Chapter Seventy-Three: Return to Qianshan Island, Divine Power Transformed!

That thick tome was, of course, the “Abyssal Body Tempering Technique.” As for the token, it had been a gift from the Lord of the Yin Laws, presented to Bai Xuan before his departure when he was invited to a banquet—a token of the White Lotus Sect’s External Law Lord, symbolizing the status and identity of a master. When shown at any branch of the White Lotus Sect, it would be met with deference and obedience, although its utility was limited to matters of intelligence and material exchange.

Commanding the White Lotus Sect’s army with it was out of the question.

“This Lord of the Yin Laws is rather tactful,” Bai Xuan mused, fully aware that such respect was afforded only because he possessed the terrifying strength of a master. Had he been just an ordinary member of the Bai family, the Lord of the Yin Laws wouldn't have spared him a glance.

“This token may prove useful, but its utility is limited.” Bai Xuan tucked it away. The Abyssal Body Tempering Technique was what truly mattered.

“The ‘Abyssal Body Tempering Technique’ embodies the Sea God Sect’s principle of ‘the abyss gathers all rivers’; it can fuse a myriad of external tempering methods through the blood, constantly remedying weaknesses.”

“Moreover, there’s another way to cultivate it: repeatedly training a single technique, which also accumulates power!”

Currently, Bai Xuan’s repertoire of external tempering techniques consisted only of Iron Sand Palm and Azure Scale Method.

Moments passed.

Clang, clang, clang!

His shaped vital energy drove mercury-infused blood, surging into his palms and arms, continuously refining them!

As the mercury blood seeped in, his palms grew warm, as if their skin was layered anew, becoming even more formidable and profound—capable of withstanding anything.

The muscles of his arms bulged slightly, his strength swelling.

“The consumption of vital energy is indeed rapid.”

Bai Xuan could sense his palms' power growing ever greater; with a slight movement, the blue-black iron imprint emerged, clearer than before.

This Iron Sand Palm did not merely temper the skin of his hands; it also involved the strength of his arms!

Swish!

With a flick of his wrist, the Azure Flood Dragon Claw appeared, deeper and sharper than ever!

“Indeed, the cumulative power of this technique ultimately manifests in the skin, strengthening all similar methods.”

Bai Xuan understood well.

This explained why Lu Ming cultivated several types of Iron Shirt; the power of Iron Shirt could be stacked, and though his skin was not as formidable as Bai Xuan’s, it was still tough and terrifying, his strength approaching ten thousand catties.

Several days passed in a rush.

“Good thing we’re at sea, otherwise there wouldn’t be enough vital energy to sustain this.”

Bai Xuan was directing sailors to fish for squid.

Over these days, he had essentially retrained the Iron Sand Palm, expending six hundred catties of deep-sea giant squid.

This technique was merely an ordinary external tempering method, and had only increased the power of the Azure Flood Dragon Claw by ten percent.

“If the Abyssal Body Tempering Technique reaches perfection, my physical capabilities might approach my current level.”

As techniques were layered, the power of the Abyssal Body Tempering Technique would also reach its limits—it could not grow indefinitely, requiring continual consumption of one’s own blood. In the later stages, progress would slow.

Even so, it was formidable, especially during the early cultivation phase, where progress was rapid.

“Next, retrain the ‘Azure Scale Method’!”

Bai Xuan anticipated much.

Compared to Iron Sand Palm, the Azure Scale Method affected the circulation of vital energy throughout the entire body—it was the fundamental technique of the Bai family. Once retrained, it would greatly enhance Bai Xuan’s strength!

…

Over a dozen days later.

“Hoo…”

Bai Xuan was training in his cabin.

He was slowly executing the nineteen fundamental postures of the Azure Scale Method, which involved the circulation of vital energy throughout the body. Each tendon and muscle was engaged, invigorating the bones and increasing strength, ultimately condensing vital energy and producing azure scales.

At this moment,

Within mere moments, a faint white radiance appeared around Bai Xuan, like mist, permeating his skin and circulating through his organs with his internal breath.

Every muscle fiber seemed to be refined; as blood rushed through his body, it rang with a metallic resonance!

“Truly terrifying,” Bai Xuan thought, slightly awed.

With a bit of force—clenching his fist—his muscles vibrated like steel, the air exploding with a bang!

“This body was always like a treasure trove, a volcano—I could only harness its surface heat, while its depths remained dormant.”

“But after the Abyssal Body Tempering, the blood forges everything in the tiniest capillaries, awakening the deepest potential of the muscles, causing the entire body to be reforged and reborn!”

In just over ten days, Bai Xuan’s strength had increased by half, and his skin had become much more profound and resilient.

Consider this:

Before breaking through to Blood Refinement, his strength was about forty thousand catties.

After the breakthrough, with mercury blood driving him, his strength soared past sixty thousand catties; with the Azure Flood Dragon Claw, he could focus all his power into his claws, unleashing it to a terrifying degree.

Now, Bai Xuan’s strength had increased by another thirty thousand catties, reaching ninety thousand in total!

“Ninety thousand catties of strength.”

A faint azure hue appeared in Bai Xuan’s eyes, like vertical pupils.

“Ordinary Blood Refinement masters, after retraining their bodies, may at most gain ten thousand catties, reaching twenty thousand in total.”

“In just a dozen days, I’ve increased by one and a half times that of a typical Blood Refinement master.”

Doubling one's strength meant absolute domination.

Now Bai Xuan possessed more than four times the strength of a typical master; even if his opponent’s shaped vital energy was vast, it was insignificant before such force.

After all,

Bai Xuan himself now had shaped vital energy, which, transformed into the Azure Flood Dragon Claw, could utterly shatter shaped vital energy armor and sword aura!

“The Azure Scale Method is indeed much more powerful than Iron Sand Palm.”

“Longevity Tree!”

At Bai Xuan’s thought, the Dao Tree of Longevity appeared, adding another point to his mercury blood. All around, his blood grew heavier; if it spilled, it would even show a faint metallic sheen, shimmering with mystical light!

“With the support of mercury blood, the training of the flesh is truly complete, and the Abyssal Body Tempering Technique can be fully realized!”

Bai Xuan immersed himself in the Abyssal Body Tempering Technique.

“In a few more days, I’ll finish the first retraining of the Azure Scale Method, and can begin the second.”

“Though the effect will diminish with each repetition, at least for the first few, the Abyssal Body Tempering Technique’s impact is terrifying!”

Bang, bang, bang!

Bai Xuan’s figure moved slowly in the cabin, each punch and kick deliberate, while shaped vital energy frantically penetrated deep into his muscles, forging himself anew!

Every Blood Refinement master went through such a stage, spending months retraining their bodies, undergoing rebirth and transcending the ordinary!

…

Time flew by.

“We’ve finally returned to Thousand Mountain Island.”

Bai Xuanji stood on the deck, at last letting out a sigh of relief, gradually relaxing.

For these dozens of days, he had been anxious, fearing the appearance of the Star Pirates. Even among them, several masters were present, who often personally raided and acted with impunity!

Fortunately,

In the end, the Bai family’s fleet made it safely back to Thousand Mountain Island.

Upon arrival at the dock, hundreds of sailors were busy unloading crates of Azure Water Sabers.

“Hoo…”

Bai Xuan lifted a crate of Azure Water Sabers with ease. “It’s as light as a feather.”

After dozens of days, his strength had transformed; now, with a single arm, he could effortlessly wield a full one hundred and thirty thousand catties of force!