Chapter 285 Riding a Crane to the West, Double Pupils Enhanced, Second Turbid Robe? A Demon Knocks on the Door

The real name of the precious pill is "Riding a Crane to Ask the West Pill," also known as "Calming a Crane to Nourish Longevity Pill." It possesses many miraculous effects, such as improving health, extending lifespan, speaking like a crane, brightening the eyes, enhancing enlightenment, and improving self-control. Legend has it that the Pure Yang Hermit Lü Dongzhi loved cranes from a young age, enjoyed raising them, and rode them across the world.

Nestled deep in the mountains beside a pond, the tomb is where white cranes tread the clouds, and thousands of cranes roost. This was a place specially left by Lü Dongzhi, a place to rest peacefully amidst the cranes, embodying a life of unbridled elegance. The precious elixir, once inside the body, took effect with the perfected [consumption] technique, increasing its benefits and reducing its drawbacks.

Li Xian immediately felt a warm sensation in his abdomen, the medicinal power flowing gently, nourishing his flesh and bones. His whole body felt both cool and hot, the cries of cranes echoed in his ears, his thoughts soared like cranes, and his understanding gradually increased.

[You have consumed the elixir of immortality and inquired about the Western Elixir; your skill proficiency in consuming this elixir has increased by 596.]

[Your mind is exceptionally clear, you perceive the universe with profound understanding, and your digestion of refined foods is accelerated.]

The calls of countless cranes filled his ears. At first, he did not understand their meaning, taking them merely as the clear and ethereal cries of birds and beasts. Gradually, however, he began to understand them and was able to discern the true meaning of their calls, achieving a seamless communion with the crane spirits.

The crane's cry gradually faded.

Consciousness traveled along the effects of the pill, traversing every part of the body. It regulated the tendons, bones, meridians, flesh, and skin... Li Xian cultivated the "Iron Copper Body" and "Thunder Finger," possessing the "Perfect Appearance" and "Double Pupil Appearance"... Many martial arts and characteristics could enhance the pure power of the physical body.

While this is certainly commendable, it may inadvertently compromise the finesse of the task.

Li Xian was flawless, his celestial appearance a rare find. With the blessing of the [Perfect Appearance], his control over his power was already exquisite. Further enhanced by the effects of the precious elixir, his control became even more refined, like icing on the cake, like adding wings to a tiger. He could manipulate his power into threads as if controlling a single hair.

With ease and composure, handling even the smallest matters with great significance.

The "Riding a Crane to Ask the Western Elixir" is a rare and precious elixir, its medicinal effects already exceptional. Having been left unused for thousands of years, its potency inevitably diminished. Li Xian's [consumption] of it strengthened the elixir, replenishing its power and making it several times stronger than before!

The medicinal effects surged like a tide, one wave after another. Its wondrous uses were truly terrifying; when Li Xian raised his eyes, they shone brightly, his vision suddenly enhanced. He could see through the walls of the room, through the stone walls of the courtyard, and even see pedestrians on the street.

His gaze shortened, returning to the courtyard. He saw Nangong Liuli lost in thought, a gentle breeze ruffling her hair, the cord of her waist pendant swaying slightly. Through the thin fabric of her clothing, he could see the scene within.

Li Xian shifted his gaze, coughed lightly twice, and thought to himself that since they had cooperated sincerely and agreed on three rules, there was no need to be so sneaky if he wanted to see things closely. He then looked elsewhere; the double pupils' ability to see through things was extremely taxing on his eyesight, but this enhancement was clearly effective.

Perspective, observation, and intimidation all improved. When he focused his mind, the surroundings seemed to stand still. Countless details flooded into his mind like water flowing downhill. With a light glance, he could clearly see the fluttering wings of mosquitoes, the ants returning to their nests, and the cracks in tree trunks.

It can be controlled freely, both near and far.

...

It has a variety of wonderful effects.

Li Xian felt completely refreshed, suddenly sensing the essence within his body rapidly being digested. In that instant, he had already consumed dozens of strands of food, his physique approaching that of heaven and earth, and his strength growing ever more formidable.

[Sculpting bone embryo]

[Description: Ethereal celestial music, three flowers gathered on the top of the head, draped in turbid robes...]

He had a vague feeling that his body was about to experience another setback. Nangong Liuli told him that the path of martial arts required accumulating knowledge and building a solid foundation through meticulous practice. The more prestigious and powerful a family was, the more rigorous the training became.

Nangong Liuli comes from a powerful family and is both knowledgeable and ruthless. Although she may not be as outstanding as Wen Caishang in every aspect, she has a profound understanding of martial arts and its systems. She is not only intelligent and beautiful, but also has the family heritage, which has been accumulated through generations of teachings and instruction from countless masters.

Li Xian was not ashamed to ask for advice.

The sun was high in the sky, and the dampness from last night had been dried. Seeing the muddy, messy courtyard, Nangong Liuli asked Li Xian to buy some flowers and plants. Li Xian nodded in agreement; if there was any extra money, landscaping the courtyard was indeed important.

Li Xian's digestive medicine had taken effect, making him unbearably hungry; he absolutely needed to find something to eat. However, he couldn't bear to waste the half tael of money he had left. Suddenly, he saw a fruit tree in the courtyard, its green leaves lush and its red fruits exuding a fragrant aroma.

He leaped lightly, landing on a tree branch. Enveloped in his pure qi robe, he plucked seven or eight fruits, some green and some red. The red fruits were very sweet and ripe, while the green ones were slightly astringent but still edible. He made them his lunch. He cooked a pot of fruit soup; though it lacked meat, its sweet flavor was quite delicious.

At the desk, Li Xian inquired about various matters concerning the Nangong Liuli family, including martial arts masters, grudges and secrets, and court intrigues. Nangong Liuli could not answer many questions in a short time. She focused on the aspects she was more familiar with and explained them in detail.

Li Xian thought that if he kept asking about other people's family secrets, it would seem like he had ulterior motives. Although he was curious, he did not want to offend them. So he opened up the conversation and gradually talked freely and without restraint.

They ate and drank their fill.

Li Xian recalled the three-point agreement, the sincere cooperation, the joint search for a way out, and the many provisions for accumulating strength. He teased, "Little Li, now that you're a beautiful concubine, well-fed and watered, what are you going to do?" He leaned back, looking relaxed, observing Nangong Liuli's reaction.

Nangong Liuli suddenly came to her senses. They had agreed on three rules that day: Nangong Liuli would perform all duties for a woman and serve Li Xian. Li Xian would protect Nangong Liuli, ensuring her safety within the Flower Cage Gate. If they obtained any precious treasures or other valuables, they would share them appropriately and progress in martial arts together.

As a noblewoman from a powerful family, she had long since forgotten about such things once she was free. Now that she was being brought up, her pretty face flushed red, and she said, "Since it's a three-point agreement, I will naturally abide by it. How could I, Nangong Liuli, be a person who goes back on her word?"

Li Xian smiled and said, "What a beauty! Then help me massage my legs first."

Seeing Li Xian so carefree and relaxed, Nangong Liuli suddenly felt indignant. Such obedience was beneath her dignity. She rolled her eyes, then a brilliant plan struck her—how could she serve him and fulfill her promises and contracts in the future without having to be subservient? With a hint of contempt, she said, "You little thief, you don't look very old, do you? How old are you this year?"

Li Xian said, "You're only twenty? What's wrong?"

Nangong Liuli said, "The patriarchs of my Nangong family are crowned at the age of twenty-two. Are you also twenty-two? You don't look that old to me."

"Within Yu Nan Dao... the Gu family is quite famous. Their coming-of-age ceremony is at the age of twenty-three. Customs vary from family to family, so the age for the coming-of-age ceremony is also different. You... when others ask you your age, you can't answer like that. If they hear that, they will think you are being perfunctory and will have a bad impression of you, which will be very inconvenient for you in the future. You need to tell them your real age."

She actually took it seriously and adopted a lecturing posture.

Li Xian thought to himself, "As expected of a noblewoman from a powerful family. Aristocratic families have strict rules about etiquette, rigorously training children from a young age, first in all manners, then in literature and martial arts." He subtly felt the lesson and said, "I'm only eighteen. Why are you asking my age?"

Nangong Liuli's eyes immediately curved into a smile. She asked again, "I think it's your age according to the traditional Chinese age reckoning, right?" She dipped her fingertip into the teacup, then, after getting some tea, drew circles on the table.

Li Xian nodded and said, "He is indeed of the traditional age, but let's not worry about that." As they traveled together on the Biyue River, Wen Caishang couldn't hide her feelings and said that regardless of the age, he was already of age and ready to start a family.

Nangong Liuli laughed and said, "How can we not consider it? Since it's the traditional Chinese age, it means that you're still a bit younger."

She chuckled and said, "Oh dear, so it turns out you're a little brother. You were trying to act all mature, but you're actually quite young. I'm twenty-one this year, three years older than you."

"Call me 'sister' and let me hear it."

Li Xian remained silent, then suddenly felt a sense of unease.

Nangong Liuli said, "It is only right for an older sister to take care of her younger brother. I will treat you as my little brother and serve you well."

Li Xian was slightly annoyed. Seeing that Nangong Liuli was trying to intimidate him with her age, she said, "Who do you look down on? Who's your younger brother?" Nangong Liuli felt that she had the upper hand and said easily and smugly, "It's you. You haven't even grown your hair yet, what are you pretending to be in your twenties for?"

"You big bad wolf, don't you know any shame? There are strong and weak in martial arts, and there are young and old. If you were in the Nangong family, a little brother like you would have to be respectful and bow to me when you see me, saying 'Hello, cousin.' If I have some spare money, and I'm happy to hear you call me so sweetly, I'll reward you with some silver."

Nangong Liuli chuckled, "Little brother, I'm massaging your legs, don't overthink it, or I'll spank you." She became even more smug as she went from serving to caring.

Li Xian smiled and said, "Good sister, I've changed my mind." Nangong Liuli was taken aback and suddenly felt something was wrong. Li Xian smiled and said, "I have some free time today, which is a wonderful day. Since you are older than me, you must have more experience. So I would like to ask you to teach me some things."

Nangong Liuli secretly groaned, shifted her body slightly, pushed open the window, and looked at the bare courtyard: "Good little brother, sister... sister doesn't have much to teach you. You're so smart, you can figure it out yourself."

Li Xian followed, put his arm around her waist, and said, "No... I know nothing about this. I'm so stupid. If you don't teach me, I'll never learn."

Nangong Liuli cried out in her heart, "Nangong Liuli, Nangong Liuli... This servant only asked you to massage his legs. You should have been sensible and helped him. Why did you have to suffer for yourself?"

The stammering girl said, "Good boy, I really can't teach you. I don't know either. You should find someone else to teach you, little brother."

Li Xian laughed and said, "Really? You really don't know how? I saw it yesterday. If you really hadn't learned it before, then it means you're self-taught. You have a great talent for this, so teaching me would be more than enough."

Nangong Liuli pursed her red lips, speechless. Words of rebuttal stuck in her throat, too embarrassed to speak. Knowing this was unavoidable, and also feeling a surge of anger, she said helplessly, "Good brother... it's not dark yet. If you really want to learn from me, you should wait until it's dark. How can... how can..."

At this point, Nangong Liuli gracefully fled back to her room and lay down to sleep. But as she was about to close the door, perhaps due to her panic, she forgot to bolt it, leaving a crack.

After eating and drinking his fill, Li Xian wanted to go back to his room to rest, but in his daze, he went to the wrong room.

Two hours later.

The inner courtyard is quiet and serene.

Li Xian held the Sunken River Sword and practiced slowly. He had already mastered the first and second levels of the Sunset Blood Sword Technique, but the third level required the combined practice of Yin and Yang. With Wen Caishang not by his side, he could hardly make any progress.

...

...

So and so.

Several days passed peacefully. Li Xian, with his calm and steady nature, honed his martial arts skills, working diligently and quietly to improve his proficiency. Nangong Liuli, on the other hand, was full of life and interesting. Initially extremely shy, she remained so for the first few days, but gradually she began to show some appreciation and understanding.

She was both afraid and apprehensive. She was exhausted, her back and abdomen ached, and her legs felt weak. Collaborating and finding a way out together was indeed very difficult. Having set a precedent, she inevitably had to work hard every day, especially at midday and at night.

[You have digested the essence treasure, proficiency +1]

...

As his martial arts skills improved, Li Xian was filled with joy. He reached new heights in his martial arts journey, and his distinctive characteristics became increasingly apparent.

At noon that day, Qingniu Street was bustling with pedestrians and vehicles. In the small courtyard next door, the Five Elements Command Flags regulated the feng shui, forming an invisible barrier. No matter how much commotion or shouting occurred inside, it was difficult to hear outside.

In the bedroom of the west wing of Qingniu Residence, the window was suddenly pushed open, startling the birds that had been peering out from the eaves. They chirped and flew back to their nests in the branches. The curtains in the room were trampled to the ground, and the tables and chairs were slightly askew.

Nangong Liuli's cheeks flushed slightly. She had been well-mannered since childhood and said, "You brat, you're so willful and reckless, always showing off and pretending to be something you're not. You'll ruin your health sooner or later."

Li Xian said, "I am very healthy, it would be extremely difficult for me to lose weight. Sister Liuli, you don't have that ability."

Upon hearing the words "Sister Liuli," Nangong Liuli felt even more embarrassed. She had originally relied on her age to address herself as "sister," to save face. However, the situation had gradually changed, and this address only made her more ashamed and annoyed.

She thought to herself that she, the legitimate daughter of the Nangong family, was no match for a young, unruly boy.

Li Xian came to her side and said, "My dear sister, you can't bear to part with me?"

Nangong Liuli spat, "Who's your good sister? I'd love for you to get lost." Li Xian said, "You yourself are making up your age and ranking your seniority, but now you won't admit it."

Nangong Liuli said softly, "Good little brother... I'm afraid of you. I can't win an argument with you. You'll only end up shooting yourself in the foot. You always bullied me when you were on the pleasure boat, and you still bully me now. Oh well... You're in such a hurry today, you must have something important to do. You should go quickly and not delay." Her shyness gradually faded, replaced by a tender affection.

Li Xian said, "Indeed. I'll take my leave now and look for my sister tonight."

Nangong Liuli got up to see him off, escorting him to the bedroom door. She said softly, "Be careful. Although you've become one of them and are starting to gain a reputation in and around town, the evil cultists are unpredictable and have also provoked Hao Qingshe. You must be very careful. If anything happens to you, I won't be able to get away with it."

Li Xian smiled and said, "Don't worry."

Nangong Liuli smiled and said, "Good brother, go on." She watched Li Xian pass through the corridor and disappear around the corner. She sighed softly and picked up the things on the ground: scattered books, boots, a bronze mirror, and hairpins.

The scattered tables, chairs, desks, and bookshelves were put back in their original positions. The furniture in this side room was relatively intact. The tables and chairs were all made of mahogany, which is not easy to rot or mold, and they looked brand new after being wiped clean.

Therefore, even though it has been abandoned for several years, it can still be used.

Li Xian reserved this room for Nangong Liuli. His intention was good; knowing Nangong Liuli came from a wealthy family and was prone to extravagance, he gave her the best room. However, the fully furnished room sometimes became quite an obstacle.

She closed the window and saw the fruit trees in the inner courtyard with their long green vines hanging down. A gentle breeze blew, and the vines swayed, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

I hadn't noticed it before.

When the house was abandoned and desolate, it was lush and vibrant with life, teeming with snakes, insects, beasts, bees, rats, and centipedes. Li Xian wiped out their nests, killed the snakes, smashed the rats, and burned the bees... cleaning them all up. He left only the fruit trees in the yard, and even the weeds were pulled out cleanly, leaving not a single inch, his actions ruthless and decisive.

Originally, Li Xian had considered leaving the lawn to add greenery and vitality to the yard. However, the weeds were coarse, their scent attracted animals, and their roots carried insect eggs. So, Li Xian removed them all, thinking that if he had extra money in the future, he could purchase ornamental grasses such as "Tangcao," "Qingyuncao," and "Rouyuncao" to carefully arrange the yard.

The garden's layout required considerable skill and was a true test of knowledge and composure. Nangong Liuli recalled her fourth uncle, who was extremely proud of his mansion's scenery. Whenever someone visited, he would always take them for a stroll through the grounds. If they spoke eloquently about the subject matter, he would warmly invite them to stay for a few days, making friends along the way. Nangong Liuli had initially found this hard to understand, but now, seeing the mansion empty and dusty… she suddenly realized that tending to a mansion was an extremely energy-consuming task, a pursuit imbued with profound understanding of the universe. It contained an understanding of the world, a deep-seated ambition… it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it represented the universe within one's heart, and the essence of martial arts.

Furthermore, it is unknown how long Nangong Liuli will reside here; perhaps ten or twenty years will pass without any change, or perhaps a hundred years will pass quickly, and she will live out her days here. Therefore, she should naturally value the residence.

She saw a sweaty handprint imprinted on the window paper and was suddenly startled. She raised her handprint to compare its size, and the scene from that time flashed through her mind. Suddenly, she realized how it was left, her face turned red, and she slammed the window shut.

He spat lightly, muttered "bad little brother," and turned to tidy up elsewhere. The southwest corner of the bedroom was a spot for drinking tea and enjoying the view. A table, two cushions… sitting here to drink tea, one could admire the scenery in the courtyard.

The tea set was overturned on the ground, and the tea soaked the cushion.

Nangong Liuli picked them up one by one, her expression quite strange. As a beautiful lady, she was naturally responsible for all the chores, including making and serving tea. But she vaguely remembered that the tea had just been drunk.

The cushion was quite damp.

Suddenly, there was a loud "bang," and the window was blown open by the wind. Nangong Liuli was startled, looked at the prayer mat, then glanced at the window, and thought to herself, "If anyone had seen me in that state, I really... I really wouldn't have survived."

He hurried to close the window.

After the bedroom was cleaned, Nangong Liuli straightened her clothes, dressed neatly, and stood quietly in the outer courtyard. She closed her eyes to clear her mind, the remaining blush on her face gradually fading. Reflecting on her experiences over the past month, she realized they had been truly tumultuous and humiliating, but the reality of the situation was also quite difficult to describe. Holding a wooden sword, she spent considerable time calming her mind and lightly practiced swordplay in the courtyard.

The Nangong family's martial arts tradition is profound and extensive, with a wealth of martial arts texts. Nangong Liuli has mastered the family's skills and, despite her young age, is already considered an outstanding individual.

The sword technique she used was called "Nangong Juantian Sword," a highly refined basic sword move. All direct descendants of the Nangong clan were required to learn it as a standard for verifying the clan's innate talent.

With a light touch of her sword tip, Nangong Liuli stirred up the turbid sand in the courtyard. Her sword danced and swirled, scattering the sand in all directions. Her feet moved lightly, her figure like a fairy in the mist, sometimes thrusting east, sometimes deflecting west.

Her ethereal beauty amidst the sand and mist is truly indescribable. Although the Nangong Juantian Sword is a basic martial art, it is known as the "pillar of the Nangong family's martial arts" and "a precious gem passed down through generations of the Nangong family." It is extremely exquisite and is in no way inferior to ordinary advanced martial arts.

Legend has it that the Nangong family possesses a sword technique called the "Heavenly Fortune Sword Technique." One must cultivate the Nangong Juantian Sword Technique to an extremely high level, and then successively master several other family martial arts techniques that are never passed on to outsiders, before even being allowed to wield it. When the sword is drawn, it seems as if protected by divine intervention, defeating the enemy unexpectedly.

Even with a casual flick of the wrist, victory is already within reach.

Nangong Liuli's sword danced gracefully, moving freely in all directions. This set of "Nangong Juantian Sword" had reached perfection. Her physique was slightly weak, and the close cooperation just now had exhausted a lot of energy. Her waist and legs were sore, and after dancing a few rounds, she returned her sword and stopped.

The sand and mist were originally scattered and irregular, drifting and spreading in all directions. But her swordsmanship was unique; when she finished her sword dance, the sand and mist seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, moving with the blade as the wooden sword passed by. At first glance, it looked like a yellow ribbon hanging on the sword.

Before long... the sand and mist all transformed into pale yellow ribbons several feet long. Nangong Liuli's sword moved with him, swirling and turning, and the ribbons also swirled lightly around him.

She suddenly flipped her wrist to sheath her sword. The ribbons gathered into sand, sliding down the wooden sword and returning to the dusty ground in the courtyard. But this fallen sand was now finer and smoother, unlike the dust of the mortal world.

Nangong Liuli's move utilized the "Gathering Turbid Gauze Robe." The power of the Nangong Juantian Sword lies in its profound and complex sword techniques, concealing many mysteries such as "ethereal celestial music" and "the turbid robe draped over the body." When unleashing sword strikes, there is ample room for maneuver, adding unique characteristics that make the same move have different effects. It is truly a case of "Wherever you go, east, west, north, or south, all paths lead unimpeded, all are the right ones."

The "basic martial arts" of prominent clans are actually more profound.

Nangong Liuli drank the tea and immediately felt drowsy and bored, so she drew a diagram of the Five Elements to relieve her boredom. Suddenly, she felt a cold wind blowing, and the hairs on her body stood on end, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

She frowned, uneasy, thinking, "This feeling is no accident. Could it be... that a thief from the Flower Cage Gate has sneaked into Green Ox Residence while Hua Wucuo is away? Humph! If that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless." Holding her wooden sword and gathering her inner energy, she moved lightly and patrolled the mansion, inspecting every house and door.

Having suffered greatly at the hands of the Flower Cage Gate, she knew that their formation for capturing and seizing was extremely formidable. A one-on-one fight was nothing to them; once they had infiltrated the residence, no matter how well they hid, they could not escape her search.

She searched the entire area but found no trace of anyone. Her brows furrowed in bewilderment. But since she couldn't find them, she had no choice but to give up. She returned to the west wing, untied her boots, and sat cross-legged to calm her mind.

Night fell in the blink of an eye. I opened the window and saw that the sky was pitch black. Last night the moon was full and round, but today it was covered by dark clouds.

Seeing the sky darken and become frightening, as if a storm was about to strike, Nangong Liuli felt a growing unease and worried about Li Xian's safety. She lit a candle in the dark and paced anxiously back and forth. Suddenly, she heard two "tap-tap" sounds, seemingly coming from the vermilion gate.

Nangong Liuli was overjoyed and immediately rushed to the outer courtyard. Just as she was about to open the door to greet him, she touched the latch and immediately felt something was wrong... The place was extremely quiet and deathly still.

Nangong Liuli frowned and asked, "Hua Wucuo, is that you?" There was no response from outside the door. Nangong Liuli said, "You brat, if you keep teasing me, I'll get angry and won't open the door for you again."

There was still no response. Her pretty face turned deathly pale with fright. She saw gray mist swirling around her, a chilling and eerie atmosphere. She remembered that there was a pavilion in the house, about four or five zhang high, from which she could vaguely see the street scene.

He immediately climbed up to the pavilion and peered out from the high vantage point. He saw a figure outside the vermilion gate, dressed in coarse linen clothes, with an extremely pale face.

She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door. The knocking sound seemed to vibrate in her heart, causing unbearable irritation. Nangong Liuli's face turned deathly pale. At that time, the dynasty was on the verge of chaos, demons and monsters were deceiving the world, and ghosts and spirits truly existed.

She broke out in a cold sweat, calculating the timeline, and realized that the gates of hell would open in mid-July.

In that short time, the darkness deepened even further.

...

...

It was just past noon.

Li Xian turned out of Qingniu Street and looked out at the tall buildings. The noise of conversations swirled around him, and the local residents and disciples of the Flower Cage Sect were all mixed together in the street, making it difficult to distinguish them.

He reluctantly left behind his comfortable life to travel to the island within an island to acquire martial arts techniques. For several days, he repeatedly reviewed his past martial arts skills, pondering his own strengths, weaknesses, characteristics, and many other considerations. Was it to leverage his strengths, compensate for his weaknesses, or something else entirely?

The answer is now available.

(End of this chapter)