Punabantu sat in an isolated corner of the southeastern Endless Sea, a place so desolate that people generally referred to it as godforsaken.
Throughout its entire existence, aside from the one time it made the newspapers upon the discovery of an enormous gold mine, it had never attracted any attention. Even its name was derived from the navigator who first found the gold.
A massive influx of outsiders had crowded in alongside a small native population. In a riot over a century ago, the locals were virtually slaughtered to the last soul, and the newcomers took over the land. Soon, endless strife broke out among them over religion, language, and ethnicity.
With the gold mine acting as a catalyst, they never enjoyed a single peaceful day.
Once the shallow deposits were mostly picked clean and the major corporations refused to invest due to the tangled local situation, the region swiftly slipped back into abject poverty. Yet the chaos and feuds endured.
In this world, life was hard if you were too close to the Federation, and harder still if you were too far from it. If they couldn't live well with a gold mine, they were bound to live far worse without one.
Once the lubricating grease of gold vanished, the conflict did not subside; instead, it escalated, spawning an endless sequence of large-scale clashes.
In the short month before the spiritus plague erupted a few days ago, two presidents and four generals were rotated out, with warlords taking turns strutting across the stage in an unbroken succession. As a result, through their collective wisdom, bizarre antics, and sheer unhinged incompetence, they painstakingly crafted an eighteen-tiered hell right inside that tiny snail shell of a territory.
Looking back now...
The mastermind pulling the strings had probably orchestrated it all for this, hadn't they?
By propagating and catalyzing the spiritus plague, they laid the foundation—plundering the consciousness, souls, and dreams of countless people to manufacture a genuine hell and demon realm.
From beginning to end, no one had cared.
Death was so routine here that even hell seemed mundane.
Ji Jue closed his eyes and tapped the table before him, sinking into deep thought amid the crisp rhythm.
Now, he had finally uncovered Wen Wen's destination.
Yet a fresh headache throbbed behind his temples.
*The stubborn, thick-headed Huangxu... Sis, what were you thinking? Why do you jump straight into the enemy's den to brawl the moment your fists clench? Anyone with half a brain could guess what kind of hellhole Punabantu turned into after the collapse effect. Couldn't you take things one step at a time?*
*Or was there a reason you had to do this? It's not like your family slaughtered a free-range chicken you'd raised for years just to host a battle royale, right?*
Wen Wen was at least a Huangxu, and an outrageously overpowered one at that.
He, on the other hand, was just a craftsman—weak, helpless, and pitiable. How on earth was he supposed to tackle this?
Ji Jue sighed.
He pulled out his phone, opened his contacts, and unblocked a name that had been banished to the blacklist for a very long time. He sent a text:
[Money is plentiful, get over here ASAP.]
In less than ten minutes, a reply flashed on the screen.
Tang Qian (Contact Note: Fleeced me of ten gold coins): [Is this for real, Godfather?!]
[Totally real. Food, drink, medical coverage, plus stipends and allowances. Payday tomorrow. Assemble on the coast, no need for armor. The earlier you come, the more you get.]
[Understood, Godfather! See you tonight, love you! Heart-finger~]
Looking at that saccharine reply that seemed practically dripping with honey, Ji Jue nodded.
*And just like that, wasn't a cannon fodder scout found?*
Then, in the silence, he clasped his hands behind his back and paced across the map projected by Isis, measuring the distance with his footsteps.
One step, then another.
Gradually, his mind settled.
He brought out his phone again and dialed a number.
"What is it?" an impatient voice snapped from the other end. "Let me tell you, Ji, if you show off your smug face around here with nothing better to do, one of these days I'll teach you a lesson!"
"Hello? Old Fred."
"Who the hell are you calling Old Fred!"
Frederick of North Wind Workshop flew into a rage. "Get to the point, I'm busy as hell over here!"
"All right, go play somewhere else. Just have your teacher talk to me," Ji Jue said nonchalantly. "And while you're at it, call over the leaders of your Dragon Bone Fleet—the ones who can actually call the shots."
"The hell?! Wait, hold on, are you serious?"
A momentary daze seized the other end, followed immediately by a clatter of crashing objects, mixed with faint shouts, roars of fury, and Frederick's flustered apologies and pleas for mercy.
Soon, things quieted down, and Frederick's tone turned solemn. "Master is here. You'd better have something serious to say!"
Right after that, a deep voice rang out, laced with mockery. "'Director Ji,' what awful mess do you need a scapegoat for this time? Let's make one thing clear first: don't try to brush me off with peanuts."
"I won't waste words on nonsense."
Ji Jue stood firm on the map again, lowering his gaze to look at the terrain below. "Do you want land?"
"..."
For a moment, the other end went dead silent.
"If I remember correctly, the Northern Realm's frost season is approaching, isn't it?" Ji Jue asked casually. "A massive, ready-made swath of fine land. A bit barren, sure, but it can sustain people. Do you want it?"
Yellowbeard remained silent. After a long pause, all traces of his initial penny-pinching banter and opportunistic mockery were gone. "Elaborate. You'd better not leave me hanging."
"Punabantu. Spacious land, spring-like weather all year round, pleasant climate, plenty of coconuts and mangoes to sustain folks, and ready-made plantations. All it needs is a batch of hardworking, resilient people willing to clear the wilderness."
"Heh."
Yellowbeard couldn't help but chuckle as realization dawned on him. "You're pulling that borrow-a-knife-to-kill trick on me again?! For a second time? Do you think everyone else is brainless, or do you think you're the only smart person alive?"
"Just tell me if you're in or not," Ji Jue replied, too lazy to bicker. "If you're out, I'll go find someone else."
How could they possibly be out?
If Yellowbeard genuinely had no interest, he wouldn't have wasted a single breath. He was obviously prodding Ji Jue to lay his cards on the table.
"Even if we conquer that godforsaken place, we can't hold it. It's too far from the Northern Realm. Have you calculated the voyage? What's the point of an enclave? Besides, even if we take it, will the neighboring Seven Cities tolerate us putting down roots?"
Ji Jue chuckled. "The relationship between you and the Seven Cities lately is just shy of wearing the same pair of pants—and crotchless pants at that, with everything hanging out for everyone to see. What are you still pretending for?"
In the face of the trade embargo from the other city-states, the Northern Realm had adopted an open-door policy, welcoming any and all commerce. Over these recent days, by acting as middleman fronts, the Seven Cities had made a fortune.
Ji Jue hadn't pried into the exact nature of their backroom deals, but it was definitely anything but simple.
Yellowbeard flatly countered, "Cooperation is cooperation; neighbors are neighbors. Sometimes, you can only cooperate because you aren't neighbors."
"That's your problem, not mine."
Ji Jue shook his head. "If you want to hold out for a better offer, that's fine too, Grandmaster. I can just as easily find other partners. But once it's done and you want to come in for a piece of the meat, it won't be at this price."
"You're the one lacking sincerity, Ji Jue," Yellowbeard's voice chilled. "Even if we held ground in a blasted place designated as a restricted zone, nobody could survive there. The Northern Realm isn't desperate to that extent. Show some real sincerity, or we can end this right here."
"If it weren't a restricted zone, would you even have a chance?"
Ji Jue shot back. "According to the Land-Sea Agreement renewed by all parties over a decade ago, those who pioneer and cleanse a restricted zone hold property and land rights for several decades or more. You want sincerity? I can show it to you first. I made something in Haizhou a while back—take a look at it, and then we'll talk. But I don't have much time. Once today passes, we'll act as if this conversation never happened and never bring it up again."
With that, he waved his other hand, sending over the video and data of the Crown of Isis clearing the Haizhou wilderness.
The other end fell into another prolonged, dead silence.
Followed, at last, by a soft sigh.
"As expected of the Art of Myriad Changes..."
Fluid Alchemy—the pinnacle of Purification, the swansong of ancient alchemy.
Yellowbeard, who had always looked down on outside crafts due to his pride in his own lineage, seemed to feel a pang of envy. Convenient. Truly too convenient.
A material like purified quicksilver, when forced to elevate its material properties through internal spirituality, could produce the bizarre miracle of turning rot into wonder.
And this was even before its rank had been elevated by Non-Offensive's Metamorphosis sequence.
Furthermore, the ultra-wide spiritus interference combined with unimaginable precision transformed what seemed like a mediocre effect into an outright natural disaster.
At the same time, when paired with Solid Alchemy, it became the natural enemy of all abnormal spiritus environments. The spiritus architecture of the worm granted it terrifying resistance and tolerance to external conditions, allowing it to function normally even within a restricted zone.
If left unhindered by outside interference, purging an abnormal demon realm blanketing an entire archipelago would probably be child's play for it.
Even if other alchemical creations could achieve the same result, none could do so with such ease, simplicity, and speed.
It was practically born for this purpose.
Except... when it came to the price, there was plenty of room to negotiate.
After a fierce round of bargaining, the two sides finally reached a tentative consensus, though many details were shelved for later wrangling.
Regardless, the deal was struck!
Three minutes after the call ended, satellite imagery showed a massive fleet racing across the Endless Sea coming to an abrupt halt, then immediately swinging its bow around.
Horns seemed to blare across the waters.
Above the steel warships, sails from an ancient era unfurled once more.
Upon the canvas, the primordial totem of coiled dragon bones flared with blazing, surging light. In the next instant, the waves surged and gale winds roared.
Accelerating again.
Mist billowed out of thin air, gradually swallowing their wake.
Amid the beat of drums and horns, rousing, gravelly chants rose from the colossal warships.
A proclamation to the Northern Realm:
—The Dragon Bone Fleet departs once more for the hot lands!
In Xinquan, having hung up the call, Ji Jue did not pause. He lifted his phone again and dialed Chen Xingzhou.
"Whenever I get a call from you these days, my heart skips a beat," the Dragon Head on the other end sighed. "Being friends with you makes a man age too fast. What massive scheme are you pulling off this time?"
Ji Jue asked, "I'm planning to clear some land on the Endless Sea, build a few factories, and invest in local industry. Is the Wilderness Market interested?"
Chen Xingzhou fell silent for a few seconds. Grasping his meaning, he seemed to straighten up. "Where?"
"Punabantu."
*Hiss—*
A sharp intake of breath came through the receiver. "Who else is involved?"
"All old friends. The Northern Realm's Dragon Bone Fleet has already mobilized. We've known each other for so long—care to make some money together? Interested?"
"Wait... right, you have that thing. No, you couldn't have prepared it specifically for this, could you?" Chen Xingzhou seemed to realize something, his voice brimming with awe. Ji Jue offered no explanation, letting him assume he was simply a restless, ambitious schemer.
"It's doable. How much investment do you need?"
"The trouble is rather large, but the more you invest, the more you make," Ji Jue said. "Up to you."
"Putting it like that makes it hard on me," Chen Xingzhou said helplessly. "At least give me a number so I have room to counteroffer, right?"
Ji Jue pondered for a moment. "Can you call in a Celestial-Human?"
"I asked you for a number, not to daydream!" Chen Xingzhou lost his composure. "Who could afford the price for a Celestial-Human? If a Celestial-Human comes, would there be any meat left for the rest of us? We'd be lucky to scrape the dregs from the bowl! How about this: the An Family Twin Fingers. Take it or leave it."
"Deal."
Ji Jue's answer was so swift and decisive that Chen Xingzhou felt as though he had been ripped off.
Still, if Punabantu could be secured, it wouldn't necessarily be a loss. The local port could be used after minor repairs, paving the way for steady, long-term profit. Furthermore, if Ji Jue invested in industry there, they wouldn't have to worry about sales channels.
"Then it's settled," Chen Xingzhou said, unwilling to haggle any further. "I'll have Uncle Lin contact you later. Any other requests?"
"Fast. As soon as possible. The sooner the better—ideally, set out tomorrow morning."
"You sure know how to be a demanding client..."
Chen Xingzhou sighed, but did not refuse before hanging up.
Ji Jue dialed the next number.
Next were the Knights of Homecoming, who pledged a hundred Swarms. On one hand, time was too tight and manpower was short; after all, everyone had their own duties, and the old accountant had gritted his teeth and flaked on several commissions just to scrape this many together. On the other hand, the oceanic environment was truly ill-suited for the Mycelium to operate.
Finally, Ji Jue placed his last call.
To the Seven Cities.
The phone was answered after a single ring.
Before an enthusiastic greeting could pour from the other end, Ji Jue cut straight to the point: "Vice Commander Minkler, want to make your rank official?"
"DAD!!!"
A heart-wrenching cry and shout erupted from the other end, practically choked with tears.
Crying was not a refusal; it was the sob of a wandering child returning to his father's embrace after years of drifting. Before he could even process the words, tears were already streaming down Minkler's face. He shot to his feet and slammed the desk.
"Between father and son, what need is there for words? Just say who we're hitting!"
"You don't need to hit anyone. You won't have to lift a finger—just parade the Seven Cities Joint Defense navy around for a lap and wait to claim the credit for territorial expansion. However..."
Ji Jue paused, speaking deliberately. "Once the land is conquered, the specifics of the situation and the management methods... the Seven Cities wouldn't mind, right?"
"Mind? My dad has spoken—who the hell dares to mind? Does my blade lack sharpness?!"
Without hesitation, Minkler responded forcefully, "Rest easy, sir. Whatever you arrange, not a single word of complaint!"
Thus, the final official pretext and justification were resolved.
The Seven Cities, outraged by the unjust treatment suffered by the Chongguang Association and the violation of their own territorial sovereignty, upon learning that the mastermind was entrenched in Punabantu, decisively raised a righteous force to lead the noble cause, restore order, and purge the demons.
To ordain the mind for the Thousand Islands, to secure life for the Seven Cities, to inherit past teachings for Tianyuan, and to establish peace for the Endless Sea—you have an objection? How dare you object? Go voice it to the blood-stained, weeping innocent victims! Do you have some connection to the mastermind behind this?
Time to launch a rigorous investigation!
Old Tom would serve as bodyguard, muscle, and fall guy; the Dragon Bone Fleet would act as the main force; Yellowbeard of North Wind would provide support; the Wilderness Market would dispatch high-end combat power; the Red State's Knights of Homecoming would stand by as a contingency; and the Seven Cities would step forward as the political cover, providing a satisfactory account to all parties.
The personnel had been assembled; the raid could launch at any moment.
All that remained was to roll straight through them.
Yet why did a faint unease still linger in his heart?
Could the mastermind behind this truly be the mere 'unrecyclable trash' Wen Wen had spoken of? A scheme of such colossal scale, entangling so many facets...
Ji Jue furrowed his brow, sinking into contemplation amid the quiet.
His hand instinctively reached for his phone, and by the time he realized it, the screen had already settled on his teacher's contact. He was about to press it, but abruptly canceled.
His teacher had entered another working phase recently, having long since ignored outside affairs. Setting aside whether this matter was worth disturbing him over, the crux was that his teacher was already entangled in far too many complications.
After maintaining such a low profile for so many years, why break it on his account?
In that case, Ji Jue was left with only one choice—
Instantly, his expression twitched as if he were being forced to swallow a live fly. It was intensely repulsive; the fly hadn't even entered his mouth and he already couldn't stomach it.
Yet circumstances left him no alternative—
Swallow it he must.
Looking up at the ceiling, he let out a long sigh and picked up the phone once more.
He dialed the Association's dedicated line.
More specifically, the private number of the current director, Gustav.
"Hello? Director Gustav. Yes, it's me. No, no, it was all thanks to the Association's support, and of course your excellent guidance during the exam. No problem, I'll cooperate anytime. Just an interview, yes, absolutely."
After a round of pleasantries, he voiced his true objective with deep hesitation and reluctance: "Could I ask you to remind that old d—*cough*, I mean, that distinguished sir? I feel the situation behind this wave of the spiritus plague is anything but simple. Yes, exactly, just my personal speculation. Sorry to trouble you, and thank you—"
Hanging up the call, Ji Jue finally released a tired, long breath.
Good. The old dog would soon be in position as well.
With this, surely nothing could go wrong, right?
Even if something did go awry, it would be enough to bring Sister Wen back in one piece!
Now that things had reached this stage, there was no need for further hesitation.
Time to get it done!
Ji Jue rolled up his sleeves.
"Isis."
"I am here."
"Dock the Prosperity and requisition Workshop Four of the shipyard. Clear the deck and the hold, and then—"
Ji Jue hesitated for a moment, but ultimately steeled his resolve. "Prepare to install the Crown of Isis. In addition, authorize the mounting of weapon modules.
"Including the Tear of Isis."
"As you command."
A projection coalesced like starlight as the workshop spirit lifted her skirt in a curtsey, wearing what seemed like a faint smile.
"My master."
Chapter 490