Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King-Chapter 400 - 288: Strange New Signs, More Marvelous Effects, Candle Sect’s Clear Autumn, The Day of the Wager
Li Xian felt a hint of strangeness and immediately went to the courtyard. He pulled out a strand of hair and threw it into the muddy ground. Once the hair touched the ground, it grew roots and dug deeply into the soil. Li Xian focused his mind and suddenly felt a subtle connection with the hair strand, as if he could extend his senses.
There was a sense of "hearing," "touch," and other perceptions. He could even close his eyes and vaguely sense the surrounding scenery, though it was like being shrouded in black mist. If someone were to pass by, it would be difficult to distinguish even their height or build. Although very vague, it truly existed.
Li Xian was extremely curious and thought this unique ability had wonderful uses. If it turned out to be true, it would add another layer of protection for his life. Determined to figure it out, he once again pulled out a strand of hair, gently snapped it to a mere inch in length, and sent it to Nangong Liuli’s room.
The hair landed and rooted, almost undetectably. Strange sounds vaguely came from nearby, and even Nangong Liuli’s footsteps and the rustling of her skirt on the ground could be heard.
Nangong Liuli was serene and graceful, practicing her inner cultivation in quiet. The two shared a candid cooperation, with Li Xian purely seeking someone to test the hair strand’s wondrous use, without any immoral intentions of peeking.
Once he confirmed the hair strand’s peculiar effect, he pushed the door open and entered, shattering the hair strand. Nangong Liuli frowned and opened her eyes, her face flushing red with embarrassment. They exchanged a few brief words before Li Xian left, leaving Nangong Liuli puzzled, who eventually sighed lightly and continued her inner martial arts practice.
Li Xian pondered deeply... He often exchanged insights about martial arts with Nangong Liuli. "Gather the Three Blossoms" and "As the Dust Settles" were considered useless traits, yet Li Xian found them different. Gathering the Three Blossoms involved refining the Qi to purity, setting up a furnace in the belly to purify impurities and avoid toxins.
When the Dust Settles, the Rooting Hair emerges, extending perception and eavesdropping. Though minor, the practical uses were extraordinary.
Li Xian discovered that the Rooting Hair could only maintain "three strands." Exceeding this number would cause the hair strands to weaken, maintaining only "three strands."
[Bone Shaping and Embryo]
[Skill Level: 1/100] 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
[Description: Martial Arts Second Realm transforms from body to bone, endowed with Ethereal Immortal Sound, Gathering the Three Blossoms, Muddy Clothes Draped, and As the Dust Settles for various mysterious effects.]
...
...
[Broken Demon Spear]
[Skill Level: 315/5000 Minor Achievement]
[Description: An imitation of the Ghostly Demon Spear, lacking strong ghostly intent, yet already quite impressive. Through diligent practice and comprehension of the incomplete diagram, you achieved a minor achievement and grasped the "Ghost Blind" Spear Momentum.]
When the Broken Demon Spear was wielded, it exuded a chilling ghostly aura. It concealed the enemy’s vision, making it eerily formidable. This spear technique showcased its power after reaching "Minor Achievement."
Li Xian accumulated his inner qi, reaching a Qi Lake of [eighty zhang], robust and hidden, his body shook with inner qi, and when wielding the spear, he instilled fear in ghosts and gods.
If he were to reveal his Heavy Pupils and don the fierce ghostly attire... his might would be different. Li Xian trained in secret, feeling satisfied, silently accumulating his resources.
All things progressed step by step.
On this day, the Peach Blossom Bow was about to be completed.
Nangong Liuli was skilled in crafting arrows, but had no experience in making longbows. It required Li Xian’s personal effort to shape the bow, boil and soak beast oil, polish with sandpaper, dry, hang and attach the tendons...
Li Xian was very skilled. Nangong Liuli was even more curious, asking about Li Xian’s background. Li Xian revealed that he was born a Hunter, which she then understood. She eagerly anticipated the archery contest.
With the final steps completed, the Peach Blossom Bow was crafted. It shone with a jade-like luster, polished to be strong and durable, handsome and imposing in the hands.
Li Xian’s "Peach Blossom Bow" consisted of peach essence and Golden Leopard Tendon, with a broadened and thickened bow for powerful strength... Nangong Liuli’s Peach Blossom Bow was made of peach essence and Black Ox Tendon, of slightly lower quality, with arrows needing to account for arm length; her bow was slender but more delicate, and Li Xian considerately decorated it with peach blossoms, winning her favor.
Both drew the bowstrings in an eager and competitive spirit, agreeing to fulfill the challenge and contest their archery.
Nangong Liuli laughed, "Dear brother, I won’t go easy on you."
Using straw, they made two straw figures, placing them beside the red walls of the outer courtyard. The two of them walked into the inner courtyard, several hundred paces away from the straw figures, with an arched courtyard gate between them.
Li Xian laughed, "Do you think you’ve already won against me? So arrogant." Nangong Liuli said, "You come from a hunter’s background, indeed your archery isn’t bad, but it’s merely for hunting wild boars and birds, how can you possibly win against me? Watch closely, and don’t cry if you lose."
She drew a wooden arrow from the arrow box, dark red in color, placed it on the bow and aimed, a slight squint in her beautiful eyes, and her aura transformed. She exuded a heroic and graceful spirit, her long skirt swaying without wind.
The arrow flew off the bowstring, accurately striking the straw figure. Nangong Liuli was quite proud, glancing at Li Xian, saying, "Dear brother, it’s your turn now." She hadn’t initially called Li Xian "dear brother," but since they spent much time alone together, the affectionate nickname had become a habit.
Li Xian said, "What fine archery!" He genuinely praised. Placing the arrow on the bow, he shot without aiming, releasing with a flick of the fingers. The arrow hit the straw man precisely.
Nangong Liuli was slightly surprised, yet she understood, observing that Li Xian’s archery stance was not proper, deducing that though his archery was good, he had not been taught by a master and followed a "wild path."
Li Xian laughed, "Oh, it seems we’re tied." Nangong Liuli, youthful and competitive, had her pride swallowed by this casual tie, which was not her intention, said, "This residence is too small, we can’t determine a winner."
Seeing Nangong Liuli’s excitement, Li Xian said, "Do you want to go out and compete?"
Nangong Liuli sighed, "Alas, it seems there’s no result in the archery match."
Li Xian said, "That might not be the case." He looked around, knowing the Flower Cage Sect was filled with notorious figures. Nangong Liuli would draw attention by going out, and given his shaky foundation and inexperience, he should keep a low profile and preserve his strength.
Nangong Liuli would be safer inside. He pointed to a distant mountain and said, "How about this... Sister Liuli, we can see that mountain peak from here. I’ll climb up there tomorrow, set up a target, and we’ll shoot at it from here to decide the winner."
