Chapter Nineteen: Bronze Skin and Iron Bones, Impervious to Blades and Spears!

On the Tree of Longevity, the previously indistinct swelling finally unfurled, stretching out into a new branch.

“Add a point—Bronze Skin!”

After a brief consideration, Bai Xuan chose to invest further into Bronze Skin. As his cultivation intent merged with the tree, a new branch swiftly grew, its leaves lush and green, yet bearing a deep, coppery sheen, as if utterly indestructible. Upon it, two archaic seal characters appeared: “Bronze Skin.”

Shhh!

The skin across his body tightened, as if it had undergone hundreds of temperings and grindings, becoming tougher and taking on a bronze hue. Beneath the skin, the layer of azure scales grew more distinct, even showing subtle patterns.

Boom!

He struck out with his palm, and the iron-black hand grew ever deeper in hue, signifying stronger blood energy concentration and increased power.

“As expected, with the path of body refinement unlocked, I can directly add points to my body-strengthening techniques. Each increment yields an immediate and tangible effect.”

Bai Xuan was overjoyed.

Of course, this did not mean he could forgo training. The abilities granted by the path of body refinement could be layered upon his physical cultivation; the stronger he became, the more formidable the compounded effects of the path.

“At this rate, I’ll steadily advance toward my third blood-energy breakthrough.”

A third breakthrough in blood-energy was enough to captain a great ship, even to start from nothing and build an ocean-going vessel. On these vast seas, aside from grandmasters, achieving a third blood-energy breakthrough was exceedingly rare.

In a short time, Bai Xuan’s strength had reached heights unattainable for most. With the path of body refinement open, his power would leap forward dramatically in the near future.

…

“Have you heard? The shipyard was robbed—by some rising pirate gang called Starhunter.”

“I have! Last night the shipyard went up in flames—they seized two ships and torched the rest, brazen beyond belief!”

Outside the small courtyard, fishermen passing in their boats discussed the news.

“Won’t the authorities do something?”

“How could they? They might manage the island, but sending their constables to battle Starhunter pirates at sea? That’s beyond them!”

The fishermen shook their heads.

“The shipyard burned?”

Bai Xuan listened closely, his expression shifting.

Moments later, Bai Xuan stood atop a high point, gazing at the shipyard. There were still two large ships there, one being the Bai family’s whaling vessel. The place was scorched black, clearly heavily damaged, with workers everywhere struggling to repair what was left.

Last night, Starhunter pirates had stormed the shipyard at Thousand Mountains Island, boasting several third blood-energy experts, even a half-step grandmaster. They overwhelmed all resistance, taking two ships with no one able to stop them.

At the shipyard, women wept bitterly. Seven or eight shipyard workers had been caught up in the chaos and killed, including the shipyard supervisor—a skilled fighter who had reached the third blood-energy breakthrough. He fought three peers that night, but died from exhaustion.

“A third blood-energy master… If I’d been there, I might not have escaped either.”

Bai Xuan felt a chill within.

He had been somewhat complacent, a little too proud of his own strength, but now he was sharply aware of his limitations. Compared to giant whales and grandmasters, he was still far behind.

“There’s still much to cultivate before I can control my own fate.”

The whaling ship’s destruction meant little to him—it was not his vessel, and though there was loss, it did not impede his secluded training. It only meant the whaling ship may not sail for another year.

Not far from the shipyard, Bai Xuanji stood with a grim face, staring at the whaling ship. His hands clenched so tightly his nails pierced his palms, but with his body training, no blood showed.

He had worked so hard to win the whaling ship, ten years of effort, now nearly destroyed overnight!

In fact, he was the first to arrive last night, confronting Starhunter pirates and trying to protect his ship. But ultimately, he failed to overcome them, was struck aside in one blow, and as flames rose, the shipyard was ruined.

“Starhunter pirates!”

On Bai Xuanji’s upright, resolute face, a deeply hidden madness emerged. “If I had the strength of the medicine of Tai Sui, how could I have lost the Kaiyang? And those people in the family… Status, power, I will seize them all back!”

He cast a long look at the shipyard, then turned and strode away without a backward glance.

…

After returning home, Bai Xuan resumed his diligent training.

He discovered that acquiring cultivation intent for the body refinement path was much like the fisherman’s path—it could theoretically be increased by one point every five days. Yet the human body had its limits; one could not train endlessly in a day. Moving blood-energy for one or two hours required a halt, lest one overreach.

Thus, it typically took ten days to accumulate a single point of cultivation intent.

“Every morning, I spend two hours fishing. After noon, I rest at home or fish aboard the boat. At dusk, Uncle Li brings medicinal meals, and that’s when I begin my body training.”

“Now, the second point of cultivation intent has formed.”

“Tree of Longevity, add a point!”

With a tap, a fresh green leaf blossomed on the body refinement branch, radiating a cold, steely glow, as if ringing with metallic resonance.

On it, two characters: “Iron Bone.”

At that moment, every bone in Bai Xuan’s body itched, as if countless ants crawled through him. After a moment, he clenched his fist and found his pant legs an inch shorter.

The power of Iron Bone could stimulate his bones to grow anew!

In this life, by old standards, Bai Xuan was only about one meter seventy-five, appearing quite youthful. But with Iron Bone’s blessing, it wouldn’t be long before he could rival Lü Bu, bearing the physique of a demon god.

“Yet, comparatively… Bronze Skin is still the most effective.”

He calculated silently. Iron Bone was good, but lacked a matching external martial art. Even with its boost, his bones merely hardened and grew taller. But Bronze Skin could directly enhance his Azure Scale Technique and Iron Sand Palm—after a few points, Iron Bone might add ten centimeters in height, but Bronze Skin would elevate his body refinement skills to a whole new level!

“Continue cultivation.”

In that humble courtyard, Bai Xuan rose early and worked late, never ceasing his arduous practice.

Autumn had arrived; as time passed, the weather grew colder, leaves fell, the autumn wind whistled—each day colder than the last.

But Bai Xuan’s strength grew with every passing day!

…

Late autumn.

A layer of fallen leaves covered the courtyard wall, long uncleaned. Suddenly, a rustling sounded—someone was sweeping the leaves away. Moments later, the wall was cleared, and a figure vaulted over.

“This place is so run-down, probably no one has lived here for ages. Perfect for hiding—don’t want that old woman to catch me.”

The newcomer stood eight feet tall, his face marked by a knife scar, exuding a ruthless aura earned by living on the edge of the blade. At his waist hung a long saber, its hilt tightly wrapped in cloth—proof of seasoned experience. Without the cloth, blood could slick the handle, making it slippery, and in a critical moment, that could cost one’s life.

He was a desperate outlaw.

The swordsman was highly alert; with a few breaths, he noticed the well inside the yard bore no fallen leaves, and in the corner stood a large cauldron, filled with iron sand, covered in dust.

“It seems someone still lives here—practicing Iron Sand Palm?”

He laid his hand on the saber at his waist, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.

Someone was here?

If so, he’d kill them.

He quickly climbed the steps toward the side room, his footsteps light. Wetting his fingers with spit, he smeared the paper window and peered inside.

The hall was empty.

“No one?”

He frowned, when suddenly a creaking sounded from behind—the wooden gate opening.

“No door to hell, yet you enter. Today’s your unlucky day—bad timing. Next life, be born better!”

The swordsman wasted no time.

As he heard the voice, he spun like a whirlwind, three throwing knives flashing out—the blades tinged with dark green, clearly laced with deadly poison.

Not finished, he grabbed his saber and, like a fierce tiger, lunged forward, drawing the blade and slashing at the newcomer!

Strike before seeing—kill first, ask questions later!

“What ruthless swordsmanship.”

The three knives shot forth, but the newcomer’s form flickered, slipping through the gap like a slick shark.

“Not even asking my name before trying to kill me?”

The newcomer’s expression turned cold.

The swordsman’s full-power strike unleashed his blood-energy, distorting the air around him. On his arm, a fierce tiger tattoo appeared!

Second blood-energy surge—Savage Tiger Saber Technique!