Chapter 179 Helping to Wear Silkworm Clothes, Whispers Inside the Tower
Early October.
The season of transition from autumn to winter.
As soon as he stepped out of the inner courtyard, a cool breeze swept over him. Li Xian's martial arts had greatly improved, and he was in a very good mood. With his hands behind his head, he wandered around.
"On this trip to the prefectural city... I'll be able to see my brother. But I wonder if he's been affected by my rumors?"
"My younger brother is smart; he probably won't take it to heart."
“I washed off the mud and my appearance changed drastically, but I don’t know if my brother will be surprised when he sees me.”
Li Xian strolled around, feeling refreshed and invigorated. His spine stood as straight as a sacred mountain, his muscles and bones were perfectly toned, and his true form was fully revealed.
Standing here, he exudes an extraordinary air.
"Greetings, sir."
The patrolling guards passed by and, upon seeing Li Xian, were momentarily stunned. After regaining their composure, they all bowed respectfully. The more reserved guards kowtowed immediately. Li Xian nodded amiably, telling them not to be so formal, and then walked away to continue his aimless stroll.
The guards watched Li Xian depart, all lost in thought, standing there for a long time before exchanging words: "Lord Li is like a god. With such appearance and demeanor, it's no wonder that the lady took a liking to him."
"Now, apart from the lady, Lord Li is the one who makes all the decisions in the manor."
"Hey, you're so ignorant. It's not just in the village; throughout Qingning County, who dares to disobey Lord Li?"
"When we, the guards of Yihe Manor, went to Qingning County, who wouldn't look up to us? The brothels and pleasure quarters of Qingning County, upon hearing that I came from Yihe Manor, all asked me about Lord Li."
After a moment of envy, he resumed his patrol. Li Xian had visited the manor several times and was already familiar with its scenery. He had already been to the barren mountains and abandoned houses.
In a daze, I arrived at the foot of a tower.
The plaque reads "Xia Dan Tower".
The tower gate was locked shut with a cold lock. Li Xian walked around the tower, his mind racing. He could be considered to have mastered some of the true essence of martial arts. But his wife was also proficient in a wide range of other arts, and he hadn't picked up even a fraction of that knowledge.
"A martial artist who relies solely on brute force to suppress others will find it difficult to go far. I believe in the principle of 'heaven rewards diligence,' and I make progress every day. Besides practicing martial arts, I can also learn many miscellaneous skills. When I travel the world in the future, I can dabble in astrology, divination, geomancy, alchemy, medicine, and medicine preparation... With such a wide range of knowledge, why should I have any trouble?"
“Last time when I went to Yunxiang Pavilion to get medicine, I mentioned it briefly. The lady did not agree. I suppose the reason is that she looks down on me. Or perhaps... one must take off one's clothes to enter the tower for alchemy. Now, if I ask again, I wonder if she will agree.”
"Timing is crucial. Madam is in seclusion tonight. I will ask her about this matter again when I help her with her seclusion. If Madam agrees, then we will have it in the bag."
Li Xian, inhaling the fragrance of the elixir, was reluctant to leave. He gazed and looked again, observing and contemplating. Wandering aimlessly, he unknowingly arrived at the outer edge of the manor.
Martial artists strive for excellence.
But whenever he made great progress, he would often stop to rest. He would take advantage of his relaxed state of mind to contemplate the world and appreciate its beauty. Li Xian acted entirely according to his own will, which subtly aligns with this principle.
As we passed a patch of wasteland, we suddenly heard a loud noise.
"You old bastard, you've gone too far!"
"You little bastard, I'll fight you to the death."
In the overgrown wasteland, two menial laborers got into a fight after a disagreement. They exchanged blows with impressive force. After a while, the younger laborer was at a disadvantage, but instead of retreating, he launched a flying attack, knocking the older laborer to the ground.
They resorted to the moves of street thugs. And it proved very effective. The two rolled on the ground, grappling with each other, exchanging punches and claws, with an air of fighting to the death.
These two were Bi Hao and Luo Fang.
Luo Fang used to be a bodyguard and was quite skilled in martial arts. However, years of neglect had caused his health to decline, and he was no longer as strong as he used to be.
Adding to this, he suffered a series of major changes this year, being demoted from a manager to a menial servant, where he was often hungry and cold. He was also beaten several times, injuring his muscles and bones. He could no longer display his former fighting skills, and his strength plummeted.
Although Bi Hao's martial arts skills were mediocre, his youth gave him an advantage. The two were locked in a fierce struggle, and the outcome was uncertain.
After fighting for a while, both were panting heavily. Bi Hao caught sight of a certain figure, and his whole body burst forth with boundless power. Luo Fang cursed, "You little rascal, you've got endless energy to beat your uncle, haven't you?" He immediately got into a fighting stance, concentrating intently.
But then he saw Bi Hao kneeling on the ground in the distance, kowtowing repeatedly. Luo Fang looked over, stunned, his heart filled with mixed emotions. The current Li Xian had clearly transcended the mundane world, becoming someone unattainable.
Luo Fang staggered over, knelt down and kowtowed, becoming more and more devout with each kowtow. Suddenly he understood, and kowtowed until his head bled.
Li Xian had been gone for quite some time before the two uncles and nephews finally came to their senses. They remained kneeling for a long time, unwilling to get up. Luo Fang said regretfully, "I regret it so much. I failed to seize the opportunity given by heaven, and now I'm in this state."
Tears and snot streaming down my face.
Bi Hao said, "It's you, you old bastard! You ruined my future, I'll fight you to the death!"
...
Li Xian happened to pass by, glanced at it briefly, and then disappeared into the distance. At dusk, they returned to the inner courtyard. After having dinner together, Li Xian, carrying a box, went with his wife to the Tranquility Tower.
The oil lamps along the steps were bright.
Madam Wen wore a loose white dress with a hem that trailed on the ground and sleeves that reached her knees. She clasped her hands together in front of her abdomen. Her gait was dignified and elegant.
Li Xian followed behind, inhaling the fragrant breeze. Madam Wen said, "Little Xian, light the lamp."
Upon reaching the spacious room, Li Xian lit the lamps on all four sides. The light filled the room. The Tranquility Tower was not tall; its purpose was to calm the mind and concentrate the spirit. The top of the tower was flat and square.
Do not strive for height, but for stability. Do not strive for movement, but for stillness.
Madam Wen's pretty face flushed slightly, a mixture of joy, shyness, and embarrassment. Her emotions were extremely subtle, never revealing themselves. Only in this quiet room could one glimpse them. Yuan Qiuyue had helped her practice this skill, but she always found it rather tedious, thinking, "This skill is indeed powerful, but it's incredibly troublesome."
But there was nothing they could do.
But things are different now; my heart is filled with joy, and I feel no weariness.
Li Xian opened the wooden box, inside which was a jade silkworm rope. Its color was a deep, translucent blue-silver, and it felt weightless in his hand. To Li Xian's knowledge, this rope was unique.
The silkworm robe technique is extremely complex, involving acupoints, the flow of Qi, and many other essential principles. Li Xian's Biluo Palm technique is unparalleled, and coupled with its "miraculous hand" characteristics, it can be mastered extremely quickly.
The jade rope first wrapped around her neck, locking various vital points and acupoints. The sensations were indescribable. Li Xian then asked, "Madam, is the silken robe walking on the rope correctly?"
Madam Wen nodded slightly, her heart already unsettled. A tender warmth welled up within her; throughout her life, she had always been in control. Only now, however, did she find it difficult to maintain her composure.
Li Xian asked, "Yes, it seems that Madam hasn't refined pills for a long time."
"How can one practice alchemy every day?" Madam Wen said softly.
Li Xian cut to the chase and asked, "Madam, to be honest, I... want to learn alchemy. Could you teach me?"
Madam Wen scolded, "You rascal, you really know how to pick your time. Asking now is just so I can't catch you, isn't it?"
"Not at all," Li Xian said. "To be honest, it's only here that I feel a deep connection with you."
Madam Wen's heart fluttered, her gaze softening with tenderness and allure as she glanced at him. "Sweet talk. The art of alchemy... is a product of a multitude of learnings. To master it, you need to understand geomancy, construction, the Five Elements and the Eight Trigrams. You also need a solid foundation in martial arts, which is very difficult."
"There are countless schools of alchemy in the world, each with its own unique characteristics. The higher the quality of the elixir one refines, the greater one's skill becomes. Let me tell you about them..."
Madam Wen spoke softly, then continued, "Once, a rare divine pill appeared, astonishing the world. Do you know how this divine pill was made?"
As Li Xian put on his silken robe, he asked, "Please tell me, Madam."
"This divine pill took decades of painstaking effort and involved the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of people to build the Fengchan Platform in a snow-capped mountain."
"On the platform stood the Yellow Dragon Cauldron, filled with rare and divine medicinal herbs. The fire that burned was also a rare and divine fire. The cauldron's flames roared and raged, shaking the heavens and earth, and awe-inspiring the world."
Li Xian clicked her tongue in amazement, listening intently. Madam Wen's upper body was already severely restricted, her arms tightly bound. Leaning back, she said, "You think this is enough?"
"It's still not working?" Li Xian asked.
"Far from it!" Madam Wen said, "That person maintained the divine fire continuously for three years. But he could not make the divine elixir. At this time, the enemy country invaded, and he sent troops to fight back."
"The battles of war can actually help to create the elixir. So that person went on to fight everywhere, constantly killing and slaying, and the divine elixir gradually took shape."
"Tell me, how valuable is this elixir?"
"It's incalculable." This was the first time Li Xian had heard of such a treasure: "Too heavy, too heavy, for countless lives."
Madam Wen said, "I'm telling you this secret for two reasons. First... um..." Madam Wen blushed, glanced at Li Xian, and continued, "So that you may know how vast the world is. Second..."
"The method of alchemy is not simply about putting in medicine and roasting it over a high fire to make a pill. A precious pill is equivalent to a rare and precious object."
"The birth of rare and precious objects requires the right timing and location, and the subtle guidance of heaven and earth..."
At this point, her tone became more relaxed. Wearing silken robes and having one's acupoints locked, there were bound to be things that couldn't be discussed openly. Madam Wen said, "Therefore, even a precious elixir requires various factors. Of course, in this vast world, there are other methods for forming elixirs."
Li Xian felt a slight itch in his heart, but he suppressed his excitement and said, "Madam, could you explain the key points in detail? I would like to broaden my horizons."
“Alright.” Madam Wen relaxed. “The alchemy of that person has several stages. First, the initial stage. Building the Fengchan Platform is the initial stage. The higher the stage, the stronger the elixir.”
"Generally, alchemists will start by building towers or buildings. Then, they will begin to refine the elixir. The methods vary depending on the nature of the elixir. For ordinary elixirs, controlling the fire and the medicine is enough. But some elixirs are much more complex."
This path is vast and complex, and even Madam Wen cannot fully explain it in a short time. Some parts require seeing with one's eyes and feeling with one's heart; conveying it through words may lead to ambiguity.
Madam Wen said gently, "If you are truly interested, I will allow you to enter the tower to study when we start refining pills in the future. I will also explain the essentials to you."
"In my bedroom, there are several books on alchemy. If you have the time, you may take a look."
"But the banquet in the prefectural city is approaching, and you need to be clear about the distinction between the main and secondary roles. Don't let a small matter cause you to lose sight of the bigger picture."
"Thank you, Madam." Li Xian was overjoyed to hear that his wife had finally agreed. By then, the silkworm clothes were finished.
"Alright, you may leave now," said Madam Wen.
...
...
Li Xian went straight into the bedroom and found several books on alchemy from the bookshelf. After a cursory glance, he found the principles to be obscure and difficult to understand, suggesting that everything in the world could be used for alchemy.
Li Xian was driven entirely by curiosity. He didn't seek a deep understanding; he read it once, memorizing what he could and leaving the rest unremembered.
He was full of energy and felt his inner energy was abundant; he was only a stone's throw away from the "thirty-two zhang" mark.
After reading the book, he began to practice martial arts.
[The Fallen Sun and Bloodstained Sword - Level 1]
[Proficiency: 23699/50000 Perfect]
[The Fallen Sun and Bloodstained Sword - Level Two]
[Proficiency: 3859/5000 Minor Mastery]
All have made progress.
With the upcoming gathering of prodigies at the Heavenly Pride Tower, Li Xian's heart was surging with youthful ambition, and he ultimately wanted to test his skills against the prodigies.
If the wicked constable enters the mansion one day, will he be able to stir up trouble?
Suddenly, with a "bang," his entire body surged forth like a tidal wave, and he strode thirty-two feet into the air!
(End of this chapter)
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