Chapter 782: Peaceful Days [Bonus 2]
The massive corpse of a sea beast floated on the ocean's surface, its blood staining a vast expanse of the sea red. Before long, sharks smelling the blood began swimming over from afar, their black dorsal fins cutting through the water. Only then did Zhang Yi lower the boat down.
Water sprayed in all directions.
The crew members were utterly awestruck by Zhang Yi's abilities, exclaiming "miracle" repeatedly. Yang Xinxin clung to Zhang Yi's arm, gazing up at him adoringly. "Brother, you're amazing!"
Though startled, the others weren't overly panicked, having complete faith in Zhang Yi's strength. When everyone gathered at the bow to examine the sea monster, they saw it was a mutated whale. Its head was now covered with densely packed eyes, its body riddled with tumor-like protrusions, and its size far exceeded even the largest blue whale. Its original species was unrecognizable.
Below, a feeding frenzy had already begun as carnivorous fish fought viciously over its corpse, churning the bloody waters.
"It looks big, but doesn't seem that scary!" Yang Siya said with a laugh, pressing a hand to her ample chest.
"No, this thing is extremely dangerous," Zhang Yi corrected her. "If not for me, this creature could capsize a several-thousand-ton steel warship. Its underwater strength is terrifying - by superhuman standards, its destructive power reaches Delta-level."
Zhang Yi, however, noticed Old Tian leaning against the railing, frowning in thought. He walked over, hands in pockets. "What's wrong? Something bothering you?"
Old Tian quickly responded, "Mr. Zhang, I just find this situation rather strange."
"Strange how? Explain."
Gesturing at the sea monster's corpse below, Old Tian said seriously, "Normally, creatures of this size inhabit deep ocean regions and rarely approach coastal waters. There simply isn't enough food for them here. That's why encountering it here is so unusual."
Not particularly knowledgeable about ocean life, Zhang Yi asked curiously, "What could cause this then?"
Old Tian explained methodically: "Sometimes extreme weather, undersea volcanic eruptions or earthquakes can drive deep-sea creatures to shallower waters for refuge. Alternatively... they might be fleeing predators."
A cautious gleam flashed in Zhang Yi's eyes. "Predators?" Even this massive sea monster had natural enemies? His gaze involuntarily turned toward the deep ocean. The sea was vast and unfathomable - even pre-apocalypse, it held countless terrifying unknown creatures, let alone after the Great Mutation.
"Best not to linger here," Zhang Yi concluded. He'd originally considered harvesting the sea monster for fresh meat, but its grotesque appearance turned his stomach. Better to let it nourish the ocean while serving as chum for their fishing.
True enough, the massive bait made fishing remarkably productive. Though Zhang Yi warned them not to eat the catch - either release the fish or keep them as pets.
In the following days, life became quite leisurely for Zhang Yi's group. Though the Celestial Hound Squad remained officially active, Zhang Yi only responded to orders selectively. Zhu Zheng, eager to maintain their alliance, avoided assigning him missions.
Old You and Fatty Xu returned from their visit to the Deng Group noticeably changed. Old You's strength had increased dramatically, and both had undergone professional combat training that significantly improved their skills.
The most dramatic transformation was Fatty Xu's. He'd become shockingly thin, almost emaciated - reportedly from enduring brutal military-style training. Though Zhang Yi knew the real reason. Afterwards, Fatty Xu couldn't stop talking about Blizzard City, constantly begging Zhang Yi to let him return. Zhang Yi, being a good brother, mentioned it to Deng Shentong and secured Fatty Xu a small residence in Blizzard City - even a long-term bus pass for regular stress-relief visits.
While both men paid a steep price, their gains were substantial. However, as proven, temporary weight loss from exercise rebounds easily. Back at the shelter, Fatty Xu wept while binge-eating, regaining all the weight plus extra within two weeks.
As for Zhang Yi? He spent peaceful days playing cards with Zhou Ke'er, Yang Siya and Yang Xinxin, or games like Wild Ball Fist. But he also dedicated two daily hours to martial arts training with Liang Yue.
His close combat skills remained a weakness. As his power grew, Zhang Yi realized high-level superhumans developed all-round capabilities. The barrel effect meant one's lowest skill determined overall strength - any critical deficiency could prove fatal in battle. Fortunately, years of warehouse work and regular exercise gave Zhang Yi decent physical foundations, allowing him to keep up with Liang Yue's training over time.
Martial arts required patient accumulation though - no instant mastery. Impatient at times, Zhang Yi once asked, "Any shortcuts?"
Liang Yue rolled her eyes. "Yes - it's called the Sunflower Manual."
Zhang Yi chuckled. "I'd prefer the Taoist method of yin-yang harmony." Naturally, this earned him a punch from Liang Yue.
"I was just suggesting," Zhang Yi quickly explained. "Effectiveness doesn't matter - I just want to experience the process."
Thus Zhang Yi gradually improved his close combat skills. Liang Yue designed a special training regimen for him. For quick results, she focused on defensive tactics - Holy Judgment's broadsword form excelled at blocking. If he could withstand initial assaults, his spatial traversal ability could create distance, letting him utilize Thunderbolt, White Owl or Void Slash optimally.
Two months slipped by unnoticed, bringing them to July - the year's hottest season, though the planet's aphelion position meant Tianhai City temperatures plunged to -30°C!
Now let's shift our gaze thousands of nautical miles away, to the South Seas where a volcanic island called Rockflow Island rises. Rich in geothermal energy, this former tourist hotspot now shelters refugees from surrounding nations after the apocalypse.