The journey back to Coralspire Harbor was one of serene satisfaction. Tempest glided through the ocean with silent, majestic power, the turbulent waters of the Churning Grounds giving way to the calmer currents of the southern coast. Kui, his adventurous spirit sated for the moment, was already mentally drafting new trade routes and calculating potential profits, occasionally letting out a cheerful, booming laugh.
Li Yu sat near the great leviathan's head, the Heartlight Pearl resting in a simple, unadorned box beside him. His mind was focused inward, his nascent soul lazily circling in the profound, star-dusted depths of his condensed spiritual sea. He was consolidating his control over his new, heavy power, making its immense weight feel as natural as breathing.
As the sun began to set, they arrived at the secluded cove they had used before. With a final, gentle pat on the great beast's flank, Li Yu recalled Tempest into the vast, oceanic expanse of his Koi's Sanctuary. Under the cover of twilight, he and Kui made their way back to the Azure Sea Guesthouse, entering discreetly through a private entrance.
They were met in the main hall by Xylia. She stood with her arms crossed, her presence an imposing, silent weight in the room. Her cold, sharp gaze swept over them.
"You're back," she stated, her voice a low, rough rumble. "The spire's being built. The turtle's plans work. The human architects are scrambling to keep up. I've found twelve warriors for the pack. They're soft, but they have fire. I'll make them strong."
"Excellent news, Lady Xylia! Efficiency is the soul of commerce, and a strong pack is the soul of security!" Kui boomed, his good mood infectious.
"Well done, Xylia," Li Yu said with a genuine smile. "Establish a strong foundation here. The White Paw will be needed."
Their quiet reunion was soon interrupted by the arrival of Elder Quan and Branch Master Jing, who had been alerted to their return. The two elders looked significantly less stressed than when Li Yu had last seen them.
"My friends! Welcome back!" Jing declared, his voice full of warmth. "Your excursion was successful, I trust?"
"Indeed it was!" Kui said, puffing out his chest. "We encountered some minor pirates, a brief nuisance that was dealt with, and even managed to find a rather pretty bauble."
Jing and Quan exchanged a knowing look. A 'brief nuisance' that involved pirates in the Churning Grounds likely meant something far more dramatic. They had also heard the whispers from the criminal underworld: a Kraken's Skull pirate crew had vanished without a trace in that very region. They were wise enough not to press for details.
"The news is good on our end as well," Jing said, his expression turning sharp and businesslike. "The commercial sanctions have been a resounding success. The Azure Shell Chamber is bleeding. We have them on the ropes."
"A cornered serpent is often the most venomous," Li Yu commented quietly, his words cutting through their triumphant mood.
As if summoned by his premonition, a nervous-looking attendant rushed in, bowing hastily. "Branch Master! An envoy has arrived. From the Azure Shell Chamber. They are in the main hall, and they are… not alone."
Jing's eyes narrowed. "Not alone? Explain."
"They are accompanied by a delegation from the Riptide Legion, sir," the attendant said, his voice barely a whisper.
A heavy silence fell over the room. The Riptide Legion. A notorious martial sect known for their aggressive expansion and ruthless tactics throughout the southern seas.
"A bold move," Elder Quan murmured. "They can no longer win in the market, so they have chosen to change the battlefield."
"Let us not keep them waiting," Jing said, his voice now cold as iron. He led the way, his entourage following closely behind, down to the opulent main hall of the Coralspire branch.
The atmosphere in the hall was thick with tension. On one side stood the guards of the Jade Sea Pavilion, their hands resting on their weapons. At their head stood a powerfully built man in masterwork armor, his aura burning like a contained furnace at the 3rd-level of the Core Formation Realm. This was Captain Valerius, the iron-willed guardian of the Coralspire branch. On the other side stood the delegation, led by a thin, cruel-faced Azure Shell elder. Flanking him were three figures in grim armor of polished black coral, the infamous uniform of the Riptide Legion. Their leader was a tall, severe-looking man whose Core Formation aura was a palpable, oppressive force, equal to Jing's own.
The Azure Shell elder, Feng, stepped forward with a sneer. "Branch Master Jing. We have come to put an end to this tiresome squabble."
"You are the one who began this 'squabble' with your cowardly attacks, Elder Feng," Jing retorted.
"Mere business," Feng waved a dismissive hand. "But your response, a full-scale trade war, threatens the stability of the southern coast. Therefore, the Azure Shell Chamber, with the esteemed Riptide Legion acting as witness and guarantor, issues a formal challenge."
He produced an ornate, black-and-silver scroll. "We challenge the Coralspire Harbor branch of the Jade Sea Pavilion to a Five-Match Asset Duel!"
A collective gasp went through the hall.
"The terms are simple," Feng continued, his voice ringing with malicious glee. "Five champions each. One-on-one duels. The winner of three matches is declared the victor. The stake… is everything. The loser will surrender all assets within Coralspire Harbor's sphere of influence to the winner."
It was an all-or-nothing gamble. Li Yu stood silently in the background, his mind racing. He had no personal animosity towards the Azure Shell Chamber, but they were a threat to his allies, and by extension, a threat to his own plans. Losing the Jade Sea Pavilion as a partner would instantly destabilize his new southern foundation, forcing him to get personally involved in endless commercial and political conflicts.
It was a direct threat to the peace he craved. He couldn't intervene directly with his true power—that would expose him to the world. But he had other tools at his disposal. A plan began to form, a way to solve this problem while remaining in the shadows.
"You would risk your entire foundation on a gamble?" Jing asked, his voice steady.
"It is no gamble when one holds the winning hand," Feng sneered, gesturing to the silent, imposing figures from the Riptide Legion. "Our allies have graciously agreed to lend us their strength."
The implication was clear: the champions would be the battle-hardened warriors of the Riptide Legion.
Branch Master Jing was trapped. He glanced at his own champion, Captain Valerius. The Captain was strong, a true powerhouse who could certainly win a match. But the Riptide Legion was known to have several experts at that level, and their leader was even stronger.
"Captain Valerius can take one spot," Jing thought, his mind racing. "He is a match for any of their regular elders. We have a few peak Foundation Establishment experts who could fight, but they would be facing certain defeat against the Legion's core disciples. We have one strong champion, maybe one more hopeful, and three certain losses. We are outmatched."
His gaze then, inevitably, fell upon Li Yu. He looked at the young man who had saved him, who had cured his family's guardian, who wielded a power that defied all logic.
Li Yu met his gaze. He offered no words, no promises. He simply gave a single, almost imperceptible nod.
It was all the reassurance Jing needed. He turned back to the smirking Elder Feng, his back straight, his voice ringing with authority.
"Your challenge is born of dishonor and desperation," Jing declared. "But the Jade Sea Pavilion has never backed down from a fight. We accept your terms."
A wave of shock rippled through both delegations. Elder Feng's smirk widened into a triumphant grin.
"Excellent!" he proclaimed. "The duel will be held in the Grand Arena in three days' time, at noon. Let the entire city bear witness to the fall of your Pavilion!"
With that, the Azure Shell delegation turned and strode out of the hall.
The moment they were gone, Elder Quan rushed to Jing's side. "Jing, are you mad? Valerius is a mighty warrior, but he is only one man! We cannot field a full team of five to match the Riptide Legion! This is suicide!"
Jing's gaze was fixed on Li Yu. "No," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "It is not suicide." He walked over to Li Yu, his expression one of desperate, absolute trust. "Guest Elder Li… I have just gambled the future of my family and this entire branch on you. I hope… I pray… that my faith is not misplaced."
Li Yu looked at the worried faces of his friends. His plan was set.
"Do not worry, Branch Master," he said, his voice a calm, steady anchor in the storm. "They want a fight to decide the fate of this city?" He glanced at Xylia, who met his gaze with a dangerous, predatory gleam in her eyes. "We will give them one."