While these walnut boats were clearly far from giant, they were large enough to carry seventy to eighty people each, making it such that there was more than enough space for the entire expedition team across the three boats.

Everyone craned their necks to get a better look, releasing a collective, awe-struck, “Whoaaa…”

Even though they already knew Sun Fuping was a state preceptor, a man with extraordinary methods, witnessing this scene firsthand still left them deeply impressed.

He Lingchuan, however, caught Zeng Feixiong murmuring beside him, “So that’s what a profound crystal looks like? This is my first time seeing one.” His voice brimmed with amazement.

“Seeing as they were green, those were just low-grade profound crystals,” He Lingchuan commented with casual nonchalance.

However, that offhand comment did not go unheard. Nian Songyu immediately turned and asked, “Oh? Could it be that you have a higher grade one on you?”

“Me? No, of course not!” He Lingchuan gave a hearty laugh. If he admitted that he had one, would it not then be confiscated on the spot?

Because, in truth, he did have one.

Right now, tucked safely in his storage pouch, lay a single profound crystal. It was darker in color than the ones that Sun Fuping had just used. It was of a richer, deeper green, signifying that it was of higher quality. It had been gifted to him as a lavish offering by an envoy from the monster state to the north in exchange for assistance with a private matter.

Profound crystals were solidified forms of the spirit qi of heaven and earth. They typically formed during rare outbursts of ambient spirit qi. After being gathered, they could be refined, purified, or blended with other materials to produce profound crystals of differing grades.

Their uses were numerous: restoring true energy for spellcasters or monsters, powering mechanical constructs and puppets, activating arrays, and more. These three unassuming walnut boats, for example, were anything but cheap to operate.

The last major surge in spirit qi had occurred a long time ago. Since then, profound crystals have become increasingly scarce and correspondingly expensive. That the State Preceptor could casually toss them out as fuel for these boats, while He Lingchuan had only one that he kept locked away like a precious relic… Well, it just went to show that there was a stark disparity in their rank and access to resources.

While He Lingchuan examined the boats closely, Nian Songyu turned his attention back to the sand bandits and asked them, “Are there any other tricks you’d like to inform us about?”

Situ Han, who had also been admiring the walnut boats, shook his head quickly. “There are too many people. Our usual tricks won’t be much help with a group this size.”

Nian Songyu had only asked out of formality. He did not really expect them to be able to provide anything useful. However, He Lingchuan grinned and said, “You didn’t bring your incense balls this time?”

“Oh, we did,” Situ Han admitted after a short pause. He glanced at Sun Fuping, looking a bit embarrassed. “They’re just… not really suitable for those who are more refined or elegant.”

“This is about our survival. Who cares if they’re elegant or not?”

Nian Songyu asked directly, “Are they effective?”

“Usually pretty effective.” Situ Han patted the side of the boat. “But how do you get this beauty moving?”

Nian Songyu replied flatly, “Profound crystals.”

Every second burned money. Situ Han thought for a moment and said, “If we’re lucky, the two lords might not have to use up any profound crystals at all.”

Hearing this, even Sun Fuping turned his head, intrigued. “Oh?”

Profound crystals were precious and scarce; saving one was worth the effort. They were not something one could buy easily, even with gold.

Situ Han quickly repeated, “If we’re lucky!”

“Then give it a try,” said Nian Songyu, voice cool. “If it doesn’t work and causes a delay, I’ll throw you overboard and let the monsters eat you.”

Why did I open my big mouth?! Situ Han cursed himself and resisted the urge to slap himself silly. “Then please, everyone, cover your noses.”

Cover our…?

He Chunhua glanced around to see his son and the bandits all lifting their scarves to cover their noses and mouths, so he followed suit.

Then, he saw Situ Han give a shout to the rear, and a few of the bandits hauled out a large chest. When they opened it, there was a soft-padded interior with a strange, balloon-like object nestled in the center—plump and glistening, like a translucent bladder.

Nian Songyu could not quite understand what he was looking at. “What is that?”

“Have you never seen a pig slaughtered, Commandant Nian?” He Lingchuan burst into laughter. “That’s a pig’s bladder. Just blow it up and it swells like that. It’s not even close to full yet.”

He Chunhua, watching from the side, could not help but grumble inwardly. He looks way too pleased with himself.This kid grew up eating the best food in Heishui City. He’s a textbook second-generation rich kid, so how does he even know this kind of thing?

The truth was, He Lingchuan had always been mischievous. He used to fill pig bladders with water, string them up in the old street trees, and wait for someone he disliked to pass by. Then, one well-aimed iron dart later… and bingo!

As for Nian Songyu, he had lived a life of silk and silver. How could he possibly know such a thing? He rarely ate pork, let alone handled the innards. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. “And what is it used for?”

“It’s a great sealant. Otherwise, we’d suffer for our own weapons.” As He Lingchuan explained, the bandits pulled out a large hunk of cured meat, tied it up tightly with coarse rope, then untied the bladder’s neck and poured its contents directly over the meat.

Out came a thick, viscous dark green liquid, bubbling ominously and occasionally releasing little puffs of white smoke.

The moment it hit open air, everyone’s sense of smell was brutally assaulted.

The stench was a masterpiece of horror. Imagine severe athlete’s foot, marinated in a sealed leather boot for a month, then stirred together with half a year’s worth of unwashed armpit sweat. Now let that ferment beside a back-alley wharf, where rotting shrimp and dead fish have been dumped for decades…

It was the unholy union of stink, rot, musk, and decay, so vile that it achieved a kind of grotesque brilliance.

Soldiers who had not managed to cover their noses in time immediately retched.

And worse still, this was not a smell you could forget. One whiff branded it into your memory—and body—forever.

Even those who had managed to brace themselves were now doubled over, vomiting in unison.

Fortunately, the bandits quickly tossed the drenched cured meat into a nearby patch of sand, then shoveled a few armfuls of sand over it. Combined with the desert’s strong wind, the stench was soon scattered and diluted.

Everyone gasped for air, never more grateful for the simple act of breathing.

Nian Songyu’s face was pale and pinched. “Outrageous! What the hell is that supposed to do?!”

Even he had nearly thrown up, and it had taken every ounce of restraint not to. When he turned and saw He Lingchuan watching him with gleeful eyes, he could not help but suspect the brat had done it just to mess with him.

Is it even possible not to get hit by that stench?

“Just watch,” He Lingchuan said smugly, pointing to the sandpit where the meat had been buried.

The crowd turned to look and saw something unexpected. Rings were rippling outward from the pit across the sand, like concentric waves. The dunes began to twitch and shift. Those faint patterns traced quickly away from the center and scattered outward.

It was clear that something beneath the surface was fleeing. Many things, in fact.

The smell had not just assaulted human noses. It had flushed out a hidden multitude of desert creatures into a panicked retreat.

In fact, it worked even better on mutated creatures and monsters, whose enhanced senses made the experience all the more unbearable. The spiritual and physical trauma it inflicted on them was magnified tenfold compared to humans.

“Huh, so it works on beasts, too. Not bad.” Sun Fuping was visibly intrigued. Poison gas had not been part of his original strategic toolkit, but this filthy country trick just might be worth remembering.

“Not bad? That’s still nowhere near enough!” Nian Songyu cracked his knuckles. He was starting to suspect this bandit gang and the He father and son were in cahoots, trying to humiliate him.

Situ Han noticed his expression darkening and blinked in confusion. “W-wait, hold on! The real trick’s coming! The key to crossing the desert is next!”

Coming? What exactly is about to come?