123: Chapter 123 The Emergence of the Ruins

Jiang Tao continued, "But my brothers still need to be fed. So, I would like to ask Hall Master Zeng for a favor."

"Chairman Jiang, please speak."

"I would like to ask Hall Master Zeng to introduce me," Jiang Tao said with burning eyes. "I want to meet the person behind your sect... the True Disciple of Black Jade Mansion, Young Master Zhao Yuanchen."

Zeng Guan's pupils shrank slightly before he regained his composure, his face showing a perfectly measured amount of surprise and difficulty.

"Chairman Jiang... this..." He mused, "Young Master Zhao is of noble status, a True Disciple of Black Jade Mansion, and a Prodigy with hopes of attaining Dragon Elephant Mutual Harmony or even a higher Realm in the future. He usually stays in seclusion to Cultivate and rarely sees outside guests. Although I have some history with Young Master Zhao, to introduce someone so rashly..."

He shook his head, his meaning clear: You, Jiang Tao, are not qualified enough.

Jiang Tao seemed to have expected this and was not discouraged. Instead, he smiled and pulled out a dark red gift box, about a foot long and three inches wide, from his wide sleeve.

"Hall Master Zeng, please do not be in such a hurry to refuse." He gently pushed the gift box in front of Zeng Guan. "This is something I obtained by chance and have always treasured. I am giving it to Hall Master Zeng today as a small token of my appreciation."

Zeng Guan's gaze fell on the gift box, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes, but he did not pick it up immediately.

"What is the meaning of this, Chairman Jiang?"

"Open it and you will see." Jiang Tao made a gesture of invitation.

Zeng Guan hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out and picking up the gift box. It felt slightly heavy and bone-chillingly cold; the box itself seemed to be made of some kind of cold-attribute wood.

He gently lifted the lid.

A surge of pure, piercing cold air instantly spread out, causing the temperature in the private room to plummet, and a thin layer of white frost even condensed on the tabletop.

Inside the box lay a fist-sized, crystal-clear, ice-blue crystal.

Inside the crystal, it looked as if countless tiny ice needles and snowflakes were frozen, slowly flowing under the light and emitting a heart-palpitating extreme cold spiritual energy.

Even more strange was that at the core of the crystal, a faint purple halo was faintly visible, as if a tiny bolt of lightning was frozen within.

"Is this... an 'Ice Soul Thunder Crystal'?!" Zeng Guan exclaimed in a low voice, unable to hide the shock and ecstasy in his eyes!

The 'Mystic Ice Formula' he Cultivated was one of the core Legacies of the Heavenly Heart Sect, leaning towards ice and cold attributes.

And the 'Ice Soul Thunder Crystal' was a rare treasure that could only be born in extreme cold lands after being frozen for a thousand years and then coincidentally struck by Heavenly Thunder!

The pure ice-cold Origin contained within would be of incalculable help to his Cultivation of the 'Mystic Ice Formula', and could even help him comprehend the wonders of Ice-Thunder Synergy to strike for a higher Realm!

Such a treasure was rare even in the Heavenly Heart Sect's treasury and was worth a fortune!

Jiang Tao was actually willing to give this to him?

Zeng Guan suppressed the excitement in his heart, slowly closed the lid, and took a deep breath. His gaze towards Jiang Tao had already changed.

"Chairman Jiang, such a heavy gift... I am unworthy of it." His tone became much more solemn. "I wonder what important matter Brother Jiang has that requires a meeting with Young Master Zhao? If it is within my power, I will certainly do my best to help."

The form of address had quietly changed from "Chairman Jiang" to the more intimate "Brother Jiang."

Jiang Tao sneered in his heart, but said sincerely on the surface, "To be honest, I want to seek refuge with Young Master Zhao."

"Seek refuge?" Zeng Guan was taken aback.

"Correct," Jiang Tao said seriously. "The Prodigal Society has operated in Star Continent Anchorage for twenty years. Although we are not prestigious, we are familiar with these waters, understand the various factions, and have control over all walks of life; I believe we still have some use. Young Master Zhao aims for Dragon Elephant Mutual Harmony and requires a massive amount of resources. Although my Prodigal Society has no great experts, we can be of use for running errands, gathering intelligence, and handling miscellaneous matters that are not suitable for the light of day."

He paused, his voice lowering further. "Furthermore, Young Master Zhao supports the Heavenly Heart Sect because he intends to get a piece of the pie in Star Continent Anchorage. And the waters of Star Continent Anchorage are far deeper than they appear. The Dragon Abyss Palace branch, the Sea Quelling Department office, and even the merchant groups of the Western Countries are not easy to deal with. Having an extra pair of eyes and an extra hand is never a bad thing."

Zeng Guan fell silent, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table, clearly weighing the options rapidly.

Jiang Tao's proposal had indeed moved him.

The Prodigal Society's power network, especially those underworld intelligence channels and methods of handling things, was exactly what "righteous" factions like the Heavenly Heart Sect lacked.

If Jiang Tao could be brought under their wing, it would indeed be beneficial to Young Master Zhao's great plan.

As for whether Jiang Tao was sincerely seeking refuge? Zeng Guan did not entirely believe it.

But the "Ice Soul Thunder Crystal" was real, and Jiang Tao's "drawing a clear line" with Dragon Abyss Palace was also real.

At least in the short term, Jiang Tao needed something from Young Master Zhao and should be reliable.

More importantly, Jiang Tao had taken the initiative to offer this pledge of loyalty and had lowered his posture significantly. If Young Master Zhao didn't even accept this, it would make him look narrow-minded if word got out.

After considering for a moment, Zeng Guan spoke slowly, "I have seen Brother Jiang's sincerity. This matter... I need to report it to Young Master Zhao for him to decide. However..."

His tone shifted, a hint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"Young Master Zhao has been in seclusion recently, striking at a critical Bottleneck, and likely has no time to receive outside guests. Brother Jiang, why don't you first prepare a detailed list of the Prodigal Society's manpower, assets, and intelligence network for me. When Young Master Zhao emerges from seclusion, I can present it on your behalf and explain the benefits."

This was to inspect the goods first before deciding whether to introduce him.

Jiang Tao understood this perfectly, yet he showed a look of gratitude. "That is excellent! Thank you, Hall Master Zeng, for making this happen! The list will definitely be presented within three days!"

The two men looked at each other and smiled, raising their glasses to toast, and the atmosphere became harmonious for a while.

However, just as Zeng Guan was preparing to probe for more specific details about the "unusual movement" from the Dragon Abyss Palace's side—

"BOOM!!!"

A violent vibration suddenly came from the ground beneath their feet!

"Clatter—" The cups, plates, and bowls on the table jumped and collided, making crisp sounds.

Immediately after, the entire Taikang Tower—no, the entire Taikang Island—seemed to be grabbed by an invisible giant hand and shaken violently!

"What's happening? Is the Earth Dragon turning over?"

"No! Look outside!"

Inside and outside the private room, a panicked clamor and shouting suddenly erupted.

Jiang Tao and Zeng Guan's expressions changed at the same time. They stood up abruptly and rushed to the window in a few steps, looking out.

They saw that in the southeast direction of the island, on the surface of the sea about three hundred miles from the coast, a jaw-dropping celestial phenomenon was currently occurring!

A magnificent pillar of light with a diameter of over a hundred zhang and an indescribable color erupted from the deep seabed, broke through the sea surface, and shot straight into the sky!

Within the pillar of light, it seemed as if countless ancient runes, broken chains, and shadows of ruined palaces were flowing and flickering, emitting an aura that was ancient, heavy, and majestic to the extreme!

The seawater was frantically pushed aside with the light pillar as the center, forming a circular giant wave hundreds of zhang high, rolling towards the coastline!

Within the waves, massive black shadows could be vaguely seen swimming, letting out low and terrifying roars.

Even more heart-palpitating was that after the light pillar shot into the clouds, it actually tore several visible, pitch-black Space Cracks in that part of the sky!

At the edges of the cracks, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, and the wind howled as if they were connected to some unknown, terrifying world.

The vast and majestic spiritual energy, like a flood from a burst dam, spread frantically in all directions with the light pillar as the center!

On Taikang Island, all Martial Artists could clearly feel that the concentration of Spiritual Qi in the world was rising at an incredible speed!

Some Martial Artists who had been stuck at a Bottleneck for a long time even felt their Cultivation barriers faintly loosening!

"This... this is..." Zeng Guan stared fixedly at the light pillar that connected heaven and earth, and the blurry outline at the bottom of the pillar on the sea surface that seemed to be built from countless giant stones, his voice coming out dry and excited:

"Ancient Ruins! Underwater Ancient Ruins have emerged!!"

He suddenly turned his head to look at the equally shocked Jiang Tao, his eyes burning with intense greed and calculation. "Turbulent Reef! That direction... is the Turbulent Reef Sea Area!"

Jiang Tao's heart also tightened violently at this moment.

Turbulent Reef!

It was indeed that dangerous sea area where he had discovered anomalies before!

Ancient Ruins... no wonder the spiritual power fluctuations were abnormal, and no wonder the Heavenly Heart Sect was also secretly spying!

Such an Opportunity was enough to make the entire Star Continent Anchorage—no, the entire West Sea and even the East Sea—go crazy for it!

He subconsciously touched the communication talisman in his robe that could urgently contact Jiang Hanzhou, his mind racing.

As for Zeng Guan, after the initial shock and ecstasy, he quickly calmed down, his face regaining its usual shrewdness and coldness.

He gave Jiang Tao a deep look and said meaningfully, "Brother Jiang, it seems your chance to see Young Master Zhao... is coming very soon."

With the emergence of such a world-shaking ruin, the True Disciple of Black Jade Mansion, Zhao Yuanchen, could never just sit by and watch!