Stories

The Green Jade Sect was a local sect.

Though its ancestors had once enjoyed glory, producing experts who had reached refining the void into reality and cultivated true qi, its prestige today was far from what it had been.

The entire sect numbered barely a hundred.

Aside from a sect leader at blood exchange and marrow washing and five elders at internal organ refinement, the rest were disciples at sinew transformation, bone tempering, or even bright force.

Its scale fell short of some larger martial halls.

Even so, Li Hanbing, who had become a Green Jade Sect disciple, was still a prodigy of the Li Family, regarded as a promising member of the younger generation. She roamed the martial world in fine clothes on spirited horses, sat at the elders' table during the annual ancestral rites, and became a role model to countless younger brothers and sisters.

In truth, however, Li Hanbing, whom the Li Family of Qinghe County regarded as a prodigy, was merely an ordinary member of the Green Jade Sect.

At this very moment, while the Green Jade Sect's senior disciple Duan Jiangliu chatted and laughed with Pine Wind Sword Zhang Yunsheng, she could only keep them company and laugh along, choosing her words carefully to avoid giving offense.

But the information the two were discussing was simply so shocking that she could not help crying out.

"Senior brother, Young Hero Zhang, were you just talking about Li Xian? He killed the Iron Sword Sect's leader, Daoist Xuantie!?"

"That's right, Li Xian. He's supposedly also renowned as one of Lijiang City's Four Great Talents."

Zhang Yunsheng nodded. "But he's changed his name now. He goes by Li Xian."

"Daoist Xuantie..."

Li Hanbing's mind reeled.

If she remembered correctly, Daoist Xuantie, the leader of the Iron Sword Sect, was a mighty expert at blood exchange and marrow washing, just like their own sect leader!?

A Fifth Realm martial master who could fight a hundred men alone and easily wipe out mountain strongholds!?

"How could it be him!?"

In Li Hanbing's eyes, her younger cousin Li Xian, who had studied under Master Zhou and earned a place among Lijiang's Four Great Talents, had clearly shown more promise than she had. He was the Qinghe Li Family's true Qilin Son.

Unfortunately, he had been ruined.

His reputation had been utterly destroyed.

But thinking of what he had done...

Clinging to the powerful, casting aside all affection and loyalty-he had only himself to blame for that fate.

Yet now...

"Though many doubt whether Daoist Xuantie really died at Li Xian's hands-after all, during the battle at noon, Lijiang's Zhou Juechen comprehended primordial unity, attained the impervious body, and joined the first-rate ranks of the martial world, so it would make more sense for the two blood exchange martial masters, Daoist Xuantie and Ma Fu, to have died at his hands-countless people witnessed Li Xian furiously slay Yan Lian, the steward of Prince Yue's Residence who had reached viscera great accomplishment, and Liu Feng of the Cao Family yesterday."

As Zhang Yunsheng spoke, a trace of admiration showed between his brows. "Even if he hasn't reached blood exchange and marrow washing, he must possess strength at that level!"

"Yesterday, Li Xian furiously slew Yan Lian, the steward of Prince Yue's Residence at viscera great accomplishment, and Liu Feng of the Cao Family?"

Li Hanbing found it even harder to believe.

This...

Was this still the younger cousin she knew?

Wasn't he a frail scholar who looked down on martial men?

Just then, another junior sister from the Green Jade Sect who was keeping them company suddenly remembered something and said excitedly, "Senior Sister Li, I remember you know that Li Xian... Li Xian? You even spoke with him yesterday!?"

At these words, Zhang Yunsheng and Duan Jiangliu both turned toward Li Hanbing, their eyes filled with surprise.

"You know each other?"

"Junior Sister Li actually has ties with someone like him?"

"I..."

Hearing their words, Li Hanbing had mixed feelings, but she still said, "The Li Xian I know was a student of Pinewind Academy... I don't know when he abandoned scholarship for martial arts."

"Then that's him! That great hero Li is one of Lijiang's Four Great Talents, a former student of Pinewind Academy!"

Zhang Yunsheng suddenly clapped his hands. "I've read in ancient texts of a martial path called reading to enlighten the mind and practicing martial arts to enter the Dao. At first, these people don't devote their time and energy to tempering their bodies. Instead, they immerse themselves in poetry and books, enlightening their minds and perceiving their true nature, until knowledge and action become one and they comprehend the true essence of primordial leaklessness. Only then do they rise and give chase, strengthening their sinews and bones externally and refining their internal organs, exchanging their blood and washing their marrow in one great surge to charge into the impervious body."

His expression was excited, as though he were witnessing a legend. "Perhaps that's exactly the path Great Hero Li is taking!"

"Enlightening the mind and perceiving one's true nature, uniting knowledge and action, comprehending Primordial Leakless!?"

A trace of shock appeared in Duan Jiangliu's eyes. "He could actually advance straight into the first-rate ranks of our age!?"

A first-rate expert!

A name known throughout an entire province!

What imposing glory that would bring, what honor to his ancestors!

If he could truly reach the first-rate ranks, he would willingly give up thirty years of his life!

"Only those with extraordinary comprehension have any hope of walking this path to its end."

Zhang Yunsheng said, "We'll have to see whether Great Hero Li can attain the impervious body within the next year or two. If he does, then this is indeed the legendary path he's following. And if he can walk this path to its end, his future will be limitless. Even a fish leaping over the Dragon Gate won't be an extravagant hope!"

"A fish leaping over the Dragon Gate!?"

Li Hanbing and everyone else present felt their hearts quake.

Leaping over the Dragon Gate!

A serpent shedding its form to become a dragon!

Li Xian...

Actually had hope of reaching such a realm in the future!?

"Leaping over the Dragon Gate!"

Duan Jiangliu murmured those words.

Not just him-Li Hanbing and the others were equally shaken to their core by those words.

What martial practitioner did not know of leaping over the Dragon Gate?

Only after crossing the Dragon Gate could one truly rise with the wind, soar ten thousand miles, and ascend straight into the nine heavens!

Princes, marquises, generals, and ministers, wealth beyond all others—all had to stand aside before the precious chance of Leaping Over the Dragon Gate!

"Junior Sister Li, if you really know Great Hero Li, you should seize this opportunity while you're both at the Canglang Sword Sect."

Zhang Yunsheng offered her this earnest advice.

Duan Jiangliu also came to his senses and immediately told Li Hanbing, "Young Hero Zhang is right. If you truly know Great Hero Li, I'll report it to the sect leader at once and ask him to take you as his personal disciple."

"I..."

Hearing their words, Li Hanbing still found it inconceivable.

But...

Li Xian had already held a rather high place in her estimation.

When he had earned his place among Lijiang's Four Great Talents, she had been filled with envy and admiration.

Coupled with Zhang Yunsheng's account of reading to enlighten the mind and practicing martial arts to enter the Dao, it allowed her to somewhat accept the truth of this news.

Seeing everyone urging her to visit Li Xian and prove whether their connection was real...

And since she happened to have something to mention to Li Xian herself, she hesitated briefly, then nodded.

Before long, after asking around, Li Hanbing arrived at the courtyard where Zhou Juechen was staying, accompanied by Zhang Yunsheng and Duan Jiangliu.

"Li Hanbing?"

Li Xian looked at Zhou Juechen.

"Yes, someone from your Qinghe Li Family."

Zhou Juechen said, "She probably happened to be on the mountain and heard about your deeds, so she came to visit with her fellow disciples around her, showing off her connection to you."

"The Li Family."

Li Xian remembered that the original owner of his body had already severed ties with the Li Family.

He had no intention of renewing that connection.

But considering their blood ties and the cause and effect between them, as well as Li Hanbing's well-meant warning outside the Canglang Sword Sect...

Though it had not been of much use, he still said, "Then I'll see her."

"All right, I'll take her to the reception hall."

Zhou Juechen nodded.

Soon, when Li Xian arrived at the reception hall, Li Hanbing was already waiting there.

The moment she saw Li Xian, she rose, her expression...

Somewhat reserved.

After all, the man who had just shown her in was Zhou Juechen, the master of Dragon Spring Hall, who had newly joined Jiangzhou's first-rate ranks!

A mighty expert in the Body Without Leaks Realm whose martial attainments surpassed even those of the Green Jade Sect's leader!

Li Xian chatted and laughed with someone like him...

The rumors that he possessed the strength of blood exchange and marrow washing were almost certainly true!

"Did you need something?"

Li Xian asked directly.

"N-no... Nothing..."

Li Hanbing stammered in reply.

Li Xian nodded.

So she had boasted using his name, and her fellow disciples had put her on the spot, leaving her no choice but to meet him to demonstrate their connection.

He said nothing about it, merely telling her, "Rest here for a little while, then see yourself out."

It was human nature. There was no need to blame her.

But when she saw Li Xian about to leave, Li Hanbing grew flustered, as though if she truly let him walk away like this, their worlds would never intersect again.

In her panic, she hurriedly said, "Li Xian... Do you still remember Jiang Xiaoyu?"

Jiang Xiaoyu?

During this time, he had already forgotten most of the "original owner's" meaningless memories, freeing up room in his mind to focus on martial arts.

Jiang Xiaoyu. Don't know her.

"You really have forgotten her."

Li Hanbing's expression grew complicated.

"Is there a problem?"

"Have you never considered whether there were other factors behind you making such enormous sacrifices for Liu Yanran, only to end up utterly disgraced?"

Li Hanbing looked at Li Xian. "Though you married Liu Yanran, she was still lovey-dovey with Yan Kaigui... Under normal circumstances, your only possible end would have been for Liu Yanran to throw you out one day when she grew tired of the sight of you, or even... have you beaten to death with clubs over some trivial issue."

What status could a live-in son-in-law have?

At most, he was a little better than a servant.

If he was beaten to death, that was that.

Listening to Li Hanbing, Li Xian gradually understood what she meant.

"Who is Jiang Xiaoyu?"

He asked.

"..."

Seeing that Li Xian had actually forgotten Jiang Xiaoyu so completely, Li Hanbing was utterly speechless.

Blood exchange and marrow washing?

So what if he's reached blood exchange and marrow washing?

What did it matter how much someone achieved if he could abandon his childhood sweetheart and sever every tie with his family without hesitation for the sake of his own future?

What did it mean for the Li Family?

Nothing but an ungrateful wolf.

If they got too close to him, they might not only gain nothing, but even bring enormous trouble upon the Li Family.

Just like when the Dingfeng Marquis Estate's guards had come demanding answers not long ago.

She knew this was her contrary streak at work, and that she would regret it sooner or later as Li Xian soared to success, but...

"Think about it. All the ways Liu Yanran demeaned you-did you ever do those things to someone else...?"

Seeing Li Xian looking "unconcerned," Li Hanbing stopped.

He's beyond saving.

"Forget it."

She said, "Thank you for being willing to spare your precious time to see me after reaching blood exchange and marrow washing. I'll take my leave."

With that, she bowed slightly, turned, and left.

Li Xian watched her go.

He knew this might involve some past incident, or even some old romance.

But...

It did not matter.

He was Li Xian, not the former Li Xian.

His path was destined to be perilous. Whether he drew too close to the Li Family or the Li Family drew too close to him, neither would be a good thing. Maintaining the current situation was better. As long as he could keep soaring ever higher, the Li Family would naturally grow stronger beneath the blessings spilling down from him.

Not long after Li Hanbing left, Zhou Juechen walked in.

"She's gone?"

"Yes."

Li Xian answered, then asked, "If you've finished packing, let's return to Lijiang City and meet that impervious body expert from Prince Yue's Residence."

"Are you confident?"

Zhou Juechen asked.

But immediately afterward, he smiled. "Forget it. I won't ask. Let's go."

Li Xian nodded.

The two set off at once, heading back to Lijiang City.

(End of chapter)