Chapter 46 Funeral Expenses

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Funeral Expenses

The Azure Dragon Shocking Horn, a Fixed Form, was essentially no longer within the scope of Jiao Swordsmanship, but rather a higher-level Divine Marvelous Skill.

When learning this pure-technique Fixed Form, Feng Yin could not replicate his rapid progress with Dragon Transformation. Instead, his efficiency was about the same as Xiao Yu’s, who was learning alongside him. At most, his progress was only slightly faster because he could activate Dragon Transformation at will to coordinate his force.

Xie Jingyuan said this was completely normal.

Fixed Forms inherently differed between the Skill Type and the State Type. For Skill Type Fixed Forms, as long as one met the requirements for strength and physical flexibility, anyone could learn them; the brilliant learned fast, and the dull learned slow. A special State Type Fixed Form like Dragon Transformation, however, depended entirely on physical talent.

Those with talent learned it quickly and used it well. Those without talent might never master it, even if they were Fierce-level Powerhouses who met the standards. Someone like Xiao Yu, who could activate Dragon Transformation decently after just a year of practice, was already considered a little genius with extremely high compatibility.

This learning process lasted for two days. Only then did Feng Yin barely grasp the key to this Fixed Form—Shock Force, which was the secret of rousing the muscles, bones, and sinews in the arm to generate a second burst of power the instant blades clashed with an opponent. This was also the origin of the word "Shocking" in the technique name "Azure Dragon Shocking Horn."

During these two days, Feng Yin, Xie Yanran, and Hong Yuan were all under Chen Yu’s protection. The three of them did not disembark the ship at all, nor did they receive any further instructions from the Zero Point Consortium.

In the evening, Feng Yin walked out of the suite’s gym, wiping away his sweat. Behind him was Hong Yuan, who was similarly drenched. He shook his arms, wincing and baring his teeth, as he sighed. "Feng Yin, you’re getting more and more proficient with that Shock Force. It’s getting a bit too much for me."

Feng Yin’s hands were also trembling slightly. Activating Dragon Transformation was a prerequisite for him to use Azure Dragon Shocking Horn, so the physical toll on him was naturally greater than Hong Yuan’s. If not for his special constitution, he probably wouldn’t even be able to walk right now. He smiled. "Still, thank you, Brother Hong, for taking the time to spar with me."

Hong Yuan replied, "We’re all family here. Don’t mention it."

Indeed, Azure Dragon Shocking Horn was a Counterattack Skill. Without a sparring partner to coordinate the attacks, it was very difficult to practice it properly on one’s own. The exact timing to release the critical Shock Force was the sole indicator of whether this Fixed Form would succeed. If it failed to shock the opponent, it would just be an ordinary Washing Sword move.

The young girl, who had been bored out of her mind playing on her phone in the living room, immediately came over when she saw the two men walk out. Xiao Yu admired Feng Yin’s handsome post-workout face, her eyes shining. "Eldest Junior Brother, why don’t you come with me to check out the Death Madness Tower? I’m sick of staying on this ship."

"Xiao Yu..." Feng Yin started.

"Hmm?" Xiao Yu hummed dangerously.

"Senior Sister," he corrected himself helplessly. Then, seeing her satisfied expression, he said softly, "Master hasn’t restricted your movements, right? Go if you want to. He’ll go with you."

"No, no, no!" Xiao Yu shook her head vigorously. "Even though Master looks like a handsome middle-aged uncle, he’s actually half an old man already. He’s too boring! Will you come with me?"

Sitting in a chair behind them, resting with his eyes closed, Xie Jingyuan’s mouth twitched upon hearing his little disciple evaluate him like this. He thought, "What a rebellious disciple, mocking her master right to his face."

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu had already grabbed Feng Yin’s arm and started shaking it. "Just come with me~"

Feng Yin sighed. "I never said I wouldn’t go with you. Stop shaking me."

"Hehehe," Xiao Yu giggled, turning around to pull at Xie Jingyuan. "Let’s go, Master. Sister Shen Jia said that guy named Ya Lie has a Death Frenzy Sword Combat match today. Rumor has it that this Blade Master is the most powerful person on the island." She immediately added with a sly smile, "Of course, the most powerful person on the island now is you, Master."

Xie Jingyuan stood up. "Even if you say that, I won’t forget that you just called me an old man."

"Ah?" Xiao Yu looked guilty.

Seeing that the group was getting ready to leave, Xie Yanran and Hong Yuan followed suit. Xie Yanran said softly to Xie Jingyuan, "Master, Hong Yuan and I still need to go back and handle some matters with our subordinates to wrap things up, so we won’t be joining you."

Hong Yuan also looked apologetic. "Uncle Xie, my guys are still keeping order for now, but I’m afraid that might change after I leave, so I’m planning to go back and make some arrangements."

Xie Jingyuan nodded slightly. "Will it be safe?"

Xie Yanran said gently, "Don’t worry, Master. Although Old Hong and I are only at the Fierce Level, there aren’t any Instant-level criminals on the island, so we’ll be fine."

She spoke without overthinking, but Feng Yin, who was standing nearby, had a slight shift in his gaze. There was still one Instant-level criminal on this island—Ya Lie, the one competing tonight.

As for whether Ya Lie would actually follow through with Kondo Makoto’s dying words and insist on killing Xie Yanran and her husband even after the Ren Sheng Group was wiped out... that was truly hard to say. Feng Yin recalled the playful look in Ya Lie’s eyes when he looked at Xie Yanran and Hong Yuan while they were boarding the ship two days ago. He couldn’t shake the feeling that it was the look of a predator eyeing its prey.

...

...

Continuous reports echoed inside a submersible beneath the surface of the distant sea:

"Chen Yu has disembarked and landed on the island.

"The accompanying person is suspected to be Xie Jingyuan.

"Confirmed, the escort is Xie Jingyuan.

"They are accompanied by two people from the Zero Point Group.

"One of them is a young male, suspected to be a guard.

"The other person is in a logistics uniform, suspected to be a butler.

"End of report."

A few seconds later, after confirming the intel, a burly Caucasian man picked up the intercom. "Copy that. Maintain surveillance." He turned to look at his several companions who were already starting to gear up, a confident smile appearing on his face. "The target has landed on the island. The operation is a go."

...

...

Half an hour later, Feng Yin, Xiao Yu, and Xie Jingyuan stepped off a sightseeing cart. At the base of the Death Madness Tower, they met up with Xiao Yu’s best friend, Shen Jia, who had been waiting for her. Two days ago, it was this girl who had first spotted Feng Yin and brought Xiao Yu over.

The group joined together and, guided by the butler, entered the stadium-like podium building of the Death Madness Tower.

"Ms. Chen Yu, your VIP box is ready. Will Ms. Shen Jia be joining you?" the butler asked as he led the way.

Chen Yu nodded gracefully. "Of course. When does Ya Lie’s match start?"

The butler replied, "As the most popular competitor in the Death Madness Tower and one who is about to achieve a hundred victories to clear the trials, Lord Ya Lie’s battle is naturally scheduled for the grand finale."

Xiao Yu looked a bit disappointed. "And before that?"

The butler answered respectfully, "There will be several ’exhibition matches’ provided by the criminals of Border Prison Island, as well as ten Fierce-level life-and-death battles featuring challengers from all over the world fighting against the Death Madness Tower’s competitors."

Beside them, Shen Jia asked curiously, "There are challengers from other places? I thought all the Death Frenzy battles were between your own Death Madness Tower personnel."

The butler smiled. "Ms. Shen Jia must be joking. Aside from those with no other way out, not many people dare to become signed competitors of the Death Madness Tower. The majority of the battles come from external Fierce-level Martial Artists signing up to challenge them."

Shen Jia covered her mouth in shock. "People actually sign up just to throw their lives away?"

The butler replied calmly, "Those who sign up and win can take away..." He glanced at the group and switched to a different currency. "About one million Celestial Essence Coins per match."

Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. "And if they lose?"

The butler paused slightly and smiled. "If they don’t die, the Zero Point Group provides medical treatment and gives a hundred thousand as compensation.

"If they die, we give a hundred thousand for funeral expenses."