Chapter 294 From Poverty to Wealth: Amazing Methods, The Fish-Shepherding Manual, A Mysterious Woman!

Han Zisha was more adept at whispering intimately in bed, communicating directly with her. This time, however, she couldn't utilize her full skills in the negotiation, and indeed lost her rhythm. She angrily sat back down, thinking, "If you didn't have Chief Envoy Shi as your backer, I'd be proud of myself if I didn't drain you dry." Both seduction and bribery were useless; she was completely on the defensive.

She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, crossed her legs, her waist swaying gracefully, and her movements created a fragrant breeze that subtly lingered around Li Xian's nose. She said calmly, "Tell me what you think."

Li Xian laughed, "Elder Han, you've come here offering yourself and marrying into the family. It all comes down to self-interest." Han Zisha remained silent, put down her teacup, and rolled her eyes.

Li Xian continued, “I am new here and my foundation is still shallow. I dare not accept such a windfall, but since Chief Envoy Shi has placed high hopes on me, I have no choice but to accept it, so as not to disappoint Chief Envoy Shi. Some time ago, I went to investigate the site and found that the honey harvest was very abundant. Elder Han came looking for me in the middle of the night, and I can’t let you make a wasted trip. If Elder Han is willing, we can cooperate sincerely and seek common interests.”

After inspecting the bee farm, he began to consider how to make money. The biggest problem was the lack of a boat. Water tanks were difficult to access, and Li Xian had no flower boats, leaving him with a surplus of honey that he couldn't sell. He decided to cooperate with the elders and borrow their flower boats to sell the honey.

Han Zisha instantly understood. Her eyes rolled, her eyebrows curved, and she looked at him with great interest. After a while, she laughed and said, "Oh dear, oh dear, so you don't have a pleasure boat. Since you've asked, this elder will naturally grant your request. But do you know how troublesome water transport is? It involves a great deal of manpower and resources. Going in and out is quite tiring."

"As an elder, it's not reasonable for me to work for my disciples."

Li Xian said, "Of course, we'll split the profits 70/30. I'll take 70% and you take 30%." Han Zisha smiled faintly, "Brother Hua, you haven't figured things out. You don't have a flower boat, and your bee farm and orchard are just chicken bones. If I don't help you transport them out, you won't get a penny. No matter how much bee and fruit you produce, it will just rot in the ground. In my opinion, the profits and losses should be split 80/20, me 80% and you 20%."

Previously, she had only considered using her beauty and money to seduce Li Xian, without giving a proper thought to Li Xian's predicament. But now, after negotiating again and discovering Li Xian's fatal weakness, she regained her confidence. She no longer needed to use her beauty or money to win Li Xian over.

She thought to herself, "You cunning boy, you don't even have a pleasure boat, yet you want to talk to me about cooperation? Just wait and see how I'll take advantage of you."

Li Xian calmly smiled and said, "In that case, Elder Han, please return." Han Zisha was taken aback and asked, "What do you mean?"

Li Xian said, "Naturally, we couldn't reach an agreement." He sipped his tea calmly, remaining composed. Han Zisha sneered, "Brother Hua, you're too young. You haven't figured out the situation yet. If you can't even reach an agreement with me, it will be even more difficult to reach an agreement with the other elders. The bee farm and orchard are yours, that's true, but the water altar is isolated from the world. To put it bluntly, you should be the one begging me for this cooperation."

Li Xian smiled and said, "Elder Han, since we've come this far, I'll be frank with you. If it were anyone else, what you said would be fine. But I am Hua Wucuo, so naturally there are some exceptions."

Han Zisha frowned and pondered, "This young man is so calm, could it be that he has a plan? He said he has an exception, could it be that he has an extraordinary background? Oh, he has a close relationship with Chief Envoy Shi, could it be..." She was filled with surprise and doubt.

Li Xian said again, "I originally wanted to make money peacefully with Elder Han and achieve mutual benefit. It would also be a way to build connections. Since Elder Han has taken it as me asking you for a favor, then please leave."

Han Zisha frowned, unsure whether Li Xian was bluffing or confident. She pondered further, "Regardless of anything else, I'll still profit from this, it's just a matter of how much. I'll feign agreement first, then observe this young man. If he's deliberately trying to trick me, I'll raise the price and take back my principal with interest." She smiled and said, "Brother Hua, I was just joking with you earlier. How about this, we'll split it 70/30."

Li Xian smiled and said, "Alright." Han Zisha got up to leave, raising an eyebrow and smiling, "Besides that, if you want to come find me, you can do so anytime. Anyway, this elder is always free and quite lonely. Why don't you come back with me now?"

A seductive fox spirit.

Li Xian smiled and refused, then saw Han Zisha out of the mansion. After today's negotiation, the stockpiled "Runsu Honey" would have a way to be sold. In the following days, Li Xian and Han Zisha went to Bee Island several times to inspect the situation. The Runsu Honey had been stockpiled for two or three months, totaling more than four thousand catties, which could earn them nearly three thousand taels of silver.

After Li Xian gave up 30%, he was left with a little over 2,000 taels. After paying wages and other miscellaneous expenses, he received about 1,600 taels. Han Zisha also owned a bee farm and a flower farm. Every time she went out on a flower boat, she would sell things such as "Nourishing Heart Paste," "Dried Flower Wine," and "Flower Oil." She helped Li Xian sell the Nourishing Honey, which was extremely effortless and almost free money.

Don't be fooled by the fact that martial artists spend money extravagantly. Their mansions are lavishly furnished, their meals exquisite, and their clothing and daily necessities are all extremely luxurious, yet they are actually incredibly stingy. An unexpected extra thousand taels of silver is a cause for celebration. Meanwhile, the mountain stronghold near Heihe Village, which relies on plundering the people, only accumulates a few dozen taels of silver a month.

A year of frugal living barely yields enough to buy 'smokeless charcoal'. Using a shoddy cauldron to cook subpar food, his cultivation has made no progress in a long time. A manor as wealthy as Wen Caishang's is truly rare. Five hundred coins can buy a life; one can only imagine the value of a thousand taels.

Han Zisha was in charge of water transport, a round trip that took ten days, and she was overjoyed when she earned money. However, she struggled when it came to paying, making several excuses and delays. But fearing a lawsuit from Li Xian, she still split the profits with Li Xian as agreed. In this way, Li Xian went from escaping poverty to becoming wealthy, and the first thing she did was to furnish her mansion.

First, they purchased grass and transplanted it into the yard. Then, they bought flowers and plants to create a stream, a rockery, a scenic pavilion, soft cushions, and bookshelves for displaying porcelain. Nangong Liuli directed the staff to transform the yard, turning the original yellow clay soil into a lush, vibrant lawn. This grass was soft, durable, and comfortable to lie on.

Filling the courtyard with scenery brings joy to both mind and spirit.

More importantly, Li Xian and Nangong Liuli had gradually mastered the 'Five Elements Mystic Escape' and had long wanted to arrange the Five Elements. However, due to their poverty, the courtyard was empty and lacked the Five Elements. 'Even a clever woman can't cook without rice,' and even Yan Hao would find it difficult to arrange the Five Elements Mystic Escape without considering the environment. Now, the mansion is complete, beautiful, and tranquil. Plants, trees, stones, and water are everywhere, allowing them to utilize the various courtyard features to arrange the Five Elements maze.

The Five Elements Flags proved invaluable, planted amidst the lush greenery and courtyard. This created five layers of mystery around the residence, each corresponding to one of the Five Elements. Thus, though the residence was not large, it was remarkably safe and comfortable. Living there, with all five elements complete and the feng shui flowing smoothly, it was like a miniature world, indescribably comfortable.

As Nangong Liuli began to decorate, she gradually felt a sense of belonging. In her spare time, she watered and cared for the flowers. Seeing her life getting better day by day, she felt quite satisfied, just like she had started from scratch and worked hard with her poor husband to accumulate wealth.

Holding the 'Golden Flag,' Nangong Liuli could manipulate the five elements within the courtyard by waving it, effectively controlling the layout of the maze. If any outsiders broke in, she wouldn't need to show herself; she could use the Five Elements Mystic Escape Technique to trap them. While her Five Elements Mystic Escape Technique was already quite accomplished, it was still far inferior to Li Xian's.

Occasionally, when a playful impulse arises, he will manipulate the five elements in the courtyard, deliberately obscuring Li Xian. But Li Xian always deciphers it extremely quickly and invariably punishes him severely. He sends Nangong Liuli back to the prison of the pleasure boat in her dreams, but Nangong Liuli feels no fear; instead, she becomes even more ruthless.

Whether it's resentment, enjoyment, or some other purpose, it's unclear.

Life went on like this, and Li Xian's strength accumulated, gathering droplets of water to form a lake. His proficiency in the Five Internal Organs' Yin-Yang Meridian had reached [5685/8000 Minor Success], and his mastery of the Remnant Demon Spear Technique was [3655/15000 Major Success]. What was once a desolate, abandoned house was now a stream and artificial hill, with a beautiful woman by his side.

Accumulate strength steadily.

The only drawback is that the 'refined food' has run dry. At this rate of earning money, it will take several months to barely establish the cauldron. Li Xian is not in a hurry. He believes in taking it slow and steady, diligently honing his martial arts skills, which will also increase his strength.

He now possesses an increasing number of trump cards, with the Remnant Spear and the Sunset Bloodstained Sword both incredibly powerful. Nangong Liuli strictly adheres to family rules, never easily passing on her family's martial arts techniques. However, with prolonged contact with Li Xian, even her hardened heart has been softened. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, she would answer any question Li Xian asked her. But Li Xian wasn't in a hurry to inquire; instead, he focused on studying the Remnant Spear and honing his martial arts skills.

...

That day.

Li Xian suddenly received the news.

Recently, bandits have become increasingly rampant in Dongran Lake. They have been killing and assaulting passing fishermen, prompting local righteous groups to launch a campaign to encircle and eliminate them. This has disrupted shipping in Hualongmen, so a bounty has been offered to call upon the Hualongmen thieves to kill the notorious bandits known as "Water Gold Den."

It was truly a rare sight for flower thieves to fight against river bandits. Li Xian saw that the rewards were very generous; a river bandit's head could be exchanged for one merit token, and if the leader was killed, one could get an additional tael of merit silver.

He responded to the call, went to the "Flower Appreciation Pavilion" to get a "water map," and followed the map to quietly reach Jinshuiwo. He prepared his bow and arrows, rented a small boat, and then charged towards Jinshuiwo along the water map.

Shuijinwo is nestled amidst a maze of water and forest. The bandits there vary in height and build, but all are covered in black fuzz, their eyes harboring a fierce glint, and their bodies reeking of fish and decay. While their ambushes and killings are abhorrent and despicable, they occur frequently. The Great Wu Dynasty is in decline and powerless to govern; even mountain bandits are difficult to eradicate, let alone water bandits. Disciples of reputable sects often venture into Dongran Lake to hone their skills by slaying bandits and to spread their fame.

However, Shui Jinwo has recently gone too far, intercepting and killing three merchant ships in succession, resulting in the disappearance of hundreds of people. These merchant ships are full of powerful martial artists, and if they were to fight head-on, Shui Jinwo would be no match for them.

The Water Gold Nest is home to "golden-mouthed fish," which roam in groups and love to gnaw on the bottoms of boats. They also know how to utilize the terrain and waterways to set traps along the way and cast iron nets into the water. Whenever merchant ships pass through their area, their hulls leak, and in panic, they invariably jump overboard to escape.

There was an iron net in the water, which bound their hands and feet, trapping them like fish.

This method has never failed, and even martial artists at the second realm have been captured.

Li Xian boarded a boat and secretly approached Shui Jinwo.

This place is actually deep within Dongran Lake, neither an island nor a swamp. Instead, it consists of countless aquatic trees that grow from the lakebed, their vines and roots intertwined, thick and sturdy, gradually forming an environment suitable for standing, walking, and climbing. Shui Jinwo built a wooden house on these roots as a base.

Li Xian stealthily sneaked in, using his double pupils to observe. He saw several water-dwelling trees with bandits hiding in the canopy, extremely well concealed. This place was easy to defend and difficult to attack. If any strong enemy appeared, the bandits would jump into the lake. The tree roots in the lake were tangled, and they would scatter east and west, making them impossible to catch. The terrain was extremely advantageous.

He was eager to try, but not anxious. He secretly bypassed the sentry, climbed a water tree, and used the dense canopy to cover himself.

He discovered a bird's nest in a tree. A clever idea struck him; he caught a bird, plucked a strand of his long hair, and tucked it among the bird's feathers. He then tossed it deeper into the nest. The bird flapped its wings and flew away, but as it passed over the nest, strands of hair fell, touched the roof tiles, and sprouted.

Meanwhile, a strand of hair belonging to Qingniu Ju withered and curled up, turning into ashes. 'Hair taking root' could only maintain three strands. Li Xian concentrated his energy, sensing the hair strands. After taking root, he had auditory, visual, and tactile sensations, but his vision was blurry, as if shrouded in thick fog. He couldn't clearly see the number of enemies. He thought that at night, the patrolmen would surely be carrying torches. With bright firelight and clearer sensations from the hair strands, he could discern the layout of the hideout and identify the patrol positions. Then, by utilizing his double pupil vision, he could move freely.

We waited until nightfall.

The hideout was indeed ablaze. Li Xian sensed the strands of hair and, through the firelight, could vaguely discern the locations of the hideout. Combined with his "double pupils" clairvoyance, he could clearly see inside and out of the hideout even before entering.

Li Xian's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and with a "plop," he jumped into the lake. His body sank rapidly, but he managed to move freely while gripping the tree roots. Li Xian crept into a weaker spot in the hideout, listening for sounds above.

Two bandits, their feet planted on tree roots, came to relieve themselves nearby. They spoke in their slang, and Li Xian stealthily reached out, grabbed their ankles, and suddenly dragged them into the water. His move was incredibly skillful; he didn't even splash any water!

The two bandits struggled violently. Li Xian was jolted. He struck the bandits' chests with his Pure Qi Robe, instantly shattering their lungs and killing them on the spot. Li Xian then wedged the two bandits into the tree roots, preventing their bodies from floating. He then swam away to another location.

Since he was going to test his skills, he wanted to do it quickly. To catch the thief, you must first catch the kingpin. He used his eyesight and even his hair to gradually pinpoint the location of the bandit leader. He quietly sneaked over and suddenly saw a large tree cage.

It was a circular cage formed by intertwined tree roots. Dozens of people were imprisoned inside, submerged in water, with only their noses barely sticking out of the water. Li Xian thought to himself, "These people must have been captured by the river bandits."

Instead of rushing to rescue them, they quietly bypassed the area. They subsequently encountered several tree cages, holding over a hundred people in total. There were men, women, and children of all ages. The water was extremely murky and foul-smelling; white maggots and mosquito larvae could be seen writhing in the water. Soaking in this water would surely cause serious illness, even if the person didn't die. Li Xian exhaled pure qi, covering himself with his Pure Qi Robe, ensuring the pure qi lingered around him and kept the murky water at bay.

He has recently gained a great deal, employing various ingenious methods in combination. He is invincible, able to calmly and composedly handle any crisis. Someone in the tree cage saw Li Xian, but it was merely a hallucination, and the foul stench of the water made it difficult to focus.

The merchant ship was wrecked, and four martial artists at the second realm were captured alive by river bandits. They were in a miserable state, their limbs entangled by tree roots and submerged in water several tens of feet deep. These tree roots were strong and secure, and being in the water, their Qi was blocked. These martial artists at the second realm were quite skilled, but they had no way to stop them.

Li Xian took this as a warning, thinking to himself, "Even a second-realm martial artist was helpless and captured by a group of river bandits. I have already reached the second realm of martial arts, and many special abilities have emerged around me, but I need to constantly hone my martial arts and increase my skills in order to avoid such an end."

Martial arts techniques depend entirely on martial arts skills. These second-realm martial artists were entangled and bound by tree roots. If they had learned the family martial arts of the Luo family of Qiongtianfu Embroidery City, they could shake their bodies, loosen the tree roots, and thus escape their predicament.

Diving deeper, he could see the wreckage of a merchant ship. Li Xian looked up and observed the intertwined tree roots extending from the water to the surface. He had found the bandit leader and was secretly following him. The bandit leader was tall, with a full beard, and was very fierce. He carried a large iron pestle on his back, the end of which was a sphere the size of a head, and the inside of the sphere seemed to be a vacuum.

Li Xian waited until he was alone, then suddenly emerged from the water. His movements were swift and decisive; he thrust his spear forward. The bandit leader was startled and about to shout when he saw Li Xian's spear aimed directly at his throat. The force was immense, imbued with the power of his 'Pure Qi Robe,' making the Qi waves almost tangible, creating a whooshing sound that forced his shout back down his throat.

It was as if a fierce wind had hit his face. The moment he opened his mouth, the wind rushed in through his mouth and nose, making it impossible to speak. The bandit leader's shout turned into an angry roar, and he stomped his foot, taking out an iron pestle to block. He deliberately used a spherical object to block; it was hollow inside, and when the spear tip pierced through, it would vibrate and make a strange noise.

Little did the bandit leader know that Li Xian's spear technique was extremely refined. Though his martial prowess was formidable, he also possessed a hidden strategy. Suddenly, he withdrew his strength, stopping short of a direct strike. The bandit leader raised an eyebrow, thinking, "Could he be all bark and no bite?" Although he could speak at this moment, his entire focus was on the attack; speaking or shouting would distract him. He immediately grabbed his iron pestle and struck.

However, he felt that the tip of Li Xian's spear was sticky, adhering to his iron pestle, making it impossible to pull it back or throw it out. It turned out that when Li Xian thrust his spear, his Pure Qi Robe contained internal Qi that adhered to the spear shaft. Although he had withdrawn the force of his spear, the Pure Qi Robe rushed out and tightly covered the iron pestle, as if it were entangled by a rope.

Li Xian flicked his spear. His pure qi robe trembled, releasing a burst of internal energy that lashed out. The bandit leader, never having witnessed such a technique, was completely bewildered and sent flying several feet. Li Xian turned, nocked a bow, and fired a wooden arrow, which swiftly pierced the bandit leader's throat.

The ordinary, mortal clay figure was already dead. The bandit leader, possessing the cultivation of nourishing essence, immediately solidified his blood and closed his orifices, slowing the progression of his injuries. The higher one's martial arts realm, the greater the possibility. Nangong Liuli once said, "Among the nine types of turbid clothing, the Golden Jade Robe preserves the corpse from decay, and may even allow for resurrection."

Li Xian used the tip of his spear to dab at the water, creating splashes. Then he unleashed the Azure Palm, striking the splashes. With a 'splash,' each drop of water struck the bandit leader's acupoints and meridians, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. It contained extremely strong internal energy.

The bandit leader let out a 'plop' sound as blood gushed from his throat, unable to hold back any longer. He collapsed and died before he could utter a single word. Li Xian remained vigilant, firing several arrows in quick succession to confirm the bandit leader's death, before severing his head and storing it in one place.

His methods were swift and efficient; in this way, a tael of merit money was earned. Li Xian thought to himself, "This is a rare opportunity; I must kill as many river bandits as possible to earn more merit money." He put away the two arrows, and with agile, invisible movements, he moved swiftly around the hideout.

He first sought out lone bandits. He would fire three, four, or even five arrows simultaneously, aiming to kill as many as he saw. His archery skills had reached their pinnacle. Archery is different from martial arts; anyone who can draw a bow can shoot an arrow, and ordinary hunters can achieve some skill in archery. However, reaching the pinnacle of archery is more difficult than martial arts. Later stages of archery training involve willpower and concentration, which cannot be cultivated through training alone; only innate talent can achieve it.

Li Xian used his full strengths, silently killing three more bandits. The bandits in their hideout, having lived in the lake for years, had dark skin, large hands, and faces covered in black fuzz, making them extremely easy to spot. There was no possibility of mistaken killings. Li Xian acted with impunity, eliminating the bandits and earning merit.

His wooden arrows were silent, and his eyesight was exceptional. His unparalleled archery skills, combined with his terrifying eyesight, made the numerous bandits easy prey. They were defeated and killed one by one, all silently and without the slightest sound.

Li Xian was extremely meticulous in his actions. He hid the dead bandits underwater, stuffing them into the crevices of tree roots. Not even a trace of blood was left. In the darkness of night, seventy or eighty percent of the bandits quietly disappeared without anyone noticing.

It was very late at night. The remaining bandits found it strange, as if the night was unusually quiet. Suddenly, fear gripped their hearts, and they were filled with unease, unsure of what to do. Some of the bolder ones broke away from their patrols to search for their leader. But after circling around dozens of times, they were suddenly shocked to find that their usually bustling hideout was eerily quiet.

Former close bandits vanished without a trace; no matter how much they cried out, only echoes remained. Just as they discovered the reason, a wooden arrow struck, ending their lives. Li Xian was like a vengeful ghost, annihilating them from the inside out.

There were 323 bandits in Shuijinwo, and Li Xian wiped them all out, leaving not a single one alive. This ability would be difficult even for an elder, and far inferior to his. Li Xian possessed many extraordinary qualities that few others could match. After confirming the complete eradication, he retrieved the bandits from the water based on his memory.

He carried only thirty-four arrows, yet he annihilated three hundred and twenty-three bandits, and not a single arrow was lost afterward. He collected so many heads that they were difficult to store, so he found boats, removed the heads, and arranged them among the boats. It took five boats to barely contain them all.

It was pitch black by then. From the moment Li Xian launched his attack on the lake to the complete annihilation of the enemy, it only took him an hour. He knew that Dongran Lake was no child's play; if one lost their way while sailing at night, they might be lucky enough to return to the water altar, or perhaps they would unknowingly find themselves out of Dongran Lake.

If luck is bad, spending one's entire life adrift in the lake, or even mysteriously swallowed by it, is perfectly normal. Therefore, he decided to stay overnight at the hideout. Taking advantage of this free time, he searched the corpses one by one, looking for anything useful. Ordinary river bandits were simply dressed, covered in mud, and had never left the lake; they carried neither money nor treasure.

Li Xian then examined the clothing. Only those of high status and well-dressed, such as the bandit leader, second-in-command, and third-in-command, could find valuable items, including gold and jade. Li Xian accepted them all with a smile, estimating he could exchange them for several dozen taels of silver. Now that he was worried about finding valuable treasures, he valued silver even more, and would never waste it if he could save it.

Money flows like water.

The most important thing is to find a place and methods that can consistently generate wealth.

The night was long. Li Xian searched the corpses thoroughly, but the night remained deep and quiet. Bored, he wandered around, searching for the hideout's treasure. He first went to the bandit leader's room, and after searching, he indeed found something. He discovered chests of jewels, of great value. It turned out that one of the merchant ships recently hijacked was a jewelry store.

The merchant ship had the most skilled warriors and put up the fiercest resistance. Unfortunately, they were powerless to turn the tide. Taking advantage of the water's terrain, they were held back and unable to make any progress. The skilled warriors on board had no choice but to surrender, and the remaining crew and passengers were all captured and brought here, where they are now submerged in the water. The merchant ship originally carried more than just these few boxes of jewels and utensils. But when the ship sank, many of these jewels and beautiful objects sank to the bottom of the lake forever.

It's truly a pity.

Li Xian thought to himself, "This is a windfall. Now that I've seen it, I'll find a way to take it. As for those prisoners, their ship is destroyed. They probably need to be taken back to Hualongmen. Otherwise, if they stay here, they'll just starve to death."

The bandit leader's bedroom was decorated with green vines, making it a rather elegant residence. Li Xian searched around and, upon lifting the pillow, found a tattered book containing a wooden flute. He perused the book and was delighted.

This tattered book, titled "The Mysterious Book of Fish Herding," is incomplete and its origins are shrouded in mystery. It contains methods for raising, herding, and controlling fish. This wooden flute is the key to herding fish. The book originally recorded methods for raising and training over a dozen types of fish, but due to its incompleteness, only the method for raising and training the 'Golden-mouthed Fish' remains intact.

The maintenance, raising, and control of fish involve many details, making it exceptionally valuable. The Golden-Mouthed Fish is not a natural species; it can gnaw on gold and iron. The Water Gold Nest has repeatedly hampered martial artists of the second realm, highlighting the great usefulness of this fish.

Li Xian quickly put it away, overjoyed. Afterwards, while searching the house again, he found another 'water map', detailing how to leave the lake and reach the shore. Li Xian's mind raced; he knew he would eventually have to leave the water trough, and this water map might be useful. But certainly not now.

He took out the water map of the Flower Cage Gate. His brows furrowed slightly. If he followed the water map of the Water Gold Nest now, he could sail away from Dongran Lake starting from here. However, if he returned to the Water Altar first and waited for the right time and sufficient preparation before attempting to travel the same route again, first from the Water Altar to the Water Gold Nest and then from the Water Gold Nest to leave Dongran Lake, it would be much more difficult.

Because the water map leading from the Water Altar to the Water Gold Nest involves the Five Elements and is constantly changing. Today he was able to find the Water Gold Nest by following the water map, but if he set off again in two days, following the water map and the original route, he would not be able to reach the Water Gold Nest.

"Fine, let's take our time and think it over. If I run away like this, not only will I be in trouble, but Nangong Liuli will also be furious with me. I can't just abandon her like this."

Keep the water map safe.

The subsequent haul was unremarkable, consisting mostly of jewels. Along the way, he gained a deeper understanding of the river bandits' ruthlessness. These bandits, long accustomed to living in the lake and feeding on fish, had grown tired of the usual diet and even contemplated cooking people. Cruel in nature, they also desired to taste the flesh of a 'Second Realm Martial Artist'. One Second Realm Martial Artist, in this humiliating manner, died as food for the river bandits.

After everything was settled, Li Xian lay in the canopy of the water tree, internally cultivating his five internal organs and circulating his impurities.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

The next day.

The sky is clear and bright.

Li Xian jumped down from the treetop and carried the gold and silver treasures onto the small boats. Five boats were used to carry the bandit leaders' merits, and two were used to carry gold and silver jewels. He then used branches and vines to link the seven boats together, making them one. Having done all this, he prepared to leave.

Li Xian thought to himself, "I was initially concerned about Dongran Lake, as the lake area is unpredictable. Even if these people escape, they would most likely get lost in the lake and be trapped. Bringing them back to the Water Altar would at least give them a place to stay. But now that I have discovered the water map and know the route out of Dongran Lake, bringing them back to the Water Altar would only harm them."

Li Xian redraws three copies of the "Water Gold Nest" map and hides them in various locations within the nest. Once they obtain the map, even if their merchant ships are destroyed and they have to cut down trees to make boats, they will still be able to escape.

He was being considerate, delaying his rescue of the group to avoid trouble. If a misunderstanding arose and friction broke out, Li Xian's fists and kicks would complicate matters. Therefore, he waited until daylight, when it was already bright, and until he had escaped by boat, before devising a plan to rescue them.

No need to meet in person, naturally there's less trouble.

Several cannons were mounted on an abandoned merchant ship next to the bandits' hideout. They contained gunpowder and cannonballs. Li Xian removed the gunpowder and cannonballs and secured them to a tree trunk. He then steered the boat away from the bandits' hideout.

After realizing that the distance had become too great.

They lit the wooden arrow and shot it towards the Water Gold Nest. The arrow curved through the air, struck the gunpowder shell, and exploded with a loud 'boom,' shattering the tree cage and freeing those trapped inside. The first to escape surfaced, their eyes filled with terror and bewilderment.

Once it was confirmed that no one was around, the rescuers immediately freed the four second-realm martial artists, who were entangled by tree roots and sank deep into the lake.

They were also pulled out of the deep lake and brought back to the light of day. The four of them had endured a long and arduous time in the water, without eating or drinking for several days, and their breathing was also obstructed. But the bandits did not really intend to drown them.

The vines of the water tree are mostly hollow, allowing for underwater breathing. The bandits would often bite the vines and dive to catch fish. These four men relied on this to survive for several days. However, after being soaked in filthy water and invaded by external pathogens, their bodies were swollen and blistered, emitting a foul stench.

Having escaped their predicament, everyone immediately rallied together, determined to fight the bandits to the death and seize the boat. The four second-realm martial artists, at a loss and feeling frustrated, resolved to avenge themselves. They roused their spirits, unleashing thunderous energy to expel the foul water from their bodies. Their momentum surged, and they had recovered several tenths of their former strength. However, after a thorough search, they discovered the hideout was completely deserted.

The group assumed the bandits had all gone out to plunder and ambush passing merchant ships. They initially planned to use this opportunity to escape by boat. However, remembering their encounter on the water, they feared being captured again if they met the bandits. Therefore, they suggested ambushing the bandits at their hideout, killing them all, and then escaping.

Half an hour passed. But there was still no sound; the silence was terrifying.

As if haunted, they vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of gold, silver, jewels, or valuables. After careful consideration, a chill ran down their spines. The bandits had all left their hideout; surely someone should have been left to guard it. There had never been anything so bizarre in the world. They changed their minds and meticulously searched every place, finding a water map that revealed a way to escape.

Sensing the eeriness of the place, they decided not to linger. They immediately felled trees and built boats, and more than ten small boats sailed out of Dongran Lake, thus escaping and ascending to heaven. Seeing the warm September sun and the lake breeze, they felt as if they had been reborn.

On the other hand...

Li Xian turned back by boat. The sun shone brightly, and he was horrified to find hundreds of heads tucked around him. After traveling several miles, the morning mist dissipated, and his view opened up to a vast expanse of sky and lake, with clear blue water and white clouds. He couldn't help but shout loudly a few times to express his feelings.

The lake ripples gently, a truly rare and beautiful sight. Within Dongran Lake are waterfalls, aquatic forests, and numerous peculiar lake fish, some possessing unusual venom, others with unique appearances. This place is fraught with danger; it is said that deep within the lake, some great tombs and coiled black dragons are hidden.

After walking for about half a day, the outline of the water jar can be seen.

It was midday, and the shore was more lively than usual. A flower boat was moored on the shore, and the disciples of the Flower Cage Sect disembarked one after another and gathered on the shore.

Li Xian stood at the bow of a boat, seven boats linked together to form one, one side piled high with bloody skulls, the other with gold and silver treasures. His long hair flowed freely, and his figure was handsome. This bizarre sight immediately drew gasps and stares from the disciples.

They exclaimed to each other, "Hey, look! There's some noise over there!"

"It looks like a person. Ah, his boat is full of heads. Oh dear, could it be some master who discovered our altar and came here specifically to seek revenge?"

"That's quite possible. We must immediately inform the elders. This man is full of rage and is definitely not a good person!"

After a lot of noise.

Elder Tang Feng of the Flower Cage Gate and the ferryman Jin Shichang rushed out of the cabin, looking around as if facing a formidable enemy.

Tang Feng had been wandering outside the altar and had only returned today, unaware of Li Xian's name. Seeing this situation, he was alarmed and immediately ordered his men to fetch weapons, saying, "Envoy Jin, something terrible has happened! A master has come to our door today. I will try to hold them off here, but I fear I am no match for him. You must quickly inform Chief Envoy Shi so we can join forces to deal with this enemy!"

Jin Shichang frowned and stared intently. After seeing the face clearly, he laughed and said, "Elder Tang, how do you know that this is a formidable enemy, one that even you are no match for?"

Tang Feng said solemnly, "Based on my eyesight and experience, I am absolutely certain. This person is young and handsome, and his demeanor and bearing as he navigates the boat are not those of a weakling. Moreover, the water altar is surrounded by a maze of the Five Elements; how could anyone else possibly enter? This person must be extremely proficient in the Five Elements, which shows that he is unfathomable."

Jin Shichang laughed and said, "I don't think so." Tang Feng frowned and said, "Envoy Jin, this matter is not a joke and must be taken seriously. This person has come with severed heads, so he is probably determined to go on a killing spree. If we do not want to become victims of his sword, we must not underestimate him."

As they were talking, a voice suddenly called out, "Messenger Jin!"

Jin Shichang laughed and said, "That's right, where have you been?" He glanced at Tang Feng with a mocking look. Li Xian replied truthfully, "I received the execution order and wiped out all the bandits in Shuijinwo."

Jin Shichang laughed and said, "So that's how it is." He turned to Tang Feng and said, "Elder Tang, you haven't returned to the Water Altar for several months, so there are some things you may not know. This Hua Wucuo is a rising star in our sect, not some fierce person."

Tang Feng looked embarrassed, hiding his weapon behind his back. His old face was quite red as he said, "A rising star, a rising star indeed! It's amazing that my Flower Cage Sect can have such a talent. When you arrived by boat just now, you really gave this old man quite a fright."

Jin Shichang did not continue to tease him, but said, "Elder Tang is cautious by nature, which is excellent. If there were a strange expert who could ride a wooden boat and venture into the water altar alone, then it would indeed be a formidable enemy. Therefore, Elder Tang's cautious approach is correct."

By this time, the commotion had spread, and the disciples in the town also rushed to see what was happening. The shore was bustling with activity. When Li Xianzhou's boat docked and he carried the bandit leaders out of the boat one by one, Jin Shichang and Tang Feng came to watch. They counted the heads one by one, becoming more and more shocked as they counted, while the disciples waiting nearby were even more incredulous.

Destroying a hideout is neither easy nor difficult. It demands exceptional ability, tactical skill, strategy, and martial arts prowess. In this chaotic era, disorder abounds across the land. Noble young men and women from wealthy families roam the martial world, possessing formidable martial arts skills, yet they often stumble and fall, captured alive or killed—a common occurrence.

However, when suppressing bandits and destroying their dens, the bandits scatter and flee, making it even more difficult to completely wipe them out.

Jin Shichang and Tang Feng, both with broad vision, were momentarily puzzled as to how Li Xian had accomplished this.

Jin Shichang asked in surprise, "That's right, you wiped out all these bandits by yourself. Did you really not have any help?" Li Xian smiled and said, "Of course. I capture the leader first and then defeat them one by one. It's not that difficult."

Jin Shichang patted Li Xian on the shoulder and sighed, "Good heavens, it's easy to say, but in reality, even if Elder Tang were to take action, he might not be able to wipe them all out."

Tang Feng truthfully replied, "It's definitely impossible to wipe them all out!"

He pointed to the numerous corpses, his eyes regaining their respect, and said, "If I were to take action and scatter the hideout, it would be extremely easy. They scattered and fled, using the water to escape, and I would be helpless against them."

“Look at the expressions of these river bandits. There are hundreds of corpses, yet they all look relaxed and at ease. This means that these hundreds of people died silently. They didn’t even know they were dying.”

Upon hearing this, the other disciples were all shocked, and the surrounding area immediately became noisy: "Elder Tang is extremely skilled in martial arts, has extensive knowledge of various martial arts, and is known as the 'Martial Arts Scholar'. Even Chief Envoy Shi said that he has a sharp eye for martial arts. If he says so, he can't be wrong."

"Ah, this is too terrifying! Is this Hua Wucuo a ghost?"

"More than that! Senior Brother Hua is already incredibly skilled; he also won first place at the grand event not long ago."

"Winning a martial arts contest only shows that you are skilled in martial arts, but to wipe out the river bandits, you need much more ability!"

Tang Feng was extremely interested. Jin Shichang knew that Li Xian had joined the Candle Sect and looked at him with great interest. Tang Feng continued, "Bandit hideouts are usually not very large, and there are many sentries, both visible and hidden. It's not difficult for a martial arts expert to force their way in, but to take hundreds of lives so quietly is extremely difficult. How did you manage to do it?"

These words are a sincere request for advice.

Li Xian said frankly, "I shot it with an arrow." Tang Feng said, "That's even more difficult. Even if you shot it with an arrow, there should be some noise." He said, "Unless you have exceptional archery skills, mastery of the arrow technique, and a complete grasp of the overall situation, you can't do that."

Upon hearing this, Jin Shichang said, "It seems that Chief Envoy Shi was right about you!" Tang Feng said admiringly, "Brother Hua is a man of skill. I admire him. I didn't expect to see such a rising star so soon after returning to Shuitan. I am truly impressed. Let's have a drink together sometime."

After their conversation, Jin Shichang and Tang Feng left first.

Seeing the heavy pile of heads on the ground, Li Xian hired several disciples to help carry them. His past deeds had already established his prestige in the Water Altar; with a wave of his hand, several disciples fawned over him, calling him "Brother Hua," "Senior Brother Hua," and "Boss Hua." To avoid frightening the local residents, Li Xian took a different route, bypassing the town and traveling along mountain paths.

Disciples along the way, hearing the news, gathered in amazement. After traveling several miles, the crowd grew larger and larger, almost like a welcoming party. The disciples of the Water Altar were constantly moving between places; some knew of it, while others did not. The disciples, both curious and respectful, showered them with praise and compliments.

The disciples of the Flower Cage Sect are of average strength and have always needed to rely on others. As a result, a fawning and flattering sect atmosphere has formed. Li Xian's strength has become extraordinary, so he naturally receives a lot of flattery. No one dares to be disrespectful, and even if they are, they would never dare to show it in the slightest.

Along the way, people had praised Li Xian to the skies, saying he was unparalleled on earth. Li Xian just smiled and walked by, completely unconcerned. Little did he know that it was precisely because the disciples of the Flower Cage Sect roamed around and, in their leisure time, loved to boast and chat about everything under the sun.

The name "Hua Wucuo" had quietly spread throughout the forum. Li Xian was leaving his mark on the martial arts world for the first time, albeit with a villainous and infamous reputation, but nonetheless leaving a trace.

Among the onlookers, a woman in black robes stared at Li Xian, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

(P.S.: I'll be writing 10,000 words tomorrow, please vote with your monthly tickets!)

(End of this chapter)