Chapter Seventy-One: The Ironwood Warship, The Sea-Conquering Spear is Forged!

“Quick on his feet,” he muttered.

Night had fallen. Bai Xuan cast a glance at the retreating figure of the Yin Lord of Law. In the next instant, he vanished from sight, leaving behind a crowd of followers, all marveling in awe.

Moments later—

Back aboard the Bai family’s fleet.

“The martial arts of the White Lotus Sect are indeed mysterious and profound—quite unlike what our family practices,” Bai Xuan reflected as he changed his clothes, reviewing the events in his mind. During their bout, he had sensed that his opponent’s vital energy and blood were truly superior to his own. If his own power was like a robust stream, the other’s was a wide river—just a step away from perfection. His entire body was sheathed in a condensed aura of blood and energy, forming an armor as formidable as divine weaponry—far beyond what Monk Xuanjin could compare to!

Yet,

“He’s still no match for me,” Bai Xuan mused, flexing his fingers as the image of a blue dragon’s claw shimmered faintly. Now, with a mere gesture, his power was terrifying. The Yin Lord of Law managed to withstand a few moves, his condensed energy armor not yet shattered—a testament to his extraordinary strength.

The exposure to another martial path left Bai Xuan inwardly marveling. Still, he thought, “I must further develop my ‘Seaview’ and ‘Heavenly Signs’ abilities. As I recall, there are martial techniques that train the eyes—enabling one to see through fire and water, impervious to sword or blade. Perhaps I should seek such an art, to layer atop my current sight; then, no matter how powerful an enemy’s martial visions, they could not cloud my gaze.”

“With the defeat of the Yin Lord of Law, the matter of the Azurewater Sabers is settled,” he concluded.

Bai Xuan understood well: without his intervention, it would have been nearly impossible for the Bai family to recover the Azurewater Sabers; even if they had, it would have taken months at best, and Bai Xuanji’s position as deputy leader would have been forfeit.

“In the end, strength is what counts.”

“Next, I must further enhance my energy and blood. Upon returning to the clan, I should go whaling, trade the catch for rare medicinal elixirs, and then use the Abyssal Body-Forging Technique to reshape my body, reaching an even higher level!”

He clenched his fist. Having just broken through the early stage of blood refinement, he was in a period of rapid growth. Give him half a year, and his strength would ascend to frightening new heights.

…

Elsewhere—

Inside a brightly lit grand hall.

Mr. Yin pulled off his gloves, revealing five trembling fingers. The back of his left hand bore three distinct claw marks. In truth, his entire body ached with bruised muscles, the result of being overpowered barehanded—his energy armor nearly shattered by sheer force.

“How can there exist such a terrifying physique?”

“This Bai family master, even within our Sacred Sect, would be counted among the elite. Three thousand Azurewater Sabers—let them go.”

“This enmity must be dissolved,” Mr. Yin thought, a tremor of dread in his heart. During the fierce clash, he had sensed that his opponent’s vital energy was only at the level of a stream—a single blue dragon’s claw manifesting. Even so, he was utterly crushed.

“If this master should ever reach the ‘blood like a river’ realm, he could tear me apart in an instant,” Mr. Yin shuddered inwardly. Achieving this level requires long accumulation, a breakthrough after years of effort—many near-masters never attain it, their vitality fading with age.

Yet, he thought, “This Bai family master is clearly not among those who stagnate.”

“The Bai family is poised for a resurgence. But the Starhunters’ current strength is daunting—if they overcome this hurdle, the sea’s overlord will change hands; if not, they will still fall short,” he knew well.

At sea, the greatest threat remained the Starhunters. The White Lotus Sect had no reason to pit themselves against both the Starhunters and the Bai family. Who could have predicted that Thousand Mountain Isle harbored such power—enough to face the Starhunters head-on?

Now, Mr. Yin understood: it was possible. With this master, whose strength had reached the ‘blood like a river’ level, ranking among the East Sea’s foremost, one more step and he could sway the tides of the entire region. At that time, the world would be turned upside down.

He could already envision a future where, as this master rose, the East Sea ran red, countless warships capsized and burned, flames raging across the waves.

...

Aboard the Kaiyang.

Dawn broke. Bai Xuanji, Bai Yuanjiu, and the others waited anxiously.

“Do you think something’s happened?” Bai Yuanjiu fretted, pacing back and forth in the captain’s cabin, the scar on his face twisted in worry.

Bai Xuanji had already told them everything.

“It should be fine. I trust in the master’s strength. The Yin Lord of Law wouldn’t dare cause trouble at the banquet—he must be wary!” Bai Xuanji said, trying to remain calm, though his eyes stayed fixed on the horizon.

At that moment, a commotion arose outside.

Bai Xuanji shot to his feet and hurried out, just in time to see dozens of disciples from the Weapon-Forge Manor carrying over a dozen crates of blades to the dock.

“Master Bai Xuanji, here are fifteen hundred Azurewater Sabers. The rest are being assembled and will arrive in a few days!” one of the disciples announced respectfully. “In addition, Mr. Yin has gifted a new ironwood warship at the dock, as a present for the Bai family fleet.”

Bai Xuanji barely heard the latter words, his mind reeling with joy.

“We’ve won,” he thought, elation surging within him. He knew it could only mean that the mysterious master had bested the Yin Lord of Law.

It took him a moment to compose himself and quell his excitement.

“An ironwood warship?” he mused. “That’s worth thousands of taels of silver at least, no small sum even for a master. The Yin Lord’s sincerity is clear.”

He understood perfectly: this was all thanks to the mysterious master’s overwhelming strength. Had he not been stronger than the Yin Lord, the Bai family would never have received such compensation.

“Just in time,” he thought, delighted. “Bai Xuan is about to be promoted to captain and needs a ship for whaling. This ironwood warship will serve well.”

Ironwood warships were far more valuable and formidable than ordinary whalers. Of course, ships added to the second fleet were, by rights, distributed by family council—never private property. Yet as vice leader, Bai Xuanji had certain privileges and would find a way to allocate this bounty to his trusted allies.

...

Meanwhile—

Inside Liu Ruyi’s forge.

“It’s finally done,” Bai Xuan said expectantly, eyeing the spear atop the anvil. It radiated an unfathomable depth, black as the sea, with a chilling, almost supernatural coldness that seemed to draw in the very soul.

Clang, clang, clang!

Liu Ruyi was striking the final details. How many in the Weapon-Forge Manor could claim the chance to craft a true divine weapon? Once finished, his smithing skill would be utterly transformed.

With each hammer blow, the harpoon grew harder, resisting the strikes more and more—it was nearing completion, but the process slowed as the divine weapon’s nature asserted itself. Liu Ruyi was shaping the blade to its keenest form, a task that would take a full day and night.

Hiss! As cold ocean water was poured over the fiery blade, it sizzled and steamed—but rather than filling the room with vapor, the water seemed to vanish, as if the harpoon itself was absorbing it.

Thousands of pounds of seawater were consumed before the spear was finally quenched. With a thunderous ring, it scattered the lingering mist with its own vibration.

“It’s finished!” Liu Ruyi exclaimed, hefting the spear with effort. The weapon was dense and heavy—nearly a thousand pounds—its shaft half-submerged in invisible tides, water rippling in the very air.

“It’s time to name this spear,” Bai Xuan said, taking it from Liu Ruyi’s hands.

“I shall call it ‘Ocean’s Subjugation.’”

He narrowed his eyes, and as he swept the tip downward, the harpoon trembled, emitting a deep and terrifying resonance that shook the entire forge.