Chapter 196 The Recipe for the Treasure Trove, Touched by Emotion

The wind howled and the snow whistled.

South of the prefectural city, the official road is wide, but after traveling several dozen miles, the path narrows, has been neglected for a long time, and is full of potholes and muddy sections.

Winter comes early to the prefectural city. After the first snow, heavy snow continued for days. The roads were covered with snow, and the mountains were gradually becoming closed off.

The carriage journey took about half a day. We entered a continuous mountain range, and looking around, the mountains stretched for over a hundred miles, with endless steep peaks and strange mountains, and the trees within were vigorous and ancient.

A rough estimate suggests it will take four days to get out of the mountains.

Along the mountain path dotted with white and green, white clouds raced by. The snow on the ground was thick, yet it left no footprints, which was quite peculiar.

The carriage is round with a hipped roof, resembling a narrow little house. Jade beads and ribbons adorn the edges, fluttering in the wind, making it a uniquely designed piece.

Li Xian asked, "Art of Technique? What is that? And what is technique?"

"The so-called art..." Madam Wen said, "is the power granted to you by Heaven and Earth. There are thirty-six Heavenly Essences, which can be swallowed to obtain Heavenly Arts. There are seventy-two Earthly Essences, which can be drunk to comprehend Earthly Arts."

Li Xianju drew inferences from one instance to another, saying, "That man Huang Yibai Ba, after finding a way to consume it, can also gain human skills? If someone were to consume and drink all the essence of heaven, earth, and man in one go, wouldn't he be incredibly powerful and omnipotent?"

Madam Wen said, "Such exquisite treasures are extremely rare. And even if one obtains one, it doesn't necessarily mean one can comprehend the technique."

"You just said that you would gather all the treasures of heaven, earth and man, which is like a frog in a well talking about the sky, which is laughable."

Li Xian gave an awkward smile.

Madam Wen said softly, "But you can tell me. I'm willing to teach you."

"Thank you, Madam," Li Xian said gratefully.

Madam Wen smiled gently: "The Heavenly Essence rarely appears in the world, and whether it is true or false is unknown. The Earthly Essence does exist, but if one can hear a faint whisper of it every hundred or several hundred years, that is already extremely fortunate. Whenever it appears in the world, it will inevitably cause strife."

"The Earth Essence is indeed a technique for cultivating the earth, but since ancient times, it has been divided among many powerful figures, and no one can easily obtain a complete one."

"As for the yellow scales... although they appear from time to time. But look at the families in the prefecture, they have planned for decades and only managed to get a single golden scale. How difficult that is. Moreover, the families in the prefecture are blessed by the heavens, and the golden scale just happened to fall into the pond. If they guard the pond, they will eventually be able to get the golden scale. Such a great thing can only be found in this one place."

Li Xian said, "I see. Then, madam... how can you obtain the technique?"

"Speaking of which, this relates to [recipes]," Madam Wen said. "Those who have consumed the essence of heaven, the essence of earth, and the yellow of man all have their own unique recipes."

"One Taoist Huang Jingbao is not enough to obtain the technique. So I will eat several more and piece together my own unique technique."

Li Xian asked, "Does Madam have a recipe?"

"You," Madam Wen chuckled, "the recipe is a closely guarded secret among martial artists, how can you ask about it directly? I have my own recipe, but your cultivation is too shallow to explain it to you. Warm yourself up, go out and see what's going on. If everything is alright, come back in and give me a massage."

Li Xian nodded in agreement. He moved closer to the stove, feeling warm all over, and his mind filled with longing for the "Way of Arts." Madam Wen said, "You've just heard of the Way of Arts, so it's understandable that you're tempted. But I must warn you, martial arts are the foundation."

"I have some free time today, and the journey is long, so I'll tell you a story from the martial arts world. Please listen."

Lady Wen said softly, "A long time ago, there was a notorious thief named Bu Jingfeng. He could enter and leave the palace as if he were taking a leisurely stroll."

"After several fortuitous encounters, he consumed [Earth Essence] and [Human Yellow] multiple times, and mastered the art of [Shrinking Earth]. Combined with his own lightness skill, his speed was unbelievable. For a time, he was unparalleled in popularity. Countless martial arts practitioners were madly seeking the recipe for [Shrinking Earth]."

"After Bu Jingfeng died, he had a successor. Relying on the [Shrinking Earth Recipe], he spent a hundred years following the same steps and consuming several precious herbs, including [Earth Essence] and [Human Yellow], and finally obtained the [Shrinking Earth] technique. However, he could not reproduce Bu Jingfeng's power. In fact, his lightness skill speed was not as good as some well-known lightness skill masters."

"Later I learned... that he was obsessed with the [Shrinking Earth] technique, and his entire life was spent searching for this treasure. Therefore, he neglected his cultivation of lightness skills, waiting until he finally achieved his goal, pieced together the [Shrinking Earth] technique, and consumed the recipe..."

"Only then did I realize that although the art was wondrous, it required an extremely high level of personal lightness skill to bring it to fruition. Time was wasted, and the opportunity was gone; regret came too late. I had acquired the precious art, but I would regret it for the rest of my life."

Li Xian said, "I understand."

Mrs. Wen said, "You are very clever, very good."

"Madam," Li Xian asked curiously, "If there were someone in this world whose [Transformation Form], [Martial Arts], and [Skills] were perfectly integrated, how terrifying would their strength be?"

Madam Wen was taken aback, thinking to herself, "This boy has come to his senses quickly." She smiled and said, "There's no point in thinking about such things. Why don't you go out and see if Baiyun has gone astray?"

After Li Xian left.

Madam Wen pondered to herself, "I have memorized all the essential information about my clan's recipes. Over the years, I have pieced together seven or eight recipes. The most important one... will be available soon!"

Her eyes flickered, overjoyed.

...

...

Li Xian, reins in hand, galloped across the land. As far as the eye could see, snow blanketed the landscape, dotted with green leaves. The winter wind whipped at his face, condensing into frost and dew.

But it wasn't that cold.

Li Xian thought to himself, "So there are many divine things in the world, such as the essence of heaven and earth, the human body and the yellow hue. Besides martial arts, there are also techniques."

"Madam said that the art of strategy is the mandate of Heaven and Earth. Although the art is fantastical and has a hundred uses, it seems to only add a means for martial artists to strategize, rather than... directly increasing combat power."

"It can never replace martial arts training. We martial artists still need to focus on training. This is the foundation of strength."

"If I become powerful in the future, I might even become a Martial Artist with the Ultimate Skill. But for now, that's still a long way off. Let's focus on the path ahead, and master the Thunder Finger Technique to its peak and the Sunset Blood Sword to perfection!"

"This kind of improvement is real! Those illusory things are hard to reach and beyond our control. There's no need to think about them."

Li Xian saw the vast world, martial arts, extraordinary skills, techniques, literature, fortune, and rare treasures. He never lost his way. Though his knowledge was limited, his heart was broad. He wished to learn every school and path, and there was nothing he could not do.

However, they also understood the distinction between primary and secondary matters, and the difference between urgency and slowness.

Martial arts are the foundation; everything else is merely icing on the cake.

Li Xian focused inward on himself. His Qi Lake stretched thirty-four zhang, its foundation built upon the Four Directions Fist, the Gentle Breeze Leg, and the Great Luo Saber Technique, while the Azure Luo Palm, the Iron Copper Skill, and the Thunderous Finger enhanced its power. The Setting Sun and Decaying Blood Sword protected its core…

"I have many martial arts techniques, but they are not systematic or comprehensive," Li Xian murmured. "When... should I also get a manual on lightness skills?"

It was midnight.

The carriage stopped, and a warm stream flowed gently through the mountains.

The surrounding trees were dense, and the wind and snow were relatively light. The white clouds moved lightly, and the carriage moved steadily in all directions. But the continuous travel over the past few days was not good.

Madam Wen sat cross-legged in the carriage. She lifted the curtain and began practicing the "Silkworm Garment Jade Inlay Skill." However, her skill was slowly regressing, which was quite alarming.

"I came to this city and, although I obtained the Golden Scale as I wished, my Silkworm Jade Inlay Technique has regressed considerably. It's truly frustrating... Oh well, this extraordinary skill is already on the verge of a breakthrough. I will return to my manor and engage in a few more secluded cultivation sessions, and then I will be able to break through."

Seeing Li Xian diligently practicing martial arts, she nodded slightly and said, "This boy is determined. When I first heard about magic, I neglected my martial arts training for three days, my mind filled with fantastical and ever-changing techniques. Later, I regained my focus and diligently practiced martial arts. So-called magic... is nothing more than an aid to martial arts."

“A truly formidable martial artist is one who also possesses extraordinary skills. An ordinary clay figure, even if capable of digesting precious materials and comprehending the principles of magic, is still extremely weak.”

[You have diligently practiced your finger techniques; your mastery of the Thunder Finger technique has increased by 13.]

[Undeterred by wind and frost, undiminished by cold, pointing out the thunder, the awe-inspiring power of thunder, Thunder Finger Proficiency +16]

...

The essence of the "Thunderous Sound" finger technique lies in the word "sound," which is the opposite of the principle of the "Shaking Thunder" finger technique, yet they complement each other. It is truly ingenious.

The Thunderclap Finger strikes with a resounding booming sound as the finger is extended, the force of which is transmitted to the finger. The finger strikes silently, yet the force is extremely strong and unparalleled. The Thunderclap Finger strike, on the other hand, is the opposite; in the instant of striking, the force of the finger is used to counteract the booming sound in the chest.

The sound of a chest drum resonating like thunder is inherently powerful and deep. However, when the drum is vibrated with a thunderous finger, the resulting sound becomes sharp and piercing, assaulting the eardrums and disturbing the mind.

The martial arts technique manifested strangely, as if struck by lightning. It was pitch black all around, but the moment the finger was extended, it was as if lightning struck, illuminating the surroundings in an instant.

[Gang Lei Finger]

[Proficiency: 8655/10000 (Mastery)]

Li Xianwu practices diligently and has a distinctive style.

After traveling for several days, they reached the continuous mountain ranges and the vast plains that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Wild geese fly across the sky.

Li Xian wore a fox fur coat to keep warm and protect himself from the wind and snow. Whenever he had free time, he would diligently practice martial arts.

The houses along the way gradually became shorter, indicating a shift from wealth to poverty. Halfway through the journey, Li Xian's [罡雷指] (Gang Lei Finger) reached its peak, while the Sunset Blood Sword lagged slightly behind, but not far behind.

Madam Wen raised an eyebrow, then suddenly remembered something and called out, "Xiao Xian, come into the carriage."

Li Xian lifted the carriage curtain, a slight sheen of sweat on his body. Madam Wen said, "I have a question for you, and you must answer truthfully."

"Madam, please ask," Li Xian said.

"Why are all the martial arts you use at such a high level?" Madam Wen said softly, "Answer me properly, don't lie to me."

Li Xian thought to himself, "I have been with my wife for a long time. Since moving into the inner courtyard, I have sometimes practiced martial arts there. I have shown off my skills in the Four Directions Fist, the Gentle Breeze Leg, and more or less in front of her."

"Madam is unaware that I have already reached the pinnacle of martial arts. It is evident that although Madam's martial arts cultivation is profound, she cannot discern the true extent of her mastery of martial arts."

The thought flashed through his mind, and Li Xian said, "Madam, I... I don't know."

"You don't know?" Madam Wen said softly, "Is it that you really don't know, or is there something else you're hiding?"

"Li Xian has nothing to hide," Li Xian said. "If... if you were to explain in detail why I was able to reach the pinnacle, I guess... I suspect it's related to a dream?"

"A dream?" Madam Wen asked, taken aback.

Li Xian said, "Yes. For a while, I practiced martial arts day and night, completely absorbed in it. I felt no hindrance, and sometimes when I was practicing so intensely, I even fell asleep while practicing."

"In a hazy dream, I seemed to be having a dream. First, I dreamt that my wife was teaching me the Four Directions Fist, pointing out its essentials. Then I dreamt that a martial arts master was kicking me under a willow tree, and then I dreamt of you, my wife... you were in the Biluo River, bound by someone..."

Madam Wen lowered her eyes, thinking to herself, "Could this be the initial stage of martial arts? It is said that those who practice madness and have a mysterious connection may be able to touch the initial stage. Anyone who is fortunate enough to see the initial stage is extremely compatible with this martial art and extremely compatible with the creator of the martial art. It is as if two worlds are resonating with each other."

"Ah! The Four Directions Fist and the Azure Palm... were all created by me. This boy said that I was bound in the Azure River. At that time, I was practicing the Silkworm Jade Inlay Technique, and I had just entered the third level. I was bound by ropes and was not used to it at all."

"Yes, this child also possesses a [perfect appearance], resembling me in appearance. Furthermore, he cultivates my martial arts, thus, in some mysterious way, we are extremely compatible. This explains it all. This child... truly is my lucky charm. He is my..."

Her pretty face flushed slightly, but she said in a cold voice, "If that's the case, why don't you tell me?"

“I dare not speak of this illusory dream. Besides, every time I dream of Madam, she is involved. I… I myself don’t know why I dare not tell Madam,” Li Xian said. In his heart, he thought, “If Madam knew about the principle of Heaven rewarding diligence, she would definitely have a way to deal with me completely. I still need to keep some trump cards up my sleeve.”

"Hmph!" Madam Wen said, "Raise your hand." Li Xian did as she was told, and a bloody mark appeared on her palm.

Madam Wen said, "What else are you hiding from me? Tell me everything, whether it concerns me or you, whether it's a dream or not."

Li Xian thought to himself, "The matter of double pupils is even more difficult to explain." He quickly shook his head and pretended to be frightened, saying, "No, I have never thought of hiding anything from you, Madam."

Madam Wen looked at him coldly, glancing at the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box on the table out of the corner of her eye, and thought coldly in her heart: "You are a rare golden carp, but how can you escape my Heaven and Earth?"

Seeing Li Xian's frightened appearance, her heart stirred again, and she felt a little reluctant: "I always scold and beat him, punishing him whether I'm angry or happy. If he really becomes my husband in the future, being obedient is certainly important, but his spirit... is also very important."

Soften your voice and stop scolding.

Lady Zhejian was known for her ruthlessness. Breaking people's hands and feet, and breaking their weapons, was commonplace for her.

It is truly rare and unusual that I feel such reluctance today.

(End of this chapter)