Chapter Sixty-Four: Abyssal Body-Tempering Technique—Blood Like Liquid Mercury!

For martial artists who have not yet broken through the threshold of life and death, still refining their vital energy, mastering this scaled claw is as difficult as reaching the heavens. Bai Xuanji, whose skills were all centered in his palms, had studied this diagram of the scaled clawed dragon day and night, constantly cultivating, yet had never truly crossed this barrier or mastered the Green Dragon Claw.

But at this moment, Bai Xuan, within a brief span, saw the claw take form—its color like bronze, solid and real, and with a casual movement it could tear through the air, producing a haunting whistling sound.

“This is also because my copper skin has reached perfection,” Bai Xuan understood well.

With his perfected copper skin, any hardening technique involving changes in the skin was twice as effective, as with the Iron Sand Palm, which in a short time he had brought to its peak.

Swish!

Bai Xuan activated the Iron Sand Palm; his right hand bore a dark blue palm print, faintly glowing, capable of shattering steel—unbreakable. Yet compared to the Green Dragon Claw, this palm print seemed crude, like a piece of unhewn iron or stone.

Boom!

He brought the two together; the Green Dragon Claw moved with ferocity, tearing the dark blue iron print apart as easily as cutting cloth!

“Indeed, without true inheritance, relying solely on this fifty-tael silver palm technique is utterly insufficient to contend,” Bai Xuan mused.

He had only just begun to grasp the Green Dragon Claw, yet could already shatter the perfected Iron Sand Palm. The gap between the two was simply immeasurable.

“If I continue to cultivate the Green Dragon Claw, it will only grow more terrifying with time. Eventually, it will truly resemble a dragon’s claw—capable of seizing a great whale single-handedly.”

No wonder. The Azure Scale Technique was the foundation of Bai Xuan’s hardening martial arts, with seventy percent of his martial prowess invested in it. The Four Seas Azure Sky Dragon Diagram was the fundamental martial visualization for the Azure Scale Technique; its power was not something any ordinary hardening method could compare to.

Two hurried days passed. Bai Xuan’s internal injuries were all healed by the jade marrow; his vital energy flowed like a stream, his strength reaching a peak.

“It’s time to visit Liu Ruyi,” Bai Xuan’s figure flickered and vanished from the boat.

Now, with his vital energy condensed, having broken through the threshold between life and death, his bodily functions were supported by this condensed energy, making him even faster—three times swifter than before.

…

Liu Ruyi’s forge.

Bang, bang, bang!

Liu Ruyi wielded a massive hammer, diligently refining and forging the fish spear.

At this moment, the divine weapon embryo forged from the mysterious iron of the deep sea was gradually suppressing its terrifying chill, indicating it was about to take shape—nearing completion.

“To witness the forging of this divine weapon firsthand is truly exhilarating,” murmured Lu Ming, his eyes burning with hope as he sat nearby.

The heat of the forge could not drive him away; with the Extreme Abyss Body Tempering Technique, neither deep water nor blazing flames could harm him.

In his eyes, this spear carried his aspirations, the intent left behind by his former self.

Once this spear is forged, what of the demon shark?

“Perhaps, one day, this spear will pierce that demon shark!”

Swish!

“The Whale Hunter has arrived,”

Both stopped what they were doing, rising as the figure entered.

“I accept your mission, but I have three conditions,” Bai Xuan said bluntly, his voice low and hoarse. “First, give me the Extreme Abyss Body Tempering Technique. Second, pay one thousand taels of silver up front. Third, whether to act and when to act is at my discretion.”

He opened his mouth wide, demanding more than half the reward in one breath, without even mentioning what he would do for Lu Ming.

“This…” Liu Ruyi could not help but marvel at such terms. Was there ever such a partner?

“Agreed!” Lu Ming didn’t hesitate. His eyes shone, “With your resolve, I am reassured. What harm is there in giving these first?”

“Two thousand taels in reward; today, I will pay you in advance.”

Without hesitation, he handed over two silver drafts of a thousand taels each, along with a thick tome, to Bai Xuan.

“Truly chivalrous,” Bai Xuan silently nodded.

He took the Extreme Abyss Body Tempering Technique and vanished from the spot in a flash.

“I feel as though his strength has grown even more terrifying,” Liu Ruyi said, pausing his forging in confusion.

He could sense it…

Standing before Bai Xuan was like standing before a volcano about to erupt!

This was no longer a mundane sensation, but an aura of immense, destructive power.

“I feel it too,” Lu Ming’s eyes were full of hope. “To have met such an owner for the fish spear in my lifetime—what fortune!”

He had no concerns about Bai Xuan’s strength; the stronger Bai Xuan grew, the more advantageous for him.

…

On the boat.

“This Extreme Abyss Body Tempering Technique is truly formidable,” Bai Xuan was leafing through the book.

It was a compendium of all techniques, representing the ultimate hardening method.

If mastered, it could continually make up for deficiencies in every aspect—a peerless hardening technique.

“The book says the key to cultivation lies in the blood.”

“The Sea God Sect regards blood as the root of all things, the source of the vast ocean; thus, every secret technique is related to blood.”

“For example, feeding demon sharks with blood—when blood is abundant, one can continually cultivate hardening techniques; but if lacking, progress is stalled.”

Bai Xuan’s mind stirred.

Within his Longevity Dao Tree, the final hardening ability was Mercury Blood.

Up until now, apart from Mercury Blood, every hardening skill had been raised to mastery, leaving only this final gap.

“It’s time to fill this defect.”

“Longevity Tree!”

Since setting out to sea, a month had passed, and he had only enhanced his jade marrow.

With a thought, the Longevity Dao Tree appeared, and the remaining two points of Dao intent merged into it.

Instantly, among the branches of the hardening path, a new leaf sprouted, flashing briefly before rapidly growing bright, displaying a heavy crimson flow like a vast ocean!

Mercury Blood (Mastery)!

Blood like mercury—meaning blood that is incomparably dense, flowing like liquid silver, carrying profound potential.

At this moment, Bai Xuan’s blood coursed throughout his body with a rushing sound, like a mighty river!

Boom! Boom!

His heart beat powerfully, his golden organs operating, providing tremendous support to pump the heavy, vigorous blood into every vein.

Mercury Blood was dense, placing great strain on the body. Without jade marrow, it was difficult to bear the pressure of blood creation.

Without golden organs, even the heart would struggle to pump the blood throughout the body.

But now—

“What immense power,” Bai Xuan raised his hand, hearing his vital energy surge like an engine roaring, propelling his blood.

“The Sea God Sect has a technique, Sea God Body Protection, to accelerate blood flow.”

Bai Xuan’s eyes filled with delight.

“But I no longer need such techniques. With natural blood flow alone, I can surpass the effects of Sea God Body Protection.”

He moved, transforming into a faint shadow that nearly dispersed into the air.

Boom!

A wave rolled through the sky; a faint shadow took a step and, with a swish, appeared on the deck.