Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 577: Furious Sea Raging Waves

Zhao Changhe could feel Xia Chichi tightening her grip on his hand, and instinctively, he squeezed back.

Despite her always speaking of hating her father, of rebellion and revenge, now, at the brink of life and death, she instinctively worried for him. For all the talk of being a witch from a demonic cult, deep down, she was incredibly kind.

From the beginning, her perspective had not been as detached as his. By keeping a certain distance, Zhao Changhe naturally understood that Xia Longyuan’s presence was merely an avatar or a projection. Even if the projection was destroyed, the worst that would happen was some injury to his actual body, but nothing fatal.

Tngri made that point abundantly clear, calmly detonating his own projection without a hint of concern, knowing that it was not his real life on the line.

But what truly caught Zhao Changhe off guard was Xia Longyuan’s reaction.

Zhao Changhe asked himself what he would do if faced with such a three-pronged assault. His first instinct would have been to protect himself by moving away from the core of Tngri’s explosion, buying just enough time to try and counter the attacks from the Sea Emperor and Hai Pinglan one by one.

Yet Xia Longyuan’s first move was entirely different. He thrust his clawed hand into the heart of the explosion as if grasping something out of the void. “If your goal is making it more difficult for me to reclaim what’s mine, then I shall make it so that the god of the northern barbarians slumbers for eternity! My purpose with the Great Xia Empire lies solely in this—to protect it from external forces. The empire can be succeeded by those after me, so what loss is there in that?”

Amidst the explosion, the once-composed soul of Tngri let out a wretched scream, cut off abruptly. The disbelief in that voice was so palpable that Zhao Changhe could almost feel it himself.

He, too, was incredulous. Old Xia’s first priority was actually to bear the brunt of the explosion in order to ensure the barbarian god’s true body took heavier damage! And he was doing it in defense of his empire!

Who would’ve thought that he’d actually do something like this?

However, this maneuver had cost Xia Longyuan the chance to evade the other attacks. He staggered briefly, and at that moment, both the Sea Emperor’s flood dragon and Hai Pinglan’s fist simultaneously reached him.

Xia Longyuan’s hand formed into a palm, striking against the flood dragon—yet it was only a cursory defense, using it to gain leverage. In truth, he twisted his body around and directed a heavy punch straight at Hai Pinglan.

Both of his opponents were formidable, and in Xia Longyuan’s current state and environment, it was impossible to fend off both attacks simultaneously. He had to focus his efforts, and he chose not to prioritize the Sea Emperor, whom he had originally intended to draw out and beat. Instead, he chose to focus on Hai Pinglan!

Boom!

It was My Fist versus the Furious Sea Ranging Waves Fist. Two emperors who had fought for dominance over the world thirty years ago clashed once more today!

No outsider could fully perceive the terrifying power that erupted between their fists. Zhao Changhe saw Hai Pinglan spit out a mouthful of blood while Xia Longyuan’s projection began to fade. He was crushed beneath the weight of the dragon’s body, as if his very color was erased, leaving no doubt as to the outcome.

Hai Pinglan reeled backward, blood spurting from his lips, yet he laughed to the heavens, “How exhilarating! To be able to trade full-force blows with Xia Longyuan, just incredible! It feels as if all my frustrations that have accumulated over the years are all gone!”

“I feel the same way! You dared kidnap my daughter? Die!”

“...?” Hai Pinglan’s laughter caught in his throat, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

He was not alone; Zhao Changhe and Xia Chichi had the same shocked expression.

Xia Longyuan’s second strike, abandoning his original target, was actually to vent his anger on behalf of his daughter!

It was only at that moment that Xia Longyuan finally turned his attention back to the flood dragon, his palm slashing down like a blade. Though it was just a shadowy projection of his hand, it sliced into the flood dragon’s tough scales, and a fountain of blood spurted out.

Bam!

The flood dragon thrashed in pain, trying to shake Xia Longyuan off. Xia Longyuan’s projection grew more and more blurred, clearly on the verge of fading away. However, his hand remained lodged in the flood dragon’s side. No matter how the Sea Emperor twisted and thrashed, he could not dislodge Xia Longyuan’s hand. The hand lodged within the flood dragon’s body ceaselessly drained its energy, and Xia Longyuan’s intent, though unspoken, was clear: even if he was going down, he would take a big chunk of his enemy with him.

Zhao Changhe’s expression shifted as he watched the battle unfold. Xia Longyuan’s strength was something he should have anticipated, but to be this powerful felt almost absurd.

The two ancient beings that Xia Longyuan fought were both significantly stronger than Xue Wu and Venerable Duoluo. If the Profound Control Realm was divided into three layers, these two were likely at least at the late second layer or early third layer. Despite neither being at their peak, they were still formidable forces to be reckoned with. And Hai Pinglan, who had also entered the Profound Control Realm, made for a powerful third opponent. Yet, despite being ganged up on by three formidable figures, Xia Longyuan managed to force one to self-destruct and another to cough up blood, and the last was now literally being sliced apart like a pig for slaughter.

Taking on three at once and achieving such a result was beyond monstrous. It was understandable why he looked down upon the chaos of the world. He was simply in a whole different league.

Hai Pinglan steadied himself in mid-air, pausing only for a moment before launching himself forward again.

Even the most ordinary martial artist would know that Xia Longyuan’s projection would certainly vanish if Hai Pinglan landed this punch. Of course, it was hard to say what kind of damage Xia Longyuan’s true body might suffer as a result of this.

Xia Longyuan, one hand still embedded in the Sea Emperor, met the new assault with another punch, a hint of scorn at the corner of his mouth. “I’ll be waiting on the mainland for your return.”

He knew full well that he had no energy left. This punch would be his last before fading away.

But just as Xia Longyuan’s change of target had taken everyone by surprise, this time, Hai Pinglan’s strike surprised Xia Longyuan as well.

Hai Pinglan was the weakest among the combatants, but he was also the least injured, which gave him the advantage at this moment. He deftly dodged Xia Longyuan’s punch, and then... his own fist hammered fiercely into the side of the Sea Emperor!

Strangely enough, even Xia Longyuan had not anticipated him to do this. As he showed a brief moment of bewilderment, it was the Sea Emperor who seemed to sense what was coming. Despite the excruciating pain from Xia Longyuan’s hand embedded in its side, the massive flood dragon swung its tail violently, meeting Hai Pinglan’s punch.

From the time when he ambushed the pirate crew, the Sea Emperor had known that Hai Pinglan harbored thoughts of betrayal. The grudge between them that had festered for over a decade had, at last, reached its breaking point today. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Another wave of tremors shook the sea, scattering raging waves in every direction.

From within the chaotic battle, the Sea Emperor’s pained voice emerged, seemingly struggling. “Hai Pinglan, Xia Longyuan still remains. Have you forgotten the reason for your nation’s downfall? Even if you wish to kill me, now is hardly the time!”

Hai Pinglan burst into laughter. “I never truly held a grudge for what had happened back then. It was a contest of power, and I lost. Since I wasn’t strong enough, what grudge could there possibly be? That punch earlier was just to vent some of my frustrations. If I want payback, I’ll do it openly and honorably in the future. But my hatred for my wife’s death gnaws at my bones, day and night. I long to strip off your skin and devour your flesh, and I can’t wait another moment!”

Xia Longyuan, now reduced to little more than a fading echo, became a mere observer. His shadowy form gradually dissipated amidst the clashing energies, but his laughter still lingered in the air. “Interesting... I’ll be waiting for you on the mainland.”

While this phrase would have once been said in derision, it now carried a note of true acknowledgment.

Hai Pinglan spat out, “You’d better survive the rising tide of heroes across the world first. I doubt you’ll live to see that day! You were never fit to be a ruler. A dog would have been better suited to that throne!”

Xia Longyuan had no chance to retort, vanishing entirely. Before fading away, his gaze swept briefly toward the part of the ocean where the young couple was hiding, his expression impossible to read.

Xia Chichi was visibly stressed out, and she whispered, “How badly is he hurt?”

“I don’t know either,” Zhao Changhe replied softly. “I suspect he’s in some trouble... but there’s nothing we can do right now. Let’s just keep watching for now.”

Xia Chichi fell silent.

Hai Pinglan continued speaking to the Sea Emperor. “Whether the matter with the sacrificial offerings will truly destroy your foundation, I can’t say. For all I know, some pathetic followers might end up even more devoted... But it doesn’t matter. If it weakens you even slightly, then it’s worth it. Eventually, people will wake up and realize that their so-called Sea God is nothing but a self-serving fraud, willing to do anything for personal gain, and that’s enough.”

He then gestured toward the Azure Dragon statue below, miraculously unbroken despite the battle between gods raging above. He smiled. “This statue, once buried beneath the sea because of the collapse of the previous era, was a gateway to a secret realm—something you couldn’t open yourself. So, you intentionally pushed it out of the sea, settling yourself nearby. You wanted to draw in those who could open the gateway, while also creating a spectacle to attract worshippers, convincing them it was your temple. But the truth is, the true sanctuary of your soul and the source of your Sea Tribe aren’t here at all.”

The Sea Emperor’s face visibly darkened.

He clearly had not expected Hai Pinglan to know so much.

Hai Pinglan laughed heartily. “I’ve already commanded Hai Changkong to attack your temple. The Sea Tribe, which you have nurtured for over ten years, shall be wiped off the face of this world in a single sweep!”

Far across the ocean, Hai Changkong, holding a command flag, pointed toward a cluster of rocks ahead. “Fire all cannons!”

BOOM!

Smoke filled the air, stone fragments flying in all directions as countless armored fishmen surged from beneath the reefs, charging furiously toward the warships. As far as the eye could see, they swarmed like a relentless tide.

The soldiers of Penglai drew their blades, and the men of the sea and the fishmen of the Sea Tribe began a brutal battle.

Meanwhile, the Sea Emperor’s voice turned calm once more. “With your most trusted forces away, and with yourself now absent from Penglai... Are you certain your kingdom will endure?”

Back on Penglai Island, many officials’ faces twisted grotesquely, revealing patches of fish scales.

“I know that many of your Sea Tribe are hidden within Penglai, and many officials are under your control... But what of it?” Hai Pinglan said with a faint smile. “Years ago, when I sought to establish a nation, she opposed it. Today, we’re merely returning to her will. If the kingdom must fall, so be it.”

“Do you think Hai Changkong would be okay with that?”

“The army is in his hands. If he so wishes, he can easily build a nation for himself—why wait for me?”

“Have you considered that all your plans hinge on one thing... killing me?” The Sea Emperor sneered. “What if you fail?”

“If I fall here, then they’ll scatter as pirates once more. The vast Eastern Sea has always had its waves; from the past to the future, it will never belong to one entity alone.”

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