116: Chapter 116 Recapture Jiang Tao and Seize Power

In Jiang Hanzhou's eyes, the crimson-gold and azure lights merged completely, transforming into a deep color of Chaos.

He saw it.

He saw Jiang Tao's entire life.

Born in a fishing village, parents died early, went out to sea to fish with his uncle at age seven, survived a storm at twelve, and by chance obtained half a volume of a tattered Cultivation Technique at fifteen, stepping into the Martial Dao from then on...

At twenty-five, to save the woman he loved, he fought three pirates alone and was severely wounded, near death, yet the woman married a wealthy merchant in the city.

At thirty, with Minor Achievement in his Cultivation Technique, he took his revenge, only to see the woman's memorial tablet in the enemy's residence—she had already been dead for three years.

At forty, with Burning Viscera Perfection, he attempted to break through to the Dragon Elephant but failed three times, beset by Heart Demons.

At forty-three, observing the sea on a stormy night to comprehend the Dao, he finally achieved Tidal True Intent and stepped into the Dragon Elephant, but his temperament also changed drastically, becoming cold and heartless...

A lifetime of obsession, a lifetime of resentment, a lifetime of struggle.

All of it was condensed into this one move, "All Tides Return to One."

“So that's how it is,” Jiang Hanzhou sighed softly.

This strike of his was originally born from glimpsing the many facets of the world during an Epiphany and sensing the Karma of the Mortal World.

Now, facing this strike of Jiang Tao's that condensed a lifetime's obsession, it was the perfect whetstone!

The blade finally rose completely.

There were no world-shaking phenomena, no rifts tearing through the Void Realm.

There was only a faint, nearly transparent blade light flowing out from the tip of the tiger soul saber.

The blade light was very slow, so slow it seemed as if it could be scattered by the wind.

But the moment the blade light appeared—

The three-zhang-long water blade that Jiang Tao had slashed out actually began to melt silently, like snow meeting a scorching sun!

...It was being "dissolved"!

The violent True Intent, the resentful obsession, and the lifelong insights contained within the water blade were like snowflakes thrown into a fire before that faint blade light, rapidly dissipating, disintegrating, and returning to their Origin.

The blade light continued forward.

It gently tapped against the center of Jiang Tao's palms, which were pressed together.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

Jiang Tao maintained his slashing posture, frozen in mid-air.

He stared blankly at the rapidly dissipating pale blue water blade between his palms, then looked at the transparent blade light that had already touched his palms.

There was no pain.

There was no impact.

There was only a kind of... coldness and emptiness, as if his entire being had been completely seen through, all his secrets, all his obsessions, and all his pretenses peeled away layer by layer, exposed to the light of day.

“This... what kind of saber technique is this...” Jiang Tao murmured.

He felt that the Tidal True Intent he had bitterly Cultivated for thirty years seemed so pale and childish before this single strike.

It was like a sandcastle built by a child on the beach—seemingly exquisite, but in reality, collapsing at the slightest touch.

Jiang Hanzhou withdrew his blade.

The tiger soul saber returned to its sheath, letting out a satisfied low hum.

The transparent blade light also dissipated, as if it had never existed.

Jiang Tao fell from the air, landing in the sea with a "plop."

He struggled to surface, soaked through and in a sorry state, but there was no anger or resentment in his eyes, only a deep daze and... a hint of realization.

“I lost.” Jiang Tao's voice was very soft, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

He looked up at Jiang Hanzhou, who stood on the shore with his hands behind his back, and suddenly smiled—a smile that was bitter yet relieved.

“It turns out my Tidal True Intent had always taken the wrong path. Only seeking ferocity, only seeking violence, but forgetting the essence of tides... is the measured ebb and flow, the harmony of hard and soft, cycling without end.”

He slowly swam to the shore, climbed onto the reef, and then knelt on one knee, bowing his head to Jiang Hanzhou.

“I, Jiang Tao, accept my loss. From this day forth, this life of mine belongs to my Lord.”

After saying this, he took a deep breath, formed a complex hand seal with both hands, and pressed it against his brow.

“With my Divine Soul, I establish this contract. With my Origin as proof, let Heaven and Earth bear witness!”

A wisp of pale blue light, seemingly flowing with the phantom image of tides, slowly drifted out from between his brows, condensing into a crystal-clear blue light point the size of a grain of rice.

Within that point of light, one could vaguely see a phantom of Jiang Tao sitting cross-legged, surrounded by surging waves.

Divine Soul Origin!

Once surrendered, one's life and death would be completely in the hands of another. With just a single thought, the Origin could be shattered, and the Divine Soul extinguished!

This was the most complete and unbreakable form of submission in the world of Martial Dao!

In the distance, Liu Quan and the other two were already dumbfounded.

They had thought it would be an earth-shattering battle, and had even prepared for the fishery to be destroyed by the aftershocks.

But the result...

Just two moves.

No, strictly speaking, only one strike.

With one strike, the notoriously famous "river-flipping hand" Jiang Tao was made to willingly surrender his Divine Soul Origin and bow his head in submission!

What kind of strength was this?!

What kind of saber technique was this?!

The look in the eyes of the three as they watched Jiang Hanzhou was no longer just awe, but almost fanatical worship and fear!

Jiang Hanzhou looked at the blue point of light floating before Jiang Tao, his expression calm.

He reached out a finger and tapped it lightly.

The point of light drifted over, landed in his palm, and then merged into his skin, disappearing from sight.

In an instant, Jiang Hanzhou felt a mysterious connection established between himself and Jiang Tao.

He could clearly sense Jiang Tao's emotions, state, and even vague thoughts. With just a thought, he could decide the other's life or death.

“Rise,” Jiang Hanzhou said indifferently.

Jiang Tao stood up and stood with his hands down, his posture incomparably respectful.

“How many people are left in the Prodigal Society?” Jiang Hanzhou asked.

“Besides the twenty brought tonight, there are forty-three core members in the society, including five in the Burning Viscera Realm, while the rest are in the Iron Bone Realm. Additionally, there are nearly a hundred peripheral eyes and brokers scattered throughout Star Islet Market,” Jiang Tao immediately replied. “Furthermore, the wealth, resources, and intelligence network accumulated by the society over the years are all at your disposal.”

Jiang Hanzhou nodded, a look of contemplation flashing in his eyes.

Subjugating Jiang Tao hadn't been part of the plan, but since the other party had proactively offered, he naturally wouldn't refuse.

A Martial Artist of the Initial Stage of Yuanxiang, even if his True Intent had taken the wrong path, possessed strength that was by no means comparable to an ordinary Burning Viscera Realm.

What was even more valuable was that Jiang Tao had operated in Star Continent Anchorage for many years, and his influence was deeply entrenched, making for an excellent intelligence network and hidden chess piece.

“From this day forth, the matter of the Prodigal Society secretly submitting to me must not be leaked,” Jiang Hanzhou said in a low voice. “You will continue to be your Chairman, and everything will proceed as usual. You only need to act for me when necessary.”

“Yes!” Jiang Tao replied respectfully.

“Also, maintain the connection with the Heavenly Heart Sect, and perhaps even make it closer.” A cold light flashed in Jiang Hanzhou's eyes. “I want to know exactly what they want to get from the Dragon Abyss Palace.”

Jiang Tao's heart shuddered as he immediately understood Jiang Hanzhou's intention.

This was to reverse infiltrate and beat them at their own game!

“This subordinate understands and will certainly handle this matter well.”

Jiang Hanzhou then gave a few more instructions regarding the reorganization of the Prodigal Society and the integration of resources, which Jiang Tao noted down one by one.

Once the instructions were finished, Jiang Hanzhou suddenly asked:

“You said just now that my Tidal True Intent ‘took the wrong path.’ Then, the correct path... how should it be walked?”

Hearing this, a look of longing appeared in Jiang Tao's eyes.

He had been stuck at the Initial Stage of Yuanxiang for several years, unable to make any progress, precisely because he hadn't found the correct direction.

Jiang Hanzhou glanced at him and spoke slowly:

“The core of Tidal True Intent lies in ‘Momentum’ and ‘Rhythm.’ Momentum is the grand force pulled by the gravitational pull of Heaven and Earth; Rhythm is the unchanging rule of the rise and fall cycle. You only pursued the ferocity of ‘Momentum’ but neglected the cycle and resilience of ‘Rhythm.’”

He held out his right hand, palm up.

A wisp of azure blood-qi surged out, transforming into a small vortex in his palm.

The vortex rotated slowly, sometimes contracting and sometimes expanding, as if simulating the ebb and flow of the tide.

“Watch closely.”

With a slight thought from Jiang Hanzhou.

The vortex in his palm suddenly accelerated, turning into a miniature sea tide that surged and galloped in his palm with impressive momentum.

This was Jiang Tao's path.

In the next moment, the momentum of the sea tide suddenly slowed, becoming long-drawn and persistent, wave after wave, as if it would never end.

This was Jiang Hanzhou's path.

“Ferocity is easily broken, while the long-drawn is inexhaustible.” Jiang Hanzhou dispersed his blood-qi and looked at Jiang Tao. “Your River-Flipping Force is enough to tear apart a giant ship when it erupts, but what about after one strike? Your True Qi is exhausted, and you lack follow-up strength. A true tide never stops.”

Jiang Tao felt as if he had been struck by lightning, standing blankly on the spot as Jiang Hanzhou's words echoed repeatedly in his mind.

Ferocity is easily broken, while the long-drawn is inexhaustible...

So that was it!

It turned out he had always pursued extreme destructive power but forgotten the most fundamental characteristic of the tide—cycling, persistence, and being ceaseless!

“Thank you... for the Master's guidance!” Jiang Tao bowed deeply, his tone full of gratitude.

This bit of guidance was worth a fortune, enough to save him ten years of detours!

Jiang Hanzhou waved his hand: “Cultivate well and Breakthrough as soon as possible. What I want is not a stagnant Initial Stage of Yuanxiang.”

“Yes!” A raging fighting spirit ignited in Jiang Tao's eyes.

Just then, the sound of something breaking through the air came from the distance.

Wang Mingyuan, driving a shuttle-shaped Magical Artifact, rushed over with a look of worry on his face.

When he saw the unharmed Jiang Hanzhou, the respectfully standing Jiang Tao, and the wreckage of the fast boat on the sea, he was stunned.

“Senior Brother Jiang, this... this is...” Wang Mingyuan landed, looking at Jiang Tao with suspicion and uncertainty.

He naturally knew Jiang Tao, a famous tough character in Star Continent Anchorage, a Primal Form Realm Martial Artist, and the Chairman of the Prodigal Society.

But at this moment, this notoriously famous "river-flipping hand" was actually standing beside Jiang Hanzhou like a servant, with an incomparably respectful demeanor?

“Steward Wang has come just in time.” Jiang Hanzhou smiled slightly. “Chairman Jiang is profoundly sensible and has decided to abandon the darkness for the light, serving my Dragon Abyss Palace from now on. Tonight's matter was the Prodigal Society cleaning its own house, and has nothing to do with the fishery.”

Wang Mingyuan was very shrewd and immediately understood that Jiang Hanzhou was defining the nature of this matter to avoid subsequent trouble.

He looked at Jiang Tao, then at Jiang Hanzhou, his heart shocked beyond measure.

In a single day, not only did he Breakthrough to Dragon Elephant, but he even subjugated a Primal Form Realm Martial Artist...

This Senior Brother Jiang was likely going to stir up a storm in Star Continent Anchorage.

“So that's how it is.” Wang Mingyuan cupped his hands and smiled. “It is truly a fortunate thing that Chairman Jiang could find the right path. We will all be serving the Dragon Abyss Palace together in the future, so I hope we can look out for each other.”

Jiang Tao hurriedly returned the gesture: “Steward Wang is too kind. I hope for your guidance in the future.”

The three briefly discussed a few more points and settled on the follow-up matters.

Jiang Tao would lead men to clear the wreckage from the sea and publicly claim that a traitor within the Prodigal Society had attempted to raid the fishery, but was discovered in time and dealt with.

As for Liu Quan and the other two, they would remain at the fishery as Jiang Hanzhou had instructed, to make up for their past mistakes.

By the time all arrangements were made, the sky was near dawn.

On the eastern horizon, the white belly of a fish appeared.