On August 10th, Chen Chuan took his aunt's family aboard a cruise ship to head out to sea.
This journey began from Jibei Dao. First, they would pass through the Daxi Reef to take in the magnificent seascape. Next, they would travel to Baihe Island to witness the marvelous sight of a thousand cranes taking flight. Following that, they would visit five smaller islands, each with its own distinct charm.
The midway stop was scheduled at the Anying Archipelago, the Center City of Haidong Dao, where they would stay for two days. Afterward, they would journey eastward, spend two days on Gaoshi Island—which belonged to the Gong royal clan—and then head to the legendary Cannibal Island for a three-day hunting excursion.
The final destination of the trip was Luowang Island, a major tourist island, where they would spend four days. On the return leg, they would detour along the southern sea route to sample the delicacies of the famed Baliu Archipelago while enjoying the local customs and natural scenery.
Lastly, they would make their way back along the picturesque Great Pearl Island Chain. The entire journey would take roughly twenty-odd days, bringing them back to Jibei Dao in early September at the latest.
The ship departed in the afternoon. By dusk, Chen Chuan had Chaoming stay behind to watch over his aunt's family while he left the cruise ship alone. Treading across the sea, he arrived at Red Crown Island, which lay off the main shipping lane.
He intended to take this opportunity to visit the He siblings. The last time he came had been during the day; this time, due to the ship's schedule, it was already past six in the evening when he arrived, and the sky had darkened.
Walking along the mountain path, he noticed streetlights had already been installed, and the previously rustic training hall had been renovated. The sports ground ahead was brightly lit, featuring a simple ball court where quite a few students were playing, drawing occasional shouts and gasps from the onlookers.
Beside the court stood a newly built three-story brick building that looked like a dormitory. Many students stood on the upper levels watching the game, cheering and shouting.
As Chen Chuan approached from a distance, the He siblings spotted him and came forward together to welcome him. Once they drew near, He Zhilan said with delight, "Xiao Chuan, you're here!"
He Ruihai maintained his composed demeanor, nodding to Chen Chuan, though joy and warmth were tucked deep within his eyes.
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "I hope I haven't disturbed you two seniors?"
He Zhilan said, "Not at all, Xiao Chuan! We've been hoping you'd come."
Ever since postal and telegraph services had opened on the island, Chen Chuan had sent them a letter around the New Year to let them know he was safe, and he had given them advance notice before this visit as well.
After exchanging pleasantries outside, the He siblings invited him indoors.
He Zhilan said, "The island has developed so fast recently. The number of students coming to train with us has doubled; we can barely keep up with teaching them all! Fortunately, the development company provided a lot of support and even sent us two assistants. And there's this—"
She pointed to a tree-like organism in the corner of the hall. "They provided a good deal of field creature equipment so we can teach using boundary credentials. That saves us a lot of effort! And this hall has all been newly renovated, too."
He Ruihai said, "Originally, we only wanted to find a remote island where no one would find us, lie low for a while, and find something to keep ourselves busy. But seeing how pleasant it is here, we're planning to stay long-term."
He Zhilan added, "That's right! We heard the Skyline has already connected the outside world, so it should probably reach us soon, right?"
Chen Chuan nodded. "For now, only the main sea routes are connected, but the Skyline will continue to expand. It will cover this area within the next one to two years."
He Zhilan said in delight, "That's wonderful!" Given Chen Chuan's position, she knew the information had to be accurate. To tell the truth, ever since coming here and training so many students, they felt their lives had finally found real purpose.
After chatting a bit longer, she called to Chen Chuan, "Come along, Xiao Chuan, don't just stand there talking. You haven't eaten yet, have you? Come with Aunt He..."
She led Chen Chuan to the backyard, where a barbecue grill was set up with slices of meat already threaded onto iron skewers.
"This is a local specialty called 'blackspot'—a famous delicacy across these waters. In the past, whenever a hunter on the island bagged one, selling it would provide enough to feed their family without worry. But this creature is cunning and strong, making it very difficult for ordinary folks to hunt. Your Uncle He went into the mountains especially to hunt it for you. We also mixed up some secret seasoning. Back in the day, Sister Zhen loved our cooking and barbecue the most."
Chen Chuan sat down and said, "Then I must have a taste."
He Zhilan laughed. "Sister Zhen was wonderful at everything, except her cooking was a bit lacking. She could cook, but it was only enough to fill the belly, and the flavor was quite plain. If she had put the same effort into cooking as she did into martial arts, she'd certainly have beaten us both."
He Ruihai quietly walked over, picked up the skewers, set them over the fire, and expertly turned them. Before long, a rich aroma wafted out. He briskly sprinkled on the spices and handed a skewer to Chen Chuan. Chen Chuan thanked him and took it. Fresh off the grill, the skewer would have burned an ordinary person's mouth, but it caused him no discomfort at all. The flavor was indeed exceptional—the meat tender, plump, and succulent. Without realizing it, he finished an entire skewer. He Ruihai promptly handed him another.
Watching him enjoy the food, He Zhilan smiled contentedly, looking happier than if she were eating it herself.
The three of them ate and chatted. Once they were nearly finished, Chen Chuan said, "In two months, I'll be accompanying an inspection delegation to the Linakes Federation. This trip might take quite a while, so I came by to say goodbye to you two seniors."
The He siblings exchanged a glance. After a brief pause, He Ruihai said in a deep voice, "Xiao Chuan, though we are your elders, our vision and experience fall far short of yours. Whatever you choose to do, you surely have your own reasons. If you had only raw power without adaptability, you wouldn't have made it to where you are today. Uncle He has nothing he can help you with, but I wish you find the answers you're seeking."
Chen Chuan nodded. "Thank you, Uncle He."
He Zhilan asked with concern, "Xiao Chuan, when will you be back?"
Chen Chuan said, "It's hard to say right now. If I find results on this journey, I'll be sure to let you and Uncle He know."
With that, he stood up. "I should be going."
He Zhilan said, "It's so late. Even with the streetlights, the mountain road isn't easy to travel. Why not stay the night before leaving?"
Chen Chuan said, "It's fine. I won't be taking the mountain road."
As he spoke, the two saw a brilliant luminescence emanate from his body. Blades of grass and dust around him began floating upward on their own while he slowly rose into the air. He said, "Uncle He, Aunt He, take care. Await my news."
With a flash of light, he vanished from the spot. The He siblings raised their hands to shield themselves against the rushing blast of air and looked up. A streak of radiant light vanished into the night sky, and only moments later did a low, rumbling boom of thunder reach their ears.
Their clothes and hair fluttered in the wind for a long while before settling. They stared at each other.
He Zhilan hesitated before asking, "Brother, are all martial artists like this?"
He Ruihai pondered for a moment and shook his head. "I don't know. But one thing I'm certain of—" He said with conviction, "Xiao Chuan is far stronger than when we last saw him."
After departing Red Crown Island, Chen Chuan soon returned to the cruise ship. He had been away for less than an hour, and everything on board remained normal.
Today was the first day of the voyage, and they were still sailing within the coverage area of the Skyline. Moreover, security and rescue vessels flanked the route, and an airship followed overhead, so nothing was likely to go wrong.
It was only around eight or nine in the evening, and an open-air concert was underway on the deck, playing passionate, energetic music. Many passengers were gathered around watching. Nian Fuli and his aunt were sitting to one side with his younger cousins, enjoying the show.
Smiling faintly, Chen Chuan walked over, greeted his aunt, and sat down beside them.
Several days later, the cruise ship arrived at the Anying Archipelago, the location of Haidong Dao's Center City. Because the Skyline was connected, the security and defense operations between the two Center Cities were integrated, so he did not need to file a report to enter the city.
However, entering the city would inevitably disturb the local officials, so he chose not to go in. While his aunt's family went sightseeing in Center City, he set up a sunshade umbrella on the beach, cracked open a drink, and read a book while gentle, soothing music played through his boundary credential.
As he was engrossed in his reading, he heard bursts of loud shouting. Looking into the distance, he saw many youths riding on the rounded backs of jumping fish. Grasping firmly onto the implanted collar rings, they plunged into the sea one moment and leapt high into the air the next. With each emergence, the surrounding crowd erupted into loud cheers.
This was the jumping fish sport that had recently become the most popular marine activity among youths in the Anying Archipelago. These modified fish would carry riders plunging into the depths and vaulting high out of the water—an exhilarating ride. Yet it was far from effortless. Each time the fish leapt into the air, the rider had to seize that brief moment to adjust their breathing, and underwater, they had to resist the crushing pressure of the sea. A momentary lapse in focus would result in being thrown off, making it a rigorous test of skill and stamina.
While he was watching, a man who appeared to be in his thirties walked up beside him. Taking off his sunglasses, the man said, "Some believe that modifying living creatures with implants merely for human entertainment violates the natural cycle. Others believe that if humanity treats living beings this way, the entities on the opposite side will one day treat us the same."
Chen Chuan glanced at him, recognizing him as one of the security supervisors aboard the cruise ship. He remarked, "That sounds like something from the Wilderness faction."
The man bowed slightly and said, "Greetings, Section Chief Chen. I am indeed a member of the Wilderness faction. My name is Lu Tuo."
Chen Chuan looked at him. Although the Wilderness faction had not reached the level of the Five Great Factions, it was still considered a major school. He said, "It's rare for me to encounter a fighter from the Wilderness faction. I always assumed you didn't care for crowded places."
Lu Tuo said, "Not everyone in the Wilderness faction lives like a savage. We hold different cultivation philosophies within our ranks. Only the most extreme among us reject everything about the civilized world. Members like me are far more common. We usually take on commissions and missions for hire, using the compensation to acquire resources for cultivation. If we relied solely on gathering things ourselves, progress would simply be too slow."
Chen Chuan said, "Yet as far as I recall, within the traditions of your Wilderness faction, gathering was considered part of the cultivation process, was it not?"
"That was in the past."
Lu Tuo said with a hint of helplessness, "Times have changed. The fissures held by the Wilderness faction are growing fewer and fewer. If we don't find better ways to cultivate, our entire faction may not even survive until the day the world undergoes its upheaval."
Chapter 1046