The Emergence of the Divine Artifact

Hearing the question, Xiong Zhong turned back helplessly.

"Father, I haven't seen the Captain for two days either. Perhaps he’s occupied with important duties. If we keep waiting like this, who knows how long it’ll take before we get a chance to request permission for new recruits."

"Should we ask around again?"

Hearing this and seeing his son’s anxious and impatient expression, clearly unable to hold back his frustration, Xiong Fen’s wrinkled face darkened. He pulled off his gloves and stepped closer.

"Son!"

"That attitude of yours is all wrong!"

"Do you think Dark Shadow Island is just any place where anyone can come and go as they please? Though we’ve performed decently lately, we mustn’t get carried away!"

"Even if we have to wait for days—no, centuries—just for a chance to seek the Captain’s guidance and allow our old friends from the Moon God Pavilion to come here for rigorous cultivation, it would still be an immense blessing!"

"In the face of such an opportunity, we must never show impatience. Our vision and mindset must keep evolving. We cannot fail to recognize the fortune right before us!"

The words struck like thunder, and Xiong Zhong’s eyes filled with shame.

Indeed.

Being able to enter Dark Shadow Island was an unimaginable stroke of destiny. Though he and his father had undergone a complete transformation, they were still the lowest of the low, surrounded by terrifying experts at every turn.

Yet here he was, growing restless after just a few days of waiting—utterly unacceptable!

"I was rash, and I am deeply ashamed! I will take this as a lesson and never repeat such a mistake!"

Seeing his son’s bowed head, Xiong Fen’s expression softened slightly.

"Good."

"That’s the right attitude. We are now part of Dark Shadow Island. We must discipline ourselves and cherish this blessing!"

"Though you were impatient, it’s understandable. You’ve made great progress lately, and your performance has been commendable. Keep this up, and your future achievements will surely surpass mine!"

"Even the rank of Captain may soon be within your grasp!"

The heartfelt encouragement moved Xiong Zhong deeply.

Raising his gaze to his father—especially the safety helmet on his head, gleaming gold under the setting sun—he realized just how vast the gap between them still was.

Instantly, the fire in Xiong Zhong’s eyes burned brighter than ever!

"I will discipline myself strictly and never disappoint you, Father!"

The father and son exchanged a faint smile, their fighting spirits blazing.

In the blink of an eye,

The new construction site was once again filled with flying dust and sparks from wheelbarrows!

The daily grind of the workaholics resumed, even more ferocious than before. As another pile of bricks was cleared, in the past, fellow laborers would have rushed in without rest to join the effort.

But this time, even after the father-son duo had moved most of the load, no one else came.

The site felt eerily quiet.

In contrast, the main road outside was alive with the sound of countless footsteps, as if something major was happening.

Xiong Zhong, being younger, couldn’t help but be distracted by the noise.

Xiong Fen, loading bricks onto a cart, reprimanded without even looking up, "Turn a deaf ear to worldly noise, focus only on the bricks of the Great Path!"

But this time, the lesson didn’t immediately pull his son back to work.

Xiong Fen paused and glanced up in confusion.

His son stood frozen, staring wide-eyed at the road ahead, as if witnessing something extraordinary.

Following his gaze…

Xiong Fen also froze in place!

The rest area beside the construction site was completely deserted.

The road outside was packed with a dense crowd, their silhouettes stretching long under the sunset. At a glance, there were at least several hundred people, their powerful auras mingling as they all marched toward the city!

Something major was definitely happening.

Instantly, Xiong Fen pulled off his safety helmet in shock, and the two stood dumbfounded.

"What in the world is going on?"

"No idea…"

"Even during free time at night, I’ve never seen anything like this."

"Could there be some major event?"

As they stared in bewilderment,

A familiar figure suddenly dashed back to the site, grabbing a safety helmet and work clothes before sprinting off again, clearly in a hurry!

Seeing this, Xiong Fen immediately stepped forward to inquire.

"Master Liu, what’s happening?"

The bricklaying master turned at the call, giving the two a puzzled look.

"Old Xiong, Young Xiong, why are you two still here?! Haven’t you heard? Something huge is happening in the city tonight!"

Indeed!

The father and son had been too absorbed in their brick-carrying to notice anything else. Now, hearing the truth, they were stunned and quickly bowed in respect.

"Master Liu, please wait!"

"Could you tell us what’s going on?"

But the bricklaying master was already rushing to join the crowd, tossing back a hurried reply as he vanished into the sea of people.

"A divine artifact has appeared in the city!"

"I can’t waste time explaining, or I’ll miss it!"

A divine artifact?!

The two were utterly shocked!

Without hesitation, they sprinted from the site, merging into the surging crowd, their faces filled with awe!

Had they heard of a "divine artifact" anywhere else, they would have scoffed. But on Dark Shadow Island, no matter how unbelievable, they had no choice but to believe.

Following the crowd, they ran wildly through several bustling streets.

After nearly half an hour of sprinting, they finally stopped at a crowded crossroads.

Before them was a sea of people!

Powerful figures were everywhere—bricklaying masters from other sites, formidable security team members, even construction captains they usually couldn’t hope to approach. At least three or four were visible at a glance!

And there—standing right before them—was a member of the legendary Nightsoil Transport Brigade!

Even their own captain revered such elites!

Though they stood at the edge of the crowd, the sheer presence of these towering figures made the father and son tremble, not daring to utter a word, standing stiffly with utmost humility.

All these esteemed seniors from various departments were gazing intently at the crossroads.

At the center of attention,

Several people were carrying a massive crystal slab, seemingly preparing to mount it onto a wall!

The father and son exchanged a silent glance, unable to discern the mystery behind the pitch-black crystal sheet. It hardly looked like a divine artifact.

But who were they to question? They could only watch in nervous silence.

As the crystal slab was secured in place, the front rows suddenly erupted in cheers, the excitement spreading like a wave toward them!

"It’s working!"

The two were baffled, their faces full of confusion.

Just as they furrowed their brows,

The enormous crystal wall suddenly blazed with dazzling light, images flickering across its surface—so vivid it was like seeing them in person!

Mountains and rivers!

Divine birds and beasts!

All living things!

Everything displayed was lifelike!

The massive crystal wall seemed capable of reflecting all existence, as if peering into every corner of the world. Even more terrifying was the realism—the images and sounds were so immersive, it felt like stepping into another realm!

The Xiong father and son’s eyes widened in shock, their pupils trembling!

"This—this is—!"

To manifest all things, to observe heaven and earth!

Such divine power completely surpassed their understanding!

It was as though,

Within that colossal crystal wall, no secret in the world remained hidden!

Or as if an entire world had been carved into its surface, teeming with life—so real it was like gazing upon creation from the perspective of a god!

Overwhelmed, the two stood frozen in awe.

Meanwhile, the powerful figures around them buzzed with excitement.

"It worked!"

"Grandmaster Fang has truly succeeded!"

"This LCD screen is a divine artifact, beyond the comprehension of mortal cultivators!"

As the cheers and discussions echoed around them, the shock in the father and son’s eyes only deepened.

At the same time, they were also stunned by the surrounding discussions, their eyes brimming with curiosity. Under the cover of enthusiastic cheers, they mustered the courage to ask a bricklayer for answers.

"Master, may I ask what this... this liquid crystal screen is made of?"

The bricklayer scratched his head and chuckled.

"I’m just a lowly worker, so I don’t know much about such grand matters. But I’ve heard that many experts were sent out to hunt and slay powerful demonic beings—perhaps their corpses are part of the materials..."

The father and son shuddered at these words.

Demonic beings—those were truly fearsome existences. Yet, they were being hunted and used to forge divine artifacts? Truly, this is the might of our Dark Shadow Island!