Chapter 300. South Sea Dragon Gate (3)

"Ugh..."

Chi Wu struggled until the end, trying not to fall, but he was too weak to resist.

His chest felt tight, making it impossible to speak as he collapsed to the ground, breathing shallowly.

Zhou Xuchuan retrieved the daggers lodged in the warrior’s chest and shoulder, returning them to his sleeves. Then he calmly placed a foot on Chi Wu’s fallen body.

"How can this be?!"

"The Dragon's Claw, h-how did he, so easily..."

"Just who the hell is he?"

Chi Wu, the South Sea Dragon Gate’s Dragon’s Claw.

While he wasn't one of the One Hundred Experts Under Heaven, he was still a master of the Harmony Realm with more than enough skill to join their ranks.

Even Tian Shuiguo, Hainan Island's South Sea's Second Sword, was defeated by Chi Wu. His very existence was a nightmare to the Hainan Sword Sect.

They couldn't help but be surprised that such a person had been defeated by a young man in an instant.

"The Dragon's Claw was defeated..."

"What should we do?"

"This can't be happening..."

Groans of despair spread among the South Sea Dragon Gate disciples. None of them seemed to know what to do next.

Judging by their reactions, it was clear that Chi Wu held considerable authority within the South Sea Dragon Gate.

Good.

Zhou Xuchuan smiled inwardly at their response.

He had been worried that they might go berserk and run wild, but fortunately, contrary to his worries, they reacted in the best way possible.

"Who's next?"

He took a step forward while letting out an intimidating aura.

Rustle!

"A-aaah..."

The South Sea Dragon Gate disciples flinched and stepped back. With their hair the same color as water, it looked as if waves were rippling.

"Retreat!"

The second strongest member after Chi Wu gave the order.

"Damn it!"

"We're going back!"

Simultaneously with the order, the South Sea Dragon Gate disciples turned their backs and began to retreat.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

The Hainan Sword Sect disciples thought nothing of it as they immediately gave chase. The despair that had gripped them moments ago now seemed to have vanished.

"Please wait!" Zhuge Xiuluan shouted from behind the Hainan Sword Sect.

It seemed she had imbued her voice with qi as her shout echoed powerfully across the battlefield.

The Hainan Sword Sect paused for a moment at her majestic voice. They strangely followed her orders even though they didn't know who she was.

"We won't be chasing them!"

Tian Shuiguo quickly stepped in, supporting the decision.

"But, Eldest Brother..."

"You're all blinded by the prospect of victory and can't feel your exhaustion. We don't have enough qi to pursue them."

It was the right decision.

The Hainan Sword Sect had lost half of their two hundred elites.

As if that wasn't enough, they were also quite exhausted, both physically and mentally, from having somehow managed to survive the siege of the South Sea Dragon Gate.

"Moreover, do you plan on just breaking through that hell without a plan?"

"Ah!"

The Sandbank Pitfall Formation

It was the hell that had taken half of their disciple brothers and sisters.

Even if Zhou Xuchuan and Zhuge Xiuluan helped them, it wouldn't have been enough for them to be able to chase down the South Sea Dragon Gate disciples, who were roaming around the formation like it was their home.

Above all, even the thought of crossing the Sandbank Pitfall Formation again weighed heavily on their minds.

More importantly, they couldn’t blindly follow the lead of two strangers—no matter how much they had helped.

As much as it pained them, they had no choice but to let the South Sea Dragon Gate escape.

Tian Shuiguo calmed his disciples and walked over to Zhou Xuchuan and Zhuge Xiuluan. As he had received their favor, his attitude was respectful.

"While it's shameless of me to keep asking after receiving your help, could you help us get out of this formation?"

"Of course."

Under Zhuge Xiuluan’s guidance, the Hainan Sword Sect safely navigated their way out of the Sandbank Pitfall Formation.

Their steps were filled with caution and fear. The memory of what they had just endured was still fresh in their minds.

"We're free!"

"To think we actually got out of that hell..."

"I won't be able to walk on the beach with peace of mind for a while."

"Whew!"

Sighs of relief could be heard from all around.

However, many were still in shock. Some stood in a daze, while others clenched their fists in grief and frustration at the loss of their fellow disciples.

"Oh dear, TheGreatestUndertheHeavensMostHandsomeSwordGod Great Hero Zhou Xuchuan!"

Li Yicai, who had been waiting outside the Sandbank Pitfall Formation, approached him, rubbing his palms as usual and flattering him.

The scouts were also waiting behind him.

"Do you know how worried your humble servant was?! I was on the verge of losing my mind, afraid something might have happened to you, Great Hero!"

"Didn't you ask how we should divide the shares of the company once Hyungnim dies?" Zhuge Shengji asked dryly.

Li Yicai’s face went pale.

"What are you talking about?! What do you mean, TheGreatestMindUndertheHeavensGeniusofMechanisms Great Young Master Zhuge Shengji?! When did I say something like that? Oh dear, how unfair the world is!"

"Come to think of it, he's right, I don't think he did."

Zhuge Shengji was dazzled by the words—mechanisms and genius.

"If it weren’t for the order to wait outside in case something dangerous was lurking inside the formation, I, your loyal Li Yicai, would have followed the Great Hero without hesitation!"

"You're being noisy, Head Merchant."

Zhou Xuchuan shook his head helplessly.

Li Yicai smiled broadly and pretended to lock his mouth shut.

"I owe you a debt. I am truly grateful for your help."

Tian Shuiguo greeted Zhou Xuchuan and Zhuge Xiuluan with a cupped fist, his body language sincere.

"My name is Tian Shuiguo of the Hainan Sword Sect. I am known as the South Sea's Second Sword in the

gangho

. If it's not too much trouble... may I ask your names, benefactors?"

"My name is Zhou Xuchuan, a fourth generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect."

"Ah!"

Tian Shuiguo's eyes widened at the name Mount Hua Sect.

"I thought it sounded familiar, it turns out you're the hero Sword Dragon!"

Huh?

Zhou Xuchuan and his party tilted their heads.

While calling him the Sword Dragon wasn't exactly wrong, no one in the

murim

called Zhou Xuchuan the Sword Dragon anymore.

Calling the Sword God of the Seven Empyrean Overlords the Sword Dragon was essentially the same as not acknowledging his strength, and was at best greatly disrespectful, and at worst, an outright insult.

Still, judging from Tian Shuiguo’s respectful tone and expression, it was clear he meant no disrespect.

"While I’d love to sit down and speak properly, would you mind if we delayed that? We’ve just escaped the Sandbank Pitfall Formation, and there’s no guarantee this area is safe. We don’t know when the South Sea Dragon Gate might return with reinforcements..."

"Oh, of course."

***

Hainan Island, Yumui Peak.

Hainan Sword Sect.

"What? A trap?" An old man asked.

The voice of the old man, with gray hair and a face so scarred it looked like it was covered in wrinkles.

The old man, with long limbs and lean muscles despite his age, was the Sect Master of the Hainan Sword Sect.

"Yes, that's right. According to the news from Senior Brother Tian, half of our elites were killed."

"Half? Ugh!"

The Sect Master, Wei Yihai let out a groan.

"Explain what happened in detail."

Wei Yihai let out a sigh of relief after hearing the story.

His heart had sunk when he first heard that the disciples were almost wiped out completely, but he was relieved to hear that they had been able to survive with help.

If no one had returned alive from that place, the Hainan Sword Sect, with a history spanning hundreds of years, might have vanished into history.

It truly was a great blessing.

"Before that, you mentioned they received help. But who exactly helped them?"

"Yes, apparently, it was Zhou Xuchuan of the Mount Hua Sect and Zhuge Xiuluan of the Zhuge Family."

"Hmm?"

Wei Yihai frowned in confusion.

"Zhuge Xiuluan... isn’t she the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance’s Strategist? Why would the Zhuge Family send such a cherished child all the way to Hainan Island, so far from the Central Plains? I don’t understand."

"Since Senior Brother's letter was urgent, he didn't write in much detail. So I don't know much about that."

"Hmm, I have many questions. More importantly, by Zhou Xuchuan of the Mount Hua Sect... If I remember correctly, isn't he the Sword Dragon?"

"Yes. He was the one who killed the Blood Demon with the help of the Sword Immortal during the Great War of Good and Blood."

"So two of the Righteous Faction's younger generation disciples have come all the way here? What the hell is going on within the Central Plains? Could it be that the Great War of Good and Demonic or the Great War of Good and Evil has broken out?"

***

Henggouhe Channel, the Berth.

To treat the wounded, the Hainan Sword Sect set up temporary barracks near the ship that Zhou Xuchuan and the others had arrived on. Thanks to the Divine Physician’s intervention, even the critically injured were stabilizing.

"Three of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes have come all this way... just what the hell is going on in the Central Plains? Could it be that either the Great War of Good and Demonic or the Great War of Good and Evil has broken out?" Tian Shuiguo glanced at Duan Lihua's face and asked.

Zhou Xuchuan and the others didn’t answer immediately. They simply exchanged silent glances.

"Judging from your expressions, that seems to be the case. While I’m deeply grateful to you, my benefactors, I regret to say that we’ll have to decline. The Hainan Sword Sect... is not in a position to help right now."

"Please wait a moment."

Zhuge Xiuluan raised her hand to stop Tian Shuiguo.

"There seems to be some misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?"

"By chance, could you tell me what year and month it is today?"

"...?"

Tian Shuiguo looked puzzled, so Zhuge Xiuluan rephrased her question.

"Then, when was the last time you heard news from the Central Plains?"

"Hmm, it's most likely been a year or two."

"Whew!"

Zhou Xuchuan let out a sigh and patted his chest.

I thought I had regressed again.

He wasn't joking, he was serious.

Considering there were cases where one could die and return to the past, it wouldn’t have been surprising if they had all gone back a few years together.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. When they heard today’s date, their fears were dispelled. And with Tian Shuiguo’s next words, the entire situation became clear.

For some reason, the Hainan Sword Sect had clearly not been in contact with the Central Plains for over a year.

To help bring Tian Shuiguo up to speed, Zhuge Xiuluan briefly summarized the major events in the Central Plains following the Great War of Good and Blood.

When she finished, Tian Shuiguo was left speechless.

"I mean, could that really be true?"

Immediately after the Great War of Good and Blood, the Great War of Good and Demonic broke out.

The Dark Heavens Association appeared after the death of the Heavenly Demon.

It all sounded so absurd, he struggled to believe it.

It wasn't strange that Tian Shuiguo was flustered. All of this had happened in less than three years. While the duration of wars varied from era to era, even accounting for that, it felt as though the wars ended too quickly.

Especially wars on the scale of the Great War of Good and Blood, or the Great War of Good and Demonic.

"Am I supposed to believe this or not..."

Tian Shuiguo had mixed feelings.

If the ones telling him all this hadn’t been members of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, he would’ve dismissed them as madmen and ignored every word.

But with three of them present—along with the renowned Gold Will Merchants—he couldn’t simply turn a blind eye.

"No matter how late news from the Central Plains reaches the South Sea, this is too late."

Zhuge Xiuluan narrowed her brows. Even her serious expression was beautiful.

"Is there something happening on Hainan Island?"

While it was said that entering and exiting Hainan Island was difficult, it wasn't

actually

impossible.

It was clear that something so bad was happening here that they couldn't even pay attention to news from the Central Plains.

"That's right."

Tian Shuiguo's expression grew dark.

"Our sect was originally in a power struggle, or rather, a war, with the Returning Deer Gate of Hainan Island for a long time."

The distribution of power on Hainan Island was different from the main continent.

Frankly, except for the Hainan Sword Sect, the Righteous Faction-Evil Faction split didn't have much presence. Since it was so far away from the Central Plains, it was essentially a new

murim

.

Because of this, Hainan Island grew focused on a power struggle related to regional interests rather than an ideological conflict between the different factions.

In any case, the Hainan Sword Sect and the Returning Deer Gate had similar strength, so the war dragged on endlessly with neither side gaining the upper hand.

Although they had asked for help from the Martial Alliance, they were rejected. However, it wasn't that they didn't understand, as they, too, knew that the Central Plains' struggle was worse.

The problem was what happened after that.

"During the war with the Returning Deer Gate... one day, they suddenly appeared."

"They?"

"The mermen who came from the Dragon Palace."

Tian Shuiguo gritted his teeth.

"The South Sea Dragon Gate."