Chapter 408: Ink-Riding Whale

Chapter 408: The Ink Rider Whale

"To endure the bitterest of sufferings, to shed tattered rags for purple robes. One day, when fortune arrives, draw the sword to slay the sea's serpent. Do not call me a fool for my daydreams—within moments, I shall ascend to the azure heavens."

The melodic chant echoed through a narrow, elongated underground passage, neither deep nor suffocating, with no trace of dampness or stagnation. Zhao Qingxia strode within, clad in a black short jacket embroidered with a crossed ink compass and saw blade in silver thread at the chest, a red silk sash tied at the waist, his left hand twirling a miniature long sword with an exposed blade, while his right hand clutched a small metallic box. His sharp brows and keen eyes reflected a disciplined demeanor. Singing as he walked, he was alone.

"Cast off tattered garments, bare-chested and bold. March proudly upward—your chancellor accepts his fate. In the eastern corridor, I shall witness how the villain treats me."

Screens resembling scrolls lined both sides of the passage, their messages cascading like a waterfall in endless loops.

"Ming Gui Jing Project: How to cultivate ordinary ink armor into a divine artifact with devouring enhancement capabilities through postnatal methods. Reward: 10,000 divine craft points."

"Feigong Institute Project: What conditions must be met to threaten sequela above the fifth order with gunpowder weapons? Reward: 5,000 divine craft points."

"Jieyong Institute Project: On recycling and utilizing damaged machinery. Reward: 2,000 divine craft points."

"Feiyin Suo Project: How to enhance audio's amplification of genetic activity. Reward: 8,000 divine craft points."

Among these cascading messages, a rare few were marked in vivid red.

"Juzi Tang (Northern Branch) Project: How to detonate or paralyze the Dao Sequence Huangliang Cave and Baiyu Capital within twelve hours. Reward: 100,000 divine craft points."

"Juzi Tang (Western Branch) Project: How to eradicate Buddhist Sequence beliefs in human thought through surgical means. Reward: 50,000 divine craft points."

"The current projects reek of malice. Are they not targeting others' nests or smashing their livelihoods? Are the Three Teachings and Nine Schools preparing to reshuffle once more?"

Zhao Qingxia scanned the screens, muttering now and then. The fingers clutching the miniature sword occasionally jabbed forward; wherever the blade pointed, the swiftly flowing information would abruptly cease.

"Hmm, this project has some merit. Though the points are few, it intersects with my current research."

"Juzi Tang (Eastern Branch) Project: On developing Ink Sequence Rangers into a new martial sequence to enhance close-quarters combat capabilities. Reward: 5,000 divine craft points."

Zhao Qingxia flicked his left hand, and a long sword identical in design to the one in his grip materialized above this message. A single thrust shattered the project, erasing it from the cascading stream.

"Including this one, I now have three projects. I lack the energy to take on more in the short term."

Zhao Qingxia murmured to himself, then quickened his pace, no longer lingering.

Suddenly, the screens on both walls flickered, followed by waves of azure light and a sound like crashing waves. In the blink of an eye, Zhao Qingxia seemed to walk the ocean floor, surrounded by fish and shrimp swimming and playing, pressing close to the walls as they followed his steps.

Zhao Qingxia, unmoved by the spectacle, fixed his gaze ahead. The encircling fish suddenly stirred, sensing danger, scattering in all directions. A colossal creature resembling a whale emerged from afar, its metallic sheen visible as two massive gun barrels, each five feet in diameter, hung beneath its fins. This bizarre and terrifying mechanical being pressed a giant eye to Zhao Qingxia, its fist-sized pupil fixed on the metal box in his hand, its gaping maw filled with densely packed, knife-like teeth.

"Brother Qingxia, what marvel have you unearthed this time?"

"Isn't that a rhetorical question?"

Zhao Qingxia continued walking, irritated: "You're the teacher's prized student—surely you know what's happening in our team?"

"You brat, I'm still your senior brother. Can't you show me some respect? It's just a debt of divine craft points, isn't it? I'll repay it eventually."

"Then repay it already."

"You—"

The mechanical whale erupted in fury, shaking its head and churning the seawater, stirring up clouds of silt. The azure light filling the passage dimmed to a murky haze.

"So you can't repay it?"

Zhao Qingxia remained unmoved: "If you can't repay it, go wherever suits you. I have urgent matters and no time for your idle tales."

"No, Brother Qingxia, the teacher has only two students under him. We're closer than brothers. If you ignore me, I'll suffocate to death eventually."

"Closer than brothers?! What kind of brother would swindle me of six thousand divine craft points the moment I joined? Do you know how long it took me to repay that?"

Zhao Qingxia halted abruptly, pointing angrily at the turbid water beyond the walls: "Three months—I labored for another team for three whole months! There's still a balance unpaid! Mo Qi Jing, you're a direct descendant of the Mo family. Can't you have some decency?"

"Brother Qingxia, don't be angry. You know as well as I do that the Mo name isn't worth much in our sequence. I've got a penchant for eating, drinking, and pleasure, and I've racked up debts outside. If I can't repay them, I have to rely on you."

The turbid flow churned, clearing visibly. The massive whale's belly turned upward, lying supine on the seabed.

"We're family. What's yours is mine, and mine is yours. Being so petty isn't right."

Zhao Qingxia's breath grew heavy, his silence a refusal to engage further.

"By the way, the teacher mentioned you have a visitor? Or someone seeking your help?"

"Brother Qingxia, you shouldn't concern yourself with such people. You're part of Juzi Tang now, destined to be a pivotal figure in the Ink Sequence. Those meddlesome friends are better left alone."

Step.

Zhao Qingxia's lifted foot came down heavily, his figure rooted in place.

Mo Qi Jing continued prattling: "Besides, your character is too naive. You'll be fooled and end up counting their money. How tragic."

"What do you mean?"

Zhao Qingxia lowered his head, obscuring his expression.

"You're clever enough to know what I'm getting at."

The whale's enormous eye turned slightly: "I heard that before joining Juzi Tang, you had a divine-grade ink armor by your side. Though its reputation was tarnished by misconduct, and those stubborn elders at Juzi Tang refused it entry, it was awakened by you from Ming Gui Jing. It belongs to you, and no one can change that."

Zhao Qingxia spoke without hesitation: "Old Ma answers to no one. He is who he is."

"Divine artifacts of the Ming Gui Jing need not rely on Ink Sequence sequela to survive—that's what makes them 'divine,' and their greatest distinction from ordinary Ming Gui Jing."

Mo Qi Jing smiled: "But being special doesn't mean breaking rules. Serving the master is the price they pay for their second coming. If you break this rule, you'll invite no end of trouble."

Zhao Qingxia's breath grew heavier, his silence unbroken.

"If you can't bring yourself to do this, Brother Qingxia, I'll handle it. I'll retrieve that ink armor for you and deal with the lone martial artist who dared swindle you. Consider it repayment for the three thousand divine craft points I owe you."

Mo Qi Jing's tone was eerily calm, as if retrieving the armor and confronting the martial artist were as simple as eating and drinking.

"And that fifth-grade martial arts injector you had the teacher refine—be sure to give me half."

Mo Qi Jing lamented: "Brother Qingxia, I'm strapped for cash lately. My ammunition reserves are nearly depleted. How tragic. You wouldn't want me to resort to headbutting people in the future, would you?"