After the first five million cubic meters of soil were ferried away from the "City in the Sky..." by the naval train convoy, four more naval trains immediately arrived at the newly constructed port, hauling off twenty million cubic meters of earth on the second day alone.

In just two days, the Somali government had already pocketed a staggering $2.5 million from the "City in the Sky," making them grin from ear to ear, genuinely believing this soil sale was exceedingly profitable. What they failed to notice, however, was that within the boundaries they had designated, the excavation had stripped away the topsoil, exposing the hard bedrock beneath—a layer from which no plant life could ever emerge again.

When digging up Somali soil, the "City in the Sky" held no regard for environmental preservation. They dug straight down, leaving nothing behind, even hauling back any massive boulders encountered mid-excavation. The "City in the Sky" required vast quantities of both soil and rock. They continued this downward excavation until they hit bedrock too solid to penetrate further, at which point they would cease downward progress and shift their focus to advancing horizontally.

Under the relentless assault of the "City in the Sky's" gargantuan excavators, moving like a plague of locusts, the soil in the area ceded by the Somali government was rapidly vanishing. The ground level across that territory dropped by an average of ten meters, revealing the solid stone underneath.

The naval trains invented by the "City in the Sky" finally demonstrated their formidable logistical power. Each fully loaded train could transport four million tons of soil and rock, and with maximum efficiency, they could complete a round trip between Somalia and the "City in the Sky" in as little as five days.

Thanks to Liu Hui's prior attention to the matter, thirty naval trains had already been constructed for the City in the Sky. Twenty of these were dedicated to soil transport. These trains operated in a constant loop, moving twenty million tons of earth from Somalia every single day.

Not only did the "City in the Sky" import massive amounts of earth, but they also purchased huge volumes of flora from various African nations, primarily focusing on mature trees. After the City offered prices that made these countries green with envy, they shipped over one hundred thousand large trees out of Africa.

Consequently, the soil and rock brought back from Somalia were quickly put to use in the construction of the "City in the Sky." Various large trees purchased from abroad were then planted atop this imported soil, causing the City, which had previously appeared as a dark expanse from the heavens, to gradually reveal patches of vibrant green.

Back in China, behind the mountains of the Shandong Maoshan Sect, several elderly Daoists paced anxiously outside a secluded cavern dwelling. They repeatedly checked the time displayed on their instruments, then glanced towards the sealed entrance of the chamber.

"Second Elder, do you think the Sect Master will be alright? He has been inside for two full years now. According to the sect's ancient texts, if the Master hasn't emerged by this day of the second year, it signifies the fusion has failed, and the Master is likely beyond saving," one old Daoist inquired.

"Ninth Brother, stop talking nonsense. The Master was deeply wounded by the murder of his only son, compounded by the backlash from using the Soul Tracing Spell to pursue the killer of Gu Yuezi, which also cost us the First Elder. That is why the Master gambled everything, attempting to forcefully fuse with the Maoshan Sect's true ultimate treasure—the only Golden Zombie in this world. If this fusion succeeds, our Maoshan Sect will rise to prominence once more, becoming the foremost sect in China. And the Master can then use the immensely powerful Golden Zombie to locate and avenge the murderers of Gu Yuezi and the First Elder," the Second Elder explained.

"But in our Maoshan Sect's millennia of history, only three individuals have ever successfully merged with that Golden Zombie. All others who attempted to merge were violently rejected by it, becoming nothing more than a source of raw power for the Golden Zombie's body. Moreover, the records state that even those who succeed in the fusion suffer a drastic reduction in lifespan, and for two shichen (four hours) every day, they are tormented by Zombified Poison, a period where they endure suffering so intense they wish for death," the Ninth Elder worriedly stated.

The Second Elder glanced around before speaking softly, "Ninth Brother, the Master is fully aware of all this. But his obsession to avenge his son has surpassed everything else; that is why he resolutely entered this fusion—a process where failure means instant death, and success means eternal torment."

The Ninth Elder was about to continue when the great door of the cavern exploded outwards with a deafening roar. A wave of scorching hot air rushed out, whipping the robes of the Daoists gathered at the entrance. Then, a tall, shimmering figure bathed in golden light burst from the chamber and stood before the assembled men.

Only when the towering, radiant figure came to a halt did the elderly Daoists clearly see its features. It was an incredibly imposing, fully built man, radiating a dazzling golden aura. Strange, talisman-like markings were inscribed across his body. He towered over three meters tall, his muscles corded and dense, emanating overwhelming strength. And his face... it was the unmistakable visage of the Maoshan Sect Master.

The towering golden figure suddenly leaped upwards, soaring to a height of nearly one hundred meters. He spread his arms and glided through the air. Spotting a massive boulder on the ground below, he executed a perfect mid-air somersault, landing upside down. His fists, each the size of a large cooking pot, smashed down onto the stone. The sheer force instantly pulverized the hard rock, sending shards flying in every direction, startling the Daoists. One old man, caught off guard, received a laceration on his face from a ricocheting fragment.

The golden giant landed smoothly, completely unharmed. The fist that had struck the boulder bore not even a single white mark. He then picked up a nearby stone weighing four or five hundred jin (roughly 200-250 kg) and hurled it toward the sky. Under the impetus of his colossal throw, the rock sailed far up the mountainside, smashing into the summit and startling a flock of birds and beasts dwelling there.

The Daoists gasped in astonishment. They estimated that the four or five hundred jin stone, thrown by the golden giant, had traveled a horizontal distance of three hundred meters, revealing an unbelievable level of divine strength.

The Second Elder stepped forward when the golden-glowing giant stood before him and asked with joy, "Master, is that you? Have you succeeded?"

The figure radiating golden light examined its own massive hand, a look of satisfaction crossing its features. It then glanced at the gathered Daoists, brought its hands together, and formed an ancient Mudra. In an instant, the vision of the onlookers blurred, and the massive giant split into two distinct figures.

One remained the colossal, golden-shining entity, while the other was the actual Maoshan Sect Master. When the crowd looked again at the Golden Zombie, they noticed its height had significantly shrunk, now standing under two-and-a-half meters. Furthermore, the Golden Zombie’s face had vanished entirely, replaced by a smooth, blank plane; it stood motionless, unseeing.

The moment the Maoshan Sect Master separated from the Golden Zombie, his body went limp, and he nearly collapsed. The Ninth Elder, quick as thought, supported his Master’s frame and quickly draped his own Daoist robe over the Master's bare body.

It was only then that the surrounding elders snapped out of their shock. They crowded around, showering their Master with concerned inquiries.

The Maoshan Sect Master sat on the ground, waving them off. After a long pause, he finally managed to catch his breath.

"Master, did you successfully fuse with the Golden Zombie?" one Daoist asked.

"Brothers, yes, I have succeeded in fusing with the Golden Zombie. As you just witnessed, the power of this entity is immense. It is not only infinitely strong but indestructible, and capable of leaping a hundred meters to glide briefly. With this Golden Zombie existing, our Maoshan Sect can finally rise again. We will crush the other sects in this land and reclaim our title as the foremost sect in China," the Maoshan Sect Master declared loudly.

Hearing their Master's words, the elders became ecstatic. The Maoshan Sect had languished for too long; they had almost forgotten the glory their sect once held. They had just witnessed the Golden Zombie's indomitable combat power with their own eyes—how could their hearts not surge with excitement?

"Second Brother, before I entered seclusion, I asked you to investigate the final movements of Gu Yuezi. What have you discovered?" the Maoshan Sect Master turned to the Second Elder and asked.

"Reporting to the Master, after leaving the Maoshan Sect, Gu Yuezi became an assassin, making a living through killing, and earned considerable renown in the underworld. Before his demise, he had accepted a new assassination contract, but it was this mission that led to his permanent disappearance. We have located the room where Gu Yuezi resided before the incident and have kept everything inside strictly preserved, awaiting the Master's personal inspection," the Second Elder replied, his previous reservations subdued by the overwhelming might he had just witnessed from the Master's fusion. He maintained a posture of deference.

"Oh? Where is that location?" the Maoshan Sect Master inquired.

"Reporting to the Master, Gu Yuezi's last known residence was within a housing complex in Hong Kong," the Second Elder stated.

The Maoshan Sect Master paused in thought, then commanded, "Second Brother, Ninth Brother, prepare yourselves. You will accompany me immediately to Hong Kong. I will personally investigate Gu Yuezi's death. No matter who murdered my child, that culprit will pay a bitter price for their foolishness."

The nearby Daoists felt a chill despite the Master's imposing presence. They could not truly grasp the depth of hatred a father who lost his only son in old age held for the murderer, yet having witnessed the Golden Zombie's awesome power, they harbored no doubt that the Master could execute his vow.

The Maoshan Sect Master continued, his voice chilling, "It is not only the person who killed my child who must die, but also those who hired and instigated that killing."