Chapter 138: The Hidden Secret Behind the Celestial Dragon Device [Combined Part Two – Please Subscribe and Support with Votes]

The next day.

The prosperity of Feiyuan Island began to recover; the streets buzzed with people, and smiles adorned the faces of the townsfolk.

Yet many wealthy merchants, their fortunes substantial, seemed to have already planned their departure from Feiyuan Island.

They gathered their families and emptied their coffers, assembling their iron-wheeled merchant ships in the harbor, preparing to return to the Great Yuan Empire.

Feiyuan Island was teetering on the brink of war; no one knew when another calamity like the one from last night might strike again.

Heaven only knew when the mighty forces of the Phala Empire might arrive to assault Feiyuan Island.

The threat of the Black Heaven Cult made them wary of taking any risks.

Only by returning within the Great Yuan borders could they hope to evade the impending conflict.

In the past, with the Southern Naval Fleet stationed here, no maritime power had dared to threaten them.

The ocean's wealth had brought them fortunes that many could not earn in a lifetime.

Now, transferring their assets back to the Great Yuan and becoming wealthy within the empire was a prudent choice.

Zhong Ziling of the provincial government urged many affluent citizens to stay.

Those leaving held the economic lifeblood of Feiyuan Island; their departure would cause the island’s economy to plummet, plunging it into an unprecedented crisis.

This time, the Southern Naval Fleet did not intervene.

Nor did the Demon Suppression Division.

The crisis on Feiyuan Island remained unresolved.

Their return to the Great Yuan brought with it a massive influx of wealth, injecting substantial funds into the empire’s coffers—a boon for the empire.

Years ago, the Great Yuan Empire had tried hard to encourage overseas Yuan people to repatriate their wealth, but they could not persuade them to return.

Now, faced with an unprecedented crisis, these wealthy merchants were bringing their fortunes home of their own accord.

After all, Feiyuan Island was overseas.

With ample food supplies on the island, the void left by these departing merchants would soon be filled by sea adventurers.

At the bustling harbor, iron-wheeled merchant ships loaded vast treasures accumulated on Feiyuan Island, preparing to transport them back to the Great Yuan.

At this moment, the Eastern Coast Naval Fleet, about to dock with supplies, received new orders from the Governor’s Office: to protect these evacuees as they returned home.

People could leave, but their wealth must return to the Great Yuan.

If intercepted by pirates or the infamous Sakura-wielding Wokou, the riches would become enemy resources—fueling their strength.

Such a loss was intolerable.

Baili Feihong initially wanted to stop their escape but reconsidered.

If Feiyuan Island faced a dire crisis after his departure, the amassed wealth would become a heavy burden on the empire.

Accumulated wealth on Feiyuan Island was not necessarily a blessing for the common people of the Great Yuan.

Once these merchants returned home, they would spend and establish their industries.

Not only would this stimulate the domestic economy, but it would also create numerous jobs.

He knew well that his own survival once depended on working as a dock laborer.

If the Devil’s Strait fell into the hands of the Black Heaven Cult or the Phala Empire’s navy, the Great Yuan’s overseas trade would suffer devastating blows.

Their return would inject fresh vitality into the empire’s economy.

Moreover, with many immovable properties and factories left behind, Feiyuan Island would not fall into immediate economic ruin.

“Sir, that’s the Zhang family. We counted—just in gold and jewels, they’re moving hundreds of boxes. Truly wealth rivaling a nation,” Hu Zuowei remarked in awe.

Baili Feihong nodded slightly.

At the harbor, throngs of workers loaded goods onto iron-wheeled ships—hundreds of vessels in all.

The massive fleet even astonished Baili Feihong.

“Rest assured, they will return. They’re merely relocating their accumulated wealth,” he said calmly.

He deeply understood Feiyuan Island’s advantages in commerce.

Though nations competed secretly, trade was never forbidden.

Wealth circulation had not ceased despite the Black Heaven Cult’s annihilation of many South Asian countries.

In fact, overseas trade between East and West had tightened due to the devastation of so many South Asian nations.

The fight for the Devil’s Strait was a struggle for control of this vital route.

But forbidding trade entirely would reduce the strait to a mere military chokepoint.

That would cause massive losses for many countries.

“Many have lived on Feiyuan Island for centuries; abandoning their roots amid this crisis is impossible. Their return to the Great Yuan is out of necessity—a refuge from danger,” Qin Tiesheng said with a hint of melancholy, standing beside Baili Feihong.

Qin Tiesheng himself hailed from a prominent clan on Feiyuan Island, albeit a less favored branch that the Qin family leadership overlooked.

His own family had joined the exodus, though some people remained to maintain the island’s industries.

If the Black Heaven Cult threat could be resolved and the Devil’s Strait reclaimed from the Phala Empire, they could stage a comeback.

A long line of ships set sail.

Zhong Ziling sought to meet with Commander Yan Fei.

But Yan Fei refused to see him.

The Southern Naval Fleet needed to restore its strength; he had no time for matters within Feiyuan Island.

Even if everyone fled, the fleet would not abandon Feiyuan Island—it would simply convert it into a military base.

Last night’s Black Heaven Cult attack had made him realize that the fleet’s power was insufficient to handle such a battle.

The emperor’s passing had plunged the military into internal struggles for the throne, with no support forthcoming for the Southern Naval Fleet.

Resolving this predicament required a Martial Saint to step in and crush the Black Heaven Cult’s advantage.

The cult dared to act arrogantly only because their sect was overseas and the main sect would not focus on overseas affairs for the time being.

At the root of all this was the damned Taoist Master of the Taiyi Sect.

This master assassinated the emperor, plunging the Great Yuan into this unique crisis.

“I still have a chance, but survival is paramount. I have reached the Divine Ability realm. My goal now is to transform successfully and become a True Divine Ability Master,” Yan Fei declared as he entered seclusion again.

Without the power of a True Divine Ability Master, he had no chance to participate in the coming war.

He might not even survive.

---

South Asian Continent.

In the imperial palace of the Eastern Wen Kingdom, members of the Black Heaven Cult gathered once more.

Within the vast palace, an elderly man clad in ornate black robes, alert and vigorous, wore a gentle smile as he gazed down at the Divine Ability Masters kneeling before him.

“High Priest Hei Sha, we underestimated the strength of Feiyuan’s garrison commander,” a Divine Ability Master of the Eastern Wen Kingdom knelt anxiously.

Once a formidable figure in Eastern Wen, he had been subdued by the Black Heaven Cult upon their invasion.

It was his betrayal that allowed the cult to silently complete the sacrificial rite, annihilating more than thirty small nations, including Eastern Wen.

Millions of civilians were slaughtered and offered in sacrifice to the Black Heaven Demon God, whose will then watched over this land, harvesting its essence.

The Black Veil High Priest had also received the demon god’s blessing—a fragment of the Taoist essence to become a Martial Saint.

Once he reached the pinnacle of the Dharma Phase, the Martial Saint trial would no longer be a barrier.

Yet these Divine Ability Masters under him had done something displeasing.

An army of a hundred thousand demons and monsters, a force strong enough to sweep the entire South Asian Continent, had been squandered by these few Divine Ability Masters.

“The Great Yuan possesses a sacred artifact called the Celestial Dragon Instrument. Those under fifty who achieve Divine Ability status may enter the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Of course, it only lists the top one hundred strongest under-fifty Divine Ability Masters in the Third Realm,” the Black Veil High Priest’s voice echoed throughout the palace, capturing everyone’s attention.

“Baili Feihong first appeared on the Hidden Dragon Ranking purely as a blood refiner, ranking tenth.”

“Reaching the tenth blood refinement corresponds to Divine Ability status.”

“And the fact that Baili Feihong killed Xue Ming, who ranked sixth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, indicates his blood refinement is above the twelfth level.”

“A blood refiner of such power is rare even among the Blood Suppression Generals.”

“Are you telling me that Baili Feihong was underestimated?” the Black Sha High Priest said coldly.

“Forgive us, High Priest,” five Divine Ability Masters prostrated themselves, pleading for mercy.

“Fear not, I do not seek your lives. This moment calls for talent. Sending you to deal with Feiyuan Island was a misjudgment.I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.