Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Blade as the Tiger’s Eye, the Power of Six Streams!

Outside the courtyard.

“Master Bai Xuan, the demon fish meat has arrived today.”

Bai You, accompanied by several servants, laboriously carried a large jar of demon fish meat to the courtyard entrance, then respectfully spoke.

During this period, Bai Xuan had been in seclusion for cultivation. If there was no response, they would leave the demon fish meat here and depart. But this time, a voice came from within the courtyard.

“Come in.”

Upon hearing this, Bai You cautiously pushed the door open and entered, immediately seeing Bai Xuan sitting cross-legged inside, a jade-green water blade resting on his lap.

The blade trembled slightly, as if resonating with his vital energy and blood flow. At a glance, Bai You felt an overwhelmingly sharp and terrifying aura radiating from it, as though it could cleave him in two instantly.

“What formidable swordsmanship!”

Bai You himself had broken through his vital energy and blood flow three times. Witnessing this scene, he was astonished.

He had assisted more than one Blood Refining master before; just by looking at this blade without any action, he knew Bai Xuan’s strength was terrifying.

In fact... faintly, the oppressive aura surpassed that of even a half-step Grandmaster.

“It is said that Bai Xuan, the Herd Master, is the direct and final disciple of Grandmaster Bai Ehou. This blade technique must be formidable; it seems it is not without basis.”

He knew that Grandmaster Bai Ehou’s signature weapon was the Tiger Roar Blade.

“Herd Master, all affairs within the courtyard have proceeded normally over the past half month. The demon fish have been safe... Although one or two sea beasts have intruded into the pasture, they were swiftly killed by harpoon cannons,” Bai You reported respectfully.

“Did you inquire about the tasks I assigned you?” Bai Xuan asked.

“Yes, Master Bai Xuan. I have verified that all the female workers and servants brought back on the Vessel Swallowing Sea have settled on the island. Grandmaster Bai Xuanji and General Liu have been informed, so there will naturally be no mistakes. I personally sent people to check; none were missed,” Bai You quickly replied.

At Bai Xuan’s current rank and level, settling the destitute was merely a matter of a single command.

“You’ve done well. When you have time, come to me. I will guide you in martial arts,” Bai Xuan nodded slightly.

“Yes, Master Bai Xuan!” Bai You responded earnestly, feeling it was a great honor.

On the surface, both Bai Xuan and he had broken through the vital energy and blood flow three times, and Bai You had assisted several Blood Refining Grandmasters. Yet, seeing the fierce aura emanating from that blade on his master's lap, he understood...

If Bai Xuan were to strike, a single blow could probably kill him outright!

Such talent, nurtured directly by a Grandmaster, made Bai You feel that even casual words of instruction could prove immensely helpful.

He set down the jar of demon fish meat and respectfully withdrew.

Inside the courtyard.

“The principles within this blade technique differ greatly from spear techniques, but fundamentally, both rely on the use of force and the circulation of vital energy and blood,” Bai Xuan murmured as he grasped the jade-green blade. Instantly, a faint blade aura shimmered upon it.

Rushing streams!

The small rivulet of vital energy and blood within Bai Xuan’s body had thickened into a robust river. With a slight channeling, it surged around him, mostly covering his jet-black tiger-striped skin. On the blade, a tiger’s eye formed from condensed vital energy opened wide.

A blade with a tiger’s eye—capable of slaying gods and ghosts!

“Once the secrets of this blade technique are fully integrated, its power will increase sharply. With both references in mind, the transformation of the dragon’s tail is now clear to me; at most, it will take half a month to master.”

“Fifteen Taisui refining pills have all been fully absorbed,” Bai Xuan felt a wave of satisfaction.

Though the Taisui refining pills became progressively harder to enhance vital energy and blood later on, at this rivulet stage, the improvement was still substantial.

Fifteen pills refined had increased his power by three rivulets, now totaling six rivulets of vital energy and blood!

He was only four steps away from perfecting the flow as a river.

“In one month here, I will consume over a thousand jin of demon fish meat, enough to greatly boost my vital energy and blood. Also, I’ve entrusted my Taisui to Big Brother Bai Xuanji for alchemy. Perhaps before setting sail, I will reach the realm of vital energy and blood as a river.”

Whoosh!

Bai Xuan swung his blade.

The mysteries of the Mountain Lord’s Howling Wind Tiger diagram, embodying the essence of wind, were most suited to blade techniques. Bai Ehou’s specialty was also blade work.

As Bai Xuan unleashed the technique, countless blade shadows filled the courtyard, overlapping and weaving like a wild gale, penetrating every corner.

With a single swift strike, the blade condensed and unified. It seemed as if the tiger’s eye opened and closed instantly; with a soft slicing sound, the ground silently cracked for five or six meters, the fissure as thin as a thread, barely visible to the naked eye.

“This strike alone could easily slay a typical half-step Grandmaster.”

Mastery in one technique leads to mastery in all. Bai Xuan’s comprehension of the Patriarch’s writings deepened his understanding of the Blood Refining martial path. By integrating the subtle shifts of vital energy and blood from the Mountain Lord’s Howling Wind Tiger diagram into this blade technique, he could become a blade Grandmaster overnight.

Of course, his ultimate unbeatable weapon remained the Hidden Sea Spear.

“Continue cultivating.”

Bai Xuan closed his eyes to refine his body’s martial foundation.

This seclusion would raise his strength to a terrifying level. Soon, even without the Yin-Yang True Blood Pill, he would reach vital energy and blood as a river and truly become a perfected Grandmaster!

…

Outside the demon fish pasture, several courtyards housed the keepers and servants.

“Brother Dong, your request is too dangerous. I have elders and children at home; I can’t agree,” a young man set down his wine cup, fear evident in his expression.

Opposite him sat a burly man exuding a chilling aura—the murderous energy accumulated from killing at sea. Although his demeanor seemed friendly, his cold eyes sent a shiver down the young man’s spine.

This young man worked in the demon fish pasture and had recently been promoted to a mid-level position.

But a few days ago, his mother had fallen ill from a strange poison and nearly died. Unexpectedly, this burly man arrived and saved her with a secret medicine, earning enormous gratitude.

Still, Brother Dong’s request was far too perilous. Despite the favor, he dared not comply.

“Brother Dong carries a faint, unpleasant odor…” the young man felt both fear and suspicion.

“Afraid of what?” The burly man’s hoarse voice replied.

“You know the Herd Master takes hundreds of jin of demon fish meat daily from this fishery. We’re only stealing a few fish.”

“Just slip this poison paper into the feed during feeding. The demon fish’s blood and flesh are incredibly vigorous; at worst… only a few will die. Those poisoned fish will be dealt with, and I’ve arranged everything from top to bottom. Once detoxified and transported, there will still be hundreds of jin of fish meat.”

Brother Dong grinned. “After this, you get half the share. You want to cultivate martial arts, right? With this demon fish meat, in just a few months, you could succeed and possibly break through your triple vital energy and blood limitation!”

“Then your strength won’t be much less than mine,” he added.

Faced with Brother Dong’s words, the young man clenched his teeth and said, “I’ll think it over.”

“Good. When you decide, be sure to tell me.”

After the young man left, Brother Dong departed the courtyard, winding through alleys until he reached a secluded small courtyard. There, he respectfully knelt before the door of a side room.

His face, once fierce and blood-tinted, rapidly turned stiff and grayish-blue. The life drained from him, transforming him into a cold living corpse, his heartbeats ceasing.

If the young man saw this, he would surely flee in terror!

“Master.”

Brother Dong’s voice was stiff yet respectful. “The young man is tempted. I estimate we’ll have a reply within this month.”

Inside the side room.

“Well done.”

Black winds swirled faintly within. Suddenly, two crimson pills appeared, exuding a strong metallic blood scent.

“Thank you for the reward, Master!”

The living corpse rejoiced, lunging like a beast to swallow the two blood pills on the ground. A trace of blood vitality appeared on his face, and his aura subtly strengthened.

With a whoosh, the black wind twisted again, leaving a talisman on the floor, emanating a potent, indescribable malevolence.

“This talisman contains the Evil Flame Technique. Placing it in water might dispel the true water talisman.”

The voice was grim. “When the time comes, give this talisman to the young man and have him plant it in the water.”

“Yes, Master!”

After the living corpse withdrew,

“Having ambushed a few pirates, it’s time to attend to my own affairs.”

“The owner of Qianshan Island… is said to have been one of the foremost entering-the-Tao experts in the past. Just one step from the realm of Dharma propagation, he once killed a Grandmaster whose vital energy and blood were as vast as the sea in the blink of an eye.”

Inside the side room, an elderly Taoist sat cross-legged, silently thinking:

“It is said two hundred years are nearing, the Celestial Grotto route will open, and the seas will soon be contested… This true talisman lasts a hundred years without dispersing; it must be sealed by a treasure talisman. If I could obtain this treasure talisman and comprehend it, my entry into the Way would be within reach!”

(The chapter ends.)