"Weiwei, You're Up"

The expression on the face of the old man standing behind the woman in embroidered robes shifted slightly. He had already guessed that their identities might have been compromised, but it had only been a suspicion; he had not expected their cover to actually be blown, let alone that retribution would come so swiftly. Chen Fan had come in person. The Domain Master of Fan Domain had personally come to receive them. This was by no means an honor. It signified danger. "You're Chen Fan?" The woman in the fine embroidered gown looked at Chen Fan, who was leaning on his jade cane, her eyes brimful of curiosity. "You founded Fan Domain all by yourself? I heard you're an incredible architect, but why do you look so young?" "And who might you all be?" Chen Fan continued asking with a genial smile. He appeared exceptionally easygoing. In truth, he really was an amiable-looking man. After all, the killing was carried out by the Dark Pavilion—what did that have to do with him? "Domain Master Chen." The old man behind her stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said in a grave voice, "We hail from the 'Jiangnan He family.' We have come merely to tour Fan City, harboring no malice whatsoever." It was time for him to step up and speak. This was the young miss's first time leaving the clan. She spoke without weighing her words, and offending someone powerful would be terrible. "The Jiangnan He family?" Chen Fan nodded thoughtfully. Soon, the voice transmission talisman tucked in his robes grew hot. He took it out, listened for a moment, and then smiled. "There is no such power in Jiangnan. You hail from Guanxi, do you not?" "We truly are from Jiangnan," the old man stated solemnly after a brief pause. "We are a secluded clan of Jiangnan. We normally do not operate out in the open, so our name has never spread abroad." "Understood." "Please, step inside." Chen Fan chuckled, turning sideways to motion for them to accompany him into a nearby shop. In his previous life, he had often read about secluded clans—factions said to possess immense might. He had always wanted to ask why anyone with such overwhelming power would bother hiding away. He never expected to encounter a living, breathing secluded clan in this lifetime. Intriguing indeed. Inside the shop in Fan City. Chen Fan brewed a cup of tea for each of them and asked with a smile, "'A single falling leaf heralds the coming of autumn.' It is clear from your bearing that the Jiangnan He family behind you is far from weak. Why live in seclusion?" The embroidered-robed woman remained silent, sitting obediently off to the side. The old man fully took charge of the conversation. After a slight hesitation, he spoke. "Domain Master Chen, do you eat meat?" "Naturally." "Does it taste good?" "Quite good." "Then if you were to witness the slaughter with your own eyes, would it still taste so delicious?" Chen Fan offered a noncommittal nod, giving no explicit answer. "As the saying goes, 'The gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen,'" the old man said in a low voice, the wrinkles on his face rippling like waves. "The Jiangnan He family does possess some strength, yet we cannot protect all the common people under heaven. Year after year, we could only watch helplessly as the mortal realm was slaughtered by ghost creatures. "Since we cannot save them, "we simply choose to close our eyes and not look. "That way, we carry less guilt. "When you lack the power, watching the commoners being slaughtered brings little turmoil to your heart, because you are like a clay idol crossing a river—scarcely able to save yourself, with no room to care for others. "Yet when you possess a certain measure of strength, only to find yourself still watching helplessly as innocent lives are butchered, you cannot help but feel uneasy. "Just as... "if Jiangbei City were being massacred by ghost creatures at this very moment, I believe you too would feel somewhat unsettled, Domain Master Chen. "Even if you do not know the people within Jiangbei City, Jiangbei is your territory after all. "Yet if one retreats from the world, "one can diminish that guilt, caring only for oneself and paying no heed to the masses." Chen Fan nodded thoughtfully. This was the first time he had heard such a justification for seclusion, and it sounded somewhat plausible. "This is my first time encountering a secluded clan. "Since there is one, there must be a second. "So all of you chose seclusion based on this premise?" "Not entirely." The old man shook his head. "The primary reason is that the Eternal Night is like a tide—one day, it will inevitably recede. The ghost creatures within the Eternal Night are endless; killing them serves no ultimate purpose. Preserving ourselves to endure until the Eternal Night ends is the main reason secluded clans hide away." "One day it will inevitably recede?" Chen Fan chuckled. "Could Domain Master Chen be unaware?" The old man's brows knitted slightly. "The current Eternal Night upon the Eternal Night Continent is not the first to descend. It came in ancient times as well, but in the end, it receded. Ebb and flow—where there is a rising tide, there must be an ebb." "Ebb and flow, is it?" Chen Fan leaned back against his chair, lifting his tea to take a light sip without uttering a word. He did not argue the point. Yet he was certain of one thing. Even if it remained unknown whether the previous Eternal Night had receded on its own or been driven back by an alliance of ancient factions, one thing was indisputable: there was no such guarantee that the Eternal Night would eventually recede. A tide might rise, but it would not necessarily ebb. Just like... the New Continent. That was a continent entirely swallowed by the ghost tide, a land where the Eternal Night had never ebbed. Hiding away in seclusion there would mean nothing but waiting for death. Still, he had no desire to lecture them on this. It would be pointless. "Let us not dwell on that." Chen Fan changed the subject, turning his gaze toward the visibly aged man, and murmured, "What brings you to Fan Domain on this occasion?" According to the information provided by Zhou Mo, this old man was nearly two hundred years old. The entire Eternal Night Calendar spanned barely over three hundred years. This fellow had lived through the better part of the Eternal Night. "First, to observe Fan City. "Second, we wish to open a shop in Fan City." "Open a shop?" Chen Fan smiled as he topped off his tea. "I thought you were in seclusion. Do you also need to open shops?" "Even in seclusion, one requires ghost stones to sustain oneself," the old man stated gravely. "In truth, several secluded clans in Jiangnan maintain businesses in the outside world, though none operate under our family names. Contact between the secluded clans and their external businesses occurs only once every three or five years, keeping communication minimal." "Go on, then. What sort of shop do you wish to open?" "A beast armament shop. It is the ancestral craft of the Jiangnan He family." "Beast armaments?" "Custom-crafting unusual treasures for exotic beasts to vastly enhance their combat power. Many factions keep exotic beasts. In the past, finding buyers was difficult, but now that prominent forces are gathering in Fan City, it should prove much easier." "There's even a trade for that?" Chen Fan narrowed his eyes slightly. After a long pause, he stood up with a smile. "Fan City welcomes all forces across the realm to visit. I will not keep you any longer. I still have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave." The old man rose hastily. "Take care, Domain Master Chen." Fan City. Walking down the street, Sick Monkey edged closer to Chen Fan and whispered, "Young Master, aren't you going to ask them about their age? They might possess a method to extend lifespan." "It isn't lifespan extension." Chen Fan shook his head. "Anyone who has truly lived for over two hundred years is an old monster; their eyes carry an innate weariness. That old man may be advanced in years, but his conduct doesn't resemble that of an old monster. His age is superficial. "It seems more like he extends his life through deep slumber. "That is likely also why secluded clans rarely communicate with their outside businesses. "Have Shao Qiu thoroughly gather information regarding the Jiangnan He family and other secluded clans. "While he's at it, have him check whether the factions we wiped out—the Dan Sect, Wind and Rain Tower, the Jiangnan Shui family—were external businesses tied to any secluded forces. If there truly is a connection, we must strike first to avoid leaving behind future troubles. "Instruct the members of Fan Domain and Medicine King Valley to keep their lips tightly sealed. "Do not let word of Weiwei leak out." Weiwei was a Sky-Swallowing Crocodile. An exceptionally rare exotic beast. Currently, only members of Fan Domain and the Young Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, Qi Feng, had seen it. Of course, Qi Feng still did not know that Chen Fan had obtained a Snow Lotus to save the crocodile, likely assuming it was already dead. Customizing treasures for exotic beasts? That trade was bound to have ties to the Guanxi Plain. After all, across the four regions of Jiangbei combined, there were hardly any clients for such a business. If the other party learned that Fan Domain possessed a Sky-Swallowing Crocodile and leaked the news to the Guanxi Plain, it might attract unwanted greed. He had no desire to start a war for the time being. His foundation was not yet fully built. "Understood." Sick Monkey nodded solemnly with an earnest expression. By the port. Weiwei was sprawled on the ground, carefully holding a braised chicken leg in his mouth. His lantern-sized eyes slowly shut, his face radiating sheer bliss as his tail gently thudded against the dirt every now and then. Basking in the sunlight while savoring braised delicacies seldom seen under heaven. Pure satisfaction! Before long, the palm-sized braised chicken leg slid down his throat. Weiwei opened his eyes once more and looked excitedly toward the massive heap of braised food in the vat beside him. Using his claws, he scooped out three braised chicken legs, set them on the ground, narrowed his eyes, and inspected them closely for a moment. Only then did he select the largest one. He swallowed it in a single gulp. As for the remaining two, he placed them into two separate large vats standing nearby. In no time at all, the huge vat of braised meat was completely cleared out. One-third had gone into his belly. The other two-thirds had been divided between the two separate vats. Thoroughly content, Weiwei crawled over to the high-speed rail carriage parked beside the platform. He carefully loaded the two massive vats aboard, gently pressed the button inside the carriage with his claw-tip, and then clung tightly to the outside of the carriage. His body suddenly soared into the air, speeding away in the direction of Fan Domain. In the blink of an eye, he arrived at the Sinkhole Camp in Fan Domain. Weiwei carried the two large vats of braised meat to the base of Wall No. 1, flattened himself against the ground, and let out a low roar. "Roar!" Moments later, the wall sank into the ground. Wang Kui walked out from the camp. Seeing Weiwei sprawled on the ground beside the two large vats of braised food, he could not help but sigh softly. "I know, I'll store them for you right away. Honestly... once you see your parents in the future, you'll have all the food you could ever want. There's really no need to hoard it. Besides..." "Never mind." He said no more. Instead, just as he always did, he waved his hand. A member of Fan Domain's Heavenly Granary Pavilion ran out, hoisted the two large vats of braised meat, and carried them into the warehouse. Over these past days, Weiwei had done this every single time. Ever since the crocodile tasted braised stew for the first time, he had regarded it as an absolute marvel. Every portion he received was split into three: one for himself, and the remaining two saved for his parents, intending to share them whenever he was reunited with them. The warehouse preserved freshness, so the food would not spoil. The texture would surely degrade a bit, but it would still be edible. Still... was it really necessary? Just then— Chen Fan's voice came through the voice transmission talisman hanging from Weiwei's claw: "Weiwei, you aren't at the port. Where did you run off to? "Get over here, quickly." Promptly, Weiwei pressed the button on the train behind him again, zooming off toward the port in a flash. "This world is getting crazier by the day," Wang Kui remarked as he watched Weiwei's receding figure. "Even Weiwei knows how to ride the high-speed rail now. Who could make sense of this?" People always said exotic beasts possessed human intelligence. In his eyes, Weiwei truly did. Aside from being unable to speak and having a somewhat simpler intellect, he wasn't much different from a human. Though even after all this time, he still treated ghost stones like excrement. That stubborn perception never changed. If only he demanded wages, given his contributions to the camp, the ghost stones he earned could have bought mountains of braised food. At the port. Chen Fan watched Weiwei arrive alongside the train from afar, rapidly crawling up before him, and sighed softly. "Don't ride the train anymore. It looks bad if outsiders see you. Stop wandering around all over the place. "Didn't you use to be too terrified to even leave the Nameless Mountain? "Now you've grown bold enough "to take the train all by yourself. "Come on. "Back to work." "Whimper..." Weiwei let out a low whimper to indicate he understood, then eagerly squeezed into the deep shaft nearby, preparing to continue opening up the undersea tunnel. Chen Fan said no more and followed behind him. He had considered crafting a specialized armament for Weiwei to speed up the digging, but upon reflection, he realized it was unnecessary. Weiwei's rapid excavation was largely thanks to his own pair of claws—a natural racial talent effective for both burrowing and destroying arrays. Equipping him with an armament might even have adverse effects. A new day had just begun. Within the undersea tunnel, one man and one crocodile resumed their work for the day. Chen Fan sat in the train behind Weiwei, laying copper pipes while gazing back. The empty undersea tunnel evoked a feeling of absolute desolation. Especially now, before nightfall, when the ghost fires were not yet lit. The tunnel was pitch-black, illuminated only by the stones laid out in the carriage—the very same stones found in Weiwei's cave. He looked down at the ghost-skin map in his hands. During his voyage into the Thunderstorm Sea, Wang Mazi had found only a single island, which he named "Hope Island." At this moment, Hope Island sat at the edge of the ghost-skin map, and the green dot representing Chen Fan was slowly creeping closer. At this pace, it would take at least two months. It truly required a tremendous amount of digging. Their tunneling speed was far slower than Wang Mazi's ship sailing across the sea. Two months flew by in the blink of an eye. Time arrived at early May of Year 379 of the Eternal Night Calendar. Spring had officially begun. The number of merchant guilds across the four regions of Jiangbei had multiplied, and many smaller forces were resuming their activities. Chen Fan stood alone atop the wall within the Fan Domain camp, looking outward. Leaning back in his rocking chair with a faint smile, he felt a sense of relief—the tunnel was finally through. A full two months of ceaseless toil. Over these two months, he had spent most of his time underwater with Weiwei, carving out the tunnel. Along the way, he had worried constantly about whether the Mountain Skeleton Embryo could hold up. After all, the undersea tunnel was exceedingly long and buried deep beneath the seabed, subjected to immense pressure and the risk of water seepage. Yet, the Mountain Skeleton Embryo had proved entirely trustworthy. It held up throughout the entire process, providing complete waterproofing as well. It could only be said that even though it was merely a green-grade heavenly material, the Mountain Skeleton Embryo was a treasure that even Ghost Kings struggled to find, fully worthy of its reputation. Over the past few months, Fan Domain had searched far and wide for heavenly treasures, with items like Sea Embryos and Mountain Skeleton Embryos prioritized above all else, yet they hadn't found a single one. Using it for arrays was a waste; placing it inside a ghost fire was the ideal application, allowing it to display its full potential. The New Year celebrations had passed. After a lively and bustling Spring Festival, the members of Fan Domain had launched into new endeavors over these past two months. Progress across all fronts in Fan Domain was climbing steadily, and last night, the undersea high-speed rail tunnel had officially opened for traffic. Naturally, it only ran to Hope Island, still some distance away from the New Continent. The main hurdle was traversing the Thunderstorm Sea; he was not entirely certain whether that forbidden zone could be bypassed from beneath the seabed. "Domain Master," Wang Kui walked up the wall to give a timely report. "At present, Fan Domain's ghost stone reserves stand at 33.98 million. High-speed rail profits have increased markedly over the past two months; across the four lines, it brought in nearly seventeen million ghost stones in profit. "It is poised to surpass the profits generated by the Silk Road." Wang Kui paused, unable to suppress a sigh of marvel. "Domain Master, to be honest, when I first learned of the fares you set for the trains, I was rather puzzled. It was fully worthy of a much higher ticket price; one ghost stone for the entire journey seemed far too cheap. "Looking back now... "even with low fares, our four lines are packed to capacity almost all day long, with endless streams of passengers coming and going. "Every day, they generate an enormous income of ghost stones." Neatly stacked inside the warehouse were 33.98 million ghost stones. In the past, even if the Qiuhe Wang family had liquidated everything they owned, they couldn't have scraped together a hundred thousand ghost stones. Yet today, over thirty million ghost stones lay right there in the storehouses. It could only be said that Fan Domain was developing at an astonishing speed. "Is that a lot?" Seated on his rocking chair, Chen Fan chuckled softly. "Don't fret. There will be far more to come." Once the undersea tunnel reached the New Continent, that would be the true treasure trove. Four months had now elapsed since the four-year pact was struck. Three years and eight months remained. His original goal of "Four years, three hundred million, Jiangbei Defense Line" was nearing fruition. From the look of things, he would likely exceed it. The Jiangbei Defense Line? He felt that perhaps the name ought to be changed to the "Eternal Night Defense Line." Wherever he stood would be the final sanctuary of the Eternal Night Continent; he would be the continent's ultimate bastion. As for why the fares had been set so low, there were multiple reasons. One of them was that he needed to earn money from the factions, but he also needed to earn money from the common folk. How many factions were there in total across the four regions of Jiangbei? Yet the population of commoners was immense. These ordinary people seemed unremarkable, but working in all trades and walks of life, they held some savings in their hands. Hoarding those meager savings served little purpose; it was better to channel them into the construction of the Jiangbei Defense Line. "Let's go." Chen Fan stood up and walked down the wall. "Phase one of the undersea tunnel is finished. "Let's go see Hope Island together." At the port. The strategic importance of the port had escalated rapidly within Fan Domain. The surrounding walls had already been upgraded to Level 3, mounted with numerous cannon towers, because the entrance to the undersea tunnel was situated right beside the docks. The importance of this tunnel to Fan Domain was self-evident. It had to defend against ghost creatures, and guard against the covetous eyes of other factions as well. A high-speed rail train was parked on the tracks. Chen Fan, Sick Monkey, and the rest of the core members of Fan Domain boarded the train, while Weiwei remained outside, clutching the edge. In the next instant— the train started up. After rolling forward a few paces on the ground, it plunged straight toward the depths of the earth at a sharp ninety-degree angle along the edge of the shaft. Then, with another right-angle turn parallel to the seabed, it shot forward into the ocean depths along the laid copper pipes. The entire journey was like riding a roller coaster. Yet the passengers inside felt little turbulence. A max-level hanging basket inherently provided excellent stability. Though during that initial ninety-degree vertical dive, one still had to grip the handrails tightly—that part was definitely thrilling. The undersea tunnel was exceedingly long. Ahead lay not a speck of light. Only pitch-black darkness. The ghost fires had not yet been lit. The train barreled forward at breakneck speed through the dark tunnel. At last! After approximately twenty teacups' time, the train beneath them tilted upward at a ninety-degree angle and began ascending rapidly. Sunlight poured down from the opening above. As the train erupted from the earth like a volcanic blast and came to a steady stop atop a mountain, they had arrived. This was Hope Island. The train's exit was located on the summit of a mountain on Hope Island. Chen Fan stepped out of the train, walked to the edge of the cliff atop the mountain, and gazed into the distant horizon. The island was surrounded by an endless expanse of ocean. Not a trace of land was in sight. It was a solitary isle. Farther out, thunderclouds vaguely blanketed the horizon—that was the Thunderstorm Sea, situated a considerable distance away from Hope Island. Looking down upon the island, there was not a single sign of human footprint as far as the eye could see, only heavenly materials and earthly treasures blanketing the earth. It resembled a magnificent harvest. Plump Monkey Head Fruits hung heavy on the branches. Their exact numbers were unknown, but there were certainly a staggering amount. At this sight, Chen Fan smiled. The Monkey Head Fruit was a heavenly treasure whose value could not be judged by mere price. Upgrading the wall from Level 6 to Level 7 required not only seven thousand ghost stones, but also one Monkey Head Fruit. One fruit per section of wall— which meant one per meter. For an ordinary camp, it might be feasible to scrape together enough. Yet if one wished to upgrade the entirety of the Jiangbei Defense Line to Level 7 walls, the quantity of Monkey Head Fruits required would be astronomical. Back then, he had wondered where on earth he could ever find so many Monkey Head Fruits, unless he visited the mythical Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. And today, he had finally found his Mountain of Flowers and Fruit—one that belonged to Fan Domain, and to Chen Fan. A wilderness teeming with heavenly materials, ripe for his picking. Of course, upgrading the entire Jiangbei Defense Line to Level 7 walls required not just a sea of Monkey Head Fruits, but also a torrential amount of ghost stones. In ancient times, the wall level of the Jiangbei Defense Line had been Level 4. Too low. Otherwise, it would not have fallen. Of course, his Level 4 walls were another matter entirely, since his Level 4 walls were fundamentally different from anyone else's. Even so, it still lacked absolute certainty. He didn't care for the dread of hiding behind a wall, constantly worrying whether it could hold off the ghost tide. Put the past aside; now, Fan Domain was growing stronger by the day, the New Continent had been discovered, and a massive influx of ghost stones was on the verge of arriving. Perhaps... he could consider Level 4 walls, Level 5 walls, or even... an unbroken stretch of Level 7 walls. Just thinking about it made Chen Fan grin from ear to ear. The Jiangbei Defense Line on the ancient battlefield had fallen with Level 4 walls—that, he could accept. If he erected Level 7 walls, backed by a battery of God-Slaying Cannons and Anti-Air Cannons, and the defense line still fell, he wouldn't even run. He would die right there in Jiangbei. He would accept that fate. Level 4 walls could reach up to fifteen meters. Level 5 walls could reach up to twenty meters. Level 6 walls could reach up to thirty meters. Level 7 walls could reach up to fifty meters. Fifty meters. Equivalent to a building over a dozen stories tall in his previous life. With a wall that high barring the Jiangbei coastline, he was truly curious what kind of ghost creatures could ever breach his defense line. He even felt like inviting *that existence* to test it, to see if even *it* could break through. After all, a continuous stretch of Level 5 walls enforced a complete no-fly zone. "Go take a look." Chen Fan looked toward Sick Monkey and the others, who were already dumbfounded, and waved his hand with a broad grin. "Head down and see what heavenly treasures are here. Then, among the newly recruited non-core personnel, find a group with no family ties. "The undersea tunnel is Fan Domain's highest core secret. "Non-core personnel participating in this project will not be permitted to return to the Eternal Night Continent in the short term. Once Hope Island is harvested, they will remain on the New Continent to gather ghost stones. "They must be able to endure solitude. "Their compensation will be elevated to that of official Fan Domain members." Members of Fan Domain were generally loyal and tight-lipped, thanks to rigorous vetting and training, as well as the fact that none of them wanted to lose this livelihood. However... even the tightest lips carried a risk of leaking secrets. For now, he could not allow the existence of the New Continent to become known to the outside world. Thus, the best way to ensure silence was to keep them stationed here for a time, barred from returning to the Eternal Night Continent. Even if other factions had planted spies among them, there would be no way to send word back. If you could manage to transmit information back to the Eternal Night Continent from here, then hats off to you. You'd have earned the right to send that message. Zhou Mo walked down the mountain to the shore, staring blankly at the wilderness of heavenly treasures scattered across the jungle at the center of the island, frozen in place in a daze. Such a place existed beyond the Eternal Night Continent? Though he knew the Commerce Pavilion had found Hope Island, only after setting foot on it did he truly comprehend how hard it must have been to discover this small island amidst the vast ocean. It required not only the resolve to explore the world, but also the fortitude to endure loneliness, and a tremendous amount of luck. Just then— he suddenly felt his foot step on something soft and squishy. He reflexively lifted his foot and looked down, only to see a dark-red fleshy lump resembling a conch shell beneath his sole. When he picked it up, it felt warm to the touch. He froze, a flash of astonishment in his eyes. "S-Sea Embryo?" The object in his hand matched the physical traits described in the academy down to the finest detail. This was actually one of Fan Domain's primary targets: a Sea Embryo. Fan Domain had been searching for months without finding a single one. Yet he had just stepped on one right under his foot? He looked up into the distance—and saw seven or eight Sea Embryos scattered along the sandy beach! "Wang Mazi!" Zhou Mo yelled at the top of his lungs toward Wang Mazi, who was closest to him. "Quick, pick up the Sea Embryos! Those dark-red lumps are Sea Embryos, gather them up quickly!" It would be disastrous if the tide swept them away in a moment. Soon, however, as reality sank in, a pang of heartache struck him. Over the years, how many Sea Embryos must have been swallowed by the waves? What an utter waste! The core members of Fan Domain had all dispersed to explore the island. Chen Fan did not join them. He stood by the train exit at the peak of the mountain, staring at a bamboo shoot in his hands with a goofy grin, his mind drifting into a daze. This brown shoot in his grasp was identical to the one he had once found in the cave of Weiwei's parents—a Mountain Embryo, an even finer treasure than the Mountain Skeleton Embryo. Now, he had obtained a second one. The process of acquiring it had been laughably simple. He had just picked it up by the roadside. It had been growing right out of a crack in the rock, coming free with a single tug. Just then— Sick Monkey's excited voice came through the voice transmission talisman. "Young Master, come quickly! Come quickly!" Chen Fan raised an eyebrow, stowed the Mountain Embryo into his storage ring, and strode down the mountain. Storing a Mountain Embryo carried no special requirements; one could casually drop it into a storage ring. Within the jungle, along a mountain stream. Chen Fan stood by the bank, looking at the crystal-clear water flowing down from the heights. Amidst the riverbed lay numerous stones, and growing between their crevices were over a dozen blossoms. They were exquisite to behold. He fell silent for a long time. Those were no ordinary flowers; their petals were pristine white and utterly breathtaking, like the delicate feet of a maiden, making one yearn to hold them to one's nose and inhale deeply. Nine unfurled petals resembled the tender grace of early youth, poised on the verge of blooming. The stamens were faintly pink, incredibly delicate. It was none other than the Snow Lotus. And these were fully matured Snow Lotuses. *That existence*— the entity residing in the Nameless Mountain had spent a hundred years nurturing a single Snow Lotus, which had even drawn the covetous gaze of the Immortal Slaughter Holy Land from the Guanxi Plain. Yet here, there were thirteen of them. Thirteen whole blossoms. It was only because such heavenly treasures rarely circulated on the open market; otherwise, these thirteen Snow Lotuses alone would be worth an absolute fortune. "Don't touch them yet," Chen Fan said, drawing a deep breath. "Once harvested, Snow Lotuses must be placed in a low-temperature environment within two hours. Our journey back takes longer than that. We'll bring the proper tools next time." The train was remarkably fast, but even speed had its limits. This place was immensely far from the Eternal Night Continent. The distance exceeded the entire length of Fan Domain's Line 1; a single trip took well over two hours. If they harvested the Snow Lotuses now, the flowers would wither by the time they reached home. A single trip took around four hours. Traveling back and forth was no trivial task. Just then, Zhou Mo and Wang Mazi came jogging over. "Domain Master!" Zhou Mo excitedly opened the vat in his hands, revealing the Sea Embryos soaking in water inside. "We found eleven Sea Embryos in total along the beach! "They're all here. "I recall that preserving Sea Embryos requires packing them in sea salt. Since I didn't have any salt on me, I poured seawater in instead." "Well done." Chen Fan broke into a grin. The discovery of Hope Island held immense significance for Fan Domain. Currently, two primary bottlenecks restricted Fan Domain's growth: first, ghost stones; second, heavenly treasures. And now, neither would be in short supply. Without these shackles, only heaven knew how rapidly Fan Domain would develop. This was precisely why Fan Domain had no enemies. Before enemies who harbored malice could even make a move, Fan Domain struck first. And before those who hid their hostility could prepare, they would find that Fan Domain had grown far beyond their reach. As long as he developed fast enough, enmity could never catch up to him. Though Medicine King Valley appeared courteous and genial on ordinary days, had he not displayed overwhelming power while sitting atop such vast fortunes, the Valley would surely have been among the vanguard marching to suppress Fan Domain. "It seems establishing the academy was entirely necessary." Chen Fan nodded with satisfaction, accepted the Sea Embryos, and placed them into his storage ring before heading off. "Look around some more and see if there are any other surprises." He had established an academy in Fan Domain months ago, primarily to teach literacy. Many people were illiterate, which was natural enough; in an era torn by chaos and strife, few ever had the chance to attend school and learn to read. A great power needed an academy. Even the Jiangbei Chen family had maintained one back then. Aside from literacy, the curriculum included detailed physical characteristics of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, lest people encounter a fortune in the wild and fail to recognize it. Naturally, subtle ideological instruction was woven in as well: loyalty to Fan Domain, and loyalty to Chen Fan. After Chen Fan walked off, Zhou Mo grinned excitedly and pulled Wang Mazi along toward another area. "Come on, let's see if there are any other treasures. There are so many good things here, maybe we'll even find a ghost stone mine! "Good thing I knew seawater was salty, or else we wouldn't have been able to preserve them." "...Who doesn't know seawater is salty?" "Even if I didn't know seawater was salty, I had another way to preserve the Sea Embryos." "What way?" "My urine is salty." Wang Mazi's lips twitched. "If you brought a vat of urine to the Domain Master, I swear he'd chop your dog head off." "Surely not! Mine is virgin urine." "You're pushing forty, and you're telling me you're a..." "What of it?" "Nothing, that's great. Next time we go out drinking, don't just grope around—rub against them properly." "Mind your own business." The two bickered as they probed deeper into the island. The place bore no trace of human presence, looking like an untouched paradise. Just then— "Screeech!!" Ear-piercing shrieks echoed from far to near, rising and falling in rapid succession. The surrounding jungle canopy shook violently, as though the green ceiling overhead had come alive. "Freeze!" Zhou Mo's expression altered. He swiftly raised the broadsword in his hand and spoke urgently into the voice transmission talisman: "Domain Master, situation here! Not sure what's happening yet!" The broadsword in his grip had been custom-forged for him last month by the Artifact Pavilion using rare materials. It was a yellow-grade spirit treasure, flawlessly suited to him, and tremendously potent. Soon, numerous afterimages surged from the distant woods toward him. No longer concealing themselves, they shrieked violently as they charged—monkeys. At a glance, there were at least several hundred of them. They were surrounded by a troop of monkeys. In the blink of an eye, the surrounding branches were packed with monkeys, all baring their teeth and chattering madly, their voices mingled with shrill, provocative screams. Some slapped their palms against tree trunks, producing dull thuds. Hundreds of monkeys glared fixedly at the two men, poised to attack at any moment. "Wang Mazi." Zhou Mo drew a deep breath, gripping his broadsword tightly as he rasped, "Stand behind me and watch me perform." If they were ordinary monkeys, it wouldn't have mattered. Yet he could sense that every single one of these monkeys was an exotic beast. In ordinary times, a single exotic beast was difficult to find; today, the mountains were teeming with them. Qi Yue and Shao Qiu had not accompanied them on this trip. Neither Zhou Mo nor Wang Mazi possessed overwhelming individual combat strength. The two of them certainly could not fend off an assault by hundreds of exotic beasts. Having ventured deep into the jungle, even if the Domain Master wanted to reinforce them, he couldn't arrive in time. They were very likely about to perish here. "What nonsense are you spouting?" Wang Mazi's face was cold as he also drew a broadsword from his robes, standing back-to-back with Zhou Mo in the clearing, staring straight at the monkeys on the branches. "I've been soaking in the Spirit Accumulation Pavilion every day lately; my cultivation isn't weak either. "Today's a good day to draw some blood." "Fair enough." Zhou Mo grinned. "Who would have thought my partner in my final battle would be you? I always envisioned dying four years from now when the undersea ghost tide makes landfall, dying right beside the Domain Master." Right at that moment! Accompanied by shrill shrieks from the alpha, several burly male monkeys dropped from the branches, launching an attack. Their bared teeth revealed red gums, yellowish-white fangs, and fur bristling with aggression. They looked anything but cute— only vicious. The siege began. One monkey swung in swiftly from the flank, its claws shooting out like lightning straight toward Zhou Mo's face. Another struck from behind almost simultaneously, executing a remarkably coordinated pincer move. A thick, feral musk permeated the air. *Riiip!* The sound of claws tearing flesh rang out, followed by excited howls from the troop. These monkeys' eyes burned with murderous intent and frenzy. They weren't in a hurry to kill, acting as though they intended to torment their prey slowly. *Pant, pant.* Zhou Mo pressed tightly against Wang Mazi's back. The monkeys attacked in relentless waves, and after several exchanges, he was already struggling to hold his ground. Several bloody gashes covered his body, blood streaming down. Meanwhile, more and more shadows flickered in the canopy as fresh monkeys joined the fray. "Damn it." Whether from blood loss or dread, Zhou Mo's face was pale, his lips turning faintly blue as he shuddered, "Wang Mazi, dying like this is too agonizing. It's like being sliced to pieces." "Not yet," Wang Mazi panted just as heavily. "Maybe we won't die." "How the hell could we survive this?" "I feel the ground shaking." "And? What..." Wait. Zhou Mo suddenly caught on. He felt the ceaseless trembling beneath his feet and noticed the monkeys in the branches growing restless and agitated. After a brief pause, comprehension dawned, and he grinned, roaring at the top of his lungs, "Domain Master, I'm over here!" *ROAAAR!!!* An earth-shattering roar erupted! Trees in the jungle began toppling one after another. A colossal behemoth was barreling toward them like a runaway bulldozer! In the next instant, a gigantic crocodile with lantern-sized eyes blazing with savage fury smashed through countless trees, hurtling right before the two men. Behind it lay a wide, flattened corridor carved straight through the jungle. Chen Fan stepped down from the crocodile's back, standing beside Weiwei. He looked up at the panicked monkeys in the branches, paused for a moment, and broke into a grin. "Weiwei. "You're up." Receiving the command, Weiwei opened his gaping maw, unleashed another furious roar, and charged straight at the trees beneath the troop. Every collision shattered and sent massive trunks flying; the monkeys perched in the branches were knocked through the air like dumplings thrown into boiling water. The sheer kinetic force was terrifying. In the blink of an eye, the monkeys scattered in utter panic, none of them daring to turn back to attempt an attack on Weiwei. Panting heavily, Zhou Mo stood rooted to the spot, leaning against Wang Mazi. Looking at Weiwei, who exuded the ferocious aura of a primordial beast while bellowing thunderously, he found it impossible to connect this terrifying monster with the creature who usually lay with his mouth wide open outside the Heavenly Artifact Pavilion, waiting for Zhao Shengping to feed him braised meat. He had nearly forgotten that Weiwei was an exotic beast too— and a high-tier one of immense might, capable of delivering a fatal blow to a Ghost King. He was no harmless pet.