Bet

Source Essence: 5.7

After glancing at the panel, Zhang Yuan poured all the Source Essence he had just acquired into the Divine Nest itself.

Upgrading the Divine Nest had become his most urgent task. Only by increasing the number of nest chambers could he accommodate new genetic entities and acquire more extraordinary abilities.

Then Zhang Yuan swept the clothes on the ground into a pile.

He grabbed the oil lamp from the table and tossed it onto them.

Raging flames instantly burst forth!

The next moment, Zhang Yuan vanished from the room.

A moment later, a hoarse voice like a broken gong suddenly rang out in the alley. "Fire~!"

At once, the tightly shut doors and windows of the neighboring homes opened, and quite a few people cautiously poked their heads out to look.

Some of the neighbors had actually heard the commotion over here earlier.

But no one had come out to watch the excitement.

The thugs living in this house were usually overbearing and tyrannical. Everyone avoided them like the plague, so who would dare go near them on their own initiative?

If they saw something they should not have seen, they might well invite disaster upon themselves!

But now that someone had cried fire, the situation was different.

A blaze could spread to the neighbors!

"Put out the fire!"

Once they saw that something had truly happened, everyone rushed out carrying buckets and basins, scrambling to extinguish the flames together.

Amid the chaos and clamor, Zhang Yuan quietly left the alley.

Without alerting anyone.

The next day, he first went to the docks outside the city and found Chen Zhize.

Chen Zhize was a Hall Master of the Raging Whale Gang's Outer Hall and normally managed affairs at the docks.

Zhang Yuan had joined the Raging Whale Gang only recently and knew very few people. Of them all, he was closest to this Hall Master.

When Chen Zhize learned why Zhang Yuan had come, he smiled. "That's simple. As long as you become an Official Disciple of the Battle Hall and render another meritorious service, you'll be qualified to apply for land in Wu Manor and build a house."

Back when the Raging Whale Gang's Linhe Branch constructed Wubao, it had purchased a vast stretch of surrounding land as well.

Part of that land was reclaimed into fertile fields, while another part was allotted to gang members so they could settle their families and relatives.

Those disciples who could not afford homes in County Town thus had a place to settle down.

It greatly strengthened the gang's cohesion.

"Didn't you buy a house in County Town?"

Chen Zhize asked curiously, "Is it not comfortable living there?"

"The main thing is that going back and forth every day is troublesome."

Zhang Yuan explained, "I don't want to waste too much time on the road. Wouldn't it be better to use that time to practice martial arts?"

He did not mention safety. In any case, that reason was more than convincing enough.

Sure enough, Chen Zhize did not suspect anything. He sighed with feeling, "No wonder Instructor Dong thinks so highly of you. There really aren't many young people as diligent as you. You're far better than Xu Zhengyang and the rest."

Xu Zhengyang and the other youths were descendants of the Raging Whale Gang itself. They had been immersed in its ways since childhood and had even received guidance from their elders, yet they still could not compare to the outsider Zhang Yuan.

In truth, both Dong Yuanwei and Chen Zhize knew about Xu Zhengyang's group excluding and isolating Zhang Yuan.

But neither had interfered. They wanted to see how Zhang Yuan would handle such matters.

And Zhang Yuan's performance had not disappointed them!

Chen Zhize admired him even more. "Come find me when the time comes. I'll help you pick out a good spot."

"Thank you, Brother Chen!"

Zhang Yuan cupped his hands in thanks, then asked, "There's one more thing. I want to buy a small boat and use my spare time to fish in the river to supplement the household income. Would that violate gang rules?"

Because of the strange entity, Thousand Peak Mountain was currently sealed off, and no one was allowed to enter.

Zhang Yuan's path of obtaining Source Essence through hunting had been cut off.

But Source Essence was incomparably important to him, so he could only seek another path.

Now that Zhang Yuan had gained another identity, he could not simply act as he pleased. That was why he had come to ask Chen Zhize.

Chen Zhize laughed heartily. "That isn't within the gang rules' jurisdiction. If you want to fish, there's absolutely no problem, so long as you don't delay any duties assigned from above."

In fact, it was perfectly normal for members of the Raging Whale Gang to have other livelihoods.

Fishing, selling fish, running shops...

Most of them were managed by their families.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Zhize added, "Come early tomorrow. I'll introduce you to an Old Fisherman and have him take you out a few times. Once you've gained some experience, it'll be best for you to go down to the river on your own."

Zhang Yuan was delighted. "Thank you!"

He had not called him Big Brother for nothing. Chen Zhize had considered everything so thoroughly!

"No need for such courtesy between brothers!"

Chen Zhize waved his hand. "It's getting late. Hurry to Whale Fortress."

Though fishing was important, Zhang Yuan had not forgotten his current identity.

He hurried to Whale Fortress as fast as he could and began another day of diligent training.

The other disciples were still miserably struggling with the water basins before them on the Martial Arts Field beneath the blazing sun.

Zhang Yuan, meanwhile, was in the spacious, brightly lit Wooden Dummy Room, practicing and comprehending a higher level of Surging Wave Palm force.

Then, in the afternoon, someone suddenly burst into the Wooden Dummy Room.

It was none other than Xu Zhengyang!

Upon seeing Zhang Yuan, the youth proudly lifted his chin. "Zhang Yuan, I'm qualified to come here now too!"

Zhang Yuan glanced at him and said blandly, "Congratulations."

Yet his indifferent attitude made Xu Zhengyang extremely displeased. He immediately said, "Don't get cocky. I'll definitely shatter the fish scales on the dummy's hide before you do. If you don't believe me, let's compete!"

Zhang Yuan could not be bothered to respond and continued striking the Fish Skin Dummy before him.

According to Dong Yuanwei, once one shattered the fish scales on its hide with palm force, the Surging Wave Palm could be considered to have entered the hall.

One could graduate from training.

In fact, for Zhang Yuan, accomplishing this was very easy.

As long as he activated Black Giant Ant Power, forcibly shattering the fish scales would be no problem at all.

But there was no point in doing that.

Nor would Zhang Yuan possibly quarrel with Xu Zhengyang and compete out of spite—it would be a complete waste of time.

Seeing that Zhang Yuan ignored him, Xu Zhengyang suddenly flew into a nameless rage and sneered, "Don't dare to compete?"

Zhang Yuan found the fellow incredibly annoying, so he simply answered, "No need to compete. Let's make a bet instead. Whoever shatters the fish scales first wins. One hundred taels of silver."

He shot the other a sidelong look. "Do you dare?"

"What wouldn't I dare to do!"

Xu Zhengyang's face instantly flushed crimson. Turning to Dong Yuanwei, who had just entered the Wooden Dummy Room, he said, "Uncle Dong, please bear witness for us. Neither of us can back out!"

Dong Yuanwei had already heard the conversation between them.

The Battle Hall Instructor smiled. "Fine."

Xu Zhengyang had a family heritage in martial arts, while Zhang Yuan possessed outstanding talent. He was very willing to see these two disciples compete with one another and improve together!

"Heh!"

The instant Dong Yuanwei finished speaking, Zhang Yuan abruptly swung his palm at the wooden dummy before him.

His hand instantly swelled, muscles knotted and sinews bulged. Carrying a whistling gale of force, his right palm slammed heavily into the dummy's chest.

Bang!

The next moment, Zhang Yuan slowly withdrew his hand.

Shattered fish scales rustled down!

The Wooden Dummy Room fell silent as a grave.

Xu Zhengyang, who had witnessed the scene, stood rooted to the spot with his eyes wide and mouth agape, utterly unable to say a word.

He felt as though Zhang Yuan's palm strike had slapped his face beyond recognition!