Winds Rise, Clouds Surge, Heavenly Crafted Wonders, the Wine Sword Roams Free, Choosing a Successor

The cell was filled with curses, people covered their noses and backed away, utterly disgusted. The Wine Elder then let out two more loud, muffled farts at the burly man. The farts had distinct smells, and one could tell what the Wine Elder had eaten just by smelling them. A little thought made one feel extremely nauseous and want to vomit.

The burly man opened his mouth to curse, but a thick fart came flying towards him, hitting his mouth and tongue squarely. Three parts went straight to his head, and seven parts sank into his stomach. The burly man was stunned and swallowed it. His stomach churned, and he felt nauseous and disgusted. Full of resentment, he opened his mouth to curse again.

The Wine Elder said, "Still not enough?" Seizing the opportunity, he farted again, releasing a yellowish-green smell with a "poof." The burly man happened to eat it all. This time, he felt dizzy and his steps became unsteady.

Staggering about, he suddenly collapsed to the ground, drunk. It turned out this Wine Elder was a heavy drinker, and the smell of alcohol emanated from his farts, causing the burly man to pass out!

The Wine Elder, sticking his rear end out, turned to the skinny man and said, "Want to try some?"

Having learned from the previous example, the skinny man covered his mouth and nose, daring not to speak, and tried his best to retreat. The Wine Elder slowly turned around, his buttocks like a sharp spear, exuding an aura of dominance. Seeing that all the prisoners in the cell had submitted and were shaking their heads begging for mercy, he smiled smugly, jumped back onto the bed, his toes gripping his straw sandals, swinging them back and forth, and said in a nonchalant tone, "Kid, want to learn this move?"

Li Xian found it amusing and said, "I don't want to for now." The Wine Elder said, "This is a unique skill, called 'One Fart Brings Immortals Down to Earth, So You'll Have Farts Every Meal.' You have no taste. Fine, fine, even if you want to learn, I might not be willing to teach you."

He took a big gulp of wine, then fell asleep snoring.

A moment of silence fell over the cell. They looked at each other, listening Wine Elder snored loudly and breathed evenly, clearly fast asleep. Gradually, the sounds returned. The skinny man said, "Damn it, truly a tiger fallen into the plains is bullied by dogs. I, a dignified Thatched Hall Swordsman, am rendered speechless by a fart."

The burly man slowly awoke, his head spinning as if he had just sobered up from a ten-jar liquor hangover. After vaguely understanding the situation, he was furious, covered his mouth and nose, and made a move to fight the Wine Elder to the death.

But the iron bars of the cage were very strong, and no matter how much he struggled and insulted, he could not reach the Wine Elder. After cursing for a while, he only heard the Wine Elder snoring, which did not bother him at all. Instead, the old man slept soundly and comfortably. He was filled with anger and had no choice but to swallow his anger for the time being.

After this farce, the atmosphere became eerie. The stench of alcohol still lingered, occasionally wafting towards the nose, sending waves of nausea through everyone. No one could do anything but try to cover their noses. But it was impossible to completely escape the stench; there was always a moment when they had to catch their breath. Li Xian, however, kept his breath fresh, which masked the foul smell. He sat quietly, a few rays of moonlight slanting in. Through the narrow window, he could vaguely make out the scenery outside: the winding river, the passing landscape on both banks. With nothing else to do, he quietly fell asleep.

Time passed, days and months went by, and four days had gone by in the blink of an eye. Every day, the Ferryman would bring a dry biscuit and a cup of river water to fill their stomachs and keep them alive. The biscuit, weighing several pounds each day, was quite substantial. It tasted sour and salty, and was rather unpalatable. But there was nothing else to eat, so they had no choice but to endure it.

With nothing else to do, the prisoners would break off pieces of the biscuit and eat them in various ways. Some offered to pay extra for "pickled vegetables" and "dried chili" to eat with the biscuits. The Ferryman remained silent and has not spoken to this day.

This is "Jade Cake". It is made in Jade City and is a staple food for the people of Jade City.

Li Xian learned that the other prisoners on the ship were all martial artists from various regions. Some had been captured by Jade City because of gambling debts, while others had voluntarily entered the prison ship to repay their debts with enough silver.

The skinny man was a renowned swordsman from Kushe Prefecture Yunan Circuit, known in the martial arts world as "The Thatched Hall Swordsman." However, he was a gambler and frequently visited Jade City, spending large sums of money in the city. This time, he squandered all his wealth, failed to repay his debts, and was captured by the Ferryman of Jade City.

The burly man was a martial artist from Zhaonan Prefecture Yunan Circuit, who had established his own martial arts school. He had also been captured due to a huge debt. The debt to Jade City could not be cleared even after death, and he would have to find a way to repay it for the rest of his life.

The prison cell was dull, filled only with idle chatter. The prisoners boasted about their past experiences, their great talents and abilities, lamenting that only bad luck had brought them to this predicament. Li Xian, though less experienced, had a life full of tumultuous ups and downs, thrilling and treacherous tales—no less compelling than their boasts. He simply listened quietly, absorbing the experiences and broadening his horizons, finding his own kind of enjoyment in the process.

The Ferryman paid no heed to the passengers. As the Boat Guild a great distance, crossing thousands of mountains and rivers, the prisoners grew increasingly restless and anxious as they approached Jade City.

The chatter gradually subsided. Observing everyone's reactions, Li Xian deduced that Jade City was no pushover. The prison cell was pitch black. Li Xian sat leaning against the edge of the bed, silently Five Organs Turbidity Circulation, and silently reading the Medical Ethics Scripture and the Medical Heart Scripture, never forgetting to improve himself.

[Medical Heart Scripture]

[Proficiency: 162/0]

[Medical Ethics Scripture]

[Proficiency: 213/0]

Even if one reads the two classics a hundred times, each reading requires expending energy and spirit, and tempering one's mind and will.

[The Five Organs Purge-Turbidity Revive-Yang Scripture; Strong-Organ Chapter]

[Proficiency: 7569/50000 Perfection]

The Five Organs Purge-Turbidity Revive-Yang Scripture consists of five chapters: Strengthen the Five Organs, Strengthen Bone and Blood, Initiate Creation, Birth of Five Radiances, and

The Lotus-Step was already memorized by Li Xian, and his Strengthen the Five Organs were now fully Perfection. Although he could aspire to Peak Mastery, he had already mastered the "Strengthen Bone and Blood" technique.

Li Xian said, "The Five Organs Purge-Turbidity Revive-Yang Scripture is Perfection and extensive. Although I have Strengthen the Five Organs Viscera and achieved some success in this scripture, I must not be careless. I must not be careless before starting each chapter. Once I have a firm foothold and ample time, I will carefully study the chapter on Strengthen Bone and Blood."

Strengthen Bone and Blood —first, the Five Organs Turbidity Circulation, nourishing the blood and strengthening the organs, thus shaping the foundation of the physical body. Then, the blood flows back to the bones, the bones nourish the blood, and the blood strengthens the bones. Bones and blood are connected, circulating endlessly. Blood comes from the bones, and if the bones and blood are strong, the qi and blood will naturally Qi and Blood like a torrent.

This piece is extremely well-suited to the Second Martial Realm.

The Second Martial Realm is also known as "Second Martial Realm," which refers to the mastery of the bones throughout the body. By consuming the Heaven and Earth Essence, the bones are transformed, making them contain the rhythm of heaven and earth, and the bones become like mountains, erecting an imposing aura. The world is vast and beautiful; wherever the scenery is beautiful and majestic, there must be a majestic peak to set it off.

Martial arts are similar— at the First Martial Realm, the evolution of martial arts becomes profound, enabling one to do what ordinary people cannot, yet it remains superficial and lacks grandeur. It's like martial arts as a painting: if First Realm martial artist and Second Realm martial artist each paint a landscape, the former may be able to depict green mountains and clear waters, and vibrant colors, but cannot capture the towering peaks, the imposing grandeur, the majestic height of distant peaks, or the perilous beauty of nearby peaks.

The difference in quality between the two feng shui paintings is immediately apparent upon comparison. Similarly, the difference in skill First Realm martial artist and Second Realm martial artist is immediately apparent after a duel. However, while a difference in skill can be determined, a victory or defeat is not necessarily decided. Victory or defeat depends on the circumstances, situation, and conditions, rather than on the overwhelming force of higher realms.

The Second Realm significantly increases strength and bone density—endurance and defense are also boosted. Complementing the Bone-Strengthening Section, the increase in strength is even greater, and defense and endurance are naturally further improved.

Li Xian was short of resources and had just entered the Second Realm, but his strength was increasing day by day. He was already several levels stronger than when he fought to the death at Severed Palm Peak. He thought to himself, "Jade City is known as the richest place in the world. I will repay my debts in the future, even if I cannot start a cauldron on my own for the time being."

But there will certainly be plenty of opportunities to freeload. It's just that this 14,000 taels of silver is a thorn in my side. I don't know how to get rid of it.

On this day, the prisoner's boat crossed the Xiangyu River and entered the vicinity of Jade City. The surrounding area, supported by Jade City, consisted of prosperous towns. Along the river, one could see green fields everywhere, with many strange and wonderful artifacts standing among the paddy fields.

Suddenly, a mountaintop appeared, upon which stood a wooden elephant. The elephant's trunk pointed to the sky, and it suddenly let out a long cry, spewing forth countless water droplets that transformed into a torrential rain, irrigating fields for miles around!

This magnificent sight is truly unprecedented! One must know that the mountain is now even higher, and the scenery even more breathtaking. The wooden elephant stands atop the mountain, inexplicably spewing forth clouds and rain. It is utterly extraordinary.

Li Xian asked, "What are these things?"

A middle-aged man exclaimed, "This is an exquisite object, Heavenly Crafted Wonders, unique to Jade City!"

Li Xian Intestine-Turning Narrow Passage, "Such Heavenly Crafted Wonders must be extremely exquisite. If it were to be passed down through generations, it would surely benefit countless people." He then asked, "Is this item very expensive?"

The man clicked his tongue and said curiously, "Strange, very strange. Haven't you ever been to Jade City? If you haven't, how come you're in debt? If you have, how come you don't even know this?"

The prison boat sailed along the river, passing several mountain peaks. Among these peaks stood Heavenly Crafted Wonders: the "Water-Marshal Elephant." The Wine Elder leisurely remarked, "There's a saying: 'The finest Heavenly Crafted Wonders can only be found within Jade City.' This Water-Marshal Elephant is only useful within the area surrounding Jade City."

"Once outside Jade City, this is nothing more than a large plaything, not worth mentioning."

Li Xian understood and, out of curiosity, asked questions one after another. He began to understand Jade City, thinking, "Jade City — Jade City —truly lives up to its reputation. I haven't even entered the city yet, and it has already broadened my horizons." Although he knew his situation was dangerous, he was constantly excited and invigorated. He saw the river flowing rapidly, the water splashing violently. This journey—was for the sake of overcoming the current. The fiercer the river, the more turbulent the wind and clouds, the more it suited his taste!

Li Xian wished he could roar with rage, preferring to die amidst the wind and clouds rather than be buried in the yellow mud. His blood boiled, and his eyes burned with passion.

After a vigorous downpour, the world shone with brilliance. It is said that in such a wealthy and prosperous place, where outstanding people and auspicious feng shui converge, the atmosphere and scenery are completely different. Li Xian peered through the narrow window, trying his best to see a corner of this world.

Verdant mountains and valleys, clouds and mist swirling, as if a celestial master were bestowing rain—countless pavilions and jade palaces lined the road. Occasionally, one could even glimpse a unique temple nestled deep within the clouds and mist. The richness of this world surpassed all his imagination! It truly broadened his horizons.

A little over a day later.

The prison ship finally docked. A young man, dressed in a silver-lined suit of armor, tall and arrogant, stepped forward, glancing around at the crowd.

The young man said, "Come in, put them in the prison cart, and send them back to Jade City!"

A dozen or so men rushed into the cell, cleverly manipulating a mechanism to move the cell out and onto a wooden cart. They then manipulated another mechanism to secure the cell.

Although the prisoners were still in their cages, they saw the light of day again. The sunlight was blinding, and they couldn't help but squint. People gathered along the street to watch, curiously observing, pointing and gossiping. Some prisoners felt deeply ashamed and raised their sleeves to cover their faces.

Li Xian sat cross-legged, observing with curiosity. This place was "Jade Fringe Town," a small town outside Jade City. It was extremely wealthy, with streets paved with black stone slabs, meticulously crafted, perfectly fitted, flat and clean.

The buildings on both sides are tall and uniquely designed. Some buildings are like inverted towers, narrow at the bottom and wide at the top, where travelers can drink and chat, indulging in a refined and comfortable atmosphere. Other buildings are connected one after another, like overlapping mountains, with one building on top of another. There are thirteen buildings in total, forming a unique building complex.

Jade Fringe Town was influenced by Jade City, and its architectural style was modeled after Jade City, which already surprised Li Xian. He also heard from others that Jade Fringe Town could neither imitate its form nor capture the spirit of the tomb.

The silver-armored man stepped out of the cabin. He was tall and imposing, bathed in the silver light. At his waist hung the "Cloud-Turning Sword," which was three feet and six inches long and had a scabbard carved with cloud patterns. He held the Cold-Flame Spear, its body perfectly formed, as if crafted by nature. He stood tall and arrogant, exuding an air of superiority.

Passersby on the street were buzzing with discussion: "Judging from this young man, he's only in his early twenties. So young, yet he's appointed as Jade Guardian —a truly prestigious position." "If I remember correctly, the leader of the Jade Guardian is supposed to be Clay-Bodied Clay-Faced Rank. Legend has it that in Jade City, anyone who can achieve such a position is a dragon among men."

"Yes, a young man like this would surely attract many women." "That's for sure. Even setting aside his handsome appearance, if he were exceptionally good- Mud Body, his very identity as Mud Face would draw women from the outer city eager to please him."

"Look at that figure, truly remarkable. Although the Jade Guardian are mostly responsible for the border areas of Jade City, they are still part of the main lineage of Jade City."

Legend has it that their silver armor, Cloud-Turning Sword, and Cold-Flame Spear —were all forged according to their physical forms! Only Jade City possesses such wealth. "I wonder how much such figures are paid—"

The Jade Guardian "Song Tie" smirked, looked arrogantly at the crowd, and shouted, "This is an official business in Jade City. All irrelevant people, please make way immediately!" The people along the street immediately stepped aside.

The burly man flattered, "What a hero! What spirit! You truly are a son of Jade City!"

Song Tie frowned and said, "You debt slaves, you better behave yourselves." The burly man laughed and said, "Of course, of course."

Song Tie glanced sideways, mounted his horse, and slowly surveyed the crowd, saying, "Among you outside, there may be some with considerable martial arts skills and high status. But now that we're in Jade City, I'll take this opportunity to explain the rules of Jade City."

"First and foremost—no matter if you're from the Aristocratic Clan family or have any other status, Jade City doesn't recognize you. Once you're in Jade City, you must abide by Jade City rules. We only recognize Jade City's 'face.' You have Bodyless, Faceless, yet you're burdened with debt. You are the lowest of debt slaves. You should understand your place and not do anything rebellious. Otherwise, with my Clay-Bodied Clay-Faced Rank, I can kill you on the spot with ease."

He surveyed the scene with an arrogant gaze, then walked to the front of the procession. At his command, the prison carts slowly began to move.

Jade City emphasizes both "body" and "face." "Body" refers to status, and "face" to power. Both body and face have five levels, namely, mud,...

Copper, silver, gold, and jade were strictly ranked, with each level representing a higher level of achievement.

The Jade Guardian were border guards, most of whom were made of Mud Body and Faceless. Although they had a slightly better status, they had little real power. This Song Tie was "Clay-Bodied Clay-Faced Rank," and he held a very high position among the border guards.

Li Xian sat in a prison cart and was escorted out of the town. After traveling several dozen miles, they arrived at a mountain range. The mountains were towering and the cliffs were steep, a combination of danger, wonder, magnificence and beauty.

A scholar-looking man exclaimed, "It's Giant Peak!"

He gazed upon a strange mountain, towering into the clouds, which at first glance resembled a giant lying on his back. He turned his head to look again and said, "Divine Beauty Peak, Pearlcloud Ridge, Wine-Brewing Mountain, and Perfect Jade Escarpment!" Every mountain around Jade City has a name, and each is a strange peak that is rarely seen elsewhere.

Riding in the prison van, passing by many mountainsides, the mountain wind blew, and it felt like clouds were surging around us. Golden light splashed between the clouds, and the feeling was truly indescribable.

Li Xian was shocked. "These mountains are not only precipitous, beautiful, and majestic, but also an insurmountable barrier. If foreign troops were to attack Jade City, these numerous Beautiful Mountain would prevent them from crossing them. Moreover—"

Li Xian had keen eyesight and saw that there were many strongholds and guards hidden in the mountains. The saying that Jade City was as solid as a rock was no exaggeration.

He had been to Flying Dragon City and was already impressed. However, compared to Jade City, it was nothing.

Without broadening one's horizons, one cannot know the limitations of one's vision. Only by broadening one's horizons can one realize the vastness of the world. On several peaks, a crimson bronze-iron divine tree stands. Li Xian wonders what its purpose is.

Suddenly, a fierce wind blew, and the sky darkened completely. A Heaven-Shrouding Divine Eagle the sky flew in. The Heaven-Shrouding Divine Eagle stood on the bronze and iron divine tree, its eyes closed in peace. Hundreds of people followed the Heaven-Shrouding Divine Eagle.

It turns out that this Heaven-Shrouding Divine Eagle is also a "Heavenly Crafted Wonders." Jade City has seized the creation of heaven and earth, and there are many strange and Heavenly Crafted Wonders in the city. The divine eagle nests in a bronze tree. The Water-Marshal Elephant can summon clouds and rain.

Seeing all these novelties, Li Xian became extremely interested in the "Heavenly Crafted Wonders." He vaguely sensed that Heavenly Crafted Wonders and "arrays" should be similar. Arrays evolved based on people, while Heavenly Crafted Wonders evolved based on "tools."

Soon we came to a mountain path.

A stone tablet stands beside the mountain path, inscribed with the words: "Wind-Riding Road".

The prison cart traveled this road as if riding the Riding the Wind, both fast and extremely smooth. Jade City is full of Heavenly Crafted Wonders, and its terrain is also rare in ancient and modern times. The valleys and deep forests contain many unique and wondrous places.

Wind-Riding Road for a while, Li Xian suddenly caught sight of a boat on a distant mountain path. It was moving on land with incredible speed and agility. Just as he was about to take a closer look, the land beneath the boat rippled and surged like water.

Beneath it lies Heavenly Crafted Wonders: Mountain-Crossing Crucian that "supports a boat with fish," allowing for unimpeded navigation of boats on land and facilitating the transport of goods.

Countless wonders unfold before one's eyes. This place is a treasure trove of beauty, captivating all who behold it. One marvels at the wonders of nature and is awestruck by the Heavenly Crafted Wonders and harmonious coexistence of Celestial Person in Jade City, which makes it an impregnable fortress and an extremely prosperous place.

A city of immense wealth—it must be attainable only through the combined efforts of heaven, earth, and man. What Li Xian saw was merely the tip of the iceberg of Jade City. But as a debt slave, he could only glimpse this small part.

The Wine Elder leisurely remarked, "Truly, jade is hidden within stone." This refers to the Jade City, situated amidst treacherous mountains yet nestled by the sea, embodying the idea of rivers flowing into the ocean, a flow that only enters and never exits, a force that swallows all things.

Li Xian sighed, "Such a magnificent city is truly hard to find anywhere else in the world. No wonder Commandery Princess Anyang is so focused on this city. Eliminating evil is a pretense; seizing this strategic location is her true aim. Whoever controls this city, even if the world descends into chaos, this city will remain safe. They can advance to conquer the world, or retreat to defend Fujia City. They can rest easy, enjoying endless benefits. No wonder someone said—no matter your status outside, once you enter Jade City, you will only recognize the face and identity of Jade City."

That's certainly not without reason.

Amidst the excitement, I couldn't help but think, "However, Jade City of such scale must come at a price. Just like when the Lady raised the cauldron, the Essence Treasure exuded fragrance, but it required many people to carry water to raise the cauldron. Those who support Jade City of such scale will ultimately fall to the lowest level."

As Li Xian was pondering, he suddenly heard a familiar soft cry. Everyone looked up and saw a crane flying from the west. The crane had full, white, and translucent feathers and a rich spiritual aura. On its back stood a man with an air of otherworldly elegance. The man glanced over casually.

Once Song Tie's arrogance vanished, he immediately dismounted and respectfully bowed. He clasped his hands together, interlacing several fingers, in a gesture of respect. The man nodded slightly and then rode away on his crane. Song Tie gazed at him for a long time, his eyes filled with envy.

The Thatched Hall Swordsman said, "Sir, that person who just flew by must be quite extraordinary, right?" Song Tie regained his arrogance and sneered, "More than extraordinary, he's someone to be looked up to. If I'm not mistaken, he's a ' Silver-Faced Copper-Bodied Rank ' figure. If I could get his patronage, I might one day achieve the Bronze Face."

Song Tie said fervently, "If—if one were to set foot on the Copper-Faced Gentleman, one would be qualified to obtain one's own unique white crane."

The burly man said, "If I remember correctly, Jade City also has another name, Crane City, also known as Jade Crane City."

Song Tie said, "Indeed! All the people of Jade City love cranes. Cranes are noble and refined, standing apart from the world; how could we not be in harmony?"

Li Xian said, "Since that's the case, why not go and catch some cranes elsewhere?" Song Tie scoffed, "What nonsense! What's the point of catching cranes from other places? The only true cranes worthy of everyone's admiration are those native to Jade City. My lifelong wish is to ride a Jade Crane and soar through the skies!"

Coming to his senses, he cursed, "Why bother talking such nonsense with you debt slaves? Hurry up and take you to Clear Peace Tower."

They immediately hurried on their way. By this time, the area was under the jurisdiction of Jade City and was part of the area defended against enemy forces. After crossing a high mountain and passing the summit, the edge of Jade City finally came into view.

This city is so magnificent, words cannot describe it. Only the Thirteen Towers of Lustrous Jade stand out, surpassing even the White Jade Capital. The towers resemble layered mountains, stacked upon each other, row upon row—

At first glance, it seems less than one in ten thousand. But as you descend the mountain, Jade City appears more like a gigantic maw, ready to devour everyone whole.

Upon entering Jade City, the locals looked them over with pity. Li Xian and his companions turned a corner, and before they could even properly appreciate the scenery of Jade City, they were quickly taken to the "Clear Peace Tower" in Jade City.

Clear Peace Tower – a place to settle debts and settle scores. All those burdened by debt are sent here for further arrangements.

There was a water dungeon at the bottom of the building, where all those who owed debts were imprisoned and awaited their fate.

A martial artist of the Second Realm would sink upon entering the water. The water prison was nineteen zhang deep, and the water was cold and chilling, penetrating to the bone. As Li Xian sank into it, he immediately held his breath and focused his mind, without panicking.

Although the water dungeon was deep and secluded, it was not as dangerous as Dongran Lake. Li Xian was already used to it and quickly dealt with it as usual. In the same water dungeon, the Wine Elder was quite content, sipping fine wine in the water, occasionally scratching his buttocks, rubbing his chest, and swatting fleas.

Li Xian thought to himself, "This senior is very likely a master. I've already arrived in Jade City, and although the start is quite bad, my life is not in danger for the time being. As for the undercover matter—there's no need to worry about it too early. That Commandery Princess Anyang probably won't pay attention to a nobody like me. But her nephew, Qidian as Mud-Faced Fellow, is actually quite high."

Today I have learned a lot about Jade City. Debt slaves are the lowest in status, then come Common Citizen, then ordinary people, and finally Jade Citizen. Debt slaves must pay off their debts and redeem themselves before they can regain their freedom.

Once inside Jade City, one's fate is no longer in one's own hands. How to repay the debt is up to Jade City to decide. Li Xian, calming himself and cultivating his inner strength. He would meet force with force and water with earth.

It is said that Jade City gathers the essence of the "Guanlong Circuit", "Yunan Circuit" and "Wanghe Circuit". It must be a place of endless excitement and a gathering of heroes. The geniuses of various sects, the strongmen of various places, and the martial artists of various villages will inevitably have to deal with Jade City, whether for making a living, exchanging goods for money, or purchasing treasures.

Li Xian, a nobody and a debt slave, finds himself entangled with various powerful figures, prodigies, and experts. Amidst the turmoil of the dynasty and the uncertainty of the political situation, Jade City is also in Winds Rise, Clouds Surge, with various factions converging.

The Wine Elder, still half-asleep, secretly glanced at Li Xian at the bottom of the water.