Chapter 559 - A Few Months To Grasp Waterbird Fist

"Watch me, Cassius." Holy Fist White Bird and Cassius sat cross-legged across from each other and slowly pressed their palms together.

White Bird’s gaunt figure seemed to blur, merging with the very air until it turned invisible. Only sixty-six white stars remained, flickering and linking together into the shape of an elegant yet savage demonic bird.

Cheeu!

Cassius faintly heard the cry of a waterbird beside his ear. His vision blurred, and heaven and earth shifted. The scorching sun blazed, white clouds drifted, and the sky was azure. He was standing on a vast stretch of soft, fine golden sand. In the distance, there were layered black reefs upon which waves continued to break upon. The sparkling sea seemed to stretch endlessly.

The sea breeze blew gently toward him, carrying a salty tang. Cassius could see his lone shadow upon the sand.

"Vision, smell, taste, hearing... Everything is vivid, no different from reality..." He slowly raised his hand and reached out toward the incoming breeze as though to grasp the invisible air. "Touch is real too. Is this the Qi world?"

Cassius had once experienced the Qi world on the fifth layer of the Ao Yin Ruins with the Ultimate Fist elder. Yet at that time, his strength had not reached what it currently was, so he could perceive little. But now, Cassius finally sensed its terrifying nature.

It formed a world of its own, with everything wrought from Qi. Was this still merely a fist technique?

Cheeu!

He heard a faint bird’s cry in the distance. Cassius jerked his head to look. A black speck was streaking toward him at high speed from the depths of the blue sea. When it drew closer, Cassius finally saw it clearly.

It was a white waterbird flying at incomparable speed. But he quickly noticed something special. The white bird did not resemble an ordinary waterbird but carried a unique rhythm. Its wings flapped softly and broadly at first, light and slow. However, when they reached their limit, they turned abruptly hard and fierce. The feathers then bristled like twin metal blades.

One moment slow, the next swift; one instant gentle, the next rigid; one breath light, the next heavy. These two contradictory rhythms blended into the hallmark of the white bird's outspread wings.

Moreover, the bird's flight path was extraordinary. It traced a wave-like course, like a stone skipping across the sea. It rose to the sky's height, then dove toward the sea's surface. Its talons touched the water then departed, leaving ring-shaped ripples behind. It seemed to be borrowing force to sprint forward.

The motion reminded Cassius of a missile that skimmed the atmosphere. This skipping stance was known as the strongest spear. The enemy could not even predict it, much less defend against it.

"How strange. I actually can't guess where this white bird will be the next second!" Cassius' eyes focused, and he immediately sensed the oddity.

By rights, with his formidable strength after having condensed the Heart of the Dominator Fist, he should easily foresee what would follow. Yet no matter how sharply Cassius tracked it, he could not judge the bird's landing point.

As the white bird drew nearer, the feeling intensified rapidly. It gradually evolved into a danger he could neither control nor predict.

"If it dives at me, how should I block? How should I punch?" A flood of thoughts flashed through Cassius' mind.

However, before he could ponder further, the flying white bird had reached him.

Bang!

His fist abruptly swung out, compressing the air. Cassius threw a punch at the white bird in an instant, refined Qi coating his fist.

Whoosh!

The white bird shimmered gently, yet it dodged the punch in a blink. A second later, its wings unfolded to their limit, immediately turning into steely sharp thorn feathers. They resembled a brutal warblade drenched in enemy blood.

Slash.

The blade cut past Cassius' side, sending blood spraying. The warblade quivered slightly and reverted to soft wings in a blink. The wings spread lightly, drawing a graceful arc through the air and coming to rest upon the beach.

The white bird shifted form, and an elder slowly turned around. His hair was grey-white and somewhat disheveled. Wrinkles covered his face, yet it bore a weathered charm. His features were pronounced, especially the prominent aquiline nose. His brows and eyes were razor-sharp; though aged, they still emitted an unconcealable edge.

Of course, that was merely appearance. What utterly eclipsed appearance was the sacred aura emanating from the elder. Simply by standing there, he gave the impression of a statue or idol. One felt an inexplicable urge to revere him and listen to his teachings.

He was of the Southern Dipper lineage, founder of the Southern Dipper Waterbird Fist—Holy Fist White Bird.

Holy Fist White Bird turned and looked at Cassius' burly figure. Cassius's waist had a long narrow wound. No flesh split outward; instead, a smooth section was missing inward. Blood dripped from the edge, the lead-mercury-like liquid striking the ground.

"Did you feel it? The waterbird's essence?" the elder asked slowly.

Cassius turned, contemplation in his eyes. He knew Holy Fist White Bird had just displayed the quintessence of the Southern Dipper Waterbird Fist. Opening with a memorable strike that injured him was merely a teaching method. Cassius had experienced this approach from the Ultimate Fist elder as well.

He had been beaten day after day for five or six months. The beatings had allowed the fist technique to come naturally, until he comprehended the essence. It was simple and direct, but just a little violent. Ordinary students likely could not stand such treatment, for it could indeed be lethal.

"Hu..."

Cassius refocused, fully regaining his senses. "Contradiction? A contradictory essence? Two opposing attributes?"

Holy Fist White Bird smiled, neither nodding nor shaking his head. "It is contradictory, yet not merely opposite. There is also unity... Come with me."

He suddenly turned and flew toward the center of the sea island. Three minutes later, the two arrived atop a lofty peak. From there, all mountains would look small, though no other peaks existed on the isle.

One could see babbling streams, verdant woods, fragrant meadows, and golden beaches. And farther off, the vast sea rippled with blue waves.

At the summit, one figure practiced fist techniques while the other watched silently. The Southern Dipper Waterbird Fist certainly could not forcibly elevate someone to the sixth stage through direct energy transfer. Such strength could well sow hidden dangers for the future.

Holy Fist White Bird did not wish to waste such a promising seedling, and Cassius did not wish his future path impeded as well. Therefore, the foundation still had to be solidly laid.

The Qi world was exceedingly peculiar, since time flowed differently inside it. It was likely a wondrous realm that even a Southern Dipper Holy Fist had to expend great effort to create, and it could help him master the Southern Dipper Waterbird Fist in a short span.

On the peak's broad platform, Holy Fist White Bird flowed through the various stances, his arms unfolding like a waterbird—both graceful yet brisk.

His body moved with each swing, gliding and skimming across the ground. His arms cleaved the air, producing a metallic ringing usually made only by vibrating weapons, crisp yet tinged with killing intent. This was the basic form of the Southern Dipper Waterbird Fist.

Cassius stood to the side observing intently.

A dozen days later, at the foot of the mountain beside a brook, an aged figure was moving so fast that he blurred into a dark smear. When his decisive strike erupted, terrifying power poured into the forest. Trunks snapped and leaves fell like rain.

Beside the stream, Cassius pondered...

A month passed.

Within the woods, the two sat cross-legged facing each other under mottled golden sunlight. Holy Fist White Bird’s head was slightly lowered and his eyes shut. He seemed like a god within a temple. Yet upon this god's surface, sixty-six white stars lit up at various acupoints. They flickered and shifted unceasingly. Linked together, they formed a single waterbird. It corresponded to the Cygnus constellation in the night sky.

Two months flashed by.

Golden grains of sand burst upward like a surging fountain on the beach. As they fell, they resembled a rain of gold, gleaming beneath the sunlight.

An elder and a youth were intertwined in furious combat within this rain, their speed beyond naked sight. Blurred shadows sped like dark clouds, squeezing pockets of vacuum in the air. Hands imbued with explosive power swung around with various martial techniques.

Boom boom boom!

Fists and palms collided, causing the air to detonate.

Whoosh!

An errant iron thorn feather shot outward and landed in the distant sea.

Boom!

A terrifying explosion rang out as a huge bowl-shaped depression was carved into the sea surface. It was as if smooth translucent jelly had suddenly had a great scoop taken out. Only after a while did surrounding waters rush madly in to finally fill it.

Several more months passed...

Still on the mountain peak, Cassius sat cross-legged, breathing rhythmically. The Southern Dipper Waterbird Fist circulated quietly, Qi coursing through his body.

One white star burned brightly on his body. All other densely glowing acupoints shone red and purple, nearly submerging the Waterbird Fist's single acupoint.

Entry into the Southern Dipper Waterbird Fist had been far simpler than entry into the Southern Dipper Sonic Snake Fist. Back then, the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist was overwhelmingly dominant, and the Killer Persona held control. Training the Sonic Snake Fist had therefore faced severe obstruction, even rejection.

Fortunately, Cassius' three core principles were outstanding, and he had survived the perilous phase with the Ultimate Fist elder's help. He had been able to successfully balance the two fist techniques. Once balance was achieved, the third fist technique was much easier. The Southern Dipper Sonic Snake Fist and Red Falcon Fist checked each other, as did the Killer Persona and the Cold Persona.

Cassius' Main Persona thus felt far more at ease. The Waterbird Fist came naturally to him, everything unfolding as if by water's course. However for now, the Waterbird Fist still had only one acupoint, and was unable to resonate strongly with the Red Falcon Fist and Sonic Snake Fist to reach optimal balance.

Holy Fist White Bird would obviously help solve this problem.

"After several months, your foundation is set and you have grasped the Waterbird Fist, which shows that your compatibility with the Waterbird Fist is very high..." Holy Fist White Bird stood behind Cassius with hands clasped behind his back and continued, "Not only the Waterbird Fist. Your compatibility with the entire Southern Dipper Covert Marital Inheritance is extremely high. Those peculiar three core principles you told me of are quite profound... Being able to split the persona into three..."

The elder sighed with admiration, but then his tone shifted. "Your body has reached a superhuman level, and the Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist and Sonic Snake Fist are cultivated to respectable realms. Moreover, you have condensed the Heart of the Dominator Fist, arriving at the threshold just below Holy Fist. Your development in every direction is excellent, all-rounded with deep foundations. Therefore, I intend to be a bit rough and directly drive a waterbird into your body!"

"The sixty-six star formation that mirrors the Cygnus constellation forms waterbird Qi. After it enters your body, it will unfold naturally, filling each acupoint and manifesting meridians. At that moment, you will suffer extreme pain, wide bodily damage, and even your Qi and spirit will clash. However, you must remain calm and focused. Break through each overlapping acupoint between the waterbird Qi and your body one by one..."

Holy Fist White Bird repeated the words he had said many times before, serving as a reminder for Cassius to take it seriously, even if it sounded somewhat long winded.

"Are you ready?" The elder spoke to Cassius, who sat cross-legged before him.

"I am already in peak condition. Do it." Cassius slowly exhaled a hot breath.

Holy Fist White Bird didn't hesitate at all, pressing one palm down on top of Cassius's head. In that instant, a vast phantom of a waterbird seemed to appear in the sky and dive downward. It merged with Holy Fist White Bird's palm and blasted into Cassius' crown!

Boom!

At that moment Cassius felt as though the dark chaos of his mind had exploded. A white waterbird silhouette spread its wings and flew into his body, sweeping through every inch of his flesh and meridians.

The waterbird phantom abruptly expanded to match Cassius' exact size, filling him completely. From afar, Cassius looked like a white humanoid waterbird as its phantom shrouded him.

One by one, the Waterbird Fist acupoints lit with intense white light, bringing unimaginable pain at the same time. He felt his entire body convulse and his consciousness blur.

However, Cassius's resolve was firm, and he quickly redirected his focus to the Waterbird Fist. Thorn Feather Force roared forth from the first opened acupoint, stabbing toward the second acupoint. After a bout of searing pain, the acupoint was pierced through. The Thorn Feather Force then grew stronger and headed for the third acupoint!

Pop pop pop pop pop pop pop...

A dense string of muffled sounds echoed.

Cassius, seated cross-legged, was drenched in blood. His chest was riddled with gaping holes where faint white light glimmered. A quick glance showed dozens of wounds, and the number was only growing!

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Behind him, Holy Fist White Bird kept one hand on Cassius' crown as he watched. "I wonder how long you can endure... and how many acupoints you will break through?"