Chapter 301: Madam shows off her power, Green Snake suffers, there are people who are better than her, and she wants the treasure

Water basin.

Qingniu Residence.

Li Xian accidentally obtained the Ghost Python Spear, a heavy and formidable weapon. He unleashed the 'Remnant Demon Spear Technique,' employing numerous moves such as Gale-like Grass, Remnant Demon Playing in Water, Withered Figure, and Desolate Crow Under the Moon. His power increased dramatically, and the Ghost Python Spear possessed a distinct 'ghost python spirit,' its heavy and sturdy body also flexible and adaptable.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

His spirits soared, and he danced wildly in the courtyard. His martial arts progressed even faster than usual. He thought of the 'Four Great Rankings,' including the 'Divine Weapon Ranking.' It recorded special weapons; obtaining even one would drastically increase one's strength. Moreover, the appearance of a divine weapon would inevitably attract fierce competition from all sides.

Li Xian thought to himself, "The world of martial arts is vast and full of wonders. Whenever I make progress and feel complacent, I think of the vast world around me and realize that I am but a drop in the ocean, insignificant. So I can't help but practice even harder, so that one day, even if the world is vast, I will have my own place."

[You have absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, proficiency +1]

Li Xian consumed the essence of the precious meat, which, after being strengthened and circulated throughout his body, had nearly half of it retained through blood purification and pore-closing. He diligently practiced daily, and by now, he had digested eighty percent of it. Twenty-three strands of the essence of heaven and earth remained.

To further advance in martial arts, one needs more essence of heaven and earth, and more precious meat. Li Xian thought, "I still have a portion of Yellow Nine Ginseng. If I encounter Morning Yellow Dew, I will exchange it for Yellow Nine Ginseng. Then I can obtain the technique 'Golden Light'. I need to find out about this matter."

...

Hao Qingshe frowned slightly, found a seat, and secretly sized her up. She thought, "Since leaving the water jar, I've offended quite a few people. This woman has an extraordinary appearance and bearing, yet she sits alone in the hall, without wine, food, or even rice, unlike someone seeking lodging at an inn. She must be waiting for someone, or perhaps she's here to kill me. Such a beautiful woman with deadly poison is extremely rare, yet she dares to come looking for me without even knowing her own limitations." Thinking this, she found it amusing, felt a slight disdain, and settled into her seat.

The woman who had been waiting for tea for a long time was naturally Wen Caishang. The young girl was named 'Xiao Tuan'.

turn out to be

On the island of the Water Altar, Hao Qingshe and Li Xian clashed palms. Li Xian knew that a serious attack would cost him his life, while a minor one would leave him severely injured for a long time. Before striking out, he pulled out a few strands of silk and sent them to Hao Qingshe's hair with the force of his palm strike.

Silk has a special texture. When mixed into hair, it is extremely difficult to detect. Even with her considerable cultivation, Hao Qingshe would have difficulty noticing it. Since she left the water altar and started causing trouble outside, it naturally didn't take long for her to catch Wen Caishang's attention.

Wen Caishang said softly, "I have long heard that Hao Qingshe, the envoy of the Candle Sect, is extremely skilled in using poison and is very powerful. I am honored to meet him today. If the envoy does not mind, please sit closer."

Hao Qingshe's pupils contracted slightly. She acted eccentrically, but rarely mentioned the name of the 'Candle Sect'. This time, her identity was seen through at a glance, how could she not be shocked? She sneered, "Then may I ask who you are, sir? Since you know my name, you still dare to invite me to sit nearby. Are you ignorant of your own limitations, or are you full of confidence?"

Wen Caishang lightly rolled up her sleeves and put down her teacup. She said, "Caishang is just an ordinary person, not worth mentioning. I'm neither arrogant nor particularly knowledgeable. We met by chance at the inn, and I'm curious to ask you a few questions. Please come and sit down." As soon as she finished speaking, the surrounding tables and chairs suddenly shattered into pieces with several cracking sounds. Only Wen Caishang's table and chairs remained intact.

Hao Qingshe's face showed surprise as she leaped up from her seat, looking at Wen Caishang with astonishment and confusion, completely unsure of what to do. She was always unruly and would never tolerate being threatened. Just as she was about to retaliate, she suddenly felt her clothes were covered in invisible silk threads, crisscrossing and endlessly complex. If she tried to resist, the numerous silk threads would be like sharp blades, instantly skinning her alive.

Since she began practicing martial arts, she had never encountered such a strange thing. Completely bewildered by how the silkworm threads were laid, cold sweat poured down her back. Though her skills were profound, she felt a sense of fear in this situation. The sheer power she faced was terrifying; even if she could neutralize this attack, she feared she wouldn't be able to withstand the even more powerful moves that followed. She was eccentric and acted entirely on a whim, and her unpredictable temper made her extremely difficult to talk to, but in this situation…

He naturally became wise, gentle, and had a balanced temperament.

Hao Qingshe said solemnly, "Your methods are impressive. Did you ambush me early on? Since you've come to take my life, why waste time with words?"

Wen Caishang said, "Green Serpent Envoy, I merely invited you for drinks and conversation; why be so agitated?" Two teacups were already placed on the table before her. One was still wet with her red lips, and the other was hollow.

Xiao Tuan filled another teacup. Wen Caishang picked it up with her delicate hand and gently pushed it towards Hao Qingshe. The teacup flew horizontally and hovered near Hao Qingshe's nose. The steam from the hot tea splashed onto her cheeks. She suddenly felt a burning sensation on her cheeks. The tea in the cup boiled and evaporated, and the teacup trembled slightly, seemingly containing a kind of ethereal sound.

The evaporating tea water enveloped her cheeks, causing a burning, stinging sensation. Hao Qingshe observed intently and noticed that although the teacup appeared to be suspended in mid-air, a silkworm thread was actually supporting it at the bottom. This silkworm thread continued to extend, only a few millimeters away from her neck.

She swallowed hard. Her hand trembled slightly as she picked up the teacup. The tea was scalding hot, containing powerful internal energy; the cup vibrated, emitting ethereal sounds. Within this cup of tea lay an extremely powerful martial art.

An ordinary person who drank this would be forced to withstand the attack. Hao Qingshe's hand trembled slightly as he took the teacup and drank it down in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and the tea went down his throat, but blood rushed to his chest.

She suppressed her anger, feigning indifference. In reality, she had suffered serious injuries and deeply felt that this woman's martial arts skills were extremely terrifying.

Wen Caishang smiled gently and said, "Please sit down." Her soft voice carried an air of unyielding authority.

Hao Qingshe's face twitched as she stared intently at her surroundings. Fine, crisscrossing silk threads parted to make way for her. She walked to the opposite side of Wen Caishang, reluctantly sat down, and placed her teacup on the table.

The movements were very light.

Wen Caishang took the teapot, rolled up her sleeves, and poured tea for Hao Qingshe, saying, "This is the [Fanlong Tea] that I brought specially. The tea has a lingering fragrance and needs to be sipped slowly to appreciate its subtleties. It's a pity that this little kid is clumsy and his tea-brewing technique is extremely poor, ruining such a good tea."

Xiao Tuan chuckled awkwardly. Wen Caishang said softly, "You... you still dare to laugh? I'll punish you too lightly." Her eyes revealed a strange look.

Wen Caishang put down the teapot, her slender hand gently pinching Hao Qingshe's chin, her fingers applying slight pressure. Hao Qingshe could only tilt her head back, letting Wen Caishang scrutinize her. She felt extremely humiliated, but how could she dare to utter a single word?

The other disciples of the Poison Sect, unaware of the intricacies of the situation, only saw their once arrogant master become completely obedient.

Wen Caishang sighed softly, "Her eyebrows and eyes are charming, and her appearance is not bad." Her eyes were filled with resentment.

Hao Qingshe felt deeply humiliated, and even if she wanted to fight to the death, her internal energy was already restrained. Her ruthless and reckless attitude towards Shi Yufei was completely contained.

A moment later, Wen Caishang withdrew her finger. Hao Qingshe was utterly terrified, cold sweat pouring down his face. He gasped for breath and hurriedly cupped his hands, saying, "Senior, I don't know where I have offended you. Please tell me, and I will correct myself."

Wen Caishang said, "My young master, have you seen you before?"

Hao Qingshe said, "Young Master?" Wen Caishang nodded slightly, her manners impeccable and her tone polite. Hao Qingshe, however, had suffered a series of injuries and was quite badly wounded.

Hao Qingshe was completely bewildered. "Please enlighten me, senior." Feeling a pang of regret, she carefully considered the past. Wen Caishang pointed to her brow and said, "He has a red mole here."

Hao Qingshe's mind went blank for a moment, thinking, "Ah! This senior... the young man he's referring to is Hua Wucuo. He... he was poisoned by me. How... how could he have such a powerful wife? How could she find me so quickly? If I say I know her, and she presses for details, what should I do?"

She respectfully asked, "May I ask how I should address you, senior?"

Wen Caishang said, "Wen Caishang." Hao Qingshe, unruly and disdainful of reputations in the martial arts world, didn't recognize the name "Wen Caishang" and said, "So you are Senior Wen, my apologies for not recognizing you. Are you looking for me because I'm lost?"

Wen Caishang said, "Young man is naughty, let him be." She poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip.

Hao Qingshe said, "You and that young man must have a very good relationship." Wen Caishang said, "That doesn't count. If I see him, he must be severely punished. I'll stab him until he's covered in holes."

Hao Qingshe asked, "And then?"

Wen Caishang's beautiful eyes rippled: "He must be in so much pain, and my heart aches for him too. I'll heal his wounds, use the best medicine to treat him, and comfort him. I'll keep him by my side. But I can't easily forget this matter. Every time I think of it, I can't help but want to tear him apart again. Who told him to dare to lie to me?" As she spoke, her emotions were a mixture of resentment and love.

Hao Qingshe felt a chill run down his spine, his mind racing: "I, Hao Qingshe, am known for my capricious nature and willful actions. Yet, in her presence, I dare not act recklessly in the slightest. Her words are calm, yet they conceal profound affection. I must not reveal that Hua Wucuo has been killed by me, nor can I expose his whereabouts. Otherwise, if she discovers the truth and can find me now, she can find me later. I must take advantage of her deep affection, use words to deceive her, and then ask her to poison me to turn the tables and escape this dangerous situation. I might even be able to capture her!" He continued, "Senior... I am quite skilled at finding people and tracing their tracks. If you don't mind, I might be able to help you find that young man. I also have a way to ensure that he will never leave you again."

Wen Caishang smiled meaningfully and said softly, "You are very well-behaved."

Hao Qingshe asked happily, "Then Senior has agreed?"

Wen Caishang shook her head and said, "But he likes to play tricks. I don't like people who play tricks. You must have seen my young master."

Hao Qingshe broke out in a cold sweat. "Senior's young master is extremely handsome. If I had seen him before, I would definitely remember him. Senior... Qingshe is indeed not lying to you. Please be the judge."

Wen Caishang sighed, "I hate it when people lie to me. I'll give you a chance to say it again. If you lie to me again, then you'll have to leave your head behind."

Hao Qingshe's heart pounded, caught in a deep hesitation, unsure whether the other party was deliberately deceiving her or truly knew the truth. Wen Caishang said gently, "Please tell me again. Have you met my young master before?"

Hao Qingshe felt weak all over and dared not gamble anymore. He nodded and said, "I...I've met you."

Wen Caishang said, "That's more like it. Please continue. What is your relationship with my young master?"

Hao Qingshe suddenly realized. Wen Caishang had been scrutinizing her face just now; she was jealous. Hao Qingshe thought to herself, "Even if she's jealous, she might not kill me immediately. If she finds out I killed her young man, my fate will be miserable." She quickly said, "I... I admire him quite a bit. His martial arts talent, appearance, and way of dealing with people are all quite commendable."

Wen Caishang smiled meaningfully again, "You're not well-behaved." As soon as she finished speaking, a flash of green light was heard, and Hao Qingshe suddenly went numb, with a buzzing sound in his ears. After a moment, he came back to his senses and saw an extremely deep trench on the ground, which looked like a sword mark. The sword mark extended outwards and was about four or five zhang long.

An arm fell off and became lodged in the sword wound.

Hao Qingshe felt a sharp pain and realized that her left arm had been severed.

Hao Qingshe's face turned deathly pale, a lingering fear washing over her. She hadn't even sensed how the sword had struck; if it had been aimed at her head, she would be dead. She hurriedly clutched her severed arm, her eyes gleaming as she pondered, "My blood contains a peculiar poison. While it's painful to lose my arm, if I could use my blood to poison this woman, that would be ideal!" She was about to unleash her power when a sudden, overwhelming fear gripped her, and she forcefully suppressed the thought, ultimately daring not to act rashly.

She was unaware that Wen Caishang possessed the Silkworm Technique for protecting her body and was proficient in all arts. Although poison was not her forte, her skill in it was still quite profound.

Wen Caishang sipped her tea and said, "You're still lying to me. Since you don't dare to say it, then I will. If I'm not mistaken, you and my young master are enemies."

Hao Qingshe's heart pounded as if stabbed by a needle. She was filled with terror; this woman had inexplicably come to her and inexplicably knew everything. Her face was deathly pale as she said, "No...that's right, he and I are indeed enemies."

Wen Caishang said, "That's more like it." She then asked, "What caused the feud?"

Hao Qingshe truthfully replied, "No... I didn't make an enemy for any reason. I simply..." Wen Caishang nodded and said, "The world is vast, and there are many strange and eccentric people. Making an enemy of someone doesn't necessarily mean there's a conflict of interest. Sometimes, others simply see that you're unhappy and then harbor resentment. I taught him this principle."

Hao Qingshe asked, "I humiliated him, senior, aren't you angry with me?"

Wen Caishang thought to herself, "Although he is wrong in many ways, I would be displeased if others dared to bully him. But this little thief is cunning and wants to avoid my pursuit. If I don't let him suffer some humiliation, how will he know who treats him best?" She said, "Why worry about grudges in the martial world? With your strength, you are more than capable of bullying him. He was only belatedly remembered me because you provoked him."

She added, "At least... they still remember me."

Hao Qingshe knew that there was nothing more to ask at this point. She had already lost an arm and was no match for this woman. The woman said she wasn't angry, but judging from her personality, she was definitely not kind or magnanimous and would surely make fun of her. Her life was in grave danger.

The only plan now is to use the news of his young master's death to throw him into disarray, and then seize the opportunity to escape quickly. It's a life-or-death struggle now. Hao Qingshe said, "Don't you want to know what will happen to your young master for going against me?"

Wen Caishang said, "Go ahead and say it."

Hao Qingshe said, "He is already dead, struck by my Yin Demon Heart-Eating Palm!" Wen Caishang showed no change, but smiled contemptuously and said, "Although you have cultivation, you are no match for my young master."

Hao Qingshe was taken aback. Completely different from what she had imagined, she thought, "She loved her young master so much, how could she be so indifferent upon hearing of his death? Does she not believe me? I'll continue to provoke her." Feigning composure, she smiled faintly, "I am indeed no match for you, but your young master is no match for me either. You can kill me so easily, so why can't I kill him so easily?"

Wen Caishang said, "There's no point in arguing with you."

"He's killing you, but you don't even realize it."

After saying this, she sighed softly and continued, "Alas, I am so conflicted right now. I want to kill you, but I don't want to do as he pleases. Yet you have insulted him, and I am truly angry. My dear, what right do you have to insult him? You injured him, and my heart aches for you. But he has wronged me like this, so why should I be angry for him? Yet I am so angry."

Hao Qingshe saw that Wen Caishang remained unmoved. She knew her fate was entirely in the other's hands, with no hope whatsoever. Helpless, she slumped down, listening to Wen Caishang's soft words, feeling as if she were being slowly tortured, her tendons and skin peeled off.

Wen Caishang said, "After thinking it over, you will take one of my moves. If you can live, then you can live; if you cannot live, then you shall die."

Hao Qingshe said, "Please come in, senior."

In the next instant, with a crack, the desolate inn collapsed, and Hao Qingshe's figure flew backward, enveloped by powerful internal energy, carving a deep trench in the ground. Wherever he swept past, the vegetation was pulverized by the emanating internal energy.

With a thud, Hao Qingshe's body crashed into a large tree. The tree split open, its trunk tilted, and its leaves turned from yellow to green, then from green to yellow, before scattering all at once, turning into a withered tree.

This is the "Four Seasons Overlapping Moon Palm." Infused with the insights of the changing seasons, the palm's energy is ancient and difficult to dissipate, its pushing force inexhaustible. Hao Qingshe's momentum remained unstoppable, powerless to halt it, and she felt her life was about to end. Her body was like a light boat, the palm's energy like a raging wave, propelling her far away. Along the way, she collided with tree trunks, rocks, and the ground, but none could diminish her momentum.

In that instant, it had flown more than a hundred feet away. Although the force of the thrust caused Hao Qingshe to suffer external injuries, with broken skin, bleeding, broken bones, and injured tendons, none of them were fatal.

Four Seasons and Overlapping Moons Palm…

The energy in her palm seemed to evolve and change like the four seasons. Wen Caishang's cultivation was high, and her martial arts skills were profound. This energy in her palm contained the evolution of the four seasons, enduring and cyclical. If she struck out with her palm towards emptiness, the internal energy could linger for several months. This was all because the evolution of her martial arts had reached an extremely profound level.

Hao Qingshe was struck by this palm. In an instant, his body felt as if he were going through spring and summer, or enduring autumn and winter... sometimes hot and cold, sometimes dry and irritable. Wen Caishang comprehended the principles of Yin and Yang from the "Yin Yang Immortal Couple Sword". It resonated with the Four Seasons Falling Moon Palm, forming a school of its own, and the palm force even had a sense of the passing of time and the alternation of the sun and moon.

Hao Qingshe found it difficult to deflect the palm strike. He also felt that with each passing spring, summer, autumn, and winter, his vital energy and blood weakened. Thus, with each passing year, he aged, wasting a year of his life.

She was horrified. As she was sent flying backward, the energy from her palm gradually merged into her body. Martial artists strive to cultivate a body that is as unified as heaven and earth. If this energy from her palm were to merge into her body, Hao Qingshe's inner world would become a chaotic mix of seasons. How could she possibly feel any better?

Even if they manage to survive, their lifespan will be shortened rapidly, as if each day is an eternity, and they will soon be old and frail.

The situation was extremely critical. She immediately activated her poison technique, attempting to neutralize the attack. Fortunately… Wen Caishang's mastery of the 'Four Seasons Falling Moon Palm' was profound, but she had only just grasped the essence of this move, 'Four Seasons Overlapping,' and had not yet fully mastered it. If she wanted to kill Hao Qingshe, she could use numerous palm techniques and sword moves to kill her instantly or cause her a painful death, both extremely easily. However, precisely because she was unsure whether to kill her, or rather, because she was both angry at Hao Qingshe for humiliating her beloved and unwilling to completely comply with her beloved's wishes, she used this palm technique amidst her conflicted emotions.

Whether she lives or dies, she does not know.

There was a "click" sound.

Hao Qingshe was sent flying several miles away, crashing into a boulder. Cracks appeared in her bones, and her internal organs, muscles, and flesh all suffered severe damage. Her palm energy barely stopped, and the changing seasons gradually ceased. She was seriously injured and her life hung by a thread, but she had indeed managed to survive.

This place is several miles away from the inn.

It wasn't brute force that pushed her; Wen Caishang's physical strength alone was inferior to Li Xian's. It was her profound internal energy and martial arts skills that, even after leaving her body, continued to evolve and transform, ensuring the force didn't dissipate, sending Hao Qingshe flying several miles. This clearly shows that Wen Caishang hadn't held back and harbored some killing intent.

Hao Qingshe lay on the ground, panting heavily. Looking around, he saw the severity of his injuries; all the poisonous creatures within his body had been affected and killed by the palm strike. Suddenly, he smelled a fragrant breeze and saw a pair of white boots in his field of vision. He looked up.

Wen Caishang stood before her. Her hands were placed in front of her abdomen, her hair was loosely styled, and her posture was naturally elegant.

She said, "If you have some ability, then live on since you're not dead."

Hao Qingshe felt as if she had been granted a pardon and dared not harbor any resentment. She said, "Thank you for sparing my life, senior." Watching his departing figure, graceful as a startled swan and lithe as a swimming dragon, she finally breathed a sigh of relief until he disappeared from sight. For the first time in her life, she experienced the feeling that there were always people more capable than herself, and that there was always something beyond her reach.

...

...

Xiao Tuan asked in confusion, "Madam, aren't we supposed to capture him? Why don't we ask him where he is?" The word "he" in her words referred to "Li Xian".

Wen Caishang remained silent. She thought to herself, "That cunning brat is as cunning as a fox, and he's becoming increasingly difficult to catch. He's already figured out my silkworm thread tracking method. Otherwise, he would never have appeared among Hao Qingshe's hair. Even if I ask him where he is, I'll surely find nothing. What's the point of asking?" A hint of anger flickered in her beautiful eyes.

She rolled up her sleeves and gazed at the "sword brand." Their thoughts were intertwined; Li Xianru was already dead, and she must have sensed it. Therefore, the moment she encountered "Hao Qingshe," she had a suspicion.

We returned to the inn.

The inn, built of wood, was located in the wilderness. Suddenly, it collapsed, waking all the guests who were thrown about, some with broken heads and bleeding profusely. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.

The crowd was filled with righteous indignation and fury, and all demanded compensation from the innkeeper. The innkeeper, however, was devastated, having suffered the greatest loss, and his face turned ashen; he was unwilling to pay any compensation.

Wen Caishang walked gracefully over, and everyone immediately looked at her. They were all dazzled, their faces showing infatuation. Someone exclaimed, "Oh my, the fairy from the moon has descended to earth!" Wen Caishang said softly, "I was a little too rough and damaged the inn, disturbing your peaceful sleep. I'm truly sorry. Xiao Tuan, please take a few taels of gold ingots and give them to the innkeeper. That will be compensation."

Her tone was utterly unapology-free, yet her manners were impeccable.

Upon hearing that she had "damaged the inn," everyone was alarmed. No one dared to accuse her.

Wen Caishang sat back in the carriage. She lay on her side, her gaze wandering. This "little bundle" was someone she had met by chance. This woman was skillful and clever, and she used it to practice the "Silkworm Garment Jade Inlay Technique".

The relocation of the village is now 70% complete. Other major matters are progressing steadily. She is adept at handling affairs, weighing interests, and manipulating people's hearts with ease. Everything she plans and schemes for is proceeding as planned.

"This cunning thief is far more cunning than I expected. But even if I don't know where he is, I still have a way to capture him."

(End of this chapter)