Western Li Stone Kingdom Sword King

Two days later, deep within an unnamed large island

More than a dozen five- or six-year-old children gathered inside a stone house, curiously studying Ji Wuming, who lay on a stone bed.

"Grandpa Village Chief, why hasn't this outsider woken up yet? How about I stand on him and give him a pat?"

"Grandpa Village Chief, I need to pee!"

At that moment, Ji Wuming heard a jumble of noises and slowly opened his eyes. More than a dozen pairs of eyes stared directly at him, making him somewhat panic.

"Where is this?"

His mind immediately raced, and his gaze turned wary, even carrying a trace of killing intent.

"Grandpa Village Chief, he's awake!"

As one of the children shouted, a gray-haired old man entered with a cane, speaking in a very gentle tone.

"Outsider, you are safe now. Dali and the others rescued you from the sea..."

After the Old Village Chief's introduction, Ji Wuming finally lowered his guard. Only then did he understand that he had arrived in the Western Li Stone Kingdom, a place like an earthly paradise.

According to what he knew, this was not truly a kingdom, but merely a somewhat larger village. In particular, even ordinary adults here possessed the strength of Soul Kings, and all their awakened Martial Souls were sword types.

Since Village Chief Dali had been able to save his dying self from the jaws of those Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts, his strength had to be at least that of a Soul Douluo, perhaps even a Titled Douluo. It was impossible not to feel respect for this place.

"Old Village Chief, do you know which direction Sea God Island is in?" Ji Wuming did not know whether these humans, who resembled primitive tribal savages, knew the direction of Vast Sea City. But if he mentioned Sea God Island, they would certainly know.

After all, any humans living by the sea or on islands had heard, more or less, of the Sea God and Sea God Island.

"Sea God Island lies northwest of our homeland."

Hearing this, Ji Wuming finally determined his general location. He was now in the southwestern seas off the continent. As long as he traveled northeast, he would be able to set foot on the continent again.

However, seeing that Ji Wuming wanted to leave before his injuries had fully healed, the Old Village Chief could not help but remind him, "Young man, the Soul Beasts across the entire sea will soon riot. No matter where you wish to go, it would be best not to leave the island during this time."

"A Soul Beast riot?"

Ji Wuming's thoughts became somewhat confused. He knew about the riots among marine Soul Beasts. A Sea Soul Beast riot had another name: the Feast of Sea Soul Beasts. It occurred once every year.

During the riot, they could leave their own sea territories to hunt food in the territories of other Soul Beasts, interact with other Sea Soul Beast clans, and even reproduce.

But how was that possible? There should still have been at least a month before the Soul Beast riot.

Then his thoughts shifted. Perhaps the attacks he had suffered from those Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts had caused the Sea Soul Beast riot to erupt early.

"Thank you for the warning, Elder! I'll leave after the Sea Soul Beast riot ends. My name is Ji Wuming."

The Old Village Chief and the children were all delighted that Ji Wuming was staying. They had not encountered an outsider in nearly sixty or seventy years.

"Big Brother, can you tell us stories?"

"Big Brother, is the outside world dangerous? Like Spirit Hall—they're awful!"

"Big Brother, where are you from?"

The children all poured out their questions and thoughts at once, with the most common topic being Spirit Hall.

There was a reason they hated Spirit Hall. Back when Qian Daoliu held the position of Pope, he had sent a great number of Soul Masters to the Western Li Stone Kingdom, intending to wipe out everyone here to eliminate future trouble. Yet they had been routed in defeat by the Western Li Swordmaster.

"Stop bothering Big Brother. Let him rest properly!"

The Old Village Chief led the children away, leaving Ji Wuming alone in the room.

Only then did Ji Wuming calm down. Lying flat on the stone bed, he felt both fortunate and helpless as he touched the Blue-Gold Crown on his head.

This head External Soul Bone's soul skill was rather useless. It could only strengthen his spiritual power and reduce the Soul Power consumed by soul skills. It was not particularly useful and could only serve as an auxiliary Soul Bone.

Still, without this External Soul Bone, Ji Wuming might not have survived. It seemed he could only look forward to its future evolution.

Meanwhile, in Vast Sea City,

The Captain who had escaped disaster, along with a small number of crew members, reported the attack one after another to the head of the Hai Family and Director Lu at the academy.

"What? What do you mean Xiao Ji was devoured by a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast and is already dead?"

Director Lu's heart lurched upon hearing the news, and he was utterly shocked. Yet in the next moment, several teachers who had gone out to help students obtain Soul Rings hurried back with their students, saying anxiously,

"Old Lu, it's madness! The Sea Soul Beasts have completely gone mad! There are now huge numbers of Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in the shallow seas, and even several Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts. The Soul Beast riot has come early."

"What is going on? Wasn't the Sea Soul Beast riot still a month away? Why did it come so soon? Could some Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts from the deep sea be deliberately taking revenge on us humans?"

The more Director Lu spoke, the more worried he became. Could Xiao Ji have died in the Soul Beast riot? Yet he still held out hope.

Xiao Ji knew Soul Beasts extremely well. He could never have died in a Soul Beast riot. He must have escaped to some island and hidden there. That had to be it!

"Quick, send people to investigate the coast and Blue Fish Village. See whether Xiao Ji has returned. He would never die so easily."

After ordering people to search for him, Director Lu picked up a pen and was about to write a letter, only to put it down again. Until his body was found, that was the best possible news.

At that moment, in Nuoding City several hundred li away,

A seven-year-old boy dressed in blue, with a hint of darkness deep in his eyes, walked along Nuoding City's main street.

"Xiao San, wait for me! I've never been to your home before. The term just ended with great difficulty, so take me to visit your home, okay?"

A girl dressed in pink, with a pair of rabbit ears atop her head and a small square bundle in hand, hurried to catch up with Tang San ahead of her.

"My home is very simple. I'm afraid there won't be anything good to entertain you with."

Xiao Wu said happily, "It's fine. I brought some carrots and bought some meat too."

Tang San said as he walked, "My father has a bad temper!"

"It's fine, I'm very well-behaved!" Xiao Wu stepped in front of Tang San, revealing an adorable and innocent side.

As they continued onward, they soon arrived at Holy Spirit Village. When Tang San pushed open the door, he saw only Old Jack.

"Xiao San, your father and I were planning to pick you up. Why did you come back early?"