CHAPTER 137: CHAPTER 136: GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN

If you want to come out on top in this Star Removal Association, become the most dazzling captain, boost your reputation, and climb up the battle rankings.

When fame rises, so does influence, and the future holds many more possibilities...

Yuan Qing thought to himself.

...

In the eyes of everyone, Fang Yu, who shone brightly in the previous round, is leisurely returning to the waters near Qingyue Island, causing everyone to look at him and shake their heads subtly.

What a pity... He probably doesn’t know the pattern of star beast births.

The first round shines, but it won’t necessarily shine afterward.

However, Fang Yu completely ignored everyone’s gazes, focused entirely on setting up the current layout.

"Luu Yuan, take the underwater combat team and arrange the sea minefield in this area first."

"Yes, Captain!"

Luu Yuan hurriedly nodded, then waved to the seven underwater combat crew members behind him.

Everyone quickly leapt into action, diving directly into the seawater and starting to set up the sea mines around them.

Sea mines, a type of Extraordinary Magic Stone Luu Yuan acquired during this time, and the second Extraordinary Ability he gained after transforming his body into water flow and creating a Water Clone.

The body transforming into water flow is akin to an escape or reconnaissance Extraordinary Ability, while sea mines gather seawater and quietly place it in the sea.

Like landmines, if a sea vessel or ocean creature passes by, Luu Yuan can detonate the sea mine with just a thought, creating significant power.

Advantages: The explosion is very powerful, and the stronger the ocean energy, the greater the power.

Disadvantages: Limited in number, immovable, and only suitable for ambushes.

With Luu Yuan’s current Intermediate Ocean Affinity Skill, he can only set up four sea mines at most.

However, it doesn’t matter.

Four of the accompanying underwater combat team members also chose the same type of Extraordinary Ability as Luu Yuan.

Luu Yuan, now taking on the leadership role of the squad, has made some plans for the underwater combat team’s Extraordinary Abilities.

Four people, plus Luu Yuan himself, manifest the sea mine Extraordinary Ability.

The other four possess a different Water Ability: Water Arrow!

Maximizing the team’s strengths is far more effective than the individual contributions of crew members.

A total of 16 sea mines are quietly placed in the seawater by the crew members, completely invisible from the outside, being formed from seawater and utilizing the internal energy of the sea, combined with the Transcendent’s abilities.

Being part of the seawater, they are naturally difficult to detect.

After setting up the sea mines, Luu Yuan and the others initially intended to remain submerged, as crew members with Ocean Affinity Talent, staying underwater for long periods feels no different than being on land.

However, Fang Yu still shook his head and had Ma call the underwater combat team up through the Brain Domain channel.

Luu Yuan and the others were puzzled but followed Fang Yu’s command to prepare to board the ship.

Before boarding, Luu Yuan hesitated for a moment and quietly left a Water Clone in the ocean.

Then he followed his fellow crew members back on board.

"Captain, what’s going on? Aren’t we supposed to ambush the star beasts? Sending us underwater allows us to have some offensive capability."

Luu Yuan spoke up to Fang Yu.

He is very ambitious; since early on, the Ocean Affinity Talent seemed to have little use besides enhancing the sea vessel’s mobility and navigational capabilities.

At most, it could retrieve something from the water or control the waves to prevent damage to the ship.

But contributing only to this extent is unsatisfactory for Luu Yuan.

From the first day Fang Yu spoke with Luu Yuan, he realized Luu Yuan was someone with clear plans for his sea vessel and future, determined to follow an ambitious captain. It’s evident that Luu Yuan, sincere on the surface, harbors a strong inner drive.

Ever since witnessing the crew members with warfare talent, led by Luo Kuan, gaining more and more contribution to the sea vessel,

the warfare team’s decision-making power and member expansion surpassed other teams considerably.

Luu Yuan held a burning ambition inside.

If the underwater combat team can’t be effective in war, producing strong attacking power,

then the title of "combat team" is meaningless.

Thus, during this time, Luu Yuan made serious plans for his team.

Using each mission reward to accumulate money and then exchange it for formidable combat-oriented Extraordinary Abilities.

With the intention that one day in the Salted Fish’s ocean combat, they could play a crucial role, capturing the captain’s attention.

But Fang Yu’s words at this moment slightly dampened Luu Yuan’s enthusiasm.

"Ambushing star beasts doesn’t require your abilities. Saving your strengths for more important battles is the real priority!"

Fang Yu glanced at Luu Yuan, also sensing his ambition and noticing that the underwater combat team seemed to be harboring their strength these days.

Thus, Fang Yu quickly reassured Luu Yuan.

"More important battles?"

Luu Yuan was taken aback, confused: "In this Star Removal Association, besides the star beasts, there are no other enemies... What more important battle could there be?"

"There is, don’t rush. If Li Lin is reliable, there’s bound to be..."

King of Beasts!

Fang Yu has been waiting for the King of Beasts to appear.

However, this is merely a piece of intelligence from Li Lin, or a judgment after referencing the data.

Whether a King of Beasts will be born, Fang Yu is uncertain, but he feels it’s worth gambling on.

Winning this gamble would yield benefits far beyond slaying ordinary star beasts.

Yet, due to this uncertainty, Fang Yu couldn’t confidently explain this to the crew.

What if... one doesn’t appear... it would be awkward.

Seeing Fang Yu’s suggestive yet unexplained demeanor, Luu Yuan paused for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Choosing to trust the captain.

Many of the captain’s actions lack clear explanation beforehand, but post-event often proves that the captain was right.

The long-term experiences fostered a near-blind trust in Fang Yu among Luu Yuan and the others.

"Alright!"

The passionate Luu Yuan, having nowhere to channel his fervor, was quickly appeased by Fang Yu, a middle-stage capitalist well-versed in managing subordinates, with just a few words.

Soon he was eagerly preparing his own matters contentedly.

Fang Yu watched Luu Yuan with a smile, then continued organizing the crew to prepare for battle.

"It’s here!"

At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened again, and the starlight gathered into over a dozen beams, descending sharply onto the ocean surface.

This time, the level of starlight and the ocean’s power was far greater than the first batch of star beasts.

The quantity was also more!

More dangerous, and also... containing more Radiant Star Stone Fragments within.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

One by one, star beasts emerged instantly.

This time, however, people were prepared and didn’t panic as before.

Except for a few unlucky ones directly beneath the star beasts when they landed, the remaining captains formed teams orderly for the star beast hunting action.

Popular captains needed no mention.

Having unlocked the right method to exclusively hunt star beasts, popular captains now understand the importance of staying away from other popular captains.

Exclusive hunting of a single star beast!

Moreover, the top-tier cargo-class captains like Shi Jun rapidly displayed terrifying combat prowess, swiftly killing the star beast before them.

After slaying one star beast, Shi Jun and others didn’t stop and charged towards the star beasts that ordinary captains hadn’t yet killed.

Not only want the star beast benefits from their own "territory" but they also want a share of what ordinary captains gain from their star beasts.

Only by doing this can they widen the gap with other popular captains of the same level and make a name for themselves in this Star Removal Association!

While everyone was fervently targeting the new star beasts,

Salted Fish’s "territory" was eerily quiet...

Shockingly... no star beast was born.

Everyone was stunned, then showed gloating expressions on their faces.

You were the brightest in the first round.

But hunting star beasts also requires luck and informational advantage.

Lacking in these, even if you were the brightest in the first round, how can you continue to shine in the second round without any star beast kills?