Westward Crane-Questioning, Strengthened Double Pupils, a Second Turbid Garment? An Evil Ghost Knocks at the Door

The real name of the Treasure Pellet is "Westward Crane-Questioning Pill", also known as "Crane-Nurturing Longevity Pill". It has many miraculous effects such as improving health, increasing lifespan, speaking like Crane Speech, brightening the eyes, increasing enlightenment, and improving control. Legend has it that the Lu Dongzhi loved cranes as much as his life since childhood, and enjoyed raising cranes and riding them to roam the world.

The tomb is hidden deep in the mountains, in a pond or lake where white cranes can be seen treading on clouds and thousands of cranes roost. This was specially left by Lü Dongzhi, who rested in peace Riding the Crane, embodying the spirit of elegance. When the precious Treasure Pellet entered his stomach, the Perfection technique of "Consumption" it took effect, increasing its benefits and reducing its drawbacks.

Li Xian immediately felt a warm sensation in his abdomen, the medicinal power flowing gently, nourishing his flesh and bones. His whole body felt both cool and hot, and the cries of cranes echoed in his ears. His thoughts soared like cranes, and his comprehension gradually increased.

[You have consumed the Westward Crane-Questioning Pill; your skill proficiency in Consumption this elixir Proficiency by 596.]

[Your mind is exceptional, you have a profound understanding of the universe, and your digestion of Essence Food is accelerated.]

The calls of thousands of cranes surrounded him. At first, he did not understand their meaning, taking them only as the clear and ethereal cries of birds and beasts. Gradually, he began to understand them and was able to hear the True Intention of the cranes' calls, achieving unimpeded communion with the cranes.

The crane's cry faded away.

Consciousness traveled along the effects of the pill, traversing every part of the body, smoothing out the tendons, bones, meridians, flesh, and skin... Li Xian cultivated the "Iron-Copper Body" and "Heavenly Thunder Finger," possessing the "Perfect Aspect" and "Double-Pupil Aspect"... Many Martial Dao and characteristics could enhance the pure power of his physical body.

While this is certainly commendable, it may inadvertently compromise the necessary refinement.

Li Xian was flawless, with a divine appearance rarely seen in the world. With the blessing of the [Perfect Aspect], his control over his strength was already exquisite. With the enhanced effects of the Treasure Pellet, his skill became even more refined, adding the finishing touch and making him even more powerful. He could manipulate his strength into threads as if controlling a hair.

With ease and composure, handling even the smallest tasks with effortless grace.

"Westward Crane-Questioning Pill" is a rare and precious elixir, its medicinal effects already exceptional. Having been left unused for thousands of years, its potency inevitably diminished. Li Xian's [Consumption] of it strengthened its power, replenishing it and making it several times stronger than before!

The medicinal effects surged like a tide, one wave after another. Its wondrous uses were truly terrifying. When Li Xian raised his eyes, his gaze became bright, and his eyesight suddenly increased. He could see through the walls of the room and the stone walls of the courtyard, and could see pedestrians on the street.

His gaze shortened, returning to the courtyard. He saw Nangong Liuli lost in thought, a gentle breeze ruffling her hair, the cord of the pendant at her waist swaying slightly. Through the thin fabric of her clothes, he could see the scene inside.

Li Xian shifted his gaze, coughed lightly twice, and thought to himself that since they had cooperated sincerely and agreed on three rules, there was no need to be so sneaky if he wanted to take a closer look. He then looked elsewhere; the Double Pupils' ability to see through things was extremely taxing on his eyesight, but this enhancement was remarkably effective.

His vision, observation, and intimidation abilities were all enhanced. When he focused his mind, his surroundings seemed to stand still. Countless details flooded into his mind like water flowing downhill. With a light glance, he could clearly see the fluttering wings of mosquitoes, the ants returning to their nests, and the cracks in tree trunks.

It can be controlled with ease, both at close and long distances.

It has a variety of wonderful effects.

Li Xian felt completely refreshed, and suddenly sensed the essence within his body rapidly being digested. In that instant, he had already consumed dozens of strands of food, his physique approaching that of heaven and earth, and his strength becoming increasingly formidable.

[Bone-Sculpting Embryo]

[Description: Double Wafting Immortal Tone, Three Flowers Converging at the Crown, Turbid Garment Cloak...]

He had a vague feeling that his body was about to show signs again. Nangong Liuli told him that the path of Martial Dao requires accumulating knowledge and building a solid foundation through meticulous practice. The more prestigious and powerful Aristocratic Clan is, the more rigorous the training will be.

Nangong Liuli comes from a powerful family and is both knowledgeable and ruthless. Although she may not be as outstanding as Wen Caishang in every aspect, she has a profound understanding of Martial Dao and its systems. She is not only intelligent and beautiful, but also has the Lineage heritage, which has been accumulated through generations of teachings and instruction from countless masters.

Li Xian was not ashamed to ask for guidance.

The sun was high in the sky, and the dampness from last night had been dried. Nangong Liuli saw that the courtyard was dirty and messy with yellow mud, so she asked Li Xian to buy some flowers and plants to plant. Li Xian nodded in agreement, saying that if there was extra money, decorating the courtyard was indeed important.

Li Xian's digestive medicine had taken effect, making him unbearably hungry; he absolutely needed to find something to eat. However, he couldn't bear to waste the half tael of money he had left. Suddenly, he saw a fruit tree in the courtyard, its green leaves lush and its red fruits exuding a fragrant aroma.

He leaped lightly, landing on a tree branch. Enveloped in his Pure Astral-Qi Garment, he plucked seven or eight fruits, some green and some red. The red fruits were very sweet and ripe, while the green fruits were slightly astringent but still edible. He made them his lunch. He cooked a pot of fruit soup, which, although lacking in meat, had a refreshing and sweet taste and was quite delicious.

At the desk, Li Xian inquired about various matters concerning the Nangong Liuli Lineage, Jianghu masters, grudges and secrets, and court intrigues... Nangong Liuli could not answer many questions in a short time. She chose the aspects she was more familiar with and spoke in detail.

Li Xian thought that if he kept asking about other people's family secrets, it would seem like he had ulterior motives. Although he was curious, he did not want to offend them. So he opened up the conversation and gradually talked freely and without restraint.

We ate and drank our fill.

Li Xian recalled the three-point agreement, the sincere cooperation, the joint search for a way out, and the many provisions for accumulating strength. He teased, "Little Li, now that you are a beautiful concubine, well-fed and well-drinked, what are you going to do?" He leaned back, looking relaxed, observing Nangong Liuli's reaction.

Nangong Liuli suddenly came to her senses. The three rules they had agreed upon that day were that Nangong Liuli would perform all the duties of a female relative and serve Li Xian's daily life. Li Xian would protect Nangong Liuli and ensure her safety within the Flower Cage Sect. If they obtained Essence Treasure or other valuable items, they would share them appropriately and advance their Martial Dao.

As a noblewoman from a powerful family, she had long since forgotten her former self once her hands and feet were freed. Now, when brought up again, her pretty face flushed red, and she said, "Since it's a three-point agreement, I will naturally abide by it. How could I, Nangong Liuli, be a person who goes back on her word?"

Li Xian smiled and said, "What a beauty! Then please massage my legs first."

Seeing Li Xian so carefree and relaxed, Nangong Liuli suddenly felt indignant. Such obedience was beneath her dignity. She rolled her eyes, then a brilliant plan struck her—how could she serve him and fulfill her promises and contracts in the future without having to be subservient? With a hint of contempt, she said, "You little thief, you don't look very old, do you? How old are you this year?"

Li Xian said, "You're only twenty? What's wrong?"

Nangong Liuli said, "The patriarchs of my Nangong Clan are crowned at twenty-two. Are you also twenty-two? You don't look that old to me."

"Within Yunan Circuit... the Gu Family is quite famous. Their coming-of-age ceremony is at twenty-three. Customs vary from family to Lineage, so the age for the coming-of-age ceremony differs. You... when someone asks your age, you can't answer like that. If they hear that, they'll think you're being perfunctory and will have a bad impression of you, making things very inconvenient for you later. You need to tell them your true age."

She actually took it all very seriously, adopting a lecturing posture.

Li Xian thought to himself, "As expected of a noble lady from a powerful family. Aristocratic Clan have strict rules about etiquette, rigorously training children from a young age, first in all manners, then in literature and martial arts." He silently accepted the instruction and said, "I'm only eighteen. Why are you asking my age?"

Nangong Liuli's eyes immediately curved into a smile. She asked again, "I think it's your age according to the traditional Chinese age reckoning, right?" She dipped her fingertip into the teacup, dipped it in tea, and then drew circles on the table.

Li Xian nodded and said, "He is indeed of the traditional age, but let's not worry about that." As they traveled together on the Jade-Water River, Wen Caishang couldn't hide her feelings and said that regardless of the age, he was already of age and ready to start a family.

Nangong Liuli laughed and said, "How can we not consider it? Since it's based on the traditional Chinese age reckoning, it means I'm still a bit younger."

She chuckled, "Oh dear, so you're just a little brother. You tried to act all mature, but you're actually quite young. I'm twenty-one this year, three years older than you."

"Call me 'sister' and let me hear it."

Li Xian remained silent, then suddenly felt a sense of unease.

Nangong Liuli said, "It is only right for an older sister to take care of her younger brother. I will treat you as my little brother and serve you well."

Li Xian was slightly annoyed, seeing that Nangong Liuli was trying to intimidate him with her age, and said, "Who do you look down on? Who's your younger brother?" Nangong Liuli felt she had the upper hand and said smugly, "It's you, of course. You haven't even grown your hair yet, what are you pretending to be, a young man in his prime?"

"You big bad wolf, don't you know any shame? In Martial Dao, there are strong and weak, and there are young and old. If you were in the Nangong Clan, a little brother like you would have to be respectful and bow to me when you see me, saying 'Hello, cousin.' If I have some spare money and you call me so sweetly, I'll reward you with some silver."

Nangong Liuli chuckled, "Little brother, I'm massaging your legs, don't overthink it, or I'll spank you." Her role shifted from serving to caring, making her even more smug.

Li Xian smiled and said, "Good sister, I've changed my mind." Nangong Liuli was taken aback, suddenly sensing something was wrong. Li Xian smiled and said, "I have some free time today, a truly wonderful day. Since you are older than me, sister, you must be more experienced. I would like to ask you to teach me something."

Nangong Liuli inwardly groaned, shifted her body slightly, pushed open the window, and looked at the bare courtyard. "Good little brother, sister... sister doesn't have much to teach you. You're so smart, you can figure it out yourself."

Li Xian followed, put his arm around her waist, and said, "No... I know absolutely nothing about this. I'm so stupid. If you don't teach me, I'll never learn."

Nangong Liuli cried out in her heart, "Nangong Liuli, oh Nangong Liuli... This servant only asked you to massage his legs. You should have just been sensible and helped him. Why did you have to make yourself suffer?"

The stammering brother said, "My dear, I really can't teach you. I don't know either. You should find someone else to teach you, little brother."

Li Xian laughed and said, "Really? You really don't know how? I saw it yesterday. If you really haven't learned this before, then it means you're self-taught. You have a remarkable talent for this, so teaching me would be more than enough."

Nangong Liuli pursed her red lips, speechless, the words of rebuttal stuck in her throat, too embarrassed to speak. Knowing this was unavoidable, and also feeling a surge of anger, she said helplessly, "Good brother... it's not dark yet. If you really want to learn from me, you should wait until it's dark. How can you... how can you..."

At this point, Nangong Liuli gracefully fled back to her room and lay down to sleep. But as she was about to close the door, perhaps due to her panic, she forgot to bolt it, leaving a crack.

After eating and drinking his fill, Li Xian wanted to go back to his room to rest, but in his daze, he went to the wrong room.

Two hours later.

The Inner Court courtyard is quiet and serene.

Li Xian held the River-Sinking Sword and practiced slowly. He had already Peak Mastery the first and second levels of the Waning Sun Blood-Draining Sword, but the third level required the combined practice of Wen Caishang not by his side, he could hardly make any progress.

And so on.

Several days passed peacefully. Li Xian, with his calm and steady nature, honed his Martial Dao, working diligently and quietly to accumulate Proficiency. Nangong Liuli, on the other hand, was full of fun and interest. She was extremely shy in the first few days and is still quite embarrassed now, but she is gradually becoming more sensible and understanding.

She was both afraid and apprehensive. She was exhausted, with a sore back and aching legs. It was indeed not easy to cooperate and work together to find a way out. Having set a precedent, she was inevitably busy every day at noon and at night.

[You have digested the Essence Treasure, Proficiency +1]

As his Martial Dao improved, Li Xian was filled with joy. He reached new heights in his Martial Dao journey, and his distinctive characteristics became increasingly apparent.

At noon that day, Green Ox Street was bustling with pedestrians and vehicles. In the small courtyard next door, the Five-Element Command Flags regulated the feng shui, forming an invisible barrier. No matter how much commotion or shouting occurred inside, it was difficult to hear outside.

In the bedroom of the west wing of Green Ox Residence, the window was suddenly pushed open, startling the birds that were watching from the eaves. They chirped and flew back to their nests in the branches. The curtains in the room were trampled to the ground, and the tables and chairs were slightly askew.

Nangong Liuli's cheeks flushed slightly. She had been well-mannered since childhood and said, "You brat, always so willful and reckless, always showing off. You'll ruin your health sooner or later."

Li Xian said, "I'm very healthy; it would be extremely difficult for me to become depleted. Sister Liuli, you don't have that ability."

Upon hearing the words "Sister Liuli," Nangong Liuli felt even more embarrassed. Originally, she relied on her age to address herself as "sister" to save face. However, the situation gradually changed, and this address made her even more ashamed and annoyed.

She couldn't believe that she, the legitimate daughter of the prestigious Nangong Clan, was no match for a young, unruly boy.

Li Xian came to her side and said, "My dear sister, you can't bear to part with me?"

Nangong Liuli spat, "Who's your good sister? I'd love for you to get lost." Li Xian said, "You yourself are making up your age and seniority, but now you're denying it."

Nangong Liuli said softly, "Good little brother... I'm afraid of you. I can't win an argument with you. I'll only end up shooting myself in the foot. You always bullied me when you were on the pleasure boat, and you still dare to bully me now. Oh well... You're in such a hurry today, you must have something important to do. You should go quickly and not delay." Her shyness gradually faded, replaced by a tender affection.

Li Xian said, "Indeed. I'll stay here for now and look for my sister tonight."

Nangong Liuli rose to see him off, escorting him to the bedroom door. She said softly, "Be careful. Although you've become part of their group and are gaining some fame in and around town, the evil cult members are unpredictable and have also provoked Hao Qingshe. Be extremely cautious. If anything happens to you, I, your sister, will be in serious trouble."

Li Xian smiled and said, "Don't worry."

Nangong Liuli smiled and said, "Good brother, go on." She watched Li Xian pass through the corridor and disappear around the corner. She sighed softly and picked up the things on the ground: scattered books, boots, a bronze mirror, and hairpins.

The scattered tables, chairs, desks, and bookshelves were put back in their original positions. The furniture in this side room was relatively intact. The tables and chairs were all made of mahogany, which is not easy to rot or mold, and they looked brand new after being wiped clean.

Therefore, even though it has been abandoned for several years, it can still be used.

Li Xian left this room for Nangong Liuli with good intentions, knowing that Nangong Liuli came from a wealthy family and was bound to be arrogant and extravagant, so he gave her the best room. However, the fully furnished room was sometimes quite in the way.

She closed the window and saw the fruit trees in the Inner Court with their long green vines hanging down. A gentle breeze blew, and the vines swayed, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

I hadn't noticed it before.

When the house was abandoned and desolate, it was lush and vibrant with life, teeming with snakes, insects, beasts, bees, rats, and centipedes. Li Xian wiped out their nests, killed the snakes, smashed the rats, and burned the bees... cleaning them all up. He left only the fruit trees in the yard, and even the weeds were pulled out cleanly, leaving not a single inch, his actions decisive and ruthless.

Originally, Li Xian had considered leaving the lawn to add more greenery and vitality to the yard. However, the weeds were coarse, their smell attracted animals, and their roots carried insect eggs. So Li Xian removed them all, thinking that if he had extra money in the future, he would buy ornamental grasses such as "Tangcao," "Qingyuncao," and "Rouyuncao" to carefully arrange the yard.

The garden's layout required considerable skill and was a true test of knowledge and composure. Nangong Liuli recalled her fourth uncle, who was extremely proud of his mansion's scenery. Whenever someone visited, he would always take them for a stroll through the mansion. If someone's appreciation of things or objects was insightful, he would warmly invite them to stay at the mansion for a few days to make friends. Nangong Liuli had never understood this before, but now, seeing the mansion empty and dusty... she suddenly realized that managing a mansion was an extremely energy-consuming task, requiring profound understanding of the Celestial Person condition. It contained an understanding of the world and the aspirations within one's heart... It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was a reflection of one's inner world and the Martial Dao.

Furthermore, it is unknown how long Nangong Liuli will reside here; perhaps ten or twenty years will pass without any change, or perhaps a hundred years will pass quickly, and she will live out her days here. Therefore, she should naturally value the residence.

She saw a sweaty handprint imprinted on the window paper and was suddenly startled. She raised her handprint to compare its size, and the scene from that time flashed through her mind. Suddenly, she realized how it had been left, her face flushed red, and she slammed the window shut.

He spat lightly, muttered "bad little brother," and then went to tidy up elsewhere. The southwest corner of the bedroom was a spot for drinking tea and enjoying the view. A table, two cushions... sitting here to drink tea, one could admire the scenery in the courtyard.

The tea set was overturned on the ground, and the tea soaked the cushion.

Nangong Liuli picked them up one by one, her expression quite strange. As a beautiful lady, she was naturally responsible for all the chores, such as brewing and serving tea. But she vaguely remembered that the tea had just been drunk.

The cushion was quite damp.

Suddenly, with a loud "bang," the window was blown open by the wind. Nangong Liuli jumped in fright, glancing at the prayer mat, then at the window, thinking to herself, "If anyone had seen me in that state, I really... I wouldn't have survived."

I hurried to close the window.

After the bedroom was cleaned, Nangong Liuli straightened her clothes and stood quietly in the outer courtyard. She closed her eyes to clear her mind of distractions, and the remaining blush on her face gradually faded. She thought about what had happened in the past month, which had truly been a rollercoaster of emotions. It was humiliating, but when it came to actually doing it, it was also hard to describe. Holding a wooden sword, she spent a lot of time calming her mind and lightly practiced sword moves in the courtyard.

The Nangong Clan's Martial Dao tradition is profound and extensive, with a wealth of martial arts classics. Nangong Liuli has mastered the family's skills and, despite her young age, is already an outstanding individual.

The Swordsmanship she used was called "Nangong Heaven-Favoring Sword," a highly refined basic sword move. All direct descendants of the Nangong clan were required to learn it as a standard for verifying the clan's natural talent.

With a light touch of her sword tip, Nangong Liuli stirred up the turbid sand in the courtyard. Her sword danced and swirled, scattering the sand in all directions. Her feet moved lightly, her figure like a fairy in the mist, sometimes thrusting east, sometimes deflecting west.

Her ethereal beauty amidst the sand and mist is truly indescribable. Although the Nangong Heaven-Favoring Sword is Basic Martial Arts, it has long been known as the "pillar of the Nangong Clan's Martial Dao" and "the precious jade passed down through generations of the Nangong Clan." It is extremely exquisite and is in no way inferior to ordinary Entry Vehicle Martial Arts.

Legend has it that the Nangong Clan possesses a Swordsmanship called the "the Unseen Heavenly Fortune Sword Technique." One must master the Nangong Heaven-Favoring Sword to an extremely high level, and then learn several other Lineage martial arts techniques that are never passed on to outsiders, before one can even begin to wield it. When the sword is drawn, it seems to be protected by some mysterious divine fortune, defeating the enemy unexpectedly.

Even with a casual flick of the wrist, victory is already within reach.

Nangong Liuli gracefully wielded her sword, moving freely in all directions. This set of "Nangong Heaven-Favoring Sword" had reached Perfection. Her physique was slightly weak, and the close cooperation just now had exhausted a great deal of energy. Her waist and legs were sore, and after dancing back and forth a few times, she returned her sword and stopped.

The sand and mist were originally scattered and irregular, drifting and spreading in all directions. But her swordsmanship was unique. When she finished her sword dance, the sand and mist seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, moving with the sword as it passed. At first glance, it looked like a yellow ribbon hanging on the sword.

Before long... the sand and mist all transformed into pale yellow ribbons several feet long. Nangong Liuli's sword moved with him, swirling and turning, and the ribbons also swirled lightly around him.

She suddenly flipped her wrist to sheath her sword. The ribbons gathered into sand, which slid down the wooden sword and returned to the dust in the courtyard. But the sand that landed was now finer and smoother, unlike the dust of the mortal world.

Nangong Liuli's move utilized the "Gathered Turbid-Silk Garment." The power of the Nangong Heaven-Favoring Sword lies in its profound and complex sword techniques, concealing many mysteries such as "Double Wafting Immortal Tone" and "Turbid Garment Cloak." When unleashing its swordplay, it allows for considerable flexibility and adds unique characteristics, resulting in different effects from the same move. As the saying goes, "Wherever you go, east, west, north, or south, all paths lead freely and are the right ones."

The "Basic Martial Arts" of prominent clans are actually more profound.

Nangong Liuli drank the tea and immediately felt drowsy and bored, so she drew Five-Element Diagram Record to relieve her boredom. Suddenly, she felt a cold wind blowing, and the hairs on her body stood on end, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

She frowned, feeling uneasy. "This feeling is not without reason. Could it be... that a thief from the Flower Cage Sect has sneaked into Green Ox Residence while Hua Wucuo is away? Humph! If that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless." Holding her wooden sword and gathering her inner energy, she moved lightly and patrolled the mansion, inspecting every house and door.

Having suffered greatly at the hands of the Flower Cage Sect Flower Cage Sect, she knew that their formation for capturing was extremely formidable. However, they were no match for her in a one-on-one fight. Since she had infiltrated the residence, no matter how well she hid, it would be difficult to escape her search.

She searched the entire area but found no trace of anyone. Her brows furrowed in bewilderment. But since she couldn't find them, she had no choice but to return to the west wing, unzip her boots, and sit cross-legged to calm her mind.

Night fell in the blink of an eye. I opened the window and saw that the sky was pitch black. Last night the moon was full and round, but today it was covered by dark clouds.

Seeing the dark and frightening Nangong Liuli, as if it were falling on her head, Nangong Liuli felt uneasy and worried about Li Xian's safety. She lit a candle in the dark and paced back and forth anxiously. Suddenly, she heard two "tap tap" sounds, as if they came from the vermilion gate.

Nangong Liuli was overjoyed and immediately rushed to the outer courtyard. Just as she was about to open the door to greet him, she touched the latch and immediately sensed something was wrong... The place was extremely quiet and deathly still.

Nangong Liuli frowned and asked, "Hua Wucuo, is that you?" There was no response from outside the door. Nangong Liuli said, "You brat, if you keep teasing me, I'll get angry and won't open the door for you again."

There was still no response. Her pretty face turned pale with fright. She saw gray mist swirling around her, a chilling and eerie atmosphere. She remembered that there was a pavilion in the house, about four or five zhang high, from which she could vaguely see the street scene.

He immediately climbed up to the pavilion and peered out from the high vantage point. He saw a figure outside the vermilion gate, dressed in coarse linen clothes, with an extremely pale face.

She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door. The knocking sound seemed to vibrate in her heart, making her feel unbearably irritated. Nangong Liuli's face turned completely white in an instant. At that time, the dynasty was about to fall into chaos, demons and monsters were deceiving the world, and ghosts and spirits did indeed exist.

She broke out in a cold sweat, calculating the timeline, and realized that the gates of hell would open in mid-July.

In that short time, the darkness deepened even further.

It was just past noon.

Li Xian turned out of Green Ox Street and looked out at the tall buildings. The noisy conversations surrounded him, and the local residents and Flower Cage Sect disciples were all mixed in with each other in the street, making it difficult to distinguish them.

He reluctantly left behind his comfortable life and went to the Island within the Island to purchase martial arts techniques. Over several days, he repeatedly reviewed his past martial arts skills, pondered his own strengths, weaknesses, characteristics, and many other considerations. Was it to leverage his strengths, compensate for his weaknesses, or something else entirely?

The answer is now available.