King of Creation Chapter 1660: 1645: The Strange Behavior of the Blue-scaled Dragon King

Across the boundless Ten Thousand Worlds, the Five Immortals Hall controls a vast array of mines in countless small worlds, most proving exceedingly tough to excavate.

Even survival poses a massive challenge for ordinary folk in these mines, let alone the act of mining itself; it demands martial artists who have attained a solid level of cultivation.

Generally speaking, no martial artist volunteers for such backbreaking toil, so the Five Immortals Hall relies on prisoner-of-war captives or slaves acquired from diverse realms to fill its ranks of martial artist miners.

Beyond those, some are internal members of the Five Immortals Hall punished for breaking hall regulations.

Laboring in the small world mines for merely five or ten years can already stretch endurance to its limits.

Yet a full hundred years? That spells pure horror.

Among all the prisoner-of-war miners bought by the Five Immortals Hall to date, fewer than one in ten manage to last over a century in those depths.

The issue isn't harsh treatment from the Five Immortals Hall; those mines force martial artists to burn spiritual power nonstop just to pry out the ores, offering barely any moments to meditate and restore it.

As time drags on, their spiritual power dwindles relentlessly, while cultivation levels erode bit by bit.

Even with the occasional low-grade spirit stones supplied by the Five Immortals Hall for replenishment, long-term prospects leave them thoroughly broken.

In essence, Mountain God Yi Xun's verdict means that even if Shopkeeper Zong Qi survives a hundred years, he'll be completely finished.

Not to mention actually enduring a century buried in those mines.

Zong Qi panicked instantly, collapsing to his knees and kowtowing frantically before Mountain God Yi Xun, pleading desperately for mercy.

Yi Xun completely ignored Zong Qi's pleas; squandering the hard work at Tianyun Hall counted as a major transgression, and showing leniency would seem bizarre.

“Lord Di, are you pleased with this old man's handling of the matter?” Mountain God Yi Xun asked Ye Zhen.

At those words, Zong Qi sank into utter despair.

Damn it, punished to near-death and total ruin like this, and they're still checking if Di Kuohai approves.

If Di Kuohai isn't satisfied, won't he end up carved to pieces?

What exalted position does this Di Kuohai occupy in the Five Immortals Hall?

Merely an Arena King shouldn't command such deference from a powerhouse like Mountain God Yi Xun.

Zong Qi remained ignorant of Ye Zhen's standing in the Five Immortals Hall, but in that instant, bitter regret consumed him deeply.

Given a do-over, he'd lounge idly, sip tea while flirting with a girl—achievements be damned, his life mattered more.

Ye Zhen had no desire to meddle in Zong Qi's punishment, yet Yi Xun's resolution pleased him, prompting a nod of approval.

“As long as Lord Di is satisfied. Then, what requirements does Lord Di have for the next shopkeeper of the Five Immortals Hall’s branch?” Yi Xun inquired.

Yi Xun felt genuine fear, having nearly triggered utter catastrophe.

“Requirements? None; just appoint a fitting shopkeeper…”

Mid-sentence, Ye Zhen cut himself short, his eyes shifting to Zong Qi.

Based on Liao Feibai’s account, this man truly possessed talent and skill, even if his power grab proved overly impulsive.

Circumstances justified it somewhat; Ye Zhen trusted that this ordeal and warning would deter Zong Qi from ever coveting control of Dulong Island's Market again.

Besides, one with flaws is often easier to harness than the untainted.

Ye Zhen viewed the humbled Zong Qi before him as the perfect fit.

Bringing in a fresh appointee from Yi Xun, even under strict orders, risked unforeseen troubles.

Ye Zhen simply shared his view, and Zong Qi, clinging to this lifeline in desperation, kowtowed wildly toward the seated Mountain God Yi Xun and Ye Zhen.

“Grand Deacon, I beg you, grant me a chance to atone! This time, I'll strictly obey and cooperate fully with the Sky Wing Trading Company…”

With Mountain God Yi Xun’s keen insight, he grasped Ye Zhen’s intention at once.

Reconsidering, letting the sharply chastised Zong Qi redeem himself promised greater security.

After this trial, barring insanity, Zong Qi would never err similarly again.

“Very well, since Lord Di speaks for you, you may redeem yourself this once. But mark my words: stray once more, and the punishment will be ruthless!” Mountain God Yi Xun declared sternly.

Zong Qi, evading disaster yet again, brimmed with near-tearful ecstasy, overwhelmed by gratitude and reverence for Ye Zhen.

Even with Zong Qi staying on as shopkeeper, it's impossible to ignore that several aspects of the partnership between Five Immortals Hall and Sky Wing Trading Company still lack clear definitions.

Even Shopkeeper Zong Qi hesitates to decide on certain issues himself.

Take the matter of patrol command, for instance.

Right now, the elite patrol members mostly hail from Five Immortals Hall, even though the patrol commander comes from Sky Wing Trading Company.

This creates a clear problem with the command hierarchy.

After talks with Mountain God Yi Xun, they agreed that every expert from Five Immortals Hall would fall under the patrol commander's authority.

At the same time, they set up a deputy commander role, which Shopkeeper Zong Qi from the Five Immortals Hall branch would appoint, to better direct the hall's specialists.

Likewise, while protecting the Market of Dulong Island, patrols from Five Immortals Hall must obey Liao Feibai and his group without any conditions.

Beyond that, they hashed out plenty of other partnership details too.

Mountain God Yi Xun proactively yielded in various areas, but this fell right within Ye Zhen's anticipations.

Mountain God Yi Xun clearly wanted to grant favors to Ye Zhen.

Still, no matter how much Ye Zhen puzzled over it, he couldn't grasp Mountain God Yi Xun's motives.

That said, the many partnership specifics handled directly by Mountain God Yi Xun established a firm groundwork for the Five Immortals Hall branch's teamwork with Sky Wing Trading Company at the Market of Dulong Island.

Three days passed, and as Mountain God Yi Xun departed, Liao Feibai also parted from Ye Zhen with great reluctance.

Less than twenty days remained before Ye Zhen needed to report for duty in Luoyi, forcing him to embark on his travels.

Yet prior to his departure, Ye Zhen stationed the Soul General Black Wolf—retrieved from the Ancient Demon God Temple—at the Market of Dulong Island.

The formidable battle prowess of Soul General Black Wolf would help alleviate Sky Wing Trading Company's lack of top experts at the Market of Dulong Island.

After a day and a half, Ye Zhen reached Xiansheng Water Mansion, where the Sky Wing Three Saints, having been notified ahead, awaited him with keen anticipation.

Much to Ye Zhen's astonishment, the Sky Wing Three Saints' cultivation levels far surpassed his previous estimations.

Even so, Ye Zhen's primary focus right now centered on the Blue-scaled Dragon King and the territory under Blue-scaled Dragon Palace's control, given the immense danger the Blue-scaled Dragon King represented.

Fourth Brother, following your instructions, we've pulled out all stops to collect intel on the Blue-scaled Dragon Palace's activities and the Blue-scaled Dragon King's location.

We managed to secure a ton of information, yet the circumstances appear rather odd!