Woniu Island

BOOM~~~

The warship continued its flight over the East Sea.

However, to the disappointment of Shangguan Yun, Nan Ming, and the others, they hadn't encountered a single pirate raid, nor even many merchant ships, for over an hour.

They occasionally passed over small islands, but most were barren and desolate, devoid of any human presence.

In truth, this was the real East Sea. To thrive amidst the swarms of sea demons, only clans with at least a Purple Mansion Cultivator to hold the line could hope to survive.

As for the massive islands, they were located deep within the East Sea, either occupied by the cave abodes of powerful Loose Immortals or held by formidable demon factions. A single squad of Xiantian Lifeforms like theirs could never reach such places.

"We're here! We're here!"

As the soldiers cheered, a dense white mist appeared at the edge of the horizon.

The mist was quite peculiar; despite the fierce, howling gales at high altitude, the drifting fog remained completely unaffected by the hurricane-force winds.

"Finally," Zhou Hao said, a faint smile appearing as he looked at the mist before him.

Though the warship was impressive, it was not solid ground. Because they disliked Elder Zhu, they had spent the entire six-hour voyage on the deck, braving the sea breeze rather than resting in the cabins.

Now that they had reached their destination, everyone was quite excited.

"So this is the Natural White Mist Maze that covers a thousand-mile radius?" Zhou Hao examined the mist ahead with great interest.

The warship was already approaching the edge of the maze. Everywhere he looked, there was only a vast, boundless expanse of fog; he couldn't see anything inside at all.

"It is said that Crouching Ox Island was once the cave abode of a powerful Loose Immortal. After that immortal perished under the Heavenly Tribulation, this place became ownerless land," Hu Yong explained from the side.

"Later, it was discovered by a senior True Person from Jade Dragon City. The thousand-mile-wide mist has a one-hour gap in the maze every seven days, which is the only time one can enter or leave."

As a veteran of the Green Flood Dragon Army's Xiantian Battalion, he had been stationed at Crouching Ox Island more than once, so he was naturally unfazed.

"Was the Loose Immortal's cave abode ever found?" Zhou Hao asked curiously. The existence of a Loose Immortal's abode on Crouching Ox Island was not information recorded in the military archives.

"I suppose so," Hu Yong said, sounding a bit uncertain. "I only heard it from the old-timers. Jade Dragon City has held Crouching Ox Island for over ten thousand years; surely they've found whatever cave there was to find."

"That makes sense," Zhou Hao nodded.

While they were speaking, the mist ahead began to shift. Within a few dozen breaths, the dense fog thinned visibly, allowing them to faintly see the black sea surface below.

They were now in the deep sea, where the water was incredibly profound. The pitch-black surface was riddled with countless whirlpools of varying sizes, making it look as if the sea had thousands of eyes staring back at them.

"Everyone, be careful! Don't fall in. The water temperature down there is extremely low, and there are countless underwater currents and whirlpools. Even a Myriad Phenomena True Person would be dead upon entering," Hu Yong warned loudly, seeing many soldiers leaning over the deck railing to look down in curiosity.

With the Natural White Mist Maze above and the whirlpools below, this truly is a treasure land for reclusive cultivation, Zhou Hao thought with admiration, feeling great respect for the Jade Dragon City senior who had first discovered and occupied this place.

The warship flew into the mist, and after another quarter-hour, they finally arrived at their destination: Crouching Ox Island.

Crouching Ox Island was about fifty miles long and nearly ten miles wide at its broadest point. It was named by the seniors of Jade Dragon City because the mountain range on the island resembled a green ox lying prone.

Perhaps because that senior Loose Immortal had set up a grand formation here to gather the surrounding Heaven and Earth Origin Energy for cultivation, there was a large Origin Stone vein beneath the seabed of Crouching Ox Island.

Although it had been mined for over ten thousand years—to the point where the entire area beneath the island was riddled with underground caverns—the vein still produced a significant amount of Origin Stones every year, making it one of the three major sources of income for Jade Dragon City.

"Haha, which brother has come?"

While the warship was still some distance away, a figure stepped onto a giant sword and flew up from the peaks of Crouching Ox Island, calling out in a booming voice.

It was a Purple Mansion-level Venerable stationed on Crouching Ox Island, coming out to welcome the warship from Jade Dragon City.

"Brother Ju Wei, long time no see." Elder Zhu, dressed in Daoist robes, stepped out of the cabin with another middle-aged man in black robes. "It is Brother Qiu Ming and I who have come to take up the watch this time."

"So it is... Brother Zhu Sheng." Upon seeing the sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked Elder Zhu, the smile on the face of the burly man—who stood over two meters tall and was still standing on his giant sword—faded instantly.

Why did it have to be this guy?

Thinking that he would have to spend a month with him, the burly Ju Wei felt his irritation rising.

Unlike the Xiantian Lifeforms of the Jade Dragon Army, those in the Hall of Venerables only rotated once a year. He wouldn't be able to leave until Zhou Hao and his men returned.

"Are you the commander of the newly formed Fifth Squad?" After exchanging greetings with the two Venerables, Zhu Sheng and Qiu Ming, Ju Wei looked at Zhou Hao, who was clad in Black Jade Dragon Armor.

"Venerable Ju Wei, I am Zhou Hao." Zhou Hao smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

It seems that Elder Zhu is not only unpopular with us, but his reputation in the Hall of Venerables isn't very good either.

"Commander Zhou Hao," Ju Wei said, his tone quite friendly toward the new commander. "Since the Jade Dragon Army has arrived, the defense of Crouching Ox Island will be left to you to arrange. We are currently in the seven-day gap of the maze, so we cannot afford any carelessness."

"Understood. Thank you for your hard work these past few days, Venerable Ju Wei. We will take it from here." Zhou Hao turned to Hu Yong and ordered, "Follow the plan for the watch. Let the brothers rest only after the maze's gap period has passed."

"Yes!" Hu Yong went to organize the soldiers, while Zhou Hao followed Ju Wei toward the summit of Crouching Ox Mountain.

As for the two Venerables, Zhu Sheng and Qiu Ming, they were hardly children who needed looking after.

"The Origin Energy here is so dense."

As soon as Zhou Hao stepped onto Crouching Ox Mountain, he immediately felt the rich Heaven and Earth Origin Energy within the slightly humid air.

Although it wasn't as potent as directly absorbing High-Grade Origin Stones, cultivating here would allow one to condense Heaven and Earth Origin Energy several times faster than in other places.

"Stationing at Crouching Ox Island is considered a cushy job, whether for us Venerables or for you Xiantian Lifeforms of the Jade Dragon Army."

"Almost the entire seabed beneath this island, wherever the mist covers, is an Origin Stone vein. With so many stones gathered together—even if most are only Low-Grade Origin Stones—the collective effect is comparable to a grand gathering formation."

Consecrated Ju Wei smiled upon hearing this and walked to the cliff's edge to overlook the entire island.

The spot where they stood was the highest point of Crouching Ox Island, situated exactly where the head of a green ox would be if it were lying prone upon the sea.

Looking down from here, one could see small residential courtyards built along the ridge of the ox's back. The four mountain spurs at the base resembled the ox's legs, densely packed with over a thousand small buildings.

Between these four leg-like spurs lay a stretch of white sandy beach, resembling the ox's belly. One could see figures moving about there; it seemed the Green Flood Dragon Army was drilling.

Knowing this was Zhou Hao's first time on Crouching Ox Island, Consecrated Ju Wei pointed out the various locations: "The summit of Ox-Head Mountain is the residence for Commander Zhou and us consecrated ones; you may choose any of those courtyards. The small houses along the ox's back are for the Xiantian Lifeforms of your Jade Dragon Army, while those buildings at the foot of the mountain house the Green Flood Dragon Army stationed on the island."

Zhou Hao scanned the area. He saw their Green Flood Dragon Army troops, but not the pirates captured over the years, so he asked curiously, "Where do the miners live?"

"They are on the other side of the ox's back. The passage leading to the underground mineral veins is also over there; you will see it once you go around." Consecrated Ju Wei led Zhou Hao toward the other side of the ox's head.

If the view they had just seen was one of gentle slopes and even the atmosphere of an immortal sect, the other side was dominated by a ten-thousand-fathom precipice.

Zhou Hao looked down to see a similar stretch of shallows at the bottom, though it was filled with jagged rocks and countless reefs. Along the stone wall stood a row of dark, dismal huts that appeared to be built from sea reefs.

"Those miners usually dig underground and are only allowed to come up for air and hand over the Origin Stones they've collected for five days each month. If the quantity is insufficient, they are punished," Consecrated Ju Wei explained.

"Is there anyone guarding the mine tunnels?" Zhou Hao asked.

"The underground environment is harsh; who would want to go down there?" Consecrated Ju Wei laughed. "The surrounding thousand miles are covered by the White Mist Maze Array, and the seawater around Crouching Ox Island is extremely frigid, filled with countless undercurrents and whirlpools. Even a Myriad Phenomena True Person might not be able to travel back and forth safely from underwater. With that, are we really worried about a few Post-Heaven pirates running away?"

That was true.

Zhou Hao nodded.

The reason Crouching Ox Island was considered a cushy post, aside from the rich Heaven and Earth Origin Energy that aided cultivation, was primarily because there was so little to do.

Stationed at other islands, one had to worry about miners escaping or occasional attacks by sea beasts, but on Crouching Ox Island, none of those were issues.

One only needed to guard the one-hour gap every seven days; the rest of the time could be spent focusing on cultivation, eating barbecue, or chatting—it was incredibly pleasant.

Furthermore, when units like the Jade Dragon Army were stationed out at sea, their monthly military pay was tripled.

The same treatment applied on Crouching Ox Island.

It was no wonder that when Cao Rong learned Zhou Hao and his men were headed to Crouching Ox Island before they set off, his eyes had turned red with envy.

After all, everyone was out at sea; one side was leisure and entertainment, while the other was constant tension and readiness for battle. Since the pay was the same, it naturally invited jealousy.

Zhou Hao toured the summit with Consecrated Ju Wei and chose a courtyard near the cliff edge. The one-hour gap passed quickly.

He summoned Hu Yong and ordered him to arrange the Five Elements Army for guard duty, ensuring that at least one group of Xiantian Lifeforms could respond to any situation at top speed.

He and Hu Yong would also take shifts, rotating every seven days to ensure someone was in charge on the island should anything happen.

"Commander, isn't this being a bit too cautious?" Hu Yong asked, puzzled. "There are five thousand Green Flood Dragon Army soldiers on the island. Even if those miners rioted, the Green Flood Dragon Army alone would be enough to suppress them."

Having arrived at such a leisurely vacation spot, was there really a need to act as if they were facing a great enemy instead of focusing on cultivation and having fun?

"Caution is the parent of safety," Zhou Hao frowned. "Since I serve as Commander and have taken charge of the island's defense, I must be responsible for my soldiers and for Jade Dragon City."

"I am only asking that you do not go into seclusion during your shift and remain alert. Compared to the other two vital locations, this is already simple enough. If you are unwilling to do even this, then leave the Fifth Squad. I, Zhou Hao, have no use for such people!"

"Yes, this subordinate understands." Hu Yong felt a jolt in his heart. "Commander, I shall take the first watch. If you have time, you need only patrol. I will not be negligent."

Zhou Hao stared at Hu Yong until beads of sweat began to seep from his forehead, then said calmly, "No need. I must be the first to follow my own orders. You and I will rotate every seven days; that is final."

"Yes. Commander, this is your first time out at sea, so you must be exhausted. Starting today, I will take the first watch, and you can take over after seven days," Hu Yong said respectfully.

"Mm, go make the arrangements." Zhou Hao pondered for a moment, thinking he had struck the right balance, and nodded in agreement.

Watching Hu Yong hurry down the mountain to assemble the soldiers and organize the shifts, a faint smile appeared on the corner of Zhou Hao's lips.

His goal was the path of immortality, and the position of Jade Dragon Army Commander was merely the first step taken to integrate into the Wilderness World; it was not a long-term plan.

However, that did not mean he would let everything slide or ignore his duties.

Nor did it mean he would tolerate his soldiers questioning military orders, not even from a Vice Commander.

The art of leadership lay in balancing kindness with authority. The closer one was to someone, the more this was necessary; otherwise, a commander would not be a commander, and soldiers would not act like soldiers. If that continued, it would truly lead to endless trouble and affect his cultivation.