Chapter 75: Gazing Upon the Sea’s Vastness, Comprehending the Serpent Manifestation Scroll

Before long, Bai Xuan arrived before a grand structure. It was clear that this place had once been a natural cavern, but now it had been hewn from the mountain, built against the slope, its enormous stone doors sealed shut. On either side stood more than a dozen martial experts, their bodies radiating vigorous life force, standing guard.

“This is the Bai Family’s Hall of Martial Practice,” Bai Xuan looked up.

Above the hall, two massive characters loomed, seemingly carved in mid-air upon the heavy mountainside with condensed energy and blood—Bai Clan.

At that moment—

“Bai Xuan, you’re here.” Bai Xuanji approached in haste, looking fatigued. In his eyes lingered a trace of formidable energy, as if he had just finished his own meditation.

He was about to leave, just in time to exchange places with Bai Xuan.

Seeing Bai Xuanji leading Bai Xuan in, the other Bai family disciples stepped aside to make way.

“Go in and study, but mind the time. If you haven’t reached the Blood Tempering stage, meditating too long may cause your energy to stagnate and harm you. Each month you have three days for study—use them up and you’ll have to wait until next month to return,” a tall man reminded him coldly.

“This is Chief Guardian Bai Jiu,” Bai Xuanji said.

“Uncle Bai Jiu,” Bai Xuan greeted.

The name was simple, but the man’s aura was powerful, faintly showing signs of having stepped into the Blood Tempering level.

“So you’re Bai Xuan? Three breakthroughs in your life force by the age of sixteen—truly a genius among geniuses.”

“Work hard. The future of the family rests with your generation.” On Bai Jiu’s icy face, a faint smile appeared with effort. Clearly, he bore no personal grudges; his indifference was simply inborn. Yet for this young prodigy, he tried to show a hint of goodwill.

“Go inside.”

Soon, Bai Xuan entered the vast stone chamber. It spanned nearly a kilometer across, with dozens of people scattered throughout, some standing, some seated, all deep in contemplation.

At the front, a broad scroll hung against the stone wall.

This grand scroll was split in two—the upper half depicted the clouds above, the lower half the surging waves of the sea.

A faint silhouette of a flood dragon seemed to flicker within, yet on closer inspection, there was nothing—only clouds and waves.

“The Azure Flood Dragon Diagram of the Four Seas!” Bai Xuan immediately recognized it as the Bai family’s fundamental martial visualization chart.

“First, I should meditate on the complete martial chart,” Bai Xuan decided, calm and composed.

He found a spot, sat down, and focused his gaze.

...

Half a day passed swiftly.

“How profound,” Bai Xuan marveled inwardly.

When he’d trained with that lone scale and claw earlier, he’d mastered it in moments—but that had been a master’s reproduction, infused with all of their understanding.

But this complete Azure Flood Dragon Diagram was different—the flood dragon itself was never clearly revealed, changing each time he looked at it.

“The creator of this chart must have surpassed the Blood Tempering realm,” Bai Xuan thought, his current power allowing him to sense as much.

“No matter—I have my own methods.” A faint blue light glimmered in Bai Xuan’s eyes.

Ocean Gaze, Celestial Phenomena.

These two abilities let him see through water and observe the changing sky. Now, as he focused on the Azure Flood Dragon Diagram, the clouds and waves seemed to flow, and the dragon’s shadow grew faintly distinct.

“As I expected—even though my eyes can pierce through the White Lotus Sect’s visualization charts, this one is far more difficult,” Bai Xuan considered.

His Ocean Gaze and Celestial Phenomena skills greatly enhanced his sight, aiding his meditation on the Azure Flood Dragon Diagram. Yet the chart’s original author had likely surpassed the Blood Tempering level—Bai Xuan’s current strength was far from enough to fully decipher its secrets.

“Longevity Tree!” Bai Xuan called forth the Longevity Dao Tree within his mind.

“Allocate points to Ocean Gaze!”

Without hesitation, Bai Xuan focused all his attention, choosing to strengthen his Ocean Gaze first.

He had already amassed five points at sea. At the Weapon Forging Villa, though limited in his opportunities to fish, he’d gained two more. On his return journey, he’d gathered another six. Now, he possessed a total of thirteen points of Dao Insight.

With a single thought, he poured them into Ocean Gaze.

A surge of energy—on the Longevity Dao Tree, the branch representing Ocean Gaze grew wildly, sending out shoots and leaves, waves rippling beneath, with the faint silhouettes of fish swimming—a tiny ocean manifesting there.

Ocean Gaze (Great Achievement, Progress: Eight out of Ten)!

With a rush, Bai Xuan’s quicksilver blood surged through his body, flooding his eyes as if a second set of eyes opened within them.

In an instant, he saw reflected the boundless sea, rolling waves.

“With this, my meditation on the Azure Flood Dragon Diagram should be much more effective,” Bai Xuan adjusted to his enhanced vision.

Now, in his eyes, the section of the scroll depicting the waves became much clearer. The dragon’s shadow shifted constantly, as if trying to escape his gaze, but always remained within his grasp.

“There are a total of... one thousand six hundred and seventy transformations of life force!” Bai Xuan was shocked.

His previous understanding of energy manipulation was still at the level of the Abyssal Body Refinement Art; to refine every muscle and sinew was the pinnacle of achievement. Yet the transformations within the Azure Flood Dragon Diagram were truly terrifying—it was as if one’s energy and blood underwent a subtle metamorphosis, armor and weapons of blood becoming almost alive!

“Continue meditating.”

Bai Xuan immersed himself in contemplation. His life force shifted constantly, but he used the sealing technique from the Seven Seas Profound Gate Life Protection Method, locking his energy within the bronze skin, not letting a trace escape.

...

Several days passed in a flash.

“Bai Xuan!”

“Bai Xuan!”

A voice grew louder and louder until it finally roused Bai Xuan from his trance.

“You’ve been meditating here for three days. No matter what, you must leave now. You may return in a month at the earliest!” Bai Jiu’s expression was grave.

It was the first time he’d seen someone enter and sit motionless for three days, not leaking a single drop of life force—he had almost thought Bai Xuan was dead.

Bai Jiu’s concern was deep—the family didn’t produce geniuses like this every day. If one perished in meditation before the Flood Dragon Diagram, it would be an immense tragedy.

“I understand,” Bai Xuan replied, rising to his feet.

Only then did he notice the gnawing hunger in his belly—he had completely forgotten to eat during his meditation.

Having just advanced his Ocean Gaze to great mastery, the expenditure had been tremendous. Now, with half his life force depleted, he was ravenous and parched.

“It’s definitely time for a break,” Bai Xuan thought, hurrying from the Hall of Martial Practice, invigorated.

“So this is the complete foundational martial visualization chart... It’s not just a technique for attack—or not only that—but a guide for martial artists at the Blood Tempering level, pointing the way for further cultivation!”

Though his energy was drained, when he gathered it, it was as if vast waves surged within him—far stronger than before.