265: Chapter 264 East Sea Calamity

When the Sword Discussion Assembly concluded, the twilight was at its thickest.

The lights on the seven Peaks lit up one after another, illuminating the entire Dragon Abyss Palace as if it were day. On the viewing seats around the Sword Discussion Platform, the crowd was slowly dispersing, the sound of discussion rising and falling like the tide. Some were excited, some shocked, some fearful, and some gloating.

But everyone's gaze couldn't help but look toward the direction of Red Fire Peak.

There, a figure was slowly walking up the mountain path.

Jiang Hanzhou had the tiger soul saber hanging at his waist, his steps steady and his expression normal. His body still bore the scars from the life-and-death battle with Han Qing; his black wetsuit was covered in saber marks and bloodstains, and the wound on his left arm, deep enough to see the bone, was only simply bandaged and still seeping blood.

But his eyes were very bright.

Bright like the stars in the sky, bright like an unsheathed sharp sword.

Behind him, Master Xue Mu walked with his hands behind his back, his red-gold Daoist robe snapping in the night wind. A faint smile played at the corners of his mouth, and his deep eyes were full of gratification.

"Han Zhou," Master Xue Mu spoke, his voice calm, "the Sect Master wants to see you."

Jiang Hanzhou stopped, turned around, and looked at Master Xue Mu: "Now?"

"Now." Master Xue Mu nodded. "Follow your Master."

The two of them, one in front and one behind, walked along the mountain path toward the summit of Red Fire Peak.

The summit of Red Fire Peak, Lihuo Hall.

The hall doors were wide open, and the hall was brightly lit.

Palace Master Longyuan stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the hall, dressed in a golden dragon robe and wearing a purple-gold crown, with that entirely golden longsword hanging at his waist. A faint golden light swirled around him; it wasn't dazzling, but it contained an indescribable pressure.

Beside him stood three Inner Sect Elders of Red Fire Peak, all at the Dragon-Elephant Intersection Realm. The expressions of the three were identical: calm, serious, and stern.

Outside the hall, the Inner Sect Disciples of Red Fire Peak were gathered together—Zhou Lie, Liu Ningshuang, Su Waner, Zhao Yuanjing... every person's face was written with excitement and anticipation.

"Junior Brother Jiang is here!" Zhou Lie was the first to discover the figure walking up from the mountain path, his voice trembling with excitement.

Liu Ningshuang didn't speak, but her cold eyes stared intently at the approaching figure, her fingers unconsciously clutching the corner of her clothes.

The moment Jiang Hanzhou stepped into Lihuo Hall, everyone's gaze fell upon him.

He knelt on one knee and cupped his fists in a salute: "Disciple Jiang Hanzhou pays respects to the Sect Master."

Palace Master Longyuan turned around, his gaze falling on him. In those deep eyes, an inscrutable light flashed.

"Rise." His voice was calm, yet it contained an unquestionable authority.

Jiang Hanzhou stood up, straightening his back.

Palace Master Longyuan looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "Jiang Hanzhou, you have been in the Sect for less than a year. With your cultivation at the Early Stage of the Dragon Fetus Realm, you defeated Han Qing and exposed Cold Frost Master's conspiracy, performing a great service for the Sect. I said that I would promote you to an Inner Sect Core Disciple and grant you the treatment of a Core Disciple. Today, I fulfill that promise."

He raised his right hand, and in the center of his palm, a palm-sized dark red token slowly emerged.

The token was dark red throughout, its surface engraved with fine golden patterns that wound like dragons, slowly flowing over the token. On the front of the token were carved four ancient characters: Red Fire Core. On the back was engraved the pattern of a mountain Peak, a miniature of Red Fire Peak.

"This is the Red Fire Core Token." Palace Master Longyuan's voice was calm. "With this token, you may exclusively enjoy cultivation rights in the middle layer of the Fire Cloud Cave without any limit on the number of times. You may enter the Scripture Pavilion to borrow Heaven Rank Cultivation Techniques without needing contribution points. Your annual allowance will be one hundred thousand contribution points, equivalent to the treatment of an Inner Sect Elder."

The entire hall broke into an uproar.

Cultivation rights in the middle layer of Fire Cloud Cave. Rights to borrow Heaven Rank Cultivation Techniques from the Scripture Pavilion. An annual allowance of one hundred thousand contribution points.

Every single one was a treatment that Inner Sect Disciples wouldn't even dare to dream of. Especially the middle layer of Fire Cloud Cave, which was a cultivation Holy Land that only Inner Sect Elders were qualified to enter; the concentration of Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence within was dozens of times that of the outside world.

Jiang Hanzhou knelt on one knee and received the token with both hands: "Disciple thanks the Sect Master for his great favor."

Palace Master Longyuan nodded and turned his gaze toward Master Xue Mu: "Junior Brother Xue, your Disciple, you reward him yourself."

Master Xue Mu smiled slightly, took out a fist-sized jade box from his sleeve, and walked up to Jiang Hanzhou.

He opened the jade box, and inside lay a Spirit Stone that was crimson throughout with golden patterns flowing on its surface. The Spirit Stone was only the size of a hen's egg, yet it emitted an indescribable scorching aura. Just being near it, one could feel the blood and Qi in their body accelerating, and their True Intent involuntarily resonating.

"This is fire spirit marrow." Master Xue Mu's voice was calm, yet it contained an indescribable pride. "I obtained it thirty years ago by chance in the East Sea Abyss and have kept it treasured until now. It contains the purest Pure Yang spiritual essence and can help you stabilize your Dragon Fetus Realm Foundation and further fuse your four types of True Intent."

He handed the jade box to Jiang Hanzhou and said word by word: "Han Zhou, this is a small token of my regard. Accept it."

Jiang Hanzhou looked at that fire spirit marrow and was silent for a moment.

Then, he received the jade box with both hands and bowed solemnly: "Disciple thanks Master."

Master Xue Mu patted his shoulder and didn't say much more.

Palace Master Longyuan watched this scene, a faint smile touching the corners of his mouth. He turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, his voice calm yet unquestionable:

"The Sword Discussion Assembly ends here. Disciples of each Peak, return to your positions. As for the matter of Heavenly Sword Peak, the Sect will investigate it thoroughly to the end. I establish a rule here: from this day forward, within the Dragon Abyss Palace, whoever dares to collude with external enemies or frame fellow Disciples will be executed without mercy."

As his words fell, he strode out of Lihuo Hall and disappeared into the night.

In the hall, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Jiang Hanzhou put the Red Fire Core Token and the fire spirit marrow into his sumeru pouch and turned to walk out of the hall. Master Xue Mu followed behind him, and when they reached the hall entrance, he suddenly stopped and said without turning his head:

"Han Zhou, the matter of Heavenly Sword Peak isn't over yet. Although Cold Frost Master has been taken down, he managed Heavenly Sword Peak for decades and has many partisans. Be careful lately and don't go off alone."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded: "Disciple understands."

He walked out of Lihuo Hall and headed along the mountain path toward his own Immortal Cave.

When he reached halfway up the mountain, he suddenly stopped.

Because on the mountain path ahead, a figure was standing.

It was an old man dressed in a gray Daoist robe, with white hair and a lean, refined face. A faint fluctuation of spiritual essence swirled around him, and in those deep eyes was an indescribable wisdom and world-weariness.

The Grand Elder of Tianji Peak, Great Elder Xuanjizi.

Jiang Hanzhou cupped his fists in a salute: "Disciple greets the Grand Elder."

Great Elder Xuanjizi turned around, his gaze falling on him. In those aged eyes, an inscrutable light flashed.

"Jiang Hanzhou," he spoke, his voice calm, "I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Jiang Hanzhou's brow twitched slightly: "What business does the Grand Elder have with me?"

Great Elder Xuanjizi didn't answer but simply took out a palm-sized jade talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Jiang Hanzhou.

The jade talisman was white and translucent throughout, its surface engraved with fine silver patterns that wound like dragons, slowly flowing over the talisman. On the front of the talisman were carved two ancient characters: Tianji. On the back was engraved a star chart, with stars dotting it, deep and vast.

"This is the heavenly secret mirror." Great Elder Xuanjizi's voice was calm, yet it contained an indescribable solemnity. "I am gifting it to you."

Jiang Hanzhou took the heavenly secret mirror and felt an indescribable power contained within the jade talisman. That power was not spiritual essence, not True Intent, and not a Divine Soul, but something of a deeper level.

"Grand Elder, this..."

"Take it." Great Elder Xuanjizi interrupted him, looking directly into his eyes. "I have only one sentence to tell you."

He paused and said word by word: "The East Sea Tribulation rises; only you can hold it."

Jiang Hanzhou's pupils contracted slightly: "The East Sea Tribulation rises?"

Great Elder Xuanjizi didn't explain, but simply turned around and walked down the mountain path.

After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and said without turning his head: "Jiang Hanzhou, remember my words. The East Sea is about to face a great tribulation. That tribulation is not a natural disaster, but a man-made calamity. The one who can cross this tribulation is not your Master, not the Sect Master, and not any of the Elders, but you."

He paused, his voice so low that only he could hear it: "Because your fate is the only variable in this tribulation."

As his words fell, his figure disappeared into the night.

Jiang Hanzhou stood on the mountain path, holding that heavenly secret mirror, and was silent for a long time.

Then, he put the heavenly secret mirror into his sumeru pouch and continued toward his Immortal Cave.

When he returned to Hanzhou Residence, the night was already deep.

Zhou Lie and Liu Ningshuang were standing in front of the Immortal Cave's entrance. Seeing him return, they both came forward to meet him.

"Junior Brother Jiang!" Zhou Lie was full of excitement. "Did you hear that just now? An annual allowance of one hundred thousand contribution points! That's the treatment of an Inner Sect Elder! You've only been in the Sect for less than a year!"

Liu Ningshuang didn't speak, but in those cold eyes, an indescribable light flashed.

Jiang Hanzhou smiled slightly: "Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Sister Liu, it's been hard on you today. Go back and rest."

Zhou Lie nodded and patted his shoulder: "You should also rest early. We'll talk again tomorrow."

The two turned and left.

Jiang Hanzhou pushed open the stone door of the Immortal Cave and walked inside.

The stone door slowly closed behind him.

Inside the Immortal Cave, it was brightly lit.

Jiang Hanzhou sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, placing the tiger soul saber across his knees. The four-colored brilliance on the saber's body flickered slightly, and the blurred consciousness within the saber sent a joyful emotion, as if happy for him.

He wasn't in a hurry to Cultivate.

He just closed his eyes and began to review.

Reviewing the life-and-death battle with Han Qing.

From Han Qing's first sword strike to the final move. From the Ten Thousand Swords Soul Devour to the Sword Gu: True Body and then to the Sword Gu: Mutual Destruction. From those black tentacles to the consumption by the Thousand Tribulations Nirvana Gu mother body, and finally to the Divine Intent Heavenly Saber cutting the symbiotic connection.

Every detail played back slowly in his mind.

His brow would sometimes furrow and sometimes relax. His breathing would sometimes be hurried and sometimes steady. His hands would sometimes clench and sometimes loosen.

He was looking for flaws.

Looking for his own flaws.

Han Qing was very strong. The cultivation of the Late Stage of the Dragon Fetus Realm, the weirdness of the Sword Gu Secret Technique, the viciousness of the Soul Devouring Poison, and the madness of the Sword Gu Mother Insect—each one was enough to take his life.

But he had survived.

Not because of luck or a fluke, but because his four types of True Intent had fused perfectly, because his Divine Soul Armor was as tough as steel, because his Thousand Tribulations Nirvana Gu mother body had consumed the Sword Gu, and because his Divine Intent Heavenly Saber had cut the symbiotic connection.

But this wasn't without a price.

The wound on his left arm, deep enough to see the bone, was caused by Han Qing's Sword Gu. Residue of the Sword Gu's poison remained in the wound; although most of it had been consumed by the Thousand Tribulations Nirvana Gu mother body, a sliver still remained, slowly corroding his Meridians.

In his Sea of Consciousness, the area of the lake of divine soul had shrunk by a third. That was the Divine Soul power consumed when the Divine Intent Heavenly Saber was unleashed, and it couldn't be recovered in a short time.

In his Dantian, a crack had appeared in the Fusion of the four types of True Intent. That was a mark left by Han Qing's Sword Gu when it was consuming his True Intent; although it wasn't deep, if not repaired in time, it would affect his subsequent Cultivation.

He opened his eyes and took out that fire spirit marrow from his sumeru pouch.

The fire spirit marrow emitted a scorching light, illuminating the entire cultivation room as if it were day. That light contained the purest Pure Yang spiritual essence; just holding it in his hand, he felt the blood and Qi in his body accelerating and his True Intent involuntarily resonating.

He placed the fire spirit marrow in his palm, closed his eyes, and began to refine it.

Scorching power surged from his palm into his body, flowing along his Meridians into his Dantian and Sea of Consciousness. That power was gentle and not violent, like the warm sun in winter, wrapping, burning, and purifying the residual Sword Gu poison in his body layer by layer.

At the same time, the Pure Yang spiritual essence in the fire spirit marrow resonated with his Pure Yang True Intent, slowly repairing that crack in his Dantian. The four types of True Intent became harmonious and unobstructed once again, as easy to use as his own arm.

One hour later.

He opened his eyes and put the fire spirit marrow back into his sumeru pouch.

The power of the fire spirit marrow was too strong; he couldn't refine it all at once. He could only absorb it in installments, absorbing a portion each time to let his body slowly adapt.

But he could feel his Dragon Fetus Realm Foundation becoming more and more stable. The Fusion of the four types of True Intent was becoming increasingly harmonious. The area of the lake of divine soul was slowly recovering.

He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

Then, he took out that heavenly secret mirror from his sumeru pouch.

The jade talisman was slightly hot in his palm, and those silver patterns were slowly flowing; with every circulation, a wisp of indescribable power dissipated from it.

He extended his Divine Sense into it.

Within the heavenly secret mirror, there were no Cultivation Techniques and no Secret Manuals, only a star chart.

That star chart was vast and deep, with stars dotting it. Every star was slowly flowing, moving according to some profound trajectory.

Below the star chart were carved four ancient characters:

East Sea Tribulation Rises.

Jiang Hanzhou looked at those four characters and was silent for a long time.

Then, he put the heavenly secret mirror into his sumeru pouch, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breathing.

No matter what tribulation the East Sea held, no matter what Great Elder Xuanjizi's words meant, and no matter what awaited him in the future—

He needed to become strong.

Become even stronger.

Strong enough to protect himself, strong enough to protect the people around him, and strong enough to face any tribulation.

He opened his eyes, a look of determination flashing within them.

Tomorrow, he would begin to Cultivate.

Cultivate the fire spirit marrow to stabilize his Dragon Fetus Realm Foundation.

Cultivate the Heaven Rank Cultivation Techniques from the Scripture Pavilion to seek the possibility of further fusing the four types of True Intent.

Cultivate the Divine Intent Heavenly Saber to make up for the flaws exposed in the life-and-death battle with Han Qing.

Cultivate, Cultivate, and Cultivate some more.

Until he stood at the Peak of this world.

He stood up, walked to the stone window of the Immortal Cave, and looked at the night scene outside.

The lights of Red Fire Peak swayed in the night wind, while the direction of Heavenly Sword Peak was a patch of pitch black.

In the distance, the surface of the East Sea shimmered, and the sound of waves crashing against the reefs could be heard faintly.

That sound was like the tide, endless and never-ceasing.

Just like his path of martial arts.

Never-ceasing.