Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King-Chapter 231 - 223: Enemy Assaults and Persistent Wounds

Chapter 231: Chapter 223: Enemy Assaults and Persistent Wounds

The dusk lingered as the bamboo forest glowed golden.

Li Xian and Wen Caishang journeyed away from the city, traveling for about a day, and rested in the bamboo forest. The breeze here was gentle, the spring atmosphere vibrant, and the scenery beautiful.

There was an abandoned hut in the woods. Li Xian knocked on the door and gently pushed it open. The inside was old, with a bamboo bed covered in dust.

Seeing that darkness was approaching and there were no pursuers, Li Xian guessed that the forces of Taixin Sect, Sword Rain Tower, and others had been deterred by the skull and dared not pursue. However, to be cautious, they covered their tracks along the way, leaving no trace of their movements.

They temporarily stayed in the hut.

He displayed the Jade Palm, spinning his palms in the air. Inner Qi congealed without dispersing, forming a vortex of air flow, sweeping up the dust inside the room.

Pushing it out the window, the rolling dust clouds significantly reduced. However, the long uninhabited walls had grown green mold, which was more challenging to deal with. Li Xian said apologetically, "Please forgive me, Madam."

Wen Caishang smiled and said, "When traveling in Jianghu, not everything goes your way. I understand this." She removed her shoes and socks and sat cross-legged on the wooden bed. Her white skirt covered her fair feet.

Li Xian went out to the forest, erasing footprints along the way, pondering, "Madam is injured but possesses formidable strength. No matter how dangerous the situation, she can safeguard herself. As for me, I can’t say the same. If the situation becomes extremely perilous, she may abandon me. Thus... I must be as cautious as possible to ensure my own safety."

He observed the lush green bamboo forest, thick with grass and trees. From his backpack, he took out a bell, secured it with silkworm thread, pulled it tight, and tied it between two bamboos.

Whenever someone walked by, the bell would ring.

"While traveling, caution is what you rely on. My strength is still weak, so I can only compensate with this. Once things are settled, I need to cultivate in peace and accumulate strength!"

Li Xian set up mechanisms to detect any disturbances immediately.

Recalling his forty-nine thousand mile journey by water, witnessing the Dragon Appreciation Banquet, Dragon Slaying Banquet with all sorts of masters and remarkable individuals, each with their strengths and displaying their unique skills. Although he was still young, his mastery of martial arts was profound, yet his martial understanding was narrow, vision limited, and greatly lacking.

With the warnings set, Li Xian patted his backpack, seeing that the medicinal materials were still there, he needed to find a way to cook them for Wen Caishang, but without porcelain utensils, it was quite troublesome. Looking around, he suddenly noticed a particularly thick bamboo stalk.

He sliced it with a saber, taking the hollow end to make a makeshift bamboo pot. He piled up matches, filled it with clear water, added the medicinal materials, and began to boil. After half a day’s travel, Li Xian also felt hungry. So he seized the opportunity to search for food while boiling the medicine.

On his way, he searched. Every spring and summer, with everything coming back to life, the bamboo forest teemed with snake beasts. There was bamboo forests at Yihetang Manor, and Li Xian was already skilled in patrolling for snakes, catching them by heart. Familiarly, he found a snake’s den and reached in to grab one. Pinching a venomous snake’s three-inch point, with a gentle tremor, it died instantly. Like this... Li Xian caught two venomous snakes and also dug up some fresh bamboo shoots.

He skinned the snakes, removed their teeth, gutted them. Together with the sweet bamboo shoots, he cooked a pot of "Green Bamboo Sweet Bamboo Shoot Snake Stew." The taste was fresh, sweet, and delightful, as vibrant as spring.

Li Xian served a bowl inside the hut. Closing the bamboo door, he practiced martial arts outside.

[Vast Leg]

[Skill Level: 10569/20000 Perfection]

The leg technique was elusive, gathering water mist. Li Xian practiced diligently, accumulating skill level like an abyss. When he was tired of practice, he would switch martial arts. Jade Palm, Four Directions Fist, Clear Wind Leg, Daluo Saber Technique...

He studied repeatedly, reviewing the old and learning the new, deepening his martial understanding. Body like heaven and earth, resonating with martial arts, expressing freely. His performance was extraordinary.

Suddenly, in a flash... Li Xian seemed to have an insight, gazing at the green wilderness bamboo forest. He felt the heaven and earth more beautiful, all things standing independently yet connected, brilliant and colorful.

[You have deeply studied various martial arts schools, your martial understanding has advanced, gaining the ’See Heaven and Earth’ trait.]

See Heaven and Earth, understand Heaven and Earth.

Martial Arts takes from Heaven and Earth, observing Heaven and Earth, understanding Heaven and Earth. Its pleasures, its wonders, are indescribable.

[Through diligent practice of martial arts, reaching the Food Essence Realm, skill level +1]

[Food Essence]

[Skill Level: 95/100]

In martial arts, cultivation, and knowledge... all have advanced.

Wen Caishang practiced inner cultivation, nurturing her physique. Her condition improved, and when she opened her eyes, there was a bowl of spring bamboo shoot snake stew in the room, flavored sweetly.

She sipped lightly, its taste mild yet interesting, hiding the charm of spring wilderness. Wen Caishang savored it, laughed softly, "This youngster’s culinary skill has improved again, yet I wonder when he learned it."

Li Xian entered with medicine soup. Wen Caishang nodded, feeling comforted, "Little Immortal is smart and prudent, many things don’t need to be said, and he can do them excellently!", she accepted the bowl and drank it all, the medicinal effect dispersing, her complexion gradually returning to health.

Wen Caishang instructed, "Go guard outside the door. If there is any movement, wake me up."

Li Xian knew that traveling with the madam meant there was no shortage of money, but there was always work to be done. Today might be a sleepless night, but he said nothing, practiced martial arts and kept watch outside the door.

Wen Caishang drank the medicinal soup, then sat down again. Her hair rippled gently, her face flawless. She closed her eyes in meditation, her physique emitting a fresh fragrance. The moonlight shone, creating a unique atmosphere.

The Silkworm Robe Mismatched Jade Technique is a wonder of the world, vast and profound. It covers a wide range: martial arts killer moves, inner breath cultivation, and self-cultivation.

She operated the "Winter Silkworm Breath Technique", a very profound skill within the Silkworm Robe Mismatched Jade Technique. Relying solely on inner breath, to nourish the physique, injuries could be fully healed. Although her attainment was high, achieving this was challenging.

Yet operating this skill internally significantly aided her injuries. Thus, the night passed, and Wen Caishang ceased her inner breath exercise, tidied her clothes, and set off again.

Li Xian retrieved the bell and silk. He took out the map, confirmed their position, and planned to head south.

Traveling for two consecutive days, the pace was very slow. However, there were no pursuers, allowing a slight sense of ease. Li Xian said, "Madam, how are your injuries?"

Wen Caishang smiled without speaking, her condition stabilizing. If not pursued by formidable opponents, having to operate inner Qi, she was unscathed. Her self-healing ability is robust, even serious sword wounds heal quickly. However, thunderous heaven-shaking wounds and Vajra Palm Power were most troublesome, hence healing slowly.

Li Xian remained cautious, concealing their tracks, walking slowly. Not seeking speed but seeking steadiness.

That day, Li Xian chose secluded mountain paths. Suddenly, beast roars echoed from all directions. Li Xian instantly became alert, Wen Caishang furrowed her brows.

Wen Caishang was quite surprised, but her expression did not change. She joked, "Little Immortal, it seems some beasts have found us."

Then curses erupted from all directions, "Demoness, today is your death day!" The voices were filled with resentment.

Four figures surrounded them from all sides, each riding a different type of exotic beast: a tiger, a deer, a python, and a dog, all exuding an extraordinary presence.

Wen Caishang said, "I’ve long smelled the stench of beasts. Sure enough, it’s you four old pests. Why... I spared your lives back then, and now you’re back to seek death?"

The four people were all incomplete: the one riding the tiger had lost both legs, the one riding the deer had lost both arms, the one riding the python had half his face sliced off, and the one riding the dog had all limbs intact but was crippled below.

Wen Caishang said, "Taixin Sect’s Four Beasts, it’s been a while. Traveling thousands of miles to see a humble girl, there’s nothing good to greet you with."

"I’ll just have to send you to the West."

Li Xian felt something different about Wen Caishang, as if things were out of her expectation. Her words were cold and filled with killing intent, but lacked a bit of her usual composure.

When the four heard "Taixin Sect’s Four Beasts," they were furious beyond words. Taixin Sect resided on "Taixin Mountain," where wild beasts roamed, and thus their martial arts often involved beasts.

In their early years, the four were extremely famous, hailed as "Taixin Sect’s Four Heroes," glorious and spirited. But since encountering Wen Caishang, they became infatuated, manipulated by her, eventually ending up injured and in disgrace.

Later, realizing what had happened, their resentment grew.

The one standing on a crippled dog said, "Wen Caishang, you underestimate our determination to kill you!"

"Hahaha." The one lying on the tiger’s back, face full of satisfaction, said, "Wen Caishang, I heard you were heavily injured at the Dragon Appreciation Banquet. Shall we old friends take a look at your injuries? Hahaha!"

"Insolent!" Wen Caishang shouted angrily.

Li Xian thought, "Though Madam is seriously injured, it was caused by heavenly thunder and the Martial Fool. This one lying on the tiger says the injury was from the Dragon Appreciation Banquet; it’s clear he’s probing, wary of her. Madam is usually composed and wouldn’t fall for such a trick. But she blew her cover by shouting just now."

Wen Caishang was always confident in her plans and actions. However, recently plagued by bad luck and setbacks, she was troubled in her heart, and seeing these four coming further disturbed her.

Inside her, the Brahma Sound echoed, disrupting her mind, not quite as before.

Wen Caishang’s anger subsided, realizing her exposure. She softly laughed, "No matter, none of you will leave alive!" She drew her sword, and silver streaks stabbed towards the one on the tiger.

The one on the tiger had lost both legs, hindering his Martial Arts. But over the years, he honed his hands to compensate. With both palms, he struck the tiger’s back, leaping into the air. The exotic tiger, seeming intelligent, pounced fiercely at Wen Caishang.

The other three attacked immediately. Though their bodies were in disrepair, their appearances frightening, their exotic beasts made up for their shortcomings, like facing formidable enemies from all directions. Wen Caishang coldly laughed, "Over a decade has passed, and you’ve made no progress."

She displayed a brilliant sword light, her moves intricate and her killing intent menacing. Her movements were light and graceful, each sword like a startling swan, breathtaking in beauty.

The four were a mix of surprise and anger, expecting this demoness to be more formidable than a decade ago and were already on high alert. Yet the initial exchange was unexpected, finding it extremely difficult.

After several moves, they were showing signs of defeat.

Li Xian observed from the side, thinking, "Madam is trying to conserve her energy and inner Qi, using what seems like basic moves. But basic Martial Arts in her hands are extremely powerful."

Wen Caishang’s eyes were filled with a killing intent as she used the "Clear Wind Sword." Although a basic Martial Art, she had taken it to the peak, inflicting substantial damage when performed by her.

The sword’s edge stirred the clear wind, hiding sharpness within softness. With a light flick of her longsword, the clear wind swept forward, slicing the enemy’s skin and flesh.

Despite being surrounded by tiger beast experts, her swordsmanship was perfect for both attack and defense. Whether faced with a mountain pressing down or a sudden storm, she handled it all like a gentle breeze.

Li Xian, well-versed in the "Clear Wind Leg," another basic Martial Art, noted the differing quality. The Clear Wind Sword seemed like a meticulously refined basic Martial Art, appearing foundational to a certain martial arts sect.

Wen Caishang conserved her inner Qi, raising an eyebrow, "You worthless bunch, thinking you could harm me?" With a flick and swirl of her sword tip, the four were left bloodied and utterly battered.

Not long after, the one on the tiger got his left shoulder pierced, and his abdomen gashed three inches deep. The one on the python had an eye stabbed...

Wen Caishang was about to deliver a killing blow.

Suddenly, the one riding the dog beast shouted, "Run!" With a light step on the dog beast, he flew upward and escaped, using the beast to perform a lightweight skill.

Wen Caishang was greatly surprised. Lightweight skills in the world were created by humans and naturally required a human body for cultivation. How could a dog beast, whose limb movements and posture differ entirely from humans, possibly perform lightweight skill?

She watched as the exotic tiger rushed away, employing the "Thunderous Heaven-Shocking Step." This step required coordination with sound, each step accompanied by a shout.

The exotic tiger’s roar was like thunder, harmonizing perfectly with the lightweight skill, and in the shock, it had already run far away.

She then saw the large python coil into a ball, wrapping its master and rolling down the mountain... revealing techniques, escaping far in an instant.

Apparently...

The four had long known of Wen Caishang’s prowess and suspected that even together, they might not prevail. Over the decade, they diligently practiced their lightweight skills, becoming exceedingly proficient. Wen Caishang might catch one, but not all four.

Wen Caishang’s face looked grim, not bothering to give chase. She sheathed her sword, thinking, "I didn’t expect such a ragtag bunch to be so annoying!" Her frustration grew.

Li Xian asked, "Madam, they already know you’re injured."

"This indeed was my negligence," Wen Caishang said gravely, "They came aggressively this time, truly troublesome. Little Immortal, be extra cautious on the remaining journey!"

She thought, "These sect forces, numerous and arranged in formations, do consume my energy. With my injuries unhealed, these repeated attacks are truly regrettable."

Worry hidden in her eyes. She feared not the major sects, though her injuries were severe, escaping the encirclement was not difficult. Her worry lay in her declining fortune.

Faced with hindrance and setbacks at every turn.

Wen Caishang further pondered, "Earthly Treasures of the Seventy-Two, how can it be easy? Even with setbacks, it’s normal."