After departing Bao'an Street, Instructor Lian swiftly left Wuding District.
The face he had shown at Marsh Training Camp had been disguised, not the one he wore now, so moving about the city for the time being would not expose him.
However, having just appeared on Bao'an Street and spoken with Tian Rui and his son, he was certain to be flagged by the field surveillance. Thus, he had to leave quickly, and next time it would be impossible for him to appear so openly in the city again.
Getting into his vehicle, he activated the onboard field jamming, sped through the urban districts as fast as possible, and arrived at a pier in Jiyang District. There, he boarded a waiting speedboat and headed toward White Bird District.
The Disposal Bureau had stepped up control over the various access passages to the convergence zone, but some areas remained outside their reach—particularly White Bird District, the only place in Center City without a Disposal Bureau branch, where all security relied on private armed forces.
He entered the convergence zone through the passage here, carefully skirted the Defense Department patrol teams, and after three days of trekking, arrived back at Marsh Training Camp.
The training camp sat upon high ground. All convergence-zone creatures from top to bottom had been completely cleared out, so while it was located within an uncharted area of the convergence zone, it was actually very safe.
He made his way into the sail-shaped building situated at the highest point. Sunlight filtered down from the lofty vaulted ceiling. Zhao Zhenye sat cross-legged there, dressed in a white martial robe. Bangs shadowed his eyes and his long hair draped down, leaving only his sharply chiseled facial contours visible. Silver-white light drifted around his form, rippling and swirling like something physical, yet his seat hung slightly in midair—he was hovering in place.
Instructor Lian knew this was the Grand Vast Emptiness Forms modified by Zhao Zhenye. In fact, Zhao Zhenye personally refined and innovated upon every secret transmission he obtained, ensuring that the core techniques taught to each of them were distinct, allowing everyone to forge their own path.
He himself had been nearly twenty when embarking on the path of martial cultivation, having all but missed the prime window for practicing martial arts. It was Zhao Zhenye who had unlocked his full potential and altered the course of his life forever, earning his boundless reverence and gratitude.
Sensing his arrival, Zhao Zhenye asked, "Was the journey smooth?"
Instructor Lian replied, "Center City went smoothly enough. They didn't know me originally, though this student likely won't be able to show his face there again. Things were a bit troublesome here in the convergence zone. After the old imperial house retreated, the Jibei Dao military has been constructing forts everywhere, making many of the old routes difficult to travel. I had to take several detours on the way back."
Zhao Zhenye said, "You've worked hard. For the coming period, you won't need to visit Center City again."
"It is only this student's duty."
Instructor Lian stepped forward and said, "On my way back, someone from the Convergence faction gave me word that Mr. Zhuan—the one who exchanged blows with you—has been lingering outside Center City. If you factor in Director Chen, that makes two martial artists.
"Teacher, the Purist Faction might be gathering their forces. They will surely make a move against you."
With his back turned to him, Zhao Zhenye asked, "Do you fear them?"
Instructor Lian replied resolutely, "I do not fear them. I believe in Teacher's strength. But if so, they may disrupt our future movements."
Zhao Zhenye said, "Disruption is inevitable. We have traveled this far, and disruptions have never been scarce, yet we have never stopped because of them."
Instructor Lian said, "Teacher, the Convergence faction made a proposal. They said that Director Chen has gone out to sea on a mission and is currently offshore. They suggested joining forces with you to eliminate him."
Zhao Zhenye had no interest in this at all. He said, "Though we cooperate with the Convergence faction, there is no need for us to rush to solve their problems.
"Furthermore, eliminating one person will not make the problem disappear. The Purist Faction can send other martial artists here, and by then there will be no room for maneuver left. To avoid an all-out clash between schools, the Convergence faction will not stand with me—they will push me forward to appease the Purist Faction's fury."
Instructor Lian was startled. Realizing things could indeed turn out that way, cold sweat broke out across his skin. "Teacher is right. This student was thinking too simply."
Zhao Zhenye asked, "How is Xiao Wo?"
Instructor Lian answered at once, "He is doing well. He liked Teacher's gift very much."
Zhao Zhenye gave an affirmative hum. "Traveling back and forth in such a short span must have worn you out. Go back and rest."
"Yes, Teacher." Instructor Lian bowed to him and withdrew.
Zhao Zhenye looked up toward the ceiling, where a suspended stone disc hung. Upon it was a ring of encroaching black marks; one could see that these stains appeared to be slowly seeping toward the center. It looked as though it wouldn't be long before the center turned entirely black.
***
Time slipped by, and late November arrived.
Atop the grand stone platform on Gaoshi Island, the radiance emanating from Chen Chuan slowly receded. He had already begun cultivating the second form of the Grand Radiant Light Forms. At this pace, he would essentially have this form mastered by the end of the month.
If Mr. Zhuan knew that he had achieved this result in only about a month, he would surely be astonished.
Cultivating this form primarily consumed immense amounts of a martial artist's own energy; even with sufficient resources, replenishing and recovering still demanded time.
In a single month, completing even a third of one form was already quite an accomplishment, to say nothing of mastering it and immediately following up by attempting the next.
Chen Chuan's current goal was to attain a preliminary mastery over all twelve forms, for he could clearly sense that once all twelve forms were linked and integrated, a substantial transformation might occur. He did not know what it would be, but felt it would prove beneficial to him.
Once his breathing had settled completely, he stood up and fed Chaoming, who waited quietly by his side.
The environment here was indeed excellent, proving beneficial even to him, let alone Chaoming. Nourished with high-energy foodstuffs, over the past dozen or so days the creature had visibly grown larger, and its plumage had become vibrant, dazzling, sleek, and lustrous.
From the corridor beside the stone platform, a mansion attendant walked over, bowed to him at the edge of the grounds, and offered a greeting. Granted permission, he approached and respectfully presented a newspaper and several telegram dispatches: "Sir, here are today's news and telegraph dispatches."
Though this was out at sea, telegraph communication with the outside world was maintained at all hours, so it was hardly an isolated island cut off from information. Every day, he received news from all quarters: beyond the Great Shun homeland and the various Outer Ocean islands, he could even learn of certain happenings in the Linax Federation.
He washed his hands in a stone basin nearby, dried them, and picked up the newspaper to browse through it. Compared to yesterday, there wasn't much noteworthy news, though he did spot an event that happened to be connected to Gaoshi Island.
Just last night, a cruise liner named the *Seabird* that had departed from Gaoshi Island sank at sea; the cause of the disaster was still under investigation.
He cast his mind back and still had some recollection of the liner; he had glanced at it on the day it departed. He hadn't expected it to sink. Those on board were likely island tourists, people of considerable status and reputation, so the fallout was bound to be substantial.
Reading further, he saw that because there were several fighters on board at the time, they had utilized life-saving equipment to rescue many people and held out until the rescue team arrived. Consequently, the vast majority of people had been saved, resulting in few casualties. A lawsuit was currently being brought against the company providing the cruise service.
Having skimmed over it, he paid it no further heed and turned the page. Beneath the newspaper lay a sealed telegram addressed to him personally.
He opened it and found that the telegram had been sent from the Jibei Dao Government Affairs Hall. It stated that the capital's new appointment for him had come down, and the officials conferring the post would likely arrive in Jibei Dao within a few days. If his business was concluded, they hoped he would return as early as possible.
Tucking the telegram away, he looked out at the rolling waves ahead. It seemed his brief period of secluded cultivation was at an end; he would have to depart.
He immediately returned to his quarters and phoned the Ocean Exploration Group's island supervisor, informing them that he was preparing to leave and intended to return to Jibei Dao that afternoon, asking them to ready an airship.
Past noon, just as he finished packing his luggage, the airship sent to fetch him arrived.
The Ocean Exploration Group liaison personally escorted him aboard, and before parting, presented him with a vacation pass, welcoming him to holiday on Gaoshi Island anytime or bring guests along for leisure; all he needed to do was give advance notice, and the island would reserve rooms for him.
During this period, the Ocean Exploration Group had completely fulfilled his every need. In truth, compared to what Chen Chuan had secured for them, this was virtually negligible.
If the Anyao Arena affair had dragged on, the subsequent complications and potential armed conflicts with the Linax Federation would have cost an unimaginable fortune. Yet Chen Chuan had settled the matter in less than half a day, saving them enormous expenses.
Their desire to recruit Chen Chuan stemmed precisely from their appreciation of his remarkable efficiency in resolving crises. Although they hadn't succeeded this time, maintaining good relations meant they might still be able to call upon him when trouble arose in the future.
The airship departed from Gaoshi Island. Five days later, on November 28, it returned to Jibei Dao's Center City and touched down at an airship mooring berth in Wuding District.
The moment Chen Chuan returned, a dense flurry of messages popped up on his boundary credential. He replied to them one by one. Once back at his residence, a call came in from Secretariat Official Qiao Yang of the Government Affairs Hall. After exchanging initial pleasantries, Qiao Yang informed him that the delegation conferring his appointment from the capital had also arrived the day before.
"The investiture ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow at the lecture auditorium of the Government Affairs Building. Would Director Chen find that convenient?"
Chen Chuan gave it brief thought and said, "That works. Let us proceed with that arrangement."
"Very well, tomorrow morning at nine o'clock then. The Government Affairs Hall will dispatch a designated car to receive Director Chen. If you have any special requirements or matters needing advance preparation, please let us know at any time, and we will do our utmost to arrange everything properly."
Chen Chuan agreed, and after concluding the call, turned toward the desk calendar. Reaching out, he tore away the pages that had remained untouched for many days, revealing the present date.
Tomorrow would be another brand-new day.
Chapter 820