Jade Maiden's Reward? I Refuse It. Tempered by Blade and Fire, Freedom at Last!
Now, Li Xian fought against many enemies, went on a killing spree, and after achieving a great victory, he picked up the remaining meat and ate it all. He was strengthened by the Consumption, and his body accumulated strands of the Heaven and Earth Essence [76]. He slowly digested it, his bones transformed, and his whole body felt cool and comfortable.
The crowd erupted in uproar, but it was like smoke in the wind.
Inside the prison, he cleared his mind of all distractions, recalled the perilous battle he had just fought, and organized his thoughts, intending to perfect his approach in the future.
He pondered, "While martial arts require unwavering determination, they also demand careful consideration and reflection. The ancients said that reviewing the old helps one understand the new; I should practice this throughout my life!"
After a short while, his strength recovered, and he began to practice martial arts to promote the digestion of the Heaven and Earth Essence.
He had a knife wound on his left arm and bruises on his right abdomen. The injury to his right abdomen was more serious, affecting his internal organs, but it was not a major problem.
He fought alone against a group of dead men, overwhelming them with his superior strength. He swung his arms across the table, intimidating the thugs and displaying great power. However, there were some formidable opponents among the dead men. Several of them possessed exquisite skills and were highly experienced. Knowing that they were doomed, they launched a vicious counterattack, joining forces to kill him.
All difficulties were avoided.
Li Xian wrapped himself in white cloth, Deathwish Valley contained "Golden Wound Medicine," "Healing Medicine," and "Jade Ointment Powder," but these would require money to purchase. Li Xian relied on his Perfect Aspect healing power, his skills in cultivating through Consumption, Xun Wind Breath —all the things he had learned in the past—to greatly aid in healing injuries and illnesses. He could recover completely on his own without the aid of external medicine.
The constable "Xiao Wu" held him in high esteem, calling him "Brother Kui." Every day at noon and in the evening, he would bring him hot meals and dishes, along with plenty of meat, such as chicken legs, pork knuckles, lamb ribs, and fish eyes—all the finest cuts of meat. With the nourishment from these external foods, Li Xian's blood deficiency gradually recovered.
The "Plunder Feast" was not included in the event, and winning it would not bring any reward, which was a bit of a pity. However, the "Essence Treasure" was truly rare, and after considering all the factors, although the feast was extremely dangerous, the overall return would be substantial.
Li Xian has won sixteen matches, each worth three hundred taels of silver. He has a total of four thousand eight hundred taels of silver, enough to pay off this month's interest. There are two matches tomorrow and three the day after—he can barely earn nearly a thousand taels a day.
Debt repayment is expected.
He thought to himself, "I escaped from Jade Pillar Mountain and came here. The situation hasn't changed, but at least I can still hold onto some things. If I fail and lose my life, it's ultimately my own fault for being less skilled, and I can't blame anyone else. It's better than spending my whole life digging for jade, grinding away my ambition like water. I will never let myself fall into such a situation!"
Fists clenched, heart pounding with excitement. Setbacks temper one's will.
Suddenly, his brow furrowed as the poison took effect. A sharp, itchy pain shot through his body. Li Xian thought to himself, "I almost forgot about this poison. Hmph, that so-called Commandery Princess, one day I'll make her taste what it's like to be controlled by someone else! I'll endure it for now, feel the poison, and plan my antidote later."
He gritted his teeth and forced himself to endure, his fists clenched tightly. But the itch penetrated to his very bones, making him wish he could pull out every bone and crush it into powder.
The pain was so intense that it made one hate this body.
Li Xian sensed the changes in the poison's effects. After gaining some insight, he took out a jade bottle from his treasure pouch inside the fish's belly, poured out a pill, and drank it. The poison's effects immediately subsided.
The itching and pain completely disappeared. Li Xian silently counted the days; it had been over a month since he arrived in Jade City. The Poison Pill's effects would only last for six months. If he couldn't repay his debt and regain his freedom after six months, he would be trapped in the Deathwish Valley. The poison took effect, and the Poison Pill ran out.
He died from the poison, passing away here.
With no way out, Li Xian could only move forward. Li Xian calmed his mind, used "Xun Wind Breath" to stabilize his aura, and sensed through his hair that the full moon tonight was a rare sight. After admiring the moon for a while, he closed his eyes and peacefully fell asleep.
Two days passed, and five more matches were played, all of which resulted in resounding victories. Li Xian clearly felt that with each victory, the opponents he faced became increasingly formidable. None of his opponents were weak; some possessed martial arts skills and cultivation levels far surpassing Li Xian's, and they were experienced in deadly combat, their moves refined and ruthless. A slight misstep could lead to defeat. Although Li Xian was extremely quick-witted and had repeatedly escaped perilous situations, displaying composure and fearlessness in life-or-death situations, his experience in one-on-one duels was limited. Although he had reached the Second Realm in martial arts, his foundation was shallow, his vision narrow, and his experience even more scarce.
Although he possesses immense strength and keen eyesight, able to observe and anticipate the enemy's moves, and relies on these two qualities to compensate for his weaknesses, seemingly achieving victory with ease, he dares not be arrogant or presumptuously claim to be invincible.
Although he displayed unparalleled invincibility in every match, he dared not underestimate any opponent. Li Xian possessed a resilient spirit; though he had been plunged into the Deathwish Valley Die, he was like a rough gem being refined by a skilled craftsman. He seized the opportunity to absorb countless experiences from deadly battles, observe numerous traces of martial arts, and transform these experiences into nourishment to strengthen his own martial arts. He thought to himself, "Since I began practicing martial arts, I haven't actually experienced many battles, sparring, contests, or duels. I've heard Sister Liuli say that the children of great clans often spar with each other, receive guidance from renowned teachers, or go on training trips together. They deliberately choose suitable opponents to hone their combat experience. I lack those resources; in this respect, I am far inferior."
I feel that if I survive this journey, every major battle I experience will be a rare treasure.
That day, Li Xian was woken up at dawn. Before daybreak, he had already won a battle. He returned to his cell to rest. As he Death Duel Arena, the iron sword in his hand was already bent. The enemy was skilled with iron hammers, and their attacks were cunning and fierce.
But in the end, he was defeated by his fists.
Xiao Wu came to congratulate him. "Master, your luck has turned!" Xiao Wu admired him from the bottom of his heart, and his address became even more respectful, changing from "brother" to "master".
Li Xian asked, "Fate? What kind of fate?"
Xiao Wu said, "Hehe, good luck indeed! I heard from the bottom of the road that a powerful clan has taken a liking to you and wants to let you leave the valley on credit. Master, we've all seen your abilities. If you regain your freedom, you'll surely make a name for yourself! Don't forget the care you've given me during this time."
Li Xian frowned and said, "Borrow money from me? What does that mean, and why are you giving me credit?"
Xiao Wu said, "I suppose Master Kui is unaware of the situation, so I will explain it to you in detail." He then explained some of the rules of the Deathwish Valley. These rules should have been explained when entering the valley. However, those who enter the valley have short lifespans and die within a few rounds. The constables were too lazy to explain, so over time, they tacitly agreed not to tell them anymore.
Li Xian roughly understood the situation and muttered to himself, "A clan wants to buy me on credit? Could it be that they've seen my several great victories and want to hire me as a guard and bodyguard? No— Jade City has countless riches; hiring a martial artist would be extremely easy."
Why choose from among the dead? This matter requires utmost caution. Jade City is like a deep abyss; the slightest misstep will drag one into an even deeper vortex!
He calmed himself, his expression remaining unchanged, showing neither joy nor sorrow. Xiao Wu was even more impressed, muttering to himself, "When I first met this gentleman, I felt that he possessed extraordinary bearing. Now, with such great joy and the imminent transformation, he can still remain so composed. Truly—truly admirable."
Soon.
At noon, Li Xian was resting when he suddenly heard footsteps and the sound of the prison door unlocking. The prison door was made of a mixture of lotus root fibers and iron mud, making it extremely sturdy. Even if it was struck with great force, it would still remain connected. The lotus root fibers inside would bind a person and trap them in place.
Li Xian became wary, picked up the mask, and put it on.
A few wisps of fragrance wafted over first, and the constable said, "The door is open. Please come in, ladies. Guilt Sword is inside."
Su Susu said, "That's fine, this is none of your business, you can step aside."
The prison door slowly opened. Zhao Zairan and Su Susu stood gracefully outside. The Deathwish Valley was filthy and bloody, dimly lit, but the two women, dressed in gorgeous clothes and exuding a noble air, stood out conspicuously, completely out of place in this place.
Li Xian, his face hidden by a mask, sat quietly cross-legged on the bed. His brows were furrowed, his expression grave as he scrutinized the two of them. Su Susu chuckled, "What a strange person. Living alone and still wearing a mask, does he not want to be seen by others?"
Zhao Zaizai cupped his hands and said, "Brother Kui, I've met you." Su Susu also cupped her hands slightly in return.
Li Xian frowned, her mind racing. "So the family behind this is the Su Family. That day, I learned the location of the Deathwish Valley from them, so I managed to escape Jade Pillar Mountain and come here to seek my fortuitous opportunity. This Zhao Zaizai didn't seem hostile at all, and even called me 'Brother Kui,' probably trying to curry favor. In that case, she probably doesn't know my true identity. Hmph, no wonder. The name Li Xian is insignificant. She thinks she's killed me, so why would she care about this name? She probably never imagined that I'm already in front of her."
Anyone who enters the Deathwish Valley must have their name stripped away, leaving only a code name. Although Zhao Zaizai offered his help with good intentions, he did not investigate Guilt Sword's "real name," assuming that Guilt Sword was born Guilt Sword, and that the code name was his real name.
Li Xian asked, "Who are you? Why have you come here?" Zhao Zaizai replied, "I cannot reveal who I am for now. You only need to know that I am here to help you. Come with us."
Li Xian thought to himself, "This woman remains arrogant, taking pleasure in giving alms and believing herself to be saving all living beings, when in reality she's just showing off her superiority. It's utterly laughable." He felt extreme disgust for Zhao Ranran and said, "Help me? Help me in what way, and why would you help me?"
Zhao Zaizai pondered for a moment and said, "The Deathwish Valley I'll ask the Su Family to grant you your freedom. You can repay the Su Family well in the future; there's no need to remember me. As for why I helped you, I saw that you didn't seem like a bad person. You must have your reasons for being in such a dangerous situation, and I won't ask further. I just helped you out of convenience; I can't really explain why."
Li Xian scoffed, "Young lady, what you say is quite strange. We have never met before, and this is our first encounter. How can you be so sure I am not a wicked person? I always wear a mask, perhaps because I have committed too many evil deeds and dare not show my true face for fear of being recognized by my enemies? Now that you have saved me, if I go out and harm others, who will be held responsible?"
He thought to himself, "Back then, when I was in the Water Altar, though I followed the current, I remained untainted. I have never harmed any woman. Yet Zhao Ranran wanted to kill me without hesitation. Sister Liuli tried to explain for me, but she still wouldn't believe me. Later, she even tried to get Sister Liuli to fake a marriage to force me to show myself. Now, without any contact, she's convinced I'm not a wicked person. This person judges people based entirely on her momentary mood. I have always been myself, always Li Xian, but one moment she says I'm good, the next she says I'm evil. When we meet again in a fair and square manner, I will ask her about this and see how she answers."
Su Susu frowned and said, "Sister Zai Zai Compassion and wants to help you, but you're acting like you're questioning me. You really can't tell what's important and what's not, and you can't distinguish between gratitude and resentment. I thought you were a good person before, but now it seems I was wrong about you. Sister Zai Ran, it's better not to save this person."
Zhao Ran interrupted again, saying, "What he said makes a lot of sense." She continued, "I'm certain you're not a wicked person, and this isn't just wild speculation. The Deathwish Valley is like a prison; anyone who enters it, intentionally or unintentionally, is driven to ferocity. To escape danger quickly, they'll try to destroy their opponents after a victory to gain rewards. In such an environment, your victory without killing shows considerable resolve, indicating you're not someone who follows the crowd blindly. Here, you can refrain from indiscriminate killing; outside—whether you're good or evil is debatable, but you have your own principles in your actions. Therefore, I'm certain you're not a villain."
Li Xian said, "Even so, what does it have to do with you?"
Zhao Ranran was taken aback, and after several rebuttals, she was also angry. Su Susu sneered, "Sister Zai Zai, it seems this boy doesn't appreciate your kindness. Your good intentions have been wasted, like feeding a dog. In the future, you'd better be more careful about who you're dealing with before you do anything kind."
Li Xian said, "Please go back, both of you. I cannot accept such kindness."
Su Susu retorted indignantly, "How dare you, a mere disciple of the dead, be so arrogant? Although you have some strength, don't you know that if no one comes to your rescue, your life will hang by a thread?"
Li Xian thought to himself, "A true man knows what to accept and what not to accept. It's perfectly normal to endure humiliation and hardship in a dangerous situation to escape. But I don't care for your charity, Zhao Zaizai." He said, "Please return, both of you. If I perish in this valley, ending up without a grave, that is my fate."
Zhao Ranran was deeply moved. Seeing Li Xian's resolute tone, which also contained a hint of familiar mockery, she kept asking, "Why?"
Li Xian said, "There's no reason, please leave." Zhao Zairan stared intently at Li Xian. Su Susu couldn't stand this, so she pulled Zhao Zaizai away.
Zhao Zaizai took several steps, his mind in turmoil. "I tried to save him out of kindness, why didn't he accept? Since entering this world, there are so many things I don't understand. Since he could live, why didn't he take it? I didn't humiliate him. If I encounter a similar situation again in the future, should I save him or not? Should I help him or not?" He walked back to his cell and asked, "Let me ask you one more time, why didn't you accept?"
I only wanted to help you, I had no other intentions, why...?"
Zhao Ranran suddenly remembered Nangong Liuli. She had saved Nangong Liuli nearly committed suicide and harbored resentment towards her. Having just entered the mortal world, she hadn't saved many people, but both times she had only brought trouble. A wave of self-doubt washed over her, but sensing the complexity of the world, like a tangled mess, she asked, "Did I make a mistake by coming to help you?"
Li Xian thought to herself, "Zhao Zaizai came to save me out of good intentions. Although I refuse, it's because my grudges with her are not yet settled. If her kindness can help others, that would be a blessing for them. Judging from her confused tone, she must be quite troubled. As a virtuous Jade Maiden, I don't need to educate or guide her, but having one more kind person is always better than one more wicked one. As for our grudges, that's another matter; we'll settle them when the time comes." She said nonchalantly, "Not accepting your kindness is my own choice. It has nothing to do with you. In this world, someone like me is ultimately just me. If you encounter someone else in the future and want to help them, feel free to do so; that person will surely be grateful to you. You won't encounter another person like me."
He sat leaning against the edge of the bed, looking quite dashing. Zhao Ranran asked, "Then I didn't do anything wrong?"
Li Xian wanted to scold Zhao Zaizai, but he truthfully said, "If it's a genuine act of kindness, then Wu Cuo." Zhao Ran stared intently at him and asked, "Then why don't you accept it?" Li Xian said impatiently, "You woman, you're so indecisive and annoying. Whether I accept your kindness or not has nothing to do with your right or wrong."
Zhao Zairan seemed to understand but not quite, and left with Su Susu. The next day, she left Jade City with Taishu Chunfeng. Su Tiexin gave her two fine horses. Zhao Zaizai rode up halfway up the mountain, looked back and gazed at the rising and falling mountains, where a Deathwish Valley was hidden.
Taishu Chunfeng laughed and said, "Zai Ran, if you are reluctant to leave this place, let's settle things with the Candle Cult Sect and return to Profound Dao Mountain. Then we can unload our burdens and have a good time." Zhao Zaizai recalled yesterday's conversation and suddenly remembered that when she was young, she had heard Yan Nanxun say that there are all kinds of charm in the world. When judging a man's life, appearance and family background can be important or not. In the end, it is often the degree of freedom and unrestrainedness in his temperament that matters.
Yan Nanxun once said, "A carefree spirit must be innate. Without this nature, even if one tries to learn it deliberately, it will only result in a poor imitation. Of course, being too carefree is also not good."
Zhao Ranran said, "Once the matter with the Candle Cult is over, if it's on the way, we can turn back and visit Jade City again." Taishu Chunfeng happily replied, "Great!"
The two rode off side by side, shouting "Giddy up!" in unison, and spurred their horses away from Jade City.
A bright future lies ahead, the journey is long and arduous. Dressed in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse, the road ahead is full of wonders.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Li Xian refused Zhao Zaizai's help and continued his "death struggle" to repay his debt. He won seventy-four consecutive matches and became quite famous in the Deathwish Valley. Many veteran disciples who had been there for years gradually heard of the name "Guilt Sword".
--
Having accumulated "22,000 taels of silver," most of it had been used to pay off debts. The remaining few thousand taels were kept for unforeseen circumstances. By the time they won the seventy-ninth deadly battle, the situation was gradually changing.
The opponent Li Xian encountered was clad in silver armor, wielding Sharp Frost Spear, and was ready for battle. The opponent was extremely powerful, with his entire body protected by silver armor and his spear razor-sharp. As soon as Li Xian engaged him, he discovered that his iron sword shattered upon contact. Ordinary fists and kicks could hardly penetrate the silver armor.
A fierce struggle ensued.
Li Xian unleashed the hidden power of the Jade Luo Palm, embedding the force into the armor, overwhelming his opponent and securing victory. His unique style gradually attracted considerable favor, with people showering him with gold leaves and silver as rewards. Though the amounts were small, they were enough to offset one or two life-or-death battles.
The battles in Deathwish Valley have reached a point where they are no longer solely about bloodshed and bestiality. The seasoned Death Walkers have already won dozens, even nearly a hundred battles. They have amassed considerable wealth, and to continue their winning streak, they will purchase weapons, armor, Heavenly Crafted Wonders, tigers, leopards, exotic beasts, and poisons—
Higher Vehicle superior weaponry, their strength has increased several levels. Jade City will sell brand-new, exquisitely Heavenly Crafted Wonders in "Deathwish Valley." Using this place as a testing ground only adds to the danger.
After Li Xian had been in the Deathwish Valley for over a month and had won 149 matches, he encountered a dangerous situation. His opponent was thin and not particularly skilled in martial arts, but he had spent 30,000 taels of silver to purchase a "Heavenly Crafted Wonders: The Death Shuttle."
The crossbow was fitted with a cleverly designed mechanism. The Death Shuttle shot out at incredible speed and with immense killing power. Li Xian, with his keen observation skills, detected the enemy's movements early on and dodged in time.
That's fine.
But the jade platform beneath his feet shattered with a loud crash, scattering jade fragments everywhere. Li Xian was quite surprised; in his memories of both lifetimes, only this "Death Shuttle" could achieve such destructive power purely through external objects.
Li Xian thought to himself, "This thing is as fast as lightning, but it can be dodged purely by reaction. And it's not as fast as my arrows. But it shouldn't be underestimated." He eventually won the game. But this experience made him more vigilant, and he took every game seriously.
Learn from experience promptly.
By the time he had won nearly two hundred matches, Li Xian had been in Jade City for three months and had paid off most of his debts. Li Xian had grown rapidly, becoming like a Deathmatch Arena. His experience and decision-making were so shrewd that they drew everyone's attention.
Moreover, each battle is not only highly entertaining but also simple and brutal. He may get injured, but with the Perfect Aspect, all injuries can be fully healed without leaving any scars.
As Li Xian climbed the ranks, his number of victories increased. He gradually discovered that the waters of the Deathwish Valley were far deeper than he had imagined. Li Xian's two hundred great victories were certainly noteworthy.
However, deep within the valley dwell powerful figures who have won "three hundred", "four hundred", and "five hundred" matches. They do not come for money, but for "wish fulfillment". They rarely show themselves, but it is said that even in the outside world, they are all highly skilled and renowned figures.
Deathwish Valley suppress martial arts.
But how could one completely suppress the physical characteristics gained Higher Vehicle long-term honing of skills and mastery of superior martial arts? When Li Xian faced opponents, he occasionally witnessed them employing extraordinary techniques.
Or their arms might suddenly extend and swing an axe horizontally. Or they might hide foul-smelling poison under their armpits, creating a stench that overwhelms opponents during fights, or their fingernails might be able to shoot out as concealed weapons.
The special effects brought by the various Transformed Aspect of martial arts are extremely powerful. Martial arts duels are fraught with unpredictable dangers. Although the Deathwish Valley suppresses the evolution of martial arts, the stronger the opponent, the more important martial arts become. There are also countless weapons, armor, Heavenly Crafted Wonders, and exotic beasts available for purchase and selection.
The combination of all these elements creates a truly wonderful and diverse experience.
After winning 100 matches, you can spend "wins" to purchase an "Death Exemption Token". If you are temporarily defeated, you can use the Death Exemption Token, and your opponent will not be able to kill you. You can then make a comeback and seek revenge later.
Because of this, the Deathwish Valley filled with grudges, victories, defeats, and ever-changing conflicts. The battles of wits and courage between the players are truly beyond imagination.
A hundred victors—there is not a single weakling.
In another half month, Li Xian had won three hundred victories. He had truly been tempered by fire and refined through countless trials, achieving Perfection. These three hundred battles, in which the odds were roughly equal, had made him even more resilient, stronger, and more composed.
He spared many enemies, but even more died at his hands. For over three months, every single experience he gained was invaluable.
The hunter of Qingning, the protector under the lady's skirt, the flower picker of the Water Altar —only after three hundred bloody battles have he truly cultivated a few strands of the domineering aura he gained from the fighting.
This extremely young boy, whose martial arts were only at the Second Realm, actually won three hundred consecutive matches without a defeat. Moreover, his momentum was unstoppable, and he had even startled the old monster deep within.
In each of Li Xian's battles, the later the fight, the more pronounced his personal style became: elegant, decisive, and domineering. No matter how powerful you were, you were always easily defeated in front of him.
If it were purely monstrous strength, it would be difficult to win three hundred consecutive matches. Deathwish Valley is not lacking in those with unparalleled monstrous strength.
Li Xian possessed not only superhuman strength, but also an unexpectedly powerful "Double-Pupil Herculean Force," extremely ruthless experience, and eyesight that could see right to the core. He also discovered the wonderful uses of the "Double-Pupil Intimidation Force."
He became increasingly adept at it, and the Pure Astral-Qi Garment he occasionally used added variations and profound applications. To this day, he doesn't even need to exert his full strength.
The name of the Guilt Sword has already shaken the Deathwish Valley.
Just as the old monster was secretly hesitating, pondering what methods he should use to deal with this newcomer, Li Xian suddenly stopped his attack and fell silent.
He has paid off his debts and is now free.
With no debts, I'm free; I can be a carefree wanderer again! Enjoying peach blossoms and fine wine.