Sea Dragon, It Wasn't Me Who Ruined You—It Was This World

"What do you think? As a member of Sea God Island."

Bo Saixi tossed the ball back to Qian Ni, asking him to voice his opinion.

At first glance, her words seemed to come out of nowhere.

In truth, Bo Saixi had already made her stance clear.

Qian Ni blinked, and the corners of his mouth began to rise.

Bo Saixi and the Sacred Pillar guardians were accommodating him and considering his wishes. He felt respected.

The Sea Soul Masters of Sea God Island were just too simple and honest.

"Ahem... strictly speaking, a sea-based newbie at my level has no right to speak.

"But from my personal perspective... provided Sea God Island's interests are absolutely prioritized, it can be promoted.

"But it should be promoted gradually, slowly, purposefully, orderly, and under control.

"Once Sea God Island begins making large-scale moves against whale-type Soul Beasts, there's no way the islands across the sea won't find out.

"So, the Whale Rubber secret being exposed is inevitable. But we can seize the initiative.

"Even if we successfully establish a monopoly, selling to the entire continent all at once is impossible.

"Through my old man... ahem, through that old bastard, the Spirit Hall Grand Worshipper, we can first open stable trade routes through the two great empires.

"For example, certain royal family members, certain Soul Master Academies, and certain sect forces could be used for pilot promotion.

"Against the various forces across the continent, we win over some, isolate some, suppress some, and use profits as a bond to turn them into our lackeys... I mean, business partners.

"We'll use our first-mover advantage to gather as many resources useful to Soul Masters as possible, such as Soul Tools, Soul Bones, immortal herbs, and rare treasures, then stockpile them.

"We'll arm the Sea Soul Masters to the teeth. When the time is right, we'll counterattack the land in one stroke, sweep across the realm, conquer the world, encompass the four seas, and swallow the eight directions..."

Thud!

The further Qian Ni went, the more outrageous he became. Bo Saixi finally couldn't take it anymore and punched him again, making him shut up.

"Don't be so aggressive! Sea God Island doesn't have such grand ambitions!"

The more Bo Saixi thought about it, the angrier she became. Even the full curves of her chest trembled faintly.

Damn it, what the hell did that old dog Qian Daoliu teach him? How did he raise the child into this?

Qian Ni coughed twice and shook his head, settling the brain that Bo Saixi had nearly rattled loose before continuing.

"You're right, Grandma. Success comes through secrecy. We need to proceed slowly.

"For now, we should first dispatch powerful Sea Soul Master teams to hunt some thousand-year and Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber.

"We'll exploit the time gap and let the Sea Soul Masters on the island strengthen themselves first.

"After a few years, once our advantage is established and the supply is stable, we can lay out channels within the two great empires.

"As for producing Whale Rubber and its related products, let the Sea Soul Masters on the island suffer for now. I'll bear the blame.

"Once we expand later, if we don't have enough manpower, we can establish production lines on the various islands at sea.

"We'll use the advantages of the Sea Soul Masters and the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan to ensure control.

"We'll trick... I mean, recruit a group of aspiring future talents from among the common people or the major Soul Master Academies.

"We'll use Whale Rubber scraps as payment. They'll definitely sign up voluntarily like dumplings dropping into a pot.

"Sometimes, people are just that stupid. Once there's a first, the second and third will automatically throw away their brains and follow along.

"That way, we'll have black slaves... I mean, laborers. We'll build our reputation, free up the Sea Soul Masters of our island, then lie low and wait for the right moment...

"Ahem, Grandma, don't hit me yet..."

Seeing Bo Saixi's expression turn wrong again and her pale iron fist rise halfway, Qian Ni hurriedly skipped over that part.

"Then, when selecting black slaves... laborers, we should prioritize Soul Masters with fire, earth, and other attributes incompatible with Sea Soul Beasts. That will keep them from becoming familiar with the ocean environment, finding loopholes after acquiring Sea Soul Beast Soul Rings, and poaching on their own.

"Then we'll cooperate with the two great empires and Spirit Hall to classify Whale Rubber as a strategic material, list it among prohibited goods, and ban private smuggling.

"But that's more of a later-stage matter...

"Right now, the two great empires can barely take care of themselves. One is splitting apart, the other is fighting internally. Even if they wanted to do it, they lack the capability.

"For now, Sea God Island only needs to use its head start to increase its strength."

Bo Saixi's eyes were slightly unfocused. How had she ever considered such things before?

But since the early-stage tasks were so simple, that made things easy.

After the seven Sacred Pillar guardians supplemented one another on the details, matters concerning Whale Rubber were settled.

"Then that's that."

The eight people in the hall let out a breath of relief.

The Sacred Pillar guardians had finally liberated their brains from having to think about something so complicated.

Compared to that, cultivation was practically a pleasure.

As for Qian Ni, after one meeting, Bo Saixi's iron fist had struck him several times. His head was still echoing a little.

Finally free.

"There's one more matter." Bo Saixi spoke again.

Everyone's bodies jolted, and they tensed up once more.

There's more?

Qian Ni looked at Bo Saixi and tilted his head.

She ordered, "Sea Dragon will lead the team and cooperate with the Demon Soul Great White Sharks to sail out and hunt whale-type Soul Beasts, prioritizing solitary Evil Spirit Orcas.

"If there are none, don't force it. If you encounter a pod of Evil Spirit Orcas, retreat immediately."

Bo Saixi's expression was grave. Even with a Title Douluo leading the team, it was difficult to guarantee that everyone would emerge unscathed when surrounded by a large Evil Spirit Orca pod.

Therefore, this order was necessary.

"Yes!"

Sea Dragon nodded solemnly.

"Take your offering back with you. Keep it properly from now on. At next year's ceremony, don't offer it to Lord Sea God again.

"You're dismissed."

Bo Saixi pointed at the Adult Cultivation Manual on the table and waved Sea Dragon away.

As his face turned red, the other Sacred Pillar guardians used every ounce of their strength to keep straight faces... and failed.

Snickers rose one after another.

Sea Dragon was socially dead!

Bo Saixi turned to Qian Ni instead.

"A-Ni, you'll live in Sea God's Temple from now on.

"I will personally take care of you."

Qian Ni didn't have much of a reaction to that.

It was just changing where he stayed. He had never cared much about such things.

In any case, there was plenty of Whale Rubber, and Sea God's Temple stood at the center of the island, where the Sea God's aura was dense and cultivation was convenient.

He intended to make full use of his time on the island and develop as much as possible.

Even if he couldn't completely master Ultimate Darkness, he at least wanted to extend the duration of his controllable transformation.

Even Ultraman had three minutes. He only had ten seconds right now, which was far too pathetic.

That amount of time didn't suit his specialty at all.

Qian Ni hadn't forgotten his bold claim of obtaining a ten-thousand-year first Soul Ring.

A man's oath had to be fulfilled, even at the cost of his life.

Before leaving the island, he had to give Sea God Island's family a shocking display of his cheat ability!

Besides that, Qian Ni needed to continue researching how this "Certain Causality" was achieved.

After all, the Fate Stones required by the Summoning System needed causality to condense.

Looking at the "11" behind the Fate Stone icon on the system interface, Qian Ni fell into thought.

Should I do another ten-pull?

Maybe I'll get something useful.

After all, the system's drop rate is pretty high.

Just as he was considering it, the number of Fate Stones changed.

"11" → "20"

Fate Stones +9!

Qian Ni was startled and abruptly raised his head, sweeping his gaze around.

He discovered that Sea Dragon Douluo, who was about to leave Sea God's Temple, was walking at the back of the group of seven.

Sea Dragon gave him a stifled, incredulous, betrayed look.

In that instant, Qian Ni understood.

Through this incident, Sea Dragon would probably never forget him for the rest of his life.

So Certain Causality is this simple.

I'm done being human, System!

Uncle Sea Dragon, it wasn't me who ruined you. It was this world that ruined you!

You simply don't understand Sea God Island's darkness.

Because before me, Sea God Island had no darkness at all!

At the very instant the great doors of Sea God's Temple closed, a smile appeared through the narrowing gap and entered Sea Dragon's eyes.