Chapter 178 His body radiated divine light, his spine resembled a divine mountain.
The night passed in silence.
The next morning, baby birds chirped early, and the weather was pleasantly cool, like autumn outside and spring inside. The scenery was beautiful.
Li Xianchen got up and opened the window. Seeing the view of the inner courtyard, he felt a sense of relief. A red flower drooped into the room, its beauty almost radiant.
Although the room was not large, behind the screen was a hot spring pool. It was created by drilling through the earth's crust to connect with the ground water, which flowed year-round and was kept at a comfortable temperature.
Li Xian jumped into the pool and soaked in the clear water.
The fatigue from last night has completely dissipated.
The water was crystal clear and as light as silk, seemingly weightless. Li Xian plunged into the pool, playing freely in all directions. It felt like swimming in the heavens and earth, floating in the air—an indescribable joy.
Li Xian sighed, "Martial artists of this caliber really know how to enjoy life. Well, it makes sense; if you live long enough, you naturally want to enjoy life."
Beside the hot spring stood a jade platform, in which sat a piece of white jade, about the size of a palm. A touch of the jade released a fragrant liquid. Used for washing, it kept the body smelling fresh all day, free from dirt and grime.
This jade is called "Deep Dew Jade," obtained from the deep sea. It is extremely valuable and highly sought after by women. It belongs to the category of "commonplace items."
Li Xian quickly washed and bathed, and dressed himself. As usual, he helped his wife braid and comb her long hair, put on her clothes and accessories, inserted silver hairpins, and hung earrings... and so on.
Madam Wen asked, "Did you rest well last night?"
“Very good,” Li Xian said.
“Last time I said I would help you build your foundation and shape your spine. That was no empty promise,” Madam Wen said. “Starting today, I will strengthen your bones and muscles and erect the mountain of your spine.”
...
...
Half an hour later, all the necessary items were prepared.
A large vat stood in the inner courtyard, its surface dark and deep, carved with patterns of herbs. Madam Wen said, "This is the Shennong Medicine Vat, a rare and precious object that can enhance the efficacy of medicines."
The table was filled with medicines, including Ranlongjin, Quelonggu, Ganqinglu, and many other rare and powerful medicines, some of which were unheard of and unseen before.
Five dragon tendons, five dragon bones, plus a variety of herbs, animal blood, ginseng, exotic plants... then cooked over a high flame with dragon-roar charcoal for an hour, and you get a bowl of Nine-Nine Eighty-One Forging Bone and Tendon Soup.
Madam Wen said, "Apply the body-revealing cream and then jump in."
Li Xian removed her clothes and applied a body-revealing ointment. She then entered the scalding hot medicinal bath, initially feeling a burning sensation, which gradually cooled. As the medicine took effect, a dull ache throbbed between her muscles and bones.
Madam Wen said, "This is the Nine-Nine-Eighty-One Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Soup. One pot of soup costs more than a thousand taels of silver. It needs to be put on your tab."
Li Xian was greatly pleased; money was easy to earn, but finding the right connections was difficult. He then thanked the lady.
Madam Wen smiled and said, "Do you know why I told you to rest early last night?"
Li Xian replied, "I don't know."
Madam Wen walked around the medicine vat, observing the heat, and said softly, "The Nine-Nine Eighty-One Bone-Forging and Tendon-Forging Soup is intended to replenish the bones and tendons, make up for deficiencies, and restore the body to its proper state. People in this world are born with imperfections, and cultivation is a form of striving forward. We should look ahead. But few people know that we should bow our heads and make up for our deficiencies."
"Advancing in martial arts realm cannot make up for deficiencies. It's like a disabled person; as they age, their disability won't improve, but their physique will eventually become stronger."
"The physical body becomes stronger, which covers up the defects. It is no different from a whole person, but objectively speaking, the defects still exist. And they are even more difficult to discover and more difficult to repair."
"Mortal clay is hard to digest. You are at the perfect stage to repair your flaws. It would be better to do it earlier or later, but you are too late. You started learning martial arts too late."
"This bone-strengthening and tendon-strengthening soup is named after the number nine, which signifies completeness and balance. However, the effects of one dose are ultimately limited. Therefore, you need to steep it eighty-one times."
"You can calculate the money yourself."
Li Xian's expression changed. Nearly 100,000 taels of silver—how could he possibly repay it? He said with a bitter smile, "Madam, I really can't repay such a large sum of money."
Madam Wen chuckled and said, "Since you can't repay the money, it's alright. I have other places where you can repay it slowly. You can just relax and soak in the water. Don't worry about anything else."
He continued this process for several days. The herbal decoction was changed dozens of times, and Li Xian felt as if he had been reborn. His bones were incredibly dense, and vitality burst forth from his skin and flesh.
When the medicine was changed, Li Xian's body, skin, flesh, and bones appeared as if they had been meticulously sculpted. His "perfect appearance" was further enhanced, resembling the body of a revered jewel.
For martial artists, diet, training, and soaking are all indispensable. Li Xian has been practicing martial arts for a year, and only today is he tasting the sweetness of "soaking".
"Good, very good!" Madam Wen gently stroked his body, her beautiful eyes shimmering with indescribable joy. She only needed to wait for his virginity to be fully restored before they could make love to each other.
"Once I return from the capital, I will take him to the southern border. I will plant a seed of Gu in his heart, so that he will never be able to leave my side for all eternity."
"I want both his sincerity and his pretense. He owes me a debt of gratitude that I will repay for the rest of my life. Very well, very well."
Madam Wen's mind suddenly stirred, and her eyes shimmered.
"Little Fairy, you have already forged your bones and tendons forty-two times. From now on, in addition to forging your bones and tendons, you can start shaping your spine!" Madam Wen said.
"I will do as you say, Madam," Li Xian said, bowing.
Madam Wen said, "This method of sculpting the spine is my greatest secret. You can simply use it without asking any questions. If you really want to know, I will tell you when the time is right."
Not long after.
Inside the courtyard stood another large vat, its color a deep reddish-black, emanating a fragrant aroma. The vat was decorated with images of mountains, flowers, and animals. But lifting the lid sent chills down one's spine.
Inside were countless rare venomous creatures: snakes, centipedes, spiders, snow silkworms… densely packed, numbering in the thousands. Li Xian had hunted in the mountains and fields, traversing mountains and rivers, and had seen no shortage of venomous snakes, insects, and beasts. He could name and describe the characteristics of hundreds of kinds of venomous snakes and insects. But the venomous creatures in the jar were all different in shape, and he couldn't name a single one of them.
They are all different species.
Li Xian thought to himself, "How strange! Snakes, insects, and spiders should smell foul. How come they smell so sweet here?" He observed curiously but could not find any clues.
The lady has cultivated them for a long time; although they are highly poisonous, they all emit a delicate fragrance.
"You may go in," Madam Wen said.
Seeing Li Xian gripping the jar's edge, about to jump in, she was overjoyed and pulled him back, saying, "Forgot? Hold this fragrant jade in your mouth before you go in and sit down. Otherwise, the many poisonous creatures in the jar could kill you with just a small sip."
Li Xian said, "Good!" and held the fragrant jade in his mouth. A cool sensation ran through his body; the treasure had taken effect, and he was no longer afraid of poisons. After sitting down, countless poisonous creatures rushed to bite him, injecting their venom.
Hundreds of rare poisons enter the body simultaneously. Any one of them could be fatal. But these thousands of poisons, with their antagonistic and complementary effects, create a mixture of toxins that is not lethal.
These numerous poisonous creatures, carefully cultivated, possess medicinal properties within their toxicity. The poison spreads throughout the body, and the medicinal properties also permeate the entire body.
Next, remove the toxicity while retaining the medicinal properties.
The pain was excruciating, as if countless poisons were biting at him. Li Xian forced himself to endure it, his brow furrowed and cold sweat beading on his forehead, but he didn't lose face. Madam Wen raised an eyebrow, thinking, "What a fine young man, able to endure such pain." She greatly admired him.
The numerous toxins spread throughout the body, gradually attaching to the spine as if coated with a layer of black lacquer. The spine was eroded by the toxins, causing numbness and weakness throughout the body, yet the medicinal effects also provided warmth and comfort.
Devastate, restore.
This went on and on...
Several more days passed.
Li Xian worked tirelessly, oblivious to the changing of the sun and moon, and unaware of the shifting seasons. He didn't even notice the weather gradually turning colder.
Every day at dawn, they are bitten by countless poisons, and then, bearing the toxins, they use the "Nine-Nine Eighty-One Bone and Tendon Strengthening Method" to strengthen their bones and muscles. Then, at midnight, a special method is used to remove the toxins from their spine.
Continue to strengthen your bones.
Strengthening muscles and bones, erecting the spine like a mountain. Both progress simultaneously, with joy amidst hardship, and perseverance amidst joy. But the progress is gratifying, replenishing deficiencies and restoring strength. The Qi Lake surges, flowing into the Dantian, rising several feet higher.
Several more days passed.
All eighty-one sessions of muscle and bone strengthening exercises have been completed. The method for shaping the spine is nearing its end.
Madam Wen reminded her, "This section... is extremely painful. If you cannot bear it, please end it immediately."
The process of spinal shaping inevitably involves intense pain. At this stage, the spinal shaping is complete. Li Xian's spine is like a mountain, its imposing presence impressive. Madam Wen was already satisfied, but seeing that Li Xian still had some strength left, she wanted to add another step.
Try it... and see if you can truly make your spine like a sacred mountain, standing tall and reaching the heavens and the earth!
If that's truly the case, such a man is a rare find!
Li Xian said, "Madam, come here!"
"Good, good." Madam Wen was slightly excited and used the clan law to complete the final step.
The poisonous vat and the poisonous creatures were even more bizarre, more toxic, and rarer. They could destroy bones and sever veins, and utterly destroy everything. Li Xianli's "spine as thick as a mountain" was almost completely carved away by the poison. Trees in the mountain were cut down, birds were driven away, and beasts were slaughtered, creating a desolate scene.
Madam Wen frowned slightly; she had gone through this stage herself. She too had sculpted a spine as majestic as a sacred mountain, but the circumstances were different then, and she had used clever tricks to get through it; now, there were no such tricks to be found.
She said, "In this step, you need to use your spirit to force out the poison. Try to recall the situation when the Yellow Dragon Army was pressing down, and how you shot that arrow with spirit."
"If it doesn't work, then give up. Although you will be seriously injured, you can recover after some rest and recuperation."
At this point, however, she felt a pang of disappointment. Her thoughts were complex; she would never allow Li Xian to surpass her. But she also hoped that Li Xian's potential was no less than her own.
Despite the excruciating pain in his back, Li Xian's spirits soared, and he said, "Madam..."
"Are you going to give up?" Madam Wen shook her head. Li Xian said, "Please, Madam, fetch me the bow and arrows."
"You..." Madam Wen was taken aback. She took out her own bow, and Li Xian drew the bow and shot an arrow with soaring spirit. The arrow flew like a rainbow, soaring high into the sky.
The poison in the spine has been reduced by half.
Lady Wen's gaze was unusual. "A fine arrow!" Li Xian's spirit soared, his long hair flying. Having endured hardships, they painstakingly built the sacred mountain.
"This boy...what a sharp spirit!" Madam Wen exclaimed repeatedly, "Such a heroic bearing, such spirit, what a future he will have! Excellent, truly excellent, we must obtain the Heart-Binding Gu as soon as possible."
Early October.
The mission is complete. Li Xian's body radiates five-colored light, his spirit soaring to the heavens, standing tall and upright. His spine is sculpted like a mountain, his physique perfect.
A red mole between the eyebrows, glowing with a faint red light.
Her sideburns fluttered slightly.
Such an imposing and impressive appearance is extremely rare to see in the entire Yuzhou area.
Madam Wen cultivated it herself, and the joy she felt was indescribable. She walked over gracefully, pinched its skin, hugged it tightly, and asked, "How does it feel?"
“Very good,” Li Xian said, “but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
"Take your time to feel it," Madam Wen said softly. "It will strengthen your muscles and bones, and shape your spine. It has taken up a lot of my time, so you should rest for two hours. Then we will practice swordsmanship."
“Alright.” Li Xian embraced his wife, their gestures intimate and natural, but in his heart he thought, “Could it be that my wife has fallen in love with me? I am not blindly loyal, nor do I want to be ungrateful. As for the future… well, I won’t think about it for now.”
That night…
The two practiced swordsmanship together, their swords flashing frequently. In the first level of swordsmanship, the Yang sword was fierce and swift, while the Yin sword was gentle and slow. In the second level, the Yang sword gradually slowed and softened, while the Yin sword became insidious and dangerous.
Having mastered the "Verbal Confession" technique, the two could actually communicate using their swords. No words were needed, nor was there any need to condense their qi to transmit sound. This sword technique was utterly extraordinary!
The sun and moon alternated. The sky gradually brightened.
Li Xian's spine was as strong as a mountain, supporting the strange and connected. He was young and full of vigor. Although his swordsmanship was weak, his demeanor was already remarkable. Madam Wen had been famous for a long time, but she had never seen such a handsome young man in her youth. With the silent influence of the Immortal Couple Sword, she was truly moved.
This relationship was no coincidence. She was shrewd and calculating, and it was precisely because of this that she controlled Li Xian at every turn, manipulating his desires and thoughts. She made Li Xian feel no threat whatsoever, and in this situation, she believed she was completely under control, naturally indulging in her desires.
How to control the release of water by opening the sluice gates?
The next day, noon.
[Your dual swordsmanship is now combined, and your proficiency with the Sunset Blood Sword has increased by 398.]
[Mastery of Food Essence, Proficiency +1]
Lady Wen's forehead was covered in sweat, her swordsmanship having improved considerably. She sheathed her sword and put it in her sleeve, her face slightly flushed, and said, "Tonight, you will help me with my seclusion."
(End of this chapter)
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