Chapter 250: The Mystery of the Second Realm, the Magical Use of Immortal Sound
The fragrant white mist floats upwards, merging with the heavens and earth.
This is an omen of "three flowers on the head".
Li Xian sensed the changes. The martial arts realms of "Eating Essence to Transform into Mortal" and "Shaping Bones and Embryos"... all increased physical strength, brought one closer to the universe, added possibilities, and extended lifespan.
The strength has increased significantly. But it's not an exaggeration; it's merely incidental.
Wen Caishang nodded and said, "That's right. Perhaps it's because you've ventured into dangerous places that you've been able to digest the 'small pieces' of the essence of heaven and earth much faster."
The surroundings were quiet and peaceful, with the occasional sound of birdsong.
Having heard no trace of pursuers for a long time, a sense of leisure arose within them. Naturally, they began to discuss martial arts. Wen Caishang, intending to impart her knowledge, glanced at the large tree beside her and said, "When you use the Azure Palm, strike this tree. Control your strength so as not to interrupt it."
The tree is seven zhang tall, with a dense canopy. It has nothing particularly special about it.
Li Xianqi Lake was nearly seventy feet long. His Qi surged, and he struck out with his palm. Tree trunks trembled violently, and leaves rustled down. Poisonous snakes, venomous insects, and other insects all fell to the ground.
Wen Caishang said, "Your palm technique is perfect and has reached its peak, but it can be improved further. Try striking again while playing celestial music."
Li Xian pondered, "Play celestial music?" In the instant he struck out with his palm, his hand bones lightly touched, and a melodious celestial tune began to play. With a loud "bang," the tree trunk trembled.
The leaves fell straight to the ground like raindrops, embedding themselves in the soil. The leaves were light; fallen leaves should have drifted left and right, swaying with the wind, so this straight, direct fall was truly unusual.
Li Xianming realized: "This is a miraculous effect of celestial music!"
Wen Caishang laughed and said, "Do as I say, like this and like this, while playing the celestial music and striking out with your palm." Li Xian did as she was told, striking the tree trunk with his palm.
The leaves, in their vibrant colors, spiraled around the trunk like a whirlpool. Li Xian asked, "Madam, what is the reason for this?"
Wen Caishang smiled and said, "The melodious celestial music is a cornerstone of martial arts. Mastering celestial music will elevate one's strength to a higher level."
"Think about it carefully. A martial artist has 206 bones in his body. When any two bones touch, they produce a unique sound. When the finger bones touch, the sound is crisp and clear, but it is fleeting. When the leg bones touch, the sound is dull and the aftertaste is lingering."
"Countless sounds combine with each other. Some are slow, some are fast, some are clear, some are muffled. They form countless strange sounds, which even a martial artist can hardly fathom in a lifetime."
"And its wonderful applications are endless, just like the myriad things in nature, with their endless changes."
Li Xian suddenly realized: "Heaven and earth have color, and they also have sound."
"The babbling brook, the clear sound as it flows through the gaps between the rocks, the rustling of falling leaves... everything, endless. Martial arts practitioners resemble heaven and earth, and must imitate the sounds of heaven and earth. Madam... am I right?"
Wen Caishang was taken aback, then smiled and said, "That's correct. You're very smart; one must have one's own insights into martial arts. I'll teach you two musical techniques first."
"The first one is called 'Guardian Body Sound,' which begins at the coccyx of the spine... When you encounter a powerful enemy or suffer injury, you can resonate with the Guardian Body Sound. It can protect your entire body, and it can also calm your mind, guard your energy, and maintain your clarity of mind."
"The second one is called 'Attacking and Killing Melody,' which begins at the Jade Pillow Pass and is played through all the bones... When you raise your palm and draw your sword, the attacking and killing melody will play. The killing force will be even stronger, like two armies clashing, one side beating drums that shake the heavens, their momentum surging. The other side is muffled and listless, their momentum low. Once the battle begins, the one beating drums that shake the heavens is more likely to win with fewer troops!"
The foundation of a martial artist lies in their spine.
The spine is the pillar that supports the heavens and the beginning of all rhythms. The spine has twenty-four vertebrae, corresponding to the seasons and the seasons of heaven and earth.
The three gates—the coccyx, the spine, and the occipital bone—are respectively connected to the initial generation of essence and qi, the warming of the heart fire, and the mysterious orifice of the brain marrow. Standing upright between heaven and earth, they connect heaven and earth.
Li Xianzhu's spine was as majestic as a divine mountain. The moment the celestial music began to play, its power, grandeur, and scale far surpassed that of others!
A martial artist with no way out, by sheer luck, steps into the second realm. He first experiences the wonder of celestial music, then realizes the weight of the "backbone," but often it's too late. Li Xian, fortunate to have Wen Caishang's guidance, has walked this path with a solid foundation.
A martial artist of the first realm with profound skill may be no less capable than a martial artist of the second realm in terms of strength, martial arts, and adaptability. Why then do they often suffer losses in battle? It lies in these various subtleties.
Li Xianxue benefited greatly from playing the "Defensive Sound" and "Offensive Sound," and his strength increased rapidly. When the "Defensive Sound" was played, a faint white light emanated from his body. When the "Offensive Sound" was played, his sword aura surged fiercely.
They quickly mastered it. Wen Caishang said, "Although the celestial music is wonderful, it should not be played indiscriminately. Playing celestial music carelessly when facing an enemy will only harm yourself."
Li Xian was well-informed. He was very enthusiastic when he first encountered this key point. He firmly memorized the "defense note" and the "attack note" and practiced the starting and stopping of the piece naturally and smoothly.
Half an hour later, Li Xianchu had mastered the situation. Seeing that the sky was clear and bright, he packed his bags and set off again. Li Xianchu led the way, while Wen Caishang protected him from the side.
Li Xian asked, "Does Madam also possess the skill to use the melodious fairy music?" Wen Caishang replied, "No, I am not proficient in either the thunderous chest drum sound or the melodious fairy music; in fact, I have abandoned them. My strength lies in 'clothing draped in muddy clothes'."
Li Xian asked, "Such a powerful technique, isn't it a pity to abandon it?" Wen Caishang shook her head and smiled, "There are countless powerful techniques in the world. Martial artists have their strengths and weaknesses. What's so strange about it? The ethereal music is indeed powerful, and can be considered one of the cornerstones of martial arts, but... it's not only those who are proficient in the ethereal music who are considered powerful. Martial arts are vast, and techniques are countless. Asking too soon is pointless. Let's hurry on our way!"
It wasn't that she was hiding her abilities, but rather that there were simply too many layers of martial arts to describe in words. Only by experiencing it firsthand, trying it out, and tasting it can one truly understand its essence.
After walking for about several miles, Li Xian's eyes were opened to the world. Suddenly, he saw a light ahead and arrived at the edge of a cliff. A gentle breeze was blowing, caressing his body.
Blow away all the stuffiness and dampness. Feel refreshed and invigorated.
The cliff was tens of feet high. Li Xian chopped down tree vines, wove them into a rope, and climbed down. Just as he reached the bottom and his feet touched the ground, he suddenly felt his body sink…
Li Xianqi exclaimed, "This used to be a swamp! The bushes blocked our view. Luckily, we didn't jump right down. Otherwise, it would have been dangerous if we had gotten stuck in the mud!" He climbed the rope up the cliff and explained the situation.
Feeling along the cliff, we found a secluded path and descended the cliff.
After traveling another ten miles or so, the surrounding vegetation gradually changed. The wildly growing shrubs disappeared, and although the ancient trees were tall, they no longer provided shade.
Wen Caishang exclaimed happily, "This is the 'Resting Forest'." Li Xian asked, "What is the Resting Forest?" Wen Caishang replied, "In ancient times, strong men liked to build their tombs in the mountains and wilderness. The carpenters, craftsmen, and their entourages who built the tombs had to make many trips. However, the mountains and wilderness are a vast green sea, and we have both witnessed the ferocity along the way."
“A grand mausoleum can take decades, or even more than a hundred years to build. Therefore, the accompanying staff and craftsmen would plant seeds of the ‘Apocynum venetum’ in the dense forest on their way to and from the mausoleum.”
“The Lop Nur tree is very resilient. It can be eaten by gnawing on tree roots. Its trunk is straight and its fragrance repels insects. After it evolves into a forest, it becomes a relatively safe woodland.”
Li Xian said, "Madam has a keen eye for knowledge." He expressed his sincere admiration. Wen Caishang said happily, "Now that we've arrived at the resting grove, we can finally relax."
Suddenly, everything became clear. The sunlight shone in, warming his body. The sticky, damp feeling vanished. Li Xian found a lake where fish swam and played, posing no danger.
The two went into the lake to bathe. After washing away the sweat and grime, they took off their clothes and dried them over a fire, feeling completely refreshed and finally able to rest for a while.
Li Xian sighed, "The predecessors planted the trees, and the successors enjoy the shade; it's truly true." The grassland was dry, and although there were mosquitoes, snakes, and rats, they were not rampant.
I laid out my bedding, gazed at the stars and admired the moon, and drifted off to sleep soundly in the gentle breeze.
The next day.
Li Xian practiced martial arts, learning many techniques such as the Seven Star Step, the Sunset Blood Sword, and the Vast Leg.
The Qi Lake is growing and making progress.
Feeling hungry, I went to the lakeside, picked up a pebble, wrapped it with silk thread, aimed at a swimming fish, and shot it with precision. The pebble embedded itself in the fish's body, and with a pull of the silk thread, it was brought to the surface of the lake.
He caught three fish in a row. A very good haul! Li Xian packed up the silkworms and headed home. Suddenly, he noticed bloodstains on the ground. Li Xian thought, "Could it be that someone else came here before me?"
Out of caution, they followed the trail of blood. Parting a thicket of weeds, they found a figure. He was short, of ordinary appearance, and his clothes were wet, sticky, and smelly.
He was a disciple of the "Wuji Blade Sect".
Li Xian raised his palm to kill, but suddenly thought:
"This person is insignificant and there's no rush to kill him. His presence here proves that the Wuji Blade Sect has also entered Tiger Cry Ridge. It would be better to revive him and gather information. We can kill him later."
He checked his breathing and felt his bones. With a slight twist of his fingers, he dislocated his wrists, ankles, and joints. He carried him back to the camp, where Wen Caishang was practicing her inner meditation. She was quite surprised and asked what had happened. Li Xian told her the truth.
Wen Caishang examined the injuries, prepared the herbs, and had Li Xian cook and brew them. She then drew her sword from her sleeve, intending to sever his limbs to prevent future trouble.
Li Xian said, "Madam, wait! I have already dislocated his joints, so he won't be able to cause any trouble when he wakes up. If I dislocate all four of his limbs, he will be disheartened and won't be able to get anything out of him."
Wen Caishang nodded and smiled, "That makes sense." It turned out that the two of them had the same idea.
She sheathed her sword and vanished. Li Xian was very curious; how could she disappear into thin air?
After brewing the herbal medicine, I fed it to the man. About half a day later, the man coughed a few times and woke up in a daze.
Li Xian used both threats and inducements to extract information from the man. Terrified, the man lamented his tragic fate. Desperate and helpless, he naturally revealed everything he knew.
turn out to be……
The Sword-Slaying Alliance, with its formidable strength, the ruthless constable's full support, and the indignant assistance of righteous heroes, surrounded the area near the Weihu River, their advance unprecedented in its ferocity.
But they came up empty-handed again.
Li Xian and Wen Caishang, having reached a dead end, hid in Tiger Cry Ridge.
Leng Shixing said, "Since they've hidden in Tiger Cry Ridge, there's no need to pursue them. Ninety percent of them are doomed." He then took his leave.
Su Qiuwu and the others prepared a banquet to see Leng Shixing off. They all wondered, "Is this the end?"
Although Su Qiuwu, Li Quan, Qi Beidao, Shen Pingping, Zhao Zhiyuan and others knew that Tiger Cry Ridge was a dangerous place, they were uneasy because no one had been found alive or dead.
After discussing among themselves, they decided to search the mountain for three days, and then withdraw regardless of the outcome. Li Quan, who came from the Taixin Sect and had a long-standing friendship with the Huluo Sect, specially visited Zhang Ruifeng, the sect leader of the Huluo Sect, to request a map of Huku Ridge.
Zhang Ruifeng politely declined, advising Bie Shang to enter the ridge on his own. The group had been chasing each other for months, suffering injuries and setbacks… their deep-seated hatred had transformed into an obsession.
Why would they heed advice? They all thought, "Even if we can't get the map, as long as we're careful, there shouldn't be any major problems."
They then all entered Tiger Cry Ridge. Only Qian Jinghao and a few disciples were left to guard the outside of the ridge. Little did they know that this time, they would walk right into a trap.
Ancient trees provide ample shade.
One after another, the group was attacked and killed by tigers, with dozens losing their lives. They were also soaked by the rain and contracted a strange disease, their bodies swelling and turning red.
Starting the next day, Su Qiuwu began to organize his troops to return home, daring not to pursue them any further. They had clearly marked their route and determined their direction on the way there. But on the return journey, they had gotten lost! All their markings were gone.
The group was quite strong and possessed the ability to distinguish east from west, north from south. However, even though they could distinguish north from south, they still made mistakes when walking. The more they walked, the more confused they became, and eventually they lost track of where they were, finding it difficult to find their way out whether they were going south or north.
In the following days, they encountered swamps, dense forests, prawns, and more. Nearly 70% of their territory was lost.
Zhao Zhiyuan, Su Qiuwu, Li Quan, and other dignified martial artists of the third realm were dragged into the swamp by a giant crocodile due to a moment of carelessness.
Despite his superior strength, he killed the giant crocodile.
They were all barely able to protect themselves and had no strength left to pursue and kill.
(End of this chapter)
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