Chapter 129: Double-Phase Integral! Double Pupil Appears
Seeing the table laden with delicacies, Li Xian's appetite was whetted. He ordered a bowl of fragrant, hot rice and picked up a piece of roast goose.
The crispy, caramelized skin paired with tender, white goose meat is absolutely delicious. The moment it touches your palate, the flavor explodes with delight – it's truly amazing!
This goose is a thousand-step goose. It is fed with fine white rice and walks a thousand steps a day to strengthen its entire body. Only in this way can the roasted goose meat be considered a delicacy.
A single roast goose costs three taels of silver. Adding it all up, one wonders how many lives are lost. But if you look at the city proper, this roast goose is hardly considered a high-class dish.
"Brother Li, please speak." Lin Guolong tilted his head back and opened his mouth. The woman, dressed in revealing clothes and dressed in a seductive manner, held a jade pot in her delicate hand and poured the fine wine into his mouth.
The nectar drew an arc in the air.
Lin Guolong took a sip, smacked his lips, and then left a kiss on the woman's face. Sharing fine wine, delicious food, and beautiful women—it was an enviable sight.
Li Xian put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "Lord Lin, have you heard anything about the uprising recently?"
"who!?"
Lin Guolong was so frightened that he shuddered and fell to the ground. He scrambled to his feet in a panic. "Brother Li, what did you say? What rebel army? You...you...you must be making fun of me."
Lin Guolong sat back down, but he was no longer as unrestrained as before.
Li Xian said, "To tell you the truth, some time ago, my wife and I went out and encountered a Yellow Dragon Army. This army occupied a large city and committed all sorts of atrocities, burning, killing, and looting."
"Brother Li, this sounds rather creepy. Let's not talk about it anymore. Come on, let's drink." Lin Guolong forced a smile.
Upon seeing this, Li Xian added, "On the way back, we also saw traces of Huanglong Army. But their route did not pass through this area."
Upon hearing this, Lin Guolong breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again, "Our Qingning County is a land of outstanding people and blessed by Heaven. These treacherous officials and villains will not come here."
Li Xian said, "I don't think so."
"Hmm?" Lin Guolong became nervous again.
Li Xian thought to himself, "If the Huanglong Army really attacks, Qingning County will be devastated. Although Lin Guolong helped me, he's the kind of guy who'll run away as soon as danger strikes."
“If he can lead the people to defend the city, the Yellow Dragon Army may not be able to break through. I deliberately spoke to scare him, forcing him to defend the city. If the Yellow Dragon Army does not come, I will be extremely happy. It is better to offend one person than to cause widespread death.”
Think of this section.
Li Xian then said, "In my opinion, the target of the Yellow Dragon Army is precisely Qingning County."
"Ouch..." Lin Guolong's legs trembled. "Brother Li, this... this is not something you can say."
Li Xianquan was making things up entirely, speaking without any basis. "Lord Lin, even your wife praises me for being honest. Why would I lie to you? In my opinion, the Huanglong Army is exceptionally cunning."
"He is now taking a long detour along the original route. In reality, he is flanking from the rear, cutting off the reinforcements from Qingning County. He has divided his forces into three groups to surround and attack the reinforcements, and so on..."
In short, Qingning County is in grave danger!
Lin Guolong didn't even manage to seize the opportunity. He was big-bellied, but lacked any real knowledge. Furthermore, news had recently arrived that the higher-ups had ordered a vigilant defense of the city, as the imperial army was about to arrive.
Lin Guolong said, "Brother Li, I won't keep you company any longer. I'll go back to my family to avoid trouble."
Li Xian said, "Lord Lin, if you leave like this, aren't you afraid of being blamed by the imperial court?"
"Our lives are more important. Besides, money can solve anything in the imperial court. This rebel army is a bad thing; they're all like death stars descended to earth," Lin Guolong said.
Li Xian was utterly speechless. He felt that the court was corrupt and deserved to collapse. But he also knew that the Yellow Dragon Army, under the guise of an uprising, was actually engaged in plunder and rape.
Such an army will never win the hearts of the people and will be unlikely to achieve great things.
If we have to choose between the two, it would be better to help Lin Guolong.
Li Xian sneered, "Lord Lin, I'm afraid it's too late."
Lin Guolong asked, "Why? Why is it so late?" Li Xian replied, "The Yellow Dragon Army must already be lying in ambush at the key points."
"How do you know?" Lin Guolong asked suspiciously.
Li Xian said, "It's not that I know, but that Madam knows. Madam is very knowledgeable and insightful." He was making it all up.
However, the fact that his wife had endorsed him made Lin Guolong uneasy. He then realized that, since ancient times, those who fled their county were considered sinners. Even with family protection, he would surely be despised. Moreover, from this point on, Lin Guolong knew he would never again have such a comfortable life.
Lin Guolong calmed down and asked, "In Brother Li's opinion, what should we do about this?"
Li Xian laughed and said, "It's actually extremely simple. The Yellow Dragon Army is a rabble, so what's there to be afraid of? The reason why Xiang Le City suffered such a great defeat was entirely because the county magistrate was greedy for life and fled in haste."
"Since ancient times, attacking a city has been difficult, while defending it has been easy. Gather the troops in the county, mobilize the people, conduct some drills, guard the city gates tightly, and prepare sufficient grain. Do you still have to fear them?"
"They will leave on their own in time. You, sir, have protected the peace of this region. Your chance for promotion is right before your eyes. From now on, you will rise steadily through the ranks."
Li Xian patiently guided him.
It proved effective.
"good!"
Although Lin Guolong lacked luck, he wasn't stupid. Although Li Xian's words seemed deceptive, they did make sense, and upon closer examination, they were indeed true. He was somewhat worried that the Yellow Dragon Army wouldn't come. "I'll arrange this matter right away. Brother Li, please take care of these things yourself."
He strode away.
Li Xian didn't waste any, so he ate the delicious food with his belly full.
...
...
The lady had four alchemy pavilions, and she would choose a different pavilion to refine elixirs according to the changing seasons.
It is currently summer.
Xia Dan Pavilion was located on the west side and was seven stories high. Last year, the alchemy failed, and the furnace exploded, causing the alchemical fire to leak out and burn the pavilion to ashes.
Later, they purchased timber, hired craftsmen, redesigned the building, and started another one.
There are three alchemy furnaces in Xia Dan Pavilion. They are called "Heavenly Furnace", "Earthly Furnace" and "Human Furnace".
The Heavenly Furnace is located on the top of the pavilion.
The fireplace is in the attic.
The stove is at the bottom of the pavilion.
The lady's alchemy process was quite meticulous. It required burning charcoal and was more complex than cooking fine food. Different types of charcoal had to be added continuously to alter the nature of the fire.
Pay close attention to the changes in the alchemy furnace.
now…
In the stove on the ground floor, the charcoal fire burned brightly.
Because the alchemy room was sealed off, the heat accumulated. The lady was only wearing an "ice-thread gauze robe," which was made of a special material that emitted a faint coolness all year round, as if she were wearing a layer of ice sand.
Completely transparent, it does not conceal the body, revealing the figure in its entirety.
The lady, her long hair tied up, slowly examined the mortal cauldron. With each step, she left a wet footprint.
It's so hot here.
Alchemy is by no means an easy task; the intricacies involved are countless. Martial artists cannot generate their own fire, even though some martial arts techniques can transform internal energy into fire.
It is also difficult to meet the needs of alchemy.
Therefore, charcoal is still needed.
As the fire swells, it inevitably becomes extremely hot. The martial artist must remain constantly vigilant, observing the changes in the medicinal properties. Adding charcoal, reducing heat, blocking fire, adding more herbs…
Most of the time, one must stay constantly in front of the alchemy furnace.
Madam Wen exhaled a breath of stale air and touched the thin gauze dress she wore. It was useless now, so she immediately removed it completely.
"So far, the medicinal properties of this pill refining process have remained stable. There is a very high probability of successful pill formation. Since the fire here is accumulating, we might as well start the furnace again and refine some other miscellaneous pills."
Thinking of this, Madam Wen went upstairs.
Open the mechanism inside the building to direct the excess fire from the human furnace into the earthen stove.
Add the appropriate medicinal materials.
The reason the Alchemy Pavilion was built was because of this. The three furnaces of Heaven, Earth, and Man are all on a straight line.
Once the human furnace is lit and the fire is strong enough, then the earth furnace and the sky furnace can be lit, thus saving charcoal and firewood and time.
Most of the miscellaneous pills in the Idle Pill Pavilion were refined in this way. Wen Caishang hardly expended any effort, and regardless of whether the pills were successful or not, she placed them all in the Idle Pill Pavilion.
...
...
[Proficiency +1]
[Proficiency +1]
[Zongyun Hand]
[Proficiency: 102/5000 (Mastery)]
[Description: With nimble fingers, you are adept at throwing, shooting, and striking. You have diligently practiced the Cloud Hand technique and mastered its unique characteristics. You have witnessed the initial stages of martial arts...]
He was in charge of the academy.
The lady has been in seclusion for twenty-four days. Li Xian was invited by the county magistrate to visit the county and saw that Qingning County was indeed being managed quite well. Judging from this momentum, as long as Lin Guolong doesn't mess things up, they really don't have to be afraid of the Huanglong Army.
Li Xian bought some fine wine and food in the county. He returned to his residence and enjoyed it alone, indulging in this pleasure occasionally in between his diligent martial arts training.
The experience is truly indescribable.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, they began to practice the [Cloud Soaring Hand] technique and successfully entered the Great Completion stage. A scene unfolded before their eyes.
The Cloud-Soaring Hand technique, skilled in throwing, shooting, and striking, was actually created by a petty thief from the marketplace. He was extremely adept at petty theft, stealing sheep and chickens at will.
The initial stage of martial arts has ended.
Li Xian also calmed down, reflected on his recent gains and achievements, looked back on his journey, examined himself, and strived to do better.
Li Xian started by pulling weeds.
First, he grasped the characteristic of "tenacity," then he learned "treading on snow" and "riding the wind" through running. He further cultivated "hearing from all directions" and "four-directional fist power" from the Four Directions Fist, and then mastered the "mystery of lightness" from the Gentle Breeze Leg...
Now let's add another one.
The characteristic of "Masterful Hands" is that the five fingers are dexterous, which greatly enhances their abilities in weaving clothes, making wood carvings, bows and arrows, studying mortise and tenon joints, etc.
Every effort will be rewarded!
He possesses numerous martial arts skills and abilities, which are becoming increasingly refined.
Looking back on himself, Li Xian felt a sense of fulfillment. In less than a year, he had mastered two basic martial arts and one advanced martial art to the highest level, and he had also perfected the Great Luo Blade and the Cloud Soaring Hand.
[The Sword of Setting Sun and Fading Blood]
[Proficiency: 3098/6000 Minor Mastery]
This superior sword technique, though incomplete, is Li Xian's trump card. When used at full power, it is far superior to even the "Azure Palm".
[Prenatal Washing Diagram]
[Proficiency: 80/81]
It was only one step away from achieving a flawless and pure embryo. Li Xian took out the secret box from his robes and opened the hidden door.
Only a few pieces of lean meat remained in the box.
"Even with the secret box, this precious meat cannot be preserved for long. Every time I open the box, its essence will leak out. This becomes more and more obvious as time goes on."
Li Xian sighed.
With continued consumption, the efficacy of the treasures within the secret box visibly diminishes.
But today...
No matter what, it can be washed until the fetus is clear and shiny.
The last image in the "Congenital Washing of the Fetus" series: The Intention of Washing.
Li Xian supported herself upside down with both hands on the ground. After straightening her body, she supported herself with one hand on the ground and made a hand gesture with the other.
In this way, the essence was swallowed. The essence of heaven and earth dispersed within the body, and the last wisp of fetal impurity floated out.
Heaven rewards those who persevere. Today, at this very moment, I have finally achieved my goal, freed myself from this clay body, and been cleansed of all impurities.
Wisps of white smoke drifted from Li Xian's palm.
The first characteristic of the Essence-Eating Realm... the Divine Machine in the Palm of the Hand appeared.
But at this moment, Li Xian had no time to feel joy. His eyes were itchy, and when he opened them again…
The pupils split into two, revealing a double pupil appearance.
Dual-phase in one unit!!
(End of this chapter)
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