Shui Miao wanted to test Misako Yamazoe’s strength and her mastery of spiritual energy.
If her power was sufficient and her control over spiritual energy skillful, then she could use that energy to breathe underwater.
It didn’t take long for Shui Miao to realize that not only could Misako Yamazoe breathe freely underwater, but she also moved with the grace and agility of a fish. As a practitioner of water-based spiritual energy, after dual cultivation with Shui Miao, her water-based abilities had increased more than tenfold—nearly surpassing Shui Miao’s own.
Moreover, Misako had developed spiritual energy of other elements through dual cultivation.
Misako’s potential was immense; she was catching up dangerously fast. This realization shocked Shui Miao greatly.
Immediately, out of caution, Shui Miao activated his Spirit Devouring Power and sent it into Misako’s body. Sensing the unusual energy invading her, Misako knew Shui Miao had made his move. She quickly mobilized her spiritual energy to resist and grabbed a stone, smashing it repeatedly against Shui Miao’s head!
Misako’s reaction far exceeded Shui Miao’s expectations.
Dazed from the blows, Shui Miao hastily grabbed her wrist and the two began fighting underwater…
Misako was very cunning. Feeling her lower body’s spiritual form unable to resist Shui Miao’s Spirit Devouring Power, she immediately channeled a surge of spiritual energy into Shui Miao’s brain through the wound on his head, attempting to kill him directly. Fortunately, Shui Miao had the habit of distributing part of his spiritual energy throughout his body, which eased the pressure. He quickly countered by sending a wave of Spirit Devouring Power to neutralize the attack.
After this intense confrontation, Misako was completely consumed by Shui Miao’s Spirit Devouring Power, leaving not even a trace of her body behind.
Shui Miao absorbed Misako’s memories and obtained a complete method of dual cultivation.
In addition, he uncovered some secrets regarding Misako’s hidden organization.
They were not only prostitutes and members of a shrine maiden cult, but also operatives of a Japanese intelligence agency!
The old man was also dead, and there were no more emotional attachments left here.
Shui Miao emerged from the water, used his spiritual perception to scan the surroundings, and quietly slipped out when no one was around. He intercepted a truck carrying ore, paid a small fee to cross the border, and drove the pickup truck back to the base overnight.
※※※
Without resting, Shui Miao drove through the night based on memory. By around ten in the morning the next day, he finally returned to the base.
The base remained unchanged.
Lin Xue and the others were in a meeting. Due to various reasons, the originally agreed-upon construction teams had backed out, demanding higher fees.
“These people are so unreasonable! How can they just renege on an already settled deal? That’s such a breach of trust!” Lin Xue rolled up her sleeves, looking ready for a fight. “In my opinion, we should hire a formal construction team, sign a contract, and proceed strictly according to the agreement. Otherwise, when will our project ever get started?”
“Lin Xue, didn’t I tell you that hiring a big, reputable company would cost us twice as much? It’s just not cost-effective,” Xiao Shuang shook her head with a troubled expression.
Lin Zhiling glanced at Xiao Shuang, smiled slightly, pulled Lin Xue to sit down, and handed her a cup of tea, whispering, “In business, there are always ups and downs. We have money—we won’t have trouble finding workers, so there’s no need to rush this. Based on my years of experience, I think they’re just trying to negotiate a higher price. If we don’t want to pay, we can wait ten days or so, then publicly announce that we’ve found another construction team. I’m sure they’ll come begging for the job. At that point, we won’t raise the price—we might even lower it slightly. So Lin Xue, let’s talk about something personal. I’ve noticed you’ve been acting a bit strange lately—spacing out often, getting angry for no reason. We’re all close friends here, so don’t hide things from us. Did you and Shui Miao…?”
“Don’t say such nonsense!”
Lin Xue jumped up immediately. “This isn’t something to joke about. I haven’t done anything with him.”
“Hehe, caught you!”
Lin Zhiling and Xiao Shuang exchanged glances, sharing a knowing smile.
“W-what?”
Lin Xue’s face began to flush slightly.
Xiao Shuang took off her glasses, stood up, and held Lin Xue’s hand, smiling gently. “Lin Xue, a normal person wouldn’t react so strongly if there was really nothing going on. Plus, you’re blushing now. Besides, we’re such close friends—how come you won’t even tell us about something like this? That just shows you don’t consider us close enough.”
Before Lin Xue could argue, Lin Zhiling also came over and put her arm around Lin Xue’s shoulder.
“Lin Xue, you don’t have to admit it if you don’t want to. We understand. Anyway, someone already saw what happened, so there’s no need to hide anymore. Don’t worry—we’ll keep your secret. Otherwise, Shui Miao wouldn’t have been so generous with the shares. Right, Xiao Shuang?” Lin Zhiling winked at Xiao Shuang.
Xiao Shuang nodded quickly. “Exactly! Lin Xue, you’re practically our savior. That much money—we’d have to work forever to earn it ourselves!”
“I’m so embarrassed!”
Lin Xue bit her lip, blushed, and sat down. Just as she was about to confess, Shui Miao’s voice rang from outside, “I’m starving—I’m back!”
“Ahh!”
Hearing that Shui Miao had returned, the three women were thrilled.
Covered in dust from his journey, Shui Miao stepped into the yurt. Seeing everyone there, he let out a long sigh of relief. “It’s so good to see you all again! Xiao Shuang, I need to ask you something—how much money have we already invested in the project so far?”
This sudden financial inquiry startled the three women.
Xiao Shuang quickly replied, “Including the initial compensation to the herdsmen, it’s almost seven hundred thousand.”
“Only seven hundred thousand? Then we’re pulling out—we’re relocating the factory to Huanghai City right away.” Shui Miao sighed again. “I discovered a lot while I was out. This place is not only sparsely populated, but there are wolves, and even extremist terrorists. For long-term planning, we must move.”
“Huanghai is indeed better in comparison. It has convenient transportation, is more developed, and construction teams there would save us at least three million in labor costs. But the land is expensive—that’s the issue.” Xiao Shuang looked at Shui Miao. She was more than willing to move if he insisted.
Shui Miao sat down on the edge of the bed and waved his hand. “The land in Huanghai might be expensive, but it won’t depreciate—it will appreciate instead. So that concern is unfounded. You all start packing—we’re leaving tomorrow morning.”
“Tomorrow morning?” Lin Zhiling blinked. “Didn’t you just say we should leave immediately?”
“Hehe, I suddenly remembered—we also need to go to Deadman’s Slope one last time. Without digging up some antiques, how could we justify spending seven hundred thousand, right?” Shui Miao’s spiritual energy had greatly increased. With his spiritual perception, he could sense everything within a three-mile radius. With such powerful perception, he was confident he could easily detect any underground tombs.
“Great! Let’s go now!”
Lin Xue, who loved adventure, stood up excitedly.
“Now?”
Shui Miao shook his head. “Dear lady, I just got back after driving all night. Can I at least wash my face, eat something hot, and get a little sleep first? Alright, no more talking—let’s go prepare some food now, and after dinner, we’ll head straight to Deadman’s Slope.”
Shui Miao stood up and headed straight for the kitchen.
The three beauties were thrilled and rushed to the kitchen together to help prepare the meal.
Thus, Lin Zhiling and Xiao Shuang’s plan to coax Lin Xue into revealing her secret was interrupted.
At noon,
A pickup truck, a Hummer, and an RV all parked near Deadman’s Slope.
Shui Miao sat cross-legged on the ground, focusing his spiritual perception.
The three beauties stood nearby, watching silently in the distance, afraid to speak and disturb him.
“Wow! No way…”
Suddenly, Shui Miao’s eyes flew open, and he shouted excitedly.
“What? What happened?”
“Are there antiques down there?”
“Hey Shui Miao, tell us already!”
Xiao Shuang, Lin Zhiling, and Lin Xue all gathered around Shui Miao, eagerly awaiting his revelation.
“Hold on, let me double-check carefully!”
Shui Miao licked his lips in excitement, took a deep breath, closed his eyes again, and spread out his spiritual perception once more.
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