Chapter 146 The Jade Pearl of the Azure Waters, the Tyrant of Qingning

The pearl was about the size of a finger joint, perfectly round, resembling neither jade nor grease, and felt smooth and cool to the touch. It had a very unique feel to it.

When placed in the palm of your hand, it gleams with a beautiful green light.

This world is vast, and the universe contains countless "treasures and wonders" with endless uses. Whether one can obtain them depends entirely on fate. Li Xian asked Miao Xichun, and Miao Xichun said that he obtained this item through a fortuitous encounter from a giant, colorful clam.

Miao Xichun had just acquired this treasure, but before he could figure out its uses, he revealed its whereabouts, causing a dispute, and was forced to hand it over.

Li Xian thought to himself, "I am ignorant and have limited knowledge. I have treasures, but I don't know their effects. In any case, I will try to figure it out."

In a flash of inspiration, he channeled his inner energy and poured it into the precious pearl.

The pearl shone brightly, illuminating the room. But its luminescence was not its true purpose. Li Xian paced back and forth, pondering once more.

"Yes, I have Tiger Saliva Stone, which is considered a rare and precious item. Is the effect of this item similar?"

Li Xian suddenly had a brilliant idea.

Tiger saliva stone, when soaked in cool water and drunk, can strengthen the blood and qi, calm the mind, and aid sleep. However, Li Xian's blood and qi were already abundant, even surpassing those of tigers and leopards. The tiger saliva stone was no longer of any use to him, and he gradually forgot about it.

The treasures of heaven and earth are divided into three categories: "ordinary objects," "rare and precious objects," and "divine objects of unparalleled value."

Similar to cinnabar.

Although tiger saliva stone possesses miraculous effects, it is only considered a "common and ordinary object." Li Xian, limited by his knowledge, even thought that tiger saliva stone was half a rare and precious object.

He immediately fetched a bowl of water.

When the jade pearl was placed in a bowl and observed closely, the water did not change color, which was obviously different from "tiger saliva stone".

"Fine, I'll think about it some more." Li Xian was very disappointed and was about to give up.

Just then, something unusual was noticed. Although the water quality remained unchanged, tiny bubbles began to rise around the jade pearl. They were difficult to detect, but Li Xian, with his sharp eyesight, managed to spot them with difficulty.

Li Xian let out a soft exclamation and immediately drank the water. Sensing the changes in his body, he felt nothing more than a refreshing coolness and a slight relief from the summer heat.

"Could it be..." Li Xian, quick-witted, had already noticed something and began to think: "Miao Xichun said that this thing was obtained from a clam. It must be related to water. When I put it in water, the bubbles kept popping up. Could it be oxygen?"

He immediately left the room.

In the southeast corner of the inner courtyard, there was an abandoned water vat, overgrown with moss and filthy. He used his Azure Palm technique to gently tap the inside of the vat.

Shake off all the moss from the inside of the jar without damaging it in the slightest. Finally, rinse it clean with water and fill it with cold water.

Li Xian held the "jade pearl" in his mouth and pressed it under his tongue. He then dipped his head into the water vat.

The head and body are enveloped in water, isolating them from oxygen.

Li Xian felt a refreshing coolness wash over him, and the oppressive feeling from the water gradually dissipated. Instead, he felt as if he were flying on the wind, free and unrestrained, experiencing indescribable joy.

Bizhu provides a continuous source of energy.

Li Xian does not need to breathe and can remain in the water for a long time.

It turns out that this thing is a rare "Azure Water Pearl", with a rare and wonderful use, which allows people to live underwater for a long time, like fish and beasts in the water.

"Keep this; it might have a miraculous effect in the future!" Li Xian spat out the jade water pearl and carefully hid it away.

That night.

He returned to Yihezhuang.

Having stumbled upon this wondrous treasure, he was filled with excitement. Seeing a lake beside his house, he was eager to try it out. So he put the jade pearl in his mouth, pressed it under his tongue, and jumped into the lake.

The lake water was a deep green.

Li Xian opened his eyes and swam freely in the water. After taking the Azure Water Pearl into his mouth, his swimming skills were enhanced. With a gentle flick of his hand, he traveled several meters.

I stayed there for half an hour without needing to breathe.

Only then, satisfied, did he quietly sneak back to his residence.

...

...

The next day.

The sky is clear and bright.

Keeping their promise, the three schools and two factions each sent fifty taels of silver. Through this incident, Wu Weilang gained a firm foothold.

Even if they were dissatisfied, they dared not speak out.

Fifty taels of silver is not much. According to Li Xian, martial arts school apprentices are required to pay one hundred taels of silver a year for tuition and miscellaneous expenses.

That gang plundered the people's wealth, owning numerous shops, branches, and businesses. They were all incredibly rich.

The people of the town had all heard about yesterday's events. Praise was endless, and Li Xian had unknowingly gained considerable prestige.

The remaining small restaurants and taverns, fearing to offend Li Xian, all followed suit, offering silver as a sign of submission.

From now on, I will follow the lead of Commandant Wu.

In total, it amounted to five hundred taels of silver. Li Xian's first task was to "recruit soldiers and buy horses".

They expanded the ranks of constables, filled positions in the Military Affairs Bureau, and recruited clerks, accountants, and so on.

In this way, the Martial Guard Hall was officially formed and looked quite proper.

Li Xian established strict rules, and none of his subordinates dared to disobey. Li Xian also led by example, diligently practicing martial arts under the scorching sun and wind, thus subtly influencing his subordinates.

Every morning, before dawn, the sounds of martial arts practice, such as shouts, yells, and shouts, could already be heard from the outer courtyard of the Martial Arts Hall.

Its momentum is like a rainbow. With the upper beam straight, the lower beam will also be straight.

The Military Commandery is thriving and flourishing.

This situation, however, created a strange phenomenon. The yamen runners repeatedly inquired about the matter, intending to transfer to the Military Affairs Department.

Those who work in government offices can easily bully ordinary people in the city. But if they encounter gang members or martial arts apprentices, they will definitely take a detour and dare not act rashly.

The Wuwei Hall, on the other hand, specializes in causing trouble for gangs, and with the Venerable Wuwei Lang in charge, how prestigious they are, and who wouldn't envy them?

...

...

Li Xian held multiple positions and traveled between villages and counties.

He also saw that Ding Hu was quite capable and had a thorough understanding of the affairs of the manor, even surpassing his own abilities.

He was quite relieved, checking in briefly each night but not interfering much. He devoted more of his energy to the county's affairs.

He broke free from his wife's grasp and carved out his own little world. Of course, this little world also required his wife's tacit approval. Otherwise, she could have easily slapped his hands together and it would all have vanished into thin air.

That evening, Li Xian returned to the manor, and the lady sent someone to summon him.

The lady was still as beautiful as ever, and Li Xian massaged her feet and served her for another night.

In the dead of night, he raised an eyebrow and casually said, "We already have silk. I grant you the right to purchase second-grade silk. If you want it, go to Sangyuan yourself."

Li Xian was overjoyed upon hearing this, and the next morning he rode his horse to Sangyuan.

Before engaging in business, I had no concept of money. Only after starting business did I realize how wealthy my wife was.

Silkworms can be good or bad, and silk can be of varying quality.

The silkworms of Sangyuan are cultivated using the Lady's secret methods, making them a rare and exotic species. Their silk is strong, translucent, and impervious to water and fire. It can be used to make armor and weapons, as well as silkworm-themed clothing and beautiful garments.

Even the lowest grade silk was never cheap. Each silkworm cocoon cost one tael, but the lady, considering Li Xian was one of her own and couldn't afford much silver, sold it at 30% of the original price.

It also costs seven hundred coins.

Li Xian already had some money, so he gritted his teeth and spent several hundred taels of silver to get enough silk. He then hired skilled seamstresses to weave the silk into garments.

Within a few days, more than four silkworm garments were made. As soon as they were produced, they became very popular, attracting wealthy merchants from the city to watch and offer to buy them.

It should be noted that the finest fabrics usually flow to the capital city and are directly ordered by high-ranking officials and nobles.

It is never released to the market.

Even if you have money, it's not easy to buy. In this world, money is important, but so are connections.

What the lady considered inferior material was, in Qingning County, top-grade treasure. The appearance of the silkworm garment caused a stir in Qingning.

The city's landlords, powerful families, and gangs were all envious, as if wearing a silken robe would make them superior. They all rushed to buy it at exorbitant prices.

The last four silkworm garments sold out in just one day, earning three hundred taels of silver after deducting the cost of the silk.

Unfortunately, silkworm silk is not available every day.

As a "Martial Officer," Li Xian has subdued gangs and martial arts schools, and is now gradually building his own businesses. Within Qingning County, he is considered a figure of some importance.

With power gained in the county, benefits followed one after another.

In Qingning County, many small merchants and vendors, having heard of Li Xian's efficient style and upright character, came to pay their respects, hoping to register their businesses under Li Xian's name.

From then on, half of the monthly profits were given to Li Xian, just to ensure the safety of his own life and property.

Li Xian thought to herself, "A true man knows what to take and what not to take. My income is quite good now, so I won't take his money to survive."

Make it clear to those merchants.

...

...

So and so.

Li Xian ran his business while also practicing martial arts.

More than ten days have passed.

That day he reviewed the account books.

He was solely responsible for the operating funds of Wuwei Hall. Including the wages of both laborers and servants, it cost more than forty taels of silver per month.

The clothing shop business was on track. With capital, they introduced expensive fabrics and silks. They had many women working under them, responsible for cutting, weaving, embroidery, and many other tasks.

These also require funding to maintain.

In this way, Li Xian was able to stand on his own, and many people under him depended on him for their livelihood.

Li Xian was also happy to help.

Aside from the funds needed to maintain the "Martial Arts Hall" and the "Clothing Shop," Li Xian had accumulated five hundred taels of silver at his disposal.

At this rate, including the management fees paid by various gangs and factions, they can earn seven hundred taels of silver every month.

Li Xian closed the ledger, sighing inwardly, "I never dared to imagine I would be so successful today. I once sold myself into slavery for five hundred coins, and now I earn seven hundred taels of silver a month."

"However... one must be strong to succeed. The more I learn, the greater the danger I face! Only by constantly improving and learning, leaving the danger behind, can I last long!"

Wuweitang.

Deep within the inner courtyard.

Li Xianping cleared his mind of distractions and began practicing martial arts. The inner courtyard was quiet and secluded, with only the sounds of swords clashing echoing through the air.

Li Xian moved with graceful ease, wielding a sword in one hand and executing the "Great Luo Sword Technique." His swordsmanship was flawless, his swordplay impeccable.

For basic martial arts, minor success depends on effort, major success depends on comprehension, perfection depends on talent, and reaching the pinnacle depends on destiny.

The blade whistled gently, creating a series of strange sounds, like music, quite pleasant to the ear. Li Xian, intrigued, felt that simply wielding the blade was rather dull. With a swift turn, he drew his fine steel sword.

He can use two sets of martial arts at the same time.

[Great Luo Sword Technique]

[Proficiency: 4150/10000 Perfect]

[The Sword of Setting Sun and Fading Blood]

[Proficiency: 5123/12000 (Mastery)]

He was proficient in both swords and sabers; his saber technique was powerful and sweeping, while his sword technique was intense and deadly.

Once his enthusiasm had been fully expressed, he sheathed his sword and returned his blade to its sheath.

Li Xian exhaled a long breath of turbid air, suppressing the boiling yang energy.

"The Sunset Blood Sword is a superior sword technique with many mysteries beyond my comprehension. My wife taught me this sword technique, instructing me to constantly endure the scorching sun. Now my swordsmanship is becoming increasingly refined, and the yang fire within my body is stored up and difficult to release."

"I need to find her to combine the two swords so that I can continue my training. Otherwise, burning my blood and qi will damage my physical body."

"I've been busy making money lately and have neglected my martial arts practice. Today the weather is fine and I have some free time, so I can try to learn this martial art!"

He wiped away his sweat and sat on a stone bench in the courtyard. He took out a book from his pocket.

The cover is made of a tough animal hide, with an earthy yellow color, and is called "Iron Copper Body".

The martial arts trading place in Qingning County is called "Baiwulou".

It contains many martial arts techniques.

After acquiring wealth, Li Xian went to the building to select martial arts techniques. However, he was somewhat disappointed, as the basic martial arts were incredibly diverse and varied.

It is superior to any other manor.

However, "inferior martial arts" are extremely rare, and books on them are hard to come by.

Furthermore... there is a rule in the Hundred Martial Arts Pavilion.

Basic martial arts techniques usually only cost one hundred taels of silver. However, the buyer purchased them for three hundred taels of silver.

With the extra two hundred taels of silver, lock up this martial art.

Later buyers could only purchase the martial arts manual by paying more than three hundred taels.

Raise the bar and reduce the number of martial arts practitioners with similar skills.

After all, martial arts are a matter of life and death.

This has led to inflated prices for the martial arts techniques in the pavilion, making them very uneconomical. Only a few of the most common basic martial arts techniques, which are not locked up, are reasonably priced.

...

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(End of this chapter)