Chapter Ten: Leaks in the Night, the Onslaught of the Leviathan

"Complete mastery of vital energy and blood—Body-Refining Grandmaster!" Bai Yunxi slowly uttered these eight words.

"The Black Pirates are indeed formidable. Our Bai family admits defeat." At this moment, blood tinged the corner of his mouth—a clear sign that his internal organs had been injured by a strike delivered from a distance. Even after his third breakthrough in vital energy and blood, he could not withstand the opponent’s casual blow.

Complete mastery of vital energy and blood—Body-Refining Grandmaster! In this world of martial arts, after three breakthroughs in the refining of one's energy and blood, taking that final step would make one a grandmaster.

A single breakthrough makes a sailor an elite crewman. Two and one can become the first mate on a whaling ship. Three, and one is fit to be captain. But a grandmaster…

Such individuals are rare; their every movement unleashes explosive power, enough to contend with a giant whale.

At this moment, Bai Yunxi felt unspeakable frustration, his gaze growing dark. A Blood-Refining Grandmaster is said to be the strength of one city, able to scatter a thousand soldiers—an existence terrifying enough to rout an army single-handedly.

Since when did grandmasters become so commonplace? On this lawless sea, has a third breakthrough in energy and blood become so insignificant?

He could only direct his men to bring out the silver from the storeroom—no less than seven hundred taels—which he allowed the pirates to haul away.

"This is how it should be. This amount is nothing; rules must not be broken. Give and take, and there’s no need for hard feelings," Luo Yun said coldly. With a flip of his hand, he drew out a copper token, which he suddenly hurled toward the deck. With a clang, it embedded itself deeply.

"For one year, you are exempt from raids and penalties by the Black Pirates. If anyone makes a move against you, you know how to find me, don’t you?"

"Yes, Master Luo," Bai Yunxi replied, pocketing the token. His tone had grown far more subdued.

He had no choice but to show respect; a body-refining grandmaster is a top figure anywhere. The Bai family’s own grandmaster was revered by all as the old master. Besides, Luo Yun was still young—likely not yet forty.

"Let’s go!" With a shift, Luo Yun vanished into the distance. Moments later, three Black Pirate ships broke formation, raised their sails, and departed without a backward glance.

"So that’s a grandmaster?" In the cabin, Bai Xuan had also witnessed the scene.

"Truly domineering and invincible—he suppressed the entire whaling ship single-handedly, destroyed the harpoon cannon, and no one could resist him."

Bai Xuan was only a lowly first-class sailor, completely unremarkable among the crew, so naturally, no one noticed him.

"One must have strength," Bai Xuan yearned in his heart. "I wonder about the path represented by the Azure Scale Technique—how can I begin to walk it?"

"After returning to the island, I must find a way to obtain another true transmission of body-refining arts!"

At this time, at the foredeck—

"The harpoon cannon is destroyed as well; we need to return to the island for repairs," said First Mate Bai Xuanji, after inspecting the cannon and shaking his head.

He was around forty, stood nine feet tall, his expression stern and naturally commanding, and his practice of the Azure Scale Technique had also reached the third breakthrough in energy and blood. But he was usually low-key aboard, since Bai Yunxi held power with an iron grip; the first mate rarely spoke.

"This whaling expedition is a failure—a heavy loss."

Bai Yunxi’s expression was unpleasant. This would affect his standing within the Bai family and severely damage his reputation; he would not be able to hold his head high for some time.

Two failed whaling expeditions in a row?

"Return home?" He was unwilling, but with the harpoon cannon lost, it was like losing an arm. More importantly, the giant whale was nowhere to be found.

…

Three days later, as dusk approached—

"We’ll soon be back on the island. I’ll spend all my wages from the past few months and find a few women!"

"Look at you—aren’t you afraid you’ll rot away down there?"

Most of the sailors lounged in groups of two or three on the deck and along the gunwales, jesting and relaxing. With the voyage home imminent, many felt their tension ease.

Just then—

A sharp and urgent bugle sounded, echoing across the whaling ship!

"Target sighted!"

The entire ship was instantly in turmoil. Bai Xuan stood at the rail, peering into the distance with keen eyes.

On the horizon, a white jet of spray shot from below the water, followed by the faint, hulking silhouette of a gray-black back gliding across the surface.

It rose like a small mountain between sea and sky!

"Gasp…" Anyone seeing such a behemoth for the first time would feel a shock. Bai Xuan took a deep breath.

"The back bears countless sword and blade scars, and even a massive ballista wound—this must be the wounded whale we’ve been hunting," Bai Xuan observed with exceptional clarity, thanks to his keen sight.

Elsewhere—

"Captain, should we flee, or…?" Second Mate Bai Yuanji inquired.

"Flee?" Bai Yunxi let out a breath, a glint of fervor flashing across his face.

"When the prey comes to our door, how could we possibly run?"

A sudden turn of fortune—he had thought their efforts would be in vain, but fate had favored them!

Last time, he had taken a great risk, losing fourteen whalers to badly injure this giant whale. Now, with another chance, how could he retreat?

Even with the harpoon cannon destroyed, this battle must be won!

"The target is rapidly approaching—speed: sixty nautical miles per hour!" shouted the lookout from the mast, panic in his voice.

"What? It’s not fleeing but attacking us instead?"

Bai Yunxi’s pupils contracted with shock, but then he grinned savagely.

"Excellent—whalers, prepare to enter the water!"

…

"The giant whale is attacking?"

"What a cunning beast! The whaling ship searched for months with no sign, and now, with the harpoon cannon destroyed for less than five days, it attacks directly!"

Bai Xuan was shocked as well.

The timing was too precise—it was clearly no coincidence.

Now, the giant whale was swimming rapidly toward the ship, its mountain-like back spraying a column of water that fell as rain—a truly majestic and terrifying sight.

At a glance, it was over thirty meters long, like a small mountain.

"Ready the ship ballistae!"

Third Mate Bai Tiannian had already reached the deck, barking orders.

Besides the main harpoon cannon at the bow, the whaling ship was equipped with ballistae on both sides, capable of piercing armor at eight hundred meters. Only a Blood-Refining Grandmaster could ignore them; for anyone else, a hit meant certain death.

Creak, creak, creak…

Faced with the giant whale, the sailors dared not dally. They quickly rotated the ballistae to target the rapidly approaching behemoth.

But just as the whale neared, it suddenly submerged, its massive body disappearing beneath the surface, sending waves crashing in all directions.

"Target lost!"

"Ballistae can’t lock on!"

The sailors were helpless; powerful as the ballistae were, their effectiveness dropped drastically underwater. Hitting the whale below the surface was nearly impossible.

As everyone scrambled for a solution, a thunderous crash shook the entire ship, tossing sailors across the deck.

"The giant whale is attacking us from below!"

"This is bad—the ship’s going to capsize!"

Chaos reigned.

With a mighty splash, an enormous tail burst from the water and crashed down upon the deck, blotting out the sky.

"Run!"

Panic-stricken, the sailors had no time to escape. With a deafening smash, three were reduced to pulp, and six ballistae were destroyed, their parts flying everywhere!

"How dare you!" Bai Tiannian, consumed by fury, leapt forward, energy and blood surging. With a slash, his blade flashed and blood spurted from the massive tail!

Ballistae fired in rapid succession, a dozen bolts striking the tail and drawing fountains of blood—the whale was clearly badly wounded.

A long, mournful bellow sounded as the tail swept back into the water, raising towering waves. Stung, the whale ceased its assault on the deck, content to batter the hull from below.

The ship rocked violently, the deck tilting steeply. Repeated impacts echoed from below, and even the most optimistic among them turned pale.

At the prow, Captain Bai Yunxi finally drew a deep breath and proclaimed,

"The target has revealed itself—now is the time for the hunt!"

"Whalers, into the water with me!"

"Yes!"

Despite the chaos, more than a dozen skilled whalers stood firm, unmoved by the whale’s attacks.

This ship was built for whaling; its hull would not be breached so easily, nor would it capsize outright.

However, if the giant whale was allowed to attack unchecked, all bets were off. This beast was exceptionally fierce, having already killed twelve whalers before—its strength far exceeded that of ordinary whales.

In such moments, only the whalers could tip the scales; without these mighty practitioners of body-refining arts, who could battle such monsters, the harpoon cannon alone would never bring down a giant whale.

Now, the dozen whalers each swallowed a breath-holding pill, enabling them to stay underwater for a quarter hour, even if not naturally skilled swimmers.

Armor donned! Swords and spears secured!

"Into the sea!" At Bai Yunxi’s command, the whalers leapt without hesitation into the surging waves.