C140 Dragon of Surging Waves

As the crowd reached the entrance of Grey Wolf Village, Ning Qi waved them to a halt.

"Use the trees and stones around here to build your houses. Faang, organize a team to keep things orderly," Ning Qi instructed.

With Grey Wolf Village unable to house the influx of people, Ning Qi had no choice but to have them fend for themselves, which also provided an opportunity to expand the village.

In the Shanhai Realm, everyone from the elderly to children had their unique insights into house-building, so the task was well within their capabilities. Under Faang Guhang's supervision, they set to work with great enthusiasm. The residents of Grey Wolf Village didn't hesitate to lend a hand, and soon, new houses were rapidly erected.

Meanwhile, the villagers from Black Wind Village were getting acquainted with their Grey Wolf Village counterparts. Roughly a month and a half later, a well-formed little village had sprung up on the outskirts of Grey Wolf Village.

"Chief, once we finish the surrounding wall, the construction will be complete. We're looking at about three more months," Faang Guhang reported to Ning Qi.

"Three months? That's quite a while," Ning Qi mused. He was eager to take the Dragon Seeking Mouse on a quest for Giant Dragons to collect Dragon Slaying Coins, so he was keen on wrapping up the village construction to set out with a clear mind.

"The boulders we need for the wall are massive. We can only quarry about ten suitable ones each day, which is why it's going to take so long," Faang Guhang explained, nodding.

"Leave the wall to me," Ning Qi offered.

"What?" Faang Guhang was puzzled by Ning Qi's suggestion.

"Just wait at the village entrance. I'll handle transporting the stones. This way, we can have it done in two or three days," Ning Qi proposed.

"We couldn't possibly ask you to do such labor," Faang Guhang protested.

"Can you finish it in two or three days?" Ning Qi asked, a smile playing on his lips.

"No," Faang Guhang admitted, his head bowed in embarrassment.

Subsequently, Ning Qi mounted Purple and headed to the mountain range where the stone quarrying was underway. The stones there were exceptionally hard, the same ones used previously for the walls of Grey Wolf Village, and conveniently exposed on the mountainside for easy extraction. With the Dragon Slaying Blade in hand, Ning Qi effortlessly cleaved off square blocks, each three feet in length, as if slicing through tofu. Purple then grasped the stones, flew to the village entrance, and dropped them onto the ground.

With Ning Qi's assistance, the wall construction efficiency skyrocketed, increasing by dozens of times. In short order, Purple had transported hundreds of stones to the village entrance. Faang Guhang, leading the former residents of Black Wind Village, combined these stones with mud to form a stone wall. Remarkably, one-third of the wall was completed in just a single day.

Three days later, Ning Qi surveyed the Grey Wolf Village, now expanded three to four times its original size. Pleased with the progress, he presented Faang Guhang with a dozen Middle-grade Profound Rank Battle Weapons.

"Entrust these to those you trust. With these weapons, should anyone harbor ill will towards you, you'll be able to defend yourselves," Ning Qi advised.

"Chief, are you planning to leave?" Faang Guhang inquired, accepting the Battle Weapons with a note of curiosity.

Ning Qi nodded affirmatively. "In three months, I must offer tribute to the Devil Dragon King. I need to gather more offerings."

"Chief, are you sure you want to meet with the Devil Dragon King? It's known for being unpredictable and vicious," Faang Guhang expressed his concern.

"What of it?" Ning Qi replied with a smile, giving Faang Guhang's shoulder a reassuring pat. "Remember what I told you—I'm only the interim chief. Before long, I'll be leaving the Shanhai Realm, and you'll take over as chief. Your focus should be on strengthening Grey Wolf Village for the future."

Watching Ning Qi mount the Purple Lightning Bird and ascend into the heavens, Faang Guhang gazed at his departing figure, deep in thought for an extended moment.

Aloft, Ning Qi sat astride Purple, while Jin playfully scampered to Purple's head, finding satisfaction in its lofty perch.

"Jin, you can't just eat and be idle. Sniff out where the giant dragon is hiding," Ning Qi commanded, tossing a Yellow Rank Medium-grade Spirit Nourishing Pill to the creature.

Jin leaped into the air, catching and gulping down the pill, then promptly extended a tiny paw, pointing southeast.

"Purple, let's change course. Head southeast," Ning Qi instructed with a gentle pat, and Purple responded with a clear chirp, altering its direction. After a while, to avoid drawing unwanted attention, Ning Qi retracted Purple. He landed and, with Jin by his side, stealthily made his way on foot in the indicated direction.

Ahead, a vast lake came into view. Its waters were a deep blue, reminiscent of the ocean depths, shrouded in darkness. Beneath this veil of black, an ominous aura emanated from within.

"It appears to be a water dragon, though its rank is uncertain."

Ning Qi concealed himself in a tree, carefully camouflaging his presence before scrutinizing the lake below.

By the next day, Ning Qi observed that no Demonic Beasts ventured near the water. He concluded that a giant dragon lurked in the lake's depths and waited patiently for three days.

As the third day waned and the sun dipped low, a pale blue figure burst forth from the lake. Bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, the figure and the scattering droplets shimmered with a breathtaking brilliance.

"The Dragon of Surging Waves, a Fourth Rank Mid-grade Demon Beast with an HP of 300,000."

This creature bore a striking resemblance to a dragon, yet it lacked wings. Its flattened lower limbs betrayed its aquatic nature.

"Why would a Fourth Rank Mid-grade Demon Beast instill such fear in its peers? Moreover, the HP of this Dragon of Surging Waves surpasses even that of a Fifth Rank Giant Dragon. Peculiar indeed."

Ning Qi's question was soon answered.

Another Dragon of Surging Waves leaped from the lake, churning the water into a frenzy.

Then, with a splash, a third Dragon of Surging Waves followed suit.

A fourth, a fifth... until hundreds had emerged!

Ning Qi stood agape as hundreds of Dragons of Surging Waves ascended from the lake, the sunset casting an awe-inspiring and beautiful tableau.

It was clear why no Demonic Beast dared to drink here; the lake concealed hundreds of Fourth Rank Dragons of Surging Waves!

Suddenly, a colossal wave surged skyward.

A formidable creature, measuring over thirty feet in length and dwarfing the others, emerged as the monarch of the Dragons of Surging Waves.

A Fourth Rank Boss level Demon Beast with 800,000 HP.

Ning Qi could now ascertain that the exceptional HP was indeed the hallmark of the Dragon of Surging Waves.

Upon the arrival of the Dragon King of Surging Waves, every Dragon of Surging Waves began to emit a low, mournful whimper. Compelled by the sound, Ning Qi involuntarily leapt from his perch in the tree and made his way toward the lake. A look of urgent concern flashed across Jin's face. Ning Qi continued to distance himself, approaching perilously close to the hunting range of the Dragon of Surging Waves. In a desperate move, Jin clamped down on Ning Qi's chest with his jaws.