Outside Fire-Dragon Island, about ten li out, a huge crab floated on the sea.
On the back of the crab sat a man cross-legged.
At that moment the man suddenly opened his eyes, leaned forward, and plunged his hand into the seawater.
Beneath the waves, an invisible sword-light slid silently from afar.
The instant it touched the man’s palm it vanished into him.
Retrieving the flying sword, Cheng Xinzhan patted the sea beast beneath him.
The big crab flexed its claws and began to swim toward Fire-Dragon Island.
Once ashore, Cheng Xinzhan opened a corpse-sack, stowed the crab away, and headed straight for Duobao Guard.
Two months had passed since Yellow Sulfur Island surrendered to Fire-Dragon Island.
By now Cheng Xinzhan had gained some reputation on Fire-Dragon Island.
Whenever he led new recruits into battle, the units under his command always suffered the fewest casualties among the five guards, and yet they killed the most demons.
Those who lived—and their corpses—praised his ability to lead.
And a few days ago he had even awakened spirit-intelligence within the corpse of a Third-Realm blue-faced ghost; word of that spread far and wide.