Zhu Kang's Identity

Just as Song Chao prepared to deliver the final blow and completely shatter the Silver Edge's energy shield, Azure Sky received a communication request from the other side.

After hesitating for a moment, Song Chao did not answer at once. Instead, he firmly pressed the fire button.

By this point in the battle, he was already well aware that the Silver Edge's background was anything but simple. Someone who possessed a purple-quality engine component and possibly even a purple-quality main naval cannon could not possibly be an unknown figure in Jiangyuan City.

The reason he still chose to fire was simple. Azure Sky beneath his feet was also nearing its limit. If he did not defeat the other side first, then once the armor-breaking effect ended, he would be the one left at their mercy. Song Chao would never allow himself to fall into such a passive situation.

Boom!

The main cannon at Azure Sky's bow roared once more. In the next instant, the Silver Edge's outer energy shield shattered completely. Even its Hull Armor and the ship itself suffered considerable damage.

At this point, the other side's communication requests became increasingly urgent. This time, Song Chao did not refuse again.

The moment the connection was established and the other man's projection appeared before him, Song Chao's expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank.

He recognized the man—or rather, he had seen him in the core intelligence files on the leaders of Jiangyuan City's various factions. He had already guessed that the Silver Edge had an extraordinary background, but seeing the young man's face still exceeded Song Chao's expectations.

If he remembered correctly, the young man was named Zhu Kang. He was around a hundred years old and had advanced to a second-rank Ember Captain more than a decade ago. His strength was formidable.

Of course, that was not the important part. If he were merely a promising second-rank Ember Captain, Song Chao would not have cared. The key was Zhu Kang's father, a man who practically held absolute power in Jiangyuan City.

Zhu Yaokui, dean of Jiangyuan First Ember Academy and Jiangyuan City's only third-rank Ember Captain. The cruiser-class Void Energy Airship under his command, when firing at full power, could suppress an entire low-level Star Sea Floating Continent.

Zhu Kang was Zhu Yaokui's fourth son. Though he was not the most favored, he was still the direct bloodline of a third-rank Ember Captain. If anything happened to him, Zhu Yaokui could not possibly stay out of it.

Although Shen Wenjie and Song Chao had done their utmost to conceal their identities and had acted with considerable secrecy, if a third-rank Ember Captain devoted himself to investigating, it would only be a matter of time before the trail led to them. Jiangyuan City was only so large, with only a handful of second-rank Ember Captains. Tracking them down would be far too easy.

Song Chao quickly made his decision. He would not kill the man, but neither did he intend to let him off so easily.

Though he could not deliver the killing blow, there were plenty of good things aboard Zhu Kang's flagship. Getting his hands on any two of them would be a substantial gain.

Seeing that Song Chao had put on a mask beforehand, concealing his true face, Zhu Kang's eyes grew even darker. Still, he was not foolish enough to let his pride override his current situation. He said coldly:

"I don't know who you are, but as long as you're from Jiangyuan City, you should be no stranger to me. The winner takes all. I will no longer interfere in the matter of the Titanium Crystal vein. How about it?"

Beneath his mask, Song Chao's lips curled upward. Zhu Kang's words casually absolved himself of all responsibility. Naturally, Song Chao would not agree.

"Zhu Kang, for your father's sake, I can let you leave. But don't use the Titanium Crystal vein as a bargaining chip. It's just a depleted vein that doesn't even qualify as a micro-vein, with reserves of no more than three hundred units. Besides, our side discovered this vein first. What does it have to do with you?"

Zhu Kang's gaze darkened as he gritted his teeth.

"Then what do you want?"

Song Chao hesitated briefly. "Simple. Hand over two shipborne components of blue quality or above as the price for your defeat!"

"Impossible!" Zhu Kang shouted as soon as Song Chao finished speaking. Clearly, that demand exceeded the limit of what he could accept.

Seeing this, Song Chao did not indulge him. Azure Sky opened fire again.

Before long, the Silver Edge's Hull Armor had sustained over 70% damage, while damage to the vessel itself exceeded 40%.

Yet Song Chao was not optimistic. Zhu Kang's attitude was exceptionally firm, as though he was certain Song Chao would not dare kill him, and he continued to refuse.

In the end, Song Chao had no choice but to stop. If he continued pouring firepower into the ship, Zhu Kang's flagship would likely be completely destroyed. If that happened, even if Zhu Kang survived, Zhu Yaokui would certainly intervene. That was not what Song Chao wanted to see.

Two minutes later, a smug look appeared on Zhu Kang's face. As expected, the other side did not dare continue attacking.

But when his gaze shifted to the battlefield off to the side, fury surged in his eyes again. After Song Chao stopped attacking the Silver Edge, he had actually turned his attention to another frigate.

Though the Gentle Breeze was merely an ordinary frigate, its captain was a personal retainer Zhu Yaokui had selected for Zhu Kang. They had been together since childhood, and the man was Zhu Kang's most loyal subordinate. If he and his ship were destroyed because of this, Zhu Kang would never be able to accept it.

Several more minutes passed. Under the combined assault of Azure Sky and Bronze Halberd, the Gentle Breeze's energy shield was soon destroyed. Just as its Hull Armor was about to be completely breached, Song Chao finally received another communication request from Zhu Kang.

Song Chao smiled faintly, put his mask back on, and accepted the call.

Zhu Kang's expression had darkened to the extreme, but after going back and forth, he ultimately agreed to Song Chao's demand and handed over two blue-quality shipborne components.

Twenty minutes later, the four frigates returned to the Skyreach Mining Zone. Realizing that the battle had reached a conclusion, the twelve Void Energy Airships soon stopped their melee as well. The Black Mountain Society's few Void Energy Airships were clearly reluctant to do so. Judging from the outer hulls of the four frigates, Zhu Kang's side had most likely lost.

The moment he realized this, Scar's heart turned ice-cold.

He had reported the matter of the Titanium Crystal in hopes of firmly attaching himself to Jiangyuan City's greatest power. Yet it was clear that he had failed to gain anything and instead suffered a loss. He would likely have to endure Zhu Kang's wrath next. How could Scar possibly remain calm?

Ten minutes later, Zhu Kang silently departed with his fleet, while Song Chao's group continued their excavation work.

This Titanium Crystal vein was a micro-vein. Its reserves had previously been estimated at between 1,000 and 2,000 units, but after this period of mining, the confirmed reserves had risen slightly and would most likely exceed 2,000 units. Fully extracting it would still take some time.

As for why Song Chao had called it a depleted vein to Zhu Kang earlier, it was naturally to lower the overall value of the Titanium Crystal vein as much as possible. Otherwise, once news of a vein holding more than 2,000 units of Titanium Crystal spread, it would be difficult not to attract Zhu Yaokui's attention.