Whenever Great Battles Arose, Words Must Clash First; Essence Abundant, a Letter from the Princess?
Gold Steward's monthly salary is thirty taels of silver, a bowl of Essence Soup daily, and four coins of fine meat per month. Li Xian has been promoted to Cavalier and has been on duty for a month, earning two coins of fine meat. After another half month on Evil-Quelling Island, he can earn five coins of fine meat. The total is seven coins of fine meat, which he has not yet obtained.
He brought up the matter, and Deng Fan offered his help. They walked through the corridor in the building, went up a staircase, and arrived at the third floor, where they came to a "Heavenly Treasure Hall". After handing over the token and verifying their identity, they could receive seven coins' worth of refined meat, which was then put into the Heaven-Hiding Casket.
Gold-Seeking Guard Essence Treasure. The glory of Jade City is due to the millions of water laborers who carry water to boil the Essence Treasure. Moreover, all the clans, martial arts temples, gangs, and forces in Jade City, as well as all the businesses run by martial arts practitioners, must pay a monthly tax on the Essence Soup.
The Gold-Seeking Guard's ever-flowing Essence Soup originated from this. Jade City has a unique method for preserving the "Essence Soup," so the Essence Soup is stored without spoiling and can nourish the Thirty-Two True Guards. Even the yamen runners, ward runners, and clerks below can also drink the Essence Treasure from time to time.
As time goes by, First Martial Realm may not be impossible.
Deng Fan hurried past and introduced the layout of the building. To the east of the Crimson Tower were Book Tower, an archive, a chess room, and a hot spring. To the west were a fighting arena, a horse riding arena, a knife sharpening room, a secret room, and a martial arts workshop... The east was for literature and the west for martial arts, clearly separated.
He added, "Indeed, there's something I need to remind you: Gold Steward's expenses are considerable."
Li Xian asked curiously. Deng Fan replied, "Gold Steward needs to be proficient in both literature and martial arts. Solving cases and catching thieves is only his job; he also needs to have his own strengths. If you have free time, you can learn polo, cuju (ancient Chinese football), hammer ball, mountain climbing, archery... and so on. Among the Thirty-Two True Guards, there are often competitions. Martial arts competitions are rather boring, so it's usually polo and cuju where people compete against each other. If you perform well, you can also get good rewards and earn considerable fame."
"You'll have to purchase the necessary items yourself. And that won't be cheap. Take the polo poles, for example; they'll cost at least several tens of taels of silver. If you were to have them custom-made, it would be like a bottomless pit, even more precious than a fine sword."
"Have you ever seen Xu Central Lang General's riding pole, which was silver-white but shimmered with black undertones upon closer inspection? This pole was extremely valuable, signifying both family background and wealth. Just imagine, wielding such a pole while galloping across the track, how eye-catching he would be! Even the most beautiful courtesan would likely be captivated, secretly falling for Xu Central Lang General."
Li Xian nodded and said, "That's true." But in his heart he thought, "I have absolutely no interest in polo. But if managed properly, it might be an opportunity for advancement. However, I'm currently short of money, so I'll have to put it on hold for now. But Deng Fan has reminded me that I should get a good bow!" His thoughts were racing.
Archery is considered a "ritual," and Jade City also values it. However, there are fewer related competitions compared to polo or cuju. This is because every major archery event is a grand occasion in Jade City and should not be taken lightly. If it is moved to the mainland, it must be done with solemnity and seriousness.
Deng Fan then explained the process of receiving the "important appointment." First, one had to go and take down the notice, then register with the clerk, and then try to complete the task according to the notice. One was free to move around during the process, and if needed, one could borrow documents and access the county jail and the neighborhood supervisor's office.
Once the task is completed, it is compiled into a case file, detailing all the necessary procedures, and submitted. If the case is clear and straightforward, the task is considered complete, and the reward is given. However, if there are any unclear or ambiguous points, or if the work is done carelessly or superficially, the task is considered complete.
One of the Thirty-Two True Guards, the "Truth-Inspecting Guard," would perform the duties of surveillance, investigation, and questioning. Deng Fan was not a teacher at the academy, so he only gave him the general framework and operational overview. Seeing that it was getting late and he had several important tasks to attend to, he bowed and left Marquis Wu Station. Many details and important points could only be understood by Li Xian himself.
It was mid-June. Li Xian's inspection of the Gold Steward was scheduled to begin in July. This latter half of the month was truly leisurely and relaxed, with no one to supervise him. If he wished, he could go back to his room to rest, and then return to his duties in early July.
Li Xian saw that the Crimson Tower was quiet and secluded. Walking along the corridor, he could hear the sounds of turning pages and checking records. The clerical work was tedious, but Gold-Seeking Guard was quick and efficient in his fighting and fighting. After finishing his own work, he could leave all the subsequent trivial matters to the clerical staff.
Back in the main hall, Gold Steward had already left, leaving the hall empty except for a corner cabinet where clerks and servants were busy at work. This was the "Python-Belly Hall," a spacious hall whose layout resembled a python's belly, with its vermilion doors opening outwards like the mouth of a python ready to devour its prey.
The Crimson List was filled with notices of important appointments. Li Xian thought, "Although I'm not in a hurry, these notices are the best way to quickly understand the situation of the position of Gold Steward. Since I'm here and have some free time, I might as well take a look." He scanned the notices and saw about a hundred important appointments. He couldn't help but think, "If I weren't appointed as Gold Steward, I wouldn't have known that Jade City is so unsettled. But compared to the areas outside the city, the people of Jade City are indeed much more peaceful."
The first-level tasks are mostly relatively safe and easy jobs such as investigation, tracking, security, and treasure hunting. Gold-Seeking Guard handles both earth-shattering events that affect the safety of the city and trivial matters that concern the people's livelihood.
For example: In Tongji Ward, on Zhengping Street, there was Wang Clan whose young daughter had gone missing for more than three days. The ward and county governments searched for her without success, so she was listed on the Crimson List. When her whereabouts were found, she was rewarded with one Crimson Coin, five military merits, and five taels of silver.
Another example: The wealthy Zhao Clan Gold Ingot Ward suffered a burglary, losing a rare jade bracelet. The thief fled and his whereabouts are unknown. You can visit him to inquire about the aftermath and try to resolve the issue. Note: The Zhao Clan regularly donates money. In this case, even if the clues are vague and the thief may be difficult to find, it is better to appease the Zhao Clan than to catch the thief. You will receive one Crimson Coin, four military merits, and ten taels of silver.
Furthermore: On June 21st, Renhua Ward will escort four criminals to Gold Ingot Ward. These four are warriors from the outer city. They may have companions in the city. You can go and guard one side to protect them during this trip. You will receive one Crimson Coin and three military merits.
First-tier tasks are closely related to the people's livelihood and are somewhat tedious. They seem harmless, but completing them will consume a lot of time and energy. Li Xian pondered, "The Gold Steward Changxiao requires twelve Crimson Coin. One red coin is obtained for completing one first-tier task. If I only focus on first-tier tasks, it will take two days to complete one! Only then can I raise enough Crimson Coin. It is an extremely busy and urgent task, and there is no guarantee that I can complete it. It is like searching for a trail. If the clues are complicated, how can I find it in two or three days?"
Li Xian looked up and observed. The first, second, and third-tier important tasks all revolved around the lives of ordinary people. Although the difficulty varied from one tier to the other, increasing with each tier, they were generally not very dangerous.
From the fourth tier onwards, a fierce aura gradually emerges. For example, a fourth-tier mission: Zhoushan Ward; Jiehu Street, every morning, the Lakeview Restaurant, Lakewatch Restaurant, Westward Restaurant... are all draped with flags made of human skin. Upon inspection by the ward officials, the skin is confirmed to be True Person skin, which is extremely malevolent. This disrupts the peace of my Jade City and disturbs the morals of my people. Please investigate the situation. Rewards: four Crimson Coin, twenty military merits, and fifty taels of silver.
This matter caused quite a stir, but Jade City was vast, and countless things happened every day, so the news did not spread widely. Li Xian lived in Gold Ingot Ward and had been to Jiehu Street before. When he saw the notice, he immediately remembered the location of the restaurant and was slightly startled.
Looking further back, the fourth-tier mission is as follows. "Jar Immortal," a Crimson List figure from the Yunan Circuit, has recently entered Jade City, seemingly intending to participate in jade gambling. Secretly investigate and monitor him; if he shows any signs of violence, immediately stop and arrest him. The reward is four Crimson Coin and twenty-five military merits.
Li Xian's gaze turned strange as he thought to himself, "The Jar Immortal? This thief has actually come here too. I have a deep grudge against him; I was almost killed by him in the past. I never expected... that we would meet again in Jade City." He scanned the area with his eyes.
Next, we obtain the fifth-rank mission: to capture the vicious villain "Li Chun," nicknamed "Hundred-Eyed Demon." This thief has appeared on the Crimson List in many places Guanlong Circuit. He is ruthless and has a penchant for collecting eyeballs. He possesses a cloth bag containing hundreds of eyeballs, called the "Hundred-Eyes Pouch," a sinister and extremely powerful treasure. This thief has recently infiltrated Jade City for unknown reasons and purposes, and has already committed several murders. If he is captured, we will obtain five Crimson Coin, sixty military merits, and fifty taels of silver.
The villains are becoming increasingly troublesome, and the dangers are growing. Jade City gathers the Fortune Yunan Circuit, Guanlong Circuit, Wanghe Circuit, bringing with it filth and corruption. The dangers for those at the sixth level are even greater, and the notices are vague, making it impossible to know the truth of the information.
As you see the seventh, eighth, and ninth levels... the perilous dangers leap off the page. The rewards are generous, but with this level of difficulty, it would require several Gold Steward working together to have any hope.
Li Xian glanced through the list of important appointments and made a decision. "I was promoted to Gold Steward today, and since it's already mid-month, the assessment will begin in July. The incident of Yu Hai capturing the murderer is still vivid in my mind, as if it were yesterday. I'm taking over his position, but I can't follow in his footsteps. My situation is even more dangerous than Yu Hai's; I have no backing, and I'm also vulnerable to Lei Chong's treachery. Therefore, I must be cautious. In the next half month, I don't need to be reckless. I should mainly take on first and second-tier appointments, adapt slowly, and accumulate Crimson Coin and Military Merits."
"Starting in July, I'll gradually approach the third-tier missions, clarifying their specific difficulty and my own capabilities. In this way, I should be able to collect twelve Crimson Coin, with minimal risk!"
He immediately accepted the first-tier task, "The Case of the Missing Young Girl in Tongji Ward," and was about to investigate. Suddenly, his gaze drifted upwards again, and he saw "The Jar Immortal." He thought to himself, "Although the investigation of the Jar Immortal case is ranked fourth-tier, I have seen him in action before and have some understanding of this villain. Although his reputation is great, his strength is not strong. Ranking him fourth-tier is probably an overestimation. Although I haven't seen him for several years, his strength must have improved, but I reckon he can handle it. I should have some confidence in handling it."
After pondering for a moment, he removed the "Fourth-Rank Important Duty: Inspector of the Jar Immortal" and went to register the case. Li Xian left Marquis Wu Station and saw that it was still early, a quarter past Chen Shi (Chen Hour). So he went to the Artifact Cauldron Pavilion.
Li Xian received a "forging request" reward, which allows him to request the Artifact Cauldron Pavilion to forge a weapon. The Artifact Cauldron Pavilion gathers skilled craftsmen with superb forging techniques, and it is said that several renowned weapon and sword forgers from the Great Wu have been recruited here.
You can request the forging of a horizontal sword, which will be reforged by the Artifact Cauldron Pavilion, further enhancing its quality. You can also request the forging of a "bow and arrow," which will yield a "Silverfrost Bow," a decent and respectable quality.
Li Xian thought to himself, having mastered the Sole-Self Heart Technique" and infused it with his will, the Tiger Saber equipped by the Gold-Seeking Guard was already sharp enough, its roar faintly echoing like thunder. Rather than enhancing the Tiger Saber to make it even better, he decided to seek a more practical solution: forging the Silver Silverfrost Bow Silverfrost Bow. Li Xian was very familiar with bow and arrow construction. He provided the bow's length, width, and shape, which the servant of the Artifact Cauldron Pavilion memorized. In about half a month, he could collect the bow. Meanwhile, the case of the missing girl, though complicated, was not particularly mysterious. Although Li Xian was handling a case for the first time, he had previously served as Martial Commandant in Qingning County and had experience in pursuing thieves and eliminating villains, so he wasn't entirely ignorant. Furthermore, he had spoken with the divine constable Li Bohou Li Bohou received his secrets to catching criminals. Although he rarely had the opportunity to use them, Li Xian, being intelligent, had already memorized them.
At this moment, he personally rode to Tongji Ward, found the missing Wang Clan family, and presented the Tiger-Python Token of the Gold-Seeking Guard. The family was all surprised. The head of the family was a middle-aged man in his forties who ran a noodle shop in the street. They were a well-off family, not very wealthy, but they had no worries about food and clothing. The man never expected that his small case would alarm the Gold-Seeking Guard. When he learned that Li Xian's trip was specifically to investigate the missing person, he became even more anxious and stammered. Every word he spoke was hesitant and fearful, for fear that if he was not careful, not only would his daughter be in danger, but he would also be involved in a bigger case and lose the lives of his whole family.
Li Xian's voice was gentle as he offered words of comfort and soothed the man's emotions. His Turbidity-Avoidance properties, particularly his ability to cultivate the Five Organs Purge-Turbidity Revive-Yang Scripture, naturally made him more approachable, quickly calming the man's mind and allowing him to speak normally. It turned out that his daughter, thirteen or fourteen years old, named Wang Xiaomian, had displayed remarkable literary talent from a young age, possessing a photographic memory. Her family, recognizing her talent, emptied their savings to send her to the "Jiyin Academy" for further studies. Around early June, Wang Xiaomian disappeared without a trace. Her family immediately reported her missing, and because of Jade Citizen's status as a commoner, the case was quickly accepted and handled by the local constables. They investigated the surrounding neighborhood and questioned the Wang Family's enemies, using these leads as clues, but to no avail. The case stalled for several days. Unwilling to Dead Heart, the Wang Family, along with their wife, children, and elderly relatives, went to the yamen (government office) and knelt down.
County Lieutenant Kong Li, having always looked down on this minor missing person case, repeatedly rejected it. However, the Wang Family, who loved their daughter dearly, refused to give up and knelt there for a long time. Tian Sanfang, the county magistrate of Westgate County, seeing that delays would inevitably have a negative impact, ordered Kong Li to take on the case. Kong Li, whether due to lack of ability, intentional negligence, or other reasons, also failed to find any leads for a long time and reported the Gold-Seeking Guard.
This matter should have ended here. Gold-Seeking Guard it would be a waste of time and yield little benefit. The Wang Family had also given up hope and turned to praying to gods and Buddhas. It was only when Li Xian advanced in his cultivation that they were brought back into the public eye.
After figuring out the matter, Li Xian rode to the ward official's office. He presented the Tiger-Python Token and requested to borrow the documents from the ward. The servant in the ward presented them with both hands, his attitude respectful. After Li Xian had a general idea of what was going on, he rode off to the Westgate County.
Summon Kong Li to borrow the case files. Kong Li, seeing it was Li Xian again, assumed he was deliberately showing off, coming every few days to flaunt his status. His anger surged like a volcano. He thought, even if Li Xian was Gold-Seeking Guard military officer), he was merely a county magistrate of Westgate County, a Mud Face figure. In terms of status and position, he was far superior to Li Xian. No longer willing to yield, he said, "You scoundrel, when you've risen to the Mud Body, then you can talk to me like this!" Li Xian took out the Tiger-Python Token; the "Gold Steward" Tiger-Python Token would be transferred through the tiger's claws and the python's mouth. A layer of gold paint was applied. Kong Li was taken aback, seeing that Li Xian had become the Gold Steward guild and had come to investigate a case. Yet, Li Xian was using his status to bully him and refused to cooperate. If this got out, Kong Li would also be in trouble. But asking him to cooperate obediently would be truly humiliating. His old injuries had healed, and he thought that although the Kong Family was not a prominent clan, they had some power and connections. Li Xian had no background. Should he avoid Li Xian's sharp edge for the time being? So he made a demand: he wanted to fight Li Xian in a ring. If he won, Li Xian would be kicked out of the yamen. If Li Xian won, they would discuss borrowing the case files.
The outcome of this contest was obvious. Kong Li was all bark and no bite; he was a complete fool, arrogant and conceited. Believing he hadn't truly lost to Li Xian, he always thought Li Xian was inferior. At the start of the match, Li Xian drew his sword, unleashing the overwhelming power of the Heavenly Pivot Saber Method, leaving Kong Li overwhelmed. Kong Li possessed considerable martial arts skills, but he had lost the initiative. Every time he tried to counterattack, Li Xian anticipated his move, unleashing a swift and deadly sword strike, forcing him to parry. Before long, he was forced into a complete retreat.
No matter how advanced his martial arts or how sophisticated his techniques, a basic swordsmanship Entry Vehicle can leave him with nowhere to use it. Li Xian's reaction, strength, and observation are far superior to others, and even the most ordinary martial arts can produce remarkable results.
Finally, Kong Li was beaten so badly that his old wounds had barely healed before new ones appeared. Both of his arms were broken, his spine was shattered, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to get up. His face was slashed several times, and two of his fingers were severed. If Li Xian hadn't been investigating the case, she could have easily taken his life. Kong Li was in pain and furious, and he vomited blood and fainted on the spot.
Li Xian then ordered his servant to bring over the county government's case files. After reviewing them, he revealed a knowing look. Although Kong Li was a coward, he had indeed investigated the case after receiving it. However, the clues went cold at one point. Li Xian knew that this matter must be related to the Jiyin Academy.
Jiyin Academy, a towering institution in the Great Wu, is as majestic as a mountain, and many within it possess a unique Fortune. Whenever a great power launches a military campaign, whether against external forces or internal ones, involving tens or hundreds of thousands of soldiers, both sides inevitably engage in a Fortune, verbally attacking and vehemently denouncing the enemy. They argue, from the perspectives of morality, public sentiment, the world, and the state of society, that this campaign, this defense against the enemy, is acting on behalf of Heaven, a righteous army, and a legitimate force.
Whoever wins will be blessed by the Unseen Fortune, with favorable timing and location in their hands. Even if they are outnumbered or outgunned, they may still turn defeat into victory. Whoever loses will lose their Fortune, their morale will be low, and they will have already lost before the battle even begins.
There was once a high-ranking official of the Great Wu Dynasty named Fu Haoran, who could hold off an army of ten thousand men. He personally went to the battlefield, and his words were sharp as knives. He used his own fortune to measure the enemy's morale, which made the enemy army panic and collapse, leading to a great victory for the Great Wu Dynasty.
There was once Great Martial Dynasty that attempted to invade and forcibly seize Jade City. Several scholars and virtuous men from the Jiyin Academy, using Fortune as a yardstick, vehemently denounced the Great Martial Dynasty. The dynasty had already lost the argument, and its subsequent forced invasion was indeed unsuccessful, lacking divine assistance and its luck had run out. Although Fortune is an ethereal thing, armies often number in the tens or hundreds of thousands. Under the influence of the Unseen Fortune, it is no longer ethereal, and various misfortunes will inevitably occur within the army.
Despite their large numbers, the army suffered repeated defeats and was blocked by several dangerous passes. How could they possibly shake Jade City? In the end, they had no choice but to withdraw their troops.
However, many things in this world can be argued from both sides. Winning a verbal battle does not necessarily mean one is truly righteous, or that one is skilled in sophistry, knowledgeable, or Fortune. Therefore, heaven helps the victor and not the loser.
Li Xian had vaguely heard others mention these things and had some understanding of them. Therefore, the constables and yamen runners deliberately avoided Jiyin Academy. Li Xian, however, did not care and immediately went to the Jiyin Academy to investigate.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that... there was a major examination at the Jiyin Academy in early June. Wang Xiaomian came from an ordinary background, but he had exceptional talent in literature and was sure to achieve good results in this examination.
Therefore, several students became jealous. Before the major exam, they imprisoned her, causing her to miss the exam. After the exam, those students should have released Wang Xiaomian, but fearing she would complain to the teachers, they imprisoned her for several more days.
However, as time went by, Wang Xiaomian completely disappeared, while the students remained unharmed. Emboldened by this, they harbored evil intentions and decided to make Wang Xiaomian vanish forever.
These students had never killed anyone, so none of them dared to do so. They kept delaying, surviving on just some water and dry rations. Until one day, Li Xian came to investigate and, based on the information, found the school.
The students looked nervous and quickly gave themselves away. Li Xian went to question them, and they all brought up their Lineage. Li Xian ignored them and used a few tricks to frighten them all. When pressed further, they confessed everything.
Wang Xiaomian was successfully rescued. The girl was emaciated, her face pale and her hair withered. Li Xian recalled that Xiao Fan academic exams. Therefore, the case quickly became clear, and he had already vaguely guessed who was responsible.
When Li Xian returned Wang Xiaomian home, the Wang Family wept with joy and knelt down to thank him. The neighbors, knowing of the incident, also watched and, seeing Wang Xiaomian return unharmed, came to offer their congratulations on his recovery.
Li Xian used his palm strike to lift the Wang Family members up, then cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "It's my duty, no need for such formalities. But little sister Wang, as your knowledge grows, you must learn to discern people's hearts, so you won't suffer such a hardship again!"
At this point, he thought of his younger brother, Xiao Fan. Although Wang Xiaomian was weak, he forced himself to bow and express his gratitude.
It was only evening.
The case was now closed. Li Xian rode his Binds the Wind towards Marquis Wu Station. The first case had been so easy, and he had saved a person. He was in a good mood. He wrote down the details of the case and the investigation process in the case file and sent it back to Crimson Tower.
He then received a Crimson Coin, five military merits, and five taels of silver.
Inside Jujube-Pasture Residence.
After washing and bathing, Li Xian sat down on the grass in the courtyard and opened the "Heaven-Hiding Casket," which contained seven qian of refined meat.
Before returning from Marquis Wu Station, he had drunk another bowl of Essence Soup. There were now fourteen strands of the Heaven and Earth Essence within his body. Li Xian thought to himself, "If I don't consume this kind of essence as soon as I get my hands on it, the Heaven and Earth Essence will slowly dissipate. Even if I preserve it in the Heaven-Hiding Casket, it will only slow down the process."
The lean meat was pure white and cool to the touch, like a translucent crystal or jade. Li Xian ate it all in one gulp. After the lean meat entered his stomach, it transformed into the Heaven and Earth Essence and earth, its coolness overflowing his body, wanting to escape and return to heaven and earth.
Originally there were 176 strands, but after Consumption and strengthened, they became 320 strands.
Li Xian Heavenly Cycle Circulation, Blood Solidification and Aperture Closure and closing his orifices, striving to retain the Heaven and Earth Essence. Li Xian regulated his breathing and felt infinitely comfortable. With the Heaven and Earth Essence abundant in his body, he felt more confident in climbing the peak of martial arts.
Suddenly, a surge of lofty ambition welled up within him, his sharp spirit overwhelming him, and his drive for progress boundless.
He immediately took up a gun to practice martial arts and improve his skills. The essence within his body was being rapidly digested, and his bones were undergoing a subtle transformation.
Suddenly, a clear chirping sound was heard. A Mud Sparrow landed on a jujube tree branch, with a red rope tied to its claws, which in turn was attached to a bamboo tube.