Chapter 191: Weakness and Sorrow

"Captain, if the bounty is 100 million, then one leg and one arm should be worth 30 million spirit stones, right?" Xu Qing retracted his gaze from the shadow and looked at the apple not far away, asking curiously.

A bite mark appeared on the apple floating in mid-air, and the person who had presumably taken a bite paused their movement. "Deputy Officer Xu, what leg are you talking about? I don't understand, I don't understand, but you can't shortchange me on the 20,000 spirit stones you owe me. After all, this time, I risked my life to cover you." Xu Qing let out an "oh," took a jade slip from his person, and tossed it over.

This jade slip contained a recording of the captain, disguised as the Third Princess, delicately coughing and showing off, made by the Vajra Sect Patriarch. The jade slip was caught instantly, and after a few breaths, a hearty laugh came through. "My dearest junior brother, your senior brother was just joking with you. Huh, Zhang San, why are you here too? Are they building something here? Why is there a nose next to it?"

Zhang San's expression was peculiar. The largest item there was indeed that nose. He thought to himself, 'Captain, oh Captain, your way of changing the subject is too casual.' So he looked at the apple, which was being eaten bite by bite, and shook his head.

"Captain, do you still have another nose from a statue? Bring it here, and I'll assemble them for an exhibition." As soon as Zhang San finished speaking, a large gray stone, seven or eight zhang in size, landed with a thud in an empty space nearby. It was precisely the nose that the captain had taken. However, many bite marks were visible on its edges, as if it had been bitten many times.

"This thing is useless. I tried biting it a few times on the way back, but it had no effect at all," the captain's lazy voice came through. Zhang San paid no attention. He stepped forward, embraced the nose, and placed it alongside Xu Qing's piece. His expression showed excitement, and his eyes gleamed.

"Alright, I just got back and have official duties to attend to. I'm currently preparing a big plan. I already have high-grade corpse hearts, and I just need some more intelligence. Once I've got everything ready, the three of us will pull off something big!" The captain's voice echoed with excitement.

"Another big job?" Zhang San gasped, looking at the apple as if it were a divine being. Xu Qing's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "Can it open Dharma Apertures?"

"More than just opening Dharma Apertures! Deputy Officer Xu, your ambition is too small. If we pull this off, it'll be a leap to greatness. All the restrained spirit flesh and high-grade corpse hearts I acquired before were prepared for this grand plan." The more the captain spoke, the more excited he became, but his wound split open, making him wince in pain.

"I'll tell you the details later. I'm off for now. Ah, such a toilsome life, with a pile of official duties waiting for me." Suppressing the intense pain, the captain spoke nonchalantly, then hopped away.

Zhang San couldn't see, but Xu Qing looked down at the shadow, which was now swaying back and forth on the ground, mimicking a hopping motion.

"With these two noses, our museum will be amazing!" Zhang San paid no mind to the captain. His full attention was now on the museum. After circling the noses, he became excited once more.

Xu Qing quietly withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhang San. "Senior Brother Zhang San, is my Dharma vessel refined yet?"

"It's finished. The instructions are inside. Xu Qing, take a look yourself first. Next, I need to repair these two noses together to make them more perfect." Zhang San said, tossing a small bottle to Xu Qing, then he threw himself onto the noses, beginning to study how to repair them. Xu Qing took the small bottle, bade farewell, and departed.

Instead of returning to the Demon Hunting Department, he went to the shore of Port 176 and released his Dharma vessel. As a roar echoed and waves undulated, a huge ship appeared before him. Its design was identical to before, with no differences.

However, the material was clearly superior. It was evident that Zhang San had invested heavily in refining Xu Qing's Dharma vessel, thanks to Port 176's financial income.

Xu Qing even faintly felt a suppressive fluctuation on the Dharma vessel that hindered the ignition of life flames, reminding him of Zhang San's remark that a Dharma vessel would possess the power to suppress life flames once it reached level eight.

Xu Qing gazed at the Dharma vessel, took out the instructional jade slip Zhang San had given him, and examined it. Although this time there was no restrained spirit flesh in the Dharma vessel, and divine power could not be activated, the superior quality of the vessel's materials still made its overall quality excellent.

In particular, all its internal components were crafted from high-grade materials. This level-eight Dharma vessel was already incredibly valuable.

"Xu Qing, Dharma vessels are different from Dharma boats. Dharma boats, being simpler, gain significant power with each level-up, but Dharma vessels are not like that."

"For the first seven levels of a Dharma vessel, while there are differences, they aren't very significant. Only at the eighth level does it make a rapid leap. This time, I primarily reinforced your Dharma vessel's level-eight defenses. As for its core, I used the heart of a Boulder Beast, also to enhance its defenses, allowing it to reach the Mysterious Radiance state of the early Foundation Establishment stage."

"However, the divinity is gone, but I've left a space. If you can obtain the heart of a divine creature, it can instantly elevate your Dharma vessel to level nine."

"At that point, whether it's defense or other aspects, it will be comparable to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage!"

"The more powerful the origin of the divine heart you acquire in the future, the greater the power of your Dharma vessel will be. Once it reaches level ten, it will be comparable to the late Foundation Establishment stage, and level-ten Dharma vessels are extremely rare throughout the entire sect!"

"Additionally, on your Dharma vessel, I've incorporated the camouflaged explosion technology from last time. At the same time, I've specifically developed a new direction for you by adding self-destruction. This might be more convenient for you, and I also get a sense of participation. When your Dharma vessel explodes later, you'll see how I participated…"

As Xu Qing read Zhang San's message on the jade slip, he gazed at the Dharma vessel before him. Although the vessel now lacked a divine strike, Xu Qing was still content. He boarded it, activated its defenses, and returned to the cabin. The moment he sat down, he felt very comfortable.

"I'm still used to being on a boat," he thought. "But what does Zhang San mean by 'sense of participation' in self-destruction?" Xu Qing was a little curious but didn't dwell on it too much. After taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and meditated silently.

Three days passed in a flash. With the captain's return, the heroic deeds of Xu Qing and the captain once again caused a stir within the sect. Xu Qing also somewhat anticipated what the sect's promised reward for this incident would be.

At the same time, he felt a slight sense of relief. Before the captain returned, Xu Qing had felt very unsafe. If any high-ranking members in the sect harbored ill intentions, he would face immense danger.

Although that possibility seemed slim now, he still had to be cautious. However, with the captain's return, Xu Qing felt at ease.

"After all, he's the primary culprit. He was the one who blew up the nose, and the bounty on him in the wanted notice is even more exaggerated; he's ranked first. So, if anyone truly intends to make a move, they'll definitely choose him over me."

Xu Qing remained calm internally, but on the evening of the third day, a deeply troubled person, filled with sorrow, arrived at Port 176 and stood outside Xu Qing's Dharma vessel.

It was a woman, not tall, appearing very thin, dressed in a gray Daoist robe, with a Qi Condensation cultivation of only the third level.

Such individuals, regardless of gender, usually had to be extremely cautious in everything they did within the Seven Blood Eyes Sect. This person was Xu Xiaohui, who had entered the Seven Blood Eyes Sect with Xu Qing on the same day.

She stood silently beside Xu Qing's Dharma vessel, her face filled with bitterness, her heart a mix of sadness and apprehension. In truth, she wouldn't have dared to seek out Xu Qing unless absolutely desperate.

Although they were from the same period, they had no real connection. Moreover, Xu Qing had already become a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and his fame was now widespread, known to everyone in the Seven Blood Eyes Sect.

Such an influential figure was far beyond her reach, no matter how hard she tried to look up to him.

Thus, she had endured for several months before finally mustering the courage to come. The moment she approached Xu Qing's Dharma vessel, she immediately knelt down.

"Disciple Xu Xiaohui respectfully requests an audience with Senior Uncle Xu Qing."

Inside the Dharma vessel, Xu Qing, who was meditating cross-legged, opened his eyes. He calmly looked outside, his gaze seemingly penetrating the barrier and falling upon Xu Xiaohui.

"What is it?"

His voice carried out from the Dharma vessel, echoing in Xu Xiaohui's ears. Her body trembled, and she spoke softly, "Senior Uncle, Senior Brother Zhou Qingpeng… he tragically died within the sect three months ago."

The Dharma vessel fell silent.

After a few breaths, Xu Qing emerged from the cabin and stood on the ship, looking down at Xu Xiaohui who was kneeling there. His mind recalled the scene of the four of them ascending the mountain together, and Zhou Qingpeng's generous gift of the Ghost Desire Horseshoe Crab.

In truth, he wasn't very familiar with Zhou Qingpeng, but the other party's gift back then could be considered a favor, and that Ghost Desire Horseshoe Crab had helped him considerably afterward. Now, hearing of Zhou Qingpeng's tragic death, he felt a sigh in his heart.

Yet, there wasn't much surprise.

The brutal environment for disciples below the Seven Blood Eyes Sect's mountain, akin to raising venomous creatures, wouldn't lessen due to war. There would always be people dying here, and always people yearning to join.

However, since he owed a favor, Xu Qing intended to inquire about this matter. So, he looked at Xu Xiaohui and slowly spoke, "Tell me the details."

Xu Qing's words made Xu Xiaohui's eyes redden, and tears streamed down her face. She had despaired many times over the past few months, and only now, with Xu Qing's inquiry, did hope rise within her.

"Senior Uncle Xu, Senior Brother Zhou was originally following Senior Uncle Ding Xiaohai in the Maritime Defense Department. He told me he helped Senior Uncle Ding do many things that outsiders couldn't know about, and Senior Uncle Ding also promised him a follower's slot in the future.

But Senior Uncle Ding left the Maritime Defense Department after his promotion and didn't summon Senior Brother Zhou to his side. This left Senior Brother Zhou without protection for a time, and many of the things he had done previously drew the malice of many people. This was one of the reasons for his death."

"Secondly, Senior Brother Zhou also had considerable gains on the Mermaid Race island during the Seventh Peak Grand Competition. These gains could have been protected, but with Senior Uncle Ding Xiaohai's indifference, Senior Brother Zhou was eventually targeted and tragically died on the streets one day, three months ago."

"I've investigated until now, but I still haven't found out who the killer is."

Xu Xiaohui shed tears. Though full of sorrow, her words were very organized, clearly having been prepared in her mind for a long time.

"You and Zhou Qingpeng?" Xu Qing was silent for a moment, then looked at Xu Xiaohui.

"Senior Brother Zhou showed me great kindness. Previously, to obtain a Dharma boat, I borrowed a large sum of spirit stones. Unable to repay them, I had to abandon my dignity to curry favor and flatter, becoming a plaything for some disciples in the sect. On the surface, I seemed to live a glamorous life, but in reality, I lived like an animal, enduring all sorts of torment, covered in wounds. I admit it's because I was lowly and too vain."

Xu Xiaohui bit her lower lip and spoke softly.

"Senior Brother Zhou pitied me and helped me repay my debts. I originally thought he was interested in me, but he never touched me, even helping me multiple times instead. I thought... my life, Xu Xiaohui's life, is a wretched one, but I still know that kindness must be repaid."

"But my capabilities are limited. Even though I dedicated myself to the investigation over these past few months, I still found no results. I could only come here and plead with Senior Uncle Xu."

Xu Xiaohui lowered her head, her forehead touching the ground.

A gentle force spread out, stopping her kowtow.

"There's no need for this. I, Xu, once owed Zhou Qingpeng a favor. I will investigate this matter."