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Those who had feared him before… currently feared him even more.

Those who had disregarded him before… were now paying very close attention to him.

The mood in the basin became more stifling. Then, as the night grew deep, rumbling echoed out from the bottom of the mountain as two eighth-level sealizards started climbing up.

Everyone paid close attention to the lizards. However, after they climbed into the basin and shed their skins, no one did anything. They just watched as five of the Sea Ghosts went down to retrieve the skins.

Everyone except for Xu Qing, that is. Opening his eyes, he looked at the two shed skins and then got to his feet.

Everyone looked over.

Ignoring them, Xu Qing simply dropped out of the tree and shot into the basin. Completely disregarding the Sea Ghosts cultivators, he headed toward the nearest lizard skin.

Seeing this, one of the nonhuman Sea Ghosts glared at him grimly. Eyes flashing, he flexed his fingers, causing his fingernails to grow longer until they were like blades. Slashing at Xu Qing, he said, “That’s my lizard skin, friend, so you—”

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Qing reached up, grabbed his arm, and wrenched it forward, while simultaneously jumping up and kneeing him in the chest.

Cracking sounds echoed out as the nonhuman’s chest caved in. Cracks spread out to the rest of his body, and then a boom rang out as he exploded. However, what exploded wasn’t flesh and blood. Instead, it was wood. This nonhuman cultivator wasn’t actually a person, but rather, a puppet!

The other Sea Ghosts seemed to put their guard up as Xu Qing reached over and took the sealizard skin. Then he turned in their direction and looked at them coldly.

Several of the other Sea Ghosts seated cross-legged nearby stood up, looking both fearful and ferocious.

The two parties faced off for a short time.

One of the Sea Ghosts was a burly, bare-chested man whose chest was a mass of wriggling flesh that resembled a vicious face. It looked like a newborn child, wrinkled, but abounding with life force. It had crimson eyes that were currently locked onto Xu Qing as it said, “You broke my toy, friend. But that doesn’t matter. How about... we split the sealizards here fifty-fifty? That’s not too much to ask, is it?”

Xu Qing didn’t respond. He just took the sealizard skin he’d just grabbed, turned around, and went back to the treetop, where he sat down to meditate.

He had a very clear purpose for coming to Sealizard Island, and that was the lizard skins. He hadn’t come to kill people. As long as no one got in his way, there wasn’t any need for fighting. Furthermore, he didn’t see the need to be overly greedy.

Xu Qing knew that acting this way would have benefits. Because of the intimidating Sea Ghosts, the other rogue cultivators wouldn’t cause any trouble. In the end, he would benefit more. He had sufficient battle prowess. But given the life-or-death circumstances, he knew some of these people would have trump cards. Besides, what would be the point of slaughtering them?

In the end, the Sea Ghosts’ proposal aligned with his interests, so he accepted the offer.

Time passed. Three days went by.

During that time, Xu Qing acquired another lizard skin without any incident. He was still suspicious about why the Sea Ghosts had shown up, and why the other cultivators were just sitting around doing nothing.

On the third day, a huge ship appeared out at sea, and its destination was obviously Sealizard Island. At that point, Xu Qing’s suspicions grew even stronger.

The ship was at least 300 meters long and was pitch black. The style of construction did not resemble Seven Blood Eyes dharmaboats; it was shaped somewhat like a maple leaf. What was most curious of all was that anyone who looked at it would feel a chill rising within them, as if there were grues aboard it straight from a forbidden region. The main reason for that was the black lacquer that covered the ship. That dark color wasn’t natural; rather it seemed to be a type of blood that had been spread on the ship, making it seem very gruish!

“The Church of Departure!”

“I can’t believe they’re here too!”

From the ridge of the basin, it was possible to see all the way down to the sea. And therefore, Xu Qing had a good view of the black ship speeding toward the island. He also heard all of the whispered and fearful reactions around him.

The more than one dozen Sea Ghosts had serious expressions on their faces, and were conversing in hushed tones. It seemed they viewed this incoming force as dangerous enemies.

Xu Qing observed through narrowed eyes. He wasn’t unfamiliar with the Church of Departure.

Back in the scavenger basecamp, he’d befriended that young girl whose brother was the captain of a law enforcement team from that church. Eventually, that girl’s brother had come to take her away. [1]

On that occasion outside the general store, Xu Qing had heard the scavengers talking about the Church of Departure. Apparently, most people thought of them as lunatics.

Later, after joining Seven Blood Eyes, he had found more information about the church while browsing through information in the Violent Crimes Division.

The Church of Departure was one of four major powers in South Phoenix. The others were the Violet Lands, Seven Blood Eyes, and Words of Truth.

The Church advocated for following the example of the Ancient Emperors and Imperial Sovereigns in leaving the world of Armageddon. They constantly preached that the holy land the Ancient Emperors and Imperial Sovereigns had left to was a place of beauty, with no famine, frost, or killing. And the spirit power there was pure. They claimed that, one day in the future, that holy land would open its doors to the world of Armageddon, and that everyone who exercised faith in the Church would be able to go there.

The members of the Church of Departure truly believed in their creed. And they viewed anyone who disagreed with their faith as heretics who deserved to be punished with the death penalty.

It was only natural that a church with such fanatical doctrines would be considered full of lunatics.

I wonder how she’s doing, Xu Qing thought as he recalled that little girl and the candy she’d given him. However, he was quickly pulled away from his memories and back to the present as the Church of Departure’s ship got closer and closer. What exactly is going on here on Sealizard Island?

As Xu Qing’s suspicions grew deeper, the old innkeeper from Plankspring Way looked down at the Church of Departure’s ship, and he sighed.

“It’s over. The Sea Ghosts and the Church of Departure are here this time. They’re obviously here for the same reason as me.”

As the innkeeper facepalmed bitterly, the anaconda made a few cooing sounds. The innkeeper looked at the snake for a moment.

“That actually makes sense.”

The innkeeper stood up and headed toward Xu Qing’s tree, with the anaconda following along looking very excited. Of course, not many people know what an excited anaconda looks like, so few people realized it.

The fact that they were moving caused the other surrounding cultivators to look over and see what was happening. That included the Sea Ghosts. That said, the arrival of the Church of Departure was too distracting for them to pay much attention to anything else.

Xu Qing eyed the innkeeper’s throat as he approached. The old man stopped with the anaconda about 30 meters away from the tree.

“Hey, young fella. I want to talk business. Don’t spread out any more poison, alright? And can you clear a path through the poison that’s already here?”

Xu Qing already had an idea why the old innkeeper had come, so he waved his hand as if to dispel the poison in the area.

Seeing that, the innkeeper sighed and stepped into the 30-meter perimeter. Walking up to a point about nine meters from the tree, he quietly said, “Aren’t you curious why the Sea Ghosts and the Church of Departure are here? I won’t waste words. I’ll tell you exactly what’s going on. Based on seasonal calculations, there’s a high likelihood a Foundation Establishment sealizard will appear soon. Lizard skins like that are worth a lot of money. Early Foundation Establishment skins go for 2,000 spirit stones. The mid-level go for 5,000, and the late-level go for at least 10,000.

“I’m old and not as strong as I used to be, so what do you say we work together? Forge an unbreakable alliance! We join forces to get the lizard skins, and we split everything fifty-fifty. And we trust each other to watch each other’s backs!”

The old innkeeper spoke with dignity, but also quickly. After he finished, he looked up at Xu Qing, only for his face to fall. Scrambling to produce a handful of medicinal pills, he consumed them and then started cursing Xu Qing.

“You damn brat! You said you wouldn’t spread out any more poisons, didn’t you??”

After thinking for a moment, Xu Qing said, “I didn’t spread out any more poison. That was left behind from earlier.”

“Flipping... wait, why did you wave your hand a moment ago?”

Xu Qing frowned. “You told me to clear a path through the poison.”

“... did you?” the innkeeper asked, glaring.

“My poisons can’t be cleared away.”

Xu Qing was starting to get a bit irritated. This old man was listed on his bamboo slip, and it was only because of the tenuous circumstances that he wasn’t attacking him.

The innkeeper looked at him for a long moment, speechless, before finally sighing. “Trying to talk with you is impossible. Are you saying that, since you can’t clear your poison, you just waved your hand as an act? To make me feel better?”

Xu Qing stared coldly at the old man, not saying a word.

Veins started to bulge on the innkeeper’s forehead. Meanwhile, the anaconda made a few cooing sounds. Gritting his teeth, the innkeeper consumed another handful of medicinal pills, then looked angrily at Xu Qing.

“Allies. Agreed? Or not?”

“Alright,” Xu Qing replied.

Xu Qing’s quick response caused the innkeeper to sigh. Then, he was about to say some more when the Church of Departure’s ship reached the shore.

At least seven or eight figures shot off of the ship and into the jungle. The light of the moon wasn’t enough to illuminate them completely. However, they all wore black cloaks with hoods that covered their faces. They emanated somber and gory auras, and moved with incredible speed as they shot toward the mountaintop basin.

Looking grim, the old innkeeper said, “The Church of Departure is full of crazy people. You know, there’s a story people tell out at sea. Supposedly, the Church of Departure secretly controls a bunch of islands where they carry out research and experiments on grues. The locations are so secret that no one has ever figured out where they are.”

Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed as he looked in the direction of the incoming members of the Church.

1. The girl was taken away by her brother in chapter 29. ☜