Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

The raw medicinal properties of red flower ginseng are fierce when eaten uncooked, and it contains some toxicity. Li Xian buried it in charcoal, roasted it until it was scalding hot, and then consumed it. With a slightly sweet taste, it unexpectedly had a lingering fragrance, akin to yams growing in the ground.

[Skill Consumption, Skill Level +1]

Everything ingested boosts efficacy by eighty percent. Li Xian felt warmth throughout, even though he consumed ordinary herbs, their effects were not inferior. His body found restoration; his spirit was healed, and symptoms such as frailty and cold improved.

The night’s lake breeze was immensely cold.

Li Xian took care of his body, nourished by herbs, and his healing speed noticeably increased. He was quite pleased, thinking to himself: "With the support of consumption, even if my emotional wounds are difficult to heal, I need not seek rare materials or treasured herbs, I can gradually nurture myself back. Consumption may seem ordinary, but it is unique."

Through the long night, birds were sleeping soundly and lake fishes were calm. Li Xian, despite his overwhelming fatigue, dared not fall asleep. Failing in martial arts, in reading sutras, in practicing medicine — he rarely found leisure to the extent of feeling bored.

He decided to inventory his belongings: Medical Ethics Scripture, Medical Heart Scripture, Candle Order, Jade Water Pearl, Finger-Flashing Golden Light Book, Paper Contract, miscellaneous jade accessories, wife’s silver hairpin...

He found some strange knickknacks, surprisingly not thrown away. His heart was quite happy, and casually took out a few to play with. One was a bamboo flute, carved by Nangong Liuli, born of an aristocratic family and holding the status of a legitimate daughter, her learning was broad, excelling in music, calligraphy, embroidery, and appraisal, far surpassing Li Xian, and her archery wasn’t weak either.

Li Xian took the flute to play. Immersed in it, he managed a decent performance; it was quite leisurely and pleasing despite not even reaching beginner’s level. Li Xian lamented: "Compared to distinguished daughters of noble families, I seem like a warrior brute only familiar with martial arts. Zhao Ranran’s calligraphy is exceptional, Sister Liuli’s talent is profound, and Gu Nianjun’s learning is astounding. Apart from Martial Arts, my other studies are shallow."

Suddenly recalling his strengths, he thought: "I need not favor one over the other; in geomancy and the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, I slightly surpass Sister Liuli. Beyond that, I am far inferior. My wish to pursue many ancillary studies is not to chase elegance or show off talents. Congenitally, I don’t mesh well with noble families; I yearn to appreciate culture, expand capabilities."

Playing a few more tunes, though melodic and beautiful, they still appeared shallow and mediocre. Li Xian then picked up a small wooden horse, barely palm-sized. Twisting its tail allowed it to walk on four legs lifelike, its mechanism intricately designed. Li Xian exchanged thirty copper coins with a disciple from the Flower Cage Sect for it.

With idle time, Li Xian continued rummaging, unexpectedly taking out a red brocade bag, unwrapping it revealed indeed a pair of private undergarments inside. The design was exquisite, made from light silk, with gold threads as ties, red and gold complementing each other. As light as gauze, seemingly transparent.

The intention was decoration rather than covering. The brocade bag was already small, yet the undergarments were fully contained. Evidencing an extreme frugality in material usage — it’s outrageous. Still, traces of the wife’s perfume lingered on it. Li Xian peculiarly mused: "How does this come to be here? Must have been accidentally swept in while capturing the wife, amidst scavenging wealth at the time, inadvertently included in the silver. Alright... I’ll return it to the wife when we meet again."

Returning the item to its original pouch, tightening its mouth. Li Xian sighed loudly: "If I had a Jie Xumiao Clothing among these miscellaneous items, that’d be perfect."

Li Xian enjoys collecting miscellaneous items, his clothing pockets and bags are numerous. Nangong Liuli understands his temperament, considering wandering the Jianghu, figuring certain objects might prove useful. Thus, each time she assists Li Xian in bathing and changing clothes, she takes back her embroidery, adding pockets.

Though Li Xian’s items are numerous, most are trifles not hindering movement or combat. Sometimes upon finding pleasing objects, he would naturally stash them into sleeve pockets, chest pockets... accumulating them this way, sometimes taking them out, depending on when they cross his mind.

Listing them now one by one, there’s also Poison Powder, dart, Heaven-Hiding Box, Heaven and Earth Box, silver... among other items. Within the Heaven and Earth Box, hundreds of strands of silk were still present.

Time passed with this inventory activity, not entirely lacking amusement. As night deepened, Li Xian suddenly froze, observing the scattered items before him, all accounted for save one extremely important item: the Ghost Jade.

Li Xian searched thoroughly, yet saw no trace of it. With furrowed brows, he pondered continuously: "Among these miscellaneous items present, the Ghost Jade, tightly worn by my waist for secure keeping, should not possibly sink into the lake. It must have been during combat when the hanging rope was severed, causing it to drop here."

The sky was pitch black, yet Li Xian felt his physical strength restored, contemplating: "If it was any other item, its loss wouldn’t matter. But the Ghost Jade was a gift from my master, a token of my lineage. I have possessed it for less than a month and already lost it... utterly disappointing my master’s trust."

He glanced up at the sky, his resolve firm — the sooner he recovered the item, the more peace of mind he would have. Though everything around was enveloped in darkness, his vision was extraordinary, allowing him to see at night as usual. Thus, he rubbed the ring, transforming the Ruyi Treasure Sword to half a zhang in length, used it to prop himself up and search for the Ghost Jade in the dark.

Cutting grass, snapping branches, reaching the Absolute Palm Peak’s palm area. Li Xian searched conspicuous areas first—with no sight of it—then focused on the weed thickets. He searched for an entire hour, finding nothing.

His inner meridian faintly throbbed, returning to the fire to rest. Realizing the situation had occurred and feeling urgency, he remained calm. Sitting cross-legged to recuperate, gathering all scattered items in one spot. His clothes had decayed until unwearable, and there was nowhere to place the scattered items, causing extreme frustration and concern.

Li Xian suddenly thought: "Though I don’t have Jie Xumiao Clothing, I possess Divine Ghost Fierce Clothing. This mysterious garment carries effects of reversing Yin Yang, disrupting the Five Elements, and concealing fate. Can it obscure sight like it hides omens? Pure Gang Qi Clothing has form without substance; can the two synergize in application?"

He began attempting. First using Pure Gang Qi Clothing for cover, then overlaying Divine Ghost Fierce Clothing. Pure Gang Qi Clothing is intangible yet real, while Divine Ghost Fierce Clothing is cryptic and profound. The combination shrouds objects in black aura, making them invisible to others.