110: Chapter 110 Dragon and Elephant!!!

The Li Huo Golden Body Art and Baleful Qi were initially formed; that dense, scorching aura swirled within the Dantian, reflecting the crimson-gold Blood Pill, like a blazing sun rising from a sea of fire.

Jiang Hanzhou slowly opened his eyes, a flash of golden-red light passing through his pupils before returning to calmness.

He could clearly feel that he had reached an unprecedented Peak state.

Qi and blood at Perfection, Foundation solid, Baleful Qi initially formed, Divine Sense clear...

Even in the darkness, that sliver of Saber Intent from the "Slaying Clouds and Splitting Peaks" of the "Heavenly Saber" and the Pure Yang Concept of the "Li Huo Golden Body Art" were faintly resonating within his Sea of Consciousness.

"It is now!"

A thought flashed like lightning across his heart.

Breakthrough! Retreat to attempt to break through to the Dragon Elephant Realm!

Opportunities must not be missed, for they do not return.

Martial cultivation emphasizes doing things in one go, especially at a moment when one's spirit, energy, and essence have reached Perfection, and internal and external senses have reached their apex.

Jiang Hanzhou did not hesitate at all.

He rose and pushed the door open to step out. The night was deep, and there were only a few scattered lights in the direction of the fishery; most people had already rested.

He walked straight toward the courtyard where Stone Chen lived.

After knocking, Stone Chen opened the door wearing an outer garment. Seeing it was Jiang Hanzhou, he hurriedly said, "Martial Master Jiang, it is so late, is there something the matter?"

"Steward Chen," Jiang Hanzhou said straightforwardly, "I have had an epiphany and need to immediately enter secluded cultivation. The duration is uncertain, ranging from one month to several months. During this time, unless the fishery encounters an emergency that cannot be handled—such as large-scale sea beast attacks, the destruction of the Formation, or strong enemy attacks... do not disturb me."

He paused, took three pale yellow talisman papers from his sumeru pouch, and handed them to Stone Chen: "These are three 'Transmission Talismans'. If there is a true emergency, tear one, and I will naturally sense it. Remember, unless it is absolutely necessary, do not use them."

These were also items from the monthly supply of the Dragon Abyss Palace, which Jiang Hanzhou had been somewhat surprised by when he first saw them.

Stone Chen took the talisman papers, a look of surprise appearing on his face, but it quickly turned into understanding and solemnity: "Rest assured, Master Jiang, this old man understands. Secluded cultivation is a major matter. With us and Steward Wang here, daily patrols and maintenance will not be delayed. Please Cultivate in peace."

"Thank you for your trouble." Jiang Hanzhou nodded and turned to leave.

Stone Chen watched Jiang Hanzhou's back disappear into the night, then looked down at the three talisman papers in his hand, which had a special texture and faintly flowing spiritual light, and muttered: "This Master Jiang... is likely about to break through, right? A Gold-Edged Disciple is truly extraordinary."

He carefully tucked the talisman papers into his clothes to keep them close, closed the door, and felt inexplicably more at ease.

With such a resident Disciple with astonishing potential, the safety of the fishery seemed more guaranteed.

...The next morning. On the east side of the fishery, in front of three other stone houses, three young men wearing Outer Sect Disciple attire were gathered together, whispering.

The leader was a slightly chubby young man with a round face and a smile, named Liu Quan, at the Middle Stage of the Viscera Burning Realm, who had been stationed at the fishery for eight months and was considered the most senior among the three.

Beside him was a tall, thin person with agile eyes named Sun Li, at the Early Stage of the Viscera Burning Realm, who had arrived five months ago.

The last person was slightly stocky with dark skin, named Zhou Meng, also at the Early Stage of the Viscera Burning Realm, who had just arrived three months ago.

"I heard from old man Chen that the newcomer has arrived." Liu Quan stroked his chin, "And he is a Gold-Edged Disciple, remarkable indeed. Shouldn't we show some gesture and invite him to eat at the Star Islet Market to get familiar?"

Sun Li smiled and said, "Senior Brother Liu is right. A Gold-Edged Disciple has a limitless future. Getting to know him early can't hurt. The 'Haitian Tower' in the Star Islet Market is not bad; although it is a bit expensive, the Spirit Food is authentic and beneficial to cultivation."

Zhou Meng nodded honestly, "I will listen to you two Senior Brothers."

After the three agreed, they walked together toward Jiang Hanzhou's stone house.

However, when they arrived, they found the stone house's doors and windows tightly shut, with a simple wooden sign hanging outside, on which several clear large characters were carved with finger force: In Secluded Cultivation, Do Not Disturb.

The three were stunned.

The smile on Liu Quan's face stiffened. He stepped forward and knocked lightly: "Junior Brother Jiang? Is Junior Brother Jiang there?"

There was no response from inside. He knocked a few more times, but it remained silent.

Sun Li frowned and lowered his voice, "Is this... a life-or-death seclusion? Without even saying hello?"

Zhou Meng scratched his head, "Perhaps Senior Brother Jiang has reached a critical moment in his cultivation."

"A critical moment?" Liu Quan snorted coldly. The amiable smile on his face vanished, replaced by a trace of displeasure, "He arrived only yesterday evening, and he's in secluded cultivation this early morning? What a coincidence? I think it's because he's a Gold-Edged Disciple who looks down on us common Outer Sect Disciples and is too lazy to deal with us."

Sun Li's eyes flickered, also somewhat unhappy, "Senior Brother Liu is right. No matter how urgent, there should always be time for colleagues to meet and say a few words, right? This behavior is too cold and detached."

Zhou Meng opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the unpleasant expressions on the two Senior Brothers' faces, he swallowed his words back.

"Forget it." Liu Quan flicked his sleeves, "Since he has such a big ego, let's not be sycophantic. Let's just go do what we need to do."

The three turned and left, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.

After walking a few steps, Liu Quan suddenly whispered, "By the way, that matter... 'they' have sent another message urging us."

Sun Li and Zhou Meng stopped in their tracks simultaneously, their expressions changing slightly.

Liu Quan looked around, and seeing no one nearby, continued, "It's the same old conditions: create an accident, let a batch of Silver Scale Saber Fish escape, they will intercept, and after the event, the profit will be seven for us and three for them."

Sun Li's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice dry, "Senior Brother Liu, this matter... the risk is too great. Once discovered, not to mention our status as Outer Sect Disciples, our lives would be hard to preserve. Although Steward Wang usually doesn't manage specific affairs, if a major incident truly occurs, he will definitely investigate."

Zhou Meng also nodded repeatedly, "That's right, Senior Brother Liu. Last time with that batch of Azure Wave Shrimp, we already... if we do it again this time, what if..."

Liu Quan's face was gloomy, "I know the risk. But 'they' are offering too much. Think about it, we work hard stationed at this fishery for a year, how many Contribution Points do we get? Thirty points! But doing this one job is worth our income for several years! Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, and even... they promised that after the matter is done, they can help us get a True Intent martial art!"

Sun Li and Zhou Meng's breathing became heavier. A True Intent martial art! That was something they dreamed of. Without the guidance of True Intent, they would likely have no hope of reaching the Dragon Elephant Realm in this lifetime.

"But..." Sun Li was still hesitant, "This newcomer, Jiang Hanzhou, is a variable. If he is unaware and happens to discover clues during patrols..."

Liu Quan narrowed his eyes, "That is why I said we must wait for him to come out of seclusion and test him. If we can pull him into the group, it's one more person to share the profit, but it's also an extra layer of insurance. If he is unwilling... we will find a way to bypass him."

Zhou Meng said worriedly, "But 'they' are urging us tightly, saying if we don't reply, they will find someone else to cooperate with."

"Stall for now." Liu Quan gritted his teeth, "Wait for Jiang Hanzhou to come out of seclusion. He won't be in seclusion for a year or so, right? Let's continue to patrol as usual, and don't let Steward Wang and old man Chen get suspicious."

The three discussed in low voices, gradually walking away.

...Time was like the seawater of the Star Continent Anchorage, seemingly calm but flowing ceaselessly day and night. In the blink of an eye, a month passed. Jiang Hanzhou's stone house remained with doors and windows tightly shut, and that "In Secluded Cultivation, Do Not Disturb" wooden sign was covered in a thin layer of dust.

Life at the fishery was as plain as water. Liu Quan and the other two patrolled on schedule every day, recording the growth of the Spirit Fish, repairing the net Formation, and occasionally driving away approaching sea beasts. Everything was in perfect order.

But the anxiety in the three's hearts increased day by day.

This evening, upon returning from their patrol, the three gathered again in Liu Quan's house.

"It's been a month!" Liu Quan's expression was ugly, "That Jiang Hanzhou still hasn't come out of seclusion! 'They' sent another message today, saying they will give us three days to consider, and if we don't act, they will go to the people at the No. 2 Fishery to cooperate! And... they said, if we can pull off this big job, the share can be increased, giving us seventy-five percent!"

Sun Li and Zhou Meng's eyes turned red. Seventy-five percent!

"Senior Brother Liu, we cannot wait any longer!" Sun Li urged, "If the opportunity is missed, it will not return. If the No. 2 Fishery takes it, we won't even be able to drink the soup in the future!"

Zhou Meng also clenched his fists, "That's right, Senior Brother. Let's be careful and design it as an 'accident'; it might not be discovered. Jiang Hanzhou is in seclusion and not coming out, which is perfect! He won't know anything, and even if something happens, they won't be able to suspect us."

Liu Quan paced back and forth in the room, the veins on his forehead throbbing. The temptation of profit was like a poisonous snake, gnawing at his reason. The risk was like a sharp sword hanging over his head, making one shudder.

"Bypass him..." Liu Quan muttered, "But what if he comes out of seclusion halfway, or Steward Wang does a sudden inspection..."

"We can choose to act late at night when he usually Cultivates." A ruthless glint flashed in Sun Li's eyes, "Be fast and handle the traces well. The Star Continent Anchorage is so big, there are accidents every day; it's perfectly normal for some Spirit Fish to be lost when sea beasts break through the net Formation."

Just as the three were struggling internally, leaning towards taking the risk—Boom!!!

An extremely dull, loud sound, as if coming from the bottom of the deep sea or originating from beyond the nine heavens, exploded without warning! The entire island trembled because of it!

"What's going on? Earthquake? Or a sea beast tide?"

The three were shocked and abruptly stood up to rush out of the house. The scene before them caused them to instantly freeze in place, their pupils shrinking, and all color draining from their faces!

They saw that on the east side of the island, in the direction of Jiang Hanzhou's stone house, the night sky was already covered with dark clouds! The dark clouds were not ordinary rain clouds but presented a strange color intertwined with dark red and dark gray, pressing down low, as if within reach.

Within the dark clouds, lightning flashed, but it was not ordinary silver-white lightning; it was streaks of crimson-gold intertwining electric snakes, swimming and darting, emitting a scorching heat and pressure that made one's heart palpitate.

The sea surface below was even more terrifying! Centered on Jiang Hanzhou's stone house, the seawater within a radius of several miles churned violently. It was not waves, but like a giant pot being boiled, with huge bubbles gurgling upward, water vapor steaming, and white mist filling the air.

And between the churning seawater and the low-hanging dark clouds, a blinding crimson-gold pillar of light shot up from the location of the stone house, piercing straight into the sky!

Within the pillar of light, one could vaguely see dragon-shaped phantoms circling, tiger-shaped Evil Qi leaping, and even streaks of crimson-gold flames blooming like lotus flowers.

The pillar of light connected the sky and the sea, illuminating half of the night sky and the sea surface like daylight! Scorching, fierce, majestic, and magnificent... an indescribable power of heaven and earth, accompanied by surging, tide-like spiritual energy, swept in all directions.

The sea breeze became scalding, and the air was filled with the scent of sulfur and flames. Within the fishery area, all the Spirit Fish were frantically restless; Silver Scale Saber Fish leaped out of the water, Azure Wave Shrimp swarmed in all directions, and Crystal Eels dug deep into the silt.

The hired laborers woke up one after another, running out of their houses in a panic, and looked at the apocalyptic scene with horror.

In Steward Wang's small courtyard, the door that had been tightly closed suddenly opened. Wang Mingyuan stood in the courtyard, looking up at the crimson-gold pillar of light and the heaven and earth phenomenon. His originally rigid and serious face was now filled with unbelievable shock, his lips trembling slightly: "Dragon... Dragon Elephant convergence, red flames scorching the sky... This is... someone breaking through to the Dragon Elephant Realm?! And they triggered such a vast Pure Yang phenomenon?!"

He turned his head abruptly, his gaze locked tightly on the source of the pillar of light—Jiang Hanzhou's stone house. "It's him... that newcomer Gold-Edged kid... he actually... broke through here?!"

And Liu Quan, Sun Li, and Zhou Meng were already icy cold, as if fallen into an ice cellar. They opened their mouths, staring blankly at the crimson-gold pillar of light that connected heaven and earth, feeling the pressure that made their Souls tremble. All their previous calculations, anxiety, greed, and luck... were crushed to pieces at this moment.

"Dragon... Dragon Elephant Realm..." Liu Quan's voice was dry, with a crying tone, "He... he wasn't looking down on us... he was... in secluded cultivation breaking through to the Dragon Elephant Realm..."

Sun Li's legs went weak, and he could barely stand, his face full of lingering fear and terror: "We just... just now were still discussing... how to bypass him..."

Zhou Meng slumped directly onto the ground, his face bloodless. They finally understood what that new colleague, whom they regarded as "arrogant" and "unsociable," was actually doing. They also finally understood how ridiculous and petty their own petty schemes were in the face of true power.