Chapter 172: Red Island Arrival, Sect Tensions

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Su Mei, brimming with excitement, clutched the jade pendant containing the Nine Yin Divine Art and rushed off to cultivate.

Her next emergence from seclusion was uncertain.

Lan An wasn't impatient. Refining the Reverse Dragon Bloodline wasn't a short-term task, requiring prolonged seclusion. His current priorities were completing the mission, refining the Molten Fire Pill to help Yan Hong Lian awaken her Great Sun Divine Physique, and advancing his plans.

Per Jin Ni's assessment, once Yan Hong Lian mastered the Nine Suns Divine Art and awakened her physique, Lan An without using Soul Power might not defeat her in his current state.

Glancing around, he noticed Xiao Qing Xuan pretending to meditate, feigning ignorance of his presence.

Knowing she was embarrassed by the earlier incident, he didn't press her, smiling, "Whenever you're bored, call my name. I'll take you out for a stroll!"

With that, he vanished.

"Hmph, as if I'd stroll with you! Back to pill refining!" Xiao Qing Xuan muttered, opening her eyes. She summoned her bronze cauldron, the eerie black flame reappearing as she focused anew.

Pushing open the cabin door…

"Young Master, how's your cultivation?" An Early Spirit Transformation elder approached respectfully, tactfully avoiding questions about Su Mei's whereabouts. His long life taught him curiosity could be perilous.

"Thank you, Elder Fu! I've made some progress. Are we nearing Hai Hong Sect?" Lan An nodded. Over the past days, he'd befriended a few on the ship, including Elder Shui Fu, known as Fu Bá, a Hai Hong Sect elder.

They walked to the ship's prow, feeling the sea breeze whip past.

"Per our route, we'll reach Red Island, Hai Hong Sect's territory, in about two days," Shui Fu said, stroking his beard.

Lan An hesitated, then asked, "What grade is Hai Hong Sect? How dare the Black Shark Pirates rob you so brazenly?"

Shui Fu sighed, replying somberly, "It's no secret. A thousand years ago, Hai Hong Sect was a mighty Eighth-Grade power. A mere Black Shark band wouldn't dare provoke us, nor would anyone across thousands of miles of sea."

"But fate is cruel. A traitor emerged, stealing our sole Heaven-Grade technique, True Ocean Art, and vanished. Over a millennium, Hai Hong Sect declined to a Seventh-Grade power."

Lan An started, recalling the technique he'd purchased from the system for Liễu Mộng Mộng (Liu Meng Meng). He asked, "Was it the True Ocean Art?"

Shui Fu nodded heavily, sighing, "You've heard of it? The True Ocean Art once made us renowned across Hai Zhou Continent. Now, we're left with only Earth-Grade techniques, emboldening the Black Shark."

Lan An nodded, understanding why Hai Hong Sect wasn't as formidable as he'd imagined.

Since acquiring the High Earth-Grade skill Shui Hong Kick and the High Heaven-Grade True Ocean Art, both tied to Hai Hong Sect, he'd assumed they were a dominant force.

A traitor's theft of their core technique explained their decline.

"A Seventh-Grade power… does that mean no Void Refinement experts?" Lan An mused, probing to assess if he could aid them.

At the mention of Void Refinement, Shui Fu puffed up proudly, "Though diminished, Hai Hong Sect boasts many talents, especially our two Young Ladies and Young Master."

Lan An nodded, acknowledging Shui Mo's potential, but how did this relate to Void Refinement?

Shui Fu continued, "Our Eldest Young Lady, Shui Nương Khanh, is exceptionally gifted, surpassing even her father, the Sect Master. At 180, she broke through to Early Void Refinement, ranking 51st on the Golden Ranking."

Lan An gasped, pulling out his Golden Ranking list.

He scanned to the entry: Golden Ranking 51: Shui Fairy – Shui Nương Khanh, 180 years, Early Void Refinement, from Hai Zhou Continent.

His expression grew serious. She outranked Su Yan and Ji Ye.

Shui Fu glanced at the list, chuckling, "Your Golden Ranking must be from another continent. Ours in Hai Zhou specifies her as Hai Hong Sect's."

Lan An smiled. His list, gifted by Mu Zi Yin, was from Băng Thiên Đại Lục (Ice Heaven Continent).

Puzzled by Shui Nương Khanh's absence during the Black Shark attack, he asked, "Why didn't you summon her to tear through the void for aid?"

In his view, she'd surely leave Shui Mo a way to contact her in emergencies, like a transmission talisman.

Shui Fu shook his head bitterly, "The Eldest Young Lady is strict with her brother. She left him no life-saving means. This transport was Shui Mo's initiative to prove himself to her, but alas…"

Lan An stifled a laugh. Shui Mo's eagerness to impress his sister backfired, landing him in the Black Shark's clutches.

"Ahem, Fifth Elder, don't badmouth the lad," a weak cough interrupted. Shui Mo, pale but supported by two disciples, approached sheepishly.

Lan An turned, smiling at the young genius, "Brother Shui Mo, you're still injured. Why not rest?"

Shui Mo, flustered by his courtesy, clasped his hands, "Big Brother, don't mock me! Without your aid, I'd be Hai Hong Sect's sinner. How dare I accept 'Brother Shui Mo'? Call me Little Mo if you don't mind!"

Lan An nodded. With women centuries old in his harem, calling a decades-old Shui Mo 'little brother' was fine. He liked the youth's sincerity, asking directly, "I heard Black Fang call you a Hundred Spirits Ranking genius. What's that?"

Shui Mo chuckled awkwardly, "The Hundred Spirits Ranking lists the top 50 new genius students of Hundred Spirits Academy. I'm ashamed to say I barely scraped 45th. Many surpass me."

"Hundred Spirits Academy? The one in Hai Zhou?" Lan An asked.

"Yes. Hai Zhou hosts the most diverse races on Việt Long Star, hence the name Hundred Spirits," Shui Mo explained openly.

Lan An's expression grew grave. He'd seen Shui Mo's prowess—capable of fighting above his level, easily top 30 at Sacred Spirit Academy. Yet, he was only 45th at Hundred Spirits Academy. Was the gap between the academies so vast?

"Where in Hai Zhou are we?" Lan An pressed.

"Hai Hong Sect is in the East, with fewer races than the other regions," Shui Mo replied honestly.

"Interesting. Tell me about Hai Zhou's notable races," Lan An said, intrigued.

Shui Mo listed prominent races, "The West is mostly Westerners pale skin, blue eyes. Elf Island hosts the Elf Female Nation. The North has the Dwarf Tribe, famed for forging. The South is home to various Merfolk Tribes."

Lan An's heterochromatic eyes gleamed. He couldn't wait to explore this world.

"Where are you from, Big Brother Lan An?" Shui Mo asked, eyes alight with admiration.

"Ice Heaven Continent. But I have many enemies, so don't mention knowing me to avoid trouble," Lan An grinned.

"Ice Heaven Continent? No way! Isn't that place weak? You're so strong!" Shui Mo yelped, stunned.

Lan An's mouth twitched, tempted to kick him, frowning, "Is Ice Heaven Continent that weak?"

Shui Mo nodded, explaining, "Sacred Spirit Academy ranked last in the past three Four Academies Contests. Ice Heaven has only two Ninth-Grade powers, while other continents have more."

"Fascinating," Lan An muttered, new information sparking his interest.

"But it's not Ice Heaven's fault. It's the environment," Shui Mo said sympathetically.

"How so?" Lan An asked, curious.

Shui Mo rambled enthusiastically, his injuries forgotten, "Ice Heaven is mostly human, with smaller territory and poorer growth conditions. Hai Zhou's vast seas host diverse races, each with unique strengths, and oceans hold boundless resources. You Yuan Continent's beasts are born with racial talents and combat instincts, their bodies surpassing humans. Huang Sa Continent's harsh deserts forge resilient tribes, and its sands hide rich cultivation resources, like Spirit Stone mines."

Lan An pondered, analyzing, "Compared to them, Ice Heaven's cold climate isn't overly harsh, its beasts are scattered and unorganized, and its resources, while present, can't match oceans or deserts. This makes it weaker overall."

"Exactly. That's why Sacred Spirit Academy never topped the Four Academies Contests," Shui Mo scratched his head.

"This time will be different," Lan An declared confidently, sweeping his sleeve toward the sea.

"Absolutely! With you, Big Brother, Sacred Spirit Academy's ranking will soar!" Shui Mo shuddered, recalling Lan An's prowess, estimating few in Hundred Spirits Ranking's top 10 could match him.

Lan An stayed silent, determined to lead Sacred Spirit Academy to first place.

"Young Master, it's time for your medicine," a Hai Hong Sect alchemist announced.

"Big Brother, I'll take my leave!" Shui Mo clasped his hands.

"No need for formalities," Lan An nodded, sensing Shui Mo's genuine admiration.

But your sister, ranked 51st on the Golden Ranking, far outstrips me…

Two days passed swiftly.

Lan An occasionally spotted cultivators flying over the sea, proximity to shore rendering ships unnecessary.

Finally, a vast island, its end invisible, appeared.

Thousands of ships docked around it, trading goods and cultivation resources, the atmosphere bustling.

He even saw a multi-tiered warship housing a brothel and casino.

"So this is Red Island…"

Using Thousand-Mile Vision, he found the island rivaled mainland cities, with everything one could need.

He spotted a Myriad Treasures Pavilion branch, marveling at the trade guild's pervasive influence.

At the docks, onlookers paled seeing Hai Hong Sect return with two Black Shark warships, whispering about the looming conflict.

The Black Shark wouldn't let this slide, promising future battles.

"Young Master, please!" Shui Fu, ignoring the crowd, clasped his hands and flew toward the island.

Hai Hong Sect disciples followed, pairs carrying large chests—likely the transported goods.

Soon, Shui Mo emerged slowly, his eyes complex.

His reckless venture had cost Hai Hong Sect dearly.

He dreaded facing his family.

Smack…

Lan An patted his shoulder, grinning, "A man owns his actions. Rising after a fall is what matters!"

Shui Mo nodded firmly, inhaling deeply, and took flight.

His injuries were nearly healed.

Lan An flew alongside him.

They approached a sprawling complex of pavilions and towers, seamlessly connected.

Outside, three bold characters, imbued with potent water aura, danced like dragons and phoenixes: "Hai Hong Sect."

At the gate, Shui Fu shouted, "Young Master Shui Mo returns!"

Silence answered, heavy and absolute.

Shui Mo shivered, unease creeping in.

Moments later, a clear, resolute female voice thundered, echoing across all directions: "Tell Shui Mo to kneel and enter the sect!"