Yefutidaolu

Chapter 363 Sharpening the Knife
Upon entering Jinglong City, the entire city is filled with a deep, majestic roar of flowing water.

Gao Jian can see that the city exists because of a huge flow of water.

And the source of this city's vitality... is ocean currents.

Heaven and earth have long been dead, and the ocean is no exception. A deathly atmosphere exists here, and the only thing that brings life is the ocean current.

Within the Divine Dynasty, the operation of heaven and earth relies on the Grand Sacrifice at the Temple of Heaven. This Grand Sacrifice at the Temple of Heaven is a super formation that gathers the wisdom and power of the entire nation, using humans to represent heaven and maintain life.

Beyond the Divine Dynasty, the grasslands rely on the Blade Plains for life. It is the Blade Plains' miraculous ability to defy death and grow tenaciously that allows life to exist.

As for the East Sea... Gao Jian once heard Dan Sha say that the vitality of the entire ocean now depends on the power of the True Dragon. The True Dragon is in the Dragon Palace of the Four Seas, driving the ocean currents and making the ocean flow, thus gaining vitality.

Being there in person now makes the experience all the more profound.

The city itself is like a giant beast sleeping in a deathly coffin, only the surging ocean currents below, like life-giving IV lines, continuously pumping in precious vitality, giving it its dazzling and eerie energy.

Now, it is clear from the seabed that the entire city is in a state of death. Only when the continuous ocean currents below inject life into the city can it exist for a long time.

"Has the ocean current been washing over this place all along...? Is it a kind of cycle that brings life into these cities through the water flow?" Takami thought to himself, sensing his surroundings.

That vitality, originating from the ocean currents, is continuously washing over the foundations of Jinglong City, infusing this vast and cold city.

The city is like a giant filter, greedily absorbing the vitality brought by ocean currents to maintain its superficial prosperity and energy. This vitality arrives with the water, only to be consumed and polluted by the city, settling into a deeper, more desolate silence…

Just as Gao Jian was immersed in his understanding of the vitality of this world, Xiao Bao beside him was completely stunned.

His mouth gaped open, his girlish face filled with disbelief and shock, his eyes wide and greedily scanning everything before him.

Everything was in perfect order! Beautiful and magnificent!
It was completely different from the chaotic, filthy, bloody, and monster-transformed mudflats he remembered!

What he saw before him was completely different from the East China Sea he knew!

There was no bloody carnage, no grotesque and terrifying modified monsters running rampant! The streets were wide and clean, paved with crystal, reflecting the light from the dome, shimmering and colorful.

The magnificent buildings, constructed from coral, stand side by side, adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, a truly breathtaking sight.

Most of the creatures that walk among them have fully transformed into human form and do not have many strange physical bodies.

Their clothes were either luxurious or neat, their steps were unhurried, they talked in hushed tones, and they would even nod slightly when they met each other, showing their politeness.

A faint, strange fragrance wafted through the water, emanating from an unknown source, without any trace of blood or decay.

The patrolling shrimp soldiers and crab generals, clad in bright armor and standing in neat rows, maintained a semblance of order.

The sound of soothing music, not the clamor of fighting, emanated from the water.

Everything appeared orderly, beautiful, and magnificent, like a dreamlike underwater kingdom.

The sights common in the outer seas of people transforming themselves into monsters for power seem to have vanished without a trace here.

"M-Master..." Xiao Bao's voice trembled with a dreamlike quality, "This place is different from outside..."

His eyes were filled with longing, as if he had finally found the place he had been dreaming of.

Upon hearing this, Gao Jian turned his gaze away from the ocean current beneath his feet and swept it over the magnificent city, casually remarking, "It's just an appearance; nothing to be surprised about."

Xiao Bao didn't quite understand.

However, Gao Jian knew this.

The magnificent architecture here is nothing more than a manifestation of power and wealth.

It's normal for it to be quiet; after all, how could the rich tolerate the noisy and lowly at their doorstep?

Games, deals, and conspiracies are all hidden behind iron gates and high walls; the apparent order is merely a protective facade for a more sophisticated strangulation.

The buildings and order here reflect the power and wealth of their owners, because as a rich person, you don't like poor people setting up tents and making noise in front of your door.

However, the quiet is merely a facade; the drama unfolding here is far richer than it appears, though it all takes place secretly within the high walls and deep courtyards guarded by iron gates. Beneath the unassuming exterior lies a massive conspiracy.

For those fortunate enough to enter this circle, rivals feign friendship and laughter at various banquets, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, but a huge conspiracy brews during the feast, filled with all sorts of intricate and complex secret relationships unknown to outsiders.

Gao Jian was already used to this, after all, he was one of those people. He was a bit rough around the edges here, but within the Divine Dynasty, this kind of thing happened all the time. Gao Jian was very familiar with it and had done it in the Zuo family, the Jin family, and even the Fang family and the Liu family.

However... today, Gao Jian has a different idea.

"The East Sea... Let me see if there are any righteous men in the East Sea," Gao Jian muttered to himself.

He looked around. The patrols here protected the interests of "respectable people." The tavern was quiet because no one dared to act recklessly under the noses of important figures. The market's "honesty and fairness" meant that the prices were exorbitantly high, beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Beneath the calm streets, a more deadly undercurrent surges than the bloody carnage on the surface.

Power here dons fine clothes and a mask, dominating everything in a more subtle way.

Outside the East China Sea, the power will be even more direct.

The difference between being direct and being subtle comes from the 'cost'; those who wear shoes never want to pay too high a price.

As for Gao Jian, I found it a bit hard to watch.

"Huh? Sir, what are you talking about?" Xiao Bao was a little confused.

To be honest, from the beginning until now, he has not quite understood what the adult in front of him is thinking.

The other person was just doing their own thing, saying nonsensical things that were completely incomprehensible and had no idea what they were trying to do.

“It’s very simple, Xiao Bao. Do me a favor. Walk around here for a day. If someone helps you, take them away from here. If no one helps you, come back to me.” Gao Jian pointed to Xiao Bao’s injuries: “When you come back, I will treat your injuries.”

"Thank you, sir!" Little BMW immediately knelt down, responding joyfully. He didn't hear anything else clearly, only the part about returning to help heal his wounds.

His injuries were actually quite serious. To heal them, he either had to let time slowly wear them down, which might even worsen the condition, or he had to be cured with elixirs.

But clearly, he had no money.

The brilliant promise made him instantly forget everything else and only hear the word 'money'.

"Well then, sir, I'll be right there!" Xiao Bao said, turning around and running towards the city.

----------

Eight hours had passed since they set off.

Xiao Bao, exhausted and covered in wounds, limped back to the giant ship.

At this moment, the giant ship was anchored in the shadows behind the massive coral reef.

His wounds not only failed to heal, but instead became even more gruesome.

Where the skin and flesh had been merely torn open, now there was a faint bluish-black tinge, clearly indicating poisoning or injury from some insidious technique. One arm was bent unnaturally, and several bloody marks appeared on her face. The once delicate girl's face was now a mess, her eyes filled with pain.

"Sir...no." Xiao Bao's voice was hoarse and dry, trembling with suppressed pain.

He looked at Gao Jian, a faint glimmer of hope still hidden deep in his eyes, the light brought by the healing pills Gao Jian had promised.

Seeing his appearance, Gao Jian walked to his side and gently placed a pill that emitted a warm white light and was surrounded by a faint medicinal fragrance.

"Thank you for your hard work. By circulating your internal energy to neutralize the medicinal effects, you can recover completely," Gao Jian said.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you for saving my life!" Xiao Bao clutched the pill tightly, as if it were a priceless treasure, afraid that it would fly away.

After repeatedly expressing his gratitude, he immediately found a corner to sit cross-legged, and without hesitation, stuffed the pill into his mouth and closed his eyes to circulate his internal energy. As for the outcome of "whether anyone helped him" and what humiliation, tests, deception, and even beatings he had experienced in the past eight hours, it seemed that none of that mattered anymore.

The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, and a gentle yet powerful warm current surged through his limbs and bones, dispelling the chill and pain, causing him to let out a comfortable groan.

Gao Jian stopped looking at him, turned around, and walked towards the direction where the giant ship was docked. On the deck, the figure of Ancestor Yuanlu still stood silently like a frozen shadow.

When Gao Jian's figure reappeared in Yuan Lu's sight, Yuan Lu spoke.

He said, "There are still four hours left."

"Four hours is enough." Gao Jian flicked his rusty knife.

"I don't quite understand." Yuan Lu also didn't quite grasp the profound insight.

He knew what Gao Jian was going to do and how Gao Jian planned to do it, but he didn't understand why Gao Jian wanted to do it.

Gao Jian stopped and stood beside the gangway, flicking his rusty knife. "There's nothing hard to understand," he said, "it's just—frustrating."

“Senior, think about it. Right outside this city, in those mudflats and crevices of the rocks, how many creatures struggle like maggots, willing to cut themselves apart for a bite to eat, willing to stuff poison into their heads. And look at what’s inside this city…”

"It's an eyesore, and it makes my whole body uncomfortable." Gao Jian flicked his wrist, and the rusty knife made a low "hum" sound: "So I'm going to loosen up my bones."

There was little violence in Gao Jian's words.

He simply walked out quietly.

But, a quarter of an hour later!
Rumble, rumble—! ! !
A deafening roar, like the awakening of a colossal sea monster that had been slumbering for millennia, instantly shattered the tranquility of Jinglong City!
The source of the sound was the outermost edge of the city, the main gate of Jinglong City, which was made of countless thick deep-sea corals engraved with runes!

The towering archway, which stood like a mountain and symbolized the majesty of the dragon race and the order of the city, was now as if it had been smashed by an invisible primordial hammer!
The incredibly sturdy black iron coral pillar cracked inch by inch, emitting a teeth-grinding groan! The array runes covering it flickered like candles in the wind, then completely dimmed and shattered!
The massive gatehouse structure twisted and deformed under the terrifying impact, finally collapsing inward with a deafening roar and a shower of debris!

The murky water vapor, mixed with coral fragments, shot into the sky and instantly filled the city gate area! The raging water, carrying rubble and debris, surged into the long street like an out-of-control, furious dragon!
The enormous sound, like a death knell, instantly reverberated throughout the entire Jinglong City!

"who is it?!!"

"Who dares to destroy my city gate?!"

"Damn it!!!"

Several roars, filled with overwhelming rage and majestic dragon might, were like thunderclaps from the deep sea, instantly drowning out the chaos and commotion within the city!

Several dragon shadows appeared, and in the water, the light of the ever-shining pearls flickered violently, casting wildly trembling shadows, which made the previously composed 'big shots' in the city nervous.

The soothing music in the tavern came to an abrupt halt, replaced by the shattering of cups and plates on the ground and terrified screams!
Pedestrians on the street instantly descended into chaos, pushing, shoving, and trampling, tearing their elegant robes!

The patrolling shrimp soldiers and crab generals were also dumbfounded!
Several enormous and ferocious figures, carrying a violent aura that could tear the sea apart, soared into the sky from the most magnificent palaces in the city center!

That's a dragon!

Just one step away from crossing the Dragon Gate and becoming a powerful being, a true dragon!
At this moment, three of them have appeared!

Each one was tens of feet long, with scales as dark as ink, shimmering with a cold, metallic luster. Sharp claws gleamed under their bellies, and on their ferocious heads, huge vertical pupils burned with furious golden flames. Their whiskers danced wildly, and their dragon might was like a tangible tsunami, instantly sweeping across the entire city gate area!

Seven realms!

The three dragons were terrifying beings comparable to a seventh-level human cultivator!
In a divine dynasty, he would be enough to rule a region and establish a sect! In the East Sea, he would also be a powerful figure who dominates a region!
Their auras merged into one, like three moving volcanoes, erupting with destructive pressure, firmly locking down Gao Jian above the ruins!
The largest and most imposing black dragon, with its prominent horns, roared, its massive claws tearing through the water with immense force and a chilling light that seemed to rip through space, as it slashed down at Gao Jian! The other two dragons attacked simultaneously; one spewed a chilling blue breath capable of freezing souls, while the other swung its massive tail, covered in bone spurs, sweeping down like a pillar supporting the sky! These three destructive forces instantly sealed off all of Gao Jian's escape routes!

Faced with this terrifying combined attack that could instantly kill an ordinary seventh-realm cultivator, Gao Jian didn't even lift an eyelid.

He didn't even look at the three ferocious dragons roaring and attacking him.

His gaze was fixed on the rusty, blunt longsword in his hand.

Suddenly, a clear and bright feeling awakened from the rusty blade!
On the blade, the thick, dark red rust, which looked like it had never changed for thousands of years, began to writhe and peel off violently, as if it were alive!
Suddenly, a chillingly sharp edge, pure to the extreme, appeared at the tip of the blade, which was originally round and blunt!

(End of this chapter)