The next day.

Yihetang Manor set a large cauldron for cooking, placing a piece of black "Essence Meat" within.

It's said that this meat is from the neck of a thousand-year-old turtle, about the size of a palm, and brings a chill when held.

A sufficient amount of cold water was poured in.

The cauldron was covered, and Dragon Roar Charcoal was neatly arranged in a triangular pyramid shape. The charcoal was ignited, and soon, the water in the cauldron began to boil.

The steam mixed with the fishy smell of the "Essence Meat" wafted around.

Li Xian covered his mouth and nose, retreating dozens of meters. After a while, the smell gradually faded.

"Begin hauling water!" Li Xian shouted using his Qi.

Ding Hu ran out of the manor, relaying the message with effort: "The Commander has ordered, start hauling water!"

"Everyone, move swiftly."

The previously aligned "black line" immediately sprang into action, back and forth, carrying water buckets.

The scorching sun shone down, making people feel like ants.

Through several rounds of boiling, Li Xian's status rose from being a Servant to a Nursing Home member, and then to Commander. Those who sold themselves into servitude with him remained Servants, some even now nothing but skeletons.

The Servants lined up, using their bodies as fuel, their bodies as channels.

Seeing everything running smoothly, Li Xian tasked Ding Hu with overseeing things regularly and then left.

The inner courtyard.

It was tranquil and peaceful.

Madam Wen was simply dressed, draped in a silk long skirt, her long hair coiled up and secured with a jade hairpin. Her graceful figure and captivating appearance needed no deliberate adornment.

The fish in the pond gathered, fiercely competing for food.

Madam Wen picked up some fish food and tossed it into the pond. A multicolored fish leaped high to swallow the food into its belly.

The bag containing the fish feed was made of silk, inlaid with gold thread and jade embroidery.

Li Xian inquired:

"Madam, every time the cauldron is set to cook Essence Food, hauling water like this seems quite troublesome."

Madam Wen continued feeding the fish; she seemed to enjoy this pastime. Clearly, she could have just scattered the food and let the fish eat to their hearts' content, but she preferred picking up a few pellets, making the fish fight and scramble for her.

Yet she heard Li Xian's words, and after a long pause, she replied, "You're referring to the task of having the Servants haul water?"

Li Xian suggested, "Isn't this method too inefficient? Why not dig a water channel to bring the water source next to the manor."

Madam Wen raised an eyebrow, "You have ideas, but it won't work."

"You're new to Martial Arts and don't understand its intricacies. However, I'm feeling leisurely today and in a good mood, so I don't mind explaining it to you."

Li Xian's face lit up with joy.

Madam Wen gently kicked a fish that leapt out of the pond while competing for food back into the water. Her white boots, embroidered with long-lived flowers and birds, got some water stains but visibly receded, indicating the extraordinary quality of her attire, resistant to soiling.

She said, "What do you think is the most important factor in cooking a pot of Essence Food?" Her voice was melodious and pleasant.

Li Xian pondered for a moment, "I think there are three: the 'cauldron,' the 'charcoal,' and the 'water.'"

"When I was boiling crab treasures in Black River Village, it required a great deal of firewood, would burn through several black pots, and a pot of Essence Food requires a large amount of water, poured repeatedly."

Madam Wen said, "Indeed, even though the conditions in Black River Village were primitive, you managed to cook a pot of Essence Food, gaining some insight."

"This world has clay embryos and jade embryos, porcelain embryos, wood charcoal, Dragon Roar Charcoal, and Essence Scent Charcoal. Everything has differences in quality."

"Water is no exception."

"If you dig a water channel to bring river water next to the manor, this water can naturally be used. But this kind of water is 'detached stream water' and 'detached source water,' meaning it has left the river's flow."

"In the eyes of Martial Artists, it is slightly inferior to river source water."

Li Xian asked perplexed, "But wouldn't the water hauled by the Servants also count as detached stream water?" He admitted to himself that he lacked the cultivation to see the difference.

"Not only does it not count, but the quality is also higher," Madam Wen said lightly, tapping her finger, "Using people as a channel is naturally better than using wood. In all things in the world, only human effort can defy the heavens."

Although Li Xian did not fully understand, he silently noted it. He thought about it and felt it made sense.

...

...

When Li Xian came out of the inner courtyard, it was just around noon.

June weather was like a furnace.

The charcoal consumption was reduced, but the water demand increased. Over a thousand Servants were busily engaged, with several already panting heavily.

Li Xian, as the Commander, was ultimately compassionate.

Seeing some Servants unable to withstand it, he allowed them to rest. He had the Nursing Home member replace them, playfully calling it "training."

With inner Qi, the Nursing Home members could easily haul water.

In this way, the casualties were greatly reduced. Servants who got a break were naturally relieved, and when refilling the "water hauling line," they wouldn't be worked to death.

"Luo Steward, with Madam boiling Essence Food, such an important event, as the Servant Steward, you should take the lead."

Li Xian's attention was drawn to the flamboyant and loud Luo Fang.

He almost forgot about this character.

"Oh dear, Com...Commander, I'm... I'm already taking the lead, aren't I? If I don't keep an eye on this group of rascals for a moment, they'd slack off." Luo Fang was both afraid and flustered.

"When I say take the lead, I mean you should also go and haul water," Li Xian said casually.

"But... But wouldn't that be bad," Luo Fang argued reluctantly, "If I go to haul water, there will be no one to watch over them, and wouldn't it become chaotic?"

"Is it difficult to find someone to oversee them?" Li Xian swept his gaze around, "Bi Hao, step forward."

Luo Fang's nephew, Bi Hao, scrambled and kowtowed, addressing Li Xian with reverence, even more loyal than to his uncle.

"I'm thinking of having your uncle haul water, but without him, there'll be no management. I believe you've inherited your uncle's skills. How about you take charge?" Li Xian said.

"Sure, sure!" Bi Hao was grateful, wishing he could stab Luo Fang twice to show fidelity towards Li Xian, hoping for more of his favor.

"I will show no favoritism! Commander Li, entrust this task to me, and rest assured!"

"I know you are kindhearted, and I understand the limits."

Bi Hao was beaten until his head was bleeding.

Luo Fang stood on the side with an ugly expression, nervously replying, "Li... Li Commander, this doesn't seem to be according to the rules. I... I'm from the servant room, I... shouldn't fall under the purview of the nursing home."

"Nonsense!" Bi Hao jumped up suddenly, "Li Commander spoke, and you still dare to argue!? You have some nerve." Jumping up, he launched a flying kick.

He grabbed the whip and waved it towards Luo Fang.

"You lead the pack, yet don't hurry to fetch water!" Bi Hao said angrily.

"You ungrateful wretch!" Luo Fang was extremely angry.

"I've tolerated you for a long time, you dog Luo Fang. How dare you be disrespectful to the Commander, today I sever all ties with you!" Bi Hao declared loudly. He brandished the whip, glaring as he beat Luo Fang.

...

Li Xian had no leisure to watch the uncle and nephew fight. Having vented his anger, he found a secluded place to focus on martial arts practice.

The Setting Sun Bloodsword, though flawed, was undoubtedly the highest martial art Li Xian had encountered.

This swordsmanship was stripped from the Combined Sword Technique, thus it seemed to lack half, with some techniques having breaks.

"This swordsmanship focuses on the two words, strength and fierceness."

"Although it's named 'Setting Sun', it's not referring to the sunset about to retreat, but more like the midday sun hanging high in the sky, scorching the earth."

"However, the sun is broken, not achieving perfection, hence the 'Setting Sun'."

Li Xian comprehended the essence of the sword through his understanding. One sword at a time, seeking slowness and steadiness.

[You comprehend the sword intent, practice the swordsmanship, skill level +2]

[You practice the sword under the sun, refine the sword technique, skill level +2]

Li Xian reversed the sword edge and executed a move "Hanging Sun", the sword thrusting straight up towards the sun in the sky.

Suddenly, he felt a flash of red light at the sword tip, followed by a wave of heat flowing down from the sword tip along the blade, invading Li Xian's body.

In an instant, sweat gushed out.

A burning sensation, as if scorching the heart, as if the meridians were burned.

[Hanging Sun, the sword draws fiery essence, but without the Yin Sword to complement, violates the taboo of the sword technique, skill level +12]

Li Xian drank several mouthfuls of cold water.

The burning sensation in his body was hard to dissipate. Looking around, he saw a pool of green water. Without thinking much, he jumped into the pool.

With the cool river water, he stayed for half an hour before feeling some relief and climbed ashore.

But his chest still felt somewhat burnt and stuffy.

"Goodness, one cannot casually practice superior swordsmanship!"

"Just now that move Hanging Sun, drew the yang essence into the body, if there was a Yin Sword to complement, and she executed the corresponding sword technique, the yang essence could be neutralized, benefiting both bodies greatly."

"But without a Yin Sword to complement, naturally unable to dissolve, only to jump into the lake. Even so, felt the burning heartache, bilious pain."

Li Xian suffered a major setback.

He possessed the Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence Destiny, as long as the method is correct, even if forever repeating the simplest move, the sword technique accomplishment would improve.

There is truly no need to risk using that dangerous technique for the sake of speed.

[Hanging Sun] just now, though suddenly increased the skill level [12] points. But it also made him soak in the lake for a long time.

"The wound cracked open again."

Li Xian's back had just begun to scab.

He held the longsword, twirled a sword flower.

After this incident, he clearly realized he underestimated "martial arts".

Previously, the martial arts Li Xian practiced were mostly basic martial arts. These types of martial arts were mainly about moves and Qi movement methods. Practicing them could increase inner Qi, enhancing power.

But practicing several of them inevitably felt monotonous.

Today encountering [Setting Sun Bloodsword], he realized the way of martial arts is far more than just that.

While practicing superior martial arts, the body also gets influenced, becoming stronger.

Like "Setting Sun Bloodsword", practiced under the scorching sun. Drawing yang essence into the body can strengthen the yang energy.

When yang energy is strong, the body is strong, Yin energy hard to approach, evil things avoid it.

But Li Xian also felt it's not all good.

Yang energy being too strong, he could not control, scattered thoughts thickened. Moreover, past a certain degree, inner fire flourished, conversely steaming away Qi-blood.

This swordsmanship was intentionally intercepted by Madam Wen.

Most of it was passed on, but not how to alleviate the yang energy in the body.

As such, bitter practice of swordsmanship, too much yang energy, would evaporate Qi-blood. Yet if to thus abandon the swordsmanship, due to the characteristic of the swordsmanship acting, it would also deplete Qi-blood.

Advancing is like this, retreating is also like this.

Being firmly controlled by the Madam...

"However... if I rely on Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence, refining the first layer to the peak, then turn back to search for missing parts, maybe I can free myself from invisible control."

"The way Madam transmits the art... her things, are really not easy to take."

Li Xian sighed lightly.

[Setting Sun Bloodsword]

[Skill Level: 788/1000 Beginner]

...

...

After stewing for a night and two days, because it's midsummer, the speed to stew a pot of essence soup is faster.

This evening, essence food was coming out of the cauldron.

Li Xian felt invigorated, his life chart appeared...

[Innate Washing Fetus Image]

[Skill Level: 1/81]

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