"If one could cultivate the Divine Soul to the level of transformation from reality to illusion, with a single thought, they could manipulate external objects, exerting about half of their own strength to drive them, capturing a wild horse effortlessly.

It could even achieve the separation of spirit and body, allowing one to multitask, and even if the Divine Soul emerges from the shell, the body would continue to act as usual."

In front of Bai Qi, Qi Yan deliberately demonstrated, the Divine Soul suddenly rolled, capturing a large stream of water as big as a millstone.

But it didn't last long before it promptly collapsed and scattered.

"If I achieve the Third Realm Great Success, I should be able to grasp river water weighing thousands of pounds without issue. If the Fire Element Technique is highly refined, I could even wrap flames with my thoughts.

Before breaking the Fourth Qi Cultivation Barrier, ultimately the body is mortal, unable to withstand the pressure of water and fire burns. Thus, stepping into the Three Realms of Dao Skill is the only chance to contend with martial artists."

"Of course, in the comparison between Daoist skill and martial arts, personal resources, favorable conditions, and the quality of cultivation techniques are all very important."

Qi Yan's Divine Soul drilled back into the flesh shell, and the originally withered body looked gradually flushed and full again.

"I've learned a lot."

Bai Qi sincerely thanked him; Qi Yan's personal demonstration gave him an intuitive understanding of the distinctions among levels of Daoist skill cultivation.

"Brother, Brother Bai, we've arrived."

Lv Nan held the compass, glanced at the photograph, and suddenly said.

"Let me see."

Qi Yan stood up, feeling a twitch in his brow, once again letting his Divine Soul emerge from the shell, floating mid-air before suddenly diving into the river water.

Although his thoughts were focused and his Divine Soul was strong, he had not yet reached the level of day-travel.

In the Black Water River, it felt as if trapped in a large mass of gel, with a sense of difficulty in moving.

Moreover, the river water with its piercing cold was like a blast of freezing air from an ice cave, making it impossible to linger for long.

About ten breaths passed, Qi Yan's Divine Soul flew back into his flesh shell, seemingly frozen, his teeth chattering:

"I just went four or five feet deep and finally sensed a thread of Fire Spirit Qi, the compass should be correct.

But the Mysterious Marsh Strange Red Qi nurtured is hidden very deep. It's time to see Brother Bai's skill."

Bai Qi handed a blanket to Qi Yan, confirmed the position, nodded and said:

"Leave it to me."

Lv Nan brought a large coil of thick hemp rope from the cabin, intending to tie it around Bai Qi's waist to prevent accidents and ensure timely rescue.

But Bai Qi refused:

"No matter how big the waves of Black Water River are, they can't drown me! I can cross eight hundred miles with my eyes closed!"

Qi Yan was shivering with cold, the pain sensed by the Divine Soul also affected the flesh shell.

Seeing Bai Qi boast like this, he couldn't help but feel happy:

"Looking forward to your good news, Brother Bai... Achoo!"

Bai Qi stood at the bow of the ship, moved a bit, raised both hands over his head, and suddenly plunged into the Black Water River like a flood dragon.

The two water patterns on his forehead glowed brightly, breathing seemed like inhaling and spraying clouds and mist, currents surged, supporting his upright posture.

Witnessing this scene for the first time, Qi Yan and Master Lv Nan were taken aback, as if they were stunned.

"Brother, do you call this water skills?"

Lv Nan rubbed his honest round face, doubting his own eyes.

"If Brother Bai said he was a flood dragon transformed, I'd believe it."

Qi Yan wrapped in a thick blanket, exhaled two breaths of hot air:

"No wonder when I inquire who in Black River County has the best water skills, everyone mentions Brother Bai's name.

This is simply... comparable to the superior Daoist skill of Wave-Splitting Water-Pushing Technique!"

...

...

"The water got deeper, and also 'heavier'?"

Bai Qi continued to dive, under the reflection of the Evil-Breaking Spirit Eye, various colors flickered and swayed.

When his body descended about seven or eight feet deep, his actions became somewhat sluggish, not as effortlessly as before.

He looked around, many water weeds like tangled hair danced continuously, resembling dense reeds.

"There are more treasured plants than treasured fish... also quite strange."

Bai Qi's forehead-born water patterns allowed him not to need to rise for air like a mortal body, he used a technique similar to 'thousand pounds drop', as if tied with solid weights, and sank two more feet, finally stepping on solid ground.

This secluded water area, unlike Mihun Bay, the riverbed was filled with soft silt.

Looking far ahead, it resembled an expanse of hills interlocking with serrated teeth, undulating and winding.

Occasionally, a few towering coral trees can be seen, just like a forest, but no swimming fish are visible.

"He Jingfeng mentioned that blood coral three to four feet high is as valuable as gold. Although these aren't blood coral, their quality isn't bad either, which is a pity."

If it weren't for the fact that they are difficult to move, and there's important business to attend to, Bai Qi would indeed have a mind to clear everything out.

He activated the Evil-Breaking Spirit Eye, holding the compass that Qi Yan and Lv Nan regarded as a treasure, searching for the wisp of Bing Fire Essence Qi that had fallen into the river.

After walking over a hundred steps, he finally discovered the Mysterious Marsh Strange Red Qi, like a cluster of orange flames about two fingers long, rooted in the vast water waves, forming a unique scene.

"Gathering qi is truly not an easy job."

Bai Qi took out from his chest a box made of Frost Sandstone. This unique flame formed from Fire Spirit Qi has many intricacies when it comes to its collection.

A wooden box would cause the fire qi to intensify and disperse in the water, and an iron box would easily be melted. It must be an earthly object carved from sandstone to conceal its brilliance and successfully contain it.

"In the anecdotes I've read before, those immortals traveled the four seas, possibly searching for various external objects and elixirs to enhance their cultivation."

Bai Qi opened the stone box and covered the wisp of Mysterious Marsh Strange Red Qi. It was like approaching a great furnace, causing his skin to tingle with heat and pain.

"Truly, the Fire Spirit Qi is even fiercer than the kilns in Wagang Village. If flesh touched it, it would instantaneously burn to charcoal.

If Qi Yan and Lv Nan could cultivate it into Daoist Skill, a mere wave of the hand could overpower any martial artist below the fourth Qi cultivation barrier."

Carefully collecting the wisp of fiery, radiant, and substantial Mysterious Marsh Strange Red Qi, Bai Qi spent half a stick of incense's time before completing the task.

This task, if given to another, might not necessarily have been accomplished.

"Phew, finally done."

Bai Qi exhaled a long breath, put the stone box back into his chest, and was about to float back up to report.

The continually operating Evil-Breaking Spirit Eye suddenly brightened, and an inadvertent glance seemed to discover some incredible treasure.

"Could there be other finds?"

Bai Qi thought to himself in slight surprise, maneuvered the water waves, and with a stamp of his feet, he instantly crossed several dozen steps.

This water domain is vast and boundless, even if that glow appeared to be very close, in reality, he still walked for a while.

Cresting over the rise of a hill-like mountain, his eyes widened suddenly—an approximately seven to eight-acre... lotus pool?

Who would plant lotus roots underwater?

Could they survive?

Bai Qi couldn't help but wonder.

He diligently comprehended his mind daily, consecutively opening his hearing and vision, with his five senses sharpened to an extraordinary degree.

"No owner? Then it's something I've stumbled upon!"

Confirming the calm surrounding area for dozens of feet, Bai Qi sneakily moved down, around the lotus pool there seemed to be a layer of water membrane, isolating it from the outside's turbulent undercurrents.

He could easily pass through, as if lifting a curtain, getting close and scooping out a deep red segment of lotus root:

"Truly a precious plant!"

Bai Qi was overjoyed; a seven to eight-acre lotus pool filled with precious plants could enable him to complete the ninth blood exchange, thus beginning the refining of Silver Marrow and nurturing martial bones.

"There are also white lotuses... lotus seeds, lotus leaves, all look like good stuff."

Though he didn't recognize them, the feedback from the Evil-Breaking Spirit Eye allowed him to assess their value.

Pretending to shout a few times around, having received no response, he started to be impolite.

Considering how to empty the lotus pool!

"In this world, there have been achievements in cultivation to become immortals; how come I haven't seen any storage bags?"

Just as Bai Qi was troubled about how to pack and take them away, the water flow suddenly surged, breaking through the thin membrane covering the lotus pool.

A shock coursed through his heart, the water patterns on his forehead glowing brighter, and the waves swirling around him propelled him upward, avoiding the fierce impact.

"Oh no! I've been caught!"

With his skills empowered, Bai Qi manipulated the water rolling and riding waves with ease, immediately preparing to escape.

He wasn't a bandit, intent on robbing others' treasures, just secretly regretting he hadn't gnawed on a couple of sections earlier, which would have been a good outcome.

Roar!

Suddenly, Bai Qi heard a dragon's roar by his ear!

The sound wave boomed explosively, tearing apart layers of water waves, like a massive thunderbolt striking the riverbed!

"Hey! Sister Jiao! It's me!"

Bai Qi turned his head and saw that it was indeed the Big Flood Dragon named "Old Hei" by his master Ninghai Zen, hurriedly waving to signal.

"Roar, roar."

The menacing Big Flood Dragon, recognizing Bai Qi's appearance and the bright water patterns on his forehead, had its previously harsh growl softened, turning into cheerful and joyful hums and murmurs.