Chapter 331 The Mysterious Stone Pill, Elder City Lord, and Madam Li Xian Meet in Grand Style!
Li Xian sighed, “The creation of heaven and earth is boundless. Strange and wondrous things happen one after another. Just when I think my knowledge has increased a little and I have begun to understand the ways of the world, something new and strange appears, reminding me that I am still short-sighted. This thing is strange, and I must be careful.”
He saw the stone cauldron standing tall. Inside the cave, colorful light swirled, illuminating the surroundings in dappled patterns. Occasionally, he heard the tinkling of a spring, tranquil and serene, a scene of breathtaking beauty. He cautiously approached, but after taking only two steps, he immediately turned back.
He nearly stepped on a venomous snake. The snake was brightly colored, its scales smooth and glossy. Extremely dangerous, yet exquisitely beautiful. Li Xian's eyesight was exceptional; he should have noticed it long ago. However, he hadn't, and only at the last moment, thanks to the intuitive warning of his [Perfect Appearance], did he barely avoid it.
Li Xian observed the side of the cave and immediately understood: "The colorful light flowing in this cave is dazzling. In addition, the snake scales reflect light, making them extremely difficult to spot when they are lying on the ground. My experience is still limited, and I did not expect this. Moreover, venomous snakes prefer to hide in damp and warm caves. Although this place is relatively cold, it is warmer than other places. Given this habit, they gather here to build their nests and reproduce."
Upon closer inspection, venomous snakes were coiled up in the rock walls, crevices, and ceilings. The dense clusters of snakes were enough to send chills down one's spine, and their bodies were intertwined in complex knots.
Li Xian, quick-witted and agile, used his "Cloud-Soaring Hand" to catch the snake. He pinched it about three inches from its fin, carefully examining the colorful venomous snake. He noticed its sharp fangs and pale yellow venom. Suddenly, he thought, "This venom might be useful. As for snake meat, we've been eating wild vegetables and fruits for days; perhaps today we can finally have some!"
First, throw the snakes back. Using light footwork, avoid the swarm of snakes and safely arrive at the stone cauldron. The stone cauldron is about ten feet tall, milky white in color, at first glance it looks like jade, but upon closer inspection it is stone, with a rough exterior, shaped like a square cauldron with four legs. Although it is hollow inside, it has no lid.
Li Xian drew his sword, revealing a cap. Inside was a small white stone pill, emitting a pleasant fragrance that soothed the mind and was strangely peculiar to look at. Li Xian used his sword to lift it, the blade pointing diagonally upwards, and the small pill rolled along the blade into his palm.
It was about the size of a finger joint, and felt like stone or jade to the touch, with a hard texture. Li Xian pondered, "The stone cauldron contains a stone elixir. This elixir is made of stone and should not be taken orally. What is it for? My knowledge is still limited. If Madam were here, I could ask her immediately for clarification. But if she were here, how could I remain unharmed?"
Thinking of the lady's figure, his feelings were complicated. He said again, "The lady may be in the tomb. If we encounter the lady, it will be a huge problem."
Suddenly, he saw all the venomous snakes in the cave flee in panic. A thought flickered in his mind, and he approached with the elixir in hand. The snakes, unable to escape, were terrified by the aura of the stone elixir. It turned out that the stone cauldron contained the stone elixir, which was not to be taken orally, but rather "observed." Each glance at it allowed him to secretly perceive its medicinal effects.
The most wondrous elixirs of heaven and earth need not all be consumed!
The Stone Elixir gathers the essence of heaven and earth, embodying the creation of all things. Through the catalysis of feng shui and the nurturing of the earth's veins, it comes together with countless coincidences and destiny. Like stone, like jade, like a precious gem… it possesses the wondrous effects of repelling poison, preserving life, and even petrification. Poisonous beasts retreat at its sight. Those on the verge of death… by gazing upon this elixir, can remain alive. Even with all internal organs destroyed and the body rotting, simply staring at this elixir will preserve life, preventing certain death. However, the longer one gazes upon it, the greater the risk of petrification.
This is the "Wall Dust Elixir." The Nangong family's "Jade Avoidance Manual" records its efficacy, considering it a "match made in heaven." However, fate is fickle; the Nangong family's arduous search yielded no results. Li Xian, however, encountered it by chance and easily obtained it.
However, Li Xian did not possess the true text of the "Jade Avoidance Manual," and all his knowledge came from Nangong Liuli's oral account. This resulted in incompleteness, hence his ignorance of the substance. But being naturally intelligent, he pondered for a moment and quickly grasped its "poison avoidance" properties. He thought, "Although I possess 'pure qi' and am not afraid of poisonous fog and miasma, I am helpless against poisonous beasts and snakes. With this pill, it will be useful if I encounter poisonous beasts or snakes in the future. Once I escape this predicament, I will slowly study its uses."
Li Xian took out the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box and stored the 'Wall Pill' inside. Sure enough, the poisonous snake no longer tried to escape; snakes prefer warmth and instead burrowed into the cauldron. Li Xian lightly leaped over it, his toes barely touching the ground. Seeing the dense cluster of snake bodies inside the stone cauldron, he couldn't help but think:
"The feng shui here is strange; it can nurture elixir of immortality and perhaps even give birth to wondrous beasts. Now that I have carved open the stone cauldron, the snakes can crawl inside. If this continues, won't a snake king be born?"
He then laughed and said, "The birth of the Snake King will surely take hundreds or thousands of years. That's too far in the future. The most urgent thing is to use your snake bodies to fill our bellies. Please go and roll around in hot soup and oil."
Li Xian rang out his "Thunderous Chest Drum." A resounding boom echoed through the room, causing the snakes to writhe in terror and faint en masse. Li Xian was about to bang his chest again when he suddenly saw dust and ash sliding down the walls, cracks spreading across them. He feared that another thunderous bang would cause the room to collapse.
She then took out a small brocade pouch, about the size of a palm, containing a woman's delicate fragrance. It was embroidered with gold flowers and was quite exquisite. This item came from the "Luo family of Embroidery City" and was a gift from Luo Feiyan.
He grasped the rim of the brocade pouch and shook it three times. With each shake, the pouch grew larger, and after seven or eight shakes, it expanded to a length and width of about ten feet, enough to hold three people. If he encountered a powerful enemy and knew he was no match, he could hide inside the pouch, like a thin layer of armor protecting his body. This small pouch contained the essence of the Luo family's martial arts from Embroidery City.
Li Xian was greatly pleased, thinking to himself, "The possessions of a noble family are naturally extraordinary. No wonder it has stood firm and dominated this region; it is indeed not to be underestimated." He then stuffed the swarm of unconscious venomous snakes into the bag. Li Xian used his Qingfeng Kick to sweep the snakes away, sending them fluttering into the brocade bag. After several such moves, all the venomous snakes on the ground were now in the bag.
Li Xian shook the brocade pouch, thinking to himself, "It's still not enough. How can these venomous snakes feed two hundred people? It just so happens that I haven't practiced my Cloud Hand technique in a long time. I'll use you all as practice."
He leaped and floated towards the mountain wall, his movements as swift as lightning. He grabbed three venomous snakes between each of his fingers, precisely seizing their vital points. The snakes twisted and struggled, but offered no resistance. With a slight tremor of his qi, he rendered the snake-like beasts unconscious, then tossed them into the brocade pouch.
[You reach out and grab the snake, skill level +3]
[You reach out and grab the snake, skill level +4]
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Li Xian seized a swarm of snakes and began to grab them with all his might. The snakes were on guard, ready to bite, and each time Li Xian reached out, dozens of venomous mouths and nearly a hundred fangs attacked. His technique was skillful, and he became increasingly adept at it. He continued until he had emptied the swarm of snakes, then moved on to another location.
Half an incense stick later, the brocade bag was full and heavy. Li Xian sealed the bag, and the Ghost Python Spear emerged from his sleeve, with the snake bag hanging from its end. He carried it away. He walked very quickly, and soon he saw the women's figures.
Upon seeing him, the women immediately gathered around. Mu Hongchou asked, "Brother Li, what's in your pouch?" Li Xian laughed heartily, "It's naturally a highly nourishing tonic."
Li Xian asked, "Have you found anything?" Li Xian had made orderly arrangements. Mu Hongchou, Yi Qianqian, Luo Feiyan, and Lin Aoshan were in slightly better condition and stronger. He then ordered the four of them to go ahead a few steps to investigate the surrounding area. If there was anything unusual, they were to return and report.
Mu Hongchou, Yi Qianqian, and Luo Feiyan all came up empty-handed. Lin Aoshan discovered a fruit orchard, unsure of the type of fruit or its toxicity. She asked Elders Zhao Chunxia and Tang Mengluo to examine the fruit, learning that it was non-toxic but astringent, barely enough to fill their stomachs and warm them. She then led a dozen or so women to pick the fruit.
As dusk approached, the women hesitated, anxiously wondering why Li Xian hadn't returned. They were about to send someone to search for him when Li Xian returned, putting their minds at ease.
The group briefly exchanged information. Li Xian said, "We might get to eat meat today!" The women were all delighted. Lin Aoshan asked curiously, "This sac is huge, did you hunt a wild boar?"
Li Xian laughed and said, "It's even more nutritious than wild boar." Yi Qianqian said, "Could it be a mountain deer? It doesn't look like one to me."
Li Xian said mysteriously, "You'll find out soon enough. My dear sisters, I have a favor to ask. Please inquire among the various sects and factions to find out which sister is skillful and capable, and request her to come and assist me."
The women were secretly pleased to hear him call her "sister" so affectionately and naturally, but they were also disappointed when he called everyone he met "sister".
Dozens of people quickly came to his aid. Li Xian untied his pouch, revealing a dense array of snakes and beasts, their scales mottled and their fangs sharp. The women were terrified and retreated, but their experiences of being captured, imprisoned, and forced to escape along the way had tempered their spirits and helped them grow stronger. They quickly regained their composure. Li Xian explained, “I saw a cave with venomous snakes inside, and I was also frightened. But I thought snake meat would be delicious, and if I cooked snake soup or snake dishes, it would be a rare delicacy, so I caught them all. Please, my sisters, don’t be too afraid. We are in a dangerous place, and our lives are hanging by a thread. What is there to fear from mere snakes and beasts? Please collect the venom for me and put it in a bottle. Then we’ll skin the snakes, remove their organs, bury a pot, and start a fire… Today we’ll eat snake soup, and I guarantee you’ll enjoy it to your heart’s content.”
Hearing his gentle voice, the women, though reluctant to help the snake-like creature, were all willing to lend a hand. They quickly and efficiently worked together, catching the snake, extracting its venom, skinning it, and removing its organs.
Elders such as Tang Mengluo, Zhao Chunxia, Peng Sanluo, and He Lijun also did their best to help. The women, belonging to different factions, had diverse personalities, making unity difficult. It was inevitable that mutual distrust and secret cliques would arise. Li Xian, leading the women, was able to avoid this potential problem. Li Xian was neither from any of the five factions, yet possessed considerable prestige. He was usually straightforward and gentle, yet decisive and strict. He punished transgressions and rewarded merits.
With the support of the elders from various factions, the hearts and minds of the various "armies" were united. The elders also took this opportunity to teach their disciples martial arts, incorporating swordsmanship into the process of "extracting snake venom, skinning snakes, and removing snake organs".
The women, pooling their wisdom and enthusiasm, created a sword technique called "Snake Peeling Sword Technique." Though still in its nascent stage, it was already fiercely murderous, cunning, and ruthless... its swordplay swift and powerful. Elder Tang Mengluo, wielding a wooden staff, demonstrated it in front of everyone. Her figure was graceful and alluring, her sword and waist working in perfect harmony, her swordplay incredibly captivating, like a venomous beauty sucking the marrow from the bones.
This sword technique subtly combines elements of the five major sword schools, though it is very basic. Each move is quite profound, though it is not perfect and contains many flaws. Li Xian observed it secretly, memorizing it, thinking, "Martial arts in this world are nothing more than this. I will carefully memorize it; if I have free time in the future, this 'Snake Peeling Sword Technique' is well worth studying and researching."
Yang Piaoxue said, "Today we'll skin the snake and extract its venom, and tomorrow we'll kill the thieves and eliminate the villains."
After all the snakes and beasts had been skinned, Li Xian personally cooked snake soup. He made the most of wild fruits and vegetables, throwing them into the pot, showcasing his culinary skills. The fruits tasted of snakes, the snake meat was gamey, and the wild vegetables had a strange flavor... but with the right seasonings, cooking time, and techniques, they became a delicious dish.
That day, snake soup warmed the body, snake broth nourished the soul, and snake meat filled the stomach. Amidst the cold snow and dark gorge, the flickering firelight created a unique and picturesque scene.
After eating and drinking their fill, the women sang folk songs and shared anecdotes to strengthen their bonds before going to bed in an orderly fashion. In their private tent, Li Xian lit a lamp and pondered, sketching the terrain of the canyon on a map. Zhao Chunxia brought over snake venom, all stored in jade bottles, and asked, "What are you going to do with this snake venom?"
Li Xian said, "This place is strange and unpredictable. Even if we leave the canyon, we may encounter the soldiers of Flying Dragon City again. They are skilled in formations, have deep experience, and have been training together for a long time. I will take some snake venom and coat it on the arrows, which will be the icing on the cake. If we encounter a strong enemy, we can use the poisoned arrows to shoot them."
Zhao Chunxia's beautiful eyes were fixed intently as she observed Li Xian along the way. She noticed his meticulous arrangements, thoughtful consideration, and decisive decisions. He possessed both courage and wisdom, and her feelings for him grew increasingly peculiar, eventually inspiring admiration and respect. She smiled and said, "Your plans are truly comprehensive. You have no connection with my sword sect, yet you went to such lengths to rescue me. You've worked tirelessly along the way, and you've been the most exhausted. I truly... I don't know how to thank you enough."
Li Xian laughed and said, "There's no need for thanks when it comes to chivalrous deeds. Senior Chunxia, please rest well and recover your strength as soon as possible. That way, I'll have another powerful backer, won't I?"
Zhao Chunxia smiled and agreed, then suddenly said, "I've already asked the Sword Sect disciples to boil water. You've worked hard all day, how about I wash your feet for you?" Li Xian was taken aback and said strangely, "How could I dare? How could I dare? I'm full of energy, I don't need to wash my feet." He thought to himself, "I ran into her at the Immortal Inn years ago, and she almost killed me. Now that we've met again, she wants to wash my feet. This is really strange."
Zhao Chunxia said, "No matter how energetic you are, you still need to rest and be taken care of. You saved my life, so it is only right that I help you wash your feet."
Seeing no way to avoid it, Li Xian noticed Zhao Chunxia's lowered eyebrows, flushed face, and alluring eyes. Her long hair was simply styled, exuding a mature charm. He thought to himself, "This Senior Zhao Chunxia is truly a kind person who knows how to repay kindness. She washed my feet today, probably to repay her kindness. Well then, why let such a simple act of kindness linger?" He said, "Alright then!"
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The next day, the women set off again, looking refreshed and full of energy. After traveling for about half a day, they suddenly came to a fork in the road, one leading left and the other west. Li Xian pondered, "Whenever there is a fork in the road in the tomb, we must be cautious." He then ordered Mu Hongchou and Yi Qianqian to explore the left and right forks, respectively. Each of them carried a strand of hair, so that if anything happened, they could plant the hair to let others know.
After a while, the two women returned from their investigation and reported the situation. The right fork in the path was swampy, overgrown with strange plants, offering nowhere to stand; it was utterly desolate, devoid of any other living creatures besides the vegetation. The left fork was wide and flat, but there was a dark cave in the mountain wall from which came a wheezing sound. Mu Hongchou waded in to investigate and found that it was a sleeping lizard beast, enormous in size. Moreover, there were many of them; if they were to come out in full force, it would be extremely dangerous!
Faced with a choice, Li Xian thought, "The road to the right is all swamp. Although there's nowhere to put our feet, we all possess light-footed skills, so wading through shouldn't be a problem. However... this road is desolate and rarely shows any signs of life. There might be hidden dangers that are difficult to discover. Even if there are no hidden dangers, the road is short of supplies. If we can't get out in a few days, we'll inevitably be stuck in a dilemma. The road to the left, although it has giant lizards, seems dangerous, and it is indeed dangerous, but it's clearly visible. If we can find a way to deal with them, we'll have a better chance of survival."
He then shared his thoughts with the elders and disciples. Zhao Chunxia, Tang Mengluo, and the others had initially planned to go to the right to avoid the lizard beast. However, after hearing Li Xian's explanation, they all found it very reasonable and thought, "This young man's thinking is unique; he is truly a rare talent!"
They all agreed to go to the left.
Li Xian asked, "Sister Mu, do you know the species of lizard? If you know the species, you will know its habits. By following its habits, you can avoid danger."
Mu Hongchou exclaimed "Oh dear!" and said apologetically, "I...I didn't think of that. Seeing that the lizard beast's breath was like a tiger's roar, which was quite astonishing, I retreated to report."
Li Xian said, "Sister Mu, I'll trouble you to go again and get a clear look at what that lizard looks like. If possible, try your best to draw it." Mu Hongchou said, "Okay!" Holding paper and pen, she moved nimbly and was already far away in a few leaps.
He Lijun of the Lake Mountain Sword Sect said with relief, "Having suffered this calamity, Hongchou's temperament has become even more composed!"
After a while, Mu Hongchou returned to the camp, having already sketched the appearance of the lizard beast. Li Xian handed the drawing to the elders for their inspection. Zhao Chunxia, Peng Sanluo, and others did not recognize it. Tang Mengluo, however, examined it for a moment and recognized this type of "lizard beast" as a "giant lizard."
This lizard is ferocious and extremely sensitive to blood and qi. It is incredibly fast, and its roar is like that of a tiger or wolf. It possesses immense strength and originally inhabits the cliffs and mountains of the "Southern Frontier." Tang Mengluo had visited the Southern Frontier and encountered similar lizards, thus recognizing it.
The giant lizard is blind but has a keen sense of smell. Li Xianjian devised a plan, and together with Mu Hongchou, Lin Aoshan, and Luo Feiyan, they stole giant lizard droppings. They then cooked the lizards and added the droppings to the pot.
They then placed the clothes on a pot to fumigate them with the stench. Wearing these clothes, they crossed the side road. The women blushed with embarrassment, but disregarded the formalities, changing into the smelly clothes. That night, they ventured onto the side road.
After traveling several miles, they indeed saw countless holes densely packed between the mountain walls on both sides. A quick glance revealed hundreds, even thousands, of them... If they were to provoke them out of the holes, the swarms of lizards would be overwhelming, and even with extraordinary martial arts skills, the best course of action would be to flee.
The sounds of tigers roaring and wolves howling echoed from the lizard cave, rising and falling, resounding loudly. The women trembled with fear, taking cautious steps. Li Xian occasionally offered words of comfort.
As night fell, a "crackling" sound was suddenly heard. Giant lizards emerged from their burrows, their claws digging into the walls, hanging sideways from the cliff face. The larger the lizard, the higher its burrow.
Mu Hongchou suddenly covered her mouth and nose, her eyes wide with shock and her body trembling, pointing to the high cliff. There she saw a giant lizard, nearly twenty zhang long, its body like a rock, its tail like a mountain, hanging sideways in the cliff. Its breath was like a sudden gust of wind, a faint, fishy stench tantalizing to the nose.
Li Xian thought to himself, "I'd rather be like Senior Ao Mo. If I saw this beast for the first time, I would be terrified. But having seen the sea dragon, this lizard-like beast is unlikely to shock me." He said in a deep voice, "Don't panic, let's proceed slowly." As they ventured deeper into the path, Li Xian counted the caves, totaling 49,872.
Suddenly, a series of thuds echoed, and the ground began to tremble. In the distance, on a mountainside, two giant lizards were fighting over a cave, locked in a fierce struggle. They tumbled down the cliff face, colliding with other giant lizards along the way. Chaos erupted ahead, with dozens of giant lizards fighting amongst themselves, kicking up clouds of dust.
Li Xian ordered each unit to keep a close watch on their comrades and huddle together as much as possible to rest in place. As the night deepened, the giant lizards became increasingly ferocious, and a series of thuds could be heard behind them, indicating that more giant lizards were fighting.
Thus, both their paths forward and backward were blocked. The women trembled with fear, utterly bewildered. Li Xian ordered them to remain where they were and wait for an opportunity to act. They spent the entire night without sleep, until the next morning. The lizards ceased their fighting, and the survivors crawled back to their cave.
Hundreds of giant lizard carcasses lay along the path. Li Xian said, "Be extremely careful not to step in the giant lizard's blood." The women were on high alert, avoiding the lizard carcasses and walking slowly.
The following night, the lizards emerged from their cave again. Although there were occasional skirmishes, the conflict was quickly resolved on the rock face, preventing a large-scale melee. Li Xian remained calm and composed, guarding his mind and dealing with the various unusual events.
Around noon that day, the number of lizard caves along the way gradually decreased, and after another half an hour, they were gradually out of danger. The women embraced each other and wept with joy. Li Xian also wiped away a cold sweat. To be on the safe side, they traveled another ten miles or so before resting.
There was no snow left here. It seemed that he had passed through the "Ten Thousand Lizards Path" and entered the heart chamber of the Nine Aperture Dragon Heart Acupoint. Li Xian exhaled clear air, eliminating all the foul odor.
The women all surrounded Li Xian, feeling extremely dependent on him to make the final decision. Li Xian said thoughtfully, "Let's rest for a day before heading further in! There will definitely be more dangers ahead, but we have already gone through many hardships and are no longer the same as before. These mere hardships cannot defeat us."
Tang Menglu sincerely admired him, saying, "Brother Li is exceptionally resolute and intelligent. If our sword sect disciples could learn even a little from him, it would be a great joy."
The women said, "It seems unlikely. Brother Li's ambition and strategy are beyond the reach of others." "Although I am a disciple of the Sword Sect, to be impartial, while my senior and junior brothers have decent talent, in terms of temperament and character, they immediately pale in comparison." "I once thought my senior brother was the epitome of talent, but now… perhaps he still is, but Brother Li…"
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The women chattered excitedly. Li Xian, being humble by nature, quickly stopped them. Fearing he would be displeased, the women didn't mention it again, but they had already made their judgment. They all thought, "While feasts and banquets can be a place to make friends, a person's true character and demeanor are revealed in dangerous situations. A man doesn't necessarily have to be exceptionally handsome, but being able to stand alone and remain calm in the face of adversity is most important."
At this moment, one forgets about appearance and physique, and is completely captivated by his demeanor. There is no distinction between day and night here. After resting for half an hour, Li Xianyin heard the resounding sound of a bell. Finding himself with nowhere to go, he followed the sound of the bell.
The road went straight ahead, with no other way to go. After traveling for about half an hour, the road came to an abrupt end, blocked by a jade wall fifteen zhang high. In front of the jade wall was a stone tablet with the three characters "Reflection Cliff" written on it.
Lin Aoshan asked in surprise, "This jade wall is about fifteen zhang high, which is rather short compared to other mountain walls. It can be easily climbed over with light footwork. How can anyone think of this?"
Li Xian said, "Could there be some hidden meaning?" After careful observation, he saw nothing amiss. Lin Aoshan said, "Little Li, I'll use my lightness skill to try and go up. You're clever and alert, so you can support me from the side."
Li Xian said, "Alright!" Lin Aoshan used her light footwork to leap up, easily rising several feet. Just as she stepped onto the jade wall, preparing to use it for another leap, she suddenly felt that the soles of her feet were slippery. The jade wall was extremely smooth, and she could not find any leverage.
Lin Aoshan turned around and leaped into the air, her body moving like a dragon. She thought to herself, "It's only a little over ten feet high. Even if there's nowhere to get a foothold, I can still cross it by leaping with my lightness skill." She rose several feet into the air with ease.
Just as he was about to force his way across, his expression suddenly changed, his momentum vanished, and he plummeted from the height. Li Xian unleashed "Wind Breath," combined with the iron lung properties of his "Iron Body," and exhaled a fierce gust of wind.
They caught her, preventing her from falling. Lin Aoshan managed to stand firm, let out a long breath, and said, "Little Li, did you hear that?"
Li Xian said, "The sound of a bell? I've been faintly hearing the sound of a bell since just now. It faintly drifts in every ten or so breaths. I find it strange." Lin Aoshan said, "I heard the sound of a bell too. But after leaping seven or eight zhang, the sound of the bell suddenly became louder, as if my heart stopped. Then my internal energy disappeared completely, and my martial arts seemed to have lost their effectiveness. No... not exactly lost effectiveness, but merely existing in form, unable to evolve or manifest anything."
Li Xian said in a deep voice, "Is that so? I'll give it a try!" He stepped onto the Seven Star Step and attempted to leap over the Cliff of Contemplation. After leaping seven or eight zhang, he indeed heard the sound of a bell echoing from afar. His martial arts transformation vanished, and his internal energy disappeared. He then plummeted straight down.
The women rushed to help, but Li Xian was prepared. She used the "Lightness Technique" and became as light as a feather. She landed with a slight tremor but was not injured.
After the bell tolled, the strange phenomenon immediately ceased, which was extremely bizarre.
Li Xian drew his green sword and cleaved the jade wall. He barely left a scratch and said, "So that's how it is. This wall seems easy to cross, but it's actually an insurmountable chasm. The jade wall is smooth and solid, with no leverage. Without martial arts, who could easily leap over a wall several tens of feet high? The design here is infuriating and regrettable; it's truly treacherous."
The women hurriedly asked, "Brother Li, what should we do then? Should we turn back the way we came?"
Li Xian laughed, "Why turn back? He's forgotten that we outnumber him!" He flicked his sleeve and drew his spear, the Ghost Python Spear, which was fierce and menacing. He said, "Those of you with the best lightness skills, stand on my spear. Then, place others on your shoulders, making seven or eight people in total. Sister Hongchou, you stand on the highest point and use your lightness skills to leap over the jade wall in one breath."
Upon hearing this, the women's eyes lit up, realizing that Li Xian was full of ingenious schemes. The women, all masters of lightness skill, immediately piled themselves high, using the spear shafts and shoulders as footholds. Li Xian, with his immense strength, and the women, being agile, easily overcame the challenge.
However, the women standing on the gun barrels could not maintain their balance. Therefore, only seven or eight of them remained, about five zhang (approximately 10 meters) off the ground. Li Xian gave a powerful shove, sending the women flying into the air, screaming in alarm.
Standing high above, Mu Hongchou was propelled upwards by the woman beneath her, using her lightness skill to float gracefully with immense momentum. Even though the resounding bell could disrupt her martial arts techniques and internal energy circulation, her momentum was already established, and she continued to float towards the cliff top.
Her eyes shone brightly as she saw the jade peak ahead. She spun around in mid-air, adjusting her posture. Her waist was slender, her red dress eye-catching, and her long, thick hair flowing like a dancer. Her momentum gradually diminished, her speed slowed, and she drew closer to the cliff top. She reached out to grab the edge, but the jade was slippery, and she lost her grip, falling towards the bottom.
Li Xian used the same trick again, rescuing Mu Hongchou and saying, "Let's do it again, this time I'll use more force." He used the same trick again, and this time without fail. Mu Hongchou leaped to the top of the cliff.
She threw down a "snakeskin rope," which she had obtained from skinning a snake a few days earlier. She tossed it off the cliff, and Li Xian, Zhao Chunxia, Lin Aoshan… climbed back up, passing through another southern pass.
The bell tolled softly, and with each resounding sound, all who heard it felt as if they had been reborn into the mortal realm. Li Xian followed the sound of the bell and vaguely saw a towering palace.
Li Xian said, "Now that we've come this far, we have no choice but to go all the way!" He then led the women forward.
Little did he know, the hall was bustling with activity. The young heroes and elders of the five major sword sects, He Wentian, Wen Caishang… were all there!
(End of this chapter)
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