Jiang Yuebai roamed the town for an entire day, and shopping went smoothly. The materials here were much cheaper than over in Sea Suppression City.

However, finding a dragon hunting squad to go out to sea wasn’t smooth. Most of the well-known squads had fixed members and configurations. Even if main members were seriously injured or fallen, there were substitutes, and they generally didn’t recruit outsiders with unknown backgrounds.

Going out to sea alone and recruiting a team on her own was also not feasible. All dragon hunting squads that wanted to go to sea had to register and pass examinations at the Eastern Star Alliance station, under the guise of battlefield safety to ensure everyone’s security.

In reality, one reason was for profit, and on the other hand, possibly to tally personnel and their strengths, making it easier to organize these dragon hunting squads to assist the Dragon Shepherd two branches in counterattacking the West Sea Dragon Clan when reinforcements were needed.

With no background and no one to vouch for her, Jiang Yuebai couldn’t obtain qualifications for a dragon hunting squad. The only option now was to join those dragon hunting squads with a poor reputation and high member loss rates.

Jiang Yuebai slightly suppressed her cultivation, maintaining the appearance of just entering the Late-Stage Golden Core, donned a veil to prevent divine sense probing, and used the name Chenzhou to try her luck at the town’s central plaza.

"Master Heiya of Broken Dragon Gate is recruiting Golden Core Masters, earnings to be evenly split, those interested act quickly!"

"Spiritual Treasure Trading House is recruiting Golden Core Masters for sea dragon hunting, still short two positions..."

"Black Tortoise Building is recruiting servants, needs ten Foundation Establishment..."

All of these were dragon hunting squads temporarily recruiting members. Jiang Yuebai looked at several; basically, all that were in charge were mid- to late-stage Golden Core cultivators, while those doing the shouting were Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Here, Jiang Yuebai finally realized the saying "Golden Core everywhere," as the number of Golden Core cultivators in the Green Dragon Realm was indeed large. Foundation Establishment cultivators could only remain at the bottom, while Qi Cultivation cultivators couldn’t even enter the gates of Fulong Mountain.

This too was a force of circumstances. Many dragons, upon hatching from their shells, were at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and some even adeptly cultivated inside their dragon eggs, drawing a heavenly tribulation to break their shells and being born directly at the Golden Core Stage.

Thus, without strength above the Golden Core Stage, coming to the West Sea Battlefield was a path to death.

"Fellow Daoist Chenzhou?"

Someone called her from behind, so Jiang Yuebai turned around to see Zheng Yougong, whom she met in Stone Gate City. It had been a while, and he had already broken through to mid-stage Golden Core.

Though Jiang Yuebai wore a veil, her eyes were still quite recognizable.

Zheng Yougong walked over from the crowd and said, "Just now the back looked familiar, didn’t expect it to really be you."

"When did you come to the West Sea?" Jiang Yuebai asked.

Zheng Yougong laughed, "Just arrived half a month ago, hoping to test my luck at sea, and gather some materials for future cultivation."

"Found any yet?"

"Are you also looking for a team, Fellow Daoist Chenzhou? Why not join our team? Currently, there are only four of us, led by a Golden Core Peak loose cultivator. We painstakingly obtained a passage order from the Star Alliance, and the other two teammates are one late-stage and one mid-stage Golden Core. With you joining, we surely stand to gain from this sea voyage."

Thinking of how Zheng Yougong had been of good character and had helped her a lot, Jiang Yuebai nodded in agreement.

Zheng Yougong was overjoyed, as recruiting high-caliber teammates came with a reward.

"This way, I’ll take you to meet the others."

Jiang Yuebai followed Zheng Yougong, recalling how back in Stone Gate City, ever since Xie Jingshan had impersonated her and went out with Zheng Yougong, Zheng Yougong had been avoiding seeing her, which piqued her curiosity.

"Fellow Daoist Zheng, why did you avoid me before? Did I do something wrong?"

Mentioning this, Zheng Yougong looked embarrassed and chuckled awkwardly, "No need to bring up past issues, it was my fault for not knowing that you and Daoist Yuan Xin were Daoist companions, my apologies."

She and Yuan Xin are Daoist companions?

Yuan Xin is Anan’s current Daoist name, could it be... Xie Jingshan told Zheng Yougong she had a thing with Anan?!

That rascal Xie Jingshan!!

Jiang Yuebai’s temples twitched, and she fell silent, following Zheng Yougong across the plaza to an inn at the town’s west side to meet the rest of the team.

Leading them was a male cultivator at Golden Core Peak named Lou San. Stocky in build and wearing half an iron mask, he seemed not very personable. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Lou San had a black jade token hanging from his waist, carved with dragon patterns, similar to a Spiritual Beast Bag. It was a device the Dragon Shepherds of the Green Dragon Realm used to store dragons, and Jiang Yuebai had seen one similar with Zheng Yougong earlier.

The other two came down the stairs, a man and a woman holding hands, clearly a pair of Daoist companions. The man was at late-stage Golden Core, and the woman at mid-stage Golden Core.

The man was named Zhou Xinqi, wielding a longsword, and the woman was named Fengying, carrying a pair of scimitars, both were loose cultivators.

They exchanged names, and after Lou San briefly inquired about Jiang Yuebai’s background and specialties, he agreed to let her join the team.

There were no contracts or lengthy introductions, only a confirmation of the departure time for tomorrow, and Zhou Xinqi took Fengying out, while Lou San returned to his room.

Zheng Yougong helped Jiang Yuebai book a room and advised her to rest up.

Early the next day, Lou San led the group to transmit directly from the town’s transmission array to the West Sea coast.

The transmission array was one-way, with many arrays arranged along the Fulong Mountain Range, facilitating reinforcement dispatch from various camps along the range to the West Sea Coast.

Only those possessing a token issued by the Star Alliance could pass through without paying transmission fees.

To return from the West Sea coast to various camps along the Fulong Mountain, one had to pass through multiple checkpoints for inspection and return on their own.

Upon emerging from the transmission array, Jiang Yuebai heard deafening roars interspersed with dragon cries.

The transmission array was set at the rear of the coastal camp, and the squads that had transmitted earlier were marching forward one by one. Jiang Yuebai followed behind Lou San and the team.

The battle at the seaside was intense, extending into a sea of fire.

Hundreds and thousands of cultivators lined along the coast, creating a battle line, fiercely fighting the endless sea beasts from the sea. Amidst the howling winds, there was a strong scent of blood and burning.

Above in the sky, a raging dragon harrowed the sea.

Four Nascent Soul Dragon Shepherds lined up, riding their dragons, fighting against the West Sea Dragon Clan that led the fierce beasts to strike the coast.

Nervously, Jiang Yuebai looked and found that among the six dragons from the West Sea, none resembled Ao Juan’s white dragon.

Two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Fulong Sect stood behind, controlling rune lock chains, incessantly whipping the four dragons they rode to engage the West Sea Dragon Clan.

The aftershocks were earth-shattering, the scene grand, and the dazzling magical technique lights appeared ceaseless, seeming to tear apart the firmament, a sight to behold.

Jiang Yuebai turned to see two other Nascent Soul cultivators standing atop the dragons they rode, without rune lock chains or any form of restraint or control, yet able to guide the dragons beneath them in counter-attack.

Their combat power and speed surpassed that of the Fulong Sect, and the Nascent Soul cultivators atop the dragons continually aided their dragons with defensive magical techniques, creating better opportunities for attack.

Jiang Yuebai always traveled west from Sea Suppression City, which was within the Fulong Sect’s territory, and was seeing a Dragon Shepherd from Biyou Palace for the first time.

It appeared they fought like partners, cooperating seamlessly and mutually protecting each other.

Jiang Yuebai and the dozen or so dragon hunting squad members gathered at the rear of the camp, intently observing the battle along the coast. For now, it seemed the cultivators from the Fulong Sect and Biyou Palace had stabilized the situation.

The number of sea beasts was decreasing, and the six giant dragons in the sky showed signs of retreat.

"Once they’re through, we can head out to sea," Zheng Yougong murmured beside Jiang Yuebai.

Just then, Jiang Yuebai suddenly sensed a familiar fluctuation from behind, making her scalp tingle.

Similarly sensitive cultivators turned around in shock. Behind them, in mid-air, an invisible ripple rapidly spread as the air was torn apart, revealing a crack, from which blew a cold wind belonging to the deep sea.

Roar!!

The dragon’s roar shook the heavens as two giant dragons suddenly burst forth from the ripple, their massive heads opening wide to unleash their gaping maws upon the gathered cultivators below.

The speed and proximity allowed no time for defense.