Chapter Two: The Tree of Immortality, Power Multiplied!

"This is..."
As the terror faded, Bai Xuan felt a surge of joy rising in his heart.
"Such a familiar tree!"
He had a memory of it in his mind. In his previous life, just before he crossed over, he had picked up a bronze tree covered in verdigris from an antique market, said to have been unearthed from the bottom of the Yellow Sea.
Judging by its exquisite craftsmanship, Bai Xuan had thought at the time that it was either from the Shang or Zhou dynasty, or perhaps just freshly dug out from some factory’s old stock.
But now...
“This tree is actually real.”
Bai Xuan calmed himself, not rushing to invest any points just yet.
Sweeping his gaze around, he noticed that all the sailors nearby looked weary, chatting and calling out as they headed below deck in small groups.
Not a single one glanced his way, as if they hadn’t seen the Longevity Tree at all.
“So only I can see it. It seems, then, that this is my golden finger in this new life.”
Bai Xuan took a deep breath, composed his expression, and walked down to the cabin.
...
By evening,
The fishermen had finished their meal; a big pot of fish and shrimp was steamed on board, and dry provisions softened in hot water—a hasty meal to get by.
Bai Xuan, having exerted himself too much during the day, now ate until his belly was round and full.
Though the fish, shrimp, and rations were far from tasty, mainly for lack of proper seasoning and spices, they were still fresh, so the taste wasn’t too bad.
Once sated, a wave of warmth rose from his stomach.
“People are iron, food is steel—one really does need to eat their fill to have strength.”
“Just now, during the meal, I learned that those demon fish are quite common in these chaotic seas. Some hide in the nets, waiting to snatch a victim; some even crawl aboard at night to drag people into the water…”
As for their origin, the old sailors on the ship didn’t know—only that martial arts could fend them off.
“To resist such danger, I must have the power to protect myself.”
A sense of urgency welled up in Bai Xuan’s heart. Returning to his own cabin, he focused his mind, and in an instant, the Longevity Tree appeared before him again.
He was meticulous by nature; considering that displaying any power outside might cause unusual phenomena to be noticed by the deputy captain or other seasoned hands—who were all sharp and shrewd—he waited until he was safely in his cabin before summoning it. With a single thought, a mysterious and profound energy surged into the branch labeled “Fisherman.”
Instantly—
A bud swiftly sprouted on that branch, unfurling a verdant green leaf.
At the same moment, Bai Xuan felt his entire body tense; heat surged through his arms, the day’s fatigue melting away in just a few breaths, and his muscles swelled subtly.
Clenching his fists, he felt a sudden rush of strength!

“So that’s how it is!”
With focused attention, Bai Xuan saw that faint lines, like veins, appeared on the leaf, with power flowing through it, and two archaic characters emerged: “Trawling Net.”
“Trawling Net (Beginner 1%).”
But that wasn’t all.
Bang!
Planting his feet, Bai Xuan tensed his muscles.
The strength used for trawling relies on planting both feet firmly on the deck, powering up from the legs, engaging the spine, hunching the back, and contracting the chest muscles to form a single coordinated whole.
Now, as Bai Xuan pressed his feet down and exerted himself, every muscle in his body braced; he felt as though a kind of muscle memory had been instilled in him, as if he had hauled nets dozens or even hundreds of times, with not a trace of awkwardness!
“I’d wager even seasoned sailors with years of experience are only about as skilled as I am now.”
Finally, Bai Xuan relaxed a little.
On the Longevity Tree, just the single “Fisherman” branch contained seven skills: Shark Combat, Trawling Net, Aquatic Prowess, Swimming, Sea Watching, Steering, and Navigating by the Heavens.
And just by unlocking Trawling Net, his physical state had changed drastically.
With this ability, he could feel more at ease aboard ship; perhaps, relying on this Longevity Tree, he could shield himself from harm and avoid being devoured by demon fish!
Growl...
Despite having just eaten, his stomach now rumbled with sudden hunger.
Evidently, even with the secrets of the Longevity Tree, using a point in this way still drained his own bodily energy.
“I’ll go get another bite.”
Bai Xuan got up and slipped out for more food.
No one cared if he ate a little extra fish or shrimp on board; the real problem would be lacking the strength to work.
...
Several hurried days passed, and the whaling ship ventured deeper into the sea.
From dawn till dusk, Bai Xuan toiled endlessly at fishing. Ever since he unlocked Trawling Net, he had naturally mastered all the techniques of casting and hauling the nets, on par with the veteran seamen.
Of course, he remained cautious, hiding his true abilities and not letting his efficiency increase too much, yet among the other young recruits, he was still considered outstanding.
In the cabin,
“List these nine as official sailors, and pay them full wages this afternoon. As for the others, withhold half their pay.”
Bai Tiannian gave his orders.
Beside him, a clerk quickly jotted down the names; among the nine, Bai Xuan’s name was clearly inscribed.
The newcomers’ performances over the past few days had all been observed by Bai Tiannian, and naturally he hadn’t overlooked Bai Xuan. In his eyes, Bai Xuan ranked in the middle of these nine—worthy of further observation and potential promotion.
That afternoon—
“I’ve been promoted to the ranks of official sailors?”

A trace of delight flashed in Bai Xuan’s heart.
An official sailor was a full employee of the whaling ship, with double the wages of the temporary hands—an impressive two hundred coins a day!
Though two hundred coins might not seem much, in the current Song Dynasty, it could buy twenty catties of rice—enough to ensure a worry-free life. Moreover, with little to spend on board, after a year’s work, one could save enough to build two tile-roofed houses—enough to start a family.
“No matter the world or the era, one must always save money; otherwise, there’s no peace of mind.”
Bai Xuan carefully tucked the two hundred coins into the lining of his waistband.
“Bai Xuan, Brother Zhou and the others want to have some fun tonight—are you coming below decks?”
A fellow youth sidled up and whispered.
Bai Xuan glanced up and saw, a short distance away, several veteran sailors sitting by the rail, each with a blade at their waist—clearly the elite among the crew—and at this moment, their eyes turned in his direction.
“No, thank you.”
Bai Xuan refused without hesitation.
So-called fun meant gambling; among fishermen, there was little entertainment on board besides work—at night, they gambled.
“Suit yourself.”
The youth gave a dismissive smile. Life on a fishing vessel had its own hierarchy; in areas where the officers didn’t interfere, it was the law of the jungle. In his eyes, mingling with the veteran sailors was the true way forward.
Bai Xuan remained calm.
Everyone had their own way of living. Even when he was idle these days, he never wasted time.
At night, lying alone in his berth, homesick and restless, he would get up and do fifty push-ups or other bodyweight exercises, sweating away his loneliness and melancholy.
After a week, he had fully mastered the strength granted by the Longevity Tree—and even improved a little more!
...
Early the next morning.
Bang, bang, bang!
“Come out and assemble!”
Knocking so early—wouldn’t let anyone sleep in?
Bai Xuan was bleary-eyed at first, but with a moment’s focus, he quickly awakened, rolled out of bed, and went out the door. On deck, he saw the sky glowing pale and white—it was clearly dawn.
At the bow,
Third Mate Bai Tiannian stood tall and proud. Moments later, the nine youths who had just been made official sailors the day before gathered on deck. Only then did he clasp his hands behind his back and announce in a deep voice:
“You are all now official sailors. Today, I will teach you the Bai family’s true legacy of body refinement—”
“Azure Scale Technique!”
As he spoke, a faint blue sheen, like scales, suddenly appeared on his arms, reflecting the morning light and ringing with a sound like clashing iron.