"Brother Cai, what are you saying?" Zhou Ming was the first to furrow her brows, intentionally changing her address for Cai Zhiyin.
"I've said it before, I want to help you obtain this Gu Immortal Legacy as thanks for your care along the way. Let them stay, I'll go with you."
"Miss Qin, you..." Cai Zhiyin was moved, delighted, and worried all at once, his emotions a complex tangle.
"If Sister Qin can go, I can go too!" Qiu Hongyan shouted, "You can't leave me behind!"
After the thrilling underwater incident just now, her attitude towards Zhou Ming had completely changed. Although Zhou Ming's deliberate closeness and subtle influence along the way were not unrelated, that 'bitter ploy' underwater was truly the beginning of her change of heart.
Finally, only the Gu Master rescued by Cai Zhiyin remained. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Young Master, I'm sorry, I..."
"It's alright, Ma Wu." Cai Zhiyin patted the Gu Master's shoulder and smiled, "You don't need to say anything. Just wait for me here, I will definitely come back for you, I promise!"
The Gu Master was deeply moved, but having just experienced the life-and-death crisis underwater, he truly dared not continue. He could only nod vigorously, both touched and ashamed.
In the end, only three people remained on Cai Zhiyin's side. The other two sides were even worse off, both becoming lone commanders.
Only a mere five people were able to enter the second assessment.
"Very good, next I will announce the content of the second trial!"
The Land Spirit pointed a small hand, and three small boats appeared on the shore.
"There's a small town on the island ahead. You will each set off in a boat, use the fish you've caught to trade with the townspeople on the island. After one day, whoever earns the highest profit margin will win."
"To manage a Gu Immortal Blessed Land well, doing business with Gu Immortals in Treasure Yellow Heaven is unavoidable. This second trial is to test your business acumen!"
"Also, I said 'profit margin,' not necessarily who earns the most money in the end. Rather, for the same item, it's about who can sell it for a higher price and earn a higher profit."
"After one day, I will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the money you've earned and calculate the profit margin. At that time, the winner and loser will be clear."
"Remember, in this trial, mutual attacks are still forbidden, and you are not allowed to tamper with the townspeople on the island, nor are you allowed to force purchases or sales, or harm the townspeople. Otherwise, you will be immediately eliminated."
"Go! A reminder: only by sailing out to sea can you reach that island!"
After saying the last sentence, the Land Spirit disappeared.
The three groups of people looked at each other, not saying much. They each boarded a small boat and left, leaving the two injured Gu Masters to recuperate on the island, which goes without saying.
The small boat drifted on the sea, vast and empty all around. Only the surging waves could be heard, and occasionally fish would leap out of the water, the splashing water glistening like pearls and shining golden in the sunlight.
The small boat was not large. Zhou Ming and Qiu Hongyan huddled together at one end, while Cai Zhiyin miserably paddled the oars at the other end.
Just then, a thick fog suddenly rose from the sea, spreading rapidly and soon enveloping the entire surrounding world.
"It's getting foggy." Qiu Hongyan reached out to grasp a handful of the substantial thick fog, watching it swirl around her hand, and said softly.
"Perhaps this is why the Land Spirit said that only by sailing can we reach the island."
Zhou Ming gently stroked Qiu Hongyan's hair, speaking softly.
Facing this sudden anomaly, none of the three panicked. The small boat continued forward unhurriedly. After about ten minutes, the thick fog dispersed, and visibility returned.
A small island suddenly appeared in their sight.
That island was naturally much larger than the previous two isolated islands. It was densely vegetated, with buildings standing tall, faint wisps of smoke curling up, and a small dock built on the shore.
The three moored their boat and saw that two other small boats were already docked at the pier.
"Those two arrived so quickly?" Qiu Hongyan exclaimed in surprise.
"They don't have our leisurely mindset. They probably paddled like mad and arrived early," Zhou Ming said, glancing reproachfully at Cai Zhiyin.
Cai Zhiyin's face flushed. His little trick on the way was exposed, and he stammered, afraid to speak.
The three went ashore and walked towards the small town. Soon, they saw the residents of the town.
However, the appearance of those people startled all three of them.
They saw that the town residents walking back and forth were all broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, short and stout, with long hair covering their bodies, limbs, and even their faces, which were covered in long reddish-brown fur.
Both men and women were like this.
"Hairy Men?" Cai Zhiyin exclaimed in a low voice, his eyes wide.
"Are they the Hairy Men described in The Legends of Ren Zu?" Qiu Hongyan's big, black eyes curiously watched the Hairy Men passing by. This legendary variant Human Race was the first she had ever seen.
"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen such a handsome Hairy Man before!"
A nearby Hairy Man, annoyed by Qiu Hongyan's continuous glances, glared at her and growled.
Variant Humans and the Human Race are not of the same kind. There are Hairy Men, Merfolk, Smallmen, Inkmen, and other Variant Humans in the world, who existed even before the birth of the Human Race.
However, as the Human Race rose and became dominant, the living space for Variant Humans diminished, and they gradually became less common.
Hairy Men are naturally unique. Although their intelligence is considerably lower than that of humans, their Gu Refinement talent is exceptionally high, and the rate at which Gu Refinement Great Masters are born among them is much higher than among humans.
The Legends of Ren Zu records that Hairy Men even captured Ren Zu's eldest son, Tai Ri Yang Mang, intending to use him as Materials to refine an immortal Gu. Fortunately, Tai Ri Yang Mang was clever and escaped with the Vanity Gu, also infecting the entire Hairy Men tribe with the bad habit of vanity.
Therefore, Hairy Men love praise and flattery the most. They can easily be praised into a state of euphoria, becoming complacent and losing themselves.
'Perhaps, this is the key to winning this trial?' Zhou Ming pondered inwardly.
Doing business naturally requires tailoring the approach to the client's preferences. If one can profit by merely flattering the other party, such a good opportunity is something every merchant would eagerly seek.
'However, complimenting others isn't my current persona. Such matters are best left to those who should do them.'
Thinking this, Zhou Ming waved at Cai Zhiyin and whispered a few words in his ear. Cai Zhiyin looked surprised and said, "Can these legends really be true?"
"Brother Cai, if you don't believe it, you can try." Zhou Ming smiled slightly and pulled Qiu Hongyan into the town.
"Hongyan and I will just wander around. This matter is entrusted to you, Brother Cai."
She waved her hand, leaving Cai Zhiyin with only two beautiful backs.
Qiu Hongyan was pulled by Zhou Ming for a while before she cautiously asked, "Isn't it a bit bad to push everything onto cousin?"
"What's bad about it? Don't you trust him?" Zhou Ming asked with a smile.
"No, I just feel..."
"Then there's no 'but'. Let's go, let's see what's special about the Hairy Men's town."
"Okay, okay..."
Perhaps it was a woman's nature, but Qiu Hongyan was quickly attracted by the dazzling array of novelties on both sides of the street. She happily went shopping with Zhou Ming.
The most common items sold by the Hairy Men were various Gu Materials. Hairy Men are skilled in Gu Refinement, so in a town of Hairy Men, not many would buy actual Gu. However, Gu Materials, being consumables, were needed by everyone and could be sold by everyone, with a wide and varied selection.
The two shopped and bought along the way, acquiring quite a few Gu Materials that were not commonly seen. Whether in the outside world or in a Gu Immortal Blessed Land, primeval stones were always the hard currency when trading with Gu Masters.
Time flew by, and the sun gradually set. The two found an inn, waited for the busy Cai Zhiyin, and then each returned to their rooms to rest.
After a night, all three had recovered their spirits. Cai Zhiyin hurried out, continuing the transactions he hadn't completed yesterday, while Zhou Ming still leisurely pulled Qiu Hongyan around.
The two strolled on the island's beach until the Land Spirit appeared, announcing that time was up and the second assessment had ended.
The three, along with the Pirate Boss and his second-in-command whom they had seen several times in town, all five appeared on a large reef on the back of the island. The Land Spirit quickly calculated the profits from this round.
As expected, Cai Zhiyin won again.
He himself had extensive experience in merchant travel, leading trade caravans across the land. And having learned about the Hairy Men's character flaws from Zhou Ming, it was not difficult for him to sell his goods at a high price.
The faces of the Pirate Boss and his second-in-command grew even uglier as the Land Spirit announced the results. Cai Zhiyin's two consecutive victories meant their chances of winning were getting smaller and smaller, and they were naturally very unwilling.
This was a Gu Immortal Blessed Land. Once any one of them inherited the Blessed Land, they would have the power of life and death over the others. Where would their lives be then?
For a time, the killing intent in the eyes of the two Rank Four Gu Masters grew stronger and stronger as they frequently looked at them.
"In the next trial, let's try not to separate," Zhou Ming said, pulling Qiu Hongyan closer and speaking to Cai Zhiyin at the same time.
"This trial was too easy. Although winning was still not simple, it didn't require any fighting and gave us plenty of time to rest and recuperate."
"I'm afraid the next trial will be very difficult and dangerous. It's best to be careful."
Zhou Ming explained, facing their questioning gazes.
Both felt that her words made sense and dared not be careless, waiting for the Land Spirit to announce the content of the third trial.
"The third trial is simple," the Land Spirit said, pointing at everyone. Instantly, the scene before them changed. They were again teleported by the Land Spirit, appearing on another isolated island.
"Within the ten thousand mu radius of seawater ahead, there is a sea clam. Inside the sea clam is a pearl, a Rank Five Gu Material. Whoever retrieves that pearl first and returns to the island will be declared the winner."
As he spoke, a ball of light appeared in the Land Spirit's small hand, transforming into the shape of a sea clam. The sea clam opened, revealing a shimmering, emerald green pearl.
"That sea clam is confined by me within a ten thousand mu radius. It will definitely not go beyond this range, so you can rest assured."
"Oh, and in this trial, mutual killing is not prohibited."
"To inherit a Gu Immortal Blessed Land, luck and strength are both indispensable. Your strength is a bit lacking, so you can only pick the tallest among the short. As for luck... that's up to you."
On the Land Spirit's tender, youthful face, a naive smile appeared, as if he were truly a five or six-year-old child. Yet, the words he spoke sent a shock through everyone's hearts, making them feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.