Chapter Ninety-Four: Comprehending the Tiger Form Painting, the Tiger Puppet's Heavenly Prison Technique!
Just as Bai Xuan was immersed in comprehending the Tiger Aspect Diagram, on the other side—
“A sixteen-year-old with three breakthroughs in blood energy, who went to sea and captured Peiro’s flagship?” General Liu received the news and was utterly astonished. Now, his blood surged around him, condensed and unwavering—he had unmistakably entered the Blood Refining stage. Since his meritorious contribution to the destruction of the Sea God Cult’s sub-temple, he had received two Taishui alchemical rewards and, by sheer luck, managed to break through into Blood Refining.
However, he had only just passed the stage where blood energy flowed like a stream. On Mount Qianshan Island, this was enough to make him a high-ranking power, but he was still far from being someone whose word was law, merely a mascot. The Qianshan Army was now firmly in the hands of the Bai family.
“Yes, news just came from the Bai family. They said this battle was a case of the weak defeating the strong. Bai Xuan, that genius, orchestrated an ambush on a small island, unleashed a thousand arrows, and slew Peiro,” the captain reported.
The Bai family had already credited Bai Xuan with Peiro’s death, so General Liu had nothing to say. “Truly, the waves of the Yangtze push those before them forward. Let it be as the Bai family wishes: take out five Taishui alchemy pills and calculate the reward silver according to the roster the Bai family submitted!” General Liu declared.
When all the rewards were listed, he could not help but sigh inwardly. “With the rise of the Star Pirates, the sea is in turmoil, and talents emerge in droves. This is an era on the Eastern Sea unseen for a century—who knows how many martial geniuses will rise like meteors!”
...
Within the Marquis White-Brow’s courtyard.
“Tiger shadow, tiger shadow... In these mountains, there’s only the howl of the wind. Where is the tiger’s shadow?” Bai Xuan was pondering the Mountain Lord’s Roaring Wind Tiger Aspect Diagram. Upon the scroll, endless mountain forests undulated like waves, yet there was no tiger’s shadow—only wild winds sweeping through, with countless wind shapes filling the mountains and sky!
“It’s time to break through.” Bai Xuan’s mind steadied. “Celestial Phenomena!”
His recent voyage had lasted nearly two months; even though he spent two points, as captain, his Dao insight had grown faster, and now he had accumulated nine points. In a single thought, he poured them all into the Longevity Dao Tree, onto the branch representing “Celestial Phenomena.”
Boom!
That branch sprouted swiftly, growing ceaselessly. Storms swept through, yellow sand filled the sky, torrential rains rose and fell upon the Longevity Dao Tree. Finally, all these phenomena gathered, forming a mist—neither cloud nor fog—shimmering with countless stars, condensing in the leaf.
Celestial Phenomena (Mastered)!
At this moment, Bai Xuan’s eyes reflected the gathering and dispersing of clouds, as if endless blue sky, with storms forming and falling from above like countless razor-sharp threads—various celestial phenomena unfolding!
After a moment, the celestial colors faded from Bai Xuan’s eyes. But as he gazed at the Tiger Aspect Diagram, he saw—the scene of winds sweeping across heaven and earth was not devoid of a tiger’s shadow; rather, tiger shadows were everywhere.
A lean tiger sat amidst the forests. With a single pounce, its form merged with the wind, spreading throughout the mountains and heavens. Within that wild wind, thousands of lines shifted, each representing a transformation of the tiger’s form!
“If the Four Seas Azure Dragon Aspect Diagram embodies grandeur and myriad changes like a dragon’s majesty,” Bai Xuan thought, “then the Mountain Lord’s Roaring Wind Tiger Aspect Diagram represents absolute speed and unrivaled dominance. With a single leap, nothing above or below can escape—it’s impossible to avoid.”
He continued to comprehend.
Swish!
Bai Xuan’s eyes mirrored the sweeping winds, his blood energy constantly shifting. “How powerful—the Tiger Aspect Diagram represents the ultimate, a force reaching its peak, shaking the heavens and earth. Speed is the same... Perhaps the Four Seas Azure Dragon Aspect Diagram also contains an ultimate force—I’ve simply not yet understood it. Maybe the transformation of the dragon’s tail is the diagram’s ultimate power!”
Bai Xuan pondered, days slipping by in his immersion. The pure black tiger stripes on his body condensed, gradually freezing all the air currents within the courtyard; countless congealed streams intertwined, forming a vast cage, enveloping him!
“It’s time to interrupt this cultivation. After three days of intense training, any further comprehension might affect my body, spirit, and energy... Wait, what is this?” Marquis White-Brow, waiting nearby, was just about to intervene when he witnessed the interwoven streams. His eyes widened in shock!
“This is the Tiger Puppet Sky Prison technique—the reverse of absolute speed... It requires over seventy percent comprehension of the Tiger Aspect Diagram to grasp its power.” Marquis White-Brow was stunned. “Three days? Only three days?”
“In three days, he mastered the Tiger Puppet Sky Prison technique?” In the courtyard, the marquis was both excited and anxious. “Such a talent is indescribable. I spent several months just to get started, barely understanding a hundred or more blood energy transformations to achieve extreme speed.”
“Bai Xuan’s three days of comprehension should end now, but... To master a technique that robs others of their speed in just three days—this is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity!”
He wanted to interrupt Bai Xuan’s training, but feared Bai Xuan was in the midst of enlightenment; if disrupted, the next attempt would become several times harder!
“Huff...”
At that moment, Bai Xuan opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of wind, which rushed into the air current prison.
Swish, swish, swish!
The entire air current prison collapsed, flowing rapidly, turning into ordinary wind blowing in all directions!
“Wind follows the tiger! The speed of the tiger’s aspect is truly terrifying, no less than the Four Seas Azure Dragon Aspect Diagram. Not everyone lives at sea, but wind is everywhere—take away your opponent’s wind, and their speed drops by several times!” Bai Xuan rose, noticing Marquis White-Brow’s intense excitement.
“Master?” Bai Xuan was puzzled.
“I finally understand why you cultivate two contemplation diagrams.” Marquis White-Brow’s voice was low and trembling. “For you, a single contemplation diagram is nothing. I bet you could comprehend all its changes and mysteries within a month, as easily as reading lines on your palm!”
He tossed a porcelain bottle to Bai Xuan, saying, “Inside are fifteen Taishui alchemy pills! Five for beheading Peiro, the other ten I squeezed out of the family with my old reputation.”
“These are still not enough. Soon, I’ll find you a lucrative post where you can train further. I’ll fetch the remaining two precious pills myself.”
Marquis White-Brow was impatient, seeing Bai Xuan’s growth as a sapling about to become a towering tree in days! Anyone witnessing this would be restless, desperate to see the outcome!
“Yes, Master.” Bai Xuan too felt moved.
“These Taishui pills are precious. When I obtain them myself, it’s so difficult—every technique I gain, I must fight for.” “But within the family, show your strength and talent, and all benefits arrive swiftly!”
“Yet, this has both advantages and disadvantages,” Bai Xuan knew well.
Revealing his strength would bring greater danger. Marquis White-Brow treated him as his own child, even as a personal disciple, giving so much care. He had no heirs, so Bai Xuan was raised as family.
Journeying across the vast sea, Bai Xuan could never forget he was of the Bai family and a disciple of the master who had taught him the Tiger Aspect Diagram! If the Bai family was in trouble, could he stand aside?
“Maybe some could, but I am one for vengeance and clear distinction between good and evil! Most people are like this—it’s just some act, and some don’t.”
Bai Xuan remained calm.
“To those who help me, to those who oppose me... all shall be repaid tenfold. Next, it’s time to strengthen myself further!”
With fifteen Taishui alchemy pills in hand, if he mastered the Four Seas Azure Dragon Aspect Diagram, his power would soar!
...
Deep within the Bai family residence, before a secret chamber.
Swish, swish, swish!
A gust swept by, Marquis White-Brow’s figure appeared, knocking thrice on the massive stone door.
The two guards nearby bowed respectfully; one was Bai family’s chief guard, Bai Jiu, equally deferential.
Who would not show respect to a consummate master?
“Enter.”
A voice of authority spoke, and Marquis White-Brow pushed the door open, stepping inside.
Rumble!
The giant stone door slowly closed behind him.
“Second Uncle visiting First Uncle?” Bai Jiu, though silent outside, pondered, “I wonder what it’s about.”
Inside, the chamber was dim, only a huge dragon relief high above, with two luminous pearls shining in the dark like dragon’s eyes, illuminating the surroundings.
Behind the screen, an elder sat, blood energy surging around him, slowly circulating.
“Yuan Nian,” Marquis White-Brow’s voice rang out, “I have a disciple of extraordinary talent. His comprehension is astonishing, and his power is now sufficient to cultivate the Roaring Wind Steps Diagram and break through to the Blood Refining stage. I want to find him a lucrative post to supplement his blood energy.”
“In the Demon Fish Ranch, the Wang family’s Shark-Slaying Divine Sword is currently stationed. Transfer him back and let my disciple take over.”
He spoke decisively, not a hint of doubt or negotiation.
“With the Qianshan Army established, the four families and five surrounding islands are all bringing out their assets. Our Bai family is no exception,” the authoritative voice boomed. “The Demon Fish Ranch produces pure demon fish for the Qianshan Army. The Wang family has contributed much. Now, you want to change personnel with a single word?”
“Yuan Nian, elder brother!” Marquis White-Brow suddenly cried.
“In these decades, have I ever asked you for anything?”
After a long pause, the authoritative voice spoke, only two words: “Never.”
“You know it.” Marquis White-Brow’s voice remained deep as a tiger’s roar. “All these years, you needed huge amounts of pills to cultivate the Four Seas Azure Dragon Aspect Diagram—I never quarreled with you. Now you’ve broken through in blood energy; I am still only a river’s worth.”
“You spent a fortune forging the superior divine weapon, the Wave Heavy Sword, while my Tiger Roar Blade was broken and never reforged.”
“I know you head the Bai family, wield power alone, carrying a heavy burden. The deeds of Tan Lang and the others are your merit. I never thought to say anything.”
“But,” Marquis White-Brow’s voice trembled, “Bai Xuan is also a Bai family child, a peerless talent! The Qianshan Army is important, but how can it compare to our own children breaking through and pursuing martial cultivation?”
“Bai Xuan is my personal disciple. All these years, I’ve never asked you for anything—except for this, to give him this position and make up for his lack of blood energy!”
At this moment, the authoritative voice was silent for a while, then slowly spoke: “Since you insist, in five days, the position will be Bai Xuan’s.”
“Good, thank you, elder brother!” Marquis White-Brow rejoiced and departed.
When he left—
“Sigh... Now, within the Qianshan Army, powers from all directions come to offer resources, seeking alliance with the Bai family. We must also provide resources in exchange.”
Bai Yuan Nian sat cross-legged in the stone chamber, shaking his head. In his heart—
“Genius? No matter how formidable, so what? As Tan Lang said, the final battle between the Ten Divine Spears and the Broken Sea Abyss is near—no more than a few years. Then, all forces on the Eastern Sea will join to prevent the Broken Sea Abyss from winning.”
“The situation on the sea is turbulent. If our Bai family is to profit and rise to greater heights, we cannot invest all resources in our own people; they must be used for exchange, to leverage greater gains.”
“The master of Qianshan Island has been missing for over ten years. Now we can only rely on ourselves. Genius... Rather than relying on genius, it’s better to hope I break through again!”
Bai Yuan Nian closed his eyes.
His blood energy flowed, three great rivers surging powerfully around him in the stone chamber, with traces of azure dragon scales appearing!
(End of chapter)