Ocean Lords: Start Harvesting Double from Dice Rolls Chapter 669 - 334: First Meeting with the Old Master (2)

"We shall locate the old man this time and discuss the matter with him."

Fang Yu gave a slight nod, putting Zhang Yi's situation out of his mind.

"A boat will naturally go straight when it reaches the bridge; is there truly any danger from Zhang Yi if he were to drive a sea vessel directly into the city to confront me now that I'm in Nanhui City?"

Furthermore, if Fang Yu's guess was correct, the old man might assign him a task upon their meeting...

...The two advanced, their journey soon bringing them to the military district.

Observing the heavily fortified military zone before him, Fang Yu inwardly nodded and discreetly deployed his perception.

He quickly detected several formidable presences that had fixed their attention on them with unwavering intensity from the moment they entered the district.

The impeccable orderliness of the place served as a testament to the old man's highly structured military command.

As these thoughts occupied him, a soldier guided a vehicle towards Fang Yu and Kong Huaao, proceeding to escort them to a building within the military grounds.

"You may proceed upstairs; the general awaits you."

The soldier offered a Duorong Federation salute before departing.

Fang Yu and Kong Huaao exchanged a look, and Kong Huaao took the lead, ushering Fang Yu toward the entrance.

Although Fang Yu had now completely surpassed Kong Huaao in capabilities and combat prowess, Kong Huaao still held a senior position over him within the military hierarchy.

Fang Yu held the rank of Major, whereas Kong Huaao had already achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, placing him above Fang Yu.

Kong Huaao proceeded ahead, evidently familiar with the building from previous visits.

He guided Fang Yu to a halt before a large redwood door and gave a gentle knock.

Fang Yu gazed forward, a peculiar gleam in his eyes, filled with curiosity.

A redwood door was an unusual choice for an officer's office within the military district.

Most high-ranking officials were concerned about potential enemy assaults or assassination attempts, leading them to construct their office and residential entrances and walls with highly resilient materials. Key offices sometimes even incorporated specialized alchemical seal patterns to thwart intrusive extraordinary abilities.

In an era where extraordinary powers coexisted with conventional weaponry, the methods of attack and assassination were diverse.

Prudence was always a sensible course of action.

Yet, the old man's office was adorned with a redwood door, a fact that genuinely surprised Fang Yu.

Could it be that the old man placed excessive trust in his own power and had no regard for such defensive measures?

Contemplating this possibility, Fang Yu's heart fluttered slightly.

He had just extended his perception into the office and had not detected any powerful aura, indicating that the old man's skill in concealing his presence far surpassed Fang Yu's own level.

"Enter!"

At that moment, a tranquil, aged voice emanated from the other side of the door.

Upon hearing this, Kong Huaao cautiously opened the door and guided Fang Yu into the office.

"General, I have brought Fang Yu!"

Kong Huaao exhibited a deeply respectful attitude, addressing the figure seated within the room in a soft tone.

Following Kong Huaao, Fang Yu could not help but turn his gaze toward the person in the room.

He was eager to know the appearance of the legendary old man and whether he was indeed an immensely potent individual.

For a considerable period, Fang Yu had heard it said that he was a favored individual of the old man, who had intentionally nurtured both Kong Huaao and Fang Yu as vital assets within the military.

Later, when they found themselves in a predicament within the Duorong Federation, Kong Huaao had maintained his composure, confidently assuring him.

Unless the Sovereign intended to initiate a conflict, it was impossible for anyone to harm Fang Yu and Kong Huaao.

This was solely due to the backing they received from the old man.

As long as the old man remained alive, malevolent forces would be deterred and would not dare to act recklessly.

But...

When Fang Yu finally obtained a clear view of the figure in the room, he was utterly astonished.

Kong Huaao was showing deference to an ancient, exceedingly frail man, appearing gaunt and skeletal...

Furthermore, the old man's aura was delicate, lacking the imposing presence one might anticipate from someone who effectively controlled the military.

Fang Yu could almost sense that the old man's life force was akin to a flickering candle flame, susceptible to being extinguished by even a gentle gust of wind.

What truly captured Fang Yu's attention was the old man's partially damaged physique, fully immersed within a colossal alchemical vat.

He was relying on the sustenance and vitality within the alchemical container to barely sustain his bodily functions.

Should anything happen to the alchemical vat, the old man would likely perish almost instantaneously.

This frail elder, dependent on an alchemical sustenance tank, was the notorious figure capable of striking fear into the world?

Fang Yu felt an overwhelming sense of the absurd.

However, Fang Yu soon confirmed the truth of the situation.

This was because he perceived an abundance of the era's glory surrounding the old man, emanating a purity and intensity unlike anything he had ever encountered.

These accolades signified that those contributing to the old man's sphere of influence did so with absolute fidelity and reverence, free from any hidden agendas or personal gain.

However...

The old man's physical form was exceedingly frail.

The era's honors swirled around him, yet he could neither absorb nor utilize them.

His body was so severely compromised that it could no longer withstand even a minuscule amount of power.

Gazing upon the elder before him, Fang Yu experienced a subtle stirring of emotion.

Just then, the old man's eyes settled on Fang Yu, his ancient face breaking into a smile.

Though lacking significant warmth, the smile conveyed a sense of gentleness and amity.

"General!"

Fang Yu snapped to attention, offering a salute to the old man, who responded with a slight nod.

The old man spoke in a low tone, "Since merit has been earned, a reward is in order."

He did not exhibit the tranquility one might expect from a common elder, nor did he engage in trivial familial discussions.

Instead, the old man presented Fang Yu with the distinct impression of a seasoned military commander, a superior officer well beyond his apparent rank, rather than a simple patriarch.

The old man continued speaking softly, bestowing his commendation upon Fang Yu.

Shortly after the old man's pronouncement, an auditory notification resonated within Fang Yu's consciousness:

"Captain [Fang Yu] additionally receives: [Immortal] Ocean Law Codex Fragment, Military Merit +2000."

Upon hearing the system's notification echo in his mind, Fang Yu felt a surge of delight and promptly conveyed his gratitude to the old man.

The [Immortal] Ocean Law Codex, just as the rumors suggested, the old man possessed five pages in total.

He had previously bestowed two pages upon Fang Yu, and with this latest addition, Fang Yu now possessed three pages.

Each page of the Ocean Law Codex harbored astonishing capabilities, yet it exhibited a peculiar characteristic.

The addition of every new page served to amplify the Ocean Codex's overall power.

Consequently, acquiring another fragment of the Ocean Codex not only granted a novel ability but also augmented the potency of the two previously obtained fragments.

Nevertheless, the present moment was unsuitable for scrutinizing the attributes of the Ocean Law Codex Fragment.

Fang Yu discreetly withdrew from the system panel, soon hearing the old man's voice resume beside him:

"Little Kong, recount the entire experience in detail."

The old man instructed in a hushed manner.