Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

The wind here is warm and comfortable, the feng shui is excellent. Within the gorge, there’s a small pool, the water is clear as if there’s nothing in it, with giant stones in various shapes interlocking like dog’s teeth. Li Xian is delighted; this is a "Treasure Concealing Feng Shui Formation," sure to uncover some surprises.

Li Xian chooses an open area, sets up a campfire, spreads a wooden bed, and builds a grass hut... creating a temporary base. He settles here to find herbs to recover.

Once everything is done, it’s already evening.

This place is between the peaks of the ring finger and little finger. Li Xian looks up and contemplates deeply. He feels both overwhelmed by the power of his predecessors, whose force of fists and palms can transform mountains, and amazed by the natural wonders. He thinks, "A true gentleman... coming to this turbulent world, leaving such a wondrous peak for future generations to admire is certainly worthwhile in this life. It’s said life on earth can be as light as a feather or as heavy as Mount Tai. Perhaps this is as heavy as Mount Tai! If my wife were by my side, she would surely clearly explain this person’s identity and background."

Walking to the pond, he scoops up the clear water to wash his face. A refreshing sensation comes over him, invigorating his spirit. Li Xian twists the thumb ring, extending the Ruyi Treasure Sword to three feet, lifts several lines of water, and cleanses his body.

Fish in the lake frolic and play, unafraid of people; seeing Li Xian standing by the shore, they swim over to inspect him. Li Xian only needs to gently scoop to catch four or five fresh fish, ensuring dinner is sorted. He shakes his head repeatedly, remembering his experiences at the lake bottom; having chewed countless raw fish meat, he’s reluctant to eat fish now. Therefore, he searches around for fruits to fill his stomach, taking the opportunity to map out the surrounding terrain.

Sitting idly until dawn, mist shrouds the area, and he begins picking herbs.

The herbs in the mountain gorge are aged and rare, continuously surprising him. Li Xian has three meals entirely of herbs, quickly recovering over half. His heart chamber warms, beating vigorously.

Li Xian thinks, "I’m finally alive again! Heaven doesn’t close my path; though I fell into an abyss, it gives me a chance to climb out! A few more days to recover, and I can attempt to move the dross out of my viscera!"

Two days later, Li Xian’s luck turns; he discovers a "Tiger Leopard Grass" and a "Life Eye Flower." These two items are both common in appearance but have special effects. Tiger Leopard Grass can increase qi power, but consuming recklessly will grow a tiger-leopard tail.

This tiger-leopard tail, though an encumbrance, is as thick as an arm, strong and forceful. Merely sweeping it lightly can crush stones and break wood, its power fierce.

Yet a spontaneously appearing tiger-leopard tail makes fitting martial arts challenging. In a fight, the tail can be considered a weapon, but more a fatal flaw. The tail is long and thick, hard to conceal, excessively bulky, and not agile. A martial artist’s lightweight skill, leg technique, fist technique... all get affected.

Thus often, noble family scions, feeling it’s difficult to enhance their martial arts mastery before family competitions, seek "Tiger Leopard Grass." After consumption, they gain the "tiger-leopard" might, then endure the pain to chop off the long tail.

This shortcut boosts strength, enhancing power in a short time. Li Xian, however, need not worry, as he can enhance through "Consumption." The advantages increase by eighty percent, the drawbacks weaken. Paired with herbs, they reduce the tiger-leopard grass’s toxicity, allowing only increased qi power without the strange tail.

After consuming the herbs, Li Xian feels warmth throughout his body, his ears resonate with a tiger-leopard roar. Heat flows chaotically, strengthening his sinews and bones. Li Xian thinks, "This Tiger Leopard Grass is indeed a rare medicine treasure. Yet ordinary clay embryo, those uninitiated in martial arts, mistakenly consuming this will only meet a violent death. A martial artist’s treasure, common people barely touch, can face fatal danger. Though I’ve entered martial arts, in the eyes of noble clans, I’m no different."

"Life Eye Flower" can sharpen vision, heal eye injuries, liver, spleen...

The mountain gorge contains many strange herbs. Li Xian enjoys great sustenance, during these days, he sleeps at noon, searches for herbs at dawn and dusk. He changes from a sickly state to full vitality, regaining his former demeanor. He feels his condition improving, heart meridian stronger. Sitting cross-legged, he begins practicing the Five Viscera Avoiding Dross and Gathering Yang Scripture.

[You move dross in your viscera, Skill Level +1]

[You move dross in your viscera, Skill Level +1]

Li Xian’s body emits radiance, colors swirling, internal dross relocating mysteriously by itself. The Five Viscera Avoiding Dross and Gathering Yang Scripture, a pure yang essential guide, not describing any move or method, directly pointing to martial arts essence, thus the Setting Sun Bloodsword, Only I Have a Heart Skill, Vomiting Blood Scripture... all align mysteriously.

Wen Caishang’s legacy remains mysterious, deeply knowing martial arts. Yet unwilling to easily teach Li Xian, only nurturing his foundation, spine like a divine mountain. Jade Palm, Clear Wind Leg, Four Directions Fist, Vast Leg... etc., all are casual creations. Li Xian’s martial arts mastery, though deep, forms no school, pieced together. Without [Five Viscera Moving Dross Scripture], the martial arts essence remains unified, accommodating various mixed martial arts.

Li Xian would not have this mastery today. Moreover, the Setting Sun Bloodsword, burning blood’s strange effect, needs the Five Viscera Avoiding Dross and Gathering Yang Scripture for resolution.

He only feels himself amidst heaven and earth, infinitely relaxed, infinitely refreshed, his spirit soaring in the void.

Birds perch on his shoulder, pond fish come to watch, grasses and trees regard him, all creatures respect him.

Five Viscera Moving Dross further strengthens the body. The heart meridian recovers faster, shattered heart chamber, fragmented vessels, as heart dross reaches elsewhere.

Li Xian’s heart meridian becomes increasingly transparent, akin to newly born, unstained by dust, clean and flawless. He doesn’t seem to recover from heart injury but rather grow a new heart.

Yet this heart is stronger, more unique.

Only now, at this moment, does he truly and thoroughly pass through the crisis. This journey from death to life, lasting over a month, should have yielded deep feelings, yet masked by sleepiness and fatigue. Now with life secure, his spirit gradually replenishes, all insights grow beneficial, emerging like spring rain and bamboo shoots.