CHAPTER 388: CHAPTER 321: RESURRECTION, FUNGUS PERSON COLONY

After Byron took care of matters at the International Port and Royal Port with Catherine and Bruh, he boarded The Golden Deer with Xiao Wo and returned to the Torrent Fortress on Yucatan Island.

CLANG, CLANG...

"One, two, pull!"

"Send the bars and nails just delivered from the ironworks to Drydock No. 2."

"Move the timber here, swing the crane over."

"..."

The largest shipyard within the Bantaan Archipelago buzzed with activity. Fair-skinned people from the Silver Continent and Tenno Natives with bronze skin bustled about in perfect coordination, without the deep divides seen elsewhere. This was simply because, despite their racial differences, they had gradually come to share a common belief—the Father of Healing. This enigmatic figure had once saved the lives of most of their families and entire tribes. They didn’t understand what "vaccines" were; they just believed them to be unequivocal miracles.

Third Order Grand Artificer Violet, in her capacity as Prime Minister within the Golden Law, was responsible for coordinating the shipyard. "All materials and Artisans are to give top priority to Drydock No. 1. From now on, it’s under lockdown management; strictly no entry or exit. Everyone must remember their operation manual, not inquire about the work of others. Those who violate this taboo will bear the consequences..."

Byron had already found time to etch the third Curse Seal, Torrent, on the back of her right hand, following Profane and Abyss. He had also taken on 20 Castilian Artisans transferred to them by Governor Fox of Havana. Under Violet’s management, the large drydocks at Rapid Stream Port expanded one after another. Currently, six Tudor Hybrid Sailboats were being built simultaneously. Since personnel, timber, steel, and arms were already well-prepared, Byron decisively began the shipbuilding project for the Heavy Cruiser—renowned for being Single Combat Invincible—ahead of schedule. The Heavy Cruiser, with its outstanding Self-sustaining Ability and capacity for long-range raids using Wolf Pack Tactics, was destined to be the absolute main force of the Privateer Fleet. In an era when large Battleships struggled to venture across seas, this vessel was the Uncrowned King of the Bantaan Archipelago.

However, Byron’s return to the Torrent Fortress wasn’t to inspect the progress of warship construction. It was to find that "Teacher," the Third-order Great Wizard Swarm, who had been stationed here since the beginning of the fortress’s construction (Chapter 185).

From the secret order of Edward IV, I saw the correct direction to decrypt [Hidden: The Shadow Behind the Red and White Rose War]. The Bloodthirsty Cult’s current research subject is highly likely what the York Family and the Church desire. This is a good chance, during the Promotion Ceremony, to infiltrate the cult’s holy land and use the [Nautical Logbook] to personally uncover the secrets hidden there.

In the Bloodthirsty Cult, a Black Wizard Organization sustained by teacher-student relationships, reaching the holy land—a place the Book of Giant Insects Sect would eradicate the Bloody Mary Faction to obtain—could only be achieved through Swarm, his only high-level contact. After Byron greeted him, this "bargain teacher" mentioned that there was a Secret Realm with special rules within the holy land, similar to Silvergold Island, that could significantly enhance the effect of the Promotion Ceremony. Only Grand Wizards who served as deacons qualified to apply. With no other choice, Byron had to meet Swarm here and set off with him.

Passing through the bustling associated copper and iron ore zone, where natives from various city-states were constantly coming and going transporting mined ore, he once again arrived before the Divine Beast Mine. To prevent miners from disturbing Swarm, his disciple, and the Chǐ God during their... affectionate moments while working, the area had long been isolated. Even Byron himself, a disciple of the Book of Giant Insects Sect, was left with a psychological scar after witnessing scenes unfit for any age group between Digory, the "Thousand Leggers," and the Chǐ God, which had been given a love potion. He wouldn’t set foot in this crystal cave unless absolutely necessary.

I just hope they can restrain their inhuman freakishness a bit this time. Knowing I’m coming, I hope they don’t perform any bizarre acts with that Chǐ God. Otherwise, such an R-rated scene is practically spiritual pollution. Once seen, it can never be unseen, Byron prayed inwardly as he activated [Storm Admiral].

A blue Storm Spirit Light enveloped him, and he breezed through the winding, complex mine like a gust of wind. He once again saw the countless, dazzlingly colorful, and magnificent giant crystal pillars. Along the way, he encountered various insects and fungi, trying his best to avoid them to prevent accidentally stepping on his "mother-in-law" or "sister-in-law."

The Chǐ God was, in essence, a Nature Spirit that had Fallen to Beastliness and transformed into a Bizarre, grotesque entity. It had no true physical form. Every leech, cockroach, flea, louse, earthworm, rat, mosquito, fly, and other filthy vermin in the mine was a part of it. Once inside this high-temperature, high-humidity crystal mine, every insect encountered could be the Chǐ God’s ears, eyes, hands, or feet. Only those it considered its own people wouldn’t be attacked.

Following the path lit by glowing fungi on the ground, Byron quickly arrived at the edge of a vast mushroom forest. The forest was composed of many strangely shaped, giant luminous mushrooms, with colorful fungi as tall as trees being a common sight. Hundreds of other species lived within the forest, sustained by it, collectively forming a massive ecosystem known as the [Chǐ God]. To attempt to kill it... even if Byron deployed his most meticulous extermination specialists—the kind infamous for their absurdly thorough methods, like scrambling egg yolks just to be sure, splitting earthworms lengthwise, and scalding an ant nest five times over—some parts of it would inevitably slip through the cracks.