Chapter 699: Chapter 363: Divine Bird’s Broken Wing! Xuanming Lost His Boat, Daoist Xuan Jade Girl Arrives Riding a Dragon!

The water waves suddenly surged forward and then rolled back. With such back-and-forth pushing, the Float Iron Boat swung back and forth, gradually loosening. Finally, a strong wave rushed backward, and the boat broke away from the reef.

Though the boat’s hull was worn, it was not yet seriously damaged. Li Xian sighed: "Truly, Dongran Lake is formidable. Even if we retreat further west, we are bound to hit reefs again. Though I remain unharmed, this boat cannot endure."

The Ghostly Garment of Spirits enveloped the compass, setting a northern course. Li Xian dared not underestimate the deadly peril of the lake, fiercer than dragons and tigers. Sailing north for about half a day, the thick fog began to dissipate, revealing the time of dusk.

Li Xian gazed at the setting sun, the remnant light evoking a sorrowful feeling, "This farewell, whether I survive or not, the next time I meet Sister Liuli, it is unknown which time or world it will be."

The twilight faded, leaving only dim darkness. Li Xian took the helm again, unable to suppress a long sigh, having just faced a series of perils, repeatedly dodging danger, now unable to clearly discern his location.

In the compartments of the Float Iron Boat, there were numerous miscellaneous items. Li Xian took out dried food, making do for a meal. Seeing the night had fallen deep, he dared not sail recklessly, fearing another dangerous encounter, nor dared to light a fire for illumination, fearing it would attract pursuers.

He sat cross-legged in the boat, took out four sheets of rice paper, folded them into paper boats, planted hairs on them, and pushed them in various directions. Then closed his eyes to cultivate the "Five Viscera Avoiding Dross and Gathering Yang Scripture," circulating impurity in the five viscera, skill level accumulated to [22693/24000 Great Success].

A halo of light circulated through his whole body, his physique emitting clear mist. The vertical mole at the center of his brow shimmered with a luminous halo. This halo could add extraordinary sights and enhance unusual effects. Sensing progress in the Five Viscera Avoiding Dross and Gathering Yang Scripture, he turned to "Hammering the Heart and Forging the Will," practicing [Only I have a Heart Skill].

When deep night fell, all four paper boats capsized. Li Xian promptly regained his senses, scrutinizing the surroundings. The rustling sound echoed all around, dense and chilling. Li Xian immediately lit a torch, wielding the "Setting Sun Bloodsword," the torch burst into flame with a "buzz."

He saw countless pairs of eyes glowing dimly around the boat, rapidly swimming toward it. A Snake Beast climbed onto the boat, its entire body jade green, blending with the lake water, its head shaped like a triangle, with two small protuberances at the nostrils.

This was the "Amputated Foot Snake," a Snake Beast in Dongran Lake that evokes fear and dread, with venom extremely potent—merely touching it imperils hands and feet. They dwell in densely packed groups, fancying warm things.

This part of the lake was even more malicious. Li Xian swept his gaze, seeing hundreds of venomous snakes. As he swung his sword, dozens of snakes were severed, yet snake mouths still spewed venom.

Snake heads fell onto the boat, ready to bite at any moment. Li Xian’s Pure Yang Body, endowed with the "Heart Fire" trait, attracted the Snake Beasts even more, ensuring their incessant assault!

Li Xian forced calmness, looking into the distance. He saw tens of thousands of snakes swarming in a tide, overwhelming everything, denser than the lake waters. Attacking in unison, even a Third Realm Martial Artist lacks the means to confront them, only to lament their fate on the spot.

Li Xian thought: "Attacked by these creatures at night, indeed incredibly troublesome. With such snake tide, none of my martial arts can resist. The Jade Palm’s Vast Green Waves may stir a moment of waves, but assaults come from all sides. How can the body be entirely protected? The Broken Demon Spear’s demon play with water emphasizes on killing, not defense. The Setting Sun Bloodsword is even harder to fend off such dense beast tide!"

An idea suddenly came, he stood firm with both feet. Qi Condensation shook the "Pure Gang Qi Clothing," shaking it momentarily, aided by the Only I have a Heart Skill’s capability of heart-concentrating and Qi-shaking. The clothing’s power instantly increased by thirty percent.

This outward-pushing force swept all directions. Though the Snake Beasts were dense, none could resist. Li Xian’s shock sent snakes within a few meters flying dozens of meters away, and those further off also flew away tens of meters...

The Snake Beasts, fearless of death, surged forward like moths to a flame. Li Xian paused for a moment, waiting for the Snake Beasts to rush to the side of the boat, then again shaking clothing, shaking Qi... Though difficult to completely resolve the deadly situation, it safeguarded the body, maintaining balance.

[You concentrate heart shaking Qi, repelling Snake Beasts, Only I have a Heart Skill skill level +1]

...

Further improving martial arts mastery.

Li Xian possessed the "Perfect Appearance" and "Heavy Pupil Appearance," shaping his spine like a mountain, diligently deepening the foundation of the "Five Viscera Avoiding Dross and Gathering Yang Scripture." Making Qi Power like an abyss, continuously flowing, standing alone against the snake tide, persisting for a long time, yet seeing no end.

Later, the purpose of "Pure Gang Qi Clothing’s" "shocking clothing" was further refined. When clothing was shaken, it carried the wind, stirring waves and rolling, governed with precision.

At dawn the next day, as the sun began to rise, the snake tide finally retreated. They perched on branches and banks, basking in the sun. These Snake Beasts enjoy consuming "Yang Qi;" at night they swarm and attack humans, but when daylight comes and the warm sun spreads Yang Qi, they cease.

Li Xian surveyed the surroundings, densely covered with countless snake corpses. Emitting a pungent odor, poisonous venom sprayed by the snakes had fallen into the lake, poisoning numerous fish and turtles, momentarily creating a pungent stench, subtly forming a poisonous miasma.

Having been busy repelling the snake tide last night, the boat drifted along the waves, at this moment completely losing its bearings. This lake region had countless trees with deep roots in the lakebed, boughs lush, with numerous venomous snakes and beasts.

Li Xian dared not take chances, promptly steering the boat in one direction. He felt slightly relieved: "Fortunate to find a way to clearly discern direction. Otherwise, with obstacles ahead, being directionless behind, surely trapped in the lake; like the snake tide last night, while I could withstand a night or two, if incessantly, mental fatigue would surely lead to death by snake bite one day."

"Shaking Qi all night long yesterday, consumed Inner Qi for thirty-two meters, need to swiftly replenish and recover."

While sailing, a mist of pale green surged forth. Here, venomous beasts resided, various poisonous gases converged, forming an unique miasma, tremendously formidable. Li Xian had anticipated, boiled Qi and cooked clarity, wrapped clean Qi with Pure Gang Qi Clothing, charging into the poisonous miasma.

Sailing another dozen miles, traversing the miasma, Li Xian dared not relax, sensing the water flowing backwards, faintly pushing him back into the miasma, he immediately exerted himself fully with the oars, though boat speed was slow, gradually moving away.