Chapter Seventy: Azure Flood Dragon Claw—Invincible Sweep!
“Please,” Bai Xuan said coolly.
The single word left his lips.
In the next instant, both figures vanished abruptly into thin air.
Boom!
High in the night sky, like a lotus unfurling its petals, five sharp, dazzling beams of blood-colored light burst forth with a hiss! These five rays interwove like the petals of a lotus, or five divine swords clanging as they swept through the air. By the martial arena, a massive boulder was sliced cleanly in half as white light flashed past, the cut surface as smooth as a mirror, the severed half slipping silently to the ground.
This was the White Lotus Sect’s Flower-Plucking Sword Fingers: the blood energy at the tips of five fingers became as keen as blades, capable even of slaying giant whales!
Yet the other figure, blurred and nearly indistinct, flickered forward. His right hand transformed into a fearsome azure dragon’s claw, three talons stretching out like those of a beast cast in bronze, seizing at the air.
Clang!
With a tremendous crash, those five white beams were shattered in his grasp, dissolving instantly into a raging wind!
Boom!
The wild wind swept across the ground, lifting even the heaviest rocks, which exploded into fragments midair with a thunderous roar.
“Azure Dragon’s Claw!”
“So you truly are a master of the Bai family!”
Mister Yin’s voice rang out. The Bai family’s Azure Dragon of the Four Seas diagram was famous throughout the realm; he recognized this technique at a glance—it was indeed the Azure Dragon’s Claw.
A chill raced through his heart.
“My Flower-Plucking Sword Fingers, the peerless edge—shattered in a single blow?”
The other’s hand was as hard as divine steel, its power terrifying beyond measure!
In that moment, Bai Xuan struck once more, his form as swift as lightning, blurring into a phantasm. With a crash, he swept across the martial arena, a tempest howling in his wake.
Clouds follow the dragon, winds follow the tiger!
On Bai Xuan’s left palm, mist coiled—a concentration of blood energy to its utmost, countless faint white rays forming three azure dragon talons that gleamed with a chilling clangor.
He took a single step, and in a thunderous instant, crossed a hundred meters—the eye could barely track his movement as shockwaves roared behind him.
“The Tiger’s Pounce of the White-Browed Marquis! Such overwhelming strength!”
King Yin’s expression shifted; he knew he could not stand toe-to-toe.
It was now clear: his opponent’s skills were indeed the Bai family’s true legacy, not the least bit counterfeit!
Swish, swish, swish!
He moved like a ghost, retreating swiftly, blood energy coiling about him like mist, lifting his form—as if he walked upon clouds—revealing his profound mastery. His speed rivaled Bai Xuan’s charge, not a whit slower!
“White Lotus Rebirth, Diagram of the Twelve Celestial Maidens!”
With a muffled thud, King Yin joined his hands before his chest, forming a mysterious seal.
Boom!
All about him, blood energy blossomed like white lotus petals, each petal a condensed arc of strength opening to the four winds. A towering figure of a celestial maiden emerged, then exploded into fragments.
“Hm?” Bai Xuan's eyes narrowed.
As the other’s blood energy dispersed, it became a flurry of snowflakes, drifting in all directions, or a dense fog that, in an instant, enshrouded a hundred yards, obscuring everything.
Suddenly, darkness fell before his eyes; he could see no more than half an inch ahead, the white mist concealing everything—his opponent’s form had vanished without a trace.
Immediately after, all sound faded from his ears—the world fell utterly silent.
“The White Lotus Sect’s fundamental martial visualization—a technique with such effects!”
Bai Xuan reacted instantly.
This bizarre transformation of blood energy showed his opponent’s extraordinary skill. Normally, a master of blood cultivation would sense the presence of another’s condensed energy unless, like Bai Xuan, one could seal off their own completely.
Such condensed energy was like a divine weapon, unstoppable, the very root of a blood cultivator’s strength.
But the White Lotus Sect’s Diagram of the Twelve Celestial Maidens transformed blood energy into snow and mist, cloaking the surroundings so the enemy could no longer discern friend from foe, even dampening the five senses.
Swish, swish, swish!
Bai Xuan moved without pause, gliding swiftly. Yet the white mist clung to him, confusing his sense of direction; he seemed trapped, spinning in circles within a single step.
“Sight, hearing, touch…”
He could feel the snow-like mist settling on his skin, threatening to numb his sense of touch and seal him from within.
But a subtle tremor ran through his skin, dispersing the condensed energy—he remained entirely unaffected.
“Master Bai, I am a King in the Sacred Sect, ever commanding thousands, armies at my beck and call!”
King Yin’s voice sounded from within the mist, his words formed by the tremor of the white fog.
“In battle, I always unleash this Celestial Maiden form, and seize the chance to order a rain of arrows—white jade crossbows, divine-arm bows, and enchanted bolts. Any without perfect mastery of blood energy perish in an instant, shot dead!”
“But I bear only goodwill toward you, Master Bai. No such methods shall I employ. If you can escape this Maiden’s Mist within a quarter hour, not only will your three thousand Biyu Sabers be returned in full, but I shall add five hundred more as a gesture of sincerity.”
Yet—
Even as Mister Yin spoke, Bai Xuan paid him no heed.
“You cannot bar my way—Gaze of the Sea! Celestial Signs!”
His eyes suddenly shone with the clear blue of sky and ocean, and the mist thinned abruptly. Dimly, he could make out a figure deep within the haze.
Among the many abilities of the Fisherman’s Way, one was the Gaze of the Sea, the other Celestial Signs. The Gaze pierced the waters to see all the fish; Celestial Signs could see through storms, fog, cloud, and constellations—guiding safe passage through the boundless sea!
“Not good!”
King Yin was still immersed in the Celestial Maiden’s technique, his blood energy dispersed. Suddenly, he felt a gaze fall upon him—a chill ran down his spine. He barely managed to raise a hand before, with a thunderous crash, he was sent flying!
Boom, boom, boom!
Within the mist, the two figures clashed, shattering the ground as if it were mere paper, sending debris skyward, the wind howling across the arena, nearly reaching the heavens.
“What terrifying power, such force… This is the strength of a King!”
“Incredible! He can match the King’s speed, striking him head-on!”
Even the White Lotus Sect disciples patrolling outside the arena watched in awe, their scalps prickling.
In the thinning mist, the two figures fought fiercely. But the thunderous blasts obscured all sight; only wild winds rose, shockwaves exploding through the air, pitting the ground for thousands of meters around as if struck by great cannonade.
Boom!
With one final blow, like thunder, the last shreds of mist were blown away. King Yin tumbled backward, shooting dozens of meters before finally steadying himself.
“Master Bai, your strength is indeed formidable.”
King Yin stood firm, his expression composed, offering a courteous bow.
From a distance, the White Lotus followers could see nothing, but—
His hand was trembling ever so slightly.
“Your martial prowess is impressive, King. The Celestial Maiden’s technique is extraordinary. I, Bai, salute you.”
Bai Xuan’s form emerged.
From the fierce battle, his upper garments were shredded, revealing a body like a bronze deity, dark scales glinting beneath the skin—deep and fearsome.
With every breath, the blood coursed through his body with a rushing sound, muscles flexing and relaxing like a great beast swallowing and exhaling, utterly unscathed.
“This was a fine match. Shall we do it again tomorrow?”
Bai Xuan asked.
He truly found the other’s martial arts intriguing—the White Lotus Sect’s foundational visualization was unique, quite different from the Azure Dragon of the Four Seas diagram.
At this, King Yin’s expression changed at once.
“Haha… Today’s meeting has been a delight. The Biyu Sabers you require will be gathered in no more than fifteen days, possibly as soon as five. Starting tomorrow morning, they shall be delivered in batches!”
“We shall meet again in a few days, a few days hence!”
Forcing a laugh, Mister Yin, without hesitation, blurred into motion—his form flickered like a ghost or wraith, vanishing instantly from view!