Amidst the raging tides, a pocket of calm was held in place by an immense power.

“The Blood King is quite cunning,” a voice said from within a suspended, crystal-clear water droplet.

In a wisp of motionless, cerulean wind, a voice remarked, “From Yu Siqing, a commander with such potential, to the Blood King, a true king qualified to contend for the Emperor’s position, that Wan Tong actually showed no sign of alarm whatsoever. Only observing, not interfering.”

“Wei Xun, your plan has failed,” a voice boomed like thunder, yet without being jarring.

“Yes,” Wei Xun’s expression remained serene, a slight smile gracing his lips. “I invited you all here, wishing to glimpse the whereabouts of Wan Tong’s true body. Then, to venture deep into the vast sea, to strike and kill him, thereby disrupting the sea race’s evolution and lifting the hundred-year peril upon our human race. As it appears now, it has indeed failed. Wan Tong is more cautious than I imagined. On Sky’s Edge Platform, he almost shifted his gaze. I thought he was reckless. Thinking back now, perhaps that was merely a test of his in the near sea.”

“You casually made a move, hoping Wan Tong would focus his attention on the human geniuses. Who knew Wan Tong wouldn’t care at all. Then, you painstakingly arranged for the rising stars of the sea race to encounter peril without a trace, yet Wan Tong remained silent. To lure the Blood King required the use of many hidden connections, and now the Blood King has fled, Wan Tong is nowhere to be found… So many of us waited here, and this operation yielded nothing.”

The voice like thunder said, “At least, we could have launched a magnificent battle by utilizing our control over the displacement of the Maze Realm.”

Wei Xun’s eyes were like a still sea, always peaceful. “There’s no need to regret what’s already missed. They merely disrupted the rules again, and I merely need to find the pattern anew. If we start over, I will still be faster.”

“But the element of surprise in controlling the Maze Realm’s displacement is gone.”

“If it’s gone, it’s gone. The victory or defeat in three or five regions won’t affect the overall situation. It’s only Wan Tong…” Wei Xun sighed softly. “Missing this opportunity, he should have sensed something and will only hide deeper in the future.”

“If you ask me, don’t always think about weakening the opponent. Strengthening oneself is the fundamental principle,” the voice in the wind said.

The voice in the water droplet added, “You mean…”

“Everyone,” Wang Ao’s voice suddenly interjected. “Am I not needed anymore?”

He was not a True Lord, but one could anticipate him becoming one, and he could be considered a quasi-True Lord level combatant. This time, Wei Xun utilized personal connections to assemble four True Lords, and with him, a terrifying force of nearly five True Lord level experts, intending to penetrate the vast sea and eliminate Wan Tong in one fell swoop.

At the level of Dao Integration and Emperor, any scheme targeting their person, as long as it shows the slightest trace, will be detected. Compared to intricate, dense, and interlocking arrangements, naturalness is the primary requirement.

As in this situation, Jiang Wang’s rescue was entirely voluntary. His journey to the Maze Realm for atonement and all his actions within the Maze Realm were his own choices.

Yet, it naturally drew the attention of the sea race. From Yu Wanggu to Shui Yingrong to the White Elephant King and then the Blood King, everything happened naturally. Wang Ao, who was already tempering his disciples in the Maze Realm, encountering the Blood King and engaging in combat was also reasonable.

Even Jiang Wang was not important. Even if he had died at the hands of Granny Jade Pearl, other events would still have happened “naturally”. He just happened to catch up and became a link in the chain, pushing things forward.

Only in this way could that terrifying expert, observing all the sea races from a potentially unknown location, be prompted to interfere beyond mere observation.

Unfortunately, it ultimately failed.

Wang Ao had always traveled alone, honing his martial path, and didn’t concern himself with other matters. Since the plan had failed, there was no longer any need to linger.

Wei Xun smiled. “Mr. Wang, please feel free to depart.”

He held considerable respect for this expert who was paving the future of the martial path, even though the latter had not yet reached the True Lord level.

“Wang Ao,” the rumbling voice suddenly said. “Have you seen the scenery ahead?”

Wang Ao paused. “We martial practitioners, only when our fists land do we truly see.”

What the eyes see is merely illusion. What the fists strike is the truth.

“May you strive onward,” the voice like thunder said.

How difficult is it to forge a completely new path?

The stronger one is, the more one can perceive, and the more one knows the difficulty of this task.

Facing the Heaven and Earth Gate, facing the Fog of Ignorance, facing the distant starry sky… For every step a cultivator takes, countless predecessors have summarized their experiences and lessons, exploring all the dangers and possibilities.

That’s why there is the current flourishing of the path of cultivation, where one can reach the Outer Chamber even without mastering a divine ability.

But the martial path is different.

Regardless of the Daoists, Confucians, Buddhists, military strategists, or Mohists, although they are different schools, each with its unique perspective and thought, possessing great pioneering significance, fundamentally, they all fall within the framework of the ancient Daoist Sect.

The martial path is already a new road.

The triple heavens are not difficult, the nine heavens are not difficult, and the fifteen heavens are not considered difficult, because for thousands of years, predecessors have already traversed them. But the further one goes, the more unfamiliar it becomes.

There are no longer any people ahead.

Every step taken, before it is firmly planted, cannot be judged whether it will lead to a higher heaven or plunge into the abyss!

Before Wang Ao, how many once-brilliant geniuses have fallen into the abyss, and how many martial experts who were once ahead of Wang Ao have been shattered.

This path is so difficult, so perilous, but why, for thousands of years, have people constantly explored it?

Because it represents another possibility in cultivation.

A race that actively severs its possibilities is doomed to have no future.

Therefore, those with aspirations follow one after another.

“Those who seek the Dao in the world are not just me. The Dao of the world is not just one school.”

Wang Ao said, “Let us all strive together!”

String Moon Island.

In a lavishly decorated mansion.

Chong Xuan Sheng, Fourteen, Li Longchuan, Yan Fu, Xu Xianggan, Zhao Wuyan, Zi Shu… Except for Li Fengyao who had returned to Ice Phoenix Island for prior engagements, almost all of Jiang Wang’s friends in the near sea islands were gathered here.

Jiang Wuyou, who had invested heavily, narrowed her phoenix eyes, staring intently at the Sea Frontier List suspended in the air.

With the family backgrounds of these individuals, obtaining a copy of the Sea Frontier List was not a difficult matter.

This was a mansion specifically purchased by Yan Fu, located in the core area of Huai Island. However, because he wanted to stay on String Moon Island for a few days and didn’t want to crowd into an inn, Young Master Yan waved his hand and bought a set at an exorbitant price. The original owner happily moved out overnight, leaving everything behind.

Many of the people present, in terms of family background, were not inferior to Yan Fu, but none were as financially abundant as him…

Since the last time Xu Xianggan suffered from the backlash of the Brocade Scripture, these friends of Jiang Wang had frequently exchanged information. In recent days, they had been watching the Sea Frontier List all day, waiting for the final result.

Jiang Wang’s name turned red and then green, the numbers after his name rose and stopped in bursts, all affecting them.

After all, it was difficult to transmit information in the Maze Realm, and they had no way to mobilize too many connections simply to know Jiang Wang’s current situation.

When the number after Jiang Wang’s name on the Sea Frontier List settled at One Hundred and Four, the entire courtyard erupted.

“He made it!” Chong Xuan Sheng slammed his fist into his thick left palm. He, who was usually so composed, couldn’t help but show his joy at this moment. He rushed out of the mansion and headed straight for Sky’s Edge Platform.

“Great! I knew Jiang Wang could do it!” Xu Xianggan was even more ecstatic, expressing himself with particular excitement. He directly hugged Zhao Wuyan next to him, tears welling up in his eyes. “As expected of my brother, Xu Xianggan, I’m so happy!”

The people in the courtyard were not surprised and followed suit, leaving the mansion one after another, rushing to Sky’s Edge Platform.

For a time, the courtyard was empty.

Only Xu Xianggan lay alone on the ground, staying there for a long time.