171: At this moment, the Black Shark Gang was as hard as iron.

The scent of blood beside the pile of corpses had not yet dissipated, but the mine vein had already fallen silent.

The people from the Thousand Hands Society had vanished, but the remaining three factions showed tacit understanding.

The "clanging and banging" of hammers rose and fell, strongly resembling a construction site working overtime late at night.

Iron Head squatted next to Xiao Zhenhai, staring eagerly into the distance.

That area was the Blood Anchor Group's territory.

"Holy crap! We hit the jackpot!"

A cry of surprise came from that side.

They saw a mercenary covered in tattoos pry loose a Divine Stone the size of a watermelon.

Its luster was so bright that the energy fluctuations inside could be felt even from afar.

Immediately afterward, the Sea Wave Society's side also showed activity.

Several gray-robed zealots jointly lifted a half-man-tall colossal crystal cluster, and the High Priest stood nearby, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Damn it..."

Iron Head swallowed hard and angrily threw the stone powder in his hand onto the ground.

"Gang Leader, what kind of situation is this? They're eating meat while we're stuck here sucking dust?"

Xiao Zhenhai did not speak.

He stood at the edge of the cordon with his hands behind his back, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Lin Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged behind him.

The halo around this young man had already retracted; now he looked like an ordinary big boy.

Only the tiny currents occasionally leaping through his hair warned others to keep their distance.

"What's the rush?"

Xiao Zhenhai pulled a cigar from his pocket, but did not light it, merely sniffing it at the tip of his nose.

"Some things, just having them in your hand doesn't mean they're yours. Only when they are inside your stomach are they truly yours."

Iron Head did not understand and could only sullenly pick up his pickaxe and vent his frustration on the rock beneath his feet.

Another ten minutes passed.

The cheers from the Blood Anchor Group's side suddenly quieted down.

At first, it was just one or two people muttering in confusion, which quickly turned into curses.

"What's going on? It was glowing just a moment ago!"

"Same here, it went dark as soon as I pried it off!"

"This is cursed, it's empty inside!"

The mercenary who had previously dug up the watermelon-sized Divine Stone was staring blankly at his hand.

Just a few seconds ago, that priceless treasure rapidly dimmed in his hand, and finally, with a "crack," shattered into dust on the ground.

The people from the Blood Anchor Group panicked.

The people from the Sea Wave Society also stopped moving.

The smile on the High Priest's face froze, and he turned his head to look in the direction of the energy loss.

All the vanishing energy surged toward a single destination.

That young man sitting cross-legged on the ground, wearing a floral shirt.

"It's him!"

From the Blood Anchor Group's side, a man wearing a camouflage tactical vest and tactical goggles stepped forward.

The leader of the Blood Anchor Group, Renault.

He kicked away the waste stone powder at his feet, carried a modified heavy explosive rifle, and strode rapidly toward the Black Shark Gang's position.

Behind him, dozens of fully armed mercenaries followed noisily, their muzzles intentionally or unintentionally raised.

"Alert!"

Xiao Zhenhai put the cigar back in his pocket and let out a low shout.

Although the Black Shark Gang's subordinates were intimidated, they still gritted their teeth and raised their guns.

Su Wanqing stood beside Lin Yuan, cold Qi condensing.

Her gaze bypassed Renault and landed on the team behind him.

Two inconspicuous figures were mixed among them.

Zhao Ya was wearing a combat uniform, her face smeared with camouflage paint, chewing gum, and looking utterly nonchalant.

Beside her, Purple Kite carried a massive medical kit, head bowed, appearing completely unremarkable.

Their eyes met for a fleeting moment before separating.

Renault stopped nearly ten meters away from Xiao Zhenhai.

"Gang Leader Xiao."

"Isn't this a bit unethical?"

He pointed to the pile of waste residue behind him, then pointed to Lin Yuan, who was still Cultivating with his eyes closed.

"Our brothers worked themselves half to death digging all this time, only for it all to become labor for this kid."

"Is the Black Shark Gang planning to drink all the soup and leave us to lick the bottom of the bowl?"

Xiao Zhenhai smiled, not retreating a single step.

"Commander Renault, I don't understand what you're saying."

He spread his hands, "The mine vein is right here. Whoever digs it up gets it. What, if you can't find anything good, are you going to blame someone else for having too much luck?"

"Stop giving me that bullshit!"

Renault shouldered his rifle, spittle flying everywhere.

"You call this luck?"

He pointed at Lin Yuan.

"This kid is draining the root of the entire mine vein! If we let him keep sucking like this, all that will be left on the seabed is a pile of rotten rocks!"

"Make him stop."

Renault pressed forward one step, his viciousness fully exposed.

"Either you make him stop, or I'll help him stop."

The atmosphere grew tense.

Just then, footsteps came from the other side as well.

The members of the Sea Wave Society walked over stealthily.

The High Priest walked at the very front. Hearing Renault's words, he tapped his staff on the ground.

"Commander Renault speaks reasonably."

His voice was increasingly effeminate, giving people goosebumps.

He walked next to Renault, surprisingly standing on the same side as this crude mercenary.

"That which is bestowed by the gods should be shared equally."

The High Priest looked at Xiao Zhenhai, pity in his eyes.

"Gang Leader Xiao, although the Black Shark Gang is strong, attempting to swallow the entire Nine Ring Island's Opportunity in one bite—isn't that a bit too greedy?"

The three sides faced off.

Two factions joined forces to exert pressure.

The legs of the Black Shark Gang members were trembling.

On one side were mercenaries who killed without blinking, and on the other were cultists with bizarre methods.

Although their side had strength in numbers, if a fight truly broke out, they feared they wouldn't even count as cannon fodder.

All the pressure converged upon Xiao Zhenhai.

Iron Head leaned close to Xiao Zhenhai's ear, his voice shaking: "Gang Leader... why don't we... wake that kid up? We can't withstand this setup..."

If only Xiao Zhenhai would take one step back.

If only he said, "This has nothing to do with me."

This trouble could be diverted onto Lin Yuan.

After all, they were only partners; there was no need to risk everything for an outsider.

Su Wanqing tightened her grip on the ice spike in her hand, already prepared for battle.

She had decided that if Xiao Zhenhai betrayed them, she would activate the Ice Phoenix Domain to buy time.

Captain Zhao Ya and the others would definitely cooperate with her; they might not be without a chance of winning.

Xiao Zhenhai was silent for two seconds.

He looked at the aggressive Renault, and then at the Yin and Yang-speaking High Priest.

Suddenly, he burst out laughing.

"Heh heh..."

"Interesting."

Xiao Zhenhai straightened his collar, and his previously slightly hunched back slowly straightened.

The reason he had survived so long in a place like Nine Ring Island was due to his foresight.

Since he had already decided to cooperate with Lin Yuan, he had long been prepared.

Take a gamble.

If he won, the Black Shark Gang would be the ultimate authority on Nine Ring Island from now on.

If he lost... well, if he sold out Lin Yuan now, he would still be dead once the kid woke up anyway.

"Gentlemen."

Xiao Zhenhai stopped smiling.

"As agreed earlier, everyone relies on their own ability."

He pointed to the ground beneath his feet.

"Young Master Lin has great ability; if he absorbs quickly, that is his capability."

"If you feel you've lost out, you can try absorbing like him too."

Xiao Zhenhai looked mockingly at the High Priest, "Isn't your Sea God boundless in power? How is it that you can't absorb more than a Mortal?"

The High Priest's face darkened.

Renault was screaming in fury.

"Xiao Zhenhai! You're taking advantage of our goodwill, aren't you?"

He racked the bolt, loading a bullet into the chamber.

"I'm giving you one last chance, get lost! Otherwise, I'll wipe out your Black Shark Gang along with you!"

Xiao Zhenhai did not move.

He simply reached for his lower back and drew a long saber.

"You can try."

Xiao Zhenhai's tone was calm, "Let's see if your gun is faster, or if my life is tougher."

At this moment, even Su Wanqing was slightly surprised.

Lin Yuan had beaten his son right in front of him, yet Xiao Zhenhai did not seize this Opportunity for revenge.

He was still able to adhere to their previous agreement and maintain his position.

"Good! Very good!"

Renault laughed in extreme anger.

"Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

"Attack!"

Following Renault's furious roar, the mercenaries behind him pulled their triggers.

Rat-a-tat-a-tat—!

Tongues of fire spat out, and bullets rained down.

"Defense!"

Iron Head roared and flipped over several massive rocks to use as cover.

On the other side, the High Priest also moved.

"The wrath of the gods shall cleanse everything."

He raised his staff, and the corpses collected by the Sea Wave Society began to move, lunging toward Lin Yuan.

"Is this what you call rules?"

Xiao Zhenhai hid behind the rocks, returning fire while cursing loudly.

"This is truly shameful!"

"Rules?"

Renault laughed wildly, firing a high-explosive round from his explosive rifle, scattering shattered rock across the Black Shark Gang's position.

"On Nine Ring Island, the biggest fist makes the rules!"

The High Priest did not speak, but the horde of corpses he commanded had already charged forward.

The Sea Wave Society warriors followed closely behind, using the corpse horde as shields, drawing their weapons, and charging toward the Black Shark Gang members.