After reviewing everything,

Lu Ding's haul this time was unimaginably bountiful.

Everything was perfect,

except for one issue.

He hadn't yet completed collecting the Twelve Zodiac techniques.

Neither the Disheveled Hair nor Mourning Guest techniques had been fully cultivated yet.

And now came an even more outrageous series—the Thirty-Six Heavenly Methods.

This left Lu Ding, who had a collector's obsession, slightly frustrated.

It was like unlocking several collections, only to find each contained just a few items, sometimes only one.

He could only stare helplessly.

But there was an upside to this.

Each new acquisition became an experience of exploring unknown possibilities.

Like opening blind boxes.

It kept Lu Ding's anticipation fully engaged.

Turning around,

he addressed the remaining surviving Qi Refiners from Tai Island: "Go pack up everything valuable for me to take."

"If you dare miss even one item, none of you will live."

"I've already killed so many—a few more won't make a difference."

Such a large outpost must contain considerable riches.

Before coming here,

Qiu Fu had mentioned that

Lu Ding would receive 3,000 contribution points if he agreed to this mission.

Of course,

that was just an appetizer.

The real prize was the spoils from attacking international waters.

And Lu Ding was currently in dire need of resources.

The Tai Island Qi Refiners who thought they were doomed

now saw a chance to survive.

Their joy was palpable.

The elation of survival deepened their existing fear while bringing inexplicable relief,

along with a strange sense of gratitude toward Lu Ding they couldn't explain.

Perhaps later they could boast: "I survived the Whaleguard Island battlefield under the hands of Great Han's Corpse-Shattering Taishui Lu Ding—don't underestimate me, you bastards!!!"

Seeing their incredulous expressions

mixed with delight and gratitude,

Lu Ding realized

these people were beyond redemption.

But then again,

those with backbone had already died.

Those still alive were precisely those who didn't dare confront him directly.

For now, keeping them alive meant they could clean up the battlefield for him.

Why should he do it himself?

Or have his Heavenly Perception operatives handle it?

Calling for backup would take too much time anyway.

In the long run,

these survivors would become Tai Island's "heroes." If they lived through this, they'd receive rewards,

possibly even high-ranking positions across Tai Island's institutions.

Given their nature,

what quality could they possibly cultivate?

Their character, shaped from the top down, would influence those below.

If all enemies were like them,

how could any nation compete with Great Han?

Were they not just pure trash?

On Whaleguard Island, the surviving Tai Island Qi Refiners worked diligently,

gathering their nation's precious resources and carefully presenting them to Lu Ding.

Like offering treasures, they awaited his approval without daring to speak, barely able to breathe steadily under his oppressive aura from earlier battles.

Taking the items,

Lu Ding scanned them with the 749 Bureau app:

[Black Clam Pearl]

[Value: 4,000 contribution points]

[Formed in lightless ocean depths by demonized giant clams with black shells, taking a century to grow and another to mature, rich in water essence—gentle and pure]

[Suitable for medicine or direct absorption, providing greater benefits to Earth Observation realm and above Qi Refiners]

They say all medicine carries some toxicity. Whether natural treasures or elixirs made from them, all contain elements difficult to absorb.

Accumulated, this becomes medicinal toxicity.

The degree of toxicity depends on the treasure's quality, type, origin, growth environment, etc.

Generally speaking,

aquatic treasures are far gentler than terrestrial ones.

But Lu Ding had no such concerns. To him, water or land—all medicine was the same.

As long as it was medicine, he could consume it without issue.

One hundred percent absorption guaranteed.

Weighing the Black Clam Pearl in his hand,

this trip

was truly worthwhile.

Finding such treasure just from looting the battlefield—

what incredible luck.

After storing the pearl in his Red Coffin,

Lu Ding patted the young Tai Island Earth Observation cultivator before him: "Yoshi, you're doing good work. You get to live."

This statement

instantly made the young man snap to attention,

standing ramrod straight before bowing his head, suppressing his excitement to solemnly declare: "Hai! Thank you, Taishui Lu!!"

Turning, the youth gestured respectfully:

"Please come this way, Taishui Lu! There's a large safe containing excellent items—I can't move it alone!"

Humans,

once seeing hope,

will endlessly pursue it.

You could call it greed,

but that's not quite accurate.

Regarding this Tai Island Qi Refiner,

Lu Ding's assessment was: somewhat clever, but lacking backbone.

During Great Han's troubled times with internal and external conflicts, many "traitors" emerged.

Today, Lu Ding encountered his own guide—well...a "Tai traitor"?

It oddly reminded him of that special rootless group.

A smile flashed across his face: "Lead the way."

He wanted to see what treasures that safe held.

Kagami Gozo said: "This way please, Taishui Lu."

As he spoke, he began leading.

Guan Zhongsheng couldn't help but warn: "Lu Ding, maybe you should withdraw first. We'll pack everything and deliver it later. Tai Island and Wei Coalition's Heavenly Perception operatives might arrive soon."

"I fear they'll target you."

Having annihilated such a significant Tai Island outpost in international waters,

a peaceful resolution was nearly impossible.

Moreover, since this island was taken, Great Han would never return it.

There would inevitably be confrontations—verbal battles where Great Han held moral high ground, but their reinforcements would arrive slower than the enemy's.

If tempers flared into actual combat,

others could hold out temporarily,

but not Lu Ding. Not having reached Heavenly Perception realm yet, yet possessing such terrifying talent—his future growth was inevitable.

Guan Zhongsheng didn't want Lu Ding taking risks.

Having reviewed Lu Ding's records beforehand,

his theory about that sword technique was that it must be Lu Ding's charged attack.

In such short time, gathering energy for another slash of that magnitude

should be difficult.

Without his charged attack, facing Heavenly Perception opponents...

would be extremely dangerous!!!

His reasoning was sound and logical.

But what did assumptions based on the old Lu Ding have to do with the current Lu Ding who possessed one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Methods—[Mountain-Shaking Earth-Quaking]?

Moreover, charged attacks

were like charging batteries.

Before reaching Earth Observation realm, Lu Ding's capacity was 10W—a standard charger.

Now in Earth Observation realm, it was like upgrading to super-fast charging.

Besides, they hadn't even opened that safe yet—the real gold and crimson treasures awaited inside.