Chapter 175 A World Formed Within, Who Killed Him?

[Your Yin-Yang medicinal bath has allowed you to absorb the medicinal effects, strengthening your muscles and body, and deepening your understanding of the principles of Yin and Yang. Your proficiency with the Remnant Sun and Decaying Blood Sword has increased by 398.]

[Your shared bathing and travels have increased your proficiency with the Sunset Blood Sword by 415]

...

The lady said, "You are still young, your vital energy is not yet fully developed, and your bones and muscles are not yet settled. You have developed a good physique, but it is all from your own figuring out, without any method. If you encounter a true genius, your foundation will inevitably be weak."

"Little Fairy, from this day forward, you will be my swordsman. The position of commander can be relinquished to that Ding... it doesn't matter who it is, I doubt they would dare to do anything about it."

"I'll help you build strong bones and a solid foundation. Don't you like that?"

Madam Wen saw that Li Xian's expression was complicated.

Li Xian thought to himself, "I have received such a great favor, and I must repay it in the end. Madam, oh Madam... this makes me so conflicted." He was not afraid of calculations of profit, but he was afraid of genuine sincerity.

Li Xian said, "Li Xian is terrified."

Madam Wen smiled and said, "You should indeed be apprehensive. Do you think I, Wen Caitang, am someone that everyone can approach? You are the first. From now on, you only need to remember that you will receive my kindness and listen to my words."

Madam Wen gently stroked Li Xian's face, then slowly moved downwards, pinching his hand bones and applying slight pressure to carefully test his physique: "In the world, only scions of great clans have a one-on-one body-shaping method."

"For martial artists... the body is the foundation. The so-called first and second realms of martial arts are nothing more than building a tall building on the foundation. The martial artists of Qingning County, and even the Qiongtian Prefecture, lose because of their short-sightedness."

"They don't know what a foundation is, or how to build one. May I ask you a question: why do you think martial artists can achieve longevity?"

Li Xian said, "By consuming the essence of heaven and earth and digesting it, one can achieve longevity."

"That's just on the surface." Madam Wen pressed down on Li Xian's shoulder, gave it a gentle squeeze, and revealed a surprised expression: "Your innate talent is extremely strong."

"Nothing in the world truly lasts forever. Dynasties will fall, martial arts will be lost. But martial artists insist on longevity. What do you think they will do?"

Li Xian suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "Nothing in the universe lasts forever. But the universe itself is truly eternal!"

"Huh?" Madam Wen was about to say something when she said, "You're quite clever now. Not bad... the place where a powerful martial artist stands is like a small world."

"Flesh and blood form forests, bones form mountains, and the internal energy of a person is infinitely wondrous. It grows and emerges from the small world within the body, eventually forming lakes and seas."

"Since you are so clever, I will test you. Where does the foundation I speak of lie?"

Madam Wen gently paddled through the water and swam to the edge of the bath. Li Xian followed her, and imperceptibly, the two had become more than just ordinary people.

Li Xian approached the lady, peeled the fruit, and fed it to her. He then looked thoughtful and said, "I truly do not know; please tell me, Madam."

“I’ll give you a hint, and you can guess again.” Madam Wen peeled the fruit and fed it to Li Xian. She then swam to the other side and said as she swam, “You’ve never left Qingning. The world you’ve ever seen is only this big.”

"But the world is vast and boundless."

"Do you remember the pattern on the Hidden Heaven Box, and what the lid looks like?"

Li Xian followed after him and replied, "For the sake of roundness."

Lady Wen asked, "What is the shape of the box?" Li Xian replied, "It is square."

"What does 'square and round' refer to?" Madam Wen swam to the edge of the pond and stopped. Li Xian caught up, casually put his arm around her, thought for a moment, and said, "I know, it refers to the round sky and square earth."

"Not bad." Madam Wen gently patted the water's surface.

Rippling water, droplets were drawn out and transformed into mist. Eventually, it condensed above a height of about ten feet, appearing as vast as the sky when one looked up.

Li Xian was amazed by the wondrous sight before him. He was even more astonished by the lady's power; the application of her inner energy was truly beyond words.

Madam Wen said, "The mist forms the sky, and the pond water forms the earth. It is just like the world we live in. And in this world, several... high mountains stand tall."

She used her Qi to bind water, erecting seven water columns. Connecting heaven and earth, though it was just a form, it already possessed a majestic and magnificent atmosphere.

The water column stands proudly, supporting the heavens and the earth.

"The closest one to us is called 'Sushan'. It is infinitely high and has no end in sight. Every hero and man should go there at least once. This mountain hides endless dangers and contains countless treasures."

Madam Wen gently patted the table. The mist dissipated, and the water column fell. She asked, "Having said so much, what does 'fundamentals of martial arts' refer to? Do you have any guesses?"

Li Xian pondered for a moment: "What you are referring to, Madam, could it be the spine?"

"If a martial artist is to establish his own world, his spine should be like a 'plain mountain,' supporting the world and enduring through the ages."

Madam Wen clapped her hands and praised, "Good, good, little fairy, you are very clever."

Li Xian suddenly realized. Xu Liefeng had some dealings with his wife, so his family's influence must be considerable. Furthermore, the basic martial arts of the Leopard Blade Sect are related to the "spine." It's likely meant to provide a solid foundation for future generations, but Xu Liefeng's inheritance was incomplete, and he was unaware of its power.

"That's right," Madam Wen said. "You've already entered the realm of consuming essence, so you should know that taking essence treasures won't strengthen your bones and muscles. It will mostly make your body's essence align with the heavens and earth. Although martial artists who consume essence do have stronger vitality and strength than ordinary clay figures, it's just a side benefit; their brute strength is negligible."

"Next... I will focus on strengthening your physical constitution. Your strength, stamina... and so on will improve. But the real foundation lies in your spine. When your spine has the majestic shape of a mountain, when you use martial arts, the extraordinary phenomena will be stronger, and your strength will be greater, because you have already supported the world around you."

Upon hearing this, Li Xian was deeply moved by the vastness of martial arts. Why comprehend the universe, why consume essence to transcend the mortal realm... there are reasons behind all of these. But later generations only know how to imitate, without understanding the underlying intentions, unknowingly straying from the right path, causing them to break down midway and find it difficult to progress further.

Good teachers are hard to find.

Li Xian asked, "Madam, if a martial artist's spine is broken, wouldn't he be crippled?"

"Not necessarily," Madam Wen shook her head. "The spine is also a reflection of spirit. Even if the spine is broken, one can still maintain their spirit. Moreover, the actual circumstances, situations, and fortuitous encounters of martial artists are all different, so how can we generalize?"

"Moreover, the martial arts are vast and difficult to define. Various theories, true and false, are intertwined. There was once a theory that claimed that all things in the universe are self-contained, and that by doing so, one could control things out of thin air."

By this time, the medicinal effects in the pool had been completely absorbed. Madam Wen said, "What I have described today is only the tip of the iceberg. Do not overthink it, lest you let your mind wander and do more harm than good. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will answer your questions."

"Take good rest. See me in the inner courtyard at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow."

The sound of dripping water.

Lady Wen left the pond.

Li Xian dressed and combed his long hair. He fussed over himself in front of the bronze mirror, finding his appearance handsome and quite satisfied, before leaving the inner courtyard. On the way, he felt something was missing…

Back at the Commander's Courtyard, Li Xian was full of energy and vitality. He practiced martial arts with his sword, wielding the "Setting Sun and Decaying Blood Sword" with exquisite skill. The lingering effects of his bath with his wife earlier still remained.

The swordsmanship, though fierce and powerful, also revealed a touch of femininity.

Suddenly seized by a sudden impulse, Li Xian thrust his sword forward, aiming at the jujube tree in the courtyard, unleashing the move "Seas Dry Up and Rocks Crumble." This move originated from the second level of the Remnant Sun and Decaying Blood Sword Technique. Li Xian had perfected the first level, but had only just mastered the second. The transition between the two levels of swordsmanship was not always flawless.

This "until the seas dry up and the rocks crumble" technique requires a combined effort. When it strikes the jujube tree, the leaves turn yellow and fall, decaying at an astonishing speed.

It is extremely powerful.

But when the essence of Yin and Yang dissipates, Li Xian will find it difficult to use the "sea dries up and rocks crumble" technique again.

Sheath the sword.

He was suddenly taken aback; his palm was intact. Today, the lady hadn't pricked his palm.

"Madam is shrewd and calculating, but after today, she treats me differently. What is our relationship now? She has done me a favor, whether it was feigned kindness or scheming, she did save me. This matter... is truly a headache."

Li Xian decided to give up and closed his eyes to sleep. The next day, at dawn, he arrived as promised and waited in front of his wife's room.

The lady said, "Xiao Xian, come in."

Pushing open the door, one sees the lady's boudoir. It is not large, nor is it luxurious. But a bedroom is a place for rest; no matter how large or spacious, it can only provide about ten feet of room to lie down. This kind of bedroom is the perfect size.

Madam Wen sat in front of the dressing table and said, "Comb my hair." Since Qiu Yue had betrayed the manor, the daily affairs naturally fell to Li Xian.

Li Xian's "Cloud-Soaring Hands" had reached its pinnacle, mastering the characteristics of "Miraculous Hands." His fingers were long and nimble, deftly manipulating his long hair. Initially, he didn't grasp the essence, but after his wife gave him a few pointers on how to braid hair, he became increasingly skilled.

It's even better than the autumn moon.

Madam Wen was satisfied. She had chosen Qiuyue as her servant because of her extraordinary hand bones and her talent in delicate tasks such as palm techniques and embroidery. Unfortunately, Qiuyue's martial arts talent was mediocre and she was not of great use.

If one can circulate Qi throughout the body, solidify blood, and close the orifices, thus cleansing the fetus and achieving tranquility, why worry about not catching the eye of a lady?

Li Xian asked, "Madam, what's next...?"

Madam Wen nodded. "Come with me out of the manor and see the autumn moon. What difficulties do you have that you have to leave without saying goodbye?" She did not provide a carriage.

Autumn has arrived, and the autumn rain is incessant.

“If Madam can even find Qiuyue’s body, that would be terrifying.” Li Xian remained silent, following behind.

The scenery along the way was breathtaking. Madam Wen reached a certain mountain path, her brow furrowing slightly as she turned into the mountains. Li Xian's heart skipped a beat; he felt an immediate familiarity with the path.

This was the mountain path they had taken during the suppression of the Flower Cage Sect. Li Xian exclaimed in surprise, "How strange! How could Madam have found this place so precisely?"

Passing by the abandoned house, Madam Wen glanced at it only once and said, "There was a fierce battle here."

Li Xian said, "To be honest, Madam, a few days ago, there was a group of bandits from the Flower Cage Gate here. I led my men and strangled them here."

"Oh?" Madam Wen said, "The bandits of the Flower Cage Gate are known for their cunning, like rabbits with three burrows. They are as hard to catch as eels. It's very good that you were able to crush them."

Madam Wen paid no heed, bypassing the abandoned house and continuing deeper into the mountains. Li Xian, knowing of Qiu Yue's betrayal, had pulled her aside to talk, thus keeping them quite far from the abandoned house.

He then fed Qiuyue poison, killing her. Afterwards, he found an open space and buried her body.

When Madam Wen arrived at the place, she exclaimed, "Ah! So he died right here."

Li Xian was horrified. To be able to pinpoint a corpse deep in the mountains with such precision—such skill was truly astonishing.

"Madam's actions are also intended to intimidate me," Li Xianming realized. They then unearthed Qiuyue's corpse.

Madam Wen showed neither pity nor sorrow, pointing at Qiu Yue's corpse and asking, "What do you think? Who killed her?"

(End of this chapter)