Chapter Thirty-three: The Trawl Concludes Perfectly, Third Layer of Azure Scale Technique!

"Not good, there’s a demon fish!"
The fishermen panicked, but in that moment, Bai Xuan flashed forward.
"Got you!"
Without hesitation, Bai Xuan unleashed the Shark-Fighting technique, channeling force to move sideways through the water, sliding five meters in a heartbeat. He reached out in midair, his palm turning an iron hue, then deepening into a blue-black.
Iron Sand Palm!
A resounding clang reverberated. Bai Xuan felt as if his hand had been struck by lightning, a surge of force so powerful he almost lost his grip.
"Is this a joke?"
Astonishment filled Bai Xuan.
Just how heavy and strong was this creature, to withstand the full might of his Iron Sand Palm?
What’s more, this was the combined strength of his Blue Scale Technique and Iron Sand Palm, a force that could contend with a third-level breakthrough in vital energy, and still hold its ground.
"Stop!"
Bai Xuan gathered his strength, quickly tightening his grip to restrain the golden creature in his palm. It could not move at all.
At last, the golden glimmer in his hand revealed its true form.
It was a bizarre insect, just over two inches long, its body gleaming gold, covered with dozens of fine tendrils, and two horn-like protrusions growing from its head. Even its mouth and nostrils rhythmically breathed, faintly inhaling and exhaling vital essence.
"Notify the captain—an unknown creature has been captured on deck."
Holding the creature in his palm, Bai Xuan spoke immediately, with no intention of keeping it. He had no clue what it was, and keeping it would be pointless.
Moments later—
A gust of wind swept across the deck, and Bai Xuanji appeared at Bai Xuan’s side, his expression grave and amazed.
"So the stories were true... Black Pirate has certainly profited this time."
Bai Xuanji reached for the golden fish-insect, blue scales appearing on his hand as he clenched his fingers and subdued it with sheer force.
"Bai Xuan, you’ve rendered great service. When we return, I have a gift for you. For now, take this creature to Black Pirate."
His tone was solemn, but his joy was unmistakable; light gleamed in his eyes, as if he had obtained something of immense value.
"Before diving, did Black Pirate already suspect that this school of fish might shelter such a rare creature?"
Bai Xuan’s mind lingered on this question.
"Is his sea-gazing ability even greater than mine..."
A few days later—
"There’s a large ship approaching. Could it be one of Black Pirate’s flagships?"
Fishermen exclaimed in wonder.
A majestic warship drew near, flying grand banners—surely a major figure among the Black Pirates was aboard!
Word soon spread from the Black Pirates’ side:
They would inspect the golden insect. If it checked out, they would hand over the last haul of fish and deliver the promised five thousand taels of silver to the Thousand Currents.
...
Below deck—
"The last bowl of Triple-Boiled Serpent Bone Stew."
Bai Xuan was calm.
He swallowed the savory fish stew in one gulp.
Heat surged in his belly, and his vital energy began to stir.
Within moments, a faint blue light appeared in his eyes.
"It’s time for a breakthrough!"
His vital energy erupted, a force he had honed over countless days since first practicing the Blue Scale Technique. His mastery had reached a frightening level; his vital force burst forth, awe-inspiring.
If he were not in his private cabin but outside, anyone would sense the rolling heat, distorting and burning the air, whipping up a gale.
Even now,
the entire cabin became a steam-filled cage in an instant.
"Still missing something..."
Bai Xuan focused, the blue in his eyes growing deeper, blue scales trembling on his arms.
Each scale bore faint, intricate patterns, deep and ominous, like a giant sea serpent coiling slowly in the abyss.
But—
Even so, when his vital energy peaked, the pupils of his eyes refused to change color. The energy threatened to ebb, retreating back within him, restoring its former state.
"Fortunately, I have one last card to play."
"Eternal Tree, open for me!"
With a thought, Bai Xuan directed two points of Dao Intent onto the "Trawling Net" branch!
Trawling Net (Perfected)!
Boom!
With that, the muscles of his arms, back, chest, and legs all swelled in unison, his strength exploding severalfold. Even a ten-thousand-pound fishing net could now be reeled in by sheer force!
Within the fisherman’s path, Bai Xuan had pushed the Trawling Net ability to its utmost, with no further room for advancement.
"Hiss... This is already a strength beyond imagination. With this alone, I could tear apart a tiger or lift a giant shark with my bare hands!"
His eyes sharpened.
As his strength grew, vital energy surged upward, condensing without dispersing.
Swish!
The blue in Bai Xuan’s eyes deepened, his pupils transforming into vertical blue slits, serpentine and draconic.
Blue Scale Technique, third layer—breakthrough!
Exhaling softly, he drew in his vital energy, the swollen muscles shrinking back to his youthful form.
Countless blue scales clinked like steel as they slid back beneath the skin and vanished.
But—
He could feel it.
At any moment, he could unleash his vital energy, his eyes turning into blue vertical pupils, his strength multiplied with every movement.
"With this power, if I meet Yu Lie again, I won’t even need a spear—one punch, one kick would be enough to beat him to death."
He lightly clenched his fist, feeling terrifying power within.
A third-level vital energy breakthrough, combined with perfected Trawling Net—
How far was he from the sea master, Luo Yun?
That once insurmountable strength, so fearsome and distant, now seemed within reach.
With such power, one could truly survive on the sea!
...
Aboard the Black Pirate ship—
Bai Xuanji strode to the cabin door, led by Qian the Elder.
"Please, Brother Bai. My master is inside."
Qian’s voice was low.
Though already a third-level master himself, his teacher was a terror. Before Luo Yun’s rise, he had ranked fourth among the Black Pirates, ruling the East Sea.
Even now, with Luo Yun ascendant, few dared disdain the "Emerald Eye" Elder.
Bai Xuanji entered to find a towering elder seated at the head. His eyes shone a deep emerald, their ghostly gleam seeming to pierce through all things.
But his gaze did not fall on Bai Xuanji; instead, it fixated on the golden-threaded wooden box in Bai Xuanji’s hands.
"Good, very good."
The Emerald Eye Elder intoned slowly, "Ten years ago, I lost this flood-dragon insect and was punished by the Immortal Master. My cultivation has not advanced in a decade."
"Never did I expect that within my lifetime, I would recover what was lost."
"Ten long years, and now it returns to me?"
He finished, then suddenly laughed and stood. His height dwarfed everyone present, and in an instant, a terrifying pressure of vital energy swept the room.
Half-step Grandmaster level!
Bai Xuanji’s eyes narrowed, but he held out the golden-threaded box with both hands.
"Bring it here."
The Emerald Eye Elder took the box from his disciple, set it aside unopened, and finally turned to Bai Xuanji.
"Your Bai clan’s fundamental martial arts diagram has been missing half a scroll for over a decade. Had I not stumbled upon it, none would ever know."
"But since you helped me recover the flood-dragon insect, I’ll return this ‘Azure Skies Dragon Diagram’ half-scroll to your family."
With a wave, a scroll flew to Bai Xuanji, who caught it.
He bowed deeply, said nothing more, and left.
Qian followed him back to his ship before returning himself.
"I thought I’d been mistaken... Who would have thought the flood-dragon insect was truly among that school? Hmph, that old devil’s Emerald Eye skill hasn’t dulled one bit."
He glanced at the sky, snorted, and sent off a carrier pigeon, a small scroll tied to its leg.
...
Aboard the Thousand Currents—
"It’s really silver!"
"Five thousand taels? I’ve never seen so much money in all my life."
On deck, sailors crowded around, eyes shining with greed.
Ten Black Pirates, standing in two rows, struggled to carry up two large iron-bound chests, heavy in themselves, both packed full of silver.
Beside them, Bai Xuan was distracted.
He gazed skyward, watching clouds drift in to shroud the sun.
"Clouds are coming. It’ll probably rain..."
A sense of foreboding gnawed at him. Though all seemed calm, he doubted their departure would be so easy.
Meanwhile—
On the Black Pirate flagship—
"Master, the silver’s been delivered. That’s five thousand taels—shouldn’t we..."
Qian bowed before the Emerald Eye Elder, making a throat-slitting gesture.
"When did you become so rash?"
The elder set down his box, turning to eye Qian deeply.
"If we Black Pirates acted so faithlessly, breaking our word at a whim, where would we find friends on the sea? Making enemies everywhere is no way to survive."
"Only betray for profit!"
"Five thousand taels isn’t worth breaking our pact. We’ve already earned enough this trip."
He waved his hand.
"Let them go."
"Yes, Master," Qian replied, his face expressionless.
Just then—
A shrill, piercing horn echoed across the flagship.
"Enemy attack!"
"We’re under attack!"
"The Starhunters are here—prepare for battle!"
...
Aboard the Thousand Currents—
"They really aren’t coming after us? They’re just letting us go?"
Bai Xuan stood at the rail, puzzled.
He’d expected the Black Pirates to strike one last time after getting the silver, reclaiming their bounty by force.
Yet as the Thousand Currents sailed away, the Black Pirate ships did not pursue, letting them depart unscathed.
Just then—
Bai Xuan’s eyes snapped to a distant sight.
On the horizon, a dozen warships appeared in tight formation, flying banners emblazoned with a bloodstained lone star.
"The Starhunters!"