Astral Thunder Reaches Major Accomplishment, Love and Hate Entwined

The Qi Lake underwent a qualitative change, surging like waves.

The thirty-two-zhang lake is shrouded in rosy clouds, its waves surging and teeming with life, giving rise to wondrous sights, as if bathed in the blazing sun or bathed in the moonlight.

Li Xian used his palm technique, the "Jade Luo Palm," which unleashed its power. Water mist swirled in the air and lingered for a long time, eventually forming a water vapor vortex.

Qi comes from martial arts, and martial arts are derived from heaven and earth. Therefore, the quality of Qi Lake changes, and the longer the Inner Qi remains in heaven and earth, the more mysterious its changes become.

The progress in Martial Dao is encouraging.

"I wonder if I am stronger or weaker than the prodigies of the Prefectural City now?"

Li Xian unleashed several palm strikes, the sounds echoing around him. He couldn't help but question himself, but after a moment, he felt relieved. If someone is strong, he will become stronger; if someone is weak, he will catch up. No matter how many geniuses emerge, he will remain calm and composed.

They practiced until midnight.

After washing up, I went back to my room to rest. Although the side room was small, it was very well furnished and decorated.

The lady was in seclusion and unable to move. With no one above him, Li Xian naturally felt relaxed. He sat in a bamboo chair, gently rocking back and forth, enjoying the breeze as he intently read various books on Daoist arts.

If you feel tired, close your eyes and go to sleep.

Inside the tower, Madam Wen, already Donning the Silkworm Garment, was practicing her Strange Art internal skills, her cultivation progressing slowly. Looking down from the tower, one could see Li Xian dancing with his sword, graceful and elegant.

"The path of martial arts is vast, and aptitude cannot be generalized. However, Li Xian's progress in both the Azure Palm and the Remnant Sun Bloodfall Sword is remarkable. He is quite intelligent and naturally diligent, rarely lazy."

Madam Wen, finding nothing of interest, watched with great interest. Only after Li Xian went to his room to rest and was out of sight did she calm her mind and concentrate on her internal cultivation.

"If nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to break through the Silkworm Garment Jade-Interlocking Art within the next few days. While reaching the sixth level will undoubtedly increase my strength, it will also inevitably lead to a deeper and more complex transformation..."

"Such Strange Art truly makes me both love and hate it."

Thinking of this, her face flushed slightly.

The next day.

Before dawn, Li Xian had already rushed back to Qingning. There were few people along the way, only a few steamed bun shops were open. Passing by a steamed bun shop, a basket of meat buns had just come out of the oven.

Li Xian bought a few taels and returned to the Martial Commandant Hall.

Before they even Initiation, shouts, yells, and curses rang out, mixed with Luo Xia's scolding and beatings. Li Xian smiled inwardly, "Luo Xia isn't bad-looking, but she's really fierce. I'm such an incompetent Martial Commandant Lang, always away for days on end. I'm sorry to trouble her."

He led the horse into the hall. The Constables, hearing the commotion, immediately looked over. Seeing that it was Martial Commandant Lang, they greeted him and then went back to practicing their martial arts. But after a while, they sensed something was amiss and turned back to look in twos and threes.

But they couldn't figure it out, couldn't pinpoint what was wrong. They all thought:

"It's been a few days, and Martial Commandant's appearance is clearly unchanged, but somehow... he seems to have changed a lot. He's even more handsome than before, and his demeanor seems more refined."

Luo Xia shouted, "Anyone who looks around will get a beating from my iron whip! You all continue practicing, what are you doing here?"

None of the Constables dared to speak; the only one who dared to refer to Martial Commandant Lang as "unrelated person" was Deputy Martial Commandant. Luo Xia, capable and efficient, tall and slender, walked over with her arms crossed, and asked in surprise, "Haven't seen you for more than ten days, have you stolen Immortal Elixir?"

"More or less," Li Xian said with a smile.

Luo Xia teased, "Why don't you bring me a taste of such a fine product?"

The two chatted for a few moments and then found a stone pavilion to sit down. Along the way, Luo Xia would occasionally shout a few words to supervise the constables Constables practiced martial arts.

"By the way..." Luo Xia said, "Are you going to the Heavenly Prodigies Tower Banquet?"

"You already know about this?" Li Xian asked. "I haven't told anyone."

Luo Xia looked elsewhere and ordered the Constables to maintain their orderly ranks. She was strong-willed and had managed to keep the constables in perfect order, bringing their numbers to fifty.

After a long pause, Luo Xia replied, "Why do you need to tell me? The whole of Qingning County already knows."

"You've been missing for over ten days, unaware of the changes in the county. News of the Heavenly Prodigies Tower Banquet has spread to every county. Rumors are circulating that you dared not attend, only knowing how to bully the weak. If you were to encounter a truly powerful opponent, you'd probably be terrified and run away as fast as you can."

"The rumors are extremely offensive. It's obvious someone is deliberately trying to lure you to the banquet with gossip so they can take action against you. Without a doubt, it's the Cao Family behind this."

Are you provoked?

Li Xian said, "What reputation is Weightened Fate? I will not be provoked."

"That's alright." Luo Xia felt slightly relieved.

Li Xian added, "But I really must attend this Multi-Story Banquet."

"You still say you're not easily provoked?" Luo Xia said speechlessly.

Li Xian said, "If Madam wants to go, what can I do?"

Luo Xia patted Li Xian on the shoulder and encouraged him, "You're quite lucky with women, enjoy it." Just then, she noticed a Constables moving sloppily and improperly. She walked over quickly, kicked him to the ground, and scolded him loudly. The Constables quickly got up and straightened his posture.

After chatting for a while, Li Xian learned about the recent situation in the city and saw that Luo Xia was very busy, so he didn't disturb her and returned to the Inner Court to prepare for today's practice.

After finishing the meat buns, he immediately practiced a couple of sets of "Four Directions Fist" and "Clearwind Leg" to loosen his muscles and bones, regulate his Blood Qi, and boost his spirits. Then he got down to business, his Chest-Drum Thunder Resonance and his fingers moving like lightning.

Proficiency +1

Proficiency +1

The primary method is rigorous training, supplemented by the practice of Thundercry Ore. The combination of these two approaches leads to rapid progress in the Heavenly Thunder Finger.

After practicing diligently for several hours, he had progressed from "Proficiency" to "Minor Accomplishment".

[Heavenly Thunder Finger]

[Proficiency: 15/3000 Minor Accomplishment]

Heavenly Thunder Finger four killing moves: Earthshaking Thunder, Resounding Thunder, Startling Thunder, and Astral Thunder. The moves are simple, aiming to kill the enemy with a single finger. Li Xian first practiced "Earthshaking Thunder", and as his martial arts skills Minor Accomplishment, he could use it at will.

Resounding Thunder, Startling Thunder, Astral Thunder... the three fingers also dabble in these. Each has its own mystical aspects, all based on the "Chest-Drum Thunder Resonance".

"With the Heavenly Prodigies Tower Banquet approaching, I need to strive to Major Accomplishment the Heavenly Thunder Finger technique. Although it's not as powerful as the Waning Sun Blood-Draining Sword, it's more than enough to be considered a trump card. Moreover, once the martial arts Major Accomplishment, they can be integrated and applied in countless ways."

"When facing an enemy, the four killing moves of the Heavenly Thunder Finger technique can be skillfully incorporated into other moves, making it extremely powerful."

Li Xian has many blessings: Iron-Copper Body, Eighty-Onefold Bone-and-Tendon Tempering, Spine Like a Divine Mountain, and the Heavenly Thunder Finger. All martial arts can improve physical strength.

In addition, he possessed naturally strong bones and muscles, the power of Double Pupils, and Perfect Aberrant Sign... Li Xian's knowledge was still limited, and he did not know the significance of these qualities.

Time passed.

Li Xian worked hard every day, accumulating 600 Proficiency daily. With the help of the Thundercry Stone, he reached the Major Accomplishment Perfection of the Heavenly Thunder Finger on the seventh day of the tenth month.

[Heavenly Thunder Finger]

[Proficiency: 15/10000 Major Accomplishment]

By understanding the properties of "Thunder Listening," Thunder Listening and know where the lightning is striking.

After that, he continued to practice the Heavenly Thunder Finger, progressing in tandem with the Waning Sun Blood-Draining Sword. The Waning Sun Blood-Draining Sword progressed very quickly, with Medicinal Bath and combined techniques becoming more and more frequent. Because he lived in the lady's side room, he was only a few steps away from her.

Li Xian often inquired about the essence of Swordsmanship. His wife practiced the Yin Sword, which, in principle, was difficult to instruct her on. However, his wife's Martial Dao were profound, and she had a broad understanding of various techniques, so her suggestions were often extremely useful.

All these factors.

Having reached Perfection in the first level, one steps onto the Second Layer and attains [Major Accomplishment], witnessing the Martial Dao First Glimpse.

Seeing the Yin-Yang Immortal Couple sleeping together in blissful harmony, dancing with long swords and roaming freely across the world, Li Xian had a sudden realization. Touched by this scene, he unconsciously recalled it the next day when he and his wife were together.

The lady was captivated by the scene, overjoyed as if in a dream, her mind stirred. She was truly a peerless genius, seizing the inspiration as the sword hummed. At the moment of day and night, at the division of yin and yang, she used the sword to adorn the yin and yang essences, cleansing their bodies.

It is of immeasurable benefit.

The power of Yin and Yang in this world far surpasses that of Medicinal Bath. It can slow down the wear and tear of time, nourish one's appearance, and enhance one's natural beauty.

Li Xian asked, "Madam, since you possess the Silkworm Garment Jade-Interlocking Art, why do you value this Swordsmanship so much?"

"Higher Vehicle martial arts are already hard to find. When this Swordsmanship is combined, its power surpasses even the Higher Vehicle Swordsmanship," Madam Wen said. "The truly rare aspect of this Swordsmanship is that it touches upon the principles of Yin and Yang, representing a great fortuitous opportunity. Your cultivation is shallow, so naturally you wouldn't understand."

Madam Wen saw that Li Xian had already Major Accomplishment the Second Layer swordsmanship and could now cultivate the third level. Although the sword techniques of the third level were powerful, they were inevitably too explicit. When they were combined, they had to be of one mind and have endless pleasure. When the passion was at its peak and the swordplay was at its most intense, they needed even more... There were also the Seven-Day Trial and the Hundred-Day Barrier within it.

Although all of this was inevitable, Madam Wen wanted to wait a little longer.

He then instructed Li Xian to continue practicing Swordsmanship diligently and not to neglect it.

A few days later, the manor once again prepared the Essence Food. Madam Wen said, "The Essence Consumption Realm cannot be rushed. It will come naturally when the time is right."

Instruct Li Xian to consume two grams every two days, and maintain this pace.

[Essence Consumption]

[Proficiency: 48/100]

October 12th arrived in the blink of an eye, the eve of entering the mansion.

Qingning County.

Li Xian considered the long journey ahead, which would take more than ten days to travel to and from the Prefectural City. On the eve of his departure, he hosted a grand banquet, inviting all the officers and Constables of the Martial Commandant Hall to enjoy a feast together at a restaurant.

He spent money lavishly.

The table was laden with delicacies from land and sea, a dozen or so kinds of delicious dishes. The aroma filled the air, making one's mouth water.

"Martial Commandant, I wish you great success in winning the championship!" The Constables raised his cup and drank heartily.

"What's so great about the Prefectural City? Let them see how powerful our Martial Commandant is."

Everyone enjoyed the conversation.

Luo Xia, in high spirits, asked the waiter for some strong liquor and challenged Li Xian to a drinking contest. She fought on despite repeated defeats, only to be defeated again and again. Before long, she was passed out on the ground, unconscious.

At the banquet, everyone was completely at ease, speaking, eating, and drinking to their hearts' content.

The group drank heartily, feasting on a table laden with delicacies. After several rounds of drinks, Li Xian, slightly tipsy, looked at his brothers who had risked their lives for him, so loyal and devoted, and suddenly thought, "In my circumstances, I've managed to carve out my own little territory in Qingning County. But..."

Looking out the window at the bright moon and the vast sky dotted with countless stars, I thought, "Soon I'll see Xiao Fan again. The Prefectural City... and the even wider world?"

"Although my wife is accompanying me on this trip, I must still be careful. The Prefectural City is Cao Family territory; it's easy to dodge open attacks, but difficult to guard against hidden arrows."

My mind was racing.

Li Xian excited, worried... she had all sorts of feelings. Suddenly feeling a bit bored, she went for a walk to clear her head and went back to the old house to take a look.

Although Luo Xia was appointed Deputy Martial Commandant, he still lived in the old house and would occasionally return to visit the Liu-Wang Couple.

The old house is clean and tidy, and the thatched roof has been renovated.

The next day.

In the One Accord Manor.

The lady's long hair was styled in an updo, adorned with three Silver Hairpin inserted diagonally, the ends of which dangled pearls. She was beautiful and adorned with many ornaments, her earrings and necklace perfectly complementing her features.

Li Xian, supporting her hand, had already prepared a treadmill and lifted the carriage curtain beforehand, handling everything meticulously. Madam Wen nodded slightly, her jade beads lightly touching, and she sat down in the carriage. Her voice rang out. "Let's depart."

Li Xian, holding the reins, gave a loud shout. The strange horse "White Cloud" Lower Vehicle its hooves, speeding along the official road towards the Prefectural City.