Chapter 343: 319 Pursuit Part 1

“What? Master Kong He hasn’t returned yet?!”

The chubby monk’s expression changed slightly upon hearing the report from his subordinate inside the cabin.

“It’s been such a long time, where did the master actually go? Did anyone follow him? What about the people who went together to pay?”

The subordinate was sweating profusely, kneeling on one knee.

“My lord… the people who went along to pay also went missing. We suspect someone might have targeted the master and the others. Many of our brothers have already scattered to investigate…”

“Master Kong He is a skilled expert from the True Buddha Temple, he will surely be fine, but the others are different…” The chubby monk steadied his mind forcefully, “Immediately inform Wanghai Temple over there, and send a message to this address as well!”

He handed out a piece of paper with an address written on it.

“Yes! I will go at once.” The subordinate quickly bowed, took the note, stood up, and left the room.

The chubby monk stood inside the room, pacing back and forth, feeling increasingly uneasy.

Master Kong He is so well-known, his physical features so distinctive, yet a situation suddenly arose.

“Perhaps the master took action in advance to capture those two young women.” He comforted himself.

But regardless of excuses, given the strength and character of Copper Arm Zen Master Kong He, he wouldn’t just take action without a word.

The more the chubby monk thought, the more he sensed something was amiss.

He paced around the room a few times, unable to stay put.

“No!” He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

“I must leave immediately! This place might already be unsafe.”

He quickly began packing his things in the room.

Although he could immediately have the ship set sail and leave the port.

But he didn’t even want to stay on this ship.

A strong feeling of insecurity kept assaulting his inner emotions.

With things quickly packed, the chubby monk hurriedly opened the room door and ran along the corridor towards the deck.

Only someone like him, who has lived in the towns near Citong for years, would understand just how much the influence belonging to Agarwood Palace has expanded in Citong in recent years.

It is an exaggerated power that covers the entire port like a vast net, slightest carelessness would…

As he ran, he suddenly felt something was wrong.

Wasn’t there anyone in the corridor!?

Where were the subordinates on the ship earlier? The guards patrolling? The helmsman and sailors responsible for steering the ship!?

Bam!

The chubby monk shoved open the door leading to the deck.

The bright light from outside shot into his eyes.

Causing his pupils to shrink slightly, instinctively raising his hand to block the strong light.

But the scene on the deck made his heart tremble involuntarily.

The entire deck was completely empty.

A ship that previously had nearly a hundred people onboard was now utterly deserted, as if there had never been anyone here from the start.

“There’s still one fish that slipped through the net.”

Suddenly, an astonished voice rang out from behind.

The chubby monk turned his head sharply.

Only to see a large black net being thrown towards him.

He exerted force with his feet, trying to flee.

“Strike!”

Suddenly, a low shout spread, a woman’s voice.

The chubby monk only felt a pain in his chest, a violent numbing sensation quickly spread from his chest throughout his body.

His vision went black, his body fell to the ground, rapidly losing consciousness.

“This person seems to have some status, should we kill him too?”

“There’s no rush, the lord might still need him to do something.”

The two whispered among themselves behind him.

*

*

*

On a desolate beach.

Zhang Rongfang once again stood facing Zuo Han.

The sea breeze caressed, the sun shone brightly, the temperature evaporating seawater, bringing out vast moisture.

A humid and stifling sensation filled the air.

Zhang Rongfang was bare-chested, revealing a strong body sculpted like rock.

His black long hair hung loose behind him, reaching shoulder length.

Wearing the pitch-black mask belonging to the former Golden Wing Pavilion, only the lines on the mask had been carved away, leaving only pure black.

Opposite him, Zuo Han still wore the sculptor’s attire, regular burlap clothes, naturally messy, dull yellow short hair, robust and towering as if cast from iron.

Aside from the burn scars on his face and pitch-black skin, nothing else distinguished him from a regular sculptor.

“This is good.” Zuo Han said in a deep voice, “It’s best if the Crown Prince wears a concealing mask when meeting me, the terrain here is open, and some observant individuals from afar might spot us. To prevent any silencing hassle, it’s best to be careful yourself.”

“Uncle Zuo is right.” Zhang Rongfang accepted humbly, “I also came to discuss the distinction between a Grandmaster and a Spiritual Vein Grandmaster with Uncle Zuo this time.”

“Ordinary Grandmasters also have an absolute defense circle, preemptive strike ability, and final forms. But such people are rare.” Zuo Han answered in a deep voice.

“You must understand, reaching the level of Grandmaster requires talent, perseverance, and luck, none can be lacking.

And such people generally are absolutely unwilling to let themselves age and decline, unwilling to watch themselves lose power step by step, dwindling to a point incapable of even defeating the average Super Grade.”

Zuo Han sighed.

“Therefore, Grandmasters typically split into two directions afterward. One is pursuing the Extreme Realm, the other seeking the Divine. Both can greatly prolong their powerful states.

The number who seek the Divine far exceeds those heading towards the Extreme Realm. Not only because seeking the Divine is safer but also because the difficulty of the Extreme Realm is far greater than seeking the Divine.”

“Difficulty?” Zhang Rongfang was surprised.

“Yes, entering the Extreme Realm is not that easy. Just like the few experts on the current blacklist, including Sheng Hua, the White Ape Great Saint, and Wind Sound Sword—they are believed to be at the Extreme Realm by the world, but in reality, they are not.”

Zuo Han mentioned several names that Zhang Rongfang had never heard before.

“They are merely Half-Extreme Realm masters, but even so, they are already in a semi-mad state. Such a price is unacceptable to many grandmasters.”

“What about Silver-faced Cicada Fan Qianyu? Is he the same?” Zhang Rongfang’s heart moved as he suddenly asked.

Silver-faced Cicada was a blacklist master invited by the Celestial Maiden at Tan Yang to make a move. Now thinking back, Silver-faced Cicada might have already been somewhat abnormal at that time.

That characteristic was likely the feeling of approaching the Extreme Realm.

“Silver-faced Cicada, I’m not sure, but the Eastern Sect Celestial Maiden was like that earlier. She lingered in the Half-Extreme Realm for more than ten years and is now missing, unknown if she has truly entered the Extreme Realm.”

Zuo Han shook his head.

“However, if one successfully enters the Extreme Realm, their martial arts cultivation can advance by leaps and bounds, growing rapidly. Ultimately, it’s almost inevitable to reach grandmaster status.”

“So, a grandmaster is a state of cultivation, a mastery of technique. The Extreme Realm, on the other hand, seems more like a fixed state?” Zhang Rongfang understood somewhat.

“Yes, a grandmaster is a state of cultivation, a level. As long as one comprehends and masters certain things, they can enter. It’s just that the threshold is very high.

The Extreme Realm, on the other hand, is a qualitative change in spirit, irreversible.” Zuo Han, worthy of being a grandmaster, summarized it thoroughly.

“I see… Understood.” Zhang Rongfang nodded.

He moved his arms, feeling the surging Qi and Blood that had increased from absorbing the Kong He of the Copper Arm.

He could clearly feel his physique, strength, and speed had reached a new level.

Moreover, this time’s improvement was much stronger than last time.

Therefore, his visit to Zuo Han was to test just how much he had improved.

Many things cannot be tested by mere lifeless objects for real battle capabilities.

A sufficiently formidable opponent is also needed.

“Next, I have recently had new insights, and I kindly ask Uncle Zuo for guidance.” He respectfully saluted, clasping his fists.

“It’s an honor for this old one to serve the Crown Prince.” Zuo Han sincerely returned the salute.

Although they sparred not long ago, it was unlikely the Crown Prince could have improved significantly in such a short time.

But treating it as an opportunity to dismantle moves with the Crown Prince and adapt to higher intensity exchanges is also acceptable.

At the Crown Prince’s rate of progress, perhaps in another five years…

Boom!!!

In an instant, during Zuo Han’s momentary distraction, a figure suddenly appeared before him.

A heavy and immense force was unleashed from the right fist of the figure, landing on his instinctively raised forearm for defense.

A circle of transparent air currents exploded between the two.

’No, that’s wrong!’ Zuo Han’s eyes narrowed, and the thought lingering in his mind was completely bewildered by this punch.

’This strength!! What’s going on!?’

Not even a month ago, he sparred with the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince’s strength was not as great as this.

Even when pushed to the limit, his strength was only half of what it is now.

How long has it been!?

How has his strength increased so much!?

Zuo Han’s eyes were still shocked before a storm of furious punches and palm strikes attacked like raindrops.

Zhang Rongfang remained silent, his arms like phantoms, almost indistinguishable in shape, striking at Zuo Han.

Though each hit landed on the Absolute Defense circle Zuo Han instinctively constructed, this time compared to last time, the improvement was significant.

Not only strength, but his speed also increased significantly.

Whether it was movement speed or explosive striking speed.

On the sandy beach, one advanced while the other retreated, Zhang Rongfang advancing, Zuo Han retreating.

Compared to last time, this time Zuo Han was retreating right from the start.

Fist and palm strikes between the two exploded with muffled sounds of flesh colliding.

If an average person were watching from the sidelines, they likely couldn’t even see the arms of the two, so from afar, it might look like two people without arms were executing Divine Abilities spells.

Not long after.

A sudden explosion sounded.

Boom!!

Zuo Han retreated two steps, moved his hands, although the Absolute Defense circle hadn’t been broken.

But he already felt the pressure.

Bear in mind that this was with the Crown Prince not entering Extreme State or using the Limit-Breaking Skill.

“Again!!”

Zhang Rongfang’s eyes turned on dark vision, his body rapidly expanding, turning black, and dark red veins bulging on his skin, while white blood vessels gathered into his pupils.

’Extreme State: Divine Unity.’

’Extreme State: Yin and Yang Convergence.’

’Extreme State….’

Zhang Rongfang formed a triangle hand seal with both hands.

“Threshold!”

A sound wave resonated from his throat, vibrating his entire body and triggering a chain reaction.

This final use of sound wave as the activation for the Extreme State began his exaggerated form of stacking three Extreme States.

With soft sounds of cracking.

Zhang Rongfang’s height increased from its initial 2.3 meters to the current 3 meters.

His entire body swelled like a balloon, his muscles bulging like countless oval stones densely covering all parts under his skin.

His black hair, under the contrast of a 3-meter tall body, had grown from shoulder-length to a slightly longer length.

The intense heartbeat was like a drum, thumping loudly, and if slightly closer, it could be heard clearly.

Fast-flowing blood carried a large amount of heat, making Zhang Rongfang’s entire body scorching hot, with his body temperature reaching a terrifying forty-five degrees.

This was no longer a temperature that ordinary people could achieve.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep