Chapter 805 - 800: Mei Xi
"I’m joining." Before Bai Pu could finish speaking, the Black Shark Queen placed her right hand on her chest, bent down, and made a gesture of submission to Bai Pu.
"Good." Bai Pu stood up with a smile, "I promise, you’ll see them die right before your eyes, one after the other."
The Black Shark Queen’s enlistment was actually expected by Bai Pu.
Her clan was massacred, and the Black Shark Queen’s sense of justice shattered; now her greatest motivation to continue living is revenge!
The only person she can trust is Bai Pu.
After all, the corpses of Rob and Blood Weave prove the strength of Bai Pu’s team.
—Of course, Blood Weave’s body was consumed by the Shield, but it was a fact that Blood Weave died at the hands of Bai Pu and his group.
Later, Bai Pu and the Black Shark Queen conversed.
The Black Shark Queen was named "Jirgesduo," which translated into the common language of the Heart Demon World means "Mei Xi"—these two words can be considered a translation.
The name isn’t the focus, Bai Pu mainly inquired about the Eternal Night Dark Sea, particularly some key intelligence regarding the Shadow Island Chain.
Mei Xi naturally didn’t hold back, having blood feuds with the Demons under the Black Emperor, she was open and forthcoming.
After the intelligence was laid out, one piece of information made Bai Pu and others draw in a cold breath—
There is an area on the Shadow Island Chain called the "Yellow Springs Belt," the habitat for the demon soldier species "Yellow Springs Ghost Frog."
The water in the Yellow Springs Belt is the "Yellow Springs" Bai Pu previously encountered in the Black Swamp of the Black Tortoise Mountain Range!
Back then, the corrosive power of Yellow Springs was already very strong, making it difficult even for Bai Pu, an Enhanced Elite with Endurance Specialization, to endure.
Now with the difficulty rising to 9.2, the corrosive strength of Yellow Springs water has naturally increased dramatically, definitely posing a threat to Advanced Awakened individuals. Even Bai Pu, whose survival ability has increased a hundredfold compared to the Basic stage Super Tank, does not dare to take it lightly.
The Yellow Springs Belt water flows and is controlled by water gates called "Yellow Springs Canals" and "Yellow Springs Gates" built by the Black Emperor.
The Yellow Springs Canal is an artificial river dug by demon-driven humanoid slaves, running from north to south, passing through Spider Demon Cave, Ox Demon Mountain, Profound Water Palace... south to the Tide Demon Pool, beyond the southern part of the Shadow Island Chain and back north, rejoining the waters of the Yellow Springs Belt.
From the map, the Yellow Springs Canal forms a "8"-shaped waterway, creating a natural barrier, tightly safeguarding all key demon strongholds across the Shadow Island Chain.
Apart from the Ghost Frogs, Yellow Springs water is unbearable for demons of other species.
Therefore, this 8-shaped waterway barrier does not normally circulate; Yellow Springs water is accumulated in twelve "Yellow Springs Reservoirs" along the canal path and sealed by twelve "Yellow Springs Gates."
When the Shadow Island Chain comes under attack, the Black Emperor can open the twelve Yellow Springs gates. The accumulated Yellow Springs water will form rapid "Yellow Springs Rapids" along the aforementioned canals, with each demon stronghold quickly becoming isolated by the surrounding Yellow Springs water.
When that happens, intruders will find no way to escape, while the Black Emperor’s Demon Generals will ride a large number of Yellow Springs Ghost Frogs and swarm out, creating a situation to trap and strike.
The usual approach to dealing with such waterway barriers is flight. But this is the Underworld!
One can only fly over relatively wide cavern water surfaces.
The Yellow Springs Canal is built at junctions of cavern water zones, with several hundred meters thick rock walls as a natural barrier. Once Yellow Springs Rapids form, one must wade through them; trying to fly will only hit the wall.
"Goodness, the Second Refinement task is truly not easy!"
"Luckily we didn’t go straight to the Shadow Island Chain. Had we gone, it would have likely repeated our failed experience at the Miasma Spring." Leia sighed.
Currently, the Furnace Squad trio is still unclear about Salacia’s mission target among the demon strongholds, only knowing it is related to warfare tasks on the Shadow Island Chain.
Salacia has indeed grown wiser from her previous mistakes; she only revealed the Second Refinement mission target to her strategist and backer Bai Pu, keeping it under wraps from everyone else, even from Heig.
The Furnace Squad trio did not inquire either; after all, this matter is sensitive.
However, holding the Star Map Scroll, Leia, watching Bai Pu diligently gathering intelligence and carefully investigating the mission background, thought of how their trio had confidently charged towards the Miasma Spring before.
She felt bad, inwardly lamenting: If Bai Pu were leading the First Refinement task back then, I might have made it into the top three and been promoted to Major General!
Unfortunately, there’s no medicine for regret.
Besides, Bai Pu originally was just meeting by chance, hired for the mission, and the trio remained wary of him, no way to let Bai Pu take the lead...
Bai Pu was unaware of Leia’s fanciful thoughts.
He pondered for a moment and then continued to inquire with the Black Shark Queen Mei Xi: "Why do those demons and Fallen Wild Warriors keep coming to attack you?"
"They’re likely after this item."
Mei Xi opened her mouth, slowly expelling a bead emitting a ghostly blue light.
This ghostly blue bead is only the size of a thumb, but if one’s gaze remains on its surface, one’s mind will involuntarily be drawn in, as if immersing in a ghostly blue ocean.
Bai Pu and the others, strong in willpower, were naturally not swayed by the strange effects of this bead for long.
"What kind of treasure is this?" Bai Pu asked.
"It’s the Black Shark King Bead, the survival treasure of our Black Shark Race..."
The Black Shark Queen Mei Xi slowly explained, "Our Black Shark Race, apart from having fishtails, have body structures very similar to humans. Like humans, we cannot stay submerged in deep sea for extended periods.
"And beneath the sea in the Black Shark Race’s dwelling grounds lie flower fields built by my race, which are our primary food source. The Black Shark King Bead has water repelling and control abilities. I use it to create a Waterproof Barrier covering the flower fields, allowing my clansmen to work within them."
"The Black Shark King Bead can repel water?"
The Furnace Squad trio exclaimed in unison.
Bai Pu said: "Not only that, I suspect its water control ability is the key... No wonder Demon Square is so intent on acquiring the Black Shark King Bead, it turns out it could counteract the waterway barrier of the Shadow Island Chain’s Yellow Springs.
"Let’s return."
Bai Pu stood up, "Mei Xi, follow us and bring the Black Shark King Bead. As for the remaining members of your race, have them hide away... without the allure of the Black Shark King Bead, the demons likely won’t continue targeting your clansmen."
The Black Shark Queen nodded.
The group boarded the Arrow Boat.
The Black Shark Queen flicked her fishtail and followed in the Arrow Boat’s wake, swimming underwater. With the Black Shark King Bead, she could stay submerged long-term.
On the Arrow Boat, Dongbo Cheng began "demanding explanations" and transmitted his voice to Bai Pu:
"Did you read the Swordsmanship Manual I gave you? Why did you still use your old Mystical Arts when fighting the Fallen Wild Warriors? Have you gained no new insights at all?"