Chapter 19 Martial Arts Realm One, Food Essence Treasure
That night, Zhao Han, Wang Chun, and Zhuo Yilie's cheeks became increasingly swollen, squeezing their facial features and stretching their skin like a rubber ball.
The pain wasn't intense, but it was extremely agonizing. The force of the Azure Palm condensed and didn't dissipate between the flesh and blood, causing the blood and qi to become viscous, and where there is no flow, there is pain.
It feels like being pricked by needles all the time; you can bear it, but it can drive you crazy.
In the latter half of the night, his face swelled up to a certain extent and then burst open, oozing blood and pus, which looked quite terrifying.
For the first time, Li Xian felt that martial arts were extraordinary. A few light slaps could be so torturous.
All he could do was fetch clean water and wash the blood off the three of them. He also poured ice from the well and applied it to their wounds.
This will alleviate the pain.
"Damn it!"
Enraged, Wang Chun slammed his fist on the bed. The curse, though unnamed, suggested he was in excruciating pain and venting his anger.
Or is he really swearing? And who is he swearing at?
His gaze, however, drifted intentionally or unintentionally toward Li Xian's face.
Deep down, I felt somewhat unbalanced.
"Fourth brother, go to sleep. Remember to report for duty tomorrow, I won't go with you."
"Remember to ask for leave for us. If we go out looking like this, we'll be laughed at to death."
In the latter half of the night, the pain subsided for the three of them, and the swelling gradually showed signs of going down. Zhao Han said weakly.
"Okay." Seeing that the three were in stable condition, Li Xian gradually felt relieved. After tidying up the room, she lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.
But he didn't fall asleep, thinking to himself:
"Martial arts... martial arts... only by mastering martial arts can one avoid being bullied!"
Hearing the occasional wails of the three men, Li Xian couldn't sleep soundly.
In a hazy dream, he found a secret treasure trove of martial arts techniques and discovered his own path to becoming stronger.
The next day.
I had just woken up when a screen flashed before my eyes.
[Skill: Sleeping]
[Proficiency: 293/500 (Beginner)]
[Description: I sleep all day, but I still can't do it. It's not that I'm stupid, it's just that my luck hasn't come yet.]
Li Xian was surprised. Every day after waking up, his proficiency in [sleep] would increase. But it wasn't high, usually around [4] [5] o'clock.
But today I gained [28] points of proficiency.
"Could it be... that last night's dream actually improved my sleep? Oh well, I don't know what use this skill is, so I don't need to worry about it."
...
Because the swelling had not subsided, Li Xian helped the three of them get leave and let them rest in bed.
"It's never as good as relying on yourself to ask others for help!"
After getting up early for morning training and running several laps around the village, Li Xian didn't go to find Jiang Yun, but went straight to Pang Long's house.
"Li Xian?"
Pang Long was carrying a stone mill on his shoulder, training his physique. When he saw Li Xian coming over, he threw the stone mill to a corner of the courtyard.
Strangely, the millstone, though heavy, fell to the ground as lightly as a feather.
Li Xian was greatly impressed; such martial arts skills were truly astonishing.
"Why did you come all this way here today instead of practicing your boxing?"
"Since you're here, have some water."
Pang Long poured a glass of water and tossed it to Li Xian. Li Xian caught it, took a sip, and asked, "Commander Pang, I'd like to discuss something with you."
"Oh?" Pang Long laughed, "Are you asking about the secrets of that martial art?"
Li Xian's heart stirred, but he hadn't come for that. "I was wondering if I could exchange the Tiger Blood Pill you gave me for a martial arts technique?"
"What kind of martial arts?" Pang Long asked casually.
"Azure Palm," Li Xian said firmly. "I wonder if exchanging Tiger Blood Pill for Azure Palm is feasible?"
Pang Long wiped away his sweat, draped a wet towel over the bamboo frame, and frowned slightly. "Azure Palm? This is an entry-level martial art. It is not under my control, nor am I qualified to teach it."
"Furthermore, at this stage, your body is weak, so practicing advanced martial arts would not be a good thing, as it would deplete your vital energy."
"This Tiger Blood Pill is your best choice right now. If I were you, I would take it as soon as possible."
Li Xian asked, "Commander Pang, if I wish to obtain the Azure Palm, is there a way?"
Pang Long's gaze fell upon him, scrutinizing him. "You really want to learn the Azure Palm?" Li Xian nodded emphatically. "I really want to learn it."
"The Biluo Sect is located in the Leisure Martial Pavilion, under the jurisdiction of Madam's maid, Qiuyue. When it will open and when one can enter is not something I can say for sure. Since you want to go, fine... I'll keep an eye out for news for you."
"You should focus on practicing martial arts and fulfilling your duties as a guard."
“Among all the guards, you seem like the right person, someone who can give it a shot.”
As Pang Long spoke, he walked over and patted Li Xian on the shoulder.
"Thank you for your high regard, Commander." Upon hearing that there was no hope for the time being, Li Xian had no choice but to suppress his thoughts for the time being.
"Well, do you still have any questions about martial arts?" Pang Long asked with a smile.
"Commander Pang is finally willing to talk?" Li Xian was naturally overjoyed.
"It's not that I don't want to talk about it, it's just... I've vaguely touched that level. I also want to find someone to show off to." Pang Long laughed heartily, his rough features clearly showing his happiness.
Li Xian thought to himself, "Truly, good things always bring a boost to one's spirits." But it's also a good opportunity to peek into that mysterious realm.
Pang Long sat down in the courtyard, reminiscing about the past, and said, "I was originally a martial arts practitioner who had been to many places, killed people, and almost been killed myself. Later, I was subdued by Madam and became the head of the guards. I helped Madam look after this huge estate."
"I recently received a soup from my wife, and after drinking it, I finally made some progress. I'm getting closer to that level..."
Li Xian asked, "What realm is it?"
"The realm of complete transformation!" Pang Long emphasized, his eyes gleaming. "What all martial artists seek is this complete transformation! The ultimate goal of martial arts training is precisely this transformation!"
"I didn't tell you before because I didn't want you to become arrogant and unrealistic after broadening your horizons, or suffer from depression, because I was like that before."
"Then why are you willing to tell me today?" Li Xian asked.
"Hahaha," Pang Long said, "Of course... I'm almost at that level too. If I can succeed, the guards in the manor might also be able to succeed. It's not that I'm all talk and no action, but rather that I have a goal and aspirations."
Pang Long said, "Martial arts! It involves consuming the essence of heaven and earth and drinking the radiance of the sun and moon to strengthen oneself. I have vaguely come into contact with this."
"Martial artists don't rely on breathing exercises; they rely on what they eat! They rely on training!"
"We martial artists are born as 'clay embryos,' also known as 'clay figures.' Through diligent practice of martial arts, we strengthen ourselves and accumulate strength. When we reach a certain level, our internal energy becomes powerful, our physique becomes strong, and our martial arts attainments become profound. When this clay figure is thoroughly refined, it is sufficient to utilize the medicinal power of 'refined food.'"
"This touches upon the first stage of martial arts transformation: 'Eating Essence'."
At this point, Pang Long's face was full of anticipation.
He's only taken one step into the realm of "essence consumption," and the road ahead is still long.
“Little Fairy…” Pang Long sighed, “You may not be able to feel my joy. But there’s something I can tell you in advance: Martial arts… will always be the foundation of the martial path!”
"This is what the lady said. She relayed it to me, and I'm relaying it to you as well. You... you'll figure it out slowly."
Looking at Pang Long's spirited face, Li Xian suddenly realized: "I understand. A martial artist is someone who has learned martial arts to a certain level and then begins to seek a transformation to become a stronger being."
"So, the initial stage of martial arts is the Clay Body stage. I am now considered to be in the Clay Body stage as well."
(End of this chapter)
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