Chapter 249 Seven Stars Minor Accomplishment, Proficient in Medicine, Three Flowers on the Head, Second Characteristic!
The tiger cried out from the desolate mountain, its mournful cries echoing everywhere.
Another night passed. The sparse sunlight was reluctant to fall, only faint patches of light barely indicating the passing day. Spending the night in the damp forest was hardly comfortable. Wen Caishang hugged Li Xian tightly, yet felt surprisingly warm, despite the dampness.
She woke up naturally, sat upright and practiced internal exercises, her hair swaying slightly, slowing down the decline of her extraordinary skill.
The rain stopped slightly.
Li Xian thought to himself, "Tiger Cry Ridge is eight hundred miles long, and the endless mountain range beside it spans several prefectures and states. Whether I can cross it or not is extremely difficult. It is by no means something that can be accomplished overnight. I cannot abandon my martial arts training!"
He then assumed a stance and began practicing the "Seven Star Steps." He had long since memorized the steps of various star positions, such as Tian Shu, Kai Yang, and Yu Heng. He repeated these steps with a light and agile body, weaving left and right among the towering ancient trees.
The dense forest blocked out the sky, and there was no star chart to refer to, but heaven rewards diligence, and hard work and study will eventually pay off. He smoothly stepped into the "minor achievement" realm, and his Qi Lake advanced another ten feet.
[Proficiency +1]
[Proficiency +1]
...
His blood and qi surged, dispelling the dampness, and he continued on his way. Li Xian knew full well the dangers of Tiger Cry Ridge; whether it brought good or bad fortune was beyond his control. All he could do was walk carefully on the path beneath his feet.
Choose a direction and proceed resolutely. Mark the route with signs along the way.
After walking for about half a day, the surroundings became extremely quiet, and it was difficult to find a single person.
The weeds were taller than a person, and the shrubs resembled a wall.
The vegetation is covered with leeches, which are densely packed with black dots. Whenever someone gets close, the leeches wriggle and crawl, sticking to the skin and sucking blood.
Fearing he would lose his way, Li Xian pressed on without hesitation. He climbed mountains and cut down trees. When he saw weeds and bushes blocking his path, he swung his sword and hacked them away, clearing a path through the undergrowth.
With a snap, the branch fell to the ground. Hundreds of leeches swarmed onto the sword, clinging to its blade. Li Xian flicked his wrist, and the sword unleashed yang energy, the scorching yang fire burning the leeches to death.
Wen Caishang rolled up her sleeves and drew her sword. Her sword strikes were precise, piercing the air in quick succession. The leeches were strung together, still wriggling and not yet dead. With a flick of her soft sword, she sent the leeches flying.
Li Xian cleared the way, while Wen Caishang protected the two. They worked together seamlessly, occasionally exchanging glances and experiencing a wondrous sensation.
But there were too many leeches!
Wen Caishang raised an eyebrow and flicked her wrist. The white snake sword flashed with incredible speed, then suddenly vanished into thin air. The leeches that fell were pulverized.
Li Xian asked, "Madam, what move is this?" Wen Caishang replied calmly, "The Avici Sword Technique. You have seen it before. The sword is a killing sword, but how to use it depends on my will."
turn out to be…
Her Avici Sword Technique unleashed over a hundred strikes in an instant. The characteristics of a soft sword were fully displayed! Each strike grazed her clothing without tearing it. It was as if she had a sword armor over her clothes!
Li Xian was filled with envy and longed to learn, but ultimately dared not speak. Wen Caishang suddenly sheathed her sword and said, "Try the Thunderous Chest Drum."
Li Xian did as instructed, his chest drum resounding with thunderous force. Black leeches, covering a radius of a hundred feet, rained down like a deluge. It was utterly terrifying; Li Xian swung his sword to block them all.
Li Xian joked, "If I get soaked like this, I'll probably never forget it!"
Wen Caishang said, "Let's go quickly, I really don't like this place." Li Xian said, "I don't like it either," and quickened her pace.
However, there were tens of millions of leeches, and after taking a few steps forward, all that remained were black dots slowly wriggling.
The thunderous sound of the drums could be avoided, but the frequent beatings were extremely taxing on one's energy and internal energy. After traveling only a few miles, one had already exhausted several feet of energy. Wen Caishang, with her broad knowledge, frowned slightly as she observed the flowers, plants, and trees along the way, using the local materials to prepare medicine.
Crush various forest herbs such as "Five-Herb Herbs," "Zhangnan Leaf," and "Dust-Avoiding Powder" and apply them to the body to ward off locusts.
The results were excellent.
However, the dampness in the forest diluted the medicinal properties. Following the method, Li Xian brewed and prepared the medicine again, making sachets, pendants, and balms... in ample quantities for carrying with him.
Wen Caishang said, "The properties and compatibility of medicines vary from place to place, and the methods of preparation also differ. My method is based on Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory. Since you keep asking me for guidance, I'll teach you as we go through this dense forest!"
Her clothes were wet, clinging to her skin. Her white dress was partially visible, yet her beauty remained undiminished. Even in the deep mountains and forests, she radiated brilliance. At that moment, her soft, gentle voice captivated hearts.
Li Xian possessed extraordinary composure, showing no fear even in perilous circumstances. Eager to learn, she exclaimed joyfully, "Thank you, Madam!"
Wen Caishang said in a charming and gentle tone, "You little rascal, you always hope to get some useful knowledge from me. Do you think I can't see through you?" She pinched Li Xian's ear and sighed, "You are only obedient for a moment when you want to learn. After you learn it, you turn around and order me around."
The mountains and forests were teeming with medicinal herbs. Although the two were fleeing for their lives, they stayed together, chatting idly, exchanging pleasantries, discussing martial arts, and talking about court affairs... making their time quite enjoyable. After traveling for several miles, they saw more than a hundred kinds of medicinal herbs along the way, and Wen Caishang explained their medicinal uses and properties one by one.
Li Xian memorized the details and gradually adapted to the dangers in the forest.
At noon that day, Li Xian felt hungry and realized he hadn't eaten for several days. Because of the eerie and strange atmosphere of Tiger Cry Ridge, the two were on high alert and neither had paid attention to their hunger.
Li Xian drew his bow and went hunting. He caught two wild rabbits, skinned them, gutted them, roasted them over a fire, sprinkled them with salt, and managed to have a decent meal.
After eating and drinking their fill, Wen Caishang felt a little tired. Li Xian smiled and said, "Alright, let's rest early today." He stepped on the woodland, which was still wet and sticky.
Looking up, he chose a tree branch three zhang high, and used his lightness skill to leap up. With a swift stroke of his sword, he cleaved it cleanly, just enough for two people to lie down and sleep.
As the rain gradually stopped, Li Xian's mood brightened, adopting a "what's done is done" attitude. After the two lay down, Li Xian drew his bow and shot an arrow, knocking the leaves off the trees above.
Starlight streamed down from the sky.
Li Xian said, "Madam, your knowledge of astrology and celestial phenomena is extremely profound. Now, teach me as well." Wen Caishang retorted, "You're at it again!" In the past, when she was calculating for personal gain, she would never have agreed so easily. But now that they were together, the calculation of personal gain had long faded. She could not refuse Li Xian's request coldly and firmly, so she said softly, "I will teach you. Listen carefully."
...
Her voice was soft and gentle as she spoke. The study of astrology was complex and profound, and Li Xian listened with rapt attention. He watched as Wen Caishang's speech gradually slowed, and she eventually fell asleep.
Li Xian thought to himself, "Madam, don't blame me for taking your knowledge; I have to get something in return. In the future, when I roam the world, having more knowledge will prevent me from capsizing in a ditch."
Seeing Wen Caishang's extremely beautiful face, her white dress slightly see-through, revealing a gold-red inner pocket, Li Xian, young and vigorous, also felt desire. He forcibly suppressed it, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
Suddenly, a rustling sound was heard.
Li Xian was a very light sleeper. Following the sound, he looked up and his double pupils became slightly visible. In the darkness, on a large tree, a human face was peering into their direction.
Li Xian thought to himself, "Spying at midnight, they are enemies, not friends. Why should I be polite?" He immediately drew his bow and shot an arrow with fluid, effortless movements.
The man darted away at incredible speed. Li Xian narrowed his eyes, released the arrow with a thunderous sound, and it split into three, each pinning the man to a tree.
Li Xianqi was abundant in energy, vigorous in spirit, and resolute in character. Wen Caishang was erudite, knowledgeable, and a first-rate pharmacologist. The absence of either of them would surely lead to their deaths in the forest. Therefore, they were inseparable and mutually dependent.
Li Xian woke Wen Caishang and they went to investigate together. The forest was dark, but both of them had excellent eyesight and found the person in the dark.
The creature that perished was thin and short, with a body resembling a monkey and a face resembling a human.
“It’s this!” Wen Caishang said.
Li Xian inquired, and Wen Caishang solemnly replied, "This is a prion, a rare social demon. It has a monkey's body and a human face, and is cunning and vicious. It likes to hunt and kill prey in groups. This is... a stalking monkey. If I'm not mistaken, we have already been targeted by a prion troop."
Li Xian asked, "But what will happen?"
Wen Caishang said, "It's very dangerous. Primals have the habit of imitating humans. If a martial arts expert is captured by a prawn, it will not immediately devour him, but will play with him to the extreme."
"Larger troop of prawns learned how to cook. After playing with people, they would throw them into a pot to cook and then eat them."
Wen Caishang spoke of prawns. Suddenly, a rustling sound was heard, as if something was approaching. Looking around, she saw that hundreds of prawns had already surrounded her.
"Hiss!" The prickle monkey let out several strange cries. Holding a poisonous fruit, it shot towards them. Wen Caishang said, "This fruit is poisonous. Once broken, the poisonous gas will cause a numbing sensation in the body."
Li Xian, holding Wen Caishang's arm, darted and dodged through the forest, stepping lightly on the leaves. At the same time, he fired arrows from the air, killing several monkeys.
After a brief exchange, the primate monkeys displayed their abilities, including setting traps and using hidden attacks. Li Xian and Wen Caishang, both quick-witted individuals, easily deflected these attacks.
Wen Caishang said, "This brood of monkeys has even evolved traps and bows and arrows. It seems to be quite large, and a prolonged battle will be pointless."
Li Xian nodded, took the bell from his waist, and channeled his Qi. A muffled thud resounded. The monkeys covered their ears, bared their teeth, and howled in pain as dozens of them fell from the tree.
Li Xian snorted coldly and shook the area again. The prawns began to scatter. Suddenly, one of the prawns reached out from the shadows, trying to steal the "exorcism bell."
Wen Caishang snorted coldly, flicked her sleeve and drew her sword. She severed the monkey's arm, and with several more sword strikes, she killed it completely.
The prions' cunning is obvious. Li Xian said, "One prions can hardly amount to anything. But hundreds or thousands of cunning prions secretly coveting it is very bad. I need to be more vigilant and protect the exorcism bell."
Li Xian asked, "Is this gluttonous monkey meat considered a precious treasure?"
Wen Caishang thrust her longsword, sending the monkey flying, and said, "The flesh of any demon can be considered a treasure. But... the flesh of a monkey is the lowest of the low. It needs good charcoal, good fire, and good water to cook, barely turning it into a [treasure] meat. But the content of the essence of heaven and earth is very small. Therefore... monkeys are extremely unpopular among martial artists. In the martial world, 'monkey' is an insult. To utter such a word is a great disgrace, and it will surely lead to a 'fight to the death' situation!"
Li Xian said, "I see. Madam, why didn't you say so earlier? My use of the term 'monkey' was an insult to Su Qiuwu, Li Quan, and the others. Look... don't they look alike?"
Wen Caishang chuckled and said, "It does seem so. But since you're under my tutelage, I won't allow you to use such foul language. When have you ever seen me swear? One should maintain proper etiquette when roaming the martial world."
"Besides... calling someone a monkey is unseemly. You can't allow it."
Li Xian smiled and said, "Yes, madam, I will obey your orders. Madam, shall we go east or west?"
Wen Caishang rolled her eyes and said, "This is where you decide." Then she headed further east.
...
...
The long forest path was undisturbed. Though there were dangers and perils, the combined abilities of the two of them could easily overcome them.
This day.
[You have ventured into perilous lands and explored the world, thus accelerating the absorption of its essence.]
Li Xian trembled slightly. His inner energy deepened, and a halo shone brightly between his brows. His ethereal, otherworldly features became fully apparent.
With a slight movement of the palm, a delicate sound resonated, like jade stones gently touching, capable of producing music. All 206 bones in the body vibrated, revealing all the characteristics of celestial music!
Wen Caishang said:
"The melodious celestial music is the sound of heaven and earth, the first characteristic of the second realm of martial arts, and also an extremely important pillar of martial arts."
Li Xian opened his mouth as if to speak, but suddenly exhaled billowing white mist, and a second characteristic appeared in succession... three flowers on his head!
The characteristics of martial artists all have an internal logic. They are the outward manifestations that appear after a certain degree of transformation.
The three flowers on its head are no exception; it also has another name: "firewood growing in its belly"!
(End of this chapter)
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