Chapter 188: Transformation: The Form of the Shan Xuan Whale

'Roar!'

The cry of the Shan Xuan Whale, high and ethereal, exploded in his heart each time, causing Li Yuan to shudder violently.

He felt as if he were a red-hot ingot being hammered by a massive mallet, his sinews, bones, skin, and flesh all on the verge of being crushed into a lump.

This thread of qi from the Shan Xuan Whale Hammer was pure and vast, its power far exceeding Li Yuan's imagination.

When climbing the Inverted Mountain, he had already reached the edge of Yixing; had he not sensed another person entering the Shan Xuan Bing Mi Jing, he could have transformed then.

Now, spurred by this thread of qi, he instantly shattered that thin layer of paper.

'Yixing!'

Li Yuan forced himself to stand despite the agony, gripping the hammer and assuming the stance, using sheer willpower to slowly raise the Bing Ti Shi.

He had long mastered this pillar exercise to the point of effortless flow; even at peak pain, his movements did not warp.

Yixing is the first step into Wudaodengtang, the explosive culmination of the foundational pillars: blood and qi, internal force, body tempering, and internal strengthening.

'The essence of Yixing lies in uniting all forms, using external shapes to compensate for one's own, thereby breaking the third human limit and greatly elevating one's own ceiling!'

Li Yuan gritted his teeth, his eyelids trembling uncontrollably; Yixing itself drained immense mental energy, and this wild Shan Xuan Whale qi made it even harder to control.

Just this single thread—despite expending all his strength, he could barely maintain balance.

'Huh!'

'Hss!'

Li Yuan adjusted his breathing; as his blood and internal force surged at high speed, his skin membrane flushed red, and the room's temperature rose steadily.

The little mouse pressed itself against the wall, trembling, its tiny green eyes filled with terror.

In its perception, its master's skin concealed a terrifying beast, as if it would tear through human flesh at any moment.

'To unite all forms, one may extend from one's innate constitution, or choose one among the various forms one possesses as the core...'

Yixing also has primary and secondary forms.

But this distinction is not absolute and can be changed at any time; according to the manual left by Old Han, Li Yuan had originally planned to use the Spirit Monkey as the core to structure his form.

After changing to the Jiao body while climbing the Inverted Mountain, he changed his mind again and decided to use the Jiao body as the core.

But now, he changed his mind once more.

With that thread of qi upon him, his mind and heart were filled entirely with the image of the great whale roaming the cloud seas.

This image was far clearer and more direct than any root diagram or form chart.

'Common forms, spiritual forms, forms of heaven and earth, divine forms... the form of the Shan Xuan Bing should be better, right?'

Li Yuan's heart pounded like a drum—this was his blood rushing at full speed throughout his body.

Half-closing his eyes, the image of the Shan Xuan Whale appeared before him, vivid and lifelike, sacred and proud.

'Following the map, as long as I have even a fraction of resemblance, I can slowly complete it!'

Could a single thread of qi outline the form of the Shan Xuan Whale?

Li Yuan thought it unlikely, but he could enter the Shan Xuan Bing Mi Jing anytime—within it lay mountains and oceans of qi!

Even by piling it up, he could make it happen.

Hum!

In his mind-sea, the long cry of the Shan Xuan Whale echoed constantly.

In the room, Li Yuan's breathing grew calmer and longer, and gradually, his expression softened.

But he did not relax; instead, he focused intensely—Yixing had only just begun.

'Use the Shan Xuan Whale as the core, blend it with the Jiao body and the Monkey form...'

Li Yuan drew forth a fraction of his spirit and directed the Five-Step Spirit Snake Belt and the Spirit Fire Lingniu Bone Ring to reinforce it.

These two items, when attuned to his spirit, enhanced his endurance and his awareness of his own body.

Hum!

Li Yuan closed his eyes, concentrating his spirit inward.

Sinews, bones, blood, flesh... under his perception, the structures within his body became faintly visible.

Blood and internal force surged through his sinews, bones, skin, and flesh at high speed, supporting the third breaking of his physical limits.

Huh huh~

The night wind howled, stirring the river's waves, the lanterns of merchant ships swaying.

'Ripsea Shan Xuan Whale.'

Han Han Chuijun lightly pressed his ghost mask, his thoughts still churning.

Since he first learned of this Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing from his master, seventy years had passed.

'In a way, I've fulfilled the legacy of my master and ancestors,'

Han Han Chuijun sighed inwardly, feeling joy yet a faint sorrow—he simply lacked the destiny for it.

'Master!'

Fang Fang Bao Luo stepped out from the cabin, bowing slightly: 'The elder just sent word that someone ambushed us the night before; we must be cautious.'

'Hmm.'

Han Han Chuijun murmured, his mind elsewhere.

Seeing him lost in thought, Fang Fang Bao Luo stood silently beside him; after a moment, he could no longer hold back:

'Master, you shouldn't have killed Shi Hong—at least not in front of the Valley Lord.'

Fang Fang Bao Luo smiled bitterly.

When he learned his master had slain Shi Hong before the Valley Lord and two elders, his entire body went numb.

He hadn't recovered for days.

"Shouldn't he have been killed?"

Han Han Chuijun glanced at him.

"You think the sect's relocation is a time to recruit talent, but you don't know—when relocating, stability is paramount. Shi Hong practicing Bai Shen Fa at this moment is a path to death!"

"He—he practiced Bai Shen Fa?"

Fang Fang Bao Luo froze. If anyone else had said this, he might have suspected an excuse—but his own teacher never made excuses when killing.

"But he's already received the transmission of 'Five Weapons, Five Colors of Spiritual Void Qi'—he possesses an ultimate skill. Why learn that Xie Fa?"

"Bai Shen Fa isn't Xie Fa—but his innate talent is insufficient. Even Zheng Fa might turn into Xie Fa for him. Otherwise, why would the Xieshen Sect have taught him Zheng Fa?"

Han Han Chuijun didn't care what others thought, but with his own disciples, he still had patience:

"Bai Shen Fa ranks among the Ten Greatest Mo Gong of all time. Even in fragmentary form, it's a truly divine art, its value incalculable."

"But he hasn't colluded with the Xieshen Sect yet."

Fang Fang Bao Luo still couldn't accept it—killing someone for something that hadn't happened yet? He simply couldn't understand or agree.

"How dangerous is a sect relocation? Establishing ourselves in Dechang Prefecture brings countless troubles—plus Lie Xue Mountain, Huai Long Palace, and the Xieshen Sect all nearby."

Han Han Chuijun frowned: "Evidence? By the time you find evidence, I and your fellow disciples might already be dead!"

"..."

Fang Fang Bao Luo was completely stunned—what even is this?

"Then, then you shouldn't have acted in front of the Valley Lord!"

Fang Fang Bao Luo nearly fell silent from one sentence; a bitter smile seemed glued to his face.

"If I didn't act in front of him, do you think he wouldn't suspect me? He might suspect you and Ba Wanli instead. Better to act right before his eyes than let him guess."

Han Han Chuijun clearly had his own logic; his habit of anticipating danger made it impossible for him to wait until someone truly threatened him before acting.

Otherwise, he couldn't even sleep.

"... You're afraid the Valley Lord suspects you, so you acted right before him?"

Fang Fang Bao Luo bowed his hands, showing sincere submission—his mind was about to explode.

"Softness is a disease; deep emotion is fatal."

Han Han Chuijun no longer wanted to explain. Only because it was his own disciple—if anyone else had said this, he'd have slapped them dead long ago.

Is someone else's life worth more than one of my hairs?

Evidence?

"You're trying to make your younger brother the Young Valley Lord, aren't you?"

Fang Fang Bao Luo suspected—this was the real reason his master acted so decisively.

"I once had that thought, but now..."

Han Han Chuijun shook his head: "I think you're more suitable."

Without ultimate skills, one cannot refine the organs; without refining the organs, one cannot become a Divine Artisan.

When he heard Li Yuan had unparalleled talent for forging weapons, he'd considered it—but now, with the Liehai Yu Xuanjing in hand, he needed to think more carefully.

The Heaven-ordained Weapon Master isn't well-suited to remain in the current Divine Weapon Valley...

"Huh?"

Fang Fang Bao Luo was bewildered: "Me?"

How did this end up on me?

"Though you're soft-hearted, your heart is broad and you can endure hardship—unlike your senior brother, unlike me, and stronger than Shi Hong."

Han Han Chuijun stroked his beard—he'd spoken a few words when meeting Jing Jing Shuhu and others.

"I—I'm not fit for this position of Young Valley Lord..."

Fang Fang Bao Luo waved his hands frantically. The sect's relocation was like reopening the mountain gate—countless affairs from every faction and county in Dechang Prefecture piled up like hair.

Just thinking about it terrified him—if this fell to him, how could he ever practice martial arts?

"I was just speaking casually—it's not necessarily you. Why are you refusing?"

Han Han Chuijun glanced at him, then suddenly had an idea:

"Take your younger brother away."

"Huh?"

Fang Fang Bao Luo's heart jolted—he looked up sharply.

In the night, another large ship sailed downstream, traveling parallel to their own.

Several dozen zhang away, he could see on the opposite deck, over a dozen figures holding swords and knives or drawing bows, their aura cold and sharp.

"Tsk. Yesterday the tiger was ambushed, today they come to kill me. They want to wipe us all out."

Han Han Chuijun's eyes turned icy—he spotted the old man on the opposite deck, resembling a farmer, slightly hunched:

"Huang Fu Kun, you old Wang Ba, why leave Huizhou to play in your mud? You're trying to die!"

Crack!

Even across dozens of zhang, Fang Fang Bao Luo heard the sound of the opposite deck cracking open.

"Han Han Chuijun, how dare you speak to me like that?!"

Huang Fu Kun flew into a rage: "Your mere Illusion Transformation—today I'll make you wish for death or life!"

Boom!

His words had barely faded when Han Han Chuijun flipped up, stepped on the river's surface, and shot toward the opposite ship like a hawk.

Boom—!

Amid rolling airwaves, the battle erupted instantly.

"Pfft!"

With a casual swing of his hammer, he smashed the attacker's skull to pieces. Fang Fang Bao Luo didn't linger in the fight for a second, turning and heading straight for Li Yuan's room.

He had been summoned back by Han Han Chuijun this time precisely to protect Li Yuan.

"Ah, Han Han Chuijun, you actually have a Divine Armor?!"

At a certain moment, Fang Fang Bao Luo heard a scream coming from across the way. Just as his heart eased, his expression suddenly changed drastically.

He saw, in the night, two figures leap down from the mast, wrapped in the gleam of blades and swords, pouncing straight toward the room where Li Yuan was.

"Body Transformation Great Completion!"

Fang Fang Bao Luo's heart jolted. Without thinking, he erupted his inner Qi and shot forward like mad:

"Seeking death!"

Boom!

The wooden door burst apart like paper, scattering in all directions.

Fang Fang Bao Luo's speed was undeniably fast, yet he was still a beat too slow. In just that single instant, the two had already forced their way through the door.

Then, they were sent flying backward out of it at an even greater speed.

"Hm?!"

Fang Fang Bao Luo's eyelids twitched wildly. Amid the flying wood chips, he saw a giant, as if cast from refined iron, striding out of the room.

Its height was probably no less than eighty thousand li, and the ship's cabin was squeezed until it burst apart.

"The intel was wrong—he's Body Transformation!"

"Run!"

Those two assassins were utterly decisive. Their strike failed, and coughing blood, they tried to flee.

"Still want to run?!"

Amid the flying wood chips, Li Yuan's eyes snapped open.

Fang Fang Bao Luo only heard two whistling sounds, then saw Li Yuan's palm pierce through the air, his five fingers clench, and the air itself crushed in a single grip.

Fingers curled into a fist, like a meteor falling to earth.

Two thuds—*bang*, *bang*—and those two Body Transformation Great Completion assassins were like paper mache, their sinews and bones snapping, fresh blood gushing wildly.

"?!"

Fang Fang Bao Luo halted instantly, his twin hammers smashing the assassin who had been sneaking up on him.

"Senior Brother Fang, you're here too?"

Only after killing the two attacking assassins did Li Yuan come back to his senses.

Breaking through Body Transformation, a hair's breadth away, he felt his physical strength surge several times over. Those two Body Transformation Great Completion assassins were no different from paper mache in his hands.

He possessed sixteen forms, plus a portion of the Dark Whale form, and had long since stepped outside the scope of ordinary Body Transformation.

Even in pure strength, he had already surpassed eighty thousand li.

"You, you…"

Fang Fang Bao Luo was somewhat dumbfounded: "Junior brother, you—you broke through to Body Transformation?"

Barely a year since entering the sect, and he actually broke through to Body Transformation?!

Fang Fang Bao Luo nearly choked on his own breath. And this physique—it's actually even fiercer than eighty thousand li?

"Body…"

Only then did Li Yuan realize his clothes had been blasted to shreds. He hurriedly dispersed his boiling Qi and blood, returning his body to its normal size.

He rushed back to the cabin to change clothes, tucked the little mouse into his pocket, and only then stepped out again.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

Outside the cabin, on the deck, a chorus of battle cries.

Fang Fang Bao Luo shifted and wheeled, killing the incoming assassins one by one, while a hundred meters away, a vessel was ablaze.

Even from that distance, Li Yuan saw Han Han Chuijun clad in Divine Armor, along with streaks of Qi piercing the air.

"Run!"

Fang Fang Bao Luo spun around sharply, grabbed Li Yuan, and leapt off the deck. Fearing Li Yuan might struggle, he added an explanation:

"The one fighting Master is Huang Fu Kun, a great expert of the Marrow Refining realm—don't distract Master!"

"A Marrow Refining expert!"

Li Yuan glanced back, but didn't get to see what a Marrow Refining expert looked like.

He only saw a large group of black-clad assassins also jumping into the water, charging to kill the two of them.

On the ship, under the ship, in the river, on the bank…

"Junior brother, we split up here. We'll meet again at Qianjun Mountain!"

Fang Fang Bao Luo's voice was low. He wanted to draw the assassins away alone, but felt a sudden weight on his shoulder, followed by a tremendous force surging in, lifting him bodily out of the water?

"Ah?"

He started in fright. The moment he opened his mouth, the raging wind immediately stuffed his voice back down.

Above the Dahe, Li Yuan sprinted at full speed, Fang Fang Bao Luo dragged behind him, lifted high like a kite.

"This 'Walking on Flat Ground' really works wonders in special situations!"

Li Yuan's strides were like the wind. His own Wu Gong physique also affected the effect of his Palm technique.

After his Body Transformation, the effects of all his Palm technique enhancements were amplified. His 'Treading Snow Without a Trace' advanced another step—treading water as if it were solid ground!

"Bang!"

In a single leap, Li Yuan stomped on the neck of an assassin who had just surfaced, snapping it in two.

"How—how could they run that fast?!"

Staring at Li Yuan and his companion striding across the water and vanishing into the distance, the entire band of assassins was dumbstruck.

Striding across the water was something many advanced lightness skills could manage, but dragging a person along and still running this fast?

"Bang!"

Li Yuan wheeled about in a sudden reversal, stomping two of them dead with a pair of *bang bang* strikes, before luring the furious band of assassins toward the shore.