Chapter Sixty-Two: Half-Step Grandmaster, Vitality Like a Stream!

Bai Xuan presently found himself in a secluded house, nestled deep within an ancient forest at the edge of Forging Weapons Manor. The house, long abandoned, was now worn and dilapidated; under the illumination of his vital energy, waves of heat swept through, stirring up the dust.

A crimson serpent, majestic and resplendent in its coloring, slithered lazily across the doorframe, flicking its tongue without concern. This serpent, long accustomed to Bai Xuan feeding it, showed no aggression toward him; yet, should any intruder trespass, a single bite would surely be fatal.

“First, ingest the secret venom of the red serpent.”

Bai Xuan smeared the crimson ointment on dozens of acupoints across his body, then swallowed a small portion. Instantly, it was as if sharp silver needles had pierced each acupoint, stabilizing his vital energy and preventing it from running wild and killing him. Within his abdomen, his golden organs churned, inner breath stimulated by the red serpent’s venom; it felt as though he had swallowed a block of ice, but within that ice, a smoldering flame burned. In a flash, it steadied his dantian, rendering it more stable than ever!

“Step Two: Taisui Elixir Refining!”

With a flick of his wrist, Bai Xuan produced a Taisui refining pill. The pill appeared dark and opaque, yet within it faint glimmers of light flowed, as if condensed to the extreme from vital energy. The moment it touched air, wisps of mist seemed to swirl around it.

This pill contained potent vital energy, capable of doubling the energy of a master who had broken through three times.

Bai Xuan tilted his head back and swallowed the pill.

Boom!

His golden organs, far more powerful than those of ordinary martial artists, instantly dissolved the Taisui pill. Suddenly, it felt as if a fireball had erupted from his abdomen, unleashing boundless light and heat that surged into his limbs and every vessel!

Vital energy!

It was pure, terrifying, powerful—like ten galloping horses, or the strength of an entire herd of cattle, bursting forth!

Bai Xuan’s golden organs circulated his inner breath, steadying his organs. The red serpent’s secret venom activated at every acupoint, like dozens of silver needles pinning inside and out, preventing him from being overwhelmed.

“The moment of breakthrough has arrived.”

A fierce light flashed in Bai Xuan’s eyes.

With a single thought, his vital energy surged forth, accumulating rapidly, rising to its peak. Suddenly, it burned wildly like a furnace, filling the entire house in an instant!

In the next moment, his eyes turned azure. His vital energy contracted, drawing in like a giant whale drinking water—all of it swallowed in a single breath.

That one breath contained all of Bai Xuan’s vital energy, refined to its utmost!

“Break.”

Bai Xuan’s heart suddenly grew calm.

In that instant, it was as if some invisible barrier was shattered in midair. A crisp cracking sound echoed; Bai Xuan struck out with his palm, vital energy coursing through his limbs and chest. Within his palm, a vague imprint appeared!

That palm imprint was no longer mere energy, but a ray of refined vital energy, slicing through the air!

Crack!

The house’s main beam was struck by this energy and split apart, the entire building trembling as if it would collapse under a single blow!

But at that critical moment, as Bai Xuan released the palm imprint, his vital energy seemed to have cleared the internal and external gates, nearly flooding out and dissipating into the outside world.

At this moment, his vital energy was collapsing.

The Gate of Life and Death, the Gate of Life and Death.

The barrier Bai Xuan had just broken through was the “Gate of Life,” gathering vital energy throughout his body to transform it into real power.

Now, however, he faced the “Gate of Death.”

To clear the internal and external gates, the most difficult step was the Gate of Death. The Gate of Life could be safeguarded with secret venoms and techniques, but at the Gate of Death, as vital energy collapsed, only his own hard-trained body could withstand it.

If he made it through, even if gravely injured, he would preserve his life and cultivation. If not, he would perish.

“This step, all four grandmasters’ teachings repeatedly emphasized.”

Bai Xuan remained composed.

“Seven Seas Vital Gate Life-Protection Technique, activate!”

Boom!

At the instant his vital energy began collapsing, Bai Xuan’s skin surfaced with powerful azure scales, resembling a bronze deity—profound and mysterious.

In a flash, his skin contracted inward, sealing every pore, locking heaven and earth, shutting off all escape routes!

With that contraction, his vital energy stopped dissipating, every bit trapped within, unable to leak out!

In that moment, a phantom door appeared before Bai Xuan’s eyes, hazy and indistinct.

Without hesitation, Bai Xuan stepped through the door. Instantly, his vital energy gathered again, condensing into a stream like a small creek!

…

Outside the door.

Several young sailors stood guard, hearing thunderous sounds from within, as if something was falling and the house’s beams threatened to break, the whole structure on the verge of collapse.

They were all alarmed, but Bai Xuan had ordered that no one enter during his breakthrough.

So, even as their hearts raced with confusion and fear, the sailors clenched their teeth and stood firm, not moving a step.

After a moment, silence returned to the house. With a creak, Bai Xuan pushed the door open and stepped out.

His face was pale, clearly suffering some internal injury, but his spirit remained steady; his gaze swept over them calmly.

“Boatswain, did you break through…?” one sailor ventured, worried Bai Xuan might have failed and was injured, judging by his appearance.

“Breakthrough?” Bai Xuan looked over and smiled faintly.

He raised his hand, and vital energy flared up like flame; his eyes shimmered azure!

“Excellent! Splendid! The boatswain has broken through the third vital energy limit!”

“The boatswain is truly a peerless genius—now he can lead an entire vessel as captain!”

The sailors were elated.

Little did they know…

“Third vital energy breakthrough? I am no longer at that stage,” Bai Xuan replied calmly; though his heart brimmed with quiet joy.

Arriving at this point, everything fell into place.

Now, his vital energy was deeply restrained, only a stream like a small creek flowing through his meridians.

That creek of vital energy contained strength ten times greater than before, surpassing all previous limits. If unleashed, it could shatter anything, instantly slaughtering a master of three breakthroughs!

Vital energy like a stream!

This was the first stage of the Grandmaster realm. In truth, as soon as one passed through the Gate of Life and Death, they stood above all others, having transcended the refining of force and reached the stage of refining blood.

Yet, as the vital energy had not yet enveloped the entire body, there remained flaws—thus, this phase was often called “half-step Grandmaster,” signifying cultivation not yet perfected, just half a step short.

“I thought I’d need the Longevity Dao Tree, but unexpectedly, I managed to cross this threshold on my own.”

Bai Xuan felt a measure of relief.

It had been a month since he set out to sea, and he still had two points of hardening Dao insight in reserve for emergencies.

Even if he failed to break through, he could compensate at a critical moment.

But now, he had succeeded.

“Next, I must replenish my vital energy and further enhance my strength!”

At this moment, Bai Xuan’s stomach was empty, hunger gnawing at him—a sign of recent breakthrough. Most of his vital energy had been consumed, and his internal injuries were considerable.