Lower Mountain Fierce Tiger Realm, Dock.
As the sole channel for this entire Small World to connect and exchange with the outside world, the importance of this dock cannot be overstated.
For this reason, Great Cheng Garden Treasure Mountain specifically dispatched a high-ranking disciple to guard it.
At this moment, Zhou Zheng, the high-ranking disciple from Great Cheng Garden Treasure Mountain and the highest official at the dock, was practicing martial arts.
However, his method of training was quite unique.
He stood barefoot in a pair of shorts on a piece of ground covered with shattered blades, while several Martial Artists attacked him with weapons.
Zhou Zheng did not dodge or evade, allowing the weapons to strike him, producing dull thudding sounds.
But these attacks could not breach Zhou Zheng’s defense, his body did not sway even a bit.
Just then, there was a crisp snapping sound.
A Martial Artist wielding a Wolf-toothed Staff seized the opportunity to hit Zhou Zheng’s back with full force.
Yet this strike had no effect on Zhou Zheng, instead, the steel Wolf-toothed Staff shattered into two.
Seeing the broken staff in his hand, the Martial Artist’s face showed a look of horror.
Zhou Zheng calmly turned his head and gave him a slight smile.
"Good timing, but your strength is far too lacking."
The Martial Artist let out a wild cry and tried to flee.
Zhou Zheng did not get up to chase him, only lightly kicked the shattered blades on the ground.
With the sharp sound of cutting through the air, several blades pierced through the Martial Artist’s chest, leaving a trail of blood.
The Martial Artist screamed as he fell to the ground, convulsed a few times, and quickly died.
This scene left the remaining Martial Artists completely silent, standing with their weapons without daring to move.
Zhou Zheng’s face showed a hint of coldness, then he waved his hand with disinterest.
"Useless bunch, get lost."
The group of Martial Artists, as if granted a great pardon, hurriedly dispersed.
Zhou Zheng walked out of the Martial Arts Training Ground, and a pretty maid immediately came forward with a hot towel to wipe the dust off his body.
Despite being besieged by a group of Martial Artists wielding sharp weapons, Zhou Zheng’s body did not have a single scratch, only muscles like those chiseled from stone.
After enjoying the maid’s service, Zhou Zheng put on a set of clothes, sat on a recliner, took a sip of hot tea, and then summoned several stewards of the dock.
"How’s the situation at the dock recently?"
"Reporting to the lord, recently, there has been a noticeable decrease in merchant ships coming to the dock. We sent people to investigate and found that a group of pirates has appeared in the nearby sea." One of the oldest stewards respectfully responded.
"Oh?" Zhou Zheng frowned slightly.
Initially, when he was sent to this lower realm to serve as the dock liaison officer, Zhou Zheng was full of reluctance, feeling that he had been demoted.
But once here, Zhou Zheng found himself reluctant to leave.
In this world, Zhou Zheng was practically like the supreme emperor above millions.
Here, he did whatever he wanted, and no one dared to defy his orders.
Just like those Martial Artists who attacked him earlier, they were captured from the Lower Mountain Fierce Tiger Realm and imprisoned at the dock, only to serve as living targets for his training.
And other indulgences were even more needless to mention.
Although Zhou Zheng was practicing the Horizontal Refining Technique from Great Cheng Garden Treasure Mountain, which required maintaining Primordial Yang, there were still many ways to enjoy himself.
Over the years, Zhou Zheng lived a life of extreme luxury and no longer wished to return to Great Cheng Garden Treasure Mountain for hardship.
But he also understood that to keep his position, he must ensure the sect’s interests in this Lower Mountain Fierce Tiger Realm.
The dock was, of course, the most critical among them.
Do not underestimate this shipping dock; due to its geographical location, many ships needed to replenish supplies here, which brought enormous profits to the sect each year.
But now, with pirates appearing in the nearby sea and leading to a sharp reduction in the number of merchant ships coming and going, it’s bad news because once it affects the annual revenue, his position would be at risk.
"Have you found out about the origin and specific strength of these pirates?" Zhou Zheng asked in a deep voice.
"We are investigating, but haven’t found much specific information yet."
"Drop everything else and focus all efforts on gathering information." Zhou Zheng immediately ordered.
"Yes!"
The stewards responded and then turned to leave.
Zhou Zheng sat in the room for a while longer, feeling uneasy, and then said in a deep voice, "Someone, prepare a carriage!"
Quickly, Zhou Zheng was sitting in a carriage that arrived at the dock.
As expected.
The once-busy dock had now become much quieter.
Most of the merchants selling fresh water and supplies had empty doors, and some hadn’t even opened.
Even the once-lively brothels were empty now.
The girls, unable to attract customers, leaned idly against the doorframes, chatting, and the whole dock presented a scene of lifelessness.
Seeing these scenes through the carriage window, Zhou Zheng’s eyebrows gradually knitted together.
He hadn’t expected things to deteriorate to this extent.
If this isn’t resolved soon, the annual revenue could be greatly affected.
However, the nearby sea had always been peaceful, and coupled with being far from bustling sea routes, there should logically be no disturbances here, so how could a group of pirates suddenly emerge?