[Food Essence]

[Skill Level: 81/100]

[Description: You drink Heavenly Essence and consume Earth Radiance. Your body merges with heaven and earth, containing limitless possibilities. The Nine Transformations of Food Essence is a long and arduous path, but you are more than halfway there. The Martial Arts Second Realm is within reach.]

Li Xian practices martial arts, contemplates the essence of magic, and absorbs its essence. His strength steadily grows, his foundation deepens, naturally stepping into the "Food Essence Eight Transformations."

An eerie glow bursts forth from his body, his celestial demeanor undeniable.

His long hair moves without wind, his aura unique.

Madam Wen remarked with wonder, "In the Food Essence Realm, as a martial artist eats and drinks essence treasures and absorbs their essence, the body gradually transforms. Those with a Rebirth Appearance will have their features gradually become more apparent, even evolving certain characteristics as the transformation progresses."

"A Perfect Appearance is like exquisite porcelain, where martial arts show extraordinary qualities, superior to others. Yet, among fine porcelains, there are differences. This piece of fine porcelain that Little Immortal has, seems crafted by a master, meticulously sculpted. Its appearance is truly outstanding."

...

...

It was the first day of the month.

The weather was warming, and the frost and snow were diminishing. Servants took advantage of the good weather to clear the snow from the roads.

The side gate of Yihetang Manor.

Madam Wen rode astride Baiyun, her dress concealed under a light green cloak. Her hair was coiled up with silver hairpins. Her skin was fair, her red lips alluring.

This journey was a proper venture into the Jianghu.

Li Xian was fully equipped.

Wearing silk armor from the Prefecture City, a treasured item from Yihetang Manor, it could resist swords, guns, sticks, and chopping attacks, woven from fine and tough silk, filled with intricate skills.

Li Xian led the horse from the manor, grooming the horse's mane. He checked the travel bag: changes of clothes, mechanical tools, poisons and hidden weapons, travel essentials... all were complete. He mentally checked everything again, leaving no room for error.

Beside the saddle hung a yellow scabbard. The Sinking River Sword originally had no scabbard, its blade too sharp, drawing too much attention. Li Xian spent money to craft a scabbard, concealing its edge, traveling discreetly.

"I don't know of your past, Madam, but judging by your demeanor, you'd likely have more enemies than expected."

Li Xian surmised the road ahead was perilous, immediately assessing his own strength.

Basic Martial Arts: Four Directions Fist, Clear Wind Leg, Iron Copper Body, Daluo Saber Technique, Vertical Cloud Hand;

Lower Martial Arts: Jade Palm, Thunderbolt Finger, Vast Leg;

Upper Martial Arts: Setting Sun Bloodsword.

Nineteen martial arts skills, sixteen at Peak, three at Perfection, accumulating forty-nine zhang of Qi Lake.

Li Xian's breathing steadied, a dark glow trembled within. Iron Copper Body ran smoothly, body solid as iron, energy robust like a dragon.

"Even in the face of Dragon Masters, my strength may seem weak. But I've done everything within my power, leaving no regrets."

...

...

This journey was long, requiring departure a month ahead. Even Wen Caishang was equipped with several sets of changeable clothing.

After traveling several miles from the manor, the clear wind blew, clothes fluttering elegantly.

This journey headed west, avoiding the Prefecture City, taking more secluded paths, and after four or five days, they left the territory of Qiong Heavenly Mansion, encountering no significant trouble along the way.

The Great Wu Dynasty's territory was vast. The Four Great Heavenly Domains in all directions, each underlaid by roads, beneath which were prefectures and states, with states either equal to or subordinate to prefectures.

On the fifth day, they reached "Quansha State." Here, yellow sand filled the skies, the scorching sun hanging high. An expanse of eight hundred miles of desert, with not a trace of human presence to be found in countless ways.

Traveling through here was truly an ordeal. Like a furnace overhead during the day, and like falling into an ice cavern at night. The entire night they circulated Qi to resist the cold. Outside, demons lurked, overhead, the blazing sun tormented.

Fortunately, it only took two days to bypass Quansha State.

Continuing westward...

Along the way, they often had to build fires to cook meals, change clothes, and interact with people, all taken care of by Li Xian, while Madam only needed to ride a horse.

For those of the Jianghu, camping in the wilderness was routine. Although Madam Wen exuded elegance and her business spanned the Prefecture City, she had rich Jianghu experiences and wasn't delicate.

Truly setting out in the Jianghu, dining on wind, sleeping in the dew, drenched in sweat, not changing clothes for days was normal. To demand cleanliness, to indulge in romance was purely fanciful.

Li Xian had ventured twice before, once heading south to Zhou City to buy martial artist herbs, and once going north to the Prefecture City to the banquet in the high tower to seize the Golden Scale. Madam Wen rode in the carriage, resting along the way, drinking Jade Dew... not a care in the world. Yet, it was only a leisure trip.

The path of Jianghu was tough. Riding in a carriage meant one had to travel on wide official roads, which was often inconvenient.

The danger of Jianghu lay in people. The difficulty of Jianghu lay in the journey.

Truly traveling in the Jianghu, the vast mountain paths were often without signs of people for dozens of miles. Wild beasts, demons, winter cold, and summer heat... constantly harassed.

On this day.

Venturing into the wild, the wind and snow raged.

Li Xian chopped firewood, piling it up, brandishing the sword light to start a fire. Then, from beside the saddle, he took a blanket and spread it flat on the snow. Around it, he sprinkled powder to repel insects and beasts.

Li Xian said, "Madam, tonight we must camp outdoors again."

Madam Wen nodded, dismounted, and sat down on the blanket. She adjusted her clothing and closed her eyes to focus on inner cultivation. Her white clothes were as spotless as snow, untainted by dust. Despite the exhausting journey, it did not detract from her graceful bearing.

Li Xian felt hungry, having eaten dry rations for several days in a row.

He then went out hunting, shooting down two wild rabbits and one wild boar.

Suddenly, he saw in the distance, nestled among the mountains, an inn standing.

Li Xian felt great joy, unable to help but think, "In the past, when I saw such inns, I always wondered... placed in such remote locations, how could they have guests? Now having walked the Jianghu myself, I understand the hardships. Being able to have a bed to sleep on is comfort beyond measure. To encounter such a place in this wilderness is the best one could hope for."

Carrying the rabbits in hand, and the boar over his shoulder, he informed Madam Wen. Madam Wen looked up and said, "Fine, let's go to the inn for the night." Riding Baiyun, she headed towards the inn.

Li Xian booked two guest rooms and then told the waiter, "Please heat a basin of hot water and send it to the upper room for my lady to bathe."

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