Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King-Chapter 258 - 248: Minor Achievement in the Seven Stars, Mastering Medicinal Lore, Three Flowers on the Head, Second Trait!
Tiger Cry Cliff, mournful sounds rising everywhere.
Another night endured. The sparse sunlight is reluctant to fall, faint light spots barely proving it’s day. The wet forest crossing the night is far from comfortable. Wen Caishang held Li Xian tightly, yet felt a certain warmth, aside from a bit of dampness.
She naturally awoke, sat upright for inner cultivation, her hair slightly swaying, slowing yet holding back miraculous progress.
The rain slightly paused.
Li Xian thought: "Tiger Cry Ridge spans eight hundred miles, and the Endless Mountain Range beside it stretches across several provinces and states. Whether it can be traversed is extremely challenging. It is not a task achievable overnight; my martial arts practice must not be neglected!"
He then assumed a stance, practicing the "Seven Stars Step". The steps of Vega, Dubhe, Kaiyang... many star positions were memorized long ago. He repeated them, his body becoming light and agile, dodging left and right among towering ancient trees.
The dense forest covers the sky, leaving no star chart for reference, but Heaven rewards diligence, and hard study will eventually pay off. He smoothly stepped into the "Minor Achievement" realm, his Qi Lake advancing several meters more.
[Skill Level +1]
[Skill Level +1]
...
Qi-blood surging, repelling the dampness, he continued his journey. Li Xian knew well the perils of Tiger Cry Ridge, fortune or misfortune was beyond his control. All he could do was to walk his path steadily.
He chose a direction and moved resolutely. Along the way, he marked and noted signs.
After traveling for about half a day, the surroundings became exceptionally silent, with no trace of human presence.
The weeds were as tall as a person, and the bushes resembled walls.
"Poisonous leeches" clung densely, appearing as black dots, shaking and wriggling when anyone approached, adhering to the skin, sucking fresh blood.
Fearing losing direction, Li Xian marched straight on without avoiding obstacles. Climbing mountains when he met them, cutting trees in his path. Seeing the weeds and brush blocking his way, he would wield his sword to cut them down, opening up a path.
The branches snapped with a "crack", falling to the ground. Poisonous leeches swarmed onto them, hundreds and thousands clinging to the sword. Li Xian flicked his wrist, the sword bursting with Yang Yuan Sword Qi, the scorching Yang Fire burning and killing the leeches.
Wen Caishang rolled up her sleeves and drew her sword. The sword precisely pointing upwards, stringing the poisonous leeches together, still writhing but not dead. She flicked the soft sword, flinging the leeches away.
Li Xian cleared the way, Wen Caishang guarded them both. They cooperated seamlessly, occasionally exchanging glances, feeling the wonder.
However, the number of leeches was tremendous!
Wen Caishang raised her eyebrows, twisting her wrist. The White Snake Soft Sword flickered, its speed astonishingly fast, suddenly vanishing out of sight. The falling leeches were pulverized.
Li Xian asked: "Madam, what move is this?" Wen Caishang replied calmly: "Abi Swordsmanship. You’ve seen it before. The sword is for killing, but how it is used depends on my intention."
So it turned out...
This Abi Swordsmanship she performed, issuing over a hundred successive strikes in an instant. The characteristics of the soft sword fully revealed! Each strike closely adhered to clothing without tearing it. It was as if an additional layer of sword attire was attached outside the clothing!
Li Xian was very envious and very eager to learn, but ultimately couldn’t bring himself to ask. Wen Caishang suddenly sheathed her sword, saying: "You try ’Chest Drum Thunder Sound’."
Li Xian complied, drumming his chest, the thunderous sound resounding. Within a hundred-meter radius, the black leeches fell like rain with a rustling sound. Terrifyingly so, Li Xian wielded his sword to block them, evading them all.
Li Xian joked: "If drenched by this once, it would be unforgettable for a lifetime!"
Wen Caishang said: "Let’s hurry up, I really don’t like it here." Li Xian said: "Neither do I." So they quickened their pace.
Yet countless poisonous leeches lay ahead, every few steps forward revealing a mass of black dots slowly wriggling.
The sound of drumming thunder might ward them off, but frequent drumming exhausted much energy and inner Qi. After traveling a few miles, several meters of Qi had been consumed. Wen Caishang, with her broad knowledge, frowned slightly, observing flowers and plants along the way, collecting materials on the spot to mix medicinally.
Using "Five Aconite", "Barrier South Leaf", "Dust-Avoiding Powder"... various forest herbs crushed and applied on their bodies to avoid the poisonous leeches.
The effect was quite good.
However, the forest was wet, and the medicinal effect was easily washed off. Following the same method, Li Xian prepared another batch, making sachets, fragrance pendants, scented ointments... carrying ample supplies with them.
Wen Caishang said: "The pharmacology of mixing the properties of herbs is different everywhere, and the methods vary. I use Yin Yang Five Elements Pharmacology. You always ask me for guidance, so in this dense forest... I will teach you as we go!"
Her clothes were wet, clinging to her skin. The white skirt faintly revealing, her beauty not diminished in the slightest. Even in the depths of the mountains and forests, she shone. Her gentle and soft speech tugged at one’s heart.
Li Xian, with extraordinary composure, faced danger without fear, eager to learn, joyfully said: "Thank you, madam!"
Wen Caishang, charmingly said: "You rascal, always hoping to gain some useful knowledge from me. Do you think I can’t see it?" She pinched Li Xian’s ear, sighing: "You only behave briefly when learning, but once you’ve learned, you turn around to boss me around."
The mountains and forests were full of herbs. Although the two were fleeing for their lives, they remained close and engaged in idle chatter, shared friendships, discussed martial arts, talked about court affairs... never dull. After trekking over ten miles, they encountered hundreds of herbs along the way, each explained by Wen Caishang for its medicinal properties and uses.
Li Xian memorized them firmly, gradually adapting to the perilous forest.
That noon, Li Xian, feeling hungry, remembered not having eaten for several days. Due to the bizarre terrors of Tiger Cry Ridge, both remained vigilant, neglecting their hunger.
Li Xian picked up his bow for hunting. He shot two wild rabbits, skinned and gutted them, started a fire for roasting, sprinkled some salt granules, and barely had a fulfilling meal.
After eating to satiety, Wen Caishang felt a bit tired. Li Xian chuckled: "Alright, let’s rest early today." He tapped the forest floor, it remained damp and sticky.
Looking up, he chose a branch three meters high, leapt up using his lightweight skill. Swinging his sword to trim it flat, just enough to accommodate the two for sleeping.
Seeing the rain gradually stopping, Li Xian felt lighter in spirit, adopting a "since we’re here, let’s just enjoy it" attitude. Lying down, he nocked an arrow and shot, toppling leaves overhead.
The starlight spread across the sky, pouring down.
Li Xian said, "Madam, your knowledge of stars and celestial phenomena is extremely impressive. You should teach me now." Wen Caishang playfully replied, "Here you go again!" In the past, she would have carefully weighed benefits and not easily agreed. But now, sharing their lives closely, she had long put aside selfish calculations, and it was difficult to refuse Li Xian’s requests coldly. She gently said, "I shall teach you, listen carefully."
...
Her voice was soft, fluent, and captivating. The study of stars was extensive and profound, drawing Li Xian in. As he listened to Wen Caishang’s gradually slowing words, she finally fell asleep.
Li Xian thought to himself, "Oh, madam, don’t blame me for taking advantage of your wisdom, I have to gain some benefits. When I roam Jianghu in the future, a wealth of knowledge will ensure I won’t be caught unawares."
He noticed Wen Caishang’s face was exceptionally beautiful, her white dress slightly translucent, revealing a hint of gold and red beneath. Blood boiling and desires stirring, he forced himself to suppress them and closed his eyes to sleep.
Suddenly, he heard rustling noises.
Li Xian was a light sleeper, and as he followed the sound, his heavy pupils slightly revealed. In the pitch darkness, on a large tree, there was a human face peering at them.
Li Xian thought, "Peeping in the middle of the night, this is no friend. Why should I be polite?" He immediately drew his bow and shot an arrow, swift as a flowing cloud and running water.
The person swiftly fled, moving at an incredible speed. Li Xian squinted slightly and let the arrow fly, the sound like thunder. The yellow glow attached to it turned one into three, pinning the person to the tree.
Li Xian was full of Qi power, his spirit vibrant, just and resolute. Wen Caishang possessed extensive knowledge, well-versed in various fields, especially herbs. Without either, they would be trapped in the forest. Thus, they were inseparable, relying on each other.
Li Xian woke Wen Caishang, and they went hand in hand to investigate. The forest was pitch-dark, but both had keen eyesight and found the person by touch in the darkness.
The deceased was skeletal and short, resembling a monkey but with a human face.
"It’s this creature!" Wen Caishang exclaimed.
Li Xian inquired, and Wen Caishang gravely explained, "This is a Rou’un Monkey, a rare and communal demon. It has a monkey’s body and human face, crafty and vicious. It hunts in groups. This is... a scout monkey, and if I’m not mistaken, we’re being watched by a group of Rou’un Monkeys."
Li Xian asked, "What will happen?"
Wen Caishang said, "It’s very dangerous. Rou’un Monkeys imitate human habits. If a Martial Artist or strong person is captured, they won’t eat him immediately but will toy with him to the extreme."
"Larger groups of Rou’un Monkeys have learned to cook like humans. After playing with their victims, they throw them into pots to cook and divide them for eating."
As Wen Caishang explained about the Rou’un Monkeys, a sudden rustling sound was heard, as if something was approaching. They looked around and found that several hundred Rou’un Monkeys had surrounded them.
"Tch-tch!" The Rou’un Monkeys made strange cries. Holding poisonous fruits, they shot them over. Wen Caishang said, "Those fruits are poisonous. When broken, the gas will numb the body."
Li Xian took Wen Caishang’s hand and skillfully dodged through the forest, all the while shooting arrows into the air, killing several monkeys.
After maneuvering for a while, the Rou’un Monkey group displayed various skills like "traps" and "hidden arrows." Li Xian and Wen Caishang, both quick-witted, easily countered them.
Wen Caishang said, "This Rou’un Monkey group has evolved traps and archery. It seems substantial, fighting longer won’t benefit us."
Li Xian nodded, took the bell from his waist, and shook it with his Qi. A dull "thud" sounded. The Rou’un Monkeys covered their ears, grimacing and howling in pain, with dozens falling from the trees.
Li Xian snorted coldly and shook it again. The Rou’un Monkeys began to retreat. At this moment, a monkey reached out from the shadows, attempting to steal the "Exorcism Bell."
Wen Caishang snorted softly, turned her sleeve, and drew her sword, severing the monkey’s arm and making several strikes to finish it off.
The Rou’un Monkeys’ cunning was unmistakable. Li Xian said, "One Rou’un Monkey can’t achieve much. But hundreds or thousands of sly Rou’un Monkeys secretly coveting us is much worse. I must be more vigilant and protect the Exorcism Bell."
Li Xian asked, "Does the Rou’un Monkeys’ meat count as an Essence Treasure?"
Wen Caishang pierced a Rou’un Monkey with her sword and replied, "All demon meats can be considered Essence Treasure. But... Rou’un Monkey meat is quite inferior, requiring good charcoal, fire, and water to barely become ’Essence Treasure’ meat. However, it contains very little Essence of Heaven and Earth, hence they are not favored by Martial Artists. In the Jianghu, calling someone ’Rou’un Monkey’ is an insult and a grave dishonor, usually leading to a ’fight to the death’ scenario!"
Li Xian said, "I see. Madam, you should have mentioned that earlier. I already called Su Qiuyu and Li Quan ’Rou’un Monkeys.’ Look... they do resemble these monkeys, don’t they?"
Wen Caishang chuckled, "They do indeed. But under my tutelage, you’re not allowed to use such foul language. Have you ever seen me curse? One must be courteous while wandering Jianghu."
"And... calling someone ’Rou’un Monkey’ is quite disgraceful. It’s forbidden."
Li Xian smiled, "Yes, I’ll follow Madam’s instructions. Madam, should we head east or west now?"
Wen Caishang rolled her eyes and said, "For this, you should decide." She then continued towards the east.
...
... 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
On the endless forest path, no one disturbed them. Though there were dangers, the combined abilities of the two could handle anything.
On this day,
[You have entered a perilous area, exploring all paths. The Essence of Heaven and Earth is being absorbed faster.]
Li Xian’s whole body shook slightly. His body felt enriched, and a halo appeared at the center of his forehead. Ethereal Immortal Sound resonated clearly.
With a slight motion of his hands, light sounds like jade tapping resounded, capable of playing a melody. All 206 bones in his body resonated, fully displaying the characteristic of the Immortal Sound!
Wen Caishang said,
"The Ethereal Immortal Sound is the sound of the heavens, the first significant characteristic of the Martial Arts Second Realm, and an essential pillar in martial arts."
Li Xian opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly white mist poured out continuously, revealing the second characteristic... Three Flowers on Top!
The traits shown by Martial Artists have inner logic, manifesting externally as they transform to a certain degree.
Three Flowers on Top is no exception, and it also has another nickname, "Firewood Grows in the Belly"!
