Li Xian's Intimidation, Meeting Acquaintances Again, Three Guards United, Strange Tales of the Sea Tomb

The Thirty-Two True Guards of Jade City hold different positions and are rife with discrimination and rivalry. Sea-Calming Guard is located on the eastern coast of the city, living among reefs, waves, fish, and shrimp. They are all dark-skinned, brave, and unruly, but their casualty rate is extremely high! Gold-Seeking Guard is located in the western part of Jade City, mainly responsible for the security of the "Westwind Avenue," as well as the Jade City's defenses and bandits.

Its powers and responsibilities include: one main road, thirty wards, four city gates, and three prisons. It can assist in the Artifact Cauldron Pavilion and can allocate resources. Its prestige in the city is higher than that of Sea-Calming Guard, and it is more prestigious and stable. However, its military achievements are not as numerous as those of Sea-Calming Guard.

It was mostly favored by sons of aristocratic families. However, the military still retained its Sha Qi, and deaths were common. Therefore, Gold-Seeking Guard was full of young masters, they did real work and were not a place for gilding their reputation. Thus, the people around them recognized their status.

The Truth-Inspecting Guard's authority to "supervise and investigate" is rather vague. However, they are involved in many matters. In this case of the Sea Tomb, the three guards joined forces, which is quite rare. Sea-Calming Guard hosted the event, with "Sea-Calming Guard; Wei Xun" taking the lead.

This man possessed formidable strength, a rugged appearance, and a short stature, but was meticulous in his thinking. He had dark skin, but his eyes held a unique brilliance. On that day Wei Chu acted arrogantly and domineeringly, injuring several people and displeasing the brothers, yet no one could subdue him. Wei Xun secretly pushed forward, ordering "Zhang Kuangsheng Sea-Calming Guard" to extend an invitation, turning the martial arts contest into a "shark-riding competition," turning the disadvantage into an advantage, and greatly diminishing Wei Chu's arrogance.

Afterwards, Wei Xun took the initiative to inform Marquis Bai Yilie, the Lord of Zhanghai, to suppress the matter early on and prevent it from escalating. Even Wei Chu, so arrogant, was helpless in the face of this incident.

At this moment, the three guards are joining forces, intending to set sail to explore the sea tomb. Seemingly peaceful, yet fraught with hidden conflict. Heavenly Pivot has not explicitly stated who among the three Sea-Calming Guard will take charge. Logically, the Sea-Calming Guard should be in charge, as they are more familiar with the vast sea and exploring the Sea Tomb is their Sea-Calming Guard. However, things in this world often defy logic. Gold-Seeking Guard truly agree? Is the Truth-Inspecting Guard willing to be directed?

The Thirty-Two True Guards are of equal status, and precisely because of this, they often compete with each other. There are often situations where one points east, and the other points west. It is certainly right for you to point east, and it is certainly wrong for me to point west. But if you point east, I will deliberately go west.

Wei Xun was very experienced.

If we wait until we set sail to discuss this matter, it will be too late. But if we make it public, it will be too abrupt and make it seem like the Sea-Calming Guard is trying to suppress its colleagues. What will the Gold-Seeking Guard and Truth-Inspecting Guard think? It will inevitably lead to a very tense situation.

Therefore, it is necessary to cleverly set up a "show of force".

Although it would inevitably offend some, it would make it easier to go to sea. Wei Xun arranged for the "Gold-Seeking Guard" and "Truth-Inspecting Guard" to meet at the "Sea-Calming Tower". He set up a "Departure Banquet" for everyone to eat, drink and rest for a while before going to sea together.

Wei Xun is the most senior, having experienced four expeditions to the Sea Tomb. His martial arts skills may not be as good as Wei Chu's, but they are not far behind. Moreover, his seniority and experience far surpass Wei Chu's, and the Sea-Calming Guard have already regarded him as the leader of this expedition.

He then took his seat in the main seat. The banquet table was an eight-person table that could accommodate more than twenty people. Sea-Calming Guard took his seat first, which immediately created a "host welcoming guests" atmosphere. He said, "Since you are a guest, you should follow the host's lead."

The food served at the banquet consisted entirely of seafood, including fish and shrimp. However, several dishes contained ingredients that contained toxins. Due to improper preparation, the toxins were not completely removed, causing drowsiness, diarrhea, or stomach aches Human Food. These were all part of the show's attempt to intimidate the customer.

Having completed the foreplay, they opened the gate to welcome the guests. Suddenly, a gatekeeper reported that the First Truth-Inspecting Guard had arrived nearby. Shortly afterward, several figures appeared outside the gate.

A woman gave a soft "whoosh," and her black horse reared up, coming to a stop. She wore a black fitted dress and a black straw hat, her long hair tied up and coiled at the back of her head, tucked under the hat. Dressed entirely in black, she exuded a heroic and dashing air, her feet clad in gilded animal-hide boots that hugged her calves. She dismounted, lightly brushing the dust off her clothes, her two strands of hair falling beside her face, adding to her heroic bearing. Her figure was slightly slender, yet possessed an agile grace. Her eyes swept around, instantly taking in the entire scene in the building, before letting out a cold laugh.

Wei Xun his hands and called out, "Miss Peng!" He was very respectful. This woman was named Peng Qiuluo, and she was the head of the Truth-Inspecting Guard. She dismounted and after a moment, she heard the sound of hooves, and two figures appeared on her left and right.

Their attire was similar, but their figures differed. On the left was a woman with long hair tied in Ponytail, fair skin, and a round face. On the right was a man, thin and short, but with handsome features, smiling and gazing at them.

Wei Xun called out one by one, "Han Niannian, Shi Hu Zhenchang! Shi Hu, Shi Zhenchang!"

The position of "Zhenzhang" of Truth-Inspecting Guard is equivalent to "Gold Steward" of Gold-Seeking Guard. Han Niannian and Shi Hu, led by Peng Qiuluo, smiled and bowed in response. Peng Qiuluo strode into the banquet and said lightly, "What a fine table of food and wine, what a fine table of food and wine..." but did not sit down.

Wei Xun he was in trouble and looked embarrassed. Although Wei Chu came from a prominent family, he was used to such open and covert struggles. However, he had never paid attention to them before, and although he was now aware of them, he couldn't quite put his finger on the details of the contest.

Peng Qiuluo frowned and said, "I thought I was already quite late, but I didn't expect there to be others even later than me. Why hasn't Gold-Seeking Guard arrived yet? Who's leading the team today?" She sounded slightly impatient.

Han Niannian said, "Sister Peng, perhaps it's Gold-Seeking Guard is located in the west of the city, which is quite remote."

Peng Qiuluo silent. After a moment, a "whoosh" was heard, and a magnificent blue horse with its mane flying was seen stopping outside the door. Peng Qiuluo, Han Niannian, Shi Hu, Wei Chu, Wei Xun and others all looked over.

Seeing Li Xian turn and dismount, his movements were natural. Tall and imposing, dressed in Tiger-Python Uniform and wearing a silver-patterned mask, he exuded a stern and intimidating aura. As he stood before the gate, Peng Qiuluo, Han Niannian, Shi Hu, Wei Chu, Wei Xun ... all the Sea-Calming Guard and servants, upon seeing his figure, were all stunned, as if struck by lightning. Gold Steward Bai Qinghao and Iron Fu arrived close behind. Bai Qinghao laughed heartily, "Hahaha, I never imagined Brother Li's riding skills were so superb! Next time we play polo, we'll have to cling to Brother Li's coattails!"

Iron Fu then said, "That's true. My Steel-Bone Horse isn't good at speed, but compared to Binds the Wind, it probably can't even see his back." The two stood on either side of Li Xian, clearly indicating that Li Xian was the leader. The three stood side by side at the door, with Bai Qinghao and Iron Fu being slightly shorter than Li Xian and unable to match his imposing presence, serving only as foils.

Li Xian smiled and said, "Gentlemen, I remember it was around Chen Hour, and there's still half an incense stick's worth of Chen Hour. I shouldn't be considered late, right?"

Peng Qiuluo's gaze sharpened, his brows furrowed, and he took a slight step back, sensing that this young man was quite dangerous. Wei Xun was also intimidated by his imposing presence, and he stood up repeatedly, slightly tense. The rest of the Sea-Calming Guard stared intently, their eyes following the young man closely, their breathing becoming slightly rapid.

When Wei Chu saw Li Xian again, he was also taken aback, his heart filled with mixed feelings. Li Xian had gone through many life-and-death dangers to get to where he was today. The three hundred deadly battles in the Deathwish Valley had cultivated an indescribable temperament in him.

When it spreads out, it becomes a deterrent.

Wei Xun to himself, "Although the stronger the teammates, the better for exploring the Sea Tomb, too many powerful and troublesome ones will actually hinder our success. Peng Qiuluo already extremely troublesome, acting swiftly and decisively. Now, seeing Li Xian, who is rumored to be handsome with an ugly face and exceptional detective skills, I'm afraid he'll be even more troublesome than Peng Qiuluo!"

Peng Qiuluo thought to himself, "This Sea Tomb might be related to that thing, which is why the higher-ups sent me to investigate the situation. Wei Xun here wanting to show off his power. This is their territory, and once we're at sea, Wei Xun even more formidable. I originally wanted to win over the Gold-Seeking Guard to restrain Wei Xun. But now it seems that the Gold-Seeking Guard is no weakling either, and they won't be easy to control..."

Their thoughts differed. Li Xian thought, "My official mission with the Gold-Seeking Guard is to search for the escaped killer in the Sea Tomb, but Commandery Princess Anyang has assigned me another task: to look after Wei Chu. Wei Chu and Wei Qinghuang are very close. If I take this opportunity to get close to Wei Chu, I might be able to find a way to Wei Qinghuang. Now that the three guards are working together, their only concern is who will be the leader. I've already released my power and observed the reactions of the crowd, which has been effective. I'll just take a step back." Without waiting for Wei Xun's invitation, he took his seat as a guest. Bai Qinghao and Iron Fu followed closely behind and sat down to the side. Peng Qiuluo and Wei Xun were both taken aback. Li Xian laughed and said, "What? Is this banquet not prepared for us?"

Wei Xun said, "Of course, of course, then Miss Peng..." Peng Qiuluo, seeing that she had no choice but to sit, readily sat down.

Li Xian thought to himself, "Ultimately, the three of us guards are not enemies. The only potential conflict lies in the distribution of credit and benefits. I'm not greedy for merit; if it's not excessive, what harm is there in suffering a small loss? This Wei Xun to host this grand banquet and assume the host's seat. He is indeed familiar with the situation at sea, so I have no problem accepting his arrangements and suggestions. As for the Truth-Inspecting Guard, we are colleagues, and I should also make arrangements. Although I know their names beforehand, I've only met Han Niannian once. I can use her to express my goodwill and ease the tension." He smiled and said, "Niannian, long time no see!"

Hearing him call her so intimately, Han Niannian blushed and spat out, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Both sides greeted each other and became acquainted. Li Xian first displayed his authority, then stepped back half a step, indicating his willingness to "follow the host's lead" and listen to Wei Xun's opinions. He then showed goodwill towards Truth-Inspecting Guard, making his attitude clear.

Wei Xun secretly admired him and naturally showed proper courtesy. He was fortunate to have such allies working together. Peng Qiuluo's attitude was ambiguous, but he didn't say much. The three parties began to talk about the Sea Tomb and get a preliminary understanding of the situation. The Sea Tomb is located 47 nautical miles east of the coast, which is considered near the sea, but one has to pass through a dangerous sea area, where one may encounter demons or other dangers.

Li Xian, Wei Xun, and Peng Qiuluo discussed matters such as supplies, the route, and personnel arrangements for the ship. Wei Xun was very familiar with these matters and mostly followed Li Xian's ideas, which Li Xian did not object to. Wei Xun was very pleased; the initial preparations for this voyage had gone very smoothly, and the discussions had been amicable. Although he did not show it on his face, he had a very good impression of Li Xian. Moreover, through their conversation, Wei Xun had noticed subtle differences and realized that Li Xian was very organized and a trustworthy ally. If Wei Xun had any problems, he would also actively seek Li Xian's advice. In this way, after a series of swift arrangements, half an hour later, supplies, personnel, and the route were all arranged, and they boarded the "Pearl Mussel" and set sail into the sea.

Just past Chen Hour, the sea shimmered, the wind was calm and the sea was vast and beautiful. Li Xian suddenly thought, "If I come to the sea again, how can I not climb to a high place and look into the distance? If I miss such a view, wouldn't it be a wasted trip?" By nature, he was unrestrained and free-spirited, and once he had a thought, he would act on it.

Climbing to the top of the mast, he enjoyed the sea breeze, which carried a salty, damp scent. His long hair billowed, and his robes fluttered in the wind. The Pearl Mussel was three stories high and entirely crimson. Standing on the high point, Li Xian occasionally saw sea birds and beasts darting past him.

Li Xian, seized by a playful impulse, unleashed his "Flicked-Finger Golden Light," twisting it into a net of golden light and flicking it away. He caught a seabird and stroked its feathers. The seabird was quite docile, allowing itself to be petted.

Several waves splashed on the sea. Four Sea-Calming Guard, riding sharks, sped across the water, scouting ahead of the Pearl Mussel. Li Xian thought to himself, "I've ridden dragons, horses, tigers, bears, wolves, and even the most ferocious ladies in the world, but I've never ridden a shark. Galloping across the sea like this must be incredibly exhilarating. If I have the chance another day, I'll ask them for the secrets of riding sharks. But I'm only at the Second Martial Realm; I can play around with it occasionally, but it's not appropriate for me to actually venture into the water."

Gazing at the azure sea, a gentle breeze blows. Jade City truly lives up to its reputation as a wealthy city. Not far from the coast, one can see thousands upon thousands of ships... Looking further afield, countless black dots on the sea are merchant ships waiting for their seats to enter Jade City for trade.

Upon closer inspection...

There were also thirty-four ships, each bearing a unique mark, belonging to a sect from the same region. Jade City was a place of rampant materialism and abundant treasures, attracting countless ships to pay homage, a testament to the boundless ambition of the people.

More often, ships collided with each other, and those with poorer materials were knocked to their side, causing entire cargo ships to sink into the sea.

Li Xian sighed repeatedly, "Who in this world can resist the current? Fish fight for the current, birds fight for the current, even these merchant ships fight for the current..." He suddenly recalled the Dragon-Appreciation Banquet of yesteryear, where dragons roamed the waters, and both banks were filled with heroes offering congratulations and also with obstruction. It was a magnificent and unforgettable experience! He continued, "This is the second time I've seen the sea. The first time was at the Dragon-Appreciation Banquet, when my wife and I escorted Senior Ao Mo into the sea. We were baptized in dragon soup on the shore and benefited greatly. It's a pity I haven't been able to practice any dragon-related martial arts. Senior Ao Mo transformed into a dragon upon entering the sea and has since roamed freely across the land, something to be envied. This second time I've seen the sea, I still can't roam as freely as Senior Ao Mo, but I have gained a better understanding of the vastness of this world's seas and the surging power of the ocean." After another half hour, the number of ships had dwindled.

Suddenly, a large, dark shadow appeared faintly on the surface of the sea in the distance. Upon closer inspection, a giant, five-colored whale leaped out of the water and soared into the clouds, bringing with it a gust of wind and rain. This was the "Rainbow Kun," and the Sea-Calming Guard had a move called "Heaven -Heaven-Flipping Palm," which was created after observing the Rainbow Kun emerging from the water. Li Xian looked into the distance, and the sea truly did not stop for a moment.

In the distance, another school of fish appeared, their backs slicing through the sea with tremendous speed. A quick glance revealed that there were already over a hundred of them. Wei Xun shouted, "Oh no! They're Ship-Swallowing Shark!" He immediately dispatched men to rush to the deck of the ship and forcefully pound the bronze cauldron. The cauldron emitted a dull thud, and upon hearing the sound, the sharks changed direction and scattered.

These "Ship-Swallowing Shark" are truly formidable enemies of the sea. These strange sharks possess sharp jaws and prefer to hunt prey in groups. They often tear apart ships, causing considerable harm. Sea-Calming Guard frequently has missions to hunt and eliminate "Ship-Swallowing Shark." Killing a Ship-Swallowing Shark earns a point of military merit.

After traveling for about half a day, they were far from the shore, surrounded by a vast expanse of sea and sky. Only to their left stood a peculiar reef, shaped like a sphere. This was "Full-Moon Reef," which, every night, reflected the bright moon in the sky, illuminating the surrounding sea. It was an important landmark in the sea. Li Xian returned to the deck, took out the nautical chart, and observed that they had already traveled halfway and would reach their destination before evening. Peng Qiuluo and Han Niannian were standing on the deck, gazing into the distance. Wei Xun steering the Boat Guild, while Bai Qinghao, Iron Fu, Shi Hu, Liu Qingbiao were playing dominoes to pass the rare moment of leisure. The four were good friends and only needed to follow orders. Wei Chu, feeling alienated and arrogant, did not want to interact with others and practiced his palm techniques at the stern of the ship.

Li Xian quietly entered the cabin, found Wei Chu's room, plucked out a strand of hair, and planted it beside Wei Chu's bed. She thought, "Wei Chu's daily life is not particularly noteworthy, but this boy is the Commandery Princess's weakness, and she must frequently communicate with him. I cannot monitor the Commandery Princess, but I can know Commandery Princess movements by monitoring Wei Chu. However, this place on the ship is only temporary; this strand of hair is mostly useless. If I could find out Wei Chu's true residence and plant the hair by his bedside or desk, that would be ideal. But ultimately, I must proceed cautiously."

They left without making a sound.

After another half incense stick's time, a sudden chill swept over them, causing the ship to slow considerably. A series of crisp, unusual sounds, like countless ice crystals colliding, mingled with the waves. Every inch the ship moved forward was accompanied by these clattering sounds. Wei Xun opened the nautical chart, identified their location, and said loudly, "This is the Chaotic Ice Sea. The water here is extremely cold, filled with countless ice crystals. When a piece of sea ice rolls up, the ice crystals collide with each other, creating this strange sound. The Boat Guild this point. Otherwise, if the ship is damaged and we are trapped in this sea, it will be extremely dangerous."

This sea area was notorious; the ice shards, though brittle, were numerous and, when struck by the waves, their icy chill was like needles, easily damaging the hull. Pirates avoided it from afar. Wei Xun the sails to be furled. Then, he had fifteen men of considerable skill wielding "meteor hammers" take turns striking the sea. The meteor hammers contained Inner Steam energy, which released internal shockwaves upon impact. The brittle ice shards, upon impact, shattered into fragments, naturally preventing damage to the hull. In this way, although the journey was slow, the hull remained undamaged.

However, this was both mentally and physically exhausting, requiring several groups of people to take turns. Wei Xun called out, "Brother Li, how about we have a match?" He took out a meteor hammer and handed it to Li Xian.

Li Xian said, "Excellent!" This meteor hammer is Heavenly Crafted Wonders, with a hidden mechanism that allows for adjustment of the hammer chain's length. Peng Qiuluo exclaimed, "Oh? How could I miss out on such an interesting thing?"

Wei Xun laughed heartily and said, "Good! Miss Peng is a woman who is just as capable as any man, truly admirable." Han Niannian shouted, "Me too!" The four of them each held a meteor hammer and stood on the bow deck. Wei Xun swung the hammer and smashed it down. This hammer blow contained extremely strong Inner Steam, and when it hit the sea surface, it instantly stirred up waves. The ice crystals within a ten-zhang radius were all shattered. Wei Xun beaming with pride.

His simple strike was imbued with "Limit-Breaking Force." Although Han Niannian was a woman, she wielded the hammer with no less skill than a man. The meteor hammer struck with a resounding "boom."

Instead of brute force, he used the magic of Celestial Note to instantly shatter the ice crystals that were over ten feet long. Wei Xun couldn't stop clapping and cheering. Peng Qiuluo chuckled, but instead of throwing the meteor hammer, he dropped the hammerhead straight into the sea.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, the iron chain, like a serpentine wave, traveled to the sea surface. This martial arts evolution and Inner Steam application flowed along the iron chain to the sea. Instantly, two waves rose from the sea, one to the left and one to the right, pushing all the ice crystals to the left and right, clearing a path for boats several tens of feet long!

Li Xian, Wei Xun, Han Niannian all clapped their hands in praise, expressing their deep admiration.

Peng Qiuluo a faint smile, "Brother Li, it's your turn."

Li Xian laughed heartily, holding an iron hammer and gently swinging the iron chain. Suddenly, the hammerhead turned red-hot and burst into flames with a "whoosh." The meteor hammer spun rapidly, forming a scorching ring of fire. Peng Qiuluo Wei Xun were both startled; it was unbelievable that iron could spontaneously ignite.

Li Xian slammed down, creating a violent wave. Then an explosion rang out, and waves of fire swept outwards, melting the ice crystals that were over twenty feet long. Peng Qiuluo and Wei Xun astonished, not knowing the mystery behind it. Li Xian first wrapped the hammerhead with Pure-Gang Steaming Garment, then Intent Infusion, drawing out his Heartfire and using "Yang Immortal Melody" to enhance the intensity of the Heartfire.

Then, the fire hammer was smashed into the sea. Using the "Garment-Shaking" technique, a rolling and exploding fire wave was created, melting and evaporating the surrounding ice shards. The four took turns using the hammer to break through the ice and clear a path. They were both testing each other and exchanging skills. After another half hour, they sailed out of the Chaotic Ice Sea and were very close to the location of the Sea Tomb.

Wei Xun shouted, "If the nautical chart is correct, the Sea Tomb is in the surrounding waters. It's getting late, let's go out to sea to search again tomorrow! What do you all think?" He looked at Li Xian and Peng Qiuluo.

Li Xian had no objections. Although Peng Qiuluo was proud and unwilling to listen to others' advice, this arrangement coincided with her own thoughts, so she nodded in agreement. The group then found a nearby island to dock.

Wei Xun led the Sea-Calming Guard and soldiers to explore the island and confirm its situation. They learned that it was an uninhabited desert island. Although there were wild animals, there were no human traces. So they set up a base, arranged for everyone to set up camp, lit a campfire, and cooked a meal. After resting for a night, everyone had their own thoughts and gradually fell asleep.

Li Xian, surrounded by a full moon over the azure sea, was captivated by the rare beauty and, still full of energy, was unwilling to fall asleep. He ventured deep into the island, seeking a secluded and uninhabited spot, and began to play the jade flute from his waist.

[Demonic Sound Mind-Seizing Melody, Proficiency +1]

The next morning.

Li Xian, Peng Qiuluo, Han Niannian Wei Xun, Wei Xun, Wei Chu, Bai Qinghao, Iron Fu, Liu Qingbiao, Shi Hu, and others were preparing for the sea expedition to the tomb. All of them were at the Second Realm, and would sink upon entering the water. Wei Xun said, "Everyone, I have a Heavenly Crafted Wonders here, specially made for the sea expedition. Before you go into the sea, please take them with you!"

There is a bracelet called [Heavenly Crafted Wonders: Sea-Exploring Bracelet], which can provide illumination, fire silk threads, and interact with other objects. There is a crossbow called [Heavenly Crafted Wonders: Sea-Breaking Crossbow], which contains forty bolts, but it is only the size of a palm, making it very easy to carry. When fired, it makes a metallic tearing sound, and fish and beasts in the sea retreat at the sound. There is an umbrella called [Heavenly Crafted Wonders: Life-Saving Umbrella], which contains more than thirty kinds of mechanisms, is very sturdy, can withstand traps, and can disperse poison needles... Its uses are numerous and wonderful.

The group sank to the bottom of the sea, then used the umbrella to lift themselves out of the water. All sorts of Heavenly Crafted Wonders were provided. The group boarded a small boat, reached the surface of the sea, and then jumped into the water.