Chapter 363: Terrifying! The Descent of the Sea Dragon King!
The [Martial God Hall] possessed a strict and ruthless Rank system, a pyramid of power built upon the bones of the weak.
Standing at the absolute apex, without a doubt, was the mysterious [Hall Master of the Martial God Hall], a figure shrouded in legends of immortality. Below him sat the Branch Hall Masters and the [Left and Right Protectors], beings who had transcended mortal limits. Further down were the Envoys, followed by the Executors, who served as the claws and teeth of the organization.
[Black Widow] Scarlett Smith was the highest-ranking Envoy of the [Martial God Hall's] Sakura Country branch. Standing beside her were [Mitsui Hideichi] and [Qi Guanjing], both Deputy Envoys. Since the [Martial God Hall] had not formally established a full branch hall in Sakura Country, these three represented the pinnacle of its authority in the region, each possessing strength at the [Great Grandmaster] level or above.
Originally, there was another Deputy Envoy, the [Sword Demon] Miyamoto Ichiro. However, that pitiful wretch had already been reduced to a pile of unrecognizable meat paste just the day before yesterday.
Hearing Scarlett's grave warning, Mitsui Hideichi's pupils contracted violently to the size of needle points. His heart, usually steady as a rock, was now filled with an uncontrollable dread.
Anyone an Envoy of Scarlett's caliber would refer to as an 'unimaginable big shot' had to be a monster. It could only be a Branch Hall Master or one of the legendary Left and Right Protectors. Without a doubt, the person coming was at least a [Half-step Heavenly Human], or perhaps... a true top-tier expert at the [Heavenly Human] Rank.
How could such a terrifying existence descend upon a small place like the Sakura Country branch?
Scarlett stood at the edge of the pier; her expression was calm, but deep within her emerald eyes, a storm of worry churned. She had received a top-priority encrypted order yesterday evening: Welcome the arrival. Failure means death.
Although the message had not explicitly revealed the identity of the incoming VIP, Scarlett was a woman of terrifying cunning and intelligence. She had already deduced the truth. It could only be the [Hall Master of the Martial God Hall's] Yanxia Branch—the [Sea Dragon King] Zhang Hailong.
He was the highest-ranking authority of the [Martial God Hall] in the East. An old-brand [Heavenly Human] expert who had dominated the seas for decades. Rumor had it he had just returned from a private audience with the Supreme Hall Master at the headquarters.
'Could it be that the failure to kidnap Fairy Pei's Junior Sister, Zhong Lingyin, is why he came personally to punish us?'
Scarlett's heart tightened. The sea wind whipped against her face, carrying the salty tang of the ocean and the stench of impending violence.
'This matter concerns Fairy Pei and Zhong Lingyin... I must find an opportunity to report this to Master.'
A figure flashed through Scarlett's mind—Shen Anyu. Thinking of him, her blood-red lips gently pursed, and a complex emotion flickered in her eyes. It was a strange mix of fear, submission, and a hint of twisted nostalgia. Compared to the cold brutality of the [Martial God Hall], her submission to Shen Anyu felt almost... warm.
"They're here!"
Just then, Scarlett's ears perked up.
It started as a low hum, vibrating through the soles of her feet, quickly escalating into a deafening roar. It was the sound of crashing waves, but amplified a thousand times, as if a tsunami was devouring the horizon. Her expression immediately became respectful, masking her internal terror, and she clasped her fists in a formal salute towards the pitch-black ocean:
"Welcome, Your Excellency!"
Mitsui Hideichi and Qi Guanjing, sensing the change in atmosphere, swallowed hard. They followed closely behind Scarlett, bending their waists deep, not daring to look up.
"Welcome, Your Excellency!"
"..."
Behind them, dozens of ordinary Executors respectfully bowed their heads, though their expressions were filled with doubt and confusion.
This remote dock was a treacherous maze of hidden reefs and jagged rocks. Even experienced sailors piloted their boats with extreme caution during the day. Now, in the pitch-black darkness of a moonless night, venturing here by sea seemed like suicide. Were they not afraid of the hull being torn apart?
However, as the source of the sound closed the distance to within a hundred meters, the floodlights from the dock finally pierced the darkness.
What the light revealed made everyone's blood freeze.
They were dumbfounded.
There was no boat. There was no ship.
They saw that the sea itself had risen. A wall of water, churning up waves over ten meters high, was crashing towards the dock like a primordial beast. It was a man-made tsunami, a display of power so raw it defied physics.
Scarlett, the Envoy, and the two Deputy Envoys stood motionless, like statues carved from fear. Seeing their leaders so submissive, the ordinary Executors could only desperately suppress the urge to flee, their legs trembling as they stood in wait.
Scarlett silently sighed in her heart, the cold sweat on her back soaking her tight leather suit:
'It really is that terrifying [Sea Dragon King]!'
Information about this legendary figure flashed through her mind. It was said that Zhang Hailong was originally an ordinary fisherman's boy, spending his days battling the elements. He was unexpectedly discovered by an elder of the [Martial God Hall], and from then on, his rise was unstoppable. He broke through one [Rank] after another, his body tempered by the crushing pressure of the deep ocean, until he finally reached the realm of [Heavenly Human].
He had a peculiar eccentricity: he despised modern transport. He preferred to cross vast oceans using only his [Physical Body], treating the journey as a form of Cultivation.
'This time... he probably swam directly from the west coast of the Flower Flag Country.'
Scarlett felt a chill run down her spine. The distance was over ten thousand kilometers. Even a commercial airliner took more than ten hours. To swim across the Pacific Ocean in a day and a night? That was simply inhuman.
It spoke volumes of the terrifying density of his [Martial Dao True Essence] and the indestructible nature of his body. Within the [Martial God Hall], he was a top-tier super expert, second only to the Supreme Hall Master himself.
BOOM!
Accompanied by a thunderous roar that shook the very foundations of the dock, the ten-meter waves completely burst apart upon impact.
Water exploded like shrapnel. Immediately after, a burly figure shot up from the chaotic spray into the sky. He soared like a mythical dragon, spanning nearly a hundred meters in a single leap, before crashing down onto the concrete dock.
CRACK!
The ground shook violently!
The hard, reinforced concrete surface of the dock groaned under the impact, spiderweb-like cracks spreading instantly from his landing spot in all directions. Dust and concrete chips flew into the air, mixing with the falling seawater.
After stabilizing themselves from the tremor, Scarlett and the others quickly stepped forward. They didn't dare to wipe the seawater from their faces. Their eyes were filled with deep reverence and unconcealed shock.
"Half an hour faster than last time. Not bad!"
At this moment, a resonant voice rang out from the cloud of dust. It was deep, rough, and carried a hint of arrogance that looked down upon the world.
Immediately after, Scarlett felt a physical weight press down on her shoulders. It was the [Killing Intent] of a [Heavenly Human]. It felt as if the air itself had turned into solid lead, suffocating her.
"Tell me, why did the mission fail?"
The dust settled, revealing a giant of a man. His muscles were like knotted steel roots, his skin bronzed by the sun and sea. The [Hall Master of the Martial God Hall's] Yanxia branch, [Sea Dragon King] Zhang Hailong, narrowed his eyes. He looked coldly at Scarlett, his gaze sharp enough to peel skin.
There was no anger in his voice, only a terrifying indifference. If her answer did not satisfy him, he would kill her as easily as crushing a bug.
Scarlett was covered in cold sweat. Her throat felt dry, and she spoke with difficulty, fighting the pressure:
"I... I was performing another important mission at the time, Your Excellency. So I dispatched three Deputy Envoys—Mitsui Hideichi, Qi Guanjing, and Miyamoto Ichiro—to lead the men to capture Pei Changli's Junior Sister, Zhong Lingyin."
She took a ragged breath.
"However, [Sword Demon] Miyamoto Ichiro was killed with a single move by a mysterious expert guarding Zhong Lingyin. Mitsui Hideichi and Qi Guanjing were... scared away. They did not dare to act."
After saying this, Scarlett felt the crushing pressure on her body ease slightly. She nearly collapsed from relief, her lungs greedily sucking in the cold air.
Mitsui Hideichi and Qi Guanjing, however, did not share her luck. Hearing their names mentioned, they were so frightened that their souls nearly left their bodies. They immediately fell to their knees, their heads slamming against the wet concrete, not daring to utter a single word of defense.
"Two useless fools!"
A cold glint flashed in Zhang Hailong's eyes.
He didn't even move his arms. He simply flicked his finger.
Swish! Swish!
Two drops of seawater that clung to his arm were launched forward. Infused with [Martial Dao True Essence], these harmless water droplets transformed into lethal projectiles, faster than sniper bullets.
Pfft! Pfft!
The sound of flesh tearing echoed in the silence. The water droplets pierced directly through the shoulders of Mitsui Hideichi and Qi Guanjing, blowing out the bone and muscle from the back.
"Argh!"
Mitsui Hideichi and Qi Guanjing both grunted in agony, blood pouring from the holes in their shoulders. Yet, despite the excruciating pain, they dared not scream. Instead, they repeatedly kowtowed, their foreheads banging against the ground in gratitude.
"Thank you for sparing our lives, Your Excellency! Thank you!"
"If not for the need for personnel to run errands, you would both be dead men."
Zhang Hailong snorted coldly, the sound vibrating in their chests. He ignored the bleeding men and mused aloud:
"I have heard of [Sword Demon] Miyamoto Ichiro's reputation. He is a [Great Grandmaster] of the Sword Dao, with considerable strength. The expert beside Zhong Lingyin, who could kill him with a single move, is not weak. At least [Grandmaster] Peak, or even Half-step Heavenly Human."
He rubbed his chin, his eyes glowing with a predatory light.
"It seems I will have to act personally this time."
What?
Scarlett was startled. She blurted out instinctively:
"Your Excellency, you are going to act personally? For a mere celebrity?"
Zhang Hailong glanced at her, his expression turning solemn. He said indifferently:
"Do you think this is about a singer? The Hall Master is on the verge of a [Breakthrough] to the legendary [Land Immortal] Rank. If the [Female Sword Immortal], Pei Changli, who possesses the rare [Phoenix-Wutong Body], assists in his Cultivation as a cauldron, it will surely be a success."
"For this matter, the Hall Master personally summoned me to the headquarters for an audience. There can be no mistakes."
He began to pace, the concrete cracking slightly under his bare feet.
"Pei Changli is not weak. She has the heart to perish with the enemy rather than submit. To capture her alive... unless the Hall Master breaks through ahead of time, it would be impossible."
"It was difficult enough to discover that Zhong Lingyin is her Junior Sister. Perhaps this is the only opportunity to break the deadlock. If we capture Zhong Lingyin to threaten Pei Changli, or set up a trap using her as bait, it will at least increase our chances of victory by fifty percent."
At this point, Zhang Hailong paused. He looked at Scarlett, his eyes dark as the ocean abyss.
"Take me to see [Sword Demon] Miyamoto Ichiro's corpse. The corpse is the best teacher; it can help analyze the opponent's strength and methods."
"This is also why I came personally."
"Know yourself and your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles."
Scarlett, Qi Guanjing, and the others immediately bowed low, flattering him in unison:
"Your Excellency is brilliant! Your wisdom knows no bounds!"
...
[Location: High-End Hotel Suite, Tokyo]
Thousands of miles away from the cold dock, in the warmth of a luxury suite, a notification sound chimed.
Shen Anyu sat on a velvet sofa, swirling a glass of red wine. He glanced at the message sent by Scarlett through the encrypted channel.
"Hmm? The [Hall Master of the Martial God Hall's] Yanxia branch, [Sea Dragon King] Zhang Hailong, is going to personally act to kidnap Zhong Lingyin, using her to threaten Pei Changli?"
A playful, dangerous light danced in his eyes as he read the report.
"Isn't this stealing my job?"
Shen Anyu raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. He hadn't even used Zhong Lingyin to threaten Pei Changli yet, and the [Martial God Hall] was already trying to beat him to it?
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