Chapter 148 Human or Non-human, Infinite Possibilities
By early August, the heat had begun to subside.
He was in charge of the academy.
[You consumed the essence of the Golden Blood Crimson Carp, your proficiency increased by 69]
The refined meat entered the stomach, its nourishing effects spreading throughout the body. Transformed into the essence of heaven and earth, it first circulated within the abdomen. Through the techniques of consumption and enhancement, that essence became increasingly concentrated, transforming into hundreds of strands.
Li Xian had washed away the clay body and was no longer in its original form. The essence of heaven and earth is a "snobbish eye," and when it was still in its clay form, it rushed away, afraid to stay even a second longer.
Now the fetus is pure. But it is not in a hurry to leave, wandering around like a naughty child, "strolling and enjoying the scenery".
Li Xian circulated his Qi throughout his body, solidified his blood, and closed his orifices, doing his best to retain the essence of heaven and earth. After having his fill of fun, they all dispersed.
Only about twenty strands remained in his abdomen.
With rainbows draped over his shoulders and his chest pounding like thunder, his body seemed to approach the heavens and earth, and all sorts of divine wonders began to appear.
It disappears without transforming, which is called "wearing a rainbow on one's shoulders".
Eliminating and transforming it is called "the life of the head and hair".
With time and perseverance, things will fall into place. Heaven rewards diligence; as long as you are willing to put in the hard work, there is nothing you cannot accomplish.
Li Xian persevered, and with his wife's help, the essence within him lingered for a long time. Finally, at this moment, a portion of it was released.
A gentle breeze is blowing.
His hair flew wildly, and he felt as if his soul had been lifted by the wind, soaring straight to the highest heavens. He felt that the world was wondrous, containing endless charm.
Break free from invisible shackles.
Amidst a thicket of hair, a tiny tuft of hair emerges. This is the "life hair," which, to some extent, represents a martial artist's lifespan.
After a year of physical tempering, Li Xian's body went from being poorly clothed and starving to circulating Qi throughout the body, consolidating blood and closing orifices, and finally achieving the transformation and rebirth.
Overcoming numerous obstacles, step by step, they finally obtained a sliver of the ability to digest the essence of heaven and earth.
This step has been taken.
From this point on, one can seek immortality and all sorts of miraculous things.
Warriors drink the essence of heaven and eat the finest food of the earth, which increases their martial prowess and extends their lifespan.
For every hair that grows a millimeter longer, one's lifespan also increases by an inch.
"The task is arduous and the road ahead is long. Now, all four characteristics of mine have appeared. From now on, consuming [essence treasures] will extend my lifespan and truly eliminate them!"
Li Xian was filled with excitement as he gently stroked the white fur. It was brimming with vitality, unlike anything found in ordinary people.
A mortal is merely a clay figure; if he suffers a fatal injury, there is absolutely no chance of survival. But a martial artist who consumes essence is different. Although he still has two hands, two feet, and a head, his physical essence approaches that of heaven and earth, thus adding countless possibilities.
Even if the heart is damaged.
With the help of a divine healer and the aid of rare and precious materials, it is possible to revive such a being. However, a clay statue of an ordinary person is impossible to revive no matter what.
Xu Liefeng suffered from vascular erosion, and logically speaking, he should have been dead without a doubt. However, he managed to save himself and escape danger. The credit for this, apart from the miraculous effects of the treasure, was the extraordinary power brought about by the "Eating Essence" realm.
For those who consume essence and become martial artists, there are more possibilities.
Li Xian's knowledge was still limited and needed further thought. He thought, "In the end, the Essence Absorption Realm is about using the essence of heaven and earth to create one's own world."
[You have stepped into the 'Transformation of the Essence of Food']
[Eating Essence and Transforming into Morality]
[Proficiency: 1/100]
[Description: The first realm of martial arts, a long and arduous path to transcendence, this is the first step. Enduring all kinds of hardships and cold, all for this one moment. Ten steps make up one stage, each stage revealing its own distinct nature.]
...
...
[Your chest-pounding and body-shaking technique increases proficiency by 2.]
[Iron and Copper Kung Fu]
[Proficiency: 269/1500 Minor Mastery]
Wuweitang.
Li Xian slammed his palm into his chest, his body trembling. He had been practicing the "Iron Copper Skill." As he entered the "Essence Absorption" realm, his martial arts gained a new dimension. When he held his breath and activated his "Iron Copper Body," a dark light burst forth from beneath his skin.
Before consuming the essence... Li Xian cultivated his martial arts to its limit. This allowed him to subtly manifest extraordinary phenomena, enhancing his imposing presence.
After consuming essence, countless possibilities are added. If one's martial arts skills are profound, not only will extraordinary phenomena appear, but one can also "turn the extraordinary into reality".
Although he went through the processes of rebirth, transformation, and manifestation, in the end, Li Xian was still a "mortal," only now he had the qualifications to undergo a metamorphosis.
At noon, Li Xian was in a great mood, and his martial arts skills had improved again, so he worked even harder to cultivate.
Suddenly, I heard a strange "clinking" sound beside my ear. The sound was faint, yet quite distinct. It lingered in my mind for a long time.
The Wuwei Hall was located on the side of the street.
Despite the constant noise, Li Xian didn't care and continued to pound his chest and shake his body, honing his "iron body and bronze flesh."
However, after each incense stick has burned...
This sound must have come, as if someone deliberately made it to disturb his mind.
At this moment, Wang Wu, leading three constables, was about to patrol the streets when he was spotted by Li Xian as they passed the entrance to the inner courtyard.
Li Xian called out, "Wang Wu, come here for a moment."
Wang Wu led his men over, bowed respectfully, stood tall, and awaited instructions.
Li Xian originally intended to have Wang Wu lead men to patrol around the Martial Guard Hall to check for any suspicious individuals, as this voice always displeased him. However, upon further reflection, he realized that if there were indeed suspicious individuals, Wang Wu might not be able to defeat them, so he said, "Try to perform the Four Directions Fist once, and I'll see how you progress."
Wang Wuxi replied, "Yes!" He studied diligently and made good progress. He was just worried about where to show his skills and how to impress Li Xian.
He immediately assumed a boxing stance, attacking left and right, feinting to the east and striking to the west, his fist techniques coordinated with his footwork, flowing smoothly and seamlessly. Unconsciously, he had already entered the basics, cultivating a wisp of internal energy.
The onlookers were filled with envy and cheered.
After finishing the routine, Li Xian gave a brief critique. Wang Wu kept it in mind, knowing he would improve as he slowly digested the material.
"Here it comes again." Li Xian frowned, and hearing the faint sound again, asked, "Can you hear any strange noises?"
Wang Wu was taken aback and turned to look at the other constables. After confirming with each other, they all shook their heads, "Sir, we didn't hear anything. It must be because our cultivation is too shallow and our five senses are not sharp enough. We wonder where the strange sound you heard came from. We'll go and investigate."
Li Xian shook his head and said, "This sound is so strange, it seems to have come out of nowhere. It's hard to figure out." He then dismissed Wang Wu and the others.
Wang Wu stepped out of the Martial Guard Hall and said to the constables beside him, "We serve in this hall, and our food and clothing come from the masters. It is our duty to share the masters' burdens. Let's take a stroll around the area near the hall and see if there are any thieves causing trouble!"
The servants around him all said, "Okay, Fifth Brother, we'll all listen to you!"
So the group headed east, circling the Martial Guard Hall. Their eyes scanned the passersby, watching for anything suspicious.
Just as he was about to give up after circling around, Wang Wu suddenly shouted, "Who goes there!" A chill ran down his spine as he saw a suspicious figure.
Behind the Martial Guard Hall, at the courtyard wall, a suspicious figure lurked, acting furtively and creating an extremely eerie atmosphere.
The person was dressed in loose black clothes. Neither their features nor their build were discernible.
The man in black heard the shout and turned around. He seemed to smile, neither dodging nor avoiding the shout.
Wang Wu drew his sword and, along with three constables behind him, surrounded them, forming a pincer movement. Not daring to be careless, they maintained a distance of several steps. Wang Wu angrily shouted, "Who are you? What are you doing hiding here! Confess now!"
"Are you a constable from the Martial Guard Hall?" The man's voice was hoarse and had a chilling quality.
Wang Wu said proudly, "That's for sure."
"Hehe," the man chuckled, "You lot are quite loyal. Since that's the case, why don't you help me pass on a message to your master?"
Wang Wu shouted, "Whatever the matter is, go and tell the master yourself, and arrest him!"
Including Wang Wu, there were four servants, forming a four-way encirclement. This was a four-directional formation evolved from the Four Directions Fist.
Wang Wu unleashed his inner energy, launching a swift, vertical slash at Wang Wu's face. The other three followed suit, each wielding a different blade, blocking Wang Wu's escape route.
However, the Four Directions Fist is only a basic fist technique. Even if Li Xian cultivates it to its peak, he gradually feels that the fist techniques are insufficient. Deconstructing the fist techniques into formations has its merits.
However, if they were to face a master of martial arts, someone who had been immersed in the art for decades, they would be far from being a match for him.
The man stood still, facing several flashes of swords. He simply waved his sleeves, and with a series of clangs, bangs, and snaps, all four narrow swords were severed.
Wang Wu threw away the broken sword, stepped forward, and struck at the dark figure. He had only been practicing boxing for a short time, but with Li Xian's guidance, his foundation was very solid.
Wang Wu thought to himself, "This man's martial arts are formidable; he will be difficult to defeat. I only need to keep him occupied, and the master will notice." He threw a punch at the chest, but it was a feint.
He noticed that the man's right sleeve was always hanging down, as if it were not very flexible, and he thought this was a good point of entry.
The moment the fist was thrown, the body twisted.
The fist suddenly changed direction, striking the man's right arm, but the man neither dodged nor avoided it. The punch landed on empty air, and Wang Wu's heart skipped a beat: "Empty."
Just then, a gust of wind blew up the man's hood, finally revealing his face. It was Xu Liefeng from the Leopard Blade Sect. This man's appearance had changed drastically; his face was deathly pale, and red ginseng-like hairs were sprouting from his skin.
Though in human form, it is no longer human.
Xu Liefeng said, "A mere trick, utterly disgraceful." His teeth were covered in hardened blood and grime, emitting a foul stench. With a flick of his left hand, he lifted his wide robe, wrapped it with refined internal energy, and brandished it as if wielding a broadsword.
This is a martial art: a hidden blade in the sleeve, a mere trick. But for Wang Wu, it was difficult to defend against.
Wang Wu screamed in agony as his right hand was severed at the root. He cried out in pain and nearly fainted. Xu Liefeng wasn't satisfied yet. He thought, "Well done, Li Xian! Today I'll sever your limbs first. In a few days, when we have our formal duel, I'll sever yours too!"
Then, he used the "hidden knife in his sleeve" to slash at Wang Wu's right foot.
Just as blood and flesh were about to fly everywhere, a throwing knife shot towards them with great force. Xu Liefeng heard the sound of the wind and knew that the knife was not weak. Helpless, he stopped his attack and jumped several feet away.
The throwing knife plunged diagonally into the ground, its immense force crushing the surrounding bricks and tiles into dust.
Li Xian used his Qingfeng Leg technique to rush over and draw the sword.
turn out to be…
The sounds of fighting had already reached Li Xian's ears. Knowing something was amiss, Li Xian immediately rushed over to investigate.
This prevented the tragedy from happening.
Wang Wu clutched his right hand, his face deathly pale from blood loss. "My lord, this person's movements are strange, and... and... he's not human!"
Li Xian nodded, having already seen Xu Liefeng's appearance, and was greatly shocked. But on the surface, she calmly said, "Xu Liefeng, it's only been a few days, how did you change so much?"
"Hehe." Xu Liefeng said, "I'm quite satisfied with my appearance. I've actually turned misfortune into blessing. But you, kid, I didn't expect you to become even more formidable in just a few days."
"Likewise," Li Xian said coldly.
"Now that Lord Wu is here, please take him away," Xu Liefeng said with a smile. "We'll settle our scores in a few days."
"I humbly request that you, Commander Wu, wash your head and await my arrival."
"Of course, if you beg the madam for protection and to save your life, then I, Xu, have nothing to say."
"Ha ha ha ha."
Having said that, he jumped into the crowd and disappeared into the distance. His lightness skill was remarkable; although he had clearly broken a leg, he walked as if he were an ordinary person.
Li Xian's eyes flashed coldly as he watched Wang Wu depart, knowing he had returned to the Leopard Blade Sect. However, he did not pursue him but instead helped Wang Wu treat his injuries.
Wang Wu lost so much blood that he almost fainted. Li Xian helped him stop the bleeding, bandaged him up, and applied ointment.
"Xiao Wu, take good care of yourself. I'll get you some strong medicine that will keep your life safe."
"But there's nothing we can do about the severed arm."
"Your injury was caused by me, and I will make proper arrangements. Even with a missing hand, you can still practice martial arts. Don't worry."
Li Xian comforted Wang Wudao.
Upon hearing this, Wang Wu felt relieved and fainted.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
