Grand Gathering Opens, Rainbow-Garment Strange Attire, Heroes of the Rankings, Li Xian Takes the Stage

The Flower Cage Sect has five sub-altars, each representing one of the five elements of heaven and earth. The Water Altar is located in Yunan Circuit Dongran Lake in Huaiyin Prefecture, Yuzhou. It is an extremely important secret, and only elders know its approximate location. One must be escorted by a messenger to enter the altar.

The red smoke is called "Clear Wafting Sleep Incense". It is made from a variety of Mundane Common Goods, such as "Red Rouge Flower", "Spirit-Calming Grass", "Stone-Grinding Powder", "Azure-Pond Lotus Stamen", and "Moon-Gazing Fruit", and is carefully prepared.

"Mundane Common Goods" are not cheap. Li Xian's "Tiger Saliva Stone" and "Golden Leopard Tendon" already have miraculous effects, but they are still considered "Mundane Common Goods". When martial artists talk about "Mundane Common Goods", they mean items that have special effects, but are not enough to be called "rare treasures", ordinary treasures that are passed down from generation to generation.

The Clear Wafting Sleep Incense. It can calm anxiety and soothe the mind, making it an excellent medicinal smoke. However, the timing is crucial; taking it at the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) yields the best results and doubles the chance of a cure.

However, if the medicine is taken at "Zi Shi" (11 PM - Moon-Gazing Fruit), the situation is completely different. The three main medicines, "Red Rouge Flower" (Red Rouge Flower), "Azure-Pond Lotus Stamen" (Emerald Lotus Stamen), and "Pan Yue Guo" (Moon-Viewing Fruit), are all miraculous medicines whose medicinal properties change with the time of day. At Zi Shi, the medicinal properties of Red Rouge Flower and Moon-Gazing Fruit clash due to the conflict between water and fire, while Azure-Pond Lotus Stamen precisely mediates the conflict.

The medicinal properties suddenly change. Although it still retains the wonderful effects of aiding sleep and calming the mind, it also stimulates distracting thoughts and subtly enhances one's interests.

These random thoughts cover a wide range of topics, including martial arts, love, the past, and so on. However, a person's random thoughts often change depending on their circumstances.

The layout of this bedroom subtly draws one's thoughts to moments of pleasure and intimacy. The bookshelves are filled with various love stories and biographies.

Nangong Liuli had gradually adapted, falling asleep every night to the scent of the sleeping incense. However, feeling increasingly agitated, she spent the entire night meticulously studying the formula for the Red Smoke incense, managing to identify several key ingredients such as "Red Rouge Flower" and "Azure-Pond Lotus Stamen." She vaguely guessed the effects of the Red Smoke. She spat and cursed, "These wicked scoundrels and lecherous bastards, if they directly used aphrodisiacs, I would praise their true nature. They're truly despicable. Humph, they insist on using this shoddy sleeping incense."

"My heart is pure, am I afraid?"

Although "Clear Wafting Sleep Incense" originated from the Flower Cage Sect, it is a legitimate medicinal product and is sold in many places. It is used to heal emotional wounds.

After inhaling the fragrance for several days, she realized that the incense, which normally did not arouse any romantic or distracting thoughts, was actually quite capable of doing so. These thoughts accumulated in her heart, making her feel increasingly anxious and resentful.

That day... she inadvertently glanced at the sandalwood box in the dressing table again. Thinking of the items inside, her pretty face suddenly turned red. Although she had felt strange before, she hadn't thought much of it and would never have made such a connection. In that instant, certain images flashed through her mind, and she immediately understood its purpose.

She was utterly mortified. "The Flower Cage Sect... how... how could they make such a strange thing?" she cried out in terror, fleeing far away and desperately trying to avert her gaze, afraid that her eyes would be offended if they fell upon the sandalwood box.

Several more days passed in a daze, and her cheeks flushed slightly. She clearly knew that "Clear Wafting Sleep Incense" was not an aphrodisiac. But she kept cursing and could only blame the change on it.

In reality, the Clear Wafting Sleep Incense " has the characteristics of "the pure remain pure" and "the impure remain impure." Those who have no desires or wants in their hearts can fall asleep upon smelling the fragrance, which has endless wonderful uses. Those who are full of desires and wants will be captivated by the fragrance, but their desires will never be satisfied.

She glanced at the dressing table, her mind wandering:

"I've come here, and my life is hopeless. Why bother with clan rules and precepts anymore? Rather than being forced by those thieves, I'd rather... Ah! What am I thinking? Why am I thinking like this... This is terrible. This place is extremely strange."

She pursed her lips tightly, struggling slightly. Feeling unable to move, she felt a slight sense of relief. "Luckily, I'm tied up and can't move at all, so I won't do anything strange. Wait... how is being tied up a good thing?"

"That wretched Flower Cage Sect!"

Her mind was racing, and she felt restless. She lay in bed for a moment, then rolled over and jumped out of bed again. She looked left and right, trying to find something to relieve her boredom and distract her mind.

Her heart fluttered, and she thought of the petty thief who had fed and watered her in prison. She had never clearly seen his face, yet the hazy memory of him added a unique charm to it.

After enduring this arduous period for several days, completely isolated from the world, I spent my days Sleep, spacing out, and doing nothing else. It was precisely because of this extreme boredom that my mind became active.

She intended to steer her thoughts toward Martial Dao techniques, but her mind kept wandering elsewhere. She wasn't particularly interested in Martial Dao; from a young age, she had been bound by clan rules and etiquette, and was expected to be dignified and proper.

Everyone admired her for her beauty; she was a noblewoman from the Nangong Clan with a distinguished background.

Having been captured, her clan's whereabouts unknown, and all rules abolished, she felt a strange sense of breaking free from her cage. Though bound, she felt a strange sense of freedom. She knew perfectly well that this feeling was wrong. But the Clear Wafting Sleep Incense only stirred her thoughts, drawing out deeper reflections.

This was all her original idea.

But his disgust for the Flower Cage Sect was also heartfelt. At this time, his feelings were a complex mix of emotions.

On this day, the door was suddenly opened. Four women dressed in black dresses, with exquisite makeup and beautiful faces, walked into the room, giggling.

Nangong Liuli turned her head away. The four women laughed, "You said you weren't a flirtatious girl, why is your face so red?" Nangong Liuli said, "I wish I could kill you all!"

One of the women said, "Oh dear, you know what you're thinking. We won't argue with you."

Nangong Liuli was furious but had nowhere to vent her anger, secretly blaming herself for being so weak-willed. She had been dragged into this state by Clear Wafting Sleep Incense. One of the women said, "Alright, sisters, stop teasing her. The grand event has already begun; we must prepare the prizes properly."

Nangong Liuli exclaimed in horror, "What? The grand event has already started? How much time has passed?"

The four women exchanged glances, giggled, and said playfully, "It's been so long. What about you... hurry up and come along. Since you're the prize winner, you'll be allowed to see this grand event."

Nangong Liuli was filled with shame and anger, unwilling to comply with such a wish. She secretly used the "Thousand-Weight Plunge" martial art, her feet seemingly rooted to the ground, not moving an inch.

Knowing she was resisting, the four women laughed, "At this point, further resistance is futile. Since you're not behaving properly, don't blame us." They moved like phantoms, instantly surrounding her, and said, "If you don't stop now, I might use ' Crisp-Wind Soft Finger '!"

Nangong Liuli quickly stopped her cultivation, gritting her teeth, suppressing her hatred for the time being. "The situation is stronger than you, I'll go with you." The four women suddenly laughed, "Even if you stopped, it didn't mean you didn't need to."

Four fingers shot out simultaneously, striking Nangong Liuli's back, ribs, and abdomen. Her eyes widened, and before she could even feel anger, she let out a scream and was completely paralyzed. She was then lifted up by the four women and carried out of the house.

Nangong Liuli's eyes welled up with tears. The past few days had been nothing short of humiliating. She had been subjected to finger strikes, and her Inner Qi was struggling to withstand them, causing her to tremble slightly. She still had to listen to the teasing and taunting words of the four women.

About half an hour later, they arrived at a room where there was a finely polished silver mirror that reflected their entire makeup and revealed the details of their appearance.

The four women said enviously, "This girl comes from a good family, is beautiful, and has a top-notch figure. Alas... none of us four sisters can compare to her."

Nangong Liuli pursed her lips, forcing herself to remain silent. Four streams of energy traveled along her spine, seemingly mixed with some kind of medicinal power. Truly, they melted upon touching bone, softened the heart, and numbed the flesh...

They arrived at a warm pool, steaming from within. The four women removed her clothes and allowed her to wash herself in the pool. Nangong Liuli felt relaxed as she stepped onto the bottom of the pool. She curiously looked around. The four women stood at the four corners of the pool, wary of any resistance from Nangong Liuli.

By this time, Nangong Liuli was already trapped in the bandits' den, feeling she had nowhere to escape. So she relaxed and enjoyed taking a bath, her pretty face slightly flushed. Since being captured, bathing had become a luxury for her. The cell at the bottom of the ship was stuffy and dark, and she was sweating profusely, her clothes drying and then getting wet again. After all, a warrior is still a "human," and she had her share of hardships.

She was later confined to her bedroom. Her situation improved considerably, but she still found it difficult to wash herself. In addition, she was plagued by distracting thoughts and anxieties. It was truly a case of springtime being locked away in the depths of her boudoir.

Just like the beautiful scenery in February and March, with lush grass, misty water, and dewy spring.

She cared little for the raging flood and the impending calamity. After washing herself clean, four women brought her a wide towel, which she simply draped over herself, her long hair flowing like a waterfall.

The four women laughed and said, "You're lucky; you've received permission from above. They've specially prepared Rainbow-Garment Flowing-Gaze Dress for you."

They then took out a wooden box. Opening the box, they found a set of exquisite clothes inside. The fabric was imported from the Western Regions, feeling like gauze and silk to the touch, and was carefully woven. The four women took out the clothes, which were a set of dresses with complete accessories. Silver hairpins, earrings, shoes and socks, sachets, pearl strings... Upon closer inspection, many of the accessories were ones they had never seen before.

The candlelight illuminated the various accessories, creating a dazzling display of iridescent light. The four women carefully touched the fabric, then smiled mischievously, saying, "You little rascal... wearing this dress, you're truly blessed."

At first glance, Nangong Liuli found the clothes beautiful and wasn't particularly averse to them. But upon closer inspection, she suddenly felt a shiver run through her body and wanted to flee. There were fine needles hidden beneath the clothes. Wearing them would inevitably cause them to prick her skin. But the needles were so fine that she figured she wouldn't feel any pain.

Upon closer inspection... the Rainbow-Garment Flowing-Gaze Dress fit Nangong Liuli's figure perfectly. The finest needles were positioned to correspond to acupoints on her body. These acupoints were all related to the Martial Dao she had learned. If she wore the robes, these acupoints would be firmly restrained.

Then there's nothing that can be done, and they're at the mercy of others.

The four women said, "This is woven from the Supreme Jade Silk from the Western Regions. This silk is dust-free and will not get dirty even after being worn for several years."

It turns out that the Flower Cage Sect extremely sophisticated and ingenious techniques. This set of clothing is exquisitely crafted, containing hidden secrets. Its beautiful appearance conceals a predicament.

Nangong Liuli fought back fiercely, but she was too weak, and although the four women's martial arts were not as good as hers, they joined forces to attack, assisting Crisp-Wind Soft Finger. Nangong Liuli was unable to cope with them.

After a tense standoff, Nangong Liuli said in a deep voice, "Fine... I'll wear this!" She could only swallow her anger and temporarily suppress it. She began to put on the clothes and slipped on the light socks. She felt no needles at all throughout the process.

But the moment she finished dressing, all her acupoints were restricted, and 70% of her strength was drained away. When she tried to circulate her Inner Qi energy, it was either loosened or blocked by an invisible force when it passed through several major acupoints, making it difficult to cross the insurmountable barrier.

She can still draw upon her Inner Qi, but she must bypass important acupoints, and the meridians through which she circulates her energy are narrow and secluded. Without this ability to use martial arts, she is essentially no different from having no Inner Qi at all.

It was like two armies at war, with logistics and supplies being transported. Wide roads were blocked, forcing supplies to take long detours, or even abandoning carts and horses to carry rice and grain across mountain roads. By the time the supplies arrived, the vanguard had already collapsed.

She truly became a delicate woman, completely at the mercy of others.

Moreover, the basic acupoints created by the acupuncture needles, when combined with each other, have an unexpected and wonderful use, in addition to the random thoughts aroused by the "Clear Wafting Sleep Incense".

Adorned in flowing robes, her beautiful eyes sparkled with delight.

His expression was very strange, and he was in great distress.

The four women said, "Don't rush, there's still some makeup to do. Do you want it to end like this?" Nangong Liuli groaned in despair, thinking, "Oh no... there's still makeup to do... I... I can't live like this!"

At this point, she was no match for him. Her face was made up, her lips were painted red... her makeup was made to be exquisite. With her hair in cloud-like style and phoenix hairpins, she was transformed... though her eyes held resentment, her appearance was exquisite.

It seemed more like an invitation to a banquet.

Nangong Liuli was filled with shame and indignation. But when she looked in the mirror, she was extremely beautiful. Her hair was as black as ink, and her figure was graceful.

Seeing this, Nangong Liuli felt somewhat comforted. As she moved slightly, her brows furrowed, sensing something amiss. A fine needle, hidden within her clothing, pierced her skin. Her subtle movements caused the fabric to tug at the needle.

It has a miraculous effect; on the ribs, the Yongquan Gushing Spring Acupoint the soles of the feet, and many acupoints on the back, it feels as if ants are biting. The whole body feels as if it has been Crisp-Wind Soft Finger dozens of times.

Nangong Liuli stood frozen in the distance, barely able to breathe. The four women teased, "Good girl, come with us." Nangong Liuli tentatively took half a step.

She couldn't help but gasp and froze, her beautiful eyes pleading for help as she looked at the four women.

The four women said, "Oh, right, we forgot to teach you the footwork. This outfit requires specific footwork to walk in."

The four women taught her the footwork. Nangong Liuli dared not disobey and followed their instructions. She took a light step, and it was indeed effective. However, her gait was slightly unsteady, and she could only suppress her embarrassment.

They practiced for half an hour.

Nangong Liuli could walk without difficulty, but her speed was very slow. The four women nodded secretly, their mission accomplished. They immediately led Nangong Liuli out of the pavilion.

Nangong Liuli cried out in despair. She could only follow along, and seeing the sun high in the sky, she had no heart to appreciate it. She thought to herself, "The Flower Cage Sect has a long history, and it was that woman who led me to this predicament. There's no hope. Circumstances are stronger than people's; I should just endure it for now and bear it a little longer."

After traveling for half an hour, Nangong Liuli was exhausted and covered in sweat. Her exquisitely beautiful Rainbow-Garment Flowing-Gaze Dress was not breathable and allowed sweat to seep through, as if it were deliberately making her suffer. In addition, her walking style was extremely tiring for both body and mind, and her speed was slow.

Nangong Liuli asked, "Where are we going? Haven't we arrived yet?"

The four women said, "You can't wait any longer?" Nangong Liuli blushed and gritted her teeth. She hated the Flower Cage Sect to the extreme, but she was also restless and acting very strangely.

After another half hour of slow walking, Nangong Liuli was so tired that she wanted to lie down and rest. But her Rainbow-Garment Flowing-Gaze Dress wouldn't allow her to make any other movements. She could only maintain her posture, straighten her back and chest, and walk slowly to preserve her graceful figure.

She felt dizzy and disoriented, not knowing how long she had walked. She entered a small room with a mahogany chair inside. The four women said, "Please sit down."

Nangong Liuli was covered in sweat and was already extremely exhausted. She immediately went to sit down, but the moment the acupuncture points were activated, she felt completely powerless.

She thought to herself, "These thieving women are playing tricks on me. Wearing these clothes, I even have to be careful when walking. If I sit down, the needles will move."

She weakly cursed, "Bastard..." The four women said, "Hmph, you wretched girl, of all people to offend, you had to offend us."

The four women laughed and said, "This Rainbow-Garment Flowing-Gaze Dress has specific rules for sitting and walking. We four sisters can't stand your arrogant attitude. If you behave yourself and call us 'good sisters,' we'll teach you all the techniques for sitting and walking. You won't be able to fight, but you'll still be able to move around freely. It'll be a bit troublesome, but it'll be very helpful."

Nangong Liuli said, "Dream on."

The four women said, "Since that's the case, you'll just have to bear it yourself." The four women turned and left, closing the door behind them.

Nangong Liuli inwardly groaned, secretly regretting her actions upon hearing the door close. She wanted to turn around, but dared not move rashly.

"I Intent-Qi again, and now I'm in a terrible state. Even sitting or walking is difficult for me." She sat upright in her chair, not daring to move an inch. Suddenly, a beam of light shone in... and before her was a huge Liuli lens.

Below were eight Arena. Thousands upon thousands of onlookers surrounded them, creating a lively scene; all were members of the Flower Cage Sect's thieves.

Nangong Liuli took a few deep breaths, barely suppressing her palpitations, and stared intently at the Arena. She hadn't seen anyone else there for a long time.

Preparations for the grand event were in full swing, and everyone was anxious. The sounds of fists and kicks, shouts and curses, and the excited shouts of the crowd reached Nangong Liuli's ears. Her gaze wandered, searching for a certain figure.

"Where!"

Nangong Liuli gradually noticed.

Seeing a figure lying leisurely on a tree branch dozens of feet away from the Arena, chewing on a straw, Nangong Liuli felt a surge of inexplicable anger, but then, thinking of her own predicament, she looked away in resentment and despair.

The Flower Cage Sect Proficiency in various martial arts, but is somewhat weak in Martial Dao. Nangong Liuli was filled with mixed emotions; she knew her fate was sealed, and today she would fall into the hands of one of them.

Although the Martial Dao of the participants were not weak, Nangong Liuli had grown up in a powerful family since childhood. During Aristocratic Clan banquets and festivals, she had competed with her peers and seen many talented individuals. Any one of them could easily crush nine out of ten of the participants.

"Do you expect True Dragon to the Flower Cage Sect? What do I care about these scoundrels who wallow in the mud, no matter how strong they are? Hmph. That Hua Wucuo coward, yet he clearly has some strength. If... he really fought for me, even if he lost, I would still remember his kindness. My heart has nowhere else to rest, so it will eventually fall on him. But he still refuses..."

Thinking of this, tears welled up in my eyes. I felt inexplicably wronged.

Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a Arena. Wang Changjiang of the Flower Cage Sect unleashed a single move, simultaneously producing three melodious "Double Wafting Immortal Tone." His opponent was instantly defeated, tumbling off the Arena and falling unconscious.

Nangong Liuli's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she said, "This person is quite formidable."

Wang Changjiang is thirty-five years old, while Nangong Liuli Fang Er. In the path of Martial Dao, the older one gets, the more skilled one becomes. Eating Essence Food for a few more years, practicing martial arts for a few more years, and accumulating experience for a few more years are all great advantages.

There's a saying in the Jianghu: "Better to provoke a young swordsman than a seasoned veteran." This means that some martial artists, though their Martial Dao level may be ordinary, are old and cunning, and their methods transcend their level.

At the Nangong Clan banquet, competitions among peers were limited to those who were three years apart in age. If the age difference was more than three years, any competition would require careful consideration. "Bullying the younger is not honorable," and "bullying the older is even more humiliating."

At a clan banquet, Nangong Liuli once competed in a musical performance with her cousin, who was four years her senior. Her performance incorporated insights into Martial Dao, and after defeating her cousin, she dared not push him too far.

Unconsciously, she recalled her past glory days. In the world of Jianghu, there was only the distinction between the strong and the weak, rarely the difference between the old and the young. Her exclamation was indeed heartfelt.

On the terrace in the distance.

Shi Yufei, the "Grand Master of the Water Altar" of the Flower Cage Sect, Yan Hao, the Deputy Master of the Water Altar, Jin Shichang, the Water Altar's Extradition Commissioner, Ye Cheng, Liu Yu, Meng Han, and other elders of the Flower Cage Sect all gazed at the various scenes on the Arena.

Seeing Wang Changjiang defeat his opponent in one move, they all nodded repeatedly, showing their admiration. Shi Yufei said, "This young man, Wang Changjiang, is indeed an outstanding talent of our Flower Cage Sect."

Yan Hao, the deputy envoy of the Water Altar, said, "With a single move, he played the ' Heart-Bewitching Immortal Tone,' the ' Qi-Strengthening Immortal Tone,' and the ' Drum-Beating Immortal Tone,' demonstrating that his Martial Dao quite well-planned. He has figured out his own path."

Jin Shichang said, "This young man is a worthy contender for first place in this grand event."

Shi Yufei sighed, "Alas..."

Elder Liu Yu of the Flower Cage Sect asked, "Why does the Grand Envoy sigh?" Shi Yufei replied, "This Wang Changjiang is indeed quite good. But it's still lacking something; I'm not entirely satisfied with it."

Meng Han said, "Our Flower Cage Sect still has outstanding talents such as Wolf Blade, Bao Zhixian, and Ding Zelin. They are all quite excellent candidates."

Shi Yufei said, "The times are different now. The dynasty is declining, and chaos is breaking out on all sides. Heroes are emerging in great numbers, Aristocratic Clan powerful families are all investing heavily in cultivating outstanding talents to be selected for the list and increase their Lineage's influence."

"These exceptional talents you mentioned, could they possibly make the list?"

There are four ranking lists: Heroes, Beauties, Divine Weapons, and Crimson List. The lists are divided into three levels: "Heaven," "Earth," and "Human." The Heroes' List is highly regarded by all heroes, and those who make it onto the list are all outstanding individuals.

The list does not have an age limit and is arranged purely based on spirit, Martial Dao, and power. The Earth List corresponds to heroes within the "Dao" and the Mortal List corresponds to heroes of a lower level within the "Prefecture" or "State" of the Dao.

Those who are old enough to be listed on the "Mortal List" at the tender age of twenty are highly renowned and influential. Li Xian was once selected for the "Prefectural Genius Ranking," a derivative list of the List of Heroes' List, which has a certain prestige.

However, the four lists of Heaven and Earth only include the Heroes' List, the Beauty Ranking, the Crimson List, and the Divine Weapons List. The so-called "Prefectural Genius Ranking" is, in essence, a list specially set up by the Prefecture City for the Golden Scale.

All the envoys and elders remained silent. Yan Hao, the deputy envoy of the Water Altar, said, "Grand Envoy, even though the Heroes' List is Mortal List, it is not something to be taken lightly. It not only considers the individual's strength but also the power behind them."

"There are only 108 spots available. They are still young; it's unreasonable to ask them to do something they shouldn't."

Shi Yufei said calmly, "The Water Altar is located in Huaiyin Prefecture. As far as I know, the 106th person on the Mortal List here... is the 14-year-old boy from the Lishan Sword Sect."

The Heroes' List has no age limit. Therefore, those who can make it onto the list at a young age are truly exceptional!

Shi Yufei said, "Huaiyin Prefecture has produced quite a few outstanding figures over the years, enough to squeeze into the list of heroes. We should strive to emulate them... Although our deeds are different from theirs, let us not forget that we were once..."

As he spoke, a look of nostalgia crossed his face. The expressions of the crowd varied. Yan Hao was indifferent, Jin Shichang and Ye Cheng slightly enthusiastic, while Meng Han and Liu Yu looked into the distance.

The event was very lively.

Several more matches followed. Ding Zelin and Wolf Blade took to the stage one after another, delivering brilliant performances that drew cheers and excitement from the entire audience.

Shi Yufei nodded slightly, but felt a slight sense of regret. He couldn't see the splendor he wanted to see.

Suddenly, they spotted a Arena.

Li Xian bowed forward.