The waves of the Eastern Sea beat against the cliffs of Listening-to-the-Waves Residence day and night. From the night the Sea-Sea-Suppressing Jade Pendant recognized me as its master, I had felt a strange and wondrous connection form between myself and this vast expanse of blue water. The jade pendant in my palm was no longer cold and inert — it had become something almost alive, its faint pulse beating steadily, resonating with the water-attribute spiritual energy surging through my body.

When the first ray of morning light pierced through the sea mist, I was seated cross-legged at the edge of the jade spirit pool. The spirit water within responded to my spiritual energy of its own accord, forming a slowly rotating vortex, while the steam rising from the surface condensed into fine droplets that hung around me like a curtain of pearls. This was the tangible result of reaching the seventh layer of Qi Refinement — my perception of water-attribute spiritual energy had tripled. Without any deliberate guidance, a mere flicker of thought was enough to command every trace of moisture within thirty meters.

"Huu."

I exhaled a long, slow breath and turned my gaze inward toward my dantian. The spiritual energy that had once trickled like a stream now surged like a great river in full flood, circulating endlessly as the Tidal Formula ran its course. This technique truly was extraordinary. The deeper I cultivated it, the more I grasped the essence of its principle — the sea's rhythm flows in cycles; the spirit tide returns to oneness. In just two short months, I had trained the Tidal Formula to its Third Layer, and with each circulation, I could almost hear the dull, deep heartbeat of the spirit eye on the seafloor.

"Hey, rookie — admiring yourself again?" The system elder's voice rang out in my mind without warning. "The spiritual energy inside you is practically overflowing. If you don't put it to use, don't come crying to me when you injure yourself from the buildup."

I rolled my eyes without much grace and flicked a finger at the water's surface. "Yes, yes, I know. Can't you ever say something encouraging? I was just about to test the jade pendant's three divine abilities, wasn't I?"

Ever since the Tidal Formula broke through to the Third Layer, the three runes on the Sea-Sea-Suppressing Jade Pendant had lit up one after another. According to the information imprinted into my sea of consciousness when the pendant recognized me as its master, the three divine abilities were: Tide Saint Body Art, Sea Veil, and Sea God's Sight — one for offense, one for defense, and one for scouting.

"Let's start with 'Tide Saint Body Art.'" I stood up and walked to the edge of the sea. Elder Kai had gone out to sea early that morning to harvest some spirit kelp, which conveniently left me plenty of room to experiment.

I drew a deep breath and pressed my palm over the warm jade pendant, sinking my intent deep into it. In an instant, a vast and boundless power surged forth from within, merging seamlessly with the tidal spiritual energy in my body. I could feel it clearly — the distant sea surface seemed to answer a summons, the water beginning to churn and heave with restless agitation.

"Tide Saint Body Art!"

I barked the words in a low voice and swept my arm forward. The calm sea erupted without warning. A wall of water dozens of feet high reared up like a great blue dragon, roaring as it crashed toward the reef along the shore. A thunderous boom rang out as the water wall smashed into the rocks, sending spray shooting fifteen meters into the air, the atmosphere thick with heavy mist.

"Good lord…" I stared at the reef, now shattered to pieces by the impact, and clicked my tongue. "That power — it's more than ten times stronger than my Wave-Cleaving Slash!"

The old man gave a contemptuous snort. "Don't get too pleased with yourself. That's barely scratching the surface of 'Tide Saint Body Art.' If you could stir the true tidal currents on the seafloor, never mind a reef — you could flip an entire small island."

I pursed my lips, knowing he was telling the truth. But even scratching the surface was already terrifying enough. Just imagining a future confrontation with people from Hundred-Treasure Pavilion — casually throwing something like that out — those Qi Refinement-stage small-fry would probably scatter and flee in a panic.

Next came Sea Veil. I shifted my intent, and the jade pendant in my palm blazed with light. A translucent curtain of water materialized in the air before me. I tested it with a swing of my Wave-Breaker blade — a crisp, clear ding rang out, and the blade rebounded off cleanly, while the water curtain didn't so much as ripple.

"What a defense!" Joy surged through me. The Sea Veil was not only solid but also fluid and responsive — so far beyond my previous Condensed-Water Shield that there was no comparison. With this layer of protection, when I faced Foundation Establishment cultivators in the future, I could at least hold on through a few exchanges.

Finally, Sea God's Sight. Following the method inscribed in the jade pendant, I concentrated spiritual energy into both eyes. In the next heartbeat, the world before me seemed draped in a faint blue luminescence. Seabirds wheeling far out over the water became perfectly clear — I could make out every individual feather on their wings. Dozens of feet beneath the sea's surface, schools of colorful fish moved like flowing ribbons of silk, weaving through the coral reefs.

What surprised me even more was that Sea God's Sight could penetrate solid obstacles. I looked toward the wooden dwelling of Listening-to-the-Waves Residence and saw the furniture inside with perfect clarity — even the ants crawling along the base of the wall were plainly visible. I pushed the range of my perception outward — one li, two li… all the way to the coastline five li distant, rendered in sharp, vivid detail within my field of "vision."

"Five li in every direction, all laid bare…" I murmured to myself, my heart brimming with excitement. With this ability, anyone who tried to ambush me in the future would be discovered long before they ever got close.

"Not bad, rookie," the system elder's voice carried a rare note of approval. "You've taken your first steps into all three divine abilities. I suppose that's not a total waste of this old man's efforts."

I was just about to fire back a retort when something anomalous appeared within my Sea God's Sight. Along the edge of the coastline five li away, several shadowy figures were creeping along the rocks, moving with furtive, skulking caution. The cold, sinister aura radiating from their bodies was unmistakably identical to that of Hundred-Treasure Pavilion's people.

"Hm?" My pupils contracted sharply. I released the divine ability and strode quickly to the cliff's edge. I couldn't make them out with the naked eye from here, but that familiar reek — I could never mistake it.

Elder Kai, I thought, my chest suddenly tight. Has Hundred-Treasure Pavilion tracked us down here?

End of Chapter 32: The Three Divine Abilities of the Sea-Suppressing Jade