Chapter 984

Zhao Chi leaned over.

He saw bubbles bubbling up in front of Zhuang Ya.

Looking more closely, he realized it was her finger burning inside the hot spring, heating a small patch of spring water around the finger until it turned directly into boiling water.

Gu Qing and the others watched Zhuang Ya's performance like it was a magic trick, astonished.

So this spiritual-power fire can actually burn underwater?

"Yo~ Lord Zhao Chi, back from the bridal chamber? Have you had breakfast?"

Zhuang Ya smiled gently.

Gu Qing and the others greeted him one after another as well.

Zhao Chi laughed, "I've eaten. Are you putting on a magic show?"

Zhuang Ya shook her head: "I just had a sudden whim to try it, didn't expect it would actually work, but this way it consumes a bit more spiritual power."

Zhao Chi asked curiously, "Don't you feel hot yourself? The water near your fingertip has all boiled."

"The palm is fine, but the arm isn't. Only the part emitting the flame can be immune to its own flame's high temperature."

This ability has no use for now.

But later on it might develop into some new idea.

Zhao Chi said, "Alright, let me tell you something — from now on we can do real combat every day."

Then Zhao Chi told them about the situation in Su Qin's territory.

When they heard there were 400 low-level magical beasts to fight every day, they all showed delighted expressions.

Zhuang Ya in particular was very excited.

She was the newcomer and very much wanted to make some contribution.

Added to that, her talent's effect gave her a hidden urge to kill.

Zhao Chi hadn't expected them to be this happy.

He hadn't taken the initiative to accept a magical beast quota because he didn't want a fixed task every day.

That would be too unfree.

And now with Su Qin, he could just fight at her place, which actually left him much freer.

Besides, 400 magical beasts was a good number — not too many, not too few.

Tang Ruan asked, "My lord, if we have 400 magical beasts to fight every day, doesn't that mean we can level up every day?"

Zhao Chi laughed, "Tang Ruan, you're already level 25, not the ten-something you used to be. The experience needed to gain a level now is many times more than before — it's not easy anymore."

Qi Yue nodded, "Right, when this battle was settled, I got close to 300,000 experience and instantly went up 7 levels. Later, after sleeping, I got an extra 470,000 experience, but only went up 3 levels. Leveling up is getting harder and harder."

Gu Qing laughed, "Although it's 400 magical beasts, we can't kill them all — we definitely have to leave some for Su Qin and the others."

"Oh, right." Tang Ruan nodded.

After all, the magical beasts were Su Qin's. Although for her they were a burden, if Zhao Chi spoke up she would certainly be willing to let him solve all of them.

But that way Su Qin wouldn't be able to gain experience to level up, which also needed to be considered.

Zhao Chi nodded: "Exactly. In principle, we just need to wipe out half. But Tang Ruan, you can help Su Qin and the others tank damage. Qi Yue, pay a bit of attention, don't kill too fast. Gu Qing, you can heal both sides' soldiers — whoever gets hurt, go help them."

The three women nodded together: "Understood."

"What about me?" Zhuang Ya pointed at herself.

"I don't have an intuitive sense of your combat ability yet. In today's battle we'll coordinate around you and see what effect your flames can achieve."

"Alright, watch me burn everything down for you!"

Zhuang Ya clenched her fist. Though she was smiling, there was something cold about it.

But at just past nine, Zhao Chi received a notification:

【I am Zhao Qizu】

【All lords, please come to the meeting room for a meeting. There's a new war.】

War?

Looks like his guess was right!

That Master Mu Chang bringing so many alien lords here was definitely to seize territory.

Right now he had at least two villages under his control, and he certainly had territory elsewhere too.

Now was truly a time of warlords vying for supremacy… no, they don't deserve that phrase. Now was a time of demons running wild — every capable person and family was expanding, especially the alien races.

Frequent wars were also to be expected.

He just didn't know who this opponent would be.

But the other side was certainly powerful.

To deploy 60 alien lords, plus nearly 300-plus lords from the two villages of Xiliu and Nanlin, it was probably the elite force of the Resistance Army.

Zhao Chi set off immediately and arrived at the family communal house meeting room.

Half the lords had already arrived in the meeting room, and everyone was discussing something.

And most wore worried expressions.

After all, it had been less than a week since the last war. Even though most lords hadn't fought desperately last time, there had still been considerable losses.

Added to the daily magical beast quota, they probably hadn't recovered yet.

The happiest person in the entire meeting room was probably Su Qin, who had just walked in.

Though she pressed her lips together, a smile lingered on her face.

Seeing Zhao Chi inside the meeting room, she raised her brows in pleasant surprise and quickly scooted over with a beaming smile.

Then she whispered in his ear: "Hehe, I missed you."

Zhao Chi also said softly, "It's been less than an hour since we parted."

"Then I missed you too."

"Alright, tone down that smile a little—I feel like this is supposed to be a serious meeting."

"Oh, alright."

Su Qin put on a solemn expression, but her eyes were still brimming with a happy smile.

Soon all the other lords had arrived.

The meeting officially began.

Zhao Shizhang stood up, a rare occurrence, his expression grave.

"Zhao Qiye, close the door."

Zhao Qiye, equally solemn, shut the room's door tightly, and even specially called a few people to stand guard outside.

This setup—something's off.

All the lords couldn't help but grow tense.

Zhao Chi also sensed something unusual.

Last night he and Su Qin had come to the clan head's house to hold the ceremony, and at that time all the family's elders were present here.

Back then, although everyone tried hard to smile, a hint of worry still inevitably showed on their faces.

Looks like there's really something going on.

Zhao Shizhang sighed:

"Our application to set out with the trade caravan this time has been approved.

"But half of the supplies were confiscated.

"That Mu Chang says it counts as the contribution fee our family is to give, and he's telling us to fork over another 10,000 gold coins on top of that!

"Damn it, that bastard!"

Zhao Shizhang slammed the table heavily; the lids of the teacups on the table slid off one after another, the sound crisp and clear.

The crowd burst into an uproar.

Zhao Chi was also very surprised.

Before a trade caravan sets out, it needs the approval of the superior lord—Zhao Chi knew this much.

But he hadn't expected that half the goods would actually be confiscated?

Zhao Chi didn't know exactly how much cargo the Zhao family was bringing this time, but he guessed the quantity wouldn't be small.

Besides the Ultra-Bright Fire Oil and the High-Toughness Leather Gauntlets, there were surely plenty of other supplies being carried along as well.

After all, it was trade—impossible to only sell specialty goods.

With so many supplies piled up in Zhao Cang's territory, some of them certainly needed to be sold off and converted into cash.

And the result was that half of it was confiscated outright?