Ghost-Arrow Yama! The Fierce Thieves' Courage Shattered, Martial Arts Taken from the Stele Tower, a Mysterious Stone

Gong Kuai, one of the Thirty-Two True Guards, known as the "Divine Cavalry Guard; Silver Cavalry General," was forty-seven years old and held a position equivalent to Xu Shaoqian. He once witnessed Li Xian capturing a thief during a day off.

That day, Gong Kuai took his wife and children to climb the "Literary Fortune Pagoda". His youngest child was a student at the "Jiyin Academy" and was about to take an important exam. If he performed well, he would be noticed by his teachers. So he climbed the Literary Fortune Pagoda to pray for good fortune.

The Literary Fortune Pagoda has three zhang per floor and a total height of ninety-nine zhang, symbolizing that learning has no end. When Gong Kuai climbed to the top, his wife and children went inside to pray for blessings, burning incense, bathing, and drawing lots... Gong Kuai, being a martial artist, could not pray for blessings, and feeling bored, he looked out at the Jade City.

From afar, three figures suddenly flashed past the tall buildings, moving with incredible speed and agility, like swallows. Their feet trod on the green tiles and red walls, their movements swift and unpredictable, fleeing from the southeast and west. Gong Kuai, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized the three as wicked and sighed, "The Thirty-Two True Guards patrol Jade City daily, yet they never find true peace. Petty thieves constantly raid the city. It's no wonder that martial artists break the law. Jade City is like a bright jade, shining brightly in the world; it's normal to attract pests and pests. It's just that we, the constables, are burdened."

Today was a rare day off, with his wife and children at home, so he didn't want to get involved. Seeing the thief fleeing in a panic, he thought that among the Thirty-Two True Guards, although they were all there to protect the peace of Jade City, their duties differed if they were clearly defined. The Divine Cavalry Guard didn't concern themselves with catching thieves; if he happened to encounter one while on duty, he might lend a hand or cooperate from the sidelines. But he rarely had a moment of peace, and his child was praying for good fortune in his important exams. Although he saw the thief being arrogant, he didn't want to get involved and simply let him be.

Suddenly, a flash of cold light appeared in the sky. An arrow shot through the air.

In an instant, the arrow struck a thief in the shoulder, sending him flying into a narrow alley. The area was unusually quiet and dark, with very few pedestrians around. The people were completely unaware that the thief had been shot down. Had Gong Kuai not been watching from his vantage point, he too would have been oblivious to the event.

Gong Kuai was in high spirits. The Divine Cavalry Guard was most skilled in "archery on horseback," and their archery skills were among the best of the Thirty-Two True Guards. In the annual "Grand Archery" event, they even surpassed the Gold-Seeking Guard. Yet, he was unable to see where the arrow came from.

He immediately focused his gaze again and saw the second arrow suddenly appear. This arrow was like a display of skill, first flying straight into the clouds, drilling a hole in the cloud carpet, and then swooping down from a high place like a hunting eagle, shooting the flying thief who was fleeing to the east. The arrow was very powerful, shattering his shoulder, but the tail of the arrow broke off with a "crack" and shot to the right, piercing into his right calf.

One arrow wounds two.

Gong Kuai was immediately amazed and clapped his hands in admiration! He realized that the arrow just now had used a "Feather-Breaking Arrow" technique. The Feather-Breaking Arrow technique aims to use the force of the arrowhead and the tail to push against each other when the arrow leaves the bowstring and breaks through the air, so that the arrowhead suddenly changes direction and the "arrowhead and arrow body" go their separate ways.

At the cost of a broken arrow, the direction of the arrow's trajectory was changed.

Gong Kuai also knows how to do it, but he only shows it in shooting targets or in ceremonial situations. In actual use, it's quite clumsy and rather useless. Li Xian's arrow just now hit the enemy.

The arrowhead had already pierced the thief's body. Suddenly, the arrowhead broke off, but the arrowhead remained in the same direction, while the fletching shot elsewhere, embedding itself in the thief's leg bone. This resulted in two injuries from a single arrow.

Gong Kuai thought to himself, "Although I know how to use the Feather-Breaking Arrow, I had never thought of using it in this way before today."

Driven by intense curiosity, his tiger-like eyes gleamed with burning light. It was understandable that he hadn't noticed the first arrow's unexpectedness. But it was truly unacceptable that he hadn't been able to discern the archer's identity even with his keen attention on the second arrow.

He focused his attention, becoming interested. He gazed at the third thief, waiting for the third arrow to be shot. The thief was fleeing south, passing through a bustling area with towering buildings.

Gong Kuai thought to himself, "This thief is clever. Seeing that all his companions had been shot down, he turned and fled towards the tall buildings. This is the Master Street in Marquis Wen Ward, a very lively street with cover everywhere."

He turned his gaze to the distance. The first thief fled west, the second east, and the third south, so the archer must be located in the north. He drew his longbow, turned his body, and imagined how he would shoot the thief if he were holding the bow.

He pondered, "The second arrow, if aimed at a higher position first and then shot down from there, might have been a good strategy. However, the thief has already escaped far away, making the chances of success even smaller. Moreover, the thief is already on guard; if... he were to use a passerby as a shield, it would be extremely dangerous."

The thief kept an eye on the sky, his Inner Steam surging. If there was any movement, he would immediately grab a passerby as a shield. Suddenly, he heard the sound of approaching wind; the arrow was coming with a great gust of wind. Although the thief hadn't seen the arrow fly, he guessed it must have come from the sky. He saw a woman beside him, her hands gripping his shoulders, lifting him high above his head. At this moment, he was leaping about three or four stories high, his feet resting on the green tiles, soaring through the air. Suddenly, he noticed a crack in the window of a pavilion on his left. He peered into the crack, his gaze darting through it.

He saw the patrons in the restaurant drinking and chatting happily, clinking glasses, and the waiters serving tea and water; the place was bustling with activity. His gaze followed them straight out of the restaurant and landed on a tall, blue building.

This tall building was used for opera performances and music appreciation. The wooden window on the third floor was slightly pushed open, leaving a crack. Through the crack, one could see three or five family members dressed in blue, red, purple and green, gently playing the pipa with charming expressions. Below, the guests were mesmerized, listening to the music and appreciating the beauty.

His gaze traveled through the building again, extending forward to a courtyard, in which stood a three-story pavilion. On the third floor of the pavilion, there was a small ventilation hole.

My gaze involuntarily pierced through the small hole, stretching forward... one pavilion, two pavilions, three pavilions, with people reading, singing, and playing... In that instant, it seemed as if I had witnessed all aspects of life in Jade City. Finally, a flash of cold light, and my gaze fell upon a flying arrow.

Then all that could be seen were flying arrows.

The arrow flew through a small ventilation hole, out of a slightly open window, past the hair of a beautiful woman playing the zither, and grazed the handle of a teapot as the waiter poured tea. It passed through countless obstacles before finally striking the thief in the left eye.

The three thugs who fled from the southeast and west were all shot down by flying arrows.

Although Gong Kuai was at a high vantage point, he couldn't see the inner workings of the mystery; he only knew that the thief had been hit by an arrow. But the shock in his heart was like River-Turner, for he couldn't have guessed any of the three arrows that had shot the thief.

Gong Kuai murmured, "Who... who possesses such archery skills? I couldn't react to the first arrow, I could see the clues in the second, but this third arrow... it seems even more inexplicable."

Just then, his wife, Wang Clan, returned with their beloved son, Gong Wen, after praying for blessings. Gong Wen asked, "Father, what are you thinking about?" Wang Clan, with her beautiful face and charming demeanor, playfully scolded, "Your father must be thinking about going to catch thieves again. Wen'er, let's go, let's ignore this boor." Gong Kuai apologized, "Madam, please don't be angry, Madam, please don't be angry. I just witnessed something very strange, may I tell you about it?" Wang Clan said, "If it was a thief-catching contest, then there's no need to talk about it. Although we both come from martial arts backgrounds, Wen'er is a scholar. We mustn't let him be tainted by the fierceness of martial artists, lest his Fortune turn against him."

Gong Kuai felt extremely frustrated. He desperately wanted to see the archer, but fearing his wife's anger, he forced himself to suppress it. He could only look into the distance and see a figure in Black Robe grabbing three vicious thieves, binding them tightly with ropes, and leading them away.

Gong Wen said, "Father, I drew the best fortune stick. I'm sure I'll achieve a good result in this academy's examination." Gong Kuai replied, "Good son, just do your best!"

Wang Clan smiled and said, "Wen'er, I believe you will definitely Fortune."

After the incident at the Literary Fortune Pagoda, several days passed, and Gong Kuai still couldn't forget it, pondering over the precious bow. Of the three arrows, the second one, the "Feather-Breaking Arrow," was the clearest and most vivid in his mind. He tried to reproduce that arrow by facing the target. Although he used the Feather-Breaking Arrow with divine skill, easily changing its direction, it still caused two injuries with one arrow, which was quite difficult.

Although I could occasionally reproduce the move, the arrowhead and fletching were always prone to deviation. After practicing several times, I made some progress, but I was ultimately not satisfied.

He suddenly thought, "I rarely get a vacation and have so much free time. Wen'er often tells me about the principle of 'not being ashamed to ask those who are less knowledgeable than oneself,' so why not go and ask him for advice?" At that time, he was located in the west of the city and guessed that the person who caught the murderer was Gold-Seeking Guard. He also knew that "Xu Shaoqian" was the Central Lang General of Gold-Seeking Guard. So he went to visit him and ask him for information. When Xu Shaoqian saw Gong Kuai, he was stunned for a moment, then cupped his hands and smiled, "How rare, how rare! What wind has blown General Gong here? I haven't done anything earth-shattering lately, have I?"

Gong Kuai glanced around and saw Xu Shaoqian dressed in a black training uniform, breathable and sweat-wicking, holding a precious bow in his right hand. He assumed Xu was practicing archery at his residence. Gong Kuai said, "General Xu Central Lang General so kind! I rarely get a day off, and I happened to be passing by. I thought Xu Central Lang General live nearby, so I came to pay you a visit." Xu Shaoqian smiled and said, "Please come in." He pulled Gong Kuai into the courtyard, and a servant closed the door behind him. Gong Kuai said, "Xu Central Lang General residence is quite nice!"

Xu Shaoqian said, "We are usually busy with official duties. This place is located in the city, so if something happens, we can take care of it in time. As you know, the Gold-Seeking Guard are not like your Divine Cavalry Guard. They are all incompetent and useless. When asked to do something, they are never efficient enough."

Gong Kuai said, "Oh?" He thought to himself, "Could it be that Xu Shaoqian disliked the other Cavalier and Gold Steward, who were all useless, and thus went to hunt the bandits himself? Could it be that the archer that day was actually Xu Shaoqian? But I've seen Xu Shaoqian's Archery. Although excellent, they're not necessarily as good as mine. I can't... not see through the clues." He then thought that Xu Shaoqian was young, held a high position, and possessed considerable talent; if he had made great progress recently, it wasn't impossible. He calmly said, "Not at all, not at all. Our Divine Cavalry Guard also has its share of mediocre and useless people; this is unavoidable."

Xu Shaoqian at a pavilion, where a maidservant brought hot tea, saying, "Here, Brother Gong, try this fourth-grade black tea." Gong Kuai took the tea, sipped it gently, and savored its lingering aroma. He looked at the scenery beside the pavilion, a riot of colors, with flowers blooming everywhere, like springtime. It was nearly August, the height of summer, and midday should have been unbearably hot, but the house was completely undisturbed. He remarked, "Brother Xu, this house is truly remarkable."

Xu Shaoqian said, "This is nothing. I have a large mansion outside the city, with even more luxurious interiors and a much larger area. But... living alone is certainly quieter."

Gong Kuai said, "That's right, Brother Xu holds an important position, which makes people forget that you're still young and haven't married yet. Hahaha, Brother Xu, if you're not married, even the biggest mansion is meaningless, and you can't experience many of the joys of life."

Xu Shaoqian laughed and said, "The Falling Flowers Have Intent, but the flowing water is indifferent. This matter cannot be forced." Gong Kuai said, "Is that so? I think Brother Xu is determined to have her. I have heard of Brother Xu's romantic tales. That renowned beauty probably already has her heart set on Brother Xu. She is hesitant to agree, perhaps wanting to test your feelings."

Xu Shaoqian smiled confidently, "Thank you for your kind words, brother. Haha, Madam Gong was quite the beauty in her youth. I must say, I'm the one who envies you! Nephew Gong seems to be... seems to be studying at the Jiyin Academy; her future is truly limitless!"

Gong Kuai blushed and was quite pleased. He then asked, "Brother Xu, are you practicing archery?" Xu Shaoqian replied calmly, "Just practicing occasionally in my spare time."

Gong Kuai tentatively asked, "So, Brother Xu, your Archery have improved greatly lately!" Xu Shaoqian was extremely pleased and replied, "You flatter me, you flatter me!"

Gong Kuai asked, "Among the Gold-Seeking Guard, I doubt anyone's Archery surpass Brother Xu's?" Xu Shaoqian confidently smiled and replied, "I am, after all, Central Lang General. If my Archery cannot convince the masses, I would be unworthy of this position."

Gong Kuai said sincerely, "To tell you the truth, some time ago I happened to catch Xu Central Lang General capturing a thief with an arrow, and I was amazed by his incredible Archery. Judging from your attire, Brother Xu seems to be practicing archery. I wonder if I could come to the shooting range? I have some Archery I would like to learn from!"

Seeing the sincerity in Gong Kuai's words, Xu Shaoqian calmly sipped his tea, inwardly cursing, "Well, Gong Kuai came specifically to find me, just to humiliate me. While our Archery are roughly equal, his is indeed slightly superior. His 'asking for advice on Archery ' is clearly meant to dampen my arrogance. Otherwise, why would he ask me for advice out of the blue?" Annoyed, he said, "I'm tired from practicing archery today. Brother Gong, with your level of Archery, why would you need to ask me for advice? I think I'll pass."

Gong Kuai was quite disappointed, guessing, "Xu Shaoqian is unwilling to learn and is deliberately making excuses. Indeed, these skills are probably his most treasured secrets, how could he easily reveal them? I'm afraid my words have offended him." He cupped his hands in apology.

He felt that the matter was probably settled, and that the archer that day must have been Xu Shaoqian. He admired Xu Shaoqian even more, feeling that this young man was handsome and dignified, with remarkable martial arts skills at such a young age, and his Archery were so amazing, yet he was so humble and reserved.

With such diligence, it's no wonder his archery skills are excellent.

Xu Shaoqian received a message from a maidservant Tao Xiangrong, who instructed him in Archery, knowing that it could win a beauty's heart. Therefore, he secretly practiced diligently and assiduously. Recently, he has indeed made progress and is extremely proud of himself. However, it should be known that Archery is difficult to master, and even making a small improvement is extremely difficult.

And so, the two had a long and pleasant conversation. Gong Kuai and Xu Shaoqian had known each other for a long time, but their relationship had remained distant and they had never really interacted. Today, Gong Kuai had taken the initiative to visit, and his words were full of respect and admiration, showing a clear intention to befriend them. At first, Xu Shaoqian was surprised and suspected that Gong Kuai had ulterior motives, but later he realized that Gong Kuai's intention to befriend him was very sincere, and he was extremely pleased and did not refuse. After a while, they had a long and pleasant conversation, and the two agreed to meet again at a later time for drinks and a meal.

Late July to early August.

Gold-Seeking Guard distributed the [Essence Treasure]. Gold Steward received [five coins], Cavalier received [two coins]. After paying the "Crimson Coin", Li Xian reviewed his deeds over the past month, which were truly remarkable.

First-tier, second-tier, third-tier, fourth-tier, fifth-tier, sixth-tier... a total of twenty-four cases were completed. His quick thinking, accuracy in catching criminals, efficiency in action, and ruthlessness in capture are among the best in the history of Gold-Seeking Guard.

He had a total of 1285 military merits. After paying 12 Crimson Coin, he still had 5 Crimson Coin left. Money flowed like water throughout the month, coming in and going out, with only 200 taels of silver ending up in his pocket.

Li Xian was very famous, and people often talked about him. The Heavenly Pivot Saber Method was still preserved in Yu Wei's works, and some people jokingly called him "the most handsome swordsman in the town." However, his even more impressive "Archery" were never known.

He was not deliberately hiding his abilities, but his archery was so formidable that the enemy would be struck without warning. Sometimes, when he was imprisoned, he was still dazed and didn't know who had arrested him, leaving the common people no chance to witness his capture.

As time went on, rumors began to circulate. Among the criminals of Jade City, he was vaguely referred to as "Ghost-Arrow Yama."

The criminals he captured trembled uncontrollably upon recalling the ferocity of the arrows, plagued by nightmares, and plunged into a deep sense of powerlessness and despair. However, the title "Ghost-Arrow Yama" was only faintly circulated on Evil-Quelling Island and within the various prisons for the time being.

As Li Xian's ferocious power spreads and gradually ferments, the name "Ghost-Arrow Yama" is bound to stir up an even greater trend.

Now, on the second day of the eighth month...

Li Xian was in a good mood. At noon, he returned to Jujube-Pasture Residence early and took off his Tiger-Python Uniform and black armor.

A gentle breeze blew, and although the sun was scorching, the jujube trees in the courtyard provided shade, creating a large, cool, and refreshing space. Gold-Seeking Guard was quite busy, and Li Jian, Chang Ziqiang, Yao Fan, and others often complained to Li Xian that they were drenched in sweat while on patrol. Their Tiger-Python Uniform, meant to protect them from swords, were not very breathable, and they felt extremely uncomfortable in the summer.

Yao Fan then asked Li Xian why he had no sweat or foul odor. Li Xian smiled and remained silent. He explained that his perfect appearance meant he had less sweat and foul odor, and he also possessed the ability to "exhale pure air." With just a breath, he could remove impurities, leaving his body feeling refreshed and emitting a pleasant fragrance.

It is said that Li Xian served as the "Central Formation Leader" and befriended brothers such as Li Kuo, Chang Ziqiang, and Yao Fan. Li Xian was promoted to Gold Steward and was treated leniently on a daily basis. If there was a mission that was not too dangerous but provided sufficient training, he would summon several people to carry it out. This would not only increase their seniority and military merits, but also hone their martial arts skills.

After several months of contact, occasionally drinking and eating together, their relationship was quite harmonious. On one of the white walls of Jujube-Pasture Residence, there were several slips of paper pasted on it. Li Xian would follow up on the case on a daily basis and post his daily progress and analysis on the wall.

He's currently handling both a "Third-Tier Important Mission" and a "Second-Tier Important Mission," and is making considerable progress, expecting to complete them by tomorrow. Li Xian has been busy and adventuring for the past month; he should take a break and rest properly.

Cicadas chirped incessantly in the jujube tree.

Seventy-three Enlightenment Cicada crawled on the tree trunk and branches. Li Xian took out a jade bottle, picked up a drop of dew with two fingers, flicked it, and hit the mouth of a Yellow Cicada squarely.

Li Xian flicked the bottle repeatedly, filling each of the Enlightenment Cicada to their hearts' content, and the bottle was soon empty. He couldn't help but sigh, "You've really eaten me out of house and home. It costs me over thirty taels of silver a day just to feed you all. I've been buying you all since then, and I haven't been able to sell a single one. Instead, seventeen of you have died."

We walked to the jujube tree.

Picking up a Enlightenment Cicada, I observed it closely. This creature was adorable in appearance, and its chirping was clear and melodious. Indeed, it had remarkable uses; the sound of cicadas enhanced the feng shui and greatly benefited vegetation. The jujube trees, bathed in the sound of cicadas all day long, appeared even greener, and when they blossomed, the jujubes became more abundant, redder, and sweeter.

The surrounding grass and trees were fragrant with the sound of cicadas. Binds the Wind slept soundly to the sound of cicadas, feeling refreshed. Li Xian gently stroked the cicada wings and said, "I know you are no ordinary creatures, capable of great use. Yet you just can't make money from them. Oh well, this matter can't be rushed. If you really can't sell them, then consider it as me buying a luxury item. I'll let you play songs and ballads for me every day."

He released it back into the tree. Suddenly, several Enlightenment Cicada flew down from the trunk and climbed onto Li Xian's body. One, two, three... they chirped melodiously, expressing their joy and closeness.

The Enlightenment Cicada were very affectionate, especially towards Li Xian. Li Xian would catch one, and another would come, leaving Li Xian quite exasperated. He eventually gave orders, and only then did the cicadas return to their nests.

Li Xian suddenly exclaimed "Eh!" and discovered a "Yellow Cicada" whose body was emitting a faint golden light. It was clearly about to transform into a "Golden Cicada." Among the Enlightenment Cicada of the Nature Sect's Enlightenment Cicada, the "Golden Cicada" was of the best quality, followed by the Yellow Cicada, then the Gray Cicada, and the White Cicada was the worst.

Most Golden Cicada are born as adults. A few are transformed from Yellow Cicada, but the probability is extremely small. Li Xian was overjoyed and carefully returned the Yellow Cicada to its source. After calming his mind, he consumed the "Essence Treasure," and his body was once again filled with the Heaven and Earth Essence, feeling comfortable and refreshed all over, which was indescribable. Li Xian's eyes shone brightly, and he began to practice martial arts as usual. The Heavenly Pivot Saber Method, the Stone-Pushing Palm Method, and the Suffering Body Scripture were all Perfection, and he honed them every day, making them increasingly powerful. After each day's martial arts practice, his Inner Steam also increased slightly.

Gradually becoming more complete.

A few days ago, Li Xian heard some news: Lei Chong might go into seclusion tomorrow to cultivate a martial art. According to the rules, once Li Xian has Perfection three basic martial arts, he can exchange them for a specific martial art.

But Lei Chong eyeing him covetously, harboring jealousy in his heart.

If he were to exchange the martial arts techniques, Lei Chong would surely obstruct him and deliberately make things difficult. Even if he couldn't stop him, he would inevitably provoke Lei Chong's sense of crisis and make him plot even more against Li Xian. Therefore, although Li Xian could exchange the martial arts techniques, he kept quiet about it, calmed his mind, and honed his martial arts skills, waiting for Lei Chong relax. He usually only displayed the Heavenly Pivot Saber Method, and everyone knew that his Heavenly Pivot Saber Method was powerful, but they did not know that his Stone-Pushing Palm Method and his Suffering Body Scripture were also remarkable.

Tomorrow Lei Chong in seclusion, a rare opportunity. Li Xian slowly practiced three sets of martial arts, thinking, "I have no power or influence. Although Xu Central Lang General is willing to use me, deep down he ultimately looks down on me. This man is quite arrogant. If I appropriately display my talents in front of him, I might gain his attention. But if I display them too much, he might not be happy. If I wait another year or two, perhaps everything will be fine. But I came to Jade City, how can I be timid and waste my time like this?" The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

Li Xian found Xu Shaoqian and displayed his mastery of three martial arts techniques. Xu Shaoqian was greatly surprised, his expression solemn, unsure whether to be pleased or not, and he re-examined Li Xian. However, adhering to the rules, seeing that Li Xian's three martial arts techniques were indeed Perfection, he vouched for him and allowed him to enter the "Stele Tower to Take the Martial Arts Test".

Acquire specific martial arts techniques.

The Thirty-Two True Guards share a "Stele Tower," which enshrines the True Guard who died in battle. All martial arts related to the Thirty-Two True Guards are under the jurisdiction of the Stele Tower. The Gold-Seeking Guard has a school of martial arts that has been passed down for a very long time, but is rarely practiced.

The reason is that the "Suffering Body Scripture," "Heavenly Pivot Saber Method," and "Stone-Pushing Palm Method" are extremely difficult. If the quality Entry Vehicle, no matter how difficult it is, there will be martial artists who will rack their brains to study and practice it, and they may not be unable to Perfection. It is just that they are basic martial arts, which makes people look down on them.

This martial arts technique is recorded on a "stone." The stone is about the size of two fists, with many holes on its surface. Upon closer inspection, it contains extremely profound secrets. (ps: Requesting monthly votes at the beginning of the month!!)