Chapter Ninety: A Stunning Blade, Immortal Talismans!

“These seven throwing knives are all forged from meteorite iron, with excellent quality.” Bai Xuan picked up one of the knives.

The blade was only as long as a finger, remarkably small and delicate, yet when wielded by Peiro, it could transform into a streaking white rainbow, its power terrifying. Peiro carried several such blades on him, but when faced with Bai Xuan’s single strike of the Subsea Spear, they were all shattered instantly. The Subsea Spear was a divine weapon with sentience, fundamentally different from ordinary arms.

Moreover, Bai Xuan’s strength was so formidable that anything struck by him would be utterly destroyed. “Had Peiro possessed a divine throwing knife, his strength would have been greatly enhanced,” Bai Xuan mused, shaking his head.

“Unfortunately, divine throwing knives are not easily acquired.” Divine blades and swords can be forged by many, but throwing knives? They are so small, and to nurture sentience within a blade only a finger’s length is nearly impossible.

“I’ll keep these for now.” Bai Xuan set the seven throwing knives aside and opened the small bottle of elixir.

From within, a faint fragrance wafted out, and just a sniff made his eyes feel noticeably clearer!

“This is…” Bai Xuan could see the elixir’s aura with his eyes.

It was a cool, pale green energy, like spring water, capable of cleansing and brightening the eyes.

“This elixir must be a secret medicine to enhance the eyesight of the user.”

After all, mastering the art of throwing knives requires exceptional vision, able to discern the finest details, allowing for pinpoint accuracy—like an extension of one’s arm—so that even at hundreds of meters, one can strike true.

“Not bad,” Bai Xuan thought. With his abilities of Ocean Gaze and Celestial Insight, stacking this eye-strengthening elixir would make his vision even more formidable.

He then unrolled the five-finger-wide scroll and was moved.

“The secret manual of ‘The Astonishing Swan Knife’!”

This technique was distilled from the essence of the original ‘Mist and Rain Wild Goose Visualization Diagram.’ Peiro had copied it down, both as a summary and an enhancement of his own understanding of the blade.

The scroll was covered in dozens of chaotic lines, yet they hinted at sudden transformations; any combination could unleash a fierce, unpredictable strike from any angle!

“The art of throwing knives is commendable—I favored it in my early strength cultivation days… This Astonishing Swan Knife is well worth studying,” Bai Xuan reflected, appreciating the throwing knife.

Peiro’s death was due to the gap between him and Bai Xuan, not because the throwing knife was ineffective. Any visualization technique could wield immense power; it always depended on the cultivator.

“And now…” Bai Xuan set aside the elixir and picked up the three talismans.

He had never seen talismans written on yellow paper like these—they looked quite ordinary, no different from something a street charlatan might scribble.

But—

“The aura is truly powerful,” Bai Xuan observed.

He could see that the talismans bore a highly condensed energy, almost crystallized into spiritual light, as if ordinary blood and qi had solidified, the brush strokes leaving marks like dragons and snakes on the yellow paper, forming a charm.

Bai Xuan tried injecting his own blood and qi into one, but nothing happened; even a slight movement threatened to tear it apart—the yellow paper was actually quite fragile.

“Perhaps Peiro carried these talismans, but alas… with a single spear strike, nothing remained.”

Bai Xuan was experimenting with the talisman when, unintentionally, as his aura condensed in contemplation, the talisman suddenly glowed faintly!

“Hm?”

“Could it be the aura of Shark Duel?”

Bai Xuan vaguely understood; as he willed his terrifying aura to gather on the talisman, it responded.

In an instant, the talisman’s spiritual light burst forth and shattered, and the surrounding air twisted violently, drawn in and transformed into a raging storm that blew outward!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Bai Xuan felt that though it was wind pressure, the storm extracted and pulled in the oceanic energy nearby, subtly stirring the “force” within dozens of meters, even the entire ship!

“Azure Dragon’s Claw!”

The storm swept out, likely reducing half the captain’s cabin to splinters. At that moment, Bai Xuan’s left palm became the claw of an azure dragon; with a single grasp, the storm shattered, turning into wild winds that swept through the cabin.

Whoosh, whoosh!

The massive creature, the size of a horse, wriggled twice, as if sensing something.

Outside the cabin, two young sailors hurried in. “Captain, what happened?”

“It’s nothing. Go, fetch the highest-ranking prisoner from Peiro’s fleet,” Bai Xuan commanded calmly.

“Yes, Captain!”

The two sailors were buffeted by the gale, forced back two steps, their hearts filled with awe.

The captain could summon wind and rain—how could he produce such a gale in such a confined space?

Moments later, they departed, and Bai Xuan picked up another talisman.

“This talisman… can summon the force of heaven and earth, forming wind pressure to attack the enemy!”

“Its power… Ordinary half-step masters would be unable to withstand it.”

Bai Xuan’s left palm still trembled from the force. These talismans could manipulate the forces of nature, their transformations mysterious and fundamentally different from his blood and qi martial arts.

To explain: Ordinary strength cultivators use their muscles for force, each movement wielding hundreds or thousands of pounds.

Blood cultivators can condense their qi and blood, unleashing slashing power with nothing able to withstand.

Yet these talismans summon the force of heaven and earth—even a trace is terrifying, no less than the might of blood cultivation, perhaps even surpassing it.

“Ordinary blood cultivators would struggle against this talisman—it’s no wonder Peiro valued them so highly.”

Bai Xuan carefully stored away the other two talismans.

Of these two:

One radiated a golden, indestructible aura, seemingly able to protect the bearer’s whole body.

The other carried a blazing force, ready to ignite everything flammable within seven or eight meters.

“These talismans require a concentrated aura to activate, involving a spiritual transformation—perhaps this is the art of the Immortal Masters,” Bai Xuan realized.

This must be the method of seaborne Immortal Masters; from these talismans alone, even an ordinary Immortal Master could, with them, match or slay a blood cultivator!

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone was at the door.

“Come in,” Bai Xuan called.

Two sailors escorted a spiritless, weakened pirate inside, who bowed respectfully.

“Captain, this is the third mate of Peiro’s flagship. He’s agreed to speak and will answer all questions.”

He had been forced to take a diluted toxin from the Crimson Sea Serpent, rendering his qi and blood unusable. He hurried to say,

“I’m willing to talk, I’ll tell you everything.”

His captain, Peiro, had gone missing, slain with ease. He had witnessed three pirate ships slaughtered, everyone killed and sunk—he had every reason to cooperate.

“Where did Peiro get these talismans?” Bai Xuan asked, holding one between his fingers.

“I know!” the pirate replied immediately.

“When we joined the Star Hunter pirates, Lord Luo, their Immortal Master, was preparing to hunt a powerful enemy in our waters. He summoned four half-step masters, including our captain, Lord Peiro!”

“In that battle, they ambushed their target on an island—water and fire erupted, wild winds surged! I didn’t dare watch, only heard Lord Peiro say afterward that two half-step masters fell.”

“The hunted Immortal Master had his throat cut by the Astonishing Swan Knife. Lord Luo rewarded Lord Peiro with six talismans, saying they could summon the force of heaven and earth!”

“That’s all I know.”

The third mate, eager to cooperate, spilled everything he knew.

“I’ve heard that these Immortal Masters fight among themselves at sea, constantly ambushing rivals, seizing talismans, elixirs, and treasures. Their ruthlessness rivals, or even exceeds, that of pirates!” he added, visibly disturbed. “Take Lord Luo—sometimes, when cultivating a spell, he’ll casually order his men to bring fifty children born on unlucky days; after slaughtering them, he uses their fresh blood to cultivate souls. Even Lord Peiro fears him!”

“Slaughtering children to cultivate spells?”

Bai Xuan’s gaze sharpened.

It sounded nothing like the lofty ways of immortals, but barbaric, bloody, terrifying—like demons.

“That’s all I know… Captain Bai, I surrender. I pledge loyalty—please spare me!”

Having finished, the pirate begged for mercy, knowing his value was spent.

“Take him away,” Bai Xuan ordered, and the two sailors led him out.

“Four blood cultivators to hunt an Immortal Master?”

Bai Xuan pondered.

“So Immortal Masters aren’t so lofty after all—perhaps they differ from blood cultivators, but with enough knowledge and preparation, blood cultivators can slay them.”

Bai Xuan understood that as his status rose, he would inevitably encounter Immortal Masters. If his strength was lacking, he might be summoned, even sacrificed—but if he was strong enough, what could Immortal Masters do?

They, too, would fall to blade and spear.

“Even Immortal Masters vie and slay each other—on this vast sea, the waves are blind; one must keep growing stronger.”

After handling all the spoils, it was time for dinner. Bai Xuan devoured several hundred pounds of exotic fish, then inspected the ship’s stores and defenses.

“It’s time to return!” Bai Xuan ordered the Sea Swallower to turn back.

This battle had yielded well; after more than a month at sea, supplies were half gone—it was time to head home.

(End of chapter)