Prelude

Senior Sun did not unveil the mystery inside the crate on the right. Instead, he led Chen Chuan and the other three deeper into the exhibition hall. The display shelves inside were lined entirely with strange oceanic creatures. Every single one had an outlandish appearance, and some were so grotesque they sent chills down the spine. Senior Sun smiled and explained, "Some of these things look terrifying, but they aren't actually dangerous. Moreover, they have demanding habitat requirements and require our constant maintenance. They're primarily prepared for the more fastidious guests aboard the ship. Those guests have very high standards, and only things this exotic and intensely stimulating can satisfy their tastes." Chen Chuan agreed with this assessment. After seeing so many specimens, only the Red Sea worm had caused his Second Self to show signs of blurring; none of the other creatures had given him that feeling. Taking advantage of the moment, he looked up information regarding the Red Sea worm through his boundary credential. The creature secreted an extremely potent toxin, capable of poisoning ordinary people upon mere physical contact. Against a third limit fighter, however, such venom posed little real threat; it would either be repelled externally or quickly metabolized away. On the other hand, even on land, the creature still possessed some combat capability, though it fell short of terrestrial predators. Senior Sun's claim that releasing it tomorrow was merely to spice up the fight was likely quite literal. By the time they finished touring the entire inner exhibition hall, more than an hour had passed. The four of them had not even realized how long they had been browsing. As they stepped outside, Senior Sun said to them, "Our Canglong Company's scope of business is expanding ever wider, which has also drawn hostility from quite a few competitors. Every year we encounter deliberate attacks and sabotage. Our security team is in dire need of fresh blood, and we welcome every talented student to join us." With that, he handed three blue jade cards to Chen Chuan, Pan Xiaode, and Qi Huixin respectively, smiling as he said, "These bear our Canglong Company's seal. With this card, you may board any of the company's vessels anchored in coastal waters or ports at any time. The night is pleasant; I wish you junior schoolmates an enjoyable evening. If you'll excuse me, I must take my leave." After the four thanked him and parted ways, Pan Xiaode watched his receding figure and remarked, "This Senior Sun is a pretty good guy." Tan Zhi said, "Senior Sun has always had a great reputation at the academy. He's already part of middle management at Canglong Company now—no need for him to go out fighting and killing himself." Pan Xiaode merely let out an "oh" without further comment. Compared to managing people, he still preferred fighting and killing. He asked, "It's still early. Where should we go?" Tan Zhi thought it over, first suggesting they stroll around the casino below for a couple of rounds. When nobody responded, he proposed going to watch the musical performance by the band invited aboard the cruise ship. This time, none of the other three objected. The performance turned out to be surprisingly good, and the four stayed until nearly ten o'clock before heading back to their rooms. The next morning, the cruise ship arranged a wakeboarding session towed by speedboats for them. In the afternoon, it hosted an underwater fish-hunting activity. This event was extremely popular among fighters. Participants had to don specially made diving suits and split into competing teams. Within a set time limit, they had to wrest and collect a full set of colored fish from the other teams while keeping the fish unharmed throughout the contest. The four of them naturally formed a team, chasing and vying against several other squads composed of fighters. By the end of the event, Pan Xiaode was shouting with delight, thoroughly enjoying himself. Chen Chuan had previously undergone underwater stealth training under He Xiaoxing, so this activity was pure recreation for him, serving as a rare chance to unwind. The recreational events lasted until evening. Because they had already been informed in the afternoon that the duel between the two third limit fighters would take place at seven o'clock, the four returned to the cruise liner at five-thirty to rinse off, ate dinner at the restaurant, and then made their way toward the combat deck. Upon arriving inside the arena, they found quite a crowd already seated. This time, they were not the only Wuyi students in attendance; several upperclassmen were present as well, though neither side showed any intention of greeting the other. This was only normal. Even within the same academy, everyone had their own small circles. There were plenty of people who did not know each other or simply could not stand each other, so none of them went out of their way to curry favor. After the four found their seats, Chen Chuan glanced around. At first glance, the circular venue was packed densely with spectators, though most were photorealistic projections; even so, having them there enhanced the atmosphere considerably. He shifted his gaze toward the center of the arena. High up stood a massive aquarium that connected all the way to the ceiling, nearly encompassing the entire space. Water gates and passageways flanked both sides, though it had not yet been filled with water. That was presumably the staging ground for the two fighters. Not far away on the diagonal, Gong Zhanyi sat in his seat. Facing this imminent high-level combat match, his attention seemed somewhat elsewhere. The steward walked over at that moment and shook his head at him. "Still nothing?" Gong Zhanyi was somewhat surprised, and an inevitable streak of irritation flared up. "Could our judgment have been wrong? No, he must be here. There's no mistake, and he's definitely right here on site. Even if it costs us everything, we must—" The steward timely reminded him, "Young Master, this is Canglong Company's ship." As if doused by a bucket of cold water, Gong Zhanyi regained his composure in an instant. What the overseas island nations feared most was Canglong Company. Great Shun would not interfere in the affairs of overseas island nations, but due to commercial operations, Canglong Company dealt with them constantly. The immense influence this company commanded made them deeply apprehensive, and now was certainly not the time to make an enemy of them. Suppressing his temper, he said, "Let's wait a little longer. Watch the match first." At the same moment, many people outside the venue were likewise following this fight. Whether the implant fighter held the upper hand, or whether the Wilderness faction was truly as formidable as they claimed, was something they were eager to discover. Most considered this a contest between the implant faction and the Wilderness faction. In truth, individuals differed; even if one side suffered defeat in today's match, one could not simply conclude that a particular faction was definitively superior. Yet if the implant faction emerged victorious, various corporations would undoubtedly publicize the match on a grand scale, engraving this notion deeply into the public consciousness. Once such mental conditioning took root and solidified into an ingrained perception, altering it would become exceedingly difficult. At six fifty-five, the arena's heavy doors slowly shut, and the interior lights fully illuminated. "They're coming, they're coming!" Everyone perked up, looking in unison toward the dueling stage. Chen Chuan looked down as well and saw a lean, gaunt man walking in from the right. He possessed thick, bushy eyebrows, an untamed beard, and unkempt hair. The nails on his fingers and toes were thick and yellowed, curving into sharp talons, while his face was daubed with war paint, exuding a feral, primitive aura throughout. The muscular contours across his body were clear and fluid, firm yet supple. He carried no weapons whatsoever, wearing only a snug, homemade diving suit. At about the same time, the implant fighter emerged from the opposite passageway. Compared to his opponent, he had little distinctive presence—a nondescript, common face that left no lasting impression. Surprisingly, there was not a single identifiable trace of implants visible on his body. Chen Chuan could not help taking a few extra looks at the man. In appearance, he seemed no different from an ordinary person, and his movements were steady and natural. Without prior introduction, one could never have imagined that nearly every part of his body had been replaced by implants. *So this is what over ninety percent compatibility looks like.* With both men in position, water began pumping into the aquarium, gradually rising until it submerged the crowns of their heads. Because the two fighters were merely borrowing this venue for a martial exchange, and the *Rhino Horn* served solely as the venue provider, out of respect for both combatants, there was no overt commentator, nor were their names disclosed. Naturally, the discussions on the boundary credential were another matter entirely. Outside the arena, passengers across the cruise liner were intently glued to their boundary credentials with a mix of novelty and tension. The discourse on the interface had been bustling from the very start. Someone asked: *Won't the two of them drown fighting in there?* Immediately, someone explained that master fighters could achieve underwater breathing; moreover, if the fight did not drag on for too long, holding their breath would hardly pose a challenge to either of them. Further down, someone began providing a detailed breakdown of why fighters could accomplish such a feat. Thanks to the thorough description and professional terminology, it instantly drew a wave of gasps and praise. In contrast to the clamorous spectators outside, the fighters within the arena appeared relatively composed. Some wore solemn expressions, only occasionally conversing via their boundary credentials. Although third limit fighters of the Wilderness faction and the implant faction had sparred before, they had never contested each other under the public eye like this. Today's duel might influence the future trajectory of martial arts, and it could very well impact each of them personally; they could not afford not to pay close attention. By now, the aquarium had filled completely with water. Suddenly, an aperture opened at the bottom of the tank, and under the water pressure, a visible vortex formed. After a moment, the aperture closed, only for another to open elsewhere—sometimes two, sometimes three. A representative from the organizers immediately appeared on the commentary interface to inform the audience that this was designed to introduce unpredictability and difficulty to the fight, an arrangement agreed upon by both combatants. Chen Chuan could not help paying closer attention. While this seemed like a minor variable, when two combatants of comparable skill clashed, even the slightest external shift could become the weight that tipped the scales of victory. He then shifted his gaze back onto the two men, evaluating their combat prowess in his mind. He had clashed with third limit fighters several times, yet he had not truly reached that realm himself. As for how two third limit fighters would actually battle each other, he intended to observe with utmost care. Just then, the resounding boom of a drum reverberated through the arena, and he instantly realized—the match had begun.