Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King-Chapter 424 - 293: From Poverty to Wealth, Astonishing Methods, Fish Herding Book, Mysterious Woman!!
Because the Water Altar’s route to the Water Gold Nest, involving the five elements, is constantly changing. Even if he could follow the Water Map today to find the Water Gold Nest, following the same map and route in two days might not lead him to the Water Gold Nest at all.
"Alright, let’s take it slow and discuss it at length. As I’ve escaped like this, let’s not mention myself; even Nangong Liuli would curse me to death. I cannot just abandon her like that."
He put away the Water Map.
There were no further remarkable discoveries, only jewels and such. Along the way, he felt the ferocity of the Water Bandits. These bandits, residing long in the lake, fed on fish, and when tired of it, even thought of cooking humans. Their nature was violent, and they wanted to taste ’Second Realm Martial Artists’. One such martial artist met a grievous death and became the Water Bandits’ meal.
Once everything was settled, Li Xian lay among the water tree canopy leaves, practicing inner cultivation of his five organs and transporting the impurities.
[Skill Level +1]
[Skill Level +1]
...
The next day.
The sky was just clearing.
Li Xian jumped down from the tree canopy, moved the gold and silver treasures onto small boats, loading five with bandit leader’s achievements and two with gold and jewels. He found branches and vines to link the seven small boats into one. Once everything was ready, he prepared to leave.
Li Xian thought to himself: "I originally considered the inside of Dongran Lake, the lake area being treacherous and unpredictable. Even if these sufferers managed to escape, most likely they would get lost in the lake and be trapped without a way out. Bringing them back to the Water Altar would at least give them a place to stay. But having discovered the Water Map, knowing the route out of Dongran Lake, taking them back to the Water Altar could harm them."
Li Xian redrew three copies of the ’Water Gold Nest’ Water Map and hid them in various spots. Once they obtained the Water Maps, even if the merchant ship was destroyed, they could build boats and eventually escape.
His actions were thorough, delaying the rescue, to avoid trouble. If misunderstandings arose or conflicts happened, Li Xian’s two fists and legs would complicate matters. Thus, he waited until daylight and until he was far away in his boat before devising a rescue plan.
Not meeting them naturally reduced troubles.
In the abandoned merchant ship next to the Water Bandit lair, several cannons were equipped. It had stored gunpowder shells. Li Xian took the gunpowder shells and fixed them on the tree cage. Then he steered the boat away from the Water Bandit lair.
Once he felt he was far enough away,
he lit a wooden arrow and shot it remotely towards the Water Gold Nest. The wooden arrow arced through the air, hitting the gunpowder shells, and with a ’boom’, the tree cage exploded. Those trapped inside naturally broke free. The first to escape emerged from the water with eyes full of shock and panic.
After ensuring no one was around, they immediately rescued the others who were trapped, among them four Second Realm Martial Artists, who had been entangled by tree roots and deeply sunk into the lake.
The four were pulled out from the depths, once again seeing the light of day. They had suffered in the water for days, eating nothing, their breathing stifled. But the Water Bandits never truly intended to drown them.
The water tree’s vines were mostly hollow, allowing breathing underwater. The Water Bandits often held the vines in their mouth to catch fish underwater. The four survived by relying on these vines but were soaked in dirty water, suffering external maladies, their bodies swollen and blistering, smelling foul.
Once everyone was freed, they quickly grouped together, determined to fight the Water Bandits to death and seize the ships. Those four Second Realm Martial Artists, feeling aggrieved, resolved to take revenge. Invigorated, they drove out the dirty water with their Thunder Sound skill. Though their energy was fierce, they had only recovered partially. But after a search, they found the lair devoid of any occupants.
Everyone believed that the Water Bandits had gone out to ambush passing merchant ships again. They wanted to seize this opportunity to escape by ship. But recalling their experience in the water and the risk of encountering the Water Bandits again, they proposed to ambush the lair, waiting to attack and kill the Water Bandits before fleeing.
After waiting for half an hour, there was still no sign, the silence was eerie.
It was like a haunting, disappearing into thin air; the gold, silver, jewels, and belongings were all missing. After thinking carefully, their backs chilled; if all Water Bandits had left, someone should stay to guard, such an event was unheard of. They changed their minds, meticulously searching for Water Maps, finding a way to escape.
They felt the place was too mysterious and quickly cut wood to build boats. Over a dozen small boats sailed out of Dongran Lake, thus escaping to freedom. Feeling the warm September sun, the lake breeze blowing, it was as if they were reborn.
On the other side.
Li Xian sailed back, the sunlight shining down, surrounding him were hundreds of heads, an intimidating sight. After traveling several miles, the morning fog cleared, the view opened up, the sky high, the lake wide, blue water and white clouds, he gave a few loud shouts, releasing his emotions.
The lake waves rippled, it was truly a rare beautiful sight. Dongran Lake had waterfalls, water forests, and many strange lake fishes, some with unique toxins, some with peculiar appearances. This place harbored dangers, legend had it, deep in the lake bottom, were large graves, entwining black dragons, and so forth.
After traveling for another half-day, the outline of the Water Altar could be seen.
It was midday, the shore unusually lively, a flower boat docked by the shore, members of the Flower Cage Sect disembarked successively, gathering by the shore.
Li Xian stood at the bow, the seven boats linked into one, one side filled with bloody heads, the other with gold and treasures. His long hair floated, his posture elegant. This bizarre sight immediately drew gasps and scrutiny from the disciples.
They began to talk animatedly: "Wow, look, there’s some movement over there."
"It seems like a person, oh... his boat is filled with heads, could it be some expert, discovering our altar entrance, coming here for revenge?"
"That seems likely, quickly notify the elders, this person is brimming with murderous aura, certainly not a good type!"
After much noise,
Flower Cage Sect elder ’Tang Feng’ and envoy Jin Shichang rushed out of the ship’s cabin, preparing as if for a great enemy, looking out into the distance.
