Windborne Splendor, Three-Fold Sword Sect, Walking My Own Path, Archery Grand Self!

turn out to be...

What kind of person is Wen Caishang? She is exceptionally talented, with Perfect Aspect, Demon Garment of the Void Rift. She is truly a rare talent. How could such a person be willing to stagnate, how could she confine herself and never step out of her comfort zone again?

After suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Li Xian and being restrained by the Waning Sun Blood-Draining Sword, she was ultimately captured in a sorry state, unable to move, and left by her lover in the carriage, awaiting rescue by the maid. For the dignified Lady Broken Sword to suffer such a wretched fate was certainly extremely shameful, but it was also fortuitous opportunity.

The Waning Sun Blood-Draining Sword and the Frost Moon Waxing-Waning Sword were originally the Yin-Yang Immortal Companions Sword, which were later separated into two. They resonated with and complemented each other; when one was crippled, the other was whole; when one was full, the other was empty. On the day the Twin Swords in Harmony, Li Xian suddenly "turned against her" and used his Swordsmanship to restrain her, leaving even his dignified wife helpless.

However, his profound understanding of the Great Self Realm revealed himself to Wen Caishang. She was initially extremely embarrassed and annoyed, focused solely on how to break free. But upon closer reflection, she realized he was precisely the kind of mentor she had been seeking.

Moreover, the Twin Swords in Harmony, and the two swords naturally resonated with each other... This good teacher made no secrets, and this kind of Swordsmanship teaching was something that others could hardly understand. In a daze, Wen Caishang had already experienced the Yin-Yang Immortal Companions Sword of the "Grand Self" realm, as if she had personally performed it.

Given the special circumstances at the time, the lingering effects of the Swordsmanship remained within her body. Wen Caishang was unable to move her hands and feet, or speak, and her entire body, including her toes and fingers, was bound. Although her body was restrained, her mind was free to roam. She remembered the events of the past few days with exceptional clarity. She could recall the evolution of martial arts and the feeling of Swordsmanship even after just one glance. She could recall them clearly simply by closing her eyes and feeling them.

Through this experience, she gained insights, pondered, and Wen Caishang skills, making great progress in her swordsmanship. Since her combined Twin Swords in Harmony with Li Xian at the One Accord Manor, her Frost Moon Waxing-Waning Sword technique had been nearing its Peak Mastery. She had also practiced occasionally during this time. With this fortuitous opportunity, she quickly Peak Mastery, silently recalling her experiences at the Great Self Realm. She possessed vast knowledge and exceptional martial arts talent. With such experiences and numerous fortuitous opportunity, achieving First Realm was not impossible. It was now noon, the sun blazing brightly, the heat intense. Seven people sat around a table in the octagonal pavilion, seemingly oblivious to their hunger. Hearing the latter part of the conversation between the "Old Sword Elder" and the "Madam," they all showed expressions of surprise.

Bai Caiwei kept saying, "Beyond the Peak Mastery, there are even more wonders? What does 'Peak Mastery ' refer to? Could it be martial arts?" Huang Axia said, "My friend naturally doesn't know. But considering the context, it's probably possible. And from the lady's words, it seemed she had encountered someone with such attainments. I was quite confused myself. Logically speaking, beyond the Peak Mastery is the peak of martial arts. How can one advance further? Even if one advances further, it's still just Peak Mastery."

Everyone fell silent. Li Xian thought to himself, "The path of martial arts is boundless; how can it have a peak? Even if it does, does that mean one cannot ride the wind and Riding the Wind to its heights? I have truly stepped into the Great Self Realm and experienced it firsthand, hence my understanding. But for others, this is ultimately a distant and hopeless dream. Given my current status, there's little credibility to my words. So, I'd better not say anything more."

Han Niannian said, "We don't need to think too much about this matter. These two are both experts in the martial arts world, and what they see and think Non-Self ability to fathom." Bai Caiwei, Yao Yin, and Huang Axia all nodded in agreement, setting aside this matter and asking about the subsequent events.

Huang Axia said, "At that time Old Sword Elder was already intimidated by the aura. Regardless of whether he succeeded or reached the summit, after this conversation, the Old Sword Elder already acknowledged his advanced age. However, he was very experienced, and although his heart was turbulent, his face quickly calmed down. He said, 'Therefore... you sought the Sword Repository Canon, was it to read the sword-learning experiences of the predecessors? To pursue that unknown place?' The lady said, 'Of course. Although I know where that scene is, and I am confident that I can reach it, this matter is ultimately very difficult! It is not something that can be accomplished overnight, and I don't know how that rascal...' As she said this, her eyes suddenly showed a hint of shyness. It was rare to see such an expression on this lady, so my friend remembered it very clearly. The lady then turned serious and said, 'Your Five-Mountain Sword Alliance has always been known as the orthodox school of swordsmanship. The sword-learning experiences of the sages of the past generations are all recorded in the Sword Repository Canon. Perhaps I can gain some insights from it.'"

The Old Sword Elder said, "The Sword Repository Canon isn't a martial arts manual. While it contains many insights, haphazardly studying it won't necessarily bring any benefit; on the contrary, it might easily Qi Deviation." The lady poured the Old Sword Elder a cup of tea and said, "The mere Sword Repository Canon is unlikely to cause me to Qi Deviation. Furthermore, my study of the Sword Canon's insights is not for imitation or learning, but to enhance my understanding. Even if I wanted to go through Qi Deviation, it would be absolutely impossible." The Old Sword Elder shook his head and sighed, "Very well, very well. I can't teach you anything. This old swordsman..." "Even if I were to teach you, impart some life insights, you might not want to listen. This matter can be accomplished, but..." the Old Sword Elder said, "Since it's a transaction, it should be based on equality. Although I agree to give you a copy of the Sword Repository Canon, you'll need to retrieve it yourself." The woman smiled and said, "The rules of the Sword Sect must be followed. But you're getting on in years, and I can't bear to see you go down the mountain and toil again. The Jade Nectar is already prepared; please take it. In a while, the Sword Bell will ring, and you will obtain the Sword Repository Canon."

Huang Axia couldn't help but chuckle at this point. Yao Yin laughed and said, "This lady has quite the shrewdness. But these words make it seem like the dignified Old Sword Elder is not magnanimous enough, arguing with others. Yet, they don't hold it against you."

Bai Caiwei said, "Ah Xia, did your friend notice the Old Sword Elder's expression at that time?" Huang Axia said, "Of course he did. It's funny, the Old Sword Elder is a grandmaster of the Sword Alliance, with a noble status and upright conduct. At that moment, his face turned pale and then red, and he hesitated to speak. Thinking about it, it makes sense. For a dignified Old Sword Elder of the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance to appear so petty and narrow-minded at that moment. A kind word from him would naturally humiliate you. Moreover, that lady's composure remained unchanged throughout. With just a few words, she made the Old Sword Elder feel utterly ashamed."

Han Niannian said, "This lady is very capable. Whether it was Ke Jiannan searching for her or the Old Sword Elder personally coming, it was all orchestrated by her. Such a person is truly... truly remarkable!"

Li Xian thought to himself, "Of all the people under heaven, I should know Madam's temperament best. Although most of the time, I can hardly guess what she's thinking. But in this situation, Madam is definitely not being magnanimous; it's just that her methods of winning people over are extremely clever. She's made that Old Sword Elder lose face terribly." He secretly found it amusing. Huang Axia said, "Later, the Old Sword Elder accepted the Jade Nectar, feeling embarrassed. But since he had already spoken, he couldn't take it back, so he slunk away." Li Xian asked, "What did Madam mean when she said that after some time, she would ring the Sword Bell and obtain the Sword Repository Canon?"

Huang Axia said, "I was curious at the time, so I asked my friend. I learned that the Lishan Sword Sect has a rule that any outsider who borrows a item must ring the Sword Bell nine times to let the entire sect know about it before it is considered borrowed."

Fang Ming asked, "And then what happened? When that lady went to retrieve the item, did the Sword Sect dare to make things difficult? To call that difficult would seem petty." Everyone listened intently, and Huang Axia added, "That lady didn't go up the mountain."

Bai Caiwei asked, "Could something have delayed you? Or are you afraid?" Han Niannian replied, "That's understandable. This lady must be a shrewd and intelligent person. Although she handled the Sword Alliance with ease before, she was still outside the mountain gate. This matter of retrieving the Sword Repository Canon requires her to set foot inside the mountain gate. Even if she is very capable, it's still very dangerous inside the mountain gate! If she is surrounded, it will be even more difficult for her to gain any advantage. It's normal for her to have some concerns."

Huang Axia said, "Everyone, please don't be impatient, let me explain in detail. After exchanging for the Jade Nectar, the Old Sword Elder and my friend returned to their sect. The Old Sword Elder felt ashamed, so upon returning to his sect, he went into seclusion to recuperate. However, the elders of the Lishan Sword Sect pressed me about what my friend had seen along the way."

"How could my friend dare to conceal the truth? He told the whole story. The elders, hearing that they had obtained the Jade Dragon instead of the Jade Nectar, were filled with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow. Hearing that even the dignified leader of the Sword Alliance had been humiliated by the woman, they were extremely indignant, yet utterly helpless. An elder of the Lishan Sword Sect said, 'Elders, what is your opinion on this matter?' Another elder spoke up, 'Alas, the senior has already agreed; how can we not accept it?' Yet another elder said, 'Our Five-Mountain Sword Alliance has been completely manipulated by this woman since the very beginning of our alliance. Now, after several clashes, we haven't gained the slightest advantage. And what's more... we haven't even formed a grudge, and we have no way to vent our anger.'"

"Another elder said, 'Things shouldn't happen more than three times. This time, she's demanding the sword manual, and we must get our revenge.' The first elder said, 'No, no, it's not right for us to use this as an excuse to cause trouble. Besides, wouldn't that be considered bullying a woman and forcing her into a sale?' Yet another elder said, 'Yes, what if this damages the reputation of our senior and adds a stain to his record?' The elders couldn't reach an agreement; their opinions differed. 'They were unwilling to simply ignore it, but they were even less willing to damage the sect's reputation and act like bullies. After much deliberation, they came up with a plan. When the appointed time approached and the sword manual was to be demanded, they would have their disciples use a sword formation to obstruct the path up the mountain.'"

"It's not that we forbid her from going up the mountain, but rather that we want to humiliate her and wait until she's exhausted before handing over the Sword Repository Canon manual. That way, we'll have gained a slight advantage. This idea, though ultimately somewhat flawed, can vent the Sword Sect's frustration. And it's foolproof; once that lady sets foot on the mountain gate, her fate is no longer in her hands. Besides, among martial artists, sparring and competition are inevitable. Since you've come to the mountain gate to borrow the manual, why not use you to test our swordsmanship?" Li Xian thought, "Ultimately, the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance values face extremely highly. Although it's a major sect, they're very concerned about saving face. Even the slightest loss must be repaid. I wonder how that lady will handle this."

Huang Axia continued, "The agreed-upon date was several months later, and there was nothing of great importance in the meantime. Time passed quickly, and the appointed day arrived. The Lishan Sword Sect the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance. They set up Sword Dragon Formation stretching for several miles along the mountain path! This formation was a truly grand and awe-inspiring one! Two elders waited at the mountain gate and specifically explained the situation to the lady to prevent her from catching a glimpse of it from afar and leaving. In this way, the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance would become bandits."

Upon hearing this, everyone recalled the magnificent scene from that day. On the mountain path, a sword dragon coiled, its Sword Qi aura chilling, its blade reflecting a cold light that made the entire mountain appear as smooth as a mirror and as sharp as a blade. How difficult it must have been to break through the formation!

Huang Axia said, "At noon, the two elders saw a little child approaching. The child was adorable, with her hair in a bun; she was a maidservant of the lady. The child carried a letter and, imitating an adult, bowed and said, 'Greetings, Elders.' The two elders, though puzzled, returned the greeting, 'Greetings...' The maidservant said, 'The lady asked me to greet the elders of the Sword Alliance.' The two elders said, ' The Sword Repository Canon of great importance. If your lady sent you to retrieve it on her behalf, please go back and let her retrieve it herself.' The two elders mistakenly thought that the lady was afraid of the Sword Alliance's power and therefore sent a maidservant who didn't know martial arts to retrieve it. In that case, how could the Sword Alliance, with its formidable strength, possibly target a little girl?"

Huang Axia said, "But that elder was mistaken!" The boy laughed and said, "Two elders, you've misunderstood." Just then, the Sword Bell on the mountaintop suddenly rang out!

"This resounding boom was truly extraordinary. The two elders were also thrown into disarray, muttering to themselves, 'Could it be that we've encountered a ghost?' The elders of the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance immediately headed towards the Sword Bell. On their way, they heard the bronze bell continue to resound."

"One sound, two sounds, three sounds... in an instant, seven sounds have rang out. When everyone gets to the bell, guess what scene you'll see!?" Huang Axia suddenly stopped, calm and composed, slowly sipping her tea. Ding Heilang said, "Is the lady already by the bell?"

Yao Yin, Han Niannian, and others all thought it made sense. Huang Axia raised her eyebrows slightly, shook her head faintly, and sipped her now-cold tea. The others continued to guess, but Huang Axia gently shook her head each time.

Li Xian suddenly said, "If I'm not mistaken, there should be nothing else beside the bell, but there are arrows scattered on the ground."

Huang Axia was taken aback and said to Li Xian, "You're right! Do you remember when that lady was talking to the Old Sword Elder, she said, 'I will naturally ring the Sword Bell and obtain the Sword Repository Canon.' She never mentioned going up the mountain to get it. She can simply shoot the Sword Bell from a distance!"

"After the elders gathered, they immediately looked into the distance, but could not see the lady's figure. Instead, they saw two arrows shot towards them. The lady's Archery were also remarkable, and the arrows contained martial arts techniques. They struck the cauldron, producing a ninth resounding thud. The Dust Settled."

"This is hard to imagine. The Sword Bell of the sword sect is made of a special material, extremely heavy. Even if you strike it with a blunt weapon, it will only vibrate slightly and make very little sound. Arrows, on the other hand, are about unstoppable momentum. They are light and agile, and even when they pierce the air, they have the ability to cut through stone and wood. But if they were to hit the bronze bell, it would be like trying to knock down a tree. How could it possibly cause the tree to collapse?"

"Even if it contains the evolution of martial arts, it is still extremely difficult to do. Moreover, the Sword Bell is no ordinary object. Therefore, the elders did not expect that the Sword Bell would be resounded in this way." Li Xian said, "If you shoot a sharp arrow at the bell, nine times out of ten the arrow will break, and one or two times it will pass through the bell, but to resound the bell is really extremely difficult. However..." He leaped up and broke off a tree branch.

He said, "Take the branch tip as the arrowhead, the branch itself as the arrow shaft, and the branch tip as the arrow fletching. People often only know the sharpness of the arrowhead, but they neglect the shaft and fletching. As long as you hold an arrow made of flexible material, at the moment of release, although the arrow speed is fast, the arrow Sword Bell. But the arrow shaft and fletching moved, and the fletching struck the Sword Bell, turning the arrow's unstoppable sharpness into a powerful blunt force. This was enough to make the bell resound!" He manipulated the branch, explaining the essence of Archery.

Suddenly, he raised his hand and shot out, the branches swayed, and the tips of the branches struck the air like a palm strike, producing a bright sound.

Everyone quickly understood. Yao Yin asked curiously, "Could it be that your Archery are exceptional? You grasped the key points so quickly." Li Xian replied, "Not bad." But in his heart, he thought, "I must have taught Madam this bell-ringing technique."

It turns out... back in the old days at the One Accord Manor, Li Xian and Wen Caishang often discussed Archery. Li Xian was not only skilled in Archery, but also had a wildly imaginative mind, always coming up with all sorts of ingenious ideas. Wen Caishang often set up strange challenges, which Li Xian could complete with a little thought. This skill of "shaking the bell with a sword" was something he conceived during that time. Bai Caiwei asked, "What happened after that?"

Huang Axia vividly recounted, "The nine tolls of the bell resounded through the heavens, yet the lady's figure remained elusive. The elders of the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance were naturally dumbfounded, utterly at a loss. According to the rules of the sword sect, the copy of the Sword Repository Canon already belonged to that lady. The bell's sound still echoed through the valley; this was undeniable. The elders sighed deeply, saying, 'We've gone to great lengths to salvage our reputation, only to have it backfire, losing face again and again. This matter... is truly shameful!' 'Enough, enough, that's enough. I have no more will to contend with this woman.' 'Let's quickly return the copy of the Sword Repository Canon to her.'"

This time, the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance's schemes were completely exposed, leaving them utterly humiliated. However, by the time they delivered the Sword Repository Canon to the foot of the mountain, the lady and her maid had already left. Yet, the Sword Repository Canon remained in the hands of the Sword Sect. What were they to do? This grand-scale obstruction had only made the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance extremely embarrassed, leaving them unable to save face.

Finally, Ke Jiannan volunteered to personally deliver the copy of the Sword Repository Canon to the lady. After this ordeal, the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance dared not make a fuss, and became even more secretive about the woman's name, not daring to mention it easily. Although my friend told me a lot, I repeatedly pressed him for the lady's name, but he still could not tell me.

This is a great pity.

Huang Axia leisurely sipped her tea, captivated by the endless wonders of the martial world. Having stumbled upon such a remarkable tale, she wanted to share it with her friends. It was just past noon, the weather was fine and sunny. Li Xian temporarily put aside his thoughts, took Huang Axia's pulse, examined her, and prepared a soup to nourish her.

They were busy until evening, then Li Xian, Fang Ming, and Ding Heilang took their leave. They received three taels of silver as payment and twenty medical points. Although Li Xian had left the Miraculous Healers Pavilion and was now Gold-Seeking Guard -ranking military officer), his medical token remained with the pavilion. Whenever he had free time, he would practice medicine there. Although he received no monetary reward, he could accumulate medical points, which could be exchanged for medical scriptures, medical equipment, and Essence Treasure from the pavilion...

Yao Yin, Huang Axia, Bai Caiwei, and Han Niannian, having finally gathered, were eager to chat. Yao Yin took a moment to see Li Xian and the others off outside Peach-Cherry Residence. Yao Yin said, "Li Xian, although you are not Renowned Physician the Miraculous Healers Pavilion, your medical skills are truly excellent. In the future, when the Renowned Physician are short-staffed, we may need to entrust you with practicing medicine in the manor." Li Xian replied, "If time permits, I would naturally be happy to help." Yao Yin smiled and said, "Alright, goodbye!" She then bowed and saw them off.

Li Xian mounted Binds the Wind, bowed respectfully, and rode away.

Meanwhile, inside Peach-Cherry Residence, Huang Axia shared some secrets, which delighted Yao Yin, Bai Caiwei, and Han Niannian. However, her repeated attempts to keep them in suspense and build up their interest led the three women to decide to teach her a lesson.

After Li Xian, Fang Ming, and Ding Heilang left, Han Niannian, Yao Yin, and Bai Caiwei approached each other intentionally or unintentionally, forming a three-way encirclement. Their eyes met, and they understood each other perfectly.

By the time Huang Axia realized something was wrong, it was already too late. The three women unleashed their acupoint striking techniques simultaneously. Their attacks were exquisite and unique, and their momentum was formidable. Huang Axia cried out "Ouch!" and used her Movement Method to dodge. But even if she could dodge one or two, how could she possibly dodge the third?

A finger struck her, and her right arm immediately went numb and tingled, her internal energy sluggish. Terrified, her pretty face turned pale. Fighting three against one was already hopeless. Before the fight even began, she had already lost an arm. She cried out in despair, begging for mercy, "No! Good heroine! Good heroine! You... you... have mercy!"

Bai Caiwei laughed, "Yao Nizi, will you spare her or not?" Yao Yin laughed, "This is a rare opportunity, of course we won't spare her. Let's tie her up and send her to the Flower Cage Sect. We'll ask that Flower Thief to find her a husband."

Han Niannian said, "Or we could send her to a brothel. This girl is pretty and has a silver tongue. She told a very good story just now; she'll definitely win over the customers."

Although Huang Axia knew the three were just joking to scare her, the situation was truly unfavorable. Hearing their playful words, she was terrified. She tried to escape, but the three women wouldn't let her go. Yao Yin leaped up, grabbed her shoulder, and pressed her back to the ground.

Bai Caiwei and Han Niannian were no weaklings. They closed in on either side, each using their acupoint striking techniques. Huang Axia cried out and froze, unable to move. She quickly begged for mercy, but when that didn't work, she resorted to cursing and yelling, finally accepting her fate in despair.

Han Niannian took out Jade Silk Rope and tied Huang Axia up tightly according to the method of the Flower Cage Sect. Disliking her foul language, she used a piece of silk cloth soaked in tea to gag her.

They then ignored it and the three women drank tea and ate food, enjoying a leisurely gathering.

Binds the Wind was slender with long hooves, and its black mane fluttered in the wind as it ran, making it quite a handsome creature. Elegant Serenity Grove Marquis Wu Station, so when Li Xian returned to Jujube-Pasture Residence, he stopped by Marquis Wu Station to visit it.

My day off ends tomorrow.

Li Xian suddenly thought, "Time flies, but this vacation has been quite fulfilling. I took the opportunity to tour Jade City, witness the literary gatherings, and learned that there might be a grand gathering of scholars in the future. If nothing unexpected happens, it would be best to attend. I also accompanied Yao Yin on her medical practice and made the acquaintances of Huang Axia, Bai Caiwei, and Han Niannian. In all this, I can barely be considered to have one or two good friends in Jade City."

Feeling relaxed, I spurred my horse and galloped back to Jujube-Pasture Residence, where I settled Binds the Wind. In Peach-Cherry Residence's horse park, there was Higher Vehicle hay to feed Jufeng. Binds the Wind was well-fed and didn't need further feeding, saving me some money.

Li Xian used "Xun Wind Breath" to calm his body. Afterwards, he practiced martial arts as usual, including the Wraith Spear, the Waning Sun Blood-Draining Sword, the Flicked-Finger Golden Light, the Heavenly Pivot Saber Method, the Suffering Body Scripture, the Stone-Pushing Palm Method, Sole-Self Heart Technique.

His proficiency gradually increased, and he reaped great rewards. Li Xian Lake surged with power, its Inner Steam surging, and the martial arts he used were fierce and powerful. After two hours of arduous training, he absorbed several strands of essence from his body.

Li Xian stopped to rest. He thought to himself, "If I want to catch up with Madam, I need to work twice as hard. Madam will never stand still; she knows there's Great Self Realm, so she immediately starts thinking about how to catch up. With Madam's talent, she'll probably be even more formidable next time we meet. But I don't need to favor one over the other, nor do I need to be anxious. I have my own path to follow."

He took out a wooden bow, gently drew the bowstring taut, and aimed it at the silver moon in the sky.

Archery

[Proficiency: 2136/0 Grand Self]