Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
There weren’t any more problems on the way back. However, for the consecutive few days, Zong Shou felt awkward.
The few women looked at him with disdain, such that he had to follow the rules for those few days before the gazes returned to normal.
However a few days later when Xuanyuan Yiren walked out of the “pill room” and found out, she immediately pinched the soft meat by his waist.
She said sadly, “So little Shou likes the young ones. No wonder in Cloud Saint City when I stuck to you you didn’t want me…”
Zong Shou was speechless. This time he wouldn’t be able to wash himself clean even if he jumped into the dragon river. The dragon river was a huge river in The Central continent that was yellow and dirty all year round. When one jumped in one will only get dirtier and won’t be clean.
However, the few of them liked Shi Ruolan. Especially Chuxue who hugged her like a doll everything day to night, unwilling to let go of her.
However that little kid, who knows was it because she was afraid of strangers or because she was introverted, she rarely spoke. When she opened her mouth, her voice made one comfortable.
Out of all of them, only Zhao Yanran’s expression was unusual. Until the fleet was about to reach the cloud ocean spiral ladder was she unable to keep it in as she asked, “You treat this Shi Ruolan differently. You like her but it’s different from between men and women. When you used the illusionary heart mirror your emotional fluctuation was the most intense. I’ve seen her talent, be it martial cultivation or spiritual cultivation it’s just average. How is she unusual such that you put so much emphasis on her?”
Zong Shou smiled and didn’t explain. He took out a beast bone and started to carve.
15 minutes later a weird-looking chessboard appeared in front of them.
Zhao Yanran’s brows raised, following which she said with some comprehension in her mind, “This is military chess? I hadn’t seen this before, was it this chess that day in the illusion?”
“What else can it be?”
Zong Shou shook his head and he took up tens of chess pieces representing different soldier types onto the board. He expressionlessly said, “Let’s have a few rounds!”
The rules were simple, those pieces representing infantry, cavalry, and archers all had speed and damage as well as health. In between each turn, there were a few dices, on it weren’t 1-6 numbers but lines of words. How big the storm, whether it was a heavy rain etc.
Zhao Yanran learned it quickly, but those few rounds all ended in loses. In the end, she said helplessly, “let’s stop, you are just bullying me!”
She suddenly had an idea, “Did that Shi Ruolan beat you in that illusionary heart mirror?”
“Not? Her results were worse than yours. She’s just a little girl. No matter how smart she is, how could she beat me?”
Zong Shou shook his head, following which he waved out to Zong Yuan as Zhao Yanran looked over in doubt.
When Zong Yuan got close, only then did Zong Shou laugh and ask, “If it is you, after losing a few games what will you do?”
Zong Yuan thought about it, pulling out the sword by his waist and smashing the chessboard into pieces.
Zong Shou had predicted it, smiling and asking, “Why?”
“If the ruler is just wasting time for entertainment I am naturally willingly! But if you want to test me…”
As he said that, a cold glimmer shone in his eyes, “Then I won’t follow your rules and won’t want to be limited to the rules.”
Zong Shou laughed out loud in satisfaction, as expected from the unparalleled general he had taught out by his hands!
Zhao Yanran’s eyes changed, “So Shi Ruolan also did this in the illusionary realm?”
Zong Shou slightly nodded, “Before the 1st game was even over and she was going to lose, she directly flipped the board. If it was just that it might seem like she wanted to win and didn’t accept defeat. However, after that my illusionary realm started to collapse. Then I knew she wasn’t focusing the chess game but the rules of the realm. Her spiritual cultivation talent might be even stronger than mine. Her military path talents might not be weaker than Zong Yuan…”
As he heard that Zong Yuan was astonished as he looked at the tiger race girl lying quietly in Chuxue’s arms.
Zhao Yanran was the same, totally stunned.
…spiritual cultivation talent better than Zong Shou, the military path not weaker than Zong Yuan.
She didn’t expect for Zong Shou’s valuation of the kid to be so high. Was he hoping that this girl would be another unparalleled general in the future?
Not asking anymore, Zong Shou suddenly looked into the distance and said, “We have arrived!”
Tens of miles out the black fog finally disappeared. A giant cloud fog whirlpool appeared in front of their eyes.
…
Following the cloud ocean spiral ladder upwards, they didn’t face any problems. This place was close to Psychic Island so no one dared to kill here, or do anything funny.
2 hours later, the entire fleet finally arrived in Psychic Island. All the ships in the fleet or cheered out, their cheers not stopping for a Long time.
A thousand warships, 700 thousand soldiers have all returned with huge rewards.
They had gone for numerous cloud hunts, but this time it was the most dangerous but also the most peaceful.
The people in Psychic Island seemed to have heard the news. When the fleet appeared the entire island started to have a commotion as numerous heads looked towards the pier.
Standing at the front of them was Long Ruo. His expression wasn’t happy or angry, one was unable to see through his thoughts.
Next would be the various businessmen from the sects of the cloud world who were housed in Psychic Island. Their eyes filled with joy and anticipation.
Zong Shou looked around. It wasn’t until he saw the 60-70 broken cloud ships parked not far away did he look back, scoffing coldly in his heart.
It seems like after the ships of the 3 cities escaped they still had huge losses. They rushed back before them, who knows what plans they had installed.
However, when he got off the boat, Long Ruo surprisingly didn’t speak or ask. He just congratulated a few words before looking that Jing Tao Zhenren. The group of them walking away alone.
The people of the sects behind all have Zong Shou a headache. All of them came to purchase the beast corpses and soul stones.
There were a huge number of them and Zong Shou couldn’t anger them. With his casual personality, he could only patiently accompany them.
It wasn’t until night time did he handle most of the stuff and send away most of the people.
He knew that most of these people didn’t lack beast crystals and mind stones. Instead, the complete corpses from the beast tomb were rare resources. Which was why no matter what they said, he didn’t give a discount and instead sold for 50% higher than the market price.
Talking to them was already giving the sect behind them face. In this era, where the spiritual wave was rising, these materials which could raise the strength of sects would be fought and competed for. Such a huge amount might not appear again in the many years following this.
As for whether or not they should purchase, that was their problem.
Until night time, when most of the beast corpses on the 1800 ships, apart from some which Zong Shou kept for his use, most of the rest were sold for a high price.
The number of beast crystals was far from what they expected. In terms of grade 4 beast crystals, there were 30 million. This didn’t include the collection within the 3 heaven and earth-bags of Zong Shou and Xuanyuan Yiren.
He immediately gave out the rewards. The cut for the Subordinate cities was immediately handed out. Gantian Mountain took 55%. In terms of strength given naturally Gantian Mountain and Zong Shou did the most. They were able to chase away the beast flood due to those 800 energy destroying crossbows. Xuan Mountain City got 25% while the other cities split 20%.
However, all the city lords of the Subordinate cities were all smiling widely. The ratio this year was far more than they expected. The amount they got from this trip meant that even if they don’t hunt in tens of years, they would still be able to survive.
Zong Shou shook his head, 30 million grade 4 beast crystals flowing into the market. With the few provinces of land west of Donglin, they wouldn’t be able to digest. It will only cause inflation. These beast crystals would only depreciate, so it was better for him to keep more materials. Even if he wanted to trade it was best to trade item for item.
However, such enormous wealth was no lesser than what he earned the last time in Jiefu City. Naturally, he didn’t dare to carry it along, storing it in the Wujue Villa and Taiyuan Sect banks.
In the end, only that Kongqi Sect’s Qiao Han didn’t leave. 20 days have passed since they last met. His clothes had changed once more. His face red and filled with joy. It was obvious he was promoted to deacon once more.
However this time he acted like he was feeling bitter, “If I knew you bought those energy destroying crossbows to plot against those cities, I wouldn’t have sold those 800 to you.”
Zong Shou didn’t know what he meant. In terms of business, the 3 million grade 4 beast crystal order he gave him just now was already a huge deal with a big discount. The 2 of them didn’t have much to talk about. His face frowning, “Why did deacon Qiao say that? I explained before that it was an accident. I didn’t know that the 4 thousand cloud ships were outside. When I found out it was already too late.”
“As for what the situation was, I know deep down. Our Kongqi Sect has no intention of digging into it!”
Qiao Han shook his head. He knew about Zong Shou’s skills of misleading people. Hee wouldn’t fall for it once more, “do you know your highness? I have been ordered by the sect to move into Gantian Mountain?”
Zong Shou was instantly startled, following which he heard Qiao Han sigh, explaining, “In just a few months your highness caused Gantian Mountain to regain power. After your return this time the west of the Cloud Continent will change. You can make my Sect do that!”
Zong Shou smiled involuntarily. Just as he was about to speak he saw Zong Yuan walk over, “Taoyun City messenger Lin Ji requests to meet.”
His voice was firm and powerful, whilst Zong Shou’s brows furrowed. Yet another familiar one, just 20 days ago he was held hostage by force, how have times changed.
Who knows what was this person’s purpose of coming?