Testing the Blade Against Raging Seas

Three days later, before dawn had broken, Iron Clothes Village's small pier was already crowded with people, lanterns flickering.

The salty sea breeze carried a chill as it brushed over the fishing boats about to set sail and the bronze faces of the fishermen.

Waves gently lapped against the hulls and the reefs along the shore, producing a rhythmic rush. The Chen Family's fishing boat, the "Sea Swallow," was moored at the very edge.

It was a typical coastal fishing boat, around sixty feet long and over ten feet wide. Its hull was built from sturdy ironwood. After years of wind, waves, and seawater erosion, the wood had darkened, yet it seemed all the tougher for it.

A simple flying-bird pattern was carved into the bow, signifying safety and a bountiful catch. A slightly worn brown stiff sail hung from the single mast, not yet raised.

There was a crude steering cabin at the stern, while the center of the deck was an open area for piling fishing nets and storing the catch.

Besides Chen Tie Mao and Chen Dahai, there were three hired hands aboard.

One was Uncle Lin, an old fisherman of few words, his arms as thick as old tree roots. He had sailed with the Chen Family for years and was highly experienced.

The other two were strong young men, Zhang Tai and He Yong. Both were quick-handed village youths, responsible for the heavy labor.

Chen Yuan wore a neat short jacket and stood at the bow, feeling the rhythm of the hull swaying beneath his feet. He took a deep breath of the clear, damp air.

This was not his first time at sea, and the ocean was not unfamiliar to him. But in the past, he had only boarded as a child at play or as an "apprentice" watching and learning. This was his first time taking part as a Skin Grinding Realm martial artist.

"Has everything been checked? Mooring ropes, fishing nets, fresh water, dry rations!" Chen Tie Mao stood at the helm, his voice steady and resonant, like the Sea Stabilizer of the vessel.

His sharp gaze swept across the deck before finally settling on Chen Yuan. He nodded slightly. "Brother Yuan, it's your first time formally sailing with us. Familiarize yourself with the cabin for now. You don't need to do any heavy work yet."

"Understood, Grandpa," Chen Yuan replied. He knew this was his grandfather looking after him, but he had no intention of truly sitting idle.

He walked to the side of the boat and helped Tai and Yong sort out the heavy trawl net. His movements were deft, without the slightest hint of unfamiliarity.

Chen Dahai saw this, and a trace of gratification flashed through his eyes. He said nothing, only called out loudly, "Raise anchor! Hoist the sail! Prepare to depart!"

"Raising anchor!"

"Hoisting sail!"

Uncle Lin, Tai, and Yong answered in unison, straining at the winch. The heavy iron anchor was hauled up with a splashing rush of water.

The brown stiff sail slowly rose along the mast, and the sea wind immediately filled it, making it snap and flutter.

The hull of the Sea Swallow shuddered faintly and slowly pulled away from the pier, heading toward the vast ocean where the first glimmer of dawn had appeared.

As the boat sailed farther away, Iron Clothes Village behind them grew smaller and smaller, eventually becoming a hazy gray smudge along the shoreline.

All around them remained only the boundless blue sea and the vast sky overhead.

Seagulls chased the spray thrown up by the stern, crying out sharply.

At first, the wind was calm and the waves were gentle, and the voyage went smoothly.

Chen Yuan did not stay in the cabin the entire time. He carefully watched how his grandfather and father adjusted the sail and rudder according to the wind and currents, learning to judge where fish schools might be by observing the color of the water, the clouds, and the movements of seabirds.

He also helped with various chores. His movements were crisp and efficient, and his control over force far surpassed that of Tai and Yong. Often, with what looked like a casual helping hand, he could easily finish work that required the two young men to combine their strength, drawing frequent sidelong glances full of admiration.

Chen Tie Mao took in his grandson's performance, growing ever more satisfied.

After breaking through, the boy had not merely grown stronger. His temperament and judgment had become calm and seasoned as well. He was starting to look like a man who could truly shoulder responsibility.

After a little over two hours, the sun rose higher, and the sea reflected dazzling golden light.

Based on his experience, Chen Tie Mao selected an area where the water was slightly darker and scattered seabirds circled overhead.

"Cast the net!" Chen Dahai ordered.

Uncle Lin, Tai, and Yong immediately worked together, shouting work chants as they slowly lowered the huge trawl net into the sea. The heavy sinkers dragged the net beneath the water, and the boat slowed as the trawling began.

The wait for a catch always carried both anticipation and a thread of anxiety.

Everyone took their positions. Chen Dahai kept a close eye on the sail and net ropes, Chen Tie Mao held the helm steady, Uncle Lin watched the water with practiced eyes, while Tai and Yong stood ready to exert themselves at any moment.

Chen Yuan stood quietly at the bow, his eyes closed in concentration. He was not resting, but circulating the Mysterious Vortex Skin Grinding Method.

On this vast, boundless sea, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was even more active, particularly the abundant water energy.

That mysterious intent naturally surfaced in his heart, faintly echoing the Spiral Force he cultivated. It made the circulation of his strength smoother and more natural, and even seemed to improve the tempering efficiency of his skin membranes by a trace.

"There's a catch!" Uncle Lin suddenly cried in a low voice, excitement ringing through it.

The trawl rope suddenly pulled taut, and the entire boat jolted slightly. The net had clearly caught a sizable school of fish.

"Quick! Haul it in!" Chen Dahai shouted, instantly energized.

Tai and Yong immediately lunged for the winch, cranking it with all their strength, while Uncle Lin hurried over to help.

The heavy fishing net dragged in a massive haul, causing the winch to creak under the unbearable strain. It was immensely difficult to pull.

Chen Yuan opened his eyes and stepped forward. "I'll do it."

He gripped the winch handles with both hands. The force of his blood and qi turned slightly within him, flowing through both arms. Though he did not appear to exert much strength, the incomparably heavy winch suddenly became much lighter and began spinning rapidly. Bundle after bundle of dripping wet netting was swiftly hauled up.

Tai and Yong stared, dumbfounded. The two of them could barely manage it together, yet Brother Yuan handled it alone so effortlessly?

A sharp gleam flashed through Chen Dahai's eyes as he silently praised, A Skin Grinding Realm martial artist truly is extraordinary!

Before long, the heavy net emerged from the sea, its meshes packed with silver flashes of lively, flapping fish. There were even quite a few valuable Spanish Mackerel and Black Sea Bream among them. It was a rich catch!

"Good! This net was worth it!" Chen Tie Mao smiled from the stern as well.

Everyone was immediately overjoyed and hurriedly poured the catch into the prepared fish hold. By rough estimate, this single net held two to three hundred pounds of fish, equal to an ordinary day's haul!

However, just as everyone was immersed in the joy of their harvest and preparing to cast the net again, a sudden change struck!

The sea roughly a hundred feet off the port side of the boat abruptly exploded in a huge spray without warning!

A massive black shadow burst from the water, throwing mist high into the air!

It was a grotesque monster fish!

It was nearly fifteen feet long, its entire body covered in hard, dark-blue scales. The edges of those scales gleamed with a metallic chill.

Its head was enormous and ugly, its snout protruding and packed with sharp teeth. Its bulging fish eyes shone with bloodthirsty savagery.

Most peculiar of all was its dorsal fin. It was not a soft fin membrane, but seven or eight sharp spines like Bone Spikes, as though it bore a row of savage war spears upon its back!

"It's an Arrow Bone Fish! A grown Arrow Bone Fish!" Uncle Lin's face instantly went pale. His voice broke with profound fear. "Quick! Turn the rudder! Avoid it!"

Chen Dahai's face changed drastically as well, and he hurriedly adjusted the sail.

Chen Tie Mao wrenched the helm around, trying to steer the boat away from the vicious creature.

Arrow Bone Fish were one kind of ferocious sea beast, an evolved Spirit Beast. They were savage by nature, tough-skinned and thick-fleshed, and the Bone Spikes on their backs were especially sharp and terrifyingly powerful—enough to pierce ordinary ship planks!

Their combat strength rivaled that of a Skin Grinding Realm martial artist, and they were even more dangerous in the sea. Even three to five Skin Grinding martial artists would struggle to take one down. They were among the sea beasts fishermen least wished to encounter.

In the past, when they encountered such a beast, their only choice was to flee at all costs. Whether they escaped depended entirely on heaven's will. Damage to the boat and ruined nets were unavoidable, and if no one died, they would already count themselves fortunate.

But this Arrow Bone Fish had clearly been drawn by the fishy scent of live fish aboard the Sea Swallow—or perhaps it had regarded the vessel as prey from the start.

It let out a low, hoarse cry, then slapped its enormous tail fin. Its massive body shot toward the Sea Swallow like an arrow loosed from a bow!

Its speed was astonishing. Its spine-covered back was aimed directly at the hull; if the impact landed solidly, the consequences would be unimaginable!

"We're finished!" Tai and Yong were so terrified their legs went weak, their faces drained of all color.

Chen Dahai and Uncle Lin's eyes were nearly splitting with fury as they desperately maneuvered the boat, but they could not evade it in time.

At that critical moment, when a thousand pounds hung by a single thread!

A figure sprang from the bow like a leopard—it was Chen Yuan!

His expression was calm, his eyes sharp as blades. The blood and qi within him had long been surging like the tide. Faced with the terrifying sea beast charging toward him at high speed, he not only did not retreat, but instead met it head-on!

He strode forward, then planted his feet into the deck like nails. Force rose from the ground, rotated through his waist and hips, passed through every joint in succession, and finally gathered in his right fist.

The Mysterious Vortex Skin Grinding Method circulated at full force. Spiral Force converged madly, and the skin membrane along his entire right arm instantly tightened, glowing with a faint black vortex-like radiance!

"Vile beast, get lost!"

Chen Yuan exhaled and shouted, his voice exploding like thunder.

His right fist carried the force of his entire body and incomparably condensed Spiral Force. Without dodging or avoiding, he smashed it brutally into the side of the Arrow Bone Fish's head, where the Bone Spikes grew and its defenses were strongest.

He intended to meet it with force against force!

"Son, no!" Chen Dahai cried out in terror. The Arrow Bone Fish's skull was hard enough to smash reefs apart.

In that instant of sparks and flint, fist and fish head collided fiercely!

Boom! A muffled impact rang out like a heavy hammer striking a giant cowhide drum.

Violent force exploded from the point of impact, kicking up a ring of white airwaves and water mist.

Chen Yuan's body shook violently. The deck beneath his feet creaked in agony, and the entire boat sank sharply, but he stood firm as a boulder and did not retreat even half a step.

The fiercely charging Arrow Bone Fish, however, was knocked sharply aside by his full-force punch. Its high-speed momentum was abruptly halted, and it let out a cry of pain and rage.

The hard, iron-like scales on the side of its struck head had actually caved in slightly. Fine cracks even appeared around the edges, while a thread of dark-blue blood seeped from beside its gills.

"Hiss!" Everyone aboard sucked in a breath, staring at the scene in disbelief.

He had faced a sea beast barehanded—and even gained the upper hand?!

Chen Yuan felt the recoil traveling through his fist and sensed the hardness of the Arrow Bone Fish's scales. He had already formed a clear judgment.

This Arrow Bone Fish possessed tremendous strength and astonishing scale defense, greater than that of an ordinary Skin Grinding Realm martial artist. But its intelligence seemed low, and its attacks were rather simple.

Having landed his first blow, Chen Yuan did not hesitate. Taking advantage of the instant when the Arrow Bone Fish was stunned and knocked off course, he pushed off with his feet and slid out like a swimming fish, avoiding the huge tail fin that swept wildly at him in pain.

The tail fin swept through empty space with terrifying force, kicking up waves over ten feet high.

Chen Yuan's gaze was icy, his movements flowing like clouds and running water.

The force within him circulated naturally, and his footwork subtly matched the rise and fall of the waves, nimble beyond compare.

Even as he evaded the attack, he rapidly closed in along the Arrow Bone Fish's side—its blind spot for attacking with its Bone Spikes!

Vortex Palm

Chen Yuan shouted low, thrusting out both palms. He did not strike with brute force. Instead, at a strange rhythm, he rapidly pressed them against the joints of scales behind the Arrow Bone Fish's gills, where they were comparatively soft. Spiral Force bored in madly like a drill.

The Arrow Bone Fish shuddered all over and released a shrill scream. It thrashed wildly, trying to fling Chen Yuan away.

But Chen Yuan's palms seemed glued to its body. Wave after wave of Spiral Force poured into its body, destroying its muscles, flesh, and internal organs!

The offensive technique accompanying the Mysterious Vortex Skin Grinding Method revealed astonishing power at this moment. It specialized in piercing hard armor defenses. Chen Yuan had not spent several days comprehending it through Tide Intent for nothing.

Wracked by pain, the Arrow Bone Fish's ferocity exploded completely. The seven or eight sharp Bone Spikes on its dorsal fin suddenly trembled, each one standing upright and gleaming with an eerie blue light. They were about to shoot forth!

"Watch its Bone Spikes!" Uncle Lin cried out in horror.

Chen Yuan had anticipated it. At the instant the Bone Spikes were about to launch, he kicked fiercely against the fish's body and borrowed the force to leap backward. At the same time, his right hand swept across his waist—where a Short Fish Spear used for cutting ropes and handling catches normally hung. It was merely an ordinary iron tool, not some divine weapon.

But in Chen Yuan's hands at this moment, it was infused with surging Spiral Force.

Buzz. A faint hum came from the spear tip, and black currents of air seemed to coil around it!

In midair, Chen Yuan locked his gaze on the Arrow Bone Fish's comparatively vulnerable eye, temporarily exposed by its intense agony. Strength surged from his waist and abdomen. His body drew taut like a fully stretched bow as he hurled the fish spear with all his might.

Whoosh! The fish spear became a bolt of black lightning, so fast it was nearly impossible to follow, shooting with flawless precision into the Arrow Bone Fish's bulging right eye.

Squelch. A dull sound that made one's teeth ache.

Spiral Force erupted violently inside the fish's eye.

The Arrow Bone Fish's massive body suddenly stiffened, every movement stopping at once. It let out a cry of utter despair before crashing heavily into the sea, sending waves soaring into the air. Blood swiftly dyed the surrounding seawater red.

It convulsed a few times, then moved no more.

Only the rolling waves and everyone's ragged breathing remained on the sea.

The entire Sea Swallow had fallen silent.

Everyone stared blankly at the Arrow Bone Fish's corpse gradually floating to the surface, then looked at Chen Yuan, who had landed steadily on the deck. He was breathing slightly hard but completely unharmed, as though they were looking at a monster.

To kill alone at sea a ferocious sea beast comparable to a Skin Grinding Realm martial artist—what astonishing strength and courage was that!

"Brother... Brother Yuan..." Chen Dahai was the first to recover, his voice dry and filled with unbelievable shock. "You... you killed it?"

Chen Yuan calmed the churning blood and qi within him and nodded. It had looked smooth enough, but he had actually used nearly all his strength. The drain on both his mind and his force was considerable.

The power of the Mysterious Vortex Skin Grinding Method, coupled with strength tempered through his comprehension of Tide Intent, had indeed exceeded his expectations.

"Good! Good! Good!" Chen Tie Mao excitedly said "good" three times in a row. His old face was flushed red, and even the hand gripping the helm trembled faintly. "A son of my Chen Family has the courage of ten thousand men!"

Only then did Uncle Lin, Tai, and Yong recover from their overwhelming shock. Their gazes toward Chen Yuan were filled with reverence, gratitude, and fervor.

"Brother Yuan, you're incredible."

"Thank you for saving our lives, Brother Yuan!" Without Chen Yuan, they would likely have met with disaster today.

Chen Yuan waved a hand. "Haul this beast aboard first. Don't let it attract anything else."

Only then did everyone awaken as though from a dream. They hurriedly looped ropes around the Arrow Bone Fish's corpse and worked together to drag it onto the deck.

This enormous creature nearly filled more than half the forward deck. Its dark-blue scales glittered with a cold sheen under the sunlight, and its grotesque appearance still made their hearts quiver with lingering fear.

"We've struck it rich... We've struck it rich..." Uncle Lin murmured as he stroked the Arrow Bone Fish's hard scales. The terror on his face had long been replaced by immense delight.

"This Arrow Bone Fish... every part of it is treasure! These scales, these Bone Spikes, its gallbladder, and the Essence Blood around its heart... they're all valuable Spiritual Materials! The big medicine shops, martial halls, even the government workshops in the city would scramble for them! This one alone... is worth at least this much!" He raised three fingers.

"Thirty taels?" Yong asked instinctively.

"Thirty taels? At least three hundred taels!" Uncle Lin said excitedly.

Three hundred taels?! Everyone was stunned again by that astronomical figure! After fishing hard for an entire year and deducting all expenses, saving twenty taels of silver would already count as a prosperous year for them.

Chen Dahai and Chen Tie Mao were breathing rapidly as well, their eyes shining.

They naturally knew sea beasts were valuable, but they had never imagined they would capture one with their own hands.

Chen Yuan looked at the massive haul, and faint ripples stirred in his heart.

After pondering for a moment, he said, "Grandpa, Dad, although this Arrow Bone Fish is highly valuable, exchanging it for cash is not the most worthwhile option for our family right now."

"What do you mean, Brother Yuan?" Chen Tie Mao looked at his grandson. Chen Yuan's strength and judgment had now earned the entire family's unconditional trust.

"I want to use this money to buy a new boat."

Chen Tie Mao was taken aback, but Chen Yuan continued, "Grandpa, I know you've wanted to replace our boat for years."

As for why they had not replaced it, Chen Yuan understood only too well. Ever since the family had decided to let him cultivate martial arts, they had never spared his expenses. The meat and medicinal materials used every year to strengthen his foundation had cost a considerable sum.

After he entered the martial hall at fifteen, it became even worse. The martial hall's annual tuition alone cost thirty to fifty taels. Over the past two years, the family's money had all gone toward his martial training—where could they find spare money for a new boat? But now...

Chen Yuan's gaze swept over the somewhat weathered Sea Swallow, and his voice grew steady. "A bigger, faster, sturdier new boat! Ideally, a Magic Ship inscribed with simple protective Runes, capable of resisting wind, waves, and sea beast impacts!"

"That way, sailing out in the future will be much safer, and our catches can become more abundant. Only then can we let a thin stream flow long and steadily improve the family's circumstances."

A Magic Ship! That was a vessel that truly touched upon the extraordinary!

Even at the lowest grade, with only the most basic "acceleration" and "reinforcement" Runes inscribed on it, it would still be immensely expensive—far beyond what ordinary fishermen could hope for.

Its speed, ability to withstand wind and waves, and safety were far beyond those of ordinary fishing boats!

Chen Tie Mao and Chen Dahai's eyes immediately lit up frighteningly bright.

What old captain did not dream of owning such a boat?

"Brother Yuan is right!" Chen Dahai slapped his thigh hard. "With a good boat, we can sail farther out, catch more fish, and perhaps... find more valuable Sea Spoils and Spiritual Materials!"

"It's just... a good boat like that will probably cost a great deal..." Chen Tie Mao was steady by nature and considered matters more thoroughly.

"No matter." Chen Yuan smiled confidently. "The materials from this Arrow Bone Fish should be enough. Even if there's a slight shortfall, I'm already a Skin Grinding Realm martial artist. I have my ways to make up the difference. Leave this matter to me." He looked at the massive sea beast's corpse before him, then toward the endless blue sea in the distance, and heroic spirit rose in his heart.

The path of a martial artist could only reveal its true essence through bloody battle. After just one fight, he had gained growth and insight far surpassing the usual. His cultivation technique had advanced, and his Skin Grinding progress had increased again.

Realm: Skin Grinding Realm · Initial Completion (13/100)

Cultivation Method: Mysterious Vortex Skin Grinding Method (Beginner - Proficient)

Tide Luck Points: 54/100

Slaying waves and destroying beasts, protecting the family and expanding wealth +10

To Chen Yuan, who possessed the Tidal Stele, this ocean might be a true land of treasure. And a good boat would be the first key to unlocking that treasure.