Shackles of Humanity

Gradually, the cruise ship sailed into the Thousand Islands Sea. The surrounding islands were dotted with twinkling lights, a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

Su Chengbo’s expression shifted. ”What a coincidence,” he said. ”I didn’t expect to run into an old friend.”

Tuoba Ye snapped out of his daze and looked out at the sea. A deep blue yacht was approaching, and on its deck stood a middle-aged man with his hands clasped behind his back.

”It’s that old rascal Xi Jinghui. It’s been a while since I’ve picked a fight with him.” Tuoba Ye chuckled, cracking his knuckles.

Xi Jinghui stood at the bow and called out, ”Is that Brother Su and Brother Tuoba?”

”Brother Xi, long time no see!” Su Chengbo replied.

Xi Jinghui looked at their beautiful yacht in surprise. With a light leap, he tapped the surface of the sea mid-air before landing on the deck, his movements the epitome of grace. He smiled and clasped his fist. ”I was just thinking how my heart was pounding all day. It turns out I was about to meet two of my old classmates.”

Tuoba Ye walked up and thumped him hard on the shoulder. ”Heh heh, Old Xi, you old rascal. Still like to act all high and mighty!”

Xi Jinghui feigned a pained expression and rubbed his shoulder. ”You slob, you still love to bully me,” he said with a sigh of resignation.

The three of them had been students in the Bo Han Class at Shangjing University in their youth. Reunited now, they were all beaming with joy. They took their seats, and an attendant hurried to the cabin to fetch a large case of wine.

”Brother Su, this boat of yours is truly beautiful. Might I ask who designed and built it?” Xi Jinghui looked around. The vessel didn’t sway in the slightest, there was no engine noise, not even the smell of fuel. He couldn’t help but be intensely curious.

Su Chengbo smiled. ”This is a liquid-hydrogen-powered yacht built by the Sea Race. We don’t yet possess the methods to build one ourselves. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind gifting one to each of you.”

”To think the Sea Race has such technological capabilities!”

The Human Race and the Sea Race have had very little contact over the years, and humanity’s understanding of them has dwindled. Xi Jinghui was somewhat astonished. After a moment’s thought, he asked, ”I’ve heard that the Sea Race’s living conditions are even more perilous than our own. Why is their technological development so advanced?”

Su Chengbo fell silent. After a moment, he rose and walked to the ship’s rail, gazing at the sea. ”That touches upon the path of species evolution,” he said softly. ”The harsher the external environment, the greater the evolutionary potential a lifeform will unleash. In contrast, our Human Race has been at peace for nearly a hundred years. Not only has our research into Body Techniques yielded nothing, but even our technology and industry have stagnated.”

After speaking, he hesitated slightly before continuing, ”The Sea Race lives in the deep sea, where the variety of species is far greater than on land. The mutated creatures and Fierce Beasts there are also a degree more formidable than those on the surface. And... and there should also be ’that kind’ of existence.”

Tuoba Ye and Xi Jinghui instantly understood what he meant by ”that kind.” Their expressions changed simultaneously, and they kept their mouths shut, not daring to respond.

The direction of a lifeform’s evolution is unforeseeable, and its Evolution Level is equally unpredictable. Some beings have already evolved to an unnamable level.

What does ”unnamable” mean? It means that ”Its” name, designation, or anything related to ”It” cannot be mentioned. To do so would be to be perceived by ”It.” This degree of evolution has transcended that of Living Creatures, reaching a Divine Spirit Level that is close to the ”Dao.”

Of course, if they reach ”that kind” of level, their thoughts are no longer confined to themselves but are close to the Celestial Dao. In other words, they would not interfere with the workings of this world, much less care about a Race as insignificant as ants like the Human Race.

Before the Great Cataclysm, people often prayed to gods and Buddhas. Perhaps it was a form of spiritual sustenance, or maybe they were seeking comfort. But if Divine Buddhas truly exist, they might actually be able to hear your prayers!

The three of them fell deathly silent. Faced with such a terrifying existence, they didn’t even dare to think about it in their hearts. Tuoba Ye quickly changed the subject. ”Old Xi, weren’t you in the East Sea? What brings you to the Thousand Islands Sea?”

Xi Jinghui snapped back to reality. ”A cousin from my clan lives in the Thousand Islands Sea. We’re on pretty good terms, and he asked me to come help him intimidate some of the local powers.”

Tuoba Ye curled his lip, stood up, and cracked his knuckles. ”You old rascal, still meddling in these worldly affairs. We haven’t sparred in ages! Come on, come on, let me see your Kuishui True Skill!”

Xi Jinghui said helplessly, ”You brute, you just love picking on me. If you’ve got the guts, go fight Old Su.”

Tuoba Ye turned to look at the smiling Su Chengbo and shook his head. ”No way. Old Su has been getting more and more unfathomable lately. I reckon I can’t beat him anymore.”

Su Chengbo shook his head. ”I’ve been tied down by worldly affairs all these years. My Cultivation hasn’t progressed in a long time.”

”Sigh, aren’t we all in the same boat?”

Xi Jinghui sighed, then said, ”Alright, let’s not talk about that. I just ran into a strange young man. Not only did he possess the Luo Family’s Fearless Transformation, but he also used a powerful Body Technique that could summon wind and thunder to his aid. You two are far more experienced than I. Have you ever seen such a Body Technique?”

Tuoba Ye and Su Chengbo glanced at each other, and smiles couldn’t help but appear on their faces.

”We were just talking about that young man. Where is he?” Tuoba Ye stood up and looked around.

”Oh, so you two know this young man? The passenger ship he’s on is probably about thirty nautical miles ahead.”

Tuoba Ye hurried down and ordered the sailor at the helm, ”Full speed ahead.”

The sailors were all servants of Su Chengbo’s household. Knowing that this somewhat scruffy-looking man was the Patriarch’s good friend, they quickly replied, ”Yes, sir.”

On deck, Xi Jinghui asked in confusion, ”Brother Su, are you very familiar with this young man? I’ve never heard of the Luo Family having such an impressive kid.”

Su Chengbo smiled. ”Not exactly familiar. Tell me, why did you two end up fighting?”

Xi Jinghui hesitated. The Xi Family’s actions weren’t something to be publicized, so he skipped over the prelude and only described his clash with Luo Kai.

Tuoba Ye had already returned to the deck. After hearing the story, he said excitedly, ”That’s right, it’s him! But when I fought him last time, the kid didn’t use a weapon.”

Xi Jinghui said in surprise, ”This young man has crossed hands with Brother Tuoba as well?”

Tuoba Ye chuckled. ”It wasn’t just me. The kid has also fought Old Su!”

Xi Jinghui couldn’t help but stand up, his expression grave. ”Don’t tell me you two didn’t manage to take him down?”

Su Chengbo waved his hand at him. ”Don’t be so tense. This young man is indeed remarkable, but he hasn’t reached the level of a Body Master. I suspect it’s because the Body Technique he uses is quite unique. A Body Technique that can draw upon Heaven and Earth Energy to bolster itself is most likely a Heavenly Rank Body Technique, and there are very few of those in our entire Human Race.”

Tuoba Ye’s brows furrowed deeply. He mused, ”The Body Technique he uses is a Dharma Gate that boosts Power like a Sea Tide. As far as I know, there is no Heavenly Rank Body Technique with that kind of effect.”

Xi Jinghui sat back down, carefully recalling the scene of his fight with Luo Kai. ”Yes, it really is like a Sea Tide. With the force mutually reinforcing itself, it’s practically endless. Add to that the enhancement of his physical constitution from the Fearless Body, and I estimate that no one below the level of a Body Master is his match.”

At that moment, Su Chengbo suddenly asked Tuoba Ye, ”Brother Tuoba, you said earlier that you found him on the coast?”

”That’s right, at a place called Wanghai Cliff. It’s quite desolate...”

Tuoba Ye’s words suddenly trailed off. His expression changed, and he said in a low voice, ”Old Su, are you saying he created this Heavenly Rank Body Technique himself?”

Su Chengbo had never seen the Azure Wave Force that Tuoba Ye mentioned, so he couldn’t be certain. He shook his head. ”I don’t know.”

”Is he using the Luo Family’s Heavenly Rank Body Technique, the Taiyin Qi Introduction Skill?” Xi Jinghui speculated from the side.

Su Chengbo and Tuoba Ye shook their heads in unison. ”No, the Taiyin Qi Introduction Skill is not a Dharma Gate that uses stacking and reinforcement.”

...

Now, the three of them had lost all interest in reminiscing. Tuoba Ye stood up impatiently, glancing out at the sea from time to time. Xi Jinghui was also fidgeting, unable to sit still. A Heavenly Rank Body Technique was not something that could be compared to other Body Techniques.

Body Technique Cultivators focus primarily on Body Refining. Only after reaching the Body Master realm can they draw upon external Energy for assistance, but even then, it’s only supplementary; they still rely mainly on their own bodies. Heavenly Rank Body Techniques are different. When executed, the frequency they emit resonates with the primordial frequencies that have always existed between Heaven and Earth. When mastered, not only can it bolster one’s power, but it can also be used to fight enemies with the very Heaven and Earth Power.

One could say that a Heavenly Rank Body Technique has already transcended the level of ’technique,’ reaching a level where technique borders on the Dao. A major reason why the four great families have been able to pass down their legacies to this day is that their founding ancestors created Heavenly Rank Body Techniques capable of fighting enemies with the Heaven and Earth Power.

It’s just that the Cultivation requirements for a Heavenly Rank Body Technique are incredibly strict. Opportunity is more important than anything else. They are the most guarded secrets of these Top Level powers; even Direct Disciples rarely get a chance to see one.