The moon is bright but the stars are sparse, and the waves sparkle.

The black canopy boat glides quietly on the river surface, with wooden oars stirring the water, bringing about a slight rustling sound.

Bai Qi had long discarded his outer robe and boots, changing into the Fisherman's short attire.

Running his own fish stall, after being the Master Bai who stretched out for clothes and opened his mouth for food, he seldom had the chance to go down to the river.

At most, he occasionally dived and swam, spending an hour or so, advancing the progress of the Eight Sections Skill, honing it to the perfect level.

[Skill: Eight Sections Skill (proficient)]

[Progress: (624/800)]

[Effect: Leaping in the water like a Flood Dragon, treading waves as swift as the wind]

"Brother Qi, have you detected the traces of the Mysterious Marsh Strange Red Qi?"

Bai Qi sat at the bow, leaning slightly forward, his palm reaching into the Black Water River, feeling a bit piercing cold.

Although it's early spring, the chill remains, whenever it gets dark at night.

The calmly flowing Black Water River would undulate, forming cold mist, sticking to the skin, slimy and very uncomfortable.

Thus, fishermen usually finish work at night and wait until dawn to cast nets, to avoid catching cold and falling seriously ill.

Moreover, in such weather, a slight misstep falling into the river might cost one's life.

"In daytime, Bing Fire is abundant, I saw several clusters of Yang Essence Qi descending, but it's hard to judge the exact location. Ah Nan, start paddling northwest."

Qi Yan held a pitch-black compass cast from Five Metals in one hand, while using the other hand to perform a Walking Spell, as if communicating with the "Gods" in the void.

This amused Bai Qi, a pity that his master Ninghai Zen was devoted to the Martial Dao, otherwise learning a skill to guide the way would save the worry of being unable to find home.

"Northwest are some desolate islets, underwater reefs are more than those at Mihun Bay, belonging to deep water areas."

As Black River County's top Fisherman, Bai Qi is somewhat familiar with the surrounding water areas.

He vaguely remembers that even the eight-year-old Sister Jiao built a nest there.

"Happening to pass by, we can also care for the children staying behind."

Bai Qi thought, Sister Jiao is alone, nesting in the Black Water River, it's hard for her to usually stay docile, never stirring trouble.

"Brother Qi, about the first two realms of Dao Skill, eating elixir and avoiding grain, entering meditation and embracing the embryo, I have a general understanding. I wonder how wandering deity concentrates, spirit communication, and manifestation are explained?"

Qi Yan handed the guiding compass to his junior brother Lv Nan, carefully pondering words before speaking:

"The Taoist Scripture states, when a person begins life, they first form spirit, and once the spirit forms, brain marrow is born, bones as support, vessels as nourishment, muscles as strength, flesh as walls, skin as defense allowing hair to grow.

A person's life stems from father's spirit and mother's blood, internally forming five organs, externally growing muscle, bone, and flesh.

Hence the saying 'blood and Qi harmonized, channel communication satisfied, five organs formed, spirit rests in heart, soul and spirit complete, thus becoming human.'"

Bai Qi thoughtfully chewed over these concise and exquisite truths, nodding silently:

"Many martial arts classics also talk about it, the spirit attaches to essence, essence governs spirit. Martial Arts, Dao Skill, they appear as two different paths, one refines essence, one nurtures spirit, but in the end they converge."

Qi Yan rubbed his hands, letting his palms heat:

"Indeed, Brother Bai has keen insight, but 'converging of different paths' is too difficult, only a paramount peak master can think and act this way, we're not there yet.

There's a saying, the world is a vast sea of suffering, you martial artists use your body as a raft, fortifying physique, crossing to the other side. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Whereas I, as one who cultivates Dao, seek familiarity with water nature, swimming within without drowning."

Lv Nan, squeezed beside, hesitated to speak, wondering why his brother reiterated their master's daily mutterings?

"I'm in the Third Realm of Dao Skill, barely cultivated to Divine Soul, able to night-travel hundreds of miles."

Qi Yan suddenly closed his eyes, his mind settled, without any setup, such as lighting calming incense, he freed from any distraction.

In an instant, a shadow-like illusory Divine Soul sprang from the flesh shell.

"Brother Bai's Qi and blood seem like a furnace, emitting a blazing flame several feet high, scorching me painfully, must keep a distance from you."

Qi Yan's flesh shell stiffened instantly, as if drained, becoming an empty shell, that Divine Soul drifted upwards, recoiling repeatedly, stuck inside the boat canopy.

"Divine Soul is yin, physique is yang. No wonder Martial Artists often apply scorching blood on weapons to harm the mind and soul, these intangible objects."

Bai Qi's pores tightened, his abundant Qi Blood accumulated, like a covered furnace, the flames suddenly dimmed.

Having achieved the Muscle Training Barrier to perfection, Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, he can control subtle changes in physique better than other Martial Artists.

"Wandering Deity concentrates roughly into 'Night Travel,' 'Day Travel.' Essentially, it's strengthening the mind more and more. Initially, Divine Soul is weak, easily scattered by wind, without incense protection, soon the soul vanishes.

Like someone not proficient in water, their first river dive invariably leads to panic, even choking, drowning."

Qi Yan's Divine Soul seems surrounded by bursts of whistling ghostly wind, as thoughts gently pass, sounds arise:

"I practiced for about half a year, only then did I rid the weakness of Divine Soul emergence, instead finding refreshment swimming in scorching summer, this is Dao cultivated, amassing 'Night Travel' success.

Cross this barrier, continue solidifying, and approximately two and a half years more can touch 'Day Travel.'

Ten more tracts high above ground, even under intense sunlight, yet unharmed thoughts, this is the gradual tempering of yin nature within the Divine Soul."

Bai Qi eyed Qi Yan's Divine Soul, while the night wind howled over the Black Water River, unable to disperse his form, showing this Wild Grass Mountain disciple's Dao skill is not low, nearing the Day Travel level.