Chapter 407: Cultivating a Fishman Battle Skill

The battle in Cold Wind Valley gradually drew to a close.

From the very start, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps had detected the ambush. By the time hostilities commenced, Zong Ge's overwhelming dominance over the gold level Fighter had already sealed the outcome.

Zong Ge and Zi Di chose not to pursue the gold level Fighter or the silver level magician. Ultimately, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps joined forces to destroy all the alchemy puppets holding back the enemy.

After the battle, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps suffered three deaths and seventeen injuries. Among them, eight sustained minor injuries, while nine were gravely wounded.

The final stretch of Cold Wind Valley, now a battlefield, lay utterly ravaged.

The slopes on either side were bombarded beyond recognition. The narrow exit was nearly buried by collapsed hillsides.

Traces of scorching flames were everywhere. Fragmented remains of alchemy puppets littered the ground, while towering ice pillars over a meter high stood scattered about. Some sealed within them the shattered limbs of puppets, while others froze solid members of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.

These mercenaries had frozen to death, their faces still frozen in the terror of their final moments.

Some alchemy puppets possessed self-destruct capabilities. The instant of their explosion generated powerful cold air, freezing everything nearby.

When the explosions first occurred, Zi Di and Zong Ge were momentarily flustered.

But Zong Ge quickly made the right call, deploying the Small Thunder God Flying Hammer.

It must be said, the Small Thunder God Flying Hammer proved its worth once more, completely countering these ice-exploding alchemy puppets. Its paralyzing attack effect destroyed them prematurely, preventing the ice explosions.

Otherwise, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps' casualties would have risen significantly!

Zi Di led the mercenaries in clearing the battlefield, melting ice blocks, and salvaging as many alchemy puppets as possible.

These puppet fragments held significant value, some even retaining intact cores. More crucially, Zi Di sought clues within them, hoping to trace the trail and uncover the identity of the mysterious enemy.

Zong Ge inspected the battlefield.

He focused on examining the combat traces left by the gold level fighter.

Studying each hammer mark and the deep footprints gouged into the ground, Zong Ge recalled the battle's intensity. His voice grew solemn as he addressed Zi Di: “The enemy deliberately concealed their identity. The gold level fighter I faced did not use his primary weapon.”

“He temporarily wielded a long-handled war hammer, but during the fierce clash, he mostly employed slashing and cutting motions. Thrusting attacks like those were only used in the early stages of our exchange.”

“Based on my assessment, his primary weapon should be a blade, sword, or axe.”

The mysterious gold level fighter, in an effort to conceal his identity, had not unleashed his full strength.

Zi Di's heart sank: “His primary weapon is likely gold level, with distinct characteristics, so he deliberately avoided using it.”

"In their eyes, I'm Yao Ma, a silver level magician. You blocked the gold level fighter's relentless assault and even gained the upper hand by leveraging weapons. They understand that defeating us would demand a heavy price and take considerable time."

“The signal flares Xu Ma and the others launched earlier also cleverly amplified their psychological pressure.”

“Since they wish to conceal their identities, they naturally don't want this fight drawing other onlookers.”

“Therefore, they chose to retreat.”

“What puzzles me is why these two targeted the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps?”

Zong Ge recalled the battle scene: "The gold fighter gritted his teeth, radiating intense hatred and fury. Perhaps their target wasn't the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, but me."

“To be precise, ‘Commander Long Fu’!”

Zi Di grew even more puzzled: "If this hatred isn't feigned but genuine, then these two harboring such intense animosity toward the commander likely have ties to the Bayonet Gang."

“But we've purchased all available intelligence on the Bayonet Gang.”

"It's merely a local gang with minimal connections to forces outside Snow Bird Harbor. Would someone ambush us to avenge Teng Dong Lang?"

"Though Teng Dong Lang died by the commander's hand, it was in a heroic duel. By local custom, seeking vengeance would only tarnish the glory of his valiant death."

"Perhaps enemies drawn by the Bu Quan affair? But that doesn't make sense either. Even if the Alchemy Guild refuses to let go, they should know the terms of our contract with Bu Quan. Killing us isn't a wise strategy to reclaim Bu Quan."

“Perhaps some faction saw our business plan and wanted to crush us to seize the kingdom's mount potion market for themselves?”

"No, our potions aren't distributed nationwide yet. They're only selling well in Snow Bird Harbor. That profit margin shouldn't justify deploying a gold level to ambush us. More crucially, this won't hinder our business plans either."

Zi Di speculated endlessly but couldn't fathom where the enemy came from or why they harbored such intense hatred.

“Regardless, we should leave this place as soon as possible.” Zong Ge withdrew his gaze, which had been scanning the battlefield for clues.

Zi Di's heart sank.

They had no idea how many hidden enemies lurked. If these two had escaped to send word and summon reinforcements, lingering here was even more perilous.

Thus, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps hastened their pace. After leaving the Cold Wind Valley, they rode without pause toward the next town.

Fortunately, the town wasn't far. The closer they got, the more carts and travelers filled the roads.

By evening, the group formally arrived at Blood Kin City.

At the city gate entrance, they underwent inspection by the guards.

The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, dusty and bearing injuries, quickly drew attention.

When Zong Ge presented the identity papers issued by the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord to the guards, someone excitedly asked, “Excuse me, are you Lord Long Fu?”

Zong Ge nodded impassively.

This subtle gesture immediately sparked a chorus of gasps and admiration.

“Lord Long Fu, you're incredible, you slayed a gold level as a silver level!”

“I bought your magic portrait! You wiped out the Bayonet Gang—you're a true hero!”

“How did you manage it?”

“Would you take me as your disciple?”

The crowd at the city gate swelled, the scene growing chaotic.

Even some guards were stirred, casting admiring glances.

After verifying his credentials, the veteran guard promptly returned Zong Ge's ID: "Blood Kin City welcomes you, sir, and your group. But please hurry on."

Zong Ge led his mercenaries swiftly into the city.

Before nightfall, they found lodging at an inn.

The wounded were settled first. Hired priests entered their rooms to cast healing divine magic.

The innkeeper was thrilled. Meeting Zong Ge and Zi Di, he voluntarily waived their lodging and meal fees, declaring it an honor to host the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.

Late into the night, a messenger who had arrived early at Blood Kin City sought a secret audience with Zong Ge and Zi Di.

Sent by Tripleblade via a teleportation formation, he delivered intelligence concerning Lan Zao.

Thus, Zong Ge and Zi Di learned of Lan Zao's current situation.

Zong Ge's tone was flat: "Lan Zao is fortunate to have survived, but from here on out, he must rely on himself. He's merely a bronze level mercenary. I don't hold much hope for him becoming a competent spy."

“Lan Zao didn't die. Commander, are you aware of this? Where are you now?” Zi Di's longing overflowed.

After settling down, she missed the dragonman youngster especially keenly.

Before reaching the next town after leaving Snow Bird Harbor, Zi Di and Zong Ge clashed, their differences escalating sharply.

The ambush battle erupting in Cold Wind Valley temporarily overshadowed their discord. After the fight, neither Zi Di nor Zong Ge tacitly brought up the previous conflict again.

But both knew the truth.

Zi Di, relying on her status and abilities as a magician, sought to seize control.

Yet Zong Ge had his own agenda.

He lacked Zi Di's exceptional diplomatic skills and eloquence, but his decisive actions spoke louder than words.

His actions at the valley exit particularly demonstrated his resolve - if cooperation isn't possible, then I'll act alone!

It was precisely his deliberate exposure that triggered the enemy ambush as they departed Cold Wind Valley.

Zi Di had no choice but to join the fight, effectively accepting Zong Ge's course of action.

“If only the commander were here...” Zi Di sighed inwardly.

This situation gave her a headache.

The disagreement in Cold Wind Valley made her fully realize how vastly different she and Zong Ge were. Their personalities, values, and approaches to action. Both sought dominance, yet neither was willing to yield.

This journey had only just begun.

“Plus, there's that mysterious enemy lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike... sigh.” Zi Di felt helpless and anxious.

Ocean Mother Nest.

Inside the landing bay, the fishman youngster practiced battle skills alone.

He practiced a new battle skill called Swift Swim. When activated, this battle skill amplified the thrust generated by his limbs and fishtail through water, dramatically increasing his swimming speed.

20

The War Merchant's database listed over twenty battle skills named Swift Swim. These battle skills themselves differed little in core mechanics. The one the fishman youngster had chosen was specifically tailored for fishmen.

Battle skills represent methods of wielding battle qi. Each race adapts them according to their unique physical structures.

For instance, the Surge battle skill and Demolition Fist previously used by the dragonman youngster were both tailored for dragonmen.

The Deep Sea Monster Fish only had a meditation room, no combat training area, making it extremely inconvenient for the fishman youngster to practice his battle skills.

Space on the Deep Sea Monster Fish was severely limited, and the situation here was actually worse than it seemed. The survivors had gathered a great deal of treasure from Two Eyes Island, piling it high throughout the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Even the passageways were cluttered, making it difficult to walk.

Fortunately, many of these antiques and treasures were disposed of at Snow Bird Harbor. Some were transferred to other ships, and trading with the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord consumed a significant portion, finally freeing up space.

Even so, the fishman youngster still lacked suitable training space, as most compartments remained too small.

The largest compartment was the landing bay.

Located in the belly of the ship, it possessed both water-filling and drainage capabilities.

When receiving visitors entering the ship from the sea, the landing chamber opened to swallow both the visitors and the seawater.

Afterward, the chamber closed, expelled the seawater, and opened the door to the inner ship's hold, allowing the visitors to enter.

The chamber was actively filled with water mostly when the Deep Sea Monster Fish was submerged. By absorbing vast quantities of seawater, it also increases the vessel's weight.

Since he was practicing the Swift Swim battle skill, the fishman youngster simply flooded the landing compartment halfway, transforming it into a temporary enclosed swimming pool.

He splashed about freely in the water.

At first, his mastery of the Swift Swim battle skill was still rudimentary. Unable to control his speed, he collided painfully with the surrounding metal walls.

Later, he gained much more proficiency, yet the dragonman youngster still found that after activating Swift Swim, his speed fluctuated erratically, too fast or too slow, difficult to control.

After some investigation, he pinpointed the issue: Swift Swim battle skill was incompatible with the Bursting Explosion battle qi.

The Bursting Explosion battle qi cultivated through the Bursting Explosion battle qi technique possessed a signature explosive nature.

When paired with explosive offensive battle skills like the Demolition Fist, they complemented each other perfectly. However, when combined with the Swift Swim battle skill, it often caused the fishman youngster's swimming speed to fluctuate erratically, making it difficult to control.

This was because the Bursting Explosion battle qi itself could not be refined with precision.

“Does this mean I have to switch my battle qi?” The dragonman youngster hesitated inwardly, unable to make this decision for the time being.

He now faced a dilemma.

The Deep Sea Monster Fish was trapped within the Ocean Mother Nest. Considering the worst-case scenario, he might need to battle the saint level sea beast underwater. In such circumstances, the fishman form was far more reliable than the dragonman form, as the latter couldn't breathe freely underwater. The deep ocean floor wasn't the dragonman form's primary battlefield.

But clearly, the fishman form's combat power was nowhere near as strong as the dragonman form's.

Although it came with four innate racial magic covering healing, reconnaissance, attack, and support, its defensive capabilities were drastically reduced, offering the youngster no sense of security.

Moreover, the Demolition Fist, Machine Gun Fist, and Surge battle skills the dragonman youngster had mastered lost much of their potency in fishman form.

The reason was obvious: these battle skills were designed to synergize with the bloodline of the Flame Dragon King, completely incompatible with his current fishman lineage.

The fishman youngster had already undergone a transformation in his battle qi before, shifting from White River battle qi to Bursting Explosion battle qi. He knew this process was quite arduous.

To enhance the combat effectiveness of his fishman form, he wouldn't just need to change his battle qi formula; he'd also have to cultivate corresponding battle skills.

To develop well-rounded combat prowess without glaring weaknesses, relying solely on the Swift Swim battle skill was utterly insufficient. He would need at least three or four battle skills.

This demanded extensive practice from the fishman youngster.

Though he now possessed shortcuts like the Grand Arena Medal for cultivation, he lacked suitable opponents to gain combat experience. Starting from scratch, even with his exceptional warrior talent, it would take considerable time to see results.

The most hesitant point for the fishman youngster was this - he couldn't abandon his dragonman form.

Assuming he escaped the Ocean Mother Nest, his most frequently used form would still be the dragonman form. Therefore, if his battle qi transformed into another type, he would have to convert it back after escaping.

This would be quite troublesome.

Now, the fishman youngster pinned his greatest hope on the reconnaissance results from the alchemy puppets.

Those dual-eared scout puppets had already been deployed one after another.

The fishman youngster had slowly amplified their sonar signals, pushing them to the brink of nearly awakening the saint level sea beast.