"Grind the Iron Leaf Fruit and eat it?" Teng Qingshan mused, then chuckled, "Perhaps it really might have a strange effect. But I certainly won't be doing that!" At Teng Qingshan's level, the influence of external objects was negligible.
"Xiao Jun, want to try?" Teng Qingshan teased.
"I just happened to recall this, and it seems quite uncertain. If we ever capture a prisoner or something, we could try it out then!" Li Jun said thoughtfully.
After chatting for a while longer, they all entered the cabin to rest.
...
Life on the sea was actually quite tedious. At first, one might be awed by the boundlessness of the ocean, but over time, it became quite oppressive.
Teng Qingshan focused entirely on secluded cultivation, fully integrating the insights of the Earth Elemental Fist into his 'Primal Chaos Qi' spear technique. Li Jun, between occasional bouts of cultivation, would watch Teng Qingshan practice, or find a certain charm in communicating with the Thunder Whales.
They pressed onward.
Teng Qingshan and the others noticed that the further north they traveled, the scarcer the inhabited islands became. When they first set out from Sky Stone Island, they could occasionally spot an island with signs of life. But starting from the seventh day traveling with the Thunder Whale clan, Teng Qingshan and his companions hadn't seen a single inhabited overseas island.
They were too far from the coastline of the Nine Provinces mainland.
On the seventh night with the Thunder Whale clan.
Over thirty Thunder Whales rested on the surface of the sea, and the Blackwood ship naturally came to a halt. At this moment, nearly a hundred zhang beneath the dark surface of the water, Teng Qingshan, wearing only a pair of trousers and **bare-chested, was practicing his fists on the seabed.
"Buzz!"
"Buzz!"
Every punch Teng Qingshan threw contained an extremely rapid, drilling force, as if a massive electric drill was boring through the seabed.
"Xing Yi Five Elements Fist, Drill Fist." Teng Qingshan practiced only this single move, the 'Drill Fist,' while maintaining the Three-Body Stance, yet executing the technique. He struck repeatedly; in just one shichen, Teng Qingshan had unleashed no less than a thousand punches.
Each punch carried the force equivalent to tens of thousands of jin.
Teng Qingshan cultivated the Yi Jing (intent/concept), so there was no need to unleash his full power.
As Teng Qingshan delivered a punch—one moment swirling up and down, the next revolving inwardly and outwardly, spinning flatly then vertically, twisting smoothly—that terrifying rotational drilling momentum was unleashed. If a Xing Yi Grandmaster were to witness this, they would be utterly stunned.
This fist technique had already reached an inscrutable, peak state. However, Teng Qingshan was now striving to surpass the Grandmaster level, to grasp the realm of the 'Dao.'
"Hoo!" Teng Qingshan retracted his fist, returning to the Three-Body Stance.
"I truly am gaining an advantage!" A faint smile touched Teng Qingshan's face. "Among the Five Elements Fists, the Horizontal Fist represents Earth. Currently, my attainment in the Earth Elemental Fist is the highest! This Drill Fist belongs to Water, which dissolves into Earth and generates Wood! The Horizontal Fist is the foundation for the Drill Fist; if the Horizontal Fist is mastered, practicing the Drill Fist becomes easier. By the same logic, having high attainment in the Earth Elemental Fist makes cultivating the Water Elemental Fist significantly simpler."
These past few days, Teng Qingshan dedicated nearly two hours every night to practicing his fists deep under the ocean.
During his cultivation, Teng Qingshan also discovered that the insights from the Earth Elemental Fist aided his improvement in the 'Drill Fist.' His previous master, Teng Bolai, teaching him that 'Drill Fist belongs to Water, dissolving into Earth,' was indeed not an empty saying.
"It's truly hard to achieve sudden enlightenment here, as I did on the great grasslands," Teng Qingshan knew clearly in his heart. "Sudden enlightenment comes by chance and cannot be sought! In this ocean environment, even if enlightenment eludes me, it certainly helps me comprehend the Drill Fist!"
Cultivating the Drill Fist at sea was indeed twice the result with half the effort! It was similar to how some Xing Yi masters would observe the actual movements of animals when practicing the Twelve Forms. Cultivating the Water Element Fist was best suited for a marine environment.
"I cannot demand sudden enlightenment, but by treading steadily, through continuous hard work and constant contemplation, progress will still come slowly!" Teng Qingshan's confidence was unshakeable.
Indeed, leveraging the foundation of the Earth Elemental Fist was slowly elevating his mastery of the Drill Fist.
On the ninth night with the Thunder Whale clan!
"Swish~~" The dark seawater rippled gently.
The thirty-plus Thunder Whales and the Blackwood ship continued their advance. Usually, the whales would rest at night, but tonight was different. Because... according to estimates, they should reach their destination tonight—Iron Leaf Island!
On the Blackwood ship.
Teng Qingshan held a silver Reincarnation Spear, thrusting it repeatedly straight ahead.
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"
The sound was like an electric drill boring through the air, each thrust ferociously sharp. Teng Qingshan stood in the Three-Body Stance, yet the spear in his hand repeatedly executed the 'Poisonous Dragon Drill' move. Since cultivating his Internal Gang Qi, the 'Poisonous Dragon Drill' had become Teng Qingshan's strongest offensive move!
Furthermore, after more than ten days at sea, Teng Qingshan frequently entered the water to practice the 'Drill Fist' in seclusion.
The concept behind the 'Drill Fist' and the 'Poisonous Dragon Drill' was identical.
As Teng Qingshan's 'Drill Fist' gradually improved, the power of his ultimate move, the 'Poisonous Dragon Drill,' also steadily increased.
"Hm?" Teng Qingshan frowned.
Because the Blackwood ship beneath his feet had stopped, Teng Qingshan walked to the bow and looked into the sea. He saw the Thunder Whale King's massive golden eye also fixed on him. The King let out two soft roars, seemingly hesitant to shout loudly, as if mindful of something.
"Xiao Jun, Xiao Jun." Teng Qingshan immediately knocked twice on the cabin door.
Soon, Li Jun hastily dressed and ran out, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Teng Qingshan at the bow, beginning to converse with the Thunder Whale King below.
A moment later—
Li Jun turned back to Teng Qingshan and smiled, "Brother Teng, the Thunder Whale King says... Iron Leaf Island is about three li ahead." Teng Qingshan looked in that direction. Although Iron Leaf Island wasn't a huge island, at only three li away, Teng Qingshan could still spot the dark expanse of the island on the distant horizon.
"Still three li away, why stop now?" Teng Qingshan frowned.
"The Thunder Whale King says there are hidden reefs ahead, even some stones jutting out of the water! Our Blackwood ship probably can't get through," Li Jun explained, while the Thunder Whale King in the water also emitted low rumbles.
Li Jun added, "It also said that once we disembark and start fighting the demonic beasts on the island! If the Blackwood ship is moored near the shore, it might be attacked by the beasts. Keeping it three li out is much safer for the ship."
Teng Qingshan nodded in understanding.
"Wait a moment." A thought struck Teng Qingshan. He directly opened the cabin door, entered, and then pulled out a bundle of fishing nets before closing the door again.
"Fishing nets?" Li Jun was surprised.
"To collect the Iron Leaf Fruits!" Teng Qingshan smiled. "If there are many of those Iron Leaf Fruits, the fishing nets will be of great use!"
"We're getting off the ship!" Teng Qingshan looked toward the Thunder Whale King below. "Xiao Jun, tell it that when we go ashore, I'll go to the island first, and it should protect you well."
A smile touched Li Jun's face upon hearing this.
She then exchanged a few words with the Thunder Whale King in the water and then smiled at Teng Qingshan, "Brother Teng, let's go, time to slip into the water!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Teng Qingshan and Li Jun leaped together, splashing into the sea with a "plop." However, the seawater around Li Jun's body was being forced away by an invisible energy—the effect of the Water-Repelling Green Pearl. "This Green Pearl is truly quite useful when worn," Li Jun remarked curiously, looking at the surrounding water.
"Roar~~" The Thunder Whale King's massive head swam close in the water.
Li Jun roared twice at it, then laughed, "Brother Teng, it has arranged for one Thunder Whale to guard the Blackwood ship, and the rest are heading to the edge of Iron Leaf Island." Immediately, Teng Qingshan and Li Jun climbed onto the back of one Thunder Whale.
The thirty-plus Thunder Whales advanced toward Iron Leaf Island.
"Ask it what powerful demonic beasts are on the island. It mentioned before that I could definitely handle them, so let it be specific," Teng Qingshan instructed.
"Okay." Li Jun immediately began whispering to the Thunder Whale King.
A moment later, Li Jun turned back: "Brother Teng, the Thunder Whale King says there are several demonic beasts on the island, but they are similar in level to itself—demonic beasts at the Innate Golden Core realm. There is only one truly formidable one, a great eagle! Based on the Thunder Whale King's description, I think that divine eagle must be the 'Golden-Eyed Divine Eagle,' also known as the 'Profound Wind Divine Eagle.'"
Teng Qingshan realized with a start, feeling even more assured in his heart.
The Profound Wind Divine Eagle, also called the 'Golden-Eyed Divine Eagle,' could spew cold mist, and its strength was comparable to the Red-Eyed Snow Lion Beast.
"One in the sea, one in the air. The Thunder Whale King would indeed have trouble getting the fruits if that Profound Wind Divine Eagle is on the island." Teng Qingshan smiled. "Never mind the Profound Wind Divine Eagle; even ordinary Innate Void Core realm demonic beasts, as long as they stay ashore and don't approach the sea edge, pose no threat to the Thunder Whale King."
Teng Qingshan was completely confident.
"Brother Teng, the Thunder Whale King also mentioned... although the Profound Wind Divine Eagle is often on the island, it isn't there every day. If we're lucky, we won't run into that divine eagle tonight. We might easily drive away some common Innate demonic beasts and safely gather the fruits," Li Jun added with a smile.
Teng Qingshan nodded. "Yes, if we can avoid a fight, that's for the best!"
Soon—
The thirty-plus Thunder Whales arrived at the shore of Iron Leaf Island.
"Brother Teng, the Thunder Whale King says the Iron Leaf Fruit trees are at the highest point of the entire island. The branches and leaves of the Iron Leaf Fruit trees are as hard and sharp as steel, and they are entirely black; only the fruits are green! They should be recognizable at a glance," Li Jun whispered.
Teng Qingshan nodded.
However, the island was vast, and the trees were numerous; it was impossible for him to spot it immediately.
"Brother Teng, be careful," Li Jun murmured.
The Thunder Whale King’s pair of massive golden eyes watched Teng Qingshan. All thirty-plus Thunder Whales looked at him with anticipation. Teng Qingshan smiled, holding his Reincarnation Spear and shouldering the fishing net, then strode onto the shore. With a nimble flash, his figure vanished from the whales' sight.
...
Teng Qingshan moved across Iron Leaf Island like an agile monkey. It took about half an shichen.
Teng Qingshan gazed at a towering tree before him. The tree was as thick as a grown man's waist, entirely black, and its leaves looked as if forged from steel. Especially those fruits hanging amidst the foliage—they were green, a green that sent a chill down one's spine, yet instantly confirmed that the tree before him was the Iron Leaf Fruit tree.
"This is it!" A faint smile surfaced on Teng Qingshan's face.