Then...

He was gone!

Because, just at the instant when the steel fork in his hand swung into the air, this white bird, with lightning speed, pecked and shattered his head.

With a thud, the corpse fell to the ground.

Afterward, the white bird didn’t even glance at the corpse, directly buried its head into the wooden barrel, and started feasting.

The entire process took only a few seconds, and a human life was thus ended at the beak of a bird.

From a distance on the snow-covered hill, Zhao Ya witnessed the whole scene and couldn’t help but ask in astonishment, "What are these white birds?"

"They have no name, but sea gatherers generally call them Free-Loading Birds. Don’t underestimate these birds; their strength is formidable, and crucially, their groups are huge. Once you provoke one of them, it will surely bring a large-scale attack from its group."

"So whenever you encounter these white birds, the best approach is to obediently offer today’s catch."

At this, Kong Xiangdong sighed.

"Although the environment of Wuyang Sea is extremely harsh, relying on the catch from the receding tides, who knows how many exotic beasts it has fed."

"In saying this, we sea gatherers seem like foreign invaders. Because of this, we have had countless conflicts with these powerful exotic beasts over generations, finally maintaining this precarious balance."

Zhao Ya was somewhat surprised by what he heard.

Because he didn’t expect Kong Xiangdong to say such a thing.

"Surprised, aren’t you? Wondering how someone like me would say this?" Kong Xiangdong chuckled.

"Actually, most of my madness is used to deal with those thugs and other gangs. To survive in this place, you have to be crazier and fiercer than everyone else to earn their fear and respect."

"As for these lowly sea gatherers, I rarely exploit or treat them harshly because I know how tough life is, and surviving in Wuyang Sea is even more difficult."

Zhao Ya gained a new understanding of this Kong Xiangdong.

Regardless, to be able to express such thoughts proves that he isn’t inherently bad.

At this moment, Kong Xiangdong looked up at the sky.

It was already nearing noon, yet the sun only hung obliquely in the southern sky, appearing dim and yellow, as if it were dusk.

"It’s about time. That beast likes to leave its den around noon; this is also our best chance to act. Follow me!"

Zhao Ya followed Kong Xiangdong along the coast, heading all the way west, and after about half an hour they arrived before a coastal mountain.

"Ahead is the territory where that beast roams," Kong Xiangdong whispered, then handed Zhao Ya a small pouch.

"The reason we lingered by the sea earlier was to have the scent of the sea wind on us. But that’s not enough. This beast’s sense of smell is extremely keen; if it catches even a distant whiff of a stranger’s scent, it will immediately hide in its den. So to approach it, we must completely conceal our scent."

Zhao Ya took the small pouch, curiously opened it, and found some brown powder inside.

Upon closer inspection, there was a strong fishy smell of the sea.

"Is this... powder boiled from seawater?" Zhao Ya asked in surprise.

"That’s right!"

To Zhao Ya, who quickly figured out the origin of the powder, Kong Xiangdong was not surprised.

The previous competition in the small town had already made Kong Xiangdong acutely aware of Zhao Ya’s prowess in the Poison Dao.

This is also why he went to great lengths to share his carefully researched secret and invite Zhao Ya.

Kong Xiangdong took some powder from the pouch and evenly applied it to his body.

Zhao Ya followed suit.

"Once we enter its territory, we must be extremely cautious. This beast is very vigilant and will hide in its lair at the slightest sign of trouble."

"If it manages to retreat into its lair, drawing it out again will be difficult."

Zhao Ya couldn’t help but ask, "After all this talk, what exactly is this thing?"

"A Sea Lizard!"

Sea Lizard?

Zhao Ya certainly wouldn’t assume this Sea Lizard is an ordinary creature.

After all, anything that could cause Kong Xiangdong significant trouble and warrant such caution must be extraordinary.

The two quietly entered the mountain.

It was more a mound of rocks than an actual mountain.

There were no trees inside, only oddly-shaped rocks.

The path was rugged and difficult, and the lower areas were filled with seawater.

But these obstacles were nothing to Zhao Ya and Kong Xiangdong.

They quickly traversed the area and soon entered a rocky forest.

Upon reaching this place, Kong Xiangdong didn’t speak, only made a silent hand signal to Zhao Ya, indicating that the Sea Lizard’s lair was ahead, and they should act according to plan.

Zhao Ya nodded faintly to show he understood.

Then Kong Xiangdong took the lead, entering the bizarre rocky forest.

In an instant, Kong Xiangdong vanished from Zhao Ya’s perception.

Zhao Ya was slightly startled, then a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

As expected.

This Kong Xiangdong has his own unique technique for concealing his presence.

It’s not surprising.

Indeed, to survive in such a place, one must have a few unique skills.

Zhao Ya quickly utilized the Spirit Turtle Hibernation Technique, silently entering the rocky forest.

Inside, Zhao Ya noticed something peculiar.

The color of these peculiar stones was different, resembling the patina on copper after many years of age.

Additionally, they emitted a faint, unpleasant odor.

Without needing to get closer, Zhao Ya speculated that these stones were highly poisonous.

This Sea Lizard was truly domineering.

Poisoning the stones near its lair—was this for defense or an unwitting act?

For ordinary individuals, these lethally toxic stones would mean instant death. However, they posed no threat to Zhao Ya at all.

He swiftly moved through the area and then noticed a mountain clearing ahead.

Above this clearing hung a layer of purplish-red mist.

Even at a distance, the foul stench made Zhao Ya wrinkle his brows.

Simultaneously, Zhao Ya felt a bit dizzy.

He was surprised, as this sensation hadn’t occurred since he began cultivating Martial Dao.

Just then, a wave of warmth surged from his liver, swiftly circulating through his body.

In an instant, the dizziness vanished.

Nevertheless, Zhao Ya remained vigilant.

The fact that he nearly succumbed even from afar illustrated the virulent poison.

He stealthily harnessed the Qi Blood stored in his liver, slowly reaching a concealed spot.

There he witnessed a shocking scene.

On the slope of this clearing was a massive stone, situated in a sunlit area.

And on the stone lay a bright red lizard.

The lizard wasn’t particularly large, about two meters long, covered in scales that glowed like fire, sharp to the eye.

At that moment, the precious sunlight shone perfectly on the stone.

The lizard basked contentedly in the warm rays, occasionally flicking its forked tongue.

With each flick, wisps of mist gradually spread, finally merging into the mist hovering over the clearing.

Zhao Ya’s eyes flickered with intrigue.

For this lizard exuded an overwhelming aura.

This sensation had been absent for a very long time.

Clearly, this was an exotic beast at least at the pinnacle of Meridian Opening.

Coupled with its mysterious and unpredictable poison attacks.

No wonder it gave Kong Xiangdong such a hard time.

Zhao Ya was contemplating.

Just then, from another direction in the rock forest, a small pouch suddenly flew toward the lizard, bursting open above it.

A cloud of smoke instantly enveloped the lizard.

The lizard’s reaction was swift.

As the powder touched its skin, it dashed rapidly toward a crevice under the stone.

That was its lair.

But with all of Kong Xiangdong’s planning, how could he let the lizard escape so easily?

Just as it was about to leap from the stone, Kong Xiangdong shouted, already rushing forward, showering the lizard with powder without restraint.