Zhao Yun returned to the Hyperion, where everyone was waiting on the deck.
"Yo, everyone's here!" Zhao Yun looked quite pleased.
Yet everyone was gathered around a crocodile, discussing it.
Knowing better than to interrupt, Zhao Yun opened the mission panel and submitted his missions. Aside from failing to kill Nors and wipe out all the enemies, he had completed everything else. Each Taotie Warrior was worth 500 Energy Coins. The first six, plus the final twenty, totaled 13,000 Energy Coins. Add the 2,000 Energy Coins for driving back Nors, and that made 15,000 in total.
As Zhao Yun did the math, he could not help clicking his tongue. "Not enough. I'm still short by a little over twenty thousand!"
But what he heard was—
Kiana: "Eh, eh, this crocodile can talk. It's not tasty."
Soton: "Right, right, I'm not tasty."
Kiana: "But it can be used for fishing."
Grey Wolf: "This tail can be cut off and replaced with a mechanical one. Wait, let me calculate it."
Soton: "My tail is fine, very fine. No need to replace it, thank you. Scary. Cold sweat. Wiping sweat."
Baili Shouyue: "Good idea. Mr. Grey Wolf, you must show me your work."
Grey Wolf: "I will. Mm, this part goes here, and this goes like this."
Su Jiu: "Crocodile skin is supposedly good for making clothes. We could peel some off and make little bags for Su Yi and the others. But he's only this big. It won't be enough."
Su Yi: "Papa, don't worry. I have Regeneration Potion. We can do it a few more times."
Little Duck: "Quack quack."
Soton: "Skinning me, cutting off my tail, and even eating me... Oh, mother, what kind of place did I enter?" With a plop, Soton collapsed.
Kiana poked him, then said to Su Jiu, who was still discussing crocodile bag designs with Su Yi, "Captain, the Crocodile Jerky fainted."
Su Jiu: "Crocodile Jerky? What Crocodile Jerky? We never bought that."
Kiana cooperatively pointed at Crocodile God Soton.
Su Jiu: "What the hell kind of Crocodile Jerky is that? Damn it."
Su Jiu: "Kiana, hang him beneath the Hyperion and let him catch the wind. See if we can air-dry him."
Kiana: "Captain, Captain, you're the best! I'll go get ready."
Zhao Yun's mouth twitched at the sight.
Zhao Yun took a deep breath, walked over to Su Jiu, and said, "Captain, I'm going out for a walk."
"Go ahead, go ahead. Remember to change clothes before you leave." Su Jiu was still discussing crocodile handbags with Su Yi and answered casually.
Zhao Yun took a bath aboard the Hyperion, changed into a White Suit, then arrived in Juxia City. Walking across the bridge connecting the east and west sides, he watched the night view. He casually took out a bottle of Lao Bai Gan and took a sip, feeling rather good. "Not bad. I like it."
A woman's voice came from behind him. "What's not bad?"
Zhao Yun turned around and saw a beauty who could easily score ninety-eight out of a hundred standing behind him.
"Let me introduce myself. Liang Bing, daughter of an angel. You can call me Liang Bing." After speaking, Liang Bing sized Zhao Yun up.
Zhao Yun took a bottle of Lao Bai Gan from his pocket, tossed it to Liang Bing, and said, "Have a sip."
Liang Bing caught it casually, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip. "I don't like baijiu. Red wine has more flavor."
"Baijiu belongs to Huaxia. Red wine is what foreigners drink." Zhao Yun took another sip of Lao Bai Gan.
Liang Bing gently shook the bottle in her hand. "What do you think of Huaxia? Do you like freedom? Or ideas of depravity?"
"How should I put it? Huaxia is pretty good. There's freedom, depravity, justice, and a group of people striving for their ideals." Zhao Yun drained the last sip of Lao Bai Gan and pulled another bottle from his pocket with his right hand.
"Ideals? Shouldn't you call them dreams?" Liang Bing asked in confusion.
Zhao Yun unscrewed the cap, ready to take another drink. Hearing that, he stopped and said, "I once asked someone. He said dreams are things you think of in dreams, while ideals are things that can be realized."
"Hey, hey, after saying so much, you still haven't told me what you think of me." Liang Bing took a small sip of Lao Bai Gan.
Seeing Liang Bing drink like that, Zhao Yun smiled. "Actually, you're both right and wrong. Everyone wants freedom, and it's the same with depravity. Sometimes, there's just too much helplessness."
Zhao Yun drank half the bottle of Lao Bai Gan in one go, then continued, "If you're looking for people like that, find those who are willing. What use is finding people who aren't willing? Even if you brainwash them, they still won't truly agree with you. If you're just looking for subordinates, then whatever. But if you're looking for friends or teammates, observe them one by one, understand them, and let them slowly integrate into your team." Zhao Yun finished the remaining half-bottle of Lao Bai Gan and walked away.
Liang Bing remained where she was, mulling over Zhao Yun's words.
Why didn't Morgana have many truly powerful warriors under her command? One reason was that she mindlessly produced demons while selecting stronger ones.
If Morgana had spent some time nurturing people, how could she have failed to cultivate them? Otherwise, Morgana would not have needed to poach people here and snatch them there.
Liang Bing carefully considered Zhao Yun's words, then smiled. "You moved me. Besides, aren't there plenty of people here? I have plenty of time too. I'll take it slowly."
Aboard the Juxia Aircraft Carrier...
Du Kao looked at the video before him and said gravely, "That Second Generation Super Soldier dressed like an ancient general is manageable enough, but that weapon is no simple matter. Nors's weapon was comparable to our Black Armor, yet it was cut open in a single strike."
Lian Feng spoke from the side. "We have no records of that crescent-shaped weapon. This is the first time we've seen any information on it. We also have no data on the techniques used by that Second Generation Super Soldier."
Yu Qin rapidly tapped at the virtual panel and said, "This is a new energy-driven mode, or perhaps an entirely new system. I just simulated the energy flow, but I couldn't grasp the key points. It won't work."
Du Kao remained silent, staring at the footage in thought for a while before saying, "Could he be from the same group as the girl who fought Qiangwei?"
Lian Feng froze for a moment, then thought it over. "It's possible. Kiana used no energy when fighting Qiangwei, relying purely on her body, and we have no data on her either. This person is the same. I see many similarities."
Du Kao relaxed his tightly furrowed brow. "It seems we can make contact with this unknown force. Their actions on both occasions have shown that they bear no hostility."
(Su Jiu snickered. They had even poached the Nuoxing War God.)
"Yun, where are you? It's 7:30. Baili and I are getting ready to visit Super God Academy. There's a good show coming up." Zhao Yun received a message from Su Jiu through their private chat channel.
Zhao Yun: "I'm in Juxia City. I'll be right there. I'm going to check on the Zhao Family first."
Su Jiu: "All right, we'll wait a bit. Su Yi wants to come too. He went to change clothes. He needs another ten minutes, so no rush."
After seeing the message, Zhao Yun was in no hurry. He contacted Chi Yang to open a wormhole.
Zhao Yun replenished his recently depleted supply of Lao Bai Gan before contacting Chi Yang to open a wormhole back to the Hyperion.
Modified Weapon: Moon Wheel Category: Special. Crescent Moon Form: ① Sharpness: Can cut through anything. If something cannot be cut, it means there is not enough energy. ② Ultra-Long-Range Control: Remote control can reach up to five light-years. (The host is not strong enough. At present, enemies can be attacked within 200 kilometers.) ③ Moon Projection: Depending on the host's strength, projects a corresponding number of crescent moons. Projected crescent moons possess fifty percent of the original body's abilities. ④ Moon's Protection: The Moon Wheel possesses autonomous consciousness. When the host is not controlling it, the Moon Wheel will silently protect its master. Full Moon Form: ① Destruction: Wherever the Full Moon passes, all is annihilated. ② Moon's Protection: The Moon Wheel possesses autonomous consciousness. When the host is not controlling it, the Moon Wheel will silently protect its master. System Reminder: The Moon Wheel has only one master in its lifetime. It either protects or annihilates.
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