Chapter Sixty-Six: Conversation

The colossal wave crashed onto the beach like an enormous palm slapping down with ferocious power, splitting the shoreline in its first surge. The floodwaters surged forward, drowning the entire island. Amidst the torrent, trees were uprooted and anything not deeply anchored or heavy enough was swept away. When the raging tide finally receded, only a grim scene of shattered cliffs and wreckage remained.

Yet, such scattered, unfocused assaults were merely a greeting to Liu Tian and the Heavenly Path. Aside from a few exceptionally unlucky souls whose fate and nature failed them, not a single life was lost. After the storm, around sixty out of seventy-two martial artists remained, though now, compared to their former vigor and confidence, they were dispirited and crestfallen.

Repeated blows had forced them to accept reality, to recognize the vast gulf between themselves and the world’s greatest. No longer did they covet the title of "World’s Number One"; they swam in small groups back to the remnants of their private warships. These ships, built with robust materials and manned by seasoned naval crews, had managed to survive, albeit battered. At this moment, even old grudges between some of the fighters seemed trivial; they allowed rivals to board without protest.

Ignoring those too weak to withstand even a simple greeting, Liu Tian and Heavenly Path turned their gaze to the sea.

Thunder exploded!

The surface shook violently, white waves rose like mountains, and a figure emerged from the depths—Bai Ci Nan. Even faced with waves nearly a hundred meters tall, he remained unscathed. As if to mark the occasion, a bolt of lightning struck from the sky, encircling him in a purple armor before channeling into the sea. Electric currents slithered through the water like serpents, sending fish belly-up, their roasted aroma drifting across the surface.

Following Bai Ci Nan’s ascent, another figure could no longer restrain himself. The waters parted, the receding tide hastened, and the sea revealed the battered, occasionally scorched form of the Holy King of the Bright Moon.

The difference was clear!

Yet, even as he sensed the gulf between himself and the others, the Holy King of the Bright Moon only darkened his expression, showing no intent to flee. Clearly, he still had confidence in his hidden cards.

As the water level dropped, those who had stood atop it slowly descended, finally planting their feet firmly on the battered beach. The four men met each other's gaze in silence, each assessing the changes in their companions after two years apart.

Feeling the transformation, sensing the strength of their opponents!

“Master, junior brother, it’s been so long. You’ve grown incredibly strong—this is the legendary King of the Century!” Bai Ci Nan finally spoke with a smile. “But—I must be stronger still.”

As he spoke, Bai Ci Nan’s muscles contracted. Nearly ten thousand volts of electricity erupted from his body. He formed a palm with his right hand and slashed downward, releasing a power like legendary sword energy, instantly carving a deep trench into the soft earth.

“The power to command thunder? Is this the final phase of Blue Dream Corporation’s transformation? Did you fuse the genes of an electric eel?” Heavenly Path, somewhat knowledgeable about genetic modifications thanks to Bai Ci Nan, frowned. “A mere ten thousand volts shouldn’t achieve this…”

“Senior Bai Ci Nan didn’t just unleash electricity. After the surge, the current further reinforced his cells, raising his already formidable physique to a new level,” Liu Tian explained. Two years of relentless effort had brought him mastery of nearly one hundred and fifty secret martial arts, advancing the Heavenly Martial Slaughter Path without relying on added points, elevating it and purging meaningless killing intent and dominance, transforming it into his own unique Heavenly Martial Path. His martial experience now rivaled Heavenly Path.

Because of this, he and Heavenly Path simultaneously gauged Bai Ci Nan’s strength. In terms of physical prowess alone, thanks to the electrical reinforcement, Bai Ci Nan’s recent display of power and speed were at least double their own, even as they stood at the limits of their abilities.

Blue Dream Corporation’s genetic black technology was truly unrivaled in breaking human limits and violently enhancing physical attributes.

However, Bai Ci Nan’s aura was complex—well-integrated, but lacking the unique harmony possessed by the two who had achieved the highest level of secret martial arts as Kings of the Century.

With reality-bending force and their hidden cards, if it came to a fight, it wouldn’t be one-sided. There would be a battle!

Heavenly Path and Liu Tian both came to this conclusion.

But—what need was there to fight?

Why should master, disciple, and brothers become enemies?

They weren’t here to seize some hollow title of “World’s Number One.”

Heavenly Path sought to remove the lingering control left by Blue Dream Corporation in Bai Ci Nan, while Liu Tian simply wanted to claim the prize—the prismatic pillar—from the Holy King of the Bright Moon.

For Bai Ci Nan, neither had reason to fight.

“Ci Nan, I only came here to see you,” Heavenly Path lowered his eyes. Had he still been in the Great White Shark state, this situation would have triggered a world-shaking battle. But now, having tamed his killing intent and arrogance, he could speak calmly. “After this giant wave, drones and bugs are useless. Is there any way to remove Blue Dream Corporation’s control from your body?”

“That bastard from Blue Dream installed two chip-controlled micro-bombs in my heart and brain,” Bai Ci Nan replied with evident frustration. “Normally, I need surgery every hour to prevent detonation. This time, he gave me three hours. If I don’t return with the prismatic pillar and get the adjustment within that window, I’ll explode from within—like a bloody firework.”

What?

The Holy King of the Bright Moon, discovering such a method of control, instinctively touched the prismatic pillar on his chest. Already keeping his distance, he retreated further, glancing skyward, then stopped at a point where he could still overhear the conversation.

In this calculation, Blue Dream Corporation must be the monstrous giant shark!

Though he couldn’t see the face, the mad laughter at the end must have belonged to someone—could it be the chairman of Blue Dream Corporation?

Regardless—

“How much time remains?” Liu Tian frowned, feeling the prismatic pillar on his chest grow hot, perhaps from resonance or some other unknown cause.

“About fifty-three minutes,” Bai Ci Nan replied with palpable distaste.

“Bai Ci Nan, what are you waiting for?” A tremendous voice suddenly echoed from the sky—a man’s voice Liu Tian had never heard before, covering the entirety of Black Smoke Island. “Why haven’t you returned with the prismatic pillar? Remember, surgery takes time…”