127: Chapter 127 The Primordial Qi Sect

As Jiang Hanzhou was thinking about searching for Essence Spirits while cultivating, he suddenly received news.

At that time, Jiang Hanzhou was in the stone room, circulating the fourth layer of the Li Huo Golden Body Art mental cultivation method, attempting to conceive more Lihuo Astral Malice within his blood and Qi.

After a month of patient refinement, the crimson-gold astral malice within his body had grown from the thickness of a thumb to that of a child's arm, coiling in his Dantian like a sleeping fire dragon. However, he was still a long way from the qualitative change required for the fourth layer, "Condensing Qi into Flame."

Rapid footsteps approached from afar. Jiang Tao did not even bother to announce himself; he pushed the door open and entered directly.

"Master! The news about the ruin investigation is out!"

Jiang Hanzhou opened his eyes. He saw Jiang Tao's face flushed red, his eyes surging with disbelief and deep awe.

"That undersea ruin is actually the site of the ancient Innate One Qi Sect! And the cave that has appeared is the place where their 'Dragon Slaying True Person' passed away!"

Innate One Qi Sect.

Jiang Hanzhou's gaze slightly narrowed.

When he was browsing the classics in the Dragon Abyss Palace library, he had accidentally seen records of this Sect.

In the ancient era, it dominated the four seas. At its peak, it was said that there were over a hundred Dragon Elephant Mutual Harmony Martial Artists in the Sect, as well as several Immortal Masters. The islands of the East Sea and the coast of the West Sea were all within its sphere of influence.

However, prosperity leads to decline. Thousands of years ago, it fell apart during a catastrophe, its mountain gate turned into ruins, and its Legacy was severed.

An Immortal Cave belonging to a True Person of such a Sect...

"Dragon Slaying True Person?" Jiang Hanzhou frowned slightly. "Is there any record of this person's life?"

"My subordinate has ordered Qin Wen to collect information with all his might. Currently, I have only heard scattered rumors." Jiang Tao took a deep breath, trying his best to steady his tone. "It is said that this Immortal Master was one of the pillars of the Innate One Qi Sect during the ancient period. He was famous across the four seas for his 'dragon slaying sword.' He once fought seven flood dragons alone in the abyss of the East Sea and slew them all, hence the title 'dragon slaying'."

He paused, his voice carrying a distinct tremor: "And the Immortal Master's cultivation... was the third Realm of the Dongxuan Realm—Nirvana!"

Nirvana!

Jiang Hanzhou's pupils constricted slightly.

After stepping into the Primal Elephant, he had a clearer understanding of the Dragon Abyss Palace's Realm divisions.

The three heavens of the Dragon Elephant Realm: Primal Elephant, Dragon Fetus, and Dragon Elephant Mutual Harmony.

If one could break through the Dragon Elephant Mutual Harmony barrier after this, one would truly transcend the mundane and enter the gate of the "Dongxuan Realm."

Martial Artists in this Realm could no longer be called Martial Artists.

They had transcended the shackles of mundane martial arts, touched the essence of the laws of heaven and earth, and possessed immense power with every gesture.

And the Dongxuan Realm is divided into: Divine Ability, Dharma Image, and Nirvana.

Jiang Hanzhou had seen in the classics that the current Palace Master of Dragon Abyss Palace was a Nirvana-level powerhouse of the Dongxuan Realm. It was said that he had lived for over three hundred years, sitting in the East Sea, causing all sides to not dare to act rashly.

And the Dragon Slaying True Person was an existence of the same Realm as the Palace Master.

What did the Immortal Cave of such a powerhouse signify?

It meant terrifying Cultivation Technique legacies, ancient Medicinal Pills that could assist in breaking through Realms, Magic Treasures at least at the level of Treasure Artifacts, and perhaps even fragments of secrets regarding the "Mysterious Glimpse Realm"!

For the countless Cultivators trapped in the Dragon Elephant Realm, this was an Opportunity capable of changing their fate.

"Where has the news spread?" Jiang Hanzhou asked, his voice calm to the point of indifference.

"The entire Star Continent Anchorage is buzzing with it." Jiang Tao smiled bitterly. "Not just Dragon Abyss Palace and Black Jade Mansion, even the Sea Quelling Department of the Great Qi Dynasty has urgently dispatched three Black Iron Warships, personally overseen by a 'Sea Quelling General' of the Dongxuan Realm Divine Ability stage. Commercial groups from the Western nations are also frantically sending messages back home. It is said that some old monsters have already been moved and are rushing over day and night..."

The more he spoke, the more alarmed he became:

"Master, this matter has exceeded the scope of what we can imagine. My informants for the Prodigal Society on Taikang Island reported that just this morning, seventeen powerful auras of at least the Dragon Elephant Mutual Harmony Realm swept across the sky, heading straight towards the Turbulent Reef Sea Area. That pressure... just by passing by, dozens of Iron Bone Realm Martial Artists on the island collapsed on the spot, and three of them had their Dao Hearts shaken, vomiting blood and fainting!"

Jiang Hanzhou fell silent.

He knew Jiang Tao would not exaggerate.

The hidden treasures of a Dongxuan Realm powerhouse were enough to drive the top forces of the entire East Sea crazy.

Dragon Abyss Palace, Black Jade Mansion, the Great Qi Dynasty, the Western nations... no party could sit by and watch such an Opportunity fall into the hands of others.

And people like them at the Primal Form Realm were merely ants beneath the giant waves in this torrent.

"That is quite the grand display." Jiang Hanzhou whispered, without a hint of mockery, merely stating a fact.

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the sea and sky were still clear. The workers of the fishing ground were working as usual, completely unaware of the storm hundreds of miles away that was enough to change the world.

But Jiang Hanzhou knew that this tranquility was about to be broken.

He had no unwillingness or regret in his heart.

The Dragon Slaying True Person's Immortal Cave was a true Opportunity, but it was not his Dao.

His Dao lay in his fate, in the accumulation of his Martial Arts Comprehension, and in moving forward firmly one step at a time.

That pillar of light reaching the sky, those spatial rifts tearing through the Void Realm, those swarming experts... all were silently telling him: with his current cultivation, rashly stepping into this game would be nothing but a moth flying into a flame.

Knowing something cannot be done and doing it anyway is courage.

But knowing it means certain death and rushing into it is stupidity.

"Jiang Tao."

"This subordinate is here!"

"Order the Prodigal Society: all intelligence gathering operations must immediately turn to absolute secrecy. Especially regarding the movements of the various forces involved in the ruin—it is better to miss information than to alert them. Anyone who dares to approach within a hundred miles of the Turbulent Reef Sea Area without permission will be expelled from the society, and they will be responsible for their own life and death."

Jiang Tao looked solemn: "Yes!"

Jiang Hanzhou paused and added: "As for Steward Wang, I will explain it to him personally. The fishing ground will enter the highest state of alert starting today. Warship patrols will change to day-and-night rotations. If you encounter unknown Cultivators approaching, issue a warning first. If the warning is ineffective... you are authorized to open fire."

Jiang Tao felt a chill in his heart, knowing that his master truly considered Fishing Ground No. 4 a Foundation that needed to be protected.

He hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but ask: "Master, then you..."

"Me?" Jiang Hanzhou turned around, a faint smile appearing on his face. "I have my own destination."

He walked back to the table, unhurriedly taking out his sumeru pouch and putting a few scattered items into it.

That piece of unrefined gold marrow cloud-patterned iron, the remaining two Low-Grade Spirit Stones, the tiger soul saber, and a few volumes of martial arts notes...

His movements were calm, as if he were just packing his bags normally.

Jiang Tao watched blankly, and suddenly understood.

He was... preparing.

"Another piece of news arrived yesterday." Jiang Hanzhou put away the sumeru pouch and looked up at Jiang Tao. "There are traces of Essence Spirits near Bolang Island in the West Sea."

Jiang Tao was stunned, and then bright light erupted in his eyes.

"Essence Spirits! Master, you intend to..."

Jiang Hanzhou's tone was flat, as if he were discussing what to eat tomorrow. "All forces have had their eyes attracted by the Dragon Slaying True Person's Immortal Cave; the defenses of the West Sea must be empty right now. Although Bolang Island is far, it is the perfect time to fish in troubled waters."

Jiang Hanzhou did not hide his thoughts from Jiang Tao; after all, this person's life was in his hands.

And sometimes, being frank makes people more willing to be used by you.

He paused, his gaze passing over Jiang Tao and looking out the window at the sea and sky:

"The Opportunities in this world are not limited to just that Dragon Slaying True Person's site."

Jiang Tao took a deep breath and bowed deeply.

He did not try to persuade him again, nor did he say any more words of concern.

Because he finally saw it clearly.

This young master never lacked clarity when facing temptation, nor did he lack decisiveness when seizing an Opportunity.

He did not fight for the Immortal Cave that thousands coveted—not out of cowardice, not out of retreat, but because he truly understood the path he wanted to walk.

Such a person is worth following.

"This subordinate will go prepare the ship now!" Jiang Tao said in a deep voice.

"No need." Jiang Hanzhou shook his head slightly. "You stay in Star Continent Anchorage and watch this game of chess for me. Steward Wang is steady but lacks adaptability. If there is an emergency, you know how to contact me."

He took out a piece of talisman paper folded into a square from his sumeru pouch and handed it to Jiang Tao:

"This is a Ten Thousand Mile Transmission Talisman, a monthly supply item from Dragon Abyss Palace, and it is quite valuable. Do not use it unless it is a matter of life and death."

Jiang Tao took it solemnly and kept it close to his body.

He did not ask Jiang Hanzhou how he would get to Bolang Island, nor did he ask when his master would return.

He just bowed again, then turned and strode away.