Chapter 196 – A Peaceful Night Before Reaching Ningyuan

When sudden storms arrive violently, everything appears inevitable.

One could say tonight would be another fierce battle that none could avoid. Surviving it would bring a new dawn, but as for failure… Ye Kuang didn’t contemplate that possibility.

Seeing the remaining crew members working tirelessly through the day, securing all passenger ship gates with iron chains while leaving only one passage open, he knew deeply he must not fail tonight.

Because dozens of compatriots stood behind him.

The sunlight piercing through thick clouds fell like divine healing medicine, soothing their previous sorrows.

They had transformed grief into strength, quietly awaiting the judgment of fate.

It wasn’t until sunset that Duke Zhou approached slowly, handing him a still-warm bread before sighing: “Child, when you can’t endure anymore, you must retreat. There’s no shame in stepping back, and I believe no one would blame you.”

Ye Kuang devoured the bread in three bites but shook his head: “If I choose to retreat, our enemies might secretly mock me. Do you know what that would mean to me?”

Hearing this, Duke Zhou found himself momentarily speechless.

He wished to persuade but felt profoundly powerless.

Ye Kuang declared resolutely: “It would mean I could never take another step forward. In this era of martial arts decline, my fall might seem insignificant, but if even I willingly collapse, my lifelong ideals would never be realized.”

His tone suddenly turned cold as ice: “Before the path to the peak, whoever dares block my way shall be crushed.”

“Ah…” Duke Zhou couldn’t help but sigh again.

“Moreover, we have no retreat now. We must face the challenges head-on – both to honor our identity as martial artists and never forget the inherent responsibility that comes with capability.” Ye Kuang said.

When mentioning “responsibility,” he suddenly felt immense pressure, as if a thousand-pound boulder was crushing his chest, making it hard to breathe.

But remembering dozens of lives hanging on his decisions, his entire body filled with invincible strength.

This unfamiliar feeling might make one feel powerless, yet it was precisely the awareness an ordinary man like him should possess.

Thinking this, Ye Kuang smiled and said: “Grandpa Zhou, rest well tonight. Everything will be fine.”

As he spoke, he looked toward the distant sunset, his hand clenching into a firm fist.

In that moment, he revealed the bear gall and tiger soul of an ordinary man.

In that instant, unyielding will supported his determination to face any challenge.

Seeing this, Duke Zhou could only shake his head before walking away dejectedly.

Soon after, another person emerged.

Without turning, Ye Kuang asked: “What is it?”

“Thank you for avenging our captain!” The Heaven Squad Warrior spoke, then continued: “I represent all Heaven Earth Black Yellow members in expressing our gratitude.”

Hearing this, Ye Kuang suddenly turned and stared intently into the visitor’s eyes, stating solemnly: “You needn’t thank me. I should thank you, for it was your disregard for personal safety that prevented irreversible consequences.”

“Regardless, we thank you this time.” The Heaven Squad Warrior said.

Upon hearing this, Ye Kuang turned again to face the boundless darkness enveloping the World’s End.”You should go back, I’ll guard this place…”

The faint echo carried unspoken emotions. The entire scene instantly fell into a silence so profound one could hear a pin drop, with only one person stationed before the great gate.

That was Ye Kuang!

As the sea breeze swept in waves, its faint scent carried distinct notes of saltiness and moisture, lifting the strands of his hair and rustling the corners of his robe.

Ye Kuang couldn’t help murmuring to himself: “The raging wind understands not the solitude of the deep sea, nor does the daylight comprehend the darkness of night. Guarding this tranquil time alone inevitably brings hidden hesitation, yet to achieve what others cannot, one must endure what ordinary people cannot bear. Come then, let the storm rage even more fiercely!”

A fading sigh lingered as he settled into a cross-legged position.

Rather than entering deep meditation, Ye Kuang gradually began contemplating the mysteries of the Jade Void Creation Art.

Since first learning the Creation Art, this inexplicable sensation had remained endlessly enjoyable to him even now.

The introductory principles and essential techniques still remained somewhat obscure to his understanding.

To say he understood them didn’t seem quite right, yet to claim ignorance wouldn’t be accurate either.

This contradictory feeling, seemingly illusory, had in fact truly existed.

Thinking of this, Ye Kuang couldn’t help pondering: back when he sought enlightenment, he had immersed himself emotionally – could it be that using emotions as a key was necessary to unlock the gate of Creation?

It must be said that acting upon thought was one of his unique qualities.

Not rejoicing over material gains, not grieving over personal losses. Not fearing the future due to one’s own insignificance, not denying one’s own path of existence because of unknown things.

At this moment, he once again entered enlightenment with a clear and empty mind.

Jade Void, seizing the creation of heaven and earth; Creation, transforming decay into wonder.

Formless and featureless, this was precisely the state of selflessness.

When the heart becomes still as stagnant water, one can part the clouds in one’s mind to see the sun and moon.

Threads of comprehension flowed like streams into parched wheat fields, nourishing them with the power of “endless vitality.”

Suddenly, his short hair began dancing without wind, then stood up strand by strand waving freely, while his chiseled face alternated between golden and crimson hues, making him recall past joyful moments as an inexplicable smile spread across his features.

As this joy manifested, the previously elusive mysteries came flocking to him one after another.

Ye Kuang knew he had succeeded.

He had clearly deciphered the method for comprehending the Jade Void Creation Art – it truly involved gradually deepening through the four emotions of “joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure,” thereby grasping the wonders of Jade Void Creation.

The deep sea’s evening breeze gently caressed his face like tender hands, while the sea’s salty scent penetrated through his nostrils directly to his internal organs, making him deeply feel its refreshing saltiness.

Simultaneously, Ye Kuang inexplicably opened his eyes.

As a gleam of sharp light flashed and vanished, various realizations once again invaded his heart, and he suddenly appeared as calm as still water.

Only when he abruptly stood up did the golden-crimson radiance quietly retract into his body, and he couldn’t help sighing.

“Those damned bastards, why didn’t they come? Damn it, they made me stay up all night for nothing…”

But as his words gradually faded, he couldn’t help releasing a long roar that sharply pierced the slowly rising deep sea world.

This sky-piercing momentum startlingly alarmed the forty-some people inside the ship’s cabins.

When they stepped onto the deck one by one, breathing the salty sea air anew, they all revealed a peculiar sense of having narrowly escaped disaster.Among the crowd, someone immediately began wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves. Following their gaze, they saw a completely different landscape—Ningyuan Port.

No one had expected that after the Blood Clan launched a surprise attack, they didn’t send any more experts to reclaim their territory.

It could truly be described as: “A night of peace descends upon Ningyuan”!