Chapter 99 - 88: Finally, Found It

Chapter 99: Chapter 88: Finally, Found It

Since the other party hadn’t initiated contact, Zhang Ji wasn’t about to risk offending them with a sudden visit.

He closed the window, sat cross-legged on the bed, swallowed a medicinal pill, and began practicing the `True Qi Nourishing Spirit Skill`.

Although practicing here was far less efficient than at the Gathering Light Tower, every little bit counted, and it would still shorten his overall cultivation time.

’It’s a shame I don’t have any subordinates who are both trustworthy and strong enough. Otherwise, I could just stay at the club and cultivate, waiting for them to find all the resources I know about and deliver them to me. I wouldn’t have to go out myself at all.’

.....

「The next day.」

Zhang Ji and Bai Xiaoxiao had breakfast at Erin’s house. Then, under the pretext of conducting an "inspection," they headed to the church. At the same time, Zhang Ji had Erin find and contact the fisherman who had told her the story of Buci Island to get more information.

Zhang Ji had to get his hands on the cross first.

The item was crucial—it was the key to Buci Island.

As long as he could secure it first, he could take his time searching for the island’s location later.

The town’s church wasn’t particularly magnificent. Inside, there were several rows of chairs, a nun was sweeping, and a Priest was holding a "Bible"—a book detailing the stories of their god to edify the public.

The god here was named "Su."

In Mammon Country, more than half the population were believers, and this church was known as the Saint Su Church.

According to information researched by the players, this Su was also a martial artist.

Furthermore, he was an A-rank master of the [Flowing Water Sect].

This was because, in one of his stories, he had personally held back a great flood, saving hundreds of thousands of people.

Those hundreds of thousands of people were the ancestors of the current citizens of Mammon Country.

Zhang Ji’s gaze then fell upon the statue of Su inside the church.

A youthful-looking Su stood on a high platform, his gaze fixed forward, his eyes filled with compassion. His arms were spread wide, as if holding something back, or perhaps embracing his followers. Next to him stood a silver-white cross, roughly his own height.

That was right; in the stories, the cross was his weapon.

It was a bit ridiculous, but Zhang Ji just chalked it up to the peculiarities of a parallel universe.

’Transmigration has already happened, so what’s so hard to accept?’

’It couldn’t be that one, could it?’

Zhang Ji stared at the giant cross, a flicker of doubt in his mind.

He stepped forward, reaching out to touch the cross.

"Sir, the Saint’s statue is sacred. I understand your admiration for him, but please refrain from touching it..." the Priest called out, trying to stop Zhang Ji.

But it was too late. Zhang Ji had already touched the cross.

He felt the touch of metal, along with a faint, special energy fluctuation. It was minuscule, but anyone with a sharp Spirit could sense it.

"It really is this thing!" Zhang Ji exclaimed in surprise.

’But on second thought, it makes sense. If it were any smaller, it would have probably been lost or taken away over the past millennia. It wouldn’t still be sitting here.’

"Sir, you mustn’t touch..." the Priest said, stepping forward.

Bai Xiaoxiao immediately put out a hand to block the Priest, preventing him from getting near Zhang Ji and interrupting him.

Zhang Ji held up a hand, signaling for Bai Xiaoxiao to let the Priest go. Then he said, "I, too, am a follower of Su. It’s not often I make it out this way. I would like to take this cross back with me to worship. Name your price."

"Sir, this is not for sale. If you’re really set on taking a souvenir, we have other items..." the Priest said.

"One hundred thousand," Zhang Ji offered directly.

"Our church has never set such a precedent..."

"Three hundred thousand."

"This belongs to the Saint. How could we possibly sell it...?"

"Final offer. One million Romance Coins."

The Priest’s open mouth failed to produce a sound.

That was enough money to build two more, even grander churches.

Zhang Ji gave Bai Xiaoxiao a look.

Immediately, Bai Xiaoxiao pulled the Priest aside to discuss the details of the transaction.

After their discussion, Bai Xiaoxiao returned with the Priest, who was now all smiles.

"Sir, your devout faith will surely be remembered by the Saint..." the Priest said with a grin.

"The transfer is complete, right? So this thing belongs to me now, correct?" Zhang Ji asked, pointing at the cross.

"Of course! Do you need me to call some men to help you load it into a vehicle? Or would you like it shipped to your home? We can even ship it internationally, not a problem..." the Priest said enthusiastically.

"No need. I’ll get it myself."

"What? Get it yourself? How?"

While the Priest was still confused, Zhang Ji had already leaped onto the high platform. He grasped the handle of the massive, two-meter-plus cross. A moment later, his arm trembled slightly as he channeled his strength through the cross to the point where it was attached to the statue and the stone dais.

"CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! SNAP! THUMP!"

In the next instant, Zhang Ji had tipped the cross over, grabbed its handle with one hand, and landed lightly on the floor.

"It’s got some weight to it. Solid core!"

Zhang Ji lifted it, and the strain was evident in his voice as he felt the immense weight on his arm.

The thing had to weigh at least two or three tons. No one below A-rank could possibly wield it as a weapon.

Zhang Ji’s current strength was extraordinary—he could easily exert tens of tons of force—but even he could only lift it and slam it down like a hammer. It was absolutely impossible for him to swing it with the ease of a normal weapon, let alone execute a short-range supersonic attack.

Even an A-rank master would find it unwieldy if they weren’t a martial artist from the [Solid Body Sect].

’Case closed. Turns out Su wasn’t just a [Flowing Water Sect] martial artist; he was also a total beast from the [Solid Body Sect]!’

The Priest was stunned by Zhang Ji’s strength, but Zhang Ji had no intention of chatting. He simply shouldered the massive object and, along with Bai Xiaoxiao, turned and walked out of the church.

...

Zhang Ji called for a pickup truck to transport the cross to Erin’s house, then he checked in with her for an update.

"I found old man Hobs, but he hasn’t been out to sea in a long time. He could only circle a general area from memory. Sect Leader, if you want to go investigate, you’ll probably have to rent a separate boat."

Erin’s voice message was accompanied by a map of the nearby sea, with one area circled in red.

"This is enough. Thank you for your trouble. I can handle the rest myself," Zhang Ji said.

’With a location, the rest is just a minor detail.’

Subsequently, Zhang Ji found a local fisherman willing to rent him a boat.

It was only after he offered five times the asking price that the owner agreed to rent the boat to Zhang Ji for a day.

After loading the cross onto the boat, Zhang Ji was ready to set off.

He turned to Bai Xiaoxiao, who was preparing to go with him, and said, "You stay here and wait for my signal. I’ll be back within a day at most."

"Yes, I understand," Bai Xiaoxiao nodded.

The most crucial quality for someone chosen to serve Zhang Ji was obedience.

He wasn’t supposed to have too many ideas of his own.

When Zhang Ji gave an order, he simply had to carry it out.

Therefore, he wouldn’t dwell on things like whether it was dangerous for Zhang Ji to go out to sea alone, nor would he insist on tagging along out of a sense of duty.

With a roar of its engine, the fishing boat officially departed from the coast, heading toward the horizon.

Bai Xiaoxiao glanced back and suddenly saw a white-haired old man gazing at the departing fishing boat.

"Old sir, what are you doing at the beach all by yourself? Where is your family?"

Bai Xiaoxiao actually thought Tran was perhaps a confused old man suffering from dementia.

Tran looked at Bai Xiaoxiao, a light seeming to flash in his murky eyes. He said, "You are practicing it wrong."

"Wrong?"

Bai Xiaoxiao didn’t understand.

Tran walked past Bai Xiaoxiao and patted him lightly on the shoulder.

In that moment, an immense Telekinesis enveloped Bai Xiaoxiao. It realigned the primal qi he had cultivated through the `Little Five Elements Fist`, forming new qi pathways in his body that resembled the Spirit Crane Stance. The efficiency of his internal energy transfer instantly increased several times over.

With a single glance, Tran had understood the foundation of Bai Xiaoxiao’s technique, traced it back to its roots, identified the correct path, and used Telekinesis to guide him onto it.

This single act of guidance saved Bai Xiaoxiao at least several years of arduous, blind practice.

"RUUUMBLE~!"

Bai Xiaoxiao shuddered. An incredible feeling of comfort washed over his entire body, as if he’d just had a deep massage that opened all his pores and relaxed him completely.

He looked at Tran’s departing back, realizing he had just encountered a true master.

....

Tran had actually known for a long time that the church’s cross was no ordinary object.

However, he had never touched it.

He had no need for it.

But it was, after all, a weapon left behind by a Saint. Zhang Ji leaving with the cross had attracted a sliver of his attention.

But that was all.

His heart had been withered for a long, long time.

Anything that could have rekindled its fire had long since vanished from the world.

-----------------

Time passed. Zhang Ji had been sailing for nearly three hours.

According to the map’s navigation, he was now in the vicinity of Buci Island’s supposed location.

Ordinary fishermen wouldn’t travel this far out.

The fisherman named Hobs had only ventured this far back then because the fish were scarce, which was when he had encountered Buci Island.

He had even run into it more than once.

Later, he had even brought people back to see it.

Someone had confirmed its existence.

But when their boats entered the fog, they would only pass through open water, unable to get anywhere near the island.

That was why most fishermen dismissed it as a mirage.

After reaching the location, Zhang Ji stopped the fishing boat and waited quietly.

Buci Island would only appear when the fog rolled in.

In other words, it was only possible to see it between the early morning hours and dawn.

At other times, especially if the weather was clear, it was impossible to encounter.

Zhang Ji waited there until dusk fell and night descended. Around one in the morning, when the fog began to appear, he started the boat again and searched the area.

However, he saw no sign of the island.

He returned to the boat’s cabin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Just then, his eyes fell on the cross he had placed there.

He sensed that the energy fluctuations coming from it had changed somehow.

Zhang Ji reached out and touched it, using his Spirit to sense it carefully.

It felt as if waves of energy were being transmitted, pointing in a specific direction.

’So that’s how it works!’

With a flash of understanding, Zhang Ji immediately turned the boat and headed in the indicated direction.

As the boat moved forward, the fog grew thicker and thicker. The surrounding scenery was completely obscured, leaving only an endless expanse of mist.

Zhang Ji stood the cross at the bow of the boat. It began to glow faintly, parting a large swath of the fog and revealing a scene a kilometer away under the moonlight: a massive island.

"Finally, I’ve found it!"