Chapter 234: Pure Yang Body, Life and Death Together
Li Xian helped Wen Caishang sit upright, her legs crossed, hands resting on her knees, her posture dignified and her demeanor exquisite. Wen Caishang's long hair cascaded down to her waist, meticulously braided and adorned with silver ornaments, hairpins, and other decorative items. Despite her injuries from numerous dangerous battles, her hair and makeup remained impeccably styled. Only the areas near her skin were slightly damp with sweat, clinging to her skin, adding a touch of haste and weariness.
Unrolling the map in front of him, Li Xian said solemnly, "I entered the city early this morning to buy a map. There is only one county seat nearby, not even as good as Qingning County."
"The map in the bookstore was crude and useless, a complete waste of my money. I was heartbroken, but luckily I ran into a disciple of the Sword Rain Pavilion. I secretly followed him and waited for an opportunity to steal it. I got my hands on his map. Please take a look, Madam."
Upon hearing the words "heartache," Wen Caishang rolled her eyes at him, thinking, "I've never seen you feel sorry for me." She lowered her eyes to look at the map, and her brows furrowed immediately.
Li Xian said, "I'm sure you know by now, Madam. Jianyu Tower is proceeding cautiously, with many spies around. It's highly likely they know we're hiding in the mountains and are gradually pressuring us."
"Upon entering the city this morning, we already spotted the Sword Rain Tower. As time goes on, their defenses will undoubtedly become even tighter!"
Wen Caishang said, "It must be Su Qiuwu. He is narrow-minded and appears gentle, but he is actually treacherous and cunning. He is the most troublesome person in the Sword Rain Pavilion."
Wen Caishang said frankly, "If I hadn't been injured, I wouldn't have been afraid of this encirclement and attack. But my injuries are extremely severe, and I'm beyond saving. How can you possibly fight back on your own?"
Li Xian pondered for a moment, looking at the map from left to right, and said earnestly, "There's always a way out. If we combine our wisdom, perhaps we can find a way out."
Wen Caishang met Li Xian's deep and resolute eyes, her heart fluttering. She smiled and said, "Indeed... You've risen from a lowly servant to where you are today, all thanks to this spirit. Alright, let's join forces and fight against those heroes everywhere."
Li Xian pulled Wen Caishang aside, and they sat down together on the ground to examine the map and terrain. Wen Caishang was knowledgeable about Huangshamen, Jianyulou, and Taixinzong, and was well-versed in feng shui, geomancy, and other miscellaneous studies... so she assisted him from the side.
Li Xiancong was quick-witted and resourceful, constantly coming up with ingenious ideas. He deduced the layouts of various sects, and whenever he had an idea, he spoke it frankly. Wen Caishang listened and was greatly impressed, finding his ideas very reasonable.
The more the two argued, the more urgent the situation became. Li Xian, being easygoing by nature, would occasionally tease and joke to lighten the mood. Wen Caishang, both angry and annoyed, felt her former authority completely gone as she was constantly being teased.
Two hours later, the map was marked with red dots, black dots, and mud dots, which represented the various sects' plans to besiege Luanfang Mountain.
Wen Caishang said solemnly, "Li Xian, you are very capable. You should be almost right, and even... you are more thoughtful than Su Qiuwu. Huangshamen, Jianyulou, and Taixinzong are not the same sect. They have no vested interests and it is difficult for them to unite as one."
"If you come to surround and attack me, I'll be in big trouble."
The map's layout, dotted with dots, occupies high ground and, combined with the terrain, gives it an impregnable, fortified position. Wen Caishang carefully studied it and was filled with admiration.
Li Xian laughed, "I don't need to send troops to surround and annihilate her; I've already captured Madam." The two joked around for a while, and Wen Caishang helplessly scolded, "This boy is so irresponsible." After a moment, they returned to the main topic.
How can we escape this predicament?
Li Xian pondered a plan to break through the encirclement. Considering the terrain and topography, he envisioned various scenarios. No matter where he broke out, he would inevitably attract encirclement from all sides, making escape extremely difficult.
Li Xian and Wen Caishang devised various routes, but none of them worked. Wen Caishang said, "Your plan is too meticulous; even you would find it difficult to break through. Our... last hope is that their plan is not as good as yours, and that there is a loophole somewhere."
The map was like a sand table. Li Xian put himself in the shoes of Su Qiuwu, the Taixin duo, Zhao Zhiyuan, and others, imagining how they would cooperate, how they would strategize, how they would crush them, and how they would prevent their attacks… leaving no room for error. The encirclement was complete, and with each day it dragged on, the area shrank, making escape even more difficult.
Returning to his own situation, how could he escape? It seemed like he was outwitting Su Qiuwu and Tai Xin, but in reality, it was all about struggling with himself.
If he could break through, he would have nothing to worry about. But it was not simple. After pondering for a long time, Li Xian's mind was elsewhere. He picked up the jade pendant at Wen Caishang's waist and gently stroked it, feeling a cool sensation that was very comfortable.
Wen Caishang and Li Xianhe were looking at a map together, so she sat in his lap. She smelled his fragrance and felt peaceful.
As dusk fell, the slanting moon shone through the cave, and starlight twinkled.
Li Xian suddenly paused, took out half a roasted chicken and some side dishes from his pocket, and said with a smile, "You were so engrossed in thinking that you didn't eat anything all day. I bought these on purpose when I entered the city."
He used his palm to blow away the dust on the ground and spread out the oil paper. Li Xian suddenly paused, a brilliant plan forming in his mind. He smiled slightly and opened all the packages of food.
"It's a pity it's already cold!" Li Xian said.
Wen Caishang had been feeling hungry for some time. Li Xianjiang, eager to show off his skills, drew his Shenjiang Sword, unleashing a streak of intense, yang-colored light that lingered in the air, radiating warmth. This warmed half a roasted chicken and some side dishes, filling the air with an irresistible aroma that whetted their appetites.
Wen Caishang raised an eyebrow and said, "A mere trick, just showing off." Li Xian tore off a chicken leg to feed Wen Caishang, who was secretly pleased and opened her mouth to take a bite. Li Xian shrank back and ate a bite himself first.
"You!" Wen Caishang exclaimed angrily.
Li Xian said, "Good madam, there will be at least a fierce battle tomorrow, and I need to replenish my strength."
Wen Caishang said, "You little rascal, so many people have wanted to feed me chicken legs, but I ignored them all. Now that I finally want some, you won't let me."
Life is unpredictable. Wen Caishang, however, showed no annoyance, but rather seemed somewhat angry. Li Xian tore the roast chicken apart and fed it to Wen Caishang. Both of them ended up with their mouths covered in oil.
The beauty was in distress, her red lips stained with oil. After eating and drinking their fill, Li Xian and Wen Caishang sat outside the cave, gazing at the stars and admiring the moon, a cool breeze blowing.
In the distance, willows stood in clusters, flowers and grasses flourished, and the scenery was beautiful. Li Xian sighed, "It's a pity there's no wine; we can drink to our hearts' content." Wen Caishang asked, "Aren't you afraid?"
"I'm afraid, but I'm not afraid either," Li Xian said cheerfully. A breeze blew, causing his hair to flutter, yet his features exuded charm.
Wen Caishang said, "Your demeanor is...very good." Her pretty face flushed slightly. She had commented on Li Xian many times before, and had said similar things several times.
In the past, when evaluating something in one's hands, one was naturally poised and confident. Now, when a woman evaluates a man, she is naturally hesitant and awkward.
The crescent moon was waning, but the scenery was delightful.
Li Xian took out a map, pointed to a spot, and said, "Cai Chang, what kind of flowers are planted in this sea of flowers?"
Wen Caishang said, "This flower is wild and is called 'Fangwu Flower'. It is in full bloom now, with clusters of flowers covering the mountains and fields, which is quite magnificent."
Li Xian smiled and said, "Have you seen it?"
"I know about it from books, but I've never seen it before," Wen Caishang said, shaking her head. Li Xian asked, "Is this flower described in the book as very beautiful?"
Wen Caishang said, "I've seen all kinds of beautiful flowers. But the Fangwu Flower has a unique feature: when all the flowers are in full bloom, the flower fields are shrouded in colorful mist, which is extremely beautiful."
"Many tourists, wishing to see this wonder, will search for the place where the fragrant mist flower grows. There were poets in Dayu who wrote related poems."
Li Xian asked, "I guess the so-called colorful mist is just scattered pollen. Because pollen is light, it can be blown away by the wind. Therefore, the fragrant mist flower always grows into a large patch."
“You are very clever,” Wen Caishang said. “This pollen is indeed a medicinal ingredient. But it is not scarce, and there are many substitutes. Therefore, no one covets it.”
Li Xian suddenly laughed and said, "Cai Chang, tomorrow, we don't know if we'll live or die, or if we'll die and never live. If it's suitable, how about we go and take a look at that sea of flowers?"
When Wen Caishang heard Li Xian call her "Caishang," she felt slightly indignant, thinking, "You're just starting out, how dare you call me that? You don't know, anyone who called me that before was stabbed to death by me with my sword." But she also felt a strange, sweet feeling in her heart. The two already had a foundation of affection, and their interactions had gradually softened.
Once again, Li Xian, even in the face of life and death, remained remarkably free, unrestrained, and composed. She had seen many heroes, including those of unparalleled courage. But Li Xian's carefree and elegant demeanor was unique. Her current state of mind and circumstances were a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and this feeling would never be repeated.
She said in a coquettish voice, "You little rascal, you're quite the romantic. They're chasing us, and you think this is just for fun?"
Her heart was churning, and she said softly, "But... if you really want to do this, I can only go along with it."
Li Xian smiled and said, "Madam, please rest. I have a plan, and we will be fine tomorrow."
Wen Caishang said, "Okay." Li Xian carried Wen Caishang into the cave, took off her white dress, and performed the blood circulation massage as he had done the day before.
With everything settled, Li Xian practiced martial arts outside the cave. He drew the Shenjiang Sword, revealing the first and second layers of its sharpness with no reservation. He wielded it with scorching heat, the sword light swirling around, and the sword energy crisscrossing...
He had mastered all the martial arts techniques, and strange phenomena appeared all around him. Even after he finished his moves and rested, these phenomena lingered in the air.
[Despite the perilous situation, my resolve remains firm; proficiency in all martial arts styles +300]
[You have digested the essence within your body, increasing your essence-consuming proficiency by 1]
[Eating Essence]
[Proficiency: 99/100]
...
Li Xian's heart was as firm as iron, honing his swordsmanship and agility. This was not last-minute cramming, but rather a consistent and unbreakable practice.
[Proficiency +1]
[Proficiency +1]
[The Fallen Sun and Bloodstained Sword - Level 1]
[Proficiency: 2/80000, Pinnacle]
[Description: You practice sword techniques, accumulating abundant primordial yang. Your yang energy is pure, and you have grasped the characteristics of a 'pure yang body' and the 'heart fire'. Your strength, internal energy, healing power, etc., have all increased. You have condensed a great life-saving yang energy.]
The Qi Lake surged, and the internal Qi grew continuously, instantly reaching "sixty-two zhang" (approximately 33 meters). The internal Qi was abundant, and the physical strength was also strong. Li Xian felt as if he had inexhaustible energy and wanted to unleash it immediately.
But wanting to face a dangerous battle tomorrow, he forced himself to do so. There would be a place for him to prove himself.
Li Xian thought to himself, "The Pure Yang Body's characteristics? Superior martial arts are truly powerful. Each martial art is like an endless treasure trove. By slowly exploring and refining the moves, I can not only use them for combat, but also for health and beauty, breaking through limitations, and gaining extremely powerful characteristics. It's like being imbued with divine power!"
"A body of pure Yang... possesses the ability to ward off cold and avoid poison, and has enduring stamina, which seems quite attractive to women? The characteristic of Heart Fire... I feel a fire burning in my heart, making my blood scorch. How can I utilize this characteristic?"
Li Xian pondered to himself.
Legend has it that within the martial arts force "Cold Valley," there exists an extremely powerful palm technique. However, when used, it freezes one's blood, making it a deadly move where one risks their life.
If Li Xian were to learn this technique and utilize the "Heart Fire" characteristic, he could avoid a deadly situation and greatly increase his strength.
Martial arts styles originated from this. The more powerful the martial art, the more wondrous its effects. What is its limitation is my antidote. With proper practice and combination, the results can exceed expectations.
(End of this chapter)
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