Chapter 1529

King Darhan fell silent, King Red Scale flicked his tail quietly, King White Elephant retreated and left————

The Martial Saints and Demon Kings collided with Liang Qu one after another, each handing over mermaid tears in turn.

Liang Qu seemed to be seeking out people and beasts one by one to collect rent.

No one resisted, no demon beast said no, every single one was an honest tenant, no arrears, no credit, no offsetting debts.

"Rigged! Damn it, it's rigged!"

"Why did everyone he ran into surrender without a fight, swindling my money!"

"Fuck your mother, refund the money."

The river breeze blew, at mealtime, servants kept coming upstairs, carrying meal boxes to deliver food.

Even more people tilted their heads up, motionless, eyes unblinking.

On the large canvas, he shook out the bag's harvest, Liang Qu tied the rope and hung it back at his waist, the palm-sized little bag already bulging full, triggering cheers.

The super-rich all bought tickets to watch at the East Sea venue; those able to come watch at Yixing Yichun Tower were mostly petty rich who coveted convenience and lack of crowds, had some money, limited experience, yet had a bit of spare change for entertainment.

Below Yichun Tower, private gambling dens erupted in uproar.

"This, a rigged game has nothing to do with us." The gambling den boss spread his hands, "This isn't a den run by an immortal, can I control whether Martial Saints fight or not, win or lose?"

"I don't care! Pay up, or I'll wreck this lousy stall of yours!"

"Let's see who dares! Think I'm made of mud."

"Shunzi, Xiao Kui, why did all those people run away when they bumped into Ashui." Adi listened to the clamor with a headache, but also had a belly full of questions, grabbing Chen Kui.

"Ma, you think there's a possibility, I'm saying a possibility." Chen Kui and Chen Shun exchanged a glance, explaining, "Originally none of these people could beat Water Brother, the kind with zero chance of winning, so upon meeting him they directly surrendered, better than getting injured."

"Can't beat him?" Chen Qingjiang, sitting down with a meal box, was greatly shocked, "That Big-Eared King couldn't beat him either? Doesn't he have something like eleven whatevers? Can't beat Ashui?"

Chen Kui scratched his temple: "Eleventh rank, right? We're not too clear either, mostly hearsay, occasionally heard instructors mention it, Martial Saints seem to have thirteen ranks total, each rank higher than the last, each rank more formidable, by the thirteenth rank a person can nurture a treasure, ordinary people can only nurture one treasure, once the treasure matures they can ascend to heaven and become immortals, Water Brother has already nurtured three, you think this gap isn't huge?"

"Thirteen is one, then isn't Ashui thirty-nine?"

"If you put it that way, Ma, nothing wrong with it."

Chen Kui felt explaining from the start was too much trouble, and Ma might not understand even after, so he just left it vague.

Chen Qingjiang scratched his head: "Ashui's only been a Wu Sheng for five years, right?"

"Water Brother became a Wu Sheng at twenty-seven, people differ from people, he's not the same."

"Good grief, no wonder they ran!" Chen Renxing widened his eyes.

"Then that's good." Chen Qingjiang finally relaxed, flipped open the food box, "Come come come, eat eat eat."

"What dishes what dishes?"

"Bamboo shoots fried with cured meat, Chinese toon fried with eggs, steamed fish, steamed eggs————all the ones you two love————"

March 1st.

"Holy shit, is that guy Liang Qu? Rotten luck, no no, dodge first."

The Ironhead Fish King watched the "River Stone" charging straight at him from afar, hurriedly moved to the side, and without looking back walked west.

It had already observed that "River Stone" for a long time, meeting with other "River Stones" three times total, all three times it proceeded according to its original plan while the other "River Stones" changed direction and fled far away.

This originally proved nothing, but the three encounters happened to coincide with the times of reporting the top-ranking mermaid tear growth!

The Ironhead Fish King had eighty percent certainty that the guy darting everywhere was Liang Qu!

Can't afford the bet, don't dare gamble.

Slip away, calculate the odds.

Hurry up and find the Flood Dragon King first.

"Was I discovered?"

Liang Qu pondered, continuing to glance at the "River Stone" fleeing in a panic.

He didn't know who the other party was, merely guessing his identity might have been exposed, or that others realized this was a considerably powerful "River Stone".

Initial-stage Martial Saints like the Yue King, the Old Monk, often avoided other "River Stones".

Conversely, those with more straightforward routes were mostly high-stage or even peak Flood Dragons; likewise, straightforward routes, and meeting a few similarly straightforward ones yet still maintaining course, that was very suspicious.

Didn't pursue.

Pursuing would end the competition early, might cause many Flood Dragons to directly choose to withdraw, unfavorable to the plan.

In just three days, the mermaid tears in his hand had already exceeded eighty, leaving everyone in the dust.

Liang Qu sat cross-legged.

Two quarter-hours later.

A "River Stone" slowly approached.

At the edge of vision, a white dragon wound sinuously, its horns cleaving the water, exceptionally beautiful.

The Huaijiang Long Gong was in great uproar.

"Huaijiang King's Consort, Huaijiang King's Consort!"

A crowd of dragon people were excited, shouting loudly.

Long Yanrui swayed two strands of waterweed and howled at the sky.

"Hey!" Liang Qu grinned, rising to greet her, "How'd you guess it was me?"

The white dragon shifted, Long Eying smiled: "Ramming everywhere, no taboos, looks like you, feels like you, so I came over to take a look."

Liang Qu gave a thumbs up: "That's called hearts connected as one!"

Long Eying also sat cross-legged.

Waited a long while more.

"Ge Zu!"

Ge Zu flicked his whisk: "Huaijiang King!"

The beast arena erupted in an uproar.

"Bad news, how can this fight go on? Ge Zu and the Huai King have run into each other!"

"It's over, it's over."

"Are we setting out?" Long Eying asked.

"No, wait a bit longer. The optimal team size is five to six people; we only have three right now. Here they come!" Liang Qu craned his neck.

Slowly, another "River Stone" drew near.

The newcomer was not the Old Monk, the Yue King, or the Su King — those especially familiar Yao Dragons — but rather —

Liang Qu's eyes lit up: "The Chong King!"

Seeing Liang Qu, the Chong King was full of surprise and delight: "Is it truly the Huai King?"

"Long time no see, Chong King. Didn't expect we'd run into each other here!"

Liang Qu was overjoyed.

The Chong King wasn't acquainted from youth like the Old Monk or the Yue King, but he was an old acquaintance all the same.

Once at the Pan Dong Great Manifestation, once at the Ku Gu Great Manifestation. Time and again, the Chong King played a full vanguard role on the Southern Border battlefield, creating an excellent window of opportunity for him.

It was just a pity that later on, high-end matches increased more and more, and the Chong King could no longer keep up with the team's level.

"It has been some time. I still remember the scene of fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Huai King back then. In the blink of an eye, I've fallen behind instead, unable to help with much." The Chong King sighed with emotion.

"Right now the Chong King can help again. My team is missing exactly someone like the Chong King!"

"Oh? How so?"

"Just right. Let me calculate; it should be about time." Liang Qu set down his wooden staff and watched the staff's shadow.

"What time?"

"Wild monster spawn."

At the same time.

Yun Bo was likewise watching the time.

Noon.

The sun wheeled to the highest point of the day.

The candle flame burned through the cotton thread, the copper ball fell to the ground, striking the tray with a clang-clang sound.

"Most of the time, Yao Dragons are unwilling to engage in head-on conflict, so the Great Hunt will likely fall into a rather boring situation.

To avoid this, every three days a supply drop occurs," and simultaneously a batch of wild monsters refreshes; defeating wild monsters yields a certain amount of Twenty Jiaoren tears.

Counting the time, today at noon is the moment of the first supply drop."

Just as Liang Qu's words fell, the horizon blazed with brilliant light.

In the sky sea, on the ground sea, in the firmament, pillars rose one after another, marking prominent positions!

Within the light pillars, treasure chests could be faintly seen.

Liang Qu raised his hand in a beckon, and the Chong King and the others immediately followed.

"Inside these pillars are many artifacts that help capture flying Twenty Jiaoren tears. Once used, within a certain range they can make the tears slow down, pause, or even serve special purposes. Likewise, there are quite a few weapons that can target wild monsters.

And the wild monsters' strength is based on the strongest expert's power fluctuations within a three-hundred-li radius."

The Chong King understood instantly: "So, I enter the three-hundred-li radius and become the strongest, while the Huai King stays outside three hundred li and snipes from afar? Just like we did back then?"

"Exactly, just like back then. At the same time, we'll also snatch a wave of supplies."

In the beast arena, the Tusi's face darkened, and the Holy Emperor coughed awkwardly.

With the appearance of the light pillars, all "River Stones" began to riot, rushing toward the pillars' drop points to compete for resources.

The originally dozing Martial Hall disciples hurriedly woke their drowsy classmates from their noon rest.

"Quick, quick, quick! The big one is coming, the big one is coming!"

"Holy cow, three days and finally some big scene? Thought it'd be spectacular, get to see the Huai King rampage, but it's all cowardly lizards. First three days all spent fishing for Twenty Jiaoren tears, not even as good as the Huangzhou Great Hunt."

"Still thought it'd be exciting, could watch the Huai King kill in all directions, result is all battle-shy lizards, first three days all fishing for Twenty Jiaoren tears, not even as good as the Huangzhou Great Hunt."

In the beast arena, everyone's spirits lifted, sitting up straight.

The curtain's small window; all sides thundered with activity, the picture switching nonstop.

Liang Qu, leading Ge Zu, Long Eying, and the Chong King, raced forward, nearly running head-on into another group of "River Stones."

The leading Yao King bore down with menacing momentum, ready to snatch food from the tiger's mouth, but when the two sides closed to three thousand li, the leading Yao King suddenly slammed on the brakes, reversed direction, and fled without looking back.

"Boss, what's wrong? Afraid of what? We've got six Yao on our side, the advantage is ours."

"Idiot, the Huai King is over there!"

"Holy crap, run!"

"Oh!"

Jin Guang crisscrossed, grazing a fish fin; the panic-fleeing Yao King instantly froze in place.

Liang Qu turned his head: "Chong King, how many Twenty Jiaoren tears have you harvested in these three days?"

The Chong King was a bit embarrassed, producing a small pouch from his waist: "Don't dare compare with the Huai King, only twelve."

"Taking you for a fast haul. Chong King, go collect the spoils — leave one tear per beast is enough." Liang Qu took down the wooden box.

"Just take them directly?"

"Of course. What, does the Chong King still expect them to treat us to a meal?"

Liang Qu spoke while prying open the wooden box, rummaging through the items inside: a fishing net, a fish spear, a bottle of special potion.

"Gulp!"

Adam's apple bobbing, swallowing saliva, the Chong King looked at the six Yao Kings crowded together opposite, half of them with auras stronger than his own. He felt a bit worried, but then thought of Liang Qu's prestige and still approached, waving for the six Yao Kings to hand over their Twenty Jiaoren tears.

Afterward, like dogs meeting a fierce tiger, they stiffened on the spot; the six Yao Kings meekly handed them over one by one.

One hundred and fourteen mermaid tears.

Chong Wang felt the weight in his hand and was greatly shaken.

"So simple?"

In the beast arena, the million citizens of Wanwan County were also greatly shaken.

Chen Qingjiang was puzzled: "As soon as they touch Ashui, why do they all act like they've been hit with a body-freezing technique?"

"Right, it's just that simple, just like collecting rent!" Liang Qu patted Chong Wang's shoulder, raised his hand in a beckon, "Come, Chong Wang, let's go catch fish."

The scene changed rapidly.

In the cave where the massive white fish dwelled, its pectoral fins swayed unconsciously; in a trance it truly seemed like a living creature.

Liang Qu beckoned, everyone retreated, leaving only Chong Wang behind.

Chong Wang gazed at the transparent ripples undulating on the white fish's body, the intangible pressure; he swallowed a mouthful of saliva. He always felt that if he went up against it, this fish could kill him with a single tail swipe. But soon, the ripples on the white fish vanished without a trace.

Huai Wang has withdrawn three hundred li away?

Chong Wang found it hard to believe. He was already a sixth-rank Wu Sheng; this white fish was slightly above him. For Huai Wang to need to keep a distance of three hundred li————

"About enough."

Liang Qu gazed into the distance, raised his hand and grasped; a deep blue water spear materialized out of thin air.

Upper arm extended, he stepped forward, and threw!

On the screen, the water spear suddenly vanished, followed by a shift in perspective, the view pulling infinitely far; calm winds, still waves, glittering light on the water.

The audience saw nothing, until in the distance white light crisscrossed, booming skyward!

Boom!

The earth trembled.

Deafening, a howling torrent suddenly flung Chong Wang into the air; dizzy and disoriented, his ears buzzing, he could hear nothing, see nothing.

"Whoa whoa, what's going on, what's going on, what was that commotion?"

Ironhead Fish King started in fright, turning back in panic.

Half a moment later.

Dizzy vision refocused.

The screen matched up with the footage.

Twenty mermaid tears floated in midair.

Long Eying scooped them up in one grab, stuffing them into her pocket.

Chong Wang's mouth gaped open.

"Come, Chong Wang, next one!" Liang Qu waved from afar.

All audience members stared wide-eyed; at this moment the scene switched, Eight-Claw King extended its eight claws, entwining the Great Peng.

"Brothers, charge!"

Whale King waved a fin, leading the assembled little brothers and wild monsters into a melee.

Dragon versus tiger struggle!

Sky dark, earth dim!

My own heroic bearing will surely be seen by all the demons under heaven!

Whale King gloated secretly.

"Next one."

"Switch to another."

"Keep going."

Liang Qu's mermaid tear count began to leave all others in the dust.

Three hundred, three hundred twenty, three hundred forty————

The Jianghuai Long Gong cheered continuously; Great Shun citizens cheered and leaped for joy.

At the moment supplies were dropped, it was as if the Grand Hunt truly kicked off; the atmosphere was heated, emotions rising rapidly. In every gambling house, gold, silver, and copper coins flowed like a flood.

At the same time, two more rankings shot up rapidly, breaking into the top hundred, even the top twenty! And they were not Yinglong; they were distinctly out of place.

"Heave-ho, heave-ho, heave-ho."

Old Toad held a fish spear, a yellow skin bag at his waist; he leaped with a flutter and intercepted mermaid tears on the spot.

Wu Cangshou led Su Guishan: "Left, right, left, reach out!"

"Snap!" Su Guishan raised his hand and caught it.

"Quick quick quick!" Wu Cangshou waved a claw, "Go go go, we shouldn't stay here long."

March 2nd.

Wild monsters exploded; Chong Wang excitedly tallied mermaid tears, when suddenly white mist reappeared, the view shifted, and everyone's positions were scrambled once again.

Chong Wang lost his smile, groped around for a while, and figured out the situation anew.

Just gathered together for a day, all "River Stones" once again turned into unknown status.

Bad, lost track of Huai Wang!

Watching Long Eying and Ge Zu vanish without a trace, Liang Qu blanked slightly.

This exceeded his understanding; logically there should only be one initial scramble?

March 4th.

Liang Qu clutched his bag; the mermaid tear count had firmly broken through to one thousand.

White light appeared again.

Supplies dropped once more, wild monsters refreshed, "River Stones" swarmed again.

"Strange, not a single movement or sound?"

Liang Qu secretly wondered.

He had felt nothing abnormal so far, nor noticed anything unusual about the other young dragons, nor encountered any significant difficulty—it felt like playing a cracked version of a game.

"Could it really be just an ordinary Grand Hunt?"

As the Grand Hunt progressed, various struggles and competitions gradually intensified, especially when supplies were dropped, destroying the initial tranquility and harmony, becoming increasingly exciting instead.

With the potions in the supplies splashing about, the flying mermaid tears visibly slowed down.

One can imagine that as free mermaid tears dwindle, competition will inevitably return completely to person versus person.

Victory goes to the king, defeat to the bandit.

The mermaid tears of the top hundred young dragons increasingly concentrated upward, and many lower-realm young dragons chose to withdraw promptly, preserving their points.

Setting aside Liang Qu's unshakable first place, the remaining rankings were undoubtedly tense and thrilling, with the spectators in the beast-fighting arena wishing they could live twelve hours a day in the stands.

The disciples and students of Huayin Martial Hall rarely got a long vacation.

At night, the disciples were driven back to their dorms to sleep.

Li Libo took a deep breath, feeling genuinely exhausted from managing these brats, and collapsed onto the bed.

Midnight.

Li Libo suddenly woke up, drenched in cold sweat, as if fished out of water, he gasped heavily, glanced at the purple light outside the window, covered his dizzy head, threw off the covers, got up to wash up, only to collide head-on with Chen Jiechang, who was also heading out.

"Jiechang?"

"Did you have a nightmare?"*2

Both were startled.

Li Libo scratched his head: "What did you dream about?"

"A river of blood."

"Hiss, what's going on?"

Chen Jiechang exclaimed: "You too?"

"Strange, how could we have the same dream? No wonder it's so ominous."

"Get lost!"

The two teased each other.

March 7.

The East Sea white mist reappeared, Bai Guang flashed again, and everyone's order was disrupted for the third time.

"Ah!!! This is mine! I found it, damn it!"

"Hahaha, survival of the fittest—who told you to bump into me? Hand it over!"

"Ouch!" The Third Prince tumbled out, fell to the ground, cursing, "You're finished! Do you know who I am?"

"Hmph, I'm finished? A minor great demon, dare to spout such nonsense!" The Great Peng snorted coldly.

"Good, you wait for me!"

The Great Peng coldly laughed: "I'm right here waiting—what can you do to me?"

"Ah!!!" The Third Prince, furious from embarrassment, "This is you forcing me!"

Spiritual link, position report!

"Hahaha! What can you do to me?" The Great Peng mercilessly mocked.

Swish.

Shadow enveloped.

The Great Peng's movement stalled, following the light and shadow direction, he lifted his head upward, feathers exploding.

"Huai, Huai King!?"

Inside the beast-fighting arena, there was a scene of laughter, loud cheers, and inside and out filled with a joyful atmosphere.

The Holy Emperor likewise couldn't help but smile.

Liang Qu's nearby water beasts, each one a lively character.

Suddenly, the Chief Manager hurried forward, whispering in his ear.

At the same moment, the tribal leaders and khans all received reports from their subordinates, the three of them furrowing their brows.

"Blood river dream?"

"What happened?"

White clouds enveloped.

The Holy Emperor, tribal leaders, and khans immediately rose.

"Whale King!"

>