Chapter 79

Will the Shadow Clan produce any new mutants?

That's almost impossible. In the invading group, the appearance of two mutants, and a case of continuous mutation, is already extremely rare. If another one were to emerge in a short period, it would be an unprecedented exception.

What about internal troubles if there are no external threats?

The time spent searching and recovering bodies on the sea surface and in the sea was relaxed, yet always carried a certain heaviness.

But there wasn't much sorrow. Even when encountering the bodies of acquaintances, the experienced practitioners wouldn't be too sad. Dying in battle for training has always been a proud honor, a death well-spent, nothing more.

The normal duration of training is one month, and the cleanup work usually doesn't exceed five days.

This time, the training ended quickly, and the search and recovery of bodies never took more than five days.

Therefore, Hengyi, Xu Wenfeng, and Hei Yue never separated. Chatting while doing this work was better than being alone. Not only them, almost everyone completed the task in pairs, without competing with each other. After all, the rewards weren't worth it for them, each one collecting one body, and another one collecting another.

In the past, there were instances of competition during the body recovery, but those were only when the strongest led the way.

After all, the rewards from such recovery were far less than a tenth of a sub-artifact level. Fighting over them was unnecessary in the eyes of the peak sect disciples, and even more so for the disciples from other planets' divine gates.

Now, the leaders are Xu Wenfeng and Hengyi. If they don't compete, who else would dare to start?

The body recovery work lasted four days, and another day was spent searching repeatedly to ensure no more energy fluctuations from artifact imprints in the designated sea area. The work finally ended.

There might still be artifact imprints that were destroyed and couldn't be found, but those could only be abandoned, considered normal losses, all borne by the peak sect.

But the peak sect, supported by countless divine gates in the peak star system, actually doesn't care much about artifacts below the treasure level. The minor losses are negligible.

After completing the recovery work, the three gathered the bodies, which were covered with anti-corrosion talismans, in the designated place. The bodies of those with certain cultivation levels wouldn't easily decay after death, even if injured, they wouldn't be infected for a long time. The talismans were just a precaution, in case they encountered special turbid qi.

The three said goodbye and returned to their respective teams. After returning, they wouldn't participate in unnecessary battles to avoid claiming credit.

Chen Zizai and Wang Bupa were both in Water Blue City.

Many teams were wiped out during the training, and many people died. In the south, there were many places where there were no traces of the Shadow Clan, and it was common to have two teams assigned to one area.

Hengyi originally thought the cleanup work was over, but when he found Chen Zizai and the others, he was shocked by the situation.

In a vast, flat valley where a large area of trees had been cleared, there were countless Shadow Clans.

Chen Zizai and Wang Bupa were sitting on a hill, chatting idly. Seeing Hengyi return, they all smiled and invited him to sit down.

Hengyi, full of questions, observed the valley and found many adult Shadow Clans, all with talismans on their bodies. These adult Shadow Clans were all female, and their abdomens clearly showed they were pregnant.

"What's going on?"

Hengyi looked at the familiar faces in confusion, and Hai Shan chuckled, "I said Hengyi would be confused!"

Wang Bupa laughed heartily, not expecting Hengyi to be so puzzled.

Hu Baijie, unable to bear seeing him confused, was about to explain but stopped when she saw Chen Zizai's face.

Chen Zizai smiled, "Don't you understand? The training period is still early, and to avoid wasting time, there's an unwritten rule. After eliminating the threat of the invading race, they use talismans to restrict the true qi flow of adult female Shadow Clans, keeping them to continuously breed. The offspring are killed in batches before they grow up, until the training period ends and they are all killed. This is a way to accumulate merit. Didn't you understand?"

Wang Bupa added, "The merit gained from this method is very little, the seed planet's array calculates it very low, but it's better than nothing. Everyone hopes to gain more by the end of the training, as opportunities are rare, and the next one is unknown. Don't worry, there are rules for accumulating training merit. No one can exceed the merit accumulated from fierce battles, and in fact, they can't. The seed planet's array itself won't let anyone gain more merit through this method than through battles. At a certain point, the array won't grant merit to certain people, following a calculation method we don't know."

Hengyi felt an indescribable strangeness, a discomfort in his heart. It wasn't sympathy for the Shadow Clans, nor did he think there was anything wrong with the method, but it just felt strange, hard to watch, and even hearing about it made him feel uncomfortable.

But Chen Zizai found it natural, Wang Bupa found it natural, Hu Baijie, Hai Yuntian, Hai Shan, and Wang Bupa's two junior brothers all found it natural.

'Is there something wrong with me?' Hengyi couldn't figure it out. He couldn't bear to watch and stood up, saying, "I'll take a walk."

"Don't go to other battle zones, that would share others' merit," Chen Zizai kindly reminded him. Hengyi nodded and walked away alone.

Hu Baijie wanted to follow him, noticing his strange mood, but she didn't dare to because of Chen Zizai.

Chen Zizai had said she had a path to live and a path to die. He didn't finish then and hasn't mentioned it since.

But Hu Baijie isn't stupid; she has a vague idea of what the path to live is...

These days, she has been thinking, waiting for Chen Zizai to clarify.

Hengyi, troubled and puzzled, walked alone to the beach, and his mood improved slightly as he gazed at the vast ocean.

If it were usual, he would discuss his doubts with Hu Baijie or Chen Zizai, but from their expressions, he knew they couldn't help him with this.

He wanted to find Xu Wenfeng, but Chen Zizai had warned him not to go to other people's battle zones to claim merit, which he didn't take seriously, but others did.

The sunset's glow burned the sea red.

The beautiful scenery slightly relaxed Hengyi's furrowed brows.

In the sunset, a black dot suddenly appeared.

The black dot grew larger—

In no time, Hengyi recognized it was Hei Yue.

Seeing a familiar face during his gloomy time, Hengyi couldn't help but smile.

"Why did you come?"

"I was feeling lonely, so I came to chat with you. Let's go to that island, so we don't share your teammates' merit. That island is in the gap between battle zones, it won't bother anyone."

Hengyi happily agreed and followed Hei Yue into the air.

In the wind, Hei Yue turned back and saw Hengyi's bright, round eyes under the sunset's glow, his thin face framed by fine black hair, and his robe clinging to his chest, revealing the high, full curves.

Though not as large as Hu Baijie's, Hengyi found them perfectly proportioned, attractively prominent, and his legs seemed even longer and more beautiful than a goddess's.

'They didn't seem this long or this large before...' Hengyi felt confused, but he knew thinking too much about such things wasn't good. Xu Wenfeng had said appreciating the beauty of the opposite sex was fine, but excessive lust was despicable.

Landing on a small island, no more than fifty zhang in diameter, Hei Yue sighed in relief, placed her hands on the sand, stretched her legs, and smiled as she watched the sunset sink into the horizon.

"Your mood isn't good?"

Hengyi sat with one leg bent and the other straight, grabbing a handful of sand and watching it slip through his fingers, feeling a strange novelty.

The first time he saw sand was with Hei Yue, and he didn't have the chance to appreciate it then. Now, he found it exceptionally beautiful and magical.

Each grain was so tiny, but together they formed a continuous beach.

Wasn't this similar to the united strength of the training group in battle?

United, they formed a scene; divided, they were dust.

"I can't explain why, but I feel uncomfortable about the merit accumulation."

The sunset's glow gradually dimmed, casting a dark red glow on Hei Yue.

She maintained her posture, gazing at the horizon, and smiled, "Do you sympathize with the Shadow Clans?"

"I don't think so," Hengyi shook his head. "I suddenly thought of my junior sister. She would always feed the pigs, cows, and sheep before killing them, saying, 'I'm sorry, I have to kill you for food. But there's no other way. We raise you for food, and without eating, we would starve. But we've raised you for a long time, and you've experienced a comfortable life. It's not too unfair... Who can help it that we need to eat to survive? Really, there's no other way. Don't be a pig, cow, or sheep in your next life, it's too pitiful...'"

Hei Yue listened quietly until Hengyi fell silent, just repeatedly grabbing and letting the sand slip through his fingers.

Based on the memories and knowledge of this body, Hei Yue quickly judged. She didn't have human emotions, but her wisdom and the body's memory of emotions allowed her to understand and express appropriate emotions.

"Killing for survival is a necessity to protect oneself and one's kind. The merit accumulation through killing feels like unnecessary cruelty to you."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his previously unclear emotions became clear...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it! You're right, Hei Yue, you understand so much! I couldn't figure it out, but you understood right away!"

Hei Yue smiled.

"Actually, you didn't understand. To gain merit, isn't it also a need for survival? A need for better survival."

Hengyi listened and thought, and his emotions became clearer...

"Yes, that's it!