Tower Spirit: ¡°2%.¡± The efficiency of the alchemy scroll¡¯s repairs drastically decreased. Typically, for a ship spirit, this type of scroll should be able to repair a lot. But the Tower Spirit is sourced from War Merchants, naturally making it a premium among Tower Spirits. Moreover, this is a Tower Spirit, not a ship spirit; there is a difference. ¡°Even if it¡¯s 8%, if we use this type of scroll again, we can almost repair the Tower Spirit by half,¡± Zi Di said. Despite the high price of the alchemy scroll, the girl considered it worthwhile to use one more. The Dragon-man youth, however, said, ¡°Let¡¯s see what gains we have after this repair by the Tower Spirit.¡± Next, Zi Di contacted the Tower Spirit mentally, investigating its memory bank, only to find embarrassingly that she couldn¡¯t access some of its contents. ¡°Tower Spirit, I wish to access the Array Maps of alchemy arrays from the different levels of the Central Tower,¡± Zi Di immediately said. Tower Spirit replied, ¡°Insufficient authority, please elevate authority.¡± The three of them were momentarily dumbfounded. Because before repairing the Tower Spirit, they were able to access the map related to the alchemy array. That¡¯s how the Jade Liquid Array in the Core Cabin came about. After the Tower Spirit was repaired, this part of the content was locked by the Tower Spirit. Zi Di asked again, ¡°Tower Spirit, elevate our authority!¡± Tower Spirit refused, ¡°Authorization from the first authority holder, War Merchant, is required to elevate your authority.¡± The three: ¡­ Was this what they exchanged for such a high cost? ¡°No, within the restored memory bank, I was able to access plenty of information, including various meditation techniques, spells, fighting energy formulas, combat skills, and alchemy techniques. These values far exceed the cost we paid for the scroll.¡± Zi Di continued to browse, and suddenly she exclaimed softly, ¡°I found some travel records of the War Merchant. It recorded that he had piloted the Deep Sea Monster Fish into the Sky Pillar sea region multiple times!¡± Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 345 - 345: Section 132: Replacing Holy-level Fighting Energy Chapter 345: Section 132: Replacing Holy-level Fighting Energy Looking at the records of War Merchants entering and leaving the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, Zi Di sighed, ¡°So, the War Merchant had entered the Sky Pillar in the Sea Eye long ago. Perhaps, Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale was snatched from the Charming Blue Divine Sect by him.¡± But the Dragon-man youth shook his head, ¡°No, I don¡¯t think the War Merchant is in an antagonistic relation with the Charming Blue Divine Sect. They should be cooperating.¡± ¡°Do you remember the great battle in the Sky Pillar Sea Eye?¡± the Dragon-man youth turned to Cang Xu, ¡°What were those Fishmen shouting when the Deep Sea Monster Fish made its first public appearance?¡± Cang Xu nodded slightly, ¡°If I remember correctly, they called the Deep Sea Monster Fish a Holy Beast.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the Dragon-man youth nodded, ¡°I gathered intelligence in Sea Eye City and also obtained information about a Holy Beast. ¡®The Fifth Lord¡¯ is a permanent resident of Sea Eye City as a child of a Holy Beast, but there are also tales of another Holy Beast among the locals. This Holy Beast appears occasionally and looks like a gigantic fish. It must be referring to the Deep Sea Monster Fish.¡± Besides that, there was another ironclad piece of evidence, but the Dragon-man youth chose to keep it secret. That was the third Blood Core. At that time, after the youth returned to the Deep Sea Monster Fish with the Goddess Mei Lan in his arms, he unexpectedly found the third Blood Core between her breasts. In these few days, the youth also quietly came to a conclusion. ¡°The War Merchant must have been cooperating with the Charming Blue Divine Sect already.¡± ¡°Quite possibly, the Charming Blue Divine Sect gave the War Merchant the Divine Artifact, Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, and in exchange, the War Merchant used the third Blood Core.¡± ¡°Periodically, the War Merchant pilots the Deep Sea Monster Fish to the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, replenishing enough Divine Power from the clergy, including priests, of the Charming Blue Divine Sect.¡± ¡°And the War Merchant also helped the Charming Blue Divine Sect, constructing an Alchemy Array, with a Blood Core as its core, and with additional deceit towards the Divine Domain, it appeared as miraculous Holy Water, providing a divine effect in enhancing the Fishman¡¯s bloodline within their bodies.¡± ¡°The Divine Authority of the Charming Blue God does not have any involvement in bloodline or life-related Divine Power in regards to deception and disguise.¡± Thinking this, the Dragon-man said to the two Mages present, ¡°If the War Merchant were opposing the Charming Blue God, the noise of a great battle erupting couldn¡¯t possibly be hidden from Sea Eye City, so close by. Nor would the Deep Sea Monster be regarded as a Holy Beast.¡± ¡°Since it¡¯s acknowledged as a Holy Beast, it must be with the tacit approval of the Charming Blue Divine Sect.¡± Cang Xu mused, ¡°This guess is very likely the truth. Think about it; both the War Merchant and the Charming Blue God are enemies of the Empire.¡± The War Merchant is one of the top ten wanted figures, and the Charming Blue God once engaged in a divine battle with the Empire¡¯s Great Dukes. Even now, the Holy Emperor is still searching for His traces, and the Goddess Mei Lan cannot even return to the Divine Country. Zi Di¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Since the War Merchant and Goddess Mei Lan are in a cooperative relationship, if we directly present Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale to the Goddess, She might just charge the Divine Artifact.¡± Cang Xu quickly shook his head, ¡°That action would be too risky.¡± ¡°Our ship ghost discovered that both gods were eagerly confrontational; if we get trapped in a standoff, we also lack the ability to disguise ourselves. Hastily pulling out the Divine Artifact might trigger the Goddess¡¯s awakening or disrupt the stalemate between the two gods.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± agreed the Dragon-man, ¡°we should stick to the original plan and use the Desecration Priest to secretly extract Divine Power.¡± Cang Xu spoke sternly, ¡°I will do my utmost, Captain.¡± At this, Zi Di added, ¡°Interestingly, in the restored memory storage, there are quite a few schematics for Alchemy Puppets. Hmm¡­ I think we can make a few Repairers. These are spherical puppets with propellers on their heads; the sphere can be fitted with repair components. With three such puppets, along with specific repair tools, we won¡¯t need to handle the arrays on and outside of Deep Sea Monster Fish ourselves.¡± This good news immediately caught the attention of the youth and the Undead Mage. After discussing it, they all agreed: the best strategy was to create the Repairer Puppets, and use them to repair the Deep Sea Monster Fish. This approach would be the most efficient, save the most time, and also provide long-term benefits in the future. The Deep Sea Monster Fish was originally equipped with Alchemy Puppets, which are general-purpose worker puppets, competent at everything, but masters of none. Thus, repairing the Deep Sea Monster Fish could only meet basic standards. But the Repairer Puppets were different; they were specifically designed by the War Merchant for repair type tasks, experts in their field, naturally resulting in superior repair outcomes. In the realm of alchemy, puppet crafting is not where the War Merchant excels. However, he is an alchemy master, and even if it¡¯s not his strong suit, for the Justice Pirate Group and even the outside world, they are high-quality, priceless commodities. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With Zong Ge in a coma, the highest pillars of the Justice Pirate Group were the Dragon-man youth, Zi Di, and Cang Xu. Having decided on their plans, Cang Xu and Zi Di left the Core Cabin, while the Dragon-man stayed. He stroked the Tower Spirit housed within the Crystal Ball, channeling his spirit to access the information within. He mainly looked at Fighting energy techniques and Combat Skills. The Sky Pillar Sea Eye battle had given losses and gains to the Justice Pirate Group. The losses mainly included personnel and ships; the members of the Justice Pirate Group suffered many casualties and some were missing, such as the grey-clad Feng Yao, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Additionally, their supply of Pearl Bubble had exhausted. However, their gains included the Goddess Mei Lan, the Truth Divine Pupil, and the third Blood Core. Clearly, in terms of value, the gains of the Justice Pirate Group were immense; the losses were minor in comparison. This also made the situations of the Dragon-man youth and the others increasingly severe and dangerous. If discovered, these gains would be the greatest cause for their destruction. The dilemma faced by the Navy Rear Admiral Kan Qiao and others further stirred the youth¡¯s heart, filling him with a sense of crisis. Over the three days since departing from the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, he constantly reassessed himself, feeling that he needed to quickly boost his power, focusing intensively on the Blood Core. The third Blood Core, accidentally obtained from Goddess Mei Lan, had already been assimilated by the youth¡¯s own Blood Core. The third contained a variety of Fishman Bloodlines, with the three strongest bloodlines being the Shark Blue Fishman Bloodline, the Algae Washing Fishman Bloodline, and the Bolang Fishman Bloodline. All of them were of the Divine Level! These three Divine Bloodlines represent the domains of Fighting Energy, Magic, and Divine Arts, respectively. The Shark Blue Fishman Bloodline was the first bloodline the youth acquired. Previously, a mutation had occurred when he bathed in the Holy Spring, but it was not a complete bloodline. After absorbing the third Blood Core, the youth¡¯s three Divine Bloodlines were all at 100%! Using the Shark Blue Fishman Bloodline to cultivate Fighting Energy proved to be much more efficient than using the King of Flame Dragon Bloodline. However, in the areas of Magic and Divine Arts, it was only slightly better than that of the King of Flame Dragon. The same logic applied to washing seaweed and Bolang. The Fishman is a Lower Species, while the Dragon Clan is considered superior. Therefore, the number and quality of Divine Bloodlines possessed by the Fishman are far inferior to those of the Dragon Clan. ¡°The bloodline of the King of Flame Dragon is of legendary grade. However, I only devoured one King of Flame Dragon, so the bloodline is very incomplete, but the Shark Blue bloodline is at 100%.¡± The youth had already used the Shark Blue Bloodline in real combat, and the overall performance was not much different from the Dragon-man form. There were two main reasons for this. The first was that the enemy was too strong, making it difficult to discern differences between the two forms. The second reason was the Shark Blue Fishman Form¡¯s lack of corresponding Fighting Energy techniques and Combat Skills. ¡°If I pair the Shark Blue Fishman Form with suitable Fighting Energy techniques and Combat Skills, then my combat power will surely surpass the current Dragon-man form!¡± Soon, a hint of joy flashed across the youth¡¯s face. ¡°I do have suitable Fighting Energy techniques for me!¡± The War Merchant¡¯s collection of Fighting Energy techniques was extensive. Being legendary level and immensely wealthy, he had access to resources ordinary people couldn¡¯t obtain. Although there were noticeable gaps in the Memory Bank, the Dragon-man youth still found a Fighting Energy technique suitable for himself. The name of this technique was Light and Thin Fate Technique. It was a Fighting Energy technique used by the Fishman Race, not the Human Race. The bodily structure of a Fishman is similar to humans, but there are many differences compared to the Human Race. Light and Thin Fate Technique was most suitable for the Shark Blue Fishman Form. If it were a Human Race technique, the youth would have to exert much effort and time to modify it. From a grading perspective, the Light and Thin Fate Technique was of Holy Domain Grade. Its greatest advantage lay in speed. Cultivating it allowed the fighter to move and strike incredibly fast. Of course, it also greatly surpassed the Blast Fighting Energy Technique in terms of defense, strength, injury recovery, and energy restoration. The latter was, after all, only of Silver Level. It was worth noting for the youth that the Light and Thin Fate Technique had a significant downside. This downside was that the Fishman who cultivated this technique would see their scales gradually become thinner and lighter over time, eventually becoming as brittle as paper, causing their defense to plummet. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for this drawback, this Fighting Energy technique might reach the Legendary Grade!¡± The technique also provided a solution for coping with this significant disadvantage. That was to periodically scrape off scales, allowing new scales to regrow. ¡°I am not a true Shark Blue Fishman, but rather transformed due to a Blood Core Mutation. Perhaps, I can simply ignore this drawback?¡± Following that, the youth focused on memorizing the content of this Fighting Energy technique. After firmly remembering it, he left the Core Cabin and immediately plunged into the sea to begin his cultivation. They had just arrived at Dagger Town, having completed the initial exchange of supplies, and expected to finish completely in three more days. ¡°At least for now, it¡¯s relatively safe.¡± During the period of transitioning his internal Fighting Energy, the youth¡¯s combat strength would be greatly reduced, leaving him in a weakened state. But he had an intuition telling him if he gave this up, he wouldn¡¯t have such an opportunity again for some time. In the deep sea at night, there was not a trace of light. But the Shark Blue youth¡¯s vision was clear, finding tranquility and comfort in the chilly darkness of the water. He dived deeper and deeper. The Deep Sea Monster Fish had already explored the surroundings, discovering seabed whirlpools in the area. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The water in the seabed whirlpools moved like blades, spinning rapidly, causing all nearby life to avoid them. Yet, this was the perfect place to cultivate the Light and Thin Fate Technique. Taking a deep breath of seawater, his fish gills immediately activated, extracting the oxygen for the Shark Blue youth. The next moment, the youth plunged into the whirlpool, throwing caution to the wind. Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 346 - 346: Section 133: The Terror of the Divine Bloodline Chapter 346: Section 133: The Terror of the Divine Bloodline As soon as he entered the underwater vortex, the Fishman youth became unstable. The strong currents hit him like being at the bottom of a waterfall. The immense force almost pushed him straight out. Just when he was near the edge of the vortex, the youth finally adjusted himself. He swam with all his might into the vortex, using the momentum of the water to avoid being thrown out. The Shark Blue Bloodline, being of the Divine Grade, allowed the Fishman youth to quickly adapt to the currents. He also discovered a pattern: although the direction of the water in the underwater vortex changed a lot, overall, it revolved around the center of the vortex. Moments later, the Fishman youth swam freely within the vortex. His fluid form, agile limbs, and flexible long tail made him feel as comfortable as a fish in water. In this state, the Fishman youth began practicing the Light and Thin Fate Fighting Energy Technique. This was his first time cultivating this new Fighting Energy Technique, and he picked it up very quickly. Within a few seconds, he felt a surge of new Fighting Energy emanating from all over his body. Although still silver in color, the youth instantly felt a significant difference between the new Fighting Energy and the old. ¡°Wow, so powerful¡­¡± The next moment, the youth¡¯s eyes slightly glazed over, his heart filled with awe. Countless new Fighting Energies burst forth from his body. In that instant, he had an illusion. He felt as if his entire body was submerged in the newly generated Fighting Energy, as if he was in a sea of silver-white light, with infinite new Fighting Energy penetrating and infusing into him from outside his body. ¡°Is this¡­ the Divine Bloodline!¡± The Fishman youth was utterly astonished. A Bloodline is the foundation for Transcendents¡¯ cultivation and the main factor in cultivation. Ordinary people cultivating Fighting Energy, like Bai Ya, strive with extreme effort, yet produce only bits of Fighting Energy. Possessing a Bronze Grade Bloodline, such as Xu Ma, the produced Fighting Energy seemed like mist. For Black Iron Grade like Lan Zao, the Fighting Energy appeared as droplets. Silver Grade appeared like streams. Reaching Gold Level, the Fighting Energy poured like a waterfall. At Holy Domain Grade, cultivating Fighting Energy felt like connecting to a great river, ceaselessly flowing. Legendary Grade, the generation of Fighting Energy was like the vast ocean, turbulent and surging. Divine Bloodlines, the cultivator seemed to reside in divine light, radiant inside and out, endless and boundless! The formation speed of the new Fighting Energy was astonishingly fast. The old Fighting Energy inside the Fishman youth had no resistance and was quickly transformed. The youth¡¯s originally cultivated Blast Fighting Energy Technique was far inferior to the Light and Thin Fate Technique. Ten parts of old Fighting Energy could only convert into two parts of new Fighting Energy. Half an hour later, the youth¡¯s old Fighting Energy had completely disappeared, and his body was entirely filled with the new Fighting Energy. The youth continued his cultivation. His body was like a bottomless pit, continuously absorbing and storing the newly produced Fighting Energy. ¡°My previous Dragon-man Bloodline, although it reached Legendary Level, was not complete. Now, with 100% Divine Level, and fully complete Shark Fishman form, the capacity of my Fighting Energy has exploded countless times!¡± ¡°Thinking about it, I¡¯m still somewhat hindered by the Light and Thin Fate Technique. This Technique is only at Holy Domain Level, while my current Divine Grade Bloodline and body are most suited for a Divine Level Technique.¡± ¡°If I had such a Technique, my cultivation efficiency would increase even more, reaching a state of endless and boundless divine light!¡± The Fishman youth was immersed in cultivation, almost forgetting the time. A slight stinging sensation from all over his body snapped him out of it. He suddenly realized: ¡°My body can still contain the Light and Thin Fighting Energy, but this time in cultivation, my body is also approaching its limit.¡± He hastily exited the underwater vortex, swimming alone, moving far from Dun Dao Island, and finally surfaced on a reef cluster for a brief rest. Touching his fish scales, he found them much thinner, easily breaking with a light bend. Underneath the scales, the skin, though tough and sturdy, was also oozing slight traces of blood. ¡°This is the downside of the new Fighting Energy Technique. Can I use a Blood Core to compensate?¡± the youth began to experiment. The attempt failed. After a flash of red light, the fish scales remained unchanged. ¡°I understand!¡± the youth suddenly realized. To verify his guess, he extended his left arm, transforming it back to a human arm. Without the Mutation, his bare human arm immediately cracked open, covered in wounds, bleeding profusely. At the same time, he felt his arm was extremely swollen, the Light and Thin Fighting Energy almost bursting through! The Fishman youth quickly Mutated his arm back. Human blood covered on the brittle fish scales, continuously dripping down. The scales, being thin and brittle, should be considered as the youth¡¯s injuries, and thus could not be instantly changed by the demon energy in the Blood Core. ¡°My human body was modified by the War Merchant, mixed with the Legendary Bloodline of the golden needle bee, but it wasn¡¯t complete and even worse off than in my Dragon-man state.¡± ¡°The Fishman God form can hold more of the Light and Thin Fighting Energy, but the human body can hardly bear it.¡± ¡°If the reserve of Fighting Energy reaches its limit in the Shark Blue Fishman form, I shouldn¡¯t rashly transform into other life forms. If I change back to the Human Race, I might be burst by my inner Fighting Energy in the next second!¡± ¡°In fact, I should also avoid transforming into other Fishman forms like the Bolang Fishman, or the Dragon-man form.¡± While the Shark Blue Bloodline was top-notch in Fighting Energy, it was far behind the Bolang and Dragon-man Bloodlines in terms of Magic and Divine Arts. The reverse was also true. For these two Divine Grade Bloodlines, bearing the ultimate reserve of Fighting Energy of the Shark Blue Fishman form was relatively difficult. Although the Blood Core was useless, the Fishman youth still had other methods. He took out Healing Potions, Recovery Scrolls, and so on, applying each one to himself. Fish scales becoming brittle and thin was essentially a type of injury. Since it was an injury, it was naturally curable. However, having used various healing methods, the Fishman youth discovered their effectiveness was not very high. He analyzed the reasons, which were probably two-fold. The first reason was that healing the Shark Blue Divine Body was much more difficult than healing a human body or a Dragon-man form, even though all three were of the Silver Level. The second reason was that various healing methods could only offer some superficial relief for scale damage and lacked specific targeting. For example, the main effect of Healing Potion was to stop bleeding and heal wounds on the skin. In fact, the Fishman youth had never heard of a potion specifically for treating fish scales. After pondering for a long time, the youth checked his body again and found that his scales had thickened somewhat. ¡°This is the self-healing ability of the Shark Blue Divine Body!¡± Somewhat embarrassingly, this self-healing effect was better than the sum of his recent continuous treatments. At the same time, the youth also noticed that his Light and Thin Fate Fighting Energy had diminished significantly. ¡°My Fighting Energy soaks through my entire body, nourishing every part of it¡ªplus the body¡¯s need to heal, naturally there will be a consumption of Fighting Energy.¡± The youth was delighted, from this point it was apparent that the Light and Thin Fate Technique was highly compatible with the Shark Blue Divine Body. If it had been Blast Fighting Energy before, which leaned towards fire attributes, it would have been difficult for the Shark Blue Divine Body to absorb and the effects on nourishing the Fishman youth¡¯s body would have been very poor. After resting for a while, the Fishman youth dove back into the sea to cultivate his Fighting Energy Technique. Meanwhile, Zi Di had also arrived at Dun Dao City. Due to geographical constraints, there was mainly one city and one town on Dun Dao Island¡ªDun Dao City and Sharp Dao Town. Because of the special location of Dun Dao Island, trade volume was not small, and the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce had also set up a contact point there. The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, having been devoured by various major powers, had retained these overseas contact points, which were too insignificant for the major powers to care about, thus they still remained in the hands of the current Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. During the day, the Justice Pirate Group docked and exchanged supplies with the receptionist. Shortly after nightfall, Zi Di said farewell to Cang Xu and the youth, then quietly left the Deep Sea Monster Fish ship, heading for Dun Dao City. Half an hour later, she arrived at her destination. She was not alone; accompanying her were Sanda, Di Lou, and Qiu. Upon reaching a corner of the city wall, Zi Di used magic to contact her subordinates. Soon, the city gate cracked open slightly. After a subordinate nodded and bowed to the City Guard, he immediately ran out to greet Zi Di. Zi Di tossed a Magic Token to the subordinate, who immediately verified it with his own Magic Tools. After confirming it, he beamed with a smile, ¡°Elder, please come inside quickly.¡± Zi Di wore a mask, beneath which her appearance had changed dramatically. Before setting off, she had taken a Transformation Potion. The others did likewise. Despite using her own power, Zi Di still did not reveal her identity, instead acting in the capacity of a Guild Elder. Under the subordinate¡¯s guidance, they smoothly passed through the city gate and officially entered Dun Dao City. ¡°Sir, this way, please.¡± The subordinate had prepared carriages inside the city. The four of them got into two separate carriages. The subordinate accompanied Zi Di. ¡°Sir, your timing is perfect. Today happens to be the day for the Black Market auction.¡± Zi Di nodded, first inquiring about the Black Market situation and then about the business condition of the Purple Vine Guild¡¯s shop there. The subordinate soon broke into a sweat under her questioning, deeply feeling the shrewdness and difficulty of the Guild Elder in front of him. In no time, Zi Di had caught several discrepancies from the subordinate¡¯s responses. Clearly, the person responsible for Dun Dao City had embezzled quite a bit of the Guild¡¯s benefits during the drastic changes faced by the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. But Zi Di pretended not to know. According to the Guild¡¯s records, when selecting the person in charge here initially, it was done with considerable deliberation. The current subordinate and a major family within Dun Dao City had close blood ties. Because of this connection, the subordinate could easily bribe the City Guard and open the way for Zi Di and others at night. Given the current need for manpower and the perilous situation at hand, Zi Di did not intend to delve into the subordinate¡¯s responsibilities. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, as Zi Di and the others headed to the Black Market, a Beastman arrived at the city gate. ¡°Who goes there? Stop!¡± The City Guard issued a warning. The Beastman scoffed, lifted his hood to reveal a dog¡¯s head, pulled out a token, and raised it high: ¡°Open your eyes wide and take a good look!¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s the Imperial Navy!¡± The City Guard members cried out in surprise, simultaneously feeling disdain and disgust, ¡°Just a Beastman¡­¡± ¡°Open the gate and let me in,¡± commanded Captain Sea Dog, a subordinate of General Kan Qiao. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Immediately, the city gate opened again. Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 347 - 347: Section 134: Black Market Auction Chapter 347: Section 134: Black Market Auction Dun Dao City. The streets were nearly deserted at night, with only two carriages parked outside the storefront of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. Zi Di and her entourage didn¡¯t head straight for the auction but first entered the local branch store. A magical girl held a slab, which was engraved with a large segment of text. The text was dense and disorderly, clearly requiring a special cipher to deconstruct and reveal the true information hidden within. Zi Di checked it three times, and after confirming that there were no errors, she solemnly placed the slab into the recess. This was a pillar-shaped magic device, designed specifically for communication. The pillar was only half the height of a person, with a round top that featured a central recess. The rectangular slab fit into the groove, seamlessly matching the patterns. ¡°Once this step is taken, there can be no turning back,¡± Zi Di thought to herself. Her hesitation lasted only a moment. The Pearl Bubble was depleted, the situation urgent; she had to seek the help of the Hundred Needles Clan Leader and clear her name as soon as possible! Zi Di used spirit manipulation to control the pillar, starting to infuse it with all her mana. The magic device activated, emitting bursts of yellow light. The light gathered on the surface of the slab, causing the text to come alive and transform into a stream of blue light, transferring from the slab into the pillar. The yellow light on the pillar instantly turned into blue light, which shot downward and vanished in the blink of an eye. ¡°The message has been sent¡­ successfully!¡± Zi Di exhaled a breath of stale air and pushed open the room door. At the door, Di Lou stood guard diligently. Shortly afterward, Sanda and the shop manager brought a small chest, filled with gold coins, to join up with Zi Di. The small chest was the store¡¯s funds. With the funds in hand, Zi Di and the others returned to the carriage. The carriage once again raced through the empty, dark streets. An enemy hidden on the rooftop stealthily dropped into the carriage. The manager led Zi Di, Di Lou, and Sanda into the Black Market auction hall. Not only did they move unimpeded, but they also had a special private box. Despite the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce being in ruins, its reputation still held some sway. The manager, though corrupt, had strong connections and was well-received here. The auction had already started for a while, but with a secret door behind their box, no one was aware that Zi Di and her group had joined mid-way. As Zi Di took her seat, a Magic Pendant was being auctioned on stage. The pendant appeared to be made of bras, with the bottom oriented upward and the mouth downward, continuously dripping water. ¡°This is a Fresh Water Bottle of Silver Grade. When at rest, it absorbs and transforms water elements from the air into freshwater. If we infuse magic power or fill it with Water Elemental Crystals, it can produce a large amount of fresh water. With sufficient mana, this small pendant could meet the freshwater needs of 200 people a day. The starting bid is 100 Gold Coins, and each bid must be no less than 10 Gold Coins. Let us begin the auction!¡± No sooner had the auctioneer finished speaking than someone in the hall bid, ¡°110 Gold.¡± ¡°120 Gold.¡± ¡°130 Gold.¡± ¡°150 Gold!¡± The price was raised to 150 Gold Coins, which met with a moment of silence. The auctioneer banged the gavel, concluding the auction. The Fresh Water Bottle was taken down, replaced by an exquisitely small compass. ¡°The next item, a palm-sized compass of Silver Grade¡­¡± the auctioneer spoke at a moderate pace, enunciating clearly. The compass sold quickly for 140 Gold. Next up were two pieces of Silver Grade armor. The auctioneer¡¯s pitch rose noticeably, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please pay attention, the next item is the Feathered Snake Sail of the coveted Golden Level. Allow me to introduce it with great honor¡ªThe Feathered Snake Sail!¡± Two fighters of the Black Iron Level carried a large wooden box onto the stage together. They opened the box to reveal a sail that was neatly packed and almost filled the box to the brim. The auctioneer went on to explain the sail¡¯s area, dimensions, and other details, stirring up a great deal of excitement in the crowd. In the end, the Feathered Snake Sail was sold for 980 Gold Coins. Seeing this, Zi Di gradually formed an assessment in her mind. Overall, these prices were quite reasonable. Copper coins, silver coins, and gold coins were the main currencies, circulating between various continents and playing a significant role in trades both large and small. In terms of the Holy Bright Empire, the basic annual living expenses for a common person ranged from 5,000 to 30,000 copper coins, which equated to 0.5 to 3 Gold Coins. In major cities, housing prices were around 10,000 copper coins per square meter, or 1 Gold Coin/m2. The annual income for a barony was around 4,800 Gold Coins. Gold Coins had enormous purchasing power. As for the auction items, most were related to the naval domain. After all, Dun Dao City was a port city, with massive demands in the area of sailing. Zi Di observed the auction items while listening to the manager¡¯s intelligence. The Black Market auction wasn¡¯t hosted by a single power but was co-organized by the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, two prominent families, and the Clam Cloth Guild. The former two constituted the highest echelon of Dun Dao City, while the latter had an even more significant standing, being one of the six major guilds of the Holy Bright Empire. Multiple powers co-hosting the event was naturally a good thing for Zi Di. Zi Di also learned about many auction records and historical transaction prices for a large amount of auctioned goods. Overall, this Black Market auction hall was mid-range, with the highest Grade of items at the Golden Level. After all, Dun Dao City was not a large city, and its strongest was the City Lord, a Golden Level fighter. From these auction records, Zi Di also discerned the financial strength of her main competitors. Excluding unexpected parties, her primary rivals were the City Lord¡¯s mansion and the two major families. This time, Zi Di¡¯s main goal was to purchase some alchemy materials to create Repairer Puppets. The materials required for the puppets included a number of mid-range materials. These materials, in the markets of Dun Dao City, were hard to gather in a short period of time, but at the auction, she could get them all in one go. Through the person in charge, she had already acquired the list of items for this auction. The list only had short descriptions, and items of alchemical nature were concentrated in the latter part of the auction. Zi Di wasn¡¯t in a hurry and showed ample patience. During the first half of the auction, she also repeatedly made bids through the Magic Device. Although she didn¡¯t have a strong need for these pieces of equipment or Magic Tools, she needed to throw her competitors off their game, unable to easily discern her purchasing preferences. ¡°The Justice Pirate Group has an elder level person from the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce among them. No, even if it¡¯s not an elder, being able to produce an elder token indicates a deep relationship between the two,¡± Sea Dog Captain also snuck in. He leveraged General Kan Qiao¡¯s reputation and also secured a private box. Due to Zi Di¡¯s random bidding, a lot of auction items were willfully mixed up, leaving the Sea Dog Captain unable to discern anything for a moment and he could only continue to watch quietly. The first half of the auction soon ended. This kind of black market auction took place at least once a month. Entering the intermission, the attendees whispered and murmured. Some discussed the auction items, some renewed old ties and networked, while others were organizing funds. The second half had just started when an unexpected item appeared. The auctioneer announced, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please pay attention, we have a special item up next. This is a Golden Level Magic Scroll, officially known as the Ship Spirit Repair Alchemy Scroll! You may not know much about it, so I will give a detailed introduction to the background of this item.¡± ¡°The creator is no ordinary person¡­¡± With the auctioneer¡¯s explanation, the attention of everyone in the room was captured. Zi Di was quite surprised: ¡°Is it really a Ship Spirit Repair Scroll? It¡¯s still Tuck¡¯s creation, unmistakable, exactly the same.¡± Sea Dog Captain snorted coldly: ¡°This kind of scroll is specially provided to the Navy and spy departments; it¡¯s outrageous that it has leaked out, those despicable Empire vermin!¡± Tuck and the Empire had a strict contract¡ªit wasn¡¯t sold to multiple parties. Such important wartime materials leaking into the outside market was very likely due to corruption and underhanded deals by persons within the Empire. ¡°The starting bid for this item is 1,000 Gold, with each bid increase being at least 50 Gold. Now, the auction begins!¡± After an extensive introduction by the auctioneer, the official auction was declared open. The room went silent for a brief moment before someone made a bid: ¡°1,050 Gold Coins.¡± Soon after, bids came in quick succession, and the price was raised to 1,350 Gold. Zi Di also placed a bid, her brows tightly knit at the moment. She really wanted to acquire this alchemy scroll, but her available funds were limited, and her main objective hadn¡¯t been met yet, which added to her pressure. ¡°1,500 Gold!¡± Hesitating for a moment, Zi Di still placed her bid. ¡°Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce bids 1,500 Gold!¡± The auctioneer was stimulated, raising his tone. Sea Dog Captain was taken aback: ¡°The Justice Pirate Group has such strong finances? During the day, they exchanged with the Empire for a Ship Spirit Repair Scroll, and now they want to buy another. It seems they really do have a ship spirit in need of repair!¡± With Zi Di¡¯s sudden addition of 150 Gold, others in the audience became hesitant. On one hand, although the scroll was Golden Level, it was a single-use consumable, and 1,500 Gold was already quite high. On the other hand, not everyone possessed a ship spirit, and even if they had one, it might not be damaged. Thirdly, the Ship Spirit Repair Scroll was making its first appearance on the market, and people were still unclear about its value. ¡°1,500 Gold for the first time, 1,500 Gold for the second time,¡± the auctioneer began the countdown. Zi Di¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but beat slightly faster. For the Justice Pirate Group, the Ship Spirit Repair Scroll offered great benefits. Zi Di was very clear in her mind that 1,500 Gold Coins was a huge bargain! ¡°1,500 Gold Coins for the third¡­¡± The auctioneer had just lifted his hammer when all of a sudden a voice called out, ¡°City Lord¡¯s mansion bids 1,550 Gold!¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di¡¯s expression changed immediately and she increased her bid: ¡°1,600 Gold.¡± The City Lord¡¯s mansion matched the bid again: ¡°1,650 Gold.¡± Zi Di clenched her teeth: ¡°1,800 Gold.¡± The room erupted with murmurs. The City Lord¡¯s mansion once again followed with a firm attitude: ¡°2,000 Gold!¡± The person in charge changed color, couldn¡¯t help but interject a reminder, ¡°Elder, the one bidding is the City Lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s Housekeeper.¡± Zi Di pinched her fists tightly, hesitating: ¡°2,050 Gold.¡± Mocking laughter came from within the City Lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s box: ¡°2,200 Gold!¡± The price was very steep now. The hall grew noisy, the crowd buzzing with discussions. Generally, a Golden Level weapon wouldn¡¯t cost more than about 1,600 Gold. An alchemy scroll, which could only be used once, having been auctioned for 2,200 Gold, was extremely high. Unless there was a strong need, it was clearly a loss. Zi Di chose to give up. She instructed her person in charge: ¡°Find out, who sold this scroll? I¡¯d like to request a purchase, we can negotiate the price.¡± The person in charge wiped the sweat from his forehead and immediately left the box. Meanwhile, in another box, Sea Dog Captain sneered: ¡°The City Lord¡¯s mansion bought it? Heh, they dare to buy such military equipment?¡± Right away, he had made up his mind to report this matter. This was a serious matter, and even a Golden Level City Lord couldn¡¯t hold onto such an alchemy scroll¡ªthey would have to hand it over obediently. However, tracing the source would be quite difficult. After all, one of the six major Guilds ran the black market from behind the scenes. Chapter 348 - 348: Section 135: The Rich and Arrogant Zi Di Chapter 348: Section 135: The Rich and Arrogant Zi Di Dun Dao City, Black Market auction. Not long after the auction for the Ship Spirit Repair Scroll, Zi Di and her group finally waited for the first batch of materials they planned to purchase. A female fighter, holding a small wooden box, stood on the stage. A beam of light shone onto the small wooden box, while the rest of the area remained dimly lit. The fighter slowly opened the small wooden box, revealing a small pile of metal ingots inside. Under the light, the metal ingots sparkled with a dazzling silver-white brilliance. The eyes of the people below were all focused on these metals. Zi Di felt a warmth in her heart and whispered to herself, ¡°As I thought, Mithril ingots.¡± Mithril is a rare metal, far more precious than Gold. It is very light, with an extensibility comparable to Bronze, yet its hardness surpasses that of steel. In poetry, this metal is praised as ¡°light as a feather, tough as Dragon Scale,¡± an obvious use of hyperbole. Most crucially, Mithril possesses strong affinity for Magic. Its conductivity for Mana and demon energy is exceptionally strong. Therefore, the majority of Mithril¡¯s uses are in forging Magic Tools or as the primary material for drawing Arrays. The auction officially began, and the price of this small box of Mithril ingots continued to rise. When the price seemed to stagnate, Zi Di made her move, abruptly declaring a high bid. ¡°Is it the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce?¡± Someone still followed, not intimidated. Zi Di raised her bid again, showing her determination to win at all costs. ¡°3, 2, 1, bang.¡± The auctioneer finished the countdown, ¡°Congratulations to the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce for successfully purchasing this box of Mithril ingots.¡± The Mithril ingots were taken away and directly delivered to the box where Zi Di and her people were seated. A person in charge from the Black Market accompanied them, greeting Zi Di with a smile on his face. As they were conversing, a small murmur arose from the hall. ¡°Aojin!¡± ¡°Am I seeing things?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Aojin to appear at this auction!¡± ¡°Why wasn¡¯t it listed on the item description?¡± ¡°Clearly, this is a special item inserted mid-way through the auction!¡± The crowd discussed amongst themselves while eyeing the small pile of Aojin on the stage with burning gazes. Aojin is a synthetic metal, while Refined Gold has its native veins in nature. This is the biggest difference between the two. In terms of price, Aojin is more expensive than Refined Gold, classifying it as an Advanced Alchemy Material. Refined Gold¡¯s range is in the upper-middle class. Mainly because the primary method of refining Aojin is the combination and melting of Refined Gold Bar and materials like the Arcane Crystal. Zi Di¡¯s gaze was immediately captured by it. The transaction had already concluded, and the receptionist from the Black Market tactfully retreated. Zi Di bid twice, but the price of Aojin climbed steadily and was ultimately bought by one of the only two major families in Dun Dao City. Inside the box of the City Lord, the Housekeeper ground his teeth, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Ship Spirit Repair Scroll consuming too much of my funds, how could I have lost?¡± The auction of Aojin caused a small surge of excitement. Following that¡­ ¡°Congratulations to the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce for successfully bidding on the Bronze ingots.¡± ¡°Congratulations to the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce for obtaining these three tons of Sea Blue Ore.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s congratulate the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, the new owner of this pile of Obsidian!¡± Zi Di made frequent purchases, acquiring a large amount of alchemy materials. These actions caught the attention of everyone present. Zi Di¡¯s purchasing targets had been completely exposed. ¡°This isn¡¯t good. Although the Black Market auction happens once a month, these alchemy materials are accumulated over a quarter before being auctioned.¡± ¡°Having just acquired Aojin, our expenditure has exceeded the budget. Send someone, contact the Housekeeper of the City Lord¡¯s residence¡­¡± ¡°As local forces, we must join hands to fend off the outsider. We can¡¯t let the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce stir up trouble in Dun Dao City!¡± Responsibles from the City Lord¡¯s residence and the two major families quickly communicated in secret, reaching some form of agreement to work together. Afterward, they began to oppose Zi Di, inflating the prices. Zi Di endured, securing various alchemy materials at even higher prices. ¡°My Lord, this can¡¯t be good,¡± the responsible person of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce in the area was sweating profusely. Di Lou and Sanda also looked distressed, realizing their side was being targeted by the local forces. Beneath her mask, Zi Di¡¯s expression was resolute, ¡°No matter.¡± Another item was displayed inside the hall. Similarly in a small wooden box, it contained a pile of silver-blue metal ingots with a certain luster. ¡°Refined Gold!¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes heated up slightly. The production of Refined Gold is very low, its rarity comparable to Mithril. It also possesses strong magical affinity, more often used to craft weapons and armor. Refined Gold is relatively heavy, with its greatest strength being its hardness! It is known as the hardest metal, far surpassing steel in terms of hardness. The Justice Pirate Group lacked Refined Gold. They previously obtained some from Mysterious Monster Island. But after a period of depletion, there was hardly any left, making a large supply a necessity! ¡°A small box of Refined Gold ingots, starting bid of 1500 Gold. Each bid must increase by at least 100 Gold, let the auction begin,¡± the auctioneer shouted. Before others could even react, Zi Di immediately placed a bid, ¡°2000 Gold!¡± The hall fell silent for a moment, as everyone was daunted by Zi Di¡¯s bid. But the City Lord¡¯s Housekeeper immediately followed up through the Magic Device, offering, ¡°2100 Gold Coins.¡± Zi Di scoffed, ¡°3000 Gold Coins!¡± The Housekeeper of the City Lord, and representatives from both major families, pupils shrank. Just as they hesitated and thought about raising their bids, they heard Zi Di bid again, ¡°3500 Gold Coins!!¡± The Housekeeper of the City Lord and the heads of the two families stiffened, sensing the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce¡¯s determination to win at all costs, and they could only reluctantly concede, grinding their teeth in frustration. Zi Di decisively secured the Refined Gold. Her firm attitude made everyone at the auction wear a serious expression and they began to whisper amongst themselves. ¡°The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce is still staggeringly powerful despite its damages.¡± ¡°Why are they so intent on purchasing these materials? Could they be planning something big?¡± ¡°Damn it, at this rate, I haven¡¯t been able to acquire much alchemy materials for my family. How am I to complete the task given by my family?¡± The Refined Gold was immediately sent to the private box. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After paying the Gold Coins, Zi Di watched nearly ten boxes in the private box and exhaled a breath of stale air, ¡°With this, the hardest part of the procurement plan¡¯s target has been completed.¡± The materials in the private box were not all of it. The Sea Blue Ore previously purchased by Zi Di was not among them. These ores, weighing three tons, were temporarily placed outside. Their quality had been personally confirmed by Di Lou, who had gone out specifically for that purpose. Suddenly, someone ran up to the stage and conversed quietly with the auctioneer before promptly stepping down. ¡°Next, we have a special treasure,¡± the auctioneer announced, still sporting a hint of amazement on his face. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please look!¡± Four fighters from the Black Market step onto the stage, carrying a briefcase. Upon opening the briefcase, the audience saw a pile of black crystals and were all puzzled. But the Housekeeper of the City Lord exclaimed in astonishment. The heads of the other two major families also quickly recognized it and couldn¡¯t sit still any longer, standing up immediately. These black crystals were of varying lengths and sizes, but all were elongated. Their entire bodies were deeply shadowy, emitting an unfathomable chill, and their auras were uneven, ranging from Bronze, Black Iron, to Silver. ¡°To be honest, although I have long heard of such treasures, this is my first time seeing one in the flesh,¡± the auctioneer said with emotion. ¡°They look like crystals, but they are essentially the essence of a soul.¡± ¡°Absorbed in a certain way, Transcendents, whether cultivating Fighting Energy, Magic, or even Divine Arts, can enhance their spirit and increase spiritual power.¡± By this point, the hall had erupted with continuous exclamation. Finally, the auctioneer declared, ¡°Yes, these are Soul Crystals!¡± The hall was abuzz. The creation of Soul Crystals required the use of Undead Magic. Each Soul Crystal represented a living being¡¯s life. The more intelligent the life, the higher the quality of the Soul Crystal. People were terrified of Undead Mages. But for Soul Crystals made by Undead Mages, they were desperately coveted! Such a large batch of Soul Crystals was definitely rare on the market. ¡°2000 Gold Coins!¡± Zi Di preempted the auctioneer, seizing the initiative. ¡°Dream on, 2500 Gold Coins!¡± immediately countered the Housekeeper of the City Lord. ¡°3000 Gold Coins,¡± came the rough breathing of one of the family heads. ¡°3500 Gold Coins,¡± declared another family head fearlessly. Zi Di snorted dismissively, ¡°5000 Gold Coins!¡± The auction house was stunned for a moment, then bids came from the hall, ¡°5500 Gold Coins!¡± ¡°You think we¡¯d be scared by you? 6000 Gold Coins!¡± ¡°I must have this today, 6500 Gold Coins!¡± ¡°Please give me some face, I bid 7000 Gold Coins.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your face worth? 7500 Gold Coins.¡± ¡°Gentlemen, with so many Soul Crystals and our limited strength, we must join forces to bid. After winning, we can divide them based on the amount of funds each has put in, what do you say?¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± ¡°Count me in!¡± Thus, someone rallied everyone¡¯s strength and bid 8000 Gold Coins. Yet, 8000 Gold Coins was not the final mark; the price continued to climb. The auctioneer was excited to the point of trembling in his voice. Zi Di also made several bids in the latter half, raising each time by only 100 Gold Coins, and ultimately ¡°reluctantly¡± gave up. The final price for the Soul Crystals was 9100 Gold Coins. This price exceeded that of most Golden Level weapons and neared the lowest-grade Holy Artifacts. After a successful trade, the auctioneer was flushed and quite excited. He knew that, despite the high price of Soul Crystals, its final price of 9100 Gold Coins still seemed somewhat inflated. This was mainly because the atmosphere of the auction was too fervent; people competed with each other and lost a portion of their rationality in a kind of impulsive shopping. The trade of Soul Crystals was the climax of the entire auction. Afterward, people showed obvious lethargy in the auction, lacking the spirit and gusto. Zi Di then proceeded to make her moves again. First, she purchased a series of Earth Element resources such as the Essence of Granite, Essence of Obsidian, and so on, followed by a series of potions such as Neutralizers, Grinding Agents, and Maintenance Oils. Finally, during the antique auction session, she successively acquired a completely damaged Golden Level armor, a pile of broken ancient pottery jars, and an Obsidian Stone Statue Ghost with its mind core pierced by an arrow. With the closure of the auction, Zi Di not only perfectly completed her task but also reaped benefits beyond the plan. The sale of the Aojin and Soul Crystals not only allowed her to keep going until the end of the auction but she even had a surplus of Gold Coins left. Chapter 349 - 349: Section 136: Ambush in the Mountain Path Chapter 349: Section 136: Ambush in the Mountain Path The monthly auction had ended, and the crowd dispersed. Under the cover of night, there was little noise. Sea Dog watched Zi Di and her companions board the carriage but did not follow. Instead, he quickly walked in another direction. Soon after, he turned several street corners and, at a secluded spot, knocked on the door of a house. The door did not open, and the house remained silent. Sea Dog smirked, pulling out a token from the pocket of his undershirt. He held the token up to the door, shook it slightly, and quickly put it away. The next moment, the door quietly opened. Sea Dog pushed the door open, then immediately closed it behind him. Behind the door was an elderly man holding an oil lamp. The house was dark, and the light from the oil lamp was so faint it couldn¡¯t fully illuminate the old man¡¯s form. ¡°Spy 708, come with me to the room,¡± the old man, squinting his eyes and scrutinizing Sea Dog for a moment, then slowly turned around. Sea Dog had two identities. On one hand, he was a loyal subordinate to Navy Rear Admiral Kan Qiao; on the other hand, he was an empire¡¯s spy, mainly in charge of monitoring the interior of the Imperial Navy. The token Sea Dog had just taken out was ordinary in appearance, but it actually signified his spy identity. It was only effective when in his personal possession. However, Sea Dog stayed in place, shaking his head, ¡°I¡¯m short on time and still have a mission. This intelligence is urgent but straightforward. First piece: at the just-concluded Black Market auction, a Ship Spirit Repair Scroll made by Tuck was up for sale. Second piece: a large number of Soul Crystals suddenly appeared during the second half of the Black Market auction.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The old man paused mid-step, then quickly turned around, ¡°A large number of Soul Crystals?!¡± A single Soul Crystal was not unusual. But the keyword in Sea Dog¡¯s intelligence was ¡°a large number,¡± meaning that the seller was likely an Undead Mage. The Undead Mage was not only wanted by the Holy Bright Empire, but all races across every continent were thoroughly in pursuit to capture and kill them. The old man¡¯s face became quite serious. Sea Dog stepped out, ¡°I¡¯ve given you the intelligence, I must leave now.¡± The old man nodded. After the door closed, the old man immediately returned to his room and used a Magic Device to send this important intelligence up the chain. Walking on the streets, Sea Dog¡¯s pace accelerated. He should have been closely following Zi Di and her group, but he had been delayed by the delivery of the intelligence on the Undead Mage. ¡°But I must do this!¡± ¡°This intelligence is significant. The local empire¡¯s spies must also be aware and will go all out to hunt down the seller. When the time comes, if they find out I was present and did not report, they will surely trouble me for it.¡± As a spy, Sea Dog was very clear about the priorities among various pieces of intelligence. Information regarding Undead Mages had, since regulations were established, always occupied the top ten in the priority order. ¡°Could it be possible that these Soul Crystals originated from the Justice Pirate Group?¡± Sea Dog began to run, naturally associating the two. But he quickly shook his head as there was no evidence to support his hypothesis. His Navy identity allowed him to move in and out of the city gates during the nighttime, but it didn¡¯t help him to investigate from the Black Market side for the information about the seller of the Soul Crystals. That¡¯s why he delivered this intelligence to the empire¡¯s spy organization. Once the spy organization exerted effort, the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce couldn¡¯t resist the pressure either. ¡°If the Soul Crystals truly come from the Justice Pirate Group, it means they¡¯ve had contact with an Undead Mage, or even established some sort of cooperation with one.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, my mission would be easier.¡± ¡°If the Undead Mage they¡¯ve approached exceeds the Golden Level, they may even attract the attention of those madmen from the Blood Light Sanction Court!¡± Considering this, Sea Dog couldn¡¯t help but shrink his thick, short neck. Sea Dog increased his speed and passed through the city gate again. Before long, he saw Zi Di¡¯s carriage on the mountain path. He sighed in relief, ¡°Good, I haven¡¯t lost them.¡± He ran along the hillside and leaped among the rocks, using the dense forest to conceal his figure, demonstrating remarkable agility and flexibility. He did not continue to close the distance but maintained a significant gap. With his keen sense of smell and special Combat Skills, he was an excellent tracker. He watched the convoy of carriages in the distance, Sea Dog began to summarize in his mind, ¡°The Justice Pirate Group¡¯s financial resources are incredibly surprising! It¡¯s unusual since, according to the reports, the Justice Pirate Group has not been established for long. Do they have a significant power backing them? Is it the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce?¡± ¡°Or could it be that they¡¯ve been secretly plundering a large number of merchant ships? However, although there have been frequent major incidents at sea, this area has been relatively calm recently.¡± ¡°According to the latest intelligence, the Justice Pirate Group is heading towards the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, could they have had some significant gain there? Did they really find a treasure worth a fortune, which is why they¡¯re so lavish?¡± ¡°Although they bid on many items, they are mainly Alchemy Materials. Why do they need so many Alchemy Materials? To upgrade ships? Imperial shipyards should offer a better cost-performance. Could it be that they have recently recruited an Alchemist or an Alchemy Master?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Sea Dog suddenly paused. He noticed many figures appearing on a distant hillside. He was not the only one trailing the Justice Pirate Group. Sea Dog recognized the two leaders among them, who each belonged to two major families, well-known local Silver Fighters. Sea Dog immediately realized, ¡°Heh heh heh, a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local tyrant. The Justice Pirate Group was too aggressive at the auction, and now they¡¯re facing backlash.¡± In the city, with the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, these two families had to be cautious and dared not take action. But outside the city, there was room for free play. If the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce hadn¡¯t been swallowed by the upper echelons of the Empire, those two major families wouldn¡¯t have made a move. But now, the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce lay in shambles, and guarding such a large batch of goods, the escort of the Justice Pirate Group could be counted on one hand. No wonder the two major families were tempted to take action. ¡°Good, let them probe the reality of the situation,¡± Sea Dog said, no longer advancing, immediately hiding behind a huge rock without being detected. On the hillside, the ambush team officially began their attack. Two Silver Fighters tore open magic scrolls at the same time, activating the spells transcribed within. Suddenly, six massive boulders materialized out of thin air and began rolling down the slope. The boulders were round and twice the size of a carriage, creating a noise that immediately drew the attention of Zi Di and her group. ¡°Trouble¡¯s coming!¡± Zi Di sighed lightly. Di Lou and Sanda both flipped out the window, standing on the carriage roof, ready for battle. At this time, the Justice Pirate Group had a total of eight carriages, mainly carrying three tons of Sea Blue Ore. The immensely valuable treasures like Mithril and Refined Gold, although not large in volume. But because the mountain path was narrow and long, it caused the carriage procession to stretch out, mostly in the path of the rolling boulders. The threat the Justice Pirate Group faced was not just from the boulders. After releasing the boulders, the ambush team charged forward. Those two Silver Fighters were the sharpest tip of the spear. Inside one of the carriages, Zi Di began chanting. Mana fluctuations immediately emanated. ¡°There¡¯s a Black Iron-level Mage!¡± ¡°Prioritize taking her out!¡± In the midst of their dive, the two Silver Fighters exchanged a glance, instantly reaching consensus. Zi Di¡¯s spell took effect, and the slope of the hillside suddenly bulged upward. The rolling boulders, upon reaching these mounds, either shifted direction continuously or were launched into mid-air. The horses pulling the carriages neighed, accompanied by the frantic shouts of the drivers. But the boulders either changed their course or tumbled over their heads, ultimately plunging into the sea. Sea Dog calmly observed the battle, silently assessing, ¡°The ambushers have no real Mage to control these boulders, otherwise a Black Iron Mage wouldn¡¯t have been able to break it so easily.¡± ¡°However, the ambushers have achieved their objective. They used the boulders to draw the Mage¡¯s fire, buying time, and have already charged to the enemy¡¯s front.¡± ¡°The Justice Pirate Group is at a disadvantage now.¡± The ambush team had two Silvers and several Blacks, a lineup stronger than Zi Di, Di Lou, and Sanda. The rest were carriage drivers, who had already jumped off the drivers¡¯ seats, fleeing in panic. Di Lou snorted coldly and charged directly out. Sanda, on the other hand, held a short knife and guarded the side of the carriage, waiting for the enemy. One Silver Fighter from the ambush team got entangled with Di Lou, while the other led his team in a charge towards Sanda. But the next moment, the leading Silver Fighter who continued the charge suddenly spurted blood and almost collapsed on the hillside. ¡°It¡¯s an ambush!¡± He rolled backward several times, knelt on the ground, and his face was ashen as he held his forearm. An arrow was embedded in his forearm, bleeding profusely. Previously, an arrow had been shot at the Silver Fighter¡¯s heart. In a life-and-death moment, the Silver Fighter, with no time for anything else, could only block with his arm. He released his combat energy with all his might and managed to block the lethal arrow, but at the same time, he temporarily lost the use of his arm. Combat Skill ¡ª Assassination Arrow! Higher up on the hillside, the One-eyed Elf perched on the branch of a large tree, his bowstring still vibrating slightly. He was the instigator. The Silver Fighter who was hit with the arrow tried to stand up, suddenly feeling a strong wave of dizziness. The Silver Fighter cursed loudly, ¡°Damn it, this arrow is poisoned!¡± The signal for retreat, sounded twice in a row, greatly weakened the morale of the ambush team. Inside the carriage, Zi Di continuously cast several spells. Small Fireballs, Ice Cones, Wind Blades, and more, one after another, lunged at the Black Iron Fighters rushing toward them. Boom, boom, boom¡­ The Black Iron Fighters were pounded so hard they couldn¡¯t raise their heads. Sanda surged into the crowd, knife light flashing, and the Black Iron Fighters were sliced apart and their charge abruptly halted. The archer took action again, firing three consecutive arrows. The Silver Fighter who was hit could only desperately flee, dodging the arrows. He fled farther and farther, eventually leaving the battlefield entirely. ¡°Damn it!¡± The Silver Fighter still entangled with Di Lou noticed this and quickly called for the others to retreat. ¡°Do not pursue,¡± came Zi Di¡¯s immediate command. Di Lou and Sanda stopped. The archer did not regroup but continued providing support from the hillside. In the shadows, Sea Dog wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead, ¡°What a formidable archer, according to the intelligence, this archer used to be an Elf Noble?¡± ¡°And that elder from the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, that masked Black Iron Mage, what¡¯s the deal with her? She can actually cast spells instantly!¡± Chapter 350 - 350: Section 137: New Combat Skill Flowing Blade Chapter 350: Section 137: New Combat Skill Flowing Blade ¡°I¡­ where am I?¡± The sailor groaned as he woke up. He looked around and found himself in a dilapidated cabin. The seawater had already flooded much of the cabin, and he was half-lying on a wardrobe, which was the only reason he was floating. ¡°I, I remember now!¡± The sailor clutched his head, bearing the intense pain, as flashbacks filled his mind. He worked on the Pig Kiss, a cargo ship, as a sailor. However, they had hit an iceberg, and the ship began to sink. The sailor failed in his struggle for survival and got trapped on board. He watched helplessly as a limited number of lifeboats carried many sailors away. ¡°Please, don¡¯t leave me behind!¡± the sailor begged, lying on the ship¡¯s side. No one responded, nor did any boat turn back. As the sailor despaired, a group of sharks attacked. A great white shark smashed the lifeboats one after another, and the sailors who fell into the water became prey for the sharks. The sailor was stunned as the Pig Kiss continued to sink, and the sharks entered the vessel. Fighting for his life, the sailor eventually got trapped in this cabin. ¡°What do I do, what do I do? I can¡¯t swim out, and that white shark must be waiting for me in the hallway!¡± The sailor was in utter despair. He couldn¡¯t find any weapon, and the water level was rising, slowly covering the door frame. The sailor lay down on top of the wardrobe as the rising water level lifted him closer and closer to the top of the cabin. He was at his wit¡¯s end, the increasingly narrow space for survival leaving him gasping for air. His despair grew deeper, and he started to yell desperately until his throat was hoarse. He felt powerless and began to sob. In his sobbing, he started to confess; he prayed to the gods for redemption, hoping his soul could ascend to the Divine Country after death. ¡°Great Mei Lan, my Lord, my utmost¡­¡± ¡°Wait, wait.¡± After praying a few times, the sailor¡¯s face showed a look of agony. His memories became vague; he clutched his head, crying out in pain. Bang. The next moment, his entire head burst, with blood, brain matter, shattered skull, and hair splattering everywhere. The rising water stopped, and the wooden wardrobe, the wooden cabin walls, and the ceiling all gradually dissipated, reverting to a rectangular operating table and metallic walls. Hiss. A light sound was heard as the cabin door slid smoothly aside. Cang Xu walked in slowly. He immediately used Undead Magic, trying to congeal the test subject¡¯s soul. He failed. ¡°It seems this captive¡¯s original faith was profound. Even though I successfully altered his memories completely erasing any trace of his past, his original faith still persists and seriously affects his conversion to Mei Lan,¡± Cang Xu sighed. Faith is the secret of the gods. Although Cang Xu was an Undead Mage, a half-baked Desecration Priest, he was merely of Black Iron Level, far too distant from the Divine Level. ¡°In this case, the most suitable subjects are those whose original faith was shallow and unsteady.¡± ¡°Of course, it would be best if they were Non-believers.¡± ¡°Regrettably, Non-believers are too rare.¡± After retrieving the Memory Creation Device from the wreckage of the Pig Kiss on Mysterious Monster Island, Cang Xu began researching Memory Crystals. Following his acquisition of the treasure of a ship ghost in an underwater secret chamber, Cang Xu also started trying to become a qualified Desecration Priest. So far, he had made some promising progress. Yet¡­ ¡°It¡¯s still too slow.¡± ¡°I must hurry, I need to achieve true success as soon as possible!¡± Cang Xu knew time was of the essence. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The events at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye would definitely erupt and could no longer be kept hidden; by then, all the survivors would draw the attention and pursuit of various forces. For the Justice Pirate Group, troubles were not limited to this alone. There was another huge problem¡ªMysterious Monster Island, related to the Legendary Mage, the Alchemy Grandmaster War Merchant, and several Divine Artifacts. ¡°Zi Di must have already contacted the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family.¡± ¡°Looking forward to the Hundred Needle Family playing a decisive mediating role¡­ that possibility is not high.¡± ¡°Self-rescue is the best way out.¡± ¡°I must succeed in my research, steal the Divine Power of Mei Lan, and replenish it into the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale to produce the Pearl Bubble!¡± ¡°The faster, the better!¡± With that thought, Cang Xu quickly tidied up the cabin and then plunged back into a new experiment. The nighttime seawater was icy cold and bone-chilling. The Fishman youth quietly floated in the shallow waters. He kept his body upright, his arm extended straight out, fingers icy, forming the shape of a knife-hand. Silver Fighting Spirit continually circulated in his arm, and the surrounding seawater was influenced by the fluctuations of the Fighting Spirit, becoming increasingly turbulent. ¡°Now is the moment!¡± the Fishman youth roared silently in his heart, and suddenly opened his eyes. Combat Skill¡ªFlowing Blade! Hiss. Following a soft sound, the gleaming Silver Fighting Spirit burst forth from the youth¡¯s forearm, instantly forming the shape of a long blade. The hissing sound continued unabated. ¡°Success,¡± the Fishman youth jubilated internally. ¡°To think I succeeded on my first attempt. Indeed, my intuition was not wrong. This is also one of the advantages that the Divine Bloodline brings.¡± The Fishman youth had thrice dived into the seabed vortex, transforming Fighting Spirit. The combination of the Divine Bloodline with the Holy Domain Level spell yielded astonishing results, completely transforming his Blast Fighting Energy and turning it into the Light and Thin Fate Fighting Energy. Taking advantage of the little time left, the Fishman youth began to practice Combat Skills. He meticulously selected a few Combat Skills from Tower Spirit¡¯s memory bank, all of which were particularly suitable for the Shark Blue Fishman Form. The first Combat Skill he practiced was Flowing Blade. While recalling the details of this Combat Skill, the youth had a strong feeling, believing that he could succeed on his first attempt. Indeed, on his first try, he achieved results, demonstrating the Flowing Blade Combat Skill! In the dark seawaters, the silver blade was exceptionally striking. The youth scrutinized the long blade; the lower half of it was his forearm, extending from the front of his palm to the upper half of the blade. The Flowing Blade measured about 1.5 meters in length, with a narrow, elongated blade tapering down from top to bottom. The essence of Flowing Blade was not Fighting Energy but seawater. The principle was to wrap a portion of the seawater with Fighting Energy, causing it to flow rapidly in a confined space. Thus, the hissing sound made by the Flowing Blade was in fact the noise of the water circulating swiftly. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s precisely because the blade is made of water, and since Shark Blue belongs to the Divine Level Fishman Blood, which is closest to water, that I managed to execute it on my first try.¡± The advantages of the Divine Bloodline were immense, affecting many aspects, not just the cultivation of Fighting Spirit but also immensely aiding in the training of Combat Skills. ¡°Let¡¯s test its power.¡± The Fishman youth surfaced and quickly located a reef. The Flowing Blade gently touched the surface of the reef, and with a hiss, the stone¡¯s surface was scored with countless powders. At first glance, the sides of the Flowing Blade seemed very flimsy, but its essence was the continuously flowing seawater. Thus, when it cuts, it is like a saw whirring rapidly. This undoubtedly added a lot of power to it. The Fishman youth maintained the Combat Skill while rotating his elbow, allowing the Flowing Blade to gradually penetrate deeper into the reef. Eventually, the Flowing Blade completely sliced through the stone, emerging from the other side. Throughout the process, the Fishman youth did not feel any significant resistance, but the difficulty of maintaining the Combat Skill had increased considerably, and the Silver Fighting Spirit consumed much more during the cutting process. ¡°The key points emphasized in the Combat Skill make perfect sense.¡± ¡°The focus of the Flowing Blade Combat Skill lies in sustaining it. Because the blade is made up of swiftly flowing water, it is unlike ordinary swords and knives with a solid body. Once it begins cutting or collides with something, the water flow can easily disperse, and the blade can only be maintained through Fighting Spirit.¡± ¡°Hence, this Combat Skill demands robust, continuous output of Fighting Spirit as well as spirit. The stronger the spirit, the longer you can maintain the flow of Fighting Spirit both inside and outside the body.¡± And the Fishman youth possessed both these qualities. His vigorous Fighting Spirit needs no explanation¡ªthe divine-grade Bloodline paired with the Holy Domain Level spell, a combination that left most others far behind. In terms of spirit, the youth had used numerous Soul Crystals, making him several times more powerful than fighters of the same level. As he continued using Soul Crystals, his spirit would only continue to rise. In a word, the Flowing Blade Combat Skill was exceedingly suitable for the Fishman youth. Dawn¡¯s light shot from the horizon, and the sun gradually ascended, leaping above the sea¡¯s surface. The night had passed just like that. ¡°Time flies indeed, but I have garnered much this night,¡± the Fishman youth inhaled a breath of fresh air, watching the rising sun and then looking back at the Flowing Blade. ¡°Not enough!¡± ¡°There are many variations of the Flowing Blade Combat Skill, and I¡¯ve only grasped the most basic form. There¡¯s still so much more to become familiar with and to practice.¡± ¡°Sigh, the situation is too tense.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t place my hopes on others.¡± ¡°I must seize these last moments of peace, do everything in my power to enhance my combat strength, to prepare for the upcoming great battle!¡± Chapter 351 - 351: Section 138: My Son Has Sent a Letter! Chapter 351: Section 138: My Son Has Sent a Letter! In the light of dawn, which had yet to fully brighten the horizon, Zi Di and her companions had already boarded the Deep Sea Monster Fish. They did not return to Dagger Town but instead unloaded their supplies halfway and left the coast aboard a small boat. Sea Dog lay hidden on the hillside, helplessly watching the boat sail away. With the help of the small boat and the Toad Safe, a spatial storage item obtained from the seabed vault, they transferred large quantities of supplies underwater to the awaiting Deep Sea Monster Fish. The Toad Safe was a high-end alchemy item originally belonging to the Undead Mage and Desecration Priest, ship ghost, but was successfully opened after the Justice Pirate Group deceived him with Pearl Bubble. Not only were the original treasures inside emptied, but the Justice Pirate Group also altered the Toad Safe¡¯s ownership settings and truly made it their own. The Toad Safe was very heavy and looked like a toad, over half a person¡¯s height, and not easy to carry around. It only played a role in the transportation of goods. Zi Di was extremely cautious. Although they had repelled the local forces, they couldn¡¯t avoid being tailed. Until they handed over supplies at sea, they utilized the Deep Sea Monster Fish¡¯s powerful scouting capabilities to eliminate surveillance as much as possible. Back in her assigned cabin, Zi Di couldn¡¯t help but yawn. She felt somewhat listless. After all, she had fought in the dead of night, instantly casting more than a dozen spells, causing the ambush team to become disoriented and unable to maintain their offense. Even after repelling the attackers, Zi Di did not relax at all, remaining tense and vigilant at all times. Now that she was back in her cabin, the moment she relaxed, she immediately felt overwhelming fatigue and sleepiness. But she did not fall asleep right then and there; she continued to persist in meditation to restore her mana. She was diligent and highly disciplined. It was a good habit she developed while living on her own after falling out with her father¡ªno matter how tired, to always keep her fighting energy at a certain level. After meditating for a while, Cang Xu¡¯s voice sounded outside the door, ¡°Miss Zi Di, I have something important to ask your advice on.¡± Zi Di opened the door to see the old scholar. The old scholar had not rested all night and had conducted over a dozen experiments, but thanks to the transformation of his body by Undead Magic, he was still full of vigor. ¡°I¡¯ve encountered some trouble in cultivating Desecration Priests. I was hoping to consult with you for experience and knowledge on this matter,¡± Cang Xu stated bluntly. Zi Di herself was just a novice apprentice in Soul-devouring with limited knowledge of Undead Magic, but she had devoured the spirit of the ship ghost. The person Cang Xu sought advice from was, more accurately, the ship ghost. Zi Di¡¯s expression immediately became somber. Cultivating Desecration Priests and striving for divine power was one of the keys to overcoming their current predicament and could not be taken lightly. ¡°I will help you to the best of my ability, but although I have devoured the ship ghost¡¯s spirit, I may not have what you want.¡± ¡°Soul-devouring has many drawbacks. Even if the soul devouring is successful, it¡¯s impossible to obtain all the target soul¡¯s memories.¡± ¡°Furthermore, the ship ghost was in a very poor state at the time, and his memories are fragmented.¡± ¡°I will organize his memories as quickly as I can, and for this, I will need your help.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Cang Xu was slightly surprised, ¡°Please command me, Miss Zi Di.¡± ¡°I need you to create a soul gem,¡± said Zi Di slowly. ¡°One of the downsides of Soul-devouring is that devouring an external soul can bloat one¡¯s own, resulting in impurities.¡± ¡°I need to remove these impurities, which are fragments of the ship ghost¡¯s spirit that my own cannot digest or absorb.¡± ¡°These fragments also contain memories. If I don¡¯t transfer these soul fragments to a soul gem and instead directly remove them, we will lose access to those memories.¡± Cang Xu frowned, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of such alchemy items before, and indeed, they require Undead Magic to create. However, I don¡¯t know the method of creating a soul gem.¡± Zi Di smiled slightly, ¡°Do you remember the ship ghost¡¯s badge? The method to create a soul gem is hidden within that badge. Infuse it with mana from Undead Magic, probe with spirit, and you¡¯ll know everything.¡± ¡°As for the specific alchemy materials, we have all of them.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Cang Xu realized he had stumbled upon an unexpected gain and immediately bid farewell to start preparing the creation. Watching Cang Xu leave, Zi Di was about to close the door when Fat Tongue approached, carrying a tray of breakfast, ¡°Ch-Chairman, I have prepared your breakfast.¡± Zi Di, smelling the aroma of breakfast, suddenly felt her stomach rumble. She welcomed Fat Tongue into the cabin and tasted the breakfast. ¡°Not bad, did you cook all this?¡± Zi Di was somewhat surprised. Fat Tongue chuckled, ¡°Chairman, while you were unconscious, I-I was a chef of the Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard,¡± Zi Di nodded. ¡°Chairman, now that you¡¯re awake, then the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce¡­¡± Fat Tongue began, his tone hesitant. Zi Di shook her head, ¡°Now is not the time. If I reveal my identity now, it¡¯ll only bring trouble to the Guild. I haven¡¯t been in charge of the Guild for long, and without me, the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce can still operate. There won¡¯t be any major issues in the short term.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you have a plan, my lord,¡± Fat Tongue said with a happy smile. These days, he was very pleased. Zi Di¡¯s awakening was beyond his expectations, a pleasant surprise. Fat Tongue had just returned from Zi Di¡¯s when he saw a Fishman youth feasting in the dining room. He had just come back. Cultivating his fighting energy had made him very hungry. Unlike Zi Di, he ate fresh live fish. He didn¡¯t even remove the scales, using his shark-like sharp teeth to continuously chew and tear away. He swallowed an entire fish in two bites, not even sparing the innards. Humans couldn¡¯t eat like this, but for a Fishman, it was more than fitting. And beside the Fishman youth, was the Big guy. On the Big guy¡¯s plate, there were no vegetables or fruits, but rather a large bowl of black sludge. The Big guy scooped up the sludge with a huge wooden spoon, placing it into his mouth, and swallowed continuously. Sometimes after finishing, he would look at the Fishman youth and flash a naive smile. The Fishman youth¡¯s cheeks puffed out, filled with fish; he reached over to pat the Big guy¡¯s arm and also showed a smile to him. Father and son were eating happily. Meanwhile, in the southern part of the Empire, Zhen City. Inside the castle of Zhen City. A gorgeous breakfast was laid out on the desk, but the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family had no appetite whatsoever. This middle-aged man with one arm severed had grown even thinner than before, his complexion pale, his eye bags heavy, showing an utterly exhausted demeanor. The thought of his son still missing made the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family unable to swallow his food. Once a great Noble of the south, the now diminished Hundred Needle Family had surrendered to the Holy Emperor, barely managing to preserve their bloodline. But with Zhenjin¡¯s disappearance, the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s circumstances had taken a sharp turn for the worse. This was because Zhenjin was the sole heir designated by the Great Emperor for the Hundred Needle Family, and this should not be changed for any reason. Should Zhenjin fall, the Hundred Needle Family would be left with no successor. A Noble house without an heir had no future. And so, the Hundred Needle Family suffered powerful blows and ostracism from all sides; these Nobles and large forces were just like Hyenas scenting the smell of blood, all wanting to make a great profit from the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s falling corpse. ¡°Thump thump thump,¡± a steady male voice came from outside the door, ¡°My Lord, Biwa wishes to see you.¡± ¡°Come in,¡± the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family spoke. The door opened, and in walked a tall, muscular middle-aged man. He was named Biwa, the most trusted right-hand man of the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family. ¡°Have you found any news about Zhenjin?¡± the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family inquired. Biwa shook his head. Since Zhenjin disappeared, the Hundred Needle Family had been searching with all their might, nearly spending their entire fortune. Unfortunately, they hadn¡¯t obtained any valuable clues. Biwa was the person appointed by the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family himself to be responsible for the search for Zhenjin. ¡°My Lord, I¡¯ve come because I heard some news. Are you planning to sell the cultivation method for the Swift Bee mounts?¡± Biwa spoke frankly. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family sighed, casting a glance at the wall of the study. Not long ago, the wall had been decorated with several famous paintings. However, to raise funds, these paintings had already been sold. The Hundred Needle Family was now reduced to nothing, unable to maintain even the last bit of a Noble¡¯s dignity. Seeing the Clan Leader¡¯s expression, Biwa knew the answer. He quickly tried to persuade him, ¡°My Lord, the Swift Bee mounts are one of the foundational pillars that established our Hundred Needle Family; you must not sell them. If it is funds you require, I am willing to contribute my manor and lands!¡± The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family gave a bitter smile, ¡°Biwa, my most loyal Knight, I greatly appreciate your kindness. But the matter is not as simple as that.¡± ¡°I am selling this method not just to raise capital up to now, there¡¯s another reason, I have no choice but to sell!¡± ¡°Such a precious item, the Hundred Needle Family of today no longer has the power to safeguard it. To continue holding onto it would likely attract even more brutal attacks, or even raiding.¡± ¡°How could this be?¡± Biwa was shocked. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family shook his head silently. Within the Holy Bright Empire, there were many forces that looked unfavorably upon the Hundred Needle Family. Previously, when Zhenjin was still around, he was a member of the Holy Temple Knights. That was the strong connection between the Hundred Needle Family and the Holy Emperor. But with Zhenjin¡¯s disappearance, likely meeting his doom, this relationship had been severed. The Hundred Needle Family was faltering in the storm. Biwa fell silent, clenching his fists. The atmosphere in the study was extremely oppressive. And at that moment, the Housekeeper burst through the door, excitedly shouting, ¡°My Lord, My Lord, there¡¯s news about the young master.¡± ¡°What?¡± The Housekeeper panted, ¡°Just now, we received a ransom note. The note claims that pirates have captured the young master Zhenjin and his fianc¨¦e Miss Zi Di, demanding a ransom from us.¡± ¡°Could it be a scam?¡± Biwa was unmoved. During this time, because the Hundred Needle Family had been searching with all their might, the matter had become known to many. Therefore, there had been quite a few instances of fraud and extortion. ¡°No, this time it¡¯s different,¡± the Housekeeper shook his head, ¡°The note has a special mark, and moreover, its content is encrypted, requiring our codebook to decipher!¡± ¡°What!¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bang. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family suddenly stood up, the chair crashing onto the tiled floor. Chapter 352 - 352: Section 139: Repairer Puppet - Great! Chapter 352: Section 139: Repairer Puppet ¨C Great! Inside the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Golden flames were burning intensely, floating in mid-air, with the heart of the flame melting refined gold. The firelight illuminated the surroundings. It reflected on Zi Di¡¯s face, which, at the moment, displayed a serious and tense expression. She was giving her all, completely engrossed, manipulating the alchemy array. This alchemy array was drawn right on the floor of the cabin and extended to the metal walls around it. The main structure of the array was a hexagram, surrounded by a double ring that formed the outermost circle. Between the hexagram and the ring, there was a dense mass of magic runes. At the center of the array lay a magic device. The lower end of this magic device, connected to the mana pool of the Deep Sea Monster Fish, was drawing upon the reserves of the mana pool, which allowed Zi Di to initiate this temporary alchemy array. If she were to rely solely on her Black Iron Level mana, it would take a hundredfold increase to barely meet the minimum standard for initiating the alchemy array. The array map was sourced from the memory bank of the Tower Spirit, originating from the War Merchant, and was naturally very sophisticated. The flame it produced boasted a terrifying temperature, yet the heat was confined to the core of the flame, so that even if one¡¯s palm touched the outer flame, it did not matter. There was no heat to speak of. Seeing the chunk of refined gold in the heart of the flame quickly melt into liquid, Zi Di immediately used her spiritual power to draw it out. The refined gold turned into a fine thread and quickly flowed out of the flame¡¯s core, entering a nearby hemispherical object. This blue hemispherical object was principally made of Sea Blue Stone. Zi Di had purchased a whole three tons of Sea Blue Ore at an auction in the Black Market. Sea Blue Stone was the standard material for making Repairer Puppets; what was noteworthy was that this hemispherical sea blue stone had been deliberately hollowed out, like a small bowl. Zi Di first directed the liquid refined gold into the bowl-shaped concavity, quickly plating the core of the bowl with a layer of refined gold. Then, the refined gold spread straight inside the hemisphere to eight different directions. Only when it reached the edge of the sphere did the eight gold lines stop, after which they penetrated the inside of the hemisphere from the ends and middle of each gold line. Wherever the refined gold went, it forcibly dissolved the Sea Blue Stone. Under Zi Di¡¯s spirit manipulation, the refined gold lines gradually became denser and formed the preliminary shape of an elegant, intricate array. After completing this step, there was a little refined gold liquid remaining. While drawing out this refined gold liquid, Zi Di also took out a vial of potion and drank it. Her spiritual power had surpassed the Black Iron Level and reached the Silver Level, but just now, the act of painstakingly drawing out the alchemy array had consumed a great deal of her spiritual power, which required immediate restoration. As her spiritual power swiftly recovered, the refined gold liquid was temporarily stored elsewhere, and Zi Di then processed the Mithril ingot. The Mithril ingot also quickly melted into a liquid. Zi Di¡¯s spirit continued to draw it, and the mithril liquid was also poured into the same hemisphere. Mithril lines wove through the hemisphere, some forming their own pathways, but most of them revolved around the array framework recently established by the refined gold, continually modifying it. Following the three-dimensional array diagram in her mind, some mithril lines intersected with the refined gold lines, some curled around the main lines like smoke serpents, and others converged and fused into nodes. Suddenly, a node flared up, rapidly producing a puff of black smoke. Zi Di¡¯s body swayed, and her complexion instantly turned awful. ¡°Alchemy failure!¡± she realized. She immediately found the cause: she had injected too much mithril liquid at that node just now, and her spiritual power hadn¡¯t been properly maintained, causing a destabilization of magic at the node. Constructing array nodes has always been a challenge. Now, the node was severely burnt, not only affecting several connecting refined gold and mithril lines but also causing significant damage to the Sea Blue Stone at the node, almost burning a hole the size of a fingernail! Zi Di couldn¡¯t help but feel dejected. Such a slight mistake had made the core incomplete, creating a hole the size of a fingernail. This meant that Zi Di would now need to use Sea Blue Stone from elsewhere to compensate for the damage. No matter how much she tried to compensate, the original integrity was lost. This little pit meant she had to say goodbye to the prospect of a perfect final product. Zi Di quickly overcame the frustration in her heart. She silently told herself that she was not inherently good at puppet crafting; when studying at the Magic Academy, she had focused on potions. This time, as long as she succeeded in creating a Repairer Puppet, it would be enough. There was no need to covet quality; now was not the time to pursue it. Zi Di had to pause and first fill in the stone pit, then repair the magic lines over the next several days. On her second attempt at the crafting node, she held her breath and concentrated, putting in her full effort. Seconds later, she exhaled a turbid breath, relaxing slightly, thankful to have overcome this difficulty. Half an hour later, she had set up all the nodes, enduring another failure along the way. Then, she began carving the magic runes. After the runes were carved, she started embedding tiny gemstones to reinforce the magic array. Once reinforced, she obtained a semi-finished product of a Repairer Alchemy Puppet, just one-third of the components complete. After drinking a second potion, Zi Di caught her breath while summarizing her experience. ¡°The alchemy of puppets and potions share commonalities, yet there are many differences.¡± ¡°Carving arrays requires intense concentration and a high demand for delicate spiritual manipulation. Therefore, the nodes of the array are often the difficulties.¡± ¡°Thankfully, I have the alchemy array conceived by the War Merchant, greatly reducing the difficulty of alchemy for me.¡± Resting briefly, Zi Di immediately began crafting the second set of components. Despite another failure at the node, the second set of components was successfully completed. ¡°Even though I am very careful, fine spirit manipulation is not something that can be immediately improved by mere attention.¡± ¡°It is an ability that most people are born with.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why not all mages can become alchemists.¡± ¡°Phew, the next part is crucial.¡± Zi Di took an even longer rest this time, waiting until she felt in good condition before she began. The two hemispheres began to merge. This was the most difficult step of the entire alchemy process. Zi Di¡¯s spiritual power needed to control more than a dozen places at once, connecting the magic lines inside while firing the hemispherical stone material. After fifteen minutes of effort, Zi Di completed this step. She was anxious in her heart because, although it seemed successful, it still required verification. She mobilized her spirit and activated the blue spherical body. Bang! A muffled sound, and the stone sphere shattered violently. Zi Di suffered backlash, her complexion turned pale, blood spilled from her nostrils, and her heart sank to the bottom. She had failed! The two rudimentary arrays indeed connected, but during the infusion of mana, the nodes collapsed, the magic lines burned out, and then caused a chaotic burst of magic power that led to an explosion. The explosion itself wasn¡¯t small by any means, but because of the arrays, its force was greatly confined. Zi Di had not been physically injured by the blast, but her spirit, constantly maintaining the effort, had suffered backlash and was heavily damaged. Zi Di hurriedly drank a spirit healing potion. Looking at the pile of rubble, the girl sighed with regret, shaking her head in resignation without a word. The alchemy had failed, and the materials previously invested were essentially wasted, their appearance utterly disfigured by the destructive force of magic power, making them impossible to recover for use. The loss of resources was just one aspect, which Zi Di didn¡¯t particularly care about. Because she had anticipated the possibility of failure and purchased alchemical resources in excess. What truly troubled her was the time wasted. At this critical juncture, time was the most precious thing! ¡°I still have strength left!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stop, gotta keep moving.¡± Zi Di, pushing her body to the limit, adjusted her state and began her second attempt at alchemy. Three hours later, she joyfully gazed at the Repairer Alchemy Puppet, floating in the center of the array. ¡°It¡¯s finally a success!¡± The Repairer Puppet looked like a blue stone sphere with a propeller spinning atop it. The light from the alchemy array faintly radiated some of the shine from within the stone sphere to the outside. ¡°Based on quality, it¡¯s only Defective Quality. But at least it¡¯s usable!¡± ¡°Next are the other auxiliary components.¡± The difficulty in creating these auxiliary components was nothing compared to the main body. Soon, Zi Di completed a set. With these components combined, the Repairer now had multiple arms, some ending in fingers, some in needles, some in pens. Also, a portable tool sphere box hung under the main body, resembling a chubby belly. Zi Di, mustering her spirit, assigned the Repairer Puppet the task of repairing the Deep Sea Monster Fish. She observed for a while, and after confirming the Repairer was operating normally, she could no longer hold on, returned to her cabin, and fell into a deep sleep. Her sleep was profoundly deep. By the time she awoke, it was already evening. The second batch of supplies had arrived in the afternoon. A portion of these were goods exchanged from the Empire, delivered to the dock, while another portion consisted of low-end materials such as Elemental Crystal and hard head copper, which she had instructed the head of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce to acquire in Dun Dao City. Since they were delivered during the day and weren¡¯t highly valuable, the local forces of Dun Dao City didn¡¯t make any trouble. Of course, a more significant reason was that they had already suffered a loss. In Dun Dao City, only the City Lord could suppress the Justice Pirate Group. But would a Golden Level fighter of such stature and authority stoop to attacking a few horse carts? ¡°My spirit has recovered nicely.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bit hungry.¡± Zi Di checked herself and found that she was in good condition. But her first course of action was not to find food; instead, she went to check on the work of the Repairer Puppet. When she saw the Repairer again, it was busy repairing the defense magic array. On the small arms of the Repairer Puppet, two knives, three gun barrels, and two pens were operating nearly simultaneously, their movements extremely skilled. ¡°The alchemy array for air creation has already been repaired by it.¡± ¡°The defense magic array has also been mostly fixed.¡± ¡°Although it¡¯s of Defective Quality, its efficiency far surpasses that of me and Cang Xu combined.¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty much most of an alchemist.¡± Zi Di was immensely relieved. Alchemist Apprentice, Alchemist, Master Alchemist, Grandmaster Alchemist, Supreme Alchemist, Alchemy Grandmaster ¡ª these are the professional titles recognized in the field of alchemy. Currently, Cang Xu could only be considered an Alchemist Apprentice, while Zi Di only qualified to take the exam for the title of Alchemist, and that only in the area of potions. Neither of them were made for the field of alchemy. The reason Zi Di devoted her energy and time to potions was simply because she thought it was profitable at the time, not out of any real passion. Although she did have some talent in the area of potions, her bloodline was ultimately too low-level. ¡°This is already the second day since we entered Knife Harbor.¡± Time was pressing. After a hearty dinner, Zi Di buried herself in the cabin, ready to craft the second Repairer Puppet. However, at this moment Cang Xu came looking for her, ¡°This is the Soul Crystal I have concocted.¡± Zi Di examined it carefully. The Soul Crystal was about half the size of a palm, completely transparent, looking like glass. It was prism-shaped, very lightweight, only slightly heavier than a feather. ¡°Not bad,¡± Zi Di commented. Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°I have no talent for alchemy. Thankfully, the method of concoction in the badge is very easy to understand and grasp.¡± Now that she had the Soul Crystal, she immediately changed her original plan and temporarily gave up on crafting a new Order Maintainer Puppet. She bid farewell to Cang Xu and returned to her own cabin, holding the Soul Crystal in her hand, she began to meditate. She delved into her Spiritual Space, starting to use Undead Techniques to extract impurities from her soul. Soon, wisps of soul fragments, like smoke and mist, were stripped and pulled from her soul. These fragments left the Spiritual Space and were stored in the Soul Crystal in Zi Di¡¯s hands. Once Zi Di finished her great task and reopened her eyes, she felt a sense of relief deep within her soul. Her soul seemed unchanged and even the upper limit of her spiritual power had decreased, but Zi Di knew she had benefited immensely. Her spiritual power was now much more enduring than before, and the hidden dangers deep within her soul had vanished. Now looking at the soul gem in her hand. Originally like transparent glass, it was now filled with a grayish-black color, and on the edges, there was a faint trace of silver halo. This trace of a halo indicated that the soul stored in the gem was of the Silver Level. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di used Spiritual Penetration on the soul gem, browsing through it like a disorganized, incomplete book, witnessing scenes from the ship ghost¡¯s memory. Adding on the memories she gained from absorbing the ship ghost¡¯s soul, Zi Di spent two hours copying and organizing worthwhile content from these memories. The record contained the ship ghost¡¯s experience in practicing Undead Magic, the techniques for creating Soul Crystals, as well as the methods to become a Desecration Priest. Of course, it was still incomplete. After all, when Zi Di devoured the ship ghost¡¯s soul, the latter had already been severely damaged and on the verge of dissolution. The record was meant to be given to Cang Xu, of course. Cang Xu¡¯s progress in the area of Desecration Priest as soon as possible was critical for the Justice Pirate Group. As for the soul gem¡­ Zi Di put it away as she had other uses for it. That very same night. Big Military Port. Wei Sheng was awakened from his sleep. This young man had golden short hair and eyebrows, long and thick, joined in the center and extending diagonally upwards towards the temple forming a large V shape with his golden eyebrows. Although his pleasant dream was disturbed, Wei Sheng was not angry, but instead looked at the person who woke him with some solemnity, ¡°What has happened?¡± He was an Earl of the Empire, currently fully acting on behalf of Navy Marshal Yan Tan¡¯s affairs. This rigorous soldier of the Empire knew very well that he would not be disturbed at night without an important matter. Chapter 353 - 353: Section 140: Stone Statue Ghost Puppet—Awesome! Chapter 353: Section 140: Stone Statue Ghost Puppet¡ªAwesome! ¡°Report! Intelligence gathered by spies indicates that a Ship Spirit Repair Alchemy Scroll has appeared at the Black Market auction on Knife Mountain Island. Upon verification, this scroll has been confirmed to be authentic and the work of Alchemy Grandmaster Tuck.¡± The intelligence reported by Sea Dog, approximately 24 hours later, was conveyed to the high ranks of the Navy. Of the two pieces of intelligence he reported, another concerned Soul Crystals and the Undead Mage, which was directly presented to the upper echelons of the spy agency and is currently being investigated. As for the Ship Spirit Repair Alchemy Scroll, since it¡¯s Navy-related, it was reported to Wei Sheng. Wei Sheng immediately frowned, his thoughts flashing in his mind, ¡°The Ship Spirit Repair Alchemy Scroll is very practical with extremely broad applicability. Many vice admirals and admirals have reacted positively. Such a scroll must be regulated and categorized as high-grade military supply, and will not be as easily exchanged as this first batch. Direct descendants of the Navy, at least at the vice admiral level. Those recruited pirates, at least must have Holy Domain level permissions.¡± ¡°Tuck would absolutely not let this leak, he has signed a strict contract with the Empire, and it¡¯s not worth it for him to do so.¡± ¡°Thus, there is only one possibility. Corruption within the high ranks of the Navy!¡± ¡°There are a total of 50 Ship Spirit Repair Scrolls, and only 20 from the first batch have been distributed. The question is, which one of those is the scroll in the Black Market?¡± Ships possessing a ship spirit are few in number, as the cost of creating such intelligent beings is very high. The most common method is a spell: Awakening Construct. This is a magic that can only be performed by at least a Holy Domain level mage. The standards for casting are high, and only a small portion of Holy Domain mages are able to achieve it. And after successful casting, it causes permanent loss of the mage¡¯s spiritual power, a decrease in the upper limit of spiritual value. It has significant negative impact on mages. With ship spirits being rare, ships that possess them are naturally far stronger than common ones. And the naval officers who control these beings each have their own powers or backers and connections. To inquire about the usage of the scrolls from them is extremely difficult. ¡°The stakes are too high, offending too many people, it won¡¯t be easy for me,¡± Wei Sheng was very clear in his heart. But now that the matter has been discovered, it must be investigated. This is Wei Sheng¡¯s duty, if he doesn¡¯t investigate, once discovered in the future, he would certainly bear the blame for shielding or dereliction of duty. ¡°The most convenient to start with is still that leaked scroll.¡± Wei Sheng thought, then asked, ¡°Who is the Navy admiral closest to Dun Dao City?¡± His subordinate immediately reported, ¡°It¡¯s General Kan Qiao. As the fleet has been severely damaged by the storm, it is currently waiting for repairs in Tan Mo¡¯s secret harbor.¡± Wei Sheng frowned once again. He knew: General Kan Qiao was very upright and brash, and due to his personal experiences, he detested pirates, making him one of the fierce generals in the Navy. He was suitable for charging into battle but not for investigating corrupt cases. ¡°Other than him?¡± Wei Sheng asked again. ¡°It¡¯s Vice Admiral Tan Mo,¡± the subordinate immediately replied. ¡°Tan Mo, huh.¡± Wei Sheng slightly raised his eyebrows. He knew of the man, a magician with decent bloodline, not lacking in personal combat strength, and also had connections in the Empire¡¯s upper echelons. But this vice admiral was greedy by nature, adept at extortion and sleight of hand, a genuine worm in the Navy, the kind of person Wei Sheng despised the most. ¡°To hand over this case to him¡­¡± Wei Sheng hesitated, asking then about other candidates. The subordinate shook his head, ¡°There¡¯s no other Navy general within a thousand miles.¡± It must be at least at the general level. The Empire¡¯s Navy vice admirals must ensure personal strength equal or superior to Gold, and only with such strength can they suppress local tyrants and have the power to advance the investigation of the case. Wei Sheng hesitated for a while between Kan Qiao and Tan Mo, and finally said, ¡°Then issue an order to Tan Mo to immediately head to Dun Dao City to clarify the facts of the case and find the clues.¡± Giving the task to Kan Qiao could mess things up, and handing it to Tan Mo could lead to corruption and extortion, but he was still capable of finding some clues. Despite despising his character, Wei Sheng had to admit that Vice Admiral Tan Mo was still capable. Soon, Vice Admiral Tan Mo received the military order. Tan Mo was a middle-aged man, with a portly figure, a short neck, and a pair of small eyes glinting shrewdly. He was carefully wiping a shield with a handkerchief, polishing its surface until it shone. Under the clear light, he admired the brightly gleaming shield, constantly clicking his tongue in appreciation. Knock knock knock. The sound of knocking suddenly came, disturbing Tan Mo. ¡°What is it?¡± Tan Mo frowned, noticing a speck of dust, he hurriedly wiped it away with the handkerchief. ¡°Vice Admiral, an urgent military order has arrived!¡± The First Officer¡¯s voice came from outside the door. Tan Mo sighed, placing the shield on the table, ¡°Sigh, what kind of urgent military intel is it this time¡­ Bring it up.¡± The door opened, the First Officer entered with a flattering smile, bending over to place the military intel on the desk. Tan Mo stretched out his fat arm, slapped his hand on the report, then dragged the report across the silky smooth surface of the fine desk to his front. Then, he leaned back comfortably in the recliner and leisurely opened the report. After reading for a while, a glint of sharpness flashed through his small eyes, muttering to himself, ¡°It¡¯s not about eradicating pirates, but investigating a corruption case. Hehe, an unexpectedly good assignment.¡± ¡°Cough cough.¡± He sat up straight, becoming serious, and ordered the First Officer, ¡°The military situation is urgent, change course immediately, heading for Dun Dao City on Knife Mountain Island.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The night ocean came alive, with the soldiers exhibiting remarkable efficiency. The flagship Treasure Chest was the first to change course, followed by the rest of the warships, all headed for Dun Dao Island with great momentum. They sailed through the night without a hitch. At dawn, Vice Admiral Tan Mo, eager and impatient, raised his monocular to his eye; on the horizon within his view, a tiny dot emerged¡ªit was none other than Dun Dao Island. The light of dawn filtered through the ocean, and the Deep Sea Monster Fish lay quietly afloat in the shallow waters. On its exterior, three fat blue orbs clung to its hull, tirelessly working. Sunlight passed through the round window, bringing subtle changes to this makeshift alchemy cabin. Zi Di, busy throughout the entire night, suddenly came back to reality, realizing, ¡°It¡¯s already the third day.¡± Her focus returned to the Gargoyle Puppet in front of her. This half-human-tall Gargoyle Puppet was deep black in color, exuding a glossy, glaze-like luster. It had hands and feet, a pair of large Bat Wings on its back, a head akin to a bat¡¯s, with large ears, a broad and short snout, big nostrils, and a mouth full of sharp teeth. And right in the center of its chest was a gaping wound, where once a primary Mind Array Core had been shot through by an arrow. Zi Di had bought this Gargoyle Puppet at a Black Market auction. According to the auction house, it was one of the spoils of a pair of mercenaries who had ventured into an underground tomb. But because the most valuable Mind Array Core was completely destroyed, the Gargoyle Puppet¡¯s price couldn¡¯t soar. The cost to recover the materials within its body was substantial, and it wasn¡¯t worth it compared to simply buying materials like Obsidian outright. Such items were typically sold to Alchemists. However, only a few Alchemists specializing in the Puppet domain actually had such a need. And they were at least exceedingly rare in Dun Dao City. Thus, the Gargoyle Puppet was auctioned off as an antique and had been passed over several times. When Zi Di acquired it, the price was very low. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After creating two Repairer Puppets of Defective Quality and one of Inferior Quality, Zi Di began to repair the Gargoyle Puppet. The Puppet had at least four alchemy arrays on its body, interconnected and collaborating. The other Arrays were in good condition, but the primary Mind Array was severely damaged. The core had been utterly devastated. This fact attested to the archer who subdued this Puppet¡ªtheir archery must have been extraordinary, at least at the Silver Level. ¡°Next¡­¡± Zi Di took a deep breath before proceeding, her expression grave as she took out a prism-shaped soul gem and inserted it into the central wound in the Gargoyle Puppet¡¯s chest. Zi Di had previously tended to the edges of the wound, which now perfectly matched the shape of the prism. The soul gem fit seamlessly into place. Zi Di then channeled Mana from the Mana Pool, infusing it into the Gargoyle. A few seconds later, the Gargoyle¡¯s eyes suddenly opened, its pupils appeared to float with two blooms of ghostly blue flames. Zi Di¡¯s head swam slightly, and she managed to regain her composure. Her spirit now fully controlled the Gargoyle. Without her needing to speak, merely by her spiritual manipulation, the Gargoyle obediently opened its mouth and stretched out its arms, shifting from a crouching position to standing. Zi Di had it extend its wings next. Its wings were wide and large; when spread, they made its body seem very slim. ¡°Amazing! This is truly amazing!!¡± Zi Di was overjoyed. The aura of the Gargoyle reached the Silver Level, making it a Combat Puppet of decent Grade. With Zi Di¡¯s repairs, it was reborn anew. Zi Di knew she had taken a shortcut. She hadn¡¯t repaired the primary Mind Array; such alchemy array repair was highly difficult and required substantial costs to rebuild. To replace the primary Mind Array, Zi Di utilized the soul gem. Using it as the core, she constructed a very basic and fundamental Array. Of course, this Array involved knowledge of Undead magic spells. In that regard, she had to thank the ship ghost. ¡°That said, we could actually mass-produce Silver Level Combat Puppets?¡± Zi Di¡¯s mind raced with the idea. They had mastered the creation of soul gems. There were many blueprints of Gargoyles in the Tower Spirit Memory Library. ¡°Soul gems and Alchemy Puppets really do match perfectly, completely eliminating the need for Mind Arrays. The cost of those Arrays is too high, whereas soul gems are economical.¡± Coming from a merchant background, Zi Di viewed issues with cost in mind first and foremost, especially in terms of business. ¡°With such a low-cost production, Gargoyles could be sold in large quantities at low prices, quickly seizing market share and becoming a popular long-term business.¡± ¡°However, once the Gargoyles are thoroughly analyzed, other magical domains will sooner or later come up with ways to counter the soul gems.¡± Zi Di continued her work. Next, she planned to reinforce the Gargoyle¡¯s heart area with a heavy, sturdy Refined Gold Heart Protector. Of course, the surface of the Refined Gold would also be coated in black, made to look exactly like the Gargoyle¡¯s own body and blend seamlessly. ¡°It would be best to lay an Array specifically for reinforcing the heart area. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t possess that ability.¡± Although Zi Di could set up defensive Arrays, she couldn¡¯t integrate this Array with others. This level of skill was beyond her capabilities. ps: Here is one catch-up update, and we will continue tomorrow. Chapter 354 - 354: Section 141: Faith is the Transformation of the Soul Chapter 354: Section 141: Faith is the Transformation of the Soul ¡°Oh Great Mei Lan Deity, my Lord, Your Divine Power is like endless waves that can pour down from the heavens and cloak the earth. Your Divine Power is the endless sea breeze¡­¡± Cang Xu knelt on the ground, his hands clasped together, praying wholeheartedly before the statue of the Mei Lan Goddess. Divine Power manifested within him in some unfathomable way, bit by bit. After praying over and over again, when the time ended, there was the equivalent of half a bowl¡¯s amount of Divine Power accumulated within Cang Xu. No more Divine Power would appear even if he continued to pray. The Mei Lan doctrines recorded the best times for prayer, specifically at dawn and dusk, each period lasting about twenty-five minutes. During these times, the Divine Power one could gain from prayer was the most plentiful. Praying outside of these windows greatly reduced the efficiency of gaining Divine Power. Generally speaking, the stronger the deity and the broader the Divine Office, the more formidable the Divine Authority, the longer the best prayer time. For example, for the Holy Emperor, the entire day was the best time for believers to pray to Him. Cang Xu prayed continuously, and though the optimal prayer time had long ended, he still did not stop. He only reluctantly ceased when the appearance of Divine Power grew scarce, until not even a drop increased in ten minutes. He slowly stood up and walked to the altar table beneath the statue. On the table laid a large seashell, precisely the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale. ¡°As long as I keep channeling my Divine Power, forming a Pearl Bubble, I can offer my most beloved Goddess great assistance.¡± This thought filled Cang Xu¡¯s mind. As to why this thought arose, he did not scrutinize. He placed his hands over the seashell, pouring all his Divine Power into it while constantly berating himself. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Why am I only at the level of a general believer? I clearly only worship the great Mei Lan Goddess!¡± Cang Xu¡¯s heart was filled with guilt. After a dozen seconds, he had not a trace of Divine Power left. A tremendous sense of fatigue came over him. ¡°I must rest now.¡± ¡°Before resting, I need to have a full meal.¡± ¡°Only by replenishing enough spirit and physical strength can I continue to pray.¡± Another thought dominated his mind. Cang Xu moved almost subconsciously; he walked to the cabin door. Ssst. A hissing sound, and the door slid aside. Cang Xu stepped out of the cabin, and the door closed beside him. The next moment, he saw the Fishman youth and Zi Di. ¡°Who are you?¡± Cang Xu was stunned, as both the Fishman youth and Zi Di were strangers to him. ¡°How did two strangers appear on my ship?¡± Cang Xu immediately became tense. And at that moment, as the cabin door behind him closed, the action acted like a switch, sharply triggering something hidden deep within Cang Xu¡¯s soul. Suddenly, like the opening of a floodgate, countless memories surged forth, threatening to drown his very mind. Cang Xu reached to clutch his head, his body violently shaking, then he collapsed onto the ground. Zi Di and the Fishman youth made no move to help him, instead watching him with wary eyes. Cang Xu¡¯s face was ashen, he gasped for air, his eyes rolling back, his body trembling non-stop as if he had been electrocuted. After about a minute, Cang Xu suddenly let out a violent cough, and his eyes rolled back to normal. He curled up on the ground, kneeling like a lobster, retching continuously. ¡°Cang Xu?¡± the Fishman youth tentatively asked. Cang Xu hastily gestured with his hand and coughed a few more times: ¡°I¡¯m fine, my memory has all come back, huh huh! My goodness, this feeling is quite awful.¡± Zi Di was quite composed: ¡°You should answer a few questions for us first.¡± Cang Xu lay back half reclined, leaning against the metal wall. His physical ability was actually not diminished, but with his spirit damaged and his soul in turmoil, he still felt a strong sensation of dizziness. He looked at the boy and girl: ¡°I know that to ensure there were no problems with me, we had agreed on a dozen or so questions before the experiment, to preliminarily verify my state.¡± ¡°These questions are¡­¡± Cang Xu then spoke at length, questioning and answering himself, and his mental state gradually stabilized. With such conduct, Cang Xu earned the trust of the Fishman youth and Zi Di. ¡°Drink some potions quickly,¡± the Fishman youth reminded. Cang Xu was allowed, and only then did he dare take out the potions. The potions were not on him, but in a hidden storage compartment in the corner of the wall. The switch to the compartment also involved an Alchemy Array, containing the Undead faction¡¯s method of discernment. Cang Xu smoothly opened the compartment, took out the potions, and channeled them into his system. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This action proved that his soul had not undergone any distortion or significant changes. ¡°So, you succeeded?¡± Zi Di asked with joy in her voice. Cang Xu drank a vial of potion, the dizziness quickly subsiding, but he still couldn¡¯t stand up on his own and remained sitting on the ground. Faced with Zi Di¡¯s question, he first nodded, then slightly shook his head. This response left both the youth and the young lady somewhat confused. Cang Xu then explained, ¡°Long before charging into the Sky Pillar, I had already successfully transformed the memory. But at that time, I was not certain about praying to the Goddess Mei Lan.¡± ¡°After the Sky Pillar Sea Eye battle, thanks to Miss Zi Di¡¯s help, I obtained the cultivation records of the ship ghost. It contained insights of the ship ghost becoming a Desecration Priest, which greatly increased my chances of deceiving the deities. It also had a wealth of memory transformation techniques, the most important of which was the Memory Concealment Skill.¡± ¡°It can condense all of our past memories into a single point, hidden deep within the soul. It can also design a switch so that when we touch this switch, the memories can be restored in an extremely short period of time.¡± ¡°Now, you have both witnessed with your own eyes that I succeeded. I deceived the Goddess, and all the Divine Power obtained from this prayer has been channeled into the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale. The experiment with the Memory Concealment Skill was also quite successful.¡± The Fishman youth nodded. He recalled that before the rise of the Sea Eye Sky Pillar, Cang Xu had invited him to assist with the Memory Crystal to help restore his memory. The two of them had also speculated that the ship ghost alone must have a way to restore memories by himself. Now, they had their answer: the Memory Concealment Skill. The youth was puzzled, ¡°Won¡¯t condensing one¡¯s own memories alert the deities?¡± Cang Xu answered, ¡°That¡¯s right, even deities can¡¯t completely penetrate all the mysteries of a soul. Unless there¡¯s a special Divine Office, deities can only penetrate the souls of most devout believers, thoroughly scrutinizing the souls of fanatics.¡± ¡°Even for the deities, when it comes to an ordinary believer, and even general believers, their souls lack powerful scrutiny.¡± At this point, Cang Xu hesitated for a moment, glanced at the two in front of him, and then said, ¡°From this perspective, faith in the deities is actually a transformation of the believers¡¯ souls, allowing the power of deities to continuously infiltrate the bodies and souls of the believers, until the transformation is complete, making them the property of the deities.¡± The young man and woman immediately exhibited extremely shaken expressions. Cang Xu¡¯s words were too sinful, too blasphemous! For anyone with religious beliefs, this was a bolt from the blue, an utter heresy, an unforgivable transgression! From this point of view, all deities were conspirators who deliberately harvested the souls of believers!! Seeing the two speechless from shock, Cang Xu continued with difficulty, ¡°The souls of intelligent beings are an important resource. This is true for deities, and within the Abyss, devils or inter-dimensional merchants trade with souls as currency. Especially the devils, who have an unending demand for souls. They often use cunning tricks of deception, or contracts and the like, to extract the souls of Contractors.¡± The young man and woman were silent for a long time. Cang Xu¡¯s words were like a huge hammer, pounding against the fortress of faith in their hearts. Before long, the youth exhaled deeply and looked intently at Cang Xu, ¡°Perhaps it is precisely because you have perceived this secret that Undead Mages are wanted by all deities?¡± The youth accepted this truth faster than the young lady did. Because on Mysterious Monster Island, he had once mistook himself for Zhenjin, filled with faith in the Holy Emperor. But when the truth came to light, so too did his faith collapse. After leaving the island, the youth¡¯s heart was filled with confusion, unsure of which deity to believe in, and he went through a phase of having no faith. He instinctively became wary of the practice of faith in a deity. Later, he had refused the recruitment by Bishop Hao Fu of life, and secretly, this was part of the reason. However, to make it more convenient to lead the Justice Pirate Group, he usually pretended to pray, to soothe people¡¯s hearts. Later, during the battle at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, the youth was forced to use the Goddess Mei Lan as a weapon. This unique experience diminished his reverence for deities to the lowest point. Deep down, he understood that although deities were exalted, they were also just some powerful life beings. It was just that this power was so overstated that the vast majority of people could not fathom it. The youth¡¯s castle of faith was already in ruins, so it was easier for him to accept Cang Xu¡¯s words. ¡°Alright,¡± Zi Di said with a pale face, holding her chest as she felt herself waver, ¡°Just because of what you said, I feel my faith has been violently shaken.¡± Cang Xu smiled bitterly, ¡°In fact, I have now become a general believer of the Dark Lord. Soon, I may not even count as a general believer.¡± ¡°It is at this moment that I understand why Undead Mages do not believe in gods and why most Undead Mages also serve as Desecration Priests.¡± Zi Di took a deep breath, ¡°Old Scholar, it¡¯s better to say less of such things in the future. I consider myself a companion who has shared both life and misfortune with you, having gone through so much together, but just now, I couldn¡¯t help but feel hatred towards you.¡± Cang Xu sighed, ¡°Thank you both for understanding me. Of course, I am aware of the cost of saying such words. But just now, I truly did not want to conceal anything from you. Even if you both might grow to hate me.¡± This statement touched the hearts of the young man and woman once again. Zi Di glanced at the youth, took a deep breath, and then said, ¡°There are some things I should have told you long ago.¡± Chapter 355 - 355: Section 142: Treat Each Other with Sincerity Chapter 355: Section 142: Treat Each Other with Sincerity The youth smiled at Zi Di, ¡°Haven¡¯t I already apologized at the Central Tower?¡± ¡°There¡¯s more to it,¡± Zi Di said gravely. ¡°Not long after I took over the Purple Vine Guild, I was targeted for assassination. To protect myself, I had no choice but to align with the War Merchant. I was too weak to negotiate, so I was forced into an alliance with the Hundred Needle Family. Yet the War Merchant secretly annihilated their team, intending to replace them with a puppet¡ªsupporting you to become the White Sand City Lord and his most loyal pawn.¡± ¡°In fact, it was due to me that the shipwreck occurred. When the contract was voided, I sensed the War Merchant¡¯s death. At that time, the captain of the Pig Kiss harbored malicious intentions, so I poisoned him. But his sudden counterattack led to the sinking of the Pig Kiss.¡± This secret was uncovered on the fourth floor of the Central Tower by Jia Sha. However, at that time, the youth and his companions were still on the third floor, and did not hear this conversation. Nevertheless, neither the youth nor Cang Xu showed any sign of surprise. The youth¡¯s smile remained unchanged. ¡°Did you all know already?¡± Zi Di wondered, but then she realized it herself, ¡°It¡¯s Zhenjin!¡± She guessed correctly. Although she was unconscious afterwards, Zhenjin, having been captured, was inevitably interrogated. Concerning the events on the fourth floor, Zhenjin revealed everything, especially after seeing the device that created the Memory Crystals again. Zi Di exhaled a heavy breath. Although they already knew, voicing it out loud felt like tearing away a layer of paper cocoon wrapping her heart. It gave her a sense of relief, a refreshing feeling of unburdening. Her life-threatening, mysterious experiences on Mysterious Monster Island had made Zi Di even more determined and brave. ¡°There¡¯s another matter, and it¡¯s good news,¡± Zi Di continued. ¡°The Hundred Needle Family has replied. As we discussed earlier, I have arranged to secretly meet the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needles on Fire Island to negotiate and exchange hostages.¡± Zi Di had not revealed the truth about what happened on Mysterious Monster Island; the Clan Leader still thought that the Pig Kiss was hijacked by the Justice Pirate Group, and their clan heir, along with the chairman of the Purple Vine Guild and some other valuable individuals aboard, had become pirate hostages, awaiting a ransom for their release. Although messages were sent using a Magic Device and required a codebook to decipher, the truth could not be disclosed carelessly. This was because, in case significant changes happened within the Hundred Needle Family. She believed that once the negotiations truly began, the Clan Leader¡¯s expression would be priceless upon seeing Zi Di ally with the pirates and forsake their alliance. For the negotiations, the three of them were confident. Zhenjin was the sole heir to the Hundred Needle Family¡ªthis bargaining chip was massive! Now the three only hoped that the Clan Leader indeed had the capability to communicate covertly with the high ranks of the Empire and had the connections to help them evade punishment. Even if the Clan Leader did not have such capacity, having the Hundred Needle Family secretly assist them in escaping and covertly providing supplies would still be beneficial. ¡°Miss Zi Di, if you confront the Clan Leader with the truth, what will happen to your Purple Vine Guild? Your guild¡¯s situation is also not good, initially warming up to the Hundred Needle Family. If the contract is torn up, I fear your guild might face significant negative repercussions,¡± Cang Xu inquired. Zi Di gave a bitter laugh and looked at the youth. The youth was indeed looking at her, his gaze filled with concern and anxiety. Zi Di smiled again, this time a sweet hue tinged her expression. Then, she firmly said, ¡°The Purple Vine Guild is my father¡¯s lifetime of hard work and pride. I took it over because I didn¡¯t want his efforts to be in vain. More importantly, I wanted to use this foundation to seek revenge.¡± ¡°The Purple Vine Guild is already in such a state, and my role as chairman is nominal. Aside from the Elder Fat Tongue, no one else truly acknowledges my leadership. So, even if the contract is torn, it really couldn¡¯t get much worse.¡± ¡°The worst-case scenario is the complete destruction of the Purple Vine Guild. But that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t still seek revenge for my father. As long as I live, it¡¯s entirely possible to rebuild the Purple Vine Guild in the future.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s not the most important and crucial reason,¡± she said. At this, Zi Di suddenly reached out and took hold of the youth¡¯s hand. She continued, ¡°The most important and crucial reason is that I don¡¯t want to become Zhenjin¡¯s fianc¨¦e, not even in name. My heart¡­ already belongs to someone else.¡± She gazed deeply and boldly at the Fishman youth in front of her. The array of experiences on Mysterious Monster Island, the close brushes with death, and the constant companionship had deeply embedded the youth¡¯s light and spirit in the depths of Zi Di¡¯s heart. No matter how ferocious the youth¡¯s appearance seemed or what monstrous form he took, the girl¡¯s heart remained steadfastly with him. The youth¡¯s heart thudded profoundly; at this moment, he also tightened his grip on the girl¡¯s hand. ¡°Zi Di¡­¡± he called out in a low, soft voice. Even though Zi Di had once deceived him, once he knew the truth, the youth felt more understanding and compassion towards her. Zi Di had her own bottom lines and kindness, and, compelled by circumstances, had become a pawn, with much powerlessness and helplessness. Most importantly, the youth trusted his own intuition. During the time he spent with Zi Di, he never felt any malice from her towards him! There was no malice, only love. ¡°How honored I am to have your favor,¡± the youth said passionately. ¡°Me too, meeting you must be arranged by fate,¡± the girl¡¯s cheeks blushed, her eyes tender like water. The two gradually got closer and closer, their attention increasingly focused on each other. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s cough startled the young couple. Both felt a bit embarrassed as they came around. ¡°Bless you two, youth is truly beautiful,¡± Cang Xu commented. Although an Undead Mage, his humanity wasn¡¯t erased. The beauty before him made the corners of his mouth turn up slightly, smiling sincerely. The youth and girl slightly parted, yet the youth¡¯s hand still held the girl¡¯s unwaveringly. He took a deep breath, looked at the girl earnestly, then turned to Cang Xu, ¡°I have some things to clarify to you both.¡± ¡°About my Beastification People¡¯s secret, it¡¯s actually about the Blood Core.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s smile remained unchanged. The girl silently looked at her beloved, slightly squeezing the youth¡¯s hand to secretly encourage him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you both surprised?¡± The youth was slightly taken aback. ¡°To tell you the truth, I had suspected it already,¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°After all, the Blood Core in the Central Tower was actively retained by you, you took it and negotiated alone with the King of Flame Dragon. Since then, I have never seen it again.¡± ¡°After leaving Mysterious Monster Island, you obtained a brand new Dragon-man form.¡± ¡°When we entered the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, you could also transform into a Fishman.¡± ¡°Since that Blood Core was carefully placed on the third floor by the War Merchant, it must be more precious than the Green Jade Gold Coffin and Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale in the War Merchant¡¯s view.¡± ¡°Judging by your performances, I deduced that this Blood Core must have the ability to absorb external bloodlines, thereby driving its own mutation.¡± The Fishman youth sighed, ¡°You guessed it right.¡± He looked at the girl. Zi Di smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, in the battle at the Central Tower, I nearly took over all the permissions. Naturally, I saw many documents about the Blood Core, including the War Merchant¡¯s methods of using the Blood Core with the Green Jade Gold Coffin to massively produce man-made magical beasts and Beastification People.¡± Zi Di was more aware than Cang Xu but hadn¡¯t divulged a bit. Clearly, she was hiding it for her beloved. ¡°You only know a part,¡± the Fishman youth said, ¡°In fact, there are three Blood Cores in total.¡± ¡°Three?!¡± Zi Di and Cang Xu exclaimed in unison. ¡°Yes,¡± the youth continued, ¡°The first one is inside me.¡± ¡°Remember when we faced danger in the Spider Forest?¡± the Fishman youth looked at Zi Di, ¡°That time, my hands mutated into bear claws and killed the Silver Blade Spider.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zi Di smiled lightly. Looking back now, her heart was filled with sweetness. ¡°I had many doubts about my capability of beastification. Later, I gradually discovered the Blood Core within me, which was the source of the beastification mutation.¡± ¡°It was by using the first Blood Core that I escaped many dangers and defeated various man-made magical beasts along the way.¡± ¡°Lately, I saw the second Blood Core, that is, the one on the third floor of the Central Tower, and I immediately had a strong desire to devour it.¡± ¡°Although untaught, I swallowed the second Blood Core by instinct.¡± ¡°The two Blood Cores merged together.¡± ¡°I used this Blood Core to annihilate the King of Flame Dragon.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Zi Di exclaimed in surprise. ¡°The King of Flame Dragon is dead?!¡± Cang Xu also showed a shocked expression. He had thought that this legendary dragon was banished to outer space in the great explosion. The young man nodded, ¡°I had no choice. When the negotiation with the King of Flame Dragon failed, we couldn¡¯t be sure if the self-destruction of Mysterious Monster Island would kill it. If it survived, it could easily find us, kill us, and take back the Divine Artifact and military exploits.¡± ¡°Can a Blood Core actually kill a legendary powerhouse?¡± Zi Di was stunned. ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± the young man patiently explained. ¡°My first Blood Core couldn¡¯t even transform the Python Vine in the river. After absorbing the second one, I could devour legendary beings, but only when the target couldn¡¯t resist. At that time, the King of Flame Dragon, as you know, was exactly bound by the War Merchant¡¯s Alchemy Array and couldn¡¯t move.¡± ¡°Before his death, the King of Flame Dragon had loosened up and even begged for mercy. But I couldn¡¯t trust it; I didn¡¯t have a strong contract in my hand, we were too weak.¡± Cang Xu nodded, his face full of approval. ¡°Sir, your handling of the situation was absolutely correct.¡± ¡°As for the third Blood Core, it was found on the body of the Goddess Mei Lan.¡± The words of the Fishman youth once again shocked both of them. Then, the Fishman youth shared his speculation ¡ª due to the cooperation between the War Merchant and Goddess Mei Lan, the Blood Core was likely a gift from the War Merchant to the Goddess. ¡°The third Blood Core contains a massive amount of Fishman Bloodline, including three Divine Level Fishman Bloodlines, one of which is my current state.¡± ¡°The reward for the Fishman trial ¡ª Holy Spring Baptism ¡ª is essentially the third Blood Core, triggering the thin bloodlines inside Fishmen, enhancing their bloodline concentration, and even awakening their bloodlines.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is,¡± Zi Di murmured to herself. Cang Xu was also deep in thought, his face growing increasingly surprised. He pondered, ¡°The three known Blood Cores should all be made by the War Merchant.¡± ¡°The first Blood Core, the War Merchant placed inside you, sir.¡± ¡°The second Blood Core, the War Merchant placed on the third floor of the Central Tower, used for researching and creating man-made magical beasts and Beastification People.¡± ¡°The third Blood Core, the War Merchant gave to the Goddess Mei Lan, to help enhance the capabilities of her believers.¡± Zi Di wondered, ¡°The value of the Blood Core far exceeds ordinary Divine Artifacts; why would the War Merchant place such an important treasure inside your body, sir?¡± The Fishman youth said, ¡°My thought is: this might just be the War Merchant¡¯s method for creating Blood Cores. I believe that even the War Merchant hasn¡¯t grasped the fundamental mystery of their creation. Otherwise, he would have crafted more, right?¡± ¡°My guess: the War Merchant is able to create an environment like Mysterious Monster Island, using the mutual slaughter among man-made Magical Beasts to generate Blood Cores.¡± ¡°Zi Di, do you remember when we first encountered the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear in the cave? At that time, I fought it to death, and you revived me, having transfused bear blood into me.¡± A glint appeared in Zi Di¡¯s eyes, ¡°Thinking back now, I¡¯m still terrified. Sir, do you know? You died twice at that time. Shortly after each death, you came back to life.¡± ¡°What?!¡± The Fishman youth was shocked. Zi Di pondered, ¡°Thinking back now, perhaps at that time, you were feigning death. The Blood Core was forming inside your body! Thus, causing the bizarre state of cycling between life and death.¡± At this point, Cang Xu interjected, ¡°This speculation has some merit, but I¡¯m more inclined to believe that the first Blood Core was actively placed inside you by the War Merchant.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Cang Xu explained, ¡°Don¡¯t forget the identity of the War Merchant; he is a Legendary Mage, an Alchemy Grandmaster, but also one of the top ten wanted criminals.¡± ¡°He is an enemy of the Empire, and so is the Goddess Mei Lan. The enemy of an enemy is a friend, providing them a basis for collaboration.¡± ¡°The War Merchant gave the Blood Core to the Goddess Mei Lan, and in return, the Goddess provides ¡®Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale¡¯ and periodic replenishment of Divine Power; this is the content of their cooperation.¡± ¡°The Empire is currently invading the Wilderness Continent massively; the entire world¡¯s attention is focused on this clash. The War Merchant would certainly want to have a hand in it.¡± ¡°The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce was annexed, but the alliance between Miss Zi Di and the Hundred Needle Family gave the War Merchant some hope.¡± ¡°He wants to secretly kill Zhenjin and have you replace him, taking control of White Sand City.¡± ¡°In that case, not only would you be the City Lord of White Sand City, but also a Holy Temple Knight.¡± ¡°I analyzed this on Mysterious Monster Island: after the large-scale outbreak of the war between the Human Race and Beast Race, surely a considerable number of Divine Favored Knights will emerge.¡± ¡°The War Merchant is very likely trying to support you to become a Divine Favored Knight!¡± The Fishman youth inevitably fell into deep thought. Cang Xu¡¯s words had opened up a new train of thought for him. He had always believed himself to be of low strength (only Silver Level) and of mediocre origin (at best an Imperial Knight, not like Zhenjin, whose disappearance would have prompted their family to mount a full-scale rescue). Therefore, he naturally speculated that the Blood Core had originated from his body. But after Cang Xu¡¯s analysis, the Fishman youth suddenly realized: his existence actually held great investment value. The War Merchant needed to deal with the Empire, required a stable channel to help him sell arms, recoup funds, and more critically, needed a spy placed within the higher echelons of the Empire to act as his eyes and ears! One day, when the War Merchant and the Goddess Mei Lan would confront the Empire¡¯s gods, this spy would play many crucial roles. From the wars between the Human Race and the Beast Race, the War Merchant saw this rare opportunity. As long as the youth was nurtured into a Divine Favored Knight, it was almost certain that he would rise to the Empire¡¯s upper echelons! To ensure the youth¡¯s loyalty, the War Merchant used a Memory Crystal. To keep the youth¡¯s identity from being discovered, the War Merchant spent a fortune purchasing from the Giant Mouth Hunting Group, acquiring the bloodline of the Gold Needle Bee. To keep the youth safe and continually achieving merits, the War Merchant gave him a Blood Core! ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then the War Merchant is clearly confident, able to hide you from the Divine scrutiny of the Empire,¡± Zi Di suddenly clenched her fist, ¡°No mistake, it¡¯s Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale!¡± ¡°We always thought that the War Merchant¡¯s access to the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale was illegitimate, that he could only utilize a part of the Divine Artifact¡¯s power.¡± ¡°But in fact, Mei Lan Goddess and the War Merchant have formed a partnership, close allies. This way, the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale can be fully utilized.¡± ¡°Through it, the War Merchant is confident that he can help you evade the Empire¡¯s divine inspection.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± the Fishman youth looked at the young girl, ¡°if it wasn¡¯t for the Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s raid on Mysterious Monster Island, would my situation be the same as yours, both pawns of the War Merchant?¡± Zi Di was momentarily stunned, then her smile blossomed beautifully. The Fishman youth¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°Both of you, what I really want to say about the Blood Core is the following.¡± ¡°The Blood Core has miraculous power, targeted at bloodlines.¡± ¡°It can mass produce man-made magical beasts, Beastification People, and also help Fishmen trace their roots and enhance their own Fishman bloodline.¡± ¡°And the host who controls the Blood Core can, through consuming the demon energy stored in the Blood Core, easily transform into any form, possessing the cultivation talents corresponding to that bloodline!¡± Cang Xu and Zi Di once again showed their astonishment. However, they were not shocked, because they had both seen the youth¡¯s previous Dragon-man form and current Fishman form, and had somewhat understood the progress of the youth¡¯s cultivation. For this, they actually had early conjectures. ¡°Do you understand what this means?¡± asked the Fishman youth. Zi Di smiled, ¡°With the War Merchant able to create a Blood Core, and us having the Tower Spirit and experiences on Mysterious Monster Island, and even holding a finished Blood Core in hand, perhaps we could also refine a Blood Core in the future. Owning a Blood Core, we could escape the shackles of bloodlines and become geniuses among geniuses.¡± Cang Xu was profoundly moved, ¡°Bloodlines have always been the cornerstone of society, whether it¡¯s the Human Race, the Beast Race, the Elves, or the Dwarfs. The War Merchant truly is among the pinnacle of alchemists in this world. From a certain perspective, the Blood Core, such a treasure, is even more terrifying than all gods combined! Because, it can shake the very foundations of society, and lead to endless wars and chaos.¡± ¡°Now, with the War Merchant dead, we are the only ones who know this truth, and we must guard this secret with our lives.¡± ¡°Even if using the Divine Artifact to absolve ourselves, we must keep the Blood Core as hidden as possible!¡± Zi Di¡¯s expression turned to one of worry, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s not just us. The War Merchant had a student named Sharp Diamond. We never saw him appear on Mysterious Monster Island. After I gained full access, his body was not found either.¡± The other two¡¯s expressions changed. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The youth looked at Cang Xu, ¡°Regardless, the most important thing is the Pearl Bubble. With it, we can defend against prophecies and divination, and even deceive the Tower Spirit, just like we once tricked the Toad Safe. Once the Tower Spirit is deceived, we¡¯ll be able to access the entire memory bank, and look up all records.¡± ¡°By doing this, we¡¯ll get the method the War Merchant used to refine the Blood Core, and also find out the whereabouts of Sharp Diamond, verifying our various suspicions.¡± Cang Xu gave a wry smile, ¡°I¡¯ve already tried my best, but the current problem is that just relying on my own to replenish Divine Power is too inefficient. I must mass-produce Desecration Priests to increase the yield of Divine Power.¡± ¡°Fortunately, we¡¯ve acquired the cultivation experiences of the ship ghost, significantly improving our memory manipulation capabilities. But whether I can mass produce Desecration Priests, I still need to experiment.¡± The youth took a deep breath, ¡°Do your best.¡± Cang Xu nodded heavily, ¡°Understood!¡± ps: Today¡¯s update ends with this massive 5500-word chapter. Chapter 356 - 356: Section 143: Incident at Sky Pillar Chapter 356: Section 143: Incident at Sky Pillar Dun Dao City, Dun Dao Island, the prison cell. Crack! Crack! A whip with spikes lashed repeatedly against the housekeeper¡¯s body. Each strike brought forth fresh blood and flesh. ¡°Ah! Ah¡ª!¡± The housekeeper¡¯s wailing was relentless. ¡°Stop, please, my Lord, stop! Stop hitting me!¡± ¡°I was wrong, I was wrong, my Lord.¡± ¡°I beg you, spare me, please spare me!¡± Crack! Crack! The one brandishing the whip was none other than the City Lord of Dun Dao City himself. ¡°Spare you? Who allowed you to purchase the Ship Spirit Repair Scroll? Huh? Brazen and presumptuous!¡± The City Lord roared, whipping even harder. Crack crack crack¡­ The housekeeper¡¯s skin split and flesh burst, his form barely human, his pleas for mercy gradually weakening. ¡°My Lord, City Lord, I beg you, for all the diligent work I¡¯ve done in the past, to spare my life¡­¡± The life breath of the housekeeper was already extremely feeble. Upon hearing this, a flicker of emotion crossed the City Lord of Dun Dao¡¯s heart. Indeed, on a normal day, this housekeeper was very diligent and responsible. But at this moment, the second housekeeper spoke up quietly, ¡°My Lord, Tan Mo has awakened. He did not leave the mansion and is looking for you. The servants had no choice but to temporarily place him in the reception hall.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao immediately furrowed his brows, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t he left yet?¡± Tan Mo¡¯s fleet showed a lightning-fast and aggressive posture, forcefully visiting the City Lord¡¯s mansion late last night. Tan Mo, a Golden Level Fighter and also a Navy vice admiral, was promptly received by the City Lord of Dun Dao with a banquet. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tan Mo accepted the banquet with a smile and, during the feast, revealed his purpose, telling the City Lord of Dun Dao that he was in big trouble! The City Lord of Dun Dao, long accustomed to his position of power, immediately recognized the gravity of his predicament. To solve the trouble, he not only treated Tan Mo hospitably but also ¡°gifted¡± him 5000 Gold Coins and handed over the recently acquired Ship Spirit Repair Scroll. Tan Mo ate and drank heartily, consuming almost half of the City Lord¡¯s stored wines and gratefully accepted the 5000 Gold Coins, enthusiastically slapping the City Lord¡¯s shoulder during the banquet, ¡°I consider you a friend now!¡± Finally, the City Lord of Dun Dao accompanied the drinking until two or three o¡¯clock in the morning, by which time Tan Mo was too drunk to move. With no other choice, the City Lord had to arrange for him to rest in a guest room within the mansion. After Tan Mo, the vice admiral, was settled, the City Lord of Dun Dao immediately ordered the housekeeper to be taken to the prison cell. After sleeping for an hour or two, the City Lord of Dun Dao dreamed of being left with nothing and woke up furious. Considering the extent of his losses, he became even more enraged and ran to the prison to vent his anger by whipping the housekeeper. After a while, he heard the news that Tan Mo was still lingering within the City Lord¡¯s mansion. The second housekeeper reported with concern, ¡°My Lord, City Lord, Tan Mo, the vice admiral, is infamous in the Navy. His corruption and extortion are extremely severe, reaching the point of utterly vile. It is said that he could turn a fish-scale-rich sea into a beach, scouring it to the ground. By extracting every last resource, he could turn a prosperous town into ruins and desolation.¡± ¡°He was once stationed in the southwest of the Empire, where he took all kinds of fees from the fishermen, making life unbearable. The sea people faced famine and could only eat mud cakes to hang on to life.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao drew a sharp breath and felt his spirits sinking. Through gritted teeth, he muttered, ¡°It seems last night¡¯s 5000 Gold Coins aren¡¯t nearly enough to satisfy Tan Mo¡¯s appetite.¡± Seeing the housekeeper already fainting, the City Lord, overcome with rage, threw the long whip to the guard, ¡°Whip him, keep whipping him until he dies!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The guard, holding the whip, promptly replied. The City Lord stormed out of the prison, anger written all over him. The second housekeeper followed close behind, glancing smugly at the housekeeper before leaving. The City Lord simmered with indignant rage, but as he approached the reception hall, he put on a different face. Upon opening the door, he saw Tan Mo¡¯s plump body lazily sprawled on the sofa, leisurely sipping on black tea. On the coffee table, there were fine cutlery and sweet pastries. The City Lord¡¯s eyes twitched slightly, and he quickly said with a smile, ¡°Good morning, my Lord Tan Mo. Did you have a good sleep last night?¡± However, Tan Mo deliberately showed a look of discomfort, put the tea down, rested his hand on the back of his neck, and shook his head, ¡°To tell you the truth, I had a poor sleep. I got a crick in my neck.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao was instantly taken aback. How could a mighty Golden Fighter end up with a crick in the neck? The very idea seemed preposterous! Tan Mo narrowed his eyes and piled on a false smile, ¡°I heard that you have a peculiar treasure in your collection, called the ¡®Cool Sandal Pillow¡¯. When one sleeps with their head on it, it clears the mind of stray thoughts and even aids in cultivating fighting energy.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao¡¯s heart skipped a beat, stunned by Tan Mo¡¯s insatiable greed. After the initial shock, a fierce roar surged within him. ¡°My Cool Sandal Pillow is of the Holy Domain Level along the alchemy path. When one sleeps with their head on it, the fighting energy within their body is drawn out, continuously cultivating on its own.¡± ¡°This is the most treasured beloved of my heart, and he dares to covet it! He¡¯s utterly disrespecting me!!¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao narrowed his eyes, stood rooted to the spot, and stared at Tan Mo without moving, the fighting energy within him eager to burst forth. He was the City Lord of Dun Dao, the emperor of Dun Dao Island, always enjoying a life above others. Now, his authority was being severely provoked. Tan Mo was not just extorting¡ªhe was outright robbing! In an instant, the City Lord of Dun Dao felt the impulse to kill Tan Mo outright and wash away his own humiliation. Feeling the City Lord¡¯s murderous intent, Tan Mo¡¯s smile became even thicker and more insincere. He slowly stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the garden bathed in brilliant sunlight, ¡°Do you know, City Lord, the Ship Spirit Repair Scroll has been classified as Advanced Military Supplies, meaning it will surely be subjected to strict controls in the future.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be difficult to deal with your situation.¡± ¡°The top brass has given me a firm order to investigate thoroughly and show no leniency!¡± Dun Dao City Lord snorted coldly, ¡°But all I did was purchase this scroll.¡± ¡°No, no, no.¡± Tan Mo turned slightly, raising his stout index finger and wagging it, ¡°The Black Market auctioning this scroll was hosted by your own administration.¡± Dun Dao City Lord clenched his teeth instantly, ¡°It¡¯s not just me; the Bambu Guild is involved too.¡± Tan Mo shook his head with a sigh, ¡°The Bambu Guild¡­ has too strong a backing. I dare not offend them.¡± ¡°But without a substantial response to deliver to my superiors, I could be the one investigated and poorly evaluated.¡± ¡°Dear City Lord of Dun Dao.¡± The City Lord gritted his teeth, fists clenched, rage filling his heart, ¡°This damn guy¡­ he never intended to uncover the truth, he just wants a scapegoat. If I don¡¯t satisfy his appetite, I¡¯m likely to become the perfect scapegoat!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be agitated, don¡¯t be agitated. City Lord of Dun Dao, I don¡¯t want to be your enemy. But look, I have my own difficulties too,¡± Tan Mo said, spreading his hands. He slowly walked up to the City Lord, ¡°I¡¯m just a pitiful person who got dragged into this, same as you.¡± Dun Dao City Lord averted his gaze, trying his best not to look at the detestable Tan Mo. One more glance at him and the City Lord felt he might lose control and make a move to kill Tan Mo. He wasn¡¯t afraid of Tan Mo, for they were both Golden Level fighters. What he feared was the Imperial Navy behind Tan Mo, and he also cherished the good life of ruling Dun Dao City. Ultimately, he suppressed his fury and bitterness and spoke through gritted teeth, ¡°What must be done for me to extricate myself from this trouble?¡± A smile bloomed on Tan Mo¡¯s face, this time it was much more sincere than before. He gave the City Lord a thumbs up, ¡°Realizing the situation and being adaptable, City Lord, you¡¯re truly commendable. Rest assured, just for the feast you provided last night, I will definitely help such a forthright person like you! However, 5000 Gold Coins is too little. Even if I want to help you smooth things over, that amount is just not presentable.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Dun Dao City Lord nodded strenuously, ¡°Please, come with me.¡± The City Lord then led Tan Mo to his treasure vault. In this room, Tan Mo¡¯s eyes seemingly sparkled with blinding golden light. Meanwhile. At the Big Military Port. Wei Sheng sat behind Marshal Yan Tan¡¯s desk, busy handling a pile of military affairs. Bang, bang, bang! Someone hammered at the door of the study rapidly, and without waiting for Wei Sheng to respond, an intelligence officer already shouted, ¡°Earl, something big has happened! Something big!!¡± Wei Sheng¡¯s brow furrowed, his gaze became extremely sharp in an instant, ¡°Come in, what¡¯s the situation?¡± The intelligence officer immediately pushed the door open, then quickly shut it. He strode up to Wei Sheng, speaking rapidly, ¡°It¡¯s intel about foreign divine beings! A major battle erupted in the Sky Pillar Sea Eye of the Night Spirit Sea Domain. The main combatants were the Charming Blue Divine Sect and the Barbarians. The Barbarian Cold Sky Splitter, Zhao Ya, and Holy Domain Level fighter Man Zhuang, who led the Barbarians, came out victorious, inflicting heavy losses on the Charming Blue Divine Sect. The Goddess Mei Lan, protected by the Divine Son, fled in humiliation.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Wei Sheng was profoundly shaken, immediately putting all other military affairs aside, ¡°Has the intel been confirmed?¡± ¡°It¡¯s confirmed!¡± said the intelligence officer, ¡°In this chaotic battle, there were Firebeard¡¯s third-in-command Feng Yao, the Mother Tree Pirates, the Justice Pirate Group, Catapult Pirates, a tribe of Sea Giants who are nomadic, and a large number of other pirates.¡± Swallowing nervously, the intelligence officer continued, ¡°There are many survivors from the battlefield, and many have witnessed the Divine Son carrying the Goddess into an Alchemy Submarine, successfully retreating.¡± ¡°According to assessments, the leader of the Justice Pirate Group, Long Fu, is in reality the Divine Son of the Charming Blue Divine Sect, a Fishman with the Shark Blue Bloodline!¡± The barrage of news sent Wei Sheng¡¯s mind into turmoil. The intelligence officer then handed him a report, ¡°This is a summary of the battle gathered from several pieces of intel.¡± Wei Sheng immediately took it and reviewed the trembling sheet of paper in his hands. Indeed, something big had happened! Every divine being could threaten the Empire. The foreign Goddess Mei Lan was still alive! However, anyone reading the battle report would know the Goddess was in dire shape. If they could capture her, it would be a monumental military achievement! ¡°Stay calm, calm down,¡± Wei Sheng chanted to himself internally. Seconds later, he steadied himself and swiftly considered his options, then issued orders, ¡°Mobilize all forces immediately to uncover the trail of the Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°Full fleet on Level 1 alert.¡± ¡°Prepare the war room.¡± ¡°Recall all Navy within three thousand sea miles of the port and instruct them to stand by at the port within 24 hours.¡± ¡°I will personally report to the Marshal!¡± ps: Just one update today. Chapter 357 - 357: Section 144: Navy Mobilization Chapter 357: Section 144: Navy Mobilization After reporting the situation to Navy Marshal Yan Tan, Wei Sheng immediately rushed to the battle room. On the way there, an intelligence officer ran up to him with a delighted expression, ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve located the Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°Well done!¡± Wei Sheng was slightly surprised as he quickly took the military report. After looking over it for a moment, he revealed a hint of bemusement. The Justice Pirate Group was so bold as to make such a move, daring to contact the empire¡¯s spies after this incident and enter the empire¡¯s secret military port for resupply! But almost immediately, a glint flashed in Wei Sheng¡¯s eyes as he realized what was behind the military report. ¡°No, these guys are cunning, playing a timing game with us.¡± ¡°The transmission of intelligence does take time.¡± ¡°Their actions are still extremely risky. It seems that although they managed to retreat successfully, they are in very bad shape, and their need for supplies is urgent!¡± With that supposition, Wei Sheng strode into the battle room. A huge military map that exuded the aura of the Holy Domain Level was affixed to the wall. This was a Magic Map, and the emblems symbolizing specific Navy warships moved in real time upon it. Wei Sheng reached out to touch the map¡¯s surface. His Fighting energy flashed and was gone, while his Spirit was infused into the map through his Fighting energy. He began to manipulate the map, which changed. The map immediately expanded, revealing a sea area that was marked much more precisely than before, with the center being Knife Island. Wei Sheng caught sight of the symbols for two fleets stationed on Knife Island at a glance. A bolt of lightning crossed his mind, and his eyes flashed again with sharpness, ¡°Oh? Both Tan Mo and General Kan Qiao are on Knife Island. What good luck!¡± He immediately recalled that General Kan Qiao¡¯s fleet was there for an emergency resupply, whereas Tan Mo had gone to Knife Island to investigate a corruption case. These would normally be minor matters, lost among other heavy military affairs and not very noticeable, but they now became vividly clear. Facing the map, Wei Sheng¡¯s thoughts flashed like lightning, ¡°According to the intelligence, the state of the Justice Pirate Group is extremely poor. Although they have the actual body of the Goddess Mei Lan, the Goddess has been in a deep slumber all this while. Even during the battle of Sky Pillar, she didn¡¯t truly awaken but kept conjuring false divine avatars to deal with Barbarian powerhouses.¡± ¡°The captain of the Justice Pirate Group, Long Fu, is actually the Divine Son of the Charming Blue Sect, but he has not grown significantly, with his real Cultivation being only at the Silver Level.¡± ¡°Below Long Fu is the Half-Beast Lion Flag. This fellow¡¯s Cultivation is a bit more formidable, reaching the Peak of Silver Level. It seems he sustained serious injuries during the battle of Sky Pillar.¡± ¡°Besides him, there¡¯s Di Lou. A Silver Level bard, specialized in¡­ uh, urine flow songs¡­¡± ¡°The last notable threat is Old Zhong. Usually well-disguised, he is, in fact, an Undead Mage, albeit at the Black Iron Level.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also a Silver Level Undead Mage, who was part of the Justice Pirate Group. However, during the battle of Sky Pillar, in order to hold off the Barbarian offensive, he did not hesitate to detonate himself and perished¡ªa suspected follower of the Charming Blue Sect and extremely loyal.¡± ¡°The greatest threat among the conventional forces is actually that Golden Level alchemical demon energy ship with a fish-like appearance, which must be very adept at underwater combat.¡± Within a few short seconds, Wei Sheng had accurately assessed the combat strength of the Justice Pirate Group. ¡°Issue a top-level military command!¡± Wei Sheng, with his eyes ablaze with brilliance and after pondering, resolutely ordered, ¡°The Kan Qiao Fleet and Tan Mo Fleet are to fight with all their might, to capture or kill all members of the Justice Pirate Group!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The subordinate immediately responded loudly. ¡°Another order,¡± Wei Sheng continued, ¡°the City Lord of Dun Dao City must cooperate in combat, without any delay or dragging of feet. Victory in this battle will be rewarded, with merits calculated at ten times the normal standard.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Wei Sheng reduced the size of the Magic Map and quickly checked the other Navy warships around the Knife Mountain Island area. He issued another order, directing these warships to rapidly approach Knife Mountain Island and to maintain maximum alert along the way, forming an interception formation to prevent any possible escape by the Justice Pirate Group. Finally, he pondered for a moment, ¡°We need not wait for the Marshal anymore. We set off immediately, straight to Knife Mountain Island!¡± In the Big Military Port, countless personnel sprang into action with remarkable speed. Wei Sheng boarded his Twin Sword warship, leading almost all of the Navy warships in a grand departure from the harbor. Only a small contingent of the Navy remained behind, signaling a full mobilization. He stood at the bow, with the sea breeze howling and his cloak billowing. Yet his eyebrows and spiked hair were utterly still amidst the strong wind. ¡°The whims of gods are beyond conjecture!¡± ¡°The Justice Pirate Group is not to be feared, but the true terror is the actual body of Mei Lan.¡± ¡°No one knows whether she can still awaken or how much fighting power remains!¡± ¡°Let General Kan Qiao, Tan Mo, and the City Lord of Dun Dao City test the waters. Even if it means sacrificing them all, as long as they can probe the remaining fighting strength of Mei Lan, it will be entirely worth it.¡± Wei Sheng gazed out where sea and sky met, his eyes sharp and cold. Military intelligence was communicated to Knife Mountain Island at the fastest speed. ¡°What? A special military order! Telling me to launch a full assault and must annihilate the Justice Pirate Group? And also that the fleets of Tan Mo and the City Lord of Dun Dao City will work together in this battle?¡± General Kan Qiao received this military order and was greatly shocked. The First Officer¡¯s face was somber: ¡°This is a direct order from Navy Headquarters. What crime has the Justice Pirate Group committed to warrant the combined efforts of three Golden Fighters and two Navy fleets against them?¡± ¡°Hmph! I¡¯ve always felt that there was something off about this pirate group,¡± General Kan Qiao said through gritted teeth. ¡°Since when do pirates claim to be just? Throughout history, only the most wicked and deranged criminals believe they are righteous, and the whole world is wrong!! Gather everyone; we strike directly at their pirate ship.¡± The First Officer immediately interjected, ¡°Vice Admiral, isn¡¯t a blind attack unwise?¡± ¡°The military order explicitly dictates for our side, alongside the fleet of Tan Mo and the City Lord of Dun Dao City, to capture or kill the entire Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°Our forces are too strong; why would the usually cunning and strategic Navy Headquarters waste such precious fleet power?¡± ¡°Clearly, this pirate group is hiding significant strength, leading Navy Headquarters to believe that only our three forces combined can execute their capture or kill.¡± ¡°I suggest we immediately contact the other two sides to discuss a joint operation plan,¡± advised the First Officer. General Kan Qiao fell into contemplation. Though he was impetuous, he was not foolish. He detested the First Officer, who often disagreed with him, but deep down, he was well aware: the First Officer was a good soldier, performing his duties and considering the best interests of the entire fleet in his own way. After some thought, General Kan Qiao still shook his head, ¡°If the Justice Pirate Group were concealing their strength, it would surely be explicitly mentioned in the orders from Navy Headquarters.¡± ¡°If nothing specific is stated, either the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s power is as it appears to be, or the hidden strength has not been precisely determined by Navy Headquarters.¡± ¡°But the Justice Pirate Group must have committed a major crime, likely involving something they looted that is highly important and must be reclaimed immediately. That¡¯s why there is such a great show of force, with a will to win, against a mere pirate group.¡± ¡°Contacting the other two parties is a must.¡± ¡°But we also need to take action in advance. Don¡¯t forget, their ships are docked at the port, and now is the best time to attack. If we let them escape to the sea, it will be even more troublesome.¡± ¡°Even if the Justice Pirate Group has concealed their strength, our attack can still probe out many pieces of key intelligence, providing great assistance to our allies.¡± General Kan Qiao¡¯s words and demeanor both revealed his resolute will. The First Officer sighed softly, very familiar with Kan Qiao¡¯s nature and admiring his spirit of selflessness, ¡°Then, please issue the orders, Vice Admiral.¡± Just as General Kan Qiao was mustering his troops for a direct assault on the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s ships, Tan Mo and the City Lord of Dun Dao City also received the military order. ¡°My lord, this is actually a top-priority military order!¡± The First Officer was very nervous, ¡°We must act immediately, can¡¯t be paralyzed and delayed. Otherwise, we might end up in a military court.¡± Tan Mo¡¯s face was unhappy. He was selecting treasures in the treasury, trying to probe the bottom line of the City Lord of Dun Dao City, when this incident occurred. Looking at the military order in his hands, Tan Mo felt as if the thin piece of paper was burning his hands. ¡°Dangerous!¡± ¡°This military order is too bizarre.¡± ¡°A top-priority military order, and to mobilize such a large force, assembling three Gold Level powerhouses to deal with an unknown pirate group?¡± ¡°The waters run deep here!¡± Vice Admiral Tan Mo was not familiar with the Justice Pirate Group. The Justice Pirate Group had indeed taken out the Golden and Silver Hook brothers, but that merely brought them a bit of fame. In fact, the Life Sect¡¯s bishop later issued orders to suppress the spread of this accomplishment. It was Vice Admiral You-mian-guang who not only plundered the gold and silver islands but also planned ambushes for several pirate groups. He was the one who stood out. Vice Admiral Tan Mo was a sly and cunning person, so it was normal for him not to recognize the Justice Pirate Group. If there were members of the Justice Pirate Group with Gold Level strength, he would take them seriously. ¡°Top-priority military orders cannot be disobeyed; we must take action immediately!¡± Vice Admiral Tan Mo winked at his First Officer, ¡°Even if our warships collide with each other at the port and nearly run aground due to leaving in too much of a hurry, we must do our best to rush to Knife Harbor and capture the Justice Pirate Group.¡± The First Officer blinked, understanding the intentions of his superior but still could not help expressing his anxiety, ¡°Lord, this is a top-priority military order, not an ordinary one.¡± ¡°Carry out the order!¡± Tan Mo glared fiercely at the First Officer. The First Officer trembled all over and immediately accepted the order to leave. Beside him, the City Lord of Dun Dao City, who had witnessed the entire conversation, was stunned and gained a new understanding of the power behind Vice Admiral Tan Mo. The City Lord was forced to hand over the Ship Spirit Repair Scroll and was also extorted by Vice Admiral Tan Mo, naturally not willing to accept the military order. He was not under the direct command of the Navy, but rather recruited by the Empire. This recruitment was only nominal allegiance to the Empire; in reality, Dun Dao City was an autonomous faction. Moreover, this military order was very peculiar, making the City Lord unable to grasp the full situation and inherently unwilling to take risks. The City Lord of Dun Dao City stared at Vice Admiral Tan Mo and suddenly said, ¡°The Justice Pirate Group is ruthless and vicious, actually setting up an ambush in the city! Over a dozen pirates lay in ambush, specifically targeting me with sinister and ruthless methods. They secretly placed Alchemy Bombs throughout Dun Dao City.¡± ¡°To carry out the military order, and even more so to protect the lives of the city¡¯s residents, I fought with all my might, undaunted to the end, and managed to repel the members of the pirate group. Despite suffering injuries, I still went around disarming Alchemy Bombs, yet this caused a delay in setting out, and I was completely helpless!¡± Upon hearing this, Vice Admiral Tan Mo¡¯s eyes brightened, and he laughed heartily, ¡°Good, the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s strength is formidable, actually hiding Gold Level powerhouses. This Vice Admiral was investigating the case of the Ship Spirit Scroll leak with the City Lord of Dun Dao City when the incident occurred, fighting side by side with the City Lord. Although unscathed, my equipment suffered severe damage, my Fighting Energy nearly depleted, and it was only with great difficulty that we emerged victorious!¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City smiled at hearing Tan Mo agree with him but then trembled slightly at the mention of Tan Mo¡¯s equipment suffering severe damage, realizing he had to give a considerable bribe to get through this situation. General Kan Qiao held a long-handled great sword, his prowess unyielding. The First Officer followed closely behind him. Captain Sea Dog led other elite Navy personnel, tightly encircling the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s ships. The person in charge of the naval port hurriedly arrived. ¡°Why are there several ships missing?¡± General Kan Qiao frowned, sensing something was wrong. The person in charge wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and immediately responded, ¡°This morning the Justice Pirate Group requested a trial sail. Seeing their repairs on the demon energy ship had reached a certain extent, I allowed them.¡± ¡°So they left all their ordinary ships in the port?¡± The First Officer¡¯s brow furrowed tightly. At that moment, on the ordinary ships, a large number of pirates gathered at the side of the ship, holding all kinds of weapons, very tense. These men were captives from a previous defeat of the Fast Blade Pirate Group, facing Gold Level powerhouses and the most elite Navy. Their morale was extremely low, their legs trembling, looking around for the pirate group¡¯s higher-ups. ¡°Justice Pirate Group, listen up, surrender now, and you will not be killed!¡± General Kan Qiao shouted angrily. The port was sealed, the ships could not leave. As their own higher-ups were nowhere to be seen, these pirates realized they might have been abandoned, and one by one, they dropped their weapons and knelt on the deck. ¡°We surrender!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve all surrendered, don¡¯t kill us!¡± The Navy soldiers successfully boarded and secured control of the situation. ¡°Search for me!¡± General Kan Qiao ordered again. The Navy teams entered the ship¡¯s cabins, searching everywhere. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Nothing found.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one in the cabins!¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t find anyone either.¡± One piece of bad news after another reached General Kan Qiao, his expression growing uglier. ¡°Wait, what is this?!¡± Captain Sea Dog suddenly exclaimed. ¡°Hmm?¡± General Kan Qiao¡¯s face flashed with hope. But the next moment, he heard Captain Sea Dog¡¯s sharp voice, ¡°Bombs! Alchemy Bombs, get out fast!¡± Boom, boom, boom! The pirate ships erupted in explosions, the blast wave lifted thick smoke and waves, numerous ship debris, and Navy bodies were flung around. Ironically, the pirates kneeling on the deck were less injured, mostly falling into the water. Some were unfortunate enough to be killed by the explosions or were blown high into the sky and perished on impact. ¡°Damn it, this was a trap!¡± the First Officer clenched his teeth. General Kan Qiao¡¯s face turned ashen, and after a moment of silence, he roared furiously, ¡°Pursue them!!!¡± Chapter 358 - 358: Section 145: The Battle Begins! Kan Qiao Pursues Chapter 358: Section 145: The Battle Begins! Kan Qiao Pursues Deep Sea Monster Fish. A group of test subjects huddled together, trembling uncontrollably. The dimly lit cabin they occupied was illuminated only by a few candles, with darkness enveloping the rest of the space. In the center of the candles, a small wooden statue of the goddess Mei Lan stood. ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± A chilling scream, like that of a wild beast or a demonic creature, echoed from the darkness. ¡°It¡¯s coming, it¡¯s coming again!¡± the subjects cried out in panic. ¡°Quick, quickly pray to the goddess Mei Lan!¡± shouted several of the subjects. The mysterious predator lurking in the darkness had already killed several of them. Each strike was unimaginably swift. ¡°The only way to survive is to pray to the statue and seek the goddess¡¯s protection,¡± they had long since realized. The intense sensation of looming death and the overwhelming fear left them no room for detailed thought. However, after trying, they gradually realized this idea might be correct! ¡°Ah!¡± The predator in the dark roared fiercely and attacked again. One of the peripheral test subjects was dragged into the darkness. ¡°Ah!¡± Immediately, miserable screams and the sounds of flesh being torn and bones being gnawed emanated from the dark. ¡°He¡¯s gone, he¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Wuuu, another person is dead; he was right beside me just now!¡± ¡°Oh goddess, divine Mei Lan, protect me, I will serve you for life¡­¡± they began to pray through their tears. This was the most synchronized prayer since they had awakened. ¡°I have divine power, I¡¯ve generated divine power again,¡± someone shouted. ¡°Quick, bring it to the goddess¡¯s statue!¡± Everyone hurriedly made space for him to squeeze into the center to touch the statue. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the prayers grew louder, more and more new believers gained divine power. To combat the spreading darkness, they immediately channeled their divine power into the statue. As more divine power was transferred, the statue emitted a halo, and the white candle flames burned more fiercely, bringing more light and pushing back the surrounding darkness slightly. The predator in the dark let out a dissatisfied and wary cry. ¡°It worked, it worked again!¡± Discovering this, the test subjects cried out loud. But this time, they cried in joy. Because they had finally confirmed that they had found their only path to survival in this desperate situation. Meanwhile, in the next cabin, Cang Xu, with a cold expression, manipulated the Alchemy Array, controlling the lighting effects of the candles, the statue, and the predator, observing the subjects¡¯ situation. The Array continually released the Fear Technique, and, combined with the non-existent threat of the predator, prevented the subjects from truly reflecting or thinking. In fact, even if they did think, they would find no flaws. Because their original memories had all been condensed into a dot by Cang Xu and deeply buried, then entirely replaced with false memories. In this situation, to survive, the subjects could only desperately pray to the goddess Mei Lan. The divine power they produced was sent to the statue at the first opportunity. It had to be their willing offering of divine power; currently, Cang Xu was unable to forcibly extract the divine power from within the believers. The statue, enveloped in a large shell, was naturally a Divine Artifact¡ªMermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale. ¡°Very good, very good,¡± Cang Xu watched for a long time, gradually revealing a faint smile on his face. Previously, Cang Xu had only independently attempted memory manipulation based on books and records. The cultivation memory of the ship ghost had endowed him with extensive practical experience and many insights not found in the records. Among them, the most crucial technique was the Memory Concealment Skill. Cang Xu began to realize: Faith could transform the soul, and manipulation of memories was equally a sculpting of the soul! He no longer forcefully erased the original memories of the test subjects, but instead chose to use the Memory Concealment Skill on them. On top of that, he implanted false memories. As a result, the degree of transformation of the test subjects¡¯ souls was greatly reduced, and their souls became more stable. Although the memories were false, it was harder for the test subjects to detect discrepancies, and the efficiency of their prayers had subtly increased by much. When the praying session ended, the efficiency of the test subjects at receiving Divine Power plummeted. Cang Xu immediately controlled the Array, releasing a strong hypnotic gas that knocked all the test subjects unconscious. Not long after, Cang Xu cleared the air and opened the hatch. A group of pirates immediately entered; they pried open the mouths of these test subjects and poured two or three tubes of potions into each. These potions could replace food, helping the test subjects to maintain healthy bodies and vigorous spirits. When the pirates were about to leave, they also took away the pile of test subjects who were unconscious in the corner. These test subjects were ¡°killed¡± by hunters, but in reality, they were just stunned by electricity. ¡°These people can still be utilized, conceal their memories again, and implant new false memories. Hostages are limited, I need to economize,¡± Cang Xu meticulously calculated. ¡°The cultivated group of believers, seven ordinary believers, thirteen general believers, two devout believers.¡± ¡°The efficiency of their contribution of Divine Power is much higher than mine alone!¡± ¡°However, their faith, though intense, is not long-lasting since it¡¯s induced by external stimuli. When they wake up for the second round, their level of belief will generally decrease.¡± While Cang Xu was counting his results, a Magic Device suddenly rang with an urgent bell on the table. Cang Xu was slightly stunned, then his expression darkened slightly. ¡°The secret Alchemy Bomb placed on the pirate ship at the port has exploded!¡± ¡°It looks like we¡¯ve been exposed.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ three days of rest was actually quite good.¡± Setting up the Alchemy Bomb was his idea. It was an alarm; if the pirate ship left the port safely, the Alchemy Bomb would not explode. Once exploded, it indicates that the compartment holding the bomb was forcibly broken into. ¡°Time is pressing, I need to cultivate a new batch of believers quickly!¡± Cang Xu once again buried himself in his work. On the sea surface, four pirate ships traveled at the fastest speed. These were all demon energy ships, three Bronze Level, one Black Iron Level, contributed by the Fast Blade Pirate Group and the Copper Gull Guild. On the only Black Iron demon energy ship, the Magic Alarm Bell rang. Zi Di¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°Not the best, but not the worst either. The real test is coming!¡± The young lady immediately alerted the Fishman youth, then started to check the Magic Scroll. She wouldn¡¯t blindly perform alchemy; she actively adjusted her mental state, ready for the battle that could happen at any time. The Fishman youth, with a thick rope tied around his waist, sank into the shallow sea layer, being towed behind the Black Iron demon energy ship, traversing through the water. With the help of artificially created currents, the Fishman youth practiced Light and Thin Fate Fighting Energy. Upon receiving Zi Di¡¯s message, the Fishman youth sighed internally, ¡°What is destined to come will eventually come.¡± Bang. With a powerful push of his hands and feet, he leaped out of the shallow water, shooting through the air like a bomb, and landed on the deck of the Black Iron demon energy ship. He shook his body, and countless droplets of water scattered around. Under the sunlight, in the howling sea breeze, the droplets sparkled brilliantly, highlighting the tall and robust figure of the young man at the center, his smoothly defined muscular curves, his menacing set of sharp teeth, and his elegant shark tail. ¡°Captain!¡± The crew members were slightly startled, their eyes filled with reverence. ¡°Men, full-speed sailing, all hands prepare for battle. The enemy could likely be the Navy, and they¡¯re no weak force.¡± The young man, now the Captain, was smoothly in command. ¡°Oh!¡± The pirates responded in unison, their morale high after three days of rest. The sea breeze gradually lessened, and beneath the blue sky and white clouds, the calm and vast sea stretched endlessly. Under the flag of the Justice Pirate Group, four demon-energy ships had already reached their maximum speed, slicing through the deep blue satiny sea surface like four sharp knives, leaving behind two long white trails of waves. ¡°Enemy sighted!¡± the lookout suddenly shouted loudly. The pirates¡¯ bodies and minds were jolted, and the sailors handling the sails quickened their actions. Di Lou and Qiu each commanded a demon-energy ship, their expressions solemn. Bai Ya and a group of pirates huddled in the dark gun deck, ready to fire at any moment. His direct superior was Little Bird, who was currently conserving his energy, hands loosely grasping a necklace. Sanda and Lan Zao, each leading a charge team, were checking their weapons. In the forecastle, the Big Guy gulped down mouthfuls of mud, ¡°Eat more, otherwise¡­ hungry.¡± This was his unique combat experience. Now, the Big Guy, possessing a Divine Bloodline and mastering the King Earth Fighting Energy Art with abundant cultivation resources, was at the peak of Bronze, only one step away from Black Iron. He had been nurtured by the Fishman youth, starting to develop his combat abilities in New Moon Town. With experiences like the Magnetic Islands exploration, the battle with the Gold and Silver brothers, and the Sky Pillar area campaign, his combat journey was quite extensive and spectacular, even more so than many veteran Black Iron fighters. The pursuing Navy fleet gradually came into view of the Justice Pirate Group. The flag of Vice Admiral Kan Qiao flew high. ¡°It¡¯s a Navy Vice Admiral!¡± ¡°Damn, it¡¯s a Gold Level powerhouse.¡± ¡°Wait, why are there so few of their warships? I remember during the rest period, they had about twenty-something ships.¡± ¡°Strange, their ships look battered, as if they just went through a major battle.¡± Morale wavered briefly, but the pirates quickly adjusted themselves. On one hand, the Navy fleet looked pitiful, with one warship even trailing thick smoke, and many naval flags were torn and looked burnt. On the other hand, the core members of the Justice Pirate Group were here, some of whom were survivors from Mysterious Monster Island, having gone through life-and-death ordeals, their wills tempered to be extremely firm. Although most did not have the experience of Mysterious Monster Island, they had witnessed divine incarnations and legendary fighters in the battle of the Sky Pillar area; Kan Qiao, despite being Gold Level, no longer had much deterrent effect on them. On the warships, the First Officer reported, ¡°Sir, the mana pool on ship number seven exploded, a big fire started in the hull, speed drastically decreased, we must stop and rest immediately.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Vice Admiral Kan Qiao clenched his teeth, his expression ugly. The explosion of the alchemy bomb had not only killed many elite Navy members but also affected the Navy warships. In fact, Kan Qiao¡¯s fleet was already in poor condition and immediately needed restocking and repairs. Unable to sail far, they could only enter a secret military port for upkeep. However, repairs were scheduled in order, and they were placed behind the Justice Pirate Group in priority. Just as the Justice Pirate Group had finished their rest and immediately fled. Kan Qiao¡¯s fleet, without proper rest and newly affected by the alchemy bomb, was hit twice as hard. Therefore, only seven warships managed to chase down the Justice Pirate Group. And before the battle even started, one was put out of action temporarily. The First Officer continued, ¡°Sir, according to the latest intelligence from headquarters, the enemy has four surface warships and one underwater alchemy ship. Our warship lineup is only a fifth of its normal strength. In terms of quality, the Chopper is only Silver Level, while the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s underwater alchemy ship is a Gold Level magic-energy ship. We don¡¯t have the advantage!¡± Vice Admiral Kan Qiao nodded, ¡°Where have the Tan Mo fleet and the Lord of Dun Dao City reached?¡± The First Officer, with a stern expression, shook his head, ¡°They were attacked; many alchemy bombs were placed in Dun Dao City. They can¡¯t make it here anytime soon.¡± ¡°Damn it! It must be a trick by the Justice Pirate Group. Captain Sea Dog reported to me that there are elder-level individuals from the Purple Vine Guild among them. They participated in a black market auction in Dun Dao City and had early established influence there; carrying out this was very easy.¡± Kan Qiao, filled with hatred, couldn¡¯t help but punch the ship¡¯s side. ¡°Begin the battle! We must try to tie them down. As long as we hold them off, when the reinforcements arrive, they¡¯ll have nowhere to escape and will surely die!¡± Kan Qiao quickly gave the order. But no sooner had he spoken than he saw bursts of flames and thick white smoke rising from the four pirate ships of the Justice Pirate Group. Then, the woos woos woos sound of cannonballs reached the Navy¡¯s ears. ¡°Activate the shield!¡± the First Officer decisively ordered. The next moment, one Navy warship withdrew while the remaining six continued the pursuit, their hulls raising huge light shields. These barriers look unique, resembling upside-down wine glasses. The mouth of the glass faced downwards, completely covering the hull of the ship, while the base was on top, looking like a small hat. When bombs hit the barriers, they created dazzling explosions, big and small, yet the warship remained completely undamaged. ¡°Imperial Navy¡¯s Magic Defense, the ¡®Walkaway Cup¡¯ barrier,¡± observed the Fishman youth, unsurprised and calm. The inventor of this equipment wasn¡¯t from the Human Race, but rather, a Werewolf Clan¡¯s Alchemy Grandmaster named Shiver. Shiver was extremely lascivious, infamous for his audacity. He once drugged Qing Yu, a Holy Daughter of the Beast Race, attempting improper actions and failed, which resulted in being hunted by the Beast Race. Even his own Werewolf Clan couldn¡¯t protect Shiver and issued a warrant for his arrest. Left with no choice, Shiver could only flee. He ended up in the Holy Bright Empire, gaining protection from Duke Hengle. The two shared similar vile tastes and developed a deep friendship. Over time, Shiver also showcased his talents and eventually earned the title of a Master Alchemist. The Walkaway Cup is one of the well-known inventions of this Werewolf Alchemy Grandmaster, Shiver. This alchemy equipment is highly adaptable and offers strong defensive power while consuming low mana. The main reason is that it absorbs ambient light elements during the usual sailing of the warship. Once activated, these light elements are released to participate in defense, lowering energy consumption and simultaneously increasing defensive power. Upon its introduction, the Walkaway Cup received widespread acclaim in the market. Several months later, the Empire forcibly requisitioned it, listing it as a military necessity and restricting its circulation in the market. To date, the Walkaway Cup components are commonly equipped on Imperial Navy ships, and Shiver has become an important figure in the Holy Bright Empire. The Pele family under Duke Hengle¡¯s leadership also profited from this and made a fortune. ¡°General Kan Qiao Fleet has six combat-ready ships, one Silver Level Magic ship equipped with a G-level Walkaway Cup. Four Black Iron Magic ships equipped with H-level Walkaway Cups. One Bronze Level Magic ship equipped with an I-level Walkaway Cup,¡± the Fishman youth assessed the enemy warships. The Walkaway Cup components were divided into nine levels by Shiver. Among them, the I-level has the weakest performance, fitted on a Bronze Magic ship. The H-level is slightly higher, suitable for Black Iron Magic ships, followed by the Silver G-level, Golden F-level, Holy Domain E-level, and Legendary D-level. Above these, the levels C, B, and A only exist in the design blueprints of the Werewolf Alchemy Grandmaster Shiver and have yet to be realized. Although the Justice Pirate Group struck first, their initial round of cannon fire was ineffective, mostly blocked by the Walkaway Cups. Then, the Navy began its counter-attack. ¡°Dodge the artillery fire!¡± the lookout shouted a loud warning. The sailors and fighters on deck all scrambled for cover, either using shields or simply lying flat on the deck. Some shells fell into the sea, creating gushing white spouts, while others hit the deck, exploding and ripping unlucky victims to shreds. But more of them were chain bombs. These bombs specifically targeted the sails and masts. However, Fishman youth, Zi Di, Cang Xu, Di Lou, and Mei Lan, swiftly intercepted most of the chain bombs. These had to be intercepted, as if the sails and masts were damaged, the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s speed would be greatly reduced, and the possibility of escape would drastically plummet. ¡°Each ship, report your damage!¡± the Fishman youth transmitted instructions using the Magic Device. Soon, the situation on each ship was relayed. Overall, the conditions were still acceptable. Although the Justice Pirate Group didn¡¯t have defensive equipment like the Walkaway Cups, the ships were hastily retrofitted and covered with a layer of crystal glue. This was thanks to three plump blue-hued Repairers and several basic version repair Puppets. The Fishman youth pondered for a moment and ordered the firing of the Golden Cannon. The Artillery Captain, a small bird, received the command and took immediate action, personally handling the operation. For a moment, the Black Iron Level Mana Pool continuously infused mana, and the Golden Cannon gradually emitted a brilliant light. ¡°Golden Level Cannon fluctuations detected! Preliminary location, the starboard side of the enemy¡¯s Black Iron Magic ship,¡± on the other side, General Kan Qiao quickly received the intelligence. General Kan Qiao slightly furrowed his brows, ¡°The enemy¡¯s ship is of a lower class, no need to dodge, continue pursuing at full speed.¡± A Golden Level Cannon mounted on a Golden Level Magic ship was necessary to unleash its true combat power. The mana supplied by a Black Iron Magic ship would hardly fill in a short time to meet the firing standards of the cannon. General Kan Qiao¡¯s tactics were clear, choose to withstand with the Walkaway Cups, in order to catch up with the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s ships and engage in a boarding battle! ps: A 5000-word grand chapter, this month¡¯s major repair was successful, and so was catching up with updates! Yay! Chapter 359 - 359: Section 146: Comparable to Gold Chapter 359: Section 146: Comparable to Gold ¡°Fire!¡± Little Bird shrieked. Bang! From the starboard side of the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s only Black Iron Level demon energy ship, a Golden Level cannon blasted a fiery tongue. The bomb tore through the sky toward a warship. ¡°Didn¡¯t they aim at us?¡± General Kan Qiao was slightly surprised. ¡°Intercept, intercept it for me!¡± shouted the captain of the targeted warship. Boom. The bomb exploded above the target warship. ¡°Interception successful!¡± the captain rejoiced. ¡°No, it exploded on its own¡­¡± by General Kan Qiao¡¯s side, the First Officer squinted, ¡°Not good, it¡¯s a devil-breaking bomb!¡± The bomb burst apart, forming billowing black smoke. The black smoke coalesced into the form of a devil, issuing a terrifying roar as it dived down and struck the target warship. The target warship had been sustaining a defense shield, but under the enveloping black smoke, the white shield-shaped dome emitted a hissing sound and quickly weakened. ¡°We can¡¯t see ahead at all!¡± ¡°Magic equipment malfunctioning, we¡¯ve lost contact with other friendly ships.¡± ¡°The defense shield is rapidly declining, expected to deplete in five minutes.¡± ¡°Captain, what should we do?¡± Various pieces of bad news were relayed. The warship¡¯s captain¡¯s expression grew grim: ¡°This is a devil-breaking bomb¡­ Order! Maintain the original course, travel at maximum speed. Request the Priest to use Divine Arts to try and dissipate the black smoke. Increase mana delivery to the defense shield.¡± ¡°Engineers stand by, Logistics Team 3 opens Warehouse 3, take Elemental Crystals to replenish the Mana Pool, and report to me immediately if the Mana Pool drops by 50%!¡± Outside the black smoke, other warships seeing this scene ordered their vessels to distance themselves from the ship in trouble. ¡°Just hit one warship¡­¡± Little Bird punched the back of the cannon, gritted his teeth, and helplessly watched as the warships pulled away from each other and the hit warship continued at the fastest speed, maintaining its original course and blazing across the ocean. ¡°As expected of the Empire¡¯s Navy, truly elite,¡± thought the Fishman youth, feeling admiration. The captains of each warship, all with rich naval combat knowledge, quickly recognized the type of bomb. A devil-breaking bomb is a special bomb, whose resulting black smoke spreads, corrodes, and disrupts communications. The warships distanced themselves from each other, preventing the black smoke from spreading to a second warship. With communication disrupted and no visibility, the lone warship that was hit also took the wisest countermeasure. They didn¡¯t slow down, and their maximum speed ensured they were less likely to be hit by subsequent bombs. On the Silver Level demon energy ship, General Kan Qiao and the First Officer assessed the Justice Pirate Group. General Kan Qiao: ¡°The one who just fired must be Little Bird from the Justice Pirate Group, right? Not bad artillery skill.¡± First Officer: ¡°Also, the target selection was quite wise.¡± The devil-breaking bomb was a Silver Level bomb if targeted at Kan Qiao, it would certainly be intercepted and detonated by a Gold fighter beforehand. Aimed at other warships was the prudent choice. Moreover, Little Bird¡¯s choice of using a devil-breaking bomb instead of other bombs was also the best option for the current situation. After all, even a specialized Silver Level bomb didn¡¯t guarantee the sinking of a warship with one shot. ¡°Continue the charge!¡± General Kan Qiao ordered without change, his style was very rigid. The distance between the two parties was getting closer. During this process, Little Bird fired another shot, still a devil-breaking bomb, temporarily trapping the second warship. ¡°Damn it, we can¡¯t fire a third one,¡± Little Bird decisively abandoned the Golden Cannon and switched to operating the Silver Cannon instead. A Golden Level cannon required a large amount of mana with each firing. This Black Iron Level demon energy ship had a slow mana recharge rate, low efficiency in converting Elemental Crystals into mana, and a low maximum mana pool limit. This resulted in excessively long intervals between firings of the Golden Cannon, making it difficult to form effective long-range firepower. Furthermore, each firing drained at least one-third of the mana reserves in the mana pool, which was also very dangerous for a Black Iron demon energy ship. It was like a fighter using powerful combat skills, exhausting most of his fighting energy, and needing time to recover before he could maintain his combat strength. Magic was not the only thing consuming mana on the demon energy ship; other cannons, steering rudders, defense magic arrays, and more also required mana to function. Temporarily, four Navy warships locked onto four pirate ships on the sea surface. The cannon fire continued. The distance between the two parties had already become very close. The accuracy of the cannon fire skyrocketed. The cannons of the Justice Pirate Group roared continuously, firing far more bombs than the Navy. While the Navy¡¯s warships had more cannons than those of the Justice Pirate Group, they were in direct pursuit, with most cannons situated on both sides of the ships, resulting in most of them not firing. On the side of the Justice Pirate Group, realizing that their pirate ships were not as strong as the warships and were generally one level lower, they knew it was only a matter of time before they were caught. Therefore, their retreat took a curved arc, using the side-mounted cannons to suppress the enemy as much as possible. However, the suppression was not significant. The main reason, of course, was that the warships were equipped with walking light cup shields. ¡°Hahaha, caught up with you. Pirate scum, take this!¡± General Kan Qiao saw that the distance was sufficient, laughed loudly, and directly took out his weapon from behind. The First Officer quickly retreated to clear enough space. Kan Qiao, holding a long-handled beheading blade high with both hands, with the long dark handle measuring 1.8 meters, firmly gripped the very end of the handle. The tip of the blade hung directly over the deck behind him. Then, his arm muscles suddenly bulged, and strong force and fighting energy burst forth simultaneously. Starting from the bottom, he swung the long-handled blade fiercely, making himself the center and the handle the radius, the blade passing over Kan Qiao¡¯s head and slashing down heavily. Combat Skill¡ªBeheading Blade! Golden Fighting Energy burst forth in the instant the blade slashed down, converging above the sea surface into a crescent moon-shaped blade light. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Golden Moon blade light cleaved through the air, making sounds like a tiger or leopard, and instantly rushed toward the stern of the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s Black Iron demon energy ship. A Golden Fighting Skill wielded by a Golden Fighter! The Justice Pirate Group was well-prepared in advance. Zi Di was the first to act; she tore open a Magic Scroll and cast a spell. As magic erupted, the Golden Moon Fighting Energy encountered resistance, weakening slightly as it continued to advance. Next, an enemy¡¯s alchemy arrow flew in, colliding with the Golden Moon Fighting Energy. Boom! A muffled sound occurred, and frost splashed, further weakening the Golden Moon Fighting Energy. Combat Skill¡ªFlowing Blade. The Fishman youth stretched out his arms, and almost instantaneously, two Flow Blades formed on his left and right arms. ¡°Come on.¡± The Fishman youth leaped into the air, directly facing the blade light. Derived Combat Skill¡ªCrossing Dual Flow Blades! In mid-air, the two Flow Blades crossed each other, with their power surging dramatically, blocking the Golden Moon blade light. The Golden Moon blade light pushed the Fishman youth downwards. The Fishman youth hit the deck and then, pushed forcefully by the blade light, retreated over ten steps before stopping. The dual blades remained intact, and the Fishman youth was unharmed. Shh. With a slight sound, he swung his arms, canceling the crossed state. The two Flow Blades stopped on either side of his body, glinting with silver light. ¡°Hmm? Blocked it,¡± General Kan Qiao, aboard the warship, expressed some surprise. He had not expected that his full-force strike would be so easily countered by the opponent. Despite two prior interferences, the strength of the Fishman youth was evident. ¡°Vice Admiral, be careful. This Long Fu is no ordinary fighter¡­although it¡¯s merely Silver Level, its combat power is comparable to Gold,¡± the First Officer said with a cold tone. Chapter 360 - 360: Section 147: Divine Son vs Kan Qiao Chapter 360: Section 147: Divine Son vs Kan Qiao ¡°Blocked!¡± Seeing the Fishman youth successfully parry General Kan Qiao¡¯s Combat Skill, the sailors of the Justice Pirate Group all breathed a sigh of relief. The morale of the pirate group was stable, but Kan Qiao¡¯s presence had always put immense psychological pressure on them. After all, their side did not have a Golden Level fighter. It is well known that the gap between Gold and Silver Levels is very large. A Silver Level fighter possesses the utmost physical prowess of the human body. However, a Golden Level surpasses the human limits, breaking through racial boundaries in terms of speed, strength, recovery, and other aspects. Taking the Human Race as an example, without using Fighting Energy: A Silver Level fighter can achieve a running speed of about 40km/h, which is the limit of human running speed. But a Golden Level fighter averages about 120km/h, leaving horses, sheep, wolves, dogs, lions, and tigers (excluding Magic Beasts) far behind. This value of speed is vitally important; running speed is just one aspect, there are also attack speed, evasion speed, etc., and a Golden Fighter completely surpasses the Silver Level. This means that in combat, a Golden Level will firmly take the initiative, freely choosing to fight or retreat. Then there¡¯s strength. A Silver Level can lift about 350 kg, which is the limit of human weight training. But at the Golden Level, they can easily lift up to 10 tons, effortlessly overturning a horse-drawn carriage with one hand. In terms of attack, a Silver Level fighter relying solely on physical power can take on twenty to thirty adults without any problem. A Golden Level, on the other hand, is an unmatched fierce general who can take on enemies in and out of the battlefield. Defensively, a Silver Level reliant on physical body, cannot withstand common crossbow volleys and small caliber firearms. At the Golden Level, regular bows and crossbow arrows pose no threat, but they are still vulnerable to large caliber firearms. All the above are without using Fighting Energy, purely relying on physical quality. If using Fighting Energy, the gap between Golden and Silver Levels would widen even further. Because Silver Fighting Energy can cover the entire body, and also be infused into weapons and armor to increase power. Golden Level Fighting Energy is not just this, it can also leave the body for a period of time, not infused into any physical entities, and still independently form shapes. The independent formation characteristic of Fighting Energy has given rise to many Combat Skills. For example, the Combat Skill ¡®Little Fire Horse,¡¯ is a rather famous one, usually practiced by fighters who cultivate fire attribute Fighting Energy. Using this Combat Skill, one can turn their Fighting Energy into a horse that runs independently seeking enemies to attack. This Combat Skill also has an advanced level, called the Fiery Flame Horse. After the transformation by Fighting Energy into a horse, it forms a flaming big flame horse with even faster speed and stronger power. Due to this characteristic, the attack range of a Golden Level fighter dramatically increases, and their means of attacking become very abundant, nearly akin to a kind of magic. Another point is that the detached Fighting Energy allows a Golden Fighter to fly independently, making it a possibility. However, flying Combat Techniques significantly consume Fighting Energy, are rare in number, and not all Golden Fighters possess Flying Combat Skills. When the Fishman youth successfully resisted General Kan Qiao¡¯s Combat Skill, the latter¡¯s First Officer immediately judged the youth could match a Golden Level. The remark might seem ordinary, but actually, it was a huge commendation. Very few Silver Level fighters can match a Golden Level in combat power. Due to the vast difference between Silver and Gold Levels, achieving this is extremely difficult. Kan Qiao immediately nodded slightly, agreeing with the First Officer¡¯s judgment, ¡°The opponent is a Divine Son, possessing a Divine Fishman Bloodline, certainly not simple. But what exactly is the bloodline?¡± ¡°The Navy Headquarters is still investigating, this battle will allow us to unearth more clues,¡± said the First Officer. ¡°I had intended to capture him alive, but now it seems I can no longer hold back,¡± Kan Qiao said flatly. Comparing racial qualities, the Fishman species is inferior to the Human Race. In a myth passed down among the races, the Fishman Race is considered a lower stream race, while the Human Race resides in the middle stream. However, a Divine Bloodline among the Fishman Race, of course, is superior to a person like Kan Qiao. The bombardment continues, the sea wind howls. The distance between the two fleets was getting closer. Kan Qiao focused his gaze in the distance, locking onto the Fishman youth, discerning the latter¡¯s revealed secrets: ¡°He possesses a Divine Fishman Bloodline, his Fighting Energy is extraordinary, at least at Holy Domain Level. His Combat Skill is of Legendary Grade Flowing Blade. From what we see now, his only disadvantage is not having better equipment.¡± Yes, the Combat Skill Flowing Blade which the Fishman youth had mastered urgently through training, reached the Legendary Grade! This doesn¡¯t mean that one has to reach the Legendary Level to use this Combat Skill. The grade of Combat Skills is determined based on a comprehensive consideration of many aspects. The greatest advantage, or characteristic, of Flowing Blade is its extensive applicability. Flowing Blade is the most basic form; on this base, it possesses many derivative Combat Skills suitable for many scenarios. ¡°I wonder how many derivative Combat Skills of Flowing Blade this Fishman Divine Son has mastered. Haha, he is a good opponent,¡± Kan Qiao laughed, then immediately commanded, ¡°Bring me my armor!¡± The subordinates had already prepared. Three Black Iron Fighters laboriously carried over a large half-body armor. The half-body armor was very heavy; each Black Iron Fighter, robust and muscular, turned red-faced and sweated profusely while lifting it. After finally managing to hang the half-body armor on Kan Qiao¡¯s shoulders, the three of them nearly collapsed on the spot, their arms trembling. Even Kan Qiao, a renowned Golden Level fighter of the Navy, took a step back the moment he donned the armor, before stabilizing his stance. This piece of half-body armor was neither chainmail nor plate armor, different from traditional armor, composed of numerous complicated and precise mechanical structures. Once draped over Kan Qiao, his Fighting Energy flowed into it, and his spirit also took control of the half-body armor. The half-body armor immediately transformed. Numerous components started moving, shifting to new positions, gradually covering Kan Qiao¡¯s thighs, legs, and arms. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, with a series of clicking noises, the mechanical structure transformed into a new configuration. Seconds later, it turned from a barrel-thick torso armor into a suit of steel armor that covered General Kan Qiao¡¯s entire body. ¡°What kind of armor is that? It¡¯s so strange!¡± Not only the Justice Pirate Group but also the sailors of the Navy were very surprised. General Kan Qiao didn¡¯t intend to explain, as his neck and the lower half of his face were also covered by the mechanical armor. It seemed there was an amplification device inside the mask, and as he spoke now, his voice became very loud, ¡°Justice Pirate Group and the Fishman Divine Son, come take a slash from me!¡± The next moment, General Kan Qiao, holding his sword with one hand, stomped his legs and leapt into the air. ¡°Take my arrow first,¡± declared the long-awaiting avenger, who immediately shot an arrow. The arrow flew swiftly and reached the front of General Kan Qiao in the blink of an eye. General Kan Qiao snorted coldly and simply swept the arrow away with his left arm. The arrow exploded, but General Kan Qiao, with his Golden Fighting Spirit surging and combined with the transformed mechanical armor, had extremely high defensive power, showing no signs of damage. Meanwhile, General Kan Qiao¡¯s large-handled sword slashed downward at the Fishman youth. In an instant, Golden Fighting Spirit was channeled into the sword, then following the slashing motion, it separated from the blade, forming a thick golden arc. ¡°Good move,¡± the Fishman youth looked up at General Kan Qiao in midair, slightly squatted, and with a powerful thrust from his legs, his muscles bulging. The next moment, he shot upward like a cannonball. Derived Combat Skill¡ªBig Flow Blade! The Fishman youth clasped his palms together in midair, and the two Flow Blades fused into one, forming a longer, wider, and thicker Water Blade. The Water Blade sparkled with a silver luster, fiercely slashing upward against the overpowering golden arc of Fighting Energy. The two forces collided, and the Golden Fighting Spirit held up for a second before being sliced through by the more concentrated Silver Water Blade. General Kan Qiao had simply released the Golden Fighting Spirit and not used a Combat Skill like the ¡®Beheading Blade¡¯ before; hence, it was natural for it to be overwhelmed by the Flow Blade technique. The Silver Water Blade, slashing an opening, carried the youth¡¯s body with even more momentum toward General Kan Qiao. Behind General Kan Qiao, mechanical components swiftly separated and combined into two large propulsion nozzles, placed on either side of his back. Boom! An instant later, the nozzles ejected Golden Fighting Spirit, bursting with powerful force, and fiercely propelled General Kan Qiao toward the Fishman youth. ¡°Does this Mechanical Battle Armor also have flying capabilities?!¡± exclaimed the Fishman youth in shock. The large-handled sword surged directly at his face. At the critical moment, the Fishman youth abruptly canceled the Big Flow Blade technique and reverted to dual blades in both arms. Then, he crossed the dual blades. Combat Skill¡ªDual Flow Blades Crossed. A pair of Silver Water Blades accurately caught the large-handled sword. The large-handled sword emitted a dazzling golden light, while the pair of Flow Blades hissed, continuously sawing at the blade of the golden sword. Golden Fighting Spirit burst fiercely from behind General Kan Qiao once more. He adjusted his posture in mid-air, completely overpowering the Fishman youth, and forcefully pushed him downward with both arms wielding the sword. Bang! A streak of gold mixed with a streak of silver descended from the sky, piercing through the only Black Iron-powered ship of the Justice Pirate Group at an extremely fast speed. General Kan Qiao, pressing the sword forward relentlessly, smashed the Fishman youth from the deck down through the bottom of the ship into the sea. Derived Combat Skill¡ªVortex Flow Blade! The Fishman youth¡¯s dual blades suddenly transformed, merging into a flowing Vortex Water Shield. General Kan Qiao¡¯s golden sword struck the Water Shield, immediately being redirected by the water flow, allowing the Fishman youth to escape. ¡°Trying to escape?!¡± General Kan Qiao glared fiercely. Combat Skill¡ªPersonal Blade. The blade energy shot out from the sword, almost sticking to the Fishman youth, violently attacking inside his body. The youth¡¯s combat energy was of the Silver Level, covering his entire body. The Silver Fighting Spirit struggled hard against the strong infiltration of the Golden Fighting Spirit, consumption intensifying severely. Finally, the Fishman youth retreated, pulling away from General Kan Qiao, but he was wounded by the combat skill and was forced to spit out the injured blood in his body. ¡°Shoot me!¡± the Fishman youth suddenly roared. In the deep dark waters, suddenly a bolt of lightning brightened. General Kan Qiao was about to pursue when he saw the lightning and his expression changed abruptly. The Deep Sea Monster Fish had struck! Chapter 361 - 361: Section 148: Slash the Gold! Chapter 361: Section 148: Slash the Gold! Deep Sea Monster Fish¡ªArc Gun¡ªPython Flow Bomb. Golden Level demon energy ship! Golden Level cannon! Golden Level bomb! The thick, python-like azure electric current struck directly at the bottom of General Kan Qiao¡¯s flagship. The flagship was protected by a light-shield cup, but it couldn¡¯t withstand the blow. The biggest weakness of the light-shield cup was at the rim, where its protection of the ship¡¯s bottom was very weak. The Deep Sea Monster Fish unleashed a soul-piercing shot! The terrifying current penetrated the bottom of the ship, then shot straight up through the deck before spreading in all directions. In that instant, hundreds of Navy soldiers on General Kan Qiao¡¯s flagship were electrocuted to death. Numerous devices exploded, creating billowing smoke. Flames began to burn and quickly spread along the hull. ¡°Put out the fire, put it out fast!!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got a leak, my god, the hole in the hull is too big.¡± ¡°The warship is sinking!¡± ¡°Where is the medical team? Save people quickly!¡± Even the first officer¡¯s strenuous commands couldn¡¯t salvage the situation. The Navy¡¯s warship, having clenched onto the Justice Pirate Group, began sinking just as it was about to engage in hand-to-hand combat. The Deep Sea Monster Fish didn¡¯t target General Kan Qiao, as the Navy Rear Admiral was fully armed with rapid speed, which didn¡¯t guarantee a hit rate. But striking the Navy flagship inflicted massive casualties, drastically reducing the pressure of the pirate ships in battle. Such a choice was wise and secure. General Kan Qiao only glanced back at his flagship for a moment before quickly refocusing, locking on to the Fishman youth once again. He was not surprised. The Navy intelligence had already revealed the existence of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Nor was he particularly agonized over the loss of Navy lives on the flagship. In war, people die! As a fierce general seasoned in battle, Kan Qiao had long abandoned any hesitation; now, he just wanted to kill the Fishman youth and secure victory. Golden Fighting Spirit surged rapidly from the thrusters on his back, and like a rampant elephant, Kan Qiao charged straight at the Fishman youth. Once again the Fishman youth deployed his Flowing Blade Combat Skill, stretching both arms out to his sides. He didn¡¯t dodge or evade but charged at Kan Qiao as well, dragging two slender Dual Flow Blades behind him. Boom! The two collided like bolts of lightning, and then brushed past each other. Their Fighting energy clashed, exploding into towering waves of water. ¡°So hard,¡± noted the Fishman youth, his blades shattered. But the next instant, he once more conjured two new Dual Flow Blades. Silver Fighting Spirit couldn¡¯t exist independently from the body, so the Flowing Blade Combat Skill was actually quite ingenious. It used the water current as a carrier for Fighting energy, simulating the might of Golden Fighting Spirit when separated from the body. Most importantly, in the deep sea, there was an endless supply of water; the Fishman youth didn¡¯t fret about his Dual Flow Blades being shattered. As long as his Fighting energy wasn¡¯t depleted, he had unlimited Dual Flow Blades. ¡°So fast!¡± Meanwhile, General Kan Qiao also exclaimed in amazement. During that last collision, he hadn¡¯t managed to strike the Fishman youth at all; instead, he had received two cuts. One cut on his neck, another on his back. Bang. A faint sound. General Kan Qiao¡¯s left-side thruster suffered a minor explosion and was split by the Fishman youth¡¯s blade. It seemed that this piece of mechanical armor prioritized function, its defense slightly lackluster. General Kan Qiao¡¯s heart sank. He immediately understood the Fishman youth¡¯s tactical intention. ¡°Again!¡± General Kan Qiao turned to face his opponent once more. But as soon as he turned around, his pupils involuntarily contracted. The Fishman youth had already charged up to him, only a dozen steps away! General Kan Qiao swiftly held his great sword vertically in defense, as Golden Fighting Spirit burst forth. Clang! The Fishman youth moved as swiftly as lightning, brushing past General Kan Qiao again. The Dual Blades viciously struck Kan Qiao¡¯s sword handle, scattering the gathered Golden Fighting Spirit into a dazzling golden spray. ¡°His speed has increased,¡± Kan Qiao¡¯s eyes twitched, he swiftly realigned his Fighting energy, almost instantaneously turning around. But this time, the Fishman was less than ten steps from him! Clang! Another brush past in their exchange of blows. The surging water flows, generated from their rapid movement, made the force even stronger. ¡°His speed increased again,¡± Kan Qiao finally showed a trace of shock. Golden Level was already fast, but the Fishman Divine Son¡¯s speed was even faster, far surpassing their initial exchange, and what was more terrifying¡ªhis speed continued to increase. The Light and Thin Fate Fighting Energy technique! Once the user of this Holy Domain Level Fighting Energy constantly employed it, their speed would continuously increase, but the drawback also became apparent¡ªtheir defense would continuously weaken. For the Fishman youth, this manifested in his scales rapidly thinning and becoming brittle. However, at the same time, the recovery speed of the Light and Thin Fate Fighting Energy was also fiercely increasing! It was as if he had been accumulating Fighting Energy in the underwater whirlpools during his previous cultivation. Now, although there were no ready-made ocean currents, when the Fishman youth zipped through the water at high speed, didn¡¯t the still water, relatively speaking, become an uninterrupted stream? ¡°He can get even faster!¡± After several more exchanges, General Kan Qiao was actually suppressed in place, forced into a passive defense. In terms of speed, the Golden Level Navy vice admiral was no longer at an advantage against the Fishman youth. ¡°Underwater combat allows him to fully exploit his advantage in speed,¡± Cang Xu thought as he saw the Fishman youth charging again; General Kan Qiao finally began to counterattack. He let out a low roar, unleashing a Combat Skill in advance. Horizontal Blade Slash! A formidable burst of Golden Fighting Spirit surged like a wall, sweeping across. Derived Combat Skill¡ªDual Flow Blades crossing. The Fishman youth raised the Flowing Blade in front of himself, and his whole body, like a bomb, slammed into the golden wall, pushed backward by the immense Fighting Energy, his speed drastically dropping. After Kan Qiao executed this move, his Golden Fighting Spirits significantly diminished, and his energy clearly weakened. His body was rapidly recovering energy. The jet on his back once again expelled Golden Fighting Spirit, propelling him like an arrow shot straight towards the Deep Sea Monster Fish. ¡°What a fierce warrior!¡± The Fishman youth couldn¡¯t help but praise internally. If it were someone else, or even the Fishman youth himself, the choice at this moment would be to retreat thoroughly and leave the underwater battlefield to fight on the ship. But General Kan Qiao, fierce and brave by nature, showed no intention of backing down, facing the difficulty head-on and going after the trouble on the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Deep Sea Monster Fish was extremely important to the Justice Pirate Group. It housed several Divine Artifacts within it, including the spirits of Mei Lan God and the Feathered Snake God. Moreover, it was the only Golden Level demon energy ship in the Justice Pirate Group, fast in sailing, adept at hiding, equipped with a wide-ranging Magic Device for detection. Capable of underwater travel, it was the primary reliance for the Justice Pirate Group in their current escape from the Empire¡¯s pursuit, and it could not afford to fail. Seeing Kan Qiao lunging forward, Cang Xu on the Deep Sea Monster Fish was startled and hastily maneuvered the Alchemy Ship to evade backward. However, the Deep Sea Monster Fish¡¯s agility was far inferior to that of Kan Qiao, and it could not pick up speed in comparison. Although both were Golden Level, the Deep Sea Monster Fish was restrained by Kan Qiao; with point against area, he could definitely sink the Alchemy Ship. In the crisis, Cang Xu immediately took control. The fish eyes of the Deep Sea Monster Fish erupted with beams of light, enshrouding Kan Qiao, causing his speed to plummet. Then, the Deep Sea Monster Fish opened its mouth, revealing another Golden Cannon. Deep Sea Monster Fish¡ªWater Pressure Cannon¡ªVortex Bomb. The Golden Level bomb was fired in front of Kan Qiao and exploded violently on impact. After the blast, a temporary underwater whirlpool formed at the original position. The whirlpool¡¯s rapid flow temporarily entrapped Kan Qiao. The Fishman youth took advantage of the situation and charged straight into the whirlpool. The Fishman God¡¯s Divine Bloodline gave him an extraordinary perception of water currents, and his previous arduous training made him even more experienced. He was like a son of the sea; the whirlpool became his aid, boosting his speed significantly, making him seem ghostly! Kan Qiao could only fend for himself for a moment. The Flowing Blade of the Fishman youth seemed to assail him simultaneously from all directions, attacking his head, arms, chest, back, waist, and legs. The Golden Fighting Spirit had barely surged when it was scattered by the strikes. More and more wounds rapidly appeared on Kan Qiao¡¯s Battle Armor. The mechanical creation began to disintegrate. Kan Qiao¡¯s face turned grave as he intended to use an explosive Combat Skill to shatter the underwater vortex. But the Fishman youth knew what he was planning and preemptively deployed a Combat Skill¡ªRed Scale Frenzy! The Fishman youth¡¯s attack speed and strength increased again. For a moment, he seemed to be able to slash with dozens of blades. Slice, slice, slice! Chop, chop, chop! The twin Flowing Blades, infused with Silver Fighting Spirit, swirled around Kan Qiao, and due to the extreme speed of the blades, a sky-full of sword light formed, coming at him like the surge of silver tides. Kan Qiao¡¯s pupils constricted, his heart filled with a chilling sensation, being suppressed by the Fishman youth to the point where he couldn¡¯t use any Combat Skill! Bang. The Mechanical Battle Armor on his body was shattered completely and fell apart. Crack. The hilt of his greatsword, riddled with damage, finally gave way and was cleaved into two pieces. ¡°I can go even faster! I can go even faster!!¡± The Fishman youth, passionate and exuberant in spirit, was at the peak of his fighting will. At this moment, his scales were thin and brittle, like pieces of paper, and if Kan Qiao hit him, it would result in a serious injury, if a blade struck, he would be cut in two. More and more gashes appeared on Kan Qiao¡¯s body, blood spurting wildly, while the consumption of Golden Fighting Spirit was intense, and the recovery speed couldn¡¯t keep up with the battle¡¯s demands. ¡°I¡¯m going all out!¡± Kan Qiao completely gave up defense, relying on his body¡¯s instinct and looked towards the forward-left. He had chosen the correct direction. Enormous warning bells sounded in the heart of the Fishman youth! Derived Combat Skill¡ªInstant Flow Blade! The next moment, the Fishman youth disappeared from his original spot, and when he appeared, he was already more than ten meters behind Kan Qiao. Kan Qiao¡¯s desperate counterattack failed, and his neck was severed by the Combat Skill, his head swiftly separating from his body in the underwater whirlpool. Gushes of fresh blood spewed out, rapidly staining the surrounding seawater red. ¡°Did the lord win?!¡± Cang Xu, on board the Deep Sea Monster Fish, witnessed this scene, his usually indifferent expression now replaced by shock. With a silver body, he had cut down Gold! S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 362 - 362: Section 149: Total Victory Chapter 362: Section 149: Total Victory ¡°Did I kill him?¡± the Fishman youth decapitated Vice Admiral Kan Qiao with a single blow and turned back to see Kan Qiao¡¯s head separate from his body, blood spurting everywhere. Without spiritual guidance, the Golden Fighting Spirit on the surface dissipated on its own, and the remainder retracted back into the body. However, the Fishman youth didn¡¯t rush over immediately; instead, he increased the distance between them. He was very cautious. There was a Combat Skill that could explode with concentrated Fighting Energy after being killed. General Kan Qiao was brave and fearless; mastering this Combat Skill was not out of the question. A minute passed, and Kan Qiao¡¯s corpse slowly sank in the pool of blood. The Deep Sea Monster Fish launched an Alchemy Puppet, thoroughly examining Kan Qiao¡¯s body to confirm his death. ¡°He¡¯s really dead!¡± The Fishman youth sighed in relief, and only then did the joy and thrill of victory flood his heart. Regaining his composure, he began checking his own condition. This fierce battle had pushed the Fishman youth to his limits. At this point, his entire body was trembling slightly, feeling a sense of exhaustion from having exerted all his strength. Due to the Light and Thin Fate Technique, the youth¡¯s scales had become thin and brittle. During the clash with Kan Qiao, they shattered and scattered from the residual impacts, and many scales fell off. Beneath the scales, his skin was bleeding profusely. This was due to the Red Scale Chaotic Dance Combat Skill which caused his blood temperature to rise and flow too fast. However, after ceasing the attack, the Fishman youth¡¯s Divine Bloodline had already started actively healing him. Taking a deep breath of seawater, his fish gills filtered the liquid, providing him with plenty of air. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Fishman youth began to feel his exhausted body gradually relax. His strength was returning. But the recovery of his Fighting Energy was becoming slower. The Light and Thin Fate Fighting Energy Technique required the sea currents to rapidly accumulate Fighting Energy. However, now was not the time. The Fishman youth quickly returned to the Deep Sea Monster Fish and began consuming large amounts of potions. Potions and scrolls together helped him recover faster. Cang Xu rushed over and looked at the Fishman youth with a slightly different expression than before the battle began. The Undead Mage still remembered their confrontation with Rou Cang. At that time, a team consisting of Zong Ge, a ghost, and the youth had been unable to match Rou Cang. Even with support from Golden Chin and the Sea Snake Lady, they had been forced to flee. Then it came to a battle against the brothers Golden Hook and Silver Hook, where the youth led the Justice Pirate Group and fought desperately, killing Golden Hook. Golden Hook, wounded and weaker than a normal Golden Level fighter, but still, the Justice Pirate Group suffered heavy losses; Di Lou died in the battle. It was fortunate that the youth had adopted the right tactics, otherwise the casualties would have been greater. Fortunately, Hao Fu, the bishop of the Life Sect, offered his help and performed the Resurrection Divine Skill, saving the lives of Di Lou, Big Guy, and others. Finally, it came to this battle. The youth directly faced and killed Navy Rear Admiral Kan Qiao in combat! ¡°Such rapid growth is truly astonishing!¡± ¡°The Blood Core¡­ No wonder the War Merchant placed it on the third level of the Central Tower.¡± Cang Xu felt deeply moved, all the while continuously performing Undead Magic on Kan Qiao¡¯s corpse. The youth stood by his side, drinking potions and protecting Cang Xu to prevent any mishaps. The Tower Spirit continuously reported the status of the naval battles from all the ships. Ever since being repaired by an alchemy scroll, the Tower Spirit had not gone back to sleep and was very spirited. ¡°At last, I¡¯ve pulled it out!¡± Cang Xu, using his spirit, laboriously dragged Kan Qiao¡¯s soul from his corpse. The youth couldn¡¯t see it. Normal vision couldn¡¯t detect a soul. Cang Xu took out the White Bone Magic Book, allowing it to float in front of him, and slowly opened the cover. This magic book came from a ship ghost after the Sea Eye battle, and now only four or five pages were left due to heavy usage. Turning to one of the pages, Cang Xu immediately used the Spell on it. The Spell took effect instantly; soon, the youth could see Kan Qiao¡¯s soul. It was semi-transparent and looked just like Kan Qiao when he was alive. The soul was howling at Cang Xu, attempting to attack him, but Cang Xu trapped it, suspending it mid-air, unable to move. Cang Xu looked up, drank a large flask of potion to replenish his Mana, and then downed a vial of Stimulating Potion, temporarily boosting his spiritual value. Undead Magic¡ªGhost Creation! Major General Kan Qiao¡¯s soul emitted a silent scream, showing an extremely pained expression. The Undead Magic tormented him, twisting his soul like a rope at times and shrinking and enlarging it at others. His soul¡¯s color gradually changed. It started as a semi-transparent colorless form, slowly turned into a light blue, then to a clear blue, and finally to a deep blue. The moment of success saw Cang Xu kneeling on the ground, nearly collapsing. ¡°Success, truly a Golden Level ghost,¡± Cang Xu said, pale-faced and weak, but his eyes were filled with joy as he looked at the ghost. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± Fishman youth, seeing Cang Xu¡¯s success, also began his return to the sea. At sea, the Navy¡¯s flagship was still undergoing emergency repairs. A large hole caused by the bombardment from the Deep Sea Monster Fish at the bottom of the ship had been barely patched up. The Fishman youth knew very well how vulnerable this area was. But instead of attacking there, he swam directly out of the water and jumped onto the mast of his own ship. The next moment, he stood there, facing the sea breeze, overlooking the whole battlefield. The Navy had slightly more Silver Level forces than the Justice Pirate Group did, and by appearances, the pirate group was at a disadvantage. The Big guy was being teased by a nimble opponent. Lan Zao¡¯s shooting squad had been broken, and Lan Zao was besieged. Two Silver Level fighters lunged toward Zi Di, who, relying on her Magic, maintained distance. Her newly acquired Stone Statue Ghost significantly helped, momentarily restraining a Silver Navy. Chou was shooting arrows, forcefully suppressing the Navy¡¯s Mages and priests. His onslaught was powerful, causing Mages and priests to be unable to lift their heads, but obviously, such an offensive depended on Chou¡¯s Fighting energy and Alchemy Arrow reserves; he wouldn¡¯t last long. As for Di Lou, he was entangled by a Silver swordsman, making it difficult to use any Spells to bolster his companions. ¡°Enough!¡± The Fishman youth swiftly surveyed the battlefield, then suddenly roared, ¡°The Navy Rear Admiral has already died by my hand!¡± With that, he raised Kan Qiao¡¯s head. His roar drew the attention of both friend and foe, temporarily quelling the noise of the battlefield. Many who looked up at the head were stunned. Kan Qiao was a famous fierce general in the Navy, and now he had been killed by the hand of the Fishman Divine Son. Even more horrifying was that the battle had barely started! ¡°It¡¯s fake! Don¡¯t be fooled, full attack!! Rear Admiral Kan Qiao is still alive; he is only trapped,¡± roared the First Officer from the Navy flagship. The wavering spirit immediately solidified. Internally grieving yet heavy-hearted, the First Officer remained composed as he took over the leadership role perfectly after the demise of Kan Qiao. The Fishman youth frowned; the First Officer¡¯s timely and wise response had thwarted his plan. ¡°But no matter, I¡¯ll just kill you next.¡± The Fishman youth vanished from the mast. ¡°So fast!¡± The First Officer, who had been closely watching the Fishman Divine Son, saw his pupils suddenly shrink as the Fishman youth charged onto the flagship¡¯s deck, heading straight for him in the ship¡¯s stern. ¡°Stop him!¡± The First Officer immediately ordered. Numerous Navy soldiers, fearlessly rushing toward the Fishman youth. Combat Skill¡ªFlowing Blade. The Fishman youth wielding dual blades fluently maneuvered on deck, leaving trails of blood wherever he went. Flowing Blade was sharp, its blade having a saw-like cutting effect. There were many on deck from the Navy, but they couldn¡¯t stop the youth¡¯s advance. When the Fishman youth straightforwardly reached the First Officer, his Flowing Blade had grown slightly larger and was stained red with blood. The maintenance of the Flowing Blade required water, and during the battle, as it wore down, the blade size started to reduce. But the Fishman youth, extracting the body water of the Navy soldiers, successfully maintained the blade¡¯s size. Covered in the smell of blood, he attacked the First Officer. The First Officer drew his sword and engaged the Fishman youth. After a few exchanges, the Fishman youth cleaved the First Officer in two. As a Silver Level, the First Officer was effortlessly finished by the Fishman Divine Son, which caused the Navy¡¯s morale to waver while the pirates¡¯ spirits soared. The Fishman youth turned back, targeting only Silver Level opponents. His speed increased more and more, no elite in the Navy could stand against him, and they all perished one by one. After about fifteen minutes, silence fell over the battlefield. The Navy fleet was devastatingly defeated, and the Justice Pirate Group claimed a complete victory! Chapter 363 - 363: Section 150: Legend Formidable Enemy Chapter 363: Section 150: Legend Formidable Enemy The fire continuously burned on the surface of the sea. In the midst of the flames were the remnants of ships. Bodies that initially floated nearby were hauled up, sharing the same fate of incineration as the ships. The clean-up of the battlefield had already ended. Through this battle, the Navy was completely annihilated, and the Justice Pirate Group was left with only one Black Iron Magic Ship and two Bronze Level Magic Ships. Naval battles are extremely brutal. In land battles, the defeated can still flee on foot in any direction. But at sea, ships are the last bastions and homes, losing them means facing the devouring expanse of the endless waters, even if one escapes the battlefield. The Fishman youth stood at the stern, watching the burning ships while listening to Zi Di¡¯s report. Zi Di still wore her mask and a black robe. Since her awakening, she had taken over many responsibilities from Cang Xu, such as managing finances, calculating losses, and gains. Pirates worked on the deck, some hammering at the mast, others sewing torn sails, some had climbed onto the crossbar, setting up new sail ropes. Others cleaned the deck with long-handled brushes and mops, using foam from potions, and finally rinsing with buckets of seawater until it was clean. Though deck cleaning might seem a minor task, it was extremely important. The sea was not always calm; when tossed by waves, sailors easily slipped on the greasy deck. A slip could result in death from the fall or drowning if thrown into the sea. After a fierce battle, the deck was in terrible condition. Almost everywhere was stained with blood, and along with severed limbs and bodies, human fat was scattered everywhere. The pirates worked diligently. Some were still bandaged, marking minor injuries that still required their labor. Those severely injured were treated in the cabins and then rested. Without clergy on board, the pirates had only potions and some specific Magic Scrolls for treating injuries. These Magic Scrolls were not only rare in type but also limited in number. True expertise in healing and purification had always been wielded by the power of Divine Arts. Despite the hard work, especially after a great battle, dragging their weary bodies to labor, the pirates¡¯ morale was high. ¡°We defeated the Navy!¡± ¡°Man, I still can¡¯t quite believe it.¡± ¡°Navy Vice Admiral Kan Qiao was a fierce man, but he was still killed by our captain.¡± ¡°Reliable sources say our captain faced Kan Qiao fairly and directly chopped off his head.¡± ¡°Silver cuts Gold, that¡¯s really strong!¡± The pirates quietly discussed, occasionally stealing glances at Zi Di and the Fishman youth at the stern. Their looks towards the Fishman youth were filled with reverence and trust. Most looked at Zi Di with respect, and of course, a small portion were curious. For most pirates, Zi Di¡¯s identity was a secret. Only a limited number of survivors from Mysterious Monster Island were privately happy about Zi Di¡¯s awakening. Zi Di performed exceptionally in the recent battle. Her spells could be instantly cast and she was already at the peak of Black Iron strength. She also had a Silver Level alchemy Puppet, a Stone Statue Ghost, that reliably entangled two Silver fighters from the Navy. Boom! Just then, the collected ships suddenly exploded amidst the flames. The rough framework of the ships remaining blew apart in the explosion. Flames soared, then splattered many fireballs landing on the sea, continuing to burn fiercely. Zi Di had mixed potions to greatly maintain the burning, until every object was completely or nearly completely incinerated. The pirates startled for a moment, then burst into laughter. The youth and Zi Di watched calmly, unsurprised. The explosion was also a step in cleaning up the battlefield. Normally, any enemy ships that could be towed away would be¡ªselling them could fetch quite a bit of money. The truly immovable ones would be scuttled to prevent aiding the enemy. For the Justice Pirate Group to go through the efforts of both burning and exploding was uncommon. But it was necessary. They faced the Imperial Navy, Imperial spies, and had to do so to minimize any clues or intelligence left behind. After confirming the results of the explosion, the Justice Pirate Group began to speed up, officially leaving the battlefield. Half an hour later. A massive fleet of Navy warships raced across the sea. As the flagship, the Golden Magic Ship Twin Swords led at the forefront, slowing its speed to coordinate with the main fleet. As the captain of the Twin Swords, Vice Admiral Wei Sheng of the Empire and an earl, furrowed his brows, ¡°I¡¯m starting to regret bringing them along.¡± The Twin Swords could easily surpass a speed of 20 knots. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wei Sheng was eager to catch up with the Justice Pirate Group and initiate a siege. ¡°Report! It¡¯s about the latest battle situation involving General Kan Qiao,¡± a navy sailor approached, carrying a sealed scroll. ¡°It¡¯s finally been reported,¡± Wei Sheng quickly took the scroll. Previously, he had ordered Kan Qiao and Tan Mo to act together to pursue the Justice Pirate Group. Then, he personally took action, leading a massive navy force from the Big Military Port, deploying almost the entire force. Shortly after setting sail, he received follow-up military intelligence. Tan Mo and the City Lord of Dun Dao City were ambushed and couldn¡¯t strike. Kan Qiao¡¯s fleet, however, successfully deployed and started the pursuit. ¡°What exactly is the situation?¡± Wei Sheng quickly skimmed the contents of the scroll, his expression changing abruptly, his gaze becoming extremely sharp in an instant. ¡°Defeated?¡± ¡°Has Kan Qiao¡¯s fleet been completely annihilated?¡± ¡°Wait, maybe not entirely. After all, most of the ships in the fleet are still resting at Knife Harbor.¡± ¡°No, Kan Qiao died in battle, and all the elite forces of the fleet were annihilated. What use is it to have some warships left? This fleet is essentially destroyed!¡± Wei Sheng clenched his teeth, ¡°Damn Justice Pirate Group!¡± He reviewed the contents of the scroll again, quickly heading back to the captain¡¯s quarters. When he returned to the captain¡¯s quarters, he had completely mastered the intelligence contained there, reciting it from memory. He approached the tactical table. On the table lay an alchemy sea chart, where simulated seawater flowed in curved lines. On the sea, apart from islands that stood immobile, numerous fleets were navigating. Wei Sheng focused his attention on one corner of the map where the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s ships were located. ¡°The Justice Pirate Group has Black Iron Magic Ships and Bronze Magic Ships, which are low in performance and negligible. The most threatening one is that Golden Magic Ship capable of underwater navigation.¡± ¡°A big part of Kan Qiao¡¯s demise lay in this ship.¡± Kan Qiao was killed in direct combat by the Fishman youth, but the circumstances of this battle had already been scouted by naval warships. Therefore, the related intelligence was all in the scroll that Wei Sheng held. ¡°Fishman Divine Son Long Fu!¡± ¡°Divine Bloodline, Legendary Combat Skill, Holy Domain Level Fighting Energy.¡± ¡°The underwater combat context provided a great advantage.¡± ¡°The tactics were very clear, aiming first to break Kan Qiao¡¯s back armor, fully exploiting the speed advantage.¡± ¡°The Golden Magic Ship assisted, firing two shots from Golden Level canons costing about 5000 Gold Coins each, just considering the bombs¡¯ costs apart from mana and other expenses!¡± ¡°As for Kan Qiao¡¯s fleet¡­¡± ¡°The fleet¡¯s condition was abysmally poor, with most warships left at the harbor, bringing only a few to pursue.¡± ¡°The fleet retained its elite forces, but at the Silver Level, the Justice Pirate Group was equally strong.¡± ¡°After the death of Kan Qiao, lacking an equal in combat strength, the Fishman Divine Son easily dominated the battlefield.¡± ¡°The greatest failure of this naval battle lay with Kan Qiao!¡± Wei Sheng clenched his fist. ¡°Was it his reputation as a fierce warrior that the Justice Pirate Group exploited?¡± ¡°Kan Qiao himself harbored complacent thoughts. After all, the Justice Pirate Group did not have a Gold Level force publicly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m partly to blame as well. After all, I didn¡¯t provide Kan Qiao with all the facts.¡± ¡°What a pity, that¡¯s all the intelligence we were able to gather¡­¡± Wei Sheng shook his head slightly, carelessly throwing the intelligence scroll onto the table. He analyzed: In a normal battle, Kan Qiao had the capacity to engage the Fishman Divine Son and delay time. But his personality was manipulated, dragged into combat in water where the Fishman Divine Son got the chance to completely suppress him, preventing him from using Combat Skills to alter the situation. ¡°His death wasn¡¯t of much value.¡± In Wei Sheng¡¯s view, sacrifices in the navy were inevitable, and dying on the battlefield was a warrior¡¯s honor. Though Kan Qiao sacrificed himself, the intelligence gained was negligible, causing Wei Sheng great dissatisfaction. ¡°However, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°According to my arrangement, Bi Tong¡¯s fleet has already arrived nearby.¡± ¡°The Justice Pirate Group can¡¯t escape.¡± ¡°Ordinary Black Iron Magic Ships have a max speed of about 13 knots.¡± ¡°Golden Magic Ships vary in speed but also can¡¯t exceed 30 knots.¡± ¡°Bi Tong¡¯s warship, Impact Needle, isn¡¯t describable just by its speed.¡± ¡°Faced with a Legendary Level adversary, the Fishman Divine Son really can¡¯t compete.¡± ¡°This time, we will definitely unearth the real details of the deity Mei Lan!¡± Chapter 364 - 364: Section 151: Treasure Chest Chapter 364: Section 151: Treasure Chest Tip of the Knife Town. Holy Bright Empire secret port. Reorganization work was underway. ¡°I¡¯ll repeat it once more, your captain, General Kan Qiao, has fallen at the hands of the Justice Pirate Group. According to wartime military regulations, you will all be reassigned to the nearest Imperial Navy fleet.¡± ¡°I, Tan Mo, Navy Rear Admiral, am now your superior officer. I will lead you to the very front lines against our enemies, and perhaps we can even seek vengeance for General Kan Qiao!¡± Tan Mo stood at the ship¡¯s railing, shouting loudly. When Kan Qiao pursued the Justice Pirate Group, he didn¡¯t take everyone with him, and in fact, most of the warships remained in port for resupply and rest. Upon hearing this news, the sailors who once served under Kan Qiao were incredulous, indignant, or filled with hatred, etching the name of the Justice Pirate Group deep into their hearts. Kan Qiao was courageous and not brutal, always leading the charge at the forefront of battle, and deeply respected and adored by his subordinates. ¡°Although Kan Qiao took the most elite group with him, these Navy members are still quite good. They can fight and are indeed very capable.¡± Tan Mo was secretly pleased, though his face showed solemnity and sorrow. ¡°Kan Qiao Fleet¡¯s designation has not been revoked. Is this really okay to do? To absorb these men, you need an order from Navy Headquarters,¡± said the City Lord of Dun Dao, standing beside Tan Mo. He was reluctantly called upon to assist. Despite his reluctance, there was no choice. Such was the deterrence of the Holy Bright Empire. Compared to the immense Imperial Navy, even though he was of the Golden Level of life, he still felt very insignificant. At this moment, the City Lord of Dun Dao looked at Tan Mo with a skeptical and worried gaze. Tan Mo turned his head and patted the City Lord¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± The City Lord was not reassured and shook his head, ¡°Even if it¡¯s a wartime policy, this is the Army¡¯s practice. The Navy has never had such a policy, has it?¡± ¡°The situation is urgent, everything must be adaptable. Rest assured, if I¡¯ve acted in this way, I naturally possess the capability to take responsibility,¡± Tan Mo said. The City Lord of Dun Dao finally nodded, reluctantly accepting the rhetoric. After the reorganization was complete, Tan Mo set off with all the warships. ¡°Many of these warships haven¡¯t been fully repaired yet, Vice Admiral,¡± the dock receptionist advised Tan Mo. ¡°It¡¯s precisely the unrepaired ones I want, otherwise how could I have an excuse to delay time?¡± Tan Mo had his own plans, but outwardly he sternly rejected the receptionist¡¯s suggestion, ¡°If our warships are in poor condition, then we will make up for it with the valor of the Navy. The military situation is urgent; we must catch up to the culprits quickly, to avenge General Kan Qiao, to raise the Empire¡¯s prestige, and to uphold justice!¡± The receptionist did not understand Tan Mo¡¯s character and was intimidated by his righteous words, watching the fleet with admiration as it set sail. ¡°We¡¯re finally going after the Justice Pirate Group.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao and Tan Mo returned to the captain¡¯s cabin, sighing with a bitter look on his face. ¡°No choice,¡± Tan Mo spread his hands, ¡°We¡¯ve delayed as much as we could. In order to make this ruse look convincing, we even deliberately created remnants of alchemy bombs and exchanged identities in the dungeon using death row prisoners, disguising them as pirates we had slain.¡± ¡°Can this disguise be successful? Can it fool the Imperial Navy? If they use the spy agency, what will we do?¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao was still worried. ¡°No problem. They won¡¯t delve deep into these sorts of things,¡± said Tan Mo with the air of someone experienced in these matters. The City Lord of Dun Dao could only suppress his doubts. He wasn¡¯t worried about Tan Mo. If Tan Mo had done this, he certainly was confident. What worried him was whether Tan Mo had included him in his calculations. For example, if the Navy saw through the ruse, Tan Mo might use this as an opportunity to extort and threaten the City Lord for bribes, forcing him to bleed more money. Thinking of the past, when he was coerced into giving up treasures at the City Lord¡¯s mansion, the City Lord felt an immense sense of loss. As night fell, Tan Mo¡¯s fleet continued to sail, gradually moving into the darkness. In the early hours of the morning, Tan Mo was still asleep in bed when awakened by a guard¡¯s shouting. ¡°The Vice Admiral is resting, do not disturb him!¡± ¡°Get out of the way!!¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao roared, ¡°This is an urgent military situation, are you responsible for the delay?¡± The guard turned pale, trembling in the face of the Golden Level¡¯s might. The City Lord of Dun Dao snorted coldly, sweeping his arm aside and knocking the guard away. He strode up to the cabin door and pounded fiercely with his forearm. Tan Mo rolled his eyes, resigned to getting up and opening the door, ¡°Stop knocking, stop it!¡± Seeing the City Lord¡¯s furious face, Tan Mo chuckled, ¡°Respected City Lord, getting so angry so early in the morning is bad for your health.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?!¡± The City Lord looked at the bloated, pig-like Navy Vice Admiral in his white pajamas, still sleepy, and grew even angrier. But he still lowered his voice, ¡°The fleet¡¯s route is off! Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know. It¡¯s your fleet, how could they deviate from their course without your orders?!¡± Tan Mo was slightly surprised, ¡°You know about the route as well?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City stared intently into Tan Mo¡¯s eyes, ¡°Since I agreed to Navy Headquarters, the information I¡¯ve obtained is far more than you¡¯d imagine.¡± Tan Mo gave a sigh and made some room, ¡°Come in and talk.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a serious face, the City Lord of Dun Dao City walked into Tan Mo¡¯s room. ¡°Damn, you do know how to enjoy yourself! You¡¯ve even set up a Space Array in your bedroom,¡± the City Lord of Dun Dao City complained. He also favored spacious places; he didn¡¯t sleep well last night in the cramped cabin. Now that he saw Tan Mo¡¯s bedroom, he found it absurdly large and luxuriously decorated with all the facilities one could want, almost like an emperor¡¯s campaign tent. Tan Mo let out a smug laugh, ¡°You might have forgotten about my Bloodline.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City shook his head again, his tone and demeanor filled with resentment, ¡°So, it¡¯s quite normal for someone like you, born with a golden spoon, to be a bit extravagant. Unlike me, who started from scratch and struggled to build up this fortune. And yet, half of it ended up in your hands.¡± He made himself comfortable on the sofa without reservation, even uncorking a bottle of red wine and pouring a full glass on the coffee table. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it, explain the issue with the route.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City watched Tan Mo with a relaxed posture. Tan Mo narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint fleeting across them. He realized the anger the City Lord of Dun Dao City displayed was deliberately feigned; the purpose was to extort him. Tan Mo chuckled, shaking his chubby finger, ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯ve caught me in a bind, City Lord of Dun Dao City.¡± ¡°The route is indeed wrong, I admit.¡± ¡°But why should I necessarily follow the orders of Navy Headquarters?¡± ¡°Dammit!¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City couldn¡¯t care less about the fine wine in his glass, and he growled again, ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, daring to defy military orders! Especially the orders from Navy Headquarters.¡± ¡°Navy Headquarters is determined to capture the Justice Pirate Group. They have dispatched many forces, and we are one of them. All the fleets that received orders must carry them out to coordinate with each other, creating an increasingly tightening net to capture the Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°What you¡¯re doing is defying military orders, dereliction of duty, and showing cowardice in battle!¡± ¡°If the Justice Pirate Group slips away, specifically through our area, we will all have to face a military trial. We will have to stand trial.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t make it to a military trial.¡± Tan Mo smiled, also pouring himself a glass of red wine. Raising his glass, he looked up at the ceiling with his small eyes, ¡°I have people above me!¡± At this, the City Lord of Dun Dao City nearly jumped off the sofa in rage; he stomped over to Tan Mo and grabbed his silk pajama collar. The City Lord of Dun Dao City growled menacingly, ¡°Are you trying to get me killed?¡± ¡°You have people above you, you might be safe.¡± ¡°But what about me?¡± ¡°What about me?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Despite being grabbed by the collar, Tan Mo remained calm and collected. He even took a sip of red wine right in front of the City Lord of Dun Dao City, ¡°The people above me can keep you safe too.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you!¡± The eyes of the City Lord of Dun Dao City reddened, ¡°You cunning, greedy guy, you¡¯ve just extorted half of my fortune. You must be plotting for the other half, using this opportunity to set me up. Once I¡¯m up for a military trial, you¡¯ll use it as a chance to extort me again!¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a fool?¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that easy to deceive?¡± ¡°Now, you give the order, go back to the correct route immediately.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve calculated it, if we proceed at maximum speed, abandoning some warships, we can still make it to the predetermined location on time.¡± Tan Mo shook his head repeatedly, ¡°Oh, dear. I didn¡¯t expect you to see me in this light, my friend. You view me as a greedy, vile scoundrel? That really hurts my feelings.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City exhaled angrily through his nostrils, ¡°Don¡¯t push me to violence!¡± Saying so, his aura surged as his Golden Fighting Spirit appeared faintly. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, easy there, take it easy, buddy!¡± Tan Mo¡¯s expression changed, ¡°I¡¯m also Golden Level. If we fight, do you want to destroy my flagship? I trusted you a lot to invite you on board!¡± ¡°And if we fight, we¡¯ll certainly fail the military mission even more.¡± ¡°Later on, I¡¯ll counter-accuse you of ambushing me on the journey, which led to my failure to reach the designated position on time. Who do you think the military court will believe more? Will the Imperial Navy support me, or you?¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City¡¯s breath hitched. Tan Mo sighed, ¡°Friend, it seems the time has come for you to know a bit more. Rest assured, I¡¯ll show you enough assurance that you can be at ease.¡± ¡°Come, follow me.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City¡¯s gaze was full of scrutiny and doubt, but eventually, he slowly let go and released Tan Mo. ¡°Now, you need to be calm, and not overreact in surprise, okay?¡± Tan Mo smiled, and in front of the City Lord of Dun Dao City, he snapped his fingers. Chapter 365 - 365: Section 152: The Three Admirals of the Navy Chapter 365: Section 152: The Three Admirals of the Navy With a crisp sound, the view before the eyes of the City Lord of Dun Dao City abruptly changed, and he found himself directly transported to another cabin. ¡°This is¡ª?!¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City showed a look of astonishment. He realized that he had left the Captain¡¯s cabin and arrived at a storage room. ¡°Follow me.¡± Tan Mo opened the cabin door and entered the hallway. The City Lord of Dun Dao City followed Tan Mo into the hallway. In the hallway, they occasionally saw members of the Navy. Some were tallying supplies, some were cleaning the corridor, and some were repairing firearms. Tan Mo led the City Lord of Dun Dao City into a prayer room. ¡°Close the cabin door well.¡± Tan Mo instructed the City Lord of Dun Dao City. After closing the door, the City Lord of Dun Dao City heard Tan Mo snap his fingers. In an instant, his surroundings underwent a radical transformation, from a prayer room to a combat training room. The two left the combat training room, went down the stairs, and entered one of the bottom-level cabins. Tan Mo snapped his fingers again, and the City Lord of Dun Dao City found himself in an entirely new cabin. ¡°Alright, I know your bloodline has extraordinary talent in the spatial domain. What¡¯s the meaning of you teleporting me around in all directions on a single ship?¡± the City Lord of Dun Dao City said impatiently. ¡°You really are slow to catch on.¡± Tan Mo smiled meaningfully, ¡°Do you think this is the same ship?¡± ¡°Could it be that it¡¯s not? Is it on another warship? Impossible, what other warship could have such luxurious furnishings?¡± the City Lord of Dun Dao City expressed his doubts. ¡°Of course, this is my Treasure Chest. We have been on this ship all along.¡± Tan Mo said. The City Lord of Dun Dao City became furious: ¡°You are playing tricks on me!?¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Suddenly, his expression shifted, as he thought of something. ¡°You¡¯ve guessed a little.¡± Tan Mo said proudly, ¡°My Treasure Chest cost my family countless efforts; it has many layers. At first, we were all on the first layer. Now, we have delved into the fourth layer.¡± ¡°Endless Treasure Chest¡­¡± the City Lord of Dun Dao City was overwhelmed, he recalled a certain story and murmured. ¡°Just maintain a little more patience, my friend. I have placed that item on the fifth layer, not deep. If a crisis arises, this position will allow me to quickly retrieve it. Follow me deeper by one more layer.¡± Tan Mo snapped his fingers again. Before long, under Tan Mo¡¯s guidance, the City Lord of Dun Dao City arrived at a weapons storage room. In this cabin, he saw a metal statue. The statue was very odd, overall, it resembled a centaur. On closer inspection, the City Lord of Dun Dao City realized that this centaur metal statue was actually assembled from individual parts. Looking at the parts individually¡ª ¡°Helmet, arm guards, leg guards, breastplate, bow and arrows, and so on¡­ could this possibly be the Holy Clothes of the Goddess of Wisdom?¡± the City Lord of Dun Dao City suddenly widened his eyes. ¡°Friend, your eyes are very sharp. This indeed is Holy Clothes, look.¡± Tan Mo reached out his hand, touching the shining metal centaur statue. As he infused it with fighting energy, the centaur statue underwent a drastic change, quickly disassembling. The scattered parts swiftly clad themselves onto Tan Mo¡¯s body. Tan Mo was very corpulent, but the armor could automatically adjust its size, always fitting the wearer¡¯s body in the most suitable sizes. Tan Mo, clad in the magnificent armor, was bursting with Golden Fighting Spirit, forming a flame-like flow of light all over. His presence soared terrifyingly fast, and within a few breaths, he had broken through to Holy Domain Level! ¡°It really is Holy Clothes!¡± the City Lord of Dun Dao City couldn¡¯t help but step back, overwhelmed by Tan Mo¡¯s formidable aura. There was a significant history behind the Holy Clothes. They were Divine Artifacts! To be precise, they were fragments of a Divine Artifact. In the ancient history of the Beast Race, there once was a Goddess who wielded divine authority over wisdom, victory, craft, art, and other domains. To combat the immensely powerful God of War of the Beast Race, the Goddess nearly exhausted all her resources to create her own Divine Artifact¡ªthe Holy Clothes. She engaged in a fierce battle with the War God of the Beast Race, at times at a stalemate. But in the end, it was the War God of the Beast Race who emerged victorious, and the Goddess fell. Her Holy Clothes also shattered into many fragments during the fierce battle. The followers of the Goddess collected these Divine Artifact fragments and with them forged many wondrous sets of armor. The sect of the Goddess had no Guardian Knights; its members were fighters. The fighters who donned these sets of armor saw their combat strength surge massively, showing great prowess. Later, however, it was discovered that not only the believers of the Goddess could use these Holy Clothes but also those who believed in other deities! In essence, the armor made from Holy Clothes fragments utilized Divine Power to amplify oneself. The deeper the faith, the more Divine Power one held, and the greater the amplification received. Tan Mo¡¯s display was one of them. Originally just at the Golden Level, Tan Mo¡¯s power soared after donning the Holy Clothes, breaking through to the Holy Domain Level! Facing a Holy Domain, the City Lord of Dun Dao City was completely outmatched. But in the next instant, Tan Mo used his spirit to take off the Holy Clothes. Without Fighting energy infusion, the various components of the Holy Clothes once again joined together, solidifying into the shape of a centaur statue. Tan Mo turned to the City Lord of Dun Dao City, whose face was full of wariness, and smiled faintly, ¡°This is what I wanted to show you.¡± ¡°A set of Holy Clothes!¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City saw Tan Mo voluntarily disarm and his expression softened, yet he was still shocked. Tan Mo shook his head, ¡°To be precise, since it¡¯s made from fragments, it¡¯s just Holy Clothes.¡± ¡°I spent a lot of time and went through many places to acquire it with quite some difficulty.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t do it for myself.¡± ¡°I was following orders to collect the Holy Clothes.¡± ¡°The one who issued the orders was none other than Yi Gui herself.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City¡¯s body trembled slightly, ¡°Really, Yi Gui herself?!¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Tan Mo nodded, ¡°In this world, she¡¯s the only one with such strong, unmatched desire for such armor.¡± ¡°I can show you the secret military orders she personally issued.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the City Lord of Dun Dao City confirmed it, a complex expression surfaced on his face, ¡°I never thought that your superior would be none other than Yi Gui, one of the three great Admirals of the Navy.¡± At that moment, he finally understood Tan Mo¡¯s confidence and backing. Within the Imperial Navy, there were three great Admirals, all of Legendary strength. They were Bi Tong, Yi Gui, and Fang Gong. Above the three great Admirals, there was only the Navy Marshal, Yan Tan. But even Yan Tan was just at the Legendary Level and could not overpower the three Admirals. There had long been various rumors revealing the discord within the Navy¡¯s hierarchy. Now seeing the Holy Clothes and Tan Mo, the City Lord of Dun Dao City was even more convinced of these rumors. The City Lord of Dun Dao City figured out a lot of things and looked at Tan Mo again, his voice filled with bitterness, ¡°So, I¡¯ve become a member of Yi Gui¡¯s faction?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Tan Mo said with a very affirmative tone, ¡°You committed a crime, and I saved your neck. Who would believe you aren¡¯t part of Yi Gui¡¯s faction?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget, we¡¯ve also conspired together on how to stall time and not go after the pirate group. We¡¯ve cooperated closely!¡± ¡°Furthermore, the location of Dao Mountain Island is perfect, the largest supply point in the surrounding seas. I will recommend you to the higher-ups, look, I¡¯ve already written the recommendation letter, here see for yourself.¡± Saying so, Tan Mo handed the City Lord of Dun Dao City a letter. The City Lord of Dun Dao City read it, his teeth clenched, ¡°Well, you¡¯ve taken half of my wealth and even sold me and the entire Dao Mountain Island to the higher-ups, all to curry favor and wealth for yourself!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha.¡± Tan Mo laughed loudly, ¡°Friend, please. Before, you wanted to be a local emperor, and no one cared. It wasn¡¯t that you lacked the strength, it¡¯s just that your city wasn¡¯t worth much.¡± ¡°Now, as the Empire is campaigning in the Wilderness Continent, it needs a large number of troops and must maintain sea transport lines.¡± ¡°Naval battles will become more frequent and on an even larger scale.¡± ¡°In such times, do you still want to keep out?¡± ¡°Without me, there would have been someone else. You should feel lucky, and thankful, that you¡¯ve got the support of one of the strongest pillars in the Navy.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City turned pale at these words and could only nod, ¡°You¡¯re right, I should thank you.¡± Tan Mo¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°So, how do you plan to thank me? I don¡¯t believe you¡¯ve shown me all of your wealth.¡± ¡°How to thank you?¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City looked intently at Tan Mo, grinding his teeth. Tan Mo suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. The next moment, the City Lord of Dun Dao City punched Tan Mo in the eye socket, sending the latter¡¯s corpulent body directly to the ground. Amidst Tan Mo¡¯s screams, the City Lord of Dun Dao City laughed coldly, ¡°How about this as a token of thanks?¡± Even a docile man has his limits, let alone a Golden Fighter like the City Lord of Dun Dao City. ¡°Ah ah¡­ it hurts, it hurts¡­ Ungrateful, biting the hand that fed you.¡± Tan Mo rolled on the ground before getting up, letting go of his hand which covered his eyes, revealing the swollen, bruised eye socket that had already turned purple. The City Lord of Dun Dao City pointed at Tan Mo, ¡°You¡¯re a real piece of work, taking advantage of an honest man like me. This collaboration is over, and from now on, keep your distance and let me not see you again!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha, friend, don¡¯t be such a stranger. It¡¯s for the best that you¡¯ve seen the light,¡± Tan Mo¡¯s expression suddenly changed, laughing heartily as he clapped the City Lord of Dun Dao City on the back. The City Lord of Dun Dao City snorted coldly and pushed Tan Mo away. But in the end, Tan Mo insisted that he stay, and they began to taste a variety of fine wines together. Chapter 366 - 366: Section 153: I Became a War Merchant Chapter 366: Section 153: I Became a War Merchant Deep Sea Monster Fish. In one cabin, a patient was devoutly praying to a statue, ¡°Great Mei Lan God, I praise Your kindness and thank You for healing my illness. As high as the heaven is above the earth, so great is Your mercy towards those who fear You; as far as the east is from the west, so far have You removed my transgressions from us¡­¡± In another cabin, the growling of a Magic Beast could be heard in the darkness. Many people huddled close together by candlelight, tightly pressing against each other, and kept praying incessantly, ¡°My Lord, Mei Lan God, You are a God full of grace and mercy, please rescue Your believers, grant us the perfect disguise so that the ferocious Magic Beasts cannot detect our presence¡­¡± In the third cabin, which was mostly submerged in seawater, several Believers lay atop wooden cabinets, watching the water level rise slowly. They were incredibly anxious and under immense pressure, praying in unison, ¡°My Lord Mei Lan God, You are so great, even the sea quakes when You are angry. I look up to Your mighty power, convinced of Your salvation. Please grant me the ability to command the waters, so that Your loyal Believers can escape this maritime disaster.¡± In the central cabin between these three, Cang Xu observed the Believers expressionlessly. He kept manipulating the simple Arrays he had set up, controlling the scenes within the cabins, then watched as after the believers prayed, they each gained Divine Power and channeled it all into the statues. The statues were fixed, with their bases directly connected to the Mei Lan Divine Artifact in the cabin below¡ªthe Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale. The Divine Power of the Believers was ultimately channeled into the giant clamshell. Today¡¯s prayer time had ended, and Cang Xu then hypnotized the believers in the three cabins once more, had the cabins cleaned, and fed them potions as a substitute for food and water. Of course, taking such potions long-term could not entirely replace the effects of food and water, which left the believers weak and feeble. But this was exactly what Cang Xu wanted. After the believers became weak, even if they discovered flaws and wanted to break free from captivity, their spirit was willing, but their flesh was weak. Furthermore, Cang Xu had discovered: the more frail the bodies of the believers, the more sincere they were when they prayed, and the Divine Power gained would be slightly increased. Watching the cabins being tidied up orderly, Cang Xu reviewed the records of this session of prayer once again. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The three cabins were arranged carefully by him, and the content of the three sets of prayers, as well as the memories of the three groups of believers themselves, were all designed differently. The experiment was very successful, and Cang Xu had probed even more into the secrets of the gods. ¡°Although it is said that the gods are omnipotent, in reality, gods are more proficient in certain domains or multiple domains. The amount of Divine Power They bestow and Their own Divine Office and Divine Authority are also related.¡± ¡°In cabin one, the praying believers were suffering from diseases and sought help from Mei Lan God.¡± ¡°In cabin two, the believers sought to disguise themselves, to deceive predatory Magic Beasts.¡± ¡°In cabin three, the believers wanted to command the waters to facilitate their own escape.¡± ¡°Excluding the factor of quantity, cabin two received the most Divine Power, and the efficiency was also the highest. Cabin three came next; although Mei Lan God does not preside over the oceanic Divine Office, She was a mermaid mage before becoming a deity, so She must be very skilled in Water Magic. Cabin one received the least amount of Divine Power. Mei Lan God Herself is not adept at healing.¡± As he pondered, the cabin door was knocked. It was the Fishman youth coming for inspection. Cang Xu welcomed him inside. After learning about the latest results, the Fishman youth let out a breath of relief, ¡°Cang Xu, you¡¯ve succeeded! We have new Pearl Bubbles again.¡± Once the prayers ended this time, a Pearl Bubble finally emerged from the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale. Cang Xu nodded, ¡°Ever since we acquired the Memory Concealment Skill, we¡¯ve been able to mass-produce Desecration Priests. To be more precise, Believers. It¡¯s still far from being a Priest.¡± Cang Xu continued to explain in detail, ¡°Before we had this Skill, I had to erase all memories from the subjects. But this caused a lot of trauma to the soul. With the Memory Concealment Skill, the subjects still remember nothing, yet false memories can be implanted, and the soul remains very stable, making the prayers go smoothly.¡± ¡°Very good,¡± praised the Fishman youth, ¡°If we can escape pursuit this time, Cang Xu, you will be the key figure! Your contribution and merit are the greatest. Now, we need to do our utmost to expand the scale of Believers, to generate more Divine Power!¡± But Cang Xu shook his head slightly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not possible, my Captain.¡± ¡°Uh, why?¡± Cang Xu then explained, ¡°Firstly, the Deep Sea Monster Fish has a limited number of cabins, and they are cramped.¡± ¡°Secondly, all these Believers need me to perform the Memory Concealment Skill, and not all prisoners can become Believers. Many will be eliminated in the selection process.¡± ¡°Calculate the costs involved meticulously, not just my Mana expenditure but also personnel losses, and the practical use of various materials. After each prayer session, I have to use the Memory Concealment Skill once and a large amount of potions.¡± ¡°The cost is too high; I¡¯ve already reached my limit alone. Unless there¡¯s another Undead Mage to assist me, and this Mage¡¯s rank must be at least Black Iron Level.¡± The Fishman youth fell into deep contemplation, ¡°If we can¡¯t expand the scale, what about improving the quality of the Believers themselves? As you said before, the level of these Believers¡¯ Faith is not deep, at most pious Believers, and many are General Believers and ordinary Believers. If we can deepen their level of Faith, we could also obtain more Divine Power.¡± Cang Xu still shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s hard to deepen one¡¯s Faith. Faith is a spontaneous transformation of the soul, and the soul itself cannot be deceived. I¡¯ve already tried a series of experiments, having Believers self-identify as fanatics or devout in the forged memories, but there were no effects, no increase in Divine Power at all.¡± ¡°The maintenance of Faith has a lot to do with the Believer¡¯s worldview and values. Once a Believer suffers a significant setback or mental trauma, their own notions wavering, the Faith will collapse accordingly. I previously worshiped the Dark Lord, but after realizing the secrets of the deity through the training experiences of the ship ghosts, my Faith Level immediately declined, and I¡¯m no longer even considered a General Believer.¡± ¡°Raising Believers is very difficult; fanatics are usually very rare. To deepen Faith, on the one hand you need a pure environment, special external pressures, and on the other hand, more importantly, time, a lifetime of experiences to continually strengthen one¡¯s worldview and values.¡± The Fishman youth couldn¡¯t help but fall silent. Time. It was time that he lacked the most. With enough time, relying on the Blood Core in his heart, the true body of Mei Lan, two Divine Artifacts, two Demi-Artifacts, and the Golden Magic Ship, he was confident he could become one of the world¡¯s Peaks. Time, oh, so precious! Cang Xu continued, ¡°In fact, even now, I can¡¯t maintain the believers for very long.¡± ¡°The Memory Concealment Skill has its limits.¡± ¡°This has been tested many times by the ship ghosts.¡± ¡°These believers have had their memories altered by me and then placed in a special, singular environment that forces them to pray. Once the Memory Concealment Skill is overused and can¡¯t be sustained, they will experience memory flashbacks. They¡¯ll start to doubt themselves and everything around them and eventually uncover the truth.¡± The Fishman youth fell silent once again. This time, his mood also became heavy. Because he was most profoundly affected by Cang Xu¡¯s words, being a substitute whose memory was manipulated. When he awoke, he found himself on the treacherous Mysterious Monster Island. ¡°How different are these people¡¯s experiences from my own?¡± ¡°I used to believe in the Holy Emperor, praying to Him countless times. These people are likewise praying to the Goddess Mei Lan.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know my own identity. In fact, I still haven¡¯t recovered my true memories. These people¡¯s memories are also concealed.¡± ¡°On Mysterious Monster Island, I had to struggle desperately just to survive. Aren¡¯t these people doing the same?¡± ¡°The only difference is¡­¡± ¡°This time, I¡¯m no longer the victim; I¡¯ve become someone like a War Merchant.¡± ¡°How did it come to this?¡± Sensing the youth¡¯s shame and self-reproach, Cang Xu immediately consoled him, ¡°My lord, you need not blame yourself so. These captives are no saints, and besides, we have no choice! If possible, we would never do this. But there¡¯s no helping it; we just want to live, right?¡± ¡°Alas¡­¡± The Fishman youth let out a deep sigh. Cang Xu then said, ¡°My lord, you are our leader. In crucial moments like this, everyone relies on you. You led us alive out of Mysterious Monster Island; everyone trusts you immensely!¡± ¡°But, with the current rate, we¡¯re obtaining too little of the Pearl Bubble,¡± the Fishman youth said, his face clouded with worry. Suddenly, he thought of a plan, ¡°Wait, what if it were me?¡± ¡°You conceal my memory, put on me a Magic Prohibition Ring, and have me pray to the Goddess.¡± ¡°The biggest difference between them and me is that I possess a Divine Level Fishman Bloodline; I am a Divine Son among the Fishmen! I believe I will definitely receive the Goddess¡¯s attention.¡± But Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s too risky, my lord.¡± ¡°With your power, can a Magic Prohibition Ring really bind you? Your Blood Core can¡¯t be prohibited.¡± ¡°At this crucial moment, with Zong Ge unconscious, you are the most powerful in the Justice Pirate Group. If you were to lose your memory and the Navy caught up to us, it would be disastrous.¡± ¡°And most importantly, the attitude of the Goddess is unpredictable. After all, we saved Her corporeal self but also placed Her in the Green Jade Gold Coffin to confront the Feathered Snake¡¯s spirit.¡± ¡°If we truly gain the Goddess¡¯s attention, I can¡¯t guarantee that it will result in something good.¡± The Fishman youth had no choice but to grit his teeth, ¡°Indeed.¡± Cang Xu paused for a moment, ¡°Actually, there is another way.¡± ¡°Another method?¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°A ritual! We could hold a ritual to seek the Goddess¡¯s bounty of Divine Power.¡± ¡°A ritual? With our current situation?¡± the Fishman youth hesitated. Cang Xu explained, ¡°My lord, rituals are not necessarily carried out in Divine Temples or Holy Temples with singing or celebrations. The specifics of a ritual can vary greatly and depend on the deity.¡± ¡°For example, believers who worship the Duke of Law hold rituals declaring publicly that, over two or three years, they will overcome certain challenges, make specific research breakthroughs, or explore unknown domains and gain new knowledge. The greater their achievements at the end of the time period, the more successful the ritual.¡± ¡°Or take the Duke of Corn, whose sect would organize large harvest rituals during the bountiful seasons. They would mobilize a vast number of farmers to reap the mature wheat. The more abundant the harvest, the more successful the ritual. It¡¯s recorded that every time there was a bountiful harvest, the Duke of Corn would perform miracles, showing His pleasure with the ritual.¡± The Great Dukes of the Holy Bright Empire are living deities, who not only own noble lands but also lead their own sects. ¡°In the history of the Beast Race, there was once a Goddess of Wisdom who, after Her demise, had Her followers conduct a ritual in Her honor. Using fragments of Her Holy Clothes as materials, they created new Holy Clothes and dedicated them unconditionally to the goddess.¡± ¡°These are all rituals.¡± The Fishman youth, upon hearing this, suddenly remembered the words of Goddess Mei Lan¡¯s High Priest. The latter had once told the youth that disguising the Divine Domain around the Goddess¡¯s corporeal self as a Half-plane and deceiving more and more people was akin to a prayer or a ritual. Such acts in themselves were a great help to the Goddess. ¡°So, how are we to conduct a ritual for Goddess Mei Lan?¡± The two were discussing this when a military report arrived. A large fleet of Navy enemy ships had been spotted ahead! Chapter 367 - 367: Section 154: Confrontation Chapter 367: Section 154: Confrontation The military situation was urgent, so the Fishman youth immediately hurried back to sit command in the Black Iron demon energy ship. He stood at the bow, gazing intently, and saw nine warships. ¡°Three Black Iron Level, four Bronze Level, two ordinary sea ships.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t feel any Gold Level aura, have you found anything?¡± the Fishman youth inquired to Zi Di beside him. Zi Di shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ve already used reconnaissance magic, but found nothing. Deep Sea Monster Fish just sent a message, there¡¯s also no sign of the Navy Rear Admiral¡¯s presence.¡± The expression of the Fishman youth relaxed slightly, ¡°Looking at the flags opposite, they aren¡¯t an Imperial Navy fleet but three fleets combined together.¡± He had quite an understanding of the military structure of the Imperial Navy. In the navy, only Generals had the authority to command a fleet. Typically, the number of ships in a fleet was at least 50. At its peak, the Justice Pirate Group had 11 ships, barely qualifying as a fleet. General Kan Qiao originally had 60 ships, but many were lost in a maritime disaster, and the vast majority of the remaining needed urgent repairs. Thus, when he pursued, he only brought 7 ships. One could say the entire fleet was in very poor condition. Zi Di pondered, ¡°Speaking of which, there aren¡¯t that many Gold Level powerhouses. Within the Imperial Navy, the number of vice admirals is limited, and spread out over the entire ocean, they become even more scarce.¡± ¡°We just encountered General Kan Qiao earlier on, it was merely bad luck.¡± ¡°Given the enormity of matters involving alien gods, the Navy would definitely use all their resources to capture us. But, it will take time for them to dispatch sufficient forces to deal with us. These navy ships must be part of a blockade network.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite normal to have no Gold Level in command.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Fishman youth nodded, agreeing with Zi Di¡¯s analysis. The speed of the Navy warships still surpassed that of the Justice Pirate Group, and once the distance between the two sides was reduced to a certain extent, the Justice Pirate Group fired the first cannons. Bang, bang, bang. For a moment, the sounds of cannons firing, explosions, and splashes were incessant. Thick white smoke rose from both sides of the ships. ¡°The wind is in our favor,¡± Zi Di had just said, when the wind direction shifted. The situations of the Justice Pirate Group and the Navy suddenly reversed. ¡°No enemy warship seems to have a Mage acting; it looks like some kind of magic device,¡± Zi Di analyzed. The distance between them no longer closed. The Fishman Divine Son quickly noticed this, his heart sank slightly, ¡°The wind is in their hands, the Navy is deliberately controlling the distance, attempting to destroy our ships with cannons.¡± The sea ships of the Justice Pirate Group had poor performance and limited cannon quality. Thus, despite having alchemical bombs from Mysterious Monster Island, they couldn¡¯t fully exert their power. In terms of the number of cannons, the Justice Pirate Group was completely outclassed. Boom! A bomb exploded on the deck, sending three pirates flying. Boom! Another bomb pierced through the sail and fell into the sea, creating a white column of spray. The pirate ship began to suffer significant damage. ¡°Revenge moves us to battle!¡± Zi Di spoke up. The Fishman youth shook his head, ¡°Have him stand by.¡± Di Lou began to cast a spell, a faint silver-white halo enveloped many of the pirates, greatly enhancing their defensive power. ¡°Should we charge in and board them?¡± Zi Di gritted her teeth. For the pirates, this situation was extremely uncomfortable. The Fishman youth shook his head again: ¡°Our sailor numbers are also far fewer than theirs.¡± He was neither panicking nor distressed. Because he didn¡¯t lack options, he had a trump card. But which trump card should be played? Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After some thought, the Fishman youth ordered, ¡°Send out the Deep Sea Monster Fish!¡± Zi Di immediately relayed the message. The Tower Spirit in the Deep Sea Monster Fish received the command and immediately caused the Golden Magic Ship to surface from the deep sea to the shallow sea layer. Boom! The next moment, a Gold Level bomb was fired, forging a robust thunder-light electric python. But the enemy flagship was prepared. In a critical moment, this Navy flagship suddenly emitted a dazzling white light, then the light shifted, dispersing afterwards, revealing the original Navy flagship hull. Moved by the white light, the entire ship shifted instantly by five or six ship lengths. Lightning electrified the python missed, pierced through the seawater, shot into the air, and then slowly dissipated in loneliness. ¡°Dodged!¡± ¡°My God, that was thrilling.¡± ¡°The three Captains truly deserve to be of the same clan, their combined efforts are incredible!¡± Cheers erupted from the Navy fleet. In the Captain¡¯s quarters, the three Captains gasped for air. Although exhausted, their faces were flushed with excitement. The Navy Headquarters had passed on the subsequent intelligence, and naturally, the three Captains received the message. They knew the enemy had a Golden Magic Ship shaped like a monstrous fish lurking in the water. They were also aware of the two known types of Golden Level Bombs. Yao Ming said, ¡°Was I not right! Together, we can dodge the attack of the Golden Cannons.¡± Yao Wan added, ¡°Although our ships are only of Black Iron Level, as long as they don¡¯t hit us, weak defense doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Yao Gui proclaimed, ¡°That is so true! The best defense is evasion!¡± All three Captains were visibly excited. They came from the same noble family, shared the same bloodline, and were relatives, though distantly related. Seeing the Golden Cannons miss, both the Fishman youth and Zi Di frowned. ¡°There are Magic Devices on the Deep Sea Monster Fish that can suppress the aura before firing the cannons. Originally, Feng Yao hadn¡¯t detected it in advance, neither had General Kan Qiao¡¯s Silver Level flagship.¡± ¡°Could it be that this group of Navy has more powerful scouting tools?¡± the youth wondered. Zi Di added, ¡°Not only that, but they also have the ability to swiftly maneuver their ships. No wonder they dared to pursue us after we killed General Kan Qiao.¡± The situation was disadvantageous for the Justice Pirate Group. The Fishman youth revealed the Deep Sea Monster Fish¡¯s card, but it was ineffective. If Python Flow Bomb was ineffective, the Vortex Bomb naturally would be as well. Even if the enemy¡¯s flagship was hit, they could utilize their recent ability to break free. The tactical purpose of the Vortex Bomb was actually towards elite sea beings like Fishmen and Naga, to prevent them from invading the Deep Sea Monster Fish¡¯s hull. Its greatest potential was unleashed underwater; on the surface, it only displayed half of its strength. Of course, the combat effectiveness of the Vortex Bomb was impressive; even the Golden Level General Kan Qiao got trapped. To some extent, the War Merchant also deserved credit for his death. Zi Di spoke somberly, ¡°Their tactics are clear now.¡± ¡°They mainly want to engage us and use long-range artillery to continuously weaken us. The more they delay, the higher the chance other Navy forces will arrive here, and the likelihood of us being surrounded increases.¡± ¡°These ships are truly slow, no match for the Navy warships. The wisest choice now is to charge and initiate a boarding battle!¡± The youth fell silent. Zi Di knew well that in the case of slower speed, enduring cannon fire and violently boarding would cause heavy casualties. The youth understood the implicit meaning in Zi Di¡¯s words, suggesting sacrificing these ships and the pirates on them, and regathering the true comrades on the Deep Sea Monster Fish to escape using the deep sea¡¯s advantage. Although Zi Di was not a general like Zong Ge, being a merchant¡¯s daughter, she had a natural sharpness for weighing gains and losses. However, honestly speaking, the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s commandeered ships were indeed slow and had become a burden to their escape. After an uneasy silence, the youth spoke, his voice deep, ¡°No matter what, they are our comrades, we cannot abandon them so easily. If we abandon them, how can we face the flag of justice? How can we face our own conscience?¡± ¡°The situation is not as bad as it seems. Because, I have not yet made my move.¡± The Fishman youth smiled at Zi Di. ¡°My Lord¡­¡± Beneath the mask, Zi Di¡¯s expression was complex. She understood this was his merciful weakness, his indecisiveness. But recalling their experiences on Mysterious Monster Island, if not for his kindness and tolerance, how would she have been saved by him? ¡°Please be very careful, my Lord!¡± was all Zi Di could wish and encourage him with. Meanwhile, on another pirate ship. ¡°This is not good,¡± Di Lou frowned, his understanding of the morale of his side clear, ¡°Our number of ships is clearly fewer than the Navy¡¯s, and our cannons are also fewer, we are being suppressed by Navy fire. Even more terrifying is that once they entangle us, more and more Navy ships will arrive. Just thinking about this makes everyone inevitably grow anxious and panicked.¡± Di Lou was about to cast a spell to boost morale. Splash. The Fishman youth leaped down into the sea, splashing small waves. ¡°Oh! Lord Long Fu has made a move.¡± ¡°The opposing side is done for!!¡± Seeing this, the pirates cheered loudly, their spirits greatly lifted. ¡°No need for that,¡± Di Lou relaxed, exhaling a breath of relief, ¡°Since we cut down General Kan Qiao, the Lord¡¯s prestige has surged too much!¡± Chapter 368 - 368: Section 155: Glory Light Charge Chapter 368: Section 155: Glory Light Charge Carrying the deep hopes of his companions, the Fishman youth swiftly navigated through the water. ¡°He¡¯s coming!¡± ¡°He¡¯s in the water!!¡± ¡°Quick, fire the bombs.¡± ¡°Crossbowmen, shoot underwater.¡± ¡°Prepare the harpoons!!¡± The Navy was briefly thrown into disarray but soon calmed down. However, all the attacks from bombs, arrows, and harpoons proved futile. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After diving into the deep waters, the Fishman youth made a wide curve before approaching the underside of the Navy¡¯s ships. Even with bombs and arrows attacking him, he dodged them with ease. Thanks to his Divine Bloodline, he was naturally sensitive to currents. Combat Skill¡ªFlowing Blade. He held his hands like blades, and from his elbows, the water currents abruptly changed, forming two sharp blades of flowing water. Bang. The next moment, the Fishman youth shot out of the water like a bomb, skimming along one side of the hull, charging upward. At the gunwale, the sailors shouted, their crossbows firing volleys. Derived Combat Skill¡ªRotational Flow Blade! The Fishman youth¡¯s hands suddenly spread wide, his webbed fingers stretched taut between their fullest extent. The Flowing Blades on his forearms, mixed with Fighting energy and water currents, underwent a drastic transformation due to the change in the way the Fighting energy circulated. What was originally the shape of blades violently transformed into a pair of Water Shields. The Fishman youth used the two Water Shields¡ªeach as large as a millstone¡ªto block some of the attacks, meanwhile accelerating with his feet and dodging most of the crossbow arrows with his serpentine, lightning-quick movements. ¡°He¡¯s too fast!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t hit him at all.¡± ¡°Quick, he¡¯s coming up!¡± Amidst the cries of panic from the Navy, a dark figure stepped on the side of the ship, leaped up, and landed in the sky. The sailors looked up to see a tall and agile shadow, with long limbs, pausing in the air before plunging down sharply. At the same time, the dazzling sunlight made them squint involuntarily. Bang. The Fishman youth landed on the deck, and droplets of water scattered in mid-air refracted the sunlight into a rainbow halo. The sailors were stunned for a moment before raising their knives, axes, etc., and swarming towards the Fishman youth. Combat Skill¡ªFlowing Blade. The Fishman youth crouched on the deck, his arms stretched straight out in a line, perpendicular to his body. His arms were long, like the wings of a hawk, or as if he was shouldering a Knight¡¯s long spear. His fingers came together again, forming a blade shape with his palm. The water, influenced by the Fighting energy, violently transformed from the Water Shields in his palm into blades wrapping around his forearms and palm blades. The sailors cried out as they attacked from all sides. The Fishman youth exhaled a cloudy breath, and a sharp glint suddenly flashed in his eyes. Derived Combat Skill¡ªRotational Flow Blade! He exerted force with his ankles, powered up through his legs, and then coordinated with his waist and abdomen, extending to his arms. He spun rapidly, and his Silver Fighting Spirit exploded. In that instant, the Flowing Blade transformed slightly, becoming more of a scimitar shape with larger arcs. Swish swish! After two spins, the Fishman youth stood upright, remaining in place. The sailors who had swarmed him widened their eyes, losing all their strength in an instant, staring in terror as their bodies were cleaved in half. A vast amount of blood sprayed out, making the deck seem adorned with a vivid red bloom. Severed limbs and weapons tossed on the deck clamored in a chilling cacophony. The sailors on the outskirts stomped their feet, deterred by the Fishman youth¡¯s terrifying slaughter. It must be noted that among those who had surrounded him were several Black Iron Level leaders, and none of them could withstand even a single strike, dying horrifically on the spot. Although the Fishman youth only possessed Silver Fighting Spirit, his capacity to confront Kan Qiao face to face and kill him led the Navy Headquarters to assess his combat level as Gold. Yao Ming: ¡°Everyone fall back, you¡¯re no match for him.¡± Yao Wan: ¡°Long Fu, you¡¯re up against us!¡± Yao Gui: ¡°Even if we can¡¯t kill you, as long as we hold you off, more and more reinforcements will arrive! There¡¯s no escape for you now!¡± The three Captains made their entrance together, surrounding the Fishman youth at the center. The Fishman youth scanned the three silver fighters before him, noting their frightfully pale skin and almost complete lack of hair, each man a total bald head. Under the sunlight, their bald heads scattered beams of light. Such distinct Bloodline characteristics inevitably stirred a thought in the Fishman youth¡¯s mind, ¡°Are they members of the Yao Wang clan?¡± Derived Combat Skill¡ªPiercing Flow Blade! Silver Fighting Spirit was infused into the tip of the Flowing Blade. The shape of the blade¡¯s tip immediately transformed, becoming thicker and larger. From both sides of the triangular arrowhead, a large amount of Silver Fighting Spirit suddenly jetted out, providing powerful thrust. The Fishman youth¡¯s body was fiercely pulled in the direction of the blade¡¯s aim, and combined with the power from his legs, he instantly formed a strong assault. Yao Ming was caught off guard and struck by the Fishman youth, and although he barely managed to dodge a vital point, his right chest was still pierced by the Flowing Blade, splattering blood. ¡°Quick, save him!¡± ¡°Hold on!¡± Two companions immediately came to assist, their swords hacking towards the Fishman youth¡¯s back. The whistling sound of blades filled the air, and the airflow changed accordingly. The Fishman youth, as if having eyes in the back of his head, immediately let go of Yao Ming and swiftly shot up a mast. Yao Wan followed suit, climbing the mast as well. Yao Ming reorganized his stance and quickly swigged a potion. The Fishman youth suddenly turned around to counterattack, diving towards Yao Wan. In order to seize the moment and maximize the impact of his assault, he didn¡¯t use any Combat Skill and instead brandished the two Flowing Blades with great force. Yao Wan was startled and found himself only able to parry; he was immediately overwhelmed upon making contact. Each strike of the Flowing Blade against his scimitar emitted a plop sound, scattering fine splashes of water. Yao Wan¡¯s Silver Level scimitar was immediately hacked with several nicks. Just as he was about to falter and expose an opening, the Fishman youth spotted a flash of light out of the corner of his eye and felt a sudden burst of energy from the opponent. ¡°What Combat Skill?¡± raced through the Fishman youth¡¯s mind like a flash of lightning, and with a slight sense of danger, he decisively gave up pursuit, making a motion to dodge to the side. Combat Skill¡ªLight Flare! At the base of the mast, Yao Wan, who hadn¡¯t climbed up, held his sword with both hands and erupted with Silver Fighting Spirit. The blade fiercely swept upward, slicing a thin ray of silver light. Yao Gui, who was almost overpowered to complete vulnerability in the middle of the mast by the Fishman youth, suddenly sidestepped, and the Combat Skill Light Flare brushed past him. If the Fishman youth hadn¡¯t backed off and continued to suppress Yao Gui, he couldn¡¯t have dodged in time and would have been slashed by the Light Flare. But a moment before, the Fishman youth had evaded, deftly avoiding the strike. The Light Flare cut through as it traveled, severing the mast and dividing the huge sail into two, causing countless ropes and the severed upper part of the mast to crash onto the deck, leading to more chaos. Within this turmoil, the Fishman youth landed on the deck and engaged with the three Silver fighters in a fierce battle. Flowing Blades clashing with swords, Combat Skills used in rotation, all four were quick attackers with extremely fast movement and attack speeds. The Navy watched as four figures moved and jumped across the deck, exchanging blows, occasionally bursting with Combat Skills, and the view lit up with flashes of silver brilliance. The Navy flagship, just a Black Iron Grade, was quickly battered beyond recognition in the aftermath of the four¡¯s intense battle, with masts that weren¡¯t continuously breaking and the deck pockmarked with holes and long gashes. The original Navy sailors either squeezed below deck or willingly dived into the sea to swim to other warships to watch the battle. Boom, boom, boom¡­ As the leaders of both sides engaged, the bombardment from both parties never ceased. Chou and Di Lou took their turns. Among the Navy, there were no Silver Level Mages, but there were several Black Iron Level Mages, and each ship was equipped with a Priest. This kept them from being outmatched by the Justice Pirate Group. Chou kept an eye on the battle between the Fishman youth and the three Silver fighters while shooting arrows, wondering whether to sneak in a shot. Zi Di was most concerned for the youth¡¯s safety; as the Fishman youth gradually gained the upper hand, her heart began to settle. However, in the next moment, Yao Ming suddenly used a Combat Skill, transforming into a ray of light and rushing towards the Fishman youth. The Fishman youth only saw a flash before being struck and was smashed directly into the ship¡¯s forecastle. As the light faded, Yao Ming returned to his human form, jumping back to the deck. Press the advantage! Afterward, Yao Gui and Yao Wan also used the same killer moves, turning into beams of light to attack the Fishman youth. The situation for the youth deteriorated rapidly; he could only dodge continuously, using the ship¡¯s structures as cover, often rolling awkwardly to evade. Derived Combat Skill¡ªSoaring Flow Blade! Seeing Yao Ming unleash a Combat Skill again, the Fishman youth immediately threw his Flowing Blade. The Flowing Blade shot through the air. Yao Ming again transformed into a sphere of light, slamming directly into the Flowing Blade. With a bang, the Flowing Blade burst apart, turning into countless droplets of water. Yao Ming¡¯s movement stalled for a moment, but the sphere of light still lunged forward, leaving behind a rainbow trail on the retinas of all who watched. The Fishman youth avoided the hit, now with only one Flowing Blade in hand. At this point, he recognized: ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s the Combat Skill Glory Light Charge! Only those of the Yao Wang bloodline can use this skill. Although its Grade is only at Holy Domain Level, it is an integrated offensive and defensive maneuver, extremely fast, often used as a trump card to escape.¡± Why? Because although this Combat Skill was powerful, it had a significant drawback: the fighter couldn¡¯t think of anything while using it. Once activated, there was no stopping it. And given the skill¡¯s immense power, it consumed a tremendous amount of Fighting Energy. Thus, it led to a scenario: after a member of the Yao Wang family used this Combat Skill, they would be forced out of this miraculous state only when all their Fighting Energy was depleted, returning to their flesh and blood form, regaining the ability to think. This was why they could only use this Combat Skill as a means of escape, not for battle. Yet, the current situation far exceeded the Fishman youth¡¯s understanding of Glory Light Charge. ¡°This Combat Skill can now be stopped at will; it has become an incredibly powerful offensive tactic! How is this possible? Could it be that their Yao Light Bloodline Concentration has reached a high level, allowing them to think while deploying the skill?¡± Chapter 369 - 369: Section 156: One Knife, One Boat Chapter 369: Section 156: One Knife, One Boat Boom! The pillar of light attacked fiercely, with astonishing speed. The Fishman youth barrel-rolled to the right, dodging the onslaught. He bore multiple wounds on his body, but his sacrifices had finally paid off. By now, he had mastered the techniques and could possibly dodge the pillar of light more often. If he waited until the pillar of light struck before dodging, he would certainly be too late. However, once the Fishman youth observed the movements of the three Captains, and the moment they successfully launched their Combat Skills, he only needed to avoid the direction they were facing. The pillar of light shot out in a straight line each time, without the ability to bend midway through its trajectory. This was akin to an ordinary person dodging bullets from Firearms with their bare hands. The speed of an ordinary person would certainly not surpass that of a bullet, but as long as they watched the direction of the firearm¡¯s barrel and dodged the shooting path, they could greatly increase their chances of avoiding the bullet. As expected, the pillar of light missed its target, piercing through the foredeck and revealing Yao Ming¡¯s figure. ¡°Long Fu, aren¡¯t you the Fishman Divine Son? How long will you keep dodging?¡± Yao Ming taunted. ¡°Let¡¯s see who¡¯s faster, you or us!¡± Yao Wan was overflowing with fighting spirit. Yao Gui chuckled coldly, ¡°Keep dodging, keep dodging. The longer you drag this out, the more the Navy will come here.¡± The Fishman youth was not provoked or agitated; he dodged while calmly thinking. ¡°Not right!¡± ¡°Members of the Yao Wang family capable of thinking under such Combat Skills are of high Bloodline Concentration and often direct descendants. Such people are extremely rare, so how could three appear at once? Moreover, once such individuals emerge, they are certainly geniuses in cultivation and will be heavily protected and supported by the Yao Wang family. Why would they fall so low as to serve as Captains at sea?¡± ¡°So, have they improved this Combat Skill? And then, coincidentally, I run into them? Is this the real reason they are pursuing us?¡± If this were the case, the prestige and status of the Yao Wang family would greatly increase. This Combat Skill was truly too powerful. Had it not been for this Combat Skill, the members of the Yao Wang family would have already been slain one by one by the Fishman youth. But now, it was the Fishman youth who was at an absolute disadvantage. ¡°It¡¯s a means similar to telepathy! Lord Long Fu, they must have some kind of alchemy device on them.¡± At this moment, Zi Di¡¯s voice suddenly reached from afar. The expressions of Yao Gui, Yao Wan, and Yao Ming changed subtly for a moment. The Fishman youth was momentarily stunned, then a realization dawned upon him, ¡°So that¡¯s it! That¡¯s exactly it.¡± He fiercely recalled the previous clash, where he had viciously struck at Yao Gui from the mast. Yet, Yao Wan had deployed the Combat Skill Light Flare, and despite Yao Gui seemingly unaware of the blade light shooting towards his back, he casually sidestepped, letting both Light Flare and himself narrowly miss each other. Furthermore, when the three of them used the Combat Skill Glory Light Charge, at most only two of them would deploy it simultaneously, always leaving one person behind. It seemed that due to the telepathy between them, they were all aware of each other¡¯s state. Even when someone became a ball of light and was unable to think, the others thought for them and timely stopped the Combat Skill. ¡°So, the real weak spot is the person who isn¡¯t deploying the Combat Skill!¡± The eyes of the Fishman youth sharpened as he launched a counterattack. The counterattack had minimal effect. The Glory Light Charge was too fast and too fierce; the Fishman youth had to primarily focus on evading. Because of their telepathic links, any of the three could deploy the Glory Light Charge. As soon as the youth approached one of them, that person would deploy the Combat Skill, with another Captain cooperating from a distance. ¡°Hahaha, Fishman Divine Son, no matter how powerful you are, in the end, you¡¯re just one person!¡± ¡°Now you understand why our three fleets have joined forces, right?¡± ¡°You cannot kill us; we stand on invincible ground!!¡± The three Captains of the Yao Wang family had the upper hand and began verbally pressuring the Fishman youth further. ¡°Oh really?¡± The Fishman youth chuckled lightly, then suddenly stepped back and fell backwards, plunging into the water. ¡°To pursue or not to pursue?¡± The three Captains hesitated. As the Fishman Divine Son, the youth¡¯s capabilities in water battles were immense, and facing head-to-head with formidable Navy officers was no challenge. The three Captains had etched this piece of intelligence deeply into their minds. Back in the water, the Fishman youth felt a deep sense of pleasure and tranquility from within. Even with the troublesome Navy yet to be dealt with, the Fishman youth already felt a sense of control as if he held victory firmly within his grasp. ¡°It¡¯s like returning to my homeland.¡± A sense of unfounded confidence arose within the Fishman youth¡¯s heart, ¡°Here, I feel I can never be defeated!¡± Combat Skill¡ªFlowing Blade. Initially with only one blade left, now surrounded by the boundless ocean, he immediately conjured another. Snap. He clapped his palms together sharply, joining them tightly, and the two Flowing Blades merged in an instant, forming one gigantic blade. Normally, a Flowing Blade would only enshroud the forearm, but now, merged together, the Flowing Blade enveloped his upper arm and even climbed over his shoulder. It was the derived Combat Skill¡ªBig Flowing Blade! Practical combat was the best training, and now when deploying the Flowing Blade Combat Skill, the Fishman youth was getting increasingly proficient. ¡°Eh, they didn¡¯t dive in?¡± A glint of sharpness flickered through the youth¡¯s eyes, quickly seizing the opportunity. He once again channeled his Fighting Energy into the Big Flowing Blade. Silver Fighting Energy surged forth, and the Big Flowing Blade expanded, continually absorbing the surrounding seawater, eventually forming a massive water blade three meters long and half a meter wide. The derived Combat Skill¡ªGiant Flowing Blade! This Combat Skill was rarely used, as it consumed a lot of fighting energy and simultaneously required a certain amount of time to accumulate and take shape. That duration was the user¡¯s biggest vulnerability. However, the three Captains did not pursue their attack, allowing the Fishman youth to use it. ¡°Come taste this move!¡± The Fishman youth suddenly swam swiftly, dragging the tremendous Flowing Blade behind him. ¡°Not good!¡± Seeing the scene underwater, the three Captains were horrified and quickly took countermeasures. Yao Gui and Yao Ming launched Glory Light Charges in succession. At this moment, only this Combat Skill had a hope of opposing and disrupting the Fishman Divine Son. Yao Gui and Yao Ming cooperated perfectly. The two of them entered the water together, and a beam of light was cast first. As soon as the Fishman youth dodged it, the second beam of light followed right after. Under normal circumstances, the Fishman youth would at that moment be exhausted and would surely be hit, suffering severe interference, unable to maintain the huge Flowing Blade Skill. But the Fishman youth had anticipated the obstructions he would face. Combat Skill¡ªWave Stepping! This skill, learned from the elderly brown-scaled fisherman, seemed ordinary but gave the Fishman youth a boost of force at a crucial moment, propelling him forward. The light beam still grazed the youth¡¯s shoulder. The immense force caused the Fishman youth¡¯s shoulder to dislocate, and his body involuntarily twisted to another direction. But the youth¡¯s expression remained cold and indifferent, utterly disregarding the excruciating pain from his dislocated shoulder as he used his body and the other good arm to drive the huge Flowing Blade. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Fishman youth made a slight bend beneath the Navy flagship, tracing a dangerous arc. The giant Flowing Blade followed closely, cleaving into the ship¡¯s hull. In an instant, the Flowing Blade sliced open the hull, sparking countless sparks and then cutting through. The ship¡¯s body was made of wood; the sparks were due to its metallic coating on the surface. Clang! Finally, the tip of the massive Flowing Blade protruded from the middle of the warship¡¯s hull, then cut into the picture, slicing a long, sword-shaped scar, with huge white waves splashing out on both sides. An enormous amount of seawater gushed into the ship. The three Captains turned pale, and the Navy aboard the warship were in utter disarray. With its dragon bone severed by the Fishman youth, this Black Iron Level warship was done for! And as the flagship, its gradual sinking would undoubtedly deal a massive blow to the entire naval fleet¡¯s morale. This was the nature of a Transcendent¡¯s war. Despite having demon energy ships, people were still the main component. Even at the same Level, Transcendents were still stronger than alchemy-crafted ships like these, for the former were too flexible. With a sudden assault, they could break through; in contrast, creating a demon energy ship of the same Level involved costs far exceeding those of training a fighter of the same rank. Of course, without demon energy ships, it wouldn¡¯t do either. Especially at sea, Transcendents needed a place to land, rest, and resupply. ¡°We can¡¯t let him continue to act recklessly!¡± ¡°Chase!¡± Witnessing this scene, Yao Wan and Yao Ming roared inwardly. They maintained telepathy among themselves, clearly understanding each other¡¯s thoughts. Yet the Fishman youth ignored the three of them and began to strike another warship. Yao Ming and the others once again launched Glory Light Charge, but were unable to stop the Fishman youth who was dismantling the second warship¡¯s dragon bone, commencing another irreversible sinking. After entering the water, the Fishman youth found himself in a greatly improved situation. Because of the previous deck¡¯s limitation, for the most part, his movements were restricted to a flat plane, at most leaping into the air. He could not fly, so each jump was actually a subtle vulnerability. Now in the sea, he could move in any direction. And at most, the three Captains could execute Glory Light Charge simultaneously with two of them. If he could dodge two beams on the deck, the Fishman youth could certainly do the same in the sea. Don¡¯t forget, he also had the Wave Stepping Skill for emergency use. Moreover, Glory Light Charge moved slower in the water than on the ship. The resistance of air and water was completely different. Soon after, the Fishman youth had taken care of the third warship. By then, the giant Flowing Blade in his hand was mostly spent. The Fishman youth did not invest further in this Skill and simply withdrew it. He reached out to his shoulder and with a snap, he grimaced in pain as he forcibly set his dislocated shoulder back into place. With his hands, he gathered two more Flowing Blades and charged at Yao Ming and the others. Yao Ming relaxed seeing he was no longer targeting their ships and launched another Glory Light Charge. The Fishman youth simply dodged it, his expression cold and his eyes determined, unfazed. The opponent had launched the Skill frequently, and the Fishman youth had taken plenty of hits, making him well acquainted with it. In the sea, he could confirm the direction of the Glory Light Charge even faster. Because the currents would change, giving him the most precise perception. Chapter 370 - 370: Section 157: The Legend is Coming Chapter 370: Section 157: The Legend is Coming The Fishman youth charged through the battle, effortlessly dodging the Glory Light Charges. The three Captains couldn¡¯t help feeling a chill of terror. The fighting talent displayed by the Fishman youth was unbelievable to them, as in such a short time, he had visibly improved. The Glory Light Charges that had previously threatened his life were now being ignored. Just as they had moved the ships to avoid the Python Flow Bombs, the Glory Light Charges were powerful indeed but ultimately futile if they failed to hit the target! The three Captains began to discuss in their minds. ¡°Could we really lose this battle?¡± ¡°The warships on the surface are about to fall!¡± With three Black Iron Level warships already sunk, the morale of the Navy was significantly shaken. Anyone could see that, with four Silver Level fighters clashing in the sea, the enemy managed to calmly sink warships, which naturally indicated that the three Captains were at a disadvantage. ¡°Let¡¯s retreat first! This Fishman Divine Son¡¯s combat ability underwater is far superior to his on deck. We are no match for him, and even the Glory Light Charges can¡¯t do anything to him.¡± All three had the intention to retreat. Before the battle had begun, they had anticipated many scenarios and prepared a variety of retreat strategies. The sailing speed of the Navy warships generally exceeded that of the Justice Pirate Group, giving them the initiative. They could engage or retreat at will. Of course, the Deep Sea Monster Fish¡¯s speed surpassed those of the warships. But for this Golden Level demon energy ship, the three Captains also had a plan: if the Deep Sea Monster Fish mobilised, they would strike the Alchemy Ship from both sides. For now, the Python Flow Bombs and Vortex Bombs posed little threat to the three Captains, who had mastered the combat skill Glory Light Charge. In fact, there were too many important things on the Deep Sea Monster Fish, and to prevent the presence of a Golden Level power on the Navy ships, shortly after the Fishman youth deployed the Deep Sea Monster Fish, he ordered it to sink deeper and continually change positions, firing periodically, to assist the pirate ships on the surface. After a quick exchange in their minds, the three Captains decided to retreat. They gave the order first, then all three together entangled with the Fishman youth. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of retreating?¡± pondered the Fishman youth. He continued to charge at the warships. The decision was reluctant yet wise. As long as they were not lacking in Fighting energy, it was very difficult for the Fishman youth to pose a threat to the three Captains who had mastered the Glory Light Charge. But the warships were a different matter. At most, these warships were of Black Iron Level, and the Fishman youth¡¯s power could rival the Gold, meaning theoretically even Golden Level warships would be vulnerable to his ability to exploit weaknesses. ¡°You still want to strike at our warships?!¡± The three Captains were both shocked and furious. They, of course, could also target the pirate ships like the Fishman youth did. But that wouldn¡¯t be very smart. Firstly, there were Silver Level fighters stationed on the pirate ships. Secondly, even if all the pirate ships on the surface were sunk, the Justice Pirate Group still had one Deep Sea Monster Fish. And dealing directly with the Deep Sea Monster Fish would be even more difficult. The deeper they went to the seafloor, the higher the water pressure the three Captains would face, the speed of the Glory Light Charges would drastically drop, and their Fighting energy would be consumed more rapidly. The Fishman Divine Son was exceptionally powerful in water, holding a tremendous home-field advantage. If the three Captains couldn¡¯t defeat the Golden Level demon energy ship after a prolonged battle, and their Fighting energy was nearly depleted, they¡¯d be easy prey for the enemy. Since the decision to retreat was made, the three Captains did not hesitate and firmly carried out the plan. Derived Combat Skill¡ªFlying Flowing Blade! The Fishman youth frequently threw, launching his Flowing Blades through the water. Almost at the same time, new blades were forming in his hands. Battling in the water, he never lacked for the currents; as long as his Fighting energy was sufficient, and his Spirit up to par, he had an endless Flowing Blade arsenal. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The Flying Blades were thrown, not in a straight line but in eerie curving trajectories through the water. Facing a dozen Flying Blades, the three Captains were momentarily thrown into disarray. ¡°I¡¯ve figured it out, these Flowing Blades travel with the underwater currents. In air, they can only fly straight, but in the water, their flight paths become unpredictable!¡± Yao Gui, while fending off the strikes and boomeranging of the Flying Blades, used telepathy to warn his companions. But the next moment, his two companions were already shouting, ¡°Careful!!¡± Derived Combat Skill¡ªInstant Flow Blade! In the next moment, the Fishman youth vanished from his original position and reappeared at Yao Gui¡¯s former spot. This was the same combat skill that had claimed the life of Kan Qiao, but this time, it was not successful. Yao Gui had already retreated fifty steps away, staring intently at the Fishman youth with residual terror on his face. In the critical moment, alerted by his comrade, he hurriedly used his Alchemy Items` belt launcher to eject himself out of the way. ¡°Indeed, much of my intelligence was leaked in the battle with Kan Qiao. These three have been on guard against my Instant Flow Blade technique all along.¡± The Fishman youth¡¯s strike did not hit, but he was not at all discouraged. Because he knew he had already gained the upper hand. After a deadlock, the situation had gradually changed. The Fishman youth practiced the Light and Thin Fate Fighting Energy, moving through water imposed more pressure than air, thinning his scales faster, but also replenishing his fighting energy more quickly. The captains¡¯ fighting energy was already halved, even with their constant use of potions during the battle. Yet, the Fishman youth¡¯s fighting energy had not decreased but increased, maintaining at 80%. Additionally, his speed had increased significantly, now three times faster than at the beginning of the battle! Though still not as fast as Glory Light Charge, he had already gained enough speed to take the initiative on the battlefield. Yao Ming, Yao Gui, and Yao Wan had to be cautious with their fighting energy consumption, as Glory Light Charge was very draining, and they had to stop quickly after using it. The doubled speed increase of the Fishman youth allowed him to engage the three men more frequently, forcing them to counter with the Glory Light Charge combat skill. This exacerbated their fighting energy consumption. ¡°Damn! His speed is still increasing.¡± ¡°What a monster.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t keep this up; we are likely to lose our lives if we drag this out! Implement that plan, order all warships to scatter and flee!¡± The captains communicated via telepathy, making a decision that pained them deeply. Thus, the naval forces who had been pressing the Justice Pirate Group were ordered to scatter and escape. ¡°We were about to win!¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening? Not only are we ordered to retreat but to scatter and flee?¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If we do this, we¡¯ll suffer heavy losses, attacked furiously by pirate ships, unable to rely on our numerical advantage to hold our position!¡± Receiving this order, the naval forces found it preposterous. Some even suspected it was a false command. But the discipline instilled by their training and loyalty to the Empire made them comply after hesitating for a moment! The warships began to quickly disperse and flee. ¡°This is bad!¡± The Fishman youth¡¯s heart sank¡ªit was the very outcome he least wanted to see. If it weren¡¯t for the scattered retreat, he might have had a chance to annihilate all the warships. But scattered, he could only choose to target some of them. After all, he was just one person. And with the three captains¡¯ interference, the Fishman youth didn¡¯t expect much in terms of results. Even if only one warship escaped the battlefield, the three captains could easily retreat using Glory Light Charge, regroup on a warship, and escape unscathed. ¡°The Imperial Navy is truly elite!¡± The Fishman youth could only lament in his heart for a moment. Whether it was the leaders¡¯ joint attack, tactical choices, or the army¡¯s discipline, all were commendable. The Fishman youth possessed Golden Level battle power but was held back by three Silver Fighters. ¡°After all, I am not yet a true Golden Fighter. The combat skills I possess are not well-rounded!¡± Advancing in life level wasn¡¯t achieved overnight. The Fishman youth was young and had acquired the Fishman Divine Bloodline too recently to have advanced to Golden Level. The selection and mastery of combat skills demanded much time and effort. He had no choice but to attack with all his might against the determined retreat of the Navy, aiming to maximize the damage inflicted. Even in the end, he risked moving the Deep Sea Monster Fish into shallower waters and fired the Golden Cannon at the warships. The Navy suffered heavy losses but still managed to escape with three warships. The three captains shook off the Fishman youth using Glory Light Charge and regrouped on a warship. ¡°We¡¯ve lost too much this time!¡± ¡°If we had known they were going to be this tough, we should have waited for reinforcements.¡± ¡°This might even bring us before a military court; we will be questioned, especially regarding the order to retreat.¡± Their expressions were as dark as water; reaching this point was something none of them had wanted to see. However, at that moment, an order from Navy Headquarters came through directly. Order: Yao Gui, Yao Wan, and Yao Ming¡¯s combined fleet must engage the Justice Pirate Group at all costs! Hold for ten minutes; the Bi Tong fleet will arrive at the battlefield! ¡°What? Admiral Bi Tong himself is coming?¡± ¡°An insignificant pirate group, with the strongest of them only having Golden Battle Power, warrants the personal attention of an admiral?¡± ¡°This¡­ haven¡¯t we analyzed this before? It¡¯s likely that this pirate group has seized some incredible treasure to spur Navy Headquarters into such mobilization!¡± The captains were deeply moved, their eyes glinting with sharp light. They were worried about the inquiry from a military court after such a defeat. But now, an opportunity for redemption was before them. Although they wouldn¡¯t get the credit for single-handedly defeating the Justice Pirate Group, they could still tag along behind Admiral Bi Tong. They indeed lacked the ability to take down the pirate group alone. Avoiding interrogation and gaining some achievements in battle were already significant positives for the captains. ¡°Counterattack!¡± ¡°Full-scale counterattack!!¡± ¡°With strong Navy reinforcements, if we hold this pirate group, we can secure the final victory!!¡± Under the command of the three captains, the scattered warships regrouped and charged at the Justice Pirate Group once more. Chapter 371 - 371: Section 158: Panicking! Chapter 371: Section 158: Panicking! Seeing the Navy return, most of the pirates shouted excitedly, while a few clear-headed members turned pale with fear. The Fishman Divine Son¡¯s pupils shrank as he saw the three Captains surround him with aggressive momentum, and a strong sense of urgency and danger suddenly surged in his heart. ¡°This situation¡­¡± ¡°The Navy reinforcements should be close!¡± ¡°Tower Spirit!¡± Zi Di immediately called to the Deep Sea Monster Fish, which was equipped with superior performance detection devices. Since the Tower Spirit had been repaired with an alchemy scroll, it had become much more sensitive, and it instantly responded that it had not detected any fleets approaching. ¡°It seems we should still have some time. However, we must not let our guard down.¡± ¡°Not detecting them could also mean the enemy has more powerful concealment methods.¡± ¡°In any case, we must hurry to retreat!¡± This was not only Zi Di¡¯s thought but also the consensus among the Fishman youth, Cang Xu, and Qiu. Meanwhile, in another area of the sea. Led by the Twin Swords, the ship sped across the ocean surface. Behind it was a huge joint fleet composed of hundreds of Navy warships. On the Twin Swords, Earl Wei Sheng stared at the Sea Chart, with a Magic Communication Device placed next to his left hand. The Sea Chart was an Alchemy Item, emanating a Gold Level aura. In the center of the Sea Chart, the symbols representing the Justice Pirate Group and the coalition of Yao Gui, Yao Ming, and Yao Wan nearly overlapped. Wei Sheng frowned as he looked at these two symbols for a while, then shifted his gaze to the top left corner of the map. There, a particularly brilliant fleet marker, one-third larger than the normal ones, represented Admiral Bi Tong¡¯s fleet, rapidly approaching the battlefield of the Justice Pirate Group and the Yao royal family. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°According to this speed, Admiral Bi Tong should arrive at the battlefield in about ten minutes.¡± ¡°Even if Mei Lan truly awakens, Admiral Bi Tong will be in an unbeatable position!¡± The Justice Pirate Group had fled until now; various intelligence had been gathered, and after analysis by experts, Wei Sheng had a relatively accurate assessment of the Justice Pirate Group¡¯s strength. At this moment, as he looked at the active sea chart, his heart was filled with confidence. Puchi! A light sound, and Yao Wan¡¯s chest suddenly burst with a spray of blood, blooming like a flourishing flower under the turbulent wash of seawater. ¡°Retreat!¡± ¡°Fishman Divine Son, your opponent is me!!¡± Yao Ming and Yao Gui quickly provided support. The Fishman youth sneered and retreated swiftly. In the sea, he moved as if he were in his homeland, and any slight current could become his aid. Yao Wan received timely support and quickly turned over onto the ship, pouring potions into his mouth, and using topical alchemical pastes on his wound. ¡°Damn it!¡± Yao Wan¡¯s face turned pale with pain, sweat beading on his forehead. The wound was not light. Crucially, the effectiveness of the potions was diminishing. He had used them several times already in battle, and with frequent use, their efficacy gradually decreased. The pain from the wound filled Yao Wan with anger. His morale, fueled by rage, remained at a high level. ¡°Keep him busy!¡± ¡°He¡¯s getting desperate; the Fishman Divine Son has already started to fight for his life.¡± ¡°We only need to hold him off, endure, and we can win!!¡± Yao Wan, using telepathy, continuously called out in the minds of his fellows. Moments later. Yao Gui was hit like a bomb, slamming into the ship and breaking through one side of the hull. He struggled to stand, his body suddenly staggering, his vision darkened, and he almost fell on the shattered deck. ¡°I¡¯ve truly reached my limit!¡± ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Admiral Bi Tong arrived? It¡¯s already been ten minutes!¡± Yao Gui was furious and full of doubts. The same doubt was also in the heart of Wei Sheng, the temporary Commander of the Navy. ¡°Admiral Bi Tong has not yet reached the battlefield? The military situation is urgent; send a message to inquire immediately!¡± Wei Sheng suppressed his rage, thinking, ¡°Could it be that something unexpected happened on the way?¡± Bi Tong replied promptly: ¡°On the way.¡± Wei Sheng was startled, his hand pressing the Magic Communication Device, his speech urgent: ¡°According to your fleet¡¯s speed, you should have arrived by now!¡± Bi Tong replied immediately: ¡°On the way.¡± Wei Sheng¡¯s forehead veins bulged, he clenched his teeth, and ordered again, ¡°This is Navy Headquarters, commanding your fleet to rush to the battlefield at full speed. Our fleet is fighting desperately, entangling the enemy, and stalling for time.¡± Bi Tong replied again: ¡°Order received, on the way.¡± Battlefield. Yao Ming and the others received a response from Navy Headquarters: ¡°Bi Tong¡¯s fleet is on the way; hold the enemy pirates at all costs!¡± ¡°The Fishman Divine Son is desperate, he¡¯s panicking, he was simply fighting for his life just now.¡± ¡°I will fight too!¡± Yao Gui took out a syringe filled with a crimson potion. It was an Advanced Bloodthirst Potion, exuding a Gold aura. Its effects were much more potent than regular Bloodthirst Potions, but the side effects were also significantly severe. After use, one would definitely have to stay in bed for three months. This was the case even with treatment from Divine Arts. Yao Gui gritted his teeth and injected it into his arm. Whew! The next moment, he exhaled heavily, his eyes bloodshot, his body expanding outward by three parts. His mind was foggy, but with telepathy, the other two could still assist him. Yao Gui shouted and charged at the Fishman Divine Son. They clashed once again. ¡°Such a nuisance¡­¡± The Fishman youth tried to retreat repeatedly but was held back each time. Moments later. Yao Ming screamed in agony. His entire left arm was severed by the Fishman youth¡¯s Flowing Blade, a serious blow. ¡°Where the hell is the Bi Tong fleet?!¡± Supported by the others and fighting tremulously with the Fishman youth, Yao Ming got a rare chance to breathe and yelled at the Magic Communication Device. Wei Sheng was also yelling at the device, ¡°Bi Tong, why are you still on the way, why haven¡¯t you arrived at the battlefield?!¡± Bi Tong¡¯s response was brief: ¡°On the way.¡± Wei Sheng erupted with fury, ¡°I am the temporary Commander of the Navy, Wei Sheng, let Admiral Bi Tong speak with me directly!¡± Bi Tong¡¯s unhurried voice soon came through, ¡°This is Bi Tong, Earl Wei Sheng, what is the matter?¡± Wei Sheng¡¯s teeth chattered with anger, veins throbbing on his forehead, ¡°Admiral Bi Tong, what is the reason for your fleet¡¯s delay, not fighting?¡± Bi Tong¡¯s side fell silent. ¡°Commander Bi Tong!!!¡± ¡°Huh? Earl Wei Sheng, what is it? I was just digging out some earwax, didn¡¯t catch what you said. Could you please repeat that?¡± In an instant, Wei Sheng¡¯s anger flared, his eyes bulged furiously, his fighting energy surged wildly, blowing the sea chart away and rattling the window grilles. He gritted his teeth, holding back his anger, ¡°Commander Bi Tong, may I ask where your forces are headed, and when will you arrive at the battlefield?¡± Bi Tong answered, ¡°Oh, we¡¯re currently on our way.¡± Wei Sheng¡¯s head buzzed with rage, his anger boiling over. He was about to roar angrily, blasting Bi Tong for his conduct. But the next moment, with a snap, Bi Tong disconnected the Magic Communication Device. Wei Sheng: ¡°I¡­¡± On the battlefield. ¡°Reinforcements, reinforcements are almost here!¡± ¡°Admiral Wei Sheng of the Imperial Navy is personally contacting me!¡± ¡°Gentlemen, our fate hangs in the balance. We¡¯ve fought to this point; retreating is meaningless now.¡± ¡°Attack!¡± Yao Ming, Yao Wan, and Yao Gui cheered each other on, supporting each other, gritting their teeth as they engaged in combat once more with the Fishman youth. The Fishman youth also fought with all his might, feeling increasingly pressured as time went on. The Imperial Navy reinforcements could arrive at the battlefield at any moment. ¡°Looking at these three, they must have great faith in the reinforcements, convinced that they will be able to deal with me!¡± ¡°The Navy must have gathered information on the Sky Pillar Sea Eye; they know there¡¯s a god hiding here!¡± ¡°If so, they¡¯re fighting with all they¡¯ve got. This means their reinforcements must be at least of Legendary Level!¡± ¡°Kill!!!¡± Under immense pressure, the Fishman youth pushed his potential to the limits, his combat power still rising! ¡°His speed is getting faster!¡± ¡°Damn it, if we don¡¯t use the Glory Light Charge, we can¡¯t keep up with his speed.¡± ¡°We should fight on the ship, underwater combat is his home field!¡± The three Captains returned to the warship. The Fishman youth immediately followed, clashing with the three once again on the deck of the warship. But this time, unlike the beginning of the battle, the youth firmly held the upper hand, driving the three Captains into a pitiable state. ¡°Quick, call for reinforcements!¡± ¡°Where are our reinforcements, Commander Bi Tong?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t hold on any longer, only one in ten of our loyal Navy soldiers remains!! We¡¯ve only got one ship left, where are the promised reinforcements, Navy Headquarters!!!¡± Yao Ming, Yao Wan, and Yao Gui, while struggling to hold on, frantically called for help. Aboard the Double Swords. Wei Sheng¡¯s face flushed with extreme rage. He told the three Captains to ¡°hold on for victory,¡± all the while urging Commander Bi Tong. But the responses from Bi Tong were always the same¡ªon the way. Finally, a turning point came on the battlefield. Magic¡ªBlinding Technique! Zi Di used scrolls, casting spells repeatedly to aid the Fishman youth and try to weaken the three Captains. After several failures, she finally succeeded once. Yao Wan¡¯s vision turned pitch black, he could see nothing. The other two were in the midst of unleashing Glory Light Charges and without his help, they couldn¡¯t stop! Yao Wan frantically retreated, following the route he remembered. But it was too late! The Fishman youth¡¯s body, with its thin scales like paper, moved with unbelievable speed. He swung his Flowing Blade, splitting Yao Wan¡¯s head in two. With Yao Wan¡¯s death, the other two turned into beams of light, already soaring out of the battlefield. ¡°Should we pursue?¡± Zi Di asked. The Fishman youth was about to shake his head when he saw the two men suddenly revert to human form, plummeting into the water. After battling till now, the Fishman youth¡¯s fighting energy had dropped to 20%. Leaving Yao Wan out of it, the fighting energy of the other two had finally run out. ¡°Kill them!¡± No sooner had the Fishman youth given the order than arrows from Chou claimed the lives of the two men. As for the other Navy forces, they had been wiped out earlier by the combined efforts of Zi Di, Chou, and Di Lou, even before the three Captains fell. That was why Zi Di was able to free herself up to aid the Fishman youth. ¡°Quickly, let¡¯s withdraw!¡± Without even caring to clean up the battlefield, the Fishman youth led the Justice Pirate Group away swiftly. Aboard the Double Swords. Wei Sheng, no matter how he called, could not get in touch with Yao Ming, Yao Wan, and Yao Gui. He hung his head low, looking at the floor by his feet, his face shrouded in darkness, silent as death. After a long while, he turned on the Magic Communication Device again. Bi Tong¡¯s reply changed: ¡°We¡¯ve reached the battlefield.¡± Wei Sheng was stunned for a moment before he reacted: ¡°You¡¯ve finally arrived? Have you found the Justice Pirate Group?¡± Bi Tong replied, ¡°Our fleet has arrived at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, above the Undersea City, and have not found the Justice Pirate Group.¡± Wei Sheng raged: ¡°Didn¡¯t I order you to head to a specific area of the sea? What are you doing at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye?!¡± Snap. Bi Tong cut off the Communication Device directly. He looked down at the sea surface, a cold smile on his face: ¡°Of course, it¡¯s for the Divine Son Mei Lan¡¯s seat of a god!¡± ¡°Is the body of Divine Son Mei Lan truly on the pirate ship? Not necessarily! Don¡¯t you see that the Barabarion legend has been lingering around here the whole time.¡± ¡°Even if the body of Mei Lan is not here, at least the god¡¯s seat is definitely here.¡± ¡°Wei Sheng, you mere Earl, think you can command me?¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Aboard the Double Swords. ¡°Aaaah!¡± Wei Sheng, overcome with fury, grabbed the Magic Communication Device, raised it high, and then ferociously smashed it on the floor. The Magic Communication Device shattered. ¡°Personal greed over military orders, extreme arrogance and disrespect, too much, too much!¡± ¡°Bi Tong, I will find a way to deal with you, with you¡­¡± ¡°Damn it!!!¡± The more Wei Sheng thought, the angrier he got. Bi Tong, as a Legendary fighter, was immune even to the military courts. It would take someone of equal standing or a higher god to deal with Bi Tong. But, with the imminent war between the Human Race and the Beast Race, Bi Tong, as one of the Empire¡¯s most powerful naval forces, held immense value. The Empire wouldn¡¯t sanction itself before the war, losing a Legendary warrior. Chapter 372 - 372: Section 159: Fishing Marshal Chapter 372: Section 159: Fishing Marshal White clouds drifted leisurely across the sky. The pale blue of the sky and the deep blue of the sea reflected each other interestingly. On the edge of the cliff, a gentle breeze caressed Yan Tan¡¯s face as he sat on a stone stool, listening to the cries of the sea birds while eating slices of raw fish. It seemed the fish had just been sliced, fresh and delicious, filling a large bowl set on a stone round table. Next to the raw fish, there was a small bowl. The bowl was full of fine salt, white as snowflakes. With a mental command, Yan Tan lifted a slice of raw fish to float over to the salt bowl, dipped it thoroughly on both sides, then floated it to his mouth. Yan Tan opened his mouth, swallowing the raw fish and after chewing continuously, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed once before he swallowed it with one gulp. ¡°Ah¡­¡± He let out a sound of enjoyment, his voice and half-closed eyes expressing intense satisfaction. At that moment, a Teleportation Gate opened, and a seagull flew out, landing on Yan Tan¡¯s shoulder. It was holding a military report in its beak. Yan Tan took the report and, astonishingly, the seagull spoke with human speech, ¡°Old man, this is what you wanted; flying so far has worn me out.¡± Yan Tan, as the Navy Marshal, was over a hundred years old, with white hair and deep wrinkles. ¡°Eh? This is Time Fish meat! My god, how did you catch it?¡± The seagull glanced at the sliced fish on the stone table, its eyes widening in recognition, and it exclaimed in a low voice. ¡°Of course I fished it up. You know this is a renowned fishing Holy Land, heh heh.¡± Yan Tan chuckled, giving the fishing rod by his foot a little kick. There were two fishing rods, their tips stuck into the ground, their tips arching upward. Both rods were made of very ordinary material and looked to be hastily crafted from tree trunks by Yan Tan, nothing special to mention. However, at the tip of a rod in front of Yan Tan, there was a line. The line was very delicate and long, reaching down into the deep sea. The seagull looked at the line closely and its face showed shock. It discovered the line wasn¡¯t physical but condensed from Yan Tan¡¯s Fighting Energy. Because the energy was condensed so densely, it gave the illusion of being a solid object. The most shocking was that this thread of Fighting Energy was not only concentrated but also very stable and its presence so effectively retracted it seemed like an ordinary object. The line was very long; Yan Tan was sitting at the edge of a steep cliff wall. The line dropped from the top of the cliff and went deep into the sea, at least over two hundred meters in length. ¡°Old man, you really are amazing,¡± the seagull said, increasingly astonished, ¡°Is it with this Fighting Energy line that you caught the Time Fish?¡± ¡°To think you are a legend among fighters, no, even ordinary Legendary fighters couldn¡¯t achieve this.¡± ¡°Hahaha,¡± laughed Yan Tan heartily, ¡°After all, I am the Navy Marshal.¡± The seagull snickered with sarcasm, ¡°You remember your title, huh? Always gallivanting around leaving a pile of matters to that Wei Sheng kid. Heh, now look at the trouble, the Charming Blue Divine Sect is not dead and the Justice Pirate Group is still on the run. That Wei Sheng kid must be at his wit¡¯s end now.¡± The seagull lacked respect and even seemed to be deriving some pleasure from the mishap. It flapped its wings and hopped from Yan Tan¡¯s shoulder onto the stone table, beginning to peck at the raw fish. ¡°Delicious, oh my, truly delicious!¡± The seagull couldn¡¯t stop praising the taste of the raw fish. ¡°Try it with a touch of my salt; it will be even tastier,¡± said Yan Tan with a beaming smile. Hesitating, the seagull picked up a slice of raw fish, dipped a little bit of the fine salt, and swallowed it. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The next moment, it started to retch, its bird face contorting completely. ¡°It¡¯s so salty! I¡¯m almost choked to death!!!¡± ¡°Water, water, I need water!¡± Regardless of the seagull flapping about next to him, Yan Tan leisurely began to read the military report in his hand. ¡°Oh? Bi Tong did not accept the military order and went directly to the Sky Pillar Sea Eye.¡± ¡°He did it on purpose.¡± ¡°Poor Wei Sheng is taking the punishment for me. Bi Tong just wants to embarrass me, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Bi Tong was a legend just like Yan Tan, showing no regard for even the Navy Marshal himself, let alone Wei Sheng. Yan Tan seemed quite accustomed to this, unfazed and untroubled. He continued reading. The next part was an analysis and the latest intelligence on the Justice Pirate Group. The spy agency¡¯s analysis stated, ¡°On the surface, the Justice Pirate Group is a human pirate organization, but in reality, they are likely a pawn supported by the Charming Blue Divine Sect. Their main goal is to hide their identity and infiltrate human forces. As far as we know, they have already extended their influence deep into the Empire¡¯s spy networks, have a close alliance with the third in command of Firebeard Pirates, and have even gained the favor and financial backing from one of the bishops of the Life Sect.¡± As to why their names haven¡¯t appeared on the stone tablets in the pirate city, the report also gave an analysis: it is likely due to Charming Blue Divine Sect¡¯s disguise, deception of Divine Authority, Divine Office. Charming Blue Divine once deceived the Holy Emperor and several other imperial deities, preserving his own life; naturally, it would be easier to deceive the pirate throne. Of course, the report also included the latest escape route of the Justice Pirate Group, as well as the details of them slaying General Kan Qiao and the three silver-level captains Yao Gui, Yao Ming, and Yao Wan. ¡°It¡¯s really too tasty!¡± The seagull sprawled on the stone table, one wing propping up its body, the other covering its now noticeably larger belly. ¡°Hey, old man, aren¡¯t you going to help that Wei Sheng kid?¡± ¡°He¡¯s now the butt of many jokes,¡± a voice said. ¡°I have a premonition that catching the Justice Pirate Group won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°I heard that he smashed a Magic Communication Device on the spot after being toyed with by Bi Tong. After his subordinates brought a new Magic Device, he went crazy looking for you everywhere,¡± the Sea Bird said as it caressed its swollen, snow-white belly with its wings. ¡°Hmm¡­ Is that so?¡± Thinking of the infuriated Wei Sheng, Yan Tan couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of a headache. ¡°Let me think.¡± Just then, his eyes gleamed slightly, and he suddenly kicked the fishing rod at his feet. The rod jolted, and the fishing line shot up, at the end of which dangled a fat sea fish. ¡°A Time Fish!¡± the Sea Bird exclaimed. Suspended in mid-air, the Time Fish emanated a rich Holy Domain aura, and its body scales began to shimmer. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Sea Bird¡¯s face fell. ¡°That¡¯s it, it¡¯s going to escape!¡± ¡°It won¡¯t escape,¡± Yan Tan chuckled. The next moment, the Time Fish suddenly froze in place like a sculpture. Then, it was completely disassembled; its scales, bones, and innards each piled separately, while its meat was neatly stripped away. Yan Tan¡¯s chest gleamed with the light from a space necklace; all parts of the fish except for the meat disappeared into thin air, with only the meat dropping into an empty bowl. As it landed in the bowl, the fish meat was finely sliced into pieces as thin as cicada wings. The Sea Bird was stunned, speechless for a long time. Yan Tan¡¯s use of fighting energy was simply magical! To the Sea Bird, it seemed as if Yan Tan had only used the fishing line, and it hadn¡¯t noticed any use of fighting energy elsewhere. The whole process looked as if the Time Fish had filleted itself, turning its flesh into slices of sashimi. With a thought from Yan Tan, the freshest slices of fish floated up and, after being covered in fine salt, were again popped into Yan Tan¡¯s mouth. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s the life,¡± murmured Yan Tan contentedly. The Sea Bird shivered, recalling the previous abnormal salty taste. It quickly propped itself up and began to eagerly devour the sashimi. But after two or three pieces, it couldn¡¯t eat anymore. The meat of a Holy Domain Level Magic Beast, brimming with magic power, pushed the Sea Bird to its digestive limits. All it could do was watch the delicious food sit untouched before it. With tears in its eyes, the Sea Bird watched Yan Tan consume over a dozen slices and then suddenly remembered, ¡°Where were we in our conversation? Oh right, that young fellow Wei Sheng. You gotta help him out, old man.¡± ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Yan Tan replied as he wiped his mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s start with some investigation. As far as I see, the Justice Pirate Group is quite mysterious, and much of the information about them is still unclear.¡± ¡°Like Hao Fu, the bishop of the Life Sect, he should know more.¡± ¡°Also, the Justice Pirate Group set up Alchemy Bombs in Dun Dao City, and for their midnight infiltration, they used the channels of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce. This guild needs a more thorough investigation.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll issue the orders. You can head back with peace of mind.¡± The Sea Bird was stunned for a moment, then blurted out, ¡°That¡¯s it? I mean, old man, why don¡¯t you just send a team and deal with the Justice Pirate Group directly?¡± ¡°Wei Sheng now represents you. Bi Tong humiliating Wei Sheng is like losing face for you!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to do something about Bi Tong?¡± Yan Tan smiled, ¡°Do I have any face to lose? I¡¯m just a lucky fellow who happened to earn the title of Marshal.¡± ¡°As for Bi Tong, he may not achieve his wish after all.¡± Saying so, he waved his hand lightly. Without a hint of fighting energy, the Sea Bird was blown away. The Teleportation Gate behind it opened suddenly, swallowing the Sea Bird before disappearing. Yan Tan continued to sit on the stone stool, enjoying the scenery and eating sashimi. Soon, footsteps approached from behind Yan Tan. Without turning around, Yan Tan greeted, ¡°Ah, my old friend, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± The newcomer settled onto another stone stool. ¡°Humph, you do have a taste for the finer things, don¡¯t you?¡± Picking up a few slices of fish with his thick fingers, he spoke. Yan Tan pushed the bowl of salt closer, ¡°It tastes better with a bit of salt.¡± But the newcomer shook his head, ¡°Your tastes have always been unique. But I don¡¯t share your strong palate.¡± His gaze then sharpened slightly. He noticed the military report on the stone table. Yan Tan, indifferent, had thrown the report on the surface, wide open. Gazing at the beautiful seascape with a soft smile, Yan Tan invited, ¡°Join me for fishing? I¡¯ve prepared a rod for you. Shall we have a competition?¡± The visitor looked at the crude fishing rod in front of him with no line on the end of it. He laughed heartily, ¡°Always with your tricks!¡± ¡°Which time haven¡¯t you lost?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you lost enough yet?¡± With a confident and meaningful air, Yan Tan took a bite of the salt-dipped sashimi, ¡°Old friend, this time I have a feeling I¡¯m going to win.¡± Chapter 373 - 373: Section 160: The Legendary Battle, Zhao Ya vs Bi Tong Chapter 373: Section 160: The Legendary Battle, Zhao Ya vs Bi Tong Man Zhuang walked into the hold. It had been transformed into a temporary prison, detaining many people. Upon seeing Man Zhuang appear, these people immediately became restless, rushing to the sides of their cages. Man Zhuang, dragging a coarse burlap sack, now reached into the bag and pulled out dried chunks of meat. He tossed these chunks of meat into the cages through the gaps in the bars, and the prisoners scrambled to snatch them up in an instant. ¡°Give me some, please give me a piece of meat.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been starving for a week, if I don¡¯t eat, I¡¯ll die.¡± ¡°Then die.¡± Man Zhuang¡¯s expression was indifferent, ¡°Those who can¡¯t even fight for food don¡¯t deserve to be slaves of my Barbarian tribe.¡± The Barbarian tribe thrived in the harsh environment of the Frost Continent, venerating bravery and resilience. In their demanding struggle for existence, they inherently believed in the creed of survival of the fittest, the weak perishing. Man Zhuang moved to the deepest part of the hold, throwing several pieces of dried meat into a particular cage. There were only two prisoners in this cage. Yet, the amount of meat Man Zhuang threw in was considerably more than enough for the two of them to satisfy their hunger. ¡°Is it time to eat again?¡± A voice emerged from the shadows. During the battle at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, he hadn¡¯t managed to board the Deep Sea Monster Fish and was captured by the Barbarians. Ashen and placid, though trapped in a cage, he had weathered many hardships, commanded a ship for years, and struggled against the sea, which endowed him with a broad-minded nature. The Rat-man swordsman picked up the dried meat, divided it in half, and handed it to his fellow prisoner: ¡°Third Boss, time for meat.¡± The inmate was none other than the bard, Feng Yao. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze silent. As he sat up and ate the dried meat, he suddenly began to cry, ¡°Wuu wuu, my Goddess, I am getting farther and farther away from Her¡­¡± Man Zhuang let out a cold snort, showing disdain for the weeping Feng Yao. Feng Yao didn¡¯t care about Man Zhuang¡¯s attitude and challenged him, ¡°Are you not going to release us? Aren¡¯t you afraid my boss will come to settle the score with you?¡± ¡°By now, so many days have passed, and so many people have escaped then; information about this place must¡¯ve reached my boss.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better release us now, or when my boss comes, it won¡¯t be so easy to settle!¡± ¡°Firebeard¡­ huh, I¡¯ve already heard of his notoriety.¡± Man Zhuang scoffed with contempt, ¡°But¡­ with a lousy subordinate like you, he¡¯s probably not that great.¡± ¡°Hey, Firebeard is my boss; I¡¯m not his subordinate, I¡¯m his brother!¡± Feng Yao shook his head, his expression turning serious. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ashen supported from the side, ¡°Once the Boss knows what¡¯s happening, he¡¯ll surely come.¡± Man Zhuang laughed heartily: ¡°Then let¡¯s wait for him!¡± With that, the Barbarian Holy Domain warrior walked away leisurely. The structure of the Barbarian ship was relatively simple; the ship Man Zhuang boarded had only three decks. As he stepped onto the open deck, the smile on his face had vanished, replaced by solemnity and a hint of anxiety. He looked up at the sky. High above, a divine throne floated. The throne, shaped like a shell, was none other than the Mei Lan throne. However, different from before, the High Priest who once occupied the throne had been thoroughly disintegrated. Now seated upon it was a Barbarian fighter with a crow mask, grey-whiskered, hair frosted at the temples, and long black hair tied in a high ponytail. His eyes were closed, sitting cross-legged on the Mei Lan throne, with the Legendary-level Life Breath fluttering between strong and weak. On his left hand, there was a claw glove with distinctive features¡ªalso Legendary-level equipment. It was the Barbarian Legend, the Cold Sky Splitter, Zhao Ya. In the previous grand battle, the High Priest controlling the deity¡¯s throne and the incarnated deity had entangled Zhao Ya together. But when Zhao Ya emerged as the final victor, the Justice Pirate Group had already fled without a trace. Just as the Mei Lan¡¯s throne seemed about to fly away, Zhao Ya immediately sat on it to suppress it. After receiving treatment, Man Zhuang coordinated with Zhao Ya to capture all the enemies who had failed to escape in time. Zhao Ya, while maintaining the Subspace, also immersed himself in the mysteries contained within Mei Lan¡¯s throne. This was a secret about the deities! As a Legendary fighter, Zhao Ya, when faced with higher powers, was filled with envy and a desire to explore. Of course, he had another set of public reasons, ¡°Mei Lan deity has already fled far away, we have no means to track him. But He left behind the Mei Lan throne, if I can comprehend some of its mysteries, it¡¯s very possible that I could discover the location of Mei Lan deity and thus track Him down.¡± Man Zhuang had no choice but to agree with him. Under Zhao Ya¡¯s manipulation, the Subspace had begun to close up. Without Zhao Ya¡¯s permission, even if Man Zhuang was determined, he could not break through this Subspace to return to the Main World. ¡°Lord Zhao Ya, it¡¯s about time. We have been here for many days, and the information about this place must have spread widely in the outside world. We better retreat first!¡± Man Zhuang looked up at the throne above and shouted loudly. Zhao Ya slightly opened his eyes, caressing the shell-like throne he sat upon, and admired from his heart, ¡°This is indeed a deity¡¯s throne; in just these days, I have benefited immensely. The deities are aloof with good reason.¡± He looked down at Man Zhuang and said calmly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Although the Holy Bright Empire is overwhelmingly powerful, each deity has to occupy their place, and They have always formed confrontations in their Domains and with deities of other races. They cannot mobilize in a short time.¡± ¡°I have absorbed the mystery of the deity and improved this Combat Skill, the Subspace is now more concealed and at the same time more robust.¡± ¡°So even Legendary mages would find it difficult to break through here in a short time.¡± ¡°We have ample reaction time.¡± ¡°Just a few more days, and I should be able to barely suppress this throne and bring it back to the Frost Road.¡± Zhao Ya was full of confidence. But at that moment, a figure burst through the space wall, into the Subspace. This person was short and stout with slight eyebrows and small eyes, but what drew the most attention was a pair of exceptionally large nostrils. He wore the uniform of a Navy admiral, his Legendary aura spreading vigorously all around. ¡°Admiral¡ªBi Tong!¡± Zhao Ya¡¯s face changed as he sternly identified the comer. Bi Tong quickly surveyed the entire Subspace, then turned his gaze to Zhao Ya, and finally focused on the Mei Lan¡¯s throne. ¡°Haha, your Subspace is nothing in my eyes. Zhao Ya, hand over the Mei Lan¡¯s throne,¡± Bi Tong said directly. Zhao Ya snorted coldly, ¡°You wish!¡± Man Zhuang then yelled from the Barbarian Warship, ¡°Quick, row the boat, get away from this battlefield.¡± In a clash of Legends, Man Zhuang might be able to take part, but this Barbarian Warship and everyone on board would suffer. Oars quickly extended from both sides of the Barbarian Warship, Zhao Ya let out a low shout, directing his Fighting Energy at Bi Tong. The Cold Shadow giant emerged, raising a fist like a Siege Hammer, smashing towards Bi Tong. The giant fist whipped up a gale, blowing Bi Tong¡¯s hair backward, the cape on his body fluttering loudly. ¡°Interesting,¡± Bi Tong smiled slightly, slowly reaching his hand backward. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next moment, the muscles in his single arm bulged as if swelling up. He looked like he was pulling some massive object, a strained look crossing his face. ¡°The ship is coming!¡± In the next moment, his Fighting Energy erupted, instantly forming a Teleportation Gate, and with a single arm, he pulled out his own Holy Domain Level warship, the Impact Needle. Boom¡ª! The huge ship collided with the Cold Shadow giant, emitting a deafening roar. The Cold Shadow giant was entirely shattered, while the Impact Needle remained undamaged as it continued its assault towards Zhao Ya on the throne. Chapter 374 - 374: Section 161: Factional Strife Chapter 374: Section 161: Factional Strife White Wings Port. A team of Empire spies surrounded the entrance of the Life Sect temple, attracting onlookers. The new member of the spy team had waited half a day without seeing anyone coming out to greet them, and spoke impatiently and discontentedly, ¡°Boss, are we just going to stand here? I feel like I¡¯m being gawked at like a rare animal.¡± The boss did not respond but stood rigid like a flagpole, eyes fixed on the temple¡¯s main door. The new member suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we just barge in?¡± The temple door had always been wide open, with no obstacles in the way. ¡°Shut up, fool,¡± an experienced member of the spy team finally could not help but rebuke in a low voice, ¡°Who do you think you are? The person inside is a bishop of the Life Sect!¡± The new member paused, ¡°But we are spies of the Empire. We are here on a mission to investigate foreign divine beings! Even if he¡¯s a bishop, would he dare to stop us?¡± ¡°No,¡± the experienced member sneered, ¡°The spy agency has significant power, and this mission is extremely important. Not just the bishop¡ªeven an Archbishop would fully cooperate. By your method, we would quickly complete our mission. But then what?¡± ¡°We would provoke a formidable enemy, and incur the disfavor or even malice of a Golden Bishop.¡± ¡°What level is your Bloodline? Is it strong? Can you become a Golden Level being in the future?¡± ¡°Even if you completed this mission, would the merit you gain suffice to promote you to a position where you could contend with a Golden Bishop?¡± The face of the new member grew increasingly pale, yet he still felt indignant, ¡°If I had a Golden Level descent, why would I have joined forces with these extreme spies? But if we are afraid of offending the Golden Bishop, what about the mission? We can¡¯t complete it, and those above us won¡¯t spare us!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we are blocking the entrance, fool,¡± the experienced member explained. The new member was startled when finally, the spy chief spoke indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they will come out to welcome us in.¡± Just as he said that, a nun nanny walked out, her face full of disgust and impatience, ¡°Come in quickly, the bishop has agreed to see you. Don¡¯t just stand at the entrance of the great hall, what do you look like!¡± The new member breathed a sigh of relief, following the others into the temple under the lead of the spy chief. The Life Temple was majestic, entirely constructed from dark jade, exuding dignity but also a secretive vitality. Both the exterior and interior of the temple were lush with trees and filled with bird songs and floral scents. Walking among them, one could feel a mood of joy. When they arrived at the reception room, a priest guarding the door stopped almost everyone from the spy team, ¡°Gentlemen of the spy, the bishop will only meet one person.¡± Thus, only the spy chief truly entered the reception room. The reception room was located in the greenhouse inside the temple. It was surrounded by large floor-to-ceiling glass, allowing a clear view of the lush green vegetation, vibrant flowers, colorful parrots, golden monkeys, and more. The reception room featured a sofa and a milky-white coffee table, which was empty. Bishop Hao Fu stood in front of the window, gazing out at the view, with his back to the spy chief. When he heard the spy chief approaching, he slowly turned around. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The spy chief immediately took the initiative to salute, greeted Bishop Hao Fu, and stated their purpose, ¡°Honored Bishop, you must already be aware of our intent.¡± Bishop Hao Fu nodded, ¡°I have already spoken about the matter concerning the Justice Pirate Group, haven¡¯t I?¡± The spy chief nodded, ¡°Indeed, but there are still many doubts. For instance, Bishop, you had once covertly funded this pirate group. The reason you gave at the time was in return for a life-saving grace.¡± ¡°However, according to a confirmation from the Divination Master afterwards, this reason was invalid.¡± ¡°You had previously performed a Resurrection Technique, having already resurrected members of the Justice Pirate Group who died in battle. The debt of saving a life should have been repaid.¡± Bishop Hao Fu scoffed, ¡°Divination Master? You should know that their predictions can fail every now and then.¡± The spy chief nodded again, smiling, his attitude had been quite positive since entering the temple, ¡°Indeed, Bishop, you are absolutely right.¡± ¡°However, I came back to reassess mainly because of an order from Navy Marshal Yan Tan himself.¡± ¡°His thoughts are not for us to guess, but he must have his reasons for doing so.¡± Bishop Hao Fu pondered silently. The reception room sank into silence. After a long while, the chief spoke again, ¡°Honored Bishop, please forgive my audacity. To you, we pose no threat. Look, I am merely a silver.¡± ¡°But what about the future where you kept the secret?¡± ¡°Because this matter concerns foreign divine beings, our small spy team might be easily dismissed by you, but if it draws in people from the Blood Light Sanction Court, it would be troublesome for you too, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Blood Light Sanction Court¡­¡± Hao Fu Bishop furrowed his brows, then gave a bitter smile, ¡°It¡¯s more than just trouble, I definitely don¡¯t want to provoke that bunch of crazies. You are a competent spy, aren¡¯t bothered that I left you hanging at the entrance of the great hall for so long, are you?¡± The spy chief smiled softly and bowed again, ¡°Bishop, you must maintain the dignity of the Life Sect. On this point, it¡¯s rather my honor.¡± Hao Fu Bishop sighed, gestured with his hand for the spy chief to sit down. The spy chief remained standing until the bishop sat down, then he finally took a seat on the sofa, adopting a posture of attentive listening. Hao Fu Bishop thought for a moment, then spoke, ¡°The real reason I sponsored that pirate group is actually quite simple. I possess a Divine Art that allows me to discern Bloodline Grades, and through my interaction, I found that Captain Long Fu has a Legendary Level Flame Dragon Bloodline. Not only that, one of the half-giants on their ship possesses a Divine Bloodline like that of an Earth Giant.¡± ¡°I tried to recruit them, but Captain Long Fu rejected me. Now it seems that I may have been deceived. After all, Charming Blue Divine Sect is best at deception and disguise.¡± A look of realization immediately appeared on the spy chief¡¯s face, ¡°So that¡¯s the reason. Your Excellency, your conjecture is likely true. How could Divine Bloodlines appear so easily? According to our analysis, the Justice Pirate Group is a pawn pushed forward by the Charming Blue Divine Sect, with the purpose of infiltrating the Empire from various channels, spying on imperial intelligence, and preparing for the resurgence of Charming Blue Divine Sect.¡± Hao Fu Bishop was noncommittal, ¡°Perhaps that¡¯s the case. I¡¯ve given my answer, now what about the answer I want?¡± The spy chief¡¯s expression turned stern, and he took out a scroll from the inner pocket of his clothing, respectfully placing it on the coffee table. Not long after, the door of the reception room was opened, and the spy chief walked out. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He led the spy team and walked out of the Life Temple. While discussing what they had learned on the way, a new member was very surprised: ¡°Just like that? Did Hao Fu Bishop just give us that answer?¡± The new member couldn¡¯t help but question the chief¡¯s decision-making, thinking, ¡°How did this person become the chief, he¡¯s too easily fooled. It feels like we¡¯ve made a pointless trip!¡± But the spy chief said, ¡°This is already enough for us to report back.¡± He had a feeling that this was indeed the right answer. The Divination Master would confirm this answer further. He had another reason for trusting Hao Fu Bishop. That was the internal factional struggles of the Navy! The spy chief knew a lot: when the selection for Navy Marshal was initially held, there were four competitors: Yan Tan, Bi Tong, Fang Gong, and Yi Gui. The struggle for the position of marshal among the empire¡¯s major powers was fierce. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Yan Tan was selected in the end. Yan Tan, who came from a commoner background and lacked a strong foundation, won the position, and the other competitors all became Navy Admirals. Yan Tan had always had trouble controlling them. Thus, the three Admirals and Yan Tan became the four main factions within the Navy. Among the military forces of the Empire, the Navy is the newest. Each of the four factions has complicated and entangled relations with the upper echelons of the Empire. After being controlled by the Navy Commander, the spy chief was recruited by the Yan Tan faction. It seemed that Hao Fu Bishop had no connection with the Navy, but that¡¯s not the case. Hao Fu Bishop is a Divine Officer of the Life Sect, and his support comes from the Duke of Can Xue from the Holy Bright Empire, who not only leads the Min Sen Family but is also a revered deity, worshiped by the Life Sect. Within the subsidiary nobles of the Min Sen Family, there is a family called the Fangdong Family. The leader of this family, Fang Gong, is one of the three Admirals. Previously, Hao Fu Bishop secretly boarded a ship, attempting to head to the Wilderness Continent, and ended up being ambushed, which revealed his whereabouts and nearly led to his capture by the Gold and Silver brothers. This time, the spy chief was ordered by Marshal Yan Tan to inquire about information on the Justice Pirate Group, which in reality, was the initial cooperation between the Yan Tan faction and the Fang Gong faction. ¡°In that experiment organized by the Life Sect back then, many lives were sacrificed, but indeed, many strong individuals, including Marshal Yan Tan, were selected.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because of such past connections that there¡¯s now secret cooperation between these two major factions.¡± ¡°Ah, outsiders can only see the waves on the sea surface, the real complexities lie in the undercurrents deep within the sea.¡± The spy chief had many reflections, but he didn¡¯t voice them. He glanced at the new member in the team. This guy, thinking too highly of himself, believed that his bloodline and level would one day reach heights similar to his, thus carrying an improper attitude. Not humbly seeking advice from his seniors, such a person¡­there¡¯s no need to enlighten him. Let him bear the consequences for any future mistakes. As the spy team left, in the reception room of the Life Temple, Thump. A priest¡¯s knees buckled, and he collapsed directly onto the floor. His hands loosened, and the scroll he was holding rolled down onto the floor, finally coming to a stop at the feet of Hao Fu Bishop. This scroll, given by the spy chief, clearly recorded how the priest on the floor had leaked information and betrayed Hao Fu Bishop¡¯s whereabouts. Chapter 375 - 375: Section 162: Bloodline is the Cornerstone of Everything Chapter 375: Section 162: Bloodline is the Cornerstone of Everything ¡°Sir, I, I am guilty!¡± the priest said with a face full of panic, stuttering. Hao Fu, the bishop, sat on the sofa, looking at the priest, and reminisced leisurely, ¡°Cang Xu, I remember that it was because of that selection that you gained the qualifications and willingly joined the sect, right?¡± The priest Cang Xu gave a bitter laugh, ¡°Sir, you are right. I was originally just a commoner, participated in the selection, and my bloodline was stimulated, endowing me with the Cang Xu bloodline.¡± Hao Fu, the bishop, nodded slightly, ¡°That year¡¯s selection shocked the whole world, and indeed too many lives were sacrificed, but it did select some people. You have not had it easy; it is about one in ten thousand who would turn out like you. Ah, indeed I have pressed down on you for too long. Cang Xu bloodline, Golden Level with divine arts¡­¡± ¡°Sir, it is my greed that has sinned! What I did to you is unforgivable! Please punish me, even if it means killing me¡­¡± Hao Fu, the bishop, interrupted Priest Cang Xu¡¯s words, ¡°You are not guilty.¡± Cang Xu was stunned. Hao Fu, the bishop, turned his gaze towards the thick rainforest outside the floor-to-ceiling window. The rainforest was cultivated artificially, carefully tended to, lush and thriving with vitality. The tallest tree covered most of the sky, followed by many shorter, flourishing trees, and then dense shrubs under which lay a verdant grassland. Hao Fu, the bishop, looked at the plants with a compassionate expression on his face, ¡°Just like the trees longing for sunlight, they strive to grow tall and spread their branches and leaves as much as they can; it is nature. Life has its commonalities, and so do we. So, Cang Xu, you are not guilty.¡± ¡°Sir¡­¡± ¡°It is my mistake. I should have told you the secret.¡± As he spoke, Hao Fu, the bishop, completely released his Life Breath. He was originally at Golden Level, but at this moment, a hint of Holy Domain¡¯s presence emerged! Cang Xu couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes in shock, ¡°Sir, you!¡± ¡°I should have become taller, so that you could then grow taller as well,¡± Hao Fu, the bishop, sighed, ¡°Cang Xu, you have been following me for more than a decade, right? Do you still remember when we first met¡­¡± Recollections stirred in Cang Xu, his eyes turned red, and tears quickly streamed down, ¡°Sir, I am guilty, I am guilty!!¡± He lay prostrate on the ground, crying inconsolably. Hao Fu, the bishop, sighed again, ¡°Go to the Abyss, I have already arranged everything. Take post at Outpost Six, guard it for a year. After one year, come back and succeed this place. I will nominate you to become the bishop of this temple.¡± ¡°By then, I will have become the archbishop.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s heart trembled violently, stuttering, ¡°Sir, I have betrayed you, yet you still treat me like this, I¡­¡± Hao Fu, the bishop, waved his hand, ¡°As I¡¯ve said, you are not guilty. Struggling upwards is the nature of life. I know you are also close to reaching Golden Level, and with the military achievements of guarding the Abyss Outpost, after one year as a Golden Level, taking the position of bishop, there will not be much criticism.¡± ¡°Sir, from now on I will follow your lead unquestioningly!¡± Cang Xu lay on the ground, prostrating himself before Hao Fu. Overflowing with gratitude, he revealed a secret, ¡°Sir, it was Marshal Bi Tong¡¯s men who contacted me¡­¡± ¡°No need to say any more.¡± Hao Fu, the bishop, stopped him again. ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wish to retaliate against them,¡± Hao Fu, the bishop, smiled, ¡°In fact, even if it was Marshal Bi Tong¡¯s men who contacted you, it might not have been his instruction. The Navy has four main factions; it¡¯s very likely it was another faction¡¯s plot, or even possibly Marshal Yan Tan¡¯s own line.¡± Priest Cang Xu looked at Hao Fu, the bishop, with a somewhat vacant expression, and after a while, managed to come to terms, ¡°Sir, Marshal Yan Tan was also one who came out of the selection. Without the selection, he¡¯d merely be a commoner as well! The Life Sect is the benefactor who changed his fate; it¡¯s unlikely he would¡­¡± ¡°The people who came out of that selection don¡¯t just feel gratitude towards our sect, you know. Yan Tan, that guy, despite his commoner background and weakest connections among the four factions in the Navy, he is quite capable and very cunning. Anyone who has underestimated him has learned their lesson.¡± ¡°Those who initiate these conspiracies and assassinations are also the ones competing with me for the position of archbishop.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s no need to make unnecessary complications now.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Doing so will only scatter my focus and become my vulnerability.¡± ¡°For now, I just need to grow quietly.¡± ¡°Ah, speaking of which, it really is a pity.¡± ¡°That pirate group, I had originally planned to give them some space to grow as the trees around me.¡± ¡°I hadn¡¯t expected they were not up to it.¡± ¡°Now I just have to let it be.¡± Bloodline, bloodline. It is the foundation of everything. Whether it¡¯s cultivating fighting energy or magic, those with superior bloodlines progress at a rate ten, a hundred, a thousand times, or even more, faster than ordinary people. In terms of divine power infusion and faith devotion, those with superior bloodlines also outshine the ordinary. Beings with higher-grade bloodlines find it easier to progress in power and knowledge, grow faster, survive more easily, live longer, and have lower costs of failure, making it easier to become leaders and establish personal prestige. In militaristic, cultural, economic, and other forms of competition, those with superior bloodlines leave ordinary people far behind, even crushing them. All around the world, every race is in pursuit of bloodlines, superior bloodlines, without exception. Nobles intermarrying among close kin or with strong individuals, efforts like those of Alchemy Grandmaster War Merchants experimenting with Blood Cores, Charming Blue Divine Sect¡¯s design of Fish God tests, Holy Water baptisms¡­ And as the god of life, Sen Xu, the mystery of bloodlines is inherently within His divine authority; He has always been studying it. Once, He issued an oracle, convening a grand prayer. The specifics were to recruit volunteers from all over the world, informing them of a high risk of death, but promising a leap in bloodline once they passed the test. Once the prayer began, it immediately attracted the attention of the entire world. The ordeal was suffered by commoners, slaves, low-level Transcendents, and more, with numbers reaching a million. The outcome was extremely tragic. In the end, only a hundred or so survived, and they indeed achieved a leap in their bloodline. The rest were all sacrificed! As one of the bishops of the Life Sect, Hao Fu knew all too well how precious the bloodlines of the Legendary and Divine levels were. Originally, when he accepted Bian Yan¡¯s allegiance, it was because he valued his Golden Level bloodline, which held the possibility of him becoming a bishop in the future. As a Scout, Hao Fu protected Bian Yan and gave him the space, time, and nourishment to grow. After all, no matter how high the bloodline¡¯s grade, if it couldn¡¯t develop, it was meaningless. His own bloodline was actually of the Holy Domain Level, but he had disguised it as Gold Level before. It wasn¡¯t until not long ago, as Hao Fu tried to compete for the position of Archbishop, that he attracted much attention and the probing of rivals, thus revealing the secret of his bloodline, and subsequently, he was ambushed. Therefore, Hao Fu understood Bian Yan very well. At the same time, he also recognized Bian Yan¡¯s ambition. To desire to become a bishop with a Gold Level bloodline, the Divine Arts bloodline of Zixu, is a common human desire. Just like his possession of a Holy Domain Level bloodline and his desire to become an Archbishop, what¡¯s wrong with that? It¡¯s only right! The type of bloodline one has should dictate one¡¯s status! Of course, this refers to a grown bloodline. This is not just Hao Fu¡¯s personal viewpoint, but a social norm recognized by the entire world. Apart from understanding Bian Yan, Hao Fu also calculated his own gains and losses. Killing Bian Yan would result in far less benefit than loss. Hao Fu had cultivated Bian Yan for many years and invested a lot. Bian Yan himself was a priest of the Life Sect, which made this identity more troublesome to deal with. If Hao Fu eliminated Bian Yan, it would create the impression for others that he lacked clarity in reading people and sufficient leadership. Especially during the competition for Archbishop, such a move would mean even greater losses for Hao Fu. ¡°There¡¯s another point.¡± ¡°My bloodline is only Holy Domain Level, and my lifetime achievement might only amount to Archbishop.¡± A single tree does not make a forest, but many trees together create one. Hao Fu needed to cultivate a grove of trees around himself. Bian Yan was one of them. This diocese could not be lost, the potential of White Wings Port was immense, it was well-positioned, especially during the upcoming war between the Human Race and the Beast Race, when it would surely play an even more important role. When Hao Fu became the Archbishop, he would hand over this diocese to Bian Yan, but it would still remain under Hao Fu¡¯s control. Hao Fu¡¯s desire to recruit the youth and the big guy was sincere. If in the future, the youth and the big guy grew, then the friendship and goodwill of one Legend, or even one Divine entity, would bring Hao Fu a thousandfold return. ¡°It¡¯s really too regrettable, they were the handiwork of the Charming Blue Divine Sect.¡± ¡°Thinking about it, it makes sense. Are bloodlines of Legendary and Divine levels that easy to come across?¡± ¡°That spy chief had a point, adept at deception and disguise, the Charming Blue Divine, who could even fool the likes of the Holy Emperor and others. Disguising bloodlines, deceiving a small fry like me, what¡¯s that really worth?¡± While Bishop Hao Fu was feeling regretful, the Deep Sea Monster Fish swiftly stealth-ed through the deep sea. In the cabin, the goblin Sanda, carrying several Pearl Bubbles, came before the Tower Spirit. ¡°Tower Spirit, I am a War Merchant, and you¡¯re my master,¡± Sanda declared directly. Tower Spirit: ¡­ Behind him stood the Fishman youth, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others, all looking a bit nervous. The War Merchant was a goblin, and so was Sanda, with the most similar appearance. Hence, after Cang Xu gave his all to produce several Pearl Bubbles, Sanda became the most suitable candidate. After a moment of silence, the Tower Spirit spoke, ¡°Welcome back, great master!¡± The Fishman youth, Zi Di, and others immediately lit up with excitement, barely able to contain their joy. Sanda immediately said, ¡°Grant these people in the cabin elevated privileges. Give them the highest privilege!¡± Tower Spirit: ¡°Great master, please forgive me, I cannot complete this task. There is and can only be one highest privilege, which only you can possess. Others can at most have Level 1 privileges. Are you sure you want to grant them these privileges? Please be aware, overly sharing privileges might result in security risks.¡± Sanda looked at the Fishman youth, Cang Xu, and the others, saw them nodding at him, and said, ¡°Then let it be so, elevate these people¡¯s privileges to Level 1.¡± Tower Spirit: ¡°As you command, great master, your orders will be executed immediately.¡± Sanda paused for a moment, then said, ¡°Now, Tower Spirit, adjust all the access rights to the archives to Level 1.¡± Tower Spirit: ¡°As you command, my master.¡± At this step, everyone in the cabin immediately engaged their spirits to communicate with the Tower Spirit, consulting the information within. An abundance of Fighting energy techniques, Combat Skills, Spells, Meditation Techniques, Alchemy Diagrams, maps, and more, including the War Merchant¡¯s production workshop, military research notes, and the Holy Spring Baptism alchemy array set up using the Blood Core¡­ ¡°Look at this Alchemy Array for the Holy Spring Baptism! The War Merchant did indeed have close cooperation with the Charming Blue Divine Sect. With this array, we might also be able to enhance our bloodlines!¡± Zi Di suddenly spoke up, highly excited. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 376 - 376: Section 163: Talk to the Goddess? Chapter 376: Section 163: Talk to the Goddess? ¡°Holy Spring Baptism Alchemy Array?¡± Everyone¡¯s attention was captured. This data was very detailed¡ªby gathering sufficient manpower and materials, one could set up this array step by step. However, to put it more accurately, this alchemy array, with the Blood Core at its heart, served the true purpose of enhancing the concentration of a certain bloodline within the target. The target must inherently possess this bloodline, albeit at a low concentration or concealed and unknown, unlike the hosts of the Blood Core, who seemed to derive it out of nowhere. Lan Zao was completely shocked, ¡°Incredible, I now fully understand why the War Merchant placed the Blood Core on the third level, and the other two Divine Artifacts below it.¡± ¡°How many people possess a Transcendent Bloodline? In this world, the vast majority are like Bai Ya, who simply can¡¯t step into transcendence.¡± ¡°The Blood Core and this alchemy array are truly a blessing for us at the bottom!¡± Zi Di nodded, deeply resonating with Lan Zao¡¯s words. Her own bloodline grade wasn¡¯t high, merely at the Black Iron Level. Once, she had felt utterly hopeless about her future due to her bloodline, plunging into deep disappointment and could only look up to those Mages with Advanced Bloodlines, who strode forward in life with heads held high. The pinnacle of her life was just at the Black Iron Level. Although divine entities themselves had helped to expand her Spiritual Space, she surpassed the Black Iron limit only in that aspect. In all other respects, she remained at the Black Iron Level. Now, Zi Di kindled a new hope, ¡°Perhaps I have a higher-grade bloodline hidden within me, just too dilute.¡± ¡°This array can be used not just on us, but also as a chip to attract talents.¡± ¡°I know, within the vast base and bottom layers, there are countless talents filled with discontent and defiance, wanting to step further. These people just have bad luck, lacking Advanced Bloodlines.¡± Sanda¡¯s expression remained calm as he stood in front of the Tower Spirit, putting effort into playing the role of the War Merchant. His heart surged with emotions, drawn by Zi Di¡¯s words, also kindling new hope. Cang Xu pondered, ¡°Actually, the Blood Core and the array are more useful for the Nobles, right?¡± ¡°Each Noble, even with the lowest aptitude, definitely possesses a Transcendent Bloodline in their body.¡± ¡°This array, enhancing bloodline concentration, could elevate each Noble to possess the qualifications for Transcendent practices.¡± The others¡¯ expressions changed. Cang Xu hadn¡¯t said anything incorrect. If this artifact were revealed, the Lower and Middle Nobles across the world would surely go mad. By then, the Justice Pirate Group¡­ Sanda sighed, ¡°This array is too hot to handle; we lack the power to protect it and could easily attract powerful enemies looking to plunder it.¡± Everyone fell silent. But, they were used to it. With many debts that don¡¯t overwhelm, the Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, Green Jade Gold Coffin, Blood Core, and various arrays, almost all the alchemy knowledge of the War Merchant as well as the godly essence body of Mei Lan and soul of the Feathered Snake¡ªwas there any item among them that wasn¡¯t a world-shaking treasure coveted by others? ¡°I remember some records from the books,¡± Cang Xu opened up. ¡°The God of Life, Sen Xu had once issued an oracle, calling on Divine Sect to fully activate and hold a massive special prayer. They proclaimed worldwide that they could enhance the bloodline concentration within the target, and over a million people volunteered to participate from various continents and races.¡± ¡°Divine Sect exhausted vast amounts of manpower and materials. During the final stages of the prayer, even Duke Sen Xu himself intervened.¡± ¡°In the end, over a million people sacrificed their lives, leaving just over a hundred survivors.¡± ¡°Their bloodlines indeed got enhanced, changing their fates.¡± ¡°But the cost was too great.¡± ¡°Not to mention the resources invested, but with the death of over a million people, Divine Sect faced heavy criticism, their sect¡¯s influence shrank, and faith in the God of Life plummeted, with even Sen Xu¡¯s divine power weakening.¡± ¡°After this event, Duke Sen Xu never held a second such session.¡± ¡°The pursuit of and experimentation with bloodlines never ceased among humans. Due to his divine office, the God of Life has always been at the forefront in the world. In my view, what He lacks is merely a Blood Core.¡± Although Cang Xu was not adept at alchemy, having been reluctantly forced to take it up for the sake of the Justice Pirate Group, he did a lot of practical alchemy work. Benefiting from the War Merchant¡¯s notes and more, Cang Xu¡¯s perspective on alchemy wasn¡¯t low. He discerned that though the array was ingeniously mysterious, full of the War Merchant¡¯s brilliant ideas, the true core was the Blood Core. The Blood Core was the main component, and the array merely an aid. Cang Xu continued analyzing, ¡°As it stands, the Blood Core can absorb life and draw the bloodline from the target. The host of the Blood Core can utilize the Magic Power stored within to manifest any bloodline contained in the Core, with the bloodline concentration depending on what is stored in the Core.¡± ¡°If assisted by the Holy Spring Baptism Alchemy Array, according to the description, it can enhance the specific bloodline concentration within the target, provided that the target inherently contains that bloodline, no matter how low the concentration.¡± ¡°But, the cost of doing so is vast, including the consumption of Divine Power, the creation of the alchemy array, and the specific bloodline in the Blood Core.¡± Saying this, Cang Xu stroked his dense white beard, ¡°Considering this, our next goal is to actively absorb Human Race bloodlines!¡± The primary force within the Justice Pirate Group was the Human Race. Absorbing Human Race bloodlines thus became the primary objective of the Blood Core. At last, after hearing these words, the face of the Fishman youth changed first, followed by the changing expressions of the others. The atmosphere also became subtly tense. The Fishman youth remained silent for a moment, then said in a heavy tone, ¡°While I was on Mysterious Monster Island, I discovered the Blood Core within me. I have always warned myself not to become obsessed with power and commit crimes that harm others.¡± ¡°I am a Knight, not a Demon.¡± ¡°When I founded the pirate group, why did I name it ¡®Justice¡¯? It was also to remind us all that although we had made mistakes and killed Jia Sha, we should not fall into depravity!¡± ¡°If we live well at the expense of others¡¯ nightmares, what have we become?¡± ¡°How do we face ourselves, the torment of our conscience, the condemnation of morality?¡± At this point, the youth looked around at everyone in the cabin, his expression earnest, ¡°The Blood Core is powerful and extraordinary, but it is only a tool.¡± ¡°To be honest, I have feared it. I have always been apprehensive.¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I have always told myself that I am a Knight, not a murderer.¡± ¡°I will never slaughter innocent people just to collect Bloodlines!¡± With these words, the youth was resolute and unwavering. Everyone fell into silence. Cang Xu slightly furrowed his brow. Lan Zao was the first to speak, his gaze filled with admiration for the youth, ¡°Master, you possess a truly merciful and just heart. I will always follow you, no matter which path you take.¡± Zi Di chuckled softly, her eyes tender, ¡°No matter what you become, you will always be my Knight.¡± Sanda nodded, ¡°I have seen many people, but Sir, you truly are one in a million.¡± Cang Xu relaxed his brow, shook his head, and said helplessly, ¡°Well, I do understand you, but even if we don¡¯t actively collect Bloodlines, we shouldn¡¯t let those attacking enemies off, should we?¡± ¡°The recent General Kan Qiao, and the three Silver fighters from the Yao Wang family¡ªSir, you did not strike them.¡± ¡°Going forward, I sincerely hope that you can be resolute and not waste these valuable resources that could be utilized. Maybe, among us, some have the corresponding Bloodlines.¡± The Fishman youth did not respond immediately; he pondered for a while before nodding heavily, ¡°On this point, I promise you!¡± All of a sudden, Zi Di laughed, ¡°Actually, there¡¯s no need to be so solemn.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve gained a lot this time, haven¡¯t we?¡± ¡°We shouldn¡¯t let go of the enemies; in fact, we can actively collect Bloodlines.¡± ¡°Your Zhenjin Bloodline, isn¡¯t it the War Merchant using the Blood Core to transfer the Golden Needle Bee Queen¡¯s Bloodline into you?¡± Reminded thus, everyone¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°In fact, what we lack most now is the method of detecting Bloodlines,¡± Zi Di continued, ¡°The prerequisite for this method is that we already possess some kind of Bloodline in our bodies. ¡°But because the Bloodline Concentration is too low, most detection methods are ineffective.¡± ¡°If we find this method, it will be most helpful for collecting Bloodlines going forward.¡± Zi Di¡¯s suggestion seemed very reasonable, and everyone nodded in agreement. ¡°Perhaps this method of Bloodline detection is in the War Merchant¡¯s database?¡± Lan Zao suggested. So, they continued searching. Unfortunately, they did not find such a method in the database. However, they discovered something else. Cang Xu found a new method that could collect more Divine Power. That was through living sacrifices! Cang Xu spoke, ¡°Following this method, I can alter memories, making those believers ¡®voluntarily¡¯ offer their body, mind, and soul to the Mei Lan Goddess. This would allow us to obtain a large amount of Divine Power, even an oracle¡¯s blessing, in a short time.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s a major drawback to this method¡ªit can easily attract the attention of the deities.¡± ¡°So, we must consider the deities¡¯ attitude toward us.¡± The people hesitated. Lan Zao expressed his concern, ¡°Offering these believers to the Mei Lan Goddess will greatly increase Her power. What if Her response is one of anger and destruction?¡± At that moment, Zi Di interjected, ¡°That¡¯s why I have an immature idea. Maybe, we can negotiate with the Mei Lan Goddess.¡± ¡°Negotiate?¡± The others were astonished. Zi Di nodded, ¡°Yes. We are in great danger now, standing no chance against the Holy Bright Empire.¡± ¡°Our production of Pearl Bubble is not enough to meet our needs.¡± ¡°We are merely struggling. Once we encounter a deity or legendary being from the Empire, our chances of survival are slim. Actually, even a Holy Domain fighter could annihilate us.¡± ¡°We must seek the power of the deities to have any hope!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 377 - 377: Section 164: Firebeard! Chapter 377: Section 164: Firebeard! Zi Di¡¯s suggestion sent a shockwave through the crowd. ¡°Negotiate with deities?¡± Is that possible? It was like ants trying to have a conversation with an elephant. The disparity between their levels was too great, and such an ant was simply overestimating its own abilities. Lan Zao swallowed hard, ¡°The Charming Blue Deity is not one of our Human Race, but a god of another race. Moreover, we all participated in the destruction of the Charming Blue Divine Sect at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye.¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°But that wasn¡¯t our intention.¡± ¡°Our original goal was just to steal some Divine Power to facilitate the production of Pearl Bubble, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Besides, without us bringing the Pearl Bubble, without our esteemed captain, the Charming Blue Deity would have been doomed long ago!¡± These words were rational and enlightened the others. Zi Di was the Chairman of the Guild. Although she was at a disadvantage, she was adept at using the tactics of a merchant to negotiate with the strong and secure the greatest benefit for herself. Zi Di continued to talk at length, ¡°We already know that the War Merchant was secretly collaborating with the Charming Blue Deity; the two were allies and very close.¡± ¡°The Blood Light Sanction Court¡¯s powerful forces attacked the War Merchant, and though Mysterious Monster Island was destroyed, we are the War Merchant¡¯s heirs. From this perspective, we can fully inherit the alliance between the War Merchant and the Charming Blue Deity.¡± ¡°The key point now is that if we are captured and killed by the Empire, the Charming Blue Deity will also fall. We can only survive by working together. The foundation for our cooperation is enormous.¡± Everyone fell silent, deep in thought. After a while, Cang Xu broke the silence and firstly agreed with Zi Di¡¯s words but also brought up an old saying: Deities are inscrutable. ¡°All this is considered from a human perspective, whereas the deities operate primarily on Divinity.¡± ¡°If the Charming Blue Deity, once awakened by our sacrifice, gets angry and severely punishes us, we simply cannot bear such consequences.¡± ¡°The risks of doing so are immense.¡± ¡°Moreover, we are unclear about how much strength the Charming Blue Deity has left. It has never fought personally, and there¡¯s also a possibility that after we awaken it and negotiate, it might find us unnecessary, kill us out of anger, and still have enough strength to flee before the deities of the Empire.¡± The Fishman youth was also worried, feeling anxious. In the battle at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, he had used the Charming Blue Deity¡¯s physical body as both a shield and weapon, and it felt quite effective too. He hesitantly said, ¡°The High Priest of the Charming Blue once told me that the Charming Blue Deity was in bad shape, always in a state of self-deception. It was only by sleeping in such a manner that It could preserve Itself without being dragged down to demise by injuries.¡± ¡°If It is truly awakened, not only are we at risk, but so is It.¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°There must be a way to communicate with the Charming Blue Deity in Its dormant state. Otherwise, how could the War Merchant have collaborated with It?¡± ¡°Moreover, during the battle at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, the Charming Blue Deity¡¯s body was aware of changes in the external world, which is why It materialized the deity incarnations time and again.¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°If the High Priest of the Charming Blue were still alive, he might know how to communicate with the Charming Blue Deity. I¡¯ve been a Desecration Priest for too short a time to achieve that.¡± After some further discussion, the group reached a consensus. Communicating with the Charming Blue Deity and negotiating were too risky for now. However, the suggestion was good. If they reached a dead end, they could use the Empire¡¯s dominance and their dangerous plight as a bargaining chip to indirectly force the Charming Blue Deity into cooperation. ¡°Actually, we might not need the Charming Blue Deity¡¯s help.¡± Lan Zao proposed, ¡°We have other options. We could seek refuge with Firebeard!¡± ¡°Firebeard?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lan Zao nodded, ¡°Although I¡¯m not a pirate, I¡¯ve made my livelihood on the Pig Kiss, and I¡¯ve heard many legendary tales of Firebeard at sea.¡± ¡°He values life lightly but loyalty greatly, his word is as good as gold, ready to share his wealth for the sake of his brothers.¡± ¡°He is the man amongst the three Legendary pirates with the greatest hope of ascending to the pirate throne!¡± ¡°As for the Empire¡¯s spies, I believe that the main reason they want to deal with the Firebeard Pirates is that the group is too large and too threatening.¡± ¡°The enemy of our enemy is our friend, and we have had close contacts with people such as One in Grey, Golden Chin, the Sea Snake Lady, and Feng Yao.¡± The group fell into thought again. Sky Pillar Sea Eye. Crackling. The Subspace Barrier was covered with cracks. Within the subspace, two Legendary figures were engaged in fierce combat. Eventually, the subspace, serving as the battlefield, could no longer bear the aftershocks of the legendary battle and reached its limit. Bang. The subspace shattered into billions of pieces like glass. Zhao Ya spit out a mouthful of blood, suffering backlash. Without this subspace, Man Zhuang, Bi Tong, the Barbarian Warship, and the Impact Needle were all revealed, returning to the Main World. Bi Tong looked up, watching Zhao Ya with his large nostrils and showing a clear disdain, ¡°Fooling around with space in front of me, Zhao Ya, you¡¯ve overestimated yourself.¡± Zhao Ya wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, still sitting on his giant seashell throne; he scoffed, ¡°Well then, taste this!¡± The great battle commenced again. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Both sides attacked relentlessly, covering the sky with ice and frost, space itself splitting apart. Zhao Ya once again found himself at a disadvantage. He had to take many things into account. On the one hand, he needed to protect the Barbarian Warship, on the other, suppress the Charming Blue Divine Seat beneath him, and finally, deal with Bi Tong. He was forced to admit that Bi Tong was an exceedingly tough opponent. More importantly, his abilities subtly overpowered Zhao Ya¡¯s. Zhao Ya¡¯s main method of attack was frost, an extreme cold that could slow down and even freeze his enemies. But Bi Tong, with his Legendary Bloodline of spatial manipulation, was able to penetrate space with his attacks, hitting his opponents in an instant. ¡°Lord Zhao Ya, I¡¯ll hold him off. Take the Divine Seat and go!¡± Man Zhuang shouted loudly. Man Zhuang¡¯s action was undoubtedly a death wish, but the Barbarian race has always taken death in battle as the highest honor. Zhao Ya shook his head: ¡°You go. The Barbarian elder entrusted this to me before departing.¡± The Barbarian race did not lack Holy Domain warriors, but Man Zhuang was the only fanatic in the Holy Domain who worshipped the Barbarian God! He was able to communicate with the Barbarian God and receive help from His Divine Power. This was too valuable, making him even more important to the Barbarians than the Legendary Zhao Ya himself. Man Zhuang clenched his teeth in frustration, having no choice but to retreat. The prestige of the Barbarian elder was deeply rooted in everyone¡¯s hearts, and even the Legendary Zhao Ya willingly obeyed, Man Zhuang was no exception. However, as Man Zhuang attempted to flee, Bi Tong would not allow it. ¡°Do Barbarians also have cowards like you? Die in battle!¡± Bi Tong suddenly teleported, hovering above the Barbarian warship. ¡°Ship incoming!¡± He stretched out his arm again, tugging fiercely. Space ruptured behind him, and the immense Impact Needle warship crashed directly towards the Barbarian warship. The Impact Needle, being of the Holy Domain Level with demonic energy, had a ferociously powerful attack. The Barbarian warship had no time to escape; if it were truly hit, everyone on board would perish. If Man Zhuang was not blessed with Divine Power, his chances of survival were slim. ¡°Here we go again!¡± Zhao Ya was furious, rushing to block the way, desperately intercepting the Impact Needle but exposing a flaw in his defense, allowing Bi Tong to successfully strike and forcing him to spit out another mouthful of blood. ¡°Bi Tong, if you¡¯re brave enough, fight me fairly!¡± Zhao Ya roared. Bi Tong smiled: ¡°Save the attacked, a crucial military tactic. I have decided to kill these people; you can¡¯t stop me. I will kill them all right before your eyes! Hahaha!¡± Bi Tong made his move again; his ability to penetrate space made his attacks sudden and sharp. As the Barbarian warship was on the verge of destruction at his hands, a loud voice resonated between heaven and earth: ¡°Hold your hands, gentlemen, there are my brothers on that ship.¡± Bi Tong and Zhao Ya changed their expressions and turned their heads toward the horizon together. They saw a vast pirate fleet slowly approaching at the junction of sea and sky, hundreds of ships strong, with flags fluttering and an overwhelming momentum. ¡°It¡¯s the boss!¡± From the cell deep within the Barbarian warship, Feng Yao suddenly sat up from his bunk. ¡°Big boss!!¡± A dust-covered warrior also became excited. ¡°Firebeard!!!¡± Bi Tong, after a moment of stupefaction, sneered ceaselessly, ¡°You say stop and I should just stop? You expect me, a Navy Admiral, to stop?¡± ¡°It¡¯s precisely because of your arrival that I have one more reason to destroy this ship!¡± ¡°Die!¡± Bi Tong executed his Combat Skill. The Barbarian warship could not dodge. Zhao Ya dragged the Divine Seat over, positioning it in front of the Combat Skill. Bi Tong disappeared once again and reappeared above the Barbarian warship. He raised both hands above his head as if holding a heavy object. Then, with a mighty leap, his veins bulging, he fiercely grasped the invisible space above and hurled it downwards. Combat Skill¡ªMountain Toss! An invisible mountain bore down, and the surrounding space also locked the Barbarian warship tight, immobilizing it like an insect trapped in amber, completely unable to move. Even Man Zhuang was no exception. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s too late!¡± Zhao Ya was too late to help, only able to watch helplessly. But at that very moment, The sky and land changed color! Before the eyes of Zhao Ya and Bi Tong, all turned blood red. The air grew unbearably hot, and the azure sea instantly became a vast sea of fire! Flames rose, burning fiercely!! They incinerated the Barbarian warship and forced Bi Tong and Zhao Ya, faces drastically changed, to make a hasty escape. Immediately after, Firebeard¡¯s calm voice echoed through heaven and earth. ¡°No one dares to kill my brothers in front of me!¡± ¡°I, am angry.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 378 - 378: Section 165: This person must be thoroughly investigated. Chapter 378: Section 165: This person must be thoroughly investigated. The sea of fire blazed intensely. Combat Skill¡ªChill Streak Bird! Zhao Ya¡¯s entire body gushed out fighting energy, which flowed like water, sending countless fighting energy chill birds flying. The chill birds split into three groups: one circled around Zhao Ya as a protective measure, another attacked Bi Tong, and the last targeted Firebeard from a distance. However, the fighting energy chill birds, which merely flew over the sea of fire, spontaneously combusted within a minute. The chill birds turned into blazing torches, struggling in midair. They transformed into firebirds, switching their direction of attack towards Zhao Ya, Bi Tong, and the rest of the Barbarians. ¡°How could this happen?!¡± Zhao Ya was profoundly shocked. His fighting energy, once ignited, slipped totally from his control and turned into Firebeard¡¯s tool. ¡°My understanding of cold and freezing is completely crushed by him. Firebeard¡­ this guy must be nearing godhood!¡± Zhao Ya could only hastily defend himself, dealing with the flock of firebirds diving towards him. Bi Tong¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t any better. Clamping his teeth, he opened a portal and sent the Impact Needle away. In just that brief moment, the Impact Needle had already begun to melt severely. It was a Holy Domain Level demon energy ship, but it was utterly powerless above the sea of fire¡ªBi Tong could only send it away. It wasn¡¯t just that; he himself felt unbearable heat; had he not suppressed it with all his fighting energy, he might have spontaneously combusted by now. ¡°His grasp on fire and combustion is far too profound.¡± ¡°Even the space around me is melting!¡± ¡°Firebeard really lives up to his name.¡± Bi Tong, as an Admiral of the Navy, had heard of Firebeard¡¯s reputation even before joining the Navy, when he was still of the Holy Domain. He joined the Navy, rose to Legend, then to Admiral, leading one of the Naval four main factions. Relying on his bloodline and the convenience of manipulating space, he always had smooth sailing. He had long harbored intentions to challenge a predecessor like Firebeard. However, this time when he truly combated with Firebeard, he realized: though both were Legends, he was far from being Firebeard¡¯s match! ¡°So powerful, overwhelmingly so!¡± ¡°Firebeard is likely extremely close to the level of a deity.¡± ¡°No wonder there were rumors saying the Fire Gods of the Holy Bright Continent, Molten Lava Continent, and Wilderness Continent all sought trouble with Firebeard.¡± Firebeard had become a thorn in the flesh for the Fire Gods. ¡°Why should I fiercely contend against such a formidable figure?¡± ¡°Let the Fire Gods handle him.¡± ¡°My sole objective for being here is the Mei Lan Divine Throne!¡± Bi Tong exerted his full strength, unleashing his most powerful Combat Skill. In the next instant, space erupted into chaos, a billion space fragments enveloped the entire battlefield, engulfing the Barbarian Warship, Zhao Ya, and Bi Tong himself. From amidst the endless space fragments, Zhao Ya¡¯s furious roars could be heard. Then, boom! A massive explosion occurred, and the sky momentarily turned into a blazing white light, dazzling everyone to the point of being unable to open their eyes. The aftermath of the full-force clash between the two Legends struck the Barbarian Warship. The Barbarian Warship melted away under the intense light, like snow meeting sunlight, turning into endless dust. The warriors on the warship also turned into dust. Man Zhuang did his utmost to resist, and at the crucial moment, a shadow drenched in blood appeared beside him and whisked him away. The searing light nearly consumed all the Barbarian Warships, reaching up to Feng Yao, wearing ash, and the other prisoners. ¡°We¡¯re finished!¡± Feng Yao and the others looked ashen. Their bodies dissolved in the white light, disappearing largely in an instant. Yet at that moment, a figure suddenly appeared! He looked towards Feng Yao, wearing ash, emitting a faint glow of fire, and because of this, the blazing white light halted its advance. ¡°Boss¡­¡± ¡°Big brother.¡± It was Firebeard. He was bald, without even eyebrows, displaying a fierce and grand demeanor, yet slightly bizarre. His build was tall and muscular, sturdy like blocks, but not bulky like a bear¡ªrather, impressively robust and upright. He wore the attire of a pirate captain, with a broken scimitar hanging at his waist. The scimitar¡¯s handle resembled the head of a phoenix, and the blade shone beautifully like a phoenix¡¯s tail, though a large portion was broken. The scimitar exuded a divine aura; it was a Divine Artifact! The damaged Divine Artifact¡ªFierce Tail Blade. ¡°No worries, brothers, I¡¯m here,¡± Firebeard said, smiling at Feng Yao and wearing ash. His palm rested on the handle of the Fierce Tail Blade, from which golden flames emanated from the phoenix¡¯s head. The flames flowed over Feng Yao and wearing ash¡¯s bodies, forming two fiercely burning torches. The torches pushed back the surrounding intense light. Feng Yao and wearing ash were treated rapidly by the flames, quickly restored to full health, without any injuries. The intense light faded away, the Phoenix Flames vanished. Feng Yao and wearing ash survived in excellent condition, they scanned the battlefield; Bi Tong and Zhao Ya were nowhere to be seen. Besides them, there were many captives who had also received treatment from the Phoenix Flames and survived. These survivors were supported in mid-air by Firebeard¡¯s Fighting Energy, temporarily suspended. The previous sea of fire had vanished, and the battlefield had returned to its normal appearance. ¡°Lord Firebeard, you saved me! Please let me join your fleet!!¡± ¡°I would also like to follow you!!¡± ¡°Boss, the Divine Seat of Mei Lan is missing,¡± reported Grey, visibly distressed. Firebeard shook his head, ¡°It was Bi Tong who grabbed it, and Zhao Ya rescued that Barbarian from the Holy Domain.¡± ¡°Boss, it¡¯s all my fault, if it wasn¡¯t for saving us, the Divine Seat of Mei Lan would definitely be yours. Those two are no match for you!¡± Feng Yao expressed his guilt. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Firebeard patted his shoulder, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, for the sake of brothers, what¡¯s a Divine Seat of Mei Lan anyway?¡± He laughed heartily, his spirited demeanor impressing everyone. ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± Feng Yao, clutching his hair, was utterly distressed, ¡°That is the Divine Seat of my most beloved Goddess. To have it snatched away! For my Goddess, I must get it back. Boss, please help me, my lifelong happiness depends on you.¡± Firebeard: ¡­ Grey and others: ¡­ Dun Dao City. Dungeon. The torch burned, but couldn¡¯t illuminate this cell. The head of the Purple Vine Shop in Dun Dao City was now gasping for breath, covered in wounds. He was being interrogated by a group of the empire¡¯s spies. ¡°Speak, how did you transport and arrange those Alchemy Bombs into the city?¡± the spy chief asked with an icy stare. ¡°I didn¡¯t, I really didn¡¯t!¡± the shop head denied while crying. ¡°Didn¡¯t!? Without a local tyrant like you, would Alchemy Bombs be deployed so swiftly and covertly across Dun Dao City? If you confess now, you will suffer less,¡± the spy chief sneered relentlessly. The head just shook his head: ¡°I really don¡¯t know anything!¡± ¡°Continue the torture!¡± the spy chief sneered. Thus, the dungeon echoed continuously with the shop head¡¯s screams of agony. But no matter the torture, the shop head never confessed, because he knew very well that showing any weakness would not only affect him but his entire family! ¡°About these Alchemy Bombs, I¡¯m completely unaware!¡± ¡°Hmph, without your covert cooperation, how could the Justice Pirate Group, new to the area, manage to set up these Alchemy Bombs so quickly? Could it be that your family, or some other families, or even the City Lord himself arranged it?¡± The head cried, ¡°I¡¯ve told everything I know! That night, I had received an order from the higher-ups of Purple Vine, and I had verified their Elder Token, only then did I serve these people. How could I know they were underlings of a foreign deity!¡± Seeing that no new information was forthcoming from the interrogation, the spy chief had to order his unfortunate transfer. ¡°Leader, what should we do next? Investigate the City Lord or other families?¡± The spy squad exited the dungeon. The spy chief shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m only Silver Level, let¡¯s tread carefully on their territory. Luckily, we have gained something this time. Have the items been brought?¡± ¡°They have been brought.¡± His subordinate immediately responded. The spy chief saw a pile of fragments. These were fragments of the Communication Magic Device. During the interrogation, the shop head detailed the activities of Zi Di and others after they entered the city that night, including their use of Magic Devices to communicate. However, the shop head had been left outside the door at the time and did not know the specific communications of Zi Di. The day after the Black Market auction ended, the shop head found that the Magic Communication Device in the shop had malfunctioned. When he called someone to repair it, a minor explosion occurred, turning the entire device into a pile of rubble. The spy chief picked up a small fragment and observed it but couldn¡¯t discern anything, causing him to shake his head and sigh. ¡°Sir, can these things help us complete our task?¡± His subordinates were also worried. The spy chief said, ¡°Let¡¯s submit what we have interrogated and these fragments first. We need to stay here for now and wait for new orders from above.¡± Big Military Port. Navy Headquarters. Space tore open, and Bi Tong stepped through, returning here. His face showed intense pain as he lifted his shirt to see that most of his skin had been severely burnt and was red and swollen. ¡°Firebeard¡­¡± The thought of that imposing figure filled Bi Tong with apprehension. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for Feng Yao, Grey, and others holding him back, I could never have seized the Divine Seat of Mei Lan.¡± ¡°This guy is simply a monster!¡± He had already downed potions, but they were minimally effective. To treat such injuries, he still needed to seek healing at a temple. There were several temples within the Big Military Port. Bi Tong let his shirt fall and covered his injuries, then left the room. Noticing Bi Tong¡¯s return, the Navy personnel who had stayed were very surprised and immediately reported various intelligence to him. The Justice Pirate Group was still on the run, Wei Sheng¡¯s vast fleet was in pursuit, a Navy Holy Domain Level had caught a clue and was personally pursuing the Justice Pirate Group, along with news from Bishop Hao Fu and Dun Dao City. ¡°Eh?¡± Bi Tong was somewhat surprised. He saw the intelligence interrogated from the head of the Purple Vine Shop. ¡°The Justice Pirate Group, using the Magic Communication Device that night, contacted someone?¡± ¡°Who?!¡± ¡°Humph, the Communication Magic Device is destroyed, but these fragments are also clues. As long as we can engage an Alchemy Grandmaster, we¡¯ll certainly find out.¡± Bi Tong¡¯s eyes sparkled sharply, and he instantly decided to thoroughly investigate. This clue was extremely valuable! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 379 - 379: Section 166: The Iron Giant Chapter 379: Section 166: The Iron Giant The spy team was of a lower level and did not know the true situation of the Justice Pirate Group, but Bi Tong was very clear. ¡°Typically, when a Magic Communication Device is damaged to this extent, the investigation can no longer proceed.¡± ¡°But!¡± ¡°Because it involves foreign gods, the Empire will definitely mobilize its greatest efforts to investigate.¡± ¡°Most Alchemists can¡¯t get anything from these fragments, but an Alchemy Grandmaster is different.¡± Alchemy Grandmasters were very rare; even the powerful Holy Bright Empire had only a few. Based solely on Bi Tong himself, he had no connections that could privately mobilize an Alchemy Grandmaster. However, as long as he reported this key information, the Empire would surely assign an Alchemy Grandmaster. ¡°I have a premonition, the person the Justice Pirate Group contacts late at night must be a major figure within the Empire.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± ¡°Conspiring with foreign gods, even a Duke must be judged!¡± Mei Lan, an enemy long confirmed to be against the Holy Bright Empire. Even a duke, if found guilty of colluding with the enemy, could not save himself. This key piece of information was quickly reported. The upper echelons of the Empire responded immediately. The request to investigate the contacts was swiftly sent to the hands of the Empire¡¯s Alchemy Grandmasters. Night Spirit Sea Domain. Blue skies and white clouds, a gentle breeze. Bang, bang, bang¡­ Huge twin paddles, held by a giant, plunged into the sea repeatedly, each time splashing waves up to three meters high. A middle-aged Human Race man lay on the deck, watching the blue skies and white clouds, enjoying the scattered crystal droplets flying through the air from the splash of the paddles. ¡°Seems like heading out to sea once in a while is quite nice,¡± the middle-aged man murmured. ¡°Yes, Master,¡± came the mechanical voice of the ship spirit. The middle-aged man was handsome, dressed in a luxurious Magic Robe. The emblem on the robe represented his noble lineage¡ªthe Pound family¡ªand also highlighted his peak expertise in alchemy¡ªAlchemy Master! Indeed, this man was a Holy Domain Level Alchemy Master, the genius of the Pound family¡ªTuck. The voice of the ship spirit sounded again, ¡°Master, there is a communication from your teacher.¡± ¡°Oh? Let¡¯s hear it,¡± Tuck sat up from his reclined position. The voice of the ship spirit changed, becoming identical to his teacher¡¯s voice. After listening to the entire content of the message, a strange expression flashed across Tuck¡¯s face, ¡°The Justice Pirate Group?¡± ¡°My teacher indeed, it¡¯s a task assigned by the Empire to him, yet it ended up in my hands.¡± ¡°Me, trying to find that mysterious contact from among the rubble of Magic Devices, it really isn¡¯t an easy task.¡± For a moment, Tuck frowned in distress. He was still a long way off from being an Alchemy Grandmaster, but his teacher had issued this task to him in the form of a test question. ¡°If I had two or three years, I could definitely solve this test question. However, although my teacher didn¡¯t specify, just by thinking a little, of course, there¡¯s a time limit to this test question.¡± ¡°The main difficulty lies precisely in this regard.¡± Tuck returned to the cabin, looking at a pile of rubble that had been transported over, he sank into thought. ¡°What method should I use?¡± ¡°If I completely repair this Magic Communication Device, it¡¯s possible to find a clue, or it may be restored to a brand new Magic Communication Device.¡± ¡°If I use alchemy to refine these fragments, specifically extracting the information within? But since the Core Fragments are completely mixed in, the information obtained will be vast and chaotic. Sorting it out would take even longer!¡± As Tuck was pondering, the voice of the ship spirit rang out, ¡°A distressed ship has been spotted six nautical miles ahead.¡± ¡°Oh? Let me see,¡± Tuck quickly viewed the Magic Image. Ship spirit: ¡°According to estimates, there¡¯s an 80% likelihood of a tsunami.¡± Tuck nodded slightly, ¡°Traveling over the sea isn¡¯t just about dealing with sea beasts and formidable enemies, sometimes the fury of nature itself can be more despairing.¡± Ship spirit: ¡°Shall we proceed with the rescue operation?¡± Tuck smiled, ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll rescue them, but boarding my Iron Giant isn¡¯t so easy. Broadcast it, only those who can afford the ticket, may board my flagship.¡± Ship Spirit: ¡°Understood, my master.¡± As the sinking ship continued to submerge, the crowd had already begun cheering. ¡°We are saved!¡± ¡°I told you, there are quite a few ships passing along this route.¡± ¡°What kind of ship is this? It looks so strange.¡± Amidst their surprise, people were discussing animatedly while loudly calling for help. Among the crowd were members of the Hundred Needle Family. ¡°Clan Leader.¡± Biwa stood next to the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family, his voice low, ¡°It looks like the Steel Giant.¡± The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family nodded, ¡°Indeed it is.¡± As one of the nobles, he was well-informed about the high ranks of the Empire. He had paid extra attention to individuals like Tuck. At that moment, the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family looked in the distance and saw the Steel Giant, rowing with dual-headed oars, heading directly towards them. The Steel Giant had a peculiar appearance. Its hull resembled a canoe but was made of steel. The deck was replaced by an Alchemy Puppet. The puppet, with only the upper body visible, was a giant standing five to six meters tall. The giant held a long, dual-headed paddle, creating hill-sized waves every time it struck the water. As the Steel Giant drew closer, the Ship Spirit¡¯s voice sounded: ¡°This is the Tuck Earl¡¯s flagship of the Steel Pound Family. To obtain a boarding ticket, please pay 80 Gold Coins or an equivalent item.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°80 Gold Coins, that¡¯s too much. This is robbery!¡± ¡°This ship is a Golden Level demon energy vessel. Can¡¯t believe such an important person on board is so miserly!¡± The crowd was in an uproar. Meanwhile, inside the cabin, the Ship Spirit spoke: ¡°High-value target detected in the crowd.¡± ¡°Oh? Let me see.¡± Tuck focused intently, his eyes beginning to glow, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family. How come he¡¯s here?¡± Just as the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family was familiar with Tuck, Tuck was also well-acquainted with him. Ship Spirit: ¡°Analyzing.¡± ¡°Analysis complete. The only heir of the Hundred Needle Family, Holy Temple Knight Zhenjin, disappeared at sea a few months ago. The Hundred Needle Family has used all their resources to offer a large reward, but they have never found the whereabouts of Zhenjin.¡± ¡°It is highly likely, at 75%, that the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family has entered the Night Spirit Sea Domain in search of his biological son and heir, Zhenjin.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Tuck nodded, ¡°Ship Spirit, I wish to speak.¡± Ship Spirit: ¡°Broadcasting device is ready.¡± The next moment, Tuck¡¯s voice boomed, enveloping the area. ¡°Hundred Needle Clan Leader, greetings. I am Earl Tuck in person.¡± ¡°I am fortunate to meet you here.¡± ¡°I wonder how many of the Radiant Nine Swords you have brought with you?¡± ¡°If you could allow me to admire these swords for a moment, you can board without charge, without having to pay 600 Gold Coins, and receive our help.¡± Biwa, hearing this, yelled furiously, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it 80 Gold Coins?¡± Tuck chuckled, ¡°The value of Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family, naturally, is different from that of commoners.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Biwa clenched his fists. The crowd stirred, their attention turning towards the Hundred Needle Clan Leader and Biwa. Upon receiving the ransom note, the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family had been concealing his tracks, rushing towards Fire Island at full speed. Now, his identity was exposed. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family kept his composure, patted Biwa on the shoulder, signaling him to relax, ¡°This is just Tuck¡¯s character. He isn¡¯t specifically targeting me but always adheres to the principle of fair exchange. Let¡¯s board the ship, time is of the essence.¡± Mentioning time, Biwa¡¯s angry expression immediately faded. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No other option, the death of Zhenjin was a matter of great importance to the Hundred Needle Family! ¡°Sigh, I just hope this ship¡¯s route is close to ours, otherwise we will have to transfer to another port to board,¡± Biwa worried inside. The urgency in the ransom note was great, and it seemed that emergencies were more prone to accidents. They experienced a shipwreck along the way. Soon, the Hundred Needle Clan Leader and a few others, including the limited number of survivors who could afford the tickets, boarded the Steel Giant. On the sinking ship, most of the people who couldn¡¯t afford the tickets remained, helplessly watching as the Steel Giant moved away. Only when it disappeared over the horizon did the group start to bitterly curse. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 380 - 380: Section 167: The Nine Swords of Strange Light Chapter 380: Section 167: The Nine Swords of Strange Light At night over the sea, the storm howled, and monstrous waves furled. The Iron Giant plowed through the terrifying waves, its giant puppet oars shattering the huge, mountain-like waves. Tuck and the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family were all in the Captain¡¯s cabin, their bodies swayed with the pitching of the cabin, but the amplitude of the swaying wasn¡¯t great. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family surveyed the room, sizing up the various alchemy facilities within the Captain¡¯s cabin, and marveled to himself, ¡°This demon energy ship, is currently only at the Golden Level, but looking at it, the facilities are incomparably complete, and there¡¯s huge potential for further development.¡± ¡°This ship¡¯s spirit is his own creation, and Golden Level is certainly not the endpoint for this demon energy ship.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, Tuck was closely observing a short sword in his hands. The short sword was about twice the length of a dagger. Its blade was ruler-straight with a unique design. The tip of the blade was flat and not sharp; the edges weren¡¯t sharpened either, allowing one to handle it freely without worrying about cutting the skin. The material of the blade was very unique, reflecting Tuck¡¯s furrowed brow with crystal clarity, much like the best quality mirror. The whole short sword exuded an aura of the Holy Domain Level, it was a high-Level alchemy weapon! Tuck¡¯s spirit continually travelled through the short sword, savoring the constructions within, the tightly intricate Alchemy Array, and various magic runes. After a while, he exhaled heavily, stopping his spiritual inspection. With a hint of fatigue, he sincerely exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s indeed one of the nine leading swords of the ¡®Strange Light¡¯!¡± ¡°I wonder about the other two main swords?¡± Tuck looked at the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family. The Clan Leader shook his head, ¡°Of the remaining two main swords, one named ¡®Mirror Reflection¡¯ has long been lost, and the other ¡®Pearl Harvest¡¯ was confiscated in battle and now is a war trophy of a high-ranking figure in the Empire.¡± ¡°The only main sword we have left in our clan is this ¡®Mirror Reflection''¡± When the Hundred Needle Family was at its most powerful, it was a formidable force in the southern Holy Bright Continent, possessing an estate of an Earl¡¯s standing. The Hundred Needle Family gathered substantial rewards and invited an Alchemy Grandmaster from the Elf Clan to personally craft the ¡®Strange Light Nine Swords¡¯. The nine swords could separate and combine. When separated, there were three Holy Domain Level main swords, varying in length, and six subsidiary swords, all of Golden Level weapons. Zhenjin¡¯s accompanying Silver Lightning sword was one of them. Combined, the nine swords would form a single Legendary Level great sword. Having not seen the other two main swords, Tuck immediately showed a look of regret, but soon his gaze turned hopeful as he looked at the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family, ¡°May I know how many subsidiary swords you have brought with you?¡± The Clan Leader fell silent for a moment, ¡°Only two as well.¡± ¡°Quickly, let me have a look,¡± Tuck said with joy. The Clan Leader drew a sword from his person, ¡°This is the ¡®Golden Sun Sword¡¯.¡± The Golden Sun Sword had a very mainstream design, proper in length and thickness, forged like Gold, and it radiated a faint golden halo, imparting the feeling of an authoritative sword. The Clan Leader passed this sword to Tuck, who immediately delved into it with his spirit, clicking his tongue in wonder, ¡°Marvelous, such innovative thinking! What else?¡± ¡°There is also a ¡®Lead Cloud Sword¡¯, but it¡¯s damaged,¡± the Clan Leader said, signaling to Biwa. Biwa reluctantly drew his accompanying sword and also passed it to Tuck. The Lead Cloud Sword was a leaden grey color, and quite rustic in appearance, with layers of cloud patterns upon its body, likely the work of a blacksmithing master through a thousand beatings. The edges of the Lead Cloud Sword had many notches of varying sizes, imbuing the once smooth blade with an irregular sawtooth pattern. With these three swords in hand, Tuck became enraptured. His eyes shone brightly, his spirit was intensely consumed, at times focusing on the main sword, and at times intently observing the two subsidiary swords. His brows tightly furrowed, he was lost in deep thought as if he had encountered some supremely difficult puzzle. Suddenly, Tuck exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡± The next moment, he channeled his mana into the three swords. Seeing this, Biwa immediately shouted nervously, ¡°Be careful!¡± Tuck turned a deaf ear, his gaze fixed firmly on the three swords. As his mana flowed into them, the swords gradually started to glow. Each sword¡¯s halo was different; Mirror Reflection Sword radiated bright light, Lead Cloud Sword emitted a dull light, and Golden Sun Sword shone with dazzling golden sunlight. When the halos expanded to the size of a washbasin, the three swords lifted from Tuck¡¯s hands and floated leisurely in mid-air. Tuck looked up slightly, staring intently at the three swords, then suddenly smiled, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± With a thought, he triggered the Alchemy Array within them. The Array activated, and the runes within sprang to life. The Golden Sun Sword and the Lead Cloud Sword were drawn to the side of the Mirror Reflection Sword like magnets. The halos around the three swords began to contract and then further contract, gradually converging on the swords themselves. The original forms of the three swords were barely perceptible, showing only glimmers of gold and lead gray, while the Mirror Reflection Sword¡¯s light astonishingly disappeared, beginning to reflect the luster of gold and lead gray. ¡°You, you, you¡­¡± Seeing this scene, Biwa gasped in a low voice. Tuck¡¯s thoughts shifted, and the Mirror Reflection Sword began to hover unsteadily, with the other two swords constantly maintaining themselves around the main sword, following its flight. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family, who had been keeping his composure, also shifted slightly, a trace of worry gradually emerging in his heart. Tuck laughed heartily as if he had figured out a puzzling problem, ¡°Worthy of the handiwork of an Alchemy Grandmaster! So, the Alchemy Array could be designed like this, to be used in such a way.¡± He withdrew his spirit and Mana, and the three swords fell back into his hands. Tuck returned the Mirror Reflection Sword and the Golden Sun Sword to the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family but kept the Lead Cloud Sword for himself. He ran his finger along the blade filled with tiny notches and smiled, ¡°The Lead Cloud Sword has been slightly damaged, and its coordination with the other two swords has obvious flaws. I¡¯ll repair it right now.¡± ¡°Ah?!¡± Biwa let out a low cry, about to stop Tuck, but was held back by the Hundred Needle Family Clan Leader. Tuck paid no attention to the two men before him, his whole body surging with Mana, as an intricate Alchemy Array rose around him. He stood within the Array, surrounded by swirling runes and operating tracks, which produced pitch-black flames. The black fire burned on the surface of the Lead Cloud Sword; countless materials were transported from beneath the deck according to the Array, appearing out of thin air and swiftly processed by Tuck, all being added into the black fire. The black fire dissipated, revealing the smoothed and evenly repaired blade. The next moment, he stopped his Mana, dispersed the Array, and nonchalantly tossed the Lead Cloud Sword back to Biwa. ¡°Take it, I¡¯ve already repaired it,¡± Tuck said with a self-assured smile. Biwa was skeptical and immediately infused it with Fighting energy, to his disbelief and surprise: ¡°It¡¯s really repaired?¡± ¡°Let me see!¡± The Hundred Needle Family Clan Leader drew the main sword. With the Clan Leader¡¯s Fighting energy, the Mirror Reflection Sword became transparent, reflecting the external radiance. Upon being summoned, the Lead Cloud Sword immediately left Biwa¡¯s hand and floated back to the side of the Mirror Reflection Sword. Both swords emitted halos, and their auras faintly connected. ¡°It¡¯s truly repaired!¡± The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family felt a jolt in his heart, and his regard for Tuck shifted dramatically. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of the esteemed Tuck and never expected he would exceed his reputation upon meeting. We have attempted to repair the Lead Cloud Sword many times and understand the difficulty of this task fully well. To think that in your hands, it would be so effortlessly accomplished,¡± the Clan Leader praised Tuck profusely. ¡°How can I possibly repay you, to express my gratitude?¡± Tuck laughed heartily and waved his hand, ¡°No need to thank me, our dealings are nothing but fair trade.¡± ¡°Like the ship ticket, I saved you because of your inherent value; therefore, your ticket was priced so high.¡± ¡°From these three swords, I have learned much.¡± ¡°Previously, my teacher set me a task for which I had no clue and was quite troubled.¡± ¡°Having just seen this combination of an Alchemy Array, I received crucial inspiration and found an innovative and correct approach to solve the problem.¡± ¡°Usually, what I learned wouldn¡¯t warrant my personal intervention in repairing this sword.¡± ¡°But solving the problem at hand, I had to use this knowledge urgently.¡± ¡°So, personally repairing the Lead Cloud Sword is, in essence, an equitable exchange.¡± The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family finally understood, ¡°That¡¯s how it is.¡± Now that Tuck had solved the pressing issue, his mood was exceptionally good, and he began to view the Clan Leader and Biwa with even greater fondness. He said with a beaming smile, ¡°May I ask where you will be headed next?¡± ¡°My destination is Fire Island. This time, it¡¯s to meet with the Island Master to request her assistance in forging the lower half for a giant puppet.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not out of the way, I could transport you to your destination.¡± Biwa¡¯s heart skipped a beat; their destination was indeed Fire Island. However, the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family shook his head, ¡°Our destination is Vertical Strip Island.¡± Tuck thought for a moment, a tinge of regret in his voice, ¡°Then I am unable to convey you, as Vertical Strip Island is quite far from Fire Island, and my time is limited. However, we are on the same sea route, so you can board another ship at Fire Island.¡± The Clan Leader and Biwa quickly expressed their thanks. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 381 - 381: Section 168: Caught the Justice Pirate Group Chapter 381: Section 168: Caught the Justice Pirate Group Dawn. The sea was shrouded in a light mist, and the sound of the tide was constant. The Treasure Chest sailed slowly through the fog. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Vice Admiral Tan Mo, take a look at this intelligence report.¡± After breakfast, the City Lord of Dun Dao came to the captain¡¯s cabin, a worried expression on his face. Tan Mo took the report and browsed through it briefly. The details of the intelligence concerned the subsequent developments in Dun Dao City. A team of spies had infiltrated and not only detained the person in charge of the Purple Vine Guild¡¯s shops, subjecting them to severe torture, but also implicated others, turning the places where alchemy bombs were installed upside-down. ¡°These secret agents are still investigating. The scene we set up together in the beginning, it won¡¯t reveal anything, will it?¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao frowned in distress. He was already regretting it. If he had known the Empire would investigate with such intensity, he wouldn¡¯t have plotted with Tan Mo in the first place. Tan Mo¡¯s expression also changed slightly. The Empire¡¯s investigation was continuing and seemed to be intensifying, which brought more doubt and concern to his mind. However, what was most important for the moment was to secure the Golden Battle Power in front of him. The next moment, Tan Mo smiled and nodded to the City Lord of Dun Dao, ¡°The situation does seem a bit off.¡± ¡°A bit? It¡¯s clearly very wrong!¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao shook his head, ¡°Kan Qiao was killed by the Justice Pirate Group, and the three captains of the Yao Wang clan have lost their lives. The Empire is still investigating everything related to the Justice Pirate Group. What is the deal with these pirates? We are currently pursuing them. Don¡¯t you have any inside information? At this point, don¡¯t keep me in the dark anymore.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao knew that Vice Admiral Tan Mo was a member of Yi Gui¡¯s faction. Tan Mo stroked his chin, pondering the issue. Ever since he first received a direct military order on Blade Mountain Island from the Navy, he had sensed that something was amiss. Why did the capture of a Silver Level pirate group require two Navy vice admirals and even necessitate contracting the City Lord of Dun Dao? Kan Qiao was dead, and the three captains of the Yao Wang clan had also met their ends. Tan Mo knew more than the City Lord of Dun Dao. Tan Mo knew the cause of Kan Qiao¡¯s death and felt it was a pity. Had it not been for a moment of carelessness, the Fishman Divine Son would have had to pay a much greater price to kill Kan Qiao. The deaths of Yao Wan, Yao Ming, and Yao Gui sent a chill through Tan Mo. These three had fought desperately to hold back the Justice Pirate Group, but Bi Tong, the supposed reinforcement, didn¡¯t rush to the battlefield but went straight to the Sky Pillar Sea Eye instead. This made a fool of Wei Sheng, the Navy Marshal, and intensified the political strife between the two factions. ¡°If they hadn¡¯t been delaying desperately, with the Glory Light Charge combat skill, the three members of the Yao Wang clan would have been likely to escape successfully.¡± ¡°Alas, the upper echelons have obviously hidden a lot. It¡¯s better to steer clear of the Justice Pirate Group as much as possible.¡± With that thought in mind, Tan Mo deliberately slowed the fleet¡¯s cruising speed. Of course, he wasn¡¯t overt about it but changed course to deliberately enter the Fog Zone, finding a suitable pretext. Tan Mo looked at the City Lord of Dun Dao: ¡°As for related intelligence, I don¡¯t know any more than you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve tried to get information from Admiral Yi Gui, but to no response.¡± ¡°However, we don¡¯t need to panic. The spies aren¡¯t investigating us but the Justice Pirate Group. Although Admiral Yi Gui didn¡¯t directly address my doubts, she also informed me that Vice Admiral Kushui has been dispatched. Vice Admiral Kushui majors in Water Magic and minors in Divination, and he has already tracked down the whereabouts of the Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°We are still a long way from the Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°Plus, after being attacked by sea beasts in the Fog Zone, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll need to make repairs again.¡± At this point, Tan Mo gave the City Lord of Dun Dao a meaningful look. The City Lord of Dun Dao was momentarily stunned, then nodded: ¡°Correct, we faced a powerful sea beast attack and must make repairs. Where should we do so?¡± Tan Mo smiled: ¡°I¡¯ve already figured it out. After passing through this foggy area, the ideal port for rest and supplies is Fire Island.¡± ¡°Fire Island?¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao caught on, greatly appreciating this decision, ¡°Excellent. That island was once one of the beachheads for the Demons¡¯ invasion of the Main World. Now, the defenses on the island are strict, and it¡¯s home to the legendary Fire Giant. It has three ports and eight docks, with Sulfur Flame Port being a large one. It is indeed very suitable for us to resupply and rest!¡± The sea surface was calm. The Drifter sailed stealthily about ten meters below the surface. As the captain of the Drifter, Vice Admiral Kushui from the Imperial Navy was currently in the Meditation Room. He was a middle-aged Human Race male with bushy eyebrows and small eyes, always giving off a somber vibe. In front of him, there was a washbasin. The basin was filled with water. He held a small Magic Wand in his hand, a reddish-brown wand resembling a tree branch, no longer than an arm, slender, with the thickest part being about as thick as an adult man¡¯s thumb. Vice Admiral Kushui chanted spells continuously, his voice very soft, almost a whisper. This spell casting involved not just incantations but gestures as well. His wrist moved gently, following some mysterious and miraculous rules, with the tip of the reddish-brown wand tracing patterns in mid-air. As the wand¡¯s tip passed through the air, it left behind a trail of light lines that were interconnected, some straight, some curved, gradually outlining a mysterious rune. The runes emitted a faint glow, and once fully drawn, they no longer hovered in mid-air but slowly fell down. Like feathers, they landed in the basin and dissolved in the water in the blink of an eye, disappearing completely. This was the third rune that Kushui had drawn, each different from the last, each with its own profound meaning. Vice Admiral Kushui ceased his chanting, stared at the smooth and mirror-like surface of the water in the basin, took a deep breath, made slight adjustments, and began to chant again. This time, his voice was several times louder than before. Mana surged through his body, continuously flowing into his magic wand, accumulating within it more and more. When it reached its limit, Kushui¡¯s body shook, and the end of his wand suddenly burst into a strange and breathtaking light. The light was brilliant and dazzling, like lightning striking into the basin. The basin was like a painting, with not a ripple on the surface of the water. The strange light was like a burst of paint, intruding upon the canvas in a myriad of colors, leaving behind a trail of splendid marks. The various colors and lines were dissimilar, forming a stark and abrupt contrast to one another. Then, these colors too faded away. Gradually, a magic rune emerged from the basin. This rune was different from the previous three, but upon close inspection, one could find similar patterns from the three runes reflected in this new one. Kushui¡¯s gaze immediately focused on this rune, interpreting it rapidly and with utmost seriousness. Soon, the rune disappeared. Kushui relaxed, his expression one of exhaustion. This was his divination spell, and the result of this divination was auspicious. ¡°Based on this divination, is now the best time for me to attack?¡± Vice Admiral Kushui hesitated for a moment, then finally struck his palm with his fist, ¡°Lord Yi Gui pays a lot of attention to the Justice Pirate Group; with Kan Qiao and others having suffered losses, if I can take down this pirate group now, Lord Yi Gui will surely lavish praise on me. Let¡¯s do it!¡± Vice Admiral Kushui left the Meditation Room, quickly entered the Captain¡¯s Cabin, and issued combat orders. The demon energy ship of the Justice Pirate Group sailed on the sea when suddenly, several alchemy flagfish swam up from beneath the water. One by one, the flagfish pierced into the hull of the ship, and the bombs installed within them quickly activated, resulting in a fierce explosion. ¡°Enemy attack!¡± Xu Ma was the first to notice something was amiss and shouted loudly. Violently shaken by the explosion, the demon energy ship of the Justice Pirate Group bustled with activity. The door to the Captain¡¯s Cabin burst open, and the Fishman Divine Son, Qiu, Di Lou, and others called out, directing the pirates in combat. Onboard the Drifter, Vice Admiral Kushui¡¯s expression was one of cold indifference as he ordered the release of more alchemy flagfish. This time, more flagfish charged towards the bottom of the pirate ship. On the pirate ship, sailors dumped ice-blue oil at the ship¡¯s railings, which merged with the seawater, reducing the explosive power of the alchemy flagfish significantly. Some of the flagfish couldn¡¯t even detonate at all. The Navy¡¯s offensive effectiveness was immediately diminished. Vice Admiral Kushui furrowed his brows, not troubled, but puzzled. ¡°Strange, why aren¡¯t their higher-ups taking action?¡± ¡°I can understand the Golden Level demon energy ship not showing up. The strong ones not taking action, but using this method to alleviate our offensive, isn¡¯t very effective. Even if the Silver Level bard hasn¡¯t made a move, what about the Black Iron Level mages? They¡¯re also staying put?¡± Vice Admiral Kushui continued to issue orders, and the Navy changed its attack strategy. After several successive attempts, the Justice Pirate Group deteriorated, being pressed into a disadvantage. The Golden Level Deep Sea Monster Fish never appeared, and the island¡¯s upper echelon continued to command without engaging in combat themselves. Not only the Navy noticed something was amiss, but the pirates felt it too. Finally, when Vice Admiral Kushui personally cast spells, releasing several Golden Level Water Elements, the pirates immediately collapsed, resulting in a mass surrender. Many members of the Justice Pirate Group were exposed as illusions. ¡°They¡¯ve run! These few demon energy ships left behind were just a decoy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been deceived; the result of my previous divination was wrong!¡± ¡°No wonder the divination outcome before the battle was very auspicious; they must have secretly boarded that fish-shaped demon energy ship. Judging by these pirates¡¯ behavior, they were also kept in the dark.¡± Vice Admiral Kushui sighed, immediately realizing that although the battle was won, any major credit was now out of reach. After ordering his subordinates to clean up the battlefield and imprison the captives, he returned to the Meditation Room and began divining again. He needed to divine the whereabouts of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. However, divination after divination, each process went smoothly, but each result was different. ¡°Someone is interfering with me!¡± ¡°None of these three results is likely to be correct.¡± ¡°What should I do now?¡± Vice Admiral Kushui, brow furrowed with worry, could not think of a solution and, out of desperation, could only report this outcome to Admiral Yi Gui. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 382 - 382: Section 169: Yi Gui and Mo Lao Chapter 382: Section 169: Yi Gui and Mo Lao Bright sunshine filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting light all over the bedroom. On the plush bed, a blonde beauty slowly opened her beautiful eyes after a full night¡¯s sleep. She didn¡¯t get up right away; instead, she lay in the warm and fluffy bedding, orchestrating her spirit. The Magic Device in the corner of the bedroom began to operate slowly, playing light and cheerful music. She basked in the sunshine for a while before finally sitting up. Stretching languorously, the blonde beauty¡¯s impressive and graceful figure was undeniably displayed in that moment. She threw off the covers and slipped her snow-white feet into fluffy slippers before walking to one wall of the bedroom. There, a Magic Mirror over two meters tall was placed. The surface of the Magic Mirror suddenly brightened, and a voice emerged from it, ¡°Good morning, my beautiful mistress.¡± The blonde beauty smiled slightly, then with a hint of distress, she asked, ¡°What should I wear today? Mirror Spirit, give me your suggestion.¡± The Mirror Spirit replied, ¡°Mistress, you look stunning in anything! But I suggest you wear this set today. This tight-fitting leather armor accentuates your figure to the utmost¡ªsexy yet serious, authoritative yet enchanting. Especially now, since the ¡®Safety¡¯ has already arrived at the Voodoo Rainforest. This outfit, created from a blend of Dragon Skin and Snake Skin leather, offers high resistance to poisons.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± the blonde beauty expressed surprise, ¡°We¡¯ve already reached the Voodoo Rainforest?¡± ¡°Yes, mistress. Three hours after you fell asleep,¡± replied the Mirror Spirit, while a black and red tight-fitting leather outfit appeared on the mirror surface. The blonde tapped the mirror, and the surface rippled like water, spreading outward until it reached the frame and vanished. The leather outfit displayed in the mirror disappeared, replaced by a thin and smooth silk nightgown. This pink silk nightgown was precisely what the blonde beauty was wearing when she got up. Now, she had already donned the tight leather armor. As the silk nightgown faded away, the mirror began to reflect the current appearance of the blonde beauty. Standing before the Magic Mirror, she swayed her body, trying out various poses. The leather armor fitted her snow-white skin perfectly, outlining her figure even more enticingly, from her breasts to her waist and hips, the curves exaggerated. ¡°Not bad, but not enough,¡± the blonde beauty murmured, squinting her eyes with a slight smile. ¡°Then I recommend this outfit, mistress,¡± the Mirror Spirit immediately suggested. In the mirror appeared a nun¡¯s habit. This outfit, also at the Holy Domain Level, offered excellent protection against spirit attacks and dark magic. ¡°Let¡¯s wear this one, too.¡± The blonde beauty pressed her hand against her chest, her leather outfit rapidly vanishing, replaced in the mirror by the nun¡¯s habit. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This immediately added a lot more elegance and dignity to her demeanor. Her snow-white skin and clear eyes, beneath the black and white hues of the nun¡¯s habit, gave off a pure and serene charm. ¡°Second outfit and still not enough,¡± said the blonde beauty. Once again, a different outfit emerged on the mirror surface¡ªthis time, an exaggeratedly flared Princess Dress. Her eyes brightened, ¡°I really like this dress. Strange, how do I have this outfit?¡± The Mirror Spirit quickly replied, ¡°This was presented to you at the beginning of this month by Vice Admiral Kushui, your subordinate. As you can see, it¡¯s also a piece of Holy Domain Level armor. It can¡­¡± ¡°Wait,¡± the blonde¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°I remember I dispatched Vice Admiral Kushui to pursue the Justice Pirate Group. What¡¯s his situation now?¡± ¡°According to the latest report from Vice Admiral Kushui, he attacked the Justice Pirate Group, only to find that the pursued demon energy ships were decoys, abandoned pirates. The main body of the Justice Pirate Group has disappeared aboard the Sea Monster demon energy ship. Currently, Vice Admiral Kushui is waiting for your further instructions.¡± The blonde was none other than Yi Gui, one of the three Legendary Mages of the Navy. Hearing this news, Yi Gui chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s a pity, but perhaps it¡¯s a good thing for Kushui. After all, the Justice Pirate Group is believed to harbor a Goddess¡¯s true form.¡± ¡°This time let it pass, seeing the outfit he provided as his contribution, I won¡¯t punish him.¡± ¡°I never expected much from him anyway, just let him handle it himself.¡± After a moment, Yi Gui left the bedroom and pushed open the trapdoor above his head and stepped down the stairs to the deck of the ship. Her ship was a Holy Domain Level demon energy ship, but at this moment, it looked like an ordinary small wooden boat. The small wooden boat didn¡¯t even have a canopy, and Yi Gui was the only one on board. At this time, Yi Gui was wearing an exaggerated golden-pink princess dress with a loose skirt and a magic pendant lying on the snow-white chest. She wore silk long gloves and held a parasol in one hand. The parasol was cute in style, small and exquisite, with a pink surface and white lace on the edge. The small wooden boat slowly made its way through the thick green swamp. Around it, the rainforest was dense to the extreme, with thriving branches and leaves overlapping, blocking out the sunlight. The air was rich in moisture forming a thin mist, both wet and hot. Thick vines and green snakes intertwined, making them hard to differentiate. Red-faced baboons peered through the bushes, and a flock of parrots was startled and screeched as they flew away. After several turns, the waterway reached its end. At the end was a wooden hut, looking dilapidated from years of disrepair. The golden-haired beauty, dressed in a fancy princess dress, holding a cute parasol, smiled towards the small hut and said, ¡°Heehee, Mo Lai, I came to see you.¡± The door of the small hut immediately opened, and a female Naga, rolling her eyes at Yi Gui, said, ¡°What are you here for?¡± ¡°We¡¯re best friends, aren¡¯t you happy to see me?¡± Yi Gui covered her chest with her hand, ¡°I¡¯m so heartbroken.¡± The female Naga, Mo Lai, chuckled, ¡°Come in, I had a premonition you would come. Is it about the Justice Pirate Group?¡± Yi Gui¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, ¡°Mo Lai, you truly deserve to be a Legendary Divination Master; you¡¯re amazing. I also have a Divination Master under me, but he can¡¯t compare to you at all.¡± ¡°Hehe. Are you talking about Kushui?¡± ¡°Yes, that useless man,¡± said Yi Gui as she walked into the small hut. The small hut contained a vast space inside. It was not her first time here; Yi Gui was no exception. Near Fire Island. The Deep Sea Monster Fish slowly approached a beach. Inside the captain¡¯s cabin. ¡°This place is rarely visited, we just need to dive for about ten minutes, and we can get onto the island,¡± said Zi Di, her hand on a crystal ball. The image emerging in the crystal ball was that of a desolate beach. Cang Xu suddenly burst through the cabin door, his face full of joy, hands holding dozens of Pearl Bubbles, ¡°Our prayers worked, look, we got a big haul this time!¡± Apart from the usual prayers, there was also a more special way of praying. The exact ritual varied depending on the deity. According to the records in the Tower Spirit, the Justice Pirate Group conducted a special prayer. They split off several demon energy ships to serve as decoys, deceiving both pirates and the Navy. Cang Xu pondered, ¡°Based on the records, it seems that we successfully deceived at least one Holy Domain Level being this time.¡± The Fishman youth sighed, ¡°I just hope Xu Ma and the others can survive.¡± Zi Di took the youth¡¯s hand, ¡°Following us, they were doomed. This way, there¡¯s a chance of survival. We all know the Navy¡¯s disciplines; capturing pirates earns more credit than killing them. If they surrender, their chances of survival are much higher.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­¡± the Fishman youth said heavily, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry and head to Fire Island.¡± Chapter 383 - 383: Section 170: Hua Sheng and Asa Chapter 383: Section 170: Hua Sheng and Asa Boom¡­ Amidst the thunderous, muffled sounds, plumes of black smoke rose. The black smoke, constrained by the magic device, did not disperse in all directions but soared straight up, gathering above the Fire City into thick, roiling black clouds. The young man, Zi Di, and the others looked up at this scene with a hint of surprise on their faces. Not long ago, they had secretly infiltrated Fire Island, making their way directly to Fire City at the southeastern corner of the island. Fire Island is a super island, incomparable to Dao Mountain Island. It features three seaports and a terrestrial city, Fire City, which also serves as the main city of the island and is grand in scale. Due to Fire Island being the only super island in the nearby seas, it serves as a hub for economy, military, and culture; thus, it has a complex and diverse population. The young man, Zi Di, and their group blended in seamlessly and thus easily arrived at the gate of Fire City. However, they were about to face a checkpoint. At the entrance of Fire City stood two gigantic warrior statues radiating Holy Domain Level aura, evidently two war golems. The golem on the left of the gate held a sword with one hand and a shield with the other. The one on the right propped up a two-handed battle hammer with both hands. Both golems were slightly bowed, appearing to be in a dormant state. Beneath the golems were the City Guards of Fire City. These city guards were also very tall, at least three meters in height, each clad in armor with well-developed muscles. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The City Lord of Fire City is the Fire Giant Ayo, a Legendary level Mage who excels in alchemy, specifically in crafting golems.¡± ¡°These two Holy Domain Level war golems must be her creations.¡± ¡°It is said that, unlike the other ports, Fire City¡¯s city guards comprise solely of giants and also serve as Ayo¡¯s personal guard.¡± Cang Xu narrated leisurely. Having once been a Noble Housekeeper, he was thoroughly familiar with the affairs of various nobles. Although Fire City is isolated overseas, it remains a major force within the Night Spirit Sea Domain, more significant than a Marquis within the Empire¡¯s mainland, especially in the current grand scheme of human¡¯s attack on the Beast Race. ¡°Ayo¡¯s clan is the largest remaining giant tribe on the Holy Bright Continent.¡± ¡°Overwhelmed by the might of the Holy Emperor, Ayo surrendered to protect her tribe.¡± ¡°More than a thousand years ago, when demons attacked the Main World, Fire Island was one of the Demon Army¡¯s strongholds. The volcano here connects with the abyss.¡± ¡°After defeating the demons on land, the grand army assembled by the Holy Bright Empire fought its way here, conquering Fire Island.¡± ¡°At Ayo¡¯s request, the Holy Emperor allowed her to lead the giant tribe and settle here. Fire City, as well as the Sulfur Flame Port, were subsequently established by Ayo and her giants, with assistance from other races and considerable investment from the Holy Bright Empire.¡± Through Cang Xu¡¯s narration, everyone gained a deeper understanding of Fire City. ¡°I¡¯ll go first,¡± the goblin Sanda suddenly grew impatient. Zong Ge¡¯s condition was deteriorating rapidly, showing no signs of improvement. The young man and the others had been keeping him alive with various scrolls and potions, but now they were nearing their limit. Fortunately, after successfully deceiving the Tower Spirit, the Justice Pirate Group obtained crucial information on using the Green Jade Gold Coffin from the war merchant¡¯s data. If they could set up this Alchemy Array, the Justice Pirate Group could enhance the healing effect of the green liquid and temporarily remove Zong Ge from the Green Jade Gold Coffin, thereby treating him. However, setting up this alchemy array required many alchemy materials. Even including the stock from the Deep Sea Monster Fish, there were still many gaps. ¡°Wait,¡± the young man stopped the impatient goblin Sanda, ¡°Let me go first. I have a Blood Core, so I have a better chance of escaping if discovered.¡± ¡°Sir,¡± Lan Zao immediately dissuaded. Cang Xu also said, ¡°Sir, let Sanda go. You are the highest combat power we have here.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zi Di agreed, ¡°If anything unexpected happens, you are the most capable of dealing with it among us.¡± The young man was not one to seek glory recklessly; he pondered for a moment and then slowly nodded to Sanda. Watched by everyone, Sanda slowly walked towards the city gate. After enduring a rough interrogation by the giant City Guards, he paid the city entry fee and successfully entered Fire City. Seeing this, everyone sighed in relief. It seemed that the Pearl Bubble was effective and had successfully deceived the city guards. Following Sanda, Lan Zao, Cang Xu, and others gradually passed through the gate and entered Fire City. However, just as the young man was passing through, an incident occurred. Everyone¡¯s expression changed, and at that moment, they all felt the Pearl Bubble on them rapidly dissipating. With a close call, the young man successfully regrouped with the others. He had neither used the Fishman Bloodline nor assumed the Dragon-man form but had switched to a common-looking Human Race Black Iron Level Bloodline. The group initially dispersed and then regrouped in a small alley at the end of the street. ¡°It must have been a powerful being targeting us, using Divination or Prophecy!¡± ¡°At least a Legend, otherwise the Pearl Bubble wouldn¡¯t have dissipated so rapidly.¡± ¡°We must hurry now. We obtained quite a bit of Pearl Bubble this time, but it can¡¯t withstand such rapid consumption.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Gathering the alchemy materials on the list is very time-consuming and labor-intensive.¡± ¡°First, let¡¯s check if the Clan Leader has arrived here.¡± At the same time, in the Voodoo Rainforest. The female Naga, Mo Lie, was in the cabin, her aura had greatly weakened, and she looked palely at the soil in the wooden basin. A grass doll was lying on top of the soil. Yi Gui¡¯s expression was solemn; she had witnessed the whole process, seeing grass grow from the soil, condensing and entwining to form the shape of a doll. Then, the next moment, the grass doll collapsed headfirst into the soil, and within seconds, completely withered. Afterwards, the withered grass ignited without fire, scorching the wooden basin and the soil. The soil took shape in the flames, as if invisible hands were molding it. Eventually, the soil in the basin turned into a chaotic flow of mud¡ªresembling streams of water entwined like a group of snakes. ¡°As you see, the prophecy failed,¡± Mo Lie opened a potion bottle and poured a large gulp of black liquid down her throat. Her complexion somewhat improved. Yi Gui nodded slightly, ¡°The opponent is the goddess Mei Lan, whose main role is deceit and disguise; one failure is not surprising. But her main source of faith has been destroyed. The Charming Blue Divine Sect is almost annihilated, and the Navy is capturing fishmen throughout Sea Eye City.¡± ¡°How long can she hold on then?¡± Mo Lie rolled her eyes dramatically, ¡°Do you want me to make another divination?¡± ¡°Do you think I am seeking death?!¡± Yi Gui took out a potion, ¡°I¡¯ve brought you this, a Longevity Potion that can extend your life.¡± Mo Lie¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Even so, I can only divinate for you again tomorrow. Those are the rules!¡± Yi Gui¡¯s expression became anxious, ¡°Please, after tomorrow, the information about the secret relocation of the main body of the Justice Pirate Group will be completely exposed. We will lose the initiative. By then, diviners from the Navy or the Empire will take action.¡± Mo Lie sighed, ¡°Rules are rules, it¡¯s not mine to change; it¡¯s the Ancestor Spirit¡¯s rule. Unless you can produce a holy object, only then will the Ancestor Spirit continue to help me with the divination.¡± The Voodoo Sect that Mo Lie believed in worshiped not a single deity, but several Ancestor Spirits. Yi Gui gritted her teeth, managing a wry smile, ¡°Holy objects of the Voodoo Sect, where could I possibly find them?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve told you before to make an effort to collect holy objects regularly, but you just scavenge through your clothes,¡± Mo Lie snorted. Yi Gui voiced her complaint, ¡°Haven¡¯t I made an effort? I¡¯ve collected information through many channels, but holy objects of the Voodoo Sect are extremely rare. What can I do?¡± ¡°Beautiful ladies, is the holy object you¡¯re discussing the one in my hand?¡± Just then, suddenly, a voice came. Yi Gui and Mo Lie¡¯s faces changed drastically as they both exclaimed, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Ladies, please, don¡¯t panic. I have no ill intentions.¡± The light shifted, and an elf swordsman appeared out of nowhere in the cabin. He was tall and slender, with a handsome appearance, long ears, dark green hair. He wore a smile on his lips, his attire was opulent, and he wore a thin sword at his waist, its hilt resembling a rosebud. Yi Gui¡¯s expression changed again as she recognized the elf swordsman¡¯s identity, ¡°Hua Sheng!¡± He was a grand sword sage among the Wood Elves, a legendary pirate on par with Firebeard. Mo Lie then reacted, her expression easing slightly, a glint of realization flashing through her mind, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s you. You wouldn¡¯t also be here to inquire about the location of the Justice Pirate Group, would you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly it,¡± Hua Sheng bowed slightly, giving a gracious nod, ¡°Miss Mo Lie, I must seek your help this time.¡± ¡°When did you two become acquainted?¡± Yi Gui turned to Mo Lie, her eyes wide. Mo Lie shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m just a divination master, you need to understand. I¡¯ve been trying to collect holy objects for the Ancestor Spirits, but in your eyes, those clothes are far more valuable.¡± Just then, strands of black mist squeezed through the door gap. A voice came from the mist, ¡°Oh? Are there many old friends here?¡± Seeing the characteristic Dark Magic, Yi Gui and Hua Sheng¡¯s expressions darkened slightly, while Mo Lie said, ¡°Welcome, Asa.¡± The black mist coalesced into a humanoid form, but he had demon horns on his head. He held a magic wand, sweeping his blood-red pupils over the three, eventually focusing on Mo Lie, his voice hoarse and unpleasant, ¡°This time, I¡¯ve brought you three holy objects, o diviner of the Voodoo Sect.¡± ¡°I only want to know one thing!¡± ¡°Where is the Justice Pirate Group?¡± Yi Gui glared again, staring at Mo Lie, ¡°You¡¯re in contact with Asa too?¡± Mo Lie laughed awkwardly, patting her best friend¡¯s shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s a trade, take it easy!¡± Yi Gui crossed her arms, ¡°Hua Sheng, Asa, and just one more, Firebeard, and all three legendary pirates would be here. Did you hook up with Firebeard as well?¡± This time it was Mo Lie¡¯s turn to glare, ¡°What do you mean ¡®hook up¡¯? Please, I¡¯m just trying to collect holy objects!¡± ¡°Perhaps, Firebeard should also be arriving soon?¡± But Hua Sheng shook his head, ¡°He won¡¯t be coming.¡± ¡°Not long ago, he led his fleet out in full force, departing from Pirate City directly toward the Sky Pillar Sea Eye.¡± ¡°According to my covert sources, he has already rescued Feng Yao and others, obtaining firsthand information.¡± ¡°Subsequently, he scattered his fleet into more than a dozen groups, each taking different routes.¡± ¡°He likely already knows the location of the Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°We must stop him!¡± ¡°If he captures the divine body of Mei Lan, the new master of the pirate throne will be Firebeard.¡± Chapter 384 - 384: Section 171: The Afterglow of the Setting Sun Chapter 384: Section 171: The Afterglow of the Setting Sun Fire City. Zi Di, wearing a mask, was ushered into a quiet reception room. A merchant had been waiting in the reception room, ¡°Mage, I¡¯m told by my subordinates that you have some goods you need to unload?¡± Zi Di nodded slightly and spoke with a changed tone, ¡°These are samples, take a look at the goods first.¡± Saying so, Zi Di took out a firearm, a shield, and half a suit of leather armor from her spatial bag. The merchant immediately inspected them closely. The firearm was damaged, and both the shield and the leather armor were stained with blood. The merchant was indifferent to these signs of war, only concerned with the quality of the equipment. After a moment¡¯s inspection, the merchant nodded, ¡°Mage, if all of your goods are of this quality, then I can offer you this price.¡± Zi Di accepted the list of prices, glanced over them briefly, and then put them away, ¡°I still need to discuss this with others, you are only the first shop I¡¯ve visited.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± the merchant smiled. ¡°You can inquire with several more to find the best deal. But please forgive me for adding, in this business, it¡¯s not the bigger the scale or the higher the price, the better. What¡¯s crucial is reliability. Our shop has been in this business for well over eighty years.¡± Zi Di nodded, ¡°I will consider it.¡± The so-called business was in fact, fencing goods. Because Fire Island is the only super island in the nearby waters, with huge flows of people, the scale of ports, docks, and markets is considerable. This leads pirates after their raids to choose this place as their preferred spot to fence their loot. The firearm and other items Zi Di had taken out bore obvious Imperial Navy insignias. But the merchant acted as if he simply hadn¡¯t seen them. After leaving the shop, Zi Di immediately headed to the next store. In the early morning, members of the Justice Pirate Group entered Fire City, and, according to the plan, each acted on their own. Zi Di¡¯s mission was to fence goods to obtain funds for purchasing alchemy materials. These materials were not insignificant in scale, and some were quite valuable. The Justice Pirate Group had treasured items on hand, but divine artifacts and the like were absolutely impossible to sell off. After their time fleeing, they had also used up a great deal of supplies. By evening, as agreed, they secretly met up to update each other on their progress. The youth, Sanda, and Lan Zao were responsible for scouting around, each taking out their covertly marked maps. They combined their maps, revealing an outline of Fire City. They also had another important task, which was to search for any traces of Clan Leader Bai Zhen. So far, Clan Leader Bai Zhen hadn¡¯t set foot on Fire Island, and no special signs agreed upon had been discovered. Cang Xu was also responsible for reconnaissance, but he was surveying the critical areas of Fire City, the active volcano behind the city. Although the Justice Pirate Group lacked skilled scouts, Cang Xu was an Undead Mage. He used ghosts for reconnaissance, cloaking their presence with Undead Magic, often catching people off guard. ¡°I have found the correct entrance. The defenses are very strict, not only are Golden Level strongmen leading patrols, but there are also numerous hidden sentries.¡± ¡°That is only the outer perimeter. Given the defense arrangement, there are definitely Holy Domain Level guards in the inner circle.¡± ¡°Right now, I can only cast spells from here and remotely control the ghosts to infiltrate. But by doing so, I need to continuously cast spells, which will fluctuate my mana. Therefore, I¡¯m requesting more Pearl Bubble to cover me.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s request was immediately fulfilled. Zi Di lastly spoke of her purchasing, ¡°I have a buying plan for most of the materials. Only a few rare alchemy materials are left, with the red and blue crystal clusters being the most scarce. However, I have already found a seller and aim to finalize the deal tomorrow morning.¡± The one who had made the most progress was Zi Di. As the current Chairman of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, her insight into the market and negotiation abilities were formidable. The youth spoke solemnly, ¡°Our supply of Pearl Bubble is being depleted faster and faster.¡± ¡°That means the diviners and prophets tracking us are growing in number, and getting stronger.¡± ¡°The situation has become urgent. We must race against time!¡± From the window, a setting sun was nearing the horizon, seemingly signifying their last glimmers of hope were growing dim. Looking out at the sunset where the sea met the sky, Wei Sheng stood at the bow of his dual swords ship, unfazed by the beautiful scene before him, feeling rather downcast. About half an hour ago, he received intelligence. In the report, it detailed that Vice Admiral Kushui, leading his fleet, pursued and captured numerous members of the Justice Pirate Group. And the specific time of this battle didn¡¯t occur today, but yesterday! Wei Sheng was absolutely furious when he saw the intelligence report. He had accepted Yan Tan¡¯s order to act as the Navy Marshal, but aside from Yan Tan¡¯s faction, the other three major factions refused to heed his commands. Previously, Vice Admiral Bi Tong had maliciously toyed with him. Now, there was also Vice Admiral Kushui, who acted as if the Navy Headquarters didn¡¯t exist, only reporting to, and answering to, Admiral Yi Gui. The intelligence Wei Sheng received had been uncovered by a spy¡¯s investigation. ¡°Each going their own way!¡± ¡°They don¡¯t take me seriously at all¡­¡± ¡°Damn it!!¡± Wei Sheng clenched his fists in anger and slammed them onto the ship¡¯s railing. The current situation was not favorable to him. Not only had the upper echelons of the Justice Pirate Group vanished, but Firebeard had also made a significant move. At the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, Firebeard demonstrated formidable combat power, defeating both the Barbarians and the Navy, and effortlessly rescued Feng Yao and others. Following that, he dispersed his entire fleet, with each pirate ship setting off in a different direction, blossoming everywhere. ¡°Firebeard has obtained first-hand information from Feng Yao!¡± ¡°Feng Yao is cursed by the Love God, and based on the latest intelligence analysis, his beloved is very likely to be the Goddess Mei Lan. Thus, he may be able to point us in the right direction.¡± ¡°That bastard Firebeard must be after the Goddess herself.¡± ¡°I must stop him!¡± Among the three legendary pirate groups, the Firebeard Pirates had the largest scale and the strongest comprehensive strength. If Firebeard managed to plunder the Goddess Mei Lan successfully, he will undoubtedly rise to the top and might even claim the throne as the new King of Pirates. The exact probabilities are hard to estimate. Because historically, there has never been a case of a pirate plundering the body of a deity. ¡°Speaking of which, Bi Tong has stolen the throne of Goddess Mei Lan, now ranking first on the Pirate City¡¯s Holy Tablet. Ridiculous, it¡¯s a disgrace to the Imperial Navy!!¡± Navy Headquarters, Big Military Port. Admiral Bi Tong stood on the balcony, watching the sinking sun that had mostly submerged into the water. His trance-like expression eased slightly, and his gaze refocused, becoming sharp and clear. ¡°The throne of Goddess Mei Lan is hard to suppress; the Divinity it contains doesn¡¯t match me at all.¡± Bi Tong sighed to himself. He had been suppressing the Divine Artifact for several days, and it was extremely arduous. Bi Tong¡¯s legendary concept was space, while the Divine concept of the throne of Goddess Mei Lan lay in deception and trickery; the intersection between the two was minimal. Bi Tong was now beginning to understand Zhao Ya. ¡°That guy¡¯s strength is actually stronger than when he fought me!¡± ¡°He had been suppressing the throne of Goddess Mei Lan in Subspace for a long time, exhausting a great deal. This allowed me to get the upper hand during our fight.¡± Just thinking about the confrontation at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, Bi Tong¡¯s vision seemed to ignite with flames, and his body also seemed to feel an unbearable heat. Firebeard¡¯s strength had been deeply embedded in his heart. ¡°Luckily, I can break open space and my ability to retreat far surpasses his. This monster, he¡¯s nearly divine!¡± Bi Tong stayed on the balcony to rest for a while before turning to go back inside. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He couldn¡¯t stay out too long¡ªwithout his suppression, the throne of Goddess Mei Lan would try to fly away. The Divine Artifact held deceptive abilities and trickery as part of its Divinity. If it got out of sight, Bi Tong would have great difficulty detecting it. However, just as Bi Tong turned around, the sunlight suddenly intensified, bathing the balcony in bright light. ¡°ENEMY ATTACK!!!¡± the next moment, a piercing alarm went off in the Navy Headquarters. Bi Tong immediately turned around, only to see the sunset turning into sunrise, and the sea surface igniting with raging flames. A towering figure, stepping on the flames, was approaching the Big Military Port, moving slowly but rapidly. Bi Tong¡¯s eyes shrank sharply, and a chill surged through his heart: ¡°Fire, Firebeard?!¡± That night, Firebeard ascended upon the Holy Bright Empire¡¯s Navy Headquarters. Chapter 385 - 385: Section 172: Red Flame Tsunami Chapter 385: Section 172: Red Flame Tsunami ¡°Is this guy really daring to attack the Navy Headquarters!?¡± ¡°How dare he do this?!¡± After the shock, Admiral Bi Tong was filled with raging fury. If the top combat power was counted, the Imperial Navy of the Holy Bright Empire had four Legends, and there were three legendary pirate groups. However, the pirate groups acted independently of each other. The Imperial Navy had not been vigorously hunting down pirates because the sea area was too vast. There were very few direct confrontations between the top powers of both sides. Battles like the one at the Sky Pillar Sea Eye were extremely rare. It was only due to Mei Lan¡¯s Divine Seat that there had been a conflict of legendary combatants. The Imperial Navy had not massively dealt with pirates, and the pirates hadn¡¯t troubled the Empire too much either. After all, the Holy Bright Empire was the strongest nation in the Main World, and although merchant ships had been attacked by pirates, pirates treated all continental ships equally. There had never been a frontal attack on the Empire¡¯s ports by any pirate group! But now, Firebeard had done just that. He not only attacked the imperial port but directly struck at the Holy Bright Empire¡¯s Navy Headquarters! ¡°Madman!¡± ¡°Do you know what consequences your actions will bring?¡± Bi Tong, gritting his teeth, roared at Firebeard. Firebeard laughed heartily with flames rising fiercely, rushing towards the Big Military Port. ¡°Hmph!¡± Bi Tong¡¯s face turned icy cold. He didn¡¯t give any more orders. The Navy¡¯s quality was high; they immediately initiated defensive measures. A giant barrier swiftly formed, enveloping all the vital parts of the Big Military Port. The flames, which had been extremely scorching, were suddenly repelled by the barrier, and almost instantly, the temperature stopped its wild rise. ¡°We¡¯re safe!¡± ¡°This is a Legendary Level Magic Defense Array! The Navy Headquarters is heavily defended; even Firebeard will fail to breach it!¡± ¡°Wait a minute, why is the temperature rising again?!¡± The Navy personnel became alarmed once more. The barrier, like iron melting in fire, quickly turned a bright red. The amount of Demon Crystals consumed by the Array skyrocketed, and there were signs of scorching and damage throughout it. Naturally, the headquarters was equipped with many Alchemists, who now mobilized to repair the Array. ¡°The depth of Firebeard¡¯s understanding of the fire domain is profound,¡± Bi Tong realized with growing heaviness in his heart and decisively ordered, ¡°Deploy the Golem Legions!¡± The Navy Headquarters was equipped with two fully configured Golem Legions. Rumble, rumble¡­ The ground split open, and a squad of tall golem giants, fully armed, stepped into the sea. The sea only reached their knees. After exiting the barrier, they progressed towards the deep sea. The golems emitted strong waves of demon energy, driving the golems and, combined with buoyancy, the seawater reached at most up to their waists. The golem giants marched towards Firebeard. Compared with them, Firebeard¡¯s towering body also seemed very small. However, the flames rose higher again, endless tongues of fire easily engulfing the golem giants. After a round of burning, Firebeard walked out of the flames again, while the golem giants had all vanished without a trace. ¡°These were all Holy Domain Level golems!¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be, even if the opponent is of Legendary Level, they should at least be able to hold out for a while.¡± ¡°Firebeard¡­ Is he a monster?!¡± Seeing this scene, the morale of the Navy began to shake. ¡°Isn¡¯t there still one golem legion?¡± demanded Bi Tong. A Navy subordinate immediately reported, ¡°Sir, when Earl Wei Sheng went out to fight, he took the troop with him.¡± Bi Tong was stunned, punching his fist in anger, ¡°Useless in critical moments!¡± The two golem legions were similar in quality, but each had its own focus. One legion was made up of heavy and large golems, consuming massive amounts of magic energy, while the other was more of light and small golems, known for endurance and easy to carry and transfer. The barrier was on the brink of collapse. But soon, three Mage Towers stirred up surging waves of mana. The towers emitted dazzling light, shining upon the barrier. Bolstered by the towers, the barrier once again stabilized. Bi Tong¡¯s expression grew even uglier as he asked, ¡°What about the other six Mage Towers, why haven¡¯t they been activated?¡± His subordinates immediately answered, ¡°It¡¯s Earl Wei Sheng who nearly uprooted the majority of the mages when he moved out.¡± ¡°This guy¡­¡± Bi Tong clenched his teeth, ¡°Are the clergy assembled yet? Why haven¡¯t I seen the God of War¡¯s bishop?¡± ¡°Sir, it¡¯s just that¡­¡± A subordinate was about to speak when Bi Tong cut him off. ¡°I get it, it was Wei Sheng again, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Sir, you have a keen insight! Not only did Earl Wei Sheng take away the Bishop of the God of War sect, but also a large number of elite Divine Officers.¡± Bi Tong squeezed his fist. If Wei Sheng were in his hands at that moment, he would surely crush him to pieces. The Navy Headquarters¡¯ combat power had been drained by half by Wei Sheng, not as strong as Bi Tong had imagined. The Big Military Port was a district of the God of War, therefore there was a Holy Temple of the God of War here. It was presided over by a powerful Divine Officer who held the rank of a bishop and was supported by a War Sect. Believers were a precious resource, and there was an agreement between the Divine Entities of the Empire; each Divine Domain was independent. It was unusual to see the holy temples of various deities conglomerated unless it was in a super-sized city. After all, the number of advanced Divine Officers was limited, and they needed to be wisely allocated to maximize the benefit for their respective sects. Since the Big Military Port was the district of the God of War, Divine Officers from other sects were present but in smaller numbers. And the Divine Officers of the God of War sect, whom Bi Tong could normally rely on, were nearly all absent. Whoosh, whoosh¡­ Just then, the terrifying flames finally burst through the giant defensive barrier. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What happened?!¡± Bi Tong hurriedly inquired. ¡°Several cores have been burned out!¡± his subordinates quickly reported. ¡°The cores of the defense magic array are heavily protected, how could they be destroyed?¡± Bi Tong was furious. ¡°It¡¯s not the most central part; the burned part of the array is related to the Mage Tower.¡± An Alchemist with soot-covered face came in front of Bi Tong, ¡°The destruction of this part of the array means our support from the Mage Tower is now conflicting with the barrier. Under the assault from both inside and out, the barrier can¡¯t hold!¡± ¡°Lord Bi Tong, you must make the first move to resist Firebeard. We need enough time to repair the array!¡± Bi Tong blinked rapidly, his forehead beading with cold sweat. Since the battle had started, how had it come to the point where he had to take action? One piece of bad news after another, was the Naval Headquarters, once thought impregnable, now relying solely on Bi Tong? ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°I have been continuously suppressing the Mei Lan Divine Office, exhausting myself greatly. And now I have to deal with Firebeard?¡± Bi Tong had planned to rely on the defenses of the Navy Headquarters to buy some time for his condition to improve. But Firebeard¡¯s offensive was too fierce, and the headquarters began to falter immediately. As barriers dissolved piece by piece, flames fell from overhead, causing endless screams of pain among the navy. Bi Tong swept his gaze around, his eyes flashing with a ruthless color as he coldly ordered, ¡°Then abandon the defense magic array, concentrate all our power, mobilize all Mage Towers, and fire up the Hexagram Magic Cannon!¡± ¡°Admiral, sir?!¡± The surrounding navy members were astonished. Bi Tong let out a cold snort: ¡°Even if it can be repaired, how much longer can we hold solely with defense? We must counterattack. If we remain on the defensive while being attacked by a pirate, where is the glory of the Imperial Navy?!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The navy responded loudly. Mana fluctuations from the Mage Towers surged rapidly. The glory of six Mage Towers linked together, forming a gigantic, nearly flat Hexagram Magic Array in the air above the towers. ¡°If the Mage Corps had been complete, the power of the Magic Cannon would be even stronger, and it could be activated faster!¡± Bi Tong regretted in his heart. The Big Military Harbor had constructed nine Mage Towers, but with too many Mages redeployed elsewhere, six Tower Masters had left, leaving only the three weakest. That they could activate six Mage Towers now was a result of an emergency redeployment with temporary permissions. After brewing for about two minutes, a searing white beam shot out from the center of the array without warning. It struck Firebeard almost instantaneously. Boom!! A huge explosion followed, and amidst deafening roars, a massive white sphere arose from the crimson sea of flames. The sphere swelled to a radius of six meters, then burst open. A terrifying white shockwave expanded in all directions, and for a moment, the sea of flames dissipated, returning to normal seawater. Then in the next instant, the shockwave obliterated the seawater completely. ¡°We hit him!¡± ¡°Where is Firebeard?¡± ¡°Taking a direct hit from that, he¡¯d be lucky to survive without being stripped of skin. That¡¯s a Legendary Level cannon shot!¡± Firebeard coughed twice, his form reappearing before the Imperial Navy¡¯s eyes. He was indeed injured. His pirate captain¡¯s clothing was missing a part, revealing his intact left shoulder. The wound on his shoulder, in the heat of the flames, healed rapidly. The Imperial Navy was speechless. ¡°It¡¯s that legendary Divine Artifact!¡± someone suddenly cried out. ¡°Yes, the Fierce Tail Blade.¡± ¡°With that broken blade, Firebeard can wield the Phoenix Fire and rapidly heal his own wounds!¡± ¡°How can we fight this?¡± The navy¡¯s morale plummeted dramatically. ¡°A Legendary Level Hexagram Magic Cannon? Haha, not a bad sensation.¡± Firebeard, who had withstood the direct hit, laughed loudly, ¡°Now, it¡¯s my turn.¡± For the first time since he appeared, he showed a serious expression. Snap. He pressed his hands together, then suddenly clapped them at his chest. Combat Skill¡ªRed Flame Tsunami! Flames rose again on the sea surface, burning fiercely! Flames spat out, growing larger and larger with intense combustion. Not only that, under Firebeard¡¯s feet, the sea bulged, forming waves like rising mounds of earth. The waves grew larger and larger, heading for the Big Military Harbor. The closer they got to the docks, the larger the crimson waves became. Rumble¡­ Under the horrified gazes of the navy, the attacking red waves stood nine meters tall, an overwhelming force as they hit the docks! The waves smashed down with a vengeance, shattering a great number of warships, some of which were thrust onto the land by their force. After the first wave receded, the remaining crimson seawater ignited furiously, turning the swept-over area into a sea of flames. The navy screamed and broke ranks in panic. But then the second wave of huge waves came crashing down. Boom boom boom! Wave after wave of attacks rapidly destroyed the Big Military Harbor, smashing countless ships and buildings to pieces or burning them to the ground. Thick smoke billowed, flames ran rampant, and the navy suffered heavy casualties¡ªit was a scene of imminent apocalypse. The navy¡¯s morale was nearing a complete breakdown. Firebeard hadn¡¯t even landed yet, and already more than half of them were dead. The disparity between them was too vast; at this rate, Firebeard alone could easily slaughter the entire Navy Headquarters. Now, there was only one reason the navy hadn¡¯t fully collapsed. Bi Tong. ¡°Admiral Bi Tong hasn¡¯t made his move yet!¡± This was their last hope. ¡°Firebeard¡­¡± Bi Tong¡¯s sweat dripped with anxiety. Chapter 386 - 386: Section 173: Headquarters Falls Chapter 386: Section 173: Headquarters Falls Staring at Firebeard growing closer, Bi Tong¡¯s limbs stiffened, and his hands and feet became numb. The gazes of the surrounding Navy personnel were all focused on him, filled with endless expectations. Bi Tong cursed in his heart, ¡°Where is Yi Gui? Where is Fang Gong? Most importantly, where are the people from Yan Tan?¡± ¡°Firebeard is attacking the Navy Headquarters, where are your people?!¡± It was understandable that Yi Gui and Fang Gong didn¡¯t always guard the Navy Headquarters. After all, Bi Tong often did the same. But what about Yan Tan? ¡°You, a Navy Marshal, don¡¯t sit at the headquarters, what are you trying to stir up? Neglect of duty!¡± ¡°After this battle, I must take you to military court!¡± ¡°If I had known this would happen, why would I return to the Navy Headquarters?! It would have been better to hide in a corner and secretly suppress Mei Lan¡¯s divine throne¡­¡± Bi Tong was deeply regretful. Subconsciously, he believed that the Navy Headquarters was the safest place. This was actually a mental inertia. Once there was an audacious criminal who didn¡¯t play by the rules, this mental inertia became a trap that ensnared Bi Tong. Bi Tong thought about retreating; his combat skills could break through space, enabling him to advance and retreat freely. But he could not retreat now! At least not for the time being. Previously, he had toyed with Wei Sheng, and as a result, he went to Sky Pillar Sea Eye and snatched away the Mei Lan Divine Seat. This action was over the line, but he could suppress it with his personal strength and status. However, if he were to flee the battlefield now, he couldn¡¯t suppress the series of consequences that would follow. Please! This was the Navy Headquarters. Right now, the Empire¡¯s grand strategy was to invade the Wilderness Continent. The vast numbers of the Army had not yet been transported to the Wilderness Continent, and the maritime logistics supply line had not yet officially commenced. Now the Navy Headquarters was being compromised? And by one person? What would the people of the Holy Bright Empire think? What would the other races think? This was not just a huge joke but would impact the entire grand scheme. If the Empire¡¯s Navy proves so weak, how can it ensure the Army¡¯s logistics line, how can it secure victory in the epic war between the Human Race and the Beast Race? The people of the Empire would harbor doubts about themselves, and other races might see it as a sign that the Empire¡¯s strength was just a facade, very weak inside. At least, the Navy was a huge flaw in the Empire! Therefore, Bi Tong was very clear that he could not retreat. If he retreated directly, fleeing without a fight, he would be finished! The Empire¡¯s dukes, divine beings still in this world, would not spare him first. ¡°Not only can I not retreat, but I also have to repel Firebeard, I must repel him!¡± Bi Tong thought to himself, gritting his teeth and issuing an order decisively, ¡°Inform the Marshal, other generals, and Wei Sheng¡¯s fleet to urgently request reinforcements. I will go into battle, fighting to the death against Firebeard! All for the glory of the Empire, the Empire¡¯s military banner, with me it shall not fall!!!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Vice Admiral, may your banner lead to victory.¡± ¡°May your martial luck prosper!¡± The morale of the Navy subordinates soared. Bi Tong took a deep breath, knocked with his hand, and the space in front of him broke open, he stepped in, and the next second, he appeared in front of Firebeard. ¡°Firebeard, you are too arrogant!¡± Bi Tong charged up, his teeth gritted. Firebeard laughed heartily, ¡°A beaten subordinate, where will you flee this time?¡± The two began to clash. Bi Tong¡¯s figure flickered in and out, mainly using guerrilla tactics, clearly intending to buy time until reinforcements arrived. Firebeard seemed not in a hurry. Under the pressure of a legend, he could no longer maintain the Red Flame Tsunami combat skill. The Big Military Port had just taken a breath of relief when suddenly, numerous figures emerged from various locations. ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Cut down these Sea Dogs!!¡± ¡°Let us plunder the Navy Headquarters, haha!¡± The pirates were extremely arrogant, swarming out and catching the Navy off guard, causing them to fall apart stage by stage. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Bi Tong exclaimed in shock. Firebeard laughed loudly, ¡°I am the leader of a pirate group. You¡¯re waiting for reinforcements, but I have subordinates! When will your reinforcements arrive? My men are already prepared; the moment I act, they rush towards the Big Military Port from all directions. Today, the Big Military Port is mine!¡± Bi Tong¡¯s face turned ashen, realizing he had fallen into Firebeard¡¯s scheme, he could only hope for his Navy subordinates: ¡°Firebeard, you underestimate the Empire¡¯s elite. Firebeard Pirates, only you are worth watching!¡± The melee at the Big Military Port raged like wild fires. Suddenly, a large group of pirates couldn¡¯t move, and the solid ground beneath their feet turned into a swamp. They were stuck in the marsh, sinking continuously, and unable to use their fighting energy or mana. ¡°Trapped in my Magic Trap, you just have to wait for death.¡± The Holy Domain Level Mage who set the trap chuckled coldly. ¡°Is that so?¡± A short-statured individual appeared. He wielded a warhammer, slamming it into the ground. The Magic Trap collapsed. The Holy Domain Level Mage¡¯s expression changed dramatically, staring closely at the Dwarf¡¯s warhammer, ¡°Are you Demon Breaker Hang Chui?¡± Pfft. Taking advantage of the mage¡¯s distraction, a dagger plunged into the mage¡¯s back, its tip protruding from his chest. The mage struggled frantically, only to find his mana being absorbed by the dagger. Turning his head with difficulty, he saw a woman with a face covered in dark paint. The mage fell to the ground, dying unwillingly. The pirates were saved, but Hang Chui was significantly displeased, exclaiming, ¡°Hey, he was mine!¡± The dark-skinned woman snorted coldly, her voice raspy, ¡°You were too slow.¡± With that, she turned into a puff of black smoke and disappeared from the spot. ¡°Pirate scum, Navy Vice Admiral is here, don¡¯t even think about getting past!¡± In front of him lay a large number of pirate corpses. ¡°Let me handle this!¡± a young man wearing a red bandana burst forth from the crowd. ¡°Squad leader!¡± the pirates exclaimed joyously upon seeing the youth. The Vice Admiral¡¯s expression grew solemn, his gaze intense, ¡°Are you Red Bandana? According to the latest intelligence, you were just promoted to Holy Domain Level?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! What kind of strong person bullies the weak? I¡¯m now at Holy Domain Level too, come on!¡± Red Bandana shouted. ¡°Brat, just got to Holy Domain Level and you¡¯re rushing to your death? Let me fulfill your wish!¡± Jaw hardened, Firebeard roared and charged towards Red Bandana. After several rounds of combat, Firebeard¡¯s eyes bulged in disbelief as he spat out blood, sent flying by a barrage of punches from Red Bandana. ¡°How¡­ how is this possible?! My blood is not controlling, what kind of Combat Skill is this?¡± Red Bandana wiped his nose with his thumb, a proud and triumphant look on his face, ¡°I created it myself, haven¡¯t named it yet.¡± Boom¡­ A Mage Tower completely collapsed, attracting many onlookers. ¡°Can it be? The Mage Tower has fallen, and that tower was guarded by a Holy Domain Level Tower Master!¡± A tall figure slowly stood up amid the ruins of the Mage Tower. Gulp. The soldiers of the Navy swallowed nervously, their eyes filled with terror at the sight of this immense figure. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This man had a determined face, as hard as steel. His arms were extraordinarily thick, disproportionately large compared to his torso. More strikingly, on his body were two pairs of arms made of condensed Fighting energy, identical to his real arms, so lifelike one couldn¡¯t tell they were made of Fighting energy. ¡°Duobi!¡± ¡°Damn, it¡¯s Firebeard¡¯s second-in-command!¡± ¡°Rumor has it his combat power is nearly legendary, no wonder he alone brought down the Mage Tower.¡± The Navy¡¯s morale plummeted, whereas the pirates roared with increasing fervor, growing more excited as they fought. ¡°How can this be?¡± Bi Tong felt increasingly uneasy, realizing the situation was not as he expected. Despite the mixed quality of the pirates, this time, Firebeard¡¯s attack on the Big Military Port brought his elite forces, particularly the squad leaders who were each extraordinarily brave and powerful. ¡°Hahaha, did you think you could come after me with your Navy and spies, make secret moves against my brothers, and I wouldn¡¯t know?¡± ¡°The Firebeard Pirates are not so easily provoked.¡± ¡°This time, you¡¯ll taste true pain!¡± Firebeard laughed heartily, his hand on the hilt of his Fierce Tail Blade. Whoosh! Fighting energy surged from his body, shooting into the sky, transforming into a massive phoenix. The phoenix flew over the battlefield, dropping countless flames wherever it went. Bathed in the Phoenix Fire, the injured pirates healed quickly, their limbs even regenerating! Seeing this, Bi Tong, along with the Vice Admirals, turned pale. This move of Firebeard¡¯s was akin to the Archbishop¡¯s Healing Divine Technique. It instantly nullified the advantage of the Navy¡¯s Divine Officers, even surpassing them. ¡°We can¡¯t let him continue to do as he pleases!¡± Bi Tong glared, his palm aimed from afar at Firebeard¡¯s Fierce Tail Blade. Combat Skill¡ª Just as he was about to cast, he saw Firebeard¡¯s gaze turn towards him. ¡°Playing with you for so long, haven¡¯t you felt it yet?¡± Firebeard said with a smirk. ¡°What?!¡± Bi Tong felt a tremendous terror swirling in his chest. Firebeard raised his head, squinting, ¡°The time is just right, this is my Combat Skill, Furious Burning.¡± Whoosh. The next moment, Bi Tong¡¯s heart ignited with flames. ¡°When did I get hit?!¡± Alarmed, Bi Tong quickly retreated. His figure vanished suddenly, reappearing hundreds of meters away. At the same time, he frantically used his Fighting energy to suppress the flames in his heart. The flames were quickly suppressed, but not extinguished. Angry emotions involuntarily spread from the bottom of his heart. Frustrated Furious! He was desperate to rush up and tear Firebeard apart! ¡°No good, this Combat Skill seems to be related to my anger. It not only really stirs up my emotions, but the angrier I am, the harder it is to suppress the flames in my heart, the more likely they are to flare up again!¡± As a high-ranking officer, Bi Tong soon saw some patterns. ¡°Don¡¯t run.¡± Firebeard shot into the sky, attacking Bi Tong. After a few exchanges with him, Bi Tong staggered back, ¡°Damn, how am I supposed to fight this?¡± Firebeard laughed, ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve figured it out, right, the closer you get to me, the more power the Furious Burning Combat Skill accumulates, and once it¡¯s enough, it can flare up again.¡± Helpless, Bi Tong could only use long-range Combat Skills to maintain distance from Firebeard. The next moment, a beam of blue light shot into the sky, disappearing from sight. ¡°Mei Lan Divine Seat!¡± Bi Tong was stunned. Following the shock, immense irritation surged. His heart once more blazed with raging flames. ¡°Firebeard, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± With a distorted face, Bi Tong howled and charged at Firebeard. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Firebeard laughed heartily. The two clashed again, creating havoc, stirring up wild waves. Meanwhile, at the Big Military Port, the pirates surged over like a tide, while the Navy, on a few available ships, retreated in disarray. With Duobi leading, the pirates trampled the Empire¡¯s military flag underfoot amid a sea of fire and ruins. The Navy Headquarters had fallen. Chapter 387 - 387: Section 174: I want to become an existence like the sun! Chapter 387: Section 174: I want to become an existence like the sun! Under the heavy night sky, the Big Military Port was engulfed in raging flames; blood flowed like drifting logs, yet in the Voodoo Rainforest, there was only silence. The occasional screams resulting from predators successfully hunting their prey only deepened the rainforest¡¯s profound tranquility. Yet in the small cabin, lamp light still flickered. No matter the type of beast, all stayed far away from the cabin. Although it had no aura leaking from it, sometimes the survival instincts of wild animals were more acute than those of humans. The interior of the cabin was spacious, far exceeding the limitations suggested by its external structure. If outsiders were to push the door open and enter, they would be shocked to discover that within this humble cabin sat four Legends! Admiral Yi Gui of the Imperial Navy, and influential figures from the pirate group like Hua Sheng and Asa¡ªeach one of them could bring profound impact to the maritime configuration of the Main World. But now, their focus was all on another woman. Mei Lan, a Legendary Divination Master and core figure of the Voodoo Sect. Divination had failed once again! The straw doll in the clay pot withered once more, burning into ashes. Even the soil in the pot twisted and formed complex, tangled patterns, nauseating to look upon. Mei Lan coughed continuously, spitting out mouthfuls of blood. Her blood was strange, blackened and foul-smelling, yet mixed with a hint of sweetness. Yi Gui looked at her best friend with concern. Sensing her gaze, Mei Lan managed a weak smile: ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡ª¡­¡± and then she vomited another mouthful of blood. Yi Gui frowned, ¡°Are you sure? You¡¯ve already vomited liters of blood. You¡¯re nearly out of blood, aren¡¯t you? Take a break, there¡¯s no need to do this in such a hurry.¡± ¡°We can take our time.¡± Upon hearing this, the other two Legends became impatient. ¡°Miss Yi Gui, please try to understand our predicament,¡± said Hua Sheng with a smile. Holding his Magic Wand, Dark Mage Asa spoke coldly: ¡°We must act quickly! If we let Firebeard succeed, none of us will have it easy.¡± As an Admiral of the Imperial Navy, even if Firebeard managed to obtain the true form of the God of Pirates and ascend to the pirate throne, he would just be a new deity. The Empire would naturally have deities to deal with him. By then, even if Yi Gui was held accountable, she could still serve as an Admiral. But for Hua Sheng and Asa, it was different. Their path to promotion lay on the pirate throne. The pirate throne was crucial for them, a key influencing their fate for life. If they failed, unless they left the seas, they would have to submit to the God of Pirates. It¡¯s easier for a small boat to turn around, but they had too many attachments and ties to leave easily. Yi Gui snorted, ¡°Your anxiety and fear of Firebeard are your issues. Mei Lan is my friend, and I care more about my friend¡¯s life. If it comes to it, we¡¯ll just have to fight, we are all Legends after all.¡± Hua Sheng quickly raised his hand, ¡°Miss Yi Gui, please calm your anger. We have no intention of going to war with you, we just want to trouble Firebeard.¡± Legends were not known for being pushovers, but now, they dared not start a war rashly. Because their goal was not yet accomplished. They had come to divine Firebeard¡¯s movements, to find the whereabouts of the God¡¯s true form. If they were to fight now, ruin the big picture, and let Firebeard succeed, the loss would outweigh the gains for them. Asa frowned, displeased with Yi Gui. In normal circumstances, he would have attacked by now, but he was holding himself back. The close relationship between Yi Gui and Mei Lan was obvious to anyone with eyes. If he were to attack Yi Gui, how would Mei Lan react? She probably would no longer perform divinations for him. Reconsidering, Asa sneered, ¡°Yi Gui, you seem to be unaware of the reality. This is a trade. We provide the Holy Objects of the Voodoo Sect in exchange for immediate divination from Master Mei Lan. This is voluntary for both parties, and as an outsider who can¡¯t offer any Holy Objects, you are already testing our tolerance by staying here. Mind your place.¡± ¡°You!¡± Yi Gui was indignant. ¡°Alright, alright, stop arguing,¡± Mei Lan raised her hand, complaining weakly, ¡°Can you give it a rest? My head is pounding, and divining gods is difficult enough as it is¡ªeveryone, please, be quiet, alright?¡± As a Divination Master, Mei Lan might be a Legend, but she had limited combat capabilities. Therefore, it was her wish that Yi Gui stay by her side. What if there were results from the divination, and these two Legendary pirates, for the sake of keeping the information secret, decided to kill her¡ªwhom would she turn to then? ¡°This is me worrying about you¡­¡± Yi Gui rolled her eyes affectionately at Mei Lan. Mei Lan reassured her best friend again, ¡°I know, it¡¯s okay. I just feel a bit nauseous, like I need to vomit something out to feel better. This is the price of the ritual. It¡¯s actually better for me to vomit it out because this blood captures the backlash.¡± ¡°This feeling, it¡¯s actually like being pregnant. You know, there¡¯s morning sickness, any small scent and you feel like throwing up, no appetite, and a slight headache.¡± Yi Gui quickly shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know what it feels like to be pregnant. Have you been pregnant before?¡± Mei Lan reached out and pinched Yi Gui¡¯s arm but couldn¡¯t make her flinch. From the outside, it looked as though Yi Gui was only wearing a Princess Dress. ¡°How many layers are you wearing this time?¡± Mei Lan teased. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business, more layers are warmer,¡± Yi Gui huffed. Mola had just tried to speak when she coughed again. She wiped the corner of her mouth and said nonchalantly, ¡°See, I threw up again, no big deal.¡± ¡°No big deal?¡± Yi Gui¡¯s eyes widened. This time, Hua Sheng and Asa frowned a little too. Because the blood she spat out was mixed with several suspicious fragments. ¡°What is this?¡± Yi Gui pointed and called out. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s part of my lung,¡± Mola laughed. ¡°It¡¯s just a tiny piece of my lung; let¡¯s continue!¡± The sun slowly rose from the horizon, and the dawn¡¯s glow dyed the ocean red, a breathtaking sight. In the ruins of the Big Military Port, pirate ships crowded the docks, and numerous vessels sailed near the port, like sharks gathering at the scent of blood. Firebeard sat on a stone bollard at the dock, basking in the worshipful and even fanatical gazes of those around him. He quietly listened to the reports from his subordinates. After fighting fiercely for the first half of the night and clearing the battlefield in the second half, there were pirates expert in emergency repairs who managed to get all of the operable warships moving and accounted for the spoils of war. And truth be told, despite Wei Sheng taking away most of the elite forces and important supplies, the pirates¡¯ spoils were still incredibly rich. This place was, after all, the Navy Headquarters of the Holy Bright Empire, with storerooms flush with riches! ¡°Boss, you called for me?¡± Feng Yao approached Firebeard. His face was covered in dust; he had also fought last night, but only arrived in the latter half. Firebeard¡¯s tactic of dispersing the pirate group had deceived everyone. Not just the two other Legendary level pirate groups, but the Imperial Navy had never anticipated that Firebeard would dare to strike at the Navy Headquarters so boldly! ¡°Third brother, come, take this.¡± Firebeard smiled as he saw Feng Yao and tossed him a bottle of potions. Feng Yao hurriedly caught it, and upon closer inspection, his pupils dilated with surprise and joy, ¡°This is?¡± ¡°Legendary level Healing Potion. Drink it, and you¡¯ll be able to heal your injuries, returning to Holy Domain Level,¡± Duobi spoke as he walked over, accompanied by a young man with a red bandana wrapped around his head. The youth glanced at Feng Yao with curiosity, then immediately fixed a fervent gaze on Firebeard. ¡°Boss!¡± he exclaimed, ¡°Just got the news, your name is now at the top of the Holy Tablet for pirate ships!¡± Feng Yao gratefully tucked away the Healing Potion, thinking it was no wonder¡ªthe raid they had pulled off was massive and executed brilliantly. They had taken down the entire Navy Headquarters; although Bi Tong ultimately wasn¡¯t killed, he had suffered a severe blow from Firebeard. Duobi said in a serious voice, ¡°The news of the battle has not yet truly spread. Right now, rumors are flying around the pirate ships, everyone guessing what we have done.¡± ¡°Leader, what¡¯s our next move?¡± S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The Holy Bright Empire will no doubt be furious, it¡¯s extremely likely that deities themselves might take action!¡± Duobi, as the second-in-command, was calm and stable, serving as the housekeeper for the Firebeard Pirates. His loyalty to Firebeard and his hard work in management and operations was part of why the pirate group could call themselves the number one in the Main World, besides Firebeard¡¯s powerful personal charisma. ¡°Is that even a question?¡± said a newly-promoted Holy Domain individual with a red bandana, hands behind his head, nonchalantly, ¡°The seat of the God of Pirates has already flown away; it must be going to find the true body of the deity Mei Lan. We should make our move on the God of Pirates now while it¡¯s weak¡ªthat would be the perfect opportunity!¡± ¡°If another pirate gets there first, the pirate throne might be taken in one fell swoop.¡± Duobi remained silent. Feng Yao¡¯s expression, however, suddenly changed, filled with worry and concern. Firebeard laughed heartily: ¡°No need! I¡¯ve already promised the fourth brother not to make a move on the deity Mei Lan.¡± ¡°Ah, is that so?¡± expressed the one with the red bandana in surprise. Duobi still kept to himself. ¡°But if that¡¯s the case¡­¡± the red bandana started hesitantly. Feng Yao choked up: ¡°Boss¡­¡± Firebeard stood up, walked over to Feng Yao, patted his shoulder, then pulled the red bandana youth close: ¡°Kid, see that sun?¡± ¡°See, I see it,¡± said the red bandana in confusion. Firebeard, filled with a commanding air, declared, ¡°What does the seat of the God of Pirates count for, or even the pirate throne, compared to the bond between our brothers?¡± ¡°Heh, heh.¡± ¡°My goal is the sun; I aim to become an existence like the sun, to hold the scepter of flames.¡± ¡°The rest, they are not the path I choose to walk.¡± The crowd was moved in an instant. The sun burst forth from the sea¡¯s horizon, its rays dazzling, illuminating the vast sky and ocean with a sea of light, like flames burning. The sunlight shone on everyone¡¯s faces. The red bandana was filled with longing. Feng Yao gazed toward the direction of Fire City. Duobi remained expressionless. Firebeard unstretched his furrowed brows as the sea wind blew, and then he laughed heartily. Chapter 388 - 388: Section 175: The Legendary Giant Aiyu Chapter 388: Section 175: The Legendary Giant Aiyu Sunrise climbed high, casting radiant light. The damp sea breeze dissipated into nothingness within Fire City. This was a bustling town, vibrant as a flame. In the market, all manner of people jostled shoulder to shoulder; cries of hawkers, the haggling, shouts warning of thieves, and more merged together. News that the Justice Pirate Group had taken down the Navy Headquarters was spreading on its way here. Everything was as usual. ¡°What?¡± Zi Di¡¯s voice betrayed a hint of urgency, ¡°Your shop has sold out of red-blue crystal clusters too?¡± After resting for a night, she had set out at dawn, taking advantage of the early market to purchase a large amount of supplies. Everything had gone very smoothly, after all, she had scouted the situation yesterday. But at the last moment, an unexpected event occurred, all the red-blue crystal clusters had been snapped up. And this resource was an essential item for the Justice Pirate Group. ¡°May I ask, who exactly made a move to suddenly buy up so many red-blue crystal clusters?¡± Zi Di¡¯s voice was low. ¡°Sorry, we do not sell our customers¡¯ information. That¡¯s the rule of our shop.¡± Zi Di handed over several gold coins. The person receiving her immediately accepted the gold coins, changing his tone: ¡°Trading information is also part of our shop¡¯s business.¡± ¡°A merchant caravan from the Molten Lava Continent¡¯s Sand Yellow Clan?¡± Zi Di was surprised by the answer. She had speculated that it must¡¯ve been a big merchant who acted, initiating a commercial move specifically targeting red-blue crystal clusters. She did not expect that it was an external merchant caravan who made the move. Generally speaking, the likelihood of such external merchant caravans manipulating markets in other regions is quite low. ¡°What could the purpose be, that they have such strong and massive demand for red-blue crystal clusters?¡± Zi Di had to go and negotiate. Although red-blue crystal clusters were not of a very high grade, they were indeed quite rare. According to the nomenclature in the field of alchemy, they should be termed fire and water element symbiotic crystals. These crystal clusters had hues of red and blue, with water and fire in balance. Fire Island was one of the important origins. After making several inquiries, Zi Di arrived at the Sand Yellow Clan caravan¡¯s encampment. The scale of the caravan was beyond Zi Di¡¯s expectation¡ªit was so large that there was a temporary base arranged by Fire City specifically for the caravan! Generally, it was unusual for caravans entering Fire City to receive such treatment. Zi Di declared her intentions to the guards at the caravan¡¯s encampment, but the caravan¡¯s side refused her request to communicate. The Sand Yellow caravan was incredibly arrogant. This made Zi Di even more curious. She thought for a moment, then showed the Elder Token of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce to them. When the guards saw the token, their expressions changed subtly; the guard who took the token treated Zi Di with more respect: ¡°Please allow me to inform the higher-ups of this matter.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Zi Di allowed. Moments later, within the largest tent of the caravan¡¯s encampment, Sha Ji saw the token. He was not the caravan¡¯s leader, but his status far surpassed that role. As the son of the Clan Leader of the Sand Yellow race, Sha Ji possessed a strong bloodline and great talent; he had already reached the Holy Domain Level. ¡°Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce?¡± ¡°The once Seventh Guild, which has now been swallowed by the upper echelons of the Holy Bright Empire, but the residual energy is still not to be underestimated.¡± ¡°Interesting¡­ Let¡¯s meet them then.¡± The guard returned the token to Zi Di and then led her into the tent. The tent on the outside appeared ordinary, but the interior was spacious, well-equipped, and ornately furnished. A giant with a dreadlocked ponytail lay semi-reclined on a pile of soft golden sand, as if on an enormous sofa. Surrounding him were several attendants¡ªhumans, elves, and others¡ªall strikingly beautiful with prominent figures. Some held large serving platters full of fresh fruit, others massaged the giant¡¯s legs, while some fanned him gently with magic fans. ¡°I am the young Clan Leader of the Sand Yellow race, the only heir, and a Holy Domain fighter, Sha Ji. Mage from the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, state your purpose,¡± the giant opened the conversation. He merely squinted to survey Zi Di, his attitude arrogant. Zi Di bowed and explained her intent to purchase red-blue crystal clusters. Sha Ji seemed somewhat disappointed: ¡°Is that all, such a trivial matter?¡± Behind her mask, Zi Di¡¯s voice remained neither servile nor overbearing: ¡°Compared to you, I am just a minor Black Iron, an insignificant mage, hardly worth mentioning. The responsibilities I hold in the Guild are likewise inconsequential.¡± ¡°However, we¡¯ll take as many red-blue crystal clusters as you have.¡± ¡°As for the price, we can negotiate.¡± Sha Ji, however, closed his eyes, completely losing interest in Zi Di: ¡°You may leave.¡± He didn¡¯t care at all about such a small transaction. Zi Di quickly added: ¡°Although I am of low strength, I still have many contacts within the Guild. If we are fortunate to make this deal with your esteemed caravan this time, we could also form more partnerships in other areas.¡± Sha Ji let out an annoyed hum. Zi Di felt her body shake as if struck by some kind of spiritual assault. She did not dare to stay any longer, she bowed once more and swiftly withdrew from the tent, leaving the Sand Yellow Clan caravan¡¯s encampment. ¡°Hehe, how can a merchant from the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce be so clueless? When she¡¯s told to leave, she persists in prattling on. She got her lesson, and in the end, didn¡¯t she scurry away sheepishly?¡± One of the attendants giggled as she peeled a grape as big as an apple and brought it to Sha Ji¡¯s lips. Sha Ji ate one but merely shook his head, ¡°This Black Iron Mage isn¡¯t simple, her Spiritual Space is tough and vast. I originally planned to harm her for a month, but now it seems that at most in a week, she¡¯ll recover.¡± ¡°Although the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce isn¡¯t as powerful as before, seeing such a responsible person, one knows that even if the ship is rotting away, there are still some solid nails.¡± Fire City is built around the volcano; the real core area isn¡¯t the town, but deep within the volcano. Regarding this matter, it¡¯s not a secret. Multiple giant Magic Arrays are laid out deep within the volcano, serving to seal, defend, and scout, among other effects. As the legendary giant and City Lord Ai You, he is stationed there year round. Cang Xu¡¯s mission this time was to investigate this place in detail! ¡°Am I reaching the limit¡­¡± Cang Xu¡¯s face turned pale, his body swaying, about to fall, and his spirit was also becoming delusional. He had spent almost the entire morning on investigation. Although his physical body remained in the town, through casting spells, he controlled ghosts to investigate, and the results were much better than those of a Holy Domain Level Thief. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The main reason is that most scouting and defense measures are ineffective against the newly born Undead Magic, nearly all vulnerabilities. ¡°The location of the passage to the Abyss has been ascertained.¡± ¡°It¡¯s time to withdraw.¡± Cang Xu began to methodically withdraw the ghosts and spirits, one by one. Boom! At that moment, the earth shook, and a sudden loud noise came from deep within the volcano; bright red molten lava tumbled forth, and a mass of pitch-black smoke surged up, bursting from the mouth of the volcano into the clouds. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Cang Xu was taken aback and within an instant, through the ghosts¡¯ vision, he noticed figures moving deep inside the volcano. ¡°If I withdraw now, I can still retrieve these ghosts.¡± ¡°If I continue the investigation, I fear these ghosts will be completely consumed.¡± ¡°Or should I recall them now, let myself recuperate, heal these ghosts, and then have them infiltrate again in a complete state?¡± Cang Xu faced a choice and hesitated. But soon, he made a decision. He resolutely chose to sacrifice these ghosts, sending them further down into the deeper parts of the volcano. The reason for this decision was twofold: Cang Xu knew the urgency of his situation, and the more concealed depths of the volcano had revealed themselves in this disturbance, allowing him to discover them. Were he to miss this opportunity, the ghosts alone may infiltrate the correct location and yet uncover nothing significant. Just as a few ghosts rushed into the crucial spot, another loud boom was heard, and shockwaves mixed with the aftershocks of Mana swept around like a ferocious storm. The ghost in the forefront was torn apart on the spot by this aftershock. Cang Xu hastily directed the ghosts to hide behind protruding rocks, barely managing to preserve the last three. The ghosts¡¯ scouting within the volcano was continuously weakening due to the surrounding environment, and they were being damaged. By now, they were already at their last gasp. The three ghosts continued deeper, and through their vision, Cang Xu¡¯s pupils suddenly narrowed. He saw a giant. A Legendary giant! She was hoisting a huge hammer, striking down on a Dragon. With every strike, a thunderous boom resounded, stirring up terrifying shockwaves, with the aftershocks lashing out in all directions. ¡°She must be Fire City¡¯s City Lord, Ai You.¡± ¡°But what¡¯s the deal with this Dragon?¡± Cang Xu endured the headache and continued observing. He quickly realized that this Dragon was fierce and ferocious, its Dragon Head covered in curved horns, not of the dragons from the Main World, but from the Abyss¡ªa Demon Dragon from the Abyss! And the Demon Dragon¡¯s aura was also of Legendary Level. ¡°This isn¡¯t a living Demon Dragon¡­¡± ¡°Ai You must be using the Demon Dragon¡¯s corpse, crafting it into a Dragon War Puppet.¡± ¡°She¡¯s already very skilled in the creation of Puppets.¡± Having observed this, Cang Xu was left with only two ghosts. Panting heavily, Ai You suddenly stopped her work, ¡°Come out.¡± The Demon Dragon¡¯s belly suddenly opened, and a female giant crawled out from within. ¡°Clan Leader,¡± the female giant addressed Ai You, ¡°I can still hold on, let me continue to help you.¡± She was smaller than both Ai You and the Demon Dragon, which is why she could fit inside the Dragon¡¯s body. Ai You¡¯s skin was brown-red, while the female giant¡¯s skin was a lighter shade of red. She wore a gold band on her head, her hair disheveled, and her face covered in dust. Her hands were not idle either, one holding an Anvil, and the other a huge brick. ¡°Sha Ji,¡± Ai You shook her head, ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten something more important.¡± ¡°The young clan leader from the Sandy Yellow clan has been waiting for you for five or six days.¡± ¡°Go see him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget the duty you bear on your shoulders.¡± Begrudgingly putting down the Anvil and brick, the Holy Domain Level female giant Sha Ji pouted and assented with a grunt. At this moment, Cang Xu¡¯s last ghost could no longer hold on and quietly dissipated on the spot. Chapter 389 - 389: Section 176: Night Thief Chapter 389: Section 176: Night Thief In the room, Cang Xu knelt on both knees, gasping for air, his vision a blur. The ghost used for reconnaissance maintained a close spiritual connection with him. Concurrently, the destruction of the ghost inflicted backlash damage on Cang Xu¡¯s spirit. After checking the Alchemy Array in the room and finding no issues, Cang Xu quickly consumed a potion and began meditating on the spot. Moments later, he opened his eyes; the dizziness had somewhat subsided, but a throbbing pain permeated his body. ¡°My body has been transformed by Undead Magic, now I am someone half-dead.¡± ¡°The pain isn¡¯t physical, it¡¯s in the soul.¡± ¡°It seems that this time, the loss of the ghost was too sudden, causing damage to my soul as well.¡± Cang Xu sighed, having pinpointed the cause. ¡°I can¡¯t stay here too long,¡± Cang Xu decided to first return to the Deep Sea Monster Fish, and then address the damage to his soul. He began packing up the Alchemy Array in the house, which was designed based on the data from the Tower Spirit. Once set up, mages could cast spells within the array to effectively contain Mana fluctuations. Without this array layer, Cang Xu¡¯s use of Undead Magic would surely have been detected by the City Guard. In cities as large as Fire City, there are Mage Towers and Detect Magic installations or constant spells, and some even have regional Magic Nets. Under the cover of a Magic Net, a mage must obtain the corresponding permissions from the Magic Net to cast spells. Fire City is not Magic Hero City and doesn¡¯t have a regional Magic Net. After packing up the Array and destroying all traces of its setup, Cang Xu cautiously checked several times before leaving, ensuring no evident clues were left, then casually pushed the door open and stepped out. By then it was early evening, and he blended into the crowd on the street, inconspicuous. Soon after, he successfully rendezvoused with the other members of the Justice Pirate Group. After a brief exchange, Zi Di, looking somewhat impatient, said to Cang Xu, ¡°I need your help.¡± ¡°All the supplies have been successfully acquired, except for the last item¡ªthe Red-Blue Crystal Clusters.¡± ¡°The Yellow Sand Clan¡¯s giant trader convoy has bought up all the Red-Blue Crystal Clusters in the city.¡± ¡°I tried negotiating with them, but it failed.¡± ¡°I later learned that the Yellow Sand Clan¡¯s convoy came from afar, cloaking their real plan under the guise of trading¡ªto escort their clan leader Sha Ji to Fire City for a marriage alliance with a giant clan here.¡± This information was not difficult to gather. Although the Yellow Sand convoy tried to keep it secret, upon arriving in Fire City, they began to advertise this news. In fact, even if they hadn¡¯t advertised, the citizens of Fire City had their suspicions about these distant giants. The proposal for the marriage alliance was initially made by the Fire City Lord, Eyou. The counterpart wasn¡¯t just the Yellow Sand Clan. Zi Di continued, ¡°Sha Ji¡¯s marriage partner is an alchemy master named Qieya from Fire City who was personally trained by Eyou, and like Sha Ji, is of Saint Domain level.¡± ¡°To ensure a successful marriage alliance, the Yellow Sand Clan brought a large amount of rare resources and treasures as dowry.¡± ¡°I need to gather intelligence within the merchant camp and attempt to steal the Red-Blue Crystal Clusters tonight.¡± Zi Di¡¯s suggestion was audacious. Enduring the deep soul pain, Cang Xu thought it through and found Zi Di¡¯s idea to be wise. The main purpose of the Yellow Sand Clan¡¯s convoy was the marriage alliance. If they had intended to trade for the Crystal Clusters, they would not have aggressively hoarded them but would have negotiated with Fire City. Fire City is a major producer of Red-Blue Crystal Clusters; a long-term trade would be more beneficial for both sides. Since the Yellow Sand convoy did not do this, but instead spent significantly above the market price to buy all the Crystal Clusters, it indicated their urgent need for these resources, likely related to the marriage. Since they were in urgent need, they might consume the Crystal Clusters right away. Thus, if the Justice Pirate Group wanted to acquire these items, they had to act immediately. Currently, in the Justice Pirate Group, other than the young Captain with the Blood Core, no one was better at reconnaissance than Cang Xu. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a solemn expression, Cang Xu nodded at Zi Di, ¡°My ghosts were lost in the volcano.¡± ¡°Despite such a cost, I managed to discover a hidden space.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Eyou¡¯s foundry.¡± ¡°I saw the legendary giant, and also Saint Domain¡¯s Qieya.¡± ¡°But let¡¯s not discuss this now, I need to rush back to the Deep Sea Monster Fish.¡± Zi Di nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s head back together, I need to take a group to help me.¡± The supplies Zi Di acquired were currently stored in several rented warehouses. Since there were many items, to avoid drawing attention, Zi Di had already planned to have members of the Justice Pirate Group gradually remove some and return to the Deep Sea Monster Fish. By dividing everything up, they would keep a low profile and not attract much notice. After a brief conversation with the others, Zi Di and Cang Xu left Fire City, stealthily making their way to the beach and swimming back to the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Zi Di contacted other members while Cang Xu entered a specialized Alchemy Array, using Soul Crystals to heal his soul. This Alchemy Array, which he had set up initially, had benefited many members. Cang Xu¡¯s soul injuries saw significant healing. ¡°But it¡¯s still not thorough enough.¡± A moment later, Cang Xu opened the door to a dark, sunless cabin. Cang Xu silently stepped inside. This was a cabin specifically for holding captives. The captives were all sleeping soundly, packed tightly together on a shelf like sticks. On the lower levels of the shelf, another person was placed on top of each sleeper. The captives slept deeply, not only because they were under the influence of a spell, but also because they had been given potions¡ªa double precaution. Cang Xu swiftly scanned the people, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. He closed the cabin door, and darkness immediately enveloped the room. Accompanied by his chanting, a pale, ghostly light shone in the darkness. The chant soon ended, and the Undead Magic was successfully cast. Cang Xu stretched out his hand and made a grabbing motion. One of the sleeping captives shuddered slightly, and a human-shaped spirit floated out of the body. The human-shaped spirit, caught in Cang Xu¡¯s hand, let out a piercing scream as it began to twist and warp under the effect of the Undead Magic. After several seconds, the human-shaped spirit twisted into a pile of detritus, turning into a cluster of light points that rapidly dissipated. The essence of it, however, turned into a warm stream that flowed into Cang Xu from his palm and quickly merged into the depths of his spirit. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Cang Xu couldn¡¯t help but throw back his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he let out a satisfied sigh. Naturally, spirits needed to be healed with spirits. Not all spirits had such remarkable effects on Cang Xu¡¯s injuries. Spirits also had to match each other. A matching spirit, along with the proper Undead Magic, was like a specific cure for Cang Xu¡¯s condition. In contrast, Soul Crystals had a broad range of applications and were not specific, serving only as a supplementary treatment when the spirit itself was injured. Without this Undead Magic, Cang Xu could only wait for his spirit to heal itself after using the Soul Crystals. Now, by using this spell, he significantly saved time. Having consumed three fresh spirits, Cang Xu restored his spirit¡¯s condition to its peak. He then gulped down more potions, allowing his mana to also fully recover quickly. However, because he had used many spells during the day and controlled ghosts remotely, consuming quite a few potions, the effectiveness of these new potions was not very apparent, and they were of very low cost-effectiveness. Pressed by the tense situation, Cang Xu couldn¡¯t care less. Leveraging the mana that had just surged forth, Cang Xu continuously cast Undead Magic, creating ghosts. This spell had a considerable chance of failure. Cang Xu sacrificed over a dozen captives to finally produce three new ghosts. After briefly dealing with the bodies, Cang Xu left the cabin and discovered that Zi Di had already departed from the Deep Sea Monster Fish with a group of members. Zi Di¡¯s time was even tighter. She needed these people to disperse and blend into Fire City. If it were night and the gates of Fire City were closed, entering and exiting would become much more difficult. Fortunately, at every dusk, the traffic at each city gate was substantial. Many citizens of Fire City, due to work and livelihood, needed to travel to other ports on Fire Island but lived within Fire City. When Cang Xu arrived at the city gate, the flow of people had dwindled, and the gate was about to close. He came in smoothly and then met up again with Zi Di and the others. Late at night, the youngsters¡ªincluding Zi Di, Cang Xu, Sanda, and others¡ªhid in a room of a hostel nearest to the caravan¡¯s base. Concealed by an Alchemy Array, Cang Xu maneuvered the ghosts into the caravan¡¯s base. The tight security inside Erupting Volcano couldn¡¯t stop the ghosts¡¯ probing; for them, scouting the caravan¡¯s base was a breeze. They first dispersed, then quickly located where the storage was. Inside metal boxes of various sizes were stored all sorts of rare resources. The tents holding these boxes had guards inside and out, extremely vigilant and displaying the Yellow Sand Giants¡¯ outstanding military training. But it was useless. The three feeble ghosts brazenly moved in and out right under the guards¡¯ noses. The guards were utterly unaware. It wasn¡¯t that these people lacked methods to detect natural ghosts, but they were unprepared for the ghosts created by Undead Magic. Of course, as time passed and more people came in contact with and understood Undead Magic, there would surely be methods developed to counter it. Most of the boxes could be penetrated directly by the ghosts to inspect the contents inside. Eventually, only a few storage boxes remained impervious, their quality at least Silver Level, many shimmering with the light of magic circulation, making them impenetrable to the ghosts. Forcing their way through would greatly affect the ghosts, causing irreparable damage. Especially since these three ghosts were newly created and extremely fragile. ¡°Over a dozen boxes, we can¡¯t distinguish which one it is,¡± Cang Xu frowned deeply. ¡°Even if I sacrifice these three ghosts for a kamikaze-style scout, I fear we won¡¯t be able to check more than two.¡± ¡°I have a way,¡± Zi Di smiled at this moment, patting the Stone Statue Ghost Puppet beside her. ¡°Next, it¡¯s time for my little treasure to take the stage.¡± Chapter 390 - 390: Section 177: Success and Failure Chapter 390: Section 177: Success and Failure In the stillness of the night, the Stone Statue Ghost Puppet, phantom-like, hastened towards the encampment of the Sanda clan, moving swiftly through the darkened corners between the buildings. Inside the room, the Magic Array operated, displaying an image suspended in midair, capturing the exact view seen by the Stone Statue Ghost Puppet. The encampment¡¯s defenses were strict, with many Magic Traps laid out. The only exception was the main entrance, which had no traps set. At the entrance, two Gold-Level guards stood watch, highly vigilant. Not only that, but patrols also circled the area, arriving at the entrance every ten minutes. Whether the guards or the patrol teams, their height and build differed from that of the Human Race, belonging instead to the standard giant race. Zi Di concentrated, directing the Stone Statue Ghost. There were two main ways to manipulate the Stone Statue Ghost. One was through simple commands such as attack, retreat, or hold position. The other was the current method, with Zi Di personally controlling the puppet. This control allowed the Stone Statue Ghost to act more soulfully, its movements aligning closer with Zi Di¡¯s intentions. However, this consumed her spirit and her control range was limited. Nevertheless, to extend the range of control, the Justice Pirate Group had already set up an Alchemy Array in the room before initiating their operation. This was made possible thanks to the War Merchant. His database held too many alchemic successes, and the number of Alchemy Arrays was beyond counting. Using her spirit, Zi Di manipulated the Stone Statue Ghost, and once it emerged from the shelter of the buildings, it brazenly flew towards the main gate. Neither the two Gold-Level guards at the gate nor the patrol team turning the corner and approaching were able to see the Stone Statue Ghost. Pearl Bubble! To ensure the success of this mission, the Justice Pirate Group had brought out a rare and limited Divine Artifact. The Stone Statue Ghost was treated with Pearl Bubble, allowing it to perform an exquisite disguise against sentient beings for a certain period. The Sanda clan had set up many Magic Traps all over their encampment. However, to avoid inconvenience at the main gate, they had opted for guards instead. The Justice Pirate Group capitalised on this factor. Cang Xu¡¯s ghost had already scouted the area and covertly disrupted some traps. Following the warnings from Cang Xu, Zi Di enabled the Stone Statue Ghost to sidestep numerous Magic Traps and smoothly enter the tent. There were numerous boxes inside, storing various supplies, but Zi Di was well-prepared and confident in her plan. The Stone Statue Ghost opened its mouth, expelling a pharmaceutical bottle. It uncorked the bottle and the potion¡¯s liquid instantly evaporated, dispersing into the air. There was no scent to the potion, and at first, it was colorless. However, after a dozen seconds or so, thin wisps of purple smoke began to appear throughout the space. Back in the inn¡¯s room, Zi Di smiled and explained to everyone, ¡°When I initially collected supplies from various stores, verifying all prices, I also made a point to inspect all goods to prevent sellers from swapping or deceiving with inferior products. The Red and Blue Crystal Clusters were among them.¡± ¡°They were tainted with an odorless and colorless potion after I touched them.¡± ¡°This potion is very difficult to detect, revealing its trace only when it comes in contact with a specific corresponding potion.¡± Upon hearing this explanation, everyone had a moment of realization. No wonder Zi Di was so confident. The youth looked at Zi Di, his gaze undisguised with admiration. Zi Di¡¯s power might have been limited by her Bloodline, only at the Black Iron Level, but her abilities were exceptional. Even the most minor techniques could resolve significant issues in reality under her masterful deployment. The potion within the bottle rapidly evaporated completely. Inside the tent, dense purple smoke filled the space. Following the trail of purple smoke, the group located the target. There were two boxes, neither large, measuring 40 centimeters long, 20 centimeters wide, and 30 centimeters tall. The two boxes were identical, and even when the Stone Statue Ghost attempted to lift them, it found their weights to be similar, making them difficult to carry. In fact, there were more than a dozen boxes of similar appearance. ¡°These are all spatial boxes, creations of alchemy, and their specifications should be consistent, likely from the hands of the same person.¡± In the room, Cang Xu began to direct the ghost to assist the Stone Statue Ghost with the on-site box opening. It was not successful. ¡°These boxes must be taken back and placed within an Advanced Alchemy Array to be safely opened.¡± ¡°Attempting to force them open would not only trigger an alarm but might also activate the runes within, leading to the possible destruction of the treasures inside.¡± As she said this, Zi Di showed concern, ¡°But the Stone Statue Ghost can only carry one box at a time; we¡¯ll have to choose one of them.¡± Don¡¯t be fooled by the modest size of these boxes; each one was incredibly heavy. Even the Stone Statue Ghosts, at Silver Level, struggled to maintain their hold. Moving just one box was still a daunting challenge for them. As for Cang Xu¡¯s three ghosts, there was even less hope of any help from them. ¡°Which one should we choose?¡± Zi Di hesitated, looking to the others. ¡°Just grab one,¡± Lan Zao suggested, ¡°the longer we drag this out, the more likely something unexpected will happen. Both boxes have traces of purple smoke anyway. It means they both contained clusters of red and blue crystals. Doesn¡¯t really matter which one we pick.¡± ¡°No,¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°the purple smoke only shows where the clusters of red and blue crystals have been. It doesn¡¯t mean the boxes actually still contain them.¡± ¡°The simplest scenario is that after these people bought the clusters, they put them into one box, then realized it was too full, so they moved them to a second, emptier box.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Zi Di chimed in, ¡°and the clusters of red and blue crystals I¡¯ve inspected were just a small part. It¡¯s possible that both boxes have crystals, or maybe they were just stored there and have already been taken out and used up.¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t have a better way to distinguish, we¡¯re going to have to take a risk,¡± Sanda gritted his teeth. ¡°Lord Zong Ge¡¯s condition is very bad; he¡¯s barely hanging on.¡± Mentioning Zong Ge, a somber expression washed over everyone¡¯s faces. From Mysterious Monster Island to Sky Pillar Sea Eye, Zong Ge had become one of our closest companions. We had struggled, fought against powerful enemies, shared drinks, and pondered over our common future together. Saving Zong Ge was everyone¡¯s wish. No one wanted to give up on Zong Ge easily. Sanda¡¯s words were true; Zong Ge was running out of time. Along the way, we spared no expense, relying on all sorts of precious potions and rare scrolls to barely maintain his vitality. Upon reaching Fire Island, his condition deteriorated drastically. ¡°His time is indeed running out, and in fact, so is ours. Make a choice,¡± Zi Di said. Who could make such a choice for Zong Ge? Without hesitation, Sanda pointed to the floating Magic Image: ¡°I choose this box.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Zi Di was about to speak but was interrupted by the young Captain. The moment Sanda made his choice, a hunch emerged in the Captain¡¯s heart¡ªchoosing the other box seemed a better option! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°My intuition tells me the other box might be the better one,¡± the young man expressed his genuine thoughts. Everyone paused briefly. Sanda scrutinized the young Captain, then thought for a moment, ¡°I have nothing to insist on; let¡¯s go with your opinion, my Lord!¡± After a decision was made, Zi Di and Cang Xu immediately got to work. Cang Xu controlled the ghosts to scout ahead while the Silver Stone Statue Ghost carried the box, moving with great difficulty. Its back was burdensomely bent in an exaggerated arc. Its broad wings were rendered useless. Flying? Don¡¯t even think about it! The journey back was uneventful. They still left the base through the main gate, brazen as ever. Pearl Bubble truly was effective! Soon after, the Stone Statue Ghost returned to the inn, and everyone got their hands on the box. The box was so heavy that even the young Captain had no strength to move it. He was neither in Dragon-man Form nor Fishman Form. ¡°Leave it to Big Guy. Put it among the other supplies, and let him take it out at daybreak.¡± The long night had already set in, and leaving the city was troublesome; it required procedures, and the inspections were stricter than during the day. ¡°Let¡¯s clean up all the traces here first; then we¡¯ll move to the secondary temporary base and take a good rest,¡± the young Captain commanded. This operation was like extracting a tooth from a tiger¡¯s mouth, stealing from a Holy Domain powerhouse. But the group had faced so many dangers that this risk was like a light drizzle. The Justice Pirate Group quickly moved with skilled courage, arriving at the second temporary base¡ªa different inn. As planned, while Sanda and Lan Zao kept watch in the night, the rest seized every moment to sleep. Upon waking, dawn was breaking. The Sand Yellow Race¡¯s station remained undisturbed; they seemed unaware that a box was missing. Following Zi Di¡¯s arrangement, Big Guy smoothly exited Fire City amidst the early morning crowd. Not long after, aboard the Deep Sea Monster Fish, the box was safely opened under the continuous operation of the alchemy array. There were no clusters of red and blue crystals! Chapter 391 - 391: Section 178: Holy Domain Level Treasure Chapter 391: Section 178: Holy Domain Level Treasure ¡°This¡­¡± Upon seeing not a trace of the Red-Blue Crystal Cluster in the box, everyone present slightly faltered, their hearts sinking in unison. ¡°What do we do about Zong Ge?¡± ¡°Without the Red-Blue Crystal Cluster, we can¡¯t set up the Alchemy Array.¡± ¡°How can we unleash more power from the Green Jade Gold Coffin and save Zong Ge?¡± Sanda clenched his fists, his eyes reddening with anger as he stared furiously. The goblin raised his neck stubbornly and exclaimed, ¡°Let¡¯s go back and steal again. Get the other treasure box!¡± Zi Di and Cang Xu glanced at each other, their faces showing worry, ¡°There isn¡¯t enough time, and besides, going back to steal again would be at least ten times riskier!¡± Sanda gritted his teeth: ¡°We were wrong! After stealing one box, we could have stayed and continued.¡± Zi Di and Cang Xu shook their heads. The latter said, ¡°The Alchemy Array can no longer hold. My condition has plummeted, hitting rock bottom. Miss Zi Di¡¯s spirit is also greatly depleted; she needs rest.¡± Sanda shouted, ¡°Then rest quickly, grasp every moment. Once we are better, we¡¯ll go steal again.¡± Lan Zao shook her head, ¡°Sanda, calm down. Even if we go back and steal that box, are you sure it will be there? It¡¯s very likely we¡¯ll end up with the same situation as now.¡± Sanda, ¡°Then what else can we do?¡± His face looked terrible, muttering to himself, ¡°If only we had chosen the other box initially.¡± The young Captain spoke heavily, blaming himself, ¡°This is my responsibility.¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault at all. We were all gambling, and everyone agreed on this box. Indeed, one must take responsibility when making decisions, but blaming you for this is utterly unjust.¡± At this point, the Guild Chairman looked at Sanda with a somewhat colder gaze. Sanda did not back down, his attitude firm. The young Captain stepped between Zi Di and Sanda, breaking their line of sight, ¡°Everyone, calm down!¡± His expression was stern, and his glance conveyed a strong aura of authority. Everyone reined in their expressions, whether it was Sanda or Zi Di. The authority of the young Captain was unmistakable as a leader in this moment. The young man took a deep breath and sincerely said, ¡°Our situation is very dangerous now; perhaps, Fire Island is the last stop for the Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°Everyone is under great psychological pressure, but there¡¯s no need for infighting, taking out this stress on each other.¡± ¡°We have supported each other along the way, facing countless hardships and dangers. We¡¯ve survived the War Merchant¡¯s underground alchemy factory, narrowly escaping death. We broke out of the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, which was extremely perilous. We¡¯ve dodged the pursuit of the Imperial Navy, barely keeping alive.¡± ¡°Zong Ge has fallen; he fought desperately for this group. Therefore, we will never abandon him!¡± ¡°Our time is running short, and we don¡¯t have many chances left. But we still have hope, we can still try.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Cang Xu immediately nodded. As a Noble Housekeeper, he was very skilled at maintaining authority. As before, he immediately showed support for the young man¡¯s words, ¡°Sir, you are absolutely right!¡± ¡°Zong Ge¡¯s condition is complicated and severe.¡± ¡°Since he fell unconscious, we¡¯ve been trying our hardest to treat him.¡± ¡°The cost of potions, scrolls, and so forth is astonishing.¡± ¡°These treatments, sourced from the Empire, are already of quite high quality. It¡¯s almost impossible to obtain better treatment methods from outside due to our dire situation. Only by utilizing the Alchemy Array to better harness the power of the Green Jade Gold Coffin do we stand a chance to heal Zong Ge.¡± As Cang Xu spoke, he looked towards Sanda again, ¡°We have always been striving, never entertaining the thought of giving up. Your suggestion to continue stealing is very risky.¡± Zi Di shook her head, analyzing, ¡°Time-wise, we can¡¯t make it, we need to set up the Array, find a suitable place to lie low and cast spells again. If we steal again, the possibility of exposure is too great. If I were a giant of the Sha Huang Clan, I would check these resources and treasures every day. There¡¯s a possibility they¡¯ve already discovered our theft, just remaining silent about it.¡± ¡°For them, Fire City isn¡¯t their territory. Being cautious is very probable.¡± ¡°After all, they just lost one box among many; no need to make a huge fuss over it.¡± ¡°More importantly, if there¡¯s a big commotion, it would signify their lack of vigilance, showcasing incompetence. For the Sha Huang Clan, that would be extremely embarrassing.¡± ¡°This could cause them more trouble in their future alliances with Fire City.¡± ¡°At this point, Zi Di paused, ¡°Actually, we can change our approach, we can negotiate with them.¡± ¡°We can exchange the treasure in this stolen box, or something else, for the red and blue crystal clusters.¡± ¡°Of course, this would immediately make them suspect me. After all, I had met them before and expressed a strong desire to buy.¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t matter much, given our current situation, offending another Holy Domain doesn¡¯t make much difference.¡± ¡°Besides, we have a legitimate reason.¡± Following that, Zi Di revealed that she had been secretly attacked in the tent and her spirit was injured. ¡°Are you injured?¡± the young man asked with concern. Zi Di hurriedly said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to hide it. It¡¯s just that this matter isn¡¯t important in the grand scheme of things. To be honest, stealing the treasure box really pushed me to my limits.¡± Having heard this, a touch of guilt appeared on Sanda¡¯s face. Zi Di didn¡¯t mind Sanda¡¯s bad attitude, the young man¡¯s genuine concern secretly pleased her, and her heart rejoiced. Sanda frowned deeply, pondering and said, ¡°If we go to negotiate, then let me do it. I can personally threaten the young clan leader of the Sha Ji, using the threat of breaking off their marriage arrangement to bolster our bargaining chips.¡± His thought process was sparked by Zi Di¡¯s words. As a Holy Domain-level Sha Ji, he was definitely powerful. The entire Sha Ji clan¡¯s trade caravans were also stronger than the Justice Pirate Group. However, this didn¡¯t mean that the Justice Pirate Group was only at a disadvantage. The situation was different, the Sha Ji clan had weaknesses and flaws too. Cang Xu interjected, ¡°Apart from stealing, there indeed are other ways. If it¡¯s a negotiation, then the treasures in this box are also part of our bargaining chips. If its value is high, it would be more advantageous for us in the negotiations.¡± Reminded by this, everyone looked closely at the contents of the box. There was only one item in the box. Clearly, it was an alchemical item. After being taken out, the Alchemy Treasure was fully displayed before everyone. It was roughly the size of an adult human, about 1.75 meters. Its whole form resembled an octopus, with many tentacles. It looked more like an Evil Eye monster, but with many eyes on the entire spherical head, around the front, back, left, and right¡ªthese eyes, large and small, were arranged neatly and not too densely packed. The entire alchemical octopus radiated a delicate and gorgeous aesthetic. Even those who knew nothing about alchemy could tell at a glance that this treasure was extraordinary! ¡°It can actually float in the air on its own?¡± Lan Zao was incredibly curious. ¡°But how come it has no aura at all?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what indicates its value,¡± Cang Xu said with a smile. Although he was not proficient in alchemy¡ªhaving been put on the spot to act as an alchemist for the Justice Pirate Group, a task he found extremely painful and torturous¡ª he had consequently gained considerable knowledge of the field of alchemy. Cang Xu first pointed out several parts of the octopus¡¯s body, identifying these raw materials. ¡°These materials are of very high quality, generally of Gold Level, and there are even Holy Domain-level treasures among them. Normally, the aura of these materials would conflict and mix.¡± ¡°But look, it has no aura. This indicates that the craftsmanship is just right, allowing all the materials to blend perfectly. If there was any imperfection, the aura would definitely leak.¡± ¡°Once we actually activate this item, we should be able to sense its aura.¡± For safety, everyone still used Pearl Bubble to prevent the activation of this Alchemy Puppet from triggering its attack. Cang Xu was the one to infuse spirit and mana into it. Zi Di was injured and it was not advisable for her to continue taking risks. Moreover, if Cang Xu was injured, he could use Undead Magic to heal himself. But if Zi Di was injured, using Cang Xu¡¯s Undead Magic to heal her would have severe side effects. After all, Cang Xu¡¯s body had been transformed by Undead Techniques. Having received Cang Xu¡¯s mana, several eyes of the alchemy puppet lit up. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cang Xu also received information included within the alchemy structure. He showed a hint of shock and exclaimed, ¡°This is actually a Holy Domain-level Alchemy Puppet!¡± ¡°The person who made it is Qiao Fu, the Alchemy Grandmaster of the Elf Clan, more senior than War Merchant.¡± Chapter 392 - 392: Section 179: Octopus Assistant Chapter 392: Section 179: Octopus Assistant About Qiao Fu, everyone in the Justice Pirate Group had heard of her. She was already over 800 years old, an age considered elderly even among elves. Zong Ge was a goblin, and the lifespan of his race couldn¡¯t compare to Qiao Fu¡¯s. When Qiao Fu became famous, Zong Ge wasn¡¯t even born yet. ¡°Qiao Fu isn¡¯t important, the key is that this is a Holy Domain Level Alchemy Puppet!¡± Lan Zao exclaimed. For the Justice Pirate Group, this undoubtedly meant a sudden increase in their Holy Domain Level combat power! But then, Cang Xu slowly shook his head, ¡°I understand your thoughts, but unfortunately, this isn¡¯t a combat Alchemy Puppet.¡± ¡°The information that Qiao Fu left inside is limited; its model is called Alchemy Assistant Type Three.¡± ¡°It is specifically designed to assist alchemists. These tentacles are extremely flexible, hundreds of times more so than human hands. Of course, it requires corresponding alchemy tools.¡± ¡°Its structure is very intricate, the materials used are quite substantial, and the quality is high, but its combat power is very low. A Black Iron Level fighter could suppress it. Given enough time, they could destroy it.¡± ¡°Besides that,¡± Cang Xu said while starting to operate the Alchemy Puppet. The back of the puppet¡¯s head suddenly opened, ejecting a tube. The tube was originally inserted in the head of the Alchemy Puppet and now popped out a small section. Cang Xu reached out, took one end of the tube, and carefully pulled it out. The entire tube was about the size and thickness of an adult¡¯s arm. It appeared semi-transparent, and both its surface and interior were densely covered with tiny, ant-like alchemy runes. Cang Xu pointed to the middle of the tube, ¡°Look here.¡± The eyes of the crowd lit up as they discovered red and blue crystal clusters stored in the middle of the tube! Beyond that, there were other varieties of elemental crystals. Yellow crystals representing the Earth Element, green crystals representing the Wind Element, and so on. A hint of joy flashed across Sanda¡¯s face, then disappeared without a trace. Because he realized that these red and blue crystal clusters were too few. Cang Xu continued to introduce, ¡°To drive this Alchemy Puppet, various kinds of elemental crystals are needed. The quality of each type of crystal must at least reach the Holy Domain Level!¡± The people couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath. Cang Xu added, ¡°If the quality of a certain type of crystal doesn¡¯t meet the standard, it can still run reluctantly. But the prerequisite must be a composite element crystal cluster.¡± ¡°This should be why the Sha Ji caravan is going all out to purchase the red and blue crystal clusters from Fire City.¡± The Alchemy Puppet, Octopus Assistant, didn¡¯t have the structure of a Mana Pool. Mana Pools are generally used in large or super-large alchemical creations. For example, a Mage Tower, or a demon energy ship. The mana of the Octopus Assistant is directly extracted from the element crystals through a precise device. The extracted mana of various properties is also very helpful for alchemy. Many alchemical methods have more or less requirements for properties. Sometimes, the requirements are almost stringent, at other times, they seem quirky. Zi Di smiled, ¡°This isn¡¯t bad either. Aren¡¯t we just in need of an Alchemist?¡± ¡°Now with it, we don¡¯t have to risk recruiting outsiders.¡± ¡°After all, our secrets are too significant.¡± ¡°This Alchemy Puppet naturally deserves our trust.¡± But Cang Xu sighed, ¡°Right now, this Alchemy Puppet still can¡¯t be started. It lacks a spirit.¡± Zi Di was momentarily stunned, ¡°Are you saying, it requires an Intelligent Spirit?¡± Cang Xu nodded, ¡°Yes. The Grade of this Intelligent Spirit must also be high; otherwise, it will be difficult to bring the Alchemy Puppet into full play.¡± ¡°Of course, it can be started now. But every smallest action requires me to command it.¡± Suddenly, Sanda said, ¡°Since it can¡¯t be used, we can negotiate with the Sha Ji caravan.¡± ¡°Such an advanced Alchemy Puppet should be their most valuable betrothal gift.¡± Cang Xu mused, ¡°The Fire City Lord has profound alchemy skill and is also very adept at creating Alchemy Puppets. But she is focused on creating large Puppets, whereas Qiao Fu is more proficient in these smaller models.¡± ¡°In any case, the allure of this Alchemy Puppet is quite considerable for the Fire City Lord.¡± ¡°Things are a bit bad,¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°This treasure is too valuable. Once it¡¯s discovered to be stolen, the Sand Yellow clan will definitely be furious and mobilize all forces to search for this thing.¡± ¡°This situation is quite different from what we speculated earlier.¡± ¡°Reputation is now secondary; they will likely inform Fire City and rely on the local major powers to issue a warrant and frantically search for this puppet!¡± Zi Di¡¯s analysis made sense, causing everyone to feel a sinking sensation in their hearts. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the Sand Yellow clan stirred up Fire City, it would be extremely disadvantageous for the Justice Pirate Group. They would be trapped and struggle to make any progress. ¡°The situation is indeed not good,¡± the young captain said, ¡°regarding a Holy Domain Level power, if it were a combat puppet, that would be one thing.¡± ¡°This one is an alchemy assistant that can constantly perform alchemy, generating endless value!¡± ¡°We might end up being pursued and attacked by the Fire City Lord.¡± ¡°We need to contact the Sand Yellow clan as soon as possible, before they decide not to give up face and tell the City Lord of Fire City.¡± ¡°Compared to facing the Legendary Fire City Lord, dealing with Holy Domain Level Sha Ji is much less pressure.¡± ¡°Sir, thank you!¡± Sanda bowed solemnly in gratitude to the young man. The young captain didn¡¯t hesitate and decided to give up the alchemy puppet, choosing to risk negotiating to save Zong Ge. This moved Sanda, also filling him with much guilt. The young captain patted Sanda¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Next, rest up quickly, and then let¡¯s get moving.¡± Both Cang Xu and Zi Di were in bad shape. Spellcasters have far more tricks up their sleeves than Fighting energy cultivators, and to negotiate with the Sand Yellow clan without a Holy Domain Level fighter on our side, we¡¯ll need to rely on the strength of everyone. Zi Di and Cang Xu were both aware of the urgency of the situation and, after a few desperately urgent treatments, they both began their actions. However, something unexpected happened. The gates of Fire City were suddenly closed, and the city was noisy, with quite a stir happening inside. ¡°Could it be, that the theft of the treasure has been discovered, and the Sand Yellow clan¡¯s giants have requested help from the Fire City Lord?¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t even the Elder Token of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce smooth things over?¡± ¡°Right now, Miss Zi Di must be under serious suspicion. After all, the previous negotiation failed, and there was a conflict.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, using the Purple Vine Order now is just walking into a trap, isn¡¯t it?¡± For a moment, no one had any solutions. We¡¯ve only been here for two or three days, with no reliable channels to suss out information. ¡°We can only wait until the turmoil within the city subsides. They¡¯ll have to open the gates if they don¡¯t find the thief.¡± ¡°Yes, they can¡¯t keep the city closed forever.¡± ¡°No, I think the octopus assistant is worth closing the city for a few days. If it were me, I would turn the whole city upside down.¡± ¡°Maybe, we should take action and negotiate directly?¡± At this point in the discussion, everyone fell silent. Coming forward with the alchemy puppet to threaten a Legend and a Holy Domain, that¡¯s far too rash.¡± ¡°Let me do it!¡± Sanda said with a serious expression, stepping forward. The others tried to convince him otherwise, but Sanda was resolute. After a brief emergency discussion of this plan, they decided to temporarily retreat. Sanda went alone, boldly straight to the great gate of Fire City. A short while later, he rushed back. ¡°The situation is not as we thought!¡± Sanda said, ¡°The Fire City Lord took the initiative to close the city, to tidy up and sort out public order. She is preparing to welcome a distinguished guest from afar tomorrow.¡± ¡°This might just be her cover for the search.¡± ¡°No, a cover wouldn¡¯t have such a big loophole. Exactly who is the guest? ¡°Tuck,¡± answered Sanda. Chapter 393 - 393: Section 180: Legend Welcomes Personally Chapter 393: Section 180: Legend Welcomes Personally ¡°Tuck?¡± Upon hearing Sanda¡¯s reply, several people present showed a hint of surprise. Tuck was not an unfamiliar name. Although they had never met him in person, the Justice Pirate Group had indirectly come into contact with him. More precisely, they had used the Ship Spirit Repair Scroll. This scroll, a creation of Tuck¡¯s, showcased his skills and talents in full. Additionally, Tuck came from a noble background. He was from the Steel Pound family, with a rich bloodline, and had shown signs of genius from a young age. Now, he had become an alchemist of the Holy Domain Level, quite young, merely forty-five years old. His alchemical skill was extremely formidable¡ªparticularly in the areas of Tower Spirits and Ship Spirits, he could be considered one of the top talents in the world. After using the Ship Spirit Repair Scroll, the battle arrays of Tower Spirits had been significantly repaired, and the Justice Pirate Group had greatly benefited from this. Zi Di and others had also tried to secure another scroll at a black market auction. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful. The Ship Spirit Repair Scroll was highly valuable, and once it hit the market, it had caused an enthusiastic response. The Empire had also immediately made adjustments, designating the Ship Spirit Repair Scroll as strategic material, which would be tightly controlled in the future. ¡°If everyone says so,¡± Lan Zao spoke, ¡°then the news of Tuck¡¯s visit tomorrow can¡¯t be wrong.¡± Zi Di shook her head slightly, ¡°For safety¡¯s sake, we should still confirm it.¡± Goblin Sanda then said, ¡°It¡¯s easy to confirm this news; we just need to arrange for someone to watch at the dock.¡± Fire City was a city built around an active volcano, and for Tuck and his companions to enter Fire City, they first had to choose a port on Fire Island to dock at. Given the significant activities in Fire City, it was believed that the port would not be neglected. Therefore, the location of the port where Tuck would dock could be easily investigated. The young captain pondered and then said, ¡°Then let¡¯s split into two groups, one to verify at the dock, and the other to wait for news before deciding how to enter the city.¡± Sanda nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Cang Xu interjected, ¡°We might be missing something. It¡¯s likely true that Tuck is visiting, but perhaps our theft has been exposed, and the sand-yellow giants have already sought help from Fire City. What if this time, the City Lord of Fire City is using Tuck¡¯s visit as a chance to secretly investigate us?¡± Everyone slightly frowned, indeed, they couldn¡¯t dismiss this possibility. Sanda snorted coldly, ¡°If we worry too much about risks, we will miss our opportunity. I¡¯ll go into the city alone!¡± The former leader of the Mercenary Group displayed a resolute will. He truly was a unique goblin. Once, Zong Ge had saved his life in a shipwreck; now, he was willing to risk his life to rescue the Half-Beast. Cang Xu smiled faintly, looking at Sanda, ¡°Your will is as strong as steel, but will alone is far from enough for success.¡± Sanda¡¯s frown deepened. But the words that followed from Cang Xu dissipated his annoyance and impatience. Cang Xu said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. With my Undead Magic, I can be quite useful.¡± Sanda¡¯s frown relaxed, revealing a hint of surprise, and he regarded the Undead Mage before him with new eyes. To be frank, there were internal rifts within the Justice Pirate Group. Such divisions existed in any group. A clear opposition existed between the Undead Mage Cang Xu and the Beastman Samurai Zong Ge. Sanda hadn¡¯t expected Cang Xu to take such a risk for Zong Ge. Cang Xu continued, ¡°Even if our theft is discovered, it really doesn¡¯t matter much. We have covered our tracks quite cleanly. More importantly, I have confidence in the Pearl Bubble.¡± ¡°As long as they don¡¯t hold any truly important clues, with just Divination and Prophecy at their disposal, we have the Pearl Bubble, which makes us relatively safe.¡± Thus, after some discussion, the group arranged for Sanda and Cang Xu to head to Fire City. Zi Di, Lan Zao, and others went to the docks to gather intelligence. The young captain led Big Guy and others, staying temporarily outside the city, closest to the Deep Sea Monster Fish. If anything went awry, they would need to carry out a rescue or reinforcement. If there were no accidents, they would continue transporting materials. The materials Zi Di had purchased had to be stored in rented warehouses. For the Justice Pirate Group, every supply opportunity was precious, and they hadn¡¯t yet moved half of these materials. The night passed, and dawn arrived. Sanda and Cang Xu were the closest to Fire City; they quickly noticed something new. The gates of Fire City had opened once again. Sanda took a tour around and observed before he came back to meet with Cang Xu. ¡°The main gate hasn¡¯t opened yet; that must be the passage for receiving Tuck.¡± ¡°But the other three secondary gates have opened; people have started moving in and out.¡± Cang Xu analyzed, ¡°This doesn¡¯t really tell us anything. It could be that Fire City never searched for us, or they might have searched all night to no avail and are now deploying this tactic intentionally, trying to lure us out of the city to find more valuable clues!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just wait a bit longer.¡± Sanda grew a bit impatient, ¡°Can¡¯t you use a ghost to scout?¡± Cang Xu sighed, ¡°I do carry a ghost with me, but using spells would create noticeable mana fluctuations; I would need to use an Alchemy Array to conceal it. But setting up an array near the city is easily observable, it takes a long time to install, and we only have one set of materials left for the array.¡± Sanda could only grit his teeth in patience; he looked towards the dock direction, ¡°Then we¡¯ll wait a bit longer.¡± They were waiting for a message from Zi Di. Zi Di and Lan Zao, along with others, were waiting near the docks for Tuck¡¯s arrival. Sunrise came. The sun rose above the ocean, filling the sky with dawn light; soft, salty sea breeze carried the light chirps of sea birds. Initially, in the horizon Zi Di gazed upon, she spotted a silhouette. ¡°Do you see that? Looks like someone is coming over in a canoe?¡± Zi Di was somewhat uncertain. Lan Zao squinted against the sunlight. The sun had just risen, and the light wasn¡¯t too glaring. Lan Zao quickly spotted the dark figure Zi Di mentioned. Unlike Zi Di, Lan Zao had spent a long time struggling for survival on a sea ship and was an experienced sailor. He quickly realized part of the truth, ¡°That distance is great, unless he¡¯s a giant¡­ indeed it looks like a giant rowing in a canoe.¡± Zi Di suddenly affirmed, ¡°That must be Tuck.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lan Zao was puzzled, ¡°Isn¡¯t Tuck human?¡± Zi Di pointed not far away, ¡°Look, those people, they¡¯ve started moving.¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A large group of people was already assembled there, having arrived much earlier than Zi Di and Lan Zao. They had blocked off part of the area and made some simple arrangements. As the giant canoe approached, those who were initially resting now sprang into action. A human, seemingly a housekeeper, was shouting loudly, directing the people. The City Guard reassembled in formation, while the band began to handle their instruments, especially the trombonists, who arranged themselves on either side of the road, ready to perform. Apart from these, there were also many passersby. Some were sailors, some were dock workers, and others were wealthy merchants and dignitaries who had come specifically to watch the spectacle. Zi Di, Lan Zao, and others took early positions on the balcony of a building, unobtrusive. The giant canoe drew nearer, gradually revealing its true form in the eyes of Zi Di and others. It was not a giant, but a giant puppet. Its upper body resembled that of a human, while its lower body was a boat, and it held a huge pair of paddles. It was Tuck¡¯s flagship, the Steel Giant, a Golden Level demon energy ship, just like the Deep Sea Monster Fish. As the Steel Giant approached, the dock suddenly became bustling. A large group of giants arrived; they exuded a heavy presence, at least Silver Level, and a few were even Golden Level. They escorted a female giant. Her body was obviously a bit larger than the other giants around her, with reddish-brown skin and brownish-yellow hair draped casually over her shoulders. She had two dark blue horns on her forehead, each with distinct spirals. The female giant¡¯s aura was immense, distinctly Legendary! Seeing her appear, Zi Di instinctively ducked her head. Lan Zao swallowed hard, ¡°The Fire City Lord? Why is she personally coming to meet Tuck?¡± Tuck was indeed prestigious, but only Holy Domain Level. The Fire City Lord was a veteran Legend! Chapter 394 - 394: Section 181: Urgent Situation Chapter 394: Section 181: Urgent Situation Zi Di stood by the window lattice, gazing out at the dock from afar. After everyone had paid their respects to the City Lord of Fire City, a welcoming melody resounded at the dock, and the atmosphere quickly heated up. Zi Di slightly squinted her eyes, keenly observing that many passersby were surprised by the appearance of the City Lord of Fire City. But there were a small number of people who showed no sign of surprise. ¡°It seems that the decision to personally welcome Tuck was already known to the higher-ups of Fire City,¡± Zi Di thought to herself with a slight sense of joy, this discovery greatly increased the safety for Cang Xu and Sanda. Tuck was equally surprised. When a subordinate came to urgently report, Tuck was in the dining room, having breakfast with the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family. Upon hearing the news, Tuck paused briefly before immediately issuing orders, directing the relevant personnel to act. Then, he expressed his apologies for not being able to continue the meal to the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family hurriedly expressed his understanding and naturally complimented Tuck. Afterward, he requested to join Tuck in welcoming the City Lord of Fire City. Tuck gladly agreed. When the two walked out of the cabin arm in arm and arrived on the foredeck. The ceremonial squad had already assembled on the foredeck of the Steel Giant. Just as the ceremonial musicians had started to play and were about to proceed with the usual noble social rituals, they heard the voice of the City Lord of Fire City, ¡°Hahaha, Earl Tuck, welcome to Fire Island.¡± The voice of the City Lord of Fire City was booming, resembling the thunderous roar. The nearby aide quickly raised his hand and used his gaze to stop the ceremonial musicians. Indeed, in the next moment, Tuck bowed and replied, ¡°You honor me with your esteemed presence. I am truly anxious and honored to set foot on Fire Island today and meet the distinguished City Lord of Fire City.¡± The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family, standing beside him, couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of admiration. Not only was Tuck a talented and brilliant alchemy master, but he was also an outstanding noble. Though the surprise appearance caught him off guard, he maintained the demeanor of a noble throughout. After chatting with the City Lord of Fire City for a few more moments, the Steel Giant finally docked at the pier. Tuck and the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family and their entourage stepped off the ship and approached the City Lord of Fire City. Tuck then introduced the Clan Leader to the City Lord. However, the City Lord of Fire City was clearly more interested in Tuck, and even after learning the Clan Leader¡¯s identity, he merely nodded slightly, unconcerned. Yet, at this moment, someone else cast a curious and doubtful glance at the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family. ¡°Why is the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family here?¡± At that moment, Zi Di¡¯s eyes widened slightly in shock. Seemingly sensing her gaze, the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family slightly frowned and glanced toward the window where she was. Zi Di quickly dodged behind the wall. Immediately after, she felt her heartbeat accelerate and the pressure inside her mount. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Why has the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family come along with Tuck?¡± ¡°Did the Hundred Needle Family convince Tuck to help them retaliate against the pirates who kidnapped his son?¡± ¡°How likely is that possibility?¡± ¡°What price has the Hundred Needle Family paid?¡± Suddenly, Zi Di¡¯s thoughts raced tumultuously. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although the Hundred Needle Family was now in a destitute state, Zi Di never underestimated it because of its past glory, which could have left some legacy behind. ¡°This is bad.¡± ¡°If the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family and Tuck join forces, we will have to face a Holy Domain Level Mage.¡± ¡°And this mage is also an alchemy master, whom the City Lord of Fire City highly values, making it even more likely that he will assist him.¡± Thinking of Sha Ji, and then of Tuck, Zi Di couldn¡¯t help but feel a severe headache. Lan Zao was also shocked by the situation. After discussing briefly, Zi Di decided to leave quietly first, hurrying to convey both pieces of news back. Meanwhile, Lan Zao continued to scout the situation at the dock. Now that the City Lord of Fire City had received Tuck, he naturally wouldn¡¯t stay idly at the dock. He soon invited Tuck to board a carriage. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family chose the right moment to bid farewell to Tuck. Tuck was unaware of the Clan Leader¡¯s real intentions, still thinking he was heading to another island. Before parting, he earnestly invited the Clan Leader to visit his domain when he had free time. Sanda and Cang Xu soon received the news and Zi Di¡¯s speculations. ¡°Did the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family really ask Tuck for help?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, he should try to conceal this connection, making the pirate kidnappers underestimate him instead of openly accompanying Tuck,¡± analyzed Cang Xu. The Undead Mage felt very heavy-hearted. Sha Ji¡¯s troubles still persisted, and Tuck was back. On their own, either of them could crush the entire Justice Pirate Group into powder. In Fire City, the Justice Pirate Group was like walking on a tightrope, always on the verge of plummeting into the abyss of destruction. ¡°Guessing here won¡¯t help, we might as well enter the city first!¡± Sanda urged impatiently. Excluding the unexpected situation with the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family, the news that the City Lord of Fire City had long been prepared to welcome Tuck was actually good news for Sanda and Cang Xu. According to the plan, Sanda would enter the city first, followed by Cang Xu. They chose not the main city gate, which had already been sealed off. However, this also caused the number of people coming and going through the other three city gates to greatly increase. Sanda and Cang Xu, with nervous hearts but calm faces, passed through the city gate. No one scrutinized them. They quickly and smoothly approached the merchants¡¯ encampment. But unlike last time, they did not dare to delve in too deeply but instead kept a distance. Again, an inn. After choosing the rooms, Cang Xu immediately set up an Alchemy Array, and Sanda took charge of keeping watch. Once the Array was activated, Cang Xu began to cast Undead Magic and released ghosts. Three ghosts took a turn around before splitting up and infiltrating into the merchants¡¯ encampment. The defense at the merchants¡¯ encampment was clearly much sparser than before. This made Cang Xu even more cautious. Finally, a ghost successfully infiltrated into the previously targeted tent, only to find that the number of Treasure Boxes inside had noticeably decreased. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The number of Treasure Boxes has decreased, and there are fewer guards.¡± ¡°Something must have happened!¡± Cang Xu started to take risks, using ghosts to inspect and investigate the merchants¡¯ encampment. ¡°Sha Ji has disappeared too!¡± After a while, Cang Xu¡¯s face paled slightly, and he said to Sanda. ¡°To confirm the situation, next, I plan to use Undead Magic to pry open the mouth of a giant servant in the merchant team.¡± But Sanda shook his head. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± ¡°The way you¡¯re doing it is too troublesome and time-consuming. We need to get even closer to the merchant¡¯s encampment than last time, maybe even sneak in.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just go out on the street and ask around. Trust me, Cang Xu. I used to be a Mercenary Group leader. The current situation gives me a feeling: Sha Ji, the Treasure Boxes, and the guards have all disappeared, and it¡¯s not necessarily because they are investigating us in secret!¡± Cang Xu hesitated, ¡°By doing this, you¡¯d be exposing yourself¡­¡± But Sanda no longer cared about his opinion and turned to leave. He skillfully used conversational tactics to directly ask the townspeople living nearby. Cang Xu provided support from the shadows. Sanda returned, his expression somber, ¡°One piece of good news and one piece of bad news.¡± ¡°The good news is, the merchant¡¯s Sha Ji and those Golden Level giant guards haven¡¯t been investigating us. They haven¡¯t even noticed that the Alchemy Puppet was stolen.¡± ¡°The bad news is that they went to meet with Qi Ya. When they left the merchant¡¯s encampment, they were very ostentatious and attracted a lot of attention.¡± On hearing this, Cang Xu¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Qi Ya is the one meant to marry Sha Ji.¡± ¡°They took some of the Treasure Boxes, probably as a gift for the meeting.¡± ¡°This could greatly showcase the wealth of Sha Ji¡¯s family and their sincerity towards this marriage.¡± ¡°If Sha Ji were to discover the Alchemy Puppet was stolen on the spot, it would inevitably become known to Qi Ya as well. By then, our room for negotiation would be vastly reduced.¡± Sanda nodded, adding, ¡°And it might also provoke Qi Ya to help us proactively.¡± ¡°By then, we would have to face both Sha Ji and the whole of Fire City!¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Cang Xu sighed with resignation, ¡°perhaps Tuck will be involved yet again.¡± Sanda clenched his teeth, ¡°I know the location. Sha Ji and his party walked into a tavern very prominently. We should hurry over there and see if there¡¯s a chance.¡± Qi Ya was of the Holy Domain level. And they were merely Black Iron. And this was Qi Ya¡¯s stronghold. Was there a chance? Both Cang Xu and Sanda wore pained expressions. They knew the chances were slim, but helpless, they steeled themselves to try their luck. Chapter 395 - 395: Section 182: Ptooey Ptooey Ptooey Chapter 395: Section 182: Ptooey Ptooey Ptooey Having investigated the situation, Sanda and Cang Xu quickly left their hiding place and headed to the target tavern. But as they neared the destination, they couldn¡¯t get any closer. The street where the tavern was located was heavily guarded by numerous guards. Among these guards, there were those from the Yellow Sand Giant race, as well as giants from the City Guard of Fire City. There were several Golden Level leaders. Whether it was Sha Ji or sand thorn, both held high authority within the giant race. Sanda, with his head down, tried to blend into a corner of the street but was immediately spotted. A giant guard barked angrily, ¡°Get lost, you green stinker!¡± Sanda pretended to be terrified and fled in haste. After this attempt, Cang Xu and Sanda immediately realized that not only were there numerous guards near the tavern, but tight magic surveillance was in place at all times. They wanted to disrupt the meeting between the two at all costs, but they couldn¡¯t even enter the tavern. Sanda¡¯s face turned ashen, ¡°The strength gap between us and them is too big.¡± Cang Xu, however, narrowed his eyes and whispered, ¡°I could try using a ghost to sneak in.¡± ¡°You only brought one portion of the material, right?¡± Sanda asked, puzzled, but a glimmer of hope resurfaced on his face. Cang Xu sighed, ¡°To be precise, that¡¯s the only portion we had in our inventory, and we¡¯ve just used it.¡± For a spell fluctuation capable of countering the surveillance in Fire City, and that even amateurs like Cang Xu and Zi Di could set up, naturally, there was a tremendous price to pay elsewhere. This price involved some very rare alchemy materials. Even in Fire City, these were exceedingly rare. Zi Di had never even tried to collect them because the costs were too high. But Cang Xu continued, ¡°The alchemy array has not been dismantled yet; we should be relieved that the tavern is within a thousand meters of the array.¡± ¡°My ghosts can float farther, but this distance is the limit if I need to control them for precise surveillance.¡± Sanda was overjoyed upon hearing this. The two hurried back, and the Undead Mage cast his spell again. Three ghosts set out and successfully bypassed the guards and the entire tight surveillance set, finally entering the tavern. There were several Golden Level giant guards at the entrance of the tavern, guarding it loyally. Inside the tavern, there were only the two parties involved. It was indeed Sha Ji and sand thorn. Sha Ji, his skin yellow, still sported dirty braids. Yet, he¡¯d clearly dressed up today, wearing ornate clothing, with half leather armor on his upper body, revealing his thick, muscular arms. On his left arm, he wore a gold-trimmed jade armband. As for sand thorn, like the City Lord of Fire City, she too had red skin, her hair carelessly parted, with two helical small horns on her head. She seemed to have tattoos, with her exposed skin showing straight black lines laid alternatively across. The lines formed rectangles piled upon one another, like bricks. Cang Xu, through his ghost, observed the two. Though his alchemy talent was extremely lacking, his insights were impressive. He immediately noticed that the brick-like tattoos on sand thorn were extraordinary, containing powerful alchemical secrets. Sha Ji and sand thorn had apparently been chatting for a short while. Sha Ji was smiling, but sand thorn was leaning back, arms crossed, looking out the window. She had chosen a good seat, through the window, she could overlook the main city gate from afar, an excellent view. After a while, seeing sand thorn was distracted, Sha Ji, with a casual tone, said, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve brought you some small gifts for our meeting.¡± ¡°Someone come.¡± Sha Ji called towards the tavern¡¯s entrance. Then, the door of the tavern opened, and a Yellow Sand Giant guard came in holding a pile of Treasure Boxes. Of course, for safety, two Golden Level Commanders from Fire City¡¯s City Guard also immediately followed inside. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Beautiful and captivating Miss sand thorn, let us play a simple game,¡± Sha Ji pointed to these treasure boxes. ¡°Inside these boxes, there are different treasures.¡± ¡°Please choose any three.¡± ¡°Whatever you choose will be my gifts to meet you.¡± Upon hearing this, sand thorn finally moved her gaze from the window back to Sha Ji. Sha Ji, as the next successor of the Yellow Sand Giant, took this marriage alliance very seriously and put much thought into pleasing sand thorn. ¡°Oh? Three gifts, it seems like it¡¯s a custom from your side related to a legendary story,¡± Zi Di said. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s the story of the Divine King¡¯s three treasures. So, just like in the story, there¡¯s a grand prize here that¡¯s worth much more than the other treasures.¡± Sha Ji laughed heartily, then continued, ¡°I can reveal a little bit more.¡± ¡°This is a treasure of the Holy Domain level.¡± ¡°It¡¯s extremely helpful in the field of alchemy!¡± Zi Di couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows, ¡°That¡¯s interesting. Then¡­ I¡¯ll choose this one.¡± She casually pointed and picked the top one from a pile of treasure boxes. When the treasure box was opened, inside was a bottle of wine. ¡°Lucky Miss Zi Di, this is a Holy Domain level fine wine, perfect for your use,¡± Sha Ji said as he took the wine jar out of the treasure box and opened the stopper. Instantly, Zi Di smelled an aroma similar to flowers, but much richer than any floral scent. Through the bottle¡¯s opening, she saw that the liquid inside was orange-red and exuded a dragon¡¯s aura. ¡°This is Dragon Blood Sand Thorn Wine, a specialty of my clan,¡± Sha Ji indicated with his eyes, and immediately someone brought over wine cups. While pouring the wine, Sha Ji continued, ¡°To brew this magic potion wine, two main alchemy materials are necessary.¡± ¡°One is the sand thorn, a type of shrub that grows in the desert. Only short bushes are visible above the sand, but beneath the sand, there is an extremely lush, ancient wood-like complex root system.¡± ¡°With our Yellow Sand clan¡¯s generations of careful cultivation, we now have three Holy Domain level sand thorns and twenty-six Golden Level sand thorns.¡± ¡°Besides the sand thorn, there¡¯s another main material. I¡¯m sure Miss Zi Di has already guessed it.¡± Zi Di nodded slightly, ¡°Smelling this aroma, I knew one of the main materials must be dragon blood.¡± At this moment, Sha Ji had already filled a cup. After setting down the wine bottle, he applauded gently, his face full of sincere admiration, ¡°Truly worthy of Miss Zi Di, your mastery in alchemy is so profound. It¡¯s also my fortune to catch a glimpse of the strength of a Noble Clan Leader like you. What an honor.¡± ¡°Please,¡± Sha Ji gestured with his hand. Zi Di picked up the wine cup, first sniffed it, then dipped her finger into the wine, withdrew it, and rubbed her stout fingers together. During this process, she emitted waves of mana, and her hands glowed brilliantly with colorful lights from within. The light penetrated the wine, which quickly evaporated, filling the air with a foul odor like manure. Sha Ji¡¯s smile momentarily froze. Then, Zi Di suddenly stuck out her tongue. Her tongue, clearly modified by alchemy, extended about 20 centimeters, reaching up to the mouth of the cup, dipped into the wine, and then scooped up a spoonful. Then her tongue retracted and Zi Di closed her large mouth. Bang bang, gurgle gurgle, sizzle¡­ A series of strange noises came from her mouth, starting like small explosions, then resembling the sound of boiling water, and finally like the rush of air through a tiny hole. Finally, Zi Di opened her mouth wide, and her tongue once again stretched out. But the surface of her tongue had turned black, as if it had just been scorched by fire. The previous wine had hardened into a layer of black powder, resembling charcoal dust. ¡°Ptui ptui ptui.¡± Zi Di continuously spit, ejecting all the black carbon powder. The black carbon powder scattered on the ground, some even landing on Sha Ji¡¯s feet. ¡°Indeed, good wine.¡± After cleaning up, Zi Di stretched out her large palm, rudely wiped her mouth, and said to Sha Ji with a smile. Sha Ji also smiled, but his expression was much more stiff than before. Zi Di continued, ¡°This wine can boost Fire Element Fighting Energy, and if diluted, it can even help young giants replenish their body¡¯s nutrients.¡± ¡°Many giants grow up stunted and weak due to a lack of nutrients during their growth period, feeling inferior for a lifetime.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem taller than me either.¡± Zi Di seemed to just realize this issue. Sha Ji: ¡­ Chapter 396 - 396: Section 183: No Wonder Your Face Has Pits Chapter 396: Section 183: No Wonder Your Face Has Pits ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Sha Ji was slightly taken aback by the provocation from Miss Qi Ya, then coughed twice and turned to his subordinates, ¡°You all may leave now.¡± The subordinates left reluctantly. The Sha Huang clan also had their Legends. This was an important reason why the City Lord of Fire City had invited Sha Ji over. Sha Ji continued, ¡°Miss Qi Ya, please choose another item.¡± He breezed past Qi Ya¡¯s mockery with good grace as if it meant nothing to him. Qi Ya opened the second treasure box. Inside was a model of a ship. But a careful look revealed many subtleties; this model ship differed significantly from a normal sea ship. Qi Ya¡¯s pupils narrowed, revealing a hint of investigative desire, ¡°Is this a demon energy ship?¡± ¡°Your eyes are as bright as torches,¡± Sha Ji praised, as he reached out and took the model ship. He ran his hand over the model, his face reflecting a hint of nostalgia, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to pick this ship.¡± ¡°I purposely placed it there.¡± ¡°As you see, it is a demon energy ship.¡± ¡°It is not a sea ship, but a sand ship, capable of sailing in the desert.¡± ¡°Although it is not very large and its carrying capacity is not high, incomparable to a normal sea ship.¡± ¡°Yet, it was one of my favorite toys when I was a child, without a doubt.¡± ¡°When I grew into a teenager, my father taught me how to operate this sand ship. I often drove it swiftly across the boundless sandy seas.¡± ¡°It can be said, it accompanied my growth, and to me, it holds special significance.¡± With that, Sha Ji handed the sand ship to Qi Ya. Qi Ya spread her hands to receive it. First, she felt the weight of the ship. Very light! This meant that the sand ship, as an alchemy item, must have been fitted with numerous magic runes to reduce its weight. It was even likely made up of an elaborate Alchemy Array. Her pupils emitted a glaring white light. Under the light, the surface of the sand ship subtly became transparent. Qi Ya immediately saw a complete array, its complexity was dizzying at first glance. The grade of this sand ship was not low; it was a Golden Level demon energy ship. The creator had been innovative, using a large-scale reduction array and weight control runes. Once the seal of the sand ship was broken, it could rapidly revert to its normal size as a ship, also possessing normal weight. However, when the sand ship was in its model form, not only was its size reduced, but its weight was drastically lowered, and its aura was also minimized to an extreme, almost indistinguishable from ordinary objects. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This sand ship has a delicate structure, but there are some flaws in its construction. The biggest defect is that although it uses multiple arrays, they are overly complex. This limits the scope for other functionalities, particularly in terms of power,¡± Qi Ya observed for a while and then commented. ¡°However, the creator must have also recognized these shortcomings of the demon energy ship, thus making additional arrangements at the front end of the sand ship.¡± ¡°You have auxiliary power in this ship, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It must be some kind of fierce beast or alchemy item that can pull the sand ship forward.¡± Mason apprenticed to the Fire City Lord, her alchemy methods always impeccable, from her previous Alchemy Tongue to her now Alchemy Eyes. Her critique was all-encompassing and incisive, further displaying her profound alchemy skills. Sha Ji couldn¡¯t help but applaud, nodding vigorously, ¡°Miss Mason, your comments struck me deeply. The older I get, the slower this sand ship seems to become.¡± ¡°It indeed needs auxiliary power, without which it can¡¯t go fast.¡± ¡°This power comes from the Flagfish Dragon Beast.¡± Mason nodded slightly, listening intently. She knew about the Flagfish Dragon Beast, a common magic beast in the desert regions, shaped like flagfish and belt fish, adept at tunneling through sandy soil. It contains a very weak Dragon Blood, belonging to a lower grade of sub-dragon beast. Sha Ji said, ¡°The Flagfish Dragon Beast is tamable. The giant tribes living in the desert usually tame them.¡± ¡°Once tamed, the Flagfish Dragon Beast becomes extremely loyal to its master, willing to fight and even die for them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s akin to the hunting dogs tamed by human nobles.¡± ¡°In my childhood, lacking playmates, the company I had the most was a Flagfish Dragon Beast subdued by my father.¡± ¡°It was very old, slow-moving and gentle, allowing me as a child to play on it.¡± ¡°It died when I was six years old, which was the saddest event of my childhood. Even though my father brought me other new Flagfish Dragon Beasts, I was not delighted, nor did I forget it.¡± ¡°By my youth, I had grown discontent with the original speed of the ship, and began to personally capture Flagfish Dragon Beasts in the desert.¡± ¡°Often, I would capture them after enormous hardship and then tame them myself.¡± ¡°They never let me down, showed great loyalty, and obeyed my commands.¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to gather sixteen Flagfish Dragon Beasts to form a team to pull the ship. That way, the sand ship can go its fastest.¡± ¡°Although the sand ship could accommodate twenty Flagfish Dragon Beasts pulling at once, twenty is too many; it becomes inconvenient to make turns, and the ship might even capsize due to the high speed.¡± ¡°As for speed, twenty is almost similar to sixteen.¡± ¡°Beyond sixteen, the gaps between the Flagfish Dragon Beasts become too narrow, often interfering with each other when pulling the sand ship. Clearly, the alchemist who designed this sand ship didn¡¯t research beast taming much.¡± Sha Ji said this, flashing a toothy smile at Mason, ¡°This is from my experience.¡± ¡°I frequently control the sand ship, steering the group of Flagfish Dragon Beasts, speeding through the desert, surmounting sand dunes, laughing heartily into the wild, raging dust storms, as the gritty sand pounds against my chest and face.¡± At this, Sha Ji¡¯s eyes sparkled, and he naturally puffed out his chest, lost in pleasant memories. ¡°No wonder you have pits on your face,¡± Mason blurted out unexpectedly. ¡°Eh?¡± Sha Ji instinctively touched his face. His face was indeed pocked, but wasn¡¯t that normal? Giants generally had rough skin, more so for those like him, from the sand-yellow tribe living in the desert for years. ¡°Tasty?¡± Mason asked again. ¡°What?¡± Sha Ji didn¡¯t catch on immediately. Mason smiled, ¡°I meant, is the meat of the Flagfish Dragon Beast tasty?¡± The smile on Sha Ji¡¯s face stiffened. Mason further asked, ¡°You mentioned racing the ship through the sandstorms, laughing heartily. Didn¡¯t the sand get into your mouth?¡± ¡°Do you like¡­ drinking the wind and eating sand?¡± Sha Ji: ¡­ Chapter 397 - 397: Section 184: Speechless Chapter 397: Section 184: Speechless ¡°Cough cough,¡± faced with Qi Ya¡¯s sarcasm, Sha Ji could only once again change the subject. ¡°Miss Qi Ya, please pick the third item,¡± he said. ¡°However, according to the customs of our region, the third item is also the last one.¡± ¡°The previous two items, you did not choose the chest with the greatest value. Now, you have one last chance.¡± At this point, Sha Ji pondered for a moment before revealing a bit, ¡°The treasure¡¯s grade is of Holy Domain Level, which is of little use to me. But for you, and even for a noble clan leader, it could be extremely helpful.¡± ¡°The creator of this treasure is Master Craftsman Qiao Fu!¡± Upon hearing the name Qiao Fu, Qi Ya¡¯s face changed, her eyes conveying a look of seriousness. She had intended to make a direct choice, but now she hesitated. As for herself, to be honest, she did not care much about which treasure she would receive. But if it could help the City Lord of Fire City¡­ Qi Ya couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart flutter. She looked at the pile of treasure chests and mused, ¡°I¡¯m a bit curious now, are there any other hints?¡± This was clearly the best moment to please Qi Ya. But for the first time during this meeting, a solemn expression crossed Sha Ji¡¯s face as he slowly shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°The story of the Divine King¡¯s Three Treasures is not just a story, but also a part of our customs, and our faith.¡± ¡°Miss Qi Ya, you must already know this story.¡± ¡°What lies inside the treasure chests, if we knew beforehand, then what would be the point of choosing?¡± ¡°Treasures that are not destined for us are not to be forcibly sought after.¡± ¡°Just like the marriage alliance between you and me.¡± The last sentence elicited a trace of emotion from Qi Ya. Throughout the meeting, she had been deliberately difficult and sarcastic, an attitude that had already expressed her views on this marriage alliance. Sha Ji¡¯s words revealed that he had prepared himself for the failure of this marriage alliance. This made Qi Ya feel somewhat relaxed, and for the first time, she found Sha Ji somewhat agreeable to look at. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll choose this one,¡± said Qi Ya, without further hesitation, she randomly selected a treasure chest. There were no visible differences between the exteriors of the chests, of course, there might have been flaws that would have required Qi Ya¡¯s full attention to spot. Just as she had previously tasted wine with her tongue, and peered through the model of the Sand Boat with the strange glint in her eyes. These were all her alchemy methods. But as Sha Ji had said, this selection was not just a game, nor purely an act to flatter Qi Ya. It also contained the customs and faith of the Sha Huang clan. Especially faith, which is not to be denigrated. So, if Qi Ya had used her alchemy to examine the insides of the chests, as she had done before, it would have been a great offence towards Sha Ji and even the entire Sha Huang clan. Qi Ya, even though reluctant to enter into the marriage alliance, did not wish to needlessly make enemies and cause trouble for the City Lord of Fire City, whom she held in the highest respect and affection. The final treasure chest opened up. Inside was a scroll of parchment paper and a pen. Without need for Sha Ji¡¯s narration, Qi Ya could see she was disappointed; although it was an alchemy treasure, it was clearly not the work of Qiao Fu. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Qi Ya, but in the end, you did not pick that most valuable treasure,¡± Sha Ji shook his head, his expression sincere. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help you.¡± ¡°Actually, I am also unclear about the differences between these chests, and what exactly each one contains.¡± ¡°The clan elder who guards these treasure chests, his strength has already fallen to the Golden Level, but under his strict supervision, I, his future sole heir, cannot break the rules.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± At this point, Sha Ji¡¯s tone shifted once again. ¡°While the treasure inside this chest is not the most valuable one, it is still very precious.¡± ¡°One could even say, it is more suited to us than that other treasure.¡± ¡°This parchment scroll is black inside and out, it is the skin of a Legendary Black Scribbler.¡± ¡°As for this white pen, according to the information left by the creator, it is called a signal pen.¡± ¡°The black paper and white pen need to be used together to unleash the capabilities of this set of alchemy items.¡± ¡°This was an accidental discovery made by the warriors of our clan during an exploration of a relic.¡± ¡°The specific way to use it is to tear this piece of black leather paper in half, separating them by distance. As long as one uses the signal pen to write on one half of the black leather paper, the text will appear simultaneously on the other piece no matter where it is.¡± ¡°At the moment, we have not yet tested out the communication¡¯s ultimate range.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s put it this way, even if we are separated by a vast ocean, with you on Fire Island and me on the Frost Continent, we can still communicate through this scroll of paper. The time difference is almost zero, and the content doesn¡¯t distort.¡± ¡°As far as I know, the current time delay in information transmission by the Imperial Navy¡¯s highest grade Magic Communication Device is around half a day to a day.¡± Qie Ya nodded slightly, ¡°What you refer to is the usual mode of communication for the Imperial Navy. They certainly also have means for emergency communication, similar to this one, which cannot be used frequently.¡± Qie Ya picked up the piece of black leather paper and began to study it with alchemy magic once again. Before long, she had some results, ¡°The black scrawl is a Magic Beast from the Shadow Plane. The reason this alchemy item can transmit messages so quickly is that it utilizes the Shadow Plane. It¡¯s like taking a shortcut, which is why it can achieve what regular advanced communication devices cannot, with minimal cost.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s also because of this, if someone discovers its operating principle, they could target it through the Shadow Plane.¡± ¡°Once targeted, this alchemy item could easily become ineffective, or even worse, transmit false information.¡± Sha Ji¡¯s smile stiffened again at the implications of this revelation. But Qie Ya changed tack, ¡°It uses Biological Alchemy, and in this field, the War Merchants are probably the best in the world right now. Neither I nor the clan elder are skilled in this area. If we hand this over to the elder, perhaps it could provide her with some inspiration and new ideas.¡± Sha Ji laughed heartily, looking deeply at Qie Ya, ¡°If this treasure can provide some assistance to the Great City Lord of Fire City, it would be our honor.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°However, I would prefer that we use this treasure to exchange information between us.¡± Qie Ya immediately frowned. Sha Ji spread his hands, chuckling, ¡°Even if our marriage alliance falls through, it doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t collaborate, right? We can still be friends. There¡¯s nothing strange about friends corresponding, is there?¡± Qie Ya¡¯s frown deepened. Sha Ji sighed, ¡°Actually, Miss Qie Ya, there¡¯s no need for such wariness.¡± ¡°My caravan has been stationed in Fire City for some time, and we haven¡¯t been idle during our stay.¡± ¡°There have been numerous excellent giants whom the City Lord of Fire City invited in an attempt to form a marital alliance with you, all of whom have been rejected.¡± ¡°Among them, some even had better conditions than me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve rejected them all; I was prepared for failure from the beginning.¡± ¡°The exchange of letters and future communication isn¡¯t an attempt to continue clinging to you.¡± ¡°But rather because our sides have great potential in cooperation and can support each other as outstanding allies!¡± ¡°Fire City¡­ is not large, it could even be said to be weak. Just like my own race, we should stick together and assist each other even more.¡± Qie Ya couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows, scoffing, ¡°Are you saying that my Fire City¡­ is weak?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Sha Ji replied, raising an index finger, ¡°It¡¯s important to note that strength and weakness are relative. Comparatively, Fire City has the City Lord and outstanding giants like yourself, Miss Qie Ya, which makes it superior to most powers. But compared with the Holy Bright Empire, it is indeed weak.¡± Qie Ya scoffed again, ¡°The Empire is the strongest power in the Main World, everybody is weak in comparison.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Sha Ji retracted his hands, placing them on his knees, sitting up straight, ¡°Precisely because we are weak, we need to save ourselves. In my view, the noble¡¯s foundation in Fire City is already precarious, and if we don¡¯t seize this final opportunity to find a way out, the future of the nobility could be dismal, and even lead to an end.¡± Qie Ya¡¯s expression turned ugly, ¡°You¡¯re being alarmist!¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± intensified Sha Ji¡¯s tone, abandoning the previous gentleness. His posture became serious, with a heavy gaze fixed unmovingly on Qie Ya. ¡°I am very familiar with the history of the nobility, which was once quite glorious. On the Red Earth Plateau, there was even the embryonic form of a Kingdom.¡± ¡°But unfortunately, before the foundation of the kingdom could be completed, it met with the expansion of the Holy Bright Empire.¡± ¡°You are the last and largest giant kin of the Holy Bright Continent. Facing the immensely powerful Empire, your only choice was to submit. Resistance would lead to destruction, and to flee would mean being hunted. The Great Emperor¡¯s gaze is omnipresent.¡± Qie Ya retorted, ¡°At first, we were prepared for an all-out war. It was the Holy Emperor himself who came and negotiated with our clan elders. Only after paying a certain price did we agree to the alliance proposed by the Holy Emperor. Since then, our kin became allies of the Holy Bright Empire.¡± ¡°Allies?¡± Sha Ji revealed a mocking smile, ¡°So, how does the Empire treat its allies?¡± ¡°The Red Earth Plateau was once vast and rich in minerals, the homeland of the nobility.¡± ¡°And what about now?¡± ¡°The plateau is filled with humans, with towns of the Human Race.¡± ¡°And the nobility?¡± ¡°Why are they confined to this island?¡± This time, it was Qie Ya¡¯s turn to fall silent. Chapter 398 - 398: Section 185: But Im in high spirits! Chapter 398: Section 185: But I¡¯m in high spirits! Seeing the silent Sha Ji, the Holy Temple Knight continued, ¡°The Empire uses martial power that is unrivaled in the Main World to conquer their enemies. At the same time, they also have clever political tactics to deal with their allies.¡± ¡°Once, the Red Earth Plateau was your home, almost all of it your territory.¡± ¡°But over the course of a few hundred years, the Empire has used various pretexts and clever methods to divide the Red Earth Plateau. How much of those rich mineral deposits do the nobles now possess?¡± Sha Ji sneered coldly, staring at the Holy Temple Knight, ¡°Are you trying to incite my clan against the Empire?¡± The Holy Temple Knight hurriedly shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m merely stating the facts.¡± ¡°Even if we don¡¯t mention your people or the Red Earth Plateau, let¡¯s talk about those southern nobles in recent centuries.¡± ¡°In the Empire¡¯s final battle to unify the Holy Bright Continent, they recruited many southern nobles. How did the Empire treat those who surrendered and pledged loyalty?¡± ¡°Look around, not a single house is in a good situation.¡± ¡°Take the Hundred Needle Family, for example.¡± ¡°They were once one of the leaders among the southern nobles, prominent for a time. Now what? They can barely hold onto their remaining territories, and not long ago, the only heir to the family even suffered a shipwreck.¡± ¡°Ironic, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°According to intelligence, this heir had supposedly joined the Holy Temple Knights and became a follower of the Holy Emperor.¡± ¡°If the Empire treats the Human Race this way, what about us giants?¡± Sha Ji¡¯s questions made Sha Ji¡¯s face grow even darker. He then shifted the conversation to praise the Fire City Lord, ¡°To be honest, I truly admire the City Lord.¡± ¡°Years ago, when the Demon Army emerged from Hell and wreaked havoc in the Main World, various races united to fight back.¡± ¡°As the waves of counter-attack surged on a grand scale, pushing the demons into disarray, the City Lord volunteered to sacrifice herself, traveling to Fire Island to guard the spatial weak point here.¡± ¡°It was by seizing this opportunity that you were able to leap out of the trap of the Red Earth Plateau.¡± ¡°Under immense pressure, the City Lord led her people to survive on Fire Island, thriving and multiplying to this day.¡± ¡°If the situation had been left to develop, your entire clan might have perished on the Red Earth Plateau. The Empire¡¯s tactics and dark conspiracies are endless.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous that at the beginning, many giants in your clan opposed her, thinking she had become the Empire¡¯s lackey. Many giants preferred to stay on the Red Earth Plateau.¡± ¡°Now what?¡± ¡°Where have the giants who stayed on the Red Earth Plateau gone?¡± ¡°Everything has proven just how visionary the City Lord is!¡± ¡°She is of Legendary Level strength, an alchemy master, but at the same time, she is an excellent leader with foresight.¡± ¡°With her presence, the nobles can temporarily consider Fire Island as an external sanctuary. Otherwise, your situation might be even more tragic than that of the Hundred Needle Family.¡± Sha Ji remained silent. The Fire City Lord was the person she respected the most, Sha Ji¡¯s praises resonated with her, but the dangers and crises he depicted weighed heavily on her heart. Though Sha Ji had devoted almost all of her energy to alchemy, she was intelligent and not dull, and her understanding of the situation was not uninformed. ¡°So,¡± Sha Ji took a deep breath, his expression extremely sincere, ¡°even if you don¡¯t wish to enter into a marriage alliance with me, I would be very regretful, but I would not insist. I also don¡¯t have the power to compel you.¡± ¡°But, as a fellow giant, I must sincerely advise you, Miss Sha Ji.¡± ¡°Please take the idea of a marriage alliance seriously!¡± ¡°Even if you find it repulsive, even loathsome, please think of your clan.¡± ¡°Even if you don¡¯t consider your clan, think of the City Lord.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t the City Lord know of your resistance to the marriage? So why has she organized it time and again?¡± ¡°She has always led the giant clan on Fire Island, this is the last spark of the giants from the Red Earth Plateau! Please trust her more, believe in your leader.¡± His words struck Sha Ji¡¯s heart like a heavy hammer. Sha Ji couldn¡¯t help but turn pale, her expression visibly shaken. The Holy Temple Knight pressed on while the iron was hot, ¡°As I mentioned before, the situation for Fire City is dire, this is not idle talk, nor is it alarmist.¡± ¡°The Holy Emperor has stirred up an era¡¯s tempest!¡± ¡°He controls the entire Holy Bright Empire and has positioned troops at the throat of the Beastmen.¡± ¡°The Holy Bright Continent¡¯s invasion of the Wilderness Continent, the Human Race¡¯s incursion into the Beast Race, will inevitably be a massive confrontation.¡± ¡°Both sides are preparing for a monumental battle. Such a battle of the ages will not be just one, it could be two or three.¡± ¡°The Holy Bright Continent is launching an expedition, while the Beast Race fights on their home ground.¡± ¡°The Empire must ensure the security of its seaborne supply lines! The Empire needs it to continuously ferry troops and supply. This is the Empire¡¯s lifeline!¡± ¡°And Fire Island¡¯s strategic location is too important. It is not near the Wilderness Continent, but it is also far from the Holy Bright Continent. It is the most critical pillar of the sea transport route!¡± ¡°The Beast Race, wanting to defeat the Empire, will try every means to attack here, to destroy Fire Island!¡± ¡°And the Holy Bright Empire?¡± ¡°Would those high and mighty Dukes¡ªthe living gods¡ªnot know the importance of the supply lines?¡± ¡°Will they leave Fire Island under the care of giants? Would they entrust the entire Empire¡¯s lifeline to a foreign race?¡± ¡°So, they will undoubtedly make a move on Fire Island as well!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what means the Empire will use, but I am sure they have been brewing something for a long time,¡± he said. ¡°The Empire will make a move earlier than the Beast Race.¡± ¡°Once they take action, what will become of Fire Island? Can you defend it?¡± Qi Ya¡¯s face turned pale. She stared into Sha Ji¡¯s eyes and bit her lip, ¡°So, after all that you¡¯ve said, are you reminding me that this marriage alliance is probably the City Lord¡¯s way of seeking an escape route for our kin?¡± ¡°So, is my marriage to you mandatory?¡± Sha Ji let out a long sigh, ¡°Miss Qi Ya, please don¡¯t be angry with me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not me who is forcing you.¡± ¡°The essence and truth of the matter is that the Empire is forcing your entire race, even pressing down on all the Beastmen of the Wilderness Continent!¡± ¡°At this moment, as we sit here, face to face, having our first conversation.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t you or me that catalyzed this.¡± ¡°We are geniuses, of the Holy Domain, strong beings, yet in front of the Empire, we are still so insignificant. We can only be swept away by the hurricane of the era, against our will!¡± Qi Ya lowered her head, sinking into a long silence. After a while, she finally spoke, her voice somewhat hoarse. ¡°What about you then?¡± she asked back. ¡°What you¡¯ve said is correct.¡± ¡°For a long time, I¡¯ve immersed myself in the domain of alchemy, paying little attention to the outside world.¡± ¡°Even when I had a bad feeling about what the future held, I did not investigate deeply. At every moment of worry, I would think of my teacher, the City Lord.¡± ¡°Today, I thank you for your guidance.¡± ¡°However, all that you¡¯ve said, is just to achieve your goal of marrying.¡± ¡°As a member of Fire City, a descendant of the giants of the Red Earth Plateau, we are indeed in a dangerous position. What about you then?¡± ¡°Why did you come all this way from the Frost Continent, seeking an alliance with us?¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sha Ji burst into laughter, ¡°Hahahaha.¡± His eyes sparkled with brilliance, ¡°Miss Qi Ya, do you know when a Sand Boat is fastest?¡± Without waiting for Qi Ya to respond, he continued, ¡°It¡¯s during a gale!¡± ¡°Dangers often contain opportunities that are not present in normal times.¡± ¡°Only in a ferocious sandstorm can one catch the highest-quality Shuttle Dragon Fish.¡± ¡°When the hurricane strikes and the sand flies into the sky, dunes collapsing, the underground colonies of Shuttle Dragon Fish are startled and begin to scurry in all directions.¡± ¡°They¡¯re extremely fast, squeezing out every ounce of strength in their bodies to shine the brightest in the face of natural disasters.¡± ¡°In order to survive, they twist their bodies and can even leap into the air, piercing the violent wind and sand curtains sharply like arrows, soaring with the wind!¡± ¡°If I want to catch the best Shuttle Dragon Fish, I just need to grab those that jump the highest.¡± As he spoke, Sha Ji paused for a moment, his eyes revealing a look of yearning. ¡°Do you know?¡± ¡°I love watching those Shuttle Dragon Fish leap through the sandstorm as if they were flying.¡± ¡°Shuttle Dragon Fish are only of Silver Level at most. They simply cannot fly; their body structure does not allow it. In the desert¡¯s food chain, they are only in the middle or lower levels.¡± ¡°Yet, at that critical moment, when the heavens and the earth are vast and imposing, they leap as if flying, refusing to accept their destined bloodline, unwilling to face the fate of death, they make a desperate jump.¡± ¡°I believe, at that moment, they surpass themselves, surpass the limitations of their race, and even destiny!¡± At this point, Sha Ji covered his heart, not looking at Qi Ya in front of him, but turned towards the window, gazing at the distant sky and sea. His voice also became a bit hoarse. ¡°Although I carry the excellent bloodline of the Sha Huang, I have reached my limit now.¡± ¡°Countless times, I have tossed and turned in my sleep, lying alone in the desert, staring at the starry night sky. My cultivation has not progressed, and I am practically at a standstill.¡± ¡°Genius? It¡¯s just to a certain degree.¡± ¡°Qi Ya, you must feel the same. You have the domain of alchemy to explore, but can your power still advance?¡± ¡°The Holy Domain is our limit! This is the concentration of our bloodlines, unchangeable.¡± ¡°And the Sha Huang clan, although dominant in the region and possessing many resources, has also reached its limit. This is the limit for the entire clan.¡± ¡°Just like the Shuttle Dragon Fish cannot fly.¡± ¡°But I am not willing to accept this.¡± ¡°Even the Shuttle Dragon Fish strive to leap, and so I must struggle with all my might to seize the opportunity! The tempest stirred up by the Holy Bright Empire is my wind. Even if I ultimately perish in the vast sands, I am content.¡± ¡°Because I have struggled, leapt with all my strength, and laughed heartily.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Laughing wildly in the sandstorm, grains of sand pouring into one¡¯s mouth, but I¡­ I feel exhilarated.¡± Chapter 399 - 399: Section 186: First Fist Ring Chapter 399: Section 186: First Fist Ring ¡°This guy¡­¡± Tuck looked at Sha Ji, a flash of peculiar color crossing his face. Not until this moment did he truly size up the male giant in front of him. Sha Ji, at this moment, looked serious, yearning, and fervent, radiating his unique personal charm. Thinking back to his words, Tuck also felt a great resonance in his heart. Yes, just like Sha Ji, both were seen as geniuses, favored by destiny. However, their Bloodline Concentration had made them but also limited them. When they reached the state they were in today, they both had touched the ceiling of their bloodline¡¯s potential. The cultivation that had once advanced by leaps and bounds suddenly seemed to die on the spot, moving at all felt like moving mountains. Frustration. Despair. Reluctance. Ordinary people looking up to the Transcendents would develop these sorts of negative emotions. Low-level Transcendents looking up to higher levels would feel the same. And when high-level Transcendents reached the limits of their lives, and their path of cultivation suddenly came to an end, they too would harbor such feelings. Moreover, these emotions, because of their previous exhilaration and prominence, and due to the contrast before and after, became even more intense. Tuck immersed himself fully into the field of alchemy to release these negative emotions. While Sha Ji carried ambitious aspirations, wanting to brave the storms of the era. The noise from outside the window picked up. The main city gate opened wide, and a welcoming band began to play. This commotion drew the attention of Tuck and Sha Ji. Both gazed into the distance, and saw the Legendary Level City Lord of Fire City leading the absolutely striking Tuck into Fire City. Besides the ceremonial procession, the streets were lined with elite guards and the onlooking, cheering citizens. Seeing Tuck, perfectly blending the demeanor of nobles and mages, both Sha Ji and Tuck frowned. Tuck felt indignant for the City Lord of Fire City. The City Lord, whom he deeply respected and admired, was now welcoming a Holy Domain as a legend¡ªwhat qualifications did Tuck have? Thus, he naturally disliked Tuck. Sha Ji was cautious and vigilant. ¡°Not of our race, their hearts must be different.¡± This saying was not only popular among the Human Race but also circulated in similar forms among dragons, giants, elves, dwarves, beastmen, and others. The Human Race was the most dominant group, the biggest threat to other races. The Holy Emperor¡¯s formidable power and resounding battle achievements profoundly shocked everyone. At this moment, Tuck rarely felt from the bottom of his heart his own insignificance and weakness. From a very young age, he had been discovered. Raised by the City Lord of Fire City who had tirelessly mentored him and led him to the doors of the Alchemy field. Tuck did not have much impression of the Red Earth Plateau, but he did have deep attachment towards Fire Island and his homeland. Because he was protected by a Legendary strong figure and constantly received the trust and support of his race, Tuck¡¯s growing environment was very secure, even comfortable, and always went smoothly. Since childhood, he practiced magic, diligently meditating. After encountering alchemy, he spent every day in a structured routine, striving to absorb every bit of knowledge. Cultivating, then more cultivating. Learning, then more learning. Perhaps reaching the Holy Domain and then experiencing stagnation in cultivation was the greatest setback he had suffered in his life. To dispel those negative emotions, he plunged even deeper into the exploration of the alchemy field. What young girl doesn¡¯t harbor dreams of spring? As a giant, Tuck was still a young girl; in her spare time, she read many novels, harboring expectations and yearnings for love. ¡°Why can¡¯t it always remain peaceful?¡± ¡°Why must there be war? Why must the Empire embark on distant expeditions?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t we just live peacefully?¡± ¡°Why must our lives be disturbed? We dwell on Fire Island, never oppress the weak, never committing heinous acts.¡± Amid a turmoil of thoughts, Qiya gazed at the towering city gates, the bustling city dwellers, and Tuck, whose physique and Life Breath clearly weaker than that of the Fire City Lord, yet interacting with him on equal footing at the moment. Qiya also sensed a great momentum. Sha Ji saw a hurricane that covered the skies, ready to sweep across Cang Qiong. Qiya could smell the terrible tide; a surging tsunami was imminent. Under the pressure of the great momentum, the tiny Fire Island was as precarious as a pile of eggs. Her conversation with Sha Ji today was like a key that had opened the window to her soul. Before, she had felt various signs but had never truly looked at them closely. ¡°So, I¡¯ve been running away all along.¡± ¡°Just like how I exiled myself into the domain of alchemy, avoiding the pain and despair from my stagnant cultivation.¡± ¡°In this regard, Sha Ji is much stronger than me.¡± Qiya had mixed feelings about Sha Ji. She was a giant girl, harboring pure and swan-like yearnings for love, but now she felt like a toad, clearly disappointing and repulsive. But at this moment, the transformed mindset of Qiya was no longer resistant. She opened her mouth and finally, with a hesitant expression, looked at Sha Ji, ¡°You really are different.¡± ¡°I wonder how well you fight?¡± ¡°Sometime, come to the arena.¡± Sha Ji paused. As he understood, this was a custom among the giants of the Red Earth Plateau. For male and female giants to gain recognition and make a breakthrough in their relationship, they must first engage in a personal match. If the pursuer lost, there would naturally be no face or opportunity to approach further. ¡°This is my honor! In a battle with Miss Qiya, I will certainly give my best effort!¡± Sha Ji could not hide the joy in his heart and stood up to bow. ¡°Hmph, that settles it then.¡± Qiya also stood up to leave. ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± Suddenly, Sha Ji spoke and took out an object from his chest, offering it with both hands, ¡°This is my gift, a personal gift.¡± A ring. More precisely, a knuckle ring. But Qiya, with her unique insight, immediately recognized it: ¡°This is the First Fist Ring.¡± ¡°It is the first of the Five Fist Rings.¡± ¡°When the five major Fist Rings are collected, they can be combined into the Legendary Fist Guards Zuo Tu.¡± ¡°Of course, even one can be used alone, but the transformed fist guard¡¯s Grade reduces to Holy Domain Level.¡± The First Fist Ring¡ªone of the components of the Legendary Fist Guards. Qiya did not get that Holy Domain-level Alchemy Puppet, but Sha Ji ultimately offered another treasure! As a cultivator of Fighting energy, Sha Ji could have used this Fist Ring himself. Being part of a Legendary Weapon, it was valuable. Yet he offered it as a gift to Qiya, showing his full sincerity. ¡°As I know, the current owner of the First Fist Ring was Vice Admiral Gongdu,¡± Qiya looked meaningfully at Sha Ji. Sha Ji smiled, ¡°Gongdu is dead. I killed him.¡± Qiya couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows. Sha Ji spread his hands and continued, ¡°He intercepted our fleet, wasn¡¯t satisfied with the fees we paid, and wanted to search the ship.¡± ¡°If he had found those Treasure Boxes, he would never have let it go.¡± ¡°So, I struck first.¡± Qiya pondered in silence. Vice Admiral Gongdu was very strong, yet Sha Ji had slain him. Most crucially, the news had been concealed. The Sha Huang faction had been stationed on Fire Island for so many days, and the Imperial Navy had not shown any signs of approaching, showing Sha Ji¡¯s considerable methods. ¡°So, your trade fleet attacked the Empire¡¯s Navy first?¡± Qiya broke the silence. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sha Ji laughed, ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that what trade fleets do? They trade when possible and turn to robbers when the opportunity arises.¡± ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t think becoming a bandit is something shameful.¡± ¡°A popular story among the Human Race goes somewhat like this: A young man accidentally obtained a way of cultivation and became a Heroic Knight, frequently robbing the rich to aid the poor, eventually forced into the mountains to form a gang, causing the nobles of the Kingdom great misery and fear.¡± ¡°Later, when the Kingdom was invaded by foreigners, the nobles betrayed their own, but the young man and his gang saved the Royal Capital. An accident revealed he possessed a branch of the royal Bloodline, and the King acknowledged him, believing the young man¡¯s virtue shone like the sunlight over the Kingdom. He was thereby granted a domain and became the Sun Knight.¡± With that, Sha Ji raised his thumb towards himself, ¡°I¡¯m not Human Race, but a giant. I too wish to become a sun for my kind.¡± Qiya nodded, her expression complex as she took the First Fist Ring, ¡°Let me study it for a few days.¡± Chapter 400 - 400: Section 187: Bold Confession Chapter 400: Section 187: Bold Confession The tavern saw the successive exits of Qi Ya and Sha Ji. Watching the two disperse, within a hotel room about a kilometer away, Cang Xu and Sanda exchanged silent glances. Ever since the ghost had sneaked in, they had been privy to the entire conversation between Sha Ji and Qi Ya. Sanda clicked his tongue, ¡°Giant Sha Ji¡­ this guy is really something!¡± This was genuine admiration from his heart. As a former mercenary group leader, Sanda had found that compared to Sha Ji, his own vision, scale, and the latter were simply worlds apart. ¡°This is a strategist.¡± ¡°Ambitious and politically savvy.¡± Cang Xu, who had once been a noble¡¯s housekeeper, considered Sha Ji¡¯s negotiation and mediation skills displayed throughout the conversation to be quite experienced. ¡°Just from seeing Qi Ya¡¯s behavior before and after, one can tell that Sha Ji has been successful.¡± ¡°In fact, many things have been used by him.¡± ¡°Like the relationship between Qi Ya and the Lord of Fire City, the former¡¯s adoration and respect for the latter, and likewise, these giants¡¯ love and attachment for their homeland of Fire Island.¡± ¡°He also places great importance on collecting intelligence; while stationed in the city, he investigated and uncovered many things.¡± ¡°This shows that the giant Sha Ji exhibits certain qualities, such as moving only after careful planning and being adept at utilization.¡± After discussing, Cang Xu and Sanda decided to return and report the situation here first. Because the treasure box was right under the eyes of Sha Ji and the others, it was extremely difficult to steal. Judging by Sha Ji¡¯s performance, he probably hadn¡¯t noticed the loss of the Holy Domain Puppet yet. Cang Xu and Sanda returned to the agreed-upon location, while Zi Di and Lan Zao had just gotten back as well. Upon hearing the accounts from both parties, the Captain and others were deeply moved. ¡°We didn¡¯t expect that we would be saved by the customs of the giants, winning us some time.¡± ¡°But will the giants check the treasure box after they return to their station?¡± ¡°Should we steal the red and blue elemental essences before they notice? After all, once discovered, their defenses will certainly tighten.¡± ¡°If they check the treasure box, we simply won¡¯t have enough time.¡± ¡°The Alchemy Array in the hotel hasn¡¯t been dismantled yet, which is very risky. Once discovered, there will be many traces we left behind. But if we steal again, we will definitely need to use it.¡± ¡°Also, now that Clan Leader Zhenjin has arrived, what should we do?¡± Everyone conversed, each with their own opinions. The situation had become very complicated. Just then, an urgent message came from the Deep Sea Monster Fish, indicating that Zong Ge¡¯s condition had taken a turn for the worse and was critical! ¡°Haven¡¯t we been maintaining his vitality with green liquid all along?¡± Sanda immediately became anxious. The message continued to relay that the Array producing the green liquid had encountered a problem. According to the Tower Spirit¡¯s monitoring records: a great tremor had suddenly occurred in the Green Jade Gold Coffin, resulting in severe damage to the core area¡¯s Array, thus causing the Alchemy Array to fail. Green Jade Gold Coffin?! Everyone was shocked and uncertain. That Divine Artifact was imprisoning the true body of the Charming Blue Divine Sect deity and the main spirits of the Feathered Snake god. Cang Xu¡¯s expression was grave: ¡°It seems that the standoff between these two gods has become unstable. We must rush back to repair the Array.¡± Up to now, other healing methods had already been unable to stabilize Zong Ge¡¯s body. They could only rely on the green liquid. But the healing effect of this green liquid was gradually weakening on Zong Ge. A more perfect Alchemy Array needed to be constructed, definitely making use of the red and blue crystal clusters, to make the effect of the green liquid outstanding, thus healing Zong Ge. Upon returning to the Deep Sea Monster Fish, everyone was shocked to discover that the Green Jade Gold Coffin was empty. ¡°Where¡¯s the Goddess?!¡± Everyone stared at each other as if they were falling into an abyss. They hurriedly checked the Tower Spirit¡¯s monitoring records and found that after the tremors of the Green Jade Gold Coffin, which had destroyed the Alchemy Array, the Goddess¡¯s body within the coffin slowly disappeared. ¡°The Goddess left?!¡± Lan Zao¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she take revenge on us?¡± Zi Di frowned. ¡°Perhaps her state was too weak?¡± Sanda guessed. Cang Xu shook his head slightly: ¡°If the Goddess wakes up, what about her own injuries?¡± The Charming Blue Goddess had sustained severe injuries and was able to sustain her life only by self-deception, falling into slumber. If she were to wake up, it would signify she was heading towards her end. The young Captain suddenly said, ¡°She must still be inside; our vision has just been deceived. Remember the Sky Pillar Sea Eye? There was no half-plane there at all. The truth was that the area was a Divine Domain emitted by the slumbering goddess.¡± The young man¡¯s speculation made a lot of sense. There had been precedents for such situations. But who could be certain? ¡°Let me prove it.¡± In the crucial moment, the young man mustered his courage and approached the Green Jade Gold Coffin. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, he prepared to reach his hand into the coffin. His movement halted, and the youth¡¯s body surged with red light before he transformed into the Fishman Divine Son. Only then did he reach in and begin feeling around. Immediately, the youth exclaimed with joy, ¡°I¡¯ve touched Him.¡± ¡°However, this sense of touch is also slowly fading.¡± The crowd exhaled a murky breath, ¡°The Goddess is still here, that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°But this can¡¯t go on.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The Charming Blue Divine Domain will keep expanding, at least to form a massive size within the Sky Pillar Sea Eye.¡± ¡°We simply can¡¯t handle that.¡± ¡°By then, we will all be trapped inside the Divine Domain, deceived and misled.¡± ¡°The Deep Sea Monster Fish will also fall because of this.¡± ¡°Damn it, just at the critical moment, a huge fire has broken out in our rear.¡± Everyone was fraught with worry. Some held their heads, their faces already showing a hint of despair. It was as if Fire Island was about to become a tomb, a giant tomb burying everyone. Cang Xu¡¯s voice remained calm, ¡°Think about it, it¡¯s not surprising.¡± ¡°The state of the Charming Blue God is different from that of the Feathered Snake God.¡± ¡°The Charming Blue God has many believers, even if the Charming Blue Divine Sect is destroyed, there are still a large number of believers remaining outside.¡± ¡°The Feathered Snake God, on the other hand, has almost no spread of faith.¡± ¡°The two gods were in a standoff, but the Charming Blue God is gradually recovering. Given time, she will certainly overpower the Feathered Snake God¡¯s soul.¡± Sanda¡¯s face turned fierce, ¡°What¡¯s the use of analyzing this now? What do we do? Lord Zong Ge can¡¯t last much longer!¡± Cang Xu sighed deeply, ¡°We can try to rebuild the Alchemy Array. The condition of the Charming Blue God is stable now.¡± Zi Di suddenly said, ¡°Perhaps, it is because we used the Green Jade Gold Coffin that we further weakened the power of the Feathered Snake God¡¯s soul, causing the Charming Blue God to begin to gain the upper hand.¡± Sanda¡¯s body trembled as he stared at Zi Di. Zi Di looked back at him and said to Sanda, ¡°I am simply stating the fact, not giving up on Zong Ge.¡± ¡°However, even if we take advantage of the stable period of the Green Jade Gold Coffin to rebuild the Array, we don¡¯t have the Purple Crystal cluster.¡± ¡°The Array we build will be no different from before and won¡¯t be of much use to Zong Ge.¡± Everyone fell silent. ¡°Then what are we waiting for? I¡¯ll go steal it now, or negotiate!¡± Sanda shouted immediately. ¡°Steal now? In broad daylight? In front of the giants?¡± ¡°To steal, we would still need to rely on the Silver Stone Statue Ghost Puppets.¡± ¡°I always feel negotiating isn¡¯t a good option either. From what you¡¯ve said, that Sha Ji is no ordinary Holy Domain, he¡¯s very cunning!¡± Every word spoken by the people deepened the gloom on Sanda¡¯s face. He caught the implication behind their words. ¡°Zong Ge is in a very bad state,¡± said the young Captain after inspecting, standing up beside Zong Ge. Zong Ge had already been moved to the Core Cabin. After all, the core of the green liquid Array was the Green Jade Gold Coffin. ¡°First rebuild the original Array,¡± the young Captain ordered directly, ¡°This way, Zong Ge can at least last until the night after tomorrow.¡± ¡°Tonight we act again, aiming to carry out the heist. We¡¯ll try to steal the Purple Crystal cluster!¡± ¡°Understood, my lord,¡± Cang Xu bowed respectfully, ¡°In fact, we only need to make some repairs. After all, the core of the original Array was damaged.¡± Sanda looked gratefully at the youth, truly relieved. However, while Cang Xu was repairing the Array, the Justice Pirate Group came upon earth-shattering intelligence. ¡°What? The Imperial Navy Headquarters has been destroyed by pirates?¡± ¡°It was the Firebeard Pirates?!¡± ¡°These people set out from the Pirate Holy City, reached the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, then divided their forces to confuse the enemy, and finally launched a surprise attack on the Big Military Port. Firebeard almost single-handedly burned down the Big Military Port. Bi Tong was seriously injured and forced to retreat, and the Throne of the Charming Blue God just flew away¡­¡± ¡°Second in command Duobi, third in command Feng Yao, and the newly-minted Holy Domain Red Headband all participated in this battle.¡± ¡°Not just Feng Yao, it¡¯s said that a figure in grey was also rescued by Firebeard from the Sky Pillar Sea Eye.¡± The entire Justice Pirate Group was stunned. This was the Big Military Port, the headquarters of the Imperial Navy! And it had been taken down. By a pirate gang. This was¡­ truly a disgrace to the Empire. For thousands of years, there had never been such a huge blow to the Empire. Firebeard¡­ For a moment, the name was deeply engraved in everyone¡¯s hearts. After several days of spreading, the intelligence of the Big Military Port finally thundered across the world! Fire Island was just one of the stops. On the Holy Tablet in the Pirate Holy City, Firebeard¡¯s name was prominently at the top of the list. This was the first move by the three legendary pirate groups since the battle for the pirate throne began. No one thought that their first move would be earth-shattering, as if they had punched a hole in the sky. ¡°How will the Empire react now?¡± ¡°Firebeard will definitely face a counterattack from the Imperial Duke!¡± ¡°Is the great war between legends and gods about to unfold?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just that. Now that Firebeard is approaching the pirate throne, how will the other two legendary pirate groups act?¡± ¡°They will surely act against Firebeard.¡± ¡°In an instant, the Firebeard Pirates have made enemies on all sides, their situation is very dangerous!¡± ¡°No, he must still have allies. Think about it¡ªthe Beastmen will likely protect Firebeard, show him favor. Firebeard, in his current state, is already one step away from the threshold of becoming the King of Pirates.¡± The crowd was abuzz with discussion. The Captain, a young man, was in a very somber mood, ¡°The situation is bad, mates.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you?¡± ¡°Feng Yao was cursed by the Love God; he can sense the location of Mei Lan. Even the Charming Blue Divine Sect cannot block this ability!¡± ¡°Our Pearl Bubble would also have a hard time concealing us.¡± ¡°That means Firebeard knows the location of the Divine Son of Mei Lan, knows that we¡¯re hiding on Fire Island.¡± Those words brought the discussion to an abrupt halt, and everyone fell into a deadly silence. ¡°So, our enemies¡­ include the Firebeard Pirates?!¡± After a long while, a voice broke the silence. ¡°That seems to be the case,¡± Cang Xu said with a heavy sigh, ¡°If they snatch the Divine Son of Mei Lan, they will surely gain unimaginable pirate divinity. By then, Firebeard will firmly take the throne and become the new Pirate King!¡± ¡°There are other pirates, too.¡± Zi Di¡¯s voice became hoarse, ¡°Firebeard is too bold. He even dared to attack the Big Military Port. He won¡¯t show much concern for Fire Island.¡± ¡°He got the information from Feng Yao. Once he makes a move, it will certainly attract a lot of attention.¡± ¡°The other two legendary pirate groups will not sit by and watch Firebeard succeed; they will definitely act to stop him. They might also take action against us!!¡± Everyone¡¯s faces turned pale. The Imperial Navy¡­ The three legendary pirate groups¡­ Fire City Lord, Qie Ya, Sha Ji¡­ And the life-threatening situation Zong Ge found himself in¡­ The Divine Son of Mei Lan, who was gradually getting out of a standoff and slowly gaining the upper hand¡­ ¡°Oh, God, what should we do?¡± ¡°How did it come to this?¡± ¡°If we had known it would be like this, we might as well have died on Mysterious Monster Island!¡± ¡°In this situation, even if we manage to save Zong Ge, what then? He will die again.¡± Unable to come up with a solution, everyone¡¯s gaze eventually turned unanimously to the young Captain. The young man slowly shook his head; what could he do? He walked out of the cabin with a furrowed brow. Zi Di glanced at the others and quickly followed the young man out. The sky outside was clear, the sun was bright, the sea and sky blended into one, and a gentle breeze was blowing. The young man sneaked out of the Deep Sea Monster Fish and onto a deserted beach, looking at the scenery before him. His heavy heart strongly contrasted with the natural beauty around him. Zi Di came over. The footprints she left on the sand were erased by the rising tide. The young man sat on the beach, and Zi Di sat down beside him. The two were together yet silent. After a long silence, the young man whispered, ¡°I feel guilty.¡± ¡°It was me who led everyone to leave Mysterious Monster Island, but now we¡¯ve walked into a dead end.¡± ¡°How did it come to this?¡± ¡°We just wanted to clear our names, to find connections, to contact the upper echelons of the Empire, and to gain understanding and redemption.¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± The young man lowered his head, looking at the sand between his feet, ¡°I¡¯m not an excellent leader.¡± ¡°My strength isn¡¯t strong, and I¡¯m not good at power and strategy.¡± ¡°If I were like Sha Ji, perhaps things would have greatly improved, or perhaps we would have already succeeded in exonerating ourselves.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not the case.¡± Zi Di placed her hand on the young man¡¯s arm, ¡°If you were Sha Ji, we would have already fallen apart.¡± ¡°Sha Ji is an ambitious person, restless and unsatisfied, he would recklessly venture, even at the cost of the entire tribe.¡± ¡°His chances of success are very low; to satisfy his own selfish desires, he treats the entire tribe as tools to be used.¡± ¡°You¡¯re different, trust me, you¡¯re better than Sha Ji!¡± ¡°In our group, who can really trust each other? To trust a Half-Beast, or a goblin, or perhaps an Undead Mage?¡± Zi Di smiled, ¡°Only you can lead us. Because you are fair and just, you¡¯ve never given up on any companion. The virtues of a Knight live and shine within you. Everyone trusts and believes in you.¡± ¡°Without you, we would have already been rife with internal strife.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the leader of us all, without you, this group would not have held together until now.¡± The young man shook his head and smiled bitterly, ¡°Am I a Knight?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± Zi Di raised her eyebrows, ¡°You train in Fighting energy, Bai He Fighting energy, according to the clues we¡¯ve collected, you should be a Knight of the Empire, just not well-known. A relatively ordinary Silver Knight, even if trouble arose, it wouldn¡¯t cause a big commotion. The War Merchant chose you to be the substitute for Zhenjin for a reason.¡± The young man nodded, ¡°That¡¯s what I guessed as well.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, the memories that truly belong to me have never surfaced.¡± ¡°Do you know? I had a plan.¡± ¡°After exonerating myself, I wanted to find my original identity, to return to being myself.¡± ¡°Because that¡¯s me, the real me.¡± ¡°But now, I¡¯m just an idiot who knows nothing about his own identity, a wild beast, a monster.¡± ¡°Sometimes, I¡¯m also frightened, when I transform into a Dragon-man, or a Fishman, I worry that I¡¯ll give up on who I once was, to live for power,¡± the young man said, looking at his own hands. ¡°Regarding that.¡± Zi Di suddenly held the young man¡¯s hand, ¡°I have a different opinion.¡± ¡°I like that about you.¡± The young man¡¯s body trembled, and he looked towards Zi Di. Zi Di didn¡¯t dodge his gaze, her amethyst eyes calmly gazed back at the young man. On the sandy beach, they sat together, eyes locked on each other. Zi Di earnestly said, ¡°In this world, no one is always content with their fate. At some moment, people always feel indignation, hatred, irritation, and even despair.¡± ¡°Everyone¡­ including those geniuses.¡± ¡°And for us, who are relatively ordinary, even more so.¡± ¡°God says, man is sinful.¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°So, man must be redeemed.¡± ¡°I admit.¡± ¡°In times of life¡¯s adversity, I have had bad thoughts, thought about murder and plunder.¡± ¡°Everyone has dark thoughts, or a past they cannot bear to recall.¡± ¡°But with you, around you, all this can be understood, accepted, and tolerated by us.¡± ¡°Because you are a Beast Knight.¡± ¡°In you, we all see ourselves. And the justice and morality you always uphold make us also believe in the goodness of humanity, that we ourselves are redeemable.¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t doubt it, you¡¯re that special, that exceptional, making me¡­ deeply infatuated.¡± ¡°Zi Di.¡± The young man softly called out, his emotions turbulent as he grabbed Zi Di¡¯s hand. Zi Di no longer pulled away. She boldly made her confession. She was not willing to repeat the same mistake she made on the Mysterious Monster Island. She wanted to seize the chance. It was likely that tomorrow, the Justice Pirate Group would face total destruction. She didn¡¯t want any regrets! The young man gazed at Zi Di, and she gazed back at him. Their faces drew closer and closer. Under the sunlight, their shadows finally merged into one. After a while, their lips parted. The wonders of love brought a blush to Zi Di¡¯s cheeks, her amethyst eyes shining even more brilliantly. And the young man drew endless courage and motivation from it. He stood up abruptly, ¡°I¡¯ve decided!¡± ¡°What?¡± Zi Di was startled. In the next moment, she saw the young man¡¯s resolute face and his bright eyes. ¡°I¡¯m going to negotiate face-to-face with the Mei Lan Goddess.¡± Chapter 401 - 401: Section 188: Divination Master with Ink-Sickness Chapter 401: Section 188: Divination Master with Ink-Sickness Voodoo Rainforest. In the profound night, the dense rainforest whispered and moaned under the gusts of wind. On the ground, piled with rotting leaves and branches, tree roots and vines that hung to the earth were tangled messes. Hiss, hiss, hiss¡­ From all directions, swarms of snakes¡ªtricolor spearhead vipers, Jump Vipers, eyelash palm vipers, side-striped palm vipers, coral snakes, Heavenly Tree Snakes, Golden Flower Snakes, vipers, forest boas, Forest Cobras, and more¡ªflooded in like a tidal wave, drowning the soil as they climbed and threaded through the roots and vines. They all had one destination, a small hut in the woods. It was as if there was something greatly enticing within the hut, driving the snakes to desperately rush to it with frenzied zeal. Puff. A soft sound emerged as flames suddenly rose from the hut. The flames, from the very start, were fierce, engulfing the entire hut and spreading rapidly all around. This was no ordinary fire; its flames were a deep green without giving off any heat, and as they burned, a powerful chill crept into the hearts of those nearby. Seeing the green fire, the snakes became even more agitated, rushing into the flames. As the green fire burned, it resembled a giant beast opening its massive jaws to consume all living things. One by one, the snakes melted away into the green flames, dissolving as swiftly as candles touched by heat. Their scales and flesh were the first to disintegrate, followed by their remaining bones, which slowly melted away. As more snakes perished, each one fed the green fire with their essence. Fueled by the material provided, the fire burned ever more fiercely. Soon, the green fire stood four meters tall, expanding to cover a radius of three hundred meters, conspicuously bright in the rainforest¡¯s deep night. Inside the hut, the situation was quite different; there were no green flames. Instead, thick smoke filled the space. The smoke was choking, and the four Legendary individuals inside almost held their breath. Except for Asang. This female Naga, a Legendary Divination Master, was at this moment swaying in the smoke. She chanted longingly, her serpentine body moving, her arms wreathing in the grey mist. Her song was ancient and profound, filled with a mysterious and distant aura. The other three Legends had been listening quietly for a while now and were feeling uneasy, a sense of horror clinging to their hearts. Initially, it was Yi Gui, one of the Admirals, who came to the hut to seek help from her bosom friend, Asang. The first divination had failed. Then, the two great legendary pirate leaders, Hua Sheng and Asa, appeared with Holy Objects of the Voodoo faith, asking Asang to divine once more. For several days, Asang tried repeatedly to divine, failing each time. Including the first, she had failed four times. Each failure brought her grave injuries. She was wounded upon wounded but still kept trying. Each time the healing, rest, and preparation took longer. Each divination attempt became weirder and more grandiose. This was her fifth attempt at divination, and it was supposed to be her last. According to the rules of the Voodoo faith, a Divination Master must not attempt to divine repeatedly. But receiving the Holy Objects of the Voodoo faith could override this rule. Asa brought three Holy Objects, while Hua Sheng brought one. This fifth attempt was the final divination, unless new Holy Objects were found. In the midst of thick smoke, Hua Sheng leaned against a wooden pillar, squinting his eyes as he watched Asang. He was tall and lean, with long ears and green hair, possessing the unique handsomeness and grace of the Elf Clan. The thin sword hanging at his waist was eye-catching. The hilt resembled a budding rose, delicate and finely crafted like an artifact. Hua Sheng had made his name as a grand swordsman with this Legendary weapon. Asa huddled in a corner, just a mass of black fog, his human form invisible. He was a master of Dark Magic, with a Demon¡¯s bloodline, cruel, and venomous by nature. He alone had brought three Holy Objects of the Voodoo faith this time. The black fog occasionally lit up with bright red eyes, revealing Asa¡¯s constant attention to Asang. And Yi Gui looked more like a Princess than an Admiral. She wore an extravagant gold and pink Princess Dress, with a voluminous skirt. She wore long silk gloves, and a cute pink parasol with a lace trim hung on the crook of her arm. The smoke couldn¡¯t hide Yi Gui¡¯s worried expression. Asang was her bosom friend, and the two shared a deep bond. But at this moment, Asang¡¯s condition made Yi Gui¡¯s heart wrench. She had never seen Asang so pitiful. Her once full figure had become skin and bones. Her once smooth and shiny scales now looked pale as if struck by a petrification curse. Asang¡¯s hair, once robust and strong, was now like poisoned, desiccated weeds. And Asang¡¯s mental state was very abnormal, at times laughing foolishly, then becoming dazed, gritting her teeth in anger, and other times calling out in fervor. Finally, she was too tired to continue. Her chest heaved as she gasped for air. With a gesture of her hand, a jar of medicine flew into her grasp. Gulping down, she unscrewed the jar and poured all of its thick green liquid down her throat. ¡°Enough, call it quits, Asang. You¡¯ve given your all and reached your limit,¡± Yi Gui finally couldn¡¯t hold back and spoke. ¡°No,¡± Asang immediately shook her head. ¡°I can keep going, I can last even longer!¡± ¡°I can feel the Ancestor Spirits watching. They¡¯re all here; they¡¯re crowding the room, they¡¯re all waiting¡­ for me!¡± Yi Gui¡¯s eyes twitched, ¡°Don¡¯t go on.¡± ¡°That potion is highly toxic. You once told me, each time you use it, you should only drink 10 millilitres.¡± ¡°When divining before, when you were healing, you knew restraint.¡± ¡°Look at you now¡­ drinking jars of it.¡± ¡°Have you lost your will to live?¡± ¡°The toxicity building up inside you, how will you be treated later on?¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°¡± Magic downed the entire potion from a pottery jar and then, with a smack, she hurled the jar onto the floor. She grinned at Yi Gui, her teeth stained with the green liquid. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± Magic reassured her best friend, ¡°My liver has already been enhanced by me. It¡¯s incredibly powerful and can neutralize deadly poisons and¡­¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Before she could finish, Magic suddenly began to vomit. The vomit was very strange, resembling marshy clay or black oil, extremely thick and emitting a strong foul smell. Smack. A soft sound. An organ followed the vomit out. The three present Legends were momentarily stunned. Hua Sheng stopped leaning on the wooden post, and Asa¡¯s shadowy mist brightened with scarlet eyes. Yi Gui¡¯s eyes widened as she recognized it and couldn¡¯t help but gasp softly, ¡°Oh my God, that¡¯s¡­ your liver.¡± ¡°Your liver has come out.¡± ¡°Without a liver, how can you neutralize deadly poisons?¡± Magic, pale-faced, managed a weak smile: ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Look at what I¡¯m vomiting, these are the remnants of the potion I¡¯ve digested.¡± ¡°They¡¯re all carrying deadly toxins, but now I¡¯ve thrown them all up.¡± ¡°My liver may be gone, but I still have a stomach.¡± ¡°My digestion is especially good¡­¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Before she could finish, Magic began to vomit violently again. Smack. Another organ came out. Hua Sheng¡¯s expression subtly changed, Asang¡¯s shadowy mist took on human form, and Yi Gui covered her mouth. ¡°Oh my God.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your stomach.¡± With a determined look on her face, Magic declared, ¡°Even without a stomach, I¡¯ll continue.¡± ¡°As long as my heart is still beating, I won¡¯t stop!¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± The next moment, she vomited out her own heart. Hua Sheng let her arms drop, no longer crossing them. Asa stepped forward to closely examine Magic¡¯s heart, his expression grave. Yi Gui was profoundly anxious: ¡°Magic!¡± Magic¡¯s body shook as she cried out in agony, ¡°Don¡¯t stop me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m about to succeed!¡± ¡°Even without a heart, I can live for a short while.¡± ¡°As long as I¡¯m still breathing¡­¡± Bang. There was a small explosion. Magic¡¯s entire chest was blown open, forming a huge void that went through front to back. Inside, her lungs were blown to bits and dust. Now, Magic¡¯s breathing had also stopped. Yi Gui: !!! The Admiral immediately acted, pulling out a scroll from her bosom. But the next moment, Hua Sheng and Asa stood beside her, one on each side. ¡°What are you trying to do?!¡± Yi Gui shouted, ready to strike with full force. ¡°Stay calm, Admiral!¡± ¡°We mean no harm to you or Magic.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Magic has begun her breakthrough. Voodoo practices are very different from those of a conventional Mage. You are letting concern cloud your judgment!¡± Hua Sheng and Asa urged her together. Yi Gui managed to calm down, only to see Magic move again. She struggled and slowly brought out the sacred objects of the Voodoo faith. She inserted a frog-shaped copper sacred object into the hole in her chest: ¡°Breathing is the drowning of nose and mouth.¡± The next moment, she began to breathe again. Then she placed a skull-shaped blood crystal sacred object where her heart had been: ¡°The heartbeat is the struggle of life.¡± And so, she had a heartbeat again. ¡°If you don¡¯t want everything to be digested, then you must digest everything!¡± She inserted two more sacred artifacts into her body, serving as her stomach and liver. After doing all this, she took a deep breath. Although her body was weak and gravely injured with no treatment, her spirit was incredibly uplifted. ¡°Oh Ancestor Spirits!¡± she let out a piercing cry, then began the ritual dance again. During the dance, her body began to glow. No, to be precise, it was the sacred objects inside her that were glowing, merging continuously with her body and soul. The smoke suddenly thickened around her. The green flames inside the room roared and swirled, sweeping over snakes, trees, and everything else, burning them all to ash. Magic¡¯s Life Breath underwent a subtle qualitative change. Yi Gui and Hua Sheng both showed astonishment. ¡°Demigod¡­¡± Asa murmured softly. Magic¡¯s body jolted, ¡°I see it!¡± ¡°On¡­ Fire Island.¡± After uttering that, she collapsed onto the ground with a thump. Alive or dead, it was unknown. Chapter 402 - 402: Section 189: Tucks Enlightenment Scroll Chapter 402: Section 189: Tuck¡¯s Enlightenment Scroll Fire Island. Inside the volcano, the Alchemy Factory. ¡°This is it,¡± said the Legendary giant City Lord of Fire City to Tuck, who stood beside him. Tuck surveyed his surroundings; this was the deepest and most heavily defended part of the factory. The largest feature was the central magma furnace, which had a radius of at least five hundred meters, surrounded by a ring of dark gold embankments. The embankment, about three meters high, firmly enclosed the constantly boiling, gurgling orange-red molten lava. The heat was immense, steaming Tuck¡¯s face. ¡°This must be the largest magma alchemy furnace in the Empire, spectacular!¡± exclaimed Tuck sincerely, ¡°With it, the efficiency of producing some alchemy items could increase by at least 30%.¡± The City Lord of Fire City couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Tuck¡¯s words greatly increased her good impressions of him. They resonated with the City Lord, an alchemist herself, and made her proud. Tuck then examined the alchemy tools along the walls, which were all very large; some resembled cranes, others drills, and there were also huge iron tongs. The tools were all ruggedly built, embodying the style of giants. Tuck commented briefly, guessing the purpose of the tools. He guessed most of them correctly, impressing both the City Lord and the mason. A few guesses were wrong, and Tuck immediately asked for instructions, humbly bowing. After the City Lord explained for a while, Tuck praised the ingenuity, unintentionally causing the mason to curl her lips into a smile. ¡°This is the main site where I manufacture giant puppets; other places are too small, only here is spacious enough. This is the newest puppet I¡¯ve created; please have a look,¡± the City Lord volunteered, giving the mason a cue. The mason promptly activated an array, turning on a switch. In the next moment, the magma boiled and surged upward, forming a small hill. The hill cracked open, magma flowing everywhere, and a huge humanoid puppet slowly rose, apparently lifted by a platform beneath its feet. Tuck¡¯s pupils constricted, a solemn look on his face. This was his main purpose for coming! ¡°Please forgive my intrusion,¡± Tuck bowed to the City Lord. ¡°Feel free to look,¡± the City Lord said with a smile. This sample of the giant puppet was already prepared for Tuck. Tuck repeatedly performed alchemy spells, examining the ins and outs of the giant puppet. The puppet, standing six meters tall and robust, was made of a copper-iron alloy, very hard and tough. There were alchemy arrays inside and outside the puppet. After some observation, Tuck noted there were about one hundred arrays in total. These arrays combined to form three major systems: Power System Array Group, Firepower System Array Group, and Defense System Array Group. Tuck soon became engrossed, and as his understanding deepened, a look of awe and amazement appeared on his face. Just the materials used for the main body of the puppet were unidentifiable by Tuck. It was a proprietary alloy, presumably developed uniquely by the folks of Fire City. ¡°The material properties are excellent, but the key is¡­ the cost!¡± Tuck guessed the cost was not high. This meant large-scale production was feasible. After all, this was a Holy Domain Level giant puppet! Mass production¡­ The mere thought was thrilling. Besides the main materials, the arrangement of the alchemy arrays within and outside the giant alchemy puppet was also outstanding. Tuck counted them; there seemed to be 121 arrays in total. This number wasn¡¯t high, it could even be considered low. The number of alchemy arrays wasn¡¯t large, which meant that the assembly costs were kept within an acceptable range. This also meant mass production! The key was that the alchemy arrays worked in close coordination, their performance not lacking in any way. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing; this is just a sample that Fire City showed me.¡± ¡°The true, fully formed giant puppet will definitely be stronger than this one!¡± Moments later, Tuck ceased performing the alchemy spell. ¡°With the advent of such giant puppets from your city, the entire military arms market will be in turmoil.¡± ¡°Even the Empire might have to purchase from your city!¡± Tuck remarked thoughtfully. But the City Lord of Fire City slightly shook her head, ¡°The cost is much higher than you imagine, Earl Tuck. And the manufacturing process is not simple; this place is the only suitable location for making puppets, given the high standards required for the manufacturing environment.¡± ¡°Lord Tuck. It¡¯s your turn now,¡± the mason was somewhat impatient. Tuck nodded. While the giant puppet was impressive, it had one significant flaw. It lacked a spiritual intelligence. Thus, Fire City had invited him to initiate the spiritual awakening of the giant puppet. Tuck pulled a scroll from his chest. ¡°This is the Enlightenment Scroll.¡± ¡°My latest creation.¡± ¡°I believe, Miss Mason, it would be more meaningful for you to use this.¡± With that, Tuck handed the scroll over to the mason. This was a Holy Domain Level scroll. When the mason took it, her face showed a hint of hesitation. It was well-known that awakening the spirit intelligence of objects like alchemy puppets, Mage Towers, and demon energy ships consumed the spellcaster¡¯s soul. After the spell, the mage¡¯s spiritual capacity would be permanently reduced. But Tuck assured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the price of using this scroll is merely some of your mana, it won¡¯t harm your soul or spirit at all.¡± In an instant, both the mason and the City Lord¡¯s eyes sparkled, displaying surprise. Sha Gua immediately unrolled the scroll, channeling mana, and successfully cast the spell. The physical form of the scroll turned to ash, but the cluster of light that formed flew into the giant puppet. Feeling the light cluster, the alchemy array inside the giant puppet quickly activated, emitting intense waves of mana. About a quarter of an hour later, the giant puppet¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, first its limbs, then its entire body started moving. The giant puppet stretched its limbs, first inspecting its body, then scanning the surroundings. Upon seeing the three people including the City Lord of Fire City, it saluted Sha Gua, ¡°Master, Sha Gua reports to you!¡± Sha Gua was a spellcaster, so the giant puppet took her as its master, awaiting her commands. Even the name Sha Gua was chosen by her. Sha Gua was stern, ¡°Sha Gua, introduce yourself, and demonstrate your abilities, albeit within limits.¡± Next, the giant puppet began its performance. Jumping, turning, running, rolling, crawling forward, using arrays to unleash spells for attack¡­ ¡°Very well, very good,¡± the City Lord of Fire City nodded repeatedly, clearly delighted. This was exactly the result she wanted. ¡°Lord Earl, had I not used it myself, I would not believe such enlightenment scrolls existed in this world,¡± Sha Gua, although loathing Tuck, sincerely admired him at this moment. The City Lord of Fire City then asked, ¡°Inviting you to collaborate was a wise decision. Earl Tuck, what price do you have in mind for these enlightenment scrolls?¡± Tuck smiled and named a price. The price astounded both the city lord and Sha Gua. Not for being too high, but for being too low! ¡°Lord Earl, you aren¡¯t joking, are you?¡± Sha Gua almost doubted her own ears. Tuck smiled, ¡°Actually, the cost of making these alchemy scrolls is very low. With this pricing, my profit margin is already quite substantial.¡± ¡°Ordinarily, the essence of enlightenment spells is the consumption of souls.¡± ¡°I borrowed from undead magic, using the soul fragments of other spellcasters to create these scrolls.¡± ¡°I must say, in the realm of souls, undead magic is uniquely significant; it¡¯s quite astounding!¡± Undead magic¡­ The expressions of both the City Lord of Fire City and Sha Gua shifted slightly. Undead magic was strictly forbidden, suppressed and eradicated by both the Holy Bright Empire and other forces across the continents. Yet, Tuck had been secretly studying undead magic and even directly told these outsiders, the City Lord of Fire City and Sha Gua. Was this a show of sincerity or just sheer recklessness? ¡°You do not need to worry, regarding this matter, I have already informed the clan leader of my tribe, and have obtained permission from the empire,¡± explained Tuck. Sha Gua then understood. Indeed, while all the powerful forces suppressed undead magic on one hand, they also studied and learned it in secret on the other. ¡°With your scrolls, Earl, and our puppets, I believe our collaboration will be very pleasant,¡± the City Lord of Fire City said with a smile. Tuck also smiled and nodded. The craft of making puppets was among the finest in the Fire City. His collaboration with Fire City was indeed a joining of great strengths. Next, they discussed the details of the collaboration. After a long discussion, it concluded. Both parties reached an agreement. Tuck¡¯s candid personality once again endeared him to both the City Lord of Fire City and Sha Gua. ¡°I only advocate for fair trade,¡± Tuck explained with a smile. After parting with the City Lord of Fire City, Tuck returned to his residence, feeling very good. This trip to Fire Island was primarily for this collaboration. Now, it seemed the prospects of the collaboration were very broad, and the future benefits were immense and tempting. Tuck, in a great mood, attempted to craft items again. Double happiness. Having failed during his previous attempt on the ship, this time, he succeeded. ¡°With this, I¡¯ll be able to complete the task assigned by my teacher.¡± Tuck exhaled a breath of relief. Feeling unburdened was truly wonderful; he looked forward to exploring Fire Island the next day and relaxing. ¡°Next, let¡¯s see who this deliberately damaged magic device is actually connected to.¡± Tuck channeled mana and activated the alchemy item. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Is it the Hundred-Needles Clan Leader?!¡± Tuck blinked repeatedly, stunned. ¡°Wait a moment¡­¡± Tuck didn¡¯t trust this result but instinctively started to doubt himself. ¡°Is this item I¡¯ve crafted correct?¡± It was because of the Hundred-Needles Clan Leader¡¯s remarkable Nine Swords that he had been inspired to construct a new alchemy array. So, the newly crafted alchemy item being linked to the Hundred-Needles Clan Leader might still be for another reason. Tuck began a meticulous, cautious, and comprehensive examination. As he immersed himself in the field of alchemy, time flew by quickly. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half the night passed. Tuck¡¯s face showed surprise, ¡°It¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°The truth is indeed this.¡± ¡°It really is the Hundred-Needles Clan Leader!¡± Chapter 403 - 403: Section 190: Walk Quickly Chapter 403: Section 190: Walk Quickly Fire Island, the docks. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family and Biwa, disguised and made up to look like mercenaries, wove through the narrow alleyways. The alleyways here bore the characteristics of giants, not narrow at all. The dock¡¯s distinctive fishy smell wafted over from time to time. The Clan Leader and Biwa maneuvered through, occasionally turning and sometimes pausing. In inconspicuous places, sometimes on the thick wooden doors, other times in moss-covered corners of walls, were inscribed cryptic codes. These codes looked like children¡¯s scribbles, but in reality, they followed a pattern, hinting at the direction ahead. Following the instructions in the letter, the Clan Leader found this secret mark at the dock and took immediate action. He was determined to save his son, Zhenjin! He was the only future of the Hundred Needle Family. After deciphering more than a dozen codes, finally, the Clan Leader and Biwa stopped in front of the last one. The mark was on the lintel of an abandoned hut. Biwa cautiously entered, inspected, and returned disappointed, ¡°My lord, there¡¯s no one here, just this.¡± Another letter. The Clan Leader unfolded the letter and found its content illegible. He sighed, ¡°It¡¯s all coded, needs deciphering.¡± ¡°The method to decrypt is in the previous letter.¡± ¡°This pirate group is extremely secretive, seems to have great plans!¡± Without seeing any living soul, the Clan Leader could only return with disappointment and worry. Not long after he left, an insect flew spiraling out from a hidden corner. The insect, inconspicuous like a mosquito, flew directly toward Fire City in the center of the island. As it flew past a corner, another insect lying there also took off, joining it on its journey. Passing the curtain of a restaurant, yet another insect flew out. As they crossed a stray dog, another insect emerged from the dog¡¯s fur. The insect continued its flight, gradually being joined by companions from various corners, merging into one, their buzzing sound growing louder. It flitted through the alleys, over filthy wastewater, bypassing noisy markets, indistinguishable from normal mosquitoes amidst the dense fishy smell. They then soared over fields and rocks, boldly crossing through the city gates right under the City Guard¡¯s watch. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the main thoroughfare, they encountered a Golden Level Mage. The female Mage furrowed her brows and waved her hand, dispersing the swarm of mosquitoes without noticing anything unusual. Eventually, the mosquitoes entered the inner city of Fire City, reaching a garden villa designated for esteemed guests. The windows had been open for a while. The swarm obediently flew through the window, settling on a metal washbowl. The washbowl was already prepared with ¡°food¡±. A large pile of Elemental Crystals, pre-treated and specifically ground into powder. Besides, in another metal basin close by, was filled a large amount of transparent, slightly brown lubricant. The swarm of mosquitoes landed on the crystal powder, rustling as they feasted for a while. Then, in sequence, they dived into the lubricant, rolling around a few times. Finally, they all stopped on the table, all completely motionless as if inanimate objects. Not long after, Tuck pushed the door and entered. ¡°Let me see what¡¯s going on here?¡± Driven by curiosity, he employed alchemy to activate another function of these alchemical mosquitoes. Soon, a series of images unfolded in Tuck¡¯s mind. Connecting these images, Tuck immediately understood the journey and experiences of the Clan Leader and Biwa. ¡°A mysterious code¡­¡± ¡°What is he going to do?¡± ¡°His real destination should be Fire Island. Is he going to secretly meet with the Justice Pirate Group?¡± ¡°Wait, are you saying the Justice Pirate Group is here?¡± Tuck frowned, his expression growing solemn. ¡°No, this conjecture lacks evidence.¡± ¡°Just because the Justice Pirate Group contacted the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family does not mean that the one the Clan Leader is meeting secretly with is the Justice Pirate Group.¡± ¡°Of course, this possibility isn¡¯t small.¡± Tuck knew the Justice Pirate Group. His teacher had assigned him this task, instructing him to find clues about the communicator from the shattered Magic Communication Device. He had found them now. Ironically, the reason he was able to find them so quickly was that he had encountered the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family, who had survived a shipwreck, and found inspiration through his Legendary Nine Swords. ¡°The Justice Pirate Group involves the Goddess Mei Lan, it¡¯s not trivial!¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± Tuck had a high status, and the Imperial Navy had long stopped trying to conceal matters concerning the Sky Pillar region, as they were impossible to hide. By now, they were no longer a secret. Thinking of the extremely weakened physical form of Goddess Mei Lan, Tuck was spurred into action. Just like Wei Sheng had envisioned his towering military achievements, Tuck also coveted the Goddess¡¯s physical form! But soon, he slightly shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s too risky!¡± ¡°There is hardly any reliable information, and I am but a Holy Domain.¡± ¡°Better inform my teacher first.¡± He chose not to report this information to Fire City first. On one hand, he himself was not certain that the Justice Pirate Group was on the island. On the other hand, the giants of Fire City were separated from the Human Race by a layer. Concerning the weakened physical form of Goddess Mei Lan, the stakes were too high. Tuck naturally trusted his own race and his teacher more. Having made up his mind, Tuck immediately acted, sending a message back to his teacher. After some time, he also reported the situation to his family. Soon after, he received a reply from his teacher. ¡°My teacher has set out and is applying for a slot at the Teleportation Gate to come here?¡± Tuck was astounded. He knew his teacher¡¯s character well. Normally, he would seclude himself in his Alchemy Room, conducting countless experiments, exploring the frontier of Alchemy. He had not expected him to leave his room this time! ¡°It must be the first time in at least three hundred years that the teacher has left his room, right?¡± However, Tuck soon came to terms with it. After all, this concerned the secrets of divinity. No Legendary Mage could remain unmoved by this. His teacher was no exception. ¡°My teacher¡¯s departure is historically rare; there must be a stir at Academic City.¡± ¡°Should I also strengthen communication with Fire City?¡± ¡°After all, the Fire City Lord is a Legendary Mage and also the controller of the forces here.¡± ¡°My teacher¡¯s arrival will necessitate dealing with her and urgently discussing a cooperative agreement in private.¡± Undoubtedly, as a noble among the elite, Tuck immediately knew what he needed to do. However, just as he was about to leave, he received a second letter. Initially, he thought it was a response from his family. But unexpectedly, it still came from his teacher. The content of the letter surprised him: his teacher had dismissed the idea of coming and was no longer in motion. Moreover, he explicitly told him¡ªleave quickly! Get off Fire Island as soon as possible! Chapter 404 - 404: Section 191: Qi Pu Lands on Fire Island Chapter 404: Section 191: Qi Pu Lands on Fire Island A massive fleet was making its way across the sea. Feng Yao stood at the ship¡¯s railing of the flagship, the Haoyan, gazing into the vast expanse of deep blue, the sea breeze hitting his face and gently fluttering his long hair. At this moment, the handsome bard¡¯s face bore a look of sorrow, his eyes unfocused, betraying endless longing. Thud, thud, thud. Heavy footsteps approached from behind. But Feng Yao wasn¡¯t startled, as he was immersed in his thoughts. ¡°Thinking about your Goddess?¡± asked the owner of the footsteps, as he came to stand beside Feng Yao, also looking out at the distant sea. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feng Yao finally realized someone was there and looked back, ¡°Boss?¡± It was none other than Firebeard, the leader of the Firebeard Pirates, a pirate of legendary status. Firebeard¡¯s burly frame was in sharp contrast to Feng Yao. The rugged man smacked his lips, following Feng Yao¡¯s gaze, and smiled, ¡°Is your Goddess in that direction?¡± Feng Yao remained silent. ¡°Is it Fire Island?¡± Firebeard probed further. Feng Yao¡¯s heart jolted, but he kept a calm exterior, ¡°Why would Boss assume such a thing?¡± He was cursed by the Love God and thus knew the true location of the Goddess Mei Lan. However, Feng Yao also worried that others might harbor ill intentions towards the Goddess, even though Firebeard had promised him not to scheme against Mei Lan¡¯s true form. But of course, Feng Yao wouldn¡¯t want to risk even the slightest danger to the one he loved most. Looking at Feng Yao, Firebeard sighed deeply, ¡°It¡¯s best if that¡¯s not the case.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t go back on what I promised you.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°If your Goddess really is on Fire Island, then there¡¯s big trouble.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just received intelligence that Hua Sheng and Asa have taken swift and aggressive actions towards Fire Island.¡± ¡°It seems like they¡¯ve struck some kind of private agreement.¡± ¡°With the legendary giant guarding Fire Island, these two suddenly joining forces to attack there is out of the ordinary.¡± ¡°In my opinion, there¡¯s only one thing worth their sudden alliance and bold action.¡± ¡°That¡¯s to stop me from plundering the Goddess¡¯s true form!¡± Feng Yao¡¯s breathing became rapid, his complexion turning quite ugly. He wasn¡¯t worried about Firebeard deceiving him, as such things were easy to verify. Both Asa and Hua Sheng were legendary pirates of Firebeard¡¯s status. Once they made their move on a large scale, it would be difficult to keep it secret. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be like this¡­¡± Feng Yao¡¯s complexion turned pale, clutching his head in immense distress, disbelieving. Seeing him like this, Firebeard knew he had his answer, his expression also becoming grave. Duobi, the second in command, came over at this time, ¡°Third brother, the situation doesn¡¯t look good.¡± ¡°We just took down Navy Headquarters after a heavy toll, and the boss is closing in on the pirate throne.¡± ¡°If we let the other two big pirates succeed now, the situation will even out again, or even worse, we might fall behind.¡± Feng Yao¡¯s body trembled, and he had to lean against the ship¡¯s railing to steady himself, ¡°She has the Divine Office of deception and disguise, she shouldn¡¯t have been exposed like this.¡± Firebeard patted Feng Yao on the shoulder. Duobi then asked, ¡°Do you know about Mo Lao?¡± ¡°Who?¡± Feng Yao was puzzled. Duobi shook his head slightly, ¡°She¡¯s a Legendary Diviner, a devotee of the Voodoo faith.¡± ¡°Before now, she wasn¡¯t that well-known. But after this, her fame will likely spread far and wide.¡± ¡°According to our intelligence, both Asa and Hua Sheng hired her to perform a divination. Eventually, she pointed them to Fire Island.¡± In an instant, Feng Yao¡¯s breathing nearly stopped, and cold sweat began to seep from his forehead. ¡°Boss Firebeard!¡± Suddenly, he snapped out of it, looking at Firebeard with pleading eyes. Firebeard laughed heartily, ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± ¡°I may not have much interest in the pirate throne, but I don¡¯t want to let those two guys succeed either.¡± ¡°Most importantly, this also concerns the woman my brother loves most.¡± ¡°Boss¡­¡± Feng Yao was moved to tears. This was Firebeard! With a bold and forthright spirit, willing to consider his brothers and to have the power to stand up for them. Since leaving the Big Military Port, the Twin Swords had been galloping across the sea for quite some time. Wei Sheng had been haggard these past few days, with heavy dark circles under his eyes. He couldn¡¯t sleep well, and the pressure was huge. Navy Headquarters was taken, casting dishonor on the face of the Holy Bright Empire, and it was a disgrace to all of the Imperial Navy! Wei Sheng was held accountable. Because he had earlier taken most of the force and formed a large fleet, boldly leaving the Big Military Port to deal with the Justice Pirate Group and the true body of Mei Lan. This left the Big Military Port in an extremely weakened state, and then it fell prey to the sneak attack by the Firebeard Pirates. Bi Tong fled back to save his own life, and his first action was to point the finger at Wei Sheng. ¡°This time, when I return to the Empire, I¡¯m afraid I will be stripped of my Navy rank,¡± thought Wei Sheng, clenching his fists, feeling a profound sense of reluctance and anger. It was all because of the true body of Mei Lan, because of the Justice Pirate Group. But embarrassingly, he hadn¡¯t even caught a glimpse of their shadows to this point. He had already failed. Being stripped of rank was not the point, the point was the failure. Wei Sheng hated failure most of all! ¡°I can¡¯t accept this, I just can¡¯t!¡± Just as he was painfully shouting in his heart, a subordinate suddenly came to report. ¡°What did you say?!¡± Wei Sheng¡¯s attention was instantly drawn to the intelligence. ¡°Admiral Yi Gui communicated a message, the true body of Mei Lan is on Fire Island?! And, those two pirate leaders have both pounced towards Fire Island?¡± During the entire process of Divination by Duobi, Yi Gui had participated and witnessed it. Hua Sheng and Asa, determined to stop Firebeard, also acted with many traces of madness. As an Admiral of the Navy, Yi Gui naturally wanted to stop them, but of course, he also didn¡¯t want to bear the pressure alone. After all, Firebeard had previously taken Navy Headquarters and severely beat Bi Tong. Thus, Yi Gui naturally chose to report up the chain, seeking aid from Navy Headquarters. As Acting Marshal, Wei Sheng received this key piece of intelligence. ¡°The Legendary Diviner Duobi, no, he should now be a Demigod.¡± ¡°This result should be accurate.¡± ¡°Fire Island, huh¡­ That¡¯s where the Legendary giant Mage resides. Why would the Justice Pirate Group go there?¡± ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°I get it now, it¡¯s the Abyss!¡± ¡°They must want to use the weak point in space there to escape into the Abyss, avoiding the Empire¡¯s pursuit!¡± Wei Sheng felt as if lightning had struck his chest. Everything made sense now. ¡°It seems that the Goddess Mei Lan really has fallen to an extreme low, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t risk trying to smuggle herself into the Abyss.¡± ¡°I still have a chance, this means I still have a chance!¡± In an instant, Wei Sheng was filled with drive and motivation, his previous defeatism, confusion, and rage swept away. This was the kind of elite he was, seizing any sliver of opportunity for victory, and going all out for it. He hadn¡¯t given up easily ever since he was a child. And this time would be no exception! ¡°Let me see, what should I do?¡± ¡°First of all, notify Yan Tan.¡± ¡°This old guy¡­¡± Wei Sheng gritted his teeth, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t show up this time, even if I¡¯m stripped of my rank, I¡¯ll settle the score with him!¡± ¡°Next, let me see which Navy forces are closest to Fire Island?¡± ¡°What kind of military strength is there that I can command?¡± Wei Sheng paced quickly to the operations room to check the naval map. Then, his gaze sharpened slightly as he saw that a Navy fleet was currently docked at Fire Island! ¡°How lucky!¡± Wei Sheng¡¯s heart leapt with joy, but after checking the number of this Navy fleet, his expression turned a bit odd. ¡°Tan Mo¡¯s fleet¡­¡± ¡°Why is it him again?¡± Chapter 405 - 405: Section 192: Tan Mo: !!! Chapter 405: Section 192: Tan Mo: !!! Lots of information flashed through Wei Sheng¡¯s mind. These were all related to Navy Rear Admiral Tan Mo. Being valued by Navy Marshal Yan Tan, and assigned proxy authority, Wei Sheng naturally had his distinctive qualities. Wei Sheng was well aware of Tan Mo¡¯s greedy nature and, recalling the latter¡¯s series of actions in the past, he suddenly snorted coldly, muttering discontentedly to himself, ¡°Another slippery schemer!¡± Previously on Knife Mountain Island, after receiving the military order to deal with the Justice Pirate Group, the incident of the Alchemy Bomb explosion in Dun Dao City occurred, consequently immobilizing him. Without his fleet, General Kan Qiao led a fleet in poor condition to pursue but ended up completely annihilated. Afterward, Tan Mo took advantage of the situation to absorb the Kan Qiao Fleet teams left at Knife Mountain Island docks and set sail once again. As a result, during the subsequent voyage, his fleet repeatedly encountered attacks from sea beasts in the water and extreme weather changes, causing persistent delays in speed. Therefore, he never joined the battle against the Justice Pirate Group. Regarding why Rear Admiral Tan Mo had entered Fire Island, Wei Sheng soon understood the reason. He used the pretext that his fleet was in poor condition and needed to dock for rest. ¡°This guy, could it be he wanted to slack off and just stumbled into this situation by accident?¡± A speculation suddenly surged in Wei Sheng¡¯s mind. Yes, if the intelligence hadn¡¯t been communicated, even Wei Sheng wouldn¡¯t have imagined the Justice Pirate Group would infiltrate Fire Island. After all, Fire Island itself was home to a legendary giant mage. Moreover, with the vast ocean, the Justice Pirate Group had many possible escape routes. ¡°No, perhaps it was deliberate.¡± ¡°Because he is a member of Yi Gui¡¯s faction, receiving a mandatory order from the latter to land on Fire Island first is also highly possible.¡± Thinking this, Wei Sheng completely dismissed the idea of issuing commands to Tan Mo¡¯s fleet and didn¡¯t even notify him. The reason was simple. If Tan Mo had stumbled into the situation by accident, Wei Sheng was certain he would flee from the battle. Of course, the reason used would be justifiable, making it harder for Navy Headquarters to pursue later. If Tan Mo was acting under Yi Gui¡¯s influence, then there was no need for Wei Sheng¡¯s orders; Tan Mo would continue to be stationed and wait for an opportunity. For Tan Mo, who had his backers, Wei Sheng¡¯s orders would undoubtedly be acted upon deceitfully. In a restaurant at the port of Fire Island, Tan Mo and the City Lord of Dun Dao sat opposite each other, the table laden with leftover food. Tan Mo took the last bite of his steak, making a sound of appreciation, ¡°I told you, the chef here can handle Golden Level Magic Beast meat. How¡¯s the taste?¡± ¡°Quite good,¡± the City Lord nodded in agreement. He blew the sea breeze coming through the window and watched the white seabirds flying over the fluttering flags. The City Lord raised his glass and added, ¡°The key is that the coffee here is also good. On your ship, Treasure, drinking alcohol almost became too much for me.¡± Tan Mo rolled his eyes extravagantly. The City Lord then laughed heartily. From accepting the Empire¡¯s invitation to fight, to boarding and accompanying Tan Mo, the relationship between the City Lord and the Rear Admiral had rapidly deepened. It couldn¡¯t be helped; the two conspired in a lackadaisical battlefront, a definite alliance. They had coordinated back in Dun Dao City, disguising sea beast attacks or creating severe weather along the way. Feigning combat, especially within the Imperial Navy, also required a lot of energy and effort. Next, the two men stopped talking, both enjoying the tranquil sea breeze and the beautiful scenery of the port. Even though the space inside Treasure was vast, after traveling for so long, both were nostalgic for land. At this moment, savoring the delicious food, their accumulated weariness was quickly dissipating. ¡°How many days do we need to rest here?¡± the City Lord broke the silence. Tan Mo sighed, ¡°Our luck has been too bad; attacks from unidentified, mysterious sea beasts have severely damaged our ships. We¡¯ll need at least a week to recover.¡± The City Lord frowned, ¡°So short¡­¡± Realizing he had spoken his true thoughts, the City Lord quickly corrected himself, ¡°Uh, such a long time? I was invited by the Empire to battle, and yet I haven¡¯t seen even a shadow of the Justice Pirate Group till now; I feel ashamed.¡± Tan Mo chuckled and then spread his hands, troubled, ¡°City Lord, your feelings are my feelings; I¡¯m also very anxious.¡± ¡°But a week¡¯s time is the shortest I could negotiate.¡± ¡°You¡¯re also aware of the fleet¡¯s damage, and the Navy has been constantly urging.¡± ¡°This is already the maximum duration we could get.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s settle for that,¡± the City Lord nodded. In terms of taking it easy and being lazy, he admitted that he was far inferior to Tan Mo. Moreover, Tan Mo was more familiar with the Navy¡¯s regulations. ¡°Rarely do we come to Fire Island. Should we take a stroll through the main city?¡± Tan Mo suggested. However, the Lord of Dun Dao City showed a hint of difficulty, ¡°Let¡¯s not, given our status, we should go pay a visit to the City Lord of Fire City.¡± ¡°Besides, roaming the streets abruptly won¡¯t look good.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Tan Mo thought about it and felt the Lord of Dun Dao City had a point. Previously, doing such a thing was no problem. But not anymore. The matter of the Justice Pirate Group hadn¡¯t been resolved yet, and crucially, Navy Headquarters¡¯ Big Military Port had been destroyed by Firebeard. This situation had left all Navy personnel feeling shocked, angry, and humiliated, with nearly everyone holding their breath, eager to recover their image. At this stage, if these Navy members heard that someone was casually strolling around rather than fighting, what would their reaction be? Tan Mo didn¡¯t want to needlessly provoke such trouble. ¡°Hm?¡± Just then, Tan Mo¡¯s expression subtly changed as he saw a Human Race Mage flying alone in midair, landing on the Steel Giant warship docked at the pier. ¡°Is that Earl Tuck?¡± Not just Tan Mo, the Lord of Dun Dao City too had his attention captured, promptly recognizing the man. ¡°It is him.¡± Tan Mo nodded. Then, the two of them saw Earl Tuck hurriedly step onto the deck and then rush into the ship. Shortly after, the Steel Giant warship fired up and quickly departed from the dock. ¡°Where is he going? Wasn¡¯t he supposed to discuss cooperation with the City Lord of Fire City?¡± the Lord of Dun Dao City asked, puzzled. They had come to this port naturally to gather news. The biggest news recently was Tuck¡¯s confrontation and the personal reception by the City Lord of Fire City. Therefore, both Tan Mo and the Lord of Dun Dao City were aware of this matter. But now that Tuck had left like this, it was peculiar. Logically speaking, negotiations between the two parties should take at least a week. Even if the cooperation failed, the City Lord of Fire City would escort Tuck, not letting him leave alone like this. Something must have happened that they were unaware of. Tan Mo stared as the Steel Giant warship headed into the distance, squinting his eyes and sucking in a breath of cold air, ¡°Hss¡­ why do I feel like Earl Tuck seems to be fleeing in a panic?¡± ¡°Is it just my imagination?¡± ¡°Why is my heart racing, feeling something isn¡¯t right?¡± The Lord of Dun Dao City laughed heartily, unconcerned, ¡°Are you thinking too much?¡± ¡°Could it be that the talks between Earl Tuck and Fire City turned sour?¡± But quickly, the Lord of Dun Dao City dismissed his own guess, ¡°Even if the talks turned sour, it wouldn¡¯t be like this. Did Tuck do something unforgivable to the people of Fire City?¡± ¡°Hehe, perhaps Fire City has taken a fancy to him?¡± The Lord of Dun Dao City laughed at his own joke. But Tan Mo¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°I¡¯m feeling increasingly uneasy, damn it, this feeling is unbearable.¡± ¡°Brother, don¡¯t be so jumpy,¡± the Lord of Dun Dao City comforted, ¡°This is Fire Island!¡± ¡°Legend has it that giants guard here.¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The defense here is extremely strict, haven¡¯t you been to the main city?¡± ¡°Look at those elite Giant City Guards!¡± ¡°These are the esteemed giants from Red Earth Plateau, the last of their essence. Our strength, in their eyes, is merely insignificant.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right,¡± Tan Mo¡¯s brows relaxed a bit, ¡°I¡¯m probably just being overly suspicious.¡± However, at that moment, a subordinate, drenched in sweat, ran over, ¡°Sir, there¡¯s an urgent communication from Vice Admiral Yi Gui.¡± ¡°What?¡± Tan Mo was startled, then promptly stood up without delay. Using the Magic Communication Device, he received a direct order from Vice Admiral Yi Gui, ¡°Are you on Fire Island?¡± ¡°Good!¡± ¡°Stay there and guard against any enemies.¡± ¡°I am on my way.¡± ¡°If the Justice Pirate Group appears, fight to the death!¡± Tan Mo: !!! Chapter 406 - 406: Section 193: Highly Confidential Chapter 406: Section 193: Highly Confidential Tan Mo didn¡¯t know how he had returned to the restaurant. The City Lord of Dun Dao City saw Tan Mo¡¯s crestfallen expression and felt a sudden jolt in his heart. He quickly asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Tan Mo slowly turned his gaze, fixing his eyes on the City Lord of Dun Dao City, but the City Lord could see an immense silence in his eyes as if a massive void had suddenly appeared in his heart. ¡°What in the world happened?!¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City panicked, too. Since becoming acquainted and accompanying each other, the City Lord of Dun Dao City had never seen Tan Mo with such an expression. Slap, slap, slap. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, Tan Mo reached out his hand and began to vigorously slap his own face. With each sharp smack, his cheeks and palm quickly reddened. The City Lord of Dun Dao City was stupefied! For a moment, he was completely at a loss for what to do. With a plaintive tone, Tan Mo said, ¡°Deserved! I totally deserved it.¡± ¡°What was I thinking, coming to Fire City for supplies?¡± ¡°I was wrong, really wrong.¡± ¡°If I could get another chance, I would stay far away from this island!!¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City smacked the table in agitation and roared, ¡°What on earth happened?!¡± Tan Mo covered his face with his hands, telling the City Lord of Dun Dao City the heavy truth. After learning about the situation, the City Lord of Dun Dao City was left dumbfounded. If they had known the outcome would be like this, why did they bother to be sneaky and sly? In the end, they still ran into the Justice Pirate Group, which was utterly outrageous! By today, the information concerning the Justice Pirate Group and Goddess Mei Lan had already spread far and wide. Tan Mo and the City Lord of Dun Dao City already knew the secrets behind it. When they first heard the news, they both felt very fortunate to have avoided such calamity. But now, they had still collided with them. ¡°Should we leave this place?¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City asked with hesitation. ¡°Have you gone mad!¡± Tan Mo swept away his earlier demeanor, ¡°Earl Yi Gui personally issued this command. If we leave, we¡¯ll end up in the Empire¡¯s military tribunal! There won¡¯t be any future prospects in our lives anymore.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City widened his eyes in disbelief, ¡°You mean, just the two of us, at the Golden Level, are going to confront the divine?¡± ¡°Although Goddess Mei Lan has greatly declined, she¡¯s still not someone we can confront.¡± ¡°Any beast facing extinction is the most dangerous. What more for a divine being?¡± ¡°If we lose our lives, what¡¯s the point of discussing the future and prospects of life?¡± Tan Mo sighed, ¡°What you¡¯re saying makes sense, of course.¡± ¡°But, I¡¯ve just received military orders. The next step is to leave the island directly. That¡¯s desertion!¡± ¡°How does the Empire deal with deserters?¡± ¡°We would most certainly be sentenced to death!¡± ¡°Rather than being treated as deserters and disgraced with a death sentence, it would be better to take a gamble here.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City¡¯s eyes grew even wider, beginning to doubt if the Tan Mo before him was an imposter, ¡°You still want to take a gamble?¡± Tan Mo spat out a loogie, cursed, and said, ¡°Take a gamble? What else can we do?¡± ¡°We must certainly join the battle, we¡¯ll have to play it by ear from then on.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the ship right now, let¡¯s not stay on the island. Who knows where the Justice Pirate Group might be hiding, this island is too dangerous.¡± The City Lord of Dun Dao City nodded repeatedly, ¡°Right, if we¡¯re back on the ship, we can attack or defend as needed, very flexible.¡± Without delay, the two hurried back to the Treasure. Standing on the deck, Tan Mo and the City Lord of Dun Dao City gazed at the Steel Giant disappearing over the horizon of the sea, both wishing they could substitute themselves for Tuck on that ship. Tuck, gazing at the increasingly shrinking Fire Island in the distance, sighed to himself. After receiving a message from his teacher, he immediately knew that Fire Island had become a place of trouble, very dangerous. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he retreated. Then, he received a response from his family. This message made him understand that the location of Goddess Mei Lan¡¯s true form had been divined by a newly risen Divination Master at the Demigod Level. Presently, Firebeard, Hua Sheng, and Asa, the three great Legendary pirates, all had noticeable movements, and simultaneously directed their forces toward Fire Island. ¡°Mei Lan Goddess probably wants to take advantage of the terrain to escape to the Abyss,¡± Tuck speculated, his heart suddenly stirred as he sensed his Puppet avatar being received by the City Lord of Fire City. Even though Tuck himself had left Fire Island, he had left behind a Holy Domain Level Alchemy Puppet. The appearance and aura of this Puppet closely resembled Tuck himself and was extremely costly to create. Its primary function was to act as Tuck¡¯s substitute in specific situations, deceiving enemies and drawing their fire. Such an escape was definitely not feasible. As a noble, Tuck was keenly aware of the rules and importance of interpersonal relationships. At this moment, the Puppet Tuck successfully met with the City Lord of Fire City, informing her of all the important intelligence. ¡°The Justice Pirate Group? And the real body of Mei Lan Goddess?!¡± The City Lord of Fire City was greatly shaken. She was of Legendary Level, which in terms of life hierarchy, was still inferior to that of the Divine Level. The critical issue was that because of the real body of Mei Lan Goddess, Fire Island had fallen into very dangerous straits, with the three great Legendary pirate groups all swarming in. With a great battle imminent, the City Lord of Fire City certainly did not want to see her homeland become a ruin of war. After pondering for a moment, she first expressed her most sincere gratitude to Puppet Tuck, and then immediately called for reinforcements from the Empire high command. Finally, she urgently convened her strong subordinates, such as Biwa, as well as the personal guard, telling them the full story. ¡°Fire Island must not become a battlefield for Legends, let alone Gods to clash!¡± ¡°This is our only remaining homeland.¡± ¡°Thanks to our friend, Earl Tuck, for bringing us detailed intelligence.¡± ¡°The Justice Pirate Group is right here on the island, and at the moment, they are likely liaising with the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family to continue infiltrating into the Holy Bright Empire. We need to grab this thread and fish them all out.¡± ¡°The peace of Fire Island will not be violated!¡± ¡°I will personally lead you to battle against Mei Lan Goddess and expel them from the island!¡± The City Lord¡¯s prestige and rallying power were incredibly strong, and her subordinates responded without hesitation, obedient to her commands. Puppet Tuck watched all of this and nodded silently. The City Lord¡¯s response was very correct. The three pirate groups had come for the real body of Mei Lan Goddess, and rather than let the great battle break out in the future, it was better for the City Lord to initiate the fight and scare away Mei Lan Goddess herself! ¡°City Lord, this Holy Domain Puppet of mine is also very willing to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with you!¡± Puppet Tuck said at the right moment. The City Lord¡¯s expression softened, and she squeezed out a smile, nodded towards Puppet Tuck, ¡°The Earl¡¯s friendship will surely be remembered by the giants of the Red Earth Plateau!¡± Biwa then said, ¡°I think the strength of the Sha Ji tribe could also be borrowed.¡± The City Lord was momentarily stunned, looking deeply at Biwa, and said with relief, ¡°Then let the other party know the true situation, it has to be voluntarily, we cannot force them.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Biwa immediately withdrew. Half an hour later. In a dark corner of the harbor. Seeing the Fishman Divine Son and others in front of him, the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family was shocked, ¡°The Justice Pirate Group?!¡± Biwa¡¯s face turned ashen. The moment the Fishman Divine Son appeared, he knew his side had stumbled into serious trouble. ¡°I hope to borrow the power of the Hundred Needle Family to help us escape from danger,¡± said the Fishman Divine Son bluntly. ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family shook his head, his face turning pale, ¡°How is that any different from betraying the Empire?¡± ¡°Heh heh,¡± the Fishman Divine Son chuckled lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to refuse.¡± ¡°First, I haven¡¯t placed all my hopes on you, so don¡¯t feel too pressured.¡± ¡°Second, think about Zhenjin; that¡¯s the only heir of the Hundred Needle Family.¡± ¡°Lastly, don¡¯t worry too much. We sneaked onto Fire Island very covertly. Who could know? In fact, we only need a little cooperation.¡± The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family and Biwa both fell silent. They were caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand was the family¡¯s only heir, and the situation was critical. On the other hand were the grave consequences of betraying the Empire. Watching the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family and Biwa¡¯s struggling and pained expressions, the Fishman Divine Son was about to continue persuading when suddenly, a large number of giant fighters appeared all around. The City Lord of Fire City, Biwa, Sha Ji, and Puppet Tuck immediately rose up, surrounding the Fishman Divine Son and his companions. The Fishman Divine Son and his group looked up and were utterly astonished. The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family and Biwa were also caught in the encirclement; the former¡¯s face was drained of all color, with immense bitterness and resentfulness he said to the Fishman Divine Son: ¡°You call this ¡®very covert¡¯?¡± Chapter 407 - 407: Section 194: Escape for Life Chapter 407: Section 194: Escape for Life Seeing a Legend and three from the Holy Domain ascend into the sky, Fishman Divine Son and his followers were greatly shocked. ¡°Damn.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been discovered!¡± ¡°Run!¡± ¡°Wait.¡± The Fishman Divine Son waved his hand backward, then said to the Fire City Lord, ¡°City Lord, we have no intention of being your enemy¡­¡± The Fishman Divine Son tried to communicate, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by a cold snort from the Fire City Lord, ¡°The moment you set foot on Fire Island, you became my mortal enemies!¡± ¡°But I am willing to give you one chance¡­ leave now!¡± ¡°Otherwise, Fire Island shall be your grave.¡± The Fire City Lord didn¡¯t plan to strike directly, as this was her homeland, the last bastion of the giants of the Red Earth Plateau. The Fishman Divine Son, only at the Silver Level, and his companions were even less significant lackeys. The Fire City Lord was more wary of the Meilan deity backing them. Who knew how much power the true form of the Meilan deity possessed? The Fishman Divine Son nodded, ¡°We will immediately leave Fire Island and head to the Abyss.¡± ¡°No way!¡± the Fire City Lord roared furiously, ¡°I¡¯m in charge of guarding the entrance to the Abyss, how could I allow you to easily enter?¡± ¡°Forget about it.¡± ¡°There is no room for negotiation.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± The Fishman Divine Son smirked sinisterly, ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡± The negotiation collapsed, but the Fishman Divine Son and his group had other means. The next moment, a dazzling radiance shone beneath their feet. Amidst the light, a large Array emerged. The Array quickly activated, swiftly teleporting the Fishman Divine Son and the others away. ¡°Wait!¡± shouted the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family, attempting to stop them, but it was too late. In fact, even the Fire City Lord could only deploy a mental assault and hadn¡¯t used any Spells. The Array floating in the air quickly dispersed, while the Fire City Lord instantly ascended high into the sky, her gaze sweeping across Fire Island. Along with her were Yi Gui and three others from the Holy Domain. Such a Teleportation Array certainly had another endpoint. Indeed, the next moment, the other end of the Teleportation Array materialized. There were five or six Arrays concurrently radiating light and bursting with energy, evenly distributed across Fire Island. Only one of them was a real Teleportation Array, the rest were merely decoys. The Fire City Lord slightly furrowed her brow, ¡°Strike with all your might, find them, and kill them on the spot!¡± Before her words fell, she was the first to fly out, heading toward the most distant radiance. Yi Gui and the others immediately responded, flying off. ¡°Lord, what should we do?¡± asked Biwa from an alleyway. Taking a deep breath, his face filled with urgency, the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family replied, ¡°We¡¯ll also pursue, coordinating with the Fire City Lord and others to quickly discern the real from the fake.¡± The situation had been exposed, and the Hundred Needle Family¡¯s contact with a foreign deity was severely disadvantageous to them. Moreover, since the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family must rescue Zhenjin, he was fully committed to striving for redemption! The Fishman Divine Son and the others were panting heavily, the sensation of using the Array for teleportation was uncomfortable, requiring time to adapt. The Fishman Divine Son, having the best physical condition and also very resilient mentally, was the first to recover. His vision cleared, his hearing, sense of smell, and other senses also returned to normal, then he saw the light of the Teleportation Array rapidly fading. ¡°So soon?!¡± The Divine Son could not help but turn pale. The whole process from their teleportation to the Fishman Divine Son¡¯s adaptation had only taken 4 to 5 seconds, and one of the disguise Arrays had already been broken. This must have been the doing of the Fire City Lord herself; the methods of a Legendary Mage were indeed vast. ¡°Retreat quickly!¡± The Fishman Divine Son quickly grabbed Cang Xu and Zi Di, one with each hand, and took the lead in fleeing. Amid his exclamations, Lan Zao, Sanda, and others quickly followed. ¡°I see you now!¡± Sha Ji detected the noise and let out a cold chuckle. He immediately extended his palm, aiming directly at the Fishman Divine Son and the others. The next moment, the combat skill was released. The ground where Fishman Divine Son and the others were fleeing suddenly shot up countless sharp Earth Spikes. Each spike was at least two meters long, with tips as sharp as spearheads. Fishman Divine Son and his companions couldn¡¯t escape in time and were pierced by the spikes, becoming corpses hanging on the spikes, with blood flowing everywhere. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Sha Ji said with a slight smile, cautiously flying over. However, when he arrived at the scene, his expression changed abruptly as the bodies of Fishman Divine Son and the others turned into foam and disappeared before his eyes. ¡°Fake!¡± Sha Ji felt a sinking feeling in his heart and once again flew high into the sky. Then, he saw that not only at his location but also elsewhere, Fishman Divine Son and the others were appearing. Some were blasted into carbon powder, while others screamed in agony as they were burned by the puppet Tuck. But afterward, all of them invariably turned into foam and dispersed. ¡°What¡¯s going on, all fake?!¡± everyone wondered. At that moment, the Fire City Lord¡¯s gaze sharpened as she looked toward the sea floor. She noticed that deep in the waters, an alchemy ship was making full efforts to dive and escape from Fire Island. ¡°It¡¯s that sea monster-shaped submarine demon energy ship.¡± ¡°Is the other end of the teleportation array set up on the ship?¡± ¡°Are they trying to escape through this?¡± Various guesses surfaced in her mind. ¡°Enemy spotted, follow me!¡± The Fire City Lord beckoned and flew out of Fire Island first, like a red meteor, extremely fast. Masonry and others quickly followed her. At another dock, the Treasure was staying put. ¡°Tan Mo, what should we do?¡± the Dun Dao City Lord hesitated, ¡°Should we go after them?¡± Tan Mo¡¯s expression struggled intensely. The fluctuations and brilliance of the array caused a great commotion. Soon after, the Fire City Lord, Masonry, and others took action openly, stunning everyone. The Treasure had been on high alert. The moment the transmission fluctuation of the array appeared, Tan Mo and his people reacted. But they hesitated and didn¡¯t make a move. Because they saw Fishman Divine Son and the others, confirming that the Justice Pirate Group was indeed on the island. Tan Mo, being only Golden Level, didn¡¯t want to confront Mei Lan¡¯s divine entity. Especially at this time, the great general Yi Gui had yet to appear! He had no support whatsoever. He could only delay, but then he noticed the Fire City Lord and others flying out of the island, clearly chasing the enemy. ¡°If the higher-ups want me to fight to the death and I still shrink back, I¡¯ll definitely end up in a military court!¡± ¡°But rushing in now, isn¡¯t that suicidal?¡± ¡°With just a finger, no, a glance from Mei Lan, she could kill me!¡± Tan Mo clenched his teeth, his forehead covered in cold sweat. Just then, a loud boom. The entire Fire City shook a bit, and the volcano¡¯s crater erupted dense black smoke. Subsequently, an immensely mighty life breath was exposed. Divine Level! A genuine Divine Level! ¡°It¡¯s Mei Lan!¡± Sha Ji¡¯s pupils shrank sharply, unable to help but exclaim. The Fire City Lord and others¡¯ flying actions abruptly stopped. ¡°We¡¯ve been tricked, Fishman Divine Son deliberately came to attract our attention,¡± remarked puppet Tuck with a cold tone. ¡°Let¡¯s go back!¡± Seeing the Golden Level demon energy ship about to be caught up, the Fire City Lord didn¡¯t hesitate and turned back immediately. Masonry hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed the Fire City Lord. Puppet Tuck and Sha Ji took a deep look at the Deep Sea Monster Fish and also flew back to Fire Island. ¡°Quick, we¡¯re deploying. The target is that underwater demon energy ship!¡± Seeing this scene, Tan Mo was so thrilled he almost jumped for joy. Apart from Mei Lan, the cultivation of Fishman Divine Son and the others was merely at Silver Level. Tan Mo instantly became bold. Chapter 408 - 408: Section 196: Cang Xus Trouble (Revised) Chapter 408: Section 196: Cang Xu¡¯s Trouble (Revised) Zi Di¡¯s cautious proposition received Cang Xu¡¯s full approval. The experience on Mysterious Monster Island had made almost all of the survivors develop the good habit of being cautious and preserving their own room to maneuver. However, just as the Iron Lump was about to continue distancing itself from the new island, two Silver Level individuals descended from the sky, blocking Cang Xu¡¯s path. ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve caught up with you! Where did you think you were running off to?¡± one of the female Silver Level figures said with a gloomy face, radiating intense hostility. Seeing this suddenly emerged enemy, Cang Xu¡¯s expression slightly changed: ¡°Ya Ma?¡± Ya Ma had once had a friction with Cang Xu and Zi Di, and after being defeated by the latter two, she had no choice but to give up an auction entrance ticket to escape. ¡°Because of you, I missed the auction.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯ve hijacked the Iron Lump and you think you can just walk away?¡± ¡°Heh, dream on!¡± ¡°I lost to you previously because I didn¡¯t get to cast my spells in time, and you took advantage of that.¡± ¡°This time, let¡¯s settle our old scores,¡± Ya Ma said with hatred in her voice. She was a Summoner. Previously, facing Cang Xu and Zi Di¡¯s use of the Fire Magic Ring, she couldn¡¯t withstand the spell assault and lost. This time, upon seeing the massive Flying Ant summon beneath her, it was clear she had come prepared. The Iron Lump had already left some distance from the shore, and riding atop the gigantic Flying Ant was the only way Ya Ma could fly in the air and intercept Cang Xu. Cang Xu furrowed his brows tightly, glanced at Ya Ma, and then turned his gaze to her companion. This person was also familiar to Cang Xu. She was wide and hefty with an owl-like human face, indeed the Beastman Dancing Lady¡ªYue Ban. Cang Xu could understand Ya Ma¡¯s desire for revenge. But what about Yue Ban? Just as Cang Xu was about to speak and negotiate, Yue Ban spoke first: ¡°Esteemed Mage, I have also been looking for you.¡± ¡°On my way here, I received an invitation from Mage Ya Ma, which gave me the chance to meet with you.¡± ¡°At the auction, you bought a pair of Dancing Shoes, you should remember.¡± ¡°Those Mushroom Dance Shoes are of immense importance to me.¡± ¡°May I ask if you would sell them to me?¡± ¡°I need them very much!¡± Cang Xu nodded slightly: ¡°Mushroom Dance Shoes¡­ those are Golden Level equipment. Lady Yue Ban, how much are you willing to pay for them?¡± ¡°You lost to us at the auction, which is why the Mushroom Dance Shoes ended up in our hands.¡± ¡°Now you want to buy them, do you expect us to sell at a loss to you?¡± ¡°What can you offer in exchange?¡± Yue Ban fell silent for a moment: ¡°Indeed, I do not have enough funds.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a problem,¡± Cang Xu shook his head, ¡°there¡¯s more to value in this world than just money. In fact, many things cannot be measured by money.¡± ¡°If you can help us deal with the current trouble, we¡¯re willing to negotiate with you and sell you the Mushroom Dance Shoes at a discounted price, based on your contribution,¡± Cang Xu suggested after some thought. He wanted to negotiate to turn an enemy into an ally, transforming Yue Ban into a force on their side. But his action was met with Ya Ma¡¯s scoffing. Ya Ma had invited Yue Ban to come because she was confident in her own strength. If Cang Xu could so easily turn an enemy into an ally, then she would indeed be too foolish. As expected, Yue Ban shook her head: ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Mage Ya Ma¡¯s help, I wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to come before you.¡± Yue Ban was also riding atop a gigantic Flying Ant. She continued: ¡°I cannot reverse the order of events; I won¡¯t repay kindness with enmity.¡± ¡°Moreover, my tribe has close ties with Ya Ma.¡± Ya Ma laughed: ¡°One of my summoned creatures, the Yellow Nest Ant, was contracted on Yue Ban¡¯s homeland.¡± ¡°So, Your Excellency, there¡¯s no need to waste your breath. Surrender quietly and you can avoid the pain of flesh and blood.¡± Yue Ban echoed: ¡°Hand over the Dancing Shoes, and I¡¯ll plead on your behalf.¡± Cang Xu laughed: ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s get started. I hope you cherish the time because once my comrades arrive to support, you¡¯ll have no chance left.¡± Qing Xin had already flown into midair. With a strong enemy suddenly appearing, she too was forced to continue the battle. The situation was quite unfavorable for Cang Xu. He appeared to be Silver Level, but in fact, it was just a disguise. His true level of life was only Black Iron Level. Moreover, he was reliant solely on the Fire Magic Ring. His true capability could not be publicly displayed. ¡°It¡¯s a pity Menshi left the ship to seek an opportunity to repay the squad leader. Otherwise, the situation wouldn¡¯t be this bad,¡± Cang Xu regretted internally. He did not use the Communication Device to call for help in front of the two enemies. Because he knew that Zi Di must have already noticed the emergency situation here. An unexpected battle unfolded around the Iron Lump. The Summoner Ya Ma and the Beastman Dancing Lady Yue Ban versus Cang Xu and Qing Xin! Deep underground. Boom. Amid the explosion, dust dispersed. The Dragon-man youth and his group broke into the center of the Array. ¡°This is where the Fishman Mages cast their spells!¡± ¡°But where are the people?¡± The Pharmacist who arrived shortly after, cast a Spell, and understanding after checking, said, ¡°They used a spell for disguise; in fact, they had moved on a while ago.¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zong Ge frowned, ¡°Fishman Mages casting a large-scale spell couldn¡¯t have just been a decoy. Their early departure from here must mean they¡¯ve achieved their goal. We were misled by their illusions, which caused us to lose the right moment for battle.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing that could have been done,¡± the Dragon-man youth shook his head slightly. Failing to stop the enemy meant that the rewards received afterward would not be substantial. But for the sake of his own and his subordinates¡¯ lives, the Dragon-man youth did not regret adopting a careful and steady strategy. It was at this moment that the Communication Device transmitted the latest information from Zi Di. The Dragon-man youth¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°What? Cang Xu is in trouble?¡± The youth¡¯s expression remained calm, but he inwardly frowned, finding the situation tricky. Since Cang Xu was using the appearance of the Purple Vine Clan Elder, it would be inconvenient for the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps to directly help. ¡°But no matter what, we should leave here first and try to meet up with Cang Xu.¡± With that thought, the Dragon-man youth immediately ordered, ¡°The enemy Mages have left, and our operation here has failed. We should return to the island immediately to deal with any follow-up moves by the enemy.¡± The Deputy Commander and the Pharmacist both laughed heartily, clearly relieved. The latter, believing the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps was unaware of the latest information, said with a proud expression, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Long Fu squad leader. The Lord himself has taken action, and the situation has now completely turned in our favor. We have already locked down a victory in advance!¡± ¡°Oh? Is that true?¡± asked the Dragon-man youth in surprise. ¡°Tell me quickly, what exactly happened.¡± Amidst the Pharmacist¡¯s proud narration, the group swiftly made their way back. Zi Lin Fishmen and a man with wet hair dragged a Fishman corpse with difficulty through a narrow passage. To conceal their own Mana, they chose not to use any Spells. The Fishman corpse was none other than the long-deceased Hai Ping. Years had passed, yet his body had not decayed; it was still plump and lifelike, as if he were in deep sleep, ready to wake up upon opening his eyes. At first glance at Hai Ping¡¯s corpse, Zi Lin Fishmen couldn¡¯t help but admire: Truly a being with the Bolang Bloodline. Zi Lin Fishmen suddenly stopped: ¡°I smell the sea. This secret passage is almost at an end, and we are about to escape from Twin Eyes Island. How about you?¡± Zi Lin Fishmen cast a concerned look at the man with wet hair. His condition was poor. His face was a deathly pale, without a hint of color, his body swaying as if about to collapse, exhausted and almost depleted of all Spirit. ¡°I¡¯ll try to keep up,¡± said the man with wet hair, forcing a smile. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± he reassured Zi Lin Fishmen in return. ¡°I have fulfilled my role.¡± ¡°We have accomplished our task.¡± ¡°I thought about staying behind to cover our retreat and gain you some time.¡± ¡°But you were right, in my current state, staying behind would only add to the enemy¡¯s achievements and would not be able to delay them.¡± ¡°Once we enter the sea, I will use the last bit of my Mana to cast a Spell, creating a decoy of your presence, and separate from you.¡± ¡°Good luck!¡± Zi Lin Fishmen opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing, just nodding. They had found Hai Ping¡¯s body much sooner than expected. That¡¯s why the man with wet hair hadn¡¯t made an immediate sacrifice. Zi Lin Fishmen felt both respect and admiration for him. When she heard that he wanted to stay behind, she persuaded him, actually wanting to preserve his life as much as possible. Now, as they were about to enter the sea, he still chose another way to sacrifice himself. And this time, Zi Lin Fishmen did not refuse. Because both knew from the Naga Priest¡¯s message that the battle situation on the island had changed dramatically. The Fishmen¡¯s side had collapsed. There wasn¡¯t much time left for their escape! The two reached the end of the secret passage. Zi Lin Fishmen quickly cast a Spell, and the vines slowly parted, allowing the rushing seawater to flow through the cracks. As the passage widened, water quickly flooded in. Both Zi Lin Fishmen and the man with wet hair thrived underwater, diving deep. They exchanged a silent nod, gradually moving apart. Zi Lin Fishmen, clutching Hai Ping¡¯s body, dove deeper, striving to put distance between him and the island. Meanwhile, the man with wet hair swam a bit, then cast a Spell to mimic Zi Lin Fishmen¡¯s Mana signature and went off in another direction. ¡°They¡¯ve come out; they need support!¡± The Naga Priest¡¯s eyes flashed with a glimpse of sharpness. But she was still entangled with the Hun Tong Alchemy Avatar and couldn¡¯t break free. The aggressive, fearless Alchemy Avatar was extremely hard to deal with. The Naga Priest also knew that she mustn¡¯t act rashly; any peculiar move would surely attract a barrage of attacks from the Gold Level demon energy ship. The situation was in utter disarray, but the Naga Priest had one thing to be thankful for: Hun Tong, in order to protect his interests, had not acted against those of the Gold Level. Each round of bombardment was justified as ¡°intercepting treasures, protecting the territory.¡± As a result, the Naga Priest looked to the Fishman Clan Leader. The Clan Leader immediately felt a connection and realized that it was time for his sacrifice. He sighed deeply, handing the staff in his hand to a nearby Fishman. This staff was not just a piece of Gold Level equipment; it also held significant meaning. It symbolized the authority of the Clan Leader! Chapter 409 - 409: Section 197: Yellow Nest Ant (Revised) Chapter 409: Section 197: Yellow Nest Ant (Revised) The old Fishman Clan Leader handed his staff to another, the implication was clear. ¡°Clan Leader, sir!¡± the trusted Fishman at his side exclaimed. The old Clan Leader gave a bitter smile to his fellow tribespeople, apologizing with a voice heavy with the weight of years, ¡°I am truly sorry, everyone, I am indeed an incompetent chieftain.¡± ¡°Our homeland was lost under my watch.¡± ¡°I knew full well that my daughter was kidnapped by the enemy and subjected to brutal torture, yet I was unable to act immediately.¡± ¡°In order to save her, I did not hesitate to deceive our allies, betraying my faith and principles.¡± ¡°Having the opportunity to fight to the death for my redemption is an extraordinary stroke of luck for me.¡± ¡°Before the battle, I had already drawn up my will.¡± ¡°Just do as the will instructs.¡± ¡°Clan Leader¡­ Wuuu.¡± The Fishman around him began to choke up and cry. The old Clan Leader looked hopefully at the Naga Priest, ¡°Priest, I entrust my people and daughter to you, as much as you possibly can!¡± The Naga Priest had a solemn expression on her face. Although she had been slightly deceived by him, now that he was willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good, his merits outweighed his faults. The Naga Priest gave a slight nod, ¡°With this ship here, I can only promise to do my utmost.¡± ¡°Rest assured. For at least the time being, it will be quite difficult for this ship to take notice of you,¡± said the old Clan Leader, stamping his foot and calling out the baby name of the Frozen Land Whale. This Frozen Land Whale was a Magic Beast carefully nurtured by the tribe. From the year they were exiled, the tribe had begun raising it, sparing no expense, even going hungry, all in the hopes of taking back their homeland. Unfortunately, Hun Tong possessed extraordinary business acumen and had amassed enough money to build a Golden Level demon energy ship, far outstripping the nurtured Frozen Land Whale. However, the Frozen Land Whale had been trained to such a degree of understanding that without the old Clan Leader speaking a word, just a stomp of his foot was enough for it to know what to do. Spell¡ªAscending Spring! Water and air jets sprayed out from the blowhole, lifting the old Clan Leader skyward at a rapid pace. The old Fishman Clan Leader moved with incredible speed, like a lightning bolt shooting upwards. He had reserved this tactic, planning to rise suddenly when the opportunity arose, to deal a fierce blow to either Yan Ding or a Hun Tong clone. But he had never found the chance. Now, with the military situation urgent, there was no choice but to use it. The move indeed caught Hun Tong by surprise. He hurriedly maneuvered, and out of five Light Cannon towers, three fired at the same time. The beams struck the old Clan Leader, but he endured the cannon fire, ascending to the height of the Golden Shiny and finally crashing onto the deck of the Golden Shiny with wounds and blood. ¡°The Mana Pool still has 75% of its reserves, more than enough.¡± ¡°But from now on, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t have the opportunity to operate it myself.¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hun Tong¡¯s pupils constricted. He couldn¡¯t just let the old Fishman Clan Leader run rampant on his flagship. Golden Shiny¡¯s defensive capabilities were not outstanding. Especially since the old Clan Leader was obviously on a suicide mission, Hun Tong dared not underestimate a Golden Level warrior bent on a desperate fight! Hun Tong flicked the Magic Runes, hastily giving the order for Golden Shiny to continue firing, then immediately leaped down from the tower, ready to fight the old Fishman Clan Leader. The old Fishman Clan Leader was unarmed, with long green hair like seaweed, chaotic and swirling around as Golden Fighting Spirit erupted from him. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s fight a decisive battle to the death!¡± The old Clan Leader brimmed with a resolve to fight to the end. Hun Tong¡¯s pupils shrank again. This enemy in front of him was the most troublesome. Also a Golden Level, but with no regard for his own life. And more critically, this was happening on his Golden Shiny. Breaking anything here, he currently had no ability to repair! He couldn¡¯t even repair those Underground Investigators, let alone Golden Shiny. Previously, the Fishman forces had been targeted by Yan Ding, leaving the old Clan Leader overwhelmed with defense. Now, it was Hun Tong¡¯s turn to experience this frustration. Bang, bang, bang. A fierce battle unfolded on the deck of Golden Shiny. The two archenemies engaged in another struggle. This time, it was a showdown not just of victory or defeat, but of life and death! ¡°Shoot them down!¡± the pirates and Fishman roared together. For a moment, all kinds of arrows and bullets flew through the air, and even the roaring of cannons was incessant. Spell¡ªWater Arrow! Qing Xin struggled to cast the spell. He was in terrible shape, but the Vinegar Pot¡¯s Mana Pool still had reserves. Combat Skill¡ªScales. Hu Li stepped on scales in mid-air, leaping and slapping spinning light discs with his palm. These light discs were critical, allowing for the attacks from the Light Cannon towers to split into thousands. The light discs were bombarded with various attacks but rarely shattered. They were all Golden Level components. Naturally capable of withstanding the massive beam shots from the cannons and to disperse and refract them, their defense was indeed formidable. Despite attacks proving ineffective, neither the pirates nor the Fishman gave up. On the contrary, their attacks intensified. They knew all too well: if they didn¡¯t crush these spinning light discs, they would die! Although attacking Golden Shiny would be more effective, they couldn¡¯t reach it. The targets they could attack were these spinning light discs. Only by shattering these discs would they stand a chance of survival. But the discs, seemingly thin, were still rarely shot down. The main Light Tower burst forth with light streams again, initiating another round of net-like cannon fire. However, the total number of Fishman and pirates who fell this time was much fewer than before. The surviving enemies, both horrified and overjoyed, quickly realized something. ¡°Even if we can¡¯t break these discs, we can still cause interference!¡± ¡°Right, keep firing, don¡¯t stop.¡± If just one spinning light disc tilted at an angle, the refracted beams, when hitting near the target, would skew wildly. The disk spun through the air, resisting the interference. The degree of interference was actually not great. In fact, many of the beams just grazed their targets. However, because the beams were extremely precise and concentrated with great restraint, even those enemies that were merely brushed by them managed to survive. ¡°We can live, we can make it out alive!¡± a pirate yelled. The Fishmen were also shouting in chaos. And there were many fearless ones collecting the scattered treasures around them. ¡°They¡¯re all mine!¡± ¡°Even in death, I want to die amidst a pile of Gold Coins.¡± The pirates¡¯ greed was plain to see. ¡°Wait, what¡¯s that?¡± Many divers who retrieved treasures were horrified to find multiple silhouettes in the depths of the sea. These figures all had human torsos and serpentine tails. They were also collecting treasures! ¡°It¡¯s the Naga!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just the Fishmen; there are also Naga deep in the sea.¡± ¡°They are collecting the treasures we dropped. Damn it, we worked so hard to plunder these!¡± The pirates were indignant but powerless. They found it difficult to dive into the depths of the sea. Even if they did dive down, with their fighting strength reduced, would they really go and fight desperately against the Naga? Of course, these were not real Naga. They were Deep Sea Salvagers. When Zi Di saw the vast amount of treasure falling into the sea, she dispatched these Alchemy Puppets to salvage it. The massive wealth that had fallen to the seabed was all plundered by the pirates from shops, houses, and churches. Twin Eyes Island was a bustling commercial island; to this day, both the official and civilian sectors possessed enormous wealth. This could be inferred from the generous funerary offerings they had. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought we¡¯d stumble upon a windfall even in this situation!¡± Zi Di¡¯s lips curled up in a slight smile. The surprise was fleeting; her heart was filled with more worry. Qing Xin and Cang Xu were in dire straits. Ya Ma and Yue Ban were both in peak condition, bona fide Silver Level. Cang Xu was merely Black Iron, masquerading as Silver. Although Qing Xin was a Silver Level Mage, he had previously fought a protracted battle with Hu Li, was severely lacking in equipment and in poor condition. Surrounded by summoned creatures, Ya Ma grew more confident as she fought: ¡°I can¡¯t believe I lost to you before. What a disgrace.¡± ¡°Are you really Silver Level?¡± ¡°Do you only know these Fire Magic Spells?¡± When Ya Ma earlier had a conflict with Cang Xu and Zi Di, she couldn¡¯t summon in time and was suppressed by the incessant Fire Magic, leaving her no opportunity to catch her breath, let alone turn the tide. Forced into a corner, she had to concede. Now, regaining the upper hand, she was triumphant. Qing Xin could only fly into the air again, repeating the tactics used against Hu Li, primarily dodging through constant movement. Cang Xu also used a Flying Scroll and adopted a tact to avoid the sharp edge, trying to delay time as much as possible. He consciously moved closer to the Dragon-man youth. At the beginning of the battle, he had taken care to distance himself from the Iron Lump. For the Dragon-man youth, figuring out how to help Cang Xu and Qing Xin was also troublesome. After all, at the auction, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps had continually opposed Cang Xu and Zi Di, winning over the public¡¯s favor, and creating an antagonistic impression to clear themselves of suspicion. Now, if the Dragon-man youth intervened to aid Cang Xu, this act would be inconsistent with his earlier behavior. It would surely raise suspicions! ¡°Ah, if there¡¯s no other way, I¡¯ll just have to make a move,¡± the Dragon-man youth hurried along, sighing to himself. Compared to the suspicion from outsiders, Cang Xu¡¯s life was naturally more important! ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re escaping to?¡± Ya Ma laughed heartily. She was growing impatient with the chase and cast a spell directly. A Magic Array materialized in the air. The disk-shaped Array spun around and transformed into a circular Light Door. Out of the circular Light Door flew a giant bee, as large as an elephant. The bee¡¯s body patterned like tiger stripes, black and yellow in alternation. Its compound eyes were pitch-black, covered in a dull luster that looked very cool. The most distinctive part was its tail. Its tail was significantly large and somewhat deformed. The tail was a pentagonal prism, with numerous holes at the end. The bee itself radiated the aura of the Silver Level. From the holes, other various bizarre auras were emitted. As soon as Ya Ma summoned this Silver Level Magic Beast, she immediately pointed at Cang Xu and commanded, ¡°Blow him up for me.¡± Buzz buzz buzz¡­ The next instant, a swarm of alchemic Yellow Bees flew out from the holes. Like a dark cloud, the bees enveloped Cang Xu. Cang Xu¡¯s scalp numbed as he cursed inwardly and quickly tore off a scroll. The spell inscribed on the scroll activated, causing him to split into over a dozen illusions that darted in all directions. The cloud of bees had to divide into more than ten groups to chase after each illusion of Cang Xu. Bang bang bang. Upon reaching their targets, the little bees all self-destructed. The illusions were instantly shattered, and nearby houses and streets were reduced to ruins, completely disfigured, as dust and smoke rolled in billows. Cang Xu¡¯s real body was quickly discovered. The remaining bees continued to buzz, surrounding him. ¡°Not good!¡± Zi Di saw this and immediately paled. At that moment, a deadly crisis descended upon Cang Xu! Chapter 410 - 410: Section 198: Exposure of the Holy Corpse (Revised) Chapter 410: Section 198: Exposure of the Holy Corpse (Revised) The Yellow Nest Ant was a magic beast unique to the Wilderness Continent. The ant colonies built their nests on the ground. The yellow mud nests often stood two to three meters tall. When the beehive faced a crisis of destruction, the ants would willingly merge with their nest, forming a giant ant. From the giant ant¡¯s tail, one could still discern the former shape of the beehive. Depending on the scale of the Yellow Nest Ant colony as well as the grade of the nest, and the state of the beehive and ant colony during the fusion, the life level of the giant ant varied, ranging from Bronze, Black Iron, Silver¡­ and so on. At most, it could reach the Golden Level. The Yellow Nest Ant that Ya Ma commanded was not of the Golden Level but only Silver Level. Capturing this kind of magic beast ant was actually quite troublesome. Ya Ma had managed to capture one, all thanks to the assistance of the local Beastman Tribe. With her meticulous cultivation, this Silver Level Yellow Nest Ant was definitely considered the king of its rank. Because Ya Ma had paid a great price to perform surgery on this Yellow Nest Ant, implementing an Alchemy Transformation. Using alchemy techniques to transform magic beasts and make them more powerful was not an uncommon choice. Ya Ma not only transformed the Yellow Nest Ant itself but also specially purchased a large number of small wasps. These wasps were all alchemically created creatures, the small ones were the size of little thumbs, and the large ones were as big as an adult¡¯s fist. They covered grades from Ordinary, Bronze, Black Iron, up to Silver Level. Now, a large number of alchemically created wasps surrounded Cang Xu, sealing off all his retreat routes. Among these wasps, the most numerous were the Ordinary Level, but there were at least a hundred of Bronze and Black Iron Levels and more than a dozen Silver Level. Resistance Fire Ring. Cang Xu used a Fire Magic Ring to send out a ring of fire, with him as the center, the fire ring rapidly expanded outward. Some of the alchemy wasps were incinerated; many were pushed away. But the power of the fire ring rapidly weakened, and most of the wasps got to Cang Xu¡¯s face. Zi Di couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart rise at this moment; she wished she could be right by Cang Xu¡¯s side. Although she also knew that even if she combined her combat strength, the two of them couldn¡¯t handle so many alchemy wasps, the impulse to share the pressure for her companion and fight against a strong enemy was from the heart. The Dragon-man youth was rushing over quickly. But there was still a distance between them. He could not just teleport directly. ¡°Is there no other way?¡± Cang Xu felt a strong sense of crisis and immediately prepared to cast a spell to use Undead Magic. Although he always tried his best to conceal it, in a life and death situation, he could not care about that anymore. Without life, there was no basis for any possibility or future. ¡°By using Undead Magic, I still have hope!¡± Cang Xu decided to take a deadly risk. He carried many ghosts with him, which, if released, might help him fight these alchemy wasps and possibly clear a path to survival. But it was only a possibility. From a certain perspective, these alchemy wasps had a significant restraining effect on ghosts. Because wasps aren¡¯t living beings and do not possess souls. Ghosts have a restraining advantage against normal living beings, but on alchemy wasps, these advantages mostly fall apart. However, just as Cang Xu was about to take the gamble and expose his identity, a figure suddenly burst onto the battlefield. The newcomer pulled out a small ball and smashed it onto the ground. Bang. The ball exploded, unleashing a burst of electric light. The electric light, like an inflated balloon, expanded rapidly, sweeping up the nearby alchemy wasps. The wasps, wrapped in electric light, suffered severe interference. The Silver Level ones flew chaotically in the air, wobbling. The Black Iron Level wasps trembled lightly, barely hovering in the air. Bronze and Ordinary Levels fell to the ground, making slight popping sounds. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The newcomer shouted, ¡°My electrical interference ball has limited effect.¡± Cang Xu did not expect this and was stunned for a moment. ¡°Hong Zhu?¡± After recognizing the newcomer, he also came to, and quickly flew away from the spot. The person was indeed Hong Zhu. The casting sounds of a Fishman had alarmed her. She did not dare to continue digging for treasure in the graveyard and sneaked out. After assessing the situation, she moved toward the shore, looking for an opportunity to leave the island. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She first found Ya Ma. Ya Ma rode a huge flying ant, which made her see a possibility of leaving the island. However, just when she was about to show herself to chat, Ya Ma took the initiative to find Yue Ban, inviting her to join in the fight against Cang Xu. Red Zhu¡¯s stealth and concealment were very superb; she quietly eavesdropped and heard about Cang Xu having the Iron Lump. Red Zhu had a new idea. ¡°Rather than dealing with Ya Ma, spending the cost, getting her to summon the flying ant to take me off the island, it would be better to take the Iron Lump!¡± The flying ant could not withstand the sea winds and had limited endurance, and its safety was at the mercy of Ya Ma. The Iron Lump had endurance, the ability to withstand the sea winds, and was naturally much stronger than the flying ant. Moreover, if Red Zhu helped Cang Xu, took the initiative to curry favor, then taking the Iron Lump might be free, and she could even win Cang Xu¡¯s gratitude. Not everyone at the auction held bad feelings against Cang Xu and Zi Di. At least, Red Zhu didn¡¯t. Because Cang Xu and Zi Di bought her consigned items for a lot of Gold Coins, she reaped a big profit. At the auction, Red Zhu had wanted to contact Cang Xu and Zi Di. When Ya Ma saw the good situation destroyed, her face immediately darkened, and she angrily shouted at Red Zhu, ¡°What do you mean by this, Red Zhu?¡± Yue Ban pursued Cang Xu for the kill. Red Zhu chuckled, leaping out and using a Combat Skill to block Yue Ban. ¡°Red Zhu, you¡¯re actually helping this man? Tell me! What exactly is your relationship?¡± Ya Ma manipulated the alchemy wasps and launched another round of attacks. Most of the recently interfered with alchemy wasps had already recovered. Indeed, Zi Di and Cang Xu were also wondering why this famous Treasure Hunter would lend a hand. You should know that before, there was interaction between the two sides when the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps cooperated with Hong Zhu in fishing. Zi Di and Cang Xu, now Elders of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, have not been in contact with Hong Zhu. Hong Zhu then laughed again, ¡°Now that the situation on Twin Eyes Island is so perilous, and you¡¯re still only thinking about settling personal scores. Tell me, are you in cahoots with the Fishmen and pirates?¡± Hong Zhu was very outspoken, directly splashing them with dirty water. Ya Ma was so angry that her face turned pale. Yue Ban just shrugged her shoulders and said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m a Beastman, what does the Human Race have to do with me?¡± She launched an offensive once again. Hong Zhu managed to hold her off. The two were evenly matched, and it was hard to tell who would come out on top for the time being. Elsewhere, Cang Xu and Qing Xin were collaborating to take on Ya Ma. Cang Xu breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sudden decrease in pressure. Previously, with Yue Ban as a fighter charging ahead, the two of them had a hard time finding an opportunity to cast their spells. But now, with Hong Zhu tying up Yue Ban, Ya Ma¡¯s summoned creatures lacking spiritual intelligence, Cang Xu and Qing Xin¡¯s situation had improved significantly. Zi Di speculated about Hong Zhu¡¯s motivation for getting involved, ¡°As a Treasure Hunter, Hong Zhu probably wants to use this opportunity to establish a relationship with us.¡± ¡°We made quite the impression at the auction and are considered to be very wealthy.¡± ¡°When Hong Zhu finds the treasure in the future, she will definitely want to sell it.¡± ¡°But Twin Eyes Island is already in trouble, and after this battle, no pirates will dare to come here to clean their loot.¡± ¡°This has a negative impact on Hong Zhu.¡± ¡°So, finding a connection with us in advance is very beneficial for her.¡± Zi Di communicated with Cang Xu and shared this speculation with him. Cang Xu agreed. But he also remained vigilant about Hong Zhu, wary of any tricks or disguises she might use. After all, there was still a lack of real understanding between them. Regardless, with Hong Zhu¡¯s interference and meddling, Cang Xu finally avoided the crisis of his Undead Mage identity being exposed. The Golden Shiny unleashed a wide-scale beam cannon attack again. Pirates carrying treasures were given special attention. Dian Wan and the leader with the onion-head were hit by multiple beams and were battered until they vomited blood. ¡°Quick, get back on the flagship!¡± ¡°Most of the treasures are lost, damn Hun Tong. I must protect what remains.¡± When it came to their own profits, the two Silver Level pirates showed remarkable tenacity. Hu Li, who was on par with them, fared much worse. Because the Clapping Pirate Group had robbed very little, they had been delayed. Zi Di also had a troubled expression. In this new round of simultaneous firing, many beams pierced directly through the water, destroying several Deep Sea Salvager Alchemy Puppets. ¡°Wait a minute, I think I¡¯ve discovered something.¡± Zi Di surveyed the entire situation and noticed a pattern in the Magic Images. Her eyes sparkled with insight, a flash of brilliance, ¡°Hun Tong is fighting with the old Clan Leader and can¡¯t control his flagship.¡± ¡°The firing pattern of this flagship, does it seem to specifically target the wealthiest?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why my Deep Sea Salvagers were targeted.¡± Zi Di had discovered a secret but still needed to verify it. Meanwhile, Zi Lin, the Fishman, was swimming stealthily right above the Deep Sea Monster Fish, dragging the body of Hai Ping. In order to protect Hai Ping¡¯s body as safely as possible, Zi Lin ruthlessly crushed a Pearl Bubble! The Golden Shiny didn¡¯t notice her at all. The same was true for the Deep Sea Monster Fish. The Deep Sea Monster Fish¡¯s deceptive camouflage abilities were also top-notch, appearing just like a piece of seabed rock on the surface, so Zi Lin didn¡¯t notice anything unusual either. ¡°The task is about to be completed.¡± ¡°Returning with Hai Ping¡¯s body, rewards for merit were awaiting, and my Divine Office could likely rise a level!¡± ¡°These stupid humans of the Human Race¡­¡± Zi Lin was already imagining a bright future. Just at that moment! The Divine Artifact Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale inside the Deep Sea Monster Fish trembled slightly. The camouflage power on Zi Lin and Hai Ping¡¯s body disappeared in an instant, thoroughly absorbed by the Divine Artifact. Zi Lin: ¡°?!¡±; Zi Di: ¡°?!¡±; The Golden Eye component on the Golden Shiny seemed to pause for a moment, then suddenly burst into radiance. It had detected Hai Ping¡¯s body. The latter¡¯s value far exceeded other targets! Hai Ping had been at the Holy Domain Level in life; his body was naturally considered a Holy Domain Level material. More crucially, he contained remnants of a Divine Bloodline¡ªthe Bolang Fishman Bloodline! The Golden Shiny¡¯s firing principle followed the rule of highest value first, but it also distinguished between friend and foe. The Guild, Mercenary Group, as well as individuals like Cang Xu and Ya Ma, had not been targeted by its firing. The Golden Shiny had been giving special attention to Fishmen and pirates. Now, the most valuable target suddenly appeared. Moreover, the target was being dragged by a Silver Level Fishman Mage. Could this be tolerated? It absolutely could not! So, in the next moment, the concentrated light from the main tower surged forth, and numerous spiraling discs dived into the sea, heading straight for Zi Lin. Zi Lin was terrified. Zi Di also felt the tension. Because the Deep Sea Monster Fish was right below Zi Lin. Chapter 411 - 411: Section 199: Contract Fulfillment! Chapter 411: Section 199: Contract Fulfillment! In order to retrieve the corpse from the sea, the Fishman side devised a detailed plan. This included how to safely transport the corpse back after finding the target. After several discussions, the higher-ups vetoed the plan to utilize storage equipment. The advantage of this plan was convenience and speed while maintaining secrecy. However, there were many drawbacks. The biggest drawbacks mainly consisted of two points. First, not all storage equipment could contain the sea corpse. The sea corpse was Holy Domain Level and if considered as a bunch of Holy Domain Level Alchemy Material, at least Golden Level storage equipment was needed for it to fit. Second, it was not safe enough. If the storage equipment was attacked and destroyed, it would lead to a critical change in space, creating a phenomenon of space fragmentation and damaging the stored items. The sea corpse was just a pile of material and could not withstand the force of space fragmentation. If a void formed, the sea corpse might be sucked into it and banished to another place. If it was the Main World, it would be slightly better, but being banished to another plane would make it even harder to find. After lengthy discussions among the Fishman higher-ups, they decided to employ Pearl Bubble. In their eyes, this was the safest measure! In terms of deception and disguise, the god they worshipped was exceptionally powerful and reliable. They had used this approach numerous times, and it was difficult for even a Legendary figure to see through the disguise of Pearl Bubble. The downside of this plan was the high cost. The loss of the Divine Artifact, Mermaid¡¯s Fairy Tale, meant that each use of Pearl Bubble would reduce its availability. Considering the critical importance of this operation, the sect¡¯s higher-ups could only bear the pain and use it. Neither they, nor the Zi Lin Fishmen, had ever imagined that the power of Pearl Bubble would suddenly disappear! Although this situation had occurred before. But in historical records, it appeared in the presence of powerful deities. Currently, there was no Holy Domain Level enemy, yet the power of Pearl Bubble suddenly failed, catching the Zi Lin Fishmen off-guard and in disbelief. Once she was exposed, the Golden Shiny reacted immediately. Boom! A beam of light burst out, falling from the sky, targeting the Zi Lin Fishman. The previous wide-range light net bombardment, This time, the concentrated beam cannon was a solo shot. That was truly Golden Level power. Previously, Hun Tong was severely injured after being hit by this attack. The exposure of the sea corpse made the Golden Shiny unleash its full strength. The moment she was under bombardment, the Zi Lin Fishman¡¯s mind screamed in alarm, but the deadly breath of death nearly immobilized her! She wanted to escape, but it was too late! The speed of the beam was too fast. Although the Zi Lin Fishman was strong, she was only Silver Level and was completely annihilated in the beam. The beam continued unabated, hitting the seabed. The Deep Sea Monster Fish, disguised as a rock, was right below the Zi Lin Fishman, and it too was struck by the beam. The Alchemy Demon Energy Ship vibrated violently, the shrill alarm sounding continuously, red lights flashing frantically inside the cabin. Zi Di gritted her teeth and persisted in the control cabin. She did not start the Deep Sea Monster Fish to evade the attack, which was very wise. Even if the Deep Sea Monster Fish moved fast, it couldn¡¯t outrun the speed of the light beam. Even if she tried to dodge, it was undodgeable. If she revealed her identity actively, the subsequent impact would be too great. If either side suddenly discovered that another Golden Level Demon Energy Ship had been watching all along, they would explode. At that time, it was highly likely that the Deep Sea Monster Fish would be targeted by everyone. ¡°Endure for now!¡± Zi Di was extremely resilient. The Deep Sea Monster Fish took the hit hard, still disguised as a rock. But from an outsider¡¯s view, a small part of this rock had turned to nothing. The larger part that remained, however, was blackened by the wound, its temperature high, causing the surrounding seawater to churn continuously and produce a large amount of bubbles. This was the ingenious use of Deception and Disguise Skill. It wasn¡¯t static. If it was static, and a normal rock could withstand a Golden Level beam cannon, it would raise suspicions. Under the Deception and Disguise Magic, the Deep Sea Monster Fish adapted to external changes. Of course, there were flaws. The part of the rock that was struck by the beam was completely annihilated. But in fact, this part of the ship¡¯s structure still existed. So, if a lifeform touched this ¡°blank¡± part, it would be obstructed and halted. Of course, touch was also a kind of external sensory ability of a lifeform. This too would be affected by the Deception and Disguise Skill. A lifeform would not be able to spot this flaw. But if it was investigated with an Alchemy Puppet, that wouldn¡¯t work. ¡°Was that a Silver Level Fishman Mage?¡± ¡°Her disguise magic suddenly failed, drawing the bombardment from the cannon deck.¡± ¡°And who is this Fishman corpse? Actually Holy Domain Level!¡± Zi Di was filled with doubt. The beam soon dissipated, leaving a deep pit on the seabed. The sea corpse slowly sank, much like those treasures beforehand, gradually settling at the bottom of the pit. The edge of the deep pit was where the Deep Sea Monster Fish was. Without the power of Pearl Bubble for disguise, the various scouting abilities of the Deep Sea Monster Fish immediately came into effect. Zi Di thereby discovered the extraordinary aspects of this corpse. ¡°Why would a Fishman Mage, who had never shown up on the frontlines, be dragging a Holy Domain Level corpse and fleeing secretly?¡± Zi Di could not confirm who the recently deceased Zi Lin Fishman was. The latter had not disclosed a trace of Life Breath. After the Pearl Bubble was absorbed by the Divine Artifact, before she could cast a Spell, she was annihilated by the beam cannon. ¡°Could it be that the true goal of the Fishmen is the corpse of this Holy Domain Level Fishman?¡± ¡°Who exactly was he?¡± ¡°Even in death, could he compel these Fishmen to sacrifice themselves like this?¡± Zi Di grew suspicious. At the same time, her heart stirred. No matter the identity of the Fishman in life, his value was immensely high. At worst, he could be viewed as a mass of Holy Domain Level Alchemy Material! ¡°Or perhaps it was because of its high value that it attracted the bombardments from the Ning Guang main gun tower.¡± ¡°The scene just now confirms my previous suspicions.¡± ¡°This flying demon energy ship first identifies friend from foe, and then targets individuals based on their value with the beam cannon.¡± ¡°Such style¡­ is it befitting of Hun Tong¡¯s flagship?¡± Zi Di looked at the corpse in the Magic Image, itching to act, yet she resisted. She had already figured out the firing patterns of the Golden Shiny, knowing that if she rashly seized the Fishman Holy Corpse, she would undoubtedly attract the bombardment of the light cannon. The Zi Lin Fishman was an exemplary precedent. ¡°Wait for an opportunity.¡± ¡°There should be a chance.¡± Zi Di cast more expectant glances at the Fishman Clan Leader, the Naga Priest, and others. The Naga Priest¡¯s face was ashen. She was in charge of this operation plan, the highest authority. The matter regarding the Green Coral Fishman Tribe reclaiming their homeland was not her main concern. Both parties were merely in a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship. The Naga Priest had only one goal. And that was¡ªto bring back the Sea Plane corpse as intact as possible! Now, the Zi Lin Fishman had fallen, and the identity of the Sea Plane corpse had been revealed. The operation was just one step away from success! But she was obstructed by a combined effort from Hun Tong¡¯s doppelg?nger and Yan Ding, unable to break through. ¡°No, even if I managed to break through, I would still face the bombardment from the Golden Level demon energy ship!¡± ¡°It was time.¡± The Naga Priest sighed deeply, showing a look of helplessness and determination. Hun Tong had his trump card, and she certainly had hers. This trump card was the Devil¡¯s Gold Coins! The Naga Priest released an illusion to temporarily draw enemy fire while her true body began to pray. ¡°Oh, Devil Lord, one of the masters of the Abyss, God of Utmost Sincerity, God of Trust.¡± ¡°My lord¡¯s ally!¡± ¡°The priest of Mei Lan prays to you.¡± ¡°Allow your mighty power to descend, enable the contract to be fulfilled, and let integrity shine.¡± ¡°Let the insincerity of enemies bend, and elevate the lives that keep their appointments!¡± The priest¡¯s prayer, much like that of a Holy Knight, was not always successful. Because gods could not focus on each of their followers at every moment. But this time, the Naga Priest was full of confidence. Because the God of Mei Lan and the God of Trust had long had a covenant, and they had collected a large number of the Devil¡¯s Gold Coins. These coins originated from the God of Trust. These were the sacred artifacts of the God of Trust! After finishing her prayers, the Naga Priest immediately looked towards Yan Ding. But the result was deeply disappointing to her. Yan Ding¡¯s onslaught continued unabated, unaffected by any means. According to the priest¡¯s deduction, Yan Ding was likely the empire¡¯s spy deployed as the leader to the Twin Eyes Island¡ªShadow. Originally, when the empire¡¯s spy planted an informer within the Vinegar Tub Pirate Crew, the spy was discovered, so the Naga Priest reversed the plot, allowing the Vinegar Tub Pirate Crew to send a contingent to the island under the pretense of cooperation, but the real goal was to deliver the Devil¡¯s Gold Coins. The Devil¡¯s Gold Coins were the sacred artifacts of the utmost sincerity and trust, and represented the most powerful of contracts. The content of the contract was ¡°to assist the Vinegar Tub Pirate Crew in attacking the Twin Eyes Island.¡± Once the contract took effect, the owner of the gold coins would be influenced by divine power, wholeheartedly fulfilling the terms of the contract. This was a trump card specifically laid by the Naga Priest. Based on her understanding of the empire¡¯s spy agency, these coins were very likely to end up in the pockets of the local chieftain. Once the contract took effect, it could turn an enemy into an ally, causing the human race¡¯s warriors to turn their coats on the battlefield! In such a case, caught off guard, the enemy would likely suffer a great loss. The balance of power would be heavily skewed. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Yan Ding was unchanged. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Did the human race see through my plot and already dispose of those coins?¡± ¡°Or perhaps, is Yan Ding not associated with the empire¡¯s spies?¡± ¡°Or is it that the Devil Lord did not respond to my prayers?¡± The Naga Priest¡¯s lips went dry as she continued to speculate. According to her plan, once the contract took effect, Yan Ding would not only allow passage but also assist in her defense. In doing so, her chance to bring back the Sea Plane corpse would be significantly increased. But that was not the case. Yan Ding remained unaffected. The Naga Priest was filled with intense bitterness, ¡°What should I do now?¡± While the Naga Priest¡¯s guesses about Yan Ding¡¯s identity were partly correct, the latter was indeed a member of the empire¡¯s spy agency. However, the Devil¡¯s Gold Coins had not ended up in the hands of the empire¡¯s spies. Originally, when the liaison confirmed with the Shadow, the latter only agreed out of embarrassment, feigning that the gold coins had been secured. In reality, all those coins had fallen into the hands of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Group. Chapter 412 - 412: Section 200: The Purple Reaction Chapter 412: Section 200: The Purple Reaction ¡°An astounding power arose from the 50,000 Devil¡¯s Coins.¡± ¡°If the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps still held those coins, it would¡¯ve spelled disaster.¡± ¡°But what followed was an auction.¡± ¡°At the auction, Zi Di and Cang Xu splurged the Gold, drawing all the attention to themselves, sparing no expense to increase their powers.¡± ¡°As a result, the vast majority of the Devil¡¯s Coins were spent by them.¡± ¡°Because of a sudden twist at the auction, Cang Xu and Zi Di didn¡¯t return the remaining coins to the treasury of the mercenary group.¡± ¡°Each of them held onto some of these coins.¡± ¡°So where did the majority of the coins end up?¡± ¡°On¡­ Hun Tong!¡± ¡°The transaction process at the auction on Twin Eyes Island was different from most auctions.¡± ¡°Due to the special identities of the buyers, the transactions were carried out on the spot.¡± ¡°The buyers paid the coins to the auction house in exchange for the items won.¡± ¡°The sellers would receive coins from the auction house.¡± ¡°But the coins received by both parties were not from the same batch.¡± ¡°In the case of the Devil¡¯s Coins, the specific situation was: Cang Xu and Zi Di received the auctioned items and handed over a portion of the Devil¡¯s Coins to the auction house.¡± ¡°The auction house then paid the sellers with a prepared amount of coins.¡± ¡°This process was not unique to the Twin Eyes Island; other auctions operated the same way.¡± ¡°The main reason was to prevent buyers from tampering with the coins, buying real goods with fake money.¡± ¡°If sellers received fake money, they surely wouldn¡¯t take it lying down; disputes arise, and it¡¯s the auction house¡¯s reputation that suffers.¡± ¡°As far as the auction house is concerned, since it organized the trade event, it naturally assumes the corresponding role and risks.¡± ¡°Therefore, the auction house must be responsible for both buyers and sellers.¡± ¡°And for the auction house, reputation is paramount.¡± ¡°Without a reputation, there would be no participation from either buyers or sellers. An auction that no one attends is truly the worst outcome.¡± ¡°Hence, auction houses always reserve liquid funds to pay sellers with verified authentic coins.¡± ¡°As for the coins from the buyers, the auction house also conducts a certain level of verification.¡± ¡°Normally, these verifications are accurate.¡± ¡°Even if they¡¯re not, and the auction house receives counterfeit money, it¡¯s only a small portion of the total transactions at the auction. The most important thing, the reputation, is preserved, and such a loss is sustainable.¡± ¡°And the transaction funds obtained by the auction on Twin Eyes Island are closely guarded. After the auction ends, heavily armed forces escort them to the City Lord¡¯s treasury.¡± ¡°But this auction was unusual.¡± ¡°The entire auction house suddenly became a prison, trapping the Transcendents within.¡± ¡°How could Hun Tong feel at ease leaving those coins lying around?¡± ¡°Therefore, while leading everyone to attack the auction house, he also stashed the transaction funds into his storage equipment.¡± ¡°The Naga Priest saw no effect of her prayers, beginning to doubt whether they were successful.¡± ¡°In truth, she had indeed succeeded.¡± ¡°But the power of the contract was silent and invisible.¡± ¡°There was neither grand luminescence nor earth-shattering sound. Only the whispers of the Devil traced across the heart of the concerned party.¡± ¡°Thus, Zi Di¡¯s eyes suddenly reddened.¡± ¡°Her mind remained crystal clear, but her motives had completely changed.¡± ¡°Attack the island!¡± ¡°Help the Fishmen take down Twin Eyes Island!!¡± ¡°A moment ago, she planned to endure, wait for the right moment, and stealthily take the corpse in front of her.¡± ¡°But now, her mind was consumed by how to efficiently fulfill the contract.¡± ¡°She immediately began to manipulate the Deep Sea Monster Fish, transforming into its Fishman Form.¡± ¡°Aperatures appeared on both sides of the ship¡¯s hull, from which skeletons emerged.¡± ¡°Plate armor rapidly attached to the skeletons, forming around the Fishman.¡± ¡°The entire hull bent, and the dragon bone at the end detached automatically, transforming into a giant harpoon.¡± ¡°Within seconds, the Deep Sea Monster Fish had completely morphed into a massive Fishman, wielding a harpoon.¡± ¡°The Deep Sea Monster Fish had three forms, with the Fishman Form being the most formidable in combat!¡± ¡°In order to fulfill the contract, Zi Di showed utmost sincerity.¡± ¡°She was rational enough to know that, as a mere Bronze Level Undead Mage, she alone was powerless.¡± ¡°But with the might of the Deep Sea Monster Fish, she could best assist the Fishmen in capturing Twin Eyes Island!¡± ¡°Becoming a giant Fishman was just the beginning.¡± ¡°The next moment, the Fishman planted its feet on the ocean floor and looked skyward.¡± ¡°Its gaping maw revealed golden cannon barrels ¨C arc guns.¡± ¡°Gold Level bombs, the Python Flow Bombs, slid along the conveyor inside the Fishman¡¯s throat into the rear of the cannon, entering the chamber.¡± ¡°Mana from the Mana Pool furiously poured in.¡± ¡°The muzzle of the arc gun flickered with electric light.¡± ¡°A vast, imposing aura of Gold Level power emanated in all directions!¡± ¡°Alarm bells echoed throughout the main deck of the Golden Shiny.¡± ¡°It had detected a colossal Fishman at the sea¡¯s bottom, amassing power for an imminent Gold Level attack!¡± ¡°Zi Di was unaware that Hun Tong had also been affected.¡± ¡°Her logic dictated: to assist the Fishmen as much as possible, she must first eliminate the most powerful enemy.¡± ¡°And surveying the entire battlefield, who could be stronger than the ascending Gold Level demon-energy ship in the sky?¡± ¡°Combat Skill ¨C Fiery Flame Dance Skirt.¡± ¡°Silver Fighting Spirit swirled around Yue Ban, complementing her fur as it ignited.¡± ¡°The flames intricately intertwined, forming the shape of a dance skirt.¡± ¡°The fierce flames distorted the air surrounding her.¡± ¡°This Dancing Lady is exceptionally strong!¡± Hong Zhu struggled to withstand Yue Ban¡¯s assault, her hands, used for defense, quickly charred by flame. ¡°She retreated time and again, and once she found a moment to breathe, she hastily took out a potion to drink. Anti-fire potions! Hong Zhu and Yue Ban clashed, and in a one-on-one fight, Hong Zhu gradually started to lose ground. However, it was not easy for Yue Ban to come out victorious. Hong Zhu had a never-ending supply of magic tools. Often venturing into the wild, sometimes even alone, she had developed the habit of always being fully equipped. As a result, her supplies were usually very abundant. Meanwhile, hundreds of meters away from their fight in the air, the battle group consisting of Qing Xin, Cang Xu, and Ya Ma were engaged in combat. Qing Xin and Cang Xu, fighting together, also inevitably started to lose ground. Ya Ma, riding on the back of a flying ant, had excellent flying capabilities. Surrounded by several flying ants, she also had the support of Yellow Nest Ants. The latter, like a mobile artillery unit, posed a significant threat to the enemy! In this battle, the advantages of the summoner were fully utilized by Ya Ma. The best strategy against Ya Ma was not to engage the summoned creatures, but to go directly for the summoner. Ya Ma was a formidable foe. Even if the Dragon-man youth were present, she would not be easy to deal with. The Dragon-man youth could handle assault and ambush tasks, especially against summoner targets, but he had one major flaw ¨C He couldn¡¯t fly. The most the Dragon-man youth could do was to use his combat skills to make long-distance leaps. In fact, this jumping ability was less practical than Hu Li¡¯s musical scale combat skills when attacking enemies with the ability to fly. ¡°Why are you so weak, how can you be this weak?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a huge disgrace that I lost to you!¡± Ya Ma kept shouting, looking both annoyed and angry. On the surface, Cang Xu still appeared as a Silver Level Mage, and no one had seen through his disguise yet, but his Deception and Disguise Skill did nothing to enhance his combat power. So, the strength he displayed was genuinely that of a Black Iron Level. Even with the help of a Fire Magic Ring, he was barely above the level of Black Iron. ¡°Where is your other companion?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been fighting for so long, and she hasn¡¯t shown up.¡± ¡°Has she already run away?¡± Ya Ma used her words to strike at Cang Xu¡¯s morale, attacking his spirit. Meanwhile, she controlled the alchemy bee swarm, driving Cang Xu and Qing Xin into hiding, a truly sorry sight. Qing Xin finally managed to prepare and released a Wind Blade Spell. The Wind Blade came flying. Ya Ma¡¯s flying ants darted out to bravely withstand the Wind Blade. This female summoner¡¯s defense was quite solid; up to now, she had not even used the magic tools she had for protection. ¡°You don¡¯t even have a magic wand.¡± ¡°You really bring shame to Mages.¡± Ya Ma taunted Qing Xin, then pulled out a snake-shaped Magic Wand. First, she infused it with mana and then tossed the snake-shaped Magic Wand outwards. Mana burst forth and transformed into wings on the wand. In an instant, the snake-shaped Magic Wand came to life and, with its mana wings, turned into a Silver Level Feathered Snake that hurtled towards Qing Xin. Qing Xin was in big trouble. For a while, she could only retreat incessantly, unable to look after Cang Xu anymore. ¡°Even if someone helps you, you¡¯re still going down by my hand.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In the end, it¡¯s because you¡¯re useless.¡± ¡°You¡¯re given a chance, yet you¡¯re still useless!¡± Ya Ma laughed out loud, full of arrogance. However, the next moment, Cang Xu suddenly looked up, his eyes now completely blood-red. He also had a small number of Devil¡¯s Coins. He was under the influence of a contract. Cang Xu let out a long howl. Countless ghosts emerged from him, causing a sudden chill to sweep across the battlefield with the rising of cold winds. ¡°Uh?!¡± Ya Ma¡¯s smile froze solid, her eyes widening, pupils shrinking ¨C she hadn¡¯t anticipated such a sudden turn of events. ¡°An, an Undead Mage?!¡± Hong Zhu and Yue Ban both inhaled sharply, slowing their attacks. Qing Xin, too, looked on with a mix of shock and confusion. Cang Xu was committed to fulfilling the contract with all his sincerity, naturally meaning he would go all out. Consequently, his identity as an Undead Mage was also revealed. The Dragon-man youth rushed over, witnessing the scene with a bitter heart. He was almost at Cang Xu¡¯s side. But it was all in vain! How could he help now? Before, when Cang Xu hadn¡¯t revealed his Undead Mage background, the Dragon-man youth could have intervened to offer assistance with some justification. But now, if he intervened, it would be totally inexplicable! After finally arriving, he found it difficult to intervene. This outcome made the Dragon-man youth feel quite helpless. Zong Ge frowned tightly, confused: ¡°Why? Cang Xu could have kept delaying; although in a tricky situation, it was not drastic enough to use Undead Magic!¡± The Dragon-man youth also saw Cang Xu¡¯s bloodshot eyes and had a thought: ¡°Something is very wrong with Cang Xu!¡± Cang Xu¡¯s blood-red eyes and continuous howls overflowed with killing intent, causing a chilling fear. His reasoning had not diminished in the least. The power of the contract had simply warped his own will. Chapter 413 - 413: Section 201: The Biggest Traitor Appears Chapter 413: Section 201: The Biggest Traitor Appears Cang Xu thought hard about how he could go all out to help the Fishmen reclaim Twin Eyes Island. ¡°For the Fishmen, the biggest obstacle is that demon energy ship flying in the sky!¡± ¡°Seizing this ship with my strength is impossible.¡± ¡°Then, what about destroying it?¡± ¡°Unless I can control the Deep Sea Monster Fish and bombard it.¡± ¡°The Deep Sea Monster Fish is also a Golden Level demon energy ship, posing a significant threat to Hun Tong¡¯s flagship.¡± ¡°However, this flagship¡¯s performance has not been fully demonstrated yet.¡± ¡°Even if I control the Deep Sea Monster Fish, I might not be able to bring it down.¡± ¡°Moreover, with Zi Di controlling the ship, and squad leaders and Zong Ge involved, they will not sit idly by.¡± Cang Xu immediately abandoned the plan to return and take control of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. He continued to think deeply, ¡°I am only at Black Iron Level, I can¡¯t do anything to Hun Tong¡¯s flagship, but against a Golden Level like Hun Tong, I pose a certain threat.¡± ¡°However, the ghosts and Undead Magic in my hands are not enough to severely damage a Golden Level.¡± ¡°Golden Level is not a suitable target, but Silver Level I can handle!¡± Dealing with the likes of Golden Level Hun Tong, Cang Xu knew he was merely at Black Iron Level and simply did not have the strength. But assassinating other Silver Level backbones of Twin Eyes Island was feasible for Cang Xu, leveraging the characteristics of the Undead Faction. Up until now, there weren¡¯t many Silver Level under Hun Tong¡¯s command anymore. The Commander of the City Guard died first. Soon after, the Zi Lin Fishman killed the Alchemist. Remaining are the Pharmacist and Cyclops, still active. ¡°Kill these two first!¡± ¡°Then consider Ku Feng and those Silver Level Lone Rangers.¡± ¡°As long as I cause a collapse among the Silver Level of the Human Race, it will inevitably affect the struggle at the Golden Level, and the Fishmen will be able to take the advantage.¡± Cang Xu¡¯s thought process was very clear, almost within a few seconds, he had made a reactionary plan. Having once been a noble¡¯s housekeeper, he was deeply knowledgeable about human nature. The Human Race was indeed powerful, and the Fishmen were completely at a disadvantage, but the Fishmen were not entirely without hope. Once the situation turned unfavorable, Lone Rangers like Ku Feng would start to waver. One person fleeing might trigger more to escape, ultimately leading to a rout. Morale was a very critical factor. Historical records showed that many battles where the few defeated the many, and the weak overcame the strong, arose in this way. If Hun Tong had half the ability to train troops that Zong Ge did, it wouldn¡¯t have reached this state. But he did not. He was very talented in business, and his combat power was adequate. His greatest trump card was his Golden Level flying demon energy ship, indeed formidable. Yet he also had flaws and weaknesses. He had run Twin Eyes Island for many years and surprisingly had not formed a combat team. His military force was small. His Silver Level subordinates were unreliable, with no one capable of sharing his burden independently. ¡°Hun Tong places too much emphasis on business development.¡± ¡°He controls the size of the military because the long-term military expenses are a huge expenditure.¡± ¡°The cost of forming a combat team is also very high.¡± ¡°He has not hired strong Silver Level members at great expense, his few Silver Levels suffice under normal circumstances.¡± ¡°Because he wants to attract pirates to Twin Eyes Island to settle their debts, he also doesn¡¯t improve his weaponry and military force drastically, at least so the pirates don¡¯t feel too threatened.¡± Cang Xu analyzed continuously in his heart. Hun Tong¡¯s weak points were his military force and its key members. Catching this weakness and attacking fiercely might offer a chance to turn the tide. Numerous ghosts revolved around Cang Xu, making him appear cold and terrifying. Ya Ma retreated further and further! In her eyes, Cang Xu was still at Silver Level. ¡°No wonder in the previous battle, he only used Fire Magic and Magic Scrolls.¡± ¡°It turns out he never used his real methods!¡± ¡°Curse it.¡± ¡°He¡¯s actually a Silver Level Undead Mage!¡± ¡°Was there any connection between him and the Undead Mage who died on Twin Eyes Island previously?¡± Ya Ma¡¯s avoidance of battle was very obvious. Cang Xu was completely free to act. He gazed far into the sea, towards the direction of the Patrol Fleet. Cyclops was the leader of the fleet. If he died, the patrol fleet¡¯s strength would suffer greatly. ¡°It¡¯s too far.¡± ¡°To fly there, I would face attacks from the flying demon energy ship.¡± ¡°Rather¡­¡± Cang Xu turned his head to look in the other direction. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Dragon-man youth, Zong Ge, Chi Lai, the Pharmacist, and the Deputy Command¡­ ¡°He¡¯s actually an Undead Mage!¡± the Pharmacist exclaimed in shock. ¡°Is he with the previous Undead Mage?¡± the Deputy Commander wondered, unsure. The two of them did not yet know that they had become targets of Cang Xu. They followed behind the Dragon-man youth, Zong Ge, and though the revelation of Cang Xu¡¯s identity had frightened them, they still felt safe. The next moment, they saw Cang Xu advancing towards them with an army of ghosts from a distance. ¡°He¡¯s attacking!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with the Dragon Lion commander here, this Undead Mage is just courting death!¡± The Deputy Commander and the Pharmacist shouted loudly, trying their best to stabilize the morale of the City Guard. The Dragon-man youth glanced at the two, then looked towards Zong Ge. Zong Ge frowned, feeling troubled. Chi Lai clenched his teeth, gearing up: ¡°Undead Mage, such a wicked being must be judged by justice!¡± On the deck of the Golden Shiny. The Fishman clan leader and Hun Tong were locked in fierce combat. The clan leader burst forth with a deadly resolve, his demeanor fierce, attacking more than defending, with wide and powerful swings. Hun Tong, on the other hand, moved frequently and with incredible agility, circling around the Fishman clan leader, mounting a series of rapid assaults. The clan leader gasped for breath. He had risked his life to board the enemy¡¯s flagship to cause damage, but Hun Tong¡¯s dense offensive forced him into a defensive counterattack strategy. Hun Tong was also tired. He excelled in assaults and had a strong offensive. Consequently, his defense was somewhat weaker. He had to attack with all his might, using his offense to limit the Fishman clan leader¡¯s assaults and protect his own flagship as much as possible. Despite this, the aftermath of their battle was borne by the flagship, and the deck was already damaged in several places. Hun Tong, pained by the damage, attacked even more fiercely. He launched a dense assault, and the Fishman clan leader, attempting to buy time for his clansmen to escape, had to defend vigorously. The situation was perilous for the clan leader, for any slight oversight, allowing Hun Tong to land a hit, would result in a severe injury. Both exerted their full strength. Thus, the encounter did not last long; both their reserves of Fighting energy dramatically plummeted, and both their physical and mental energies were severely depleted. Suddenly, Hun Tong leaped, pouncing towards the left side of the Fishman clan leader. Just as the clan leader was turning to face Hun Tong, he heard the sound of a fierce wind howling from behind. The clan leader roared, Golden Fighting Spirit flashing, and in the nick of time, it condensed into a specially made helmet covering the back of his head. Boom. Hun Tong¡¯s Alchemy Avatar¡¯s attack struck the Fighting energy helmet directly, shattering it. But its assault was neutralized. The Fishman clan leader seized the opportunity to counterattack, sending Hun Tong¡¯s avatar flying. But the next moment, Hun Tong, bowing his head, shrank his body to below one meter in an instant and slipped to the side of the clan leader. A golden dagger was about to puncture the clan leader¡¯s kidney. Chilled to the bone, the clan leader cursed silently, knowing it was too late to turn. Just as he braced himself for a severe blow, Hun Tong astonishingly tumbled aside, withdrawing his hand and distancing himself from the clan leader. ¡°Huh?!¡± the clan leader widened his eyes, his face full of astonishment. What had happened? He couldn¡¯t believe it. Could his life-long nemesis really have just spared him from a crippling blow and withdrawn voluntarily? ¡°Did I just see that wrongly?¡± the clan leader began to doubt his own eyes. But an even more surreal scene occurred next. Hun Tong, having distanced himself, stood still. His eyes were bloodshot as he said to the clan leader, ¡°Ceasefire! I can help you reclaim your homeland!¡± The clan leader was utterly stunned, seriously doubting if he was hallucinating. Not only Hun Tong¡¯s physical form, but even his Alchemy Avatar had voluntarily ceased the attack. ¡°You can kill me now, I won¡¯t resist,¡± Hun Tong said earnestly. After speaking, he tossed the golden dagger onto the deck. The clan leader blinked repeatedly, about to act, but restrained himself, suspecting it to be some trickery of the Human Race. Hun Tong continued, ¡°But killing me won¡¯t be of greatest help to you.¡± ¡°The greatest threat is my flagship, this Golden Shiny!¡± ¡°The second threat is me and others like Song Shou, Yan Ding, these Golden Level individuals.¡± ¡°Following them are all the Silver Level.¡± ¡°If you kill me, you can¡¯t take over this ship, and you¡¯ll have to face the backlash from Song Shou, Yan Ding.¡± ¡°Even if you can repel the Golden Level and drive away numerous Silver Levels and annihilate the City Guard, the Patrol Fleet, and others, how many of your clansmen will remain?¡± The clan leader put his hand to his forehead, ¡°Wait, is this¡­¡± ¡°Could this be a Devil¡¯s Coin?¡± Hun Tong was taken aback, ¡°Ah, so it¡¯s a Devil¡¯s Coin.¡± ¡°That method is really great!¡± He gave a thumbs up, sincerely admiring. Seeing his opponent admire their method so openly left the clan leader with a strange expression, a mix of joy and a trace of terror. The power of the Devil¡¯s Coin was so astonishing it could completely transform his arch-enemy! Such was the power of gods. The clan leader was also aware of the secret of the Devil¡¯s Coin. Previously, the Naga Priest had discussed it with him. Moreover, the pirate group dealing with Devil¡¯s Coins, originally from the Green Fish Coral Tribe, had close connections with them. ¡°How did the Devil¡¯s Coin end up in your hands? Nevermind, that¡¯s not essential,¡± the clan leader shook his head, ¡°How exactly can you help us?¡± Hun Tong said, ¡°I can feel this power changing my will, though it¡¯s potent, it¡¯s rapidly fading.¡± ¡°So, we must act urgently!¡± ¡°First, using the Golden Shiny, I will deal with Song Shou, Yan Ding, these Golden Level individuals, and slaughter as many of my subordinates as possible, along with people from the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corp and various Guilds, to clear obstacles for you.¡± ¡°Next, I will transfer the authority of the Golden Shiny to you.¡± ¡°Lastly, I will commit suicide. Use my head to crush the morale of the Human Race.¡± Chapter 414 - 414: Section 202: Bombardment of the Golden Shiny (Part 1) Chapter 414: Section 202: Bombardment of the Golden Shiny (Part 1) Looking at the murky pupils of Hun Tong before him, the old Fishman Clan Leader was for a moment at a loss for words. The power of the contract had activated, forcing Hun Tong to empathize with the enemy to an extreme degree. The contract¡¯s power affected those like Zi Di and Cang Xu, who tended to be neutral, to a lesser extent. But on an enemy, it was nothing short of a disaster to the person concerned! ¡°If, after this war, Hun Tong survives and the power of the contract dissipates, and he recalls that he was the greatest traitor, the root cause of defeat, might he die of shame and anger?¡± the Fishman Clan Leader couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Putting aside their status as arch-enemies, the Fishman Clan Leader actually had quite a bit of respect for Hun Tong. The old Clan Leader could also sense Hun Tong¡¯s business acumen. Twin Eyes Island fell into the hands of Hun Tong and unexpectedly unleashed such immense commercial potential, resulting in the construction of a thriving and prosperous sight. This was something the Fishman Clan Leader admitted he was incapable of achieving. ¡°You took our homeland, turned it into your foundation and domain, poured your heart and soul into building it, and in the end, you single-handedly destroyed it.¡± At this moment, the Fishman Clan Leader felt a hint of life¡¯s unpredictability and its cold indifference. He began to feel a trace of sympathy and pity for Hun Tong. ¡°Alas, who would have thought the outcome would eventually be like this.¡± When the old Clan Leader had charged onto the Golden Shiny, he envisioned himself dying in battle. Although he would have died at the hands of Hun Tong, he would have dealt his adversary a heavy blow, buying the most precious time for his own side to retreat. Before this great military expedition, the Clan Leader had imagined he would kill Hun Tong, reclaim their homeland, and avenge their past humiliation, bringing solace to his life. Who would have anticipated that Hun Tong would ultimately commit suicide? The cause of death was a pile of Gold Coins. Devil¡¯s Coins. ¡°The God of Honesty, one of the great rulers of the Abyss, is too terrifying!¡± At this moment, the old Clan Leader felt much greater reverence toward the owner of those Gold Coins. To be honest, he had not placed too much hope in this pile of Gold Coins beforehand. Because it was unreliable. The Gold Coins needed to be in the target¡¯s hands to be effective. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They could not be sneakily placed on the target; they had to be transacted. Moreover, the content of the contract had to be clarified during the trade. Neither the Fishman Clan Leader nor the Naga Priest had considered using these coins to influence Hun Tong. At that time, they did not know that the empire¡¯s spy and the local Lord Hun Tong had already joined hands. Empire spies often acted alone. One of their duties was to monitor the nobles large and small across the lands on behalf of the Royal Family. The Fishman side had only detected that there was a spy within the Vinegar Pot pirate group. After severe torture and interrogation, it was revealed that the individual was a spy for the empire. The Naga Priest had an idea¡ªto use the Devil¡¯s Coins she had been collecting for this very purpose. By pretending she hadn¡¯t noticed, she could declare the content of the contract outright during the trade process. The Naga Priest believed that the Human Race was corrupt, and the spy agency of the empire would be no exception. Most of these Gold Coins would likely be embezzled, ending up in the hands of the spy leader. The one responsible for the Twin Eyes Island region, the leader of the empire¡¯s spies, codenamed ¡°Shadow.¡± Her target was ¡°Shadow.¡± A series of accidents led to the loss of the Gold Coins. ¡°So, did Shadow actually deceive the bandit and not get the Gold Coins, but instead, they ended up in the hands of Lord Hun Tong?¡± ¡°Or perhaps, it was a secret trade between them, and the Gold Coins ultimately ended up in Hun Tong¡¯s possession.¡± ¡°But why did he carry so many Gold Coins on him?¡± The Fishman Clan Leader speculated. He guessed part of the truth but could not be sure. The whole truth exceeded the limits of his imagination and was far more complex. Hun Tong, accompanied by the Fishman Clan Leader, entered the main cannon tower together. ¡°Enemy detected entering the main cannon tower.¡± ¡°Alert, Alert!¡± ¡°Enemies have infiltrated the main cannon tower; life Energy Level detection is Golden Level!¡± The alarm was utterly useless. The Fishman Clan Leader strode in imperiously, with Captain Hun Tong welcoming the thief through the gate, unwittingly inviting the wolf into their home. Had there been a ship spirit, it would have likely been crying by now. Hun Tong rapidly took control of the Golden Shiny. Outside, numerous spinning light discs were being mobilized on a large scale. Aboard the Vinegar Pot, crew members like Thin Strips and Nail Bump were extremely tense. But in the next moment, they watched in bewilderment as the light discs flew further and further away. Hun Tong¡¯s first priority when mobilizing the spinning light discs was no doubt the Golden Level. The Naga Priestess was engaged in battle with Yan Ding. Scrape Ear and Song Shou were still clashing, having turned the dock area into an utter mess, a scene of devastation. ¡°The first salvo is the most unexpected and the most likely to yield results.¡± ¡°Can you get in touch with that Naga Priestess and Scrape Ear? If they can coordinate with the cannon fire, the impact could be astonishing!¡± ¡°The direct bombardment from the main cannon turret has already been fired¡­ twice, and you¡¯ve seen the power it wielded on Qi You.¡± At this point, Hun Tong had already seen the firing records. The first time he fired the cannon, he had aimed it at Qi You. But the second time, he was already engaged in combat with the old Fishman Clan Leader. ¡°The second shot was directed to the deep sea.¡± ¡°How strange¡­ it only killed a Fishman Silver Level Mage?¡± ¡°It turns out there was a Holy Domain Level Fishman corpse of immense value, and after the recent net cannon fire, the only choice was to let the main cannon turret fire.¡± ¡°This Fishman Mage was secretly transporting a Fishman Holy Corpse, but her Disguise Magic unexpectedly failed mid-transport.¡± ¡°So this is one of your true motives, isn¡¯t it? Was the large spell earlier cast in order to search for this holy corpse? What¡¯s so important about it?¡± Hun Tong asked. The Fishman Clan Leader¡¯s face was cold, ¡°That¡¯s not for you to worry about. Just fire the cannon quickly.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t reach them.¡± ¡°My communication device was destroyed by you earlier.¡± The Clan Leader watched Hun Tong warily. He remained vigilant. If he sensed that the contract was about to fail, he would move in for the kill and end Hun Tong¡¯s life. Devil¡¯s Coins were divine powers; Hun Tong himself couldn¡¯t resist them, but that didn¡¯t mean he had no chance of defending against them. Because the God of Honesty was not the only god in the world. He was just one of many gods. The Fishman¡¯s side could utilize the power of the gods, and so could Hun Tong. Many gods¡¯ blessings and constant Divine Arts could interfere with and undo the power of contracts. Hun Tong sighed, ¡°Please trust me. I¡¯m serious about helping you against myself, with genuine sincerity.¡± ¡°I just want to understand the reasons. That way, I can use every factor to my advantage and eliminate any potential obstacles.¡± As Hun Tong spoke, he also manipulated the controls. Multi-tasking, he truly gave it his all from the perspective of the Fishman. However, just as he was about to fire the cannon, the alarm sounded again. And the content of the alarm had changed, different from before. ¡°High-energy reaction detected on the seabed.¡± ¡°The ship has been targeted.¡± ¡°Warning, the Golden Shiny has been targeted.¡± ¡°Energy Level detection is Gold Level, 98% probability of being a Golden Level cannon.¡± ¡°The ship¡¯s defenses are currently weak. There is a 47% probability of severe damage upon receiving a cannon shot, a 50% chance of minor damage, and a 3% chance of sinking.¡± ¡°Full-speed evasion recommended, full-speed evasion recommended!¡± Hun Tong¡¯s complexion drained instantly, as his heart skipped a beat. Chapter 415 - 415: Section 203: Bombardment of the Golden Shiny (Part 2) Chapter 415: Section 203: Bombardment of the Golden Shiny (Part 2) The Golden Shiny¡¯s role was as an artillery ship. In fact, it was also an experimental demon energy ship. It utilized a concentrated light turret and a main light cannon tower, an assembly never before seen on other demon energy ships. The Holy Bright Empire had only recently developed this type of beam cannon tower. Their mode of attack was very unique, vastly different from the conventional alchemy cannons. Compared to solid alchemy bombs, the beam cannon held a very clear advantage. It was fast, with contained power, very focused. Therefore, the speed of light could pose a huge threat to high-grade life forms. Take Hun Tong, for example. The speed of the light was so fast that he couldn¡¯t react. The power of the light cannon was concentrated within a single beam, which Hun Tong failed to defend against, despite having already deployed defensive fighting skills. But a single firing of the beam cannon severely injured him! The purpose of testing the Golden Shiny and similar demon energy ships was precisely to empirically validate whether such uniquely designed demon energy ships could effectively counter high-grade life forms, posing threats, causing damage, and even delivering fatal strikes. If successful in practice, the Holy Bright Empire would mass-produce this type of demon energy ship. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From this role, it was clear: the Golden Shiny prioritized offensive capabilities. Secondly, in order to scout the enemy and accurately lock onto targets, reconnaissance capabilities also needed to be superior. Following focus on offense and reconnaissance, the third focus was on cruising speed. Alchemists had boldly designed the Golden Shiny as a flying demon energy ship! Flying demon energy ships were extremely rare! Demon energy ships were generally equipped with numerous cannons. After all, artillery warfare was a major theme in naval combat. A ship without hundreds of cannons would hardly dare to leave the dock. But these cannons were often very heavy, and while some alchemy cannons were very powerful, their weight was also quite formidable. If the material of the cannon were poor, it could easily explode, posing a great threat to the ship itself. Additionally, the weight of each solid bomb should not be underestimated. The quantity of solid bombs in an ammunition depot was typically in the thousands. Having fewer than a thousand was considered insufficient ammo storage. The combined weight of the cannons and bombs added up to a staggering figure. Such weight made designing a flying demon energy ship challenging. However, the concentrated light turret did not have this problem. It fired beam bombs, which had no physical form. The weight of the turret itself was far lighter than a group of cannons. Since it had such a significant advantage, it would have been a great loss not to design the Golden Shiny as a flying-type demon energy ship. The ability to fly was extremely valuable. Most armies did not possess the capability to fly. Once the Golden Shiny entered the scene, Fishmen and pirates could only take hits. The cannons on either side of the ship could hardly raise their muzzles high enough to aim at the Golden Shiny. At least a Golden Level fighter could fly. In reality, only a few Golden Level fighters mastered the Flying Combat Technique. Spellcasters could fly. Fighters equipped with certain special artifacts could also fly. However, in the process of flying towards the Golden Shiny, they would face bombardment from the beam cannons. Flying had another advantage. It significantly aided in increasing cruising speed. The reason was simple¡ªthe resistance of air was much less than the resistance of water waves. Because it could fly, the Golden Shiny¡¯s cruising speed was very fast, far surpassing that of other demon energy ships of the same class. After cruising speed came defensive capabilities. The Golden Shiny¡¯s defensive performance was relatively weak. Since the focus was on offense, reconnaissance, and cruising speed, other aspects, including defense, inevitably became weak points. On the other hand, the design for flight also limited the improvement of defensive capabilities. Because the physical armor was too heavy, installing it greatly reduced the ship¡¯s speed and flight altitude. There were indeed excellent materials that could construct a ship¡¯s hull that was both lightweight and defensively robust. But doing so was not cost-effective. That brought us to another major advantage of the Golden Shiny¡ª Cost! The Holy Bright Empire developed these demon energy ships to serve the expeditions to the Wilderness Continent, protecting the long maritime transport routes. The Empire was powerful and did not worry about large-scale battles. They were confident in head-to-head confrontations. What concerned them were enemy skirmishers, who continuously launched guerilla attacks, disrupting the maritime transport routes. If the enemy adopted such tactics, it would be very difficult for the Holy Bright Empire to defend, and the protection cost was extremely high. They had to deploy numerous powerful fighters to station at each node to ensure a certain level of security. Thus, developing a demon energy ship like the Golden Shiny to protect the fleet, scout the seas, and counter the enemy¡¯s strong guerilla attacks was a very worthwhile attempt. Once successfully implemented, the Empire would mass-produce the Golden Shiny. And for mass production, the main consideration was cost! The cost of the concentrated beam towers was minimal, having achieved mass production. When the Golden Shiny adopted these beam towers, it had already set a major tone for cost control. So, those lightweight yet tenacious defense materials were basically out of consideration. They were nearly all expensive. It is worth mentioning that the design of the Golden Shiny was exceptionally outstanding, compensating greatly for its weak defensive capabilities with a Golden Treasure. That was the Spinning Light Disc! The designers specifically engineered this component. Normally, the light disc attached to the ship¡¯s body, like a Dragon Scale covering, providing substantial defensive power. It not only offered protection against physical impacts but also reflected and dispersed pure energy attacks to an extent. The Spinning Light Disc could be used for offense as well as defense. During an attack, these discs would fly out, circling in the air, able to disperse incoming beam cannon shots and form precise wide-range attacks. Overall, the Golden Shiny was a magical flying ship with high offense and low defense. Hun Tong kept it a secret until the late stages of the war for this reason. And to precisely strike those pirate boats and intercept the treasures of Twin Eyes Island, Hun Tong directly released the flying discs. The net of light beams created by the cannons stunned both friends and foes, achieving tremendous results. But now a problem emerged! Suddenly facing the bombardment of Golden Level cannons, Hun Tong had no time to retrieve those Spinning Light Discs. Hearing the alarm, the Fishman Clan Leader was even more anxious than him, ¡°Quick, dodge, dodge it!¡± Hun Tong had previously stated that he would hand over this flying demon energy ship to the Fishman Clan Leader. Could the Fishman Clan Leader not be anxious? But being anxious now was already too late. The next moment, the giant Fishman in the deep sea fired. Golden Level Arc Gun! Golden Level Python Flow Bomb! Thick currents shot straight into the sky. In an instant, the world lost its color. A terrifying column of electricity left a scorching streak across everyone¡¯s retinas. Boom! Even though the Golden Shiny tried its best to dodge, it was still hit. A chunk of the hull, as large as a house, was detached from the main body. A concentrated beam tower completely collapsed. Flames burst forth. Under the stunned gaze of onlookers, the Golden Shiny tilted from high in the sky, dragging a trail of black smoke, and plunged headfirst into the sea. Chapter 416 - 416: Section 204: The Cloud Ball Rises Again Chapter 416: Section 204: The Cloud Ball Rises Again ¡°Warning, the vessel is 1200 meters from the sea surface.¡± ¡°Warning, the vessel is 1000 meters from the sea surface.¡± ¡°Warning, the vessel is 800 meters from the sea surface.¡± ¡­ Aboard the Golden Shiny, alarms resounded non-stop, exceptionally urgent. The old Fishman Clan Leader gripped the facilities nearby, steadying himself in the swaying main tower, and said to Hun Tong, ¡°Think of something fast!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, we have emergency measures on board!¡± shouted Hun Tong. His balancing ability was much stronger than that of the old Fishman Clan Leader. No matter how violently the ship shook or tilted, Hun Tong stood before the ship¡¯s helm, his feet nailed to the ground like iron spikes. He was already using his spirit to activate a certain ability of the Golden Shiny. The next moment, the deck of the Golden Shiny deformed in two places, forming voids. From the voids, two balloons were ejected. These balloons were made of special materials, their surfaces appearing as if they had been painted with a layer of gold. Both balloons were originally a jumbled mass, very small in size. But upon being launched, they inflated ferociously, expanding violently, soon looking like two white clouds covering the sky above the Golden Shiny. Many chains connected the two ¡°white clouds¡± to the body of the ship. The ¡°white clouds¡± brought tremendous buoyancy. The Golden Shiny¡¯s rate of descent reduced dramatically. Soon, it was floating in midair again. ¡°500 meters from the sea surface.¡± The alarm ceased. ¡°These are air balloons, Silver Level components, but very practical,¡± explained Hun Tong to the old Fishman Clan Leader. After stabilizing the ship¡¯s body, he activated the propulsion components on board the Golden Shiny. The Golden Shiny, having plummeted violently for a distance, once again ascended slowly under everyone¡¯s gaze. Inside the Light Beacon main tower, Hun Tong also apologized to the old Fishman Clan Leader, ¡°My skills in piloting are very low, only able to perform basic maneuvers. I can¡¯t directly propel the ship in extreme tilts and shakes without risking loss of control.¡± ¡°The ship¡¯s damage assessment is minor.¡± ¡°But repairing it is going to be troublesome. Twin Eyes Island simply doesn¡¯t have that capability.¡± ¡°In fact, most dockyards and Alchemy Workshops can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°This is an experimental demon energy ship of the Empire,¡± Hun Tong said while wiping sweat from his brow. The old Fishman Clan Leader urged him, ¡°Enough with the nonsense, check who the enemy is! If we¡¯re attacked like before, can you pilot the flagship to evade?¡± ¡°I can only do my best!¡± Hun Tong replied with an unpleasant complexion. Before the old Clan Leader urged him, he had already started the search. With the aid of his spirit, a Magic Image was displayed on the wall. The image showed the moment when the Deep Sea Monster Fish fired from below the sea at the Golden Shiny. Seeing the true villain, Hun Tong and the old Clan Leader frowned. ¡°A Golden Level Magic Beast?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a giant Fishman. A mixed-blood of Fishmen and giants, usually low in intelligence.¡± ¡°What was the method he used just now to shoot electricity from his mouth?¡± ¡°Perhaps the Bloodline of a Lightning Titan?¡± The two Golden Levels made continuous guesses. They failed to recognize that the real identity of the Deep Sea Monster Fish was an Alchemy demon energy ship. They had been deceived by the Deception Array. Even with the Golden Shiny¡¯s superior scouting abilities, it identified the Deep Sea Monster Fish as a giant Magic Beast similar to the Fishman. Such was the appearance the War Merchants had intended to display to others. Having identified the true culprit, Hun Tong showed a hesitant expression, ¡°It¡¯s still at the bottom of the sea.¡± ¡°Now the question is, is it your trump card?¡± Hun Tong looked at the old Fishman Clan Leader and asked the critical question. The old Clan Leader hesitated and then shook his head, telling the truth, ¡°I¡¯m not very clear.¡± It was normal for the Naga Priests and the Teal Coral Fishman Tribe to be in a cooperative relationship but not know each other¡¯s true strengths. In terms of status, the Naga Priests¡¯ group was even above the Fishman Tribe. The old Clan Leader had hidden one of his real intentions from the Naga Priests. Based on deception, he had successfully rescued his own daughter. He thought to himself: It was completely understandable for the Naga Priests to conceal this trump card from the Fishman Tribe. ¡°If the Communication Device wasn¡¯t broken, I could have made direct contact with the priest,¡± the old Fishman Clan Leader sighed. That way, he couldn¡¯t immediately verify it. Lacking a communication device was indeed very inconvenient. Hun Tong looked annoyed and guilty, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. When I saw you had the Communication Device, I specifically caused it to be disabled first.¡± ¡°Actually, without contacting, we can guess that this giant Fishman is very likely a force of the Naga Priests.¡± The old Fishman Clan Leader nodded, finding the guess quite credible. Judging merely from the appearance of the giant Fishman, it was clear that it had a close connection with the Fishman race. It had struck the Golden Shiny just moments ago, clearly siding with the Fishmen against Hun Tong. Actions spoke louder than words! Hun Tong went even further, ¡°If I can lay the Golden Shiny low, why can¡¯t the Naga Priests do the same?¡± ¡°She has more patience than me in that regard.¡± ¡°That the Golden Shiny would suffer such an attack is also my strategic failure.¡± After making such judgments, they both gave up on striking back at the Deep Sea Monster Fish. The Fishman Clan Leader definitely wouldn¡¯t attack his own people. Hun Tong, because of the contract¡¯s influence, was even more sincere. Since he had analyzed that the giant Fishman was ¡°one of their own,¡± how could Hun Tong ¡°consume their own resources¡±? He had to expend all his efforts to help the Fishman reclaim Twin Eyes Island! ¡°There¡¯s some bad news I have to tell you, my body has been warded with Divine Arts.¡± ¡°The power of the Divine Arts was triggered when the flagship fell just now, and the influence of the contract is rapidly weakening.¡± ¡°We must hurry!¡± Hun Tong said gravely to the Fishman Clan Leader. In this world, there are all sorts of Spells. There are not a few means that can influence the will. Those who hold high positions often wear corresponding Defensive Equipment, or directly ward themselves with Constant Spells or Divine Arts to protect themselves. Hun Tong was no exception. It¡¯s just that, the power from the Devil¡¯s Coin was a bit unconventional. Previously, the power of the Divine Arts had not reacted. But as the time Hun Tong was influenced stretched on, the Divine Arts were finally activated. The complexion of the Fishman Clan Leader changed slightly, and he immediately asked, ¡°How much time do we have to carry out all the plans you¡¯ve proposed?¡± Hun Tong shook his head, his face filled with bitterness, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, I¡¯m not a priest, let alone a Spellcaster! I have no experience with this kind of Divine Arts confrontation and consumption.¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible that it will continue at this speed until the end.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also possible that once the power of the contract is consumed to a certain extent, it will lead to a collapse, and the speed will surge.¡± ¡°Or it¡¯s possible that my Divine Arts power will be exhausted, and the rate of consumption of the contract¡¯s power will continually decrease.¡± Upon hearing this, the Fishman Clan Leader faced a dilemma. He and Hun Tong were both fighters. Hun Tong didn¡¯t have clarity; neither did the Fishman Clan Leader. After pondering for a moment, the Clan Leader said, ¡°Start with targeting the Golden Level first!¡± He had considered other strategies. Such as leaving the Golden Shiny and meeting with the Naga Priest, informing her of the situation. And having her order to stop the giant Fishman from continuing to attack the Golden Shiny, and instead to work together to try to severely damage the Human Race¡¯s power. The Fishman Clan Leader was not at all worried about proving credible to the Naga Priest. That pile of Devil¡¯s Coins came from the Naga Priest in the first place. But by doing so, the delay would be too long. Even during this time, the giant Fishman from the deep sea might launch a second attack. What¡¯s more crucial is that the Fishman Clan Leader was not reassured about Hun Tong¡¯s state. What if, soon after he left, he became entangled and was unable to return quickly? What if, during that time, Hun Tong experienced the end of the contract¡¯s influence? The Clan Leader had many concerns. He also thought of another point: ¡°Once we begin bombarding the Golden Level, whether or not we can kill the target, it will undoubtedly cause a violent reaction. It¡¯s very likely we¡¯ll suffer a ship assault from the Golden Level.¡± This is what he had done before. Using magic-like abilities of the ice continent whales, he had successfully attacked and boarded the deck of the Golden Shiny. ¡°If a Golden Level attacks the ship, and I am still on board this ship, I could also assist Hun Tong¡¯s Alchemy Avatar in an ambush.¡± ¡°Perhaps, we could severely injure the attackers, or even kill them!¡± ¡°At the least, it would ensure that Hun Tong is not disturbed, allowing him to fully unleash the destructive power of this demon energy-powered flying ship!¡± The Fishman Clan Leader, a man of high position and prudent nature, after careful consideration, chose a cautious plan. His gaze was constantly fixed on Hun Tong. ¡°If something goes wrong with Hun Tong, I have to make a decisive move!¡± ¡°By no means can I allow him to recover and take control of the Golden Shiny to slaughter my people widely.¡± ¡°But also, I need to strike carefully, not too hastily.¡± ¡°The specific content of the contract is: to assist the Fishman side in reclaiming Twin Eyes Island.¡± ¡°Under the influence of the Devil¡¯s Coins, the contents of the contract are his true guiding principles.¡± ¡°If I move against him too soon, the moment he determines: surviving is more beneficial for the Fishman reclaiming the island, he will still strike at me, and engage me in battle.¡± ¡°Because he can control the Golden Shiny, the impact of this demon energy ship on the overall battle situation is much greater than mine as a Golden Level fighter!¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Clan Leader was not an impulsive young Fishman; he was of great age, having led the tribe for many years. His tumultuous life experience had endowed him with abundant wisdom. Despite the development and changes being so sudden and strange. But in this short time, he had adapted to the situation and, after thorough consideration, had taken the most advantageous strategic decision for his side. ¡°After the cannon fire, I hope the priest can understand the Mutation of Hun Tong.¡± ¡°Thus, stopping the giant Fishman from attacking the Golden Shiny!¡± The Clan Leader, helpless to do much himself, could only hope for the tacit cooperation of his allies. ¡°Rise, rise up again!¡± ¡°Our ship hasn¡¯t crashed!¡± ¡°Victory will eventually be ours.¡± The Human Race warriors, seeing the Golden Shiny return to the skies, cheered one after another. The previous scene had frightened many of them so much that their hearts had skipped a beat. Now their spirits were uplifted, their morale stabilized and maintained at a high. In contrast, the vast majority of Fishman faces were ashen. The silhouette of the Golden Shiny in the sky exerted tremendous psychological pressure on them. None of them wanted to experience the previous bombardment again. The vast majority of them had no way to strike at the Golden Shiny; when faced with the beam cannon, they were resigned to just being passively hit. Among the two sides, those who should be happy weren¡¯t, and those who shouldn¡¯t be were excited. In this ironic and laughable situation, the beam cannon of the main gun turret fired once more! Chapter 417 - 417: Section 205: Best Artillery Performance Chapter 417: Section 205: Best Artillery Performance Fire the main beam cannon! Boom! A thick beam of light shot directly towards the dock. On the battlefield at the dock, Song Shou and Ear Scratcher, both Golden Level warriors, were entangled in combat. The beam traveled extremely fast, and even though the two were prepared, they still couldn¡¯t react in time. Ear Scratcher had already readied his Defensive Fighting Skills, but by the time he realized the beam was coming, it was too late. All he could do was grit his teeth and brace himself. But the incandescent beam brushed past him, targeting Song Shou instead. Song Shou couldn¡¯t react in time either, but he had also prepared his Defensive Fighting Skills and had a special maneuverability Combat Skill. Combat Skill¡ªGrass Movement! When the wind blew, the grass moved. The fighter who created this Combat Skill had a clever mindset. The principle of Grass Movement was: when a massive attack approached, the user would follow the momentum, moving and dodging instinctively. If they couldn¡¯t dodge, the attack landing on the fighter would disperse some of the force. This action of dodging wasn¡¯t under the fighter¡¯s conscious control, but rather it was a direct reaction to external pressure, like a blade of grass bending under the wind. The attack unleashed by the main beam cannon pack was immensely powerful. For Song Shou, at the moment of the cannon strike, it was like a fierce wind had risen. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The beam targeted him, his mind couldn¡¯t keep up, but the Grass Movement Combat Skill allowed his body to act first, blowing him out of the way. The next moment, where he had just been standing, was now a deep crater created by the beam cannon. ¡°The incandescent beam missed!¡± Hun Tong, the old Fishman Clan Leader, were greatly shaken. The first two times, the main beam cannon had hit its target solidly, but the third time, it returned without success. ¡°What happened?¡± Ear Scratcher, shaken by the cannon, was incredulous, ¡°Did it miss?¡± He thought he was about to be hit and severely injured. Instead, the beam cannon shot towards Song Shou. But Song Shou wasn¡¯t hit. Ear Scratcher looked towards Song Shou, his wariness apparent. ¡°The beam targeted him.¡± ¡°But at such a short distance, it still missed.¡± ¡°Song Shou¡¯s reaction is too fast!¡± ¡°He actually managed to dodge?!¡± Ear Scratcher squinted, realizing in that moment a truth. That was: though he seemed to have the upper hand, pressing Song Shou hard, Song Shou hadn¡¯t used his full strength. ¡°This guy still had a trick up his sleeve!¡± Song Shou had been conserving his energy. Out of full strength, he had only used eight or nine parts, always keeping back one or two. After all, this wasn¡¯t his territory. However, Song Shou¡¯s face looked grim. ¡°That cannon just now¡ªwas it targeting me?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°What does Hun Tong want to do? What has happened on his side?¡± Inside the main beam cannon tower. Hun Tong sighed, ¡°We didn¡¯t hit Song Shou!¡± ¡°Before, we could hit Qi You because the first attack by the Golden Shiny had the element of surprise. I also distracted Qi You¡¯s attention.¡± ¡°If we could have a Golden Level cooperate with our firing, the hit rate would significantly improve.¡± The old Clan Leader also felt regretful: ¡°His Combat Skill is quite unusual, it seems not to be actively controlled.¡± ¡°At such a close range, least of all could I dodge.¡± Elsewhere, Yan Ding and the Naga Priest noticed this odd scene. ¡°How could this flying demon energy ship be firing at their own people?¡± the Naga Priest wondered. ¡°Is it because the ship is unstable, so it missed? Or was it previously hit, causing damage to the cannon?¡± Yan Ding also had his doubts. ¡°Who should we shoot next? Continue with Song Shou, or switch to Yan Ding?¡± the old Fishman Clan Leader suppressed his disappointment but grew even more anxious. Because he knew such opportunities were too rare! He rapidly thought. ¡°Qi You was severely injured and hid in his flagship, not showing up again. He¡¯s a pirate and not the primary target.¡± ¡°Song Shou was startled, his Combat Skill seems to let him dodge the beam cannon. Shooting him again, the hit rate would be even lower.¡± ¡°Yan Ding¡­ he hasn¡¯t shown any explosive movement Combat Skill so far. But he has also used Defensive Fighting Skills, and most crucially, he can fly!¡± ¡°He poses a greater threat to the Golden Shiny.¡± ¡°He must be ¡®Shadow,¡¯ the leader of the spy agency. If he¡¯s shot down, the adverse impact would be more than just losing a Golden Level.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s give him a taste of our power.¡± ¡°Even if we don¡¯t kill him, just the firing will let the Priest understand the anomalies on the Golden Shiny. She should be able to connect it to Devil¡¯s Gold Coin, which has already taken effect on Hun Tong!¡± Thinking this, the old Fishman Clan Leader directly told Hun Tong, ¡°Shoot Yan Ding!¡± Hun Tong nodded, but then shook his head, ¡°It will take some time before the beam cannon can fire again.¡± ¡°The alchemy components inside need to cool down and can¡¯t fire continuously.¡± The old Clan Leader paused. He recalled. Indeed, each attack from the main beam cannon tower had intervals. They had never fired consecutively. Hun Tong said, ¡°We can now perform a Light Net firing.¡± ¡°The firing ports for the Light Net are actually on the sides of the ship at the Light Cannon towers, and their alchemy components have cooled down,¡± Hun Tong sought advice from the old Fishman Clan Leader. Regardless of how they attacked, there were risks, and Hun Tong couldn¡¯t discern which option was more advantageous. The old Fishman Clan Leader¡¯s heart pounded. Faced with this question, he was even more nervous than when he had just battled Hun Tong. Deep down, he had a strong premonition. This cannon strike could likely determine the outcome of this war! ¡°Shooting at a Golden Level might miss.¡± ¡°Even if we hit, we might not kill!¡± ¡°And we can¡¯t fire immediately now.¡± ¡°The beam cannon attack can cover a wide range, but it¡¯s less of a threat to the Golden Level.¡± ¡°Regardless of the choice, after this cannon fire, everyone will understand the incident on the Golden Shiny.¡± ¡°When the Human Race retaliates, the Golden Level will be the biggest threat to us.¡± ¡­ The old Fishman Clan Leader felt his head heating up from all the thinking. The more he thought, the more confused he became. Various thoughts intertwined, becoming increasingly complicated. In general, shooting at the Golden Level required waiting time and the accuracy was low. However, once they could severely damage an enemy at the Golden Level, the advantage gained would be significant. For the beam cannon attack, no waiting was needed and the accuracy was high, but even if they hit the Golden Level, it was difficult to inflict severe damage. ¡°Quick, make a decision!¡± ¡°The longer we delay, the fewer opportunities we have.¡± The old Fishman Clan Leader understood the urgency and knew he had to act fast. During this difficult decision, a person¡¯s character can have a huge impact. The old Fishman Clan Leader finally ordered in a low voice, ¡°Use the beam attack, Hun Tong.¡± Based on his character, he ultimately didn¡¯t gamble, instead choosing the most secure method of attack. The disk hovered in mid-air. Boom. The central tower of concentrated light shook slightly, emitting a massive stream of light. The light spread into the remaining four towers, originally there were five, but one had already collapsed due to the attack by the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Four beams of light shot out and hit the nearest spinning disk, immediately scattering, scattering and scattering again. Quickly, a net of light formed in the air. At the ends of the light net, there were thousands of beams. The beams hit the bodies of the Human Race warriors, slaughtering countless! Hun Tong did not forget to ¡°take care¡± of Song Shou and Yan Ding. The two Golden Level figures dodged continuously, looking quite embarrassed. But Hun Tong¡¯s focus this time was on the Silver Level. The squad leader of the Bandage Team was caught off guard, hit twice simultaneously, and fell dead on the spot! ¡°Squad leader, the squad leader has been killed!¡± cried the members of the Bandage Team, their morale immediately on the verge of collapse. The Bandage Team leader never expected the beam would target him. He was caught off guard. He died. On the flagship of the Guild, there were also cries of woe. Guild representatives dead or wounded. A preliminary estimate revealed that at least three Silver Level Trade Union Representatives were killed! On the island battlefield, the Pharmacist was hit by a beam in the thigh, his right thigh disappearing under the beam, leaving only his right lower leg standing on the ground. The Pharmacist fell to the ground, clutching the root of his thigh, emitting a heart-wrenching scream. The Human Race soldiers generally suffered, and the Patrol Fleet was in complete disarray. The attack by Golden Shiny was incredibly deceptive. How could the Human Race expect that their ace would suddenly turn into the enemy¡¯s firepower! Many, seeing the spinning disk over their heads, didn¡¯t mind it. They became sitting ducks. Hun Tong¡¯s attack achieved an astoundingly high result! A battle achievement unprecedented. Watching from above, one could see hundreds of blank spots appear in the Human Race¡¯s lines before and after the attack. Ironically, Hun Tong¡¯s best battle achievement wasn¡¯t created on the enemy¡¯s side but had instead decimated their own warriors. This backstabbing was too vicious! ¡°Why?¡± many asked, their faces ashen. ¡°No, this can¡¯t be real!¡± others cried, holding their heads, unable to accept the reality. ¡°What the hell is going on, was our Lord controlled by someone?¡± the powerful ones exclaimed in horror, looking up while frowning. They noticed something extremely amiss¡ª The encounter between the old Clan Leader and Hun Tong had long since ceased any action. With the previous hit on Golden Shiny, which had started to descend toward the sea surface, distracting everyone, no one remembered this detail. The eyes of the Naga Priest sparkled with insight; she immediately guessed the truth, ¡°It must be the Devil¡¯s Gold Coin. Unexpectedly, the biggest payoff ended up in Hun Tong¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°This¡­ is truly fantastic!¡± This was the greatest surprise for the Fishman side since the start of the war. The situation dramatically turned from that point. The scales of victory tilted sharply towards the Fishman side! Song Shou instinctively retreated, quickly pulling back to the edge of the dock battlefield. Yan Ding also abandoned his old opponent, the Naga Priest. Supported by a rich black fog, he hurriedly flew towards the Golden Shiny. The old Fishman Clan Leader¡¯s pre-battle judgment was correct. The Naga Priest regained her freedom. She didn¡¯t immediately fly to the Golden Shiny to help defend with the old Fishman Clan Leader. Instead, she headed toward the Deep Sea Monster Fish. This campaign against Twin Eyes Island was a mission heavy with responsibility for her. From the beginning to the end, she never forgot what her main objective was. The cannon fire from the Golden Shiny also stunned Zi Di. She had thought she would face retaliation from the Golden Shiny. She had been prepared for that. But it didn¡¯t happen. ¡°So, I can continue bombarding it?¡± ¡°But why would it help the Fishman?¡± Chapter 418 - 418: Section 206: Divine Envoy! Chapter 418: Section 206: Divine Envoy! Zi Di and the old Fishman Clan Leader were different. The old Fishman Clan Leader knew about the Devil¡¯s Coin affair, so he easily guessed the answer. But Zi Di was not aware of it. ¡°Why did Hun Tong¡¯s flagship suddenly turn its guns, aiming at its own people?¡± Zi Di couldn¡¯t figure it out for a moment. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± ¡°My will has been tampered with. Could it be that Hun Tong is the same?¡± Although Zi Di sincerely considered the Fishmen and was determined to help them retake Twin Eyes Island, she did not lose an ounce of rationality. She also understood her true state and was not deceived. ¡°Hun Tong¡¯s condition is very likely the same as mine. Not just him but also Cang Xu!¡± Zi Di cast her gaze towards a Magic Image. In this Magic Image, Cang Xu was clashing with the Dragon-man youth, Zong Ge, and others. The Dragon-man youth, Zong Ge, saw that something was off with Cang Xu and naturally didn¡¯t strike to kill but made a great show of force on the surface. The real threat to Cang Xu was Chi Lai. However, Chi Lai¡¯s state was not good¡ªhe didn¡¯t have a single decent piece of equipment. After the previous cannon fire and battle, his Fighting energy reserves were also low. More crucially, the Dragon-man youth, Zong Ge, were creating ¡°cooperation mishaps¡± that slowed and hindered Chi Lai¡¯s offense. Chi Lai didn¡¯t suspect anything, being dragged down by the others. After all, it was his first time fighting alongside Long Fu and Lion Flag, so it was normal for their coordination to be off. Their performance was all within Cang Xu¡¯s expectations. It was precisely because of such ¡°care¡± that Cang Xu had the energy to deal with the Pharmacist and the City Guard Deputy Commander. The Pharmacist was distracted by a sky full of ghosts, which was why he was hit by the beam cannon and lost a leg. Zi Di withdrew her gaze from Cang Xu and quickly scanned the other Magic Images. ¡°If Hun Tong sides with the Fishmen, then on the Golden Level side, the Fishmen have a clear advantage.¡± ¡°The recent cannon fire eliminated a large number of the Human Race¡¯s Silver Level. More than half of their core strength was obliterated!¡± ¡°If Cang Xu is also affected, then the remaining obstacles are the squad leader, Zong Ge, and others.¡± ¡°My recent voluntary firing on the flying demon energy ship and Cang Xu¡¯s condition must have made them suspicious.¡± ¡°Next, it¡¯s highly likely that they will capture Cang Xu, trying to return to the Deep Sea Monster Fish to verify my status.¡± ¡°This won¡¯t do.¡± Zi Di wholeheartedly helped the Fishmen. If the Dragon-man youth and others acted this way, it would surely cause serious interference to her. ¡°The old Fishman Clan Leader had a fierce battle with Hun Tong before, but now there¡¯s no activity on the flying demon energy ship.¡± ¡°In a short time, it¡¯s improbable that the old Fishman Clan Leader, being Golden Level, was killed.¡± ¡°Therefore, it¡¯s very likely that my condition is the work of the Fishmen.¡± ¡°The old Fishman Clan Leader and Hun Tong have already started to cooperate!¡± Having analyzed thus far, Zi Di understood what she needed to do next. ¡°Although I don¡¯t understand how I was affected, meeting with the higher-ups of the Fishmen is a very likely way to gain their trust.¡± Since the flying demon energy ship had already turned to the Fishmen¡¯s side, Zi Di would no longer fire at it. ¡°First, go meet with the Naga Priest.¡± ¡°The Fishmen¡¯s influence on me is rapidly fading.¡± ¡°After finding the Naga Priest, transfer authority to her as soon as possible!¡± ¡°With the Deep Sea Monster Fish on the Fishmen¡¯s side, they will definitely be better able to help them retake Twin Eyes Island.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°At the same time, with a Golden Level by my side, I could also deal with the incoming squad leader, Zong Ge, and other Silver Level, as well as myself returning to the original state!¡± ¡°I can tell the Naga Priest all the secrets of Mysterious Monster Island.¡± ¡°This way, she can blackmail me and the other survivors with the secrets.¡± ¡°In this situation, all the survivors can become a force for the Fishmen!¡± Thinking this, Zi Di already knew what she most needed to do. She was a Mage, collecting a large amount of timely intelligence through the Deep Sea Monster Fish. After wise analysis, she had many new judgments. On this new basis, she changed her previous plan and decided to try and meet with the Naga Priest. Of course, before she left, she controlled the Deep Sea Monster Fish to capture the Holy Corpse. The ¡°giant Fishman¡± opened its mouth, temporarily holding the Holy Corpse in its mouth, then swiftly swam towards the Naga Priest. Meanwhile, the Naga Priest immediately guessed the answer after seeing Hun Tong¡¯s cannon fire on the Human Race. Yan Ding hurriedly gave up on the Naga Priest, rushing towards the Golden Shiny. The Naga Priest, concerned about the Holy Corpse, didn¡¯t bother with Yan Ding and shot through the water like an arrow leaving the bow, swiftly swimming towards the location where the slain Zi Lin Fishman lay. She used the scouting Divine Art, the Acceleration Divine Skill. Then, she saw the Fishman Form of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. At that moment, the Naga Priest¡¯s heart shook violently, and she cried out, ¡°Divine Envoy?!¡± The Naga Priest¡¯s emotional change was clearly displayed in the Magic Image. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Her expression seems strange,¡± thought Zi Di, puzzled. Her action didn¡¯t stop, and she controlled the Deep Sea Monster Fish to confront the Naga Priest. ¡°Priest,¡± Zi Di spoke. ¡°Praise the Divine Envoy!¡± The Naga Priest looked up at the giant Fishman, bowing devoutly. ¡°???¡± Zi Di was full of confusion, seemingly mistaken by the Naga Priest for something else. She was about to continue speaking when her expression suddenly changed drastically. Because at that moment, the contract power on her body suddenly collapsed, dissipating rapidly! Zi Di returned to normal. Chapter 419 - 419: Section 207: Fooling the Priest Chapter 419: Section 207: Fooling the Priest The survivors had snatched all the Devil¡¯s Coins, but most of them were used up at the auction. Only a few Devil¡¯s Coins remained, which were then evenly split between Zi Di and Cang Xu. Among them, the amount Zi Di had was even lesser. Therefore, Zi Di was the first to recover to normal. She also figured out the details of how the contractual power worked: originally, during the period the contract was in effect, its power was diminishing constantly, but the rate of decay remained at an average level. Until the final moment, it would collapse suddenly, plummeting to zero. This also caused Zi Di¡¯s misjudgment. Had she known it worked this way, the strategy she would have taken would have been different. Zi Di returned to normal. At this instant, she was stunned in place. Her will being restored to its original state, a powerful and complex torrent of emotions swept over her like a vast tide. Fear. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I did this, unimaginable methods, how did I fall for it?¡± Relief. ¡°Thank goodness, the power of the contract dissipated, and I did not transfer the Deep Sea Monster Fish.¡± Self-blame. ¡°My actions put everyone in danger. We were just one step away from having our secret exposed.¡± Alertness and tension. ¡°The Naga Priest is right before my eyes, what to do?¡± She was a Golden Level Spellcaster. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While the Deep Sea Monster Fish was merely a ship powered by demon energy at the Golden Level. If there had been some distance between them, there would have been room to maneuver. But now, they were almost face to face, the proximity too close. The Naga Priest could definitely break through the defenses, and with a pin-point attack, breach into the cabins of the Deep Sea Monster Fish. And on the ship, there was not a single Golden Level guardian, not even a Silver Level one. No, to be accurate, there was one at the Silver Level. That was the ghost Lan Lu. In life, he was a Silver Level Two-headed Ogre Mage. After death, he became a Silver Level Undead Mage. But Lan Lu had been injured in the ambush attack on the skinny one. His condition had been poor ever since, and without a Soul Crystal, recovery was difficult. Even if Lan Lu were whole, he was no match for the Naga Priest. Zi Di had no confidence in having him confront a Golden Level. ¡°We can¡¯t let her see any flaws! Otherwise, the Deep Sea Monster Fish may well change hands.¡± ¡°Fortunately, she mistook my identity.¡± ¡°No, she shouldn¡¯t have!¡± ¡°Deception and Disguise Skill, she didn¡¯t see through it, always mistaking the Deep Sea Monster Fish for a living being, for a giant Fishman. But giant Fishmen are rare.¡± ¡°At the same time, with such distinct characteristics, it¡¯s almost impossible for the Naga Priest to mistake it.¡± ¡°Does that mean there actually exists such an image of a Fishman Divine Envoy?¡± Zi Di¡¯s mind raced, guessing part of the truth. Her eyes sparkled with insight, ¡°It¡¯s likely that the War Merchant who constructed the Deep Sea Monster Fish intentionally designed it with this image in mind.¡± ¡°The War Merchant is a goblin, not of the Human Race, and even in opposition to the Empire. He¡¯s a big arms manufacturer and smuggler, so why design it with this image?¡± ¡°Could it be that he¡¯s been dealing arms to the Fishmen, or does he have some deceitful scheme to impersonate a Fishman Divine Envoy, to achieve some unspeakable purpose?¡± Zi Di¡¯s thoughts branched out, thinking more and more. Seeing the Fishman Divine Envoy fall silent, the Naga Priest asked, ¡°Divine Envoy, have you already acquired the Holy Corpse?¡± Zi Di was startled, her train of thought interrupted. However, this question brought her some hints. She had already speculated about the sudden appearance of the Zi Lin Fishman and the situation with the sea-level corpse. Now with the Naga Priest asking like this, Zi Di felt even more convinced: this must be one of the main objectives from the Fishmen¡¯s side. Zi Di was just about to admit that the sea-level corpse was in her hands. But after a thought, she felt it was not appropriate. In case the other party asked for it, she was unwilling to hand over the Holy Corpse. It was incredibly valuable. Not something one could easily purchase in the market. For example, Twin Eyes Island¡¯s most recent auction was the largest scale ever, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of Holy Domain Level material. The Holy Domain Level was above the Golden Level, and even if fallen, it wasn¡¯t something the survivors could get their hands on. ¡°And just blurting it out could also become a weakness.¡± Zi Di took a deep breath, deliberately using a calm tone, ¡°You need not worry, Priest, everything is under the arrangement of my lord.¡± She didn¡¯t say outright that the sea-level corpse was in her hands, nor did she deny it, her tone ambiguously maintained. The Priest quickly filled in the blanks, joy appearing on her face, ¡°Praise be to our lord!¡± She knew she had an important mission, but after going all out, the death of the Zi Lin Fishman hit her hard! She couldn¡¯t understand why the Zi Lin Fishman was discovered and struck by the main cannon, deeply worried that the mission would end in failure. Hoping against hope, she rushed to the scene of the incident, where she discovered the giant Fishman. From her perspective, she immediately conjectured: The deity foresaw this outcome. Thus, not only did he send me, but he also sent a Fishman Divine Envoy. The Divine Envoy lay in wait at the sea bottom, and when the beam cannon destroyed the Holy Corpse, he took action in time and saved the plan! ¡°If not for the Divine Envoy, the mission would have completely failed based on my actions alone,¡± the Naga Priest felt extremely fortunate. She guessed that Chi Lai had been affected by the Devil¡¯s Coin, but she didn¡¯t suspect the Fishman Divine Envoy standing before her. Zi Di continued in a calm voice, ¡°Next, Priest, you will direct the Fishmen to withdraw. If they do not heed your command, then you must leave immediately, and do not worry about their life and death.¡± ¡°What is this?¡± the Naga Priestess wondered. She guessed that Hun Tong had ¡°betrayed,¡± and now the situation was greatly favorable. But the Divine Envoy was asking her to retreat? Hesitation was only for a moment, and the Naga Priestess immediately knelt in worship, ¡°I understand, Divine Envoy!¡± Despite her confusion, she chose to obey. She was a priest. Though she didn¡¯t understand the command from the Divine Envoy, the incident with the sea corpse had already proven the Divine Envoy was correct. ¡°My lord had predicted this place.¡± ¡°The current favorable situation is merely an illusion.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°The power of the Devil¡¯s Coin may influence momentarily, but there are many forces that can counteract its power.¡± ¡°Which deity¡¯s power is the strongest? Without a doubt, it is the Holy Bright Empire!¡± ¡°I must not rely too much on the Devil¡¯s Coin, after all, it is an artifact of the Outer God.¡± The Naga Priestess spoke, ¡°I will take action immediately, what about you, Divine Envoy?¡± Zi Di then answered, ¡°You need not concern yourself with my actions. Your task is already complete, priestess. Go, all is arranged by our lord.¡± Zi Di placed everything on the deities. The Naga Priestess was not a fighter, nor a Mage, but a Divine Officer. Indeed, very effective! Once it involved the deity of her faith, the Naga Priestess instinctively stopped thinking and just wanted to obey. Even with doubts, she would persuade herself deep in her heart. The Naga Priestess left her original location and began to contact other Fishmen. Zi Di controlled the Deep Sea Monster Fish to stealthily move in another direction. As the distance between them widened, Zi Di finally confirmed that she had successfully tricked away a Golden Level adversary. She truly breathed a sigh of relief, a sense of exhaustion spreading through her heart. But the next moment, she immediately used the alchemy device to communicate, telling the Dragon-man youth and the others everything that happened to her. Zi Di also suggested, ¡°I hope you can meet with me soon, to guard the Deep Sea Monster Fish.¡± ¡°I do not know how exactly I fell for it.¡± ¡°But in case this happens again, the affected members among us can be stopped by their companions.¡± ¡°The Deep Sea Monster Fish must not be lost!¡± ¡°The secrets of Mysterious Monster Island must not be exposed now!!¡± Zi Di did not know about the existence of the Devil¡¯s Coin. In fact, the power of the contract only worked this one time. But she was truly frightened, and the suggestion was very wise. ¡°Such a thing happened!¡± The Dragon-man youth and Zong Ge were greatly shaken. Their communication with Zi Di also confirmed their previous guess¡ªCang Xu was indeed not himself! ¡°But what exactly did we fall for?¡± ¡°No matter what, we must meet with Zi Di as soon as possible.¡± ¡°How to deal with Cang Xu?¡± ¡°He knows too much, what if he panics and outright exposes our secrets?¡± The Dragon-man youth and Zong Ge both felt it was a dilemma. And just then, clarity suddenly returned to Cang Xu¡¯s eyes. He was back to normal. ¡°What just happened¡­ Damn!¡± Intense emotions shook his soul, leaving him stunned in place. Chi Lai¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened, spotting an enemy¡¯s flaw, and he threw the stone column he used as a weapon into the air toward Cang Xu. But the next moment, the Dragon-man youth leaped at Cang Xu, and, being a moment too late, was ¡°coincidentally¡± hit by the stone column. Chi Lai was shocked and immediately apologized with guilt, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, squad leader, that was not intentional.¡± The Dragon-man youth fell to the ground, covered in dust, and nodded to Chi Lai, ¡°No worries, but after this, we really should train on our teamwork in combat.¡± Chi Lai was touched to see the Dragon-man youth not blaming him. He found that Long Fu possessed a leader¡¯s forgiving qualities. This had happened several times, but he had never blamed him. On the other hand, Cang Xu, given ¡°cover,¡± came back to his senses and immediately backed away. Countless ghosts wailed, raising a bone-chilling storm around him, protectively, with a terrifying and astounding presence. ¡°Having revealed my identity as an Undead Mage, the trouble is great this time,¡± Cang Xu sighed within. Knowing he could not stay for long, he decided to leave the island and withdraw from the battlefield. ¡°But what about Qing Xin?¡± Cang Xu¡¯s flight slowed as he looked towards Qing Xin not far away, not sure what to say to gain her trust. However, Qing Xin¡¯s reaction was unexpected; she took the initiative to fly to Cang Xu¡¯s side, ¡°Let¡¯s go, what are you waiting for?!¡± Cang Xu was astonished. Qing Xin¡¯s reaction was quite peculiar! After all, he was an Undead Mage. But then Qing Xin added, ¡°I¡¯ll explain later, we should leave first while it¡¯s still chaotic, let¡¯s leave Twin Eyes Island straight away.¡± ¡°Ok!¡± Cang Xu and Qing Xin flew together towards the Iron Lump. Ya Ma stared hard at their retreating figures but did not pursue. Her summons had suffered greatly after Cang Xu used the Undead Magic. Facing an Undead Mage of the same level, Ya Ma did not have much confidence. Chapter 420 - 420: Section 208: Devoted to Long Fu Chapter 420: Section 208: Devoted to Long Fu Hong Zhu wanted to cry but had no tears. She had revealed herself to help Cang Xu fight against Ya Ma and Yue Ban, hoping to secure a big client. Never had she imagined that the other party would turn out to be an Undead Mage! At the moment Cang Xu revealed his identity, Hong Zhu was completely numb. ¡°I¡¯m in trouble.¡± ¡°Big trouble!¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if they are dead or alive, I¡¯ll still be investigated.¡± ¡°Colluding with an Undead Mage?¡± ¡°By the gods, I¡¯m being framed!!¡± ¡°No, I have to hide!¡± Hong Zhu was filled with regret. Had she known this would happen, she would never have helped Cang Xu. After this auction, she should have been able to raise enough funds for her next adventure. But now, her adventure was on hold, and she had to lay low first. ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± ¡°Stop!!¡± Menshi bellowed loudly. He took his short legs in stride and rushed on the ground, trying to catch up to Cang Xu and Qing Xin. This Silver Level Dwarf had disembarked to find an opportunity to help the Dragon-man youth and the others, to repay a debt of gratitude. Instead, he had not only missed the chance to repay them but had also witnessed Cang Xu¡¯s self-disclosure. He was stunned at the time. Seeing Cang Xu flying toward the Iron Lump, he felt as if struck by an electric shock. Because his kinsmen were still on that demon energy ship! Menshi was extremely anxious, wanting to save his people from the hands of the Undead Mage. But he was not very fast. After chasing all the way to the seaside, he could only watch helplessly as Cang Xu and Qing Xin landed on the Iron Lump. The Iron Lump harbored Alchemy Puppets, all under Cang Xu¡¯s control. The people on the ship were now aware of Cang Xu¡¯s true identity. But Qing Xin was quick to reassure the golden-haired mother and child, telling them: although Cang Xu is an Undead Mage, he was still trustworthy. The Dwarves were restless and uneasy. Cang Xu hastily insisted: he would not harm them. His assurances had limited effect. Some of the Dwarves were getting restless. Cang Xu immediately turned stern, threatening in a cold voice, ¡°Dwarves, look at your loved ones, your elderly parents, your young children.¡± ¡°I hope you won¡¯t act rashly.¡± ¡°Killing you all would be an extremely easy task for me!¡± The Silver Level aura emanating from Cang Xu was ¡°genuine,¡± and the many ghosts rising from the deck only added to his menace. The Dwarves, threatened, were indignant and glared at Cang Xu, their necks turning red with anger. But in the end, they did not do anything rash. Cang Xu heaved a sigh of relief, manipulated the Alchemy Puppets, and herded the Dwarves into the ship¡¯s cabin. After completing these tasks, he immediately controlled the demon energy ship to sail away from Twin Eyes Island. ¡°What? Order us to retreat?¡± Yan Ding and others received the Naga Priest¡¯s orders. As someone personally involved in the Devil¡¯s Coin incident, Yan Ding was one of the principals. The repeated changes of the Golden Shiny had made Yan Ding guess the influence of the Gold Coin on Hun Tong. To retreat in such a favorable situation? Yan Ding was utterly perplexed. ¡°Boss, make a decision!¡± Yan Ding communicated through his earpiece. The earpiece was currently fighting Song Shou. The bombardment from Golden Shiny had affected him as well. Song Shou, hit by several Bombs, was however unharmed. Compared to the main turret, the light net Bombing posed a low threat to Golden Level individuals. But with their trump card becoming the enemy¡¯s pawn, Song Shou¡¯s spirit to fight plummeted, now mainly focusing on defense and evasion. The earpiece glanced up at the Golden Shiny. In the high sky, Yan Ding was stirring up black fog, single-handedly attacking the Golden Shiny. On board the Golden Shiny, the Fishman Clan Leader and Hun Tong¡¯s Alchemy Avatar were actively defending. Both sides were at a stalemate. Suddenly, Yan Ding collapsed like smoke after being hit by the Clan Leader¡¯s Combat Skill. ¡°It¡¯s fake!¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Where is the real body?¡± Yan Ding¡¯s feint, in the next moment, the smoke on the dock condensed into human form. This was the true form of Yan Ding. ¡°Song Shou!¡± Yan Ding shouted, ¡°We need to join forces.¡± ¡°The Golden Shiny must not fall into enemy¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°Otherwise, in the vast ocean, not even I could escape.¡± ¡°If Hun Tong dies in battle, we¡¯ll split the Golden Shiny between us!¡± With a sigh, Song Shou immediately responded, ¡°Get me up there!¡± Black fog enveloped him, lifting Song Shou into the sky. The earpiece tried to intervene but was obstructed by Yan Ding. He had no Flying Combat Technique. After a few exchanges, once Song Shou had ascended to a certain height, the earpiece could only watch helplessly. ¡°Yan Ding, get me up there!¡± cried the earpiece, ¡°You take the others and retreat!¡± At a critical moment, the earpiece decided to support the Fishman Clan Leader alone, ordering the others to evacuate the island. The Naga Priest¡¯s orders had led him to misjudge the situation. Under such advantageous circumstances, the Naga Priest actually issued the order to retreat. She must have realized that the enemy had an even bigger trump card! Eargas was unwilling to let his own people and subordinates sacrifice themselves in vain. In this battle, the Fishmen had already sacrificed too much. On the wharf battlefield, the corpses of the Fishmen could almost pile up into a mountain. But Eargas was also not willing to give up such a great opportunity. He would rather take the risk himself to see what the enemy¡¯s trump card was! Fin-band expressed his difficulty, ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t have a spell that can send you up there.¡± ¡°Then use the water cannon!¡± Eargas¡¯s attitude was very firm. Song Shou had already left, and with no opponents left, Eargas quickly rendezvoused with Fin-band and the others. Bang. The Vinegar Pot fired again. The water flow, like a column, struck Eargas, forcefully propelling him into the sky. After Cang Xu actively retreated, the Dragon-man youth and others immediately rushed to the wharf. Hearing the sound of the cannon at this moment, they all looked up at the sky, witnessing the sight of Eargas being propelled by the water cannon, spitting blood as he went, utterly disregarding his own safety. He was only a Fishman, not a Dragon-man. The defensive capability of fish scales was far inferior to that of dragon scales. However, setting aside the matter of friend and foe, there was no shortage of resolute Fishmen. ¡°The flying demon energy ship has become the final battlefield for the Golden Level!¡± the Dragon-man youth exclaimed emotionally. ¡°That¡¯s not a place we can meddle in,¡± Zong Ge said coldly. Chi Lai then said, ¡°As long as we find our Golden Cannon, I can fire another shot, which can inflict damage on this flagship.¡± The Golden Level Alchemy Cannon required a huge amount of energy to operate. Previously, a lot of energy had been stored through an Array. But if Chi Lai alone were to fire the cannon, he would need to funnel all his Fighting energy into it, and the consumption would be extremely frightening. After all, Chi Lai was only a Silver Level fighter. Previously, the ship of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps had been bombarded by the Vinegar Pot, and the ship sank along with the Golden Cannon into the depths. Chi Lai, as the person involved, was very clear about this. The Golden Cannon was not very damaged. One only needed to retrieve it and the bombs, and it could fire again! This was not an ordinary cannon, and the power to fire it was not gunpowder, so the dampness from falling into the water was not a restriction. The Dragon-man youth and Zong Ge returned to the wharf precisely to salvage the cannon. Of course, this was just the superficial reason for their action. Their real goal was to dive after entering the Deep Sea Monster Fish and rendezvous with Zi Di to guard the rear! The Dragon-man youth ordered, ¡°Chi Lai, rest up with all your might, don¡¯t go into the water. Try to recover as much Fighting energy as you can; the two of us will fetch the cannon for you.¡± ¡°Sanda, check the ships at the wharf quickly. We need a vessel that can sail.¡± ¡°We need to prepare for both options. On one hand, continue to combat the enemy, and on the other, seek out an escape route.¡± The members of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps responded resoundingly. ¡°Wait for me.¡± Just as the Dragon-man youth and Zong Ge were about to dive, Menshi ran over. ¡°Long Fu squad leader!¡± Menshi panted, a pleading look in his eyes, ¡°Help me!¡± ¡°My people have been captured by that cursed Undead Mage.¡± ¡°Help me, I¡­I really have no other choice!¡± Menshi was very self-aware. He knew he couldn¡¯t possibly catch up with the Iron Lump by swimming. In the sea, he could very likely be targeted by magic. The opposition was not just a Silver Level Undead Mage; there was also Qing Xin. He paced anxiously and angrily by the seaside, helpless and powerless. He could only watch the Iron Lump growing further and further away. But he quickly discovered that the Dragon-man youth had led the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps back to the wharf. With Song Shou and Eargas both heading for the Golden Shiny, the wharf was deserted. As Menshi said¡ªhe really had no other choice. So, he could only seek help from the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps. The latter had helped him before, which gave him a little confidence. The Dragon-man youth and Zong Ge exchanged glances. The Dragon-man youth looked up and sincerely exclaimed, ¡°All of this is really too chaotic.¡± Then, he patted Menshi¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Menshi, don¡¯t worry too much. Since the Undead Mage didn¡¯t slaughter your people, maybe he wants to use them as hostages. At least for now, they are safe.¡± ¡°We will help you, let¡¯s fight side by side once again!¡± Menshi was deeply moved, wanting to say some words of gratitude, but he couldn¡¯t speak them. He was an honest man, reserved in expressing his emotions, and not used to expressing these things. He was just choked up, emotionally stirred. Adversity reveals true friendship! The Dragon-man youth¡¯s promise to help was like sending coals in the snow to him. ¡°The favor has become even greater. How can such a favor ever be repaid?¡± A sense of distress arose in Menshi¡¯s heart. ¡°But now is not the time to worry about these things; the most important thing is to rescue my people.¡± ¡°If it really comes down to it, in the future, I¡¯ll just join the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, sell my life to Long Fu, and repay the favor!¡± Menshi thought to himself. The Dragon-man youth adjusted the plan. He had Menshi stay by Chi Lai¡¯s side. And he and Zong Ge would prioritize retrieving the Golden Cannon. After bringing it back, they would set sail together, chasing after the Iron Lump while waiting for an opportunity to attack the demon energy ship in the air. The Vinegar Pot. ¡°To have us retreat?¡± Fin-band fell silent upon receiving the order from the Naga Priest. If he still had the strength for another battle, Fin-band might have stayed on the battlefield, waiting for an opportunity to assist his Clan Leader and squad leader. But he was in too poor a condition. Fin-band¡¯s ears were ringing; he felt dizzy and nauseated, and he had been forcing himself to control the Vinegar Pot. In such a state, Fin-band had no choice but to follow the orders and lead the Fishmen in retreat. Chapter 421 - 421: Section 209: Wealth Insurance Technique Chapter 421: Section 209: Wealth Insurance Technique Fortunately, they did not encounter any significant interceptions afterward, and the retreat went very smoothly. The reason was simple. The Golden Level was all concentrated on the Golden Shiny. The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps was also at the dock, preparing their own escape route. Most pirates were floundering at sea, taking the remaining treasures back to their respective ships. The Vinegar Pot, with a huge hole, re-entered the sea. It directly headed towards the sea battle. In the sea battle, ships of various sizes intertwined and entangled. The Human Race was in an absolute disadvantage. Due to the previous bombardment, too many high-level combat powers were killed or wounded. The rebellion of the Golden Shiny completely shattered the morale of the Human Race. The return of the Vinegar Pot was like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, easily leading its own ship out. Soon, they re-formed a fleet and broke through. The ships of the Human Race thus regained freedom, and they scattered and fled in all directions. However, at this moment, the Iron Lump arrived at this sea area. Bodies floated in the blood-red seawater, and burning ships were gradually sinking. The Iron Lump made a loop and did not leave Twin Eyes Island in a straight line. The reason was that Cang Xu received a communication from the Dragon-man youth. The Dragon-man youth asked him to release the Dwarves and return them to Menshi. Cang Xu thought: since he had already exposed his identity as an Undead Mage, he might as well collect some souls while creating an opportunity for the squad leader and the others to rescue these obstructive Dwarves. Undead Magic¡ªSoul Summoning Technique! Thus, the Iron Lump wandered on the sea. Cang Xu stood at the bow, continuously casting the Soul Summoning Technique. Such an environment was perfect for an Undead Mage! He summoned a large number of ghosts, gathering them around him. ¡°Silver Level ghost!¡± Cang Xu was invigorated, having snagged a big fish! ¡°There should be more.¡± ¡°Not just one Silver Level.¡± Cang Xu grew increasingly excited about such a rare opportunity. Boom, boom, boom¡­ Golden Level Combat Skills clashed, creating intense explosions one after another. The Golden Shiny shook violently in the sky above, becoming the final battleground. Several Golden Levels realized that the battle had reached its closing stages and therefore fought with all their might, battling fiercely. Yan Ding and Song Shou teamed up to fight the Fishman Clan Leader, Hun Tong, and the Alchemy Avatar. As for the Ear-scraper, he failed to board successfully, being slapped down by Yan Ding during his ascent. The trajectory of the water cannon was too easy to predict. Without a Flying Combat Technique, the Ear-scraper could only suffer. Yan Ding and Song Shou adopted an offensive posture, taking the initiative but unable to overpower them quickly. The Fishman Clan Leader, Hun Tong, and the Alchemy Avatar defended with all their might, protecting the Golden Shiny. The Golden Shiny itself had weak defenses, hardly able to withstand the devastation wrought by the Golden Level. To save this ship, the three Golden Level defenders were very passive. The Fishman Clan Leader had never imagined that he would be defending an enemy flagship, but thinking of the ultimate gain for his tribe motivated him the most. However, Hun Tong¡¯s Alchemy Avatar eventually managed to get the Ear-scraper on the ship. Yan Ding tried hard to intercept but was unsuccessful. Hun Tong arranged for his avatar and the Ear-scraper to guard the deck and immediately called the Fishman Clan Leader, ¡°Quick, follow me upstairs!¡± The Fishman Clan Leader¡¯s heart tightened, following immediately. They entered the Concentrated Light Cannon Tower. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hun Tong rushed to the control room, looking anxious, ¡°I can feel the power of the contract weakening significantly.¡± ¡°To prevent any accidents, I will transfer the authority of the Golden Shiny to you now!¡± Hun Tong¡¯s condition was different from Zi Di and Cang Xu. He was perpetually endowed with Divine Arts. While Zi Di and Cang Xu were impoverished and defenseless in this regard. The defense Divine Arts on Hun Tong and the power of the Devil¡¯s Coin were severely draining each other. Thus, although he carried the most Gold Coins and possessed the strongest contract power, the consumption was also extremely rapid. The Fishman Clan Leader was also worried about Hun Tong¡¯s condition and immediately agreed. After a series of operations, the authority was transferred at the last moment. ¡°Do you confirm transferring the first authority to another?¡± a monotone, dull voice echoed in the control room. ¡°Confirmed!¡± Hun Tong sincerely affirmed, without any hesitation. ¡°Please verify the transfer target.¡± A beam of light lit up in the control room. The Fishman Clan Leader, following Hun Tong¡¯s gesture, immediately stood inside the beam. The beam conducted a comprehensive scan of the Fishman Clan Leader, collecting his information and features. Then, needles appeared. The Fishman Clan Leader looked at Hun Tong with confusion. Hun Tong hurriedly explained, ¡°This is a necessary procedure.¡± ¡°Once your bloodline is collected, the Golden Shiny will belong to you and your family.¡± ¡°Even if you sacrifice yourself in the future, your descendants will still possess the primary authority!¡± Hun Tong had purchased the Golden Shiny not only for himself but also for his family, his bloodline. But now, he was handing this ship over to the enemy. The Fishman Clan Leader nodded, allowing the needle to pierce his body and draw out quite a bit of fresh blood. Soon, that monotonous, mechanical voice appeared again, ¡°Transfer target confirmed.¡± ¡°Please enter the unlock password.¡± Hun Tong quickly used his spirit to silently send out a string of numbers in his mind. ¡°Please have the transfer target re-enter the unlock password.¡± The Fishman Clan Leader looked at Hun Tong. Hun Tong hurriedly explained, ¡°Communicate with the ship using spirit, and mentally recite a string of numbers. The numbers are: 3.14159265358979323846¡­¡± The Fishman Clan Leader gradually became baffled and couldn¡¯t help but interrupt Hun Tong, ¡°How many?¡± Hun Tong sighed, ¡°Although the password is over a hundred digits long, it¡¯s actually easy to remember. It¡¯s pi!¡± ¡°Pi¡­ what is that?¡± The Fishman Clan Leader was dumbfounded, suffering greatly from his lack of mathematical knowledge. Hun Tong was becoming impatient, ¡°Now is not the time for explanations. I¡¯ll say ten numbers, and you repeat them quickly.¡± Although the password was over a hundred digits, with Hun Tong¡¯s method, it was quickly resolved. ¡°Unlock password confirmed.¡± Hearing this, the Fishman Clan Leader sighed in relief. He had been extremely worried while entering the password, fearing he might make a mistake. However, he then heard the voice of the Golden Shiny, ¡°Please enter the authority transfer password.¡± ¡°What does this mean?¡± The Fishman Clan Leader stared. Hun Tong immediately said, ¡°The previous were the unlock passwords, now is the password for transferring authority.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this time the password is short.¡± ¡°73748196.¡± Following these numbers, the Fishman Clan Leader successfully entered the password. ¡°Password correct.¡± ¡°Authority transfer in process.¡± ¡°5, 4, 3, 2, 1¡­ Authority transfer successful.¡± ¡°Please enter the final confirmation password.¡± ¡°Another password?!¡± Just as joy began to appear on the Fishman Clan Leader¡¯s face, it froze, and he stared in disbelief. Hun Tong said, ¡°There are three layers of passwords.¡± ¡°This is the Wealth Insurance Technique of the Wealth Sect!¡± ¡°The Golden Shiny is highly valuable, and I set up this Divine Art to be sure.¡± ¡°7418695, this is the final confirmation password, quickly enter it!¡± The Fishman Clan Leader mumbled it once, then immediately immersed his spirit and earnestly entered it. Pff. The next moment, a golden dagger pierced through his heart. The surging Golden Fighting Spirit instantly shattered his heart completely. It was a fatal strike! The Fishman Clan Leader was stunned for a moment before he realized what had happened. He struggled to turn his head and saw the ferocious face of Hun Tong. ¡°Dare to steal my ship, you actually dared to steal my ship!¡± ¡°Die, die for me!!¡± Pff. Pff. Pff. Three more stabs followed, completely destroying the Fishman Clan Leader¡¯s internal organs. The Fishman Clan Leader howled upward. His howl was filled with sadness, anger, and regret. Hun Tong¡¯s transformation was too rapid. The Fishman Clan Leader had always been watching him, but still failed to react in time. If he had known this would be the outcome, the Fishman Clan Leader would certainly have killed Hun Tong first. Of course, there was also the possibility of Hun Tong resisting. After all, the contract content was to fully assist the Fishmen in capturing the island. If he believed that his survival would be more advantageous in fulfilling the contract, Hun Tong would not easily submit to execution. But now, with the Fishman Clan Leader dead, Hun Tong returned to normal, and on the Golden Shiny, only the Golden Level known as Ear Scratcher remained from the Fishman side. Given how cunning and deceitful Hun Tong was, the fate of Ear Scratcher could easily be imagined. ¡°No! I could accept dying in battle, but Ear Scratcher must not fall, the tribe cannot be without a Golden Level.¡± In his dying moments, the Fishman Clan Leader mustered all his strength and detonated himself! Ever since being driven from their homeland, the Fishman Clan Leader had trained a Self-Destruction Skill, preparing for the possibility that if he was defeated, he might still have a chance to take Hun Tong with him! The main cannon tower was blown into two sections in the Self-Destruction Skill. The top floor fell, leaving only the middle and lower parts standing in place. In the explosion, Hun Tong was thrown high into the air, holding half of the Fishman Clan Leader¡¯s head in his hand. He flew up high and shouted loudly, ¡°The leader of the Fishmen is dead!¡± At that moment, countless faces changed. Chapter 422 - 422: Section 210: The Melee Ends Chapter 422: Section 210: The Melee Ends ¡°Hun Tong emerged victorious in the end,¡± Qi You remarked wistfully from a distance. He had been hit by the main cannon on the concentrated light tower and sustained serious injuries, but after a period of rest, his condition had stabilized. ¡°Time to retreat,¡± Qi You gazed at the Golden Shiny, the demon energy ship posed too great a threat. The Clapping Pirate Group was the first to retreat. They were the only Golden Level among the pirates, their every move was trendsetting. ¡°Retreat, retreat, retreat!¡± Dian Wan bellowed weakly, he had been devastated by the beam cannon. Onion Head, already wounded, heaved a deep sigh while looking at the sea, ¡°Most of the treasure has fallen into the ocean, what a pity.¡± The entire Clapping Pirate Group had bitter expressions on their faces. From beginning to end, they had plundered the least. ¡°It¡¯s all the Captain¡¯s fault!¡± Many harbored great resentment towards Hu Li. They did not know: It was precisely because of Hu Li that they had plundered less, resulting in fewer cannon strikes, and their casualties were almost the least among the pirate groups. ¡°Still thinking of escaping?¡± ¡°Leave my treasure behind!¡± Hun Tong, seeing the movements of the pirates, was furious. He immediately dispatched Alchemy Puppet avatars to pursue them. On board the Golden Shiny, only three of the five light tower cannons remained, the main cannon tower had been destroyed. Hun Tong himself flew back to take command and began operating the light cannon towers, bombarding with the light cannons. With a commanding view from the Golden Shiny, the three light tower cannons opened fire in succession, crushing several pirate ships. Cang Xu watched in horror. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was very worried that the Iron Lump would also become a target, and he immediately operated the demon energy ship to retreat. Originally, he had wanted to linger and wait for the Dragon-man youth and the others to perform a rescue hostage drama. But now there was no time to wait. The Iron Lump quickly sailed away from Twin Eyes Island. ¡°Don¡¯t run!¡± Menshi stood on the dock, his hand stretched out with fingers spread, his face full of anguish and regret as he watched the Iron Lump shrink into the distance. Chi Lai was adjusting the Golden Cannon. Zong Ge had fished it back to shore, but the barrel was bent and needed repairing before it could fire again. As for the Dragon-man youth, he stayed inside the Deep Sea Monster Fish, on guard for Zi Di to be influenced once more. Zi Di was operating the Deep Sea Salvagers. These Alchemy Puppets were particularly well-suited for clearing the battlefield, especially for underwater operations. The treasures that the pirates had struggled to obtain had all fallen to the seabed, to be collected by the Alchemy Puppets. ¡°Something¡¯s strange,¡± Zi Di said, looking tense. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± the Dragon-man youth expressed his confusion. Zi Di explained the situation, ¡°Based on the performance on the battlefield previously, I suspect this flying demon energy ship doesn¡¯t possess a ship spirit. It targets based on the value of objects, achieving wide-range precision strikes.¡± ¡°Logically, the light cannons should prioritize attacking the Deep Sea Salvagers.¡± The Dragon-man youth speculated, ¡°Half of its main cannon tower has collapsed, perhaps the aftershocks of the Golden Level confrontation have damaged the ship¡¯s components, preventing it from scanning for valuable targets.¡± Zi Di nodded, her eyes gradually lighting up, ¡°That seems most probable to me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s another possibility; maybe Hun Tong himself is maneuvering it, which could account for the difference.¡± ¡°Whatever the reason, our haul this time is going to be huge!¡± The Dragon-man youth remained rational, ¡°Better to be safe. Control these Alchemy Puppets to concentrate the picked treasures at several locations, don¡¯t bring them directly back to the Deep Sea Monster Fish.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Zi Di obeyed. The light cannons continued to fire. After losing over a dozen ships, the pirates finally managed to distance themselves to a comparatively safe extent. Hun Tong vented his rage and fear, gradually regaining composure, and directed the target towards the main forces of the Fishmen. The Vinegar Pot immediately suffered, sustaining the greatest firepower. Ear Scratcher climbed onto the deck along the ropes. Once the old Fishman Clan Leader died, he immediately jumped into the sea. Though he lacked Flying Combat Techniques, he had Swimming Battle Skills and moved through water quicker than Yan Ding. ¡°Slow down the speed, we need to attract fire and buy time for our people!¡± Ear Scratcher ordered. Under the cover of the Vinegar Pot, the remaining Fishmen jumped into the sea one after another, diving into the body of an ice continent whale and escaping. In the end, as the Fishmen voluntarily gave up their other ships, only the flagship of the Vinegar Pot pirate group managed to escape, its overall strength greatly reduced. ¡°Should we pursue them?¡± Yan Ding returned to inquire of Hun Tong. Hun Tong¡¯s face darkened, ¡°No. Those damned Fishmen are trickier in the sea; don¡¯t forget there was also a giant Fishman before.¡± In his view: Although the Fishmen had lost an old Clan Leader, they still had Ear Scratcher, the Naga Priest, and the giant Fishman that appeared last. With three Golden Levels, their numbers were roughly comparable to the Human Race. Hun Tong, although he still had an avatar with Golden Level combat power, Song Shou would not fight to the death in the sea. And his own condition was poor; he needed to recover. ¡°After this battle, the Qing Green Coral Fishman Tribe has been greatly weakened.¡± ¡°Although they left behind troubles, Twin Eyes Island will become one of the hubs of the Empire¡¯s sea transport lanes in the future.¡± ¡°With the Imperial Navy stationed, we need not fear the small Fishman Tribe.¡± ¡°Now, the most important thing is to salvage the treasure.¡± ¡°With money, we can bribe and provide a solid material foundation for the rebuild of Twin Eyes Island.¡± Thinking this, Hun Tong had already made a decision in his mind, glancing at Yan Ding, he spoke, ¡°As for you, aren¡¯t you going after that Undead Mage?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say at the auction that he was your prey?¡± Yan Ding shook his head leisurely, watching as the silhouette of the Iron Lump faded on the horizon, ¡°No rush. The longer the line, the bigger the fish one catches.¡± With that, the battle for Twin Eyes Island had finally come to an end. Deep sea. ¡°This place should be safe now,¡± the scout said to the Naga Priest. ¡°None of our kinfolk left behind have seen any pursuers.¡± The Naga Priest nodded. ¡°Then let¡¯s count our numbers.¡± The ice continent whale slowly came to a halt, letting out a low, mournful cry. It, too, bore great wounds; hastily tended to earlier, the injuries were still bleeding. The Fishmen were either dead or injured. The old Clan Leader of the Fishmen had died, and the scout, being the only Golden Level in the tribe, inevitably became the new Clan Leader. They gathered the Fishmen with serious injuries in one place. After the Naga Priest finished her prayers, she cast a wide-ranging Healing Divine Technique. Her faith was in Mei Lan, and while she was not adept at healing, her god was omnipotent and possessed Healing Divine Techniques. After the healing, the Fishmen¡¯s wounds were significantly alleviated. Although they were generally still injured, their condition had greatly improved. ¡°Praise our Lord!¡± ¡°Thank you, Priestess.¡± ¡°Thank you for saving my father¡¯s life!¡± The Fishmen expressed their thanks in the Fishman Language. Divine Officers, with the most powerful healing capabilities, easily gained prestige. Just like now, a single healing spell had earned the Naga Priest widespread affection. The Naga Priest could not hide her fatigue as she said with a deep sigh, ¡°This is all I can do.¡± During the retreat, she had conserved Divine Power, worried that there might be pursuers. Now that they were relatively safe, she had used her Divine Arts to heal the Fishmen. Although these Fishmen were not her kin, and she was a Naga, not a Fishman, they shared the same faith. Often, faith can bridge the gap between species, making believers feel like one family. A preliminary count was quickly conducted with results soon in hand. At least 70% of the Green Coral Fishman Tribe had died, and nearly all who remained were the old, weak, sick, or disabled. The loss was devastating. The old Fishman Clan Leader had perished in battle. The Fishman Tribe¡¯s plan to seize a homeland had failed, and they faced an even harsher living environment. The sea floor was no utopia. The roles of prey and predator often reversed. ¡°Given the tribe¡¯s current strength, we can no longer hold our original underwater dwelling,¡± the scout said to the Naga Priest. ¡°We plan to migrate towards the Holy City; what do you think of this plan, Priestess?¡± His Vinegar Pot pirate group was left with only a flagship, which was thoroughly damaged. The Naga Priest nodded. ¡°Your tribe can live on the outskirts; I will make arrangements.¡± Though there were elements of utilitarianism, the Naga Priest¡¯s sympathy was genuine. The scout let out a breath of relief. Getting help from the Naga Priest was good news for the tribe. He thanked her again, ¡°The changes in Hun Tong were too sudden. Thank you, Priestess, for issuing the retreat order. It was the timely evacuation that preserved the seed of our tribe. Otherwise, we might have been completely annihilated.¡± Only then did the Naga Priest manage a small smile. ¡°The credit is not mine.¡± ¡°It was the Divine Envoy who personally gave the order!¡± ¡°It is fortunate that he was there, or my mission would have ended in failure.¡± ¡°If you ever get the chance, thank him in person.¡± The scout¡¯s spirit was lifted. ¡°You mean that giant Fishman?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± confirmed the Naga Priest. Annoyed, Denail could not help but reprimand, ¡°If the Divine Envoy has been lurking beneath the sea all this time, why didn¡¯t he act sooner? Maybe if he joined the battle earlier, we could have taken back our homeland.¡± The Naga Priest snorted disdainfully, her expression immediately darkening, ¡°Fishman, watch your words.¡± ¡°Everything is arranged by our Lord!¡± ¡°With our shallow vision, how can we see the chaos clearly?¡± ¡°The fact that we got this far is a grace from our Lord.¡± ¡°How dare you question?!¡± By the second sentence, Denail was already on his knees. The Naga Priest¡¯s ruthless rebuke changed the faces of the surrounding Fishmen. The Fishmen began to blame Denail. Feeling the danger, Denail hurriedly bowed his head in penitence. In the end, the scout stepped in and punished Denail severely, finally easing the Naga Priest¡¯s expression and mood. The Iron Lump floated on the sea. ¡°No pursuers,¡± Cang Xu breathed a sigh of relief and recalled his ghost, which he had sent out to scout, back into his body. This was the effect of the ¡°Ghost Possession Skill,¡± an Undead Magic. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about you, Miss Qing Xin,¡± Cang Xu said to his companion. They were the only two by the ship¡¯s railings. Whether Human Race or Dwarf, all were temporarily detained in the ship¡¯s hold. Alchemy Puppets patrolled around. It was a strain for Cang Xu to control the Iron Lump. Qing Xin did not answer, instead instinctively lowering her voice to ask, ¡°What about Zi Di?¡± In order to gain Qing Xin¡¯s trust, Zi Di had actively used the Communication Device to talk to Qing Xin when Cang Xu appeared to assist. Cang Xu said, ¡°She¡¯s in a safe place. Twin Eyes Island is too chaotic; we can¡¯t let her take the risk.¡± At that moment, Zi Di¡¯s voice came through the Communication Device worn by Cang Xu, ¡°Sister Qing Xin, I¡¯m listening.¡± Qing Xin nodded, her face softened with tenderness: ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re all wondering why I¡¯m not afraid of the Undead Mage and voluntarily boarded the ship with you.¡± ¡°Zi Di, how much do you know about your father?¡± Chapter 1: When I Awoke Book 1: The Beast Knight A lush rainforest. The scorching sunlight pierced through the small interstices in the leaf layers of the canopy, illuminating the ground below. The air, sultry; because of the abundant rain, the vegetation here was exceedingly verdant. Vines twisted and roots tangled, forming arduous hindrances. Zi Di, a young girl, was rushing through this rainforest with all of her might. She had curly black hair and wheat-coloured skin. Her exquisite facial features delineated her extraordinarily beautiful visage. Her most attractive feature was her large purple eyes that were as translucent and resplendent as amethysts. But at this moment, those eyes were filled with fear and panic. Huff! Huff! Her mouth was wide open, gasping heavily for breath, her chest already faintly aching. She was drenched in sweat and had many bandaged wounds over her body; because of her strenuous sprinting, scarlet blood stained the white bandages. ¡°Faster, run faster!¡± ¡°I must get far away from this place with haste!!¡± Zi Di encouraged herself, however, her maximum velocity was limited. Because there was a thick hemp rope around her shoulders that dragged something heavy, this greatly encumbered her speed. ¡°Ahh¡ª!¡± Suddenly, a loud wretched scream resounded from afar. Soon after, the sound of a wolf howling followed. The young girl¡¯s body trembled as if she was agonised by electrocution. Then, like a monster¡¯s claws, a feeling of crisis and urgency ferociously grasped her heart. At this instant, there was only one voice left in her head: ¡°Run! Run! RUN! Leave everything behind, don¡¯t care about anything else. Otherwise, you will be killed by that fiendish wolf, just like those guards that were sundered to shreds, chewed into mincemeat, and then finally swallowed into its gut!¡± The young girl¡¯s complexion was ash-white, and her gaze showed panic. Yet when her eyes glanced behind her, she grew firm again. The rear end of the hemp rope she dragged was firmly attached to a stretcher. On the stretcher lay a young boy. For an unknown reason, the youth¡¯s eyes remained closed in unconsciousness, however, with his dazzling golden hair and handsome appearance, he gave off a naturally noble aura. The youthful boy was undoubtedly a burden to her. To still drag such a burden heavier than herself at this critical moment that determined life and death, she really was digging her own grave. Gazing at the boy on the stretcher, Zi Di gritted her teeth in pain. Thenceforth, she restrained the panic and nervousness in her heart and continued to drag the stretcher, advancing staunchly while withstanding the impending pressure of death. After pushing vines aside and using her tender body to barge through walls of shrubbery, the dense wilderness around her became sparse and dispersed, disclosing the azure sky. The sound of running water grew clearer, and not long after, a small river appeared in her view of sight. With a visual estimate, she knew the river water was likely to only reach up to her waist. However, she dared not wade through the river so easily! ¡°Danger lurks on every corner of this isolated island. I definitely must not use common sense to gauge it. I¡¯m almost certain that this small river is hiding a vicious crocodile or a large shoal of piranhas!¡± Originally, she was attended by as many as sixteen bodyguards, but now, only she and this youngster were left. During the journey, her bodyguards had sacrificed themselves one after another, elucidating the terror of this isolated island forest. ¡°Damn it, if only I could still use magic¡­¡± The young girl observed awhile. Biting her lip, she decided to cross the river! Behind her, the giant wolf was likely pursuing to devour her like an incarnation of the god of death. Although the girl was panic-stricken, she never lost her rationality completely; she still maintained her clear-headedness and judgement of the situation. She dragged the heavy stretcher and followed the river. After a moment, her eyes flashed with light. She saw a small tree growing on an incline, its trunk extended from this bank, rose into the air and stretched over to the opposite bank. After a cautious examination, the girl discovered that: there were no venomous snakes or thorns hidden in the tree. However, the tree trunk was covered in moss and lichen, making its surface extremely slippery. Even if it were just her climbing this tree trunk, even the slightest inattentiveness would drop her into the river. To say nothing of¡­her additional burden. The eyes of the youth lying on the stretcher were shut tight, he was in a deep coma. Perhaps¡­she should abandon this youth. It would be too risky and arduous to carry this unconscious youngster across the river. The young girl gritted her teeth and quickly untied the hemp rope around the stretcher. She then put the young boy onto her back and tightly wrapped the rope around their bodies. After that was done, the girl took off her boots and stuffed them into the crevices between the rope and their bodies. Finally, she inhaled deeply, and with the unconscious youth on her back, she began to venture onto the tree trunk. The moss on the trunk became more slippery when rubbed against. ¡°I can do it, I can do it!¡± ¡°Zi Di, oh, Zi Di, you must not fall here.¡± ¡°You are the president of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance. You still need to avenge Father!¡± The brave girl boosted her morale constantly. Doing her utmost to creep across the tree trunk, advancing ceaselessly; her purple eyes gazed forward, filled with resolve. Eventually, she successfully climbed across. Because of the weight of two people pressing down on the small trunk, when the girl reached the opposite bank, the trunk was pressed all the way down to the ground. This made it easier for the girl to land on the ground. Without two people repressing it, the tree flung back up, swinging its branches and leaves with it, stirring a whooshing wind. Carrying the youngster had exhausted the girl¡¯s stamina, for a moment she almost collapsed and was powerless to rise back up, she could only kneel on the ground and prop herself up with her hands. Her entire face was pale and her head felt slight vertigo. Sweat quickly dropped from the tip of her nose and chin, falling onto the rank grass. The young girl gasped for a while to catch her breath, and the dizziness gradually subsided. An intense feeling of joy spread through her heart. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! I actually did it!¡± ¡°I really climbed across.¡± However, shortly afterwards, she sensed her limbs beginning to indicate signs of numbness. This was the repercussion of exhausting all of her strength. Howl! A wolf¡¯s howl resounded loudly, following this, a silhouette as large as a calf sprang out ferociously from the dense underbrush. The young girl¡¯s body and mind shuddered as she subconsciously turned around to see a gigantic dark blue wolf. At this moment, her pupils tensed up, she felt as if she had fallen into an icy abysm! The giant wolf bared its teeth, there were still morsels of fresh flesh between them. The wolf¡¯s eyes were red as it stared at the girl, filled with tyrannical murderousness. The young girl fell on the underbrush of the bank. She had turned around to look back with such hastiness that had forgotten about the youngster still on her back. His weight brought strong inertia, causing the girl to fall to the ground. Their feebleness and wretchedness further aroused the wolf¡¯s vicious nature. Nevertheless, the wolf still remained on the opposite bank. It cavorted in place, paced back and forth, and looked at the burbling river; its fear was unmistakable by its actions. Upon seeing the wolf act like this, the girl immediately understood how wise her prior actions were. However, thereafter, the wolf also saw the tree trunk. It then unexpectedly did the same as the young girl as it stepped onto the tree that extended across both banks of the river! Without a doubt, this tyrannical and ferocious giant wolf also had intelligence that would horrify people. Although the huge wolf had a muscular body, it controlled its balance superbly and went across somewhat faster than the girl. Amidst her shock, the girl seemed to be electrocuted. In a flurry, she took out a dagger, sliced the rope around her body, then jumped back up and charged into the overhanging tree trunk. The tree trunk was struck and immediately started to sway from the impact. Although the tree did not sway too much, it nonetheless brought sufficient inconvenience to the giant wolf. With its balance broken and having almost fallen into the river, it was forced to retreat back to the bank miserably. Howl! The wolf snarled at the girl, baring its sharp teeth as it grew increasingly furious. The young girl had successfully stopped the giant wolf and was thence overjoyed, however, exultation immediately turned into regret. ¡°I should have let this damned beast reach the middle of the trunk before acting, that would have dropped it into the river!¡± The young girl and the giant wolf confronted each other from opposite banks. The wolf incessantly kept howling and refused to retreat. The young girl kept her eye on the giant wolf and did not dare to relax for even a moment. So long as the wolf even attempted to climb the tree trunk, the girl would strike it, ergo quaking it. Moments later, the girl finally concluded¡ªher act in haste was the right call. Because she could not accurately estimate how far the giant wolf could jump. After clambering over a small section, perhaps the wolf might be able to leap directly to the opposing bank. Even if she could manage to shake the wolf into the river, it was unknown whether or not the dangers lurking in the waters would react, or even if it did, it was also unknown if it could stop the giant wolf. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, the safest course of action would be to not give the wolf any opportunities. As long as it dared to attempt to climb on the trunk, the young girl would do her best to disturb it. As time went by, the wolf endeavoured many times but never succeeded. Eventually, at a certain point, it turned around furiously and disappeared into the undergrowth. The young girl stood in a daze, it took a few breaths until she reacted as her buttocks fell to the ground. Her face that was numb from nervousness gradually eased, and like melting ice, tears flowed down both her cheeks. At last, life was breathed into her! With that, the girl whimpered and sobbed. Her legs were curled up and her feet were bare, she had not had the time to put her boots back on until now. Because of climbing the tree earlier, her feet had large abrasions. All of her fingernails were also split causing bleeding. She buried her head in her curled legs, her shoulders trembled slightly in the wake of her spasmodic sobs as if she were a delicate kitten. But thereafter, as if shocked by electricity, the girl abruptly raised her head. Her eyes were red; her face had distinct tear stains; and her countenance was complex, filled with shock, doubt and panic. ¡°Is the wolf really giving up like this?¡± ¡°It is a possibility. But¡­¡± Recalling her horrific experiences over the last few days, the young girl began to feel that the possibility of the wolf not having given up was higher. ¡°It might have turned around and entered the undergrowth to paralyse me.¡± ¡°Perhaps, at this very moment, it is following along the river to find another shortcut across!¡± ¡°Perhaps, at this very moment, it has already gotten across and is quickly rushing towards here!!¡± Conjecturing this, the young girl felt like she had fallen into an icy abysm, chilling her to the bone. What should she do? Grab the youth and climb back across the trunk? Disregarding the fact that the tree trunk had a certain elevation from the ground, such that it would make it arduous for the girl to climb while carrying the youth. In the case that the wolf was still on the other side, what should she do? Climb to the middle of the trunk and stay there? That would be even less possible. It would be too physically consuming. The young girl was deeply aware of her own physical state at the moment. She had no confidence that she could climb the trunk again. Thinking back to that crossing filled her heart with gratitude and lingering fear. Could she continue to carry this youth? If the giant wolf chased after her, this was an obvious dead end. Even if she carried nothing, she could not compare to the wolf¡¯s speed. ¡°In that case, I only have one final option!¡± The girl¡¯s eyes flashed with a light of unswerving determination. She hurried back to the boy¡¯s side, half knelt on the ground and took out a milky-white crystal column from her bosom. The girl focused her spirit and did her best to activate the white crystal. She tightly held the crystal just above the young boy¡¯s head and suspended it there for a long while motionlessly. ¡°Is it really not going to work?¡± ¡°No, this is my last hope. Even if it''s slim, even if there¡¯s only a small possibility¡­¡± The young girl¡¯s heart grew increasingly anxious as she whispered, ¡°Hurry, hurry! I¡¯m begging you, please activate.¡± As if it heard the young girl¡¯s prayers, the milky-white crystal began to light up with a glimmer that was almost imperceptible. But after the girl detected that faint glimmer, she immediately revealed great delight. ¡°Although this island prohibits most magic, it is only to an extent. As long as the level is high enough, it can be used. Though the power and effects will be greatly reduced, that¡¯s all¡­¡± Magic was like this, and so too were magic artifacts. The light that was emitted by the white crystal column gradually grew effulgent, and then like water, it coalesced enough to form a stream of liquid that radiated a milky-white glow. The small stream of liquid dripped onto the unconscious youth¡¯s forehead and then magically integrated with his skin. In that brief moment, due to struggling to maintain the crystal column; Zi Di¡¯s entire face had turned pale, her forehead was devoid of sweat, and her body was teetering. The crystal column¡¯s colour also began to wane, starting from the upper end, gradually turning it into grey stone. ¡°Persevere, I must press on, I can¡¯t give up halfway!¡± Zi Di squeezed out all the power she had left in her body, almost hypnotising herself into constantly challenging the limits of her abilities. By the time half the crystal column lost its colour, Zi Di was already in a state of semi-consciousness, only her obsession kept her going. ¡°I must wake you up¡­¡± Awooo! A wolf¡¯s howl suddenly reverberated, and the giant blue wolf that had disappeared rushed out from the lush undergrowth with extreme quickness. At that moment, it was like death itself had come! Zi Di was terrified and her frail body trembled. When she subconsciously looked up, she found that her face was already overshadowed by the wolf¡¯s body. She saw that the giant wolf had leapt through the air and was swooping down at her. At that moment, time seemed to slow down. The wolf¡¯s maw was wide open, baring its malevolent fangs and even its drooling saliva. ¡°Am I going to die?!¡± Zi Di¡¯s will attempted to struggle, however, her body did not respond, she had already consumed all of her strength. ¡°I am not resigned¡­¡± As the intense breath of death assaulted her, the girl¡¯s purple eyes gazed at her final hope, the crystal column in her hands. Two-thirds of the crystal had lost its luster and turned to grey stone, however, there was still a third left. ¡°There¡¯s no hope left.¡± In that split second, the young girl¡¯s complexion turned pale as she lost all her strength, her head drooped and she shut her eyes tight. However, just as she was about to meet her sticky end, something suddenly shook in her hand. Bang! With a light bang, the crystal column exploded into countless pieces. How could this be? Bewildered, the girl opened her eyes. Then, she saw the unconscious youngster finally wake up! The golden-haired and blue-eyed handsome boy suddenly flipped sideways, then raised his leg and kicked. His movements were graceful and strong, direct and efficient. Although his body seemed weak, he revealed his ferocious strength at that moment! His powerful kick stirred up a gust of wind! The giant wolf could not dodge it and met the kick head-on. The wolf¡¯s howl stopped abruptly as the powerful attack flung it into the distance. Using his hands, the youngster took the opportunity to prop himself up and glared angrily at it. The young girl¡¯s pupils shrank slightly and her breathing halted. As she gazed at the boy¡¯s thin and frail back, she felt as if she saw a mountain ascending. Revisions and additions by Dardex Skyfarrow''s TL Note : Thanks for reading! I think it has huge potential, and I¡¯ll be translating the next few chapters some time this week, as well as the summary, which is rather intriguing. Note: The name Zi Di means Purple Stem Reverend Insanity Discord link: Dardex''s Notes Imagine retranslating the 1st chapter after you finish the entirety of book 1. Thanks Zhen Ren, you really do make the translation team work for your prime content. Might as well call Infinite Bloodcore an early access book, where all the readers can watch the editing process live. Chapter 2: The Templar Knight and the Fiance Darkness. A deep darkness. In this darkness, a youngster gradually recovered his consciousness. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°What is this place?¡± ¡°Where am I?¡± As the youngster¡¯s lucidity grew clearer, he began to ask questions. The boundless darkness that enveloped him was silent and unresponsive. The hope in the youngster¡¯s heart waned, he tried to examine himself, however, he could not find himself. The confusion in his heart inevitably magnified. ¡°Rather, who am I?¡± ¡°Who am I?¡± ¡°Why¡­why am I trapped here?¡± The lucid youngster¡¯s impatience gradually grew, although the darkness was safe, it was eternally unchanging. It was like a cage that trapped him. Naturally, he began to want to break free and escape from this place. ¡°I want to leave!¡± ¡°But where must I go?¡± ¡°Is there a path for me to take?¡± ¡°Is there even a path out?¡± As if responding to the youth¡¯s confusion, a small ray of light began to appear in the darkness. The light was orange in colour. It was extremely faint. Its existence was only faintly discernible. However, in this absolute darkness, even if faint, this orange light was distinct. This attracted the youngster¡¯s full attention. He strived to move closer to the glimmer of light. After an unbeknownst amount of time, the youngster seemed to have approached closer to the orange light as it had gotten slightly larger than before. ¡°Where is it coming from?¡± ¡°Will it allow me to leave here?¡± Longing to escape the darkness, the young boy approached the orange light with increasing eagerness. However, at that moment. ¡°Howl!!!¡± An earth-shaking beast¡¯s howl suddenly shook the entire darkness. Like a startled small animal, the orange light abruptly extinguished, awakening the youngster as a result. Just as he opened his eyes, he saw a giant wolf swooping down from the sky with an open maw! The youngster was lying on the ground at this moment. The youngster¡¯s mind was blank. His body reacted first before the emotion of fear could manifest. Roll over and side kick! At this juncture, his whole body was like a ballista, with his legs shooting out like a giant arrow. Thump! The juvenile¡¯s legs kicked the huge wolf¡¯s flank and with that one strike, the wolf was ruthlessly flung away. Placing his palms on the ground, the youngster used that fierce forceful momentum to stand up. ¡°A person?¡± When he got up, the youngster glanced around hastily and discovered Zi Di. It was but a glance, for there was not time to ponder. The giant wolf was a tremendous threat to him that made his heart pound. The emotion of fear quickly deluged his heart. ¡°This is a silver level magic beast!¡± The crisis had not yet been averted! The youngster¡¯s eyes locked onto the giant wolf. Splosh! Water splashed. Kicked by the youngster, the giant wolf could not use its strength in the air as it flew in an arc and fell into the river. This was not surprising, Zi Di had been on the river bank and was quite close to the water. When the ferocious wolf fell into the river, it strangely howled in terror. It used all its strength to flail in the water, trying to climb ashore quickly. Suddenly, green shadows emerged from the water. These green shadows were as thick as pythons, and with abrupt tumult, it raised endless gigantic waves cascading. The green shadows¡¯ aura was exposed, it was an awe-inspiring gold level aura! The green shadows nigh instantly entwined around the silver level wolf, then dragged it into the waters. Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle! The river¡¯s surface was no longer calm and turbid waves were stirred. Soon after, a dark-red color bloomed like a flower; it was the wolf¡¯s blood! The wolf¡¯s blood propagated rapidly along with the churning of the river. In just a few breaths, the wolf¡¯s noises completely vanished as the river¡¯s surface recovered its placidity. The wolf¡¯s blood mixed with the turbid waters and soon faded with the flow of the river. Thereafter, tranquility returned to the surroundings. It seemed like nothing had happened, the malevolent wolf vanished and the mysterious green shadows concealed themselves once more. It was as if the previous life-and-death struggle never existed. The heart of the youngster who witnessed all this unfold was extremely shook. ¡°A ferocious silver level wolf and gold level river vines, what kind of demonic place is this?!¡± Feeling horrified, he started to size up his surroundings before finally turning towards the young girl, Zi Di. ¡°Where is this?¡± Zi Di''s countenance was in shock, and she remained motionless like a statue. Only after hearing the youngster¡¯s question did the girl react. ¡°My Lord!¡± She was so excited that she threw herself into the young boy¡¯s arms like a frightened kitten. The young boy looked at the girl in his arms and was bewildered for a while. ¡°Thank goodness, my Lord, you finally woke up!¡± The girl embraced the young man tightly, ¡°Lord, you woke up!¡± The youngster patted her shoulders then he proceeded to push Zi Di away slightly. Zi Di looked at the youngster with excitement and surprise, her emotions and surprise exhibiting themselves in her words. As the youngster looked at the girl in his arms, his heart seemed to skip a beat. Her dainty face was full of tenderness, her eyes that were slightly red and her purple irides that were reminiscent of precious gems were crying, there was a trace of charm in their brilliance. ¡°It seems like that malevolent wolf must have frightened her a lot.¡± As gentle feelings arose in the youngster¡¯s heart, he inquired, ¡°Excuse me¡­who are you?¡± The girl was stunned, her eyes could not help but widen while she motionlessly stared at the youngster. They looked at each other for a few seconds. Noticing the youth¡¯s solemn and befuddled visage, the young girl gradually showed surprise and concern, she then quickly introduced herself: ¡°Ah, I am Zi Di, my Lord. I am your fiance.¡± ¡°Fiance?¡± the youngster frowned. He knew what a fiance was, he just did not expect that this girl would have such an intimate relationship with him. ¡°Zi Di¡­¡± The youngster murmured the name under his breath. Yet to the youngster, this name was completely unfamiliar. As the youngster ruminated further, his eyebrows deeply creased: ¡°Wait a minute, I...who am I?¡± He realised that he had forgotten his own identity. When he tried to recall his memories, his mind seemed to be utterly empty, as if nothing was ever there. ¡°You are Zhen Jin, Baron Zhen Jin. Heavens! Your Lordship, have you forgotten everything, including your own identity?¡± With impatience on Zi Di¡¯s face, her anxiety was quickly swelling. ¡°Zhen Jin, I am Zhen Jin? Why don¡¯t I remember anything?¡± The youngster frowned, feeling very puzzled and dismayed. ¡°Heavens! Why did this happen!?¡± Zi Di was also quite bewildered and perplexed. However, thereafter, her purple eyes revealed a pondering glint, she then shook her head and said: ¡°Perhaps¡­your Lordship¡¯s head was struck fiercely, ergo you lost your memories temporarily. There have been similar occurrences.¡± ¡°My Lord, we became shipwrecked a few days ago. There had been a violent storm, the ship capsized and split. The survivors became stranded on this island¡­there were many missing people including you, my Lord. Following your trail through the rainforest, I searched for you, however, you were already unconscious when I found you, and the many methods I attempted could not wake you up.¡± ¡°Wait. Maybe it''s because my means of awaking you had been interfered with during the middle. If that''s really the case, then I¡¯m really sorry, my Lord. I simply had no other choice at the time.¡± Zi Di pointed her finger at Zhen Jin¡¯s chest, there were still many crystal fragments adhered to it. The youngster Zhen Jin lowered his head and saw the crystal fragments glued to his chest, ¡°So, you were the one that saved me?¡± Continuing onwards, the young girl informed the youngster of her experiences as well as the final moments when she took a risk to treat him with the white crystal. Those words immediately caused the youngster to respect the girl more, praising: ¡°So we were in such danger, and it was all thanks to you, um¡­Zi Di.¡± The youngster gently called out the girl¡¯s name. ¡°But my Lord, you may have lost your memories because of this,¡± Zi Di whispered, still feeling worried and guilty about it. ¡°What are these things?¡± Zhen Jin curiously held the crystal fragments. ¡°Angel Tears.¡± According to Zi Di, it was a rather high-level magical artifact. ¡°This island is very strange, neither magic nor battle qi can be used. When I used it to wake your Lordship up, I was also gambling.¡± ¡°A magic prohibition domain?¡± Zhen Jin found that he still had his general knowledge. He then shook his head, ¡°No magic prohibition domain is absolute. The key is to examine how powerful it is.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Zi Di looked at the fragments in his hand. ¡°High-level magic artifacts like Angel Tears are still barely usable here. My magic is also only at the iron level, the environment here has suppressed it and I have no way of using it.¡± ¡°Could it be that the light in the darkness I saw was created by this crystal?¡± The youngster guessed as he recalled his previous unconscious state. ¡°My Lord, please let me examine your body¡¯s condition.¡± Zi Di continued to introduce herself, ¡°I am a low-level magician. Although I can¡¯t use my magic currently, I still have my knowledge.¡± Zhen Jin nodded. Magicians were usually very erudite, even if they were young. The young lady carefully inspected Zhen Jin¡¯s chest, back, ears, and so on. As Zhen Jin felt the tender hands of the girl groping around his body, his heart rippled. Finally, Zi Di approached Zhen Jin¡¯s face and carefully observed if there was anything unusual in the youngster¡¯s pupils. The distance between the two of them was so close that they could feel each other''s breaths. The girl¡¯s breath felt like it carried a certain sweet scent, causing Zhen Jin¡¯s heart to feel itchy as he turned his head slightly, not looking at her directly. While Zi Di was examining him, he was also inspecting himself. Zi Di had wheat-coloured skin while he had pure-white skin. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhen Jin also vaguely felt that, although he had a relatively thin figure, his body seemed to be hiding formidable strength. He kept stretching his ten fingers, then proceeded to make a fist. He then recalled the scene where he sent the giant wolf flying with his kick, subtly experiencing the power lying dormant in his body. This power was evidently unusual. ¡°Alright.¡± The young girl stopped moving, took a step back and let out a relieved sigh. ¡°My Lord, presently your body only has remnant bruises from the past. From the looks of it, there seems to be no problem, however, the conditions here are too crude, thus you can only wait until I am able to conduct a detailed examination in the future.¡± Zhen Jin nodded and continued to ask: ¡°So am I a magician? What type of power do I have?¡± Zi Di shook her head, ¡°My Lord, you practice battle qi, you are a templar knight!¡± ¡°A templar knight?¡± The youngster immediately became absent-minded, soon after, a memory appeared from oblivion in his mind. In a bright pure-white temple hall, where the sun shone through the towering variegated stained glass windows, illuminating its interior. A group of youths were gathered together and Zhen Jin found himself amid them. The atmosphere was sublime, solemn, and somewhat feverish. Zhen Jin and the other youths swore an oath together¡ª I, so vow to respect and love the living god, the master of the grand empire, Heavenly Emperor Sheng Ming! I, so vow to follow in the footsteps of my commander, to advance bravely! I, so vow to protect my loved ones, to brave perils! I, so vow to treat my friends with good faith, to reject hypocrisy! I, so vow to be loyal in love and until death together, to never forsake! I, so vow to fight injustice, to have compassion for the weak! I, so vow to remain fair, to oppose all falsehoods! From today onwards, I am a templar knight! The memory was fleeting. ¡°My Lord, did you remember anything?¡± Zi Di asked with expectation when she noticed something different about Zhen Jin. Zhen Jin nodded, ¡°Yes. I remembered the moment of vowing my solemn oath when I became a templar knight.¡± When Zi Di heard this, her eyes lit up: ¡°My Lord, give it a try, maybe you can use battle qi now?¡± Zhen Jin clenched his fist and recollected, however, a moment later, his brows furrowed and he shook his head with a bitter smile: ¡°No, I don¡¯t have any memories concerning battle qi cultivation, I can¡¯t even sense any trace of battle qi in my body and I don¡¯t know how to use it.¡± Zi Di¡¯s eyes dulled a little, soon after she comforted: ¡°Perhaps, the time has not yet come. But it doesn¡¯t matter, your Lordship. At least this proves that your memory can be restored! It will...just take some time.¡± Zhen Jin nodded, thinking to himself that although the girl in front of him was weak, she was optimistic and tenacious. Ever since he woke up, she had been consoling him. However, there were still distinct tears on the girl¡¯s cheek at the moment. All of her fingernails were split and slightly bleeding, she was also barefooted, for she had not had time to put on her boots. Although Zi Di only gave a brief description, he understood the previous situation was really dangerous and could be described as dancing between life and death. The most praiseworthy thing was that no matter how dangerous the situation became, the girl never gave up on him while he was unconscious. It could even be said that she had steadfast loyalty and had no regards for her own life! The templar knight¡¯s oath was still ringing in his ears. ¡°It turns out I am a knight, a noble templar knight!¡± Zhen Jin felt honor envelop his body as he raised his head with a prideful heart. Looking at Zi Di again, a warm feeling also rippled through Zhen Jin¡¯s heart. ¡°Then, let me take care of you from now on. Strong purple-eyed girl, my¡­fiance.¡± Translated by: Skyfarrow and Loki Additions and revisions by: Dardex Note: The words for Zhen Jin means Needle Gold. Notes Oh boy the title changed, this happens a lot. Alas the author''s pit of edits knows no limits when it comes to changing things. You have to love that I am forced to keep 2 editions of the same book now. Chapter 3: Turns out I’m a genius Zhen Jin and Zi Di carefully walked alongside the river. The river waters babbled and flowed, the two banks lush with dense vegetation. The two walked until the river gradually narrowed. The terrain slowly formed up into two mounds, facing each other in the distance. The two mounds were not fair apart, rooted on both sides of the river bank but extending over some of the river water. On the mounds, the vegetation was sparse. Zhen Jin and Zi Di went up the mounds and took a look. ¡°Zi Di, you had a pretty good guess. That damned wolf probably came over from here,¡± Zhen Jin spoke with a tone of certainty. The traces of the wolf were quite obvious here. He looked at the girl before him, and his evaluation of her increased by another level. Before the two set out, it was Zi Di who took it upon herself to suggest going back. Zhen Jin had agreed with the suggestion. The island was a dangerous one, and even so when the both of them were empty-handed. To make matters worse, they had no food or water, and it was difficult to collect for themselves. On the other hand the previous search-and-rescue team had been carrying a huge number of supplies. However, walking back via the original route would be too risky. Before this Zi Di had climbed the tree trunk to cross the river onto the opposite bank. Right now after all that incident, the trunk was not stable, and the surface of the trunk was extremely slippery. Zhen Jin had no climbing experience, and Zi Di had admitted that although she had succeeded once, she did not have the confidence to do it again; it was way too dangerous. The first success was practically a miracle, after all! If they ever fell into the river, they would stir up the green vines lurking in the river. The green vines were stout as giant pythons, and were at least Silver levelled lifeforms. However its aura had always been hidden, it could not be felt. If they ever fell into the river, there would be absolutely no hope of survival. Thus, Zi Di began to propose that they walk along the direction of where the wolf came from to check it out. It seemed that her suggestion was quite right. Though the giant wolf was ferocious, it did not have the form of a human and was no expert at climbing. It also knew very well the dangers of the water, so the path it chose to cross over and attack was valuable. The two of them climbed the mound. The mound reached up to about three meters, but the distance between the two mounds was about four meters. After realising this, Zi Di could not help but feel scared and relieved. ¡°Thank god I was in time to shake the trunk to make the wolf¡¯s grasp unstable, so it could not jump. Otherwise I would have been buried in its belly.¡± For the wolf who could jump over four meters of distance, those who battle qi like Zhen Jin could also try it. However for Zi Di, this would be no small feat. ¡°We can create a makeshift wooden bridge,¡± Zhen Jin quickly reached an idea. While animals were fierce and strong, humans had the power of intelligence and could create tools - this was a very huge advantage. Zhen Jin looked around, choosing to take a few steps, coming under a tree. The branches and leaves on the trees on top of the mound were sparse, and looked quite different from the usual rainforest trees alongside the river bank. Zhen Jin stretched out both his hands, grabbing a branch. He gave a soft cry and used all his strength. This tree branch was as thick as a grown man¡¯s thigh. However, under Zhen Jin¡¯s strength, it immediately gave a sharp bend. Yet, next came a standoff. Zhen Jin used all of his strength, his face full of valor; the tree branch decided to portray a tenacity that made him very surprised. In the end, the tree branch did not break, and Zhen Jin¡¯s follow-up strength became smaller and smaller; he could only give up for the time being. He shook his head and looked at Zi Di for a while before turning back to the tree branch that he failed to break. He gritted his teeth and spoke with a tone of anger and humiliation, ¡°I¡¯ll try again, I¡¯m sure I can break it!¡± The look of expectation in Zi Di¡¯s eyes never wavered, and she nodded as she said, ¡°Lord Zhen Jin, with your strength you are definitely able to do it!¡± Zi Di cultivated magic, while Zhen Jin cultivated battle qi. Although he could not use battle qi at the moment, the process of cultivating battle qi had long strengthened Zhen Jin¡¯s body. His own strength, speed and other qualities had long surpassed those of normal people. However, Zi Di quickly said,¡±Lord Zhen Jin, these mounds are rather weird. The soil is reddish brown, and the trees that grow on it seem to be more resilient than normal trees.¡± Zhen Jin narrowed his eyes and observed his surroundings carefully this time, and found that Zi Di¡¯s words were very reasonable. His humiliation and anger in his heart quickly dissipated, and his affections for the girl increased yet again. The young girl did not lose hope towards Zhen Jin in the slightest. She also never gave him empty encouragement; instead the girl had decided to check her surroundings carefully, using her accurate and keen insight to give Zhen Jin some practical help. ¡°Perhaps I should break the branches from the trees of those below the mounds to build the bridge, this will save my strength.¡± Physical strength was important, and should not be wasted simply. It was especially so in the current situation, where Zhen Jin and Zi Di were both empty-handed. When Zhen Jin was about to walk down the mound, a sudden and strange noise rang out from the jungle in the distance. The tall and huge trees fell non-stop one by one, and a gigantic wild beast came into Zhen Jin¡¯s sight. ¡°What is this?¡± Zhen Jin¡¯s pupils shrank. ¡°It looks like a dragon turtle?¡± Zi Di was also shocked. The young boy and girl quickly used the cover of the thickets to hide. ¡°It¡¯s not a dragon turtle,¡± Zhen Jin quickly deduced as he watched the giant beast firmly. Even though he had problems with his memory at the moment, it seemed that his common sense and knowledge was still well-preserved. He knew that the dragon turtle was a type of giant turtle that possessed the blood of the dragon tribe, having a huge body and much strength. However the beast before him was way bigger than a normal dragon turtle. Generally speaking, the dragon turtle would be about as big as a carriage. Any bigger ones would be the size of a mammoth. And yet, the huge turtle before them right now was about six meters in height. That is to say, the dragon turtle when compared to it would be like comparing a young boy standing beside the leg of an adult. The dragon turtle¡¯s head is similar to that of a dragon, and is full of scales. This giant turtle however had a normal turtle head, and it was scarlet red in colour, rough as a rock. There were also two chunks of thick and solid ivory tusks that grew out beside the gills of the giant turtle. The giant turtle was so heavy that every step it took created vibrations on the ground. The shell was ink black and had many holes on it. As it approached, Zhen Jin could clearly feel the air sweltering in heat. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Gold level magic beast!¡± The giant turtle¡¯s life aura was spreading everywhere, and the young couple were full of worry. They were definitely no match for the giant turtle. If the giant turtle decided to hunt them, they would have no choice but to try and jump over to the other side. This would be very risky! For Zi Di, she would definitely not be able to jump across from the mound on this side to the other. However there was still hope for her to use the height difference and jump across onto the thicket on the other side of the river. One thing that gave Zhen Jin and Zi Di little assurance was that the giant turtle had very slow speed. Both teens dared not to breathe, and were staring carefully at the giant turtle. Under their watch, the giant turtle walked straight through the dense jungle in a crushing manner, creating a wide road. After that it slowly came to the river side, staying about two hundred meters from the mounds. The giant turtle stretched its neck, letting its sharp beak dip into the river. So it turns out that it just wanted to drink! However in the next moment, after realising a disturbance, the river water suddenly started like an explosion and a huge number of green vines shot out. The green vines were like dozens of giant pythons, quickly enveloping the giant turtle¡¯s head, then wrapping around the giant turtle¡¯s front two legs and a small half of its body. More than a dozen green vines had wrapped around the giant turtle, dragging it, trying to get the giant turtle into the river water. The giant turtle let out a low roar instead, instantly giving strength into its four legs, holding steadfast on the ground as it fought against the pull of the vines. At the same time, it never stopped gulping huge amounts of river water. More and more green vines shot out from the water, wrapping around the giant turtle. With all its strength, the giant turtle stayed firmly on the soil with its four turtle limbs that were strong as a column. And yet very quickly, the number of green vines had reached over twenty, and the giant turtle was slowly starting to be dragged into the river, inch by inch. Zi Di let out a cold huff; the green vines truly made her heart throb in horror. She originally thought that the green vines in the river were demonic plants of silver level, but with the current events where the green vines were no longer hiding its aura, it turns out that it was actually of Gold level! The green vines and the giant turtle were both Gold levelled beasts, but the green vines had the advantage of territory. Just as both young teens thought the giant turtle would lose, thick black smoke started to spew out suddenly from the holes of the turtle¡¯s shell. The thick smoke plunged into the sky, while copious amounts of heat instantly spread out, causing the air in the surroundings to heat up and burn. After a few breaths, dark red magma began to flow out from the turtle shell¡¯s various-sized holes! The magma flowed along the shell, falling non-stop. The green vines took a hit, instantly getting covered by the magma, and quickly burned up. Over twenty green vines were burned and broke away, carrying flames as they quickly retreated into the river. However the magma continued to flow, entering the river waters, creating water vapour. Thus the giant turtle had successfully escaped the trouble, and moved its legs, slowly turning around and leaving an area of semi-solidified magma. The magma quickly cooled and turned into a field of dark red mound. However, the air was still full of lingering heat, and Zhen Jin and Zi Di were sweating profusely all over their bodies. Zi Di was hardly able to hide the terror in her face, and as she looked at the giant turtle leaving, she said, ¡°I finally understand. The mound below our feet was left behind by the giant turtle! No wonder the land here is so dramatically different.¡± ¡°What in the world was that monster?¡± Zhen Jin marvelled, his heart thumping fast. Zi Di shook her head. She cultivated magic and paid great attention to accumulating knowledge, but even so she knew nothing about a giant turtle with tusks that could spit out magma. Fortunately there was no danger for them - the giant turtle had no interest in them, and Zhen Jin and Zi Di had been very cautious not to fall into the river water. ¡°This island¡¯s animals and plants are extremely weird, this is my first time seeing any of them. We had better leave this place without delay.¡± Zi Di said. Zhen Jin nodded and ran down the mound, quickly carrying a lot of broken pieces of wood to create the bridge. The giant turtle had stepped and broke numerous trees, and this gave Zhen Jin a lot of help. The two of them used the bridge and quickly got to the opposite bank with ease. Then they walked upstream, where Zi Di was able to find traces of her original escape route. Zhen Jin¡¯s heart was heavy. In such a short amount of time, Zhen Jin had seen a silver level wolf, a type of Gold level river vine, and a Gold level giant turtle - this island was just way too dangerous! He could feel that his situation was totally precarious. ¡°I¡¯m unable to use my battle qi. Just by relying on the strength I have now, I¡¯m barely able to break a tree branch.¡± ¡°It was complete luck that I was able to deal with that wolf earlier. At that time, the wolf was in the air and could not change its direction. My sudden awakening and attack had taken it by surprise. It had no way to avoid my hit and fell into the river water.¡± ¡°Those terrible green vines in the water had instantly taken away the wolf¡¯s life. If I were to fight it head on, I would be all bark and no bite.¡± ¡°If I run into another beast like that, what can I do?¡± Zhen Jin was distressed. He was completely unarmed at the moment, and could not even use his battle qi. His memories were incomplete, and no matter how hard he tried, he was unable to unearth a single relevant memory about his battle qi. Without battle qi, he would just be a walking meal in this dangerous jungle. ¡°I can¡¯t even protect myself, what more to say about saving Zi Di?¡± Zhen Jin looked at the young girl before him, and could not help but feel anxious and guilty. ¡°To save me, Zi Di disregarded her own life, how deep her sentiment runs! Even though I spent such a short time with her, she has been so understanding and kind. She is sharp and cool-headed, and has always been trying her best to help me.¡± Zhen Jin watched her back, his emotions unstable. Right now the young girl was leading the way ahead, carefully identifying her previous tracks. The jungle thicket was dence, and if they lost their way, they would no doubt be in even greater danger. ¡°I want to live, and I must protect her at all costs!¡± Zhen Jin once again reaffirmed in his heart. ¡°Oh, right, Zi Di,¡± Zhen Jin suddenly broke the silence and asked, ¡°what¡¯s my skill level like?¡± Without the ability to perceive his own qi, Zhen Jin was unable to tell his own abilities. The young girl slowed down and slightly turned her head, her tone considerate as she replied, ¡°My Lord, the public thinks you have the abilities of an iron level.¡± Zhen Jin could not help but raise his eyebrows slightly. Zi Di¡¯s reply was interesting. ¡°The public thinks ?¡± Zhen Jin asked again while raising his arm a little, motioning to the girl to walk while speaking at the same time. ¡°Yes,¡± Zi Di nodded as she resumed her exploration, ¡°you usually displayed iron levelled ability. But from my guess, it is definitely not the case, because the reason for crossing the sea this time was to fight for the White Sand City Lord¡¯s seat. A city lord must have at least silver level cultivation in order to serve the public.¡± This reply had a huge amount of information. Zhen Jin quickly pondered. His memories were incomplete, and most of it was about himself, while common sense and affairs were relatively complete. At least there was no shortage on that part. The human race¡¯s Sheng Ming Emperor was wise and prominent. Not only was he able to unify the continent, he had also formed an expeditionary force that expanded over the great seas, invading the wild continent. The White Sand City was a fortified castle city that was built by humans atop the wild continent. It was a nail embedded in the wild continent, by the Sheng Ming Emperor. There were more than a dozen similar castles like White Sand City, and the number was still increasing as of now - new castle cities were constantly being built. The human race castles had been placed along the edges, and was rapidly expanding into the hinterlands of the wild continent. Zhen Jin was a member of the human race¡¯s expedition against the beastmen race, except he was not part of the vanguard but a secondary expedition member. ¡°I wanted to compete for the White Sand City lord seat?¡± ¡°Although there are city lords with iron levels, however for the White Sand City of the wild continent, there¡¯s no way they would allow a iron city lord.¡± Zhen Jin was analysing in his heart. Whether it was battle qi or magic, they had all had the sublimation of life essence. Bronze, Iron, Silver, Gold. Bronze level was the quintessence of the human race. The captains of armies would often carry this level of cultivation. Iron level was higher than Bronze, and their life essence was a step higher, so they were often made as the backbones of big and small organisations, such as Zi Di. Silver level would be qualified to serve as the lord of a city, and quell a region. Gold level were even rarer, and would usually be the pillars of a great aristocracy or a small kingdom. ¡°With this guess, I should have the strength of a silver level.¡± ¡°This year, I¡¯m sixteen, and I have already become silver level, so my qualifications must be uncommon.¡± ¡°In any case, I also managed to hide this secret in my daily life, and the public thinks I am only a iron level. It seems that even though I am young, I have a high level of shrewdness.¡± Zhen Jin continued to deepen his understanding of himself. According to his age, to be able to reach iron level would mean he was pretty good. Such is the case for Zi Di. To have silver cultivation at sixteen would mean he could be called a genius. Of course, there were those who were even more blessed. To carry gold cultivation levels at sixteen was not impossible, but it is usually quite rare to find one in a country alone. If Zhen Jin had gold cultivation, he would probably not be dispatched to the wild continent to risk and fight for whatever lord seat. Such a talented genius that appears only one per country would no doubt be protected by higher powers, or killed off early on. This chapter was edited into oblivion by the author, sorry about that - Dardex Skyfarrow Note: Sheng Ming Emperor - Enlightened Sage Emperor, Holy Emperor? Could be appropriate titles. I¡¯m not too sure about this line - the original was Õë½ðÕýÊÇÈË×åÔ¶Õ÷ÊÞÈ˵ÄÒ»Ô±£¬Ö»ÊÇËû²¢·ÇÏÈ·æ¾ü£¬¶øÊǺóÐø³ÉÔ±¡£ I¡¯m not sure if ÊÞÈË means beastmen, orc and whether it refers to the expedition members or if the expedition is hunting them. Green Copper(Changed to Bronze), Black Iron(Changed to Iron), White Silver(Changed to Silver), Yellow Gold(Changed to Gold) - Depending on whether the author wants to make a pun on these metals again, they may be switched to Bronze, Iron, Silver and Gold later on. Chapter 4: I Will Protect You Zhen Jin and Zi Di moved through the dense jungle. Overhead, the canopy grew thicker, almost obscuring the sky. The air was extremely hot and humid. The trees and vines were entangled all around, if one were not careful, they would trip. The ground was soft when stepped on because of the fallen leaves. Zi Di stepped forward: ¡°It¡¯s nearby.¡± Zhen Jin looked around slightly, he knew what she meant. This was the area where she and the others fled for their lives from. According to Zi Di¡¯s story, when the evil wolf chased them, in order to stall for time, the last three guards stayed here and tried their best to hold off the wolf to give Zi Di and the comatose Zhen Jin the opportunity to survive. After walking a few dozen steps around a stout big tree, the two saw a corpse. In the bushes, there were two more bodies about ten steps away that exuded a bloody smell. Their eyes were wide open and their faces still remained frightened and furious. Zi Di couldn¡¯t help but hold her breath as she stood frozen in place. Zhen Jin took a few tense steps and leaned over to investigate. Whoosh! Suddenly, like an arrow fired from a crossbow, a thick black and red shadow flashed from the corpse and aimed towards Zhen Jin¡¯s face. Zhen Jin¡¯s hair flew and as his pupils shrunk to the size of a needle as he reached out. Immediately, the shadow was grasped! ¡°Hiss!¡± The shadow that was grabbed by the head by Zhen Jin and its appearance was revealed to be a strange looking snake. Its scales were black and it''s head was bright red. From its head all the way to its tail was a distinct crimson streak. On the snake¡¯s sides it had thorns as numerous as the legs of a centipede. ¡°This is a bronze level magic beast!¡± Zhen Jin revealed a nervous expression as he felt the life level of the snake. ¡°Ahh, be careful!¡± Everything had happened too quickly and Zi Di had only just reacted. ¡°That is a blood streaked snake and it is extremely venomous. It¡¯s venom is so severe that it would only take a few breaths to kill!¡± Zi Di quickly said, ¡°moreover, its thorns allow it to penetrate leather armor!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as she finished speaking, the blood streaked snake counterattacked. Its body twisted and wrapped around Zhen Jin¡¯s arm and a hundred thorns dug deeply into the teenager¡¯s arm. Blood flowed out and Zhen Jin got hit by a pang of pain. Simultaneously, Zhen Jin felt his arm being squeezed by a great force, crushing his flesh into paste and making his bones groan. His fingers moved quickly and attempted to strangle the snake. However, the snake¡¯s bones were too tough and its scales too smooth. Zhen Jin grunted and slammed the snake¡¯s head on the ground. With his other hand he quickly drew his dagger, raised it high, and stabbed. The dagger seemed to have penetrated the head and nailed the snake onto the ground. The snake countered and its thorns dug in by another inch, making Zhen Jin¡¯s arm even bloodier. But after a few breaths, the snake¡¯s body stopped moving. Although it no longer kept crushing his arm, the thorns were still stuck in the teenager¡¯s skin. Zhen Jin gritted his teeth and retrieved his dagger. After retreating from the carcass, he began to pull out the thorns. Zi Di quickly took out some medicinal powder from her pouch and sprinkled a layer on Zhen Jin¡¯s arm injury. Then she drew a white bandage and quickly wrapped it around his arm. The wound was deep but Zhen Jin¡¯s constitution was very strong. Soon, the blood stopped due to the medicine. Zhen Jin felt a clear and sour sensation mixed with pain transmitted from the wound to his mind. ¡°What kind of medicine is this? How is it so effective? Does this island not prohibit the use of magic and battle qi?¡° Zhen Jin was curious about the immediate effect of the medicine. ¡°This is a herbal medicine from the frozen land¡¯s barbarian tribes. This is not a magic potion but simply uses the power of herbs.¡± Zi Di explained. Magic potions were created by pharmacists by successfully incorporating magical ingredients and stabilizing their magic power. Because potions had magic power, they often worked quickly and effectively. Zi Di looked at Zhen Jin¡¯s wound with red eyes and a sense of shame and guilt: ¡°Fortunately the thorns did not have venom! Sorry my lord, I have hurt you. I should have warned you sooner.¡± Zhen Jin looked at the girl behaving like this with pity and shook his head, relieved: ¡°This is not your fault.¡± After crossing the river, they entered the forest, staying alert to their surroundings. Even when communicating, it was very limited to avoid distractions. However, the blood streaked snake was extremely fast when it leapt out of the corpse and even Zhen Jin did not anticipate it. ¡°Even a snake on this island is so weird and sinister.¡± Zhen Jin returned to where he was before and used his dagger to pick up the snake¡¯s head and cut its body apart. ¡°If only I could use battle qi, I would not have gotten injured.¡± Zhen Jin sighed. Regardless of wthether he had silver level or even only iron level battle qi, as long as the qi defense activated, the thorns would have had a hard time piercing his arm. Zhen Jin observed the snake¡¯s innards and saw its stomach had a lot of undigested food. The young knight¡¯s eyes flashed: ¡°It seems this snake likes devouring prey and lives a bloodthirsty life. No wonder it flew out of the corpse.¡± ¡°Strange.¡± After searching twice, Zhen Jin felt doubtful. ¡°Where is this magic beast¡¯s crystal core?¡± Magic beasts were able to absorb the natural elements and create their own magic. This magic power would over time accumulate to form a magic crystal that was the magic beast¡¯s crystal core! Magic beasts that had just been born lacked a crystal core. An adolescent magic beast¡¯s crystal core was very small, and all adult magic beasts had a crystal core. This blood streaked snake was no newborn, yet it did not have a crystal core. This confused Zhen Jin. Zi Di explained: ¡°On this island there are many strange magic beasts. Although their life aura is very strong, they do not have a magic crystal. The search and rescue team killed some magic beasts before, but did not find any magic crystals in their bodies. Probably because of this, none of the magic beasts showed any proto-magic spells.¡± ¡°It turned out to be like this.¡± Zhen Jin realized. Although the value of a magic beast¡¯s crystal core was not small, if the reason why these magic beasts could not use proto-magic spells was because they lacked magic crystals, then the advantages outweighed the disadvantages for Zhen Jin and Zi Di. Zhen Jin thought about the battle between the green vines and the huge turtle he had witnessed before. "Although the giant turtle had lava flowing from it, there was no magic fluctuation. It was not using proto-magic spells by utilizing its magic power, it was only its biological nature." This was not surprising. Some dragon beast species'' mouths had a poison gland or a special sulfur pouch that when exhaled could create poison breath or fire breath. This was not a proto-magic spell, rather a biological ability of the lifeform. After settling the blood streaked snake, Zhen Jin went to examine the corpses again. On the ground, the two guards lay dead. One had a fatal injury where the entire neck was almost bitten off. Only the posterior neck remained connected. The other body was even worse off, the entire head was violently crushed with cerebral fluids and blood blended together pouring out. These were fatal wounds. These two people¡¯s stomachs are decayed. No doubt these injuries were caused by the venomous snake. Zhen Jin''s expression became austere, he stood up and looked around. He carefully discovered that the surrounding bushes had been severely trampled. In the eyes of ordinary people, the scene was chaotic. But Zhen Jin was able to effortlessly distinguish which tracks were caused by people and which were by the evil wolf. Using these traces in front of him, he was able to visualize a path. The teenager¡¯s eyes narrowed and his gaze followed the visualised path, gradually looking to the distance. But soon, the bushes and the dense forest blocked his vision. Zhen Jin started walking forwards, taking ten steps and walking out of the bushes, turning to a big tree. Then, a rare clearing within the forest was in front of his eyes. Zi Di followed Zhen Jin into the clearing. Zhen Jin looked down at his feet and found footprints in the clearing. This was because the forest floor was filled with many rotten leaves. Heavy rain resulted in these rotten leaves being very moist and damp. Therefore, the heavier the person, the deeper the footprints formed which often created puddles. The space between footprints in the clearing was very far apart, showing that the owner of the footprints, being the guards, were rushing. Zhen Jin contemplated attentively and quietly speculated: "These two guards saw that this clearing did not block their sight and decided that this was the best place to fight the evil wolf." His mind seemed to have replayed this scene. "But when they stayed here, they suddenly found that the evil wolf ran back into the bushes. It seemed to bypass the guards to go after Zi Di." "So the two guards then hastily rushed back and gave up this advantageous location into the bushes to attempt to pursue and block the evil wolf." "In the bushes, the two guards ran with one in front of the other when the wolf suddenly turned around quickly, jumped up and directly bit through one of the guards¡¯ head." "Then, it rushed the guard at the rear and bit his throat!" Zhen Jin speculated using the bodies and various clues. A chill propagated from deep within his heart to his entire being. The blue furred evil wolf had a brutal and ferocious temperament, yet it was still so cunning. It seemed to be able to understand people''s hearts, adopting a combination of lures and composite counterattacks. Its tactics were implemented neatly and precisely, allowing it to successfully and quickly hunt down the two guards. During the whole process, it also took advantage of the terrain and the mindset of the guards to protect their master. Even when it turned around to attack, it was still very strategic in delivering a fatal blow. To the one without a helmet, it directly crushed his head with its fangs. To the one that wore a helmet, it bit his throat. The strength of the two guards did not even reach iron, but they were both bronze. Although not a rival of a silver level magic beast, they could have at least managed to inflict some injuries to the wolf. However, even when the guards sacrificed their lives, they could not make the wolf suffer the consequences. Zhen Jin sighed to Zi Di behind him: ¡°This blue furred evil wolf is sure to have silver level strength!¡± The traces of the battle were the best proof that the evil wolf¡¯s bite force and jumping power were obviously silver level. Zhen Jin sighed with emotion: ¡°The most terrifying part is it has shocking intelligence utterly surpassing any ordinary magic beast. Especially in its ability to use tactics, it is almost comparable to humans!¡± "Generally speaking, wolves are pack hunters and use group tactics. Lone wolves driven away from the pack are either old, weak, sick, or disabled." "Fierce tigers will hide and sneak, slowly approaching their prey then suddenly exert their full strength to kill them in one blow." "Before, when the evil wolf was chasing us, it was obviously unusual.The tactics it used were more insidious and fiercer than a tiger." "It was a fluke that we were able to eliminate it earlier!" Zi Di nodded in deep thought, her face uncontrollably paling by several magnitudes: ¡°I even suspected that the evil wolf had a human soul! The first time we encountered the evil wolf was when the team was attacked from behind by it.¡± ¡°It obviously had the ability to kill us but only dragged away the guard, such that we would rush to his rescue.¡± ¡°Our formation was in disarray, and it took advantage of that.¡± ¡°In the first battle, although we injured it severely, three guards died.¡± ¡°Of course we were very angry for incurring heavy losses. But in the end, the evil wolf was a silver level magic beast and it had long disappeared. After discussing, we decided to carry on looking for you, milord, and temporarily gave up our vengeance against the evil wolf.¡± ¡°Many of us thought that the injured evil wolf would be eaten by the other beasts of the forest. Even if it were still alive, it should have been too injured by our attacks such that it would not dare to provoke us.¡± ¡°But the truth later proved to us that we were wrong.¡± ¡°So terribly wrong!¡± ¡°The second time the evil wolf appeared was six days later. Its injuries were mostly healed and it directly raided our campsite that evening.¡± ¡°It held a beehive in its mouth and threw it into our camp, then it immediately retreated.¡± ¡°Subsequently, a swarm of fire-poison bees assaulted the camp. The poisonous bees were not afraid of fire and contained a strong fiery poison. We eventually repelled the poisonous bees, but four guards got stung and were severely injured, resulting in them falling into a coma.¡± ¡°Their bodies were hot all over and I used every conceivable method I could think of, but I could not lower their temperature. Later that night, they died.¡± ¡°After that, our team suffered repeated attacks by the evil wolf. It became our grim reaper, a nightmare that we could not escape from¡­¡± When Zi Di spoke this, her arms were shivering slightly, with considerable fear still lingering in her heart. Zhen Jin looked at his crying fiance and thought, ''Ah, she is so helpless.'' The young knight couldn¡¯t help but take a few steps forward to reach out and embrace Zi Di in his chest. The girl¡¯s delicate body shook like a frightened rabbit that had returned to its warm nest. Soon, her emotions stabilized in Zhen Jin¡¯s embrace. Zhen Jin lightly patted her back and lowered his head to see the girl¡¯s face, who gradually shied. ¡°I understand your feelings.¡± Zhen Jin softly said, ¡°Right now, I am with you. Unless I fall, I will always protect you and prevent magic beasts from hurting you.¡± ¡°Lord Zhen Jin!¡± Zi Di''s eyes revealed tenderness. The two carried on cleaning the battlefield. Of the two dead guards, one man wore leather armor, however, it was already in tatters. The other was wearing an iron helmet and chainmail. Zhen Jin first took the iron gauntlet and replaced the leather gauntlet he was wearing that had been pierced by the snake¡¯s thorns. Subsequently, he took the iron helmet and chainmail and donned it on himself. A sense of security suddenly emerged. Equipment could, to an extent, bridge the gap in life levels. For example, the blue furred evil wolf was unwilling to use its teeth against the head because of the helmet. As for the iron boots, because they did not fit the Zhen Jin¡¯s feet, the youngster abandoned them. Apart from the protective equipment, there were also weapons. One guard used a longsword while the other used a scimitar. The longsword¡¯s blade was damaged but the scimitar was in good condition. Zhen Jin first held the scimitar in his hands and after swinging it for a while, he slightly frowned. He put down the scimitar and picked up the longsword again. Just when he was about to swing the blade, suddenly a memory emerged in the youngster¡¯s mind. Author¡¯s note Yesterday, the new official group was closed, please don''t add groups for now. Old fans know that reports and criticism have always been with us. This was the case six or seven years ago. Anyway, the road ahead will never lack thorns and grindstones. Without resistance, how can it be called a journey? Tonight, I will discuss this with management, and I will bubble up in the original group. I''m sorry, I can''t reply to private chats one by one. One''s energy is too limited. But everyone''s encouragement and comfort, I can see it and remember it in my heart. Thank you! ! Notes Well this marks the first time I have ever translated a NovelFire chapter ever. It took me like 6 hours to do and I spent most of the time looking through Chinese dictionaries and Google translate to try to figure out what was being said. The most hilarious part was that I realized that mtl default translates Zhin into Pin since Pin is a synonym of needle making me assume our dear MC is actually Pin Jin instead of Zhen Jin. I always thought Pin Jin kinda sounded stupid... As I suspected, my Chinese is limited to mostly ordering food. The reason I did it was because I thought it would help me expand my miniscule chinese vernacular and also I have way too much time in quarantine at this time. Please don¡¯t judge me too harshly Chibi and Sky. Will I do more of these? idk maybe this shit takes forever. Chapter 5: I think I can Restrain Myself Skillfully The sky was gloomy and rainy. In an empty training ground in the middle of a vast open plain. A group of teenagers had formed a circle, Zhen Jin at this moment was falling to the ground in the centre of these teenagers. The teenagers looked down at Zhen Jin and laughed and taunted with faces of disdain. A blue-haired burly figure with hair sticking out from his head like steel needles took the lead. The blue-haired teenager spoke while crossing his arms and stepping on Zhen Jin¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Zhen Jin, always keep in mind, the fact that your Bai Zhen clan is only a viscount and that you are the losers! Did you really think you could stand on equal footing with us?¡± The blue-haired teenager suddenly raised his foot and kicked Zhen Jin¡¯s head and smiled: ¡°Today we gave you a lesson! From now on, no matter where you see us in the castle, you must obediently bow your head and get out of my way.¡± 2 ¡°A lesser noble must act like one. If I ever see you look at me Qing Kui, I will cripple you.¡± 3 ¡°Do you understand?¡± Qing Kui growled as he slammed Zhen Jin¡¯s head into the mud. ¡°I under...understand. Cough cough cough!¡± Zhen Jin quietly said. ¡±Hahaha.¡± Qing Kui smirked, lifted his foot and walked away. Before leaving, he spoke again: ¡°Of course Zhen Jin, if you are not convinced, you can challenge me any time. I, Qing Kui will be waiting anytime anywhere!¡± ¡°Cough cough cough.¡± Zhen Jin struggled to sit up. He coughed again because opening his mouth allowed dirty water to get into his throat. Seeing his depressed look the teenagers lost interest. ¡°Pooh, what a person!¡± ¡°Did he really think he could challenge young master Qing Kui? With what?¡± ¡°An embroidery needle? Hahaha.¡± With the rain falling hard, the teenagers grouped around Qing Kui and burst into laughter as they entered the castle. Zhen Jin sat in the mud and let the rain hit him. He was covered in wounds and had a pale complexion. After sitting for a while, he looked at the sword in the mud. It was his sword. It was a very thin rapier. 4 The rapier sat soaking in the muddy water showing no glimmer of its past. The memory suddenly ended here. Zhen Jin came back to reality and couldn¡¯t help but frown: ¡°I am from the Bai Zhen family? Their territory seems to be located in the south, part of the southern nobles who joined the Sheng Ming Empire in the last one hundred years. It seems we used to have been a count before." 5 Around one hundred years ago, Emperor Sheng Ming swiftly conquered and united the continent even making the most stubborn resistance surrender. These stubborn resistors became the new nobles of the Sheng Ming Empire. However prior to the war, the Southern nobles and the Sheng Ming Empire nobles had a long time hatred for each other. Both parties had many friends and family die on the battlefield. Both were covered in the blood of each other. So when the new nobilty joined Templar Knights like Zhen Jin they naturally suffered from the old nobility¡¯s supression and discrimination. 6 Zhen Jin felt a little puzzled. This is a memory of humiliation yet he did not have any anger or hatred. 7 ¡°Strange, I feel calm as if I am a bystander.¡± ¡°One more thing¡­¡± He focused directly not on the contents of the memory but on a question--why did the memory appear? ¡°This memory appeared when I tried to use the long sword.¡± This was the same type of weapon but when I tried the scimitar I did not have any memories emerge. But when holding the hilt it emerged. Back then at the river, the first thing I could remember is was the oath I took when joining the temple. That time was the first time I heard the word templar from Zi Di¡¯s mouth. Zhen Jin reviewed these two experiences and speculated: ¡°It seems the key to unlocking my memories is to find a trigger point.¡± This trigger could be a word or an object like this sword. Zhen Jin thought deeply. He looked at the ordinary long sword and asked in his heart: ¡°If I were not holding this long sword, but the scimitar would my memories still appear? ¡°If I want to activate my battle qi what kind of trigger should I look for?¡± Zhen Jin and Zi Di dug together and buried the two guards and moved on. Zi Di followed the route they had explored through before to go back. The two dared not go deep into the rainforest. It seems the deeper in, the greater chance of encountering a gold level magic beast. With no way to use battle qi or magic, the two are in a very dangerous situation. Instead of randomly exploring the unknown they retread the same path. At least the current crises during the journey have been solved or were detected. 8 Of course there would also be new problems like the bloodstreaked snake. But compared to other routes this was undoubtedly the safest one. After hiking some more, it was evenfall. The young couple carefully chose a place and arranged to spend the night there. Dry wood and grass were not hard to gather. Zi Di kneeled next to the fire wood with some flint. Click, click. She hit two flints together and quickly created a spark. 9 Fire spread to the grass and turned from orange to red burning quickly. A small smoke cloud rose up. Zi Di quickly put aside the flint and blew once. The breeze fanned the flames and it quickly spread across the hay growing to the size of a fist and turned the smoke thick. ¡°That will do.¡± Zi Di''s visage was joyous, she then stood up and withdrew a few steps. After a while the flames completely spread forming a bonfire. Zi Di put away the two flints. In the past she only needed to snap her fingers to create a small flame. This was one of the magician¡¯s spells. 10 But on this island, iron level magic is completely unusable and impossible. Instead regular firestarters like flint were much more practical. 11 Without flint, creating fire by hand was quite troublesome. As the fire burned it created warmth and light chasing away the darkness of the night. The couple did not use the fire to cook but sat around eating rations and drinking water. Regardless of whether it was the flint, rations, or water all were obtained from the two dead guards. Although the rations are hard to swallow, in this case one can¡¯t be picky. Today¡¯s trek was full of thrills. They managed to stay alive even amongst all the magic beasts including those on the silver and gold levels. They also found a bit of equipment and plenty of food and water. Can¡¯t all of this make them feel happy and extravagant? After eating and drinking, the couple carefully organized the remaining food and water. 12 Zhen Jin calculated in his heart and slightly frowed: ¡°We only have enough food and water for two days.¡± Whether it is a girl or a young man, they need to eat more than normal people. Especially Zhen Jin who needs to eat three times as much as Zi Di. This was not surprising. Zi Di practiced magic and her vitality was iron level. Zhen Jin was likely to have silver level cultivation. The higher the vitality the greater the food intake and nutrition needed. 13 Zi Di estimated: ¡°It will take us seven days to get out of the rainforest following this path. But it doesn¡¯t matter, we brought enough supplies along the way and established many campsites along the way. There are some supplies at these campsites. So if there are no surprises, food should not be a problem.¡± Zhen Jin nodded and felt relieved. He took out the long sword and wiped it with a cloth. Weapons need to be maintained. Although the long sword was ordinary it brought Zhen Jin a sense of security. ¡°Too bad there isn¡¯t a crossbow.¡± Civilians were forbidden from using crossbows but Zhen Jin¡¯s group had some when going to White Sands City. According to what Zi Di said the expedition team searching for Zhen Jin had five crossbows. But along the way they were lost. After the blue haired wolf took a volley of arrows it specifically targeted the shooters and even directly bit the weapons themselves. Seeing Zhen Jin wiping the long sword, Zi Di came over: ¡°My Lord let me examine your injury.¡± Zhen Jin nodded. After removing the bandage, he found that most of his injury had healed. ¡°Good medicine.¡± Zhen Jin praised. He sat on a rock and Zi Di kneeled down. The girl first pulled out some medicinal powder and sprinkled evenly over the wound then softly wrapped a new bandage onto Zhen Jin. Lastly Zi Di put on Zhen Jin¡¯s arm guard. Zi Di looked at the arm guard and sighed: ¡°If only my lord had this iron arm guard earlier then the bloodstreaked snake would not have hurt you.¡± The fire reflected off the arm guard with a blur of orange light and onto Zi Di. Zi Di¡¯s black hair under the light of the fire flashed a halo. Her wheat skin looked delicate. At that moment a bodily fragrance passed through Zhen Jin¡¯s mind. Zhen Jin moved involuntarily and could not help but reach out and stroke Zi Di¡¯s hair. Zi Di shivered. ¡°M-, my Lord.¡± Zi Di bowed her head, Zhen Jin¡¯s actions seemed to scare her, causing her to breathe like a nervous kitten. Zhen Jin saw she was uncomfortable and he quickly retracted his hand asking lightly: ¡°Zi Di what kind of person do you think I am?¡± 14 The young man asked with the memory lingering in his mind. After the second memory appeared he had been thinking and reflecting on it. ¡°As a Templar Knight from southern nobility it is guaranteed to be discriminated against.¡± ¡°But in my memory, am I a coward?¡± ¡°No, not necessarily.¡± Zhen Jin felt there were other possibilities. These days he learned more about himself. Memories only served as one of many ways to judge oneself. For example when Zhen Jin woke up and opened his eyes, he saw the wolf jumping into the air. Instantly without thinking he attacked. In the end, although he accidently killed the wolf, it still showed Zhen Jin¡¯s solid foundation in combat. Subsequently after seeing the giant lava turtle, a powerful gold level creature, Zhen Jin always kept calm and collected even when nervous. Later on when he found the guard¡¯s body he searched it carefully and calmly without disgust as if it were normal. This may be proof that he has battle experience. At the very least, veterans would not react to such things. When following the clues he could easily extrapolate the fight between the wolf and the guards. This power surprised him a little. "In my memory when challenged by Qing Kui I didn¡¯t really fight. There are two possibilities.¡± ¡°The first is that I was weak but trained and became strong.¡± ¡°The second was that I feigned weakness.¡± Zhen Jin felt the second possibility was more likely. The reason being that when the memory appeared, he was calm and even a bit indifferent. If it really was humiliating, shouldn¡¯t his heart have been hateful and angry? Facing Zhen Jin, Zi Di pondered for a moment and responded: ¡°Lord Zhen Jin, I do not know much about you.¡± ¡°But based on the rumors, your Lordship was not close to women and was a loner. Even when something big happened you do not show emotions.¡± ¡°You spent most of your time at the temple as a serious and silent ascetic. Also your food, your clothing, and even your every move were elegant and calm like a rich noble." "Although you had few friends you were very helpful, protected the weak, and helped the poor. The lower class admired you, my lord.¡± ¡°Also my lord, when you suddenly moved your hand and successfully entered the White Sands City Lord¡¯s competition, it was a great surprise to the other templar knights.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Upon hearing this Zhen Jin couldn¡¯t help but frown. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di¡¯s reply made his heart quickly visualize a young man with a castle. But what surprised the teenager the most was that he did not understand the situation between him and Zi Di. ¡°What is going on?¡± ¡°Is she not my fiance?¡± ¡°If it is not love then why did she not leave me?¡± ¡°What is the relationship between us?¡± Zhen Jin wanted to continue asking but suddenly a buzzing noise appeared. The two immediately turned their heads to look at the jungle which suddenly lit up with a thousand ¡°flames¡±. The ¡°flames¡± converged into groups and swarmed Zhen Jin and Zi Di. ¡°What is this?¡± Zhen Jin got up quickly and protected Zi Di with a dignified look. A small part of the ¡°flame¡± exuded a bronze level vitality. ¡°This is?¡± Zi Di saw the true face of the ¡°flames¡± and her face became pale. "These are fire-poison bees! My Lord, we need to run!¡± Zi Di decisively stepped forward and put Zhen Jin behind her. ¡°Go quickly Lord!!¡± Zi Di shouted urgently, revealing a deathly spirit. Author¡¯s note Sorry, today''s update is a bit late. Yesterday, we discussed a way with the management, and tomorrow we will announce a new group of new books. Last night, I spent more than 2 hours communicating with the friends in the group and answering some questions. But there are still many groups that have not gone. I received a message from the management this morning, saying that some groups waited for an hour last night, but I did not come! Bow and apologize here! One''s energy is too limited. This week I will take another time to communicate, and I will start to improve this activity mechanism Notes You know when looking at Zhen Jin¡¯s name, it translates to Golden Needle. Apparently the author has stated this is significant. What I didn¡¯t expect when reading through again was more needle metaphors from him. That was a surprise and I suspect that more are hidden by the veil of mtl in future chapters. Also the author in these past few chapters implies that blue hair is a sign of evil. (I mean he¡¯s not wrong) Side notes Rip Zi Di isn¡¯t a jade beauty with her tan skin. Qing Kui is the first arrogant young master of the series who is also entirely irrelevant for all currently released chapters. I highly suspect that magical weapons are in this world as the sword Zhen Jin has right now is called ¡°ordinary¡±. Finally world building within a flashback cliche. Translation Notes 2. ¸øÎÒ¹Ô¹ÔÈ÷£¬Ëõµ½Ò»±ßÈ¥ translates to obediently give way, and shrink off to the side) (get out of my way sorta summarizes this interaction 3. ϵȹó×å¾ÍÒªÓÐϵȹó×åµÄÑù×Ó: ¡°A lesser noble must look like a lesser noble.¡± is the more direct translation 4. ´Ì½£ translates to bayonet but I feel this can¡¯t be right so I am going to go ahead and translate it as rapier 5. The introduction of the holy light empire. I will translate it as Sheng Ming Empire because translating names usually doesn¡¯t happen. 6. Help plz on this. I actually don¡¯t know if my translation is correct. I tried to get the correct meaning out but I am not sure my translation is accurate 7. uses ºÍ but or makes more sense for grammar 8. Put ¡°current¡± as there will be new problems but all current problems are solved 9. Not sure if I directly translated it correctly but I do know how firestarting works. 10. Ï··¨Ö® translates to trick but I think spell works better unless it really does mean trick down the line 11. debating whether ±»½ûÖ¹µÃËÀËÀµÄ means left for dead 12. Everytime I see ¡°ÉÙÄê,ÉÙÅ®¡± or ¡°ÉÙÄêºÍÉÙÅ® I will use couple. 13. ÉúÃü²ã´ÎÔ¾ translates to level of life which I will translate to vitality. Also cultivation is ÐÞΪ nice 14. Õë½ðµÄÐÄ˼ȴ²»ÔÚ¶ùÅ®Ç鳤ÉÏÃæ: I really want to translate this as Zhen Jin wasn¡¯t a pedophile and he quickly retracted his hand. Chapter 6: Regaining Battle Arts In an instant, the stench of death approached! Zhen Jin¡¯s face darkened. He instantly recalled the day Zi Di encountered the fire-poison bees! The evil wolf 1 which Zhen Jin had indirectly killed had once thrown a bee¡¯s nest into the camp, triggering a swarm of fire bees to attack the search and rescue team. Although the swarm was repelled, there were four members of the team that fell unconscious after being stung. Even though Zi Di used all her strength, she was unable to save them and by nightfall, they all died. Although most of the fire bees were ordinary with only a few being at the bronze level, they all had fire-poison and there were too many. Fire-poison was extremely deadly! ¡°Lord, you must run. I have a potion that can detoxify me!¡± Zi Di urged again. Zhen Jin looked at the girl in front of him, and his heart was moved. Zi Di faced the pursuit of the wolf, never giving up on Zhen Jin who was in a coma. Now she was willing to stay and give Zhen Jin the chance to escape. No matter whether Zi di was telling a lie, or there was such a potion, it had to be rare and could not be wasted on the search and rescue team members. Zhen Jin could not convince himself to leave behind a weak girl to save himself. ¡°You should escape! I can deal with the fire-poison bees.¡± Zhen Jin took a big step forward ahead of Zi Di and quickly leaned over to draw a flaming log from the campfire. The top of the wood was burning and was a natural torch. Zhen Jin wanted to use the wood to defend against the swarm. But when Zi Di saw Zhen Jin move she quickly screamed: ¡°Don¡¯t use fire!¡± ¡°Lord Zhen Jin, these bees aren¡¯t afraid of fire, in fact, it was our campfire that attracted them!¡± Zi Di¡¯s words stunned Zhen Jin. Zhen Jin trusted Zi Di and quickly threw the torch away. The torch flew in a south-east direction fifty to sixty steps away and continued to burn. The swarm reacted instantly and a small part of the swarm pounced on the torch. There were about a dozen of the fire-poison bees that threw themselves into the flames. This sight amazed Zhen Jin as the fire went out after a few breaths. The fire bees fluttered in the flames and flew out again seeming to sway and hold their bellies after a good meal. ¡°What kind of bee is this? It can actually eat fire?¡± Zhen Jin had no time to think because only a small part of the swarm attacked the torch. The rest of the large swarm of fire-poison bees had already reached the couple. Zhen Jin gritted his teeth and dragged the girl behind him. ¡°We can¡¯t escape! Lord Zhen Jin, someone has to lead them away,¡± Zi Di despaired. She frantically spoke: ¡°These fire-poison bees hunt everything hotter than them. The higher the body temperature, the more attracted they are.¡± ¡°Previously we had encountered a group of fire-poison bees when the wolf threw a hive into our camp and attracted the bees to come and hunt us.¡± ¡°Although we fought off the fire-poison bees, four people died and ten were injured because of them.¡± ¡°I did not think that there would be fire-poison bees here as well!¡± ¡°Lord, you quickly run. Now, as long as I stall these fire-poison bees you will have the time to escape!¡± As she spoke Zi Di tried to break free from Zhen Jin¡¯s grasp. But Zhen Jin firmly held her, making it difficult for her to succeed. The two people fled the campfire with the fire-poison bees in hot pursuit. Buzz! The fire-poison bee swarm suddenly separated and a large part and rushed towards the blazing campfire. But there was still a small portion that approached the couple with killing intent. Zhen Jin and Zi Di had to flee to the edge of the campfire¡¯s light. In front of them was the dark jungle of the night. Zhen Jin stopped suddenly. They couldn¡¯t keep running! The jungle was far more deadlier at night, with many ferocious predators prowling about. The environment also greatly reduced human sight. At this moment, if Zhen Jin and Zi Di ran into the jungle they would only doom themselves. 2 In comparison, there was a silver lining to fighting against the fire-poison bees. Because Zhen Jin cultivated battle qi and was a knight, he likely had silver level life essence. To average guards, fire-poison bees were extremely dangerous but to a silver level being, it was a different story. Although the situation was very critical, Zhen Jin did not panic and stayed calm and collected. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, we still have a chance!¡± He suddenly stopped and turned around sharply to face the swarm. Simultaneously, he used his arm to pull Zi Di behind him. Ding! With a whine, Zhen Jin pulled out his sword. While most of the fire-poison bees were now enamored by the campfire, only a dozen faced Zhen Jin. Although the fire was smoldering there was enough light to see. The fire-poison bees closed in! Zhen Jin took a deep breath, stepped forward, and swung his sword, cutting the cold air. Many of the fire-poison bees were struck by the sword. Some were cleaved into two, others fell to the ground, and some were swept up into the air. Having an actual weapon greatly improved Zhen Jin¡¯s attacks! Every time Zhen Jin swung, he felt as if he was chopping a fist-sized chunk of metal. The surface of a fire-poison bee was so tough that it was rare to cut through it. Zhen Jin¡¯s heart sank. The fire-poison bees were more difficult to deal with than expected. The small wave of fire-poison bees was alarmed by Zhen Jin and scattered around him approaching from all sides. Zhen Jin was just one person with a sword. He didn¡¯t even have a shield and had a hard time defending against the attacks of multiple fire-poison bees. In fact, even with a shield, it would be difficult to block such an assault. That was the function of full body armor. Zhen Jin struggled to swing his sword as he was in danger from all sides. The only fortunate thing was that almost all the fire-poison bees were focused on him and not the girl behind him. Suddenly, Zhen Jin felt numbness and then pain. ¡°Lord!¡± Zi Di exclaimed as Zhen Jin used his left hand to pull out a twitching fire-poison bee from his waist. The fire-poison bee was the size of a fist, weighed as much as a chicken egg, and was extremely hard. Zhen Jin wanted to crush it but couldn¡¯t. But the moment when he pulled out the fire-poison bee, Zhen Jin saw the fire-poison bee¡¯s stinger still in his waist. With the stinger severed, the bee in Zhen Jin¡¯s hand died soon after. Despite the pain, Zhen Jin threw away the corpse and continued fighting. His chainmail was just a wire mesh of rings and was strong against axes or blades. But in the face of this stinger assault, it was not as effective. Zhen Jin attempted to use his arm guards as a shield to protect his face against the fire-poison bees¡¯ attacks. As time passed Zhen Jin kept fighting as many fire-poison bees stung him. ¡°Am I going to die here?¡± The situation was dire as Zhen Jin¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Battle qi, I need battle qi!¡± The teenager screamed in his heart. If he could release his battle qi then he would be able to protect himself. Using silver level battle qi would allow him to create a protective barrier around his body to block the fire-poison bee stings. It would be far more reliable as well as more effective at blocking the stingers than the chainmail. But Zhen Jin unfortunately forgot how to activate his silver battle qi. He could no longer trigger his battle qi automatically because of his amnesia! ¡°Silver battle qi! Come to me dammit!!¡± The teenager almost screamed because of the dangerous situation. With the campfire mostly out, it was difficult to make out his face. In this moment of life and death, a new memory appeared in Zhen Jin¡¯s mind! It was an evening in the fall. Zhen Jin was in a study. It was dim inside with the only light coming from a narrow window in the stone wall. The marron desk was made of the finest wood and laying on it was a pen holder, three snow-white feather pens, there was an ink bottle next to the pen holder. On the study¡¯s wall-hung three oil paintings. One was of golden farmland, another a blue castle in the forest, and the last a noblewoman by a lake. Another wall was barren with only a hook and no painting ¡°Zhen Jin, my son, do not bow your head,¡± he said a slightly hoarse voice. Zhen Jin slowly raised his head. He saw a middle-aged man sitting at the desk. He was thin, pale and had two thin and straight beards. His brows were slightly frowning and gave off a stern temperament. Zhen Jin soon found ¡°himself¡± not daring to look at the man, only gazing out the window. The sky outside was covered in the gorgeous light of the setting sun. ¡°Why? Half a month has passed my son and you still have made no progress on the qi restraining skill?¡± Zhen Jin couldn¡¯t help but shift his gaze towards the bottom half of the desk, seemingly afraid to look at the man. The man clearly spoke: ¡°I understand your feelings. You have never been interested in the qi restraining technique. You feel that our clan''s battle techniques are weak, don¡¯t you?" ¡°You feel that our Bai Zhen clan''s bloodline does not give you a strong body of either strength or speed, that it is inferior to even the low-class nobles to the empire, right?¡± Zhen Jin was silent. The nobleman sighed deeply, stood up, and walked around the desk next to Zhen Jin: ¡°Come with me.¡± The two left the study through a dark corridor with motley stone walls and came to the castle garden. The light of the sunset scattered throughout the garden. The garden was in a state of disrepair and gave off a withered color of ruin. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The only thing worth looking at was the big tree in the middle. Its branches were leafless, its roots exposed in the dry ground, and its trunk covered in parasol 3 ¡°leaves¡±. As the breeze blew, the ¡°leaves¡± seemed to move and rustle as if they were alive. Zhen Jin¡¯s father came to the tree with Zhen Jin. ¡°Watch carefully!¡± The middle-aged man took a breath and a gold battle qi suddenly came from his body. Gold battle qi was far more powerful than silver and it completely dwarfed iron level. A gust of wind formed as the golden battle qi spilled out. The child Zhen Jin was forced back, and his eyes narrowed. As the wind howled as the parasol leaves on the trunk were startled and began to fly revealing them to be a large group of tree winged butterflies. ¡°Battle technique¡ª¡ªHundred Needle Wind!¡± The man drew his sword. This was not an edged sword, but a slender rapier. The rapier in the man¡¯s hands seemed to never stop attacking and creating afterimages. In particular, the top of the rapier was covered in battle qi, it seemed like golden stars shining, brilliant and dazzling! The tree winged butterflies were swept away by the wind and golden energy and began to fall to the ground. After a few breaths, the ground was covered by the parasol ¡°leaves.¡± Hundreds or even thousands of tree winged butterflies failed to escape! ¡°Good, amazing!¡± Zhen Jin was dumbfounded as he made a sound. Upon closer inspection, he was shocked to find every butterfly¡¯s head was pierced. The man¡¯s sword techniques were incredibly precise! ¡°Cough cough cough.¡± The man put away his sword, coughing as his face paled. ¡°Do you think our Bai Zhen clan is weak now?" Zhen Jin shook his head. ¡°Every noble clan has its secrets. Not to mention, our Bai Zhen clan was once great nobles of the south! Hundred needle wind is our signature battle technique and our clan''s heritage. Outsiders do not know of this secret.¡± ¡°Running a clan requires strategy. Sometimes we need to stand out like a beast with its teeth and claws bared. But sometimes we need to lay low. Just like right now, our Bai Zhen clan needs to show weakness and reduce our presence.¡± After pausing, the man continued: ¡°Do you know what the basis for learning the hundred needle wind is?¡± Not waiting for Zhen Jin to reply, the man continued: ¡°It is the qi restraining technique.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Zhen Jin was surprised. ¡°Patience, accumulating power, and only erupting suddenly. This qi restraining technique can hide our qi, making it hard for outsiders to sense it or making them underestimate our battle techniques. Simultaneously this technique can also gather power. Only when you are proficient in the qi restraining technique can you use techniques like the hundred needle wind. It can be said that this qi restraining technique is the cornerstone of our clan''s battle arts. Zhen Jin, you are the heir to the Bai Zhen clan. You must practice well.¡± ¡°I understand, I will work harder father!¡± Zhen Jin''s eyes lit up in excitement. The memory was fleeting, and Zhen Jin instantly returned back to reality. Battle technique--hundred needle wind! This time it was a completely different sword art. The chopping and swinging from before vanished, only a stabbing motion remained. The sword constantly stabbed! Ratatata¡­ The tip of the sword pierced the air and was like flying arrows that precisely stabbed the flying fire-poison bees. Zhen Jin was using many unique and difficult skills as his sword tip became a shadow in the air as if it was a faint curtain of light. ¡°This is?!¡± Zi Di looked up with a shock and surprise. Zhen Jin¡¯s counterattack gave her hope. ¡°This is indeed worthy of your Lordship!¡± Zi Di blurted, cheering for Zhen Jin. One by one the fire-poison bees fell to the ground as the hundred needle wind battle technique eliminated them. ¡°Lord...¡± As Zi Di was protected, she looked at Zhen Jin¡¯s back, her eyes reflecting the dying campfire, yet shined brightly. Author¡¯s Note (The previous official Infinite Bloodcore group was blocked due to malicious reporting. After consulting with the admins, I borrowed the approach of other authors. Currently, we have a new official deacon group of Infinite Bloodcore using the fan value verification method. The condition to enter the group is that the individual fan value in the new book "Infinite Bloodcore" is at or above the rank of Deacon or Deacon. (The Q number of the deacon group is not public, in order to enter the group, you must first enter the official verification group of compulsive real fans: 316556526, through private chat screenshots to the administrators. After the fan value verification, the administrators will invite into the deacon group. The first thing you need to do is to get the most out of it. Yet malicious reporting is too serious. We can only raise the bar and identify the enemy first.) (Previously QQ online bubbling activity, I have also done a reflection. In the six or seven years that Daoist Gu has been written, there are many Q-groups, in addition to the ones I''ve set up, that readers have set up and invited me in afterward. For the event a few days ago, I spent 2-3 hours and also only visited 4 groups and answered some questions. This is obviously not going to work, so I plan to streamline the group. Merge the groups that can be merged and withdraw from some readerships. In the future, the scope of activities will be mainly in the official group, but each time the activity is organized, it will be possible to link with the group established by the reader. (Finally, congratulations to the four old friends, Shi Chen, and Shadow Green Lotus, for being the new allies of the new book! Thank you for your support!) Notes This chapter introduces a ton of new concepts into the story. Mostly the concepts of qi techniques and battle arts. I had an interesting debate about how to translate the phrase ¡°battle art¡± as it is effectively the ¡°killer move¡± of this story. Also, I unfortunately do not properly translate the author notes sorry about that. This is mostly due to me being exhausted at the end of every chapter that I can¡¯t be bothered at that point. Translation notes 1. ÄÇÍ·ÒѾ­±»Õë½ð¼ä½Ó½â¾öµôµÄ¶ñÀÇ: that word padding by the author tho. It literally could be ÄǶñÀÇ and the context would still be the same, therefore I shortened it here. 2. ×ÔÑ°ËÀ·: An idiom that means to follow the path to one''s own doom 3. ÎàÍ©: chinese parasol tree/Firmiana simplex. Leaving this untranslated Editor Notes [Monk] This is my first chapter edited out of any works that aren¡¯t my own or those for school. This was a surprising amount of work and it took me around two and a half hours to complete. Obviously, this is my first time and if I kept doing this I would be much faster¡­ But this was only my first run-through. If I was serious I would re-edit it again. However, I¡¯m just doing this for fun and I¡¯ve already spent a lot of time on this. I kept the editing light and tried not to interfere with the word choice and positioning of the translator. Anyways, if you liked this then I may consider doing it again or going back and editing the old chapters. I¡¯m not trying to adhere to any sort of style of editing present in the s, though I may consider it if anybody requests and we get that far¡­ but I¡¯m probably just thinking too far ahead and this will be my last chapter. Chapter 7: Before Life and Death Zhen Jin¡¯s counterattack was successful in wiping out many of the fire-poison bees. However at the same time he attracted more of them. The fire-poison bees kept coming. After thrusting hundreds of times, Zhen Jin¡¯s muscles began to feel sore. 1 After a thousand sword stabs the soreness swelled into pain. The arm swinging the sword seemed to swell the most, and the sword became heavier in his hand. Buzz¡­... The fire-poison bees seemed endless as a large part of the swarm flew out from the campfire, infuriated due to the casualties taken. The swarm of bees seemed like a tsunami pouring over the couple in a single swoop. ¡°Damn it!¡± Zhen Jin cursed in his heart as he did his best to fight on. As the sword became even heavier, Zhen Jin knew he had reached his limit. He was sweating as his mind became faint. he could no longer feel the sword in his arm because his muscles were numb. it felt as if his arm was made of rusty gears being forced to move. Under such piercing attacks, the chainmail was useless in defending him. Zhen Jin gritted his teeth and his heart went out to Zi Di. To protect his fiance, he would not retreat from battle! He used one hand to hold his sword and the other to pull out the fire-poison bees that had stung him. The dead bees were thrown to the ground by Zhen Jin. ¡°My lord, my lord.¡± Zi Di cried from behind. Not a single fire-poison bee attacked her perhaps because Zhen Jin drew all of the fire-poison bee¡¯s ire. Every fire-poison bee had abandoned the bonfire to deal with Zhen Jin. It could also be that because of Zhen Jin¡¯s intense movement that his body had a higher temperature than Zi Di¡¯s. Zhen Jin felt as if time was passing excruciatingly slowly. In the end his eyes finally cleared up and he saw no fire-poison bees before him. All over the ground lay the dead bodies of fire-poison bees. He had won! Zhen Jin¡¯s heart relaxed as his sword fell from his hand, the tip nearly piercing his foot. Zhen Jin felt numb all over his body. But soon all the wounds dealt by the fire-poison bees induced a scorching pain all over his body. He couldn¡¯t feel his right arm anymore as if it didn''t exist. It had become completely numb. ¡°My lord, be careful!¡± Zi Di exclaimed. The scream sobered up Zhen Jin¡¯s numb mind. The bonfire was nearly extinguished as a few more fire-poison bees flew out. There were still fire-poison bees remaining! But¡­.. ¡°I can no longer fight.¡± Zhen Jin smiled bitterly, very clear of his condition. He knew if these fire-bees attacked with the others, he could have killed them. But now he had already relaxed his body and couldn¡¯t even hold his sword. Although he couldn¡¯t feel it, Zhen Jin knew the fire-poison was spreading through his body. A voice in his heart spoke: If you continue to fight, it will cost your life! This was his warrior¡¯s intuition. Zhen Jin trusted this feeling and did not fight on. ¡°Run away!¡± Zhen Jin gritted his teeth with a sigh as he took Zi Di¡¯s hand and swiftly ran away. The couple fled together into the dark jungle. They had to escape. If they stayed, the fire-poison bee¡¯s stingers would take their lives. But by running away, despite the dangers, there was still hope. ¡°I will never give up until the end!¡± Zhen Jin¡¯s eyes were unyielding and his fighting spirit did not wane. Behind him, Zi Di was dragged along, and as she was unable to keep up with his pace, she tripped. Even if Zhen Jin''s strength was rock bottom at the moment, Zi Di was still just a magician after all. ¡°My lord let me stay. I can distract¡­..¡± Zi Di was short of breath. ¡°Shut up!¡± Zhen Jin suddenly turned to Zi Di. The girl cried as she crashed into Zhen Jin¡¯s arms. The next moment the girl was spun around and her vision shifted. When she came to, she realized she had run into Zhen Jin¡¯s arms. Because the couple had rashly run into the dark jungle, they were surrounded by restless sounds from all directions. Zhen Jin attempted to shake off the fire-poison bee swarm but the buzzing swarm kept coming. Even in the moment of life and death, the teenager kept his wits about him. The most direct way to deal with the swarm would be to jump into water to force the swarm¡¯s retreat. But they knew that there were python-like vines lurking in the river, so diving in would be suicidal. In his desperation, Zhen Jin found that his best chance of escape was to sprint along the path he had walked that day. However , his vision and sense of direction was greatly hindered in the dark , forcing him to rely on his fuzzy memory as a guide. After hitting a tree for the third time, Zi Di took a potion from her leather waist pouch. This potion was stored in a glass bottle and glowed like a firefly. With this light, Zhen Jin could barely find his way. The jungle had dense branches and tangled roots. It would be hard to walk here, let alone run! Most of the time, the bushes and ferns formed a blockade. Suddenly Zhen Jin and Zi Di hit a wall of vines! He felt malice exuding from the jungle around him, like countless tentacles reaching out from all directions to block his path to survival. He attempted to break out of the vines despite the thorns scratching his clothes and skin in the dark. The only thing that Zhen Jin wanted was to find the path that he had walked on during the day. Otherwise it would simply be impossible to move quickly through the jungle. Zi Di took out and threw a potion at the fire poison bees. Sometimes the fire-poison bees were attracted and slowed down, but most of the time it had no effect. ¡°What bad luck.¡± Zhen Jin¡¯s heart sank as he ran and found his surroundings becoming more and more unfamiliar. He knew they were stepping into the unknown. Am I going in the right direction? He held his head down and ran wildly. He also didn¡¯t know how far he had gone. Howl! Suddenly a beast pounced from the bushes. ¡°What is that?!¡± Zhen Jin cried upon seeing a black leopard. 2 The bloody scent of a predator assaulted his senses! By some fluke, he managed to dodge out of the way this time, and continued to run without looking back The fire-poison bees flying behind them and the beast that looked like a black leopard became entangled with each other. The black leopard quickly lost and took the initiative to retreat. Because of this, the distance between Zhen Jin and the fire-poison bees increased. But the fire-poison bees despised Zhen Jin and would never give up. As the chase continued, the distance between them and the couple grew shorter. Zhen Jin was approaching his physical limit, his legs feeling like lead. He was feeling weak and started to slow down. As the terrain became steeper, a seemingly bottomless cliff appeared before the two by the light of the fireflies. While fleeing they had lost all sense of direction and were in unfamiliar territory. The fire-poison bees were coming from behind. ¡°There is a cave over there with light!¡± Zi Di suddenly said. The cave had a distinct but weak orange light coming from it and seemed to be inhabited. Zhen Jin exhaled with bright eyes as he and Zi Di plunged into the cave. When they entered the cave, a searing odour rushed into them. There were no signs of human activity in the cave, there was only a uniquely peculiar glowing ore. This ore was bright red and emitted intense heat, and gave of a shimmering orange light. From the mouth of the cave, the size and quantity of the ore seemed small, however the deeper one went into the cave, the more both increased. After a few hundred steps, Zhen Jin felt like he was in an oven and Zi Di was already sweating. It was impossible to continue moving forward. The hot air inside the cave would steam them alive. However the fire-poison bees also entered the cave to chase after them like the grim reaper. The two were being hunted by the bees and had to grit their teeth as Zhen Jin led Zi Di further down into the cave. Here the life and death chase had reached its peak. Hope emerged within Zhen Jin''s heart: Although he couldn¡¯t fight the fire-poison bees, he could still use the terrain around him to somehow escape the fire-poison bee¡¯s assault. As far as he knew, the fire-poison bees used heat to lock onto their foes. The higher the heat, the more fearsome the fire-poison bees¡¯s attack! The future was dark, but there was still a glimmer of light struggling. The couple clenched their teeth and pushed themselves to their physical limits, as they staggered forward one step at a time. The cave became narrower, and the red hot ore began to cover the walls. The walls were too hot to touch! ¡°There are traces of beasts.¡± Zi Di suddenly whispered. Zhen Jin looked where the girl was pointing and saw claw marks on the cave wall. To live in such an extreme environment, this wild beast was definitely not simple! Zhen Jin¡¯s heart sank and gave a wry smile. Why should he care about a beast? He had no choice! After the fire-poison bee swarm entered the cave, although they were distracted by the ore and lied down to absorb their heat, they never gave up on attacking them, and were always flying close behind. The future was uncertain. The couple could only stubbornly go forward. 3 Suddenly, Zhen Jin¡¯s body started to sway. Soon his body and mind began to feel dizzy making him almost pass out on the spot. ¡°This is bad.¡± Zhen Jin¡¯s footsteps and vision began to tremble like an earthquake, making it hard for him to stand upright. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The fire-poison bees attacked! Zhen Jin had to put his hand on the cave wall. Sizzle¡­.. The cave wall burned his leather gloves as black smoke rose from them. Simultaneously a stench came from Zhen Jin¡¯s body. The smell caused the fire-poison bee swarm to become agitated as they gave up the ore, replacing their laziness with killing intent straight at Zhen Jin. Zi Di suddenly turned pale. She suddenly realized: Not only did fire-poison bees chase things based on heat, but also by the smell of its fire-poison! Fire-poison emitted a special smell that excited the fire-poison bee¡¯s fierceness. Zhen Jin had a lot of fire-poison in his body meaning many fire-poison bees died at his hands. In Zi Di¡¯s fright, she poured a potion onto Zhen Jin¡¯s body in an attempt to hide the fire-poison¡¯s smell. To her surprise it worked. The fire poison bee swarm¡¯s killing intent dissipated and they once more focused on the boiling rocks around them. ¡°Quickly, the potion will only last for a short time.¡± Zi Di put her arms around Zhen Jin¡¯s shoulder and carefully dragged Zhen Jin forward. After just a few steps, Zhen Jin felt his head spinning and lost his sense of direction, making progress truly difficult. 4 The fire poison burned his entire body, his head felt like a giant ticking clock. He had only a small bit of clarity in his mind as he weakly said to Zi Di: ¡°Go, escape now.¡± Her body contained no fire poison, thus the fire poison bees in the cave only wanted to attack Zhen Jin. Zi Di had the possibility of escape! But the girl fiercely shook her head, her eyes tearful as she resolutely said: ¡°No my Lord! I will not abandon you. It was with great difficulty that I found you and reached this point. We cannot give up now!¡± Zhen Jin sighed and suddenly pushed Zi Di away. ¡°Go quickly!¡± ¡°No my lord!¡± As the two pulled each other they suddenly slipped and fell. The fire poison bees flew overhead. The moment of death came! Zi Di closed her eyes and Zhen Jin glared at the swarm as he lay powerless to stand. He stared hopelessly at the fire-poison bees flying above, they were only a finger¡¯s length away from his face¡­.. Suddenly from within the cave¡¯s depths came a beastly roar. The roar echoed on the cave walls intimidating and throwing the fire poison bees into disarray. They seemed drunk as they collided into each other midair. Dong dong dong¡­¡­ Soon after, a series of noise resembling hercules beating a war drum resounded within the cave. The head of a monster swiftly appeared. The figure was so fast that the couple¡¯s eyes could only see a black shadow in the wind. The mysterious cave monster faced the fire-poison bees. Faced with this monster, the aggressive and savage fire-poison bee swarm began to panic and run away. The monster quickly pursued them out of the cave. Inside the cave it was quiet. The couple laid down and gasped for breath in a momentarily daze. Notes Nothing like having your first relationship issue being who is going to sacrifice themselves for the other. Also did you know the author really likes chase scenes? I mean it''s super common in Xianxia but he loves using it as a plot setup a lot. The longest chase scene I think I¡¯ve read from him lasted around 30-40 chapters actually. Translation notes So the editors suggested that although Zi Di constantly says ´óÈË it in fact doesn¡¯t translate to ¡°senior but rather ¡°my lord¡± based on context. ¼¡Èâ means muscle but also shares a similar pronunciation to chicken. I wonder if anyone has used this as a pun before. ¡°Cried¡± was put in here cause Chinese doesn¡¯t feel like adding a verb beside just stating Zhen Jin saw something Ó²×ÅÍ·: persevere/stubborn ¾Ù²½Î¬¼è: chinese idiom translated as ¡°to make progress only with great difficulty¡± Chapter 8: Berserker Potion Inside the cave, the couple had faces full of bewilderment. They were unexpectedly still alive! Zi Di got up first and looked at the footprints. The beast had created a shallow pit with every step. This fearsome beast¡¯s physique and power could be seen immediately. Luckily, the couple were not stepped on. ¡°Lord!¡± Zi Di exclaimed as she attempted to use her arms to lift Zhen Jin up. However, Zi Di was just a frail magician incapable of lifting Zhen Jin¡¯s body weight and armor. In the end Zi Di could only pull Zhen Jin a small distance and lean him against the cave wall. 1 At this moment, Zhen Jin was in a terrible shape. When Zi Di touched his body, she found it as hot as the ores around them. The effects of the potion had worn off and the stench from Zhen Jin¡¯s body was more intense than before, nearly suffocating Zi Di. Zhen Jin weakly spoke: ¡°Go, Zi Di, leave this place.¡± He couldn¡¯t even move his head as swaying his head slightly might render him unconscious. As Zhen Jin raised his hands in front of him, he saw numerous illusionary arms. His skin had become red and swollen, his body temperature was also extremely high. 2 As his eyelids swelled, his field of view was severely affected. Zi Di, upon realizing the circumstances, nearly drowned in despair. She knew how terrible the fire-poison was. Members of the exploration team had died from fire-poison. These people had suffered before dying. At the time of death, their eyes swelled so much that they became blind. Their throats and noses also swelled, making breathing difficult. The cause of death was asphyxiation! 3 Although Zhen Jin had a silver level body, he was unable to resist the fire-poison. Within his body was a lot of fire-poison. 4 Fire-poison was cruel, a true horror. Facing Zhen Jin again, Zi Di shook her head: ¡°I will not go. I will not abandon you. My lord, I may be able to concoct a potion, surely I can create the correct potion! We have a chance. We can¡¯t give up!¡± Zhen Jin¡¯s vision was fuzzy. It was if his eyes were glued shut and no matter how hard he tried he couldn¡¯t open them. In his blurred vision, he saw Zi Di sitting and crying as she took out every single potion from her small waist pouch. She quickly poured a potion to corrode the ground and created a small hole in the ground. Soon after, she began to mix many of the potions together. Then she took out many dried herbs and roots from her bosom and crushed them into a powder. Afterwards she poured them into the hole. Gurgle¡­.. The potion in the hole began to bubble. Zi Di gazed at the medicine, constantly mixing it and occasionally rubbing her eyes because the potion irritated them. Zhen Jin wanted to advise her again but he soon discovered that he couldn¡¯t speak anymore. His throat was burning and swelling so much he had difficulty swallowing saliva. His tongue was extremely numbed, as if his body didn¡¯t have one. His willpower and sense of his surroundings were quickly dissipating in his state of half-consciousness. In the midst of his daze, he sensed a cool liquid in his mouth sliding down his throat. Although his throat felt like it was closed off with a rock, the cool liquid still went down and rapidly melted the blockage, clearing a path. The feeling of the cool liquid gradually spread throughout Zhen Jin¡¯s body. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhen Jin¡¯s consciousness rapidly returned. Zhen Jin opened his eyes and vaguely saw Zi Di¡¯s figure lying on him. The girl¡¯s hands had covered and smeared potions all over Zhen Jin¡¯s body. Because of the fire-poison, Zhen Jin¡¯s skin had swollen and his clothes and chainmail tightened around his swollen skin. With the help of the potion¡¯s medical effects, his red and swollen skin quickly shrunk to its original size. The subsequent bone piercing chill made Zhen Jin shiver. Zi Di busied herself with smearing the potion, because the cave was too hot she started sweating profusely and her robe stuck to her body due to the sweat. After smearing the potion, the girl¡¯s purple eyes brightened up with hope as she stared at Zhen Jin unblinkingly. Zhen Jin felt as if he were a drowning man that had reached land, slapping water out of his chest. He opened his mouth and gasped for air. After exhaling the hot air from inside his body, he felt as happy as one seeing rain after a drought. As he gradually became conscious, Zhen Jin discovered he was drooling. Zi Di saw clearly with her eyes: Zhen Jin¡¯s entire body was rapidly contracting. His condition was clearly improving. ¡°My lord, you woke up!¡± Upon seeing Zhen Jin¡¯s eyes completely open, Zi Di was pleasantly surprised. To be frank, she didn¡¯t know how many potions she had mixed together. ¡°How long was I out?¡± inquired Zhen Jin. ¡°Only a minute¡± Zi Di replied. Zhen Jin¡¯s heart immediately relaxed: ¡°We need to leave this cave now.¡± Without a doubt, this was a dangerous place. Previously, the fire-poison bee swarm had run away upon seeing the cave monster and that monster was likely to win. Once the monster won and returned to the cave, the couple were sure to be prey for the monster. Going deeper into the cave was dangerous. Who knew if there was a path down there? If not, then this was a dead end. Zi Di pulled Zhen Jin up. Zhen Jin used the cave wall to stand up. The glove gave off a foul odor as it burned on the scalding cave wall, but Zhen Jin was happy. Because regardless of whether it was feeling hot or smelling a burning odor, these were all normal bodily senses. Previously, he couldn¡¯t feel anything. Now to Zhen Jin¡¯s surprise and suspicion, he sensed that within his body was a new power, making him feel stronger. Upon seeing Zhen Jin¡¯s doubt, Zi Di said with a look of terror and guilt: ¡°My lord, sorry, I mixed in too many berserker potions." After drinking a berserker potion, one could temporarily draw a huge amount of potential from their body, giving them a massive boost to combat power. However, in exchange, it could greatly harm their body. ¡°You did the right thing! No need to blame yourself.¡± Zhen Jin patted her shoulders, clearing the uncertainty. ¡°We need to go now.¡± Zhen Jin urged as he attempted to walk. Although his mind was still a bit dizzy, it had alleviated by a lot. Zhen Jin soon discovered: His body could walk and even run on his own. With his body¡¯s strength increasing, Zhen Jin felt that even his chainmail was as light as a feather. "It seems that the berserker potion has fully stimulated my lifeforce. But what will happen when it wears off?" This was a hidden danger weighing down on Zhen Jin¡¯s heart. Under normal circumstances, after using a berserker potion, a person would become extremely weak. Zhen Jin¡¯s body had fire-poison and Zi Di¡¯s hastily created medicine didn¡¯t really solve it. Only by using berserker potions combined with other medicines could Zhen Jin¡¯s lifeforce explode and resist the fire poison. That was it. ¡°No matter how it was done, I will use this opportunity to escape. Even if I can¡¯t, then at least I can save Zi Di!¡± Zhen Jin was already dying. He knew his time was short and his memory was damaged but knew: ¡°Zi Di is my fiance and our relationship is somewhat complicated, who knows what ulterior motives she has.¡± ¡°But she stood by me from the beginning and would rather sacrifice herself instead. No matter the dangers she faced.¡± ¡°How can I repay such a girl?¡± "Can I be called a knight if I can¡¯t even protect my own fiance?" Zhen Jin swore secretly he would give his all to protect this girl. The two together rushed out of the cave. They quickly arrived at the cave¡¯s mouth. From outside came the sound of beasts fighting. The battle outside the cave was extremely intense. Zhen Jin and Zi Di looked at each other in bewilderment, then decided to quietly sneak to the mouth of the cave to take a look. The fire-poison bee swarm had already disappeared long ago. Now there were two other parties fighting. One party was the monster that drove the fire-poison bees out of the cave. This monster had a rock solid physique. Although it seemed to be a brown bear, it had a pink monkey tail. It stood like a man and its arms were not that of a bear but of an orangutan. Its hands had four fingers and its sharp and long fingernails seemed to be made of pitch black iron. 5 The other party were black leopards. Their bodies were not covered in fur but rather in scales. In addition they also had a sharp rhino horn on their heads. In front of the monkey-bear were dozens of these single-horned black scaled leopards. Judging from its aura, the monkey bear was a silver level magic beast. In comparison, most of the scaled leopards were bronze level magic beasts with only the leader and a few others having an iron level aura. The leap of leopards sieged the bear from all sides. The bear was powerful and none of the leopards could match it alone. The leopards charged forward only to be slapped back by the brown bear''s palm. However, the leopards quickly got back up. They seemed very tenacious and could easily resist such attacks. As Zhen Jin and Zi Di watched the two sides become deadlocked, they glanced at each other with worry. If they went out, the leopards would surround them and tear them to pieces! ¡°My Lord if there is a chance, rush out. No need to care for me.¡± Zi Di said in a low voice. Zhen Jin shook his head and rejected his fiance. Even by himself, he didn''t have a large possibility of breaking the leap¡¯s blockade. What made it worse was that he had to escape with Zi Di. This was too difficult! Besides¡­ Zhen Jin¡¯s own situation was full of concealed concerns. Once the potion¡¯s effects wore off, the fire-poison would flare up and put Zhen Jin¡¯s life in danger. What should I do? "If only I had battle qi, if only I could use battle qi¡­¡± Zhen Jin felt depressed and distressed. He had a weapon within his body but couldn¡¯t use it. Notes Metaphors! Descriptions! The bane of all translators. On a more serious note, you can actually see the author project his own personal feelings through Zhen Jin and Zi Di¡¯s situation. The last sentence is especially poignant considering the situation that he personally went through. Imagine spending a majority of your life honing a skill that was supposed to carry you throughout your life only for it to suddenly be ripped away. What would you do? This is the question that both the author and Zhen Jin have asked themselves. Would you learn a new skill from scratch or cling on to what you know? Editor Notes (Deus) author is telling us his problems. Zi di represents RI, Zhen jin represent his current situation, while the leopards represent the xi clan. He can''t bear to abandon RI which he wrote for so long. The future is grim. Zhen jin is poisoned. Who knows his current situation. Maybe the Xi clan already got to him. The fire poison bees might represent his haters. They poisoned him. Lmao kek Translation notes Due to panthers normally being considered solitary hunters, I have changed the translation to the other possibility which is ¡°leopards¡± to put it more in line with real life animal behaviors. Also to clarify a ¡°leap¡± is the group name of leopards. Also the term berserker potion can be translated as fury/frenzy/berserk but in the end berserker potion became the translation of ¿ñ±©Ò©¼Á. I presume that Zi Di brought Zhen Jin to a gap on the wall that wasn''t covered in ores. ÓÖºìÓÖÖ×: idiom that means to become red and swollen. Õû¸öÈËÏñÊÇÅòÕÍÆðÀ´ translates to whole person is swollen which seems redundant to put into translation. I do what I want Deus, google is a thing. Using suffocation is for plebians The literal translation is hilarious. ¡°His body saved poison very good¡± It was at this moment I realized why the Tie Clan from RI had an ¡°Iron Mask¡± inheritance. Their clan is literally ¡°Iron Clan.¡± Chapter 9: We Are Still Templar Knights! There were no opportunities! As Zhen Jin and Zi Di hid in the cave mouth, they paid close attention to the fight. Throughout the fight, the leopards were active and cooperated with each other, keeping the monkey bear surrounded and in the center If the couple ever left the cave, they would immediately expose themselves to these beasts. The chances of leaving the cave and surviving was small. They would definitely not do it unless they were forced to. The longer Zhen Jin watched the fight, the more fearful he felt. As the two sides fought it out, it became clear that the numerous scaled leopards had the advantage over the monkey bear who fought alone. Although leopards were not solitary animals and typically formed leaps to survive, such a large leap of leopards was simply unprecedented. On this island, not only were the creatures terrifyingly varied in shape, size and abilities, but their behaviours were also dramatically different. Zhen Jin had some speculations about why these scaled leopards were here. He remembered when the fire-poison bees were chasing him that he had encountered a mysterious leopard-like beast. In the end the beast had lost against the swarm and fled. This mysterious beast could have been a scaled leopard. It could have returned to its pack and led them to follow Zhen Jin and Zi Di¡¯s trail as the two fled, leading to their arrival here. ¡°These black leopards don''t want revenge against the fire-poison bees per say, but rather I fear they wanted to hunt me and Zi Di.¡± ¡°Thinking of it this way, the monkey bear saved us from a disaster¡± But Zhen Jin was not thankful. The monkey bear drove away the fire-poison bee swarm and was now fighting the scaled leopards, giving Zhen Jin and Zi Di a chance to survive. But if it won, it would still prey on the couple. It was all simply a coincidence. Roar! The leader of the black leopards suddenly pounced onto the monkey bear¡¯s back and bit its neck. The monkey bear flew into a rage and frantically shook its body. But the leap leader tenaciously clenched its teeth as it was nearly flung off, holding on only by its bite on the monkey bear¡¯s neck. The bear had stout flesh and only bled for a moment. It extended its orangutan arms and used its sharp claws to penetrate the leopard¡¯s scales, stabbing the leopard¡¯s body. The head black leopard wouldn¡¯t let go even if it died. Meanwhile the remaining black leopards also attacked. One by one the black leopards pounced, pushing the bear to the ground. ¡°A chance!¡± Upon seeing this, Zhen Jin decided immediately, he dragged Zi Di and ran out of the cave. But at this moment, a few of the remaining black leopards saw them. They immediately howled and lunged at them. The rest began to stir. 1 Zhen Jin and Zi Di were forced back into the cave by the leopards. The black leopards did not chase into the cave because of the monkey bear¡¯s explosive counterattack. It¡¯s two claws emitted a blazing aura that made them glow red like molten steel. The bear rolled around crazily, shaking off most of the leopards. It then used its claws to ruthlessly stab into the leap leader¡¯s body. The leap leader struggled frantically as large amounts of blood splurted from its mouth and nose. Rip! The next moment, the monkey bear brazenly tore the leopard leader in two. Its red claws gave off a scorching aura as if it were freshly smelted steel. The fiery iron-like claws easily penetrated the leopard scales. With the bear¡¯s great strength, it became a weapon of slaughter! Shortly after, it had slaughtered all the black leopards in the area! S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The leopards suffered a disastrous defeat. Although the monkey bear was the victor it was miserable. It was blinded in its right eye, its entire body was covered in wounds, and it was drenched in blood. Its arms, claws, and legs were cut to the bone. Its worst injury was on its neck. The leap leader had bitten it deeply and seemed to have nipped an artery. This wound was now constantly bleeding. The monkey bear received heavy losses in order to repel the leopards but decided not to pursue them and instead started to walk back to the cave immediately. Without any options, Zhen Jin and Zi Di could only retreat. An injured beast is often more frightening. Fortunately the bear was gravely injured and walked back slowly. The couple were forced to go deeper into the cave¡¯s depths. If the cave only had one path, then they and the bear would ultimately meet and be forced to fight. But Zhen Jin was not sure. He originally had a long sword but lost it at the bonfire. Now his only weapons were two daggers. He had one while Zi Di had the other. The couple retreated deeper into the cave. The best case scenario would be that the cave had multiple paths. However something unexpected happened. The monkey bear had walked halfway when it suddenly stopped. It started using its claws to dig ore out of the walls for it to devour. It ate the fiery ores! Zhen Jin¡¯s pupils dilated as he secretly watched. He was amazed to discover that as the monkey bear ate the ores, its wounds gradually healed. The bear¡¯s weak and dispersed aura was steadily stabilizing. Zhen Jin came to understand what was going on. ¡°It turns out these ores are the monkey bear¡¯s food!¡± He had seen many claw marks in the cave before, and thought that the monkey bear was just sharpening its claws. After seeing this, it seems that the claw marks were the result of the monkey bear¡¯s meals. 2 The monkey bear¡¯s condition was rapidly improving. Zhen Jin and Zi Di looked at each other gravely. Now they had two options. The first is to continue to retreat and hope to find a fork in the cave and use it to avoid the monkey bear. The second was to fight the monkey bear and seize the advantage while it was still injured! Both options carried their risks. The first would give up their golden opportunity and let the monkey bear recuperate smoothly. If the fork didn¡¯t exist they would still have to fight the bear. As for the second option, Zhen Jin did not know if he could fight the monkey bear. Although he had a supposed advantage, if there was a fork in the cave and he ended up dying fighting the monkey bear, wouldn¡¯t that be too miserable? Zi Di suddenly grabbed Zhen Jin¡¯s hand, her purple eyes revealed her decision---it was all up to Zhen Jin! Zhen Jin was caught between a rock and a hard place. This was a decision of that determined life and death! More importantly, this not only determined his life and death but also Zi Di¡¯s. A heavy responsibility lay on Zhen Jin¡¯s shoulders. Zhen Jin¡¯s eyes darkened for a time, but soon a light of perseverance appeared. He grasped Zi Di¡¯s hand and then let go. He took out the dagger and slowly approached the busily eating monkey bear. Of the two options, Zhen Jin was not sure. He lacked any reliable information to help him decide. Therefore he decided to follow his instincts--he preferred to fight and attempt to strangle the throat of fate. He didn¡¯t even have a sword, just a small dagger. Closer, closer. The distance between Zhen Jin and the monkey bear was getting smaller. The bear was still eating, perhaps because this was his home, perhaps because he just had a bitter battle, whatever the case may be, it did not notice Zhen Jin approaching. But at this moment, Zhen Jin¡¯s complexion changed. A memory appeared from his mind. ¡°Damm it, not now!¡± Zhen Jin¡¯s heart powerlessly cursed, as he was forced to recall a memory. In a dimly lit old tavern filled with chattering people ¡°We are victorious!¡± ¡°Drink to your heart¡¯s content¡± Zhen Jin found himself in a corner wearing knight¡¯s armor surrounded by others also in armour. It was obvious that he was one of them. Although these knights had scars on their armor, capes, and bodies, they were still very excited. It appeared to be a post war celebration. ¡°Glory Be¡± someone cheered, ¡°could anyone in the world stop us templar knights?¡± 3 ¡°Thinking back, that recent battle was difficult.¡± another lamented. Someone else spoke with fear while stroking a wine cup: ¡°I almost lost control of my mount.¡± The sighs of the templar knights drew a sneer. ¡°What kind of hardships are these? Children, you are all too tender.¡± The voice attracted the gazes of Zhen Jin and the rest of the knights. It came from an elderly man. He had a grizzled beard, a majestic physique, and was wearing plate armor adorned with gold and silver, distinguishing him from the surrounding knights. The templar knights didn¡¯t respond but instead looked on with reverence. The noisy tavern suddenly became silent. ¡°Commander, tell us, we know you are a veteran of many wars. For instance, tell us about the siege of the Iron Banner Castle, the campaigns against the blood knights, or the protection of the Griffin Cliff. Which one of these battles do you think was the most difficult?¡± Someone asked. The commander chuckled but did not answer, rather he lifted his wine cup and drank it. As soon as he put down his empty cup, a templar knight next to him served a full cup. The commander reached for the wine cup, this time not guzzling it but rather took a small sip of the beer foam. He only had a left eye which reflected the light of the fire and shone with reminiscence. He began to speak: ¡°When it comes to difficult battles, it would have to be that one, six years ago at Jackal Valley." ¡°I know, that was the Fir Knights massacre!¡± Someone shouted excitedly. Many people narrowed their eyes and glared at Zhen Jin. The commander nodded and continued: ¡°That''s right it was at Jackal Valley. Those southern nobles are all treacherous scum. They are despicable, shameless, capricious. ¡°We had been marching for five days. We had just entered Jackel Valley when our allies suddenly betrayed us! We were surrounded by thousands of murderous Fir Knights." ¡°The fifth legion that had just retreated from the front lines were attacked without warning. Thirty percent of them died on the spot and almost all of the remaining thousand were injured." The Fir Knights launched wave upon wave of attacks. Our camp¡¯s defenses were barely enough. We repelled the second wave at the cost of 300 men. The third wave struck and killed 200 men. After the fourth wave attacked, we only had 80 men left. ¡°We had frantically used up all of our berserker potions. There were none left. Even worse was that the enemy had a powerful man who called himself the Corruptor. This magician was extremely ruthless and under his spells our weapons and armours were corroded away." "We were in dire straits. The Fir Knight commander demanded we surrender. 4 " ¡°We knew the southern nobles wanted to capture us as an important bargaining chip for favorable negotiations with the emperor.¡± ¡°Hehe, but he underestimated us templar knights!¡± ¡°We negotiated for a while and began to charge!" ¡°Even without a sword, we are still templar knights.¡± ¡°Even without armor, we are still templar knights.¡± ¡°Even without horses, we are still templar knights.¡± ¡°Even without supplies, we are still templar knights.¡± ¡°No matter how numerous or powerful the enemy or how small we are, we will never surrender.¡± ¡°Because we are templar knights!¡± Notes Sometime ago. Zhen Jin: ¡°I want my memories back!¡± At the same time the monkey bear thought to itself, ¡°why are my claws curling?¡± Based on what we know about the southern nobles, it is clear they are a dastardly and scheming bunch. Knowing this I theorize that before Zhen Jin got hit with the ban hammer amnesia, his personality held more similarities to Fang Yuan than what he is like now. Translation notes Everytime you see ¡°monkey bear¡±, the author uses the full name aka (monkey tailed brown bear) and whenever you see just ¡°bear¡± the author simply uses ¡°brown bear¡±. This will apply to all animals stated. ´À´ÀÓû¶¯: idiom that means ¡°to begin to stir¡±, ¡°to get restless¡±, to become threatening¡± Ô­ÒÔΪÊÇ: idiom that means ¡°to believe oneself infallible¡± As you said, this is a cheering onomatopoeia, so i first thought ¡®huzzah¡¯ considering the medieval times setting- but a further look into the context and them being templar knights, i decided to use ¡®glory be¡¯ which is a old and rarely used cheer for celebration [Deus] ͶÎÞ·: idiom, ¡°in a tight spot¡±, ¡°to be in an impasse¡±) (ÏÝÈë¾ø¾³: sunk into dire straits) Kinda weird that both of these idioms are slapped together like this when they both mean the same thing but whatever Chapter 10: I Am Bold Enough to Not Have Fear The tavern was quiet. Every templar knight had stopped moving and were listening to the words of the commander. Each of their young faces were filled with excitement. ¡°We will charge!¡± ¡°We will die!¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± The commander laughed, stroked his thick beard, and wiped the stains of wine from his proud face. ¡°My strength was limited. I had been struck by countless swords and fell among the corpses like a dead dog. Haha, when I woke up I found myself at the temple. I found out after that the entire 5th legion died except me.¡± ¡°The Fir Knights let no one off. Every corpse was run through with a spear. Luckily, the one who stabbed me used a rapier. The knight¡¯s rapier stabbed me through the eye, blinding me and penetrating my brain.¡± 1 ¡°The emperor personally saved a dog like me. He asked if I wanted a reward.¡± ¡°I begged him to provide me with knights so that I could rebuild the 5th legion!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you kids are here right now, did you know that?¡± ¡°Do you know of any other way the Templar Knights could have recruited new knights so easily?¡± ¡°You brats have got shit luck. Do you think you youngsters are the greatest because of the recent battle?¡± The commander shook his head and continued to drink. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 2 He spoke briefly but roughly, yet the faces of the young knights in the tavern were all shocked. 3 They excitedly discussed amongst each other. ¡°What I know is that, in the battle of Jackal valley, the 5th legion with only 1000 knights was enough to destroy 5000 Fir Knights and destroy three of their regiments.¡± ¡°The Fir Knights had been cleaning the battlefield when three templar regiments struck as quick as lightning, burying them all in Jackal valley.¡± ¡°The Fir Knights were the Southern Noble Alliance¡¯s number one trump card. This battle crippled the backbone of the Southern Noble Alliance!¡± ¡°Those are our templar knights all right!¡± ¡°No one can surpass us. No one can stop us!¡± ¡°Even trapped in dire straits, we will hold our heads high and meet death head on.¡± ¡°Charge, charge, charge to meet death!¡± The atmosphere of the tavern became lively once more, as the young knights faces became red by wine or their excitement. The scene of the memory faded but their voices lingered in Zhen Jin¡¯s ears. Charge! Charge! Charge to the death! Zhen Jin was bound by honor and rushed to fight without a second thought. 4 The monkey bear immediately stirred as it heard movement. But it was sluggish due to its heavy injuries, by the time it turned its body, it saw the teenager midair! Zhen Jin sprinted and jumped, his dagger flashing with cold light. 5 The bear was caught off guard as the dagger stabbed its remaining left eye. In a split second it was blind. ¡°Roar!¡± The bear flew into a rage as pain engulfed its blind eyes, it burst out completely, revealing its vicious and fierce nature. The bear swung its arms fiercely and Zhen Jin was unable to dodge its attack. He could only curl up his body and block with his arms to protect his face and chest. Thump. With a muffled sound, the youngster was flung away from the bear twice as fast as he had approached it. He stiffly smashed into the cave wall, his arms broken from blocking the attack of the monkey bear. And because of how hard he hit the cave wall, his shoulder blade and back ribs suffered many fractures. The impact also caused internal bleeding and organ damage. Zhen Jin cried out and coughed out a mouthful of blood. 6 Sharp pain spread throughout his whole body as the teenager¡¯s complexion turned deathly pale. Even in such circumstances, he still felt power from the depths of his body. This was the effect of the berserker potion! As he coughed out blood again, Zhen Jin used his legs to push himself out of the crater in the wall. ¡°Kill!¡± He snorted quietly and charged toward the bear once more. In a flash a fierce wind whistled past his ears. He felt that he had broken through the limits of pain because as the pain increased, so did his excitement. His arms were completely numb and seemed like thick noodles flying behind, as the teenager madly dashed forward. The bear¡¯s attack was no small matter, it had shattered the bones in the teenager¡¯s arms, minced his flesh, and his body was barely holding together. The bear went mad as it thrashed around the cave wildly,causing the ores to splatter about. The small scattered ores hit Zhen Jin¡¯s body, his complexion became dark. He suddenly lowered his body, dodging the monkey bear¡¯s claws, and charged as fast as he could! He stepped on the cave wall and suddenly leaped into the air once more. The bear did not sense it as it was already blind and filled with rage. Zhen Jin timed his fall and used his right foot to stomp on the dagger in the bear¡¯s eye. Poof. Blood and brains splattered out as the dagger pierced the bear¡¯s brain, the only part of the dagger that remained outside the eye socket was it¡¯s hilt. Howl-! The bear wailed in pain, the most pained wail it had ever let out in it¡¯s entire life. Using its beastly instinct and intuition, it grabbed Zhen Jin. Its sharp claws heating up and turning red once more. The sharp claws skewered Zhen Jin¡¯s waist, impaling the youngster to the ground. The claws were strong enough to penetrate the hard rock of the cave wall. The claws began to slice through Zhen Jin like a hot knife through butter. Zhen Jin roared in pain as his intestines and flesh burned. At this moment, he completely felt the pain of the black leopards. ¡°My lord-! ¡° As the bitter fight played out before her eyes, Zi Di could not help but cry out in sorrow. The cry reached Zhen Jin¡¯s ears allowing him to regain a trace of clarity amidst the sharp searing pain! The claws had practically anchored his stomach to the ground. At this moment, the monkey bear began to lean over, its bloody mouth right in front of Zhen Jin¡¯s face! 7 At this critical moment, the teenager used all of his strength to twist his body to the limits. The bear was blind, Zhen Jin smoothly evaded its attack. With a thump, the bear¡¯s head hit the ground, its teeth bit the dirt, spraying small stones and gravel about. Since Zhen Jin¡¯s arms were long broken, under this desperate situation the youngster¡¯s only option was to bite the bear¡¯s neck! The bear¡¯s neck had a terrible wound. This was the heavy price paid not long before in the monkey bear¡¯s fight against the lead scaled leopard. There was no fur and the bone could be seen in the wound. Zhen Jin leaned in and after a few bites he tore off a mouthful of flesh from the bear. Although the wound had been bleeding, the bear ate ores to stop the blood. However, it now suffered the bites of Zhen Jin, which cut the arteries inside causing fresh blood to violently gush out, the blood flowing out even faster than before. In a split second, blood was all over Zhen Jin¡¯s face. Zhen Jin closed his eyes as the blood flowed like a small waterfall, filling the air with a putrid hot fishy smell and having a hint of sweetness in its taste. Zhen Jin was still desperately fighting as he constantly tore at the bear¡¯s flesh. As a result, large amounts of blood flowed into his throat, nearly choking the teenager. But what was the point of breathing right now?! The fight between the two parties had reached its most crucial moments. Who will win and who will lose. Who will live and who will die? Zhen Jin began to choke as his lungs filled with the monkey bear¡¯s blood. The bear mournfully roared in panic! It couldn¡¯t see the teenager, but it could still feel Zhen Jin¡®s weak body. Zhen Jin was unexpectedly more vicious than any beast it had seen in its entire life! Zi Di stared blankly as she watched man and beast tear at each other, her eyes despondent, her body shocked in place like a statue in awe. The bear tried to pull out its claws and tear the youngster to pieces, but failed every time. It knew it was at the limits of its power. After suffering wounds at the hand of the teenager, its strength quickly waned like an avalanche, it did not even have enough strength to pull out its claws. 8 Bang. Finally, the bear fell to the ground motionless. Its body was several times bigger than Zhen Jin, yet ultimately it was the loser. Zhen Jin also fell to the ground and began to cough violently, vomiting chunks of flesh and blood repeatedly. After spitting up flesh, the teenager could finally breathe. His chest moved up and down as he gasped for breath like a drowning man who reached ashore. 9 After taking a breath several times, he began to cough out blood again. He didn¡¯t know if it was the bear¡¯s blood or his own. The teenager¡¯s head began to feel dizzy. He wanted to get up but failed. The bear claws still pinned his bleeding waist to the ground. During the fight, the wound had been violently pulled apart, completely tearing it. The claws burned his innards black as they oozed from the wound. The teenager hit the ground with a plop. ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± He weakly laughed, looking at the bear¡¯s corpse. The laughter resembled the 5th legion commander¡¯s. Soon after, Zhen Jin''s eyes gradually became lifeless and his laughter faded. After a few breaths, his eyes lost their luster. The berserker potion had worn off. The youngster lost consciousness. For a moment, whether it was human or bear all was still. Notes ¡°So you survived that?¡± ¡°Hahaha, absolutely not!¡± -excerpt from a bookworm, sun-cat, and a ? green boi (from where? Tell me) If you have read RI (book 1) you are probably aware of the infamous bear scene. Well fear not readers for this time it is the bear that is eaten! I mean sure it only cost Zhen Jin his guts and arms, but... still a win is a win. Deus¡¯ Notes I have no clue how he survived that fight. The author went on to get the injuries so severe that he was unlikely to survive. A bit overkill imo. More importantly, why did the girl do literally nothing? Didn''t she have a dagger as well? Couldn''t have author allowed Zi Di to sneak up behind the monkey bear and help zhen jin kill it? Bad move imo, it makes her look completely useless other than in moments where her info dumps and magic are helpful. Another thing I could criticise is the random switching of flashbacks and actions. Hopefully he improves this bullshit. xD (²¹µ¶: spear/knife) Technically it translates to bayonet or knife. However bayonets are basically knives on guns which turns them into spears so yea. (¹·ÊºÔË: dumb luck really doesn¡¯t fit) (²»¹ý»¹Ì«ÄêÇᣬ¸Õ¸ÕÄÇÒ»³¡ÕÌ£¬ËãµÃÁËʲô: i hate this sentence) (face are excited is literal translation) (ÒåÎÞ·´¹Ë: idiom meaning honor does not allow one to glance back/duty-bound not to turn back / no surrender / to pursue justice with no second thoughts ) (cold light. Meaning ready to kill) This is the first appearance of ¡°coughing blood¡± in this book, a classic chinese description to denote pain and battle. (ѪÅè´ó¿Ú: bloody mouth wide open like a sacrificial bowl (idiom), ferocious mouth of beast of prey) ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i hate this sentence so much (wonderfully done, if i say so myself) This idiom is the author¡¯s Mt Tai, I shit you not. Chapter 11: Indulging in Life and Death Darkness. In the darkness the youngster slowly recovered his consciousness. ¡°Where?¡± 1 ¡°What is this place?¡± ¡°Where am I?¡± No one answered, the darkness was shrouded in silence. ¡°Who am I?¡± ¡°Why¡­..am I here?¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± The teenager stood up impatiently and felt he had forgotten something important. He racked his brain to remember something but failed. He began to struggle, wanting to free himself from the cage of darkness. Suddenly, an illusory light appeared before his eyes. The small light was distinct in the darkness. Light and shadow flickered as the teenager suddenly started to remember. It was as if he returned to the tavern, the place where he celebrated a victory as a templar knight. He had listened to the commander¡¯s teachings there. The light amidst darkness resembled the dim tavern candlelight. The youngster felt warmth as he dizzley lied down. At this moment, he heard a beastly roar. Along with the beastly roar the illusionary light suddenly solidified. The teenager was disappointed to find himself not in the tavern but inside a scorching cave. Endless pain flowed unceasingly like the ocean waves. Zhen Jin felt he was like a small sampan that could collapse at any time from the raging winds and tidal waves. 1 Besides the pain, it was also hard to bear the dehydration and intense heat as well as the intense dizziness. None of this was unfamiliar to Zhen Jin ¡°The fire-poison flared up again!¡± He thought. His stomach was still pierced by the bear¡¯s claws, making it hard to get up. The teenager needed all of his strength to even slightly raise his head. Then, he found the bear¡¯s corpse as well as the familiar figure busily leaning over the corpse. It was Zi Di extracting the bear¡¯s blood. She wiped her eyes from time to time, her face filled with anxiety. Zhen Jin immediately relaxed, he had heard a beast¡¯s roar and thought one would attack. Seeing Zi Di safe and sound, he relaxed, causing his head to fall powerlessly and hit the ground with a thump. 2 sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zi Di was startled and upon seeing Zhen Jin being awake once more, she cried out with pleasant surprise: ¡°My lord?! Lord Zhen Jin, you woke up!¡± She immediately hurried over to Zhen Jin¡¯s side. As she moved close, Zhen Jin saw the girl''s red and swollen eyes as well as her tear stained cheeks. Zhen Jin wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t His tongue and throat were swollen, he could only force a smile. At this moment, the teenager realised that if another beast attacked, Zhen Jin¡¯s current state was unable to protect his fiancee. 2 Zi Di spoke: ¡°My lord, the fire-poison has flared up again, the previous potion will not work again. I was in the middle of making a new potion that will surely succeed! Believe me, my Lord, you must not give up!¡± ¡°I am certain I can save your life!¡± Zi Di comforted Zhen Jin but it was also to deceive herself and raise her own self confidence. Zhen Jin nodded, but this slight movement caused him to fall unconscious again. He did not know how long he was in the darkness when he heard a beast¡¯s roar again, allowing him to awaken once more. After finding that no beasts were attacking, Zhen Jin realised in his heart: ¡°Is it only a hallucination? How long was I unconscious for this time?¡± He looked around and found Zi Di at his side. This time the girl wasn''t extracting bear blood, rather she had sliced open Zhen Jin¡¯s arm and was extracting his blood. The bottle was already half filled with blood. The youngster¡¯s blood which was being drawn appeared to be dark red and boiling hot. Upon seeing the teenager awakening once more, Zi Di immediately said: ¡°My lord, I am treating you! I am drawing out your poisoned blood to weaken the fire-poison in your body.¡± The youngster was speechless. Strangely enough, this time he didn¡¯t feel any pain. This was definitely not a good thing. Sensing pain was part of a normal human body¡¯s senses, it was its warning mechanism to remind the body to protect itself in time. Zhen Jin knew his body was in terrible shape, not only did the fire-poison flare up, he also had grave injuries from fighting the bear. Not feeling pain implied all of his nerves had been destroyed. Only in his mind did he feel a sense of dizziness and pain. The teenager dared not to move easily. From his earlier experience, even a little movement would knock him unconscious again. Zhen Jin could only look up at the ceiling of the cave. Regardless of whether it was the wound or the blood being drawn, he couldn¡¯t feel or hear anything. The youngster felt strangely peaceful at this moment. Soon enough this tranquility gradually vanished, replaced by an encroaching sense of fear. Yes, fear. He felt scared! He knew death was coming and was afraid of dying. In fact, when he had confronted the bear, he had faced death head-on, however at the time he didn¡¯t have the leisure to contemplate it. The feeling of Death slowly creeping forward was not a pleasant feeling!! The teenager felt his life slipping away without a sound. From the depths of the teenager¡¯s heart the desire to live rose up. Yet his life still slipped away like water in his hands, no matter how hard he tried, it would eventually all be washed away. He found himself to be like a lamb that could only wait to be slaughtered by the grim reaper. Zhen Jin originally thought his courage was enough, but now he felt scared and feeble. This fear was so real and intense that Zhen Jin realised--even if one had training and faced many trials, it was impossible to be completely calm in the face of it. Because he realized--all life would be afraid, all life instinctively possessed the desire to fight for their own survival. Fear was like a fog that shrouded one¡¯s heart. At the same time, Helplessness, despair, confusion, anger, and other emotions also gave rise to fear. 3 Zhen Jin began to pray. ¡°O Great god, o supreme emperor¡­..¡± 3 He was a templar knight, he believed in the current human ancestor god, Emperor Sheng Ming. 4 Human ancestor, Emperor Sheng Ming was humanity¡¯s leader. He had a cultivation level that surpassed the legend level and walked the world as a god. Zhen Jin went on to confess to Emperor Sheng Ming. He attempted to confess his past sins, but awkwardly discovered that because he had lost his memories, he couldn¡¯t remember any. As a result, he could only pray to the Emperor to pity him after death and to bless and protect Zi Di so that she could escape from this treacherous island smoothly. However when the teenager prayed to the god he had served all his life, there was no response. 4 Not even the smallest response. ¡°Every templar knight receives Emperor Sheng Ming¡¯s attention. Don¡¯t tell me that this island can separate believers from god?¡± With such doubts Zhen Jin sank into darkness once more. Like before, a beastly roar shook heaven and earth waking Zhen Jin once more. This time upon waking up Zhen Jin furrowed his eyebrows. He could feel intense pain once more! The pain was different than before, this time his whole body felt like a pincushion. Every inch of skin, every inch of muscle, all parts of his body felt like they had been tortured countless times. Not only that but the fire poison was flaring up and burning more intensely. The teenager felt like he was thrown into a bonfire and combusted into flames. ¡°It worked, it worked!¡± Zi Di¡¯s voice sounded in his ears, the girl seemed to be full of emotions. Zhen Jin shifted his gaze and saw her move, he was shocked. This girl wasn''t extracting bear blood or drawing his blood, but surprisingly was pouring blood on Zhen Jin¡¯s wound. That was definitely the bear¡¯s blood! Zhen Jin was originally riddled with injuries, the biggest being the terrible wound in his stomach. But now, the bear claw scars running through Zhen Jin¡¯s stomach were gone. 5 Zi Di had poured many potions on the wounds, mixing many colors like a painter. An unending stream of bear¡¯s blood was poured and quickly absorbed by this dense pigment. Zhen Jin¡¯s body currently resembled drought-stricken soil, regardless of how much bear blood Zi Di poured, it was all rapidly absorbed. ¡°What kind of treatment is this?¡± Will it really work?¡± Zhen Jin looked at himself and couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill in his heart. The more bear blood he absorbed, the more intense pain he felt grew. But at the same time, his heart felt more powerful. Bump, bump, his pulse quickened. The teenager saw an illusion: If his heart was beating faster, he feared it would jump out of his broken body! Zhen Jin¡¯s concerns did not last long as he fell unconscious again. It was because the pain had intensified so greatly that it was to a point far beyond the limits of what a human body could endure. Notes This chapter is one of the more important ones related to both Zhen Jin¡¯s abilities and character development. Keep the title and this chapter in mind as you continue to read. Templar knights are demigryphs confirmed. Sigmar Sheng Ming must be proud of them even if their army composition isn¡¯t full of hellstorms and volley guns like the Supreme Patriarch would have wanted. Deus¡¯ Notes Is this where his bloodstone(?) powers show up??? At the start of this chapter I was wondering if he lost all his memories again. That would be hilarious, starting from scratch again. The last thing I expected zhen jin to do was pray to god lmao. Also, wasn''t his family part of the southern alliance which fought against the sheng ming emperor? Why is he a devout believer? Didn''t Sheng Ming screw over his family? Translation Notes A Sampan is a flat bottom chinese fishing boat °²È»ÎÞí¦: safe and sound (idiom) Rejected immortal gu club Ban appeal whether it be the ccp or youtube in a nutshell These both mean disappeared, gotta love word count padding Editor Notes [Not sure how to fix¡­ but this sounds super awkward in english considering he asks ¡°Where am I¡± right after¡­ maybe it sounds better in chinese but this gives me a headache](doesn''t sound too bad. I mean just consider him being confused and asking where he is. Nothing rare) What are you, american? Bruhhhhhhh Its fucking ren zu!!! Chapter 12: Could It Be that I Am a Genius? Zhen Jin did not know how long he had been unconscious when he woke up. The birds were singing, soon after, a breeze brought the fresh scent of flora. Zhen Jin stared blankly for a moment, but soon recovered. The first thing he found was that the sharp pain that tortured him had disappeared, with only some faint aching sensations remaining. He tried to raise his head, discovering that all the dizziness had completely vanished. Afterwards, he realized his body was covered in blood stained bandages, with his waist having the most. Zhen Jin tried to use his arm to raise his upper body. His entire body was weak due to being starved for several days and his mouth and tongue were parched. 1 When he succeeded in sitting upright, he froze in shock. 1 He looked at his arms and hands. Originally his bones had been shattered and his flesh mutilated by the bear. But now, they had unexpectedly recovered almost completely! However, his arms seemed to appear abnormally red, as if they were boiling hot. ¡°Did Zi Di really succeed? Brilliant!¡± 2 Zhen Jin couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. If it were magic or sorcery 3 then there wouldn¡¯t be a problem. But here, Zi Di couldn¡¯t use magic. To achieve this with just a potion showed how great its power was. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me my fiance is a master pharmacist?¡± Zhen Jin couldn¡¯t help but guess. He looked around but didn¡¯t see Zi Di anywhere. The teenager quickly discovered he was not within the depths of the cave anymore. This was not where he had fought the bear to the death, rather, it was near the cave¡¯s mouth. Here, the ore was sparse, the air was not burning hot, and one could hear the birds singing outside. As the wind blew in and out and the birds sang, the tides of Zhen Jin¡¯s heart surged up and down. 2 His gaze fell on the cave entrance, he saw many red and blue wildflowers blooming on the sides, one after the other. Zhen Jin quietly watched as his eyes welled with tears! After being on the edge of life and death for so long, he cherished this view of ordinary scenery. As he looked at these unremarkable wildflowers, with their small and tender petals shaking in the wind, his body and soul pulsed. 4 This was the pulsation of life! ¡°I am still alive, I am still alive!¡± Zhen Jin couldn¡¯t control his emotions, his joy seemed as vast as the ocean¡¯s water covering the beaches. However, after a while, Zhen Jin¡¯s intense emotions slowly dissipated. He once again became worried. It was still dangerous here. Zhen Jin didn¡¯t forget about the many dead scaled leopards outside the cave. Their fresh bodies would attract many carnivores. After so many days, Zhen Jin had completely seen how treacherous this island was and knew that he couldn¡¯t underestimate it no matter what. The youngster tried to stand up but failed. Just sitting was his limit. His whole body had gone soft, especially his waist. He felt that it was incomplete, and he had no strength in his legs. ¡°You''re awake!¡± said a familiar voice. Zi Di appeared from the cave mouth, her face full of disbelief. Zhen Jin nodded to her and faintly smiled. Zi Di eventually confirmed this and threw herself onto Zhen Jin¡¯s chest, her mind surging with emotions. Zhen Jin nearly collapsed as she fell into his arms. He patted his fiance¡¯s shoulder and said with a hoarse voice: ¡°I heard you never gave up.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Zi Di nodded and released Zhen Jin. Her unblinking violet eyes fixed on the teenager. 3 Two pairs, four eyes. 4 Zi Di excitedly spoke: ¡°Lord Zhen Jin, you really are a true templar knight!¡± In that moment, the teenage knight felt all of the young girl¡¯s admiration and love. Nothing was hidden. Zhen Jin forced a smile and shook his head: ¡°Not really, I am still unable to use my battle qi.¡± Zi Di positively spoke: ¡°My Lord, surely you will remember!¡± The girl¡¯s faith in Zhen Jin was more abundant than his own. ¡°My lord, when you were unconscious, I cleaned up the battle and processed both the leopard and bear carcasses.¡± ¡°I made use of the bear¡¯s blood to create a last minute potion. I also sprinkled the potion around the outside of the cave/near the cave mouth. Now the bear¡¯s scent fills the wind which should ward off any other predators. ¡°In addition, I also explored all of the cave¡¯s depths. There was only one path in the cave. My lord you made a wise decision! Zhen Jin nodded again, and his worries vanished. ¡°My lord, how are you feeling right now?¡± Zi Di once again began to examine Zhen Jin¡¯s wounds. ¡°I am feeling great, but my strength has not recovered.¡± Zhen Jin answered truthfully. He watched the busily working Zi Di, appreciating this girl even more. The girl was only at the iron level and couldn¡¯t even use magic, yet she had great skill in pharmacy. It seemed that Zhen Jin risking his life to defend this girl had paid off generously. Without this girl¡¯s assistance, Zhen Jin feared he would have already died! 5 Besides appreciation, Zhen Jin¡¯s heart rippled with another emotion. Zi Di and Zhen Jin relationship was too close for an unmarried couple. Zhen Jin initially determined that both parties had ulterior and complex motives. 5 However, regardless of the details, the comradery formed from life and death experiences that both of them went through was not fake. ¡°My lord, your present situation has stabilized. The reason your strength is lacking is simply because of a lack of rest. As long as you have enough food and water for a few days, you should be able to walk normally again.¡± Zi Di issued a serious judgement after her examination. ¡°This was all thanks to your potion.¡± ¡°Zhen Jin praised. Zi Di shook her head: ¡°The situation was dire, the potion I made was too simple and crude. To tell the truth, I didn¡¯t know what would happen. I didn¡¯t know all my efforts would result in this strange effect! Perhaps¡­¡± 6 Zi Di wanted to say something but hesitated, her flickering purple eyes gazing at the teeanger with curiosity. Zhen Jin laughed: ¡°What do you want to ask? Don¡¯t worry.¡± Zi Di then said immediately: ¡°Senior, do you really have silver level cultivation and not gold?¡± Zhen Jin muttered to himself: ¡°Why are you so skeptical?¡± Zi Di spoke: ¡°My lord, perhaps the potion had such an effect. However I feel the possibility of this is low. I believe that it is more likely that you possess a powerful lifeforce, my lord!¡± ¡°Those at Silver level cultivation cannot possess this kind of lifeforce, only with a gold level lifeforce can such a phenomenon occur. 6 It seems you relied more on your innate healing ability to get past this challenge.¡± ¡°You believe my cultivation isn¡¯t at the silver level but rather at gold?¡± Zhen Jin frowned. He couldn¡¯t help but look at his arm once more. His arm was now nearly as good as before. The teenager distinctly remembered that both of his arms had been severely maimed. His waist was originally severely wounded as well. Yet, according to Zi Di¡¯s observations, the wounds on his belly had already disappeared as new flesh grew back. To be frank, this kind of cure is only slightly weaker than simply regrowing limbs. ¡°Is this truly all the potion¡¯s doing?¡± Zhen Jin was also skeptical. His heart suddenly jumped: ¡±Don¡¯t tell me my talent is so unusually outstanding that I am not simply silver, but rather gold level cultivation! Could it be that I am a genius?¡± 7 ¡°In that case, why did I hide my talents?¡± ¡°Could it be because someone wanted to strangle my growth, so I was forced to endure silently until now? With his heart heavy with doubts, Zhen Jin found no answers and could only shake his head and force a smile. He said to Zi Di: ¡°Your guess might be true, but I am unable to answer you. It is because I have only remembered a few short memories, that is all. It was quite unfortunate the youngster did not know the truth of his affairs. Zi Di took some water out of her bag. Zhen Jin accepted it and drank it in small mouthfuls. ¡°My Lord, how do you feel after drinking?¡± The girl¡®s face was nervous and concerned. As Zhen Jin was savoring the water, he muttered to himself: ¡°I am not feeling any pain, everything is as normal.¡± As Zi Di heard that, she exhaled a bit: ¡°That¡¯s good, but I still need to observe you.¡± 7 Zhen Jin had only drunk a bit of water and hadn¡¯t eaten anything. 8 Despite only quenching his thirst a bit, Zhen Jin knew what needed to be done. Although he seemed to have recovered from his external wounds, he could not see the state of his internal injuries. Zi Di couldn¡¯t use her magic in this place and wasn''t a doctor. Zhen Jin also couldn¡¯t use his battle qi. After drinking for a bit, Zhen Jin laid down to rest again and gradually relaxed. Zi Di had attempted to scout to the ends of the cave and came to the conclusion--this cave was incredibly deep all thanks to the monkey bear. It had eaten its way into the mountain and gradually created this cave. This extreme length of the cave was proof that the monkey bear spent a long time living here. The monkey bear was a silver level beast and lived with great authority, capable of intimidating the surrounding predators. Its previous victory over the leap of scaled leopards showed that no predator dared offend it. These wild animals did not know that Zhen Jin had killed the bear. Currently, it seems the environment was safe. This cave could serve as a temporary camp. When Zhen Jin woke up, it was morning. At noon he drank some more water. He drank a little more this time. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Finally in the afternoon, he wanted to urinate. However he was still limp and couldn¡¯t stand. ¡°My lord, let me help you.¡± Zi Di had been watching Zhen Jin closely and was good at reading body language. She sensed the teenager was a bit embarrassed and understood why. Zhen Jin was forced to lie down on the floor with Zi Di¡¯s assistance and smoothly urinated. 9 ¡°My lord, I am your fiance, there is no need to be embarrassed.¡± Despite Zi Di''s words, her cheeks were flushed red, her hair was slightly curled up, and her entire head seemed to be steaming. 8 Zi Di not only put on Zhen Jin¡¯s pants, but also carefully observed Zhen Jin¡¯s urine. ¡°My lord, it seems that your injuries have recovered well. You can drink water at ease. However you need to be cautious when eating.¡° Zi Di reported. Zhen Jin nodded, and he felt a little joyful. The human digestive system was as important as the urinary system. Zhen Jin would rather lose both his arms than have digestive and urinary problems/issues. Losing an arm was inconvenient, but having a breakdown of digestive and urinary functions would jeopardize one¡¯s life. Zhen Jin finally ate something when night fell. The crude rations and the word ¡°delicious¡± could not be associated with each other. But Zhen Jin was satisfied eating them and even felt blissful. To tell the truth, the teenager was so hungry he could eat an entire cow. But he restrained himself. Following how he drank water, he only ate a little the first time. 9 Upon waking up the next day, he felt a bit stronger and could stand up a bit. However, he was still unable to walk. There was no dizziness, only a lack of strength. He had an illusion that his arms were too heavy and unbearable. The youngster didn¡¯t force himself. Wisdom and patience were a part of a templar knight¡¯s moral code. He ate a little in the morning and ate even more at noon. Finally, at night, he succeeded in defecating. Although Zi Di wanted to help, Zhen Jin insisted on doing it himself. After Zi Di observed Zhen Jin¡¯s excrement she happily said: ¡°My lord, your body is great. It is actually astounding. This kind of body essence is absolutely not at the silver level. Zi Di gazed at Zhen Jin, her purple eyes burning bright. Author Note (Good news everyone: The Gu jie Heitian Group has been unblocked, and it has nearly 3,000 people. It is suitable for discussing "Daoist Gu". The official group for Unlimited Bloodstone has also been unblocked. The group number is 676199473. In order to discuss the new book " Unlimited Bloodstone'''', the group has been upgraded by thousands of people, and it can now be added to the public. If you are interested, you can add it. The official deacon group of Unlimited Bloodstone is for genuine readers. There are certain conditions for joining. The current official group of these two new books.) (This Saturday at about 8 pm, there will be a QQ group bubbling event, then bubbling in the unofficial group, and then will quit the unofficial group. The event mainly answers the questions of the new book, listens to the reading experience of friends, and actively absorbs. Among the suggestions. Sorry, there are too many groups, and the personal energy is too limited. In the future, it will be in the official group activities, and the groups established by reader friends can be linked. As for the linkage system, it is currently being discussed with the administrators.) (I know the big guy¡¯s hope for Daoist Gu, but please try not to involve the two books together. Because it will affect everyone¡¯s reading experience. The two books are different, and the new protagonist will have new ones. The weather is the same. I am full of creativity. I actually regret telling you a slightly cold-blooded style. Many people are affected by this sentence, which reduces the reading experience.) (The new book should be viewed with a new perspective. The meaning of this sentence is to invite everyone to put aside the influence of "Daoist Gu" and devote themselves wholeheartedly to a new story. At the same time, I also hope that everyone will try to put aside some web texts. Reading habits. The vast majority of web articles are fast songs, and this book is a slow song. The two are different and wonderful. Slow songs require time, patience, calmness, and aftertaste.) (This is a little piece of advice for everyone to read. This book will be written for 2-3 years, and let time verify it all.) Notes The Q&A in question was actually translated by Skyfarrow. You can read it here . Be warned the Q&A contains minor spoilers up to Book 6 of RI so read at your own risk. This chapter contained a shit ton of dialogue and a splattering of pre-pubescent drama. Although if we are being honest, Zi Di is already more useful than the majority of ¡°jade beauties¡± often seen in Xianxia and other web novels. One of the key aspects of the Chinese web novel scene is that its stories are fast paced and frankly rushed. Readers want instant gratification, faceslapping, and wish fulfillment. Due to how web novels work, authors need to grab the attention of readers fast or risk falling into obscurity. Reverend Insanity broke from that mold by constantly worldbuilding and spent time on other things that helped evolve the story beyond just a typical Xianxia. Sure we all complain about it (cough book 3 and 4) but it makes the payoff at the end even better when everything connects. You may not realize it, but going back to translate this has made me aware of a lot of foreshadowing I missed in the mtl. Master Sweeping Monk: ¡°Fear my ten thousand brooms sweeping the heavens!¡± Deus¡¯ Notes well ¡­ waiting for him to get his qi back. Awkward af to urinate like that. GG Translation Notes (¿Ú¸ÉÉàÔï: dry mouth and tongue (idiom)) (this sentence tho) (ÉñºõÆä¼¼: (idiom) brilliant) (ħ·¨: magic ÉñÊõ: need confirmation on whether this is sorcery. I wonder if magic and sorcery are not the same thing in this novel. It really depends on the author tbh) (¼Â¶¯: so this means throb or pound but it doesn¡¯t really translate well into english. I guess I¡¯ll use pulse) (lol this statement by the author, is he trying to tell us something) [obviously the esteemed one is pointing us into the direction of friends with benefits] ¡± (ÆøÏó: atmosphere/scene/meteorological scene. There has to be a better translation for this.) (so i suppose this translates into a visible phenomenon, typically related to the weather i think) (roll credits, ding) (Is that word padding I see? Could of put the small bit description in the first sentence instead of adding another one) [I feel like this sentence can just be deleted tbh] (author is adding water lol) (Friendly reminder that Zhen Jin is 16 while Zi Di is 15) Editor Notes [Not sure what to think of the Bang/Dong¡­ maybe deus will have some insights ¡°it was as if something went off inside his head¡± is the best I can think of after some thought] (i don''t see any form of onomatopoeia in the raw text so idk why its. there its more of a shock) (heart is synonymous with emotions and mood, so this means that his emotions and mood is fluctuating. Most likely to his surprises after waking up) (just realised that her name means purple is because of her eyes) (needle gold - needle for his rapier technique and gold for his blond hair) [This sounds like the start to some ecchi scene.] [Good good! Now he can analyze the usefulness of other people and let them die if they¡¯re useless like a good MC] [Damn, this woman is dangerous. I¡¯m waiting for the day for her to make an aphrodisiac by ¡®accident.¡¯ Fits the ulterior motives side of things.] (i used observe bc this is like what doctors and nurses say to a injured patient so as to find any remnant effects or injuries [Not sure about the ¡®hair was slightly tensed up? Deus?] (idk about you guys but in most manga and manhwa, when a girl is embarrassed/ flushed, 1 their face is red and 2 their hair goes spikey/ pointing upwards. That''s all I got to say. Might want to add this as a note if anyone is confused) (The wording is confusing but what it''s trying to say is that he is only eating a small amount so that he can test whether he can digest properly. If he ate too much and he had internal injuries which cause digestive problems it would be bad.) Chapter 13: My Fiance Has a Merchant Alliance On the morning of the third day, Zhen Jin slowly woke up. It was peaceful. Last night he had a good rest. His body no longer laid on hard rock, but now on a fluffy layer of branches and leaves. Zi Di fetched these specifically for Zhen Jin. Thinking about his fiance, Zhen Jin¡¯s heart warmed up. But Zi Di wasn''t nearby. Thinking about what Zi Di had proposed to him last night: She wanted to extract a bit of Zhen Jin¡¯s blood to examine whether any fire-poison was left and perhaps resolve the mystery of Zhen Jin¡¯s true cultivation level. Zhen Jin had agreed. ¡°This girl¡­will she not rest even after staying up late into the night?¡± Zhen Jin''s complexion sank and his heart rose up in concern. Although he was asleep, he was confident--if even the wind blew, he would immediately detect it. Zhen Jin looked at the fluffy pile of hay off to the side, it had no sign of being used. Zhen Jin was certain that Zi Di had not slept here last night. She had gone into the cave¡¯s depth and didn¡¯t come out again. Zhen Jin got up and went into the cave¡¯s depths. In the cave¡¯s depths Zi Di had arranged a temporary potion making pharmaceutical space. 1 As Zhen Jin had been recovering for the last two days, she rarely went out. Even when going out it was only within the vicinity of the cave¡¯s mouth. During this time, besides looking after Zhen Jin she had also been fiddling with potions. 1 Zhen Jin entered and unsurprisingly saw Zi Di sitting between some holes. These holes were both big and small. The big holes had a lot of beast blood, bones, fur, etc. While the small holes had potions of all sorts of colors. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°My Lord, you woke up?¡± Upon hearing sounds of movement, Zi Di turned around to see Zhen Jin but didn¡¯t get up. Her hands moved incessantly as they mixed potions. ¡°Please forgive my rudeness my lord, I am in the middle of making a potion.¡± Zi Di swirled the glass bottle in her hand. At the same time, her fingers were constantly sprinkling ingredients. This glass bottle was the size of an adult¡¯s finger, it seemed to have bear blood in it and appeared dark red in colour. Grains of sand-like ingredients were blended into the potion and stuck to the side of the glass. Zi Di closely watched the bottle and sometimes added a few more grains. She sometimes scooped up some bear blood from the hole and added it to the bottle. Finally, as some kind of equilibrium was reached, the grains stuck to the side completely dissolved into the potion. Zi Di faintly nodded as she sealed the bottle with satisfaction and placed it on a wooden shelf to the side. The wooden shelf was crudely built with coarse dry branches and was almost packed with bottles. Zhen Jin saw these glass bottles filled with wild potions and couldn¡¯t help but ask: ¡°Did you spend all of last night mixing these potions? Are you not exhausted from this?¡± 2 ¡°Thank you for your concern my lord.¡± Zi Di smiled and immediately explained, ¡°If I do not use it now then the bear blood will lose its effectiveness. These are first-rate materials, it''s a pity I do not have the necessary refining tools on hand. This bear blood was silver level, to only make wild potions is so wasteful!¡± The majority of magical materials were time sensitive. After passing the time limit, the value of the materials would greatly decrease. Zhen Jin nodded, approving of Zi Di¡¯s efforts: ¡°You have worked hard.¡± As he spoke his eyes did not move from the glass bottles How odd. He seemed to sense a sweet smell from the bottles and from the depths of his heart arose a desire to drink the bear blood. 3 ¡°Why am I so hungry?¡± Zhen Jin asked as he suppressed the strange feeling. To tell the truth, he hadn¡¯t had a full meal in the past two days. Although he knew his recovery was going well, he was still cautious of eating too much. In this manner, the bear and leopard blood were all used up. Next was to process the meat.¡± Zi Di licked her lips, her forehead was covered in sweat after the long and hard work. Zi Di took a piece of the animal flesh from a large hole and covered it with some medicinal herbs. She then took out a potion from her bag and slowly poured it over the flesh. This potion was not stored in a glass bottle but rather seemed to be made from black iron wood. Although she poured only a small portion of the liquid, it quickly spread out with a pungent smell. Sizzle¡­ With a corrosive sound, the plump beast flesh became shriveled and dry. 2 Zi Di then tore the meat and kept tearing it apart. The meat became shredded meat and was squeezed into rousong. 4 After two days, Zhen Jin finally ate something other than rations. Most of what he ate was this meat rousong. They didn¡¯t start a fire. On one hand, they learned their lesson of suffering from the fire-poison bees and were cautious of starting a fire. On the other hand, the cave was not a convenient place to start a fire due to the lack of oxygen and possible build up of toxic smoke. Although the processed rousong wasn''t tasty, it was still nutritious and the process killed any bacteria or poisons in the meat. 5 ¡°These are top class magical materials, elsewhere these would sell for a lot of gold. Such a pity. If I could get even the most common crucible it would be good!¡± 3 Zi Di regretfully shook her head. Zhen Jin laughed, he didn¡¯t advise Zi Di to rest after working all night but rather sat next to her: ¡°Is there anything I can do to help you?¡± Zi Di smiled: ¡°Since you asked my lord, I cannot reject your politeness.¡± Zi Di then started to carefully pour as Zhen Jin tore the meat, creating more rousong. Working together increased their efficiency greatly. After working together for a time, Zhen Jin awkwardly found some holes in the corner that stored feces and urine that he had excreted in the past few days. 6 ¡°I was examining them to determine your body¡¯s condition my lord.¡± Zi Di said in a flat tone. ¡°It was a pity that I was unable to measure your true strength.¡± ¡°Another reason was that I wanted to analyze and recreate the potion that healed you. If it really healed you my lord then the value of its potion formula would be enormous!¡± ¡°Should someone with such a studious attitude, really be a mage? Zhen Jin muttered internally. 7 He then said approvingly: ¡°Did you gain anything from your work?¡± Zi Di sighed, her expression was dark: ¡°During our dire situation, I went off on intuition during many crucial steps. I am incapable of remembering all the herbs I used. It is impossible to recreate that potion. I can only try my best.¡± ¡°But it is not like I had no gains. I mixed the bear blood and ore to create two potions. One is a combustion agent, the other is a flame retardant.¡± Zhen Jin nodded as he helped Zi Di process all the meat. He patted Zi Di¡¯s shoulder and suggested: ¡°Lets eat for a bit.¡± The two ate some rations, some rousong, and drank some water. 8 The water was lukewarm. Despite not lighting a fire, they were still warm from the ore. In this environment and these circumstances, drinking water brought great comfort. As the lukewarm water went down their throats and into their bellies their spirits were all comforted and soothed. The current food was enough and water was plentiful. The two were frugal and after drinking a few sips of water, Zhen Jin started to talk: ¡°Tell me about yourself Zi Di.¡± Zi Di nodded: ¡°I am no doubt your fiance my lord.¡± ¡°Then what clan are you from? Where is your clan¡¯s territory?¡± Zi Di laughed bitterly: ¡°My lord, you overestimate me. I am not really a noble. I am from an old trading clan. ¡°Eh?¡± Zhen Jin could help but raise his eyebrows, he didn¡¯t expect such an answer. Nobles almost always married other nobles. Some nobles married relatives to keep their lineage pure. 9 ¡°So, did your body awaken some superior bloodline?¡± Zhen Jin asked again. This was a possibility. Although nobles usually would only have one wife, they had many mistresses that could result in a few bastards. Bloodlines were difficult to confirm based on the family tree alone. Historically, there was no shortage of lower class nobles possessing superior bloodlines. Even children among the commoners could break out with astonishing potential, their origins tracing back to a superior bloodline of a noble. In many cases these strong bloodlines would attract nobles wanting to merge them into their clan. But Zi Di shook her head once again and said bitterly: ¡°I am sorry to disappoint you my lord. My bloodline is mediocre, in fact the black iron level is already the limit of my potential.¡± ¡°I am not a noble. My ancestors are not nobles. My father is the president of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance, now it is my turn to run the entire Merchant Alliance. ¡°Wisteria Merchant Alliance?¡± That name does sound a bit familiar¡­wait a minute, don''t tell me? The meat is fucking RAWWW!! -Gordon Ramsey Notes Welcome to topics that won¡¯t pop back up until the second book, ala when our couple finally gets off tutorial-worldbuilding island. This whole noble marriage thing heavily reminds me of the eugenic shenanigans of Fire emblem awakening/Fates where you would shove pairings together to get the most insane growths on your kid. I think the best Morgan possible went Lon''qu x Nowi to get Nah and then Nah x Robin to get a busted dark flier Morgan to break the game even on lunatic+. But it looks like Zhen Jin is more interested in getting money rather than breeding busted kids, cause relying on nonexistent children is a terrible idea. For soon the tyrannical crest bloodline system will be thrown into the flames. Deus¡¯ Notes So. Apparently, water is some chinese joke about word count and filler. So I kept thinking about it during those paragraphs of them ¡°enjoying food and water¡±. Lol With Zi Di seen to play a support role, her mechant alliance might come to be a big help once they leave the island. Maybe some business expansion parts and politics that readers have enjoyed in the way that gu zhen ren writes. I¡¯m curious to know how they got engaged. Translation Notes (is Zi Di¡¯s bag a space bag. Seriously how many potions does she have? Quick reminder that liquid does in fact have weight and Zi Di can barely drag Zhen Jin around) (what does a wild potion do? idk guess we will see) (soon zhen jin will start sparkling probably, maybe, eh probably not) ( pics here if your wondering what rousong looks like) -> (THIS CAVE HAS FLAMING ROCKS )<- (WHY) (I''m worried that zi di has scat fetish¡­*shudder*) (this is the reason why int gear prices are so low) (hgggggh wordpadding) (author is filling the chapter with water kekeke) (Europe and Targaryens intensifies) Editor Notes (im wondering whether or not to use apothecarium) (in some places it used animal flesh/ meat here it uses beast flesh/meat...this is too annoying) (knowing she''s a potion maker, the crucible should be something she wants or needs to process the materials she has on hand. she''s sighing because she doesn''t have it. Crucible is similar to a furnace) Chapter 14: An Alliance of Benefits Zhen Jin had some general knowledge of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance in his memories. The Empire of the Human Ancestor Sheng Ming had six major merchant guilds. These six had been established long ago and each was a colossus backed by the nobility. Their vibrant business covered the mountains, forests, waters, and deserts. Under these six merchant guilds, there were many others. Over the last one hundred years one rapidly rose above the rest like a miracle of business to become only second to the top six. This was the Wisteria Merchant Alliance. The Wisteria Merchant Alliance absorbed many smaller guilds. Individual shops and even individual merchants were willing to be recruited. The guild had a tremendous influence on the middle and lower markets. However, because they lacked a foothold in the upper markets, the nobles of the Sheng Ming Empire meddled in their profits. The Wisteria Merchant Alliance suffered from suppression and the president of the guild died from a horseback ¡°accident¡±. The guild was torn apart and their wealth was split up between the nobility. ¡°After my father¡¯s accident, there was only his daughter, me. I did not want to give up! If the life work of my father, his father, and of countless generations was destroyed, then I would truly be the most unfilial descendent. Many merchant elders also did not want to surrender, so they unified at my side. ¡°Although our wealth was great, we were no match to those in power. The death of my father made me realize that I needed to participate in the politics of the empire. * The way our Merchant Alliance grew previously was accumulating wealth alone without any connections to the nobility, the more wealth we accumulated, the more danger we attracted, pushing it further to its demise .¡± * ¡°The elders and I collaborated carefully to find a suitable partner. That was when I finally met you my lord.¡± Zhen Jin¡¯s mind was struck by lightning as he realized what had happened. Although Zhen Jin remembered little, he knew the Bai Zhen clan was of southern nobility. Emperor Sheng Ming had unified all of the human¡¯s ancestral lands and named it the Sheng Ming continent. The final part of the conquest to unify the continent was the annexation of the South. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His decisive campaign was the annihilation of the Fir Knights. When the Sheng Ming imperial army became trapped in the mountains, their conquest sank into an impasse. Many southern nobles who had surrendered saw hope in the impasse. They secretly contacted the southern nobles who were still resisting and reached an agreement. When the 5th legion of templar knights withdrew from the front lines to recover from the battle, the traitorous southern nobles sent the Fir Knights to ambush them. The Fir Knights were the greatest regiment of the Southern Noble Alliance. They were supposed to annihilate the 5th legion, however they were defeated by templar knight reinforcements. The Fir Knights were routed and the southern nobles promptly sent reinforcements. As a result, a gap was created in the originally impenetrable line of defense. The Empire reacted extremely fast as the front line legions jointly dispatched troops, launching an attack that completely smashed the southern nobles¡¯ defense line. As a result of this defeat, the southern nobles no longer had the ability to resist the Imperial army and either died in battle or surrendered. The southern nobles that had turned traitor were also purged. The Bai Zhen clan was part of them. At the time, a significant portion of the Bai Zhen clan were part of the Fir Knights. Although the Bai Zhen Clan survived the purge, its territory, wealth, and army were reduced significantly. In addition, they suffered due to suppression and ostracisation by every imperial noble. Naturally the Bai Zhen clan was unwilling to be reduced to poverty. On one side it began to gather clans in similar situations to form an alliance. On the other hand, it began to actively delve into imperial high society. Zhen Jin being recruited into the sacred templar knights was one of these achievements. Templar knights were the trump cards of the Sheng Ming imperial legions. They were also direct subordinates to Emperor Sheng Ming and personally commanded his forces. Every templar knight believed in Emperor Sheng Ming and dedicated their faith to him alone. They were fiercely loyal and thus had the Emperor¡¯s trust. Generally speaking, imperial nobles would rarely ever send their children into the templar knights. Sending their children into the faith of the emperor was equivalent to raising an ingrate. The nobles believed in profits, and the majority of the time, the clan¡¯s benefits were above everything else. Middle and lesser nobles attached to the emperor''s court and greater nobles connected to the emperor would select talented children to join the templar knights. As the sole heir to the Bai Zhen Clan, Zhen Jin joined the templar knights as a sincere offering to Emperor Sheng Ming This diplomatic behavior succeeded in relieving the Bai Zhen Clan¡¯s external pressure. However, it was inevitable that Zhen Jin suffered suppression and isolation within the Templar Knights After all, during the battle the Fir knights had almost slaughtered the 5th Templar legion and who among the nobility did not have relatives? There was a long entrenched animosity between Zhen Jin and his associate templar trainees. ¡°To send the heir to the Templar Knights was a sensible action. It was because it was in the clan¡¯s best interest to completely rely on the Emperor¡¯s political faction.¡± Zhen Jin recalled his father and it was clear the middle-aged man had the wisdom of a decisive leader. ¡°As the sole heir to the Bai Zhen Clan, suffering suppression and isolation was within expectations, so I endured silently.¡± Zhen Jin recalled his second memory. He remembered that Qing Kui took the initiative to bully him and deliberately made things difficult for him. His motives were understandable, perhaps he had relatives that died in the 5th legion. As for Zhen Jin¡¯s own actions, judgement can also be made. Even though his talent was extraordinary, he didn¡¯t want to stand out. Instead, he hid his gifts and focused solely on cultivation. He normally had a low profile to guard against enemies who wanted to suppress him politically or even kill him. He became a templar knight to seek allies among the Emperor¡¯s faction and not enemies. As the clan¡¯s future leader, his objective was diplomacy. There were many chances for friendship in the army. When facing huge external pressure, templar knights were forced to trust each other. These life and death experiences would dissolve old hostilities. This way, the Bai Zhen Clan could free themselves from their political plight and become one of the Emperor''s people. However, the Bai Zhen Clan had only barely established itself and was considered still in dire straits. How would they expand their territory and wealth or strengthen their clan¡¯s power? The Human continent was already unified by Emperor Sheng Ming. Here there weren¡¯t many opportunities. The human''s invasion of the beastmen continent had expanded the territory of many noble clans and was the best opportunity to earn military exploits. White Sand City was the Bai Zhen Clan¡¯s opportunity so Zhen Jin was sent to compete for ownership of the city. This was Zi Di¡¯s belief. With the Wisteria Merchant Alliance divided up among powerful nobles and the president dead, if the elders were capable of bowing their heads, they would have surrendered to these nobles long ago. These elders unified behind Zi Di against their natural enemy, the nobles. In this way, Zi Di could only rely on someone from the Emperor¡¯s political faction. The powerful members of the faction ignored Zi Di because she was a remnant of the Merchant alliance. Perhaps an intact Wisteria Merchant Alliance would excite them, but the Alliance had already fallen apart. Those with medium strength also had concerns. This group of people and Zi Di were said to be the core of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance. To accept them would incur hostility from other powerful nobles. The risks needed to be carefully considered. Those of small strength, like those without territory could not take in the merchant alliance. At the same time, Zi Di had her own concerns as the new leader. She couldn¡¯t pick a strong noble to rely on. After all she was only an iron level magician. Collaborating with a strong noble would most likely lead to the annexation of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance. After careful consideration, Zi Di selected the Bai Zhen Clan. The current head of the Bai Zhen Clan was a powerful man with gold level cultivation. However he had lost his right arm early in his life. The Bai Zhen Clan were once a great and ancient southern noble clan. They had been forced to rely on the empire after facing suppression and isolation. These days they had a shaky foothold and desperately needed to expand. The Bai Zhen Clan had been stripped of their territory and lacked natural resources while being forced out by surrounding territories. Therefore the Bai Zhen Clan needed the connections of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance more than any other clan. The crucial factor was that the Bai Zhen Clan were willing to pay the price and did not hesitate in promising the marriage of the family heir to the Merchant Alliance. After the agreement an engagement ceremony was held and the news was spread widely. All these factors created the young unmarried couple of Zhen Jin and Zi Di. Both of them had their own issues but both of them needed each other. This was not just their will but also of those forces behind them. Otherwise why would Zhen Jin, a majestic noble, ever get engaged with a woman of such a lowly bloodline? ¡°As the sole heir to the Bai Zhen Clan, I first joined the templar knights and now I am going to White Sands City, to the front lines of battle. The risk of death was high. This was a gamble! ¡°The Wisteria Merchant Alliance is the same. Neither of us can retreat.¡± ¡°It''s no wonder Zi Di always stood by my side!¡± Zhen Jin had many thoughts as he figured out the complex motives. Looking again at the girl before him, Zhen Jin¡¯s heart became more intimate. Zhen Jin did not hate this alliance of benefits, but instead approved of it. This alliance of benefits was more reliable than love. Besides, love could always be nurtured. In addition to their marriage connection, Zhen Jin understood that Zi Di would be his most reliable ally in the future. Zi Di proceeded: ¡°We were on a ship enroute to the beastman continent and the White Sands City lord competition, when suddenly we were shipwrecked on this island. Zhen Jin muttered to himself: ¡°So, what we need to do now is not only survive and escape but also gather more subordinates. Zi Di, how many troops and reliable retainers did I bring? When faced with this question, Zi Di hesitated. She deliberated for a moment and said: ¡°My lord, you meet the qualifications to compete for the ownership of Bai Sha city. Your strength and talent have also surpassed any other ordinary person. When we left, we took the primary force of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance and hired two reputable mercenary corps. Zhen Jin was startled. He heard it. He didn¡¯t have any retainers, troops, or even a commander. Without any alternatives, he could only rely on the forces of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance and the two mercenary corps. This was so embarrassing! As the sole heir of a noble, he was unexpectedly risking his life on the front lines in the future without a personal army! Compared to the hired mercenaries, it seemed the forces of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance became Zhen Jin¡¯s greatest strength. ¡°Has the Bai Zhen Clan fallen this far? It is inexcusable that there isn¡¯t even one retainer from the clan.¡± This abnormal situation made Zhen Jin frown. Zi Di explained: ¡°Indeed we did have a staff dispatched from lord¡¯s clan. However they were ambushed by bandits enroute and all died. At the same time, goblins and ogres frequently appeared in the territory of the Bai Zhen Clan.¡± ¡°We feared other competitors would arrive at White SandsCity first and establish an early advantage. So we put on a facade of staying and set off to sea in secret on the Hog¡¯s Kiss. Zhen Jin pupils contracted as he snorted: ¡°It seems the competition for White Sands City lord position is fierce.¡± To think that an elite noble army would be wiped out by the so-called bandits enroute. Nowadays the Bai Zhen Clan territory was located far out in the hinterland. How can goblins and ogres survive out there? As Zhen Jin was thinking (of something), he asked again: ¡°Who am I competing against to become city lord? Are they on the same boat as us? Zi Di shook her head: ¡°There are two others, they are all your colleagues. And they did not travel on the same boat as us.¡± Zhen Jin did not speak. He pondered. This answer implied they would not face any competitors with dark intentions on the island. However at the same time, it was very possible a competitor had a hand in the shipwreck. Zi Di soon said: ¡°But my lord. We traveled with a temple priest known as Jia Sha. He was the judge of the city lord competition. It is very likely he is still alive. In that case we might be able to find him and provide him aid to ensure the best outcome.¡± Chapter 15: Changes to the Land It was early morning several days later, the birds were chirping. The sun shone bright and its light passed through the small gaps in the canopy, piercing through the light mist that filled the forest. A young couple stood side by side and looked at the cave with complex emotions. The blond and fair skinned teenager appeared to be healthy, alert, and full of vigor. The girl wore a purple hooded robe, her black hair curling out from it. She had wheat-coloured skin, a delicate appearance, and her purple eyes were especially attractive, seeming to glimmer like gemstones. They were Zhen Jin and Zi Di. A few days ago these two had been chased by the fire-poison bees and fled here. After grappling with death, they were lucky to be alive. Afterwards, they stayed in the cave to heal and rest. This cave became their temporary camp and let them take a breath. 1 However, while the cave was warm, it was not home. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhen Jin looked at the cave one last time before stepping into the woods. Zi Di followed behind. Their circumstances were different from when they fled here. Both now carried large bags on their backs. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These bags contained a large amount of beast bones, rousong, and ore. In addition it also had some spears and short javelins.1 Zhen Jin had lost his sword at the campfire. His remaining dagger broke when he fought the monkey-bear. So, for the past few days, Zi Di and Zhen Jin worked together to build some spears and short javelin. The spears were roughly 1.8 meters long while the shorter javelins were 1.5 meters long. The spears were meant to be held while the short javelins were meant to be thrown. These weapons were made from the trees near the cave. These trees resembled iron wood and were as hard as iron. It would take too much time and strength for Zhen Jin to build these sharp spears alone. As such, Zi Di¡¯s use of corrosive potions held a huge role in making them. Compared to genuine steel swords, the value of these sharp spears were low. Regardless of how sharp or durable they were, they would still be inferior to a steel sword. But there was no other way. Right now, Zhen Jin seriously lacked weapons. There was only one intact dagger which was in Zi Di¡¯s hand. Before leaving, Zi Di wanted to hand over the dagger to Zhen Jin but he refused. Zi Di¡¯s dagger was special as it was used to process materials. Zi Di had to use it to create potions. During a crisis Zi Di could also use it to protect herself. In this wilderness, even if Zhen Jin wanted to, he could not protect her completely. So Zi Di needed a way to protect herself. Another reason was that this short dagger wasn¡¯t very useful to Zhen Jin. Speaking of which, the monkey bear¡¯s claws could be used as a weapon. But they strangely crumbled into ash when the claws were broken off the bear. Not only did they lack weapons, but they also lacked defensive gear. Zi Di wore an apprentice robe that only had weak defensive enchantments. When attacked by ferocious beasts, they were fragile. Zhen Jin had discarded his arm guards after the battle with the monkey bear. They played a crucial role in defending him when he fought the monkey bear. Without them, Zhen Jin might have lost his arms. In short, the arm guards were severely deformed, and one was nearly split open and could only be melted down to be reforged. Zhen Jin also lacked a helmet. He only had his chainmail to console him. Zhen Jin took the lead to scout a path. Zi Di brought up the rear. The two gradually entered the forest. Their first goal was to find the campfire where the fire-poison bees attacked them. This decision was made after careful deliberations. Zhen Jin lost his long sword there. Even if the long sword was not easy to use, it still had irreplaceable value. Even more importantly, only by returning to the campfire could Zi Di find the path the guards and the exploration team took. This path had many campsites with few supplies hidden in each of them. Because of Zhen Jin¡¯s and Zi Di¡¯s efforts in rationing, they had plenty of food but little water. In the journey after Zhen Jin regained consciousness, besides finding a few water canteens, they never found any drinkable water. Although they crossed rivers, the waters concealed dreadful python vines. Drinking water from there was too great of a risk. Water was even more scarce near the cave. There was little water left in their canteens. This was the one of the main reasons the couple rushed to leave the cave. The trees stood tall around them, and Zi Di found that the deeper they ventured into the forest, the taller and thicker the trees grew with some even reaching fifty to sixty meters high. They were literally piercing into the sky. Sunlight could not penetrate here, deep within the forest mist. It scattered and diffused into the white mist that permeated the forest.. The mist was filled with the fresh scent of flora, and a flock of birds soared through the canopy. Occasionally, a woodpecker could be seen three meters up on a tree branch. The noise of the bird¡¯s pecking, however, actually made the forest seem more tranquil. Before long the two ventured deep into the forest and were surrounded by trees in all directions. Zhen Jin and Zi Di stopped walking and made marks. Zi Di approached a tree and used the dagger to cut a mark. Zhen Jin also took out an animal skin and wrote with charcoal to create a map. This was to prevent them from getting lost. It was easy to get lost in the forest because all the trees looked the same. Elves were exceptionally talented in this respect and it was said that any child elf that wandered into the forest would not get lost as if the forest was their home. 2 The consequences of getting lost were severe. The wilderness was not friendly to humans, so getting lost would be the start of death. This was the fourteenth time he marked the map. In the center of the hide were a few small words written roughly. As Zhen Jin set off once more, his expression was slightly hesitant. After such a long walk, according to logic he should have already found traces of when he fled through here with Zi Di. But there was nothing. The surroundings looked like undisturbed nature with no trace of their travels.. Zhen Jin was grim as he kept thinking back. That night he had held Zi Di and ran frantically, Since it was an emergency, he did not pay much attention to his surroundings. But according to his intuition, it didn¡¯t take long for them to find the cave. 2 Based on the time and speed, he didn¡¯t run far and the campfire should be nearby. ¡°Lets go this way.¡± Zhen Jin said as he made his way ahead. He chose to go left. He used a strategy that was conservative and cautious. He used the cave as the center as he looked for traces. The benefits were obvious because the chances of missing traces were unlikely By noon, the sun was shining warmly and the forest mist gradually dissipated. Although the forest was much clearer, the teenager¡¯s complexion grew more ugly. He looked at the map. At every interval of distance, he made a record of the forest. The map had formed a circle around the cave. Such an intensive search that unexpectedly turned up no traces! ¡°Something is very suspicious about this place!¡± Zi Di was bewildered. ¡°The extent of this forest is too big.¡± The place where they were before was clearly a rainforest. It was moist, hot, and stuffy. The forest floor had been filled with short shrubs and numerous intertwined vines. But now this area was a forest. Although there were still trees, these trees were perfectly straight. Tree vines were rare and there were not as many shrubs or ferns as the rainforest. Zhen Jin had discovered this. He originally thought the range of this forest was small because it was located near the cave. The cave¡¯s scorching veins of ore should have created an environment different from the surroundings. But the forest was extremely vast, greatly exceeding the couple¡¯s estimation. According to the route, the biome of this island should be a rainforest, it was only normal. At the time, Zhen Jin obviously remembered that the rainforest surrounded them as they fled into the night. The supposed black panther was clearly hit by a rainforest branch. But soon after, Zi Di found the cave and called attention to it. ¡°When I found the cave, I adjusted the direction I was running. It should be at that time I entered the forest from the rainforest.¡± Zhen Jin was sure his memory wasn''t wrong. Because Zi Di also remembered the same. Based on their memory, the forest was only a small part surrounded by rainforest. But after a morning of exploration, the strange fact was before the two¡¯s eyes which left them baffled. ¡°This island is so strange! The beasts seem to breed like flies 3 and appear as randomly as patchwork. The plants are also extremely dangerous and the land itself can also change in strange and bizzare ways.¡± Zi Di was speaking when suddenly a shadow leapt down from the towering canopy and attacked. An extremely fast and thin shadow penetrated the air with a whoosh. But Zhen Jin was faster than it. In an instant, the spear thrust forward! The shadow¡¯s charge was abruptly stopped, its neck pierced and it¡¯s body was suspended on the spear. It was a strange bird. It was about the size of an adult¡¯s fist and its body was covered in black feathers. Its feathers were very hard as if it were made of iron. Its heavy feathers made it incapable of flight but this tempered its muscles. 4 This bird usually hid in the treetops and upon finding animals walking in the forest, it would jump down and use its legs and wings to go as fast as possible along with utilizing gravity to penetrate through the animal¡¯s skull. After the animal died, it would suck out the brains, blood, eyes, and so on until finally the flesh. After encountering it many times, Zi Di named it the iron feather bird. The iron feather bird had almost no weak points except one on its neck. Here the feathers were very fine and the defense was at its weakest. 3 Presently, the sharp tip of Zhen Jin¡¯s spear accurately pierced the iron feather bird¡¯s neck. This was a fatal strike. The struggling iron feather bird soon turned motionless. Zhen Jin pointed the spear to the ground and thrusted, immobilizing the iron feather bird¡¯s corpse. Zi Di took a step forward and took out her dagger to dissect it. The iron feathers were very hard and were an outstanding material. In addition, the girl also gathered some of its blood. As for the iron feather bird¡¯s flesh, Zi Di didn¡¯t bother as the bird¡¯s body was small and its value was low. As the girl gathered the materials, Zhen Jin was at her side guarding against any other attacking beasts with a javelin. The first time they ran across this iron feather bird, the youngster was somewhat flustered. He first used his spear like a broom and swept the bird to the ground. Although the iron feather bird couldn¡¯t fly it was very fast on the ground. Zhen Jin then threw three javelins that slowed down the iron feather bird. Finally Zhen Jin used his spear to skewer the iron feather bird¡¯s belly¡ª¡ªas a result the spear tip was destroyed. But now, Zhen Jin¡¯s technique was more experienced. He discovered that the iron feather bird was most dangerous when it leapt from the trees. However when in the air, it exposed its neck making that its most vulnerable time. With this discovery, the iron feather bird was no longer a threat and became a gift instead. Besides the iron feather bird, the forest had plenty of other dangers. Venomous snakes were often hiding in tree trunks and decaying leaves. One could not let their guard down even near motionless plants. For example, Zhen Jin had been poisoned when he brushed his skin on some unassuming moss! Some small green spots began unknowingly to grow on Zhen Jin¡¯s face. When Zi Di found this she immediately gave Zhen Jin some detoxification potion. The potion unexpectedly could only alleviate but not cure the poison. The two were forced to search for the culprit. Zi Di then used the moss to make an antidote potion and used it to eradicate the poison within Zhen Jin¡¯s body. There were all kinds of hidden dangers that greatly slowed the pace of the couple¡¯s exploration. Zhen Jin looked up at the gradually fading sky and had to make a helpless decision: ¡°Let¡¯s return to the cave and rest.¡± Notes Welcome to Man vs. Wild. In this episode we will be teaching you how to survive on this whacky island with more biomes per square meter than minecraft. Here we have an iron feather bird because the author can¡¯t be arsed to use another metal for hardness comparisons. All you gotta do is stab its neck in midair before it stabs you, simple? Next you need to pluck its feathers for whatever random asspull Zi Di pulls out of her bag and finally suck its blood. There you have it, the fantasy version of a predatory dodo or something. Translation Notes (the past few sentences are so unnecessary. There have been only these two characters introduced in present time so far mr author and it''s only been 15 chapters have a little faith in your readers¡­ on second thought) [I honestly don¡¯t mind stuff like this if it¡¯s only occasionally. It¡¯s a nice change in pace from action => description] (BOOOOOOO we got wood elves, the worst elves. I demand snooty elves or emo elves, just not wood elves please.) (²ã³ö²»Çî: breeding like flies (idiom) ) (yea everything is as hard as iron. plz we need more things to compare these animals to. It''s like the comparison ¡°tastes like chicken) Editor Notes (javelin meant to be thrown, while spears for stabbing) (this is really bad, i thought of changing it but that would be slightly different to the raw) (i''m pretty sure this is the weak point for most organisms) Chapter 16: I Want My Battle Qi Spending the night in the forest was significantly more dangerous than in the cave. Although it was a long walk back to the cave, the benefits were obvious. Zi Di also approved of this proposal. Thus, by evening the couple returned to the cave once again. The cave was warm so the two didn¡¯t light a fire. They drank a little water and ate a lot of rousong. Their water reserves were running low, it was an important resource for survival so the couple saved it as much as possible. But there was plenty of rousong, so there was no need to worry. The two wanted to avoid starving. Starvation was very dangerous and being starved for long periods of time could lead to a deficiency of physical strength. With danger lurking at every side 1 on this island, lacking physical strength would land them in mortal danger. Within the cave, the couple ate in silence. Glancing at the familiar cave walls, Zhen Jin laughed bitterly. Not long ago, he had a conversation with Zi Di and began to understand his circumstances. It was only then that he realised how much work he had to do! Previously, he thought his life would be in his hands if he could simply escape from this strange island without any accidents. 1 But now he realized: fleeing alone, or with Zi Di would still end in defeat! He needed to compete for ownership of White Sand City, revitalize his clan, cooperate with Zi Di further, and preserve the remnants of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance. So, while he was still on this island, he needed to do his best to recruit and gather any remaining manpower, saving anybody he could. 2 Especially Jia Sha. If Jia Sha survived, helping him would create a more favorable impression. In short, he needed subordinates. Without the help of subordinates, he and Zi Di would walk a lonely path. Even if they reached White Sand City, it would be impossible to be its master. 2 So, when they set off early in the morning, the youngster¡¯s mind 3 held many grand aspirations and long term plans. Unexpectedly their day of exploration bore no results. There was no satisfactory progress at all, so they returned back to the cave. Reality was always cruel. The two ate dinner and began to sort through their equipment. The spears had been used a lot and many of them needed to be repaired. If such crude and simple equipment wasn¡¯t repaired in time, its power would deteriorate. After all, even swords needed to be polished and maintained often. Needless to say, compared to swords, the wooden spears needed to be repaired far more often and were far less durable. Zhen Jin first used the potion Zi Di gave him to soften the spear. Afterwards, he used the dagger to sharpen the spear tip. He started to multitask 3 as he repaired the spears while reviewing his experiences that day. ¡°My strength is growing.¡± Zhen Jin thought back to how he killed iron feather birds over and over again. 4 At the time, he felt it was simple and comfortable, but when he looked back at it now he found he had done it with skill and ease. 4 This level of skill and performance would have been impossible for him before, but now he had really achieved it. ¡°Is it because I recovered some of my memories and mastered the Hundred Needle Wind battle art?¡± After recovering some of his memories, Zhen Jin discovered he had a special fondness for stabbing and found using it very convenient and easy. 5 Unlike the previous battle against the fire-poison bee swarm, where he purely improvised using his newly emerged memory. These past days in the cave, he practiced the Hundred Needle Wind battle technique many times and became very skilled in it. Not only did the speed of this thrust improve, but what was even more remarkable was that every thrust was stable. Naturally, the quality of the equipment was very important. Last time he used a long sword. Although the blade was sharp, it was difficult and even painful to use. In contrast, a spear was more compatible with a technique like the Hundred Needle wind technique than the long sword. A spear was lighter than a long sword and it was more piercing when it was used to thrust. ¡°But this Hundred Needle Wind battle art still needs battle qi to display its true power.¡± Thinking till here, Zhen Jin was faced with a question. ¡°When will I be able to use my battle qi?¡± Zhen Jin was unable to answer this question in even the slightest. Battle qi. Battle qi! This was extremely important. Without battle qi and only the human body, Zhen Jin had no armour, no claws and no sharp fangs, making it hard to fight even iron level magic beasts. And if there were enough bronze level magic beasts, Zhen Jin could only run away. If Battle qi could be used, Zhen Jin¡¯s battle strength would surpass any iron level magic beast. Battle qi could also create an amplification in defense, agility, and other attributes. All of which would be of great help in surviving against any challenges they faced. This would increase the couple¡¯s chances of survival on this island. 6 But Zhen Jin was currently in an awkward situation. He had problems recalling his memories and could only wait for his memories on how to use battle qi to randomly appear. Previously, he thought his subconsciousness would activate his battle qi in a life or death crisis. But the result of the battle with the monkey bear made it clear to him. This way of thinking was too naive. Zhen Jin didn¡¯t even know if his cultivation level was at the silver or gold level. Besides, even if more relevant memories appeared, the particular environment he was in was also a major factor. Low-level practitioners were unable to use their power on this island. Zi Di couldn¡¯t use her iron level magic. Low level enchanted items also lost their effectiveness. The effect of high level magical artifacts were also greatly reduced. Zi Di learned from the guards that iron and bronze level battle qi were constrained by the environment as well. Even if Zhen Jin were to recall his memories, could silver (or perhaps gold) battle qi even be activated in this environment? This was the biggest question. Zhen Jin couldn¡¯t help but shake his head as if wanting to throw this vexation out of his mind. ¡°Thinking too much isn¡¯t good, it will only create more gloom.¡± 7 ¡°For now at least, even though I don¡¯t have battle qi, I would be able to win against enemies at the level of the fire-poison bee swarm even if it is difficult to win.¡± After assessing the strength of both sides, Zhen Jin came to this result which was quite comforting. In fact, he nearly succeeded in resisting against the fire-poison bee swarm at the campfire. Only a handful of fire-poison bees remained to pursue him. Now that Zhen Jin¡¯s strength had risen a bit, he could probably defeat the fire-poison bee swarm. However, the situation now was more complex than the fire-poison bee swarm. This island was extremely strange. It prohibited battle qi and magic, tying the couples¡¯ hands. The land could also randomly change, giving it a feeling of unfathomable mystery and unpredictability. If it was possible, Zhen Jin wished he could face just the fire-poison bee swarm, unlike now where he had to face all of nature. He did not know where to even start. Bang, bang, bang¡­. Zi Di used a rock to constantly pound the sides and bottom of a hole in the ground. She placed the materials that she had collected during the day into this hole. The majority were tree leaves with a few grass roots. They were all torn apart to shreds and grounded into a paste. Then the girl took a potion from the small bag at her waist. She cautiously poured a little bit of the bottle¡¯s content. 8 After the bit of potion touched the mixture in the hole, it caused the paste to rapidly melt into a viscous red liquid. The girl immediately used a twig to stir it. After stirring for a while, she stopped and observed quietly. She waited until the top of the liquid began to solidify. She then used the twig to pick up and remove the solidified layer, exposing the lower layers of the liquid. Afterwards, she began to stir again. After each time she removed the solidified layer and stirred again, the color of the liquid became even more vivid and clear than before. Each time she removed the solid layer, Zi Di would switch to a new twig and keep stirring. After removing the solidified layer time and time again, the liquid was no longer dark red but a translucent pink colour. After reaching this step, Zi Di breathed in relief, the surface was no longer hardening, but rather the entire liquid was beginning to solidify. After waiting for a day, the entire liquid had evaporated into a bright powder. Zi Di thoroughly grounded this powder into a fine pink powder. She then used some wide tree leaves to separate the powder into portions and wrapped up the powder to form a small medicinal pill. She gave some of these small pills to Zhen Jin and introduced them: ¡°These medicinal pills can leave bright pink marks in the forest. Regardless of whether it is on a tree trunk or a stone, it would last a long time. Even if rainstorms try to wash it away it will still last for several days.¡± This was without a doubt, very useful . Although this place prohibited magic, potions and pills could still be used since they only used natural ingredients. Although Zi Di was not on the level of a pharmaceutical master, Zhen Jin still admired her ability. After eating breakfast, the two continued their journey. After resting for the night they found they were full of strength and vigor. They also had the powder to make marking much easier. At the same time, they also adjusted their spears. Although the number of spears didn¡¯t increase, the ratio was adjusted. There were more spears and less javelins. Originally, the couple thought that the spears would get in the way of walking in the rainforest, but it was much more open after the land changed into the forest. The trees grew straight and tall, and although their branches were slanted, they didn¡¯t get in the way that much. The spears proved more useful as they explored. For example Zhen Jin could use a spear to beat the grass to scare away a snake. 9 With the spear¡¯s long reach, even if the startled snake counterattacked, the teenager would still have plenty of time to react. In addition to this, the two stayed up late into the night to discuss the map they drew on the animal skin. They set out for the second time today, this time they changed their previous strategy, instead of searching in a circular path around the cave, they focused on one direction. The direction they chose was vaguely similar to the way they had come from. They had recognized it with difficulty by observing the stars of the night. Notes Zhen Jin: ¡°What do you mean that out of everything your magical plot bag is carrying it doesn''t have a compass? It''s carrying at least 10 different potions despite being described as small!¡± One of the more annoying tropes of Xianxia fiction is cave training/cultivation. We as readers get to witness the ¡°exciting¡± and ¡°vigious¡± cultivation technique of sitting in a dank cave. This somehow makes the MC and others stronger through some plot contrivances. My honest opinion about this trope is that it is an even lazier version of the timeskip trope. The writers want to power up characters without putting in any of the work. At least with time skips, something happened and the author can elaborate over time, but with the cave, it''s like lol nope somehow without practice or new experiences our MC became super powerful. Something, something solidified foundation, blah blah blah. ¡°Wait years don¡¯t flow like water?¡± -every CN author ever Translation Notes (Σ»úËÄ·ü: danger lurks on every side (idiom) ) (³Æ¹Â¼Ò¹ÑÈË: one who is cut off from others (idiom) / one who has chosen to follow a solitary path) (also I think author forgot sand here) (Ò»ÐĶþÓÃ: to do two things at once (idiom) / to multitask / to divide one''s attention) (ÓÎÈÐÓÐÓà: handling a butcher''s cleaver with ease (idiom); to do sth skillfully and easily) (ÇéÓжÀÖÓ: to have a special fondness) (jfc its Bix) sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. (Õ½¶·Á¦: translating this into battle strength instead of fighting strength because of Chibi/atlas/sky whatever) (ÌøÔ¾: translates to leap, might TL this into agility cause of how its used) (legend has it if you say gloomy soul 3 times, ada will hit you with a ban hammer) (СÐÄÒíÒí: cautious and solemn (idiom) ) (´ò²Ý¾ªÉß: beat the grass to scare the snake (idiom)) Editor Notes [¡°could simply¡± implies context of ¡°without any accidents¡± I think, so it¡¯s not necessary. Raws = ¡®right away,¡¯ anyways; adding meaning.] [Save => recruit => use¡­ 3 verbs] [ÐÄÖÐ = heart;mind. Mind is the more appropriate choice here.] [Is he replaying the scene? Or were there multiple birds? I wasn¡¯t reading. If there was only one, it¡¯d make it less ambiguous if the ¡®over and over again¡¯ was moved to the beginning, Like ¡°Over and over again, Zhen Jin thought¡­¡±](he killed multiple birds) Chapter 17: Someone Is Calling for Help The couple had tried their best in picking the most precise direction. 1 They were not good at finding their direction via the stars. Zi Di was an expert of trade, with medicine and magic coming in second. Zhen Jin only had general knowledge as his memory was badly damaged. Currently he discovered that he was an expert at fighting. Who would have thought that they would end up shipwrecked while pursuing the position of White Sands City Lord? Who would have thought that the island they ended up on would be so dangerous and strange? The two went in a straight line the entire journey, only stopping occasionally to check their direction. Unlike yesterday, the exploration strategy was different and they quickly surpassed the range of yesterday¡¯s exploration, reaching a completely new area. ¡°Be careful,¡± Zhen Jin reminded. On their side was an immense cliff with a large and straight tree growing on its top. Only it¡¯s numerous roots were exposed as they grew down the cliff. 2 At the bottom of the cliff grew many trees, their canopy was higher than the cliff itself. Zi Di nodded and followed Zhen Jin, carefully avoiding the cliff. The cliff was very tall, falling off it would have severe consequences. Bruises and bone fractures would be the mildest injury. Within this forest, people were weak and frail beyond imagination. Even a sprained ankle would likely cost them their lives. Because a sprained ankle can lead to loss of mobility and it would be difficult to escape if a beast were to attack. And in the event one lost their footing and fell, even someone like strong Zhen Jin would suffer heavy injuries. After all, he still couldn¡¯t use his battle qi. As Zi Di walked away from the cliff, she glanced back with fear. During the day, this cliff could be easily avoided, but this was not the case at night. It would be too difficult. A human¡¯s eyesight would be very limited at night. Without the assistance of battle qi or magic, it was the same as being blind. One moment you think you are safe, walking on flat ground when suddenly you trip on a branch and fall off the cliff! ¡°Fortunately we did not encounter this kind of terrain when we were fleeing.¡± Zi Di happily said. ¡°Yes,¡± Zhen Jin was also worried and understood Zi Di¡¯s fear. If they were chased off the cliff by the fire-poison bees that night, then most likely they would have become skeletons at the bottom of the cliff. As they went farther from the cave, cliffs began to appear more frequently. The terrain turned more rough and rocky as they continued onwards. This change was not a bad thing. Because sometimes, the couple would stand on the cliffs and they had a wide view of the horizon and could observe the distant areas. Of course, this only happened occasionally. Most of the time, even if they were on top of a cliff, the tall trees blocked their line of sight. There were trees everywhere. A person could easily get lost walking in this environment. Zhen Jin constantly wrote on the map to record their route¡ª¡ªhe drew a straight line. However, were they really walking in a straight line? The couple couldn¡¯t be sure, as a matter of fact they had no confidence. Because they realized they lacked a reference point, they couldn¡¯t guarantee their route was straight. So, when there was a cliff with a wide field of view that allowed them to view the surroundings, they would cherish every glance. Regular people could not imagine this. While exploring the forest, an ordinary view into the distance would bring great joy and confidence to those trapped in the forest¡¯s depths. This was of course because Zhen Jin wasn¡¯t good at climbing trees. A knight¡¯s training regime never taught them how to climb trees. This was not strange. Because knights were masters of battle qi, they were capable of jumping onto high branches and had no need for special tree climbing training. Knights never fought alone. They had mounts and retainers, and when the legion was fighting, they had infantry men scouting the path ahead. Zhen Jin tried climbing a tree. After climbing up three meters, he gave up. He first needed to climb to the canopy to see far ahead. To accomplish this, he needed to climb at least ten meters. 1 It was risky at that height. If he lost his footing and fell, he would get injured. He was a knight, one of the elite templar knights under Emperor Sheng Ming, but he couldn¡¯t activate his battle qi. Without battle qi protecting him, his body couldn¡¯t handle a fall from that height. Moreover, he and Zi Di were vulnerable to attacks while climbing up the tree, Secondly, it was harder to climb these straight and tall trees compared to the trees with slanted branches and twisting vines in the rainforest. Lastly, he had to consider his physical strength. Climbing up the tree would waste too much of his strength.¡£ If he exerted himself and sweated too much and got hungry, he would need to consume large amounts of food and water to replenish his strength. In particular, the couple did not have much reserves remaining of the latter. Zhen Jin stood tall and looked far. 3 ¡°Look there, that area is a lowground,¡± Zhen Jin said. They needed to get to the lowest ground possible. That kind of area would most likely have water. Replenishing water would greatly assist the couple, on the other hand they could find a river and follow it out of the forest. It was because this island was surrounded by the ocean, and as water flowed down, it would eventually drain into it. An ideal river might lead them to a beach or a reef at its estuary. After sprinkling some of the marking powder on top of the cliff, the couple slightly altered their direction. Not long after, they arrived at the lowground area. Rather disappointingly, they did not find any water, much less a river. This terrain resembled a large bowl with trees filling it. However, just as they were about to change directions and continue, they suddenly stopped. A leopard appeared before their eyes. Its black body was covered entirely in scales and had a horn on its forehead. It was a scaled black leopard! As they discovered the scaled leopard, it had also discovered them. For a split second, both sides stared blankly upon encountering each other, seemingly caught off guard. Zhen Jin quietly gripped his spear and couldn''t help but be nervous. If it were only one scaled leopard, he wouldn¡¯t be worried as he could easily inflict serious damage to it. But what about a leap? What was more frightening was that, what if this leopard leap wasn''t the one that attacked the monkey bear, but instead a completely intact leap? Although most of the scaled leopards were only at the bronze level, there were many of them. A leap of many scaled leopards would dare to attack a silver level magic beast like the monkey bear when they encountered it. If Zhen Jin was attacked by a leap, he would be helpless to protect himself and Zi Di. 4 It was hard to do so. However, there was nothing he could do right now but to play it by ear. 5 Both sides remained still and the air seemed to freeze. Zi Di held her breath, the pressure in her heart increased as her face began to turn pale. After a brief stalemate, the scaled panther suddenly turned around and ran away. An unexpected situation! 2 ¡°Chase it quickly, it might be trying to alert the entire leap.¡± Zi Di whispered a moment later. Zhen Jin nodded as he remembered the fire-poison bee swarm had caused the leopard to flee. This had resulted in the entire leopard leap¡¯s vengeance and eventually leading to their fight with the monkey bear. ¡°Follow closely, If you don¡¯t¡­¡­¡± Zi Di interrupted before Zhen Jin could finish his sentence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we still have the marking powder and can meet up somewhere else!¡± Zi Di answered. The two agreed on this method to prevent both of them from getting separated and lost. Zhen Jin started running. A tree nearly hit him in the face, but he quickly avoided it as he continued running. With the wind blowing in his ears, Zhen Jin focused all his attention onto the figure of the panther while also guarding against any surprise attacks. 6 It wasn''t night but instead during the day, so Zhen Jin''s field of vision was very good. He took a big breath. His heart almost was bursting as it pumped blood into his contracting muscles, creating rigorous kinetic energy. Zhen Jin ran so fast that he unexpectedly caught up with the leopard already. This scaled leopard wasn¡¯t very fast. As he got closer, Zhen Jin was surprised to find that the scaled pather was injured. ¡°It¡¯s injured, does that mean it participated in the attack against the monkey bear?¡± Zhen Jin was somewhat relieved. It was because the monkey bear inflicted heavy losses to that leopard leap and killed its leader, leaving only a few leopards remaining. ¡°I still need to be cautious.¡± What if this is a trick the leopard leap uses to lure in their prey? Zhen Jin had heard Zi Di¡¯s words and knew that the sinister blue wolf had repeatedly attacked and killed the exploration team. The beasts of this island could not be judged by common sense. Zhen Jin would not be surprised if the leopard leaps used such tactics to lure in prey. Once again, something beyond Zhen Jin¡¯s expectations happened as the fleeing scaled panther suddenly stopped. It made a whimpering sound as it whirled around and balked with unease as it appeared very impatient. As Zhen Jin gradually approached the panther, the panther still continued its odd behaviour, as if something hidden in the forest ahead frightened it more than Zhen Jin. For a moment, the youngster couldn¡¯t help but reveal a vacant look in his eyes. He didn¡¯t attack the panther immediately but observed his surroundings As a result, he quickly discovered the surrounding forest was darker than before. Although the trees were still straight, their leaves appeared to be sickly green and their surfaces showed signs of decay. The ground was covered in a thick layer of dead branches and leaves. The air was filled with a gloomy and cold aura. As he didn¡¯t see any other beasts, Zhen Jin focused his attention back onto the scaled leopard in front of him. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He slowly walked forward, and as the distance between them closed to a point, the leopard couldn¡¯t hesitate anymore as it began to flee ahead. Zhen Jin followed behind closely. 7 Awoo¡ª¡ª£¡ Not far ahead, the leopard suddenly gave a blood-curdling wail. A net made of spiderwebs abruptly rose from the ground and wrapped the entire leopard inside then hauled it upwards. The spiderweb was quickly hung in the air, and with its excellent adhesiveness, the more the leopard struggled, the more it became stuck in the spiderweb. Soon the leopard¡¯s entire body was covered in spiderwebs. A pale white spider slowly descended from the canopy and onto the spiderweb. 3 The spider¡¯s body looked like a whetstone and it had eight long legs with each being at least two meters long. 8 The spider landed on the web like it was gliding across ice and moved around very smoothly. It quickly set out to work, and its eight legs were like a musician plucking the strings of a chordophone: quick but orderly. There was a hint of elegance as it worked. The web trapping the leopard was originally a bit damaged, but the spider quickly weaved and mended the web . The leopard¡¯s struggles became fewer as the white spider tied it six to seven meters up between two trees. Upon watching this scene of the spider¡¯s successful hunt, Zhen Jin''s heart trembled. He slowly retreated, his nerves extremely tense. The teenager not only kept his eyes on the spider who was still weaving threads, but also to what was under his feet. Perhaps there was a spiderweb hidden nearby. Luckily, the spider was done hunting and didn¡¯t attack him, rather it disappeared into the canopy. Zhen Jin didn¡¯t dare to drop his guard. His heart was still tense. Because within the canopy, he discovered other hunted prey. They appeared to have all sorts of figures and shapes. Most of them appeared to be leopards. Zhen Jin immediately speculated: did all of the scaled leopards the monkey bear drove away end up over here? He had already realized that the scaled leopard must have been afraid of this spider. Perhaps the leopard leap was ambushed here and was nearly wiped out 9 with only one luckily escaping, resulting in it running into Zhen Jin. The leopard was not intelligent enough and became panicked, resulting in it returning to where it had been previously,eventually ending in it being hunted. Besides the leopards, there were also deer, foxes, hares, and more. 10 There were even tigers and rhinos. Only God would know how rhinos were even here. Zhen Jin looked cautiously at them as his pulse couldn¡¯t help but quicken. Although he had only seen one spider, the canopy was sure to hide many more. If not, how could the leopards be annihilated by a single spider? Just one spider couldn¡¯t have captured all of them. Ordinary spiders hunted alone, but these spiders seemed to live in a group. Zhen Jin was not surprised about these variations in habits. He was about to leave when a faint sound called out: ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Please, please save me, save me.¡± Someone cried out to Zhen Jin for help! 4 Behold! My stuff!