Chapter 107: Before the Hall of the Thousand Mountains Army, the Might of the Whaler!

Chapter 107: Before the Qianshan Military Hall, the Might of the Whale Hunter!

"I never expected that Bai Xuan would grow to such an extent in such a short time."

As the White-Brow Marquis felt a jolt of shock, his gaze sharpened. Having spent decades accumulating his strength to become a consummate grandmaster, he was one of the few true powerhouses on the East Sea. As Bai Xuan’s master, having witnessed his growth firsthand, how could he possibly back down now?

Since that was the case, he would have to make his move.

"Bai Xuan, watch closely. This is 'Qi and Blood Like a River,' a technique only a consummate grandmaster can execute..."

"Tiger Aspect Body!"

As soon as the White-Brow Marquis spoke, a sudden roar erupted. The qi and blood within him surged like a reversing river, and as the dark tiger markings across his body glowed, he transformed in an instant into a ferocious tiger!

The tiger was lean and aged, yet it possessed a pair of terrifying eyes. When those tiger eyes opened, it felt as if the entire heavens and the surrounding forests were trembling and roaring, bowing in submission to that surging qi and blood!

Boom!

A blur of shadows flashed. Bai Xuan was sent flying like an arrow released from a bow, skidding dozens of meters back and carving deep trenches into the ground with his feet before finally coming to a stop.

"What a powerful strike."

Bai Xuan let his arms hang at his sides. Though he remained uninjured, a faint look of surprise appeared on his face. Even though he hadn't used much of his strength and was still in a dormant state, with the qi and blood of his Nine Creeks barely unleashed, this single strike had easily pushed him back—a testament to the formidable power of a consummate grandmaster!

Bai Xuan now had a rough understanding of his own strength. A flicker of fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.

"This 'Tiger Aspect Body,' while a transformation of qi and blood, is almost indistinguishable from the real thing. It represents a terrifying realm. Even if an opponent possesses the Nine Creeks of qi and blood and is only one step away, if I unleash the Tiger Aspect Body, I could kill them in an instant!"

The lean tiger remained crouched in its spot, its spine rising and falling. Bai Xuan could feel that the airflow in the entire courtyard had been claimed by it. Even though he had a profound understanding of the Tiger Aspect Diagram, he found it difficult to seize control back.

Rumble!

The qi and blood around the lean tiger faded, and the figure returned to that of the small, thin old man, the White-Brow Marquis.

"You saw it. This is 'Qi and Blood Like a River,' the means of a consummate grandmaster. At this level, one can cover their entire body with qi and blood, resulting in a metamorphosis."

The lean tiger spoke, its voice echoing with a rumble.

"This 'consummate' state implies that every variation within the visualization diagram can be perfectly manifested upon the grandmaster's body."

"I understand," Bai Xuan replied.

White-Brow Marquis sighed, his expression grave. "Remember, do not become arrogant or impetuous. Be extremely careful on the sea; once a consummate grandmaster sets their sights on you, the trouble will be immense!"

"Master, again."

"Good!"

Boom!

In the courtyard, the two figures clashed, their speed so extreme that they were invisible to the naked eye. For a few days, they sparred. In so many battles, Bai Xuan refused to let his physical state reach its peak, naturally forcing himself to use more qi and blood.

He possessed the ability to perceive the sea and observe the flow of qi and blood, usually allowing him to judge the disparity in strength between himself and his enemies. But without sparring with the White-Brow Marquis, he still felt a barrier remained.

Whoosh! Bai Xuan retreated ten meters and finally stopped. The lean tiger was also sent flying by a single blow, its figure flickering repeatedly before it managed to dissipate the lingering force.

The White-Brow Marquis let the Tiger Aspect Body fade, the small old man sighing toward the sky. "Your speed can rival mine, or even crush it. One strike like that, and you could kill instantly!"

Bai Xuan remained calm, though he was lost in thought.

"If I increase my strength to over a hundred thousand jin and layer it with the Nine Creeks of qi and blood, I should be able to match him. Most importantly, the Tiger Aspect Diagram is focused on extreme speed, while other aspects aren't as robust. But my physical body has no such weaknesses."

"Nine Creeks of qi and blood, achieved in one go... Your talent is simply earth-shattering. For an ordinary half-step grandmaster, it would take ten years to accumulate to this level, or five or six years at the very least!" The White-Brow Marquis was deeply moved. "Unless you consume medicinal pills without restraint. I once heard of someone who knew a Master Alchemist with an endless supply of pills; they reached the Nine Creeks level in just a few months."

Bai Xuan’s eyes narrowed. "I have the Demon Fish Pasture; it’s not much different. I’ve consumed forty percent of those adult demon fish, which is basically enough."

He was telling the truth. Demon fish represented pure qi and blood. While they couldn't compare to the 'Tai Sui' spirit fungus, quantity leads to a change in quality. As long as you eat enough, the effect is the same!

"How much did you eat?" The White-Brow Marquis was startled. "You are like a giant whale, consuming demon fish by the thousands of jin?"

"A freak, a complete freak! Perhaps this is what they call a peerless genius... impossible to judge by common sense."

The White-Brow Marquis sighed endlessly. "Since you have reached this level, I will tell you this: there is a bottleneck in breaking through to 'Qi and Blood Like a River.' This step requires the blood to permeate the entire body, ever-changing. Even if a thousand blades strike you, your 'consummate' state remains unbroken. When any powerful enemy attacks, you can erupt with your full body's qi and blood from any single point to defend against it without obstruction!"

"The final step is extremely difficult. Either you possess a massive amount of qi and blood in an instant, surging like waves to cover your whole body, or you possess fluid, unfathomable agility, allowing you to cycle through all three hundred and sixty acupuncture points in your body in a single thought, without a single error."

"Both can be supplemented by the Yin-Yang True Blood Pills. The Yang Ultimate Pill represents surging, breaking-limit power, while the Yin Ultimate Pill represents extreme, soft, and subtle changes. If you could obtain these two pills, you might break through to the 'Qi and Blood Like a River' level in just a few days."

The White-Brow Marquis scratched his head, feeling deep regret over the pill he had lost. "It's a pity. The bounty has already been posted, and I fear my elder brother won't give them up. Still, I must go and ask; perhaps there is a turning point."

"You have reached a bottleneck. Rest for a few days, go out for a walk, and I will go see my elder brother." With a flash, he disappeared.

In the courtyard, Bai Xuan remained calm.

*No need to ask... I can probably retrieve those two pills myself now.*

Over the past week, he had sparred with the White-Brow Marquis dozens of times. He was intimately familiar with the divine might of the Tiger Aspect Body. With his own Giant Whale qi and blood, he knew exactly what a grandmaster at the 'Qi and Blood Like a River' level was capable of!

*Even if they have three, or even six rivers... as long as there is no qualitative change, they are no match for me. With thirty-five thousand jin of strength, qi and blood at this level cannot stop me! Not even the Tiger Aspect or the Dragon Aspect can!*

Bai Xuan was certain. In his previous life, a giant whale weighed about one hundred and fifty tons. Now, he could lift one with a single hand, and with both hands, he could throw it like a javelin!

This was power beyond human imagination. It roared and trembled within him; once released, a single punch could blast a consummate grandmaster into a mist of blood!

Holding the Sea-Subduing Spear, fully in control of his own strength, who could stop him?

"At this level, no one in the Bai family should be able to stop me. I shall take them myself."

Bai Xuan felt no burden. With a flash, he vanished into the wind!

...

At the Bai family mansion, the White-Brow Marquis walked out, his expression one of disappointment.

"Returned empty-handed again. I'm not really in the mood to face Bai Xuan."

He thought for a moment, then vanished.

In the city below, in front of the Blade-Catcher Division, large notices were posted. Aside from the usual bounties for fleets and half-step grandmasters, there was one line at the very top:

"For the one who slays a consummate grandmaster or the master of this sword, the reward is a pair of Yin-Yang True Blood Pills!"

Below the notice was a drawing of a small wooden sword, shrouded in black mist.

The Three-Yin Daoist had never appeared when attacking the two grandmasters; he had operated from the shadows, controlling his corpse-puppets and talisman sword. Even the two grandmasters could only recognize the talisman sword!

At this moment, many powerful warriors were attracted to the notice.

"Big brother, what exactly is the Yin-Yang True Blood Pill?" a young warrior asked, bewildered. "Slaying a consummate grandmaster? Those are world-renowned, powerful figures on the sea, yet they reward such an unknown pill?"

"And that wooden sword—what is it, that it can be compared to a grandmaster?"

"Ignorant!" A burly man with a large saber on his back scoffed. "The Yin-Yang True Blood Pill... even a consummate grandmaster would covet it. If a half-step grandmaster obtains these two treasures, there is at least an eighty percent chance they can achieve 'consummation' overnight, becoming a top-tier powerhouse on the East Sea!"

"As for the wooden sword, it is said that in the Qianshan Military, two grandmasters were severely injured by the master of this sword, alone against both! It was the work of an incredibly terrifying Immortal Master. That Immortal Master is even more formidable; grandmasters are no match for him."

"That powerful?" The young man was shocked.

On the other side, the burly man with the saber looked at the notice with intense longing. "If I could get one... perhaps I could reach a higher realm."

But he knew that with his level of martial arts, even with secret techniques, he couldn't slay a consummate grandmaster.

"Not to mention that small sword, which is likely a magical artifact. It represents the full cultivation of an Immortal Master. It is near-invincible!"

As the burly man pondered, he suddenly felt a chill. A tall figure had walked past him silently!

"This feeling!"

The burly man spun around, his hair standing on end, his hand gripping the hilt of his saber!

The next moment, he saw that the person who had walked past was wearing a tattered shark mask. The figure turned and glanced at him coldly.

Boom!

*This terrifying feeling... If I were to attack, I would die in an instant!*

The burly man froze, unable to draw his blade. He watched as the figure with the tattered shark mask approached the Blade-Catcher Division. The officials stood up to greet him.

The figure held two fingers together like a sword and flicked them casually. With a 'clang,' a small wooden sword was driven deep into the notice, vibrating incessantly!

The sword was made of wood, engraved with countless deep, mysterious runes. In the middle, there was a deep mark, as if it had been nearly severed by a single strike!

"The master of this sword has been slain by my spear."

The Whale Hunter stood there, his voice deep and hoarse.

"Where is the reward from the Qianshan Military?"