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The dark, stormy waves crashed violently against the jagged cliffs of the coastline, casting a thick mist into the heavy air. Inside the dimly lit room, the silence was palpable.
"Sea God Island?" Lucian repeated the name in a low voice, his tone slightly puzzled as he looked up.
Grandmaster cast his gaze out the window, his eyes piercing through the heavy downpour toward the distant, azure expanse of the ocean. "It is a solitary island far overseas, a unique territory isolated from the world, ruled jointly by powerful sea beasts and formidable fighters.
The creatures on that island are vastly different from anything you will find on the main continent. The warriors there have formed their own distinct lineage, calling themselves the Children of the Great Ocean."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "As for its danger, I only need to tell you one thing. Years ago, Marine Headquarters once dispatched nearly two thousand elite Marines across the sea to conquer it. In the end, fewer than a hundred managed to escape back alive. Among the fallen, two powerful Vice Admirals remained there forever, buried beneath the waves."
Hearing this, Lucian sucked in a cold breath, his eyes widening in sheer disbelief. Nearly two thousand trained Marines and two top-ranking Vice Admirals wiped out so easily. What a tragic, overwhelming loss. He gripped his fists tightly, his mind racing.
"Did Marine Headquarters... not retaliate after such a defeat?" Lucian asked, his voice shaking slightly.
Grandmaster shook his head slowly, his expression grim. "That is why people also call it Devil Island. The Marines had no follow-up actions, which indicates two things. First, there is at least one incredibly powerful expert on that island, perhaps even someone with strength rivaling the Fleet Admiral himself, which is more than enough to make the Marines think twice before attacking again. Second, those sea warriors follow ancient rules and never set foot on the main continent, so the two sides maintain a precarious balance."
"Teacher, why have you never mentioned such a secretive and powerful place to me before?" Stunned for a moment, Lucian couldn't help but ask, looking at the older man with confusion.
A complex expression of regret and memory flashed across Grandmaster's face. He sighed deeply. "Because I once hoped you would never have to cross paths with it. I happened to be present during that brutal battle years ago. I followed Fleet Admiral Sengoku there, and I witnessed firsthand the terrifying strength and distinctiveness of those sea fighters.
Their abilities are mostly related to marine life, and their combat styles differ greatly from land-based warriors. In a marine environment, their combat power receives a terrifying boost. The island itself can be seen as an extremely dangerous, unpredictable fortress surrounded by the deep blue sea."
"Then just how many of these sea fighters are there on this Sea God Island?" Lucian continued to press, wanting to know exactly what they were up against.
"My conservative estimate is at least over two thousand. Almost every single islander is a trained warrior capable of fighting." Grandmaster's voice grew even lower, leaning in slightly as he continued. "I judge that a peak expert exists because the sea warriors who killed the Marine Vice Admirals back then respectfully addressed someone as Lord Sea God. That tone was by no means calling upon a fictional deity, but rather addressing a truly existing leader who wields supreme authority over the entire region."
At this moment, Lucian had already sketched a rough, daunting image of Sea God Island in his mind. He looked down at his hands, then looked back up at his mentor. "Teacher, do you want me to go there for my training?"
"Yes." Grandmaster nodded, looking directly into Lucian's eyes and speaking with absolute seriousness. "Although Sea God Island is full of crises, it is also filled with incredible opportunities. It is not a mindless place of slaughter. It seems that if outsiders can actually pass their intense trials, they can significantly increase their strength in a very short period of time.
But the price of failure is absolute. If you fail the trial, you can never leave the island for the rest of your life. Back then, the Marines attacked with force and killed first, which was exactly what invited that total disaster upon them."
He stepped closer, placing a hand on Lucian's shoulder. "Lucian, if you can successfully walk out of there, I believe your strength, your mental fortitude, and your understanding of combat will all undergo a transformative leap. It is a shortcut to power, but it is also a dead end that may have no return. Are you truly willing to go?"
Saying this, a distinct hint of expectation flashed in Grandmaster's eyes.
Lucian didn't hesitate. At this exact moment, the last trace of doubt in his mind was completely severed, replaced by a fierce determination. "Teacher, I'll go."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, he turned around to face Flender, who had been listening quietly. "Dean, who else is... still left here at the academy?"
Flender pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, the gaze behind the lenses turning a bit dim and melancholic. He let out a long, heavy sigh. "Of the original seven crew members... now only that brat Kuro remains at the academy.
That child Toniel went to the Extreme North Land right after your incident, saying he wanted to find an opportunity to become stronger on his own, and we haven't heard a single piece of news since he left. As for Mubai and Zhuqing..."
He shook his head, looking troubled. "They returned to the Star Luo Empire long ago. The internal competition within the Star Luo Imperial Family has always been incredibly cruel and bloody. Dai Weisi will definitely not let them off easily, and I honestly don't know what their current situation is like right now."
Hearing this, Lucian's heart immediately sank. The painful dispersal of his closest companions made him feel the extreme urgency of time and the heavy weight of responsibility resting squarely on his shoulders even more acutely. After a brief moment of intense thought, he spoke up, his voice steady.
"Dean, since Kuro is still here, I want to take him with me to Sea God Island this time."
Flender did not hesitate for even a second and nodded firmly. "Good. Kuro is my personal disciple; he can't just stay cooped up safely inside the walls of this academy forever. It's time to let him out into the world to see the real storms. With you leading the way, I'm at ease."
At this time, Tai Tan, who was standing like a mountain to the side, stepped forward. He spoke in a booming, deep voice that shook the room. "Young Lord, since you're going to such a dangerous place, take my worthless grandson Tai Long along too! Although his natural talent isn't exactly top-tier, he's incredibly strong, durable, and thick-skinned. He can run errands for you on the road, take care of your daily needs, and share the burden of any miscellaneous chores that pop up during the journey."
The Strength Clan's ultimate fate was now entirely linked to Lucian's future. Letting Tai Long follow him was both for the boy's personal training and a clear, undeniable gesture of their full support.
"Alright." Lucian looked at Tai Tan and nodded in agreement, accepting the offer. Immediately after, his sharp gaze turned back to Flender and Grandmaster. "However, Dean, Teacher, before we head out to Sea God Island, we must first make a necessary detour to the Star Luo Empire."
Hearing this, Grandmaster frowned slightly, looking quite confused. "Star Luo? Why do you want to go there first?"
"Naturally, it's to pick up Mubai and Zhuqing," Lucian explained, his tone firm as he analyzed the situation with clear, cold logic. "Now that that bastard Tang Chen has actually taken full control of the Heaven Dou Empire, we are basically fighting alone. Our strength is far too scattered and weak right now. Mubai is a Prince of the Star Luo Empire, and Zhuqing comes from the influential Zhu Family. They have a strong foundation in Star Luo and power that they absolutely must fight for."
He paused for a moment, staring blankly ahead as if he could already see the pieces moving on the other end of the grand chessboard.
"We cannot just sit by and watch Star Luo fall into absolute chaos or be completely controlled by our enemies. We must help Mubai gain a firm foothold in the brutal power struggle of the Star Luo Empire, or even completely take control of the entire empire ourselves! Only if at least one of the two great empires, Heaven Dou or Star Luo, is securely in the hands of forces we can trust, will we have any room to maneuver and launch a proper counterattack in the future. Going to Sea God Island to gain personal power is fundamental, but before we do that, we must first place our own chess pieces firmly on the continent."
Hearing these sharp, calculating words, the surroundings suddenly fell completely silent.
Flender and Grandmaster looked at each other, both seeing the immense shock and realization mirrored in each other's eyes. The young Lucian standing before them was no longer the naive youth who needed their constant protection and guidance years ago. The successive upheavals, the loss of his friends, and the heavy pressure of blood feuds had not crushed his spirit.
Instead, it had fostered a deep, scheming mind and a global vision that went far beyond his actual age. His goal was no longer just about personal revenge; it was the definitive beginning of a massive strategic layout for a struggle that might sweep across the entire world.
"Lucian, you've considered this very thoroughly," Grandmaster said, nodding slowly as his tone grew slightly heavy. "This trip to Star Luo will likely be even more dangerous than going to Sea God Island itself. But... you're entirely right. We absolutely cannot afford to lose Star Luo as a potential ally and our rear base."
Flender let out a heavy breath, adjusting his glasses once more as he added, "Lucian, the academy had some meager connections in the Star Luo Empire in our early years. I will try to compile all that information for you before you leave. Just remember, be incredibly careful in everything you do. When you step into that territory, you may be facing not just Dai Weisi, but potentially... powerful enemy forces that have already extended their dark tentacles deep into the heart of the empire."
"Forces like the Marines, or the world government itself!"