Li Xian received the order and went to take his punishment. Everything has a price; the "Essence Food" technique, which can be exchanged for twenty cane strokes, is something many desire but cannot attain.

"It must be with a willow cane," Madam Wen softly added.

"Understood!" Li Xian gritted his teeth slightly.

The punishment was indeed hard to endure.

Madam Wen watched his back, her lips curling up as she weighed the pros and cons in her heart:

"This boy is only sixteen, his blood and energy strong, and it's perfectly normal for him to have strange dreams at night. Making him take the cane now, causing him pain that penetrates to the bone, is not to extinguish his thoughts, but to make him both love and fear me; only then can I use him as an arm."

Madam Wen further contemplated, "People are often trapped by appearances, and I am no exception. Although this boy is illuminated by his brother's light, which gives me the desire to nurture him, his appearance is extraordinary and his talent is acceptable. As he comes closer to me, I find I do not reject him."

A wave of her sleeve, and the table full of delicacies was abandoned. She became interested and secretly followed to observe.

She saw Li Xian walk straight into a dark room. This was the "Punishment Room," specifically for punishing those who have erred.

Every day "C-class Nursing Home" takes turns on duty.

"Li Commander."

Those from the Nursing Home, seeing Li Xian, thought he was coming to inspect and hurriedly came forward to greet him.

"I'm here to take my punishment," Li Xian saw the willows canes in the corner and frowned slightly, then relaxed, his Heart Lake naturally calm as he thought, "In this world, how can the way of martial arts be easily sought? Since the lady said she's willing to teach me the Food Essence Technique, it proves that my actions were not wrong."

"Her purpose in punishing me with the cane is not really punishment but to make me afraid, so if I seem sufficiently miserable, she will be pleased."

Li Xian, though inexperienced in the world, knew what he was seeking and was also speculating what the lady wanted.

"To… be punished?" The Nursing Home staff were taken aback.

"Yes, the lady instructed me to take twenty cane strokes, and with willow canes, you may proceed."

"This is the lady's order, you should not hold back out of respect for the commander. Otherwise, you will be the ones taking the caning!"

Li Xian was already lying prone on the long bench.

"Then… then… Commander Li… my apologies."

The two fetched the willow canes, gathered their Inner Qi, and struck, the canes hitting his back.

If not a grave offense in the manor, a wooden cane would minimally strike the buttocks and be considered done.

Only when having incurred the lady's anger would willow canes be used, causing excruciating pain enough to make one pass out.

After a few strokes, Li Xian's back was already a bloody mess, each wound oozing fresh blood. The sight was gruesome, making those from the Nursing Home feel uneasy.

Madam Wen observed from the shadows, nodding slightly, "The willow cane soaked in saltwater, each strike to the flesh, the pain carved into the heart. Since this boy can endure so, it's not unreasonable to pass on the 'Essence Food' technique to him."

"In the future, he will be for my use."

Back in her youth when venturing into Jianghu, admirers were like swarming bees. She delighted in making her suitors suffer hardships for her; the worse their cries, the more delighted she was. Although with age her interests waned.

Now seeing Li Xian silent, eyes resolute, enduring pain while hiding his sharpness. Suddenly, she looked at him differently.

...

...

Half an hour later.

Li Xian applied ointment, using "Blood Solidification and Aperture Closure" to prevent excessive bleeding.

He donned a cloth robe and walked towards the inner courtyard.

"Commander Li, won't you rest a bit?" The Nursing Home staff with the cane asked cautiously.

"No need." Li Xian's face was pale, but his eyes were bright. Selling a bitter flesh plan couldn't afford delay.

The caning was over.

But the pain lingered, and every step pulled at the wounds on his back, an indescribable agony. Not long after, his back's cloth robe was soaked with blood, sticking to the skin.

"I hope the lady keeps her word and hasn't made me endure this beating for nothing."

Li Xian muttered, entering the inner courtyard directly. Upon seeing the lady, he cupped his hands, "Madam, I've returned after taking the cane."

"Turn around," Madam Wen said. When Li Xian turned, revealing the gruesome state of his back, her voice softened slightly, "Does it still hurt?"

"No pain." Li Xian shook his head.

"No pain?" Madam Wen waved her hand slightly, and a breeze of Qi hit. Li Xian's back felt as if slashed.

Madam Wen said, "In front of me, do not hide anything. Whether you are in pain, how could I not know?"

"Having experienced this pain, you must remember it well. Do not repeat the mistake in the future."

Li Xian shook his head, "I dare not promise." Madam Wen furrowed her brow slightly.

Li Xian continued, "Thoughts are not entirely under my control. I will restrain my desires but cannot completely guarantee it, otherwise, it would be deceiving the lady."

Madam Wen then relaxed her brow, "It's good that you have this awareness."

"Regarding the Essence Food technique… Speaking of which, Pang Long once asked me for guidance, but I did not answer him. Do you know why?"

Li Xian shook his head, "I don't know."

Madam Wen laughed, "It's because he's not qualified. Entering the Food Essence Realm signifies the start of Rebirth. But how can transformed martial artists be allowed to pass off as inferior? If that were the case, wouldn't people look down upon us?"

"I don't think he's worthy, hence I didn't bother to pass it on."

"To speak frankly, the Way of consuming essence, in my view, is really nothing significant."

Li Xian felt sadness for Pang Long. Pang Long was sincere and devoted, yet he couldn't gain Madam Wen's favor. Meanwhile, he thought, if not for his younger brother showing promise, it would be better for him to leave the manor than to stay.

"You must have learned quite a bit about the Way of consuming essence from Pang Long," Madam Wen said leisurely, "Why don't you first tell me your understanding."

Li Xian replied truthfully, "The Food Essence Realm is about digesting the essence of heaven and earth, allowing the innate clay embryo to begin transforming."

"Indeed, these are what I told Pang Long. That he shared these with you indicates your close relationship," Madam Wen acknowledged Pang Long's loyalty; Li Xian being close to Pang Long further confirmed his sincerity.

She then continued, "Did Pang Long also mention that a mud-bodied Martial Artist must train hard in martial arts, first filling the Qi Lake, then achieving Qi Circulation, and finally solidifying their blood and closing their pores to make some initial progress."

"Afterwards...they can try consuming Essence Food and Essence Soup. Letting the essence of heaven and earth enter the body, continuously entering and dispersing, repeatedly like this. This process is called Washing the Fetus."

Li Xian nodded, as this was indeed what he learned from Pang Long.

"If I'm not mistaken, you are already in the process of Washing the Fetus. Is there an Essence Treasure in Black River Village?" Madam Wen asked.

Li Xian felt no need to hide the matter of crab treasure, believing it harmless to talk about it, he explained the crab treasure.

"I see."

Madam Wen nodded, but dismissed it as trivial, "What Pang Long said, you can listen to, but it's not entirely correct. He has a half-baked understanding of the 'Food Essence Realm' and displayed characteristics by a stroke of luck. In my opinion, he is still a leaking embryo."

"Even if he enters the Food Essence Realm, it's merely so."

"A leaking embryo? What is a leaking embryo?" Li Xian inquired.

"If the Washing the Fetus is poorly done, it naturally becomes a leaking embryo," Madam Wen explained, "An unorthodox path with no proper guidance, merely storing the essence of heaven and earth in the body as long as possible."

"Though this indeed makes the body retain the essence of heaven and earth, quickly showing traits of consuming essence."

"But it is incorrect."

"A Martial Artist is just a clay embryo, the essence of heaven and earth dissipating is inevitable. During the Washing the Fetus stage, the true task is guiding the dissipation path of the essence of heaven and earth. Let it dissipate along meridians and acupoints, truly bringing out the impurities, so it can be considered 'washing'."

"That's why children from some aristocratic families start consuming Essence Soup and begin Washing the Fetus from a young age."

"Later, when they achieve Qi Circulation, blood solidification, and pore closure, they naturally start retaining the essence of heaven and earth, attempting genuine digestion. Progressing naturally into the 'Food Essence Realm'."

Li Xian asked, "So, in fact, it's not necessary to have Qi Circulation and blood solidification, pore closure to consume Essence Food?"

"Yes," Madam Wen replied, "The so-called Qi Circulation first, then blood solidification and pore closure, finally retaining the essence of heaven and earth, is merely an unorthodox misunderstanding."

"They have no guidance, relying only on guesswork, naturally coming to that conclusion. In actuality, most unorthodox Martial Cultivators do not consciously Wash the Fetus."

"Persisting long-term, while they may eventually become Essence-Eating Martial Artists, their achievements go no further. As for immortality, it is beyond their reach."

"Is that what you thought before?"

Li Xian wiped cold sweat, unsure if it was the severe injury on his back, causing cold sweat to stream, or realizing his knowledge was misguided, feeling waves of fear.

"Indeed...I only thought Commander Pang's words made a lot of sense, so..."

Madam Wen smiled, "Since you're working for me, you are no longer on an unorthodox path with no guidance."

"I have an 'Innate Washing Fetus Image' for you to memorize. It contains the dissipation routes of the essence of heaven and earth and methods to expel the impurities from your body."

"Once you have washed away the impurities, achieving a clear body free of impurities, you'll be close to the Food Essence Realm's boundary."

Li Xian accepted the Washing Fetus Image, unable to hide his joy. This punishment was not in vain. As the saying goes, the beginning is the hardest. If the beginning goes astray, it renders everything futile.

Li Xian asked, "Madam, I have another question I would like answered."

"Speak," Madam Wen nodded.

"In this world, are there Martial Artists who, after being washed by the essence of heaven and earth, gradually manifest anomalies and appear extraordinary?" Li Xian asked.

"You're referring to the [Rebirth Appearance]?" Madam Wen nodded, "Martial Arts is vast, indeed there are appearances of Rebirth, and there are quite a few, but this matter is far from you, you don't need to understand it yet."

Madam Wen scrutinized Li Xian, "A Martial Artist must avoid being overly ambitious, first master the Washing Fetus Image. Tomorrow, I will be preparing Essence Food."

"You can give it a try."

...

...

Commander's Courtyard.

Li Xian called over two maids doing laundry to help apply medicine. Lying on the bed, his back was covered in bloody scars, shocking to the eye. The maids, afraid of hurting Li Xian, tried to be as gentle as possible, yet still occasionally caused Li Xian to frown in pain.

"What exactly did this Commander do to deserve such punishment from the Madam?" one maid was deeply curious.

Li Xian, however, was engrossed in the Washing Fetus Image.

"I see...I see..."

"The Washing the Fetus process, not valued by the world, is precisely the most crucial step."

Li Xian had a sudden realization. He felt a deep sense of fear; in practicing martial arts, one might manage later stages independently, but without guidance in the early stages, it truly doesn't work.

"Innate Washing Fetus Image...using intent and Qi as the link, using body and breath as the guide, allowing the essence of heaven and earth to comply with the body's texture patterns and meridians. From outer to inner, from shallow to deep, gradually washing away the five impurities, revealing the true form of the embryo."

"First wash the limbs, then wash the body's acupoints, internal organs, and orifices...Once the entire body is purified, without impurity, the embryo enlightened with true intention."

"Entering the Food Essence Realm is not difficult?"

"Starting tomorrow, preparing Essence Food, I'll try this Washing Fetus method. Madam's Essence Food must be of higher quality than that mountain crab..."

Li Xian's eyes shone brightly, the great path of consuming essence, dispersing the clouds of confusion, lay right ahead.

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