Chapter 189: All Done by the Captain

Xu Qing was on alert. The moment he was teleported, he saw the disciple's expression on Mermaid Island. Although the expression only showed surprise, no other thoughts were discernible. However, putting himself in their shoes, Xu Qing reasoned that if even he was tempted by the bounty, there was no reason others wouldn't be.

"Besides, I have enemies within the Sea Corpse Race, and there's also that Dao Child." Xu Qing believed that if the statue's nose couldn't be restored, it would only mean his Golden Crow Refining All Spirits technique was too potent, preventing those it devoured from being restored. If that were the case, it was highly probable that the Dao Child's half-face and ear would also be beyond recovery. "That person must hate me to the bone and will surely look for an opportunity to eliminate me."

With these thoughts, as the teleportation array pulsed and everything before his eyes blurred then gradually sharpened, Xu Qing found himself back in the Seven Blood Eyes. As he arrived, sounds preceded visuals, entering Xu Qing's perception. It was the familiar cacophony and bustling sounds. Soon, light returned, and the Seven Blood Eyes filled Xu Qing's vision.

First to appear before his eyes were the crowds queuing up for teleportation, and two disciples nearby who were registering arrivals and departures. These two disciples, a male and a female, both wore gray Daoist robes. Xu Qing's gaze swept over them; they seemed somewhat familiar, but he didn't pay them much mind. However, the moment he stepped out, his purple Daoist robe caused a stir. The two record-keeping disciples' expressions changed, and they quickly stood up, showing immense respect.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle!"

As they spoke, Xu Qing was about to walk past, but his peripheral vision caught the female disciple, and he paused, scrutinizing her from head to toe. The woman was beautiful, her long hair tied in a ponytail, though her figure was slightly slender. Under Xu Qing's gaze, she felt nervous, her body trembled, her heart raced, and she bowed her head even lower.

"Your cultivation is commendable; you're not far from the sixth layer. However, the Forbidden Sea aura within your Sea Transformation Scripture is noticeably weaker than that of other Seven Peaks disciples at your level. You need to deepen this aura to ensure a successful breakthrough."

Xu Qing offered this advice, and after the woman's trembling thanks, he departed. He offered the advice because he remembered who she was. When he first arrived at the Seven Blood Eyes, he had met these same two individuals. At that time, she had kindly warned him about the sect's dangers. Though it was a minor gesture, Xu Qing felt that encountering her again offered a chance to repay her kindness with some guidance.

After he left, the two disciples were drenched in sweat. The sheer pressure naturally emanating from Xu Qing's cultivation, combined with the battle-hardened killing intent he carried, felt like an overwhelming force to these two Qi Condensation disciples.

"This senior's cultivation... it's incredibly strong!!" The male disciple took a deep breath, almost crushing the fan in his hand. He then turned to the woman beside him, a strange look in his eyes, and couldn't help but ask, "Do you know that senior?"

The woman looked dazed. She quickly turned and rushed to check the teleportation array's log. After reading it, her eyes widened suddenly.

"Xu Qing!" The man's entire body trembled at the name. "The Xu Qing who recently became famous for destroying the Sea Corpse Race's sacred artifact, enraging them and leading to a massive bounty on his head?"

The woman nodded blankly.

"How does he know you?" The man's eyes gleamed with unprecedented envy, and he became visibly excited.

"I have a good memory. I recall about a year ago, a scavenger boy arrived with a white token. When I warned him about the sect's dangers that day, I briefly checked his identity; that boy was also named Xu Qing." The woman said softly, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.

The man beside her gasped again, standing stunned as he tried to recall. "You said then that he wouldn't live more than three months."

The woman turned her head and glanced at her companion. The man's face instantly paled, his breathing quickened, and as intense fear welled up within him, he also suddenly realized that what he had always considered the Seven Peaks junior sister's foolishness now appeared to be a stroke of immense luck.

As for Xu Qing, he was unaware of the two disciples' conversation; his earlier advice had been a casual gesture. He walked through the city, having already changed into a gray Daoist robe, heading straight for the transportation department at Port 176. His Dharma boat was completely destroyed, leaving him without a place to rest. Unless he returned to his Seven Peaks cave abode, he'd have to find somewhere to stay for a few days. The Demon Hunter's Office was his primary option, but Xu Qing decided to visit Zhang San first to refine a Dharma boat before going there.

Having been away for half a year, Xu Qing walked through the Seven Blood Eyes' main city, observing the bustling crowds and the familiar shops and stalls, feeling an unusual sense of calm. The distance from the battlefield also meant that the war's atmosphere within the Seven Blood Eyes was less palpable, making it appear not much different from usual. However, many ports had been requisitioned by the sect for the transportation and docking of strategic materials. While arrays could transport materials, the cost was prohibitive. And while merchant ships were slow, their pace was acceptable given the extended half-year duration of the war. After all, this war wouldn't end anytime soon.

"Senior Brother Zhang San made the right gamble." Xu Qing felt quite pleased, contemplating the impending profits. However, he remained cautious, as the captain's actions had attracted far too many greedy individuals. "Fortunately, the captain is ahead of me; his reward is the largest, so if anyone decides to act, they should target him first... Besides, he's proud and likely welcomes such attention, so it's probably best if I don't expose this." Xu Qing pondered this seriously, nodded in deep agreement, and felt slightly more at ease, hoping the captain would return soon.

Shortly after, Xu Qing arrived at Port 176. Much of this port, too, had been requisitioned by the sect. The sea was dotted with cargo ships, laden with strategic materials, awaiting departure. Xu Qing surveyed the scene, a sense of emotion welling up within him. Port 176 was noticeably more developed than it had been half a year ago; its streets were now orderly, and shops had opened progressively. Furthermore, with three ports now connected, the expansive area saw an increase in pedestrian traffic, leading to a greater variety and number of shops.

Xu Qing walked briskly, and after observing the prosperity of the area, he arrived at Port 176's transportation department. He didn't enter immediately, instead taking out a jade slip to send a message to Zhang San. The next moment, a figure swiftly emerged from the transportation department: Zhang San. Before he even reached him, Zhang San's excited voice rang out. However, knowing his limits, he blurted out one word before quickly swallowing the next. In a blink, he reached Xu Qing, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and pulled him into a warehouse within the transportation department.

The moment they stepped inside, Zhang San spoke quickly and excitedly. "You and the captain have truly made a name for yourselves this time!!"

"'The captain did it,' Xu Qing immediately corrected."

"You two are absolutely insane! You actually went to the Sea Corpse Race and destroyed the nose of their sacred artifact, making it impossible to restore the Sea Corpse Race's Seventh Corpse Ancestor statue. I heard it's been noseless ever since!" Zhang San's face was alight with excitement.

"'That was the captain too!' Xu Qing quickly interjected."

"This whole thing is utterly mad! I heard the Sea Corpse Race on the front lines exploded in fury. Even their high-ranking officials attempted to negotiate with our Patriarch and others to reclaim the nose, but the Patriarch outright refused them."

"'The captain is truly insane. I was just implicated; you know, he did all of it,' Xu Qing sighed."

Zhang San's excitement had now somewhat subsided. Looking at Xu Qing, his eyes gleaming, he urgently whispered, "'Xu Qing, is the nose still here? Let me see it.'"

"'It is, but after leaving the Sea Corpse Race, it just became an ordinary stone. There's nothing special about it now.'" Xu Qing, with a hint of regret, took out the nose and set it down with a thud.

The nose was massive, dozens of feet in size and entirely gray. Though no aura emanated from it, it exuded a primal, wild sensation. Especially the countless honeycomb-like pores on its surface seemed to speak of ages eroded by wind and sand.

"'Careful!'" Zhang San quickly exclaimed, then swiftly circled the nose, touching it repeatedly, his eyes gleaming with even greater intensity. Finally, he looked at Xu Qing. "'Xu Qing, who said this nose isn't extraordinary? This is a part of the Sea Corpse Race's sacred statue! It's the most coveted item by their entire race right now, because it represents their dignity!'" Zhang San was utterly delighted.

"'I have a plan: I'm going to build a massive museum right here in our port, and then we'll embed the noses you and the captain acquired, side by side, within it. With this museum, I tell you, Xu Qing, our port will become absolutely unbeatable! We won't even need to assign guards; the sect will help us and promote us vigorously. Our port is bound to become renowned, drawing countless visitors, and becoming the Seven Blood Eyes' top port will be just around the corner. And the shops and streets surrounding this Sea Corpse Race sacred nose will become even more valuable; we'll make a massive profit!'"

As Xu Qing listened, a peculiar light appeared in his eyes. He looked at Zhang San's excited face, deeply admiring his business acumen. After a moment's thought, he agreed with Zhang San's proposition.

After concluding their discussion, Xu Qing hesitated, then spoke softly. "'Senior Brother Zhang San, my Dharma boat...'"

Zhang San gently stroked the Corpse Ancestor statue's nose, looking utterly satisfied. Hearing Xu Qing's words, he looked up and smiled, a knowing expression on his face.

"'Bring it out. I already suspected your Dharma boat would be damaged upon your return. Our port's finances are robust now; no matter the damage, I'll restore it to perfect condition for you.'"

"'Thank you, Senior Brother Zhang San. Please help me refine it as quickly as possible. Many thanks!'" Hearing this, Xu Qing cupped his fists towards Zhang San, then turned to leave.

"'Wait, where's the Dharma boat? You need to give it to me; how can I fix it if you don't?'" Zhang San paused, looking at Xu Qing with surprise.

"'It's gone,' Xu Qing replied, looking at Zhang San."

The warehouse fell silent. Zhang San stared at Xu Qing, his eyes slowly widening.

"'Gone?'"

Xu Qing nodded seriously.

"'Yes, gone.'"