Chapter 244: Chapter 234: Rising to Prominence, Little Wolf Cub

The next day, dawn.

The mist shrouded the mountain, and the first rays of sun shone through the gaps.

Li Xian hoisted Wen Cai Shang onto his back, tying her securely with vines around the waist and legs. Wen Cai Shang thought of the “wild boar” incident and spat. Only Li Xian in the whole world would compare her to a wild boar.

Li Xian checked his equipment. He secured a backpack on his chest, with a saber on the left and a sword on the right. The Yellow Dao Bow was tied to Wen Cai Shang’s back. With everything in order, Li Xian looked at his reflection in a stream and joked amidst the hardship, “Does this count as bringing your family along?”

Wen Cai Shang felt a surge of emotion, with the impudent servant getting increasingly arrogant. Li Xian confirmed everything was fine, his expression serious.

He thought, “This journey is fraught with danger, but I’m not without the power to fight back.” He had strategized countless times, knowing that if he hid and maneuvered, he could buy a few days of respite.

But it was truly useless. Only by taking great risks could great survival be sought.

“If they think I’m weak, I’ll let them taste my colors.”

Li Xian patted the narrow blade and headed southeast. His steps were steady, his leaps agile, and his speed very fast. After traveling more than ten miles, he gradually heard sounds of patrols, but never encountered anyone.

Wen Cai Shang asked, “Li Xian, do you intend to force your way through?” Seeing that Li Xian was not hiding his tracks, she secretly agreed, “Either way, it’s hard to avoid entirely. Rather than hiding and dying, it’s better to fight our way out.”

Li Xian replied, “It’s not forcing a way, it’s a clever entry.” Wen Cai Shang was puzzled; a break-in is a break-in, what is a clever entry? Suddenly they saw a small patrol team. Li Xian took out his Yellow Dao Bow and shot two arrows. At the same time, he charged like a fierce tiger, lunging forward with the narrow blade slashing downward.

The patrol consisted of three people, all wearing the Sword Rain Tower attire. Before they could react, two were already shot dead. The remaining one, stunned, heard the swoosh of the wind above, as a slash came crashing down, splitting open his chest, and he died immediately.

Li Xian continued to sprint, creating quite a disturbance. Suddenly, he turned and raced in another direction. The layout of the forest was all memorized in his mind. After a few more miles, someone shouted ahead, “Found him, found him! He’s really here!” Disciples of the Yellow Sand Sect spotted Li Xian’s figure.

Li Xian sneered, saying, “I think you’ve found your death!” He wanted to draw an arrow, but seeing his limited supply, he felt reluctant. Instead, he leapt forward, picked up three stones, and used the “Vertical Cloud Hand” to shoot them.

The momentum was heavy. The three from the Yellow Sand Sect raised their swords to block, only to hear a “clang” as the stones shattered into dust, which blew into their eyes. The immense force dislocated their wrists, forcing them back several steps, screaming in pain and shock.

Wen Cai Shang praised, “What a display of bravery!” Li Xian picked three leaves and flicked them lightly. From several dozen yards away, they slit the throats of the three men, blood gushing out.

This simple move contained the mystery of “Vertical Cloud Hand” and “Clear Wind Leg.”

Li Xian combined the “Send You West Wind” from the Vertical Cloud Hand with the “Riding the Wind into the Gap” from the Clear Wind Leg. The essence of “Send You West Wind” lies in the word “send.” When holding hard objects like darts and stones, they must be shot forcefully and precisely. But when holding soft objects like leaves and silk threads, if one strives for speed and force, precision will surely be lost.

But if not fast or forceful, how to injure someone? Thus came the move “Send You West Wind.” It releases softly, with power subtle yet lasting. It’s like “the gift is light but the sentiment is heavy.” At the same time, the palm pushes forward, sending out a “west wind.” The wind, wrapping the light object, moves slowly, and though lacking destructive power, is extremely hard to dodge.

Wounding without form.

And the “Riding the Wind into the Gap” from the Clear Wind Leg was originally a leg move. Its essence is in quick, dense strikes, hitting the gaps, entering seamlessly like wind. Applied here, it adds a breeze of clarity, making this move even more formidable.

Li Xian charged straight ahead. Fully unleashing his martial arts, the commotion quickly drew attention.

After repeatedly killing several groups, the disturbances traveled far and wide.

Suddenly, a “bang” was heard above. Someone had set off a fireworks signal, summoning allies to encircle and suppress. Li Xian had anticipated this, looked around, and dashed into the depths of the forest.

Killing enemies along the way with precision. Li Xian had arrows for distant enemies, stones for the mid-range, and swords for close combat. Despite his shallow cultivation, the strength displayed was not to be underestimated.

He reached a narrow pass.

When suddenly there was a flash of blade light, and someone leaped down from above with a fierce slash. They shouted angrily, “Arrogant thief!”

This person had a broad face and thick ears, with features squeezed together. Full of viciousness, this move was indeed extraordinary.

Li Xian dodged to the rear. Seeing the large blade crash into the ground with a “boom,” it kicked up a sky full of yellow sand. Li Xian was both surprised and curious, knowing he finally met a formidable opponent. But in the mountainous forests, it’s moist black soil everywhere, where did the yellow sand come from?

The person roared loudly, their chest swelling with a mighty wind. They blew the yellow sand, which fiercely shot forward. Li Xian wielded the Daluo Saber Technique, infused with the Four Directions Fist Intent; the dense shadows of the blade wove a net in front of him, shielding against the oncoming yellow sand.

But the net inevitably had gaps. Li Xian’s arms and wrists were hit by sand particles, turning red. He perceived that each grain of sand contained extremely strong inner Qi.

Li Xian thought, “This person’s initial slash into the ground immediately raised yellow sand. Following it with a roar, making the sand shoot out—these two moves are truly formidable! I must be cautious, to avoid accidents and unnecessary losses, and… I haven’t truly experienced the prowess of a major sect’s disciple!”

Even trapped, he remained calm and composed, focused on countering the deadly moves. As the opponent hacked and slashed, they cut down trees, weeds, and bushes… with astonishing ease. Li Xian noted that the trees and branches hit by the opponent withered and dried immediately.

After a few moves, the surrounding area was filled with swirling yellow sand. The man wielded his large saber, and after each saber strike, it was accompanied by an endless amount of yellow sand. However, Li Xian was not inferior, as he had many martial arts techniques he had yet to display. But he first relied on a piece of clothing to completely neutralize the opponent’s attacks.

Li Xian sheathed his sword and took out a dress from his chest sack to change into. The dress was made of a special material, extremely resilient, and as soon as it met with the big saber, it could block the saber’s force.

When the yellow sand surged towards him, he wrapped his dress around it. Once he completely deflected it, he struck out with his Qi, and the yellow sand was shot back in reverse, causing the man to suffer greatly.

The man spun his saber, accumulating yellow sand. Li Xian stepped back three steps, planted his feet firmly, and with palms glowing green, gently pushed forward.

A mist of water emerged, and the palm strike was like a terrifying wave. The two moves clashed; the water mist rolled the wild sand, with the force of the palm against the big saber. The might was immense.

The man twisted his waist and spine, seeing that he was unable to gain advantage, his spirit of competition and fierceness intensified. He took a few steps closer, and slashed upwards from below once more. This was the “Flying Sand Filling the Sky,” and as it slashed upwards, the killing intent in the saber was extremely intense. If one strike did not succeed, the yellow sand would again fill the air, obscuring the opponent’s vision.

He shouted loudly, his momentum tumultuous, striking out one saber after another without stopping. Li Xian dodged several saber strikes; the yellow sand filling the sky could not obscure his vision, and he remained unperturbed. But he could not help but think: “This person is indeed powerful. Previously, I killed my way through, killing many disciples of the Yellow Sand Sect, the Sword Rain Tower, and the Taixin Sect. Although those disciples were from major sects, they had to form arrays, but their martial arts mastery was mediocre, and their realm had not yet reached the level of Food Essence. Now this opponent…is completely different.”

Li Xian snorted coldly, his chest moving, performing the “Chest Drum Thunder Sound,” with the thunder sound reaching his fingertip. He quickly thrust out with one finger.

This move was extremely lethal, with unmatched shock power, capable of breaking stones and piercing armor effortlessly. Yet, somehow it was completely ineffective against that man. His finger struck the side of the waist, the man barely shook, and was unharmed. Li Xian was puzzled, immediately altering the move, transforming his finger into a fist, striking towards the chest, while the shadow of his fist appeared, coming in densely.

Li Xian clearly noticed that every time his fist hit the opponent, at least four parts of the force would be dissipated, as if hitting a water sack. But Li Xian’s Qi power was immense, and after several punches, the opponent spat blood and was rendered powerless.

Li Xian muttered: “Since it’s a matter of life and death, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” He pursued relentlessly. To prevent a counterattack, he grabbed a vine, swung it from a distance, entangling the enemy’s neck, and pulled with force.

The man was pulled towards him. Li Xian kicked with his toe, and the falling saber flew, with a “bang” it collided, upon which blood splattered, a horrifying sight, with the head instantly severed.

Li Xian resisted the urge to search the corpse, quickly fleeing.

Wen Caishang said: “That man must have had some status in the Yellow Sand Sect. He was already part of a sect.”

“Part of a sect?” Li Xian asked.

Wen Caishang replied: “When it comes to martial arts schools, several martial arts techniques, and a dozen or so martial arts techniques…complement each other, triggering a qualitative change, is considered a sect.”

“The distinction of sects is particularly common among martial arts schools. Within the same school, different focuses can result in different sects. The person you just faced had already taken the first step into a sect, having separately learned the three martial arts of ’Broken Water Blade,’ ’Mixed Body Skill,’ and ’Yellow Sand Heart Scripture.’ They complement and augment each other.”

Li Xian inquired further. Wen Caishang proceeded to explain in detail, analyzing the various aspects of this sect as a teaching example.

This was the Yellow Sand Sect.

The Broken Water Blade technique is foundational. In terms of sword technique alone, it is powerful and forceful, with continuous saber strikes. It has neither significant weaknesses nor notable strengths. However, the practice method is unique. During the mastery of the blade, one must abstain from drinking water, maintaining an unquenched thirst to avoid death from dehydration.

Yet, practicing the blade inevitably causes sweating, leading to water loss that cannot be replenished. How could one not perish? The marvel of this blade technique lies in strengthening the ’spleen’ and ’kidney’ organs. Externally practicing the blade, internally practicing the organs, mobilizing the spleen and kidney in combination, circulating the body’s water energy, preventing any loss of moisture.

Thus, when the Breaking Water Blade reaches great success, the spleen and kidneys will far surpass those of others.

The second martial art of the sect: Mixed Body Skill, precisely requires these two organs as a foundation. The kidneys store water vapor, the spleen moves water vapor, permeating the entire body, making the skin like a water membrane. External strikes dissipate three parts of the force if light, and up to seven parts if heavy.

The ’Yellow Sand Heart Scripture’ is a lower martial art, a secret of the Yellow Sand Sect. Wen Caishang doesn’t know much about it, but is aware that it can absorb moisture from all things, endlessly replenishing oneself. If it hits the human body, wounds become dry and cracked, difficult to heal, which is quite formidable.

Thus, these three martial arts complement each other. The Breaking Water Blade strengthens the kidneys and spleen, the spleen and kidneys practice the Mixed Body Skill, the Mixed Body Skill circulates water, and the Yellow Sand Heart Scripture absorbs moisture from objects. They are interlinked.

Wen Caishang said: “This martial arts sect is led by the most formidable practitioner in the Yellow Sand Sect, the Yellow Sand Patriarch. This person’s martial arts fusion allows him to drain human life and replenish himself. Besides this, the Yellow Sand Sect has another sect called the ’Golden Blade Sect,’ which focuses on ultimate saber techniques.”

Li Xian took note of all this, thinking: “My Iron Copper Body strengthens the lung organ, the lung organ fortifies the Chest Drum, the Chest Drum transforms into Thunderbolt… This too could be considered a kind of sect. Of course, it was created by my random experimentation and fortuitous encounter, resulting in the Thunderbolt Body-Securing Sect.”

The process of practicing the Iron Copper Body and Thunderbolt Finger both strengthens Qi-Blood and increases Qi power. Their effects stack, being quite compatible.

Suddenly, a strong man blocked the way ahead. Although Li Xian knew that the Thunderbolt Finger and Iron Copper Body were perfectly compatible, he had never used them simultaneously.

Immediately he calmed his breath, an ebony glow erupted through his body. He struck out with the “Thunder Shock Finger” of the Thunderbolt Finger. The two martial arts reached their peak, evolving to their limit, strange phenomena appeared.

His fingertips were like coated with an ebony lightning glow, emitting a peculiar “clanging” sound, neither resembling a Thunderbolt Finger nor an Iron Copper Body. With a single finger strike, the opponent raised a hand to parry.

At the instant of contact with his fingertip, the opponent was completely paralyzed, as if electrocuted, and immediately fell unconscious.

Wen Caishang, with an aggrieved expression, did not know Li Xian had this ability. Prior to this, she had threatened him with a sword to make him confess, yet he never revealed it, so angry and upset she scolded: “So everything before was just an act, you little wolf pup!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep