Ebb Tide

Guan Yunwu gave a wry smile. "If this reaches the capital, we'll inevitably get a thorough scolding."

Shi Yang raised his head, unconcerned. "What's there to fear? I brought back such an enormous haul of cultivation resources. Who would dare find fault with me!"

Shi Yang turned to the Martial Artists before him and said coldly, "Get the hell out of here. You dare try to take advantage of me? Do you not know how the word 'death' is written!"

His voice was like startling thunder, exploding beside every Martial Artist's ears.

A few still clung to a shred of hope and tried to sneak around to the other side of the Giant Whale.

Shi Yang narrowed his eyes, gripped his sword hilt, and gave it a fierce flick.

The blade left its sheath, flashing like lightning through the legs of two men before burying halfway into the ground.

The two who had made a move howled and fell. Their thighs had not been severed, but great gashes had split them open, blood gushing wildly out.

From then on, the Martial Artists gave up completely and left in frustration.

If they could not get any benefits, so be it. There was truly no need to throw away their lives as well.

The third day.

The heat wave that had blanketed the entire Silver Belt Sea finally receded, taking much of the dark cloud cover in the sky with it.

By noon on the third day, the tide had fully subsided, and the water level returned to normal.

This tidal surge had lasted two and a half days. Compared with previous years, it had not been particularly long.

But the number of sea beasts washed ashore had been astonishing. Nearly every surviving Martial Artist had made a fortune this time.

Even the corpses of small sea beasts picked up from the ground could fetch quite a bit of money.

If one was lucky enough to obtain Green Spotted Snake materials or treasure materials from even higher-level sea beasts, it would mean striking it rich.

The greatest danger this time had undoubtedly been the Dragon Whale that came ashore. In comparison, even the Ghost-Faced Four-Legged Fish that had once sent people fleeing at the very mention of its name was nothing.

Several that came ashore afterward were crushed alive by the Dragon Whale that had landed at the same time.

The wisest thing Garrison Commander Lu Pan had done this time was promptly request support from the capital, bringing in Shi Yang, a one-star military commander from the capital, and helping Island Town safely weather this crisis.

Several more days passed, and four large airships pierced through the mist and slowly arrived.

The airships bore the emblematic patterns of the Nanxi Military Department. They were military airships.

Without lingering long, after completing the handover with local Garrison Commander Lu Pan, the four airships bound the Dragon Whale's enormous corpse and departed toward the capital.

Shi Yang and Guan Yunwu left with them.

What remained was a group of surveyors, tasked with assisting Garrison Commander Lu Pan in investigating whether volcanic hazards existed near the Silver Belt Sea.

But none of that had anything to do with Wang Yu, who had returned to the gym.

After the tidal surge, Wang Yu had an ample supply of treasure-material meat and ate to his heart's content almost every day.

It was nothing like when he had eaten Blood Pig Meat before, counting every bite with painstaking care.

As a result, the proficiency gained from each round of his Body Tempering Methods practice multiplied.

Ever since hearing that martial training could prolong one's life, and that Blood-Burning Martial Artists could live three hundred years, he had become even more driven to train.

He was fired up all day, as though he had been pumped full of chicken blood.

In the blink of an eye, time reached the year 773 of the Blue Star Calendar.

At the Purple Coal Vein in Nan Shan Ling, after nearly a year of excavation and mining, this small vein was about to be exhausted, and the blazing mining operation had entered its final stage.

That night, atop a hill not far from the vein.

A group of men carried sabers and staves, dressed in asphalt-colored work trousers and short shirts, exuding the rough, bandit-like air of the wilds.

At their head stood a burly man with a black headscarf. His ape-like arms were incredibly thick, and he glared with a vicious expression.

"Boss, just as the intelligence said, Sun Chengshan isn't overseeing the mine tonight. It's only a few of his disciples, nothing to worry about," one underling said with a snicker.

"Are you sure?" Zhao Yong looked at him, his invisible pressure making the underling's face stiffen as he hurriedly nodded.

He feared that if he responded too slowly, he would displease this lord.

"Those disciples are nothing special. Most are at the Body Tempering Second Layer, while the slightly stronger one is a brat named Wang Yu. His talent is impressive, and he's already reached the Body Tempering Fourth Layer Realm.

"But since you're making a move this time, Boss, no matter how talented he is, he'll still fall into your hands."

The underling did not forget to lavish him with praise after speaking.

A savage smile spread across Zhao Yong's face. "I like geniuses. Killing them gives a real sense of accomplishment."

"Yes, yes, yes! Boss is valiant and invincible. This time, we'll be eating fine food and drinking strong liquor right alongside you!" The underling's flattery came one after another, putting Zhao Yong in an increasingly good mood.

With a grand wave of his hand, Zhao Yong shouted, "Don't worry. Once we seize this batch of ore, everyone will get a share of the money we make!"

Every underling's eyes gleamed like those of hungry wolves, cold laughter spilling from their mouths.

At the mine, the clang of hammering still rang continuously from several shafts, though the previous scene of feverish activity was gone.

"In another half month or so, this Purple Coal Vein will be completely mined out," Meng Lao Er said.

He looked at what had once been his family's low hill. It had now nearly been dug flat, while shattered stones were piled into several hills as high as small mountains.

Wang Yu, standing beside him, nodded. "Uncle Meng, you've worked hard over the past year."

Ever since Sun Chengshan began attempting to break through to the Body Tempering Sixth Level, he had handed much of the daily management of the vein over to Meng Lao Er.

He would usually send disciples over in rotation to help oversee the place, only stepping in himself when troublesome matters arose.

"It wasn't hard work. Besides, I have you to thank for everything I have today," Meng Lao Er said with a smile.

Compared to a year ago, his entire bearing had changed considerably.

He had become more at ease, more confident, and more discerning.

Apart from this mine, Meng Lao Er had also used the money in his hands to start other businesses in Island Town. After a year, they had all begun to show some success.

It could be said that even once this Purple Coal Vein was exhausted, Meng Lao Er would still be capable of making money. He would not simply sit around and eat away at his savings.

Even Wang Yu, after learning what Meng Lao Er had accomplished over the past year, could not help but lament that such a business talent had nearly been buried.

"By my reckoning, Sister-in-law should be about ready to give birth, right?" Wang Yu changed the subject.

"Hehe, soon, soon." At the mention of his second child, who was about to be born, Meng Lao Er's face was filled with happiness.

For an ordinary man like him, once life improved, the first thing naturally on his mind was spreading branches and leaves, so that the Meng family could continue on more prosperously.

There were no family-planning rules in town. So long as one could afford to raise them, the more children, the better.

Wang Yu offered his congratulations.

Growing more animated as they chatted, Meng Lao Er happily said, "This Second Meng plans to name him Meng Xieyu, so he'll remember the benefactor of our family."

"Uh..." Wang Yu wore a helpless expression. It seemed this naming matter had been decided long ago.

Judging by Meng Lao Er's expression, he seemed quite pleased with himself for coming up with such a cultured name.

Just as the two were talking, shouts of rebuke suddenly came from outside.

Wang Yu recognized the voices of He Tie and several other disciples. Something seemed to have happened.

Outside the mine, seven or eight disciples of the Shadowless Fist Gym were locked in battle with a group of masked men.

The other side did not appear to be ordinary people either. Each wielded blades and staves with practiced technique, clearly possessing cultivation.

In particular, the long-armed burly man at the head of the group wielded a fierce fist technique, easily injuring two disciples of the Shadowless Fist Gym.

His formidable strength filled the remaining disciples with fear.