After watching the entire documentary, Chen Chuan felt it had been immensely rewarding. The martial artist had put on no false pretenses, generously sharing his techniques throughout the film.
Chen Chuan pressed his index and middle fingers together, a faint radiance illuminating them. In the documentary, the man had used this technique to fire a beam of the fire of spirituality, piercing cleanly through an entire rock wall.
Not only that, but behind the pierced stone wall, the interview crew found a gray-feathered goshawk—a symbol of the Linax Federation—its head melted away with uncanny precision.
It was one of the fastest-flying raptors across the Ying Continent. The martial artist had not even seen it beforehand, yet struck it through the rock. At first glance, it seemed very much like a display of ostentatious skill.
In reality, as the man explained, aside from the technique of wielding the fire of spirituality, what mattered even more was locking onto the prey with the mind in an instant. Typically, a martial artist's spirit could rarely reach that far; this was an ancient technique belonging to the First People.
Here, he explained the specific method of application without the slightest reservation. Far from being a superficial brush-off, he laid out the genuine, step-by-step training process from start to finish.
Recalling his explanation, Chen Chuan watched the light on his fingertips gradually condense. This technique of concentrating the fire of spirituality into a single thread possessed tremendous destructive force. Furthermore, it appeared covert and swift when unleashed; if executed well, it could potentially pierce an opponent's skull in an instant, concluding a battle then and there.
Yet after practicing it for a brief moment, he let the light on his fingers disperse.
For one, this was no place to unleash such power; for another, he sensed that even if he managed to force it out, he would fall far short of the man's level.
It was not that there was any disparity in overall strength between them. Rather, it required a deep, refined mastery over the manipulation of the fire of spirituality, and that specialized mental technique was not something one could master overnight. Forcing it would only result in an awkward, hollow imitation with no practical value.
Still, the technique itself was excellent. Honed properly, it was more than capable of serving as a lethal trump card.
That this martial artist could present it so openly to the world was likely, Chen Chuan guessed, an attempt to draw more martial artists to watch his documentary, thereby expanding his influence, winning more people over to his philosophy, and perhaps securing aid from others.
This was evident from his taking the name "Akhtawa," which meant "Protector" in the language of the First People.
It was actually a clever move. If he generated enough influence within the global community of martial artists, the Linax Federation would have to think twice before moving against him.
While doing so risked exposing his techniques and making him a target for countermeasures, someone bold enough to take such a step was bound to have prepared for that beforehand.
Having finished the documentary, Chen Chuan asked an orderly to put on a foreign travel documentary film, treating it purely as a change of pace.
At the airship's speed, reaching Erwen Island would take two to three days at most.
Nothing substantial could be mastered in a matter of days, and intense training would only deplete his physical strength. He decided to rest and nurture his spirit instead, so that he could face the coming battle in top condition.
Even though it was only a spar, he had no intention of taking it lightly and planned to meet it with everything he had.
Two days later, the airship arrived over a large island. This was the Anying Archipelago, blessed with scenic landscapes and beaches as well as excellent deepwater ports and luxury resorts, drawing a steady stream of tourists year after year. The island also housed a naval port, where three Changwei-class warships of Great Shun were currently anchored.
Erwen Island, where Waves Hall was located, was still nearly half a day's journey away. Because the island was private territory overseen by a renowned martial artist, the airship would not fly directly there; instead, passengers transferred to a sightseeing passenger ship here.
At present, the contingent from Convergence Boundary Company was staying on this island. Meng Shu had received a telegram two days earlier notifying her of Chen Chuan's impending arrival, and right now she, Sancheng Huang, and the others were waiting for the airship.
As they waited, Meng Shu asked Sancheng Huang, who stood guard nearby, "Mr. Sancheng, might I ask what kind of person your teacher is?"
Sancheng Huang bowed slightly. "I do not know."
This answer surprised everyone who heard it. As a disciple of Waves Hall, could he really not know what his own teacher was like?
Sancheng Huang explained, "When Master Fenghe instructs disciples in martial arts, he adheres to the ancestral teaching methods of Waves Hall and never reveals his true demeanor. Outside of training, my interactions with him have been limited. My understanding of my teacher is hardly greater than your own.
"However, Miss Meng need not worry. Mr. Chen and Master Fenghe are merely having a spar. Win or lose, as fellow martial artists, a spar is beneficial to them both."
Meng Shu said, "Mr. Sancheng, thank you for your help this time."
Sancheng Huang bowed deferentially. "Entrusted by others, I merely see the duty through. It is what I ought to do, nothing worthy of praise."
Meng Shu said, "Mr. Sancheng, after this matter is settled, have you considered taking a position at our company?"
Sancheng Huang replied, "I appreciate Miss Meng taking care of me during this period, but please allow me to answer your question after this spar. My sincere apologies."
Indeed, he had been very comfortable with Convergence Boundary Company lately, but he had been assigned to Meng Shu's side as Chen Chuan's subordinate. His first loyalty lay with Chen Chuan, so whether he would continue here depended on Chen Chuan's wishes.
Meng Shu said, "I understand, Mr. Sancheng."
Yan Yi spoke up just then. "Miss, the airship is approaching."
Meng Shu looked over to see a large airship heading their way. After about ten minutes, it moored at the docking tower.
Once the airship settled, a squad of armed guards quickly ascended the tower and lined up along the gangway. After a short wait, the cabin door opened. Wearing his peaked cap, a red scarf knotted at his neck, and clad in a crisp, sharp uniform with the Xuejun Saber in hand, Chen Chuan stepped out. The guards snapped to attention and saluted in unison.
Chen Chuan glanced outward, then descended the stairs of the docking tower. Down below, he saw Meng Shu and her entourage walking toward him.
Upon reaching him, Su Wei stepped forward, saluted, and said with slight excitement, "Captain!" Sancheng Huang offered a deep bow. "Mr. Chen, I have caused you trouble this time."
Chen Chuan returned Su Wei's salute, then said to Sancheng Huang, "This was Master Fenghe's intention; it has nothing to do with you, Mr. Sancheng. Besides, I am personally looking forward to this spar."
Sancheng Huang said, "I also told President Meng that you would likely not object to this spar, sir."
Chen Chuan turned his gaze to Meng Shu. It was already November, but the temperatures in the Anying Archipelago remained fairly mild. Meng Shu was wearing a light-blue knit top and white wide-leg trousers, a sunhat with a ruffled brim on her head, and sunglasses over her eyes. Removing her sunglasses as she walked over, she greeted him, "Supervisor Chen."
Chen Chuan nodded. "President Meng."
Just then, a voice called from outside, "Mr. Chen, the transfer vessel is ready. You may board now."
Chen Chuan said to Meng Shu, "Then I will head over first."
Meng Shu raised a fist. "Give it your all!"
Chen Chuan smiled faintly, nodded to her, and after greeting Yan Yi beside her along with Sancheng Huang, Su Wei, and the rest, turned and walked away. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he boarded a mid-sized passenger cruise ship moored at the port.
Yan Yi said, "Miss, Supervisor Chen is a martial artist now, yet he looks just the same as before. There doesn't seem to be much change."
Su Wei spoke up suddenly: "It's not the same."
Sancheng Huang nodded solemnly as well. Those who were not fighters might not sense it, but people like them could clearly feel an intense sense of oppression. Even knowing Chen Chuan harbored no malice toward them, an instinctive urge to flee still rose from the depths of their hearts.
It was remarkably similar to what he felt around Master Fenghe, only the sensation Chen Chuan gave him seemed even more intense. Yet as for judging who was superior based on that alone, he lacked the discernment to say.
After the cruise ship got underway, a warship also departed the port, trailing at a distance behind it.
Canglong Company and the Ocean Exploration Group attached great importance to this spar between the two. To ensure nothing went awry, they had dispatched a warship as an escort.
On the deck, a group of naval officers had gathered. One of them peered through binoculars at the ship ahead and said, "Great Shun's martial artist is on that ship, right? Too bad he's not out on deck—can't see what he looks like."
"What could he look like? Just like the rest of us."
"Not necessarily," another officer chimed in. "I hear martial artists are all gigantic, and some even look bizarre and deformed."
"That's just rumors," the first officer replied with an air of superior knowledge. "I once saw one. He was indeed tall, but in looks he was no different from any of us."
Learning that martial artists didn't look bizarre after all, the surrounding officers felt a wave of disappointment.
Someone immediately tossed out another topic: "Who do you think will win this match?"
"We're definitely winning!" the officer holding the binoculars shot back.
Someone challenged him, "What makes you so sure?"
The officer lowered his hands and sneered, "Does that martial artist on Erwen Island dare to win? We gave him a face-saving out, so he'd better give us face in return."
The waters around Erwen Island were studded with reefs and turbulent with heavy swells. Once the ship drew near, a motorized beach-landing craft was lowered, and Chen Chuan rode the small boat toward the beach on the island's southern side.
As the boat surged onto the sand, Chen Chuan leapt down, saber in hand. Once he stood firm, a faint light shimmered across his body, repelling the lapping seawater outward.
He looked ahead and saw two people in long black robes, sabers at their waists, waiting there.
The two looked upon the faint radiance around Chen Chuan with reverent awe. Stepping forward a few paces, they bowed deeply to him, and one called out loudly, "Honored sir, we are disciples of Waves Hall, sent by order of our master to await your arrival. Your presence on our humble island is a profound honor. Please allow us to guide the way!"
Chen Chuan said, "Thank you for your trouble, then."
"You do us too much honor, sir!" The disciple bowed deeply once more, then straightened slightly, turned sideways to make an inviting gesture, and said respectfully, "Please follow us."
……
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Chapter 804