229: Chapter 228 Going to Sea

Jiang Hanzhou tucked the token into his sumeru pouch and searched the area once more, but found nothing else.

He stood up and looked in the direction those two had been staring—deep on the seabed, about two hundred yards away, a massive shadow was faintly visible.

The outline of the shadow was irregular, resembling a submarine hill or perhaps the ruins of some building.

More importantly, of the two sources of Dragon Qi, the heavy and stable aura was coming from that direction.

The ancient flood dragon remains.

He took a deep breath and floated upward, swimming toward the surface.

—

On the surface, Zhou Lie and Liu Ningshuang were keeping a vigilant watch on their surroundings.

Seeing Jiang Hanzhou break through the water, Zhou Lie hurriedly asked:

"How was it?"

Jiang Hanzhou leaped onto the water's surface, the moisture around him instantly evaporated by the Lihuo True Flame. He took the token from his sumeru pouch and handed it to the two.

"People from Blood Shark Island. Two at the Peak of the Viscera Burning Realm were guarding underwater, watching the direction of the ancient flood dragon remains."

Liu Ningshuang took the token and examined it closely.

The token was palm-sized and dark red throughout. The front was engraved with a giant shark with a gaping bloody maw, while the back bore the character for 'Blood'. Fine Formation lines were faintly visible along the edges, traces of a communication talisman.

"A transit pass for Blood Shark Island." She looked up, her expression grave. "They really have come."

Zhou Lie's brow furrowed. "What are they trying to do? The Dragon Abyss Palace has had its eye on those ancient flood dragon remains for a hundred years. Do they, a mere island of evil cultivators, dare to lay a finger on it?"

"Whether they dare or not isn't for us to say," Jiang Hanzhou said calmly. "They are already here."

He briefly recounted his findings underwater—the two distinct sources of Dragon Qi, the conversation between the two Blood Shark Island Disciples, and the direction they were watching.

"...'Third Protector', 'Great Island Master', 'the time has not yet come'." He looked at the two. "The main force of Blood Shark Island should already be inside."

Liu Ningshuang was silent for a moment before saying in a heavy voice:

"We must notify the Sect immediately."

She took a communication talisman from her robes and was about to activate it when Jiang Hanzhou held her back.

"It's too late."

Liu Ningshuang looked up at him.

Jiang Hanzhou's gaze looked straight into the depths of the sea:

"Judging by the fact that they've been on guard for three days, the Blood Shark Island people have been here for at least that long. If they really are after the ancient flood dragon remains, they've likely reached the core by now. By the time the Sect's reinforcements arrive, it'll be far too late."

Zhou Lie scratched his head. "Then what do we do? The three of us go down? That's the Blood Shark Island main force. Their Great Island Master, the Bloodfang Old Monster, is at the Peak of the Primal Elephant Realm, a half-step into the Pulse Condensation Realm. The three of us are just at the Late Yuanxiang Stage... are we even enough to get stuck in their teeth?"

Jiang Hanzhou looked at him and suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, but it caused Zhou Lie's heart to shudder for no apparent reason.

"Senior Brother Zhou," Jiang Hanzhou said. "We aren't going down to die; we're going to take a look."

"Take a look?"

"Yes." Jiang Hanzhou looked toward the seabed. "To see how far they've progressed, to see if the ancient flood dragon remains can truly be taken, and to see if there's an opportunity—to fish in troubled waters."

He paused and said word by word:

"If they haven't succeeded yet, we might be able to intercept them. If they have, we retreat and send the news back to the Sect, letting the Palace Master and the others give chase. Either way, we don't lose."

Liu Ningshuang pondered for a moment and nodded:

"Feasible."

Zhou Lie scratched his head and finally nodded as well:

"Fine. I've wanted to meet those evil cultivators for a long time anyway."

Jiang Hanzhou took a Jade Slip from his sumeru pouch, imprinted a segment of information, and handed it to Liu Ningshuang:

"Senior Sister Liu, this Jade Slip contains my findings from just now. If anything happens to us after we go down, crush the communication talisman and throw this Jade Slip to the Sect's people. They will know what happened."

Liu Ningshuang took the Jade Slip, a complex light flashing in her cold eyes:

"You aren't letting me go down?"

"Senior Brother Zhou is right. The three of us at the Late Yuanxiang Stage are indeed not enough against an old fellow like the Bloodfang Old Monster who is half-step into the Pulse Condensation Realm," Jiang Hanzhou said. "But there isn't much difference between three people and two. You provide support from above. If we haven't come up within an hour, send the message immediately."

Liu Ningshuang was silent for a moment and then nodded:

"Alright."

Jiang Hanzhou turned to look at Zhou Lie:

"Senior Brother Zhou, does the Cultivation Technique you practice lean toward the Fire Element or the Water Element?"

Zhou Lie chuckled, his arms shaking as a layer of crimson-gold flames ignited around him:

"As a true Disciple of Red Fire Peak, it's fire, of course! My Blazing Sun True Intent might only be at twenty percent, but it's definitely enough to burn someone to a crisp!"

Jiang Hanzhou nodded and took a light blue Medicinal Pill from his sumeru pouch, handing it to Zhou Lie:

"Water-Warding Pill. Keep it under your tongue; it will allow you to move freely underwater."

Zhou Lie took the pill and tossed it into his mouth, saying indistinctly:

"Thanks, Junior Brother Jiang!"

Jiang Hanzhou then took three Talismans from his sumeru pouch, keeping one for himself and giving two to Zhou Lie:

"Breath-Concealing Talismans. Stick them on your body to hide your aura. Those people from Blood Shark Island are skilled at tracking; we must be careful."

Zhou Lie took the Talisman and stuck it to his chest. His fiery aura instantly vanished, becoming almost imperceptible.

Jiang Hanzhou also applied a Talisman to himself. The red and blue light around him slowly dimmed and finally disappeared completely, as if he had merged into the surrounding air.

He took a deep breath and looked at Zhou Lie:

"Follow me closely."

As the words fell, he stepped forward and sank into the sea.

Zhou Lie followed right behind him.