Chapter 122 Martial Arts Obsession, Extraordinary Appearance

The Prenatal Washing Chart consists of nine illustrations, each representing a different aspect of the process: washing hands, feet, body, heart, bones, internal organs, external organs, orifices, and mind.

Each illustration depicts a posture, guiding the essence of heaven and earth along a pathway to cleanse the entire body of impurities.

Li Xian has made significant progress; his mind is clear and he feels an indescribable ease, as if he has shed his outer garment and is bathed in a gentle breeze.

[Prenatal Washing Diagram]

[Proficiency: 46/81]

When he awoke, he saw everyone staring at him. Li Xian remained unperturbed and silently retreated behind his wife.

Zeng Tai'an withdrew his gaze and said, "Madam Wen, in that case, please stay at my manor."

“Recently, many new sights have been added to my estate. I would like to invite you, Madam, to appreciate them.”

Madam Wen nodded: "Okay."

...

...

Thus, Madam Wen and Li Xian both settled down at Fulai Manor.

Zeng Tai'an hurried to digest his fine food, then apologetically took his leave, instructing his two young servants to entertain him. Madam Wen showed no displeasure and remained at the manor with Li Xianxing.

We walked through a long corridor lined with grass and trees.

On one side, an artificial hill rises majestically; on the other, a tranquil lake flows gently. Vines entwine the corridor, creating a unique and picturesque scene. Sunlight filters through the vines, dappling the ground with its reflections.

Madam Wen asked with a smile, "How does this estate compare to my own estate?"

After a moment's consideration, Li Xian said, "If we're talking about elegance and grandeur, my manor is the best. But if we're talking about exquisite and unique, as things stand, I'm afraid Fulai Manor is slightly better."

Madam Wen was delighted. Li Xian's words, seemingly praising both sides, were actually an exaggeration of He Zhuang's virtues. The superiority of dignified and elegant over meticulous and unique was immediately apparent.

Wuren Mountain Villa covers a vast area, aiming for a grand and imposing atmosphere.

The two children, unaware of the difference between the two, and unable to discern the praise or criticism, were secretly delighted, thinking, "Of course, my master's estate is naturally impressive."

Lady Wen, in a relaxed mood, strolled along the path, admiring the scenery of the estate. The two children had to yield to her and dared not walk fast, instead pointing out the sights along the way.

"This flower and bird garden is quite nice."

“Master Zeng has a fondness for birds. I had only heard of it before, but I have seen them today.”

Hearing the birds chirping continuously, Madam Wen followed the sound and found a lush garden where all sorts of exotic birds were perched in the trees.

Various shapes…

Among them were many exceptionally handsome individuals, whose feathers shimmered with light.

"The raising of birds and animals in these enclosures must have taken a lot of effort from Master Zeng, right?" Madam Wen said with a smile.

With a flick of her slender finger, a blue-feathered bird landed on her fingertip. She gently stroked its feathers; the bird carried a delicate fragrance, and each blue feather was clean, neat, and exquisitely beautiful.

It's clear that a lot of effort has been put into maintaining it.

"Of course," Tongzi Xiaoqing said, counting on her fingers. "The master loves birds and beasts. He spends at least half of each month in the flower and bird forest."

“Some ordinary birds are entrusted to us for feeding. But the rare and exotic species will be personally cared for and carefully protected by the owner of the estate.”

"Speaking of this, a while ago a guard accidentally injured a bird. In a fit of rage, the master chopped it up and fed it to the bird."

The boy talked on and on.

Martial artists have long lifespans. After entering the realm of "Eating Essence," each time they consume and digest essence, their lifespan will increase.

Martial arts are naturally of paramount importance. But in addition to longevity, one must have something to do for leisure. Otherwise, what good is living too long in vain, dull and boring?

Therefore, martial artists often have "obsessive skills." They are extremely skilled in certain strange and unusual techniques.

"Being too engrossed in martial arts and neglecting one's skills is actually counterproductive." Madam Wen flicked her sleeves and turned to leave.

The two children dared not respond.

Madam Wen, dressed in pristine white robes, exuding a pure and ethereal beauty, casually asked, "Immortal Li, did you experience any unusual sensations during the recent fetal cleansing?"

Li Xian truthfully said, "It feels cooler than the previous times, which is very comfortable."

Madam Wen nodded, felt his pulse, and found it to be full of vitality, his true form about to appear, everything was looking good. She said, "Continue to practice this, and in my estimation, you may soon show signs of transformation."

"Li Xian still has no understanding of the Transformation Form. I dare to ask you, Madam," Li Xian asked, seizing the opportunity.

"The rebirth of the face..." Madam Wen shook her head and said, "If we were to explain this matter in detail, it would take three days and three nights to finish. All things and phenomena in the world are obscured by dust and grime, making it difficult to see their true appearance."

“When something unusual appears, it has corresponding characteristics. How to utilize these characteristics depends on the martial artist’s fate and wisdom. When you travel the martial world in the future, you will naturally know the myriad aspects of this martial world.”

Madam Wen suddenly stopped and said with a hint of admonition, "Whether a martial artist has undergone a complete transformation or not, martial arts are of paramount importance. One must not neglect one's daily martial arts practice in the slightest."

Li Xian was taken aback; it seemed the lady was becoming increasingly concerned about his cultivation. This could be good in one way—it could secure preferential treatment in terms of resources. But it could also be bad—he couldn't simply take what belonged to the lady for free.

"I will heed your teachings, Madam," Li Xian said sincerely.

Madam Wen smiled and said, "I'm quite relaxed today, so accompany me for a stroll in the garden." With Li Xian's gentle support, she admired the scenery throughout the manor.

After a brief tour, Madam Wen's interest waned, and she returned to her room to rest. Li Xian, on the other hand, was still in high spirits, but decided against wandering around.

Thanks to Madam's connections, Li Xian was also able to get a guest room.

Although it was of lower quality than the lady's, it still had a complete set of facilities including a courtyard, hall, bedroom, and bathhouse.

"Traveling with my wife is truly exhausting; she's a very difficult woman to please."

He turned around, bolted the door, and removed his sword, longbow, and armor. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The exorcism bell was still worn on his waist.

This wondrous artifact requires "internal energy" to operate. Li Xian's martial arts skills—Four Directions Fist, Clear Wind Leg, and Azure Palm—have all reached their pinnacle, and the amount of his internal energy is definitely greater than that of ordinary martial artists.

However, ringing the exorcism bell was still very strenuous. And to scare away demons, simply ringing it was far from enough; it needed to be loud and intimidating.

Therefore, each time he rang the bell, he had to use all his Qi and shake it with great force. Li Xian felt his fingers were sore and numb and his whole body was exhausted.

Not to mention, he also had his wife to do all sorts of chores, big and small, on a daily basis, running around to find out routes and dealing with all sorts of ignorant and wicked people.

But eating human essence is still part of one's duty.

Li Xian sat on the threshold.

"This Fulai Manor is not as good as Yihe Manor. Judging from the appearance of the Master Zeng, I dare not offend the Madam. But... by some twist of fate, I have gotten a great deal."

Li Xian shuddered, a pure energy emanating from his flesh and blood. This was a strange phenomenon gradually appearing as part of the impurities of his birth were washed away.

Half mud, half clear clay.

“I’m getting closer to consuming sperm, my wife said… I may have the signs of rebirth, but I don’t know what kind of rebirth I will have.”

"The transformations cannot be judged solely by good or bad, superior or inferior. This is because the characteristics of each transformation are different, and martial arts vary from place to place. Different transformations, when combined with different martial arts, will have effects that are difficult to explain."

"The lady said that there is a transformation appearance called the 'Boneless Appearance'. The person's bones soften as if they have no bones. After this appearance appears, all previous martial arts skills are abandoned, and even walking is difficult. Naturally, they are the worst of the worst."

"But practicing the 'Snake Walking Technique' and having no bones in one's body becomes an advantage, making it exceptionally powerful!"

"Therefore, the distinction between strong and weak among the [transformation phases] is naturally very difficult to say."

"The lady also said that even if one has a remarkable potential for transformation, one should not be complacent. A martial artist should always prioritize martial arts, but... if one has a potential for transformation, one can selectively practice martial arts that suit the characteristics of that potential."

"No matter what... practice martial arts! Practice martial arts! This is the ultimate source of strength!"

"A martial artist who doesn't master martial arts will never be considered a strong person! Now that I've gained some insight, I should hold on to it tightly!"

While strolling through the garden, Li Xian boldly asked questions, and the lady was equally generous. She shared a great deal of knowledge, bits and pieces, even some anecdotes from the martial arts world. Li Xian pieced together the information and got a general understanding.

Thinking of this, my tired body and mind are filled with fighting spirit again.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

[The Sword of Setting Sun and Fading Blood]

[Proficiency: 1855/3000 Mastery]

Li Xian, longsword in hand, began to wield it in the courtyard. As his proficiency increased, so did his understanding of the sword technique. He dared to assert that the power of the Sunset Blood Sword, wielded alone, was less than one-tenth of its original strength.

Even so, it is far superior to the "Azure Palm".

...

...

The Zhou family's medicine shop was a powerful force in "Chimu Prefecture".

Located in a remote area, backed by the Hundred Thousand Medicinal Herbs Mountain, they run a medicinal herb business and have made a fortune.

"Madam, does this entire city belong to the Zhou family's pharmacy?"

The next day, early morning.

The carriage left Fulai Village and traveled southeast for about 180 li before seeing a towering city gate...

The city wall is decorated with dragon and phoenix designs, bearing the words "Zhou City".

Considering that the Zhou family's medicine shop was named after "Zhou," and that the city was also named after "Zhou," Li Xian couldn't help but show surprise. Could it be that the Zhou family's medicine shop was really so powerful that it could build a city on the land?

“That’s right,” Madam Wen nodded.

"Zhou City is located outside the mountain road of Ten Thousand Medicines Mountain. Besides the main Zhou family, most of the people there are medicine slaves who changed their surnames and joined the Zhou family."

"Tenant farmers cultivate the land, while medicine slaves cultivate the mountains."

"The Hundred Thousand Medicine Mountains... the medicinal herbs are inexhaustible. Medicine slaves go deep into the mountains and forests to collect herbs and sell them to their masters in exchange for money, or pay taxes and sell them themselves. This medicine trade has continued for hundreds of years, and its operating system has become very mature."

Madam Wen said calmly.

Li Xian was astonished; the pharmacy had become such a behemoth.

The carriage passed through the inspection smoothly and entered the city. The city was bustling with activity, and the streets were lined with shops selling medicinal herbs.

A fragrant aroma of medicine wafted over.

Li Xian was quick-witted and could see more. He seemed to see a colossal entity operating in layers... each medicine slave was a component.

There are designated areas in the city for horse-drawn carriages to park.

Madam Wen got out of the car and walked, then slowly said, "It's certainly impressive that a pharmacy like this can be run on such a large scale. But it's not as easy as you think."

"To keep the pharmacy running, it is necessary to balance the interests of all parties. There are problems such as foreign invasion, bad weather, and unsold medicines."

"It also requires a large number of military personnel to support it and guest advisors to oversee it. It needs to be boiled almost every day, and the expenses involved are enormous."

Li Xian understood that there was no such thing as a sure-fire way to make money in this world.

Looking along the main road, one can see layers upon layers of mountains in the distance. The Ten Thousand Herbs Mountain is magnificent and beautiful.

"Madam, how does a medicine shop like this rank in the entire Great Wu Dynasty?" Li Xian asked curiously.

"You," Madam Wen said helplessly, "In the future, you can ask about these kinds of questions in private. Don't ask in public, it shows a lack of common sense."

"The Great Wu Dynasty occupies a vast territory, it is truly immense. The Zhou Family Pharmacy, with its scale, is among the top in the entire dynasty. But as for how powerful it is…"

"It's hard to say, after all, there are many larger pharmacies out there."

Li Xian was astonished. In his view, building a city on a small plot of land was already unimaginable. There was even an even larger pharmacy.

"arrive."

Madam Wen stopped in front of the first-floor pavilion.

The pavilion is nine zhang tall... The plaque reads: "Nine-zhang Money Pavilion".

Everything in the world is inseparable from the word "money".

(End of this chapter)