Buzz!

The condensed water vapor seemed to come alive, rapidly gathering and churning.

Then, with an incredible speed, it condensed and fused, transforming into a massive hand that blotted out the sky.

This giant palm was transparent, formed by flowing water, and tiny fish and shrimp could vaguely be seen swimming within it.

Accompanied by a deafening roar, the giant palm slammed upwards.

In an instant, air currents surged, and strong winds howled.

The giant palm struck the dark clouds with the force of thunder, and wherever it went, the thick leaden clouds were torn open like fragile cotton, forming a huge hole.

The rain within a thousand-meter radius instantly stopped.

A beam of Gold light pierced through the hole, shining down on the lake that had just experienced rain.

The clear lake reflected this scene, appearing dreamlike and ethereal.

“Congratulations, Senior Brother Wu, on mastering the Cloud-Pinching Hand! Your strength has advanced even further!”

At this moment, a voice like an oriole suddenly rang out.

Hearing the sound,

the white-clothed man turned his head to look.

He saw that by the lake, a graceful figure holding an umbrella had appeared at some unknown point.

Seeing this,

he tapped the lake surface with his foot, and a subtle ripple spread out.

Then, his entire body shot out like an arrow, transforming into a white, ghostly shadow, and he directly landed on the shore.

“Not at all, it’s just a small gain. Once the true Cloud-Pinching Hand is mastered, it can harness the Qi of the world’s water and clouds for one’s own use. That strike just now would have been enough to shatter a patch of accumulated clouds in the sky, instead of just creating a hole like it did now.”

The youth, Wu Yu, said with a smile.

Hearing this,

the woman glanced at the sky, and sure enough, as time passed, the rolling dark clouds gathered, and the hole created by the giant palm was visibly healing.

The beam of light cast through it rapidly thinned until it disappeared.

“Even so, Senior Brother Wu’s strength is unmatched within the Gate, save for Master.”

“Haha, right, Junior Sister Han, you came to find me, there must be something else, correct?”

Wu Yu chuckled, then changed the subject and asked.

“Indeed, there are some other matters.”

Han Luan nodded, speaking in a solemn tone.

“The battle at Tianchi is critical; several Mid-level Black-Blood Species have appeared, and the current situation is not optimistic.

The Federation has issued an order to definitely block the next Black Mist Tide.

Other factions have dispatched personnel to be stationed there.

Master’s intention this time is for you to lead a team to provide support.”

“Tianchi… I understand.”

Wu Yu’s eyes flashed as he nodded.

He then looked at Han Luan’s expression, which seemed to have something more to say.

“Is there anything else, Junior Sister Han?”

“It’s not anything important, just that a branch outpost of Ice Arsenal stationed in Anshan City was wiped out.”

Han Luan explained.

“According to investigations, the person who made the move was immune to pistol shots and is very likely a Martial Artist.”

“Hmm, do you know who did it?”

Wu Yu looked surprised.

“It should be related to the Snake Heart Gate. That branch had previously put a bounty on a Snake Heart Gate Disciple during this period. Now that person is still alive and well, and the assassin sent to kill them is dead.”

“Snake Heart Gate?”

Wu Yu frowned.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll trouble Junior Sister Han to make a trip. If it truly is the Snake Heart Gate, have them give our Saint Rain Gate an explanation.”

His words were calm, yet carried an undeniable implication.

“Yes! Senior Brother Wu, please rest assured.”

Han Luan nodded.

… …

In the room,

the round clock on the gray-white wall ticked away.

Hu Qi stood with his legs straight and together, his hands first cupped in front of his abdomen, then slowly raised upwards, palms facing up, arms extended straight over his head.

It was as if a whale was raising its head from the depths of the ocean to spray water, and his body also slightly stretched and extended upwards with the movement of his hands…

Under his clothes, his muscles trembled.

Strands of white smoke rose from the pores of his body surface.

He was currently practicing the moving stake described in “White Whale Stance”: Whale’s Ascent.

Time flowed by.

After more than ten minutes,

Hu Qi stopped his movements.

His entire skin was flushed red.

Like a cooked large shrimp.

However, as he stopped his movements,

this color rapidly faded, beginning to return to normal.

— — — —

【Snake Form Stake (Ninth Level Perfection) Trait: Burst】

【Seven Fiends Saber (Second Level)】

【White Whale Stance (First Level) △】

… …

Modification Value: 3 (13%)

A week had passed since he dealt with Xie Guang and killed the Ice Arsenal assassin.

He did not choose to kill Xie Guang’s entire family.

He merely took advantage of the night to break the legs of the opponent’s remaining two sons, leaving them bedridden for the rest of their lives.

As for the opponent’s ninety-plus-year-old mother, who had only a few days left to live, he did not lay a hand on her.

After all, Hu Qi was a good young man who respected the old and loved the young.

Subsequently, his life returned to peace.

After the Snake Form Stake reached Perfection, the growth of Qi and Blood Power stagnated.

He then turned his attention to the White Whale Stance.

During this time, according to his inquiries, cultivating two Secret Martial Arts stances was indeed feasible.

Because there had been similar examples in the past.

However, Cultivate was easy.

But achieving Perfection was too difficult.

And if other Secret Martial Arts stances could not reach Perfection, the Qi and Blood Power of different characteristics would ultimately be unable to achieve Fusion.

This would block one’s path forward, making it impossible to Breakthrough to Martial Artist.

In more severe cases,

it could even lead to various health problems as time passed and the physique weakened.

Therefore,

those who dared to Cultivate multiple Secret Martial Arts stances

were either exceptionally talented, extremely confident in themselves, or madmen gambling everything.

Although his understanding of Martial Artist was limited,

based on the knowledge he had acquired so far,

he also understood one thing.

The stronger a Martial Artist’s Qi and Blood Power,

the greater the chance of success and the greater the benefits when Breaking through to Martial Artist.

Therefore, he used the accumulated six Modification Values to complete this incomplete White Whale Stance.

With the foundation of the Snake Form Stake’s ninth level Perfection,

Cultivating the White Whale Stance was like building on a high foundation.

His progress was rapid.

Not only did he successfully get started with it, but in just two or three days, he managed to Breakthrough to the first level through his own efforts.

At this moment,

with his eyes slightly closed, he could clearly feel the Qi and Blood Power flowing through his body.

His already vast Qi and Blood Power was now even more condensed.

The Qi and Blood Power sphere in his chest was also larger.

At the same time, another Qi and Blood Power appeared within his body.

Compared to the violent Qi and Blood Power cultivated from the Snake Form Stake, the Qi and Blood Power cultivated from this White Whale Stance appeared even more vast and robust.

Clearly, this was the unique aspect of each Secret Martial Arts stance.

Looking at this Secret Martial Arts stance, Hu Qi directly moved his mind slightly.

He clicked on it.

Currently,

the Seven Fiends Saber could not be improved.

He could only choose to improve the White Whale Stance first.

After all, Qi and Blood Power was the fundamental source of a Martial Artist’s strength.

“scarlet, modify, improve White Whale Stance!”

The next moment,

the Modification Value decreased.

The Qi and Blood Power cultivated from the White Whale Stance within his body was like it had consumed a great tonic.

It rapidly expanded and improved.

For this situation,

Hu Qi was already accustomed to it.

He stood still, quietly waiting for this sensation to pass.

Unlike the feeling of being drained when continuously improving the Snake Form Stake in the past,

he now felt no discomfort whatsoever.

After a while,

he opened his eyes.

— — — —

【White Whale Stance (Third Level)】

… …

Modification Value: 0 (13%)