Chapter 138 The Sky Patrol Bureau arrives, and the official is appointed as an eighth-rank official!
A rainbow shrouded his shoulders, a wondrous sight. Li Xian sat cross-legged, his mind clearing.
Martial artists consume the essence of heaven and the riches of earth, but their physical bodies are not simply about becoming stronger. If that were all, it would be more effective to cultivate external martial arts techniques to strengthen bones and muscles.
Instead, it allows the body to align with the universe, interacting with it. This, in turn, unleashes various mysteries, breaking through numerous constraints and extending lifespan, achieving a true transformation.
Upon entering the "Shoulders Adorned with Rainbow Clouds" realm, Li Xian's physique, strength, and spirit significantly improved. However, this was not the most important factor.
"Shoulders draped in rosy clouds" is a characteristic of "disappearing without transforming".
The essence of heaven and earth is retained in the body, but it cannot be digested. Thus, the essence of heaven and earth slowly dissipates and is buried in the blood and muscle tissue.
When a martial artist circulates their qi and blood, extends their arms and legs, and unleashes their martial arts in battle, their blood rushes through their veins, and the essence of heaven and earth deep within their body emerges along with their qi.
Distorting natural light creates the "neon glow" phenomenon.
Li Xian sensed the changes within himself and began to understand the path of cultivation.
His heart pounded with excitement, and he seized the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot. He immediately grabbed the hilt of the knife, and with a swift motion, swung the blade horizontally into the air, creating a surge of energy.
This is the "Sweeping Across the Wilderness" move from the Great Luo Sword Technique. It should actually be called "Sweeping Across the Eight Wildernesses," but it seems to be named "Sweeping Across the Wilderness" to avoid the taboo of a certain sword technique.
Li Xian stepped forward, sidestepped, and struck again. His swordsmanship was flawless, a return to simplicity, utterly perfect. Yet, it still fell short of "reaching the pinnacle."
He was surrounded by a halo of light, with swords flashing like silk, creating a dazzling interplay of light and shadow that captivated the eye and exuded an astonishing aura.
[Great Luo Sword Technique, Proficiency +2]
[Great Luo Sword Technique, Proficiency +2]
Only after a martial artist enters the "Essence Absorption" realm can they truly grasp the essence of martial arts. Of all the myriad martial arts techniques in the world, only those who have achieved "Essence Absorption" can truly master them.
The higher the quality of the martial art, the more obvious the effect.
[Azure Palm, Proficiency +3]
Li Xian combined his sword and palm strikes, his Qi flowing naturally, the connection between sword and palm seamless and without a trace—a rare feat. In martial arts duels, the greatest fear is a change in move. An opponent fears a change in move, catching them off guard. One also fears a change in move, which exposes a weakness.
The two moves flowed seamlessly, demonstrating a natural and skillful execution. The sheer variety of techniques gave him an early advantage.
Li Xian's shoulders shone with rosy light, and his palm held profound meaning. When he unleashed his power, it resonated faintly with heaven and earth, creating not only a powerful and astonishing spectacle, but also a misty aura surrounding him.
After the palm technique was finished.
Tiny water droplets accumulated on the leaves of the grass and trees in the courtyard.
It's getting increasingly serious.
"My Great Luo Blade is now at its perfected stage, and I am neither far nor near the 'fifteen-zhang' Qi Lake."
"If we add another advanced martial art, it will be more than enough. Although Xu Liefeng is physically disabled and his strength is not what it used to be, he is still not to be underestimated."
"This man dares not hold a grudge against the lady, but he will surely take it out on me. My perilous battle with him a month from now will undoubtedly be a life-or-death struggle. I need to improve my strength as soon as possible!"
Li Xian suppressed her joy and composed herself.
...
...
Qingning County.
A woman is riding a horse, slowly making her way through the street.
She was dressed in black and wore a black conical hat with black veils hanging down from the edge, obscuring her face.
Though his face is not visible, his charisma is undeniable. Walking down the street, he stands out like a crane among chickens, utterly inconspicuous.
A jade belt was wrapped around her waist, from which hung a sachet and a jade pendant. She wore finely crafted animal-hide boots, embroidered with phoenix patterns in gold thread.
Lin Aoshan looked around and was slightly disappointed to see that "Qingning County" was in such a state.
"Qingning County is a tiny and poor place. As the Inspector General, I am often on the move. But such a poor place is really rare."
Lin Aoshan entered "Red Candle Street".
The street scene here is filled with tall buildings on both sides, bustling shops, and a constant flow of pedestrians. Most of the people passing by are dressed in fine clothes, and they seem to have quite an air about them.
This brought her some relief. The sights were barely passable; she glanced around, detached from the world, and would look again at bustling shops, but never linger.
They stopped their horse with a "whoosh" only when they reached the gate of the "Lin Mansion".
"Summon Lin Guolong here," Lin Aoshan said to the gatekeeper.
"Who are you, daring to address the county magistrate by his name!" the constable retorted.
Lin Aoshan said, "I am his grandmother."
The constable was furious upon hearing this. He was working under the magistrate, and this man didn't even respect the magistrate, so how could he possibly consider himself a nobody? He immediately called his men to surround him.
Just then, Lin Guolong returned from the yamen and recognized Lin Aoshan. He was so surprised that he rushed to greet her, exclaiming, "Good grandma, you've finally come!" He was both delighted and surprised, and his words seemed to be trying to please her.
The constables stared wide-eyed. Although they couldn't see the woman's face, judging from her figure, she shouldn't be old.
"You bunch of snobbish bastards, go and get twenty strokes of the cane!" Lin Guolong angrily rebuked the group, then led "Good Grandma" into the mansion.
Lin Aoshan has a good temper and didn't pursue the matter further. If she had said another word, these servants would have been in serious trouble.
"Good grandma, I received a message a few days ago saying that you were coming to grace us with your presence. I've been waiting for you for so long, and today I'm so glad you've finally arrived," Lin Guolong said obsequiously.
"When you're out in public, just call me Lord Xuanhou." Lin Aoshan walked into the main hall, took off her hat, and placed her sword beside her.
Her lips were as red as cherries, her eyebrows were delicate and graceful, and her long hair was braided into a high ponytail, making her look heroic and dashing.
"You captured 20,000 prisoners a while ago?" Lin Aoshan asked bluntly.
“That’s right,” Lin Guolong said smugly.
"This matter is difficult to explain clearly in a letter. Please tell me in detail in person." Lin Aoshan became interested.
"Alright, please have some tea first." Lin Guolong poured tea for him, moistened his throat, and then recounted what had happened.
But this time, he dared not speak recklessly; everything he said was the truth. How to defend the city, how to deal with the Yellow Dragon Army…
Speaking of "Li Xian," one can't help but admire him sincerely. He is indeed a man of exceptional talent and handsome appearance, and at a young age, his martial arts skills are quite remarkable.
Lin Aoshan nodded slightly upon hearing this.
"Not bad, not bad... I never expected that there would be such a young man in this barren Qingning County." Lin Aoshan's eyes shone. Although they hadn't met, his courage to shoot down an enemy general must be impressive.
"To take the head of the enemy general is a military achievement. Wherever this man is, he should be rewarded according to his merits."
Turning to Lin Guolong, he said, "You have done a good job in guarding the city gate. I have already reported to the Sky Patrol Division, and perhaps... you can be transferred to the prefectural city."
Lin Guolong was overjoyed upon hearing this.
The Celestial Patrol Bureau is a special agency. It is responsible only to the current emperor and its duties include inspecting the entire country and patrolling the rivers and lakes. It also has the power of recommendation and other powers.
Although Lin Aoshan is young, she is of high seniority in the clan and is already a Xuanhou of the Patrol Sky Division.
If she were involved in this matter, her opinion would be enough to determine the reward or punishment.
...
...
Several days have passed.
[Proficiency +2]
[Proficiency +1]
[The Fallen Sun and Bloodstained Sword - Level 1]
[Proficiency: 5816/6000 Minor Mastery]
Li Xian devoted himself to cultivation, refining his martial arts skills. The Sunset Blood Sword was nearing completion, and he would be able to advance to the next level without needing to combine the two swords.
"Eating, nourishing, training, and soaking are all essential aspects of a martial artist's life. Each discipline is extremely profound."
“I have no worries about [essence treasures] now. There are still many left in the Heavenly Box. I eat and drink a portion every day, which is enough for me to enter the Essence Absorption Realm.”
"But... I'll have to find a way to get the pills myself. The pills in the Idle Pill Pavilion are what Madam prepared for the guards, so they're not very useful to me. If I want to really get good pills, I'll have to buy them from outside."
Li Xian sheathed his longsword and exhaled warm breath. After calming his mind, he took one gram of essence as instructed by his wife.
[You consumed inferior meat, your proficiency increased by 29]
[Skill: Ingestion]
[Proficiency: 450/2000 Minor Mastery]
[Description: For anything ingested, if it has beneficial effects, its efficacy will be increased by 50%. If it has detrimental effects, its efficacy will be reduced by 20%.]
One gram of the precious meat yields twenty strands of essence after entering the stomach. This is enhanced to thirty strands, most of which refine the body and disperse throughout the world.
Only four or five strands remain in the body.
It vanishes into flesh and blood, and hides deep within.
The glow of the sunset was clearly visible on his shoulders.
A faint drumming sound came from his chest, and he was not far from the "thunderous sound of the chest drum".
He has already cleansed his fetus, and the characteristics of the essence-consuming realm will gradually appear, whether quickly or slowly.
You've covered ninety percent of the distance. The remaining ten steps are the simplest. Just keep going and continue as usual.
Hard work can be tedious.
Li Xian put on his clothes and wandered around the village. He climbed up a hill and lay down on the slope to enjoy the breeze.
It was July.
At the height of summer heat, poisonous insects appeared. As soon as Li Xian lay down, mosquitoes tried to bite him. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and a faint rumble of thunder emanated from his chest.
It indeed drove away the poisonous insects.
Li Xian clenched his right fist and pounded it against his chest. A loud "thump" resounded, and with the added force, he barely managed to create a "thunderous sound from his chest," silencing the cicadas, making the rabbits weak in the knees, and causing the birds to fall to the ground...
The thunderous sound of the chest drum... naturally suppresses these weak beasts.
Li Xian lay on the grass, quite relaxed. He glanced at the "Tranquility Tower," knowing that his wife had been cultivating there for several days.
He dared not use his "double pupils" to spy. The lady had already noticed something amiss during their last observation. If a similar situation occurred again, she certainly wouldn't sit idly by and wait for her doom.
"If my double pupils were to become apparent, given Madam's temperament, she would definitely not be happy for me." Li Xian was very self-aware.
Looking around.
The sun was blazing, and the guards were taking shelter under the trees. Because of the Huanglong Army incident, many guards had died, and many new faces had joined the ranks.
At this moment, Ding Hu hurriedly ran towards the Commander's Courtyard.
"Commander Li, Commander Li, someone is looking for you outside the manor!" Ding Hu shouted loudly when he saw that no one was in the courtyard, calling on the guards to help search.
Li Xian descended the mountain and appeared beside Ding Hu. "Who is looking for me?"
"You'll find out when you get there," Ding Hu said.
Outside the village.
As soon as Li Xianfang stepped out, he saw a large number of people ahead.
Lin Guolong, dressed in official robes, walked to the front. Behind him were many constables, local people, and some wealthy landlords.
"Commander Li, congratulations," Lin Guolong said, cupping his hands in greeting.
Li Xian frowned: "What's so joyful about it?"
Lin Guolong said, "You probably don't know this, but you have made meritorious contributions to the pacification. After the Heavenly Patrol Division reported this, you were specially awarded a brocade banner. Furthermore, you can be appointed as an eighth-rank official in the Earthly Court, holding the position of Qingning Martial Commandant."
Li Xian was taken aback. Although he was not a soldier, he had a clean background. Killing the leader of the rebel army was indeed a great achievement. However, the court was corrupt and exploited at every level, so very few people actually received such merit. He had not dared to hope for it and had completely forgotten about it.
But he was unaware of it.
Logically speaking, with the credit being taken away layer by layer, very little would actually reach Lin Guolong.
However, Lin Guolong belonged to the powerful Lin family of Qiongtian. The Lin family was not weak, and Lin Aoshan was a "Patrol Officer" who directly faced the Emperor. Only through her inspections, recommendations, and reports could the credit be safely awarded.
Li Xian's mind raced. She glanced at the Tranquility Tower and prepared to refuse.
Suddenly a voice came: "It's alright to take it."
Lady Nai condensed her Qi and transmitted her voice.
Li Xian was taken aback, then said, "In that case, I will accept."
"Haha, no problem, no problem. From now on, we're colleagues!"
"I hope Brother Li will take good care of me."
"I have already prepared a banquet at the 'Immortal Dream Pavilion' in the county. Come with us into the city. As a new official, I will naturally let the people of the county see what you look like."
Lin Guolong laughed and beckoned, and a servant brought over a white horse adorned with red silk pendants.
There was also a set of clothes made to order.
The rank of Wuwei (武尉) is "Eighth Grade Earth Official," a military officer responsible for managing local affairs and apprehending criminals. Their authority is neither particularly large nor small; it depends entirely on their individual abilities.
If one can control the situation, one's influence can surpass that of the county magistrate.
Li Xian said, "Please wait for me a moment!"
"I understand, I understand," Lin Guolong said with a smile. Looking at Li Xian's back, he sighed, "A shallow pond cannot contain a true dragon. When the wind and rain come, it will soar into the sky."
He had been ordered by his master to introduce Li Xian, which led to his promotion from a second-class guard to a commander. And now, in such a short time, he has already been granted an official position.
Even with family protection, he was only a seventh-rank official in the Earthly Court.
Li Xianxing arrived at the Tranquil Heart Tower.
Madam Wen's voice came: "You're so young, it's always good for you to gain more experience."
"Just don't forget your job."
Li Xian said, "Thank you, Madam!"
Inside the Tranquil Tower, Madam Wen had her own plans: "No matter how much territory you conquer, it will eventually belong to me. This boy is gradually gaining power. If I strictly confine him, it will backfire. Let him out, and occasionally give him a warning, using force to frighten him and beauty to entice him. He will naturally be subdued."
"Besides, what's the point of keeping a good-for-nothing by my side if he's just a good-for-nothing? Let him try his luck. If he can really make something of himself, I'll think more highly of him."
The lady has always been precise in weighing the pros and cons.
Her voice drifted down: "Go ahead, but don't embarrass me. That military officer is just for fun; don't get distracted by one thing and neglect the others."
(End of this chapter)
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