Chapter 306 - 298: Breakthrough, Linyuan City
BOOM!
The vast ocean of Qi and Blood transformed into a raging, dyke-breaking tide. It surged violently through his meridians like ten thousand galloping horses, converging madly upon the Huagai acupoint.
This point was the domed gateway guarding his internal organs, like a solid iron gate locking down his innate lung qi.
To break through, one would normally have to gather all their Qi and Blood into a colossal dragon and continuously ram it against the formless shackle before the vortex of death.
However, before Su Yu’s river of Qi and Blood could even begin to strike, the iron gate crumbled on its own.
CRACK!
Accompanied by a heaven-shattering roar that echoed in his mind, the indestructible barrier shattered violently!
The Huagai acupoint was completely opened!
In an instant, countless streams of Qi and Blood rushed into the new sea, circulating endlessly.
Su Yu felt his entire chest cavity forcibly expand several times over. He opened his mouth wide and took a deep breath like a great whale drinking from the sea. The surrounding river mist visibly formed two funnel-shaped vortices that poured madly into his mouth and nose. As his heart pounded like a heavy war drum, a vast and unceasing stream of pure qi instantly filled his lungs.
With every breath, a muffled echo like the stirring of wind and thunder rumbled from within his chest. This terrifying, transformative lung capacity made Su Yu feel his entire body surge with a tyrannical power great enough to command the winds and clouds.
...
Huuu!
Su Yu exhaled a final plume of white vapor, then settled his stance and suppressed the Qi and Blood within him.
"Did you have a breakthrough in your Martial Arts?"
Qian Qinghong, who had been vigilantly watching the situation on the river, noticed Su Yu’s movements. A trace of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes, and she immediately walked over to ask in a low voice.
Su Yu rolled his broad shoulders slightly, feeling the immense lung capacity within his chest. He nodded and said, "Yes, I just opened the Huagai acupoint in my chest. I expect the power of the Bibo Fish Dragon Skill will take another leap forward."
"Brother Su, your breakthrough is truly a timely rain!"
Hearing this, a look of joy appeared on Qian Qinghong’s stunning face. She moved a little closer to Su Yu and whispered, her breath fragrant like an orchid, "The Gold Sand Water Stronghold is formidable; a frontal assault is clearly out of the question. I was just hatching a plan. Since we’re both skilled in aquatic combat, why don’t we abandon this treasure ship? We can use the cover of darkness to swim past their blockade along the riverbed!"
Su Yu nodded slightly upon hearing her words.
He had been practicing so single-mindedly not only for a breakthrough but also to wait for nightfall, planning to sneak through underwater. Seeing that their plans aligned perfectly, he readily agreed.
However, just as the two were about to turn and prepare for the dive inside the cabin...
WHOOOO—
A low, strange horn blast echoed from deep upstream.
Su Yu and Qian Qinghong’s expressions tightened, and they turned to look at the same time.
The roiling fog on the river’s surface was forcibly parted by some unseen power, and a large, strangely shaped treasure ship came barreling through, riding the wind and waves with arrogant force!
This treasure ship was completely different from the flat-bottomed treasure ships common in the waters of Qing Province.
Its hull was built entirely from rare Ice Soul Wood, which emanated a grim chill. At its bow was a terrifying ramming horn, several zhang long and fashioned from the Bone Spike of a Demonic One-Horned Ice Whale! The sides of the ship were densely packed with pitch-black firing ports, through which one could faintly glimpse the eerie gleam of underwater ballistae.
The aggressive appearance of this giant treasure ship immediately put the Gold Sand Water Stronghold on high alert.
"Village Chief! The design of that treasure ship... it looks like it’s from Snow State to the northeast! Should we launch a preemptive strike?" a stronghold leader asked Yan Gulin, swallowing nervously with a look of dread.
A shadow passed through Yan Gulin’s single eye. He raised his refined steel Iron Hand and quelled his subordinate’s agitation.
Snow State had been bitterly cold since ancient times, and its northern border was constantly skirmishing with the ferocious foreign tribes of the snow region. The Martial Artists tempered in such a harsh environment were known for their fierce customs and ruthless tactics. They were not to be trifled with.
The sudden appearance of this icebreaker from Snow State meant the expert overseeing it was undoubtedly powerful. Although most who came to this Gold Waterway coveting the Black Dragon Fish were Flesh Refining Realm Martial Artists seeking a breakthrough, the only factions truly qualified to compete were those with experts at the Muscle Forging Realm!
"Hold your positions! Wait for them to approach!" Yan Gulin ordered coldly.
Before long, the icebreaker ship sailed to within a few dozen zhang of the Gold Sand Water Stronghold’s blockade and slowly came to a stop.
On the high forecastle deck, a young master with a delicate, almost feminine face stood against the wind.
It was a brilliant spring day, and the air over the river was even a bit muggy, but the young man seemed not to feel the temperature at all.
He wore a white snow-mink fur cloak and toyed with a folding fan polished from Frost-Jade, exuding an air of lofty nobility.
Behind the Noble Family’s scion stood a hunchbacked old man. The old man’s back was so severely hunched it looked as if he were carrying a heavy turtle shell. He kept his hands tucked into his dusty gray sleeves, his aura completely restrained, making him resemble a piece of deadwood on the verge of rotting away.
"I wonder which power you represent? I am Yan Gulin, Village Chief of the Gold Sand Water Stronghold!"
Facing this powerful and unknown faction, Yan Gulin dropped his previous arrogant and overbearing demeanor. He politely clasped his fist in a salute across the water and spoke first, probing for information.
The young master in the snow-mink cloak glanced down at Yan Gulin from his high perch. With a "SHFFT," he snapped open his Frost-Jade folding fan and waved it gently, his tone dripping with arrogance: