CapĂtulo 1988: Chapter 1875: Evil Never Prevails Over Good
The ship was filled with sighs.
Almost at a disadvantage, Xu Duoduo no longer dared to provoke the light patrol, circling around the salvage ship on the outskirts. Guns were ineffective against them, and the Dragon Gate Warriors stood on the deck at a loss.
Song Xiaodong walked into the control room and said to Yumi Ono, âQuick, call for reinforcements.â
Yumi Ono made a phone call.
The salvage ship began preparing for salvage operations. The Dark Night Sectâs approach was different from Dragon Gateâs. Dragon Gate wanted to retrieve the object, while the Dark Night Sect intended to salvage the entire ship. Fortunately, they encountered each other today, so Song Xiaodong at least knew which ship they were trying to salvage.
Before long, two more ships appeared on the sea; they were Japanese marine police enforcement ships, much smaller than the Dark Night Sectâs salvage ship but fully armed. They approached the vicinity and started to make announcements to the light patrol.
Dragon Gateâs ship belonged to Yumi Ono, who had all the necessary licenses and legal procedures for salvage operations. The Dark Night Sectâs salvage ship might be legitimate, but the light patrol, part of the combat sequence, was definitely illegal.
As expected, the two enforcement ships ordered all vessels to stop immediately and cease operations for inspection.
The light patrol turned to flee, with one marine police ship in pursuit, while the other remained in place to inspect the Dark Night Sect and Dragon Gateâs salvage vessels.
They first inspected the Dark Night Sectâs enormous salvage ship, followed by Yumi Onoâs vessel. The Dark Night Sectâs ship belonged to a European and American shipwreck salvage company, with slightly complicated procedures, whereas Yumi Ono, being Japanese, faced smoother proceedings. They didnât scrutinize the origins of the two parties but confiscated their guns.
Both crews claimed to be working vessels and argued that the guns were for self-defense. The marine police ship responded, âVery well, continue your operations slowly, and Iâll keep an eye on you from here.â
With no way around it, neither party dared make big moves under the watchful eyes of the marine police.
Since the other side no longer had guns, Yumi Ono was no longer afraid. The two ships docked side by side, each preparing to dive.
The two groups stood on their respective decks, glaring at each other.
On Song Xiaodongâs side were Song Xiaodong, Sun Yiyi, Chu Xianling, Lin Feng, Dragon Three, Dragon Six, and 18 other Dragon Gate Warriors.
The Dark Night Sectâs side included Zhao Yunhai, Sun Wuya, Li Muxing, Harry, Joshua, Quinn, and over 20 other Dark Night Sect warriors.
Their strengths were equivalent, but with a difference: Song Xiaodongâs side represented half of Dragon Gateâs assets, whereas the Dark Night Sect might only be a fraction of their full strength.
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Zhao Yunhai, over seventy, had white hair and a frail figure, resembling old tree bark. Wearing a Chinese tunic suit and black leather shoes, his eyes gleamed sharply from a face full of wrinkles.
Sun Wuya, younger than Zhao Yunhai by some years yet likely in his fifties, had a full red complexion and a portly stature akin to a jujube stone, dressed in a white Tang suit and black cloth shoes.
Li Muxing was young and, like Chu Xianling, cold as ice and expressionless, dressed in a white dress with long hair wildly dancing in the sea breeze, her figure slender and attractive.
Harry, younger still, possibly just over twenty, had a round face, holding a Bible in hand, with a water bottle and crossbow at his waist.
Joshua was middle-aged, physically robust, with hawk-like eyes and a large nose, also wearing a Tang suit, clearly taught by Chinese imparting their skills.
Quinn, another middle-aged person, had a physique even more exaggerated than Joshua, resembling a competitor in strongman contests. Despite the chill of the September and October sea breeze, he wore only shorts and a tank top, his muscles bulging dramatically, holding a hammer, looking like the incarnation of a thunder god.
Zhao Yunhai, leader of the group, observed Song Xiaodong and respectfully nodded, âGreetings, Sect Leader Song.â
âOld Sir, the items underwater, I canât let you take them away,â Song Xiaodong replied bluntly, getting straight to the point.
âI expected as much. You, Dragon Gate, would prefer these cultivation secrets to sink into the seabed rather than let more people become immortals and enjoy everlasting bliss. Such malevolent intentions!â
In battle, the first move is often an exchange of insults.
âYour Dark Night Sect knows full well the true nature of these secrets. With one immortalâs path paved by numerous victims, the idea of more people enjoying bliss is a mere fantasy. More likely, itâs just using your cultivation for someone elseâs gain!â Song Xiaodong retorted.
âWithout a steadfast heart, thereâs no blessing to gather spirits, to nourish back to the worldâthis is the ultimate principle!â Zhao Yunhai responded.
âA lofty principle indeed, nourishing the world, but I suspect the benefits mainly nourish your Sect Master. Let me ask you, your Dark Night Sect claims to have found a different path and has spread overseas. Yet how many have achieved greatness and enjoyed freedom?â Song Xiaodong countered.
âThisâŠâ Zhao Yunhai was at a loss for words for a moment.
Though the Dark Night Sect had expanded well overseas, the Western tendency to evaluate Mystic Gate Taoist methods through scientific inquiry proved counterproductive. Each technique had to undergo experimental validation, leading the Dark Night Sect to remain as stagnated in cultivation as the Dragon Gate, unable to progress.
Pausing for thought, Zhao Yunhai continued, âHa, our Dark Night Sect has ambitions for grand achievements. Cultivation is a lengthy endeavor, not a dayâs work. Can distinctions be realized over the span of a few decades? Since you mentioned it, I canât help but ask: you, Dragon Gate, holding onto your orthodox pathâhow close is your Sect Leader to becoming an immortal ancestor?â
Hearing this, Song Xiaodong felt a bit embarrassed.
He had been in the Dragon Gate Secret Vault, studying Dragon Gateâs Qi Refinement techniques. The first Six Meridians were Acquired True Qi; only the last Three Meridians were Immortal Qi, capable of practicing Immortal Family Taoist Method. Nine Qi needed to be achieved, and after True Qi Great Perfection, forming a Golden Core might lead to consummate practice. To date, only the first and second Dragon Gate ancestors succeeded. Successive Sect Leaders toiled for nothing but empty dreams. Song Xiaodong hadnât even perfected his Three Meridians True Qi, let alone wondering if a Golden Core could be formed. Merely achieving Nine Meridians True Qi Great Perfection had already been difficult to maintain past the fourth ancestor. Becoming an immortal ancestor? It might take living for several centuries.