Chapter 321 Nianjun's Visit Sparks Jealousy; At the Peak, for the Greater Self

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

...

...

Beneath the flowers and the moon, the red candles have been extinguished. The proficiency at the third level is gradually increasing. The next morning, the wind and snow gradually subside, the bare branches and red flowers are draped in snow, and frost hangs from the roof tiles and eaves. All is quiet, peaceful and serene.

The room was spacious, and this session of sword practice was exhilarating. The day before yesterday, the two swords had been used together, and the first, second, and third levels had all begun to be practiced. However, it was still somewhat rushed, and this session, being alone in the room, was even more unrestrained.

All the pent-up emotions, desires, hatred, and resentment were poured into this sword technique. Lost in a trance, oblivious to everything around them, they were oblivious to the world around them. Dawn broke in the blink of an eye. Although young, Xiao Tuan was intelligent by nature, and she handled all the affairs of Bi Xiang Shui Pavilion. Last night's snow was rather heavy, so this morning she needed to have people clear the snow and tidy the courtyard.

Xiao Tuan summoned the staff of "Zhenxiulou" and hired them to shovel the snow and tidy the courtyard. Xiao Tuan shouted, "Before you enter the courtyard, you must cover your ears and bow your heads. Remember, remember, do not look up or look around. The flowers and plants inside all possess great power. If you are cold and weak, and look around carelessly, at best you will be confused and faint on the spot; at worst you will be chilled by the cold wind and scorched by the heat, and fall seriously ill; at worst you will die on the spot."

The workers brought cotton balls to plug the ears, then sealed them with wax. They bowed deeply and went into the attic to sweep. They cleared the snow from the corridors and trimmed away the twigs and leaves…

Xiao Tuan kept complaining: "Since Young Master Li came, Madam's Bixiang Pavilion can no longer accommodate even half a woman. In the past, the ones sweeping snow and clearing mud were all maids, but now they've all become shop assistants. These shop assistants are nowhere near as meticulous as the maids. Sigh... they're so sloppy in their work, and if they don't do it right, I'm the one who gets punished and scolded."

She was about half a person's height, with a round, chubby face. Hands on her hips, she berated the workers, yelling for a while. Seeing no one paying attention, she grew furious. Just as she was about to raise her voice to amplify it, she suddenly remembered that the workers' ears were stuffed with cotton and sealed with wax, so they couldn't hear her scolding.

Feeling utterly bored, she heard the warbling of orioles on the roof tiles, their melodious and clear tunes bright and cheerful. She said, "Little oriole, if you were a woman, even the madam would have driven you away. If I weren't still so young, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stay here either."

Her face was full of curiosity: "Last night I happened to pass by that room and I don't know what the two of them were doing, they were making a lot of noise."

She perched on the wall, teasing the orioles. The servants, heads bowed and ears plugged, were busy sweeping away the snow and clearing away the debris. Passing by the side pavilion, they were completely unaware of the enchanting sounds coming from within, and the great pleasure unfolding.

It was noon. Li Xian, holding a green sword, practiced his swordplay in the outer hall, savoring the lingering effects of the sword technique. He felt a surge of pride, thinking to himself, "In terms of knowledge, experience, martial arts, realm of understanding, and wealth... I am far inferior to Madam and have much to improve upon. But there is one area where I far surpass Madam. At this moment, she has been utterly defeated. No matter how powerful and arrogant she is usually, at this point, she can only beg for mercy, unable to use even a fraction of her martial arts."

The sword wound on his right palm had healed, and a slight resentment rose in his heart. Li Xian honed his swordsmanship, practicing the Sunset Blood Sword technique several times, gradually increasing his proficiency. He heard [Proficiency +1], [Proficiency +1]... He gained a great deal, making steady progress.

[The Fallen Sun and Bloodstained Sword - Level 1]

[Proficiency: 78652/80000 (Peak)]

[The Fallen Sun and Bloodstained Sword - Level Two]

[Proficiency: 77953/80000 (Peak)]

With all his swords improving, Li Xian pondered, "The Yin-Yang Immortal Couple Swords truly are a combined sword technique. The two swords working together, their joy and affection blending together, allow them to improve their swordsmanship in a state of blissful harmony, far surpassing the benefits of practicing alone. At this rate, I wonder what will happen if I make another step forward in my swordsmanship."

Li Xian sheathed his sword and stopped practicing. He brought his two fingers together, and his body transformed into flowing golden light. In an instant, he covered a distance of two zhang. He walked to a screen and used the Golden Light Technique to move through it. Several times in a row, he was blocked by the screen and found it difficult to pass through.

Li Xian pondered, "Golden Light Technique... When I cast this technique, my body transforms into countless tiny specks of light, tangible yet intangible, capable of flowing through crevices and holes like water. Let me try it again."

He channeled his magic again, and a ball of golden light struck the screen, only to be intercepted by the silk threads. Hundreds of faint rays of light slipped through the gaps in the threads, but most remained outside the screen. Li Xian manifested his form, only to be intercepted again. He persevered, trying several more times.

The faint light filtering through the gaps grew increasingly intense. Suddenly, most of the light seemed to pass through the screen, gathering and revealing a figure. Li Xian was already inside the screen.

[Art of Magic - Golden Light]

[Proficiency: 1/100]

[Description: Transforms into a stream of light, moving freely.]

Li Xian tried to use the Golden Light Technique again to return the way he came. However, since he had only recently acquired the technique and was not yet proficient, his previous passage through the screen had been entirely accidental. This time, he naturally failed. Undeterred, he practiced until he was completely exhausted.

[Art of Magic - Golden Light]

[Proficiency: 2/100]

...

...

Several days passed quietly. Wen Caishang returned a sword every day and spent all her time with Li Xian, their love intense, their passion intense, and their lives carefree and joyful. They were completely unaware of the changes happening outside.

Wen Caishang was experienced and poised. She made no attempt to hide the matter, simply letting her emotions run wild and naturally leading to this and that. These past few days had been filled with joy and ecstasy, a perfect union between heaven and earth.

That noon, Wen Caishang and Li Xian shared lunch, enjoying fine wine and delicacies of all kinds. They had already finished all nineteen dishes from the Zhenxiu Restaurant.

Wen Caishang's face flushed red as she picked up the ointment and fed it to Li Xian. Suddenly, Xiao Tuan walked over with his head down, hesitating outside the door. Although there was no unusual sound, he had already disturbed Wen Caishang's elegant mood.

Wen Caishang frowned slightly, unwilling to be angry but already displeased, and asked indifferently, "Xiao Tuan, what is it?"

Xiao Tuan said in a panic, "Madam, someone is looking for you outside. I don't know whether you will see them or not?"

Wen Caishang sipped her tea slowly, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Who is it this time? If it's He Wentian, just say I'm in seclusion and won't see anyone." Xiao Tuan shook her head and said, "It's not City Lord He, but... it's a woman."

Wen Caishang showed a hint of interest and asked, "A woman?" Xiao Tuan replied, "The woman introduced herself as Gu Nianjun and said she had something to discuss with you."

Li Xian was intrigued upon hearing this: "Gu Nianjun? What is this woman doing here? Madam Wen is no pushover; she's not someone to be trifled with easily. If Fu Haoran were here, things would be much easier."

Wen Caishang frowned and thought to herself, "Gu Nianjun? If I'm not mistaken, it should be that young lady from the Gu family. She's not well-known in Qiongtian Prefecture, but she's quite famous in the Gu family. I have no connection with her, so why would I want to see her?"

Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind. She glanced at Li Xian and sensed that he was related to her. She thought to herself, "I'm curious. It wouldn't hurt to see him." So she told Xiao Tuan to lead Gu Nianjun into the mansion and wait quietly in the inner hall.

The two ate and drank as usual, and when the mood struck them, they practiced swordsmanship and embraced each other happily. It wasn't until evening that Wen Caishang went to the inner hall to meet Gu Nianjun.

Gu Nianjun, dressed in a snow-white fox fur coat, had a fair and rosy face, exquisite features, and a refined and beautiful appearance. She immediately rose to her feet, curtsied, and called out, "Madam Wang!"

Wen Caishang nodded slightly and smiled, "Please sit down." Gu Nianjun said, "Thank you, Madam."

Wen Caishang cut to the chase, saying, "I have little interaction with Miss Gu. What business do you need to come to me looking for?"

Gu Nianjun heard Wen Caishang identify herself as Wang, and knew that she was unwilling to reveal her identity or had other plans. But this matter was none of her business, so she ignored it and said, "Madam Wang, Nianjun... Nianjun has something she would like to ask you. I came here specifically for this purpose, and I hope you will forgive me if I have offended you."

Wen Caishang crossed her legs, her figure graceful and alluring with every movement. She said, "Oh? What is it? Speak freely. For the sake of the Gu family, if I can answer, I will tell you." Her voice was soft, yet it carried a hint of contempt. She thought to herself, "If it weren't for the Gu family, you wouldn't be able to see me."

Seeing that her brows and eyes were relaxed, and her face was rosy, making her even more radiant and charming, quite different from when she met Linghu Banquet, Gu Nianjun felt a little curious and wondered what kind of products she used to care for her skin. Although she sensed the disdain in her words, she was not angry and cautiously asked, "Nianjun wants to ask, that day... after that Young Master Zhou received the Morning Dew and returned to the manor with Madam to collect it, where... where did he go afterward?"

A sharp glint flashed in Wen Caishang's eyes; jealousy had taken hold, and her brows furrowed. Gu Nianjun felt as if a sword had pierced her body, as if she had fallen into an ice cave. Wen Caishang asked softly, "Oh? Sister Nianjun is asking about this matter, could it be... that you and that Young Master Zhou are quite acquainted?"

Gu Nianjun said, "Acquainted..." She felt lost and didn't know how to answer. She thought to herself, "I would like to get to know him, but I don't know how he sees me. Does he not see me as a complete stranger?" She felt saddened.

Gu Nianjun said, "We're fairly familiar." Wen Caishang smiled softly, "Familiar is familiar, but the word 'fairly familiar' is not quite right. Xiao Tuan, Miss Gu has been waiting for a long time, why is there no hot tea on the table? It's freezing cold, it would be impolite to neglect Miss Gu. Please quickly brew some tea and bring it over."

Xiao Tuan immediately brewed tea and brought it over. Gu Nianjun took a small sip, and indeed felt warm and refreshed, saying, "Thank you, Madam."

Wen Caishang said dignifiedly, "That young hero is indeed an extraordinary person. Since you asked about his whereabouts, it must be quite involved. Please tell me the details."

Gu Nianjun recounted everything about the fox hunt. She was proud, but reasonable. She spoke truthfully, without a trace of falsehood or embellishment. Li Xian was extremely polite, yet there was always a distance between them; though they were connected, there was no romantic relationship. Even if there was… it was merely Gu Nianjun's sudden attraction to a handsome man, a moment of self-admiration and self-respect.

However, Wen Caishang was extremely jealous. After being taught archery by Li Xian and hunting foxes in the snowy mountains, she naturally harbored resentment. But she didn't show it on her face, instead maintaining a gentle smile.

Wen Caishang said, "I see, I understand now. So Miss Gu's trip here is to find his whereabouts? You believe he is still in my pavilion?"

Gu Nianjun thought to herself, "Wen Caishang may not be famous, but she is extremely dangerous and should not be underestimated. Her things are not easy to take. I want to find out her whereabouts, but I am also worried that she will be persecuted by you and suffer a great loss." She smiled and said, "It's not so much about finding her whereabouts, but the Five Swords Meeting is about to take place. The five major sword sects will join forces to gather all the geniuses and wandering heroes of the martial world at the Jieyou Tower. This is a rare and grand event, and I would like to meet her out of consideration for our friendship."

Wen Caishang was taken aback. She was usually perceptive, but had been careless lately and was unaware of the changes in the city. She thought to herself, "The Five Swords Alliance has nothing to do with me." Then, unconcerned, she said, "I see. This is indeed a rare and grand event. But it's a pity… how could that young hero be here with me?"

"He...after receiving the precious yellow dew, he left."

Gu Nianjun was greatly disappointed and asked, "Does Madam know where she has gone?"

Wen Caishang smiled meaningfully and said, "You care about him so much?" Gu Nianjun realized she had lost her composure and said, "It's just that friends care about each other."

Wen Caishang thought to herself, "You little slut, you can fool yourself, but you can't fool me. Li Xian, Li Xian... you're really dishonest. You've only been in the city for a short time, and you've already gotten involved with the Gu family's daughter. Even if Li Lang is wrong, your rash advances are even more despicable. Since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, you can only blame your bad luck."

He smiled and said, "That young hero is truly fortunate to have you as a friend. If I remember correctly, he has already headed north."

Gu Nianjun said, "Ah! Alright, thank you, Madam." She turned and left. Wen Caishang watched her leave with a longing gaze. After Gu Nianjun went out, she snorted coldly, flicked her sleeve, and immediately went towards Li Xianxing.

Xiao Tuan wanted to follow, but disappeared within three steps. Wen Caishang, quiet and aloof, was already standing beside Li Xian.

Li Xian noticed something was wrong and asked, "Madam, what's wrong?" Wen Caishang said, "Good Li Lang... I've thought it over and over, you'd better gouge out your eyes as soon as possible!"

Li Xian said, "Madam, you..." Wen Caishang said, "You have already painted three paintings for me, and I am very satisfied. There is no need for more." With a flick of her sleeve, a dagger fell to the ground. She walked slowly around Li Xian several times and said, "Li Lang... I will give you one day. You should behave yourself. Who told you to be so flirtatious and fond of philandering?"

She wouldn't allow Li Xian to say another word, knowing that Li Xian's sweet words were very powerful, and if she listened to a few more words, she would soften her heart and postpone it again. She should have done the eye-gouging thing long ago, but she kept putting it off and delaying it... She was in love and tender, and couldn't bear to ruin it. She knew that Li Xian was cunning and deceitful, but she indulged and acquiesced.

Gu Nianjun's visit certainly ignited her jealousy. But she also wanted to use this momentum to threaten him about gouging out her eyes. Once her anger subsided, she would inevitably soften and hesitate.

Wen Caishang thought to herself, "I need to make him gouge out my eyes, not the other way around. He is my beloved, how can I gouge out his eyes?" Therefore, she never did it herself. Whenever the topic of "gouging out eyes" came up, she would plead, threaten, or coerce him... but she would never do it herself.

Wen Caishang made several hand seals. “Qian”, “Kun”, “Zhen”, “Xun”, “Kan”, “Li”, “Gen”, “Dui”... She matched the hand seals with the eight trigrams and performed eight seals in a row without any unusual movement. She only felt the light gradually dimming.

Li Xian had exceptional eyesight and saw silk threads fluttering inside the pavilion, fine yet invisible.

Having exhausted her tricks, she gave a light "humph," and without speaking to Li Xian, turned and left, leaving Li Xian alone in the room.

Xiao Tuan arrived late, passing through the covered corridor. She encountered the lady walking towards her, her face as cold as ice, completely ignoring her. Curious, she turned out of the corridor and looked towards the pavilion where Li Xian lived. Her face paled in shock, her legs went weak, and she saw that the enormous pavilion was completely wrapped in countless white silk threads, shaped like a giant silkworm cocoon.

It turns out that the eight "seal techniques" formed by Wen Caishang were the "Eight Absolute Seals" of the "Silkworm Jade Inlaid Skill," which meant to sever heaven, earth, wind, thunder, swamp, fire, and water... Forming a trap and killing formation from silkworm silk, those trapped within were rendered helpless by any means.

She first made a "dry seal," and the ancestral silkworm beside her began to spin silk, which was invisible to the naked eye. The instant she made the seal, her fingers hooked the silk, causing it to weave in mid-air. The intricate weaving instantly enveloped the sky, making it impossible for anyone to escape with their light-footed skills.

Then, make dry seals, and the silk threads will be embedded in the ground, weaving a net. This will eliminate any possibility of escape. Afterwards, with each seal made in the directions of Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, etc., there will be no way for anyone to escape. When all eight seals are made, there will be no way to ascend to heaven or descend to earth.

When they met at the inn years ago, Wen Caishang had only tested her skills briefly, without even using them to her full potential. Yet, Hao Qingshe dared not even try to defend herself. To use her talents against Li Xian in this situation would be a waste of her abilities.

Inside the pavilion, everything remained as before. Li Xian, well-versed in the Five Elements, knew that all things were interconnected, and that feng shui was intertwined. Yet, at this moment, he felt an eerie stillness, as if all connections had been severed. It was as if he had been detached from the mortal world, alone in a place devoid of heaven, earth, wind, and fire…

The room was not dark. Li Xian tried to light a candle, but could not even get it burning. When Wen Caishang formed the "Separation Seal," a world of its own emerged within the cocoon, where martial arts evolved endlessly. The fire had been extinguished, therefore it could not be lit.

Li Xian thought to himself, "What powerful martial arts! But using them to deal with me is a real waste. What did Gu Nianjun say to Wen Caishang? Why did she get so angry that she wanted to gouge out my eyes immediately? Gu Nianjun probably doesn't intend to harm me. If Madam wants to gouge out my eyes, it won't be a short time. I've tried my best to avoid it, but this day will come eventually, and I will have to face it eventually."

Calming himself, Li Xian noticed the eye-scratching knife on the ground, its sharpness fully revealed. Forged from a strange iron, it cut through skin and flesh without causing any pain. After a brief examination, Li Xian moved it aside. He certainly wouldn't actually gouge out an eye.

Li Xian paced back and forth in the room, his brow furrowed. He gradually grasped the situation; the place was strangely eerie—no wind, no sky, no earth… Li Xian ran and stomped, but his footsteps made no sound. He unleashed his sword techniques, pushing them to their limits, yet he couldn't even stir a breeze.

Pushing the door open forcefully, he felt its immense weight, as if it had become an integral whole. Li Xian opened his double pupils to observe the outside, seeing that the chamber was enveloped in a cocoon; even with extraordinary abilities, escape would be impossible.

Li Xian exclaimed in amazement, "This strength is truly terrifying. Madam said her strength has greatly improved, and she probably wasn't lying to me. How can she weave such a large cocoon with just a few gestures?"

"I am trapped in this cage, how can I escape? Ah... a silkworm cocoon is made of silkworm silk. It must have gaps. If I use the Golden Light Technique, can I squeeze through the gaps, just like passing through a screen?"

Li Xian immediately tried, observing with his double pupils, and moved to a relatively weak point. He used the Golden Light Technique, transforming himself into a stream of light and crashing into the silkworm cocoon. The golden light seeped into the depths of the cocoon like water, but he was still too young to master the technique and his control was still rough.

It only managed to penetrate half a hair before encountering resistance everywhere. Li Xian took two steps back, focused his gaze, and tried again. Three times in a row, without any effect whatsoever. Li Xian's knowledge was somewhat limited; he had truly underestimated the power of the "Eight Absolute Seals."

Using the "Golden Light Technique" to escape is indeed a feasible and usable strategy. However, it requires extreme proficiency in the Golden Light Technique and precise control, as well as a considerable understanding of the "Eight Absolute Seals." Only by precisely executing the Golden Light Technique based on the martial principles of the Eight Absolute Seals can one escape this prison.

Li Xian's Golden Light Technique was neither refined nor sophisticated, and his Eight Absolute Seals were even more obscure and complex. Escape was naturally hopeless. He tried several more methods, but all ended in failure. Exhausted, he lay down to rest.

His mind was resilient, and although he found this difficult, he did not despair. After regaining his strength, he knew that a forced escape was futile, so he sat quietly and pondered another plan: "Based on my understanding of martial arts, it is a fool's dream to think I can escape the lady's encirclement. Using the Golden Light Technique to escape is absolutely impossible. There is no need to waste any more time on this."

"Right now... how can I resolve this perilous situation and protect myself? My knowledge and martial arts are inferior to Madam's. Even with the Golden Light Technique, I cannot escape Madam's grasp. The difference in strength is vast; I should do my best to play to my strengths and avoid my weaknesses..."

Li Xian paced back and forth in thought. He saw the "Azure Sword" on the shelf, grasped it in his hand, and examined the blade. Suddenly, his eyes flashed: "Compared to Madam, I am not without my strengths. In terms of pure physical strength, I am far superior to Madam. When we are enjoying ourselves in the bedroom and not engaging in martial arts, Madam is actually weaker than me. Apart from that, my Yin-Yang Immortal Couple Swordsmanship surpasses Madam's."

"After trying everything, I can only barely defeat you in these two aspects. When you and I combine our swords and our swords are in full swing, I can easily deal with your moves. But when you use other martial arts, I am defeated in an instant."

"When fighting against the lady, if I can always maintain the momentum of the Yin-Yang Immortal Couple Sword, preventing her from using any other moves, I can keep her occupied. But how powerful is the lady? Even if my Sunset Blood Sword has reached its peak and surpasses the lady, if she wants to break free of the sword momentum and decide the outcome, it is as easy as snapping her fingers."

Li Xian pondered, "My current level one and two levels of the Sunset Blood Sword have reached their peak. If I advance further, there might be an opportunity. When Madam moves in, I will suggest that we combine the two swords again. By taking advantage of the connection between our swords, we can prevent Madam from separating from us and then devise another plan."

Li Xian's eyes shone brightly as he devised several plans, all of which proved feasible. However, he needed to advance the Sunset Blood Sword technique further. No longer clinging to the idea of ​​escape, Li Xian took up the green sword and began practicing the first and second levels of the Sunset Blood Sword technique.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

...

[The Fallen Sun and Bloodstained Sword - Level 1]

[Proficiency: 79563/80000, Pinnacle]

[The Fallen Sun and Bloodstained Sword - Level Two]

[Proficiency: 79113/80000 (Peak)]

...

Time was of the essence, yet Li Xian remained calm and composed. He first focused his energy on practicing the first level of swordsmanship. Standing under the rising sun, the three yangs opening up, the setting sun about to disappear... many sword moves, after being performed countless times by him, had already acquired a unique charm.

It was evening.

As the setting sun dipped below the horizon, Li Xian's skill reached its peak. A sudden enlightenment struck him, an indescribable realization dawning on him, and the swordplay in his hand transformed. It became more fluid, more unrestrained, more authentic. Above the pinnacle of mastery, a different kind of scenery unfolds!

[The Fallen Sun and Bloodstained Sword - Level 1]

[Proficiency: 21/0 Major Ego]

[Description: At the summit, one reaches the ultimate self. No more constraints, no more limitations. Martial arts are unrestrained, the sword is unrestrained.]

In a moment of profound detachment, Li Xian's mind had become detached from all things. Circumstances, crises, coercion, interests, love... all were irrelevant to him. Though his body was confined in a cage, his mind was unfettered, soaring freely in a realm beyond the comprehension of others.

He brandished his longsword casually, each movement both ordinary and unpredictable, a display of mastery that defied description. His eyes were closed, his face calm, his movements fluid and unrestrained. Within this cage, there was no sky, no earth, no wind, no fire…

But at this moment, there is "I." Where I am, there is myself. If someone were to witness this scene now, they would surely be deeply moved. This sword dance surpasses even the most spirited and dashing spirit!

The young man dances with his sword, and even the heavens and earth seem to turn their heads in awe, and the wind and snow seem to pause in their tracks.

Outside the cocoon, the sun blazed fiercely, the evening glow shimmered with purple hues, the city bustled with traffic, and birds sang merrily. It seemed as if something incredibly joyous and uplifting had occurred somewhere, subtly influencing the surroundings and making everything more vibrant and lively. Yet, no one knew the reason.

Wen Caishang frowned slightly, sensing something was amiss, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Li Xian opened his eyes and exhaled softly. Having mastered the second level of the Sunset Blood Sword, he had already grasped the advanced realm of martial arts. Calm and composed, he reached the Great Self Realm that very night, mastering the second level of the Sunset Blood Sword.

He sat quietly with his sword across his side, waiting for Wen Caishang to arrive.

(End of this chapter)