Heavenly Bloodline, Commandery Princess Anyang! Searching the Mountains for a Man, Meeting the Princess

Li Xian wears an ugly mask, but his demeanor and bearing are undeniable. Hence, he is also known as the "Ugly-Mask Physician". He has inherited his wife's True Disciple in dealing with people, but he is less calculating and manipulative, and more carefree, sincere, and open-minded.

Wen Caishang's teachings were earnest and sincere, and the experience she imparted on the martial arts world and how to conduct oneself in society were all very useful. As the saying goes, "Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles," Wen Caishang's oral teachings were remembered by Li Xian, who was intelligent and quick-witted. It was only through this journey and practice that he was able to fully digest and apply them.

October brings clear skies and crisp air, with fallen leaves drifting down.

Li Xian arrived at "Yunan Circuit; Dragon Court Prefecture". Yunan Circuit has seven prefectures: Qiongtian Prefecture, Flowerwater Prefecture, Huaiyin Prefecture, Ridge Prefecture, Muyue Prefecture, Zhaonan Prefecture, and Dragon Court Prefecture.

Qiongtianfu is located in the south of Chongqing, in a remote and not particularly prosperous area. Huaiyinfu has the famous Dongran Lake, and is home to prestigious families, noble clans, and fishing boats. Huashuifu has countless exotic flowers and well-connected waterways, connecting Qiongtianfu and Huaiyinfu to the east, and Muyuefu and Longtingfu to the north—and also has several sections of the Yangtze River that can be traversed upstream to reach Longxiong Road.

Each prefecture is vast and boundless, containing boundless mysteries. The mountains of this world are more majestic, and the rivers of this world are more expansive.

When Li Xian climbed to the top of the mountain and gazed at the world, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of heroic figure could be so capable of encompassing all the wonders of the world.

Dragon Court Prefecture is the head of the dragon in Yunan Circuit, a place where auspicious energy gathers. If a dragon were to soar through the clouds and reach the highest point, looking down upon Dragon Court Prefecture, one would see that the prefecture resembles a dragon's head. The two dragon eyes belong to the Yin and Yang aspects of Dragon Court Prefecture.

Below it are countless towns and cities, their lights twinkling at night. In the dragon's mouth lies a dazzling "dragon pearl," which is the "Jade City," not under the jurisdiction of the Dragon Court Prefecture.

Li Xian was quick on his feet, and with the speed of the Boat Guild and the carriage, it took him more than two months to finally arrive at Dragon Court Prefecture.

The Dragon Court Prefecture encompassed numerous states and counties, making him deeply aware of the vastness of the imperial dynasty. Even a single prefecture could be described as boundless. He wondered when he would ever be able to traverse every single region. Li Xian thought to himself, "When my abilities are stronger in the future, it would be even better to wander the world again, accompanied by a beautiful woman, adding to my enjoyment."

Li Xian has always been a traveling healer who spreads benevolence and saves lives. Occasionally, he encounters some patients from the martial arts world who ask for payment in exchange for a few miscellaneous martial arts manuals: some for fists, some for spears, and some for swords. Whenever Li Xian has free time, he practices and masters them.

A few strands grew within.

That day.

Li Xian arrived at "Peaceful Town". Dragon Court Prefecture was densely populated, rich and peaceful, with thriving commerce and a very open folk culture. The town was bustling with carriages and horses, the ground was paved with bluestone slabs, and the shops were decorated with festive red silk. Vegetable vendors and butchers hawked their wares along the street.

There are hot tofu, dog meat buns, dragon beard candy, salted liver, and Huayin wine... local delicacies. Whenever Li Xian travels to a new place, he likes to observe the local customs. The food here is heavy on salt and flavor, indicating that the area is relatively affluent.

Then several women swayed along the street. They wore short, narrow skirts that exposed their fair legs, silk shirts with straight shoulders, colorful satin shawls, and their hair was styled beautifully. They had bright smiles and carried round fans with mandarin duck patterns. The women curiously looked at Li Xian and saw that he wore an ugly mask but had an extraordinary temperament. They couldn't help but stare at him intently.

Li Xian smiled and nodded. Several women bowed in response, then walked hand in hand to another place. After turning the corner, they secretly peeked out to observe him again, whispering among themselves. They felt that although his mask was ugly, he possessed an invisible charm that seemed to draw them in from the the Unseen.

Li Xian wore a faded white coarse cloth robe and carried a bamboo basket on his back containing herbs, miscellaneous items, notes, and a few taels of silver. He lived a simple and frugal life, seeking only a broad mind and not material pleasures.

Upon entering the city, I felt slightly uncomfortable with my attire. But being a carefree person, I ignored it. I thought to myself that I still had a few taels of silver left in my bamboo basket, which I had stolen from bandits who had robbed highwaymen a while ago. I could find a good restaurant and Appraisal the local customs.

It was early morning, a bustling time. Li Xian strolled along the street and saw a restaurant with many customers. He followed the crowd and ordered three local dishes in a rather sophisticated manner: a bowl of drunken rice, sweet fish cake, and stir-fried dog liver, totaling twenty-three coins.

It's already a bit pricey.

Drunken rice is rice steamed with "daughter's wine". Each grain is translucent and plump. After steaming, it is sprinkled with sugar oil, sesame seeds and a ring of red vinegar. In this way, it becomes sweet, intoxicating and sour, like drinking fine wine, eating sweet dew Jade Nectar, or swallowing rice left by immortals.

Legend has it that this "Drunken Rice" was created by a master chef who, by fortuitous opportunity, entered the Jade City’s Carefree Heaven and was rewarded with a sip of sweet wine by a venerable being. He never forgot it and knew he would never taste it again. So he exhausted all his skills and used simple ingredients to create a similar taste.

Later, it spread and became a common dish. The restaurant chef said, "Sir, I can tell you're from out of town, eating and sleeping outdoors, and don't know how to eat. You must first eat stir-fried dog liver, then a mouthful of drunken rice. Only then can you get even a fraction of the flavor of the gentlemen of Jade City. Tsk tsk tsk."

The stir-fried dog liver was nothing special. This area used to be overrun with stray dogs, and the dog meat, once cooked, was incredibly fragrant. The dog liver, on the other hand, was stir-fried with salt and a touch of red chili oil. The flavor was very strong, almost bitterly salty. The dog liver itself was also cooked until slightly undercooked.

Li Xian did as instructed. First, she ate a bite of the stir-fried dog liver, then she ate the drunken rice. The dog liver was extremely unpalatable, intended to highlight the sweetness and tenderness of the drunken rice. The chef had exhausted all his skills, yet he could not recreate the deliciousness of Jade City. Therefore, he first used the bitter dog liver to fill his mouth and teeth. Then he drank the drunken rice, and in a daze, he recalled his dream from the previous day.

"Such a simple dish, yet it possesses such subtle variations." Li Xian raised an eyebrow and began to taste it. The aroma was lingering and truly unique. After finishing the dog liver and drunken rice, the sweet fish crisps could not escape their fate. The sweet fish crisps were made by frying fish skin. They had a crispy and sweet taste.

Li Xian paid for his meal and stretched, when he suddenly noticed two plumes of white smoke drifting in the distance, one to the east and one to the north. These were two sects preparing Essence Food. Li Xian Intestine-Turning Narrow Passage, "These Essence Treasure are truly a matter of extremes; some are incredibly valuable, others are incredibly abundant. A martial artist like me can't prepare them alone. It all depends on fate to acquire Essence Treasure, and on the favor of others to receive food. I still have some of my Yellow Nine Ginseng and Dawn Yellow Dew left. The Dragon Court Prefecture is extremely wealthy; perhaps I can inquire about them along the way. If I encounter Human Yellow Essence Treasure, I can exchange them for treasures."

He gazed longingly for a long time, then dusted himself off and left. Carrying a bamboo basket on his shoulder, he walked to a bustling area and saw a tall signboard displaying notices for Crimson List criminals, bandits, and noble Aristocratic Clan seeking servants. Li Xian pasted a piece of Xuan paper on it. The handwriting was bold and clear. "The divine physician travels the world. Having arrived here, for those with difficult and complicated illnesses, knock three times at the East Stone Pavilion, and you will receive the divine physician's assistance."

Li Xian smiled shyly. Along the way, he had treated hundreds of patients, including those with difficult and complicated diseases as well as those suffering from common epidemics.

When faced with a difficult illness, he would rather stay for several days to find out the cause and try to treat it. When faced with an easy illness, he would never delay, but would quickly cure it, ask for payment, and leave gracefully.

To avoid belittling medical skills and the Ghost Doctor Lineage, Li Xian followed ancestral rules, refusing to set up Medical Shop or hang a signboard.

He doesn't hold clinic hours, yet he finds himself in a deep predicament. He stands there, seemingly unassuming, but why would anyone seek his treatment when they know nothing of his medical skills?

Throughout history, Ghost Doctor have always had old ghosts mentoring new ones. As the lineage of Ghost Doctor progresses, the new Ghost Doctor become profound, having already traveled extensively with their masters. Their reputations are renowned, so they attract many patients. Ghost Doctor also need to consider their mood and preferences when performing treatments.

Although the Ghost Doctor possesses a benevolent heart, he is not one to save all living beings. Li Xian's medical skills are not yet refined, and he is a solitary ghost, wandering aimlessly. The difficulties and predicaments he encounters far exceed those of previous Ghost Doctor. Therefore, in utter desperation, he can only post notices to guide patients to seek his treatment.

Li Xian once wrote in a pragmatic manner, "For those with difficult and complicated diseases that are hard to cure, if you sincerely beg in a certain place, there may be a good doctor who can cure you." After posting the notice for three days, no one sought medical help. So he changed his story, called himself a divine doctor, and had people knock on his head three times to sincerely beg.

Despite his boastful and exaggerated claims, people still sought his medical help. So, Li Xian, shameless as ever, proclaimed himself a divine healer. He posted notices and then proceeded to the stone pavilion in the east of the town. In front of the pavilion stood a stone tablet with the inscription: "Windwatch Pavilion" (Pavilion for Watching the Wind).

The scenery here is expansive, and the breeze is gentle and serene. Green bamboo and vines complement each other.

Li Xian sat leisurely in the pavilion, lying on a long stone bench, one hand as a pillow, the other hand taking out the Medical Heart Scripture from the Fish-Belly Treasure Pouch. He silently read the sutra and gained new insights. His medical skills became more and more exquisite. Before he knew it, it was noon, but no one came for a long time. Li Xian was used to it and took out the Medical Ethics Scripture to read it silently again.

Both texts are obscure and difficult to understand. The characters are like ghostly scribbles and incantations, twisted and writhing. At first glance, their meaning is incomprehensible, and upon closer inspection, one becomes bewildered. Sometimes, characters appear out of nowhere, sometimes they disappear or change, or in a sudden instant, the characters and symbols appear to be one way or another, yet one cannot recognize them.

Furthermore, when reading silently or reciting aloud, one must finish it in one go. One should not read a certain passage and then go back to read it carefully because one does not understand its meaning. In this way, even though it is the same passage, the meaning read out will be completely contradictory.

It both disturbs the mind and makes it difficult to grasp the essence. Without the proper method, even if it falls into the hands of someone else, the two Ghost Vein Classics will be difficult to understand. Li Xian read them until dusk, and as the setting sun approached, he muttered, "Today I intended to treat a patient and then ask to stay at someone's house. Oh well, it's getting late, and no one in this town is looking for me. I'll go somewhere else tomorrow."

When traveling doctors seek treatment, they inevitably encounter disappointments. Li Xian thought to himself that since there were no desperate patients in this city, it was a good thing. Feeling relaxed, he hummed a little tune and found a soft patch of grass to fall asleep.

It's just a hardship for my body; I'll have to spend another night in the wilderness.

Dragon Court Prefecture covers a vast area, with numerous counties and prefectures, a dense population, and an open social atmosphere. Women's clothing is bold, often exposing their shoulders, legs, waist, and back, which is considered quite common.

There were illustrated notebooks for sale in the marketplace. The common people there were mostly literate and could read them. Bookstores...

The art shops were even more bustling.

Many paintings, calligraphy, and miscellaneous writings originated from Jade City. The closer Li Xian got to Jade City, the more he could appreciate Jade City prosperity. Even before seeing the city, he could already smell its charm. Occasionally, when he had some spare money, he would buy miscellaneous writings and picture books to enjoy.

Passing the time is a natural pleasure.

By the light of the campfire and the bright moon, Li Xian took out a copy of "The Xiling King Devours Demons," which tells the story of a king who was uneducated and incompetent in his youth. Later, he awakened to his true nature, worked hard, and finally destroyed a demon's lair, restoring peace and order to the world. The plot was quite simple, but the author's writing was excellent, stirring and captivating, making it a book that one would linger over.

During a leisurely stroll through Peaceful Town, Li Xian saw many children playing by the street. Some of the children wore masks and claimed to be the King Xiling, who was exorcising demons. This shows that the story of "The Xiling King Devours Demons" was widely circulated.

Li Xian had already read thirteen chapters. He used his "Xun Wind Breath, blowing a gentle breeze that turned a page. He said, " Qingning County has very few illustrated storybooks. Even if there are one or two, they are Old Gu, not updated for years. I've read this ' The Xiling King Devours Demons ' twice, but I didn't expect it to have reached forty-three chapters already."

He then picked up another book, carefully studying it, letting his thoughts wander, and savoring the pleasure. Suddenly, his brow furrowed, and Li Xian swiftly put away the miscellaneous books, kicking the ground with his foot. The flying dirt extinguished the campfire. He then rolled to the side, hiding in a clump of grass. Utilizing his "Heavenly Union" ability, his breathing became calm, as if he were nothing.

Before long, a series of hurried footsteps sounded. A figure came running in a panic, his steps were messy, and although he knew martial arts, it was only ordinary. Behind him, two figures followed closely, their martial arts were much better, and they quickly closed in.

Li Xian stared intently and saw that the fleeing person looked terrified and had an ordinary appearance. He was dressed like a doctor. The pursuer wore light black armor, a mask, and a knife at his waist. He exuded a Yin Qi aura. His clothing was similar to theirs, so they should be from the same sect.

Suddenly, one of the pursuers struck out with his palm, and a scorching palm wind swept through, setting the trees along the path ablaze and burning all the vegetation.

"This is the Gale Palm," a common basic palm technique. This person's martial arts cultivation has reached the Palm Immortal Insight," and the evolution of his martial arts is extraordinary. When he strikes, he can truly unleash a scorching hot palm wind.

The fleeing man was struck in the back, his clothes immediately bursting into flames. His back burned bright red, then pustules appeared. He collapsed to the ground, howling in agony.

Li Xian observed from the shadows, thinking, "I wonder what the grudge is; it's best if I don't get involved." He remained quietly hidden.

Two men in black armor leaped over. Both wore black masks, appearing ferocious and grotesque, with blue faces and fangs. One of them kicked the doctor, cursing, "You little brat, you dare to run away!"

Another person said, "You were too reckless. Now that you've been caught, you should return to your unit immediately."

Two men in black armor stepped on the doctor's back and rubbed it back and forth forcefully. The doctor had been struck by the Gale Palm, and his back was instantly covered with pustules. Now, they were being trampled and crushed. Pus, blood, and flesh were all mixed together.

It was extremely bloody.

Li Xian pondered, "I have four strands of hair around here, and the entire area is under my control. These two are clearly no ordinary people; they must have a sect behind them. They must have another purpose in capturing this doctor. If I intervene now and then leave, they probably won't be able to do anything to me."

He pondered for a moment, then made a decision. He bent his middle finger and touched it to his thumb. A point of golden light flashed between his two fingers.

Seizing the opportunity, Li Xian flicked his finger and unleashed a golden light. A "hum" rang out.

A golden light struck one man in the chest. With a muffled thud, the man was sent flying, rolling several times on the ground before his head lolled to the side and his legs kicked out, rendering him unconscious. The other man was utterly astonished and instinctively drew his knife to defend himself.

But the second golden light had already struck. He felt his whole body jerk, and he was shot several feet away, hanging high in the tree canopy. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and fainted.

This is the Middle Vehicle martial art "Flicked-Finger Golden Light". At the Severed Palm Peak, Li Xian's "Wraith Spear" Peak Mastery, and he later practiced "Flicked-Finger Golden Light". This is a projectile martial art with both extraordinary and wide-ranging effects.

Its power is also considerable.

Li Xian was very pleased and practiced diligently, already achieving considerable skill. The physician, suddenly struck by misfortune, regained his senses to find his pursuers unconscious. Covered in blood, he scrambled to his feet, cupped his hands, and said, "My benefactor, thank you so much!"

Not daring to linger, he turned and fled. Li Xian frowned, hiding in the shadows, watching him go without ever showing himself. He sensed through the strands of his hair that there was no one else around, but he had a vague sense of foreboding.

Li Xian hesitated for a moment, then walked towards the two unconscious men. He searched them thoroughly but found no identification tokens, and didn't know which sect or faction they belonged to. Li Xian thought, "Strange. These two are quite skilled; why are they arresting a doctor for no reason? Oh well, why bother? This place might cause trouble; I'd better leave quickly."

They buried the campfire to conceal their tracks and traveled under the cover of night. After traveling about four or five miles, they suddenly saw several more figures on the road ahead.

Two men clad in black armor each grabbed a young man. One was the doctor who had just fled, and the other was a burly man with rough skin. Both had their heads covered with black cloth, making their faces difficult to discern. However, the doctor's back was burned and stained with blood, making him easily identifiable.

Li Xian merged with the surrounding world, concealing himself. He dared not move rashly, knowing there was activity near a certain sect, and that those approaching were more than he had seen; he needed to be extremely cautious. He thought, "I've already saved you once; if you're captured again now, I certainly can't save you a second time. They seem to have an unusually large number of men; my safety is paramount."

After watching the crowd walk away, he quietly began to leave. This place was located in the mountains east of Peaceful Town. During his months of living in the wilderness, Li Xian had encountered dangerous situations, such as fighting between two factions, bandits patrolling the mountains, and demons running rampant—all of which were resolved one by one.

He keenly sensed that tonight was different. He was new to the Dragon Court Prefecture and unaware of the power dynamics here. So he calmly pondered and prepared to counter each move to break the deadlock.

Unwilling to linger in the desolate forest, he fled towards the foot of the mountain, using the Seven-Star Step and the Light Word Technique to traverse the terrain, intending to seek safety in the city. After traveling for about several miles, he arrived halfway up the mountain and suddenly looked out over the woods at the foot of the mountain, where hundreds of people were scattered, holding torches and searching.

Li Xian thought to himself, "What is the purpose of these people? Why are they searching the mountain at night? Could they be looking for some enemy? At this rate, even if I could Heavenly Union, it would be extremely difficult for me to remain hidden forever."

They quietly retreated and turned to descend the mountain in another direction. After traveling several miles, they saw a flash of light ahead again. They glanced around and saw hundreds of people scattered to search the mountain. Although they were scattered, their minds remained focused.

If they were to charge in with overwhelming force, they would inevitably form a battle formation immediately. These people were dressed identically, all equipped with black armor, and exuded a strong aura of Sha Qi. They were by no means weaklings, but rather elite warriors.

Li Xian's mind raced, and he quietly retreated, feeling deeply troubled. Although the night was dark, his enemies were all carrying torches. If the light flickered, the enemy could react immediately.

Li Xian pondered the situation carefully and decided to observe for the time being. The Black Armored Corps's unprovoked search of the mountain must have a purpose. If he knew their purpose, he could devise a plan of action and protect himself. However, if he rashly forced his way in, it would only escalate the conflict and inevitably lead to endless trouble.

However, after observing for a moment, his heart sank. This search of the mountain had naturally startled many travelers who had been seeking shelter in the wilderness. They hurriedly begged for mercy and tried to explain, but they were all shackled and taken away elsewhere.

Li Xian pondered, "This group is making such a fuss because they must be searching for some enemy. That enemy fled into these mountains, thus implicating us. These Black Armored Corps are no pushovers. Logically, if they were searching for an enemy, they wouldn't need to capture us, who are just staying here. But they are extremely ruthless, simply putting caps on our heads and taking us away."

Hiding in the shadows, he devised a plan to escape, first gathering his breath in a deep breath. Then he unleashed the "Xun Wind Breath". Li Xian cultivated the "Iron-Copper Body", gaining the characteristics of Iron Lung, and further strengthened his lungs with the "Five Organs Purge-Turbidity Revive-Yang Scripture". The Xun Wind Breath was thus made even stronger.

Li Xian unleashed a fierce wind and torrent. Immediately, the Black Armored Corps shouted, "Demon Wind, form ranks!"

The footsteps moved across the mountain, the pace of the steps changing. The torch, fueled by deep-sea fish oil, remained Clarity and luminous, unaffected by the fierce winds.

Li Xian originally intended to create darkness so that everyone would flee in disarray. However, this attempt to establish a foothold only made the Black Armored Corps more vigilant, and they searched every tree canopy and bush.

The leader shouted, "Search carefully, that thief can't escape!" His shout was resounding, revealing his profound martial arts skills!

Li Xian secretly wandered around, observing the formation of the Black Armored Corps, and was slightly alarmed. The Black Armored Corps were divided into squads of five, with the squad leader being strong and robust, well-equipped and brave, and having Thunder Sound rumbling in his chest. At least, his Chest-Drum Thunder Resonance. The squads were divided into groups of ten, with the group leader being no weaker than the squad leader.

Each group of thirty has a junior leader, whose aura is reserved and whose martial arts attainments vary, ranging from the First Martial Realm to the Second Realm. Judging from their appearance and demeanor, the older ones have been diligently practicing martial arts for a long time, consuming the Heaven and Earth Essence, and their strength and abilities are certainly not shallow. Each group of one hundred has a senior leader, whose abilities are even stronger, and who must have the strength of the Second Realm. Even in a large force, such a leader would be a pillar of strength.

They cooperated seamlessly and formed a certain formation.

Forced to retreat step by step, Li Xian considered forcing his way through, but then a plan came to him. He noticed that the Black Armored Corps were searching the mountain for someone, which in turn alerted the beasts in the mountain.

Tigers, wolves, bears, deer, and other animals were all forced to retreat and flee. Li Xian only needed to disturb the herd to cause a moment of panic.

Then we can take advantage of the situation.

Li Xian calmed himself down and observed the situation in the mountains with his hair in all directions. He saw that the Black Armored Corps were slowly gathering, converging from the foot of the mountain to the middle of the mountain.

The mountain is in excellent condition, with only a few streams, no rivers, Lakeless, or caves. There are very few places to hide.

Those like Li Xian who sought shelter in the wilderness were successively found by the Black Armored Corps, bound with specially made iron chains, hooded, and taken away elsewhere. Li Xian wondered, "They search people, but they arrest everyone they're doing. This group is both mysterious and incredibly powerful. Forcing their way in wouldn't be easy, so they've decided to take advantage of the chaos."

He immediately ran back the way he came and found the Black Armored Corps had just fainted. He stripped off their black armor and put it on himself. Then, he put on a mask, making it difficult to distinguish the real from the fake.

The Black Armored Corps all wore black hoods around their waists. Li Xian gagged Black Armored Corps, put the hoods on them, pressed their acupoints to silence them, and then used "Ghosthand Disease Dispersion" to wake Black Armored Corps up, pressing his fingers tightly on their acupoints. This made them unable to exert any force, but still able to struggle slightly.

Li Xian concealed himself well, observed carefully for a moment, and when he saw that the time was ripe, he immediately secretly roused his Chest-Drum Thunder Resonance, releasing a deterrent power. The beasts, already being pressured step by step, were further provoked by this, and immediately scattered in all directions.

Although the Black Armored Corps maintained order in dealing with the beast horde, their attention was inevitably diverted elsewhere. Taking advantage of this, Li Xian infiltrated the group, and following his previous observations, he detained the prisoners and headed towards a valley. After traveling several miles, the Black Armored Corps gradually decreased. However, the narrow roads and complex terrain made it difficult to slip away and escape.

Li Xian constantly observed his surroundings, devising a plan to escape.

Suddenly, a commotion arose in the forest. Sensing through the strands of hair, it was clear that the Black Armored Corps, unable to contain themselves any longer, had taken advantage of the chaos among the beasts to forcefully break into their formation.

It was a perilous battle. The man possessed the strength of the Third Realm, and was quite old. His Second Realm cultivation was extremely profound, and he had a wide variety of martial arts techniques. At first, he charged forward with all his might, and the Black Armored Corps were indeed no match for him.

Despite the changing formation, they never broke apart. With the combined strength of the group, they fought back and their helpers quickly gathered, and soon captured the man.

Li Xian Intestine-Turning Narrow Passage, "This formation is truly eye-opening. It's incredibly profound. With the combined strength of the masses, it dissolves the enemy's power layer by layer. Its maneuvering and capture tactics are invincible."

After capturing the main culprit, the Black Armored Corps continued their search of the mountain. By then, they had reached the halfway point, and in another quarter of an hour, the mountain had been completely ransacked. All the living people were captured and had their heads covered with black cloths.

Li Xian was forced to escort the people deep into the valley. They found a cave with Black Armored Corps patrolling it in an orderly fashion. Inside, there were iron cages holding dozens of people, including men, women, and children.

Li Xian threw the man into the iron cage, pretending to let him out for a stroll. In reality, he was using the opportunity to quietly escape. Suddenly, a shout rang out, "Hey kid! Trying to slack off!"

The "chief" who had just searched the mountain walked quickly over. Although he was also wearing black armor, the sheen of it was even more remarkable. A wolf's head was embroidered on his chest, making him look majestic and ferocious.

Li Xian calmly replied, "I wouldn't dare!" The chieftain said, "Still trying to argue! Let me tell you, that person is coming to inspect later. At this crucial moment, if anything goes wrong, don't blame me for being impolite."

Li Xian asked, "Which sir?"

The chieftain scoffed, "Use your brain! That 'lord'—it must be Commandery Princess Anyang, who has the blood of the imperial family! Fine, fine, when the Commandery Princess arrives, you'll come with me to greet her!" He saw that Li Xian had an excellent physique, wore black armor, stood tall and proud, and possessed an imposing presence. He felt a sense of closeness and favor towards him, and Li Xian's ability to Turbidity-Avoidance was innate. He even felt a desire to mentor him.