Chapter 180 Mastery of the Divine Thunder Technique: A Love-Hate Relationship
The Qi Lake underwent a qualitative change, surging like waves.
The thirty-two-zhang lake is shrouded in rosy clouds, its waves surging and teeming with life, giving rise to wondrous sights, as if bathed in the blazing sun or showered with moonlight.
Li Xian unleashed his palm technique, the "Azure Palm," its force penetrating his palm. Water mist swirled in the air, lingering for a long time, eventually forming a vortex of water vapor.
Qi comes from martial arts, and martial arts are derived from heaven and earth. Therefore, the quality of Qi changes, and the longer the internal Qi remains in heaven and earth, the more mysterious and profound its changes become.
The progress in martial arts is encouraging.
"I wonder if I am stronger or weaker than the prodigies of the prefecture now?"
Li Xian unleashed several palm strikes, each one resounding with a clatter. He couldn't help but question himself, but after a moment, he felt relieved. If someone is strong, he will become stronger; if someone is weak, he will catch up. No matter how many geniuses emerge, he will remain composed and dignified.
They practiced until midnight.
After washing up, I went back to my room to rest. Although the side room was small, it was very well furnished and decorated.
The lady was in seclusion and unable to move. With no one above him, Li Xian felt naturally relaxed. He sat in a bamboo chair, gently rocking back and forth, enjoying the breeze as he intently read various books on Daoist arts.
If you feel tired, close your eyes and go to sleep.
...
Inside the tower, Lady Wen, already dressed in silk robes, was practicing her extraordinary inner skill, her cultivation progressing slowly. Looking down from the tower, one could see Li Xian dancing with his sword, his movements graceful and elegant.
"The martial arts path is vast, and the concept of talent cannot be generalized. However, Li Xian's progress in both the Azure Palm and the Remnant Sun Bloodfall Sword is remarkable. He is quite intelligent and diligent by nature, rarely lazy."
Lady Wen, finding the surroundings uninteresting, watched with great interest. Only after Li Xian went to his room to rest and was out of sight did she calm her mind and concentrate on her internal cultivation.
"If nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to break through the Silkworm Jade Inlay Technique within the next few days. While reaching the sixth level will undoubtedly increase my strength, it will also inevitably lead to a deeper and more complex transformation..."
"Such extraordinary skill truly makes me both love and hate it."
Thinking of this, her face flushed slightly.
...
...
The next day.
Before dawn, Li Xian had already rushed back to Qingning. There were few people along the way, only a few steamed bun shops were open. Passing by a steamed bun shop, a basket of meat buns had just come out of the oven.
Li Xian bought a few taels and returned to the Martial Guard Hall.
Before they even entered the gate, shouts of "Hah!", "Drink!", and "Ha!" could be heard, mixed with Luo Xia's scolding and beating. Li Xian smiled to himself: "Luo Xia is not bad looking, but she has a really fierce temper. I am a very incompetent military officer, and I am not around for three days at a time. I have to trouble her to take care of me."
He led the horse into the hall. The constables, hearing the commotion, immediately looked over. Seeing it was Officer Wu, they greeted him and then went back to practicing their martial arts. But after a moment, they sensed something was amiss and turned back in twos and threes to look again.
But they couldn't figure it out, couldn't pinpoint what was wrong. They all thought:
"It's been a few days since I last saw you. Lord Wuwei's appearance is clearly unchanged, but how come... he seems to have changed a lot? He's even more handsome than before, and his temperament seems to be more refined as well."
Luo Xia shouted, "Anyone who looks around will get a beating from my iron whip. You all continue practicing. What are you doing here looking at me?"
None of the constables dared to speak; the only one who dared to refer to Wu Weilang as "unrelated person" was Wu Weifulang. Luo Xia, capable and efficient, tall and slender, walked over with her arms crossed, and asked in surprise, "Haven't seen you for more than ten days, have you stolen some elixir?"
"Pretty much," Li Xian said with a smile.
Luo Xia teased, "Why don't you bring me a taste of such a fine product?"
The two chatted for a few moments before finding a stone pavilion to sit down. Along the way, Luo Xia occasionally called out to supervise the constables as they diligently practiced their martial arts.
"By the way..." Luo Xia said, "Are you going to the Pride Tower Banquet that day?"
"You already know about this?" Li Xian asked. "I haven't told anyone."
Luo Xia looked elsewhere and ordered the constables to maintain their orderly ranks. She was strong-willed and had managed to keep the constables in perfect order, bringing their numbers to fifty.
After a long pause, Luo Xia replied, "Why do you need to tell me? The whole of Qingning County already knows."
"You've been missing for over ten days, unaware of the changes in the county. News of the Heavenly Pride Banquet has spread to every county. Rumors are circulating that you dared not attend the banquet and only know how to bully the weak. If you were to encounter a truly powerful opponent, you would probably be terrified and run away as fast as you can."
"The rumors are extremely offensive. It's obvious that someone is deliberately trying to lure you to the banquet with gossip so they can take action against you. Without a doubt, it's the Cao family behind this."
"Are you provoked?"
Li Xian said, "What reputation is more important than my life? I will not be provoked."
"That's alright." Luo Xia felt slightly relieved.
Li Xian added, "But I really must attend this banquet on this floor."
"You still say you're not provoked?" Luo Xia said speechlessly.
Li Xian said, "If Madam wants to go, what can I do?"
Luo Xia patted Li Xian on the shoulder, encouraging him, "You're quite the ladies' man, enjoy it!" Just then, she noticed a constable moving sloppily and improperly. She quickly walked over, kicked him to the ground, and scolded him loudly. The constable hurriedly got up and straightened his posture.
After chatting for a while, Li Xian learned about the recent situation in the city and saw that Luo Xia was very busy, so he didn't disturb her and returned to the inner courtyard to prepare for today's practice.
After finishing the meat buns, I immediately practiced a couple of sets of "Four Directions Fist" and "Gentle Breeze Leg" to loosen my muscles and bones, regulate my blood and energy, and boost my spirits. Then I got down to business, my chest thumping like thunder and my fingers moving like lightning.
Proficiency +1
Proficiency +1
The primary method was rigorous training, supplemented by the practice of striking the mines. The combination of these two methods led to rapid progress in the Gang Lei Finger technique.
After practicing diligently for several hours, he had progressed from "proficient" to "minor mastery".
[Gang Lei Finger]
[Proficiency: 15/3000 Minor Success]
Gang Lei refers to four killing moves: Zhen Lei, Xiang Lei, Jing Lei, and Gang Lei. The moves are simple, aiming to kill the enemy with a single finger strike. Li Xian first practiced "Zhen Lei," and with his martial arts skills reaching a certain level, he could use it at will.
Thunder, clattering thunder, and fierce thunder... the three fingers also dabble in these. Each has its own mystical aspects, all based on the "thunderous sound of the chest drum".
"With the Heavenly Pride Banquet approaching, I need to strive to master the Gang Lei Finger technique. Although it is not as strong as the Residual Sun and Decaying Blood Sword, it is more than enough to be regarded as a trump card. Moreover, once the martial arts are mastered, they can be integrated and transformed into a hundred different moves."
"When facing an enemy, the four killing moves of Gang Lei Zhi can be used in other moves, which is extremely powerful."
Li Xian has many blessings: an iron-copper body, eighty-one bone and tendon forging techniques, a spine like a divine mountain, and the Gang Lei Finger. All martial arts can improve physical strength.
In addition, he was born with strong bones and muscles, double pupils, and a perfect extraordinary appearance... Li Xian's knowledge was still shallow, and he did not know the significance of these.
Time passed.
Li Xian worked hard every day, accumulating 600 proficiency points daily. With the help of the Thunder Stone, he reached the Great Perfection of the Gang Lei Finger technique on the seventh day of the tenth month.
[Gang Lei Finger]
[Proficiency: 15/10000 Mastery]
By understanding the properties of "listening to thunder," one can hear the rolling thunder and know where the lightning is striking.
After that, he continued to practice the Thunder Finger Technique, progressing in tandem with the Remnant Sun and Decaying Blood Sword Technique. The Remnant Sun and Decaying Blood Sword Technique progressed very quickly, with medicinal baths and combined techniques becoming more and more frequent. Because he lived in the lady's side room, he was only a few steps away from her.
Li Xian often inquired about the essentials of swordsmanship. His wife practiced the Yin Sword technique, which, in principle, was difficult to instruct her on. However, his wife possessed profound martial arts skills and a deep understanding of various techniques, so her advice was often extremely useful.
All these factors.
Having achieved perfection in the first level, one steps into the [Great Completion] of the second level, witnessing the initial stages of martial arts.
Seeing the Yin-Yang Immortal Couple sleeping together in blissful harmony, dancing with long swords and roaming freely across the world, was incredibly delightful. Li Xianchu, in the midst of this scene, gained some insight, his mind stirred. The next day, as he and his wife united, that scene unconsciously came to mind.
The lady, drawn by the scene, was overjoyed, as if in a dream, her heart and soul stirred. She was truly a peerless genius, seizing the inspiration as the sword hummed, at the moment of day and night's transition, at the division of yin and yang, she used the sword to adorn the yin and yang essences, cleansing their bodies.
It is of immeasurable benefit.
The power of Yin and Yang in this world far surpasses that of medicinal baths. It can slow down the wear and tear of time, nourish one's appearance, and enhance one's ethereal beauty.
Li Xian asked, "Madam, since you possess the Silkworm Jade Inlay Technique, why do you value this sword technique so much?"
“Superior martial arts are already hard to find. When this sword technique is combined, its power surpasses that of even the most advanced sword techniques,” Madam Wen said. “The truly rare aspect of this sword technique is that it touches upon the principles of Yin and Yang, representing a great opportunity. Your understanding is shallow, so naturally you wouldn’t understand.”
Lady Wen saw that Li Xian had already mastered the second level of swordsmanship and could now cultivate the third level. Although the sword techniques of the third level were powerful, they were inevitably too explicit. When they were combined, they needed to be of one mind and have endless pleasure. When the passion was at its peak and the swordplay was at its most intense, even more was required... There were also the seven-day and hundred-day trials within it.
Although all of this was inevitable, Madam Wen wanted to wait a little longer.
He then instructed Li Xian to continue practicing swordsmanship diligently and not to neglect it.
A few days later, the manor once again began to cook the finest food. Madam Wen said, "The realm of fine food cannot be rushed. It will come naturally when the time is right."
He instructed Li Xian to consume two grams every two days to maintain this rate.
[Eating Essence]
[Proficiency: 48/100]
...
October 12th arrived in the blink of an eye, the eve of entering the mansion.
Qingning County.
Li Xian considered the long journey ahead; the round trip to the prefectural city would take more than ten days. On the eve of his departure, he hosted a grand banquet, inviting all the officers and servants of the Martial Guard Hall to enjoy a feast at a restaurant.
He spent money lavishly.
The table was laden with delicacies from land and sea, more than a dozen kinds of delicious dishes. The aroma was irresistible, making one's mouth water.
"Lord Wu, I wish you the best of luck in winning the championship!" The constable raised his wine and drank heartily.
"What's so great about the prefectural city? Let them see how powerful our Commandant Wu is."
Everyone enjoyed the conversation.
Luo Xia, in high spirits, asked the waiter for some strong liquor and challenged Li Xian to a drinking contest. She fought on despite repeated defeats, only to be defeated again and again. Before long, she was passed out on the ground, unconscious.
At the banquet, everyone was completely at ease. They spoke, ate, and drank to their hearts' content.
The men drank heartily, feasting on a table laden with delicacies. After several rounds of drinks, Li Xian, slightly tipsy, looked at his brothers who had risked their lives for him, so loyal and devoted, and suddenly thought, "In my circumstances, I've managed to carve out my own little territory in Qingning County. But..."
Looking out the window at the bright moon and the vast sky dotted with countless stars, I thought, "I'll see Xiao Fan soon, in the city... in an even wider world?"
"Although my wife is accompanying me on this trip, I must still be careful. The prefectural city is Cao family territory; it's easy to dodge open attacks, but hard to guard against hidden arrows."
Thoughts raced through my mind.
Li Xian was excited, worried... she had all sorts of feelings. Suddenly feeling a bit bored, she went for a walk to clear her head and went back to the old house to take a look.
Although Luo Xia was appointed as the Deputy Commandant of the Military Ranks, he still lived in the old house. He would occasionally return to visit Liu and his wife.
The old house is clean and tidy, and the thatched roof has been renovated.
...
...
The next day.
In front of Yihezhuang.
The lady's long hair was styled in an updo, adorned with three silver hairpins inserted diagonally, the ends of which dangled pearls. She was beautiful and adorned with many ornaments. Her earrings and necklace were perfectly chosen.
Li Xian, supporting her hand, had already prepared a treadmill and lifted the carriage curtain beforehand, handling everything meticulously. Madam Wen nodded slightly, her jade beads lightly touching, and she sat down in the carriage. Her voice rang out: "Let's depart."
Li Xian, holding the reins, gave a loud shout. The strange horse "White Cloud" rode the wind beneath its hooves, speeding along the official road towards the prefectural city.
(End of this chapter)
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