Chapter Forty-Four: Lu Ming Overpowered, the Might of a Single Punch!

Out at sea.

“So many have died.”

Lu Ming’s heart trembled. An ominous premonition seized him; he sensed danger rapidly approaching.

“The Sea God Sect possesses a secret method to drive fish—by using human blood, they summon ferocious demon sharks. Too many have perished in these waters. If my old nemesis is coming, if that demon shark appears, not a soul here will survive!”

Lu Ming realized things had taken a dire turn.

Those followers just now—if they could kill him, so much the better. If not, their blood would summon the demon shark, achieving their goal regardless.

He knew all too well the horror of the Sea God Sect’s demon shark. Such a creature was terrifying beyond measure. Even experts who had broken through their blood energy thrice could not hope to resist it.

He hurriedly steered his boat away. After a few moments and several miles, before he could even catch his breath, a massive shadow swept by beneath the water.

Boom!

A gaping maw burst from the sea, as large as a small boat. Its jaws snapped shut, countless teeth like swords shredding the vessel to splinters. Shards of wood flew as a crunching sound echoed—like biting through a walnut.

Lu Ming flashed away, lightning-quick, displaying formidable agility as he leaped several meters, narrowly evading the snapping jaws.

“Thank goodness I learned the art of hunting whales and sharks on the Bai family's whaling ship all those years ago. Today, I have no choice but to risk it all!”

Splash!

Lu Ming plunged into the water, drew his long blade, and hastily swallowed a medicinal pill.

“This is the day it will be decided—whether I can slay this demon shark!”

He had long been at odds with the Sea God Sect, a blood feud between them. Now, knowing the peril, he steeled himself and dove beneath the waves.

The water churned as flashes of his blade glimmered. He tangled with the giant shark in a desperate battle.

...

Elsewhere.

“We’re far enough now. Time to go home.”

On a black-canopied boat, Bai Xuan, having slain many Sea God Sect followers, washed away the blood, slipped away quietly, and now sat with a fishing rod, casting his line as the boat drifted swiftly on the current.

They were far from the waters near the sea market now; the Sea God Sect would not likely find him here. Bai Xuan had deliberately put distance between himself and danger.

Splash!

A black fish leapt up, thudded onto the boat, and flailed its tail.

Bai Xuan tossed the fish back into the sea. It wasn’t particularly tasty, and he had become quite picky—if it was just an ordinary fish, he’d rather let it go.

As the fish hit the water, the Longevity Dao Tree on the boat shimmered faintly. Another wisp of fisherman’s Dao intent accumulated, strengthening the path of the fisherman within him.

“Another bit of Dao intent gained.”

The fisherman’s path was Bai Xuan’s most fundamental cultivation. Even traveling to and from the sea market, he continued to fish, ensuring his Dao intent accumulated at a steady pace.

“Just as before, I’ll focus on advancing the highest-level skill first.”

“Perfect… The Sharkfighting art is just a step away from mastery.”

“Longevity Tree!”

With a thought, Bai Xuan channeled his Dao intent into Sharkfighting. Branches stretched and leaves unfurled, an aura of deadly sharpness surging forth.

Sharkfighting (Mastery 1%)!

In an instant, countless instincts welled up within him. He saw a figure in the deep sea facing an enormous shadow wreathed in tentacles. The figure leveled a fishing spear, and a boundless aura erupted—like an invisible lance, piercing the giant shark.

“Sharkfighting at mastery is no longer about physical strength, but an intangible force of will.”

A glimmer of insight dawned on Bai Xuan.

He sensed that the shadow in his vision held a mysterious, almost magical power. Just a glance would chill the soul, filling one with terror, as if suppressed by instinct.

Yet with this newfound aura, he could in turn suppress that monstrous shadow. With a single thought, spear intent and spear force surged within him—sharper than any real weapon.

To fight sharks at sea required not only power and speed, but a courage exceeding ordinary mortals—a will as tangible as steel!

Bai Xuan was savoring the sensation of this aura when, suddenly, the black-canopied boat swayed. The sea around him rippled with unrest.

“What’s there?”

Bai Xuan sprang to his feet.

He sensed something approaching—an overwhelming vitality. With a glance from his Ocean-Gazing Eye, he saw beneath the waves an immense shark, over fifteen meters long, cruising and giving chase.

“What a colossal shark—and it seems to be pursuing someone!”

He could see clearly now: the man in the Dragon King mask was battling the giant shark in the water. The man was clearly experienced in underwater combat and had managed to survive this long.

“So powerful?”

After only a moment, Bai Xuan frowned.

This was the strongest shark he had ever seen—almost a qualitative leap above the rest, nearly the size of a great whale!

If not for the formidable strength of its opponent, who had endured the shark’s assault without suffering injury, he would have been killed long ago.

“This giant shark must have come from those waters.”

The beast was covered in wounds, its energy much depleted. Bai Xuan’s Ocean-Gazing Eye revealed that though the shark would not die, it had paid a price in trying to kill the swordsman.

“But I fear that man won’t be able to suppress the shark for long. In the end, I’ll have to intervene.”

“So be it. Lucky for you that you’ve run into me.”

Bai Xuan’s gaze turned cold, a faint killing intent flickering in his eyes.

Clearly, this little boat would never survive if the demon shark chose to attack. If it rampaged here even once, the vessel would be crushed to pieces.

Would he have to swim back then?

An hour earlier, he had avoided the fight out of prudence, but now things were different. With the Sea God Sect’s followers still far behind, and the shark wounded, it was best to take action and eliminate the threat before it grew.

...

In the sea.

“This demon shark is even stronger than before. I can barely wound it, but not kill it.”

Lu Ming’s heart raced with anxiety.

He had once forged a cold iron spear to slay this demon shark, but as a swordsman, his true strength lay in the blade. In the end he gave up on the spear and crafted a meteoric iron saber—close to divine weapon quality, worth a thousand taels of silver, its power astonishing.

But after hundreds of slashes during this running battle, though he could break the demon shark’s shield-like scales and leave it bloodied, to truly kill it would take a thousand cuts.

And the shark would never allow him a thousand strikes.

“How many corpses has the Sea God Sect fed this demon shark over the years, for it to become so monstrous?”

Lu Ming fought desperately, his blade flashing. Still, the behemoth charged, thrashing its tail, a silent roar beneath the waves, its overwhelming shadow oppressive and terrifying.

“Shadowstep!”

Lu Ming darted aside, swift even underwater, narrowly avoiding the charging shark. His blade fell, a faint arc of light bursting forth, but all it did was break through a patch of shield scales—blood oozed, but only barely.

Splash!

The giant shark twisted through the water, still alarmingly fast—covering more than ten meters in the blink of an eye. Its cold eyes were filled with bloodlust.

It wasn’t blindly attacking, but rather dodging Lu Ming’s bursts, hunting with patience and cunning.

It was no longer a mere beast, but a demon shark—no ordinary martial artist could hope to match it. Lu Ming’s ability to even wound it was proof he had reached near the peak of external martial arts, just a step away from breaking through the life-and-death threshold.

At that moment, Lu Ming saw a figure drop into the water.

“Someone’s fallen in?”

He was startled, barely able to fend for himself, but saw the giant shark turn and surge toward the newcomer. In the next instant, his eyes widened in shock at what he witnessed.

“Back off!”

The newcomer’s eyes flashed fiercely. In an instant, a terrifying and razor-sharp aura erupted, causing the giant shark to halt, as if struck by an invisible blow—paralyzed in place.

The next moment, the figure darted forward like a fish, slammed a palm onto the shark’s head.

A whirlpool roared from his palm, the force converging into another, layered vortex—like surging tides, stacking upon each other.

Boom!

The demon shark thrashed wildly, its massive body twisting like a dragon in agony.

“No! It’s going berserk!”

Lu Ming, shocked, gripped his blade, ready to fight to the death—only to watch as the shark suddenly whipped its tail, churning the water, and fled at full speed.

“It’s running away?”

Lu Ming stared, dumbfounded.

In a flash, the giant shark vanished into the murky depths, its speed terrifyingly swift.