Chapter 461: This Subordinate Hasn’t Read a Single Book

As Xie Jinjia spoke, his gaze examined Yang Ling without the slightest restraint.

The civil officials following behind him also quietly sized Yang Ling up.

Seeing this, the martial artists from the various factions all glanced at Xie Zhihu in unison.

“Senior Brother, I heard that Vice Minister Xie is an elder from Xie Zhihu’s clan?”

The junior brother beside Hua Zhuo had barely opened his mouth when Hua Zhuo glared him into silence.

Yang Ling heard those words too, and his heart gave an involuntary lurch.

“Many of the young talents here today are visiting Fire Flood Dragon Island for the first time. Some are even crossing the ocean for the first time, so they don’t know much about the situation beyond our shores.”

Xie Jinjia withdrew his gaze from Yang Ling and looked over the crowd.

“The Star-Sea Fishing Alliance is a complicated faction. Some of its islands have decent relations with Zhao State, while others, for one reason or another, have fallen out with us.”

“The situation is too complicated to explain in detail, so after you land on the island, do your best to avoid any experts from the Star-Sea Fishing Alliance you encounter.”

The Sixth-Rank martial artists from the various factions quietly took note, growing more wary of the Star-Sea Fishing Alliance.

“However, the Star-Sea Fishing Alliance sometimes discovers treasures in the sea.”

“If they’re willing to offer those treasures in exchange for something you have, you may decide for yourselves whether to trade.”

“Our Zhao State doesn’t have many of the rare exotic herbs and flowers found in the sea.”

Xie Jinjia spoke again.

Rare exotic herbs and flowers from the sea? The eyes of quite a few Sixth-Rank martial artists lit up.

After speaking, Xie Jinjia once again turned his gaze to Yang Ling.

“How many of Zhao State’s literary classics have you read? Have you read The Art of War and Punishment? Treatise on the Eternal Language? Nine Chapters on Forging and Cultivation? The Seventy-Two Volumes of Agricultural Strategies...”

Yang Ling listened with a blank expression.

The man rattled off dozens of books, and Yang Ling hadn’t read a single one.

The civil officials, along with Xie Zhihu and the other experts from Star Observation Academy, couldn’t help showing their scornful amusement at the sight.

“Not a single one?”

Xie Jinjia furrowed his brow.

Yang Ling nodded. “This subordinate hasn’t read a single book.”

“When you have time, you can read one. Pick a classic that interests you.”

Xie Jinjia said calmly, “If you practice martial arts without reading, then all you can do is wield weapons.

With your martial arts talent, that would be a terrible waste.

When the Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle is over, come to my residence and choose a classic.”

Yang Ling was dumbstruck. Li Zhong and Zhao Zheng were just as stunned.

So were the civil officials Xie Jinjia had brought with him, as well as Xie Zhihu and the others.

Nangong Linghe and the other Water Transport Guild supervisors couldn’t help exchanging glances, each seeing a flicker of surprise in the other’s eyes.

This was the civil official faction openly trying to recruit him!

It was exceedingly rare for the Left Vice Minister of War to offer books to a Sixth-Rank Ironclad of the Ironclad Department!

Zhao Yuan and Zhao Qi exchanged glances. When they looked at Yang Ling again, their expressions had changed.

Yun Buchuan and Zhao Xun hadn’t expected that Yang Ling, whom they had recruited, would catch the eye of the Left Vice Minister of War.

No! It was the faction behind him that had taken an interest in Yang Ling!

Both men saw shock and solemnity on the other’s face.

Besides the shock, surprise, and disbelief, quite a few young talents couldn’t hide the envy and jealousy in their eyes.

Zhao Yingying wore a strange expression.

“Vice Minister Xie actually took a liking to Yang Ling? A mere martial artist...”

Tong He furrowed his brow.

Qin Kunlun remained expressionless, his attention even more focused on Fire Flood Dragon Island, more than ten miles away.

Yang Ling’s thoughts raced. Xie Jinjia had already patted him on the shoulder and given him a meaningful look before leading the civil and military officials toward higher ground.

“Could that guy be trying to sow discord!?”

Yang Ling was utterly bewildered. He had a thousand things he wanted to say, but seeing that the other man was a Third-Rank Grandmaster Supreme, he swallowed them all and didn’t dare utter a single word.

“Don’t overthink it. Focus on what’s in front of you for now.”

Zhao Zheng patted Yang Ling on the shoulder as well.

“Yes.”

Before long, one small fast boat after another broke away from the fleet and headed toward Fire Flood Dragon Island.

Yang Ling, Zhao Zheng, and Xu Qingnian were aboard the same boat.

When Xu Qingnian had boarded just now, Xu Wenjun had made a point of speaking with Yang Ling for a few moments, clearly intending to remind him of something.

Their boat had originally been at the head of the fleet, but before long, the fast boat Qin Kunlun was aboard shot past them like an arrow, speeding toward Fire Flood Dragon Island.

Besides Qin Kunlun, that fast boat carried Zhao Yingying, Tong He, Dongfang Haojie, and another Sixth-Rank expert.

Jie Shu, Hua Zhuo, and the others weren’t traveling very fast. Their boats maintained a tacitly agreed pace with Yang Ling’s.

Yang Ling turned his head and saw that more than a hundred veteran Sixth-Rank martial artists had also boarded fast boats and were following behind the others.

That was when he noticed the boat carrying Chen Zuo.

There were five Sixth-Rank martial artists aboard.

At their head was the young Upper Sixth-Rank expert sent by Extreme Flame Sword Manor this time.

Besides Chen Zuo and another Sixth-Rank martial artist from Extreme Flame Sword Manor, the final two, a man and a woman, were also at the Upper Sixth-Rank level. Their auras suggested they were nearing Vital Qi’s Near Perfection.

They seemed to notice Yang Ling looking at them. They glanced over, then lowered their heads and pretended to doze.

Zhao Zheng turned his gaze away from Qin Kunlun’s back and said calmly,

“The two others aboard Extreme Flame Sword Manor’s fast boat should be the ones sent by my two royal uncles.”

The Upper Sixth-Rank experts at the peak, sent by Prince Carefree and Prince Divine Might.

Yang Ling understood. No wonder their cultivation foundations were so exceptional.

At the same time, the fast boats from the Rong tribe also began approaching Fire Flood Dragon Island.

Because of the treaty, the two sides weren’t allowed to fight before landing.

They could only fight to the death on Fire Flood Dragon Island.

So the stretch of sea, more than ten miles across, remained relatively calm.

The two sides even deliberately avoided the same landing spots. Clearly, they didn’t want to start fighting the moment they set foot on the island!

“Everyone is interested in certain things on Fire Flood Dragon Island, so they won’t start fighting the moment they land. Still, we can’t rule out the possibility that some hotheads are eager to distinguish themselves and earn merit.”

Zhao Zheng said.

Yang Ling and Xu Qingnian nodded slightly. A look of anticipation appeared in the latter’s eyes.

“Prince Pingrong, what should we do after we land?”

“Once we’re ashore, we’ll wait until all my people arrive before deciding.”

The corners of Zhao Zheng’s mouth lifted slightly. He stood at the bow with his hands behind his back, and his gaze toward Fire Flood Dragon Island held a note of anticipation.

Yang Ling glanced at the human skin map in his Green Dragon Ring, feeling a little more hopeful himself.

If the opportunity arose, he would have to see whether this map could earn him the Crimson Refined Fire Flood Dragon Sect’s inheritance.

Fire Flood Dragon Island drew closer and closer.

The wind blowing toward them grew hotter and hotter.

A hint of solemnity appeared in everyone’s eyes.

They could still bear this degree of heat.

But after landing, they might encounter places with even more scorching temperatures.

By then, the fastest boat was only a mile from Fire Flood Dragon Island.

A faint ripple suddenly appeared beneath the calm surface of the sea.

The next second, a terrifying giant burst out of the water, instantly smashing Qin Kunlun’s boat to pieces.

Qin Kunlun, Zhao Yingying, and the others looked horrified. They immediately leaped into the sea to evade the creature and swam for Fire Flood Dragon Island with all their might.

Even though the seawater was as hot as boiling water, they had no time to care.

Yang Ling’s pupils shook violently. What had he just seen!?

Holy crap, was that a gigantic mantis shrimp!?