Chapter 11: The Golden Strange Fish (Part One)
Xi Fei shook her head and said, “Father and the others haven’t returned yet. Grandpa Owen, it’s all our fault. If Feng-di and I hadn’t gone swimming in the sea, Brother Adai wouldn’t have gone looking for us.”
Owen was now filled with anxiety. Naturally, he would not blame anyone, yet his heart had already flown out into the sea. Over the past year, the more time Owen spent with Adai, the more he grew to love this kind-hearted child. Although a year had passed, Adai still thought of his teacher Goris every single day. That silver steamed bun rested on his bedside; each morning upon waking, Adai would stare at it blankly for a while, murmuring a few words. Everything about Adai was so pure. Child, please, you must be safe! By now, Adai had been in the sea for over an hour.
Just then, two figures emerged from the water: Xi Zhong and Xi Fa. Owen hurried forward and asked anxiously, “Did you find Adai?”
Xi Zhong and Xi Fa exchanged glances, their faces filled with shame. Xi Zhong said, “Uncle Owen, the waves were simply too huge. We dared not venture too far out. Adai was likely swept by the currents into the depths. We couldn’t find him.”
A cold gleam flashed briefly in Owen’s eyes. Had this been the old him, he would have killed everyone before him right then to vent his fury. Yet now, he could not do that. Calmly, he said, “You have done your best. Go back first, and do not tell Xier about this yet. I will go search for Adai myself.”
Xi Fa said, “Uncle Owen, I’m afraid it’s nearly impossible; the waves are too huge, and with this stormy weather, it’s truly difficult to find anyone!”
Owen snapped irritably, “Difficult or not, we must search! A-Dai is my only living relative. Do you expect me to just watch him die? You all go back first.”
The three Xi brothers were simultaneously stunned. How could their usually gentle and refined Uncle Owen suddenly become so irritable? Each pulling their own child along, they headed back toward the town. In such weather, unless it were a large ship from the Xibo Fleet, ordinary fishing boats simply couldn’t withstand the raging waves.
Owen took a deep breath, regulated the Shengsheng True Qi within his body, and stabilized the silver sphere absorbing the poisonous energy of the Wu’er Sacred Water. With a long, piercing cry, he leaped skyward and plunged into the churning sea. This single leap covered more than ten zhang. Without hesitation, he touched down lightly on the crest of a wave, oriented himself, and then continued stepping across the towering waves, venturing deeper into the ocean. The Shengsheng True Qi circulated continuously within him. Within a short while, the shoreline had already disappeared from view. Such relentless, uninterrupted leaping consumed immense amounts of True Qi;若非 the Shengsheng True Qi possessed its self-renewing nature, he could never have sustained it for so long. Finding a single person amidst the vast, boundless sea was extraordinarily difficult. Owen’s True Qi steadily diminished, yet still, there was no sign of A-Dai.
Suddenly, a golden light flashed through the seawater, skimming rapidly across the surface. Owen’s heart stirred, and he swiftly followed the gleaming trail. After a full five minutes, he finally spotted Adai floating on the sea. Intense joy ignited latent potential within Owen; with a loud shout, he thrust out his right palm. A flash of white light erupted, actually pushing back the massive wave surging toward him. Reaching out, he scooped Adai into his arms. Upon even the slightest contact, he realized Adai’s life force was not yet extinguished—he had merely swallowed a great deal of seawater.
Tucking Adai under his arm, Owen focused his mind and gathered his qi, leaping swiftly toward the shore. The Shengsheng true energy within his body circulated continuously, yet it was no longer sufficient to replenish his expended strength. Although the coastline was now in sight, Owen’s Shengsheng true energy had dwindled to only fifty percent. He could no longer continue using his true energy, otherwise the deadly poison of the Wu’er Holy Water within him would surely activate. Helplessly, he had no choice but to drop back into the sea and swim forward. Fortunately, having grown up by the seaside in his childhood, although he hadn’t swum for many years, he still retained some basic skills. After enduring immense hardship, he finally succeeded in dragging Adai back to the shore.
“Brother Owen!” Xi’er’s voice called out. He and his three sons were waiting anxiously on the shore. Upon seeing Owen return with Adai, all four hurried forward. Xi Zhong took Adai from Owen, while Xi Fa and Xi Bai supported Owen on either side. It turned out that after the three brothers—Xi Zhong, Xi Fa, and Xi Bai—returned home, fearing future reproach from their father, they disobeyed Owen’s instructions and told Xi’er everything that had happened. Xi’er immediately flew into a rage; without even taking time to scold his granddaughter and grandsons, he hastily brought his three sons rushing to the seaside.
“Brother Owen, how are you?” Xi’er asked urgently.
Owen kept gasping, the life force within him circulating continuously and automatically restoring itself. Finally, he had saved Adai, and his heart settled back into place. “Xier, I’m fine. Adai swallowed a lot of seawater. Xizhong, please help him expel the water quickly. Xier, don’t blame the children; this isn’t their fault either. It was Adai himself who overestimated his own abilities.”
Sheer glared at his three sons and snapped angrily, “Look at the fine daughter and sons you’ve raised! Brother, let me help you back first. That child Adai is simply too kind-hearted.”
…
Adai slowly opened his blurry eyes; his mouth tasted bitter and astringent, his body felt weak and powerless, and his stomach was completely empty. “Am… am I dead?” he murmured.
Owen’s voice came through, “If I had arrived just a little later, you would have already perished in the sea. You clearly can’t swim well, yet you insisted on saving others! You! Quick, drink some ginger soup to warm yourself up.”
Owen helped A-Dai sit up and brought the prepared ginger soup to his lips. Upon seeing Owen, A-Dai’s eyes immediately reddened; forgetting all about the soup, he suddenly threw his arms around Owen’s neck and sobbed, “Uncle, Uncle, A-Dai is dead, A-Dai is dead.”
Owen’s eyes also grew red. Setting the ginger soup aside, he patted A-Dai on the back and comforted him, saying, “A-Dai isn’t dead. Uncle has already rescued you from the sea. There now, be good and drink some ginger soup first.”
Choking back sobs, A-Dai loosened his grip and looked into Owen’s eyes, filled with concern. “Uncle, am I really not dead?”
Owen smiled gently, pinched A-Dai’s arm, and asked, “Does that hurt?”
Ah Dai grimaced and nodded, saying, “It hurts.”
Owen smiled and said, “Good, that means you can feel pain. If you can feel, then you’re certainly not dead. You really scared your uncle half to death. There now, drink some ginger soup first, then get a good rest; you’ll be fine by tomorrow.” He lifted the bowl of ginger soup, blew gently on the steaming surface, brought it to Ah Dai’s lips, and carefully fed him sip by sip until he had drunk it all.
As the warm ginger soup settled in his stomach, Ah Dai immediately felt warmth spreading through his body. Looking into Owen’s concerned eyes, his heart warmed as well. Only at this moment did he truly come to like this handsome uncle before him.
Owen set the bowl aside, helped Ah Dai lie back down, tucked the blanket securely around him, and said, “Ah Dai, this time was far too dangerous. If not for the undying vitality within your body, you would have died long ago. From now on, don’t act so impulsively. Saving others is a noble thing, but you must always act within your limits.”
Ado struggled to sit up again and urged anxiously, “Uncle, Uncle, please go save Fei’er and Xiao Feng right away! I couldn’t find them in the sea; they’re in grave danger!”
Owen retorted irritably, “You foolish boy, why do you value others’ lives more than your own? They are excellent swimmers and have already returned. Now lie down.”
Hearing that Xifei and Xifeng were out of danger, Adai finally breathed a sigh of relief, lay back down on the bed, and murmured, “As long as they’re safe, as long as they’re safe.”
Owen said, “By the way, Adai, what happened to the wound on your leg? It looks like it was pierced by some sharp object; the muscle in your thigh has been completely penetrated.”
Adai replied, “It was stabbed by a strange fish…” He then recounted in detail how he had encountered the peculiar fish and subsequently released it.
Owen suddenly realized, “No wonder I saw a faint golden glow on the sea while searching for you; it guided me to your location. So, it was that strange fish that saved your life after all. Truly, kindness may be mocked by people, but never by heaven! It was your own goodness that brought you back safely.”
A-Dai suddenly remembered something, raised his left hand, and said, “Uncle, look! This is what the strange fish gave me.”
Owen focused his gaze and saw a ring made of pure white jade. Nothing unusual was visible on its surface, yet Owen faintly sensed that the ring contained extraordinary energy. Carefully removing it from A-Dai’s hand, he found the jade warm to the touch. Channeling his Shengsheng true energy into it, he detected a constantly circulating force within the ring that seemed to repel his own energy. After examining it for quite some time, Owen placed the ring back on A-Dai’s hand and said, “Keep this ring safe; it might prove useful someday.”
A-Dai nodded, for he too was very fond of this white jade ring.
Owen said, “Go to sleep now. You can’t eat anything yet; tomorrow morning, Uncle will make some porridge for you.”
“Ai Dai said, ‘But Uncle, I haven’t meditated today yet.’ Since arriving here, not a single night had passed without Ai Dai spending it in meditation; suddenly stopping made him feel somewhat uneasy.
Owen smiled and replied, ‘Let’s skip it for today. Training shouldn’t be rushed; we can resume tomorrow. Your uncle also needs to rest. Saving you, young man, has truly exhausted me.’ With that, he blew out the oil lamp and walked out. The wind and rain outside had ceased, and with Ai Dai safe, Owen felt an indescribable joy in his heart.
After Owen left, Ai Dai struggled to sit up. The movement tugged at the injury on his leg, sending a spasm of pain through his entire body. Though slow-witted, he understood that Owen held high expectations for him. How could he disappoint an uncle who had treated him so kindly? After more than a year together, kind-hearted Ai Dai had long forgotten his initial resentment. Taking a deep breath, he began to circulate the scant remnants of his Shengsheng true energy within his body.
It took a full ten days of rest before Ai Dai recovered. Except for Xi Lei, neither Xi Fei nor Xi Feng would play with him anymore. Their reason was that, because of Ai Dai, they had been severely scolded by their grandfather. Although Ai Dai felt sorrowful in his heart, he could do nothing about it and thus devoted all his time to practicing his martial arts.
Spring departed and autumn returned; another two years had passed. A Dai’s Sheng Sheng Jue had now reached the fourth realm. Each advancement in the Sheng Sheng Jue was extraordinarily difficult;若不是 A Dai had consumed the Fruit of Rebirth, he恐怕 would not have attained his current level even after ten years. Although he had reached the fourth layer, the power of his Sheng Sheng true energy still remained latent. Owen told A Dai that only upon reaching the fifth layer would there be a noticeable difference, and Owen himself had not achieved that realm until the age of twenty-eight. Even so, A Dai’s Sheng Sheng true energy could now transform into battle qi and surge forth from his body. During his daily cultivation, a faint white light now enveloped him. At fifteen years old, A Dai stood about 1.8 meters tall. Though he seldom engaged in heavy physical labor, his body was remarkably sturdy. Over these three years, despite dedicating only a few hours each day to meditation, A Dai’s Flame Technique had advanced to the point where he could unleash blue flames. He had once secretly attempted to cast Fire Meteor; the fireball he released measured approximately three centimeters in diameter and was entirely blue. Aside from sitting in meditation and practicing mindfulness each day, Owen would share with him insights into the continent’s political landscape, recounting tales of various nations and their customs. A Dai’s Ecclesiastical Tongue had improved to the point where he could converse fluently with Owen. Over the past two years, he had also learned some Huasheng speech. Though slow-witted, he had now mastered four languages: the Ecclesiastical Tongue, those of the Tianjin Empire, the Huasheng Empire, and the Suoyu Federation. Due to his prolonged cultivation of the Sheng Sheng Jue, A Dai’s memory had noticeably improved.
A Dai still often thought of Golis, worrying about his distant master, yet Owen’s meticulous care for him deeply moved him. He had long come to regard Owen as his own uncle.
In the spring of the Sacred Year 992.
“Come, A Dai,” Owen said solemnly to A Dai, who had just finished breakfast, “Uncle will take you somewhere. From today onward, you will begin learning something new.”
A-Dai was taken aback and asked, “Uncle, are you going to teach me that flying technique?”
Owen smiled gently and replied, “Your uncle can’t fly; I just jump a bit higher. You’ll be able to do the same someday. You’ve been here for three years now, and your progress has far exceeded my expectations. Originally, I thought it would take you at least five years to reach your current level. Since you’ve already cultivated the Shengsheng Jue to its fourth layer and built a very solid foundation, it’s time for the next stage of training. Now, you must undergo the most fundamental physical conditioning and combat drills. I’ve come up with a good idea and prepared everything a few days ago. Let’s go now.”
“Great!” A-Dai agreed readily. For three years, his days had consisted solely of tedious meditation and seated cultivation. Although A-Dai possessed strong willpower, and meditation brought him a sense of overall well-being, it was still too monotonous. After all, he was still a child at heart; naturally, he was eager to try something new.
Leaving their seaside home, Owen and Ado walked south along the coastline for a full half hour until they reached a vast expanse of reefs.

The Golden Strange Fish (Part 2)
“Ah Dai, I discovered this place not long ago. It’s truly a blessing from heaven; it’s perfect for your training. Come, let’s go up.” Saying this, he wrapped his arm around Ah Dai’s waist and lightly landed on the largest reef. The thunderous roar of waves crashing against the rocks echoed continuously. Although the weather was clear today, the waves here were unusually large.
“Adai, there’s a special spot among these reefs. It formed naturally. For some reason, after the waves pass over the other reefs, they build up into a tremendous force. I’ve set up a large wooden post there. In a moment, I’ll tie you to the post, but I won’t bind your arms. You must follow the qi-circulation method I taught you, converting the true energy within your body into battle energy, and continuously resist the impact force generated by the seawater. Try your best to prevent it from striking your body. Do you understand? This will both strengthen your physique and cultivate the Shengsheng Jue. Look, it’s right there.” As he spoke, Owen pointed downward.
A Dai followed the direction Owen pointed and, sure enough, amidst a vast expanse of reefs, there was an open space where seawater, after surging over other rocks, formed enormous waves. These waves continuously crashed against the reef ahead; years of impact had carved a large depression into the rock closest to the surface. In the center of that open area stood a wooden post about one meter in diameter, unmoving no matter how fiercely the sea battered it.
A Dai asked hesitantly, “Uncle, how did you manage to set that wooden post there?”
Owen smiled mysteriously and replied, “Beneath the seawater lies another large reef. I used the Shengsheng Jue’s true energy to drive that wooden post deep into the reef, so naturally it stands firm. Today is your first time; just do your best. If you cannot withstand the waves, then let them scour your body. In two hours, I will bring you down.” With that, Owen leaped down together with A Dai. Midway up the post was a protrusion, perfectly suited for A Dai to stand on. Owen took out a rope he had prepared beforehand, secured A Dai’s body to the post, and repeatedly swept his palms backward. Although the force of the waves was tremendous, none could reach within three meters of where they stood.
“Idiot, watch carefully how I make my move. Take your time to try it yourself. I’ll come back for you in two hours.” With that, Owen tapped the wooden post with one foot, launched his body skyward, and landed on a nearby reef. After a few leaps, he vanished from Adai’s sight.
Boom! A massive wave crashed violently into Adai, feeling as though he had been struck by a heavy object, forcing him to swallow a large mouthful of seawater. Without time to adjust, he quickly gathered his energy and thrust out his palms. Normally, Adai rarely had the chance to utilize his Shengsheng battle qi and possessed no experience whatsoever. The battle qi he emitted was scattered rather than concentrated; it could only lessen the impact of the seawater but failed to block it entirely. Fortunately, the waves were not continuous. After several large surges, there was a brief pause before the next assault, giving Adai a moment to catch his breath. His palms kept thrusting outward. Like an unparalleled master, the relentless waves continuously helped Adai refine his method of using Shengsheng battle qi. For the current Adai, those two hours felt incredibly long. Although he couldn’t prevent the seawater from battering his body, he still struggled desperately. Time and again, the force of the waves nearly knocked him unconscious, yet he persisted. Amidst a thunderous roar, Adai finally exhausted his last reserve of true energy. He could only raise his hands before his face, allowing the waves to endlessly scourge his body.
Owen hadn’t gone far. Hiding behind a reef, he watched Adai constantly battling the waves. Adai’s performance clearly failed to satisfy him. Given Adai’s current realm of Shengsheng battle qi, he could have done much better, but his application of it was flawed. This child’s comprehension was truly lacking. Sighing, Owen rose to his full height, leaped a few times to reach the wooden post, and released Adai, whose mind was already growing hazy. Hoisting the boy onto his shoulder, Owen drifted down to the reef.
The sun hung high in the center of the sky. Owen placed Adai on a flat surface, drew in a breath with both hands to lift Adai’s upper torso, and pressed his palms against the boy’s shoulders. He then activated the Shengsheng battle qi within his own body and channelled it into Adai. Infused with this external force, Adai immediately felt his spirits revive and regained some clarity. Owen said in a deep voice, “Focus your mind and gather your energy. Sink the qi to your dantian and circulate it through all your meridians.”
Adai felt as though his entire body had fallen apart, an indescribable discomfort leaving him limp and unable to muster any strength. The warm currents continuously flowing from Owen’s palms finally brought some relief; barely, Adai drew upon Owen’s Shengsheng true energy to absorb the residual power within himself, gradually sinking into meditation.
It was not until afternoon that Adai regained consciousness. Owen had been guarding by his side all along, while the deafening roar of the waves continued unabated. “You’re awake? Have something to eat first,” Owen said, handing Adai a basket containing steamed buns and salted fish. After several hours of regulating his breath, Adai’s Shengsheng true energy had largely recovered, yet his body remained sore, his muscles still limp and powerless. Taking the basket, Adai began to devour the food ravenously. Eating was Adai’s greatest passion and also the best method for replenishing his energy.
Only after Adai finished eating did Owen speak: “Your performance today has greatly disappointed me, do you understand? With your level of skill, you should have been able to endure for two full hours without becoming so disheveled. Have you forgotten what I taught you? Where is that state of mind that remains unmoved even when mountains collapse before you? Merely struck by a wave, you forgot everything, wasting far too much energy at the beginning. Moreover, did you truly believe that with your current abilities you could oppose the waves and suppress them? Your fighting qi was so scattered; how could it possibly withstand the impact of the waves? What if you had used a focused piercing strike? At the very least, you could have blocked the waves charging directly at yourself while conserving your energy. Think carefully about this. That is all for today.” Having spoken, Owen picked up the basket and walked away without looking back.
Adai sat alone upon the reef, the taste of the steamed bun and salted fish still lingering in his mouth. Since arriving here, Owen had rarely lost his temper with him; even when Adai made mistakes, Owen would patiently offer guidance. This sudden severity was somewhat difficult for Adai to accept. Punching his own head lightly, Adai muttered to himself, “It seems I am truly too stupid. What does ‘focused piercing strike’ mean? Does it mean gathering all one’s energy together before releasing it?” Adai continually pondered the meaning of the focused piercing strike, not returning home until nightfall.
Owen had already prepared dinner. Seeing Adai return, he simply said, “I’m going to check on your Uncle Shier,” and went out.
Adai knew Owen wasn’t truly angry with him; he was merely disappointed by Adai’s lack of progress. Silently, Adai vowed to strive hard and meet Owen’s expectations. After finishing his meal, he wasted no time. Skipping even his usual meditation, he immediately entered a seated cultivation state. While practicing the Shengsheng Battle Qi, Adai continued pondering the meaning of the Piercing Point Strike.
At dawn the next day, before the sky had brightened, Adai got up. He quickly prepared breakfast, then went to Owen’s room and knocked on the door. “Bang, bang, bang! Uncle, time to get up. I’ve made breakfast.”
The door opened, and Owen stepped out, wearing an outer robe. “Why so early, Adai?”
A-Dai said, ‘Uncle, last night I didn’t meditate; I went straight into seated cultivation. Completing twenty-seven cycles went a bit faster. Let’s eat quickly, and then you can take me to the reef again. I’d like to try that ‘penetrating single strike’ you mentioned.’
Owen smiled gently and replied, ‘Very well, let’s eat first. Progress in martial arts doesn’t come from hard practice alone; comprehension is equally important. While diligence can compensate for clumsiness, it won’t make you a top-tier master. In your spare time, ponder more on the application of battle energy; it will benefit you greatly.’
A-Dai lowered his head and said, ‘Uncle, A-Dai knows he’s slow-witted, but I promise I’ll work hard and do my best not to disappoint you.’
Owen patted A-Dai on the shoulder. ‘There, there, Uncle wasn’t angry with you yesterday, nor can I blame you. After all, it was your first time facing such training. Are you still feeling any pain?’
A Dai murmured, “My shoulders still ache a bit, but everywhere else feels much better.”
Owen smiled and said, “If it weren’t for the rapid healing ability of the Shengsheng True Qi, I’m afraid you wouldn’t even be able to get out of bed today. Dawn is approaching; let’s eat first, then set off.”
Although it was already May, the seaside morning still carried a chill. The salty, fishy sea breeze constantly brushed against A Dai and Owen. Owen turned his head toward A Dai and said, “The weather is a bit cool; can you handle it? Remember, exert three parts restraint and seven parts force. This way, before your first strike concludes, the power for your second strike will already be fully charged, enabling you to achieve endless continuity and cyclical repetition.”
A Dai paused in surprise. Three parts restraint and seven parts force? But that wasn’t how he had understood it yesterday! “Uncle, doesn’t ‘penetrating single strike’ mean gathering all one’s potential together, compressing it, and then releasing it suddenly? How has it now become three parts restraint and seven parts force?”
Owen was also taken aback; he hadn’t expected Ah Dai to interpret it that way. Yet Ah Dai’s explanation made sense. Smiling, Owen said, “What you’re describing is the World-Shattering Strike, not the Penetrating Point Attack. Ah Dai, you’ve improved; now you’re thinking. Let me tell you, the Penetrating Point Strike and your so-called World-Shattering Strike are quite similar. The difference lies in the fact that the Penetrating Point Attack doesn’t necessarily require exerting full strength; emitting just enough power to resolve the situation suffices. Their similarity is that both involve condensing the Shengsheng True Qi within one’s body into a single stream, compressing it as much as possible, then releasing it outward to form an indestructible pillar of Shengsheng Battle Qi.”
Ah Dai looked at Owen with a mixture of understanding and confusion, scratching his head.
Owen continued, “Ah Dai, remember this: the World-Shattering Strike must not be unleashed lightly. Once you channel all your cultivated power and potential into a single strike, if you fail to inflict devastating damage upon all enemies, you will inevitably enter a period where you cannot contend with them, leaving yourself utterly vulnerable. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, never resort to such a move. Do you understand?”
By now, they had reached the cluster of reefs. The sea breeze had noticeably strengthened. Ah Dai said, “Uncle, let’s go down now. Tie me up there again, and I’ll give it a try.”
Owen shook his head and said, “The wind is too strong, and the water is cold this morning. How about this: first, show me that world-shattering strike you’ve been thinking about since yesterday.” Yesterday, he had noticed that A-Dai was deeply preoccupied with something. The reason he hadn’t spoken to A-Dai was to give him space for meditation. Today was the time to test the results.
A-Dai asked, “Uncle, didn’t you say the world-shattering strike was useless? Then why should I keep practicing it?”
Owen smiled and replied, “It’s not useless. The Piercing Strike is actually based on what you call the world-shattering strike; the only difference lies in the scale of battle energy application. First, perform the world-shattering strike once so I can see it, and then I’ll help you make corrections.”
“Use your full strength. Your Shengsheng Technique has already reached the fourth level, so it should possess considerable power. Let that reef over there be your target.” As he spoke, Owen pointed to a modest-sized reef about three meters in front of them, beyond which stretched the boundless sea.
Ah Dai nodded, took a few steps forward to the edge of the reef where he stood, reviewed once more the thoughts he had yesterday, drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, and urged the Shengsheng true energy within his body to circulate.
A faint white light appeared around Ah Dai’s body. He firmly planted his horse stance, clenched his fists at his waist, and used his spiritual power to guide the battle qi from his dantian slowly upward, condensing it without any reservation into his right fist. Under his reckless urging of the Shengsheng true energy regardless of consequences, it continuously coalesced. The white light surrounding his body suddenly contracted. From the side, Owen could clearly see that Ah Dai’s true energy had reached his chest and was moving toward his right fist.
Ah Dai’s right fist began to glow as all the Shengsheng true energy in his body completely condensed into it. He drew a deep breath and used his spiritual power to forcefully compress the Shengsheng true energy gathered in his right fist. Although the light dimmed, Owen discovered with astonishment that an explosive force had condensed upon Ah Dai’s right fist.