Chapter 98: Chapter 98

【Intelligence 2: Within the ancestral shrine of the Diaohailou Blessed Land, there is enshrined a founding ceremonial artifact known as the Diaohailou Plain-Heart Bell. It was forged by the founding patriarch of Diaohailou — Xiao Ting.】

【Every eighty-one years, this bell spontaneously tolls nine times. Its sound pierces the void and reverberates across the surrounding three commanderies, selecting in the unseen those touched by fate, and bestowing upon them the Blessed Land’s decree as Children of Destiny!】

【Xiao Wu is the tenth Child of Destiny in Diaohailou’s lineage. His fortune-destiny rating: Upper-Middle. The Plain-Heart Bell’s verdict — “Pillar of talent. Through adversity, shall advance greatly in the martial path and achieve divine power!”】

‘Hss…’

Shen Xiuhan’s fingers tightened involuntarily around the teacup.

The sheer volume of information in this single entry was staggering.

So-called Children of Destiny…

Were in fact jointly created by the Diaohailou Blessed Land’s decree and the ceremonial artifact called the Plain-Heart Bell!

And the founding patriarch of Diaohailou — Xiao Ting — what manner of world-shaking figure must he have been to forge such a heaven-defying treasure?

Most critically of all…

His surname was also Xiao!

That the artifact had chosen Xiao Wu as a Child of Destiny from the unseen was almost certainly no coincidence.

And Xiao Wu’s future was nothing short of limitless.

The Bell’s verdict: a pillar of talent, destined to achieve divine power!

Divine power…

Shen Xiuhan had seen a note about it once, written on the divine-power fragment of the Old Man by the Stream that he had obtained from the Ji clan archives.

Divine power could only be cultivated by those who had reached the legendary God’s Advent realm!

God’s Advent…

A realm that stood above even Astral Strength!

And Xiao Wu had a chance of setting foot in it…

Shen Xiuhan drew a deep breath and murmured inwardly: ‘Truly worthy of a Child of Destiny…’

【Intelligence 3: Chenjian Wu’s Fifth Chief “Blood-Fiend Saber” Tang Jin has assembled three Manifest Strength fighters and nearly a hundred hardened water bandits. They are aboard tower ships bearing directly for Yunyi Island, intent on killing to assert dominance and settle the score for Qu Bushi’s death!】

‘What?!’

‘Tang Jin’s target… is actually Yunyi Island — the island I’m stationed on?’

Shen Xiuhan’s heart gave a jolt.

But within a single breath, he had already composed himself.

‘No. Wait.’

Shen Xiuhan’s mind raced, running calculations.

‘Geng Weizhi once mentioned that Chenjian Wu has a pact with the County Magistrate and the Wang clan’s Transforming Strength masters — Hidden Strength fighters and above are forbidden from starting open conflict in Changyun waters.’

‘That’s the very reason Chenjian Wu relaxed the rules and had several Manifest Strength veterans promoted into leadership positions…’

‘Tang Jin’s arrival this time is most likely just to throw his weight around in person and intimidate Ji Ning…’

‘The ones actually set on storming the island and cutting throats are almost certainly those three Manifest Strength fighters the intelligence mentioned!’

Once he’d thought it through, the stone in Shen Xiuhan’s chest settled. His initial impulse to race back to Yunyi Island faded, and he found himself in no particular hurry.

The island was only a li or two away by water. At his Sinew Tempering level of explosive power, rowing at full bore, he could be there in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

‘Better let them arrive first. Once the island’s men send word to the garrison commander, having Ji Ning on the scene to face Tang Jin will keep things from spiraling out of control!’

【Intelligence 4: A ship convoy belonging to the County Magistrate’s Luo clan will pass through this stretch of waterway in two incense-sticks’ time. Aboard is the Luo clan’s eldest young lady of the main branch — Luo Tangyin. Current cultivation: peak Manifest Strength. Her return from the prefectural city is for the purpose of attending the Longxiang Martial Feast, organized by the Wang clan of Changyun. The top three finishers of the feast will be granted entry to the Longxiang Army’s secret realm — the Dragon Blood Essence Pool — for cultivation. This pool is enormously beneficial for warriors attempting a Hidden Strength breakthrough!】

‘The Luo clan convoy… passing here in two incense-sticks’ time?’

Shen Xiuhan paused.

‘Two incense-sticks from when the system generated the intelligence… by the time I factor in the delay, that would be… right about now!’

The thought had barely formed.

In the corner of the cabin, the golden-tailed rat — which had been licking at the scales of the Ink-Bone Green Fish through the gaps in the iron basket — whipped its head around like a bolt of lightning.

SWISH!

A streak of dazzling gold flashed through the dim cabin.

The little creature blurred into a golden thread, shot out of the cabin, and planted itself on the bow, squeaking urgently back at the two men inside.

“Squeak squeak squeak…”

Shen Xiuhan and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance and rose in unspoken unison, darting out of the cabin to land on the bow.

In the distance, deep within the wall of fog —

An enormous shape was plowing through the waves, looming in and out of sight like a colossal beast.

It was a grand tower ship flying a banner emblazoned with the character “Luo,” riding deep in the water.

The hull was lacquered a dark vermilion, adorned with carved railings and painted eaves, tier upon tier of upswept rooflines flickering through the mist.

Xiao Wu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the great ship for a moment. Then he turned with an easy smile.

“Brother Shen, company’s coming. I suppose our tea session ends here for today.”

As he spoke, he paused, reached into his shirt, and drew out a small, palm-sized disc of jade-green hue. He held it out to Shen Xiuhan.

“What is this…?”

Shen Xiuhan took it, curious.

The disc was neither quite jade nor quite stone. Its surface bore a film of warm, lustrous light, yet it was unexpectedly warm to the touch. What material it had been polished from, he couldn’t say.

Looking closely, he saw at the center of the disc four tiny, deep-blue points of light hovering motionless, along with a single point that glowed a soft white.

The points were spaced at varying distances.

The two nearest blue dots clung close to the white dot, pulsing gently in and out like the rhythm of breath — a quietly uncanny sight.

“Brother Shen, this is called the Four Seas Heart-Link Disc… The white dot represents you. The blue dots represent the others who hold a matching disc…”

Xiao Wu explained, then his expression turned earnest.

“I found this treasure by chance during an underwater expedition. There is one mother disc and six daughter discs.”

“You need only thread a wisp of qi-blood into the disc and touch the light-point representing another holder. Even if they’re hundreds of li away, they’ll sense it.”

“I, Xiao Wu, spent the first half of my life muddling through. Lately I’ve come into some fortune and have no desire to waste my days anymore. So I’ve taken to giving these daughter discs to brothers I trust — men of like temperament and shared conviction — as a way to stay connected, share insights, and spar over the martial path.”

“If Brother Shen doesn’t think it too humble a gift, please accept this disc. When the chance arises, I’ll be sure to introduce you to the other brothers…”

Here, as though something had just occurred to him, Xiao Wu flashed a grin.

“By the way — Brother Shen, you’re currently posted on the Ji clan’s Yunyi Island, yes? Then you must know the island’s garrison commander, Brother Ji Ning?”

Ji Ning?

A flicker of surprise crossed Shen Xiuhan’s eyes. He nodded. “I do. He’s the expert the Ji main family sent to hold the island.”

“That’s the one! He and I are close friends. He holds a daughter disc as well.”

Xiao Wu tapped the jade-green disc’s center, indicating the nearest blue dot.

“If you’re ever in urgent need, you can contact him directly through this light-point.”

BOOM…

SPLASH!

The words had barely left Xiao Wu’s mouth when the massive tower ship flying the “Luo” banner came crashing through the waves to the foreground, gradually slowing in the nearby channel.

Water hammered against the hull with deep, reverberating thuds.

Before either man could react —

From the ornate deck several zhang above, a young woman’s voice rang out — clear, bright, and tinged with the surprise of recognition.

“Junior Brother Shen!”