[Innate Washing Fetus Image] already has [1] point of skill level, acquired during the time in Black River Village when Li Xian consumed crab treasures, causing the essence of heaven and earth to rampage within his body and accidentally wash away part of the fetal impurities.

This wild and unconventional path, although not quite the proper method. Yet, with the continuous consumption of essence food, the essence of heaven and earth rampages and disperses within the body repeatedly, and invisibly, some fetal impurities are also washed away.

However, it only stops at the surface.

In front of the courtyard.

The large cauldron emitted a continuous "hum," a sign that the essence food was well-cooked. Li Xian ordered someone to remove the Dragon Roar Charcoal from the bottom of the cauldron and then splash cold water all around to rapidly cool down the cauldron's temperature.

The cold water splashed on the cauldron, instantly evaporating into vapor.

A crackling sound.

It took a full moment of pouring before the temperature dropped.

Then he called for the help of the nursing home staff to lift the cauldron lid and heavily place it on the ground.

Li Xian leaped up, jumping onto the ears of the cauldron, seeing that the essence soup was very thickly brewed, with only a shallow layer at the bottom of the cauldron.

Essence meat emitted a fragrance, soaked in the essence soup.

Li Xian picked up the essence meat and placed it on a wooden plate. He presented it to Madam Wen, saying, "Madam, the essence food is ready."

Madam Wen nodded, took out a jade-handled knife from her waist, and gently sliced a thumb-sized piece of meat from the corner, saying, "You have cooked well, this piece is your reward."

"The remaining pot of essence soup, seventy percent for the nursing home, distribute it yourself. The remaining thirty percent, let the servants share and drink."

Although Madam seems mercenary, this is not necessarily a flaw. She allocates responsibilities clearly and neatly, without delay.

Li Xian watched Madam leave, wrapped the essence meat carefully, feeling a great joy in his heart:

"This small piece of essence meat is probably worth a hundred crab treasures. I now have no path or way, still need to depend on Madam. One can have ambition in the mind, but must stand firm with the feet!"

After Madam left, this cauldron of thick essence soup was left to Li Xian to distribute.

He called over Bi Hao, gave him thirty percent of the soup, and said, "Dilute this thirty percent of the soup with water, then distribute it to all servants. If you dare to consume even a bit of it alone, I will immediately cut you down!"

Having witnessed the opportunity of an uncle and nephew consuming the essence soup alone, he naturally understood the nature in it.

"I absolutely won't dare, I absolutely won't dare!" Bi Hao kowtowed on the ground.

In fact, Bi Hao and other such servants, drinking "essence soup" had little effect, almost equivalent to wasting. But nourished by the essence of heaven and earth, it can somewhat strengthen their physiques.

Makes them work harder in carrying water.

The remaining seventy percent of the soup, Li Xian took thirty percent for himself, the remaining forty percent was divided into four equal parts for each group, diluted with water first, then boiled into a pot of strong essence soup using seven types of animal bones such as tiger bone, deer bone, pig bone... along with body-strengthening herbs.

The nursing home staff shared and ate it.

Inside the Commander's Courtyard.

Li Xian reversed his hands to close the main door, drawing the latch to prevent any disturbances. He calmed his mood, a piece of essence meat lay on the stone table along with seven bowls of white soup.

Three parts of the soup for one person to enjoy. Actually, it was already quite ample.

Li Xian drank one bowl first. With a gulp, the soup disappeared as soon as it entered his mouth, completely undetectable.

However, he clearly sensed a coolness sliding into his abdomen.

It transformed into strands of essence of heaven and earth, quickly dispersing from various places.

[You consumed the 'Water Longevity Turtle Luo' essence soup, skill consumption, skill level +56]

[Skill: Consumption]

[Skill Level: 156/2000 Minor Achievement]

[Description: How can a mortal clay embryo achieve the Dao? Only by the mouth. You explore the mountains and forests, searching for essence objects, accumulating over time, eventually you will have accomplishments and results.]

[Consumption attains minor achievement realm, any consumed substances increase efficacy by forty percent, poison resistance increases by ten percent.]

"This is the feeling!"

Li Xian's skill [Consumption] took effect. The essence of heaven and earth consumed increased out of nothing.

A bowl of soup initially had only six strands. But after enhancement, it transformed into eight strands from nothing, a small bowl with more than a pot of crab treasures.

This time, Li Xian did not restrain himself. He let the essence of heaven and earth disperse, savoring it as it glided over his muscles and veins, through bones and meridians with a refreshing coolness.

Until the essence completely dispersed.

Li Xian took a deep breath, sitting cross-legged to regulate his breathing.

Then he removed his clothes and armor, feeling light and relaxed, pushing his palms to the sky, standing in a horse stance, twisting his waist to one side, his head hanging toward the ground.

In this peculiar posture, he drank another bowl of essence soup.

Following the essentials in the "Innate Washing Fetus Image," he guided the essence of heaven and earth to disperse along specific paths with intention and Qi. Using specific postures and stances to open various crucial points...

Most of the essence of heaven and earth drifted along the route, ultimately emerging from his palms, vaguely... seeming to also bring out extremely subtle five-fold fetal Qi.

A few drifted elsewhere without concern.

[Practicing Innate Washing Fetus Image, palm pushing sky, purifying with clarity, skill level +1]

[Practicing Innate Washing Fetus Image, palm pushing sky, washing impurities and shedding muddy, skill level +1]

Li Xian's sensing grew increasingly keen, realizing that the term "clay embryo" used by people was not nonsense.

It was a very apt description.

After practicing [Innate Washing Fetus Image], he truly felt like a "mud person."

Thick "muddy stains" adhered to his muscles, veins, meridians, and acupoints, causing the bright pearl to be dust-covered.

No wonder it's called "clay embryo."

"So, this is what washing the fetus truly means. Earlier in Black River Village, when I consumed essence treasures, using human efforts to resist heaven and earth, trying to lock the essence of heaven and earth within my body. While it was also considered washing the fetus, it missed the essence. Even if I consumed essence food my whole life, it was hard to clean thoroughly."

"Because the essence of heaven and earth drifts without pattern. Sometimes east, sometimes west, it's like the dust in the courtyard, cleared by four or five playful children. The children sometimes sweep east, sometimes west."

"Sometimes the dirt you sweep out, I will sweep back to you again. Instead, making the courtyard a complete mess."

"When the owner returns, those playful children, to avoid punishment, simply sweep the dirt under the bed and into gaps. The filth didn't lessen, but it became harder to detect!"

Li Xian drank several more bowls of essence soup, and his understanding became increasingly clear.

It wasn't until this moment that he finally figured out a bit of the way!

The Innate Washing Fetus Image consists of nine sets of illustrations, each illustrating a posture and dispersal route.

The current stance is the "Push Heaven Technique," primarily cleansing the fetal impurity in the arms, thus also known as the "Hand Washing Technique."

Seven bowls of soup are consumed consecutively.

[Skill Level: 5/81]

Li Xian has shown significant progress, under the sunlight, his arms appear like beautiful jade, seemingly becoming whiter.

"It's time to eat essence meat!"

The moment the essence meat enters the stomach, more than thirty strands of the essence of heaven and earth surge forth altogether. Reinforced through consumption, it transforms into more than forty strands of the essence of heaven and earth.

They rush towards the hands in unison.

An indescribable comfort rises within his heart.

Breaking free from clay to reveal truth, seeing daylight, clearing away clouds, breaking shackles, the taste is truly indescribable.

A few strands of visible black energy float out from the palm.

[Skill Level +5]

[Innate Washing Fetus Image]

[Skill Level: 10/81]

The essence food has been entirely consumed. Li Xian, still feeling unsatisfied, wipes his lips, clenches and loosens his hands, perceiving subtle changes.

"This method of washing the fetus is indeed very different from before, truly feeling the body being flushed and cleansed. I wonder... if this has any enhancement on my martial arts skill?"

Li Xian immediately performs the "Jade Palm," striking several palms, noticing his moves becoming faster and more natural.

His interest grows involuntarily, and his Qi Condensation speeds up.

Suddenly, his palms are covered with a layer of green membrane, elevating his palm power to a higher level. When using the "Overturning River and Sea" move, inner qi surges out from his palm, resembling green river waves slapping.

Though very illusory, it is distinctly different.

The martial arts indeed reveal an anomaly...

"Previously, when I exerted the Jade Palm fully, although having the momentum of Overturning River and Sea, the fierce palm strike, inner qi surging, could hit far off in the distance through air. Yet, none of this strange phenomena existed. Now, after merely washing the fetus once, why have I improved so greatly?"

Li Xian is utterly amazed, pondering for a long time. But martial arts insight won't grow from thin air; without guidance, pondering alone ultimately leads to trouble from one's thoughts.

He simply decides not to overthink, focusing on practicing martial arts, hoping to ask Madam Wen for clarity when the opportunity arises.

...

...

"Commander Li!"

That night.

Inside Yihetang Manor.

Nursing Home guards on patrol see Li Xian and all bow in salute.

"Hmm." Li Xian nods, "Any anomalies during today's patrol shift?"

"Not for now." The leader of the B-class Nursing Home steps forward to respond.

Li Xian says solemnly: "Raise vigilance, Qingning County has been unstable recently, spread the word; brothers inside and outside the Manor need to keep their eyes sharp."

"Yes!"

All Nursing Home guards respond together.

Li Xian, as the commander, takes up the responsibility of protecting the Manor. Periodically overseeing and observing the situation within the Manor.

Li Xian recalls Pang Long's severe injury, previously, with Pang Long's strength, no one in Qingning County could harm him.

Now that he has become the commander, he should pay attention ahead of time.

"You stay for a moment." Li Xian casually stops one of the Nursing Home guards.

"Commander Li, is there anything else?" The guard nods and bows.

Li Xian asks: "Why was the previous Commander Pang injured?"

That guard replies: "Oh, this matter, you were in Black River Village at the time, so you wouldn't know. Let me tell you, you must be careful."

"Recently, a sect called 'Leopard Saber Sect' has come to Qingning County, and they're very formidable. It's said that their leader is quite something."

"They act recklessly, dominating the county, attacking and looting several shops owned by Madam's, and Qiuyue reported to Madam, who then ordered Pang Long to personally handle it."

"This led to a deadlock, and the leader of the Leopard Saber Sect, Leopard Saber 'Xu Liefeng,' said at that time: 'Who are you? Not knowing where you came from, yet dare to come up here. Try taking three of my disciple's strikes, then speak to me.' Upon these words dropping, his disciple raised the saber and chopped."

"I was present that time, and, good gracious, that person's saber was really fast, one slash severed Commander Pang's wrist, Commander Pang's kick retaliated, and that person matched with a kick, directly crushing Pang Long's foot bones!"

"Commander Pang was outmatched, and hence heavily injured and bedridden."

The guard shrugs, a hint of schadenfreude in his words. But upon realizing Li Xian and Pang Long were good friends, he quickly masks it with sorrow.

Li Xian pondered deeply: "So that's how it was. After the incident, did Madam make any statement?"

The guard, nervous, replies: "I don't dare to inquire about Madam's affairs. But... but I've heard some rumors."

"Speak freely, I won't blame you," said Li Xian.

The guard relaxed: "I don't know where the rumor started, but it seems like Madam even punished Commander Pang, saying he handled things improperly."

"As for that Leopard Saber Sect... they're still operating well. Quite boastful within the county. When our Yihetang Manor's people go for fun in the county, they have to avoid them."

Li Xian mused: "Something seems off about this, Madam being so pragmatic, getting shops smashed is minor, Commander Pang's severe injury is also minor. But why not ask for compensation?"

"Enough, the issue has passed, thinking is futile."

Dismissing trivial thoughts, he says: "Alright, that's how it is. Go on with your patrol."

"Yes, Commander Li!" The guard respectfully takes leave.

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