Thousands of miles outside the red lotus island, calamity has descended. A once vibrant city was destroyed, and burned, its people were slaughtered without mercy. Multitude of beasts roamed the island unchecked, pillaging and ransacking the village, turning it into a mass graveyard.
Corpses of men, women, and children were piled high like a mountain; their cries had long since been drowned beneath the chaos. It was a scene of despair, a massacre so thorough that life itself seemed erased.
At the heart of this devastation sat three colossal apes upon a throne of bones. Their presence alone radiated a dreadful pressure, an aura belonging only to Awakened demons. Had any Foundation realm cultivator been present, even they would have been forced to flee.
Beneath the throne, a cunning looking ape knelt, his frame was wiry compared to the giants above, yet his presence was marked by a strange tattoo glowing faintly along his arm, When the suffocating pressure upon him finally lifted, he lowered his head and spoke
"Your Excellencies, the infiltration plan will proceeds as intended. Within the next five to ten years, the Deep Wave Sect and all its affiliates will be destroyed, both from within and from the outside."
From the right, an ape with a scarred face and skin the color of pale blue waters gave a low, rumbling reply.
"Good. Continue your work well. When this is over, you shall take your place among us."
The wiry ape pressed his head to the ground once more and backed away. His figure soon vanished, leaving only the three giants upon their throne.
On the left sat a grey-haired ape, his fur was long and matted, his eyes were dim, the wariness of age catching up with him, yet a strong vitality gushed from his body like a storm waiting to be unleashed.
At the center sat the most unsettling of them all. His lips were stained red, his teeth yellow and jagged, madness flickered in his gaze. With a sudden movement, his claws tore into the earth, scooping up and dragging up living humans buried beneath the rubble. Cries and shouts filled the air, before being drowned out by the crunch of bones.
The cries of dying faded into silence.
-----
The midday sun hung high, its warmth spilling gently across the land. A soft breeze rustled through the trees, carrying with it the scent of fresh earth and blooming grass.
Three months had passed since Sun Li's breakthrough. He had consolidated his cultivation and perfected his control over his body.
While watching the perfect weather outside, he thought of visiting Sun Hao, as they hadn't seen each other in over a month. After tidying up his room and changing into more comfortable cloth, he stepped out into his courtyard.
After breaking through, Sun Hao has changed many things around his house. Servants moved busily about, and decorative plates and other luxuries now adorned the halls. After heading inside he was surprised to find Sun Wu there.
"Hello, Uncle," Sun Li greeted politely.
Sun Wu's laughter boomed in reply, "Ah, Sun Li! You are finally out of that that courtyard. Come, sit! I've heard of your rank in the clan competition, and congratulations are in order."
A booming smile appeared on Sun Li's face as he sat down comfortably. Sun Hao's father spent most of his time hunting and was rarely home, but whenever he was, his warm heart filled the house.
After catching up with recent events, Sun Wu breathed a cold breath.
"If this situation goes on, we might really end up in a civil war."
After reminiscing a bit about the past, Sun Li's gaze drifted to a grey token hanging from Sun Wu's belt. Its surface was carved with strange wave like patterns, carrying a faint suppression as though it has been tempered in the sea.
When Sun Wu saw his nephew's attention was drawn to the token, he smiled faintly and said "This is an identification plate of the Sea Hunters Association. It is an organization that helps protect individuals from sect and clan suppression. "
Both Sun Li and Sun Hao froze, exchanging bewildered glances.
An association that could shield someone from the great sects? Such a thing was outrageous.
"Why would they protect individuals?" Sun Li asked carefully, his face bewildered. "And wouldn't the sects simply suppress them as well, if necessary?"
Sun Wu chuckled. "They are more powerful than you think. It was originally created by loose cultivators as a way to defend against sea demons. But over the years, it grew… to the point where even demonic sects think twice before provoking them."
Sun Hao blinked, then leaned forward. "Father, how did you join such a powerful group? Won't the sect say anything?"
Sun Wu threw back his head and laughed. "Hahaha! Anyone can join, even those demonic sect bastards. The Sea Hunters don't care about status or background they're about survival and exploration of the sea. That's why no one dares take them lightly."
Sun Li's expression darkened in thought. For the first time, he realized there was much about this world that he didn't know.
Seeing the interest in their eyes Sun Wu asked, "If you boys want, I can take you to the next Sea Hunters' trade market, that will open soon on Bone Island"
He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in before continuing. "The Association has roots in every major city. Not only do they host their own trade markets, but they also organize auctions, exchanges, and other gatherings. Sea Hunters sell what they've pulled from the sea, and the Association pays them handsomely. If you're lucky, you might even stumble upon treasures that many would kill for."
Both Sun Li and Sun Hao agreed without hesitation. Sun Wu clapped his hands and said, "Good. Then get ready we move in a week."