The breakthrough in mental energy allowed Uchiha Kazuhiko to unlock the Two-Tomoe Sharingan and also elevated his Blood Psychic Ability to LV4.
The Two-Tomoe Sharingan not only enhanced his observational prowess and genjutsu amplification but also granted the initial ability of the Copy Wheel Eye, enabling him to see through certain ninjutsu and replicate some techniques.
Just like in the original story during the Chunin Exams, when Sasuke briefly fought Lee, he could perfectly replicate Lee's taijutsu after seeing it only once.
This demonstrated the Sharingan's formidable power.
If the Sharingan's upgrade was merely a pleasant surprise for Uchiha Kazuhiko, then the LV4 Blood Psychic Ability made him feel as lucky as if hit by a massive windfall.
At LV4, the psychic ability was no longer limited to using his own blood; he could now utilize the blood of other organisms. The control over details also evolved from the macro form of blood itself to a microscopic level.
After the level-up, Uchiha Kazuhiko could clearly sense the various substances contained within blood, including regular blood cells and the different hormones transported by blood.
Based on this, and drawing on some basic knowledge from his previous life, he not only enhanced his previous techniques but also developed several new ones.
For example:
Blood Heal Technique: Controlling platelet aggregation to rapidly stop bleeding.
Blood Purification: Utilizing white blood cells and macrophages to eliminate toxins and foreign objects entering the body.
Blood Bind: Using iron transported in blood to strengthen its consistency, enabling it to restrain enemies.
Blood Concealment Technique: Manipulating blood to stimulate internal organs, generating large amounts of hormones. Using the synergistic effects of thyroid hormone and adrenaline to reduce respiration, heart rate, and body temperature, thereby diminishing his life signs.
Blood Burst: Mass stimulating adrenaline production for a more powerful outbreak than the Blood Ignition Technique, and so on.
After stabilizing his new abilities, Uchiha Kazuhiko's power in his normal state finally surpassed the elite chunin level, reaching the level of a jonin. His comprehensive combat strength reached that of an elite jonin or even a quasi-Kage.
Uchiha Kazuhiko stood up, reining in the blood energy leaking after his breakthrough. His bones and tendons emitted a series of cracks like firecrackers. An indescribable sense of comfort permeated his entire body, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
After eating something to fill his stomach, Uchiha Kazuhiko left his room, intending to get some fresh air on the deck.
On his way to the deck, he overheard nearby Qin soldiers discussing how Tianming and the other two had unexpectedly escaped from the sand ship yesterday afternoon and vanished into the vast Loulan desert.
Uchiha Kazuhiko narrowed his eyes slightly, recalling the original plot.
"It seems Loulan is almost upon us," he murmured.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, the previously calm desert began to churn like the sea. Dozens of enormous, strange fish leaped out from beneath the sand, surrounding the mechanical sand ship.
Hearing the commotion, Gongshu Chou, Wei Zhuang, and the others also emerged from the cabins.
Seeing the scene outside, Gongshu Chou's eyes lit up. "Hehehe, just as the records say. The entrance to Loulan lies within the underground currents deep in the desert. The appearance of these Dry Fish confirms it," he said with a chuckle.
Wei Zhuang had no interest in these weak Dry Fish. "How much further to the entrance?" he asked Gongshu Chou.
"Not far. We'll reach it soon," Gongshu Chou replied confidently after glancing at the map in his hand.
The sand ship sailed steadily. After passing a massive sand dune, they spotted two huge dragon-shaped river guardian stones below, and between them, the swirling vortex-like entrance to the underground river.
Suddenly, a violent gust of wind rose over the desert. Immediately after, a giant monster composed of yellow sand appeared before everyone.
"Roar!" The sand monster roared at the group, its massive forelimbs slamming down towards the mechanical sand ship.
"Hmph!" Wei Zhuang snorted coldly. His figure abruptly leaped towards the sand monster. His Shark-Toothed Sword flashed out, cleanly severing the monster's forelimbs.
Losing the support of its forelimbs, the sand monster crashed headfirst to the ground, dissolving into countless fine grains of yellow sand.
Before Wei Zhuang could return to the sand ship, the wind picked up again. More sand monsters appeared before them.
To prevent the sand ship from being destroyed by the monsters, Uchiha Kazuhiko, along with Da Siming, Shao Siming, Bai Feng, and Chi Lian, joined the battle.
"Six Phoenix Illusions!" Bai Feng, with his exceptional lightness skill, split into six phantoms.
The sharp, feather-like blades in his hands shredded the sand monster facing him into mere posts.
"Entangling Sword Style!" Chi Lian brandished her chain snake soft sword.
It wrapped around a sand monster like a spirit snake before she exerted force, slicing it into several segments of shattered sand.
"Skeleton Blood Hand Seal!" Da Siming brushed aside the hair near her cheek and extended her flame-red arm.
A massive bloody skeleton hand seal shot out, slamming the sand monster into scattered dust.
"..." The silent Shao Siming gently waved her fair, jade-like hands. Countless leaves formed from true qi Lingchi(?) a sand monster into slices of sand.
All four had displayed considerable strength. Uchiha Kazuhiko saw no need to hold back either. He drew the Bloodwing Black Blade and executed the more perfected Wind Spirit Sword Art he had mastered after his breakthrough.
"Wind Spirit: Phantasmal Swords!"
The Bloodwing Black Blade in Uchiha Kazuhiko's hand trembled rapidly before moving slowly. Each movement of the long sword left behind a seemingly substantial sword-shaped afterimage.
"Rending Wind Whirl!"
Dozens of massive dark green wind blades, each over ten zhang long, materialized out of thin air. The sword afterimages intertwined, forming a cylinder lined with blades that spun violently in a spiral, shooting forward and engulfing all the remaining sand monsters. They were strangulation into streams of fine sand particles, scattered by the wind far into the desert.
Such formidable cultivation! Such an astonishing sword technique!
Everyone who witnessed this scene was deeply shocked by the power of Uchiha Kazuhiko's single strike.
They looked at him, sheathing his blade, with immensely complex emotions.
"Quick, full speed ahead! Enter the underground river now!"
Seeing the sand seemingly beginning to coalesce again, Gongshu Chou's expression changed. He immediately ordered the Gongshu family disciples piloting the ship.
Under the control of dozens of Gongshu disciples and Qin soldiers, the sand ship abruptly accelerated. After Uchiha Kazuhiko and the others returned aboard, it plunged headfirst into the underground river.
The subterranean space was pitch black. Gongshu Chou ordered numerous torches lit for illumination.
After groping their way for nearly half a day, they finally left the dark underground waterway and entered the scenic area outside Loulan city.
"Hehehe, Loulan. Found you at last," Gongshu Chou laughed triumphantly, looking at the exotic city surrounded by mountains in the distance.
After everyone disembarked on the riverbank, Wei Zhuang raised his Shark-Toothed Sword, pointing it towards Loulan, and issued the command to the thousands of black-armored Qin soldiers ready for battle.
"Attack! Seize Loulan!"